Scott's Blog

Escape from Alcatraz!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:33:00 +0000

Just had the shit scared out of me. Went outside earlier and was sitting there drinking my coffee when I heard Sophie's bell ringing. I look behind me and there she is gallivanting around the deck. So, I figure she must have scooted pass me on the way out. I scoop her up and put her back inside only to look out my office window about 5" later and now I see Lucy out there...

Now, I'm thinking to myself, how the hell did she get out too? I had checked to make sure she was in. So, I go out and grab her as well and bring her back in and double check that Sophie is inside. She is. Still wondering how they get out so I go onto the porch and I can hear this scratching sound and out pops Sophie from the dryer vent. LOL

So, I spent the last 20" reinforcing it so the weasels can't do a Clint Eastwood on me again. Note to all wanna be ferret adopters; be prepared to ferret proof your home. This incident was preceded by numerous other locations throughout the house to include but not limited to barricading places to keep them out (or in, in this case). For example they would climb inside via the cabinets, under the dishwasher; which I then had to dissasemble the bottom of it to get her out, and the back of the fridge where they crawled inside of the frame itself.

Stupid ferrets! Have to love em!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 30 May 2011 10:27:00 +0000

I stand before you all today

But not one eye can see my way

My time arrived, to leave this earth

A fact so planned, to every birth

It happened where I had to go

My torch for life was so aglow

I transferred while in uniform

Protecting freedom, through a storm

Should I resent I died for you

Not on my life, red white and blue

Please help my family through each day

Tell all my friends, try not to stray

And of the country I did love

Do think of me, through God above

Your memories, brought forth this day

Send love to us, who could not stay

Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 27 May 2011 22:27:00 +0000

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,

And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud,

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

Had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,

When everything was still

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin

Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

Fucking Horse Shit...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:47:00 +0000

Republican lawmaker irked when told the Navy will name a ship after Mexican-American activist Cesar Chavez:
I am sick and tired of reading shit like that... and I'm not talking about the political crap (in this case I actually do side with Hunter as far as U.S. naval traditions go), but the very last paragraph of the aforementioned article:

"Peralta was attached to the Okinawa, Japan-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in November 2004 when he was killed in Fallujah. President George W. Bush recognized him for reportedly using his body to absorb the blast from a grenade to save his fellow Marines, but he was ultimately awarded the Navy Cross after a panel of experts concluded his actions did not merit the Medal of Honor."

What fucking panel of experts determined that bullshit?! What else could a mother fucker do to earn the Medal of Honor? "experts concluded he didn't MERIT the Medal of Honor." I have heard at LEAST 15-20 or more scenarios like that one where someone gave their life KNOWINGLY and got the Cross instead of the Medal of Honor. Congressional bullshit. Just like Sergeant Major Kasal and he lived... and he definitely should have gotten the Medal. Fuck me. What a bunch of horse shit.

Appeals Court Blasts VA Mental Health Care System

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:35:00 +0000

Regarding the above article: Please read and take action!

It's repulsive how the mental health department of the VA works. Having been part of it for numerous years now witnessing the comprehensive incompetence and miscarriage of care becoming only worse. I shudder at the thought of the sheer number of vets (over 2.2 million) as the wars slowly come to an end… and their attempts at seeking mental health treatment.

While the VA has been great to me in many ways, it has failed in the MH department... and I've personally seen and watched men die because of it. It’s also why many of us buy private insurance to pay for our own treatment and RXs.

I think your veterans’ merit your attention, particularly regarding how they are cared for… and by taking genuine action not only by simply throwing a yellow ribbon magnet on your car. Please, consider what your military has done for you and those you love and care for then contact Congress and let them know your concerns.

Thank you & Semper Fi!

Contact Your Senators

Contact Your Representatives

US Marine Corps & UFC

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:58:00 +0000

While the United States Marine Corps and the Ultimate Fighting Championship are both organizations made up of warriors, their missions are executed on different battlefields: UFC fighters battle for titles, and Marines fight for stars and stripes.

Impailed RPG detonator removed from soldier...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:56:00 +0000

And SO many have the audacity to bitch b/c their jobs are "tough." Get over it America, your sense of entitlement and spoiled rotten asses haven't a clue.

