My Daily Musing

Monday, October 29, 2012

Extra News About The First Submarine Alligator

I received this comment today on my post about the first submarine the Alligator

C. Veit <president@navyandmarine.org> (unregistered) wrote:
See www.navyandmarine.org/alligator. The sub's first combat deployment was to the James River in 1862 as part of squadron tasked with destroying a bridge over the Appomattox.

I went to the site. To me it was a treasure chest. I learn some more history of our first submarine. The site tells about the 5 missions of USS Alligator, Civil War Submarine Chronology, Men (and Women) Who Built & Crewed Alligator , Official Records of the Navy, Newspaper Reports, etc. Best place to start is: The Hunt For The Alligator

Shipwreck Monday-SS Columbus

SS Columbus was laid down before the start of World War I. She was originally to be named Hindenburg. However, her then-sister, originally named Columbus, was handed over to the White Star Line after the war as part of reparations in 1920. The Allies allowed the Norddeutscher Lloyd, her owners, to keep the remaining ship. NDL decided to give her the name of her departed sister which now is the British Homeric.

Material shortages caused by the war delayed SS Columbus completion until 1924. She made her maiden voyage in April of that year. At the time, SS Columbus was the German merchant marine's largest, fastest ocean liner. SS Columbus measured 32,354 gross tons, was 774 ft long and carried 1,650 passengers. She was one of the first liners to have an outside swimming pool installed on her top deck, as well as a platform for night-time dancing. SS Columbus had triple-expansion steam engines which drove her at a rather modest 18 knots. SS Columbus was quite popular and convinced NDL that larger passenger liners were feasible.

With the building of the Bremen and Europa, the SS Columbus was supplanted as the queen of the NDL fleet. In 1929, she was given a refit to make her resemble her younger, larger and faster running mates. This included the addition of two larger smokestacks and replacement of the reciprocating engines with geared turbines, increasing her speed from 18 knots to 22 knots. She spent the winter months cruising the Caribbean.

At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, SS Columbus was on one of these cruises when she was ordered to return to Germany at once. The Royal Navy was on the lookout for enemy ships. Putting her passengers ashore at Havana, Cuba, her captain and crew spent two months evading the British by taking refuge in several South American ports.

On 19 December the British destroyer HMS Hyperion sighted SS Columbus about 400 miles off the coast of Virginia. The still neutral American heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa was also in the area, and silently observed the two ships. Rather than surrender the ship, her crew scuttled her, and she burned and sank. Her passengers and crew, 567 men and nine women, were taken aboard Tuscaloosa as rescued seamen, not as prisoners of war as they would have been had the British picked them up. Tuscaloosa took all personnel to New York City. After the end of war many returned to Germany.

A Retired Lt. Colonel Calls Rush

Via Western Center Of Journalism

Lt. Col. Calls Rush: “White House Can’t Deny Obama Knew About Benghazi Attack Immediately”

Journalistic Propaganda Machine (10-28-2012)

Obama Drama (10-28-2012)

My Article Read (10-28-2012)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

The Hard Way-DC Talk

Acts 5

1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.

²With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

⁴Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

⁶Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

⁸Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

¹¹Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

¹²The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.

¹³No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.

¹⁴Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

¹⁵As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

¹⁶Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

¹⁷Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

¹⁸They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

¹⁹But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.

²⁰“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

²¹At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

²²But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,

²³“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

²⁴On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

²⁵Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”

²⁶At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

²⁷The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.

²⁸“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

²⁹Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

³⁰The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.

³¹God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.

³²We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.

³⁴But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.

³⁵Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.

³⁶Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

³⁷After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.

³⁸Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³

⁹But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

⁴⁰His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

⁴²Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Jeremiah 46

1 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations:

²Concerning Egypt: This is the message against the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

³“Prepare your shields, both large and small, and march out for battle!

⁴Harness the horses, mount the steeds! Take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears, put on your armor!

⁵What do I see? They are terrified, they are retreating,
their warriors are defeated. They flee in haste without looking back, and there is terror on every side,” declares the Lord.

⁶“The swift cannot flee nor the strong escape. In the north by the River Euphrates they stumble and fall.

⁷“Who is this that rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters?

⁸Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers of surging waters.
She says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy cities and their people.’

⁹Charge, you horses! Drive furiously, you charioteers!
March on, you warriors—men of Cush and Put who carry shields, men of Lydia who draw the bow.

¹⁰But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty—
a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour till it is satisfied, till it has quenched its thirst with blood. For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.

¹¹“Go up to Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt.
But you try many medicines in vain; there is no healing for you.

