RETIRED WARRANT

Another Group Project

Well, a new semester and a new group.

The only problem is that some of the people in this semester’s group were also in last semester’s group. And they are the one’s that didn’t contribute to the projects. One of the guys was kicked out of our group.

Well I have already fired of an e-mail that I am a little sorry about telling the people in the group that I will not tolerate slackers and folks that don’t have their stuff in on time. Right after that I got an e-mail from one of the new members of the group chastising me for being a little harsh.

I apologized to him and explained what was up and he seems to have settled down. I just really hate group work as most of the time I do the majority of the work, and I have managed to really get myself in a bad mood at having to be in a group with folks I know are dead beats.

Oh well, I guess everyone goes through that, but I have been a little testing on top of everything else due to my back problems. Tonight we have a group meeting so I will smooth any ruffled feathers.

Speaking of my back, I had a really great time at work today as I felt no pain at all, just an occasional numbness. The secret, I stopped doing the exercises that the Physical Therapist gave me to do. I will wait a couple more days for that as I think we started a bit too early. I still like the bathtub though. Anyway I guess that is it for today, as I have to get ready for chat and an online class.

Be careful riding the bus in San Diego

Well the wife just got a phone call a little while ago informing her that one of her students was stabbed on a city bus. She is on the phone with him right now and it seems that he is okay but it just goes to show that this town continues to go down hill.

Seems he was riding the bus home when he saw a couple of guys drinking beer on the bus, and I guess they were pretty loud so he called them on it. He told them they shouldn’t be drinking beer on the bus and if they didn’t stop he would tell the bus driver. Well they attacked and stabbed him.

Well the cops did manage to get them and he is in the hospital. I don’t know about you but I have found it better to just ignore the wild behavior that these punks demonstrate. It is a whole lot less trouble.

A few years back a friend and myself decided to go to a San Diego Padre game and to stay out of the parking nightmare we decided to catch the San Diego Trolley to and from the game. Instead of parking near the stadium and catching the trolley just a few stops, I parked down here in the South Bay (National City) and we went from there.

This was a big mistake.

Going there was not a hassle as it was still daylight and though crowded we got there without having to deal with the traffic nightmare, though it did cost us more to take the trolley then it would have been to park at Qualcomm Stadium. The game was good, a St. Louis Cardinal game while Mark McGwire was still playing. It was after the game ended that the fun began.

First we had to wait for a trolley with some room on it for us. We then had all the folks that had drank a few too many beers at the game. By the time we got downtown most of the people had departed the trolley, as they had parked near the stadium or transferred to another line or bus. As we were going through downtown we got a real good look at the homeless population of San Diego, taking their drugs, sleeping in doorways, and having sex in the bushes. It was a pretty disgusting sight and I made myself a pledge to never go downtown at night.

As we got further south the trolley turned into what I call the Gangland Express as all the punks with the baggy pants and shaved heads and earrings boarded. Well I have to tell you, by the time we got to the car we were wondering if we were going to get mugged or something as it was obvious we had money and were not your typical trolley riders.

Well I haven’t done that since.

Proud to be an American

Before going to bed tonight I happened to tune in to the news to see how the Iraqi election is going, and frankly I am proud to be an American right now.

It looks like the voters are out, even at the risk of their own lives to vote. I think this is great and am glad that while there is violence it is not near what was expected. A lot of folks worry about what kind of government they will select, but I don’t, as it is their choice. That is what this is all about.

So to the US Forces and the forces of the UK, Poland, Australia and all the other coalition forces, as well as their countrymen, congratulations. To France, Germany, Russia and others, how do you feel now? These elections are becoming a success despite your non-support.

For the liberal left, I hope you are watching, as you are being defeated again but by the Iraqi’s this time. Now we can start pulling our troops out, once things settle down after the election, as the terrorists have lost and will have to move on. They have also been defeated by this election.

As I go to bed tonight, I couldn’t be prouder of the folks that have served there, from all coalition forces. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride in my government.

So as I hit the pit tonight I will say a special prayer for the people of Iraq, that their elections continue to go smooth, and besides my nightly prayer that the troops stay safe I will say a prayer of thanks to them for making this happen.

Watch your SSN

Here in the United States of America everything is based upon your Social Security Number. From birth to death, your jobs, taxes, and benefits are all tracked using this number. You can not get a job without one. You have to get one for your children before you can claim them for tax purposes.

When I read this next story I grew really concerned. I have spent 49 years building a modest life for my wife and kids and to think that can all be wiped out by someone who entered this country unlawfully and somehow either through theft or by picking my number out of the blue scares the hell out of me.

