The Vanity Press: As Low As It Gets

The Vanity Press: As Low As It Gets

Technorati tags: military, video

I'm somewhat speechless about this video. I worry for the soldiers who were brave enough to speak out about these high pressure tactics to get troops to re-enlist.

Add this to the stories about extending the tours of National Guard soldiers and it's a wonder they can get anyone to enlist in the first place. Can it really be that some units learned of the Pentagon's changes to deployment policies via relatives or web sites, instead of their commanding officers?

We must demand total transparency and honesty in recruitment practices to ensure that the brave men and women who do enlist go into their contract with their eyes wide open.

'Help' Lara Logan

This is a link (sorry, it's convoluted to get to the video, but persevere! It's worth it! Yes, you have to watch the commercial first!) to a video from CBS' web site. The reporter, Lara Logan, has put out a plea for help to let this report be shown.
from: Lara Logan
subject: help

The story below only appeared on our CBS website and was not aired on CBS. It is a story that is largely being ignored, even though this istakingplace verysingle day in central Baghdad, two blocks from where our office is located.

Our crew had to be pulled out because we got a call saying they were about to be killed, and on their way out, a civilian man was shot dead in front of them as they ran.

I would be very grateful if any of you have a chance to watch this story and pass the link on to as many people you know as possible. It should be seen. And people should know about this.

If anyone has time to send a comment to CBS – about the story – not about my request, then that would help highlight that people are interested and this is not too gruesome to air, but rather too important to ignore.

Many, many thanks.

Please, if you feel as I do, let your friends know about this report. Contact CBS to let them know that they should air this report. It is time that we stop disinfecting the news that comes out of Iraq, if, for nothing more than, to let the supporters of the war know the real situation over there.

I support our troops. I don't support this "war."

Want to see more of Lara Logan? Watch this video.

Blog for Choice

Why do I choose to participate in this Day? I wish to educate über-conservatives such as an acquaintance who wrote this to DeliBoy in an email regarding illegal immigrants:

Bill you mean like abortions? Liberals support over 3500 a day in the USA. At that rate how long before we could get rid of all the Mexicans?

Repugnant, I know. Since I was cc'd on this email, I responded:

Where did this come from? The misguided belief that Liberals encourage abortions? I don't know anyone who is in favor of someone having an abortion (although you would admit that it would be cheaper than supporting a welfare mother - which conservatives are obviously against). What Liberals support is the personal choice of what medical procedures will and won't be performed on our bodies (don't forget Terri Schiavo). Period.
Conservatives seem to subscribe to the belief that government should not intervene into "Business", that a free market will take care of itself. And yet, they find no problem with involving themselves in our personal lives.. how do you reconcile that?

He never responded. Coward! I believe that I know what is best for me, thank you very much!

Wired 15.01: It's Alive!

Wired 15.01: It's Alive!
If you haven't seen this cute little guy yet, it's worth taking a look! I never thought I'd want a robot (unless it could clean my house, do my laundry and cook dinner) but I definitely want one of these!

Technorati tags: robot

Yummy!

Want to tell someone they're special? How 'bout saying it on an M&M? Masterfoods, parent company of M&M's has a cool new option -- personalized M&M's! Okay, they're not cheap ($11.95 for a 7oz bag, with a minimum order of 4 bags required) but I couldn't resist buying some for my son's upcoming 18th birthday. You get two different colors and 2 lines of print, 8 characters per line. No profanity or corporate names, but you can get creative with them!

The Peace We Seek

It still holds true...

"What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children - not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women - not merely peace in our time but peace for all time."

-- President John F. Kennedy at American University 10 June 1963

Why not?

My husband, Bill (aka DeliBoy) has begun publishing his own blog called What the hell, why not. Everyone else has one. I believe that it will be political in nature, but I'm not sure yet. I'll have to wait for the 2nd post to see where it goes!
Good Luck DeliBoy!

Birthday in Las Vegas

My daughter, Danni, turned 21 on December 26th! She and I went to Sin City to celebrate. We took a helicopter ride over the Strip at night to see the lights, went to see The Phantom at the Venetian and gambled.. alot! Danni won over $200 playing penny slots. We had a great time!

Help for the Masses

The Kim Komando web site is a wealth of information for the non-geek. I still go there to find software recommendations such as the WinStatDir program which will show you graphically what you have on your computer.

She also sends out a weekly newsletter to keep you up to date.