FREE ! ! ! MP3 DOWNLOAD FROM AMAZON !

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

I just now got a FREE MP3 music download from the AMAZON web site of "PAT A PAN", by Mannheim Steamroller!

I had just purchased four (04) other Christmas MP3s, which I downloaded into my computer, and when I was perusing the Mannheim Steamroller albums, I saw this very first song on the list was FREE!!!

Ain't that neat?

Y'all get one, too, y'hear?

I reckon that'll be my Christmas present to all you folks!

I wonder how many other MP3 downloads are FREE at the AMAZON web site?

Share the good news, okay?

Thank you.

John Robert Mallernee
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Washington, D.C. 20011-8400

BNSF FREIGHT

This video was posted at the YOU TUBE web site on Wednesday 09 December 2009 by "FASTRAINS 56", who recorded it on Friday 27 November 2009 in Rochelle, Illinois.

Notice the refrigerated containers on this intermodal stack train pulled by Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotives.

I've never seen those before.

It's interesting to witness the continuous evolution of techniques and equipment for handling, packing, and shipping the various types of cargo.

NASA IMAGE OF THE DAY

Here is the featured daily photograph for Wednesday 09 December 2009 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (i.e., "NASA").

For a larger view, please click on the picture, and/or click on the magnifying glass icon located on the toolbar of your Internet Explorer 8 web browser.

911 CALL

New Phone, New Number, But - - - ?

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: This is to let everyone know I bought a new cell phone, and TracFone assigned me a new telephone number, but - - - , I still can not make or receive telephone calls! I e-mailed technical support at TracFone, and now, I'll have to wait and see IF they can ever resolve the issue. Using a friend's cell phone, I did call TracFone technical support, but nothing worked. So far, it looks like all of my money is going right down the drain, and I'm left incommunicado. As you might well imagine, this is VERY discouraging and frustrating! Should the problem ever get resolved, I'll program your number into my new cell phone. But, for now, we can only wait and see. Thank you. John Robert Mallernee Armed Forces Retirement Home Washington, D.C.  20011-8400 ****************** ****************** UPDATE!!! ****************** ****************** Well, I finally found out what was causing the problem. TracFone sent me a brand new cell phone, but included the wrong SIM card! So, now, I have to wait another week for them to mail me a replacement SIM card.

2009 CHRISTMAS CEILIDH

Here are a few photographs I took at our Clan Henderson ceilidh.

For a larger view, please click on the pictures, and/or click on the magnifying glass icon located on the toolbar of your Internet Explorer 8 web browser.

Saturday 05 December 2009 was the annual Scottish Christmas Walk in Alexandria, Virginia.

I'm especially grateful to Commissioner Leon Hicks for supplying these photographs of Clan Henderson marching in the 2009 Scottish Christmas Walk in Alexandria, Virginia.

It was wet and cold, and as the parade began, the rain turned to snow.

Despite the inclement weather, we had a nice crowd of enthusiastic spectators all along the parade route.

After we finished marching, I headed straight for my pickup truck parked down by the river, for even though I wore a poncho, I was still wet, and even though I wore gloves, my hands were freezing cold.

I drove back to the Soldiers' Home to relax for a bit, and changed into appropriate evening attire, i.e., miniature medals, vest, and white turtleneck shirt.

Then, I drove back to Alexandria to Saint Mark's Episcopal Church to attend our clan's ceilidh.

By this time, I was in a lot of pain, but still managed to help set things up.

We had a great time, as old acquaintances greeted one another and enjoyed good food and good fellowship.

President Maddox received a special award, as did our clan secretary, Greg Schwartz.

Commissioner Leon Hicks conducted a silent auction to raise money so troops in Afghanistan and Iraq could buy Christmas gifts for their families.

The star of our evening's entertainment was Colin Grant-Adams, a native Scot now living in Glasgow, Kentucky.

Afterwards, I sang three of my songs, "NOLLAIG CHRIDHEIL", "DUDE'S LAMENT", and "TED E. BAIR".

Thank you.