The folks that are all for having the illegal aliens work here tell you they pay taxes, they pay social security, and they are not a drain on society. Ok so they pay taxes, with what, a fake SSN, meaning they are reporting their income under someone else’s account. That is all fine and good until the IRS finds that you have not claimed all this income on your return. Does Mr. illegal alien care, that he has now caused you troubles with the IRS? Hell no, he will just pick someone else’s number and continue along his happy way.

You want to see what is going on?

Read this article: The secret list of ID theft victims

And the thing that is worse, is that right now as it is you have no recourse as the government agencies don’t care. They just want their money and could care less how they get it.

We as American workers, homeowners and families need to get the word out about this and ensure everyone knows what is really going on. We need to round up these people and get them out of the country, then start a program where we can let a controlled number of them back in the country to work.

For you folks that think I am a racist, so be it. I am not, I am just a concerned citizen of this country who is worried that the influx of their world people coming here with their hand out is bankrupting this country. They are doing jobs that used to be done by High School students in my day so this doing jobs Americans don’t want to do doesn’t wash with me.

Further I suggest if you open border advocates want them here so badly how about ponying up your SSN so they they will not accidentally or intentionally start using mine.

Additionally it is time we hold these people in our government accountable for what is going on. From the President all the way down to the people that process the claims at the IRS and Social Security offices. They are all responsible for these identity thefts and the fact that when it happens to folks they have no recourse.

Next time these politicians are looking for reelection find out where they stand on illegal immigration. If you don’t and it happens to you, you had yout chance. Remember, an illegal alien has to present a SSN to get a job. It is a 9 digit number so what are the chances when this person makes one up to get a job that he will pick yours?

That is one Lottery I don’t want to win.

The weekend is here

Well the weekend is finally here.

Too bad I will be busy with school work and won’t be able to enjoy it. I just got home from the Physical Therapist. Since most of the pain seems to have gone away we are going to work on strengthening the area where the nerve was pinched. I really wanted to work on my leg because I have discovered something really strange. My right leg has gotten thinner and is only 2/3 the size of my left leg. She told me this is normal and that we will work on that once the nerve has completely healed. I have a few exercises I have to do, which is nothing more than lying on my back with my knees up and tensing certain muscles, then turning onto my belly and doing some half push ups. I do that a little bit each day until I feel the nerve start to tingle then stop. I guess we will do more later.

A few weeks ago I blogged about what I thought was a deterioration of the trucking industry and how I thought they were putting unqualified drivers on the road. Well this morning I woke up and turned on the local news to hear that Interstate 15 N was closed because a truck hit an under construction overpass and knocked it down blocking all northbound lanes. Well I thought these guys are all briefed and required to know how tall their trucks are and then to watch the bridge height signs that are posted at all overpasses indicating clearance.

I guess the Mexican government is a little ticked off about the folks in Arizona passing proposition 200, which denies any benefits for non-citizens. They are going to take this to the United Nations Human Rights council now. Let me get this straight, the fine folks of Arizona, many of Mexican descent by the way, got angry that their state is going broke by paying benefits to folks here illegally, so they vote to have this practice stopped. Now Mexico is going to take this to the UN. Give me a break, hey Vincente Fox, it is not our responsibility to take care of your people, it is your responsibility. This just keeps getting uglier and uglier. I have lived in California almost all my life and I have never seen the anger that keeps rising about illegal immigration.

They are bankrupting our state as well. I keep hearing this California Teachers Union lady on the radio moaning and groaning about budget cuts and overcrowding. She is all over the Governator for cutting the budget. Well since the state is in a financial crisis, I guess the teachers are going to ahve to deal with the cuts just as every other state government funded program is having to deal with. What I do wonder is where the hell all the money in the form of bond issues for schools has gone year after year after year. I say get rid of the children of law breakers and the schools will no longer be over crowded. Money will be saved. Living just a few miles from the Mexican border, you wouldn’t believe the number of kids that don’t even live in this country, but go to our schools. Kick them out and let the taxpayers take care of their own kids, not folks attending illegally.

I guess Chappaquiddic Ted is at it again. He wants us to immediately withdraw our troops to get out of Bush’s quagmire. Ted it is two days before their election, how about we wait until we know who to turn it over to, or maybe he just wants us to turn it over to Saddam again. Isn’t it time this drunken air bag disappeared from government office?

Another favorite Ted, Ted Turner has equated the Fox News Channel with Hitler. Maybe he has some bitterness in him since CNN is in the tank and dying fast. Shut up Ted Turner, go back to your ranch and sell Buffalo meat. You are a has been that no one listens to any more.

Well I guess that is tonight’s rant and rave. I hope everyone has a great weekend and I hope the Iraqi election goes smooth. I think they are pretty close to capturing that rebel leader over there. It would be great if they got him before the election.

