Each year in May Your Business Blogger(R) remembers the Cold War loss of submarine Scorpion. We are so lucky to have such brave men. And their families.
Our prayer is that our current Commander-in-Chief would know the culture of our warriors. In Remembrance of
those in the
Submarine Service Some 40 Years ago the USS Scorpion was due in my hometown, Norfolk, VA. She never returned.
She is, as the veterans say, on Eternal Patrol.
***
Your Business Blogger(R) wrote an article for National Review Online about those left behind from the loss of the USS Scorpion.
Yolanda Mazzuchi was about the prettiest girl in our school class. Our dads were in the Navy, often gone for months at a time. And they would be welcomed home at dockside with cheers and homemade signs. These gatherings at the D&S Piers at the Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia, were a regular part of our lives growing up. Families often took children out of school to celebrate a ship's homecoming.
At 1 in the afternoon on Monday, May 27, 1968, at the height of the Cold War the USS Scorpion was due in port.
Yolanda didn't know it then, but her dad was already dead....
Dedicated to and in honor of the 99 U.S. Navy submariners who perished in the loss of SCORPION in May 1968. The 40th Anniversary of that tragedy ...[is] (May 2008), yet the cause(s) of the loss remain a complete mystery.
USS Scorpion
40 Years on Eternal Patrol
This lack of clarity and closure has created a void into which charlatans now have full play in creating bogus theories for profit.
This unsatisfactory situation may result in the SCORPION 99 going into history forever at the mercy of the unscrupulous.
The solution that this group will work toward will be to encourage the U.S. Navy to, at the very least, put to rest the loss scenarios which have MINIMAL TO NO PROBABILITY of having actually occurred.
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Thank you (foot)notes:
Follow Jack and Charmaine on Twitter: @JackYoest and @CharmaineYoest
And read about the Loss of the Bonefish.
Your Business Blogger(R) of Management Training of DC, LLC, is a licensed agent for the William Oncken Corporation, presenters of Managing Management Time(TM) fondly known as Monkey Management.
Back in the day of the horse cavalry, Your Business Blogger(R) was privileged to be a Survival Assistance Officer helping families who lost a service member. As a young Cavalry Officer, I commanded a number of burial details. The part that hurt and still moves in slow motion in my mind's eye, is handing the tri-folded American flag to the widow.
I never cried at these funerals. I was too young. It was a task, a detail that had to be done.
Charmaine and I have two sons who we expect will serve our country in uniform. And they may serve a commander-in-chief who does not demand victory over our enemies.
Americans want Victory over -- not justice for -- terrorists.
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The following article was written a few years ago and deserves a wide audience, courtesy of John Howland of USNA-At-Large.
TAKING CHANCE23 Apr 04 - The enclosed article was written by LtCol M.R. Strobl USMC who is assigned to MCCDC Quantico, VA and served as the officer who escorted the remains of PFC C. Phelps USMC from Dover AFB, DE to his home. PFC Phelps was assigned to 3d Bn, 11th Marines - an artillery unit functioning as a provisional infantry battalion during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 2. PFC Phelps was killed in action from a gunshot wound received on 9 Apr 04 during combat operations west of Baghdad. He was buried in Dubois, WY on 17 Apr 04.
PFC Chance Phelps
Chance Phelps was wearing his Saint Christopher medal when he was killed on Good Friday. Eight days later, I handed the medallion to his mother. I didn't know Chance before he died.
President Bush is leaving office and has kept our country safe as the commander-in-chief for eight years. We have not been attacked on USA soil since 9.11.01.
I'm not sure anyone has thanked George Bush.
So Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine dropped by the White House over the Christmas Holidays to thank President Bush. We wanted him to know that someone appreciated his work.
Charmaine thanked Bush saying that we hoped history would remember him well.
"Thank you," he said smiling, "But I really don't care who gets the credit." He actually meant it.
It was a delight to be in a very large room with with people with big ideas. Each who loves his country.
One of the Hosts, Colin Hanna, from Let Freedom Ring, was about to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and reminded us of legislation allowing veterans to render a hand salute, even if out of uniform, even if separated from active service.
The law was made possible by Senator Jim Inhoufe of Oklahoma -- a Republican, of course.
A conservative, of course. Who loves Jesus. Clinging to his religion and his guns...
So the next time you are at a ball game look for veterans during the National Anthem.
By Ryan Cassin,
Thursday July 26, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the
passage by unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow veterans
and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag.
Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in
uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or
should salute the flag.
"The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's military service," Senator Inhofe said.
"Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform.
"Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not.
