Saturday, June 10, 2006

Copyright infringement

Shock Magazine has used Michael Yon's photography without his permission. It also implied that it had his permission. 
HFM has not dealt in good faith with Mr Yon.

It would seem that HFM Inc, operates with a complete disgard for the property rights of others.
For that reason, I will no buy and I will tell all that I know to stop buying the following magazines:
American Photo
Boating
Car and Driver
Cycle World
Elle
Elle Decor
Elle Girl
Flying
Home
Metropolitan Home
Mobile Entertainment
Popular Photography and Imaging
Premiere
Road and Track
Sound and Vision
Woman's Day

I will begin by asking Wal-Mart Stores to remove any/all of these magazines from the shelves worldwide.



Friday, June 09, 2006

Local Support for Hero

from the AJC.com

Thomas Autry no longer has holes in his shoes.

He starts a new job Monday. People from all over the United States have offered to send him money. Some have offered to buy him new a new pair of shoes to replace the ones with worn soles that became symbolic of his story. On Thursday, veterans rewarded his heroism with honorary bag of sand from Iwo Jima during a luncheon in Buckhead.

All for an act of self defense that left one young person dead and another wounded, an incident that still troubles Autry even though it has made the former Marine a hero in the eyes of many.
The resulting public outpouring has moved the shy, 36-year-old Desert Storm veteran. "The people who are contacting me with love in their hearts are the ones I was fighting for in the Gulf War," Autry said recently. "It's affirming."
Great! It is good to see a grateful community response to his situation.
I am glad that a decent job has been found and offered to him.
I hope he is successful in his new job.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Saudi charged with attempt to blow-up Delta flight

 
ATLANTA -- A Saudi national faces charges he threatened to blow up a Delta Air Lines flight because he was upset he was denied a job as an interpreter for U.S. military operations in Iraq.

The suspect says he was only making a joke while having some drinks.

A federal magistrate ordered 45-year-old Saleh Al Suwailem, of Boise, Idaho, held by the U.S. Marshal's Service after a hearing yesterday in Columbus.
 
The broad strata of society - again -
 
 

Fwd: Desertion



I first thought that the principal charge against 1st LT. Ehren Watada should be "Willfully disobeying a lawful order".

So, I checked the UCMJ, 
The proper lead charge will be " Article 85 Desertion" ,
followed by "Article 104 Aiding the Enemy" and several other charges.
His will be a General Courts Martial, and he will be facing the death penalty.

IF he fails to deploy to Iraq with his unit.
 
The charge of Mutiny or Sedition does not apply. It does not appear that he has encouraged others to refuse service in Iraq. The charge of Mutiny only applies to groups of people.

 
From the Uniform Code of Military Justice:

883. ART. 83. FRAUDULENT ENLISTMENT, APPOINTMENT, OR SEPARATION

Any person who--

(1) procures his own enlistment or appointment in the armed forces by knowingly false representation or deliberate concealment as to his qualifications for the enlistment or appointment and receives pay or allowances thereunder; or

(2) procures his own separation from the armed forces by knowingly false representation or deliberate concealment as to his eligibility for that separation;

shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

885. ART. 85. DESERTION

(a) Any member of the armed forces who--

(1) without authority goes or remains absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to remain away therefrom permanently;

(2) quits his unit, organization, or place of duty with intent to avoid hazardous duty or to shirk important service; or

(3) without being regularly separated from one of the armed forces enlists or accepts an appointment in the same or another on of the armed forces without fully disclosing the fact that he has not been regularly separated, or enters any foreign armed service except when authorized by the United States;

is guilty of desertion.

(b) Any commissioned officer of the armed forces who, after tender of his resignation and before notice of its acceptance, quits his post or proper duties without leave and with intent to remain away therefrom permanently is guilty of desertion.

(c) Any person found guilty of desertion or attempt to desert shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, but if the desertion or attempt to desert occurs at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.

887. ART. 87. MISSING MOVEMENT

Any person subject to this chapter who through neglect or design misses the movement of a ship, aircraft, or unit with which he is required in the course of duty to move shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

890. ART. 90. ASSAULTING OR WILLFULLY DISOBEYING SUPERIOR COMMISSIONED OFFICER

Any person subject to this chapter who--

(1) strikes his superior commissioned officer or draws or lifts up any weapon or offers any violence against him while he is in the execution of his officer; or

(2) willfully disobeys a lawful command of his superior commissioned officer;

shall be punished, if the offense is committed in time of war, by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct, and if the offense is committed at any other time, by such punishment, other than death, as a court-martial may direct.

