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/2007/08/castles_still_h.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:54:37 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...and not just as storage facilities for a certain Armorer's chump change superb coin collection (see yesterday's H&I comment thread -- skip past the nose-whacking parts). From this morning's below-the-fold: Troops foil attack on Hangu fort PESHAWAR (AFP): - Pro-Taliban militants attacked a paramilitary camp in northwestern Pakistan overnight in a clash that wounded a dozen soldiers, officials said Thursday. One militant was killed in the hour-long shootout following the raid on the fort by more than a dozen heavily-armed men...[who] attacked with rockets, hand grenades, and Kalashnikov rifles, but were beaten off. It gets more interesting. [Hangu police chief... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html Fri, 24 Aug 2007 05:33:43 -0600 'Fess up. How many of you read the wiki entry and then tried it to see if it'd make you dizzy? Now you know why blowtorch drivers act the way they do... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63550 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63550 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:10:59 -0600 you really do. Honest.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63547 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63547 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:36:27 -0600 I was Air Force, learned valsalva long time ago. It really helps on combat descents. Less trouble than taking meds to handle the ear pain. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63546 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63546 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:28:31 -0600 I got my embarrassment shot off in Vietnam. Geez, pickin' on an emotional cripple... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63544 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63544 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:13:20 -0600 do *try* to pay attention, SugarButtons. Embarrassment, lack of, is your feature. I'd say it had been surgically removed but that would require some proof that it ever existed. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63542 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63542 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:46:58 -0600 per se. Or the occasions of the wearing thereof. Gratuitous Disclaimer: No Zulus or Squids were injured during the preparation of this comment.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63539 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63539 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:44:32 -0600 Heh, I learned the valsalva trick first week in aircrew school. Came in handy, too. But i digress. TINS alert: French Embassy, Dakar, Senegal. 1979 or thereabouts..... My crew was invited to attend a party at the French Embassy in Dakar along with the US Embassador and other such Nabobs. We were based there while support a US Carrier task group. Long story short, we arrived all a-medalled and spit-polished like, hairs priperly cut and all such things squared away all Navy-like, etc. Apparently, the theme was "Zulus & Colinial" night. The waiters were spiffily dressed locals, all wearing matching white choker-collar jackets and red fez's, black pants. Everything gleamed and the tables were piled high with various foodstuffs, sweet meats, and the bar was properly stocked and easily located. By the pool. Outdoors. Torches. Then there was the French.... The French embassador and all his entourage, etc, were in mufti, as it were. Grass skirts. Blackface. Plastic bones through noses. Afro-wigs. I kid you not. It was the most surreal experience in my life, and between the places I've been and the amount I've drank, that's saying something. Here were these supposedly cultured Euro-Elites and they were dancing around in costume whilst the locals were all dressed to the nines with proper servant's clothing. No wonder colonialism died out. Our Navy staff took one look, made some quick rounds, we had one drink, and took our leave, thank you very much. To this day I fully understand whY the French were so loathed in certain quarters. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63537 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63537 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:28:34 -0600 As those of the more technically-inclined SugarButtons Brigade would agree, this is a classic instance of "it's not a bug, it's a feature!" http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63536 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63536 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:27:10 -0600 As if clothes are going to make a difference in the embarrassment factor. Truer than you know, kat! *snicker* ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63535 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63535 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:23:27 -0600 As if clothes are going to make a difference in the embarrassment factor. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63530 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63530 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:00:15 -0600 ...to bring ratchet up the Entertainment Index... Been studying the local version of English, ain'tcha? Not bad, but you've gotta trill your "ahr"s more...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63528 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63528 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:45:21 -0600 Moi? I get dizzy enough just holding my breath in the shower so's I don't get the local version of water in my mouth. Or ears. I'm the only guy here who can still do the valsalva maneuver. *That* line oughta draw comments from the chandelier-swingers faster than a Catnip Cosmo...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63527 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63527 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:40:58 -0600 Nothing like Stuffed Shirts and Alcohol to bring ratchet up the Entertainment Index... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63522 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/castles_still_h.html#comment-63522 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 07:26:17 -0600