SAGE ADVICE FROM A VERY FINE PROFESSOR

FYI: -- dj

Advice learned in a microprocessor course taught many years past by Professor Roger Rockefeller, Ph.D., then a full-time teacher at Utica College of Syracuse University (now Professor Emeritus of Physics at Utica University)... communicating some most unforgettable sage advice. Regarding information security – “Never put anything in electronic communication that you would not yell to your mother across a crowded room.” Otherwise stated – “electronic communication” is today aka email or social network messaging. Here's another piece of sage thinking passed to me in this image by a close contact:

Antietam Battlefield National Park and Cemetery

Volunteers in line to read names of Union Warriors interred

at Antietam National Cemetery, D Paul photo, Sep 2017.

In September 2017, I traveled to Sharpsburg, MD (The Antietam Battlefield National Park) for the re-dedication of the Antietam National Cemetery (150th Anniversary Ceremony).  A paternal Great-Great-Grandfather William Moegling was wounded at the Battle of Antietam 17 Sep 1862 while fighting as an enlisted corporal with the 97th Infantry Regiment of New York State Volunteers (aka "The 3rd Oneida Regiment" or "Conkling Rifles").  The 97th New York was raised in Boonville, NY with volunteers primarily hailing from Oneida County, Lewis County, and Herkimer County in New York State.

Click HERE for more details courtesy of the New York State Department of Military and Naval Affairs website.

The guest speaker at the 150th Antietam National Cemetery Anniversary ceremony was the expert Civil War author/professor Dr. Gary Gallagher -- a great speaker -- very impressive, funny, interesting, and personally found myself in near 100% agreement with Dr. Gallagher's Civil War positions and thinking.  I've recently come across a few of Dr. Gallagher's talks on the Internet at YouTube, they take some time to review.  But these talks are highly worth your time for those who wish to be better informed on the hows, whereas, and whys of Civil War leadership and soldiers and why we these eight score+ years later need to remember that difficult 19th centruy rebellion period that nearly made us two countrys.  One of Dr. Gallagher's very fine talks is selected here and available on YouTube -- click HERE to view.

On Dr. Gallagher's "the preservation of the union message" as the majority reason for Union soldier fighting, I recall a decade past visiting the grave of another Great-Great Grandfather Private Albert Odell at Bath National Cemetery (in Steuben County, NY), late of the 91st Infantry Regiment of New York State Volunteers.  The cemetery plaque on the main soldiers and sailors monument reads "In memory of the Soldiers and Sailors of the War for the PRESERVATION OF THE UNION who died in the New York State Soldiers and Sailors Home."  I recall being surprised by the engraved monument plaque statement "...The War For The Preservation Of The Union" -- recall thinking I've never seen this language used on a Civil War monument before.  In my experience, the Civil War is most frequently referenced as "The War Of The Rebellion."  Of course the union was preserved as a major  outcome by the Union in Civil War, but any basic 20th/21st Century student of the war would think it was fought mainly to free the slaves.  Not so... and freeing slaves was not the majority cause why those union soldiers pick-up a rifle and killed other men (or to be killed). 

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Bath National Cemetery, Bath, New York,

photo dated May 2011 by DJ Paul.

Closeup of Bath National Cemetery Soldiers and Sailors Monument Plaque 

Take A Look At This Happy American Legion News

 

Click HERE to read this very important NAUTICAL NEWS... 

So glad to learn that sailors can now walk around with their hands in pockets, that naval gals can wear false eyelashes in uniform (and I guess guys too, we gotta be gender-neutral don't we[?]), that naval chaplin's prayers were answered and they can now wear some sort of dolpin/wings uniform device, and lastly that naval drone pilots can wear wings.  My GOD, you are pulling my leg here... right?

And what's up with this new authorization allowing female sailors to wear the tiara as an optional uniform component when donned in dinner dress blues and/or white jacket uniforms.  How and why is this non-uniform change in naval uniform regulations necessary?  In interest of full disclosure, the author had to Google "tiara" being an old fart male, out of touch, and unfamiliar with this device.  So exactly how is it the tiara device makes military dinner-clothing uniform?  It seems obvious any such device-ware makes the uniform less uniform.  Isn't that the purpose of tiara wear in the first place -- to draw more notice and attention to those wearing the most beautiful tiara?  My gosh, what military genius thought of this? And is the Brazilian Butt Enhancement authorization next on your agenda?

I'm sittin' and reading this American Legion news release, and thinkin' this is the kind of miltary BS (aka FUBAR) that happens when we are not engaged in an active declared war... got to give those unnecessary senior officer billet-holders who are now polishing a desk chair with their butts (mostly flag rank) something to do down there in DC.  I'm so glad to be a former sailor... and naval management would certainly be happy to do without some of us with a similar take on this matter (asked to leave or forced retirement).

 WTF, over and out.

 

Serious Instruction On Work Place Touching

 

Long ago I worked with a female Navy Chief Petty Officer who once told me -

"I don't mind sexual harassment, it's that harassment without the sex that ticks me off."

That CPO would likely be fired in today's "touchy-feely" PC Navy (or negative comments may certainly be inserted in her official record). I worked with a few female Navy Chiefs... to be honest I'm not sure which one said this to me, but I do recall the remark was made just after we attended a 3-hour mandatory sexual harassment lecture. I got a huge laugh hearing that comment.

Actually was told this in a lecture like first graders might be regarding work-related touching. There are "green zones" good and OK touching, "yellow-zones" questionable and uncomfortable touching, and then to "red-zones" contacts -- I guess a slap on the ass, making the Grab, etc. touches that are obviously worthy of formal charges.

It's so stupid... anyone with a brain should know what inappropriate touches are... and if this conduct is found the offender should be gone (fired) by sunset. I remember the sexual harassment lecture was delivered by a female Navy Commander (a lawyer) who flew in from Washington D.C. just to deliver a nasty conduct lecture. Timing was just after the infamous Las Vegas hotel "Tail Hook" incident(s) involving naval flying personnel following Gulf War I (1991).  Guess those Naval Airedales watched too many older Hollywood military movies and attempted multiple duplication of this now funny, but unacceptable, conduct depicted in these now unseemly movie scenes [?].  But tell me I'm wrong -- most of these old military movies are presently regarded by qualified movie critics as legitimate classical films.