My War and Miss Saigon

Mine was the Viet Nam War. One day in May of 1968, I received a letter from the President of the United States. It seems Lyndon Johnson ordered me into the armed forces with only a 30-day notice. I reported for duty at the induction center in Chicago and found myself beginning basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. I had a job to do for my country in order to earn my Freedom and Liberty.

From Fort Leonard Wood, I was sent to Light Weapons Infantry training at the beautiful Fort Ord in Northern California. Soon as I finished that training I got my orders for Viet Nam. My heart pounded as I read the orders but I was not surprised and was resigned to my fate. Somehow at the last minute I cheated the odds and was the only lad from my company to be rerouted to Germany with new set of orders. Soon I had the good fortune to wind up as a medical corpsman in a busy dispensary.

I hate how we as a country reneged on our promise to the people of South Viet Nam to free them from the yoke and brutality of Communism. The Bolsheviks in our own Congress fought for the Communist victory as other Bolsheviks were killing my fellow soldiers in Viet Nam. I hate the direction these same Bolshevik bastards have taken this once great country ever since.

The final insult came as Siagon was falling and the last lucky Vietnamese people were evacuated from the roof of the American Embassy by helicopter. It was so painful for me to watch the deaths of 58,000 brave young American men to have lost its purpose. The enemies of our own country and way of life had infiltrated our own Congress and Government.

Viet Nam was a sad tale with only a heartbreaking ending. In some ways I’ve felt guilty for having escaped combat duty in that horrible war. Then there is that bittersweet reminder in opera form. The Madame Butterfly of my war, the incredible musical, Miss Saigon. If you’ve not seen this you’ve missed something special. I’ve seen it three times and that’s just not enough for me. It’s always an emotional experience for me to see. I found three wonderful promotional clips that I have put up for your enjoyment or perhaps just for mine. I’m not sure.

Adventures in TV News Live Shots

You never konw quite what to expext...

Ready For Prime Time?

I am in this short scene with fellow Chicagoan, Joe Mantegna in an episode of Joan of Arcadia. Don’t blink your eyes and miss my mug as I take an order and serve the Chief some lemonade. This Chief does not drink on duty.

Calm Down Folks!

Three young Arab men were “caught” with 1000 cellular telephones, and jailed on really high bail. Their “crime” is alleged to be money laundering? Okay, just try to get a conviction on that one.

Officials have admitted they don’t really know what’s going on with the cell phone purchases but think something’s, just not right. Terrorists have been known to set off bombs with cell phones! Without the bombs this is really weak suggestion.

The only thing that makes sense here is the reselling of the phones for simple profit. If it’s obvious that the phones can be sold for more money than these guys paid for the phones then, what’s the beef? That’s commerce, and what our entire economy is all about!

Don’t get me wrong we need to watch for suspicious activities but I think watching whoever is buying fertilizer would make more sense.

I think that the Arabs living in or visiting this country are a much bigger threat than the Japanese folks were that we rounded up and put in camps during World War Two. Is that the next step here?

Liquid Bombs You And The TSA

Nearly the entire TSA airline security program in nothing more than smoke and mirrors designed more to provide passengers with a false sense of security. The American public has been fooled into believing that the level of inconvenience, aggravation and humiliation they’ve been required to withstand somehow guarantees their security. This is the dirty secret our government does not want anyone to know.

Liquid explosives are nothing new and were around long before airplanes were invented. The political hacks in charge of the FAA and TSA were told this and also know determined bombers cannot be stopped. There are loads of low tech ways to detonate bomb materials without cell phones, batteries and wires. The only way to control bombers is prevent all passengers, crews, baggage, and belongings from being loaded on the airplanes.

Although I’m not an explosives expert I learned a thing or two as a medical Corpsman attached to an Army Combat Engineer Battalion and also as a cop. I knew enough to know that the TSA’s bomb detection equipment could never even slow down someone that knew just what I know.

I figured several ways to defeat the TSA and bring down a commercial airplane. If I could do this certainly our enemies could too. Thankfully this also made another fact abundantly clear; that blowing up our airliners is just not that important to the terrorists.

Passenger screening and terror prevention begins and ends with real law enforcement profiling. Armed and trained law enforcement people can protect us much better than those TSA workers.

It’s also time to demand that every trained and screened cop in America be encouraged and allowed to fly with their firearms. Let’s end the TSA’s security shell game.

I’ve Become A Blogcaster

First there was the soapbox, then the printing press. Later came the radio followed by TV and the world of dialup Internet. Now with broadband there is no limit of our ability to send our message to the masses.

