Bending Over For Allah

Religion of AK-47s ...

Bending Over For Allah

Religion of AK-47s ...

What's with the fascination for war, Boon?

Bending Over For Allah

Religion of AK-47s ...

Just to be fair, stuff like this isn't limited to Muslim armies.

As a young private I was almost charged for refusing to obey a lawful command. My company was attending a Sunday Service during a field training exercise. Being non-religious, I volunteered to stay behing and keep an eye on our camp. The Sgt-Mjr agreed.

How ever, the company commander was a devoted Christian. When he saw that I wasn't attending the service, he ordered me to go or face being charged. The fact that I wasn't Christian didn't matter to him. (I briefly considered not going, but decided it wasn't worth risking my career at the time).We had to have our weapons with us, as we couldn't leave them unattended back in the tent-lines.

I've also stood fully armed (at the back) of church services in a war zone (again, not by choice). The Roman Catholic and Anglican priests didn't seem to concerned about having armed troops in their church (then again, they were military clergy, so I guess they accepted it as the simple reality of where we were at the time).

We didn't take pictures of stuff like that though. Probably because it just didn't seem appropriate at the time.

Just to be fair, stuff like this isn't limited to Muslim armies.

As a young private I was almost charged for refusing to obey a lawful command. My company was attending a Sunday Service during a field training exercise. Being non-religious, I volunteered to stay behing and keep an eye on our camp. The Sgt-Mjr agreed.

How ever, the company commander was a devoted Christian. When he saw that I wasn't attending the service, he ordered me to go or face being charged. The fact that I wasn't Christian didn't matter to him. (I briefly considered not going, but decided it wasn't worth risking my career at the time).We had to have our weapons with us, as we couldn't leave them unattended back in the tent-lines.

I've also stood fully armed (at the back) of church services in a war zone (again, not by choice). The Roman Catholic and Anglican priests didn't seem to concerned about having armed troops in their church (then again, they were military clergy, so I guess they accepted it as the simple reality of where we were at the time).

We didn't take pictures of stuff like that though. Probably because it just didn't seem appropriate at the time.

Did these 'religious' people not see the the irony (hypocracy?) of their actions? How do thy explain the words of Jesus from Luke 6.27-28 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

ps no need to reply to these thoughts, it's off topic and it's the fun with pictures thread.

Discuss health...not war

Eat more fruit!

LaoPo

Nice Balloons!

Upgraded My Computer

I like these up-grades!

End of Discussion

No Beer Sold To Indians

From the Moscow Pig Olympics:

Looks like Mohammed in the middle…

From the Moscow Pig Olympics:

Looks like Mohammed in the middle…

Is that Butterfly "bringing up the rear" ?

Easter Mayhem

Happy Easter

Kan Win´s pictures are ALL ORiginals... I should know coz I´ve been there on half of his sites pictures.

So there... (Sticks tongue out and acts infantile)

over 1/2? ... oi! pour me a beer!

The End of Winter

That's the face of zzap's avatar.

BTW - where is friend zzap these days?

That's the face of zzap's avatar.

BTW - where is friend zzap these days?

Disappeared around the same time as Mr. Thomas Merton. And where has he been?

That's the face of zzap's avatar.

BTW - where is friend zzap these days?

Disappeared around the same time as Mr. Thomas Merton. And where has he been?

Actually, ever since Boon Mee took a little break, I noticed that zzap, Butterfly and TM have all been MIA as well.

Boon's back, but not the other 3.

It won't be too long before zzap is darkening our doorway again, but I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Butterfly!

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Butterfly!

Pity...

I'm back as well ( somewhat! )

Glad to see this thread going strong!

FINALLY THE TRUTH ABOUT EVERYTHING.....you ALWAYS wanted to know IF........it's true about KILTS...

Have a look at pic #4 and 5.........

LaoPo

FINALLY THE TRUTH ABOUT EVERYTHING.....you ALWAYS wanted to know IF........it's true about KILTS...

LaoPo

Panty-less! No shame.

New Jeans design...

