Things You Might Have Missed

I noticed this on Yahoo!'s most emailed photos today. If you are going to assemble 17,000+ sailors and most of the Pacific theater's military firepower for what amounts to a "picture on Santa's lap," you could at least ensure that all the children are wearing their best clothes, have their eyes open, and are smiling. Careful observation of this picture reveals two errors (click on photo for edits):

1. Air Force pilots are incapable of flying a decent echelon left. That's an F-16 so grossly out of position.

2. If you look closely, you can see the helo buzzing around in the distance. From one helo pilot to another: have some pride and stay out of the cool picture. People like you best when you deliver pizza and mail.

Happy Father's Day!

To my dad, and the other dads and dads to be (that's me!), happy Father's Day! I got this great book to commemorate my first of many Father's Days. I read it and cried like our soon to be born baby.

Temporary Felt Covered Wall Hangings

To pass the time until the next season of The Office...I love the single camera work on these clips. Here is their other site. I was actually looking for something like this to brighten my workspace.

Your Sunday Cartoon

I didn't know Over The Hedge was first a comic strip. Am I living under a rock?

A Mile And A Half In His Shoes

I found this article after poking around in some Yahoo! groups to which I subscribe. As the officer that used to brief these cases to Academy leadership, I know that the Review Board has shown more than its share of leniency-- to the detriment of consistency.

I recall Mr. Shannon, but he had not risen to a level of great concern when I was in this position. Despite his size and reputed strength, any football coach will tell you that a 10:30 1.5-mile time should be easily attainable. I know from experience that any student in this position is screened by a panel of senior physicians to eliminate the possibility of any physical ailment. Barring a physical condition, there should be no reason why a 23 year old man cannot meet this relatively low standard. But the physical fitness standard is not the issue here.

I'm sorry that he is shouldered with this monstrous debt at such a young age. Truly, I am. However, the Naval Academy espouses itself to be "the cradle of leadership." And without standards, there will never be growth and development of, supposedly, the nation's finest.

Mr. Shannon has invoked the name of his Congressman for assistance. Sen. Mikulski, bless your heart, it is your astute body that set the compliance to these standards. And these standards, I argue, are broken not only by the midshipmen, but more egregiously, by the administrators themselves. My chief complaint during my tour at USNA was the murk of unpredictability and opacity that surrounded these separation hearings. In my experience, an identical set of facts could yield any permutation of administrative discipline, ranging from a verbal warning to discharge with debt recapture. Frighteningly, I was rarely able to correctly predict the outcome of a student's case.

I'm not givng Mr. Shannon a pass. I'm not giving the Academy leadership a pass either. When exceptions are more common than the rule, the rule making body needs to reevaluate their effectiveness.

Proeliator Senator

Translation: Warrior Senator

What isn't to like about Senate hopeful, James Webb? He's a Marine attorney/author from Nebraska that graduated from the Naval Academy and is now running on the Democratic ticket in Virginia. Of course his Republican opposition is already mounting a campaign to discredit his military record, which includes the receipt of the Navy Cross. Tasteful. Having read, listened to, and met this man, I can attest that he is the real deal. Jim, do you want to move to Arizona?

Your Sunday Cartoon©

One of the best strips ever. Too bad G. Larson doesn't want them published electronically. If I get one of these letters, at least I know someone is reading. Fair use, fair use!