Capt.Glen's blog

A Change Will Come

(1) The only way America will change course is by the "stimulation based concept". Not by Education based concept. America no longer wants to be educated. Education just isn't cutting it anymore. America absolutely needs to be "stimulated".

When this begins to happen, then and only then will the "poor" and "middle class" begin to see and start having that previous unobtainable life without dishonesty. Including health, wealth, and safety.

(2) They say that according to the Mayan Calendar that Dec.21, 2012 is suppose to be that day of reckoning, the end of the world, or something of that nature that will be very unwelcoming.

Actually I am beginning to think it will not be so, instead It will probably become the new "age of Aquarius".

(3) Again, like I, along with others, stated that in time, marketers will become specially trained to de-escalate, de-sensitize, de-politicize all political parties as we know them and will replace the career politicians. I can only hope that will be a welcomed day.

(4) All in all, the only ones that will never listen or take any of this to heart are those "who have the bicameral mindset way of thinking", those who refuse to face "stark reality", those who refuse to "get off the wrong side of the fence".

Don't blame deployed troops

Don't blame our deployed troops (our courageous men and women in uniform) for the problems that have been happening over the course of past several months and years, such as committing suicides, the mass killings, etc.

Start looking at reality and use common sense, if our government still has any and a lot of other individuals. These men and women cannot help themselves over a period of time and number of deployments, especially when they just get through with one, and then have to turn around and go into another one, etc., etc.

What you need to do is place the blame squarely on the shoulders of politicians in office, whether now, or in the past, or upcoming in the future, including all of the individuals whether they be liberals, moderates, conservatives, tea party, regardless of party affiliation, etc., those who are against doing what they consider wrong, or sinful, etc.

Like I said before, those who are on the wrong side of the fence (because of their bicameral way of thinking), should stop and do much more research.

The only way these brave men and women are ever going to get the well deserved rest and help is for our government to bring back the "selective service". This way their will always be a fresh supply of men and women to relieve the pressures; and then give the new batch of recruits the needed rest and help they need after a "reasonable" amount of combat time.

I should know, and I do know what it is like to be under that kind of stress overall, not to mention that I know what is going through their minds upon returning, not knowing what is in store for them back home, or what the next hurdle will be that they will have to face.

I am a Vietnam veteran with more than one tour of combat duty, and I kept volunteering to return for more tours, but guess what, after the last time I volunteered, maybe somewhere along the way, up the chain of command, somebody decided to use common sense and look at stark reality! I was in 1963-67, what is considered the worst hellfire part of the whole war.

After that last time when I volunteered, that's when they told me, "NO, you are going home"! You have put your time in! 

I know what it is like not knowing what to expect when returning home. You see, when I was Honorably Discharged and on my way home, (what I was hoping for to be a home), when I stepped off the plane, in uniform with what medals, etc., I had at the time pinned on me, a cold dark feeling came over me, and as I walked into the terminal, there was nothingness, nothing, not even a family member, except a hippie and draft dodger spitting on me and my uniform. Needless to say, that emptiness has been with me a lifetime.

I know what it is like to have "flashbacks". I have had my share.

Do you really want to know what the most "ironic" thing is. It was not until July 1992 when I received a letter from the Navy Personnel Records Department with all the extra medals, ribbons, etc, that I had earned enclosed that I never knew about, but always in the back of my mind I knew that I had to have had more than what they were telling me at the time upon discharge.

The reason I can say this is because to this day I can still remember a shipmate of mine (whose name I do remember), kept smiling at me, and kept exclaiming "you did it"!, "you did it"!, "you got them all, you got them all"!

I kept asking him, what are you talking about? What did I get? All he could say is, "You'll find out"!, "You'll find out"!  just before I departed the ship for the last time.

And guess what..........I still feel like a second class citizen.

What a wild, crazy, comical dude I can be at times!

A much needed truth. Please watch this video in its entirety. Then click on "LIKE". www.youtube.com/neothinksociety .

Pants FREE! N0 Pants on CTA!

If you ride the train Sunday,  (January 8, 2012) you'll need a CTA pass but you won't need pants.

