Making Ripples: post-corporate adventures in Floyd County Virginia

Bush mountain bikes with Wounded Warriors

Re-posted from The Right Scoop on Apr 26, 2011 in Politics

George W. Bush is going on a 12 mile mountain bike in Texas with soldiers who were wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan to help raise awareness for Wounded Warriors.

http://bit.ly/lHSUWZ

What a class act:

Michael Yon's photo letter about his search for the Jungle Twins

Michael has distinguished himself as a war correspondent because he brings us the inside stories of the people involved on the front lines. His uniquely personal point of view has fascinated those of us who value the truth even when it does not agree with our preconceived views.

His photographs have captured the stark drama of distant battlefields as well as the personal stories that contribute to a miltary campaign.

In addition to his reporting of action on the front lines, he has captured the beauty of quiet moments in out of the way places with some memorable images.

Between wars he continues to bring us scenes from far-flung corners of the world and this latest photo story is an example of a new format he has adopted. The Jungle Twins tells the story of his 246 mile journey to the remote villages of Thailand for a glimpse of rare twin elephants.

Do Americans Care about British Soldiers?

Michael Yon has written another powerful dispatch.

A young British soldier was shot and critically wounded in Afghanistan while Michael was using his satellite phone nearby.

Michael covers the amazing effort that the American Military put into action to save this soldiers life and the incredible multi-service organization that manages the aeromedical evacuation teams.

Soldiers’ Angels, a volunteer-led nonprofit played an important role in helping British Military personnel and the soldier's family track the soldier's progress from his first treatment in Afghanistan to recovery at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Read Michael's post here: http://www.michaelyon-online.com

Searching for "The Best We've Got"

SSG Terry Townsend is one of the many U.S. troops currently serving in Iraq, and he sent me an email 6 hours ago asking about an article written by Ralph Peters, in which Ralph wrote:

Far from the crude babykiller of campus legend, the American soldier has proved that he is as humane as he is competent, as creative as he is valorous, and as optimistic as the best traditions of his - or her - country. Our troops have tracked down war criminals, turned the tables on ambushers, faced countless roadside bombs - and built schools, created jobs, picked up garbage and set an example that even those Iraqis anxious for us to leave will not forget.

I happen to share that sentiment and have the utmost admiration for those in the military. Whatever the outcome of the war in Iraq, our troops will have left their mark on history.

Ralph Peter's column in the New York Post has somehow been obliterated or eaten by mice, but thanks to bloggers like Indigo Insights , Ralph's column lives on and can be retrieved. Here  is the text of his column and it is well worth reading:

THE BEST WE'VE GOT
by Ralph Peters

February 24, 2004 -- OVER the coming weeks, a quarter of a million U.S. troops will move into or out of Iraq. The logistics of such a transfer would be formidable even under peaceful conditions in a country with Western-quality infrastructure. No other power in the world could do it in Iraq - or anywhere else. Our military is going to execute the mission with such skill that it won't make headlines. There'll be brief reports buried in the back pages of our newspapers and a few human interest stories on TV. But the only way this massive event will get onto the front page will be if terrorists pull off a stunt during the operation.

They'll try. There are no guarantees of safety where peace is still being made. And the terrorists desperately want to be the lead story at the top of the hour again. But even if a bomb or a missile takes American lives, the real story will remain how much our military can do - and how much our troops have accomplished over the past year.

Recall how the pundits insisted that our troops were bound to fail, that Iraq was another Vietnam, a quagmire that would only worsen. Shamelessly, American ideologues who had been too good to serve in uniform themselves pretended that their only concern was the safety of our soldiers, who they wished to bring home immediately. Morale was going to break down, civilian "experts" insisted, our military would dissolve.

It wasn't just going to be Vietnam. It was going to be Oliver Stone's Vietnam.

Our soldiers' response? They broke the back of the Ba'athist insurgency. They captured Saddam. That deck of cards? Saddam and the boys were playing on credit - and G.I. Joe called 'em.

When our soldiers were attacked, they hit back with such ferocity, precision and determination that even hardline al Qaeda operatives in Iraq have admitted to the masters of terror that the U.S. Army cannot be dislodged.

But our soldiers didn't only fight. They built. The contractors with their snouts in the Iraqi trough have a mixed record, but our soldiers have been consistently effective - and economically efficient - in their own reconstruction efforts. And yes, damn it. Our soldiers did win hearts and minds. And they continue to do so.

Terrorists rushed to Iraq, dreaming of a quick triumph that would send the Great Satan fleeing back to America's shopping-mall Hell.

