Weekend Open Thread

| September 28, 2018

Most TAH readers know a bit (or more than a bit) about the Lockheed U-2. I’d guess some may even have worked on projects or operations involving that airccraft.

But without a bizarre-sounding suggestion from one of the technicians during the early days of the project, the aircraft may have been doomed to failure. Once upon a time, “feminine sanitary supplies” may indeed have saved the U-2 project from failure.

Seriously.

. . .

The earliest U-2s suffered from an oil-loss problem with potentially catastrophic consequences.

The first U-2’s cockpit defogging systems used compressed air from the aircraft’s engine, bled off after the compressor stages, as its source. The original engine was designed for operation at much lower altitudes; at the U-2s very high altitudes, lubricating oil seeped around seals and formed a fine mist in that compressed air.

This resulted in oil loss while flying – very severe oil loss, enough to threaten the aircraft with total oil loss on a long mission. And although most of that lost oil was burned in the engine, because some air was bled off from the compressor for the defogging system it also resulted in a significant amount of oil deposited on the aircraft’s windscreen. That (oil mist in the cockpit air with depositing of oil film on the windscreen) resulted in both fire and visual hazards.

Either problem by itself? Not good. Both together? “Double-plus ungood.” (smile)

Accounts vary somewhat on what happened next. The late Ben Rich – Kelly Johnson’s successor at Lockheed’s famous Skunk Works, which designed and built the U-2 – was at the time responsible for the air intake system on the U-2. His account, found in his book Skunk Works, states that one of the Lockheed technicians suggested to him that that they “pack Kotex around the damn thing and absorb the mess before it hits the windshield” (or words to that effect). Rich in turn pitched the idea to Kelly Johnson; Johnson’s response was reportedly words to the effect of, “What the hell, give it a try.” And it worked.

Air&Space Magazine (Jan 1999) has a somewhat different variation of the story. They say that a metal box was installed in the defogger line and filled with sanitary napkins to absorb the oil mist. They also say that the pressures involved during flight deformed that metal box. (See page 2 of the linked story.)

I don’t know which account is closer to the truth. My guess is that there’s an element of truth to both. The box in the defogger line makes sense and would likely have been a relatively quick and easy retrofit, but I’d also guess the solution’s origin was much as Rich described. Either way, I’d guess it was a crusty old Lockheed technician – possibly one who was a World War II or Korean War vet who’d worked in aviation maintenance and/or fabrication then and since – who originally came up with the idea.

For a while, the U-2 program reportedly used large quantities of “female sanitary napkins” (Rich’s account says they were periodically delivered in large quantities to the Skunk Works plant). The solution, while not permanent, worked well enough to allow the program to continue.

The problem was apparently solved permanently by adoption of a different engine sometime in 1956. The newer engine was optimized to operate at very high altitudes, and as a result didn’t create oil mist in extreme quantities.

So, there ya have it. Without the use of “feminine sanitary supplies”, the U-2 program could easily have been a failure. Their use saved the program – or at least greatly contributed to its success.

Truth sometimes is stranger than fiction. (smile)

. . .

OK, enough oddball Cold War history for today. Enjoy the WOT, everyone.

Category: Historical, Open thread, YGBSM!!

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NDHoosier

First!

Wilted Willy

Congrats! You beat me by mere seconds!

Wilted Willy

First!

hmc ret

first

Jon The Mechanic

First. I read the transcript from yesterday’s circus. It was bad.
Second. Apparently today is National Beer day.
Third. I am going to need something stronger than beer to deal with this crap.

Jon The Mechanic

And yes, I know I was not first, second, or third. I was just hitting the bullet points for today’s thoughts, like I do every Friday.

HMC Ret

Jon: I don’t think there is anything strong enough to help one deal with all the bullshit from the hill. From the proceedings, it would appear the dummycrats are in control of both houses and the presidency. The rings are spineless pieces of milk toast.

HMC Ret

Make that rinos, not rings. Damn autocorrect.

Veritas Omnia Vincit

I thought it was some sort of cool Lord of the Rings reference…meaning the Democrats on the committee were like the Nazgul which DiFi and Blumie look more like with each passing day.

Deplorable B Woodman

I’m thinking they look more like Skexxix (sp?) from Dark Crystal.

Hack Stone

That need for beer will jeopardize any chance that you may have in the future for a Supreme Court appointment.

NDHoosier

…however, the Democrats shouldn’t have a problem with blowing weed….

NHSparky

What’s worse, is that apparently Kavanaugh has a particular affinity for RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT!

Mueller has been notified.

HMC Ret

Missed it by THAT much. Congratulations NDHoosier on being first. Your name will forever be associated with honor and greatness.

Happy weekend, retards. Be safe at all times. Keep your head on a swivel.

Blessings …

Chief

Commissioner Wretched

Fourth!

