OK so I was planning on doing a book review a day since the wife was gone... that was until I came down with a nasty stomach bug that is...so now that I've recovered I have a whole lot of homework for school and lets not forget x-mas shopping...though I will note here it is the 14th of December and Congress still has yet to fund our troops.
But enough about that little irritant.
As I have mentioned, I'm currently working on my Master's Degree in Information Assurance from the University of Maryland. This is my first semester so I thought I'd take Intro to grad level writing. I will have to admit it has been a great class. The final for the class is a rather lengthy term paper, which is due in final draft form on Monday. While I'm not going to post the whole thing on here as well, after I have turned it in, I'll be posing a little snippet. What I discovered while researching the paper was informative enough that I think the info should be shared.
Until then...
Ish
Friday, December 14, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
This weeks book review: Ender's Game
This weeks Book Review is
Orson Scott Card Ender's Game
From Wikipedia: The story starts with "mankind having made contact with an insectoid alien race known to humanity as the "Buggers", or more formally as "Formics". The buggers have attempted to invade Earth twice; having been narrowly defeated the second time by a man named Mazer Rackham, and the threat of a third bugger invasion looms large over the Earth.
Enter Ender Wiggin, christened Andrew Wiggin, his nickname given to him by his sister Valentine, a six-year-old boy and third child of his parents, an audacity under the population restriction laws, permitted only by special sanction by the government hoping he will be a combination of his violent older brother Peter and his kind hearted sister Valentine. The International Fleet (IF) is seeking the next brilliant military commander among Earth's children. Young Ender is approved by the government for training at the elite Battle School, a space station where children are trained. Ender chooses to accept Colonel Graff's offer to attend, leaving behind his world for the hope of the future."
The story only gets better from there, the story follows Ender through his time at battle school. While there are sequals that follow Ender's story, I would recomend getting the parallel story which has its own set of sequals following one of other children at Battle School rather then the Ender sequals, but I'll save that book for next week. This Hugo award winning story is a must have for any science fiction fan. It is also a great book to introduce book young readers to the world of science fiction. So if you are Holiday Shopping and in need of ideas of what to get the school age reader or all-round science fiction lover, check out Ender's Game.
Also for those of you who like these reviews, I have good news. Piggy and her mom will be in flying out Saturday to visit the in-laws for two weeks SO I will have some free time on my hands, about two weeks worth. So I'm going to under take a challenge just for you all, I'm going to try to do a review a day while they are gone. Besides giving me material to post, if just one of you reads a review and buys the book as a present for a loved one, I will have done my small part of helping spread the joys of reading.
Orson Scott Card Ender's Game
From Wikipedia: The story starts with "mankind having made contact with an insectoid alien race known to humanity as the "Buggers", or more formally as "Formics". The buggers have attempted to invade Earth twice; having been narrowly defeated the second time by a man named Mazer Rackham, and the threat of a third bugger invasion looms large over the Earth.
Enter Ender Wiggin, christened Andrew Wiggin, his nickname given to him by his sister Valentine, a six-year-old boy and third child of his parents, an audacity under the population restriction laws, permitted only by special sanction by the government hoping he will be a combination of his violent older brother Peter and his kind hearted sister Valentine. The International Fleet (IF) is seeking the next brilliant military commander among Earth's children. Young Ender is approved by the government for training at the elite Battle School, a space station where children are trained. Ender chooses to accept Colonel Graff's offer to attend, leaving behind his world for the hope of the future."
The story only gets better from there, the story follows Ender through his time at battle school. While there are sequals that follow Ender's story, I would recomend getting the parallel story which has its own set of sequals following one of other children at Battle School rather then the Ender sequals, but I'll save that book for next week. This Hugo award winning story is a must have for any science fiction fan. It is also a great book to introduce book young readers to the world of science fiction. So if you are Holiday Shopping and in need of ideas of what to get the school age reader or all-round science fiction lover, check out Ender's Game.
