I’m sure this cartoon will boost visibility….Thanks you, Cox & Forkum!

Let me take a moment to gloat, before the tables are turned….

First: Here’s the link to my post on Valour-IT.

Next: Well, the Navy got off to slow start being leaderless in this blitz to pull in some cash for the cause, but, the USN and supporters have been leaving the competition in the dust since day 2…How do you other services like that?

I’m thinking the USAF can’t step up to the plate because of a bunch of wanna be SEALS (and I think they have a leg up on getting to BUDS after painting the F-4 at the USFA grounds with Blue Angel’s colors) embarrassed them on the home field! My advice to the flyboys: Get on with life and get over it…:)

As to the Amry and Marine Corps: To paraphrase a quote from the game Battlefield 2: “Fight harder, or I’ll have to get someone who will!!!”

Stats worth that provide bragging rights:

As of 2046 EST:

Navy: $10691.00
Army: $9049.99
USMC: $7030.00
USAF: $2990.00

Total (as in nothing to sneeze at): $30030.99!

And, to make a point, there are 6 more days of this, so no excuses as to not being able to ante up some $$$, the Navy team has the chance to put up the goal of $21K by it’s lonesome. How about the rest of you? I think going for $21K/service team would help out a lot more of the wounded troopers…what say we go for $84K?

Geez, why stop there if we can bring in 6 figures? Dream big and ask all your friends….

Just idle web surfing produced this jewel on the Security Watchtower blog, as a follow up to the NRO article of a few days back.

With Uncle Sam’s Mguided Children joining up with the snake eaters, I only predict bad, seriously bad news for the bad guys…

Scott Adams has begun a blog! You Know, the author of the “Dilbert” cartoon strip.

You’ll find it here.

See if you can find the comments on the Porpoise Driven Life…..

Hat tip: The Pillage Idiot via Eagle Speak.

Well, it looks like us squids have been caught out at sea in receive EMCON “A.”

No one had volunteered to lead the Navy effort to raise money for the Valour-IT project, which provides computers and software to our injured warriors (of all branches), so they can function by using voice activated technology. It’s a quality of life issue, let alone serious morale issue.

We have used technology to hunt down and destroy our enemies on the land, sea (on and under), and air. It’s time we use that same advancement of science and technology to give the wounded a fighting chance to be normal, despite the physical disabilities.

The donations go thru Soldier’s Angels, which is a 503(c) organization. That group has done many more things than this for our service members. Scan Holly’s site and see how you can help with other things she is workin on, too.

The Army, Air Force and Marines are already moving out and we’re looking pretty lame. Does it remind you of that feeling when you missed the last Liberty Boat back to the ship? Yep, lame….

Someone may have beat me too the duty to handle this, but if not, I’m on it….

Update: Get over to The Indepundit (LCDR Smash’s blog), where his wife is leading the charge for the Navy team.

Pass the word.

No, I didn’t write this one, and before you feel the blood pressure rising, breathe deeply in thru your nose, then exhale deeply thru your mouth….

Think biology.

Now, go to Peakah’s Provocations and enjoy a thoughtful bit of commentary.

Hat tip: Mudville Gazette Open Post!

Part XIII – Constructive Plagiarism

Short advertisement before the main feature: Valour-IT Project details are here. Help fund computers and software for wounded service members, so they can use vioce activated technology to send emails and write. A worthy cause if I every heard of one….Thanks for your interest.

Index to the Series:
Part I: Initiative, marketing, sales, project planning and program management skills
Part II: Auditing Skills
Part III: Operations 24/7/365
Part IV: “Point Papers”
Part V: Collateral Duties
Part VI: The “Git ‘er done!” Factor
Part VII: “Total Care”
Part VIII: Communications in the Workplace
Part IX: “Give a smart person with potential a chance”
Part X: Process Engineering, Continuous Improvement, Total Quality Management, Total Quality Leadership, or what ever you call it. The bottom line title: Making “it” better
Part XI: The Military’s Supply System
Part XII: “Red Blood or Red Ink”
Part XIII: Constructive Plagiarism

Yep, that’s right…plagiarism. In any sort of management position, from the non-commissioned officer level to the top, we learn to scope out what the other person did/does in order to make our unit more effective. Is that bad? Well, certainly it’s not a bad idea in an environment where there is no copyrighted material or trademark issue to worry about.

