Miserable Donuts

How To Put A Small American Manufacturing Company Out Of Business

2009-11-23T07:43:00.004-06:00

I will concentrate on the easiest, most modern way to do this - sue them.

Let us say you are a small manufacturing firm, one that makes equipment in the lift/hoist area, for sake of this example. You find yourself slapped with a lawsuit (along with many other outfits) alleging that your negligent, wanton, reckless and consipring little firm made up of three families has done gone and caused cancer in someone. "Good Lord" you say, "what was it we were supposed to have done?"

You sold a lift in the 1970s that had a set of brake-type shoes inside the lift that are supposed to have contained asbestos. And you, you dirty merchant of death, knew, KNEW better!!! So what if you were solely in the business of making your lifts and hoists - just try to tell anyone that you bought braking material from someone else. A pair of brake shoes inside a lift someone may have been around decades ago is what you need to pay for, and pay big.

Recession? Lack of viable insurance? Bah, the plaintiff lawyer has only collected something in the neighborhood of $2,000,000 so far - your pitiful cries for relief matter not, next to his 40% contingency fee. Can't meet the $500,000 demand to settle (oh, you only had sales under $5,000,000 last year?) OK, take your case to trial - you can handle the tens of thousands of dollars in legal expenses, right? I'm sure the judge and jury in the judicial hell-hole you have landed will be more than fair...

Attempted Death of an Enterprise, brought to you by the American Plaintiff Bar - a play in 3 acts witnessed by yours truly.

Veteran's Day 2009

2009-11-10T22:28:00.005-06:00

Veteran's Day. Growing up it usually meant a day off from school. And as I got older, I started to learn what it meant to the Veteran most involved in my life...

Dad, home on leave, from the Navy in 1945.

Later I learned what it meant to an uncle...

USAAF 1943 photo - yeah, that award is what you think it is...

Then I made friends with someone who had a double appreciation of the day...

The Inner Prop, getting his due, with BG(ret) Dad along side...

Then I became a brother in arms to one who has an awful lot to remember this day...

CSM Bones being decorated by the French contingent in Afghanistan, 2009.

I rather think I am in good company, yes?

Me, at a FARP in NE Iraq, Fall 2008.

There are so many other veterans I have learned from - my old Explorer Post leader, my boss at my very first part time job while in High School, teachers, co-workers. I like to think I have managed to take a little from all of their experiences and now, our common bond. I would hope all of you could do the same with veterans you know.

One Year Home

2009-11-05T07:28:00.001-06:00

Exactly one year ago today, I stumbled off a plane at the Topeka Airport, got on a bus and was hauled to Fort Riley to start demobilizing.

Seems like it wasn't all that long ago.

A Parting Thought for the American Legion

2009-11-02T08:58:00.001-06:00

From my non-renewal of membership:

To Post ___,

I shall not be renewing my membership with the Post, or the American Legion. Please remove me from the mailing list.

Should you care for an explanation, I can give two small recollections that stand out in my mind; The first is from 2004, when my wife delivered my membership renewal in person to the Post (I was in Afghanistan at the time) When my wife explained that she was dropping it off, since I was deployed overseas, she got a total response of “Okay, thanks”. The second was when I emailed the Post in 2007 to mention that I would once again be gone for a year or more (this time deploying to Iraq) – I received a total response of “Okay, good luck”.

If this is the support a Legionnaire can expect while at war …

Am I sleeping??

2009-10-12T22:19:00.001-05:00

Meet the People Who Were Passed Over for President Obama's virtual award. There is a price he is expected to pay for this. Wait and see.

Sima Samar, women's rights activist in Afghanistan: "With dogged persistence and at great personal risk, she kept her schools and clinics open in Afghanistan even during the most repressive days of the Taliban regime, whose laws prohibited the education of girls past the age of eight. When the Taliban fell, Samar returned to Kabul and accepted the post of Minister for Women's Affairs."

Ingrid Betancourt: French-Colombian ex-hostage held for six years.

Dr. Denis Mukwege: Doctor, founder and head of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. He has dedicated his life to helping Congolese women and girls who are victims of gang rape and brutal sexual violence."

Handicap International and Cluster Munition Coalition: "These organizations are recognized for their consistently serious efforts to clean up cluster bombs, also known as land mines. Innocent civilians are regularly killed worldwide because the unseen bombs explode when stepped upon.

