Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	Yes
Date:	9/26/2014 1:22:14 AM

Tallullahound, I fail to see anything that h_hob said that was reason for you to refer to him as a little wage grade from the middle of nowhere. Maybe it was comments such as this that got you removed from the forum before. That was a pretty brazen statement which I believe crossed the line of common decency when it comes to friendly give and take on the forum. With that being said, I tend to agree with him that you do come across as a bit of a know-it-all.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Welcome back hound
Date:	9/26/2014 10:04:30 AM

"A bit of a know it all" is a bit of an under statement IMHO.  It has always been her and her husbands way, to belittle anyone who dares to challennge thier superiority since they both worked and lived inside the beltway.  It says much more about her than it does Hob.  They are elitists who gain self esteem for themselves by belittling others.  A characteristic of narcisists everywhere.  But as a "reformed" pot stirrer I was glad to see her return becuase I knew it would bring contraversy to the forum, which has gotten really slow and boring lately.  I was looking forward MM providing us with lots of commentary that would challenge her, IMHO, warped world views. 

Now she may just slink back into the bowels of cyberspace and not grace us with her superior intellect and guidance as we toil away in our futile endeavors seeking enlightenment that only she and she alone can provide us. <SARCASM Off>

signed,

A wage grade from nowhere 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Yes
Date:	9/26/2014 3:29:27 PM

One, I have never been "removed" from this forum.  I chose to leave and I chose to return. 

Two, I am very tired of H_Hob's comments with regard to my previous employment.  I don't think I know everything, but 32 years in the Department of Defense allows me to offer opinons that are based on substance and experience.  I'm sorry if that upsets you, as well has H_Hob.   If you would take the time to do a search, you could view for yourself some of the things he has said to me in the past.  I am quite fed up with H_Hobs opinions about me.  He can choose at any time to ignore my posts.  So can you. 

Three, if he, or you for that matter, don't like my comments then one or both of you are able to block me so you won't ever see another comment from me.

If you have anything more to say to me about this, you are free to email me and get it off your chest. 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Welcome back hound
Date:	9/26/2014 3:30:46 PM

Randy, the same applies to you.  I'm not President of your fan club either.  All I can say is "block me". 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Gee Elsie, I'm crushed.
Date:	9/26/2014 4:00:49 PM

I have no intentions of blocking you.  It provides me with too much entertainment.  I get all giddy everytime I open one of your posts because I know that enlightenment will soon be mine.  That is especially important in these trying times with the middle east on fire, our southern border wide open, and home grown jihadi's beheading innocent women.  Maybe you can talk lamar into coming back too.  His dull poorly written posts espousing his greatness were always inspiring too.  After all, he, like John Kerry, served in Vietnam in case you had forgotten.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Gee Elsie, I'm crushed.
Date:	9/26/2014 4:38:45 PM

Yes, my husband proudly served.  Did you?  No, I thought not. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Gee Elsie, I'm crushed.
Date:	9/26/2014 4:45:09 PM

As stated numerous times I tried to join twice, at 18 and again at 26 (max age at that time) but my heart defects were caught on medical both times.  I am enviuos of the true patriots that got to serve.  I can assure you had I gotten in I would have been a "lifer" there also. 

Name:	h_hob -	Reply
Subject:	Welcome back hound
Date:	9/26/2014 6:18:26 PM

Being a wage grade from nowhere, has forced me to put one of the members here on ignore.  I sure wish I could have been a big wheel from the pentagon.  I wonder if they swallow or just hold all of that bile in their mouths for another hapless wage grade from nowhere.

Name:	h_hob -	Reply
Subject:	Welcome back hound
Date:	9/26/2014 8:39:58 PM

I finally got my belly full and blocked that "Busy Ditch."

Name:	MAJ USA RET -	Reply
Subject:	no... not yet
Date:	9/28/2014 1:04:26 PM

Daily…. I have been bumbling by the Forum to see if I had any grumpy, acidic advice to contribute (had my gall bladder removed last… hmmm, can’t remember when that happened… so I’m plum out of bile). I see my capsaicin skills are not at the moment required. Y’all are doin’ quite nicely… um… maybe that’s not the fitting word.  

You are right, Hound… if the coffee is too bitter… stay away from the Ground Zero Café.

- LMF Curmudgeon

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	no... not yet
Date:	9/28/2014 8:12:10 PM

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Who would be jealous about someone proud of their part of the debacle in Warshington D.C.???????