2009 CHRISTMAS CEILIDH

President Rex Maddox

2009 CHRISTMAS CEILIDH

Colin Grant-Adams performing at our clan's 2009 Christmas ceilidh.

2009 CHRISTMAS CEILIDH

Colin Grant-Adams Singing "HIGHLAND REDNECK"

That Rebel yell you hear is ME!

2009 CHRISTMAS CEILIDH

A brief view of the buffet at our clan's 2009 Christmas ceilidh.

2009 CHRISTMAS CEILIDH

A wee bairn at our clan's 2009 Christmas ceilidh.

CHRISTMAS STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

This video, recorded in Portland, Oregon on Saturday 05 December 2009, was posted on the YOU TUBE web site by "ERVANS" on Sunday 06 December 2009.

What I can't understand is all those folks on the jogging path who kept on jogging and didn't stop to look at the train.

I can sort of understand females not being interested, but - - - GUYS?

C'mon!

Those guys in Portland must be sort of - - - STRANGE?

Anyway, ain't that steam action something to look at?

Gee, I wish I was there.

FANTASTIC RAILROAD VIDEO!

This HIGHLY unusual railroad video was posted on the YOU TUBE web site by "FASTRAIN 56" on Saturday 05 December 2009.

The video was recorded on Saturday 05 December 2009 in Galesburg, Illinois.

Gosh, gee whillikers, this was FANTASTIC!

It was like watching some kid's model railroad layout.

I've never seen a freight train put together like the first one was, with helper locomotives positioned between freight cars.

Oh, yes, I definitely gave THIS video a "FIVE STAR" rating at the YOU TUBE web site.

CHRISTMAS TRAIN

This video of a special Christmas train passing through Lake Forest, Illinois, was posted on the YOU TUBE web site by "METRA 614" on Saturday 05 December 2009.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS RELEASE

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Public Affairs)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday 04 December 2009

Number 946-09

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier in the United States Army who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sergeant Kenneth R. Nichols Junior, twenty-eight years old, of Chrisman, Illinois, died Tuesday 01 December 2009 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires.

Sergeant Nichols was assigned to the Second Battalion, Twelfth Infantry Regiment, Fourth Brigade Combat Team, Fourth Infantry Division, at Fort Carson, Colorado.

A SUPPRESSED NEWS STORY

I am grateful to Debbie Schussel for publishing this information on her web site.

Corroborating evidence, in PDF format, may be viewed by clicking on the title of this blog post.

Here is the original Associated Press news report:

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PHONE CALL DELAYS HOUSTON-BOUND AIRTRAN FLIGHT

Posted:
0957 Hours on Wednesday 18 November 2009

ATLANTA -- AirTran Airways says a flight from Atlanta to Houston with more than 70 passengers on board was delayed when a passenger refused to end a cell phone call.

AirTran spokesman Christopher White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Flight 297, a Boeing 717, was taxiing on the runway in Atlanta Tuesday afternoon when a crew member asked a passenger to turn off his phone.

White says that after several failed attempts by the crew member to end the conversation, the captain returned the plane to the gate.

White says the passenger complied when he was asked to get off the plane. He says no charges were filed, and that the plane departed for Houston 2 ½ hours later.

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This is what REALLY happened:

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From: Petruna, Tedd J. (JSC-DX12)[RAYTHEON TECHNICAL SERVICES COMPANY]
 
To: undisclosed-recipients

Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 11:32 AM

Subject: Long story short….

One week ago, I went to Ohio on business and to see my father. On Tuesday, November the 17th, I returned home. If you read the papers the 18th you may have seen a blurb where a AirTran flight was cancelled from Atlanta to Houston due to a man who refused to get off of his cell phone before takeoff. It was on Fox.

This was NOT what happened.

I was in 1st class coming home. 11 Muslim men got on the plane in full attire. 2 sat in 1st class and the rest peppered themselves throughout the plane all the way to the back.

As the plane taxied to the runway the stewardesses gave the safety spiel we are all so familiar with. At that time, one of the men got on his cell and called one of his companions in the back and proceeded to talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very aggressively. This took the 1st stewardess out of the picture for she repeatedly told the man that cell phones were not permitted at the time. He ignored her as if she was not there.

The 2nd man who answered the phone did the same and this took out the 2nd stewardess. In the back of the plane at this time, 2 younger Muslims, one in the back, isle, and one in front of him, window, began to show footage of a porno they had taped the night before, and were very loud about it. Now….they are only permitted to do this prior to Jihad. If a Muslim man goes into a strip club, he has to view the woman via mirror with his back to her. (don’t ask me….I don’t make the rules, but I’ve studied) The 3rd stewardess informed them that they were not to have electronic devices on at this time. To which one of the men said “shut up infidel dog!” She went to take the camcorder and he began to scream in her face in Arabic. At that exact moment, all 11 of them got up and started to walk the cabin. This is where I had had enough! I got up and started to the back where I heard a voice behind me from another Texan twice my size say “I got your back.” I grabbed the man who had been on the phone by the arm and said “you WILL go sit down or you Will be thrown from this plane!” As I “led” him around me to take his seat, the fellow Texan grabbed him by the back of his neck and his waist and headed out with him. I then grabbed the 2nd man and said, “You WILL do the same!” He protested but adrenaline was flowing now and he was going to go. As I escorted him forward the plane doors open and 3 TSA agents and 4 police officers entered. Me and my new Texan friend were told to cease and desist for they had this under control. I was happy to oblige actually. There was some commotion in the back, but within moments, all 11 were escorted off the plane. They then unloaded their luggage.

We talked about the occurrence and were in disbelief that it had happen, when suddenly, the door open again and on walked all 11!! Stone faced, eyes front and robotic (the only way I can describe it). The stewardess from the back had been in tears and when she saw this, she was having NONE of it! Being that I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agent there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with these men. The agent told her they had searched them and were going to go through their luggage with a fine tooth comb and that they were allowed to proceed to Houston . The captain and co-captain came out and told the agent “we and our crew will not fly this plane!” After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. 5 minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on.

Again…..this is where I had had enough!!! I got up and asked “What the hell is going on!?!?” I was told to take my seat. They were sorry for the delay and I would be home shortly. I said “I’m getting off this plane”. The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off. (now I’m mad!) I said “I am a grown man who bought this ticket, who’s time is mine with a family at home and I am going through that door, or I’m going through that door with you under my arm!! But I am going through that door!!” And I heard a voice behind me say “so am I”. Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same. Within 2 minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met with more agents who asked me to write a statement. I had 5 hours to kill at this point so why the hell not. Due to the amount of people who got off that flight, it was cancelled. I was supposed to be in Houston at 6pm. I got here at 12:30am.

Look up the date. Flight 297 Atlanta to Houston .

If this wasn’t a dry run, I don’t know what one is. The terrorists wanted to see how TSA would handle it, how the crew would handle it, and how the passengers would handle it.

I’m telling this to you because I want you to know….

The threat is real. I saw it with my own eyes….

-Tedd Petruna

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Response from Air Tran Airways:

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AIR TRAN 297 - ANATOMY OF AN URBAN LEGEND

Posted on Friday 04 December 2009

On November 17, 2009, AirTran flight 297 was scheduled to travel from Atlanta to Houston-Hobby. During taxi a passenger was non-compliant with Crew Members, using a cell phone and taking pictures. The flight taxied back to the gate and the passenger, who did not speak English, and his companion acting as his interpreter were asked to de-plane. They were met by customer service personnel and TSA.

The passengers were allowed to re-board and continued on the flight after speaking with AirTran and TSA representatives. The flight was delayed by more than two hours.

Since the flight and initial media reports, several blogs and Internet sites have recounted the incident as portrayed by a passenger originally scheduled for the flight. Below is that passenger's account (unedited in any way including spelling and grammar), as reported on several blogs. Highlighted between the passenger's account, are the factually accurate circumstances surrounding this incident.

