Old WolfEagle1499 account Still Transfe...'s blog: "Good Information"

With the Holidays Approaching it should be a time to reflect on: Our love ones. On What We Have Being Blessed Being Safe and Alive. NOT JUST WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BUY EVERYONE!! Please Fellow this link to a Great Page: This Thanksgiving remember to... While you are reflecting this year, there is something and someone(s) else to remember: Our Service Men & Women!! And not just the ones fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan! But all of them, that away from Home!! Not with Family or Love ones. As you know I served for 9 years in the Air Force. My Basic Training Ended the day before Thanksgiving. And I spent 6 years Overseas. I made a great 2nd Family in Holland with my fellow servicemen & Women and the couple families that was there. Plus our close Dutch Friends. But the other years, I was mainly alone. Yes the Commanders and First Sergeants try to help, but it is not the same. So please for these Holidays, Lets give a moment of Silence for the Men and Women that are now Protecting our Freedoms! And all the Ones that have done it in the pass!! Thanks for taking your Time to read this. David WolfEagle1499

@ CherryTAP

StarBuck's Hoax Every so ofter I keep seeing this Starbuck's (or Target) hoax pop up. Here is the information that this is a HOAX: But don't just believe me, check it out for yourself!! Here is a Link to the WebSite I took it from @ HoakBusters: http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/cgi-bin/mfs/www/hoaxbusters/archive?link=http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBUrbanMyths.shtml&file=/www/hoaxbusters/HBUrbanMyths.shtml&line=4080#mfs Starbucks Coffee From a U.S. Marine June 2005 I've been seeing this one for about a year now, and it is very similar to the Target and Vietnam Veterans hoax. All big companies I have looked at have a defined giving program to donate money to worthy causes. However, no company can hope to support every good cause that comes their way. Most companies pick a few well defined causes and put most of their donations behind those instead of trying to give a little bit to everone. Just because they do not donate to your particular pet cause does not mean that they believe it is unworthy of support. The following letter was received from Starbucks. It explains their giving program and includes a letter from the writer of the original letter that turned into the rumor. January 11, 2005 Starbucks has the deepest respect and admiration for U.S. military personnel. We are extremely grateful to the men and women who serve stateside and overseas. We sincerely respect that they are willing to risk their lives. Starbucks employs approximately 80 U.S. partners (employees) who serve in the military and are currently on active duty. In support of their efforts, Starbucks provides a military allowance to make up the difference between their military pay and their pay level at Starbucks before they went on leave. The partner can continue health coverage, and family health coverage, if enrolled, for up to 18 months. Additionally, partners are guaranteed a position upon return from active duty, except in rare circumstances, as permitted under the Federal Military Leave Laws. Starbucks, our customers, and our partners believe that it is critically important to support U.S. men and women serving their country in times of conflict. Starbucks and its partners have consistently demonstrated their support of military personnel in a number of ways. Each week Starbucks partners receive one free pound of coffee. On an individual, grass roots level, many partners in the U. S. have collected their free coffee and shipped numerous pounds of Starbucks coffee overseas. As an example of this generosity, partners in our Atascadero, California store sent their personal weekly allotment of coffee to troops in Afghanistan so they would be able to enjoy a little taste of home. Additionally, our customer relations department in Seattle donated hundreds of pounds of coffee to the sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier. These are just two of the many examples of our partners supporting the American troops. We are humbled that the troops request our coffee. We recognize and appreciate the very personal connection customers have with us and how they might miss their Starbucks Experience while serving overseas. A comprehensive list of our support of military personnel follows the text of this statement. To enhance our U.S. partners' outstanding grassroots efforts in support of the U.S. military troops, Starbucks is honored and pleased to extend our relationship with the American Red Cross in order to provide more coffee to relief efforts during times of conflict. In November 2004, Starbucks donated 50,000 lbs of coffee to the American Red Cross for distribution to those troops serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. The Company is making this contribution through the American Red Cross as part of its long-term, ongoing commitment to share the comfort of coffee during times of crisis, such as during the Florida hurricanes in summer 2004. Starbucks has a long history of contributing product, time and funding to a wide variety of local, national and international non-profit organizations. Through several partner programs, such as Make Your Mark and Choose to Give, the Company supports the efforts of its partners who give their time through matching monetary donations based on the number of hours contributed, primarily to nonprofit organizations that are designated as public charities under Section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code. To further demonstrate Starbucks support of military personnel, Starbucks recently responded to an e-mail circulating on the internet that contained misinformation about Starbucks. The Company contacted its author, a Marine Sergeant, who subsequently sent an e-mail to his original distribution list correcting his mistake, the text of which is: "Dear Readers, Almost 5 months ago I sent an e-mail to you my faithful friends. I did a wrong thing that needs to be cleared up. I heard by word of mouth about how Starbucks said they didn't support the war and all. I was having enough of that kind of talk and didn't do my research properly like I should have. This is not true. Starbucks supports men and women in uniform. They have personally contacted me and I have been sent many copies of their company's policy on this issue. So I apologize for this quick and wrong letter that I sent out to you. Now I ask that you all pass this email around to everyone you passed the last one to. Thank you very much for understanding about this. Howard C. Wright Sgt USMC 1st Force Rcon Co 1st Plt PLT RTO ------------------------------------- Again, please visit the Hoax Busters website through this link to read for yourself: http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/cgi-bin/mfs/www/hoaxbusters/archive?link=http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBUrbanMyths.shtml&file=/www/hoaxbusters/HBUrbanMyths.shtml&line=4080#mfs Thanks, David

