It is not just guns and bullets

If you watch any news emerging from Iraq, chances are the coverage is diluted with bullets and bodycount.
That is why you read this blog. (so sorry).
Operation Rhma... no bullets included.
Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 04:14pm (PDT)

Hungry

Crispy crunchy and juicy.
Ahhh the simplicity of a piece of Fried Chicken.
Right now my mind is held hostage by a bucket of Extra Crispy Fried Chicken.
All I need now is an excuse or a delivery boy.
Anyone else hungry?
UPDATE: The delivery boy wanted too much. Chowing on pizza with a side of banana peppers. Beats the hunger pangs for a few hours.
Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 08:03am (PDT)

dineforamerica.org

How many times have you said "I Shouldnt have eaten all that." Or feel the guilt that you had detour from your diet?
October 5, 2005 is National Dine for America Day. Check out the local participants. I am leaning towards a Bloomin Onion. The proceeds will go to a good cause, the American Red Cross.
When was the last time you pigged out for a good cause?
So what are you waiting for? 10 more push ups, okay make it 5.
Can someone sign me up for competitive eating? I will eat for a good cause.
PS: **** is goofing with this entry for the 6th time. The link to the local participants is in the title.
Wednesday, Sep 28, 2005 - 03:11pm (PDT)

Taken for granted.

Some of you may have heard of Operation Balboa, else go here.
The liberty of speech, taken for granted makes the speaker...well, foolish. Very foolish indeed when they trash the honour of others.
Such a shame when others have lost their lives and limbs to make a statement.
Let's see if Kevin Sites will continue in his path of ethical journalism. For those who are not as ....ermm.... "read 20 news and blogs site daily" as I am, Kevin Sites is a war journalist who earned my readership with his professionalism. Either like him or hate him for reporting the truth, but it is the truth. This may pave the way to a truly transparent journalism, that is missing in today's media. Btw.. he is from Ohio.
On the same note... Chrenkoff is signing off. Hat Tip.

Monday, Sep 26, 2005 - 07:51am (PDT)

Steelers

Steelers vs Patriots

Score from September 25, 2005:
Steelers: 20
Patriots: 23.
Salute!

Monday, Sep 26, 2005 - 05:18am (PDT)

Eagles.... ahhh

It is 3:27am... yes I am insane!
But the Eagles are still a treat!
Especially a live performance on Bravo.
Sunday, Sep 25, 2005 - 12:29am (PDT)

EWWW!!!

Okay Blackfive started it first!!
One word: Ewww!!
This is too scary especially when we are getting closer to Halloween.
When the bravest and the best meet the ..... go see it yourself!
Saturday, Sep 24, 2005 - 11:07pm (PDT)

Steelers

September 23, 2005
Steelers will play the Patriots this Sunday ..Home Game. 4:15PM EST.
Going into the season at 23-32 successful touchdowns, Big Ben has to prove how big he really is.
Can Ben overcome the ONLY team that beat him? Will the demons that held him from the Superbowl dangle over the hand of God? Muahahaha!!
Salute!
Friday, Sep 23, 2005 - 07:06am (PDT)

Dont Get Stuck On Stupid

By now most of you know my sentiments about the mainstream media and their journalistic ethics. Bias journalism should be called gossip or trash talk. News should be unbiased and balanced. Turn on the tv and 5% of the daily activities in the middle east is blown as headlines. 95% of the successful- humanitarian- liberation- advancement- accomplishments by coalition forces are well, ignored! All the schools, hospitals, homes that have been built are not announced with pride. An Iraqi mother of 3 delivers her 4th child in a clean hospital. Mud-floors greeted her previous children.
Afghanistani men are proudly showing their beautiful daughters, instead of burkha clad beings.
The reporters must not be too proud of these accomplishments to report them in the mainstream media.
Finally a voice erupts (loved by many milbloggers) that finally told the reporters to their face what they really are. STUCK ON STUPID.
General Honore, Salute!
You the man!!
DONT GET STUCK ON STUPID!
ps: radioblogger has a mp3 of da'man and his famous line.
Update: I have ripped the famous line, now a reminder to anyone who enters my office.

I know..I am so evil. At least I am not a reporter!
Thursday, Sep 22, 2005 - 06:15am (PDT)

Remember this?

Remember this picture and the story behind it?
Remember the purpose behind this?
PS: I do not remember the details but I recall the resolve.
Salute!
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 - 06:53am (PDT)

Chia Thug

See what I found!!
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 - 06:49am (PDT)

September 21, 2005

Hurricane season is bad this year. Really bad. Really Really bad.
With each failure comes a triumph. The comforting thought, we have been hardened by Katrina. Our shields have thickened and our hearts are softer.
Up here in the north, soybean harvest has begun on the last day of summer.

Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005 - 06:43am (PDT)

Delayed score.

Here is the delayed results for the Steelers vs Texans.... 27 to 7.
Apparently Big Ben shook off his boo-boo and played pretty well, I didn't watch it.

Salute!
Tuesday, Sep 20, 2005 - 06:30am (PDT)

Worth the read

This is worth the read.
Blackfive has the parallels between Iraq/Afghanistan and New Orleans.
3 out of 4 of these guys are from Ohio.

2 lessons here

What is POTUS?
This man has to pee.
Learn the answers from Smash.
And if you think I need a life check this out.
PS: Use the POTUS as a conversation piece.
Friday, Sep 16, 2005 - 09:38am (PDT)

UH-OH

Looks like Big Ben is a no go.
Salute!
Friday, Sep 16, 2005 - 01:15pm (PDT)

September 14, 2005

The Slack-meister has returned.Okay...I have a sinus-infection or a dental problem, depending on whose report you are reading.
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 - 08:08pm (PDT)

How many pizzas?

2653 pizzas in about 14 hours!!
About $8000.00 raised for the Red Cross.
Details here.
Way to go!!
Saturday, Sep 10, 2005 - 07:27am (PDT)

SHAME SHAME

Shameful headlines this morning, Katrina divides instead of unify, racism, protests, the blame game.
Come on.
The suits in D.C., cash your checks, drop out of your suits, pack your cars and go aid the evacuees. Pointing the finger around and trying to land the blame is not helping. Politics has no room in humanity. Save the money from your picket signs for bottled water or baby diapers.
Sure, mother nature targets by skin colour.
Who knew the hurricane's behavior?
Guess what skin colours are helping in the relief efforts?
A small town in Ohio lined up for an hour for a $5.00 pizza to contribute to the Red Cross Relief efforts. A variety of car makes and ethnic background merged as a caravan for this event.
Move on with blind kindness.
Note: I am still waiting for the final count of yesterday's pizza event. I think I may have to look into competitive eating.

Outback Steakhouse will be holding their fundraiser next month. Perhaps ..... I think I have just arrived at a new challenge. Hehehe
Friday, Sep 9, 2005 - 06:41am (PDT)

NFL..Patriots!!

Final Score Oakland 20 New England 30
Was there any doubt?
Salute!

Friday, Sep 9, 2005 - 05:05am (PDT)

FINISH LINE

The finish line!
Medals will be awarded to those who complete today's challenge. Prizes will be in the form of PIZZA!
Yes ! The wait is 1 minute away from over.
And all for good causes, The American Red Cross and my tummy. For those who could not participate in this event due to proximity, I took an extra bite. Salute!
Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 07:44pm (PDT)

The Blue Trays

The mysterious blue trays with the white balls.
Well these contain the pizza dough delivered in a white van from Ann Arbor Michigan (erhm..it was on the side of the van!)
Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 07:41pm (PDT)

The pizza quest

I am next for the driveway!
Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 07:38pm (PDT)

Rear View

Rear View




Look at the number of cars behind me!
Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 07:34pm (PDT)

NFL Score

NFL Score
Okay for that someone who requested for football scores, here is the result at half-time for the first game between Oakland Raiders and The New England Patriots.
Oakland 14, New England 17.
Salute!
Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 07:50pm (PDT)

The Pizza Quest

The Pizza Quest





Almost there! What red light?
Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 07:35pm (PDT)

Pizza for a Good Cause

5:15PM. I have just moved 1 car length. Yeah! Hold the cheers, half a block remains, I estimate my position as car number 80. If only I can get out to take a picture.
Okay this joint does not have the best pizza in town.
A 12 inch pizza, regular crust, 1 topping- pepperoni, for $5.00.
Oh yes... I had a similar pizza for lunch too. Come on, you say, there are 2 other establishments in this town with the identical offer. So why subject your car to a torture of overheating?
Another carlength closer. Tears took over. Look at my rear view mirror, the endless headlights, depict a traffic jam on an interstate. All these people for pizza. "Dont judge a book by its cover." Dont judge this pizza by its toppings. Besides a break from cooking tonight, this pizza dinner is for a good cause, 50% of today's sales will head to The American Red Cross to benefit fellow Americans affected by Hurricane Katrina. Coincidentally the owner holds the title "World Fastest Pizza Maker". Really. 37seconds to make a pizza. Okay the details are here.

