yes. a tornado in new hampshire...
if that isn't enough (on top of everything else) to convince me the world is turning into total shit...
then i'm not sure what could.
this week has been long. it took me 2 1/2 hours to get home today.
i'm not sure if i'm cut out for this whole commuter deal.
sigh.
please lord, don't listen to my complaints and grumpy attitude. i have food, a dry bed to sleep in, and a husband to snuggle against.
please...just be with the people who are struggling to find peace in the midst of all the disaster.
still much love.
slk
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
service.
Looks like Marshall has been bloggin' up a storm while I have been MIA. I guess I haven't really felt like writing a blog...but regardless, here is quick update.
I went to Philadelphia last week for Pre-Service Orientation (PSO). The actual content of the program was pretty basic and included much of the skills and knowledge I obtained through undergrad. Regardless, our training was held in the historic district of Philly. On the off-time provided I was able to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Chinatown, and even Benjamin Franklin's grave! I also really enjoyed meeting other VISTA candidates who are working throughout the East Coast area. I connected with one lady, Adrienne...and we spent much of the four days just talking and hanging out. Unfortunately, her placement is in Providence, RI and being able to see each other on a regular basis will be a bit difficult. However, we have already called each other to vent about the first couple of days of work.
So the first couple of days at PlusTime NH have been going...slowly. My supervisor has been EXTREMELY busy with a conference..and today his son developed a fever so he had to stay home. With that being said, no one has directed me in what I am going to be doing...or rather, what I should be doing. My days have basically consisted of me researching all I can about wellness and after school programs. Most of the information I am aware of...sigh.....shrug. Hopefully I will be able to meet up with my supervisor tomorrow and will receive a little bit more guidance.
Other random updates:
I still love my husband 8 billion.
Politicians don't give a shit about youth.
I still want universal health care. Yes, I'm willing to pay for it.
I still think America sucks. Yes, the quality of life for some has remained the same or even improved since Bush has been our president, but those people aren't family of a solider. Our country is clearly not the best it has ever been.
I'm still pro-life. Yes, I'm highly offended when the lady at works calls pro-lifers stupid and ignorant.
I still believe drinking fucking sucks. I hate when people feel they need to defend their drinking' habits to me...
BUT I still highly value developmental conversations.
I still love ice cream.
I still need more Jesus in my life.
I still think Iowa is the best state ever.
I am still excited for Miss Julia Pond to arrive in New Hampshire.
I am still working out! Whoohoo...and having a routine still feels amazing!
I still try to read the news...I still find the news scary and depressing.
I still want a best friend in New Hampshire.
I still need to go to bed.
Sigh. I miss you all.
Much love.
SLK
I went to Philadelphia last week for Pre-Service Orientation (PSO). The actual content of the program was pretty basic and included much of the skills and knowledge I obtained through undergrad. Regardless, our training was held in the historic district of Philly. On the off-time provided I was able to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Chinatown, and even Benjamin Franklin's grave! I also really enjoyed meeting other VISTA candidates who are working throughout the East Coast area. I connected with one lady, Adrienne...and we spent much of the four days just talking and hanging out. Unfortunately, her placement is in Providence, RI and being able to see each other on a regular basis will be a bit difficult. However, we have already called each other to vent about the first couple of days of work.
So the first couple of days at PlusTime NH have been going...slowly. My supervisor has been EXTREMELY busy with a conference..and today his son developed a fever so he had to stay home. With that being said, no one has directed me in what I am going to be doing...or rather, what I should be doing. My days have basically consisted of me researching all I can about wellness and after school programs. Most of the information I am aware of...sigh.....shrug. Hopefully I will be able to meet up with my supervisor tomorrow and will receive a little bit more guidance.
Other random updates:
I still love my husband 8 billion.
Politicians don't give a shit about youth.
I still want universal health care. Yes, I'm willing to pay for it.
I still think America sucks. Yes, the quality of life for some has remained the same or even improved since Bush has been our president, but those people aren't family of a solider. Our country is clearly not the best it has ever been.
I'm still pro-life. Yes, I'm highly offended when the lady at works calls pro-lifers stupid and ignorant.
I still believe drinking fucking sucks. I hate when people feel they need to defend their drinking' habits to me...
BUT I still highly value developmental conversations.
I still love ice cream.
I still need more Jesus in my life.
I still think Iowa is the best state ever.
I am still excited for Miss Julia Pond to arrive in New Hampshire.
I am still working out! Whoohoo...and having a routine still feels amazing!
I still try to read the news...I still find the news scary and depressing.
I still want a best friend in New Hampshire.
I still need to go to bed.
Sigh. I miss you all.
Much love.
SLK
The Surge
Ok, so I'm tired of hearing about this on the news. McCain says the troop surge in Iraq worked. Obama says that the surge failed. I'm prone to agree with the latter (of course), but here's why.
