Always Under Construction

  March 10, 2002

Webmaster note:  Thanks to KC's bitch to RootsWeb, this page has migrated to a server that neither he nor Joe Pine can mess with.

I think you will find that Joe Pine was in that wheelchair because he was WWII war hero. Also I remember vaguely seeing his show when I was quite young and have a different impression of what I saw. Joe Pine was a genius. He was an innovator and a pioneer way ahead of his time. It's a shame that within the breadth and depth of the internet the only entry I can find regarding this champion of early radio and television is by someone so callous as to use one of Mr. Pine's innovations as a basis for a free speech forum and then slam his memory.  I don't know what you may have accomplished in life but if you count up and yours don't match or exceed his you are not in any position to Bitch. --kc--

Subject: Military Pay Raise is bogus....

On 12 Jan, Ms Cindy Williams wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing the pay raise(s) coming service members way this year-citing that the stated 13% wage gap was bogus.  A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below.  He ought to get a bonus for this.

Ms. Williams:

I just had the pleasure of reading your column of 12 Jan 00, "Our GIs Earn Enough", and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest leave and earnings statement (LES), I see that I make $1,117.80, before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20.  When I run that through Windows' Calculator, I come up with annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.

I work in the Air Force Network Control Center (AFNCC), where I am part of the team responsible for the administration of a 25,000 host computer network.  I am involved with infrastructure segment, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment.  A quick check of http://www.monster.com under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job.

Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year, nor does it pay less than this.  No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.

Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic Allowance for Sustenance (housing and food allowances, respectively) as being a further boon to an already-
overcompensated force.

Again, I'm curious as to where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both slashed 15% in the Hill AFB area effective in January 00.

Given the tenor your column, I would assume that you have never had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces.

Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off AFDC, WIC, and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for Saudi - I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you the full "deployment experience."

As your group prepares to board the plane [or ship], make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone - obviously they've been squandering the vast piles of cash the DOD has been giving them.

Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites.

And when you're actually over there, sitting in a DFP (Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day foxhole), shivering against the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE (meals ready to eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything.

Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it.

You may have gathered by now that I disagree with most of the points you present in your op-ed piece.  But, tomorrow from Sarajevo, I will defend to the death your right to say it. You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish.

On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe.  We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies.

And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?  Rubbish.

A1C Michael Bragg
Hill AFB, AFNCC
  ----------------

And he neglected to point out that the six month rotation is timed just
so that we are denied any tax benefits of being out of the
country....

CDR Bill Toti, USN
 Navy JROC POC
 OPNAV N810

---

       This one came from a fabulous 70+ year old man who is a retired Air Force pilot

All citizens of the USA should remember this!!!!!

I was embarrassed to read that President Clinton and his advisors have said,  The older generation must learn to sacrifice as other generations have done.  That's my generation. I knew that eventually someone would ferret out the dirty secret: we've lived the "lifestyle of the rich and famous" all our lives.

Now, I know I must bare the truth about my generation and let the country condemn us for our selfishness. We certainly don't deserve any of that Social Security money that we've put away for 45 or 50 years! We sure don't need help with our medical bills... no, we've surely got Enough put away for a $250,000 open heart surgery bill.

We've had so much fun in our lives, why just read the following: During the Depression we had a hilarious time dancing to the tune of "Brother Can You Spare A Dime?" We could choose to dine at any of the country's fabulous soup kitchens, often joined by our parents and siblings... those were the heady days of carefree self-indulgence.

Then, with World War II, the cup filled to overflowing. We had the chance to bask on the exotic beaches of Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa; to see the capitols of Europe and travel to such scenic spots as Bastogne, Malmedy and Monte Cassino. Of course, one of the most exhilarating adventures was the stroll from Bataan to the local Japanese hotels, laughingly known as death camps. But the good times really rolled for those lucky enough to be on the beaches of Normandy for the swimming and boating that pleasant June day in '44.  Unforgettable.

Even luckier were those that drew the prized holiday tickets for cruises on sleek, gray ships to fun filled spots like Midway, The Solomons and Murmansk. Instead of asking, "what can we do for our country," an indulgent government let us fritter away our youth wandering idly through the lush and lovely jungles of Burma and New Guinea.