The annual No Pants Subway Ride kicks off at noon Sunday at 1210 W. Arthur St. The ride, which is scheduled to last three hours, is the same day as New York's annual No Pants Subway Ride, which began 10 years ago as a prank by an improv group.

Chicago's event has been held for more than five years. More than 285 people signed up on Facebook to participate, as of Tuesday afternoon. More than 200 CTA riders took the Red Line last year sans pants, according to news reports.

The CTA has an ordinance that prohibits indecent exposure such as exposing buttocks or genitals, but  "there's nothing that would prevent [riders] from participating in that," CTA spokeswoman Catherine Hosinski said in reference to the event.

The event's planners said on Facebook that participants will be organized into groups and assigned a specific train car. They recommend that riders "sit in the car as you normally would. Read a magazine or whatever you would normally do."

Team leaders will assign participants a specific stop where they will do away with their pants. As soon as the doors shut at the stop before theirs, riders should "stand up and take your pants off and put them in your backpack," the event coordinators wrote on Facebook.

"If anyone asks you why you've removed your pants, tell them that they were 'getting uncomfortable' (or something along those lines.)"

Participants are encouraged to exit the train at their assigned stop and stand on the platform-pantsless-and wait on the platform for the next train to arrive.

No Pants Subway Rides are scheduled for other cities, including Atlanta and Washington, on Sunday as well.

tswartz@tribune.com | @tracyswartz
  http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-red-nopants-subway-20120103,0,3603260.story

 

Glen's Recap: This means you wear only your underwear,  (some people may wear a coat if need be, in case it gets a little cool for the upper extremity), just make sure you do not show your bare buttocks or genitals. So come on out, come on down, enjoy the day, and have some fun.  Besides, who knows, you just might meet up with your next love you have always been looking for. Boy, do I wish that were true for me!

Time to expose & open a can of worms

Right off the bat, I will have to apologize for this being so long and seemingly drawn out. It is also possibly the longest article yet that I have ever written. However, there is a very good reason.

By the time you have finished reading it, I believe you will undoubtedly realize why I am writing this and be able to come to the same conclusion as I have, not to mention some others, as you will see later on.

This article will also serve as an “open letter” to all concerned, including, but not limited to just certain segments, organizations, groups, etc., etc.

I am asking for a certain type of help, but not the kind you are probably thinking. I am not asking for a handout. I am not asking for money. I am not asking for charity. I am not asking for favors.

What I am asking for is JUSTICE for an injustice that has been done to me personally. I am a senior citizen as well. I am fit to work and am still working and have been for years.  I have passed all tests and been cleared by VA doctors to go back to work without any limitations.

This is something I have already paid for in more ways than one, including monetary. ($1250 worth).  I am able bodied and still willing to work and want to work. It is my right to receive that for which has been paid for monetarily. It is not my fault, nor should I be held accountable because I am not the one who purposely caused the delays so that a certain time frame would pass just so the USCG could use the excuse it was more than 12 months old.

Furthermore, the USCG is the one who agreed to give me an extension of time more than what was the norm. They also agreed to put my file on administrative hold until such time I could get the rest of information in to them.

I have done everything that was required. The USCG also has at least 1400 + pages of medical information I have submitted since this whole thing started.

I should not be forced to re-apply! Nor should I be forced to pay another $1250 plus additional fee for towing endorsement plus re-take all courses and tests, and re-take all medical tests. And it is not the VA fault because they did everything they could reasonably do.

I am also seeking JUSTICE for all the others that have been dealt this blow. Again, later on in this article, you will see I am not the only one, and that information is coming from an “insider”, even though retired; but still carries a lot of weight and has a lot of respect by the department/agency, and one who is still helping other “mariners” to the best of their ability to “advance” within the industry.

All mariners, the marine industry, military veterans, senior citizens, and the like should especially be concerned with this article/letter.

It is my hopes that this information will reach out to the whole world, to the courts, to the politicians, to the governments, to the U.S. Congress and maybe even a congressional investigation started, if that is what it takes, including the news media’s; including defense attorney’s willing to take up the cause, and anyone else.

