My Life As A Military Spouse: February 2009

2009/02/27

Disgusted

I am so freakin' disgusted with the decisions that are being made by our government and some military related folks that I cannot see straight. My blood pressure is through the roof. I feel sick to my stomach on a 24 hour basis these days.

Given that information, I am taking a blog, email, internet, newspaper, tv (all types of media) BREAK! I simply cannot take it anymore.

See you again when I recover and am rested.

2009/02/25

AGAIN

Boxer Seeks to Ratify U.N. Treaty That May Erode U.S. Rights

Sen. Barbara Boxer is pushing the Obama administration to move forward with ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, a controversial treaty that has never gained much support in the U.S.

Read on

2009/02/24

National Guard Conducting Child Care Survey

The National Guard Family Program Division is pleased to announce the National Guard: Child Care Use During Deployment Survey. National Guard families with children who are currently preparing for deployment, in a deployment phase, or recently returned from deployment (up to 2 months after return) can participate by accessing the Survey Link here.

Information collected in this survey will be used to research perceptions and child care needs of National Guard members. This information will assist in the formulation and improvement of policies for programs benefiting thise families.

Reports will be provided to the National Guard Family Programs Division. Findings may be used in reports and testimony provided to Congress and other Government Agencies. Some findings may be published in professional journals, or presented at conferences, symposia, and scientific meetings. In no case will individual identifiable survey responses be reported.

Providing information on this survey is voluntary. Most people take 10-15 minutes to complete the survey. If you have questions about this survey you may call National Guard Family Programs Customer Service at: 1-888-777-7731.

2009/02/22

“Taking Care of Business”

Pre-deployment to-do list

“Taking Care of Business” is a new Web-based program that soldiers and families
can use to get smart about the legal documents signed before soldiers deploy. In
the pre-deployment process, it helps them talk about the possibility of serious
injury or death. Short videos and other materials can be downloaded by clicking
here.

A series you should read

Coming Home Series

The men of Triple Deuce: ‘Closer than brothers’ in the Army family

A moment that changed everything

Master sergeant, wife adjust to new roles and the effects of the bombing

The Bartells

The Holmeses

The Lees

A family broken by war

For the first time, they're one big family

Sgt. David Johnson's story

The Vances' story

Series conclusion

2009/02/20

The Next 24 Months

Op tempo to quicken before it eases

The overall pace of U.S. military operations is likely to speed up over next 24 months as officials struggle to reduce the force in Iraq, quell insurgent violence in Afghanistan and build out new fighting units in the Army and Marine Corps, the nation’s top officer told troops at two bases Thursday.

“The pace is pretty quick — the pace here, the pace around the world,” Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a joint-service audience at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. “I’d like to stand here this morning and say it’s going to change. I don’t think it’s going to change at all. I think if anything, it’s probably going to quicken for awhile.”

Later, he added, “I recognize the stress that we’re under. We’re in a pretty delicate time; the next 24 months is pretty tough.”

He mentioned the figure during a similar “town hall” meeting at Fort Campbell, Ky., later in the day after repeating his oft-expressed desire to increase the time troops spend at home between deployments, known as dwell time.

“The challenge that we have over the next 24 months or so is a very delicate balance between the number of forces in Iraq, growing the number of forces in Afghanistan, and getting you enough time at home so that you can have a life,” Mullen said.

Mullen said he expects it will take another 12 to 18 months before officials can start to significantly increase dwell time.

A U.S.-Iraq agreement calls for specific timelines for U.S. troop withdrawals, including removing all combat troops from cities and towns by the end of June and all troops from the country by December 2011. It remains to be seen whether that might change; Reuters reported Feb. 8 that senior U.S. commanders favor a slower withdrawal to allow the fragile Iraqi government to stabilize as its security forces continue to mature.

2009/02/19

United States of America needs to brush up on its own history

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them" - Thomas Jefferson

With that quote in mind - 2076 – Can America Make It?

2009/02/18

Relief for Military Homeowners

Relief for Military Homeowners in Stimulus Package

The financial strain affecting so many military families required to move in a bad housing market may soon be alleviated in the newly passed $787 billion stimulus package.

