- Isaiah 40:5

O DIVINE MASTER,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled
as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

AMEN.

On that topic, I found a metaphorical $20 bill in my winter coat.  When the weather gets cold, and we bring out the winter coats, it’s entertaining to find things in the pockets that we haven’t seen for eight months.  It gets even better when the things we find are money.  Sort of like that, I figured out why my paychecks got bigger last month.  We don’t get raises until the Spring, I haven’t gotten any bonuses, and I haven’t done any hazardous assignments.  Likewise, I’m not expecting any reimbursements.  The number just got bigger.  And then, I looked at the standard deductions and remembered that this happens toward the end of every year.  Sweet.

It sure does help with the holiday shopping.

And really, I’m ok with that.

Offered for your information, as the weather is getting cold.

By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com

According to research performed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand sanitizer is considered as effective at killing germs as washing your hands with soap and water, unless hands are visibly soiled.

The main point to remember, however, is that the alcohol content of the handrub must be at least 60 percent to be effective.

To keep yourself and your family healthy, it’s important to clean your hands, especially after you’ve used the restroom or prepared food. Vigorously washing your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds is still a tried and true method. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be a convenient alternative, however, as you can use them on-the-go–after you have been on public transportation, touched an animal or grocery cart, etc. The CDC recommends both hand sanitizing wipes and alcohol based gels.

Be sure to use enough to cover all surfaces of your hands, including between your fingers, and rub your hands until they are dry.

I used up all of the Pepsi points divisible by 5 - I have 4 left. Is today really my last day to use them? I’m sure I’ll have bottle caps waiting for me at my office. I ran into plenty of “doesn’t play with Pepsi” artists today, though.

That’s about it. It’s Saturday. You’re not going to read this anyway.

000 xxx xxx

xxx, xx 00000-0000

14 November 2008

“Sgt. Grit”, d/b/a grunt.com

7100 SW 44th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73179-4303

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is about a product found on your web site at the URL:

http://usmcshop.grunt.com/Products/Marines/AutoAccessories/BumperStickers/Default.aspx

Specifically, I am referencing this (backordered!) bumper sticker:

Yesterday morning, I drove behind a woman with this bumper sticker on her car.  Whether the sticker means adjusting sights or 1.5 kilometers, doesn’t matter. Either way, I wanted to read the riot act to this woman. Let’s set aside the fact that I dislike anti-honor-student stickers. At a time when the US is flagging behind other nations, we should be proud as a community of our academic achievers.

I had to wonder, does my country’s military train its soldiers to kill schoolchildren, or is it just this woman’s significant other? If it’s the latter, should she be proud of this? Is he part of a homicidal military gang? Is he suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder? Is he not transitioning well from the war zone he just left? Maybe he’ll pick off children, and shoppers at the Home Depot, and bus drivers, and random people pumping gas into their cars as a prelude to a larger plan of killing pregnant women and police while recruiting young boys to do the same.  (Sgt. John Allen Williams – look him up.)

This is northern Virginia, home to both the Pentagon and some of the DC Beltway sniper shootings. Do you really want to associate the two just so you can put down scholastic excellence? That really makes me sick.

I understand the warrior culture is strong, and that we have a lot to thank for it.  However, this goes too far – as do, dare I say, many of the bigoted and narrow-minded sentiments expressed in your products.

With respect for family and country,

Kevin xxx

cc:           CMC (PAC)
Headquarters Marine Corps
3000 Marine Corps
Pentagon 4A532
Washington, DC 20350-3000

“I didn’t know you collected these things!”
“Well, only for a couple more days - the program is over on 11/15.”
“I’ll bring you mine!”
“Well, thanks, but…”

And now three more people are dumping them on my desk.

As I go through Amazon.com to use these Pepsi points (time is running out!), my first few hits aren’t available through the program:

Figured You Out - Nickelback (just that song on the album!)
Use Me - Hinder
Won’t Go Home Without You - Maroon 5
She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5
The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani (almost none of her catalog is eligible)

I could just download a bunch of Nickelback, Evanescense, some Linkin Park, maybe some Auf der Maur… but I really wanted to dip into some uncharted territory.  Do I indulge in my rock/pop-girl weakness (Avril Lavigne, P!nk, …)?

It’s almost harder to make choices when the stuff is free.

On the other side of the bumper was a sticker that read, “My Marine Can Pick Off Your Honor Student in a Click and a Half” [sic]. Whether they meant adjusting sights or 1.5 kilometers, doesn’t matter. Either way, I wanted to read the riot act to this woman. Let’s set aside the fact that I dislike anti-honor-student stickers. At a time when the US is flagging behind other nations, we should be proud as a community of our academic achievers.

Does my country’s military train its soldiers to kill schoolchildren, or is it just your significant other? If it’s the latter, should you be proud of this? Is he part of a homicidal military gang? Is he suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder? Is he not transitioning well from the war zone he just left? Maybe he’ll pick off children, and shoppers at the Home Depot, and bus drivers, and random people pumping gas into their cars as a prelude and cover to finally killing you.

This is northern Virginia, home to both the Pentagon and some of the DC sniper shootings. Do you really want to associate the two just so you can put down scholastic excellence? That really makes me sick.