The 82nd Chairborne Division

2011-04-04T21:01:00.003-04:00

Wow, been almost a year since I last posted...

Guess it's time to close up shop here then!

Like many, I've migrated to Facebook, but I try not to get too political over there (too many of my family are off to the Left and I just don't want to alienate them!).

But, if YOU are on FB, drop me a comment here. I follow quite a few of my friends on the Right that way!

And who knows, maybe I'll be back again here someday! :)

Peace!

2010-04-14T22:52:00.000-04:00

How Tweet it is

Kind of cool and vaguely disturbing all at the same time...

Food For Thought

2010-03-29T00:33:00.002-04:00

On Obamacare and Rationing by Rich Stowell

This one really made me think. We all ration, every day, in a million little ways. I'd really rather my healthcare wasn't on that list, but it is what it is.

Tags-Obamacare

Davy Crockett Understood

2010-03-21T00:21:00.000-04:00

Tags-Constitution

The real military is NOT run like a game of Risk! ;)

2009-11-15T15:09:00.002-05:00

Bwah ha ha ha!

Obama Shocked to Learn Real Military not Run Like Game of Risk

I have a couple of older versions of the game, but with the Roman numerals and the blocks!

Maybe the President should be asking these guys for help with his 'game'?

Tags-Risk

Why I love Target!

2009-10-26T20:26:00.003-04:00

Fort Carson Troops Get A Huge Donation

I had heard about these guys who basically lost everything when their Combat Outpost was attacked.

Go here and read more about it- This Ain't Hell

Target may not allow the Salvation Army bell ringers at Christmas (they don't allow ANY solicitations), but they do THIS kind of thing regularly. The year I worked at Target while Aaryk was deployed, they asked me to spearhead their community outreach project and we put together about 30 boxes of fun stuff for Aaryk's unit.

Tags- Support Our Troops, Target

I will never forget

2009-09-08T18:22:00.000-04:00

Three years ago I joined a group called Project 2996 and posted two tributes to people who died in the terrorist attacks that day.

Please take a moment this week and read about their lives, check out some of the other tributes, and always, always, always....REMEMBER.

Dominick Calia

Col. Ronald F Golinski

Tags-Project 2996

Lady Liberty

2009-07-04T14:25:00.001-04:00

On Independence Day, Liberty's crown reopens

How cool is that?!?

Tags-Lady Liberty

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-04T11:52:00.000-04:00

One more reason why I like GoDaddy.com!

Happy Independence Day from GoDaddy.com!

Happy Birthday America!

Tags-America

Happy Brithday Army!

2009-06-15T01:06:00.000-04:00

Tags-Army

On Pirates, Ships, and Irony

2009-04-19T15:31:00.003-04:00

Once again BLACKFIVE is the 'go to' place to read, this time on the pirates-

William Bainbridge, The Shores of Tripoli, and More

Tags-Somali Pirates

The Season of Lent

2009-02-25T09:49:00.002-05:00

Today begins our 40 day journey to Easter.

At our house, we're giving up soda and going out to eat.

I'm also giving up one of my biggest time killers, a game site called Kongregate.

As I posted on my Facebook page, I"m also giving up 'snarky' comments. That may be hardest of all!

A friend asked me for some resources for Lent, and when I get home from work, and to have a more religious, reflective blog for the next couple of months.

Tags-Lent

Making my blood boil

2009-01-14T18:48:00.002-05:00

Options To Limit Your Benefits

Like McQ says in this piece-

I want to stress - this is a benefit, not a giveaway. It is something you earned for making a career out of the military.

I feel the same way about pensions (and even the UAW lifetime benefits). This is something you earned while working, you better not jack around with it now.

Go read the piece and let me know what you think.

Tags-Military

Hmmm....

2009-01-03T18:44:00.002-05:00

9 Comic book characters to watch in 2009

I was surfing through some news on the Mars rovers 5 year anniversary, and this sidebar item on MSNBC caught my eye. A couple of these are intriguing enough to make me consider picking up comics again!

Yes, I'm still a comic geek at heart... ;)

Tags-Comics

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-01-01T11:35:00.000-05:00

Tags-2009

Movie Inspiration for the New Year

2008-12-27T10:12:00.002-05:00

HT-Kim Komando who says, "This YouTube video wraps up decades of inspiration. Well, it at least wraps up a lot of movie inspiration. Every epic movie has an inspirational speech or two. They’re usually pretty good. But in the end they’re all kind of the same."

Tags-Movies

Progress in Iraq

2008-12-26T18:24:00.002-05:00

You want to know what progress in Iraq looks like? It's in a thousand daily things, large and small, like this-
Christmas is now an official holiday in Iraq

For the FIRST TIME, the Christian minority in Iraq can celebrate Christmas with the blessing of the government!

Merry Christmas to all!

Tags-Iraq

Advent Calendar

2008-12-16T21:23:00.001-05:00

Hubble space telescope advent calendar

Okay, THIS is just too cool. Go check it out!

Tags-Advent

Well, that's that then....

2008-12-16T18:26:00.001-05:00

Two priests excommunicated for involvement in Praise and Worship Center

sigh.

Nothing to add right now.

Tags-Catholicism

So much for my Billy Joel collection

2008-12-14T18:50:00.002-05:00

After reading about this, I won't be sending him any more of my money-

Ignorance: Billy Joel's Gift to the World

I read about it over at BLACKFIVE and went over to the Mudville Gazette to see his reply.

The man absolutely has a right to his opinion, and if this is the garbage he wants to write then I have the right to not buy his music.

What especially appalled me was this bit from the song-

AND I JUST GOT YOUR LETTER
AND THIS IS WHAT I READ . . . . . . YOU SAID
I’M FADING FROM YOUR MEMORY
SO I’M JUST AS GOOD AS DEAD

The rest of the nonsense about crusaders and empires and infidels is just so much rot, but as the wife of a soldier who spent last Christmas in Iraq, and the mother of a soldier who is spending THIS Christmas in Afghanistan, this just makes my blood boil.

How dare he. I just don't even have the words.

Too bad too, I really liked him.

Tags-Billy Joel

Another Icon Gone

2008-12-12T08:40:00.002-05:00

1950s pinup model Bettie Page dies in LA at 85

Might seem a strange one for me to care about, unless you are aware of my love of Dave Stevens artwork and of course, The Rocketeer.

Ironic that we lost both Dave Stevens and Bettie in the same year, one at 52 and the other at 85.

Tags-Bettie Page

How I'm going to handle the 'Happy Holidays'

2008-11-26T18:43:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking about this a lot of late, ever since I was in a meeting last week where others were talking about an upcoming project that one department was doing and did they have 'Merry Christmas' on the newsletter. They didn't, and it's a good thing apparently, because nothing official from this school can have that on it. They discussed that it DID have Christmas colors, but they were going to let that pass.

How sad.

I know that I'm likely to get into hot water by wishing folks here a 'Merry Christmas', and as much as I'd LIKE to be a rabble rouser, I also would LIKE to keep my job!

So, since we say "Happy Holidays" to be inclusive and not to offend, what I will do is wait and acknowledge the greeting from others and politely ask them which holiday THEY celebrate. Then I'll respond with whatever greeting would be appropriate.

Not in an accusatory manner, just as a way of being able to respond respectfully and not in such a bland, politically correct way.

I imagine conversations something like this-

Joe- Happy Holidays Kyrie!

Me- Thank you Joe! May I ask, which holiday do you celebrate this season?

Joe- Me? Well I'm Jewish so Hanukkah is my holiday.

Me- Then I hope you have a blessed Festival of Lights!

Or for the non-religious person-

Jill- Happy Holidays Kyrie!

Me- Thank you Jill! May I ask, which holiday do you celebrate this season?

Jill- I don't really celebrate anything.

Me- Well then I wish you a great and restful Winter Break!

I hope I have the courage to actually DO this (or something similar) with love and appreciation for ALL the things we celebrate during this season.

Tags-Merry Christmas

Pets 10 Commandments

2008-11-22T11:19:00.001-05:00

I got this in an email a while ago and thought it was too good not to share-

Pets Ten Commandments
(AND DON'T YOU FORGET THEM)

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

Take a moment today to be thankful for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters.

Tags-Pets

Random thoughts on the day after...

2008-11-05T19:58:00.003-05:00

Heh...not as tore up as I thought I'd be. I guess I didn't really believe that McCain could pull it off after all. That takes some of the sting out of it.

It's nice to see my side of the Blogosphere being upbeat. Not the giddy upbeat of the Left right now (which they deserve for their win last night), but upbeat in knowing that our Republic has survived worse and will survive this.