The stimulus — signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17 — features a provision titled the Military Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). HAP benefits (normally payable only at BRAC locations) will be extended to certain military homeowners who bought homes before July 1, 2006 and who sell the homes before Sept. 30, 2012, according to MOAA.com.

HAP was originally written in response to rising foreclosures and the credit crisis, and seeks to add more than $400 million to help military homeowners who are in the middle of foreclosure, or unable to sell their homes in the event of a permanent change of station order.

What’s more, HAP will not only provide help to military homeowners who receive PCS orders and are unable to sell their homes, but will also assist wounded warriors who must relocate due to medical reasons, and surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers who are also forced to move.

The bill "will change this country for the better," said Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., who heads the House Appropriations Committee, in a MarketWatch Report.

Another notable benefit for military families is the $555 million the secretary of defense will use to acquire titles to servicemembers’ homes or reimburse individuals for losses after a private sales or foreclosures, reports the Washington Post.

“We must stem the spread of foreclosures and falling home values for all Americans and do everything we can to help responsible homeowners stay in their homes,” said President Obama in a speech after he signed the bill.

Additionally, the stimulus will help military families who want to buy their first home. A first-time Homebuyer Tax Credit was included in the stimulus to give prospective home buyers a credit of 10 percent of the purchase price, up to a maximum for $8,000. The previous requirement for consumers buying homes after Jan. 1, 2009 to pay the money back would be removed, unless the house is sold within three years of purchase.

“The Congress and the President understand the deep apprehension that the American people feel…about the economic security of their families,” said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in a written statement. “Congress responded with swift, bold, and sweeping legislation that will …transform our nation.”

To learn more about the stimulus visit, Recovery.org. And for more information about how this will help military families, visit Military.com’s Finance channel.

Girls Only

I love the idea of being able to get away and vacation with my girlfriends, sans men. And my husband totally understands that.

I love him!

The sweetest thing

Out of the blue, for no reason at all - my 'babies' made and brought me breakfast this morning.

Banana, toast, nilla wafers and a glass of milk! Yummy!

They can be so very sweet and I treasure each sweet moment that I am able to spend with them.

2009/02/17

In favor

This is the only universal thing that I am presently in favor of! :)

Elder-Care

For those of us that are already 'sandwiched' and for those of us that likely will be - this article offers some elder care cost cutting tips.

2009/02/15

Wizard 101 Online Review

Our family received an invitation to review an online game called Wizard 101.

This game is rated E10.

Wizard 101 is described as:

An online, Wizard school adventure with collectible card magic, wizard
duels, and far off worlds! The game allows players to create a student Wizard in
an attempt to save Wizard City and explore many different worlds.

Wizard101 offers a Free Trial that never ends! Remember though, subscribers
are allowed to complete Wizard City and explore all the far off worlds. Sign Up and start
playing right away! For more information about subscription benefits, click
here.

Our household reviewed the game from various age ranges. Age six to adult.

My husband truly enjoyed the game and I might even say - he is now addicted to it. From his standpoint:

*The game is very easy to start and instructions are easy to understand as well. They have recently updated the program and have made it more user friendly.

*Players do not actually need to be able to read well in order to comprehend how to play, as the pictures are easy to follow. This helps with younger children who do not yet read exceptionally well.

*You can ask other players for help when you are first learning how to play the game and this is very useful.

*You will need to assess your system requirements before downloading the game. Also be sure to read the quick start guide. You can find descriptions on the various "magic schools" here, he recommends that you look this over before you play. Be sure to visit the parent section to learn more.

*This is a great game for the entire family and he looks forward to being able to get online with our children and play this game together when he is away from home on military duty.

Things he would recommend in order to make the game better:

*Almost all of the game cards have explanation, but there are a couple that are not fully explained. After using the program for several weeks some things have become more clear, but he would still like to see a platform with full explanation as to what each of the cards within the game actually do.

*He admits that he may not have gone to the correct location to identify this issue, but suggests that there needs to be an overall "friend blocker" within the game so that you do not have to deny each person as they ask you to become a friend. This would be ideal for families that only wish to befriend each other within the game.

From the wife/mom standpoint:

Our household loves wizards, magic and strategy. We are very much into Harry Potter and Yugioh. That being said, Wizard 101 has become a fast and furious hit within our household.

