A VTR. This thing is a wrecker on tracks. It was designed with the intention of servicing the M113 personnel carrier. I hated this tracked vehicle. The powertrain configuration was an 8V71 detroit with a transfer and transmission.
You could never extend the boom. I have seen many a use while changing out M113 personnel carrier engines and transmissions. I prefer the 800 series 5 ton wrecker any day.
I remember one day while stationed in Hanau, Germany. We were conducting field training at a site called Campo pond. I was leaning on a steel guard rail and noticed a vibrating that startled the hell out of me. I jumped off and looked down the length of the rail. This VTR was chewing off that same rail. the driver was oblivious.

By the time I got him off that guard rail he must have eaten 40 foot.

The Venerable M151A1 Jeep.

I must of replaced more than my share of engines and transmissions in these things. As far as transportation they weren't designed for the soldier in mind. Combat gear always competed for room. Always cold and wet. Developers and the Army had better opinions.

Steering those at a breakneck speed of 45 MPH on the Autobahn was always a touchy thing. I remember when convoys were conducted. A long line of slow moving trucks would clog up the Autobahn. In an Army convoy there was always a jeep in the front and usually one at the rear with a radio. I always felt sorry whenever one of the Germans plowed into and killed the commander and driver of this little M151A1 Jeep. They never had a chance. On this type of vehicle I first learned how to time a gas engine. Learned how to bend pushrods as well. By the time I built up some experience after those two years were up I could swap out the engine with a new one under an hour and fifteen minutes with another good mechanic.

My unit fought to keep one of the last remaining M151A1 jeeps in Europe. I would go with a buddy of mine and gauge weapons from Kaserne to Kaserne. We never seen any more of these on the Autobahn. Just ours. A Kaserne is a Military post. A maintenance unit had to gauge weapons in all units it was responsible for. Verifying the serviceability of each M16, M2 50 cal and M60 machine gun. You name it.

How we used money back in the day vs now.

I went in the Army in 1981. Every payday we had to form into a line. Step up to a pay officer. Salute and recive our cash. Walk over and turn it into travelers checks just incase it got lost. I remember earlier than that the American express commercials. Travelers checks. If you lost them You got your money back. Well I lost them in the Airport as a private and didn't bother to fill out the check stubs. I wonder how much money American express made off from the public.

In 1988 between stints in the Army I met up with a guy who would buy travelers checks and sell them off for half price. His reasoning was the same. He would then claim the loss. What a crook.

Back in the day it was hard enough to cash a personal check if you were out of town. If they didn't know you then you were out of luck. I once went to my own bank who refuse to cash a check I received because I already signed the damn thing and not in front of them. I pulled my money out of that bank. I was 24 years old.

I went back into the Army. Sure pay stopped problems. It was a way to pay soldiers through electronic transfers. I remember a guy flushing another's paycheck down the toilet during my first tour. Another time a soldier had his paycheck intercepted by someone in the financial system and cashed. He never seen his check. He got a copy of the cashed version and showed me. He was singing the blues for sure. Sure pay stopped all kinds of problems.

Electronic transfers nowadays created a few more issues for some. I researched for lost money. Found out that my brother was owed some. I notified him and he was grateful and He collected. Last week I did the same for another, a coworker.

Electronic transfers are like speech. It vaporizes the second it leaves your mouth. Write it down and record it.

Now you can pay your bills online, tranfer money between banking institutions and pay bills. Its archaic to write a check. When I was a teenager I Must have written a boat load of checks. As more than a few of us can remember We bounced then like rubber balls. Speaking about fiscal responsibilities and kids. Start a prepaid card for your kids and do it whilt they are young teen. they will appreciate the master card logo. Learn how to manage money and you can track their expenditures right online. USAA is one of the few institutions that will allow the program. Do it.
I am a member of a bank that is slow as mollasses when it comes to transfers. Paying another member through online transfers sucks. I go online and pay into her account. They write a check and mail it to her address. Stupid is as stupid does. their excuse is just before you hit the send button you will be able to see when it transfers. I let them know this is 2010. Deer in the headlights.
I will be removing my business. They know that as well.
Back to the availability on how we spend it?. Cash is still king but it is easier to access.

How we used money back in the day vs now.

Politics: One of the few ways I can explain it.