It is my hope that this “injustice” will be jumped on by all of the above mentioned.

At this point, I will now tell you what this is all about:

Age discrimination against senior citizens by the “new” United States Coast Guard and purposely using a delay tactic to force a qualified individual from receiving what is rightfully theirs after having paid for it monetarily.

Before I go into the details, it would be better if I explain a number of things about myself, in short, laying out all the cards face up.

By doing so, it will give the reader a better, clearer idea of why I am making this charge/complaint. In the end, hopefully you will agree with me as well.

I am not a rich person. Never have been and still have not made it there.

My childhood dreams have never come to pass/materialize because I have never had the money.

Life has just been an existence. I may have lost all faith, hope, belief, desires and abilities for the most part, but the one thing I have not lost is my fight for justice and humor when needed.

I am a Vietnam Veteran. U.S. Navy. Served from 1963-67. Pacific Fleet. Amphibious Attack Force/Group/Team. Did more than one tour of duty in Vietnam.  Served onboard an APA and LST. Was a boatswain mate and boat coxswain. As a boat coxswain, I operated and drove LCVP’s.

Even though I was only obligated to do one combat tour, I kept volunteering for more combat tours. It got to the point they finally literally told me “NO MORE”! You are going home. Period!

I am 66 years old.  Honorable Discharge. Life Member of the American Legion and Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Earned the following medals: (1) Navy Commendation (2) Navy Unit Commendation (3) National Defense (4) Vietnam Service with stars for each tour of duty (5) Vietnam Campaign (6) Cross of Gallantry with Palm (7) Vietnam Meritorious. Also, along with my shipmates as a whole/group/force/team, we received the “E” award.

After I got out of the military, I worked on tugs for several years, then I worked on commercial fishing trawlers (I was a shrimper) for a while and eventually worked my way up to being a “rigger”, which is essentially the same as being second in command at the time.

After this, I worked for different commercial tour boat companies and still do. The company I am with now, (which is the largest fleet on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan) I have been there 9 years.

Started out as a regular deckhand, then worked my way up to senior deckhand (which for the most part is essentially the same as First Mate) for past several years. As a deckhand, even more so as a senior deckhand, you are required to know how to operate any boat you work on, regardless of whether it is a single prop or twin screw, just in case something happens to the captain including the boat in all aspects.

By the way, regular deckhands and senior deckhands with the company I work with are required to wear khaki pants as part of the uniform, even though the shirts are usually different at times. Only captains are allowed to wear black or navy blue pants. Guess what, I wear navy blue.

For quite some time now, over the years, I have been driving the boats, docking them, taking them off the dock, etc., and yes, the captain was still there and nobody has ever got hurt and no one has ever fallen overboard when I am on duty or no other type emergency. This includes 40 footers, 80 and 88 footers.

Now for the part you have been waiting for………the details as to why I am making this charge/complaint.

In 2009 I decided to go for my boat/ship captain’s license training. Went to USMA-Chicago (United States Maritime Academy). In November of 2009 I graduated and passed all tests given by USCG.

I and the other graduates received our completion license certificate papers for OUVP and 100 Ton. I also passed and earned the assisted towing endorsement, which was separate, and additional fee was required.

The “license” completion papers or documents show that we were trained in “rules of the road” for all waterways, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc., “navigation”, “charting”, “deck”, etc.

However, since Nov. 2009 I have been going through hell with the USCG trying to get the “ticket”, which is the second part. The “ticket” is the authorization to transport people, supplies, and materials for hire.

Prior to all of this, including the schooling, I had already submitted the papers for the MMC and Application, which is mandatory, including submitting medical papers. I submitted for 100 Ton/Near Coastal, along with other, because I have the necessary sea time in.

After all of this, I was hit with the unexpected. Approximately towards end of April 2010, from my recollection, I started having some shortness of breath, so I decided to go to the VA hospital and get it checked out.