The game is rated E10 so I researched the parent portion of the site and had my husband play the game before we allowed access to our children. We did this so that we could make a good decision as to whether or not we felt that the game would be appropriate for our children under age 10. The decision was made that we deemed it fine. That decision will surely vary by household and is why you should take the time to look through the parents section and even play the game yourself first. You can set up your childrens accounts with parental controls and with safeguards and I would recommend that you do so. All of this is explained in the parents section of the website.

My entire household is a gaming household and it is rare that we can find computer games that we all enjoy equally and can play together. While we do limit the amount of game time that are children are allowed each week, Wizard 101 has quickly became the game of choice when game time is allowed. I found the game reasonably priced. There are various subscription levels, a family plan and a free trial version that never ends.

The downside to loving the game so much in our house is that you must have an online connection for each player. Now each of my children wish to have their own computers so that they can play against daddy even when we are all at at home. Ahem. Can't you just envision us all at the dining room table, each of us with a computer and gaming against each other? It would be just like board-game night at our house, with added technology. While that picture in my mind is humorous, I actually doubt that everyone in my house will end up with a computer of their very own anytime soon. But, the children are saving their allowances with the long term goal of purchasing their own computers. Goals are good.

The age ranges for playing this game within our house were 6-12. All of the children truly enjoyed the game. Even our youngest (who is still perfecting his reading skills) thoroughly enjoyed it. He did have help now and again from the older children, but the majority of the time he was able to play on his own with his limited reading skills and also by relying on the pictures within the game. The older children had no problem jumping right in and figuring out the game on their own without parental help.

Our household gives the game a big thumbs up.

2009/02/13

Last summer’s ruinous gas pump pains to look like a minor inconvenience?

Thanks to Government, Gas is No Longer "30 Cents a Ding"

Crude oil is getting cheaper — so why isn't gas?

2009/02/12

Supplier Has Stopped Operations

AAFES book, magazine supplier shuts down

Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials are scrambling to find another supplier of books and magazines after their current supplier, Anderson News, announced this week that it has stopped operations.

Anderson News has supplied books and magazines for the majority of AAFES stores in the U.S., as it did for a number of other retailers.

Information was not immediately available about whether the shutdown has affected Navy exchanges or Marine Corps exchanges.

The situation does not have an impact on newspapers, Anstey said. Nor does it affect the delivery of books and magazines to AAFES facilities outside the continental U.S.
“We’ve got teams of people in place trying to solve this issue,” he said. “They’re talking with other CONUS-based suppliers.”

“We are extremely sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and want to assure military shoppers that this is an extremely important issue to AAFES,” said Tim Calkins, contracting officer for AAFES Books and Magazines, in an announcement about the situation.

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." - Abraham Lincoln

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts." - Abraham Lincoln

2009/02/11

No ONE could say it better than Mr. Stokely

OBAMA Speech Addressing Nation on Monday 2/9/09 - Did I hear the question I thought I heard Ed Henry CNN ask?

Tears streamed down my face as I read this post.

Mr Stokely, thank you for your words. I am always interested to hear your thoughts and you always do an outstanding job within your words. Our military family continues to think of you and your family daily.

As to the issue at hand - my husband and I were watching the 'press conference' and when this question was asked by Ed Henry, we both blurted out - "the answer better damn well be NO."

As we all know the answer was not no at that juncture, but I continue to hope that our new President will do what is right and say no. He should also take the words of Mr. Stokely to heart.

Mr. President, be very careful of the decisions you make in regards to all military members and their families, under all circumstances. We are watching you VERY closely.

From the mouth of babes...

Or rather from the mouth of a six year old.

Preface: I demolish cell phones faster than just about anyone. My Razor had a screen that was cracked in 8 different places, but still held together. During the ice storm I had the phone in my pocket while out removing tree limbs from our roof and I dropped the phone, again. It went into a million tiny pieces. I put it back together and it worked - some of the time. I needed a new phone.

My new phone arrived last night via UPS. It was like Christmas for me. Well, except for the having to learn how to use the darn thing portion.

What does my six year old say?

"Mommy, exactly how much stand by time does this phone have and how much talk time?"

"Mommy, you know that is important, right?"

