In his Father's Footsteps

Today my eldest grandson started his student enlistment in the New York Air National Guard. He starts his monthly drills soon and will attend basic training in San Antonio this summer after he graduates from high school. His father, a four year AF vet, was on the flightline at Edwards AFB in the late 1980's servicing fighter jets.

We are so very proud of him. He will be a full time member of the NYANG assigned to security once he completes his advanced training, probably late this year. As an MP I think he will be pursuing a career in LE, like his grandpa.

Grateful That It Wasn't Worse

We got home from the hospital this afternoon... exhausted. Yesterday (Monday) I had to undergo a hastily scheduled surgery on my replacement shoulder after my surgeon thought there could be an infection. And there was.

The original 8" incision had to be cut open again and the infected tissue removed. By the grace of God the infection did not get into the metal joint as it would have necessitated the complete removal of the new joint, the insertion of a "spacer"and a six week regime of IV administered antibiotics. My wife, bless her, stayed with me through a sleepless night. There were some other complications but things got sorted out and I was finally able to be discharged with prescriptions for oral antibiotics and painkillers.

So I am back in a sling and unable to drive again for about 10 days but I am very happy with that given the alternatives.

Still, all in all, it's been a rough four months...

Yep, It's Been A While

I'll make this short and succinct.
Last October, 10/10/17 to be exact, I tripped and fell in my garage. I landed on my face and left shoulder. Except for some scrapes, my face was fine. Unfortunately I shattered my left shoulder in three places.

This was the second time I had broken that shoulder. First time was in 1976 when I was chasing suspects in a drug deal. It never healed properly. It wasn't going to heal at all this time around.

I went into surgery on 10/16/17 and the entire joint was replaced. It's called a reverse total shoulder replacement. And it's a bear to recover. This is what I was left with after the surgery:

Lookit them freakin' screws. The T1000 Terminator had less metal. The rod almost reaches my elbow. I went in for my annual physical last week and showed this to my doctor. He said, "Holy shit!"

But it's finally feeling better and I am starting to actually use the arm more. I felt like crap for so long.  I can now pick up my 15 month old grandson and it doesn't hurt too  much. Hopefully by this Spring or early summer I will have a great deal more use.

On a more pleasant note, my daughter is expecting again. It's a boy and he is due in mid-June. Other than that and physical therapy, I stay inside mostly. It's been so cold here. Thank God for my neighbor across the street who has been helping with the snow as I can only do so much with a small electric blower. Can't handle the big 10 HP one anymore, so it was sold. We've had over 75" so far this year.

I'll keep you informed. I just don't feel like blogging much.

Our Self Indulgent Nation

Back in 2008 when the Army was recruiting our daughter, the wife and I had several conversations with the recruiters. This subject came up even then.  Military recruitment is vital to our national interests; if new war fighters can't be found we are in deep kimchi.

Americans continue to get fatter and it's delivering a huge blow to the country, both in higher health care costs and undercutting military recruiting, according to a huge new study.

The 14th annual State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation bluntly reported that 70 percent of the nation is obese or overweight.

And while the rate of obesity growth is leveling off, the costs aren't. The report, for example, said additional health care for obese adults and children is $150 billion a year and billions of dollars more in lost worker productivity.

It is also costly to the military, said the report. Nearly one-quarter of military recruits are rejected because they are obese and it costs the Pentagon $1 billion a year in added health care costs for obese troops and their families.

more here.

Another Media Shill Speaks Out

The media once again screams about the mote in Trump's eye while ignoring the telephone pole rammed in it's own eyes. Today's mote? Trump was criticizing our southern neighbor and now T-Rex is thanking Mec-he-co for sending aid to flood ravaged Houston.

From Mediaite (why do I bother?)

This afternoon, during a photo-op with Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations Luis Videgaray Caso, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson took the opportunity to thank the Mexican government for its offer of disaster assistance to areas struck by Hurricane Harvey.

“It’s very generous for Mexico to offer to help in this very, very challenging time,” the Secretary of State said.

And in a press conference today speaking about the ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of the devastation from Hurricane Harvey, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) was asked about Mexico’s offer of help. The conservative governor, who has previously (and falsely) claimed ISIS was running through the US-Mexican border, announced that he would accept the assistance.

“I have and we are,” Abbott told the reporter. “And we have, I don’t have with me here, we have a list of aid and assistance that they have offered to provide that we are accepting. I don’t have the list, but I can tell you loosely, it involves things like vehicles and boats and supplies and food.”

Meanwhile, just a few days ago, President Donald Trump sent this tweet out about Mexico, while Harvey was battering Texas:

With Mexico being one of the highest crime Nations in the world, we must have THE WALL. Mexico will pay for it through reimbursement/other.

