Spc. Jesse A. Murphree greets his comrades returning from deployment in Afghanistan (Photo by The U.S. Army) War, with all of its accompanying horrors and destruction, doesn't seem to be on the decline. It is a huge part of our past and future, and is a shaping force in human culture. Regardless of how one feels about war, or politics, or military policy, I would hazard a guess that most people support, in one way or another, the troops who ship off and fight. It follows that we should set aside politics in our commitment to these soldiers after they've completed their service. As much as ever, veterans need community support. They face PTSD, homelessness, high suicide rates, unemployment, and general difficulties transitioning back into civilian life. Fortunately, many communities and national organizations are stepping up. In Michigan, jobless veterans can participate in a new training program designed to prepare them for farm jobs. Across the country, many restaurants will be offering veterans free meals on Veterans Day. At the national level, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki recently announced that he hopes to end veterans' homelessness within five years. The VA has also recently begun a program to address mental and emotional issues early on in a service member's military career. Private organizations are playing a part as well. Puppies Behind Bars, where prison inmates train service dogs, has started training many of their dogs with the special needs of veterans in mind. The recent tragedy at Fort Hood illustrates the desperate need for mental health services in the military. This surely includes indentifying and fixing those parts of the system that are failing service members, but each of us can increase our awareness and sensitivity to the needs of these people in our communities... because if you don’t already know a veteran, you probably will. Suggested Sites... U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Mental Health - resources for veterans and their families, connecting people to the services they need. National Coalition for Homeless Veterans - providing advocacy for homeless veterans and support for service providers. Transition Assistance Online - lists employment opportunities for separating military service members and veterans. Take A Veteran To School Day - a national teach-in on veterans history. U.S. Department of Defense Community Relations - connecting the troops and the community.

Directory categories: Veterans Day, Veterans, Veterans Organizations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Employment Resources for Veterans

Archived under: American History, Government, Holidays, Mental Health, Military, Society and Culture, Veterans, Veterans Day, War

Post a comment (1) | Email this posting

Forget the eagle; is this the real Great Seal of the United States? On many previous occasions, we’ve talked about conspiracies and secret societies,those groups who really run the world while the rest of us go on blithely ignoring the Truth. Somehow, there are so many such groups -- the Illuminati, the Trilateral Commission, the Bilderberg Group, the Bohemian Grove, the Carlyle Group -- that how each of them manages to run the world to the exclusion of the others is a mystery we’re not qualified to solve. That said, there is one group whose footprint is all over the United States, particularly its founding. So much so, that we feel we have to mention them again -- this week especially. That group is the Freemasons, and on September 18, 1793, George Washington, a Master Mason, laid the cornerstone to the United States Capitol -- while wearing his Masonic apron! But Washington was far from the only Founding Father who was a Mason. Of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, nine were Masons, including John Hancock, Edmund Randolph, and Benjamin Franklin. Of the signers of the Constitution, thirteen were Masons. And thirty-three of Washington’s generals in the Revolutionary War were -- you guessed it -- Masons. But that’s not all. Paul Revere? John Marshall? Ethan Allen? All Masons. Even the Marquis de Lafayette, the Frenchman whose participation in the Continental Army was essential to American independence, was a member of the Brotherhood. You might think that would be enough, but we’re not even close. Like London, the city of Washington DC is laid out to mirror the Masonic pentagram, with one of its points at  Washington’s Masonic temple and another at the White House itself! (Of course, Sandusky, Ohio is also laid out according to this plan, too, so it may not be all that much of a conspiracy ...) And let’s not even get started on the symbolism in American money. From the "All-Seeing Eye" to the eagle to the thirteen stars, stripes, arrows, olive branches, and steps of the pyramid, the dollar bill alone might as well be a business card for your local Masonic lodge. Author Dan Brown's new book, "The Lost Symbol," comes out this week, and this time, the "Da Vinci Code" author takes on these Masonic symbols in an attempt to crack the code – the code of what, we're not quite sure, but we can rest assured that the groups that really run the world will continue to do so, no matter who they are. Suggested Sites... Masonic and Kabbalistic Symbols In the Washington D.C. Map - pretty darned detailed -- and eye-opening, if nothing else. Freemasonry and Washington D.C.'s Street Layout - more details -- though a little on the fringes (like, what's with all those goatheads?). Symbols in the Streets - even the National Geographic gets in on the fun. Masonic Symbol Quiz - do you know your tessellated edging from your pot of incense? You Tube: US Dollar A Masonic Code? - watch and make up your own mind.