"Death is nothing at all"

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:57:00 +0000

Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918, Canon of St Paul's Cathedral

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:23:00 +0000

Support Our Troops This Thanksgiving and ALL year!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:58:00 +0000

When you're a Marine overseas, homesickness is just part of the job. Especially on Thanksgiving. That's the day your thoughts constantly turn to home and family — to the loved ones you're missing, to the people whose smiles you can't see and whose voices you can't hear. Whatever kind of Thanksgiving you can muster, it's nothing like the real thing.

Without brave men and women willing to sacrifice for us in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all over the world, we wouldn't have our freedoms — to celebrate Thanksgiving or anything else. So how can you give your thanks to them? Do something now to make their holiday season a little brighter. Give them a way to call home.

Thanks to the donations of people like you — who remember and care — the USO can continue to provide our brave men and women with free phone cards. That adds up to a lot of grinning servicemen and women and excited families back home. At our USO Centers and mobile canteens, we offer a refuge where exhausted troops can stop and actually enjoy a bit of holiday cheer. And our famous celebrity tours bring the gifts of music and laughter — needed relief from debris-strewn alleys, barren mountainsides, and the sound of incoming mortars.

Please take a moment now to remember the dedicated men and women who haven't forgotten you. They're at work today — and every day — protecting your freedom. On this Thanksgiving, please say, "I remember. I care. And thanks."

Most, when they hear "USO," think of Bob Hope and the celebrity type tours you hear or see on TV. However, my first encounter with the USO was at an airport. I can't recall when or where I was going but what I do remember vividly is a skinny gray haired old man who comforted this tough Marine simply by placing his hand on my shoulder and reassuring me. By the time I was done drinking the coffee he gave me, I was smiling and good to go. All these years later and I'll never forget that moment or that man and how much he meant to me.

The USO has many fond memories for me, from a little building in Okinawa where my fellow Marines and I could go and feel like we were at home, and get a measure of comfort, to the USO care packages, and even those shows I mentioned (which btw I never got to see any of)!

For those who have never felt the pang and near desperation that's felt when you willing leave your friends and family behind knowing you may come home again; the USO is always there to make them feel like you have a little piece of home with you... but it can only do so with your help.

Please, if you want to contribute to and honor the men and women who so unselfishly give of themselves every day... give to the USO. I assure you, as a retired Marine, your donation will make a difference.

Veteran's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:19:00 +0000

After raising the flag to half-mast this morning, Tyler and I stood in the pouring rain and I couldn't help but feel so very humble by the love and sacrifice of veterans past, present and future who have given my son so very much. The sacrifices of our veterans can never fully be understood except by those who have worn the uniform and the families that have supported them.

I just want everyone to be aware that I personally can attest to the fact that I have never known one vet that expects anything from his or hers fellow citizens. However, gratitude is always welcomed and a simple thank you to someone you know who has served has more impact than you will possibly ever know.

Semper Fidelis

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

United States casualties of war:

Military casualties suffered by the United States of America in war or deployments:

