Happy Thanksgiving from Florida Cracker.
May you enjoy a more bountiful table than this and remember to use the correct utensils.
Wail on, Skydog!
It is possible to tie-dye a t-shirt to match your hair.
Wail on, Skydog!
And a close-up:
Or two. Apparently this was done with just his officer sidearms:
**With updates**
A military mental health doctor facing deployment overseas opened fire at the Fort Hood Army base on Thursday, setting off on a rampage that killed 11 other people and left 31 wounded. Authorities killed the gunman, and the violence was believed to be the worst mass shooting in history at a U.S. military base.The shooting began around 1:30 p.m., when shots were fired at the base's Soldier Readiness Center, where soldiers who are about to be deployed or who are returning undergo medical screening, said Lt. Gen. Bob Cone at Fort Hood.
"It's a terrible tragedy. It's stunning," Cone said.
A law enforcement official identified the shooting suspect as Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Two other soldiers taken into custody following the deadly rampage were later released, the office of a Texas congressman said. A spokesman for Rep. John Carter says Fort Hood officials informed Carter's office of the release. Carter's congressional district includes the Army base.
A Fort Hood spokesman could not confirm that the two had been released.
It was unclear what the motive was. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said the Army major was about to deploy overseas, though it was unclear if he was headed to Iraq or Afghanistan and when he was scheduled to leave. Hutchison said she was told about the upcoming deployment by generals based at Fort Hood.
Military officials say Hasan, 39, was a psychiatrist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for six years before being transferred to the Texas base in July. The officials, who had access to Hasan's military record, said he received a poor performance evaluation while at Walter Reed. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because military records are confidential.
The Virginia-born soldier was single with no children. He graduated from Virginia Tech, where he was a member of the ROTC and earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry in 1997. He received his medical degree from the military's Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., in 2001. At Walter Reed, he did his internship, residency and a fellowship.
Officials were investigating whether Hasan was his birth name or if he may have changed his name, possibly as part of a conversion to Islam. However, they were not certain of his religion.
Our thoughts and prayers with the victims and their families tonight.
UPDATE:
The gunman's still alive, and in additional to being a mass-murdering shitheel, also had no allegiance to the country he was born in and couldn't get a woman:
Hasan attended prayers regularly when he lived outside Washington, often in his Army uniform, said Faizul Khan, a former imam at a mosque Hasan attended in Silver Spring, Md. He said Hasan was a lifelong Muslim."I got the impression that he was a committed soldier," Khan said. He spoke often with Hasan about Hasan's desire for a wife.
On a form filled out by those seeking spouses through a program at the mosque, Hasan listed his birthplace as Arlington, Va., but his nationality as Palestinian, Khan said.
"I don't know why he listed Palestinian," Khan said, "He was not born in Palestine."
UPDATE II:
Hasan shouted "Allahu Akbar!" before attacking. I guess that's to make sure Allah gives him a cookie:
Soldiers who witnessed the shooting rampage at Fort Hood that left 13 people dead reported that the gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar!" before opening fire, the base commander said Friday.Lt. Gen. Robert Cone said officials had not yet confirmed that the suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, made the comment, which is Arabic for "God is great!" before the rampage Thursday, which left 30 people wounded, including the gunman.
UPDATE III:
Sgt. Kimberly Munley, you're awesome:
Sgt. Kimberly Munley is being hailed as a hero. The Civilian officer shot suspected gunman, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan four times to end his killing spree, even though she was wounded from gunfire from the same suspect. Police Sgt. Kimberly Munley is credited with ending the Fort Hood mass shooting before even more people were killed.She is hospitalized now and a spokesman said the hero is in a stable condition in a nearby community hospital. According to a report from the New York Daily News, the civilian police officer raced into the building where the shots were being fired and caught Hasan as he was rounding a corner.
Though it reads like Hollywood, it was a real life shoot-out and the police officer used her training and delivered four shots into the suspect while taking fire. She was hit at least one time. Both have survived the exchange. Thirteen others were killed but many were saved by Munley's bravery and service.
Deputy Jennifer Fulford, Sgt. Kimberly Munley...I need one more for my Princess of Power trifecta. Fantastic work, officers.
In this photo she's getting her picture taken with musician Dierks Bentley. He might want to go back down there and get his picture taken with her.
My sister keeps contacting me expressing interest in this case.
Pilar was a 4-year old girl who disappeared in 1999 from Punta Gorda, the city just north of my hometown. She was with her babysitter and the babysitter's boyfriend at the time. Law enforcement suspect the boyfriend, but have never been able to make a case or find the body. The boyfriend is a former step-son of the deceased brother of my deceased brother-in-law and is well-known to some members of my family. A few months ago, at the behest of my sister, a family member contacted Crimestoppers about conversations heard. Pilar's case has been reopened and homicide detectives have paid a call. I hope Pilar's remains are found and that whoever harmed her is punished:
Florida authorities are using cadaver dogs and ground penetration radar in a grim search they hope - or fear - could solve the 10-year-old disappearance of little Pilar Rodriguez.The 4-year-old girl disappeared in 1999 during a two-week long visit to Punta Gorda with her babysitter Melissa Cooper. They went to the family home of Cooper's boyfriend, Keith Allen Wilson.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office began combing an eight acre property in Punta Gorda today that belongs to Wilson's grandmother.
The decade old cold case heated up with a tip, Sheriff Bill Cameron told ABCNews.com. He would not discuss or characterize the tip.
Another from the Shafer music fest with Delaney and Bonnie
Wail on, Skydog!
And the close-up:
Sorry, non-velvet.
Robert Plant Nearly Mauled By Duane Allman
Robert Plant dodged a bullet in the form of the late Duane Allman during Led Zeppelin's first American tour. In a new revelation, drummer Butch Trucks says that when the Allman Brothers Band shared a bill with Zeppelin, Duane took strong exception to Plant's "ballet"-like stage routine and attire."Robert Plant starts running all over the stage with his velvet pants on, and we were all looking at each other, like 'What the f--- is this?'" Trucks told Relix magazine. "It was as much about the ballet and the costumes as about the music, if not more so."
"Duane got up and said, 'I'm either going to go up there and kick the f--- out of that guy or we're leaving.' And we all got up and left," Trucks explained. "It just infuriated Duane. He was so let down by one of his gods."
However while that story was all over the place this one wasn't...
Dickey Betts Says Butch Trucks Fabricated Duane Allman-Robert Plant Feud
Former Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts has blasted the band's drummer Butch Trucks -accusing him of fabricating a clash between late rock legend Duane Allman and Robert Plant.
In a recent interview with Relix magazine, Trucks recalled Allman's alleged fury over seeing Led Zeppelin rocker Plant prancing around on stage in velvet trousers during a concert in 1969. He claimed his former bandmate had to be held back from attacking Plant after the stage antics,and had lost all respect for his idol.
Trucks said: "Robert Plant starts running all over the stage with his velvet pants on, and we were all looking at each other, (like) 'What the f--k is this?'
"It was as much about the ballet and the costumes as about the music, if not more so... Duane got up and said, 'I'm either going to go up there and kick the f-k out of that guy or we're leaving.' And we all got up and left. It just infuriated Duane. He was so let down by one of his gods."
But Betts, who left the Allman Brothers Band in 2000, is standing up for Allman - insisting the rocker wasn't "narrow-minded".
He tells the New York Post, "I know Duane didn't feel that way and never said that. We loved (Led Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy) Page and those guys. It's ludicrous. And it's not fair to Duane Allman, who has passed away and can't speak for himself. He had velvet pants himself.
