Freshman year. English 101. "Today, we're going to teach you how to write like you're not writing for a teacher."

Just got back from "Red, White, and Boom", the city fireworks display celebrating Independence Day.

I went last year, and this year was pretty much the same. It's still awesome.

The major difference is that this year I went early enough to get good seats. On of the large fireworks actually exploded directly above me. As in, I had to look exactly vertical to see it.

Shortly after the display started, I was hit by what felt like small scraps of paper. After looking, the crowd and I realized it was ash. We were so close, we were being pelted by a fine rain of ash from the fireworks. Some people started freaking out at that point, but I think I just laughed.

The sound and light was incredible. Television presentations just don't do these things justice. If at all possible, you owe it to yourself to see a major fireworks display up-close and in-person at least once in your life.

Someday, somehow, I just know this story will be cited in my obituary.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/4217989.html

Dad had a successful open heart surgery yesterday and is doing fine now! He's been moved to a "stepdown" unit, and will hopefully be out of the hospital in a few days. Would say more but too busy being happy. :-)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1717571.ece

GOT HIM.

Wow that feels good.

I hereby take back everything bad I've ever said about iPods!

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-media/ipod-slows-enemy-bullet-saves-life-250035.php

http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=032907C

You know, I'm curious as to whether Iran would have the guts to pull this stunt if we still had a pro-war Congress.

This is ultimately the point I've been trying to make all along - when it comes to war, we never have a choice. If we did, we'd choose peace every time. Any sane individual would. But we live in a world where not everyone is sane. We live in a world with leaders that are not answerable to their people, and can freely inflict the horrors of war on others while remaining insulated from it themselves.

George Washington had a simple approach to national security - that a strong, well supported military is the best deterrent to war.

A few months ago, we voted against war. We betrayed our soldiers, displayed our weakness and lack of resolve, and emboldened our enemies.

Now, thanks to that, we might be getting sucked into an even larger regional conflict. An anti-war vote might end up dragging us into the biggest middle-east war yet. Nice job!

Just look at history. Remember the last Iran hostage crisis? Carter was in office then. When did it end? When Reagan took over. Anti-war government, and we get conflict. Pro-war government, and we get peace. Funny how that works.

This is just cool! These guys have some serious guts to try this:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/mission-incredible-troops-tied-to-gunships-for-rescue-bid/2007/01/22/1169330835320.html

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the anti-war movement in all its glory.

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24853_Leftists_Supporting_the_Troops&only

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070320203409.spj83omw&show_article=1

These are the people are soldiers are fighting against. This is why I have so much trouble trying to understand the anti-war movement. The insurgents in Iraq are monsters. They need to die. Not as a matter of revenge or hatred, but simply because society cannot coexist with terrorists.