Vigilance. Now you have the power, we'll be watching EVERY move.

Better buy that house quick, before my EMPLOYER is taxed out of business.

I wish I could be naive enough to believe the hype about our next President.

The left may have won in terms of politicians, but WE won for the cause of marriage. Even in California, a state that both voted heavily for Obama AND voted no on a proposition about minors seeking abortion Prop 8, the Marriage Amendment passed (Ditto Florida, it went blue and STILL passed a Marriage Amendment).

The funniest thing of the night last night was when Aaryk go home and in talking about the results I said, "Well, we're an Obanimation now". His reply? "Who fed the tuna sandwich to Pudge?!" It took me a moment and then we both just laughed and laughed. (If you don't get it, go rent Lilo & Stitch)

Ah...life is good, and even THIS can't change the truly good things in my life right now.

Tags-Election 08

Into the Wilderness

2008-11-04T23:37:00.002-05:00

Tonight belongs to the Left.

Enjoy your victory party, for while those of us who believe in things like smaller government, lower taxes, the right to life, and a myriad of other conservative values may be forced out into the wilderness, we will NOT be silent, we will NOT sit down and shut up, we WILL hold each any every one of you accountable for your actions.

Tomorrow (or January 20 to be more precise) begins a new era, and while I do have fear, both for my country and for my son serving under this new commander, I also know how the story ends and so I have hope.

Hope and hard work and of course prayer.

Again, enjoy your victory Left.

God save us from our selves, and thank God this election season is FINALLY OVER.

Tags-Election 08

A look at the candidates

2008-09-25T09:46:00.003-04:00

I'm sure I'm not alone in this thought, but on the way to work this morning I was struck by just how different these two men are when it comes to actually DEALING with problems.

Obama tells the world that IF he's asked, IF he's needed, he'll bother to show up for the JOB HE'S ACTUALLY BEING PAID FOR. Apparently though, the Democrat leadership doesn't think he has anything to offer to the discussion and hasn't asked him to come to work. As one caller to a morning talk show said today, it's as if Obama is being told, 'it's okay, you just go on and keep looking pretty, we'll take care of the work'.

McCain, on the other hand, took the initiative to suspend his campaign so he can focus on the bigger issue. Once again, we see that he is putting 'Country First', even over his ambitions to lead said country. The left goes on to whine about how a leader needs to be able to multitask. True, but a leader also needs to prioritize and delegate and at least McCain knows that a presidential campaign isn't as important as dealing with this financial mess.

Tags-Election 08

Sarah Palin

2008-09-20T15:23:00.002-04:00

I know, I've been pretty quiet over here lately, and that may not change much in the foreseeable future. BUT, I heard something the other day and my reaction to it made me laugh, and so I wanted to share-

On Dennis Prager's show this week he mentioned that he had read some lefty's who were calling Christian Fundamentalists hypocrites for supporting Sarah Palin for VP. After all, don't Fundies believe that the MAN is the head of the house?

My first thought was, Well, she wouldn't be the head of the house, she'd be the President of the SENATE!

Like I said, the thought made me laugh and so I wanted to share.

Tags-Sarah Palin

7 years ago

2008-09-12T00:31:00.003-04:00

Lots of people have lots of wonderful tributes up today.

I remember.

I will never forget.

But life does go on.

This year, I chose to celebrate Patriot's Day. I thanked my husband for his service to our country, and I prayed for my son who is currently serving in Afghanistan.

I counted my blessings and prayed for all the victims of terrorism and their families and loved ones.

If you want more fitting tributes, look back at this date in past year's entries. Where I was, and what I felt has not changed...that will always be with me. But this year, I just don't really feel like reminiscing.

Tags-9-11

A couple neat articles

2008-08-10T15:09:00.001-04:00

From Military.com-

Guard Rescues Nation's Largest Pine Tree

Army Opens Prep School at Fort Jackson

Tags-Military

Top 10

2008-08-02T14:06:00.002-04:00

Scienticically INACCURATE movies!

This was a fun list, and I have to say, I completely agree!

Was there something that YOU thought should have mad this list and didn't?

Tags-Movies

Oy!

2008-07-31T17:58:00.003-04:00

California judge rules early cell phone termination fees illegal

My first thought was, hey, cool! Then I read the article...not so cool.

From the article-

In one of the most significant legal rulings in the tech industry this year, a Superior Court judge in California has ruled that the practice of charging consumers a fee for ending their cell phone contract early is illegal and violates state law.

I'd like to know what part of California law saws that if you enter into a contract you don't have to pay the penalty for breaking it. Do they do the same for people who want to take their money out of CDs early too?

I'm all about state's rights, and if this is how Cali wants to run things, well, then, I guess that's their business. Unfortunately (like much that they do), it's going to affect ALL of us in the end.

While an appeal is inevitable, the ruling could have massive fallout throughout the industry. Without the threat of levying early termination fees, the cellular carriers lose the power that's enabled them to lock customers into contracts for multiple years at a time. And while those contracts can be heinously long, they also let the carriers offer cell phone hardware at reduced (subsidized) prices. AT&T's two-year contract is the only reason the iPhone 3G costs $199. If subsidies vanish, what happens to hardware lock-in? Could an era of expensive, but unlocked, hardware be just around the corner? It's highly probable.

The FCC is likely to get involved in this matter, and THAT'S just going to make things worse.

Do I LIKE that California law is whacked and putting us all in this pickle? No.
Do I want to Federal Government getting it's hands in this mess? Hell no!

From here this looks like a lose, lose situation.

Guess I better start saving for my next cell phone NOW! ;)

Tags-Business

More memeage

2008-07-19T11:13:00.003-04:00

Your result for The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test...

The Lord

You scored 21% Cardinal, 51% Monk, 44% Lady, and 51% Knight!

You are of the intellectual breed and yet you are also very interested in war. You are of the aristocracy and head the cavalry a safe distance from the carnage of the front lines. You believe in defeating your enemy with not only might, but also wit.

You scored high as both the Monk and the Knight. You can try again to get a more precise description of either the Monk or the Knight, or you can be happy that you're an individual.

Take The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test at HelloQuizzy

Aaryk scored as the Usurper. That puts us in an...interesting...position now doesn't it? ;)

Tags-Frivolity

I can see that

2008-07-18T18:01:00.001-04:00

Your result for The which philosophy suits your personality? Test...

Proof God Exists, by Augustine

40% Nature, 58% Rationalism, 70% Religion, 48% Freedom, 43% Individuality, 38% Power and 40% Uncertainty!

You scored highest on the variable Religion. Religion was an important part of Augustine's philosophy.

Saint Augustine, 354 – 430, Algeria.

Augustine was famous for his completely theoretical proofs of God's existence, which don't make very much sense to us now.

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT 1:

(1) I define God to be X.

(2) Since I can conceive of X, X must exist.

(3) Therefore, God exists.

ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (II):

(1) I can conceive of a perfect God.

(2) One of the qualities of perfection is existence.

(3) Therefore, God exists.

I already said it doesn't make very much sense to us now ...

Possible results:

Nature: the Scala Naturae by Aristotle

Rationality: Cogito Ergo Sum by Descartes

Religion: Proof God Exists by Saint Augustine

Freedom: Existentialism by Sartre

Individuality: Personal Religion by Kierkegaard

Power: Will to Power by Nietzsche

Uncertainty: Agnosticism by Hume

No high variable: Synthetic Perception by Kant

Tags-Frivolity

Pro-abortion proponants admit that oral contraceptives cause abortions!

2008-07-16T20:17:00.002-04:00

Abortion Proposal Sets Condition on Aid

This draft of a proposed rule (note, not even an actual policy, just the draft!) has the pro-abortion crowd all up in arms.
(More below the cut)

Under the draft of a proposed rule, hospitals, clinics, researchers and medical schools would have to sign “written certifications” as a prerequisite to getting money under any program run by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Such certification would also be required of state and local governments, forbidden to discriminate, in areas like grant-making, against hospitals and other institutions that have policies against providing abortion.

So, in order to get FEDERAL grants and such, you must be an institution that doesn't provide abortions. Not saying that they will be shut down, or anything else, just that they won't get FEDERAL money. That's fine by me. If YOU want to support abortion, go ahead and give money to such organizations. I think that should be the case in a multitude of other instances as well (even ones *I* agree with!).

Here's how the Federal government would define abortion in this rule-

The proposal defines abortion as follows: “any of the various procedures — including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action — that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation.”

