Theodore's World

Chesty would want
us to

3rd annual Valour-IT Fundraiser

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled and adaptive laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries at major military medical centers. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the ‘Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field. The experience of MAJ Charles “Chuck” Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered serious hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important these laptops can be to a wounded service member’s recovery.
WHAT: Friendly fundraising competition for Valour-IT.
WHEN: October 29th through Veterans Day, November 11th .
WHERE: Based in the blogosphere, spreading everywhere else.
WHY: Because giving wounded warriors with hand and arm injuries access to a computer supports their healing and puts them back in touch with the world.
HOW: Blogger teams will be divided along military branches, with civilians “up for grabs.”

The various teams are below:
Marines will be led by Holly Aho
Air Force will be led by Mrs. Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette
Navy will be led by Chaotic Synaptic Activity.
Army led by Matt and Jim of Blackfive

Please see UPDATE further down this post:

This is from Amy Palmer with Operation Homefront:
Hello all,
I don’t often send out requests like this. We usually just provide the assistance and move on, but this family has a lot of needs that won’t just end by Operation Homefront paying a couple of bills and moving on. This family will probably need some long term financial assistance and we’ll need some help to make that happen.
Specialist John Austin Johnson was injured in Baghdad, Iraq, with Traumatic Brain Injury and has been at Brooke Army Medical Center for the last 5 weeks recuperating.
His wife, Lisa and their three children, Logan (2), Ashley (5), and Tyler (9) left Ft. Bliss (El Paso, TX), last Saturday, Oct 13, to drive to San Antonio to be with him. Around 10:30 AM, Lisa somehow veered into another lane and the vehicle rolled over several times. Logan and Ashley were killed. Lisa sustained injuries that were not life threatening. Tyler was taken to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and is in critical condition with a head injury and is currently in a coma. Unfortunately, he is not expected to live.
This family is in desperately in need of financial help. They have funeral expenses that are adding up quickly, travel expenses for family members, food and lodging near the Dallas hospital, and of course, rent, utilities and other expenses that need to be paid at home.
To donate to assist this family, please visit the Operation Homefront – Texas chapter website at www.operationhomefront.net/texas. You can enter “Johnson Family” in the comments section of any online donations and we’ll ensure the family receives the assistance.
If you have any questions about this donation, please contact the Texas chapter directly at 210-324-0427.
Thank you for your continued support of our troops!
Amy Palmer
Operation Homefront

Wild Thing’s comment……..
This has been researched and unfortunately is very true. I thought I would share it with all of you in case you wanted to help or would like to forward it to others that might be interested.

UPDATE:

This update is from Amber she sent it to me. Her husband was serving with Army Spc. Johnson, and is based at Ft. Bliss.

Army Spc. John Austin Johnson and wife Lisa’s children Ashley, 5, and Logan, 2, died in a car wreck last week. Tyler, 9, was on life support Saturday.
Three weeks after his siblings died in an Oct. 13 accident on the gusty West Texas plains, 9-year-old Tyler Johnson died Saturday at Children’s Medical Center Dallas.
Sgt. 1st Class Eugene Schmidt, a family spokesman, said Tyler survived longer than expected.

A Soldier from 1st Platoon, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., holds up a 12-inch copper plate (the largest size found in Iraq) used to pierce armored vehicles when fired from an explosively formed projectile (EFP). The plate was part of a large EFP cache recently discovered in a home in Husseiniyah. Photo by SSgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Concerned Local Citizen Tip Leads Coalition Troops to Explosives Factory
(Story by Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division)
BAGHDAD
A Concerned Local Citizen (CLC) led Coalition forces to a home Wednesday where explosively formed penetrators (EFP) and improvised explosive devices (IED) were being constructed in Husseiniyah.
Soldiers of Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., discovered a large cache of explosives at the home, including (10) fully-assembled EFP of various sizes (including one 12-inch EFP, the largest size found in Iraq) and (89) copper plates of various sizes used in making EFP. Also, more than (200) pounds of C-4 explosive, other explosive materials including TNT, and numerous other materials used in manufacturing EFP were found.

“We are getting these weapons off the street, which feels great,” said Sgt. Damon Farmer, team leader with 1st Platoon, Battery A, 2-12 FA, who was one of the Soldiers who first discovered a buried container filled with explosives in an outbuilding by the home. “That stuff isn’t going to blow up my truck. It isn’t going to kill U.S. Soldiers and it isn’t going to kill Iraqis.”

EFP are one of the enemies’ most dangerous weapons, because they are able to pierce armored vehicles. According to 4-2 SBCT officials, the EFP are effective approximately 50 percent of the time, a much higher percentage than the enemy’s other weapons. The EFP is a favored weapon of anti-Coalition Shia militias.

