BS about Blood

The CBCO threw this BS article out there after ASBPO bought a couple of units or something.  Later in the article (I won’t repeat it) they actually ask people to support the military by donating to them.  That’s wrong too.  If you want to support the military blood program – give to the military blood program!  This is a giant marketing trick on the part of CBCO and they shouldn’t do it.

Kansas City, MO – Community Blood Center has been asked by the Armed Services Blood Program, whose collection practices are designed to maintain self-sufficiency, to provide blood for the troops.

Once a Marine…

Another idiot learns that former or retired Marines aren’t so much former or retired:

Barnes, a retiree from Ottawa County who not only served in the military but also was a Golden Gloves boxer, said he was scratching off a losing $2 lottery ticket when he felt a hand enter his front-left pants pocket, where he had $300 in cash that he had just withdrawn from a bank machine. He grabbed Rae’s wrist with his left hand, whirled around and started throwing punches with his right.

Pickpocket pummeled by ex-Marine, 72, pleads guilty to assault

The Good Fight

Here’s an interesting discussion (with links to both sides of the argument) about religion in the workplace.  I thought it notable that the columnist credits Clinton with opening up the laws on this front.  Not religious myself, I’ve had little problems expressing myself fairly forcibly in the workplace when I thought it necessary.  At the least, I haven’t felt discriminated against and have had many interesting and civilized conversations.

FEATURES: :The Good Fight (11/15/07) — www.GovernmentExecutive.com

Though they are separated by 1,900 miles, religious traditions, and civil and military backgrounds, Weinstein and Tracey personify the poles in a debate about the role religious faith plays when a person picks up a weapon or sits down at a computer in service of the U.S. government.

Texas oilman Wyatt sentenced to year in prison

From Reuters

Texas oilman Wyatt sentenced to year in prison | U.S. | Reuters

Wyatt broke down in tears as he pleaded for leniency before U.S. District Judge Denny Chin, who could have sentenced Wyatt to up to two years under federal guidelines. He originally faced up to 74 years in prison.

Now – where’s all those unpatriotic Ds in this?  Oh yeah – they’re not busy having someone else DIE for their business interests.

Know Your Rights

Our friend Teri sent this, and turned us on to the great Joe Strummer documentary “The Future is Unwritten”  This one will get you going.

UNsubscribe ME

DDD

Catholic bishops say they are a PAC

Looks like it’s time to review the tax status of these organizations.  If they want to play, then they should have to pay:

Catholic bishops say voters’ souls at stake — chicagotribune.com

Bishops emphasized that voters must consider the church’s teachings on abortion and other moral issues when they select a candidate for the White House or any other office. If they don’t, bishops said, it’s not clergy who will judge them but God.

“It is important to be clear that the political choices faced by citizens have an impact on general peace and prosperity and also the individual’s salvation,” the bishops said in the document, titled “Faithful Citizenship.” “Similarly, the kinds of laws and policies supported by public officials affect their spiritual well-being.”

GI Mail

Here is a new webmail service that is supposed to be authorized for us on military computers. It offers a level of security better than other types of mail but short of official communiciations. It is probably a good way to communicate with deployed loved ones:

GI Mail

GIMail is a Web Based email service for DEERS-verified Department of Defense employees (military and civil service, Active Duty, Guard, and Reserves) and their authorized family members (current AF policy excludes dependent children). GIMail provides registered users with a portable email account, accessible from any computer with Internet access and web browser software (Netscape 4.7x and above, Internet Explorer 5.5 and above, Opera xx.x), and supports the following features:

Navigate House Defense Earmarks on Google Earth | Sunlight Foundation

What a great idea!  (and good excuse to play with Google Earth too)

Navigate House Defense Earmarks on Google Earth | Sunlight Foundation

WASHINGTON, DC – Members of Congress know where the money is going: now citizens can, too. The Sunlight Foundation today released a Google Earth application that plots the locations for almost 1,500 earmarks in the House Defense Appropriations bill. This graphic illustration of defense earmarks gives anyone with an Internet connection a bird’s eye view of exactly where Congress is directing federal spending – and the ability to investigate whether the earmarks address pressing needs, favor political contributors or are simply pure pork.