Kahuna wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:47 pm @Fridaywithmateo what was the 1st CivDiv? Is that an Australian army unit?
And the Blue Mountains are West of Sydney, going East of Sydney lands you in the Pacific Ocean.
VA is more of an American term whereas ex ADF members will often refer to the similar scheme in Australia as DVA which stands for the Department of Veterans Affairs. And just like any government or civilian organisation there are good and bad stories to be told about the bureaucracy just as much as there are plenty of people trying to rort the system to increase their pension claims.

East cause you guys are upside down, remember?

1st CivDiv is a term describing discharge and returning to the gaggle of maggots know as civilian life, no offense.

Kahuna wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:47 pm @Fridaywithmateo what was the 1st CivDiv? Is that an Australian army unit?
And the Blue Mountains are West of Sydney, going East of Sydney lands you in the Pacific Ocean.
VA is more of an American term whereas ex ADF members will often refer to the similar scheme in Australia as DVA which stands for the Department of Veterans Affairs. And just like any government or civilian organisation there are good and bad stories to be told about the bureaucracy just as much as there are plenty of people trying to rort the system to increase their pension claims.

On the topic of DVA or VA ... here's the 411 ...

Back in 2008ish,

I was waiting for the city bus outside my local VA clinic and smoking a cig next to a well-dressed obviously Asian man ... turns out he was Pinoy ... a couple of minutes passed ... then out of nowhere, he slapped my shoulder and announced ... "Hey young fella, did you hear the news?" ... I said "What's that?" ... he said ... "They (VA) are trying to kill us."

At that time, I really did not get the point clearly. But as the years went by, and talking to many other vets ... including guys like David Hackworth (RIP), Bobby Mueller (an old buddy/mentor), Steve Robbinson (RIP), and countless more ... the light clicked.

For every vet who dies, the government saves about $3 mil usd in lifetime benefits payouts.

In 2008 there were about 24 million living veterans. Not sure the number today.

But if you do the math, it actually adds up, but in a bad way.

Anyhow, I don't want to go too dark, but it's dark for me and other American vets.

Since 9-11 nearly 1 million US military vets have died via suicide ... think about that for a moment.

Devastating.

PS: Happy Veterans Day

Big Daikon wrote: ↑Sat Nov 11, 2023 8:20 am Don't write off Japan. A friend bought an old house in the country for the equivalent of 40k USD.

I know all about that ... 8 million empty/abandoned homes now in Japan ... even have some free homes via Akiya Bank program, but you still gotta pay some fees, etc.

But Japan is currently holds position #1 on my"shit list" ... dumping Fukushima nuclear toxic waste water into the beautiful Pacific Ocean is just too much. Don't get me wrong, love Japan, the food, the nature, the history, the culture, the people ... lived there for 10 years and loved it.

Because I truly care, I wrote to PM Kishida san and and his minister Shiozaki san (once was his driver/security escort back in tha day) ... and basically told them directly:

#1 I will never visit Japan as a tourist (Okinawa excluded) again

#2 I will never purchase any product or service originating from Japan

#3 I will encourage as many others as possible to do the same (#1 & #2)

My #microprotest

Will it make a difference? ... no clue.

But I just could not sit idle while these crimes against nature are taking place. Kill the Pacific Ocean, and we're f*cked.

Now in their propaganda campaign to justify their crimes, they claim they tested the "treated waste" and it is perfectly safe. Oh yeahhhh? ... Riddle me this then ... if it's safe, why not dispose of it in Japan ... ???

Crickets ....