Commissioner Wretched

While the world plunges headlong toward oblivion, or wherever it’s going, I’m going to drop this week’s trivia column in. It’s a little personal at the first, and it is topic-specific this week, but I hope you enjoy. DID YOU KNOW…? Is there a planet with a ring system larger than Saturn’s? By Commissioner Wretched There is a certain joy to this week, at least in my little world. This week – Wednesday, to be specific – is my birthday. I will be 60 years old. If I had known I was going to live this long, I would most certainly have taken better care of myself. Sixty round-trips around the Sun … wow. I am humbled to know that many of my contemporaries of the year 1958 did not get that many. And on this auspicious occasion, I am planning to have a real trivia celebration here, by writing a column about something I want to write about. (I know, I do that every week anyway. You weren’t supposed to point that out.) So this week, the birthday boy turns his gaze outward, and I’m going to regale you (or bore you, as the case may be) with trivia about other worlds beyond our Solar System. This subject fascinates me no end, and I hope that when you finish reading, it will fascinate you, too. And don’t worry, I won’t go into long scientific discussions here. Drop your words of birthday cheer (or comfort) to me at didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com and I’ll respond. Now, to the planets, for trivia! Did you know … … to date, there have been 3,578 exoplanets, or planets orbiting stars other than the Sun, discovered by science? They use several methods to detect the planets, since even our best telescopes aren’t good enough to let us actually see them. The best method is the “transit,” where the planet moving in front of its star causes it to dim ever so slightly – but we can pick it up. (We’re good that way.) … the first planet confirmed outside our Solar System was discovered in 1998? Gamma… Read more »

Ex-PH2

Happy Birthday, Commish. Go right ahead and overindulge yourself on treats. It’s all downhill from here. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Commissioner Wretched

Thank you, Ex … I’m already feeling my age, so overindulging in treats is only to be expected. Crying shame I don’t drink, though … this would be the perfect time to hoist a few.

HMC Ret

Commissioner Wretched: Keep it coming with data re the universe. I can read about this stuff all day long. I posted recently that scientists have determined that there are more stars and planets in the universe than there are grains of sand or drops of water on the Earth. I honestly can not comprehend that. Given that there are so many, I would be surprised if there was not life elsewhere in the universe. Think about that!! I wonder what they are like? I wonder if they have posers? You know, someone claiming to be from another planet in their solar system and not their own. Best job ever for me would be as a worker bee or medical Twinkie on a spacecraft that went into space with no intention of ever returning. It would be one of many spacecraft launched in a short period of time, so they could be self-sufficient and be supportive of each other with all types of workers: medical, security, farmers, all types of scientists, etc. Since the journey would take hundreds (thousands) of years, there would be the necessity of reproduction. Man, I would take any job on such a craft. I would be a janitor. I wouldn’t care one iota what I was doing.

Commissioner Wretched

You and me both, Chief. I certainly would sign up for that particular one-way trip … and I’d scrub bulkheads (I think that’s what they’re called) if that’s what was needed.
I can’t believe that we’re all alone in the Universe – not with all that real estate out there. I’m no math whiz, but it just doesn’t add up.
Thanks for reading my silly column. I appreciate it.

aGrimm

HMC Ret: a man after my own heart! However my bride and my age says no. I plead and plead, but she says no. I’m still arguing successfully with my age because I don’t give damn how old I am.

Re the diamond planet: that many diamonds brought to Earth would reduce the price of diamonds to a penny a pound. Suck on that idea DeBeers.

HMC Ret

There would also be the need to procreate. We’re talking about a venture of thousands of years, so reproduction would be necessary. That means there would have to be people of all ages, from, say, early teens to, oh, 30s. How would you like to be 15 y/o and know your only purpose on the craft was to reproduce in a few years and every few years thereafter? There’s a bunch on punch lines in there, but I’ll leave them to IDC SARC.

Ex-PH2

And while I’m at it, the original discoverer of the ‘wow’ signal, John Ehman, still believes it was an alien transmission in the high hydrogen spectrum. Ain’t science grand?

HMC Ret

PH: There has been much controversy re that among folks with the initials after their names. I’m putting my money on it being an alien transmission if for no other reasons but:

I refuse to believe we are alone. The numbers are just staggering against out being unique in the universe. Heck, I can’t even wrap my mind around how big this sucker is. I can’t understand the concept with so many numbers.

And secondly, I WANT there to be intelligent life elsewhere. Hell, I wold settle for non-intelligent life, kind of like our politicians.

aGrimm

HMC: and this doesn’t even count the postulated parallel universes. On one level I agree with you, but on another level I want us to be unique because I’m a snowflake. The philosophical aspects of cosmology are grand, but we still don’t know squat.

aGrimm

PS: a whole planet of politicians??? Ewww, the thought calls for brain bleach.

Ex-PH2

Well, personally, I think that life itself is universal, and that we will run into a lot of it once we manage to get Out There. And we won’t necessarily be the Superior Ones when that happens.

Ex-PH2

There’s one more thing: based on Ehman’s stating that he said it was shut off abruptly, as if someone had thrown a switch, my take on it is that it was a signal we weren’t supposed to get -OR- it was a transmission from something relaying a disastrous event, recorded by a probe or satellite far, far away, that ended abruptly because the transmitter was hit by something.

What if, after all, another species communicates long distance in the high hydrogen spectrum? Who’s to say it isn’t possible? Not me! I think it’s the basis for a ripping good yarn. Back to work!

Dennis - not chevy

When I turned sixty I reminded my goodwife people in their 60’s are sexigenarians. I swear if she keeps rolling her eyes at me like that, they will get stuck that way.

1610desig

Was at the McDoanld Observatory in Ft Davis Texas last week…what a treat…although intermittent cloud cover, did see the bands of Jupiter and the ring(s) of Saturn. Of course the moon is so close you could make out minute details…wholesome and educational experience and in a beautiful part of west Texas

26Limabeans

First!

Ex-PH2

8th and the rest of you are asleep at the switch.

Sea Dragon

Top 10!

A Proud Infidel®™️

15st and Honorary First yet again.

((((OVER))))

NDHoosier

Here is your participation trophy! 😀

2/17 Air Cav

That’s a lot closer to what you are supposed to be saying. Try, “Eat it, losers!” That sort of thing.

2/17 Air Cav

Nobody likes a gracious winner around here.

