6/16/2011

This guy says it all

Not everything that is written in the Captain's Log Book is written by the Captain himself, however when the Captain feels it needs to be there, it gets included. 


This is one of those entries that just needed to be added to the record, since it pretty much stands for the reasons I served in the armed services and I can say that I would rubber stamp this as a Notice to All Hands. . .



I Am the Democratic, Liberal-Progressive's Worst Nightmare.
 
I am a White, Conservative, Tax-Paying, American Veteran, Gun Owning Biker. That’s me!
 
I am a Master Mason. I work hard and long hours with my hands to earn a living.
 
I believe in God and the freedom of religion, but I don't push it on others
 
I ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles, and drive American-made cars, and I believe in American products and buy them whenever I can.
 
I believe the money I make belongs to me and not some liberal governmental functionary, Democratic or Republican, that wants to share it with others who don't work!
 
I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way!
 
I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer; it makes you a smart American.
 
I think being a minority does not make you noble or victimized, and does not entitle you to anything. Get over it!
 
I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac or any other item, you should do it in English.
 
I believe there should be no other language option.
 
I believe everyone has a right to pray to his or her God when and where they want to.
 
My heroes are Malcolm Forbes, Bill Gates, John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Roy Rogers, and Willie G. Davidson, who makes the awesome Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
 
I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.
 
I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time watching or arguing about it.
 
I've never owned a slave, nor was I a slave. I haven't burned any witches or been persecuted by the Turks, and neither have you!
 
I believe if you don't like the way things are here, go back to where you came from and change your own country!
 
This is AMERICA ...We like it the way it is and more so the way it was ...so stop trying to change it to look like Russia or China, or some other socialist country!
 
If you were born here and don't like it... you are free to move to any Socialist country that will have you. I believe it is time to really clean house, starting with the White House, the seat of our biggest problems.
 
I want to know which church is it, exactly, where the Reverend Jesse Jackson preaches, where he gets his money, and why he is always part of the problem and not the solution?
 
Can I get an AMEN on that one?
 
I also think the cops have the right to pull you over if you're breaking the law, regardless of what color you are, but not just because you happen to ride a bike.
 
And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my driver's license. I think it's good....
 
And I'm proud that 'God' is written on my money
 
I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years.
 
I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me stuff or trying to guilt me into making 'donations' to their cause.... Get a job and do your part to support yourself and your family!
 
I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes two parents..... A Mother AND a Father
 
I believe that a marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN.
 
I believe 'illegal' is illegal no matter what the lawyers think!
 
I believe the American flag should be the only one allowed in  AMERICA !
 
If this makes me a BAD American, then yes, I'm a BAD American.
 
If you are a BAD American too, please forward this to everyone you know...
 
We want our country back!
 
My Country..... I hope this offends all illegal aliens.
 
My great, great, great, great grandfather watched and bled as his friends died in the Revolution & the War of 1812.
 
My great, great, great grandfather watched as his friends died in the Mexican American War.
 
My great, great grandfather watched as his friends & brothers died in the Civil War.
 
My great grandfather watched as his friends died in the Spanish-American War.
 
My grandfather watched as his friends died in WW I.
 
My father watched as his friends died in WW II.
 
I watched as my friends died in  Vietnam , Panama & Desert Storm.
 
My son watched & bled as his friends died in  Afghanistan and  Iraq .
 
None of them died for the Mexican Flag.
 
Everyone died for the American flag.
 
Texas high school students raised a Mexican flag on a school flag pole, other students took it down. Guess who was expelled ... the students who took it down.
 
California high school students were sent home on Cinco de Mayo, because they wore T-shirts with the American flag printed on them.
 
Enough is enough
 
This message needs to be viewed by every American; and every American needs to stand up for  America .
 
We've bent over to appease the America-haters long enough. I'm taking a stand.
 
I'm standing up because the hundreds of thousands who died fighting in wars for this country, and for the American flag.
 
If you agree, stand up with me and forward to everyone in your address book!!
 
And shame on anyone who tries to make this a racist message.
 
AMERICANS, stop giving away Your RIGHTS!
 
Let me make this clear! THIS IS MY COUNTRY!
 
This statement DOES NOT mean I'm against immigration!
 
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, IN MY COUNTRY, welcome to come legally:
 
1. Get a sponsor!
2. Learn the LANGUAGE, as immigrants have in the past!
3. Live by OUR rules!
4. Get a job!
5. Pay YOUR Taxes!
6. No Social Security until you have earned it and Paid for it!
7. NOW find a place to lay your head!
 
If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone, then YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
 
We've gone so far the other way . . . bent over backwards not to offend anyone.
 
Only AMERICANS seems to care when American Citizens are being offended!
 
WAKE UP  America !!!
 
