You'll never hear him complain

You'll never hear him complain



Semper Fi! Marine!

xtnyoda, shalomed

My Christmas Eve

Shared from the Borg Conspiracy

My Christmas Eve

Something that needs to be shared. Please take the time to watch and listen to the entire presentation.

A black morning after

Another Borg Conspiracy Grand Slam Homer!

Today is the much awaited and much ballyhooed 'Black Friday.' The one day of the year that is supposed to be permissible shopping insanity. But as with everything else in American culture, if you can do it tomorrow, you can probably do it today. So may retailers began their black Friday shop fest the night before.

Much was the same nationally it appears as it was here in west Georgia last night and today. Crowds of up to a thousand reported at area stores awaiting the kickoff to seasonal sales for this holiday season. Luckily, we haven't had any reported confrontations or assaults like are being reported elsewhere around the nation this morning.

I waited until well after daylight this morning and then proceeded to make my one outing to obtain a few things for my fur kids at our location PetSmart. Thinking that most of the insanity would be focused elsewhere, it turned out that my read was correct and I easily got in and out of the store with the things that I was interested in buying. Apparently, the run on cat litter and dog food ended well before I got there this morning, so i was able to get what I wanted and be gone in short order.

While driving home from my outing this morning it struck me, that I would not have weathered a frigid night in a parking lot for all the tea in China, or for some flat screen TV or ipad for that matter. But I will weather a cold hundred mile ride in winter to honor a fallen soldier, or sailor or airman or Marine.

I guess that is where the real deal exists for me. I cannot see standing in a line on a freezing morning just to get my hands on some toy or gizmo, but I can stand in a flag line for hours to honor the life of someone who's service affords me the ability to live my life in peace and freedom.

So the next time you hear all the bupkus about holiday shopping and racing around to get deals, try to remember what the real deal is or should be. I only wish as many people as have turned out for the morning after shopping frenzy, would one day find it in their heart to turn out to honor our heroes and their families when they come home.

Semper Fi.....

Semper Fi indeed Marine!

xtnyoda, shalomed

A Night To Remember

The Borg Conspiracy brings us this moving rendition.

This was posted on Justin Timberlake's facebook page yesterday. I think it is worthy of posting and re-posting. It is so refreshing to see a young celebrity stepping forward with a willingness to celebrate his country and its military and those serving in harms way. Semper Fi Justin, you are now one of my new BBF's and I am a new admirer from the class of old peeps who usually never looked that closely at you in the past. I am watching now.

To all my family, friends and fans,

I'm writing this out to all of you after attending an event that turned out to be one of the most moving evenings I've ever had...

I had the honor and privilege last night of attending The Basic School Instructor Battalion 236th Marine Corps Birthday Ball at the Greater Richmond Convention Center with Corporal Kelsey DeSantis...

I knew I would have an evening that I wouldn't forget... Something I could tell my friends about. What I didn't know was how moved I would be by the whole experience.

I've always been very vocal about my support of our Armed Forces. I've always felt like they offered us the opportunity to live our lives freely without the fear that so many other nations have to endure still to this day. And, they do it without asking for anything in return. I had this very feeling walking into this dinner. So, to say I was stoked to be there would be more than accurate.

As the evening got started, I met Kelsey and we made our way to the ballroom where the Marine Ball was going to be held. I stopped in an area designated as a kind of VIP for some of the officers, I think. I took some photos and shook hands with some of the men and women who take such great care of our freedom. It was nice to be there already.

Then, we moved to the ballroom where the dinner was set up... For a short while, I had the opportunity to sit with Kelsey, get to know her and get a tiny glimpse into what her life as a Marine was like. She talked about her training in mixed martial arts with a passion, a discipline, and a respect. It reminded me of how I hear my favorite athletes talk about their sport or, how I hear my favorites among my peers in music and film talk about their craft.

We sat in this huge ballroom and were the only ones there as, we had beaten the rest of the soldiers who were on their way in. So, we got a decent amount of time to chat before the ceremony started.

She seemed to me to be so humble and honest... Very cool. She also simultaneously seemed like she was nervous about the whole evening and if I was going to enjoy myself. "Are you ok?" she asked 2 or 3 times. "I hope you are having fun. I know you will once my crew of friends get here to the table." I have to tell you, it's not every day that I meet a 23 year old girl and she's more worried about if I'm having fun or if I'm comfortable! It hit me all of a sudden that these were the type of people that look after us and our freedom... Humble, concerned for others before themselves... This was the type of person our Marine Corps was building. I was really blown away.

It seemed like all of a sudden I was surrounded by her great friends and fellow Marines as the closest ones to her made their way to our table. She again assured me that I was going to love all of her friends--that they were a "kick-ass" group of people.

She couldn't have been more right. I laughed and laughed with all of them almost immediately and felt very close to them... They reminded me of my friends (the ones I like, at least). Cool, un-affected, and real. This was going to be a fun night.

What happened then took me by such surprise that I was almost brought to tears. In fact, our whole table was...

