Unemployed and On the Road

To regular readers, I apologize for the light non-existent posting over the past few weeks. As I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago, in the process of ending my job with a company that everone would recognize - a company that I've been with for the past 10 years. The past 4 weeks have been hectic, as I've tried to make sure that my departure would not have an impact on the company nor the customer that I was supporting. The effort was worth it, as I was able to achieve some of the goals I had established a year ago and left on excellent terms. However, I was so busy over the past few weeks that I didn't have time to say goodbye to the hundreds of people that I'd gotten to know over the 10 years - just had enough time to drop a line to my former managers to thank them for all of the opportunities.

Now, I'm on the road with my family, heading down to the Redneck Riviera to enjoy a full week of unemployment. The next career beings in a week or so and it'll be interesting to start anew with another company. One good thing about the new position is that my travel schedule that I've been on for the past several years will be significantly cut or eliminated completely. My family is certainly pleased about that.

Posting should be increased over the next week... from updates on the trip to my deep superficial insights in the political goings-on of the day.

Your Co-Conspirator,
ARC: St Wendeler

The MSM - Doggedly Pursuing The Story Defeat

Michael Yon once again demonstrates that the MSM does not want us to understand what we are facing in Iraq. The AP, Reuters, and all of the other news agencies which don't have half the cojones that Michael Yon has cannot tell you about the good news from Iraq, nor the terror that al Qaeda is visiting upon the people in Iraq.

The press has decided that we must pull out of Iraq, regardless of the consequences or the facts on the ground. They have never been objective reporters and journalists. They choose to take the word of unnamed Iraqi stringers, some of whom may actually be on the payroll of the insurgency or al Qaeda. If the US military makes a statement or information is passed on to them from Iraqis that might put the US and its military in a positive light, it is immediately deemed to be suspicious. Even when they learn of the facts themselves, they refuse to report them.

Read Michael Yon's full post to understand what I'm talking about.


Your Co-Conspirator,
ARC: St Wendeler

MJ turned 60 Over the Weekend and...

In the words of Tom Lehr, "Reminds me of the day..."

I was at the Monterey Celtic festival celebrating my 60th birthday when I saw this Union Jack. It fluttered in the breeze, defiantly I thought. It brought back a memory.

Many years ago my room mate from college, my then wife and I were in New York City, somewhere around 2nd and 23rd as I recall. We wandered into an Irish bar of which there are a profusion in that neighborhood. A fella sat on a stool playing the guitar and singing "The Men Behind the Wire," an ode to the "boys" held in H Block.

It was the time of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. Naive lot that we were, we had wandered into an IRA bar where they raised money for arms. Fortunately we had spent several hours prior to this stop consuming adult beverages in other establishments.

After the crooner completed this tune and several more, and we were fortified with yet another pitcher of beer, this time Guiness, we thought we would offer our own tuneful contribution to the festivities.

My room mate and I rose to our feet and belted out the chorus to "Rule Britainia."

There was a stunned silence.

I gathered up my wife and the three of us beat a hasty retreat to the street and made our escape.

How on earth did I live to see 60?


Your Co-Conspirator,
ARC: MontereyJohn