We bring this to your attention in order to dispel myths that are beginning to make the rounds in chat rooms, blogs and conspiracy theorists' Web sites.

NOTE: Quotes from Petruna's e-mail is in italics.
The response from AirTran is in red.

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I was in first class coming home. Eleven muslim men got on the plane in full attire. Two sat in first class and the rest peppered themselves throughout the plane all the way to the back.

The full party was 13 individuals. Their religion is not known to anyone at AirTran. The individuals in this party proceeded to their seats throughout the aircraft and were dressed like any other passenger.

As the plane taxied to the runway, the stewardesses gave the safety spiel we are all so familiar with. At that time, one of the men got on his cell and called one of his companions in the back and proceeded to talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very aggressively. This took the first stewardess out of the picture for she repeatedly told the man that cell phones were not permitted at the time. He ignored her as if she wasn't there.

There have been no reports of any individual phoning any other individual on the flight. Furthermore it would be extremely difficult to know who someone is calling. If they are calling someone in the back of the plane, the person listening in on this conversation would not be able to hear the person in the back of the plane nor know where the call was going to.

The second man who answered the phone did the same and this took out the second stewardess. In the back of the plane at this time, 2 younger muslims, one in the back aisle, and one in front of him, window, began to show footage of a porno they had taped the night before, and were very loud about it.

It would be impossible to know what people were allegedly watching or whom they were speaking with in the back of the plane from Business Class. Furthermore, how would anyone know what was on this alleged videotape or when it was made?

Now, they are only permitted to do this prior to Jihad. If a Muslim man goes into a strip club, he has to view the woman via mirror with his back to her (don't ask me, I don't make the rules, but I've studied). The third stewardess informed them that they were not to have electronic devices on at this time. To which one of the men said, "Shut up, infidel dog!" She went to take the camcorder and he began to scream in her face in Arabic.

While the flight attendants did ask an individual to discontinue the use of portable electronic devices, there are no reports of screaming or shouting insults to our Crew Members.

At that exact moment, all 11 of them got up and started to walk to the cabin. This is where I had had enough! I got up and started to the back where I heard a voice behind me from another Texan twice my size say, "I got your back." I grabbed the man who had been on the phone by the arm and said, "you WILL go sit down or you Will be thrown from this plane!"

There are no reports of any passenger standing up in a threatening manner. At NO time was there any physical altercation between passengers. Upon returning to the gate, the individual on the phone and his party were asked to de-plane and did so in full compliance of Crew Members' instructions.

As I led him around me to take his seat, the fellow Texan grabbed him by the back of his neck and his waist and headed out with him. I then grabbed the second man and said, "You WILL do the same!"

This is simply untrue. At NO time was there any physical altercation between passengers.

He protested but adrenaline was flowing now and he was going to go. As I escorted him forward, the plane doors open and 3 TSA agents and 4 police officers entered.

At no time did any law enforcement or Transportation Security Administration (TSA) official enter the aircraft. Two TSA inspectors came to the gate to assess the situation and spoke with the individual involved and his party.

Me and my new Texan friend were told to cease and desist for they had this under control. I was happy to oblige actually. There was some commotion in the back, but within moments, all 11 were escorted off the plane. They then unloaded their luggage.

The entire party complied fully with Crew Members' instructions to exit the aircraft in order to ascertain the situation. Their bags were not removed at any time.

We talked about the occurrence and were in disbelief that it had happened, when suddenly, the door opened again and on walked all eleven!!

After determining none of the individuals posed a security threat to the aircraft, the party was allowed to re-plane.

Stone faced, eyes front and robotic (the only way I can describe it). The stewardess from the back had been in tears and when she saw this, she was having NONE of it! Being that I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agent there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with these men.

There was no TSA or law enforcement agent ever on the plane.

The agent told her they had searched them and were going to go through their luggage with a fine tooth comb and that they were allowed to proceed to Houston.

There was no TSA agent on the plane and there was no additional screening of anyone's bags.

