Baby Bell Has Arrived!Still Needs Prayer

For those who noticed on my sidebar the request for prayers for Baby Bell Please keep them coming. (Click here to see sidebar posting) I recieved the following email from Rick Bell:

Marybeth was delivered on March 27 at 1:00 in the afternoon- she was 6 lbs and 2.9 oz.

This was three and a half weeks early, but the timing was perfect. We had just managed to get everything in order last weekend. On Monday, the day before, Jennifer was having her weekly checkup to detect any possible problems from the Rh issue. The levels looked a little too high, but at this stage the readings are not very reliable. So she was told they would check again on Thursday, and if it read the same, they would have to make some decisions.

Jennifer did not want to be induced, nor did she want a cordocentesis. So this presented something of a possible dilemma. She prayed to the Lord that she wouldn't have to be induced.

Dilemma solved. At 3:15 the next morning, her water broke! We dropped the boys off at a friend's and went to the hospital. There were no complications and it was a completely natural and unmedicated birth. It could not have gone better!

The Rh issue was never an issue!

But the heart problem is still there.
It looks like we are going to have to have surgery on Friday, sometime between 11:00 am and 2:00pm. We were praying that she would not need this first surgery, but "Not my will but thine be done..."
The upside is that she looks great all around, healthy and strong (not to mention beautiful!). She'll be able to make it through. Pray that her parents would too!

Some of you had told us that our daughter would be born just fine and without problems. SHE WAS. We are thankful and greatly encouraged. The heart problem is different, though. We have to go through this. The Lord will be there. Thanks for helping to pray us through.

Rick and his wife are wonderful people and their reaction to this time of difficulty shows how much comfort and peace of heart one gets from the Christian walk. - Keep them and Baby Marybeth Bell in your prayers.
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Update: Praising God that Marybeth's first surgery went fine and she seems to be
doing very well. Thanks for the many emails and of course for the
prayers. Now she just has to hold up well and adjust and recover.

In Jesus,
Rick

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Here is a link to the Bamboo Bell and a bit more info in Rick's own words. -
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Billy Hodges - U.S. Army & Texas National GuardHunts For HeroesWednesday Hero - 27 Mar 07

The following is from The Wednesday Hero Blogroll

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi

Billy Hodges, kneeling center.


Billy Hodges, who served in the U.S. Army and Texas National Guard between 1971-1979, is not only being profiled for his service, but also for what he's done since then. Mr. Hodges runs an organization based in El Campo, Tx called Hunts For Heroes. They also have chapter in South Carolina , Arkansas , Mississippi , and California and what they do is take soldiers who've been wounded in battle on hunting and fishing trips and other outdoor related activities. All free of charge.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.





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Pork Barrel Spending and Cut and Run Pullout By Democrats

Hank Johnson, Congressional Representative for Georgia's 4th District' voted for The 'Emergency Spending Bill' (read 'Piggies Filling Their Pockets'). - Congressman Hank Johnson set up a brand new blog and posted at Good Will Hinton (Where The Right Meets The Left) - Hank Johnson's posting - Exit Strategy: Why I Supported the Iraq Accountability Act - is somewhat enlightening...

In his post vote posting Congressional Representative Hank Johnson says:

I am passionately opposed to the war in Iraq. I am committed to bringing our brave troops home and sickened by the prospect of prolonging this tragic and unnecessary conflict.

And today I have made a very difficult decision – by far the most difficult I have ever made in public service.

In our efforts to end this war, we in Congress are faced with imperfect options. The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act (PDF file - HTML HERE thanks to Google) upon which we voted today is a strong bill and will do much to hasten our withdrawal from Iraq. But it is a flawed bill, an imperfect bill. I had hoped for a more aggressive measure and, in past weeks, considered voting against it.

I was an original supporter of the amendment offered by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, which called for a fully-funded, immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Regrettably, that amendment was rejected before it could even be considered on the floor. It is clear that more aggressive measures to curtail the president’s power would be destined for the same fate in this body.
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This bill will require withdrawal of U.S. armed forces from Iraq if its conditions are not met. It will hold the Iraqi government officials accountable for their action and inaction. It will greatly increase funding for the care of our veterans, who have been neglected upon their return from heroic and frequently traumatic service abroad. It will appropriate deeply needed funds to restore our proud military to a state of strength and readiness.

This is an imperfect bill. But, for all its flaws, it is the right first step -- the right step today.

I will solemnly lend it my support.

I noted that in his entire posting not one mention of what would be the results of the U.S. pulling out from Iraq. Neither did he mention any of the PORK included in this bill.

• "extraneous pork-barrel spending" —
  
• "pet projects with no direct connection to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars" -
• "meant to win over on-the-fence Democrats"

are just three comments from only one online news source. There are many others.... - Hank failed to mention them... -

(Among the projects attached to the legislation are funding for spinach subsidies and money to rebuild levees that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.)


I left the following comment there and would encourage those reading this to join in the discussion.

prying1 sez:

I was around

When the U.S. abandoned Vietnam because of the lies of people like John Kerry I believed those lies and thought them the truth. It took the Swift Boat Veterans to reveal the truth. Our soldiers were not eating dead burnt babies. They were attempting to protect the South Vietnamese from the ungodly murderers of the Chinese supplied North Vietnam.

When we left Vietnam is when the real atrocities were commited by the south's 'brothers' from the north. MILLIONS WERE MURDERED as a result of the U.S. leaving and the U.S. left because the war then was micromanaged by Congress just as our current Congress is trying to micromanage our current war.

Let the generals run the war. YOU know nothing about how to run a war. YOU have never studied warfare or you would not have voted the way you did.

The same thing as happened in Vietnam WILL happen if the U.S. pulls out of Iraq too soon. Millions will be murdered and TERRORISTS WILL GET CONTROL OF IRAQI OILFIELDS!!!

You may disagree with how we got there and why we are there but you cannot disagree with the fact that if we pull out now it will be a repeat of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Countries surrounding Iraq (read Iran and Syria) will fill the void the U.S. leaves with violence that pales in comparison to what they have now. Those who befriended the U.S. will be the first to lose their lives. - Their blood will be on your hands! -

Your vote was an error and hopefully those in your district will rectify the matter next time your name is on a ballot.

The roll call for the bill can be found here - hat tip and thanks to AubreyJ for the link!!!
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Is the Surge Working?

AubreyJ has posted Iraqi and Coalition Forces Kill, Capture Terrorists

Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 17 terrorists, detained about 90 suspected insurgents, and found several weapons caches in operations throughout Iraq in the past three days, military officials reported.

Coalition forces killed five terrorists, destroyed a bomb-making factory and detained three suspected terrorists during an operation today near Taji.

Elsewhere, Amiriyah police and Marines from Regimental Combat Team 6 engaged armed groups of al Qaeda for more than five hours today, killing eight insurgents and wounding five, south of Fallujah, near the town of Amiriyah.

