The Iran hostage crisis (British remake)

It's happening again.

Iranian protesters stormed two diplomatic compounds in Tehran, This time it was the British that were the victims.

"The attacks come at a time of rising diplomatic tension between Iran and Western nations who last week imposed fresh sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program which they believe is aimed at achieving the capability of making an atomic bomb."

OK, lets look at some of the facts. (Oh look! I'm making another list!)
1. Two diplomatic compounds were 'stormed'
2. Diplomatic compounds are sovereign soil.
3. 'Stormed' seems to be politician double talk for INVADED.
4. The Embassy's defenders were in life threatening danger. The invaders were throwing Molotov cocktails.
5. The Brits would have had EVERY RIGHT, morally and legally, to open fire.


If This were to happen to the US embassy, And I were in charge.
1. Guards open fire.
2. Spin up the fleet. Aim EVERY gun at the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejads (AKA Mahmoud Ah-ma-nut-job) house.
3. Send Message, "Make them stop, You have 20 seconds to comply... 19"
4. If it doesn't. Bye bye palace.
5. Bye bye nuclear plant.
6. Bye bye Mahmoud Ah-ma-nut-job.

Jimmy Carter tried the 'diplo-dunk' approach, and is considered one of our weakest presidents EVER. Next to the anti-American CLOWN we have now.

When is the world going to wake up?
This is no different than handling bullies.
Bullies don't pick on a person able to defend themselves, They pick on the weak.
Muggers don't attack the 30 year old martial arts instructor carrying a Glock, They attack the 75 year old senior citizen with a walker.

But with Obama cutting our military past the bone, we are becoming the easy target. Did you know that with the retirement of the USS Enterprise (the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier) in 2012 We will be down to only 10 aircraft carriers? Than is the lowest number since 1943? In a world were studies and experts say 15 US carriers are needed.

We need to start "Speaking softly and carrying a Big Stick". Where are the Teddy Roosevelts when we need them.

"We need intellect, and there is no reason why we should not have it together with character; but if we must choose between the two we choose character without a moment's hesitation." ~ Theodore Roosevelt


Dan Emplit WBFD
USN 1986 - 1992
Rabidly Pro-American and PROUD of it.

DIVORCE AGREEMENT

From the Email inbox

####
DIVORCE AGREEMENT
--WRITTEN BY YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT--
5 STAR RATING:


The person that wrote this is a college student. Perhaps there is hope for us after all.

DIVORCE AGREEMENT
THIS IS SO INCREDIBLY WELL PUT AND I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT'S BY A YOUNG PERSON, A STUDENT!!! WHATEVER HE RUNS FOR, I'LL VOTE FOR HIM.

Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama supporters, et al: We have stuck together since the late 1950's for the sake of the kids, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has clearly run its course.
Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what
is right for us all, so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.

Here is a model separation agreement:
--Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a similar portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.
--We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them.
--You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU.
--Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military.
--We'll take the nasty, smelly oil industry and you can go with wind, solar and biodiesel.
--You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell. You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them.
--We'll keep capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street.
--You can have your beloved lifelong welfare dwellers, food stamps, homeless, homeboys, hippies, druggies and illegal aliens.
--We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks.
--We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood
--You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us.
--You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.
--We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values.
--You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, political correctness and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N. but we will no longer be paying the bill.
--We'll keep the SUV's, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Volt and Leaf you can find.
--You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors.
--We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right.
--We'll keep "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "The National Anthem." I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute "Imagine", "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", "Kum Ba Ya" or "We Are the World".
--We'll practice trickle down economics and you can continue to give trickle up poverty your best shot.
--Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag.

Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like-minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you answer which one of us will need whose help in 15 years.
Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

P.S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin & Charlie Sheen, Barbara Streisand, & (Hanoi) Jane Fonda with you.

P.S.S. And you won't have to press 1 for English when you call our country.
####
Add "Mayors against Illegal Guns" which is not really against "illegal guns" but is in fact "anti-gun" and is actually part of the "Brady Campaign", and it sounds good to me.
I wish politicians would remember this country was founded on 'Individual Rights' and not what THEY believe is the greater good.

Dan Emplit WBFD

Thanksgiving

Please take the time to remember those who can not be home for the holidays. Having been someone who couldn't be home, I know that even the smallest message from home can mean more than most will ever know.



God bless those who serve, in all our armed forces (even the jarheads), Thank you.
You are the reason this country is great.


Dan Emplit WBFD
USN 1986 - 1992

It shouldn't have happened

48 years ago today, the unthinkable happened. John F. Kennedy was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza. Kennedy was shot while traveling with his wife Jacqueline, governor John Connally, and Connally's wife.

30 minutes later, after all heart activity had ceased and after a priest administered the last rites, the President was pronounced dead.

The Warren Commission, in a 10 month investigation, concluded that the President was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. However the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded (in 1979) that President John F. Kennedy was probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.

Was Oswald the assassin? Did he work alone? I believe so. Would I bet on it? NO.
What matters most is that one of the three darkest days in recent U.S. history happened. The other two are Pearl Harbor and 9/11.



