February 28, 2005
SIGH
When I first started this blog, I flew off the handle a lot. I used to get so fired up and would write about every article I read. I've noticed that the world doesn't shock me like it used to. I'm getting very ho-hum about the 'sphere. I figure if I've seen it on four blogs, you've seen it too. LGF doesn't shock me anymore. I'm used to jihad, war, and terrorism. It's a strange feeling, and it makes my blog suck.
I just haven't been feeling very screedy lately. I hope it's not permanent.
I start subbing tomorrow; I'll be teaching 7th grade math for a friend who is on maternity leave. Fractions. Lord help us all.
And the husband still isn't in Kuwait.
Posted by: Sarah at
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After your day with the kids, you'll have plenty to write about!
Posted by: Mike at February 28, 2005 01:33 PM (yPbYG)
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Sarah,
Another nuclear window of opportunity to influence the young and fresh minds of the future. ------- Once you get the gum out of their mouths and the walkman out of their ears. (I guess I'm dating my self, that must be iPod today).
A few days with them and you may forget about how hard it is to be away from your husband. Just remember you are as tough as he is, and never show fear. The animals sense fear and will pounce.
Good luck, dear.
Subsunk
Posted by: Subsunk at February 28, 2005 02:05 PM (YMrHN)
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And when it gets tough, remember...
You're the adult! Kids that age have an amazing way of making you forget that--especially in classroom-size groups!
Posted by: Beth at February 28, 2005 04:59 PM (DEwIg)
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Make sure to teach them plenty of calculus too.
Email me if you need hints on how to teach L'Hopital's Rule.
/recovering math nerd
Posted by: James Sloan at February 28, 2005 05:00 PM (sRWO5)
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hang in their kid; waiting is not yet fullness.
Posted by: MajMike at February 28, 2005 05:20 PM (zXWkt)
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Glad the sub thing has finally been worked out! I know the teacher is happy! I had those kiddos as 5th and 6th graders . . . most are sweet, nice kids but beware of those few. I can't wait to hear the stories . . . you will have tons to write about. Good Luck
Posted by: Heidi at February 28, 2005 07:00 PM (+7VNs)
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Sarah - your blog doesn't "suck". You're a great example of a military spouse. People go inside the life of an Army wife when they click on your site - and you represent them incredibly well. Imagine how many outsiders don't know what it's like? Imagine how many outsiders you reach -- and impress -- via your posts.
As for you missing out on some beautiful things, your husband helped liberate 25 million people and bring democracy to the Middle East - and you stood behind him. That's hardly insignificant.
You do great work. Shrug it off and get back to doing what you do best - relaying your feelings honestly, that's why we click on you.
Posted by: Andi at February 28, 2005 07:11 PM (2iAN0)
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Sarah, As a mom of a 7th grade boy, let me pass my warmest wishes for a smooth ride. It ain't gonna happen... but, I can wish it for you! :-)
Posted by: Debbie (U.S. Navy Wife) at March 01, 2005 02:35 AM (FHZDM)
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Sarah - it's normal to feel blogged out and to think you have nothing to add. But you do - your opinion and view of the world is unlike most bloggers and that makes you unique and your posts insightful. You have a loyal audience - but no pressure - sometimes there's just nothing to write about. Your blog sucks about as much as a bowl of chocolate ice cream on a hot summer day. I enjoy it - who wouldn't? Keep your chin up, your computer on and your mind open. We're here when you're ready - or if you just feel like posting some stick drawings. Either way - you're blog is too precious to simply dry up. Blog who you are - that's why we're here.
Posted by: Kathleen A at March 01, 2005 06:42 AM (vnAYT)
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Sarah, Fractions is one thing that I love teaching. I have a lot of materials so if you need something let me know. I was hoping to hear that Russ was in Kuwait. Let me know. Jane
Posted by: Jane at March 01, 2005 08:00 PM (1DAy5)
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December 29, 2004
THANK MY RECRUITER
The other day, Ken of
RebelRouser emailed me and said that he wanted to blogroll me but that he didn't know my story and didn't know if he should file me under military or civilian. I explained my story to him and said that I was therefore a civilian. He then emailed back with something that has had me glowing for a week:
Make no bones, you're in the military and you are not a Civilian. As far as
I'm concerned, you're a Soldier. I think this is something Americans need to
realize, and I think you are just the person let them know.
And then he invited me to join his new blog.
Now writing under the name Nasty Dawg, Ken has started a group blog called Don't Thank Me, Thank My Recruiter. He has gathered active duty and veterans from all branches and ranks to blog together, and he wanted to fill the dependent angle as well. That's where I come in.
Everything is up and running, virtually overnight, so I was the last one to report for duty. Please check out Thank My Recruiter; I think it will be an interesting exchange.