After getting it checked out that day, they immediately scheduled me for an angiogram the next day to confirm what they thought. Well, after they were through with the angiogram, they found out that 3 of my major vessels were 99% blocked. I was immediately scheduled for triple bypass surgery on 5-3-2010. I did have 3 stents put in on 1-07

Everything went fine and successful. I amazed the nurses and doctors how quickly I was up and walking around the entire floor and going up and down stairs. They said I recovered more quickly than anyone they have ever seen. I even went through weeks and weeks of rehab to build myself back up.

I far exceeded the others in rehab exercising, especially on the treadmill, elliptical, and bike. I even did some weights. I definitely far exceeded what the USCG was requiring.

Throughout all this time I was still engaging and communicating with the USCG to keep them in the loop.

After all of this was over with, and the VA doctors had passed and cleared me in every respect to go back to work and me having sent USCG more medical papers showing them the doctors reports, findings, and clearance; the coast guard evidently did not want to believe them; so time after time the coast guard kept denying me the “ticket”. They kept coming up with more different tests they wanted done, time and time again.

So I kept going to the VA doctors explaining they still wanted this and that type of tests. By this time the VA doctors are really getting peeved at the coast guard just like me. This was beginning to become nonsense. The coast guard was in reality insulting the VA doctors that their findings and work are not any good or worthwhile or acceptable to the coast guard.

At this point, I am going to interject some email communications that transpired recently between the “insider” and me I mentioned towards the beginning in order to show you, (the reader), that this person is in agreement with me.

The “insider” usually never has a problem getting information, nor come up against a brick wall, but a brick wall was hit when it comes to me.

 

Re: Please help if you can

Wednesday, October 26, 2011 1:49 PM

Hi Glen:

Before the Coast Guard will discuss your situation with me they will require a third party authorization form.  The form is available on line at www.uscg.mil/nmc.  In the center of the page, beneath the pictures, there is a link for "forms".  If you just sign the form and e-mail or fax it to me I can complete the rest of the form.  My fax number is xxx-xxx-xxxx

I have some initial thoughts.  I don't think you are the first senior citizen to be discriminated against by the "new" Coast Guard but we would never be able to prove it.  My concern about having to reapply is all your paperwork including your course completion certificates will be over 12 months old so they are not going to accept them, thereby forcing you to retake the classes.  It sounds like they are going to require all new character reference letters, drug test, etc.  I will be able to get a clearer picture from them after I receive the signed third party authorization form.

 

REF: Coast Guard License Application

Friday, October 28, 2011 8:37 AM

 Glen:

I've spoken to 3 different people at the Coast Guard National Maritime Center and they are all sticking to their decision that you will have to reapply for your license since all your paperwork is well over 12 months old.  I asked them if the medical information you already submitted was going to be sufficient to approve your new application package from a medical standpoint but they refused to tell me so I have no way of knowing if they will want more medical information.

 I also explained to them if you are required to resubmit an entire new application package that your course completion certificates will no longer be valid because they are also more than 12 months old but they didn't seem to care.

 I wish the news could have been better.  If you decide to reapply and need the paperwork please provide me with a current mailing address and I can send the paperwork out right away.

Now for additional information from me (Glen) the author of this article:

Which might give you additional insight as to why the coast guard is committing this violation.

It is something to think about. What I am about to add here might also rally additional people to my side.

 (1)   I am also an “open” gay man. I am the “fore-runner” of the nationwide if not worldwide gay military organization, which was “originally” known as “GLBVA” (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Veterans of America). It is now known as A.V.E.R. (American Veterans for Equal rights).

(2)   Overall, the best and I suppose the funniest part of this whole article/letter, if not very ironic to say the least is this: I am the “original” sole individual who has been given complete due credit from the Veterans Administration (VR&E) Department for having initialized and getting started a boat/ship captain’s training program set up and instituted within their system.

(3)   I have hard copy email communications to document this.

(4)   I am also the “first” enrollee in the program and the “first” enrollee to complete the course and pass all tests.

In other words, any returning discharged military veteran who wishes to want further training and wants to go into this field as a career, all they have to do now is go to their nearest VA Administration Office, ask to see a VR&E specialist/counselor. They will now be able to bring up on their computers the actual code number and program title which will give them and the veteran all the information and they will be able to print everything out, no matter what state the veteran is in.

