Forgetting Something , are We ?
The French have oil contracts with Iraq, which a war will render useless
The Russians are owed Billions by Iraq which the new government probably will not repay soon
The french Suck



A more somber note: SRB, we are all praying for you and your family,
I can't possibly know what you and yours are going through, but I can try.
Hang tough, they need you, you and James don't leave my thoughts.
Semper Fi

Dale, attention to detail. I just posted an editorial from a London newspaper that took issue
with a recent statement by your President. Being that I didn't write the editorial, I didn't attack
anyone. I posted the article for the benefit of those paragons of virtue—those guardians of the
world's morals—who've turned their attention away from the filth and refuse collecting at their
own doorsteps.

Since you did raise a number of questions, though, I feel obliged to respond. Firstly, Western
Europe is not socialist. If there are any countries in Europe that can be perceived as socialist,
it's the countries that Rumsfeld is banking on in Eastern Europe that haven't yet made the full
transition to a market economy. They are for the most part in dire economic straits and their
leaders are hoping to get something in return for their support of the US with regard to Iraq,
although their people are strongly against the perpetual war for the elusive perpetual peace
that your President is propounding. Turkey is in the same boat and it's milking the US—better
said, US taxpayers; Cheney's Halberton and the other US oil concerns on the other hand are
going to make a fortune—for every cent they can get, and they are doing a good job too! (Now
Andy, if this is the "moral" support that the US has, I'll just grin and bear it. LOL!)

Yes Dale, I feel that any system of government that stifles the initiative of the governed is
doomed to fail. A person who is motivated and industrious is penalized for his motivation and
industry, although society is dependent precisely on the freedom of initiative of the individuals
who comprise it—if it is to flourish.

Conversely, a society in which a sense of proportion is lacking—a society in which the initiative
of private individuals crosses a threshold whereby their actions are injurious rather than
beneficial—is also doomed to fail. I'm talking about the flip-side of the coin: Greed. In Philip
Barry's 1939 stage play »The Philadelphia Story«—made immemorable by Cary Grant and
Katharine Hepburn in the 1940—there's an interesting exchange between C.K. Dexter Haven
(Grant) and Tracy Samantha Lord (Hepburn). The following is from the film version:

C.K. Dexter Haven: I never saw you looking better, Red. You're getting that fine tawny look.

Tracy Samantha Lord: Oh, going to talk about me, are we? Goodie.

C.K. Dexter Haven: It's astonishing what money can do for people, don't you think so Mr. Conners
(James Stuart)? Not too much, you know, just more than enough.



»Not too much, you know, just more than enough« Greed. On a page towards the back of a 1993
issue of the New York Times it was reported that the top 1% or so was earning over 90% of US
earnings. No you won't see this reported on television between innings, or on CNN or CBS Nightly
News, but the middle class is dying out, slowly but surely, while the rich are getting richer. Dale, I
just don't know how one would go about making a virtue of it.

Living here in Germany I just don't see what I saw living in New York City. People begging in front of
supermarkets and in the subways, people sleeping on park benches in the summer and over heating
vents in the winter—and this in the good ole USA! I remember one black man in particular: He didn't
have any shoes and wore plastic bags over his feet. He had a sore on his ankle about the size of a
silver dollar. This wasn't just a blister. He had this for quite some time and the skin just wouldn't
grow over the wound anymore. Considering that he was living from hand to mouth and most certainly
wasn't eligible for any »socialist« medical benifits, I couldn't but help to think that he'd eventually die
because of it. The thought of that man follows me to this day and embodies everything rotten about
greed.

Yes, Bush is so concerned about the poor Kurds in the north of Iraq and the Sunnis in the south. I just
find it odd that the poverty and squalor at his doorstep in Washington, D(eath) C(apital) leaves him so
unmoved.

My nightmare.
After work on Wed. I was playing with James then sat down to watch the news,
Diane went into the kitchen to make dinner and James was playing nintendo.
My daughter came home from work and asked where James was. Dianes first
reaction was to go out back where she found him floating face down. I ran outside
and started CPR, he had no pulse and was'nt breathing. I continued CPR until the
paramedics arrived. They got him breathing by the time the reached the hospital.
He was airlifted to a hospital with a pediatric I.C.U. His physical recovery was
remarkable which gave us great hope. Unfortunatly he is not responding well
mentally and all we can do is wait. The doctors optimism is fading with each
day that passes. When he is awake he has episodes where his body locks up,
he screams and his heart rate elevates. They say its not seizures but it sure looks like
it. He is still in I C U. We have family and friends with him 24/7. Needless to say my wife
and daughter are a wreck, but I'm trying to keep them from complete breakdown.
We are lucky that we have such good family and friends around us.
By the way, the door he went out was locked but he managed to wiggle out a small
dog door.
The guilt and the pain I feel when I look into that babies eyes is just unbareable.

