Tuesday's Book review a day late.

I know I'm behind in my postings. well truth be told the reason for this is due to a car accident I was in last Wednesday. I'm fine with just a few bumps and bruises, but my medication was made me a little loopy and not up to my usual self.

For this weeks book review I'm going to hit on an old stand by and classic: Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers. Not the POS Hollywood tried to pass off as a movie, the real deal honest to goodness book.

The book centers around a singular character, who is also the story's narrator. The controversial part of the book was not the power armor, or even the military's way of conducting operations but the background system of politics/government. In the alternate universe of the book, in order to hold political office or even vote you must first become a citizen. And just how did the one change from the average person into a citizen? Serve at least one term in the military or public service organization. The thinking behind this was that before one was given the privilege and important responsibility of running the government or voting one must first take on the task of protecting and defending it, to prove your commitment to the important responsibility that comes with voting. To find out the reason behind this you'll read the book.

Even if you don't care, this book is a must read, the narrative style allows the reader to feel apart of the story. Also while John Ringo hasn't out right said it (to my limited knowledge) Heinlien's M.I. and power armor form the basis for Ringo's ACS units. Not to mention the deployment method of the M.I. is totally awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until tomorrow.

Ish

P.S. There is a secret reason I chose Heinlein's Starship Troopers for this weeks book, tune in Monday to find out why.

An example of just how the media just doesn't understand the military.

I was scanning my daily list of blogs: Black Five and OPFOR among others, and I discovered a posting at the Blackfive about Sacramento Bee reporter Bobby Caina Calvan and his recent blog post that just boiled my blood. Now I'm not going to rehash what other have said but after a title wave of negative comments this reporter rather then apologize for his comments, decides to take the cowardly way out and deletes his whole blog pretending like it didn't happen. Well thankfully many people had to foresight to copy the entire posting to include the comments.

The best archive I have found can be found at Doc Weasel's blog at Bobby Caina Calvan article

Let me just say that in my humble opinion this is prime example of not only the cowardliness and shear arrogant better that you attitude of some in the media, but also a perfect example of just how well the media DOESN'T understand the men and women in the military. Rather then realize that this solider is simply doing his job as ordered, this reporter thinks that not only can he circumvent the safety and protection procedures (set up to protect others including him) because he is a reporter, but that somehow the rules shouldn't and don't apply to him. Does he take a step back and say hum there might be a better way, like following the rules? NO and in his own words he "decides to get pushy" with a guy who is only doing his job protecting people inside the Green Zone in Iraq.

Also rather then apologize when when called to the carpet by readers of his blog, he tries to make edits to his original post and delete comments that don't agree with his opinion. After a while the negative comment tide is such that he decides, rather then simply taking a look in the mirror and saying "you know I might be in the wrong here" and issue an apology, to delete his blog in its entirety. What a coward.

For any readers in the Sacramento Bee distro area (which includes my home town of Fairfield) I would ask that you: 1) visit Doc Weasel's sight and read the archived posting and 2) if you are of like mind and agree with myself and others to write or call the Sacramento Bee and let them know just how displeased you are with this reporter. Heck you don't have to be in the Sacrament Bee distro area, as this guy said (rather pompously in my opinion) "he works for Knight Ridder", so you can write/call you local Knight Ridder paper and let them know what you think of this guy.


Ish

One Day On Mars: a Cyber Wolf Den book review

This week I'm going to review the new book by Travis S. Taylor, One Day On Mars.

This is Dr. Taylor's third solo effort from Baen books and let me start out with the book's singular negative attribute: It's too short! I mean Dr. Taylor is like a drug dealer giving his readers the first sample and provide just enough to whet their appetites!!!!! I mean I wanted to scream can't be over yet it was getting so good! This negative attribute is tempered by the fact that this book is the prequel to Travis S. Taylor, The Tau Ceti Agenda.