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/News/CongressScrewUpMayCostUsABundle.aspx Congress' inaction may cost us a bundle Lawmakers failed to renew a number of popular tax breaks before they went off to campaign for re-election. Remember that when you go to vote. By Jeff Schnepper I am really ticked off at Congress. You should be, too. It looks like political gaming has cost you and millions of other taxpayers a lot of money. A number of tax-saving provisions have expired, and members of Congress messed up and didn't extend them before their recent adjournment. They wanted to. They said so. Many times. But they didn't get the job done. What's lost to failed tax bills include a deduction for schoolteachers who pay for their own supplies, a deduction for college tuition and expenses for families that don't qualify for certain education credits, and a research-and-development tax credit popular with business. About 19 million individual taxpayers could be affected by the nitwits' inaction. (I'm sorry, but that's how mad I am.) It's possible -- and I hope it happens -- that Congress will return to Washington after the November election and fix the mess. But don't bet on it. The Internal Revenue Service expects to start printing tax forms for 2006 returns starting in early November. Changing the tax code after the print run may cause too much confusion. What Congress hath taken away Here's what looks like may be gone: * Deductions for teachers' out-of-pocket expenses. This is worth $250 for America's teachers. * Deductions for college tuition and fees. This has allowed up to $4,000 a year in deductions for parents of college students who don't qualify for the Hope or Lifetime Learning tax credit. * Deductions for contributions to Archer medical savings accounts. These accounts are designed to help people save money for future medical expenses. About a half-million taxpayers have used these. * Deductions for state and local sales taxes. This affects residents of Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming who pay no personal state income tax (New Hampshire and Tennessee do tax dividend and interest income). This has been worth billions of dollars in deductions for residents of these states. Business lost out, too While individuals are getting hosed, so are businesses. Here are some business tax credits that are out, at least for now: * Corporate Research and Development Tax Credit. This is an important credit for businesses. * Work Opportunity Tax Credit. This has provided a 25% credit on the first $6,000 in wages paid to workers who worked at least 120 hours but less than 400 hours a year. It bumped up to 40% for workers who had worked at least 400 hours in their first year. * Welfare to Work Tax Credit. This has provided a credit of 35% of the first $10,000 of qualified wages paid in the first year of employment and a 50% credit on the first $10,000 of qualified wages paid in the second year of employment. * New Markets Tax Credit. This has provided a tax credit to people who invested in qualified funds that spurred economic development in low-income communities. * Possession Tax Credit. This is one of those lovely tax breaks that has affected a very few taxpayers. In this case, the nonrenewal affects the two companies that operate tuna canneries in American Samoa. They had lobbied successfully for this break to preserve jobs in the South Pacific. But that's not all. Business is losing deductions for: * Corporate contributions of computer technology. * Costs of brownfield remediation. * Investment in oil and gas production from marginal wells. * Accelerated depreciation for property on Native American reservations, leasehold improvements and restaurant improvements. These provisions were originally made temporary for two reasons: to evaluate their effectiveness and to minimize the projected deficit hit at the time of passage. Historically, only one extender -- the corporate deduction for group legal services provided to employees -- has been allowed to expire in the past 25 years. Both Republicans and Democrats agree that the tax provisions should have been extended. But instead of doing the right thing, Congress played a game of chicken. The Republicans conditioned the extensions on a repeal of the estate tax. Indeed, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., wouldn't allow the provisions to come up for a vote unless tied to an elimination of the estate tax. The Democrats oppose the estate-tax elimination and wouldn't agree to the deal. Maybe we will all get a break and Congress will stop fooling around and pass these extenders. Here's where I recommend you be patient when you do your taxes. The tax forms may not reflect the tax changes. The Internal Revenue Service could be buried with additional training, telephone assistance, delayed refunds and amended filings. Paperwork, IRS publications, forms and Web sites would all have to be amended. Software programmers and developers would have to update their programs, including the ones used for electronic tax-return filing. I have a personal stake in this issue. The latest edition of my book "How to Pay Zero Taxes" would be out of date before even printed. The House of Representatives is scheduled to return to the Capitol on Nov. 13 for unfinished business. Note, that's after the Nov. 7 due date for printing the forms. Lawmakers plan to work until the Thanksgiving recess and return again in December if necessary. This year's lame-duck session will mark the fifth consecutive time that Congress has needed to return to work after the election. Maybe the extenders will be passed, delivering us to a tax season of mass confusion. It may be worth remembering when you vote.

Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776? Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day! The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life. The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life. The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world. The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance. The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong. The 6th fold is for where people's hearts lie. It is with their heart that they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic. The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day. The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded. The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born. The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their nations motto, "In God We Trust." After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today. There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning. In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why. Share this with the children you love and all others who love what is referred to, the symbol of "Liberty and Freedom"

Traditionalists say I was born of a woman's hand -- fashioned from bits of colored cloth by a seamstress in a small house in Philadelphia, a year after the new country was born. Historians are less certain of my origin. Yet, no one doubts my existence. I was created out of necessity to serve as the emblem of a people whose experiment in nationhood was as unique as the arrangement of my stars and stripes. I have proved my adaptability to change. I've accommodated growth. I've stood up to time and troubles. I fluttered in the Fall air with General Washington and his loyal French allies at Yorktown. My fabric was shredded by cannonballs from British frigates in the War of 1812 and I was carried in triumph by Andy Jackson at New Orleans. The British could see me clearly in the mists of "dawn's early light," waving from the standards at Fort McHenry. I've witnessed turmoil and bitterness, even lost some of my glory in mid-century in a war between brothers, but I was restored as a nation's emblem at Appomattox. I traveled West with the new frontier. I flew from the headlamps of the Iron Horse in Utah. I was with the prospectors at Sutter's Mill, with the cavalry against cattle rustlers, with the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill. I crossed the Marne with the doughboys anxious to make the world safe for democracy. I was with brave GIs storming the beaches at Normandy. I was raised over a shell-pocked hilltop at Iwo Jima and I stood by the grim-faced negotiators at Panmunjom. I was on that last helicopter from Saigon and with the men and women of Operation Desert Storm. I have been around in victory and defeat. I've seen pleasure and pain. I was raised over the rubble of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I've been folded smartly by soldiers and handed to weeping widows. I've covered the coffins of those who've served country and community. I also decorate bandstands and concert halls. I am saluted in parades, in schools and at ball parks. I am part of political campaigns, high holidays and ice cream socials. I fly from skyscrapers and bungalows. I've been to the moon and the ocean floor. I am everywhere my people are. I am saluted and, occasionally, scorned. I have been held with pride and I have been ridiculed, because I am everything my people are: proud, angry, happy, sad, vengeful, argumentative, ambitious, indifferent. I was created to serve a people in struggle and a government in change. There are now more stars in my blue field than there were in the beginning and, if need be, there's room for more. But, those red and white stripes remain as they've always remained, clearly visible through the struggle -- the symbol of the "land of the free and the home of the brave." I am your past. I am your future. I am your flag. by Bob Nelson KYW Newsradio 1060 Copyright 2002, Infinity Broadcasting Corp. All Rights Reserved.