Well, al Qaeda's intelligence failure dwarfed any errors the CIA ever made. Far from discouraging anyone, the terrorists only stiffened the resolve of Iraq's Kurds, Shi'as and even many Sunnis not to let foreign assassins shape their future.

Operationally, the skills and fortitude of the American soldier quickly forced the terrorists to shift their efforts to targeting our allies - in an attempt to drive them from the Coalition - or to strike Iraqis committed to rebuilding and reclaiming their own country.

That hasn't worked, either. Iraq is moving forward. Our Coalition allies have shown admirable resolve - and adaptability. After a few early successes against our partners, recent terrorist attacks have failed. A sophisticated suicide bombing a few weeks ago didn't even penetrate the Polish compound it targeted, but only killed civilians.

Does anyone imagine that the terrorists are winning hearts and minds?

Iraq remains a brutally dangerous place, a country that will struggle for years with its disastrous past. Progress will be imperfect. Success will be inconsistent. Disappointments will intoxicate the media. But, when all is said and done, Iraq is now the only major country in the Middle East with hope for a better future.

Our soldiers created that hope.

Far from the crude babykiller of campus legend, the American soldier has proved that he is as humane as he is competent, as creative as he is valorous, and as optimistic as the best traditions of his - or her - country. Our troops have tracked down war criminals, turned the tables on ambushers, faced countless roadside bombs - and built schools, created jobs, picked up garbage and set an example that even those Iraqis anxious for us to leave will not forget.

The American soldier has an immeasurably greater impact than American bombs.

For the soldiers themselves - including our superb Marines - conducting this massive "relief in place" in Iraq, the on-the-ground reality will often be frustrating. Especially to the soldier heading home, the complexities of such a huge transfer of forces will have a hurry-up-and-wait side that will draw out the enlisted man's blackest reserves of humor.

But the new troops will go in, the veterans will come home, intelligence and operational techniques will be handed off, the "newbies" will master the local environment and this great campaign for freedom will continue to march.

Iraq is working. Attacks on our troops and American casualties are down. No Iraqis argue about whether the old regime should return - only about the rules for future statehood. A broken country is recovering from a generation of shock and misery. Their hopes may take a number of different directions, but the peoples of Iraq have hope.

I only wish that those Americans so anxious to use our soldiers as political pawns in election campaigns actually knew our troops. Not as an abstract concept, but as people.

The American soldier is a historical anomaly - not a grasping conqueror, but a man or woman of courage and good heart who wishes only to do what must be done, and then go home. Our troops are inspiring in ways that no campaign speech or campus rally will ever rival. They live the virtues - courage, patriotism, love of freedom, self-sacrifice, honor - of which their critics are embarrassed to speak.

They have a wicked sense of humor. They're exuberantly politically incorrect. They're part of the most thoroughly integrated, representative American institution - our military. And when the American people and our leaders stand behind them, they can do any job on earth.

Defying countless predictions of disaster, our soldiers have accomplished more in Iraq than we had any right to expect. And they did it not because of some brilliant master plan - there was none - but because they took a look at the bloody mess they inherited, rolled up their sleeves and went to work to fix it.

They're the best we've got.

Ralph Peters is a retired Army officer and the author of "Beyond Baghdad."
[Indigo received this as email from her friend, Captain Smith, Camp LeJeune]

Mary Beth is back...

Mary Beth, of Longleaf Preserve, one of my favorite bloggers, has returned to brighten our days and whet our appetites. She touches the heart in a way that few others do.

In her new weblog, The Way Home, talk, tears, laughter, play and love knead dreams into warm, yeasty loaves that play with your senses. Oh, did I mention she writes about food like M.F. K Fisher?

Welcome back, Mary Beth! We are overjoyed to see you again.

We are stronger together than apart

Gretchen and I drove 1000 miles to attend a wedding of our dear friends, Dickie and Scott, and we traveled less than most of the other attendees.

In an increasingly turbulent and unstable world, it seems like a good thing to encourage those who are binding their lives together and forging a future path that benefits all of their family members and friends.

And so, we came from all over the country to celebrate the marriage of our talented and graceful woman friend to a handsome and gifted man from the other end of the United States.

She is a high tech marketing manager and quilter and he is a lawyer who writes and publishes poetry. They are both as natural as rain and made everyone feel at home.

The wedding was elegantly informal and the reception was even more so. The wedding party quickly shed their shoes and partied until the sun went down. Here you see the bride, groom, and the minister after the ceremony. There were more bare feet in the garden. And did I mention the food...?

The ceremony and reception were held at their home and was attended by relatives, neighbors, and many friends. As is the case with many contemporary marriages, the festivities were enlivened with the presence of children by other marriages, relatives of ex-spouses, and neighbors from the distant past.

