[Billie]

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Monday !

Great article written by Congressman Billybob !!

08-18-2003
"Texans for Sale or Rent"

[To the Roger Miller tune, Trailers for sale or rent] ...

Texans for sale or rent / Having our room service sent / Lounging ‘round by the pools / Playing our whole state for fools ....

We know every lawyer in every court / And all of their partners, and all of their torts / And every hangout, in every town/ And every lock that ain't locked when no one's around ....

Texans for sale or rent ....

[MaryFromMichigan]

Good Morning!
BEAUTIFUL graphic!

[lonestar]

Recently received e-mail--

World, take my son by the hand—he starts school today!

It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while, and I wish you would sort of treat him gently. You see, up to now, he has been king of the roost. He has been the boss of the backyard. I have always been around to repair his wounds, and I have always been handy to soothe his feelings.

But now things are going to be different. This morning he is going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand, and start on a great adventure that probably will include wars and tragedy and sorrow.

To live in this world will require faith and love and courage. So, World, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know.

Teach him—but gently, if you can.

He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just—that all men are not true. Teach him that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every enemy there is a friend.

Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest people to lick.

Teach him the wonders of books. Give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill.

Teach him that it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen to all men, but filter all he hears on a screen of truth and to take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the highest bidders but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears on the howling mob—and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right.

Teach him gently, World, but do not coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

This is a big order, World, but see what you can do.

He is such a nice little fellow.

Abraham Lincoln

[dansangel]

Welcome Back ((((((((Billie))))))) - you were missed.

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask You to place Your bloodline of protection around our troops. Please protect them they way that they protect us with their selfless acts. This we ask as Your humble and contrite servants in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

[MeekOneGOP]

That article would be a perfect place to post this, if I could modify it to say:

Texas Trial Liars Association

Maybe one day ...

[jwfiv]

Howdy to you, Billie Blue...always good to start our week off with a salute to the Protectors of our Families, the Defenders of our Liberties...thank you...)

Good day to all the Finest...)))

Calpernia, I ain't much fer singin' and dancin', but I can offer up a pretty pic of Sagebrush Country for y'all to looksee.

Diver Dave, cool story and pic about the submariner....)

Wishing everyone a very good day...

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[Dubya]

Sudden Danger Means No Hesitation
By Seaman Apprentice Jesse Martin, USN
Special to American Forces Press Service

ABOARD USS CARL VINSON, Aug. 18, 2003 - At Sea -- An aircraft carrier's flight deck during flight operations is widely recognized as one of the most dangerous places to work. So the sailors and Marines of USS Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing 9 are constantly on the lookout for dangers. For them, crew safety is paramount on the deck's four-and-a-half acres of sovereign U.S. territory.

Recently, as the "Gold Eagle" navigated the waters of the western Pacific, Petty Officer Third Class Jason Countryman of Electronic Attack Squadron 138, the "Yellow Jackets," showed his safety alertness in rushing to save a shipmate from being blown into the intake of an EA-6B Prowler's roaring jet engine.

As a member of the Rampage 502 team that maintains the squadron's aircraft, Countryman was conducting pre-launch checks on a Prowler for an upcoming flight. Working on aircraft elevator 2, more Rampage 502 personnel surrounded the aircraft to check for any pre-launch discrepancies. Other aircraft crews were conducting similar checks throughout the flight deck.

With all pre-launch checks complete on an F/A-18 Hornet, that aircraft was directed out of its parking space, as Rampage 502 crewmen neared completion of their inspections. Transiting the flight deck, the Hornet swept its exhaust in the direction of the Prowler and its deck crewmen. While maintaining a watchful eye on his fellow aircrew, Countryman noticed that another 502 sailor was about to be caught off guard by the sudden force of exhaust. The powerful gust possibly could have blown him into the Prowler's intake.

"We concentrate on our jet, but we also watch aircrew to see if they need any help," said Countryman.

He saw the Hornet begin its turn and correctly anticipated that the exhaust would sweep across the Prowler's crew. Immediately reacting, the 21-year-old raced to his shipmate and shoved him to the deck, where they huddled as the strong blast of hot air swept above.

"Petty Officer Countryman's quick action and situational awareness saved his fellow sailor from serious injury at least, perhaps from death," said Cmdr. Stephen W. Beckvonpeccoz, Yellow Jackets commanding officer. "Very certainly, he saved the CVN-70/CVW-9 team from severe damage to an extremely valuable jet engine and loss of a critical EA-6B."

Countryman has remained very humble over the situation. "I'm not making a big deal about this -- just doing my job," he said about the event and his shipmate who was caught off guard. "We joke about it now, but we know it could have been serious."

Countryman's superiors, however, have recognized him for saving his shipmate from possible harm.

"Especially being the junior guy, he did a great job," said Petty Officer 1st Class Jerry Williams, a quality assurance representative who witnessed the event. "He's new but was very aware."

The Farmington, N.M., native has been in the Navy for three years and a Yellow Jacket since June 2000. Chief Petty Officer Brian Buchanan said Countryman's actions clearly demonstrated his competence and how important it is to always be alert.

"This shows me they are keeping each other safe and alive up there," he said. "We only put the best of the best up there, because it's such a dangerous environment. These guys are a really tight group, and that's how it has to be."

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed in the western Pacific.

[GailA]

Evening FRiends. It's bedtime and I finally got the computer. I've spent the day cleaning out closets.