SRB, give us an update on James when you have a chance.

Pete, I am surprised that you would attack our great President George W. Bush with that same old tired
argument that the Dems have been using for the last two years about him not being duly elected.
Not once during that fiasco in 2000, when the Democrats were trying to steal the election from G.W.,
did Algore ever win a recount. The Dems were desparately punching out extra chads so they could use
that lame arguement that you threw at us about G.W. not being the 'elected' president. I think there were
something like three counties where the count changed significantly at all, and they were the three counties
that had the heaviest Democratic registration of any of the counties in Florida. The modus operandi of the
Socialist Democrats is, if you can't win it fair and square, get it anyway you can.

Those tired old social ideals that you Europeans are so fond of just don't sell over here in the great USA when
they are clearly explained in a manner that everyone can understand. Why was it that the German people were
so exuberant when they were tearing down that wall that seperated East and West for all those decades? Is it
because, in the spirit of man is a desire to be free and to govern their own lives, like we do so well here in the US,
and the only way you can get people to live in a communist society is to rule over them by force. But, Germany and
the rest of Europe aren't communist you might say. To that I would reply that socialism is just communism that hasn't
grown up yet.

Is it just accidental that the United States leads the world in production of nearly everything they have ever done, at least
until the rest of the world catches up and starts producing it at half the cost because of their under-developed economies
that utilize labor at a tenth of the cost that the United States labor market pays. Is that somethig to brag about? Only if
you are proud of the fact that 90 percent of your population lives below a standard that the poorest of our citizens live at.
If our free market system is so bad then why does it work so good? Why do people from around the globe flock to our
country all the time?

Faults can be found in any system of government. After all they are all run by men. Who are all imperfect. So, why
should we think that there is a perfect form of government that is going to supply everyones needs. Come on back Pete.
We still have room for one more industrious piano repairman willing to work hard and prosper from his own efforts.
And we won't even tax you at 48% when you make more than $47K a year.

Our Prayers and thoughts are with you
Many folks out this way are pulling for you and James

Any feedback on those links I posted ?

Germany would be Russia if it were not for the good ole USA. We can talk all day about the history of countries,
but how does that help now. Now is the time when Countries will step up and take action to defeat those that
wish the peaceful nations harm. Counties like Germany and France will try and sound like players on the global stage.
They will continue to try and manipulate the actions of others. However, the majority of the worlds powers are firmly
behind the USA. We have the moral authority, and thankfully we have a President who leads by his convictions.
Unlike the German honcho who sucked up to the extremists just to get elected. Pete, I do know that the majority
of the good people of Germany are against your leader. However, you get what you pay for just like we did for 8 years of Billary.

In the end, France will show is yellow stripes, and back down from its current position. Because we all know that France
is a coward and will lack the spine to try and go it alone. They are in our pockets.

The people of Iraq we thank us within the next three weeks. Thank God for the US Marines

Dave - how about them lakers. 21-7 in the last 28 games.

German lessons

Bush should not mess with history

Friday February 28, 2003
The Guardian (London)

When America defeats its enemies, George W. Bush said in his speech on Iraq
this week, it leaves not occupying armies but democracy and liberty. "There was
a time," he went on, "when many said that the cultures of Japan and Germany were
incapable of sustaining democratic values. Well, they were wrong."

In fact, it is Mr Bush who is wrong. Japanese men got the vote in 1925, not in 1945,
as the president implied. And German men won the vote as far back as 1849, albeit
subject to a property qualification, at a time when Mr Bush's country practised
legalised slavery. Bearing in mind that America only became a full democracy in
1965, and Germany in 1946, there is a case for saying that Germans have at least
as strong a democratic tradition as Americans. What's more, there is no dispute
about who actually won the last German election, which is more than can be said
about the means by which Mr Bush came to office. A little historical humility would
do the president no harm.

Steve, Connie and I will have you and your grandson in our thoughts and prayers.

Connie (she is a Sailor) just got a 24 hr notice that she will be leaving aboard ship for the next 3 months.
Can not say where, but it is a tax free zone.......

Semper Fidelis

Sorry to hear that Steve.
My prayers are with you and young James

I could use a little help.
If you guys could send a thought or prayer this way I could use it.
A little boy named James fell into a pool last wed. and is in intensive care.
He is only 3 yrs. old, he is my grandson and it was my pool!

