Here is a note that may be interesting to you and give you a further view that I cannot access. Let me know if you learn anything. Also, here is a bonus picture of a Iraqi tank, looks like it was meant for going through water, but it holds trash now....
Check this: www.voicesofiraq.com Voices of Iraq--movie
For a description, see this webpage: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,137112,00.html
Statcounter
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Works of Sam Wais
Here are more examples of this artist's work. Now that his group's tour is about up here, he strangely seems more intent on painting everything up even more, rather than calling it quites because he will be leaving it all behind soon. Perhaps his work will remain here for a very long time--a little piece of Hawaii here in Iraq. A lovely little legacy for the soldiers restricted here by the seeming impropriety of the need to participate in this war. Enjoy this part then, and zoom in if you can...
E
E
Hold Your Fire!
Sunday, pictures for loved-ones time! Everyone else is at work and the internet is free, time. Just yesterday, I noticed this new sign put up by the resident artist.
This group company of soldiers is based in Hawaii and this Sam Wais guy does some great wall art. Most of his work is oriented around the famliar items of their home island and is not to be taken seriously, like an office building painted up as "Bubba Gump's Shrimp Shack." So when I saw this new sign, I thought, "right!" But dropped my jaw as I saw this little entourage come along and execute a perfect right turn after coming up the sidewalk towards me and crossing...for us all to see. Talk about perfect timing. And since then, everyone has flocked in to see my pics...
The other pic, a typical mortar cannon, like the ones they use to shoot at us all the time. A smaller one, actually, as lately they have been quite huge! (see Bombs at our BBQ). Anyway, this is your Action Photographer, Ernie, out to migrate towards lunch!
This group company of soldiers is based in Hawaii and this Sam Wais guy does some great wall art. Most of his work is oriented around the famliar items of their home island and is not to be taken seriously, like an office building painted up as "Bubba Gump's Shrimp Shack." So when I saw this new sign, I thought, "right!" But dropped my jaw as I saw this little entourage come along and execute a perfect right turn after coming up the sidewalk towards me and crossing...for us all to see. Talk about perfect timing. And since then, everyone has flocked in to see my pics...
The other pic, a typical mortar cannon, like the ones they use to shoot at us all the time. A smaller one, actually, as lately they have been quite huge! (see Bombs at our BBQ). Anyway, this is your Action Photographer, Ernie, out to migrate towards lunch!
Did someone say...Rodeo?!
Is that yer steeeel hoss?
Iraq has the most amazing history in it...and under it. The other day some of the local nationals were on base filling up sand bags and the sergeant in charge noticed that they kept digging into these vases and had to throw them out of the way. Well, that stopped real quick because they were trashing artifacts hundreds, maybe thousands, of years old.
On base here there is an assortment of Saddam's antiquated artillery and even, as you can see, aircraft! Old mosques, including a mini-mosque, if only I could show you all the pictures!!! Anyone own a website with lots of space?
Also shown below is part of a typical cafeteria and if you can see in the picture, (I send bigger pictures than may be prudent for email because there is much in the details) is one of many posters sent over by American children wishing the soldiers well. Pretty cool stuff. The soldiers must always keep their weapons within reach when in uniform.
Eight seconds, and then it's my turn, cowboy!
Ernie
Iraq has the most amazing history in it...and under it. The other day some of the local nationals were on base filling up sand bags and the sergeant in charge noticed that they kept digging into these vases and had to throw them out of the way. Well, that stopped real quick because they were trashing artifacts hundreds, maybe thousands, of years old.
On base here there is an assortment of Saddam's antiquated artillery and even, as you can see, aircraft! Old mosques, including a mini-mosque, if only I could show you all the pictures!!! Anyone own a website with lots of space?
Also shown below is part of a typical cafeteria and if you can see in the picture, (I send bigger pictures than may be prudent for email because there is much in the details) is one of many posters sent over by American children wishing the soldiers well. Pretty cool stuff. The soldiers must always keep their weapons within reach when in uniform.
Eight seconds, and then it's my turn, cowboy!
Ernie
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Wild Wild (Middle-) East
When I was a child, I thought I was robbed (not literally) having missed the days of the Cowboys and Indians. What excitement, adventure, danger I must have missed! Perhaps that explains why it is so thrilling for me to be there, HERE. The parallels jump out at you, like a hold-up on a stage-coach!
