Tax Day: Remember Bill? April 15, 2007
Posted by Michael in Economics, Personal Experiences.trackback
I’m talking about Bill from INDC Journal.
Bill is in Iraq, as a volunteer embed.He gets linked by Hot Air, because he gives our troops in Iraq the opportunity to tell their own story.
You have to give the guy credit –he’s got some chops. He’s actually in Iraq, with body armor he had to pay for himself.
Today, I was working on my tax return. Turbotax was telling me what I owe. I’m looking at all this money that I send to the state and federal governments.
Curiously, this made me feel generous. I sent Bill a Paypal donation. He’s losing money on his Iraqi adventure. I think he’s doing something that is genuinely good.
I’m thinking you’re going to have to contribute for Brew as well. Just a feeling I’ve got. I do agree that you have to give some credit to people who walk the walk.
Oh, and Ace has mentioned that Bill had asked him to remove mentions of his last name. Concerns over privacy, I suppose.
I’m thinking you’re going to have to contribute for Brew as well.
You are very perceptive, sir. I, too, gave Bill props for his Iraq adventure but then he came by Ace’s recently and left a flurry of comments that reminded me why I think he’s a walking turd. I did make an appeal on Michael’s behalf for Bill to unban Michael. I know it would mean the world to Michael. So, if Bill unbans Michael I’ll promise never to say another word about Bill again.
I missed Bill’s visit to Ace’s? Always fun.
And doesn’t everyone know Bill’s last name already?
So … do tell, why and how did you get banned?
Bill has published in The Washington Examiner lately so privacy is probably out the window.
My privacy concerns are not really focused around the name being out there; I don’t like that it is, but it’s a necessity to get the articles published.
My privacy concerns are soley focused around the commenters at AoS, who, as you well know, associate my name with “arrogant little snot,” “walking turd,” and the last round, which actually intimated that I did something illegal. This concerns me because I am attempting to get mainstream sponsorship to send me back to Iraq, and it certainly hurts when a publication or sponsor googles your name and finds the detritus of blog flame wars before they find work samples.
Michael – I have a day job and I’m not trying to get media sponsorship to make money, I just think that coverage from Iraq is getting distorted or selectively presented.
So while I do appreciate the donation and your backhanded, though sincere compliments, if you really believe in what I’m doing, you can do me a much greater favor by dropping this public grudge and the endless posts that go along with it.
It’s been years since I banned you. I don’t comment at Ace’s, I don’t troll your site or attack you. And while the sentiment of your donation is appreciated, stuff like this post makes it harder to get accreditation to get back to Iraq and interview troops.
If you’d like to reward me for what I did and am trying to do, or simply think its important enough to continue, I’d much rather you keep the money and just let this argument die.
Thanks,
Bill
BTW -
“He’s actually in Iraq, with body armor he had to pay for himself.”
I’m actually back in the states, as my leave of absence from my day job was up. Trying to go back. Body armor was $2500, but the life/med insurance is the real pinch.
That’s a lot like Steve At Hog On Ice cleansing his site of old political posts to protect his new writing career.
Can’t blame anybody for doing that if they can.
Thanks for what you’re trying to do, Bill.
Unless there’s a market demand for a writer with an established track record of “moron” out there on these intertubes, I’m pretty sure my writing career isn’t going anywhere.
Not a problem.
I wouldn’t go that far as to whitewash old political posts or even old comment threads (Hadn’t heard Steve H did that) – I’d just like a civil truce on this AoS/bill banned me stuff.
As far as flamewars go, it’s a bit difficult to argue with folks who are anonymous when you’re not anonymous; the accountability is lopsided. I’d like to avoid it.
but the life/med insurance is the real pinch.
Is it even possible? If possible, is it affordable (I know, that’s subjective)?
It’s not like I ever shopped for it, but on the policies I’ve purchased in the past it seems like there were coverage exceptions for things like “war”.
Anyway, good luck Bill. I’ve enjoyed reading your stuff.
Well, I must admit a always got a kick out of the Bill/AoS flamewars, but I understand why Bill wants to distance himself from them.
Some were a lot of fun, some weren’t. I just don’t feel like getting into any more of them.
dave in TX – There does exist group life/med insurance sans exceptions for acts of war. But the independent stuff is bought specifically for a war zone (through Lloyds of London, for example) and costs $3500-$5000/month.
Health insurance costs are waaay out of line for me so I can only imagine how much Bill has to pay.
Of course my risky sexual behaviour* might have something to do with it.
*Three times per week.
Geezer singlehandedly brings the term ‘TMI’ back into style.
RG, I think you’re supposed to call a doctor if it lasts that long.