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And you thought you weren't a "journalist."
Posted by: Mike at December 29, 2004 07:44 AM (cyYKH)
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RebelRouser (or, I guess, Nasty Dawg) is what we call "good people" where I come from.
Posted by: CavalierX at December 29, 2004 08:36 AM (sA6XT)
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Sarah:
You didn't know?! You didn't know that you were as much a Soldier as your Hero?! My goodness, young (I can say that) lady! We here in the States who have had slightly similar life experiences in our pasts (Navy, 75-81), realized from the start that you are one of those who are heroic in her own right: You, a wife, have given us your husband. We own him, not you. We (through the chain of command) can send him wherever we need, including into harm's way, and all you can do is say, "aye-aye, sir" (my Navy bubbling up again), and salute. THAT makes you just as much a soldier as your husband. And for that, you have my unqualified total gratitude. Thank you, Sarah; you understand what is at stake. You serve. You ARE my heroine.
GBY,
Jim Shawley
Posted by: Jim Shawley at December 29, 2004 10:25 AM (CnYsu)
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Congrats Sarah. Kudos to you. Anyone who is married to the military I would say IS military and don't you forget it! Got the new blog linked.
Posted by: Toni at December 29, 2004 11:38 AM (b1Xsc)
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I was going to say what Jim did, but he's done it so much better than I could. All I can add is: Ditto! You are definitely "soldiering on" in your own military role, and you've been doing it VERY well!
--Beth
Posted by: Beth at December 29, 2004 03:48 PM (NiVxD)
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Would I call you a "Soldier"? I wouldn't, only because I would reserve the specific title to Soldiers. Not to say you're more or less, just a matter of definition. But would I call you "Military" with pride in my inflection? Yes, I would.
As per your comment to my ACR entry on Thankmyrecruiter.com, I'd like to collaborate with you on something to help out ROTC advocacy and the perception of the military on campus. I'll e-mail you when I can figure out how to phrase the question properly.
Posted by: Eric at December 30, 2004 07:32 PM (IMLMb)
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December 20, 2004
HE IS JOHN GALT
I had a thought the other night that would probably make Den Beste cringe, but I realized that I'm glad that he shrugged. He started writing because it made him happy. He got noticed, and more and more people tried to control him. Write about what I want to hear. Make sure you include this angle. No, you're wrong about this minor detail. Maybe if you read Ayn Rand you'd understand. And so on and so on. He started carrying the world on his shoulders, getting more and more burdened by pedantic mail and impossible demands. And finally he shrugged.
Who is John Galt? Den Beste is.
And all of a sudden, now that I think of it that way, it's easier to bear his absence. I'm happy for him, now that the weight has been lifted from his shoulders. I'm happy that he's let go and stopped letting the looters rule his blog. I'm happy for him, and it makes missing him easier.
But now I'm worried about him because he's sick.
(And, yes, I'm relating everything in my life to this book right now. Sue me.)
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He's local here in San Diego, and he quit because he hated the criticism, as one would. The other side of the coin is that he was wrong about a lot of things. Clearly he's an intelligent man, but a self-taught academic where national security policy is concerned. His opinions tended to lack the cachet of real experience.
If one is going to traffic in ideas, one had better be prepared to defend and modify them as necessary.
Posted by: Casca at December 21, 2004 12:52 AM (cdv3B)
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It's amazing to see all the successes among SDB's sidebar/sidebar alumni. Even more than isolated instalanches, a listing on the SDB sidebar assured (assures?) that a blog will be visited. SDB midwifed entire communities of bloggers and readers.
Far more important than "experience" is the ability to think clearly. If you have that, then experience is great, but if you don't have that--which 99.9% of government workers and academics don't--then experience gets you nowhere. You eat sleep piss defecate fornicate in the same old rut.
SDB thinks clearly. Is he always right? No. But only a coward or a newborn is totally innocent. And I've seen a lot of newborns that I suspect, from their sinister grimaces and suggestive burps.
But following SDB's thought processes is a joy, and provides rewards.
When the envious Casca retires will he be missed? Sorry. :-)
Posted by: Rene at December 21, 2004 01:47 PM (3Gxq7)
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If the object is generating hits, then by all means spout kant. I prefer clarity of thought based in reality, not fantasy.
Posted by: Casca at December 22, 2004 04:39 PM (cdv3B)
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"I prefer clarity of thought based in reality, not fantasy."
What an odd thing for him to say. I wonder if he appreciates the irony?
Posted by: Blythe at December 22, 2004 04:52 PM (KGBmM)
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Casca:
Which of his views on national security policy sbould Mr. Den Beste modify? What were the many things he got wrong?
