End of Year

Seems like there are all sorts of "End of Year" things in the media. Not wanting to be different, you may want to look at some pretty spectacular "large" photos taken during the year, of events many might have missed. It is here.

This will be my last post in 2008. See you next year! Happy 2009!

Football Day

Actually it was a VERY GOOD football day for me yesterday (Dec 28). I was watching/listening to the Cowboys-Eagles game while working on the magazine, and had a hard time not laughing my guts out at the worthless play of the Cowboys. They are clearly not a team, and never will be a team with the owner and especially the "me, me, me" players they have on board. I just wish they would all "go away". They are a distraction with all the unwarranted media attention people like T.O. get, and given that they have failed to win a playoff game in (what?) the past nine years or so, ought to tell America to dump them as "their" team… if in fact they remain so today. But, being a basic gloater, and general hater of anything that smells or looks like a Dallas Cowboy I will continue to watch every minute of their replays that show just how bad a professional football team can be, when it all really counts for something. How's that for a rant!

Getting ready for a new year

I took this photo in July of 2007 off the coast of Alaska near Kenai Fjords National Park. Eight of us were in an inflatable Zodiac boat, cruising along the shoreline, when we flushed a massive number of sea birds off the water and into the cloudy sky. The snow-covered mountain peaks in the background added to the scenic picture. I'm headed back to Alaska next June, this time with my grandson Michael, a present for him graduating with all "A's" from high school, and having been selected for early admission into the School of Engineering next fall at Virginia Tech. That trip is a ways off, but my excitement grows as I look back through all the photos I've taken from earlier trips "up north". My wife is allowing me to go back to Alaska without her, only so long as I don't visit any place she's not been herself. She and I have seen a lot of that part of the world together, so I won't have much trouble complying with her instructions. If all goes well, she and I may return together in 2010 to explore some new places. But, for 2009, it's Michael's turn.

Merry Christmas from Boots

Christmas Cactus

This one is carefully nurtured throughout the year by my wife Barb, and as a result, it blooms exactly at the right time, as you can see. Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Photos of Christmas Lights

If you're like me, taking photos of Christmas lights is on your "to do" list. What I know about such stuff is not much. But, I got a bit smarter by reading this brief article on "how to do it".

Size of the Army

Army Times has an interesting article that discusses the size of the Army. It notes that out of a total of 695,000 Soldiers on active duty from all three components, 250,000 of them are deployed overseas. That figure has remained essentially the same for the past two years. Clearly, the service is stretched way too thin. Might be an interesting read for you. Check it out here.

Warmer days…

The temperature is not too bad here in SW Virginia today (50's), but that's a much different story in the upper midwest. For those of you with lots of white stuff on the ground, here's a photo to warm your eyes. Taken at Oak Island, North Carolina last August.

Neat Tie

Last week while I was at the 20th Engineer Brigade's OIF Lessons Learned Conference, I saw a retired Army Engineer Command Sergeant Major wearing this tie. I thought it was, well, interesting and felt some of you might want to see it. Actually, it's pretty neat. Did not ask him where he bought it, but I'd kinda like one myself.

Drill Sergeant Misconduct

Army Times has an article concerning the fact that Drill Sergeant misconduct at Fort Leonard Wood has been the worst in the Army over the past couple of years. Individuals involved were MPs, Chemical Corps and Engineers…each training female Soldiers. Leonard Wood and Fort Jackson, SC are the Army’s two training bases engaged in training of females. Such actions by a few worthless individuals is a stain on the reputation of the vast majority of Drill Sergeants who continue do the right thing. While the Army has increased the amount of leader training involving sexual misconduct over the past ten years, there apparently is a need to do even more.

Stuff happens

I was going to spend some time today working on the next issue of Army Engineer magazine. Instead, I'm going to be doing some outside house maintenance work, as well as some minor cleanup in my downstairs office. Last evening as I was about to sit down and watch the evening news with a "cold one" in hand, I made a quick trip downstairs to my office to check my email one last time for the day and heard was I first thought was water running down one of our roof gutter drains (there was a deluge of rain falling outside). After closer inspection, I found that water was leaking into the house around the spot where the main water line entered through the foundation. Water was dripping rapidly down the enclosure around the pipe, and running along the edge of the wall, thus starting to soak the carpet nearby. Shouting for my wife to come help, I immediately pulled the carpet and its pad up along the wall to prevent it getting any wetter, and then I searched for the source of the leak. I quickly found it and fortunately the rain had ceased by that time so the amount of water coming in had dropped considerably. Also fortunate was the fact that I had some leftover quick-drying and waterproof concrete sealant available, which I used to plug the area where water had started to enter. Looking further into the situation early today during daylight, I noted that I'm going to have to re-route the roof gutter downspout that empties near the area where the main water line enters the foundation, so that future heavy rains don't cause excessive water to back up against the foundation, as it apparently had done last night. We've had numerous equally heavy rains before over the years and this was the first time we had this sort of problem, so I'm not sure why it happened now. The good thing is that we had no water damage. Plus, I have been alerted to a potential problem with the roof gutter downspout in question. Yes indeed, stuff happens.

20th Engineer Brigade Conference

To say that the 20th Engineer Brigade OIF Lessons Learned Conference being held this week is/was a success would be an understatement. Hosted by the Fort Bragg Chapter of the Army Engineer Association, and Colonel "Duke" Deluca, commander of the brigade, around 200 Soldiers and civilians discussed various lessons learned, in a most candid and effective manner. I'm not going to go into all the details here, because I'm going to write an article for the Jan-Feb 2009 issue of Army Engineer Magazine in that regard. Suffice it to say that the main thing I carried away after listening to Colonel Deluca and others, is that many of the key lessons the brigade learned from their involvement in the counterinsurgency fight in Iraq, are almost exactly the same engineer lessons learned during our war in Vietnam. I'm not saying that, Colonel Deluca said it time and again. In fact, he quoted from historical publications written by Corps of Engineers leaders after the war in Southeast Asia. Why is it that high level leaders and managers in the Pentagon fail to go back and revisit things the military has done before? At least Colonel Duke Deluca does, and for that he is to be commended. In my view, the rest of the Engineer Regiment needs to heed what he is saying.

Going to Fayetteville

I'll be attending the 20th Engineer Brigade Lessons Learned Conference in Fayetteville, NC near Fort Bragg from Monday-Wednesday. While there I'll write some stories, plus take some photos some of which I'll post here after I return. The brigade headquarters recently returned from a deployment to Iraq, so I hope to learn a bit about what they did there, as well as where Soldiers in the unit see us headed over the next couple of years. More later…

Dutch Harbor

For me, a visit to the City of Unalaska (Alaska's 11th largest city with 4000 residents) and the Port of Dutch Harbor was a dream come true. I'm a big fan of the Discovery Channel series "The Deadliest Catch", which focuses on commercial crab fishermen sailing into the Bering Sea from Dutch Harbor during the winter season. The day we were in Unalaska started out with a low fog bank over the island, which slowly lifted during the morning. I was able to take this picture right at the point in time. Talking to them in person, made me realize how rugged the people are who live here year around. From time to time I wish I was one of them. But then I come to my senses. Sadly, I missed my chance years ago when I was more "adaptive" in terms of living environment.

