Make way! Make Way! Make a hole there!

Milblogger inbound to Fiddler's Green...

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Jan. 3 in As Sadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using small arms fire during combat operations. Both Soldiers were assigned to the Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Killed were:

Maj. Andrew J. Olmsted, 37, of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Cpt. Thomas J. Casey, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M.

For further information related to this release, contact Fort Riley public affairs at (785) 239-3410.

Major Andrew Olmstead. You owe it to yourself, and yes, Andy Olmstead, to click that link over there. This is why - and it's not the best part:

What I don't want this to be is a chance for me, or anyone else, to be maudlin. I'm dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends. But all the tears in the world aren't going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss. (If it turns out a specific number of tears will, in fact, bring me back to life, then by all means, break out the onions.) I had a pretty good life, as I noted above. Sure, all things being equal I would have preferred to have more time, but I have no business complaining with all the good fortune I've enjoyed in my life. So if you're up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw 'Freedom Isn't Free' from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can't laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I'm dead, but if you're reading this, you're not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.

Update: Email I got in response to a note I sent out.

John, I read the whole piece on his website. Looks like the world is a bit poorer today. Just too bad. Jim

I say we are richer for knowing that we have such men and women who will strive for us, and for others.

And speaking of others, here are some others speaking of Andy:

James Joyner / Andrew Olmsted Killed in Iraq
Just A Grunt / To Honor Major Andrew Olmstead
Jim Henley / In Memoriam  —  I worry that my previous post was edgy.
Ampersand / G'Kar of Obsidian Wings, RIP
Redstate / The death of a co-blogger in Iraq
Billw / Iraq Blogger Major Andrew Olmsted Killed in Ambush
Phillip Carter / RIP, Andrew Olmsted
Rick Moran / ANDREW OLMSTED, R.I.P.
McQ / A BLOGGING FRIEND AND PATRIOT IS DEAD (UPDATED)
Brad DeLong / RIP Major Andrew Olmsted
Curt / Andrew Olmsted Has Died
Cernig / A Soldier And Blogger's Last post
Andy / A Sad Day in the Colorado Blogosphere
Confederate Yankee / A Blogger Dies at War
Noah Shachtman / Soldier-Blogger, RIP  —  Major Andrew Olmsted, a veteran Army officer …
Michael van der Galien / Blogger Dies in Iraq
Michael J. Totten / Andrew Olmsted Killed In Iraq
Stuart Benjamin / HEARTBREAKING POST: Andrew Olmsted, who blogged at Obsidian Wings …
TigerHawk /A blogger's legacy  —  The blogging soldier Andrew Olmsted …
Dave Schuler / Andrew Olmsted Killed in Iraq
Matttbastard / Andrew Olmsted
Chris Orr / The Death of a Soldier; I'm not sure whether I'd read …
Jesse Walker / Andrew “G'Kar” Olmsted, RIP
Mike / Tragedy  —  Andrew Olmsted, who was a friend to this site …
Lizardbreath / Andrew Olmsted  —  Olmsted was one of the posters at Obsidian Wings …
Tom Watson / A Blogging Soldier's Farewell
Spree / Andrew Olmsted-Soldier-Blogger- RIP
Alex Geana /A soldier speaks, from beyond the grave.
Alex Tabarrok / Sentences of Great Sadness
Virginia / In Memoriam: Andrew Olmsted
Simon / Blogger interviewed on Bloggasm has died in Iraq
David / Thunder Run - Blogger killed in Iraq.

H&I Fires* 4 JAN 2008

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.

Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).

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CAPT H points out what he terms a very very VERY IMPORTANT poll to participate in.

At last it's revealed - JTG sends us to Irons in the Fire to find the truth behind On-Star's popularity...

Moving on to other subjects...

At RealClear Politics, Michael Gerson sez:

WASHINGTON -- If 2006 was a year of denial for the Bush administration -- demonstrating that patience in pursuit of a failing military strategy is not a virtue -- 2007 was a period of awakening. Like Abraham Lincoln before him, the president discovered the cathartic pleasure of replacing generals. In Petraeus, Bush found his Grant. He also found that war, like politics, is the art of adjustment.

