A Matter Of Trust

Douglas Smith, the executive leader of the Boy Scouts Of America, was recently found guilty of possesing child pornography and faces nearly forty years in prison. He at one time lead a task force to eliminate child porn. Now isn't that a case of the monkeys running the zoo. This Man was entrusted with Americas' finest youth. A youth that posesses all the hopes and dreams of our futures. Not only America, but the world will be affected by this scums direct action.I suppose that no one knows what makes us tick ,why we like blondes instead of brunettes, or short girls instead of long leggy ones OR why we are turned on by children. In most cases tall v short, blonds v brunettes, it is a matter of preferance. In Mr. Smiths choice, it is illeagle and immoral and certainly reprehensible in every factor of society throughout the world,with the exception of( NAMBLA ?) North American Man Boy Love Association. This is a group of miscreants that will surley burn in Hell or in my opinion hopefully. Please people if any of you know of any instance of possible child abuse report it to the proper authorities. This needs eradicated in our lifetime. We need to make the everyday world safe for our children. They face enough problems comming of age without out and out perverts like Mr. Smith being allowed to co -mingle with real humans.

He Has Risen 

EWWWWWWW

I feel so bad for what I heard on the news.....A customer of Wendys discovered a human finger in their chili. One of the best things about Wendys was/is their chili. It was a welcome addition to a somewhat boring and repetitive menue at most fast food joints. I know that they do not actually cook the chili in the actual resturant location but I can NOT believe that the supplier of said chili didn't shut down production immediately when the employeee lost her finger.Why wasn't the batch dicarded after the accident? You can't tell me that the woman who lost said offending finger just looked at her maimed hand and said something like "Its only a flesh wound" and continued working. It isn't like she was of the same stock as the "Black Night" in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.Management had to know that if the mangled didgit wasn't hanging by a thread it must of fallen into the batch. Is this purveyor of fine foods to the resturant industry located in the Donner Pass? Is this "found" ingredient the thing that gave Wendys chili that special taste? I just don't want to know. not now not ever. Perhaps someone will end up pointing the finger at the culprit......if they have one left that is. Well that is the way I see this woefull tale here on Arathorns Alley

Grim Indeed 

Where Are They Now?

So, Just where the Hell are they now? where is peta? where is all those right to life groups? where is all the feminist groups? Hells fire where are the damn tree huggers and yer greenpeace when you need them? Well the way I see it those "groups have no intrest in anything other than their own agendas. They no more believe in the sanctity of life than I believe that there is such a thing as a democrat that is worth even considering to vote for. They are no more than self serving orginazations that has no appreciation of the same values that they are purported to expouse. Its all just so much political bullshit or at least that is the way I se it here on Arathorns Alley

when men were iron and ships were wood 

Found Porn 

Finally

Sorry that I have been gone for a few days folks but my system crashed and burned,leaving me in a lurch. but no matter up and running again thanks to my genius friend I am once more functional. Thanks for your effort and thank you soooo much for your time.

Afirmitive Action At It's Finest

When is our government going to wise up and realize that there are differences between men and women. I am not in any way,shape,or form a sexist but having Cynthia Hall at 5ft tall escort a violent offender to the courtroom so that his trial may begin. He was a former linebacker weighing in at over 200 pounds and is over 6 ft tall. I know they had to hire this woman and it is a huge mistake to think that any female can control any man physically. He escaped her custody and killed a judge, and a court reporter in the courtroom where his trial was to have been heard. He went on to kill another security guard and a federal agent in his attempt at freedom. Perhaps one of the reasons this was accomplished so easily is that he was uncuffed and unshackled so that the jury would not see him and the very visage of a accused criminal in chains would taint their ability to to decide weather or not he was guilty. To add insult to injury all of this was video taped by security cams but no one was watching and did I mention that he was found to have two home made knives hidden in his shoe two days earlier? So I think it is a slam dunk that they can`t say he appeard to pose no risk or do you think that is what they are going to try. At least that is the way I see it here at Arrathorns Alley

