Whenever I hear of a terrorist attack it makes me think of what crime I fear most. During my 13 and a half year U.S. Air Force career I always feared of being a victim of a terrorist attack. However, is a terrorist attack the crime I fear most? I’m not so sure. I actually think murder is the crime I fear the most. In this paper I will discuss terrorist attacks and murder to come to a conclusion on why I feel that way.
On June 25th, 1996, a sewage truck packed with explosives exploded near an eight story living complex in Dhahran killing 19 U.S. military members. I was a young 20-year-old Airman at the time stationed at Dyess AFB, TX, fresh out of boot camp and technical training. Word reached back that while we had members from our unit injured, they were only minor. This event really hit home with me, thinking wow, I could have been there and been killed. A little over four years later, as a member of a Security Forces unit at Eielson AFB, AK, we received word of the U.S.S. Cole bombings off the coast of Yemen on October 12th, 2000. Now being in the Air Force it didn’t hit us directly but we felt sympathy for our fallen brothers and sisters along with their families. I’m sure they felt the same way for us after the Khobar Towers attack in 1996. During both these events it was scary to think about dying just doing your job, but if that’s what my job asked me to do so be it.
What’s even more harrowing than the thought of dying in a terrorist attack is the thought of being murdered. According to The Disaster Center’s Rothstein Catalogue for Disaster Planning there were 217,793 murders from 1996 – 2008. That’s an average of 16,753 per year, 1,396 per month, and 47 per day in the United States alone. That’s not only scary but chilling. The possibilities are endless on how one could be murdered. Who would have ever thought of the appalling details in the Jeffrey Dahmer or Bind, Torture, Kill (BTK) Killer cases? Those are the types of things you only see in fiction movies, or so we thought. To think of a human being doing that to another human being is appalling to me. It sends chills down my spine thinking about if it ever would happen to me, a friend, or a loved one.
Friends and families suffering with the loss of a loss of a loved one and the details of events involved due to criminal murder saddens my heart. Dying for your country or protecting innocent civilians is an honorable way to move on to the next life and while difficult it is still probably a bit easier to cope with the loss. A lot of people say bring the troops back home but it seems to me they are almost safer over there than they are right here in their homeland. If you add up those killed in the attacks on Pearl Harbor, September 11th, Khobar Towers, the U.S.S. Cole, and those that have died in both wars you still have a number less than the average murders per year right here in the United States. As debate on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq rages on, the average of 47 murders per day keeps painting a haunting image in my mind. Therefore, murder is the crime I fear the most.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
If I Was the LA Clippers GM...
According to ESPN.com LeBron James invited the Clippers to meet with him, but it's hard to imagine them making a compelling argument for him to sign.
The club does have a nice core group of young players, including center Chris Kaman, Griffin (a No. 1 draft pick in 2009) and guards Baron Davis and Eric Gordon. The Clippers also can entice James with Hollywood and the potential to add to his riches in the entertainment industry.
While other teams tried to impress James with theatrical displays, the Clippers kept things simple.
If I was the Clippers GM here’s what I would do:
Let me be clear, I’m a Laker fan, but I am writing this from a GM perspective.
First of all, I would move the team from LA to Anaheim. From the Staples Center to the Honda Center. This would allow only the Kings and Lakers to play in the Staples Center and the Clippers and Ducks in the Honda Center. Imagine the LA vs OC rivals with Dodgers vs Angels, Ducks vs Kings, and the Lakers vs Clippers.
How many championships have the Clippers won? And who was their biggest star ever. Some may say Danny Manning, but again, how many championships did he win in a Clipper uniform?
I would make LeBron James the highest paid player in the NBA. Having him in the LA market would intensify the LA vs OC rivalry with the Kobe vs LeBron rivalry. Think about ticket sales at the Honda Center when Kobe plays, when the rivals play.
With LeBron in the OC, and the talented core of young players mentioned in the ESPN article, imagine how attractive that will be to other players in the future. You could really build something here.