The captain and co-captain came out and told the agent, "we and our crew will not fly this plane!" After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. Five minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on.

The crews were swapped. This is a common occurrence in the aviation industry for any number of reasons. If a Crew Member cannot or will not continue a flight, we must replace that Crew Member.

Again, this is where I had had enough!! I got up and asked, "What the hell is going on?" I was told to take my seat. They were sorry for the delay and I would be home shortly. I said, "I'm getting off this plane." The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off.

Now I'm mad! I said, "I am a grown man who bought this ticket, who's time is mine with a family at home and I am going through that door, or I'm going through that door with you under my arm!! But I am going through that door!!"

At no time did any AirTran Crew Member refuse to allow a passenger off the plane. Had any passenger threatened a Crew Member, we would have taken appropriate action, including contacting law enforcement.

And I heard a voice behind me say, "So am I." Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same. Within 2 minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met with more agents who asked me to write a statement. I had 5 hours to kill at this point so why the hell not. Due to the amount of people who got off that flight, it was cancelled. I was supposed to be in Houston at 6pm. I got here at 12:30am.

After offering all passengers the opportunity to de-plane the aircraft, 12 individuals decided to not take this flight and opted to be re-booked. AirTran officials did not request any passenger to complete an official statement.

The flight was not cancelled and did continue to Houston-Hobby.

Look up the date. Flight 297, Atlanta to Houston.

The flight was not cancelled and did continue to Houston-Hobby.

If this wasn't a dry run, I don't know what one is. They wanted to see how TSA would handle it, how the crew would handle it, and how the passengers would handle it.

I'm telling this to you because I want you to know. The threat is real. I saw it with my own eyes.

The flight was not cancelled and did continue to Houston-Hobby.

The TSA determined this was a customer service issue. The party continued on the flight to Houston-Hobby that evening without further incident.

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EASTBOUND ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI

This video was posted on the YOU TUBE web site by "FASTRAINS 56" on Friday 04 December 2009, who recorded this on Thursday 03 December 2009 in Savanna, Illinois.

In the background is the Mississippi River and the bridge to Iowa.

FACEBOOK WEDDING

During his wedding ceremony, Dana Hanna whipped out his mobile device and not only changed his relationship status to married on Facebook, but also sent out a tweet announcing that the couple had become man and wife.

NAVY RETIREE SPEAKS OUT

Subject:

Do Your Job

To:

President Barack Obama

Rep. F. Allen Boyd

Sen. Bill Nelson

Sen. George LeMieux

November 20, 2009

Dear President Obama,

My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for the first time don't believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert.

I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II retiring as a Master Chief Bos'n Mate. Now I live in a "rest home" located on the western end of Pearl Harbor allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.

One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man.

So here goes.

I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish.

I can't figure out what country you are the president of. You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like:

"We're no longer a Christian nation"

"America is arrogant" - (Your wife even announced to the world,"America is mean-spirited." Please tell her to try preaching that nonsense to 23 generations of our war dead buried all over the globe who died for no other reason than to free a whole lot of strangers from tyranny and hopelessness.)

I'd say shame on the both of you but I don't think you like America nor do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do for the obvious gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a dangerous thing for a man sitting in the White House.

After 9/11 you said,"America hasn't lived up to her ideals."

Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British ? Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War ? I hope you didn't mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers,husbands,and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around because we stand for freedom.

I don't think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected.

Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man. Shape up and start acting like an American.If you don't, I'll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue .You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves.

And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more. You mean you don't want us to do what you did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts who was putting up a fight ? You don't mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don't want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.

One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life but you're the Commander-in-Chief now, son. Do your job.

When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if you're not in this fight to win, then get out. The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you're thinking of.

You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president. You're not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That's not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now. And I sure as hell don't want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle.

Sincerely,

Harold B. Estes

BOY SCOUTS GOOD DEEDS

Toby Bledsoe does a quick inventory of a box of drink mixes before preparing it for shipment to Iraq.