Yes, it's all true: we were pampered, we were spoiled rotten, we never did realize what sacrifice meant. We envy you, Mr. Clinton, the harsh lessons you learned in London, Moscow, Little Rock, and the secluded cubby's of the Oval office with a young intern.

My generation is old, Mr. President... and guilty; but we are repentant.  Punish us for our failings, sir, that we may learn the true meaning of Duty, Honor, and Country. Give that money that we've been putting into Social Security and Medicare to  those more deserving... like  yourself?

Robert J. Grady, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret),
Colorado Springs

The Bill of No Rights

We, the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone
get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any more riots, keep our
nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free
liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one
more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the
terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal, bed wetters.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that a whole lot of people are
confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim that they require a..."Bill
of No Rights."

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV or any other
form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one
is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is
based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may
leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the
world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a
screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool
manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans
are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need,
but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation
of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of
another generation of professional couch potatoes!!

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be
nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public
health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people.
If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised
if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair!

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If
you rob, cheat or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't
be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where
you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You don't have the right to demand that our children risk
their lives in foreign wars to soothe your aching conscience. We hate oppressive
governments and won't lift a finger to stop YOU from going to fight if you'd
like. However, we do not enjoy parenting the entire world and do not want to
spend so much of our time battling each and every little tyrant with a military
uniform and a funny hat.

ARTICLE IX: You don't have the right to a job. All of us sure want everyone
to have one, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to
take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training
offered you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE X: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American
means that  you have the right to pursue happiness - which by the way, is a lot
easier if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiotic laws created by
those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
 

 The American Flag
 Does the First Amendment give us the right to desecrate the American
 flag?  Or is the flag a sacred symbol of our nation, deserving  protection
 by law?  Tough call?

 "The Solution"
 For those who want to light Old Glory on fire, stomp all over it, or
 spit on it to make some sort of "statement," I say let them do it.  But
 under one condition: they MUST get permission from three sponsors.

 First, you need permission of a war veteran. Perhaps a Marine who fought
 at Iwo Jima?  The American flag was raised over Mount Surabachi upon the
 bodies of thousands of dead buddies.  Each night spent on Iwo Jima meant
 half of everyone you knew would be dead tomorrow, a coin flip away from
 a bloody end upon a patch of sand your mother couldn't find on a map. Or
 maybe ask a Vietnam vet who spent years tortured in a small, filthy cell
 unfit for a dog.  Or a Korean War soldier who helped rescue half a nation
 from Communism, or a Desert Storm warrior who repulsed a bloody
 dictator from raping and pillaging an innocent country.  That flag
 represented your mother and father, your sister and other, your friends,
 neighbors, and everyone at home.  I wonder what they would say if
 someone asked them permission to burn the American flag?

 Second, you need a signature from an immigrant. Their brothers and
 sisters may still languish in their native land, often under tyranny,
 poverty and misery. Or maybe they died on the way here, never to touch
 our shores.  Some have seen friends and family get tortured and murdered
 by their own government for daring to do things we take for granted
 every day.  For those who risked everything simply for the chance to
 become an American, what kind of feelings do they have for the flag when
 they Pledge Allegiance the first time?  Go to a naturalization ceremony
 and see for yourself, the tears of pride, the thanks, the love and respect
 of this nation, as they finally embrace the American flag as their own.
 Ask one of them if it would be OK to burn the flag or spit on it.

 Third, you should get the signature of a mother. Not just any mother.
 You need a mother of someone who gave their life for America.  It
 doesn't even have to be from a war.  It could be a cop, or a fireman,
 maybe a Secret Service or NSA agent.  Then again, it could be a common
 foot soldier as well.  When that son or daughter is laid to rest, their
 family is given one gift by the American people; an American flag.  Go
 on.  I dare you. Ask that mother if you can spit on her flag.  Away from
 family, away from the precious shores of home, in the face of
 overwhelming odds and often in the face of death, the American flag
 inspires those who believe in the American dream, the American promise,
 the American vision...