“In our area of operations the EFP threat is significant, and there was enough material there to make (100) EFP, so we may have saved approximately 50 lives and eliminated about two months of (enemy) militia activity,” said Lt. Col John Drago, 2-12 FA commander, noting that the discovery would not have been possible without Iraqi help.

Mondale Endorses (Hillary) Clinton for President
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)
Former Vice President Walter Mondale is endorsing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, the Clinton campaign announced Sunday.

“America is ready for change, and Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to deliver it,” Mondale said in a statement released by the campaign. “Hillary is uniquely qualified to rebuild America’s standing in the world and lead this nation from her first day in the White House.”

Mondale, a former U.S. senator from Minnesota, was vice president from 1977 to 1981 under President Carter. He was the Democratic nominee for president in 1984, but lost to Ronald Reagan in the general election.
Mondale also was U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1993 to 1996.

Clinton, D-N.Y., said she was “deeply honored” to have Mondale’s support.

The Republican National Committee noted with glee that it was her second endorsement by a failed Democratic presidential nominee. The other endorsement came from George McGovern, the 1972 nominee who was soundly defeated in the general election by Richard Nixon.

“Hillary Clinton’s endorsement from yet another failed Democrat presidential candidate underscores concerns the American people will have with her own candidacy,” said RNC spokesman Danny Diaz.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Mondale, a former U.S. senator from Minnesota, was vice president from 1977 to 1981 under President Carter [who lost in a landslide in 1980 – 489-49 electoral]. He was the Democratic nominee for president in 1984, but lost to Ronald Reagan in the general election [also a landslide – 525-13]
There now THAT is better. heh heh
Hmmmmm Has Martin Van Buren weighed in yet?

Flag-burning ‘lesson’ provokes UM student
Bangor Daily News
ORONO, Maine
A University of Maine student alleges her former professor offered extra credit to class members if they burned the American flag or the U.S. Constitution or were arrested defending free speech.
On the first day of class, associate professor Paul Grosswiler offered the credit to members of his History of Mass Communications class, according to sophomore Rebekah McDade. Disturbed by the comment, McDade dropped the class and intends to take the course again next semester with a different professor.

“I was offended,” McDade said Friday. “I come from a family of military men and women, and the flag and Constitution are really important symbols to me because of my family background.”

In an e-mail responding to a request for comment from the Bangor Daily News on Friday, Grosswiler said he thought McDade misunderstood the class discussion, which was intended to elicit thought about the First Amendment. He said he has held this same discussion for years without incident.

“I don’t intend for students to burn either the Constitution or the flag, and over the years hundreds of students have understood that,” Grosswiler wrote.

A journalism and political science double major, McDade said the first class of her fall semester at UM began with the typical syllabus introduction and class overview. Despite repeated “liberal” comments made by Grosswiler, McDade said, she was not uncomfortable in the classroom until the flag burning comment.

“Everyone is entitled to their own political beliefs, and more power to you if you are passionate about it,” McDade said.

When Grosswiler listed the extra-credit opportunities, McDade said the class of approximately 50 students grew very quiet, and some questioned whether he was serious.
At first, student Kathleen Dame said she thought Grosswiler was joking, but then he went on to explain to the class that burning the flag was not illegal.
While Grosswiler approached the topic in a serious manner, Dame said she felt he used it as a tool to educate the class on the First Amendment.

“It was pretty outlandish and [he was] trying to prove a point,” Dame said Friday.

While McDade said she would not be surprised if students followed through with the flag burning, Dame disagreed.
UM spokesman Joe Carr said Friday that Grosswiler’s classroom comments were not intended to be taken literally and that extra credit would not be granted for carrying out such activities.
A second person in the class did submit a complaint about the lecture, but Carr did not know in what form it was filed.

When asked whether the university would pursue disciplinary action, Carr replied, “No.”

Wild Thing’s comment………
I think there are much better and other ways to teach such things then to even go anywhere near suggesting to burn the Flag. I applaud this student for speaking out, and I am very disappointed in the University for not taking time to investigate this claim simply based on the fact that Grosswiler has been a staff member for years.
What is amazing about these liberal free speech types is the type of free speech they want. Burn the flag, burn the constitution, they think that is on the edge, showing free speech. Any two-bit dweeb can do that. Why don’t these free speech liberals say extra points for burning the Koran? Now, that is a challenge on free speech, but they won’t do that because they know the result of their actions, we all know how bad that would be. Ask the Danes.

