A VIEW FROM THE WINDOW

Home, December 5, 2007 at 11:15 am.

Some more views from the neighborhood ...

Pineview Street, Manassas, VA.

And a neighbor's yard.

A VIEW FROM THE WINDOW

From the Space Needle, Seattle, Washington, November 30, 2007, 1:14 pm.

A VIEW FROM THE WINDOW

The Flagship Inn, Bremerton, Washington, 0730 am.

THINKING ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY

For those who think Social Security is a “really good deal,” here’s a factual tidbit.

My wife and I will begin drawing our social security income in January 2008, retiring at the ages of 62 and 63 respectively. My wife has had FICA taxes withheld continuously only since 2000, and intermittently before 2000. I’ve had FICA taxes withheld continuously since 1972.

If we had each been able to invest just our employee contribution in the Dow Jones industrials each year we had taxes withheld, we would be able to purchase annuities today that would pay only 5% less (wife) and 47% more (me) than we will receive in monthly benefits from the Social Security administration. Since social security payments are strongly biased in favor of minimum-wage or short-time contributors, (partial) privatization looks pretty attractive to me.

REQUIEM

Driving home from the office today, I was briefly behind a car with an Effingham County, Georgia, license plate. Effingham County was the home of blogger Rob Smith, who passed away June 26, 2006. Rob was irreverent, often obscene, and always brilliant. I miss him.

FELINE SOCCER FAN

Daisy cheers on DC United as Shadow looks for snacks in the kitchen.

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE CALCULATOR

Here's an interesting web site. Just enter your response to 23 current political issues and the calculator will return the 2008 presidential candidate most nearly matching your responses. It also rates the other candidates as "other top matches," "middle of the pack," and "bottom of the barrel" when compared to your responses.

Surprisingly, it nailed my top choice (currently Fred Thompson); more surprisingly, my second choice was rated as "middle of the pack" while my third choice was rated as "another top match."

HOW STUPID DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO GET INTO AN IVY-LEAGUE COLLEGE?

Pretty damn dumb, if you ask me. From the Boston Herald:

Watching a crowd at Columbia University cheering Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmad Whack-I-Job yesterday was nauseating. How did a two-bit anti-Semitic
loon get the prestige and platform of an invitation to an elite, Ivy League
institution?

But that’s the point. It takes Ivy League hubris to make such a shameful mistake. Nobody else would.

The SEC, the ACC - why, there isn’t a barber college or school of over-the-road trucking that would let a Jew-hating nut like President Whack-I-Job rant away on their campus. Your typical American university might offer credit in basket weaving and Science of Star Wars, but they do have their limits.

Read the whole article for more examples and thanks to Instapundit for the link.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

"I hate living in a place that won't learn from past mistakes." Well, no one's forcing you to stay.

Everyone is getting into the act.
The 60's are still alive.
Fake president supported by fake news and fake Americans ... uh, huh.
Iraq Solution: Prision for Cheney and Bush. Fox News Sucks. Two slogans for the price of one.
The obligatory "Bush is a Nazi" sign. Clearly not a history major.
The sign reads "Boy George was too scared of Viet Nam so he snuck into the Air National Guard and went AWOL for one entire year. But now boy Georgie is much more brave - he sends USA's kids to war in Iraq. Yet starting war is a war crime and for innocence Bush can never go back!"

I wonder how many grades this guy flunked ....
Another school flunkee....

This one reads "We dumped 5 million Jewish refugees on a poor desert Arab Country. Send them to rich England ...."
And this has what to do with Iraq?
"Out of Iraq NOW." " End the war NOW." We get the picture.
The obligatory "Bush is a moron" sign. You'd think they could be bit more creative.
"War is Terror." You don't say ....

MORE PROTEST PHOTOBLOGGING

Michelle Malkin and Powerline have more protest photos. The Powerline crew must have been very close to me as they took pictures on the Capitol grounds, as I have some of the same -- or nearly the same -- photos myself.

ANTIWAR PROTEST POSTLUDE

Proof that the anti-war types can't seem to get over the sixties. The bus was parked along the parade route near the Capitol Building.

Post-parade/march. The "die-in" was to take place near the Capitol steps. According to news reports, many of the "dead" were arrested.

THE COUNTER PROTEST

As the protestors moved down Pennsylvania Avenue, the counter-protestors lined un on both sides of the street with their signs. I would guess that the counter-protest numbered between half and two-thirds the number of anti-war demonstrators.
The counter-protestors had their own signs. From left to right: "Code Pink is Pure Evil,", "Welcome Bin Laden Fan Club," "Stand Behind Our President," "Win the War on Jihad,", "Give Petraeus a Chance," and "Here or There." These were pretty common signs and sentiments.
US flags were in abundance. The gentleman waving this one had some "pungent" comments fro the protestors. In front of him, and to his right, an aging Viet Nam vet had much more to say, including liberal use of the word "chicken" as an adjective. A heated "discussion" ensued with an anti-war protestor that brought the police over, prepared to intervene. It proved not to be necessary.

