10 years ago...

10 year ago today I was at the Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama. I had already been a soldier for more than a year, and had just been accepted to West Point. Everyone remembers where they were when the towers fell, but what really matters is what they have done since. I count myself fortunate to have been able to put myself in harms way for my country, and consider it an honor to have served beside men like Matthew Hermanson, Benjamin Britt, Neale Shank, Tom Martin, Jacob Harrelson, and a host of others, more numerous to name, that have given their life for their nation. For all I may have done, I doubt I will ever shake the feeling that it simply isn't enough.

Armed Soldier Foils Robbery

Article I found from Military.com - you never can tell with the world we live in, and it always pays to be prepared. Too bad a lot of the country still feels that restricting lay abiding citizens, even well trained ones (like myself and many others I know) will somehow reduce violent crime. Yeah, because thats how Chicago and DC have become so safe and serene.

 

Original Article found here: http://www.military.com/news/article/armed-soldier-foils-robbers.html?ESRC=army-a.nl

 

September 03, 2011

Knight Ridder

Two men convicted Thursday of trying to rob women stranded on Interstate 95 near Walterboro last year got more than they bargained for when one of the women's passengers turned out to be a trained -- and armed -- soldier recently returned from Iraq.

Jurors found Antwan McMillan, 22, and David Jakes, 20, of Smoaks guilty Thursday at the Colleton County Courthouse of three counts of attempted armed robbery, possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime, and three counts of first-degree assault and battery.

Judge Perry M. Buckner sentenced Jakes to 35 years in prison and McMillan to 30 years, according to the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office.

"I am pleased that both of these brazen, dangerous criminals have had their careers cut short," said assistant solicitor Amanda Haselden, who prosecuted the case. "They thought two stranded women would be an easy mark, but they didn't bargain on a well-trained and legally armed serviceman being just out of sight."

On June 3, 2010, an Army specialist, his wife and mother-in-law were in two vehicles headed south on I-95 when one of the vehicles towing a trailer had mechanical problems. While the soldier tended to the vehicle, three men pulled up in a car, according to a solicitor's office news release.

 

When Jakes pointed a gun at the mother-in-law and demanded cash, the soldier popped up from behind the vehicle with a gun. He ordered the men to leave several times, the release said.

Instead of leaving, Jakes pointed his gun at the soldier. The soldier fired several rounds, striking Jakes three times.

McMillan began firing from inside the car. Jakes crawled back to the car and they sped off, the release said.
The Colleton County Sheriff's Office found Jakes at a local hospital. He was arrested after recovering from his wounds. McMillan and a third suspect, James Davis, 21, were arrested later that week.
The case against Davis is still pending, according to the solicitor's office.

Wearing White After Labor Day

Growing up in the south, I was always raised to have a bit of class and sophistication – Think seersucker and mint juleps rather than NASCAR and Budweiser. In this world there were a lot of unspoken rules, certain tenants that one just did not break. Always hand write thank you notes, treat your elders with respect – and yes, this means saying “Sir” and “Ma'am” even when the object of one's politeness insists that it “makes them feel old.” and another of these unalienable maxims: the ubiquitous “never wear white after labor day.”

It is hard to argue with such a tried and true tradition – something that has been handed down, seemingly for generations. My mother, born and raised in Troy, Alabama, would be skeptical at best were she to read this (though she is supportive enough not to be horrified) but this is one of those rules that I might just question. Now before the sartorial traditionalists out there shout “Blasphemy!” I am not advocating donning a bleached linen suit and straw cap for Thanksgiving, or anything of the sort, (though going as Boss Hogg to a Halloween party might be well appreciated) rather, a bending of the rules, or a slight modification to their rigid expectations.

Wearing white after labor day is not an exact science, and depends greatly on the environment where one finds themselves, as well as the occasion, weather, and overall attitude of the situation. Tropical or Mediterranean climates invite white attire well into what would be considered the fall for the rest of the country, but needless to say, there are only very specific areas where this is applicable. South Florida, areas of coastal southern California, and parts of the gulf coast of Texas are about the only places where white chinos with boat shoes can be acceptable in October, and even there, under very specific circumstances.

Something I heard not too long ago that could sum up my opinion is that these days white can be worn for the most part throughout baseball season (and no, not really into the playoffs.) I could mention things like global warming, and how it is making the summers longer and hotter, but the real issue is whether or not lighter colors and whites work in the environment. If there is a drink in your hand and sunglasses on your face, there is a good chance white can work out, even into football season. Any time you can wear shorts, a good pair of khakis won't be wrong, and a white button down with jeans or slacks would not go amiss well into fall – especially if the weather doesn't require a jacket.

If anything should be taken away from this it is that there are no real rules, just a set of guidelines that are very open to interpretation, and completely situationally dependent. If you're lucky enough to live in a warmer climate, then by all means, take advantage.

Don't Judge a Book...