A Proud Infidel®™

Trophy? GIMME!!!

NOBODY has as many Honorary Firsts as me!

Graybeard

15th?

Graybeard

Oh, well. Top 20 anyway.

Waiting for a call-back from the nursing home caring for my brother. Staff turnover has left some positions vacant, and newbies in others, so things are going slowly.

In other news, my prostate biopsy went as well as can be expected – still waiting on test results (due next week) but the doctor was felling pretty good about it from looking at the sonograms.

There are so many inappropriately appropriate jokes one thinks of during a prostate exam or biopsy. Unfortunately I expect he has heard them all, so they went unsaid.

In even better news, our daughter and our favorite second daughter-in-law are both expecting – due at the end of May. That will be grandchild #9 and grandchild #10. We are blessed.

Skyjumper

Wishing the best for you on the test results, Graybeard.

Almost TEN grand-babies? WoW!
You and your family are blessed. (smile)

HMC Ret

Wishing for the best possible outcome for you, Graybeard. Last time someone looked up my butt (a doctor, you perverts) I told him if he found Jimmy Hoffa we would split the reward.

Had my knees injected this past week. Can’t see the procedure due to positioning, but I told the doctor I was certain he was not using a small gauge needle but was instead using a chest tube to insert the lubricant. He hadn’t heard that one and thought it was pretty funny. He used a huge syringe to draw off fluid, about 50ml. It was milky with blood in it. He said there was little room left in the area for more fluid to concentrate. Go back in January for a repeat.

As stated above, if I knew I would have lived this long, I would have taken better care of myself. I’m 68 and take a bucket full of medications, the Russian is 67 and takes one.

Graybeard

You are correct, Sky. We are very, very blessed.

A year or so back we attended a community Christmas production, and all my grandchildren happened to sit in front of my long-time personal physician. When I joined them (their parents were all in the production) he asked me if they were all mine. I said yes and he replied “You are among the richest men in town.”

I most certainly am, even though the money situation is tight. Bill Gates cannot buy what I have.

Ex-PH2

Wishing you well, Graybeard. At this distance, it’s about all I can do.

Graybeard

Thanks, Ex-PH2. You are where you need to be to help others, so all is good.

Wilted Willy

I’ll be praying for you Graybeard! I have already been thru all of that almost 20 years ago! It’s no picnic, but you can recover from all of that. Contact me if you have any questions or just want to talk to someone who has been thru all of that already. If they have to remove it, make sure you get a surgeon that uses the DaVinci robot. Much better results and less post op pain. I’m here if you need me Pal. Take care,
Willy

Graybeard

Thanks WW. Prayers are never wasted. Things are looking pretty good, though. My confidence level is high and anxiety levels are low. The doctor backs me on that.

aGrimm

Graybeard: if you do need therapy consider your treatment options carefully. My brother, Peter D. Grimm, DO, was a world renowned prostate cancer radiation oncologist. He principally used the I-125 seed therapy and wrote a book about it with his partner. All prostate cancer therapies have their pros and cons, but I would go with the seed therapy.

For others reading this, Pete advocated getting regular PSA tests. However, his research led him to believe it was not the PSA number that was important, but any change in the PSA number that was important. Because of my radiation knowledge and lots of discussions with Pete, I am relatively well versed in this discussion and will happily answer any other questions.

aGrimm

One other comment: in doing your treatment analysis, remember that there has always been a battle between the surgeons, chemotherapists, and radiation therapists over whose treatment is the best, hence who gets a bigger share of the prostate cancer pie. Each will push his/her therapy, so I recommend seeking out opinions from each type if you can do it. Ask for verifiable statistics.

HMC Ret

aGrimm: I had only a little contact with the 125I prostate procedure, as they were inserted in the OR. The rad health/safety officer would order the pellets, taking the techs out of the loop. Had a lot of 131I thyroid therapy procedure work. The liquid form was cheaper so the doc insisted we buy it, which was a pain. It was also illegal when the NRC told us we needed a vent hood, which we didn’t have. Hey, it wasn’t my job description. The rad s/h dude should have been on top of it. So we went to pills, which was incredibly easier. I hated it (If I had the duty) if the ordered dose was attained at, say, 0315. IIRC, we got our generator and 131I and about all other isotopes and RIA kits from Mallinckrodt. They made some good stuff. Fun days and I can’t believe I was paid for it. Thank you, Navy. I never worked in the Navy; it was too much fun for it to be called work.

In 1971 I was at NH Long Beach as an EKG tech. The nukes spilled a 131I dose in the passageway. It got all over floors, in the cracks, on the bulkhead, etc. No way they could clean it up, so they got the obvious liquid and let the remainder decay in place for a few months. (8.08 day half life ?) Had to close the passageway for over two months. Still don’t understand how the hell they could drop a vial. It was in a pig, surrounded by bricks, on a cart. All kinds of stuff would have to go wrong for it to get on the deck. Well, they managed.

aGrimm

Wishing you good luck Graybeard.

For those who haven’t had a colonoscopy, do it. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers via a colonoscopy.

The procedure has greatly improved since my first one 15 years ago. The preparation still sucks but is a little bit better. Now-a-days you get the colonoscopy and polyp removal in one fell swoop. In the past it was the colonoscopy, analysis, then surgery. For my recent exam, the VA gave me a full report with 8×10 glossy photos with a description on the back* of the polyps which the doc found. Though I’ve had my head up there on occasion, it was hard to see, so the photos will help guide me in the future.
* Alice’s Restaurant reference.

Graybeard

With circles and arrows? Just hope your Justice isn’t blind.

