Reprinted from Peach Pundit:

It is 11 o’clock in the morning. 91 years ago at this very moment, World War I officially ended. While we call it Veterans Day in this country, most of the world knows it as Remembrance Day. The “War to End All Wars” was not really so. At this moment, 91 years ago, the calm before the real storm began. Lives striving to be put back in order would, within twenty years, come undone again.

The last of Britain’s World War I soldiers died in the past year. And we continue losing the World War II generation. It is odd to think that soon there will be children born who have no direct connection to either of the two great wars of the 20th century.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 – 1918)

For a good copy of this video:

According to TMZ, Carrie Prejean demanded more than a million dollars during her settlement negotiations with Miss California USA Pageant until the Pageant lawyer presented her with a XXX sex tape of which she is the star..

The video has never been released and is apparently so graphic, not even TMZ would play it.

Apparently it took her about 15 seconds to withdraw her demands and accept a $100,000 payout, all of which covers the cost of her lawyers, leaving her with nothing

You can’t make this stuff up.

My Canadian counterpart may be right-”The GOP can learn a lot from her, particularly that Sarah Palin.”

Readers have reported comments not working. I have been able to post some-please let me know what is happening to yours………

By David Frum:

Palin supporters have constructed an alternative reality in which their heroine is wildly cheered by the American yeomanry, and despised only by a small coterie of sherry-drinking snobs. No contrary evidence, no matter how overwhelming and uncontradicted, can alter this view: not the collapse in Palin’s support in just 5 weeks in 2008, not the statistical studies that show her as the only vice presidential nominee in history to have hurt her ticket, not her rampant unpopularity with American women, not her own flinching from a second encounter with the Alaskan electorate.

In this regard, Continentti’s comparison of Palin to William Jennings Bryan begins to look not only apt, but ominous.

Take this as an opening salvo-its time, yet again, to disabuse the Palinistas of their fantasy once more-and show them them what lies beneath the glasses, the dress and the lipstick. A cold hearted fraud, who is in it for number one.

Tomorrow, I will update the links here-a long overdue task, as many have gone away-or changed names.

And sadly, I will have to banish one particular link, for not having the common decency to link to me-even though he once did. I've struggeld with keeping the link here-because there are some good things to read over at the other location from time to time-but then again there are good things here from time to time also. Having to agree with the other side should not be a prerequiste for being linked to.

So, barring a return of the favor, this link will be sent packing. Sad-but necessary.

The tragic events at Fort Hood, happened as I was in transit last Thursday. I've been going back and forth as to whether to write about it-and indeed what to write.

First of all-I have found myself pretty saddened by much of the reaction of the news and the blogosphere-who have, in general missed the point, namely that this was a criminal act more so than any part of some terrorist conspiracy.

Many right wing blogs have gone overboard about two things: 1) the fact that Hasan was a Muslim and should have been caught and identified earlier and 2) Obama has handled things wrong here and this is proof he is bungling the war on terror. I partially accept the first conclusion and totally reject the latter. This is not a matter for the President per se-its a matter for the Army to fix itself.

Guys like this one-don't just snap. I think the signs that he was a substandard performer must have been there for a while. I can't help but think that had he been in any profession within the military besides the medical one-he would have been shoved out the door a long time ago.  To have an army psychiatrist giving talks on Jihad in a military context and not have anyone call him on it, or take measures to monitor him, or challenge him is -well, just amazing.

However, that does not make it more than what it was- a criminal act made by a man who had lost his judgement. Substitute the words  "angry Christian anti-abortion fanatic" in the place of the words" crazed Muslim fanatic" and you have the same crime nonetheless. The key issue here is not to overreact or go on a tirade. Either American is true to its ideals or it is not-and that means people have the freedom to worship as they see fit. Even in the military. They do not have the freedom though to violate the norms of the dialogue of their profession and its clear Hasan was allowed to do that.

This is a tragic crime-nothing more, nothing less. Those who are trying to read anything more into it-are asking for trouble.

Could it have been prevented? Perhaps-especially given the signs this guy put off. Then again maybe not.  I do believe that he could have been he could have been driven out of the Army earlier-especially since its apparent he was not the pick of the litter. 

Thomas Ricks has some great points that I do agree with:

1. The shooter obviously was a low performer. Why was he shuffled along through the system, instead of simply being let go? I worry that the military often keeps the bottom 5 percent of performers simply because it is easier than getting rid of them.

