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.

This guy is great

Please sir, may I have some more?

Most everyone in the world now knows about Joe the Plumber. He has been vilified, investigated, and hounded by the media. His crime, he dared ask a question to Obama. Regardless of the guy's background, Obama's answer should be what is the focus.

Obama said, that a business making over 250,000 will have a tax increase to cover a tax cut for those making less, or as he put it "spreading the wealth". So take from the rich and give to the poor? Maybe it's time to break out the green tights and bow and arrows. More troubling than some guy daring to ask the Demi-god Obama a question is Obama's past statements and votes. When the campaign began the value was 1,000,000 not 250,000, that is quite a change. Twice he has voted to raise taxes on people making as little as 42,000. The tax plan he is proposing where 95% of the U.S. gets a tax cut was called by the Wall Street Journal "an illusion" and a "welfare plan".

But Joe is the villain for asking about the tax plan, disgraceful.

Home and back

Just got back from the US. Spent the last two weeks on vacation, spending time with the family and whatnot. It is always a strange experience when I first get home, I keep expecting things to be as they were when I left. You would think that I would have learned by now that they never are. The little sister now has her first boyfriend. My nieces are growing like weeds. I had a lot of plans while I was home, got around to doing none of them. Funny how two weeks can pass in a blink of an eye. Maybe next time I will finally make it to Vegas, or travel north abit to meet some of the folks on the blogosphere.

The trip home was bittersweet. Along with visiting my family and being able to do some target shooting with my father, I learned that an old friend is dying and probably won't be around next time I come home. My mother's (before you ask, my parents have been divorced for as long as I can remember) boyfriend is also in bad shape, and it is unknown how long he has.

So after a dramatic two weeks I am back in Korea.

new racist "code" words

The gods of political correctness have struck again. It seems new word and phrases are now "racist code words".

Among these are:

Community Organizer
Skinny
Arrogant
Elitist

And (my personal favorite)

Black hole

Can we get a constantly updated list of what words offend people? It's getting harder and harder to keep up.

Freedom and Fairness

Got in a discussion today online (yeah I know arguing online is one step below useless) about freedom. I see freedom as being able to make choices without other people telling you how to choose. Be it choosing what to eat for lunch, or choosing who to vote for. The thing most people lose track of is that with your choice comes the consequences of making it.

If you decide to have the super sized fast food meal that is your choice, but it is also your responsibility to deal with the extra calories. Want to drive a large SUV go for it, just don't whine to me about having to fill up the gas tank. Choose to break the law, don't cry about being punished. This is the burden of free will.

Alot of choices don't have a happy ending either way that is chosen, I was told that "That's not fair.". Unfortunately that is life, fairness is an illusion. There will always be someone that has a leg up on you, that's a fact. You can either worry about fairness, or you can get on with life. There are very few things more satisfying then leaving people in the dust who started ahead of you.

Fair is what losers cry about when the winner is leaving with the prize.

Not enough hours in the day

Seems like the older I get, the shorter the days get. Here recently I have had little to no time to do anything. Right now, on top of work I'm trying to schedule a trip back to the US for vacation, prepare some photographs for a world wide contest, prepare some photographs for a local contest, and have some sort of personal life (which has been suffering lately). Hopefully will get on top of it soon.

Sick of it

It's only September and I'm already sick of the election. 24 hours a day of total and complete BS. The democrats are painting Obama as the second coming, and McCain as on death's door. The republicans are sticking to Obama as an inexperienced pup and McCain as someone who doesn't toe partisan lines.

Personally I would like a candidate that is worth voting for.

Busy weekend

Attended the World Body Painting Festival Asia, this weekend. Good times, Saturday went just to scout things out, and returned Sunday to do some serious picture taking (took over 1600 pics and will have a some up soon on my Photo blog).

Trying my hand at a chocolate fondue

10 ounces of bittersweet chocolate
3/4 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Various cubed fruit for dipping

Heat mixture to a nice liquid consistency and serve

Add friends, music, and wine

Rewrites

Watched "Wanted" last night, was sorely disappointed. The story was basically gutted to make it more palatable. I can understand leaving things out for run time, as in the Harry Potter movies, but this was an almost complete rewrite. I am really hoping that "Watchmen" stays true to the plot.

Sadly these rewrites are not just in the movies, if you want real scary look into the history books in the schools today. How much of our past do we have to rewrite to make it palatable? Wonder whose plot they will write it to?

3 things that have my geek meter pegging out.

Yep, my inner geek is doing back flips. Watchmen, in particular, has me salivating.

More proof that Darwin was wrong.

"Where is everyone?"
"They are away for the exercise, I am the only one here."
"Really? What about Mr. Jerry?"
"He is away at the exercise, I am the only one here."
"What about Ms. Sook?"
"She is at the exercise, I am the only one here."
"What about Mr. Fred?"
"He is at the exercise, so is Raul, I AM THE ONLY ONE HERE!"
"Oh, ok what about Mr Raul?"

Survival of the fittest my fuzzy pink bottom.

Where does the time go?

Seems like yesterday I was just getting to Korea, now it is 3 years later. Hard to believe that it's been 10 years since I left the Navy, and 16 years since High School. It's funny how quickly time passes. Until now I have not realized how long ago I was just a boy growing up in Georgia, It really doesn't feel that long ago.

As a child you long for the days when you will be an adult, and as an adult you lament the passing of the frivolity of youth.