2005 September | The Bull Speaks!

Random Thoughts in the Night

Rescued dogs, dragons, birds, cats, snakes, and three cute wee kids.
Sometimes I feel as if I’m much more busy now that I’m disabled. I suppose it is only because there are so many more things to impede my progress now. It takes much longer to do any one thing. Add to that the required “rest periods” to allow the muscle spasms to settle and before you know it the day is gone. Especially now that I’m trying to educate our three preschoolers.

Who knew that teaching kids simple things like phone numbers and how to tell time would be so hard? These kids are smart, too. I can only imagine how difficult it was to teach my dumb ass anything at all. I need to find all of my surviving instructors from elementary school right through US Navy boot camp and send them all “Thank You”/sympathy cards! Poor bastards…

Speaking of the US Navy, Lady Beth’s ex-hubby is now in some advanced quasi-hush-hush training before he heads of to the Sandbox for a 1+ year tour dealing with terrorist thugs and general hoodlums. I’ll not post any details that I happen to know of his unit’s movements. Tony and his fellows need to remain as safe as they can for as long as they can. There is a mascot of sorts that is following his unit. It is a little plastic turtle named “Franklin”. It started as a joke for the kids. You know, sending pictures home of Franklin in the barracks and such. Just something to make the kids laugh and to help him feel “connected”. Well, the bloody thing has caught on and now the entire unit is involved in the “Travels of Franklin“! I’ve been given permission to post the pics here on the blog and will begin to do so soon. Delayed, of course. Tony is wearing one-half of a split charm. My step-daughter, Sarah, is wearing the other half. (Tony, if you’re reading this, she has never once taken it off for ANY reason.) I hope he realizes just how much he is missed by his kids and how proud they – hell, all of us – are of him and his unit. The twins, Jack & ‘Bug’, have Navy Dress Blues to wear for Samhain (Halloween) costumes. I’d bet there isn’t an hour of wakeful time that goes by that he isn’t mentioned in this household by those three wee ones. I only hope my three kids feel that strongly about me…

My kids.
Geez, they are nearly all grown. Clancy is living with us now, but her 19th birthday is coming up soon and in too short a time she’ll be out on her own. Kelli isn’t far behind. In fact, her boyfriend, Trevor (another of America’s Heroes), called me tonight to tell me of his desire to wed my baby girl. Kelli? Married?? My Gods! Am I that old? I suppose so. I hope my son, Jake, stays young for a while longer. (Hang on tight to that skateboard, son! There will be time enough for the travails of adulthood later!)

I wonder what kind of World, what kind of Country, we will leave to those children…

Is it possible that I’m the only man alive that failed to put aside ‘The Dream‘?

You know, the Dream of One Nation – regardless of race or religion. The Dream of a Nation of Freedom for ALL. The Dream of a Nation that honors its word as its bond, honors its Constitution, its children, its elderly, and remembers its veterans. The Dream of a Nation that can do ANYTHING that it sets its mind to – like reaching the Moon in less than a decade because one man asked it of us. Hell, we are the Nation that pretty much single-handedly kept the majority of the planet from falling into darkness behind an Iron Curtain!

Of late, I see that we seem not to have a National identity anymore. We are becoming a Nation of Reactionaries and money-grubbing micro-despots without the backbone to stick to much of anything. Tall on lip-service, short on real action. We speak of the money we spend on education while falling steadily behind other nations. We speak – with pride(?) – of the funding for our veterans. Yet everyday services are being cut, veterans clinics are being closed, and more and more veterans are being told they don’t qualify for benefits anymore. And all the while young men are being sent home maimed and scarred from battlefields overseas. We are so busy drawing lines between Right and Left, Liberal and Conservative, Rich & Poor, and most sickening – Black & White, that we fail to look for the solutions to the problems. Worst of all, our most precious freedoms are being whittled down to nothingness by those that would mould America into some personal vision of Utopia. The ‘Bill of Rights‘? Bah! More like the ‘Bill of No Rights‘ if some have their way. Problem is that both the Right and the Left are equally as guilty. Neither the Democrat nor the Republican can really be trusted anymore.

The Bill of Rights.
I hope that someone remembers that the First of those rights depends on the Second to protect it – and the rest. I recently saw a quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson on the subject of the Second Amendment. I really need to see if I can authenticate it. It went something like “The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it shall never be needed until someone tries to take it away.” Too true.

