Shamelessly reposted from Major Pain’s site…

“Author Unknown”

Why I like The Marines

I like the fact that if you are a self-declared enemy of America, running
into a Marine outfit in combat is your worst nightmare… and that your
health record is either about to get a lot thicker, or be closed out
entirely.

I like the fact that Marines are steadfast and consistent in everything they
do… regardless of whether you agree with them or not.

I like the fact that Marines view the term ‘politically correct’ with
nothing but pure disdain.

I like the fact that Marines stand tall and rigid in their actions,
thoughts, and deeds when others bend with the direction of the wind and are
as confused as a dog looking at a ceiling fan.

I like the fact that each and every Marine considers the honor and legacy of
The Corps as his personal and sacred trust to protect and defend.

I like the fact that most civilians don’t have a clue what makes us tick.
And that’s not a bad thing; because if they did, it would probably scare the
hell out of them.

I like the fact that others say they want to be like us, but don’t have what
it takes in the Pain-Gain-Pride department to make it happen.

I like the fact that the Marines came into being in a bar named Tun Tavern;
and that Marines still gather in pubs, bars and slop chutes to share sea
stories and hot scoop.

I like the fact that Marines do not consider it a co-incidence that there
are 24 hours in a day and 24 beers in a case because Marines know there is a
reason for everything that happens.

I like our motto… SEMPER FIDELIS and the fact that we don’t shed it when
the going gets tough, the battlefield gets deadly, or when we hang up our
uniform for the last time.

I like the fact that Marines take care of each other… in combat and time
of peace.

I like the fact that Marines know the difference between ‘Chicken Salad’ and
‘Chicken Shit’ and aren’t afraid to call either for what it is.

I like the fact that the people of America hold Marines in the highest
esteem and that they know they can count on us to locate, close with, and
destroy those who would harm them.

I like the fact that people think we are cocky…. yet we know that we have
confidence in everything we do; the fact that they don’t know what it takes,
and that makes them look at us as if we are arrogant.

I like that fact that we know the taste of freedom and would give our very
lives for it; that is a taste, the protected will never know.

I like the fact that Ronald Reagan said… ‘Some people spend an entire
lifetime wondering if they made a difference… Marines don’t have that
problem!’

I like the fact that we are brothers/sisters to the end… and that no
matter what happens in life, we know that we guard each other’s ‘six’.

I like the fact that an elected member of congress felt compelled to
publicly accuse the Marine Corps of being ‘radical and extreme’, and that
our Commandant informed that member of congress she was absolutely correct
and that he passed on his thanks for the compliment.

I like the fact that Marine leaders of every rank know that issuing every
man and woman a black beret (or polka-dotted boxer shorts for that matter)
does absolutely nothing to promote morale, fighting spirit or combat
effectiveness.

I like the fact that Marines are Marines first… regardless of age, race,
creed, color, sex, national origin, or how long they served, their former
rank, or what goals they achieve in life.

I like Marines…and I love the fact that I am humbled to walk among the
ranks of other Marines.

I like the fact that you always know where you stand with a Marine. With
Marines, there is no middle ground or gray area. There are only missions,
objectives and facts.

In closing…if you aren’t a Marine, the next best thing is to have a Marine
for a husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, best
friend, or friend.

Yep, I agree with every sentiment

Which Super Hero are you…

Pretty cool quiz and breakout of scoring.

You Scored as MaximusAfter his family was murdered by the evil emperor Commodus, the great Roman general Maximus went into hiding to avoid Commodus’s assassins. He became a gladiator, hoping to dominate the colosseum in order to one day get the chance of killing Commodus. Maximus is valiant, courageous, and dedicated. He wants nothing more than the chance to avenge his family, but his temper often gets the better of him. Maximus 79% Neo, the “One” 75% Lara Croft 58% Captain Jack Sparrow 58% The Amazing Spider-Man 54% Indiana Jones 54% William Wallace 54% James Bond, Agent 007 50% Batman, the Dark Knight 50% The Terminator 46% El Zorro 33%

Definitely aspects of all of these characters in myself. An interesting rundown. How did you score? Take the quiz here.