"I look forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have served in the military and remain as role models to others citizens.
Those who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others."
Alert Readers have also noticed that Barack Obama has no American Flag on his campaign aircraft. It is not known if he will remove the flag from Air Force One, if he is elected...
Barack Obama also demonstrates that it is impossible for him to support the troops. He took millions from Bill Ayers, the domestic terrorist who attempted to blow up the Pentagon.
How can Obama support the troops and support a terrorist who tried to kill the troops? Obama is not qualified to be commander in chief.
KAILUA, Hawaii - He's not the commander in chief yet, but was President-elect Barack Obama briefly practicing his salute on Sunday?
On the first morning of his vacation here, Mr. Obama arrived at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii for his daily workout. As he walked out of the Semper Fit Center, his gray T-shirt soaked in sweat, he lifted his right hand and gave a quick salute to two Marines in fatigues who were standing in the distance.
[Reagan knew how to salute; it was within his experience.
The Cubscout is saluting.
Expect homosexuals in both the military and the Boyscouts
under Obama.]
The brief moment was not captured by cameras. Photographs and video were not permitted to be taken on the military base, according to campaign aides.
Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, opened their day with a 45-minute workout inside a large gymnasium at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, which is located on the Mokapu Penninsula on the windward side of Oahu, about 30 minutes outside Honolulu. It is sunny and warm here, a world away, at least in terms of the weather, from Chicago.
Saul Alinsky was Obama's mentor who taught Rules for Radicals and how to be community activists. One of Alinsky's rules was that the activists' tactics had to be within the experience of the participants. Obama, like most liberals, doesn't care for the military: it is outside his experience.
Alert Readers well know that Reagan served in uniform, like most patriots, in WWII.
The following has been circulating on the web and deserves a wide audience. Please comment if the author is known. The writer should be acknowledged and acclaimed.
BUSH'S RESIGNATION SPEECH
The following 'speech' was written recently by an ordinary Maineiac [a resident of the People's Republic of Maine ]. While satirical in nature, all satire must have a basis in fact to be effective. This is an excellent piece by a person who does not write for a living.
The speech George W. Bush might give:
Normally, I start these things out by saying 'My Fellow Americans.'
Not doing it this time. If the polls are any indication, I don't know who more than half of you are anymore. I do know something terrible has happened, and that many of you are really not fellow Americans any longer.
I'll cut right to the chase here: I quit. Now before anyone gets all in a lather about me quitting to avoid impeachment, or to avoid prosecution or something, let me assure you: There's been no breaking of laws or impeachable offenses in this office.
The reason I'm quitting is simple. I'm fed up with you people. I'm fed up because you have no understanding of what's really going on in the world. Or of what's going on in this once-great nation of ours. And the majority of you are too d@mned lazy to do your homework and figure it out.
Martha McCallum on FOX Charmaine will be appearing on the FOX News Live Desk with Martha McCallum to discuss today's hot topics:
Clinton's undisciplined messaging; McCain invites Obama to Iraq; Allergic to WiFi under ADA?
Alert Readers might be interested in our recent article in National Review Online by Your Business Blogger(R) and Charmaine on Hillary Clinton's management style: The woman can’t manage. “Bad Management”
I'm dubious that this is a violation of the ADA. If the plaintiffs feel the effects of Wi-Fi signals even inside their specially protected homes, it's hard to see how the city (which has got to be an awfully minor contributor to the aggregate Wi-Fi signals within its boundaries) could reasonably modify its policies and practices to avoid the problems these plaintiffs are facing.
[t]he World Health Organization says there's little to suggest that electromagnetic fields are responsible for the "range of non-specific symptoms" that such sufferers have described.
"A number of studies have been conducted where [electromagnetic hypersensitivity] individuals were exposed to [electromagnetic fields] similar to those that they attributed to the cause of their symptoms. The aim was to elicit symptoms under controlled laboratory conditions," the organization says. "The majority of studies indicate that EHS individuals cannot detect EMF exposure any more accurately than non-EHS individuals. Well controlled and conducted double-blind studies have shown that symptoms were not correlated with EMF exposure."
The World Health Organization reports on This reputed sensitivity to EMF has been generally termed “electromagnetic hypersensitivity” or EHS,
A number of studies have been conducted where EHS individuals were exposed to EMF similar to those that they attributed to the cause of their symptoms. The aim was to elicit symptoms under controlled laboratory conditions.
The majority of studies indicate that EHS individuals cannot detect EMF exposure any more accurately than non-EHS individuals. Well controlled and conducted double-blind studies have shown that symptoms were not correlated with EMF exposure.