It gets really interesting though when you get to some of the pro-abortion folks' own words here-

Mary Jane Gallagher, president of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, which represents providers, said, “The proposed definition of abortion is so broad that it would cover many types of birth control, including oral contraceptives and emergency contraception.”

No more denying it...THEY admit that oral contraceptives and EC cause abortions!

I know that the pro-abortion crowd is moaning over the fact that this may make contraceptives less available to low income women. Seeing how Planned Parenthood manages to make MILLIONS of dollars in profit every year with almost no Federal money at all, I think that other health providers should be able to follow their model and get by without my tax dollars as well. Unfortunately, the pro-abortion lobby being the monolith that it is, I doubt this rule change will ever get beyond 'draft' status.

But no matter what happens with this proposed rule change, we now have the pro-abortion folks on record as calling oral contraception and 'emergency contraception' abortions.

Tags-Life Issues

Create your own motivational poster!

2008-07-16T19:58:00.002-04:00

Motivational Poster Creator

I'll put a few together sometime soon. In the meanwhile, if you make one, would you link to it in the comments?

I'd LOVE to see what my group of friends and readers come up with!

Tags-Frivolity

I love Jib Jab!

2008-07-16T14:58:00.002-04:00

JibJab - Time for Some Campaignin'

Tee hee!

Tags-Politics

Now that's one way to support our troops!

2008-07-16T12:53:00.002-04:00

What a great idea!

Military Brides' Dream Dresses

A New Hampshire bridal shop owner is making military matrimonial dreams come true today when she hands out 50 free wedding dresses to blushing brides-to-be who are on active duty or engaged to someone serving overseas.

I love things that support our troops by helping their families and loved ones here at home too. I have seen how just knowing that their families are taken care of can take some of the stress off deployed soldiers and help them focus on the job at hand and stay alive!

Tags-Support the Troops

Cute quiz

2008-07-12T22:12:00.006-04:00

Your result for The Attachment Style Test...

The Cuddleslut

36% Anxiety Over Abandonment and 23% Avoidance Of Intimacy

You're mostly secure, but sometimes you need a little extra reassurance to make it through the tough times. You are usually affectionate and sweet, and you find it easy to fall in love. An encouraging word from a crush or a loved one can motivate you for weeks.

Fictional character with whom you might identify: Kaylee (Firefly/Serenity), Hiro Nakamura (Heroes)

Other Attachment Types:
Secure:	The Unicorn	\|	The Cuddleslut	\|	The Free Agent
Preoccupied:	The Cling Wrap	\|	The Squid	\|	The Insect
Fearful:	The Doormat	\|	The Leper	\|	The Exile
Dismissing:	The Hermit	\|	The Stone	\|	The Player
Confused:	The Waffler

Take The Attachment Style Test at HelloQuizzy

Tags-Frivolity

Tony Snow passed away today

2008-07-12T10:59:00.003-04:00

Michelle Malkin has a nice piece about him.

I always enjoyed when he filled in for Rush, and his term as Press Secretary actually made me interested in the briefings.

Think I'll go say a prayer for his soul, his family, and all of those he leaves behind. We are poorer for his passing.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Amen.

Tags-Tony Snow

Hedgehogs in space!

2008-07-05T15:38:00.003-04:00

Found this on Aaron Williams page today, and it's really cute and addicting and adorable and a huge time waster and did I mention it's cute?!?!!

Hedgehog Launch

Tags-Frivolity

Happy Independence Day!

2008-07-04T14:45:00.001-04:00

Tags-Frivolity

WALL*E

2008-07-04T12:30:00.005-04:00

WE went and saw WALL*E last week and really enjoyed it. I went expecting it to be like Happy Feet in that it would pummel me with the 'people are bad and destroying the planet' message. It had some of that...but it was not nearly the propaganda piece I thought it might be.

I think it's important to in movies that have messages that I don't like, to see what the filmmakers were intending it to say (the biggest reason I never saw V for Vendetta by the way).

Here's snips from an interview with Andrew Stanton-
The Meaning behind WALL*E

I haven't read the whole article yet, but once again, I find myself cheering the folks at Pixar!

(Oh, and yes, I DO believe that Puff the Magic Dragon was written as a children's song, not as a drug one too...) ;)

Tags-Disney

"Because only Spartan women give birth to real men."

2008-06-26T15:52:00.003-04:00

I read this today (h/t Hugh Hewitt) and it made me think.

It compares the movie 300 to our modern fight against Islamofascism and the liberals who would have us appease them.

From the middle of the piece-

Just like the sacrifice of Leonides and the 300 reverberates to this very day, in the free air we breathe, so too does a comparison between two women of today:

Recently, MoveOn.org put out an ad called "Not Alex." It features a young mother, holding her son. It is, needless to say, an "anti-war" ad. Here is the text:

"Hi, John McCain; this is Alex. He's my first. So far, his talents include trying any new food and chasing after our dog — that, and making my heart pound every time I look at him. So, John McCain, when you said you would stay in Iraq for 100 years, were you counting on Alex? Because, if you were, you can't have him."

This women says that John McCain—and by extension this great nation—cannot have her son.

But this cowardly woman—who most likely mated with a cowardly wisp of a man—doesn't realize something vital: John McCain won't take her son. Neither will the military. She doesn't decide for him, at age 18 months or 18 years.

When he grows, he will decide—as a free man—whether to wear the uniform of his country.

It will be up to him to choose, not her or her accomplices at MoveOn.org. Perhaps, when he grows, he will throw off the corrosive ideology of his mother and recognize what Queen Gorgo did: "Freedom isn't free at all, that it comes with the highest of costs."

Contrast that with another brave woman of today. She is Ania Egland, wife of Air Force Major Eric Egland. Having grown up under the oppressive heel of communism, she knows the value and the price of freedom.

And she has responded to MoveOn.org's craven ad with an ad of her own. Here is the text:

"Hello Senator McCain, these are my precious boys Noah and Daniel. Their daddy served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I grew up under communism. So, when you say we have to protect freedom in Iraq, I understand. And, someday, I would be proud if they volunteered to serve this great country. Senator, thank you for your leadership."

Now THAT'S a woman. A mother of free men.

It is hard for a mother, even a mother who recognizes the cost of freedom, to see her child or her husband go off to war.

You think Ania Egland wants to see her sons die in war?

You think that when Queen Gorgo says to Leonides, "come back with your shield, or on it," that she wants him dead?

As a woman who had her husband go off to war, and whose son is currently gearing up to go to Afghanistan for 15 months, this resonates with me.

But go read the whole thing and tell me what you think.

Tags-GWOT

Happy Birthday!

2008-06-14T13:12:00.002-04:00

Today is the 233rd birthday of the US Army! (also Flag Day, so it's doubly cool!)

Some other's who are celebrating the occasion-
Blackfive
Donal Kochan over at Hugh's place
Mudville Gazette

and of course-
US Army

Tags-US Army

Interesting

2008-06-12T16:51:00.003-04:00

Looking at some of 'resources' they suggest, it seems to fit me....somewhat at least! (click on the pic to see the whole page)

Tags-Frivolity

Why I'll vote for John McCain

2008-06-12T13:09:00.002-04:00

Supreme Court opens up Gitmo lawsuit floodgates; Scalia: “The Nation will live to regret what the Court has done today. I dissent.”

No, there are no guarantees that McCain actually WILL nominate strict Constitutionalist judges, but we KNOW what kind of liberal, activist judge we will get with Obama.

Look at how this vote came down and tell me that whoever gets to nominate the next Supreme Court Justice doesn't really matter.

Tags-McCain

1930's Marital Test

2008-06-08T00:49:00.003-04:00

For anyone that knows me, this is NO surprise!

As a 1930s wife, I am
Very Superior

Take the test!

I am even LESS surprised by Aaryk's score! ;)

102

As a 1930s husband, I am
Very Superior

Take the test!

Tags-Frivolity

D-Day

2008-06-06T17:19:00.004-04:00

64 years ago today.

Thank GOD we didn't have today's 'media' covering that war.

I spent the morning watching my husband get awarded the Army Commendation Medal for exemplary service to his unit, and get a special plaque from the guys.

May go watch 'The Longest Day' tonight.

Tags-Military

Probably our fault too...

2008-05-27T16:54:00.003-04:00

Or at least George W. Bush's!

Juptier experiencing 'Global Warming'

Tags-Heh

For your Thursday morning enjoyment

2008-04-17T06:32:00.000-04:00

Tags-Frivolity

In honor of Tax Day

2008-04-15T07:32:00.002-04:00

(Got this in an email today and it made me chuckle)

Dear INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE:

Enclosed you will find my 2007 tax return showing that I owe $3,407.00 in taxes.

