FEELING HOT! HOT! HOT!
God, how I would love to be on that boat!
What cooling? All of us here in this swelter pit were waiting for that cooling we were supposed to get by today. The Weather Channel's "excessive heat advisory" was lifted yesterday, and today was supposed to feel better. Yeah. Right. Last night was one of the worst ever for sleeping. Even with FOUR fans going 24/7, who could sleep? I've reached my saturation point, pun intended, of this wretched humidity, which is worse than the heat.
However, It could be worse: You could be in Baghdad, where it'll hit 116 degrees today - and where the heat wave lasts all summer.
Work clothes for a soldier or Marine in Iraq comprise: a Kevlar helmet; a thick camouflage uniform; an IBA (heavy flak vest); "sappy" plates on the back and chest (to protect against AK-47 fire), Kevlar crotch protector, kneepads, elbow pads and neck guards - plus a personal weapon and a full load-out of ammo and assorted utilities like water, rations, a medical kit and a radio or other electronic gear.
That adds up to in excess of 75 pounds of dead weight - and it doesn't stop there.
Some, like Marines, carry even more. Operating on the move with no hum- vees in which to stash equipment, Marines carry extra water, ammo and other essentials, reports Sgt. Jeremy Pitcher, a press officer at the Multi- National Force base in Baghdad.
8 Don’t forget Operation AC: It’s not just about air conditioners anymore!
In no particular order, Thursday's Interblogatory Roundup ...
8 DogMan was in the Big Red One in Vietnam (’65 – ’67) – I didn’t meet him until ’68 -- so this story holds a special interest for me. Big Red One back at Fort Riley 1st Infantry honors frontier roots: Officially, Tuesday was the homecoming for the 1st Infantry Division, as its soldiers and leaders returned to their traditional Kansas quarters.
But for dozens of veterans of the Big Red One, it was also a bittersweet family reunion.
They marveled at the sight of hundreds of young soldiers and the appearance of the post, founded in 1853 on the Western frontier. They reunited with fellow alumni of the nation's oldest Army division and remembered those no longer living.
…
"The joke was, the Army was the Big Red One and 500,000 replacements."
h/t Lucianne
8 This could be good news, if … Just one more reason for the GOP to keep the House, but will Rangel keep his word?
8 Yet another Colbert piece. Stephen Colbert Causes Chaos on Wikipedia, Gets Blocked from Site
8 “Unelected interlopers,” hoi polloi – same diff. Senators-Only Elevator: Mr. Lautenberg, a Democrat who has served more than two decades in the Senate, said he had never seen the Capitol so packed with unelected interlopers.
h/t Spook 86
8 First CBS uses eggs to advertise and now this (hilariously written) news. Idiot-proof eggs: Centuries of inbreeding and binge drinking have left the British too slow-witted to tell time. Unable to use a simple stopwatch, most folks in the U.K. are unable to boil an egg.
8 For those who are too cheap to rent movies, How'd they know I downloaded Meet the Fockers?
8 I hope he got it on video! Boatjacked by a bear: When Descoteaux reached rocks he looked back and was shocked to see his 5-metre aluminum boat speed past. While the bear was exploring the boat, it had hit the throttle. "The bear was fishing with my boat," with the baited line dragging behind it, Descoteaux said.
8 Just because it really bugs the S outta B that these pictures were even taken at all, I give you (ta-da!) Malibu Babs' Estate !!
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