As the political blitzkrieg of 2008 begins in earnest, it is the Democrats who, on a number of key issues, are living in a state of denial.

In the Washington Times, Diana West goes over the latest on Haditha, and the rush to judgement there...

A major story of 2007 was the progressive unravelling of the case against the seven Marines and one Navy corpsman charged in connection with the Nov. 19, 2005 killings of Iraqi civilians in Haditha during a day of intense military action. To date, charges against four of the men have been dismissed altogether. Two men have been ordered to a court martial. Two cases are pending.

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Argghhh! My eyes! My eyes!

This is one way around the "Ugly Black Rifle" predjudice of anti-gunners.

The AK-47 version... (gotta love that stock sock...)

More frighteningly... the California-legal M4 version...

To restore your manliness... click here and read about Crazy Einar's choice of the 10 manliest firearms, subimitted by JTG.

I should mention that today's choice for ice breaking (the pond will now support the weight of the horses) was driven by ammunition constraints - I used the Castle's historically and regionally appropriate M1884 Ramrod Bayonet Springfield Trapdoor Rifle.

Gunner Zen.

The eld among us will remember when the MLRS was fielded, it was intended as an area-fire weapon designed to take out acres of advancing Warsaw Pact tanks and BMPs. Now it's a precision-fire weapon taking out single point targets.

Of course, it can *still* do the acres thing.

A Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System fires a 227 mm rocket at a building that insurgents were using to store explosives and a nearby weapons cache in the open desert near the northern-Iraqi city of Bayji, Dec. 27. It was confirmed the GMLRS from, Detachment 1, Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment from Fort Sill, Okla., destroyed the target. Photo by Spc. Richard Rzepka 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Larger version available by clicking here.

Hmmmm. Wonder if there's any legal way to get some of those spacer pads as unique Iraq war artillery souvenirs? Prolly not. And troops, don't take silly risks trying, either - I bet those things will make a TSA explosives sniffer *howl* and the residues might be toxic, anyway. Be cool to score a 155mm primer or a 105mm cartridge case, and those can cover Afstan, too. Hmmm. Have we sent MLRS over to Afghanistan? HIMARs? Time for some rooting around to find out.

H&I Fires* 3 JAN 2008

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.

Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).

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In the news...

Data-collecting helmets to gauge the impact explosions have on soldier's brains - whether they are considered wounded by the blast or not.

Welcome to the hell of changing over from being managers to being... *gasp* leaders!

Many managers agree that their greatest challenge is working with employees to craft performance objectives, keeping in mind that evaluations and pay increases hang on how well they meet those goals. Tamburrino says another challenge also comes into play during the rating process - many employees shy from boasting about their accomplishments.

"People don't like to brag about themselves, and as part of NSPS, when employees write their self-appraisals, they have to say 'I really did good stuff,' " Tamburrino says. "To get people to think about themselves like that is hard." Once employees grow accustomed to touting their work, managers must then disabuse them of the notion that high performance ratings will remain stellar from year to year. "Some years are boom years, and some are just normal years," Tamburrino says. "That's another thing we've had to convince people of; once you're [rated] a five, you're not always a five. That's a hard conversation to have with folks."

If only all companies could give this level of support to the Guardsmen and Reservists among them. And I know, not all companies can - but I suspect more can than do! And no, I'm not suggesting mandating it. I'm just pointing out *this* company, Central Boiler of Greenbush, MN, and the owners, Dennis and Terri Brazier, for a pat-on-the-back! From the Christian Science Monitor:

During his absence, the company had given the soldier, Monty Johnson, his annual bonus, preserved his seniority on the assembly line, and even entered his name in company drawings. His co-workers sent him care packages - everything from toothpaste to hunting magazines. The Braziers also stayed in touch with Johnson's wife, Sheila, inviting her to company parties and offering her money, if needed.

