Kelly Smith Weblog Aficionado: Just a guy vs. Life

34..... Not such a huge number, but one that looks strange to me. I didn't approach this birthday with any trepidation whatsoever. I never have been like that. I don't dread birthdays..hell, having a birthday beats the alternative. I was a lot more excited about last years birthday, but this one just seemed to be like any other day. Last year I swore that I would let everyone know what I accomplished during my 33rd year on this earth. I thought I did a pretty good job, but for the most part it seems like I am lacking in one way or another. Oh well, I am happy to have my health. Things could be much worse, I suppose.

Currently I am: playing.... The Path of Neo Reading... and... and... Great stuff so far. I'll give you all a review of "The Path of Neo" after I beat the game.

Veteran's Day/Armistice Day Lloyd Brown was a teenager serving aboard the USS New Hampshire when the World War I ended. He distinctly remembers Armistice Day, and the happiness that Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines had when the war was over. At the time, who knew that there would be another Great War at the time? The day is no longer called Armistice Day, it is called Veteran's Day as a tribute to those who have donned a military uniform, and given up some of their individual freedom's so that we can perpetuate this idea called liberty. Veterans Day, always celebrated on November 11th, is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. I hope...

Gubernatorial and Mayoral races around the country..... I would say that the elections around the country are probably going to be heavily influenced by the President's popularity.....or lack thereof. VA is in, and Tim Kain (D) looks like he is going to be the winner. I am not going to be able to stay up and watch what is going on, work is too early in the morning for me. As a military man, staying up late is not a good thing. We only do more before 9:00 a.m. because we get up so freakin' early. Check out the progress at this link: Race coverage Virginia is a veritable bastion of Republican Strength, and an upset loss during the mid term could be a harbinger of many more disappointing things to come for the Grand Old Party. I will post more about this later on. Good night all, I have a full day tomorrow.

Corruption...... Corruption, greed, opportunism, all things that have no place in American Governmnent, but when politics get nasty they inevitably happen. I am trying to recall if things were this bad under the previous Administration. Read more here....... From the playbook

Rosa Parks is dead at the age of 92... She was probably one of the most well-known from the civil rights era. This definitely gave me a moment of reflection. I hope that we all can endeavor to make "positive" strides to continue the dream of all of those who have gone before us. Not to simply seek benefit from it.

I took the political test...you ought to try it... You are a Social Moderate (50% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (30% permissive) You are best described as a: Democrat Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating

Mayor halts return to New Orleans Nagin cites concern over Tropical Storm Rita Full Story So somebody at the State and Local level can be proactive......too bad they weren't that way before the Hurricane hit.

Damn it's late.... I need to go to bed. Good night everybody.

I don't know about that, Cindy.... I was watching an episode of "Big Idea Town Hall" hosted by Donnie Deutsch. On this episode they featured the families of fallen service members talking about their loss. They also had notable family members such as Cindy Sheehan, and Tammy Pruitt, as well as some other fathers. The common meme was that we all support the troops, however, there were some differing positions on whether or not we should be in the war. She said that the war was based on a bunch of lies, she further stated that besides the WMD, and AL Quaeda Link issues, she said that her recruiter lied to him about a litany of things when he entered the service. "The recruiter said that he was going to get a $20,000 bonus but he only received $4,000. When you are offered a bonus, you usually receive a portion, sometimes half, up front, and the remainder further into your enlistment. If he was actually offered $20,000 and the only money he receive was $4,000, then it mu...

The Pledge is now unconstitutional..... I used to say, "What the hell is next?" any time I heard something shocking, but I am afraid to do that now. Read the full story here. Full Story

Hurricane Katrina and the "NO" vote.... Many people are lashing out at the federal government about its response, or lack thereof regarding Hurricane Katrina. The blame game has been tossed back and forth between the local, state, and federal government. Some people have brought up issues of race being a factor in the slow response, and some have cited a lack of preparedness on the local government. One thing that is certain, however, is the fact that this event will be talked about for a long time to come. I did notice, with particular interest that 11 members of Congress voted against a 51 Billion dollar Katrina relief spending bill. All were Republican. I wouldn't go so far as to claim that this shows a "lack of compassion" on the part of the Party on the whole, but seeing as this is one of the worst natural disasters to occur in the United States, you have to ask about the reason behind the "No" vote. Some of the Republicans who voted against...