Not only that imagine all the team records he could hold with the Clippers. With the success of the Angels and the success of the Ducks, OC would be a great fit for the Clippers and LeBron. And the marketing between the Lakers and Clippers would sky rocket. Well maybe for the Clippers, not so much for the Lakers.
Why don’t you think the Clippers have hired a coach yet? The probably wanted to see who LeBron wanted in there.
Also, LeBron wouldn’t have to play in Jordan’s shadow in Chi-town, Dwayne Wade’s shadow in Miami, Patrick Ewing’s shadow in New York, and the Nets? Really the Nets? Keith Van Horn? LOL
I’ve talked to a lot of people and most say he’s going to Chicago or Miami. I’m thinking, move the Clippers to the OC, sign LeBron, recreate the LA vs OC rivalry, attract players to the OC in the future. LeBron dominates franchise records and wins multiple championships.
The Clippers seem the most logical choice to me. Now only if I was the GM of the Clippers.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Amnesty or Deportation?
I see people all over the US talk about amnesty for illegal immigrants. Some are for it, some are against it. If you are keeping up with the news, you know most people want to boycott Arizona because of the new law their state recently passed.
I think all 50 states should adapt this law.
I believe amnesty for illegal immigrants is a horrible idea. You can call me a racist and go right ahead. When the terrorists attack and destroy your families, friends, and your way of life, you can still call me a racist. I will blame you and those like you for your failure in doing what was right for homeland security. You can live with the guilt of not helping to protect America and why thousands or millions are dead.
See most people look at this as a racial issue. I think it goes on beyond that. I look at it from a homeland security issue. So, Mexicans, get over yourselves. It’s not just about you vs. America. It’s about protecting America and her way of life from terrorism. If you break the law, you pay the consequences. So, if anyone, I repeat anyone, is here illegally they should not be given a free pass. If we don’t know where the illegal immigrants are how do we keep track of terrorists in America?
The following scenario is something that comes into my mind every time I hear people talk about border security, amnesty, and/or the Arizona immigration law.
I’ve seen several figures online that puts America’s illegal immigrant population in a range anywhere from 10 million to 20 million. So I’m going to average that and estimate roughly 15 million illegal immigrants in the US.
Imagine if .5% of those 15 million are Muslim? That’s less than one percent or 75,000 illegal Muslims in the US. Now imagine if just 5% of those illegal Muslims are extremist Muslim terrorists. That’s 3,750 extreme Muslim terrorists in the US that aren’t documented or you wanted to give amnesty too. Still with me? Good, I’m not done.
Do you know if you are born in the US you are automatically a legal resident regardless if your parents are legal or not?
This is where my scenario gets interesting. Let’s take that 3,750 number and figure half of them have 3 kids each. Now we have 1,875 x 3 = 5,625. Let’s say 2/3 of them are raised to be terrorists. That would be? You guessed it: 3,751 or 3,752 (if you want to round up). So in about the next 15 – 25 years we’d have 3,750 terrorists that are legal US citizens (plus what we might already have).
If you recall the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, they didn’t attack again until 2001. 8 years between attacks. Terrorists are patient, so 15 – 25 years from now it’s reasonable to think a major terrorist attack will occur, if not sooner.
Now, let’s re-visit those numbers, 3,750 terrorists. I’d divide them up in the 50 states evenly which puts about 75 in each state. We could probably make some plans to put 100 in CA, NY, FL, TX and only 25 in AK, MO, ND, SD. But I’m going to keep it at 75 just to illustrate a point.
Imagine 2 to 3 working in the top 10 to 20 restaurants in each state. The rest are working in the packing companies. Now, imagine the code word is give through a video tape or text and all the workers put ricin or anthrax in the salt shakers at the restaurants. Can you imagine that?
Can you imagine sitting in Hollywood and everyone gets Anthrax then takes it home and spreads it through the city.