I went to their website and used their contact form to say "Thank you."

Heh. I wasn't polled, but this poll from the Military Times mirrors my attitude:

The American military — still skeptical about whether the U.S. should have gone to war in Iraq, and still skeptical of President Bush’s war leadership — nevertheless shows increasing optimism about the likelihood of success in the war, this year’s Military Times Poll shows.

Well well well. Intelligence tests for the intelligence community. Why do I think this will end badly? From Stephen Barr at the Washington Post:

The keepers of the nation's secrets soon will be evaluated against common standards on how well they analyze problems, share information and stand behind their professional judgments.

Those job performance standards and others will apply to all rank-and-file civil service employees in the government's intelligence community, according to a directive issued last month by the director of national intelligence, Mike McConnell.

I admit I don't know enough about this kind of testing to have an informed opinion. I just know that the better analysts I've known over my career are oft-times outliers in terms of the bell curves. At least they're trying! -the Armorer

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The outcome today in Iowa? I have noooooooo idea. Scott, the Blogging Caesar at Election Projections has his projections up - with Huckabee and Obama walking away with 30% and 38% respectively. With my tin ear for politics, I don't have a clue. I'll solicit your thoughts, though. -the Armorer

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Photo post with a little Gunner's Zen.

'New' Wheels Photo by Tech. Sgt. William Greer, January 02, 2008. A Soldier from 1st Cavalry Division is invited for a ride with an Iraqi child who is driving a mule cart in Sab al Bor.

Soldiers push against al-Qaeda remnants Photo by Sgt. Ben Brody December 28, 2007. Mortarmen with 2nd Battalion, 502 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), launch a 120mm round at a target in the desert west of Iskandariyah Dec. 15 during Operation Dragoon.

I would note that the target is pretty close, too. And then there's the never-ending chore of a mechanized and high-tech Army... maintenance.

Kick the Tire & Light the Fire Photo by Sgt. Michael Connors November 28, 2007

Army Pfc. Jeremy Shelton from Monticello, Ga., kicks the tire of his brand new mine-resistant , ambush-protected vehicle during preventive maintenance checks and services at drivers training at Camp Liberty Nov. 11. Shelton is with Company B, 1-30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. This is the first fielding of the MRAP in the division.

H&I Fires* 2 JAN 2008

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.

Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).

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From the Stars and Stripes comes this, by Seth Robson:

DEY CHOPAN DISTRICT, Afghanistan — A noncommissioned officer who led troops in battle for more than an hour despite a bullet wound to the head that left him partially paralyzed has been recommended for the Silver Star Medal.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Ritenour of 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, based in Hohenfels, Germany, was in charge of soldiers manning the “rock guard” when Taliban attacked the base on Sept. 4.

Well done, Staff Sergeant Ritenour!

Just because I like things painted in camouflage colors... even ones floating in the ocean.

PACIFIC (Dec. 15, 2007) A U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) departs the well deck of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) on Dec. 15, 2007. U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Ashleigh S. Teitel

If you'd like to see some more pics of the USMC's new toy... click here.

John Hawkins of Right Wing News compiles his annual list of the "The 40 Most Obnoxious Quotes Of 2007". A sample:

33) "I do believe that it's the first time in history that fire has ever melted steel. I do believe that it defies physics that World Trade Center tower 7 — building 7, which collapsed in on itself — it is impossible for a building to fall the way it fell without explosives being involved. World Trade Center 7. World Trade [Center] 1 and 2 got hit by planes — 7, miraculously, the first time in history, steel was melted by fire. It is physically impossible." -- Rosie O'Donnell talks Trutherism

Got any faves (from *across* the spectrum) ya wanna add? -the Armorer

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Austin Bay suggests we keep a watch for an al-Qaeda "Tet Offensive" since the elections are coming up...

This spring marks the 40th anniversary of Hanoi's offensive (yes, 40 years, two generations). It will also mark the umpteenth time American enemies have attempted to win in the psychological and political clash of an American election what they cannot win on the battlefield.