 
Made in the  USA & PROUD OF IT!!!!!
 
Tex
 
".45 caliber...because pulling the trigger twice just seems silly."

5/27/2011

British Raise Their Security Level

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Libya and the announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden, and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved."  Soon though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross."  The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out.  Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance."  The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards."  They don't have any other levels.  This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide."  The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate."   The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing."  Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs."  They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy.  These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate."  Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!  I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is canceled."  So far no situation has ever warranted the use of the final escalation level.

-- John Cleese - British writer (of Monty Python fame), actor and tall person

5/06/2011

Historic lighthouse wins the battle against pest birds.


After years of combat with pesky seagulls, the historic DeTour Reef Lighthouse found a way to use today’s technology to save a little piece of yesterday. The DeTour Reef Lighthouse is located at the head of Lake Huron in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Having been built in 1847 and moved to its current location in 1931, the actual structure is over 150 years old and serves as a testament to the region’s shipping and social history. 
After being placed on America’s Most Endangered Historic Places list in 1998, the lighthouse was ‘saved’ by the Detour Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society. In fact, the DRLPS has a unique program where volunteers can stay at the facility as weekend keepers, performing all the duties necessary for preserving the structure and hosting visitors. Over the years, the lighthouse staff encountered several unwelcome critters. But the longest and fiercest battle has been against the “donations” that seagulls and other birds leave on the deck. 
The birds themselves were annoying the tourists and keepers, while the bird droppings were defacing property and placing a burden on volunteers to keep the walls and walkways clean. The power washer got quite a workout during the summers, and although the deck always looked great after cleaning, the seagulls were soon visiting and leaving their marks behind again.
DRLPS tried a variety of attacks on the visiting seagulls—including rubber snakes—without success. In the summer of 2010, property managers decided to invest in a bird control solution from Bird-X. 
They ultimately chose the BirdXPeller PRO—an electronic bird repellent device that emits naturally recorded bird distress signals and predator calls to frighten, confuse, and disorient birds within a 1-acre range (up to 4 acres with the 4-speaker system). Once installed at the DeTour Reef Lighthouse, seagulls quickly learned to stay away.
One weekend keeper said, “Seagulls avoid landing here! The recording of desperate gulls is incredibly effective.”
Another shared, “In so many ways it has decreased the work and increased the quality of the lighthouse stay!”
The BirdXPeller PRO is a perfect solution for historic buildings like the lighthouse for many reasons, a few of them being: it is a small, weatherproof device that can be installed without changing the appearance or damaging the structure, and it can be used even when property managers are away during off-seasons. The DeTour Reef Lighthouse was the ultimate victor of this battle.
As one worker observed, “Those who have never been here before will never know the miracle of it [BirdXPeller PRO]. Those who have been here before REJOICE and never forget our fight against the seagulls. The battle is won!”
For more information about Bird-X and other ‘green’ bird and pest control solutions, visit www.bird-x.com or call (800) 662-5021. 
About Bird-X, Inc.
Bird-X is the leader in producing humane pest and bird repellent products, since 1964. We offer the most comprehensive line of bird control products that are humane, non-toxic and eco-friendly. Our bird deterrents range from state-of-the-art laser technology to sonic/ultrasonic bird control, goose and pigeon repellents, bird netting, bird spikes, visual scares, and animal sound repellers.

4/26/2011

April 2011 Likely to Set Record for Most Tornadoes


 AccuWeather.com reports April 2011 has been a horrific month for severe weather so far with more than 600 reports of tornadoes, more than 40 tornado-related deaths and unthinkable destruction.
As the wild weather pattern continues this week, the month's total number of tornadoes continues to rise. There is a good chance that April 2011 will end up being the most active April on record for tornadoes.
With May and June typically being the most active months of the year for severe weather, people are wondering if the trend will continue and make 2011 a record-setting year.
Stats for April
The total number of tornado reports this month (through Friday) was up to 559, according to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC). At least 55 more reports of twisters have been submitted since then with 17 over the weekend and 38 Monday into Monday night.
It's important to note that these are the number of reports (or sightings), not confirmed tornadoes. Oftentimes multiple sightings of the same tornado are reported, and it will take quite some time until all the data is sorted through and the number of confirmed tornadoes is determined.
According to the SPC, the highest number of confirmed tornadoes recorded in the month of April (since 1950) was 267 in 1974.
If all of the tornado reports so far this month were confirmed, April 2011 would by far be the most active April for tornadoes. Even though the number of confirmed tornadoes will probably end up being quite a bit smaller, this month is still likely to beat the record.
Stats for 2011
The preliminary estimate for number of tornadoes so far in 2011 was 766, as of Sunday, with about two dozen states affected. More than 100 tornadoes have been reported in both Alabama and North Carolina.
The year that holds the record for the highest number of tornadoes is 2004 with a whopping 1,817 twisters. For people wondering if 2011 could set a new record, this year has a long way to go.
Since May and June are typically the most active months of the year for severe weather, it may seem that 2011 could have a shot at setting a record following such an extreme April. However, AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Ken Reeves pointed out a trend that may suggest otherwise.
"When you see... an April that is very busy, you don't typically see May and June also to be very active, because the pattern that really supports the very active tornadic activity in April doesn't necessarily continue it, as the threat moves farther to the north and to the east," said Reeves.
Tornadoes are a rare phenomena and require the right ingredients to come together in order to form. Reeves explained that the weather pattern that has been allowing these ingredients to come together in April typically isn't conducive to well-above-normal tornado activity in May and June.
As spring progresses, the threat for severe weather and tornadoes tends to shift northward and eastward across the Plains and East, as the jet stream, an area of maximum winds high up in the atmosphere, shifts northward.
Reeves stated that in most years that had an active April for tornadoes, May and June were not particularly active. The only main exception, he said, would be 2008.
By Heather Buchman, Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com
For more information, contact:roberti@accuweather.com | 814-235-8756
Or call our 24-hour press hotline:
814-235-8710