¹²The nations will hear of your shame; your cries will fill the earth. One warrior will stumble over another; both will fall down together.”

¹³This is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to attack Egypt:

¹⁴“Announce this in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol;
proclaim it also in Memphis and Tahpanhes: ‘Take your positions and get ready, for the sword devours those around you.’

¹⁵Why will your warriors be laid low? They cannot stand, for the Lord will push them down.

¹⁶They will stumble repeatedly; they will fall over each other. They will say, ‘Get up, let us go back to our own people and our native lands, away from the sword of the oppressor.’

¹⁷There they will exclaim, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity.’

¹⁸“As surely as I live,” declares the King, whose name is the Lord Almighty, “one will come who is like Tabor among the mountains, like Carmel by the sea.

¹⁹Pack your belongings for exile, you who live in Egypt,
for Memphis will be laid waste and lie in ruins without inhabitant.

²⁰“Egypt is a beautiful heifer, but a gadfly is coming
against her from the north.

²¹The mercenaries in her ranks are like fattened calves.
They too will turn and flee together, they will not stand their ground, for the day of disaster is coming upon them, the time for them to be punished.

²²Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent as the enemy advances in force; they will come against her with axes,
like men who cut down trees.

²³They will chop down her forest,” declares the Lord,
“dense though it be. They are more numerous than locusts, they cannot be counted.

²⁴Daughter Egypt will be put to shame, given into the hands of the people of the north.”

²⁵The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh.

²⁶I will give them into the hands of those who want to kill them—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Later, however, Egypt will be inhabited as in times past,” declares the Lord.

²⁷“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.

²⁸Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished

Isaiah 51

1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;

²look to Abraham, your father,When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.

³The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

⁴“Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations.

⁵My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations.
The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.

⁶Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

⁷“Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.

⁸For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations.”

⁹Awake, awake, arm of the Lord, clothe yourself with strength! Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old. Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster through?

¹⁰Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea
so that the redeemed might cross over?

¹¹Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

¹²“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass,

¹³that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction? For where is the wrath of the oppressor?

¹⁴The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;
they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread.

¹⁵For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord Almighty is his name.

¹⁶I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand—I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”

¹⁷Awake, awake! Rise up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath,
you who have drained to its dregs the goblet that makes people stagger.

¹⁸Among all the children she bore there was none to guide her; among all the children she reared there was none to take her by the hand.

¹⁹These double calamities have come upon you—
who can comfort you?—ruin and destruction, famine and sword—who can console you?

²⁰Your children have fainted; they lie at every street corner, like antelope caught in a net. They are filled with the wrath of the Lord, with the rebuke of your God.

²¹Therefore hear this, you afflicted one, made drunk, but not with wine.

²²This is what your Sovereign Lord says, your God, who defends his people: “See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again.

²³I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who said to you, ‘Fall prostrate that we may walk on you.’
And you made your back like the ground, like a street to be walked on.”

God Will Fight With Us

Deuteronomy 20:2-4

²When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army.

³He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.

⁴For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Mooch Of The Day (10-27-2012)

Michelle Obama Worried Liberals Too Stupid, Too Dependent To Vote?

Journalistic Propaganda Machine (10-27-2012)

Obama Drama (10-7-2012)

My Article Read (10-27-2012)

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Wild Bill’s Tea Party Travel Agency

Under The Covers With Rolling-Personal Liberty Digest

America Again-Carman

Here Is An Email I Got From Representative Todd Rokita

Dear Ms. Blake,

Thank you for the opportunity to update you on the work of the 112th Congress. I trust this finds you and your family well.

For daily updates, please take a moment to "Like" my Facebook page by clicking here: .

This Week (Oct. 21-27)

On Wednesday morning, I joined Gov. Mitch Daniels and other state and local officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Lafayette-to-Delphi segment of the Hoosier Heartland Highway. This was the culmination of a tremendous team effort that will result in safer travel and much bigger economic opportunities for the counties and communities served by the highway.

Earlier this year, I led a bipartisan group of Indiana’s congressional delegation in fighting to stop a proposed ban on federal funds being used under public-private partnership arrangements, including the Indiana East-West Toll Road. Through the state’s Major Moves program, the toll road deal freed up billions of dollars to fund other needed projects such as the Hoosier Heartland Highway.