In the course of Tet 1968, North Vietnamese, American and South Vietnamese forces all suffered tactical defeat and achieved tactical victories; that's usually the case in every military campaign. At the operational level, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) suffered a terrible defeat. As NVA regiments emerged from jungle-covered enclaves and massed for attack, they exposed themselves to the firepower of U.S. aircraft and artillery. The NVA units temporarily seized many cities at the cost of extremely heavy casualties.

However, Tet achieved the grand political ends North Vietnam sought. Tet was a strategic psychological attack launched in a presidential election year during a primary season featuring media-savvy "peace" candidates. "Peace" in this context must be italicized with determined irony; in the historical lens it requires an insistent blindness steeled by Stalinist mendacity to confuse the results of U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam (e.g., Cambodia's genocide) with any honest interpretation of peace.

Read the rest, by clicking here.

Ralph Peters sees things through slightly rosier glasses... they can both be right, however.

January 2, 2008 -- AS 2007 drew to a close, embarrassed journalists sought to play down American military successes and avoided questioning Democratic presidential contenders about their predictions of inevitable failure in Iraq. Magically, Iraq disappeared from the headlines - except on those rare occasions when a problem could be reported. At the close of a year of stunning progress, media stories on New Year's Eve leapt to report that 2007 had been the deadliest year for US troops.

You had to read deep into the columns to learn that those casualties occurred in the first half of 2007, as we battled and defeated the terrorists and militias - or that, in recent months, American and Iraqi casualties have plummeted as a relative peace broke out.

Still, all that was just hushing up dirty family secrets in the media clan and an effort by left-leaning journalists and editors to protect the politicians they favor.

The greatest media story of 2007 was the one you never read (unless you read The Post): The year was a strategic catastrophe for Islamist terrorists - and possibly a historic turning point in the struggle against al Qaeda and its affiliates.

While al Qaeda in Iraq can still launch suicide missions, such acts now serve only to further alienate the Iraqi people, who've come to hate the grisly foreign interlopers with a passion you have to encounter first-hand to appreciate.

That fundamental change in outlook, especially among Sunni Arabs, may well mark last year as Islamist terrorism's high-water mark, the point at which fellow Muslims by the tens of millions publicly rejected the message and methods of self-styled holy warriors who revel in the slaughter of the innocent.

Tens of thousands of fellow Muslims, previously allied with al Qaeda, turned their weapons against the fanatics. It was the biggest global story since 9/11. And it was buried on Page 14, if mentioned at all.

Read the rest of Peter's bit, by clicking here. -the Armorer

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Who Inspired You the Most in 2007: Sports stars? Celebrities? The Rich and Famous? Select Politicians? Americas North Shore Journal has the definative list of men and women, some you've probably heard of, some you probably never heard of... which is a terrible shame.

[Crossposted from The Thunder Run]
David M

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SugarButton's moonlighting escapades are getting out of hand. How did you get clearance from Carborundum for interplanetary flight paths, eh?

Bad Cat Robot
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News from Afghanistan.

Specialist Nicholas Barron, Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team, pulls security in Parwan Province, Afghanistan. Photo by Private First Class. Daniel M. Rangel. Photo courtesy the DoD.

Meanwhile, in other news... click on the pictures to read the stories! These guys are getting their Information Operations (IO) act together. From both a passive and active perspective.

If you'd like a larger version of that picture - click here.

This one is a not-so-passive IO.

And make no mistake - this is an IO, too.

Of course, this whole *post* is my own little IO, conducted with the assistance of CJTF-82, but under no one's direction but my own.

H&I Fires* 1 JAN 2008

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.

Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).

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First thought of the year: since I'm getting out of the habit of writing checks, I should have less scratch-throughs on the dates this month. Heh. *That* was profound.

Second thought of the year: I wish it was 2009. Then we'd be through the morass of political assininity we're going to have to wade through this year. Too bad we signed a multi-year contract on the sat-TV. With the writer's strike, move to more "reality" (hock, ptui!) and prime time game shows that have the same format but slightly different questions - all to be overlain with nauseating, mostly uninformative political advertising and waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many talking heads... I'm probably going to do a lot more reading this year. Feh.

