Fair Winds and Following Seas

The USS Forrest Sherman, a Burke Class Destroyer, transits the Intracoastal Waterway on its way out to sea today 30 September 2011. Good hunting, Gentlemen. Pictures by Steve Pond.

For CJ

Blackfive Blackout: MilBloggers Supporting CJ Grisham
Posted: 15 Dec 2009 10:59 PM PST
FOR TODAY, Wednesday 16 December 2009, many if not most, fellow milblogs -- including This Ain't Hell, From My Position, Miss Ladybug, Boston Maggie, Grim's Hall, and those participating in the Wednesday Hero program -- are going silent for the day. Some are choosing to go silent for a longer period of time.
The reason for this is two-fold. First, milblogs are facing an increasingly hostile environment from within the military. While senior leadership has embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior NCOs do not embrace the concept. From general apathy in not wanting to deal with the issue to outright hostility to it, many commands are not only failing to support such activities, but are aggressively acting against active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others. The number of such incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands, verbal and written, not only for their activities but those of spouses and supporters.

Read the rest at Blackfive.

Update by Cargosquid: Aaaand we're done. Good luck CJ.

Cooking For the Wounded Phase II

Americas Wounded Heros and Warrior Legacy Foundation teamed up on Saturday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and prepared BBQ chicken, fried squash, hamburgers, hot dogs and assorted sides for the wounded and anyone else who happened by. Apparently the hotel kitchen was down for renovation, and the timing was perfect.

BRAVO ZULU and OOOOOOOORAHHHH to everyone who helped make it a great day, especially Laughing Wolf from Blackfive, who I'm sure will have a post up soon. LW extended the invitation to WLF to help kickoff Phase II of Cooking For the Wounded World Tour. We were more than pleased to accept.

Special thanks are due to some good people who helped us with the funding.

Dessert was provided courtesey of Soldiers Angels. We had two first class pastry chefs in the house. The young Ladies who make up Yellow Bowl Bakery are sharp. The bakery is located in Lafayette, Indiana. They are also known as "Bakers Without Borders".

Let me tell you what these two young Ladies did this past weekend. They loaded a van in Lafayette, Indiana with pecan pies, blueberry pies, pumpkin pies, Texas Sheet Cake, Red Velvet cupcakes with buttercream frosting so good it should be illegal, and brownies and DROVE to Washington DC to serve the wounded warriors at Walter Reed. Not only are they totally committed to supporting the troops, they are both cuter than two puppies in a pet store window.

BostonMaggie came down with Mary Ripley from USNI and lent a hand.

Support Ole Ironsides Sign the Petition

Even more inspiring is Maggie's report from the christening of the USS New York, which she personally attended. Maggie is a very dedicated, driven Navy supporter, but she does love her Marines as well.

My very good friend and drinking buddy, BostonMaggie, sent this out tonight.

We've got a little bit of an uncomfortable situation here in Boston. Some loony couple bought a condo near Old Ironsides and they don't like the noise.

‘More disruptive ... than you might have imagined’

So, I could yell and scream....and I kinda did in my blog. But I think CDR Cooper would appreciate it if I took the high road. Took me a while to find it....unfamiliar territory, doncha know.

I support Old Ironsides and Daily Colors

It's a petition. If you agree that CDR Cooper should not reduce the size of the battery charge or reduce the volume on the National Anthem.....please sign the petition and pass it along.

thanks,
M

Bill Whittle and The Sarah Haters

H/T Boston Maggie and Big Bill in PA.

Belated D-Day post.

Because Boston Maggie would want me to....



Eyes Right! Hand Salute!

For the D-Day Vets!

Top Idiots of the Week Awards

Not to be confused with the 3rd Annual Mibloggie Awards. Before I get into this, I have to tell you the milblog conference was a hugh success and everyone was very series about it. ;) Thanks to Matt at Blackfive for throwing one hell of a party at the Penthouse Club last Friday night. Yep, thats right THE PENTHOUSE CLUB!!!!!!!
I have some links here to the evidence, er I mean the photos of the event.
I made it through my Certified Welding Inspector class and took the exam on Saturday. All is well, for now. I'll let you know when my grades come in.
Now on to the Idiots of the Week Awards:
TOP IDIOTS OF THE WEEK AWARDS:

1. The top idiot of the week award goes, hands down, to Dem VP contender Joe Biden, who stated with a straight face that being patriotic means paying higher taxes. No doubt, some will fall for this bunk, which further explains the need for an expanded IDIOT'S list. So many idiots, so little time.

2. Narrowly losing out for first place has to be Washington Redskin's tight end, Chris Cooley, who 'accidentally' posted a photo of his genitals on the Internet. Cooley apologized, saying he was studying, in the nude, and accidentally included his genitalia in a photo of what were supposed to be notes. Right.. He as much as said it ain't no big deal.

3. A would-be robber picked the wrong bar to rob. It turned out Pooh's Corner Bar in Virginia is a cop's bar. This idiot ended up with a shot in the butt. Sometimes, life is fair.
4. Rep. Charlie Rangel, who, after being caught cheating on his taxes, penned an open letter to New Yorkers saying he is the target of a GOP "guerilla war." This, after he managed to keep his leadership post on our nation's tax-writing committee even after evidence of his tax fraud came to light.5. A German teenager engraved a swastika into her hip and then blamed it on right-wing militants. She is currently facing trial.

6. Billionaire George Soros has made this week's list. His hedge fund lost at least $120 million bucks for his investors on the funds' Lehman Brothers holdings. Welcome, George. Hope to see you back here real soon.

7. Our 'social justice' award has to go to the group of protesters who gathered outside John McCain's Crystal City condo, demanding McCain give them his condo. Too much koolaid for those kids. What do you want to bet they're all Obama supporters?

8. Last, but not least, we must acknowledge those zany Democrat leaders who, as the world teetered on the brink of financial ruin last week, suggested issuing gas stamps to help Americans cope with high gas prices.