Non Compos Mentis

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~



Several hundred National Guard troops were flying back home from Afghanistan when they ran into the TSA at Indianapolis. As one of the soldiers described it,” That’s where the stupid started." As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the following:

When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards. Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That’s where the stupid started.

First, everyone was forced to get off the plane–even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine. It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.

The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it re inspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area,
the TSA decided not to re-inspect our Cargo–just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, re-inspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN. This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.

So we’re in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they’re going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:

TSA Guy: You can’t take those on the plane.

Soldier: What? I’ve had them since we left country.

TSA Guy: You’re not supposed to have them.

Soldier: Why?

TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.

Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I’m allowed to take it on.

TSA Guy: Yeah but you can’t use it to take over the plane. You don’t have bullets.

Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?

TSA Guy: [awkward silence]

Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the f**k out of here. I’ll buy you a new set.

Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns–but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.

The Airport Security Solution That Will Work

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~


The best and only way to make our airports secure is to profile passengers that fall into one category of people. We all know who the terrorists are and should be looking at them instead of the average American citizen.  So if anyone falls within this category check them out throughly at before boarding a flight. If they don't want the extra scrutiny, then let them find another means of transportation and stop pestering and violating people's rights that do not fall into this category.  AMM

Here's a recent news account about the would-be Portland, Oregon bomber, Mohamud Osman Mohamed. Reading that article confirmed something that has been very clear for more than 20 years: America's terrorism problem isn't domestic. As others have already pointed out, the purveyors of terrorism in America and elsewhere are mostly Islamic Middle Eastern Men, predominately ages 18 to 30. All the leftist hand-wringers whine on endlessly about "fairness", and decry that horrid "profiling." But the latest incident in Portland is just another in a long, long, string of Islamic Middle Eastern Men that have demonstrated that they want to set off bombs in America. The fact is that we need more profiling. Why is the TSA still bestowing extra scrutiny at random? Do you feel safer, knowing that the TSA flunkies are groping elderly Catholic American nuns instead of focusing their attention on young Middle Eastern men?

Oh, and to be specific, the problem is not vaguely "Middle Eastern Men". To clarify:

• Lebanese Christian men are "Middle Eastern Men". They aren't a problem.

• Israeli Jewish and Christian men are "Middle Eastern Men". They aren't a problem, either.

• Bahá'í Men throughout the Middle East aren't a threat to anyone.

Again, the problem is primarily Islamic Middle Eastern Men.

Sadly, I don't think that the Executive Branch's continuing "anti-profiling" policies will change until after there has been another successful terrorist airliner hijacking or an Islamic terrorist use of a nuclear, biological, or chemical weapon on a major American city. Perhaps after tens of thousands of Americans are dead, we'll take the (blue) gloves off and start profiling (and most likely deporting) the real source of the problem, in earnest.

Please don't misconstrue the foregoing. I'm not a racist. Rather, I'm just a realist.

WBC Has Tires Slashed at Funeral Protest

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~


This group that calls itself a church is not a true church but a cult that disguises itself as a church bent on protesting at funerals of fallen soldiers. They need to have more inconveniences against them like this one against their cult and un-American activities to put a stop to their bone headed way of doing things! The very people that they are protesting against are the people that granted them and all the rest of us our freedoms that we enjoy today! AMM

The infamous Westboro Baptist church from Topeka, KS, which protests military funerals with signs of “God hates America,” faced a bit of irony over the weekend after clashing with about 1,000 counter protesters in McAlester, Oklahoma.

“Shortly after finishing their protest at the funeral of Army Sgt. Jason James McCluskey of McAlester, a half-dozen protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., headed to their minivan,” Tulsa World reports, “only to discover that its front and rear passenger-side tires had been slashed.”

Counter protesters were enraged when one of the Westboro picketers was seen standing on an American flag:

But as if the slashing wasn’t bad enough, to add insult to injury the group drove around unable to find anyone in town who would repair their vehicle, according to police.

“The minivan finally pulled over several blocks away in a shopping center parking lot, where AAA was called,” Tulsa World writes. “A flatbed service truck arrived and loaded up the minivan. Assistant Police Chief Darrell Miller said the minivan was taken to Wal-Mart for repairs.”

