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  I get that Putin isn't someone to take lightly, but he's got his own domestic problems to solve for the moment.  He also hasn't said a word about Cuba that I can find, and he isn't shy about lambasting us for...well anything.  He has an economy falling out from under him to worry about, a new region in Crimea to administrate, propping up the separatists in east Ukraine... us re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba has to be near the bottom of his worry list.       4,804 nuclear weapons isn't enough?  Just how many do you think we need?  I'm all for getting rid of more.  There expensive to maintain- over $20 billion a year- and the only ones that are operationally sound are the submarine based ones.  The ICBM program is an embarrassment and the bomber based nukes aren't reliable enough to penetrate a decent air defense system if they can't fire cruise missiles from afar like deep targets inside Russia and China would require.   The numbers game on nuclear weapons isn't valid anymore.

  Happened early last month.  http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/sumner/2014/11/04/sumner-votes-raise-property-taxes/18448859/   People love to rail against the federal government, but local government still has the ability to make changes that can be felt just as deeply.  I'd bet those will be the most pissed can't name the county executive or their district commissioner off the top of their head.

  They can park their boats at any port where the host nation allows it.  What's your point?

  As a kid, I worked at a local convenience store.  We were always open on Thanksgiving and Christmas until about 3 or 4pm.  The people in the neighborhood appreciated the chance to come get some last minute supplies, or things they realized they needed more of for their family get-togethers without having to make a drive to find an open place.  I personally appreciated the chance to pick up 3-4 more hours of pay at 1.5x my salary re-stocking the shelves those days.   Just because you have a "reason for the season" doesn't mean others don't have needs or don't want to take those hours quite willingly. 

  We thought the Iraqi exiles knew what was what and made our post invasion plans based on what they told us.  How'd that work out?   You think the Russians can afford to care about Cuba with their economy in a panic right now?

  I remember one 4th of July, the 101st CG declared that no unit would have Soldiers at work past 12:30 hours so they could hit the road while still rested.  He had officers and senior NCO's from the division HQ go around to the units and check that the order was being implemented.

  Or they'll just do it like this guy did.  http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=290_1415427089#6I0uHklRFeBjTt2k.99

First thought I had on this was how easily something similar could have happened when vehicle carry without a permit became law. 

  How will it end badly?  The last 50 years of no diplomatic relations and embargo have gotten is jack squat.  The Castro regime is doing just fine in spite of all our petty efforts.  American business interests will have that island turned around in a generation.    Plus any foreign aid to Cuba will still have to go through a Republican congress.  

I remember in 2002, Xmas and New Years Day were on Wednesday's.  I decided not to take the block holiday leave because I had gone home in August after coming home from Afghanistan and spent Thanksgiving at my father's house.  When you're a lower enlisted Joe, travel money isn't abundant.   The Army takes all the federal holidays for 4day weekends, this made a really weird schedule where we had three day weekends, and the actual holidays off to compensate.  For a period of about two weeks, we didn't show up for work for more than two days in a row, and those were little more than doing PT and some work around the office.  We were dismissed around lunchtime.  It was awesome.

There isn't much radical Islam is doing today that I haven't read about with Christianity before they realized that conversion at the point of a sword wasn't the answer.  They may be using different tactics and methods, but the desired end state is the same.  It will burn itself out given enough time.       Fixed it for you.  This is their problem since they are the ones who have tired to play both sides on this issue since 9/11.  The results they have gotten from that policy are apparent. 

About time.  That postage stamp of a nation has never been a real threat to us since the USSR collapsed, and not having diplomatic relations with a country that close to us was petty at best.    Sen. Rubio has to be against it to keep support in his home state, that I understand.  But Sen. Cruz is simply against it because the President is the lead proponent for it.  The only reason we have cut ourselves off from them diplomatically for so long is the sway that the Cuban American community had in Florida, which could swing their 29 electoral votes.  Glad to see that ending.   Looking forward to going there someday.  Their cigars are good, but I've had better.  Hopefully the prices for them won't rise too much by the time I get there.  We'll see resorts from Hilton, Marriott and the rest before long.  Cuba will become a tourist spot like the Bahamas and Jamaica.