They started the ceremony. And, the next thing I knew I was watching a video about Pearl Harbor/WW2 and the September 11 terrorist attacks... It was a video with some first-hand accounts from some Marines who were there... Telling their stories of the sights and sounds of war and rescue. So vivid and real. So honest but, so filled with a sense of compassion and adoration for this wonderful country. They spoke with a pride that only they could have acquired through their experience as a US Marine. There was a common theme that I began to notice as well... No matter what the situation. No matter how dire...

They were there FIRST.

There on the front lines.

No questions... Just reaction.

While this tribute was playing, you could hear a pin drop. It was a surreal moment to be in that room with so many of our great Marines who have such a different type of connection to those stories. One that we who don't serve will NEVER understand. It was familial. It was like they were listening to their own blood brothers. I glanced around the room at young men and women, spouses and soldiers... At kids way beyond their years, really... All so deeply entwined. Not just by battle, even though we who have never endured anything remotely close to those experiences and have NO position to comment on... But, by having such life changing experiences through them and to not ever waver in their love and respect for our homeland. That's what I saw. A faith in us that has been tested time and time again. And, through it all, NEVER a drop of doubt.

I was truly moved.

The evening went on and we ate and took photos and drank and made jokes.

There were some speeches that prompted many "huahs" and applause. There was laughs. We even danced a little.

I felt so proud to be there. I felt like I was getting a chance to be among my heroes. It's funny too because a lot of them are SO younger than me.

The evening wound down for me as, I had to catch a plane. But, I have to say that I had so much fun with Kelsey and her crew of friends. They were just really nice people... Classy Marines but, not without a great sense of humor. Real individuals but, not without a sense of community.

I said my goodbyes to them but, not before I got a chance to tell them how much the evening had meant to me. They made me feel so welcome to be there and I'll never forget it.

We all have our own individual views on war... But, doesn't that speak to just another thing that makes this country so special?? The fact that we can all wake up every morning and BE individual with a pure sense of freedom..? But, one thing that can't be argued is that it's because of the people who VOLUNTEER their lives to make sure that it's protected at all times. And, like I said before, doing so while asking for nothing in return...

To all of you that serve every day for us... Ensuring our freedom, I say: My deepest gratitude to you. I've met so many of my heroes... From Michael Jordan to Michael Jackson. And, nothing makes me feel more honor and pride than when I get to meet one of you. Last night changed my life and I will never forget it.

To people like me who get to benefit from this type of person... One with character and courage. With strength and bravery. With humility and honor... I say: Send your thanks. Do it however you can. Write a letter, type an email... Hell, buy 'em a beer next time you run into someone from our Armed Forces in a bar. When they say thank you for that drink that cost you 3 bucks, they'll mean it. They won't take it for granted and, they won't forget it.

Thank you Corporal Kelsey DeSantis. Thank you for inviting me. And, thank you for being my hero.

- Justin Timberlake

Semper Fi!

xtnyoda, shalomed

Difference in definitions

This has been shamelessly stolen/borrowed from The Borg Conspiracy!

nuff said.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Counting "Real" Money (not good news)

The Borg Conspiracy has been doing a little home-work ... and what he has found about what we hold in "real money" is not good.

America leads in Gold Reserve

So.....even with gold approaching $2000 an ounce, we remain hopelessly in debt beyond our wildest dreams.

Rank Owner Tonnes Share of Foreign Reserves

Ranked #1 United States 8,133.5 78.3%

The United States holds the largest gold reserve in the world. With 8,133.5 tonnes, U.S. gold holdings are worth approximately $269.67 billion. This massive gold reserve represents about .9436 an ounce for every person living in the country.

Stop for a moment and think about the truth of scripture that states that the borrower is a servant to the lender.

Let me ask a question. How much real money do you possess?

Another question. How much debt do you possess?

Now ... what do you "own" and who "owns" you?

Food for thought. You need to find the answer to these questions, for, a collection day is coming, in this life.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Indomitable Spirit: The 236th Marine Corps Birthday Message

It's our birthday. And the following comments and video are via The Borg Conspiracy.

We are not heroes, we are just today's Marines

Semper Fidelis means always faithful.....Semper Fidelis means, we always remember, Semper Fidelis we never forget. Semper Fidelis means no one is left behind. Either on the field of battle or in the aftermath of fading memories. We, the few, the proud are faithgul. We will always remember those who have served, we will always remember those who have sacrificed and we will always remember those who have died in service to this nation and its people. Semper Fidelis Marines.....



On the 236th anniversary of the birth of our Corps, the Commandant and the Sergeant Major Marine Corps have a special message to convey to all.

Semper Fi! Marines!

It has been an honor to have served as 1 of the few...

Salute!

xtnyoda, shalomed

Gingrich's Upper-Cut is connecting

Gingrich is telling it like it is friends ... and exposing the damnable hypocrisy of politicians, policy drivers, and the economic dealers of our day ... that are subjugating people and trying to make it look like they are great souls in doing so.

The Emperor's New Clothes are being ripped away and the charade is being exposed for the demented evil that it truly is.

Gingrich on the Fed and assigning responsibility

Newt pulls no punches. He directs his fire with specificity and facts. An excerpt from the Dartmouth debate.