Christmas Tree

There was a time when I vowed NEVER to own an artificial Christmas tree. We were "all natural". Some years I cut our tree from a designated area, and others I cut one from places that were, well, undesignated. I remember one such tree I cut from a training area on Fort Leonard Wood. It was, unfortunately, a cedar tree, and while it looked really good, it's weak stemmed limbs could not support even our lightest ornaments, so when it was all decorated, everything looked sort of droopy. My wife declared it a total failure. So, as I recall, I was ordered to the PX parking lot to buy a replacement. It was after we retired from active duty that we made the switch to artificial. We hauled that "boxed" tree around from homes in Virginia, then North Carolina, then back to Virginia. Last year I noticed that the metal limbs which had to be individually inserted in the tree's center metal pole were pretty well bent up (our two cats had climbed the tree the year prior and you can imagine the result). The other thing I noted last year was how much I hated to string strand after strand of lights, around and around, and then working for hours afterwards to get them all balanced out. You probably know the drill. So, last week, my wife and I went to Lowes and bought a new artificial tree, one with lights already installed, and with limbs that were fully connected. It took me less than a hour to get it up and looking great. Yesterday, I hung the outside ornaments, and last night we were looking a lot like Christmas. But, the center of it all remains the tree, albeit an artificial one.

Hard times in Michigan

When I entered the Army back in 1963, I did so after graduation from Michigan Tech. Thus, the State of Michigan became my military "home of record". Back then, GM was flush with cash, as were other major automobile manufacturers. The State was also well off financially, and the highway system it had was probably the best in the midwest. When I came back from Vietnam in 1966 and again in 1969, the State gave me a $500 "Vietnam Bonus" each time, in appreciation for my service. I was obviously not the only Michigander who served in Vietnam, so the total amount of bonuses provided by the State must have been quite large. Compare those flush times with today. The State itself is in a dismal condition financially, and most everyone is well aware of where our automobile industry is today. This week on Capital Hill will be interesting to watch as CEO's of the "big three" plead for financial help. I want to see the State and its automobile industry return to where they once were in terms of financial stability. But, I can't overlook the fact that much of the problems both entities face today result from their own doing…call it what you want, mismanagement, greed, etc. This is a tough problem to deal with not only for the State of Michigan and the American automobile industry, but for the country as a whole. I am no where near smart enough to suggest what the best course of action might be. I trust others will be up to the task.

Dwell Time

I have always felt that the time in between war zone deployments for our troops has been far too short. The military refers to that period as "dwell time". When the military says its goal is to have a certain period of time (months) back home in between deployments, and then requires unit personnel to often be away from home station during their dwell time period (training, domestic emergencies like tropical storms, fighting forest fires, etc) I have to ask, "where is the dwell in that dwell time?" Now, along comes Virginia Senator Jim Webb who proposes a law specifying that active-duty troops spend at least as much time at home as they spend deployed. National Guard and reserve members would have a promise of spending three times as long at home as they were deployed, before they could be tapped again for an overseas assignment. I agree with Senator Webb, but there ought to be some aspect of his proposal that recognizes the numerous "back-home" type missions being placed on troops, that may require Soldiers to be away from their families. After all, being with one's family is an integral part of dwell time, and if that's overlooked, then any set dwell time goal in terms of months "back home", is a goal in name only. Bottom line is that we have far too few troops to do all that is being asked of them. Unless we fix that, all these laws and goals are just a sham in my view.

It's a toy world…

Pretty cool collection of videos taken using a special camera lens, to make a scene look miniature and very cool. Several examples, all neat. Check it out here.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope all reading this (and everyone else who is not) have a happy "turkey-day" wherever you are, especially those overseas. Don't eat too much, have fun watching some great football games (including Friday and the weekend), enjoy time together with family and friends, and most of all give thanks for what you have. Times may be tough economically and otherwise, but we American's are about as resilient as a nation can be. It's been proven time and again. More next week, I'm taking some time off from blogging until our leftover turkey has been eaten.

DOD photo altered by DOD

The Associated Press (AP) has removed from its service a digitally altered image of Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, the military’s first female four-star general. This was the second time in two months that AP has suspended the use of DOD provided images. I looked at the two images of GEN Dunwoody (you can see it here) and there clearly was a difference…the most notable being the placement of an American flag in the background, and the retouching of her face and uniform. It did not seem to be a big deal to me, retouching, since I often do the same type thing when I get a less than desired quality photo to use, usually one that’s not of high enough resolution. When that happens, I have to retouch the image to remove the digital artifacts, etc.. However I NEVER add anything to an image that would change it’s portrayal, such as the addition of the flag by someone in the DOD. Bad judgement on their part, and not good journalism. Main point being, given the fact the Dunwoody is the first female four-star, one would have thought that DOD would have made sure a top notch photo was provided for their press release.

Cyberwarfare

I read today, "The Defense Department has imposed an immediate ban on the use of thumb drives and other easily portable devices that offer digital memory storage, with some sort of viral intrusion into the military’s worldwide computer networks apparently spurring the move." DOD is apparently very concerned that virus programs may be spreading as a result of people using external media storage such as flash drives (thumb drives), SD and CF camera cards and others storage devices. Lots of restrictions to keep track of. A sign of the times these days when "cyber-war" is a distinct reality.

Sometimes I wonder…

I am amazed at times just how long it takes for senior leaders in the military to say publicly what those much more junior (e.g. those doing all the heavy lifting) have been saying for years. Example: Today I read, "Stress on U.S. troops from repeated combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan is “extraordinary” and may be worsening even as fighting eases in Iraq, the military’s top officer says." That top officer is the Chairman of the JCS. I don't think I need another example of my point.

Training deaths

There have been several news reports recently about three Soldiers who died while undergoing basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. Other training installations have had similar multiple instances in the past. In my view tragic and unfortunate events such as this are typically natural occurrences to be expected when dealing with such large and diverse populations. Unfortunately, some media reporters jump to the conclusion, or indirectly imply, that a "Drill Sergeant" did not do what they should have done to prevent the death in the first place. That's a disservice to all those who work very hard day in and day out to build young Americans into Soldiers.

NASCAR 3-pete

I'm wearing my Jimmie Johnson No. 48 Lowes hat today in recognition of his third-in-a-row NASCAR Cup (Sprint) championship. When I wear that hat at Martinsville Speedway where most of the 65,000 plus rabid fans have on Earnhardt, Jr. gear, I feel a bit out of place. But, there's a lot of Lowes gear around as well, so I do have company. Anyway, time to take a few months break from racin before getting back to the chase in 2009.

Is this THE mark on the wall?

According to CNN online: "The Iraqi Cabinet on Sunday approved a security pact that sets the terms for U.S. troops in Iraq. The agreement sets June 30, 2009, as the deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from all Iraqi cities and towns, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said. The date for all troops to leave Iraq will be December 31, 2011, he said. These dates are "set and fixed" and are "not subject to the circumstances on the ground," he said. Twenty-seven of the 40 Cabinet members in attendance voted in favor of the agreement, said Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. One minister abstained."

Some Flickr photos

If you are interested, I invite you to look at a few of my recently taken photographs. Old Salem North Carolina last summer and Upper Michigan last month. The one above was taken in Munising, Michigan…before the snow started to fall. Both trips were filled with lots of photo fun. Click here to explore.

Inspiration? Maybe so, maybe not

There is no way for me to determine just how many folks read this blog and how often they do so. Still, I figure I need to keep it up to date for those who do read it, and to post as many items during the week that I can. My target is one a day, except for weekends. Some days, I have zero inspiration…others, like today, I have a bit more. Some may wonder what sources of information I use when I post “news or info” type blogs. Mostly I go to the DoD DVIDS site, or to the Army’s website, or even Army Times. If I see something that gets my interest, so I might be able to provide some unofficial opinion, I'll give it a shot. When I can’t find anything that “newsy”, then I try to offer an opinion about something else, usually about things non-military. Since I love photography, I’ll sometimes just post a photo I took and say something about it. And lastly, if I see an interesting web-link or two that I figure you’d be interested in seeing, I’ll point you in that direction. My overall intent is to get you to return to the blog on a regular basis. If you do, then my efforts are worthwhile. If not, then I'll keep doing it for my personal satisfaction anyway. Cheers!