That turns my mind to my new/old hobby: reloading.
I used to reload all of my own ammo both for the .300 Savage and 7mm-08 Remington cartridges. My 7mm rifle never had a single factory round put through it. I miss that gun, but it went to a good home with my nephew, Robin. He has put much game in the freezer through the years with that old model 788 Remington.

Of course, I got into shooting blackpowder rifles, then building them, and then historical re-creation. Then came the Great Disappointment. I became disabled and in continual pain. Lost my first wife and kids in a divorce I was too depressed and suicidal to even “lawyer-up” for, and ended up with nothing much left of my outdoor gear save for a blade or two, my father’s two rifles (a Savage “99″ in .300 Savage (now with my nephew, Taylor) and a Marlin “39A” .22), and my first revolver: a Ruger “Super Single Six” .22 convertable.

Now I’m getting back into shooting and reloading as a means of getting out of the house, keeping my mind sharp, fingers nimble, and as an anchor to the earlier bits of my life. With the current state of my spine I can’t handle recoil like I used to. Heck, I didn’t even find the awesome .460 Weatherby to be uncontrollable in my youth. Today I’m shooting .22 rimfires and the old .45 Colt rounds. The .45 Colt is great not only in its long history, but in the fact I can load it with blackpowder if I wish and get a good dose of the smell of white smoke just like with my ol’ flintlocks! Reloading gives me a chance to use my hands and my mind, as well as giving a great sense of achivement when one of my loads proves to be much more accurate than anything loaded at a factory. You non-reloaders outh there would truly be amazed at the skills needing to be mastered for pinpoint accuracy. Oh yeah, for those that want to know, my .45 caliber guns are a Ruger “New Model Vaquero” and a Winchester “Trapper” carbine. The .22s are the afore mentioned Marlin rifle and Ruger revolver.

That’s right. No semi-autos. No Soviet-styled weapons or cartridges. I tend to be kind of “Old Fashioned” when it comes to my guns. A personal preference only. I would like to get another rifle for shooting at extreme ranges. Nothing, to me, is as American as one man with a rifle making a hit on a target at what seems to be an impossible distance. As much as I’d like to do that with a gun chambered of an old cartridge like the .45-70, the fact is I could not withstand the recoil without hospitalization. So I’m considering something along the lines of the 6.5×55 Swede, or perhaps my old friend the 7mm-08 Remington. This time, however, in a single-shot rifle. Specifically, the Thompson/Center “Encore”. I never have seen the use in fast shooting, high capacity guns. Especially when shooting paper targets! Unless I’m seriously mistaken, my hunting days are now – sadly – behind me.

On a side note, like this post isn’t entirely made of them…), when I said “suicidal” a couple of paragraphs above, I meant it. I just finished re-bluing that .22 revolver because before my condition was diagnosed and treated I was in such pain that I oft slept with the muzzle of that loaded gun in my mouth. The suffering was intense. I’m in less pain now thanks to the good surgeons of Emory University and a decent pain management plan. The depression is gone as well thanks to Lady Beth’s love and devotion, good friends like Liz and Nancy Gail and many others, and a new – if somewhat slowed – desire for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

“Pursuit of Happiness…”
That seems to bring me right back to where all of this started. With rescued dogs, dragons, birds, cats, snakes, and our kids. Those things and more – shooting, reloading, my Country, my friends, and the love of my dear wife, Lady Beth – do indeed make me happy. While being crippled has indeed ‘cramped my style’ in many ways, it has shown me where true happiness is to be found. It is to be found within.

This has been one seriously rambling post, so I’ll spare you any further anguish. Perhaps I’m not as strong, or well-built, or even as mentally sharp as I was before all these health issues cropped up. In the final analysis, though, perhaps I gained more than I lost. I am disabled, but I’m a better man.

USS IWO JIMA

Yeah, I know. It’s all over the web… But just in case one person out there hasn’t read this, I’m posting it! We can be proud of the USS Iwo Jima and her fine crew. Ome thing though… You’ve got to wonder, as Pop did when he sent me this, is why don’t you hear these reports on the National media? Could it be that it is not showing a failure, but rather a shining example of our military’s abilities?
Hmmm…

A 2-Day perspective of recovery activity in New Orleans by Captain Richard
S. Callas, CO of USS IWO JIMA.

