Advice to Young Men

Famous Cousin

No, not Willie.

And if you're saying to yourself that there are good looks that run in the family, you're correct...

Song dedicated to pain.

Aliens Among Us

Over twenty years ago, scouts successfully infiltrated and enslaved selected members of the indigenous population. One such human ran to Hollywood and told his story which led to the filming of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".

Fast Forward to the present:

Upon landing, the alien disembarks and hides among the local gnome population in the hope of surveilling unnoticed and forging alliances with the oppressed gnomes.

Unable to get the attention of gnomes, they again select and enslave humans as transporters. One brave alien attempts (below) to blend in.

Others, who did not find a mindless and willing slave had to set out on their own, cross country.

Cities around the world are marked for invasion and ultimate destruction as terraforming experiments commence.

And now, the FANGS ARE OUT!

Search?

I spent some time looking for lease in Northern Nevada.

(1) 2 bedroom. One for my bed, one for my office and hobbies. View of something pleasant better than something unpleasant.

(1.5) Rooms should be spacious.

(2) Prefer a Viking stove and a Sub Zero refrigerator.

(3) Separate shower and soaking tub.

(4) No maintenance.

(5) Tight security

They showed me a 5 bedroom house in the suburbs that backs up to a green field (golf course), with cheap appliances and suggested that I buy, not lease, because leasing is a waste of money.

I said, "I'm living by myself - and I travel at least 50% of the time. You think that I want to live by myself in a 5 bedroom house with only two furnished rooms because I have no need to visit other rooms? They said, "What if friends come over?"

Fruitless search.

Russian Prophet

Artist Vasya Lozhkin depicts Russian reality. There are those who believe that Lozhkin is a prophet.

Christmas in Russia

The Black Market in Russia

Dinner in Russia

The way Humor is treated in Russia

The coming of Ashima Devices to Russia...

Garry? Really??

Over the years, there have been a number of people who call me, Garry. I simply correct them. It's an honest mistake. Of that number, there are a few who insist on calling me Garry, which is not my name. And eventually, I just go along to get along because they're plain stupid.

There is historical precedent for this.

President/General Ulysses Grant's parents named him Hiram but called him by his middle name, Ulysses, or "Lyss" for short. When he entered West Point in 1839, his name was mistakenly changed to U. Simpson. He then became known as U.S. Grant, rather than H.U. Grant, which stood for the initials for his given name, Hiram Ulysses.

I'm not saying that I'm in President Grant's league. I don't smoke cigars incessantly and drink rot-gut whiskey so I'm obviously NOT Grant's reincarnation...neither do I wear a beard...at present.

What About a Beard?

It's summer and I am not about to grow a beard in the heat of summer, however, I have been giving some thought to growing a beard.

This is what I look like now, old, white hair, not as dangerous as I once was. And no beard. (lion in winter) You can't grow a beard of any significance when you're in the military because of (1) regulations and (2) it interferes with the dive gear.

Yes, if you're in Afghanistan, you can pull it off. However I was in Afghanistan back before the Russians invaded (before Afghanistan was cool) and didn't grow a beard back then.

Then I worked for the Orange County District Attorney's Office and no beard there either. Then back to USGOV in Mexico, and off hunting MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems - retrieving Stinger missiles that rag heads and thugs stole) again no beard. 

Now I'm Vice Pres. and Chief Operating Officer of my own company and I can do whatsoever I please including growing a beard. 

Author near USS Cavalla, Sea of Cortez, DDS Op.

I'll put it to the bloggers. What do you think?

Beard/No Beard?