"Start with Barney Frank & Chris Dodd"

"Bernake has in secret spent hundreds of billions of dollars bailing out one group and not bailing out another group, I don't see anybody in the news media, demanding the kind of transparency at the Fed, that you would demand of every other aspect of the federal government and I think it is corrupt and it is wrong for one man to have that kind of secret power."

This via The Borg Conspiracy

OK, somebody refute what the man has spoken.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Orders to Take Down the Plane

Following is a riveting, yet as till now, an untold story of exceptional heroism during 9/11 as shared by The Borg Conspiracy

A story as yet untold

This is a story that has been ten years in the telling. Only now, on the tenth anniversary is it finally being told.

Pilot told to ram, take down Flight 93 By Washington Post Saturday, September 10, 2011 Late in the morning of the Tuesday that changed everything, Lt. Heather "Lucky" Penney was on a runway at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and ready to fly. She had her hand on the throttle of an F-16 and she had her orders: Bring down United Airlines Flight 93. The day's fourth hijacked airliner seemed to be hurtling toward Washington. Penney, one of the first two combat pilots in the air that morning, was told to stop it. The one thing she didn't have as she roared into the crystalline sky was live ammunition. Or missiles. Or anything at all to throw at a hostile aircraft. Except her plane. So that was the plan. Because the surprise attacks were unfolding faster than they could arm war planes, Penney and her commanding officer went up to fly their jets into a Boeing 757. "We wouldn't be shooting it down. We'd be ramming the aircraft," Penney recalled of her charge that day. "I would essentially be a kamikaze pilot." For years, Penney, one of the first generation of female combat pilots in the country, gave no interviews about her experiences on Sept. 11 (which included, eventually, escorting Air Force One back into Washington). But 10 years later, she is reflecting on one of the lesser-told tales of that endlessly examined morning: how the first counterpunch the military prepared to throw at the attackers was effectively a suicide mission. "We had to protect the airspace any way we could," she said last week in her office at Lockheed Martin, where she is a director in the F-35 program. Penney, now a major, is no longer a combat flier. She flew two tours in Iraq and serves as a part-time National Guard pilot, mostly hauling VIPs around in a military Gulfstream. She takes the stick of her own vintage 1941 Taylorcraft tail-dragger whenever she can. But none of her thousands of hours in the air quite compare with the rush of launching was supposed to be a one-way flight to a midair collision. 'I'll take the tail' She was a rookie in the autumn of 2001, the first female F-16 pilot they'd ever had at the 121st Fighter Squadron of the D.C. Air National Guard. She had grown up smelling jet fuel. Her father flew jets in Vietnam and still races them. Penney got her pilot's licence when she was a literature major at Purdue. She'd planned to be a teacher, but during a graduate program in American studies, Congress opened combat aviation to women and Penney was nearly first in line. "I signed up immediately," she said. "I wanted to be a fighter pilot like my dad." On Sept. 11, 2001, they had just finished two weeks of air combat training in Nevada. They were sitting around a briefing table when someone looked in to say a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York. When it happened once, they assumed it was some yahoo in a Cesna. When it happened again, they knew it was war. But the surprise was complete. In the monumental confusion of those first hours, it was impossible to get clear orders. Nothing was ready. The jets were still equipped with dummy bullets from the training mission. A third plane hit the Pentagon, and almost at once came word that a fourth plane could be on the way, maybe more. The jets would be armed within an hour, but somebody had to fly now, weapons or no weapons. "Lucky, you're coming with me," barked Col. Marc Sasseville. They were gearing up in the pre-flight life-support area when Sasseville, struggling into his flight suit, met her eye. "I'm going to go for the cockpit," Sasseville said. She replied without hesitating. "I'll take the tail." It was a plan. And a pact. She muttered a fighter pilot's prayer -- "God, don't let me (expletive) up" -- and followed Sasseville into the sky. 'The real heroes are the passengers' The planes screamed over the smoldering Pentagon, heading northwest at more than 400 mph, flying low and scanning the clear horizon. Her commander had time to think about the best place to hit the enemy. "We don't train to bring down airliners," said Sasseville, now stationed at the Pentagon. "If you just hit the engine, it could still glide and you could guide it to a target. My thought was the cockpit or the wing." He also thought about his ejection seat. Would there be an instant just before impact? "I was hoping to do both at the same time," he said . "It probably wasn't going to work, but that's what I was hoping." Penney worried about missing the target if she tried to bail out. "If you eject and your jet soars through without impact ..." she trailed off, the thought of failing more dreadful than the thought of dying. But she didn't have to die. She didn't have to knock down an airliner full of kids and salesmen and girlfriends. They did that themselves. It would be hours before Penney and Sasseville learned that United Flight 93 had gone down in Pennsylvania, an insurrection by hostages willing to do just what the two Guard pilots had been willing to do: Anything. And everything. "The real heroes are the passengers on Flight 93 who were willing to sacrifice themselves," Penney said. "I was just an accidental witness to history."

They were ready and prepared to sacrifice their lives for the cause of freedom. And there are millions and millions just like them in this nation to this day.