2. Was he not let go for fear of appearing prejudiced? If so, someone is guilty of moral cowardice, of failing to do the hard right thing instead of the easy wrong.

3. If, as reported, he tended to rant instead of practicing medicine, keeping him on a disservice to the wounded soldiers he counseled. What was his record of treatment, compared to other therapists? Did soldiers complain about him? This should all be reachable information.

4. Did Walter Reed have such a file of complaints about him? If so, was Fort Hood made aware of this when he was transferred? Or was this a classic case of dumping a difficult soldier on another command, in this case with catastrophic results?

5. There appear to have been a number of warning signs. Obviously, it is easy in retrospect to see them. But is there anything that can be done differently? General Casey, the Army chief of staff, said over the weekend that he is worried about a "backlash" against Muslim troops. I think the best way to prevent such an overreaction would be to re-assure soldiers that the Army is uncovering and dismissing Muslim soldiers who veer into extremism. 

There are no larger conclusions to be drawn here. I'd love to point out that this gives a big lie to the "fight them there-so we don't have to fight them here" argument in favor of protracted war in the Middle East, but I can't. Even if we were not in Iraq or Afghanistan, this thing could  have happened-and has happened before. I remain opposed to continued presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, however its not germane to this particular topic.

Its also pretty silly to draw some of the other conclusions that have been drawn-like the one from the idiot at Slate Magazine-who believes that since the gunman was brought down by a female MP, it somehow should drive the Army to lift its ban on women in combat units. Apples and Oranges and has been for a long time now.

Its also not a reason to go on some big witch hunt of profiling, or anything else. The rules were there to get this guy already-it seems apparent they were not followed.

Its also pretty stupid to try to excuse this as PTSD or anything else. Its a crime and if he wakes up-he needs to be tried and punished. I think this guy did not want to go on deployment-tough. Its not an excuse.

I do wish the Chief of Staff of the Army had not said this: ""I think the speculation could potentially heighten backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers. And what happened at Fort Hood was a tragedy, but I believe it would be an even greater tragedy if our diversity becomes a casualty here," Casey said."

Diversity is not worth talking about here-criminal conduct is.

Got home late last night-work was very busy today. But it was a great weekend! More to come tomorrow.

And the Steelers won!

10:38 and I'm back in the room. That, in and of itself, is a sad commetary of my current state in life. Saw lots of old friends. What has always amazed me, is that we cannot see each other for five years and pick up, just like we had never left this place. Its a phenomenon that has to be seen to be understood. Amazing. The S.O. has met so many people tonight.

Speaking of the S.O., its been all Matsui all day. Enough already. I like Matsui too-I'd like him him more if he did not play for Satan The Yankees.  However, from looking at the news, he is something of a hero in Japan.

If New York toasted Hideki Matsui all night and morning after the Yankees' 7-3 World Series-clinching victory in Game 6 last night in The Bronx, imagine the reaction in Japan, which has 20 Japanese media affiliates regularly covering the Bombers and which has sent 28 affiliates and more than 100 journalists to cover the World Series.

"This is unbelievable," said Sataru Kagenezawa of Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper. "The biggest story in Japan for a Japanese player playing in the major leagues was Ichiro [Suzuki] winning the MVP (in 2001). "But I think this is even bigger.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/japan_followed_matsui_heroics_lX8PokHFU47KDSHirMnVBI#ixzz0W31MecO0

 

While I was cussing into my beer last night, the S.O. was dancing in the living room. Matsui! Matsui! I had to remind her that if they were playing baseball as it was meant to be played-he would not have even been at bat.

Today has been lectures on the superiority of Japanese players over American ones.

But hey, I play golf and I see a parade tomorrow. And 30 years ago I was in the company of some great men too. We were champions then-and now.

No post probably till Sunday. Heading to Charleston for my reunion at a REAL military college. Remembering a time when men were men-and women were outside the barracks waiting for their men in sundresses. As it should be.  Play nice!

Phibian posted this. When I saw it-I just had to send it far and wide.  This is so true of my Navy, and a lot of other places in DOD. Are they listening? Nope.

Sign No. 1: Conspicuously posted vision or value statements are filled with vague but important-sounding words like "excellence" and "quality"

These words are seldom defined and the concepts they allude to are never measured.