War or conflict	Date	Deaths			Wounded	Total dead and wounded	Missing	Sources/ notes
War or conflict	Date	combat	other	total	Wounded	Total dead and wounded	Missing	Sources/ notes
American Revolutionary War	1775–1783	8,000	17,000	25,000	25,000	50,000		^[a]
Quasi-War	1798–1800	20		20	42	62
Barbary Wars	1801–1815	35		35	65	100
Other actions against pirates	1800–1900	10		10	21	31
Northwest Indian War	1785–1795	1221+			458	1679+	3
War of 1812	1812–1815	2,260	~17,000	~20,000	4,505	~25,000		^[1]
First Seminole War	1817–1818	30		30
Black Hawk War	1832	60+
Second Seminole War	1835–1842	328		~1,500
Mexican–American War	1846–1848	1,733	11,550	13,283	4,152	17,435		^[2]
Third Seminole War	1855-1858	26		26
Civil War: total	1861–1865	212,938		~625,000				^[b]
Union		140,414	224,097	364,511	281,881	646,392
Confederate		72,524		~260,000
Indian Wars	1865–1898	919			1,025			^[2]
Korean expedition	1871	3		3	9	12		^[3]
Spanish–American War	1898	385	2,061	2,446	1,622	4,068		^[2]
Philippine–American War	1898–1913	1,020	3,176	4,196	2,930	7,126		^[2]
Boxer Rebellion	1900–1901	37		37	204
Mexican Revolution	1914–1919	35+			70
Occupation of Haiti	1915–1934	146			26+
World War I	1917–1918	53,402	63,114	116,516	204,002	320,518	3,350	^[2]^[c]
Northern Russian Expedition	1918-1920			424				^[4]
American Expeditionary Force Siberia	1918-1920			189
China	1918; 1921; 1926-1927; 1930; 1937	5			78	83		^[5]
US occupation of Nicaragua	1927-1933	48			68	116		^[5]
World War II	1941–1945	291,557	113,842	405,399	670,846	1,076,245	30,314	^[2]See Note CA below
China {Cold War}	1945-1947	13			43	56		^[5]
Berlin Blockade	1948-1949		31					^[6]
Korean War	1950–1953	30,880	2806	36,516	92,134	128,650	4,759	Note: 4,759 MIA-See Note D below
Russia {Cold War}	1950-1955	32			12	44		^[5]
China {Cold War}	1956	16				16		^[5]
Bay of Pigs Invasion	1961	4				4		^[7]
Vietnam War	1957–1973	47,424	10,785	58,209	153,303	211,454	2,489	^[2]^[8]
Invasion of Dominican Republic	1965-1966	13			200	213		^[5]^[9]
El Salvador Civil War	1980–1992	9		20	35			^{[citation needed]}
Beirut deployment	1982–1984	256		266	169			^[10]
Persian Gulf escorts	1987–1988	39	0	39	31
Invasion of Grenada	1983	18	1	19	119			^[10]
Invasion of Panama	1989	23		40	324			^[10]
Gulf War	1990–1991	149	151	300	467		0^[11]	^[2]
Somalia	1992–1993	29	14	43	153			^[10]
Haiti	1994–1995	1		4	3			^[10]
Bosnia-Herzegovina	1995-2004	1		12	6			^[12]
Kosovo	1999	1	19	20	2+	22+	0	^[13]
Afghanistan*	2001–present	532	224	756	2,379	3,125		^[14]
Iraq War	2003–present	3,788	540	4,328	46,132	50,460	1 ^[15]^[16]	^[17]

* Includes: Afghanistan, Philippines, Horn of Africa and Pankisi Gorge

Wars ranked by total deaths

Rank	War	Years	Deaths	Deaths per Day	Deaths per Population
1	American Civil War	1861–1865	625,000	599	1.988% (1860)
2	World War II	1941–1945	405,399	416	0.307% (1940)
3	World War I	1917–1918	116,516	279	0.110% (1920)
4	Vietnam War	1964–1973	58,151	26	0.03% (1970)
5	Korean War	1950–1953	36,516	45	0.02% (1950)
6	American Revolutionary War	1775-1783	25,000	11	0.899% (1780)
7	War of 1812	1812–1815	20,000	31	0.345% (1810)
8	Mexican–American War	1846–1848	13,283	29	0.057% (1850)
9	Iraq War	2003–present	4,351	2	0.001% (2007)
10	Philippine–American War	1899–1913	4,196	5	0.006% (1900)

"Deaths per day" are the total number of US military deaths, divided by the number of days between the dates of the commencement and end of hostilities, or until 31 December 2007 in the case of the Iraq War. "Deaths per population" are the total number of US military deaths, divided by the US population of the year indicated.

Total American deaths by war

American Civil War			625,000
World War II			405,399
World War I			116,516
Vietnam			58,151
Korean War			36,516
American Revolutionary War			25,000
War of 1812			20,000
Mexican American War			13,283
Iraq War*			4,351
Philippine-American War			4,196

Wars ranked by combat deaths

Rank	War	Years	Deaths
1	World War II	1941–1945	291,557
2	American Civil War	1861–1865	212,938
3	World War I	1917–1918	53,402
4	Vietnam War	1964–1973	47,355
5	Korean War	1950–1953	33,746
6	American Revolutionary War	1775–1783	8,000
7	Iraq War	2003–present 2325 days	3,475
8	War of 1812	1812–1815	2,260
9	Mexican–American War	1846–1848	1,733
10	Northwest Indian War	1785–1795	1,221+

American combat deaths by war

World War II			291,557
American Civil War			212,938
World War I			53,402
Vietnam			47,355
Korean War			33,746
American Revolutionary War			8,000
Iraq War*			3,788
War of 1812			2,260
Mexican American War			1,733
Northwest Indian War			1,221+

