X-box; Redux

Well, even though I packed it away already, I had to bust out the X-box for a few more days. One, I was getting bored in the evenings. And two, having waited for a game for 6 months, it finally came out, and actually hit the shelves over here. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is now mine! Let's see how far I can get on it in about 4 nights. So far, so good. It's fairly creepy, and I like how there are no on-screen indicators for ammo, health, etc. More life-like, especially since it's set in the 1920's.. definitely pre-heads up display.

Not much else going on really. TeddY2K out!

Gobble, Gobble

Happy Turkey Day readers! Today we had a dinner down in the foyer. The commander gave a brief talk and lots of people showed up. I had some awesome ham, various other food, and some less-than-awesome-but-still-drinkable "near-beer." I imagine millions of bloggers worldwide today will be listing at least one thing they are thankful for. I suppose I shall do the same, but I'm gonna hazard a guess that my list we be at least slightly different than most.

So, things I am thankful for, in no particular order:
Family and friends, duh! Especially having ones willing to stand in line at midnight to pick up an X-box 360, or fly home from NY for the weekend just to see me, or drive PTs from Sterling to Galesburg on short notice as I need them for Army stuff, or pick me up at the airport when I come home on leave so I can surprise my family.
R & D that brings us such sweet things as body-armor and up-armored HUMVEEs!
Interpreters. Without them, things would be even worse!
The internet. For allowing me to stay in touch with everyone, as well as stay updated on the news, and buy sweet stuff.
America's military personnel and their families. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.
Volunteers of all kinds willing to help those less fortunate, especially the ones who do it for months on end in 3rd world countries.
My college and classmates therefrom, especially my fraternity brothers and former house-mates.
Monkeys, without which, so many jokes could not exist to amuse.
Darwin, for pointing out that we may have come from monkeys.
Physics, for leading to the invention of computers, TV, etc, and for keeping me awake till odd hours of the morning pondering existence.
BEER.

Okay, I think that's enough. He he he... monkeys. TeddY2K out!

It's Been a While

Wow, really been delinquent in updating this. Will have to do better.

So, in interesting news from Iraq, the other night we got back to the palace to find a small crowd gathering in our foyer to watch some kind of show. Turns out some entertainment that was to be performed outdoors (and had been earlier in the day) was moved to our entry hall for the evening performance due to weather. Said entertainment turned out to be the "Perfect Angels," i.e. a dance squad basically. There were five girls, all of which I believe had worked as professional chearleaders, and some had been in country music videos. The Perfect Angels are also the official cheerleaders for ESPN's X-games, and additionally perform at many motorcyle rallies throughout the country each year. And finally, they take small groups on tours of military posts both at home and overseas. They performed several dance routines, and one girl sang a solo, and afterwards they hung around to sign autographs and pose for pictures.

Tonight for entertainment, we had a "party" in the entry hall. About 20-30 people were here for 2 hours during which we had dancing and Karoke, mostly country. I sang "Beer for My Horses" as performed by Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. Did all right on the verses but I think I butchered the pitch on the choruses. Oh well, it was fun. I think a little liquid courage would have helped though.

Unfortunately the news from home lately is not so upbeat. A young man who I attended college with (he was a year behind me) and was working as a substitute teacher before heading off to law school was killed in a rollover accident about 2 days ago. I didn't know him particularly well, but I ran track with him, and he was a good friend with some of my friends, and also generally well known on campus. A memorial scholarship has been set up in his name at school. I know he will be missed.

That's all for today. TeddY2K out.

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Well, I got to travel north and see some of the guys up there again, which was nice, however I wish it had been under different circumstances. We lost one of our own once again to an IED the other day as a squad was on its way to raid several locations in connection with previous IED incidents in the area. The soldier who died was a very competent squad leader who was always ready and willing to go out of the wire, and was favored as a possible future platoon sergeant or gunnery sergeant when we go back to artillery. Also injured was his driver, who suffered a compound fracture and is currently heading back home after a stay in Germany. The gunner too was injured as he ducked down following the explosion and collided with his .50 cal and bit into his lip.

