| Wednesday, August 31, 2005 |
| Books, books, books |
Aren't book awesome?! At any one time, I'm reading about 3 different books. I have a downstairs book, a beside-the-bed book and a bathroom book. (However, right now I'm only reading 1776.) "H" reads more than I do. And "J" and "E" read 20 minutes every day after school.
We have a downstairs bookshelf. And we have a bookshelf upstairs in the hallway and one in my bedroom. We have a basket in the bathroom that--in my sister's words--is "the best organized magazine rack" she's ever seen. And we still don't have enough room for all of our books!
My brother asked the family just recently to name ten people in history whose names are most memorable for their accomplishments. But just think how many books have influenced history. The Koran, Mein Kampf, The Communist Manifesto, Quotations by Chairman Mao, Das Kapital, The Feminine Mystique, the Bible...and don't forget the Art of French Cooking.
But, that's it. I just love books. |
posted by Joe Napalm @ 9:05 AM   |
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| Monday, August 29, 2005 |
| Opus |
Click image to enlarge. |
| posted by Joe Napalm @ 8:54 PM |
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| Sunday, August 28, 2005 |
| Lion Heart |
I for some time have thought of myself as a warrior. I don't necessarily have the physique of a warrior, but I have do a heart and mind of one.
I own about 5 different books about Gen. Patton. I loved Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose and We Were Soldiers Once And Young by Lt. Colonel Hal Moore so much that I have them on DVD, too. I've read countless books on the Vietnam Conflict, World War 2 and many others. Boots on the Ground by Karl Zinsmeister was a phenomenal book about the recent war in Iraq. In all, I have over 20 books on war or personalities of war--everything from a biography about Donald Rumsfeld to The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. Right now I'm reading David McCullough's 1776.
My DVD collection includes The Patriot with Mel Gibson, Patton starring George C. Scott and The Alamo with John Wayne. I count Gladiator and Blackhawk Down as a couple of my favorite movies.
I even played "Army" growing up.
But I didn't just play, pretend or read about war. I put it all into practice as a non-commissioned officer with the Tennessee Army National Guard. I have been honorably discharged for one year next month after almost 10 years of service. And I miss it...bad.
Some of my fondest memories in my whole life were shared with other soldiers that continue to serve today. We attended Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC, and followed it up with AIT at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. We attended battle staff training at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. We trained with soldiers at Ft. Knox, KY; Ft. Campbell, KY; Ft. Stewart, GA; National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, CA; Hohenfels, Germany. And we deployed to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo for 7 months.
During the deployment to Kosovo, I count myself lucky to have been able to attend the Army's Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC). As students, we were assigned leadership responsibilities and graded by our peers. Over the last few days I've remembered one late night on a training patrol:
We had been training in the July heat since pre-dawn. We wore Kevlar helmets, full battle gear and carried our assigned weapons, blank ammunition and pyro. All of us were given leadership roles and given tasks such as search and rescue; conduct reconnaissance; movement to contact; and defend in place.
My two scenarios were very successful mostly because our squad consisted of highly motivated young soldiers. I consulted my squad mates frequently who had way more experience as infantry soldiers. While I was leading, we successfully defended two simulated casualties against an assault from another squad. And later on, we foiled an ambush attempt on us when my very alert point man heard a weapon charge a round.
Late that night we were beat from the heat and physical exertion. Some in our squad of about ten were starting to grumble and slow down. Our instructor--a sergeant first class--approached me and said that since I had been so successful in leading the squad all day, he wanted me to lead in one more "mission." He also asked me to speak to my squad to pull them together. When I returned, about half of the squad dropped their heads when I told them that there'd be one more task.
To shorten this story to a readable length, I was able to incorporate those that didn't want to move fast into "Team A" and those still wanting more adrenaline into "Team B". Our task was to secure an ammo canister before a competing platoon could secure it. Team A would walk at a easy pace and act as a delaying force. And I tagged along with Team B as we raced at a full run to the canister. Wow! What a night!
Team A successfully delayed the other squad by engaging them and then withdrawing. And Team B secured the canister and then ambushed the approaching squad (I was reprimanded for this but it was fun!). I think we lost only two simulated casualties and destroyed the other squad. I rode on an adrenaline high for several days!
But I write all of that to only share this:
I have a friend that lost a close friend in Iraq. I have another friend serving in Afghanistan away from his wife and two kids. And just the other day, I drove past the Lieurance house in Seymour and saw the flags and messages in memorial of their son's death in Iraq.