Subject: IWO Update – 6 Sep 05

Hello All;
Since I took over IWO JIMA over a year ago, I felt as though I had control of the destiny of the ship. I thought I lost it today, the first time ever, and that we were merely reacting to events rather than controlling them.

Within the first 24 hours after arriving pier side in New Orleans, IWO JIMA has become many things. We are one of the few full service airports in the area and have been operating aircraft on and off our deck for almost 15 hours each day. We are also one of the only air conditioned facilities within a ten mile radius and though we have had problems making water from the polluted Mississippi, we are also the only hot shower within miles. All day long we have been accommodating local policemen, firemen, state troopers, national guard, 82nd Airborne division personnel with hot showers and hot food.

I met an ambulance team from Minnesota who just drove straight to New Orleans when they heard of the tragedy and have been supporting hospitals free of charge for the last week. They hadn’t had a hot meal in over a week and were grateful to have the opportunity to have lunch onboard. The Deputy Commander of the RI National Guard reported to me that he had guardsmen who were whipped, but after a hot shower and an IWO JIMA breakfast were ready to hit the patrols again. Rarely have I seen so many smiling, happy faces than on these people. After two weeks in the trenches sleeping on concrete floors, no shower, and eating MREs, good ship IWO JIMA has been a Godsend.

I had an opportunity to talk to the Director of Homeland Security for a few minutes in my cabin. I asked him if there was anything more I could do for him, he asked if he could get a shower. I was glad to turnover my cabin to him. The local FEMA coordinator and his logistics and security teams were on my quarterdeck this afternoon asking permission to set up their command center on the pier next to the ship. While they had sophisticated command and control equipment, they had no place to berth their 250 FEMA members. We were glad to give them a home. Contrary to the press, all the FEMA people I met had been on station since last Sunday (before the Hurricane hit), never left the area, and have been in the field ever since. The command duty officer was told that one state trooper had driven 80 miles to get to the ship. He said that the word was out: Come to IWO JIMA. We expect that the flood gates will open on us.

Early this morning we received our first medical emergency: an elderly woman with stroke-like symptoms. Throughout the day we received about a dozen medical emergencies, the most serious was an elderly man who was stabbed in the chest and was bleeding to death. The doctors performed surgery on him and saved his life. I toured the hospital ward; all our charges were elderly and disadvantaged individuals. As with Hotel IWO JIMA, we expect to see many more casualties tomorrow.

Our curse appears to be our flight deck and our extraordinary command and control capabilities. Our challenge today was the tidal wave of Flag and General Officers that flooded onboard, 17 total, virtually all without notice. I couldn’t believe there were so many involved in this effort and they all wanted to come here. They poured onto the flight deck in one helicopter after another in order to meet with General Honore, the Joint Task Force Commander. The majority showed up around the same time and all wanted to leave at the same time, making it a nightmare for our flight deck team to control and coordinate flights on and off the ship for all these admirals and generals while supporting the humanitarian effort. I spent most of the day running around the ship getting these people off and on helicopters and in and out of the meetings and command spaces. It was like herding cats. But the ship performed superbly and “flexed” to meet the challenge. Regretfully, we expect nearly 20 admirals and generals onboard tomorrow for more meetings. To add to the challenges, virtually all of these commands are sending liaison staffs to help coordinate issues, and already a number of admirals and generals have “permanently” embarked. The Inn is full.

I talked to one of the FEMA team members who had also worked the disaster relief for 9/11. I asked him how much more difficult was the Katrina relief effort compared to 9/11. He said it was without measure: thousand of times worse than 9/11. He couldn’t articulate the magnitude of the destruction.

Despite all the challenges, I think we regained control by the end of the day. We are forearmed for tomorrow’s onslaught. At our evening Dept Head meeting, I asked all my principals to tell me what the stupidest thing they heard or saw today. The list was enormous. But the most absurd item was when my Tactical Action Officer, who runs our 24 hour command center (CIC) got a phone call from the Director of the New Orleans Zoo. Apparently, there was a large fire near the zoo. It was so intense that the fire department had to abandon the cause, but military helos were heavily engaged in scooping up giant buckets of water and dumping in on the blaze in an effort to put it out. The director complained to us that the noise from the helos was disturbing the animals, especially the elephants, which he was most concerned about, and asked us to stop. The TAO thanked him for his interest in national defense.

