[george]

Looks like that article becomes available on SFGate for free on Saturday:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...1F1NQO.DTL

Until then you can purchase it on demand, or print subscribers can get access.

[george]

Looks like that article becomes available on SFGate for free on Saturday:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...1F1NQO.DTL

Until then you can purchase it on demand, or print subscribers can get access.

[Redrum]

When was the last time ANYBODY wanted or needed a Chronicle article enough to demand it?  Man, fewer and fewer people are passively accepting the idea of paying articles that the Chronicle lumps together, calls a daily newspaper, and shoves at us.   Who would demand that at a higher price per article?

[Redrum]

When was the last time ANYBODY wanted or needed a Chronicle article enough to demand it?  Man, fewer and fewer people are passively accepting the idea of paying articles that the Chronicle lumps together, calls a daily newspaper, and shoves at us.   Who would demand that at a higher price per article?

[Leftcoast]

I hear ya ... I wonder why everyday as the tract that some call the Mercury News gently wafts its way down onto my driveway that it used to hit with a loud thud.   I pick it up quickly so that it doesn\'t blow away with some mild morning breeze.  

Remember this Gore Vidal quote?  

""Half of the American people never read a newspaper.   Half never vote for President.   One hopes it is the same half."    

Seems almost anachronistic now.

[Leftcoast]

I hear ya ... I wonder why everyday as the tract that some call the Mercury News gently wafts its way down onto my driveway that it used to hit with a loud thud.   I pick it up quickly so that it doesn\'t blow away with some mild morning breeze.  

Remember this Gore Vidal quote?  

""Half of the American people never read a newspaper.   Half never vote for President.   One hopes it is the same half."    

Seems almost anachronistic now.

[Leftcoast]

The Jenkins article is now available without the donation ... and it\'s well worth the read.   Either my link or George\'s should work.

http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/jenkins/

[Leftcoast]

The Jenkins article is now available without the donation ... and it\'s well worth the read.   Either my link or George\'s should work.

http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/jenkins/

[fullmetal]

And now we know where Jim Harbaugh fits.

[fullmetal]

And now we know where Jim Harbaugh fits.

[CowboyIndian]

The Jenkins article is now available without the donation ... and it\'s well worth the read.   Either my link or George\'s should work.

http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/jenkins/

I found the Marion Jones article interesting, but off topic  :)

[CowboyIndian]

The Jenkins article is now available without the donation ... and it\'s well worth the read.   Either my link or George\'s should work.

http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/jenkins/

I found the Marion Jones article interesting, but off topic  :)

[Redrum]

I have spent a decent amount of time around Army Rangers.   That is a good summary of the mindset.   One time on a visit to Ft. Benning a squad of guys was having a real good laugh about a guy who caught a rattlesnake on maneuvers in the woods and tossed it at some others while they were eating chow.   Everybody thought it was hilarious.

Come to think of it, maybe it had nothing to do with the Army.  Maybe it was what it really was:  just a bunch of teenage boys goofing around in the woods.

[Redrum]

I have spent a decent amount of time around Army Rangers.   That is a good summary of the mindset.   One time on a visit to Ft. Benning a squad of guys was having a real good laugh about a guy who caught a rattlesnake on maneuvers in the woods and tossed it at some others while they were eating chow.   Everybody thought it was hilarious.

Come to think of it, maybe it had nothing to do with the Army.  Maybe it was what it really was:  just a bunch of teenage boys goofing around in the woods.

[calumnus]

I have spent a decent amount of time around Army Rangers.   That is a good summary of the mindset.   One time on a visit to Ft. Benning a squad of guys was having a real good laugh about a guy who caught a rattlesnake on maneuvers in the woods and tossed it at some others while they were eating chow.   Everybody thought it was hilarious.

Come to think of it, maybe it had nothing to do with the Army.  Maybe it was what it really was:  just a bunch of teenage boys goofing around in the woods.

Many years ago when visiting my cousin on an army base in Germany I realized the situation: take all the 18 year old guys from your high school that did not go to college, even junior college (in fact even those that dropped out), have never been out of the country (in many cases have never met someone from a foreign country), who love drinking and violent video games, send them to foreign countries, let them drink, give them guns and put them in tanks. Anyone remember what 18 year old college students are capable of?

It is a credit to the people who run our military that the results are as good as they are.

[calumnus]

I have spent a decent amount of time around Army Rangers.   That is a good summary of the mindset.   One time on a visit to Ft. Benning a squad of guys was having a real good laugh about a guy who caught a rattlesnake on maneuvers in the woods and tossed it at some others while they were eating chow.   Everybody thought it was hilarious.

Come to think of it, maybe it had nothing to do with the Army.  Maybe it was what it really was:  just a bunch of teenage boys goofing around in the woods.

Many years ago when visiting my cousin on an army base in Germany I realized the situation: take all the 18 year old guys from your high school that did not go to college, even junior college (in fact even those that dropped out), have never been out of the country (in many cases have never met someone from a foreign country), who love drinking and violent video games, send them to foreign countries, let them drink, give them guns and put them in tanks. Anyone remember what 18 year old college students are capable of?

It is a credit to the people who run our military that the results are as good as they are.

[Redrum]

was a 24-yr. old sergeant.   None of the regular unit sergeants are anything like the stereotypical drill instructors.   As a class they really seem to be the pick of the litter.   Constantly acting responsibly.  Practical, common sense, no chickensh*t guys. Conscientiously watching for anything that could hurt squad members or endanger the men. (Other than going into combat, that is.)   Like being a father to 30 teenage boys.  The sergeant\'s welfare always came last. This sergeant I worked with never had to use authority.  He was authority and he looked like he just walked off the high school soccer field.  Smaller and skinnier than any of his men,  but they knew he knew best.    24 yrs. old.

And,  he addressed me as "sir\' every time we talked.  Gotta love that.
I hope he\'s still alive and well and keeping his men alive and well.

[Redrum]

was a 24-yr. old sergeant.   None of the regular unit sergeants are anything like the stereotypical drill instructors.   As a class they really seem to be the pick of the litter.   Constantly acting responsibly.  Practical, common sense, no chickensh*t guys. Conscientiously watching for anything that could hurt squad members or endanger the men. (Other than going into combat, that is.)   Like being a father to 30 teenage boys.  The sergeant\'s welfare always came last. This sergeant I worked with never had to use authority.  He was authority and he looked like he just walked off the high school soccer field.  Smaller and skinnier than any of his men,  but they knew he knew best.    24 yrs. old.

And,  he addressed me as "sir\' every time we talked.  Gotta love that.
I hope he\'s still alive and well and keeping his men alive and well.

[fullmetal]

Here\'s the link to the JT/JH article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...1F1NQO.DTL

[fullmetal]

Here\'s the link to the JT/JH article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...1F1NQO.DTL