tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46558666674244503462023-11-16T08:09:12.332-07:00Actually, I thought I was helping...Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-45256805836477859002008-08-23T07:25:00.003-06:002008-08-23T07:29:19.978-06:00Obama taps veteran senator Biden as running mate - USATODAY.com<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-23-biden-vp-choice_N.htm">Obama taps veteran senator Biden as running mate - USATODAY.com</a>: "Barack Obama has selected Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware to be his vice presidential running mate, choosing a veteran senator with a strong foreign policy background, Obama's campaign announced early Saturday."<br /><br />Here's where it's going to get ironic.<br /><br />Senator Biden is known for sometimes letting his mouth get ahead of his brain. Personally, I like the guy. From time to time, Senator Biden opens his mouth before he has thought things through and the results vary from coarse to (unintentionally) hilarious. I respect him for his willingness to stray off of prepared remarks and answer important questions.<br /><br />This is very different from someone else who we won't name, (but whose last name rhymes with "Bush") whose <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malapropism">malapropisms</a> come from his inability to remember his prepared remarks.<br /><br />This won't stop the Republican party from making a big deal about Senator Biden's speaking style.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-72216675465768182362008-08-21T10:46:00.000-06:002008-08-21T10:46:46.912-06:00Sheriff goes to jail for an education | Oddly Enough | Reuters<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2046426420080821?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews">Sheriff goes to jail for an education | Oddly Enough | Reuters</a>: "Sheriff Mark Curran of Lake County Illinois walked into his own jail on Wednesday to spend a week as a prisoner saying he was divinely inspired to learn what it was like to be confined and to sample jail programs designed to reduce recidivism. 'The biblical adage that we reap what we sow is very true in criminal justice ' said Curran 45 before exchanging his business suit for a prison jumpsuit at the Waukegan Illinois facility near Chicago."<br /><br />Hopefully, he's an elected official and this kind of ridiculousness will be remembered come election time. Honestly, if he doesn't already know what the conditions are in his facilities than he doesn't need to be the sheriff.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-62423901383101168662008-06-19T14:34:00.002-06:002008-06-19T14:56:48.300-06:00Me and the Veteran's Administration Part DeuxLast week I got a letter from the VA telling me that I'd been approved for vocational rehabilitation. That was the first paragraph. The rest of the letter went to tell me about my right to appeal the VA's decision to give me what I'd asked for.<br /><br />Here's the thing, I still have hoops to jump through for the qualification process. So a "yes" isn't possible, only a "no" is possible. I did 26 years in the military and I know how bureaucracies work. You have a bunch of steps where you can get disqualified and if, after dutifully completing all those steps you aren't disqualified then you're approved.<br /><br />Since I'm only partway through the process and the letter went on and on about my appeal rights, I figured I misunderstood the letter and I had been denied. So I reread the letter over and over and the first paragraph really said "you have been approved" and the rest of the letter really said "you can appeal this decision." I finally put the letter in the "this may be important someday" box and moved on.<br /><br />Today I got a call from the counselor that's supposed to administer a bunch of tests as part of the approval process. She said: 1) I have been approved and 2) I have to finish the screening process. I wasn't going to argue with her. If the VA's really going to pick up the tab for finishing my degree I will jump through, over or around any hoops they want jumped in the order they want them jumped.<br /><br />But yeah, it's a little strange.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-64658663422871329302008-05-22T10:55:00.002-06:002008-05-22T11:19:45.480-06:00Me and the Veteran's AdministrationI'm 40% service-connected disabled. The disabilities are not that big a deal. One example: 10% of that rating is for ringing in my ears. I would prefer that I not have ringing in my ears, but some hearing damage is part and parcel of going to wars.<br /><br />My disability rating is high enough (over 20%) that I'm eligible for job training. One way that the VA can provide job training is by footing the bill for college. I would like to be a high school science teacher which requires a degree that I don't have. The VA's help could go a long way toward getting me into the classroom.