Timmer – Page 37 – The Daily Brief

It’s Good to Know Leadership Gets It

23. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Military

Commander’s Call was yesterday. The boss was getting us all together in groups, civilians, Senior NCOs, Junior NCOs, Officers, etc.. Two things that stuck out in my mind:

He noted that there were not enough chairs for the civilians and they were packed out into the hallways surrounding the ballroom and that we SNCOs had a LOT of empty chairs. He shook his head and said, “I’ve GOT to get that mix changed.”

As he was talking up his Command and Control Blog (you couldn’t get to it even if I did link to it), he made one of the most astounding, outside the box statements I’ve ever heard come out of a flag officer’s mouth. Other than giving me some leeway for perhaps not having the order he said them right, this is what I heard yesterday. Anyone else who was there and can make it clearer, please do:

“The metric is what the person has to contribute, not the person’s rank, age, or level of experience. If they have the answer, I want the answer. When I post a question on my blog, I expect the person with the answer to post back. I do not expect the person with the answer to run it through you, your OIC, the branch chief, the exec, the Division Chief and then get the garbled answer back before he or she posts it for me. The Napoleonic Code and Netcentric Collaboration cannot exist in the same space and time. It’s YOUR job to make sure I get my answers and then if they get it wrong or they could have got it righter, then you guide them toward a better way…but do not get in their way.”

JAMES E. CARTWRIGHT
General, USMC
Commander, USSTRATCOM

Just how cool is that?

The Gas Thing…Three Questions and a Prediction

22. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General

Can any of you economically smart people tell me how much this “record” high really equates to when you factor in inflation? Make it simple please…it’s a hard week.

Does anyone seriously think we’re ever going to see a buck a gallon ever again?

With China consuming more and more every year, how long do you think it’s going to be before we look back on $3.00/gallon with fondnes and whimsey?

Prediction: Whoever comes out with the working hydrogen-fueled cars first…wins.

Short and Sweet Movie Review: Robots

21. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: That's Entertainment!

All three of us, Boyo, age 8, included laughed maniacally over this one. At first I thought, uh oh, they’re just going to show off the animation, they’re not serious about the story…but as it unwound it became clear there was a serious story here. One part sendup of our pop culture, another part morality play about our disposable society.

I left very happy that my son had seen Robots…that’s not always the case.

I Could Be Ignorant About This Stuff But…

18. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Site News

…is it just me or is Outside the Beltway selling ‘roids on their page? It’s a google ad thing down the right hand side so I don’t kow if they have control of that or not but still…it makes me want to go lift wayyyy too much weight and eat an entire tub of protein powder just from lookin’ at it.

No…I never did ‘roids even when I lifted heavily…I watched guys who did…I didn’t like the men they turned into.

I Must Have Completely Lost Touch…

18. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: My Head Hurts

…with my inner Neocon because I just can’t get all that excited about Terri Schiavo.

What I want to know is if ANY of the people fighting to “save Terri” have ever had anyone on life support in their lives? Have you ever watched the person you know and love simply disappear in all but body?

If my quality of life is that of a hydroponics farm…turn off the freaking faucet.

Time to make sure the living will says everything I want it to say.

Update: Michele has her buck and a half’s worth of commentary. As always, she’s much more eloquent than I am.

StumbleUpon

17. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Site News, Technology

Stumbleupon is one of those toys you need for your Firefox Browser for those nights you’re trying to find something to write about and can’t find nuthin’ amoungst your normal haunts. You tell it what you’re interested in, it finds stuff for you randomly and you get to choose if you like it or not.

Via Baldilocks who’s no longer on hiatus…obviously because DAMN she’s been writing a lot…and well I might add.

Erin Go Braugh!

17. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General

We’re Supposed to Be the Good Guys, Bad Lieutenant, no Donut Edition

16. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Iraq: The Ugly

Check out this crap.

My take? It made me ill when I first heard about it and I don’t feel a hell of a lot better about it now.

First of all, he’s a Lieutenant, where the hell was Top (The Senior NCO)? Second of all, he “had them thrown” off the bridge?!!! You’re telling me that he ordered enlisted folks to do this and they frelling did it?!!! What kind of Mickey Mouse chain of command would even let you consider this a lawful order?

WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE GOOD GUYS YOU MISERABLE F*CKS!!!

