I bid all of you a fond and happy Memorial day 2008! I hope everyone had an excellent cookout. And if it’s still going on and your reading this, GO GRAB A BURGER AND RELAX, the Internet will still be here when you come back! 🙂
Before I get to the meat of Today’s blog, I’d like to do something here. I don’t know if it’s the best Idea, but I like it. I was looking online for tales of American War Heroes. I found something very interesting, and more poignant, I think. http://www.iraqwarheroes.com/
I clicked on this and what they have is a listing of the names of every person killed in Combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Click on a name, and you get a picture, Date and place of Birth, Date and place of Death, and in some places stories or biographical blurbs about each of these Honored war dead. I thought I would pick one soldier, at random, and place his story, from that site here.
The Young man, Seargent Aaron C. Elandt, was 23 years old …well, read it for yourself:
Aaron C. Elandt
Port Hope, Mich.
Aaron C. Elandt was the youngest of four siblings, and all followed their father into the Army.
Paul Elandt, 58, who served during Vietnam, said he encouraged his children to travel and broaden their horizons. (Their mother) Linda said, `I can’t stand another one in the military.’ I told them get out of Huron County and see a bit of the world, Paul Elandt said. Aaron Elandt, 23, of Port Hope, Mich., died May 30 when his Humvee hit a land mine near Musayyib, Iraq. He had joined the military in 2000 after high school. My favorite word for him was irreverent, Linda Elandt said. He did his own thing. Harbor Beach Community Schools Superintendent Ron Kraft called Elandt a courageous young man dedicated to serving his country. He was a solid young man as a student and as a citizen, Kraft said. END QUOTE. his page is here —> http://www.iraqwarheroes.org/elandt.htm
Salute that flag as you pass. Pause and reflect on the freedom you have and those whom you have to thank for it, and when you pass a vet when you’re out and about, thank him or her for their service.
God Bless America.
Onto Politics.
Republican Senator and presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain said while in Albuquerque New Mexico that Though he is Sick at heart at the mistakes made in the Iraq war, he thinks we should stay the course. He also went out there and explained his Opposition to a veterans benefit bill last week, sponsored by Democratic Senator Jim Webb and Republican Senator Chuck Hagel that passed the Senate last week with Bipartisan support.
The Bill, according to The Washington Post, will finance the wars In Afghanistan and Iraq for another year. It also provides money for extended unemployment benefits, among other things.
The cost of this is supposedly $52,000,000,000 over the next 10 years, and does not specify how it would be paid for. The Arizona Senator has said his opposition stems from his thought that the Bill could Reduce Re-enlistments.
I don’t get that at all. And while I do not doubt the Senator’s dedication to our Armed Forces, I do wonder after his thinking here. How exactly is this going to Reduce Re-Enlistments? By giving them extra benefits, that they DESERVE and really could use and benefit greatly from? By Making their future Lives outside the Armed Forces easier by making the transition to Civilian life easier by giving them greater financial assistance?
President Bush doesn’t like this bill because he wanted a “Clean bill” that helps fund the war, and doesn’t tie the Hands of Commanders.
These Guys, The President and Sen. McCain, are two peas from the same pod. And neither of them is any good, at least not here. I don’t understand how giving money to Vets who need extended Unemployment will in any way Tie the Hands of Commanders in Iraq. A quote By Senator Robert Byrd, on The Administrations Priorities: “When it comes to Iraq, it appears that money is no object for President Bush,” Mr. Byrd said. “Yet when it comes to important priorities here at home, he turns into Ebenezer Scrooge.” END QUOTE. For the entire story, cut and paste this—> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/washington/23spend.html?ref=us
That’s It for Politics. Onto Music.
I have the Guitar next to me ready to fire at will, gonna hit it hard I think. Because I am tired, and if I don’t I may start nodding out while I am playing. I have played for about 40-45 minutes today. Mostly scales, and modes, and a few simple chord progressions. Might try some harder ones when I’m not quite as tired. Let’s see…. Hmmm… All the modes again, and I am getting better at them, faster and more adept as time goes on. Also did the Single string alternate picking chromatic Exercises, alternating only, not ascending or descending. May warm up with those when I start playing the electric through the line 6 Tone Port
That’s it for the Music. Onto The Videos!
And since today is yet again, Metal Monday, I thought I would bring you some METAL Viddys!
Awesome METAL, from the band Celtic Frost, Album: “To Mega Therion”. Song: Circle of the Tyrants:
Next Up: Good Old German METAL: ACCEPT: FAST AS A SHARK
I had to have one American Metal Band:EXODUS, and Nothing Says Love like doing The TOXIC WALTZ:
That’s it from here. JAM ON!
Today’s Nuggets, Via Wikiquote: Look, there is one statement that bothers me more than anything else, and that’s the idea that when the troops are in combat everybody has to shut up. Imagine if we put troops in combat with a faulty rifle, and that rifle was malfunctioning and troops were dying as a result. I can’t think anyone would allow that to happen, that would not speak up. Well, what’s the difference between a faulty plan and strategy that’s getting just as many troops killed? General Anthony Zinni
I am sick and tired of war. It’s glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell. General William Tecumseh Sherman
Casus Belli 