Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return XVI

Continuing the winter is coming theme. A scene from along the road, about 5 miles from the Salang Tunnel...please be sure to place a tarp or other cover on your anti-aircraft artillery.

Introspection Time

I will resume posting Monday. Having a bit of a grapel with "the black dog" as Churchill used to call it.

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return XV

Winter is coming, so I thought this picture of Narjan Kala (Parwan province) would put everyone in the mood.

Blogger Thwarts Photo Posting

I'll keep trying. But it looks like Blogger just doesn't want to let me post any photos today. I love getting a message saying that an error occurred, but not telling me what or why...

UPDATE: Just as mysteriously, 4 hours later I am able to post. See above.

The Prez Steps Off His Weenie

The President "reluctantly accepts" Harriet Meirs' withdrawl from her nomination for appointment to the Supreme Court. A poor choice made, I believe, out of too much personal loyalty to a valued staffer. At least he took his boot of his own schlong on this one.

Time to step up and pick someone qualified to sit in the Top 9.

UPDATE: It appears that Dorkafork saw this one coming.

Whew!

So the Sox did it. Rather than wild glee, chest thumping pride or the like - all I felt was relief. I am not sure why I had such a subdued reaction to a wonderful sports moment. Futility, thy name is no longer Chicago baseball.
Don't worry, I'll still talk smack with the Cubs fans. There is nothing that wrong with me...

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return XIV

This is a translation of a leftover leaflet from the earliest days of the Coalition coming in to hammer the Taliban. Blunt and to the point - I rather liked it.

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return XIII

This fellow is moving toward downtown, along the main east-west road in the city of Charikar, Parwan Province.

One More Anecdote

One more from the Oxford Book of Military Anecdotes.

#164.

General Sir William Payne, Bt, at that time [July-August 1809] commanding the cavalry, was noted for his eccentricity. During the retreat from Talavera he addressed the cavalry commissaries as follows: 'Owing to the exertions it would entail, a commissary who did his duty in this country could not possibly remain alive. He would be forced to die. Of all my commissaries, not one has yet sacrificed his life; consequently they are not doing their duty.' Schaumann (a German) commented: 'Most Englishmen of high position, particularly when they are serving in a hot climate, are a little mad.'

Hometown News

If the Miserable Donuts can call any place 'home' it may well be Rockford, IL. Of the six primary contributors, five hail from this hapless burg. For the record, four of the five had the good sense to leave this hapless burg early on. The vaunted Chicago Tribune recently ran an expose on Rockford and I thought the Rockford Ex-Pats might want to take a look. For all other Donuteers, it may be interesting reading on the perils of isolationism. Click Below - (You may need to log in to the tribune)

Rough Ride in Rockford

Game Time

Tempus is laying down on the job again. Anyhoo, the Carnival of Gamers is up.

Linguistics with George...

The renowned Gizoogle web site translates other websites into Funk. I took the liberty of passing our own, fine, linguistically-sound blog through the filter and found the results most amusing. Be advised - it takes 30 seconds or so to translate the site, and it contains some mildly offensive (though really funny) language.

To get down just for the funk of it, smack your soul finger on the rinky-dink pink link HERE.

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return XII

At the Charikar Orphanage. These gentlement were in charge of the instruction the children received - education both secular and religious. Note the volleyball net over the center of the courtyard. I never met a single group of Afghans that couldn't run us off a volleyball court...

Another Anecdote

A short, but effective story from the Oxford Book of Military Anecdotes. #70:

How to sack a divisional commander: Tewkesbury, 4 May 1471.

Lord Wenlock not having advanced to the support of the first line, but remaining stationary, contrary to the expectations of Somerset, the latter, in a rage, rode up to him, reviled him and beat his brains out with an axe.

Best Linguistics Post. Ever.

Go read this, right now.

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return XI

Not quite your typical ballpark vendor, but this kid was on his game. At a soccer game in Charikar, he and some friends worked the crowd selling tea, cigarettes and snacks.