Deep breath and…

okay…better now…carry on.

iPod Musings, 050315

15. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: That's Entertainment!

For those of you who have iTunes, they’ve got the live Joss Stone/Melissa Etheridge version of Cry Baby/Piece of my Heart from the Grammys available on an exclusive basis. All proceeds go to City of Hope and The Dr Susan Love Research Foundation. For my 99 cents it may be one of the best songs all year.

I still think Marshall Crenshaw is amazing and never got the credit he deserved. The break in “Whenever You’re on My Mind” still gives me chills. “I never thought I’d be in this situation, it seems where-ever I go I’m with you.” And “Bruce is King” may simply be my favorite display of enharmonics/reverb ever.

I’m loving U2 all over again as I work my way through The Complete U2 that I got with my Special Edition iPod. Okay…I’ll admit it, I originally only bought it because it was a different color. If I hadn’t used the coupon, I would have spent an extra $50.00 on a paint job. But some of the rarities and mix tracks are just plain great.

I get nothing from Apple for talking up my iPod. Although if they wanted to pad my iTunes account, I wouldn’t be offended. I’m a music junkie.

Because I didn’t want Kevin to think I gave up on being a pod person.

Are We Sparticus? Gabba Gabba Hey!

15. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense, Site News

As cool as it is to be referred to that way, I just wanted to point out that not everyone who posts here is Sgt Stryker. There is but one Stryker and he mostly posts over here these days.

I’m kind of curious…do folks just consider us all Stryker in sort of a collective way? Should we pull a Ramones and all change our posting names?

Can I be Joey?

IEAPD, There’s Plenty of Room for all of God’s Creatures. Right Next to the Mashed Potatoes

15. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

I Don’t Know Who She Is…But She’s Kind of Whacky

14. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Site News, That's Entertainment!

Beth over at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy wonders if she’s the only blogger not watching the new Battlestar Galactica?

Well, as far as I’m concerned if she were really the geek and former AF person she says she is, she wouldn’t even think such drivel much less post it, but the rest of her blog seems kind of fun…in that Ann Coulter meets Michelle Malkin for beers on the porch of the Piggly Wiggly sort of way.

Now I have a craving for BBQ Pork Rinds…damn her.

Via INDC Journal.

Update: Working now.

Movie Review: The Pacifier

13. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: That's Entertainment!

Remember when your folks just dropped you off at the movies on a Saturday Afternoon and told you to find your own way home? I could do that where I grew up, the neighborhood movie theater was “right up the street” and back then the neighborhood was relatively safe. But you remember the Disney movies of the 60s and 70s? There was a formula. There were good guys and bad guys and good guys who looked like bad guys but there was a chance they might be good and there were bad guys who migh just have some redeming qualities and then there were just plain ol’ bad guys and the good guys must find a way to defeat them, which shouldn’t be hard because evil is always so dumb? Those Disney movies.

I was wondering last week why “The Pacifier” did so well at the box office. I mean I like Vin Diesel as much as the next guy. I find him interesting even when he’s walking through a movie, not trying to act, just being himself. He’s like Stallone that way. I can watch him and if he never said a word, it might be better. My son suprised me…I thought the vote today would go 2 for “Robots” and 1 for “The Pacifier,” but I was wrong…Boyo wanted to see “The Pacifier.” I think Beautiful Wife may have got to him. She likes watching Vin Diesel too, for reasons that I don’t appreciate but understand.

And “The Pacifier” is a Disney movie in the old tradition. They’re not trying to be anything but Disney. And it works. There’s laughter, tugs on the heartstrings, good triumphing over evil, and the bad guys get “their wheiners smashed” (dontcha love 8 year olds?) a LOT. One guy in the back of the theater enjoyed the movie so much we thought we were going to have to call the ambulance. He should be hired by Disney so sit in theaters for them…he had THAT big ol’ laugh that was just infectious. God bless him.

And Disney…keep it up…we think you’re on to something. We’re even planning on seeing the remake of the Love Bug based solely on the previews and the fact that “The Pacifier” made all three of us laugh a LOT.

And yes ladies…Vin takes his shirt off, they weren’t lying.

Help Out Doc in The Box

12. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Iraq: The Good

Doc in the Box is shooting for hit number 150,000.

And while you’re there, get caught up on one of the better Iraqi-based mil-blogs around. He has sparkly links and cursors that turn into crosshairs too.