4/19/2011

Latest Forecast for Tornado-Ravaged Plains, Southeast



 AccuWeather.com reports severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, are set to roam parts of the country yet again over the next couple of days, but these thunderstorms should spare most of the hardest-hit areas in last week's historic tornado outbreak.
Severe thunderstorms which may spawn more tornadoes will erupt from the southern Plains into the Ohio Valley through tonight. Unfortunately, some of those towns devastated last week could again be stuck by severe thunderstorms, explained meteorologist Bill Deger.
Towns across eastern Oklahoma and into Arkansas bracing for this renewed threat will include Little Rock, Ark.
A cold front pushing through the southern Plains will be the catalyst sparking the severe weather across the region; this same cold front will push into the Gulf coast states and Carolinas through Thursday.
A slew of tornadoes rampaged across Mississippi and Alabama last week before more tornadoes hit the mid-Atlantic and Carolinas this past weekend.
The cold front set to spark dangerous thunderstorms through tonight will push into the tornado-ravaged areas of the Gulf coast and Carolinas.
The good news is that the severe threat will diminish significantly by the time the cold front reaches the hard hit areas of southern Mississippi and Alabama on Wednesday. The threat will diminish even further as the front heads into the Carolinas Wednesday night into Thursday.
A stronger thunderstorm cannot be ruled out across the Gulf coast and Carolinas Wednesday and Thursday, but any should be isolated. Tornadoes are not forecast with any strong storms across the Gulf coast, but gusty winds and hail could make appearances.
By Andrew Musolline, Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

4/08/2011

3/25/2011

Blah! How Long Is This Cold Weather Going to Last?



State College, Pa. -- 25 March 2011 -- AccuWeather reports after being teased with spring warmth last week, people from the Upper Midwest to the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Northeast have been thrown right back into winter. Now, many are wondering how long the cold is going to stick around.
At the very least, it's going to stay cold in these areas through much of next week with highs largely remaining in 30s or 40s. In addition to the cold, more snow is also in the forecast through next week.
Parts of the Southeast are, too, expected to be colder than normal the last week of March into early April with a more significant cold shot arriving there toward the middle and end of next week.
The southern Plains and Texas will not escape that cold blast either, though it will hit these areas a bit earlier in the week.
Looking further ahead through April and into May, there are indications that chiller weather could remain the norm from the Upper Midwest to the Ohio Valley and Northeast. Temperatures are expected to be below normal across much of the Northwest during this time as well.
"We don't see much of a big change from April into May," said Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather.com expert senior meteorologist and leader of the AccuWeather.com Long-Range Forecasting Team. "In general, places that are cold and stormy right now will stay that way, while the areas experiencing warm, dry weather right now stay warm and dry."
That is not to say that the regions will not experience any breaks from the cold through early May. Spring is a season of large temperature swings, and occasional warm-ups can and will occur in each of these areas. Colder weather is just expected to be more dominant.
In the Northeast, the overall pattern of cool, unsettled weather could start easing after the early part of May and especially heading into summer.
Temperatures across the Southeast are generally expected to average slightly above normal from mid- to late spring. Pastelok expects daytime highs to be a bit warmer than normal, though cooler nighttime lows will act to offset those departures.
Winners for Spring Warmth Are the Southwest, Southern Plains
Following a blast of cold air all the way into the southern Plains early next week, warming is predicted to kick in across the Southwest and southern Plains as a dominant area of high pressure sets up over the region.
The AccuWeather.com Long-Range Forecasting Team expects this warming trend to continue there throughout the rest of the spring.
While people stuck in the colder areas of the country may be a bit envious of the warmth in the Southwest and southern Plains, it will not come without consequences.
In addition to being warm, the Southwest and western portion of southern Plains are also expected to stay drier than normal, which will worsen the drought already affecting the area.
Wildfires, which have already been a problem in the region, will remain a concern throughout the spring, and likely the summer as well.
The AccuWeather.com Spring 2011 Forecast, which was released in early March, has more details on what is expected across the nation this spring.
By Heather Buchman, Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