Is this thing on?

Trying something

Proof

Hey Steve, you might have to do this through your own e-mail since it seems
we are sharing, neber mind I just removed the letters between the carats,
so when you post just stick in what you want, I think it's because you are in
under my e-mail , but who knows? We'll see what happens, either way it'll work

OOOOHHHHHHRRRRAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Semper Fi Devil Dog

George Clooney Urinal Target

George Posts to remind you


Daniel Pearl was a Local Citizen

Saddam's 1988 Gas attacks

Satirical Blog from Israel

Dave Barry's Blog

a conservative Blog

click for good satire

another con.blog

500 Special Forces and 1000 jarheads headed to the Philippines to help the
Philippinos battle some bad guys. Make us proud boys!

Ron, Mik, Otto, Bud, Dave, TC thawed out yet?

Just tried a big rant and the thing puked on me.
Andy wants more politics, okey dokey,
The USA is the oldest government ( of major Powers)
there is , So take your new comer thing and put it where it belongs!
OK, England is older, does that make you happy?

Brrrrrrrrr.....
Oh sorry, I live in LA where it's warm year-around!
Take care all you cold weather hostages!

Yesterday's snow

Talk about Stress

most dangerous creature

Feels like Korea here, 10 below zero at night.
Coldest winter in at least 85 years so far.
Work is starting to pick up a bit,but the cold has an
effect on construction.
The current Political atmosphere really brings out the
uninformed in the populace.Try explaining to someone
who has belived wrongly for 20 years...... That The 444 hostages
were held by Iran, not Iraq, and that Kohmeni as been dead for a while.
there are so many people that don't read newspapers
or watch the news. It is these people that the local
news stations interview for their opinions.
Looking forward to watching the race
Have a good weekend

Have a good weekend Devil Dogs!!!

Damn, Did you see Kobe Last Nite?
Phenominal!!!!!!

Alert the press!
RAIN IN SO. CAL.
Great pictures, Pete.

Dang Pete, the oldest building in Portland is only 125 yrs old! Thanks for posting the pics
of your home and new baby. Whenever I think of Europe I think of the devastation during the world
wars (esp WWII) and all the irreplaceable "stuff" and historic places destroyed. What a waste!
I saw a blip on CNN that said intelligence reports say Saddam is moving SCUD launchers and
other military targets near mosques and historic places. What a waste!

Praying for peace, fearing war, trusting in my president...and out.

Have a great week one and all!

Steven T., I finally got the pictures developed. This first shot is an overview of Market Square
as seen from my third floor window. Naumburg has one of the most intact mediæval market
squares in all of Europe.



From the other side of Market Square we see my building—the green one—the piano movers
(blue) truck and the 80 ton crane. It doesn't really look like much, does it.



Another perspective. On the left—behind the yellow façade—we see a portion of the Market
Square Church. A plaque on the orange-red building informs passers-by that Martin Luther had
lodged there on the night of 05 April 1521.



After about an hour, my 1880 concert grand (8 feet 8 inches) is finally being lifted off the ground.





The piano coming down onto the roof terrace on the backside of the building. From the
crane in the front to the terrace in the back is approximately 100 feet.



The grand in my living room. In front of the grand is a square piano from the 1820s/1830s.
I'm still working on it—I'll be working on it some time to come. Steve, being the patriot you are,
you'll notice the American Walnut veneer on top of the square piano! In the background is an
upright piano from 1907 that belonged to the German naval war hero, Count von Luckner.
Count von Luckner was dubbed »The Sea Devil« and was responsible for the destruction of
$25,000,000 worth of Allied shipping during the First World War.



This is a shot over the rooftops of Naumburg. The »church« with the four towers on the right
is the Naumburg Cathedral, built in the 13th and 14th centuries, and contains some of the
finest sculptures of the German Gothic period.



I climbed up to the ridge of the roof to get this shot of the bell tower of the Market Square Church.



Well gents, that's about it for today. Semper fidelis!

satire anyone?

When Pitbulls disagree, some times they require a cold pack

A motrin helps also

to post a link ,you click on the world with a chain link,(the icon before the "B")
type in your link, click ok, then insert your text between ">< near the end

infrared image

water vapor image

Copied the JPEG from CNN

http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/)

weather.com is better; check out their infrared images

http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/currentweatherusnational/usinfraredsatellite_large.html

»visible« images

http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/currentweatherusnational/usvisiblesatellite_large.html

and water vapor images

http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/currentweatherusnational/uswatervaporsatellite_large.html

European images can be seen at

http://de.weather.com/maps/worldregions/intleurope/index_large.html

Now I hope the links appear on the Blog.