My Role Model

If one reads the Oxford Military Anecdotes, one can find many heroes, examples of courage, and wondrous feats of arms. However, the story I have taken to be a model to be followed (as a logistician) is #109:

There was [a] ... Man that was remarkable for a great Eater, his Name was John Jones, who belonged to Captain Cutler's Company: He said he was prodigious hungry. With that the Men asked him how many Cannon Balls he had eaten for his Breakfast. Then I said to him, Thou deservest Preferment, if thou canst digest Cannon Balls. Then Sergeant Smith came up to me, and told me, He had eaten four or six twenty-four Pounders, and as many six or twelve Pounders in a Morning for his Breakfast. Now this Sergeant was not addicted to tell fabulous Stories, though it seemed incredible to any one's Thinking. But he explained it in this Manner, that the Man often frequented the Fields in Search of those Cannon Balls; that he had used to dig them out of the Banks, and had brought a great Number in a Morning to the Artillery, in order to dispose of them for Money; and the Money he bought his Provision with. Had there been no Cannon Balls flying, he certainly could not have subsisted; for he both eat and drank more than ten moderate Men: So that his daily Study was to provide for his Belly.

How To Blog Good

Iowahawk dispenses fantastic advice on "how to blog good". You should only read it if you find remarks like "This can be a surprisingly effective tool for attracting readership, just as a good poetry club slapfight can often be as entertaining as a brass-knuckled donnybrook at a biker bar" to be amusing. I do.

Don't Mess With Texas (barbeque)

The Professor learns what happens when you speak ill of Texas barbeque...heh. Oh, and if he needs anyone to help with his reconciliation tour, I'll make the sacrifice!

Two great tastes that go together II

I was a big fan of STNG and the X-Files. It is good to see how well they go together.

[h/t Rightmom who you should see for links to other fun combos...]

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return X

General Salangi, the commander of the Kabul garrison/military district. I almost should say "embattled", as the politics of his job swirled around like a wind-storm. I think he spent more time trying to hold his position than doing any 'commanding'. I am not sure he is still holding on, now that you mention it...

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return IX

Construction worker helping build wooden huts to replace tents at Bagram Airfield. These jobs were highly prized, and the contracts hotly sought. We spent a fair amount of time trying to fight kickbacks and bid-rigging amongst the Afghans, as well as trying to keep the local militia types from trying to shake down the workers. It seemed that everybody wanted a piece of those poor guys...

Remembrance of Things Past

It's always alarming to find a picture of oneself on the Internet. It's even more alarming if that pictuce also shows me with a mullet. The photo at right was take in 1988 when I was a DJ on a college radio station - WRCR - at Rockford College. I'm the one with the blue baseball hat (and stylishly pegged jeans). Anyone who has had experience with college radio can click HERE to see a great website about a puny little college radio station founded in 1963. Note the use of turntables! Running Dog used to have a show as well!

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return VIII

The Ghorband River at low point. Two weeks later, the Spring rains and snow melt-off from higher elevations had this completely filled.

"Uncle Jack"

That is how I knew Jack Dunn. I missed his funeral because I was deployed for Katrina relief. A man that was a winner of the DSC and DFC - and he made sure he wrote me supportive letters and cards when I was deployed to Bosnia and Afghanistan. My whole extended family is full of people like this, and they sure give you plenty examples to follow. So many men and women of my family have come from the plains of Iowa to be soldiers (or sailors, right Dad?) scholars, teachers, doctors...I have a B.A., M.A. and a J.D., I have served abroad peacekeeping in Bosnia, and in wartime in Afghanistan - and I have only just earned a seat at the table. So long Uncle Jack, we won't forget you or what you did.

How Our IT Department Views Me

Thusly.

Look Where We Had A Visit From!

Thanks to the magic of Site Meter, I am able to see where recent visits to the Donut originate. You can imagine how surprised I was to see Kabul, Afghanistan on the board. Too cool.

Hollywood Sneak Peek

Maybe Mighty Quinn can review these movies for us. In the meantime, I eagerly await their release.

[Thanks to Scribal Terror for the tip]

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return VII

CSM Mark Bowman with one of our local interpreters, Zahir "Z" Ahmad outside of Noman School in Charikar, Parwan Province. Z is a good guy - very hard working and helped with a lot more than just interpreting. When I wonder how he is doing these days, I expect it is very well.

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return VI

A little chat with the people of the village of Daucoka, Kapisa Province. This was an instance of "jaw-jaw better than war-war". Certainly better reception than that other time. After dispelling some fears and clearing up some misinformation, we had nothing but good relations with these folks. If you put in the hours (and the miles) and the effort, you can reduce the area in which groups like the HIG and Taliban effectively operate.