Think about it. You got your arid dust, scorching sun, bad guys galore, and lots of men walking around this new settlement wearing their guns. There’s coiled-up critters waiting to ‘getcha’ and women few and far in between. They don’t wear a lot of make-up, if you know what I mean, and I’ve even seen a female in the mess hall with a gun strapped to her thigh. Not Calamity Jane, I think Tanya was her name. We’re all here trying to tame this wilderness.
Don’t go outside the circled wagons, I mean, tanks, or you might lose your scalp. There’s smoking and chewin’ tabacca --about the only vice allowed here. Country music, a-hem, is one of the staples around here. Lotta’ Bible-belt babies here with that southern drawl and darn if everybody don’t wear boots. At nights, since we don’t have running water in our cabins, er, hooches, and you can see us hustling off to the portable outhouse by moonlight, if you catch my drift.
So here I am, grinning sheepishly now that I’ve stepped out of my little time machine, called Continental Airlines. Maybe like the DeLorean in Back to the Future, I can’t make it back until I find something to power the flux capacitor. But in the meanwhile, a child-hood dream is what it seems. Here comes a HumVee trailing dust like a small herd of cattle. Better don my bandanna…and touch my fingers to my hat’s rim and nod slightly to acknowledge those sharp-shooting gun-slingers that help keep me, and all of us, safe. Another incredible day as I smile tautly and swagger off into the sunset ….
Think about it. You got your arid dust, scorching sun, bad guys galore, and lots of men walking around this new settlement wearing their guns. There’s coiled-up critters waiting to ‘getcha’ and women few and far in between. They don’t wear a lot of make-up, if you know what I mean, and I’ve even seen a female in the mess hall with a gun strapped to her thigh. Not Calamity Jane, I think Tanya was her name. We’re all here trying to tame this wilderness.
Don’t go outside the circled wagons, I mean, tanks, or you might lose your scalp. There’s smoking and chewin’ tabacca --about the only vice allowed here. Country music, a-hem, is one of the staples around here. Lotta’ Bible-belt babies here with that southern drawl and darn if everybody don’t wear boots. At nights, since we don’t have running water in our cabins, er, hooches, and you can see us hustling off to the portable outhouse by moonlight, if you catch my drift.
So here I am, grinning sheepishly now that I’ve stepped out of my little time machine, called Continental Airlines. Maybe like the DeLorean in Back to the Future, I can’t make it back until I find something to power the flux capacitor. But in the meanwhile, a child-hood dream is what it seems. Here comes a HumVee trailing dust like a small herd of cattle. Better don my bandanna…and touch my fingers to my hat’s rim and nod slightly to acknowledge those sharp-shooting gun-slingers that help keep me, and all of us, safe. Another incredible day as I smile tautly and swagger off into the sunset ….
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Bombs at our BBQ
Here are pics from our little (but interesting) BBQ. The first is the bomb squad removing a cylindrical object from where it bounced too whilst we were 80 yards away preparing some cold drinks. Pepsi's, mostly. To my chagrin, there was no milk. Oh. Back to the pic. The red container/trailer is where the soldiers were inside, by fluke that day, cleaning it out. The BBQ surprise cylinder hit the bottom right corner after its second bounce. They thought someone threw a rock at the container to scare them, so they weren't scared until they stepped out. Then they were very happy that they could step out and then get some immediate aerobic exercise. Yes, they hot-footed it over to our BBQ, if you get my drift. If not, then this joke bombed. As it were.
So the next pic shows a happy soldier with his plate full of meat--the cake and trimmin's were in a covered area near by. Notice also his sun-burned face except where his goggles were--must be a gunner up on the turret of a combat vehicle. Or he rides one of those golf carts around all day. Also on display is one of our BBQ units, not available at Walmart but common where ever barrels, men, and welding equipment can be found. And spare time, as you can witness by my comrades (co-workers) found in repose in the shade behind that HumVee. Finally, I may mention the high cement walls often place around buildings to stop things like, say, bouncing bombs. Good stuff. All right, time for a cold MRE (Meals Ready to Eat). It was warm when I started this letter, but that was then...
This is now. Don't forget to vote next week.