$3500-$5000/month.
With great risk comes great premiums.
ouch.
When push the little “inflate” button, it lasts as long as you damn well please.
So that’s how you tame a feral cat!
you can do me a much greater favor by dropping this public grudge and the endless posts that go along with it.
I haven’t mentioned you in forever, Bill — that schtick got old a long time ago. I guess I should have left it out of this post as well. I’ll take it out. It certainly did not occur to me that a gag on this goofy site could affect your accreditation.
It certainly did not occur to me that a gag on this goofy site could affect your accreditation.
*consults attorneys*
Thanks for going the Hard Road, Bill.
Bill, let me get this straight: You want to clean up all the real/faux flame wars & snarky comments regarding your past interactions on the internet so that you will have an easier time getting new credentials to cover our troops in Iraq and/or Afghanistan?
Does the DoD really do that much of a prostate exam on journalists who want to embed with our troops, or is this more of a “he’s a blogger, how freakin’ serious can we take him” sort of situation? I’ve heard that some people in the DoD’s public relations effort are openly hostile to anyone who’s so much as VISITED a blog, but this would be one hell of an overreach on their part, IMHO.
I for one think this would be a good reason to let the joke go. If you’d asked because it made you feel uncomfortable, I’d tell you to go put on a skirt; but your work as an embed is too damn good to see it end over something as trivial as this.
Bill,
Did you ever stop and think the problems you have on the intertubes with how people perceive you are directly related to your online behavior? You may be the greatest human being that ever walked the face of the earth but you haven’t demonstrated that through your online persona including your stint on Right Talk.
I’d just like a civil truce on this AoS/bill banned me stuff.
Then apologize to those you’ve banned. You can’t have it both ways.
What the hell happened at Virginia Tech this morning?
Dear God.
My husband had to call and tell me about it- the intertubes were slow to pick it up.
Allah posted about it at 12:28 pm (EDT I assume), and opened with he’s been watching the story for hours, and until a few minutes (before his post) the story changed from one dead and gunman in custody to 22 dead plus gunman.
Confusion. Shock.
and sadness. Dear God I cannot imagine how panicked parents and friends must be right now. My heart goes out to them.
one of my customers shipped to her son there this morning. She was a mess. Thank goodness he called her on the cell though.
I guess this is as good of a place as any, but I have always had mixed feelings about posting at wizbang since the Paul vs Ace spat regarding Glen/Wilson/Thomas/Whatever. Yet, I try to help that site out because they gave a home to the victims of Polipundit’s temper tantrum last year. But when I posted a few months ago and referenced Ace in a non related to Paul manner, my comment was listed as spam and my email and IP was blocked. I tried to contact JT, Kevin or Kim to get unbanned, but to no avail. None of them would even respond. In fact, I had to change how I write my posts and what computer I use in order to keep from getting blocked. I also noticed they banned spurwing plover recently. So I see where flamewars and snotty attitude by people who think they are bigshots on the internet can screw up well wishes and the genuine exchange of ideas.
I quit reading Wizbang then too. I always hated Paul, but stuck around for the other posters. Turns out they were dicks as well.
Bills a dick too. But This is an admirable thing he is doing. I liked the comments that he left at the Commissars a couple of weeks ago.
I dont think i would send him any money until he unbanned me though Michael. I cant imagine that you said anything ban worthy.
Or you could threaten to just start posting Day and Night about what a pony raping monster Bill is until he gives in and unbans you.
Heartache!
Richard Gere smooches Bollywood actress at HIV/AIDS awareness event, sparks protests.
PDAs are frowned upon.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070416/ap_en_mo/people_gere_kiss_protests
Touchy
Its a good thing they didnt find out about that suckling calf i had inserted into my lower intestine.
dr4 (and Brew), I’m not looking to get unbanned by Bill. INDC Journal these days doesn’t seem to have much going on in the comment threads anyway. (Technically, I doubt that I’m actually banned, at least from home, because my IP address has changed.)
India — a country where sex and public displays of affection are largely taboo.
So they don’t like public displays. But wait . . .
Angry crowds in several Indian cities burned effigies of Richard Gere on Monday
Ohh. So it’s okay to burn shit, even likenesses of people, in public. So you can publicly show affliction, just not affection.
Dumbfucks. Bet if they were able to conquer public sewage and sanitation, they wouldn’t be so shitty. Ha! See what I did there? I made reference to. Never mind.
I’m not looking to get unbanned by Bill
You, as a psuedo-Christian (aka Lutheran) no doubt have the ability to forgive Bill unconditionally and I agree it would be largely symbolic at this point in time for him to un-ban us. But I also think if Bill all-of-a-sudden wants everybody to play nice he has some fences to mend himself.