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee... (You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again) A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "tell me what you see." Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "what does it mean?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. You might want to send this message to those people who mean something to you; to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life. May we all be COFFEE

Jury awards $11.3M over defamatory Internet posts By Laura Parker, USA TODAY http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-10-10-internet-defamation-case_x.htm A Florida woman has been awarded $11.3 million in a defamation lawsuit against a Louisiana woman who posted messages on the Internet accusing her of being a "crook," a "con artist" and a "fraud." Legal analysts say the Sept. 19 award by a jury in Broward County, Fla. — first reported Friday by the Daily Business Review — represents the largest such judgment over postings on an Internet blog or message board. Lyrissa Lidsky, a University of Florida law professor who specializes in free-speech issues, calls the award "astonishing." BEWARE OF BLOGS: Courts are asked to crack down on bloggers, websites Lidsky says the case could represent a coming trend in court fights over online messages because the woman who won the damage award, Sue Scheff of Weston, Fla., pursued the case even though she knew the defendant, Carey Bock of Mandeville, La., has no hope of paying such an award. Bock, who had to leave her home for several months because of Hurricane Katrina, couldn't afford an attorney and didn't show up for the trial. "What's interesting about this case is that (Scheff) was so vested in being vindicated, she was willing to pay court costs," Lidsky says. "They knew before trial that the defendant couldn't pay, so what's the point in going to the jury?" Scheff says she wanted to make a point to those who unfairly criticize others on the Internet. "I'm sure (Bock) doesn't have $1 million, let alone $11 million, but the message is strong and clear," Scheff says. "People are using the Internet to destroy people they don't like, and you can't do that." The dispute between the two women arose after Bock asked Scheff for help in withdrawing Bock's twin sons from a boarding school in Costa Rica. Bock had disagreed with her ex-husband over how to deal with the boys' behavior problems. Against Bock's wishes, he had sent the boys to the boarding school. Scheff, who operates a referral service called Parents Universal Resource Experts, says she referred Bock to a consultant who helped Bock retrieve her sons. Afterward, Bock became critical of Scheff and posted negative messages about her on the Internet site Fornits.com, where parents with children in boarding schools for troubled teens confer with one another. In 2003, Scheff sued Bock for defamation. Bock hired a lawyer, but he left the case when she no longer could afford to pay him. When Katrina hit in August 2005, Bock's house was flooded and she moved temporarily to Texas before returning to Louisiana last June. Court papers that Scheff and her attorney David H. Pollack mailed to Bock were returned to Pollack's office in Miami. After Bock didn't offer a defense, a Broward Circuit Court judge found in favor of Scheff. A jury then heard Scheff's arguments about damages. Pollack did not seek a specific amount for the harm he says Scheff's business suffered. "Even with no opposing counsel and no defendant there, $11 million is a huge amount," says Pollack, adding that Scheff is considering whether to try to collect any money from Bock. "The jury determined this was a significant enough issue. It's not just somebody's feelings are hurt; it's somebody's reputation is ruined." Bock says that when she moved back to her repaired house over the summer, she knew the trial was approaching but did not know the date. She says she doesn't have the money to pay the judgment or hire a lawyer to appeal it. She adds that if the goal of Scheff's lawsuit was to stifle what Bock says online, it worked. "I don't feel like I can express my opinions," Bock says. "Only one side of the story was told in court. Nobody heard my side."