Well Pete, I'm glad you know what time zone you are in.
The snow in question, fell in my time zone.
The picture was taken and posted 15 1/2 hrs after it
stopped snowing. Here in the U.S. the local clock
has to go past midnite twice before you get to the day before yesterday.
Nice Sat. Pic, got an address for that site?

No Ron, I work with CET—Central European Time, sometimes referred
to as Middle European Time—GMT + 1—or EST + 6.



Just to give some perspective, I'm located approximately at the yellow
point in the center of the picture. Although we see some high clouds
from the satellite, the condition on the ground is crisp and clear. The
storm that brought those snows to New England the day before
yesterday is quickly making its way across the Atlantic and can be seen
on the left-hand side of the picture.

Gee Ron, I forgot that Galileo was American; my mistake!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Time is relative.it's requires a point of origin
My mistake for not referring to E.S.T, you must be working from G.M.T.
A throw back to when Europe WAS the center of the world.
Of course it was flat then
Diplomatically we could refer to ZULU time
check your post time, it's still today
Love ya Pete, keep it up

Ron, snow from the day before yesterday—it's after midnight here. I
guess it's time to call it a day; besides, Anja is nagging me to come
to bed.



She's already opened a bottle of Champagne; I think she's going to
tell me a bedtime story—in French.

.

Snow from yesterday, I think it was the French

Have a nice weekend all!
I sit here waiting to be activated to 12 hour shifts when
the proverbial "Crap hits the fan".
Give'em hell Andy!

Steve B. I have not forgot about lunch.
Escrow just closed on my crash pad and
between that and G-Dub talking war I been
busy. Let me know if it's a day work is slow for you
and we can do lunch in the Civic Center area since you
work Lincoln Heights. Let me know.
How close do you work to the LH Jail?

Sunny and 55 the last two days here. From on top of my baghouse at work we have a killer view of
Mt. Hood, Mt. St Helns and Mt Rainier so I scrambled up there without the cell phone for lunch.
An interesteing blurb headline on CNN.com reads, "Clinton hopes Saddam comes to his senses".
Ain't that the pot caling the kettle black!

Pete, I remember you showing us the Southern Cross when in Australia. Just like the CSNY song.

Out

Hey Dave,
What do you think of this cold snap?
High in the low 60's. BRRRRRRRRR!
Pete, planning a trip to Mammoth Mtn. next month.
Have only been a couple times since we went. Last year was the first
time in many years. Just like riding a bike though. You must ski quite
often, I would imagine.

George must be feeling better!
Good deal.

Come on guys. Nobody said anything was
off limits. I was merely stating that the lectures
were getting somewhat long. While I respect your
political views, you must admit the writing was getting
a little long winded. It was still interesting and enlightening
but long and it was only MY opinion.
Political pundits PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FIRE AWAY!
Lenth be damned. You guys sound miserable and I'd rather
read your long winded diatribes, (just kidding), than for you to think you're
being stifled. I think Andy and Dale have a great understanding of what I
was trying to convey. Plus, I really do like to hear what's going on in you guys
daily lives.

France sucks, thats brief.

Are politics and religion strictly off limits or do we just not do them all the time? I'm with you Andy.

[2/5/2003 10:02:48 PM | Andy Crout]
This non political posting is very exciting.

I'm assuming that came loaded with a lot of sarcasm.

I didn't think politics was off limits, just try to say what you can and keep it brief but unambiguous.
No lectures allowed.

Hey Pete, of all the times to be brief in your posts.
What are you attempting to say?
Did I personally "lose" some battle ,that I am
unaware of? The snipe in parentheses, has me baffled.

Sorry George, I'm set at 1600 x 1200 and I thought that the
last few posts were fine.

If one dishes it out, one should be prepared to eat it too.
George, nobody likes a sore loser. (But come to think of
it, you haven't lost anything in the matter.)

I took the liberty of pressing the enter button as an editing option
for a few of the last posts, makes things easier to read, don't ya think?
Keep in mind that journalists don't write side to side in their media.
France sucks.

Way to go Pete!!!!!!!!

Being that it's politically incorrect to talk about politics, religion and race—
and I know we're all politically correct guys—
I just wanted to mention that there are some great winter sale bargins
here on bed sheets and pillow cases.

Still snowing here Steven B. I wouldn't have it any other way!



This is Anja (am I allowed to talk about the »S« word Steven T.? )
She's a lot of fun but she can be very difficult too:
She's still so very young.

This non political posting is very exciting.

