Blogs of War

It’s amazing to see Democrats, despite decades of pandering, implode when forced to deal with racial issues in a substantive way.

Scott McClellan is taking some shots and cashing in. This is to be expected at this stage of the game:

The book is so critical that it becomes difficult to imagine a future scene that Bush predicted on the day that McClellan’s forced resignation was announced.

“One of these days,” Bush, with McClellan at his side, told reporters that day, “he and I are going to be rocking on chairs in Texas, talking about the good old days and his time as the press secretary. And I can assure you, I will feel the same way then that I feel now, that I can say to Scott, ‘Job well done.’”

Scott didn’t exactly burn the bridge – he just sold it for a few million dollars.

CNN is highlighting the amazing work of Kaylee Radzyminski:

At 14, while attending the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet camp in Florida, Kaylee Marie Radzyminski asked one question to troops returning from overseas military service. Their simple answer spurred the small-town teen into action.

Kaylee Marie Radzyminski, center in black shirt, spends her Saturdays sorting CDs and DVDs for troops overseas.

“I asked, ‘What was the number one thing they missed?’ ” recalls Radzyminski. “The first thing was, of course, their families. But second to that was entertainment.”

They described limited access to Internet and satellite service, with some soldiers sharing just a few DVDs or CDs with an entire unit. So Radzyminski returned home and gathered her CDs and DVDs to send to the troops.

What started as an individual project at home is now 16-year-old Radzyminski’s nationwide nonprofit, Tunes 4 the Troops. Since 2005, she and volunteers have organized the collection and delivery of more than 200,000 CDs and DVDs to deployed service members around the world.

“My mission is not about supporting or opposing the war, it’s about supporting the troops,” says Radzyminski, whose own family has a military background. “They sacrifice so much for us, why can’t I do a little bit to give back to them?”

Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Send your new and used CDs and DVDs
To: Tunes 4 the Troops P.O. Box 2008 Cleveland TN 37320

2. Send a check.
You can send a check to help out with shipping costs to
Tunes 4 the Troops P.O. Box 2008 Cleveland TN 37320.
The checks can be made out to
Cleveland High School – Attn: Tunes 4 the Troops.

3. Become a satellite location.
If you commit to become a satellite location you are committing to
collect at least 100-150 or more CDs and DVDs. I will send you a kit. A kit
consists of stickers to stick on the CDs and DVDs, return address labels,
and a form to fill out and mail back to me for my records. You put a
sticker on each CD and box them up. You pay for the shipping of the box overseas this way shipping only has to be paid once. (media mail is the cheapest!) If you know someone in your area that is overseas and would like to send a box to them, you are more than welcome. Although if you don’t, please let me know with an email and I will send you one.

Model rocket or worse? Joint Terrorism Task Force officials would like to know:

A Continental Airlines pilot reported being startled by what he described as a rocket that shot past his cockpit window Monday when the plane was about eight miles north of George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force are investigating the incident, which occurred about 10:30 a.m.

“We don’t know for sure what the object was. But we think it might be somebody doing model rocketing,” said Roland Herwig, an FAA spokesman. “The pilot saw the rocket and some people saw the rocket’s trail (of smoke).”

Continental Airlines spokeswoman Kelly Cripe said Monday night that she could not discuss what was seen by the crew of Flight 1544. She would only say that the Boeing 737, with 148 passengers. left Bush at 10:17 a.m. and arrived in Cleveland, Ohio at 2:13 p.m.

She said the pilot made no diversionary maneuvers, and she added the plane was not damaged, and nobody was injured.

Eight miles out of IAH should put that aircraft at a height that is out of range of most hobbyist-level model rockets. However, a high-powered model rocket (video) could have been involved here. They can reach substantially higher altitudes.

Update:
Seem like the HPR rocket theory is the favorite:

Neither said conclusively what the pilot saw was indeed a model rocket, but an FAA spokesperson told 11 News that it was likely a high-powered model rocket. It is a federal crime to launch a rocket of any sort without notifying the FAA.

The plane was at about 5,000 feet at the time of the sighting and the flight continued on to Cleveland.

