Apologetic for being an American?

"Americans can actually go to dinner parties and cocktail receptions around the world today and not have to apologize for the United States the way they have had to do the last several years. The election has made life a little bit easier for Americans living and traveling abroad to hold their head up high again." -John Quelch, the senior associate dean at Harvard Business School.

Apologize for the United States? This bit really sticks in my craw. I have attended many dinner and cocktail parties around the world, never have I nor would I apologize for the United States. Does my country do things I disagree with? Yep. Would I ever apologize for my country or for being an American? Not a chance in hell, nor dose anyone that knows me expect me to.

TSA psychoanalysis

Over the last few years I have been doing a lot of travel for business (just got my gold level sky miles). The TSA has been a constant pain in the bum. Before you start in with the whole "They're just trying to protect us", take a look at the people they have. Not many Nobel Prize winners there. The Draconian rules ("Sir, we need to x-ray your belt, shoes, jacket, and wallet. Also you have flagged for heightened security check so you need to step out of line and over behind this screen while we hand search your luggage."), after flying for 14 hours tends to put me in a bad mood. So you can just imagine how excited I was to hear that now the TSA will be looking for suspicious behavior. Oh this is going to go well.

PC strikes again, and I didn't see that one coming

So, the term "British" is found to be offensive in British Isles. Well, I guess it is nice to see all the Political Correctness idiots are not just confined to the United States.

Update

With all the controversy over Proposition 8 in California, Sir Elton John has voiced his views.

Dark Side of Oz

Happy Birthday, Jar heads!!

Being how it's the Marine Corps birthday, figured I give them a solid "Semper Fi!". Being an ex-sailor, I've always had a soft spot for the devil dogs.

The friendly rivalry between the armed forced is tradition. Each branch has a multitude of nicknames for each other here are a few examples.

Army - Ground pounders, Gravel agitators
Navy - Squids, Bubble heads (submariners)
Air force - Bird boys, Vultures
Coast guard - Coasties, Puddle pirates
Marine Core - Jar heads, Self Propelled Pop-Up Targets (SPPUTs)

The jokes and names can go on, but I digress.

Happy Birthday and Semper Fi!!

Rough week, but at least I'm working on my patience.

This has been a brutal week so far. Most of this is due to going to the dentist. I had a check up last week and found out I need 2 root canals, no fun. The Korean way of doing dental work is quite different from what I am used to in the United States. Instead of going in one day and having everything done that day, it is stretched out over a month or so. Tuesday I had the drilling done, and the temporary fillings put in. Next Tuesday I have my first root canal and temporary filling put back in. Next Friday the second root canal takes place. The following week they start working on the cap for the teeth.

On the up side, the dentists here are state of the art. The price is also less than half of what it is in the States. Just gotta get over how long it takes.

New president

So it looks like Obama has the win. I think that most of my liberal friends would be surprised that I am not upset. Fact is folks, this election was bought and paid for. McCain never stood a chance, his campaign was poorly run, the media backed Obama, and the difference in campaign dollars was too much to overcome.

Add to this the even larger majority of Democrats in the House and Senate, and you have a power structure that has not been seen since Jimmy Carter. I guess we will now see if Obama can bring the change that people believe they need, or will he prove to be just another politician? Guess I had better get back to regular posts, before the fairness doctrine kicks in.