The Fall of a Nation’s Pride

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Blogs, Fall of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Operation Frequent Wind, Static in the Airwaves, Tim L O'Brien, Vietnam War

Today marks the 37th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, the end of a sad and painful chapter in American history.  The day our country’s legacy as a beacon of freedom which stood tall and mighty against the threats of tyrants came to an end.

April 30, 1975 marked the conclusion of the United States involvement in Vietnam as the last helicopter airlifted from the US Embassy while the North Vietnamese marched into, and took control of Saigon.

As the wop-wop sounds from the Huey helicopter faded into the air, the Vietnam War was over.  Over 58,000 brave Americans lost their lives in the jungle.  An estimated quarter of a million South Vietnamese military lost their lives as well.  As we abandoned the South Vietnamese people that day, we also abandoned the sacrifices made my so many young Americans.

The United States was no longer invincible.

Television sets in living rooms all across our country showed the chaos and struggles of the South Vietnamese people trying desperately to board the last remaining helicopters in fear of being left behind.  We saw the desperation and fear on their faces, and in their eyes.

Operation Frequent Wind went down as the largest helicopter evacuation.  More than 1,000 Americans and nearly 6,000 Vietnamese escaped from various locations in Saigon and taken to U.S. aircraft carriers waiting offshore.  More than half the refugees were taken to the USS Midway.

Corporal Charles McMahon, eleven days away from celebrating his 22nd birthday, and 19-year old Lance Corporal Darwin Judge, both U.S. Marines, were killed in a North Vietnamese rocket attack, one day before the Fall of Saigon.  They were the last two servicemen killed in Vietnam.

So on this day, and everyday, remember the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, so that we may enjoy the freedoms envied by so many.

Lasting Images

The Vietnam War and the turbulent 60’s left us with lasting images of the evils that exist in this world.  The sobering realization of the darkness that lies deep within each of us.   Photographic images that are engrained in our memory, as a chapter in our history, to make sure we never forget the past.

A reminder that war is hell.  For everyone.

Jake Leg of the Week 4/28/12

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Blogs, Jake Leg of the Week Award, James Harden, Metta World Peace, National Basketball Association, Ron Artest, Static in the Airwaves, Tim L O'Brien

I have to say there wasn’t much competition this week.  Sure there were some deserving candidates, but the weekly winner was pretty much determined by last Sunday.

This was not a week in which I was forced to read the back pages in search of a winner.  In fact, our winner presented himself to the viewing public on a nationally televised live broadcast this past Sunday.  I had my winner, and I was on easy street the rest of the week.

Regardless, I felt the need to offer up at least one other sacrifice candidate, if for no other reason to illustrate that there are always plenty of idiots deserving of nomination for Jake Leg of the Week.

Wallace Collins

Usually, I will try and stay away from local candidates.  I prefer nominations to be prominently known idiots, but this week I had to nominate Mr. Collins for the award.

Wallace Collins is the chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party.  This past week Collins made news when he likened mass murder Timothy McVeigh to tea party activists to a Fox News Reporter.

Uhhh…say what?

Not the smartest analogy to make, much less one week after the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.  Given the chance to apologize for his comments, Wallace stood by his statement.

Ron Artest aka Metta World Peace, NBA Basketball Thug  Player

Watch the following video.  No other explanation will be necessary!

This past off season, controversial basketball player Ron Artest changed his name to Metta World Peace to reflect his new, kinder, gentler side.  But this past Sunday, the old Ron Artest reared his ugly head, or in this case, elbow, and showed a nationally televised audience that no matter how much lipstick you put on a pig, it’s still just a pig.

New name.  Same thug-ish behavior.

And the winner of the Mooning Troll Trophy goes to….

Ron Artest

This was an open and shut contest this week.

So lets celebrate and raise our glasses in a toast to the biggest dumb a** making headlines this week.

All weekly winners are automatically eligible for the Jake Leg of the Year Award announced in late December.

A few disclaimers about this award: First, this in not a forum for the writer to vent or push his own political viewpoints on the readers. Everyone and anyone is fair game in this contest. I would prefer to choose a winner from the sporting world where prima dona’s are a premium, or the celebrity world, where entitlement seems to be part of the DNA makeup. Actors and sports stars are more fun to poke fun at, and there will always be an abundant supply of stupidity.  Politicians are not exempt from this award, however, it must be noted that by allowing them to participate, they could potentially dominate the award, thus making it unfair to others.  And as our president continues to insist to us: it must be fair for everyone!

I hope everyone has a good week, and remember, (in my best Casey Kasem voice) Keep your feet on the ground, but watch what you step in!

