Saturday - April 09, 2005

C’Est Moi!

Yes, yes, yes. I have changed my avatar. I was getting bored with the “Captain Kangaroo” look so I dug back through the family album and discovered this portrait I sat for ten years ago when I was a young lad of 46. I also had fewer chins and sixty pounds less weight. Quite a dashing young fellow if I must say so.

Anyway, this is my incentive to lose weight. I figure if I have to look at this picture every day it just may piss me off enough to get off my rear end and lose the weight my doctor tells me I need to lose. Throughout my life my weight has fluctuated wildly anyway. When I married my first wife in 1969 (at age 19), I weighed 165 pounds (soaking wet). At 6’3” that was one tall, skinny dude. The wedding pictures are still passed around the family as a joke. When I enlisted in the USAF in 1975 my weight had shot up to 260 pounds. After six weeks at Lackland in the hot summer (May-June), I was back down to fighting trim at 205 pounds, which is where my doctors say I should be. When this picture was taken I weighed about 215 pounds. Nowadays, I tip the scales at 275 pounds. Since I cannot endure another six weeks at Lackland I will have to do it all on my own this time.

So pay no attention to this handsome fellow in the avatar. I will be him again in about six months. One damn way or another. Without Sgt. Scott and Sgt. Plaxico’s assistance this time, thank you very much! FLIGHT, ATTEN-HUT! RIIIGHT-FACE! FOR-WAAAARD HARCH!

“I don’ know but I been tol’
Eskimo pussy’s mighty cold ..
Sound off, ONE-TWO
Sound off, THREE-FOUR
......”

Posted by The Skipper     on 04/09/2005 at 08:01 PM   
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   Wednesday - April 06, 2005

The Eagle Has Landed

The BMEWS Secretary Of Was has arrived. I will be shuttling back and forth for the next few weeks as well as starting a new job so don’t look for more than one or two posts daily for a while. For those who think that is too much (Stan?), you may feel free to kiss my a**.

It is time to reveal the new BMEWS Central Command location. Here are the clues so far ....

1- Six interstates to get here from Huntsville, AL.

2- Home to a major league baseball team.

3- Home to a national football league team.

Give up? If so, continue reading ....

---

GET ME OUT OF HERE ...

Posted by The Skipper     on 04/06/2005 at 10:57 AM   
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   Tuesday - April 05, 2005

Hmmmmm ….

I see Vilmar is weak and already cowering in fear now that he is having to work for a living (at this blog). Methinks I should give the boy a stern lesson in keeping a stiff upper lip.

Vilmar: You must be strong. Never let your enemies see fear. Remember the purpose of life .... to slay your enemies and listen to the sweet sound of the lamentations of their women. As Secretary Of War I demand it of you. Sharpen your sword and load up on ammo for your guns. Wield the mighty war axe that I built for you. Tune up your light saber. Get angry. Get mad. Get ........ WAIT A MINUTE! You think you can hire a replacement for me? I laugh at your puny minions who dare to think they can even come close to my superhuman powers. Bwah-hah-hah-hah-ha-ha-ha ....

Have your fun, Oh Benevolent Weasel. Tomorrow I arrive at my destination. Be aware that I am staying at a Holiday Inn Express tonight and you know what that does to people don’t you? Aw, crap! I forgot you don’t watch TV. Well, basically people who stay at these hotels (according to the commercials) see an enormous increase in brain power. Which creates a problem since my IQ is already “infinity minus one”. Be afraid .... be very afraid ....

Posted by The Skipper     on 04/05/2005 at 08:33 PM   
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On The Road Again

Where is the BMEWS Secretary Of War? By the time you read this, I will have been on the road for several hours. Before I reach my destination I will have have traversed six interstate highways on the way to my new home. Several people have guessed at the final destination. Only one has come close.

Posted by The Skipper     on 04/05/2005 at 10:45 AM   
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Before We Begin Today

With our beloved SecWar out for several weeks (save an occasional guest appearance) it will be my responsibility to guide you through the maze of news, idiocy, buffoonery, and outrageousness that exists out there.

It goes without saying that in an attempt to maintain the high standards you are used to, I will be busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest.

With that caveat out there, I will warn you ahead of time that I could get testy. (not sure what that means?  Ask Oink or OCM.  They’ll tell you.) I also might not have time to respond to comments.  Additionally, readers love to send me links, ideas, essays, attachments, etc.  Please DO continue that but do not get offended if I do not answer you or acknowledge receipt.  I’m not being rude.  I just ran out of time.  Also, for you new readers out there, don’t even bother sending attachments to me unless you:  1.) register first AND 2.) send me a plain text email FIRST telling me you are about to send an attachment.  No text email?  Well, that’s easy!!  The second and subsequent go straight to the rubbish bin.

