Warcats and pissing...

This is an alarm I set up to stop my cats from peeing on the floor. I just received a letter from SGT Nugent which had his solution: put the cat outside. Smart-ass.

Sorry bout the size, but blogger won't shrink the damn thing.

Jarheads

Just saw Jarhead. You should watch it if you have ever served in the military. If you haven't, disregard, candy-canes.

Bubbles

"I do not consider it an insult, but rather a compliment to be called an agnostic. I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure—that is all that agnosticism means."
-Clarence Darrow, Scopes trial, 1925

Army Death

An Army Soldier died today. Many have, but this one was a friend's son's best friend. He was a SGT(E-5). More valuable than five civilians, including the veteran civilian typing this blog, he was a brother to many high and low. He did his job better than anyone, and died among family. From what I hear, this warrior's family-relationships forged on blood and sweat, was closer and more valuable than his own blood family. There isn't a better place or way to die, protecting your family from some foe. I didn't know him personally, but I and a few other MilPers know his character and will remember such sacrifice. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. Two shots of Military Special for such a man, such a man that many can only aspire to be.

AVT3

Wild Turkey

Here's one for CGAS Detroit...

Here's To Them

A year ago, I worked with some of the best people the U.S. has to offer. I'll make sure to drink a few shots of wild turkey for a few of 'em and then a few Miller Lite's for Shortstuff and the gang. If any of you are reading this, I still got your back. Fair winds and following seas...

In other news, TGD has a new hog. I just thought I would let everyone know how gay he is. He's gay. If DFB has tendencies, then TGD is Richard Simmons gay. He's so gay, Clay Aiken won't date him. If he were any gayer, we would have a new species of homo. He would be a homo-asexual, cause he wouldn't be getting any sex. Hee hee, hee hee yah yah...

Ok, so I passed my test and now I get to take another test so I can go to another school. When I get back? I get to take a test on how much I learned. But it's ok, cause I get to eat good, get paid, and drink beer. Mmmmm beer.

Oh, and for you guys out there still interested, my wife is still for sale.

16 bit interface

Okay, I have a 16 bit program that runs on windows 2000 thru DOS. The program was originally written for a Tandy. Used for logging maintenance over a network. Here's the problem: I am unable to print out the data through a network connection mapped using UNC. The laser printer is connected to a central "server" computer via LPT1. I mapped to it through a router connection. The printer will print from Word, Excel, etc. It even prints from the 16 bit program, but the printout is garbled with various characters. One laptop, which was previously setup for this, successfully tells the printer to print out the correct characters. I can't find a difference. Both use Win 2k. I suspect it somehow converts the 16 bit data to work on a 32 bit printer. All other computers garble the data. Could this be a port issue? I can't seem to tweak any computer and can't find a difference in port settings. Is there a background program? I didn't check task manager. Does anyone remember what DOS is? I tried to print from DOS, but 2k is being a bitch. I wish we would upgrade our equipment! I'll buy a sixpack of your choice for the successful answer.

Don't have to work tomorrow, bitches!!!

DAMN THE BOMBAY!!! and the pretty mouth bitch named Timmy....

Things and more...

Thanks to whoever signed me as their referral for PASS. Will make sure to buy the beer next adventure! To all my new friends, congrats on your first certification. Kieth-If ever up in Terre Haute, I'll get the first round of Bass. Congratulations to my friend(a.k.a. "Spook") on your first assignment. Hope this one is better than the two hour commute to Washington! I always wanted to be an operator, just didn't have the guts or brains. Let me know about the slugs.

J.R.-keep your chin up and will write soon.

For everyone else, smooth tailwinds...