Worth Saying.................Again

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but lesswellness We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancie houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete Remember, spend some time with your loved ones. because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
I know these thoughts hve been expressed by other more savy writers but I needed a reminder today of how much my family and friends mean to me and by golly I got what I needed. Thankfully there was no harm done................life is frail and it is short damn shot......at least that's the way I see it here on Arathorns Alley

A Few Thoughts From A Wise Old Man

I was sitting in the kitchen this morning ,drinking coffee,awaiting the sunrise and for some unknown reason the witisims of the home spun humorest/ writer Will Rogers came to mind and I thought I would share some of them with you kind readers today

Will Rogers, who died in a plane crash with Wylie Post in 1935, was probably the greatest political sage this country has ever known. Enjoy the following: 1. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco. 2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day. 3. There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman...neither works. 4. Never miss a good chance to shut up. 5. Always drink upstream from the herd. 6. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. 7. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket. 8. There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves. 9. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. 10. If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there. 11. Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back. 12. After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut. ABOUT GROWING OLDER... First ~ Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it. Second ~ The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for. Third ~ Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved. Fourth ~ When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra. Fifth ~ You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks. Sixth ~ I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top. Seventh ~ One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young. Eighth ~ One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been. Ninth ~ Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable. Tenth ~ Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it's called golf. And finally ~ If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.

I hope you all found as much warmth and humor in his musings as I did

Its About Time

Today is International Womans Day and I would like to take this chance to honor three wonderfull women in my life. First and foremost is my lovely wife of nearly thirty-five years. She has been there every time I have ever stumbled and I will never be able to thank her sufficiently for bearing two fine sons for me. She has cooked and cleaned and gotten out of bed in the middle of the night to feed me cause she thought I might be hungry.The truly amazing thing about this is she has done it all with love in her heart. I will be the first to admit that I don`t deserve to touch the hem of her skirt and perhaps someday I will be able to thank her enough for teaching me the value of telling the truth. It was the single hardest lesson for me to learn and she tought it to me gently and with love and compassion in her heart. The second woman I want to honor is my baby sister. When all around her thought her fight was over she battled on and has become a cancer survivor for almost 23 years now. She was single handedly responsible for raising a fine young man who is currently serving our great country right now. She is artfull, compassionate, and a healer. She has always been my biggest supporter in anything I ever did and not once in her life did she ever reproach me for all the times I let her down. Not too long ago she stated that I was her hero which touched me more than I can say. Oh did I say she was cute as all get out? The third woman I would like to honor and thank is my friend Linda who has been the greatest friend a person could want. She stuck by me in some of my darkest hours and her faith in God helped me find my way. I will always be greatfull to her for that one single candle she held out for me so that I can see.Thank you Ladys from the bottem of my heart.

Italian Feast 

Can You Believe This ?

As much as I love Italian food I suppose now i'm gonna have to swear off eating it if it makes you do lame things like the latest hostage to be released by the Iraqi's. It seems this woman was held hostage for some time and our policy is we do not negotiate with terrorist. We never have ,we never will. If a group would ever see that these negotations were sucessfull then it would just open the door for more kidnappings and more hostages. Well some rich Italian fellow decides he is going to pay her ransom on the sly because they don`t want the Americans to know that they are gutless suck ups who cowered before Hitler and Musollini in the past. The terrorists release this woman and in her haste to escape her captors she is in a motor-cade speeding down a main road on her way to Bagdad International, The motor -cade comes to a check point and fails to heed hand signals to slow and stop , verbal warnings to slow and stop, warning shots (now there is something they never had in the old soviet union) to make them slow and stop and continue on as though they are a car bomb advancing on a secured section of highway. By any stretch of the imagination it wasn`t a quantem leap for our military to think well here comes another car bomb to probably kill or miame us........... we better open fire and try to stop them. Being U.S.Military they are sucessfull. Her body guard threw himself over her to protect her and is killed and a single bullet passes through his body and into her shoulder. Things are sorted out and after recieving treatment at a American facility she is taken to the airport and flown home to Italy. The story she now tells once she is home is that the American forces deliberately fired upon her motor cade to show our displeasure that she was released through the paying of a ransom. Please people ,we would never do something like that we value life a lot more than that. So now I don't suppose Italy will be helping with the reconstruction or are they gonna keep their greedy little money grabbin paws stretched out as far as possible?