Directory categories: Freemasonry, Freemasonry -- Opposing Views, Conspiracy, Washington DC, Dan Brown

Archived under: 18th Century, American History, Anniversaries, Benjamin Franklin, Buildings, Conspiracies, Cover Ups, Da Vinci Code, Design, Dictators, Freemasons, George Washington, Government, History, Mysteries, Mythology and Folklore, Organizations, Presidents, Revolutionary War, Rumors, Secret Societies, Secrets, Society and Culture, United States, Urban Legends, Weird Stuff

Post a comment (1) | Email this posting

Enjoying a tall, frosty glass of Kool-Aid (Photo by christyxcore) Here's a good one: What's bright green and makes kids hyperactive? Why, Kool-Aid, of course! For the uninitiated, Kool-Aid was (and is) the brainchild of Midwestern entrepreneur Edwin Perkins; a powdered drink mix available in an array of highly-suspect colors and flavors, loved by millions across the U.S. So loved, in fact, that this week marks the beginning of the 12th annual state-recognized "Kool-Aid Days" festival in Hastings, Nebraska; the beverage mix's birthplace. The legend of Kool-Aid is in many ways a classic American tale of industry, creativity, hard work, and entrepreneurship; one that the official "Kool-Aid Days" website refers to as "the story of a man who was able to parlay a few simple chemicals into a multi-million dollar business -- rising from sodhouse to mansion in one lifetime." And what could be more wholesome and plucky than a getting rich off slipping kids a few simple chemicals? (Answers, please, on a postcard.) When push comes to shove, though, you just can't argue with the numbers. Despite the domination of the hugely-competitive soft-drink marketplace by more glamorous multi-national players, Kool-Aid maintains its niche by provoking pleasant twinges of childhood nostalgia and bouts of hyperactivity in equal measure. One also must respect Kool-Aid's consistency and sense of the traditional. While marketing executives strive to establish their global brands, endlessly redesigning and relaunching their products, locking in top celebrities as endorsers, Kool-Aid has stuck loyally to the soon-to-be 35-year-old Kool-Aid Man; an anthropomorphic pitcher of ice-cold cherry Kool-Aid (one of the original six flavors). Glamorous he may not be, but honest and unpretentious he is. Sadly for those of us who appreciate the no-nonsense "if-it-ain't-broke-don’t-fix-it" approach of Kool-Aid, change may very well be on the horizon. Since other such Midwestern culinary mainstays as Jell-O, Velveeta, and the mixed-up mayo-rebel Miracle Whip have rarely been subjected to aggressive rebranding and retargeting campaigns, content to be what they are, imagine my confusion and disappointment when I saw the new teen-targeted/pop-culture-oriented Miracle Whip commercial on TV. It was purposefully loud and brash, screaming out its new slogan, "We Will Not Tone it Down." Is this a worrying mantra for America’s other iconic brands? Now, I'm no marketing genius, and I don't profess to fully understand the logic and aims of these exercises, but I do know this: the day I see Roger Federer slurping down a glass of day-glo lemon-lime Kool-Aid and declaring "Kool Aid. Chemical; schemickle!" will be a sadder day all round. Suggested Sites... Kool-Aid - official site of the aforementioned beverage mix. Kool-Aid Days - the only Nebraska festival dedicated to a soft drink. Wikipedia: Edwin Perkins - the man behind Kool-Aid Hastings, Nebraska - the home of all things Kool-Aid

Directory categories: Kool-Aid, Food and Drink Events, Food History, Nebraska, Museums

Archived under: American History, Brands, Celebrations, Desserts, Eating, Events, Food and Drink, In Character, Inventors, Jell-O, Marketing, Snacks