Sign No. 2: Bringing up a problem is considered more as evidence of a personality defect rather than as an actual observation of reality

In a dysfunctional company, what it looks like is not only more important than what it is, it is what it is. If you don't believe that, you are the problem. A surprising amount of information is classified. Dysfunctional companies have more state secrets than the CIA. Anything that might embarrass the boss turns out to be a national security issue.

Sign No. 3: If by chance there are problems, the usual solution is a motivational seminar

Attitude is everything, especially in places where facts are embarrassing or inconvenient. In a dysfunctional family, there's an elephant — usually a drunken abusive parent — in the parlor, but no one ever mentions him. To appear sane, you have to pretend that the elephant is invisible, and that drives you crazy. Businesses are full of invisible elephants, too. Usually they are things that might cause difficulties for people with enough clout to prevent their discussion. The emperor may be naked, but if you have a good attitude, you won't mention it.

Sign No. 4: Double messages are delivered with a straight face

Quality and quantity are both job one. You can do it both cheaper and better, just don't ask how. If you're motivated enough you should know already.

Sign No. 5: History is regularly edited to make executive decisions more correct, and correct decisions more executive than they actually were

Those huge salaries require some justification.

Sign No. 6: People are discouraged from putting things in writing

What is written, especially financial records, is purposely confusing. You can never tell when you might need a little deniability.

Sign No. 7: Directions are ambiguous and often vaguely threatening

Before you respond to a vague threat, remember this: Virtually every corporate scandal begins with someone saying, "Do it; I don't care how." That person is seldom the one who gets indicted.

Sign No. 8: Internal competition is encouraged and rewarded

The word "teamwork" may be batted around like a softball at a company picnic, but in a dysfunctional company the star players are the only ones who get recognition and big bucks.

Sign No. 9: Decisions are made at the highest level possible

Regardless of what it is, you have to check with your boss before doing it. She also has to check with her boss.

Sign No. 10: Delegating means telling somebody to do something, not giving them the power to do it

According to Webster's Dictionary, you delegate authority, not tasks. In dysfunctional companies you may have responsibility, but the authority lives in the office upstairs.

Sign No. 11: Management approaches from the latest bestseller are regularly misunderstood to mean what we're doing already is right on the mark

"Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," "Good to Great" and "Who Moved My Cheese?" all seem to boil down to, "quit griping and do more with less."

Sign No. 12: Resources are tightly controlled

Your department may need upgraded software, but there's been a spending freeze since 2006. Cost control is entry-level management, but in a dysfunctional company anything more sophisticated is considered too touchy-feely. Whatever you propose, the first question you will be asked is if it can be done cheaper.

Sign No. 13: You are expected to feel lucky to have a job and know you could lose it if you don't toe the line

Dysfunctional companies maintain control using the threat of punishment. Most will maintain that they also use positive rewards … like your paycheck. A few people are actually fired, but most of those who go are driven to quit.

Sign No. 14: Rules are enforced based on who you are rather than what you do

In a dysfunctional company, there are clearly insiders and outsiders and everyone knows who belongs in each group. Accountability has different meanings depending on which group you're in.

Sign No. 15: The company fails the Dilbert Test

Dysfunctional organizations have no sense of humor. People who post unflattering cartoons risk joining the ranks of the disappeared. When an organization loses the ability to laugh at itself, it is headed for big trouble. If you'd get in trouble for printing this article and posting it on the bulletin board at work, maybe it's time to look for another job before this one drives you crazy.

As previously noted, I stopped at the Naval Academy while on my way home from Wallops Island. As they were getting ready for their parade. I thought I would stay and watch it. 

I have not been to USNA for a very long time. Outwardly, it looks as historic and beautiful as it ever did. The midshipmen looked young-too damn young-but their eyes were full of the idealism that fills a 20 year old who is proud of doing something different and in concert with other young men. They had the same pride I did 30 years ago-feeling as if I was unique.

But then of course, I had to remind myself of the other side of the story-the continuing compromises that the Academy and my own beloved alma mater have made to appease the gods of diversity. When women demanded entry into the service academies and men a lot smarter than me, correctly pointed out it would forever ruin the "system"-women said all they wanted was to be treated exactly like the men. Smart people knew better. And now 30 years later they have succeeded in irrevocably changing the institution. And its not for the better.