Terror Strikes Home..........Again

Today I want to address terrorism,not in Iraq or Afganistan or even Mogadishou. I want to speak to a attack that is happening right here on the Mother Land. It is striking one of the basic tennants of America. One of the principles our great country is founded on.
Religous freedom. To those who know me, I am far from the kind of person who insists that you do as I do or that has to stop. I, as my father before me and my youngest son after me defended the Constitution of the United States of America. And today that very same constitution is under attack.It is under attack from within. I remember, as a young lad, all of the neighbors encircling our television (yes I was fortunate enough to have the only tv on the block) and watching the Russian Premier Nikta Kruschev, remove his shoe in the halls of the United Nation and shout that "we will overcome the United States from with in" as he beat his shoe on the desk in front of him for emphesis.
People we are under attack from a good idea gone bad. The Civil Liberties Union.A rite of passage for a lot of American male youths was the scouting program You started out as a cub scout,moved on to boy scout as your skills and your age increased and finally as you came into maturity there were the Eagle scouts to help that tranistion. Scouting preached the tennats to always be prepared. To serve your community. To be thrifty, clean,reverant. and that is where the trouble stems from. The American Civil Libertys Union now is holding our government hostage. They are insisting that the military"throttle back the support of the boy scouts" this would affect about 450 troops , most of them outside of the United States. The feeling of the ACLU is that parents can find sponsorship outside of the military bases. No big deal
On the contrary, it IS a big deal.One that is symptomatic ofof a larger assault on faith and its place in our society.The ACLU wants the boy scouts removed from public places because the Scout Oath refers to a higher power. The ACLU contends that that even a nondenominational reference to God is a misuse of tax dollars,or perhaps even a violation of the law.
We need to understand that much of our countrys basis is founded on religous freedom. Our president and all other officers of our legislative system take a oath with their right hands placed on the bible. When I enlisted in the military I placed my hand on that bible and swore allegience to this great country. When one is called on to testify in a court of law You place your hand on the bible and swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Our Supreme court justices all took the very same oath and how many times have you yourselves said " I swear to God".
The Department Of Defence is rolling over for the ACLU and at the same time requiring our brave men and women in our armed forces to stand firm against terror ,even at the price of their own lives. The Boy Scouts of America, help make this one nation of ours......This nation under God........... a little more indivisible. The ACLU is trying to erase faith from the military and when you are fighting a war sometimes that is all you have.
At least that is the way I see it here at Arathorns Alley.

Semper Fidelis 

One American Marines View

UNTIL I DIE ..This a poem being sent from a Marine to his Dad.For those who take the time to read it, you'll see a letter from him to his Dad at the bottom. It makes you truly be thankful for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops. This says it all. Too good not to forward. THE MARINE We all came together, Both young and old. To fight for our freedom, To stand and be bold. In the midst of all evil, We stand our ground, And we protect our country >From all terror around. Peace and not war Is what some people say. But I'll give my life, So you can live the American way. I give you the right To talk of your peace. To stand in your groups, And protest in our streets. But still I fight on, I don't bitch, I don't whine. I'm just one of the people Who is doing your time. I'm harder than nails, Stronger than any machine. I'm the immortal soldier, I'm a US MARINE! So stand in my shoes, And leave from your home. Fight for the people who hate you, With the protests they've shown. Fight for the stranger, Fight for the young. So they all may have, The greatest freedom you've won. Fight for the sick, Fight for the poor. Fight for the cripple, Who lives next door. But when your time comes, Do what I've done. For if you stand up for freedom, You'll stand when the fight's done. By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert,US Marine USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF Hey Dad! Do me a favor and label this "The Marine"; and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the U.S.A I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I would, but my email time isn't that long and I don't have much time anyway. You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what Bush said in his inaugural speech. "When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it" Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do.