So this morning I stopped at a gas station to put a few quarts of oil into my engine. This got me quite a few strange looks, and it was probably because I was doing so in a tailored suit. Being well dressed and professional aught to indicate that a man CAN take care of his own affairs, not an automatic assumption that he cannot. Most successful individuals become so through hard work, sacrifice, and no small amount of grit. This is the United States, and nothing worth having is just handed to you. As Americans, we aught to remember that, because drive, ingenuity and worth ethic are what have made this country great.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4

Free Speech Area

Saw this a few days ago at a local shopping center, and figured I should make some comments

Now, no one could ever really call me a friend to hippies, protesters, or any of the other subsets of society that enjoy using and abusing the Constitution of the United States only when it serves their interests, yet never lifting a finger to support it in any other way, however, I am not altogether sure that I approve of this solution.

The right to free speech should not be relegated to a designated area. I am all for property rights, and the rights of business owners to cater to consumers, but this does not mean that they (or the city... or whatever government entity you choose) can limit the rights of others. No, there should be no soliciting or protesting or pandering for signitures inside any privately own (or rented, or leased, establishments, as property rights extend to those as well) and there can certainly be restrictions on blocking sidewalks, doorways, etc. but these caviats and addendums should be kept to a list of places where someone's right to free speech might impede on the rights of others (consumers, shop owners, etc)

Rather than an individual's right to free speech be regulated to a 10" x 4" designated area, I think that it should simply be understood that there are places where someone's right to do business takes precident. If necesary, post signs defining THESE areas, not limiting something protected in our bill of rights.

5000!

So apparently a few days ago, this little blog of mine surpassed 5000 hits! I know to some major writers/bloggers out there, this is nothing, and they get that number in a day. These people blog professionally, and are typically associated with a Yahoo or Google news site that sponsors their links. Thats cool and all, but it is certainly not my case. I am a member of a few forums where I have links to my page, and I write about interesting topics - which apparently come up in google searches, plus a lot of my friends and people that I know take a valid interest in what I have to say. This, I think, is pretty exciting, as it proves that people actually read what I write, and I'm not just going through the motions out of vanity. Combine this milestone with a few comments and emails I have received recently about the quality content of my writing, and my shared opinions, and I am really pleased with this little venture - even if it isn't making me any money, I am getting my stuff out there, and that is important too.

Hope you continue to enjoy my page, and hope to hear from you all while on the way to 10,000!

~Marshall
DTOM - ATW

S&P Downgrade and the Volitile Markets

Today marks the fifth or sixth day in a row of extreme highs and lows for the market. This all started because of fears of a downgrade by the S&P in the US debt rating, then continued after our downgrade, and then sprang back up after many wisely reacted to the fear and bought in while the market was down about 10% in a few days. This, of course, prompted a sell off the next day, or those investors timing the market simply taking their profits, and we see the markets tumble again. That brings us to today, where markets are again undervalued, and those that have assets liquid enough to do so, are buying in hopes that they can either take a profit or catch a stretch of good new (which may be coming up... and I will discuss this in a moment) This is an extremely volatile and stressful time to be in the investment world – overall the markets are off their highs from just a few weeks ago by as much as 1000 points (around 8% or so) and this is bad for everyone involved. My typical go-to safety funds of emerging markets aren't doing too hot either, as the Euro is in serious trouble, and the European debt crisis (Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal... etc) is far worse (respectively) than the situation in the United States. This may not mean that Brazil or India is in bad shape, but it means that no one is buying their products or services at the moment, and therefore a best case scenario is a stalled economy, if not a significant drop as we are seeing here in the US.

Going back to the root of the matter – The S&P downgrade – seriously, what the hell? Where do they get that kind of nerve? The United States is the model economy in the world, yes, even right now. If we are not AAA, then who is? As much as much as the President and I do not agree on a few fundamentals, I did like what he had to say about the drop in the Dow “Markets will go up, and markets will come down, but this US has always been, and will always be a AAA country.” The United States and the US Dollar are the standards upon which everything else in the world is judged, and there is no denying that. It's strength may wax and wain depending on the performance of some emerging market or new investment in currency or industry, but we will always be there, and be on top. Something my Economics teacher told me my sophomore year at West Point is that “If America fails, the world fails, and that is just not going to happen” I could write volumes on why the world depends on the United States, and will do so for the foreseeable future, but that would really take away from the object of this post.

The past week or so has been caused by fear mongering and speculators taking advantage of low markets. It drives me crazy to watch it, but it is what it is, and nothing I do is going to change that. I think that tomorrow will be a good day for the market as well, when the Jobs report comes out favorably (which I believe it will) we will still see a run in the green, and it is always nice to end on a high note going into the weekend. I am annoyed at S&P, because if we are not AAA, then who is? I am not happy with our current deficit or spending plan, and think that it seriously needs to be addressed (without doing something as brutally cold hearted as cutting military retirement for those who served 20 years in harms way) but the simple fact of the matter is that the US will never default. There may be a long and hard road ahead of us, but we are the United States of America, and the collective ingenuity and work ethic of this great nation will push us through it.