Jake Leg of the Week Award – 4/20/12

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Amanda Clayton, Bill Maher, Blogs, Bobby Petrino, HBO, Jake Leg of the Week Award, Richard Land, Static in the Airwaves, Stay-at-home mom's, Tim L O'Brien

Welcome back to the second installment of Jake Leg of the Week.

I have to admit, the previous week was a near perfect week to start this weekly award. The stars perfectly aligned and the skies parted to reveal our first winner – Bobby Petrino.  There were plenty of deserving candidates to choose from.  This week has been somewhat slower, perhaps the fear of winning the ‘mooning troll’ trophy has kept potential candidates from inserting foot into mouth/showing their ass!

Lucky for me, I didn’t have to search too far. Seems idiots are not hard to identify and will always stand out in a crowded world.

A few disclaimers about this award. First, this in not a forum for the writer to vent or push his own political viewpoints on the readers. Everyone and anyone is fair game in this contest. I would prefer to choose a winner from the sporting world where prima dona’s are a premium, or the celebrity world, where entitlement seems to be part of the DNA makeup. Actors and sports stars are more fun to poke fun at.  Politicians are not exempt from this award, however, it must be noted that by allowing them to participate, they could potentially dominate the award, thus making it unfair to others.  And as our president continues to insist to us: it must be fair for everyone!

So here we go…Week 2 Nominees:

Amanda Clayton

The first candidate this week is a 25-year-old woman from Michigan who won $1 million in the state’s Make Me Rich! game show. Well, you can give the ignorant a bunch of money, but you can’t hide the ignorance, no matter how you dress it up.  Lottery winner, Amanda Clayton, continued using her food stamp card and never informed welfare officials of her winnings.  She has been charged with two felonies for welfare fraud.

Clayton believed she was justified in continuing to collect state payments because she is unemployed.  “I felt that its OK because, I mean, I have no income and I have bills to pay. I have two houses.”

Oh, by all means, keep using those foods stamps, we all would hate for you to sell that second house!

Bill Maher

Remember when a comedian was actually funny? Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Chris Rock and George Carlin were all true comedians.  Bill Maher does not fit in this category. Instead, the HBO comedian show host is about as funny as poison ivy in the groin area. Come to think of it, Maher is exactly like poison ivy in the genitals.

His latest example of opening his mouth and showing his ass came as he continued to bash Ann Romney which only added more fuel to the war against stay-at-home moms. “Ann Romney has never gotten her ass out of the house to work at 7am when it’s cold, having to deal with the boss, being in a workplace, and even if you’re unhappy you can’t show it for 8 hours.”

Uh…um… is there honestly any point is stating the obvious counter point to his ignorance?

I see a new reality TV show in the future staring Bill Maher facing the challenges of a stay-at-home mom. Of course, the show wouldn’t last more than one episode. The liberal elitist would crumble. Now that would be comedy.

Other nominees receiving votes this week: Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission who used his radio show recently to accuse black leaders of exploiting Trayvon Martin for political gain. Land’s comments used during the radio program were lifted directly from a Washington Times article without giving attribution to the columnist… The Pulitzer Prize Board for failing to award a Pulitzer Prize for fiction.  For the first time in 35 years, the board failed to recognize a winner in fiction, angering authors and the publishing community… The 11 agents of the  Secret Service who engaged in activities with prostitutes in Cartagena, Columbia. The agents were disqualified from finalist contention this week because our budget only allows for one ‘mooning troll’ trophy per week.  We simply don’t have the budget to hand out 11 trophies in one week!

And the Jake Leg of the Week Award goes to….

Rosie O’Donnell with a penis Bil Maher!!!

Anyone that willfully angers stay-at-home mom’s, and mom’s in generally should immediately be admitted into the nearest psych hospital and tested for brain activity. Personally, I would rather be dipped in honey and forced to streak through a bee farm naked than anger an underappreciated group of mothers!

So lets celebrate and raise our glasses in a toast to the biggest dumb a** making headlines in this crazy ol’ world of ours.  I have a feeling Mr. Maher could be a repeat winner.

All weekly winners become eligible for the Jake Leg of the Year award.

So, did I miss any candidates this week? Was there a Jake Leg that didn’t appear on my radar? What do you think about Maher’s comments degrading stay-at-home mom’s?

The Day We Will Never Forget…

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Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Blogs, Domestic Terrorism, Oklahoma City bombing, Static in the Airwaves, Terry Nichols, Tim L O'Brien, Timothy McVeigh

“For the survivors of the crimes and for the families of the dead the pain goes on.” – Former President George W. Bush

April 19, 1995.

On some days it seems just like yesterday. Other days, well, its seems like a lifetime ago.