The elected serve those who elect them. The problem is that politicians have been targeting those who have no money while at the same time spending hell out of something that is not there. Doing it at a frightening pace.

I can explain it the only way I know.

In Washington State were I was stationed in the service.

In 2002 a 1,200 foot long, 60 foot wide, and 10 foot deep logjam in the Deschutes River threatening to seriously damage 22 properties. Homeowners were going to lose their homes.

Thurston County officials spent more than $100,000 to figure out that it would take another two months and $1.6 million to clean up the mess. The homeowners pulled together to clear the logjam. Knowing the county decided that was too much to spend on private property. Those homeowners spent $8,000 and unclogged the river in less than three weeks. They were able to keep costs low because many services were donated. They were given a free hydraulic permit and found a jail work crew to clear a roadway, a local logger who was willing to donate his time, and a local church to cut wood for low-income families. For some reason the county couldn't find a way to use these low-cost solutions. Maybe they didn't look very hard. But maybe there's no incentive when they're writing checks from someone else's account.

That's right folks your elected representatives seemed to have lost touch with people. Thurston County sent in a consultant at a price exceeding $50,000 if I remember the news. Just to go over there and look. Assess the cost and report back. There was a stuffed shirt with a tie who accepted that assessment and told those homeowners "sorry we can't help you" The homeowners claimed it was the county's responsibility to clear the logs. Legal wrangling ensued.

Those homeowners were losing homes because the water was backing up. They did the job for $8,000.00 instead of One Million Six hundred thousand dollars plus the assessment cost.

A damn good lesson for a politician.

The tax base is still paying the bill but dwindling as a voting base. Don't lose touch with your constituents. Most often the only time we see you is when you need a vote. Your funding for municipalities will dry up because we who pay these taxes will vote with our feet.

Military Service and People Skills

When I first stepped into uniform in the service the Vietnam war was over by 6 years. Sentiments were still carrying over and remained. Being in the Army wasn't exactly glorious. You were looked down upon. A guy who couldn't get a job. Go to jail or join the Army.

I met some of those who were "cleaned up by the judge"

We weren't thanked alot for serving and I wasn't thanked alot until after 9 11 2001. We were thanked alot right after. For those who thanked me, thank you. I tell them the green eagle comes by every thirty days and thanks me.

I come from a small cotton farming community in Georgia. Opportunities didn't exactly abound So I joined the Army. The service offered me a small town country boy redneck lot of opportunity.

Opportunities are made by people. They are practically placed in your path and you are stumbling over them and not know it. You might be handed responsibility or you sieze it.

You learn not only your job in the military but responsibility. In my experience I was handed alot of crushing responsibility.

Accounting for millions of dollars of equipment, Developing other soldiers and missions. Becoming accustomed to having to account for your actions. The actions of others. Growing into leadership and working with others above and below you.

In the private sector outside the military it's a known fact that organizations will compartmentalize and limit you. There is no place for comparmentalization in the service. As a leader need leadership under you. You have to trust those under you to handle responsibility. You can get into big trouble if you can't trust others.

When I entered the work force after retiring one of the first things I noticed was the lack of accounting of one's actions. The lack of developed responsibility of most people my age. Its my opinion that management needs to groom and develop more of its employees to handle the flow. Management shouldn't be tasked to death.

In the military an E-6 who could be 26 years old carries more responsibility and makes more decisions than 95% of his contemporaries.

An E-7 even more so.

I retired as an E-7. I mentored thousands. Taught thousands.

My work experience in the military was a personal achievement from practical hands on experience in a vast array of maintenance to managing parts in the Pacific theater. Along with that achievement was the responsibility to mentored it down.

I learned (forced to learn) computer programs I would never had otherwise. To use them effectively. Unix and Microsoft.

In the military you are going to hone some serious people skills. You will learn how to deal with people.

I also understood people. It took time learning insights into people but if you want to you will.

Never let anyone tell you who you are. If you take a verbal reprimand and he calls you inept you know for a fact you are not.

If you are having problems with an individual chances are that individual has the same problems with others.

Respect is accorded to a man's actions and not his mouth. The more he has to kiss up to the boss the less he's doing his job. Doing your job and doing it well should be sufficient. If management above you fall victim to the "Kissers" and the "Backstabbers" than he is a shallow manager indeed.

Everyone has to be polite to the boss. Sucking up to one's boss to supplant your security in the workforce is a no no. Any supervisor or manager worth his salt will call Bullshit on that one. I have been there to call it.

