Trish and Matt's Web Log: Jul 2004

30 Jul 2004
Trish's New Office

happyball

Trish has, at long last, landed a great job.  She's now the VA Benefits Administrator at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.  She has a office (cubical), a computer, and even people who work for her (work-study students).  What a country.
trishoffice1 trishoffice2

27 Jul 2004
Osama's Organ

osamasorgan

Next week is Hellfire week for our class.  We cap off our initial qualification training with live shots of the Hellfire missiles we'll be carrying in combat.  Now, most classes are satisfied with blowing the regular targets out on the range (tanks, trucks, etc.).  But not our British friends.  It seems it's an old British tradition to go out, get really drunk and burn a piano.  Foreigners.

At any rate, the British students in our class have taken it upon themselves to buy an organ, paint it in French colors, attach an Osama blow-up doll to it, and have it placed on the approved list of range targets.  I'm not kidding.  Along with the all the pieces or hardware that litter our live fire range (half the state of Nevada) that are on the official list of target that can be lased and struck with live ordinance, there is now a piano. 

We'll be taking it out to the range this weekend so that next week, one lucky student will have the opportunity to the take a Mach-two laser-guided missile, and blow the hell out of it.

Check back next week for the video.

25 Jul 2004
Killer Scout Weekend.

martinto

Ever wonder how fighter or bomber might find a target to bomb?  Watch the video and see how.  As part of out training we have to find a target and direct and a fighter onto that target to bomb it.  No live bombs today, but you see how it's done.

intercept

We also did a practice intercept, but the Predator is so small and slow, that I had to tell the fighter pilot where we were so that he could find us and pretend to shoot us down.  Most of the video is the fighter's radar as he searches for us and tries to get a lock on.  After he finds us, he uses his targeting pod to track us and that's where you see the visual.

23 Jul 2004
The Bingo Room at Texas Station Casino.  After the fun.

bingoroom

16 Jul 2004
Locker room notices.

lockerroom


15 Jul 2004
Relatives.

martinsisafaf

My Uncle Ed, Aunt Pat, and Cousin Eddie were in town (Eddie's always in town--he's a dealer) so I took them on a tour of the Predator Operation at Indian Springs.

sim1 sim2

The highlight of the tour was taking the simulator for a spin.

04 Jul 2004
Independence Day with the British

rolfewithteeth

We spent the afternoon with our British friends (members of the RAF who are here to fly the Predator).  In fact, I can't think of a better way to spend July 4th than with people from England.

britparty1  britparty2

03 Jul 2004
At the movies.

f911
Man.  What a powerful film.  Trish and I were on the verge of tears before it was over.  I think everyone should see this film.  While I'm a Democrat, I'm also what you might call a hawk.  I believe our invasion of Iraq was justified if ill-timed and sold on the wrong reasons.  But this film brought home the reality of the war and incompetence of those at the highest levels in a way that makes you at the very least question our common beliefs and at worst suspect corruption and betrayal.  Even if only half the things Moore presents are true, it looks very bad.  Our nation is in a hell of a fix, and this is the kind of debate we need to be having.  And if the opening weekend numbers are any indication, a lot of Americans feel the same way.

Of course there's still a job to do and I'll do it.  But come November, it may be time for some changes.

©2004, 2005
macmade