It is inspiring to meet and talk to such a huge number of individuals who are doing the Lord’s work to recover this city. They have had little sleep, little food, no showers, working 16-18 hours a day, and in some cases no pay, and they are thanking ME for a hot meal! Only in America.

We have turned the corner. It will take an awful long time, but we have turned the corner.

All the best,
RSC

Read the rest of this entry »

Ethics Test Question

The following was posted on the Muzzleloader Email List. As a test of Ethics, I can not recall seeing one more cleanly written or more to the point. Here we go…

This test only has one question, but it’s a very important one. By giving
an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally. The test
features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in which you will have
to make a decision. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet
spontaneous.

Please scroll down slowly and give due consideration to each line.

You are in Florida, Miami to be specific. There is chaos all around you,
caused by a hurricane, with severe flooding. This is a flood of biblical
proportions. You are a photo journalist working for a major newspaper, and
you’re caught in the middle of this epic disaster. The situation is nearly
hopeless.

You’re trying to shoot career-making photos. There are houses and people
swirling around you, some disappearing under the water. Nature is
unleashing all of its destructive fury. Suddenly you see a woman in the
water. She is fighting for her life, trying not to be taken down with the
debris. You move closer. Somehow the woman looks familiar.
You suddenly realize who it is. It’s Hillary Clinton! At the same time you
notice that the raging waters are about to take her under forever.

You have two options–you can save the life of Hillary Clinton, or
you can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize winning photo,documenting the death
of one of the world’s most powerful women.

So here’s the question, and please give an honest answer:

…

Would you select high contrast color film, or would you go with the classic
simplicity of black and white?

Omar, out!

Letters from the Loopy Left.

I should have seen it coming. Really, it was only a matter of time.

As you all know, we operate a reptile rescue out of our home. We give up living space, food & gas money, vacation time, and lots of sleep in order to help the beasties that need homes. Yes, we do have ads both on this website and on Chaos & Critters site asking for donations. In the entire time we have been in operation the total amount of money and materials donated to our rescue adds up to less than $100. I would ask anyone out there to show me how $100 can house, feed, and give vet care, and find homes for over 50 animals.

Fact is, the money comes out of our pockets. Out of our household budget. Why then do we do it? Because there is a need. Exotics are the last creatures thought of when things go bad. Worse, many folks buy them without any idea of how to care for them. Those animals come to us sick and often starved. We do what we can. To date we have not had one single beastie die in our care. We have saved many that were certain to die, and in a couple of cases have found vets to take the creatures that were beyond our abilities to cure.

Yes, we love animals. We are practical people too. I make no apologies for be reared back in the days when people understood that hunting isn’t just a sport and that it is the American hunter that pays for land and wildlife conservation. Not the idiots throwing red paint of fur coats and feather briefcases. Those fools scream a lot but don’t do a damned thing for real wildlife. Most couldn’t tell the difference between the track of a Whitetail Deer and a Black Bear. They have no idea of the needs of the beast nor any idea of how important the balance is between population and territory. They seem to think that all we need to do is stop hunting and everything will be heavenly. The natural preditors will come back and all ill be as it was before mankind. How wrong they are! Simple fact is that big preditors will not live near man and when they try they become problems when they find our pets and livestock easier pickings than wild creatures.

Still, I post clearly on our website that we are not of the PETA breed and that I am, in fact, a life-long hunter. We work hard on a very limited income (three kids under 5, another one at university, and I’m disabled – not to mention our personal pets) to do our very best for all animals that need good safe homes. The vets that have come by are very impressed with what we have accomplished and seldom a day goes by when I don’t hear from some famiy that is so very happy with their new – healthy – pet.

You casn then imasgine how we feel when we get letters like this one in our mailbox…

I was just looking for groups affected by the hurricane who may need help–what a joke you are–you adopt animals one one hand and murder them in their forest homes with the other?? You actually BOAST about having hunters in your organization?

I am stunned. I will have to be very careful as I look for TRUE animal care organizations to donate to.

-Name withheld to protect the Leftist-

Boast? No, I mention it. Murder? No, the creatures were hunted carefully, humanely taken, and then every bit of them was used for food, crafts, and tools. True animal care? I suppose all those animals that came through this home were actually false animals then. They damned sure did eat a lot for fake animals…

I did send a very polite reply. But the more I sat her the more it grates at my nerves. That’s why I’m posting it here. These people bug the crap out of me. They sit at home and think they have all answers to all problems when they really would never consider the possibility of jumping in and getting their lilly-white hands dirty with actual rescue work themselves.

Lady, keep your money. We will continue to save these beasties without it. We will continue to make sacrifices in our family willingly and happily for what we feel is right. We will also continue to hunt as we see fit, support our local game laws, pay our taxes, and own & shoot our guns. You know, all those things that the far Leftist like to bitch and whine about. Why? Because we are Americans. Proud and Free. While you have the right to not donate to our cause and the right to not like hunting, we have the right to tell you we could not care less about your statements and the right to tell you plainly to simply go to hell.

Omar, out!

Molon Labe: A Response to Tyrannyï¿½

Molon Labe: A Response to Tyrannyï¿½
Thanks to this website!

“Go and tell the Spartans, stranger passing by,
That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.”

“In 480 B.C. the forces of the Persian Empire under King Xerxes, numbering according to Herodotus two million men, bridged the Hellespont and marched in their myriads to invade and enslave Greece.

“In a desperate delaying action, a picked force of three hundred Spartans was dispatched to the pass of Thermopylae, where the confines between mountains and sea were so narrow that the Persian multitudes and their cavalry would be at least partially neutralized. Here, it was hoped, an elite force willing to sacrifice their lives could keep back, at least for a few days, the invading millions.

“Three hundred Spartans and their allies held off the invaders for seven days, until, their weapons smashed and broken from the slaughter, they fought ‘with bare hands and teeth’ (as recorded by Herodotus) before being at last overwhelmed.

“The Spartans and their Thespian allies died to the last man, but the standard of valor they set by their sacrifice inspired the Greeks to rally and, in that fall and spring, defeat the Persians at Salamis and Plataea and preserve the beginnings of Western democracy and freedom from perishing in the cradle.

“Two memorials remain today at Thermopylae. Upon the modern one, called the Leonidas Monument in honor of the Spartan king who fell there, is engraved his response to Xerxes’ demand that the Spartans lay down their arms. Leonidas’ reply was two words, “Molon labe…”

‘Come and get them.’

From Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield

—————————————————

A story we should all remember when faced with seemingly impossible odds as politicians attempt to disarm honest people who have done no wrong.

Molon Labe!

Omar, out!

The Rebuild Arguement

On one of the forums I read regularly I have been engaged by a member who does not believe in the rebuilding of New Orleans. I thought I’d post the most recent bits of that conversation here and get your take on it. (References to actual names have been removed or changed to avoid whining.) Here we go:

His statement: The hardest part to understand is why people still lived in New Orleans, it has been common knowledge that the place was not a viable place to live for at least 100 years, no one with good sense would choose to live in a place that is below sea level and next to tide water. Today, W stated on TV that “The glorious city of New Orleans would be rebuilt”.

That has to be one of the most stupid things W has said, yet.

At least, when Galveston was undone in 1900, the people remaining,over 6000 were killed, had the good sense to bring in enough fill to raise the elevation some 16′ and build a concrete sea wall with massive groins to provide at least a semblance of protection.
So far at least, it has been enough.

Another problem, the people who are supposed to be running things are having the debris piled up to be burned or placed in a landfill,the pictures on TV show millions of board feet of dimension lumber and hundreds of thousands of square feet of sheet goods as well as durable fixtures, sinks, lavatories, commodes and many other very useful items in the piles, these are going to be in short supply and with very high prices when people do try to rebuild, if the powers that be had the common sense of a ruptured rat, they would create jobs and secure needed materials by putting a bunch of the refugees to work salvaging these items.

I suppose it is too much to expect any pol or bureaucrat to have any common sense, though.