It was one of those moments in our history which falls under the heading, “Where were you when…”

Like the day Kennedy was assassinated. Or when John Lennon and Ronald Reagan were shot.  We remember where we were when we heard the news.  Of course, we all remember where we were when we saw the images of planes flying into buildings in New York City as we sat in shock, our eyes glued to the television.

April 19, 1995. The day that shook America. The day that shocked Oklahoma City.  The day terrorism came on our own soil. The largest act of domestic terrorism to our country. A day that brought death to 168 innocent lives, including 19 children, destroying families in America’s heartland.

A day for those of us in Oklahoma that we will never forget, nor should we ever forget. A day seventeen years ago that we still vividly remember.

These things just don’t happen in Oklahoma, a state more noted for college football national championships and a Rogers and Hammerstein musical. A state built upon moral character and conservative values.

April 19, 1995. The day a yellow Ryder rental truck driven by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols brought real world terror to our front door step. A day we lost 168 of our brothers and sisters in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. A day where 680 were injured. By a bomb built by cowards. A bomb that destroyed over 300 buildings in a 16 block radius.

Timothy McVeigh was executed by the federal government in June of 2001.  Nichols wasn’t given the death sentence, and still resides in a Colorado Supermax prison facility where he still complains about the food.

So many questions still to ask. So many answers that will never come.

For more information on the Oklahoma City Memorial and Museum click on the link to take you to the website. If you are ever in the area or visiting Oklahoma stop by and visit the Memorial site.

The following is a video tribute to the music of Live’s Lightening Crashes.

Please continue to honor the victims and their families.

Don’t ever forget….

Riding with a King Into Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame

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Albert King, B.B. King, Blogs, Blues, Freddie King, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Shelter Records, Static in the Airwaves, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Texas Cannonball, The!!!Beat, Tim L O'Brien

Over the weekend, the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame celebrated the inductions of the Class of 2012.  Notable inductees included Guns N’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Donovan and the Beastie Boys.  Shamefully missing from the spotlight and barely receiving a mention in most of the print and on-line stories was the induction of legendary Texas bluesman Freddie King.

(In the above photo, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, Joe Banamassa and Derek Trucks hit the stage to honor King with two songs.)

In blues circles, there are three kings:  B.B. King, Albert King and Freddie King (none are related). Everyone has heard of B.B. King. Unless you are a die-hard blues fan, you probably haven’t heard of Albert King. But for me, my favorite King was always Freddie.

Born in Gilmer, Texas in 1934, King and his family moved to Chicago in 1949. The move turned into a blessing in disguise for Freddie. He quickly found his way into the blues clubs in town and was mesmerized by the music he heard.

By age 16, he was sneaking into the clubs on double dares from his buddies. One night he bet his friends that not only would he sneak in, but that he would also find his way on stage and play with the house band. He won the bet, but not before the club owner realized how young he was and ordered the bouncers to escort him out. Freddie never made it out the door, as the legendary Howlin’ Wolf, stepped in and told the owner that the young kid was with him. Not long after, Freddie was running the famed musical streets of Chicago with the likes of Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Robert Lockwood and Little Walter.

King fell in love with the nightlife of the club atmosphere and stayed out after hours partying and gambling. His wife had enough, and with their six children moved back to Texas. Realizing his family wasn’t coming back to Chicago, Freddie moved to Dallas in 1963 and his career began to hit new highs.

The following video is of King performing two songs for the TV show The!!!Beat in the in the mid-sixties.

In 1969 at the Texas Pop Festival, King shared the bill with the likes of Led Zepplin, Sly and the Family Stone and Ten Years After. It was reported that the members of Led Zepplin stood at the side of the stage and were awestruck by King’s guitar playing and soulful voice.  His music caught the ear of Oklahoma musician Leon Russell, who had started his own record label – Shelter Records.  He recorded three albums on Shelter – Getting Ready (1971), The Texas Cannonball (1972) and Woman Across the River (1973).  If you have never heard of, or listened to King’s music, the Shelter Records are considered his finest recordings and a great place to get introduced to the man with a monster guitar and powerfully soulful voice. If you truly love the blues, these three albums are a must for your collection.

Soon after, he found himself out on tour with Grand Funk Railroad (listen for the reference to playing poker with King in their hit song “We Are An American Band”), Creedence Clearwater Rival and Eric Clapton.

The following video was recorded in Sweden in 1973 and really highlights his guitar playing. Watch the video if for no other reason to check out King’s shirt collar! You have to love the fashion of the 70’s.  Have you ever seen a shirt with lapels that are so large they fold over his massive shoulders? They look like airplane wings!

Stevie Ray Vaughn and his brother Jimmie were often quoted as stating that Freddie King was a major influence on their music. Other notable guitar greats Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Duane Allman all noted King as a major influence to their musical careers.