With Google Video, Digital Live and Youtube along with a growing list of free video hosts the computer has been the place to post or watch the blogcasts.

I began this as a blooger last December. Since then I’ve learned how to use and abuse print, photos and video all at once. Presto, I’ve become a blogcaster!

The most amazing thing about blogcasting is you can do whatever you want. Total free speech, well almost. The opposite side of this sword is that you risk offending friends, business peers and clients who will never agree with all that you put out in cyberspace.

I have instant ratings via the site counter to see what works or not. A story headline can do nothing or bring in the viewers.

Soon our television sets will all be large flat panel jobs will be primarily used only to watch sports or movies. News and most entertainment will be blogcasted and watched on laptops and desktop computers throughout the land.

What’s the bad news? I discovered putting up a really lame home video of Brittany Spears brings in a lot more viewers than a news story that affects our lives. I guess I’m in trouble when sitting in some dentist’s office, reading an issue of People Magazine and I don’t have a clue who most of the people are in all those pictures.

TSA’s War On Airline Passengers with video...

Have you had enough? If not, don’t worry you will very soon. The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) patronage hacks are dreaming up new torture just for you!

Nobody in their right mind would take a commercial flight anywhere today unless they had no other choice. Taking a commercial flight now has all the glamour of flying via Con-Air. Con-Air is the nickname for the government fleet that hauls prisoners around the country. There is also a private prison version of Con-Air.

There are loads of people too frightened to fly and many more people like me that hate the degradation of being treated like a prison inmate by people with fewer credentials then that of prison guards.

How can the commercial airlines survive? This latest blow came not from terrorists, but our government’s response to a terror plot in the UK that was never hatched. The damage done yesterday is beyond repair. Chalk up yet another victory for Arab terrorists and their allies, our very own TSA.

The only winner of TSA’s, War On Passengers, is General Aviation. That’s where the wealthy must now go for humane passenger treatment. When you start your trip at places like the Santa Monica Airport you won’t find yourself on the wrong side of the security line unless you’re not a paying customer. Nobody is going, prod you with their hand held metal detector, demand you take off your shoes or surrender your lip-gloss. What you will get is star treatment.

The TSA will only get worse.

How much? If you have to ask, you can’t afford it. No they won’t accept your debit card!
You have two options that perhaps this video will help you choose.

The Brittany Spears Meltdown Is Complete!

Marriage and motherhood has taken its toll on Spears who will soon never have to complain about paparazzi cameras chasing here around anymore. Her young husband, Kevin Federline has insured her quick retirement from show business with this videotaped offering of their private moments.

Airline Security Insanity Must End.

Political correctness and ethnic sensitivities protects nobody from terrorists.

We are at war. The only threat comes from those we are at war with. Our enemies are Arab Muslims. To deal with this very real threat they sent in the clowns when we needed the cops.

We train the inflexible TSA clowns to disregard reality to make sure every airline passenger suffers the terrorist treatment not just the usual suspects. We allow the TSA clowns to waste time, effort and money as they treat Americans like the enemy terrorists. We just don’t have our eyes on the ball here.

The only effective security we can maintain is through profiling by professional, trained and equipped law enforcement officers. The non-law enforcement, TSA clowns we hired will never be up to the task.

Additionally we must allow trained and sworn police officers to travel with their firearms. We should encourage them with free flights or flights and greatly reduced fares.

We have never put in place an armed gauntlet of cops to deal with any group of armed terrorists that dare invade our airports. What we have in place could never stop a group of 12 well-trained and armed men on a suicide mission.

We are too busy frisking our fellow Americans to deal with the real threat from Arab Muslims.

We need help, but don’t send in the clowns… Send in the cops!

The Official Crimefile Review of World Trade Center

Frankly, I could not imagine a two-hour feature film telling the story of 9/11. That was just not possible. Screenwriter, Andrea Berloff and director Oliver Stone told a compelling story. A difficult feat since the whole world knows what happened and how this ended. I expected the NYPD and NYFD folks to be skeptical of this project’s resemblance to reality.

New York is a magical place, with its great restaurants, fabulous non-stop entertainment and character. The Wall Street area where the WTC stood is like no other place on Earth. I’d been there before and since the destruction of the towers. The buildings were nothing short of majestic.

In one scene they used the unique fence around the historic St. Paul’s Chapel that still contains George Washington’s special pew. Alexander Hamilton is buried in the adjacent cemetery. During the rescue and recovery operation that was where the cops, firemen and other recovery workers ate and slept for many months. The walls inside were covered with cards and letters from, cops, firemen and children sent from all over the world. That fence was also where photos of lost loved ones and memorial material to the known dead were part of a heartbreaking display.

