This is a great topic for non-thought.  Most folks have already decided their positions and aren't interested in changing their minds.

I first joined the Air Force in 1972.  At that time women were not even permitted to enter the Air Force.  They had their own separate service, the Women's Air Force.  That changed to much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth in 1976, when women were finally integrated into the regular Air Force.  The world did not end.

In the Air Force there exists a culture, from the Air Force Academy on, that sexual assault is ok as long as you can get away with it.  The policy is unofficial of course, but the news reports and personal experience prove otherwise.

Rape is wrong.  People don't have to do it.  The only way to stop it is to hold the guilty responsible.

I know all the arguments, that there are issues or degrees or false reports or someone was just kidding or took something the wrong way.  Doesn't matter or change a thing about the previous paragraph and that is the only discussion.

Too late I think.  I'm probably on some national curmudgeon watch list already.

My favorite wine review was by Robin Williams (I think) when he described a wine as being "Vapid, yet insipid." 

I think wine is a acquired taste, it's all spoiled grape juice to me.

If I can't understand a description or criticism of a food or drink, I always suspect it.  I'll be the first to admit my tastes are pedestrian.

History is A story of events.  A story, not THE story, and subject to the prejudices and limitations of, and placed on, the writer.  The victors write the histories that are accepted.  Like morality, history is what society says it is.  Truth, whatever it may be, is incidental to history; they coincide, or not, depending on one's views.

In the military, we sacrificed ourselves for something greater than ourselves.  We did it for our Constitution, our country, for more.  That gave us a bond not easy for the average citizen to grasp. I think this is why we see the malfeasance of those in power as such a betrayal.  They've betrayed not just us, but the ideals we fought to uphold.

Dave, have you noticed whether the FBI has subpoenaed your phone records...yet?

Beautiful!

Nope nope nope!

Who are we talking about here?  Those folks who spend every day just trying to earn a living and enjoy their lives or the screeching mouthpieces who spend their days screaming insanity from the roof tops?

I'm reminded it wasn't conservatives who founded this country.  It was bigoted religious zealots cast out of Europe to start, but freedom crept in anyway.  Later, it wasn't conservatives who advocated leaving the rule of Britain and creating a place of freedom.  Was it progressives who did this?  Was it liberals?  I don't know.  I don't know what the labels mean from one person to another.

I like to say I have "liberal" ideals and "conservative" principles, i.e. I like the idea of helping those in need, but I want to know who is going to pay for it.  I suspect many other people feel the same way.

Jodi whatshername is the "pretty white girl in trouble du jour" of the main stream media.  It's a shame a pretty white girl isn't involve in the Benghazi story; if there were maybe there would be more media attention.

I still disagree.  Capping tort compensation means businesses will fold the cost of negligent death and destruction into operating cost and go about business as usual rather than change things they do wrong.

Have you ever heard of the "Mongolian Birthday Song"?

Happy Birthday! *grunt*

Happy Birthday! *grunt*

May the cities in your wake burn like candles on your cake!

Happy Birthday!

(Look it up online, lots of "lovely" verses.)

Speak for yourself, I enjoy the fuss, the food, and especially the presents.

Reading about the "rot" in the nuclear missile force on the BBC news site this morning disgusts, saddens, and enrages me. Reading about the Air Force Anti-Sexual Assault program chief being picked up for sexually assaulting a woman less than a mile from the Pentagon just adds fuel to the fire.  What happened to my Air Force? (I know what happened, they did away with SAC and let the zipper-suited fighter ghods, those spoiled fraternity children, take over.)

At one time there was such a thing as honor.  At one time there was a Mission with a capital M that meant more than oneself.  Now it seems personal gain and public appearance mean more than anything.

It's sad.

I can only speak for myself as I believe everyone is different in their maturity and readiness to be married.

I married at 25, my wife was 30.  We both come from families with long marriages and both our families were career military (giving us a common background even if her family was Navy, I forgave 'em).  We were ready to be married.  She knew what marriage to a military man would entail.

We've been married 33 years and I can't imagine life without her.  And that's not just the dementia talking. ; )

I've heard it said that NASCAR is a bunch of drunk rednecks watching a bunch of sober rednecks turn left for four hours.  Usually someone who's never been to a race.

NASCAR has that were too much fun to be legal, running moonshine.  Fortunately they found a better, safer way to have that fun.

The sounds, the roar of the engines, always make me a little homesick.  I'd love to hear an elephant walk once more.

This one I'd have to disagree with.  Capping tort compensation means businesses will fold the cost of negligent death and destruction into operating cost and go about business as usual rather than change things they do wrong.

If I go to the hospital and they cut off the wrong leg, I want them all to pay, billions if necessary to prevent a recurrence.  Or put my leg back as good as new.

I say make 'em pay and pay until the squeal.  Besides, what the lawyers don't keep the government will take.