Troop Tube

I didn't know that troops deployed overseas can't use You Tube to look at videos, etc. Bad stuff I guess. OK to "You Tube" back home, just bad if you're overseas. Not sure why, but it's not important…really. Anyway, it is OK for them to go to Troop Tube. Looks kinda sanitary to me, but then I'm not deployed, nor am I still in the Army. I suppose it does fill a need. Be interested to see how it all works out over time.

Big changes in Iraq

About a year or so ago the situation in Iraq was dangerously close to civil war. Then came the “surge” which focused on placing more troops in the middle of major population centers to help curb the violence. That strategy appears to have worked. Now, we learn that we are reversing direction and pulling troops away from cities, and concentrating them at large bases away from population centers, with a target of having the moves completed by June 2009. At that time, and perhaps earlier, we’ll see just how prepared the Iraqi government is to defend itself. In my view, it’s time we make this move. They have to eventually stand on their own; and if they have problems, we’ll still have troops nearby to help.

Those who served

Today, Veteran's Day, we ought to remember those in the military who gave their all in defense of freedom. Other Veterans and their families should also be remembered for their sacrifices while in uniform. We owe them a great deal.

Now here's a good deal for 2009

The AEA Board of Directors recently announced a NEW membership incentive program as appreciation to those who have a current AEA membership as of June 16 (the annual birthday of the Army Corps of Engineers). Fifty AEA member names will be randomly drawn by a third party from the association's member data base on that date. Prizes include complimentary airline tickets good for any roundtrip destination in the continental U.S, as well as $300 VISA gift cards. All you have to do in order to be eligible is to be a current member as of June 16th next year. Sounds like a good deal to me. For more, click here.

Veterans to be honored at Applebee's

According to the Applebee's website: "Select Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants (164 participating restaurants nationwide) are testing a promotion that invites all active duty and veterans to pull up a chair for a delicious meal and heartfelt thanks this Veterans Day. With gratitude for their service and sacrifice, active duty and veterans will eat free at participating locations on Veterans Day (November 11, 2008) during regular business hours. Veterans and active duty with proof of United States military service will be able to go to one of the participating Applebee's and select one complimentary entrée from a selection of delicious favorites: a savory House Sirloin, hearty Riblet Basket, zesty Fiesta Lime Chicken®, a juicy Quesadilla Burger or fresh Oriental Chicken Salad. All the traditional sides are included." A list of participating restaurants is here. Sounds like a good idea to me, and a special THANKS to Applebee's!

AEA Member Data Base

After months of hard work, the AEA recently unveiled its new and vastly improved online member data base. Current members can LOGIN through the portal and securely access their records to make changes or to renew membership terms. New members can sign up quickly and efficiently. Those entering the portal may also search for names of other members. Lastly, prospective attendees at AEA sponsored conferences and seminars may register online, and prospective donors to the annual AEA Guardians of the Castle Fund Drive can make their donation. Other "member only" modules are planned. Check it out if you have not already done so.

Proud living in Rural America

Our family moved about once every two years during the 28 we spent on active duty in the Army. We lived in many regions of the U.S. (urban and rural), and spent several years overseas. I grew up in the south, my wife in the north. So, it's fair to say we've seen a lot of what the country has to offer. Having lived where we do now in a rural region of Southern Virginia, I have to say it's by far our favorite location. I'm sure many others like me have equally favorite places…rural and urban. What connects us all is the fact we're Americans. And today, I'm pretty darn proud to be one.

Voted?

Yes, I did. FINALLY!!!

Corps Lakes

Have you ever been to a Corps of Engineers recreational area, established around hundreds of lakes in the country…most related to flood control projects built over the years? If not, you should. You can locate where they are here. In my part of the country, we have one of the best at Philpott Lake near Bassett, Virginia. The photo here is the main entrance area to their modern and well operated visitor's center. This blog commercial was sponsored by me, and I'm not running for political office.

Ride the BEST train

Back in time

Best Tech inventions for 2008

Pretty neat stuff here, thanks to Time magazine, which you don't need to buy any more, just to read it.

Listen while you work at Michigan Tech

Photo is of Michigan Tech taken by me last month, and where I graduated many years ago. Great university for engineer and science majors. Lately I've been listening to the online streaming audio from the university's radio station WMTU. It's pretty crazy music and a bit heavy metal at times, with hardly any C&W (too bad, at least for me). But, for some reason, when I listen to the student-run station while I'm working "at the computer" during the day, I seem to be more creative. Whatever. Check it out here if you are so inclined.

Quit worrying…take a road trip or something

This morning as I was riding home from getting my annual flu shot (at Krogers by the way), I was listening to a talk radio show (not important which one it was) and there was lots of "worrying" going on, as well as talk of "fear". Given that in the past,the same talk radio host always seemed to me to be more positive, I wondered what was going on this day. I suppose it's the upcoming election that's got these guys down. That's a shame. I don't care who is elected next week, it's all going to be OK. How do I know this to be true? I don't…really. I just have faith in average American folks. So, go get a beer or something and quit worrying about what lies ahead. Or, maybe take a road trip like is shown here. Make you appreciate what this country is really all about, and it sure as heck ain't political in nature.

How long after the election…

1. before mainstream media pundits start calling for us to get out of Afghanistan,
2. before realism points to the fact that none of the campaign pledges are affordable,
3. before whomever is elected to figure out there is no such thing as bipartisan politics,
4. before others interested start campaigning for "change" in 2012.

Home for sale…recent foreclosure

Rainy Friday…again

But, we need the rain here in SW Virginia, so no complaints from me. Big deal here in Martinsville today other than the weather is the fact VP candidate Joe Biden is coming to town. Last Sunday Todd Palin, husband of VP candidate Sarah Palin was here as well. I wonder whether or not either will remember this region after the election is over, regardless of who wins. Probably neither will.

In two weeks…

Two weeks from today we will have: 1. a new President elect, 2. no worthless political commercials to change channels from, 3. more leaves on the ground to clean up, 4. fewer days before Christmas during which to buy gifts, 5. less value in our stocks and less money in our pockets to buy Christmas gifts, 6. troops coming home for the holidays on leave from Iraq and Afghanistan, 7. other troops getting ready to deploy overseas, and 8. the next issue of Army Engineer magazine almost completed for printing. How special is all that?

NASCAR Short-Track Racing

There are many reasons why, for me, short-track NASCAR racing is special. The most obvious is that one can sit in the stands and see every bit of the action, compared to larger oval or D-shaped, one-two mile long, higher-speed tracks where spectators generally see just a portion of the race. Yesterday at Martinsville Speedway where the annual fall NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held, I again experienced my favorite aspect of a short-track event…seeing up-close more than just the race itself. For example, from where I was seated high up, between turns one and two of the “paper-clip” configured, half-mile long historic track (first race in 1948 just as NASCAR was formed), I saw a series of simple (but to me personal) things, through my binoculars, a few minutes before drivers entered their cars to be given the command “start your engines”. Jimmy Johnson joking around with numerous people near his number 48 car (he won by the way). Tony Stewart emptying the pants pockets of his bright orange and black driver’s suit of items he apparently did not want to carry with him during the race, and giving them to a crew member. Kevin Harvick sitting casually on the pit wall with an arm around his wife. Carl Edwards standing nearby looking at Harvick (they had a personal physical altercation a few weeks ago). Dale Earnhardt, Jr. taking time to meet and greet one adoring fan after another, always shaking hands and having his photo taken, and then signing whatever autograph they apparently wanted. Jeff Burton (a Virginian) laughing with a reporter. And the race driver I don’t like very much, Kyle Busch, leaning against his car, wearing his trademark wrap-around sunglasses, smiling and laughing with reporters and others. You get my point. With my view it was almost as if I was right next to all the drivers lined up waiting to race. In short, I was a personal part of the event. You can’t get that at most other NASCAR race tracks.