Notes

a. ^{^} Revolutionary War: All figures from the Revolutionary War are rounded estimates. Commonly cited casualty figures provided by the Department of Defense are 4,435 killed and 6,188 wounded, although the original government report that generated these numbers warned that the totals were incomplete and far too low.^[18] Nevertheless, the numbers are often repeated without this warning, such as on the United States Department of Veteran Affairs website.^[19] In 1974, historian Howard Peckham and a team of researchers came up with a total of 6,824 killed in action and 8,445 wounded. Because of incomplete records, Peckham estimated that this new total number of killed in action was still about 1,000 too low.^[20] Military historian John Shy subsequently estimated the total killed in action at 8,000, and argued that the number of wounded was probably far higher, about 25,000.^[21] The "other" deaths are primarily from disease, including prisoners who died on British prison ships.

b. ^{^} Civil War: All Union casualty figures, and Confederate killed in action, from The Oxford Companion to American Military History.^[2] Estimate of total Confederate dead from James M. McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom (Oxford University Press, 1988), 854.

c. ^{^} World War I figures include expeditions in North Russia and Siberia. See also World War I casualties

ca.^{^} World War II Note the American Battle Monuments Commission datebase for the World War II reports that that in 18 ABMC Cemeteries total of 93,238 buried and 78,979 missing and that "The World War II database on this web site contains the names of those buried at our cemeteries, or listed as Missing in Action, buried or lost at sea. It does not contain the names of the 233,174 Americans returned to the United States for burial..." Similarly, the ABMC Records do not cover inter-War deaths such as the Port Chicago disaster in which 320 died.

d. ^{^} Korean War: Note: ^[2]gives Dead as 33,746 and Wounded as 103, 284 and MIA as 8,177. The [POW/MIA] gives the figures listed here: for example: The total "Battle Dead" of 33,686 is broken down into 23,637 KIA; 2,484 DOW: 4,759 MIA; 2,806 {POWS}. 2,830 are given as non-battle deaths; wounded 103,284 is given as the Number of incidences of wounded-including individual personnel wounded multiple times ;likewise 17,730 are listed separately as having died elsewhere Worldwide during Korean War. The American Battle Monuments Commission datebase for the Korean Conflict reports that "The Department of Defense reports that 54,246 American service men and women lost their lives during the Korean War. This includes all losses world wide. Since the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. honors all U.S. Military who lost their lives during the War, we have tried to obtain the names of those who died in other areas besides Korea during the period June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954, one year after the Korean Armistice...". After their retreat in 1950, dead Marines and soldiers were buried at a temporary gravesite near Hungnam, North Korea. During "Operation Glory" which occurred from July to November 1954 the dead of each side were exchanged; remains of 4,167 US soldiers/Marines were exchanged for 13,528 North Korean/Chinese dead.^[22] After "Operation Glory" 416 Korean War "unknowns" were buried in the Punchbowl Cemetery. According to a DPMO white paper ^[23] 1,394 names were also transmitted during "Operation Glory" from the Chinese and North Koreans {of whom 858 names proved to be correct}; of the 4,167 returned remains were found to be 4,219 individuals of whom 2,944 were found to be Americans of whom all but 416 were identified by name. Of 239 Korean War unaccounted for: 186 not associated with Punchbowl unknowns {176 were identified and of the remaining 10 cases 4 were non-Americans of Asiatic descent; one was British; 3 were identified and 2 cases unconfirmed}; Of 10 Korean War "Punchbowl Unknowns" 6 were identified}. According to report of June 24, 2008 at ^[24]

Number of remains total unaccounted for: 8,055
Number of remains repatriated are: 489 of whom 100 are identified

da. ^{^} Cold War - Korea and Vietnam and Middle East-additional US Casualites:

North Korea {Cold War} 1959:1968-1969;1976;1984 killed 41; Wounded 5; 82 captured/released.^[25]
USS Liberty incident 1967 killed 34; Wounded 173 by Israeli armed forces
Vietnam War prior to 1964-US Casualites were Laos-2 killed in 1954; and Vietnam 1946-1954 2 killed see ^[26];

e. ^{^} Iraq War. See also Casualties of the conflict in Iraq since 2003. Sources: ^[27].