Because of this having been done, the VA pays for everything for all training, books, supplies, tests, and any additional endorsements you may need. It also includes medical and dental during this time. There are also other perks and benefits added while in training and upon completion of training.

Kind of funny and ironic, isn’t it? I am the one who gets this all started for everyone else, and yet the USCG refuses to give me the “ticket”.

In conclusion, I don’t know as if this little extra information (as a sideline) will help garner additional rallying on my side, but I did not mention previously that I am also a Life Member of the NRA and a Life “Master” Member of the Handyman Club of America whereas I am certified school/factory trained in Locks, Safe & Deposit Box Repair, Complete Sharpening, Small Engine Repair, and I do a little woodworking as well.  Love animals too.

Had training in one other field, but as the old saying goes, the best instructor always keeps the best secret to himself/herself.

If anybody is on my side and you wish to voice your opinion against the USCG, (the office/station which is giving me the trouble), you could send it to the following if you wish, if you think it will help in one way or another.

Commanding Officer

United States Coast Guard

National Maritime Center (NM-6)

100 Forbes Drive

Martinsburg, WV 25404

Phone: 888-427-5662

Fax: 304-433-3407

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this. Hopefully somewhere along the way someone will know someone with a lot of power and clout who can help me get justice.

 

God Bless. God be with you.

 

P.S.

 

OMG! I forgot one other thing.

How many other 66 year old men do you know who can still run up three flights of stairs, taking 2 steps at a time, and then after reaching the top, still not be huffing and puffing, much less not be out of breath. Just try and tell me I am not in shape!!

Not to mention I am an underwater diver! I started with P.A.D.I. when I was age 16.

Plus when I was in high school, I did track.

220, 440, 880, Mile, High Hurdles, and Cross Country.

 

And I’m not qualified enough for the “ticket”??

I have said enough. I rest my case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More opinion on the political debt situation

Maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough in my last article several days ago in regards to the political debt problem (crisis) right now.

 Yes, I still say we definitely need to make some mighty major changes and very quickly!

 However, It should not and cannot be another burden or cut from senior citizens and their

Social Security, much less Medicare, Medicaid, and taking (stopping) the necessary food from the mouths of children who depend on it the most.

 Cut the pork from all of the politicians “pet’ projects, (every single one); cut the pork from all of the federal loopholes, cut the pork from all of the corporate loopholes, cut the pork from all of the automatic raises to all politicians, cut the pork in every possible way when it comes to lobbyists, unions.

 You can cut waste and spending by doing a lot of the above and below mentioned items.

 Make it mandatory that all of the above mentioned pork cutting be frozen for at least 20 years.

Make it mandatory that all manufacturers and other producers of all products and services and researchers cannot raise their prices for at least 20 years and in many cases a majority of them should lower their rates by 35% for the same amount of years.

 The majority of those of us who are considered the slaves to our government have been burdened enough, it’s time for the rest of you to find out what it’s really like. It’s time for the rest of you to get the lead out of you’re a__, and face reality instead of looking through rose colored glasses and thinking that things are not all that bad and that the rest of us really don’t have it hard.

 If you open your eyes and really look, you will see the real hardships.

 But of course, if you the politicians don’t want to face the reality, and you continue to hold true to your natural course of doing things overall; then you will still continue to do as you damn well please, regardless of what the rest of us say, while at the same time you will continue to smile in everyone’s face and make us believe you did what we said, and yet you still stab us in the back.

 All I can say, Is if you can’t face the truth that this whole mess has been all of the politician’s fault for many years and because of your liberalness; that if you do go ahead and do the wrong thing only because you want it your way………then be prepared for this crisis to be your death at least politically wise, on both sides of the fence. Democrats and Republicans.

The Worst Stupid Statement Ever Made by A U.S. President

How smug he looks and with his nose up in the air at all of us.