There are millions of stories that surround 9/11 and the thousands killed and maimed. Families were destroyed and the lives that were not snuffed out were changed forever. I’m sure that the stories of the other dead heroes were no less compelling for making a movie.

This film was about two New York Port Authority cops, John McLoughlin and William Jimeno along with their families. These folks lived the horror that most of us watched on continuous TV news coverage.

The film is a must see. The actors were wonderful with all of them carrying their weight. Maria Bello, Nicholas Cage, Michael Pena and Maggie Gyllenhaal gave Oscar caliber performances. They made this film all too real. Oliver Stone and his crew made the words on the paper script come alive. I expect that the nominations will be many here.

Yes, be sure to bring the Kleenex tissues when you go to see this one.

It was about a year ago on a Sunday afternoon that I went to Jerry’s Delicatessen in Marina Del Rey. There I met the beautiful Maria Belo, who plays John McLoughlin's wife, her boyfriend, Dan McDermott and their good friend actress, Camryn Manheim. I was minding my own business eating my pastrami sandwich when Maria and Dan’s little boy slung a spoon full of strained carrots that hit me in the head! Maria and Camryn all but gave me a shampoo and blow dry getting the mess out of my hair. We all had a good laugh. Sadly, I only recognized Camryn although Maria looked familiar. Soon I was able to chat with Maria and Camryn at a function of the Screen Actor’s Guild.

See the trailer here.

Buy A Private Jet While You Still Can.

This will be the only way you can get around the TSA silliness. Three and four hours added to each way to every flight along with unprecedented aggravations from the low wattage TSA folks who are now in siege mode. I don’t expect things to improve.

I anticipate and huge increase in corporate sales of jets and planes. There’s also a rosy picture for pilots and crewmembers needed to haul the wealthy around so they can avoid the perils of the unwashed flying the unfriendly skies.

In the meantime I will do my best to stay of airplanes. I am not afraid of the terrorists; I simply refuse to put up with the indignity and abuse the TSA will put me through.

CNN has reported American passengers crying during their commercial flights today and clapping once their flight landed safely. That's so pathetic and a sign of how cowardly we’ve become. I’m starting to be ashamed to be an American anymore.

TSA Is In A State Of Siege Today.

My pity goes out to anyone who has to fly today. The TSA will be in NASTY MODE as they ransack your luggage and belongings like Viking warriors. Self-importance of the little airport Nazis will be in overdrive in response to the latest sensational United Kingdom terrorist plot. Why do I fear the TSA screening gauntlet more than any terrorist?

Expect the body cavity searchers to begin. Do you know how much explosive can be carried in human body cavities? The answer for those that don’t know, enough explosives to bring down a 747 can be hidden inside any woman.

Reporter/Anchor Steven Colbert Knows How To Do An Interview...

Reporter/Anchor Steven Colbert Knows How To Do An Interview...

This guy has a way of getting politicians to let it all hang out.

At Least This Inmate Won’t Be In Charge Of The Asylum Anymore…

I’m pleased to report that Cynthia McKinney won’t be recording votes in the halls on Congress anymore. She was and is clearly a nut job that needed to be removed from the public payroll. As Gladys Knight sings, "She’s leaving, on that midnight train to Georgia."

Goodbye dear Cindy, don’t let the door hit you in the can on your way out.

Another Poor Little Black Boy Shot for No Reason By Chicago Police

Here we go again. A couple of African-American teens armed with pellet handguns pull a street stick-up near what’s left of the Cabrini Green Housing Project. Soon officers confront a suspect, 14 year-old, Ellis Woodland who produces his gun and got exactly what he deserved, a trip to the hospital intensive care unit.

Predictably a large group of neighborhood troublemakers and street gang hoodlums converged on the 18th District station to protest the shooting. The ex-convict, son of a slain Black Panther Party Leader, Fred Hampton, who is also a felon was leading the mob. Fred Hampton, Jr. was quoted, "Another black man has been shot down by the police. "Excessive force is putting it mildly. Our babies aren't even immune to this."

I see the usual misdirected anger. It’s time to recognize the culture of violence, crime and the failure of parents to steer their children away from this conduct. Instead they celebrate and glorify the behavior with pride as a part of being Black. African-Americans in places like Cabrini Green murder each other at a rate much higher than the Ku Klux Klan did Blacks since post Civil War reconstruction.