Long Suffering - Rewarded

I entered my personal baseball hell, commonly known as "being a Chicago White Sox fan", in 1977. As a kid, I just loved those guys in the ugly uniforms that played in a crappy park, had really bad afros, worse mustachioes, etc., but hit lots of home runs. In my 39 years, they haven't won ANYTHING. Now they have won the AL pennant for the first time since 1959...I cannot imagine what a World Series victory would be like. But it appears that this year is the first time in my life such thoughts are more than delusion/insanity/fantasy.

UPDATE: Oh, yeah!

I forgot something

I forgot to mention how the Inner Prop was quite disappointed about one thing in our Katrina deployment. He wasn't attacked by a gator. Now as you can see, he did get to wrestle a gator - but the only one he could find to grapple with, was a John Deere Gator - not the ornery, bayou dwelling, Louisiana alligator he wanted. I'll have to say that the 'Prop is the only man I know who has ever expressed disappointment with not being attacked by a large carnivorous reptile...

Fall Fun

I don't know if this is just a "Midwestern Thing" or not - but the area around where I live abounds in pumpkin farms. They have lots of activites for the kids, pick-your own pumpkins (of course), and they all seem to sell the best apple cider, apple donuts and the like. The best in our area is probably the Kuiper Family Farm.

Since we have readers from the East and West Coasts (and the South) as well as Brits, Aussies, Canadians - (I even see Spanish, German, Portugese, French, Finn, Dane, Norwegian, Estonian, South African, Greek, Turk, Italian, Venezualan - even once from Mauritius!) So I would like to know if anything like this is to be found in your part of the country (or part of the world).

I Enjoy My Job More Than This Guy

Thank goodness Zurich isn't as screwed up as this guy's outfit.

They Weren't Always Happy to See Me

Some of the 3/116th INF at Qarabaghi-Robat

I spent a fair amount of time accompanying the 3/116th INF's patrols in the area around Bagram, AF. Almost every time, the people were a mix of curious, glad and interested when they saw us. However, one of the three times I was frightened (trust me, I was often apprehensive, occasionally nervous) while in Afghanistan came when I went with a patrol to the village of Qarabaghi-Robat.
Our patrol had a local policeman along with us - and his behavior told me something was wrong from the get go. Normally, we would come to a village and the inevitable crowd would gather. We would then ask to see the village elder(s) and let them show us around, talk about what was going on in the area, etc. This time was different. Our policeman started suggesting that we wait outside the village, and he would go find the elder and bring him to us. When we told him that we had to go into the village, he became very agitated. He left to find someone while we waited where you see in the picture below.


Not happy to see Major John and friends...

The people that did gather around while we waited for the elder were not acting normal either - sullen, not talkative (a non-talkative Afghan from the Bagram area is truly alarming) and they made my interpreter nervous. The interpreter (a fellow from Kabul) told me that the people were not happy we were there - and they were making rather rude and crude remarks about us, and him as well.
Eventually the policeman returned and told us no elder or other representative of the village was around, and we should wait for them outside the village. Before I could think of something suitably sarcastic to say, the NCO leading the patrol said "you tell him we are going to look around, and he can wait somewhere else if he wants," to our interpreter. The policeman then did leave, much to my surprise. Also, the crowd had grown in size and surliness.
The NCO and I looked at each other, shrugged, and moved out. A group of men of the village followed us as me walked through the center of the village and turned down an alley. We had obviously gone someplace nobody wanted us to go by the villager's reaction. They were getting louder, and our interpreter mentioned they were starting to make threats.
When we go to the end of the alley, one of the soldiers told me he had walked over a hollow sounding patch of ground - and that when his platoon had been in the South of Afghanistan (near the Pakistan border), this was how many weapons caches were hidden. We stopped to check the spot out, borrowing a shovel from the propertyowner (he looked like he had just sucked an entire lemon). The covered over pit was full of garbage, and we figured it wasn't a weapons cache - but as we were giving the shovel back, the interpreter told us that "these people are crazy". I asked him why, he said that they were telling him how they were going to kill him, and then all of us. I quietly mentioned this to the NCO and we agreed it was time to leave Qarabaghi-Robat.
As we were leaving, the village elder suddenly appeared. He confined his conversation to asking for supplies and help with the local school. I was upset at first, but then had to admire the man. Here were his people threatening to kill us, and he wants school supplies...