Graybeard

…and I 2nd the motion to get the colonoscopy. Colon cancer got my grandmother and uncle. Prostate cancer got my favorite professor.

And FWIW, a colonoscopy is much easier than a prostate biopsy. But dieing of cancer is much worse than either.

HMC Ret

Roger that on the colonoscopy. They are much ‘easier’ these days from when I had my first one about 20 years ago. You can drink that awful ‘go lightly’ or take an entire bottle of Miralax. There may be other preps but I am not aware of them. I prefer the Mirilax b/c of the taste of the go-lightly. (There is no going lightly with either prep. You will have projectile crapping, but that is the desire result.). You get an IV started and go nighty night and wake up half an hour later. There is absolutely no post procedure pain. Any polyps are removed during the procedure. That, too, does not result in any pain. The polyps are sent to lab for analysis. There is no reason to be afraid. Other than some discomfort from the prep, it’s all easy-peasy. If you’re lucky, the proctologist will give you a nice 8 x 10 in color of the polyp locations. The colonoscopy is the absolute best way to prevent cancer, as it removes pre-cancerous polyps. Do it, people. It’s a piece of cake.

26Limabeans

They encourage passing gas while in the recovery room. Your colon gets inflated with air so as to make everything visible. Enjoy!

26Limabeans

I’m on the five plan. Had my fourth one last year. The first one was at age 48 just because I was going to be knocked out for surgery anyway.
Dodged a bullet. Doc said if I had waited another year I would have been in trouble.
Get it done people. Get it done.

Graybeard

Glad they caught it early, ‘beans.

I get one periodically because of my age. According to my PCP the fact that my grandmother & uncle had colon cancer does not increase the possibility that I will. Parent or sibling medical history is a better indicator.

Which means I gotta watch my cholesterol. But I love fried chicken and bacon. Darn.

Skyjumper

Great story, Hondo.

Sorta of like the story about repairing the leading edges of helicopter main rotor blades when someone came up with using “100 mph” tape (basically duct tape).

Yankee ingenuity at it’s finest!

By the way, did you just use the words “sanitary napkins” & “box” in the same paragraph? 😉

I know, I know……juvenile behavior.
Musta been from the fermented coffee beans I ground this morning for my daily caffeine addiction.

HMC Ret

Aaah, another who grinds their beans. Only way to go. Also, I use beans from Africa almost exclusively. Much better, to me, than beans from South America or elsewhere. I’m drinking a cup right now that was beans half an hour ago. The beans are from Kenya.

AW1Ed

You know who ELSE is from Kenya, right?

*grin*

11B-Mailclerk

The Kenya-Kona blend?

(Stolen from Ace of Spades HQ)

AW1Ed

Nice!

SFC D

Present! Eleventeenth maybe? Happy Friday, dickweeds and deplorables!

ChipNASA

TWENTY FIRST!!!
(So there bitches. )

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

SAY IT WITH ME!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

FUCK YOU DEMOCRATS!!!!!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

EAT SHIT AND DIE!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

SUCK A FAT BABIES DICK!!!!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

Kav-a-naugh!!!!

A Proud Infidel®™️

KAVANAUGH ! The left can go suck a dead porcupine’s dick for all l care, I heard that Jeff [the] Flake has also said he’ll vote to confirm as well!

26Limabeans

Flake has moved along the in the grieving process and has now accepted that McCain is not coming back.

Ex-PH2

Are you trying to tell us something, ChipNASA?

Skyjumper

Here ya go ChipNASA, enjoy.

ChipNASA

I’m really sorry for this post.

I was incorrect.

I made a mistake.

I was wrong.

I should have known better.

Is it possible that everyone here that reads it will forgive me??
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

It’s spelled “baby’s”

😀 😀 😀

26Limabeans

“There are so many inappropriately appropriate jokes one thinks of during a prostate exam”

I once told my doctor “tell me what to to look for and next time I’ll do it myself”

Hope everything works out for ya Graybeard

2/17 Air Cav

“If you find a light bulb and a gerbil in there, I want them back.”

Graybeard

Soooo glad I’ve learned not to eat or drink while reading TAH.

Roh-Dog

I told the poor doc at my exit physical, “you’re a lucky guy, my wife has been trying to do that to me for years”
no bs

Hack Stone

Hack Stone went to Bethesda for his “checkup”. A few days later, the doctor calls with the results. After getting the all clear, Hack asks the doctor “So how does this work? Is the technician going to call me or at least send flowers?” No shit, that is what Hack said.

Perry Gaskill

Hondo, in addition to the oil seepage problem starving the U-2 turbine of lubrication, and causing a fire and visual hazard in the cockpit, there was probably also the potential for problems with instruments and controls. Oil works well for keeping bushings, bearings and gears spinning smoothly, but an oily fog could wreak havoc on switches, relays and such needing good electrical contacts.

26Limabeans

The biggest concern is the all glass instrument panel going dark.
It happened. At night.

SGT Fon

i was actually first today, but NDHoosier drunkenly pushed me down on a bed before i could hit enter and … and he was going to gang FIRST me that is until… until Chip NASA and Wilted Willy drunkenly knocked him off the bed, now i can’t remember where or when it happened or how i got back here to my computer but i am telling you it is the TRUTH! if it helps i self identify as a Warthog so maybe that is what did it

2/17 Air Cav

It’s a credible account, but wait 36 years before complaining about it.

HMC Ret

Huh?

26Limabeans

I don’t believe you. Put on a wig and a dress and try again.

ChipNASA

That’s HOT……

ex-OS2

You need to lawyer up first and then write a letter to a Senator.