Via JTG, I went to Atomic Nerds (love the look, guys) and was introduced to this monster.

Hmmm. If I ever buy that 80 acres to the west of the Castle... that'll be a well-spent $9,800.00 for a bolt-action rifle. So what that ammo costs $15.00 a round? It's reloadable, right?

The Chicago Sun-Times has a top ten list of women who inspired them. Aside from many of the Usual Suspects... they include Miss South Carolina, who is best remembered for her clear and concise answer to a geography question... Oddly enough, Miss Utah, Sergeant Jill Stevens, aka "GI Jill" didn't make the list. Fortunately, she did make #3 on Chuck Simmin's list of the top ten women who caught the attention of America's North Shore Journal. I prefer Chuck's list. Heh. Hillary Rodham-Clinton and Miss SC, Caitlin Upton make the Sun-Times list... but Sergeant Stevens doesn't... heh.

A Notable Quote from Cassandra:

As for me, I am not about to gracefully surrender the things of youth. The bastards will have to pry them out of my cold, dead hands...

Heh. The Boomer Battle Cry! You can tell the Boomers are a driving demo for advertising (though I'm not sure about programming)... all those laxative, pain pill, diabetes, insomnia,and "purple pill" ads... Heh. Even the Nintendo DS is aiming at us as the leading edge of the Boomers (may we vacate the scene with all speed and dispatch, taking the detritus of the '60s with us - I really resent the demographers roping me into this group of hippies, can ya tell?) plunges over the brink into being the Kidz Who Broke Social Security... -the Armorer

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Let's have a discussion - what was your personal highlight and lowlight for 2007? My low was Mom's passing, my high... *not* the Presidential visit (that's #2)... mine is The New Castle. Heh. Still need a name for property, though. -the Armorer

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How Baghdad spent New Year's Eve. Very cool. - FbL

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Early candidates for the 2008 Darwin Awards: Men Shoot Themselves in Tattoo Attempt. Anybody taking bets on their sobriety at the time? The other brilliant candidate jumped off the 5-lane Coronado Bay Bridge with a dog in an attempt to evade police (visual aid here) - FbL

[B*st*rd killed the dog and had the bad taste to survive. Color me unsympathetic and cold-hearted. -the Armorer]

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Heh. *Dad*, a Mizzou grad like me, is too nice to do this to my cousin Jack, an Arkansas grad who doubles as my godfather... but I'm not: Jack - loose Hawgs are just food for Tigers. [This is just bluster - Jack doesn't visit here. Unless Dad sends him a link, as a backdoor way to get Jack to read this. Hmmmm. Dad *can* be pretty sneaky sometimes. -the Armorer

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*Sigh* My Bad --

-- a perfectly good blonde joke and no comments from the blondes.

I take full responsibility.

I should'a been here to explain it to 'em.

Heh. Happy New Year, gang!

Update: It's worse than I thought -- google's not accepting any more queries for "shiny"...

Now, I feel awful. Really.

So, I think I'll saunter over to Maggie's for an arithmetic lesson to cheer me up...

2007 at Castle Argghhh!

It was a year of ups and downs.

It started with a huge down. My family pretty much spent the first two and a half months caring for my mother, who had lung cancer. Then, Mom died, and a huge door shut forever, becoming only a window on the past.

However, the closing of that door, opened the door that led to the Castle relocation, and the establishment of the Castle Argghhh! Range Complex, Animal Husbandry Center and Nature Preserve.

The blog brought me into national politics, at a policy level (in small ways, no play-maker here!)

Then came the Milblogger Conference, where I found out I have fans, even if they never comment or email... and discovered that we really *do* get read by the people we want to read us. But the gurls!

The year's shocker - I got invited, with a buncha other cool people... to meet the President.

Some people were not impressed, however. I think they just had blogger-envy.

