Hurricane Sandy

[Ibby]

I can see blue sky out my window. I might go for a walk if i can get around to taking a shower.

[Griff]

Things are picking up here, wind and rain.

[glatt]

Apparently this was earlier this morning about 4 miles east of here.

I'm not a big rah rah military guy, but these guys have nothing but respect from me.

[infinite monkey]

That's neat. Found this in wiki:

Tomb Guards It is considered one of the highest honors to serve as a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Fewer than 20 percent of all volunteers are accepted for training and of those only a fraction pass training to become full-fledged Tomb Guards. This attrition rate has made the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge the second least-awarded decoration of the United States Military (the first being the Army Astronaut Badge).[19]

The soldier "walking the mat" does not wear rank insignia, so as not to outrank the Unknowns, whatever their ranks may have been. Non-commissioned officers (usually the Relief Commander and Assistant Relief Commanders), do wear insignia of their rank when changing the guard only. They have a separate uniform (without rank) that is worn when they actually guard the Unknowns or are "Posted".

The duties of the sentinels are not purely ceremonial. The sentinels will confront people who cross the barriers at the tomb, or are disrespectful or loud.[

[Ibby]

Sorry, mate.

The PR Grab

The Image in Question: American heroes being heroic at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.



Why We Want to Believe It's Real: Because: what a story, right? Feeling the same way, the U.S. Army posted this on its Facebook page this morning, suggesting that those soldiers right there are out there today guarding the tomb, even in this dangerous storm. In addition to the sentiment, it's just a lovely photo, with good lighting and enough rain to make us feel horrible for those men, but also patriotic.



Why It's Totally Fake: Well, the photo is too lovely, it turns out. The original image came from this photography website and was uploaded in September of this year. The U.S. Army chose the one above because the heavy sheet rain drives the point home more than the actual photo from today, which doesn't look as unfortunate as the one above.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Ibby

Sorry, mate.

Interesting. The rain did look heavier than what I've been seeing today, so I threw in the "apparently" caveat. But I didn't feel like checking the authenticity. Thanks for checking!

[infinite monkey]

Are they saying the first pic is fake, or just that it wasn't taken today? Because, there's like, a huge difference.

[BigV]

bayonets noted.

[infinite monkey]

Are they saying the first pic is fake, or just that it wasn't taken today? Because, there's like, a huge difference

[glatt]

Just not today.

[infinite monkey]

So the photo is not 'totally fake.'

Good to know. Seems a strange way to put it...but that's just bad writing I guess.

[glatt]

Letter carrier just delivered our mail through the slot in the door. And it's slightly wet. How dare she allow it to get wet?

[infinite monkey]

Because it's not "neither sun nor heat nor bright daylight shall keep us from our appointed rounds."

[BigV]

funny!

however, I was told by my mail carrier that she was not obliged to put my mail in my mailbox close to my screen door behind which were my dogs. :grr:

[Griff]

Hurricane Sandy Sinks Famous HMS Bounty Replica: 14 Rescued, 2 Missing