BlackFive

One thing few stop to think about are the many and substantive changes to healthcare that have come from the military, and by extension, from war.  From nurses (in current roles) to advanced trauma techniques, the results are legion and have saved or improved many lives far beyond the battlefield.

Today, another such advance is taking another step forward.  Go read about the latest from Landstuhl's Acute Lung Rescue Team, and be sure to check out this previous story and this one, and the full story on the latest at Stars & Stripes. 

LW

And Michael Z. Williamson Thunders At Morons:

I come to defend Elizabeth Moon.

Not because she really needs help—the lady is perfectly capable of standing on her own.

Not because I’m a fan of hers. I have a couple of her books in the stack, but haven’t had time to read recreationally in years.

Not because she’s a fellow vet, though that would be a good enough reason.

Not because we agree politically. As I understand, she’s quite liberal, and I’m a militant anarchist.

I come to defend her because she’s right.

In dumbed-down America, being right is a social crime.

For those who don't know Elizabeth Moon, she is a former Marine (note, not Ex) who also happens to write science fiction with strong female characters.  I've read some of her works, and it is work of which I would read more if I had more time.  She is well worth checking out.

I don't know her politics, and right now really don't care what they are.  What happened to her was wrong, and the actions of the WisCon Com Con are cowardly and beneath contempt.  Years ago, I spoke at a number of science fiction conventions on writing, science, and related topics.  I was an invited speaker at DragonCon, NasFic, and a few others.  Invited myself to a few beyond that, and even was tossed at a cross-dresser by Larry Niven (who I still like despite that, btw). 

Were I guest or speaker at WisCon, I know that I would right now be voting with my feet.  I would not be there, and if they were out money in my behalf too frelling bad.  They caved to a few loud and bigoted voices, and as such deserve neither consideration or mercy. 

That's my take.  Go read Mad Mike's well presented take (at his fairly new blog)on some despicable people.  Juan Williams is but the best known victim of the mob.  The mob rules.  As long as we let it... 

Facts are the one thing that bigots of any stripe hate, because they can’t make them go away.

Ms Moon has expressed legitimate concerns, and I will stand with her should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.

For now, I will buy all her books.

LW

checking his bank account to see what he can do... 

UPDATE:  Check out what Army Sergeant has to say at the Farm Team too...

Cool story about Duane Innes, the lead guy on the Lockheed F22 program, that saw a truck sliding out of control and took action...

Driving to a Mariners game, Duane Innes saw a pickup ahead of him drift across lanes of traffic, sideswipe a concrete barrier and continue forward on the inside shoulder at about 40 mph.

A manager of Boeing's F22 fighter-jet program, Innes dodged the truck, then looked back to see that the driver was slumped over the wheel. He knew a busy intersection was just ahead, and he had to act fast. Without consulting the passengers in his minivan — "there was no time to take a vote" — Innes kicked into engineer mode...

Read what happened next at the Seattle Times...

The Stars & Stripes Rumor Doctor did some digging into the history and lore around the US Marine Corps "Blood Stripe" (red stripe on their blue pants):

Marines take Corps history very seriously.

They can name battles that most civilians have probably never heard of, such as the assault the castle Chapultepec in Mexico in 1847, which is commemorated in the opening lyrics of the Marine Corps Hymn, “From the Halls of Montezuma.” That battle also begat a central piece of Corps lore: the “Blood Stripe.”...

Go to the S&S and see what the Rumor Doctor says.

Wow!

From Tantor comes this story in The Australian about how Dutch pilots refused to drop below their "safe" hieght of 5000M to resuce Australian SAS and US forces in an ambush in 2008:

...Former SAS sniper Rob Maylor, wounded during the battle, said the Australians had pleaded with the Dutch: "We're in an absolute doozy of a shitfight. We need your assistance as we're taking casualties."

But the Dutch helicopter pilots refused to offer covering fire for the Australian, US and Afghan troops in the ambush. A US soldier was killed and seven SAS soldiers and two sappers were wounded. Trooper Mark Donaldson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the battle...
<...>
In the end the soldier on the ground responsible for guiding air support told the Dutch: "If you're not going to engage then you might as well f . . k off." And they did, Maylor writes.

Read the whole story here.

[Reposting this reminder...]

The Combined Federal Campaign is a great way for Federal employees (including military service members) to support charities of their choice.

Soldiers' Angels is going into it's first full year of the CFC.  You can select Soldiers' Angels by using # 25131.

You can also support Soldiers Angels by donating $5 by texting the word "Soldiers" to 20222. 

OK quiz game time. I'm heading to the scene of some of my greatest crimes to enjoy a good old-fashioned rivalry. The only clue I will give is TFToLF.

Why this guy deserves a long vacation:

Virginia Congressman Jim Moran, D-8th, doesn’t think serving in the military is public service. At the October 6th meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee, Moran was videotaped telling fellow party members:

“What [Republicans] do is find candidates, usually stealth candidates, that haven’t been in office, haven’t served or performed in any kind of public service. My opponent is typical, frankly.”

However, Moran’s opponent happens to be Col. Patrick Murray (US Army-Ret.), who served 24 years in uniform, was deployed to four different combat zones, including Baghdad, as part of the 2007 troop surge under Gen. David Petraeus, and was even shot at by foreign combatants. If that isn’t public service, I don’t know what is.

As Barbara Hollingsworth further opines, “paper shuffling in Washington” apparently is.  Moran has also claimed the Military Officer's Association of America has “endorsed” him, even though the MOAA has publicly rejected that claim.  By law they’re prevented from “participating or investing, either directly or indirectly, in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition too any candidate for elective public office.” 

Moran is on the “Defense subcomittee” of the House Appropriations committee.  He needs to be relegated to his couch in his Arlington home.

OH HELL NO! Have you folks ever seen me do ALL CAPS. OH HELL NO, but this scumbag who has never done anything but suckle off the government has made a disgusting statement. I want to know just exactly how pissed I should be. A hint.....all the way. I will be doing everything I can to help Patrick Murray, a man who served 24 years in the military defeat Jim Moran who has been a parasite  stealing oxygen from better people than himself for the 40 years since he graduated from college.