Went with the wife to a Japanese food store today.  While she was shopping for noodles, seaweed, crawly things from the ocean, and various sauces, I managed  to acquire a nice selection of Asahi, Suntory, and Sapporo beers.

My doctor told me that I may be lactose intolerant.  I checked the labels and none of the above beers contains lactose.

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Conjoined twins walk into a pub in Sydney and park themselves on a bar stool. One of them says to the bartender, "don't mind us,we're joined at the hip, I'm John and he's Jim. Two VB, thanks"

The bartender, feeling slightly awkward, tries to make polite conversation while pouring the beers "been on holiday yet, lads?"

"Off to the states next month" says John, "we go to the states every year, hire a car, and drive for miles, don't we Jim? Jim agrees

"Ah the states" says the bartender, "wonderful country, the climate, the beer, the culture"

"Nah we don't like that American crap" says John, "Pies, peas, and VB, that's us, eh Jim? And we can't stand the Yanks, they're so arrogant and crude, not civil and polite like us Aussies"

"so why keep going to the States" asked the bartender?

"It's the only chance Jim gets to drive"

FY 2013 DoD Budget Details

In anticipation of the Administration's FY 2023 budget request, which goes to Capitol Hill on February 13th, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Army General Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, held a press conference yesterday to discuss achieving $480 billion in Defense budget cuts over the next 10 years, beginning in 2013. Panetta indicated that the cost of military personnel has grown at an unsustainable rate and the Department of Defense (DoD) must get healthcare costs under control. The proposed solutions include:

• TRICARE fee increases for retirees under age 65 using a tiered approach based on retired pay that requires senior-grade retirees to pay more;
• A new enrollment fee for TRICARE-for-life retirees, with rates also based on retired pay levels;
• Increases in pharmacy co-pays that…

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We had just secured from general quarters when it happened! “Class C fire in Main Control, away the duty electrician, away the flying squad.” came the announcement over the 1MC. As with most class C fires once power was secured the fire was declared out, the flying squad secured and within a very short time normalcy was restored. Well almost! Seems the cause of this class C fire was an electric motor shorting out and burning up; the electric motor that drove the brine pump on No.1 set of evaporators. Our ability to produce feed water and fresh water from seawater had just been cut by 50%. We were going on Water Hours.

Now if anyone has not ever had the pleasure of water hours - it’s not pleasant. A ship has these little miracle workers called evaporators; through the magic of vaporization and condensation under low pressures, seawater is converted to feed water for the ships boilers and fresh water for the crew. Few ships had the luxury of an extra set of evaporators so the…

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Marine's career over for ordering troops to kill a civilian tractor. ROE's you know...

http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/2012/01/marines-career-threatened-controversial-rules-engagement/2127401

Navy to let ousted captain of Yokosuka-based ship to get 'honorable' retirement

Stars and Stripes

Published: January 8, 2012

                       

Capt. Holly Graf

U.S. Navy

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan – A former ship captain fired from her post for “cruelty and maltreatment” of her subordinates will be allowed to retire from the Navy under honorable circumstances, officials said Saturday.

Capt. Holly Graf, who was removed from command of the Yokosuka-based guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens in January 2010, will also retain her O-6 rank upon retirement, according to a statement from Juan Garcia, secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=SS-sWdAQsYg&vq=medium

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep,
Its own appointed limits keep.
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea! Amen.
Eternal Father, lend Thy grace To
those with wings who fly thro' space,
Thro wind and storm, thro' sun and rain,
Oh bring them safely home again.
Oh Father, hear an humble prayer,
For those in peril in the air! Amen.
Oh Trinity of love and pow'r,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour,
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them where so e'er they go.
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea! Amen.

Great collection of Japan shortly after WWII. 

http://www.berettaconsulting.com/barbarossa/Pater%20Scans/Japan_1952-3/index.html