Enemy fire continued sporadically throughout midday, when supporting fixed-wing aircraft engaged about 20 insurgents with guided munitions and strafing fire. Six insurgents were killed and their vehicles were destroyed as a result. The five wounded policemen were transported to a local hospital and treated.

During a raid near Balad, coalition forces detained 10 suspected terrorists and found a large amount of weapons in two targeted buildings.

West of Taji, coalition forces captured three suspects with alleged ties to car bomb operations and foreign fighter facilitation.

AND THE LIST GOES ON!!!

prying1 sez:

Seems to me that the politicos on the left should be cheering at this news instead of threatening to stop funding, demanding the U.N. be given the plow handles, demeaning our troops and giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

May the Living God watch over the coalition forces and befuddle the minds of our enemies.

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Capt. Alan B. RoweWednesday Hero Blogroll

The following is from the Wednesday Hero Blogroll

This Weeks Soldier Was Suggested By Jenn

Capt. Alan B. Rowe
35 years old from Hagerman, Idaho
1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
September 3, 2004


The Perfect Marine. That's how many describe Capt. Alan B. Rowe. Respected and dedicated to the Corps and still able to be a husband and father.

Rowe, who was on his fourth deployment since joining the Corps in 1985, died with two other Marines, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 23, of Tampa, Florida, and 1st Lt. Ronald Winchester, 25, of Rockville Center, N.Y., when a remote-controlled explosive device detonated as they returned to their vehicle after inspecting a bridge in Anbar province, near the Syrian border.

"He was a quiet, humble person and extremely polite," his widow, Dawn, recalled from their early days of dating. "He was a traditional type of gentleman. My mom was surprised to meet such a ... perfect-picture Marine." "He did a great job balancing a pretty intense Marine Corps career with also being a great husband and father. He worked extremely hard to balance it." "He was so dedicated to the Marine Corps. He was really driven and believed in what he did. He was a Marine’s Marine. Tall, blond and fit. Kind of the mental image you think of when you think of the Marine Corps."

A week after his death, Capt. Rowe was posthumously promoted to major. He leaves behind his wife and two children.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

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Global Warming IS a Swindle!

Watch the BBC Documentary on this subject

UK (C4) Documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle

prying1 sez: Next time you meet someone that is says man made global warming is a scientific fact please explain to them that they can donate their money to fix it but they should not insist on stealing yours. The puppets for the global warming con artists need to be directed to this BBC produced show.

Put AlGore out of business.

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Hat tip to: Phil at Holy Chalice - Who in turn credits Doug over at Political Pistachios ~ Thanks to both of you! -
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Happy St. Patty's Day

Visit St. Patricks personal website for a good time.

Up The Kingdom!

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General Pace and Immorality

Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff voiced his personal opinion to a group of Chicago Tribune editors and reporters this week. As a result he came under fire from homosexual activist groups, many in the Democratic Party, many in the MSM, the former Secretary of the Navy and Virginia Republican Senator John Warner. Warner said to reporters, "I respectfully but strongly disagree with the chairman's view that homosexuality is immoral."

Transcript:

PACE: My upbringing is such that I believe that there are certain things, certain types of conduct that are immoral. I believe that military members who sleep with other military members’ wives are immoral in their conduct, and that we should not tolerate that. I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral, and that we should not condone immoral acts.

So the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell allows an individual to serve the country, not — [inaudible/interruption] that allows individuals to serve their country. If we know about immoral acts, regardless of committed by who or — then we have a responsibility. And I do not believe that the Armed Forces of the United States are well served by saying through our policies that it’s okay to be immoral in any way, in any way, not just with regards to homosexuality. This is from that standpoint saying that gays should serve openly in the military to me says that we, by policy, would be condoning what I believe is immoral activity. And therefore, as an individual, I would not want that to be my policy, just like I would not want it to be our policy that, if were to find out that so-and-so was sleeping with someone’s wife, that we would just look the other way, which we do not. We prosecute that kind of immoral behavior between members of the Armed Forces.

Audio here

Thanks to Think Progress for the Transcript and link to sound.

Where are the pro-adultery groups in this mix? The Homosexual groups are complaining about being mixed in with adulterers but I don't hear complaints that adulterers are being mixed in with the homosexuals.

Last Tuesday (13Mar07), an ABC reporter asked Clinton whether she thought homosexuality is immoral. She replied: "Well, I am going to leave that to others to conclude." - Since then (Thurs 15Mar07) Hillary Clinton told Bloomberg News, "Well, I've heard from a number of my friends, and I've certainly clarified with them any misunderstanding that anyone had, because I disagree with General Pace completely, I do not think homosexuality is immoral." -

Barack Hussein Obama released a statement on this same Thursday. "I do not agree with General Pace that homosexuality is immoral. Attempts to divide people like this have consumed too much of our politics over the past six years." - The day before Obama's statement was, "Traditionally, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman has restricted his public comments to military matters. That's probably a good tradition to follow." -

Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback stated in a letter: "We should not expect someone as qualified, accomplished and articulate as General Pace to lack personal views on important moral issues. In fact, we should expect that anyone entrusted with such great responsibility will have strong moral views."

Asked whether he agreed with Pace's comments, Brownback said: "I do not believe being a homosexual is immoral, but I do believe homosexual acts are. I'm a Catholic and the church has clear teachings on this."

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prying1 sez: The issue really is, "Is there a God and did he set up rules for mankind to live by?" - I say yes. -

But what I say is unimportant compared to what each person's heart says. Inside all of us is a conscience that nudges us when we want to go the wrong direction. Then when someone comes along and says, "Hey! You're going the wrong way!" we get defensive. This happens whether the issue is homosexuality or eating to much chocolate cake.

It is an issue of sin.

For the uninitiated, sin is, simply put, disobedience to God. He set up the rules not General Pace or Hillary or Obama or Brownback or me. People can disagree with the rules, love the rules or hate the rules but we can't change the rules. - So it goes -

Those railing against General Pace simply prove that people do not like to be corrected. Consciences get pricked and in response people lash out. All of mankind needs to recognise that a conscience is a good thing and helps us see those things that we allow to stand between us and God.

Morality is not something that we can make our own definitions for. When we do try to conform morality to our desires we twist our consciences and that, my friends, is not a good way to live life.

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Attribution to: CNS News.com and Time.com



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At The Right Time, We Remember Wednesday Hero Blogroll

The following is from the Wednesday Hero Blogroll -

Almost a month ago, the Wednesday Hero Blogroll received an email from a reader named Mike Gardner that contained something he had written in honor of this country's heroes. He asked that it be considered for a future post. It took almost a month, but here is his tribute.

At The Right Time, We Remember

The honor roll goes back farther than we can remember, it contains names we will never know...

I wasn't there when the American Colonial Army stood winter guard in the snows of Valley Forge wearing bloody rags for boots as they fought for my freedom.

I wasn't there in the war of 1812.

I wasn't in the trenches when the German's seared the lungs of young American men with mustard gas as they fought for my freedom in World War One.