  Mine is one of those leaf antenna's.  I have the "booster" that plugs into the USB port on my TV for extra power, but it doesn't do anything.  I plan on looking into alternatives over the winter break.

The Roku is awesome, I'm loving mine.  Plenty of channels and apps to it, including Netflix, Amazon Instant Video (which gets you a good bit of free stuff if you are a Prime member), and I'm quite fond of the iHeartRadio app to play tunes around the house.   I also have a decent OTA antenna, but for some reason can't pick up the local NBC or PBS affiliates.  I might switch to an outdoor one, or an attic one, but since I rent, I'm not sure how much I can change things around.   Premium cable is a rip-off these days.  I'm glad that I've made the change.

Sorry to hear about all the medical issues drop kicking you at the same time.  Here's hoping for the best.

My biggest frustration with the Titans is the NFL broadcast rules.  When they play, I can't see any other game unless I get Direct TV.  You would think with the focus on fantasy football nowadays, they NFL would break that stupid rule.    I refuse to watch a Titans game, unless I have an interest in the other team.  They're just not a good team to watch.       The Titans are staying put.  As long as people keep paying to fill up LP field, just to watch the Titans play like ass, they will stay in Nashville.   I don't know the terms of the Titans current deal with LP field, but the only teams the NFL are considering moving to LA have stadium issues.  Of course, the NFL wants public financing to help foot the bill for a new LA stadium. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/15/sports/football/with-no-stadium-on-horizon-chances-dim-for-a-move-to-los-angeles-in-2015-.html?_r=0

The only party that has cause to be sued for contributing to the shooting was Adam Lanza's mother.  If she had kept her guns out of her little fruitcakes hands, he wouldn't have had the tools to commit the murders.   But, since she was his first victim, the point is kind of moot.

If by "many Americans," you mean less than 20% and declining every year for a generation. Hardly enough to cause the troubles we have. Hell, if you overlap the timelines, the decline of American unions and the rise of globalization in our economy seem to be related. But hey, as long as the Chamber of Commerce and the Wall Street firms are happy, the establishment politicians on both sides are all about it.

  Cooperate greed and NAFTA went hand in hand.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was all about NAFTA, while the unions and most Democrats were against it.  President Clinton was always chummy with big business and the financial sector.  He was only able to get the ratification of NAFTA passed with more Republican votes than Democratic ones in favor of it.   https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/103-1993/h575 https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=103&session=1&vote=00395   It's not global socialism so much as big business and the banks needed to remove pesky laws that prevented them from establishing operations in cheaper markets overseas to increase profits for the HQ back home.  American jobs and businesses that were built in America like Sears are just the collateral damage of us being in a global economy for the benefit of big business and banks.

You can't run a business on nostalgia.  I have fond memories of Sears as a kid, but today, they just don't offer the variety or deals that can compete with the rest of the market.

  Anything by Peltor is going to be better than Howard Leight.  The pair JWC linked, or the 6S model are both going to be much better at a comparable price.

Peltor's are good stuff.  I had the Tactical 6S ones in Afghanistan when I was an embedded FSR.  They fit perfect under a standard helmet, which is why I got them.  I liked them better than the Howard Leight model I also had.  I use them at the range now that I'm back in the states.    These ones look great, and if I didn't already have two pairs of decent headphones I'd grab them at that price.  The 3.5mm jack is nice, but I always just put in ear buds then put the muffs over them.  Was able to hear my music over the roar of any helicopter engine.

David is right, that's enough to make me think someone was trying to break in.  You might want to ask your neighbors if they have seen anything similar on there doors and let them know what happened to yours.

  Business wants to be able to explore what UAV's can do.  Amazon and Google are the biggest names to be interested, and more than likely pushing behind the scenes on this issue.  Even USAA can see UAV's being used to help with the insurance claims process.   I think the fact that the U.S. Army let's MOS qualified enlisted personnel fly the Shadow UAV system, instead of commissioned or warrant officers, will become a precedent for the FAA to set up a fast track for civilian operation.    Regardless, I see widespread UAV use in the commercial and civilian market by 2020.

Very cool pic, Dustbuster.  Thanks for sharing it, along with the bit of trivia.