Here’s the caption for the photo:

Lightning bolts appear above and around the Chaiten volcano as seen from Chana, some 30 kms (19 miles) north of the volcano, as it began its first eruption in thousands of years, in southern Chile May 2, 2008. Cases of electrical storms breaking out directly above erupting volcanos are well documented, although scientists differ on what causes them. Picture taken May 2, 2008.
REUTERS/Carlos Gutierrez (CHILE)

So the scientists don’t understand basic electrical theory? Did I miss something?

Thanks go out to all of my friends in cyber-land for your patience with me over the course of the years. Your faith and inspiration is the only reason I’m still here. A special hat tip goes out to the Gray Dog and John Kerry for influencing me during the 2004 election cycle. Kerry was the last straw for this Vietnam Vet and was the ultimate wakeup call. The Gray Dog made me realize we could still make a difference, and that the war was still at hand, just in a different realm.

Our latest additions to the web:

Rurik has assembled a good team that you need to check out. Thumbs up to all of you!

I try to ignore the gravity of our current situation for the most part, but physics always wins out in the long run folks. It’s like everything else: you either learn to live with it, or die trying. After all, life is a challenge by nature. If it isn’t, well, you’re probably just not doing something right.

IOR would also like to welcome James Rawles to the blog roll.

Here’s the picture I used for the above graphics. It’s the bugs bottom taken from the backside of the web.

Here’s the view from topside.

Exodus emailed me right after this turn of events. He was in the immediate area fixing a printer problem when it went down. And no, I’m not talking about the printer. Yikes!

Karzai escapes deadly Taliban attack on parade

My good friends Gray Dog and Ron Winter both attended the Gathering of Eagles in DC March 14-15 2008. I received my signed copy of his book today. Thanks Gray Dog, it’s an excellent read, very hard to put down. Ron does an excellent job of explaining what it takes to be a Marine and how you get there. Thanks go out to both of you!

Update 04/21/08: Well as it turns out, I couldn’t put it down and finished it last night. Vietnam was a whole lot different than it was portrayed by the MSM, as is still the case today. Those of us who fought along side of our Montagnard and Vietnamese friends gave it our all and know the true story. We’ve seen the man behind the curtain…….

Netanyahu: ‘We won’t be able to deter nuclear Iran’

Iran threatens to eliminate Israel

Carter embraces Hamas official at West Bank meeting

I think we have a problem Houston………….

By Alex J. Pollock

“The ultimate failure of the Greenspan Gamble notwithstanding, the Fed will continue to be extremely useful in helping ameliorate busts and financial panics, just as it was intended to do in 1913. Its usefulness to the government insures its continued influence and authority, which may very possibly include acquiring wider jurisdiction as the “Super Fed.”

But it is foolish to think that the Fed (or “Super Fed”) can foresee all future problems or prevent future bubbles and busts. It is even foolish to think that the Fed will consistently make correct forecasts of the results of its own actions.

After all, everybody, no matter how clever and diligent, no matter how many economists and computers one employs, makes mistakes when it comes to predicting the future.”

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A couple of years ago a friend loaned me this book, and I do have to admit that it was real hard to put it down for very long. Some of the parallels between that story line and todays events just can’t be ignored. Could something like this actually come to pass?

Click here to read an excerpt from the book.

The Vets For Freedom tour culminated in DC today and was covered first hand by some of IOR’s favorite bloggers.

Jonn has some good first hand coverage of the events (pictures and video) HERE.

Uncle Jimbo at Black Five did one hell of a nice job putting this one together, and is to be commended for is dedication to our military forces and his love for America. Bravo!

JD hit the nail on the head with this one……. Nice job my friend.

Copyright © J. D. Pendry 2008 All Right Reserved.