Please note the attached article from the USA Today newspaper; dated 12 November, wherein you will see the Pentagon (Department of Defense) is paying $171.50 per hammer and NASA has paid $600.00 per toilet seat.

I am enclosing four (4) toilet seats (valued @ $2,400) and six (6) hammers valued @ $1,029), which I secured at Home Depot, bringing my total remittance to $3,429.00.

Please apply the overpayment of $22.00 to the "Presidential Election Fund," as noted on my return.

You can do this inexpensively by sending them one (1) 1.5" Phillips Head screw (see aforementioned article from USA Today newspaper detailing how H.U.D. pays $22.00 each for 1.5" Phillips Head Screws).

One screw is enclosed for your convenience.

It has been a pleasure to pay my tax bill this year, and I look forward to paying it again next year.

Sincerely,

A Satisfied Taxpayer

Tags-Humor

Just silliness

2008-04-12T15:53:00.001-04:00

Wow...two posts in one day!

And both frivolous ones!

More serious content may return soonish....but this was just too silly NOT to post!

Tags-frivolity

100 words you should know meme

2008-04-12T15:25:00.004-04:00

The editors of American Heritage dictionaries have come up with a list of 100 words every high school graduate should know.

Here's what they say about it-

BOSTON, MA — The editors of the American Heritage® dictionaries have compiled a list of 100 words they recommend every high school graduate should know.

"The words we suggest," says senior editor Steven Kleinedler, "are not meant to be exhaustive but are a benchmark against which graduates and their parents can measure themselves. If you are able to use these words correctly, you are likely to have a superior command of the language."

So, I thought I'd take a look at the list and bold the ones that I actually know the meaning for, and if y'all want to join the fun, post the list in your blog/LJ/whatever, and leave me a comment here so we can compare! ;)

Some words I know I should know (and could probably pull off using them in a sentance and be right 50% of the time!)...but I'm not marking them if I don't already know the definition. But, I WILL go look some of them up and try to use them in conversation...so beware!

(click below for list!)

abjure
abrogate
abstemious
acumen
antebellum
auspicious
belie
bellicose
bowdlerize
chicanery
chromosome
churlish
circumlocution
circumnavigate
deciduous
deleterious
diffident
enervate
enfranchise
epiphany
equinox
euro
evanescent
expurgate
facetious
fatuous
feckless
fiduciary
filibuster
gamete
gauche
gerrymander
hegemony
hemoglobin
homogeneous
hubris
hypotenuse
impeach
incognito
incontrovertible
inculcate
infrastructure
interpolate
irony
jejune
kinetic
kowtow
laissez faire
lexicon
loquacious
lugubrious
metamorphosis
mitosis
moiety
nanotechnology
nihilism
nomenclature
nonsectarian
notarize
obsequious
oligarchy
omnipotent
orthography
oxidize
parabola
paradigm
parameter
pecuniary
photosynthesis
plagiarize
plasma
polymer
precipitous
quasar
quotidian
recapitulate
reciprocal
reparation
respiration
sanguine
soliloquy
subjugate
suffragist
supercilious
tautology
taxonomy
tectonic
tempestuous
thermodynamics
totalitarian
unctuous
usurp
vacuous
vehement
vortex
winnow
wrought
xenophobe
yeoman
ziggurat

Dang! I just can't place ziggurat...sems like I should know that one! (off to Google to look it up!)

So, if I count it right, I got 80. I guess Aaryk HAS been a good influence on me! ;) So how'd YOU do?!

Tags-Meme

Vets For Freedom- National Heroes Tour

2008-04-05T15:21:00.002-04:00

We just got back from the Vets for Freedom National Heroes Tour Rally in Fayetteville. Had a wonderful time! Pics are up here if you are interested.

Got to meet Uncle Jimbo from Blackfive, and he's just as neat as I thought he'd be!

We also got to listen to four vets talk about their experiences in fighting the Global War on Terror, and about all the GOOD things that have happened because we are there.

It was an...intimate...gathering, mostly because of the crappy weather and a last minute change in venue. It was supposed to be at the Airborne/Special Ops museum downtown, but they pulled out last week. Thankfully, the Retired Military Association of NC graciously took us in and gave us the run of their building.

Man, I LOVE talking to our troops and showing them how much we support everything they have done and are doing!

Tags-Support the Troops

Passing of a Chicago Icon

2008-03-27T10:24:00.002-04:00

A big part of my life growing up died yesterday.

From the WGN website-

Legendary WGN Host Wally Phillips Dies
Longtime Morning Man Loses Battle With Alzheimer's

(WGN-AM) - Wally Phillips, considered by many in the radio industry for helping to pioneer the modern day talk radio format, has died. He was 82.

The WGN mainstay hosted the morning show from 1965 through 1986. During that time, he ruled the roost in morning drive, at times attracting half of the market's listening audience.

Phillips arrived at WGN Radio in 1956, retiring from a weekend show in 1998. His lasting legacy at the station is the "Neediest Kids' Fund," a children's charity. Phillips had been battling Alzheimer's disease for the past five years.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

And from the Trib-
Longtime WGN radio host Wally Phillips dead at 82

Wally Phillips was the voice I heard on the radio every morning for as far back as I can remember. I remember many a Thanksgiving drive to Nana's house where Wally played Alice's Restaurant. I may not have understood the song much back then, but it became a family tradition of sorts for us.

I also remember that it was Wally Phillips who introduced me to the terms 'hog futures' and 'pork bellies', when he would have Orion Samuelson (pronounced Or-ee-an) on each day to read the farm report and kibitz a while.

Of the three WGN Radio personalities I grew up with, Wally Phillips, Roy Leonard, and 'Uncle' Bobby Collins, on Roy is still with us.

Wally was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993, and you can read more about his career here, at Wally Phillips on WGN Gold

Like they said at the bottom of the WGN Gold page, If you are from Chicago, chances are you have said more than once, "I grew up with Wally Phillips." So did radio.

Very true.

Rest in Peace Wally

Tags-Wally Phillips

Finger-licking good art!

2008-03-19T12:11:00.001-04:00

Otherwise known as Reneck Fingerpaints!

Tags-Frivolity

Found this today while wandering around Web

2008-03-18T16:23:00.003-04:00

"Why I Am No Longer a 'Brain-Dead Liberal"

Nothing annoys a liberal more than when one of their celebrated intelligentsia defects toward the Right.

This week, yet another Leftist icon, David Mamet, announced he is coming to his senses.

Nice to see that some one whose work I like is coming around to the 'Light Side', even if it does mean that his colleagues are turning on him like rabid dogs.

Predictably, some of Mamet's former colleagues and devotees among the ever-tolerant and inclusive ranks of mindless tin men, were quick to condemn Mamet for his changing views: "How sad that an intelligent person like David would write such a simplistic, downright infantile article filled with stereotypes and lacking any substantive insight whatsoever." "Does this mean that you've given up on democracy and thrown in with the authoritarians?" "I had no idea Mamet could be so shallow." "Mr. Mamet is now simply brain dead." "I'm saddened to learn David is either a liar or a fool or both." "Mamet is a political ignoramus who hides his frustration by lashing out at an imagined ‘liberalism'."

Notably, many of his Lefty critics mentioned Mamet's faith: "Our old friend Mamet is perhaps too rich and too Jewish." And more to the point: "It's been apparent for quite some time that Mamet is a Zionist. This screed is just additional evidence."

Yep, there's that oh so tolerant Left we keep hearing about.

All I have to say is, "Welcome Home, Mr. Mamet, welcome home".

Tags-Conservatives

Ah! I get it now! ;)

2008-03-17T08:51:00.002-04:00

Dustin has a 'Cruise Wife'

This article is basic psychology, and something I really didn't take time to understand while Aaryk has been gone. But I'm sure Aaryk had his 'deployment wife' just like I have my DVD collection (okay, and a few pairs of shoes, but they're all high heels and Aaryk TOLD me to buy them!).

I guess it's good to remember that my spending sprees weren't JUST a weakness in character (I was supposed to be being frugal after all), but a coping mechanism for being alone.

Interesting article.

Oh, and this is a cool little video, has NOTHING to do with anything, but I just wanted to share!

Tags-Army Life

Bwah ha ha!

2008-02-24T12:17:00.001-05:00

Alright, how did they know about the Bay City Rollers?!?!?

Which Buffy the Vampire Slayer Character Are You?