Meanwhile, SWWBO got ANSWER'd! That was fun, mostly. The Gathering of Eagles rally was definitely fun.

A downer was when SWWBO got canned from Cerner. Ironically, she was let go two days after the quarterly meeting where she was recognized as being one of the people who had 100% satisfaction ratings from Cerner clients... but none of the people who are in her group, and still have jobs, made the cut. Seems she didn't fit well with the group. Heh. Oddly enough, she was also the oldest member of her group (though not the most highly compensated) and when she was going through the fruitless search for another job within Cerner, *every* interview had a question about how she felt about working with younger people and did she think she'd fit in... She won't sue. Too bad. I think we'd get a pretty penny for the Cerner Campus in North Kansas City. It would make a fine place for a museum of Stoopid Corporate Cultures. I can say this now, after having sat silent for years as Cerner fumbled it's way along, jumping from this HR fad to another as they cycled through upper level management... they produce a pretty good product, and they are the giant of their market - but they make money because they don't have any serious competition. If anyone poses a serious challenge, they are such a internal culture nightmare, they'll implode. It would be good for them. They need the kick in the butt.

Then, Blogworld Expo, out in Las Vegas. Where I met Kos himself, and found out I've got fans on the west coast... and that most of the people at the Expo don't pay any attention to the polibloggers or the milbloggers... they were there to learn how to make money on their blogs. Those were the well-attended seminars! But it was fun to move among the big names of the 'sphere and find out they know my name (though I doubt they're avid consumers of Castle content...).

Yeah, it's been a year of ups and down, but the ups helped counter the downs. The family is closer, you guys still show up, and more of you than before, pushing on to 3 million uniques (well, that's what Sitemeter says, anyway - the server logs say closer to 5).

What's not to like? The collection migrated from the old demesne to the new. I misunderestimated the rack space for the Arms Room, meaning I'm short on rack space... The Arms Room went from this, to this, and this...

I (and other people) can shoot from under cover off the back deck...

Life is good. Ups and downs. Like that whole "living in a world lit only by fire thing..." In truth, that was as much fun as PITA.

But Dad and Sis and her family are doing well. Prodigal Son Andy and his Significant Other Ashes are doing well. August graduated from college... SWWBO and I are feeling the mileage, but hey, who isn't, at this point in the Skein of Life?

Thanks for stopping by all these years. Or today, if this is your first visit.

Since I can't name you all, I won't name anyone so there are no hurt feelings (or they are at least evenly distributed). I read every email you send, and I manage to answer most of them. One plus side of not being a Really Big Blogger.

You make it worth the effort. More of you should comment, though. That's what makes it fun!

The Master and Mistress Argghhh!

[and those pesky fubar'd links are fixed]

Another Public Service of the Castle.

Why let Bill have all the fun? Some tips to improve or even save your life!

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

1. If you are choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly remove itself.

2. Avoid cutting yourself slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold while you chop. [The Armorer is consdering this one next time he tries to get a bayonet out of a sticky scabbard...]

3. Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by using the shower.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button. [So will 7 hungry cats with claws]

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.

7. You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

8. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

Daily Thought: SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKYS. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS... ..

A Castle Public Service...

...for those of you attending Celebratory Functions (if you don't know what *that* means, you've had too much egg salad) tonight. When the small talk dies down (as it inevitably does around 0345), you can crank up the frivolity with:

A blonde goes into a store and sees a shiny object. She asks the clerk, "What is that shiny object?"

The clerk replies, "That is a thermos."

The blonde then asks, "What does it do?"

The clerk responds, "It keeps hot things hot and it keeps keeps cold things cold."

The blonde says, "I'll take it!"

The next day, she walks into work with her new thermos. Her boss ('nother blonde) sees her and asks, "What is that shiny object you have?"

The blonde replies, "It's a thermos."

The boss then says, "What does it do?"

She replies, "It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold."

The boss says, "Wow, what do you have in it?"

The blonde replies, "Two cups of coffee and a popsicle."