Sources told 11 News that the flight was met by Continental officials and FAA investigators to interview the passengers and crew.

Part of that investigation included a FBI call to John Etgen, who is an officer with one of the local model rocket clubs in the area.

When the FBI told him what had been reported, the rocket enthusiast was shocked.

“This is completely outside of all of our safety codes and all of our practices. We actually behave a lot like visual flight rules pilots. This is if we can’t see clear airspace and already have permission to be in that air space we are not allowed to launch and we don’t,” said Etgen.

The White House has some pretty awesome photos of the President’s meeting with Rolling Thunder leaders – and a transcript of their remarks:

THE PRESIDENT: It’s been a pleasure of my presidency to get to know the leaders of Rolling Thunder. For our fellow citizens who don’t know Rolling Thunder, Rolling Thunder is the moment in time here in Washington, on Memorial Day Weekend, when thousands of motorcyclers come to the nation’s capital to pay tribute to those who have died in service, to those who sacrificed, and those who serve. And it’s a magnificent sight.

Members of the motorcycle group Rolling Thunder watch President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush land on the South Lawn of the White House from a visit to Camp David. White House photo by Chris Greenberg We just choppered in, Artie, and saw your brothers and sisters cranking up their machines and driving through the nation’s capital — many of them have got the flag on the back. And I am just so honored to welcome you back. I want to thank you and all your comrades for being so patriotic and loving our country as much as you do. I think this is the — I don’t know if this is the eighth time we’ve been together here, but it’s pretty close.

MR. Muller: Pretty close, sir – maybe one more.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, one more. (Laughter.) Anyway, Artie is the main man and this is his board of directors who have continued to rally people around the country. I went to Greensburg, Kansas, Artie, and I came into a town that had been destroyed by a tornado — I was going to give the high school graduation speech, and rode in from the airport and the motorcyclers were all lining the streets with the flags and it made me feel great. When people go to protest at the funeral of one of our brave soldiers that died in combat, Artie’s folks are there to make sure that those protestors don’t denigrate the moment.

So you’re doing a lot for the country.

MR. MULLER: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: And our troops appreciate you, the veterans appreciate you and your President appreciates you.

MR. MULLER: Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Welcome.

More on Rolling Thunder here.

Stop the ACLU
In a nation that is seemingly losing its sense of self, its feeling that heroes walk among us, we take just a few minutes this weekend to remember those who have served us. To every member of our armed forces, alive and passed, in combat or support, we thank you for your service. No matter what your job was, we thank you for your service.

StarkedSF
My birthday was on Friday, a day which also coincided with my father’s death on the Friday before Memorial Day fifteen years ago. The old bastard was born in 1913, and he and my mother already had four destroyed marriages between them before they married each other–suicide, German anti-aircraft fire, divorce, you name it. I inherited their stories, some of which will appear in a separate post. There’s nothing like growing up with people who have more in common with their ghosts than with each other–or you. Anyway, I figured I’d mosey on down to Golden Gate National Cemetery south of San Francisco and have a little family reunion. It’s like a bad joke–four generations of the Springer family in the same place and same time–and two of them above ground.

Random Rodicks
Memorial Day is the most personal of public holidays. It has transformed into that over the years. Somewhere along the way, between the time it was officially recognized as a day to honor the nation’s war dead and the time it became an obscenely commercialized and busy holiday weekend, Memorial Day became a time to honor the memory of all who passed before us, civilian and military, and who gave our lives meaning. It was an important day not only for families who suffered losses in American wars, but for all families.

What’s Next: Innovation in Newspapers has a photo roundup of Memorial Day front pages.

Angie Felton
This Memorial Day, like nearly every since I’ve known him, my husband will buy a large bunch of flowers. He’ll round up our entire, sleepy-eyed family, load us all in the van for a short drive across town to the park with four bridges and three volleyball courts. In addition to the bridges and fun, there are several monuments at the park. One is a wall that bears the names of every soldier in the state who died or vanished in Vietnam. There is a larger-than-life statue of a soldier cradling a fallen comrade, looking off into the distance, far beyond the plastic slides and picnic grounds. The sculptor did an amazing job, the soldier’s gaze is one of determination, sadness, anger, pain and love all at the same time. It is haunting. Children can’t take it for long and quickly run to the nearby swing set, adults force themselves to linger.

