A Few Good Links II

SN1 sent this pic today, which is entirely self-explanatory. Nuff said.

By way of Lex, a new milblogger in The Sandbox: Acute Politics. And Boy-Howdy, Teflon Don can write! Just a taste:

The modern military combines part big brother society with part warfighter. We soldiers are considered almost mature enough to understand that war is dangerous, and the weapons we fight it with are just as dangerous as the enemies. The military seems to trust that we will understand that we can't be running around post like cowboys with loaded weapons or explosives. On the other hand, the most mundane and common-sense workplace safety practices often warrant a official warning. These warnings are usually accompanied by graphic photographs of the one idiot who managed to mutailate themselves in spectacular fashion.

Since I've come to Iraq, I've learned that you should not attempt to exit a moving vehicle or I may injure myself. I've been told that in the event of a rollover, I should not try to open the uparmored door that is now above my head lest I be crushed under it. I've seen pictures of what may happen to me if I hit my hand with a hammer, or get too close to a dirt auger. I now know that I shouldn't play with knives, and that opening the feed tray of a weapon while it is firing may be bad for my health. I have been warned on the dangers of cigarettes, and told that I shouldn't be drinking alcohol (not that doing so is allowed anyway). I know not to light fires inside tents, or any other enclosure, for that matter.

That whole piece made me laugh out loud. The military has changed a lot since my day, but some things remain the same. Teflon Don has other (and more profound) observations from Fallujah. A good read, to be sure.

And by way of Acute Politics, I learn Lex’s constant reader and frequent commenter Kris, in New England has a blog now, too. Drop by and welcome her to the ‘sphere! The milblog community, and those that love them, appears to be growing by the proverbial leaps and bounds. This is a good thing!

Laurie put up a great post today: Where is the Spirit of America? A rhetorical question, that, but food for thought, none the less. The Spirit exists, and we all know it exists in spite of the efforts of some people to deny or diminish it. Keep the faith!

And the weather continues to deteriorate. Our Winter Storm Watch has been replaced by a Warning and the temperature is creeping steadily downward, along with my spirits. It looks to be a long and uncomfortable sort of weekend. Oh, well. There are lots of sites to be surfed, nu?