Let every conspiracy here this, let every conspirator know this, you will not prevail.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Evangelicals Not Welcome

The Borg Conspiracy is telling it like it is about the upcoming 9-11 ... celebration.

Evangelicals not welcome at 9/11 National Cathedral Commemoration

I say this with all sincerity. Is there any surprise in the evangelical community that this would be the case?

Evangelicals not welcome.

A weekend of religious-themed observances at Washington National Cathedral marking the tenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks will include a Buddhist nun and an Imam, but not an evangelical Christian, leading the head of the Southern Baptist Convention to ask President Obama to reconsider attending the event. “A Call to Compassion” will include an interfaith prayer vigil on Sept. 11. It will feature the dean of the Cathedral, the Bishop of Washington, a rabbi, Buddhist nun and incarnate lama, a Hindu priest, the president of the Islamic Society of North America and a Muslim musician. However, Southern Baptists, representing the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, were not invited to participate – and neither were leaders from any evangelical Christian organization. “It’s not surprising,” said Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. “There is a tragic intolerance toward Protestants and particularly toward evangelicals and I wish the president would refuse to speak unless it was more representative.”

More and more evangelicals and traditional Southern Baptists are being ostracized and demonized at all levels in this country. The fact that Buddhist and Muslims have been invited to this ceremony only solidifies the reality of egalitarian superiority in this country. The politically correct triumph and those cast aside are denied their constitutional rights on a wholesale basis.

Do what you will when you perceive us to be irrelevant ... but of course the greatest insult is to ignore us ... yet you will find that we will not be ignored ... for we have a voice ... and it will be heard.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Climate deniers are racists

From the Borg Conspiracy

So says Al Gore. Amazing isn't it. He talks about 'winning the argument' in this interview, but he has been losing his argument steadily and he knows it. So he has moved on to the most common last stand tactic of all liberals once they have exhausted their shouting points.

They attack the personal character of their opposition with ad hominen. Suddenly, 'climate deniers' are racist according to Gore. So, how long before they also become Nazi's. Gore labors through his analogies of attack, by attempting to demonize his opposition with the same old tactics.

"This is different, this is an organized effort to attack the scientific community. and to slander them with the lies, that they are slanting the statistics in order to make money." (the exact same accusations that he and the climate change hustlers use against their opposition.) This man has no shame. No more so than any liberal hell bent on forcing their reality on others, regardless of history or facts or truth.

It's Just Elmer's Tune

Copied from The Borg Conspiracy

It was a typical morning on the hills and meadows surrounding Kettering and other places in lower England and the midlands. All was as it should be and all was as it was and as it had remained for quite a long time now. Everything was in order. The aircraft were parked wing tip to wing tip, prepared for the day's adventures. No more need for worry of enemy attacks, as that had long ago all been settled.

No more war, those who are stationed here now, are those who once long ago lifted off to go fight their adversaries across the way, but that has long since passed. They are all here now, both planes and crews, un-tethered to;time and each day their mission is simply to relive the times in their lives when they were young and in love and serving a great purpose.

They were in love with their country, in love with their sweethearts back home and they were in love with leaving the ground to brush the clouds and touch the face of God, even if that meant the danger that they all knew lay ahead each day.;But none of that mattered to them now. Those fears and anxieties were all in the past. A long ago past that not many still remember and all too many here recalled with regularity. But not with sorrow, for each had done his part and they were all proud of their history and their lives.
Their is no anger or fear here now. There are no enemies, only love. All pain and sorrow have been washed away and replaced with the joys of friendship and love and the mutual love of what once was and what will always be. All that remains now is their camaraderie and their daily ability to now do something that they truly dreamed of so long ago. To touch the face of God? They each now have done so and they have each now seen that face.

These men, many of whom were not far from being boys, who flew off to fight for the love in their hearts and what remained back home. They didn't fight their enemies out of hatred, they fought them because that was what was right. They were on the right side of right and wrong and they fought along side each other with mutual respect. They shared their dreams and their hopes and their aspirations and they shared their fears. All of it happening above twenty thousand feet and in skies far from their homes and their loves

Today was another day to rejoice. They were welcoming home another brother. Someone who had been a long time coming, but none the less they all knew, would one day re-appear. He was a little more paunchy than they recalled, but then again? He hadn't received his new uniform issue yet, nor had he visited the saints yet and become born anew in his new body. That was all to come, but for now there he stood. A bit bewildered while all the memories and the faces came flooding back. They all looked just as they always had. Their uniforms now crisp and no longer battle weary. But it was the faces that really intrigued him. They all seemed to be ageless, just as he remembered them, nothing had changed in all the years. How could that be?

The first to come forward to extend a hand was Elmer Gillespie, the pilot. He said: "welcome home Gene, it's been a long time." Then one by one, each member of the crew stepped forward, they all embraced. There was Ted Chapman, the co-pilot and David Taylor, the Bombardier. There was Hodge Mason the navigator and Don Zirbel the engineer. There was Charlie McFall, the radio operator and now there was Elmer Browning the ball turret gunner, Gene to his friends and all of his friends were here. They were all here to meet him, to welcome him home. Just as he remembered them and just as he had always hoped they would be.