We went back to Bagram AF and reported everything. Later, I had the leader of the area around that village, one Haji Sultan Qand (aka "Commander Qand") apologize on behalf of the people and promise to give them a swift kick up the backside. He said that someone had told the village that the Americans were coming to look through your houses (a particularly touchy subject with the Afghans - you would bring dishonor to them, see their women, etc.) and do all sorts of bad things. The enemy didn't just shoot rockets at us in Bagram, they also engaged in disinformation. If we had not kept our cool, or someone had as much as thrown something - the effort would have yielded great results for the enemy. I shudder at the thought of us having had to fight our way out of there.

Gratuitous Afghan Photos Return V

115mm? 122mm? Well, whatever it was, it sure blowed up real good! I think it was a 122mm round that this Air Force EOD specialist destroyed in this field. We picked up the fragments while they were still nice and toasty warm - for other EOD personnel to study (ID/recognition of all the different muntions around us).

He brutally cut off his own head while shaving...

The Interior Minister of Syria has "committed suicide". I wonder if this was one of those instances of having the steely determination to shoot himself nine times (he was really determined to end it all - especially after the 3rd head shot...). It's not like he had anything to hide. Or that the regime wanted him quiet about anything.

Nothing to see here - move along.

[thanks to the Mudville Gazette for the initial story]

Gratuitous Afghan Photos IV - Son of the Photos

When you go to a butcher shop in Afghanistan, the product is readily available. On the right is what was dubbed a "J. Lo sheep" (not by me, but I think the name is fitting). I was often told that seeing so much mutton available was a signifier of prosperity returning to the area.

Gratuitous Afghan Photos III - The Return of the Photos

"I dunno Sergeant, they seem happy enough that we stopped in their village." At least two people were happy that we stopped in Deh Hazara...

I second the nomination

I agree with Gail, and vote "Aye".

Campus bombs?

I sure hope somebody can tell me what the heck is going on at U of Oklahoma, GA Tech and UCLA? Right now it sure looks ungood. Plus ungood.

Does this mean I won't be getting a bonus?

Darn it. Zurich likes to profit-share with it's employees - But, I guess this means I shouldn't look for anything extra at the end of the year, right?

Gratuitious Afghanistan Photo Returns II - The Photos Strike Back

An "aid stampede" in Parwan Province. We feared these almost as much as attacks/IEDs/mines. These kids have very little, they saw something being given out, and they were darn sure they were going to get at it. Fortunately we usually had the village elders, teachers, police, whomever we could get, help us with crowd control. Once in a while, however, we would just get rushed.

The Return of the Gratuitous Afghanistan Photo of the Day

It's back! Now that I am home from Katrina Relief efforts - the parade o' Afghanistan photos resumes. First up, the Commander of Task Force Eagle shows his steely, cold-blooded warrior aspect. West Point graduate, in one of the Combat Arms branches - and he gets into Afghanistan and finds himself surrounded...by schoolgirls near Sayadkhel.

The Donut of a Military Career

I was contemplating the length and course of my military career as I prepared my last two posts. It appears that should I hang on as long as allowed (I don't think I will make it to Brigadier General, heh heh), I have already completed over two thirds of my service. I am finding it increasingly difficult to remember what it was like not being in the service. I am 39 years old, and I have been in since I was 18. I often wonder how I will feel about it when I retire or get pushed out for whatever reason (age, health, etc.).

The Guard and Katrina Relief

Hopefully a decent night of sleep will allow me to be more dispassionate than when I dashed off last night's rant. I intend on offering a bit of a critique of the Guard and the response to Hurricane Katrina.

First, a note on timing. The National Guard Bureau had sent out it's version of "calling all cars" on August 31, 2005. The National Guard of every State, Territory, Commonwealth and the District of Columbia was put into motion. I, myself, was at my armory and ready on September 2nd - and I was part of the second wave of troops heading into LA or MS. Anyone saying that the decision to put troops into the situation was too slow is simply wrong.