"Can I see that phone mommy?"

"Mommy, this is so cool, it has it's own keyboard and look it has games!"

He figured out how to access the keyboard and the games before I figured it out. As to the stand by & talk time, I suppose this proves that little ears are always listening and absorbing, even when you are not speaking directly to them about a certain topic. He sure did pick up a lot of cell phone knowledge when we visited the store and discussed phone pros and cons with the sales person.

And for the record - No, my six year old, you cannot have a cell phone until you are 18 - so don't even ask!

2009/02/10

French Reject Obama-Like Stimulus Package

The French said no to a stimulus package like Obama’s. When I read the article, my first thought was, “It’s a sign of the apocalypse: the French have become smarter than us.” All joking aside, it is interesting that a socialistic European state is rejecting the idea that a stimulus package like the one Obama is pushing.

Rates going up.......AGAIN...

Stamp prices to go up 2-cents in May

The post office will get an extra 2-cents worth when you mail a letter starting in May.

The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday that the price of a first-class stamp will rise to 44 cents on May 11.

That gives plenty of time to stock up on Forever Stamps, which will continue to sell at the current 42-cent rate until the increase occurs. They will remain valid in the future regardless of rate hikes.

"The Postal Service is not immune to rising costs which are affecting homes and businesses across America today," said Postmaster General John Potter. "Even with the increases, the Postal Service continues to offer some of the lowest postage prices in the world."

Postage rates go up annually in May, with the new prices announced in February. The overall change is tied to the rate of inflation in the year before.

While the new 44-cent rate covers the first ounce of first-class mail, the price for each additional ounce will remain unchanged at 17-cents.

Postal officials estimate the increase will cost the average household $3-a-year.

Buffeted by rising costs and declining mail volume, the Postal Service lost $2.8 billion last year and, unless the economy turns around, is headed toward much larger losses this year.

The agency could have cited extraordinary circumstances and asked the independent Postal Regulatory Commission for larger increases, but officials felt that would only result in a greater decline in mail volume.

The post office has been cutting costs, reducing work hours, and has asked Congress to ease requirements for advance funds for retiree benefits and to allow mail to be delivered five days a week instead of six.

Other changes taking effect May 11:
• The postcard stamp increases 1-cent to 28 cents.
• The first ounce of a large envelope increases 5 cents to 88 cents.
• The first ounce of a parcel increases 5 cents to $1.22.
• New international postcard and letter prices are, for one ounce, 75 cents to Canada; 79 cents to Mexico; and 98 cents elsewhere.

Most Postal Service shipping services prices were adjusted in January and will not change in May.

2009/02/09

Attention on the Second Amendment

Obama, Ginsburg and Guns

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is being treated for pancreatic cancer. While Americans pray for her recovery, this sad news is a sobering reminder that President Obama is likely to appoint several justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. And in the aftermath of last year’s landmark decision on the Second Amendment, gun owners need to zero in on what these events mean for the future of the right to bear arms.

Last year the Supreme Court held in D.C. v. Heller that the Second Amendment secures the right to bear arms for individual Americans. In doing so, the Court rejected the view put forth by liberals that the Second Amendment only empowers state governments to equip their National Guard units.

But too many lose sight of the fact that the Heller decision was a 5-4 decision. Four justices - only one short of a majority - adopted the liberal argument that the Second Amendment does not involve any rights whatsoever for private citizens. The Second Amendment was only a single vote away from being eradicated from the Constitution.

Justice Ginsburg was one of those four.

Fortunately for Justice Ginsburg, the doctors detected the cancer in its earliest stages. But pancreatic cancer is among the most aggressive types of cancer, and even with early detection and immediate surgery her recovery will probably require her to step down. President Obama will likely have to nominate someone to Justice Ginsburg’s seat before his presidential term is finished.

This is a reminder that one of the most consequential things a president does is appoint federal judges, especially those to the Supreme Court. All federal judges serve for life, and they wield the power to authoritatively interpret and apply the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. It is quite possible that President Obama may exercise his appointment power to fill Supreme Court vacancies as many as three times before the 2012 elections.

That being so, legal circles are all abuzz right now about whom President Obama is likely to appoint, either to Justice Ginsburg’s seat or to other seats on the high court that may open up soon. Several judges from the federal appeals courts come up repeatedly, as do several names from elite law schools.