Gene was overwhelmed, there was so much to take in and so much that he wanted to say. Captain Gillespie and the others knew what Gene was feeling, they had all experienced it themselves when they arrived. The captain took Gene by the shoulders and said "just let me look at you old friend, you made it farther than any of us. There will be time for all of your questions, but first you must realize that here now, there is no time. So let's get you checked in, there is a gentleman I want you to meet, his name is Peter. He has been here for quite a long time. From the beginning."

Captain Gillespie then took Gene by the shoulder and led him up a hill to a place so beautiful.;A place where it seemed like one could look and see all of eternity. A man approached and said "Gene, I am Peter and I am here to verify your reservation. According to our files? You are exactly where you are supposed to be and you are welcomed with the love and light of all the angels of Heaven."

And when those words were spoken, there was suddenly a chorus of heavenly voices. Voices of acclamation and a transcending of the Holy Spirit that came and settled around Gene. In a twinkling, he was anew. his body of old, the one he had brought with him when he arrived was now gone. Replaced by the one of his youth. He could immediately feel the difference, as if suddenly their was muscle and sinew that he had not known in decades. Nothing ached any longer and his eyes were once again sharp and crisp and as he looked down at his body he could see the uniform taking shape around him. The one he had worn so many years ago. Like Captain Gillespie and the others, all new and crisp and his Air Corps hat gently settled on his head.

With those realizations, Gene looked up and Peter looked upon him and said welcome home Gene, all is now well.Captain Gillespie took Gene's hand and began to lead him down the hill back toward the others. Then suddenly he stopped and told Gene to turn and look, as he did, Gene saw what he thought was the most beautiful sunrise that he had ever experienced. Knowing Gene's thoughts before he could ask them, Captain Gillespie looked at Gene and said: "isn't he beautiful Gene?" That is the face of God. That which we have all sought for so long, only now to be able to gaze upon him. Yes Gene, he is here with us as is the son and they are pleased to see you at home once again. There will be time for that also, but remember? There is no time here, only love and happiness and the presence of the father and those who we loved.

As Gene arrived back in the grassy meadows among those parked on the flight line, he thought to himself and then remarked, "this place looks a lot like Kettering." Hodge Mason leaned in and said: "It is Kettering Gene, just as it existed back in our time. Only now it is as it was meant to be. It is as we always dreamed for it to be. It is now a place for our dreams to become our reality." With that, David Taylor the bombardier looked at Gene and said: "You ready to go back up? We are about ready for today's reconnaissance flight." Gene said where are we headed? And David said: "Well, we will swing through Ipswich and a few other places and pick up the main formations, then we will be off to France and Belgium and Germany and all the old familiar places. And today? We will take a couple of detours to do fly overs of Illinois and Georgia, just for you. I'll bet you always wondered what they would look like from above.

And with those words, they all began to crawl into a brand new and shiny B-17. It was just like the one they had picked up so long ago and flown to Europe, but this one was different. There were no guns. Only Plexiglas portholes for viewing. Gene's ball turret was there also, but this time there was no targeting window or twin 50's to be crammed inside with.

As the plane taxied out with the others, it seemed as if they all just lifted up together as if on the wings of doves. And they were flying again. The entire crew. The complete crew now that Gene was with them. Gene went over and hit the switch and rotated the ball down and there was the hatch to the turret. He opened it and seemingly just stepped right in. Everything was as he remembered it. The controls were all there, there just weren't any guns. That is when Gene suddenly noticed, that his hearing had returned perfectly. Not for the last sixty six years had he heard as he was hearing now. He hadn't noticed it when talking to Captain Gillespie and Peter and the others, but now it was obvious. He could hear like a kid again.

As the plane banked and turned, Gene noticed that there were fighters closing. JU 88's and ME-109's, but they weren't in attack formations. They were coming up to meet them. Gene was truly amazed and a German pilot flew up so close to his turret that Gene could see the medals on his uniform. And there were no guns! Just a beautiful aircraft, just like the one that Gene was now in. The German slid back his canopy and smartly saluted, then slid the canopy forward and peeled off to rejoin his group. Gene now wondered: "was that one of the men that he had taken out of the sky so many years ago?" It didn't seem to matter, as they were all together now and there was no more war and no more fighting. Only love and respect.

About that time the pilot and the formation banked sharply to the right and began descending. They were coming in below 10.000 feet now and still descending. The features of the ground seemed familiar. Gene suddenly realized they were flying over his old home in Illinois and there was the old Hyster plant where he had worked for so many years after the war. Then just as suddenly, the bomber banked hard to the left and Gene began to see that they were descending upon his home in Georgia. There it was, the flag pole in his front yard with his American flag and Distinguished Flying Cross flags still flying. Then just as suddenly, it was as if the bomber stopped in time and began to hover. Something a B-17 is not supposed to do. At first it scared Gene, his hearing was now perfect, yet it was as if the engines had simply stopped. There was no engine noise and not even the sound of wind. It was as if they were in a cloud bank, everything had stopped.