Near Fallujah, Iraq — Sunday, November 2, 2003
Two CH-47 Chinook helicopter’s were attacked, probably with Soviet designed SA-7 shoulder fired missiles, one helicopter was struck by a missile and crashed. The passengers included several U.S. soldiers headed out of Iraq for rest and recreation trips. According to successive reports released by the Pentagon, the death toll showed 10, then 13, then 15, and then 16 soldiers had died, but on Tuesday the Army revised the number to 15 killed, (according to the Associated Press, Tuesday, November 4, 2003 15:38 PST).
On Thursday, November 6, one Sergeant severely injured in the crash of the Chinook died in a German hospital bringing the toll back to 16 dead and 26 wounded.
Staff Sgt. Daniel Bader, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colo. Assigned to Air Defense Artillery Battery, 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
Sgt. Ernest G. Bucklew, 33, of Enon Valley, Pa. Assigned to Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
Sgt. Steven D. Conover, 21, of Wilmington, Ohio. Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.
Pfc. Anthony D. D’Agostino, 20, of Waterbury, Conn. Assigned to the 16th Signal Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.
Sgt. Paul F. Fisher, 39, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died November 6, at the Homburg University Klinikum, Homberg, Germany. Sgt. Fisher was very seriously injured on Nov. 2 in Al Fallujah, Iraq, when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding went down.
Spc. Darius T. Jennings, 22, of Cordova, S.C. Assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
Pfc. Karina S. Lau, 20, of Livingston, Calif. Assigned to the 16th Signal Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. DoD Report — Central Valley woman killed in Iraq attack She was headed home to Livingston for surprise visit when helicopter crashed.
Sgt. Keelan L. Moss, 23, of Houston. Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.
Spc. Brian Penisten, 28, of Fort Wayne, Ind. Assigned to Air Defense Artillery Battery, 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.
Sgt. Ross A. Pennanen, 36, of Shawnee, Okla. Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.
Sgt. Joel Perez, 25, of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Unit, Fort Sill, Okla.
First Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, 30, of Genoa, Ill. Assigned to F Company, 106th Aviation Battalion, Army National Guard, Peoria, Ill.
Chief Warrant Officer Bruce A. Smith, 41, of West Liberty, Iowa. Assigned to Detachment 1, Company F, 106th Aviation Battalion, Army National Guard, Davenport, Iowa.
Staff Sgt. Paul A. Velazquez, 29, of San Diego. Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.
Spc. Frances M. Vega, 20, of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. Assigned to the 151st Adjutant General Postal Detachment 3, Fort Hood, Texas.
Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson, 30, of Crystal Springs, Miss. Assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.

U.S. Army troops search the site where a Chinook helicopter crashed into a field near the restive town of Falluja on Sunday, 2 November 2003. Guerrillas shot down the U.S. Chinook helicopter as it flew toward Baghdad airport.
Witnesses said they saw two missiles fired at the heavy transport copter, the biggest U.S. target yet shot from the skies by Iraq’s insurgents. It had been ferrying soldiers to Baghdad International Airport for flights out of the country for rest and relaxation.
The aircraft was hit at about 9 a.m. (06:00 GMT) and crashed amid corn fields near the village of Hasi, about 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Baghdad and 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Fallujah, a center of Sunni Muslim resistance to the U.S. occupation.
The missiles apparently flashed toward the helicopter from behind, as usual with heat-seeking missiles such as the Russian-made SA-7. The old Iraqi army had a large inventory of SA-7s, also known as the “Strela” shoulder fired missile.
Villagers said the copters took off from the air base at Habbaniyah, about 10 miles northwest of the crash site. At the scene, villager Thaer Ali, 21, said someone fired two missiles from the area of a date palm grove about 500 yards from where the stricken copter crashed.

“I saw two helicopters coming from (the US military airport in) Habbaniyah. Two missiles were fired; one of them missed one of the helicopters and the other hit the tail of the other aircraft,” said taxi-driver Rauf Suleiman Abed, 35.

Farmer Mohamad al-Issawi told the Agence France-Presse (AFP) that “a projectile struck the tail of the helicopter at around 9:00 am. I saw fire coming out of the front of the aircraft which then crashed.” Issawi said the owner of the land where the helicopter crashed “fled the area with his family of some 15 people, immediately after the explosion.” “Human remains were found 500 yards away,” he said.

