"The Marine Corps Way Of War" Book Review...and a book giveaway!

Hey gents.  This is the long awaited second half of my review of the book, "The Marine Corps Way Of War".

I told you earlier that the first half was outstanding and that if the second half was even middling that I'd highly recommend the book to my readers and would pen a letter to the Sgt Major of the Marine Corps to push for this book to be put on the Commandant's Reading list.

Mission accomplished in a huge way!

This book has struck a nerve in me in ways I did not expect. 

Somethings need to be experienced and this is one of them.  I (arrogantly) like to think that when it comes to "all things Marine Corps", I might not be at expert level but I definitely advanced.

I had to rethink that after reading this.

This is part textbook, part history book with a big dose of "why" things went down the way they did.

If you're an Iraq Marine then you will get better insights into many of the fights you were involved in.

If you're a armchair Marine Corps historian you'll get a view of not just the frontlines but also a glimpse into what was happening back at Battalion and Regiment.

This is a must read boys.  Doubt me on many things but don't doubt me on this.

Quick side note.  You wonder why it took so long to get this out to you?  That unexpected bout of illness knocked me to my knees in ways I didn't expect. But that's just a part of it.  This is the next thing that has me jazzed about this book.

I've yelled to the rooftops for someone to explain to me why this "aviation centric" Marine Corps that all seem to be pushing is the way forward.  I've sat in my chair and easily punched holes in it and I'm sure some Majors and Lt Colonels have done the same at Quantico.

That's why the Afterword to this book shook me so bad.

I got what I wanted and at first I was enraged.  I read the author's words, punched walls, screamed at the moon and walked in the woods hoping a bear would pop out so I could throat punch the beast.

After I took a beat.  Composed myself.  Reread and analyzed his thinking...his thoughts...his message.  I realized that I got what I needed.

This books gives a nice how and why to how the Marine Corps conducts military operations.  Even better it gives a glimpse into where we're going.

Am I now onboard with the aviation centric Marine Corps?  No.  I'm not.  But I have a better understanding of the institution I love, the war that has cost so many so much and how we, the United States Marine Corps does the Marine "thing".

Well done.  Well written.  Highly recommended.

Book giveaway.  The publisher has been good enough to provide a copy of the book to give to a reader.  If you've read this far then you're in by just responding to this blog post.  I'll do the drawing on Friday a blog post in the open comments daily will inform the winner so they can get me their info to pass along so the book should arrive by Christmas.  For those that don't win? Buy it!  It's nicely priced and well worth your dimes!

Canadian Armor at Exercise Intrepid Lion 2017

pics via armeecdnarmy

This is the next reason for war in Africa? Slave trade in Libya (still ain't worth the fight)....

via Vanguard.

Libya’s UN-backed government says it is investigating allegations that hundreds of African refugees and migrants passing through Libya are being bought and sold in modern-day slave markets.

According to reports, the trade works by preying on the tens of thousands of vulnerable people who risk everything to get to Libya’s coast and then across the Mediterranean into Europe – a route that’s been described as the deadliest route on earth. Libya is the main gateway for people attempting to reach Europe by sea, with more than 150,000 people making the crossing in each of the past three years. “They [the refugees] are from several African countries and they say they have fled war, poverty and unemployment in their countries . “They have taken a tough journey through the desert and they have paid people smugglers to get to Libya to try to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

Story here.

Let's go on and rip this band aid off now.  Even if this is true in every way that counts I still don't think this is enough reason for us to intervene in Libya or anywhere else in Africa.

Bad things happen all over the world.  From the United States to Africa onto Asia, S. America and Europe.

If our reason for action is because we see people in trouble then we can start at the Appalachian Mountains and move thru every major city and quite a few rural areas in America before we start focusing on things outside our borders.

Now the thing that is gonna have over half you guys cursing me, calling me a "Tom", a "cuck", a "wannabe" and the rest of the trash....I'm not so sure this is real.

We're seeing the same type of immigrant flow from the Middle East and Africa into Europe that we've seen for the past 4 years.  We're seeing fighting age men.  In the modern age those are not the people that you want to "enslave".  Too much trouble and too little return (and no, I'm not a slaver, have never wanted to be one...just trying to use my brain).

A young guy could rebel at anytime.  A young guy could possibly overpower his "owner".  No.  You wouldn't enslave fighting age men into slavery as shown in the vid. You'd go for women and pre-teen children.  The reasons in my mind are legion but I'm probably in enough trouble for today so I won't explain myself further.