Mexico is a little upset

Well the Mexican Government is crying foul over the State Department issuing a travel advisory about violence across the border. It has been pretty much a hot topic here in San Diego on our local talk radio stations. Roger Hedgecock is pushing a no license for illegal drivers thing on his radio show and Rick Roberts was in an argument with a former Tijuana resident, now a San Diego resident who was saying San Diego couldn’t survive without Tijuana being right next door.

Anyone who knows me knows where I stand, but I did hear a few interesting things raised today on the various shows. Like if you apply for a Mexican Drivers License you are finger printed and background checked, however if we want to do that here it is discrimination. Can you buy land in Mexico if you are not a citizen of Mexico? I don’t think so, but I could be wrong. I do know my neighbor is building a home there but he is married to a woman with dual citizenship. I guess I will have to ask him next time he comes home from where he is building it. Of course here if they can get all the proper forged and stolen documents illegals can get low cost government housing to go with their welfare and free medical care.

I guess all the alarm about folks sneaking up to Boston with a dirty bomb have blown over since it was proven to be a hoax by a smuggler that didn’t get paid. But I think something like that should concern anyone living in this country. And now our beloved President wants to reward these folks with a guest worker program. I am not against a guest worker program, once we round up each and every illegal person, deport them back to their country of origin, and then after they apply, and have a background check done, and a job is found we can allow them to come into the country for the duration of the employment. Also this should be world wide instead of just a happy deal with Mexico.

They would not be entitled to bring their families, and if they get caught breaking the law they get shipped back home after serving their sentence. While they are here I would give them limited benefits, like a special guest worker Driver’s License. Health care and all would have to be supplied by the employer. They would also be taxed and would be entitled to a refund much like a regular citizen. English would be a requirement, and I would get rid of all this multilingual BS that is having to be used because people can’t or won’t make an effort to speak out language.

Immigrants are supposed to assimulate into our population, not change it. We are losing our culture as a result of trying to cater to ever ethnic group that has decided to come here, and try to change us rather than adapt to our society. This crap has got to stop or the United States of America will turn into the same third world toilet bowl that these folks came here to escape.

The way it is now, we will give them licenses, we will then supply buses to service their kids to our schools and expand the trolley line to Tijuana to make it easier for them to get to work. It is time to nip this in the bud now.

When I was in High School I picked fruit during the summers, many of my friends had minimum wage jobs at fast food restaurant’s and all. Our High School kids can’t get those jobs because they are already taken by Illegals. It is time to crack down on the businesses that hire these folks and make the penalties very severe. I am getting so tired of going to my local fast food place and finding out that when I got home my order was all hosed up. Sometimes even trying to order something is a challenge. I was born here and speak my countries language. I should not have to learn Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, or any other language to ensure I am getting what I buy.

I realize these folks are trying to escape to a better life and I do feel for them, but I am also a law abiding citizen and expect them to be the same. Coming here illegally is not being a law abiding citizen, it is flaunting our laws and sovereignty.

I have not even addressed the problems we have been having in San Diego with Mexican and Asian street gangs. This stuff has to end. I mean, when even Hillary Clinton is saying immigration is out of control, something is wrong. A lot of politicians seem to think this is not an issue, but they will soon find out through the ballot box that the people will hold them accountable, I hope.

Anyway that is my rant for the day. Since I have more time on my hands I hope to blog more. And I hope to blog more about things that bother me rather than talk about school and my bad back.

I have all my books now

Well I had some great news once I finally got home from work today.

My last book for this semester finally arrived. I had the assignment done and ready to turn in, but wanted to wait until I had the book to make sure I had interpreted the questions right. That was a good thing, as I had to revise some answers.

This class is already looking like it is going to be a killer. Next week I have four papers due for just this class. I guess he must be bored, as he is going to have to take the time to grade them. Hopefully this will not be the norm, as I will be having to devote a lot of time I do not have to this one class.

Work wasn’t too bad today as we did practice troubleshooting. It wears me out but I like to have the chance to give the folks a hard time and at the same time show them why things are the way they are. Sometimes they don’t understand how one signal can affect another, or how a potentiometer can be turned all the way down, can effect the previous stage of a circuit as well as later stages.

Besides, when they finally get the answer and you tell them the were right you can see the smile of accomplishment on their faces. That is the fun part. Well actually there are other fun parts, like when they are measuring a signal on a circuit card and you show them that they forgot to turn the power back on after extending the circuit card and stuff like that.

I guess the story coming out about the idiot that wrecked the trains yesterday is coming to light now. They have been reporting here that he got stuck on the tracks and tried to commit suicide after the wreck. I think he is going to wish he had succeeded by the time the law gets done with him.

Well I guess that’s it for today. I have been doing homework since I got home and it is time to relax a bit.