The old saying that actions speak louder than words is very true. It hasn't lost a bit of meaning in today's world. Let your actions on the job speak for itself. A good supervisor and manager will oftentimes know more about what you are doing than yourself.

Grumblers get left behind

I seen many people grumble. Grumbling because they weren't promoted or moved up. They toe the line. Never do anything else but just what they are told. Along comes a guy who does what is expected without having to be told. Handles responsibility accordingly. Companies really need people who can perform. Its not kissing up to the boss to do your job well. He does his job well then he gets promoted over the grumblers.

The grumblers are the kind who believe in entitlements. The world owes you nothing. That word Entitlement holds a dangerous and mislead meaning. It a word fools love.What it means is that typical grumbler is entitled to stay where he is at, going nowhere. You earn what you get. The day you cut those apron strings and left home stops entitlement. You are entitled to work for a living.

Negativity you don't need it.

Negativity: Yes negativity, its poison in the workplace and poison to you. You can't help people until they are ready to be helped. Look all around you. the next time you go to work take note. Way too much of it is going around undetected and you don't need it in your life.

It comes to mind of a personal attitude you want to keep. If you want a positive attitude then keep the negative out. Put the barriers up. Its a natural tendency to be happy so be happy. The more you "suffer" those who are negative the less you are going to be keeping around a good mood.

Mentoring others

Being mentored is a gift that lasts years after the mentoring has taken place. My personal experience tells me that many can mentor but few do. Why? I can't tell you. For those who mentored me thank you. When someone mentors you there is a silent language that takes place. The guy who takes time to talk to you. He is telling you in his own way that he believes in you. Take it to heart because I did. I knew I was hard headed in my youth and maybe I didn't listen then but let me tell you. Sometimes your memory can replay it back for you. When it does that mentor ship 101 mini course is still working on you.
Mentorship is powerful and if you want to change the world through one person at a time its a good way to do it.
I can't recall each and every time I have been mentored. I remember I was mentored by those who seemed to have already been there. Who went the rough course.
If you are a parent doing the mentoring remember this one thing. Your kids really appreciate it even if it doesn't show.
I wouldn't be in the position if it weren't for good people. One of those mentors happens to be my brother Steve.

Why there are building codes. Blizzard damage control

Yes building codes can be a pain in the Ass. For the most part building codes are there for a reason. In this hole in the wall I an renting there is a heat pump. The ice dripping from the gutters right onto the pump will kill it. The landlord who was a former coworker of mine is still blissfully ignorant concerning this. Before I move out you better believe he will know what going on.
In a situation like this there is hope. Take pantyhose and cut the legs. Fill both legs full of ice melt and ley them on top of the gutters. The icemelt will melt off the ice. all the way down to the bottom of the gutter. If you have to you can also create a valley where the roof can channel off the melting snow and ice off the roof. Strech out the pantyhose from the top of the roof to the bottom of the gutter.
It will create a channel.

Maintenance and little old ladies.

It really gets my hackles up when a little old lady takes a car in for a tuneup. Many businesses are honest basing their being in business on honesty and integrity.
An associate who owned a nice running car was told she had leaks. Expensive repairs had to be made. She called me and explained the details. "Hogwash" I told her the only thing they want to tune up is their wallet. I told her to deny the estimate. Get a large piece of cardboard and place it where she parks at night and observe daily. That was three years ago and if that cardboard was still around there still would be no oil.
The same applied with a Honda Accord. I took it in years back to have the Air conditioning serviced. They stated I needed another Air compressor and a receiver dryer for $1400.00 It got serviced alright, more on that later.
I got called by them concerning a "problem" noticed. the Air conditioning compressor kept cutting on and off.
I received a second opinion from Honda. They told me that the Air conditioning system was way over pressurized with refrigerant. It would cause the high pressure protection switch to cut out the compressor. That's the servicing I received.
I was pretty close to going over to that business and kicking some old ladies ass. They knew I was coming back and already had my refund printed out and cash on hand. Can you imagine that?
Since then I learned alot when it comes to Air conditioning.
Maintenance for John Q Public can be uncharted territory. Having one by the gonads is no reason to rip you off. If they replace parts demand the old parts pack. Research the business before going. Make sure you get a second opinion if you need it. Businesses are built on reputation. If in doubt refuse the work.
Ripping off old ladies is a crime. If you are in the business of doing it they could have relatives..