King died at the young age of 42 due to complications of an acute ulcer and pancreatitis in Dallas.

His recognition into the Hall of Fame was long overdue, but very, very well deserved.

Jake Leg of the Week Award

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Blogs, Bobby Petrino, Fidel Castro, Jake Leg of the Week Award, Lamar Odom, Ozzie Guillén, Static in the Airwaves, Tim O'Brien

All winners will receive their very own mooning troll trophy to proudly show off to any friends they may still have.

Welcome to my inaugural awarding of the Jake Leg of the Week.  Each week we will celebrate and raise our glasses in a toast to the biggest dumb a** making headlines in this crazy ol’ world of ours.  Each winner will be presented the ‘Mooning Troll’ trophy.  Feel free to send in nominations throughout the week as you see fit.

As you would expect, there were several well deserving candidates dip sh**s this week, and like a herd of horses racing down the home stretch neck and neck it came down to the wire in a photo finish.

Now, without further adieu, here are my three nominations for the week:

Ozzie Guillen – Head Coach of the Miami Marlin baseball team

Surgeon General Warning: Thinking in Spanish and speaking in English is harmful to your reputation!

The controversial baseball coach made headlines when he expressed his admiration for communist Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.  You don’t have to be the sharpest tool in the tool box to foresee the reaction the comments produced.  First, the baseball team just celebrated the opening of its beautiful new stadium in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.  Area residents were shocked at the stupidity of the comments and took serious offense to his remarks.  Baseball suspended Guillen for only five games, while many were calling for his dismissal.  This is the same coach who back in 2006 was fined for using a gay slur during a rant at a Chicago-area writer.

The ozzieness of stupidity explained his remarks.  “I was thinking in Spanish and I said the wrong thing in English.”  For real.  I’m not making that up.  That was his reasoning during his apology.  I guess that’s what happens when you speak out your ass and think it will smell like roses.

Bobby Petrino – Current Former University of Arkansas Head Football Coach

Coach Petrino's reaction to his nomination as Jake Leg of the Week.

We are all aware of the economic hardships so many Americans are currently going through.  But, have you ever witnessed a bigger dumb butt throw away over 18 millions dollars?  Threw it away!  And for what?  Oh, that same old problem, that for some reason, most men never learn the lesson and are doomed to repeat.  Seems Bobby thought he was Tiger Woods.  You know the type…the guy that is better at thinking with his little head instead of his big head.

Days after illegally hiring his longtime mistress to work for him in the football department, Petrino wrecked his motorcycle with the young lady riding along with him.  Seems Petrino tried to cover her appearance up to police and university officials.  The fifty-one year old Petrino is married and has four children.  His girlfriend was twenty-five.

The University Athletic Director fired Petrino “with cause” meaning Petrino will not receive the 18 million dollar buyout! And with his little head, he just pissed it all away…

Lamar Odom – NBA Basketball Player, Dallas Mavericks

Lamar is all smiles as he takes the money and runs.

Lets pretend that you have an incredibly high paying job (for some, you may not need to pretend).  You are paid millions of dollars to do something you love.  You get to travel and find adoration where ever you go.  You fall in love with the glitz and bright lights of your hometown.  Without warning, your boss comes in and transfers you away.  Now the transfer isn’t to East Siberia or BF Egypt or some other far off and undesirable location, but a large metroplex in a very chic city.

No big deal, right?

But let’s say you object to the move.  Shortly after arriving you take a ten-day personal leave of absence.  You show up for work but you’re not ready to do your job physically.  You’re habitually tardy to all work meetings and you were actually late for work, despite living right across the street from your workplace.  You are cited for a lack of committment and lack of effort by your co workers.  To top it all off, you get in a heated argument with the owner of the company.  The bad news is the boss lets you go.  You are publicly ridiculed.  But you don’t care, because no matter what a big douche bag you are, you still get to collect the remaining 8.9 million dollars owed to you on your contract.  Crazy, right?

Where can I sign up for such a job?

Time to cue the house band and ask the drummer for a drum roll….

And the winner is…..

Bobby Petrino!

Petrino does not appear overly excited to win our first Jake Leg of the Week Award.

What is it about men in Arkansas with money, prestige and power and use all this in order to have sex with much younger women?  Seems like I’ve heard this story before…

So there you have it – our very first Jake Leg of the Week Award winner!

What do you think?  Was Petrino the obvious winner in a landslide vote or was there someone more deserving that we overlooked?  Cast your votes and don’t forget you can text your vote just like on American Idol!!

Now all we have to do is sit back and wait as the news unfolds each day for someone is out there lurking just out of our periphery, ready to claim the prize next week…until then, remember it is always best to think in English and speak in English!