All the panic, all the sickness, spread throughout America at the same time. The economy would go to hell because people would be either dead, sick, quarantine, or to scared to eat at a restaurant. This would be a lot easier than trying to blow up an airplane or a major building.
Remember I also said packing companies? What I really meant was the companies that produce those “to go” salt packages. The ones you grab at fast food restaurants, truck stops, baseball games, etc. Think about several thousand of those filled with ricin, anthrax, or some other bacterial disease placed in thousands of public places.
Now, this scenario was just one example of what can happen if we don’t get control of the illegal population. While we bicker, debate, argue, etc., about whether Arizona should be boycotted or not, there are terrorists plotting to kill American citizens.
So, do you want to continue worrying about racial profiling or do you want to protect America from a catastrophic terrorist attack? Do you want to worry about when you go into a restaurant if the salt is “tainted” or if a cop in Arizona asks someone to prove they’re a citizen? Do you want to let illegal immigrants undocumented in the US or sent back to their home countries?
We are here to make a life better for our children and their children. How are we going to explain to them we didn’t do enough to protect America because we were preoccupied with being politically correct and didn’t want to offend anyone? If your feelings are hurt because we send you back for not being legal, stop victimizing yourself.
These issues we face today are more than about race, it’s about protecting America. Put that first and stop giving in to the politically correct jackasses in the world.
I think all 50 states should adapt this law.
I believe amnesty for illegal immigrants is a horrible idea. You can call me a racist and go right ahead. When the terrorists attack and destroy your families, friends, and your way of life, you can still call me a racist. I will blame you and those like you for your failure in doing what was right for homeland security. You can live with the guilt of not helping to protect America and why thousands or millions are dead.
See most people look at this as a racial issue. I think it goes on beyond that. I look at it from a homeland security issue. So, Mexicans, get over yourselves. It’s not just about you vs. America. It’s about protecting America and her way of life from terrorism. If you break the law, you pay the consequences. So, if anyone, I repeat anyone, is here illegally they should not be given a free pass. If we don’t know where the illegal immigrants are how do we keep track of terrorists in America?
The following scenario is something that comes into my mind every time I hear people talk about border security, amnesty, and/or the Arizona immigration law.
I’ve seen several figures online that puts America’s illegal immigrant population in a range anywhere from 10 million to 20 million. So I’m going to average that and estimate roughly 15 million illegal immigrants in the US.
Imagine if .5% of those 15 million are Muslim? That’s less than one percent or 75,000 illegal Muslims in the US. Now imagine if just 5% of those illegal Muslims are extremist Muslim terrorists. That’s 3,750 extreme Muslim terrorists in the US that aren’t documented or you wanted to give amnesty too. Still with me? Good, I’m not done.
Do you know if you are born in the US you are automatically a legal resident regardless if your parents are legal or not?
This is where my scenario gets interesting. Let’s take that 3,750 number and figure half of them have 3 kids each. Now we have 1,875 x 3 = 5,625. Let’s say 2/3 of them are raised to be terrorists. That would be? You guessed it: 3,751 or 3,752 (if you want to round up). So in about the next 15 – 25 years we’d have 3,750 terrorists that are legal US citizens (plus what we might already have).
If you recall the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, they didn’t attack again until 2001. 8 years between attacks. Terrorists are patient, so 15 – 25 years from now it’s reasonable to think a major terrorist attack will occur, if not sooner.
Now, let’s re-visit those numbers, 3,750 terrorists. I’d divide them up in the 50 states evenly which puts about 75 in each state. We could probably make some plans to put 100 in CA, NY, FL, TX and only 25 in AK, MO, ND, SD. But I’m going to keep it at 75 just to illustrate a point.
Imagine 2 to 3 working in the top 10 to 20 restaurants in each state. The rest are working in the packing companies. Now, imagine the code word is give through a video tape or text and all the workers put ricin or anthrax in the salt shakers at the restaurants. Can you imagine that?