Toby Bledsoe, of Boy Scouts of America Troop One Thirty-Five at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, sent more than four hundred pounds of non-perishable items to soldiers of the United States Army's Five Hundred and Fifty-Eighth Military Police Company as part of his Eagle Scout project.

Pictured from left to right, Toby Bledsoe, Connor Dooley, and Brian Gellert, of Boy Scouts of America Troop One Thirty-Five at Hickam Air Force Base.

The photographs were taken by Sergeant Major Terry Anderson in the Public affairs Office of the Eighth Theater Sustainment Command.

PAPERS, PLEASE?

THANKSGIVING DAY IN AFGHANISTAN

In this official United States Air Force photograph taken by Technical Sergeant Francisco V. Govea II, a soldier in the United States Army, outfitted in full "battle rattle" combat gear, stands silhouetted against the Afghan sky after securing a combat outpost in Rajankala in Kandahar province, Afghanistan on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday 26 November 2009.

For a larger view, please click on the picture and/or click on the magnifying glass icon located on the toolbar of your Internet Explorer 8 web browser.

DEPARTMENT OF DFEFENSE NEWS RELEASE

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Public Affairs)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday 02 December 2009

Number 940-09

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a United States Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Corporal Jonathan A. Taylor, twenty-two years old, of Jacksonville, Florida, died Tuesday 01 December 2009 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Taylor was assigned to the Second Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division, Second Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

For additional background information on this United States Marine, contact the Second Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at:

910-451-7200

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Number 939-09

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier in the United States Army who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Private First Class Derrick D. Gwaltney, twenty-one years old, of Cape Coral, Florida, died Sunday 29 November 2009 south of Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

Private First Class Gwaltney was assigned to the First Battalion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Seventh Field Artillery Regiment, Seventeenth Fires Brigade, at Fort Lewis, Washington.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

For more information, media may contact the Fort Lewis public affairs office at:

253-967-0152

253-967-0147

After hours at:

253-967-0015

Ask for the public affairs officer on call.

NO SNOW PLOW!

This video was posted on the YOU TUBE web site by "RAILROAD 33" on 25 April 2007.

Without a snowplow, four Southern Pacific locomotives punch through what appears to be a humongous snow bank on the railroad tracks.

RAILROAD SNOW PLOW

Wow!

This video was posted on the YOU TUBE web site by "RAILROAD 33" on 15 December 2007.

The locomotives are plowing snow at milepost 435.5 on the tracks in Kansas and Colorado.

Ain't this something?

OFFICIAL UNITED STATES ARMY PHOTOGRAPHS

Boy, oh boy, this stuff sure evokes memories of similar experiences, "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away", when I was a young soldier in the United States Army serving in the Republic of Viet Nam!

To see a larger view, please click on the pictures, and/or click on the magnifying glass icon located on the toolbar of your Internet Explorer 8 web browser.

In this official United States Air Force photograph taken by Technical Sergeant Francisco V. Govea II on Friday 20 November 2009, a dog rides in the backpack of a soldier in the United States Army on Combat Outpost Jeleran, Afghanistan.

The dog, named "Cookie", is the unofficial mascot of the First Battalion, Seventeenth Infantry Regiment.

In this official United States Army photograph taken by Staff Sergeant Andrew Smith, soldiers in the United States Army enjoy their holiday meal on Combat Outpost Cherkatah, Khowst province, Afghanistan, on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday 26 November 2009.
 
The soldiers are deployed with Company D, Third Battalion, Five Hundred and Ninth Infantry Regiment.
 

Second Lieutenant Peter Sprenger, who lost his eye in combat, and overcame tremendous obstacles in order to remain in the United States Army, become qualified as an Airborne Ranger, and become a commissioned officer, receives his second lieutenant bars from his father and General Petraeus on Thursday 19 November 2009.
 

Paratroopers from Company F, Four Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Infantry (Airborne), Long Range Surveillance, Michigan National Guard and commandos from the Third Iraqi Army based in Al Kisuk, Iraq, await extraction just outside of Biyaj, Iraq on Saturday 07 November 2009.