OWB

Be sure you can disavow all knowledge of who is paying for that lawer. Doesn’t really matter, of course, depending.

Make sure that the lawer is preapproved/suggested by the same senator. That will ensure that the agenda instead of your interests are protected.

Ex-PH2

Unless NDHoosier snapped your bra strap or panty waistband, you are S.O.L., Tootsie.

SGT Fon

while i could most likely fill a bra these days nicely, but i stopped wearing panties after 3 weeks in the thai jungle where my Doc had to surgically remove my tighty whites from certain delicat nether region parts that they had adhered to… that was 1987 if i recall correctly. can we get some 15 year old girls to start a change.org petition on my behalf and maybe get some #MeToo’er from hollyweird to make commercials and the like on my behalf please!!! ohh i need a pro bono lawyer too that wants to make a name for him or herself so their kids can grow up to be kardashian like and have at least 5 stories each day on yahoo news!

Hack Stone

Is a Pro Bono Lawyer an attorney who represented Sonny in his divorce from Cher? Inquiring minds want to know.

Graybeard

groan

AW1Ed

Sorry GB, in your absence we have been infected with punsters.

SGT Fon

i believe that would be a pro boner for bono…. more whisky please

NDHoosier

If you folks are going to engage in character assassination against me, I expect to be appointed as Justice of the TAH Supreme Court….

Ex-PH2

Oh, that requires a Committee, a Review Board, a consensus, a high speed copy/print machine, a raccoon and a grumpy ferret.

NDHoosier

…and a partridge in a pear tree?

OWB

Only after the TAH Quartet has been appointed by the TAH Musicians and Musical Interludes Oversight and Furtherance Committee on Staffs and Eighth Note Continuity Fund for Band, Orchestral and Choral Ramifications Group has finished it argumentations with the other special interests around this here place. Rumor has it that the major disagreement centers on the use of video and if/when Hondo should remain the minor arbiter of same, or some.

26Limabeans

Flake is gonna blow it.

2/17 Air Cav

He folded like yesterday’s newspaper, the cocksucker. F’n McCain is alive and well in Jeff Flake. Fk’er.

26Limabeans

and Trump just ordered a supplemental FBI investigation.
As Tip O’Neill said, “makes ya wanna throw up on tv”

Ex-PH2

Any link to that announcement?

26Limabeans

sorry, just a news cast on AM radio.

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66, ARNG 75-77

52

AW1Ed

Committee advances Kavanaugh nomination in party-line vote, as Flake seeks delay

The Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed Judge Brett Kavanaugh in a party-line vote Friday afternoon, sending his Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate a day after an emotional hearing where a California professor leveled sexual assault allegations that he adamantly denied.

The committee voted 11-10 to recommend Kavanaugh, with previously undecided GOP Sen. Jeff Flake, of Arizona, supporting him. However, that support came with a last-minute caveat that holds major implications for a final vote.

Fox News

2/17 Air Cav

And Flake met with Democrats, a la McCain, and has now called for an FBI investigation, a la McCain. MF’ers. Some Democta asshole tweeted that the investigation will take politics out of the process. She shittin’ me? The Democrats put it in there and the investigation itself is political bullshit. Trump can now w/draw the nomination or order an investigation. It has always been about getting him. Fkers. I wonder how the FBI is going to investigate this. The only jurisdiction they have in a matter such as this is to do a background check. So, they’ll talk to no witnesses, visit the locatable scene, and review what, the WaPo article? Maybe they’ll find that Ford perjured herself during the investigation. What a crock of bullshit.

AW1Ed

This will make eight FBI background investigations Kav has undergone since ascending to the Federal Bench and the Oval Office. This is obviously nothing but another excuse for the Dems to gen up some fresh bullshit and howl for his replacement.

Like this:

Kamala Harris Fumes: ‘Tyranny of the Majority’ Dictating Kavanaugh Vote

A visibly angry Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) lamented the confirmation process of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as the panel is slated to vote whether the judge’s nomination should proceed to the full Senate Friday afternoon.

“You know, we have a democracy,” Harris, flanked by Democrat members of the committee, began.” There should not be tyranny of the majority. We have a democracy, and there has not been a fair process in place from the beginning on this. It should not be about raw power influencing the outcome of a decision about that is about not only a statement about what we hold as being precious and important about our system of justice, but who will sit for a lifetime on the United States Supreme Court.”

No, she said that. Really.

Breitbart News Link

ex-OS2

She is just another screeching blowhard that has accomplished no tangible legislation except to get “free” tampons for female prisoners in California.

2/17 Air Cav

Trump’s immediate predecessor in office must be so very proud about now. The tyranny of the minority is right now the problem Up is down and down is up. They couldn’t pass a 10 question quiz on gov’r and political theory if 60% were passing and they were given pre-credited with five correct answers.

2/17 Air Cav

Well, Trump wasted no time. Bet he called Judge Kavanaugh first to clear it with him and his family. Every day this sickening senate circus drags on is another painful day for the Kavanaughs. Where can he and his wife go w/o being recognized and verbally assaulted? He wouldn’t dare take his 10-year old out in public with him just now. It’s sad. Thanks you Lefty bastards. Every one of you. Another investigation my ass. Should we make book on when the next crazy allegation comes out? Will Ford commit suicide and leave a note blaming Judge Kavanaugh? Of course, no body will be found and her bank account will be empty but we’ll believe she did herself, the poor thing. A victim right up to the bitter end.

AW1Ed

“Should we make book on when the next crazy allegation comes out?”

Moderately surprised it hasn’t come out already. Monday morning for sure.