Ice Damming killing roof decking.

This is how to kill off a roof. Buy a house with poor insulation in the attic. the proper way to stop Ice from damming is properly insulate the attic to where no heat can escape from the living area below. This example is from the back to back blizzards in Maryland.
If you plan on buying a house look for adequately insulated attics. The soffit vents must not be obstructed from blow in insulation. when inspecting look for water damage along the gutterline. Look behind the fascia board that the gutter attaches to. Inspect the attic for proper insulation. It should be deep and not just covering the floor of the attic. I have seen more than enough attice where the insulation mightjust cover the ceiling joists. Again make sure the soffit vents from inside the attic are blocked off from insulation so the air can breathe.

As it was I am a bit of a history buff the military type. I came across the Davy Crockett missile on display at the Ordnance Center and Museum. The first thing that came to mind was this doesn't pass the common sense test, at least not for the crew who launched it. If you were unlucky enough to serve your country with this thing you might find yourself giving your life for the cause. I think you had to ready a foxhole, fire the missile and kiss your behind goodbye.
I don't think the crew loved this thing either. They abandoned one in Texas. That crew passes the common sense test.

The next example is the HUGE BOMB called the Bunker Buster. Aberdeen is a Research and developing facility. Researching, developing and I guess testing this bunker buster is what they did. It was designed to Bust into U-Boat Pens (Bunkers). This thing set records for hugeness. So huge in fact they never had a bomber to carry it at the time. They just weren't capable of carrying something like this so massive in WWII. It passed the common sense test to design one of these. We didn't understand the times back then. In light of it all it still makes the list.



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Women: They tickle me

If you are a woman don't get offended. This is a man's perspective. Mine :)
God made women. They are beautiful to look at and lovely to hold. Women have special needs that we men try to meet. However in this day and age it is just hilarious to see some of the things that goes on.
Women want to be in charge. They are making money and good for them. Some women who want to be in charge will be in charge until:
The washing machine needs repair, the dishwasher or the car. Wait until you divorce one. Funniest thing I have ever seen. A divorced woman gets really nice to the former spouse when things go broke. Don't believe me?
A woman can be held captive by broken and unserviceable stoves and heaters in the basement.
Don't get me wrong life is tough and tougher if you are divorced. That former spouse of mine is the mother of my two children and I will never let her fall.
I remember when we were married she called me because there was a snake in the basement. the fear in her eyes was rightfully indescribable. gotta admit that the basement was a safe haven for the snake and the closet down there was even more so.
I handled alot of snake cases in the south and this was no different. I cleared the closet of clothing and debris very slowly. Put the bucket in the horizontal and he went in. Mr Snuggles was promptly kicked out of the house. Soon After I was kicked out of the house. that was the only thing then snake and I had in common.
My former spouse can debate that.
We remain on great terms.

Passing the common sense test again.

Cars and Trucks:
That fix a flat you buy in a can? I once seen a woman with a shredded tire try to fill one. I helped her out by changing the tire. She was sweet.

Additives: Additives are an anathema. I hate most additives with a passion. Here's why. They prey on the unsuspecting. They promise results, guarantees that are impossible to deliver. This is a multibillion market to steal from you. I once taught classes on how to identify and recognize outrageous additives. I purchased quite a few additives and displayed them in class.
The first was a Plastic bottle of oil. In a nutshell I would always read the back label. Warning do not use this product in vehicles built after 1930. Equipment damage can result or something like that. There is a label on the back of the bottle. A round doughnut. You will see two symbols The API and the SAE within that doughnut. That is the seal of approval from the American Petroleum institute and the Society of Automotive Engineers.
The next time you roll into Wallmart. Stay away from the extra cheap stuff and look at the back. the later grades of oil are L, M, N.
Now that you know you can pass the common sense test on this one.

Engine additives
1. I have seen many. They seem to question public intelligence. They prey on the weak and the ones who need a quick fix. There are few quick fixes in a can.
Examples of what I have seen.
Teflon additives. They are virtually worthless and have been known to clog oil filters. Dupont was sued by vendors who were supplied by Dupont for teflon. The companies won and Dupont lost. Why? Because it is a multi-billion dollar business.