The troop surge worked insofar as the objective of the surge was to interrupt and deter the attacks and combative actions of the Iraqi insurgency. With violence at it's lowest point in Iraq since the beginning of the American occupation, McCain is technically correct in saying that the surge has "worked." Hooray. Less people are dying.
Except for the fact that the real and true front in the war on terror is in Afghanistan, where nine US soldiers were killed and fifteen were injured just last week. Iraq has nothing to do with the war on terror. Hussein's regime had no ties to Al Queda, nor did Hussein fund or support Bin Laden, or have any part in 9/11. We are in Iraq because the President and his pals chose (long before 9/11) to take us there, not because we're justified in being there because of any terrorist attacks on the United States. The insurgency in Iraq existd because we chose to occupy Iraq. We created the insurgency.
How would you react if another country invaded the United States and began murdering innocent civilians?
On the other hand, the Taliban and Afghanistan supported and sheltered Osama Bin Laden and Al Queda before 9/11 and has since. They have direct ties to the terrorism which we're now fighting to end. We are justified in our presence in Afghanistan. The troop surge in Iraq took troops and resources from the Afghani front in the war on terror and displaced them in Iraq.
This is why Obama voted against the troop surge. McCain claims that the troop surge in Iraq will help us "win" the war on terror, but how can you win a war when you're taking troops and supplies away from the front upon which the war is being fought?
The troop surge in Iraq is, I believe, an attempt to stabilize the country enough to have it stand independently on it's own once the US pulls out. That's a noble thing, right? It makes sense to support that kind of thing.
Let's learn from history though, shall we? Let's look at Vietnam. McCain fought in that war, by the way. He talks about it a lot. He's proud to tell you he's a veteran and that he was a prisoner of war who faced some terrible conditions at the hands of people who hated America. That sounds convincing. He really must have learned a thing or two about war, right?
The United States was in Vietnam for roughly fourteen years. At first, we sent military advisors to Vietnam in order to help contain the spread of Communism from North Vietnam into South Vietnam. When this failed, we began sending full combat units to the country in 1965. For the next eight years, we were continuously engaged in warfare with the North Vietnamese army. As it turned out, both sides realized that the war was ultimately a stalemate. We met, drew up some peace accords, and cut and run. Most US combat troops left South Vietnam in 1973. This leaving process was called "Vietnamization" and enacted into order to transfer more autonomy to the South Vietnamese government in running their own political and military affairs.
Two years after the US left Vietnam, the South collapsed to the North and the two were unified under one Communist government. It's important to realize that the failure of South Vietnam was directly related to American activities in the country during the war. Our presence there and the money we provided established a government in South Vietnam which was dependent on financial aide and the presence of a large number of US military troops to keep the peace. When those things left, the country collapsed.
This was called "Peace with Honor." Once it was realized that the war couldn't be won, the US started looking for exit strategies which wouldn't appear to be an absolute and complete failure. We poured in more troops and resources in order to build up the South enough that it wouldn't collapse immediately after we left. The South stood on it's own for two years after we withdrew most of our troops. We kept our "honor."
So, Mr. McCain. Keep arguing that the troop surge worked. You're technically correct. It has. But will it continue to work? Will it accomplish that which needs to be done in order to build a strong and stable Iraq?
I don't think so. The violence has ended because their are more troops on the ground. That doesn't mean that it won't start again once those troops are withdrawn.
Bottom Line: Don't paint Obama as unpatriotic or as a weakling simply because he won't admit that the surge has worked. It's far less patriotic to continue to vote to support an immoral and illegal war than it is to vote against it. It takes far more strength to stand against the red, white, and blue propaganda machine than it does to wave your military record in our faces and rely on the politics of fear and divisiveness.
MMK
The troop surge worked insofar as the objective of the surge was to interrupt and deter the attacks and combative actions of the Iraqi insurgency. With violence at it's lowest point in Iraq since the beginning of the American occupation, McCain is technically correct in saying that the surge has "worked." Hooray. Less people are dying.
Except for the fact that the real and true front in the war on terror is in Afghanistan, where nine US soldiers were killed and fifteen were injured just last week. Iraq has nothing to do with the war on terror. Hussein's regime had no ties to Al Queda, nor did Hussein fund or support Bin Laden, or have any part in 9/11. We are in Iraq because the President and his pals chose (long before 9/11) to take us there, not because we're justified in being there because of any terrorist attacks on the United States. The insurgency in Iraq existd because we chose to occupy Iraq. We created the insurgency.
How would you react if another country invaded the United States and began murdering innocent civilians?
On the other hand, the Taliban and Afghanistan supported and sheltered Osama Bin Laden and Al Queda before 9/11 and has since. They have direct ties to the terrorism which we're now fighting to end. We are justified in our presence in Afghanistan. The troop surge in Iraq took troops and resources from the Afghani front in the war on terror and displaced them in Iraq.