John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy
May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963 Age 46
RIP

Dan Emplit WBFD

Is it beginning?

In my 18 years, I've seen 3 fire house closings and three Engines (plus our now 'part time' Engine)& a Truck go out of service. It follows something of a predictable pattern.

The Engine becomes a reserve Engine (Last night the 'new' front line engine from South Station was filling in for Engine 2 at Hollenback, even though a reserve engine was available and even though South Station was manned all day. South Station had to use the 20 year old reserve).

Equipment starts 'disappearing' from the Engine or it doesn't get new equipment. (This has been going on for a while)

Equipment needed for building maintenance starts disappearing from the Engine house. (The 24 foot ladder we need to change the lights in the very high ceilings is gone, we had to borrow a floor buffer, etc.)

Repairs to the building get put on the back burner.

Upgrades to the building don't happen.


Is this Engine 3 or a reserve piece now?



Why? I guess some parts of our city are 'more' equal than others.

Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote

A little slow, aren't they?

PennDOT and Luzerne County to Close the Division Street Bridge, Wilkes Barre




I posted about this on Saturday, September 11, 2010. And the bridge has been off limits to Fire Engines since, so city hall knew.

Oh and BTW, it's NOT 230 feet from Carey Ave. It's about 30 feet.

Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote

.22 vs Skulls.... I mean Coconuts

With all the country obsessed with zombies, I thought I'd try an experiment.
Several people have touted the .22LR as the perfect round for slow 'Romero' style zombies. I know, you don't know if you should laugh because of 'zombies' or that some people think a .22 can penetrate a skull at any real distance. But hey with "The Walking Dead" being a hit show, I've heard several people asking if the .22 could work.
And I rolled my eyes at the thought.
First off, the .22 is NOT a combat round. It is a training round, and a fun to shoot round. By NO measure a combat round.
Now back to my experiment.
Since I couldn't get anyone to volunteer to be shot in the head (Damn you all, It's for science!!), I had to look to alternatives. So standing in for a skull, I used coconuts. A doctor friend remembered reading that a coconut is slightly stronger than the strongest part of a human skull and was used to test helmets in the '30s (before moving on to animal testing).
The weapons, A Ruger Mark II.

And A Smith & Wesson M&P 15/22

For a visual comparison, here's a .45ACP next to a .22LR with a nickel thrown in for gauge


My plan was simple. I'd set 2 coconuts (one for the pistol and one for the rifle) at 100 yards, 50 yards, and at around 20 yards. I would start at the 50 yard range and work from there.
I expected these results. The pistol would be ineffective at 50 and 100 yards. And marginal at 20. The rifle would be ineffective at 100 yards, marginal at 50, and effective at 20. I expected this because the .22 is known for ricocheting off curved surfaces, and it is a low power cartridge.

Well here is the 50 yard pistol hit.

Above is the entrance. Below is the exit.

WOW. Not at all what I expected.
So I tried again at 100 yds (And tried and tried and tried, you try to hit a coconut at 100 yards with a .22 pistol without a bench rest)

It entered but did not exit. I did this multiple times (I have 1 coconut left out of 6).
Results? I have to up my opinion of the .22LR, It would work in a 'Walking Dead' scenerio. But, I still wouldn't bet my life on it if I had a better option.

Dan Emplit WBFD

Rioting is NOT going to fix the problem

What the HELL is wrong with the students of Penn State? Acting like a pack of bloodthirsty piranha REALLY shows how mature the future generation is. Rolling over a news van will get the press on your side. NOT.
I understand that the a$$hats at Penn State used Coach Joe Paterno as a sacrificial lamb. As I understand it, he did what he was supposed to do. Reported what he knew to his, then, respected superior, and then Paterno went back to his job. He is not an investigator. And he was burned for not doing a job, that is not his and he is not trained for, by the board of trustees.
BUT THAT DOES NOT GIVE THESE CHILDREN THE RIGHT TO RIOT. I'll admit I never understood the worship of the alter of football (or any other sport), but even that worship, when betrayed, does NOT give these INFANTILE students the right to riot.
Each and every student that can be identified should be forced to make restitution, do the legal punishment (jail time, community service, whatever fits the crime they are identified doing), and be EXPELLED.

Really rolling a news van will get Paterno back in the (coaching) drivers seat.
Rioting and the destruction of private (not Penn State) property will change things for the better.



Do these STUPID crowd mentality CRIMINALS know that if 'the book is not thrown at them', then it will be like telling all the other immature idiots that this kind of destruction is accepted?

To the students who were involved:
Do you realize that you are playing the game the board of trustees wants you to? Now everyone will be looking at the riots and NOT the board of trustees.

MORONS.

Dan Emplit WBFD

It's been more than 30 days

Leighton was more concerned with the re-election than our safety. Need proof? Walk down River St.
Battle over razing Hotel Sterling brews
Well it's been over 45 days and not one thing has changed with the Hotel Sterling. Not one word in weeks. Not one move to MAKE Cityvest demolish the building or pay.
Someone with clout should put some heat on the powers-that-be, or the traffic tie ups and safety concerns will continue.
Leighton and his administration hasn't done anything. Where is 'his' outrage that Cityvest:
1 Let such a magnificent building be destroyed by neglect.
2 Tried to get the Taxpayers to pay for the demolition.
3 Lied, saying the flood put the building in such a bad state (well, OK Leighton couldn't say that. He was also involved)
4 Stole $6 million + from the taxpayers.