Can you imagine sitting in Hollywood and everyone gets Anthrax then takes it home and spreads it through the city.
All the panic, all the sickness, spread throughout America at the same time. The economy would go to hell because people would be either dead, sick, quarantine, or to scared to eat at a restaurant. This would be a lot easier than trying to blow up an airplane or a major building.
Remember I also said packing companies? What I really meant was the companies that produce those “to go” salt packages. The ones you grab at fast food restaurants, truck stops, baseball games, etc. Think about several thousand of those filled with ricin, anthrax, or some other bacterial disease placed in thousands of public places.
Now, this scenario was just one example of what can happen if we don’t get control of the illegal population. While we bicker, debate, argue, etc., about whether Arizona should be boycotted or not, there are terrorists plotting to kill American citizens.
So, do you want to continue worrying about racial profiling or do you want to protect America from a catastrophic terrorist attack? Do you want to worry about when you go into a restaurant if the salt is “tainted” or if a cop in Arizona asks someone to prove they’re a citizen? Do you want to let illegal immigrants undocumented in the US or sent back to their home countries?
We are here to make a life better for our children and their children. How are we going to explain to them we didn’t do enough to protect America because we were preoccupied with being politically correct and didn’t want to offend anyone? If your feelings are hurt because we send you back for not being legal, stop victimizing yourself.
These issues we face today are more than about race, it’s about protecting America. Put that first and stop giving in to the politically correct jackasses in the world.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Rob's Top 10 Bucket List...
So, I posted most of these on Facebook to see if my friends could choose between the two. To make it simpler, I've now separated them so you can see them both. The Top 10 List, and the Not so Top 10 List. Now while most of these didn't make the top 10, they might be things I could still end up doing. haha Here we go.
Not So Top 10 Bucket List:
And now, Rob's Top 10 Bucket List:
Not So Top 10 Bucket List:
- 10. Be A Porn Star
- 9. Own my own BBQ restaurant
- 8. Get married in Las Vegas and serve beer and stuffed crust pizza at the reception
- 7. Be a ninja or a pirate in a movie(s)
- 6. Meet President Barrack Obama
- 5. Be the next Peter Pan on Broadway
- 4. Take over Hugh Hefner's mansion
- 3. Be a rapper named "Mista Masta McLovin"
- 2. Attend the Princess Breakfast at Disneyland/CA Adventure so I can mack on a Princess
- 1. Be cast as BJ McKay in the BJ and the Bear remake
And now, Rob's Top 10 Bucket List:
- 10. Be on a gameshow
- 9. Visit Ireland, Hawaii, Germany, Jamaica, Spain
- 8. Go on a Caribbean Cruise
- 7. Take a trip to Cabo San Lucas & catch a marlin
- 6. Attend the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes
- 5. Visit All MLB stadiums to include a World Series game
- 4. Visit All NFL stadiums to include a Superbowl
- 3. Win a World Series of Poker bracelet
- 2. Overcome all my mental physical issues that I've been letting hold me back, punch em in da face, and take over the world
- 1. Meet someone, maybe even a cool chick, who wants to help/join me to complete this bucket list
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Challenge Flags Instead of Instant Replay...
I think the home run rule is good. But instead of instituting full instant replay, why not give each manager a challenge flag. 1 per 3 innings.
Had Jim Leyland had a challenge flag, to send to the booth for instant replay, it would of been overturned. The baseball world would of had 3 perfect games in a month.
Only certain things could be challenged though. Balls and Strikes, no way. But safes and outs, home runs, balks that score runs, and game changing plays in the 9th inning besides Ks and BBs, if the coach still has flags. If they lose a challenge, they lose a flag. And/or if the manager or any player gets ejected, the offending team of the ejected manager/player forfeits it's challenge flags. This would help in keeping up the speed of the game and keep it a bit more pure. Remember back in the early 1900's they didn't have instant replay.