892. ART. 92. FAILURE TO OBEY ORDER OR REGULATION

Any person subject to this chapter who--

(1) violates or fails to obey any lawful general order or regulation;

(2) having knowledge of any other lawful order issued by any member of the armed forces, which it is his duty to obey, fails to obey the order; or

(3) is derelict in the performance of his duties;

shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

904. ART. 104. AIDING THE ENEMY

Any person who--

(1) aids, or attempts to aid, the enemy with arms, ammunition, supplies, money, or other things; or

(2) without proper authority, knowingly harbors or protects or gives intelligence to or communicates or corresponds with or holds any intercourse with the enemy, either directly or indirectly;

shall suffer death or such other punishment as a court-martial or military commission may direct.

933. ART. 133. CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN

Any commissioned officer, cadet, or midshipman who is convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

934. ART. 134. GENERAL ARTICLE

Though not specifically mentioned in this chapter, all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses not capital, of which persons subject to this chapter may be guilty, shall be taken cognizance of by a general, special or summary court-martial, according to the nature and degree of the offense, and shall be punished at the discretion of that court.




 

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

US Military Motto

"We the willing,
led by the unknowing,
are doing the impossible for the ungrateful.

We have done so much for so long with so little,
that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing."
Anonymous

Today in History

* 1981, Israeli military planes destroyed a nuclear power plant in Iraq.
 
This was a damn fine week in History.
 
June 4th - Battle of Midway
June 6th - D-Day 
June 7th - no nuke plant in Iraq 

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Re: Slander of US Marines

Mr Baker,
 
I see via Milblogs, I am aware of the article that ran in the Sunday Times, " Wrong Target" .
 
I see that you clearly understand this war on terror. I see that you understand how the reputation of your paper depends upon each and every article.
 
I apologize for my earlier harsh words, written in anger. 
 
As stated in the article "Wrong Target"
 
Better than most, Muslims understand why Islamist terrorism is war at its unholiest, an existential threat to societies. Iraqis may resent occupation, but they fear a weakening of US resolve. Their fears should be ours. Were it to become politically impossible for a president to keep America's forces engaged from its shores, then the backbone of international security would be broken. America-bashing may be a popular sport, but its adherents prefer not to contemplate its consequences.
 
The biggest fear of the Iraqis is a too hasty withdrawal of US and British troops. This was also noted by a US Marine in Iraq.
 
Please accept this apology.
 
Marvin

Numbers

Today is a numbers day.
 
06/06/06 - 666 - the 'Number of the Beast'
The atomic numbers for carbon, the base element of life, 6 positrons, 6 electrons, 6 neutrons.
6+6+6=18, which in the Hebrew tradition is the number of life. (which is why Jews will give gifts which are multiples of 18.  
 
So, is 666 a 'good' number or a 'bad' number or just a number?

60 odd years ago

1942 - Midway Island, North Pacific Ocean -

The 'over-matched' and 'out-gunned' US Fleet, defeated Imperial Japan's attempt to take Midway Island. The keys to this battle was that the US Fleet found the enemy first, and when our co-ordinated attacked failed to happen our torpedo bombers went in alone and unprotected against the Japanese Fleet.

1944 - Normandy, France

The largest invasion force in recorded history, attacked the beaches of France. Thousands of men, who faced certain death, went in and did their duty. The Airborne forces who landed behind the lines, disorganized and scattered, but still managed to accomplish the vital missions, the coxswains, who made repeated trips thru the murderous fire to bring more men and supplies ashore, the destroyer Captains who risked beaching their ships inorder to bring their 5 inch guns to bear on the German artilliary, the infantrymen who ran into the murderous fire to secure the beach, the medics who patched the men under fire, the Rangers who scaled the cliffs, the pilots who provided close air support.

Letter from Fallujah

I've got an excerpt from a letter written by a Marine in Fallujah that I believe is worth your time. Original letter was published here.

In Fallujah, the people watch Al Jazeerah. However, they also watch CNN. A lot of them fear that the United States will soon cut and run. The people of Iraq see when our country is divided. When they see rallies to "Bring The Troops Home," they see that as a sign that we will end our efforts prematurely
.
 

Monday, June 05, 2006

Never Surrender



These colors were flown on the HMS Victory by Lord Nelson. They should be proudly flown in jolly ol'England.

Follow-up letter: Stolen Photos

My e-mails to Shock Magazine, concerning their unauthorized use of Micheal Yon's work.
*******************

For your information, Mr Yon did not request that anyone write to you regarding this copyright infringement.
I read the story on Michelle Malkin's site and reacted to your blatant disregard of the property rights of others.
The facts are clear.
Shock magazine used Micheal Yon's work without permission.
Marvin


---------- Forwarded message ----------

Date: May 26, 2006 6:57 AM
Subject: Stolen Photos

Does your magazine "Shock" Steal all of its photos?
I saw on Michelle Malkin's site that you are using Micheal Yon's photo from Iraq on your cover. You need to pay $180 per copy of your magazine to Mr Yon. I suggest that you do it fast before the lawyers who read Michelle Malkin start taking actin on Mr Yon's behalf.
Thank You
Marvin