Things that make you go...."Awwww" I read this while I was perusing milblogs. I had to leave a comment. It came from a weblog called, "A Storm in Afghanistan". My wife passed along this little tidbit.Seems my daughter, Marissa, showed up with her pooh bear backpack, and declared it was time to go.Go where, she was asked."I go to Anananatan to go get my Daddy!!"(approx.) 35 days to go. posted by SC Eagle at 4:33 AM on Aug 27 2005

Justice Rehnquist is dead... If you thought that things were contentious before, we haven't seen anything yet........ Full Story

Pregnant woman's remains found near Philadelphia Police arrest former boyfriend Not surprising, the suspect is a former boyfriend who was caught with a pistol and was wearing a bullet proof vest. Not to jump on the bandwagon with other folks who quickly turn to the race card, I wonder why this lady's missing disappearance didn't garner the media coverage and the man power that the Laci Peterson and Natalee Holloway case have? Any thoughts from anyone? I personally believe that while it may not be an out and out conspiracy to basically ignore the plight of missing women who are not white and attractive, I believe that it is an unconscious lack of concern. Perhaps this is fostered by the notion that crime is pervasive throughout the black and latino community. Other people share my point of view, and in a related article a representative of MSNBC takes exception to this view. Mark Effron, vice president of MSNBC News Daytime Programming, disagrees. Effron said the stories of ...

August 14th, 1990 I can't believe it has been 15 years. But on this day I arrived at the Reception Station at Ft. Sill, OK. Time flies when you are having fun. 15 down....twenty to go! ;-)

Black Republicans Recently Harry Belafonte blasted blacks in George Bush's higher administration as being "tyrants". He earlier raised eyebrows by stating that Colin Powell was a House Negro. Other well known people such as Al Sharpton have labeled any people who align themselves with the Republican Party, or with conservative ideals as being black in physical characteristic only. As if, there is some litmus test of socio-political thought that allows you to be a card-carrying member of the black race. I myself am a Democrat, and I am more of a centrist on issues. But, overall when it comes to social issues I consider myself to be liberal. I have no problem calling myself liberal, and it irks me when people rename themselves as "progressives" to avoid the "scourge of being declared a liberal". I recognize the ebb and flow of political and cultural tides here in the United States, and I remember when the Republicans were the minority party, the idea of ...

I joined the milblogs webring today. Cool.

South Beach Miami and 4th Anniversary I am blogging from my hotel room in beautiful Miami. Yesterday was our 4th Anniversary, I got up early and went for a run on the beach, after I got back to the room, I took a shower, and waited for Renee to get ready. We went to the mall, had brunch at the Cheesecake Factory, and shopped for a little while. We came back in the afternoon and changed clothes before we went to Chima Brazilian Steakhouse You talk about good! I was so full I felt like I couldn't move. I have never had such good meat before...anything you can imagine! We then had a few drinks at another outdoor cafe and went back to our hotel room. More to come later, but it is about 8:30 a.m. as I am typing this, and I think that I am going to go for a run on the beach. More to come later! P.S. Somebody is NOT joining me for a run on the beach, but I am not going to mention any names.

Don't wait to exhale....just finish letting the air out. Terry McMillan is getting divorced That really isn't a statement that would have seemed possible in the mid to late nineties. As a woman who wrote books that gave black women inspiration, she would have to be the authority on relationships it would seem. But, nevertheless, she is getting divorced and it is getting very nasty. It would seem that she is accusing her former beau of using her to get U.S. citizenship, and for her money.......Wow. Who would have thought that a man who is marrying a female multi-millionaire nearly twenty years his senior would have alterior motives? Of course I am being sarcastic, and if you want to know, I am not trying to make light of, or have a laugh at the expense of another human being who is in pain. But, given the fact that this is the woman who literally wrote the book on man-hating, it comes as quite a shock. I would never have thought that this would have happened to her. The most in-...