5:44PM If you can make 350 pizzas per hour, why am I still in line!
5:48PM Looking at my rear view mirror, I estimate about 40 cars behind me. Too many city police cruising by, or else I would be standing on my car to take a picture. Red light my butt. I went through a red-light. Looks like I am the twentieth car, because I can see the sign!! Hope I have enough gas. My brake pedal foot is starting to numb.
5:54 PM I can smell the pizza!!
6:04PM NO!! My Jeep just buzzed me... "feed me or you will be pushing this thing home"!
6:08PM 6 cars ahead of me. NO!!! It is RAINING!
6:12PM 3 cars ahead of me, I am next for the driveway!!
6:20 PM. Still 3 cars ahead of me. The caravan has stopped!! Turning off the car.
6:24PM I am in the driveway. I am in the driveway. But that van from Ann Arbor just cut ahead of me! Oh look! They are unloading trays of pizza dough, pizza sauce and pepperoni. I can assume they underestimated the demand or response to this event. The initial quota for 2000 pizzas must have been surpassed by hungry towners. We are cheating on our diets for a good cause. A nice lady just gave me a coupon for a free condiment on my next order. By the way, I am still in line.
6:30PM "How many?" "2 please" "okay, $10.00 and they should be coming up"
6:31PM "2 pizzas for you, very hot, straight out of the oven! Have a nice day!" Sure, I have heard that line before, straight out of ... OUCH! She wasn't kidding. This pizza must have just rolled off that white van with the mysterious blue trays of white balls.
6:32PM I am heading to the gas station, need to purchase gas at $2.959 per gallon and I also need to pee.
So I waited in line for over an hour, ate mediocre pizza, tested my bladder capacity, all for a good cause.
Your turn to help. I am sure the needy will not complain.

Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 07:25pm (PDT)

FOOTBALL

September 08, 2005
Football season begins today.
Yippee.
Joy Joy.
There!!
Game 1: Raiders vs Patriots.
Thursday, Sep 8, 2005 - 07:03am

September 05, 2005

Help is on the way.
The press tries to play that the disaster in the south involes racial bias - let me throw a rock on them. Condi Rice, "We may be hyphenated Americans, ... but we are all Americans!"
Yeap... she said it with graceful authority.
How are the average American helping?
Well, we are planning to purchase and donate essentials - bottled water, canned food, and essentials to the local Red Cross drop-off location.
This has an eerie rendezvous to the aftermath of 9/11, yet we are not sitting back and holding our hands over our mouths.
Wondering if Al-Qaeda is going to claim responsibility for Katrina.

Monday, Sep 5, 2005 - 08:26pm (PDT)

Honor

Honor is missing in 2005.
Duh...Cindy Sheehan. Enuf said.
This soldier sums it all up in his letter. Godspeed.
Boots in Baghdad is coming home!! Read his final thoughts.

Thursday, Sep 1, 2005 - 09:22pm (PDT)

3.5 inches

September 01, 2005
Okay, we received 3.5 inches of rain from Hurricane Katrina over a 24 hour period. That aside... $3.09 per gallon of Economy Gas (87 Octane).
That meant $16.00 for 5.181 gallons!!
I asked the boss for a pay raise this morning. The request humored him.
Hmmm...minimum wage is at $5.12.
Where is the justification to this price hike, the crude is pre-hedged, and OPEC re-iterated their intention to increase production output twice in a day!!
Someone is definitely getting rich off me!!

Thursday, Sep 1, 2005 - 06:06am (PDT)

August 31, 2005

After almost 6 months of conversation, you realized I am not what you assumed. Way out to the left field and beyond, I think you fell out from your chair!
1 year later, I am glad we still have interesting conversations.

Salute!

Human interests - they can differ, cross borders and demographics, however human interests are defintely not gender specific! A friend learnt that about NFL, NBA, military, grilling, politics and ME.
Just the thought of the misunderstanding sends me chuckling, I am not spilling the details.
"Here we go.
Steelers.
Here we go.
Pittsburgh going to the Superbowl."
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005 - 12:19pm (PDT)

Hurricanes

The headlines are filled with Hurricane Katrina.

Fortunately I am located many miles from the disaster zone. Perhaps we will receive some rain, in inches instead of feet.

August 19, 1991, Hurricane Bob swept through New England with ferosity that tamed the toughest fishermen from the Carolinas to Maine. A category 3 hurricane, packed with wind gusts of over 105 mph, nothing stood in the way. Tall buildings swayed while the rain peltered windows as if a baseball bat was beating its way in. A state of emergency was established and curfew was imposed at 12 noon. No one was allowed on the streets. The Au Bon Pain (a donut joint) at Downtown Crossing had a Hurricane Bob sale, donuts at half-price. Homeless took shelter where they could, the kind management at MacDonalds took them in. Streets looked like rivers as the unrelentless rain fell.