This weekend was the reunion of the class of 69. Unlike today's breed-they could feel strongly that their experience, while different, was at least common to that their predecessors had gone through. The plebe system, the rites of passage, the common bond that gets established by a shared trial.

It still looks impressive-however my view of the USNA is colored by the knowledge of what it has given up. Which has been very well documented by Professor Bruce Fleming.  He's exposed the fact that the emperor has no clothes. That there are two admission standards at the Naval Academy-one for women and minorities and a different one for white men. He was suitably retaliated against for that this fall -for telling the truth-were it not for tenure he probably would have been fired.

It still looks on the surface like it might have 30 years ago-but knowing folks tell me its radically different. So i guess I should count my blessings that I had to be a Cadet when it was a good experience.

Here are the pictures:

Bancroft Hall

One of the things that suprised me was that the Academy had both a US Navy band and a midshipmen band. Do they really need both? With a student body of 4400, they ought to be able to put together a band. It would seem to me that it would make more sense to use the Navy band where it could better support the fleet.

Taking the field.

As I watched the Mids on the parade ground, I was suprised ( not really) at how many women held battalion, regimental and company command. It was far out of whack with the Academy's demographics. Women only make up about 15 % of  the brigrade ( a number too high in and of itself), but by my quick math, greater than 40% of the cadets in command were women. I'm sure there is no favoritism at play here.

Sitting next to us was a LCDR who was a selected recall reservist- he was an instructor at the Academy. 14000 Sailors posted to Iraq and Afghanistan to do Army work-and the Navy can still find the ability to use reservists at the USNA?  Don't get me wrong-he was a very nice guy and was most patient as people asked him questions.   His daughter was seeing her first parade though-and she was a joy to watch:

The colors were brought forward:

I mentioned too that the class of 69 was having it's reunion this particular weekend:

Catching up-noting the ravages of time.

And finally one more shot of the brigade:

S.O is watching " Antiques Roadshow" on the big TV. Accordingly I am in the bedroom watching the series. So , just like keeping score at the ball park-I thought I'd try something new.  Live blogging the game. Warning notice-profanity is likely to follow.

First inning:

Yankees come out with that smug self assurance. Get a run early. Think they are coasting. Now come the Phillies.

Good call on the hit batsmen-that's gotta hurt to get hit in the hand like that. Need Utley to hit a homer and get this boy home with no effort.

THANK YOU GOD! UTLEY POUNDS ONE OUT TO RIGHT FIELD! Three run homer-and its just gotten quieter in blue collar bars in Bronxland now.  Take that Mr. Steinbrenner! Those of us who root for small market teams deserve a break from your obscenely rich payroll.

But the Yankees get out of the inning with just a two run deficit.

Second inning.

Yanks seem to be able to foul when they need to.

6-3  play-Two out. Phillies pitcher looks like he is feeling the stress.

Phillie up now. Need some insurance runs. Beer comercial-I think I need one!

Pop up end of the inning. GRRR.

Third Inning.

No rest for the Phillies. No runs either. Vicktorino may be out for the game-That's not good.. Ryan Howard needs a homer about now. Utley steals second! Lets go Phillies! No pressure on Howard……..

Walk for Howard. Jason  Wirth could be a real hero now……………..

BASE HIT UP THE MIDDLE! Utley rounds the corner and beats the throw at the plate. 4-1!

Ibanez hits one to right! 5-1 now.   YEA BABY. F*ck the F*cking Yankees!

My son just called! He was calling about his birthday present. Talking to him and trying to type.

I love that commerical about drinking and smoking ("But you smoke every time you drink".) So do something else when you drink-like have sex!

Son heads off for his B-day dinner. Backt to watching the game. Burnett does not look happy on the Yankee bench.

6-4 to…..oh forget it. 6-1! No double play for you!

And the hits just keep on coming. Lee gets a hit. In real baseball-the pitcher bats.

Victorino on deck-good news. Rollins needs a hit.

S.O. putters in the kitchen. Strike three and the Yankees are probably happy about that.

Fourth inning.

Yanks up. Need to settle down and get these guys out. Yankees are always dangerous-and they need to be taught the meaning of respect.

Three up three down.

Down go the Phillies in the bottom of the fourth. Next three innings are critical. Drinking another beer-while I channel surf some commercials.

