Aloha Dump

I was so happy to read this email my wife sent me concerning the Navy's use of active sonar off the coast of California. I remember how much of a pain in the ass it was to come out to San Diego to do battlegroup operations becuase of the Marine Mammal Active Sonar regulations the Navy had to adopt. In short, whenever a few whales beached themselves, there happened to be a Naval exercise somewhere in the area, perhaps even 2000 nautical miles away. This was unequivocably related and caused by the active sonar operations of the ships and subs, regardless of whether or not the power levels were 100dB or 250dB. I remember one exercise that came to a halt because a pod of dolphins was detected near our boat. 2 U.S. submarines, a Frigate, and a helicopter had to secure active until the dolphins got tired of playing with us. Heaven forbid a humpback get in our path in which case we had to provide right of way, no matter the distance. Oh yeah, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg can suck it too.

While rummaging around in one of my Rubbermaid boxes of Navy stuff I came across a stenopad with a mini essay I wrote while stationed aboard the USS LOS ANGELES (SSN 688). I do not know the exact date of this writing but it was sometime in October 1998 based on an underway log entry made immediately following. I am finding more and more of these notebooks and pads and I have mixed feelings after I read them. On one hand, I am extremely grateful that I m not punching holes in the ocean aboard a nuclear powered submarine. On the other hand, I miss punching holes in the ocean aboard a nuclear powered submarine. The following essay is exactly how I wrote it over 10 years ago. Enjoy. The very nature of a submarine causes people to dislike the situation they are in. It is a unique animal which demands a like coexistence with its crew. Most people will admit that they like their job and just tolerate the rest of the bullshit that goes along with it (drills, workups, fucked up command policies...

Wow, I hadn't really finished my last post on election day when, only 13 minutes after the polls closed here in CA, Obama had reached the 270 electoral votes. I almost feel bad for the people on the West coast who waited in line for 2 hours to vote for McCain. I honestly feel the better candidate did not win and the close popular vote showed that Americans were almost divided on whom should pick up the office for the next 4 years. But only time will tell, as with everything, but I hope that Obama's presidency will not weaken our country like Clinton's did. Speaking of which, it was a historic day because the United States has elected it's second black President. I don't see much change coming in the next 4 years though. Obama's liberal and consistent voting record will be his benchmark for me. I hope that he proves me wrong because our country is desperate need for some help. But I don't have much faith in a man who, along with his party, do not support the ...

Today was the first time in 20 years that I actually went to a polling station to cast my vote. I had sent in absentee ballots the whole time I was in the Navy so this was an eye-opening experience. My polling station is small and I was the 8th person to cast their vote this morning. Starbucks gave me a free cup of coffee for my civic duty. I think this election will be a nail biter but as I am writing this Obama has taken a significant lead in electoral votes. I have always though the electoral process is crap and that the popular vote should be the deciding factor. As it stands, it is a race to 270, and the McCain/Palin ticket is lagging. Besides the Presidential vote, there were some important propositions here in CA that were also on the ballot. There were also a few people running for reelection of offices in the state that I did not really care about- so I wrote in my name. I have a pretty good shot at taking Judge of Superior Court #6 since Peter McBrian is running unopposed. So...

Not much to say about last night's continuation of the first debate 4 weeks ago. Each didn't really say anything, both slammed each other, each misrepresented the other's policies, plans, and stances on the issues. The transcript is even more tortuous to read than watching the actual debate, which this time did not include a podium and had Tom Brokaw moderating. Those were the two key differences between both Presidential debates. Like I said, voters will not be able to glean anything the candidates actually say because there is just too much rhetoric; it is like being in a House of Mirrors at the carnival. There is one thing that is becoming increasingly more apparent to me as the weeks drone on and that is the position of the Vice President. We can name a dozen VP's who were not very inspiring, articulate or even well known. The same can be said of Biden and Palin but there is something these two VP hopefuls have the other ones didn't really have a shot at- actual...

