Monthly Archives: October 2013

No more ROTC at old Slippery Rock?

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Pat Lang

  " … part of an Army effort to redirect its resources and money to areas where it wants to broaden its recruiting, including major cities. To underwrite the transformation, the Army chose to close R.O.T.C. programs at 13 universities, … Continue reading →

Posted in government, The Military Art | 33 Comments

Open Thread – 20 October 2013

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Pat Lang

My dog is back in hospital and I don't feel like writing.  pl

Posted in Open Thread | 50 Comments

McAullife’s future

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Pat Lang

"In May, McAuliffe and Cuccinelli were roughly tied in a Washington Post poll. Since then, McAuliffe has pulled ahead, thanks in large part to the growing support of women. But the fact that women feel strongly about issues that separate … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 22 Comments

“Don Jon” A review by Alan Farrell

Posted on October 18, 2013 by FarrellAF

Directed by:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt (and written by him, too, also himself).  Starring:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson (and a serious bee-sting lips, beachball hips woof), Glenn Headly, Tony Danza, Marianne Moore (the butt naked in Big Lebowski Marianne Moore… no, wait … Continue reading →

Posted in Farrell, Film | 14 Comments

Afghans can’t maintain their equipment. Washpost

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Pat Lang

  "The problems plaguing Hamidullah’s battalion represent what might be the biggest threat to the fledgling Afghan army: an inability to repair or replace vital equipment once it is broken. The U.S. military shouldered that responsibility for years. But just … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan | 37 Comments

Former Captain William Swenson (not retired)

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Pat Lang

"William D. Swenson is a former captain in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor on 15 October 2013. He was the first United States Army officer to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam … Continue reading →

Posted in The Military Art | 16 Comments

A canine distraction

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Pat Lang

I have been preoccupied the last ten days with the illness and treatment of one of my dogs, my Norwich Terrier bitch Lola.  She had suffered from something called primary hyper parathyroidism.  This elevates blood calcium to abnormal levels.  She … Continue reading →

Posted in Ukraine Crisis | 27 Comments

“Rival al-Qaeda-linked groups fortifying in Syria… ” Washpost

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Pat Lang

"Shortly before its operatives killed 14 Iraqi Shiite children in a school bombing this month, the group once known as al-Qaeda in Iraq sent guerrillas into northern Syrian villages with orders to reopen local Sunni classrooms. In a series of … Continue reading →

Posted in Syria | 8 Comments

“… except immunity for U.S. troops.” CNN

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Pat Lang

"Without an agreement, U.S. troops would leave Afghanistan with all NATO forces at the end of 2013. The NATO mission now has about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, about half from the United States. American and Afghan diplomats have worked for … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan | 24 Comments

“Stuck on Usual Quarrel: Raising New Revenue” NY Times

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Pat Lang

"… even if the current talks soon resolve the immediate impasse, which did not look likely on Saturday, any renewal of negotiations for a long-term fiscal plan will run into the same underlying problem that has doomed efforts for the … Continue reading →

Posted in government | 69 Comments