Ex-PH2

I’ll take Saturday afternoon for $10. Should I call the local OTB spot for this?

Ex-PH2

Excuse me, but could someone please translate that drivel for me, please? I just had a small but pleasant dinner and would like to keep it intact.

I’m at a point right now that almost begs for a chance to drop a grumpy ferret down someone’s pants… especially if it’s one of these babbling bimbos from Foggy Bottom.

NDHoosier

Translation: “I didn’t get my petty little socialist way, but now I have an opportunity to make bank through campaign contributions, so I’m going to turn up the butthurt to 11.”

Ex-PH2

Thank you, Kind Sir! Merci bien! Danke schoen! Spasiba! Grazie!

Now what do I do with the ferret?

NDHoosier

There are a lot of targets of opportunity. Choose one.

Mason

I don’t know if that is the most hypocritical thing said or when Blumenthal pontificated about how when someone lies about one thing they shouldn’t be trusted.

Do the dems try to outcompete each other for the most absurd thing said?

HMC Ret

Booker really a slime ball scumbag?

ByRYAN SAAVEDRA
@REALSAAVEDRA
September 20, 2018
322.9k views
An article written by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) in 1992 while he attended Stanford University has reemerged as he calls for delaying the confirmation vote of Judge Brett Kavanaugh after a woman made a sexual misconduct allegation against him from over 35 years ago.

Fox News reports that Booker, “who urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to first let the FBI conduct an investigation after California professor Christine Blasey Ford accused the high court nominee of sexual assault over 35 years ago, once wrote an article detailing an instance where he groped a female friend.”

Booker’s article, titled: “So much for stealing second,” appeared in The Stanford Daily on Wednesday, February 19, 1992:

New Year’s Eve 1984 I will never forget. I was 15. As the ball dropped, I leaned over to hug a friend and she met me instead with an overwhelming kiss.

As we fumbled upon the bed, I remember debating my next “move” as if it were a chess game. With the “Top Gun” slogan ringing in my head, I slowly reached for her breast. After having my hand pushed away once, I reached my “mark.”

Our groping ended soon and while no “relationship” ensued, a friendship did. You see, the next week in school she told me that she was drunk that night and didn’t really know what she was doing.

Fox News added that Booker “came back to the topic a few months later in 1992, penning another article that mentioned the controversial column, which he said was about ‘date rape,’ and admitted that his actions were at odds with his beliefs.”

“But by my second column, as I raised my noble pen to address the issue of date rape, I realized that the person holding it wasn’t so noble after all,” Booker wrote on Wednesday, May 27, 1992. “With this issue as with so many others, a dash of sincere introspection has revealed to me a dangerous gap — a gap between my beliefs and my actions.”

Ex-PH2

Is this “the hypocrite admits that he is a hypocrite”? Or is it something more insidious?

Should we, as voters and taxpayers, call for an investigation into his inappropriate behavior sometime between 25 and 35 years ago?

Would it be a worthwhile endeavor to embarrass him and his other stupid stuff in public?

Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

Hack Stone

Would it be a worthwhile endeavor to embarrass him and his other stupid stuff in public?

Yes, yes it would be.

Mason

Clearly Booker reflected on his behavior, accepted he was a weak man, learned from it, and became a stellar public servant. 🙄

Meanwhile Kavanaugh denies his accusation he clearly is delusional, a liar, and may or may not have been known as Adolf Hitler during the first half of the 20th century.

Haywire Angel

Happy weekend all!

Roh-Dog

Have a great weekend y’all!!!
As HMC said, “Keep your head on a swivel”, may I add: keep your powder dry.
Lefties going to lefty, we may need a DU update from S-2 to adjust the THREATCON.
Don’t get caught half-steppin’!

Frankie Cee

For today’s Range Exercise, I first read here and there about the Circus show put on yesterday in the US Senate. I then cleaned and lubed my l22 Henry Carbine. I removed the faulty scope, and shot 25 rounds, (1 misfired), thinking with each shot fired about the Dastardly, Bastardly Democrats and their attempt to destroy a patriotic American an his family. I was as accurate today, without the scope, as I usually am with it. I still managed a 4 inch group, that, as head shots would be kills. God Bless America; she needs the help.
Perhaps someone will help me by grabbing the photo of the target from me and inserting here.

2/17 Air Cav

Congrats, Frankie. That is the first billboard to appear on TAH.

Frankie Cee

I had one of our friends insert the photo for me, not knowing that WordPress does not compress a photo to fit a page format. I have adjusted and sent a smaller image to said friend. This is ridiculous. But yes, I am FIRST with a billboard at TAH.

Dave Hardin

Your “friend” has issues.

Graybeard

Not too bad, Frankie.

FWIW, squirrel season opens Monday in Texas.

Frankie Cee

I don’t hunt squirrels, but do use my range daily to be able to hit a target the size of a squirrelly person’s head.
Keeping my shot group within 6 inches makes each shot a kill to the head, and keeping them within 4 or less inches, assures me that I can hit where I point.

26Limabeans

Can you make out the hidden melon in the bushes? Tough shot huh?

comment image

Graybeard

The nose alone is greater than 4″, and sticks out like a phony recon.

Graybeard

Squirrel hunting provides such practical experience hitting a moving, hard-to-see target.

I figure if I can get a head shot on a squirrel, then any “invasive species” will be a piece of cake.

My, My, My

Happy weekend everyone.

In other news, it has been reported that live fire drills happening/happened in the south china sea. One weapon that was mentioned was the heavy causality producing .25 caliber heavy machine gun.