We were pleased to a part of this affirmation of purpose. It will be long remembered by all who attended. We wish the newly married couple all the best.

Their cake was even better than it looks! Just like the bride and groom.

Carnival Of The Vanities is up at The Global Perspective

Daniel M. Harrison is hosting the 181st edition of Carnival of the Vanities. This is the carnival where bloggers submit their best post of the preceding week and the posts this week are well worth reading.

You might find some bloggers you haven't met before. Enjoy!

Daniel is the blogger who has stirred up a firestorm recently with his prediction that Google is about to buy Sun Microsystems. As a former Sun employee, I think it might be the best thing that could happen to Sun.
 

I am very thankful...

It's been a great year, and I have a lot to be thankful for. Let me explain.

I am married to Gretchen, a talented and understanding woman who embraces change willingly and provides unstinting support while I find my way through this post-corporate life.

I have a wonderful extended family which includes my children, Gretchen's children, all of our in-laws and outlaws, and my vast, and growing, family of online friends.

There are so many bloggers who have inspired me with their wit and wisdom that I cannot name you in one post. However, if you search for your name using the engine in the left sidebar, you will see that I have acknowledged you and your contribution. Most of you know who you are and I am extremely grateful for your interest and advice. I welcome both.

The world of blogging, which I discovered in 2003, continues to enrich my life and has begun to provide sources of income.

My first book, Danger Quicksand - Have A Nice Day, has brought me tens of thousands of readers and has opened the door to a role as purveyor of unconventional career advice.

I find new topics to blog about every week and your comments help me decide which topics are worth pursuing further. You have helped me identify five areas that are worth documenting as books or Podcasts. When the move to our new house is complete next month, I plan on getting book production into high gear.

I have gained so much from having you as friends and readers that I want to find ways to give more back. I have a few ideas which will take weeks to roll out, but I will start by beginning a new round of free downloads of Danger Quicksand - Have A Nice Day. Details to follow in another post.

This version will be identical to the paperback version and can be printed out by those who cannot read comfortably on a monitor. This free download will make my book freely available again to readers from every country on the globe. Of course, those readers who want a signed copy with a glossy cover will still be able to purchase it online.

Thank you, one and all.

Tag: Thanks Thanksgiving

Touring Floyd Again

This regal gent has a profile that John Barrymore would have envied. Notice the flaring nostril and the noble brow. He was quite at ease during the photo shoot, posing one way then another until we had captured his best side in the proper light.

He was only one of the sights committed indelibly to memory during our last few days in Floyd. Photo Blogger Doug Thompson, Blue Ridge Muse, took us out to the Tokyo Sushi Restaurant in Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke. It has been a year since I had sushi and I made up for the lost time. The food was delicious and the service excellent. Feast your eyes on these dishes.

A visit to Floyd is not complete without stopping for a meal at Oddfella's Cantina. Owner Rob surprised us with live music. Pretty hot stuff in a small country town to be entertained on a Thursday night with original compositions by musician Pat Mathews.

Pat is another example of someone determined to survive in a post-corporate world. Once a high-flying programmer, he now composes music and performs in local venues to support himself. Playing six instruments and pushing his self-produced CDs, he is applying his talent to creating a new future of his own making.

There are talented people everywhere, but in Floyd a critical mass seems to have been reached because you know you are surrounded by artists of every persuasion. The biggest difference that I can see is Floyd artists seem to network more than in other places. Whenever I speak with a writer, blogger, painter, or musician, they always mention other artists who do similar things.  It gives one the impression of a great multitude of talent.

The important thing when you find yourself in a post-corporate state is to keep on going and do your best with what you have. Just don't claim you don't have talent. Even llamas have talent.

Magic Carpet Ride on an F-18

The generosity of people on the internet never fails to amaze me. We have free access to inspiring sights and sounds because of people like this pilot and the people who edited his video.

This exhilarating video of an unknown Navy Pilot in his F-18 Hornet is awe-inspiring, and the sound track combines the sound of the Hornet in flight with "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf. Make sure your speakers are on.

The entire video is spent inside the cockpit of an F-18, from catapult launch, to landing back on the carrier with a thumbs-up. You'll really feel like you're riding on a "magic carpet" as the pilot puts his Hornet through its paces over the open ocean.

You will share the pilot's joy in his prowess as you watch this video. He is truly free from the constraints of gravity.

If the above link doesn't work on your system, you can download this video in many other formats.

Many thanks to Ryan Hickman, of grouchymedia.com , who has many other fine videos available for downloading.