The Aquarium And A Great Week!

Finally made it to the Aquarium of the Pacific (one of my favorite places). Thanks to Roisin for making it happen. It was a great outing and a place I wanted to take Natalia for a while, and we will see this attraction more often now. Natalia had a great time running around and interacting with the divers in the tanks. I got to see the tanks and my favorite fish among great company. I do miss my fish tank. Earlier in the week I spent a nice Wednesday with Roisin as she took me out to Bastards (Marine Corps bar in memory of the 2/4), a nice bakery and a trip to Seal Beach for that beach feeling. Overall this has been an awesome week for me. Now back to work after many days off.

"They (Laura and Mary) brought the big, long-handled spoon, and the box full of bits of lead and the bullet-mold. Then while he squatted on the hearth and made the bullets, they sat on each side of him, and watched."

- Laura Ingalls Wilder (1932)

While reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder I came across this passage and decided to share it. Share it to show that us, Americans have a deep culture of firearms. Not to say we are violent but that firearms have been a part of our history and depicted in so many works. To picture two little girls by the fireplace with their dad, while he melted bullets for his next days hunting. 

I will like to mention two things regarding the Boston bombing. A 6 liter pressure cooker was used and I don't see how this big pot fits in the back pack worn. Sure the pictures many already seen of the accused has them wearing backpacks but I don't see anything resembling a 6 liter pot. I did some searching on sizes of these and they are rather large. However pictures of the Saudi national released (The one Michele went to visit at hospital) was wearing such a pack in surveillance pictures and that one sure was full. Also I have seen a few pictures online of the first suspect being captured and handcuffed, yet we see him dead and very injured on other pictures. Below I posted a Glenn Beck video talking about this "mysterious" Saudi national that is being kept behind the scenes.

You have to love our society. I din't know this but it seems insurance companies have been selling people "terrorism" coverage. In November 2002, congress enacted the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. Got to tip your hat to us Americans, we manage to make money in any occasion. So no payout to those affected in Boston until the government officially labels it as a terrorist act, which they have not yet done so.

Will like to point you all to an incident in Utah where a man began stabbing a person at a store when a gun carrying man stopped the incident. >>

To my surprise I picked up a Laura Ingalls Wilder book and started to read it. I was looking to see how the book felt and how it described life 100 years ago. Her writings are more for the teen audience but still a nice read. Finished reading World War Z and found it a bit short but entertaining. I was hoping for more story but not disappointed at the descriptions. My next read is from Jules Verne, one of my favorite authors in The Hunt for the Meteor. However this book has been altered by his son Michel Verne and purists would not say it is a true Verne book, but thus far a good read. From he first pages I see it weird that he choose the story to take place in the United States.

Geek News - Joss Whedon hints that Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch will be in the Avengers 2 movie. I think this will lead to an Avengers/X-Men movie in the future. I have to say I have been finding myself watching a few you tube channels on miniature gaming like Warhammer 40k. Maybe when I get back from my deployment I will find a nice quiet corner in the house and get back to painting.

Check out the latest No Agenda Episode. 

Here I Go Again.

Windy and cold has been the news this week. I was hoping for what I call BBQ weather but not this weekend. Also planned on going to the Long Beach Aquarium this weekend to find out the Long Beach GP is this weekend and they are closed. I was looking forward to the outing and to the huge show of fake security that will plague us for some time yet to come. Instead we stayed at home and enjoyed the surroundings as usual. Went for a quick walk around the Children's Forest park by Keller Peak and a trip around Lake Gregory and the shops there. I also got my first sighting of a Bald Eagle on Saturday. Ironic? Coincidence?

"The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the mind of the masses."

- Malcolm X

Enough of the small chit-chat. I don't know where to begin regarding the current turn of events. The Boston bombing, Texas and ricin incidents are not coincidences. All I can say is I have posted some stuff on my FB and call me a crackpot. Boston incident stinks! So many government agencies present, announcements of a drill and yet it happened. We have far too many "security" agencies and I am starting to believe they are fighting for power and we are in the middle. Our current administration so eagerly trying to slowly take our weapons away and our form of protection. Why? Barry (Sorry Obama), making statements after the "gun bill" didn't pass, saying that this is just the beginning and now forcing another of his executive orders for some sort of "gun control" after the proposed bill was squashed. Why? Will we get answers for Boston? I say never. Just like in Benghazi as no answers were given. Sure we got two "extremists" but where they to blame? What can we do? All I can say at the present is to stay informed and not be afraid to come to your conclusions and think for yourself. I unlike some am not too worried on how the government seems to want to "rule" over us as it is still Americans that wear the badge and uniforms that are put to "police" us as they too know the freedoms we fight for and the way the United States Of America should be.