That was when Captain Gillespie came on the intercom to Gene and said: "Eyes forward and down to the six O'clock Gene, this is for you." And the clouds suddenly parted and there it was. That beautiful place that he had told his wife Melba about. The place that he wanted to be. And there they all were. Melba, his family and all of his friends.They were all there. They were paying their last respects. There was a full honor guard and a rifle squad, there was the bugler, each as he had told his beloved Melba that he wanted. And they were all gathered on this beautiful day at this beautiful place to remember him.

The silence was replaced by the clear sound of rifle fire, twenty one times. Then the solemn playing of Taps on the bugle. Then came the folding of the flag and the words by those who loved Gene and whom had been brought together to be there with his beloved wife Melba. Gene cried, the first tears that he had shed in his new body, but they were not tears of sorrow, they were tears of joy. Everything was as he had always wanted it to be. Melba had seen to it and they had all remembered. And now, they were were all standing for one last time before they lowered his old body into the ground. Gene saw all of that too. The meticulous care that had been taken to insure that he looked his best. How could he not have loved all of these people, each and every one of them.

Gene didn't know what to say. Here he sat in his turret, suspended in time with an unobstructed view of all of the love that he had created in life. And here they all were now, paying tribute, seeing him off and making sure that his gal Melba was taken care of. Gene felt like standing and saluting them, but even with the guns gone from the turret, that simply wasn't possible. So he simply saluted them and silently thanked each and everyone of them for being part of his life. That is when Gene suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. It was a familiar hand, it had a familiar feel. Gene turned to look and there was this young man, some how sitting right behind him. The young man was smiling and he introduced himself. He said, "you don't remember me Gene, because we never really met. You see? I was a ball turret gunner too.

"Do you remember that one mission where the hatch came open on your turret and you almost fell out? You later told people that as you were struggling to stay inside the turret and being buffeted by the wind, that you suddenly felt a hand on your back side and that hand pushed you back inside and the hatch was closed. Remember?" Gene said oh yes, I remember that!The young man said: "well that was me Gene. You see, me and my crew had gone down on a mission a few days before and when I saw you in trouble, I just knew that I had to do something. So I gave you that little shove and I have been waiting to meet you in person for a long time. I am glad to finally make your acquaintance." The young man said: "I'll see you around," and just as quickly he was gone.

Gene looked down again and they were finishing the service and once again he was over come with both joy and thanks for all who had come. Captain Gillespie then came on the intercom and told Gene that there was one more thing to do. The plane suddenly came to life again and just as suddenly it was in a formation of three other B-17's and as Gene looked down, he saw that the formation was lining up over the Georgia National Cemetery. They were coming in low at around two thousand feet and as they came over those departing the service, Captain Gillespie pulled back on the stick and the plane rocketed toward heaven and back toward their base. Gene didn't know what to say but the captain cleared his thoughts by telling him: "the father wanted you to see it Gene. The love. That's something we all get to bring with us and he wanted you to see that it still remains in the hearts of all of those who knew you. Welcome home buddy."

And with that, the B-17 banked to the left and descended back into the grass at Kettering with all the others who had flown Gene's mission that day. As they all rolled to a stop on the flight line, the ground crews appeared and chocked wheels and aligned props. And as Gene and his crew exited the aircraft, they all came around and gave him hugs and salutes and told him of all the catching up that remained to be done. They said:"It's good to see you again Brownie."

As they turned and all began walking toward their quarters, suddenly Gene remembered. At first it was just a melody rambling around in his head, but the words soon came back to him.

Why are the stars always winkin' and blinkin' above?
What makes a fellow start thinkin' of fallin' in love?
It's not the season, the reason is plain as the moon
It's just Elmer's Tune

What makes a lady of eighty go out on the loose?
Why does a gander meander in search of a goose?
What puts the kick in a chicken, the magic in June?
It's just Elmer's Tune

Elmer's Tune......they were all finally together again and all seemed so right. And Gene remembered the words that he had spoken during one of his talks not so long ago. When he told those assembled of being a boy raised in a railroad shack and living a miserable life. And then of joining the Army Air Corps during the war when he was eighteen and how in the end, he believed that he had had a good life. He had had a good life, he knew that now for sure. Just as he knew that one day his gal Melba would be here with him. So he better get busy preparing for that, cause there is no time here he'd been told. But first, he had some catching up to do..

God banned from national cemetery in Houston

From The Borg Conspiracy

VA Cemetery Tells Volunteers To Stop Telling Families “God Bless You” During Funerals…

(Chron) — Local veterans and volunteer groups are accusing Department of Veterans Affairs officials of censoring religious speech — including banning the word “God” — at Houston National Cemetery.

In one example cited in documents filed this week in federal court, cemetery director Arleen Ocasio reportedly told volunteers with the National Memorial Ladies that they had to stop telling the families, “God bless you,” at funerals and that they had to remove the words “God bless” from condolence cards.

The new allegations of “religious hostility” by VA and cemetery officials follow on the heels of a controversy over a prayer in Jesus’ name by Pastor Scott Rainey at a Memorial Day service in the cemetery.

The complaint accuses VA of “a widespread and consistent practice of discriminating against private religious speech” at the cemetery.