Today there was a memorial service, and the BDE sergeant major was kind enough to allow us to insert our vehicle, one other vehicle from our unit, and several additional passengers into his convoy in order to attend the ceremony. Having missed the last ceremony due to being on leave, I was doubly glad that I was able to attend this one. Of some comfort, is the fact that after medevacing the injured soldiers, the mission was accomplished with no futher injury, and my fellow soldiers performed the raids with precision and professionalism: capturing their intended targets, and not allowing their negative emotions to take charge and just go in with guns blazing. My thoughts and prayers go out to my fallen comrade's family, and I'm thankful that everyone else was more or less spared. May the rest of us come home whole from this whole experience.

TeddY2K out.

French Revolution: Partie Trois

So, rioting has apparently continued into an 8th night in Paris, and is now spreading to other cities in France as well. The rioting is appears to be primarily race/poverty/religion driven in the wake of the accidental, self-inflicted, electrocution of two black teens whilst they were fleeing the police. This comes as little surprise to me, as we all know how intolerant and superiority-complex driven the French are and anger has no doubt been simmering for a while there and this event just tipped the scales. I mean, we may have invaded Iraq(yet who has been helping all the quake stricken countries in the middle-east even while struggling under the brunt of multiple devastating hurricanes... not France, I can tell you that), but we haven't gone so far as to ban religious head-wear in schools. I find it kind of ironic that they feel the need to condemn our foreign policies in regard to Muslim nations. Ironic for them, as well as for both Germany and Russia. I mean, the Russians have been duking it out with Chechnya for years, and the Germans have been had massive Muslim immigration levels from Turkey for years, and I know that they're not too fond of it. Anyhow, France has the largest Muslim population in Europe, and knowing their penchant for surrendering, I wouldn't be surprised if we're on the verge of yet another minority-run Islamic Republic, this one a member of the EU. Might give Iran a little more leverage at the conference table, huh?

Speaking of Iran; seriously, who acts like that? Their current president (involved in the 1979 US Embassy Hostage Crisis I might add) openly advocates the complete destruction of Israel. While Israel doesn't exactly have a perfect track record (ref: terrorism against Brittain to gain their status as a country, black-mailing the US for help during the Yom Kippur war, occupation of West Bank, etc). I'm pretty sure advocating their genocide warrants some kind of response. They are after all, as opposed to Iraq, actually linked to 9/11. Not only that, but Hezbollah is pretty much behind every single terrorist organization in the middle-east: from Lebanon and Syria to Iraq in either a funding or training capacity.

Anyways, it all comes down to we'd never be having any of these problems if it weren't for Brittain's imperialistic policies that lead to economic hardship and instability in the region. Robbing people of their oil money for years doesn't do too much for their kind-heartedness. And we all know France is to blame for Vietnam. How come we keep getting left holding the pieces?

Enough soap-boxing for tonight! TeddY2K out!

Changes

As some of you may have heard, there have been some changes. One being my adress, although, I have not relocated. Well, I have, but only by about 10 feet. As part of the changes, I was able to obtain both a slightly better room, and a larger TV. Mmmmmm, 27 inches....

We had kind of a Halloween celebration the other night and I was one of only about six people to dress up at all. The Chaplain did have some mask making supplies (which I passed on... I wore my new bike jacket and two flame bandanas: one as a dew-rag, one as a "bandit-mask," making my head into one giant fake ball of flame more or less... no, I don't know what I was, it was just the best I could do... and no, I don't have pics at this time, but will try to get some). The most creative mask award was given to a couple of guys who made a pac-man mask, put drawn cherries on another guy, a Ms. Pac-man mask, and a ghost mask. They then proceeded to parade around the palace: Mr. and Ms. Pac-man chasing the cherries, and the ghost chasing the family Pac.

Weather is getting to be the pefect temp you want at say, a re-enactment, campout, or weekend guard drill. The days however, are now quite short light-wise, with it getting dark at about 5:30.

Also, I read in Stars & Stripes today that October was the deadliest month since January (90 deaths in October, 107 in January), so apparently there was some upswing with Ramadan, etc., although I didn't really notice as things seemed pretty quiet overall around my area.

TeddY2K out!