WASHINGTON - Days after it got a federal bailout, American International Group Inc. spent $440,000 on a posh California retreat for its executives, complete with spa treatments, banquets and golf outings, according to lawmakers investigating the company's meltdown. AIG sent its executives to the coastal St. Regis resort south of Los Angeles even as the company tapped into an $85 billion loan from the government it needed to stave off bankruptcy. The resort tab included $23,380 worth of spa treatments for AIG employees, according to invoices the resort turned over to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Yes, you read that correctly. The same assholes the government bailed out so that millions of Americans could have a chance to salvage what is left of their retirements, homes, et al just threw a Sweet 16 party- and we weren't invited. This just reaks of one of those "Priceless" commercials. At least Obama is shaking his finger at them. That should help.

This presidential election is going to be doozy. The whole process will drain me emotionally and intellectually until the moment the results are flung to the world this November, which is only 30 days away. I watched both debates and I have reflected on both what was said and what wasn’t said. Obama is a great speaker; he reminds me of Bill Clinton in a lot of ways and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the same people have prepped both men. But I hold the same mistrust for both men also. I believe that the election is not going to be won by policies and attacks on the opposition’s stances but by whom the American people trust the most. Let’s face it, neither the Obama-Biden nor the McCain-Palin tickets are that impressive when it comes to combining all the elements of what a U.S. President should have. But then again, I can’t remember an election when they did. Obama has had a tough time with the Ad Hominem fallacy of “guilt by association.” The first blow out was with, ironically, Ob...

13 years after murdering his ex-wife, O.J. is convicted of going totally bat shit crazy and pulling a gun on memorabilia collectors. Of course there will be an appeal and another, ad nauseum. But I think O.J. is finally headed to the big juicer to finally get what's coming to him, preferably a life sentence as someone's bitch in the state penitentiary. I guess his next book will be If I didn't do it .

Paul Newman died today at the age of 83. What we've got here, is a sad day in history. My favorite films are Cool Hand Luke and Slap Shot. He did play a great pool shark though. He also served in the U.S. Navy. Thanks for the great films, your service, and the salad dressing. "I can eat 50 eggs. And for the record, I would steer clear of me for about 3 days after."

I remember exactly what I was doing this day 7 years ago. It isn’t important but it is one of those remembrances of my lifetime that parallels the Space Shuttle disasters, the day President Reagan was shot and the death of John Wayne. For me however, this event still, and probably always will, tighten my gut and cause a few tears well up in the corners of my eyes. I will not watch any memorials or September 11 rehashes on the news. I don’t need them to remember who did this to us, why they did it, and why the lives of millions of Americans have never been, and probably never will be, the same since that day. September 11 rivals the attack on Pearl Harbor and Roosevelt’s description of the December 7 attack as a “dastardly deed” just doesn’t seem apropos to describe the actions that happened in NYC, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 that never made it to its target. But the terrorists did awaken a sleeping giant that day. For too long our countrymen suffered attacks overseas by Muslim extrem...

Well, 2 weeks of conventions have passed and America is probably a little better informed about the candidates. I have to admit that after Obama’s speech I was impressed with his message. After thinking about it for a while, however, it dawned on me what his message really was. You really had to read between the lines but I got from it was higher taxes, kiss the terrorists asses, and McCain is a weenie. Obama promised to just raise taxes on the rich and corporations and I stated in a previous post that I don’t think those 2 demographics are going to be to supply the money needed for Obama’s proposed plans. They very well might, however, Fred Thompson summed it up best: Now our opponents tell you not to worry about their tax increases. They tell you they are not going to tax your family. No, they're just going to tax "businesses"! So unless you buy something from a "business", like groceries or clothes or gasoline ... or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a ...

I have been catching the DNC and so far I am unimpressed. It has been a tear fest so far with no substance. I just watched Biden's speech and it was so-so but I am waiting for some clear and unclouded plans for the United States of America over the next 4 years. Obama talks a smooth line but I don't know what the hell he is really saying most of the time. He tows the party line on a lot of issues but I think he is more liberal than Ted Kennedy when you read about his voting history and what little he does stand for. Overall, Obama is for higher taxes- inheritance tax, gas tax, income tax, et al. That is what Democrats do- they raise taxes to pay for the programs to help people who cannot help themselves (or more to the point, too lazy to help themselves) by taking money from people who bust their ass to make some money. If you think things are economically bad for you now then it won't get better with Barrak in the White House. I had a discussion with a hard core liberal at...