It has been suggested that symptoms experienced by some EHS individuals might arise from environmental factors unrelated to EMF. Examples may include “flicker” from fluorescent lights, glare and other visual problems with VDUs, and poor ergonomic design of computer workstations. Other factors that may play a role include poor indoor air quality or stress in the workplace or living environment.
There are also some indications that these symptoms may be due to pre-existing psychiatric conditions as well as stress reactions as a result of worrying about EMF health effects, rather than the EMF exposure itself.
Governor Huckabee and Charmaine
In the background, Princella Smith and our Diva-girl Watching the Huckabee concession speech and leaving the race Tuesday night made for an emotional evening in the Yoest household.
Charmaine sent short emails to the Huckabee team -- their responses were each measured and even-tempered, almost upbeat, having fought the good fight.
Today's Washington Update, from FRCAction notes:
Despite his exit, no one can deny how influential Mike Huckabee was in championing values issues in this crucial race. While yesterday was clearly a victory for McCain, the Arizona senator acknowledged that his work is just beginning.
To succeed in his bid for the White House, McCain must consolidate his support among conservatives, including social conservatives, which will not happen just because he is the Republican nominee.
In the wake of the Republican scandals that began to surface in 2006 and the failure to advance most of the social conservative agenda, unqualified support for the GOP has diminished.
David Huckabee and Charmaine
A poll released last month by George Barna revealed that if the election were held then, only 45 percent of Evangelicals would vote for a Republican candidate.
That number is down from 85 percent of Evangelicals who voted for George W. Bush in 2004.
John McCain will have to convince social conservatives that their issues matter and that he can talk about them as a candidate and act upon them as president.
Conservatives/evangelicals still have questions about McCain's stand on the major issues of family values, immigration, campaign finance and women in combat. But McCain is our guy.
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
...They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas,...help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
...And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade.
It was a pageantry of international etiquette and planning.
The designers of the welcoming program were astute enough to include a lesson on what to do during the National Anthem and when to leave.
Your Business Blogger, like Miss Manners is somewhat saddened that the adults these days have to be taught proper behavior.
Or perhaps we all need only to be reminded...
Customs Observed During Honors
During the National Anthem of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Americans not in uniform stand at attention.
During the National Anthem of the United States, Americans not in uniform stand at attention and place their right hands over their hearts.
Hats worn by gentlemen are removed and held over their hearts.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, all guests remain in place on the South Lawn until The President and Mrs. Bush, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, The Official Delegation, the Welcoming Committee, and the Military Honor Guard have departed.
The next time you are at the beginning of a baseball game, please let me know how many gentlemen were in the crowd. Hand or hat placement during
the National Anthem
"Whenever and wherever the United States National Anthem, "To the Color," "Reveille," or "Hail to the Chief’ is played, at the first note, all dismounted personnel in uniform and not in formation face the flag (or the music, if the flag is not in view), stand at Attention, and render the prescribed Salute. The position of Salute is held until the last note of the music is sounded. Military personnel not in uniform will stand at Attention (remove headdress, if any, with the right hand), and place the right hand over the heart. Vehicles in motion are brought to a Halt."
But perhaps not on her last visit here with George H. W. Bush. Your Business Blogger received the following from Alert Reader Bob Morrison,
"When George H.W. Bush [the first Bush -- 41] welcomed the Queen to Washington, a bunch of us FRC staffers were invited to be part of the crowd of happy natives on the White House South Lawn. I was 30 yards away from the President, but could clearly see that the microphone had been left at the high position for the 6'2" Bush.
I could also see the red carpeted box inside the podium that was there, presumably, for the shorter Queen. Joseph Reed, the U.S. Chief of Protocol, was chattering away with Barbara Bush. I couldn't yell "HEY JOE, THE BOX, JOE!" When the Queen came to the podium, the only thing visible was her hat.
The Washington Post had a field day. When she later spoke to Congress, she drily commented: I hope you can all see me now.
Two weeks later, in a little notice in the Post, Joe Reed was made ambassador to one of those troubled little countries where you wouldn't want to vacation."
If the White House has trouble with getting the basics right, goodness, do mere mortal middle managers have a chance?
Alert Reader Bob Morrison was able to anticipate, adapt and learn because he had almost made the mistake that Joe Reed had committed,
I saw the crash coming because I had been a junior protocol officer in the Coast Guard. I was talking to the Commanding Officer's wife one time and almost missed standing for the American flag passing in review. When I saw it out of the corner of my eye, I shot up like a rocket. It was my duty to give the cue to the entire reviewing stands so I'd better not miss my moment. I got teased unmercifully by my buddies about being a super patriot then--and I still do!