Ernie
So the next pic shows a happy soldier with his plate full of meat--the cake and trimmin's were in a covered area near by. Notice also his sun-burned face except where his goggles were--must be a gunner up on the turret of a combat vehicle. Or he rides one of those golf carts around all day. Also on display is one of our BBQ units, not available at Walmart but common where ever barrels, men, and welding equipment can be found. And spare time, as you can witness by my comrades (co-workers) found in repose in the shade behind that HumVee. Finally, I may mention the high cement walls often place around buildings to stop things like, say, bouncing bombs. Good stuff. All right, time for a cold MRE (Meals Ready to Eat). It was warm when I started this letter, but that was then...
This is now. Don't forget to vote next week.
Ernie
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Recall
Hello!
I'm afraid I must apologize. I realize that things that are of great interest and fit well within my comfort range may be quite stressful to you and cause undue worry. So I will refrain from my view of yesterday's events at the BBQ and try for just a general summation.
We were having this BBQ when we heard the unmistakable sound of incoming. A projectile of some size bounced a few times (instead of blowing up) and was stopped by banging into a container that, only coincidentally by the way, was full of soldiers cleaning it up. They thought someone was being mean and throwing rocks against the walls to scare them.
Obviously if the projectile had done its job at any point it may have been serious bad stuff. The path it went was uncanny though as well as its ultimate uselessness. I consider it a blessing I see over and over: The thing was incorrectly used by the bad guys and seemed guided in the things it missed. Blessed that they are so desperate that the things they try usually end up being duds.
I will give you an example. The bad guys will wrap electricians tape around a mortar because they think the Americans have an electrical shield on their vehicles and they've been told that by wrapping the tape around the mortar, they can defeat the "electron shield." Guess they've been watching too much Star Trek.
Anyway, I will try to be more careful about everyone's feelings in the future. I am profoundly affected by the things I see here and try to share my wonderment. Perhaps after my return the pics and short movie clips I have will reveal many parts of the experience in a "that's behind us" manner for those who are even interested. I think I'll make a DVD.
Alright! Suffice it to say that things seem to be better already as the military put some pressure on the bad guys. Saw several blindfolded prisoners come in recently. This is good news and there is lots of it.
Miss you and have a great day!!
Ernie
I'm afraid I must apologize. I realize that things that are of great interest and fit well within my comfort range may be quite stressful to you and cause undue worry. So I will refrain from my view of yesterday's events at the BBQ and try for just a general summation.
We were having this BBQ when we heard the unmistakable sound of incoming. A projectile of some size bounced a few times (instead of blowing up) and was stopped by banging into a container that, only coincidentally by the way, was full of soldiers cleaning it up. They thought someone was being mean and throwing rocks against the walls to scare them.
Obviously if the projectile had done its job at any point it may have been serious bad stuff. The path it went was uncanny though as well as its ultimate uselessness. I consider it a blessing I see over and over: The thing was incorrectly used by the bad guys and seemed guided in the things it missed. Blessed that they are so desperate that the things they try usually end up being duds.
I will give you an example. The bad guys will wrap electricians tape around a mortar because they think the Americans have an electrical shield on their vehicles and they've been told that by wrapping the tape around the mortar, they can defeat the "electron shield." Guess they've been watching too much Star Trek.
Anyway, I will try to be more careful about everyone's feelings in the future. I am profoundly affected by the things I see here and try to share my wonderment. Perhaps after my return the pics and short movie clips I have will reveal many parts of the experience in a "that's behind us" manner for those who are even interested. I think I'll make a DVD.
Alright! Suffice it to say that things seem to be better already as the military put some pressure on the bad guys. Saw several blindfolded prisoners come in recently. This is good news and there is lots of it.
Miss you and have a great day!!
Ernie
Monday, October 25, 2004
Chillin'
Tonight we had to don sweatshirts and it felt like Fall. We were hitting 98 during the day earlier in the week but recently it has only gone up to 85 during the day. After going for weeks with pure sunshine, we are experiencing days with part cloud-cover as well. This time of the year is actually very nice...relatively speaking.
For those of you who are curious, I check Foxnews.com daily, for the most part, to keep up on current events in American. I know about freak snow storms in California and elections and of course I watch the stock market almost every day. Except weekends when it's closed. But sometimes then.