Posted by: Matthew Goggins at December 22, 2004 04:54 PM (OSvpn)
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Glenn Reynolds (Prof. Instapundit) linked to Steven Den Beste's greatest hits page:
http://denbeste.nu/bestof.shtml
The page lists, with links, 64 of the best essays that SDB wrote.
Posted by: Matthew Goggins at December 23, 2004 11:52 AM (OSvpn)
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Casca, in re-reading your comments, I can't help noticing a mean-spirited attitude:
Clearly he's an intelligent man, but a self-taught academic where national security policy is concerned. His opinions tended to lack the cachet of real experience.
If the object is generating hits, then by all means spout kant. I prefer clarity of thought based in reality, not fantasy.
Are you snarky because you disagree with him, or is there something more driving your distaste (e.g. he ran over your dog once, or you were in a bar-brawl with him)?
Posted by: Matthew Goggins at December 23, 2004 12:09 PM (OSvpn)
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December 19, 2004
THEY PUSH AND THEY PUSH
I remember reading some blogger note how ironic it is that Americans write comments on Iraqi blogs trying to tell Iraqis what Iraq is like. Apparently it's gotten the best of Ali, and he's
hanging it up. Thanks a lot, folks.
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What about everyone in the world who tries to tell Americans, and everyone else, what America is like?
I realize it can get ugly, especially when certain Americans try to discredit Iraqi bloggers as 'real' Iraqis because the American is contradicted. If that's the reason for Ali pulling stakes, then I don't know what any of us can do about that. How can we talk if we can't put our opinions in the open?
Posted by: Eric at December 20, 2004 01:24 AM (FcnMj)
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I think/ hope Ali will blog again once Omar and Mohammed come back. Thier trip here will inspire their brother, I hope.
It's too bad that he is cutting off the people who support him because of the words of those who are fighting against him.
Posted by: Sean at December 20, 2004 02:20 PM (qw3zg)
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December 17, 2004
KISMET
Reader
mjseabee on Smash's blog pointed out a wild coincidence. I followed the story of a blogger named SGT Lizzie, who recently ran over an IED and got her "happy ass blown up", as she said. It turns out that Red 6, my husband's best friend, recovered her vehicle. Here's
her account of the story, and here's
his. Thanks to mjseabee for noticing that two bloggers' lives crossed for a moment.
(Update: Looks like they've figured it out.)
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Sarah - when I read Redsix's post the other day I thought the same thing. In his comments section someone alerted him to it. I don't think he was blunt as he was just real. Now that he knows one of the women - I'm sure it's different for him. I think it's amazing personally that two soldiers have crossed paths via the internet like that. Weird. I hope Sgt Lizzie is better soon and home safe. I love reading Redsix. Been teasing him about being 'famous'. Heh. Thanks for linking to him. He OWES him fame to you.
Posted by: Kathleen A at December 18, 2004 10:32 AM (vnAYT)
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December 04, 2004
AND HE'S OFF...
Red 6, the husband's best friend, has caught the blogging bug. Here's the email he sent out (in its entirety):
after some discussion, i have decided to start a weblog. it will probably rule or suck based on my internet connection and time available. we'll see. also...i'm not funny.
Well, that was enough to crack me up, so I'm looking forward to reading Armor Geddon as often as he can post. If you're interested in getting in on the action, he's beginning his blog with a day-by-day of his time in Fallujah. I have only gotten to hear snippets of these stories so far, so I'm anxious to get the details.
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November 20, 2004
DINNER
I had dinner last night with one of those newly-discovered friends in my real life who also reads my blog. We discussed many issues, and I had a good time getting to know her point of view a little better. It's a bit strange: she said that she and another friend discuss new stuff on my blog at work in the morning. But it seems like nobody else thinks it's weird, so I guess I'll go on being whispered about on post.
Some things that we talked about last night that I wanted to give her links to:
Fallujah Marine in Trouble for Pulling a Kerry
You're Not in 'Jesusland' Anymore
Ethics in America (the one you want to watch is Under Orders, Under Fire I & II)
And here's something else we kinda hit on last night:
Americans donÂ’t hate Europeans. We donÂ’t even hate French people. Well, most of us donÂ’t. In fact, by and large, we love Europeans. We find them fascinating and mysterious. We buy European wines and foods and brag about how many American dollars we had to spend on it. We think that Europeans are somehow more sophisticated than we are, and we seek to emulate their sophistication, at least in gesture if not in spirit. But, when you get right down to it, many Europeans simply arenÂ’t individualist enough for us, and so we kind of lose them at some point, usually when we start talking about how much we love our country and our freedoms. It isnÂ’t that we donÂ’t understand that Europeans love their country, too, or that we donÂ’t appreciate European culture. ItÂ’s just that we are American and that means more to us than having a cool accent.