Gas Humor

Funny, Boon, but very sadly so. Unbelievable greed.

In 2005, Exxon CEO Raked in 190K a Day

Average Americans are struggling to keep up with persistently high gas prices, now approaching $3 a gallon. Testifying before Congress last November, Exxon CEO Lee Raymond blamed the problem on “global supply and demand” and assured the public that “we’re all in this together.”

Last year, Raymond made do with “a total compensation package” of just $69.7 million or $190,915 a day, including weekends.

After his haul in 2005, Raymond has decided to retire. It’s seems that, for Raymond, not working is even more lucrative than working:

Exxon is giving Lee Raymond one of the most generous retirement packages in history, nearly $400 million, including pension, stock options and other perks, such as a $1 million consulting deal, two years of home security, personal security, a car and driver, and use of a corporate jet for professional purposes.

Ex-Exxon CEO's massive pension draws fire

Raymond took $69.7 million in compensation, $98 million pension payout

DALLAS - A $69.7 million compensation package and $98 million pension payout to Exxon Mobil Corp.'s former chief executive and chairman Lee R. Raymond has some shareholders and economists asking, "how much is enough?"

"Some folks will ask the question, 'Is this more evidence of big oil taking an enormous windfall and retaining all the riches?'" said Mel Fugate, assistant professor for Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business.

The Irving company has drawn criticism from politicians and economists for becoming the most profitable company in history — at consumers' expense, they say.

Exxon benefited from high oil and natural gas prices and solid demand for refined products en route to earning $36 billion last year. The company has defended its profits, saying that other industries have larger profit margins but oil companies' bottom lines stand out because they operate on a much larger scale.

Recent news of Raymond's payout and pension is stoking embers Fugate said had been starting to die out. But with gasoline prices again reaching $3 a gallon at the pump in some areas and big oil companies about to report first-quarter earnings in coming weeks, expect more fallout, economists say.

On Wednesday, Exxon reported executive compensation in a regulatory filing that showed Raymond receiving $48.5 million in salary, bonuses, incentive payments and stock awards.

His compensation package also included $21.2 million from exercising stock options, which the company stopped awarding in 2001.

His $98 million pension payout reflects 43 years of service. But he would have received nearly $17 million less had he retired just last year, according to the company's 2005 proxy statement.

In this year's proxy statement, Exxon defended the package by saying it rewards Raymond's "outstanding leadership of the business, continued strengthening of our worldwide competitive position, and continuing progress toward achieving long-range strategic goals." Raymond had been CEO since 1993 before stepping down at the end of last year.

Exxon added that Raymond's compensation is "appropriately positioned relative to CEOs of U.S.-based, integrated oil companies and other major U.S.-based corporations, particularly in view of the long-term performance of the company and the substantial experience and expertise that Mr. Raymond has brought to the job."

Last year, Chevron Corp. Chairman and CEO David O'Reilly received a $1.55 million salary, $3.5 million bonus and $3.57 million in long-term compensation. He did not exercise any options, but owns options valued at just over $34 million, including exercisable options worth $28 million, according to Chevron's proxy.

Fugate, who specializes in executive compensation and management, said Exxon is sending a "very, very bad signal" by allowing Raymond to select the lump-sum payout.

"They are in very, very rich times, so on one hand they say, 'we can afford it,' but on the other hand they are taking an awful lot of heat because they've made too much at the expense of consumers. I'm surprised they are not being asked to justify that."

They will be at the company's shareholders meeting in Dallas on May 31. Several shareholders have placed resolutions on the agenda that, if passed, would put the clamps on some executive pay.

Shareholder Emil Rossi, author of one of the resolutions, says that although he's done well as a longtime owner of Exxon stock, he believes the executives are keeping too much for themselves.

"(Raymond) took over a good company," said Rossi, of Boonville, Calif. "He didn't bring it out from being a bad company, so his pay is clean out of reason. It's not because of his smartness."

Twice since November, big oil executives, including Raymond before his retirement, sat in Senate hearings defending their profits and deflecting accusations of gouging.