On a different note. Everyone who was wondering, the answer is,"I ain't going away."

Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote

From the Email inbox

Subject: UNBELIEVABLE waste of money


UNBELIEVABLE
How do they vote in the United Nations?
Below are the actual voting records of various Arabic/Islamic States which are recorded in both the US State Department and United Nations records:

Kuwait votes against the United States 67% of the time
Qatar votes against the United States 67% of the time
Morocco votes against the United States 70% of the time
United Arab Emirates votes against the U. S. 70% of the time.
Jordan votes against the United States 71% of the time.
Tunisia votes against the United States 71% of the time.
Saudi Arabia votes against the United States 73% of the time.
Yemen votes against the United States 74% of the time.
Algeria votes against the United States 74% of the time.
Oman votes against the United States 74% of the time.
Sudan votes against the United States 75% of the time.
Pakistan votes against the United States 75% of the time.
Libya votes against the United States 76% of the time.
Egypt votes against the United States 79% of the time.
Lebanon votes against the United States 80% of the time.
India votes against the United States 81% of the time.
Syria votes against the United States 84% of the time.
Mauritania votes against the United States 87% of the time.

U S Foreign Aid to those that hate us:
Egypt, for example, after voting 79% of the time against the United States, still receives $2 billion annually in US Foreign Aid.
Jordan votes 71% against the United States
And receives $192,814,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.
Pakistan votes 75% against the United States
Receives $6,721,000,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.
India votes 81% against the United States
Receives $143,699,000 annually.
WHY? ARE WE HEADED BACKWARDS?
WHO IN THE HECK STARTED THIS AND WHY?
THEY ACTUALLY BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS THEM.

Perhaps it is time to get out of the UN and give the tax savings back to the American workers who are having to skimp and sacrifice to pay the taxes.

Pass this along to every taxpaying citizen you know.
GO GREEN - RECYCLE CONGRESS IN 2012!!!(If you don't know any taxpayers just delete it!)

Somethings to think about on Tuesday

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday. It's not just a right (that not everyone in the world has) it is our responsibility.
And I would like you to think about some things.



The security system debacle also don't forget the lies that they paid all the monthly fees.

Campaigning inside the polling location at Kistler Elementary School, remember, It's ILLEGAL.

The Ice rink that saved W-B, HOW????

How's the Pine Ridge development coming along?

The Old river Road bakery sweetheart deal (Really, 8 cents on the dollar?)

Lies to the County to get Tax forgiveness for his campaign contributor

Selling property to a campaign contributor for LESS THAN THE CITY PAYED FOR THE PROPERTY



LAG towing NOT living up to its contract

Leighton and cityvest tried to scam the Feds into paying for the Sterlings demolition. Even though they have access to EVEN MORE data than I have.

Nepotism is AGAINST THE LAW.

The upgrades, for the PD and FD, that have been promised, and still haven't happened.

Hollenback Fire Station.... Built in a flood plain. Only South Fire Station is above the flood plain.

Paying $27 million for the $12 million Intermodel center. (Wonder how that contractor links to Leighton)

Parking on Coal street, which wouldn't (and still might not) have been fixed if this wasn't an election year.

The arrogance, like "I'm not saying he's getting it," Leighton said Wednesday. "And I'm not saying he's not getting it."

Insulting taxpayers because he does not 'like' them

The $17 million Riverfront that has no parking and no bathrooms

His campaigning on city time?

The $225,000 the city had to pay Bob Kadluboski (of City-Wide Towing) after violating his contract with the city.

The money that was spent on the city attorneys to fight the wrong fights

The cuts to public safety to fund HIS pet projects

The largely worthless camera system (How many MILLIONS was that?)

Raised taxes and fees to an all time high.

The outright lies to us (The citizens of Wilkes-Barre)

Ignoring the Lloyds Study (which states the minimum FD manning per shift is 17) and cutting manning to 12 per shift

Blaming anyone else for his faults

The $220,000+ in legal fees Denise Careys lawyer is seeking from the city

Oh and don't forget, Violating Constitutional Rights. TWICE.

And WAY TO MUCH MORE.



Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote

It must be contagious

The Citizens Voice reported today that Tony Thomas has stiffed Harry's Market for better than $16,000. The bills go back about two and a half YEARS.

I've got to say, with our councils belief that they are some sort of nobility, this doesn't surprise me in any way. And Tony Thomas has always given me that 'sleazy used car salesman' feel.

He was part of the 'last minute' attempt to change the way we elect council, Thomas himself told me months before that they were going to try.

The vacations on the city dime to study 'splash parks'.

And rubber stamping ANYTHING that Leighton puts in front of him.

I have no doubt that Bruce Fendler will have to fight for his money.
Why? The dictator has gotten away with it for about 3 years. As far as I know Denise Carey still hasn't gotten her money, and the only reason she may? The court order for Leightons personal fiances.

Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote