The Bull Speaks!

At long last the U.S. Navy’s latest ship has come into view in the Mobile River. It took hours for the ship to be floated after hours of delays - a lot like the entire LCS project. Even more like the LCS project as a whole, the launching was massively expensive. The cost of moving the Independence from shed to water is about $1 million. That’s right, $1,000,000.00 just to get this ship wet. You see, they did so very gently, lowering the ship inch-by-inch into the river. The Bull has to seriously wonder why. Why not side-launch the Independence just like so many hundreds of ships before her? If a side-launch is somehow a danger to this aluminum-hulled vessel, do we really want our sons and daughters serving on her in a time of war?

The aluminum-hulled Independence, or LCS-2, is a 417-foot vessel that boasts an unusual trimaran design, essentially a long, slender monohull flanked by a pair of smaller side hulls. Austal officials said the design offers the stability to support an “enormous” flight deck capable of supporting the Navy’s largest helicopter, the H-53, and provides excellent seakeeping, the ability to hold steady in rough seas, at speeds of more than 40 knots. Austal also says that one of the key advantages of a trimaran design is that it offers stability that allows helicopters to land and passengers to avoid seasickness, even in very high seas. The Bull says that time will tell.

The Independence will be docked alongside Austal, visible from Cooper Riverside Park, as it undergoes activation and testing. Other milestones christening, crew arrival and delivery are scheduled to take place later this year.

For further reading on the Independence read here.

Bull, out.

Welcome news from Chief of Naval Operations!

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) – Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the reestablishment of U.S. 4th Fleet and assigned Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, currently serving as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, as its first commander.

U.S. 4th Fleet will be responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of focus, which encompasses the Caribbean, and Central and South America and the surrounding waters.

Located in Mayport, Fla., and dual-hatted with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO), U.S. 4th Fleet reestablishment addresses the increased role of maritime forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus, and demonstrates U.S. commitment to regional partners.

“Reconstituting the Fourth Fleet recognizes the immense importance of maritime security in the southern part of the Western Hemisphere, and sends a strong signal to all the civil and military maritime services in Central and Latin America,” said Roughead. “Aligning the Fourth Fleet along with our other numbered fleets and providing the capabilities and personnel are a logical execution of our new Maritime Strategy.”

U.S. 4th Fleet was original established in 1943 as one of the original numbered fleets, and was given a specific mission. During World War II, the U.S. needed a command in charge of protecting against raiders, blockade runners and enemy submarines in the South Atlantic. U.S. 4th Fleet was disestablished in 1950 when U.S. 2nd Fleet took over its responsibilities.

Initially, the new 4th Fleet will be headquartered with COMUSNAVSO and take advantage of the existing infrastructure, communications support and personnel already in place in Mayport. As a result, U.S. 4th Fleet will not involve an increase in forces assigned in Mayport.

“This is a significant change and presents us the opportunity to garner the right resources for the missions we run for Southern Command,” said Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr., Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO). “As a numbered fleet, we will be in a better position to ensure the Combatant Commander has the right assets available when needed.”

U.S. 4th Fleet will retain responsibility as COMUSNAVSO, the Navy component command for SOUTHCOM. Its mission is to direct U.S. naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, Theater Security Cooperation, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

With growing tensions in South America, the never-ending Mexican influx, and general World-wide weirdness, The Bull welcomes the return of the U.S. 4th Fleet.

For more information from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command visit www.cusns.navy.mil.

For more information from U.S. Southern Command visit www.southcom.mil.

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

Bull, out!

NEW YORK — Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations called former President Jimmy Carter “a bigot” for meeting with the leader of the militant Hamas movement in Syria.

Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, “went to the region with soiled hands and came back with bloody hands after shaking the hand of Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas,” Ambassador Dan Gillerman told reporters at a luncheon briefing Thursday.

The diplomat was questioned about problems facing his country during a wide-ranging discussion lasting more than an hour. The briefing was sponsored by The Israel Project, a Washington-based, media-oriented advocacy group.

The ambassador’s harsh words for Carter came days after the ex-president met with Mashaal for seven hours in Damascus to negotiate a cease-fire with Gaza’s Hamas rulers. Carter then called Mashaal on Monday to try to get him to agree to a one-month truce without conditions, but the Hamas leader rejected the idea.

The ambassador called last weekend’s encounter “a very sad episode in American history.” He said it was “a shame” to see Carter, who had done “good things” as a former president, “turn into what I believe to be a bigot.”

Telephone calls by The Associated Press to two Atlanta numbers for Carter were not immediately returned Thursday.

During Carter’s visit, Gillerman said, Hamas “was shelling our cities and maiming and injuring and wounding Israeli babies and Israeli children.”

But, hey, “Carter the Traitor” has never seen a dictator or terrorist he didn’t love. It’s a damed shame to see an ex-President on his knees before scumbag, rag-headed murderers. (Makes one wonder what the senile old fool was doing down there…)

Bull, out.

Happy Earth Day, folks! I’m going to spend mine in my car, or in my yard with a gas-powered weed-eater trying hard to remove some of the greenery. “Global Warming”… What a crock of shyte. Yes, take care of our planet. It is, after all, our home. However, do not let yourself be fooled. Any warming the planet is experiencing has nothing to do with humans. Even better, the ‘increase’ in temperature over the last century was wiped out by the ‘reduction‘ in temperature over the last 12 months! So sorry, Al Gore, (moron).

On another note, today is The Bull’s birthday! I am 46 years old today. More importantly, it is also the 4th anniversary of my marriage to Lady Beth. It is hard to believe that so much Love could be stuffed into such a short time span. Oh, we’ve faced issues. Ex-spouses, child custody, finance, and identity theft. Through it all we’ve had each other for support and together we have succeeded despite any threat. How this ‘old guy’ got so lucky as to meet and marry such a wonderful woman, I’ll never know…

I love you, Beth!

Now, one more bit of news…

One of my daughters, Kelli, called today as she boarded a plane from Boot Camp on her way to Texas for training as a US Navy “Seabee”. That makes The Bull one proud papa!

You go get’em, Little Girl!

Bull, out.

Twas reported by Fox News that…

William Shatner says in his autobiography that he never realized until after “Star Trek” ended how much the other cast members disliked him, the New York Daily News reported.

In “Up Till Now,” he describes working for years after the show to repair his relationship with the other actors.

He did manage to develop a close bond with Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), whose alcoholism during the series he discusses in the book.

Nimoy himself writes in the book: “I loved going to the theater in London because they allowed you to drink before the show and during intermission.”

Shatner says Nimoy helped him deal with the alcoholism of his third wife, Nerine Kidd, who drowned in their pool with booze and Valium in her system.

He also discusses the fuss over TV’s first interracial kiss with Nichelle (Uhura) Nichols — who told him bluntly that she despised him.

Awww, Shat! We love you, dude.

It’s true that many rocks have more acting talent, and let’s face it, “T.J. Hooker” was not exactly an award-winning return to the little screen for you. Still, can you think of another show that has had the impact on society, or the longevity and cult-like following, of “Star Trek“? The Bull can’t!

Liked by the rest of the crew or not, Bill, you will always be the Captain!

Bull, out.

From the towel-headed Islamic idiots that like to tell everyone how they have the moral high-ground and should, therefore, rule the world:

TEHRAN, Iran — Tehran’s police chief, Gen. Reza Zarei, who was in charge of fighting vice, has been taken to jail and his case is currently under investigation, a spokesman for Iran’s judiciary said Tuesday.

Local media have reported that Gen. Reza Zarei was taken to jail after he was caught - nude - last month with six nude women by a police raid on an underground local brothel. He was also forced to resign. Local Web sites have also extensively reported the case in recent weeks.

Well, these assholes might one day rule the world. However, that will be after the fight.

Bull, out.

Reported this morning…

NEW YORK CITY — Former President Jimmy Carter is reportedly preparing an unprecedented meeting with the leader of Hamas, an organization that the U.S. government considers one of the leading terrorist threats in the world.

The Arabic-language newspaper Al-Hayat reported Tuesday that Carter was planning a trip to Syria for mid-April, during which he would meet with Khaled Meshal, the exiled head of the Palestinian terror group Hamas, on April 18.

(Go here to read the entire article from Fox News.)

As horrible as life was under the Carter Administration, and even with all of the bone-headed maneuvers on the part of the ex-President in the past few years, The Bull has never been so disgusted! What is that man thinking? Considering the money we spend on the health care of our past Presidents and ex-Congressmen I am satisfied that we are not just talking about a case of undiagnosed Alzheimer’s. What we do have is a clear-cut case of subversion. Hamas is listed as a foreign terrorist organization. Has been since it was founded. In the above mentioned article it was said that:

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack once said of the prospect of Carter meeting with Meshal, “That’s not something that we could possibly conceive of.” Some Carter critics called the latest reports typical of the ex-president. “It’s about par for the course from President Carter, demonstrating a lack of judgment typical of what he does,” said John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. “To go to Syria to visit Hamas at this point is just an ill-timed, ill-advised decision on his part.” “I’m not surprised that Carter would do this, as he has been supporting Palestinian extremism for many years,” said Steve Emerson, director of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, a watchdog group.

Jimmy Carter, my friends, is an embarrassment to the United States of America. Should the old fool actually meet with any member of Hamas, or any other terrorist group, then he should immediately be barred from re-entry to the United States. Should he then attempt re-entry he should be arrested and be sent promptly to Gitmo to await trial on charges of conspiring with known terrorist, and any thing else the Attorney General can think of including treason.

Simply stated, should Jimmy Carter go though with his ‘plan’ then we shall all know that he is not simply an old fool trying to make up for a disastrous term as President, but that he is a traitor to his own Country and should then be treated as such!

Bull, out!

Nothing on this planet bothers The Bull as much as sex offenders - particularly, pedophiles. (Towel-headed terrorist come exceedingly close, but not quite…) In our fight against the monsters our State legislatures have given the local law enforcement guys plenty of tools. The problem is that due to many things, including plain and simple ‘non-concern’ on the part of those same local law enforcement personnel, those tools are not being used. Let me give you an example…

Code of Alabama 1975, Title 15, Chapter 20 - Sex Offenders

Section 15-20-25
Adult criminal sex offender - Community notification procedures.

(a) Within five business days after the responsible agency provides notice of a release or intent to transfer residence of any adult criminal sex offender, the following procedures shall apply:

(1) In the cities of Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Montgomery, the chief of police shall notify all persons who have a legal residence within 1,000 feet of the declared residence of the adult criminal sex offender and all schools and child care facilities within three miles of the declared residence of the adult criminal sex offender that the criminal sex offender will be establishing his or her residence.

(2) In all other cities in Alabama with a resident population of 5,000 or more, the chief of police, or if none then the sheriff of the county, shall notify all persons who have a legal residence within 1,500 feet of the declared residence of the adult criminal sex offender and all schools and child care facilities within three miles of the declared residence of the adult criminal sex offender, that the adult criminal sex offender will be establishing his or her residence.

(3) In all other municipalities with a resident population of less than 5,000, and in all unincorporated areas, the sheriff of the county in which the adult criminal sex offender intends to reside shall notify all persons who have a legal residence within 2,000 feet of the declared residence of the adult criminal sex offender, and all schools and child care facilities within three miles of the declared residence of the adult criminal sex offender, that the adult criminal sex offender will be establishing his or her residence.

(b) A community notification flyer shall be made by regular mail or hand delivered to all legal residences required by this section. In addition, any other method reasonably expected to provide notification may be utilized, including, but not limited to, posting a copy of the notice in a prominent place at the office of the sheriff and at the police station closest to the declared residence of the released criminal sex offender, publicizing the notice in a local newspaper, or posting electronically, including the Internet, or other means available.

(c) Nothing in this article shall be construed as prohibiting the Department of Public Safety, a sheriff, or a chief of police from providing community notification under the provisions of this article electronically or by publication or periodically to persons whose legal residence is more than the applicable distance from the residence of an adult criminal sex offender.

(Act 99-572, p. 1283, §3.)

OK. Let’s look at this more closely…

Note that by the Code, Law Enforcement has five (5) days to follow through on the notification process, (Section 15-20-25 para.(a)).

In several cities specifically listed, (including Mobile, AL), the chief of police must make notification of sex offenders moving into a neighborhood, (Section 15-20-25 para.(a)(1)). This doesn’t appear to be happening. I have asked around and have yet to find someone in the city that was notified in any way that a scumbag was moving in down the street. It is possible that I have not spoken to the right person yet and the Police Dept. has refused comment.

As for the rest of the Code, and how it applies to the rest of Mobile County, The Bull spoke with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Dept. and was told that the notifications do not happen. Why? Well, I was given several reasons including lack of time and lack of manpower. In order to help out both my Community and local law enforcement, The Bull offered to volunteer his own time to handle the notifications. I was informed that it would not be possible because I might get hurt doing the job.

I never knew that operating a copy machine and placing postage on mailers was so hazardous!

When I questioned this logic I was told that I’d have to be sworn-in to do this notification job. “Well, OK! Let’s do it.”, says me.
“We don’t have the money and you have to go through the Academy”, says the deputy.
“I’m VOLUNTEERING - no pay”, I reply, “and I don’t need the physical training to make flyers and lick stamps.”
And he said, “Sorry.”

So ended that conversation with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.

Do you get the feeling that someone is stonewalling me? I do.

I would recommend that you, Dear Reader, contact your State legislators and demand that these notifications, which are already required by Alabama law, be sent out by whatever means necessary. Overtime, new deputies, volunteers, retirees, or disabled Veterans. I don’t care!

Let’s get this done, Alabama! If you are reading this in another State, check and see what is going on with your notification precess. Do not assume that just because you have not been notified that there isn’t a predator living right next door. You may be surprised…

Bull, out.

We have lost one of the best actors of our, or any other time. We have lost one of the last voices of Truth in this Nation. And, we have lost one of the finest voices for the protection of our Constitution we have ever known.

Charlton Heston

1924 - 2008
Rest in Peace

The Bull is saddened beyond belief at this news. We wish Peace and comfort to the family of this great man.

Bull, out.

How many more items like the following must turn up in the media - direct quotes from practicing Muslims, mind you - before the Western world wakes up to the real threat that is Islam? The following is just the latest in the string of warnings (this one from the BBC) coming from the blood-thirsty, towel-headed monsters…

A question-and-answer session with Imam Abdul Makin in an East London mosque asks why Allah would tell Muslims to kill and rape innocent non-Muslims, including their wives and daughters, according to Islam Watch.

“Because non-Muslims are never innocent, they are guilty of denying Allah and his prophet,” the Imam says, according to the report. “If you don’t believe me, here is the legal authority, the top Muslim lawyer of Britain.”

The lawyer, Anjem Choudary, backs up the Imam’s position, saying that all Muslims are innocent.

“You are innocent if you are a Muslim,” Choudary tells the BBC. “Then you are innocent in the eyes of God. If you are not a Muslim, then you are guilty of not believing in God.”

Choudary said he would not condemn a Muslim for any action.

“As a Muslim, I must support my Muslim brothers and sisters,” Choudary said. “I must have hatred to everything that is not Muslim.”

Westerners are fools to not take these warnings from the murderous Muslims seriously. We should also put an immediate halt to these terrorist front-groups like CAIR.

I don’t know about you, but immediately upon sighting a Muslim on the streets The Bull counts his children, pulls his family a little closer, and limbers up his .45 caliber revolver in its holster! I recommend you do the same.

Sound extreme? Ask the family of Daniel Pearl.

I have said it before: If the Muslim world wishes to avoid a backlash on their lifestyle far worse than all of the Crusades combined, then they had best begin policing themselves pronto!

Bull, out!

One more midnight posting before I make the leap into upgrading to WordPress 2.5…

I’m sitting in the dark as I type this and listening to the music I grew up listening to… and I’m seriously wondering who ever reads this stuff. (Oh yeah, this is going to be a real rambling rant!)

When did it happen? When, exactly did The Bull grow old? When did that ‘devil-may-care’ lifestyle and attitude fade, and when exactly did the habit of considering my mortality at night begin? Oh, it’s true that I lived a fast and furious lifestyle for many years. I’ve left many memories behind me. Many good, more fantastic, and a few bad. I’ll even admit to a few regrets. I never have been into drugs or alcohol. Never needed them because I was constantly high on Life. Something always had me spinning. Living history, trout fishing, serving my Country in the Navy, deer, turkey, fighting for fun, and most of all - women. You’d never guess it to meet me now, but I never slept alone unless I wanted to - and often not even then. I worked hard and played even harder. I made a lot of money in a profession I loved for my employers and made a lot of other people very happy in other ways for as long as they wanted me to do so. It was all quite a ride. One that it seemed would never end, even after I had decided I wanted off!

To quote from an old movie, there came a time when the gold lost its luster and the gems ceased to sparkle. Time and hard use had taken its toll on my mortal body and eternal spirit. Much of my former physical strength was lost and pain became a constant companion. I looked around and saw that while I had in hand a life most men only dream of, all I wanted was to be able to rest and be truly loved by one woman. I thought that with all I had already been through that accomplishing such a thing shouldn’t be any trouble. Heck, I even had an idea who ‘The Woman’ might be, (for no other knew me as well or complimented me better). The Gods, it seems, were willing to give me my rest, but they had other plans for who was the better mate. Their choice was, of course, perfect; (enter Lady Beth). There had to be a twist, though, and my new-found Life came at the cost of friends, loves, and acquaintances I had long held dear.

The Bull now is almost five years down the line from that change. Never have I had even one reason to doubt how it all turned out. I couldn’t be more in love with anyone than I am with my wife. Some of my strength has returned and I can move with a little more freedom. Pain is still with me and will always be so, but we’ve come to an understanding that holds fairly well. Most of the ‘lost friends’ remain lost to me to this day. I miss them terribly, but perhaps one day the rift will be healed. I truly hope it will happen before I cross though the Veil. On the other hand, there has been a reunion with members of my Family that I thought gone long ago. That has brought me much pleasure.

There is a ‘fly in the ointment’ though. I can’t quite put my finger on it, nor exactly when it began. There is that mortality thing I mentioned above and more. I seem to spend too much time in my old memories rather than making new ones. I keep worrying that I’m not passing on my knowledge fast enough. I fret constantly over the state and security of my Country and the basic American Freedoms than seem to be flowing away on the evening tide. I worry about what will be left for my children and grandchildren. It is always on my mind that my beloved wife will need help if I go before the children are grown. I think of my friends and wonder what memories of me they will hold - if any. At times there seems to be an essential part of ‘me’ missing. Too many times of late I’ve let things slide that never would have before. A ‘for instance’ for ya…

A while back a young dope-headed, thug wanna-be made some seriously derogatory comments about my daughter - a young woman he has never met. Same bit of crap made slanderous comments about The Bull. Well, time was when I would have hunted him down and extracted satisfaction immediately. The instance would have went as far as the little ass-hole wanted and I’d have come out on top. Some lucky ‘gator might have got a free meal but, hey, they’ve got to eat same as worms. I know that leaving no enemy standing is a good rule to live by, as is making an example out of each one that comes along just so that fewer try you later on. Never once has that concept let me down. Today that little turd is still walking along and I haven’t had my apology - yet. (He made a half-assed apology to Lady Beth via email, but since when can you count something like that?) Seems I’m getting weighed down with ‘rules’ like not kicking his ass at any family function. Damn. Sooner or later, though, this will have to be settled one way or another and the longer it festers the worse it will be at the end-game. Meanwhile, the little turd now has a kid of his own on the way - and worse, everyone thinks I’ve forgotten about the entire thing. Double-damn. The Bull never forgets such things. Never.

This is just an example, but it shows that something has changed, or is wrong, with The Bull. I just wish I knew what is going on. It isn’t the day-to-day things like paying the bills or septic tank troubles that are bothering me. It is something all together more subtle. Well, it is said. I haven’t got a clue if anyone will read it, much less have an answer. (Except for that new-born Pagan “prophet” out there in the Ether - who can keep his thoughts to himself, thank-you-very-much!) It all might be cured with an evening on the beach with my wife or a night shooting the shyte with a friend. Who knows?

Meanwhile,
Bull, out!

Fox News reports…

The alleged gang member accused of killing Los Angeles high school football star Jamiel Shaw is in the country illegally and had been released from jail without anyone questioning his citizenship the day before Shaw’s shooting, according to a report by MyFOXLA.com.

Meanwhile, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Saturday afternoon was scheduled to join with Shaw’s family to dedicate a memorial honoring the 17-year-old at the spot where he was killed.

Police say Pedro Espinoza, the 19-year-old suspect arrested in Shaw’s death, has been in a street gang since he was 12. Until this month, he had been in jail on charges of exhibiting a firearm and obstructing an officer, MyFOXLA.com reports.

Immigration officials told the TV station that Espinoza is an illegal immigrant, but no red flags were raised when he was released from jail March 1.

“The system is not 100 percent,” Lori Haley, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told the station.

Yet more proof that the wall must be built, built fast, and that it should be armed with the most advanced weaponry we can muster in order to keep these drug-dealing raping, murdering thugs (and south-of-the-border pedophiles) the hell out of our Country!

As for the folks over at I.C.E., let me tell you, the system is 100%. It is a 100% failure! I don’t blame the officers of ICE, nor the Border Patrol. Those guys are swamped! I do give a little blame to the local cops that didn’t bother to read the thug’s sheet and see that he was a wetback and needed to be held for deportation. Where The Bull really piles the blame is squarely on the laps of the leadership in this Nation. The people who are most to blame for the illegal immigrant-wrought blood-bath in our streets are:

• The House and Senate Leaders (of both political parties), and…
• President George W. Bush

The simple fact is that our Leadership has failed us in this matter. Not either of the political parties can claim the high ground either! They are both so corrupt that they are most likely beyond saving. For the moment we are stuck with them, though. Yet that doesn’t mean that we have to send the same losers back to Washington come election day. I’d like to urge all Americans to think of a ‘clean(er) slate’ in November. One last thing The Bull wishes to mention is that this may be the right time for a viable third party to emerge. Not for 2008, but for 2012. It is something to consider…

Bull, out.