The Valour-IT Program, providing voice-actuated laptops for our wounded troops, is having its annual contest to see which branch of service can raise the most money and have the honor of hosting MEGEN, the Most Exalted Golden Notebook , for a year.

As a reminder, the program is thus:

VALOUR-IT (Voice Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops)

What: Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the ‘Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse. The experience of CPT Charles “Chuck” Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important this voice-controlled software can be to a wounded servicemember’s recovery.

If’n you remember, Navy won it two times in a row (2005/2006) and I had the honor of taking MEGEN down to Norfolk where I managed to get some shots of her in some pretty high-vis areas, starting off with the header picture, above, as USS ENTERPRISE was an hour or two away from heading off on a combat cruise.

Another pic was with USS WISCONSIN in the background:

And of COURSE we can’t forget the Navy’s finest fighter aircraft ever devised by man….

So head over to the Valour-IT Main Page and make your donation - to the NAVY widget, puh-leeze!.

Navy is KICKIN’ ARMY GREEN AND WILD BLUE YONDER BUTT right now, so help us get MEGEN back from those bivouackin’ cretins.

Well, a majority on the Supreme Court understands. 

Why is it not surprising that the most liberal members off the court, Ginsberg and Souter, would rather have drastic restrictions placed on the Navy with regards to where and when they could train on antisubmarine requirements.

Taking that one step further, suppose the left WAS successful in restricting or severely limiting the capability of our battle fleet’s to engage in timely, critical and extensive USW training - what do you think our peer/near-peer opponents would do with THEIR submarine warfare training? 

You see a chink in your enemy’s armor, you exploit it.  Justices Ginsberg and Souter would *willingly manufacture* a chink in our defenses.  Wonderful.

High Court Rules Navy Can Use Sonar in Training Exercises

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted restrictions on the Navy’s use of sonar in training exercises off the California coast, a defeat for environmental groups who say the sonar can harm whales.The court, in its first decision of the term, voted to allow the Navy to conduct realistic training exercises to respond to potential threats by enemy submarines.Environmental groups had persuaded lower federal courts in

California to impose restrictions on sonar use in submarine-hunting exercises to protect whales and other marine mammals.
The Bush administration argued that there is little evidence of harm to marine life in more than 40 years of exercises off the

California coast.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, which was joined by Justices Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.Six justices agreed with the outcome, although Justice John Paul Stevens did not join the majority opinion. Justice Stephen Breyer would have allowed some restrictions to remain, while Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter said the prospect of harm to the whales was sufficient to justify limits on sonar use.

The court did not deal with the merits of the claims put forward by the environmental groups. It said, rather, that federal courts abused their discretion by ordering the Navy to limit sonar use in some cases and to turn it off altogether in others.

The overall public interest tips “strongly in favor of the Navy,” Roberts wrote. He said the most serious possible injury would be harm to an unknown number of the marine mammals.“In contrast, forcing the Navy to deploy an inadequately trained anti-submarine force jeopardizes the safety of the fleet,” the chief justice wrote.

In dissent, Ginsburg said that the Navy’s own assessment predicted substantial and irreparable harm to marine mammals from the service’s exercises.Ginsburg said that “this likely harm … cannot be lightly dismissed, even in the face of an alleged risk to the effectiveness of the Navy’s 14 training exercises.”

Roberts pointed out that the federal appeals court decision restricting the Navy’s sonar training acknowledged that the record contained no evidence marine mammals had been harmed.The exercises have continued since the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in

San Francisco ruled in February that the Navy must limit sonar use when ships get close to marine mammals.
A species of whales called beaked whales is particularly susceptible to harm from sonar, which can cause them to strand themselves onshore.

I had an abbreviated day of work today and while on the way home stopped by the corner of Arlington Cemetary that is near the Pentagon.  Whenever I catch sight of those markers, you always catch your breath.

To everyone who has served this nation, and to everyone who has supported those who have served this nation, thank you.

The USS George HW Bush.  Her radars were spinning, she looked good.  Looking forward to the commissioning ceremony.  Sure would be nice to score a ticket to that.

Next up falls into the Obnoxious Mailbox Category:

I’m sure the guy has a bumper sticker that says something like “Women Want me, Bass fear me!” on his car.  Just a guess, though.

Next, I was out  driving around and saw these majestic birds flying around over a huge field.  Eagles? Some incredible bird of prey?  Well, sorta….

Just your run of the mill Turkey Buzzard, or vulture, so actually could be called a Bird of carrion (ornithologists, professional or amateur,  feel free to correct me on the title).  Nice looking bird….from the head back:

Ugliest head on a bird I’ve ever seen.  There are stories of aircraft bird strikes at some fairly significant altitudes with this beast.  Slamming into a 4 or 5 pound turkey buzzard would definitely ruin your day.

Have a good Veteran’s Day, all. Mo’ later.

_____________________________

Veterans’ Recognition for Active or Retired Military

Golden Corral

Military Appreciation Monday

The 2008 Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday,
November 17, 2008 from 5 PM to 9 PM in all Golden Corral Restaurants.

The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever
served in the United States Military. If you are a Veteran, retired,
currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to
participate in Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner.

To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 1.8 million free
meals and contributed over $2.53 million to the Disabled American
Veterans organization.

—–

McCormick & Schmick’s

Free Meal for Veterans

On Sunday, November 9, 2008, McCormick and Schmick’s restaurants
nationwide will be serving a free entree from a special menu for all
Veterans. Proper ID required - VFW card, American Legion card, DD Form
214, discharge papers, VA card or other veterans identification.

Includes McCormick & Schmick’s, Harborside, McCormick & Kuleto’s,
Sprenger’s, and McCormick’s Fish House, but not M & S Grill.  Suggest
making early reservations.

