Side FX (you may remember them from last year’s milblog conference) announced the dates for the first leg of their “It’s Your Turn” tour today. The tour coincides with the bands sophomore CD, Turning Point, which releases this month. Kim Cameron, the band’s singer and songwriter struck a deal with the Veterans Administration that will offer Veteran hospital patients all across the United States the ability to attend any of the bands performances for free. Cameron, an avid supporter of the troops approached the Veteran’s Administration after performing on Veteran’s Day at Walter Reed hospital. “It’s Our Turn to show support,” says Kim.
In addition to the Veteran’s attending performances at no cost the band will perform a special show in Athens, Georgia on February 11th at “Atlanta VA Medical Center” that will include a one-on-one interactive performance with the patients.
The tour also includes dates in the following cities: Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Birmingham, AL, New Orleans, LA, Austin, TX, Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, Lincoln, NE and Wichita, KS. The band’s CD
is already being played on over 100 radio stations in the United States and internationally. They have been featured on Fox news, The Pentagon Channel, CBS, MTV, Pop Culture Madness, Fashion Week, The Joey Reynolds show, radio stations through out the country and More Magazine just to name a few. The band developed a strong following with over 55,000 views on their youtube channel which features some of Kim’s journey thus far through video diaries. Side FX’s shows are family friendly, offer hope, fun and an escape. The tour was named It’s your turn after Cameron and the band decided that they really wanted to help people focus on taking some time to enjoy their lives and make a difference in others, turning the tides from this past year into a positive 2010.
Realize Records CEO Michel Grey states, “The band’s motto is More than Music and as this tour launches, people around the US are going to get to see exactly what that means. The band’s focus and drive to get their music out there, while simultaneously helping people is inspiring.”
If you’ve ever even considered buying something from my favorite military-themed t-shirt connoisseurs at Ranger Up, now you have no excuse!
Tomorrow, Ranger Up is launching the first ever Ranger Up Charity Day. They’re donating 20% of all of tomorrow’s sales to a very deserving organization – Soldiers’ Angels. No longer do you have to wait for our weekly eBay auctions to help Soldiers Angels.
Soldiers’ Angels also some details about the event on their website. So, get off your ass and start working on that birthday and Christmas list for this year and buy some shirts! I’ve practically replaced my entire wardrobe with Ranger Up gear. As a matter of fact, I think the only thing they don’t make that I need are suits.
So, Ranger Up, if you’re listening: you’d start making some suits if you knew what was good for you! And cool ties! Holy cow, I could use some killer Ranger Up ties!
Pay no attention to the date, it’s wrong! The date is February 17th, I promise.
The New York Times is reporting that the Taliban’s top military commander was captured several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan, in a secret joint operation by Pakistani and American intelligence forces, according to American government officials.
The commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is an Afghan described by American officials as the most significant Taliban figure to be detained since the American-led war in Afghanistan started more than eight years ago. He ranks second in influence only to Mullah Muhammad Omar, the Taliban’s founder, and was a close associate of Osama bin Laden before the Sept. 11 attacks.
Mullah Baradar has been in Pakistani custody for several days, with American and Pakistani intelligence officials both taking part in interrogations, according to the officials.
A few weeks ago, the IRS put out an acquisition notice that they wanted to purchase 60 12-gauge shotguns. I understand that there is an enforcement arm of the “Service” (they really need to change the name of the IRS, since I have yet to realize what “service” they really provide as implied in their name), but I don’t see why need weapons at all, other than perhaps some protective sidearms.
In the United States, we have local police departments, county police departments, state police departments, the FBI, BATF, etc. All these law enforcement agencies could easily provide protection while IRS agents are out harassing Americans.
While I’m annoyed that the IRS is purchasing MORE guns on its own, something else stands out that makes me even MORE pissed off at this purchase.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) intends to purchase sixty Remington Model 870 Police RAMAC #24587 12 gauge pump-action shotguns for the Criminal Investigation Division. The Remington parkerized shotguns, with fourteen inch barrel, modified choke, Wilson Combat Ghost Ring rear sight and XS4 Contour Bead front sight, Knoxx Reduced Recoil Adjustable Stock, and Speedfeed ribbed black forend, are designated as the only shotguns authorized for IRS duty based on compatibility with IRS existing shotgun inventory, certified armorer and combat training and protocol, maintenance, and parts.
Notice I highlighted the barrel length. The IRS wants 14-inch barrels – something we’re not allowed to carry as everyday citizens. According the National Firearms Act, shotguns with barrel lengths of less than 18 inches are legislated out of our of our possession. I missed the part of the second amendment that prohibits so-called “short barreled shotguns.” Yet, the federal government…no, the INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE is allowed to possess them. They are not even a militia or military department, yet seem to be immune from the same laws you and I are forced to abide by (those that DO abide by such silly laws).