So, while the cat’s away, shall we play?

Posted by Ranting Right Wing Howler     on 04/05/2005 at 05:31 AM   
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   Monday - April 04, 2005

Important Announcement!

What: Blogging by Allan, the BMEWS Secretary Of War will be light for the next few weeks. Posts by Allan will be infrequent but will contain their usual incisive commentary. Vilmar is going to have to handle the major share of the blog probably until the first of May. Please be gentle with him and if he starts any crap behind my back let me know. There will be no palace coups while I am away. Our Benevolent Dictator has been warned that the BMEWS Armed Forces remain under my control and I have the only keys to the missile silos. Treat Vilmar with respect (well, as much as you can). I will be watching all of you. Especially Oink and OldCatMan.

Why: Plain and simple, my employment contract here in Alabama was terminated back at the first of February. I will explain in more detail the circumstances at a later date. Needless to say, it was rather ugly and I am still quite angry at a certain company which will be revealed in due time. For the last two months, I have been looking for work which is, in itself, a full time job. I have flown out and interviewed in nearly a dozen states including: Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, DC, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Illinois, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Idaho. As you can see, I have visited states where several of you live and work. My airline miles have grown tremendously. I apologize for not getting in touch with any of you during my travels. Most of the visits were of short duration purely for interviews and discussions with hiring managers. The result of all this travel is that I have accepted a position in another state. Out of eleven offer letters, I finally made a decision last week. I will be leaving tomorrow to journey to my new location and start shopping for housing. Start work date is next Monday, April 11.

Where: That is for me to know and for you to find out. During the next few weeks, you may amuse yourselves guessing where I am hiding. Let’s see how good you folks are at sleuthing. I will drop hints every now and then to help you along. Here is your first hint ........ Out of the states named above, I will be moving to one where a BMEWS member currently resides.

Let the detective games begin .... be on the lookout for a dashingly handsome, highly intelligent, suave, debonair, ultra-cool, sophisticated intellectual .... if you see that person, it ain’t me! Hehehehehe ....

Posted by The Skipper     on 04/04/2005 at 10:40 AM   
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On The Cost Of Illegals

I have seen comments in our posts about illegals citing an often heard (but incorrect) mantra to the effect that
that prices will go up if we kick out the illegals. 

Well, I disagree vehemently.  Read on.

Just think about it.  We are a capitalistic society, right?  In the process we try and find means to reduce costs to keep prices down.  What’s the easiest way of doing so?  Through manpower.

But what happens when manpower ceases to be cheap?  What do we do then? 

The options are two:

1. we pay more
2. we find other ways to reduce costs

America has always been a nation of inventors, gadget makers, and entrepreneurs. So long as labor is cheap there is no incentive to waste time and energy on Number 2 above.  Think about it in oil exploration terms:  we know there are billions of barrels of oil trapped in shale or dirtier than we currently pump.  It stays in the ground because it is not cost effective to remove it nor refine it.  As the cost of oil is low the incentive for doing anything with it is nil.  But let the price spike and pumps start pumping.  Why?  Because now it is worth our time and effort.

Same thing with illegals.  Kick all their asses out and sure, we will see a jump in lawn care, construction, food, home cleaning.

But when that happens, the “incentive” motive kicks in and some entrepreneur will find a better way to harvest lettuce or potatoes or corn (because so long as labor was cheap there was no reason to do so); an inventor will develop tools to make home cleaning easier reducing the time to clean a home and reducing the cost to the homeowner because now the higher paid worker doesn’t have to be in the home as long.  Some scientist will develop fruits and vegetables that require less cleaning and less manipulation.  Technology will bring advances in machinery and construction.

Things we can not imagine now (because it is not worth our effort) and ideas we can not visualize today will pop to the forefront. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Simple as that.

That’s just the way our system works.

And in the meantime, this boomlet will generate more jobs and more income to LEGAL Americans.

Posted by Ranting Right Wing Howler     on 04/04/2005 at 06:07 AM   
Filed Under: • Illegal-Aliens and Immigration • Personal •  
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   Friday - April 01, 2005

Ramblings

Just like in that joke earlier today, like Tom, the market is shittin’ the bed today.  I guess everyone wanted more hirings and cheaper oil.  Even if we had more hires, with oil as it is, lay-offs are right around the corner anyway.

However, I AM looking for some buying opportunities and some are presenting themselves quite nicely.