Another veteran. The sign reads "Petraeus = Hero; MoveOn.org = Scum."

PROTEST MARCH BEGINS

Waiting for Godot -- or the march to begin, whichever comes first.

The protest march begins. Anti-war protestors push the onlookers to the sidewalk so that the marchers have the street.
Here comes the "entertainment." This protest was more serious (or less organized) than most. Few painted faces, only two clown suits on stilts.

The protestors seemed to be divided equally between aging hippies and young students. The middle-agers were there, but not in abundance.

Most of the signs were the "End the War Now" variety, with a leavening of "Free Palestine Now" signs (what that has to do with ending the war is beyond me, but I sure the protestors must be able to make the connection).

Gen. Petraeus signs were in evidence; this one a little coarser than most.

DC ANTI-WAR MARCH -- THE PRELUDE

The juxtaposition of the two signs -- "Die-In" and "First Aid" seemed appropriate to the demonstration.
The number of protestors appeared to be on the close order of 5,000. Large, but not huge.

Lady "Liberty" at the rally check-in near the White House. She had at least one interview while waiting for the march to begin, but was not in evidence during the march itself.

Traffic was busy at the Viet Nam wall. This was taken about noon, before the anti-war march to the Capitol building was to begin. Rolling Thunder was very much in evidence to protect the wall from vandalism.

FRIDAY CATBLOGGING

The Daisy, she loves shoes ....

MOVING ON

From the New York Times : “The average retirement age is now 62, not 65. Indeed, only 27 percent of Americans retire at age 65 or later, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.”

Glenn Reynolds finds that amazing. As recently as a year or two ago, I would have shared Reynolds’ amazement. Today? Well, an Instapundit reader nails it in Reynolds’ first update:

The question that needs to be asked is how many people retire willingly at 62. I know that my company, Citibank seems to have a history of having a personnel cut about every year or so and it also seems that almost all of the people cut are in the age group of 61-63 or 64.

In a second update, another reader disagrees:

The fact is that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) specifically protects employees over the age of 40 from discrimination. Companies have to bend over backward not to target them - even during early retirement 'windows' when they try to induce people to leave by giving them more retirement credit.

Two years ago, I expected to continue working professionally until I was wheeled out on my deathbed; today, I’m planning to retire within the next six months. Not because I want to. I still have a hard time believing I’m retiring, and I can’t imagine doing anything in retirement as fulfilling, as enjoyable, as engineering.

Sure, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act can keep my employer from releasing me outright, but it can’t prevent it from subtly – and persistently – encouraging me to leave “voluntarily.” First to go are the challenging assignments. Then the assignments become of shorter and shorter duration. Then the erosion of support: “maybe so-and-so’s team needs some help.” Then comes being left out of meetings. Message received.

At some point the emotional burden of simply going to work exceeds the financial benefit and you start looking to see if you can make ends meet in retirement.

My moment came on Friday, May 11. I’m lucky; I can afford to retire. But I’ll miss engineering.

DEMOCRAT NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

(apologies to the flowers ...)

MOVE ALONG

Nothing to see here. Just another inconvenient theory. Please move along.
Hat tip: Instapundit

NO LONGER A MINOR ANNOYANCE

This Toles "cartoon" was published in the Washington Post on February 7. Frankly I'm getting a little disgusted with the liberal meme that if you're a "Rethuglican" you must be a fundamentalist anti-abortion homophobe.

Perhaps it's time to start a counter-meme that if you're a "Dimocrat" you must be an arrogant, self-centered, vulgar, sex-crazed pedophile.

I'd suggest that it's time for a little respect, but that's probably asking a bit too much of Toles and those of his ilk.

BAGHDAD AT DAWN

Baghdad at dawn. This photo was taken in October as I walked to work. It seems appropriate since the early indications (not from the MSM, of course) are that the 'surge' just may be beginning to work. Let's hope so -- God knows the Iraqis deserve more from the U.S. than cut-and-run.

AND HE WRITES ON NATIONAL SECURITY?

William Arkin writes on "national and homeland security" for the Washington Post. He is also the regular military affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a commentator for MSNBC.
On Tuesday morning, Arkin wrote essay titled Early Warning on the Post's website that has to be read to be believed. Subtitled "The Troops Also Need to Support the American People," the post comments on an NBC program in which soldiers expressed dismay at the lack of support for their mission manifested by some people back home.