At least it's an increase

The Dec. 1 cost-of-living adjustment for military and federal civilian retirees, disabled veterans and survivors will be 5.8 percent, with the increase first appearing in Jan. 1 checks. The same increase will go to Social Security recipients. Given the sad state of our various stock-related IRA's, we need all the extra we can get.

Wayback Machine

Here's an interesting website that allows you to enter a URL and then take a look at how that site looked as far back as the late 1990s. It's kinda cool to see how much things cost then, what products were featured and what people were buying, etc. So far, it worked for every site I entered. Check it out at http://www.archive.org/web/web.php.

Saturday Night Lights

It's that time of year when all over America bands are playing, footballs are being kicked, and scores are being accumulated. While I often am perplexed by the level of apathy of many of our young people in the USA, when I watch them on a sports field, or during a band concert in front of thousands, I become somewhat more encouraged.

It was better when I was dumb

Things "economic" never much worried me when I was on active duty in the Army. That was partially based on the fact that I'd flunked ECON 101 in college, and only got a "D" when I took it the second time. But, it was mostly caused by our relative isolation from the rest of the world in terms of daily routine. For the last ten or so years we were on active duty, we spent about half in Germany with troops. The remainder of that time was also spent with troop-related assignments in the U.S. My daily routine thus began at 0500 and ended around 1800 or so. I had training schedules to worry about, training exercises to plan and execute, briefings to prepare and give, and loads of "people" issues to deal with. Equipment maintenance was paramount, as were all things "supply" related. When I watched news on TV, or read it in the newspaper (Stars & Stripes for example), I hardly ever got agitated in any way. It was just "news". Key items on my weekly agenda (especially in Germany) were Friday afternoons sipping a few favorite beverages with comrades and friends. TGIF meant a lot to us back then. Weekends were for golf or home chores and Mondays always sucked. Three or four day holiday weekends were looked forward to with great anticipation, and always seemed to go by far too quickly. In short, I was essentially a dumb person when it came to what was happening outside the Army. It's much different for me today. I've become somewhat "smarter" about the economy, pay far too much attention to politics, and am an avid "news watcher". After seeing another 600+ drop in the stock market yesterday, I long for those days when I would have paid little if any attention to such terrible news. It was better when I was dumb.

Why can't younger people get it?

Last night my wife and I went to Wendy's with our oldest daughter and her 15-year old daughter who is, most of the time, totally oblivious to anything going on around her, except what she gets as a text message on her be-jeweled cellphone. Today, I wondered why there is so much difference between our children and grandchildren, compared to us and our parents and grandparents. When we were young (in our teens during the 1950s and 1960s) we typically didn't buy anything we couldn't afford, most of us respected those in positions of authority, we walked to school and while there listened and learned, and many of us worked performing odd jobs to get any spending money we might have. We had only a few (if any) TV channels to watch, only AM radio to listen to, no computers, no video games, no cellphone, no blogging, no Facebook or MySpace, and no car (other than our parents if they allowed us to drive). We knew what we were, appreciated what we had, and aspired for greatness based largely upon our own initiative and capabilities, reinforced by family values passed on to us…by example. Those type values have, unfortunately, been mostly lost over the years, and today's young people are far, far different (in a worse way) from what we were at their age. In short, today's youth care not for the past, seek only to gratify their immediate needs, and have little regard for what may lie ahead in their lives. Most seem to believe that "someone" will take care of them and will give them what they want, when they want it. Sorry state of affairs to say the least, especially during these times of severe economic conditions. By the time they finally do figure this all out, it will probably be too late to do much about it.

Email attachment junk

I often receive emails with attachments that cover just about everything possible which I refer to as total junk. Most of these emails I delete immediately without ever opening. Examples: Internet rumors informing me that according to the experts, "so-in-so" is a communist or a terrorist, chain emails ordering me in all capital letters to "PASS THIS ON NOW, DON'T BREAK THE CHAIN", jokes that are either not that funny or are totally tasteless, and patriotic music and/or videos apparently designed to make me want to get up and salute while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. I don't need anyone to try to make me feel any more patriotic than I already am. People need to think about what they send, before they send it. Ask yourself, "do I think the recipient REALLY wants to receive this?" If there is any doubt, don't send it! Why assume just because YOU think it's great, that someone else will feel the same. Adding to the misery, is the fact that many senders of this nature thoughtlessly pass on this type junk to EVERY person in their email address book!

Quincy Copper Mine

When I was a student at Michigan Tech, we used to be able to go inside old native copper mines and "explore". Not so today…safety, etc. The Quincy Mine in Hancock was one of the largest and deepest mines in the world, bringing up native copper deposit in massive loads. Trains such as this one hauled the ore to a nearby smelter.

One heck of a sand dune!

This photograph was taken along the shores of Lake Superior, near Grand Marias, Michigan. In the late 1800's, early 1900's, during the logging boom in Michigan, loggers pushed logs down the 500 foot high, steep sand dunes to the water (using gravity of course), where they were transferred to waiting ships for movement to saw mills, etc. Today, tourists slide down the dunes, and then must make a rough climb back up with VERY loose sand underfoot. Many have become stranded as a result, so there are warning signs posted all over stating to BEWARE. In my younger days, I'd have given it a shot. Today, my camera did all the work.

Change of leadership

This week there will be a change in leadership at Fort Leonard Wood. MG Bill McCoy is to be replaced by BG(P) Gregg Martin as the CG of the Maneuver Support Center, while COL(P) Bryan Watson has been designated as the new Commandant of the Engineer School, replacing BP(P) Martin. However, COL Watson is not slated to return to the U.S from overseas deployment until early next year, so the present school deputy commandant, COL Bob Tipton will assume that role on an interim basis. MG McCoy is to be the new DA Staff Deputy Inspector General when he departs Fort Leonard Wood. Congratulations to all.

Michigan Tech

I’m sitting here at the computer following my morning daily physical routine, wearing a Michigan Tech logo-emblazoned tee-shirt, sweat pants and hat, looking like (I’m sure) a brand new freshman at my alma mater (1963). Per my previous post, we visited Houghton, Michigan in the UP of the state last week and not only had an opportunity to spend some money in the campus bookstore buying “gear”, but were able to see some very beautiful country at the same time. My wife and I were married there, our first daughter was born there, and we have tons of memories there, all great (except for my grade point average which was only a bit above what I needed to graduate). I was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers from ROTC there, and that was my main purpose in going to college in the first place… to become an officer in the U.S. Army. I had no choice but “engineers’ since at that time ROTC was branch-specific at some colleges, and Michigan Tech was/is a leading engineering and science school. The photo here is of the main part of the university, taken from across the Portage Lake portion of Lake Superior which cuts across the Keweenaw Peninsula . It snows a lot up there in the winter, and it’s pretty darn cold most of the time. Ice hockey is the main sport and when we were students there Michigan Tech won the NCAA Division 1 championship (1962). They also won it in 1965 and 1975. In recent years they have not been as successful, but you can’t tell that when you look at the new ice arena, student athletic complex, and student development center. In fact, the place looks totally different than when we were students there, with many of the old buildings having been replaced. However, my dorm is still there as it was then (with additions), as are some of the old bars we used to frequent (illegally I might add). In sum, it was great to go back. I wish I could start all over again up there in the cold north-woods. I might even be able to study harder. Or maybe not.

A trip full of lighthouses

After a week-long trip to the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan, we arrived home last night after almost 3000 driving miles, with gas prices averaging $3.80 per. When you get happy to pay $3.39 per as we did in Ohio, you know that times have really changed for people on the highway these days. While gas shortages exist in the southeast, it was interesting to note that in the far north part of the UP in Houghton, Michigan (home of my alma mater Michigan Tech) we paid the lowest for gas anywhere in Michigan. One of our main interests during this trip was to visit as many of the wonderful lighthouses that exist along the rugged shores of Lake Superior. The photo here is of the lighthouse in Eagle Harbor. The day we were there the wind was blowing hard, and the water was rough. It was around 50 degrees. Anyway, I'm now sorting through my many photos and will post more later. In the interim I have grass to mow here at home, and other chores to do. And, I have to start the next issue of Army Engineer magazine. Plus, watch all the financial mess and the political debates. I have to admit it was nice to be away from the daily news cycle "in the backwoods" for a short while.

Road Trip

Tomorrow my wife and I are headed to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, along with her cousin, for a week "in the back woods". We're staying in an old 1949 vintage hunting cabin with no electricity or running water, and if you've been reading my blog for awhile, then you may recall me posting some images from there last fall, when we made the same journey. This time we're going to visit not only the cabin itself, but also some "tourist" spots like the Pictured Rocks along the shore of Lake Superior, as well as where we went to college (and were married) at Michigan Tech. In that regard, I plan to get some "Mich Tech gear" to wear (hat, sweats, etc) to complement all the Virginia Tech stuff I already have (our grandkids go to VA Tech). Anyway, while I'm gone no blogging will be possible. See you back here on October 2nd. I'll no doubt have lots of stories to tell and photos to share with you at that time.

Headline News?

At one time I used to exclusively go to foxnews.com for online news and information. Now, I use Google news. To explain why I dumped Fox, here’s a sample of the headlines posted there September 16th. 1. Truth Is Out There: Mysterious Light in Sky Baffles, 2. 'Ant From Mars' Discovered in Amazon Rainforest, 3. Report: Satan Worshippers Killed, Ate Four Teens, 4. Laxative Cupcakes in the Teachers Lounge, 5. Baby Dies After Being Thrown From Racing Car. Get my point?

Looking back…way back

Yesterday there was a change of command between top generals in Iraq…GEN David Petraeus passed command to GEN Ray Odierno. As I was reading about what was said during that ceremony, my mind wandered back to the numerous images I've had sent my way since 2003 when Operation Iraqi Freedom began. This has been a very long war and many things have changed over time, some for the better, some for the worse. And, we've still got a ways to go. Here are some of those images with no captions or photo credit.

Textures

When I go out on a photographic mission, I often look for different "textures" to shoot, like the one shown here. What is it? Well, there was this vacant building in Winston-Salem NC that had a boarded up window, with rusty screen wire and chipping paint. What can I do with such a photo? For starters, it might wind up as a background on a layout I'll do in a future issue of Army Engineer magazine. Keep an eye out for it. If you spot it, let me know.

September-October magazine

I sent the Sep-Oct edition of Army Engineer magazine to the printers this week. Subscribers can expect to have it in the mail during the first part of October. Each time I prepare a new edition I tend to tweak the manner in which I do layouts, prepare illustrations and so forth. Much of that I learn by looking at other publications and "borrowing" their ideas, or by watching tutorials online, or by reading material in the professional journals I receive. Anyway, just a heads up to let subscribers know what's going on in my "production" department…a department of "one"…ME!

Do they take U.S. dollars in Alaska?

Each time I take a trip to Alaska (my most favorite place ever…I've been three times and am going back again next year) I hear all kinds of stories from true Alaskans concerning the number of dumb questions they receive all the time from us in the lower forty-eight. The one they tell me the most is about the typical tourist asking if stores accept U.S. dollars, and what's the exchange rate. They also ask if credit cards are acceptable "up here in Alaska." Others want to know "what language is usually spoken up here". Now that the Great State of Alaska itself has become front page news as a result of the selection of its governor (Sarah Palin) as the Republican Party VP nominee, I have heard some pretty dumb comments originating from main network news reporters. The one that made me laugh the most came out of the mouth of a fresh-faced reporter the other night who wondered on air if "those in the United States ever heard of Sarah Palin before." I thought to myself "Nope, us Americans never did hear of her." But then it's really no surprise at how geographically challenged most people are today in the United States. For example, my grandaughter in her second year of high school could not tell me the other day exactly where Louisiana was on a map. She's a "all A student" by the way. Aren't our schools terrific?

Learning from one now serving

My neighbor's son-in-law is now serving with the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, NC and was up here for a visit with his wife and child. I had a brief chance to talk with him the other morning as we both finished our morning exercise routines at the same time. I was most interested if the streets at Bragg are filling up more now than they were the last time I was down there (Soldiers coming home) and he said they were, but nowhere near the way they used to be. He said it's strange looking down Long Street which used to be full of jogging and chanting Soldiers each day at dawn, and seeing much less activity. He's deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan several times since 2003, albeit in multiple 3-6 month stints, versus longer 12-15 month tours. He can't tell me what he does, but did say it's special operations related. He said one thing that really ticks him off while deployed are seeing so many troops essentially working full time in relatively secure areas, hardly going outside the wire, with almost as many comfort and recreational opportunities as back home. He's typically in a rugged field environment with much fewer things of that nature available when he's deployed. I said I remembered the same thing during the Vietnam war when those of us in the field used to complain all the time about "Saigon Warriors" holed up in the city. He also told me he did not like the new Army blue uniform, as well as the black beret. His view was that the Army ought to have left all that alone. I totally agreed with his view. As we went inside our respective homes, I told him how proud I was as an older retiree, of the manner in which Soldiers like him were performing their jobs, under such stressful conditions. He'd earlier said that many of his friends were getting out of the Army because of multiple rotations and their effects on family members, but so far he had no such inclination. I hope he stays in, the Army needs people like him.

Conventions are over

Last night ended the two political conventions. To say I'm glad would be an understatement. I'm not going to get into discussions of which candidate offers the best potential, nor am I going to get into any of the primary issues, nor the challenges we, as a nation, face today. I will say that in my view the political system originally designed to work in our behalf has, over the years, gone off track. In short, regardless who we elect, few important things get done. This unfortunate characteristic of today's politics is present from local to national levels, and usually results in people doing more just to get re-elected, than to make hard choices.

Report on New Orleans

From what I've read in Corps of Engineers releases (written by those "in charge" at the center of action) there have not been and probably will not be any failures of federal levees as a result of Gustav. In short, steps taken by the Corps and others following Katrina have apparently been effective. This does not imply there are no challenges at hand, there are. Damage assessment teams are out and about all along the Louisiana and Mississippi coast and it will be a day or two more before we know more. Still, it looks like the city dodged another bullet, albeit close. Good for the local officials this time, who did the right thing and ordered all to leave in a timely fashion (as compared to Katrina where they did a poor job in my view). Now, we have Ike slogging along to the west perhaps near Cuba and then into the Gulf of Mexico, where it all starts all over for New Orleans and other locations…preparing for potential impact. For us on the east coast, we have Hanna to look forward to this weekend. Busy t-storm season for sure.

Closing U.S. sites in Germany

The Army has announced that by next summer, ten relatively small sites e.g. (housing areas, depots, missile locations) will close in Germany. One of those, Dexheim Missile Facility and housing area, is close to my heart. Back in the early 1980's I was the Command Engineer for the 32nd Army Air Defense Command, and Dexheim was one of several where we worked to plan for and then station the new (then) Patriot Missile System. After I left, the plan we'd worked out came to fruition and for years afterwards, the 32nd remained as a primary defense capability for NATO forces in West Germany. I've always said that what we (U.S.) did in West Germany especially during the 1980's, was directly responsible for the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union. We were definitely ready for any contingency. Fortunately, we never had to execute.

Hurricanes are coming

With Hurricane Gustav lurking around headed at present in a general direction of the central Gulf Coast of the U.S., memories of Katrina and Rita begin to rise. Center to recovery actions following those two storms (and all others as well) is the Corps of Engineers. If the worst happens and Gustav hits near New Orleans, lets hope that improvements made by the Corps after Katrina do their job. Let's also hope that as we get more into the peak period for tropical storms next month that people in harms way take heed and do the right thing. As Town manager of a coastal North Carolina beach town, I went through four major hurricanes in a very short period. I've experienced first hand their destructive nature, and have seen the results of the often overlooked threat from flooding and storm surge. One year, I remember riding around with the Chief of Police the day prior to landfall of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, seeing how many residents had made an unwise decision to remain on the island after the bridge to the mainland was to be closed. We made them sign a "release" stating that the town was under no obligation to "come get them" in the event they wanted off the island later. Sure enough, one guy who decided to stay called the Police as the storm neared landfall after we'd closed the bridge, pleading for someone to come get him. Didn't happen, so the guy sat buttoned up and rode it out. He made it OK, but when I spoke to him afterwards he sheepishly said what he'd done was a mistake. If you're in harms way of a storm, follow the advice of local officials. EVACUATE!

More thoughts about the blue uniform

In an earlier post I stated I did not like the change from "green" to "blue". No special reason, other that it's a big leap for me, considering I wore the green version for over thirty years (ROTC then active duty). As I said earlier, I really never liked the green version that much…preferring tan or brown. The old "pinks and greens" was my favorite, probably because I wore it for three years in high school ROTC. When I went to college and joined ROTC at that level, I regretted not being able to continue wearing that style of uniform. "Blue" does not convey "Army" to me. That color is just fine for a dress uniform, but not for everyday wear. And, I don't agree with the rationale that "we need only one uniform", for justifying the switch to the blue color. But, just like everything else that's caused me temporary unrest in relation to "change" in the Army since I retired, I'll get past my feelings about "blue" being the new color for the Army.

Great website!

Check out this website. It's by a media company and has some of the most stunning graphics I've seen. Music and sound effects are pretty cool as well. The user interface is also unique. It's built in "Flash" so depending on your computer's speed, it may be a bit slow to load. Anyway, it's very well done.

2008 Worldwide Photo Walk

Last Saturday I participated in an organized "Photo Walk" sponsored by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Over 8000 participated in cities all over the world. My portion was in Old Salem, NC which is the "Salem" part of Winston-Salem, NC. The "Old Salem" area where fifteen of us walked for around three hours taking photographs is very scenic and historically interesting. I welcome you to view some of my best, although I am sure others who participated have better. Whatever, I liked these enough to share them. Here they are.

It's Friday

In fact, Friday's do not have the same significance to me today as they once did. During my younger days while I was in the Army, Fridays were a time for Happy Hour at "the O-club". Then later as I grew older (still in the Army) and as the Army's club system slowly faded away in popularity, I spent time with friends at home, but still having our own happy hours. In Germany, those fun-fests typically lasted way more than an hour. Then after I retired from the Army (and working full time in second careers) Fridays were usually reserved to either go out for pizza and beer, or stay home and have our own. After I started working part time, Fridays lost their prime significance as a "party night" because if I wanted to, I could "party" on any night I wished. However, the definition of "party" today is nowhere near what it once was in my life. We still go out to eat on Fridays but not as often as before and if I have a beer at all, it's only one or two at the most. TV and early bedtime has taken the place of pool, darts, and pitchers of beer. My kids (they are over 40 each) still call Friday night "daddy's party night". But they like me, know it's not the same anymore.

Green to Blue

An announcement from the Army yesterday stated that it’s now official: green is out and blue is in. Photo here is Class “B”. Add a blue jacket for Class “A”. It was noted by the Army’s news release that, “The move to eliminate the green uniform is designed to streamline soldiers’ clothing bags while modernizing the way the traditional blue uniform is worn.” Soldiers are encouraged to wear the new uniform now if they have it. It will start being issued to new Soldiers in 2010. Everyone must wear it by 2013. A white shirt goes with the uniform. The Army once considered having a gray color shirt. Also, as shown in the photo, some positions such as airborne and ranger can blouse their trousers with black boots. Other non-special operations positions, not so. There is also an option to wear a service cap versus the beret. Apparently, those now serving were asked in several surveys to express their desires for colors, etc. It’s reported that the results of those surveys favored the blue color. As for me, I don’t like it. But then I did not like the green uniform that much either. I always though a brown or tan color uniform (or combination thereof) best represented the service. I have no problem with having a blue color “dress” uniform, but wearing that color every day in either Class “A” or Class “B” goes against my personal feelings. But then, I have no vote. Time will tell how it all works out. By the way, I’d be careful eating a Big Mac or Whopper with that white shirt on!

Army Knowledge Online

Currently serving Soldiers and retirees have access to Army Knowledge Online (AKO). It's password protected (very much so!) and contains a wealth of information. Given that today's military does a large percentage of its "business" online, either remotely or at a desktop somewhere, having AKO available is logical. Back "in my day", such a capability was not even in my wildest dreams. If I needed information, I usually called someone on the telephone, or went to see them. If the Department of the Army headquarters, or any major command for that matter wanted to "get the word out" it did so using typed paper messages that were essentially spread word of mouth through the chain of command. AKO does this online, in an instant, to all involved simultaneously. Looking at AKO this morning, I noted something I'd overlooked before. The Army now requires all Soldiers returning from combat to attend post deployment "Battlemind II" training. It focuses on identifying health and other issues and to assist Soldiers transition back home. When I returned (both times) from combat in Vietnam, the best I got were hugs and kisses from my wife and kids. In short, no one from the military welcomed me back. I was simply given a set of orders to report to a new duty station. Times have changed that's for sure. Still, "combat" remains "combat", and going to and from has been and always will be a stressful experience. The Army is simply trying to make all that less traumatic today for all involved. Good for them.

Spotlight on Martinsville VA

This coming Wednesday, August 20th, Barack Obama is coming to Martinsville, along with Mark Warner, our past governor, who was extremely popular in Southern Virginia. The spotlight will be on the local economy here which has been severely impacted by major job losses in the textile and furniture industries. Henry County where Martinsville is located used to be an "economic engine" for the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, similar to what Northern Virginia is today. But no more. Today the county, along with the city, has a high rate of unemployment, and lots of work is being done to promote new economic development in this region. Obviously Obama is coming for political reasons, but I really don't care what the reason is, the area needs help. Any politician of national prominence like Barack Obama would do well in my opinion to take note of areas like ours, which too often get forgotten when budgets are put together. Maybe John McCain will be next. More excitement!

Passing of a friend

Yesterday my wife and I drove to Sanford, NC to attend a memorial service for an old Army buddy of mine, who died quite suddenly last Friday from a massive heart attack. He and I first met while attending graduate school at Iowa State in 1972, Since then, our paths crossed many times in the Army, and his family and ours stayed very close. When he retired from a second (civilian) career (he first retired as an engineer LTC) we were very happy to have them decide to move just two hours away from us, them living in his dream location…a golf course/fishing community. By far, he was the most gregarious person I knew. Go into any public place and within minutes he had struck immediate friendships with those nearby. As a result, well over 300 people attended his memorial service yesterday…most coming from within the local area where they lived. Considering that he and his wife had lived there just three years, speaks for itself. Afterwards at a reception, I stood and spoke briefly about many of the fun (and funny) things he and I had done together over the years. As we were driving back home I thought that our relationship might not have been as great had we not served together in the Army, given that bonds of service, no matter where or when, created by those in uniform are hard (or impossible) to sever. He will be missed, and today I find it hard to accept that "Jim" isn't here any more. But, whenever I go fishing, or play golf, or drink a beer or a shot of Irish whiskey, he will be in my thoughts.

Photo Slideshow NEW

Thanks to Google and Blogger, I now have a slideshow in the left sidebar that I'll periodically update. It's an opportunity for me to share some of my work. I don't want to turn this Blog into an exclusive "photo" oriented one, but I think it's OK for me to add "something different" to an otherwise Army Engineer and general military oriented online experience. Comments are welcome.

Back from "the beach"

Not sure why we all say we're going to "the beach" when in fact there are places we visit in that region that are not covered with sand…such as the photo I took here at Beaufort, NC, an historic fishing port near Morehead City, NC. Yes, we (family) did spend time surfing (boogie boards), sunning, digging in the sand, searching for shells, etc, but we did other things as well. Considering that our two granddaughters (20 and 16) were along, those "other things" included looking at and trying on lots of clothes, and jewelry. Weather was fine, albeit hot, with heavy surf some days. Naturally the day we left it all cooled off. So, summer is officially over for the Morgan clan living here in Martinsville VA as school begins next week (2 grandkids in high school, one in 3rd year at VA Tech, and daughter who teaches 8th grade science). But, summer weather is not over, nor is grass cutting and fishing season over for me. So, when I can, I'll still be "out and about".

Brief Vacation

Starting tomorrow and until next Monday, I'm going to be "off-line", while sitting on the beach in North Carolina. No tropical storms in sight there, at least for now, so hopefully the weather will be good. Staying a couple of days at Emerald Isle near Morehead City, and then traveling down the coast to Holden Beach for a couple of days, where we used to live. Going to "revisit" the area to see what changes have been made since we were last there several years ago. While away I plan NOT to watch any portion of the Olympics…never been a fan, never will. But, I will be watching for photographic opportunities, and may post a few here after I return. Cheers!

AEA's Website

As the webmaster for www.armyengineer.com, I am often asked "why does AEA not now have a capability for members or prospective members to perform transactions 'online', instead of having to send email, fill out and fax/mail a form, etc". Short answer is that the site used to have that capability, but as a result of a major transition from an old online data base, to a new one with greater utility, AEA's online capability is in temporary limbo. Soon, that will end. Turns out that the process was more difficult than first expected. Once the conversion is complete, and all works as intended, look for improvements. I also get questions pertaining to whether or not AEA programs other than membership might be converted to online interaction. Answer is, yes over time, but the details are still being developed. I wanted to let all reading this know that it is AEA's intent to make your online visit as service-oriented as possible. And from my standpoint as the person with whom AEA has entered into an independent service contract to "do the work", I'm just as impatient and interested as you are to have this all happen sooner than later.

Filling up your gas tank in Europe

Military personnel and family members assigned to locations in Europe don't just drive to a local economy station to fill up their gas tanks, they first buy gas coupons (only authorized for U.S. personnel stationed there) and use those at designated facilities. Gas coupons today in Italy, for example, reflect a cost of $4.95 per gallon, or $131 for a 100-liter coupon book. In Germany the situation is similar, but a gallon of gas there (using a coupon book) is $4.16. Without a coupon book, you'd pay well over twice per gallon…close to $10. From what I read online about all of this, it appears as if those stationed in Europe are electing to use public transportation, or government provided buses, to travel and do their shopping, etc. The European rail system is hard to beat anywhere in the world. When we were stationed there in the 1980's we used it all the time, and routinely traveled from town to town at reasonable expense. Military there today are doing the same thing we did, but probably more so. Not possible to do this in the United States. Outside of major metro areas, our public transportation is largely non-existent, and our city-to-city rail is pathetic. Don't even get me started on airline travel these days. In sum, for our Soldiers and families in Europe, there are excellent alternatives to deal with excessive monthly expenses associated with driving a car, as compared to what we are experiencing here in the United States.

Slow day today

If you write and manage a blog, like this one, then you'll understand when I say that some days are easier than others when it comes to picking a subject…and then trying to write something meaningful, at least to you. Today is one of those days for me. It's going to be hot again here in Martinsville, VA, my grass is mostly brown, I'm having to water my tomatoes a lot, the fish aren't biting that well (bass), I'm starting the next issue (Sep-Oct) of Army Engineer magazine, and am sorting out "beach items" to take next week on a family vacation to Emerald Isle, NC. If the weather holds today, I'm going to take my two granddaughters to a local lake to canoe/kayak (one is almost 20 and the other almost 16). Lots going on for me, but I just can't open my brain much more than I have in order to write a topical blog, or to find some interesting "link" to send you to. So, for today at least, this will have to do. But then, maybe no one is reading this anyway, so its not a big deal.

Pictures about and from the Moon.

There are some interesting photos here pertaining to future missions to the moon, as well as photos from past journeys there. It looks to me as if NASA is planning to send spacecraft to the Moon and maybe Mars and back. I'm not sure how the U.S. can afford to do this, but that's another subject. For now, the pictures are great to look at. Enjoy!

Military talk

There have been and continue to be numerous unique words and phrases which originated from within the military. "Short-timer", "battle-rattle" and "deuce-and-a-half" are just a few. Today, I saw a new one in the media…"re-missioned". No, it does not refer to a temporary recovery from a serious disease, but rather it refers to troop units that are about to be diverted from going to Iraq, and sent instead to Afghanistan. The unit will be "re-missioned". Interesting use of words.

Tall vehicles indeed

I read today, "The towering trucks that give U.S. troops the best protection against roadside bombs and enemy bullets also make them vulnerable to routine hazards like sharp turns, rutted roads and rickety bridges." I can attest to them being "towering". Last May I spent some time with troops in training on the Buffalo, RG31 and Husky mine resistant vehicles. Photographs do not convey how large and high off the ground they really are. Indeed, it was not easy for me to climb up the ladder into the back of a Buffalo vehicle. But then, my legs are not what they used to be. Certainly not the same as a young Sapper.

Cheerwine–ever had it?

If you're from NC, SC, VA, WVA, GA or TN then there's a pretty good chance you at least know about Cheerwine and may have tried it…diet or regular. It's a cherry flavored soft drink and personally it's one of my favorites. The company has a neat ad campaign that talks about "those up north" coming south to take large quantities back home, to hoard it for their very own supply. (Photo above shows two of those people involved). Funny to say the least. Check it all out here.