African-Americans need to change their culture in America, learn to value education and be a part of a great country. Instead too many practice their own brand of racism and apartheid, rejecting any culture that’s not lawless, violent or that involves hard work.

As for the officers, I thank God they are safe after their encounter with the armed savages.

You can see the video and read more here.

Brain dead Lawmakers In L.A. Love Gun Control At Any Price

Gun laws for the sake of making gun laws. They can’t get what they want and that’s total destruction of the Right To Keep and Bear Arms. They won’t rest until every law-abiding citizen has been forced through gun bans to turn in every gun or anything that even looks like a gun. The next best thing they can do is to stay awake nights in order to dream up some new law that would bring about the incremental end to all gun rights.

Here we go again with a wonderfully stupid idea. L.A. City Council members want to make it a crime not to report a stolen or lost firearm within 48 hours. That sounds simple until some gun owner discovers a missing firearm and can’t remember when he saw it last. Reporting the crime now may bring prosecution under this legislative abomination. What will happen? The stolen gun will now never be recovered and police will never get the chance to arrest the criminal for theft of a firearm.

Upon the expiration of 48 hours and one minute the hapless gun owner can’t be forced to report anything. Why you ask? Because the Fifth Amendment, absolute right against self-incrimination kicked in ending any requirement he had to report the theft. Now we have unintended consequences. The theft will never be reported.

If anything the government should do everything to encourage reporting the loss or theft of firearms. If the lawmakers could stick to making laws that affect criminals rather than the law-abiding they might someday reduce crime and violence.

Only In California Can You Cash In Because You’re A Convicted Sex Offender!

The latest California insanity is for convicted rapists and child molesters to sign leases, move into apartments and then inform their new landlord they’ve been convicted of rape or molesting children.

What happen next is truly amazing! The sex offenders offer to move out for a cash settlement usually in the thousands of dollars. The chagrinned landlords actually pay this legal extortion for fear the word will get out to the other tenants of their new neighbor. The landlord have little choice in the matter.

California does not allow landlords to use past criminal sex offenses to deny housing to potential tenants. California's Bolshevik politicians don’t want the poor sex offenders to suffer more punishment than state law dishes out on theses dangerous deviants.

Why Do I Think This Sniper Monster May Be Innocent?

I have a huge problem accepting the theory handed out by police that 33 year-old Dale Shawn Hausner is a serial killer. Hausner does not live in the world of intrigue and paranoia and is proving to be really a sociable fellow.

Having a full time job at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport for nearly a decade, Hausner also was working part time as a photographer and bartender. When you add that he’s involved with a cable access TV show and cares for his own pre-school daughter where could he find the time to stalk and kill strangers?

Police ballistic evidence will be either non-existent or very weak since a shotgun was apparently used in the attacks. This case will be won or lost by a battle of surveillance videotape and data from gasoline purchases and cell phone records.

Today Hausner gave a jailhouse interview and freely answered all questions until his court appointed Public Defender, Garrett W. Simpson got there and gagged him, shutting down the chat fest. Hausner's demeanor was as straightforward as I’ve ever seen in over 30 years.

The press conference law enforcement officials gave last Friday announcing the arrest of monster snipers was very reminiscent of the Litchfield Park, Arizona, Buddhist Monk Massacre of the early 1990s. In that case too, police officials spent more time congratulating themselves for their horrible police work than offering evidence.

Four boys from Tucson were framed and put through months of pure Hell as prosecutors demanded the death penalty. In the end the Tucson boys were vindicated and freed. The boys also lightened the Maricopa County treasury by many millions of dollars.

The immediate evidence to justify the arrests will be found in search warrant affidavits and police reports. We can count on the officials hiding these documents only if their case is really lame. If they have real evidence they will shout about it from the rooftops.

I predict officials will hide everything from public view opting for a secret Grand Jury Indictment instead of a public Preliminary Hearing to make their case for probable Cause.

I’d ask County Attorney Andrew Thomas to tread carefully here and shut this down quickly when the evidence just doesn’t add up correctly.

Watch the interview here on the KTVK-TV website, www.azfamily.com

Stupid Fireman Tricks!

Here are some firemen with too much free time, a clothes dryer and a cell phone video camera try out for a Darwin award.

It’s The Media And Their Pundits Who Are Running Our Wars!

With the unprecedented instant coverage of the Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Israel conflicts, our Television media has the ability to influence our government like never before in history.

The media pundits are pulled from huge lists and used depending on what the news editors want our government to do. Tell me it ain’t so, Joe?

Politicians care about one thing, re-election and will do anything to please the media. That’s why we need term limits more than ever. It is true and downright spooky.