There is clearly a part of our society that has been "bought" by the administration. Bought either through the welfare system or brainwashed by our media using victims of these tragedies (just see how some of the parents of Sandy Hook are being paraded as propaganda. They don't care about them but just use them). CISPA has quietly passed while everyone was distracted at Boston and slowly the IV Amendment is being destroyed. You now will not be safe in your house as any agency can enter and take what they wish. Warrants no longer required. My little blog here can now be taken down for some of my views. Already reports of various sites taken down from FB. This is scarier than the attempt to take away our 2nd Amendment. Why is this administration (I will even say it started with Bush) trying so hard to destroy the constitution?

We are even loosing control of what we eat as now companies will not be required to label what our food contains. Why? I already see government telling us what our children have to take and what medications to be on. Why the big push to medicate the children? Now more than ever so many children are being diagnoses with so many "illnesses" and/or conditions that require medications. In the dark and being hidden among various pieces of legislature, being pushed a "national database of the mentally ill". Human beings, us, Americans being put on a list. When was the last time this has happened? Look how well it turned out. This is very scary. Lastly we are being monitored more and more to the point we will have flying machines with cameras, drones. Wow!

What I am afraid is that we are starting to see a division among us. Government is causing a rip in our nation and this cannot happen. We cannot begin to hate each other and have sides. America has ONE side. We are slowly loosing grasp at what it is to be an American, an icon, a figured looked up to by the world. A nation of freedom and fighters.

On a lighter note, as everyone knows, I like to read sci-fi and fantasy genre and it is still amazing to me of the books written about 50 years ago and many of these concepts come to realization today. And I am not talking technological advances but government and their actions.

Thanks to the Sword And Laser show I found out John Scalzi will continue his stories in the Old Man's World universe. His latest book, Human Division releasing next month as a complete version will have another sequel. Can't wait to get my hands on Human Division. Still slowly moving along with World War Z and after 100 pages the story starts to take shape.

Uncle Lucius - Keep The Wolves Away

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GITMO

It's GITMO for me. Hopefully Cuban sandwiches and mojitos. I will spend my active duty time at Guantanamo Bay. For some reason there was a big push for 8404 Corpsmen (Field) to the base there. My unit HMC (Chief) threw my name along with a friend since we do such good work for the unit (what a gift). He also tried to get a HM1 (1st Class) to go with us but he was not chosen. That would have been awesome to have three of us there. I would have clearly rather have been assigned to the Role 3 hospital in Afghanistan but this is what it is. No official word on our duty until we get there but this base requires mayor security and secrecy. I don't know if this is a good thing with my big mouth. I will not be posting right now my views or feelings of the base. I am very sure my character may be tested and all I can say is I believe I am strong enough to just go in, do the job and come home. The base is very old and has lots of history and with my spare time I hope to get to know some of it.

"I can't imagine what life would be without the knowledge that death is inevitable. It is because of that single overwhelming reality that we have arts, religions, the illusion of love, and probably even architecture. It is doubtful whether, did we not see ourselves as helpless transients we would appreciate life for what it is. On the other hand being grateful is not that big a deal."

- Jack McDevitt - Odyssey

At the moment I will not post anything on the Boston bombing as I feel there are many questions yet to be answered and many will be lies from our press and officials whom will get a script with an agenda and will be everywhere. It may take some time yet to find out exactly why. The whom part will be much harder to get. One big question I have is the why and why three explosions? Even to this date, us citizens still don't know the actual turn of events at Sandy Hook as now the press is saying no rifle was ever used after our government brainwashed us telling us it was and used as the platform for gun control. No to mention the latest speeches by some of the parents which were clearly scripted and read word for word. Clearly not something a parent would say but a statement written down to be read.

Finally watched Django Unchained and was hoping for more. The movie didn't have that western feel and the soundtrack didn't really fit. The bad characters were never developed well enough for me to really hate them. Given the length of the movie I had hoped to feel a character but really never did.

Finished reading Odyssey and found it entertaining and keeping the adventures of Hutch going. One last book in the series and done. Wish more was said about the "moonriders" but I hope it is all wrapped up in the last book. Decided to pick up my Nook and read World War Z since I have it there and has gotten some rave reviews. So far OK read.

I urge all to catch the No Agenda Show for the media deconstruction of current events and now with the Boston Bombing.

New Hiking Partner!