Also for those of you who like these reviews, I have good news. Piggy and her mom will be in flying out Saturday to visit the in-laws for two weeks SO I will have some free time on my hands, about two weeks worth. So I'm going to under take a challenge just for you all, I'm going to try to do a review a day while they are gone. Besides giving me material to post, if just one of you reads a review and buys the book as a present for a loved one, I will have done my small part of helping spread the joys of reading.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Forever War : A Ish's Cyber Wolf Den Rewiew
This weeks book review is on Joe Haldeman The Forever War
Here's the excerpt from the back of the book:
The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand - despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away.
A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite military unit, Private Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict;
to preform his duties without rancor and even rise up through the military ranks. Pvt. Mandella is willing to do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle becasuse, thanks to time dilation caused by space travel,
Mandella is aging months while the Earth he left behind is aging centuries.
This was a great book. It also falls inline with my current topic of Veteran-Americans or current and former mlitary and their families as a cultural minorities.
May have said this book was about unending war and never being able to go home again, but it is more than that. This book, through science fiction helps to illistrate the bonds military members form.
Also while exaggerated by time dilation, this book does a great job of describing what it like and the affects of being assigned to a remote or deployed away from your family and friends and why it can be hard to deal with for you and them during and when you return.
The ordeals cab be especially when the deployment or assignment ends and its time to come home. what are you coming home to? What life changing events may have happened to you or thm during this time?
People don't live in a vacuum, they change, you change, the experiences you and they have are completely different and sometimes unless you have been through similar experiences it is very difficult to express them.
You would be surprised how much people can change in as little as 3 to 6 months. For example I have a good friend missed a lot of his first child's memorable moments because he was deployed. I'm not saying that his deployed mission wasn't important or that it was a waste of time and he should have been home. Far from it.
The work assigned to the men and women in the military by our government is important. what I'm talking about here is the bonds of family and the sacrifices military families go through that few other groups of people do.
So this thanksgiving take a moment of your time, hug your loved ones and give thanks for the men and women at home and abroad searing in the military who take up the personal responsibility and make the sacrifices to ensure your can have a holiday season in this great country. And take just one more moment to think about the families of the men and women who are apart from their loved ones.
So while your out shopping the Black Friday sales pick up a copy of The Forever War for the sci-fi or military member of the family (then borrow it for your self it is a great read.) Also while your out at the Black Friday Sales pick up something small and donate it to toys for tots. (Yes I know what your thinking: But your Air force and its mainly sponsored by the Marines. SO WHAT its a great program, give them a hand/donation anyway, unlike the current S-CHIP debacles, this actually for children!)
Take care and in case I don't post again: have a great thanksgiving.
Ish
Here's the excerpt from the back of the book:
The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand - despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away.
A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite military unit, Private Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict;
to preform his duties without rancor and even rise up through the military ranks. Pvt. Mandella is willing to do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle becasuse, thanks to time dilation caused by space travel,
Mandella is aging months while the Earth he left behind is aging centuries.
This was a great book. It also falls inline with my current topic of Veteran-Americans or current and former mlitary and their families as a cultural minorities.
May have said this book was about unending war and never being able to go home again, but it is more than that. This book, through science fiction helps to illistrate the bonds military members form.
Also while exaggerated by time dilation, this book does a great job of describing what it like and the affects of being assigned to a remote or deployed away from your family and friends and why it can be hard to deal with for you and them during and when you return.
The ordeals cab be especially when the deployment or assignment ends and its time to come home. what are you coming home to? What life changing events may have happened to you or thm during this time?
People don't live in a vacuum, they change, you change, the experiences you and they have are completely different and sometimes unless you have been through similar experiences it is very difficult to express them.
You would be surprised how much people can change in as little as 3 to 6 months. For example I have a good friend missed a lot of his first child's memorable moments because he was deployed. I'm not saying that his deployed mission wasn't important or that it was a waste of time and he should have been home. Far from it.
The work assigned to the men and women in the military by our government is important. what I'm talking about here is the bonds of family and the sacrifices military families go through that few other groups of people do.