I'm not sure what we're seeing but I don't believe it's what we're being told.  Is this a fictitious case for moving into Africa full bore?  Has the idea of killing terrorists worn so bare that we need a new motive for action?  In my mind it could be.  I'm not calling this a false flag, but I am saying it doesn't add up...I mean really, why now, why not 2 years ago?

Defense Writer was talking Korean arms industry but explained the Terrex 3 problem!

via Asia Times.

Most important of all, the global arms business is not an equal-opportunity marketplace. There is no level playing field, even if market leaders like the United States, Europe, Russia and a few others (Israel and China, for example) were not fixing the whole affair. Countries buy arms from certain suppliers for many reasons other than cost or capability.

In the first place, buyers often exhibit what can only be termed as “brand loyalty.” My dad was a “General Motors” guy: His entire life he bought only Buicks or Pontiacs; purchasing a Ford would never cross his mind. It is the same with weapons: Countries will acquire US weapons, for example, because they always have, and they are content to go on doing so.

Politics is also critical. Countries buy from the US or Russia in order to build friendly relations or show that they are reliable allies. That is why Poland bought F-16s from the United States, for example. The joke goes that when a country purchases US weaponry, Washington throws in the US Marines for free.

Story here. 

I consider this a must read!

Think about this.  Have you wondered why the Terrex 3, a vehicle I consider to be at the very least equal too if not better than others in its class has received no offers?

Let me take it a step further.  Have you wondered why the BAE SEP from a couple of decades ago, a world beating vehicle that was so far ahead of its time that if it was updated with additional armor and power pack would still be competitive, but never even got a nibble of an order?  Ever wonder why BAE and other corporations are flooding into the US (well defense firms anyway) so that they can get the stamp of the US DoD on their products?

It is as we've always suspected.  Nothing to do with the quality of the vehicle. I don't even think it has anything to do with the Not Invented Here syndrome that Europeans always complain about (you guys have lost a step on innovation...sorry but it's the truth).

It comes down to military power, industrial base, foreign policy and the desire to maintain relations.

This has been obvious all along but it took this guy to actually spell it out for me to lock onto it.

Going by his playbook what can we expect?  If things continue as they are and the world doesn't change drastically then we can expect to see more and more Chinese weapon systems worldwide.  Have you not noticed that Africa is starting to look like a Chinese weapons bazaar?  We can expect them to continue to saturate that market, probably flow over to N. Africa, attempt even more inroads into S. America before they make a big push into the Middle East.

Before that happens we'll see a few more bases that will make American policy makers uncomfortable and we'll see more treaties to make it stick.

In this light the Russian intervention in Syria was just good business practice to ensure that they preserved a market for their goods!

What does it mean for countries like Singapore, Japan, S. Korea and others that want to make inroads?  They will fail.  Not because they make shoddy equipment.  In many ways they make world beating gear.  They'll fail because they lack the other levers of power to make big arms deals a reality.

Japan's X-2 continues development...

via Aviation Week.

The latest concept design of Japan’s proposed indigenous fighter may have moved a little away from the bias toward long-range and endurance over flight performance that marked the previous preliminary design. The latest design exhibited is evidently 26 DMU, the one prepared in the Japanese fiscal year beginning March 2014 as the last of a series of preliminary concepts. Japan has planned to decide in mid-2018 whether to proceed with an indigenous or possibly internationally developed,

The rest of the story is behind a paywall, but my guess is that the Japanese will develop this airplane fully.

The F-35 will not meet specs for their defense needs and will only guarantee favor from the US (especially now...they're pushing the F-35 hard, so hard that it will probably affect future defense buys from allies).

A purpose built semi-stealth fighter that leverages advances in computing power, electronic warfare and the latest missile tech that they're developing will better meet the threat that China presents.

Just like the USMC is monitoring the development of the Mitsubishi Tracked ACV, I'm sure we'll monitor their work on this airplane.  Could we be making a step back to the future?  During WW1 we bought a large number of fighters from allies.  Considering the current state of aircraft development in the US and how work is now starting in Europe, Japan and S. Korea (and only God knows what the Israelis are doing) on their next combat aircraft, we could in a few years see the F-35 going the way of the F7U Cutlass with a short service career and a hasty replacement.

