I was a good kid in school

 

FIFY.

For anyone who cares, the only Government that ever took care of its Veterans was the ancient Romans.

 

Damn, Gary. You served too, I'm sure you know government and military corruption better than I do because I didn't serve in the military, but why belittle Wildman with statements like that?

 

I'm not belittling him in the least. I bought into that "serve your country" BS when I was 18 and have since learned what some people have said for decades -- we were pawns for business interest. I contracted cancer during my time and ended up as part of a study as to why that particular form of cancer became some prevalent. When I told the interviewer that we had been required to stand in the clearly marked radar danger zone (meaning it was a hazard) he said, "Yeah, you're not the first guy to tell us that." You wouldn't believe the crap the military used on us for inoculations; mandatory flu shots; or the anti-malaria medication people were required to take, the side effects of which included psychosis and fibromyalgia. I know someone who was medically retired for that very reason, and to this day he cannot hold a job and is instead collecting disability.

Believe it or not, it goes back to WWI: War is a Racket, By Major General Smedley Butler. WWI Veterans protested their lack of compensation and were summarily fired upon by Patton.

I guess the recent scandals involving Veteran medical care didn't get your way. Like I said, the only government I'm aware of that took care of its Veterans was the Romans, who would grant a retired soldier a nice plot of land (several acres) and a hefty pension.

 

I stand corrected, and I will read your referenced material as well.
I think what you shared proves HeyYou's point, that the United States owes more to our veterans then will ever be repaid, and that our veterans are not treated nearly as well as they should be.

 

The US is not a lone in the way it treats it Vet's... Australia has the same issues.

So, to keep on topic; I left junior high school with passing grades (actually got 'A's for anything I was interested in) at age 15 to join the navy as an aircraft maintenance engineer... did 6yrs and got out... worked construction and grease-monkey jobs for a few yrs until I found an automotive R&D job that I had for 15yrs (9/11 saw and end to that)... I continue to do some consultancy work in the same field, but took on other stuff to fill the gaps... now I do lots of spreadsheet work behind a desk... no fun anymore.

 

Anyone here know anything about stereo amps? I've got an old Pioneer SA-1050 and at times the audio will cut out on one channel, normally if I unplug the RCA connectors and plug them back in with some authority it'll clear up, but just a little while ago the audio cut out on the left channel and I got irritated and gave it a smack on the lid and the audio hasn't cut out since...

Any ideas?

 

Been out yesterday and today scraping off paint, putting new trim on, and caulking the porch. Whoever built it was a total idiot. Did it as best as I could but without tearing down the whole porch can't do a lot. They had at least 4 thick coats of paint on some parts - heaven knows how that paint stayed on as long as it did.

Had a ladder leaned up against the house, feet were planted firm, ladder didn't wiggle. Got up on it, started tearing trim off, and BOOM before I knew it the ladder fell down. Thank God that I was wearing high-ankle work boots. I came out with just a light sprain - not a broken ankle. Needless to say I got someone out for the rest of today to hold the ladder. Been painful progress since but at least I'm all done with the trim and caulking. Tomorrow I paint and prime. Hopefully an epsom salt soak tonight and a good sleep will help it be less painful tomorrow. Could have ended up much worse...

 

I left DE-1080 (tincan) in England in 1976, mustered out and went to school and took jobs in engineering. Working overseas got old, so I came home and retired. Never felt older. K.

 

^So your originally from england?