 

Subject: MOST STUPID STATEMENT EVER MADE BY A PRESIDENT

If someone has to explain this to you, You are not a veteran……….   He doesn't seem to have much respect for the military.   Maybe in the future our leaders should be veterans.    THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SEE THIS!!  THE MOST STUPID STATEMENT EVER BY A PRESIDENT-Unbelievable THIS THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE PRESIDENT? HERE IS HIS RESPONSE WHEN HE BACKED OFF FROM HIS DECISION TO REQUIRE THE MILITARY PAY FOR THEIR WAR INJURIES. Bad press, including major mockery of the play by comedian Jon Stewart, led to President Obama abandoning his proposal to require veterans carry private health insurance to cover the estimated $540 billion annual cost to the federal government of treatment for injuries to military personnel received during their tours on active duty. The President admitted that he was puzzled by the magnitude of the opposition to his proposal. "Look, it's an all volunteer force," Obama complained. "Nobody made these guys go to war. They had to have known and accepted the risks. Now they whine about bearing the costs of their choice? It doesn't compute.." "I thought these were people who were proud to sacrifice for their country, "Obama continued "I wasn't asking for blood, just money. With the country facing the worst financial crisis in its history, I'd have thought that the patriotic thing to do would be to try to help reduce the nation's deficit.. I guess I underestimated the selfishness of some of my fellow Americans." Please pass this on to every vet and their families  How in the world did a person with this mindset become our leader? REMEMBER THIS STATEMENT...."Nobody made these guys go to war. They had to have known and accepted the risks. Now they whine about bearing the costs of their choice?" If he thinks he will ever get another vote from an Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard service member or veteran of a military service he ought to think it over.. If you or a family member is or has served their country please pass this to them. Please pass this to everyone. I'm guessing that other than the 20-25 percent hardcore liberals in the US will agree that this is just another example why  this is the worst president in American history. Remind everyone over and over how this man thinks, while he bows to the Saudi Arabian king...

The political debt problem

What a sham and a shame on many of our politicians trying to get on board trying to get something right done. The only big problem about all of this is they are laying all the burden on the shoulders of all who can least afford  anything and hurting/denying others who should not be.

Now I am really getting pissed at the administration, and even more so at President Obama for saying and/or implying that senior citizens are too damn greedy! Who the hell are you to say or imply something like this when you are a rich person, you make more than the majority of people on an annual basis, you live off of our tax dollars to pay for all of your other perks and benefits you get, along with all the other politicians.

Yet, it looks like one of the deep cuts you want to make, is to cut senior citizens out of medicare and medicaid, and even worse, you want to cut and deny food out of and from children who need it the most! This is the last straw!

In reality, what a lot of you A..holes are really doing, is trying to find more ways to put more of our hard earned money into your damn pockets, while at the same time you are trying to convince the American Public that it's all about other things, and using your scare tactics.

Granted, America does have a grave problem now, but it's not the fault of the American people overall, it relies heavily on the politicians greediness overall.

Yes, you need to make drastic cuts. But the drastic cuts really need to come from cutting political government waste and federal loopholes, along with cutting corporate loop holes.

A way to stop "mob" actions

What's it going to take to stop these criminals from starting 'mob actions", etc., such as what happened in Boys Town (as an example).

Simple: Screw the liberals! 'Liberalism is a mental disorder". And totally forget about "political correctness".

 If the police do not want to go do their job, or don't want to go into certain areas to do their job, or they don't or refuse to do anything for a certain type area because it might be a gay community or whatever; then it's time for closecombat trained individuals to go do their job for them and for the communities, because closecombat trained individuals don't have to worry about or be concerned with "pussiness type liberalized political correctness".

If these A..holes think it's funny to go cause trouble in communities and if they think violence is fun.....then let closecombat trained individuals  show them what real violence and hell is like. Because that is what it is going to take to stop them! That is what it is going to take to make them afraid to go into those communities!

These A..holes don't want to accept or admit that they are in reality the biggest discriminatory racists of all, and then they wonder why we feel about them the way we do.

Question: What is the very first thing they do when things don't go their way, or they don't get their way, etc. ?

Answer: Well lo and behold................ they scream discrimination and racism. Then they call out for marches. Then they assemble all their ministers,etc.

Why the he.. don't whites wake up and start doing the same thing? Then see how far these A..holes get.