Not a good very good comparison. Not just from the audience response but in the way it is handled as well. Particularly note the current POTUS on the conclusion of his remarks vs. the last POTUS at the conclusion.

It’s all in how you handle the people.  BHO, he doesn’t appear to do so well in this department.

As the violence in Iraq has wound down, so has the news coverage. What are you missing?

Orphanage receives help from Iraqi community, 2/9 Marines

Story and photos by Cpl. Ryan Turnage

IMG_1807small

SOFIYA, Iraq – Through the winding dirt roads, across miles of farmland, a community of widows and orphans have settled in a place known as Sofiya in the eastern al Anbar province. Resources are scarce, so Iraqis are working with the Marines of Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, to aid those in need.

Many of the families lost their brothers, fathers, husbands and sons during the turbulent times that were once characteristic of al Anbar. Now, one man devotes his time to helping the families of the fallen.

Sheik Jasem Mohammed, the tribal leader in Sofiya, has been organizing and conducting efforts with Weapons Company to help his community during rough times. Mohammed understands that the effects of conflict continue long after the triggers were pulled.

“We have been distributing bags of supplies from the Marines to all the poor families, and we are so grateful,” said Mohammed.

Blankets, hygiene items, school supplies and other necessities were given to each family. Children’s faces filled with joy as Seaman Darryn Howard and Pvt. Glenn Cocagne handed out gifts to orphans of all ages.

“It’s a great feeling to see the huge smiles on all the children’s faces when I hand them something as simple as a blanket,” said Howard.

Over the course of six months, Mohammed and 1st Lt. Andrew Szwejbka, commanding officer of Weapons Company, have formed a very strong friendship during this ongoing community outreach effort, said Szwejbka.

“I’m honored to have met Sheik Jasem and I’m going to miss coming out here to help,” said Szwejbka.

The two leaders discussed upcoming plans to provide medical supplies and vitamins to the community. While the local Iraqi citizens are fortunate enough to have a doctor in the area, supplies are inadequate for the current amount of cases he deals with, said Mohammed.

“Although we are leaving Iraq soon, I plan to start delivering medical supplies as soon as possible,” said Szwejbka.

Mohammed predicts their community will become an independent town in the near future. Until then, Mohammed and the Marines of Weapons Company are continuing to

care for the Sofiya community and assist them as they become self-sustaining.

For more information on the ongoing mission in Iraq’s Al Anbar province, visit http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/iimeffwd .

Go quick before someone takes this one down…

http://gamu-toys.info/sonota/sw/obama/obama.html

I think we have all heard the stories of our grandparents, and parents, on how life was different when they were growing up, and living their lives.  Much of that culture change can be attributed to changing technology.  My grandmother was actually born on a covered wagon, as the family completed their trip on the Oregon Trail.  Travel my automobile was non-existent.  Roads… not in the sense that we think of them today.  Train, only for the well off.

Much of the culture change is also based on the values and fear of  “the people”.  I think that most of you have a pretty good idea of what I mean when I say values.  Basic, traditional, American values of self, of family, and of community.

What do I mean when I say fear?  Well, somewhere along the line in the past 50 years or so our culture has shifted and I intuitively believe that part of that shift was caused by fear.  Could I pinpoint the root cause, could I point to a tipping point or event that might have generated that fear?  I wish I could.  It would be nice to tie this hypothesis up with a bow.  All I can point to are symptoms and anecdoteal evidence.

Over at We The Armed, there is thread going “Memories of The Good Old Days”.  There are a lot of interesting thoughts there.  One of them that kicked some of these thoughts loose in my noggin is this:

I’m 37 and things have really changed.  When I was a kid in the single digits we ran around town with pellet guns.  When I was barely into the double digits we all had 10/22s which we adorned with as much crap from the Ram-Line catalog as financially possible.  We wandered all over town and through the countryside with our .22s and spent time shooting rats at the dump or terrorizing the woodland creatures in season.  We’d buy entire bricks of ammo at the store without so much as a second glance from the clerk.  Now days five or six  12 year old boys toting semi-automatic “assault rifles” buying 6 or 7 thousand rounds of ammo would result in the activation of multiple SWAT teams and eventually end with some bill named after someone being passed.  The Precious Roy Pre-Teen Militia Prevention Act or something.