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November 18, 2004
GARBAGE
I didn't blog very much while my husband was here, but I also know that I haven't been putting out very high quality stuff for quite a while now. I just don't have anything good to say. I'm also dealing with some feelings of weirdness that word has gotten out around here about my blog, so all sorts of people who are in my real life are also reading my blog. I therefore keep second-guessing what I want to say. I heard an Iraq anecdote yesterday I'd like to talk about, but I'm not sure it's OK for distribution. I overheard a bizarre statement at the memorial service, but I don't want people to recognize who said it. All of a sudden I want to
pull a fad, to disappear and start a new blog elsewhere under a new name.
But let's face reality, even if I resurfaced, I still wouldn't have anything good to say.
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Sarah - I guess you have to weigh what the consequences would be with your postings. If there's no potential for harm to yours or Russ's careers then the next thing would be offending a friend or acquaintance. If none of these two items apply I'm not sure why you can't post about it. You are never rude with anything I've seen you post but you do worry about other people more than you need to, I think. I really love your blog and this influenced me to start one. Not that I have any traffic but Jeremy (American Warmonger) told me to forget about anyone else and write what I want, but I am usually respectful without resorting to questionable language. Hope this is just a phase for you. :-))
Posted by: Toni at November 18, 2004 08:39 AM (SHqVu)
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I've had the same type of problem lately myself. I've discovered some of my customers read my blog as well as some of my friends. I kept it a big secret for a long time. No One I personally knew prior to blogging read my stuff.
Now I do the same thing you're doing. Should I write this? Will they know who I'm talking about? Will this cause problems?
You're blog is an extention of YOU. The way I've finally come to look at it is, I'm having a converstation with my readers. As with any conversation not everyone will be interested, not everyone will agree and not everyone will like what I say. In real life they would either stand and argue or walk away. That's the same choices they have here. Just use common sense (never a problem for you) and don't be mean (not something you do either) and you have nothing to worry about.
OH....the way I discovered one of my customers was reading was I posted a story about them. No names, just the situation. They pulled me aside after one of my training classes to tell me they enjoyed reading what happened from my perspective (I wasn't happy about the situation I wrote about). I about died.
Posted by: Tammi at November 18, 2004 09:07 AM (UOdfZ)
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I for one would consider it a great loss if you stopped writing. Write what you feel like, it doesn't all have to be profound 100% of the time.
Done any knitting lately?
Posted by: John at November 18, 2004 09:20 AM (+Ysxp)
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Yep, but the knitting is a present, so I can't even talk about that!!!
Posted by: Sarah at November 18, 2004 10:01 AM (SrtId)
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As always, you shouldn't write things on the Internet that you don't want your mom to read. That being said, I nearly fainted when my mom left a comment on my site about something I had written.
That doesn't stop me from saying a bad word every now and then.
My parents read my drivel. Cow-orkers read it. As a bonus, people who don't even know me read it, link it, and quote it. I write whatever I please, for the most part. I wish I wrote more. I certainly won't write anything that would embarass anyone I know (people I don't know are another matter) and I remain somewhat anonymous for job reasons...I don't want anyone to know where I work, even though I'm sure a dedicated researcher could puzzle it out from the little bits I've dropped. Other than those restrictions, I'll write whatever nonsense comes to mind.
You should write whatever is in your personal comfort zone. If you have a good story to tell, but feel that it would be inappropriate to post, then by all means, don't post it. If you have to sanitize it, then do that. I read your stuff because I like to read it, and being Vilseck alumni helps some too.
Readership will wax and wane over time, mostly through forces you can't control. So why worry about it?
Posted by: Jason at November 18, 2004 11:25 AM (565iX)
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Oh, I'm sorry! I'm just so proud of you. Like the links to Sean - I sent that to quite a few people. You speak for a lot of wives, and many of the things you feel are universal among us. Please don't feel intimidated or uneasy about your popularity. And, hey, if you need any help with this confidentiality stuff, I'll be glad to give you my rules of sanitization. They've saved many a company commander!
Posted by: Oda Mae at November 18, 2004 03:49 PM (p3yKT)
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Sarah,
Don't feel bad about your posts. I've been reading for a while and never posted a thing...that is, until I was moved by your passionate writing in response to SSG Fitts.
You have a talent for putting words on paper and giving people things to ponder and maybe even act on. (Like me responding). Keep up the good work and live life to the fullest.
Vonn**
Posted by: Vonn at November 19, 2004 10:33 AM (FmIVz)
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Sarah..grok is also being read and passed around in New Jersey. We love you here, you keep us connected to what is happening on base in Germany and in Iraq to our sons and sons-in-law.