Hu Jia, a human rights activist and an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, who was sentenced last year to a three-and-a-half-year prison term for 'inciting subversion of state power.

Wei Jingsheng, who spent 17 years in Chinese prisons for urging reforms of China's communist system. He now lives in the United States."

Awarded for "Potential" not "Accomplishment"

Fallen Warriors TF Phoenix VIII/33rd IBCT Final Salute

2009-10-08T13:41:00.004-05:00

Golden Cross!

33rd IBCT End of Mission Video for TF Phoenix VIII

2009-10-08T12:42:00.004-05:00

Tell me what you think.

Golden Cross!!

Fifth Star - DENIED!

2009-10-02T11:54:00.004-05:00

I am very sad to here this story. I was hoping that my city could showcase itself and provide another image beside Al Capone etc.

I'll be really interested to hear WHY we were voted out in the first round.

Cthulhu Sighting At Illini6!

2009-10-01T06:32:00.004-05:00

Guess what washed up at Illini6, another spawn of Cthulhu Month!

This is the third year that Inner Prop is posting a Cthulhu image a day during October.

Why not come join the fun, and if you have a Cthulhu image let him know and maybe he'll post it, if it is safe for humanity to know.

Inner Prop is also conveying a story that he's been keeping to himself for four years now. It's about something that happened while deployed to LA after Hurricane Katrina. LTC John can attest to some of the story's veracity, but no body has ever heard the whole story, before now.

BTW, why is Inner Prop writing in the third person, and would someone please help the poor man in the photo. That spawn of Cthulhu has clearly seized him by the hands and intends to do him harm. Help him someone!

A recommendation

2009-09-30T21:50:00.002-05:00

Tempus 42 recommended I see whatever I could of the Flight of the Conchords. Be damned if he wasn't right on target.

I happen to appreciate many things from New Zealand - this bunch (Bret, Jemaine and Murray) just happens to be the latest. If the idea of "New Zealand's #4 folk novelty band" moving to New York to try and make it big appeals to your sense of humor - check it out.

Oh, and they have some of their music on 2 different CDs too...

I guess it really is the WORLD WIDE Web

2009-09-25T09:05:00.002-05:00

When you look at your last 100 visitors and see Mongolia, Nepal, Australia, India....Europe, the Middle East, Scandinavia, Britain, North America... wow. I hope they weren't all spammers, heh.

Want to see some happy people?

2009-09-23T14:06:00.003-05:00

The welcome home for CSM Bones and Friends (the HQ of the 33rd Brigade Combat Team):

Leadership

2009-09-22T08:36:00.006-05:00

After two tours in Afghanistan and watching our Soldiers fight and sacrifice all alongside our Afghan partners, now I am told that that we really have no strategy from my Commander's administration. Listen to the General you appointed last spring. Give your Leaders in the Field and the Afghans we have promised to help what they need.

Watch this video of Krauthammer discussing the lack of real interest from the White House for anything besides Letterman at this moment

Never Again or "Service and Rememberance"?

2009-09-11T11:57:00.002-05:00

I heard a brief soundbite of the President proclaiming today the first "National Day of Service and Rememberance" for today. The idea appears to be to catch the coming together spirit and harness it for ... something good, I guess.

I am sure some are quite angry that this day is appearing to be co-opted to turn into something other than what (especially the families of those who died that day) it has been. I think this, unintentionally dilutes the real meaning of 9-11-01.

I think it should be more about "Never Again".

Old Boy's Rugby

2009-08-30T21:06:00.003-05:00

The two dashing second row for the Illinois Men's Rugby Football Club Old Boy's... well, two of us anyways. We didn't do badly [we managed to beat the current University Club side] and my only harm of note was wholly earned on my part - I did not get away from a ball quick enough and was encouraged to do so by a player from the other team stomping on my left wrist. I did leave quite quickly after that. No major harm, and I deserved it.

Oh, and yes, I do feel a bit, um, not as flexible today.

DoD vs EMAC?

2009-08-14T08:49:00.001-05:00

This little article from The Hill got me to thinking. Are the Governors right to be skeptical?

I am quite sure these folks would say "@#$% yes!"