Management challenges are not confined to government. This protocal reminder is a lesson for continuing education. According to a recent study released by Accenture and reported in Training and Development, 30 percent of middle managers worldwide from North America, Europe and Asia believe that their companies are “mismanaged.”
Which is why the American Society for Training and Development reports that 2006 saw over $109 billion in the United States invested on “employee learning and development.” Even board level leaders are continuing their continuing education tripling high-end executive seminar attendence.
Management training and the Management of Management Time is critical.
The manager can improve his attention to detail and reduce screw-ups with a three P process:
The White House had all of the resources and equipment and the logistics ready for the Queen. But Plans are nothing; planning is everything. said Dwight D. Eisenhower. In the act of planning, staff will study and generate options and make recommendations -- learning what might go right or, more important, wrong. Because something will always go wrong. The Planning looked good for the Queen's speech.
But it is not known what rehearsing was done. Charmaine tells me from her White House days that the pace is so fast and brutal that a detailed dress rehersal was probably not done -- time wouldn't allow. And security would also complicate -- the guys with ear pieces don't like too many staff as stand-in actors moving about the stage before hand. A dry run is always needed for your business performance. Practice.
Praise in the after action report or evaluation is the most critical part of the learning process. The professional manager anticipates, adapts and learns -- with his staff.
Pay Attention to Detail. Or you, too, will suffer the final, alternative P: Punishment -- and be reassigned to some God-forsaken outreach of the org chart.
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Thank you (foot)notes:
One of the first lessons I learned in the Army was to Praise in public and reprimand in private. See the Chief Happiness Officer for more on 4 kinds of Motivation.
Jamie Allman Your Business Blogger will be interviewed on the Fox radio affiliate in St. Louis, Missouri. Host Jamie Allman would like to talk about my experience as a "member" of the White House press corps at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
But it wasn't my first experience with the, well, habits of the White House press corp.
White Press Corps
Reserved Seating
Your Business Blogger
took the sign and
took a seat Charmaine and I were dating during her tenure in Reagan administration. She would often take me back to the White House press briefing room (built over Franklin Roosevelt's swimming pool) to fetch a press release or some such.
I expected the press room to be as immaculate and awe-inspiring and dignified as the rest of the rooms at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
But no.
The place was a dump. Yes, the podium and backdrop were spotless. But that was it. Trash was everywhere, waste cans overflowing. Cables, equipment and crumbs underfoot. I thought that the cleaning service was lax. (In the White House?) But no, they all, from Dan Rather on down lived in the squalor. The cleaning crew could barely keep up with the waste-management.
Those guys didn't pick up after themselves.
They made a mess and depended upon others to clean up after them.
Things haven't changed much from the 80's. Which is why people read blogs today...
Hit time is Thursday 19 April at 7:45 CST – 8:45 am my time here in Eastern.
If you live around St. Louis, tune in and let us know what you think. If you are outside the area, not to worry:
I took a week off from Hillary 2008Commander-in-Chief live-blogging, and I was roundly chastised. So, in just over an hour, come on back and join us for the Collagen Commander in action.
Tonight, according to the website: "Mac is caught off guard by breaking news of a terrorist smuggling explosives across the Canadian border." Oooh. Good opportunity to show how tough Hillary, sorry, I meant "a woman president" would be on terrorists. Bilaterally though of course.
9:00 One thing we haven't talked about yet: they hired SANDY BERGER as a consultant on this show. Seriously. That's amazing.
9:02 Nice suit. Maybe Geena Davis and I can work together on bringing back the long skirt suit.
9:03 Terrorist coming across the Canadian border. (Hey, those are my glasses, too. I'm liking this show better. Kidding.)
9:07 Commercial break. So back to the Sandy Berger thing. What DO you have to do -- if you're a Democrat -- to lose the lucrative TV gig??
Somebody's got to do it: Commander-in-Chief got huge ratings last week. Tonight. 9:00. Live-blogging here. Come on by and join in!
8:54 I'm asking myself: why bother with this silly show? The answer is that first, the show won its time slot last week. So there are a lot of people interested in, I'm guessing, the premise. A woman president. And that's my second answer -- this is an important topic. If they are going to do a show about female leadership, they ought to get it right.
9:03 Given the events of this week -- it's very interesting to see the Speaker of the House handing his suggestions for VP to the Chief of Staff. . .
9:04 Sniper on the roof. That's real.