I think pity is in order.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	no... not yet
Date:	9/28/2014 8:49:32 PM

Didn't work on Capitol Hill or in the WH, so I really can't say I played a meaningful role in the debacle in Washington.  And I retired during the GWB debacle, otherwise known as the Iraq War. I wasn't involved in it's planning, but had a place to observe it.  And I didn't lose my soul - it is still very much intact as well as my integrity.  

The thing is this - if we were talking about plumbing, would you deride the professional observations of a plumber with 30 years of experience?  If we were talking about war planning and someone with years of military planning offered an observation, would you say that they were just showing off?  In the course of a career, people gain experience. Would you complain that the Major, who is a published writer was showing off, if he offered an opinion or observation about publishing?  It's not different. 

And whether you like Washington, the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, etc doesn't much matter.  It's the only government you have.  It's got good things about it and bad things about it.  And whether you like it when Democats or Republicans are in charge, the government processes and structure remain the same.  Even the problems and the successes are the same.  It's just reality.

Name:	Shortbus -	Reply
Subject:	I need some DOD insider expertise
Date:	9/28/2014 10:42:11 PM (updated 9/28/2014 10:47:31 PM)

Obama fires top guys for not nuking S Carolina?

http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1714.htm

Nukes under eggshells......whoops   where are the nukes?

http://www.infowars.com/sen-graham-warns-of-nuke-strike-after-missing-nuke-report/

http://www.infowars.com/exclusive-high-level-source-confirms-secret-us-nuclear-warhead-transfer-to-east-coast/

Now tell me something I don't know.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	I need some DOD insider expertise
Date:	9/29/2014 10:50:24 AM

My professional opinion is that you need to find better sources for your information. 

Regarding the first article:

AF General Cary was reduced in grade and allowed to retire as a BG after he nearly created an international incident by getting drunk on an official trip to Russia and insulting his hosts.  This was widely reported in a number of military and public media sources.

Giardina was allowed to retire after he was found guilty of using conterfeit gambling chips and then lying to investigators.  This was also reported in a number of military and public media souces. 

Gurganus and Sturdevant were relieved from command and allowed to retire after failing to properly secure an AF base, which resulted in the dealth of two Marine and the destruction of 6 Marine Harrier aircraft worth $200 million and other Marine equipment.  This was reported in Military media sources. 

Note that this information is supposedly from Russian Intelligence reports....

Nothing ominious in the 2nd article.  Black programs are highly classified, not publicly acknowledged. 

I suspect that the "South Carolina" connection has to do with a recently released report that some time ago there was an airplane that had a problem while carrying nuclear weapons while flying over South Carolina, and someones very active imagination.  Maybe the authors aspires to be the next "Tom Clancy", now that he is dead. 

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	LIFER.....
Date:	9/29/2014 9:06:45 PM

You call yourself "reformed".  I am the only one qualified to sign off on that.  Lemme think on that.  LOL.

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	no... not yet.... Agree.
Date:	9/29/2014 9:20:52 PM (updated 9/29/2014 9:24:10 PM)

Not that I have ANY business here on this topic, BUT!!!!!  Should you "listen to the advice of a 30 year Marine tech" still working on 30 year old stuff???? HELL no!  They don't make big dumb carburated engines any longer.  Everything has changed, and you better have the experience and knowledge to address it.   I think you missed the mark.  Our current government has NO CLUE.  As far as ISIS, or any other current threat?  Bling em' on.  On my soil.  I am sick of OMAMA, or whatever yall call him everyday.  Did I just vent?  LOL.  Prolly good idea if I don't hang out with yall in "off topic" forum. 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	So CAt
Date:	9/30/2014 1:22:30 PM

You just admitted when you offer opinions on people's marine work, you don't know what you are talking about and should just be ignore, because you have been doing for too long. 

I have had nothing to do with the Obama administration. But a lot of what goes on in Washington has little to do with who sits in the WH.  In my view, Obama, Kerry and Hagel are disasters.  They make me glad I am retired. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	You really should have stuck to things DoD
Date:	9/30/2014 2:02:49 PM

I hope you paid more attention to detail at the DoD than you do reading posts here.  CAT stated someone who had been doing it and not kept up with technology like CAT has.  First of all if he had been doing it for 30 years he would have started at about 15.  Second he only got into marine service full time a few years ago after a long lucrative career in the automobile sales/service industry.  Third he buys all the latest and greatest software/hardware and tools to keep him and his crew on top of their game.  True, he is very knowledgable and competent to work on the older stuff, but in NO WAY stuck in that rut.