3/17/2011

Snowstorm in Japan Could Mean Snowstorm in Eastern US



State College, Pa. -- 18 March 2011 -- AccuWeather reports the same setup that brought a snowstorm to part of Japan this week could show up in the eastern U.S. during the middle of next week.
While the budding warmth late this week in the eastern U.S. is tempting, don't put away the snow shovels or take the snow tires off the car just yet.
A dip in the jet stream, known as a trough, has been producing cold and snow in Japan in the wake of the devastating earthquake, tsunami and aftershocks.
AccuWeather.com meteorologists are well aware of a connection between a trough in Japan, and then a trough in the eastern U.S. 7 to 10 days later.
While these troughs almost always bring cold weather, sometimes they bring snow during the fall, winter and early spring, and severe weather later in the spring and summer.
Interestingly, some of the tools that we use, such as computer models, are showing one or more storms with snow swinging eastward from the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes to the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts spanning Tuesday to Thursday of next week.
While the details of timing and nature of the precipitation associated with the storms has yet to be determined, there is at least a possibility that one or more swaths of accumulating snow will stretch from part of the Midwest to the East Coast next week, including part of the South.
Regardless of the location and amount of snow, or number of snow showers, it is going to get much colder for a several-day period next week for most areas east of the Mississippi River.
The region around Sendai, Japan received several inches of snow spanning Tuesday night into Wednesday this week.
The snow and cold added further misery to desperate rescue attempts as the hope for finding survivors in the rumble across the region dwindled.
By Alex Sosnowski, Senior Expert Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

3/08/2011

Spring has Sprung: FAIL



State College, Pa. -- 8 March 2011 -- AccuWeather reports for people from the Plains into the East who are hoping for an end to the stormy weather pattern that has yielded everything from heavy snow to flooding rain, tornadoes and wildfires, it may be a long wait.
The AccuWeather.com Long Range Forecasting Team, led by Expert Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok, expects this active weather pattern to continue through at least early April.
Late-Season Snow and Cold ShotsFor people in the Northeast, this means more opportunities for snow may last into April. "There could even be one storm that brings snow all the way to the coast," Pastelok said.
The potential for late-season snow events is even higher for areas of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
On the back side of storms that continue charging through the Midwest and Northeast will be more shots of cold air. Pastelok said that these cold shots may start lingering a bit longer than recent ones that have only lasted about a day or two.
He added that cool shots will also make it into the South with nighttime temperatures being noticeably cool at times, especially across eastern parts of the region from Florida and Georgia into the Carolinas.
Despite the warning of more cold shots, Pastelok stressed that he still does not anticipate any prolonged periods of colder-than-normal weather, similar to that experienced December through mid-February, in the eastern part of the country.
"There will continue to be warm surges from the Ohio Valley and Midwest into the Northeast," Pastelok stated, "but they may not be as impressive getting into April."
Wet, stormy conditions in the Ohio Valley and Midwest and a lingering snowpack in parts of the Northeast are the factors of biggest concern for holding temperatures back.
Severe Weather and Flood ConcernsAs stressed in the AccuWeather.com Spring 2011 Forecast, severe thunderstorms are expected to be an ongoing problem in the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley as well as part of Tennessee and Ohio valleys throughout the spring.
Areas from Louisiana to Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky have already been hit hard by severe thunderstorms, some including tornadoes, in recent weeks. This general area is forecast to remain in the heart of severe weather activity over the next few months.
With rounds of stormy weather hitting the region, flooding has been and will continue to be a major concern as well.
Worsening Drought, Wildfire SituationDrought conditions are already gripping areas of western Texas and the interior Southwest. With precipitation expected to stay below normal throughout the spring, conditions will only get worse.
Wildfires have ignited and spread in response to dry conditions and episodes of gusty winds. One fire that was recently sparked south of Silver City, N.M., destroyed several homes Monday.
The threat of wildfires is likely to remain elevated across the interior Southwest and western Texas in the coming weeks and months.
Concerns are also growing over how severely the drought will impact crops throughout the region, especially in western Texas, which is a major producer of wheat and cotton. More information on the drought and wildfire concerns this spring can be found in this AccuWeather.com news story.