Haines His Way

Now this is more like it!

The Land of the Free to be totally paranoid and terrified.

Let's see, I remember:

When I was 5, I was told to cover the lighted dial on radio so the German bombers couldn't spot us. All the windows in the house were outfitted with black window shades and there were periodic air raids with much siren wailing. The family moved to a rural inland area to be "safer" from air attack.

When I was in school we had frequent drop and cover drills in preparation for a nuclear attack.

As a new family man I had to evacuate my wife and new-born from the Norfolk, VA area prior to my emergency deployment during the Cuban Missile crisis.

As a junior Naval officer I had to brief my crew on the special precautions need while going ashore in Istanbul because Turkish Nationalist Terrorists had issued specific death threats against our crew. (Sort of reminding me of the few years before when I had to advise the members of my crew that their black shipmates were not welcome at the Special Events planned for us in Savannah, GA.)

As a Shore Patrol Officer, being warned by the French Police which Arab areas of Marseilles had to be avoided (even they were afraid to go there).

In 1967 checking the status of our nuclear warheads while we were tearing through the Med toward Egypt after they (we thought) had attacked the Liberty.

1986, sitting on my couch in Long Beach, watching TV coverage of the DC9 aircraft that had just plunged into a neighboring town, killing 82, and wiping out a neighborhood

1987, cowering in a doorway while the Whittier Narrows earthquake almost destroyed the house.

1992, planning a safe route home after watching a poor trucker pulled from his truck and near beat to death not too far away. Finding almost all the stores closed - shopped for sacks at the corner Liquor store which had armed guards posted out side and on the roof; watched the. Rodney King riots on TV, went outside to see the flames rising from the stores in the neighborhood struck by rioters.

2001 watched World Trade Center come down.

Do I live in any more fear, today - no!. (Maybe I'm numb.)

der Brucer

Thanks, Ron for the great Birthday Page.

It's official. This evening we will be seeing a motion picture entitled "The Queen" starring Golden Globe and SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Award Winner Helen Mirren.

What I couldn't figure out is why the Cartoon Network would use a promotion of a cartoon character giving the finger? It just seems rather vulgar for a kids network.

Most of the shows on the network are very vulgar, but this is the first time I've seen it put out there for the general public. I don't think it's a good idea, either, especially with young kids who imitate things they see and don't understand why it's not OK to flip off the driver in the car next to you. The Adult Swim block is a late-night block of programming so most young kids probably wouldn't see it. Some of the stuff is very funny and weird, but often I feel like I have to wade through too much crap for a few nuggets of good stuff. Kind of like television in general...

Working in a federal office after 911 will really show you the over reaction.  I had a homeland security guy call me and ask what our plan was in case our office was attached by ballistic missles.  I burst out laughing. I said "Well if it's during working hours I'll probably be dead, so I really don't care what happens " He wasn't amused. So I said "Does your mother know you call people and ask these questions"  He finally started laughing, but he was a strange duck.

God forbid you should sound like me DerB

Two peas in a pod.

Thanks for all the vibes. I'll know something next week and will keep you posted.  A friend of mine who is a solo lawyer and a cpa has offered to help me set up my books on the computer so I can do the business side easier than I did last time around. Cool beans.

Here is song for ANT to sing to our birthday boy

Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you, my friend, will see
You've got a friend in me
(you've got a friend in me)

Ben, you're always running here and there
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
If you ever look behind
And don't like what you find
There's one thing you should know
You've got a place to go
(you've got a place to go)

I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
Ben, most people would turn you away
I don't listen to a word they say
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
(a friend) Like Ben
(like Ben) Like Ben

but he was a strange duck.

Did he whack like a duck? (An Ugly Betty joke).

der Brucer

color coated

Want a chance to edit?

der Brucer

Two peas in a pod.

Sounds like a set-up for a peaness joke (Food Network humor).

der Brucer

I shall not be on my way to work with Miss Yvette Lawrence, owing to the fact that she called and has no voice.

aww poor thing....Good luck to her on getting better quickly!

Back from doing errands and giving my car a well-needed bath.  It looks quite spiffy now.  The clouds don't seem to want to let the sun come out.

Do I live in any more fear, today - no!. (Maybe I'm numb.)

der Brucer

Although your life experiences, DER BRUCER, and mine are of course different, our conclusions are the same. There is and always has been risk. What I think has changed is that an attack on our soil has made many people realize that the government/God/whatever cannot or does not protect us from all mayhem. Those individuals therefore feel a greater threat than they did previously. In my view, prior to 9/11 many people were in denial--and THAT has changed.

Hoo and Ray!

Mr UPS just showed up with a package from DeepDiscountDVD:

The New Doctor Who - Season Two
Forbidden Planet - 50th Anniversary SE

I will have one happy chef tonight.

der Brucer