So this thanksgiving take a moment of your time, hug your loved ones and give thanks for the men and women at home and abroad searing in the military who take up the personal responsibility and make the sacrifices to ensure your can have a holiday season in this great country. And take just one more moment to think about the families of the men and women who are apart from their loved ones.
So while your out shopping the Black Friday sales pick up a copy of The Forever War for the sci-fi or military member of the family (then borrow it for your self it is a great read.) Also while your out at the Black Friday Sales pick up something small and donate it to toys for tots. (Yes I know what your thinking: But your Air force and its mainly sponsored by the Marines. SO WHAT its a great program, give them a hand/donation anyway, unlike the current S-CHIP debacles, this actually for children!)
Take care and in case I don't post again: have a great thanksgiving.
Ish
Friday, November 16, 2007
I AM A Veterian-American!!!
Two posts in one day? Yes my friends I'm working hard to catch up. Ive been working on this post the last two days, I wanted to get my research right before I went on a limb. So with out further ado....
This has been building for some time now but after this past weekend I finally had to say enough is enough. I have been on the sidelines of the military blogging scene for a while now and what other have said have made sense to me. One web site Old War Dogs, particularly hit a nervy. While I'm not going to repeat the entire posting, I will say that after this past weekend not only do I agree with it I would like to pass it on in an attempt to help spread this message.
OK, lets get you caught up with me, here is some background and definitions to get you up to speed:
Ethnic group:
Lectric LawLibrary's Lexicon US Code 18: ETHNIC GROUP - A set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of common cultural traditions or heritage.
Answer.com Ethnic: Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage.
ABC World Net An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. This boundary may take any of a number of forms รข€” racial, cultural, linguistic, economic, religious, or political and may be more or less porous. Because of this boundary, members of an ethnic group are often presumed to be culturally or biologically similar, although this is not in fact necessarily the case. Another characteristic of ethnic groups is continuity in time, that is, a history and a future as a people. This is achieved through the intergenerational transmission of common language, institutions, values and traditions. It is important to consider this characteristic of ethnic groups if we are to distinguish them from a group of individuals who share a common characteristic, such as ancestry, in a specific point in time. On the political front, ethnic groups are distinguished from nation-states by the former's lack of sovereignty.
Lets take a look at the "boundaries" step by step to see if Veterans past/prestent(Active Duty) and our dependents could qualify under these definitions:
Members identify with each other? Yeah I think Veterans, active duty, reserve, guard and our dependants identify with each other. NEXT.
Distinct group with common cultural heritage/traditions? I have heard this term used several times when referring to the military life style and our enlisted, officer, service heritage i.e. cultural history. Also believes and traditions: Never leaving our fallen behind, promotion, retirement, change of command ceremonies. So, yeah I would say we have our own traditions and heritage! Next.
Distinct linguistics? Rodger, 5by5, Whuwah, Sir Yes Sir, Skull F*&k (sorry had to include it :), Wall to wall counseling, Exchange, Class 6, Bingo Fuel, RTB, Incoming, Wingman, munition,
boat, ship, Air Boss, TACON, say again-Over. SecDef, SOCOM, etc. Yup we're good here, Next!
Distinct economic? Paid poorly, BAH, BAS, have our own grocery stores, shopping centers, and stores that cater to our unique needs (commesaries, exchanges, clothing sales). Heck we have a section of tax law just for us. so..... Next!
Polictical? Um couldn't you call defending the rights of others political? What about defending the Constitution. Heck we even have our own uniques laws ala UCMJ, So Next.
Religious? well this one we don't meet full unless you call our the belief that we include everyone regardless of what they believe. After all we do have our own chaplains who cater to our special needs.
So we pretty much meet the definition. So what does this mean? If we could be or are considered an ethnic group then a whole set of laws that are designed to help us and prevent oppression like say hate speech laws. If we soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen past and
present and our families are an ethnic group then there would be no difference between the penalties that could and SHOULD be brought against someone who holds up a sign that says “Thank god for dead soliders.” than there would be for some one who held up a sign that said “Thank god for dead Whites/Blacks/Hispanics/Jews/Christians/Muslims/Pagans/
Also if we were recognized as a ethnic group it would only take simple math to figure out that we would be considered “minority” ethnic group.
