[KSMountain]

In 4th grade (I was only 8 at the start of that year) I was walking me and my 2nd grade brother to school about 1/2 to 3/4 mile (PB to Birdrock).

Can you imagine nowadays? It never would be considered. My mom, who showed me the walking route all that time ago, never considered such a thing for her grandson even as a 14 year old entering high school.

So strange. I wonder is the danger really higher or just the perception of the danger? If the former then that is a huge societal failure – for things to be much worse 30 years later…

[KSMountain]

[quote=EconProf]We are seeing a lot of scary claims about how much the sequester will hurt. But just how big is it in our overall federal budget?
It is $85 billion in a budget of $2.5 trillion. That puts it at about three percent of our federal spending.
Since our federal spending has exploded in the past four years, it should be easy to find the low hanging fruit and trim the fat. Instead, we will hear sob stories of cuts that hurt real people and valued programs. Instead of cutting waste, they will create real victims to pull at our heartstrings. And this strategy will probably work–it already is working with many people here.[/quote]
Great post.

[KSMountain]

This is most disappointing. I think we need to bring Brian back…

[KSMountain]

Omg, three lanes per side through Leucadia would suck so bad. It would be heartbreaking.

What – turn it into Torrance? Cut down what few Eucalyptus are left to make room. All to save a few minutes for commuters. How horrible.

That said – has anyone seen the “bikes may use full lane” on 101N? Pretty unusual…

[KSMountain]

Gorgeous.

[KSMountain]

Sounds simple. I’m sure that will work.

[KSMountain]

[quote=no_such_reality]It’s a very slippery slope to base what the general population can or cannot do on what an obviously mentally deranged person did do.[/quote]
+1

[KSMountain]

[quote=paramount]The issues surrounding these atrocities are difficult, I was recalling today that the gov’t used a type of tank to incinerate more than 20 children in Waco, Texas in 1993.[/quote]
“used… to incinerate”
That’s a pretty provocative way to describe the events of that day. Your words ascribe intent. Do you really think the tank driver, or scene commander (imagine if it were YOUR job to get Korich under control), or even – gasp – the evil Janet Reno (cue darth vader breathing here) said “Let’s incinerate 20 kids today! That will be fun and make me feel good about myself when I get home”? I honestly doubt it. And I bet you do too.

Don’t you find it much more likely that a messianic apocalyptic cult helped trigger its own demise when faced with the end of its control?

[KSMountain]

[quote=desmond]Makes me want to move back to within 75 miles of the stadium. I have finally gotten over the Chargers after 35+ years of aggrevation. Not firing NT & Staff 2 years ago I started to wind it down. Not firing them last year finally did it for me and I can enjoy my Sundays (Mondays & Thursdays) & really could care less about them. Go Redskins & RG3. btw, the Raiders are still worse, maybe the weightlifters on this board have a future with them……[/quote]

“And now, taking the field, number 87 ‘Scaredy Cat’. Unusual name… Did you hear the story about the dog food? Now look at him… He’s fearsome. I really think that is not an appropriate watch for game day though. Looks like he’s trying to prove something…”

[KSMountain]

[quote=flu]Never understood why it would be requirement to join a union in order to be employed for a specific job.

Sounds like extortion to me.[/quote]

Wasn’t this even more limited than that? I’m not an expert, but I read that part of this was to remove the ability for unions to force folks to pay union dues even if they aren’t part of the union. That is crazy! Good riddance to that nonsense.

I saw some other union official in MI yesterday saying “well, these folks will benefit from our representation without paying for it”. Personally, if I want representation, I’ll choose it, hire it, and pay for it myself, thank you very much. And the teamsters probably wouldn’t be my first choice…

[KSMountain]

Had my first straight-razor shave recently. *That* was a glucocorticoid reducing experience.

[KSMountain]

Just had 2 twinkles as a parting shot. Absolutely delicious. The world is a sadder place without them.

[KSMountain]

Here’s an interesting interview:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/darkside/interviews/berntsen.html#1

Read the whole thing or just search for Tora Bora. Searching for CENTCOM also brings up an interesting anecdote.

[KSMountain]

[quote=enron_by_the_sea][quote=KSMountain]
ucodegen is correct or mostly correct. There are several books written on this subject by U.S. folks who were there at the time, in different branches of service. It is possible to educate oneself on this matter…[/quote]

I am a dumb guy so why don’t you educate me… The only accounts of US folks that I can find go like this.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-4494937.html

They all seem to suggest that Delta force presented several plans to take out Bin Laden, but Bush administration/Gen Tommy Franks did not approve any of them and decided to let Afghans do it…

Do you disagree with such a characterization? If yes, then educate me![/quote]

I’d be happy to. It’s good to know what your tax dollars are paying for and there are a lot of *extremely* talented folks in the special forces. We can certainly find a lot more than a single video link from cbsnews to inform us (did you ever hear about the car that was doctored with a compressed air canister on 60 minutes to try to illustrate runaway acceleration? (but I digress))…

Here are two interesting books by U.S. folks that were definitely there:

I recommend these. I think you’d enjoy them. In the first the guy is a CIA dude, one of the first there, on like September 20, 2001 or something, and he literally shows up at the ruins of Bagram with a trunk full of money and other folks and gets everything going. Bagram of course is now a full-fledged air base.

It’s been awhile since I read them but I flipped through the second one and the pages are replete with references to Delta Force, Rangers, Green Berets, CIA, and British commandos that were assaulting Tora Bora from the air and from the ground, in the snow and ice, both in the open and stealthily.

To say that Bush in a fit of shortsightedness or cowardice (or overfocus on Iraq) in Washington D.C. prevented folks from going in is inaccurate and does a disservice to the folks who were risking their lives, climbing up to altitude (have you ever tried to be active above 12000′?) with weapons and other heavy gear in horrible conditions, with untrustworthy guides and allies.

In Fury’s book, he claims we “took” Tora Bora in a way the soviets did not in 10 years. So without re-reading it, he claims we were definitely there and quote “won” the battle, but we did not get our man. Likely through treachery as ucodegen said.

Happy reading!

[KSMountain]

[quote=ucodegen][quote=enron_by_the_sea]2) Bin Laden was holed up in Tora Bora and Bush decided not to pursue him. No one questioned that wisdom for years to come. Fox News and GOP do not bring that up even today.-[/quote] Inaccurate. He allowed some of the Afghanis to be included in surrounding Tora Bora. These Afghanis got ‘bought off’. If you also remember, they were pounding Tora Bora from the air. If you know anything about Switzerland, you will know why you just don’t waltz into Tora Bora to get Bin Laden. The tunnels are constructed to create a large killing zone around Tora Bora.[/quote]
ucodegen is correct or mostly correct. There are several books written on this subject by U.S. folks who were there at the time, in different branches of service. It is possible to educate oneself on this matter…

[Author]

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