When my unit arrived at the Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base - New Orleans on September 8, 2005 we found three things; supplies pouring in faster than they could be received or even moved away from the airfield, a mix of every branch of the Armed Forces and Coast Guard, and everyone rushing to get things done without the clearest of direction.

My unit was supposed to solve the first problem, support everyone in the second situation, and help the Louisiana National Guard solve the third situation. We managed the first very well, the second mostly so, and the third only so-so.

Our supply and services, transportation, and plans folks worked their butts off and moved mountains of food, water, fuel and other items to every place that needed it. In fact, we pushed out so much food and water, that units were asking us to stop after a couple of weeks.

A complication with the mix of forces was not just that we had Army National Guard and Air National Guard present* but that we had active component forces involved. The Navy was terrific - they were the lead service in the full time garrison of the base we were on, and they never did anything but help. However, when we worked with the Active Army and Marines, they had their own, parallel, support channels. The active forces worked from different funding sources, had different requirements for reporting, and frankly, a different mind set than the Guard. I feel that we never did succeed in meshing with the active forces, as far as support went. Operationally, I understand that things went well enough.

The biggest problem was trying to unite "54 little armies" (as one LTC described the poly-state Guard mix) under a single command, and with a single direction. Each State's command authority (Governor and Adjutant General) was the ultimate say so on when units came and went. When we ended up with too many transportation units, for example, some were withdrawn by their State. We struggled to keep up with what units were present and who was commanding or supporting which units. The only cure for this is going to be multi-state training exercises and staff planning. That is going to be hard work for the National Guard Bureau and all of us out in the states.

If the Guard committed one error, it was bringing in too many forces at first. Erring on the side of caution is forgivable, but having too many units in place led to underemployment and affected some people's morale. I was actually more frustrated in Louisiana than in Afghanistan. The solution for this is better training in what we once called "Battle Damage Assessment", and better staff workg on force structure planning.

I hope this doesn't come across as too negative. As I have mentioned before, self criticism and improvement is a big reason the US Army is the quality force it is today. Overall, Operation Crescent Relief has worked out well. I just don't want the next, similar effort to repeat our mistakes or headaches.


*I must say that I had a terrific experience with the Air Guard this operation. In 1993, during the Mississippi flood relief, they were not so easy to deal with. I have to give them their due, however.

On Deployments

apologia - I feel the need to say something about the use of the National Guard. My experience with this last deployment (Operation Crescent Relief, New Orleans) has left me with an irresistible compulsion to share my thoughts. I beg forgiveness of our readers for what will prove to be a bit of a lengthy piece that may not interest too many. You may seek a full refund at your leisure.
NOTE: These opinions are mine, and mine alone. Nothing I express is the position of anyone but me, and certainly not a representation of the opinions of anyone in any part of the US Armed forces in any official capacity.

That said, I need to provide a short background of my experiences with deployment. I will endeavor to keep this short and to the point...

1993 - I was called up for three weeks of State Active Duty with the Illinois Army National Guard to assist in relief efforts with the Mississippi flooding in July of that year.

1997 - I was called up out of the Army Reserve for 8 months in support of Operation Joint Guard/Joint Endeavor [Bosnia]

2004-2005 - I was called up with the 33rd Area Support Group of the Illinois Army National Guard for a total of 15 months active duty (12 months in Afghanistan) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

2005 - I was, again, called up with the 33rd Area Support Group for 5 weeks in support of hurricane relief efforts in New Orleans [Katrina and Rita].

1993 was classic National Guard work. Sandbagging, running for my life through a cornfield when the levee near Nutwood, IL breached, and helping municipal authorities in overwhelmed Alton, IL.

1997 was purely a result of the Army being sold a raft of crap. The regulars were quite blunt in telling us the reason we Reservists were called up and sent (in my case to the 21st TAACOM). Quite simply, the Army had been assured that if they could just make it 9-12 months, the whole thing would end and the boys would be home by Christmas. I stepped off a C-130 at Sarajevo Aerodrom 18 months to the day from when the President had said we would be gone from Bosnia...We were also quite unsettled by what we were asked to do. It was quite a break from our normal mission. But we managed to get the job done, even if it was years too long in seeing the Europeans take the job on fully.

2004-2005 was the other side of the classic Guard mission. Support in time of war. The war was a bit odd, having entered the "post-Taliban ouster" phase, (less than stand-up conventional fighting) but was still normal enough (if darned exotic to me, personally speaking).