Considering the breadth of recorded human history, the United States of America has barely achieved adolescence in its 232 years. In such a brief flash of time, we have become the pot of gold at the end of the world’s rainbow. Many come here, or desire to, because of that. Many want to destroy us, or desire to, because of that. Our existence is an awkward one led by constantly changing voices and with a personality prone to outbursts resembling teenage hormonal turmoil. It is turmoil that results either in a fiery crash at the end of a hairpin turn or an epiphany that allows for a transformation into responsible adulthood. We are in the middle of one of those tumultuous periods now. How we navigate through it just might determine whether we continue to grow as a great nation, or whether we become a brief passage in the recorded annals of the world.
One of my mentors told me that those in your charge will go where you lead them. Likewise, the USA will go where its elected politicians lead it. Scanning the horizon of future leaders makes me feel like I need to fill my pockets with as much as I can grab from our pot of gold and head for the hills. Another mentor of mine advised me that I would do fine in life if I could avoid three things - liars and thieves. I believe that it is no longer possible to do that. Not only can they not be avoided, we tolerate them and have put many of them in charge of protecting our pot of gold.

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In a few short months, the young and relatively unknown politician Barack Hussein Obama may very well be elevated to the presidency of the United States and command the mightiest military in world history.

Would the eloquent and charismatic Obama unite, inspire and renew a troubled nation, as tens of millions of voters passionately believe? Or is it possible he’s a Manchurian candidate – harboring an ominous secret agenda few understand, a man destined to wreak havoc on America should he become president?

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BB King and Gary Moore. Now that’s a good combination…

This ones for you Mary Lamb. Oh, and by the way, you look nice in that outfit…..

This is also a tribute to my good friend ChromeDome who lost his pretty woman last week. We’ll miss her…………

Exodus called from Ali Al Salem, Kuwait earlier today. He’ll spend a week or so there, and then fly into Bagrame before the final road trip or flight into Kabul, Afghanistan.
Heh, now that’s what I call getting around………..

From Hawaii to the dessert in a week is just the seasons passing Exodus. You’ll be in Afghanistan before long and the seasons will have changed once again. At least the weather anyhow. That’s always a good thing, unless of course, Al Gore is involved.

Update March 29! I received an email from my lad this morning. He made it to Afghanistan (Bagrame Air Base) and will be leaving for Kabul shortly. Fixing computers for a living just took on a whole new meaning with that move.

Update April 1! Exodus finally made it to Kabul. He had to take the long way around (3 hours) via C-130 and some stops at some other bases first.

I’ll post a follow-up and pictures as I receive them. He’s been kind of busy lately…….

Update April 4!

Exodus phoned in from Kabul. He’s got his own room in the basement of a safe-house a 1/4 mile from Camp Eggers and is doing just fine. 12 hour days working on computers and nothing to do in your spare time. What a life!

Exspider/out/feeding the fire/the web is spun…………………………….

From Gray Dog:

Eagle Pride Rolls Through Berkeley

Nice Job MC!

From Flopping Aces:

Eagles Up! In Berkeley Today

And the beat goes on…..

H/T also goes out to Move America Forward!

and

William (1stCav) Page who sent me the following link:
Protest Shooter Pictures from Berkeley

H/T to Flopping Aces for the link. And I do agree with the Reverend Wright on one point. Yep, sure enough, the chickens have come home to roost.

But the Eagles still soar…..

Give me a Thomas Sowell or Walter Williams to vote for please. Obama doesn’t quite get it.

H/T to Hot Air and United Conservatives of Virginia for bringing this to my attention. Click on the picture for the video.

RIP Mike.

Update April 8

Hot Air has a link to the video of the ceremony.

Video: Michael Monsoor awarded Medal of Honor

I married an Irish girl and have no regrets, other than the fact that she didn’t come with a leprechaun and a pot of gold. She did however give me my son and a wonderful life, so that’s a whole better deal in the long run.

And yes, that’s a porta-potty at the end of that rainbow! What a shot…

H/T to Pelk for the picture. We both served with the 102nd CS in Vietnam. He’s Irish also, and a fine old lad indeed.

An Obamanation

It’s unfair the Obamatons howl,
To charge guilt by association;
Our boy has committed no foul;
He’s just one of the congregation.
While sitting there twenty long years,
As the reverend spewed out his odium,
Naught wafted into those large ears,
But spittle and froth from the podium?

