Draft Dodgers Do Have Reunions

Here is a story about a bunch of losers who got together to celebrate their own cowardice. Of course, they insist they are morally correct in running scared and are upset at Canada’s attempts to keep the few running cowards from todays military out of their country.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13742214/

Veterans wheelchair Games

I started this post a week ago, so the Thursday and Friday are actually July 7th and 8th.

Over my weekend, Thursday and Friday, I had the pleasure to volunteer at the 26th Annual Veterans Wheel Chair Games. I filled out an application weeks ago to participate, and my schedule was made by one of the organizers. They did an incredible job of organizing, by the way. Although I didn't schedule myself, couldn't have had a better schedule.

Thursday night I worked security at the "block party" in downtown Anchorage. It was an exciting event for all involved. A bird rehabilitation center had brought out an owl, hawk, and a couple of bald eagles to show the veterans. The multiple Iditarod champion Martin Busier was there with a few of his dogs. There was also a collection of classic cars from one of the local hot rod clubs. There were several live singers/bands, and a great looking catered dinner in the middle of 5th Avenue.

In the middle of the block party, the bird rehabilitation people released a rehabilitated bald eagle from atop a fire truck. It was a sight to see, and an appropriate gesture. We had gathered to honor men and women who had served proudly served our nation, and who had befallen injury that required extensive rehabilitation. These courageousagous men and women have not allowed their injuries to defeat them, and have continued to charge on in life in true military spirit. In honor of the courage of these individuals a magnificent animal, the very symbol of our nation, was released after undergoing its own rehabilitation.

Friday was a really slow day for security. I was scheduled to work during the swimming events at one of the local high schools. There was really no need for security at the venue, as everyone in attendancedence was there to support the athletes. I pretty much just watched the events, and walked the venue about every half hour.

Out of the events that I watched, the swimming was the most moving for me. It was amazing to see people with paralyzed or amputated limbs moving through the pool. The first race of the evening was quadriplegic swimmers. There were several participants who had very little use of their upper limbs. It took two of them a vary long time to cross the length of the pool, but none of them gave up. That was a common theme among the athletes, I never saw one of them give up.

After the swimming event was over, I headed to the Sullivan arena for the championship basketball, power soccer, and quad rugby games. I was really looking forward to seeing the quad rugby, as I had recently seen Murderball for the first time.

None of the events let me down. I was surprised to see the intensity of the basketball players, and the level of contact involved in their sport. The participants in the power soccer (a game developed by the NVWG for those unable to use man powered wheel chairs, it is played in motorized wheel chairs) had a surprising level of control their chairs. Even those unable to use hand controls with thier chairs were able to excel in the event.

The quad rugby game was the most exciting event of the night. The participants poured thier hearts out into the competition. There was a considerable amount of contact, and several flipped chairs. Early in the game it looked as though one team would simply run away with the game, but an impressive come back was staged, and it wasn't clear who would win until the end.

The crowd threw its support behind the veterans at every step.
It didn't matter who scored, the crowd still cheered. The organizers had done a wonderful job getting the word out about the games, and Anchorage did a good job of turning out to provide support.

Brandon

Beware the "Harsh Tone of Voice"

I found this funny; although the news story goes on to criticize the US. The story is about Manfred Nowak, who is the UN’s torture watchdog. Apparently he “interrogates” guards at the prisons he investigates. My question to him is where do you draw the line on “a harsh tone of voice?” Couldn’t that be considered a form of torture?

The whole story is here:
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,408472,00.html

Today, he says, it's not so much in "strong states" (as he calls them) but mainly in feebler political entities that policemen and military officers abuse their defenseless victims. Torture is an efficient way for extracting a quick confession. For years now, the Nepalese royal family has engaged in a ferocious war with the country's Maoist rebels. The torture being practiced there is just as ferocious as the fighting. One popular method of torture in the Himalayan country is the so-called "falanga," which involves dealing carefully aimed blows to the soles of the victim's feet. It is an extremely painful method that hardly leaves behind any visible traces. But Nowak isn't easily deceived by the people in uniform he interrogates as part of his work. If he has to, he can use a harsh tone of voice. In Kathmandu, Nowak probed one prison guard until he finally elicited a reluctant admission: "A little bit of torture helps."

As I said earlier, the story goes on to criticize the US, specifically for Guantánamo Bay. Of course he doesn’t weigh into his equation the actions that brought the terrorist scum to Guantánamo. He’s only worried about us holding them without trial. I’m really curious as to what he would suggest we do with the vermin. Are we just supposed to set them free to behead more innocent people just because it’s not nice to keep them locked up? Give me a break.

Brandon

Dragging at Work

It’s my birthday today. No big deal, I’ve had enough to where they are no longer that special. So it doesn’t bother me that much to be at work on my birthday. Except that today is a Saturday. Obviously, my birthday doesn’t fall on a Saturday every year. It would be a nice day to have off for an extended celebration with my friends. It would also be nice to be off tomorrow, to sleep off any hangover I might acquire. But that is not the case this year.

At least I am here in the US. The situation could be much worse. Although I’ve always enjoyed celebrating special occasions, like birthdays, with Marines. I guess it’s the brotherhood that makes Marine Corps celebrations so great. I don’t have that sense of brotherhood with my civilian counterparts.

The plan this evening is to go to my favorite Mexican restaurant with some family. It should be a good time. I hope to be able to go out after dinner, but I’m not sure whom with.

Last night I went to the late showing of Superman in Eagle River. Eagle River is about half and hour to 45 minutes from Wasilla. The cinema in Eagle River is much better than the one in Wasilla.

The movie was all right. It does bother me that the idiots in Hollywood would change “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” to “Truth, Justice, and all that stuff.” The context of the line is not offensive, but the motivation behind the change is disturbing. True Americans would not care if “the American Way” were an unpopular phrase among foreign countries. I don’t give a damn what any other country thinks of the US.

Anyway, for the most part I really liked the movie. I’ve never been a big Superman fan, I haven’t seen most of the movies, but I did like this movie. It’s fun to get lost in a fantasy story sometimes.

Brandon