More on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Created by BuddyTV

Tags-Memes

More thoughts on McCain

2008-01-31T12:05:00.000-05:00

Dems Want to Lose -- But GOP Doesn't Want to Win

This pretty much sums it up for me, and Victor Davis Hanson is some one who's writing I appreciate. Clear thinking in the midst of all this chaos.

I'm still not ready to commit to a McCain nomination, but if it IS the way it falls, I'll have to come back and reread this many times before election day.

Tags-Election 2008

Wow, I've been busy! ;)

2008-01-31T00:31:00.001-05:00

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Tags-travel

I'm just sick

2008-01-30T12:57:00.000-05:00

I can't stomach the thought of having to vote for McCain for President.

But, when the choice is a liberal Republican or a socialist Democrat, then I really will be voting for the lesser of two evils. And yes, I know that still means I'm voting for evil.

I'm really hoping Mitt can pull this out, I've been a Romney gal from early on p(although I did hope that Fred would do better, THAT would have been interesting!) I'm still wistfully hoping for a Romney/Thompson ticket, but I fear it is not to be.

Yeah, I'm depressed, and I know that it's going to be hard to get the Republican base excited enough to get out and vote for McCain, but I hope the threat of the alternative is enough to motivate them.

Or maybe 4 years of miserable policies and higher taxes with a Democrat is better motivation than 4 years of miserable policies and higher taxes from a Republican. At least with McCain I don't have to worry about foreign policy issues so much...it's just that with moving back to Arizona, I AM concerned about his border enforcement ideas.

I told my Mom that I would vote for McCain for president, but I will NEVER vote for him again for Senator. She didn't understand that. But then, she'll likely be voting Obama like most of the rest of Illinois come November.

Heh...today's Day by Day says it all- Day by Day

Tags-Politics

This almost slipped by me

2008-01-29T00:12:00.000-05:00

Today is the 22nd anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

Here's the Wiki on it

I remember the day. I was just getting ready to leave the house for work, and as I walked through the living room, I saw them cut away to the news. Needless to say, I was late for work that day.

Isn't it interesting how we can so easily recall the disasters and tragedies in our collective lives. Each generation has their moments that make time seem to stop. Pearl Harbor, Kennedy's assassination, landing on the moon, Reagan being shot, the Challenger disaster, and of course 9/11/2001. Some of these seem to affect all people equally, and others are much more personal to some than to others, but these are the moments we look back on and say, "I remember what I was doing when..."

Today, that reminiscence is for Challenger, her crew, and their families-

High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up, the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, nor even eagle flew.
And while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space...
...put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Tags-Challenger

Blogging for LIFE

2008-01-22T12:34:00.000-05:00

I'm still working on my post about abortion, but I did want to be a part of the Blogs for Life today, on this 36th anniversary of the travesty of law known as Roe v. Wade.

For right now, here's a couple of links I found interesting. Hopefully, later on today I'll have a chance to post more. Right now I'm headed off to Church to pray before the Blessed Sacrament that more women will choose life in this coming year.

I'm pro-life, but not religious

Michelle Malkin

Texas Rainmaker

Reported abortions continue to decrease

Have any other good pro-life links? Leave 'em in my comments!

Tags-Pro-life

From my brother-

2008-01-07T13:15:00.000-05:00

Amazon.com review

Yep, some people have wayyyy too much time on their hands! ;)

Tags-Humor

heh...I can live with this

2008-01-07T01:14:00.000-05:00

How my views match up to the candidates-

80% Fred Thompson
79% Mitt Romney
77% Tom Tancredo
75% John McCain
67% Mike Huckabee
65% Ron Paul
59% Rudy Giuliani
32% Hillary Clinton
31% Bill Richardson
28% Barack Obama
28% John Edwards
25% Chris Dodd
24% Joe Biden
20% Mike Gravel
13% Dennis Kucinich

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Tags-Politics

More good news from Iraq

2008-01-02T12:26:00.000-05:00

Ceremony Marks Iraqi Control of Basra

Taking another positive step in Iraqi self-reliance, Basra became the ninth province to meet the joint conditions agreed upon by the Government of Iraq and Multi-National Force-Iraq.

Wow! Remember when all we heard was bad news coming out of Basra? It's a cautious step forward, but it's HUGE in terms of winning the war and getting our guys home in victory!

he people of the province can also celebrate that unification is occurring on many levels, and the central and provincial governments are working together. Iraqi Security Forces in Basra have sustained their own security for four months now. Basra is the ninth of Iraq’s eighteen provinces transferred to provincial authorities under control of the province’s governor.

HALF of Iraq's provinces are under complete Iraqi control? That's a huge deal that to my knowledge isn't getting much press here in the States! Go read the rest of the article, and if you aren't already getting your news from the MNF-I site, you SHOULD be! At the very least, sign up for their weekly email and just read that much. That's what I've been doing for months now. It's all the news you WON'T here about much otherwise!

Tags-GWOT

Golden Compass and the bigger picture

2007-12-12T11:21:00.000-05:00

A comment on another blog got me to thinking. When do you go see something for yourself, and when do you let others opinions influence yours?

Looking specifically at the new movie, The Golden Compass, I'm confident that I don't want to see it for a number of reasons. Others though, Christians mostly, are going to spend their money on it to "see for themselves".

Cassy Fiano of Wizbang was one of those-Golden Compass Review

It's their money, and if they want to spend it supporting people who actively hate God and the Catholic Church, and by whose own comments have said that they want to draw kids away from God by creating a sort of 'anti-Narnia', well then, it's a free country.

My bigger problem though was with the larger idea that unless one experiences something first hand, they are letting some one else make a decision for them, or telling them what to do.

I don't have to smoke cigarettes to know that they can be harmful to my body. I don't have to get falling down drunk to know that alcohol can have negative effects on a person.

There is a time and a place for first hand experiences, but thankfully *I* don't have to be the one to do everything. Unfortunately, it IS necessary for some one to experience the negative things (smoking, drinking to excess, watching bad movies), and I'm sure there will be times when I am the one who gets to do so.

So, what criteria do I use to determine if I'm going to see a film? It comes down to three basic things for me-

1) Can I trust the person who is telling me about it to be giving me an accurate portrayal? Good, bad or otherwise.

B- Do I really want my money to go to support this type of project? What to the people involved with the film/book have to say about it?

III. Is this the sort of thing I should be filling my head with, is it edifying, or something that will try to tear down my beliefs or faith?

The first must be negative and usually from multiple sources, and BOTH of the others in place before I will outright refuse to see a movie. Note that I said BOTH of the second two criteria must be met. I've seen plenty of films with disturbing imagery, and some that aren't particularly edifying. Some of them I regret seeing, and some I own on DVD. (won't see V for Vendetta, seen Hannibal-complete with scenes now seared, seared in my memory, and own Dogma) That's why it's not the SOLE criteria I use for seeing a film.

Does this mean I'll miss a few good movies? Possibly. But with a limited amount of time and money, I'm willing to risk it.

With Golden Compass, it's as much the writer and director's philosophies about the project that bother me as the actual anti-Christian bias. That's what really disturbs me about this film. The outright hatred of Christianity that I've read from the people involved in the project, and how they hope it will be a catalyst for leading people away from God.

So, I'm not going to go see it, and I'm going to actively discourage others from seeing it. But I'm not going to protest it in any other visible way. Why give them the free media attention?

For those who are interested in what other's ARE saying about the movie and the books, here's a few of the sources I have read-

Archbishop Chaput On The Golden Compass

"Compass" Points in Wrong Direction

Here's Snopes on it

I could go on, but you get the idea. Also, just from a movie going point of view, what I've read doesn't make me want to rush out and see it. Here's a couple of key graphs from Cassy's review-

All that aside, how was the actual movie? It was decent. I'd give it a C. I got to see the trailer for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian again, and that had me more excited than the actual movie did (literally -- I was practically bouncing up and down in my seat with excitement). The movie had decent action sequences, although not enough, and I felt myself willing the movie forward. The plot was kind of tedious, and left the ending quite obviously open for another movie. There were no real awe-inducing visuals in my opinion, either. There also is not the feeling that Lyra's quest is something that she needs to undertake. There's mention of how she's the child in a prophecy, but there is no sense of urgency there.