2005 was almost a reprise of 1993, except that it was a huge amount of National Guard, from many places - alongside active component soldiers, the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. I see why the Navy was involved. The Coast Guard was a natural too. In fact, if anyone has been slighted in the whole Katrina relief effort, it has been the United States Coast Guard. The Coasties were saving people before anyone realized there was a major problem. They saved thousands and did not receive even a tiny fraction of the credit they were due. It was easier for the press to follow the 82nd Airborne around New Orleans.

I am still shuddering about the 82nd being brought into this effort. I happen to be a big fan of Posse Comitatus, and I am still waiting for someone to give me a good reason for heaving it aside - and not simply because one State of the Union wet its pants at crunch time. Why is Florida able to avoid folding like a broken cot everytime a hurricane slams ashore? Why should North Carolina have it's sovereignty flushed down the hopper whenever a tropical depression forms? You can get all the Federal help you can handle if you just ask for it. Also, I didn't hear of a single governor refusing Louisiana's call for help - EMACs (assistance compacts between states) were flying off the fax machines in every state capital. Wars aside, there are still a few hundred thousand Army and Air Guard available for such a call...

I thank you for putting up with this. This has been boiling up for a bit - especially since about week two of this last deployment. I will cover that tomorrow.

CALL

Why is the US Army the best in the world? I have worked with the armies of many other nations, from the very good (British) to those getting better (Polish) to the near hapless (Uzbek, Albanian). You can point to our technology, funding, size, and many other factors. One thing that seems to startle other nation's services is our self-criticism and evaluation process. I remember the shocked look on Ukrainian, Greek, Moldovan and other faces when I was giving out evaluations as an Observer-Controller at an exercise in Ukraine in the summer of 2003. One Polish officer said, "In my country, we cannot just do what we want..." That gave me a bit of insight into how we were being perceived. The Polish officer was associating critique with anarchy. [NOTE: The Polish units I served alongside in Afghanistan in 2004-2005 showed improvement in their flexibility and adaptability].
The US Army has its own site to gather examples of where we goofed, where we adapted, where we need to improve, etc. This site is the Center for Army Lessons Learned [CALL]. I am going to be sending them a few tidbits when I get my thoughts together about Operation Crescent Relief.

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home. Well, that really isn't my home - but I am glad to be back anyway. We left New Orleans around 1pm, by 9:30pm we tried to leave Memphis, only to have our bus driver experience a cardio-pulmonary "issue" - he had not taken his blood pressure medication. Let us just say we got back a bit later than we expected. I won't mention the overheating tires, loss of air pressure, locked brakes or anything else...

Anyhoo, good to be back. The wife and kids were very happy to see me, almost as happy as I was to be back with them. I am sure that the 'Prop was buried in daughters trying to all hug him at once.

My grand review of Operation Crescent Relief will be forthcoming within the next day or two. We have business at our armory to tend to before we are released for good.

Oh, I almost forgot ... Yeeeha! Go you freakin' White Sox, go!

Byeee from Major John

Gosh, I guess the hurricane meant no Meat Loaf concert...dang!


I found an Air Force computer room - heh heh. So, one last pic from me and I am gone until Tuesday night. I will have thoughts on the whole Katrina deployment next week. I will contrast it against the other three times I have been called up and moved out (Mississippi Flood - 1993, Joint Guard/Joint Endeavor [Bosnia] - 1997, Operation Enduring Freedom [Afghanistan] - 2004-2005. Some might be surprised by what I will have to say...

BYEEE!!

They yanked MJ's computer and my cable so he held down the computer guy while I "borrowed" a cable for one last post before we go back to Illinois.

We will be traveling Monday to Tuesday so he will be back up and running Tuesday night we expect.

Thank you to all the nice wishes we recieved and the nice people who came to replace us.

We hope we made a difference to the people of LA and brought additional insight of the situation to the people of the blog-sphere (you are people mostly, right?)

Oops John lost his grip, gotta go...

For now, BYEEE!

Two Rough Looking Characters

Grrrr! The Inner Prop and Major John scowl for effect*. One of our commenters in an earlier post mentioned that "hard bitten and rough-looking" might not be all that bad, so we thought we would oblige...


*Actually we could hardly keep a straight face when doing this.