I have no clue how to get this recognized in a legal/official manner, so any Veteran-American lawyers out there reading this who wants to take up some pro bono work drop me a line/e-mail I would line to find out how we could move this effort forward.
Read more: Veterans as an Ethinic Minority
Just a disclaimer I am not a lawyer, which is why I asked for one's opinion, so before you go taking what Ish says as legal advice I ask you to take a moment and think and contact a real lawyer before acting in any way which might lead you down a possible run in you local, state, and/or ferderal police departments.
Have a good Friday and weekend (just in case I don't get a chance to post again this weekend).
Ish
SecDef Plays Hardball!
Cdr. Salamander wrote: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that unless Congress passes funding for the Iraq war within days, he will direct the Army and Marine Corps to begin developing plans to lay off employees and terminate contracts early next year.
Gates, who met with members of Congress on Wednesday, said that he does not have the money or the flexibility to move funding around to adequately cover the costs of the continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"There is a misperception that this department can continue funding our troops in the field for an indefinite period of time through accounting maneuvers, that we can shuffle money around the department. This is a serious misconception," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.
As a result, he said that he is faced with the undesirable task of preparing to cease operations at Army bases by mid-February, and lay off about 100,000 defense department employees and an equal number of civilian contractors. A month later, he said, similar moves would have to be made by the Marines."
Go here to see here for the rest of the article: Cdr. Salamander
I think this is a great idea! I personally think he needs to start in the states/districts that have representatives who rely heavily on defense jobs/dollars but continue to not support our troops. However, the military is not supposed to be partisan, so, the SecDef should select either two states/districts one Democrat one Republican or one state/district with both, say Nevada: Senators Reid(D) and Ensign(R). This way it hits both parties get hit with one cut. I also think he should make one cut a week from from these states/districts until the troops are fully funded. See how Congress likes being held hostage for one!
Ish
Gates, who met with members of Congress on Wednesday, said that he does not have the money or the flexibility to move funding around to adequately cover the costs of the continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"There is a misperception that this department can continue funding our troops in the field for an indefinite period of time through accounting maneuvers, that we can shuffle money around the department. This is a serious misconception," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.
As a result, he said that he is faced with the undesirable task of preparing to cease operations at Army bases by mid-February, and lay off about 100,000 defense department employees and an equal number of civilian contractors. A month later, he said, similar moves would have to be made by the Marines."
Go here to see here for the rest of the article: Cdr. Salamander
I think this is a great idea! I personally think he needs to start in the states/districts that have representatives who rely heavily on defense jobs/dollars but continue to not support our troops. However, the military is not supposed to be partisan, so, the SecDef should select either two states/districts one Democrat one Republican or one state/district with both, say Nevada: Senators Reid(D) and Ensign(R). This way it hits both parties get hit with one cut. I also think he should make one cut a week from from these states/districts until the troops are fully funded. See how Congress likes being held hostage for one!
Ish
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Mia Copa I know I'm late
This weeks been busy for me and I know that excuses have about zero range. But here is Tuesday's book review on Thursday.
This weeks been busy for me, with a first draft of a 20 page paper due in one of my Master's classes due. But as the author of this weeks book review has said "excuses have about zero range." So, here is Tuesday's book review on Thursday.
As mentiontioned last week I'm restarting John Ringo's Posleen War Series with A Hymn Before Battle. This book starts off strong and doesn't ease up. In fact it grabs you by the shirt and doesn't let go untill the very end. Even then leaves you wanting more!
The back of the book and Mr. ringo's web sight say the following about the book "With the Earth in the path of the rapacious Posleen, the peaceful and friendly races of the Galactic Federation offer their resources to help the backward Terrans-for a price."
