Jim

JK said... And Markomalley said... To throw in my 2 bits... I worked with tactical nuclear weapons in the Army, held an AEC "Q" clearance, and did engineering work on the security systems of 3 weapons labs and other sensitive facilities. I never heard a word connecting TWI and nuclear weapons, and the issue never came up during my vetting for the various security clearances I've held. I think it is *extremely* unlikely that anyone seriously considered getting their hands on a nuclear device. What the hell would they use it for? Holding a city hostage? Making a political statement? VPW had plenty of flaws, but I don't think he ever could have been a mass-murderer-terrorist. This is pure speculation, but all I can imagine is that someone read "Curve of Binding Energy" and made some remark about how easy it would be to get nuclear material. More likely is that someone just dropped a dime to make live a little more uncomfortable for VPW/TWI. JK, Christian fundimentalists have their hands near the plutonium and have been inside weapons programs all over the country since the beginning. Given the vast array of Christian groups, it's unlikely that TWI would have been considered any particular risk. Pre-911, I don't think that religious involvement had any significance in whether a person could get a security clearance or not. I don't know how it works now.

Unfskingbelievable, Johnny....

http://www.wimp.com/criminals/

This is the classic "life isn't fair" dilemma. You've taught your kid to be considerate, honest and respectful. He, in turn, expects the same from others, especially people in positions of authority. And, as we all know, sometimes people in positions of authority sometimes misuse their power either by accident or deliberately. I went through this with my daughter at about the same age. I explained that if you go through life expecting everyone to treat you fairly, you will have a lot of bitter and unhappy times. People should treat you fairly and that they don't treat you fairly doesn't make it right. The important thing is to realize when you aren't being treated fairly and to make your own decisions as to how you will handle it. This is also the question of when do we tolerate unfair behavior or when do we stand up and say "Enough". Exe, you have a great heart and I'm sure you have a great kid. Just explain to him the best you can that a little pain and a little unfairness is part of a good life, but a lot of pain and a lot of unfairness isn't. I don't buy the punishment vs. discipline thing. He was punished. Just some fluff to avoid the hard question.

The first time I had sex I was scared. I was all alone...

I agree. The dialog is surreal. Where I grew up, it was not unusual to see a 12 year old, by himself, carrying a long gun and going up into the woods to do some shooting. I did it myself. Likewise, older teens occasionally carried handguns while hiking. Nobody though anything of it and nothing ever came of it. I can also remember a boy bringing an old rifle for show-and-tell in third grade. The rifle got sent to the principal's office and the show-and-tell didn't happen. But the police never got called and nobody got expelled. But what was described in the article just seems insane. The pistol is a pocket automatic. Not suitable for anything other than killing or wounding another human at close range, and not very good at that. His mother is criminally stupid if nothing else.

I knew it would become the butt of a joke....

I had no problem folding a long length of toilet paper 8 times. Of course it does. Mythbusters covered this one and so did Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/duckecho.htm I can't speak authoritatively on the others, but there several that I would question. When in doubt, check it on snopes.com

I know you .... I've seen that face before :D

He's an ex cop too....

Eagle's thread on being ratted out got me thinking about the times I skipped out on TWI functions. The best one was at a limb function in San Diego. We were staying at the Coronado Hotel and the limb function was held in the ballroom. A fairly large group of us from the East Bay decided that seeing the San Diego Zoo would be more fun. We spent all day at the zoo and had a blast. Far more fun than being stuck nodding off in a stuffy ballroom. I saw an armadillo for the first time. No leadership ever mentioned our absence, but some rank-and-file were envious.

I can't let this pass without mentioning Way Productions. *All* of the performers were just great to work with. Compared with working in the secular video business, working with Way Productions was great. And how about Flight Services? There was a bunch of great people. Went on several trips, had a great time each time. Too bad I can't remember any names....

This always works for me... It's a small world after all It's a small world after all It's a small world after all It's a small, small world

Del Duncan - I don't know what happened to him after '74 or so, but when he was the limb leader of Califorinia, he was great. An incredible speaker, motivated and driving. Johnny Townsend - again, I don't know what happened to him during and after the fog years, but as Cal limb leader after DD, and as head of staff at HQ, I have nothing but good to say about him. Joe Coulter - Still on staff, a true paradox. Joe was not the easiest person to get along with, but I always respected his tremendous leadership ability and his organizational skills. Mark Glukin, Tom Mausoff, Susan Miller, Bo Rehard - all great people. The best to work with. There were many more. People whose equal I've never seen in the secular world. I miss them all.

1. What time is it: 9:05 pm PST 2. Name: jim 3. Nickname: jim 4. Piercings: none 5. Recent Movie you've seen: Nosepicker 6. Eye color: hazel 7. Place of birth: Wa 8. Favorite food: Ribeye steak 9. Ever been toilet papering? no 10. Love someone so much it made you cry? yes, a couple of times ever hate sumone so much it made you cry? no 11. Been in a car accident: yes, twice 12. Favorite day of the week: Friday 13. Favorite restaurants: local mexican 14. Favorite Flower: none 15. Favorite sport to watch: soccer 16. Favorite Drink: Kaluha on ice or a good red port 17. Favorite ice cream: Ben and Jerry's vanilla 18. Disney or Warner Brothers: Warner Brothers 19. Favorite fast food restaurant: none 20. What color is your bedroom carpet: brown 21. How many times you failed your driver's test? 0 22. Winter, summer, spring or fall: fall 23. Which store would you choose to Max out your credit card: ebay 24. What do you like to do when you are most bored: Read and drink Southern Comfort 25. Bedtime: around 11 26. Favorite TV shows: American Hotrod, History Channel 27. Last person you went to dinner with: Wife 28. Ford or Chevy: Subaru 29. What are you listening to right now? Dvorak Piano Concerto 30. How many tattoos do you have: 0 31. How many pets do you own: 2 32. Which came first the chicken or the chicken egg? I didn't know there'd be religious questions...

Reminds me of a quote from an instructor at the Army's Ft. Benning Airborne parachute school.. "First we separate the men from the fools, then the fools jump..."

"Could somebody hand me a bale of toilet paper, please?"

Where's Spongebob Squarepants?

The other Loy wrote... Thanks for the coffee spew.

JK said, far more eloquently that I could... My understanding and experience is that, in that era, a hard father was a good father. And what constituted hard might very well equal abuse in this day and time.

Trusting God to do what? Take care of me? Take care of my family? Pay my bills? I'd best do all that stuff myself if I want it done. I'm not saying I don't believe in God, but from everything I've seen, I've got to do my best myself to take care of me and my own. Now trusting organized religion is another matter. In a word, no, I don't. Probably never will.

I agree with Galen. I've been regular army, reserve and national guard. The reserve and NG, unless they've been called up, are just playing soldier.

He'll do fine. -jim Basic - Fort Jackson, SC AIT - Redstone Arsenal, Al Duty - Regular Army, Neu Ulm, Germany, 579th Ord Co. Washingto State National Guard California Army Reserve 1970 - 1973

Yawn. Time for bed, Mike.

Mike mounted the soapbox and exclaimed.... That would be *your opinion*, right?