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting

The women of the Capital Punishment roller derby tournament (Photo by Michelle Tribe) Remember your first pair of roller skates? As you wobbled along, you probably didn't consider the experience a precursor to a future foray into contact sports (aside from contact with the sidewalk, perhaps). For some, it's just a hop, skip, and a roll from the safe sidewalk to the raucous roller rink. The sport of roller derby is making a comeback, and women in particular are lacing up old-fashioned four-wheel skates, donning helmets, and engaging in some serious competition. The rules of roller derby aren't especially complex: "jammers" score points by passing "pivots" and "blockers." The spectacle of the sport comes mainly from the shoves and spills the skaters endure. A decades-old phenomenon, roller derby grew out of the tradition of endurance races early in the 20th century. The first "Transcontinental Roller Derby" took place on August 13, 1935 at the Chicago Coliseum. Less brutal than the endurance race that, years earlier, had killed at least one participant, this Derby went on for weeks and covered 3,000 miles, the distance from Boston to San Diego. Since then, roller derby has come in and out of fashion, and public interest in the bouts as spectator sports has waxed and waned. In recent years, more teams and leagues have formed, with an emphasis on community, sportsmanship, and fun. There’s even an upcoming feature film directed by Drew Barrymore that frames a young woman's coming-of-age story around roller derby. With the known benefits of participation in team sports, and talk of roller sports being included in the Olympics, it may not be far-fetched to see this burgeoning sport playing a role in shaping a girl's future. Suggested Sites... Women's Flat Track Derby Association - tons of resources for skaters, including events, careers, rules, and rankings. Derby News Network - current info for serious derby fans. Roller Derby Foundation - includes an online roller derby museum and hall of fame. RollerCon - start training for next year, rollergirls! How To Pick Roller Skates - eHow video in which Rat City Roller Girl Rahel Cook shows you the basics for selecting a pair of skates.

Directory categories: Roller Derby, Roller Derby Leagues and Teams, Skating Rinks, Drew Barrymore, Women's Sports

Archived under: 1930s, American History, Contests, Hobbies, Roller Skating, Society and Culture, Sports, Women, Women's Sports

Post a comment (1) | Email this posting

Phoebe Ann Mosey, aka Annie Oakley She could split a playing card through the side with a single shot, advocated for women to defend themselves with firearms, and was adopted by the Sioux holy man, Sitting Bull, who called her "Watanya Cicilla," or "Little Sure Shot." She was Annie Oakley, and she  was born this week nearly a century and a half ago. She become known worldwide for her sharpshooting skills and inspired numerous stage productions, films, and even a TV show. Perhaps the most well known of these was "Annie Get Your Gun," the musical written by Irving Berlin, Herbert Fields, and his sister Dorothy Fields. Unfortunately, that musical (which was also turned into an Academy Award-winning film) turned Annie from an independent young woman who dug her family out of poverty and shared in an equal partnership with her husband Frank Butler, into a lovesick hillbilly who threw a match just to snag her jealous and overly sensitive rival. Actually, it was Butler who was the love-struck one; he married Oakley inside of a year, and eventually gave up his own performing career to manage Oakley's as she toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Oakley's road to stardom wasn't exactly smooth, however. At 26, she was challenged by a 15 year-old rival named Lillian Smith, who clashed with Oakley in everything from dress to choice of firearm. Smith eventually left the show, unable to command the same crowds, and Oakley returned. Later, Oakley was slandered by one of William Randolph Hearst's newspapers, with a false story that she had been arrested for stealing (to support a cocaine habit). She spent the next six years suing several newspapers for libel, winning 54 of 55 of her cases. In 1922, she was in a severe car accident with Butler, forcing her to wear a steel brace on her leg. In spite of that, she continued to set records following the accident, although eventually died of pernicious anemia in 1926. Since Annie Oakley, there have been other women known for their skill with weapons, including numerous fictional ones: Lara Croft, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Xena. But the real-life Annie Oakley was a pioneer and truly in a league of her own. Suggested Sites... Annie Oakley at PBS's American Experience - features biographies, pictures, and more. Annie Oakley at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center - information about Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill, and the show's other performers. Biography of Annie Oakley - from the Dorchester County Public Library. Women's History Month at the Smithsonian - exhibits, history, pictures, and more about women who made a difference. Biography of Calamity Jane - the frontier woman who gained notoriety for fighting Native Americans.

Directory categories: Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Get Your Gun, Women's History, The American West

Archived under: 1920s, 19th Century, American History, Biographies, Birthdays, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Celebrities, Cowboys and Cowgirls, Entertainment, Guns, History, Musicals, Old West, The West, Women

Post a comment (0) | Email this posting