Shit-for-brains

No, I'm not talking about DFB. My brain has turned to shit. Eight and a half hours of practical exam can do that. No, Tommie had it worse-fifteen hours. We both passed-all that matters. I guess I'll try to get one more exam done before taking off. I know I'll be back here again and again for more training. At least for the first two years. Then, who knows. Might go to a few other states and see how they are after a few more. Sorry folks, Indiana just isn't as exciting. Guess I miss all that traveling in the military. Should give me enough time to finish up on the house and sell it. Heather should be done with school and ready for another adventure by then.

This is funny.

I guess J.R. did okay during these elections. I hope his work is not done in vain.

Well, I'm gonna try to get my brain to recover a bit.

For you guys still pullin' hovers on and off the ice, I won't forget where I came from. Check me out on military.com or fred's place. You can add me to your network easy enough. Might be a few good spots for you on this side of the house.

Looks like some new boats. Cyclone class, bought em from the squids.

-Tony

Joe Satch Rules

Had to go out and buy an iPod shuffle so I could listen to Joe Satriani while I impersonate a body builder. Got his 2000 cd Engines of Creation. Good tunes. Satriani hasn't let his fans down over the years and his older stuff is still good.
I guess I will put off reading about comms circuits tonite as I can always study better while getting paid. I just got another couple of books even though I passed both comms exams already. One is about RADAR principles which involves a fair amount of Trig and first semester Calculus. The other is about electrical. Yes, the FAA is going to pay me to learn to be an Electrician. Woo-hoo, gonna be a handyman. Okay, the second one also has some good info on HVAC. No, Mikey, I am still NOT a knuckledragger. But if they want me to learn what a caveman does, I will understand and comply:).
I'm a book nerd so I just can't pass up more technical books. As long as they don't expect me to spend all of my day working with Windows, I won't bitch. Pleeeeeze don't make me a Windows bitch.
Hmmmm. What else. Oh, I have a christian friend I often eat lunch with. Ex-Air Farce, go figure. I'm not talking about a typical christian. I mean a bible-beating extreme literal-interpretive christian. However, he is open-minded enough to discuss his beliefs versus scientific reason. You can't argue with him much though. For example, his mind is set on the age of the earth at about 15,000 years and dinosaurs never existed. Yes, he believes that God just "planted" dinosaur bones in the ground for a good laugh. Evidently, his god is a comedian. Oh, and Adam and Eve were okay to populate the earth by inbreeding with their children. Incest became against the law later on. Interesting person to study, as he seems to represent the majority of the views of the extreme religious right. Even if you aren't a humanist or atheist, you would find our conversations interesting. If the extremists could just not impose their views on us, -sigh- what a wonderful world it would be.
I write J.R. about my adventures although his recent adventures top mine. I'm going to try to get him on with the FAA if he so desires. I figure it is a good time to bring him up to date on Coast Guard history. At least, I am sending him some on our greatest hero, SM1 Douglas Munro.
Well, that's all for this week folks. Here is a great alternative to Victoria's Secret for your wives' and girlfriends' xmas gifts: hehe.
Oh, and if you are much for politics, here's a great site for the moderate side of the house.
Go, Congressman Murtha!
Have a good week! Heather is coming down Tue, so I gotta pick up the house.

Sir, always learning, Sir.

I have been in OKC for 4 weeks now. It's been boring at times and educational at other times. I have declined to go to the bars and even out for a long time. I did get over to Tinker AFB this veteran's day weekend and picked up a few things including a good tax-free bottle of the Wild Turkey. I declined the Military Special (5 bucks a gallon), but will make sure to pick up a couple gallons before heading back east to remember those honorable vets.
I eat and drink with mostly older guys who have been in the FAA for years. One guy, Gary, was in Air Traffic Control before Congress contracted his job out to Lockheed Martin thus screwing with his retirement. Gary is a born and raised Minn-ee-so-tan with the accent to match it. At 47 years old, this ex-marine can lift out in the gym with the best of the young guys. I try to keep up with him, although my back injury restrains me from lifting what this guy can. Gary has several ruptured vertebrae and still keeps going. I teach Gary Algebra and electronics theory in exchange for some good New Mexican chow(he's from Minnesota but lives in Albuquerqe). Martin, a hispanic/native american guy is here for his second school learning Unix, courtesy of the FAA. He has a home built from adobe, a wife and kids. Martin is also a former ATC controller.
They seem from different worlds. In the Coast Guard, you meet mostly people from the coasts. Its a refreshing note to see how others in different parts of this country live and think.
Well, I'm out. Gotta get up and read more tomorrow about radio comms.