I would serve many, many tours in Iraq and Afghanistan in a heartbeat if it meant they could be home. I am full of gratitude* that these young men and women stand on the frontline to secure my family's freedoms. I needn't say more.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - George Orwell
* (8/29) I stated in the original post that I'm "full of guilt." After reflection I don't think it's guilt. I think it's thankfulness that I'm unable to communicate. It's a deep emotion that no matter what I say, it's not enough to convey my heartfelt thanks.
I still stand amazed that someone would lay their life on the line for my liberty and not ask for anything in return. |
| posted by Joe Napalm @ 9:22 PM |
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| Friday, August 26, 2005 |
| Free Prose Friday |
Somethings that I've been thinking about all week:
1. I like the Fair Tax proposal from Mr. Neal Boortz and Congressman John Linder. It makes since. As a side note, I still find it interesting that the Boston Tea Party happened because the colonists were outraged by a 5% tax.
2. There are some scientists in Kansas that say that the theory of gravity is flawed. Feel free to follow the link. But, in a nutshell scientists from the Evangelical Center For Faith-Based Reasoning argue it as such: "Things fall not because they are acted upon by some gravitational force, but because a higher intelligence, 'God' if you will, is pushing them down." I mentioned the article at church and it got a few chuckles. But how many times do we assign a naturalistic cause to everyday events?
3. 76% of gay men did not have a pet dog while growing up.
4. Why do Americans curse so much?
5. Some bivalve mollusks attach themselves to things with a super strong, waterproof glue-like substance called "byssal threads." This stuff sells on the market for $75,000 per gram. Research and development companies are using it to develop tomorrow's glues. I figured a mollusk farm would be cheap to start up and require little overhead, but how do you milk a mollusk? |
| posted by Joe Napalm @ 11:13 AM |
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| Wednesday, August 24, 2005 |
| Why Are The Blahs Not Served à la mode? |
Last night's Roundup was a hit. The video was well accepted. In fact, the Assistant Cubmaster wants a copy to take for presentations to community organizations like Kiwanis and such.
Edit: I removed all of what I will refer to as "Blahg." It was inappropriate and I was whining. Jama, thanks for...well, you know.
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| posted by Joe Napalm @ 1:00 PM |
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| Blogging Tactfully |
Yesterday, Heather and I were up to our eyeballs until midnight working on a video for the Cub Scout Roundup this evening. Why do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow, right?
Boy, am I proud of it! The video begins with a bugle call for assembly while flashing old Norman Rockwell Boy Scout and Cub Scout paintings. It then fades to black and opens with a picture of the 2005 Boy Scout Jamboree in Fredricksburg, VA, with audio.
I was able to download President Bush's entire speech at this year's event. We also struck gold when I found free audio editing software. So I was able to pull out President Bush's introduction; I faded the applause into more applause; and then I faded into his quote on the characteristics of a good scout. I was able to display several images of the Jamboree and overlay the audio. Man, is it good!
The video then continues with pictures of our scouts participating in activities throughout the past couple of years--all set to the old Boy Scout Hymn "Follow Me, Boys!"
But all day yesterday I thought, "What am I going to blog about today?" I had several subjects, but I didn't think it would be tactful to post a couple of them for fear that friends or relatives (mostly friends) might read it. Blogging was so much easier when I didn't think anyone might be reading.
I'm not talking about stuff like cat hair and urine. I mean stuff that I feel that I'd have to follow up with a phone call explaining in more detail for fear of offending. Matters of right and wrong. Them right and me wrong? Hmmm?
Aha! Today I was inspired with a new blog topic. Wow! Is this going to be a good one. In fact, it might be a all-weeker just to break up the post into smaller, bitesize pieces. |
| posted by Joe Napalm @ 10:58 AM |
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| Sunday, August 21, 2005 |
| Hate What God Hates |
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9:10 and Psalm 111:10 NKJV)
"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life." (Proverbs 14:27 NKJV)
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." (Proverbs 1:7 NKJV)
"The fear of the Lord prolongs days." (Proverbs 10:27 NKJV)
"By humility and fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life." (Proverbs 22:4 NKJV)
Fear is mentioned roughly 379 times in the Scriptures. What is fear?
"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13 NKJV). Hate what God hates. Love what God loves.
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| posted by Joe Napalm @ 8:57 PM |
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| Friday, August 19, 2005 |
| So They Loaded Up the Trucks and Moved to Jerusalem |
Some things don't make sense to me. And this is one of them: Israel occupied Gaza for 38 years and then declared that the settlers would have to move out.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon did not require anything of the Palestinians as a trade. 38 years ago the Palestinians did not even inhabit Gaza because they had declared it a wasteland. After the land was captured in the Six-Day War, Israelis moved in and settled on the land.
The people of Israel are well-known for their desert reclamation techniques and began to turn the area in a thriving community--a flourishing, green community. Now Israelis are dragging Israelis out of synagogues and kicking them off of the land on which they have raised families? There could possibly be three generations of settlers that have called Gaza "home".
Now Palestine has access to the Mediterranean which opens up a port for them to radical terrorist nations to supply Hamas and other extreme groups. Palestine doesn't have to give up or do anything to get the land. And Hamas has declared a victory.
Doesn't that sound fishy? So this whole thing sparked an interest in me to read through the book of Joshua. But I'll save that for another post.
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| posted by Joe Napalm @ 8:56 PM |
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| Thursday, August 18, 2005 |
| Ethan's Piano Lessons |
On Fridays Ethan will forego recess at school for piano lessons. Heather is watching the instructor's 3 year old son on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to make it happen.
Tomorrow is Ethan's first day of lessons.
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| posted by Joe Napalm @ 8:08 PM |
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| Wednesday, August 17, 2005 |
| Lightning Strikes |
I dragged the boys out to the golf course two days ago to hit balls on the range.
A storm had passed by only minutes before we arrived. So when we pulled into the parking lot we noticed that everyone had come in off of the course but were starting to make their way back out.
We purchased our buckets of balls and went to the van to get the clubs. Taking the clubs out of the trunk, lightning struck nearby. It wasn't enough to make us jump; but I told the boys that we'd need to stay near the clubhouse for another ten or fifteen minutes.
While on the veranda of the clubhouse we watched as the storm turned and came back over the course. Lightning began to strike closer and closer and the rain returned.
But this is what happened that I needed to write about: For the first time in my life I saw lightning actually strike the ground. For all of my life lightning has stricken all around--near and far. And on a couple of rare occasions it may have stricken as close as just a few tens of feet away, but I've never seen the object that it struck.
Two days ago I saw lightning strike a small mound in the middle of a golf course! It didn't hit nearby trees or a telephone pole or even a house. It struck a small waist-high mound. The thunder shattered the air almost immediately after the strike and smoke billowed up. On second thought, the smoke may have actually been steam that resulted when the lightning vaporized the rainwater on the mound. Whatever it was, it was awesome!
Ethan cried and Jacob reminded me how stupid I was to bring us out (That's Jacob's way of hiding his fright). It's suffice to say that I was shaken, too.
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| posted by Joe Napalm @ 5:20 PM |
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| Paging Mr. Dover |
| Today at work someone paged: "Benjamin Dover please call extension...." Someone named their son Ben Dover? Wow! |
| posted by Joe Napalm @ 10:08 AM |
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| Tuesday, August 16, 2005 |
| Ms. Sheehan's Vigil |
Over the past few days Ms. Sheehan's vigil on the road to President Bush's home in Crawford, Texas, has been all over the news. In fact, today is day ten of her vigil. She is supposedly there for several reasons. One reason is to mourn her son's death in Iraq. Another reason is to protest the war. And another is to ask for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
I question her motives. Ms. Sheehan met with President Bush in April 2004 and told a local newspaper: "I now know he's sincere about wanting freedom for the Iraqis. I know he's sorry and feels some pain for our loss. And I know he's a man of faith." What happened to change her mind?
And then on top of that what is she doing to her son's memory? The US military is an all-volunteer force. I'm sure her son signed up for the same reason that most young men sign up: He believed that defending this country with his life was an honorable choice. Was her son's death for nothing?
But I digress. I write this blog because this subject reminded me of a letter from President Abraham Lincoln to Mrs. Lydia Bixby, a mourning mother:
Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln The letter was printed by the Boston Evening Transcipt. The original letter was destroyed by Mrs. Bixby, who--interestingly--was a Confederate sympathizer and disliked President Lincoln.
Hmmm. Nothing new under the sun, huh? |
| posted by Joe Napalm @ 8:34 PM |
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| Note to self... |
Feel free to read this; but it's mostly a reminder for me about subjects that I intend to write about over the next few days.
1. President Abraham Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby
2. Lightning striking nearby
3. Israel's withdrawal from the "wasteland" of Gaza
4. My reading of the book of Joshua
5. Ethan's piano lessons
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| posted by Joe Napalm @ 8:20 PM |
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