Maybe you should go back to having tea a crumpets with Faye and stay away from here again.  You aren't doing yourself any favors and certainly not making freinds or influencing people.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	You really should have stuck to things DoD
Date:	9/30/2014 4:30:03 PM

Then his post is pointless.  I have no idea about Cat's expertise as I have never had occassion to use his services.  I understand that you used to work for him.  So that explains your comments. 

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	You really should have stuck to things DoD
Date:	9/30/2014 8:50:46 PM (updated 9/30/2014 8:59:36 PM)

His response has nothing to do with the fact that he has been employed by my company.  However, his response was exactly EXACTLY what I intended to get across as a point!  Now, I am not a big follower or fan of this side of the forum.  But, how many people have you employed?  How many nights have you stayed up and worried about making payroll? (let alone paying yourself!)   How many times have you had to approach someone and tell them they don't have a job anylonger with your company because of the economy?  I could go on and on about this subject.  Government needs to stay out of small business, unless they have had the "HONOR" of running one themselves PERSONALLY.  And another thing is.....  I am proud to get up every morning and go to work, do my job as honorable as possible.  Make sure my employees have a godly enviroment to work in and we all, together as a team get things done as BEST (although not always happens that easy) as possible.  Then I get to come home and watch the news.  Whew, what a let down.  Our Country needs a leader.  I want someone to look up to besides Pastors, Preachers and Football coaches.  (besides the LORD).  Done with this post! Oh, one more thing.... I SAID "DON'T LISTEN TO A 30 YEAR MARINE TECK STILL WORKING ON 30 YEAR OLD STUFF".  Point is, we didnt forget how to do the "Old stuff", and we learned the new things also. 

Name:	JohnGalt -	Reply
Subject:	You really should have stuck to things DoD
Date:	9/30/2014 9:45:44 PM

Well Said

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Hound, He Hit The Nail On The Head
Date:	9/30/2014 10:22:19 PM

As you know, I too have witnessed the Washington Merry Go Round from inside the Beltway.  It is terribly easy to forget what makes the Washington scene tick.  Without the Steve Northingtons of this country there would be nothing to support the politicians, and they seem to forget that (does the name Eric Cantor ring any bells?).  

There is no doubt that international diplomacy/politics is a a necessary component of our national security strategy.  But one must negotiate from a position of strength, and it is the grass roots of American entrepreneurs and the decisions made in boardrooms throughout the country that give this nation its strength.  Sadly, what I see is a weakening, or at worst nationalization of the things that make us different and strong.  Couple that with a President (please note I didn't say leader) who seems hell bent on lowering our stature in the international community, and we stand to lose what truly made us different.

Bottom line:  Praise to entrepreneurs like CAT BOAT and the others who struggle to make a living doing real work.  Jeff, Phil, Heather, Mr Cole, and as far as that goes, Mitchell Marine and all you other small businesses, I salute you.

Name:	h_hob -	Reply
Subject:	LIFER.....
Date:	10/1/2014 9:17:58 AM

Did you get the hound's permission to make a statement like that?   I thought she was the only person qualified to verify statements like that. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	WELL SAID MY FRIEND!!
Date:	10/1/2014 9:34:52 AM (updated 10/1/2014 9:39:45 AM)

I love this post Steve.  I couldn't have said it better myself.  Noone can that hasn't walked in your shoes.  Elsie couldn't walk in your shoes.  Hell, she couldn't even put them on in the morning without written directive and a "white paper" explaining how and why, and even those would bloated and wrong since they would have been written by a beaurocract.  Reading this set me to thinking about our relationship/freindship and how it really started after I made a comment to you that anyone with a business at stake should shy away from the politics/turmoil that is the "OFF TOPIC" forum.  That started an email chain that turned into the 'great cadillac ride' that developed into one of my deepest and most treasured friendships.  Through the years many forum members ( and lurkers for that matter) have gotten to know you through the forum and by extension your business, but I have grown to know you, and your family, on a more intimate level than most of those.  Knowing you as I do I will say that I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for you and what you do, as a freind, as a colleauge, as a businessman, as a family man, and as a Christian.  I have never known anyone that gave of themselves as freely as you do, especially when it comes to offering advice and counsel on inoperable machinery.  Notice I didn't say boat motors cuz I remember the tiller.