9:05 "First Gentleman" -- I hope they don't play his role for laughs the whole time. Such great serious possibilities.
9:13 So the Democrats are the majority in the Senate, huh? Funny.
9:14 He won a war without losing a single American life? (Her preferred Vice Presidential pick.) Good one.
9:43 Be sure to follow the comments with great observations from the Drill Sergeant!
9:48 It strikes me that a theme running through this show is a lack of professionalism. The Press Secretary is struggling. And the Chief of Staff just yelled at the President? Never. Ever. Not going to happen.
The collagen lips are still terribly distracting, but the Mackenzie Allen character is better than last week.
9:54 Hah. So now we get to have Wesley Clark as Vice President. It is interesting to see Hollywood dream.
9:58 I don't think that actor is believable as a general. Looks a little lightweight.
The Speaker of the House says the General "will never be confirmed." So they're setting up a confirmation battle to parallel real life. Clever.
8:57 Live-blogging coming up shortly. Stay tuned -- and comments are open. Let me know what you're thinking, too.
9:01 Already I'm distracted by the collagen mouth.
9:02 The President is having a brain aneurysm and the Chief of Staff comes to the Vice President and tells her she must resign. That is SO implausible. Stoopid.
9:03 And what's with starting it out in France?
9:06 Now she's directing the military telling them how to move around individual ships in the Med. And she says "um" every other word. AAAARRRGGGHHHHH.
9:08 She's canvassing her children, asking them what they think about whether or not she should become President.
9:11 The President asks her to resign. No WAY that would happen. No WAY.
9:14 Look, we all knew I would hate this show. But I would so LOVE to see a depiction of an American Margaret Thatcher ascending to the Presidency instead of this stammering lightweight scenario. . . And did I mention yet the collagen lips that are so puffed up it gets in the way of her talking??
9:18 See what I mean. What kind of real American woman politician would contemplate resigning in this scenario? None. It's ridiculous.
9:19 Okay, finally I scene I really liked: her husband tells her she is making the wrong decision. They seem to be setting them up as a real team with a real marriage. That would be nice.
9:23 Check out Drill Sergeants observations in the comments!! Great catch on the Creationism line -- that obviously makes the Speaker evil.
9:25 So the Speaker is trying to talk her into resigning and says the Islamicists wouldn't follow a woman (the leader of the Free World can't be a woman) I guess he's forgetting Pakistan's (former) Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. . .
9:29 On the plus side: it was a great scene seeing a woman taking the oath of office. It will happen some day. And people won't be as freaked out as they are depicting. It will seem natural because once she gets there she will have earned it. She won't say "um" every other word. No collagen either.
9:31 Voice-over from a news show saying "she was wearing a navy suit." I like that -- they do always comment on a female pol's clothes.
9:33 She is in the Oval Office looking at the former President's stuff. That wouldn't happen either. They would have cleaned it up right away.
9:36 They just had a scene where the former President's secretary declines to stay on and tells Mackenzie she won't stay because it would make her feel cheap. I worked in the White House. Nobody talks like that to a President -- or a Vice President. This is just so frustrating because I want to see a female President with real gravitas!
9:39 Okay that's kind of fun: a scene where the husband is shown his office in the East Wing as the new "First Lady."
9:40 First Cabinet meeting. Like Johnson, she keeps them.
9:46 Is it possible to jump the shark in the very first episode? You've just got to love this story line where she is planning to send in the United States cavalry to rescue one African woman who was caught in adultery and is facing torture. . .
9:53 Okay, been there done that with the kid spilling juice on the suit!
9:54 Hey, that's the Richmond state capitol -- we used to live there.
9:56 Ya know, if they are going to send the copters into Nigeria, couldn't they fix the Nigerian email scams instead??
10:03 Special thanks to the Drill Sergeant for watching with us and adding his great comments! Very fun.
(And stay tuned: I'm getting my comments fixed this next week and will soon roll out new ones that don't require moderation!)
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UPDATE: After dozing off in the middle, and who can blame him??, Jay Tea at Wizbang comes back with a great assessment of "Commander-in-Chiffon."
And here's what I love about bloggers: Jeff Harrell notes that Geena Davis' concluding speech is given at night, while they depict the rescue scene as happening at sunset in Africa -- but in fact, Jeff says, "when it’s nine o’clock in the District, it’s one in the morning in Lagos." Hah. I know it's a minor point, but it goes to the cheesiness of the whole production.
I suppose that's enough already, but I also liked Jeff's point that on another show (which one? 24, I think?) there is a female president and her gender is never used as an issue.
