Posted on 12/10/2015 1:17:32 PM PST by ArGee
Raqqa, Syria
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, also known as ISIS, announced today that he would be disbanding all forces and returning all land to Syria and Iraq. The move was prompted by the ongoing Climate Conference in Paris.
"This is one thing we could not have anticipated," Mr. al-Baghdadi said in prepared remarks. "When we see the world coming together like this on such a dangerous subject as Global Climate Change, we realize that our Caliphate will never survive. It's only a matter of time before Climate Change is no more and the world's attention turns to us. At that point, we will have no chance. For the sake of the men, women, and children who have supported us, I can not continue a doomed campaign."
An emotional al-Baghdadi did not take any questions.
Sources close to al-Baghdadi who spoke on the condition of anonymity told us that it was becoming more and more difficult to recruit new fighters. "Even our existing people are extremely demoralized," one said. "The words of Donald Trump himself can not overcome our dispair."
According to their press release, surrender is total and immediate. Fighters are being paid and sent home by division. Any remaining money will be put into a fund to resettle Christians and Yazidis who have been displaced by the war.
"We thought the world was fragmented," one strategist was overheard saying to himself. "Who knew it could come together like this? This is a stinging rebuke."
So far there has been no comment from Damascus, Baghdad, Moscow, or Washington. One source inside the Kremlin said, "We are waiting to see if there will be any follow-up action. We want to make sure this is real before we decide on our next steps."
Ooohhh... FLOOF!!!! :o])
And look, folks: Memorial Day actually falls on Memorial Day this year! What a bonus! This is ONE holiday I wish the gubmint would have left alone.
No plans for me today besides laundry and visiting with the peeps. Anybody got plans for a cookout, picnic in the park, day trip, etc.?
We’re planning to go to the Botanical Garden. It’s cloudy and cool right now, but we’re supposed to have sun later. Pat, James, and Vlad have unpleasant sunburns from their trip to the Monroe water park on Saturday. I warned them ...
I hope they’ll be feeling better by tomorrow, when swim team practices resume. Fortunately for Frank, he was too young to go to the water park.
Just because it’s appropriate. I “borrowed it from FB.
Jery Potenza’s photo.
Jery Potenza
May 25, 2015 ·
On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was, How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the Tomb of the Unknowns? ——— All three missed it -—
This is really an awesome sight to watch if you’ve never had the chance Very fascinating.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
1. How many steps does the guard take during his
walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?
21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the
highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.
2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin
hisreturn walk and why?
21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1
3. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.
4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not?
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb.
After his march across the path, he executes an about face
and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.
5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?
For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5’ 10’ and 6’ 2’ tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.’ Other requirements of the Guard:
They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives.
They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn.
The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.
The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.
There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.
Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV.
All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred.
Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame.
Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC , our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.
They respectfully declined the offer, ‘No way, Sir!’ Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can
be afforded to a serviceperson.
The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.
God Bless and Keep Them
I don’t usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I’d be very proud if this one reached as many people as possible.
We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.
Duty - Honor - Country
IN GOD WE TRUST
Morning Face.
We’ve got a national day off as well today....so guess where I am?
Not off.....grrrrr.
Well, I’m off, but mostly in a not-so-kind way. I went out to replace the old flag that Libre-ou-mort gave me three years ago, and got the wire tie out of the top grommet, and the bottom one was a plastic tie. I went to cut it, it gave sooner than I expected, and stabbed my little finger on my left hand.
I dressed it as well as I could, then went up and washed clothes, and then decided I had better go to ER and get a stitch or two put in it. So I did. The pain killer was worse than the stabbing!
So I’m home, and Oscar the Grouch helped himself to my parking spot, while I was gone, so I just parked down by the ramada.
Anyway, I have to go hang up the clothes before the pain killer wears off.
Medicinal ((((hugs))))) on their way.
Just had an email from a friend of mine, the jammy git is down in Canterbury. Hope they have a great time, Canterbury is lovely.
Oh, I would hope so. We've heard tales, you know.
:D
Don’t believe those ,Bob. Those stories are incomplete.
OMG!!!!!
I’m actually between Snowflake and Concho (AZ) and it’s a 3.5 - 4 hour drive to Phoenix from here, ans 2.5 hours to Flagstaff. I have a new cell number - if you want it, please PM me. Thanks.
Kathy
Thanks for the hugs, Moosie. It was just my blonde roots showing today! ;o]
About those poppies..
If your high school education did not include this poem, you weren’t educated..
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
May 3, 1915
Yes. Another beautiful gem of required reading and dissection.
And on another note, I just received a text message from my Baby Sis (you know, the one that I’m five years older than..) It seems that her Hubby and her are venturing back to Ohio from visiting their son somewhere in MA and are planning to stop by the farm here. They’re still about an hour or a bit out from us.
I just hope they aren’t expecting a fabulous feast since the grand kids (who just left) cleaned everything out - including every last bottle of my water. I did check to see if we at least had ice cubes so I can offer them a cold drink.. ;-)
How long they stop for depends on whether my Brother-in-Law has to work tomorrow or not. The last several times they have stopped by they didn’t stay long because from here they still have a nine hourish drive, and he had to work the next day.
At least we get to see how we have all retained our youthfulness even if the visit isn’t long.. ;-)
Had it memorized once. I found in attempting to recite from memory that there are gaps in the data base now. ;-)
Oh. Yes. We must have the same ISP when it comes to that...
;o]
Whoa! I wasn’t ready for that!
LOL!
I’m going to bed. See all ya all tomorrow. :o]
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