References

^ The "other" deaths were primarily from disease. Donald R. Hickey, The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict (University of Illinois Press, 1989), 302–03.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j John W. Chambers, II, ed. in chief, The Oxford Companion to American Military History. (Oxford University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-19-507198-0), 849.
^ Dispatch from Commodore John Rodgers to the Secretary of the Navy, Corea, June 23, 1871
^ Hudson, Miles (2004). Intervention in Russia 1918–1920: A Cautionary Tale. Pen and Sword. ISBN 1-84415-033-X.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Casualties: U. S. Navy and Marine Corps
^ The Berlin Blockade
^ The Bay of Pigs
^ page 7 of http://www.fas.org/press/_docs/RL32492.pdf
^ Operation Power Pack
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Table 13, Worldwide U.S. Active Duty Military Deaths, Selected Military Operations, http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/CASUALTY/table13.htm, SAID, U.S. Department of Defense
^ Initials may offer clue to missing Gulf War pilotNote: ID and found August 2009
^ United States Army
^ BBC News | World | Two die in Apache crash
^ Department of Defense
^ [1]
^ [2]
^ Iraq Casualties
Iraq Casualties
^ Howard H. Peckham, ed., The Toll of Independence: Engagements & Battle Casualties of the American Revolution (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1974), xii.
^ Fact Sheet: America's Wars, accessed December 2006.
^ Peckham, Toll of Independence, 131.
^ John Shy, A People Numerous and Armed: Reflections on the Military Struggle for American Independence (revised edition, University of Michigan Press, 1990, ISBN 0-472-06431-2), 249–50.
^ Korean War Exchange of Dead - Operation GLORY
^ [3]
^ [4]
^ [5]
^ [6]
^ Forces: U.S. & Coalition/Casualties - Special Reports

External links

Internal	Major armed conflicts involving the United States: Shays' Rebellion · Whiskey Rebellion · Toledo War · Dorr Rebellion · Mormon War · Honey War · Bleeding Kansas · Utah War · Civil War · Indian Wars · Brooks–Baxter War · Battle of Blair Mountain

International	Revolutionary War · Quasi-War · First Barbary War · War of 1812 · Second Barbary War · Sumatran Expeditions · Mexican–American War · Spanish–American War · Philippine–American War · Boxer Rebellion · Banana Wars · Pancho Villa Expedition · World War I · Russian Civil War · World War II · Korean War · Vietnam War · Invasion of Grenada · Invasion of Panama · Gulf War · Somali Civil War · Bosnian War · Kosovo War · War in Afghanistan · Iraq War · War in North-West Pakistan

Strength...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:41:00 +0000

"Strength does not come from physical capacity.
It comes from an indomitable will."

Success....

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sun, 03 May 2009 10:51:00 +0000

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."

President Obama's Inaugural Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and the nation's first African-American president Tuesday. This is a transcript of his prepared speech.

In his speech Tuesday, President Obama said America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet. Watch the full inauguration speech »

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control -- and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Proud to be an American today...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:46:00 +0000

As my friend Paul said, I too am in awe as I sit here hundreds of miles away from today's historic event. Seeing the crowd and all that it means simply overwhelms me with pride and hope.

Historic Day Tomorrow...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:14:00 +0000

.. So I had to post me and Maggie's new face/dog book profile pictures! :)

The Meaning of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:33:00 +0000

The Meaning of the

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

By Coretta Scott King

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example -- the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.

We commemorate Dr. King’s inspiring words, because his voice and his vision filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King knew that it wasn’t enough just to talk the talk, that he had to walk the walk for his words to be credible. And so we commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice every day, the man who braved threats and jail and beatings and who ultimately paid the highest price to make democracy a reality for all Americans.

The King Holiday honors the life and contributions of America’s greatest champion of racial justice and equality, the leader who not only dreamed of a color-blind society, but who also lead a movement that achieved historic reforms to help make it a reality.

On this day we commemorate Dr. King’s great dream of a vibrant, multiracial nation united in justice, peace and reconciliation; a nation that has a place at the table for children of every race and room at the inn for every needy child. We are called on this holiday, not merely to honor, but to celebrate the values of equality, tolerance and interracial sister and brotherhood he so compellingly expressed in his great dream for America.