The Outdoor Smorgasbord
To any of my readers who are military veterans or personnel, I wanted to thank you and all the troops who have served the United States in the past, who are serving currently, and who will be serving in the future. I never want to take even one of you for granted and I consider it a privilege to live in a country that is protected by men and women willing to give the ultimate sacrifice.

Fore Left!
Memorial Day makes most Americans think of the fighting men who gave their all for the country but quite often we tend to overlook the war fought right here. Most have seen Emanuel Leutze’s painting of Washington’s crossing of the Delaware. How many know the story about the lead oarsman, taken to be Prince Whipple, a black man from a wealthy family in Africa sent to America for education but who instead was sold into slavery? Actually, Whipple wasn’t in the boat that night but did serve valiantly in the war, later being freed and settling in New England with a wife and family.

Terry Hall’s Personal Journal
Thank you for giving me the life that I have. Thank you for my freedom.

The Lady Speaks
This Memorial Day, take time to honor our nation’s veterans of all wars, but also take some time out from the grill and the gardening and the various summer projects you might have to educate someone on the Flag and its handling. Speak up on the proper ways to honor our nation’s heroes, past and present. Talk to your children about why our national symbol and those who died for it must be held in the highest regard and treated with the highest respect.

Pazdziernik
From what I understand, observe and hear from others, many more Americans are once again (or are beginning) to observe Memorial Day as a national holiday other than a day of vacation and self-absorption. I suppose all Americans know someone serving in Afghanistan, Iraq or elsewhere throughout the world. We, hopefully also know that at any time they could make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, love for their country and those who they are protecting — in addition to the personal sacrifices they and their families already are making.

They celebrated Memorial Day differently then:

It was a Wednesday, long before Congress changed the holiday to the last Monday of May with the National Holiday Act that took effect in 1971; long before Memorial Day became part of a three-day weekend marking the beginning of summer and a time to go to the lake. The biggest lake of substance was Grand, some 70 miles northeast of Tulsa.

Gasoline was still rationed — most car owners got three gallons a week — but many Tulsans used some of their fuel to take advantage of their middle-of-the-week day off to have picnics at Mohawk Park, to take dips in the Newblock Park swimming pool and to walk through the Woodward Park rose gardens that were blanketed in blooms.

Similar ceremonies were held on Memorial Days 1944 and other years before and after that date, but that 1945 ceremony was special because Germany had surrendered on May 7 and Allied forces were gaining the upper hand in the Pacific, where fighting continued until after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Japan on Aug. 6 and 9. The Japanese officially surrendered on Sept. 2 although they had announced surrender plans earlier.

I don’t know if we’ll ever reverse the course of this culture that is mostly concerned with self-indulgence at the expense of all else but gas shortages will probably make a comeback.

One of the portraits Artist Anita Miller painted of each of the 23 fallen servicemembers from Lima Company. The paintings were unveiled during the Lima Company Memorial ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, May 23, 2008.
Defense Dept. photo by Cherie Cullen



Friends and family members gather to see the life-size portraits of each of the 23 fallen servicemembers from Lima Company painted by artist Anita Miller. The portraits were unveiled during the Lima Company Memorial at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, May 23, 2008.
Defense Dept. photo by Cherie Cullen

The Ohio Statehouse is hosting the memorial:

The exhibition was created in memory of 22 fallen Marines and a Navy Corpsman from the Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division who lost their lives while serving in Iraq in 2005. The exhibition will be unveiled in the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda on May 23, 2008 during a private ceremony for the families of the fallen. The exhibition will be on view to the public from May 24 through November 11, 2008. The exhibition will be free and open to the public.

The Ohio-based Marine Reserve unit, once known as “Lucky Lima,” was one of the hardest hit single units in Operation Iraqi Freedom, suffering deaths of 22 Marines and their Navy Corpsman. Created by Columbus artist Anita Miller, the memorial will contain life-sized paintings of each of the 23 fallen heroes. Names and statistics of each of the fallen men, an ever-living candle, boots and space for visitors to leave mementos will be part of this moving memorial installation.

