Helpful -- I'm a coffee moron.

I usually drink tea. But in Costa Rica, we drank coffee all the time and bought a ton of coffee to give as gifts. I was looking for a site that would teach me how to make it right, and realized that by putting a container of it in the freezer, I was being very stupid. In fact, I apparently have "no more brains than a bag of hair" and should go to hell and die.

So I've got that going for me, which is nice.

Interesting --Tidbit about Costa Rica

Everyone there still thinks Michael Jackson is the King.

Tsunami relief

The United Methodist Committee on Relief has workers on the ground. Click here to donate.

Helpful -- More dining certificates

Restaurant.com has 50% off this time around. Discount code is 53721.

Helpful -- Resolutions

Time to check back on last year's resolutions and adjust for 2005:

Health/Fitness: Run 4 10K's, wear 36" pants. Didn't happen. Only ran 1 race this year. True, most races are on Sunday mornings, and my church responsibilities this year kept me quite busy, but I completely dropped running and subsequently ballooned up. Yeah, I know I hide it well, but thanks to Men's Health, I now know that guys my size have what's called visceral fat, fat that attaches to internal organs and such. Not healthy.

Reading: 12 books. I did a bad job of tracking this, but I know I made this one. Favorite book of the year was Moral Politics by George Lakoff. I have much more to say about Lakoff -- I just haven't put in the hours I need to actually organize it into writing. As Cindy will tell you, I can babble about it for hours, but that's what vacation is for, right?

Blogging: I began the blog in February, and have always seen it as something fun to do, but this year, I would like to take it more seriously. I will still have plenty cheap posts with tawdry links and such, but I would like to double my word count. In 2004, I posted 14,000 words. This year I'm shooting for 30,000. I figure that if I'm going to run for office or become a speechwriter or some other powerful liberal elitist power broker, I'd better start acting the part. Letters to the editor, an essay or two. Gotta start somewhere.

So, here's the plan for 2005:

Fitness: Work out 4X a week. I'm not far from this average right now, but it should be non-negotiable. 36" pants
Reading: 20 books. My "Do-it-Yourself Poly Sci Degree" won't be easy -- there are a lot of textbooks I still need to get to make this work, but it should be fun.
Advocacy: The Democratic Party and the United Methodist Church will get the bulk of my attention this year.
Career: Work hard at Kaplan, see what shakes out.
Blogging: 30,000 words.

Bring it on.

Interesting -- Liberal academic elites

Well, at least interesting to me.

A small request

Mr. Torry Holt, would you please catch 2 touchdown passes tonight for at least 90 total yards? I'd really appreciate it.

UPDATE: Thanks for nothing, bro.

I + H -- Costa Rica pics!

This link should work. You'll have to sign in through ofoto to view them. Disfruta!

Helpful -- Dear Santa

Please bring this for Indigo for Christmas.

Interesting -- childhood fun

Letters!

I+H -- Holiday update from Phil

There are some updates from Iraq that I'll be posting later. I just haven't had a chance to get through my e-mail box after the vacation. Here is a letter I received today, though.

Phil writes:

Hello everyone!

Well, another month down! By the time I send this I will have less than four to go. Most of the Marines here, including me, are ready to go right now, especially after being away during the holidays. It will come soon enough though. There is already some excitement building because the Army unit who is replacing us has sent an advanced party and they are expanding the base.

I can't complain too much. This past month, although we were very busy, was relatively quiet for MST 1. We only have had two IED's hit us (no injuries or vehicle damage) and no one has ambushed us since the last time I wrote (knock on wood). I know the other teams and companies have had more happen but, all in all, things are getting better. There was one stretch of road that we called IED Alley because of all the IED's that were planted there. Thanks to some new ING (Iraqi National Guard) checkpoints and a permanent Marine presence in the area, an IED has not been found for almost a month.

Speaking of the ING, they and the IP (Iraqi Police) have improved significantly since I have been here. There are more of them for one thing and the training they are doing with us has improved their discipline and skill level. That has been one of the most encouraging things I have seen. I have high hopes for them during the elections!

I am doing as well as can be expected. Like I said, we have been very busy. We go out on at least one mission every day, sometimes more. The mission themselves last an average of eight to ten hours. I have gotten used to the routine but it takes it toll on you. Some mornings it is very hard to find something to look forward to but all I have to think about is my friends and family. At the end of the day I always know it will be one day closer to seeing all of you again.

I do have one new complaint that I thought would never cross my lips while in Iraq. I am FREEZING! Sitting here typing this letter on my laptop in my rack (bed for you non-military types) I am shivering and my hands are so cold it is hard to type. Today it was even sleeting. This is supposed to be a desert for goodness sakes, where is the heat?

Well, I must get to bed. Thank you all so much for you support. I feel like the luckiest guy on earth with all the packages and letters coming my way. I don't know how I am going to make it all up to you. Happy Holidays and I hope the New Year brings more peace and happiness for us all.

double bummer

1) I'm home sick today. Just a fever so far, hopefully no throat crud or anything.

2) The monkey/iguana action shot did not come out clearly. That's truly a shame, because it was bad ass watching that monkey go to town. I really wanted to share that with all of you.