And, for FuzzyBee and Maggie, in recognition of their sterling tag team act last week:

Q: How do you get a blonde to take off her blouse?

A: Ask her to count to 12.

But first, make sure the digicam's batteries are fully-charged...

H&I Fires* 30 DEC 2007

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.

Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).

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A peek into an alternate reality, from the a San Diego theatre critic:

Nothing has changed for the better in nearly six years. The American people, New York Times columnist Frank Rich wrote recently, are in clinical depression. The constitution and the ideals that once set the nation apart have been traded for fear of Muslims and immigrants, for CIA torture chambers, widening economic inequality, and a Congress still short on backbone.

Job interviews of the presidential primary candidates. A sample:

Interview No. 5:

Us: "Can we try to stick to the point, Mr. Kucinich?"

DK: "... and then I saw a flying saucer while I was trying to impeach the president ..."

Us: "Hello, security?"

What happens when the NY Times hires ultra-conservative Bill Kristol to write a weekly op-ed? Heads explode.

Strange headline of the day: Taliban Dismisses Top Leader Mansoor Dadullah. Isn't that a bit like being "dismissed" from the mob?

No one can be everywhere at once in order to see important events for him or her self, so we must rely on reporters. So, this one really depresses me: Did Reporters Get Born Yesterday? Sigh... - FbL

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My Buddeeze, alla time lookin' out for me!

With all that snow up thetaways, was wondering how paid work in Sandy Eggo might appeal to you. Especially if it's a labor of love, like.

Cheers, Lex

PS - tongue firmly in cheek

-----Original Message-----

Subject: NAVNET OPPORTUNITIES FOR 20 DEC

Here's batch of opportunities from the NAVNET in basket all from Patriot International. POC for all of them is ...David Solis, Vice President, Office: 888.663.7241 ext 01, solis@patriotintl.com

2. Patriot International Opportunity, San Diego, CA, ATG BILLET- U.S. ORGANIC AND FOREIGN WEAPONS SME

Duties: Assist in lesson plan maintenance and update improvements. Provide training on Marine Corps individual and crew-served infantry weapons including the M16A2/4, the M4, 9 MM PISTOL, M240G, Shotgun, MK-19, M2 .50 CAL MACHINE GUN, AT4, as well as associated vision devices such as the ACOG and NVDs and other weapons that may enter the
inventory. Training will include combat shooting skills to tactical individual marksmanship, transition shooting skills, firing of weapons from tripod and mobile, vehicle-mounted and static/tactical locations/positions. Familiarization training/firing on foreign weapons expected in the OIF/OEF theater (e.g., AK 47 and variants, SVD/PSL, PKM, RPG-7) will also be required as will assembly, disassembly, immediate and remedial actions. Also, first echelon field maintenance procedures for all listed weapons. Training will be provided and will include
conduct of day and night Familiarization Firing on all U.S. and foreign weapons. Instructors will also support POI and lesson plan, student guides and other training material development and maintenance to include participation and support of periodic content reviews. The position may require up to 35% travel and providing training under field conditions.

Civilian Education: REQUIRED: High School diploma; DESIRED: Bachelor's degree

Military Education. N/A.

Military/Government Experience: REQUIRED: Minimum three years experience in military training and education; minimum five years operational experience in infantry, recon, SPECOPS, or related areas; minimum three years documented knowledge and experience in USMC weapons; experience and knowledge of foreign weapons; combat experience within the last four years; working knowledge of US Marine Corps individual and crew served weapons.

DESIRED: Currency with TTPs and Lessons learned from recent real world operations; military instructor experiences; experience in curriculum development; experience as an Advisor.

Clearance: REQUIRED: Secret Clearance.

Other: This position may require travel to alternate training venues. Performance of duties will be in a combination of classroom and field conditions.

-I've got that job knocked, except the combat experience in the last four years part, and I could prolly get around that infantry thing. Mebbe not. But I'm guessing it doesn't pay what I make now, and I don't think I'm gonna find 80 acres in the San Diego area that I can afford. But if that was out at Fort Riley...-the Armorer

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