Three people in particular are getting close scrutiny this week because their names are before the U.S. Senate. Mr. Obama has nominated David Ogden, Elena Kagan and Dawn Johnsen to be deputy attorney general, solicitor general, and the assistant attorney general in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), respectively. These positions, in addition to being three of the highest-ranking posts at the Justice Department, are also common stepping stones to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The deputy attorney general is the number two at Justice. The solicitor general is the lawyer who argues for the government in the Supreme Court when the United States is a party to a suit. And OLC issues official legal positions for the federal government.

Each of them - Mr. Ogden, Ms. Kagan and Ms. Johnsen - are committed liberals whose views on a whole range of issues are on the far left. Each of them could argue anti-gun views in our federal courts, and if any of them end up on the bench, could enshrine those views in the law books.

In the aftermath of the Heller decision, there will be a handful of major Second Amendment cases over the next few years that will shape gun rights in this country forever. In fact, it was a pro-gun 2004 OLC opinion that laid the foundation for gun-rights advocates to win the Heller case.

Of all these issues, the most significant is whether the Second Amendment only protects gun owners from the federal government, or if it also applies to states and cities. Liberals argue that the amendment only limits the federal government. There are two major lawsuits underway right now, both of which could go to the Supreme Court.

So gun owners had better beware, and should be urging their senators to ask these nominees tough questions on the Second Amendment.

Separately, last week’s news regarding Justice Ginsburg reminds us of what is important. Even the most powerful people are still only people, with every human frailty. Justice Ginsburg is a cancer survivor, and we can all hope that she defeats cancer again. Justice Ginsburg has led an amazing life filled with historic accomplishments, and millions of Americans offer their prayers for her and her family.

2009/02/08

United Nations' threat: No more parental rights

Expert: Pact would ban spankings, homeschooling if children object

A United Nations human rights treaty that could prohibit children from being spanked or homeschooled, ban youngsters from facing the death penalty and forbid parents from deciding their families' religion is on America's doorstep, a legal expert warns.

Michael Farris of Purcellville, Va., is president of ParentalRights.org, chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association and chancellor of Patrick Henry College. He told WND that under the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, or CRC, every decision a parent makes can be reviewed by the government to determine whether it is in the child's best interest.

"It's definitely on our doorstep," he said. "The left wants to make the Obama-Clinton era permanent. Treaties are a way to make it as permanent as stuff gets. It is very difficult to extract yourself from a treaty once you begin it. If they can put all of their left-wing socialist policies into treaty form, we're stuck with it even if they lose the next election."

The 1990s-era document was ratified quickly by 193 nations worldwide, but not the United States or Somalia. In Somalia, there was then no recognized government to do the formal recognition, and in the United States there's been opposition to its power. Countries that ratify the treaty are bound to it by international law.

Although signed by Madeleine Albright, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., on Feb. 16, 1995, the U.S. Senate never ratified the treaty, largely because of conservatives' efforts to point out it would create that list of rights which primarily would be enforced against parents.

The international treaty creates specific civil, economic, social, cultural and even economic rights for every child and states that "the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration." While the treaty states that parents or legal guardians "have primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child," Farris said government will ultimately determine whether parents' decisions are in their children's best interest. The treaty is monitored by the CRC, which conceivably has enforcement powers.

According to the Parental Rights website, the substance of the CRC dictates the following:

Parents would no longer be able to administer reasonable spankings to their children.
A murderer aged 17 years, 11 months and 29 days at the time of his crime could no longer be sentenced to life in prison.

Children would have the ability to choose their own religion while parents would only have the authority to give their children advice about religion.

The best interest of the child principle would give the government the ability to override every decision made by every parent if a government worker disagreed with the parent's decision.

A child's "right to be heard" would allow him (or her) to seek governmental review of every parental decision with which the child disagreed.

According to existing interpretation, it would be illegal for a nation to spend more on national defense than it does on children's welfare.

Children would acquire a legally enforceable right to leisure.

Teaching children about Christianity in schools has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.

Allowing parents to opt their children out of sex education has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.

