Now you may laugh, but when I entered the service back in 1971, troops who were 20 or younger, were not supposed to be served drinks or buy even beer. But it was the 18-20 year olds were serving in Vietnam. I was 19. Anyway, they came up with a beer, with 3.2% alcohol and we referred to it as "near-beer". You really needed to drink half-of-case to feel a buzz. But once we got over seas, we could drink whatever we want and the local stuff...that was pure poison and we still drank it. Officers often said, "enlisted-men are stupid", but I saw these same officers drinking the local stuff. They'd be smiling away, right up to the point their face slammed against the floor. Ah, those were the days, but I'm glad I left them behind.
Yesterday, I was working on my 3rd book in the Apache Snow series. For those of you coming on for the first time, I often discuss my writing and this book is based on the Army's 101st Screaming Eagles deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan...right outside Kabul. Things were going a long okay, but suddenly I lost "my flow", and had to stop. I cannot write if I'm not in the flow, sort of like a cook who has suddenly forgot his own recipes, or a doctor who can't recall why he's in this business...well, not to that extent exactly. But to continue writing about a battle scene and unable to picture what's taking place and put it into words, you're shot for the day. My medicine was to sit down this morning and watch two-episodes of "The Pacific", story of the 1st Marine Division in World War II. This was one of the Marine units that Island hopped the South Pacific to reach Japan. This unit went up against overwhelming numbers of Japanese troops, often out numbered by 8 to 2 odds, and sometimes it was 10 to 1. I believe the author has truly dove into the very souls of the young men who fought in this campaign, losing so many of their fellow Marines as they crushed their foes. But along the way, many of these brave young men gave up the very essence of their souls, losing any grain of compassion to simply become killing machines.
They called it battle shock back then, but it was rammed down their heads that such an illness was "Cowardice". Now we call it PTSD, and so many of our veterans bring it home with them. I tried to show this in Book 2: In Search of Honor", where the battlefield became the hallways and room of the VA Hospital or office building. I show the few remaining survivors from World War II, Korean War vets and Vietnam. But now were dealing with the Sandbox Wars, who stand in-line with old men and women, wrinkled up veterans effected by Agent Orange and now modern day victims of chemical warfare. But just as the government lied about Agent Orange, they lied about the chemical warfare. In 1994, I too went to the VA, seeking information on Agent Orange. Oh, they ran me through a day of tests, including a biopsy from my lungs...now that was interesting, because they kept me awake for the procedure. Then, my last visit was with a VA head doc to read my palm and ask me if I wet my bed at night. I told him I had a single nightmare, from a single event and he decides to hit me with PTSD, for which I am paid $132 a month, but no benefits. Now, I did not want to be stamped with a mental illness on my records. With things going the way they are, they could now visit my house and seize all my weapons. Now, I don't carry one, though its perfectly legal here in Alaska, but I had carried one or more for 20-years. They get heavy and I also have my cane to clobber them with.
But all said and done, they never did tell me anything about possible Agent Orange contamination. So I blame my craziness on my medications and as for my kids...I can offer no explanation for the horns growing in the center of their foreheads.
As you all know by now, I enjoy researching the news from around the world. I use 20 news services for this. I do not look into the main media sources because you all have that coming in 24-hours a day. As for me, I like the stories that will probably never be seen in American News. Some of it is just small stories, while others could be pieced together to show a couple different countries out to the rule the world. Oh, I know the news from the Chinese mainland and Russia, printed in English, is probably full of propaganda, but I can read an American paper and find the same thing.
I find it interesting what the various countries say in anger, about the very same countries they're wrangling a treaty with. I also am sickened by the massive anti-Semitist movement covering Europe like a wave. Where European countries are bowing to the Muslims for the spread of Sharia Law, laws that allow for the torture of women and the rapes of children. History is indeed repeating itself. Think about it and I'll leave this item open for thought.
Now here is the news, or at least a dozen items you might want to investigate further. This is news I took note of from 2/17 to today:
Gatestone Institute News: Hate for Israel has become a real obsession in Scandinavia. Jews in Norway account for 0.003% of their population. Oslo is now known as the world's capital for European anti-Semitism. Sweden's largest newspaper "Dagens Nyheter" has published a "violent" anti-Semitists article entitled, "It is allowed to hate Jews". 40% of Norwegians are now boycotting Israeli products-according to a recent poll. Sweden's main news outlet described anti-Semitism as simply a "different opinion". Swedish Authorities are reported to be giving large amounts of money to have people preach violence, they support hate preachers , who support terrorism likes ISIS- reported by Judith Bergman. There is also a major outbreak of homophobia in Sweden, with a Swedish Islamic Iman referring to homosexuality "A Virus", for which parents are obliged to protect their children from..