Get some.

Calling all technicians, mechanics, and computer gurus: the FAA has not met their quota for ATSS/ET's. If you haven't applied yet, and you have military experience or some other training, you need to. Click here. The PASS union is demanding more technicians, as the replacement rate is only meeting those who are retiring. Even if active duty, consider applying. Your time in service is transferable. You will not get this opportunity much longer. Mikey-tell all airedales that are planning on separating in the next two years. You WILL NOT get better benefits and pay raises in any civilian job as a technician. Imagine getting paid very well for going to school and getting the experience usually only obtained in the military. Pass it on.

Funny Shit

He he: goingtohell

More funny shit:
http://www.landoverbaptist.org/LOL/lol.html

More to come later.

Not much here, but elsewhere.

The little things.

Its funny how you forget about the little things. Like not itching. But better when you apply that third coating of hydrocortizone that some ingenious little experimenter thought up. Compared to the John Waynes of WWII and Vietnam you still feel like a pussy. They didn't need it and fought with crabs and a host of other nasty skin infections. Not me, I would have called in to work, but I can't right now. Makes me feel like I am still in boot. Especially when you get up at oh-dark-thirty and you HAVE to be at work for the beginning of a new career. Who isn't nervous when you haven't had any sleep cause you don't know what is going to happen in the next few weeks which might impact the rest of your life? The itching can keep you up too.

Walking the streets beside those plain government buildings and dimly lit sidewalks at oh-dark-hundred I can't help but put chin up and chest out and walk a little bit straighter. Sleep for nights or none for days, you could tell your veteran brethren from those not educated on the military fields across this great land and sense the ambition. The only limiting factor is how far you think you can go. I don't know if it's really the military or just the discipline. I like to think its some of both. The real Ph.D.'s say it's genetic. I agree. All of us have the gene, then the environment exploits it or ignores it. So I would say that inner drive is genetic. But the more you push it, the more it comes out.

For those that lost "it", or think they don't have it, they are wrong. Math is the freshest example in my mind. For four years now, I have watched a person who thought they could not do simple arithmetic with even a calculator. I take great pride in transforming their mentality into something different. How bad do you want to prove yourself wrong? I think part of it, with anything-not just math, is if you get to point "Z" when you started at point little "a", you are afraid of going to "alpha" because you might see "gamma" not far behind. Ah, but you started at little "a", you just have to first attack "alpha" and "beta" then you move on to "gamma" and beyond. Patience-knowing when to sit back and have a drink and when to fiercely attack and even when to obsess-is learned with time and maybe good physical exertion. I learned patience in and out of the military.

Now, I am brought to my knees again at the bottom. But ambition only grows stronger with patience. The funny thing is I am kneeling with former military officers and current engineers. If you are a technician reading this, then I want you to see that we all put our pants on the same way. Its all how far you want to go.

Oh, and let's not forget about the people in general all taking this great life step. Where else can you get the wonderful mixture of cultures except in service? It only makes things better when you get to work with Mineesohtans and New Yawkas and those nasal Michiganders and lets not forget those good folks from North Cakalaki. People from every part of the U.S. of A. at the four corners of the U.S. of A.(look it up).

Being intimidated isn't too bad. Being strong isn't too bad if you are careful. Hard labor just sharpens your focus and the pain makes you feel alive. Sometimes just keeping your damned mouth shut does the best. And pressing some grass definitely ain't bad. Persistence and strength go a long way.

