No More Tattoos For US Marines, So Afghanistan Should Become A Push Over

The US Marines are banning the wearing of large tattoos, saying they do not represent "traditional values".

From Sunday, tattoos on the head or neck, or large tattoos on arms or legs will not be allowed. Marines already with the tattoos are exempt.

I found two things rather amusing here. Firstly, the fact that marines who already have tattoos are exempt. I am quite sure they could have worked that out for themselves without having it laid down in the rule book for them.

Secondly, the fact that the reason for the banning of tattoos was because they do not represent "traditional values".

Surely the use of cluster bombs in Afghanistan don't represent "traditional values" either. In fact, it is illegal to use these in warfare as they are deemed too inaccurate and can easily kill innocent women and children, but America uses them anyway.

I'm also of the opinion that illegal invasions of countries on some trumped up assumption they have "weapons of mass destruction" doesn't quite conform to "traditional values" much either. As is the case with Iraq. This too was an illegal invasion, but to hell with "traditional values", let's do it anyway....... they have lots of oil.

"Traditional values" would lead them to help out people who are starving to death in their millions while food aid and medical aid was being stolen from them. But alas, Darfur has no oil or gold, so they are left to stand up for themselves as they are slaughtered by their own government.

Tradition will tell us that every time the USA invades a country for whatever reason, they do have a nasty habit of getting their asses kicked. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan etc etc.

The problem with all this invasion stuff is simple. They keep picking on countries who have a lot of tradition and who will not stand for being bullied. Afghanistan being the best example here.

Anyone who has ever tried to subdue the people of Afghanistan has failed and suffered huge losses in the attempt. These people have horses and few rusty old AK-47 assault rifles and they have seen off the Mujahadeen, the Russians and now they are in the process of seeing of the good ol' US of A.

It's not about tattoos. It's about having traditions and values that mean something. It's about having history and an unnerving desire to defend that history and the memory of the people who made it. It's about having balls big enough to fill a dumper truck.

I would warn against tackling Afghanistan to anyone. They don't have stealth bombers and the latest guns. They have no fancy Hummers to drive across the desert with. They are lacking any form of aerial threat. Helicopters, long range missiles, night vision, laser sights, nuclear bombs are all out of reach for them. But who needs them when you have commitment, incredible bravery and "traditional values" which we may deem right or wrong, that you will defend to the death, even against a far superior enemy?

Still............the tattoos is a start for the USA.

The Stig Finally Reveals Himself

Michael Schumacher has unmasked himself as Top Gear's mysterious test driver the Stig.

The Stig's real identity has always been a closely guarded secret at the BBC show and many people believe that the famous white overalls and helmet are shared by several drivers.

Schumacher revealed himself as one of them when the Stig took off his trademark helmet during an interview with presenter Jeremy Clarkson after the audience urged him to show them his face.

Clarkson jokingly pretended not to recognise Schumacher and asked him what his name was before he became famous as the Stig, before excitedly shouting to the audience: "It's Michael Schumacher!"

Silly rumours had been used to add to the mystery surrounding the character who never speaks to camera.

Clarkson quizzed Schumacher about some of the rumours during the show which was broadcast last night, asking: "Are you illegal in 17 US states?"

Schumacher, who was Formula One world drivers' champion seven times, replied: "No, it's much exaggerated. It's only nine."

Clarkson then asked about another rumour: "Some people have told us you only know two facts about ducks and both of them are wrong. Is that true?" Schumacher replied "Well obviously they won't fly" and was quickly interrupted by Clarkson who said: "No, they were right, you don't know anything about ducks."

The Stig test drives cars around the Top Gear track in Dunsfold Park, Surrey, and trains each week's guest for their lap for the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car feature.

Former Formula One driver Perry McCarthy was Top Gear's original Stig, who dressed all in black during the first two series. He was replaced with the current Stig, dressed in white, after he revealed his identity.

Girls Gone Fishing

Girls can be a bit wild as you saw on my last post Girls On A Friday And Saturday Night

But they can also invade several male bastions and look much better while doing it.

The male dominated sport of fishing has long been dominated by the males but take a look at these girls. I think you will agree they look so much better stood on the river banks.

Click the thumbnails for a full size view.

Girls On A Friday And Saturday Night

Terrible behaviour, you wont see me behaving in this manner. Well.....not too many times, maybe just once a week.

Click the thumbnails for full size views ;-)

The End Is Nigh For ".com"

2009, and almost any word will be able to replace ".com" in a Web page address - thanks to a decision made by the organization that manages the technical underpinnings of the Web, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, (ICANN).

ICANN unanimously approved the new guidelines as weeklong meetings in Paris concluded.

Top-level domain names, or TLDs, refer to Internet name suffixes, such as the ubiquitous .com, .net and .org, among others. Currently, there are more than 200 TLDs, which also include the two-character country codes used by websites, such as Britain's .uk.

Under the new plans, a domain name, the suffix at the end of a website address, can now be based on any string of letters.

This will allow individuals to register a domain based on their own name, for example, as long as they can show a "business plan and technical capacity".

The result could be the creation of thousands or even millions of new addresses.

ICANN also voted collectively to open public comment on a separate proposal to permit addresses entirely in non-English languages for the first time.

"We are opening up a new world and I think this cannot be underestimated," BBC quoted Roberto Gaetano, a member of ICANN, as saying.

Dr Paul Twomey, chief executive of ICANN, described passing the resolution as a "historic moment".

ICANN officials said some technical issues for the new system must still be worked out, but it could be reviewing the first applications for new TLDs as early as 2009.

The tallest And Smallest Horses In The World

Radar, a Belgian draft horse and reigning Guinness World Record holder as the 'Tallest Living Horse,' at 19 hands 3.5 inches (6ft 6in), and Thumbelina, a miniature sorrel brown mare and the world's 'Smallest Living Horse,' 17.5 inches, are united for the first time for a photo shoot that will appear in the Guinness World Records Book.

How cute is that little one, I want one.

Bizarre Traffic Lights

You Wouldn't Believe This Unless You Saw It With Your Own Eyes