In the “outside world,” this translates into a set of eyes and ears that can be constantly tuned into articles, news clips, conferences, or conversations that have something of interest. Toss into that mix that we generally have no shame about asking “can I get a copy of that?” because we see two positive fallouts of the condition at a personal level, beyond the larger implications of the benefit to our employer: 1) We look like a more valuable asset when we come back and either present it, or implement it and 2)it certainly shortnees the time it will take us to “re-invent the wheel.” You might call that being lazy. I see it as making more time available for other pursuits…:)

What dis this look like in my career (and emulated by just about anyone else): It was November, and we had a big inspection coming in mid-February. I had been in the billet for about 5 weeks and the CO asked for the Plan of Actions and Milestones (POA and M) for the upcoming major, shipwide inspection, INSURV. I paled, when I realized I hadn’t had one turned over by the outgoing XO, but I said “I’ll find out and get back to you, sir.” The first call I made was to the Squadron Material Officer, and he told me of the ship in the squadron who had had one recently and had done well. Next item was to see where this ship was. Luckily, it was not at sea, but right there a few piers away. I hiked over, introduced myself to the XO, and over a cup of coffee, asked for a copy of his POA and M. He had one copied and I was on my way back to the ship. The net result, we did very well, many thanks to the success of the other crew. We regularly spent time asking leading questions of our counterparts, looking for the “gouge” for all types of things, then we shared and things went well.

How does this play out in real life? Two very astute Naval Aviators retired and used their working knowledge of the Navy’s Tag Out system. In the OSHA/civilian terms, this is called “Lock out/Tag Out” and is a system by which you prevent people and equipment hazards while preforming maintenance by making sure everyone who needs to know knows not to turn things back on. The Navy system was developed after some hard lessons, but is very effective. By the way, it exceeds OSHA standards in it’s implementation. These two smart men are not for hire, as they created their own successful company. You can see their product line, TagLink, here.

In another case, as I worked with the PQS Development Group, they told me the story of a retired Navy Captain that came back to them and asked for some materials, so he could implement a personal qualification program for the company he worked for.

Bottom line: “We” look for ways to make business easier by borrowing ideas. The ex-military person can not only bring to you a wealth of ideas from the time in, but then they are acclimated to keeping their sensors out for more of the same in your industry. It’s a valuable resource for your company.

See Little Green Footballs for the Open Thread…

Another “THANKS!” to The Political Teen for an Open Post…

How about a nice panoramic view from the top of Mt Everest?

Maybe a scene from a small canyon during a white water rafting trip suits you better?

Anyhow, while scanning the ‘net to see if I had an orignal idea, I found someone else is using the term “blogvel” for online novels, and I tripped across Panoramas on the way.

So, take a virtual vacation for a few minutes and see some pretty cool scenery….like a climb up The Matterhorn or save the 24 hour Quantas flight and the jet lag for another time and see a sunset from the plaza in front of the Sydney Opera House.

BTW, don’t foget to look up and down, too.

Thanks to Mudville Gazette for the Open Post!

I spent last evening ravaging the magazine shelfs, reading several November issues.

I enjoy CPU Magazine and look for that one first during my forays into Borders around the 20 something of the month.

In the November issue of CPU, they had a short article on the Bionic Dolphin. No, it’s not Flipper and Col. Austin merged, but a you can buy it (for $60K) real thing that will do about 55 mph on the surface and also do about 10 mph submerged. Two people sitting in tandem and it can boach the surface and slam back down and keep going.

Update 11/1/2005: Bionic Dolphin on a trailer

I’ll have to start looking for a source of disposalbe income in that range. I feel the same as Capt Hiller (Will Smith) in “Independence Day.”

How about Subsunk and Chapomatic? Thing we can even talk Neptunus Lex into getting one? I think Skippy San could use one as the ultimate babe magnet in the far east, too. Of course, Cdr Salamander would need one…

After a while, we’d have enough for a squadron, then we’d have to put someone in charge of operations. Hmmm…maybe not as much fun as I first figured.

Thanks to Mudville Gazette for the Open Post!

Found on Little Green Footballs Open Thread…

A link to an NRO article on Unconventional Marines

Thanks to MUdville Gazette for the Open Post!

What will those scientists think up next?

How about remote control for humans?

I heard someone on one of the radio talk shows discussing this yesterday and it sounded interesting enough to look up. Later in the evening, it was on another talk show, and the editor of Christian Computing Magazine was talking about the technology. Beyond being able to have your spouse make you get up and take the garbage out, it’s also being looked at as the method by which more realism could be added to simulators, in particular, PC gaming. By making you feel off balance, the sim program could provide the sensation of the movement of the vehicle, complete with the g force acceleration.

I vote for use restricted to simulators, just to curb any impluse by spouses to control their partner….

When this comes around, then Neptunus Lex will know we really get what he’s writing about in this serial web novel “Rhythms.” Part XXXV, the most recent entry is here (in case you haven’t been enjoying this fine work of digital literature).