Thursday, March 24, 2011

Media claims plane shot down- but actually shows photo of SA-6 SAM missile launcher

Look closely and you will see the tracks, the rear air vent, and rails that hold the missiles.

 

Really?  If you can’t tell the difference between a plane and a rocket launcher, you need a new job.

 

How about the folks over at FOX and everywhere else plastering this photo?  Idiots

 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Land Ho!

Well, at long last we have purchased 10 acres of land in an undisclosed location west of the Mississippi.
Nearby water, plenty of game animals.  Lots of trees.  About 2 hrs from my house.  (close but not too close).  It doesn't cross any major freeways and it's away from major population centers.

We got about 1 acre cleared out so far and will start building a cabin soon on that cleared area.  So far, we've put in a latrine, a tire swing, and a zip line (you gotta have fun).  There's room for a pond on the lower part of the property too.

I plan to plant some apple and pecan trees very soon. There's lots of pine trees and many hardwoods .

The land is very remote, so I have to get a well put in and find a source of energy to pump it.  I'm seriously considering a wood-powered steam engine to power a generator (that will make enough energy to charge a set of batteries and run the AC.  http://www.greensteam.com/ .

 I've also started caching some supplies.  I'll be getting some of the food buckets from http://www.year-supply.com/ and put them into a sealed 55 gallon drum a burry it.  I also want to cache a mosin nagant and some sealed spam can of ammo up there.  That way if I have to bug out, there will already be stuff there.

The next building to go up will be a 10x10 shed/barn that we can sleep in at night and store some tool in.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Invalid Presidential Proclamation

Presidential Proclamation--Death of Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles, the Last Surviving American Veteran of World War I
Death of Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles,
the Last Surviving American Veteran of World War I
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
     As a mark of respect for the memory of Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, and in remembrance of the generation of American veterans of World War I, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that, on the day of his interment, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day.  I further direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA

From what I have read, the president does not derive this authority from the Constitution (as he claims) or from the "Flag Code."   The Code only gives him authority to half-staff it for deaths principal figures of government.  Only Governors can declare half-staff for fallen members of the Armed Forces- and only then if they fall while on active duty.  Corp. Buckles passing does not qualify in either case.

Without disrespecting Corp. Buckles, where does this president get off claiming authority that simply isn't his? And if he's claiming this authority, what other authority is he claiming that simply isn't his?  What he does have authority to declare is a flag day, or a day of mourning or something like that.  Half-staffing the flag is reserved for very few and specific reasons.  So, while I think the passing of Corp.  Buckles deserves recognition, this is not the appropriate way to do it.

Title 4, Chapter 1 pertains to the flag; Title 18, Chapter 33, Section 700 regards criminal penalties for flag desecration; Title 36, Chapter 3 pertains to patriotic customs and observances. This is the pertinent part (bolding mine):
a.    The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection —
1.    the term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff;
2.    the term "executive or military department" means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5, United States Code; and
3.    the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.