I don`t know for a fact that any of this is true but I do know that it speaks to and from my heart. I know what this warrior is feeling ,I know because I felt the same oh so many years ago. The only difference is that he has someone who cares . The American public hated the Viet Nam era warriors ..........for good or bad........ the press was succesfull at turning our countrymen against us ............. it is a pain that has never left and more than likely never will. Please support our troops. If you run into one thank him for his/her service. If you know one send them a letter. If you have a few extra dollars, send it to a group that will turn it into a care package and forward it to whoever needs it. Please people support these people don't allow what could be their dying thought to be one that their country isn`t 100 % behind them.

Pristene Beauty

It snowed again yesterday which in and of itself is no suprise but overnight we also got some freezing rain. This morning when the sun rose it looked like a crystal palace. Nature has so many faces ranging from abject horror to one of the most breathtaking scenes I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. It looked like a giant snow crystal this morning and it made all the shoveling and salt spreading worthwhile. If it would always look this beautifull I would have no objection to living above the Mason- Dixon line. I don`t suppose that will ever occur though so someday maybe I can get where the weather and the people are so much gentler and easier on my fragile pysce.

Uncommon Valor

Time Line---- 19 Feb 1945--- Under the over all command of Lt. General H.M. Smith's Expeditionary Troops headquarters, VAC's 4th and 5th Marine Divisions Lead the amphibious assult on the southeast coast of Iwo Jima. The 28th Marines reaches the western shore and seals off Mt. Surabaxhi before the end of the day,while the 27th and the 23rd Marines make it to the edge of Airfield #1. Heavy Japenese artillery,morter fire,rocket fire aided by mines and machine guns inflict over 2,400 casualties.
20 Feb. 1945--The 28th Marines begin the assault on Mt. Surabachi. The 4th Marine and the remains of the 5th Marines capture airfield #1
21 Feb 1945-- VAC commits the 21 st Marines of the 3rd Marine Division from corps reserve to reinforce the 4th Marine Division. That night the Japenese launch the one and only kamikaze attack of the campaign on the fleet off the bloody shores of Iwo Jima.
23 Feb 1945-- Elements of the 28th Marine division seize the crest of Mt. Surabachi and hoist a American Flag over its heights. Soon After five Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman replace it with a larger ensign. Joe Rosenthalls photo of this flag raising electrifies the United States and becomes the symbol for the 7th War Bond drive.
24 Feb 1945-- The rest of the3rd Marine Division (less the 21st Marines that are already there) deploy.
27 Feb 1945-- The 9th Marines complete the siezure of Airfield #2 and also takes Hill Peter and Hill199 Oboe key terain overlooking Airfield #2
4 March 1945-- Although Marine gains have been measured in yards on Iwo Jima, at this point in the battle VAC has blasted and bled its way through most of the Japenese defensive lines. The first B29 damaged on a strike on Japan lands on Iwo Jima.
11 March 1945-- The 3rd and 4th Marine Divisions drive to the coast in their respective zones leaving on a few pockets of resistance remaining on the island.
14 March 1945-- As the official flag raising is held at the VAC command post ,the flag raised on Mt Suribachi is lowered.
25 March 1945--The 5th Marine Division wipes out the last resistance in Death Valley. This marks the end of of organized Japenese control on any terrain on Iwo Jima.
27 March 1945-- The 3rd and 5th Marine Divisions begin departing the island. Total Marine casualities during the battle are 5,931 dead and 17,272 wounded. Losses among attached Navy personel are 209 dead and 641 wounded.

And so the bloodiest battle of the pacific theater ends Nearly six weeks of unmittigated Hell. There is a lot more to the story than the raising of the flag. That is what the public sees and that is what they remember. To those that were there it was just one more example of America`s Uncommon Valor. At least that is the way I see it here at Arathorns Alley

Uncommon Valor