Ocasio is on vacation and could not be reached for comment. Her assistant, Amanda Rhodes, said the cemetery had no comment.

According to court documents, Ocasio banned members of the groups from using certain religious words such as “God” or “Jesus,” censored the content of prayer, and forbade the use of religious messages in burial rituals unless the deceased’s family submitted the text to her for prior approval.

Court documents also describe the closure of the cemetery’s chapel after Ocasio’s appointment as director two years ago.

As the Borg says in his post ... outrageous.

xtnyoda, shalomed

A man' s last wish

Not a lot to say about this one, just watch the video and be humbled.



H/T The Borg Conspiracy

We Take Care of Our Own

H/T The Borg Conspiracy

"Likely to breech the peace and incite violence."

Following is just classic commonsense from the Borg Conspiracy

Our founding fathers were pretty crafty old birds. They knew of man's intrinsic God given rights and freedoms and of man's occasional propensity to become carried away with himself in the pursuit of them. That is why after they crafted the US constitution, their first order of business was to set about the specifics of constitutionally protected activities and they set about to clarify precisely what protected speech meant.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

What most Americans are not familiar with? Is the latter part of that amendment. The last sentence that has apparently become bleached out with time and no longer readable. Those in Michigan are familiar with it though......

Pastor Terry Jones leaves Dearborn, vows to return for protest next week Controversial Quran-burning Pastor Terry Jones left Dearborn Saturday after unsuccessfully staging a protest outside of the Islamic American Center, but not before vowing to return the following week for another protest.

Jones and his associate Wayne Sapp left for Florida, but say they'll hold a protest at 5:00p.m. next Friday. This time, however, it will not be at the Islamic center, it will be at the courthouse. Jones says his constitutional rights were denied when he was arrested and unable to protest on Friday.

The development came after a jury found a proposed protest by Jones and his associate Wayne Sapp outside the Islamic Center of America, the largest mosque in the United States, was likely to breach the peace and incite violence.

The juries of Dearborn and their judges certainly know about the entire wording of the amenment.

Their 1st amendment reads thus......

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances, unless such actions are likely to breach the peace or incite violence and under those circumstances, the above listed rights become null and void."

Apparently, all those years of propping up the constitution on the steps of the Capital every 4th of July in the sun took their toll. Apparently that last sentence was bleached out and lost to immediate recognition and posterity. But luckily those in Dearborn and other communities saw fit to write it down and secret it away for future references and later decades.

I guess this must have been what happened a few years back concerning abortion and a few other recent rulings by the Supreme court. They must either have special glasses that permit the reading of the faded parts of the constitution? Or they have their own private copies that they reference when the need arises.

In either event, the original intent of the first amendment obviously was never intended to protect unpopular or antagonistic speech when it involved Muslims. Unless of course that speech is defended by the ACLU or those representing entities like the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka Kansas. When those two entities are involved? Everyone immediately knows where the constitution stands on the matter of freedom of speech and who's rights will be protected when it involves the ACLU.

As it concerns pastor Terry Jones and his desire to protest against Muslims? My recommendation to him would be this. Stop pursuing the idiocy of and illegality of protests that are likely to incite violence or breech the peace. Pastor Terry should stick with the known and the easily defensible and the approved activities that are unquestionably constitutionally protected.

Pastor Terry should gather his followers and make signs and head down to the nearest mosque during the next funeral. And he and his followers should be there at these mosques as frequently and as often as possible and at every funeral there after.

What should the free speech signs say?

"Thank God for Predator Drones and Hellfire missiles!" Allah hates woman's faces! Allah's wrath be upon you! Allah hates America! Allah hates infidel Arabs!"

Make the signs rainbow colored and prop them up in the hands of women children. Maybe add a crescent here and there for added panache. Certainly the US Constitution and our courts will be more than happy to intercede and protect pastor Terry Jones and his speech then right? I mean, it's more about approach than content right?

NY Times plan to gut the Pentagon

The Borg Conspiracy reports on the ongoing efforts to bring our US Military .... down to size ... so to speak.

Follow the link.

So, you saw this reported and heard all about it in mainstream media right?
Read on..........

Obama decided to inform the Defense Department that they needed to make $400 Billion in cuts by announcing this is in a speech without even mentioning it to his Defense Secretary....

The ever moving effort to make us just another 3rd world nation. If they were to succeed they might not really like what they achieve ... that is unless they really do like corruption, greed, mayhem, and terror among the citizenry.

xtnyoda, shalomed

Josiah

Give little Josiah about 8 minutes of your time. You will not regret it.



Told you.

xtnyoda, shalomed

H/T The Borg Conspiracy

Join a Borg Conspiracy Initiative

The Borg has started up another conspiracy that he would ask you each one to be a part of. Do consider, and then those with face-book accounts get started.

Frank needs our support




Frank Buckles, the last surviving veteran of WWI died on February 28th, he was one hundred and ten years old. Frank spent the last few years of his life, speaking out in behalf of WWI veterans and working to establish a memorial for WWI veterans in Washington. A cause that is still unfulfilled.