I wasn't at Pearl Harbor when a single Japanese bomb detonated a million pounds of black powder on the Arizona and instantaneously killed over one thousand American sailors preparing to defend my freedom against the Japanese and the Nazis.

I didn't see the bullet riddled bodies of the Americans who died defending my freedom in Korea.

I only vaguely remember the nightly news clips of American soldiers as they carried out our government's orders in the jungles and swamps and tunnels of Vietnam.

I have never been with a family who lost a son or a daughter defending Kuwait, Afghanistan, or Iraq.

I wasn't there with any of them when they suffered as prisoners of war in any of these wars.

I have never been with a family whose child died in a peace time military training exercise.

Not every one of our veterans saw combat. Some were clerks, cooks, mechanics, machinists. Some served during war time, some served during peace time, some serve in peace today, ready for battle tomorrow. Today they prepare for the ongoing war against terrorists. Some gave their lives, some suffered wounds, some saw things that no human should ever have to see, and many did things that no human should ever have to do. And all gave their daily life, for a period of time, while many more gave their time to work in the industries that sustained our veterans.

Not all of those who have protected my freedom were even in the military. Some of them were the firemen, policemen, and paramedics who risked their lives each day, rushing in where most of us would never tread. Some are the doctors and nurses who treat the wounded, and go home and cry for them. Some of them were "just" passengers on commercial airline flights who, with faith in Christ, calmly chose to fight, and die if necessary, rather than let Flight 93 be used as a weapon against their country and their fellow citizens.

When I tried to join the US Air Force, my application was turned down for medical reasons.

Because others were, and will be there, I am privileged to continue to live in the greatest nation the world has ever known and to enjoy the greatest freedoms that any people have ever known.

The honor roll stretches forward to times, and places, and names we will never know...

And so I thank you, veteran, whoever you are, and wherever you are, whenever your service.

Thank you Vet. Thanks Dad. Today, I remember WHY I am free, and I thank you.

I know that when you were asked, at the right time, like Christ, you gave your life for me.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.




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C-Span Changes Copyright Rules To Favor Bloggers

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, used a C-Span video in/on her blog promoting Democrats. It was against the law. She has been forgiven and C-Span is changing it's rules to give more leeway to the use of it's material.

Officials for the cable TV network that provides daily gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate proceedings at first said the blog was in violation, then announced it wasn't. On Wednesday, they said that it was but that they're changing their policy so that it won't be in the future.

The new copyright policy will allow non-commercial Internet users to share and post C-SPAN video as long as they attribute it to the public service channel.

"Given our background and our history, an open approach is the most consistent with our mission," said Rob Kennedy, C-SPAN's president. "We are now saying under the new policy that that will be OK, for her or any blogger or citizen journalist" to post C-SPAN video online.

A C-SPAN statement Wednesday said the network is implementing a "liberalized copyright policy for current, future, and past coverage of any official events sponsored by Congress and any federal agency ... which will allow non-commercial copying, sharing, and posting of C-SPAN video on the Internet, with attribution."

both blockquotes from Yahoo News

Speaking of attribution. Hat tip and thanks to Warner Todd Huston for his posting on this subject.

prying1 sez: No telling how far this will go. Freedom of speech and fair use is on the march. - At least in the U.S. - Overseas it is a different story. Warner Todd Huston has another story posted - France Makes Effort to Criminalize Bloggers, Internet News Sites - which tells of a different state of affairs way over in France.

The French Constitutional Council has approved a law that criminalizes the filming or broadcasting of acts of violence by people other than professional journalists. The law could lead to the imprisonment of eyewitnesses who film acts of police violence, or operators of Web sites publishing the images, one French civil liberties group warned on Tuesday.
- Macworld -

HEY! WAIT A SECOND! Who uses film anymore? It is all digital or tape.

I can see it now. Youths rioting, looting, pillaging; the French police ignoring them and instead attacking and beating a bystander that is catching the action with a cell phone.

It is a topsy turvy world we live in.


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Cpl. Jennifer ParcellWednesday Hero - 7 Mar 07 -

The following is the Wednesday Hero Blogroll Posting.

This Week's Soldier Was Suggested By SJ Reidhead

Cpl. Jennifer Parcell
20 years old from Bel Air, Maryland
Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force
February 7, 2007


Cpl. Jennifer Parcell was petite, but one learned quickly that underestimating her was foolish.

"She was an absolute firecracker," Master Sgt. Jerry Widner said. "Just a go-getting machine."

Her relentless can-do attitude led her to volunteer for Iraq. And then to volunteer for the Lioness Program, which provides female Marines for searches of Iraqi women to respect Muslim cultural mores.

Parcell was killed Feb. 7 in Anbar province when a woman she was searching blew herself up with a suicide vest. Parcell had started doing the searches a week before and was three weeks from going home.

You can read the rest of Cpl. Jennifer Parcell's story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.

prying1 sez: May her family be comforted as she has joined the 'great cloud of witnesses'.

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A Letter In Favor Of Walter Reed Hospital

Greg Kandra posted this at CBS News - After all the noise about conditions at Walter Reed (noise that really says big government does not work) I found it refreshing to read this.

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Pentagon producer Mary Walsh sent us the following note late yesterday. It’s from a soldier who was treated at Walter Reed, with his views on conditions there. We’re re-printing it here, with some slight editing, to help give a fuller picture of that famous medical center, considered by many the premiere treatment center of its kind in the country. – Ed.

My account of the situation surrounding Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

I am SSG Daniel Metzdorf, I was a patient at Walter Reed (WRAMC) in 2004 and 2005. I spent approx. 14 months there all together. I was injured 27 Jan 2004 by a roadside bomb, IED, 55 miles south of Bagdad, Iraq. As a result of my injuries, I had my right leg amputated above the knee. I have had over 27 operations and countless hours of PT (physical therapy) & OT (occupational therapy) and prosthetic care. I attempted to stay on active duty with the 82nd Airborne Division and after my 3rd attempt and all the support of my chain of command, I was able to Continue on Active Duty (COAD). I reenlisted and stayed with the 82nd ABN DIV. I am now permanently assigned to the US Army Parachute Team, “The Golden Knights”.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center is the best medical care in the world!

Walter Reed is where miracles happen.

The problem is with the outpatient soldiers and the soldiers unit. When there are too many soldiers at WRAMC, and then the hospital is forced to find them some place to live. If the outpatient soldiers were proactive and the unit kept good accountability and tracking of their soldier, then he or she would return back to their home duty station and not take up space/ need space at WRAMC. I believe if there was a Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of tracking soldiers and their care and willing to order the soldier to return to there home duty station, the hospital would not have to be forced to use temporary housing like they are now.

I assure you that no soldier was in danger and at no time were the conditions there worse than in combat. I am a soldier and my life is being a soldier, I believe once you are injured and after you are an outpatient, you need to continue to be an asset to the military, i.e. get back to work, the tax payers aren’t paying us to sit around.