My reply: New Orleans has too much history and culture wrapped up around and through it for Americans to ever allow it to sit and rot. It may not be a smart idea, but then neither was rebuilding San Francisco on a fault line, or Anchorage after the earthquake & tsunami, or Homestead after hurricane Andrew. In fact, logic would say that nothing should be allowed to be built south of Orlando, Florida – or on any south Atlantic or Gulf coastline. The threat of hurricanes is ever-present. No, we will rebuild Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Biloxi, Gulfport, New Orleans, and every other wiped out hamlet between here and there. Why?

It’s America, and we don’t like leaving things abandoned like that.

The salvage statement has some merit, though I gotta tell you that the now media-common use of the word “refugee” when refering to American citizens in their own Country is becoming dang near a “fightin’ word” over here in Mobile.

My guess is that there will be many a soul from N.O. head straight back into the “Big Easy” ASAP in order to get that city back on its feet. I’ll also bet that the New & Improved levee and pump system will be a wonder of the modern world. The city may never again be as large as it was, but one day I think I’ll again be walking through the French Quarter and hearing little bands playing ragtime.

Him again: Your statement is the absolute epitome of illogical thought, and why should the rest of us be required to pay for illogical people who do not have even a modicum of common sense?

I really have no use for wasting my, or anyone’s else’s money on a project that makes no sense. If you want to spend your time and money on a project that is eventually doomed to disaster, be my guest, but do not expect the rest of us to pay for it.

My latest response: Nobody said it was logical. Indeed, I agree that it is totally ILLOGICAL to rebuild N.O.

What I’m saying is that America, as a Nation, will not let New Orleans go. No more than any other city destroyed in a natural or man-made disaster. By the way, do you feel the same way about Gulfport, Bayou La Batre, or Biloxi? Or Pass Christian? This is the second time those cities will have to be rebuilt due to hurricane destruction. You see, it is also illogical to spend money rebuilding those towns for exactly the same reason. No, they are not below sea level. They are only a couple of feet above it. Those few feet make absolutely zero difference when they are hit with storm surge. Same goes for the great cities of Miami, Savanah, Charleston, etc ad nauseum. Heck, New Orleans is historically one of the safest places on the Gulf coast!

If strict logic is applied, it make no sense to build on any southern coast. Period. However, as Capt. Kirk loved to point out to Spock, logic won’t always be the best or most desireable course – especially to humans. So until green-blooded, pointy-eared dudes land and want to meet our leaders, logic will have to take a second seat to human desires. And in this case, the human desires to live where they wish, accomplish great things, and shape the land to their needs. Right or wrong.

Sir, we also see eye-to-eye on the money end. I don’t like paying for stupid things either. Like Gov’t grants to study the effect of cow farts on the global atmosphere (no kidding!). And what about a welfare system that pays the poorest families to breed children they can’t and won’t take care of while at the same time denying Social Security claims to middle class workers who become disabled on the job? I could go on all night… Yet we are Americans. We may not like where money is being spent, or disagree with policy. That is our right. We do have a solution though. It’s called a vote. Of course, we can always run for office ourselves!

“President Omar”. Sounds good, don’t it?

Well? What do you think? Should we or shouldn’t we rebuild the “Big Easy”? Here’s you chance to speak out in an open forum.

Omar, out!

Cross-posting: Animal Rescue after Katrina

This is a cross post. Please pass on to any other message boards that you go to.
Posted by Nancy Marcantel on 9/01/05

I don’t have time to spend on the internet finding and
learning how to post right now. Please just let all members know that we have opened a pet shelter at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, right next to the Cajundome. Evacuees may bring their pets their for housing. We have PLENTY of food, water, crates, cages, bedding and newspaper. BUT the owners are responsible for feeding, watering, walking and medicating their own pets.

Interested parties may call Lafayette Parish Animal
Control at 337-291-5644 for more information.

Also many area vets are accepting animals right now,
until they fill up. Get the Yellow Pages out!

Please help me to get this word out. I’ve been working non-stop!
THANKS!

Nancy Marcantel
ARF of LA

USS Alabama (BB60) in need of Help!

Battleship Park, Mobile, AL, home of the USS Alabama (BB60) & USS Drum (SS228), is closed. Here is the statement from their website…

Tuesday, Aug 30, 2005

BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK CLOSED INDEFINITELY

USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park will be closed indefinitely due to the devasting effects of Hurricane Katrina which “visited” the Park on Monday, August 29, 2005.

