I was a bit confused when I first heard that the US Government was shutting down because Congress had an issue getting their job done.
It turns out that certain arms of the government are not going to receive their funding so they started their quickest way of saving money - sending the employees off on unpaid leave or furlough.
According to my calculations, based on an article in the New York Times, 784,710 of the just under 2 million employees affected will go on furlough.
784710/2000000 = 0.392355
So 39%.
Not much really.
So why all the furore? Maybe because Washington's trash won't be picked up.
Or is it because Al Gore might just turn off the internet as he walks out of his office?
I am very interested in the US Constitution, especially the 2nd Amendment Rights which is the section protecting the citizen's right to bear arms. 2nd Amendment Rights are a hot topic at the moment, and I guess have been for years.
Please, please, please, don't send the scrapings from the bottom of the barrel to argue your case. Ever.
Sadly, John Oliver, one of the greatest comedians of this decade, manages to pull apart this spokesperson and make him look like a fool. The 2nd Amendment rights also look bad after this, which it shouldn't.
As the immutable Lazy Bum that I am, I try to learn from my mistakes, and from others'. Wirecutter at Knuckledragging My Life Away has shared with us a list of what his father imparted to him.
is a retired Army Warrant Officer, came up through the ranks, did 3 tours in Viet Nam, the whole bit. He was raised up poor (the son of a lumberjack) the grandson of a gambler/lawman/outlaw from Arizona. Let's just say Pops is hard. And he raised me the same way.
So what can we learn from him? His language is not the most 'poetic' - you have been warned!!
I have given praise to Michael Yon before. Now he is passing on the praise to another visitor to Afghanistan, David Guttenfelder. Mr Guttenfelder is an amazing photographer and doesn't feel afraid about going into the field with the troops.
Sadly I can't quite get the high quality images he does on his website so go there and see the originals. Its worth seeing what the troops are really going through over there.
I blogged about M-ATVs a while ago in 'Me wants one. Or two' and today The Marine Corps Systems Command has announced that only 3 months after placing the first order they are deploying the M-ATV to Afghanistan.
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2009 – With unprecedented speed, the first of thousands of mine-resistant, ambush-protected all-terrain vehicles —known as M-ATVs -- are being deployed to Afghanistan just three months after a delivery order was awarded.
Conventional MRAP vehicles feature a V-shaped hull to deflect roadside bombs, and are proven to be lifesavers on the battlefield. The procurement of the M-ATV grew from an urgent requirement to provide troops a smaller and more maneuverable vehicle that can travel off-road and navigate Afghanistan's difficult, mountainous terrain, Marine Corps Systems Command officials said.
“We have pulled out all the stops to collapse the schedule and get these vehicles into theater,” said Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Michael M. Brogan, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command and joint program executive officer of the MRAP program. “We are doing everything that’s required to ensure that they are safe, that the risk assessments are complete, [and] that they’re fully integrated and flown into Afghanistan.”
The M-ATV supports small-unit combat operations in highly restricted rural, mountainous and urban environments that include mounted patrols, reconnaissance, security, convoy protection, communications, command and control, and combat service support. It is designed to replace the up-armored Humvee in Afghanistan. The M-ATV will carry up to five personnel: four plus a gunner.
The Defense Department has ordered more than 4,300 of the all-terrain mine-resistant trucks, and another 1,400 are planned. Oshkosh Corp. is producing the vehicles.
They really do look very mean don't they? Let's just hope they save lives and keep the boys safe over there.