Military Rules for Non-Military Personnel Current mood: grateful Dear Civilians, We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation have many civilians up in arms. For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance: 1) The next time you see an adult talking (or wearing a hat) during the playing of the National Anthem---kick their ass. 2) When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in protest---kick their ass. 3) Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great. Then hold them down while a disabled veteran kicks their ass. 4) (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were. Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs), telling others that you used to be "Special Forces," and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old. Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked. 5) Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, "Do You fly a jet?" Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are exempt.) 6) If you witness someone calling the US Coast Guard 'non-military, inform them of their mistake---and kick their ass. (Call me & I will kick their ass too) 7) Roseanne Barr's singing of the National Anthem is not a blooper---it was a disgrace and disrespectful. Laugh, and sooner or later, your ass will be kicked. 8) Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart. Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her---of course, failure to do either of those could earn you a severe ass-kicking. 9) What Jane Fonda did during the Vietnam War makes her the enemy. The proper word to describe her is 'traitor.' Just mention her nomination for "Woman of the Year" and get your ass kicked. 10) Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran. We are Americans and we all bleed the same, regardless of our individual party affiliations. Our Chain of Command starts at the President, also regardless of political party, who is our Commander-In-Chief (for those who didn't know.) We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all those representatives meet. All we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out. If you keep asking us the same stupid questions repeatedly, you will get your ass kicked! 11) 'Your mama wears combat boots' never made sense to me---stop saying it! If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore, could kick your ass! 12) Bin Laden and the Taliban are not Communists, so stop saying 'Let's go kill those Commie's!' And stop asking us where he is! Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military. That reminds me---if you see anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers, let me know, so I can go kick their ass. 13) 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (Army), 'Squid' (Navy), etc., are terms of endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or vet, you have not earned the right to use them. That could get your ass kicked. 14) Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families. Every Easter, Thanksgiving, and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please remember that there are literally thousands of sailors and troops far from home wishing they could be with their families. Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every day. Without them, our country would get its ass kicked. "It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press. "It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. "It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. "It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag. "Authored by: Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMC Please pass this on so I won't have to kick your ass! :) "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a veteran''