The rain poured as if there was a hole in the sky and someone left the garden hose on. Then silence and sunshine filled the city as if the last hours of nature's turmoil was a bad dream. The infamous eye of the storm. A pocket of clear overtook briefly. For minutes, there was no rain, no loud thumping on the windows, no hollowing screams of wind, just pure sunshine. Reminder of mother nature's precedes with all the anger. Here we go again. 2 more hours of reminder, even the news casters were getting weary, the poor reporter at the Kennedy Square must have really wet underwear by now.

Then the downpour dwindled down to a sprinkle and eventually dissipated into humidity. The next day the poor guy at the Post Office was scraping USPS tape off the windows, probably muttering under his breath too. Businesses were cleaning up and picking up the pieces. The poor guy at the Post Office.

A lingering memory, perhaps the best, President George Bush (41st), his fishing boat was washed ashore. He and his wife played down the misfortune as minor, instead telling Americans to go help neighbours. Don't worry about my fishing bucket, go check your neighbours and give them a helping hand. Awww. Salute!

So who did I interview for this segment? A lot of cobwebs were cleared out of the memory closet. I was in Boston Massachusetts, Apt 3513, Devonshire Street. To be precise, apartment 13 on the 35th floor in the middle of Downtown Crossing in Boston Massachusetts. A bird's eye view of the magnificent city, separated from the hurricane by windows that are inches thick.
I feel for the folks in the south. 1991 still stirs up some chills, especially when a hurricane is involved. Just like the poor guy at the post office scraping the glue off the windows, the country will rise above the challenge. Always has and always will.

Monday, Aug 29, 2005 - 09:22pm (PDT)

Limitations

I have considered the direction and purpose of this blog before launch. Primarily this blog will not consist of employment or intimate personal information. Phew!
If you think I am being conservative, then please read this about bloggers and their losses.

Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 - 06:21am (PDT)

Aug 25, 2005

YES I ADMIT ...
... I am slacking.
Firstly I have yet stumbled on anything stimulating.
Secondly there are some thoughts that are unsuitable for your delicate eyes. (hahaha)
Thursday, Aug 25, 2005 - 11:06am (PDT)

1 inch of rain

Entry for August 22, 2005
1 inch of rain fell over the weekend.... we desperately needed it.
Tuesday, Aug 23, 2005 - 05:21am (PDT)

Comments

Comments Greetings to readers!!

The restriction to post comments on this site boggles my mind.
I have sent my feedback to Yahoo regarding this hinderance.
Please email your comments to me.
Please email your complaints to someoneelse@who.com.
Friday, Aug 19, 2005 - 06:18am (PDT)

Luscious Corn

August 18, 2005
Luscious corn and bean fields are sights to behold. Will this greenery crush the complacency of a bumper crop? Soybeans won the poker game a few years before, tall and full plants lined the seemingly never ending fields. The elation waned quickly when harvest rolled in. Just green leaves with small pods. Counting the chicks before they hatch. Agricultural is the largest industry in the world. Along side this claim, the dying trade. Costs of production has escalated in an industry relative to petroleum. Fuel for the farm equipment, chemicals, propane for drying the grain, the list continues. Survival rate in agricultural is staggering, smaller farms have given way to corporations. Acreage determines income and supply chain. More acres also mean more costs, on the other hand, more acres means a wider buffer in the event of crop failure. Agriculture is an industry without a fixed income, the worth of goods fluctuates with the Chicago Board of Trade, while crop performance is at the mercy of weather and nature. Prayer may help, but all one can do is watch idly as the seed germinates. Watching the sky and the checkbook while the season changes from Spring to Fall. Hoping that this crop will pay for the hundred thousand dollar fertilizer bill with enough to purchase seed for the next crop. Someone has to feed the world. The farmers plant the corn that feeds the livestock which returns as dinner. So you are a vegetarian, that guy who groomed your salad-dinner had fried chicken for lunch!
Thursday, Aug 18, 2005 - 07:07am (PDT

Sincere but Late

August 16, 2005

Well, I am still coming to terms to Japan's apology.
Sincere but late.
Dedicated to someone who survived the Japanese occupation of Singapore.
I still remember .....