Fifth Inning.

See what I mean? A walk and another damn hit for Jeter! Two on. This better not be the start of something. Damn, first baseman can't get the throw off-I'll bet he thought it was going foul. Hensky scores. 6-2.

Whew! Got out that half of the inning with only a little damage. Could have been a lot worse. Where is the damn fast forward button?

Phillies at bat-thought for sure that was going to be a double. What a catch by Gardener of the Yankees-you could hear his shoulder hit the wall here in Alabama. Wirth was sure it was hit. That had to hurt.

Fuckety Fuck Fuck-Jeter gets the out on Feliz.

Sixth inning.

Where do they recruit the ball girls from? Gotta keep the Yankees distracted. Maybe she could lift up her sweat shirt.

Base hit to center with two out. Strike three down he goes. Off to the bottom of the sixth.

Stop picking on Cole Hamel. I can't wait for the season to be over!

Rollins up-two out nobody on. A solo homer would be all right with me. Quit holding your beer guy-drink it or spit it. ( Camera seems stuck on a guy holding the bottom swill in his cup. Rollins hits a "billiard shot" left of second up into the out field. WTF is  biiliard shot?

I think its so funny how the pitchers hold up their glove to hid their lip movements. Are we a paranoid society or what?

Hand must be working OK now-Vicotorino up at bat.

ERROR! Wild pitch my ass. But I was happy top see the ball bounce up anyway.

Thanks to Jeter its all for naught. Bastard. On to the top of the seventh-Gotta go stretch a bit. And grab a beer!

Black girl in a black dress with a black taco anyone? Once you try black………….

Seventh Inning.

Yankees at bat make me nervous. Both the announcers are making me nervous too-didn't the older guy do the Mets? That still makes him a New Yorker.

Strike out number three for Cliff Lee! Back to the bench for you buddy. Cliff Lee seems like he is in the groove tonight. No Matsui in the line up tonight, which saves me an arguement with the S.O. She likes him.

It looks cold in Philadelphia. Shatterbat and and the Phillies retire the side. Seventh inning stretch.

YEA BABY! UTLEY RINGS THE BELL! Home run to right . Smacks a powerful blast on a 3-2 pitch. That ought shut these Yankees up. And a blonde bimbo gets the ball-she's kissing it. I'll be that 's not the only………moving on.

Twelve-count 'em twelve-strike outs for Howard. Werth comes to bat.

Ibanez SMACKS ONE OFF THE CAR SIGN! Another homer! 8-2.

I'm liking it.

End of that inning.

Eighth inning!

And the Yankees refuse to die. The SO- guess who picks NOW to start asking me questions about our trip next month-asking me to google some antique fair……..and finding directions to it- while the Yankees chalk up two runs and Cliff Lee gets sent packing,,,,,,,,,,,,,GRRRRR! 8-4 now. This is what gets women abused. She couldn't wait 40  minutes?

And as I thought- the damn place is no where, where she thought it was.

Rodriguez gets advanced to third with one out. This is not good-especially with the Yankees lineup. Rodriguez scores on the tag-up. 8-5……….. Get these guys out.

Matsui is coming off the bench? What else can go wrong?

Out of the inning-but it was costly. Dear Madonna-no BJ for A-rod this evening. Please?

Bottom of the eigth-time to answer the mail. Rollins on deck.

6-4-3 double play. Damnit!  Gotta get some power.

Well that was quick. Yankees back to bat. Thanks sweetheart, thanks a lot. You jinxed them.

Ninth inning.

Stop bothering me woman! Can't you see the world may be ending here?

Tying run coming to bat, NO OUTS. Jeter on deck. Er -excuse me, at bat. Stop bothering me woman!

6-4-3 but another run scores. Every one on their feet now in Phillie. Two outs-S.O. finally calls her sister in Japan. She could have dome that a few minutes ago.

GIVE HIM THE HEATER!

Er maybe not-base hit up the middle.

A-rod on Deck.

WHOO BOY ITS OVER!  An eight run game should not be this much of a nail biter. Life is going to be tough in the bronx Wednesday.

But it ain't over yet-F*ck the F*ck Yankees!

Of hating the Yankees. I discovered a web site for people like me who just can't stand them:

They have published a convienient guide for the rest of us on how to get through the Series: