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Ask a Vet
Author: TriSec    Date: 10/09/2007 10:40:21

Good Morning.

Another week in the Warron Terra, the 1, 665 th day in Iraq.

We'll start this morning like we always do, with the latest casualty figures courtesy of Antiwar.com:

American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 3817
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 3679
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3356
Since Handover (6/29/04): 2958
Since Election (1/31/05): 2740

Other Coalition Troops: 301
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 449


Checking in with our friends at IAVA, there's a very interesting story about one US officials' ride-along with Blackwater...
Continue reading...

72 comments (Latest Comment: 10/10/2007 04:08:37 by livingonli)

Larry Craig, is he 'Da ho', a 'Nauti' Ho, or does he love his job?....
Author: Raine    Date: 10/08/2007 12:15:59

Good Monday morning! Amidst all the sports this weekend, I am sure some of this one went under the radar...
Larry Craig to Join Idaho Hall of Fame
Yes, you read that right... Idaho has a "Hall of Fame"... (I did not know either)
Sen. Larry Craig will be inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame next week, despite his well-publicized arrest and guilty plea in an airport sex sting, officials said.

The non-profit Idaho Hall of Fame Association picked Craig in March, months before he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after a Minneapolis airport police officer accused him of soliciting sex in the men's restroom, the organization's board chairman said.[...]

But some Republicans said the honor is inappropriate now. Kootenai County Republican precinct committeeman Phil Thompson said Idaho Hall of Fame officials should consider at least postponing the induction.
Perhaps Larry will stall his induction the same way he did with his senate resignation? In the end, I'm sure Larry is flushed with pride...

But hey, speaking of Larry *I am not Gay* Craig... it seems as tho he might have something in common with our Favorite CrystalMethodist!! Yes... I am talking about Ted "I know what you did last night" Haggard... His former "escort" claims to have known Larry Craig as well...
Continue reading...

33 comments (Latest Comment: 10/09/2007 01:55:56 by livingonli)

Musings on the National Pastime
Author: TriSec    Date: 10/06/2007 12:44:07

Good Morning!

We have a saying around thes parts....'There'se only two year-round sports....Politics and Baseball'.

Last night, I watched a terrific ballgame. It was a taught pitcher's duel that went into extra innings, and featured a full count with the bases loaded in the home team's last at bat.

Trouble is....it was the "wrong" team for me. Yes, I watched the Yankees game last night.

But they started early, and even going into extra innings, the game was over at a reasonable hour, just a few minutes after 9pm eastern.

Changing channels to the hometown nine, at 10pm they were just in the third inning at Fenway. I made it to the sixth in front of the teevee, then went upstairs with my trusty radio. I listened in a half-dozing state until midnight....which was still only the eighth inning of that game.

Writing this, I haven't checked; I don't know who won.

But isn't that something wrong about this game? The playoffs started Wednesday, and already all 4 series are better than half over. All the games have been played at night, and for some reason, last night's game at Fenway didn't start until 8:30 pm, an astonishingly late hour for a game with no time limits.

Many arguments can be made both for and against the designated hitter, and interleague play, but I think any true baseball fan would not have anything bad to say if the playoffs went like the regular season. Most night games all year start at 7:05 at Fenway and are usually done by 10:30...why can't they do that during the playoffs? Unless it's a major team coming in for a national broadcast, weekend games at Fenway start at 1:05 pm, the way baseball was meant to be played...in the glorious sunshine. Why can't at least one World Series game be played in the sun?

These are the things that occupy your loyal TriSec's mind this Saturday morning....now let's get out there and hit some fungoes!


 
23 comments (Latest Comment: 10/08/2007 03:52:38 by BobR)

Whither Now?
Author: BobR    Date: 10/05/2007 12:13:29

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by..." - Robert Frost

There comes a time in all our lives when we happen upon that fork in the road and ask ourselves:

Whither now?

For once we commit to a path, there is no rewinding the universe and choosing anew. There are many forks along the road that defines our lives, both individually and collectively. Some choices are easy and some are hard, some insignificant and some that change the course of humankind. As the children's illustrator Mary Englebright has shown in a simple yet poignant drawing, once we choose, the other road is "no longer an option". Lest we remain immobilized with indecision, we are sometimes required to fight back the demons of doubt and drive ourselves down that less traveled road.
Continue reading...

99 comments (Latest Comment: 10/06/2007 02:40:17 by livingonli)

NCLB? Naw... Let's call it PCLB*
Author: Raine    Date: 10/04/2007 12:45:48

(*Poor Children left behind)

So, As you may be aware, the president vetoed the SCHIP program. Here is a little bit of what he said regarding this:
"I believe in private medicine," Bush told an audience in Lancaster, Penn., on Wednesday morning. "I believe in helping poor people, which was the intent of SCHIP, now being expanded beyond its initial intent. I also believe that the federal government should make it easier for people to afford private insurance. I don't want the federal government making decisions for doctors and customers."
This man has lost touch with America and even worse, he lost touch with what it means to be compassionate. I have oft wondered about it, but yesterday... he threw American children under the bus. I have a niece and a nephew who will be impacted by this directly.

And please remember those words... he believes in "private medicine". Please remember that. That means that Bush believes in ALL health care being privatized... ALL. That includes Medicare, Medicaid, and all of the Veteran medical care.

He also believes in helping poor people... but only to a certain point I suppose... He decided to not help them today. That is for sure. In his veto, Bush decided who is poor enough to get health care... and now we learn that millions of children are just not poor enough to get SCHIP... one of the most successful government programs... No really, it was.
Continue reading...

62 comments (Latest Comment: 10/05/2007 03:58:16 by Raine)

Blackwater in the news again
Author: BobR    Date: 10/03/2007 12:34:20

It looks like the British are pulling another 1000 troops out of Iraq. Where does that leave us? How do we fill the void. More mercenaries?

Blackwater has been the main supplier of private for-hire soldiers, fullfilling the neocon dream of privitizing everything in the government, but - like most other neocon initiatives, this one is blowing up in their faces as well.

The House Oversight Committee filed a report on Monday that showed that Blackwater guards fired first 80% of the time.
Continue reading...

87 comments (Latest Comment: 10/04/2007 18:14:47 by Raine)

Ask A Vet!
Author: TriSec    Date: 10/02/2007 10:24:47

Good Morning. Ask A Vet returns!

We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures from the warron terra, courtesy of Antiwar.com:

American Deaths in Iraq
Since war began (3/19/03): 3807
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 3668
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3346
Since Handover (6/29/04): 2948
Since Election (1/31/05): 2370

Other Coalition Troops: 300
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 447



This morning, we find the Cost of war standing at:

$456, 452, 150, 000. 00

Continue reading...

87 comments (Latest Comment: 10/03/2007 02:57:02 by livingonli)

October Surprise
Author: Raine    Date: 10/01/2007 10:55:05

Yes, This is the bright and shiny new 4F Blog. Welcome! Take a look around, make yourself at home... I had a few fainting couches in the storage room, that I brought over, but we bought a new coffee maker, espresso machine and we've got donuts that still have trans fats in them...
Yes, there is an open bar for those that need it. (Raintini's are the specialty... I know, shocking! ) Everything is on the house... (we qualified for a NGO grant! :rofl:)

We have a few nice things here that you don't see on a lot of blogs, including the capability to post pictures and youtuberey in your comments... tres chic I think!

Anyway, this is our first weekday blog here, and instead of delving into all the things that may get our blood boiling, I thought we should return to a speech from one of my favorite presidents. It's From FDR's annual address to congress on January 6, 1941. not quite 67 years ago... pretty darn close to 2/3 of a century...
Continue reading...

77 comments (Latest Comment: 10/02/2007 01:59:56 by livingonli)

FourFreedoms Blog Open for Business
Author: TriSec    Date: 09/29/2007 13:13:16

Good Morning!

We're a wee bit sluggish here in the TriSec compound....last night was our first Pack meeting of the season, and your loyal TriSec is the Cubmaster this year. Javi has finally joined as an "official" cub scout, and I even got Mrs. TriSec to step up to the plate as a Tiger Coach.

If you're in the Boston area over the next ten days, take a drive up route 1 and check out the Topsfield Fair! It's the oldest agricultural fair in America, and has been going on since 1818. We try to go every year...it is a great day of animals, midway rides, games, and of course, healthy carnival food!!

Speaking of Boston...did you hear that the sox clinched the east for the first time since 1995? They remain tied with those Indians for best record in baseball with two to play...so there is still something to root for this last weekend. And have you been watching the National League? The Cubs and Diamondbacks got in last night....but there is still plenty of action left for the Phils, Mets, and San Diego yet.


So, on to the meat of the day. There is an interesting story from Strike The Root this morning about the
"clearance rates" for serious crimes. 50 years ago, nearly 90% of all murders were solved. Today, that figure is only about 60%. So that means that 40% of killers today literally get away with murder.
Continue reading...

6 comments (Latest Comment: 10/01/2007 02:10:31 by Mondobubba)

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