My unit at the time of my injury was the 82nd ABN DIV, I was contacted by phone and or email every other day by my unit. They knew when I was due back to work, if I was not going to be medically discharged. I never have heard any soldier complain about the medical care at WRAMC. I am not crazy about the food there, but who likes hospital food?

Soldiers in Reserve and National Guard units tend to be the majority of the out patients at WRAMC. Their units need to find a hospital near their home to take care of these soldiers. WRAMC is a “Major Treatment Facility” -- this is not a clinic to take care of colds or tennis elbow; the Army has Health Clinics for these types of injuries or illnesses. Also the MED Hold unit at WRAMC should be for special cases, not for every soldier, each Post has a MED Hold unit. That is where they need to go.

To fix the problem: Make a few Active duty Army position E-6/E-7, combat arms (someone who has been to combat) at WRAMC. Hiis sole position would be to track the soldiers’ treatment and care and to determine when they are not needing treatment from WRAMC, and then send them back to the control of their unit. This would ensure that WRAMC would not have too many people on its property. This would also alleviate the use of temporary housing.

Soldiers are not all the same, but these facts remain true of us all. We all volunteered, we all take orders, and we all have a responsibility to our great nation. If I had one thing to say to these soldiers, it would be: get back to your unit and become proactive. We need you and you are still part of this great organization, THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

prying1 sez: Kudos to CBS for putting this out there.

To SSG Daniel Metzdorf - Hooah!!!!!

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JETMAN and Comments

I've been out of touch for a few days because I've been busy with business. I'll only be posting a little bit for the next few weeks. Thought I'd come back today with this for you Air Force buffs. Navy will probably like this too since they have a few planes.

Those susceptible to airsickness might want to back out now.

A buddy of mine sent the following link and since then I've been privy to some comments from other friends of his. Thought I'd share it and let those who wish join in the conversation. All the names have been reduced to initials.

First watch the little video at this link my friend sent to me. Don't want the Secret Service knocking on their doors.

- - - JETMAN - in Destination Liberty - - -

Follows, the comments:
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B.W.

If you flew this penetrate Groom Lake to take up-close videos of spook project aircraft or the airspace over Washington, DC, to buzz Capitol Hill, fighters would be scrambled and you’d be vaporized.

R.W.

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B.W.

If you are going to do this in your area, make sure you talk to me first so that I can get the word in with my Nellis friends. If I let them know in advance, they will Intentionally miss with their missiles. Now the DC area I will not be as much help. My friends back there are Navy and not Air Force. If it is a day that the Navy is on patrol, then I can help. FYI. Fighter Cap is flown at 27,000. They dive down on you at just under Mach speed slow enough not to get a sonic boom. Once ATC calls them in, they are there in under 3 minutes.

Here is a link to our air show photos that we did in the Nellis Air Show 2005.
http://www.fotodj.com/nellis2005_EAA.htm

The retired Aggressor Squadron commander is leading the flight. On his right wing is another squadron commander that retired in 2005. Another Air Force Squadron commander is leading Falcon Flight that did a 6-ship maneuvering routine. I train the guys in the formation that are in SoCAL. Our web site is: http://www.rvformation.com

G.S.

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return. - Leonardo da Vinci
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nice

M.C.

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B.W.

You could also rent old red Cessna 150 57G from Gunnell Aviation (alas, long gone) at Santa Monica Municipal (SMO), fly to DC, do S-turns with full flaps just above stall speed of 40 knots through prohibited airspace, then watch the Navy’s Top Guns from PAX River frantically grasping stick and throttle trying to stay next to you to give hand signs before they drop out of the sky like rocks -- which you blissfully ignore, of course. Just smile at them and enjoy the scenery as you buzz and snap photos of government landmarks, like the White House and Capitol Building. You may also wish to do a short field landing on the White House lawn (note: I can attest that landing on wet grass even on warm days is like landing on ice), jump out of the plane, then run over to shake the President’s hand after a ceremony in the Rose Garden.



G.S. will note that those Navy jocks will be scrubbing carrier decks and cleaning bilge pumps for the rest of their military careers for failing to take out the target – but you’ll be laughing all the way to jail. Write when you can!

R.W.

~~~~~

Nice R.W.!

M.C.

~~~~~

M.C.

Thanks, but I only get away with stuff like this because B.W. & I are boyhood friends of 50 years. Actually, the aircraft was 67G, B.W.’s favorite training plane at SMO in 1970.

R.W.

~~~~~

To Everyone,

All I know is I want one of those for Christmas. Now if all of you chip in....

Paul -

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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Obama's White Ancestors Owned Slaves

Warner Todd Huston has posted a bit on Barack Hussein Obama and the question that is being asked, "Is He 'Black Enough'". I thought it was quite a hoot and well written.

Obama's White Ancestors Owned Slaves… More Is He 'Black Enough'

prying1 sez: Warner Todd Huston has shown the world through his post how silly some of those on the left are. These people are more concerned with Obama's ancestry and skin color than they are with what philosophies he would bring into the White House. - They seem to say, "Ignore that he is a leftist and so are we. Put this color scale up to the underside of his arm and see where he stands against that."

From what I've seen of the guy he seems duplicitous and slick. Too smooth for my taste. Plus he is a socialistic leftist. (Is that redundant?) That is what I don't understand concerning the left and their arguing against him. It seems to me he is oleaginous enough for the likes of them.

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Total Lunar Eclipse Saturday 3 Mar 07

Just a heads up that there will be a Total Lunar Eclipse this Saturday.

The Moon will blush red as it passes through Earth’s shadow in a total lunar eclipse on Saturday. From most locations on Earth, at least part of the 6-hour eclipse will be visible if skies are clear.

The Earth’s shadow will completely cover the Moon during the most dramatic phase, which will last a little more than an hour – from 2244 to 2357 GMT.

http://space.newscientist.com has the story with a link to a GMT conversion table.

The deepest part of the eclipse, when the Moon is completely covered by Earth’s shadow, will be visible from all of Europe, Africa, and in Asia westward of central China. It will also be visible in central and eastern North America and all of South America.

From most locations, the Moon will be up for at least part of the eclipse (scroll down for a map of where it will be visible). The eclipse will not be observable at all in a swath of the Pacific Ocean stretching from northwestern Canada to eastern Australia.

prying1 wonders if perhaps Earth's (Gaia's) shadow will contribute to moonal cooling.

He wonders if the Earth (Gaia) is sucking heat from the moon during this process in an attempt to melt it's polar icecaps. He is collecting money to help stop this trend if indeed it is happening. He takes PayPal...

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Hat Tip to papergirl8 who is an eBayer and currently has lots of books listed.



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Sgt. Maj. Brent JurgersenWednesday Hero Blogroll - 28 Feb 07

The following is written by and for the Wednesday Hero Blogroll -
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This Weeks Soldier Was Requested By Echo9er

Sgt. Maj. Brent "The Rock" Jurgersen
Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th U.S. Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division

Active Duty

Not even two near-death encounters deterred Sgt. Maj. Brent Jurgerson's passion and eagerness to serve his country and lead his troops back home.

Jurgersen celebrated his second "alive day" anniversary January 26, 2007. It was a day of mixed emotions for him because on that same day two years ago he was given a second chance to live. It was a day that changed his life forever. While on patrol in Ad Dyuliah, Iraq, two rocket-propelled grenades struck his Humvee. The explosion killed his gunner and left Jurgersen fighting for his life, flat-lining twice on the operating table in Balad.

Afterwards, during a promotion ceremony in August of 2006, Jurgersen was selected for a command sergeant major appointment. Becoming the first full limb amputee student to attend the academy.

You can read the rest of Sgt. Maj. Jurgersen's story here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.
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prying1 sez: Stories like this do not appear in the MSM. I'd like to add a personal thanks to Indian Chris who writes the Wednesday Hero Blogroll and introduces us to so many heroes. - Thanks Indian Chris -

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Email From Inside the Pentagon

Rich Lowry posted this at The National Review Online

Bombings and Iraq [Rich Lowry]

My "Pentagon intel guy" writes in an e-mail:

Since my job at the Pentagon is to follow and report these kinds of things- there are several trends we are seeing lately.

1) Definite and measurable decrease in number of sectarian killings within Baghdad: From nearly 1,400 to 680 in the last two months.

2) We are killing and capturing increasing numbers of Sunni insurgents and Al Qaeda fighters. And when I say "we"- I mean Multi-National Forces Iraq as well as the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Police Commando, and the newer "National Guard"/Territorial Forces in Anbar.

3) The recent bombings in ANBAR demonstrate red on red kinetic operations. Something which has been rare until the last few months. More and more Sunni tribes are pledging fealty to the Iraqi government and the Coalition and turning their back on the insurgents/AQI. This has caused them to be targeted.

We have seen the enemy bomb police recruitment drives, and now mosques of "apostate" Imams and Sheikhs who have sided with the Americans. This has happened twice in the last week. While the mainstream media considers this more proof of failure- it is actually a sign of the precarious position the terrorists are in. They need the Sunni population to protect them and shelter them. If they are now butchering them like everyone else- this could be a turning point in the relationship. This is crucial to watch. We need to protect the tribal leaders who have come over to us- and AQI knows that it is a death sentence for them if they can't stop it.

prying1 sez: Will the U.S. Main Stream Media EVER start printing items such as this. I doubt it. We need to continue getting news through the New Media. Sites such as the National Review Online with contributors like Mr. Lowry have far surpassed the MSM in quality of news reporting.

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We's All in the Same Boat When It Comes To Spam

I have an email address that I moved from a while back and all my friends know I moved. I still get a couple newsletters and website updates there but no personal stuff. I go through every couple days, See what news/stories I missed and clean it out of the junkmail. I canceled a bunch of the stuff I would recieve in this e-mail box but never got around to reading.

One thing I could never cancel was the SPAM!

Never really tried. As you may well know when you "UNSUBSCRIBE" from a spammer you are telling him, her or it that "This is a valid address". Might as well write a nice letter to them and ask 'em to send over a dominatrix.

I used to deal with them more than I have been recently. I would forward 411 scam letters to Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.. Deal with phishing emails, notify companies when their services were being abused or their names being used in vain. But who has the time to keep that up for long? lately I've just been deleting them...

Anyway. To make a long story longer. Tonight instead of just deleting the emails I went through a few and forwarded eBay spoofs and Yahoo email abuses. I noticed "Dexter Harrison" sent an email with the lead line, " Believe It Or Not".

I knew not to believe it but checked it out anyway. Lo and behold! Dexter wanted me to buy pills from him. I thought I'd notify Dexter that I would rather trust a drug dealer at the Hollywood Park Casino than to trust putting my credit card number on any webpage he had created.

So I went to the pilletc.org website Dexter directed me to and had a look around.

Wonderful pill selection but as I said, I would rather trust a drug dealer at the Hollywood Park Casino. At least they will look me in the eye as they are robbing me.

Whoops! Looks to me that like an unauthorised Better Business Bureau logo.

... - ...Notified!

What's this? "You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to our Opt-In List. If you have received an email from one of our customers and you do not remember subscribing to their information, or if you want to unsubscribe CLICK HERE" - Right click is disabled so I can't see the properties...

I have a good virus protection - "CLICK" -

Isn't this sweet. - Optinmail-Pro.com has offered to take me off thier list. Just click here...

Yeah! Right! Google - Optinmail-Pro.com scam -

Hmmm... www.g6csy.net/spam offers some info.

Boy! What a website. This guy must have a lot of time on his hands. Well worth a visit and a bit of wandering around time. This is one for favorites! Ohhhh! He has a page on a C96 Broomhandle Mauser. With a video of a M712 being emptied.

And he has a Ham License. I like this guy!

Wish I had more time right now but I have to get to work. I have emails to delete.

Update - For a while today I've had a few hits from people typing pilletc.org into Google. This was the only posting to show up. Now there are three hits and this post is not one of them. What happened there? - - - - Now I see that http://extracheapdrugs.com/ has jumped onto the hit parade of those seeking www.pilletc.org -

Oh well. They won't get my money. Hope they don't get your's...


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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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Castro To Receive a Summons

Miami Herald Reports

BAY OF PIGS
Invasion vets suing Castro

46 years ago more than 100 men captured by Cuban militia "were were packed into a trailer normally used to transport tobacco leaves, outfitted so it sealed in moisture and kept out fresh air" following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion

Urine and excrement sloshed on the floor, and men and boys -- more than 100 men captured by Cuban militia -- took turns breathing fresh air out of a small hole someone punched in the truck's side.

When the truck stopped eight hours later in Havana, nine of the men inside were dead.

Today, Miami-based survivors of the invasion plan to file a lawsuit against Cuban military commander Osmany Cienfuegos, who they say gave the order to pack the men into the truck -- and Fidel Castro.

Because he has ceded head-of-state powers to his brother Raúl, Castro may no longer be immune to charges from the lawsuit, the group said. Cienfuegos, who is in his 70s, is a member of Raúl Castro's inner circle.

People who witnessed the truck ride claim they heard a Cuban officer warn Cienfuegos that the truck was overloaded and had no air.

''Let them die. I don't care,'' they remember Cienfuegos saying as he ordered the officer to shut the doors.

When the truck unloaded the men in a Havana stadium, Castro was there, witnesses said, and he saw the men's condition. Most of them were sent to Cuban prisons but were released about 18 months later as part of a deal with the United States.

Prying1 sez: They better hurry up with this lawsuit. With the condition Castro is in they don't have long...

I wonder how many movie stars will go testify in Castro's defense?

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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All Clear For Israel To Attack Iran?

Three Arab states would be willing to allow the Israeli air force to enter their airspace in order to reach Iran in case of an attack on its nuclear facilities

AubreyJ has the Quick Scoop!

prying1 sez: Godspeed!

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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What Can Be Done Regarding Children and Internet Porn?

I was tagged real good by Saboma of Mariannaville. I've been tagged before (as some of you know) but this is the first one I've replied to. I still have the roundtuits for the previous ones. This tag is simply a request to post about the "Blogger Power: Safeguard the Web for Children" project.

I imagine there are very few people that have internet access and web surf regularly that have not suddenly come across a porn site. Many, not all, but many porn sites work hard to get innocent keywords to place their site at top of Google and Yahoo searches. Words that even a child might type while searching for info on a homework project.

Blogger Power is asking the porn website owners to do something to protect innocent children (and, although not mentioned, by extension adults that don't want porn suddenly flashing in their faces.


Their front page states:

* this is not a campaign against pornography as a whole
* this is not about restricting legitimate free speech and legal commerce
* this is a common sense request to all the "adult site" webmasters: password-protected login on porn sites for all the explicit materials, no more 'free clips', 'free tours', 'free pics' without login!
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Blogger Power Mission statement is:

Nothing less than a global initiative to encourage sites hosting adult content to help keep minors out by adding a simple registration gateway and taking demo videos off the home page.
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And their open message to porn webmasters is:

"Please require a password-protected login before allowing even free access to explicit adult content. We understand that selling porn is your business and we respect your right to make a legal living. But understand our legitimate concerns and work with us. You already have the "warning adult content" on your websites. Yet kids, who are not legal customers of your product, ignore the warning. So to prevent them from having direct access to explicit images, texts and sounds, the simplest way is to have a password-protected login. No more "free tours" before a visitor supplies basic information."

You can do your part in this movement by blogging about this issue. An Open Letter to Bloggers Around the World will explain how. - The more blogs that participate the more notice the MSM will have to give to the issue. -

prying1 sez:
Most people have heard of the graphic differences between whitehouse.gov and whitehouse.com - This, to me, shows that the porn industry is not interested in keeping innocents from viewing their wares. - That is why I (NOT BLOGGER POWER!) endorse the idea that all porn sites be removed from the dot com and dot net extensions and be placed on a dot xxx extension. Browsers can be set up to accept or reject the .xxx websites and thereby correct quite a bit of the problem. Domains that do not comply can be placed on a 'do not trust' list browsers can maintain for those that would prefer blocking such websites.

This could all be done without laws being passed.

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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Must See Bush Video

If you like Prsident Bush you will enjoy this video.

If you dislike President Bush you will enjoy this video.

- President Bush Impersonation - 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner

prying1 sez:
It is eleven minutes long so I hope you have the time to view it. If not save the link or come back here to click on it when you have a few minutes to spare.


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Here's Someone Who Recognises the Dangers of Islamofacism

- USA Today - LONDON — Britain's Prince Harry, third in line to the throne, will be sent to Iraq, the Ministry of Defense said Thursday.

Harry, 22, an army second lieutenant known as Troop Commander Wales, will lead 12 men from his Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry in four reconnaissance vehicles, the ministry said in a statement.

The orders raise the possibility that Harry could become the first member of the British royal family to see combat since his uncle, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, served as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot in the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982.

Harry, who graduated from Britain's military academy Sandhurst last year, told reporters in September 2005 that he wasn't preparing for a career in the military if he couldn't be sent to combat zones.

"There's no way I'm going to put myself through Sandhurst and then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country," Harry said.

...there has been concern that Harry's deployment would make him and his regiment a target in the eyes of terrorists there.

"Speculation about precisely where (Harry) will serve, or the exact details of his role, is potentially dangerous," the Defense ministry and his father's office at Clarence House said in a joint statement. As a result, they did not disclose exactly how and where Harry would serve and asked the media to respect that as a matter of "operational security."

prying1 sez: Good for Harry. The fact that he wants to stick with his team and is willing to go into the path of danger to do so shows that he is a man of good character. I think too that he realizes the real dangers to the entire world of cutting and running from Iraq. Doing so would only allow the terrorists to take over Iraq and it's oil fields. - May the Living God bless and keep him and his comrades safe.

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Wednesday HeroStaff Sgt. Kara Opperman

The following was written by and for the Wednesday Hero Blogroll

Staff Sgt. Kara Opperman
332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron


Staff Sgt. Kara Opperman performs a quality control check Feb. 13 on fuel coming out of a fill stand at Balad Air Base, Iraq. Sergeant Opperman ensures the fuel is safe and meets Air Force specifications before it is used for aircraft and equipment.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by going here.
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Trick Is - Don't Turn Around!

Seems to me every time I turn around the Gummint is up to it's old tricks. Here in California the Governator is working hard to screw up what little health care system we have left. (Even the L.A. Times rags on it!) - California needs other states to invade us and run the rascals in Sacramento south past the border. - I say that because it seems that tarring and feathering are out of vouge -

So I tried to not turn around. just stand still and maybe they will quiet down some...

Din't work...

On the national level we have socialists running the show and working hard at not working. - Our elected officials have set up a new commander for the war against terrorism in Iraq and then try to cut his legs out from under him with a "non-binding resolution". - We have a president that seems intent on opening the border with Mexico and allowing the Mexican government to drive anyone they don't want onto our side of the line. - Illegal aliens are given welfare and social security benefits. Alien criminals take up room in our prison system and are released back on the streets when their time is served. - Few of our elected officials even want to address the problem. -

Elected officials from both sides of the aisle continue to kowtow to the "Politically Correct" "Progressive Liberals" whose only interest is in turning this nation into a duplicate of France.

I could go on...

Is there a solution?

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Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008
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U.S. Politics Going Insane

If you don't pay much attention to politics in the U.S. you may have missed some of the recent news stories.

A former Open Society Institute (OSI) lawyer was hired by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to become her Senior Counsel. (Remember - Nancy is third in line for the Presidency after the V.P.)

What is OSI you ask? Who cares you say? - OK! "The OSI funnels millions of dollars into various leftist causes, including euthanasia, open borders, abortion, homosexual activism, marijuana legalization, the undermining of our nation’s war on terrorism and other neo-Marxist visions of social justice." - Hat Tip/quote = Lou Sheldon/TVC - If you have a strong stomach you can find out more about OSI at DiscovertheNetworks.ORG

Then we have the U.S. Congress supposedly following the will of the people by attempting to micromanage the war against terrorism. If my memory serves me well (and it does) the last time politicians micromanaged a war it resulted in Communists slaughtering over a million people. Apparently they want to ignore what will happen to any Iraqi that has purple ink on their fingers.

Some Republicans are joining with the Democrats to vote in favor of a "Non-Binding Resolution" that tells our military, those in the line of fire against terrorists, that the U.S. should cut and run. They are being labeled as "White Flag Republicans".

A new group called The Victory Caucus has risen up to inform these same Republican politicians that they can expect opposition to any of their future endeavors in the Republican party.

I encourage you to go to The Victory Caucus website and read the About/Our Mission/Our Beliefs page - If you find you agree with their statements I throw more encouragment at you to sign up. While you are at it take the plunge and sign The NRSC Pledge.

prying1 sez: This country is screwed if we don't stand up and be counted.

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Wednesday HeroEllicia Stanley & her husband SPC Reid Stanley

The following was written by and for the Wednesday Hero Blogroll

Ellicia Stanley & her husband SPC Reid Stanley



I received an email from Wednesday Hero Blogroll member Mary Ann in which she suggested that I profile the spouse of a soldier. Seeing as I'd profiled one such spouse in the past, I though this was the perfect opportunity to do it again. I hadn't read the entire letter before I said yes, but after reading it I'm glad she sent it to me.

I think military families, especially the spouses, while they sign no contract, serve our country just as much as the service member. They give up familiar home ties and relocate all over the country, all over the world. They give up their civilian lives for something bigger than themselves. Ellicia was a military wife for only two and a half years. Before they married, but after 9/11, Reid came to her and told her of his desire to enlist. He wanted to do his part. He tells part of the story in his blog post
http://kafstorm.blogspot.com/2005/07/why-i-joined-army.html

She encouraged him, pushing him so he could meet his goal of serving his country. He did and took his oath in October 2002. By the time they were married in July 2004, Reid was already stationed in Germany. It was 3 months before she could join him there. In a move that, for someone who'd seldom left her hometown in South Carolina, must have come as quite an adjustment. But she did it, as do so many other military wives.

Then came deployment to Afghanistan in May 2005. They spent their first anniversary apart. Reid writes about that anniversary in this post
http://kafstorm.blogspot.com/2005/07/my-hero.html

It was in the sixth month of deployment when Ellicia received the news — she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Devastating. However, in an email to me on the day she received her diagnosis, the phrase she used was, "not stellar news". Understated, calm, steady, no hysteria, it was another challenge to face.

I came to admire her because, I too, had been away from home, (not to a foreign country), with a one small child (not three), and my husband traveling (not in a war zone). Knowing what my experience had been like, I was amazed at how she took it all in stride. Even when faced with a
terminal diagnosis, she faced it all with grace, dignity and humor. All the while supporting her husband, the mission and the country.

Reid was given compassionate leave back to Germany in November 2005. For the next thirteen months they fought their own personal war with cancer…breast, lung…and finally eleven tumors in her brain.

In November 2006 the Stanley's took compassionate reassignment back to the U.S. to Ft. Eustis, Virginia.

On 31 December 2006, Ellicia lost her battle. But her spirit lives on in her husband, her children, and the many people she inspired with her courage.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

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Stem Cell Breakthrough

John Pangia posts on the story at Blogger News Network (BNN)

News Item:
Technique helps women
grow their own implants.

http://www.bloggernews.net/14602

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Like Bill said, the back-pedaling is beginning

Check out this blogpost!

- Like I said, the back-pedaling is beginning -

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End Of Six Party Talks With North Korea?

All of the news sites make it appear that the 6 party talks with North Korea are over.

href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4544845.html"target="_blank">Envoys:
Nuke talks depend on North Korea - Houston Chronicle/Chron.com

U.S.
Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said the talks had snagged on the amount of energy assistance Pyongyang would receive as an inducement for disarming. But he said that a deal could still be reached during Monday's session.

"It is up to the North Koreans," Hill said. "We have offered a way forward on a number of issues. They just need to make a decision."

His comments were echoed by Japanese envoy Kenichiro Sasae, who said an agreement "hangs greatly on the response, or final answer, that North Korea brings today."

US says no more bargaining with NKorea on nukes - NineMSM.com

The United States will not bargain any more with North Korea on its nuclear
weapons programme, the US envoy to six-nation disarmament talks said.

"I think we have put everything on the table. We offered a way forward on a number of issues. They (North Koreans) just have to make a decision. I don't think we are going to do any more bargaining," Christopher Hill told reporters.

Hill said Monday would be the final day of talks, which started Thursday on an optimistic note with host China presenting a proposal for North Korea to take initial steps towards disarmament in return for economic incentives.

"It is the last day. The Chinese announced to us and I was the first to second the motion," he said.

/////

North Korea, apparently emboldened by its first-ever nuclear test in October last year, has demanded two million tonnes of fuel oil and other inducements, Japanese press have reported.

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Prying1 sez:
Any deal made with the North Koreans would be worth less than the paper it would be written on anyway. Even a three dollar bill would be href="http://cgi.ebay.com/BILL-CLINTON-THREE-DOLLAR-BILL_W0QQitemZ220078107946QQihZ012QQcategoryZ33791QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"target="_blank">worth more on eBay.

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Where's Tim Allen When You Need Him?

I can't figure it out. Maybe I've still got too much bachelor in me. Wifeypoo starts the washing machine so I figure to throw in a few socks. Which I do.

What the??? Cold water for both cycles... Medium height on the water level??? AND MEDIUM SPEED!!!

Wifeypoo Doesn't know how to work a stupid washing machine.

I wonder if Tim Allen could come over and soup up the machine?

*** Reality Check ***

Tim Allen is an actor and really doesn't know how to soup up stuff around the house. Besides. Putting a 5HP Briggs and Stratton on a washing machine might not be cost effective.

***End Reality Check ***

Close the lid. Step away from the machine. Hope she doesn't notice the socks when she throws the stuff in the drier. Walk away...

Whew that was a close one.

But how does she expect the stuff to get clean if she doesn't have it on Hot/Hot-Full load-Max Speed?

Shut up brain and keep walking feet...

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- UPDATE -

Wifeypoo found the socks but didn't say anything. I don't think it is the silent treatment because she said goodbye and gave me a kiss as she left for work. I did however have to carry the socks all the way from the drier to the drawer...

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Good Samaritan Opens Mouth - Inserts Foot

I've taken portions of the original story and placed them before the kicker for the title of this post.

BBC News headline - Ancient community seeks brides abroad -
- Quote:
For almost 3,000 years the Samaritans, an ancient people descended from the Kingdom of Israel, have been a continual presence in the Middle East.

Once there were 1.5 million Samaritans in the region, but following centuries of forced conversion and persecution the community now numbers just 704.

But recently the community has been facing another crisis - a shortage of marriageable women.

For every four single men, there are roughly three women.

As a result, a number of Samaritan men are searching for brides far from home - mainly in Eastern Europe and Russia.
End Quote -

Now here is the kicker:

"There are no women better than Samaritan women," says the 45-year-old Mr Coen, standing beside his blonde 22-year-old Ukrainian wife, Alexandra.

"But I had no luck. I was forced to go overseas."

prying1 sez:
What kind of person is going to say something like that with his arm around his new wife.

"Hey honey! You're second best. I settled for you!"

I find it sad.

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- Link to BBC News Story -

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Wednesday HeroSFC Lloyd A. Heinrichs Jr.

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By LeAnn

On May 9th 2004, SFC Lloyd A. Heinrichs Jr was down at the Ocean front in Virginia Beach when a ‘Swimmer in Distress’ call came in to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Dispatch office about noon. Myself (Gary Couch, Dive 8), SFC Heinrichs and Petty Officer First Class Scott Weil of the U.S Navy, volunteered to respond the call. There were a total of 3 people in the water that were being pulled out to sea by the current. The temperature of the water was only around 65 degrees Fahrenheit with the air temperature at 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The undertow was very extreme that day with the beach already “Red Flagged” due to the strong currents and excessive waves.

Upon arrival to the scene, SFC Heinrichs and PO1 Weil identified the victims. Without hesitation and with total disregard for their own safety each grabbed a torpedo buoy and entered the water. SFC Heinrichs went for the first victim to the South of 36th Street while PO1 Weil went for the second and third victims, which were hanging on to each other to the North of 36th Street. As I observed SFC Heinrichs and PO1 Weil, once they were waist deep, the current rapidly pulled them out. SFC Heinrichs made his way to the first victim and started fighting his way back to shore. Once SFC Heinrichs reached his victim, he calmed her down, making the attempt to head back to shore. Several times SFC Heinrichs and his victim were rolled under by the enormous waves and undertow. His victim was completely exhausted from the ordeal. Once he reached shallow water, he assisted his victim to shore. The victim was an older heavy-set lady, early forties. The Virginia Beach Fire Department Paramedics placed the victim on a stretcher and the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad took her to Virginia Beach General Hospital.

SFC Heinrichs was extremely exhausted and fatigued from the rescue. He turned to check on PO1 Weil and notice that PO1 Weil had reached the other two victims, a male in his late twenties and a female in her early forties. PO1 Weil was struggling with his two victims giving a hand and arm signal for ‘Help’. The female was almost passive from near drowning, and the male who had initially swum out to help her was becoming a victim himself. Without hesitation, SFC Heinrichs picked himself up and ran back into the water to assist PO1 Weil while PO1 Weil did what he could to keep them calm and afloat until help arrived.

Once SFC Heinrichs reached PO1 Weil and the other two victims, they were all rolled by several consecutive waves, pinning SFC Heinrichs under the two victims. A few moments later, SFC Heinrichs emerged between the victims with both lanyards of the torpedo buoys wrapped around his neck, gasping for air. As the situation went from bad to worse, PO1 Weil tried his best to help SFC Heinrichs with untangling the lanyards from his neck while trying to hold his passive victim’s head out of the water. SFC Heinrichs took a deep breath and submerged himself in the attempt to free his neck. As each wave came over the top of PO1 Weil and the victims, we kept waiting for him to resurface in bated breath not knowing that the lanyards kept tightening around SFC Heinrichs’ neck. While continuous waves were tossing PO1 Weil and the victims, SFC Heinrichs reemerged on the side of the victims. He had been under for over thirty seconds trying to get loose. We began to worry weather or not he was going to come back up. You could hear the heavy sigh of relief from all the EMS personnel on the beach once he resurfaced. He grabbed a hold of the male victim and started for shore. The victims once, on shore, were taken away for medical attention. PO1 Weil and SFC Heinrichs were taken to an ambulance and checked for possible hypothermia and released.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
It Is Foolish And Wrong To Mourn The Men Who Died. Rather We Should Thank God That Such Men Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

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Barak Obama - Please Define Economic Parity - What is it?

OK - I'll admit it. This is a long post to ask a simple question. A question that popped into my head as I was websurfing this morning. I have a feeling that the answer cannot fit into a single pair of parenthesis but can take on many shapes and forms. Even more important than the "What is it?" are the questions of how do we get there? How will we know we are there? AND! Is it even possible to get there? Whose definition of Economic Parity will we use?

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Here is the path I took on the web this morning. First I clicked the "Next Blog" link on the top bar of my blog page. I was taken to Marathon Pundit who had a post he titled - Obama's church's tenet raise questions -

In the post John Ruberry points to a Chicago Tribune article, - Race is sensitive subtext in campaign (Free Registration needed for page 2-3) - that references Barack Hussein Obama's church, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago IL. The article highlights a bit of the 12 precepts and covenantal statements the church stands on and which (the article says) conservatives have a problem with.

The congregation posits what it terms a Black Value System, including calls to be "soldiers for black freedom" and a "disavowal of the pursuit of middleclassness."

In an interview late Monday, Obama said it was important to understand the document as a whole rather than highlight individual tenets. "Commitment to God, black community, commitment to the black family, the black work ethic, self-discipline and self-respect," he said. "Those are values that the conservative movement in particular has suggested are necessary for black advancement.

"So I would be puzzled that they would object or quibble with the bulk of a document that basically espouses profoundly conservative values of self-reliance and self-help."

In his published memoirs, Obama said even he was stopped by Trinity's tenet to disavow "middleclassness" when he first read it two decades ago in a church pamphlet. The brochure implored upwardly mobile church members not to distance themselves from less fortunate Trinity worshipers.

"As I read it, at least, it was a very simple argument taken directly from Scripture: `To whom much is given much is required,'" Obama said in the interview.

So I (prying1) found it neccesary to see for myself the 12 tenets the church lists. I could see Barak's point. But beneath the 12 points was a 10 point vision statement of the pastor which listed as number 10: "A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY." - (caps his) -

OK! Sounds good. But how does one get there? If it is indeed through Commitment to God, community, family, work ethic, self-discipline and self-respect (any race can use these not just blacks.) then I have no problem with it. But if it is through the socialistic system of redistribution of wealth then I (prying1) have a major problem with it.

I would like to know Barack Hussein Obama's definition of ECONOMIC PARITY. Does he think it is really something that CAN be achieved and how would he intend to get us there? These are questions those in the MSM should be asking of a person who wants to lead the most powerful free nation in the world.


As an aside:
Trying to find a definition of ECONOMIC PARITY I came to Why Income Distribution Doesn't Matter in This Country at Coyote Blog - Excellent read!


- Hat tip to Maobi for link to Coyote -

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Needs More Pepper

An old joke from an old book. Time for it to make the rounds again...

An old sailor sat down at a table in a greasy spoon near the docks and gave the waitress his order. A short while later she returned and placed it in front of him.

"Here Miss! Here! What's this?" The sailor asked.

"Why that's the soup you ordered sir." she replied.

"SOUP! SOUP IS IT? So that what I've been sailing on for these past 40 years."

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LCpl. Nicholas J. ManoukianWednesday Hero

This Weeks Hero Was Submitted By Mark Bell

LCpl. Nicholas J. Manoukian
22 years old from Lathrup, Michigan
1st Marines 6th Batallion 2nd Marine Division
Oct 21, 2006


Here is a website that LCpl. Manoukian's mother set up for her son after he lost his life in Ramadi.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
It Is Foolish And Wrong To Mourn The Men Who Died. Rather We Should Thank God That Such Men Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.


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