As for Elsie's post, it was meant to belittle and diminsh me.  You see in her eyes working for you meant that I couldn't be any more than a petty functionary doing menial work that wouldn't even qualify me as a 'wage grade' in her world.  She has no idea what I did.  When or for how long.  What I was paid or even if I was paid.  She just wanted to try and shame and belittle me.  She doesn't know that I started out doing something that I enjoy doing anyway but you were able to pay me to do, at a time when I had way to much time on my hands so it was a win/win for us.  Of course circumstances eventually expanded my role but she wouldn't know that, or care for that matter becuase I was still nothing but a wage grade in her world.  She has no idea what takes place in any business on a daily basis. 

You see in her world I never had a "career" because I didn't spend my entire life punching a clock and drawing a check from somebody else.  But escuse me, Elsie was quick to inform me once she not once ever "punched a clock in her life", that is so blue collar. She or somebody on her behalf filled out a time sheet, but she never touched a nasty time clock.  She wouldn't know that federal law prevents one from getting paid without a record of when one worked.  At least that is the law that the great usnwashed have to live under, but probably not in her guvment job.  She doesn't think my 3 1/2 decades of working, managing, owning small businesses count as a career.  Meeting a payroll! To her that is just opening an envelope every month.  In her world even when the owners of the business she worked for (taxpayers through their representatives) closed the business and sent the workers home for a few weeks they still got paid when they came back.

You spoke of looking for leaders.  I feel we are beyond needing a leader, we need a Hero.  A true Hero, not someone on whom the title is to easily bestowed because they wore a uniform, or 'served' the country in 'public service'.  A true hero that worked and earned the title through action, not rhetoric.

As for me, I agree with your family that you are a Hero.  You walked away from a relatively steady, stable but stressfull 6 figure income to dive head first into an unstable economy to pursue a high risk venture.  You had the strength of you your convictions and took what had been a part time hobby and turned it into if not always a  profitable, but at the very least sustainable business.  In doing so you provide through your hard work housing, food, clothing, transportation, education and all the other intangibles of life for not only your own, but several other families.  

That my friend is what Hero's do.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	You really should have stuck to things DoD
Date:	10/1/2014 9:49:55 AM

You obviously have no idea on the inner workings of government today.  I've hired and fired people.  I have been in situations, thanks to the vagaries of the DoD budget, I had to call a contractor every Friday to let him know that no more money was coming and he would tell me which of his employees he was letting go.  Did you know that if a Congress authorizes a pay raise for government employees that they don't send extra money?  And when one doesn't have the "luxury" of not paying people, one has to scramble to figure out where that money is coming from.  I've had to call people into the office and let them know that Congress has elected not to pass a budget and that they were "furloughed" until further notice and them ask me how they were supposed to pay their mortgage.

Do you have any idea what it is like to have money thrown at you at the end of the fiscal year and try to figure out how to legally spend it in 5 days, knowing that if you can't get it done, you will be decrimated that much or more next fiscal year.  Do you know what it is like to try to figure out how to get the job done when your agency decides that there can be no travel for the balance of the year and you have engineers who are expected at international forums?  Do you have any idea what it is like to try to keep people up to speed on the latest technology when your government has decided not to fund any training?  Do you have any idea what it is like to have to money of one color and can only be spent for certain specific things, while other things cannot be done? 

Do you have any idea what it is like to get an off the wall Congressional inquiry have have to answer it compeletely in less than 24 hours - not business hours, but 24 hours???  Do you know what it is like to have large companies come to you and expect you to solve their problems involving millions of dollars, when you know that to approve what they want to do will could negatively impact the national security of the U.S.?  Have you ever sat with a group of night vision contractors who want to sell their very fine devices to firemen all over China and reap millions of dollars of sales, and balance that with a letter from 3-4 4 star general who have said that they do not want to have any night vision devices exported because they pose a tactical threat to forces engaged in urban warfare? And know that whatever you decide, you may face a Congressional hearing? 

The point I am making here is that every endeavor has its challenges.   There is a lot more to running even a small govenrment agency today than you would think.  I assume you will not read this and digest what I am telling you.  Instead you will fail to realize how much it has in common with running a business.  You and some of your "friends" here will merely attack what I have said.  So be it.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	No he didn't
Date:	10/1/2014 9:59:01 AM

He just took the discussion in a different direction.  No one said anything against small businesses and the challenges they face.  NO one said it wasn't difficult, worthy or anything else.  My point, which largely was ignored, this that my experience is in government, just as his in the marine business.  Or someone else's is in plumbing.  It's just a different set of expertise. 