<br /><br />Well, dork that I am, I didn't apply for benefits until this month. Today, I just got tentatively approved for my education goal. There are tests to take, advisors and counselors to meet and stacks of forms complete but my objective has been conditionally approved.<br /><br />The process is far from over, but it's off to a good start. What a huge load off my mind.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-45320145600313033872008-05-02T13:21:00.003-06:002008-05-02T13:54:57.666-06:00About damn time....<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/01/AR2008050100206.html?hpid=moreheadlines">Military Stressing Veterans' Counseling - washingtonpost.com</a>: "Applicants for government security clearances will no longer have to declare whether they sought mental health counseling after serving in combat zones, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced yesterday."<br /><br />Well, it's a baby step in the right direction.<br /><br />The wording is still lame "strictly related to adjustments from service in a military combat environment" is not going to reassure many folks who are still on active duty. I'll give you an example: Airman Wingwiper deploys to the sandbox for 180 days and his marriage self-destructs when he comes home. Why is he seeking counseling? Does that meet the criteria? Will everyone think that? I'll tell you why that's important. The one absolute sure-fire way to get your clearance denied to to get caught in a lie on your SF86.<br /><br />The effect of the current policy on security clearances and other special-access programs is that it drives folks to the chaplains. Some chaplains are excellent counselors. Some chaplains are not up to the challenge. (And some chaplains are <a href="http://austinmillbarge.blogspot.com/2007/12/chaplain-gets-plea-bargain-in-sex-case.html">rapists</a>.)<br /><br />I have a friend who took a bad shot in a war zone. He did not join the military and did not make the sacrifices he has made in order to kill innocent civilians. He went were he was sent, he did what he was told to do and the results were tragic. The USAF moved on and he didn't. He was saddled with nightmares and anger issues. He went to a chaplain for help because a chaplain's help was the best he could get without risking his career.<br /><br />My personal take is that chaplains should stick to their area of expertise: <span style="font-style: italic;">religion</span>. I would no sooner see a chaplain about battlestress issues than I would a fry cook.<br /><br />I appreciate Secretary Gates' intentions, but he's still way short of the mark.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-33485310095663718112008-04-20T18:17:00.003-06:002008-04-20T18:33:50.919-06:00Money, Ideology, Coercion, Ego and Nationalism?<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/weekinreview/20shane.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">What Motivates a Spy to Betray His Country? Add Nationalism to the Equation - New York Times<br /></a> <br />Interesting piece in the NYT about a shift in the motivations for traitors.<br /><br />First off, I want to be picky here about word use. Spying is a profession. Sure, spies tell lies and violate other countries' laws but spies are professionals who are serving their own nation. Traitors, on the other hand, are betraying their own country. I can respect a spy, I cannot respect a traitor.<br /><br />The trend amongst traitors seems to be shifting away from money. According to the NYT article, approximately half of the new batch of traitors are motivated by ideology to their native country.<br /><br />I disagree with the article on the importance of sexual compromise. It's always been part of the game. It's not new.<br /><br />I recommend reading article.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-28224391915128391912008-03-25T12:34:00.000-06:002008-03-25T12:34:44.623-06:00Re-entry system parts shipped to Taiwan<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/25/AR2008032501309.html">Pentagon Admits Mistaken Arms Shipment - washingtonpost.com</a>: "The nose cones, designed for a missile system that dates to the 1960s, were declared excess in March 2005 and shipped to a warehouse on an Air Force base in Wyoming, officials said. It is unclear whether they were placed in a classified storage area or how they were eventually mistaken for crates of batteries."<br /><br />Honestly, if someone had asked me if this was possible I would have said "Hell no." So I guess I have revise (and lower) my opinion of my former co-workers. I am betting that these were time change items that had gone past service life and were returned to Hill AFB for the depot weenies to do whatever they do with them. How they got tagged at UH-1 batteries beats the hell out of me.<br /><br />How the heck could anyone not notice we were missing forward sections to Mark 12 re-entry vehicles? (The Mark 12 is the assembly the contains the part that goes boom as well as support electronics.) It would seem to me that Mark 12 forward sections are accountable items.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-39839108443047952762008-03-10T12:01:00.001-06:002008-03-10T12:10:56.257-06:00The new sins are out!<a href="http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010282589">Vatican Announces Seven New Deadly Sins | March 10, 2008 | AHN</a>: "Mgr Girotti named the new mortal sins to be (1)genetic modification; (2) human experimentations, (3) polluting the environment; (4) social injustice; (5) causing poverty; (6) financial gluttony; and (7) taking drugs."<br /><br />Maybe they're trying to drum up confessional business.<br /><br />I am unclear as to why I am supposed to care what a Bronze Age myth (updated or not) says about how I live my life.<br /><br />And while we're at it:<br /><br />8) voting for anyone who voted in favor of the Patriot Act<br /><br />9) SPAMMING<br /><br />10) being a Yankee fan<br /><br />...Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-37328920961086895402008-03-10T11:41:00.000-06:002008-03-10T11:41:34.371-06:00Bad law to go with bad problem<a href="http://www.wtvq.com/content/midatlantic/tvq/video.apx.-content-articles-TVQ-2008-03-05-0011.html">Kentucky Lawmaker Wants to Make Anonymous Internet Posting Illegal - Video - WTVQ 36 - Lexington, Kentucky</a>: "Kentucky Representative Tim Couch filed a bill this week to make anonymous posting online illegal."Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-17953085738289964112008-03-08T09:13:00.000-07:002008-03-08T09:13:33.015-07:00Lawyers Rally Against Musharaff Government - New York Times<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/world/asia/08cnd-pakistan.html?ex=1362718800&en=15fae5ec0608eda7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Lawyers Rally Against Musharaff Government - New York Times</a>: "“Our struggle is to make Pakistan a state where the judiciary is independent, and what Musharraf did to the chief justice is an example of how under him no judge is ever independent,” Mr. Ahsan said to a crowd of lawyers who chanted for Mr. Musharraf’s resignation. The rally here on Saturday was part of a series of marketplace demonstrations between the capital, Islamabad, and this nearby city to show support for the lawyers movement. The lawyers are planning a week of anti-Musharraf demonstrations, called Black Flag Week after the protesters’ flags and armbands."<br /><br />These are brave men and women. I hope they get a free country to live in.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-34768700002809699512008-03-05T06:44:00.000-07:002008-03-05T06:44:05.754-07:00Aromatherapy has no physical effects<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/04/earlyshow/health/main3903623.shtml">Aromatherapy Effectiveness Questioned, Study: It Has No Physical Impact, But Lemon Scent Improved Mood - CBS News</a>: "(CBS) Believers swear by aromatherapy, in which certain scents are supposed to have a positive effect on a person's mood or health.<br /><br />But a recent investigation found that aromatherapy has no physiological effect on people at all."<br /><br />This will in no way affect sales of aromatherapy products. It has never been about the evidence anyway. Aromatherapy is another pseudoscience with a legion of fact-resistant followers.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-18410143849819650182008-02-18T20:26:00.001-07:002008-02-18T20:27:28.757-07:00Pakistanis Deal Severe Defeat to Musharraf in Election - New York Times<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/world/asia/19pstan.html?em&ex=1203483600&en=26290b379db36e40&ei=5087%0A">Pakistanis Deal Severe Defeat to Musharraf in Election - New York Times</a>: "ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistanis dealt a crushing defeat to President Pervez Musharraf in parliamentary elections on Monday, in what government and opposition politicians said was a firm rejection of his policies since 2001 and those of his close ally, the United States."<br /><br />Funny how that works... arrest a few judges... declare marshal law... monkey with the constitution and suddenly people want a new government.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-36186190119094800522008-02-13T10:39:00.003-07:002008-02-13T10:58:53.234-07:00The word still isn't outOne of my classmates, M, has a brother in the USMC who just returned from Iraq. I believe his tour was 18 months but honestly, for anything over 7 months what I hear is "way too long." So I don't remember exactly what M said.<br /><br />So when M mentioned this to me in the hallway outside class I switched into sergeant mode for a few minutes. I gave M a quick list of reintegration issues that most returnees face. I could see M's eyes glaze as I prattled on. I kept going because I believe that even a little forewarning is better than no forewarning. M's a smart kid. I figured if her brother did have reintegration issues she'd be able to dust off my pocket sermon and apply it.<br /><br />Well M's brother is in town. We were waiting for class to start the other day and she related how her brother had blown a fuse talking to some kid at a McDonald's drive-thru. M is beginning to understand what I was talking about.<br /><br />Put your seat backs a tray tables in the upright position. It's gonna get bumpy.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-64979549571712217522008-02-09T08:50:00.000-07:002008-02-09T08:54:50.454-07:00What the heck???My Kaspersky antivirus software is showing my own blog as a phishing site. What the heck?<br /><br />Makes me wonder about what else is wrong with Kaspersky...Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-24546060472585904632008-02-04T08:35:00.000-07:002008-02-04T08:36:32.041-07:00History of Combat Trauma Bibliography (SWJ Blog)<a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2008/02/history-of-combat-trauma-bibli/">History of Combat Trauma Bibliography (SWJ Blog)</a><span style="font-style: italic;">: "The history of combat trauma is one which draws fire every time. It is a topic wrapped in politics, both conventional and those internal to both the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and history. I hope this brief annotated bibliography will help some come to understand the foundations, the arguments, and the various issues in play on this topic. This list is rank-ordered in what I believe is their utility to those interested in the study of war, particularly my fellow historians and journalists, but also my peers in the military."<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>I don't believe we're actually going to find a fix for combat trauma/PTSD/Jungle Jitters/Shell Shock or whatever the next generation of warriors chooses to call it. There are things that cannot be done without paying a psychological price and going to war is one of those things. I do believe that if the military changes its attitude toward combat trauma then more folks will get the help they need and end up leading happier lives.<br /><br />It would be a huge cultural change for the military and it may not even be possible, but education is a good first step.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-9288381478339634632008-01-28T20:05:00.000-07:002008-01-29T07:03:30.233-07:00In From the Cold: What Happened at Minot--an In From the Cold Special Report<a href="http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-happened-at-minot-in-from-cold.html">In From the Cold: What Happened at Minot--an In From the Cold Special Report</a>: "A “perfect storm” of failed leadership, lax supervision, ineffective internal communication, inexperienced personnel and poor career field management led to last year’s nuclear incident at Minot AFB, North Dakota, resulting in the unauthorized transfer of six-nuclear tipped missiles to an installation in Louisiana."<br /><br />A decent post that fills in some of the holes in the mishandling of six nuclear warheads.<br /><br />My little rant on this is <a href="http://austinmillbarge.blogspot.com/2007/10/potemkin-would-be-proud.html">here</a>.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-53636349809569508262007-12-28T11:21:00.000-07:002007-12-28T13:57:24.925-07:00For those of you with bad memories...<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7163307.stm">BBC NEWS | South Asia | Bhutto killing blamed on al-Qaeda</a>: "Pakistan says it has intelligence that al-Qaeda assassinated opposition politician Benazir Bhutto at an election rally on Thursday."<br /><br />Pervez "after me, the deluge" Musharraf's government is blaming the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on al-Qaida. The problem with this is that Musharraf's government has had ties to al-Qaida. The Pakistani <a href="http://civet.berkeley.edu/sohrab/politics/isi_problems.html">Inter-Service Intelligence agency has actually used al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan to prepare personnel for use against India</a>. Musharraf's finger pointing raises more questions than it answers. He should have stuck with the "some other guy did it" defense.<br /><br />Does the US really need Pervez Musharraf as an ally? Should we really be supporting yet another tin pot dictator whose only demonstrated capability is suppressing lawyers and judges?<br /><br />If anyone out there has an example in which the doctrine of "my enemy's enemy is my friend" hasn't come back to bite us in the butt I'd love to hear about it.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-53516107279664077752007-12-27T09:51:00.000-07:002007-12-27T09:51:20.651-07:00Benazir Bhutto Assassinated in Pakistan - washingtonpost.com<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/27/AR2007122700122.html?nav=rss_email/components">Benazir Bhutto Assassinated in Pakistan - washingtonpost.com</a>: "RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Dec. 27 -- Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday at a political rally, two months after returning from exile to attempt a political comeback."<br /><br />President Musharraf, it looks bad when your political opponents are assassinated.