On Franks death last Monday, bipartisan representatives of his home state of West Virginia, sponsored resolutions in the House and the Senate, to honor Frank and the 4.7 million other unspoken for WWI veterans. The resolutions call for Frank's body to 'lie in honor' in the US capitol rotunda.

Speaker of the House John Boehner immediately moved to block the honor, opting instead to have Frank's honors be limited to an amphitheater ceremony prior to burial at Arlington. If it weren't for a special presidential dispensation ordered by President George W. Bush in 2008, Frank would not have even been able to be buried at Arlington.

As it stands, John Boehner in conjunction with senate majority leader Harry Reid, Frank's resolution has been stopped in both houses. Boehner and Reid preferring to request Secretary of Defense Gates to allow use of the amphitheater at Arlington for a memorial service, as the only tribute to honor Frank and all that he represents prior to burial.

The bottom line, you only get one chance in life to do the right thing and John Boehner and Harry Reid are going against the will of tens of thousands and millions of Americans who want to see Frank Buckles honored as he should be.

When the last French WWI veteran Lazare Ponticelli passed in March of 2008, the French government gave him a 'state funeral' with full military honors. President Sarchozy led the procession and attended.

When Britain's last WWI veteran Harry Patch passed in July of 2009, he was given the honors of final services at Westminister Abby, where the Queen and the Prime Minister were in attendance. And yet America cannot do the same for Pershing's last patriot? Our last Dough Boy is to be buried with less than the full honors that this country can bestow? The last living symbol of an age of American greatness is to be denied this honor and relegated to a cloistered ceremony outside of the eyes and the ear shot of the nation that he served and loved?

I believe we as Americans can do better than that. I believe that we as Americans can honor our last Dough Boy, at least to the same level of honor as his comrades in arms who were honored by the French and the British governments on their passing.

I have created a memorial page titled "Honor Frank Buckles Last WWI Veteran" on FaceBook. I am seeking FaceBook members to join the page and to become a rising army of activist. Americans who will become part of the ground swell of citizens seeking to have John Boehner's and Harry Reid's unconscionable decision to deny Frank Buckles and the American people their honor reversed.

I am requesting that everyone send emails to their representatives and congressmen, (beginning today) and to speaker Boehner and majority leader Reid. In addition, I am asking that everyone who is as concerned about this travesty as I am, to send emails to the White House, requesting the president of the United States to intercede. (I already have).

We as Americans need to stand up for Frank Buckles and the memory of the 4.7 million that he represents. I am hoping that this message can get the widest possible coverage and dissemination across the internet, in social networking sites and blogs. We only have ten days. Frank's services are scheduled at Arlington for the 15th of March.

Frank Buckles deserves to lie in the Capitol Rotunda in honor of his service and his status and as a tribute to all he represents. Frank Buckles deserves a state funeral, with the president and all appropriate dignitaries present and in attendance.

We only have this one chance to get it right America. Don't let the politicians and their partisan politics steal from us what should be our final time to honor one of our greatest treasures.

Send your emails, make your calls. Do it now, do it today, help to create such an overwhelming public response that when they come to work Monday morning, their in boxes are inundated with the demands of millions seeking to honor Frank Buckles. Force them to hear us. If we stand as one, they will hear us and they will respond. All that is needed is that we come together as a united force and demand that our elected officials respond with the honors that Frank Buckles deserves.

Go to "Honor Frank Buckles Last WWI Veteran" on FaceBook today and join the effort. Send your emails and make your calls today and everyday until they hear our voices and respond.

Thank you

America Betrayed

by The Borg Conspiracy

America was betrayed today by the supreme court. We were betrayed by those whose responsibility it is to serve and protect our individual rights and freedoms. Those who bear the highest responsibility and are entrusted with the final verdict of justice have betrayed this nation and their sacred responsibility once again.

The supreme court ruled today, that the deviant and perverted minds of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka Kansas, have a constitutional right under the first amendment clause of free speech, to protest at and defile the funerals of our honored dead. These deviant and disgusting religious zealots now have the supreme court's seal of approval to attack and vilify private citizens further.

Free Speech Protected Funeral Protest

By BARBARA LEONARD

The Westboro Baptist Church was protected by the First Amendment when it picketed the funeral of a Marine killed in Iraq with signs that read "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "Fag troops," the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday. Justice Samuel Alito, alone in his dissent, condemned the church, which he said should not be cleared from the $5 million verdict originally awarded to the Marine's family. "Our profound national commitment to free and open debate is not a license for the vicious verbal assault that occurred in this case," Alito wrote.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts also had strong words for the church, while defending its right to peaceful protest.

"Westboro believes that America is morally flawed; many Americans might feel the same about Westboro," Roberts wrote. "Westboro's funeral picketing is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible. But Westboro addressed matters of public import on public property, in a peaceful manner, in full compliance with the guidance of local officials.

"Speech is powerful," the majority opinion continues. "It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and - as it did here - inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker. As a nation we have chosen a different course - to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate. That choice requires that we shield Westboro from tort liability for its picketing in this case."

The full ruling and commentary, including the concurring opinions are posted in the link above. Every American should take the time to read these opinions and to look into the warped sense of justice that eight of these justices carried out today.