We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:30:01 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite. You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place... ***************************** Uh-oh. Emperor Misha is on a warpath of civil disobedience. Should we start collecting bail money? -- Uncle J. I typically like his South Park influenced punkings of people and current events. I don't always agree with them, but they're typically pretty good. This one though? Not so good. If you're intent is to stop... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:34:27 -0600 My point is that this case isn't where you pick up the standard and run with it. This kid needs punishing and he's getting it. Any kid who is bullied is going to have the same reaction immediately after. The Somalis didn't ask for special treatment. They simply expressed that after this incident, they had doubts as to who their friends were. Since they are such a minority that caused fear. I am not saying this should be prosecuted as a "hate crime". I am saying this case is not where you draw the line. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59315 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59315 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 10:33:34 -0600 Because, The Emperor is the Emperor is why he's miffed. But, he does have a pretty solid following. If they do act up their going to need bail money. But look at what I emphasized Maggs, the civil disobedience call. That's going to be problematic if they actually do it. Very. And let me put something else to you. These kids come from places where they faced everything you say, upto and including death, and a ham steak is a majorily injurious action? Sorry. I grew up among refugees, real refugees who had parents or siblings die in front of them as they fled Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. They, in my experience, typically have bigger demons to deal with than petty kids and stupid actions they perform. Sure, they'd cry if some nitwit pronounced their name Bich like a female dog instead of like the plastic cigarett lighter, or a host of other things that basically said 'we hate you'. But utterly terrified and felt like they had a crosshair on their back? Nope. They knew what real persecution felt like and didn't enjoy it when people over here made light of it by equating jack@$$ery with persecution. How's this different than trashcanning the sunken chested geek kid? It isn't. Or making fun of the fat girl by putting ding-dongs on her table? It isn't. It's mean as hell, but it isn't a crime. It ain't the Vatos deciding to take out Wedo because he's Wedo.(Beating up the white kid because he's the white kid, often as part of a gang initiation ritual.). It's a mean, petty, @$$clown act for sure. But when did that become a criminal act? That's where I agree with Mischa. We're only asking these kids to put up with the same crap we all do, and other war refugees have, for a long time. Being picked on and having your differences rubbed in your face is a right of passage in Muttish 'Murica. It isn't nice, but there it is. Kids can be cruel, but still just kids. Yeah, it's a hate filled gesture. But so is burning the Flag. So is writing a novel like 'American Psycho' or 'Fightclub'. So is wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Darwin creature eating a Fish. All overt. Why pick this one? Yeah, it's a mean thing. But when did mean become a crime? Where's the real harm? And I mean real harm? There isn't any. Mischa is famous for being over the top. Even more over the top than I can be. But he's got a point. Jack@$$ery isn't criminal. We put up with it when we're mocked for our religion and ethnicity(remember 'Meet the Kelley's'? Where we got called 'Irish-Catholic, republican baboons'? Oh, but that's cool. Chris Rock can be offended for being asked to do a voice for a Disney film, because it's the voice of a gorilla, but I better not be for actually being called a baboon.). It isn't nice, but it is fair. Once you start making a bunch of exceptions for this people and that people you've got yourself a nice little race racket going. That isn't good. Sometimes it's bigger than just the jack@$$, who I'd like to see emberassed as much as possible. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59304 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59304 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 01:20:58 -0600 A 14-year-old Somali boy, whose mother asked that his name not be published, said he was eating lunch with four other Somali students on April 11. He noticed many others in the cafeteria "standing up, looking at us." One boy came near, began laughing and threw a bag on the table while other students laughed and said, 'Good job.'"We didn't know what was in this bag," the boy said. "One of my friends reached inside it. It was a big ham steak. There were five of us at the table, all Somali. It was intended for us." The kid who walked up to the Somalis and threw the ham steak needs his a$$ kicked. Why would anybody get fired up because this kid is getting in trouble? Well, Mischa thinks that labeling it a hate crime is out of proportion. Maybe, I don't know, but it seems like a very hate filled gesture aimed at a group of people based on their religion. And a definite minority at that. I can not imagine how difficult it must be to come to America as a Somali refugee. To come with NOTHING. To flee a wartorn country with you life and your family if you are lucky. To be plucked from a lawless, arid, poverty stricken, famine ravaged country and settle in...... Maine, nevermind the ham steak some a$$clown is throwing at you.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59303 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59303 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 22:25:46 -0600 ""Titus Andronicus"" Heh. My favorite art house film is Titus with Anthony Hopkins. For the life of me I don't understand why it's the most hated of all Shakespear works. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59284 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59284 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 02:49:44 -0600 Those Yale kids need to defy that silly "Ms" Twa-er, whatever, and stage "Titus Andronicus" with *lotsa* ketchup. Ppffbbtht! Flash! Urgent! Humans are dangerous! Always have been so! That's why there are so many of us! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59283 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59283 Sat, 21 Apr 2007 01:06:10 -0600 Well, I can't see any of those vids on this system, but I remember a technician at NASA who used to be a gunner's mate in the US Navy telling me that the safety rules were written with blood. That is, the reason you did things *this* way, was because someone had done them *that* way, and got horribly painfully messed up and/or killed. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59280 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59280 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:27:41 -0600 Yanno Kat I think these guys going anywhere near a cannon was evil personified http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59278 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59278 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 21:55:39 -0600 Making this about me: As a trained stage actor, that Yale article...well...I shake my head and don't know what to say. I also used to share a house with my stage combat instructor; I'm sure he'd love reading this. (We also had swords all over the house, which was pretty cool.) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59275 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59275 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:23:50 -0600 Wow...did anybody think that the slo-mo laughing and talking on the cannon vids was a little evil sounding? LOL http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59271 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59271 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 19:12:20 -0600 While I absolutely agree that idiots should NOT be allowed anywhere near loaded weapons of any kind I did like the mountain gun piece for instructional purposes. First, and foremost, it is a lovely demonstration of the amount of recoil. Considering that the carriage was timbers flat on a wooden surface, the amount of recoil was significant. Transfer that to a wheeled carriage, whether a naval carriage moderated by block and tackle, or a field carriage, and it is obvious why corect gun drill keeps the crew well clear of the weapon during firing. Secondly, the amount of smoke produced by a black powder weapon is usually amazing to people unfamiliar with black powder. With the firing of a single round the target is fully obscured for a significant period of time. I have often tried to explain to the uninitiated that on the battlefields of the Civil War once the first volley was fired that the movements of both sides were lost in the real "fog of war." Can you imagine what the field ws like at Gettysburg with over a hundred guns firing at will for an hour? Finally, let me just say that idiocy is self curing. Anyone who fires at armor plate from that distance is likely to have a short career. Marine6 Sends http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59265 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59265 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:47:46 -0600 So I guess that pretty much eliminates the idea of setting off a black powder cannon loaded with nuts, bolts and screws .... with a cigarette stub? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59263 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59263 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:07:32 -0600 Well, I *did* say it was unacceptable gun drill for Castle gun crews. Just makin' sure you got that! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59254 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59254 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:35:45 -0600 John, WTF? Who in frack's name uses cannon fuse to ignite cannon's with? Good Lord! Those fellows ought to have that gun taken away from them before they hurt someone. A cannon on a fuse is out of control. I'm pretty much against all types of gun cotrol, but I may well make an exception for these idiots. Now, I say that having been around muzzle loading artillery for the better part of three decades. I've seen what can happen with crews who think they know what they are doing. There's a reason the army produced manuals for the care and feeding of field artillery, and it's guys like thise who should be smacked upside the head with one. Gibbon's manual, especially, cause it's thicker than the usaul ones. Don't get me wrong, live firing is fun and exhilarating. I enjoy it. Especially when using cannister. I love me a whiff a grape sent downrange as well, to play amongst the rigging of an enemy vessel... but I digress... The point is that there are rules for EVERYONE'S safety. and that video should be required viewing on how NOT to fire a cannon. OTH, there's another good video out there of a gun being fired inside a casement at, I believe, old Fort Jackson. Shows the crew at their proper positions, and is pretty neat to watch. Off my soapbox now. Respects, http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59253 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59253 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:05:59 -0600 Really. I almost don't register. Honest. It's all that stealth adipose. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59252 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59252 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:06:23 -0600 (however briefly, to be sure, I am a tiny presence on the radar). Yeah - right!! ML]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59249 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/hi_fires_20_apr.html#comment-59249 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:46:29 -0600