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-67452813305188173962007-12-16T10:08:00.000-07:002007-12-16T18:30:52.585-07:00Turkey Reports Airstrike on Iraq - New York Times<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Turkey-Iraq-Kurds.html?ex=1355461200&en=42accabcfe4bf4aa&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Turkey Reports Airstrike on Iraq - New York Times</a>: "ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Turkish jet fighters bombed Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq early Sunday, Turkey's military said, marking an escalation of force against the outlawed separatist group. An Iraqi official said the planes attacked several villages, killing one woman."<br /><br />This is interesting because the US would have had to have allowed it. The US maintains a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) over Iraq. We have good to excellent radar coverage extending well beyond Iraq's borders. The only reason I can see that the CAP didn't drop the Turkish aircraft is that they were told not to.<br /><br />The Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) is a terrorist organization. The best solution is for the Kurds in Northern Iraq to police the PKK themselves. If they're not going to do that then they're going to keep giving Turkey an excuse to come over the border and handle the problem their own way.<br /><br />EDIT: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7147271.stm">BBC quotes a Turkish General as saying the US gave advance approval</a>.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-67998145810031184302007-12-15T13:30:00.000-07:002007-12-15T13:30:49.034-07:00Musharraf ends emergency rule<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7145629.stm">BBC NEWS | South Asia | Musharraf ends Pakistan emergency</a>: "Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has lifted a state of emergency and restored the country's constitution."<br /><br />Musharraf deserves no credit at all for this. This is, after all, a democratic crisis he created.<br /><br />His days are certainly numbered. He has lost the loyalty of the middle class. Pakistani lawyers rioted in the streets. History students (people smarter than me) will tell you that the loyalty of the middle class is very often the tipping point for revolution.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-73303179215928597902007-12-13T22:04:00.000-07:002008-12-09T06:34:01.721-07:00I guess Rumsfeld won't be traveling to France anytime soon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GJ3SzvtahzZcyK2hkkiqpUtkhVOmhF_UmQyOPrVux8DDRzeFxNwtCsrocYgD_91lV8UIoYfTfEGoUOUlz9jOKatBRLHmcnGSfEVXnJItlusTNORllLK3E8IJxKTVL-vL0gAWw5Ckzg/s1600-h/spanish+inquisition.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GJ3SzvtahzZcyK2hkkiqpUtkhVOmhF_UmQyOPrVux8DDRzeFxNwtCsrocYgD_91lV8UIoYfTfEGoUOUlz9jOKatBRLHmcnGSfEVXnJItlusTNORllLK3E8IJxKTVL-vL0gAWw5Ckzg/s200/spanish+inquisition.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143691499000613602" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7141922.stm">BBC NEWS | Europe | Col Gaddafi faces torture lawsuit</a>: "A Palestinian-born doctor jailed in Libya for allegedly infecting children with HIV has filed a suit for torture against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi."<br /><br />I know, I know, diplomatic immunity and all that but this is important. Gaddafi very much wants to play big kids. If he wants to have relations with first world countries then he needs to clean up his act. One of the many things he needs to do is reject torture.<br /><br />Silly dictator, only America is allowed to torture.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-21401905768547343182007-12-13T21:38:00.000-07:002007-12-13T22:09:18.843-07:00There needs to be a turd smoking section in hell for these guys...<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/12/AR2007121202657_pf.html">Study Faults Charities for Veterans</a>: "Americans gave millions of dollars in the past year to veterans charities designed to help troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, but several of the groups spent relatively little money on the wounded, according to a leading watchdog organization and federal tax filings.<br /><br />Eight veterans charities, including some of the nation's largest, gave less than a third of the money raised to the causes they champion, far below the recommended standard, the American Institute of Philanthropy says in a report. One group passed along 1 cent for every dollar raised, the report says. Another paid its founder and his wife a combined $540,000 in compensation and benefits last year, a Washington Post analysis of tax filings showed."<br /><br />I saw this on <a href="http://wonkette.com/politics/it-is-their-money/charities-work-to-screw-over-vets-too-333623.php">Wonkette</a>.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-64922738812477171802007-12-06T07:06:00.000-07:002008-12-09T06:34:02.500-07:00Chaplain gets plea bargain in sex case<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0d07q8nTYHHHfaKiw2PNPKxWDnO5-rP3ssP8k9b6q9QVrSVdeXYhw84g0bSgpt9vkD3FJjgGM1-wgOCc0e_CbBNvCOeKw7rzu7eOtplJpvGKjqtJ-Zc69gGJzZBE_ZMaCw7x5HjThA/s1600-h/Lee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0d07q8nTYHHHfaKiw2PNPKxWDnO5-rP3ssP8k9b6q9QVrSVdeXYhw84g0bSgpt9vkD3FJjgGM1-wgOCc0e_CbBNvCOeKw7rzu7eOtplJpvGKjqtJ-Zc69gGJzZBE_ZMaCw7x5HjThA/s320/Lee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141272836321823826" border="0" /></a><a __lkid="1221" href="http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/12/marine_chaplain_hiv_071204w/">Lawyer: Priest will plead guilty to sex charges - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times</a>: "An HIV-positive Catholic Navy chaplain plans to plead guilty Thursday to charges involving sexual misconduct with an unspecified number of men, according to his attorney, who said the priest has known of his HIV status for more than two years."<br /><br />Lieutenant Commander John Thomas Matthew Lee was facing life without parole if he didn't take the pre-trial agreement.<br /><br />The Marines have not released the charge sheet on Lee so there is a lot that we don't know. Two of the charges are aggravated assault and indecent assault. Lee's attorney says that his client is "extremely remorseful." Lots of monsters are "extremely remorseful" after they're caught.<br /><br />Can someone please explain to me why professions dedicated to helping others attract ambulatory turds like Lee?<br /><br />EDIT: Lee's sentence has come down. He got twelve years with all but two of those years suspended. I am truly saddened by this. He raped a midshipman (Naval Academy cadet). Two years time served is not enough for someone like Lee who abused his authority and preyed upon people who came to him for help.<br /><br />If you look at the left boot of the Marine following Lee you will see he has a dog tag in the laces. The other one is probably worn around his neck. The thought is that you won't lose your head and your feet at the same time and your buddies will have an easier time identifying your body.<br /><br />It is men and women that have to think like that who were burdened with a sexual predator.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-78819869460018032952007-12-01T08:13:00.000-07:002008-12-09T06:34:02.652-07:00Homeopathy is quackery<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQOCMWoJbhOAK3dIj_N0Sp8Na0KPIi_wQCgW7l8qoFdFNzr-RzE2xL3aEOXnL4WjD_TRMrN7dLjKbZYPjnHAQlmSY-AYKSn9K8hMjk3KxdjiOcggFo4BYhQzoSfVjpEi8dsWf6AK5rg/s1600-r/plush-duck-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5IAzgJyRepLg14lrMDSnylS9dEoKP9A-XVYCp1aLm8FAOuGLQS-LnTfTATt9R9VsPNnPdMfYh-PFy7i6I9FY35kHk9o4Q1LnunFSraKtoOJqChvjaiPh5aaPnC-vG_EnjYUMVp3Fxg/s200/plush-duck-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139023811057011762" border="0" /></a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7122370.stm">BBC NEWS | UK | Concern over HIV homeopathy role</a>: "Doctors and health charities have expressed concern about a conference which will examine the role of homeopathy in treating HIV. The event includes discussion of what have been described as 'healing remedies' for HIV and AIDS."<br /><br />If they're going to play doctor, then they should be liable for malpractice. It is time we started to hold "complementary and alternative medicine" aka "evidence-free medicine" practitioners accountable for their claims.<br /><br />Rather than burden you with a long-winded rant, I'll just point you at <a href="http://www.badscience.net/">Ben Goldacre's blog</a>.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655866667424450346.post-64383065721377892582007-11-28T13:43:00.000-07:002008-12-09T06:34:02.788-07:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUQThEieTtxqouB_yPSePJI_p4sKq-YvHQfxFW9rzgOmiMMhEN3kOHXCCZHhyphenhyphenOrVmXYCJl0j6NkqiQm_CAbfPot5ohdh-aOgSOsMAdhyWeBvkaYRSBQypWaptKRcLe3VGEQu_ch-qLQ/s1600-h/cross6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUQThEieTtxqouB_yPSePJI_p4sKq-YvHQfxFW9rzgOmiMMhEN3kOHXCCZHhyphenhyphenOrVmXYCJl0j6NkqiQm_CAbfPot5ohdh-aOgSOsMAdhyWeBvkaYRSBQypWaptKRcLe3VGEQu_ch-qLQ/s200/cross6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137997705648266658" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.michiganmessenger.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=480">Michigan Messenger:: Crucifixes Sold in U.S. Are Made in Chinese Sweatshops, Rights Group Says</a>: "Crucifixes marketed in the United States by a Christian retail group are made in a Chinese sweatshop with working conditions that are appalling even by Chinese legal standards, according to a report by a U.S. human rights organization."<br /><br />This is Ed Brayton's article out of the Michigan Messenger. You can go to the source report <a href="http://www.nlcnet.org/article.php?id=479">here</a>.<br /><br />The sweatshop made lots of things besides Christian trinkets but Ed is quite rightly putting the Association for Christian Retail in the lead.<br /><br />It's more than a little ironic that yuppies in line at Starbucks will demand fair trade coffee while American Christians are decorating their living rooms with <a href="http://m-w.com/dictionary/tchotchke">tchotchkes</a> made in sweatshops by child labor.Pigasushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128366835889609148noreply@blogger.com0