C-2 Pilot showed tremendous airmanship and courage...he saved lives....

via Daily Caller.

The pilot of a U.S. Navy aircraft that went down in the Pacific last week reportedly gave his life trying to save the rest of the people on board the aircraft.

Lt. Steven Combs, 28, died alongside two other service members last Wednesday when a U.S. Navy twin-engine C-2A Greyhound crashed in the Philippine Sea. Through his efforts, eight of the eleven people on the plane survived the crash, the latest fatal accident to hit the Navy’s 7th Fleet in the past six months.

“Lt. Combs’ airmanship was nothing short of heroic, and was instrumental in savings the lives of the eight survivors,” Navy spokesman Commander Ronald Flanders told The Berkshire Eagle. He revealed that the co-pilot, who survived the crash, told Navy officials that “Steve flew the hell out of that plane.”

Story here. 

Well done.  Heroes...real heroes still exist.  The amazing thing is that this guy gave all and as usual the only ones that will remember his bravery tomorrow are the people he saved and those left behind.  We've got to do a better job of telling their stories and remembering their bravery.

Open Comment Post. Nov 28, 2017

Pics via Artstation...Luv me some military sci-fi!

Sexual identity has gotten out of control! I hope to God I'm being pranked!

pic via SKDTactical!

Open Comment Post. Nov 27, 2017 and a few agenda items!

I love those Jeep Comanche pickups.  The new hotness is to find one that's rusting in a junk yard or to grab one that's been sitting in a barn unused and bring it back to life like you see above.

Jeep is talking about building a "Jeep Truck" based on using the front end of a Wrangler...sorta like the AEV conversions.  I think they're screwing up.  They should have gone back to the future and just modernized these jewels.

Having said that I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  Hope you didn't make a glutton out of yourself (God knows I didn't....an ill timed bout of sickness saw to that) and I hope you're back on the grind of staying in shape.

I was told that no matter what you should do three things everyday.  Hygiene like you're about to be inspected.  Work like you're making a million dollars that day.  And finally workout because you only get one body and you've got to task it, challenge it and rip it (muscles...don't be an ass, you know what I mean) to make it last.

Last thing I need to say is that I'm traveling back today from the holiday hangout so posting is gonna be LIGHT.  Still, I have ONE PRIORITY!  I have a book review to post this afternoon and I was lucky enough to get a give away for an item that I'm gonna recommend for the Commandant's Reading List.

Stand by for that to drop later today.

Oh and just a reminder gents.  We're in the Christmas season and for some reason my fellow Americans seem to get more stressed out and do more stupid shit during this time of year than the rest (well with the exception of summertime months in certain locations....if you don't understand than I recommend you talk to law enforcement).

Stay safe boys.  I told you about the talk I had with a Sheriff's Deputy in the emergency room while getting shots of antibiotics and later I heard that a DPS Trooper in Texas had been shot and killed in a freaking traffic accident.

I can't imagine.  Pulling some idiot over and ready to write him a ticket and send him on his way and end up in a gunfight from hell?  Many times at the time and place of his choosing (assuming he knows the area well and most people are remarkably "close to home" in their driving habits).

Terrible stuff.

Don't be a victim.  Don't be paranoid but keep your head on a swivel.  You might like to think it couldn't happen to you but it happens to someone everyday...so enjoy the holidays but protect yourself and your family.

SNAFU out!

Another Marine Legend passes away. Colonel Wesley Fox....

Col. Wesley L. Fox, who earned the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War, passed away. 
He served 43 years in the Corps and was a true Marine’s Marine. 
Semper Fidelis, Col. Fox.

I unfortunately met him at a critical time with an unfortunate outcome but he was the real deal.  Respect.

Open Comment Post. Nov 26, 2017

Russian Zircon Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile is ready now???

via Naval News Instagram Page.

RUSSIA has confirmed its hypersonic missle that can destroy the warships in a single strike are ready "as of today". Vladimir Putin's defence boss reportedly confirmed the weapons, which can travel up to six times the speed of sound at 4,600 mph and reportedly more than 600 miles, were ready for war.

The lethal Zircon missile can travel at speeds of Mach 5–Mach 6 (3,806–4,567 mph; 6,125–7,350 km/h; 1,701.5–2,041.7 m/s). Such high speeds have led to concerns that it could penetrate existing naval defense systems; the Royal Navy's Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missile is only capable of intercepting targets flying up to Mach 3.  In April 2017, it was revealed that the Zircon had reached a speed of Mach 8 (6,090 mph; 9,800 km/h; 2,722.3 m/s) during a test.