Please don't stop.
Posted by: Mom (someone's) at November 20, 2004 08:49 PM (WXHIS)
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October 06, 2004
DUTY
Faithful readers know that I live with conflicted feelings of not being in the military myself. Maybe it's rationalization, but I found comfort in these
new words from Whittle:
So here I am: feeling useless. But President Bush warned that this was going to be a different war – something unlike anything we had ever seen. The front line now, at this critical time, is in the hearts and minds of our own people. That’s where the real battle is now. That is our weakest point, our breach, our point of failure. We have not made the case to enough people and time is running out.
So maybe now, at this absurd point in this new kind of war, we’re the crack troops, we old and useless pajama patriots reduced to printing up pamphlets to sell war bonds to the weary, to make the case for holding on to an unglamorous, uninspiring, relentless grind because that – not Normandy and Midway – is the face of war in this gilded age of luxury and safety and plenty.
Maybe thatÂ’s our job. Maybe we can help cover some small gap in the lines.
If it's "Duty First", then my duty must be to blog.
I spoke of rejuvenation earlier this week. Whittle can always get me fired up. (He gets Blue 6 and Red 6 fired up too.) And he makes me feel good that I stand with him.
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What a great essay. It makes me want to sit down and try to do the same. I can't.
Posted by: Mike at October 06, 2004 04:54 PM (MqNKC)
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September 28, 2004
MISS
I know he's not coming back. I know. But it seemed so
final when I read
this post that I actually began to cry. His was the first blog I ever read. His was the first blog I checked every morning. He was the one who catapulted me into blogging about a year ago. And he has given me something for which I will always be grateful: the slow, painful journey of learning how to think.
I just miss him, that's all.
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It's always sad when your blogfather goes away.
Posted by: Tom at September 28, 2004 05:51 PM (kmiNS)
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Because by definition according to Frank J., your blogfather is the one who got you into blogging.
Posted by: Tom at September 28, 2004 05:52 PM (kmiNS)
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::sigh:: A giant.. gnawed by rats.
He was my first blog too..... In some ways he was our Mark Twain.. prolific.. with that touch of greatness.
Posted by: LarryConley at September 29, 2004 02:46 AM (aontM)
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We'll always the archives...
Posted by: david at September 29, 2004 03:23 AM (1+76a)
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I only removed him from my blogroll yesterday...
It's a big loss, though it would have been even worse before Wretchard got started.
Still, I miss those mile-long posts full of huge thoughts that would send me into hour-long Googling and reading sprees. I still remember the one and only time he linked to me, too. -smug-
Let's hope Steven can get back to blogging again, sans ankle-biters.
Posted by: Dominic at September 29, 2004 06:44 AM (pqgq+)
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He'll return, no one can resist the darkside....
Wait until after the election when all the vile bile has been spewed. His own interests will require him to write, and once it is written, there is nothing left to do but post.
Posted by: John at September 29, 2004 08:14 AM (crTpS)
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The fact that he's putting his energies into writing about anime has me agog. Not that *I* should say anything, but it is still rather like finding out Stephen Hawking has decided to set aside his work on black holes in order to delve deeply into the intricacies of Magic: The Gathering.
Posted by: Toren at September 30, 2004 09:39 AM (EMlXV)
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September 26, 2004
CATCH UP
We had access to CNN World on our TV, so we watched it periodically to get an idea of what was going on in the world. I never watch the news, so the whole thing was quite infuriating. There were several times I wanted to throw something at the news anchors for the obvious way they were leading their interviewees (One guy badgered the Nigerian president with the same question asked four different ways because he wasn't getting the answer he wanted to hear. And then he shrugged and basically accused the president of lying!) I wanted to rip the larynx out of
Richard Quest.
I started trying to catch up on everything I've missed this week, but I realized it was futile. If you can think of something that I should read that was posted or was not presented on CNN World this week (heh), then mention it in the comments and I'll check it out.
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Sounds like you had my dream vacation. Vacations should be about relaxing; trips are for seeing things.
VDH had an editorial in this week's OpinionJournal. DenBeste is still gone;(, Whittle is getting ready--his page was blank yesterday, Rev. Sensing of One Hand Clapping is also taking leave of the blogoshere

That's just off the top of my head.
Posted by: MargeinMI at September 26, 2004 09:52 AM (lES3B)
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I suffered through Quest's appearances last year when I was in the Middle East. Even the Brits don't much care for him.
Posted by: Mike at September 26, 2004 01:53 PM (+sj2x)
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Quest went from the BBC to CNN. I guess the Beeb wasn't Marxist enough for him!
