Mind Tools

Mind Tools is a super collection of cerebral tools for the working man. Tim Allen's plaintive cry, "More Power!" is answered here, for the thinker. The collection of mnemonic tools is impressive, as well. If anything, it will provide you some party tricks to astound your friends.

Twenty Years in the Army

Well, I finally made it. Twenty years ago today, I kissed my wife goodbye and got on a jet in Columbus, Ohio and made my way to Columbus, Geordia. I've been wearing Army green ever since. The intervening years have been interesting:

• Two shooting wars in Iraq.
• Peacekeeping/training deployments to Kosovo, Kenya, Kuwait, Korea, and Kentucky.
• Four trips to the NTC at FT Irwin, CA and two trips to JRTC at FT Polk, LA.
• Three tours in Fort Bragg, culminating in over 70 static line parachute jumps.
• Surgery in two different Army hospitals.
• Three children born on two different Army posts.
• Six months of Arabic language instruction at FT Bragg.
• Survived ass chewings from Private First Class to Major, much to the surprise of friends and foes alike.
• Over four years spent away from home in exercises, schooling, and war.
• Mother, brother, and several Army friends passed away during the last two decades.

It's been a hard, but good ride. I'm ready to moveon.org. --GT

Olympia's Irish Cottage Fair

Can you believe it? The City Council is considering canceling the annual Irish Cottage Fair. That's not fair. The city invests a paultry $1,500 for this great event, which showcases lots of volunteer talent that doesn't have a spot in the Ethnic Festival. Lots of letters have been written already. I hope the Parks and Recreation chairlady reconsiders...

I was hoping to jump in and play some sort of Irish-type instrument at the next one with my Session buddies.

#1 Correspondence Chess Site

When you are deployed to all parts of the world, keeping in touch with friends via a friendly, slow-paced correspondence chess game is a good idea. A website I discovered recently makes correspondence chess a breeze. SchemingMind.com is a web-based correspondence chess site that has a tailorable graphic interface, keeps track of several concurrent chess games, and even notifies your opponent via email when you make your move. You can play up to ten games free, or register for under 20 bucks a year for unlimited games (10 is currently plenty for me).

The Cost of Freedom

In Mosul today, we lost two Civil Affairs troopers to a car bomb. They didn't know what hit them. What bothers me is that reports came back about a crowd of 50 or 60 gathered to watch my fellow Civil Affairs troopers burn in the fire. Apparently, nobody lifted a finger to help anyone in a US uniform.

If they had known that one of the Americans killed in the suicide attack had implemented several economic programs for the city of Mosul, perhaps they would have done something other than watch the fire. But then again, maybe not.

Ungrateful sons of bitches. Our magnanimity to these barbarians is wearing thin.

GI Bill Increase

Back in the day, when I signed on the dotted line in Columbus, Ohio, I got a lot less. Uncle Sam put two dollars for every one of mine, up to a total of about $6,000 or so. Today, that would get me about two weeks into Harvard. Nowadays, folks are getting $36,000, which is approaching a respectable benefit. Now you can get through perhaps a year at Harvard, not counting Books, Lab Fees, Room, and Board! (I'll stick with the University of Phoenix for now, thank you.)

My son is getting this deal through the Air Force now. Way cool.

American trio wins physics Nobel

Leave it to smart bald guys to keep America in the Nobel Prize race. You just don't see Ted Koppel hairdos at these events. Is there a positive correlation between follicularly-challenged males and their intelligence quotient? Nah--Curly blows that theory out of the water. So much for my shot at a Nobel...

Quest for Univ. of Phoenix MBA

Well, I've taken the MBA plunge. The University of Phoenix is my latest iron in the fire. What's with this sadomasochistic struggle for self improvement? (I inflict pain on both myself and the hapless recipient of my writing assignments.) Possible answers are:

(A) The current Global War on Terror (GWOT) has a nation building aspect that relies heavily on old-fashioned business savvy.

(B) Masters Degrees are today what Bachelors were 15 years ago.

or,

(C) A West Virginia GED just ain't gittin' it in today's corporate culture.

Remember, in multiple choice tests, C is generally a safe bet.