Miller has worked during the last two years to create and paint the memorial. She has created eight painted panels set in an octagon that depict portraits of each of the 23 men who lost their lives in the war.

The Ohio Statehouse grand Rotunda will serve as a solemn place to honor these American service members from May 24, 2008 through July 7, 2008. The exhibition will then be featured in the South Hallway beneath Representatives Hall from July 8 through November 11, 2008.

The exhibition at the Ohio Statehouse will offer thousands of individuals the opportunity to learn about the sacrifices that these fallen servicemen have given our state and nation.

The Fallen Heroes:
Private First Class Christopher R. Dixon
Lance Corporal Christopher P. Lyons
Staff Sergeant Anthony L. Goodwin
Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Youngblood (Navy Corpsman)
Sergeant Justin F. Hoffman
Staff Sergeant Kendall H. Ivy II
Lance Corporal Nicholas William B. Bloem
Corporal Andre L. Williams
Lance Corporal Grant B. Fraser
Lance Corporal Aaron H. Reed
Lance Corporal Edward A. Schroeder II
Lance Corporal William B. Wightman
Lance Corporal Timothy M. Bell, Jr.
Lance Corporal Eric J. Bernholtz
Corporal Dustin A. Derga
Lance Corporal Nicholas B. Erdy
Lance Corporal Wesley G. Davids
Sergeant David N. Wimberg
Lance Corporal Michael J. Cifuentes
Lance Corporal Christopher J. Dyer
Lance Corporal Jonathan W. Grant
Sergeant David Kenneth J. Kreuter
Lance Corporal Jourdan L. Grez

You can learn more about the memorial at LimaCompanyMemorial.org

Images are streaming back quickly. The terrain appears to be perfectly suited for Phoenix’s mission. Keep an eye on the JPL gallery for more. Color images will come soon according to Twitter updates from the JPL team:

Why black and white? These are engineering images. But don’t worry, I have 12 filters and can do full color pics, too. Be patient!

Images will also be available from the NASA gallery.

Update: 11:22 PM CST:
Here’s one of the first color images:

There’s an even more impressive image here.

Update 10:58 PM CST:
NASA TV will broadcast a press briefing which includes at least one color photo. It starts at 11:00 PM CST.

One of the coolest and most important space science missions in a long time is in it’s riskiest phase:

The mission of the Phoenix is to analyze the soils and permafrost of Mars’ arctic tundra for signs of life, either past or present.

But first, everyone on the team has to get the lander on the ground — an event dubbed “seven minutes of terror” by the Mars exploration community.

Seven minutes is all it takes for a spacecraft traveling nearly 13,000 mph to hit the Martian atmosphere, slam on the brakes and reach the ground. During that time, onboard computers will be working at a manic pace as the spacecraft deploys its parachute, jettisons its heat shield, extends its three legs, releases the parachute and finally fires its thrusters to bring it down for a soft landing.

“Everything has to go right,” said NASA Associate Administrator Ed Weiler. “You can’t afford any failures.”

It’s risky business. Historically, 55 percent of all Mars missions have ended in failure.

NASA has posted a schedule of touchdown-related events:

You can watch events as they unfold through NASA TV, Twitter, and updates on the mission home page.

Update 9:18 PM CST:
The first images are in! Future updates will appear in new posts.

Update 8:53 PM CST:
Good news continues to roll in from Mars:

I have a positive power charge, so that tells mission control that solar panels have deployed. Images coming down soon.

Update 8:33 PM CST:
More good news from the folks at JPL via Twitter:

I’ve landed on almost perfectly flat terrain. .25-degree tilt! Everything looking good. Waiting to send data to Earth through Odyssey.

We should see the first image within a few minutes.

Update 6:55 PM CST:
All reports seem to indicate a flawless landing. Now we have to see how Phoenix is performing on the ground. Images are expected soon (before 9 PM CST) and I’ll link them when they’re available.