2. What I call (Stop Knockers) These are additives that can actually stop the knocking you hear in your engine. However they are thicker than dog snot on a hot day. Honey like, you pour the product in and the knocking is somewhat softened. What does it do? On the microscopic level the hydraulic molecules become thicker. Your bearings get coated. Cam bearings, Crankshaft bearings. Wrist pins and whatever else.
The problems? You are mucking with the additives already instituted by the API and the SAE. You are rendering them ineffective. Your compression chamber gets a very light coat of oil each and every time your piston goes up. When the piston comes down and the explosion happens I want you to remember this. the only thing protecting that cylinder wall from enormous heat over millions of times are the API and the SAE people. You want to shorten the life of your engine?
3. Zinc Additives. They design these products to catch your attention from the packaging. Why are people throwing excessive amounts of zinc in the engine? Look at the back of the bottle will you? See an SAE or API stamp of approval anywhere?
4. Coolant Cloggers and radiator fixits. If you change your coolant frequent enough you will never be tempted to buy anything that will clog water passages. I don't give a damn what the bottle says. If it stops a radiator leak it hampers an engine from cooling. Water pumps and vital water jackets. Engine coolant by another name is antifreeze. There are properties that prevent the corrosion and add lubricity to the water pump. The antifreeze also raises the boiling point.
5. Transmission fixits. An automatic transmission is one of the most complex and electronic engineered components of the powertrain. computers tell this thing how, when and actually learn your shifting patterns depending on the model. something goes wrong with anything in the transmission and you are going to throw an additive in there? This one begs for a logic explanation. It will never pass the commn sense test with me unless it is sanctioned by the companies who build these transmissions, the SAE and API.
How many times have mechanics seen additives in engines and transmissions opened up for a rebuild?
By the way. Think about this. Warranty companies will always love it when you throw additives in the power train. Why? Because if you seize the engine or transmission the first thing they will do is run an oil sample. If it fails you could be shorted the warrant. Trust me on that one.

Passing the Common Sense Test

When I was in the Army some of us used the term passing the common sense test. Does it pass the common sense test?
The carryover into the real world. (outside of the Army).
Examples:
"My engineering degree never taught me to be a plumber" Hmm, Let me mull over this one a bit. No your engineering degree never did teach you how to be a plumber and I agree. However owning a house and fixing your own toilets, tightening water feed lines, Insulating exposed Water spickets to protect copper lines from ice expansion.
Learn how to locate and shut off hot water and cold water valves going to bathrooms, to the basement. Get some copper pipe and fittings. Some silver solder, flux and a torch and practice soldering. It will pay off in the long run. Trust me when you hear contemporaries complain about the high cost of a plumber visiting you will appreciate it.
Going to Home Depot and getting PVC pipe and a hacksaw to repair a condensate line for your Air conditioning system evaporator.
With PVC and PVC glue you can repair the damn thing with little cost. the internet is chock full of knowledge yet people can't get past theory into hands on.
College or any school for that matter probable never taught anyone how to be a homeowner. As a blue collar working man you are going to make a living for us.
Thank god my dad worked the snot out of us kids. Sometimes he didn't show me he made me do it. Those skills passed right on along to the next generation. Me.

RedneckBlueCollar

Yep! I finally made the bogosphere.
An introduction about myself. I was raised in Georgia. Uncle Sam Plucked me out of there and sent me on a twenty year journey that ended up in Washington State. I have been to Europe three times in the process and seen war torn countries.
I have seen the good in humanity and the not so good. I have met thousands of people from all walks of life in the military and wouldn't trade the experience for the world.
Being generous with my hands when helping others. Why? Because I long considered it to be a gift from above. The same goes with knowledge I have gained throughout the years. Freely shared to those who listen. Mentoring to those who want to be mentored.
My father taught me how to weld. He taught me through experience of hard work. That hard work is nothing to be ashamed of. That your reputation is built with your actions. Nothing more and nothing less. In this mad world of ours the actions of a man is still gauged through his actions.
Redneck in the term is not meant in a derogative sense so don't take it that way. It is a form of identity and attached to Bluecollar. Blue collar I am.
In this day and age where degrees rule, (nothing wrong with that) The blue collar is still king. If you don't believe me then take a look around you. You can stuff an employee in a cubbyhole and give them all the tasks in the world but its the blue collars who make it happen.
There is my introduction.