Posted by: Tanker Schreiber at September 26, 2004 07:05 PM (nJtpb)
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September 20, 2004
TO MY BLOGFATHER
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September 07, 2004
TIPJAR
If we don't help out,
Mudville Gazette will be gone in a few weeks...
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To the cheers of chickenhawks throughout America today in Iraq the thousandth America soldier gave up his life thereby becoming another American hero to the flag waving zealots for tax cuts and cheap oil.
Posted by: mre at September 07, 2004 11:58 PM (s6c4t)
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September 03, 2004
HELP
OK, I need help. I've been looking for over an hour for an article I read the other day on someone's blog. It was a study of how the economy does not have a significant effect on crime. I'm getting really frustrated that I can't retrace my steps; does anyone else know which article I'm talking about?
Posted by: Sarah at
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Was it this article?
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBPX4I8DYD.html
I got it from this post:
http://www.nicedoggie.net/archives/004564.html#004564
Posted by: karishma at September 03, 2004 02:04 PM (xRy/4)
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Ugh, I think I read that one also, and cannot remember where. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who loses track of all the threads I follow.
I'll try to find where I read it before as well.
Hope you and your mom are having a blast!
Posted by: John at September 03, 2004 02:21 PM (+Ysxp)
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The gold medal goes to Karishma! Thank you. One of my former students is writing a paper about the relationship between the economy and crime, and I wanted to point this out but couldn't find it again for the life of me.
Posted by: Sarah at September 03, 2004 05:53 PM (5+7Cq)
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August 29, 2004
BEST
I don't have the patience to go look it up, but a long time ago I wondered if we'd all still be blogging in ten years. I wondered if the fad would die or people would get burned out. I thought we might all hit a point where we just lost interest, but I never wanted to see it happen to
The Best.
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Time and change happeneth to us all, dear. It happened to me, fairly recently. There's no guarantee that Den Beste will break his sabbatical, but there's no guarantee that he
won't, either.
To keep one's enthusiasm for a serious and demanding pastime, one must focus on its rewards and contrive to ignore its costs. Den Beste appears to have been discouraged by the mountains of E-mail he gets, much of which is critical, nit-picky, or disagreeable in tone. Perhaps he'll return after he's shaken off the effect -- and will henceforward delete all his E-mail unread, a tonic for the pundit's soul that I've found most refreshing.
Posted by: Francis W. Porretto at August 29, 2004 09:20 AM (MzH7h)
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He's done a hell of a lot, and he's earned, and I'm sure he needs, a break. I suspect that sooner or later he will need to blog again.
In the meantime, we'll try to hold the fort for him.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at August 29, 2004 02:02 PM (+S1Ft)
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He'll be back once all those who pester quit visiting. Until then, we still have your words, and those of our Curmudgeon, to read.
Posted by: Mike at August 29, 2004 09:32 PM (00cb0)
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August 16, 2004
CPT PATTI
Tim mis-labeled
his blog when he called CPT Patti the "sweetest woman on the planet"; he should have called her the sweetest and best smelling woman on the planet. I don't know if she's taken a billion showers after leaving Iraq, but the first thing I noticed about her was how downright delicious she smelled. And then it was her radiant smile.

Tim and CPT Patti stopped here on their way home from leave in Italy. I originally thought nothing could've been nicer than my trip to Frankfurt to meet Tim, but the addition of Patti was nothing short of heavenly. She was personable and interesting and genuine and just plain great. And of course Tim was the Tim we know and love. They were just excellent together, and it was the best lunch I've had in a long time. I could've talked to them for two days instead of two hours, and I'm humbled that they drove out of the way just to see me.
And I told Tim that if he ever gets the itch, he's welcome to write a guest post here whenever he wants.
Posted by: Sarah at
12:31 PM
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Sarah - that is so cool!!!! I always told Tim that Capt Patti's smile was captivating. But then that smile of yours in sitting next to her is quite radiant too. That is a great picture for you to keep for "memories"!
Posted by: Toni at August 16, 2004 02:10 PM (SHqVu)
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Thanks for sharing that, it's nice to hear how Tim & Patti are doing and see see that picture. It's VERY good to see you smiling!!!
Posted by: Tammi at August 16, 2004 02:55 PM (4Ls5e)
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Thanks for sharing your story - I miss Tim's posts..
Bryan
Posted by: Bryan Strawser at August 16, 2004 06:35 PM (SOmCX)
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Great picture! I'm so glad Cpt. Patti and Tim came to visit you--what a great morale booster! I sure miss Tim's blog too; he was one of the best at keeping us posted on overall news re Iraq. I'm thankful that Patti made it home safely and that they can now spend well-deserved time together.
