Bansenshukai

I felt the same amount of moral arrogance not too long ago. I used to think the same thing you just posted. Why? Because I make very good money and live quite well. That put me on the "moral high ground" and I could look down on the "others" and decree as such. But, I've seen some exceptions, brother. A person that buys a house may not anticipate a financial melt down that takes away his/her livelyhood. That person figures that his wife, who is facing surgery and can't work, will be OK because of his well paying job. Until it goes away. So, I too said what you wrote above many times. Then, I saw it happen to someone I know, whose work ethic I know. Then, my judgemental arrogance came into question. I have since adjusted into a more measured point of view. I must admit, however, that a large segment of the population did bite at the sub-prime mortage bit years ago. If one must budget tightly just to make the bills and the mortage at the end of the month, then that person bought too much house. I've seen that as well. Those that are out due to that are directly responsible for their financial state. In the end, maybe Capitalism is a strange form of Darwinism. Those of us that survive its chaos were maybe meant to survive after all.

This is not about political parties. It's about "enough is enough" with the double standards. In fact, if you dig enough, you'll find that both sides of political aisle is replete with tax cheats. To think otherwise, or that this is just "media bias" is quite naive. What I pay in taxes in a year equals to about half of an average worker's yearly salary. If I can find time to pay my taxes, then the very law makers and policy makers that labor so much to use that tax revenue should be the first in line to file their taxes correctly. The reason this is such a big deal is that normal American citizens are sick of the double standard. It's not that a person can't reasonably overlook filing taxes properly. The difference is that for us, like your "backside reamed" Joe "The Plumber", if we don't pay our taxes, we can be hounded by the IRS, are forced to pay our back taxes, plus interest, plus the penalties. This guy, just "discovered" the oversight ... what a coincidence. And, Joe The Plumber is not a lawmaker, nor a policy advisor to the highest office on the land. Put it this way, Joe the Plumber got audited - by sheer coincidence (if you believe in those) just after he became some kind of silly symbol for the Republican Party. And, what did they find ... a whopping $1,200 oversight (about three really good reps, maybe four). This last guy only discovered this recently? So, if he was not nominated, he would have never been discovered? So, about how many members of Congress actually get audited per year by the IRS (excluding anything tied to a vetting process)? That number, I guarantee is quite low if it's not zero. And, that's what got close to 60% of the American people (Republicans, Conservatives, Democrats, Independents, etc.) up in arms. And, I really don't think the media was biased towards Joe "The Plumber". For the exception of the usual Conservative Talk Show hosts, he was portrayed as an item of marketting propelled to fame by a desperate loosing Republican Campaign. In fact, the tax thing with that clown was all over once it came out. I vividly remember that.

Possibly my shortest response to any thread on any forum: She's a freaking idiot!

Bose hands down!!! They are the best I have ever used.

I also love the "honest mistake" bit. Right! I'm sure the IRS will forgive my honest mistakes too. There appear to be two sets of tax law. Unfortunately, for those that love Obama - and everything he was marketed to be able to accomplish - this will mean little, if anything. The man can't make mistakes. For those that hate him, this means he's an idiot. I subscribe to neither point of view. But, this does prove to me that ultimately, Obama is a politician who did and said what was required of him to get elected. I still have high hopes for him because we need a strong leader, especially now. Besides, the man is truly brilliant. But, his exeptions to his own rules (no lobbyists) and these two high level appointments have me thinking he's in dire need of quick on the job training. Or, he believes that he has earned enough political capita among the citizens that he can slide this stuff by for now. And, don't even get me started on the "Stimulus Package" that is just replete with programs that have little to no impact in the actual economy. As a home owner, I will not see any benefit from this "Stimulus". Thank God I don't need it. However, I have a close friend that is in danger of foreclosure and she will not see any benefit from this legislation, as is, for a loooong time - by then, it'll be too late. Very little is actually making sense lately.

I was there 3 yrs ago. I very much miss the place.

Awesome. So, what do you do for a living there? By the way, I used to live in Los Rosales. I used to enjoy walking down to La Zona Rosa on Friday afternoons, stay in one of the hotels adjacent to Parque 93 for the night (usually Pavillion Suites, near the San Angel bar) and go to the up scale Salto Del Angel night club to pick up company for the night. Favorite restaurant, was probably the sushi restaruant near Parque 93 (don't remember the name). But, my favorite cafe, was the Renault Cafe right next to it. I'm nostalgic now.

Kilo, I remember walking en route to the "Atlantis" shopping center - in Bogota - and being stopped on the street by a rep salesman. At the time, I had an Omega Seamaster (gen) and I compared it to his rep ... utterly worthless. But, that was way before I found this forum. Are you a native of Colombia? Or, a team guy chilling in Bogota? Take care, bro.

I'm in.

Which is why I no longer purchase of the "Cartel". I purchase off other members of this web forum that happen to reside in CONUS. If they purchased from the "Cartel" that's their business. Certainly, I spent thousands on Josh alone before I saw the proverbial light.

I thought this post had something to do with "Tigger" from "Winnie the Poo", hence the thread title. Congratulations on the watch. May it take you many places and on time.

Jesus would have been wearing a gen Panerai. But, in all seriousness, you did the right thing, brother.

Directed at me? Don't worry, I don't need a hug over that. LOL. Point taken. But, I certainly don't agree. Great input; thank you.

I'm latino and I find no problem with that comment. Many people nowadays are a bunch of weak hearted individuals that need to be held and hugged way too often for my taste. Heck, among ourselves - latinos and other minorities that I have hung out with - we make some of the most "racist" comments about ourselves and others than most of you have ever heard. It is not correct that it is OK for us, but not for some "white guy". That's pure horse sh*t and it is exactly the reason way some people are so race sensitive. Come on people, we have more in common than we acknowledge. Some people need to relax.