Moscow tested the weapon back in June and the Zircon – also known as Tsirkon – has been in development for over 20 years.

Don't have time and I'm too tired to check tonight but this can't be true!  If it is then we need new anti-missile defense systems like yesterday.

We saw what happened when the kinetic energy of a destroyed anti-ship missile struck a British ship and they were subsonic.  The speed alone of this type missile will mean that a warhead is irrelevant.  Energy transfer alone will totally wreck the thing.

What I don't know is how a battleship would fare against this type of weapon.  The Iowa Class Battleships were designed to withstand the firepower of 18in guns of the Japanese battlewagons so perhaps (and I'm just throwing this out there...I have no idea just spitballing) they could handle the threat.

If we can't do that then I've heard/read don't remember the idea of using supertankers loaded with sand to act as missile magnets and have them emit the way that aircraft carriers do to protect them.

Doesn't matter though.  We need to find out if this is real first.  Once that's confirmed then we can start on solving this problem.

Sidenote.  How did the Russians get the lead on us in this field?  I thought we were ahead of everyone in the field of hypersonics, rail guns and laser warfare! 

If this don't give you feels then you need to check yourself

A WWII soldier was found after 70 years and returned to the US for burial. His wife waited for him all this time. @legends.of.glory

Just plain wow.  If this story is even halfway true then I'm floored.  To wait 70 years for your fallen husband?  Knowing for more years than you want to count that he's probably dead but you wait anyway?

Feels man.  Pure feels.

Japanese militarization...we play with forces we don't understand. Read about Yukio Mishima.

pics via fujisan-ni-noboru-hinode tumblr page.

The above Tumblr Page has me on a new mission after reading a bit about Yukio Mishima.

First I must learn more about this guy.

Second I must rethink my views about how to contain China.  To put things plainly I have to wonder if US participation isn't making things a bit easier for China in the Pacific.

I speak often about China's militarism.  I warn about the things that I've read on Chinese boards and how they have a martial spirit that should have us on almost a war footing and getting ready for a fight.

I've talked about how the S. Koreans view Japan as a greater threat than China and how the Chinese worry more about the Japanese than they do the US.

But I've never put it all together.

Then I read just a snippet about this guy.  I recall some of the stuff that I've read on Japanese boards and I realized something.

Japan has a martial spirit that scares the entire region.

If the US were to simply step out the way.  Stop acting as big brother and attempting to "guide" the region as it always has I have to wonder if we wouldn't have a better outcome.  Don't get me wrong.  We would probably see a bigger uptick in incidents between countries we consider allies.  The Japanese and S. Koreans would definitely become engaged in naval skirmishes, Vietnam would lose their shit, and Singapore would undoubtedly become alarmed at the rapid militarization that we would see.

But at the same time we could see China's activities virtually halted in light of a resurgent Japan and we could better allocate our forces and marshall our strength toward actively ASSISTING their efforts against our common foe and referee fights between our allies.

Our relations with the Japanese, S. Koreans and others in the region would be more adult like.  Instead of playing massive power we would instead fall into the roll of partnership...real partnerships instead of shouldering the whole load ourselves.

Yukio Mishima had the wrong idea when it came to putting a new emperor in charge of Japan, but a greater role for Japan in defense of itself?  I think he might have been onto something.

South Korea K2 Black Panther Main Battle Tanks South Han River Fording

Warhammer News. Massive show of force using stealth aircraft planned off N. Korea. Is this real or too early?

via Business Insider.

The US and South Korean militaries will join together for a final military exercise to close out a heated 2017 with F-22 and F-35 stealth jets training right off North Korea's borders.

The exercise, called "Vigilant Ace," will run from December 4-8 and involve 12,000 military personnel between the US and South Korea, as well as 230 aircraft, a defense official told the Wall Street Journal.

It will also be the first time six F-22 Raptors will visit South Korea, and it will focus on enemy infiltration and precision airstrikes, according to Yonhap news.

Story here. 

Wow.

I don't know the script on this exercise but as much as I've pounded on the F-35, if I was a supporter this is how I'd lay it out.