Your mama
Posted by: Nancy at August 17, 2004 12:45 AM (+jEfD)
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Wow--very cool. The blogosphere is a neat thing, eh? Best to Tim and Patty, and of course you.
Posted by: david at August 17, 2004 01:07 AM (1+76a)
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I love these cross-over stories.
It's just like when Superman would visit the Dynamic Duo in Gotham City.
Posted by: homebru at August 17, 2004 01:37 AM (l9dpT)
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Sarah - wow! The picture came out great. I didn't know since I didn't have my "reading glasses" with me when I took it and you and Patti were just two smiling amorphous blobs in the viewfinder of your really neato 007 type camera.
Patti and I had a magnificent time having lunch with you...thanks for making the time. Patti said after we left that you are extremely intelligent and astonishingly thoughtful. She's just finding out what the rest of us already knew.
Bless you on your six month milestone...and please know that the emptiness of the separation is blissfully erased and replaced by the joy of rediscovering your mate. I find I appreciate my sweet, darling, wonderful wife more now than ever. And that is a really, really remarkable feeling. That you and Russ get to go through it is a blessing-in-waiting for you two.
Hi to Russ, your Mom and those others we have in common.
And thank you again.
Posted by: Tim at August 17, 2004 02:20 PM (8T/dS)
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August 13, 2004
PERSPECTIVE
When I blog, I blog off the cuff. I type, I finish, I post. Which is why the fact that I've started several posts in the past few days and just erased them or saved them as drafts because I know they're garbage is startling. I don't have anything good to say. I'm stumped and I'm down on myself because I feel worthless.
And then the phone rang and I found out LT A will likely be in the hospital for up to six months. And I lost it.
There I was, carrying on because my blogging is not up to par, and then people with actual problems called and reminded me that "gaping shrapnel wounds" are more important than "feelings of inadequacy due to insufficient blog material". I don't think I've ever felt like a bigger idiot.
I'm not blogging anymore for a while, at least not until I have something to say.
Posted by: Sarah at
03:08 AM
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Sarah, check your email.
Posted by: Carla at August 13, 2004 10:40 AM (r5M6F)
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Prayers for Lt. A.
And you do have something to say. I think summertime is slump time for blogging; all that heat.Don't worry, just keep writing.
Posted by: Rachel Ann at August 13, 2004 11:59 AM (+fHyg)
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Sarah the point you're missing is that people who are suffering through what your friend is need to forget sometimes and your great blogging provides that to them (and all of us). Your insights are refreshing and you don't take yourself too seriously. I think you have important things to say - even if they are unrelated to the horrors of war. We blog to escape and to debate. Please continue blogging. We need your ideas.
Posted by: Kathleen A at August 13, 2004 01:09 PM (vnAYT)
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Sarah,
If you quit blogging, you quit reaching out to hundreds of people. There may only be one person that you help each day, but you may make a difference in that one person's life by making them laugh, making them think, making them aware, making them care, and most important of all, making them connect with another human being. You are too critical of yourself. Accept your blogging as your contribution to this crazy, mixed up world, and be thankful God has given you the gift of writing your thoughts on the internet. Keep your chin up. You're entitled to a bad day now and then. Overall, count your blessings and make a difference! I love you!
Your mama
Posted by: Nancy at August 13, 2004 01:25 PM (+jEfD)
Posted by: OkieMinnie at August 13, 2004 03:42 PM (yozcs)
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Prayers for Lt A, for sure. And comfort your way, too. Recharge and then come back to us.
Posted by: Princess Jami at August 13, 2004 06:41 PM (0gPLe)
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If I may be so presumptious, I ditto your mom. I check in on you EVERY DAY, although I rarely comment. If you don't feel like commentating, at least link, please. You have a better line on what's going on, and link to things I like to see. I understand if you're getting a little burned out. (Even SDB, Whittle, Rachel Lucas, etc. do too. Don't dog yourself if you need a break.)
I'm a loyal fan, take some time if you need it. We'll still be here when you come back.
You and Blue6 are in my prayers.
Posted by: MargeinMI at August 13, 2004 06:56 PM (a5xWF)
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I believe in the message that if we keep positive
and treat people well, making them laugh or
feel better about themselves we are helping.
Sometimes we have no idea we have helped someone
and then can learn years later you did and you
grow stronger from that.
Still, sometimes it is hard to see this and we
need time to get in contact with what brings us
our good spirits.
Take your time. rest, think, go to a funny movie,
eat candy, read a encouraging book, get in touch
with friends and talk about this.
The folks that have written the above comments
seem to care about you alot, they will wait
for you and I will bookmark your site so I can
come back and see you are spreading your cheer
as only you can. My prayers are with you and
the person hurt who will get well.
