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Down mean streets

“...down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. He is the hero; he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor—by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world.

“He will take no man’s money dishonestly and no man’s insolence without a due and dispassionate revenge. He is a lonely man and his pride is that you will treat him as a proud man or be very sorry you ever saw him.

“The story is this man’s adventure in search of a hidden truth, and it would be no adventure if it did not happen to a man fit for adventure. If there were enough like him, the world would be a very safe place to live in, without becoming too dull to be worth living in.”
— Raymond Chandler

Clothing and Attitude

It’s an often debated topic on how clothes can effect a persons mood and how others percieve them.  The way we dress is an expression of our self image and most certainly affects how others treat us.  Just think about the “people of Walmart” slideshows or how you react when coming across a small group of dingly dressed folks, as opposed to your reaction were that same group in three piece suits.

Clothing doesn’t just protect us from mother nature, it affects how we act.  A perfect example is the Marine Corps Dress Blues (possibly the only reason a guy like me could attract a beautiful women like my wife).  The uniform itself is semi-form fitting.  Less semi the older you get.  There is a high collar that makes you hold your head up and the jacket will not allow any other posture except straight up.  Confidence is instilled from the upright, head up and shoulders back posture, but also the attention one gets while wearing it.  Confidence is not all in the cotton, it comes from the fact that what you are wearing represents so much more than you. 

Can clothing inspire confidence?  We think so, and thats why we do what we do.  A simple cotton T-shirt, with the right message of SELF CONFIDENCE, COURAGE, and UNSELFISHNESS can not only serve as a bit of self inflicted peer pressure.  But it can inspire those around us.  Hopefully we can inspire to go as far as we can go, and the journey will show that “as far as we can go” is always much farther than imagined.  Alone And Unafraid

COURAGE

Over 22 years of service I was constantly presented with example of courage, both past and present.  “Courage” I would hear, “is doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons.”  Many years later I would learn that courage is a skill and like any skill must be practiced.  Websters Dictionary states, courage is the attitude or response when facing or dealing with anything recognized that’s dangerous, difficult, or painful instead of withdrawing.  We face moments that require courage everyday, no matter your profession or what walk of life you come from.  Courage is demonstrating the fact that there is no conflict between your daily actions (read LEAD BY EXAMPLE) and your values.  You have the MORAL fortitude to stand up for your beliefs even when others may challenge them.  Today courage may be more important than its ever been, because in todays world you are likely to face more challenges to moral than to physical courage.

You must practice daily.  All kinds of obstacles will get in the way, just keep practicing and before you know it you’ve got the right skill in response to any stress.  Practice…..Doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons.  Practice and watch it catch on.  Your example will be contagious to the right folks and annoying to the wrong folks.  Alone and Unafraid.

Cheers Master Guns

Recon Country

  INVICTUS brothers.

Action over Position

We are not famous.  We don’t have a reality show.  We are not trying to draw attention to ourselves.  Nor do we seek fame.  We are the not so silent majority.  We have been dealt a good hand and are trying to make it better.  We are the average, everyday American that just gets it done, and we are drawing a crowd of like minded folks.  Nothing flashy, nothing crazy, just great designs and spreading the word one shirt at a time.  We believe in Grandma, apple pie and the American way.  We believe in action in our local communities.  Alone And Unafraid is being confident in yourself, but relying on others for support, and offering that support when it is asked for.  It’s not just T-shirts.  It’s about self-confidence.  When we don’t know what to do, we act out of instinct.  When we act with self-confidence we do the right thing, for the right reason, at the right time.  It’s not about drawing attention to yourself, it’s about doing what you can for others…Lets surprise some folks:)

Another clown wants the glory with no effort.

The Monterey Institute of International Studies has concluded that Bill Hillar, a popular instructor who has given workshops on human trafficking since 2005, misrepresented his academic credentials.

The Weekly has learned that his military credentials also appear to be falsified.