The concept behind the book is intresting and the story arc well thought out. Mr. Ringo writes well thought out characters that make you want to read more to find out what happens to them. Also at the time of this review Amazon is offering this book as apart of its 4-for-3 promtion, so if you have a sci-fi reader in the family and they don't have this book I would highly recomend it as a great buy for christmas!
If you want to read more go to the Baen web sight they sometimes offer chapters and prolgue one line. In fact in the Baen library they some times have this book as am on-line freebie.
So whether your a sci-fi fan or know someone who is this book would be a great and welcomed addition to any collection.
This weeks been busy for me, with a first draft of a 20 page paper due in one of my Master's classes due. But as the author of this weeks book review has said "excuses have about zero range." So, here is Tuesday's book review on Thursday.
As mentiontioned last week I'm restarting John Ringo's Posleen War Series with A Hymn Before Battle. This book starts off strong and doesn't ease up. In fact it grabs you by the shirt and doesn't let go untill the very end. Even then leaves you wanting more!
The back of the book and Mr. ringo's web sight say the following about the book "With the Earth in the path of the rapacious Posleen, the peaceful and friendly races of the Galactic Federation offer their resources to help the backward Terrans-for a price."
The concept behind the book is intresting and the story arc well thought out. Mr. Ringo writes well thought out characters that make you want to read more to find out what happens to them. Also at the time of this review Amazon is offering this book as apart of its 4-for-3 promtion, so if you have a sci-fi reader in the family and they don't have this book I would highly recomend it as a great buy for christmas!
If you want to read more go to the Baen web sight they sometimes offer chapters and prolgue one line. In fact in the Baen library they some times have this book as am on-line freebie.
So whether your a sci-fi fan or know someone who is this book would be a great and welcomed addition to any collection.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Well its the 11th of Nov and guess what?
Still no appropriations bills passed or send to the President. Dull, Shock, Surprise. And where is Congress you ask? probably enjoying the nice three day week end. This will be the last time I rant on this particular subject for a while. Its not that I'm running out of steam its just there there are so many other things to chat about/bring to your attention that continuing on this one very narrow topic may bore the snot out of some people.
So as I sit here watching the Piggy play with her little mat gym I can't help but wonder what the future will bring. Not just for her generation but in the up coming years. This country's leaders continue to ask a great many things of its military personnel and they are most of the time all to happy to answer the call. But where are these same leaders when it comes time to keep their implied promise of supporting those brave men and women who answered their call? Either at home enjoying a nice cook out or holding those bills hostage to pork barrel spending, ear marks, and/or political agendas.
So this weekend I only ask two simple things, if you know a vet please take the time out to thank them it doesn't take long but it will/can make a big difference in their lives. and two take some time out and think about what your elected leaders in Washington D.C. and respective State Capitals are doing. Are they supporting those same brave men and women? Are they doing the job you helped elected them to do? Are they proposing/supporting legislation that you support and/or think is good for this country? If you answered no to any or all of these questions, please take some time and shoot them a message of some kind, e-mail, letter, phone call and let them know. After all they work for YOU not the other way around!
Ish
So as I sit here watching the Piggy play with her little mat gym I can't help but wonder what the future will bring. Not just for her generation but in the up coming years. This country's leaders continue to ask a great many things of its military personnel and they are most of the time all to happy to answer the call. But where are these same leaders when it comes time to keep their implied promise of supporting those brave men and women who answered their call? Either at home enjoying a nice cook out or holding those bills hostage to pork barrel spending, ear marks, and/or political agendas.
So this weekend I only ask two simple things, if you know a vet please take the time out to thank them it doesn't take long but it will/can make a big difference in their lives. and two take some time out and think about what your elected leaders in Washington D.C. and respective State Capitals are doing. Are they supporting those same brave men and women? Are they doing the job you helped elected them to do? Are they proposing/supporting legislation that you support and/or think is good for this country? If you answered no to any or all of these questions, please take some time and shoot them a message of some kind, e-mail, letter, phone call and let them know. After all they work for YOU not the other way around!
Ish
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