To my friends at the LC; For the Veterans on LC; For my Family; For my Brothers and Sisters in arms: This is a work that I did in 1997 as part of a counseling program for PTSD. There have been many similar type works out there, but this one is unique, as it was written over the course of only about 15 minutes as I poured my heart out on to paper. Some will understand, others will not. For those that have family in the sandbox; Your Brother/Sister/Son/Daughter/Father/Mother will seem different after they return. They will have a different look in their eyes... a serious one. Use this to learn. Use this to understand. Use this to love again! Please feel free to repost this, but PLEASE... This is copywrited work. Please leave this unchanged in content! Thanks, Dave Stopher www.davestopher.com/warrior.htm +~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ Shed no tear for me for I am a warrior. I chose my path willingly, only to be granted my wish. I've suffered, I've toiled, and I’ve bled because I was told to do so for a greater cause. I helped, I fought, I prayed, Oh, I prayed more. I cried, and sometimes, I died. My friends will not get old; they will be immortally young. I fear getting old. The ones that left behind loved ones are the lucky ones. Those that have someone to loose, there fight is bittersweet. Some will not know love, and yet, some will. I am a Warrior. I fight, I bleed, I cry. If you shed a tear for me, shed it only in pride. Do not cry for me, cry WITH me, for my brothers have fallen. They gave life for words like God, Honor, Country, and Duty. They served a greater cause, not unlike these four simple words. They secured an idea for us to follow. They are the bankers, the truck drivers, the meat cutters and the factory workers. They heard a calling that is far too soft for most to hear. They gave their lives so others might be spared. I am a Warrior. My tales may neither always be whole, nor always truth, but they are mine. They are as my eyes remember. Some funny, some sad, they bring back memories of my youth and innocence lost. They tell of far away places, and not so familiar faces. They give undue credit at times, yet are humble at others. They tell of men who have become as brothers and friends. They tell of the odd good deed when most would be tempted to be evil. They tell of justice served through fate, or of humor, jokes, and pranks. They shed light on places and events that would otherwise be left for the dry text in history books and make them seem as though they were, and are, real. I am a Warrior. I am strong in body and in spirit. I may not be in my prime, but yet I am. I have aged and matured. I no longer wish for wars and battles, but for peace and serenity. Long past are the desires for revenge or destruction. They have been replaced by a need for reparations and creations. The eyes of a warrior long to look upon the face of a babe that needs protection. Those eyes yearn for approving looks and admiration. My arms have seen toil and strife. They have been used as tools, and as weapons. They, only now, know the pain they have brought on. Now, they wish for usefulness and skill. They hope for talent so that they may provide for another. They hope that someday they will be needed to hold a child or even walk that child down an aisle into the arms of another. My ears have heard screams and cries. They have been subjected to harsh sounds of battle that make the demons cringe. They are now dull in their interpretation. They no longer have acuteness and a sharp edge. They hear dull sounds, muffled noises. They will not, however, be ever able to ignore a crying plea for a child. They will hear names that will bring the largest to tears, but yet also names that make Pride obvious to others. Oh, to hear the stillness in nature with a breeze rustling the giant trees from their calm. I am a Warrior. My soul yearns for peace, for the rest of my body has experienced that bliss. As long as there is oppressed or evil, none of our souls will truly be at rest. Evil lurks, and though the body has come to calm, the mind and soul of the Warrior will remain in the storm. It will maintain its vigil against darkness and despair, though it journeys there at great length. The Warrior has learned that by knowing your enemy, you will be better suited to combat it. This leads to questions unanswered, and problems unsolved. The true Warrior’s soul will always ask, “How will I succeed?” It only knows one answer, and that is through God. The Warrior’s soul longs for a place called Heaven, and the rewards that are promised there. Someday, that place will be a possibility. My God has promised me the opportunity to visit, so long as I serve with his Warriors faithfully, and according to His rules. This is my ultimate and most important fight. I pray that my journey ends in victory. The Warrior has a strange method and unusual habits. Though not known to many, he has these for reasons. He talks proudly of foreign soils visited and things learned there. Not always meant in braggadocio, the Warrior’s tale seems tall and distant, sometimes nostalgic. His tales aren’t always meant for everyone, but he sometimes does not understand. He only wishes to share his memories that cause him inner strife so that he may eventually come to peace within his soul. His habits are not always the best, for he learned only to succeed, not be the neatest. He comes, and then he returns, not always knowing where his journey will lead. Only God can answer this, and most will never realize their true path. The Warrior knows his direction, just not the best path. That will come in time, through hard work, a dose or ten of anguish, and more importantly, prayer. Do not pity the Warrior, merely pray for his journey. Though he walks in silently, his worst habit is to leave a large trail wherever he has been. This is from his personality and pride. The Warrior isn’t always proud of his trail, but always happy to be on the path to his next destination. The Warriors life isn’t always the best. It seems to have some of the hardest ground to cover. He knows that his path ahead is not the best, but he always trudges on, never ceasing his journey. He has few friends to take with him simply because most cannot accept the life he leads. Few that are not like the Warrior will ever know him from his soul. They likely will admire him from afar and be cautious to take to him. Those that make that step into his life will understand eventually that he is determined to make that step a rewarded movement with a lifetime of devotion and love. The Warrior knows love indeed. His love is not for himself, nor self-serving. It is a love of devotion and dedication to ideas and friends, to family, and to God. He expects very little in return for his love. He knows that he is commonly misunderstood, and has accepted that fact. His need to love is greater than most will understand, only surpassed by his need to be loved. The Warrior’s future holds no guarantee. It is a life of fluidity and motion that never ends. It can end in success or failure. Only God knows which. Only the Warrior can decide his path, though his love for others guides it along the way. His future is blurred by fate, probably for a reason. To let his guard down, he becomes vulnerable. Although he allows love to take him by the hand, almost too readily, he will merely react by returning his guard in an ever expanding circle around those he calls his own. The Warrior’s family will know safety and warmth in his embrace. If there should ever be a doubt in him, let his deeds show his proof. He will march the long path to his journey’s end to prove his dedication above reproach. Shed no tear for me for I am a Warrior. Used by permission © Copyright 1997, David Stopher

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and Maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6 -year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or a band-aid to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and planned to have a medical procedure. Common Sense lost the will to live as churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing