Monday, February 22, 2010
Refueling Over Iraq
Mainly coz I'm too doped up on NyQuil to write anything coherent. Or however you spell that word. Meh.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009
I wander off now to take some more hangover remedy. And yes I am posting this early while still sober!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Listening to RPD live on the 'net!
I stumbled across this site the other night and been listening in ever since! COPS doesn't have anything on this site because this is the raw radio calls of my RPD as things transpire. You can log on and seek out your own PD wherever you are in the US.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?ctid=1978
Check it out!
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?ctid=1978
Check it out!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Today is Veteran's Day
Today is Veteran's Day, a day set aside to honor, thank, and generally indulge the true heroes of this Republic. But few know the history of this day and why it was chosen.
During the early part of the 20th Century there was a terrible war the likes of which we had never seen before. The full power of industrialised Europe was put to the prosecution of a conflict that should never have happened. Agents acting on behalf of a country called Serbia assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. The Austro-Hungarians readied their army to tech Serbia a lesson that had been long in coming. Serbia went running to it's ally Russia, who began a partial mobilisation and sent a warning to the Austro-Hungarians to back off. Austria-Hungary went to the Germans who were their friends and the Germans told Russia to back off and began their own military preparations. There the matter would have stood but France told the Germans to stop threatening Russia. That made the Germans decide to act against France and informed little Belgium that they were gonna use Belgium's territory to get at France. That caused England, who had guaranteed Belgium's territorial integrity, to advise Germany to abandon the idea. The Germans went ahead with their preparations and on August of 1914, the German Army invaded little Belgium, whose Army fought like lions but stood no real chance of stopping the Germans. Meanwhile, the Russians made good their promise to help Serbia and handed Austria-Hungary a series of sharp defeats, which a caused Germany to send troops to help. By September of 1914 the Germans, French, British, and Belgians were locked in the agony of trench warfare after the fluid movement during August where both sides tried their hardest to get to the sea. In the East there were stable lines but many great battles remained to be fought.
Four years later in the west things had scarcely moved despite the arrival of American soldiers in their millions, the development of tanks and aircraft that were used to such astounding effect by the British at the Battle of Amiens in early 1918 (an astounding 8 miles of advance where previously advances were counted in yards)but both sides were desperately looking for a way to end the war. After the failure of Operation Michael the German Army had nothing left to launch offensives with. The French Army had seen the morale of it's troops slump so low due to casualties and the cavalier spending of their blood that the Army had briefly mutinied in 1917. The French Army would return to the field and gain some impressive defensive victories but their will to attack and sustain large losses was gone. The British were themselves facing declining troop numbers mainly because of the disaster on the Somme in 1916, where 58000 troops were lost in one morning. Only the Americans had the strength, the will, and the spirit to take the offensive. The US Marines added another battle honor in Belleau Wood, although they lost 10000 men in the process.
Germany however was looking for a way out. Her civilian leaders contacted President Wilson of the US and asked for a meeting to discuss terms. Meanwhile the slaughter continued while the German delegation stared at the armistice documents and the terms contained therein. They were aghast but had no choice because Berlin had told them to do so.
So on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour the Germans accepted the terms and the guns fell silent. At first the soldiers were baffled and had no idea what to do. After ducking and dodging shells and bullets for so long the sudden silence must have been deafening. But once the troops figured out what had happened the roar was deafening: millions of voices raised in relief and joy that the Great War was finally over.
So today spare a thought for all soldiers past and especially present. Buy them a beer and listen to their stories. and if you are brave enough, hug one. Tell him or her that you are proud of them, that you love them, and that you hope they come home for good soon.
It is a small enough thing but means the world to them!
(I KNOW that I have truncated the history of the Great War but there are links below to aid you in understanding the details!)
Referances:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Belleau_Wood
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Amiens_(1918)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_somme
During the early part of the 20th Century there was a terrible war the likes of which we had never seen before. The full power of industrialised Europe was put to the prosecution of a conflict that should never have happened. Agents acting on behalf of a country called Serbia assassinated the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. The Austro-Hungarians readied their army to tech Serbia a lesson that had been long in coming. Serbia went running to it's ally Russia, who began a partial mobilisation and sent a warning to the Austro-Hungarians to back off. Austria-Hungary went to the Germans who were their friends and the Germans told Russia to back off and began their own military preparations. There the matter would have stood but France told the Germans to stop threatening Russia. That made the Germans decide to act against France and informed little Belgium that they were gonna use Belgium's territory to get at France. That caused England, who had guaranteed Belgium's territorial integrity, to advise Germany to abandon the idea. The Germans went ahead with their preparations and on August of 1914, the German Army invaded little Belgium, whose Army fought like lions but stood no real chance of stopping the Germans. Meanwhile, the Russians made good their promise to help Serbia and handed Austria-Hungary a series of sharp defeats, which a caused Germany to send troops to help. By September of 1914 the Germans, French, British, and Belgians were locked in the agony of trench warfare after the fluid movement during August where both sides tried their hardest to get to the sea. In the East there were stable lines but many great battles remained to be fought.