More books arrived

Well I’m a in a happy mood now.

I got off early from work today as the Navy guys had an awards ceremony and Captain’s Call. I stopped at the post office and no books. All the way home from the post office was cursing people under my breath as I have a few assignments due on Friday, and one I can wing without the book, but the other one I need the book and a CD to complete.

Well, I got home and there was the set of books I needed for my Sunday class. By Sunday, I mean assignments are turned in by Sunday. I kind of figured I would get that because right after I ordered it I got a phone call from the National Safety Center telling me they didn’t send materials to a Post Office Box, so I gave them my street address. Oh by the way this is a Industrial Safety class. Well that cheered me up, but I was still in a panic over the other two books, especially the one with the CD.

Well I was updating some discussion boards for school and low and behold Fed Ex showed up with the book with the CD, so I will be able to get that assignment completed now. That makes me soooooo happy. Not good to get behind during the first week of the semester.

The back is doing really good today, well I guess I should say better. Last night it felt weird but I had no pain, just a little weakness in my right leg, and the skin on that foot is cracked so I have been having to use Ma RWO’s foot care stuff to heal that up. How that happened I do not know but the wife said it is normal with nerve damage so I hope to get rid of that foot burning feeling soon. I went to bed early and actually slept pretty good, except that I woke up several times by reflex expecting pain that was not there. I actually took a shower this morning instead of a bath for the first time in weeks.

Well work today started out ok. We did transceiver alignments which is always a busy day as we run from student to student explaining what is going on and why this may not be exactly right and so forth. It was a whole morning on my feet. About half way through the morning, I really started feeling weak from the waste down. I managed to make it through until lunch, but I don’t know if I would have had made it through the afternoon if I had to continue the day.

I actually had to go soak in the tub when I got home, and though I feel a little better I am still really weak from the waste down.I hope it is just a sign of healing and I will feel better tomorrow. Time will tell I guess.

I was sad to hear the death of the 30 marines and 1 sailor in the CH-53 this morning. Since they were part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit they are probably from Camp Pendleton and the Sailor from Naval Hospital San Diego. What a waste, going down in a sand storm. Are they ever going to replace these aging helo’s?

Then just as I was going out the door this morning I saw the train accident in Los Angeles and wondered what was up with that. Then to find out that is was caused by some idiot that wanted to off himself and then chickened out but left his mini van on the tracks, has me ill. I hope this guy gets his wish and gets the death penalty. This is just to outrageous an act to forgive.

Anyway, that is RWO’s thoughts of the day.

Complicated Day

Well after yesterday’s shot I did manage to get quite a bit of sleep.

I took a nice nap before my online class, and after the class chatted with some friends, played on the net and did my little post about the death of Johnny Carson. I did watch the Leno Tribute last night, and it wasn’t that bad. I then turned in and managed to get a full night of sleep.

I got up at 5:15 and jumped into the hot bathtub. It felt so good Ma RWO came in a 6:30 to ask me if I was going to go to work. Well I quickly got dressed and off to work I went.

After the shot yesterday I have not experienced very much pain, just an unexplainable discomfort. I hope it passes, as I find it hard to sit still.

My class was in lab today which meant a lot of time on my feet but my leg kept going numb so I did have to sit a lot. At lunch time I ran out to the post office to mail a package and check on the rest of my books for school. They still aren’t here, and I am really starting to get worried.

On the way back to work I stopped off at Jack in the Box and got some of their chicken fingers. I haven’t had them before and was quite impressed with them. We continued labs into the afternoon and will still continue again tomorrow. It sure took a lot out of me, but I feel I earned my wages today.

I guess I may do another nap thing tonight since I didn’t get my books yet. I have completed all of my school stuff that I can complete without a book. Well except for one. I don’t know how it happened but I am required to send a blank Excel file to one of my instructor’s but my Excel won’t load and I can’t find my office disk.

Hopefully Ma RWO has it. I hate using PC’s. Ever since I switched from my Mac for school purposes, I have had virus after virus, mostly spyware. I want my Mac back. Anyway, I guess I will just have to continue to clean it up several time a week.

Well hope you all have a good week.

Farewell Johnny Carson

Well Johnny Carson is the latest to pass away.

I am starting to feel really old. Johnny was on TV with the Tonight Show way back to my earliest memories. I loved the guy. His humor and showmanship were the best. I really expected to see him back again after he retired but he never reappeared. He went out on top and has stayed there. While Letterman and Leno are good, Johnny was a master and has been missed since he retired back in 1992.

My family and I send our condolences to his family, and though I should be in bed due to my steroid injection I will not miss the NBC Tonight Show Tribute. Thank you and God Bless you Johnny Carson. May you keep the folks in heaven entertained as you did while you were here on earth.