Memorial Day

The bugle plays
notes echoing across
the wide expanse

The shadows of the stones
stretch out over
the neatly manicured grass
as the orange sun slowly sets

Even the rowdy
teenagers are quiet
as they walk
down the long
somber rows

You can almost hear
the voices of heroes past

remember

remember

remember

Why I've been absent.

I found out last Wednesday that there was going to be a conference that I should attend for the Army on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I quickly let work know and let some of my teachers at school know. There was a lot of really good information there.

I am way behind in some of my classes now and I am trying to play catch-up.

On the drive back home I noticed the greens, yellows and purples of the flowers that are blooming. Hurry up and take a look if you haven't already because some of these flowers will only be around for about 4 weeks or so.

Once again I am amazed at the many different shades of green that you can find in western Washington. Almost too many to name or describe.

The Conversation That We Should Have Had.

Opening scene: A classroom on the third floor of the building at a local state university. It is a class that discusses terrorism and revolution and only has a handful of students. The professor lectures and takes time to entertain questions. Many of them are about the current conditions of gas prices. The topic rolls around until it gets to the subject of the media.

My thoughts are in italics.

Professor: blah, blah blah...papers are going out of business...blah, blah, blah

Student: Well I'm a journalism major and this is a big problem, the local newspaper has 14 journalists that have lost their jobs...

Professor: it's happening across the country

Journalism major student: one of the biggest problems is with people with their blogs, they are discrediting journalists.

Me: Discrediting? REALLY? How about holding you accountable for the things that you write?

Me: oh, by the way, the local paper is the biggest piece of crap I've read in a long time, they don't report anything

Students # 3,4, 5 or 6: blah blah blah, insert own opinion, blah blah....

Journalism student: Dr. so-and-so is putting together a seminar on how to deal with it. It's going to be kind of a "if you can't beat them- join them" approach.

Students # 3,4, 5 or 6: blah blah blah, insert own opinion, blah blah....

There was something said about blogs spreading only one side of the story and that makes is nothing but propaganda.

I didn't say anything because I didn't want to make anyone cry.

RANT:
I have been very unhappy with the news as of late. I turn on the local news on TV and most of the stories are human interest stories. THAT'S NOT NEWS PEOPLE! I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD!

There was something said about if journalists join the bloggers that it will be a bad this because they will have abandoned professionalism.

Here is the bottom line. I am about to deploy to the Middle East and I have NO desire to talk to a newspaper reporter. I don't want to be on TV or have my picture taken. They will either pick and choose what they want to use that I said, misquote me or attribute someone else's quote to me. Oh yeah and they will use it to back up what ever story they are currently "spinning".

It is sad that I feel this way but they are just not to be trusted.

Part of the Game

Mid Terms

I only have one this quarter. I am taking a class on terrorism and our mid term is due next Tuesday. There are 4 questions, we pick 3 of them. Only a page and a half per question. It seems like my only problem will be keeping it to the page and a half.

I might not post much this week because in my other classes I have a a test on Friday. Wait! That's tomorrow! Crap! and on Saturday I am starting my project for my vegetation class.

Until later....

Not a Reliable Source...

The Army Times is reporting that there is a possibility of military paychecks stopping on June 15th. I've never liked the Army Times because too many people take it to be "official". There is probably no bigger source of propaganda out there. They only want to sell newspapers.

Of course we'll get paid.

Hmmm....

Best Day, Slowest Time

I ran my 6th Bloomsday today. My exercise routine is down to running just one or two times a week. I sat that it is because of work and school. When it comes down to it I guess it is really because I didn't think it a priority. As I ran:

• I was passed by Captain America and Bat girl. They were running together.
• I was passed by a young man in orange plaid shorts, orange shoes who had dyed his hair orange and painted his body the same color.
• I was not passed by the guys in the gorilla suits.
• I was not passed by the bride and groom that were running.
• I thought about the race and what it means to the local area. I have read that it infuses 10 million dollars into the local economy.
• Many people use it to have a family gathering.
• I've promised myself that if I come back from the Middle East I will take the opportunity to do it with my family. The boys would especially like it. I have missed a chance to do something with them and I am already regretting it.

My time is the slowest time I've ever had. I had put down my estimated finish time when I registered but I thought that I was being very generous. Surprisingly, I finished only 2 minutes after my estimate. I really thought that I would be a lot slower.

Next Year

I was hoping for a smooth transition back into school for the Fall quarter of 2009 after my deployment. And it will be. However, I wanted to take political geography for an elective class. Unfortunately the department is offering it while I am gone and they only offer it every 2 or 3 years. It was suggested that I slide on over to the anthropology department and take some classes there. Many of the classes over there deal with politics. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

School Update

School is going well, but I think that I should have taken less. Less credits, less classes where you have to think etc...

I have a lot going on this quarter. My mind is often other places as I think about the upcoming deployment.

• I am taking a 3 credit class that amounts to an internship. I decided to take the 5 credit required internship when I get back. Looking back I see that I am doing the same amount of work (or more!) as everyone else but for less credits. I am learning a lot and I think that it is going to be to my advantage but I always feel as if I am behind.

For a Better Understanding of World Affairs...

I recommend watching the above movie. It is amazing that a film made in 1966 could be so relavent today. WARNING- This movie contains graphic torture scenes that may not be suitable for watching.

Self-governance.