It is a day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing. No other day of the year brings so many peoples from different cultural backgrounds together in such a vibrant spirit of brother and sisterhood. Whether you are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you are Caucasian or Asian-American, you are part of the great dream Martin Luther King, Jr. had for America. This is not a black holiday; it is a peoples' holiday. And it is the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream.

We commemorate on this holiday the ecumenical leader and visionary who embraced the unity of all faiths in love and truth. And though we take patriotic pride that Dr. King was an American, on this holiday we must also commemorate the global leader who inspired nonviolent liberation movements around the world. Indeed, on this day, programs commemorating my husband’s birthday are being observed in more than 100 nations.

The King Holiday celebrates Dr. King’s global vision of the world house, a world whose people and nations had triumphed over poverty, racism, war and violence. The holiday celebrates his vision of ecumenical solidarity, his insistence that all faiths had something meaningful to contribute to building the beloved community.

The Holiday commemorates America’s pre-eminent advocate of nonviolence --- the man who taught by his example that nonviolent action is the most powerful, revolutionary force for social change available to oppressed people in their struggles for liberation.

This holiday honors the courage of a man who endured harassment, threats and beatings, and even bombings. We commemorate the man who went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom for others, and who knew he would pay the ultimate price for his leadership, but kept on marching and protesting and organizing anyway.

Every King holiday has been a national "teach-in" on the values of nonviolence, including unconditional love, tolerance, forgiveness and reconciliation, which are so desperately-needed to unify America. It is a day of intensive education and training in Martin’s philosophy and methods of nonviolent social change and conflict-reconciliation. The Holiday provides a unique opportunity to teach young people to fight evil, not people, to get in the habit of asking themselves, "what is the most loving way I can resolve this conflict?"

On the King holiday, young people learn about the power of unconditional love even for one's adversaries as a way to fight injustice and defuse violent disputes. It is a time to show them the power of forgiveness in the healing process at the interpersonal as well as international levels.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is not only for celebration and remembrance, education and tribute, but above all a day of service. All across America on the Holiday, his followers perform service in hospitals and shelters and prisons and wherever people need some help. It is a day of volunteering to feed the hungry, rehabilitate housing, tutoring those who can't read, mentoring at-risk youngsters, consoling the broken-hearted and a thousand other projects for building the beloved community of his dream.

Dr. King once said that we all have to decide whether we "will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. Life's most persistent and nagging question, he said, is `what are you doing for others?'" he would quote Mark 9:35, the scripture in which Jesus of Nazareth tells James and John "...whosoever will be great among you shall be your servant; and whosoever among you will be the first shall be the servant of all." And when Martin talked about the end of his mortal life in one of his last sermons, on February 4, 1968 in the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church, even then he lifted up the value of service as the hallmark of a full life. "I'd like somebody to mention on that day Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others," he said. "I want you to say on that day, that I did try in my life...to love and serve humanity.

We call you to commemorate this Holiday by making your personal commitment to serve humanity with the vibrant spirit of unconditional love that was his greatest strength, and which empowered all of the great victories of his leadership. And with our hearts open to this spirit of unconditional love, we can indeed achieve the Beloved Community of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream. May we who follow Martin now pledge to serve humanity, promote his teachings and carry forward his legacy into the 21st Century.

Panetta as CIA Director?

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:14:00 +0000

I have shared with many friends my disappointment with our president-elect's decision to appoint Leon Panetta as the CIA Director (truly, in my opinion, one of his first goofs). As I've said elsewhere, perhaps he knows something that I don't or he has a different role planned for Panetta in the CIA...

At any rate, please, someone share with me any information that shows Mr. Panetta has ANY intelligence experience?

I have found two sources (one from Panetta's Institute website) and the other from wiki (I know, but it's a source nonetheless)... and I can't find shit.

http://www.panettainstitute.org/institute/leon_panetta.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Panetta#Congressional_work

WTF?

Subject: Fwd: Official Visit of LtGen Santa Claus

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:56:00 +0000

Subject: Fwd: Official Visit of LtGen Santa Claus

TO: ALL Marines

FROM: Goode, U. B., Commanding Officer

RE: Operation Order 12-11-08 for: Official Visit of LtGen Santa Claus

1. An official staff visit by LtGen Claus is expected at your house on 25 Dec. The following directives govern activities of all Young Marines, during the visit.

a. Not a creature will stir without permission. This includes warrant officers and mice. Marines may obtain special stirring permits for necessary administrative action through the Battalion S-1. Officer stirring permits must be obtained through the Deputy, Post Plans and Policy Office.

b. All personnel will settle their brains for a long winter nap NLT 2200 hours, 24 December. Uniform for the nap will be: Pajamas, Cotton, Light Weight, General Purpose, OG, and Cap, Utility woodland pattern, with ear flaps in the extended position. Equipment will be drawn from the supply room prior to 2130. While at supply, all personnel will review their personal hand receipts and sign a Cash Collection Voucher, DD Form 1131, for all missing items. Remember, this is the "season of giving."

c. Personnel will utilize standard "MRE" ration sugar plums for visions to dance through their heads. Sugar plums are available in "MRE" ration sundry packs and should be eaten with egg loaf, chopped ham, and spice cake to ensure maximum visions are experienced.

d. Stockings, Wool, Cushion Sole, will be hung by the chimneys with care. Necessary safety precautions will be taken to avoid fires caused by carelessly hung stockings. 1st Sgts will submit stocking handling plans to S-3, Training prior to 0800, 24 Dec. All GySgts will ensure their subordinate personnel are briefed on the safety aspects of stocking hanging.

e. At first [sign] of clatter, all personnel will spring from their beds to investigate and evaluate the cause. Immediate action will be taken to tear open the shutters and throw up the window sashes. On order OPLAN 7-98 (North Pole), para 6-8 (c) (3), dated 4 March, this office, takes effect to facilitate shutter tearing and sash throwing. SNCOs and NCOs will be familiar with procedures and are responsible for seeing that no shutters are torn or sashes thrown in house prior to the start of official clatter.

f. Prior to 0001, date of visit, all personnel possessing Standard Target Acquisition and Night Observation (STANO) equipment will be assigned "wandering eyeball" stations. The Company GySgt will ensure that these stations are adequately manned even after shutters are torn and sashes are thrown.

g. The Battalion S-4, in coordination with the National Security Agency and the Motor Pool will assign on each Sleigh, Miniature, M-24 and eight reindeer, tiny, for use by LtGen Claus. The assigned driver must have a current sleigh operator's license with roof top permit and evidence of attendance at the winter driving class stamped on his DA Form 348. Driver must also be able to clearly shout "On Donner, On Dancer, etc."

2. LtGen Claus will initially enter house through the Company Office. All houses without chimneys will draw Chimney Simulator, M6A2 for use during the visit. Draw chimney simulator on DA Form 2765-1 which will be submitted in four copies to the S-4 prior to 23 Dec. Personnel will ensure that chimneys are properly cleaned before turn-in at the conclusion of visit.

3. All SNCOs and NCOs will be rehearsed in the shouting of "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" or "Merry Christmas To All and To All a Good Night." This shout will be given upon termination of the visit. Uniformity of shouting is the responsibility of each Company GySgt.

Semper Fidelis,
GOODE, U. B.,
Commanding Officer

Testing MacJournal

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:12:00 +0000

Ok, here I am sitting in my office. It’s about 1715 and I just downloaded MacJournal (a program I had previously purchased but simply never used). However, it’s recently had an update and allows for uploading (allegedly) into blogger with voice, picture, video etc embedded. I just wanted to give it a try and see how it works.

Steelers 20 - Cowboys 13

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:53:00 +0000

That's all I have to say about that !

Thanksgiving...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:47:00 +0000

Yawn... it's going on 2300 and I am just now settling down to upload some pictures and edit some videos. Just out of the shower after a very long day.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and as Tyler and I have done so often, we spent the majority of the day volunteering. This year we went to the shelter (Salvation Army on Trade Street in Winston-Salem). We spent about 3 hours preparing and delivering drinks, food and such and then about an hour cleaning up.

Tyler is such a wonderful son... he always wants to go and not once was there even a hint of him having a desire to leave, boredom or frustration. In fact, he started feeling ill (badly) and he refused to let me take him home. He merely went outside for about 15 minutes in the cool air and came back. He still wasn't feeling well but he stuck it out and I couldn't have been prouder. Simply writing that down nearly brings tears to my eyes.

At any rate, we must have left there around 1900 or so... as with many of the places we volunteer, we see a lot of things that are just depressing. Of course, this time was no exception. We had just taken out a huge cart full of trash and were coming back in to the shelter when a city cop pulled in. Out steps a woman in her early 20's with a little girl that couldn't' have been 3 years old... 3 suitcases in tow... on Thanksgiving Day. God, I wanted to bawl.

We got home and I went over to Jenn and Clint's. They are in DC with Raeley on vacation and I've been keeping an eye on their place. I probably spent an hour and maybe 20 minutes there . Most of that time was trying to coax those silly dogs outside and another 20 minutes trying to get them back in! LOL OMG, Scooby is such a dorky wonderfully cute dog!

Today, I was up around 0400... still having issues sleeping and I may get 5 hours a night.

We celebrated Thanksgiving today since we were busy yesterday. After I got up, I cleaned up around the house a bit and then woke T around 0900. I had a meeting to go to and errands to run: went to the pet store for a rat and crickets, Honey Baked Ham for a turkey breast (yes, I cheated but it was SO worth it), the pharmacy for our scripts, the grocery store to pick up some more items we needed for dinner and then home.
Came home and unloaded the truck. Tyler had a list I gave him (chores mostly) and he had vacuumed, dusted, cleaned his room, and a bunch of other things. I ran next door to check on the dogs and came back quick as Clint's friends were there.
Got the food prepped, potatoes peeled and while Tyler finished cleaning his bathroom, I went out to the shed and hauled in all four bins of decorations and such. We turned on Christmas music and started decorating... and I started cooking. I don't even know what time it was when we finally set down to eat, but we both had our fill (as did the stupid beagle beagle, see picture below, lol)!

So, I'm going to insert some pictures and upload a few videos to our YouTube page and go have a piece of pumpkin pie and watch some tivo and then go to BED! LOL

I love you so much son and thank you for being so damn awesome! Happy Thanksgiving and can't wait for Christmas! There are more pictures on our picasa album page... today's pictures are here.

Semper Fi!

Wintry Morning...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:57:00 +0000

Wow, the first weather delay of the year... 2 hours (for those of you from up north, the delays and cancellations are a joke here... check out the picture and that dictated the delay, lol)!

Woke up early (around 0400) and let Maggie out... when she came back in she was wet and I peeked outside and saw a light dusting of snow on the ground. It's now about 0650 and I'm sipping coffee & reading the news. Gas has fallen below $2 and it is simply baffling as to why it was up in the first place... I really would love to know the truth behind it all.

Regardless, things here haven't been all that great. I'm not going to go into it publicly, only to say Tyler has been ill for the past three months and it's been exceedingly difficult seeing him this way. We are doing everything in our power to get through this and I am hoping for relief in the near future.

I've been dealing with the VA administration for my own medical issues since June... clerical error has kept me from having my treatments paid for through the Department... I can't complain about the care I've received over the years but the paperwork and red tape is inexcusable. If it weren't for my fortitude and unwillingness to accept "no" from them, I never would have received or be receiving what I am now.

What boils the blood the most is that I know of too many men and women, that simply don't have the capacity to continue with the related stresses of trying to obtain services they deserve. It's unacceptable that in the year 2008 these practices still exist. I don't understand how difficult it is to take care of the citizens who sacrifice everything for this nation.

We are the richest nation in the world and it is reprehensible that our veterans are not given (regardless of "disability") medical, dental, and optical care and a free education. What better investment for our country than to educate and ensure a healthy population?

At any rate, I'll end this tirade for now... I need more coffee and perhaps it's time to get started on some household chores. I love you Tyler with all my heart. I say it repeatedly, but know that the words "I love you and I am proud of you" hold just as much, if not more meaning each time I say them to you.

Semper Fidelis son.

Veteran's Day & Sacrifice

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:18:00 +0000

This is a text message I just received from Tyler...

"Good morning dad. Its veteran's day. I just wanted to say thank you for all the sacrifices you made to keep this country safe and all the hardships you had to endure. I love you."

I love you more than you know Tyler... as I've told others, your gratitude isn't expected, but it certainly is very much appreciated and welcomed with open arms.

I love you with all that I am son.

To all veterans past, present and future... you will never be forgotten by anyone in my family. Here's to a peaceful future because of men and women who are willing to give everything.

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Semper Fidelis