For Wednesday’s celebration, I brought along my (and Kathy’s :-) ) 1973 Corvette that I have been restoring for the last five years. Most of it’s done now, but it appears to be a never-ending process. Anyway, Debbie Lowe from the Carroll County Comet got in and we helped lead the ceremonial caravan after we cut the ribbon. Here’s a photo of me with Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser at the event, and a photo of Debbie and me with my Corvette:

I also had the opportunity to visit with around 50 Hendricks Power Cooperative workers at an employee town hall meeting on Thursday, where I shared with them a presentation on our national debt and discussed solutions. It was a great discussion and I am always energized to hear common-sense solutions from Hoosiers:

Earlier in the week, I also attended the Tippecanoe County Right to Life’s annual Celebration of Life banquet, where I was able to catch up with many old friends. I am thankful for their partnership in the fight to defend the sanctity of life.

Last Week (Oct. 14-20)

I always enjoy talking with Hoosier business leaders and others around the Fourth District. Last week, I had the opportunity to spend time with leaders of Indiana’s auto industry. On Wednesday, I spoke to management and human resources employees at Meritor’s North American Site Management and Human Resources Management Summit about labor and workforce issues.

As you likely know, Meritor operates a large “remanufacturing” facility in Plainfield producing brake pads and other remanufactured parts. Over the past year, I’ve worked closely with Meritor to get the federal government to purchase remanufactured parts. I was honored that Meritor and their trade association awarded me the MEMA Legislator of the Year award for my efforts.

I also spoke with the Indiana Automotive Council, a collaboration between industry, government and higher education that exists to grow and promote Indiana’s automotive industry. Representatives from Chrysler, Cummins, Delphi, General Motors, and many other companies were in attendance, and we talked about the looming “fiscal cliff” and the need for comprehensive tax reform.

Last Thursday, I visited with the Brownsburg Rotary Club to talk about spending and debt. A very special thanks to club member Merlin Outcalt for the invitation and to Club President Danielle Snyder for the hospitality. Here’s a photo from the visit:

_______________________________________________

I guess I am on a roll with politicians today. When I read this email some of it had a sound of “about me” to it. Did it sound that way to you? When Rokita mentioned his Corvette, I thought “that has nothing to do with what i want to know.” I also thought I could do a better job then him. Man, do I need sabbatical now. I admit I need an attitude adjustment on politicians.

This Is A Email I Got From Senator Dan Coats

We Need Answers on Libya

In September, our country mourned the tragic death of Christopher Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, and three other Americans who died in an attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi: Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. In the days following the attack, the Obama Administration blamed the violence on a "spontaneous" reaction to protests over an anti-Islam film.

However, State Department emails released this week tell a different story. These emails reveal that the administration may have known within hours that this was a terrorist attack. Despite this information, administration officials continued to tell the American public the attack was a spontaneous response to a video filmed in America.

Then there is the question of security at the diplomatic compound in Benghazi. In the months leading up to this year’s anniversary of September 11, there were two attacks on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi. Additionally, the British consulate closed its doors after an attempted attack on their ambassador. The Red Cross left as well due to deteriorating security. Americans were the last ones with a flag flying in this region of Libya and yet did not have an increased security presence. In recent testimony before a congressional committee, officials confirmed that the State Department refused requests for more security in Benghazi despite the growing unrest and violence.

Unfortunately, more than one month after the attack, there remain many unanswered questions that this administration must address. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I will be actively pushing for answers and information. The Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled to hold a classified hearing on November 15. Some of the many questions that must be addressed include:

1. Why was an alleged request for more security at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi denied?

2. What intelligence assessments were made about Libya before the attack?

3. What information was provided to senior U.S. policymakers and the President immediately after the attack?

4. Were intelligence assessments shared with Ambassador Stevens before the attack?

5. Why did the administration respond to the attack by blaming an anti-Islam video despite knowing within hours that this was a terrorist attack?

6. Did the administration knowingly mislead the public?

7. Did the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi request military support during the night of the attack? If so, what was this administration’s response?

8. What are the lessons learned from this incident that will be applied to future events?

While we continue to mourn the lives lost in Libya, we must not tolerate these outrageous attacks on our people and the international diplomatic community. I am committed to obtain answers from this administration and work to ensure the safety and security of our diplomatic officials serving across the globe.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I guess I am getting pretty leery of our leaders because my attitude after reading this “yeah, yeah, tell us another story.” It seems like for so long we been told “we’re getting this and that done”. Okay where is it that is getting done. I don’t see anything. Do you? Nobody is charge in Operation Fast And Furious fiasco. Nobody is going down for Benghazigate? Nobody has gone down for the insider tradergate? What are they doing? ARE THEY JUST GIVING US LIP SERVE? AND NOT DOING ANYTHING? Am I the only one that feels this way?

Monday, October 29, 2012

Via Western Center Of Journalism

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Acts 5

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.

13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.

14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.

20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”