F-22's and F-35's going after whatever high value air defense systems the N. Koreans have with B-1's and B-52's lobbing cruise missiles to take down identified anti-air guns when located, and then have a series of B-2 raids along with the rest of the unassigned B-1's going after the nuke sites.

What gives me pause and makes me think that this is another "show" and not the real thing is the F-35.  The USMC has what...maybe 20 odd aircraft in the region?  The USAF has maybe 12?

And we know that Davis said before he retired that "he still had to buy pylons" for the bird makes me wonder.  What I don't know is if they've tested JSSAM for internal carriage but even if they have I have to wonder if they have enough aircraft to take out all targets and even if the F-35 can designate its targets (although they will probably try and get around that problem by doing that "quarterback for the force bullshit they thrill the fanboys with).

My guess is that this is more a two-fer and not an actual move (at this time) against the North.

One part is to sell the idea to the N. Koreans that they will be facing unimaginable firepower unless they get their minds right and the second is that this is a passion play to Congress and the F-35 supporters to stay the course and to believe the fantasy that the F-35 is good and ready to go.

Even saying all that, this is an unbelievably provocative act.  Supoposedly China is working to help solve this crisis and they've already expressed their displeasure with the US redeclaring N. Korea a sponsor of terrorism.  How they will react to this move is anyone's guess but they're not the worry.

China will act responsibly.  They're gonna be a great enemy.  They're smart and tough and they should bring out our best if we're willing to meet the challenge.

The problem will be the N. Koreans.  Little fat boy will probably shit his pants when one of his generals (I'd love to see how they draw straws to see who delivers the news) enters the room to tell him that the Americans have launched aircraft, they're coming his way and there is nothing they can do to stop them (well...maybe use their cyber unit if ALIS is running!).  That's when a miscalculation can occur and I doubt the Chinese can talk him down from the ledge if he truly believes this is the night that we come to put his head on a pike for display outside Trump's white house.

This shouldn't be the kickoff of festivities to mark the beginning of Korea War 2...but we've seen world wars start on less.

Jesus! The FC-31 is looking like a beast!

FC-31V2 expands the application area of composite material skin compared to V1. pic.twitter.com/FTBfV7qTi9

— dafeng cao (@xinfengcao) November 24, 2017

Back off cowboy.  I know what I've said about the F-35.  I stand by every word too!  If the plane had come in on time and on budget then all would be roses in Marine land (not to mention the other services and our allies), but it didn't so I body slam the plane every chance I get.

Now turning to the FC-31.

Let make you a bet.  I bet the plane is not saddled with the weight problems that the F-35 has.  I bet the plane isn't going thru fucking purgatory trying to get it's "sensor fusion" together.

I bet the Chinese aren't letting the manufacturer bleed them dry for a few more dollars.

Later I'll try and find some articles on what the aviation experts are saying about the plane but to my eye it looks like a beast.

PLA Marines conducted live fire training in Djibouti national range on 23 Nov

Thanks to FormerDirtDart for the pics!

Just plain wow.  These pics serve two, maybe three purposes.  The first one I read loud and clear.  The Chinese have landed and they're gonna be a force to be reckoned with worldwide.  Leadership might be focused on Russia, but I've got my fangs out, nailed them into the floorboard and I'm focused like a laser on the China threat.

The second purpose is a message to the African continent.  They're there in force.  They're not just doing the Special Ops things with the crazy "raid dynamic".  If the Chinese decide to make a move on someone it will be with a fully mechanized force that is rolling hard, kicking ass and taking names.  They will be fast, they will hit hard (especially for the region they're in) and they will bring overwhelming firepower to whoever they decide to bring the pain to.

The last message is to the Chinese people.  This is an overt declaration that they are no longer just a regional power.  This is a show to their citizens that they have global aspirations.  In a more disciplined time the US would show the determination to rally round the flag and to do whatever is required to support that effort.  The US no longer lives in those times.  The Chinese do. This is (at least in my mind) a call to do what it takes to ensure China's rise.

I'll be monitoring Chinese message boards when I get up and going again to see what they're talking about, how they're viewing this and to see what the nationalistic minions are thinking the next step will be.

Make no mistake about it boys and girls.  Russia isn't the threat.  China is the clear and present danger to the very existence of the United States.