Hopefully they are all smart enough to keep their heads down within 20 feet. 🙂

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/sep/28/live-fire-drills-in-south-china-sea-showcase-us-mi/

OWB

Can ya stand another small bit of good news?

Got a good report on another biopsy this week. No surgery, no nothing except ultrasound exams every 6 months. And, my new doc will be doing them herself in her office – no passing them around and waiting for results. That might be the best part!

Graybeard

Most excellent OWB!

May the good news continue.

Ex-PH2

Good news, indeed!!!!

And I hope many more such messages to come!

Frankie Cee

With all the ugly that I read about cancer with my friends, pets, and others, any good news is GREAT NEWS.

Sapper3307

APB Don Shipley is doing a livestream on YouTube tonight. On BUDS131

3/10/MED/b

What time does that start?

Hack Stone

Hack Stone would like to take this opportunity that Fiscal Year 2019 begins this weekend, so be careful on the highways and byways, as accountants and government employees tend to indulge then get behind the wheel after the ballsack drops. Also hoping that the proud (but humble) woman owned business that Hack does media relations for has as much success in 2019 as it did in 2018. It now officially qualifies as a on-profit.

A Proud Infidel®™️

#FreeElaineRicci

Frankie Cee

Phony Kyle Christopher Barwan, Not Green Beret, Not Airborne, Not Ranger, Not an Officer, Not CIA, is very close to being able to get on Social Media, where he will surely be seeking new victims. Using his name in your comments will offer fresh gooogle hits that will help to alert anyone who checks into him. Each comment generates one goooogle hit. If his name is not used in the comment, it won’t help to alert those who might suspect him.

A Proud Infidel®™️

You mean Kyle Christopher Barwan who is currently incarcerated for his con games with Women? The Kyle Christopher Barwan who has likely never told the truth about himself? The Kyle Christopher Barwan who was ordered by a Court not to run around in a Military Uniform? Yeah, Kyle Christopher Barwan needs more Google®™️ on him!

Ex-PH2

Forecast for tonight: 38F with light rain, in my kingdom.

There is snow in Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas – not a huge amount, but it’s on the radar (or was) and I expect to see snow in my area by or before Hallowe’en.

fsckity fsck

John Giduck – the turd with a face!

fsckity fsck

Cori LeCinda Pierce – the turd who defrauds with a dog!

“They will eventually get it out of their systems”
She doesn’t know us very well.

A Proud Infidel®™️

You mean Cory LeCinda Pierce who was featured here on TAH along with her con game involving a dog? Cory LeCinda Pierce doesn’t know us very well, does she? Oh well, Cory LeCinda Pierce will get her Google ®™️!

fsckity fsck

Yes. That Cory LeCinda Pierce.

Google loves Cory LeCinda Pierce.

Combat Historian

Glad Graybeard, OWB, WW, and others are hanging in there health wise and doing well.

I’ve been feeling lousy the past couple days from fall allergy attacks. I’m congested, sniffling, and throat scratchy, and generally feeling miserable; but my condition is minor compared to the health issues of others here, so I am not complaining at all.

Ex-PH2

I recommend hot tea, lemony snickets, chocolate-covered donuts, hot chicken soup, and a favorite chair and blanket with a good book or several.

Works for me, anyway.

Combat Historian

Mrs. C.H. is agreeable with all your recommendations except for the chocolate covered donuts; l’m afraid that’s a no go for my menu right now…:(

NDHoosier

How about lemon and raspberry filled donuts? You can tell her you are getting servings of fruits that way.

Combat Historian

I’ll give it a shot…

devildog-65/85

In the top 130.

⏳💂

1610desig

So, through my former community grapevine, I heard last week that a certain recently retired two star formerly stationed at Ft Meade, MD has been investigated and will likely face recall to active duty to face charges relating to an affair he was having with a married subordinate. When the affair was exposed, the subordinate’s husband (truly a cuckold by the proper definition) assaulted the admiral. The embarrassed subordinate had a sudden case of the #metoos and is claiming that some sort of coercion or inducement led to her participation in the affair with the married admiral. Curious, since I knew the fellow reasonably well when I was on active duty, I reached out to a few news sources who say they are aware of and but sitting on the story due to “sensitive” issues. I can imagine that given the job he had at the time…so, expect this to be a hot thread in the upcoming weeks when the story breaks.

5th/77thFA

Finally got this here machine to try & work. (?) Happy deplorable weekend Dickweeds/weedesses. Got a buncha catch up reading to do. Least the roastable beast in the crock-ed pot is doing well. Send some rain to the southeasten grid squares, we’re still hot & dry. Question…. While that U-2 motor was bleeding oil, did it also have cramps, mood swings, and a bloated sensation? Did Midol in the coolant help? Asking for a friend.

Mason

A day late and a dollar short with my YouTube finds:

The accidental jet pilot: https://youtu.be/W4d7VKvG1z0

Army basic training, 1960. There’s some gems in this one, including a great rendition of The Ballad of Rodger Young by the SNCOs. https://youtu.be/GSh5CDTj0v0

How to Succeed with Brunettes 1967 US Navy Dating Etiquette Training. Honestly! What a difference 50 years make. #Metoo, US Navy, #Metoo. https://youtu.be/rAuwpUfObcI

Claw

Question for my elder Army white name tape peeps (Sj, Frankie Cee, etc) in regards to the 1960 Basic Training video:

Did the recruits back then wear a unit patch (in this case First Army) on the left sleeve just like permanent party personnel?

sj

I’m not sure. I’m trying to remember what happened with a young Miss Beverly during a high school party in 1958. I think she corrupted me using her ample charms. There goes my SCOTUS nom.

rgr769

Army practice at the Benning School for Wayward Boys was no left sleeve patches unless you were assigned to a unit. Most of us O-2’s did not have permanent orders assigning us to a specific unit so most wore no left sleeve patch. However, there were some who had firm orders assigning them to a division so some had their unit patch sewn on, especially the guys assigned to the 82nd.