Back to bed.

Game on

Just got back from Costa Rica yesterday. Amazing. I have plenty of pictures and thoughts from the trip, including a photo of a monkey eating an iguana. Que divertido!

Interesante y Provechoso

I + H va el vacaciones hasta de diciembre el 22.
Nos vemos en Costa Rica!

I + H -- Come see `War Stories' tonight

Here's the write-up in the Tribune.

UPDATE: The show was fantastic -- about 50 in the audience, so with the 40 artists, it made for a rowdy crowd. The 4 teachers from Striding Lion and all of the kids poured their hearts into this work. Bravo.

Helpful -- How to win a medal

I think we can all agree that the intelligence leading up to the war in Iraq, the prosecution of the war, and the administration of the transition has been flawless, right? I mean, best invasion ever -- award-winning, even.

Sorry, that's about all the sarcasm I can muster up today.

Interesting to me

A post on evolutionary theology by Digby.

Not interesting, not helpful, and poorly endowed

Using the "Next Blog" button on the top of the page, you can jump to a random blog out there that uses Blogger software. I can tell when people hit my site in this way, because the site where they pushed the button pops up in the site statistics as the referring website.

So, anyway, instead of visiting random sites, I like to click back on the pages that have visited me. By doing this, I happened to find my nominee for the most boring blog of 2004. Enjoy.

Interesting -- Trippy

Whoa.

Interesting -- RoboDump 1.0

I really have nothing to add to this. Just please take a look.

Interesting -- Sex ed quiz

Five of the following statements are taught as fact in abstinence-only "sex education" classes. One is a lyric from Sir Mix-a-Lot. Sadly, all six statements are equally ridiculous.

1. A 43-day-old fetus is a "thinking person."
2. HIV can be spread via sweat and tears.
3. My anaconda don't want none unless you've got buns, hun.
4. Condoms fail to prevent HIV transmission up to 31% of the time in heterosexual intercourse.
5. Women who have an abortion are more prone to suicide, and 10% of them become sterile.
6. Half of gay male teenagers have HIV.

Find out more here. And here.

Helpful -- To do list

Thanks, Jessica.

34 Things to do before Bush's inauguration:

1. Stock up on birth control pills.
2. Drink a nice clean glass of water.
3. Cash your social security check.
4. See a doctor of your own choosing.
5. Spend quality time with your draft age child/grandchild.
[Click "Read and comment" to continue]
6. Visit Syria--or any foreign country for that matter.
7. Get that gas mask you've been putting off buying.
8. Take out that home loan to cover filling up your gastank.
10. Borrow books from library before they're banned -Constitutional law
books, Catcher in the Rye, Harry Potter, Tropic of Cancer, etc.
11. If you have an idea for an art piece involving a crucifix- do it
now.
12. Come out - then go back in - HURRY!
13. Jam in all the Alzheimer's stem cell research you can.
14. Stay out late before the curfews start.
16. Go see Bruce Springsteen before he has his "accident".
17. Go see Mount Rushmore before the Reagan addition.
18. Use the phrase - "you can't do that - this is America."
19. If you're white - marry a black person, if you're black - marry a
white person.
21. Take a walk in Yosemite without being hit by a snowmobiler
base-jumper.
22. Enroll your kid in an accelerated art or music class.
23. Start your school day without a prayer.
24. Pass on the secrets of evolution to future generations.
26. Learn French.
28. Attend a commitment ceremony with your gay friends.
29. Take a factory tour anywhere in the US.
30. Take photographs of animals on the endangered specieslist.
31. Visit Florida before the polar ice caps melt.
32. Visit Nevada before it becomes radioactive.
33. Visit Alaska before "The Big Spill."
34. Visit Massachusetts while it is still a state.

I + H -- Another loss in Iraq

PFC Cantafio was a member of the platoon Phil trained with over the summer.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Smith LtCol Mark A"
Subject: Update 29 Nov 04

It is my most unfortunate duty to report to you that on Thursday, 25
November, 2004 the following Marine from 2/24 gave his life in service to
the Nation:

PFC Ryan J. Cantafio, Co G, 2nd Bn, 24th Marines.

PFC Cantafio was the turret gunner of a HMMWV that was conducting a night
patrol along one of the Main Supply Routes in our zone. The vehicle
detonated an improvised explosive device, and PFC Cantafio was struck and
killed by a piece of the shrapnel. Three other members of his team were
injured in the blast, two of whom were medevaced to the Combat Surgical
Hospital, and one of whom will shortly be returned to duty.

[Click "Read and comment..." to continue]

On Saturday, 27 November, I attended the memorial service held for Ryan by
the Marines of Co G at their FOB in Lutayfiyah, Iraq. It was a tremendously
painful and sad event. Ryan was loved by his fellow Marines, and they feel
his loss very deeply. Being among men that are as tough as nails, living in
a situation that is even tougher, and seeing them brought to uncontrollable
tears and sobbing crushes the soul. But then...but then, they speak! The
eloquence of their words and the stories they share of the fallen bring you
back from the abyss of despair to the pinnacle of hope. Hope that in any
situation, human kindness lives. Hope that in the midst of death and
tragedy, opportunity and beauty will break with the dawn of the next day.
Among these Warriors, among these men, among these Marines, fear, pain and
despair are ALWAYS replaced by peace, kindness and gentle beauty.