No such tirades did I ever see,
Says Obama now that it’s news;
No rants about AIDS heard by me,
Nor venomous bile aimed at Jews.
You cherry pick dribbles and bites
From sermons of many long years;
You say my preacher hates whites?
My goodness that’s news to my ears!

But a man picks a church like a wife,
As a comfortable mate for his soul,
With commonly shared views of life;
They are parts of the man as a whole.
So Obama is welcome to try
To convince us that his soul is pure,
But it’s just a political lie;
He buys into his preacher’s manure.

Why else then sit in that church pew,
With children and wife at your side?
If you truly do not share the world view,
Of your hate-spewing spiritual guide?
Yet now you denounce Jeremiah,
In your quest for power and station;
He’s a conveniently banished pariah;
Barack, you’re an Obamanation.

H/T to bdfaith at Old War Dogs!

Nice job Russ!!!!!

Fighting the Insurgency at Home
Action Alert

Who: Gathering of Eagles, Eagles Up!, Rolling Thunder, and more!
What: Eagles Muster to denounce Winter Soldier II
Where: Washington, DC and Silver Springs, MD
When: Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15.

Gray Dog has a photo gallery posted at Eagles Up. And yes, I’m proud to say I recognize some of these people. Thanks also go out to BC at StopLiberals.com for your support.

This Ain’t Hell has some good coverage of the events. Thanks Jonn!

The following Video is from the Young America’s Foundation and Hot Air.

United Conservatives of Virginia has a Winter Soldier II roundup. Check it out, it’s a good blog.
Winter Soldier Roundup from UCV

Exodus is the online moniker that my son uses. It actually fits in a way. We moved from Illinois to Texas when he was just a pup, and into a whole new world. Then the Navy gave him the opportunity to get out and around for a bit and see some of the rest of it. Dessert Storm came along and the USS Russell (DDG 59) and Exodus were about as far from home as one could possibly get.

He was based in Hawaii when he was discharged, decided to stick around, and has worked with computer systems to make a living ever since. He’s one of the smartest people I know, and it’s finally paid off for him. Exodus is now headed for Afghanistan to work on military computer systems, and will gear up this week at Ft. Benning before bouncing off of Kuwait for the final leg of the trip.
God speed my son.

Ironic Surrealism to say the least….. It’s almost as if I’ve been there.

“I want to warn Americans. As a people, you are very naïve about Russia and its intentions. You believe because the Soviet Union no longer exists, Russia now is your friend. It isn’t, and I can show you how the SVR is trying to destroy the U.S. even today and even more than the KGB did during the Cold War.” Sergei Tretyakov, KGB/SVR defector

If you read the news from day to day you will notice a gradual shift in the strategic balance. This year’s headlines are as representative as those found in previous years. Perhaps you’ve read about joint military exercises involving South Africa and Russia, South Africa and China, or North Korea acquiring uranium from Congo. Perhaps you noted the Communist victory in the Angolan Civil War. Maybe you’ve caught a glimpse of Europe’s growing anti-Americanism, or noticed stories about Russian weapons reaching insurgents in Iraq. How about a recent headline stating that “Germany wants a new strategic Partnership with Russia”?

We’re not supposed to worry about such things. We’re supposed to shop, that is, before the dollar sinks out of sight and the shopping mall regime ingloriously ends. What then? The Germans want a strategic partnership with Russia. This is perfectly logical. Germany needs Russia because Germany wants to feel safe, and Germany wants to be warm in the winter; and Russia needs Germany, right? It is now suggested that the European Union enter into special negotiations with Russia.

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There is a new book, sporting an old theme, authored by Yossef Bodansky. It is titled  Chechen Jihad: Al Qaeda’s Training Ground and the Next Wave of Terror. The main argument of the book may be summarized as follows: Al Qaeda has nuclear weapons, and some of these have probably been smuggled into the United States for use against American cities. The weapons are Soviet-made weapons, smuggled out of Russia courtesy of the Chechen mafia via the Chechen rebel state (i.e., “Al Qaeda’s Training Ground”). It is an old story, first told by Bodansky in 1999 and repeated in greater detail in this more recent volume.