I've trained on the NTS, but a significant number of miles from Area 51 and based on what I saw there, and what I have seen in the training sites in Fallon, NV, that looks like a bunker structure where munitions are likely stored; nothing more.

Invicta makes some impressive watches for the price. Their Submariner homages are changing as well and are a good deal for the price. I especially like their variations of the Submariner homages, such as the "chocolate" brown bezel with a black mother-of-pearl dial. I try to stay away from their non-Swiss made watches, but even those are OK. My biggest criticism of Invicta is their Quality Control and their Customer Service Department. I own several Invicta watches, to include one limited edition COSC certified Chronograph. To be honest, they get as much wear as my reps and gens. Strangely, my best performing watch to date is not one of my Rolex or Omega gens, nor an Invicta, but my Rolex Yachtmaster rep (three years and running COSC accurate so far - I acquired it for only $220). I like Invicta a lot (my wife loves them). If they fixed up their QC and CS as well as stayed away from those ugly diamond encrusted offerings, they would be dearer to my heart. Around this board, Invicta is given less respect than replicas (LOL). I'm not sure why that is. Saying "I like Invictas" is like saying "I'm a Trekkie".

The Paraguayan Special Troops Battalion (their "Special Forces") is roughly equivalent to a light infantry battalion from either the US or the UK. However, their capability is poor; but, not poorer than the ability of their leadership to implement them properly. Most of their equipment is in disrepair and whatever money is allocated to them via the Paraguayan Congressional funding is usually misappropriated to the point that nearly nothing makes it to the men. Even worse is their skills retention. When their soldiers are trained by partner nations, say the Brazilian Special Forces (and, honestly, Brazil has a top-notch SOF program), the skills they attain are not retained for more than six months to a year. By then, the personnel are dispersed to other units and the training investment usually generates no significant return. I never really noticed a particular drinking problem in the unit. But, worse than that, their soldiers are more adept at landscaping their generals' office lawns than shooting their Chinese copy of the M-16 rifle.

That was an awesome post!!! LOL

The question offered in this topic is unanswerable. I have personally worked with five different special operations organizations from around the world and the Australians and Canadians stand out, as well as our own SOF (but I'm in the latter organization so I'm biased, of course). I have made that personal assessment from experience in combat overseas and not on Discovery Channel specials, or Hollywood films. The question is one of capability and application. And, honestly, all SOF worldwide have had moments of catastrophic failure, even the Israeli SOF - it is a matter of how open the country is and how much it reveals to the media. Also, the Mossad is an intelligence gathering organization and, like many others, may have a "direct action" arm, or may task a DA mission to other capable forces within its military SOF branches. However, the publicly acknowledged Israeli SOF is comprised of Sayeret Matkal, Sayeret Golani, Sarayet Shaldat and Sarayet 13, for example. All these units have a reconnaissance aspect to them, as well as "direct action" capabilities. Then, of course, there are units that are not known on any media and perform amazing tasks - nearly every well-developed military have units such as these. Also, the premier US elite counter-terrorist unit (referred to here by a name that is no longer used by that organization) does not draw the best personnel from every branch of service; it is strictly a US Army unit. If an applicant wants to join, and he is from another branch of service, even another branch

You, I know it's crazy, but I've never taken off a rep in the shower because I was afraid of the "waterproofness" of the watch. In fact, I've taken almost every "diver" rep to the beach and/or the pool, and actually dove a few meters in the water with them. And, not just for a while, but for the entire day. The only time I've seen a problem with this is when my wife had set her Rolex TT Datejust just prior to leaving for the beach and DID NOT screw the crown in for some reason - obviously, she forgot. So, the watch was essentially ruined (which is what I would expect from my gens in the same situation). I've taken the following reps under water, and none have been tested, that I know: Panerai Tantalium, Rolex Submariner ("Perfect" Sub), Omega UPO, Rolex Yachtmaster Rolessium. All got all of these watches from Josh around 2006. I don't know about the quality control now, but, I've read it's gotten worse. In any case, I don't recommend doing it, but, I have plenty of gens and reps, and to me, I don't take these reps too seriously. If one "drowns", I'm not going to cry about it. Heck, if I have to take it off to shower, or at the beach, I'm better off buying an Invicta. LOL

Ok, let me see if I get this straight: Someone buys a watch box and manual valued, quite possibly, more than the rep that she is trying to pass off as a gen and she does this "unknowingly"? Then, when spooked, she comes up with a real tear jerker and now we feel bad? You have to be kidding me. I have no sympathy for her. Con people are masters at exactly that, manipulating others by taking advantage of their ignorance and/or feelings. They are truly master psychologists. And, look in this specific case ... it works!

I don't think that there have been "thousands of US soldier suicides each year". I believe that the number - though no less tragic - is less than 125 soldiers this last year (which, in terms of previous years, is quite a huge number). If thousands of US soldiers were killing themselves each year, the news to that effect would have certainly been very much known by now. Even if it was exactly 1,000 soldier suicides each year since the invasion of Iraq, that would mean over 4,000 soldier suicides to date (more than the KIA rate). So, certainly, your figure there is wrong. I am an active duty soldier and would be very much privy to this information as soldier suicides is a topic that is touched on - by regulation - every year by all commands (it is a requirement to discuss it).

When I was a young cadet in military school there was an older gentleman by the name of George Watson who ran our "shop" classes. He was a tool and die maker and that man could literally make anything from a wrench to a sound suppressor for any caliber firearm. He was an old WWII veteran who worked on artillery pieces. He told us that his was a dying art. I have not ever met a tool and die maker since then. Wow! You have to pass that down.

SOLDIER.