In other news, I spent almost 2 hours taking apart and cleaning my new M44.  The barrel was a bit full of preservatives but oitherwise it is a very clean gun with very nice blueing still present.  What I do not like are the steel hoops that hold parts of the stock together.  Removing and replacing them abrade the nice wood.

Oh, well, can’t have everything.

I think next week I will take it for a test spin.

It’s hot outside (83 degrees.) Time for a shower and a drink---in that order.

Posted by Ranting Right Wing Howler     on 04/01/2005 at 02:57 PM   
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   Thursday - March 31, 2005

Time To Move On

I am calm now. It is time to move on. Terri Schiavo is dead and nothing will change that. What we can do is change the laws to prevent it happening again. Write your Congress-critter today. Prepare your living will. Get right with God. Live your life to the fullest. Do all the things you should be doing.

I have just come back from a long walk. Pondering what happened. I am a hard man and I have lived a hard life but events like this and the emotionally charged arguments going back and forth have scratched the little tender-hearted piece of me that I hide from the world.

Every life is precious. That is what separates us from the animals .. and people like the radical Muslims. We value life and want to prolong it as long as possible in the hope that each life has something more to contribute to the greater good. Do I feel anger or hatred toward Michael Schiavo, his lawyer or the judge who condemned Terri to die? No. Absolutely not. If any punishment is deserved, they will feel it every night when they go to bed and finally when they go to face the Ultimate Judge of all Creation.

Our job is to go on living. One day after the next. Doing our best to make things better. Nothing more or less. I urge all of you to take from this the lessons learned, to work to see it doesn’t happen again and finally .... to pray for Terri. Her troubles behind this “veil of tears” is over. Allow God to take her in and bring her peace.

“Think not disdainfully of death, but look on it with favor; for even death is one of the things that Nature wills.”
-- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121 AD - 180 AD)

Posted by The Skipper     on 03/31/2005 at 03:23 PM   
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Peace, Quiet, Serenity

For those needing something to do/someplace to go to get your minds off the latest news, try going here.

Yesterday and today I was out taking photos. What you will see by clicking on the link are pictures of what’s currently blooming in my garden.  The photos are optimized for quick download (about 40K each) so even with a dial-up it’ll be quick.

Don’t forget we also have a picture gallery on the right hand side of the blog.  You can see these flower pictures and more by clicking on the link and then choosing the gallery you wish to visit.

Enjoy!

For you budding botanists out there I have a couple I’ve not ID’d.  Can you?

Posted by Ranting Right Wing Howler     on 03/31/2005 at 12:09 PM   
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   Tuesday - March 29, 2005

A Change Of Pace

Reading about Jesse Jackson depressed me.

This is where I am headed, scotch in hand.  My back yard. Imagine me on that bench, wind in the trees, birds twittering, frogs croaking in the canal behind the house.

See you in an hour or so.

Update From Allan: there will be no “Photo Du Jour” feature today as Vilmar has provided us here with an excellent picture for your relaxation and artistic pleasure. Enjoy!

Update II From Allan: here’s a little something to help our Benevolent Dictator relax. Hopefully, he can still read “portugee”. Me, all I need is a six pack and a book of Yeats ....

Árvores

O que tentam dizer as árvores
no seu silêncio lento e nos seus vagos rumores,
o sentido que têm no lugar onde estão,
a reverência, a ressonância, a transparência
e os acentos claros e sombrios de uma frase aérea.
E as sombras e as folhas são a inocência de uma ideia
que entre a água e o espaço se tornou uma leve integridade.
Sob o mágico sopro da luz são barcos transparentes.
Não sei se é o ar se é o sangue que brota dos seus ramos.
Ouço a espuma finíssima das suas gargantas verdes.
Não estou, nunca estarei longe desta água pura
e destas lâmpadas antigas de obscuras ilhas.
Que pura serenidade da memória, que horizontes
em torno do poço silencioso! É um canto num sono
e o vento e a luz são o hálito de uma criança
que sobre um ramo de árvore abraça o mundo.
-- António Ramos Rosa (1924- )

Update III From Vilmar: here’s the translation (as best asa I can do it since poetry is difficult)

What do trees attempt to say
in their slow silence and vague rustlings
the care they have for where they are
the reverence, the resonance, the transparency
and the clear notes and shades of an airy phrase.
The shadows and the leaves are the innocence of an idea
Into which enters water and the space turned entirely light
On the magic current of light are transparent boats.
I don’t know if it is air or blood that blossoms from its branches.
Listen to the ever so light foaming of its green throats.
I am not nor will be far from these pure waters
And these ancient lights of obscure islands.
What pure serenity of memory, what horizons in
The tap of silent wells!  It is a song in a dream
And the wind and light are like the breath of a child
That on a branch of the tree embraces the world

Posted by Ranting Right Wing Howler     on 03/29/2005 at 04:58 PM   
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   Thursday - March 24, 2005

Allan’s New Avatar?