Right from the start Dr. Taylor hooks the reader and doesn't go, not even at the end, as I mentioned above, I'm still hooked and a little bumed that the next book doesn't come out till May 2008. However this book has it all and a must read for any military sci-fi fans: space battles, power armor, interesting characters, and transforming mechas. As Dr. Taylor described his Marine FM-12 strike mechas and their three fighting modes, I was floored, the little kid in me screamed "O' MY GOD HE HAS Veritechs." Well they aren't really Veritechs but the concept is very similar. Over all I would have to say, I agree with Dr. Taylor's fellow author, John Ringo when he said "You won't want to put it down", I know I didn't and if you are a fan of military sci-fi or Dr. Taylor, you probably won't either.

The start of the Den book review Tuesdays

Hello my name is Ish, and I have a problem. Well I wouldn't call it a problem, the wife on the other hand claims I've passed the problem stage and progressed to full blown addict. And as they say the first step in recovery is to admit you have a problem so .... I guess for the sake of argument I'll go ahead and admit it, I have an addiction, an addiction to books that is. Science fiction and fantasy in general but especially, military and space based science-fiction. OK, your probably wondering, so you read big deal, well lets just say I probably go through at least one book every two to three days (depending on the length and subject of the book I may just finish it in one sitting.) Some times it drives the wife nuts especially since I don't get rid of most of the books because I re-read them. Not only do I re-read them over and over again, the wife can pretty much tell what type of mood I'm in based on who and what I'm reading.

For this reason I think I've come up with a therapy that just may help with the problem, namely posted book reviews. So, I'm setting for myself the goal of posting at least one book review a week, kind of like DVD release Tuesday, I'm going to try to post these reviews on Tuesdays.

For the first review I'm going to to start with the book I picked up during Sunday's family outing and finished last night. Review to be posted soon...

Air Force releases B-52 munitions transfer investigation results

Articles :
Official Air Force Story

Military.com Seventy Punished for Nuclear Flight

One of the best commentaries is from a former AF Spook and available here:
In from the Cold

Here's my personal feelings/take on the situation: Door, Airman. Airman, Door. Now that the two of you are acquainted don't let Door hit you on the way out! And by Airman I mean both officers and enlisted! I wouldn't go so far as a dishonorable or big chicken dinner (bad conduct discharge), an administrative discharge and/or forced retirement should be good enough with court marshals all around for any one who decides not to take the hint.

This may sound harsh but these weren't your average run of the mill missiles, they were nuclear armed munitions. NUKES for those in the cheap seat. You know two person controlled, mandatory multiple sets of eyes on them at all times, "Danger Will Robinson!", duck and cover, kiss your butt good bye, nukes! Also according to the official accounting of what happened, there were multiple times when these special munitions should have been discovered earlier to include right before take off by the aircraft flight crew, if the Airmen had paid attention to detail, done their job correctly, and by the numbers.

However, on the flip side, the munitions Airman at Barksdale A.F.B. who discovered the munitions and every one in the chain from that point on who diligently followed procedure, and declared the "Bent Spear", deserve a nice cold one, if not a day off, and possibly a medal.

So to the guys that screwed up, thanks for serving our country but it's time for you to go. To the ones who did right and didn't try to cover it up, good on ya, atta boy!

ArrrrrhhhRRRRoooOOOOOooooo

This if the first post of what I hope will be a rather interesting experience, as this is my first blog. I've posted many times to user groups and other blogs but could never quite get up the nerve to step up one of my own until that fateful day when the wife said, honey.. we're expecting.... Well that was almost a year ago now and I've finally got the time to set somethings up.

In order to separate church and state so to speak I've created not one but two blogs, the first one named The Piggy Files: where the wife and I will talk about our little one who was born at only 28.5 weeks (to find out why it's called the Piggy files go there and check it out before commenting) and the Cyber Wolf Den: where I'll talk about every thing else under the sun thats on my mind (to include stubjects the wife probably won't want on the Piggy's site). This is especially important as the wife and I have very different view points on certain subjects, such as politics, sci-fi etc (okay honey I'll admit it for the world in a nut shell I'm a geek and the wife isn't). Actually this isn't a completely true statement I'm more of a cross between a your average military member, computer professional, grad student, and a 10 year old with the attention span of a Kinder (Thank Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis for Uncle Tas).

Thats all for now maybe more later but more then likely more tomorrow. Take care all,

Ish