Four years later in the west things had scarcely moved despite the arrival of American soldiers in their millions, the development of tanks and aircraft that were used to such astounding effect by the British at the Battle of Amiens in early 1918 (an astounding 8 miles of advance where previously advances were counted in yards)but both sides were desperately looking for a way to end the war. After the failure of Operation Michael the German Army had nothing left to launch offensives with. The French Army had seen the morale of it's troops slump so low due to casualties and the cavalier spending of their blood that the Army had briefly mutinied in 1917. The French Army would return to the field and gain some impressive defensive victories but their will to attack and sustain large losses was gone. The British were themselves facing declining troop numbers mainly because of the disaster on the Somme in 1916, where 58000 troops were lost in one morning. Only the Americans had the strength, the will, and the spirit to take the offensive. The US Marines added another battle honor in Belleau Wood, although they lost 10000 men in the process.
Germany however was looking for a way out. Her civilian leaders contacted President Wilson of the US and asked for a meeting to discuss terms. Meanwhile the slaughter continued while the German delegation stared at the armistice documents and the terms contained therein. They were aghast but had no choice because Berlin had told them to do so.
So on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour the Germans accepted the terms and the guns fell silent. At first the soldiers were baffled and had no idea what to do. After ducking and dodging shells and bullets for so long the sudden silence must have been deafening. But once the troops figured out what had happened the roar was deafening: millions of voices raised in relief and joy that the Great War was finally over.
So today spare a thought for all soldiers past and especially present. Buy them a beer and listen to their stories. and if you are brave enough, hug one. Tell him or her that you are proud of them, that you love them, and that you hope they come home for good soon.
It is a small enough thing but means the world to them!
(I KNOW that I have truncated the history of the Great War but there are links below to aid you in understanding the details!)
Referances:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Belleau_Wood
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Amiens_(1918)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_somme
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY USMC!!!!
To all my beloved Devildogs ass-kickers and heart breakers, have a happy 234th!
http://www.apacheclips.com/media/11596/Now_ZAD_2009/
Semper Fi, Carry On
GET SOME!!!!!!
http://www.apacheclips.com/media/11596/Now_ZAD_2009/
Semper Fi, Carry On
GET SOME!!!!!!
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Dancing Marines!!!!!!!
Very cool and I wonder what the muj were thinking watching them dance. Get down Devildawgs!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Battle or Siege of Yorktown took place today.
AMERICANS
Continental Infantry 7,290
Artillery 514
Cavalry 176
Total Continental Army 7,980
Militia 3,153
Total (non adjusted for effectives) 11,133
Non-effectives (sick)
absent
present
-1,000
-700
Total Effectives ('rounded figure') 9,500
FRENCH
Rochambeau's 4,000
St. Simon's 3,000
Army detachments [See note at bottom of page] 800
Naval personnel
abord ships, in
direct support. 1,000
Total 8,800
Excluding est 15,000 naval personnel
on ships that contributed to the overall
campaign.
TOTAL ALLIED FORCE 18,300
BRITISH
'Reported' army strength at start.
Includes German mercenaries. 8,885
Estimated naval personnel
directly supporting 840
Estimate naval personnel figure is
from number that surrendered to de Grasse.
Estimated British total at start 9,725
Estimated sick -1,500
TOTAL BRITISH FORCE 8,225
(The preceding is based upon data from Mark Mayo Boatner III Encyclopedia of the American Revolution (p.1248, Bicentenial Edition, NY, 1974).
It was THE victory of the American Revolutionary War. A combined French/Continental(American) army surrounded, besieged, and forced the surrender of a larger by most estimates British Army under Lord Cornwallis. The defeat sealed the fate of the British dominion over what would become the United States of America and lead directly to the Treaty of Paris.
One of the results of the French intervention was the bankrupting of the French Royal Treasury which was one of the reasons for the Revolution in France. Although Britain did lose this particular theater, she went on to completely trounce the French and Dutch in such far off places as India and the Carribean. The Revolutionary War as we call it was but a part of what could be called one of the first global wars ever fought.