I believe this one will do nicely, thank you very much. Any whore’s son who doesn’t like it will be keel-hauled ....

Posted by The Skipper     on 03/24/2005 at 12:09 PM   
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   Monday - March 21, 2005

Medical Update

The Gomer Pyle Medical Center
March 21, 2005
Press Conference

The BMEWS Secretary Of War is expected to survive his bout with the flu, although currently listed in “guarded” condition. His fever is down to a measley 100.2° and he was able to hold down some toast this morning. Chest congestion is still bad but overall conditions are improving. The fever-induced hallucinations and flashbacks to 1968 have finally stopped. He is even now amusing himself with crackers and orange juice and the funny papers. The cartoon below, however, almost caused him to have a stroke. He cracked up and fell to the floor screaming “THAT’S HIM” and “BMEWS MEMBER”. Can you help the doctors here identify which member he might be referring to? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Posted by The Skipper     on 03/21/2005 at 11:11 AM   
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The UAW And Me

Recently we had a post about how the UAW stopped allowing Marines from leaving their cars in the UAW parking lots while said Marines deployed or went on exercises.

Here, here, and here.

The comments were wide ranging and interesting but very few of them touched on the issue of “quality” or “reliability” or “resale value.”

So I will do so now.

Almost 3 years ago I had to get rid of my trusty Toyota pickup which I’d had for 18 years.  Four cylinder, 5 speed, NO air conditioning.  It had 150,000 miles on it.  The engine ran like a top.  I bought it in 1983 in California, drove it 3 months later to Louisiana where it got floated over the pond to Greece, my next military assignment.  From there I drove it a year later to Portugal via Italy, Switzerland, France and Spain. Oh, did I tell you all this time it had a cab-over camper (small) on it!  What a site in Europe! From Portugal it got shipped 6 years later to New Jersey where I drove it south and then west to Texas.  Several trips back and forth (Texas to Florida) and then I drove it to Virginia where I had my first “problem” with it at almost 100,000 miles.  I needed to replace the exhaust.  10,000 miles later the starter.  10,000 miles later the brakes and 10,000 miles later the clutch.  Not bad for 18 years of driving.

My father’s health did not allow him to drive any more and since my mother does not drive (can’t learn, we tried, she freaks behind the wheel--go figure!) it was incumbent upon me to pick up the slack.  So I went shopping for a new (different) car. It had to seat 5 easily and my father needed to have easy egress/ingress.  The choices boiled down to a Town Car, a Gran Marquis, a Cadillac DeVille, a 95/96 Impala SS, or a Toyota Camry.

I REALLY had my eyes set on the Impala SS but none were to be had within many miles.  My next choice was the Caddy or Towncar.  Luxurious.  Commodious.  Last on my list was the Camry.

Then I started digging into the NADA and saw the prices. 

I was looking for a 3 or 4 year old car with depreciation eaten out of it (I refuse to buy a new car because of the WALLOP one takes driving it off the lot.)

So I methodically started calculating “average retail when new” versus “average retail for a 2, 3, and 4 year old” car.  I even took it out 6 years to get an idea of, historically, where I’d be 2 years hence.  The Cadillac and Town Car were worth only about 30% of their “new” price 6 years on.  The Camry still had 50% of its value.

Being a tight wad (and very practical) I focused on the Camry.  As it turns out my parents’ neighbor had one so I went over and asked her if my father could try getting into her car because I was in the market for a Toyota but he needed to be able to get into it easily.

It turns out she had it for sale.  It was a 1998 model.  Had only 38,000 miles, was the upgraded Camry with V-6 and all options.  We negotiated a price and I bought it.

The point of all this?

Yesterday I was driving by a house that had a beautiful Town Car with a FOR SALE sign on it.  I stopped and looked.  It was a 1999.

I got home and checked its value.  Then I checked my Toyota’s.  The new Town Car sold for about $33000.  The new Toyota for about $24000.  Today, my “one year older than a town car” Toyota is worth more than the Town Car.

Granted, US cars have improved in quality but numbers do not lie.

In conclusion, yes, the UAW has a lot more to worry about than some Marines parking in their lots.

The floor is now yours.

Posted by Ranting Right Wing Howler     on 03/21/2005 at 06:53 AM   
Filed Under: • Personal • Unions-Labor •  
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DISCLAIMER

THE SERVICES AND MATERIALS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE HOSTS OF THIS SITE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICE OR ANY MATERIALS.

Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

1. Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
3. Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere

It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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