Anyway, today was a great day for checking letters and emails and writing letters and scripture and my crew kinda took the day off for a BBQ since the work was slow. We had an amazing experience today and I'm trying to get some pictures lined up so stayed tuned for our next transmission....Bombs at our BBQ!
Found out that my shop foreman married an inactive Mormon and his dad was a Mormon too. He prays everyday over his food and is a good family man. When we had....bombs at our BBQ today, he too saw the hand of God in the constant miracles protecting us here. Very cool.
Alright, gotta go for now. God bless America, and God bless Iraq, I say! Stay safe,
Ernie
For those of you who are curious, I check Foxnews.com daily, for the most part, to keep up on current events in American. I know about freak snow storms in California and elections and of course I watch the stock market almost every day. Except weekends when it's closed. But sometimes then.
Anyway, today was a great day for checking letters and emails and writing letters and scripture and my crew kinda took the day off for a BBQ since the work was slow. We had an amazing experience today and I'm trying to get some pictures lined up so stayed tuned for our next transmission....Bombs at our BBQ!
Found out that my shop foreman married an inactive Mormon and his dad was a Mormon too. He prays everyday over his food and is a good family man. When we had....bombs at our BBQ today, he too saw the hand of God in the constant miracles protecting us here. Very cool.
Alright, gotta go for now. God bless America, and God bless Iraq, I say! Stay safe,
Ernie
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Red Alert
I suppose it has been too quiet since I got here 3 weeks ago. One red alert (incoming) a week until Ramadan. Now every day at least one. Ramadan, the fourth pillar of Islam. Darned if I know what the other 3 are!
During Ramadan, Muslims come to Iftar: moving toward self and nature. During daylight hours, practicing Iraqis abstain from food, drink, smoking, swearing, speaking ill, speaking unnecessary words, and, well, sexual activity. But once night falls....
Out of courtesy we are encouraged not to partake of these things in front of them during the day. I don't, for the most part, anyway. We are also warned that they are hungry and tired (party all night) and may therefore be grumpy and to not hold it against them.
ON the evening of Oct. 27 Muslims celebrate Laylat-al-Qadr (The Night of Power!) -- Expect celebratory gunfire!! I can hardly wait. We are to wish all Iraqi's a "Happy Ramadan" and "Happy Eid al-Fitr" from Nov. 12th. Like I'm going to remember how to say that...
But apparently the "evil zealots" as I will call them take all religious times as a good time to savage their enemies, if possible. The crescent moon is also symbolic to them and we got one of those too. Expect more than celebratory gunfire.
Sorry for a "darker" rendition of email but it's part of the big picture, thought you might want to know. Worse, increasingly the weapon of choice against coalition and Iraqi police is the IED, or Improvised Explosive Device. (It is more accurate and deadly) They hide them in a pit on the road and cover it with asphalt to hide it or in piles of garbage or even in dead dogs, for example. They hide and trigger it as vehicle drives over or by it with a cell phone or vehicle remote.
2 guys from the unit we work for were badly hurt by one recently and flown off to Germany for hospital care. It seems so often that it was a miracle they weren't worse or dead. Their cab was obliterated by shrapnel, an effective hit, but I've heard so many stories of miracle misses or saved life that I must believe in a higher power operating here in this crazy combat zone.
The ray of hope? I understand the we have our own remote device to detonate the IED's BEFORE we hit them. Leadership is in the process of being sold on it.
OK, more tomorrow, I hope, on more pleasant things, I hope! Take care over there,
Ernie
During Ramadan, Muslims come to Iftar: moving toward self and nature. During daylight hours, practicing Iraqis abstain from food, drink, smoking, swearing, speaking ill, speaking unnecessary words, and, well, sexual activity. But once night falls....
Out of courtesy we are encouraged not to partake of these things in front of them during the day. I don't, for the most part, anyway. We are also warned that they are hungry and tired (party all night) and may therefore be grumpy and to not hold it against them.
ON the evening of Oct. 27 Muslims celebrate Laylat-al-Qadr (The Night of Power!) -- Expect celebratory gunfire!! I can hardly wait. We are to wish all Iraqi's a "Happy Ramadan" and "Happy Eid al-Fitr" from Nov. 12th. Like I'm going to remember how to say that...
But apparently the "evil zealots" as I will call them take all religious times as a good time to savage their enemies, if possible. The crescent moon is also symbolic to them and we got one of those too. Expect more than celebratory gunfire.
Sorry for a "darker" rendition of email but it's part of the big picture, thought you might want to know. Worse, increasingly the weapon of choice against coalition and Iraqi police is the IED, or Improvised Explosive Device. (It is more accurate and deadly) They hide them in a pit on the road and cover it with asphalt to hide it or in piles of garbage or even in dead dogs, for example. They hide and trigger it as vehicle drives over or by it with a cell phone or vehicle remote.
2 guys from the unit we work for were badly hurt by one recently and flown off to Germany for hospital care. It seems so often that it was a miracle they weren't worse or dead. Their cab was obliterated by shrapnel, an effective hit, but I've heard so many stories of miracle misses or saved life that I must believe in a higher power operating here in this crazy combat zone.
The ray of hope? I understand the we have our own remote device to detonate the IED's BEFORE we hit them. Leadership is in the process of being sold on it.
OK, more tomorrow, I hope, on more pleasant things, I hope! Take care over there,
Ernie
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Let's Talk About...
...the Weather!
The last week has been very nice here! What are the chances of that?! Probably not even hitting a hundred degrees during the day and practically cool at nights. Very nice Fall weather here in Kirkuk. We even had clouds, not once, but three days this week! Partly cloudy. For instance, see this beautiful sunrise from this morning below.
Notice also the radar truck on the hill to the right and the trailers below, typical of what we live in. the second pic, is of course, another lovely "warning poster" found on the walls of one of our shops. I still find them amusing and apparently some of you did too!
So, we were supposed to do AOA (add-on armor) to Humvees to protect the soldiers better. But we've pretty much burned through the 80 kits that were here and so we are picking up regular mechanic work on similar vehicles.
Since most of the boys here are....well, boys, I spend time telling/showing them how to fix their vehicles better, faster. The new plan is for us to have our own shop and do it all ourselves. However, at this point I am also "training" a few of our own crew, who came in with less than expert expertise, as it were.
So it's kind of a pioneer program--we are the first and will set up what will probably be a new but on-going program to support the military, freeing them up to do what they do best: Kill people and break things; bringing freedom and liberation to these poor people in the process. Ironic, isn't it?
The army brings local Iraqi contractors in to do electrician work and cleaning, for example. The Iraqis I've met are very courteous and pleasant people. They seem to be prospering in their new freedom, often entrepreneurial. I kinda like them. The kids seem enamored by the armored Americans and wave often.
Have a great Saturday, and we'll see you tomorrow, my talk for church almost ready...
Ernie
The last week has been very nice here! What are the chances of that?! Probably not even hitting a hundred degrees during the day and practically cool at nights. Very nice Fall weather here in Kirkuk. We even had clouds, not once, but three days this week! Partly cloudy. For instance, see this beautiful sunrise from this morning below.
Notice also the radar truck on the hill to the right and the trailers below, typical of what we live in. the second pic, is of course, another lovely "warning poster" found on the walls of one of our shops. I still find them amusing and apparently some of you did too!
So, we were supposed to do AOA (add-on armor) to Humvees to protect the soldiers better. But we've pretty much burned through the 80 kits that were here and so we are picking up regular mechanic work on similar vehicles.
Since most of the boys here are....well, boys, I spend time telling/showing them how to fix their vehicles better, faster. The new plan is for us to have our own shop and do it all ourselves. However, at this point I am also "training" a few of our own crew, who came in with less than expert expertise, as it were.
So it's kind of a pioneer program--we are the first and will set up what will probably be a new but on-going program to support the military, freeing them up to do what they do best: Kill people and break things; bringing freedom and liberation to these poor people in the process. Ironic, isn't it?
The army brings local Iraqi contractors in to do electrician work and cleaning, for example. The Iraqis I've met are very courteous and pleasant people. They seem to be prospering in their new freedom, often entrepreneurial. I kinda like them. The kids seem enamored by the armored Americans and wave often.
Have a great Saturday, and we'll see you tomorrow, my talk for church almost ready...
Ernie
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