Children would have the right to reproductive health information and services, including abortions, without parental knowledge or consent.
"Where the child has a right fulfilled by the government, the responsibilities shift from parents to the government," Farris said. "The implications of all this shifting of responsibilities is that parents no longer have the traditional roles of either being responsible for their children or having the right to direct their children."
The government would decide what is in the best interest of a children in every case, and the CRC would be considered superior to state laws, Farris said. Parents could be treated like criminals for making every-day decisions about their children's lives.

"If you think your child shouldn't go to the prom because their grades were low, the U.N. Convention gives that power to the government to review your decision and decide if it thinks that's what's best for your child," he said. "If you think that your children are too young to have a Facebook account, which interferes with the right of communication, the U.N. gets to determine whether or not your decision is in the best interest of the child."

He continued, "If you think your child should go to church three times a week, but the child wants to go to church once a week, the government gets to decide what it thinks is in the best interest of the children on the frequency of church attendance."

He said American social workers would be the ones responsible for implementation of the policies.

Farris said it could be easier for President Obama to push for ratification of the treaty than it was for the Clinton administration because "the political world has changed."

At a Walden University presidential debate last October, Obama indicated he may take action.

"It's embarrassing to find ourselves in the company of Somalia, a lawless land," Obama said. "I will review this and other treaties to ensure the United States resumes its global leadership in human rights."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been a strong supporter of the CRC, and she now has direct control over the treaty's submission to the Senate for ratification. The process requires a two-thirds vote.

Farris said Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., claimed in a private meeting just before Christmas that the treaty would be ratified within two years.

In November, a group of three dozen senior foreign policy figures urged Obama to strengthen U.S. relations with the U.N. Among other things, they asked the president to push for Senate approval of treaties that have been signed by the U.S. but not ratified.

Partnership for a Secure America Director Matthew Rojansky helped draft the statement. He said the treaty commands strong support and is likely to be acted on quickly, according to an Inter Press Service report.

While he said ratification is certain to come up, Farris said advocates of the treaty will face fierce opposition.

"I think it is going to be the battle of their lifetime," he said. "There's not enough political capital in Washington, D.C., to pass this treaty. We will defeat it."

I find polls interesting

Results of these two polls as of this moment:

Army Times - Bad moves: Have you ever had your property stolen during a military move?

Yes 56.32 % (3683) {This was my vote}

No, but I know people who have 23.60 % (1543)

Never 20.08 % (1313)

Total votes: 6539

Military.com - How do you think President Obama should handle Guantanamo Bay?

Close it as soon as possible.It truly is "a sad chapter in American history." 10%

Keep only the known hard cases there and let the rest go under habeus corpus 10%

Don't touch a thing. Regardless what the do-gooders say, Gitmo is one important reason we haven't been attacked since 9-11. 79% {This was my vote}

2009/02/04

Cool Tool or Big Brother?

Google Latitude keeps tabs on locations

2009 Voting Slogan Contest

Submit Your Entries for the 2009 Voting Slogan Contest Today!

The Federal Voting Assistance Program is pleased to announce the kick-off of the biennial contest to promote participation in the democratic process among citizens covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act -- members of the Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine, their families, and all U.S. citizens residing outside the United States.

To enter just create a simple slogan (or slogans) that expresses the importance of voting and will inspire one to vote. A panel of judges will review all slogan submissions and choose the winning slogan on its originality and motivational value. This winning slogan will be featured in the FVAP’s 2010/2011 outreach campaign which focuses on increasing voter awareness among U.S. citizens worldwideto include the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov , in the 2010/2011 Voting Assistance Guide, on motivational posters, and other FVAP publications.

The contest winner and runners-up will not only feel the satisfaction of knowing that their slogan is helping the FVAP in its efforts to improve voter awareness, but they will also be given a certificate of recognition from the Department for their contribution to this important endeavor.

There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may submit but submit but each entry may only contain one slogan. All entries must be received by April 9, 2009.

All submissions must include your full name, branch of service (if military), mailing address, daytime telephone number, fax number and e-mail address (if applicable). If submitting by mail, please type or print the slogan and contact info on a regular letter size sheet of paper.

How to submit entries:
E-mail: slogan@fvap.ncr.gov Text only (e-mail messages with attachments will be deleted for information security purposes). One slogan per e-mail including contact information.