This is why Obama voted against the troop surge. McCain claims that the troop surge in Iraq will help us "win" the war on terror, but how can you win a war when you're taking troops and supplies away from the front upon which the war is being fought?
The troop surge in Iraq is, I believe, an attempt to stabilize the country enough to have it stand independently on it's own once the US pulls out. That's a noble thing, right? It makes sense to support that kind of thing.
Let's learn from history though, shall we? Let's look at Vietnam. McCain fought in that war, by the way. He talks about it a lot. He's proud to tell you he's a veteran and that he was a prisoner of war who faced some terrible conditions at the hands of people who hated America. That sounds convincing. He really must have learned a thing or two about war, right?
The United States was in Vietnam for roughly fourteen years. At first, we sent military advisors to Vietnam in order to help contain the spread of Communism from North Vietnam into South Vietnam. When this failed, we began sending full combat units to the country in 1965. For the next eight years, we were continuously engaged in warfare with the North Vietnamese army. As it turned out, both sides realized that the war was ultimately a stalemate. We met, drew up some peace accords, and cut and run. Most US combat troops left South Vietnam in 1973. This leaving process was called "Vietnamization" and enacted into order to transfer more autonomy to the South Vietnamese government in running their own political and military affairs.
Two years after the US left Vietnam, the South collapsed to the North and the two were unified under one Communist government. It's important to realize that the failure of South Vietnam was directly related to American activities in the country during the war. Our presence there and the money we provided established a government in South Vietnam which was dependent on financial aide and the presence of a large number of US military troops to keep the peace. When those things left, the country collapsed.
This was called "Peace with Honor." Once it was realized that the war couldn't be won, the US started looking for exit strategies which wouldn't appear to be an absolute and complete failure. We poured in more troops and resources in order to build up the South enough that it wouldn't collapse immediately after we left. The South stood on it's own for two years after we withdrew most of our troops. We kept our "honor."
So, Mr. McCain. Keep arguing that the troop surge worked. You're technically correct. It has. But will it continue to work? Will it accomplish that which needs to be done in order to build a strong and stable Iraq?
I don't think so. The violence has ended because their are more troops on the ground. That doesn't mean that it won't start again once those troops are withdrawn.
Bottom Line: Don't paint Obama as unpatriotic or as a weakling simply because he won't admit that the surge has worked. It's far less patriotic to continue to vote to support an immoral and illegal war than it is to vote against it. It takes far more strength to stand against the red, white, and blue propaganda machine than it does to wave your military record in our faces and rely on the politics of fear and divisiveness.
MMK
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Computer Issues
While Sarah was away in Philadelphia this past week, I decided to format the hard drive on our laptop and reinstall Windows from scratch. I use to do this yearly on my desktop in order to keep things from getting bogged down, and to keep it running quickly and smoothly. I saved all of our media and data onto my external hard drive before starting in on the laptop. Once I had reinstalled Windows, though, I realized that the drivers for the laptop's networking and video cards had been erased and were not reinstalled with the rest of the operating system. So, we had no internet for a couple of days until I was able to hook up my desktop and download the drivers on a working machine. I just got them all installed here on the laptop, though, and it seems like everything is working fine again.
Hooray.
Sarah is at the beach right now with a couple of the other hall director's. I'm not really a beach going sort of guy, so I decided to stay home and work on the computer.
Anyway, so that's what's going on today. We'll probably take it easy this evening and spend some time together or just relaxing with a couple of friends. Sarah starts working on Monday, so today and tomorrow will be our last couple of days together before she's gone everyday between breakfast and dinner. So it goes.
I'm reading a book right now called "Why the Christian Right is Wrong." It's written by a UCC congregational minister from Oklahoma. The ideas he's discussing are fairly thought provoking. I've been pulling out little sections here and there so far that I think are particularly important. I will probably post a couple of quotes here later, so check back if you're into that sort of thing.
Cool beans.
Stay Gold!
MMK
Hooray.
Sarah is at the beach right now with a couple of the other hall director's. I'm not really a beach going sort of guy, so I decided to stay home and work on the computer.
Anyway, so that's what's going on today. We'll probably take it easy this evening and spend some time together or just relaxing with a couple of friends. Sarah starts working on Monday, so today and tomorrow will be our last couple of days together before she's gone everyday between breakfast and dinner. So it goes.
I'm reading a book right now called "Why the Christian Right is Wrong." It's written by a UCC congregational minister from Oklahoma. The ideas he's discussing are fairly thought provoking. I've been pulling out little sections here and there so far that I think are particularly important. I will probably post a couple of quotes here later, so check back if you're into that sort of thing.
Cool beans.
Stay Gold!
MMK
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)