I have to be very careful when I look at my past experience with Domestic emergencies - it was lousy and embittering. Well, I should say Katrina was, the Mississippi Floods of 1993 were not.

The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is an agreement between States (and DC, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Guam) to provide assistance to each other - National Guard, police, and the like. It covers Command and Control, reimbursement and liability issues. It was blessed off on by Congress in Public Law 104-321, October 1996.The Governors feel they have a proper framework in place and the DoD is nosing in where it is not needed.

Anyways, I think the Governors are very correct to be cautious - they have learned the hard way, and through the EMAC, they have the means to get the help they need. I'd have to be convinced that this really is necessary. Anyone care to do so?

[crossposted at Milblogs]

If you happen to be in Phoenix, in October

2009-08-09T07:19:00.002-05:00

Perhaps you could go see this show.

For more info on the group, see here.

Good, in-depth reporting from Afghanistan

2009-08-08T09:49:00.002-05:00

In an ever shrinking media staffing environment, the Chicago Tribune has managed to send a pair of reporters/photographers to Afghanistan along with the large Illinois National Guard contingent. Their reporting is top notch - see this particular article as an example.

If you would like to see their whole body of work, go here.

Special Delivery

2009-08-04T07:07:00.003-05:00

CSM Bones sends this picture of a mortar crew of the 1-178 INF sending their best to our enemies in Afghanistan, one round at a time.

We've got a friend...no, not really.

2009-07-30T11:49:00.003-05:00

This probably didn't win too many friends in the insurance industry. I don't work in the health field and I'm still a bit miffed. Is this part of that whole post-partisan, no more finger pointing thing I had heard about last year?

"You immoral insurance #$%*!"

"I strike you with the Rising Palm of Populism Technique!"

Monticello, WI

2009-07-23T16:28:00.003-05:00

Off of Highway 69 in Wiconsin, Monticello is the small town Midwest in a nutshell:

The M&M Cafe is the ideal small town diner experience.

I was a bit startled to see the Huber sign... God love 'em, they are still around. Sort of.

[click photos to enlarge]

New Glarus Brewery, New Glarus WI

2009-07-21T18:20:00.003-05:00

The best makers of beer around have moved...all of a mile up the road. If you find yourself on Highway 69 in Wisconsin, heading north out of Monticello (OK, or Monroe) watch on the west side of the road. Stop in and check the new facility out.

As these folks are very loyal to their home grown customers, they have sales in a restricted area. But with this new capacity...God willing and the creek don't rise, we may actually see New Glarus Beer back in places outside of Southern Wisconsin.

Basic Trainee, meet 23 years of service Officer

2009-07-16T08:32:00.005-05:00

I found an old snapshot of me at Basic Training in 1985 - they took one and sent it attached to a form letter to your home, to prove you had not run off and joined the circus or somesuch. No, it was worse...you had joined the Infantry!

This was me last Fall, at a FARP outside of the Baghdad metro area. Why the heck was I smiling?!

Dishonor

2009-07-09T12:44:00.004-05:00

I just happened to have been in the same Task Force as this admitted criminal. For the first 5 months in country, I was the Task Force XO, and he was the S-4. Really, I was an XO in name only, as my real responsibilities were dealing with the massive influx and departure of thousands of troops through BAF. I clashed with West many times, and thought very little of him - but never got into a position to do anything substantive about him.

When our Task Force changed names (from Dragon to Eagle) and mission (we were given Civil Affiars and Security responsibility for a 100km square area around BAF) I moved over to the Civil Affairs job (S-5) and found that while dealing with CERP (Commander's Emergency Response Program) funds, West was sloppy, but not criminal. Probably because I had oversight of the money...and he knew I didn't care for him one whit.

Just before we left Afghanistan, one of his partners in crime was caught. He remained behind, having a nice chat with the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) people. Apparently CID got enough from him to set up the investigation that swept up West, Patton and their Afghan comrades in crime.

The TV report is mostly correct - some errors; West was not given a BSM for valor, he was not in charge of Base Operations (there were two different Colonels that were, and I think the second one scared West a bit, he seemed to lay lower when that Colonel was in command) and a "Bronze Medal" is something given out at the Olympics a "Bronze Star" is the award in question.

Why? See Below.

2009-07-04T08:19:00.004-05:00

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the
public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.