Fax: (703) 696-1352 or DSN 426-1352. Visit the FVAP website at www.fvap.gov for international toll-free fax numbers. Submit one slogan per fax including contact information. No cover sheet is necessary.

Mail: Federal Voting Assistance ProgramAttn: Voting Slogan Contest1155 Defense PentagonWashington DC 20301-1155

"Be Smart, Do Your Part, Vote!" was the winning slogan for the 2007 Voting Slogan Contest. It was submitted by YNC Karen Bassingthwaite, U.S. Navy, Tampa, Florida. Many of the other exceptional slogan entries for the 2007 Voting Slogan Contest are featured in the 2008-2009 Voting Assistance Guide.

Please join the FVAP in helping to inspire others to vote by submitting your entry today and you could be one of this year’s winners!

2009/02/03

FEMA camps

American Detention Camps?

Ok, I read the above blog article, I adore Judy's blog - the entire article is informative, but what jumped out and slapped me in the face:

The National Emergency Centers Act or HR 645 mandates the establishment of “national emergency centers” which will be located on military installations for the purpose of to providing “temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance to individuals and families dislocated due to an emergency or major disaster,” according to the bill.

Go read the entire thing!

Update - FL Congressman says he wants to offer up closed military bases for this purpose.

Don't ya love it when.....

You forget your shampoo, but the hotel offers you some great smelling shampoo in your room. You see the shampoo, reach for it and what you assume is conditioner as you get into the shower.

You shampoo, then proceed to condition. You discover that the conditioner doesn't feel like conditioner normally does when you put it into your hair. You remove the soap from your eyes to see that you have put lotion on your hair instead of hair conditioner.

Lotion is a good moisturizer, so it can't be all bad. A little weighty on the hair, but still moisture.

Lovely! LOL

2009/02/02

New Age Requirements For Upcoming 2009-10 School Year

DoDDS to Enforce New Age Requirements

Beginning next fall, children must be 5 years old before September 1 in order to enroll in kindergarten. The new policy will also affect new pre-kindergarten, Sure Start and first-grade students. Pre-K and Sure Start students must be 4 by September 1, and new first-graders must be 6 by the same date. Exemptions during the upcoming 2009-10 school year will be made for students who complete kindergarten this year, as well as students from families that receive change-of-duty orders after the present school year has started and who are already enrolled in kindergarten and first grade. Parents and guardians should check with their local elementary school for more information.

Travel with pets

Military families who own pets can run into issues when PCSing or going TDY. Most military installation lodging will not allow pets. A few installations do allow pets and these accommodations are greatly appreciated!

We also have to travel from one installation to another and finding pet friendly hotels in route, especially if you own a pet larger than toy size, can be a huge challenge.

There are many books available for purchase that are very informative for travelers with pets and many websites with pet friendly lodging information. Here are a few travel with pets tips that you might also find useful.

I would really like to see each installation website address the pet issue up front, within their lodging portion of the websites. State boldly if lodging is available for pet owners and if not, have a referral list of nearby hotels that do allow pets and with what conditions. This would relieve a great deal of stress for military families traveling with pets.

Up until last year, our current installation did not allow pets in lodging. There were no hotels in the nearby town that allowed pets either. This issue was raised during the installation AFAP conference and on installation lodging now allows military families with pets.

Have you had any issues with finding hotels or temporary lodging due to being a pet owner?

2009/02/01

Shhhhhhh, it's not the 'war on terror' anymore - didn't you know?

Some things that I read just make me want to barf.

And on that general topic - Mr. Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary, could you please, PLEASE go and enroll yourself in a college level public speaking 101 class and stop saying "AH and UM" during your press briefings? Even a high school level class would do at this juncture!

Please, sir, with all due respect, you make me want to throw things at the television and therefore I do not hear anything that you have to say because all that I keep hearing is "AH and UM" - I desperately try to count how many times you say those words within one briefing, then I lose track because the number is so astronomical. I assume that you would like me to hear more than that: like, um, maybe, ah, the ah, message, um, you know, um, that you are trying to get across, um, to the, ah, um, American Public.

Ahem!

My Life As A Military Spouse