en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/635022 Comments by Alton http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf122909-1.htm#IDComment49374458 And yet... This same government goes absolutely nuts trying to get everybody to quit smoking, (which is inhaling smoke ) because everyone knows that smoking is bad for you. Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:51:59 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf122909-1.htm#IDComment49374458 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf122209-2.htm#IDComment48613463 Yeah, buried in my wallet somewhere is my VA card. I too don't understand the problem ( i don't use it for anything). Seems to me if you have a picture ID from the Government, then any form of ID should suffice, but then even though Retired have IDs, they give em a hard time going into Red River Army Depot. Even if you know the name of your boss, his phone number and bldg no. where you work...but if the guard knows your family name then... Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:55:43 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf122209-2.htm#IDComment48613463 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf122009-2.htm#IDComment48357639 Boxes checked. I think they used to call it 'ticket punching'. Ya''ll guys know what that means. If it walks like a duck, acts like a duck, quacks like a duck... Meantime since I'm not a duck and don't have to worry about being the main course on the dinner table I want all youse guys to have a Merry Christmas with all your families and loved ones. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:03:28 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf122009-2.htm#IDComment48357639 http://www.kptv.com/news/22005713/detail.html#IDComment48093961 I like 'Duhs' comment. Combine it with Viagra and you'll have an 'act' that'll blow your head off. Hmm maybe it'll work better with Cialis? Just think walking around for those 4 hours (like carrying a loaded Gun). Yeah that might be fun to watch... Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:31:00 +0000 http://www.kptv.com/news/22005713/detail.html#IDComment48093961 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121809-3.htm#IDComment48052289 Uhh not sure how to answer that? My father was blind the last years of his life and we had to walk with him holding on to our elbow. They have canes and use seeing eye dogs but given THEIR disabilities they got it bad. And more than once I was lead Idiot for when they found suspicious packages at the airport, so, yes I warned a lot of people and yes it made me more and more nervous because one day..... Sun, 20 Dec 2009 04:44:42 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121809-3.htm#IDComment48052289 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121809-3.htm#IDComment47890459 Yeah, I agree about the 'lost' documents. I keep sending them, they never seem to get them and then I end up going somewhere else for treatment, then sending the letter to the the VA asking why I end up going somewhere else over and over. So now I 've decided to do my part for America. I don't bother going to the VA at all. Save it for the Veteran that needs it more than me. Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:57:08 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121809-3.htm#IDComment47890459 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121809-3.htm#IDComment47850450 I remember a long time ago (had about a year left before I went) and i started getting these "you have been selected for a survey". OK, the first one I filled out and then I got another and another and another. I looked at the questions and they were worded in such a way to get the answer that they wanted, so it didn't matter what you put down , it didn't mean anything. At first, I felt 'bad' using them in a fireplace to start a fire with, then not so bad after the 3rd one. Surveys don't mean a thing. Think I remember what a prime minister said back during the Triassic period. "There are 3 kinds of lies, Lies, DARN lies and statistics". Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:40:09 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121809-3.htm#IDComment47850450 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121409-4.htm#IDComment47122834 Yeah, it certainly bodes ill when Employers stop looking at your ABILITIES and look instead at your DISABILITIES, not as a reason to keep you working but as a reason to fire you. Used to work for GD a long time ago,. Thought it was the best job I ever had. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:13:07 +0000 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121409-4.htm#IDComment47122834 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121409-1.htm#IDComment47122361 Ok, I gonna paint all these comments (even the letter that started it ) with a broad brush stroke. I want all you folks to relax, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. It don't pay ta be in a bad mood when Santa comes down the chimney, I know from experience. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:07:01 +0000 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121409-1.htm#IDComment47122361 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121109-2.htm#IDComment46994904 Having lived in the Wichita area from oh a long time ago, I thought i might add my 2 cents (about caring for veterans in the past). But you have already addressed that issue and I don't see it as that much of an improvement from what you have said. good going on the report. Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:35:04 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf121109-2.htm#IDComment46994904 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120909-6.htm#IDComment46466390 And then we have my brother that was 'over there' for 4 years- Air Force, then two years as a civil service contractor ( ITT) doing the exact same job (but with a lot more pay) and he also got to partake in the evacuations in late 74, even going back later to pick up some relatives after the fact (which he won't talk about but probably ain't nearly as secret as we make out). So uhh what is he? Well exposed to Agent orange, that's for sure. Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:30:49 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120909-6.htm#IDComment46466390 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120909-1.htm#IDComment46383816 Big question. How can a flagpole devalue a home? Answer, it won't. So I guess what the homeowners association really WANTS is for all homes to look exactly the same with no individualism. Myself, if I have a hard time remembering (after a couple of beers) which house I live in, I live I WOULD move. I would also venture to guess that the Veteran has been there a lot longer than the Homeowners association when it TOOK OVER the neighborhood because you usually don't move after you're no longer a spring Chicken. Hey, give the man some respect. Now if he made his front lawn to look like a football field (every 10 yards a chalkline, goal posts...etc., now that's a different story. Wed, 9 Dec 2009 13:29:16 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120909-1.htm#IDComment46383816 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120409-1.htm#IDComment46266436 Hmmm. Maybe we can figure out a way to transfer the survey onto paper (or some such device) that can not be shredded? Would be nice to hear about all the DVA's offices have to buy new shredders because they got hopelessly jammed, but then they have incinerators... Maybe put a device on the survey to record where it is (like microdots), so that if we want to find it well there it is, in the trash. Hmmm come to think of it, I wonder if someone can figure out how to attach microdots (like they did in WW2 ) to papers that are sent to the VA now so that we know where they are when the VA says they are lost? "Uhh, my GPS Locator shows my letter to the VA is underneath your ham sandwich there". Guys, I see some money to be made here. Help me out. Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:48:52 +0000 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120409-1.htm#IDComment46266436 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120509-1.htm#IDComment46264384 Hmm. here's a thought. If the Veteran owned the home before the homeowner's association decided to start up, then maybe his flagpole can be overlooked (something like a pardon the word, grandfathered clause). I remember when I first bought a house and we had a homeowner's association in which the Realtor had their people voting as a block for what they wanted, IE more money to them. But when the other homeowners caught them in violations (repeatably I might add) they got mad and walked out. Finally, no one listened to anyone anymore because it didn't mean anything and the homeowners were willing to take them to court over it. Me, I was going through a divorce and couldn't, wouldn't deal with all the nuances. So how much 'power' does the homeowner's association have in view of has the Veteran been there LONG before they got there? Tue, 8 Dec 2009 15:20:45 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120509-1.htm#IDComment46264384 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120409-3.htm#IDComment46159614 Hmmm I like that about the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities of the VA. "Employees that don't do their job, Employees who don't know how to do their job" Maybe i should apply there? I don't know anything about how to run a pharmacy and I've never worked in a hospital environment...who knows? Wait! I can't do it, seems I can't make more than $11, 000 Samolians before and after taxes and Med. techs generally make more than that even if they don't know what they're doing. Sooo close. Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:44:52 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120409-3.htm#IDComment46159614 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120409-1.htm#IDComment46158538 I got the last survey and have not filled it out and sent it back after I began to read the questions. They were worded in such a way as to leave only one answer and it wasn't what SHOULD be said. How about instead of asking 'specially worded' questions, they instead ask the Veteran what the VA has done right and what they have done wrong to them. AND they should keep in mind that, by golly there are some Veterans that are as smart as they are and don't like being screwed. Just a thought.... Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:29:22 +0000 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120409-1.htm#IDComment46158538 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120409-1.htm#IDComment46157711 better not put many staple in it, you know that can jam them shredders.... Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:17:48 +0000 http://vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120409-1.htm#IDComment46157711 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120509-1.htm#IDComment46157310 Think they better go and look at what the particular homeowner's association does and does not allow. I can't see a flag pole as being too much of a hazard or an 'eyesore' though. I used to live out in the country and long time ago and looked at my homeowners paper on what I could and could not do. One was that I could not keep pigs on my property, I don't know anything about pigs and still don't, but then I looked at some of the owners there and they had messy yards so.... Oh yeah, I remember when i was stationed in Spain and I wanted to watch Spanish TV instead of the AFN propaganda. Had to submit papers, requests and really classy looking drawings before it was OKed. Jeez you'd thought it was sacrilege. Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:11:37 +0000 http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfdec09/nf120509-1.htm#IDComment46157310 http://defensetech.org/2009/11/19/pinnacles-new-armor/#IDComment44299438 Guys, look at the one in the middle. He's either got a huge wag o chewin tabacco in his mouth orrrr. "Corr! It's really im! Tis himself! Standin there like is 'royal highness'. Blimey! Ah must be going daft. Must be all tha 'hanthrax' shots I got when I was in the regiment. Now what was the name again? The OLLLlD Gaurd? The 3rd Herd? The Fleet of Foot? Crikey, help me out someun". Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:34:52 +0000 http://defensetech.org/2009/11/19/pinnacles-new-armor/#IDComment44299438 http://defensetech.org/2009/11/19/pinnacles-new-armor/#IDComment44092173 Senator McCain says, “ Sticks and stones may break my bones but the words of that ‘rogue’ Palin will never hurt me. That is, as long as I’m wearing the new, ‘Republican’ brand body armor. That’s right guys, it’ll even protect you against the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, bank failures, car makers going bankrupt, massive unemployment and all the evils of socialized medicine. That is just as long as you keep your credit cards in your wallet, inside your vest with the flap down and the button closed. Oh yeah, you might want to marry somebody that’s Looaaaded too. So take it from me, former naval aviator, beer drinker and an all good guy. Buy ‘Republican’ brand body armor and we might find another use for all those clunkers we turned in this year”. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:24:48 +0000 http://defensetech.org/2009/11/19/pinnacles-new-armor/#IDComment44092173