Awesome Saturday last weekend, as I took Natalia out for a hike accompanied by Roisin. Ok, I'm lying, not much of a trail. Lots of rocks and high brush. Carried Natalia about 2 miles and was tired, but both girls are tough. Once I'm out it is forward and onward and overall it was a great Saturday.  I was reminded of the old days when I used to take my dogs out here year round to play in the many ponds.

Paris Roubaix was last Sunday and as usual I only catch the highlights. This is the only race I truly would love to see live with a bunch of fans and friends. Sadly looks like I have to move to Europe for that day. At a bar drinking and eating french fries with garlic mayo.

Went out again on another hike with Natalia and Roisin on Friday by the house and again an awesome day. Checked out the local pond and admired the ducks there. My new hiking partners have no problems getting dirty and sitting back, admiring nature and relaxing. Lucky to finally get out of the house in such a way and have met such an awesome gal. Thanks again. As lately, slowly cleaning up my firewood stack and cleaning the yard.

Still reading Odyssey and as previous titles on the series a page turner. McDevitt keeps the story alive and keeps adding to his series. Not sure on my next read and I know it will be hard to find my next book.

Drill weekend coming up this weekend and looking forward to it and see whom else got tagged for deployment. It will be my first drill on the other side of the table. You can now say I will have experienced everything at the reserve center. Who knew my life would take me to so many places. But I am not one to sit and take up space as so many do. Even though I do wish in the future to just sit back and relax and spend time at home with no worries, kind of like finally time to sit back and relax. No more adventures for me that take me away from home.

Inside Combat Rescue Part 1

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First BBQ Of The Year

First BBQ of the season and woke up late, 40 degrees and damp outside. Not a very good start and I knew I would find myself bringing up the heat later in the day to make dinner time. One day I will start at Zero Dark Thirty for operation BBQ. The brisket came out OK, I did need much more time to get a good smoke ring in it. Will try it again but a much smaller piece.

Busy week at work and everything good with Natalia. As the weather looks more like spring she likes to stay outside more and we again went out in the forest from nice walks and views. Natalia had her first nightmare the other night and she never woke up. Cleaning around my house as I wont be doing any planting this year as I planned. Will save all that for after my deployment. I have been finding myself excited to go and I hope that feeling continues to the day I get on the plane and carries me most of the time I am gone. I will then look forward to an awesome homecoming. Excited because I hope to experience this historic time we find ourselves in and experience a service members homecoming. I'm not an adrenaline junkie but like to call such accomplishments mine.

Drill coming up next weekend and I hope my orders are in or at least some solid information. But knowing the Navy there is no such thing as solid information as things always can change last minute. We don't have the moto "Semper Gumby" for no reason. I came across this cool figurine in honor of the Corpsmen and I love pin ups, so a good combination.

Colorado has turned this past week as the standing ground for the anti-gun argument and I have two videos that I want to share. I will not post them here but simply link them. The first one of of Rep Diana Negette and all I can say is "Oh, my God" This woman actually believes bullets disappear and never come back so in time there will be no bullets in the world. People like her were voted to speak for us in government. The second is a Colorado state Sheriff speaking out after Obama's (or should I say Barry Sotomayor's) visit to Colorado with his agenda to strip the U.S. citizens of a constitutional right and not allowing any law enforcement to be present.

Lastly, I will like to thank the No Agenda Show for pointing out what may a big reason why we have so many "illegal" citizens. Adam pointed out that the fees and paperwork required to become a U.S. citizen is simply outrageous as he himself goes through the "robbery" and "red tape" with his wife. In the $1000s per person for paperwork fees. Not everyone has $7000 laying around, now imagine a family. So the government has created this problems as it sees $$$$ signs as usual.

Finished Earthbound and found the ending very weak and disappointing. Overall this last book was not as good as he previous ones. Decided to pick up Podkayne of Mars by Robert H. Heinlein and similar story to Marsbound. Mars girl visits Venus (instead of Earth) story. I thought Heinlein was building a good character and one to use for further adventures but the story was bland with a bad ending. It is very hard to find a book with a great ending, much like movies. After much debating my next read is again a sci-fi book by one of my favorite authors Jack McDevitt in Odyssey. I will like to find a good fantasy book or series.

Geek News - I would like to point out the Mini War Gaming Channel with its great footage of miniature gaming. No, I don't play but in the past I have painted and was very good at it. Maybe one day I will have the time and quiet time to spend painting again. However with the negative actions of Games Workshop to its retailers in turn to its customers I will rethink the game. Below is the trailer for a new mini series based on Stephen King's Under The Dome book which I found entertaining.

Under The Dome Trailer

Don't forget to catch the No Agenda 500th Show!