Via Mustang who’s also over there and thinks I’m funny. Which for me is a first from an Army Captain…I usually just annoy them.

Okay, Now I’m just Pissed

12. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense, That's Entertainment!

First I was annoyed at what “genius” George Lucas had done to Star Wars. Jar-Jar was NOT a picture I needed added to the freak show that plays in my mind. Episode II gave us a crystal-meth-fueled whirling dirvish of a Yoda, that was good for about 30 seconds of “Woohooooo!” but other than that…YAWN wake me before the popcorn butter congeals on my face. You know the main problem with Episode II? There was no tension in the love scenes because (smacking myself in the head) we know about Luke and Leia. Ya don’t make twins by talking about it, ‘k? There was just too much time wasted there for the “God, Titanic was SUCH a good movie.” crowd.

And now James Joyner of OTB reports that Lucas expects Episode III to be “too strong” for lil kids and it’s going to get a PG13 rating. PG13. Here in the heartland, that may as well be “R” for the problems that’s going to cause parents.

This means that I’m a bad parent no matter how I handle this. Boyo is 8. He’s seen and loves every Star Wars Movie, Cartoon, Coloring Book, Little Reader, and Sticker set that he’s ever laid his eyes and hands on. He owns exactly one action figure (doll) and that’s young Obi Wan. He’s gone through 3 different light sabres. So if I take him to the movie, I’m going to have parents looking at me with that, “You KNOW this is PG13.” look. Folks here in the heartland are good at that look. There’s a fish fry on every corner on Friday nights this time of year, you figure it out.

If I don’t take him, he’ll hate me. All there is to it.

Now some of you are going to hang your heads and shake them disapprovingly and say to yourselves that I’m caving, that I’m too permissive, that he can wait until he’s mature enough. And you go right ahead. Because there’s no freaking way in the world that I’m going to NOT take my son to see Star Wars…I don’t care if it has a X rating and the light sabers suddenly become sex toys and Natalie Portman runs topless through the desert yelling for Jean Reno to save her from Gary Oldman while eyeing the bulge in Samuel L. Jackson’s robe and wondering how Yoda fits Frank Oz’s whole hand up his butt.

Because it’s Star Wars. You take your kids to Star Wars. When I was 16, 17 and 19 I went to Episodes IV, V, and VI, sometimes over and over and over again. I watched the videos with my nephews, sometimes over and over and over again. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched the 5 available movies on DVD with Boyo. It’s something we do. Star Wars is part of our family’s life. It’s iconic.

So Mr Lucas, damn your once brilliant soul to hell for making EpIII dark enough to possibly be interesting for me, while simultaneously making me an a**hole for taking my 8 year old to a movie too strong for him. Way to pay back 30 freaking years of being a fan.

Notice To Airmen (NOTAM), 0503101410

10. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General

Later on this month I’m doing a one hour seminar on Enlisted Heritage and Culture for the folks at the schoolhouse. Because I’m working off an AF Lesson Plan there are things I have to cover, Levitow, Airey, Wilkinson, but I can blow through them pretty fast without hurting the content.

My question for all you enlisted folks, active and retired, what would you want to talk/hear about in March of 2005 when it comes to AF Enlisted Heritage and Culture? Frankly, by the time I was a SSgt if I heard about John Levitow one more freaking time I was going to hurt somebody.

Officers…with all due respect, please don’t play. This is a “by enlisted/for enlisted” deal. I really don’t want to get into the ins and outs of the “benefits” of Air University in our Professional Development.

Notes from Working Out, 050310

10. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General

The MyoPro Whey Chocolate Flavored is not quite as tasty as the PROLAB Pure Whey in Strawberry. Both available at your local BX for much cheaper than the prices seen here. As a matter of fact…the MyoPro is kind of gacky in that 1970s/80s protein talcum powder sort of way. I won’t be buying another tub of that.

On the other hand, Detour protein bars are yummy and tasty and will remind you of a Snickers bar only with more calories, more protein, and less sugar rush and dropoff.

In case you were wondering if I supplemented on Body Sculpting days…because I do.

