TAH Anniversary; Eight years of terrorizing idiots
So, it was eight years ago that This Ain’t Hell took root in my fertile mind after a few years of honing that mind in forums from Paratrooper.net to the History Channel. It took a few more years to latch onto the Stolen Valor thing. We didn’t start the Stolen Valor thing, but we brought it to social media and the popular culture. We have spawned some of the better Stolen Valor sites and set the standard on the internet for outing phonies. It helps having the finest legal mind in the stolen valor community on staff and some of the best military records researchers an email away. Most of them are named in the lawsuits against us.
But, like I’m quick to tell the media types, stolen valor isn’t all we do here. We just kind of fell into it one day. And, whenever I talk to the media about issues that affect the military and veterans, they always ask what my commenters think, because your opinion is more important than mine. I just pay the bills, again, with your help and your donations.
TAH is the best idea I’ve ever had that didn’t involve nudity – I have friends across the country, some of whom stop by and give me booze and guns. I break even money-wise and I’m rich in friends. That’s a perfect business, right? And all of my enemies are the bad sort, society’s worst scoundrels.
So, welcome to our ninth year of being the most reviled and celebrated blog on the internet. Thanks to all of you helped keep us going and to all of my blogger friends who saw value in my blog and shared my incoherent blather with their own readers and brought all y’all here in the first place.
Category: Bloggers
Happy Anniversary!
This everday reader and very occasional poster says thanks, and um, when is the tournament? 🙂
What he said…Happy Anniversary
Happy Anniversary and many more!!
Happy anniversary, happy anniversary, .. happy anniversary………….haappy anniversary. 🙂
Happy Anniversary Jonn and TAH! it has been a long time since those early days at Paratrooper.net.
You have done a great many good things for our Troops, and Veterans over the years. You are a hell of a man, and I am proud to be associated with you and this Blog.
Thanks for the site Jonn, Happy Anniversary.
Happy Anniversary TAH … With all the scum bags that have been exposed, just think of all the ones that haven’t been caught yet … It boggles the mind …
Happy Birthday, All! Keep on keepin’ on.
Happy Anniversary, gentlemen – you’re doing the Lord’s work. 😀 If you ever find yourselves down Columbia SC way, gimme a shout, I’m buyin’.
Mike
Happy anniversary and birthday, Jonn. And thank you for all you have contributed and done for A/D and veterans. I also want you to know, the morning you walked up and introduced yourself to me standing overwatch with the rest of the EU PSD team at George Meany and Winter Crybabies II. Who else can say they shook hands with one hell of a man under the watchful eyes of two SWAT teams sweating their asses off on the gymnasium roof?
A long and totally unremarkable career in the Army, but I never got the coffee addiction like so many of my fellow Soldiers. BUT I am addicted to TAH, Jonn and his gang, and reading what the great people of this site have to say. Jonn, TSO and the rest that make it possible – thanks for not only exposing those who only wish they had our lives and adventures, but for giving the rest of us a place to hang out, dump some stress and meet and talk with absolutely great people.
An unbeliever who communes not daily with the great god Kah-fey? Heretic! Unclean!!! (smile)
I could write a book on some of the ways I got my morning Pepsi fix while in the field…trust me-being a coffee drinker would have been sooo much easier.
Personally, I’ve never understood the appeal of soda in the morning. I shall continue my offerings to Saint Juan of Valdez instead.
Lisa kicking us out of RN was one of the better things to happen.
Happy Blogiversary, and many more!
I always thought it was much better when Mark ran it.
Concur. 2003-04 was a good time there. After that? Not so much.
8 years?? Wow, time really does fly when you’re having fun!
Yeah, like the social outcast that I am, I followed you over here after you got sick of the BS at the other site. Plus, the milblog community being as small as it was back then, some of the others I was following ended up here as well.
Cheers to the next 8 years, boys and girls!!
General Ballduster McSoulpatch.
That name stands alone atop the pinnacle of man’s creations. I damn name get the eye wets when I recall the General’s entrance and immortal treatment at TAH.
Happy anniversary. Thank you to all of the good people here and those now gone but remembered.
Don’t forget TSO’s first draft epitaph for ol’ Ballduster.
It wasn’t long after you started that I followed COB6 over here, from his old blog. Enjoyed it for years. Keep up the good work, Jonn and crew.
Happy anniversary and many more. We will never have a shortage of valor thief’s for this page unfortunately.
God bless ya, Jonn, and all the other wonderful scoundrels who maintain this place, and keep the conversations flowing. It’s always on my morning reading list, and I can’t thank you & everyone else for the good times it’s brought,e.
V/R
Good on you and Happy Anniversary for this.
It was about three years ago in Afghanistan that I found your site after reading about “SSG Cambodia” and his antics there.
Thanks for having this site, I still look at it almost daily.
Happy Anniversary, Jonn and crew!
I’ve been reading nearly every day for about six years, after stumbling on TAH from Blackfive. Keep up the good work!
Happy anniversary, you old fart! Many, many, many more to come.
I found TAH from a client I was defending who asked me to look into the meanies on the blog. I’m still here! Thanks for all you do.
HaPpY AnNiVeRsErIe and wishing you many more years of TorTiOs InTeRfIeRaNcE!
May you always have fuel in your tank and may your iPad always indicate forward airspeed.
Congratulations!! I’ll have to toast you all at the next watering hole.
You should triple TSO’s pay, immediamente!
