You'll need a bunch of candles because somebody's having a birthday!

More here.

Did you know the first ship was named Alfred?

Eight years ago today, the attack On The USS Cole (DDG-67) cost 17 American sailors their lives.

Remember them.

But tune in to listen to us chat about current issues... We promise it won't be dull!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/spousebuzz/2008/10/10/Parents-Zone 2100 hours Eastern (9PM if you're bad at math or the 24 hr clock)

You can call in (646) 478-5665.

They did that back in 2006, too. Tabulated scores for the Senate can be found below (click continue reading...)

Prime Minister Geir Haarde rushed emergency measures through the Nordic nation's parliament to nationalise Landsbanki and give the country's largest bank, Kaupthing, a £400m loan to bolster its balance sheet.

Landsbanki has been put into the control of the Icelandic financial regulator to prevent the meltdown of the country's financial system, triggering the collapse of its popular internet savings arm Icesave.

Mr Haarde confirmed that he was sending a delegation to Iceland's "new friend" Russia to negotiate a £3bn capital injection into the country's finances, after the country's traditional Western allies refused to help the collapsing banking system.

The loan from Russia will be used to shore up the Icelandic krona, which tumbled by 30pc on Monday, rather than the country's two nationalised banks, Landsbanki and Glitnir.

Russia is not doing this out of the goodness of her heart.

Greetings Fellow milbloggers and assorted opiners of liberty!! For those that don't know me, you haven't had your head in the sewage much and I applaud you for it. For those that do, I apologize again. I'm contacting a limited group of distinguished ladies and gentlemen...hang on....whew.....okay, done laughing... I'm contacting a limited group of distinguished ladies and gentlemen to arrange a virtual Veteran's Day Parade that will be hosted on the YouServed blog and I would like to enlist your help (yes, even if you are/were commissioned, you're being enlisted for THIS cause!).

Here's what I need from you. First, of course, is participation. This hasn't been done before and if we pull this off I may have a shot at being the next Blackfive blogger during the upcoming television series "So You Think You Can Blog For Blackfive"!!

We'd like to get at least 30 participants for the "parade", but the more the merrier. For every participant I can get, the VA Mortgage Center will donate $20 to VALOUR-IT. That's right, for EACH participant. Second, I need you to contact other milbloggers and ask for their participation. If they aren't included here, it's not because I don't love them, it's because I used up all my brainpower RAM and couldn't think of others. For blogs like ASP, Mudville Gazette, and Blackfive where there are multiple authors, each participant will count as a separate person for this purpose. Finally, I need each milblogger to provide the following information:

Name or screenname blog URL character "float" you'd be and why you picked it personal thoughts about Veteran's Day.

You can either send me the picture you'd like to use for your float or we can find one to use.

This is for Valour-IT guys so I expect everyone to participate.

DoD announced today it has developed a comprehensive handbook describing compensation and other benefits service members and their families would be entitled to upon separation or retirement as a result of serious injury or illness.

"The Compensation and Benefits Handbook is the one source of information that covers everything a seriously ill and injured service member will need during his or her recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration," said Ronald A. Winter, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs.

The handbook was compiled in cooperation with the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and the Social Security Administration. Additionally; there are references to assistance provided by other governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations.

"The handbook describes the disability eligibility process, various program qualifications, application procedures, and numerous resources with associated contact information," said Sharon Gunselman, policy and resource analyst for the Department of Defense.

Web sites and toll-free numbers are provided, and the electronic version includes hyperlinks. The electronic version of the handbook will be updated frequently and the hard copy of the compensation and benefits handbook will be updated annually.

The electronic version of the handbook can be found on the five Web sites listed below:

http://turbotap.org
https://www.nko.navy.mil
http://www.npc.navy.mil
https://www.aw2.army.mil
https://www.my.af.mil/gcss-af/USAF/AFP40/d/1073755231/Files/C&BHandbook

x-posted at Some Soldier's Mom

The basics of the story from 38 years ago here.

You decide.

Meanwhile, as the fiscal year ends the Army meets recruiting goals for the third year in a row.

Squidoo has $80,000 to give away. It wants people to vote on which charity (from a long list) should get some of that money. For every vote cast for a specific charity, that charity receives $2.00, up until all of those $80,000 are gone. My vote is for Soldier’s Angels. You should check it out and, if you don’t know which charity to select (and there are many good one), I recommend Soldier’s Angels as your default vote.

Cross posted at CDR Salamander.

As the only living presidential son to serve in combat while his father was in office, I feel an obligation to express my concern that both of the current vice presidential candidates, Gov. Sarah Palin and Senator Joseph Biden, have sons in Army units on orders for duty in Iraq. In addition, the Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, has a son who is in the Marine Corps and subject to a second deployment to Iraq at any time.

Considering how small the force we have in Iraq is in comparison to the nation’s population, this is a startling circumstance. It is not, however, a desirable one. It reflects favorably on the patriotism of those involved, but in itself it can hardly increase the military understanding, the grasp on foreign relations or (least of all) the perspective of the parents.

My unique position in this regard was called to my attention a few days ago in a radio interview. Did I believe that the children of presidents (or vice presidents) should be assigned to combat zones? I was surprised by my own quick reaction:

“No,” I declared automatically. “They have no place there.”

Though my response was impulsive, I have, on thinking about it, concluded that it was the right one.

Personally I think we should put an age limit on military service - say, 18 years old - to ensure that no children are ever sent to battle. As I understand the author, who spent part of his childhood as a major in the Korean war (presumably commanding younger, less experienced children), this exemption should only apply to candidates.

For those who think that's too exclusionary: I suppose I could be convinced that some children could serve in non-combat roles - say, at the Pentagon or staff positions at lower levels - if they're exceptionally bright. But I'd have to hear a strong argument supporting that position.

Maybe you've heard the story about the Ukrainian owned, Belize-flagged Roll On-Roll Off ship with 33 Russian made T-72 tanks and other weapons and ammo that a group of Somali pirates has nabbed and is holding off the coast of Somalia...

Well, the U.S. destroyer USS Howard is keeping a close eye on it.

Details here with more Navy photos.

Those guys on the other side of the globe.

It was perhaps the first U.S. military intervention in Asia. Andy Jackson was involved.

As explained here.