It's a better Army today

While I often express opinions about things in the Army today not being the "same" as when I served…sometimes not agreeing with all the changes that have occurred, last night I read an article in the latest issue of Army magazine (AUSA publication) that made me realize more than ever that what has resulted over the past ten years of so in terms of Army transition, has made the force better overall. The article was about the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA, and what observer/controllers (OC) there do, along with others assigned there full time to help prepare deploying units for combat. Regardless of your feelings about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one fact leaps out at me. We have a very experienced group of mid-grade NCO and officer leaders in the field today, who really know what they are doing. Multiple deployments in combat have obviously built a tremendous level of experience and confidence in dealing with the rigors and dangers faced daily by those in the field. When I read the article, I wondered how I would perform under similar circumstances. I would welcome the chance to find out. But, that ain't possible.

Farewell to the good old M113

Most engineers having served in the Army from the Vietnam era forward until today, probably have had some contact with an M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC). Some engineers may have driven it, ridden it in, or were supported in some way by others doing exactly that. The M113 is now going to be retired from the Army's equipment inventory. At a time, the M113 (better known as an "APC") was a squad vehicle for engineers. It was also a great recon vehicle, and served in numerous other ways. But, it's lightly armored hull and aged mechanics can't keep pace on today's battlefields, so it will soon be gone. I'll miss it, but then I miss a lot of other things as well, that "used to be" in the Army.

Look out above!

Headlines today in some news media pronounced, "Parachutist lands in band, 4 hurt at ceremony". Seems that at Fort Riley, KS during a formal change of command ceremony (pass-in-review, etc) one civilian parachutist (there were two) landed on top of the 1st Infantry Division band, injuring several, none seriously. I wonder why during time of war, and when the Army's Training and Doctrine Command is altering it's initial entry training program away from "drill and ceremonies" type activities, that some senior Army officers still want to have more elaborate ceremonies that are necessary. Other than the "wow" effect, please tell me why it was a good idea to have two civilian parachutists be a part of an official military change of command ceremony in the first place.

Engineer BG Nominations

Latest list of Army officers nominated for promotion to BG includes two engineers: Colonel Bryan Watson and Mark Yenter. Given that I'm "old" I don't know either of them, but Mark Yenter is the son of a guy I served alongside in the Pentagon back in the mid-1970's. Made me feel even older. But, "old" is relative, and is totally in the mind. Maybe I should have written that I'm "less up to date" rather than just being old. Anyway, congratulations to those two selected.

Lost opportunities

I'm not complaining here, because I understand that there are lots of higher priority things to do within the Army today, but I am disappointed when I go online to various Army sites to get information, only to find out that the site has not been updated…ranging in time from months to years. For example, if one reads "Hot News" on a website, and then goes there only to find that the news is way out of date, where is the "hot" in HOT? A week or even a month old I can understand, but years? I also sit and watch people in positions of responsibility in the Army get on board the cyber-highway by publishing their own blog, and then after a few weeks or months of posting, they let it go stale, eventually to the point where people stop going there anymore. My point is, if you're going to have a website, or a blog, or anything else designed to keep people informed, then someone must be assigned to keep it up to date. Not necessarily daily, but at least weekly. Otherwise, all the work required to set up the site or blog becomes wasted, and the well intended opportunity to inform people will have been lost.

New Computer is operational

As an update to my post last Friday, all software and files have been installed on the new Mac Pro and everything is working just fine. I hope it stays that way! As an aside, the new computer came with Apple's latest operating system (Leopard) and it's a nice improvement from what I was using before (Tiger). Apple has done a great job rolling out new versions of it's operating systems, unlike Microsoft, who has had lots of issues with it's latest OS (Vista). Yes, I am biased toward Apple, but my wife has a new Vista machine (Dell) and it's definitely a pain in the butt to use, at times. Not as user friendly as is Apple's system, plus Dell loads all sorts of junk programs when you buy it, most never needed.

Terrible Insects

Yellow Jackets that is. I've been stung before, but not like yesterday. While weed wacking deep grass, I apparently went over an in-ground nest of those little devils, and as a result got stung six times on left hand and both arms. Did all the "home remedies" including peroxide, baking soda and ice. That helped at first, but later in the day I still suffered some bothersome pain. Those guys can sting multiple times…not like a honey bee which loses it's stinger the first time. Thankfully, no allergic reaction. Today, pain is gone, but the sting marks remain to remind me how bad those critters are to mess with. Now, how to deal with the nest in the area I was working on. No way am I going to try to cut grass there for now. Maybe burn the entire area out with gasoline. Naw, bad idea. They ain't worth the cost of the gas, I'll just let the grass grow in that spot for the rest of the summer, and then let cold weather take care of them naturally.

New computer

I'm setting up a new Mac Pro computer today, including loading all my software, etc. Hopefully all will go well. My older Mac has been moved to the "secondary" position, as back-up. It's four years old now, and the latest software I use to prepare the magazine is optimized for the newer processor Apple is now using, so it's a tad slow at times. Anyway, today is "computer day" for me, so time to get to work. See you Monday!

Hurricane Country

If you live in a region of the United States annually affected by tropical storms, this is the time of year when you will no doubt be paying much greater attention to weather news and forecasts. I speak from experience when I say that one can't be overly prepared for a possible tropical storm. We lived in coastal North Carolina for several years back in the late 1990's and experienced four major hurricanes in a two-year period, when we had to evacuate…one of those was Floyd, one of the most destructive storms ever to hit North Carolina. But most of the damage from Floyd was not from wind, it was from the storm surge followed by massive rains and resulting flooding. Major highways were closed for days, power was out for weeks in some areas, and it took even weeks more before things got back to a sort of normalcy. When we felt we were out of the woods that year, another storm came to call late in the season and we had to evacuate all over again…not a fun experience. It's been a fairly long time since a major storm hit land along the east coast, and I'm sure many living in harms way there are not paying enough attention this year. Bad move. Get prepared for whatever may come.

July-August issue of Army Engineer

For those who are interested, I'm sending the July-August issue of Army Engineer magazine to the printers today. It ought to be ready for mailing around the end of July…if all goes well. When you receive it, you will see a newly designed cover layout. No, I'm not going to show you what it looks like now, you have to wait. (Smile)

Reenlistment seems not to be a big problem

One indicator of troop morale and willingness to continue to serve are statistics pertaining to reenlistment. I read the other day about some 1200-odd personnel electing to reenlist in Iraq. Also, those with whom I spoke last Spring at Fort Leonard Wood, each said they planned to re-up. I've read conflicting reports about junior enlisted and officers staying in versus getting out; but again, what I hear and see makes me believe that there is no great mass exodus out of the military to civilian life. I suppose the present sad state of our economy is one reason why some decide to stay put in the Army, given a relatively secure status in relation to having a job that pays reasonably well. Also, I watched a documentary on C-Span this past weekend about an Infantry company located on a remote combat outpost in Afghanistan, along the Pakistani border. The company commander and his enlisted and officer leaders interviewed each said they "loved what they were doing", and felt they were making a big difference in terms of security, etc. My guess is that most in that company would have no problem deciding to remain in the Army. Morale that high, at such a remote and zero-comfort outpost, paints a good picture to me.

Have a good one

Independence Day, that is. I'm taking a holiday from blogging until Monday, July 7th. Going to celebrate being an American, starting with listening to a free country music concert tonight at Martinsville Speedway (Tracy Lawrence), along with probably 20,000+ others, and then watch a really nice display of fireworks there. Also, going to eat a couple or four famous Martinsville Speedway hot dogs! I hope all of you also have a great celebration wherever you are this year.