Man, there's a lot of hippies in the Munich airport. I haven't seen that much long hair and scraggly beards since high school.

My mom should be in the air by now. I can't believe five weeks went by so quickly. But we got to see five different countries, so you can't beat that.

Now I have to start getting ready for my next visitor: my husband is coming home for R&R at the end of the month! We're both getting incredibly excited, and the timing couldn't be better with my work schedule. Plus it's fun that he'll be here for both the presidential election and Veterans' Day.

More on that later...

Posted by: Sarah at 08:56 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 I'm sorry to hear that your mother's gone, but I'm glad that Blue 6 will be back! You saw Germany, France, and Italy with your mother, but what were the other two countries?

Posted by: Amritas at October 04, 2004 10:24 AM (uOTUR)

2 Both Austria and Czech Republic for an afternoon each

Posted by: Sarah at October 04, 2004 10:55 AM (RtxzU)

3 Thank you for one of the most enjoyable and relaxing trips I've ever had. You gave me lots of wonderful memories! Most importantly, I'm going to miss that smiling face each day and that hug each night. I love you! Mama

Posted by: Nancy at October 06, 2004 02:31 AM (YuW6k)

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CavX, one of the smartest fellas out there, weighs in on the debate. I did get to see it in a rerun here, and I agree with CavX's assessment. And I think Bush won. I just re-read the transcript. I don't care if the MSM networks are saying Kerry won, because in reality his answers were muddled and his thinking illogical.

Posted by: Sarah at 02:59 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 I think Bush definitely won in the areas that count, being real and having substance. The MSM is trying to giveKerry a boost, but some polls are showing Bush gained points. We'll know more on Monday, but Kerry is such a fool, he is bound to lose big.

Posted by: James Hudnall at October 03, 2004 03:37 AM (FV8Tp)

2 Thanks for the compliment, Sarah. You know what? I've been thinking about it, and it may be that Bush deliberately threw away style points in a debate on a subject Kerry can't possibly beat him on. Expectations for Bush are now lowered for Friday's "town hall" style all-subjects debate (which will be the tough one), while expectations for Kerry are raised. Plus, I've seen clips of Kerry's speeches since then, and he's getting even more cocky and arrogant than before (which I didn't think possible). I've said before that Bush plays chess while his opponents play checkers; we'll see Friday whether that's true.

Posted by: CavalierX at October 03, 2004 08:28 AM (sA6XT)

3 A woman called a talk-radio program here after the debate and said she watched the debate with her kids (8 & 10, I think). Neither child was tuned in to the content, of course, but their observations were interesting. One said Kerry looked like a Bobble-head doll and the other said he seemed like a phony. Some of us who actually judge real debates (high school forensics) are routinely faced with intros like Kerry made (sympathy for blah, blah, thanks to blah, blah, etc.) and with us that style (slightly) negatively impacts the scoring. But this was not a real debate, and there was no true scoring. My perception is - if one had been carefully following the campaign, Bush won (McCurry to Lockhart 'it was a draw'), but if the debate was all one knew about the issues, Kerry won - he was smoother, and his inconsistencies and previously-disproved statements of fact went unnoticed (and unchallenged).

Posted by: Glenmore at October 03, 2004 10:28 AM (HtP2k)

4 This is a soldier's response to the debate. http://jb-williams.com/soldier-debate1.htm

Posted by: Moor at October 03, 2004 02:12 PM (g8OfD)

5 I have seen many mentions of the President's hesitations, pauses, and troubled looks. What I have not seen is any mention that many/most/all of them came after some particularly fairy-dust pronouncement by the Junior Senator. Every time, I could almost hear the President thinking "How can I respond to someone who claims to believe such rot?" I am half expecting an announcement by the Junior Senator that he has received the official support of the Flat Earth Society.

Posted by: homebru at October 03, 2004 04:41 PM (hEnFa)

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John Kerry's problem seems to always be the devil in the details. Deskmerc is constantly trying to figure out what goes on in Phase II, this time with Kerry's plan to give nuclear fuel to Iran.

Gnome 2: Phase I we collect underpants.
Gnome 1: Ya, ya, ya. But what about Phase II?
[Silence]
Gnome 2: Well Phase III is profit. Get it?

Posted by: Sarah at 02:51 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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"Someone from your post died in Iraq this week, but he was someone from another unit," Mom said after dinner. "Oh. Who was it?" I asked from the other room. "Someone named SGT Tyler Prewitt."

TP.