All Overnight group stays and all social functions are canceled until further notice. Park officials will be contacting those scheduled groups as soon as basic utilities and telephone service are restored.

Park officials regret taking these actions, and hope repair efforts, although massive, will be quickly effected.

We drove over to Daphne so the kids could visit their grandmother today. On the way over I shot these photos of the ‘Bama using a digital camera with telephoto capability.

Friends, our battleship is sitting there in the mud with about a 10 degree list to port. I couldn’t get a look at the USS Drum nor any of the other military equipment other than the “heavies” in the pics. No clue how the planes fared.

The causeway, where the park resides, remains closed and Mobile County remains under a “dusk-to-dawn” curfew until further notice. With the extensive damage everywhere along the Gulf Coast we can expect it to be quite some time before once again Veterans, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren walk those old decks. The Park is my son’s favorite place around here – even over the beach!

Ok. There is a huge amount of Naval history in this park. Hell, there’s a lot of the history of all branches are in that park. Damage from last year’s hurricane “Ivan” was still being repaird when “Katrina” struck us this vicious blow. Visit the USS Alabama website. There you can find all of the contact info and facts concerning the park and the equipment therein.

I’m asking each Vet out there that reads this blog to consider sending just $10 dollars to the Park for repairs. That’s not much, but it will add up fast. Together we can save the USS Alabama, the USS Drum, and the Park itself. In fact, we can make them better than before! No, the Park has not asked me to promote their cause. I’m doing this own my own because it is important to me, and I’m sure it is as just as important to many other Vets. (And for Heaven’s sake, don’t try to send any donations to me! Send those only to the Park officials!) I know with all of the request for aid coming in to every home it is hard to consider sending cash down to repair old military hardware and monuments to men & woman long dead. Still, we owe those long dead heros these monuments so that their sacrifices are never forgotten – even in the face of newer loss and sorrow.

UPDATE!: I spoke with the officials at the park at 1645 hours today to “officially” request permission to push for donations and to add links to their site. (A bit after the fact, but they were ok with it…) Anyhoo, the Battleship Commission is in dire need of assistance and will happily accept any help this Nation’s Veterans &/or Active Duty Personnel can give. They have a webpage devoted to how others can help. It can be found here. Never fear, all you other folk! The Battleship Commission will need help from ALL Americans. We’re talking about a fair chunck of change here. There was far more damage than what I could see or has been reported by the media. Please, join in our cause!

Help Save the ‘Bama!

Omar, out!

What do you know – SAFE Nuclear Power!

Pop is at it again…

This time he’s writing letters to the media. Of course he’s got a point here… His letter is concerning the Nuclear power station right down there amongst the destroyed “Big Easy”. Nothing has yet been mentioned about the plant. Why?

Because it stood up and bucked off the storm – just as it was designed to do.

Imagine that… Nuclear power – safe from hurricanes. The media surely doesn’t want the American public to know that. Not after their oil-backed smear of the Nuke industry in years past.

Here’s Pop’s letter, (his name and addy withheld for privacy…):

News Reporters,

There are more than a few folks in this area that are/have been associated with the Nuclear Industry. Those of us who fall into that category are wondering why the media has ignored the fact that the Waterford 3 Nuclear Power Plant is located on the west bank of the Mississippi in St. Charles Parish.

Is there a possibility that the design, preparedness and operation of this Nuclear Station doesn’t allow the finger pointing so prevalent among those in the media when nuclear power is used as a fuel source? There has to be a story there somewhere!

Just something else to make you say “Hmmm…”

Omar, out

Time for a change!

What is happening to Americans due to sky-rocketing fuel prices is simply rediculous. Between OPEC and the calculated decisions of our own Government gas will soon be at $4.00 per gallon.

Why?

Simply because the rich want to be richer and they like having a strangle hold on the rest of the people.

IF our elected officials wanted to do so, they could easily bring those prices down. This has NOTHING to do with Iraq or the “War on Terrorism”. It has damned little to do with the hurricane damage. What is it really? It is cold, calculated, Price Gouging by the oil industry with the total approval of our Government.

The Government should remember that sometimes a little Revolution is a good thing…

Omar, out.

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