Gatestone Institute News: ( recommend you find this article from 2/17, as it is quite lengthy, but informative). A lengthy report was done in Sweden and its open door policy on immigrants. It seems Sweden is now providing pay and housing, plus healthcare for immigrants, but these benefits are not offered to their own senior citizens, that number approximately 355,000. Seniors who can be left to starve, be without housing and denied healthcare, while the immigrants are taken care of. Also with the critical low numbers of police officers in Sweden, the government still took in 29,939 asylum-seekers for 2016. The vast number of them were Muslim. Schools are provided for the children, while parents on immigrant status receive $35.00 a day, plus for each child they receive $91.00 a month, and $170 a month if the child is 11-years and older. They will also receive a housing allowance. Now and orphan immigrant receives $335 a month and when housing comes open, immigrant have priority over citizens who have been waiting up to 3-years. All these funds come out of the taxes, which the citizens pay. (Story continues on-line).
Global Times ( China News Service): Greece- Officials report 9,448 immigrants have already reached Greece, compared to 6,123 this time in 2016.
Global Times: Ukraine- UNICEF reports 1-million children left in need, which is almost twice as much this time in 2016.
Global Times: Australia- Authorities intercept an ultra-lethal drug, which is said it can kill a human by mere touch.
Telegraph Germany- Germany has banned internet connected over fears hackers could target children and was a "De Facto" spying device. Name of the toy is the "My Friend" Doll. No report on the maker.
Manila Times: President Duterte says he will be sending troops to Russia for training. (This could lead to a military force of Russian advisors and possibly troops being stationed in the Philippines and their naval forces anchored in the Subic Bay, which once held the U.S. Navy in force.)
Manila Times: Philippines convened the heads of ASEAN members (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in Switzerland. Philippines went in assuming they hold the Chairmanship of the 10-member group for 2017. But any response to this has not been announced.
Egypt News: Egypt denies proposal to give Sinai land for a Palestinian State. (Another example of how the Arabic Nations, fellow Muslims, feel about Palestine. They wish to keep Palestine on Israel's border, to keep the pressure up on the Jewish Nation and show the world how the Palestinians are victims of the Israel State.)
Gatestone News: Germany- Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble reports the Immigrant Crisis will cost the German taxpayers $46 Billion U.S for 2016.
Washington Free Beacon: U.S. Government's computer system still not safe from cyber attacks. Between 2006 thru 2015 the number of security breaches grew from 5,503 to 77,183. A reported 1,303: increase.
Global Times: ASEAN is reportedly set to tackle the matter of "South China Sea Code of Conduct". Meeting to be held in Philippines, to rehash a "Declaration of Conduct" made between China and ASEAN in 2002. Some critics do not believe ASEAN and China can possibly "hammer out" a detailed and implementable South China Sea Code of Conduct. Critics also feel such a document would have much impact on the current situation in the South China Seas.
Gatestone News: Canada- (this is greatly paraphrased by me to shorten it). A report by Saied Shoaib- "What is a killer Iman doing in public libraries in Canada?" Presence of Islamic Books are being seen in Canadian Libraries and most of them tell stories and others details about the faith of Islam. But this Iman's books advocate violence and extremism, and in Ottawa the library lists this man's books as "selected criteria". But books that speak out against the violence and extremism are not allowed on the library shelves. So, is the government supporting Islamic Terrorism? In Surah 4:74 it is stated that Muslims living in non-Muslim country then the Muslim is in a state of war against his host country. "You are living with the enemy".
Gatestone News: Germany- A German court has ruled that firebombing a Synagogue is different from attacking Jews. Another German court rejected actions to be taken against neighborhood "Sharia Police". Thus, allowing such non-legal police to persecute women, Christians, Jews and others in Germany. ( Before World War II began, such police were known as Brown Shirts- who worked directly under Hitler. Once the war began, these brown shirts were the founding members of the SS.)
"Gatestone News: Britain- Baroness Deech of Britain has declared, for the Jew's safety, "No-go" for the Jews to enroll in UK Universities. (This also happened in Europe. Yup, history tends to repeat itself because we didn't do it right the first time. Germany closed off its schools and universities to the Jewish people.
Washington Beacon: US- Inspector General finds that EPA employees used government purchase cards to pay for their athletic club memberships. Cost: $14, 985. National Institute of Health also reports spending $393,790 to study trans-women in UGANDA!
Global Times: Israel- Military Officials report Hamas Terrorists have built "15 cross-border terror tunnels" that can be used to attack Israel.
Well, that's it for today and please remember, very soon my journal will transfer over my old Blog. I think I've got my flow back so I'll move along to continuing my book. Now I'm not for sure on this, the decision is up to the Publisher, but this book should come to print once "Legend of Silene" and "Rookie" are completed and on the shelves. Not sure where the 12-book series replacing the " A Coming Storm" trilogy. As with any series, the first book will introduce my array of characters, from Fairbanks to Nome and Arizona to Canada. I tend to spend a good amount of time developing my characters and I often base them on real people I know.
So, for now, so long and Happy Trails. God Bless, BILL