Trans Navy Seal Denounces Chelsea Manning

Former Navy Seal Kristin Beck, once part of the team that later hunted down Osama Bin Laden, slammed convicted wikileaker Chelsea (née Bradley) Manning today on her Facebook page - via Joe.My.God.:

What you wear, what color you are, your religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity has no basis on whether you are a CRIMINAL or NOT. For this person, whether male or female to use gender identity to act 'BADLY' is a slap in the face to me and everyone who does not fit the 'Binary Gender Norm.' It is not an excuse for anything illegal or unjust. This person took an oath to protect American interest and defend the constitution, and took additional oaths due to security clearances to protect information that leaders deem secret. There are legal avenues to whistle blow or bring attention to issues. THIS person is a liar and a thief and a traitor to many people. If Bradley is truly 'Chelsea' then 'she' is a traitor to ME personally. There is no excuse.

Beck published her memoir, Warrior Princess, earlier this year, recounting her life as a closeted transgender person while serving in one of the toughest military outfits anywhere. Here's an interview Anderson Cooper did with her after the book came out:

Isn't It Romantic

USA TODAY reports:

A Navy sailor returning from a six-month deployment emerged from his submarine, dropped to one knee and proposed to his boyfriend during the homecoming celebration in Connecticut for USS New Mexico.

About 200 people were gathered at the dock of the Naval Submarine Base New London where Machinist's Mate Jerrel Revels proposed to Dylan Kirchner. Kirchner said he had thought about getting married but the proposal Monday came as a surprise.

"I didn't really care everybody was around. It felt just like the two of us," Kirchner said.

The couple has not set a wedding date.

Sweet. Of course, your Head Trucker looks forward to the day when this sort of thing will not be at all newsworthy.

Half-Naked Sailors Swarm Up Greased Pole

In an annual tradition, members of the freshman class of 2015 at Annapolis yesterday climbed the 21-foot-high Herndon Monument, which was previously lubed with 200 pounds of lard by upperclassmen. The lads strained every muscle to get up there, and with a lot of sweaty teamwork succeeded in 2 hours, 10 minutes.

What they did afterward with all those well-lubed bodies is not stated.

Lesbian Couple Share Navy's First Kiss

History was made today, wonderful news. Story here:

As the homecoming drew near, the crew and ship’s family readiness group sold $1 raffle tickets for the first kiss. Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta bought 50 - which is actually fewer than many people buy, she said, so she was surprised Monday to find out she'd won.

Her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell, was waiting when she crossed the brow.

They kissed. The crowd cheered. And with that, another vestige of the policy that forced gays to serve in secrecy vanished.

Update, 9:45 pm: The NBC Nightly News covers the kiss and other aspects of our post-DADT military:

Pirates Beware!

Go ahead. Make my day, ye scurvy dogs. The U.S. Navy now has a brand new weapon just right for dealing with pirates and other coastal-water threats: the sporty new U.S.S. Freedom, LCS-1. The high-tech, automated craft is 378 feet long, 57 feet wide, with a 12-foot draft, but needs a crew of only 40.

The standard option package includes two Rolls-Royce gas turbine engines, a missle launcher, 57mm gun, two Seahawk helicopters, and 40-ft. high-speed boats. The $50-million ship, based in San Diego, is the first of a fleet of 50 designed to enhance the Navy's ability to deal with shallow-water missions around the world.

And the sucker can do more than 45 knots; that's 52 mph for us landlubbers. Daaaaayum.

"Drive it like you stole it," indeed. Avast!

Aye, aye, Captain!

Is it just me, or does anyone else think the brave Capt. Richard Phillips, now safely back home in Vermont after being rescued from his pirate kidnappers last week, would make a great addition to the Bear community?

Um, that is, if he weren't obviously straight as a board. Pity. Still, nice to see someone about my age and about my gray looking so good on the front pages all across the nation.

Actually, proud as I am of the Captain's efforts to ensure the safety of his crew, and his safe return home thanks to the U.S. Navy, this post is really an excuse to try out the new PicApp.com photo resource I just found. You other bloggers, take note: it lets you use stock photos on all kinds of current events and other subjects, and it's totally free. Pretty cool, check it out.

Catching Up to Speed

Just a note to let you guys know I'm still alive and well; just been a bit overloaded lately with one thing and another. But now spring is here, the sun is shining, birds are singing, and looks like I'll be getting back up to speed with this blog before too long.

Appreciate all your good thoughts and wishes, you guys are the best.

So many good things have been happening since I last posted; got to send a shout out to Iowa and Vermont, who both legalized queer love in recent weeks. And say, how 'bout them Navy SEALS who rescued our sea captain from the pirates last week? Way to go, men.

And 'course I'm proud as punch of our President and First Lady who wowwed the crowds all over Europe; even the Queen seemed impressed, and broke protocol a tiny bit to put a motherly arm around the First Lady. And hey, that surpise visit to the troops in Baghdad was a very cool idea. So are the beginnings of reform in healthcare, education, taxation, and the economy.

Yup, the 21st century is finally off to a good start. But here's two of today's news items that show how some folks just don't get it: while Obama unveiled a grand "Vision for High Speed Rail in America" - waaaaaaaaay long overdue in this country - the dumbshit, butthead Republican Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, mentally stuck on some 19th century woodburner, is stoking the flames of secessionist talk. Which is waaaaaaaaay out of date. Can you say Appomatox? He's just pissed because him and his money-grubbing Republican friends are getting turned out to pasture, no more feeding at the public trough while they send the working class down the chute to the slaughterhouse.

Meanwhile, even more out of date are the "Tea Party" tax protests that just took place around the country. Oh man, that is like sooooo 18th-century, ya know what I mean? And WTF are they hollering about, anyway? I just filed my tax return, and come to find out my taxes went down this year about 500 bucks or so. And besides, just where the hell were all these brilliant patriots when Dubya and his economic-royalist cronies were screwing up the economy royally and running this country straight into the ground, huh?


One news article I just saw quoted a protester at one of these tea parties, carrying a sign: "Welcome to Sweden." I nearly fell out of my chair laughing, we're not even close. And like, would that really be so effin' bad, pal? Sweden's way ahead of us in lots of good things, has been for years.

Although I have to say I kinda lean more towards the French model in a lot of ways - healthcare for everyone, the most energy-independent country in Europe, a 35-hour workweek - and the President made a point of praising the French high-speed rail system in his announcement today.

One final note: this doglover thinks Bo looks like a great pick for First Dog. Gotta love the rainbow lei, too. Haha.


That's all for now, guys. I'm not ready to start daily posting again just yet, but maybe soon. Meanwhile, good vibes to all y'all. Get out and have some fun, enjoy the beautiful weather and mild temps. I'll have to get you some pics of the garden the roommate and I been working on. Later guys . . . .