I would also like to point out that as a gesture of good will on my part I have not used his last name in my comments today.
It’s a wonderful world when simple human contact can place your life in jeopardy
29:
I like DJ, Lorie and Alexander K McClure and can tolerate Jim Addison. AKM really got a bum deal. I think he lasted all of 2 weeks at Redstate. I forget why he left, but he received less than a warm reception from some of the commenters (this was in the heat of the immigration debate last year, and AKM was not seeing eye to eye with polipundit and some of the more visible commenters at RS).
Michael, did you see that Iowahawk is making fun of us?
Huh. Another candidate for the reeducation camp when the Lutheran Millennium™ starts.
lutheran millenium?
you and what army?
MISTAKE ON THE LAKE
heh. he can’t fool me. That’s Cleveland.
I don’t think so, Dave. Cleveland rocks. We got a Hard Rock Cafe, and the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame and everythin’.
Oh, man. Do not read that Iowahawk piece while drinking coffee.
‘manure triangle.’
I’m dyin
Heh,
That Iowahawk post was where I got the idea for the prize for the Name The Spindly Legged Super Hero Contest.
Now now, don’t be shootin the messanger. I didn’t coin the expression.
I just recognized it.
‘kay, Dave. Us Clevelanders just get a little sensitive sometimes, I guess. But this town is my town, alright? Love or hate it, it don’t matter, cause I’m gonna stand and fight.
We’ll trade you Detroit for Cleveland — we’ll throw in Windsor.
You can keep the Buckeyes.
Do they still have that cool but creepy windy tunnel under the river between Detroit and Windsor? I swear the bricks looked wet on that thing (when I went through 25 years ago, that is).
Yes, the still have the tunnel. It’s safe- the tunnel is actually below the riverbed. Kwame is gonna lease it to Canada.
I’m hoping the run the 1/2 Marathon in the late fall – you run across the bride, and then back through the tunnel. Wanna join me Mesa?
Ugh, I might be able to do a 1/2 marathon by then. I’m signed up for a couple of triathlons this summer — the short one’s. Twelve miles might be possible, very slowly.
The good thing about rugby is that I can take short breaks while I lie on the ground waiting for my senses to clear.
If you’re still playing rugby, your senses haven’t cleared enough.
I’m hoping the run the 1/2 Marathon in the late fall – you run across the bride, and then back through the tunnel.
That sounds like a blast. I haven’t run seriously in years, but by late fall I might be able to muster a slow 13 miles. That would be a neat goal.
Or, probably more realistically, I could guard the cooler while more stalwart souls ran the 13.
mesablue –
Remember if you find a player on the other team and dog it together, you aren’t putting your team at a disadvantage. After a nice solo tackle you lie on the ground in an unspoken agreement to take a rest. Like soldiers having a brief, local truce on Christmas.
You just have to make sure not to tackle one of those over achieving types. Single out the props – they generally aren’t in to all that effeminate open running rugby, chasing down kicks, etc and will welcome a rest.
Heh Steve,
I’m second row, the only time I run more than twenty yards is on a kick off.
I do enjoy taking fullbacks out on the sideline, though.
mesa –
In college I played some inside center before I found my home as a short flanker who played like a wannabe prop. The tough stuff inside suited my skillset better.
By skillset I mean lack of speed and agility and an intense curiosity about how much damage I could do to a scrumhalf in an afternoon.
I never played rugby.
But I’m not writing a check tonight.
So I got that goin for me. Which is nice.
But I’m not writing a check tonight.
You probably saved money with GEICO.
*Gazing into the crystal ball, watching DinT at his desk* I’ll get you next year my pretty!
*To flying audit monkeys* Get him!
how much damage I could do to a scrumhalf in an afternoon.
I bruised my scrumhalf a month ago but it’s better now.
Hey, I know we had an extra day this year to file (even though I don’t need it), but I never got clued in as to why? I mean, I can understand since the 15th was Sunday, giving you till midnight on the 16th, but why the extra day?
They knew Pupster would be hung over.
Extra Tax Day= some sort of DC holiday, not sure what.
It works for me though. I’ve a little more paperwork to do before I wire that cash.
Didn’t it have something to do with the crap in Boston?
Damn New Englanders.
Just kidding.
Sorta
Might be because of Patriot’s Day. When our tax stuff used to go to the Massachusetts IRS, CT got that extra day too because Patriot’s Day affected the IRS service center there.
Naw, we’re just yanking your chain. The deadline is the 15th just like it’s always been.
Gotcha.
Free Audits for Everybody!