It was unclear if the repair shops in town weren’t open, refused to service the vehicle, or the group could not find any in the immediate area.

Tulsa World also reports that nearly 1,000 counter protesters showed up to thwart Westboro’s picketing. They reportedly chanted “USA, USA” while a few motorcyclists revved up their engines to muffle the protests.

Video of the event shows the crowd erupting in deafening cheers when the Westboro protesters pull away from the funeral in the disabled vehicle:

Why Veterans Day Falls On November 11

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~

Veterans Day hasn't always been known as Veterans Day, and it hasn't always been celebrated on Nov. 11. 

The federal holiday was originally called Armistice Day and established to honor World War I veterans. It falls on Nov. 11 to mark the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I, which was formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. (Of the 23 million U.S. veterans living today, there is only one surviving World War I veteran. His name is Frank Woodruff Buckles. He is 109 years old.)

In 1919, on the first anniversary of the Armistice, President Woodrow Wilson declared the day Armistice Day, saying: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

In 1971, though, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act pushed Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October. That move was reversed in 1978 when the day was moved back to its original Nov. 11 celebration date. Armistice Day began its transformation to Veterans Day in 1953, when Alfred King, a shoe store owner in Emporia, Kansas, had the idea to celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in World War I, on Armistice Day. King campaigned for the change at the local, state and federal levels, and on May 26, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill into law. (In most of the rest of the world, however, the day is still called Armistice Day or Remembrance Day.)

Today the holiday honors all veterans of U.S. military conflicts. It is not to be confused with Memorial Day, which each year on the last Monday of May pays tribute to U.S. soldiers who died during military service.

Freedom Is Not Free

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~

I never met one Veteran who enlisted to fight for Socialism!

Somebody Paid!

Thank a vet on Veterans Day for your freedom!

Desks

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~

A lesson that should be taught in all schools . . and colleges 



Back in September, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School, did something not to be forgotten.

On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. 

When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 



'Ms.. Cothren, where're our desks?' 



She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.' 



They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 



'No,' she said. 



'Maybe it's our behavior.' 



She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.' 

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. 

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. 

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 

'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.' 



At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. 

Twenty-seven (27) War Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk.

The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall...

By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.. 

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks.

These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens.

They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. 

Don't ever forget it.' 



By the way, this is a true story. 


Montana Pole Dancer

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~

Be sure to have your speakers on and enjoy!

Perception and Priorities

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~

THE SITUATION



In Washington DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.  After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed the musician playing.  He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. 
 


About 4 minutes later: 

The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 
  


At 6 minutes: 
 
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 
 


At 10 minutes:

 A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.  The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time.  This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.
 


At 45 minutes:

 The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.
 


After 1 hour:

 He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed and no one applauded.  There was no recognition at all.
 

THE FACTS 

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.  Two days before he played the same music to a `sold-out' performance at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.  

Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the DC Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. This experiment raised several questions: 
 
      

*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? 
 
      

*If so, do we stop to appreciate it? 
 
      

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
 


One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: 
 


If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .  What else are we missing as we rush through life? 

Obama to Speak at U.S. Chamber-Sponsored 'Business Summit' in Mumbai

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our leader is going to India for four days at a cost of $200,000,000 (that's 200 million) per day for four days, or close to a billion dollars to promote our relationship with India. I cannot help but wonder who will "out horsetrade" the other, but I think I know. This is particularly significant as a continuation of spend without constraint while Bernanke turns up the printing presses more to deflate the value of the U.S. dollar. Thirty four U.S, naval vessels have been routed to the Arabian Sea, just off the cost of Mumbai for backup security. This "exercise" is not included in the $200 mill per day. The president & his staff are staying at the Taj Mahal Towers, which terrorists bombed in 2008.  I can't help but wonder if Michelle will have a chance to do any shopping.

 

Is this the "India Stimulus" ?

 

You might find the attached article interesting. You might also take a peek at Fox News since the other networks will ignore.

 

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2010/10/12/overlooked-obama-speak-us-chamber-sponsored-business-summit-mumbai

The Eagle has been replaced

The articles that I post is because I think they are of interest to someone else. By posting these articles doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The skunk has replaced the Eagle as the new symbol of the American Presidency.   It's half black, half white, and everything it does stinks!