Posted by: cjg at August 13, 2004 11:33 PM (X0vnb)
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My best to Lt. A, and hearty thanks as well. As far as your blogging goes (from a first time visitor) you're doing fine. Even the parts where you second guess your skill are readable and interesting, and isn't it ironic? don't you think? Hang in there, kiddo.
cheers,
M@
Posted by: M@ at August 14, 2004 06:24 PM (W/NM6)
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Take time off whenever you feel like it, this isn't a job, and we'll all still be around in if you don't post for a few days.
Heck, I take months off at a time.
Posted by: John at August 14, 2004 07:10 PM (+Ysxp)
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August 12, 2004
WORSE
I was just trying to find something back on my old Blogspot site.
I had a realization:
I think I was a better blogger back in November than I am now.
Hmmm...that's not good.
Posted by: Sarah at
09:46 AM
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i hadnt started reading you back in november so i dont know about that, but i think youre awesome right now. thats why i check in every day. the fact that youre so hard on yourself as a blogger is what pushes you to do such good work. : )
Posted by: annika at August 13, 2004 12:41 PM (zAOEU)
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I also try to check every day. Don't know that you were better than. To be honest I don't actually recall when I first found your blog, or even how I found your blog.
Yet I'm still here, even when I don't have time to read den Beste or Instapundit I come here.
Keep the faith,
Kalroy
Posted by: Kalroy at August 14, 2004 11:49 PM (q1aeu)
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July 29, 2004
SULLIVAN
I just posted this over on
Vodkapundit's fisking of Andrew Sullivan.
"I have no real beef with Sullivan, but I don't visit his site as often as I used to. I was curious to hear that he had added a donkey to the header on his blog, so I went over there and just read this:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "As few as five people in black robes can look at a particular issue and determine for the rest of us, insinuate for the rest of us that they are speaking as the majority will. They are not." - Rep. John Hostettler, the Republican who authored the bill that would strip federal courts of the right to consider the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. But, of course, it could also be said about the five Supreme Court Justices who made George W. Bush the president of the United States. The Republicans love courts when they reach the right decision; they just despise them when they don't.
Wow. Has he really gotten that far out of hand that he's playing the Bush-stole-the-election game? Geez."
If the man wants to vote for Kerry, then so be it. But please don't all of a sudden start claiming that the election was rigged and other such nonsense. I have always respected Sullivan for his research and insight, so this recent Quote of the Day made my jaw drop.
Posted by: Sarah at
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I now doubt Andrew's sincerity on anything. If he is a one-issue voter, he certainly has been pulling the wool over our eyes for a long time. But that's how it now appears.
Posted by: Mike at July 29, 2004 07:24 AM (MqNKC)
Posted by: annika at July 29, 2004 02:22 PM (zAOEU)
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Sullivan was my first non-Corner regular blog read. Sadly, I rarely bother to check his site anymore.
Posted by: physics geek at July 30, 2004 01:26 PM (Xvrs7)
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July 28, 2004
#17
Several people have written me to point out that I made it all the way up to #17 on
John Hawkins' Top 40 Blogs. When I saw that, I was as flabbergasted as you! Oda Mae wrote in my comments section recently that I should be proud of the things I say on my blog, but I don't really think I'm all that interesting. I still can't believe
anyone reads my stuff, much less people like SGT Hook who are deployed and should have much higher priorities.
But anyway, people do come here, and I certainly appreciate it. Thanks for helping me try to grok.
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Sarah,
I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, 'cause from this view, you're pretty damn cool. I can understand why everyone reads your site and loves it so much.
Posted by: Bush Lover at July 28, 2004 07:40 AM (Dh23Y)
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Yay! As we would have said in the mid-90s, you go girl!
Posted by: Carla at July 28, 2004 10:55 AM (r5M6F)
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Please don't let it go to your head.
I read your work as kinda, sorta letters from a friend who I don't write back to. Well, not often, anyway.
But if you start getting a swelled head about the people who do enjoy your writing, then you'll start trying to be "meaningful". And then I'll start feeling like I didn't understand anything that you wrote and maybe I wasn't really smart enough or good enough to be reading your stuff. And that will make me unhappy and I will stop reading and if everybody does that, then you'll be back to a core audience of ... ?
So don't worry about who is reading. Just keep doing what you been doing.
Cheers.
Posted by: homebru at July 28, 2004 12:30 PM (skKMo)
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Sarah,
You are the only female whose weblog I read every day (most days twice). 8-}
Posted by: Ron - WI at July 28, 2004 11:37 PM (CwrQg)
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Excellent and well-deserved. I think you grok pretty well.
Posted by: Jim at July 29, 2004 03:18 AM (BjDAE)
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