Links:
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1321.html
http://xenophongroup.com/mcjoynt/yrtnsieg.htm
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562639/siege_of_yorktown.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Yorktown
Continental Infantry 7,290
Artillery 514
Cavalry 176
Total Continental Army 7,980
Militia 3,153
Total (non adjusted for effectives) 11,133
Non-effectives (sick)
absent
present
-1,000
-700
Total Effectives ('rounded figure') 9,500
FRENCH
Rochambeau's 4,000
St. Simon's 3,000
Army detachments [See note at bottom of page] 800
Naval personnel
abord ships, in
direct support. 1,000
Total 8,800
Excluding est 15,000 naval personnel
on ships that contributed to the overall
campaign.
TOTAL ALLIED FORCE 18,300
BRITISH
'Reported' army strength at start.
Includes German mercenaries. 8,885
Estimated naval personnel
directly supporting 840
Estimate naval personnel figure is
from number that surrendered to de Grasse.
Estimated British total at start 9,725
Estimated sick -1,500
TOTAL BRITISH FORCE 8,225
(The preceding is based upon data from Mark Mayo Boatner III Encyclopedia of the American Revolution (p.1248, Bicentenial Edition, NY, 1974).
It was THE victory of the American Revolutionary War. A combined French/Continental(American) army surrounded, besieged, and forced the surrender of a larger by most estimates British Army under Lord Cornwallis. The defeat sealed the fate of the British dominion over what would become the United States of America and lead directly to the Treaty of Paris.
One of the results of the French intervention was the bankrupting of the French Royal Treasury which was one of the reasons for the Revolution in France. Although Britain did lose this particular theater, she went on to completely trounce the French and Dutch in such far off places as India and the Carribean. The Revolutionary War as we call it was but a part of what could be called one of the first global wars ever fought.
Links:
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1321.html
http://xenophongroup.com/mcjoynt/yrtnsieg.htm
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562639/siege_of_yorktown.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Yorktown
US Army aviation news..
US Army to demonstrate 'slaving' unmanned and manned helicopters:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/08/333232/us-army-to-demonstrate-slaving-unmanned-and-manned.html
US Army eyes STUAS drones for battalions:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/12/333234/us-army-eyes-stuas-drones-for-battalions.html
This sooooo cool! Think about this for just a moment: you can have a whole squadron of Apaches controlling some 4 UAV's apiece. Those UAV can be sent out in front of the Apaches, snooping around looking for the baddies while the Apache crews sit back and take their time selecting and prioritizing targets. Amazing. We don't put the crews into a bad situation and although the UAVs are not expendable by any means we cna afford to lose them and not have to send out condolances.
Also, it enables commanders all the way down to platoon or even squad level to have access instantly to information that otherwise would not be available. Man, had we had this technology during Tarawa or Normandy or dieppe think of the lives we could have saved on both sides.
Anyway, very cool stuff!
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/08/333232/us-army-to-demonstrate-slaving-unmanned-and-manned.html
US Army eyes STUAS drones for battalions:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/12/333234/us-army-eyes-stuas-drones-for-battalions.html
This sooooo cool! Think about this for just a moment: you can have a whole squadron of Apaches controlling some 4 UAV's apiece. Those UAV can be sent out in front of the Apaches, snooping around looking for the baddies while the Apache crews sit back and take their time selecting and prioritizing targets. Amazing. We don't put the crews into a bad situation and although the UAVs are not expendable by any means we cna afford to lose them and not have to send out condolances.
Also, it enables commanders all the way down to platoon or even squad level to have access instantly to information that otherwise would not be available. Man, had we had this technology during Tarawa or Normandy or dieppe think of the lives we could have saved on both sides.
Anyway, very cool stuff!
Friday, October 09, 2009
Friday, October 02, 2009
Pat Condell strikes again!
Usually, I don't always agree with everything he says but this video is excellent and right on point!
Clergy are worse that parasites, especially those who live in far better conditions than the poorest of their flock. Jesus would not approve of these clergy who have ignored the lessons Christ was trying to teach.
Clergy are worse that parasites, especially those who live in far better conditions than the poorest of their flock. Jesus would not approve of these clergy who have ignored the lessons Christ was trying to teach.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
FedEx takes delivery of first 777F, but what's under the hood? - FlightBlogger - Aviation News, Commentary and Analysis
FedEx takes delivery of first 777F, but what's under the hood? - FlightBlogger - Aviation News, Commentary and Analysis
Posted using ShareThis
Some pretty cool stuff and an even prettier paint job! More on the way, I am running behind on aerospace related stuff.
Posted using ShareThis
Some pretty cool stuff and an even prettier paint job! More on the way, I am running behind on aerospace related stuff.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Why I like soldiers....
No matter what, soldiers keep their eyes on the boobs, er I meant ball, and keep themselves on mission.
Most of the time.
Almost always.
Kinda.
Bless 'em!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Disabled Marine vet gives senator an earful!!
He says "Do you EVER intend to honor your oath to defend the constitution?" and the senator can only manage a weak "Yes".
Oooorah, you go Marine!!!
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