SGT Prewitt first emailed me from Iraq in June, to ask for help with getting a transcript. We wrote back and forth a couple of times to get all of his education records straight, so when he decided to register for online classes in August, he contacted me again. He had just emailed me because he was worried he was too busy soldiering to concentrate on the class. Ten days before that RPG.

His emails were always signed TP.

His memorial is Tuesday, and I plan on going. I wonder if his family could ever imagine that his school representative, someone he barely knew, is weeping.

MORE TO GROK:

Here's my first chance to see TP's face. Surprisingly enough, that's exactly what I had imagined.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:12 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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1 Someone in Florida that only knows him from what you've shared is weeping too.

Posted by: Tammi at October 02, 2004 06:15 PM (UOdfZ)

2 Sarah I am sorry for your loss. We are not in control of who touches our lives, even if briefly, and we are also not in control of how deeply someone can touch your heart, even if their touch was brief. I'm sure his family doesn't know...but your tears and thoughts are out there for them to feel. And my tears are with yours.

Posted by: Kathleen A at October 02, 2004 09:27 PM (vnAYT)

3 Crap Crap Why is it always the best who must go? DOH cause they are all the best! Add my tears to yours and tell the family that normal folk know....

Posted by: LarryConley at October 03, 2004 12:36 AM (aontM)

4 Stay strong, Sarah; TP's family will need you... Jim

Posted by: Jim Shawley at October 03, 2004 12:37 AM (a0DGD)

5 This never gets any easier when a soldier dies. I am always astounded when I read the background info on these brave soldiers. I always wonder were did we find all of these amazing brave men and women. Thanks Sarah for making Tyler more than just a number. Regrets Toni

Posted by: Toni at October 04, 2004 08:46 AM (SHqVu)

6 Sarah, it was my online sociology class that Tyler was taking. There are several others in Iraq in that class, as well. Tyler was doing well and then we stopped hearing from him. I've written his family with the condolences of the class.

Posted by: Dr. Rosenthal at October 04, 2004 09:17 AM (68JBf)

7 I knew of Tyler only as a friend of a friend. That friend is my girlfriend. Her name is Kayla, and after she found out I think she has cried everyday since. I never knew Tyler, but I know now, for sure, he must have been a great man. The sweetest, most honest, most wonderful, person I know, cared for him on a level that only a few friendships reach. I am very truly sorry, I know we all are. But there's something we all need to be, for Tyler, above all; proud.

Posted by: Chris at October 08, 2004 04:19 AM (r+Jbe)

8 Hi! My husband and I just found out yesterday.I am really sorry!!! We both know Tyler from Vilseck. He took over my Husbands job as 2/2 Scout Medic. The both of them had served in Kosovo with eachother. My husband is really sad, and so am I. He was a good Person! We're really sorry for his family and wish them only the best !!!!!!!

Posted by: Judith Craig at October 08, 2004 06:24 AM (HIHpb)

9 I am very touched by what you have written about Tyler. Yes, he was a very amazing man. He meant way more to me than many ever knew, maybe even him. I miss him dearly but am so proud of him. I have always appreciated my freedom but now even more: knowing that wonderful people like him are giving their life's for it.

Posted by: Kayla at October 09, 2004 11:28 PM (bjHHc)

10 Tyler was our nephew. We live in Cody, Wyoming, and have just returned from Tyler's services. Our whole family appreciates the overwhelming support that has been shown. Tyler was extremely proud to be in the military and his whole family was extremely proud of him. We will miss him.

Posted by: Ray and Stephanie Stockhill at October 10, 2004 09:44 PM (7Z5Vz)

11 I knew Tyler since I was in the 8th grade and he was in 7th. Though I did not know him that well until after highschool I will always remember his great personality, goofy sense of humor and awesome laugh! I attended his funeral services and was very touched, especially by the video at the end. The song "Proud to be an American" now has greater meaning to me than it ever has. "And I am proud to be an American where at least I know I am free, and I wont forget the men who died who gave that right to me". Tyler I wont forget. Thank you for your sacrafice.

Posted by: Sarah Freswick at October 11, 2004 07:45 PM (rxlLT)

12 www. geocities.com/sgt_tylerprewitt

Posted by: Chris Primerano at October 13, 2004 06:17 PM (OMDE4)

13 I was stationed in Germany with TP, TP, myself and our other friend Luke were always together. I will never forget the way he laughed, and all the other funny thigs he did. I just wanted everyone to know that Luke and I are taking care of eachother through these hard times. We will never forget TP. I Love You Tyler. SPC Roger Jones

Posted by: Roger Jones at October 25, 2004 07:53 AM (tVaRJ)

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After having finished re-reading The Fountainhead, this story -- a newspaper editor going against public opinion -- made me chuckle. I had to register to read it, so now you don't have to.