The LAKERS are finally back

Watching the UN, France still sucks

Snore...............whew.......me me me me
Snore...............whew.......me me me me

Dave and Steven B,
On behalf of the entire northwest corner of the United States we respectfully request
that you refrain from posting photos of the weather/scenery in Southern California
as it casts an even darker cloud over the delicate and soggy psyche of the inhabitants
of Washington, most of Oregon, and British Columbia. Oops, I forgot, Pete said we
Americans have little concern for the rest of the world so strike the whole BC thing.
Respectfully,
Stephen T(tired of the freakin' rain!) Estes

nother funeral week in the no'east, coulda been mine,but a whiskar

Oops! sorry about the size of that photo.

Another gorgeous day in So.Cal., sorry Steve, ixnay on the igbay otosphay, we all
know what So. Cal . looks like ...it ain't covered in snow. Screws with the blog size wise

Dave, First let me apologize for not taking the time to express myself more
clearly on my last post. I didn't mean to
insinuate that your opinion was wrong when you expressed it about
everyone taking themselves to seriously. That
last statment I made about everyone having an opinion no matter how
wrong they are, was meant to me a sarcastic
funny directed at everyone. That was my whole intent when I threw it
in there at the end, but I see how you could have
easily taken it personally, since I addressed you at the beginning of
the post. Once again, I apologize and encourage
you not to hold back your opinion like you said you would. This is an
open forum and everyone has equal access, right.

The quote by Patrick Henry that I used in the post was not meant to be
compared with what has been discussed on
this Blog, but rather to contrast the shallow conversation that takes place
most of the time in our society today with
the more weighty matters that surround us constantly, such as the ones
that our founding fathers were discussing.
I thought it was a good way to make a point and I just didn't take the time
to explain my example. Like you said,
some of the post can get rather lengthy, thanks Pete, and I was trying to
make a point and keep it short at the same
time. Next time I'll give more consideration to choosing my words and
leaving no room for misinterpretation. Enough said.

Actually, I don't want this forum to be a full time world events discussion
anymore than you. It does take a long time
to read some of these post, but I also like to here perspective on some of
the events going on in our world, from other
men that I respect and getting some of that out of the way here might save
us from having to go over it in person when
we meet in July. I imagine we will probably spend most of our time reminicing

about the 'good ole days' and trying to
fill in the blanks of the last twenty years. I would rather leave the politics alone
at that time, and I know for sure Denise
doesn't want me talking politics at a social gathering.

Andy, as far as wanting to hear what we do for a living, you're going to have to
give us a few days to think up some
ways to embellish our 'ordinary civilian life' stories so we don't put you to sleep.
Of course, Dave probably wouldn't
have too much trouble coming up with some good guy-bad guy stories to tell
concerning his days on the LAPD.

Thanx for the support Andy!
Hope everyone has a nice weekend

Can you eject at Mach 18? 39 miles up? Do these college grads think?(media types)
Avoid stress, thats what my Doc. told me

God be with them and their families

What a tragedy, loosing another space shuttle.

Well spoken Dave. Politics can get on ones nerves. I spend far to much time
watching and reading about politics.
What I miss are the old days of closeness we all shared in 1/9.
A Marine never feels the closeness
again as he did with his 1st platoon. You all have to admit, we were tight.
I do not even remember a single fist fight amongst us.
It was a good time in my life (to good at times), but I would not trade a moment of it.
I'm asking all of you to tell me more about what you do for a living.
You all know what I do. Tell me your story.
You can bet it is a far different Corps from the eyes of a SgtMaj then
when I was a LCPL or CPL like most of you were
when you got out. As a SgtMaj, I would choke all of us out for doing
what we did. Times are different now, and
the Corps is moving forward better then ever. However, all of us
helped end the cold war. OHHHRAWWW.

Semper Fidelis

Dale,
My brother, I have no problem with people expressing their opinions.
In person I engage in the conversational banter like everyone else.
While I was not the originator of this blog site, I just thought some of
the guys were taking things personally.
I also felt that with these extended history lessons, the reading was
getting kind of long. I thought the Blog was to
to be used for staying in touch with each other
and communicating what's up in our lives. I have my own views about politics
and religion in this country and I assure you that if I express them here,
they would be viewed in an unfavorable light. Comparing what's being
talked about here to what your founding fathers were attempting to accomplish
is laughable. I say save the debate for our in person meeting where there is no
opportunity for outside references and you have to wing it off the top of your head.

Again, I have absolutely no problem with healthy dialog in a proper forum,
I just did not know that this was the forum.
It is obviously an opinion shared only by myself and it is
just my opinion, which in the future, I shall keep to my self.

Glad you are doing better George!