Furthermore, with Mexico’s offer of assistance on the table, Trump went to Missouri to deliver a speech on tax reform and took the opportunity to take a swipe at America’s neighbor, stating that “Mexico is not happy” that he’s looking to renegotiate NAFTA.

So sorry Mediaite and the rest of you losers out there, you're all full of crap.

One "attaboy" does not make up for 11,000,000 "awshits" that you have thrown across the border.

One third of California's penal system is devoted to housing Mexican awshits and almost 25% of the US federal penal system houses more and awshit anchor babies are bleeding the US Treasury dry.

Tens of billions are spent housing, feeding and healing awshits from other countries and we're getting sick of the expense and the crime.

Hypocrites

H/T Lucianne.com

Surprise

How To Piss Away $160 Million

This person needs to be tarred and feathered, then paraded out the lobby of One Police Plaza, followed by the people who hired the idiot. Truly, there needs to be an investigation because this stinks.

The NYPD has to scrap the 36,000 smartphones it gave cops over the past two years because they’re already obsolete and can’t be upgraded, The Post has learned.

The city bought Microsoft-based Nokia smartphones as part of a $160 million NYPD Mobility Initiative that Mayor de Blasio touted as “a huge step into the 21st century.”

But just months after the last phone was handed out, officials plan to begin replacing them all with brand-new iPhones by the end of the year, sources said.

The NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Technology, Jessica Tisch, comes from a very influential family - her billionaire father is James S. Tisch, CEO of the Loews Corporation. But James Tisch is a Republican and was the campaign financial director manager for Mayor de Blasio's mayoral opponent, Joseph Lhota. Tisch was promoted to this position by Commissioner Bratton, who apparently has lost his mind.

Law-enforcement sources blamed the boondoggle on NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Information Technology Jessica Tisch, with one saying, “She drove the whole process.”

“Nobody purchases 36,000 phones based on the judgment of one person,” a source said.

“I don’t care if you’re Jesus f- -king Christ; You get a panel of experts.”

Technology experts had long questioned the NYPD’s decision to choose Microsoft-based phones over those that run on Google’s Android software or Apple’s iOS.

Microsoft announced that as of July 11, it was no longer supporting the Windows mobile operating system that powered the NYPD phones.

For the law twenty years of my career I have participated in committees, researched, and made recommendations for the purchase of high tech law enforcement equipment - including computer systems. I was the system administrator for several of them. 

Accessorize Your Concealed Carry

Accessories turn a few basic outfits into a smorgasbord of fashion, so why not do the same with your .380?

The National Rifle Association put on a concealed carry fashion show Friday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Models displayed offerings from 30 companies who make purses and gun holsters designed for quick access

In perhaps the most American form of haute couture - the National Rifle Association put on a concealed carry fashion show.

From purses to gun holsters, attendees of the gun ownership and self-defense convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin were treated to what the NRA said was the first-ever show of its kind.

Models displayed offerings from roughly 30 companies on Friday night, such as Femme Fatale and Man-Pack, whose products include corset holders and shoulder bags designed for quick gun access.
Ahead of the event NRA spokesman Jason Brown said: 'It's going to be really, really interesting to see all of these different products up on stage and modeled by people.'

Amanda Suffecool conceptualized the fashion show and the NRA worked with her to host it at the NRA Carry Guard Expo.

This is the first time the NRA had hosted such an event.

More here.

75 Years Ago Today

I fear that for many young Americans the word "Guadalcanal" means nothing.
Guadalcanal is an island in the Solomons named after a village in the province of Seville, Spain. The island was named by the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña in 1568, for the village which was the birthplace for a member of Mendaña's expedition.

In 1942 this island was the scene for the beginning of the end of the Japanese Empire.

At Guadalcanal, the Empire of Japan lost two-thirds of their 31,000-plus army troops committed to the fight. Approximately 1,600 Americans were killed. Warship losses were roughly equal, but the Japanese would never equal American industrial ability to replace them and so felt the loses more significantly. Most devastating to the Japanese was the decimation of their elite naval aviators. From this, they would never recover. The most shocking of American losses was the over 5,000 U.S. sailors and Naval officers killed, a figure that easily surpassed the Navy’s accumulated losses in all her history.

More here.

NOTE: Guadalcanal was a crucial victory as it is only a three hour flight from this island to Brisbane, Australia. Japanese airfields would have made transportation form the US to its ally very difficult.

US Navy "Bumper Cars"

Yesterday's remark about our navy playing bumper cars ... Vice Admiral John "Crash" Aucoin is going bye bye.

From Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy plans to remove from duty the commander of the fleet that has suffered four recent collisions in Asia and the deaths of a number of sailors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing U.S. officials.

Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin, the three-star commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet based in Yokosuka, Japan, will be relieved of command on Wednesday in connection with four collisions since January, including two involving fatalities, two U.S. officials said, according to the Journal. It said Navy officials declined to comment.

Okay, I'm Back

It's been almost ten weeks now. Just didn't feel like posting. Really ... I still don't. Too depressing to go into the news. It's like the America Mass Media has dropped it's draws and shown the world its ass. Fox News, go to bed. You throw a babe on the screen with nice teeth and tatas to read your crap and we're supposed to believe them.

 It's One America News from now on.

Idiots running amok in the streets and the police standing around with their thumbs permanently inserted up their - you know. When is the head busting and teeth bashing going to start?

American warships have been turned into bumper cars.

Obama's administration is like a curse that must be exorcised, ObamaCare ain't going away soon it seems despite what the lying RINOs have been promising for seven years..

There haven't been any additions to the US Border Patrol staffing but at least the flood has been diminished.

Europe is falling apart, piss on 'em. They should have known better than to let those savages in.

But I did like Trump's address last night. We are finally on a true war footing. I would like to see how the ROE have changed also. Killing assholes, busting their stuff and preventing resupply/recruitment is great strategery.

I rediscovered Twitter but that's just as goofy as anything else.

So here's what I did.
I am Mom's executor so I am putting together her estate. Fortunately we liquidated almost all of of her assets before she passed so there isn't much to probate. Last month we buried her ashes with Dad in the Calverton National Cemetery on eastern Long Island.

Then the next week the wife and I were up to Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks and I went fishing every day. Didn't catch much but don't care. My daughter and SIL also spent the week at another cabin close by. Our oldest daughter and her kids also dropped by and spent a day and night with us.

I have bought two new fishing rods/reels, some tasty lures and got a new tackle box for Father's Day. The old box  (25+ years old) smelled like nasty feet. I should get my collapsible rod in the mail today. I haven't done much fishing in a long time and got a lot of catching up to do.

I have been taking my 7 yr old grandson fishing. He's turned into a fanatic. I just wish he'd stop talking for ten minutes, but fishing and juice boxes do go well together. I wear my San Angelo TX cowboy hat when I fish.

There are huge carp in Onondaga Lake and I wanna get one. They pulled a 47 pounder out a few years ago. This October there is a carp contest on the lake that draws international attention. I have been thinking of getting a small boat but there's no where to store it on our property. Still, I am cruising Craig'sList and other boat sale sites. Maybe my SIL will let me keep it on the side of his house... End of fishing stuff.

I finally fixed the water damage to our bedroom ceiling. Had to cut out a large section but it looks great. Now to repaint all the bedrooms and install carpeting for our new bedroom set. We're thinking of selling the house and getting something smaller. We have a three story, 4 bedroom house, 3000 square feet heated, located on a steep hill and I'm not getting any younger.

We're not sure about leaving NY. We love our church and all our friends and grandkids are here. Thinking about building an in-law apt or add-on when the middle daughter buys a house, then getting something very small in NC. Decisions, decisions.

Army girl is now in Germany for six weeks. Thank God, we thought she was going to Iraq but her bosses changed her assignment. She loves her work in the KNG but the 8 hour drive to Lexington once a month is hard. Our youngest daughter leaves for Paris in late September to do a jewelery show for her boss. I've warned her to stay with lots of sane people because Paris is full of savages who should have stayed in their third world shitholes.

Just before we left MD in mid June I was going through some of Mom's stuff before it goes to Goodwill and I found my Dad's old wooden shoe shine box. Starting when I was about 10 years old he would have me shine his shoes for work every evening after dinner. That was almost 60 years ago. For some stupid reason I have been thinking about that box for decades, ever since he died in 1990. It still has polish and his brushes in it. Mom kept it with her. I got it now in my bedroom.

That's all for now. Thanks for sticking with me!

Alexander Graham Bell

Mom Has Passed

My mom died yesterday morning. We were expecting this as she has been in hospice care for the last six weeks. We all feel that she waited until her granddaughter's wedding was over on Saturday and slipped her mortal coil early Monday morning. I had a feeling that when we left MD last month that it would be the last time I that I would see her.

I am Mom's executor and have to leave for MD. My wife is sick today or else we'd be on the road right now. Posting will be pretty sparse for another bit.

Mom and Dad are both gone now. This is a picture of happier days.

73 Years Ago Today

Tourists, not troops, now cover the beaches of Normandy.

Story and more pics here.