Also, congrats! You guys rock!
To another 8 years.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Merci. (A little Frog Lingo there). I’m negligent in thumping the offering plate. Will fix that forthwith.
Over.
Best of everything, guys! Thanks for years of chuckles and mirth. There have been many times when I’ve laughed to tears at some of TSO’s write-ups. I appreciate you guys more than you know!
A most hearty and heartfelt congratulations, Jonn, Mark, and so many others who fight the good fight here! I’m deeply grateful for the light being shone into those dark corners where demons hide, as well as so many hours of amusement shared with friends and family.
I’m a little late to the party, having stumbled across TAH about three years ago, but I’ve enjoyed it immensely and learned a lot! Congratulations and best wishes!
Carry ON, TAH! I LOVE all that you do here, even if I don’t get to read you as often as I’d like…:)
Thank YOU….
Happy Blogoversity, Jonn, Mark and gang 🙂
Here’s to another 8 years of torment to those that would steal from us and think they can get away with it. 😈
Happy Anniversary Jonn and thanks to you and all of the other contributors here for all that you do!
I love TAH and it makes me so happy that this thing is turning out all right for you.
I do miss the hell out of those old history channel forums and getting booted for Lord knows what.
You keep up the good work.
Keep up the good work Jonn!! You have created an Army of loyal fans!! Semper Fi,
Taco
9 years? Wow, I must have missed a lot…
Well, congratulations, and here’s for nine more!
“TAH is the best idea I’ve ever had that didn’t involve nudity.”
Word.
Stay with it, boys and girls.
Happy Anniversary!
Did Visconi send you a forged Hallmark card?
I must have a more distaff lifestyle… most of my worst ideas involved nudity.
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary and thanks for all you do! TAH is the first site I come to in the morning and often the last I check before bed. Between the hilarity that ensues when you sink your teeth into imbecilic posers and the insightful commentary (and comments) on pressing issues of the day, this is must reading.
Happy Anniversary! Time flies when you’re having fun. Thanks John for all you do in getting these jerks in the public eye and off the streets. Keep up the GREAT work.
Congratulations on a continuing great run Jonn….
In addition to the telling of the truth and outing of fakes and frauds, for me you’ve created a place where I can speak my mind and your readers get my point without a lot of post-facto explanation required.
Something simple about veterans telling each other what they know and what they believe is best, the give and take isn’t always wine and roses but it sure as hell is as honest as the day is long and something I’ve dearly missed for many decades.
Thank you for making a crotchety old crank feel at home.
I’m not much for religion to be honest, but God bless you and yours and keep you safe and happy for many years to come.
Happy Anniversary, and thanks for many a good, hard laugh!
Latecomer here, via Blackfive.
Well, since you’ve never had a “secret squirrel” type name on the blog – you know, like TSO, MOTHAX, etc…I think we should have a contest to see who can come up with the best nickname for you as an anniversary present. Not that you’d ever use it but for kicks and giggles.
You and I both know any name I might suggest would be improper to post in public. 🙂
Much love and respect to you and Mark. Thanks for always accepting me for who I am and for talking me down off of so many ledges.
Here’s my entry for Jonn’s sekrit squirrel name:
( )
Here’s my entry for Jonn’s sekrit squirrel name:
( )
Ooops. Too much sekrit sauce-sorry.
Jonn, Happy Anniversary to TAH and you and many, many happy returns of this day. Thank you for this site and all the hard work you have put into it along with all those behind the scenes who watch your six. Thank you and all the posters here for welcoming me almost three years ago. I have a virtual home away from home wherever I go and have made friends and fine acquaintances along the way. You and so many of the posters here are intelligent and well spoken beyond my abilities and I never fail to learn new things reading this blog. Even my critical thinking and writing skills have improved by reading this blog if you can believe that. It has been an education for me, in an of itself. Who knew a military blog could help an old fart like me learn so much and improve his old noggin’ at the same time. Again, God bless you Jonn and your health and thank you.
Sparks, your comment here is exactly word for word what I would have posted. Thank You very much and Jonn also,Thank you very much.
Happy birthday to the Blog and the other “VIP” associated with it!
Happy Anniversary from Afghanistan, guys. Keep up the good work. Been here for 2 years and I’ve laughed, cried, and raged at what has been posted here. I hope you all have many more years of pissing off scoundrels and providing the service that you do for all of us who have worn the uniform!
Just wanted to say thanks for letting me wax ignorant here, Jonn. Much obliged.
You never wax ignorant brother, opinionated yes, ignorant not so much…..just my $0.02
Hondo: sorry, but I gotta ask…who is ignorant, and why is he letting you wax him or her?
Semper Fi, Jonn. You’re Sierra Hotel.
You Army guys ain’t so bad.
Congrats, Fartsack.
I thank you Jonn,TSO,Hondo ,VOV,EFU,The NAvy boys and everybody else for this fine blog. The list of writers that express my throughts better than me are long. The free exchange of ideas of ideas and truths without censure is one of the reasons this blog is strong. I want this blog and you and TSo to continue for many years,my first read and last at night. The commenters make this blog work with the news and updates you inform us about. Semper Fi and carry on Joe
Congratulations, Jonn, and many thanks for this much-needed website. Here’s to many more years of TAH!
It’s a diverse and happy band you lead here Jonn, and I’m proud to be a part of it! Happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary, TAH gang, and a Happy Birthday to Jonn as well!
Thanks for all the hard work you do.