Sorry if this is so scatter-brained, I'll clean it up later.

Traveling

Well, I am currently in Vinita, Oklahoma at a Holiday Inn Express. Tomorrow, I finish the trip and live in sunny Oklahoma City for 10 weeks. It always sucks-your first day of travel-especially away from your wife. Then, you get used to it and where you will stomp around.
I don't think any time could be worse than living in North Carolina during AVT "A" school. You lived in the "donut". A fresh-out-of-college architect's design. Shaped like a donut and poorly ventilated, the stench of urine and sweat clung to the place. Not to mention the windows were fastened closed to prevent any suicides. You got to live with a roommate and your whole damned class next to you. It was bad enough being in class together, but then living together 24/7. Then you get duty where you stomp around the halls on a two-hour shift from oh dark hundred to 0630 checking fire extinguishers when you got a test the next day. Or worse, driving all the non-coms around on the weekend to all the bars 'til oh dark hundred. Nothing like being the airman takin E-4 thru E-6 around and you can't even get a drink and you get to wear trops and cover. Take all that and no alcohol allowed to drink away the situation, life was a bitch.

Even boot wasn't as bad. Sure you missed home and got screamed at alot, but hey, you got to eat-didn't worry about the taste or what it was, you only had 5 minutes-and got some good exercise. You didn't have to worry about what anyone would say or what to do with your time or even what you would do on watch. You didn't have time. You just did it. If you did it wrong, you got more exercise. You even got a day of liberty off base and I got a few drinks and even an offer to suck my dick if I returned the favor to a fellow boot camper. Hey, its boot, you don't get blown very often. Just kidding, his whiskers scratched my nuts so we rented a whore.

I guess it beats getting ready to go to Iraq for a year. Plus, I don't get a roommate now and civilians get treated like kings compared to the military. Miss the wife and 2 cats though. No, Mikey, your pipe cleaning service is not necessary. You charge too much.

Quiz

Here's a good link for you churchies out there: Quiz. Should clear up some misconceptions about your christian America. Even you quasi-quantum physicists can't argue with this one.

Oh, and if that doesn't put you in denial enough, read this from the liberal U.K.

Can't be true!

Better research it.

Bleeding heart liberal bastards!

Off to another adventure.

Well, the FAA is already putting me to the grind. Be leavin on Sun or Mon to Oklahoma City for 10 weeks. This is only the beginning. I get to go back there-again and again. Good thing I get paid your tax dollars to go to school.
Today was my last day at Collins. They threw me a pizza party and then I got to tear up a piper comanche. Brought my tools home and tossed 'em into the garage. Now I got more tools to play with at home. Better make sure I pack a few metrics, never know when you need a good tool or two.
Mikey, the drink of choice is a straight shot of Bombay Gin. Chase it with Guiness Extra Stout and you're on it. Might knock off a piece of the old lady. Won't be getting it for a bit. Hell, maybe I will run over to Tulsa and harass a few Airmen. Do they still go to school over there or are we sending them all to E-city? Let me know, maybe I can fuck with a few from North Bend. Here are some Halloween pics in remembrance of real men/women?














Notice I found Jesus in the last one! I always suspected Jesus was attracted to male angels. Look at that drunk-ass angel. He needs another one...

You're Hired!

Well, its been eleven months and the FAA finally offered me a job in E-ville. Back to working for the government. No more fixin Joe-Schmo's 172 or some rich asshole's plane he gets a tax-break on. Ah, but no more working on this. Or this beautiful baby. Okay, the rocket was really yellow, but you get the idea. My boss offered me more money, but he couldn't compete with your tax money. Not to mention the benefits your tax money gives me :) Thanks alot! Don't worry, I will make sure you get the signals you need to land, just remember to have it serviced at Collins, they do a decent job. I will let you all know how it is. Mikey, don't worry, you just let me know when you become retarded and I will hook you up best I can. In the meantime, enjoy this.