The biggest problem, however, was not the tedious plot or lack of action sequences or that there were no stunning visuals. It was missing that spark of magic, that sense of awe and wonderment you get from other fantasy movies like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Harry Potter movies, and yes, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Those movies left you feeling awed, stunned, and the magic in those worlds seemed palpable and real. You left the theatre feeling as if these were real people, real events, and that if you poked around a few wardrobes in your house, you might just find Narnia, too. The Golden Compass did not have that spark of magic. You didn't leave the theatre feeling awed and stunned. Whether this was due to the plot or the filmmaking, I don't know exactly. Some movies have it. Some movies don't. This didn't.

So, I'm still encouraging folks to give it a pass, but that's just my opinion on it. (that IS why you read my blog, right?)

Tags-Golden Compass

(oh, and thanks A, for your comment on the previous version of this post. It really helped me with rewriting this piece.)

Can't begin to tell you how angry this makes me

2007-12-11T17:14:00.000-05:00

War Budget Struggle Claims Its First Victim - Family Spending

Did the Dems really think that their hissyfit and refusal to pass the current military spending bill was SUPPORTING the troops?

Rolled out to much fanfare at U.S. Army garrisons across the globe in October and November, the Army Family Covenant, as the initiative is called, is the cornerstone of the Army’s plans to bulk up programs and services for families stressed by frequent deployments.

But because virtually all funding for the covenant — $1.4 billion — is tied up in the funding bill that is at the center of a clash between Congress and the president, none of the promised funds have yet made their way to Army families or even to garrisons in Europe.

Concerned that the bill might not pass before money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan runs out, Gen. Richard Cody, the Army’s vice chief of staff, has ordered all commands and activities to draft plans for reduced operations at Army posts.

According to Cody’s order, the effort’s intent is to reduce funding for some operations “to the minimum essential level.”

Pete Geren, the secretary of the Army, told Congress he may need to reduce some of the same services the Army pledged to improve in its “covenant,” such as counseling for returning soldiers and their families, and family and youth activities, in order to shift money to the war budget.

That is a possibility “if the supplemental doesn’t pass,” said Ned Christensen, a spokesman for Installation Management Command in Washington.

At this point, though, installations are being told to continue at their previous funding level, he said. That level, though, is where programs were funded before the covenant.

Plans to cut back on nonessential programs and services will, if necessary, go into effect in late February, Christensen said.

Among the covenant’s goals are increases in the number of paid assistants to deal with family issues at a battalion level; extension of child-care operating hours; expansion of hourly and respite care; increase in the number of Army Community Service personnel; and expansion of youth programs.

The covenant, which is really a statement of commitment to another initiative — the Army Soldier Family Action Plan — also includes plans to beef up health care, family housing, schools and family member education and employment opportunities.

We're not even talking about the need to divert funds yet, this is money appropriated for these programs that the Dems are holding hostage.

Way to go with supporting the troops there gang...maybe instead of whining about how the Bush Administration isn't personally giving out free phone calls to each and every wounded soldier (something that the USO, MWR, and many other groups already do) you might talk to your congressmen and tell them to pass the funding bill that will provide extra counselors, child care, healthcare, and employment helps for soldiers and their families.

If that's what you consider support, then no thanks.

Yeah, this one pisses me off...can you tell?

Tags-support the troops?

On the road

2007-11-22T09:10:00.000-05:00

I'm currently in the midst of my cross country adventure to visit my son as he graduates from his AIT.

In an attempt to catch up on some of my online reading, I ran across this blog linked over at Hugh Hewitt's place- Bruised Orange

What I read I really liked, so I posted it it here to share (and so that I wouldn't forget to bookmark it when I get home!)

Tags-Links

Interesting article on Stem Cells

2007-11-13T20:19:00.000-05:00

The Ten Great Myths in the Debate Over Stem Cell Research

This is a good overview of terms and issues surrounding the debate about Embryonic Stem Cell research and the Catholic Church's position on it.

Tags-Stem Cells

Happy Veteran's Day

2007-11-11T16:56:00.000-05:00

The History of Veteran's Day

Three Generations of Soldiers in my family.

If you are looking for ways to help veterans in your area this season, do more than just signing a useless online petition about Veteran benefits. Get involved. Go visit the Vets at your local VA hospital. Many of them just want some one to talk to. Write down their stories for future generations. Find out if your area has a homeless veteran's shelter (mine does) and see what they need. If you feel strongly about the need to improve veteran's benefits, write to your local congressmen and tell them so. Connect with your State VA and see what they need and how you can help.(AZ, IL)

But whatever you do today, please pray for all our Veterans and active duty military and remember to thank them when you see them.

Tags-Veterans Day

Just in time for Halloween?

2007-10-30T11:19:00.000-04:00

Tampon Crafts

Okay, so the ghost IS kind of cute, but mostly I just want to shiver and say, "Ewww!"

And the Christmas decorations?

Um...let's just say that some one had wayyyy too much time on their hands!

Tags-Crafts, Oddities

Winning the Hearts and Minds

2007-10-28T13:02:00.000-04:00

Are we making a difference in Iraq?

Read on and you tell me!

What goes around - Comes around

We need to be getting more of this kind of press release out in the MSM!

Tags-Military, Iraq

A fun read from a Milspouse!

2007-10-23T23:57:00.000-04:00

I'm Afraid to Say Rush Limbaugh is Right

Lately I feel like a child caught in the middle of a bitter divorce between my "dad" (we'll just call him "Rush") and my "mom" (let's call her "everyone else on the Left").

Go read the whole thing! ;)

Tags-Military LIfe

Heh

2007-10-21T01:59:00.000-04:00

Just...Heh

;)

Tags-Military Humor

what's up

2007-10-18T12:13:00.000-04:00

Things may get a little interesting over the next few months. I have been following the blog of an old friend who is about as liberal and left wing as one can get. I have promised myself not to engage her over there, because we both know that it won't change anything.

However, on the occasions where I just HAVE to say something (Like in this smear of the Family Research Council) I'll do it here.

I'm doing this for a number of reasons; first, it gets it out of my system, second, we have a mutual friend who is just beginning to become politically aware and I want to make sure she sees both sides of a situation before making a decision (whatever she decides), and finally, because it's high time I put MY activist, ass-kicking boots back on. Too long have I let my current situations and apathy keep me on the sidelines.

So here we go, back into the fray!
(yeah, there's more- on PP's attempt to control the dialog on family planning)

I linked to Planned Parenthood's sky is falling email above. Here's what the press is saying-

Here's the WSJ article on the appointment- Contraception Foe Named to Contraception Post

I did some digging, an found out more about where Ms. Orr stands on the issue of contraception-

Here are some quotes the liberal site Think Progress culled to show how 'disturbing' Susan Or's positions are-

– In a 2001, Orr embraced a Bush administration proposal to “stop requiring all health insurance plans for federal employees” to cover a broad range of birth control. “We’re quite pleased, because fertility is not a disease,” said Orr.

– At the 2001 Conservative Political Action Conference, Orr cheered Bush’s endorsement of Reagan’s “Mexico City Policy,” which required NGOs receiving federal funds to “neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations.” Orr said that it was proof Bush was pro-life “in his heart.”

– In a 2000 Weekly Standard article, Orr railed against requiring health insurance plans to cover contraceptives. “It’s not about choice,” said Orr. “It’s not about health care. It’s about making everyone collaborators with the culture of death.”

– Orr authored a paper in 2000 titled, “Real Women Stay Married.” In it she wrote that women should “think about focusing our eyes, not upon ourselves, but upon the families we form through marriage.”

So, she's pro-marriage, pro-life, and against government REQUIRING insurance companies providing contraception (apparently she's also Catholic!).

From all the uproar I expected to find her vocally wanting to ban ALL contraception from ever being sold to anyone ever again!

What a relief to find that she could be....ME.

But I guess this means that liberals don't want people like me, PRO-FAMILY people to have ANYTHING to do with FAMILY planning. I guess that just goes to show that what they want isn't family planning, it's really family avoidance (which is fine, but they should CALL it that).

I mean, heaven forbid a person who is pro-family and pro-child, like Susan Orr, wanting to help shape polices regarding families and children.

Here's a couple of links, to the Office of Population Affairs, and specifically the OPA/Office of Family Planning

According to the Leftist rhetoric, this is just one small step from FORCING you to crank out babies! Think I'm being over the top? Just take a look at some of the comments in Mysa's Friends LJ posts (or any other leftist blogger posting about this today)...They seriously believe we're coming, ala A Handmaiden's Tale.

But not to worry, after all, she's only an ACTING Deputy Secretary, and it's not like she can change the Title X laws mandating availability to contraception.

Hey, pro-choice liberals should be cheering today, after all, now ELEVEN YEAR OLD GIRLS in Portland Maine now have easy access to contraception IN THEIR SCHOOL.

Tags-Pro-life

Army Families, Army Strong

2007-10-10T15:21:00.001-04:00

Tags-Military

Regime

2007-10-08T22:05:00.000-04:00

I was over on Mysa's LJ again (I know, I"m just a glutton for punishment) and saw this today- Countdown to Regime Change

My first thought was annoyance. Like many, I always think of 'regimes' in terms of military or fascist ones. Now, I know that's how Mysa thinks about this Precidency, but before I went shooting my mouth off over there, I looked up the word-

Regime

In general, it's just another word for government. I like what this part of the entry said though-

A system of government or administration. The most common use of this promiscuous term in recent years has been in the phrase ‘military regime’. So while any government may be termed a regime, be it monarchical, aristocratic, republican, or tyrannical, the term unavoidably conjures up memories of tanks in the streets in Latin America and Eastern Europe. This is to be regretted, since it has two more technical senses in which it may not easily be replaced. First, when governments come and go with bewildering frequency, as in nineteenth-century Spain or post-1945 Italy, there may still be an absence of fundamental or revolutionary change. In these circumstances it is possible to speak of regime continuity. Alternatively, and more rarely, a change of regime (from constitutional monarchy to tyranny, or from dispersed to centralized government) may be achieved without a change in government, as in the move from parliamentary to personal rule by Charles I of England, or under Margaret Thatcher. Secondly, in international relations the difficulty of accommodating the rise of non-state actors within state-centric realist models of explanation has led to use of the term ‘regime’ to cover norm-bound interactions relating to issues such as the global environment or human rights, in which states, international organizations, transnational corporations, individuals, and worldwide pressure groups like Greenpeace or Amnesty International all take part.

(emphasis mine)

So, the Left gets to call the Bush presidency a regime, which is technically accurate, and at the same time brings to mind the military and fascist regimes of the past (as it immediately did with me). So, if I call her out on it, she can claim that the usage is correct, and if I let it go she gets to use the imagery of dictators and evil men. It's a win-win scenario for the Left.

Something to keep in mind if Hillary, Obama or any of their cronies ever end up in the White House. Somehow though, I think that we'd get called 'meanspirited' or some such if we did the same thing.

Oh well...such is politics, and why I have very little I can politely say to Mysa anymore... :( At least I learned the actual meaning of the word, so SOME good came out of it!

Tags-Liberals

Catholics and Gaming

2007-10-03T01:19:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine asked me to find information for her on the Catholic position on gaming in general and Role-Playing Games specifically. I was interested enough that I'm posting what I found here.

Let's start with Jimmy Akin, a convert to the faith, much like my friend and I. I think this part is key to the whole discussion-

There are many individual games that I would not participate in due to moral repugnance, and so I concede the potential force of the argument, but I note that it applies only to particular games and not to the concept of Role-Playing Games as a whole.

Who can morally participate in what games will depend on the nature of the game and the dispositions and moral fortitude of the player. Different people have different temptations, and one ought to stay out of games that foster one's temptations.

I read a lot of Jimmy Akin's writing as I was studying to become Catholic, and it really shouldn't surprise me that he's a gamer too! There's probably more good stuff over on his site, but I'll let you find it! ;)

This message board talks a lot about computer RPGs, but I think most of the things apply to the the pen and paper variety as well. Mostly things about spending too much time in the activity being more of a problem than the game itself.

This guy sounds like he could be one of my circle of friends! He writes a bit about gaming here- mostly about MMORPGs, but I just like his blog. I'll have to bookmark it!

But as to an 'Official' statement from the Vatican or the US Bishops, there is nothing I could find...which means that gaming and RPGs are not intrinsically evil in and of themselves. Some games, like the computer game Grand Theft Auto can be considered evil based on their premise, but most are not. How they affect our lives, our relationships, and our Christian witness is another matter.

As for me and my house, we will fight evil in the world AND in Paragon City!

Tags- Religion, Gaming

The Weblog awards are coming!

2007-10-03T01:06:00.000-04:00

Nominations begin soon, so check it out!

Tags-Weblogs

Makes me sad

2007-10-02T17:59:00.000-04:00

Over on her LJ Mysa posted her support of a Planned Parenthood clinic that was trying to open in Aurora IL. I am sad to have to report that the clinic did in fact open to day and now more women will be hurt both physically and emotionally, and more unborn humans will be killed.

Some interesting info on this battle-

Yeah, I know, biased source...but I AM biased.

So congrats Mysa, you and yours won this battle, and a battle it is. Not just over ideas or worldviews, but also over the very lives of the next generations.

Here's the site of the folks who were trying to prevent this abortion mill from opening- Families Against Planned Parenthood

Now it's back to prayer.

Prayer to End Abortion

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death
by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn and their parents.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Tags-Pro-Life

Good News!

2007-09-29T09:52:00.000-04:00

According to Uncle Jimbo at BLACKFIVE, the two SF troops that were being charged with murder have had the charges DISMISSED!

Read about it here!

Thank God this happened quicker than people thought it would. Hopefully this will not hurt the careers of either men, and hopefully it restores some of the trust of our men in the field who are behind the triggers and taking out the terrorists.

Tags-Military

Friday Frivolity, cleaning out the vault

2007-09-28T00:36:00.000-04:00

Periodically I would start a FF post and leave it in my drafts. I decided it was time to 'clean house' and get ALL of the old posts up in one place!

Kyrie - 1/4 cup of fun - 1 1/2 cups of athleticism - 2 heaping tablespoons of caring Blend together quickly and serve.
'What is your personality recipe?' at QuizGalaxy.com

BWAH HA HA HA! This is almost as much fun as when we discovered that 'pants' can be a verb! ;)

All work and no pants makes Jack a dull boy.

Which movie was this quote from?

Pants! Why did it have to be pants?

Which movie was this quote from?

and of course the classic-

I find your lack of pants disturbing.

Which movie was this quote from?

Oh, go make your own funny quotes! Tee hee!

(oh yeah, there's MUCH more!)

Kind of cool to seen, even the 'questionable' statistics-
visual statistics

Found this a while back on Nodwick. I think I may need one for my brother! (Check out the other tees at Off World Designs too!)

These aren't the 72 virgins you were expecting?

Just for the cuteness-

I'm actually surprised, since I guessed on two of them!
(Some of the answers were just stupid, but most were decent.)

You know the Bible 100%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes

Whoa...Trek Trippin'

Tags-Friday Frivolity

This is getting my blood boiling

2007-09-27T11:06:00.000-04:00

Read this on BLACKFIVE the other day, and it's just got me fuming-

Does SOCOM have Spec Ops troop's backs?

How the hell do we expect to win this thing if our snipers, their officers, and our troops in general spend so much time second guessing their actions? Let's paralyze out troops by having them constantly worry about facing charges FOR FOLLOWING THE RULES, that's the way to win this war! < /sarcasm >

More info and updates here and here

Even if these charges are finally dropped, the military careers of these troopers are basically over, especially for the officers. The whole thing just stinks.

Tags-Military

Cry me a river

2007-09-27T10:43:00.000-04:00

NRCC chair threatens to resign

I probably would have let this one just slide on by if I hadn't gotten my (seemingly) monthly call from the NRCC yesterday, begging for more money.

They just don't get it. I finally had to hang up on the guy because he just wouldn't understand that,

A) my husband is currently deployed and so funds are stretched a bit thin, and
B) until the party as a whole shapes up and starts acting like the small government conservatives I voted for, I'm not giving the party as a whole any more of my money.

I do plan on supporting individual candidates, and it will likely mean that I'll be giving more money in the long run, but I just can't see giving to the RNCC until the Republicans in Congress show that THEY are willing to start working for ME again.

Tags-Republicans

Choice

2007-09-26T13:13:00.000-04:00

Jay Tea over at Wizbang has a piece that just resonates with me today-

Choice Morsels

The libertarian in me rebels against this. I want the right to make choices in my life, and I demand the right to be responsible for those decisions. I want my choices about my life to mean something, for good or ill -- because they're MY choices, about MY life.

I've lost count of how many times I've quoted David Gerrold's "A Matter For Men," but he had the best definition of freedom I've ever heard: "the right to be responsible for one's actions." I insist on the right to do as I wish, and demand that I be held responsible for them -- for good or ill.

Food for thought for a Wednesday afternoon.

Heh, and I'll add that it's ironic that the folks who mostly want to limit my choices are the sames ones that decry my religion as limiting my freedom and choices.

Tags-Choice

Halo 3

2007-09-25T00:16:00.001-04:00

BWAH HA HA HA!

It's Halo Kitty!

Lileks' take on it?

It’s gorgeous. Also bloodless, which is interesting; for all the talk about the Horrific Effects of gaming on the youth, there’s no gore in the multiplayer combat. No severed limbs, no fountains of Type O. You die, you fall down, you get up again. Yes, it’s a bad lesson, and teaches people that violence has no consequence, just as Pac-Man taught a generation that eating round dots turns your pursuers into blinking ghosts, and Donkey Kong made us all a little more confident around barrel-throwing monkeys than we should have been.

Reminds me...I need to find more Red vs. Blue!

Tags-Halo 3

Friday Frivolity, the Home edition!

2007-09-21T09:17:00.000-04:00

My dream house?!

Your home is a

Spawn-camping Magnate's Stronghold

Your kitchen is someplace you never go, because you "have people for that." There's a Chocolatessen, which is rapidly becoming your favorite room of the house. Having one is also becoming a trend among your wealthy neighbors. Your master bedroom is the size of a small barn, with carpet thick enough to reach your ankles. Your study has hardback editions of every classic ever written, plus a special edition of Rich Dad, Poor Dad with the parts you ghost-authored highlighted. One of your garages holds your collection of ferraris, and is measured in acreage.

Your home also includes a guest wing and private quarters for your servants. Your guests enjoy your collection of every console and associated game ever made. Except the Intellivision -- those controllers drive them NUTS. Outside is your hedge maze and gardens, meticulously tended by a team of world-class botanists.

And, you have a pet -- a doberman pincer named "Warren".

Below is a snippet of the blueprints:

Find YOUR Dream Home!

Ok, I can live with that!

On second thought, I did it again, switching my emphasis from relaxing at home to gaming, and here's what I get-

Your home is a

Magic Gamer's Castle

Your kitchen is stocked with chips, dips, and assorted caffeinated beverages. There's a pantry with emergency backup caffeinated beverages. You also have some breakfast cereals in there, but you haven't had breakfast since last Spring. Your master bedroom has blankets printed with images of Mario and Link. Your study includes unread copies of various gamer magazines, each purchased for the free demo CDs. One of your garages holds your collection of ferraris, and is measured in acreage.

Your home also includes a roost for griffons. You've never actually seen a griffon, but you keep the roost ready anyway. Your guests enjoy your collection of every console and associated game ever made. Except the Intellivision -- those controllers drive them NUTS. Outside is the moat that protects your home from goblin invaders and extended family.

And, you have a pet -- a koopa named "Shelly".

Below is a snippet of the blueprints:

Find YOUR Dream Home!

I love the Griffon roost, you know, just in case! (oh, and the Mario and Link blankets? They would be left from Brian!) ;)

Sorry for the lack of postings again...it may be this way for a while, I just can't seem to get too irate or excited over things at the moment. But I will try to get something up here at least once a week.

Thanks for hanging in with me !

Tags-Friday Frivolity

Oh wow...

2007-09-15T17:56:00.000-04:00

I wish I'd seen this in time to post it last week-

just make sure you have your kleenex handy...

Tags-September 11

Supporting the mission

2007-09-11T22:31:00.000-04:00

Sign the Stand By The Mission Petition!

I don't often ask you all to sign petitions or things like that, but I'm asking now.

Will it change anything? I don't know...but it certainly won't hurt.

Also, if you haven't given the Victory Caucus site a look, now's the time. You can get to them either through the petition link or the icon on my sidebar.

Tags-GWOT

Yuck

2007-09-11T21:43:00.001-04:00

I know better than to go reading through a particular...friend's "friend list" on Live Journal. It IS a neat feature, to keep all the folks you read regularly in one place (I know, RSS feeds can do that...I just need to learn how!), but with her political leanings, I know better, especially on days like today, than to cruise her friends.

It's not quite DU bad...but that's not really saying much now, is it?

One guy, in particular was at least honest about his hatred of our troops and the military in general.

I'm not posting a link, because mostly I'm just venting, but partly because I don't want to deal with the blowback of hate I've seen from folks like this.

And I was having such a nice day too....

Tags-military

Patriot Day

2007-09-11T09:34:00.000-04:00

President Bush has declared September 11 to be Patriot Day, and for a moment of silence to be observed at 8:34am Eastern time.

As it is important to remember and honor those who died that day, here are the tributes I did last year for two of the victims of the 9/11 attacks-

Col. Ronald Golinski
Dominick Calia

Take a moment today to pray for their families and for the soldiers who are still fighting the fight that was brought to our door on that day.

Tags-September 11

I think this is a good change

2007-08-22T11:16:00.000-04:00

Military.com had this on their site last week-

Legislation Would Allow Salute to the Flag

Week of August 13, 2007
Legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (S.1877) clarifies U.S. law to allow veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying whether they can or should salute the flag. The bill passed in the Senate recently by unanimous consent.

I think it's a good change. I know many vets with the Patriot Guard Riders who are happy about it. We were discussing it a bit at the Illinois Gathering of the Guard last weekend.

I'm just cynical enough to wonder what the anti-military Left thinks about this though...

Tags-Military

Teachers Pet

2007-08-22T10:57:00.000-04:00

Since many of my friends and family are educators or are working towards that goal, when I found this linked to at Military.com I thought I would pass it along-

The Apple

Haven't looked around the site much, so if you do, let me know what you think!

Tags-Teachers

Move along, move along...

2007-08-14T19:27:00.000-04:00

...no slippery slope here!

Church group sues over same-sex civil union ceremony

Weren't we told over and over again that gay couples didn't want to force the Church to change, they just wanted the right to their civil unions?

Well, not anymore-

The couple, Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Paster of Ocean Grove, applied in March to rent the pavilion for a Sept. 30 ceremony.

After their application was rejected and their $75 deposit returned, the couple said they contacted the association's president, who told them the facility could not be used for civil union ceremonies.

The couple filed a complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, saying the rejection was a violation of the state's law against discrimination. They asked the division to require the association to allow the ceremony to take place.

So now we're to having the government step in and requiring a Church to allow a same sex civil union ceremony to take place on it's property. The Church in question is suing and it'll be interesting to see where this one goes.

Does renting it out to other groups constitute a 'limited public forum'? If so, then they might have a problem. I don't know how those rules apply to private property...I do know that it would be the case for a public setting like a school.

I'll be watching this one with much interest!

Tags-Church & State

For my Arizona Friends

2007-08-07T10:57:00.000-04:00

I haven't listened to KFYI in ages, but apparently this guy dedicated an hour of his show a month to talking with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Here's what Military.com said-

Mike Broomhead, host of the "Mike Broomhead Show" on News Talk KFYI in Phoenix will dedicate one hour of his two-hour Sunday evening show to "Voice of the Troops," which will also be sponsored by Operation Homefront of Arizona. The segment debuted July 15 and will begin as a monthly feature. Those with Internet access will be able to hear the program on the station's website at www.kfyi.com. The program will provide a way for servicemembers to share their stories from the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, visit the Operation Homefront of Arizona website.

So tune in and hear for yourself how we're doing over there!

Tags-GWOT

Sorry I've been negligent here gang

2007-07-27T01:25:00.000-04:00

With Aaryk back in Iraq, some days are just harder than others for me to get anything done. I'm dealing with it, and we're all fine, but it does mean that I ignore my blogs more than I'd like. So thanks to everyone who checks in here still!

I found this today and and wanted to share-
Military Motivator

One of my favorites (and I'm sure Aaryk would agree!) is this one-

There's lots more going on in the world that I should be writing about, and I'm sure I'll get to it all eventually!

Tags-Military Humor

And Aaryk said...

2007-07-19T16:53:00.000-04:00

"Why don't *I* have any stories like this?!"

Superheroes part 1

(I told him it was because he goes to bars dressed as a blue hedgehog, but that's another story entirely!)

Tags-Military Humor

Links from the open Road

2007-07-09T17:05:00.000-04:00

Okay, well, mostly these are just things I want to read more about when I get home. We're having the car repaired in New Orleans today and I really hope to be home by Thursday.

4 Ways for servicemembers to get money for college (mostly for Brian)
Preserving History with Playing Cards Pretty cool way for our guys to learn more about the areas they are protecting
Homecoming SpouseBuzz is quick becoming my 'go to' place for discussions by military families on topics that are important to us.
Missing Soldier's Wife Gets Green Card
Walter Reed Gets Troops Back to Shooting

I may have other links in the next couple of days, and I may even post a picture or two of my son graduating from Basic Combat Training!

Tags-Military