It's easy to lose sight of the forest, if all you can see if the trees. 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	I think
Date:	10/1/2014 10:05:17 AM

You read a lot more into my post than I meant.   Reminder, you do not know me.  You have no idea what I think about anything or how I view anything, based on a few random remarks on this board. Don't get confused. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	You really should have stuck to things DoD
Date:	10/1/2014 11:44:44 AM

Doing any and all of those things for 30 years does not equate to the worry of wondering how you are going to make one private sector payroll.  You will never get it.  That guvment employee has a bank of vacation, sick and personal time from which to draw before the money runs out.  But the most remarkable example of not understanding real world bussiness is using the example of having to rush to spend money that wasn't used in order to make sure you recieve the next years appropriation with the inherent increases is just beyond belief and proof positive you have no clue.

But to answer your question, yes, I expereinced it once during a short foray into contracting to work for an agency that recieved guvment funds.  After over a year of prooving my worth my request for a modest increase in compensation was refused as unafordable but then a few short weeks later I witnessed the spending frenzy buying extra office suppliesn new furniture, and unneeded file cabinets and such just to make sure there was no money left.  That spending spree was more than double what I had asked for in compensation.  I'm sure right now you are smugly thinking it was obviuos that they didn't feel I was worth the money but I can assure that was not the case.  My work was impeccable and my replacement left them wishing the director had just given me the money.  In fact the position turned over three times in the next fiscal year trying to find someone who could do the calibre of work I did.  In fact with all the added costs of extra training of replacements they actually had a true budget deficit the next year.  The director was forced into retirement after that disasterous year.  I still smile when I think of it. 

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	You really should have stuck to things DoD
Date:	10/1/2014 1:56:23 PM

That is NOT running or properly operating anything whatsoever.  Sounds to me like a HUGE lack of planning of the Governments part to me.  Maybe you should have put in for a higher up position and starting planning for more effeciency!!!!  Think about it.   Maybe you missed your calling?  IDK, but everything you said makes me even more skeptical about our Government.  What the heck were yall thinking?  I remember a quote from a member here.  "kinda like a NASCAR Talladega crash pile up kinda thing". Send out the wreckers, fix the cars and lets do the same thing again.   As for my "friends" here, I really appreciate every one of the relationships I have with all the Forum members.   And, there are many of them.  I don't deserve them all.  I just love people. 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	The Two of You
Date:	10/1/2014 2:38:11 PM (updated 10/1/2014 2:43:44 PM)

Since you both know so much about it, perhaps the two of you should run for Congress and fix everything.  Then you would have something to brag about.  I love "experts" that sit off on the side about how the govenrment should be run, but never do anything to actually make a contribution or even try to change anything.  I hope you are sharing all your wisdom with your elective officials so they can have the benefit of your wisdom.  Sorry guys, the more you write, the more you  reveal and it's not impressive.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Lifer
Date:	10/1/2014 2:42:08 PM

Oh, and FYI, you can have all the "banks" of paid leave you want, but in a furlough sitution, it's not woth the paper it is written on.  No money, means no money, and you aren't getting paid.  And as a side note, the government can still requirement national security employees to work even if they aren't getting paid. 

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	The Two of You
Date:	10/1/2014 3:13:52 PM

You mentioned Furlow!  I never understood it, but it did actually happen to a friend of mine.  Kinda like laid off, but not really laid off????  Could not file for benefits?????  Not to change the subject but there is no way possible you and I are gonna ever see eye to eye. 

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Actually
Date:	10/1/2014 3:37:38 PM

Cat, I suspect  there are a number of things that you and I do agree upon:

1.  Think people basically good and want to do the right thing.

2.  That no matter what you do in life, you should do it to the best of your ability.

3.  That no job is too menial, and that people deserve respect for the job they do.

4.  That you have to earn loyalty to get loyalty. 

5.  That money isn't the only thing that matters.  Integrity matters.

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	Actually
Date:	10/2/2014 1:29:37 AM

Your comments about h-hob being a low grade wage earner from nowhere seems to contradict your No. 3 above,

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Actually
Date:	10/2/2014 10:01:55 AM

Perhaps it does.  But I didn't initate the personal attack.  H_Hob did.  He seems to feel he can attack my career choice at will, so I was merely returning the favor.  Perhaps you should take your concerns to H_HOb.  I'm done with this thread. 

Name:	CAT BOAT -	Reply
Subject:	WELL SAID MY FRIEND!!
Date:	10/2/2014 7:04:50 PM

Where is my LIKE button.  That was nice of you.  The Caddy ride I well remember.  lol