Tuesday, Aug 16, 2005 - 08:41pm (PDT)

Leave it to Deeds

Leave it to Deeds

So I shamelessly showed my site to unsuspecting victim standing in my office yesterday. Behold!! He is a space nut like me!!
So we agreed that we are both proud of NASA and their impact on technology.
"Do you know what else was developed from these missions?" he asked coyly.
I knew I had this conversation before, but the answer eluded me.
"VELCRO."
Hah! Thus I refilled my ammo...If the space program is unnecessary in your eyes, please stop using Velcro.
*still working on the draft of another entry.
Tuesday, Aug 16, 2005 - 08:55am (PDT)

Friday

August 19, 2005

FRIDAY!

Friday, Aug 19, 2005 - 06:15am

The Other Side

The other side
The coverage on any news channel is simply narrowed to casualties of war, opinions of this war, celebrities with their casual flaunting of freedom of speech.
A little voice erupts on the blogsphere from Iraq with this message.
Dont waste your son's blood
Enough said.

Friday, Aug 12, 2005 - 10:49pm (PDT)

Out of thoughts

Okay I have to admit that I am at a loss of rant topics. After all what can top the extreme of a successful shuttle landing? Any suggestions?

Thursday, Aug 11, 2005 - 07:06am (PDT)

Responsibility of a blog..

This is my first public blog (the previous were private, duh).
The itch to write returned after years of keeping up with Lt Smash (check out his archives), Blackfive (really really cool dude even in spring green), Dean's World, Chief Wiggles, Michael Yon (excellent coverage), Chrenkoff , Soldiers Angels, and ChromdomeZone (defunct), etc. The latter sites are milblogs (military blogs) which shone a different light on Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I have contributed to the various causes, only $$$. A little voice (powered by the energizer bunny) repeats "Where is the CONSCIENCE". Thus I will now shamefully promote other worthwhile sites regardless of my readers' political or personal agenda. Consider this as a payback for the haiku's from Smash while in the sandbox, the travel logs from Blackfive, Michael Yon's keen photographic eyes, and Mrs Chromey (I miss your rants).

Please fasten your seat belts, make sure your chair is in an upright position and your tray tables are stored. (have they changed this line at all?)
Want to know what goes on daily in Iraq?
This guy has good pictures from the Stan.
Soldiers Angels Project Valor IT hits a special spot with me, I wonder why?

At least I am not writing up a bill for Food Network!

Think I need to post a "Buy Me Beer" contribution like Smash has. I have changed my mind... the public can post comments now, NICE ones only please.

Friday, Aug 12, 2005 - 06:02am (PDT) August 11, 2005

Wipe your tears Sean

Wipe your tears Sean

Here is a note to Sean O'Keefe, wipe your tears of joy at 7:11:42 CDT. You have overseen the rigid preparation for this mission as the administrator. Credit should be shared with those who were at NASA, including Christie McAuliffe, Francis R Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ellison S Onizuka, Ronald McNair, Michael J. Smith, Gregory B Jarvis,Rick D. Husband, William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, Ilan Ramon.
My cup of coffee is raised high as a toast of respect and honour.
PS: I ran out of tissues here.
Further note... does anyone know who are the mentioned?
Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 05:40am (PDT)

Aug 10, 2005

Yawn!! Besides waking up for trips to the throne, I slept THROUGH the night.
No early morning appointments with history today.

Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005 - 05:37am (PDT)

DISCOVERY IS HOME

Entry for August 09, 2005 !!!!

DISCOVERY IS HOME!!
YES!! A MAJOR STEP FOR MANKIND!
BRING OUT THE ENCHILADAS FOR COLLINS!!
I watched it live!!
Beautiful!
Beautiful!
Amazing!
Breath taking!
Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 05:15am (PDT)

Aug 9, 2005

7:55am Listening to the commentary on Yahoo news.
Nervously waiting for the final landing in Edwards in CA.
Banking to deceleration.

Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 05:00am (PDT)

Aug 9, 2005

5am. NO GO!!
Tuesday, Aug 9, 2005 - 04:58am

Still waiting

4:30am waiting for the decision on the second opportunity for the shuttle landing at Kennedy Space. Still waiting. Flight director just answered a phone from the wall, and the rest of the team is staring at him. All four directors have to agree, and the decision is ... No Go?? my guess.Oh My!!! A GO for sunrise minus 5mins despite the rain!! HOOO HOOO! 5am here I come!!

AP _Try 2: 6:39 a.m. EDT at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico or 6:43 a.m. EDT at Kennedy. NASA must pick one or the other before the shuttle begins its descent.

_Try 3: 8:12 a.m. EDT at Edwards Air Force Base in California or 8:13 a.m. EDT at White Sands.

_Try 4: 9:47 a.m. EDT at Edwards.