Hillar, who has claimed to be a retired Special Forces Colonel, told a wild tale of international intrigue in his popular one-credit workshops, claiming that his own 17-year old daughter was kidnapped by traffickers in Southeast Asia, and was killed by them. He has said that he personally tracked her abductors, and claimed that the 2008 Liam Neeson film, Taken, is based on his exploits.

In fact, the United States Army Special Operations Command has no record that William G. Hillar ever took part in special operations education and training, which are standard for special forces personnel.

According to the National Archives and Records Administration, a William Gibb Hillar did serve in the United States Coast Guard Reserve from 1962 to 1970.

Furthermore, Hillar claimed to have a PhD from the University of Oregon in a health field. But, university spokesman Joe Mosley says Hillar didn’t earn a doctoral degree.

A Nov. 20 statement from MIIS notes it will now require independent contract instructors like Hillar to submit to the same pre-employment background checks that faculty undergo.

MIIS will allow students who received credit for Hillar’s workshop to take a one-credit course free of charge if they want the credit for Hillar’s course removed from their records.

Hillar also gave workshops at the University of Oregon’s substance abuse education program, offered training for firefighters and law enforcement personnel across the country, and has been a frequent speaker at events aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking.

Hillar’s website has been taken down, and he has not returned phone calls.

By http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/search?q=%22Robin Urevich%22

History of the American T-shirt

THE ALL AMERICAN FASHION
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the T-Shirt quickly became an American favorite. Now, a century later, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the T-Shirt remains as popular as ever.

The American T-Shirt began during WWI when American troops noticed European soldiers wearing a comfortable and lightweight cotton undershirt during the hot and humid European summer days. Compared to the wool uniforms that the American soldiers wore, these undershirts were cooler and more comfortable and they quickly caught on with the Americans. Due to their simple design, these shirts became known in the USA as “T” shirts or, as we know them now, “T-Shirts”.

By the 1920’s, “T-Shirt” had become an official word in the American English language with it’s inclusion in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. By W.W. II, both the Navy and the Army had included the T-Shirt as standard issue underwear.

Initially pegged as an undergarment, the T-Shirt soon came in to it’s own on the big screen. John Wayne, Marlon Brando and James Dean all shocked Americans by wearing their underwear on national TV. In 1951, Marlon Brando shocked Americans in his film “A Streetcar Named Desire” when his T-Shirt was ripped off of his body revealing his naked chest.

By 1955, the T-Shirt was tolerated worn without another shirt covering it. Then James Dean made the T-Shirt real cool in “Rebel Without A Cause”. James Dean made the T-Shirt a contemporary symbol of rebellious youth.

In the 60’s people began to tie dye and screenprint the basic cotton T-Shirt making it an even bigger commercial success. Advances in printing and dying allowed more variety and the Tank Top, Muscle Shirt, Scoop Neck, V-Neck, and many other variations of the T-Shirt came in to fashion.

The T-Shirt was inexpensive, in style, and could make any statement you cared to print. The American T-Shirt came into it’s own during the late sixties and seventies. Rock and Roll bands began to realize that they could make significant amounts of money selling their T-Shirts. Professional Sports caught on and soon the officially licensed T-Shirt became hot merchandise.

During the 80’s and 90’s the production of T-Shirts and the mechanics of printing on them increased the volume and availability. Soon the American T-Shirt was being called a commodity item in the apparel industry.

At the beginning of a new millennium, the t-shirt has entered cyberspace and is now about to become even bigger. The American T-Shirt is well built and it is made to be worn. The artwork symbolizes the cultural and social climate of our times. The printing is state of the art created by true craftspeople. The T-Shirt is a great product.

Comfortable, Casual, and Always in Style.

http://www.t-shirtcountdown.com/t-shirts/history.html

A Legacy is born

During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps.
A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore. 
The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.
As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776. 
Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10th with a celebration of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend our country as United States Marines

http://jazz.openfun.org/wiki/Tun_Tavern

The Man in the Arena

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.
by Theodore Roosevelt
(From a speech delivered in Paris in 1910)