Claw

Happy Birthday, Sj

Won’t go into specifics on how many laps around the sun this one is for you, but as a testament to your old geezer-ism, I will tell the other miscreant dickweeds here at TAH that you were born during the FDR administration./smile

Have a great day, Buddy!!

sj

Why thank you Claw! Glad I saw this in this thread. Lots of trips: 77. Not sure if Frankie or Poet have me beat. Best to the Postmaster and Scooby.

Claw

You’re very welcome, Sir.

Now just sign off on the hand receipts I put in front of you and don’t ask any questions./smile

sj

Why that is what a CPT S4 told me in 1964. Took 2 years and a war with the Santo Dominicans to make up the shortages. Thanks to SFC John “Don’t ask sir” Todd for his trading prowess and the Dominicans for capturing the 4 multimeters I was short.

Devtun

Marty Balin, the founder of the iconic 60’s psychedelic & folk rock band Jefferson Airplane, has checked in to the big gig in the sky. He was 76.

Devtun

JA may have been drunk & stoned much of the time, but on stage the level of musicianship & attention to detail is pretty ridiculously amazing.

26Limabeans

Speaking of Trump invading Venezuela, he would do good to send in the Oil companies.
The economy would be booming within a year.
Liberals heads would explode.
It’s a twofer.

A Proud Infidel®™️

And Pinochet-style helicopter rides for the socialists!

26Limabeans

At least he had the decency to take them out to sea.

2/17 Air Cav

Diversity, the god to which all Democrats pay homage, is busily working miracles in Brooklyn. It seems that a few of the middle schools there are much too white. Diversity is offended. The reason for the whiteness is that the schools have admission standards. Consequently, Ja’ Quilla and Juan can’t get in. Mayor De Blasio is fixing that. He has eliminated the admission standards based on grads, test scores, and attendance history to satisfy his god. Diversity is pleased.

OWB

God Bless this new America. Where mediocrity is applauded, failure rewarded, and excellent vilified.

Crazy, man. Those of us who aren’t hooked on drugs, howling moonbats, or otherwise filled with hate for anyone who doesn’t support whatever they “worship” will never understand why we should accept their altered reality. Pretending that excellence, be it American or some other variety, is bad for the universe is just nuts.

2/17 Air Cav

I’m sorry for the kids whose parents can’t remove them from the affected schools. They will now have to lose some portion of each class day to teachers dealing with disciplinary issues and, of course, suffer the dolts and budding thugs. In turn, selective high schools will downgrade the schools’ competitive profiles. An A average loses its luster when it’s earned in a shit hole. All hail Diversity.

A Proud Infidel®™

Which furthers my belief that the goal of liberal moonbat pols is to turn every bit of the USA into as much of an impoverished shithole as they can while they maintain themselves as perpetually powerful elite.

PavePusher

And my standard response, modified when required:

It is “the right of the people”, not a right of the militia.

“well regulated” applies to the militia, not “the right of the people”.

Membership in a militia is neither a requirement nor a prerequisite to exercise the Right, through simple grammar, history, legal precedent or intent of the authors.

http://www.libertygunrights.com/4pg2A%20Diagram.pdf

http://www.largo.org/literary.html

http://www.constitution.org/mil/embar2nd.htm

http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa46.htm

P.S. The militia still very much exists.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/subtitle-A/part-I/chapter-12

When called up, you can regulate the hell out of it. (And we do so.)

Also, SCOTUS has a 240-year history of defining it as an individual Right.

http://www.davekopel.org/2A/LawRev/35FinalPartOne.htm

rgr769

What horseshit. This so-called Marine, who was likely a supply clerk if he isn’t just an actor, should get together with LTC (master)Baterman and have an anti-gun bromance. They could have a progtard circle jerk with some of their soy boy friends. At the very least, they could be dutch-rudder buddies.

2/17 Air Cav

“What I tweeted as an immature student many years ago is not a reflection of the man I am today.” Yeah, 2013 was many years ago. That was when a former Clinton campaign worker and just-fired member of the staff of Florida candidate for governor Andrew Gillum called for Trump’s execution. The guy who did that, among other slimy things, was 21 at the time. His name is Manny Orozco-Ballestas and he looks like he was cut from the same cloth as that faggy boy on the Progressive Insurance commercials, the one who was denied sprinkles.

Ex-PH2

I believe he may have a future in trash pickup and disposal. Possibly in bussing tables at a roadside greasy spoon diner.

A Proud Infidel®™

OR as an Apprentice Towel Boy at Brucie’s Bath House (Entrance In Rear) when he’s not busing tables at The Blue Oyster!

Ret_25X

Well, spent the last week with my dad who is in ICU.

Not sure what the future holds for us, but it appears that the end is coming soon for an all around good guy and cold war vet.

Needless to say, the family is trying to deal with the ups and downs of ICU stays and the uncertain nature of his future.

2/17 Air Cav

I’m sorry for that, Ret-25X. You’ll stay strong for them and, at times, go off alone and maybe kick the hell out of something. If, when my end comes, a few people can say I was a good man, as you say of your Dad, I will be pleased.

sj

Sorry fellow Signal guy.

OWB

Yeah, btdt and it sucks big time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.