I've been mulling over an NBC Nightly News report from Iraq last Friday in which a number of soldiers expressed frustration with opposition to war in the United States .... I'm all for everyone expressing their opinion, even those who wear the uniform of the United States Army. But I also hope that military commanders took the soldiers aside after the story and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people.

That’s only the beginning; it rapidly degenerated into what can only be described as foaming-at-the-mouth insanity. I won’t comment on most of Arkin’s rant; others who write much better that I have already commented. PowerLine’s reaction is here. Instapundit wrote this. Michelle Malkin had this to say. Mudville Gazette comments. Blackfive’s reaction is here. And Don Surber wrote this.

I’m only going to comment on this one small part of Arkin’s descent into insanity (emphasis added).

So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?

Obscene amenities? Whatever could Arkin mean by that? Posh quarters? Well, this is the trailer I shared.

And I was lucky -- the trailer I shared is top-of-the line by local standards. The Commanding Officer (an O-6, or Navy Captain) of the unit I was attached to shared a shipping container. Yes, you read that right - a 12x20 foot shipping container! And it was posh by comparison with those assigned to his command. These are 40-person tents, by the way.

Did he mean expensive shopping malls? Uh, huh. This is the main base exchange -- a Wal Mart it isn't.

Perhaps he meant fancy recreational facilities? Yep, here’s the picnic area and volleyball court. The MWR (Morale, Welfare, Recreation) facility is a tent. So are the gyms.

Maybe Arkin was thinking of fancy dining facilities ....

Or perhaps a fancy restaurant when we’re tired of the chow hall and want to eat out? Sure, not a problem.

Maybe he was thinking of all those fancy “amenities” our families send us -- like photos of support from home? Or Girl Scout cookies? Or Starbucks coffee?

Well, the first thing I did when I returned was to send coffee to the Command Master Chief at my squadron. His response: “[Y]ou didn't have to send any coffee but I appreciate that more than you can know (it's the little things as you're well aware).” Five pounds of coffee -- an "obscene amenity"?

William Arkin owes the servicemembers he slimed an apology. But he won’t, so I will.

To all of you who wear our nations uniform: I deeply regret that by an accident of birth, William Arkin can claim membership in the human race. His foaming at the mouth does not represent my opinion, nor does it represent the opinion of any sentient being of whom I am aware.

REAL JOURNALISM FROM IRAQ

Michelle Malkin, recently returned from Iraq, has been posting regularly on her embed at FOB Justice. I mention this partly because she's wearing my body armor, but mostly because she's a fine journalist and her reporting is worthy of further distribution.

Malkin posted pictures from her embed here. Her first report following her return is here, and she has posted videos here, here, and here. Scroll around, as I have not linked to everything in her archives.

While I never was allowed "outside the wire," my experience mirrored that reported by Malkin. I was privileged to be there, and have never worked with a finer group of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines than I did at Camp Victory.

Other journalists who have reported from the mid-East (Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon) include Bill Roggio, Michael Yon, Michael Totten, and Bill Ardilino. Please visit their web sites and scroll around. You will not see their reports in newspapers or on television.

COMING TO IRAQ

My first official act after arriving was to go to the MNC-I (Multi-National Corps - Iraq) headquarters to sign in. Coalition Force headquarters at Al Faw Palace, near Baghdad. Apparently used by Saddam’s sons Uday and Qusay for their “romantic adventures,” it is commonly called the “Perfume Palace” by the soldiers stationed at Camp Victory.






The first floor “ballroom” is dominated by the chandelier seen in this picture. Expensively appointed, the workmanship is surprisingly shoddy.
















The obligatory “Kilroy was here” picture. Almost everyone who has business in the Palace has a picture taken on the couch just inside the ballroom. I was no exception.

A CONSPIRACY THEORY I CAN LIVE WITH

Many will recall that on July 8, 1947, witnesses claimed that an unidentified object with five aliens aboard crashed onto a sheep and cattle ranch just outside Roswell, New Mexico. This is a well-known incident that many say has long been covered up by the U.S. Air Force and the federal government.

However, what you may NOT know is that nine months after that historic day, the following people were born: Albert Arnold Gore Jr., Hillary Rodham, John F. Kerry, William Jefferson Clinton, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Charles E. Schumer, Barbara Boxer .... all born in March, 1948.

Makes you wonder about that "aliens among us" stuff ....

MY WINDOW ON THE WORLD

Back from Iraq and posting again. From September through December, this was the view from my quarters at Camp Victory.

The concrete barriers are "T" walls; foot-thick concrete blast barriers about 12 feet high. At the bottom is a Hesco barrier, 4 feet in diameter, about 4 feet high, and filled with sandbags. There were 2 Hesco barriers on each side of my trailer door; the passageway between the barriers and the "T" wall was only about 2 feet wide. Claustrophobic? Yes. Comforting? Yes.