Crawford wants newspaper to eat its words

Rebeca Rodriguez
San Antonio Express-News

CRAWFORD — Photos of President Bush hugging diners and mugging for the camera adorn the walls of the Crawford Coffee Station, a popular cafe in this small Central Texas town Bush calls home.

Just a few miles from the Bush ranch, the spot is a popular place for locals to gather in the morning for coffee, breakfast and a glance at the day's news.

But the rack that once held the Lone Star Iconoclast — Crawford's weekly newspaper — now is empty, thanks to a blistering indictment in Tuesday's paper of Bush's presidential record and a call to elect Democrat John Kerry in November.

For a town drenched in Bush, the editorial is practically political heresy.

"Not only is he the president of the United States, he's my neighbor, he's my customer," Coffee Station owner Nick Spanos said. "We're not carrying that paper after today."

The firestorm began Tuesday morning, when readers opened up the newspaper to Page 2 and found an entire half-page criticizing the president for a variety of failings, and calling for the election of Kerry.

By the afternoon, news of the editorial was burning up Internet blogs and e-mail boxes all over the country.

Iconoclast publisher W. Leon Smith, who co-wrote the editorial with two other writers, is unapologetic.

"We're just trying to point out the direction the country's going in, and it's not good," he said.

Smith is majority owner of the Iconoclast, the Record of nearby Clifton and the Bosque Globe. He's also the mayor of Clifton and a Democrat who was defeated twice in campaigns for the Texas House of Representatives.

Now, Smith has become an iconoclast in his own right, challenging the widely declared belief that Crawford and its environs are "Bush Country."

[snip]

As of Wednesday morning, more than a dozen readers had canceled their subscription and six advertisers had pulled their spots from the paper.

Smith expects there will be more, and he's preparing for the worst.

"It will probably put us under," he said.

Smith's desk at the Record offices is piled with paper, and his cubicle is filled with Mickey Mouse paraphernalia — two clocks, posters and even his computer screensaver.

He pulled up his computer e-mail inbox, filled with messages of varying intensity.

Smith said about 75 percent of them applaud the editorial, but the remaining fourth border on vitriol.

"It really appears to be me that we no longer live in an open society," he said. "When you get to the point where you can't express an opinion, then you're in trouble."

I really hate when people pull the "police state" b.s. when their opinion is unpopular. You can write whatever you want in your newspaper, dude. People don't have to pay to read it if they don't like it though. That's not crushing dissent; that's the textbook definition of an "open society". In an open society, people disagree. And they vote with their wallet. If you "go under" because of this editorial, then you need to reevaluate your priorities. Either you give the people what they want in Crawford and make money, or you stand up for your principles and "go under" if that's in the cards. But don't complain that American society is in danger because people don't want to give you money to stand on your soapbox and say things they disagree with.

Long live capitalism!

(thanks to Dagney's Rant for the heads up...and the continued Ayn Rand connection)

Posted by: Sarah at 04:27 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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I love when the bias is so ingrained that people can't even see it. My German co-worker said yesterday that the German media was reporting that Kerry had won the debate. I said that I hadn't seen the program, but that everything I had read had called it a draw. I said that people who like Bush generally gave him the edge, while people who like Kerry said that he had won. She said that Germany didn't really have a preference in the American presidential election, so they were just reporting objectively. I wanted to laugh my fool head off, but instead I casually mentioned the polls that show overwhelming German support for Kerry. And I printed this out for her. How can she not see the elephant in the room that is Europe's love for Kerry?

Posted by: Sarah at 02:33 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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I received two absentee ballots from the state of Missouri. One is a federal write-in ballot, which I received two months ago, and one has the actual bubbles you fill in, which I received this week. I don't understand why I got both of them. I wonder what would happen if I were a bad person and filled out both of them. Would Missouri catch the mistake? Would my vote count twice? Are there more people out there who received two ballots, people who don't have the "voting integrity" I have? Just wondering...

Posted by: Sarah at 05:32 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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I really want to know what happened during the debates last night! Lileks gave me a good taste to start out with...

HereÂ’s the thing. IÂ’d really like to live in John KerryÂ’s world. It seems like such a rational, sensible place, where handshakes and signatures have the power to change the face of the planet. If only the terrorists lived there as well.

Hey, Blue 6. If you have time, I think you might like this one.

Posted by: Sarah at 03:14 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I'd like to wish Tony Blair a speedy recovery for his surgery. Hurry back, friend! We need you in this fight!

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