Ryan's Company Commander Maj Adam Holton was first to eulogize him. Adam is
as smart as they come. He is a Naval Academy Grad and the "rocket
scientist" that we always joke about as not being part of the military.
Adam is the kind of man that just exudes grace and dignity in any situation.
Adam addressed his Marines and spoke of Ryan's decision point. He spoke of
the fact that early on Ryan had had a rough patch in the USMC and was facing
disciplinary action as a result. Adam told his Marines that instead of
taking the easy way, discharge, Ryan made the decision to recover. Ryan
took the hard way. Ryan took the way of honor. And, he did so because he
wanted to complete his obligation with honor and to serve his country and
his fellow Marines. Adam expressed that from the day Ryan told him about
his decision, he had been a stellar Marine. He was an example of habitually
doing the right thing. He, as a young PFC, set the standard of excellence
for all others to emulate. For that, Adam was especially thankful for his
time with Ryan.

In closing, Adam Holton said something that struck you as hard in the gut as
if Evander Holyfield had just crushed you with a jab. He said that as he
thought about what he would say in front of the Marines under his charge to
give meaning to the death of PFC Ryan Cantafio, he decided he had shamed
himself! He shamed himself in the mere thought that he had to say or do
anything to give meaning to the death of PFC Ryan Cantafio. He said,
because you see, the meaning of PFC Ryan Cantafio's death was in his LIFE!
He was the Marine always asking to go on patrol. He was the Marine always
seeking to do more. He was the Marine who never complained, who never
whined, who just pressed and pressed and pressed that he could be of service
to his brothers! Now in a life lived of such service, no higher praise can
be paid a man in his death. So Adam Holton, a man for whom I have immense
repect, reminded us all in his contemplation, that PFC Ryan Cantafio
unfortunately left us for paradise far sooner than any of us would have
wanted, but he left us with not only the profound meaning of his short life,
but with an example of how our own lives should be lived.

The last person to memorialize Ryan was his best friend in the Platoon, LCpl
Daniel F Kryst. Now, how Daniel memorialized Ryan was so soul searing, I
found myself in the uncontrolled spasms of short breath that only intense
crying can cause. Daniel is an excellent Marine and a wonderful young Man.
But in his youth, (21) he is typical of most young, single American males of
his age, particularly Marines: full of life, desiring mostly fun and to
chase American Women. Yet, what did this young Marine want to share about
Ryan? This young Marine who had shared combat, strife and misery with Ryan
under almost unbearable conditions? This young Marine, who one would think
would speak of the "fun" times and the "challenging" times, wanted most to
share what a DEVOTED and LOVING husband Ryan was to his beautiful bride
Amanda. He spoke of how Ryan NEVER missed a day that it did not begin
without Ryan taking out and looking at his picture of his wife. He talked
about how much Ryan LOVED and ADORED his wife, and how his dream was to
return to her and raise a family. The pain of that shattered dream is
intense, and for Amanda has to seem unbearable. But, in the fact that he
could have had that kind of impact of a fellow Marine with the intensity of
love for his wife, assures me that LCpl Kryst will one day be a magnificent
husband. And he will be in no small part due to having shared his life with
PFC Ryan Cantafio! The kind of love Ryan had for and shared about Amanda
inspires us to continue, and exemplifies for all of us the true costs of
freedom and the Warriors and Warrior families who bear it.

Amanda, Ryan has touched us all, and I cannot even begin to express our pain
and sorrow for your loss. I hope and pray you will always know how much he
was loved by his fellow Marines, and that his love for you burnt so brightly
that it provided a light of guidance for his fellow Marines in their lives.
That is the immortality he left with us. The immortality he leaves with you
is the soft breeze on a summer day, the light warmth in the chill of autumn,
the peace amidst the chaos and pain. All these things he will bring you,
because he will forever be with you! The kind of love Adam had for you is
not broken by the sting of death, merely interrupted in time and space. May
God Hold You in the Palm of His Hand, and guide you and be your strength.
And may the constant prayers for your peace from every Marine of this
Battalion, and those of their families work miracles in your life.

It has been my pleasure, my priviledge and my HONOR to have served with PFC
Ryan J Cantafio.

GOOD NIGHT SWEET AND GENTLE WARRIOR, GO SOFTLY INTO YOUR HEAVENLY REWARD.

Yours in deep grief and unflinching respect and admiration of you and your
beloved Marine.

Mark A. Smith

Mark A. Smith, LtCol USMCR
TF 2/24 Commanding Officer, 24 MEU
Mahmudiyah, Iraq

Interesting -- photo blogging

Found written on the outside of a restaurant at the corner of Clark and Foster.

Interesting -- Things and Stuff

Mark has come up with the blog post Title of the Week.

Helpful for me -- Church finance link

GCFA -- United Methodist Church