 Americans who don't appreciate the flag don't appreciate this nation.
 And those who appreciate this nation appreciate the American flag.  So
 if you want to desecrate the American flag, before you spit on it or
 before you burn it, I have a simple request.  Just ask permission.  Not
 from the Constitution.  Not from some obscure law.  Not from the
 politicians or the pundits. Instead, ask those who have defended our
 nation so that we may be free today.  Ask those who struggled to reach
 our shores so that they may join us in the American dream.  And ask
 those who clutch a flag in place of their sacrificed sons and daughters,
 given to this nation so that others may be free.  For we cannot ask
 permission from those who died wishing they could, just once ...  or
 once again ...  see, touch or kiss the flag that stands for our nation,
 the United States of America ...  the greatest nation on earth.

 Go ahead.  Ask.  I dare you!
 
 

3-27-2000

(I don't know that Bill Gates wrote this, but I think it fits into this web page.)

 RE: Life

  In Bill Gates' new book Business@The Speed of Thought, he lays out 11
  rules that students do not learn in high school or college, but should.
  He argues that our feel-good, politically-correct teachings have created
  a generation  of kids with no concept of reality who are set up for
  failure in the real world.

   Rule 1 - Life is not fair; get used to it.

   Rule 2 - The world won't care about your self-esteem.  The world will
   expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

   Rule 3 - You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high
   school.  You won't be a vice-president with a car phone, until you earn both.

   Rule 4- If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
   He doesn't have tenure.

   Rule 5 - Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity.  Your grandparents
   had a different word for burger flipping, they called it opportunity.

   Rule 6 - If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine
   about your mistakes, learn from them.

   Rule 7 - Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they
   are now.  They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes
   and listening to you talk about how cool you are.  So before you save the
   rain forest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing"
   the clothes in your own room.

   Rule 8 - Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but
   life has not.  In some schools they have abolished failing grades; they
   will let you try as many times as you want to get the right answer. This
   doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

   Rule 9 - Life is not divided into semesters.  You don't get summers off
   and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself.  Do
   that on your own time.

   Rule 10 - Television is NOT real life.  In real life people actually have
   to leave the coffee shop and go to their jobs.

   Rule 11- Be nice to nerds.  Chances are you'll end up working for one.

   Bill Gates.

   Now that's real life from a so-called high school nerd.
 
 

3-3-2000

 Laurie Johnson wrote:

 Love your B Box! Being a Navy brat, I fully remember those lines in the  commissaries.  Dad was stationed in San Diego for a year....ugh! Thanks  for the laugh and bringing back memories. Oh, and Safeway isn't any  better up here.  10 check out lines...two are open is you're lucky!
 
 

3-2-2000

     I went to Pick-N-Save to get something my wife saw in a sale flyer that she wanted.  The item was sold out, and I asked the young lady at the counter if I could get a "rain check".  She had no idea what I was talking about!
 
 

2-28-2000

     Have you noticed how rude some people are today?  I shop at the Navy Commissary twice a week.  Quite often people bunch up and block the isles.  I want to get in and get out as quickly as I can, and I don't want to be run over by the idiots who are unable to see other people.

     Then there was the kid who had his hand in the bulk candy bin; "grazing".  I pointed my finger at him and said, "Don't!"  His mother came unglued!  Bottom line is that she was going to... "I'll kick your ass if you ever speak to my son again!"  She didn't care that her son was stealing candy, but she wasn't going to let a stranger stop him from doing it.
 
 

2-27-2000

     Have you noticed how few "check out" positions in stores are open these days?  Example:  Several years ago a new Navy Commissary was built at the base in Imperial Beach, CA.  When it opened there were 24 check out counters.  A few years later 3 of them were replaced by 2 do-it-yourself counters; that lasted about a month.  This equipment was removed and not replaced; there are now 21 check out counters, but....

     I can count on one hand the number of days that all 21 check out counters have been open.  ZERO!  There are usually 10 or fewer lines open.  Yesterday they had 9 open when I got in line to check out; they closed one while I was in line!  With about 50 people behind me!!  No wonder people don't want to shop there anymore.

     Dirty little secret:  Very few employees of the Navy Exchanges and Commissaries are "full time".  Most are limited to 35 hours per week.  This is done to avoid things like overtime, medical and retirement benifits.

     Last week I went into a major chain drug store.  Six check out stations; one clerk!  The Costco store in Chula Vista, CA would probably double it's sales if they didn't have 10-20 people in line at the registers they do open.

     Now what will be the next entry in The B Box?

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