Yesterday got on the crosstrainer for the first time since the surgery and did 20 minutes solid with a 5 mintue cool down. Heart was bordering on 90 percent of max so had to kick down the resistance but the legs did great and I felt like I could have gone for another 20 minutes but Beautiful Wife wants me taking it slow and she knows how to watch a clock and how much time I take at the gym to hit the crosstrainer and do my Tai Chi when I’m done so…unless I wanted to lie to her…which is out of the question…I have to behave for now. That last sentence was a bit ridiculous wasn’t it? Maybe I’ll clean it up later…time to get Boyo out of bed.

A Daily Brief Saltute to: The Iraqi Police

09. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Iraq: The Good, Iraq: The Ugly

Here’s why. I think I can speak for the group on this one: Well done gentlemen, go with God.

Via Greyhawk.

Happy Third Annual International Eat an Animal for PETA Day

09. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

I’m thinking of calling up Beautiful Wife and seeing if she’s up for a Famous Feast for this evening in honor. We order the beef brisket vs the pork, that way we kill as many animals as possible with one meal.

I absolutely refuse to apologize for being on top of the food chain.

PETA: People Eating Tasty Animals

Correction: It’s not until March 15th…but too late now…I’ve got a hankerin’ for a Famous Feast and I’m not stopping until some Devil’s Spit has been consumed on tasty animal flesh.

UPDATE: After all was said and done…we started with the catfish appetizer, Boyo had the Chicken Tenders, we had the Famous Feast as the main course. Total of at least 5 animals dead. Luckily I’m back at the gym with a cautious blessing from my surgeon because DAMN I gained almost 15 pounds while laid up. I’d start smoking again but I feel so damn good without them I just can’t.

Updates Updates Updates

09. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Iraq: The Good

Spirit of America is just the busiest organization I know. Go check out the latest posts on the blog.

Of course while you’re there, you may as well drop a buck or two in the basket.

We Are The War

08. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General

If you’re not reading Mudville Gazette yet, here’s another reason to check in over there.

Attention Burger King, I

08. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: That's Entertainment!

Okay…I’ve tried to be nice, but last night THAT commercial was on every other break and you know what? Hootie in a cowboy outfit singing that creepy song is starting to make my tummy turn against everything BK…and I was working on a solid once a week Bacon Cheddar Ranch habit. I think you spent too much money on the disturbing big-head king outfit and now you’re trying to make it work and quite frankly, you’re scaring kittens and making babies cry.

It’s like HeeHaw mixed with Baywatch meets PeeWee’s Playhouse on acid and nobody finds that attractive.

Maybe you’re saying to yourselves, “Hey, at least people are talking about it.” and there’s “…no such thing as bad publicity.” but I’m tellin’ you guys, I’ll take Boyo back to McDonald’s in a heartbeat if I think it will discourage that freak show of a commercial.

Bono to Head World Bank

07. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: General Nonsense

Not kidding.

In related news, Sting challenges Kofi Anon to a game of Roman Knuckles.

What is AIDS?

07. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Ain't That America?

Dean’s posted a very good email conversation that he’s been having with Chuck Ortleib on what AIDS is and isn’t.

I’ve lost four people from my life to this thing. I’ll reserve my own comments because frankly, I get too angry to see straight if I go there.

Ripping Sound From DVDs

05. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Technology

I almost feel guilty for using the blog this way, but then again, I’m not the only one who benefits when I ask these questions so…

What program do you use to rip soundtracks from DVDs?

I’ve got a few concert DVDs that I would LOVE to get the music off of.

Battlestar Blogging, Episode 109

05. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Technology

Had an email in my box from Stryker this morning.

If you want to know more about last night’s episode, download the “podcast” of the episode. There’s no way I’d play it while I was watching the show, but it’s extremely interesting this morning. Some very real insight into what the guys making this show are thinking. Well done.

The producer talks a bit about the “riffs” we’ve noticed. Last night was going to be a riff on Crimson Tide but it evolved into what we got. We also find out WHY it was the funniest show they’ve had yet. Come on…Starbuck walking in on Baltar and 6? The dinner party? The final scene in the lab? That was funny stuff.

I can’t wait for the DVDs to be released…the commentary talks about a LOT of footage left on the floor.

Latest Firefox Available

04. March 2005 · Comments Off · Categories: Technology

If you’re still using Internet Explorer, you’re missing a LOT.

Get. Firefox. NOW!

Full disclosure: Mozilla pays me nothing for pushing their browser. I LIKE it. It works.

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