—–

Applebees

Free entree (5 to choose from) at participating stores during business
hours on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 with active/reserve/retired ID card.
Since this is our first year with this promotion, we are only testing it
in a few regions. We would be happy to verify if the Applebee’s
restaurants in your area are participating. Please call us toll free at
888-592-7753.

—–

Lowes

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will offer all active, reserve, honorably
discharged, retired military personnel and their immediate family
members a 10 percent discount on in-store U.S. purchases made during the
Veterans Day holiday. The discount is available Nov. 6 - Nov. 11. The
discount is available on in-stock and special order purchases up to
$5,000. To qualify, individuals must present a valid military ID or
other proof of service. Excluded from the discount are sales via
Lowes.com <http://lowes.com/> , previous sales, and purchases of
services or gift cards.

—–

Home Depot

The Home Depot(R) is offering all active duty personnel, reservists,
retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off
their purchases in honor of Veterans’ Day. The offer is valid on
purchases of up to $2,000 for a maximum of $200 between November 6 and
November 12, 2008, at The Home Depot stores, The Home Depot Design
Center locations, Yardbirds and EXPO Design Center(R) locations.

_______
I’m not trying to talk up crass-commercialization of such an important day, but it is nice to patronize those establishments who do recognize the job we/you all do for this nation.

Rocket J. Squirrel, a local tree denizen, commented that “When they said ACORN was coming, I was really looking forward to a good meal.  I didn’t know it was actually Dem political hacks looking to increase voter rolls.”

Mr. Bear-ack Obear-ma, below,  shows off his new attitude towards life as he just sits and waits for the government to step in and provide for him.

“If I had a car, which I don’t because I’m a bear, I wouldn’t have to worry about gas!” Obearma said.  “My winter den has no mortgage, but if it did, I wouldn’t have to worry about that, either!”

Mr. Obearma continued “As it is, I’m just bear-ly getting by,  so I’m so glad that Obama will redistribute the pick-a-nick basket so I can get my fair share.  Spread the wealth, that’s what I say”.

Wildlife authorities, stiffiling laughs, said to reporters “I don’t know when the bear is going to wake up and find out he’s been the butt of a huge joke, but we think it will be sometime around when he realizes, even though he’s not a sheep, he’s been fleeced. Even though he wasn’t in the market for buying anything, he’s been sold a bill of goods.  Even though he might not have been thirsty, he drank the koolaid.  Hoodwinked.  Suckered in.  He was sent off to get a bucket of prop wash.  He was sold a left-handed monkey wrench.  He was told to look out for the mail bouy.  Played for a fool.  That’s what he was”.

Mr. Obear-ma also referenced the ACORN team that came to the woods.  “I signed up to vote 4 times!” he said proudly, “As Yogi Bear, Smokey Bear, Ursa Bear and Papa Bear”.

We’ll check on the Forest of Fools over time to see how well they fare in this new changed, hope-filled world.

Having said that, I can’t believe how incredibly gullible and stupid some of the electorate are.

Pinch out.

Navy’s Blue Angels Lose Jet After 2 Members Removed for Inappropriate Relationship

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will be down one jet for the rest of its season after two members were removed from duty for an inappropriate relationship.

Capt. Tyson Dunkelberger, a spokesman for the flight demonstration team, said Thursday the squadron will finish its last three airshows next month — one in Texas and two in Florida — with five jets instead of six.

Dunkelberger would not identify the two members involved but said the relationship was between a man and a woman. All six of the F-18 stunt pilots are men, and 23 of the squadron’s 133 members are women.

Dunkelberger says a military administrative hearing will be held to determine further disciplinary actions, which could include removal from the military.

Paul Rieckhoff from IAVA and those dipsticks Phil Carter and Scott Gould  should watch this thing - I’d like to hear their “thoughts”, although I’m pretty sure they’d trash this guy.  Include, as well, those 3 mental nitwits (that is all I have counted) who have that hilarious “Veterans for Obama” sticker on their cars down at the Washington Navy Yard.

Make sure you watch the very end.

What the heck do I do about Mr. Big Frog?

Mr. Big Frog (as he has been named) is a honkin’ big North American bullfrog who has taken up residence in our small (8 feet x 4 feet by 8-10 inches deep) artificial pond in our back yard.

He may have been home-grown, because the yard is fenced and in this subdivision we live in, I can’t see a big ol’ web-footed behemoth sauntering down Hardy Court or Hoffman Drive looking for a nice back yard pond to move into.

What I would like to find out, if there are any Amphibian-o-philes out there, is if I should trap the beast (you don’t just *catch* a 8 lb monster like this)  and transplant him to one of the big natural ponds around the area so he can find a better place to spend the long, cold, icy, frozen winter of northern Virginia.

No suggestions of bringing him into the house, please.  The mere thought of that would result in what *could* be called a “baleful” stare from the Mrs. Pinch.  Or, as my dad likes to say, I’d get fed lots of cold shoulder with hot tongue, served with relish.

My first foray into the Internet looking for advice (there are a few Frog websites out there) elicited a reply that said leave him there, which will, of course, be the default arrangement.  I can’t help, though, but think that he may be better off in a bigger ecosystem, one where he can snuggle down into mud or where ever honkin’ big web-footed leviathans spend a winter.

Your humble scribe and his tremendous toad await your sage advice.

And of course, we can’t miss an opportunity to get a stupid, vapid song from the early 70’s stuck in your head all day (apologies to Jean Knight):

Mr Big Frog…

Who do you think you are?

Mr Big Frog….you’re never gonna get my love!

Just because you wear….all those fancy clothes…

And drive a big fine car now….oh yes you do now.

Do you think I can’t afford….to give you my love….

You think you’re higher than every star above.

Ribit.