Syria is over? Good cause Ukraine is heating back up. Rebel leader says there was a coup attempt!

via GKmen.com

Breaking nearly a week of silence, Igor Plotnitsky, leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, claimed that former interior minister Igor Kornet "tried to seize power by force".
Kornet's followers seem to be calling the shots now, with reports his men have arrested the local prosecutor, a Plotnitsky ally, and continue to have the local television station surrounded.
Separatist leadership has been plagued by infighting.
Several high-profile commanders have been killed in the region in suspicious circumstances in what was widely viewed as power struggle.
Dozens of armed people in combat fatigues have deployed to main administrative buildings in Luhansk, a major city in rebel-controlled territories in eastern Ukraine, in a sign of a split in the rebel leadership.
Residents of Luhansk, capital of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LNR), saw unidentified armed men blocking access to downtown streets on Tuesday morning, according to local media and a resident of the city.

Story here. 

I don't want to!  I don't want to wade into the mess that is Ukraine because quite honestly I don't see ANYONE I should be cheering for.

Do I cheer for the Russians?  Conventional wisdom says that they have sparked an internal revolution. 

Do I cheer for the Ukrainian govt?  No way in hell.  I don't support Nazis.  No way, no fucking how. 

Do I cheer for rampant corruption?  That would mean I cheer for the Ukrainian govt that has Nazi Brigades fighting for them IN ADDITION to being corrupt beyond belief!

So let me tell ya where I'm at.

I don't care about Ukraine.  In my view its a relic of Hillary's failed State Dept attempt to do a color revolution that spiraled out of control and threatened to destroy the work that had been done to make Europe united and a contributing member of the world community...speaking with ONE voice.

My ideal solution would be for the US to simply get out of the way, let the Europeans and Russians come to some type of agreement/settlement of the issue and for the US to start a new tract with the Russians to put the Middle East back in its cage.

My solution has much chance of being a thing as a drop of water on heated steel in the middle of the desert on a bright sunny day.

So even though I DON'T WANT to follow the madness that is Ukraine, I think I'm gonna have to.

Stay tuned for the drama.  "As the world turns" ain't got nothing on real life Ukraine.

Morality Talk. Consumerism in the 2017 Christmas Season...

Personal disclosure.  I've been nursing sinuses and I thought a cold that just wouldn't quit for the past...well almost two weeks now.  This morning I messed around and woke up at 3am and found myself having trouble breathing.

I was in full freak mode.

What does that have to do with the title of this post?  Be patient...getting to that.  We made our way to the regional hospital emergency room and the staff were sold.

As usual they were dealing with the freaks of society.  Talking to a Sheriff's Deputy I got hit with stories of numerous family disturbances.  People that supposedly gathered to break bread and to share thanks suddenly lost their fucking minds and turned on each other like rabid dogs.  If that wasn't bad enough the usual "party" scene ended up with a couple of shootings, one guy definitely gonna die his body just didn't know it yet and the usual roundup of drunk drivers that the Sheriff, City and State Police always gather up at this time of the year.

After getting two shots in the ass for being stupid and not getting on top of this little bout of illness I continued the conversation while I was getting discharged.

One story was about a drunk driver that must have gone ape shit because he realized that he was following a Sheriff's Deputy and instead of using a little common sense (like pulling over, taking the key out of the ignition and getting in the backseat) he thought that stepping on the gas and running into the back of his cruiser would be a good idea.  I always wondered why they run with bull bumpers front AND back but now I know.  Idiot driver ended up totaling his little economy car, Cruiser was only in need of a fresh paint job to cover the scratch.

The second story was a bit more ominous...at least as far as my audience goes.

I don't consider myself old.  Nicely seasoned is how I label myself.  Just between young and dumb vs. old and stale.  Having said that I remember when "door buster" sales was actually a family affair.  You could go out with the little ones, shop for that toy that they had their eye on and not have to worry about getting trampled, runover in the parking lot or shot by some maniac that decided today was a good day for other people to die.

Those days are over.  Even in bumfuck Egypt Louisiana those days are gone. This morning and last nights tally?  I don't know if dude was bullshitting me but he said that 10 people had been trampled at freaking WALMART!  Of all places someone rushed the doors at Wally World?  Amazing!  At the local Mall their were numerous incidents of FIGHTS!

All that to buy some widgets and other items that they don't actually need, just THINK they want.

Consumerism.  When they right the epitaph of America it will be the rise of consumerism, the fall of self discipline and the lack of common sense.  This Christmas season, buy for your loved ones, be moderate with gifts to yourself but work toward just saying NO to rampant consumerism.