In high school we built crossbows, muzzleloaders and gun cabinets in shop class.  Probably 60-80% of trucks and cars driven to school had rifles or shotguns behind the seat or in the trunk.  Heaven help a whackjob who decided to shoot up our school.  There was more firepower in the parking lot than was possessed by the city and county police.  Knives were simple tools or fashion accessories.  Everyone carried a knife of some sort.  In the 5th grade until high school boot knives were all the rage.  If you were poor you had one of those cheap Pakistani imports and if you had a bit more money to spend you had a Gerber Mark I or II.  In elementary school the big thing was to keep a .22 round in the tag of your levi jacket.  Remington Yellow Jacket and Hornets were the most popular.  Those truncated bullets looked cool you know.  A regular round nosed bullet was a fashion faux pas unless it was at least a coated hollowpoint or something.  A kid with a bullet in school these days would be expelled and subjected to psychotropic drugs and extensive deprogramming.

It’s kind of funny, because yesterday there were actually some kids in the neighborhood out playing with some cap guns… and it put a smile on my face.

All the time that I have spent fishing in the Northwest and this is the first time that I have ever seen this.

Did you check how close that Orca was (repeatedly) to the boat.

Evidently our friends at the UN are holding a “Global Warming” summit in Copenhagen this week.  Ok, that’s good.  So, the wonderful folks in the media start an article on this event as:

The worst-case scenarios on climate change envisaged by the UN are already being realised, say scientists at an international meeting in Copenhagen.

OK – I think we know where this conference is going.  Folks have their mind made up and all 2500 of them are just going to spend our money to rattle off our sound bites.

In a statement outlining their six key messages to political leaders, they say there is an increasing risk of abrupt or irreversible climate shifts.

Even modest temperatures rises will affect millions of people, particularly in the developing world, they warn.

—————————–

The meeting was also addressed by Lord Stern, the economist, whose landmark review of the economics of climate change published in 2006 highlighted the severe cost to the world of doing nothing.

He now says the report underestimated the scale of the risks, and the speed at which the planet is warming.

He urged scientists to speak out and tell the politicians what the world would be like if effective measures against global warming were not taken.

He said that if the world was to warm by 5C over the next century there would be dramatic consequences for millions of people. Rising seas would make many areas uninhabitable leading to mass migrations and inevitably sparking violent conflict.

“You’d see hundreds of millions people, probably billions of people who would have to move and we know that would cause conflict, so we would see a very extended period of conflict around the world, decades or centuries as hundreds of millions of people move, ” said Lord Stern.

“So I think it’s very important that we understand the magnitude of the risk we are running.”

So here’s the deal, in my simplified engineer’s mind.  Climate change has been with this planet since it’s inception.  It is incredibly arrogant of humans to believe that we are the cause of climate change.  AND it is potentially disastrous for us to believe that we can change the cycle.  The bulk of the scientific community is in a circular argument that is based completely on terrestrial events and approaches.

There really is not a damn thing we can do about extra terrestrial events (solar activity, etc) that could be a major cause of climate change.  But if the cause is not human activity then why would we try and change human activity to solve the problem.  Hence, the scientists tend to make the data say what they want it to say and they do not look at data that says, “Yo, the SUN has a major contributing factor here”.

Message 1:

• Don’t treat the symptom, find the cause and treat it.  If not treatable, cope with the situation and implement gradual change.

In my professional life, Organizational Change Management is a key to success.  I look at events like this climate conference and I see a disaster.

Message 2:

• Guys if you want to implement change come up with a realistic plan that takes measured steps that show verifiable improvement.  Implement those steps, then communicate the results build enthusiasm by showing success.  Getting on the grand political stage and calling a natural climate cycle a catastrophe is not a recipe for success.

Oh, by the way, what happened to that Ice Age that we were on the brink of in the 70′s.  Did I fall asleep and miss something?

BBC article is here

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