This could also provide a statistic for umpires. Umpires with the least amount of overturned challenges get the opportunity to umpire for All Star Game, Playoffs, and WS.
Just a thought.
Only certain things could be challenged though. Balls and Strikes, no way. But safes and outs, home runs, balks that score runs, and game changing plays in the 9th inning besides Ks and BBs, if the coach still has flags. If they lose a challenge, they lose a flag. And/or if the manager or any player gets ejected, the offending team of the ejected manager/player forfeits it's challenge flags. This would help in keeping up the speed of the game and keep it a bit more pure. Remember back in the early 1900's they didn't have instant replay.
This could also provide a statistic for umpires. Umpires with the least amount of overturned challenges get the opportunity to umpire for All Star Game, Playoffs, and WS.
Just a thought.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Ease The Pain...
(I wrote this a couple years back while going through a bad depressive state)
13 years of tough luck
13 years a hard road
ups and downs like no one knows
drowned in the beer
living a life full of fear
don't tell me what to do, it doesn't matter
I will no longer listen to you
You never had to hear what I had to say
you're the boss and wanted it in your own way
but you were wrong and now I'm gone
left with a mess of a life time
and you will soon fail again
how does that eagle look now my friend
I ask for forgiveness, please don't worry
it's over now, I've been set free
only God understands what's it's like to be me
am I crazy or am I sane
I march on, but what will it take
help me, please help me
I just want to ease the pain
A frigid night only mother nature can bring
looking for hope from anyone or anything
the needle finds the perfect place in my arm
the rush of the candy feels so warm
takes me back
to memories past
a happier time
things were wonderful and future bright
now just another lonely, drugged up night
I ask for forgiveness, please don't worry
it's over now, I've been set free
only God understands what's it's like to be me
am I crazy or am I sane
I march on, but what will it take
help me, please help me
I just want to ease the pain
Sitting in an empty room all alone
waiting for the text from a friend
or the ring of the celluar phone
I feel the cold blue steel pressed between my lips
the taste of gun powder so difficult to resist
finger on the trigger,
thinking bout the things I'm going to miss
I ask for forgiveness, please don't worry
it's over now, I've been set free
only God understands what's it's like to be me
am I crazy or am I sane
I march on, but what will it take
help me, please help me
I just want to ease the pain
13 years of tough luck
13 years a hard road
ups and downs like no one knows
drowned in the beer
living a life full of fear
don't tell me what to do, it doesn't matter
I will no longer listen to you
You never had to hear what I had to say
you're the boss and wanted it in your own way
but you were wrong and now I'm gone
left with a mess of a life time
and you will soon fail again
how does that eagle look now my friend
I ask for forgiveness, please don't worry
it's over now, I've been set free
only God understands what's it's like to be me
am I crazy or am I sane
I march on, but what will it take
help me, please help me
I just want to ease the pain
A frigid night only mother nature can bring
looking for hope from anyone or anything
the needle finds the perfect place in my arm
the rush of the candy feels so warm
takes me back
to memories past
a happier time
things were wonderful and future bright
now just another lonely, drugged up night
I ask for forgiveness, please don't worry
it's over now, I've been set free
only God understands what's it's like to be me
am I crazy or am I sane
I march on, but what will it take
help me, please help me
I just want to ease the pain
Sitting in an empty room all alone
waiting for the text from a friend
or the ring of the celluar phone
I feel the cold blue steel pressed between my lips
the taste of gun powder so difficult to resist
finger on the trigger,
thinking bout the things I'm going to miss
I ask for forgiveness, please don't worry
it's over now, I've been set free
only God understands what's it's like to be me
am I crazy or am I sane
I march on, but what will it take
help me, please help me
I just want to ease the pain
My New Blog Site...
This is where I will now write my funnies, poems, politics, and rants. Due to nothing be off limits to me, I'm working on a blog about "if i was a terrorist". Therefore I have come up with a pen name. Enjoy. -BB
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