So tell me: what does the IRS need with “illegal” shotguns, besides intimidating the populace into oblivion? In 1998, the IRS vowed to become more taxpayer friendly. They then ordered $1.2 million in pistols and shotguns for their “customer service representatives.” Now, they’re purchasing more firearms with top of the line sights and specs. Most likely, to better serve you, right?
This looks pretty interesting. HBO’s The Pacific, is an upcoming miniseries about the Pacific Theater of WWII from Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman. The Pacific premieres on HBO Sunday, March 14th. I watched the trailers and it looks as intense as Saving Private Ryan was. I hope it comes out in DVD since I don’t have HBO.
There is a huge difference between Officers and NCOs in the Army. Because of these differences, I decided against my Commanders’ advice and remained within the enlisted ranks. It’s hard to put into words, so let me tell you a few stories.
Eleven people were dangling below a helicopter on a rope. There were ten Officers and one NCO. Since the rope was not strong enough to hold all the eleven, they decided that one of them had to let go to save all the others.
They could not decide who should be the volunteer. Finally the NCO said he would let go of the rope since NCOs are used to doing everything for the good of the Service. They forsake their family, don’t claim all of their expenses, and do a lot of overtime without getting anything in return. Continue reading this post…
After sitting in classrooms for many semesters learning about endangered species preservation and wildlife regulation enforcement, Matthew Groppi had the chance to apply his knowledge in the great outdoors working for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. However, just months into his job, the Army Reserve staff sergeant was called to serve his country and apply the lessons learned in school during a deployment in Afghanistan.
“Being that I am a recent college graduate, I wanted my role in the military to be applicable to my civilian job. I wanted my employer to benefit from my time overseas too,” he said. “My time in Afghanistan gave me an international application to what I had learned in class and in the U.S.”
While deployed to Afghanistan with the 330th Military Police Detachment from October 2008 to August 2009, Groppi and his unit were responsible for law enforcement patrols, specifically to ensure compliance regarding customs regulations. In conjunction with his law enforcement patrol duties and tying in his natural resources background, he was responsible for training Soldiers about wildlife conservation and threatened or endangered species native to Afghanistan. Since animal furs are a popular tourist export, the Soldiers were responsible for ensuring that outgoing customs items were thoroughly checked.
Although much of his deployment was spent within the wire regulating customs and training his fellow Soldiers, Groppi had the opportunity to visit a national park in Afghanistan, which he says was the highlight of his time overseas.
“It was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. The landscape was quite striking and very beautiful,” Groppi said. “After seeing it, it was hard to stay on base knowing what was out there.”
Groppi also deployed to Iraq in 2004 with the 330th Military Police Detachment. In June 2004, while the unit was performing a mission at the Police Academy in Mosul, a suicide bomber attacked the academy with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Two of the Soldiers were killed and six Soldiers, including Groppi, were wounded in the incident. Groppi returned home a month later to undergo surgery for his injuries and was awarded the Purple Heart. He has since made a full recovery.
After returning from Afghanistan in August 2009, Groppi continues to work as a conservation warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and is responsible for traveling throughout the state to enforce hunting, fishing, environmental and RV laws. In the coming months, he will be finishing his probationary period with the DNR that was put on hold during his most recent deployment. The Soldier is a graduate of Waukesha North High School and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
This churns my gut. Our military is under assault from outside and within the military. We can’t take them alive because then they get rights and trials that violate Geneva Conventions and we can’t kill them because we’ll be tried, convicted, and sentenced for murder! These guys are the same people that are killing our troops in Iraq and are the same people that killed 3,000 Americans on 9/11. Absolutely insane and you MUST listen to this interview between Michael Savage and Army Ranger 1st Lt. Michael Behenna’s mother.
PART I
PART II
Check out the story associated with this interview HERE.
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from “Miffed” to “Peeved.” Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A Bit Cross.” The English have not been “A Bit Cross” since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from “Tiresome” to a “Bloody Nuisance.” The last time the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was during the great fire of 1666.
The Scots raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let’s get the Bastards.” They don’t have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line in the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from “Run” to “Hide”.
The only two higher levels in France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France’s white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country’s military capability.
It’s not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout loudly and excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.”
The Germans also increased their alert state from “Disdainful Arrogance” to “Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.” They also have two higher levels: “Invade a Neighbour” and “Lose”.
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Americans meanwhile are carrying out pre-emptive strikes on all of their allies, just in case.
New Zealand has also raised its security levels – from “baaa” to “BAAAA!”.
Due to continuing defense cutbacks (the Air Force being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the Navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister’s bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is “Shit, I hope Australia will come and rescue us”.
Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from “No worries” to “She’ll be all right, mate.” Three more escalation levels remain, “Crikey!’, “I think we might have to cancel the barbie this weekend” and “The barbie is cancelled”…………… So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.