Witnesses said the second copter hovered over the downed craft for some minutes and then set down, apparently to try to help extinguish a fire. The downed copter was already destroyed. At least a half-dozen Black Hawk helicopters later hovered over the area, and dozens of soldiers swarmed over the site.
Fort Carson, Colorado, officials confirmed at least some of their own were injured in the crash, but would not give an exact number or confirm whether any from the post were among the dead until all the relatives had been notified, said Lt. Col. Thomas Budzyna.
On Monday, 3 November 2003, President Bush said that some of the best Americans have fallen in defense of freedom and liberty. “We mourn every loss. We honor every name. We grieve with every family. And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders,” he said during a speech in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Army helicopter shot down apparently had a last-second warning of an approaching missile and managed to launch flares designed to draw the heat-seeking missile away, a senior Army official said Thursday.
It is not clear why the defensive moves did not work, but the official, who discussed the attack investigation on condition he not be identified, said U.S. officials believe the shooter simply got in a “lucky shot.”

This is Dawn’s husband. Dawn is a dear friend of mine and she did a tribute to her husband and the rest of the soldiers from the tragic day, November 2, 2003. I wanted to share this with you as you are getting to know her, she is the girl that helped me make the pinups for football.
Her husband is still on the mend and doing great. He just got his teeth this last month that had to be replaced. He has had many operations on various injuries he had.
Last week Dawn and Ray found out he might be going back to Iraq. They were not sure he would even be able to do anything at first, the injuries were so severe. It has taken this many years for the operations, healing and physical therapy etc. Not sure when but I am asking if you could please put both of them in your prayers.

PC Free Zone (aka Theodore’s World) has been chosen as a finalist for the 2007 Weblog Awards in the

“Best of the Top 251 – 500 Blogs” category.

It is always nice to be recognized and I am so grateful and appreciate so much those that nominated PC Free Zone.
Thank you so much to all of you Team Theodore friends and commenter’s, and to those that nominated this blog.

From the Weblogs Award site:
“The Weblog Awards are the world’s largest blog competition, with over 525,000 votes cast in the 2006 edition for finalists in 45 categories. Nominations for 49 categories ended October 17, 2007 and voting is scheduled to begin November 1, 2007. Final results will be announced November 8, 2007 at the BlogWorld & New Media Expo in Las Vegas.”
“Nominations for The 2007 Weblog Awards were, as always, open and public. There were over 4,000 nominations in the 49 categories.”

Today I was notified that we have made it to being a Finalist. It is such a compliment to be nominated and to make it to being a Finalist is very exciting.
Voting for The 2007 Weblog Awards is now open.
The basic rules:
* You may vote once every 24 hours
* After voting in an individual poll you will be locked out from voting again in that poll (on the computer you voted from) for 24 hours.
So I guess what I am supposed to do is ask you to please VOTE for PC Free Zone. It feels kind of funny to ask, and of course it is up to you if you would like to vote.
To Vote: click on the graphic above and it will take you to the site where you can vote. It can be done each day as long as there are 24 hours between each vote you make.

Thank
you so much,

((hug))

Chrissie

There are many of your favorite blogs in this as well, so you may want to look around to vote for others too.

.

U.S. Soldiers singing along with the Toby Keith song “Beer For My Horses.”

Game of the day has got to be Patriots vs. Colts
This game will mark the first time in NFL history that two teams with 7-0 records or better have met.
Peyton Manning and Tom Brady each have 67 regular-season wins since 2002 — tied for most among all NFL QBs.

Here are the matchups for today Sunday 11/ 04/ 07
WAS @ NYJ 1:00 PM
SF @ ATL 1:00 PM
ARI @ TB 1:00 PM
GB @ KC 1:00 PM
CIN @ BUF 1:00 PM
SD @ MIN 1:00 PM
DEN @ DET 1:00 PM
CAR @ TEN 1:00 PM
JAC @ NO 1:00 PM
SEA @ CLE 4:05 PM
HOU @ OAK 4:15 PM
NE @ IND 4:15 PM
DAL @ PHI 8:15 PM
Monday, November 05 Time (EST)
BAL @ PIT 8:30 PM
Byes: Bears, Dolphins, Giants, Rams

These are the teams I think everyone is for. I will add to this as you tell me your favorite teams.
(Some names are those deployed in Iraq)
Lynn – Broncos, Bears, Browns
Tom – Cowboys, Broncos
Darth – New York Giants, Tampa Bay Bucs, (ABP – ‘anybody’ but Philly )
Mark – Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Bears
Bob – Buffalo Bills
Billy – Jets, NY Giants, Bears
Nick – Cowboys, Rams and Raiders
Karsten – Tampa Bay Bucs, NY Giants
navycopjoe – Chicago Bears
LindaSOG – Miami Dolphins
Jonathan – Raiders
Dawn – Seahawks, Bronco’s ….(husband USARMY delpoyed, Iraq)
Amber – Green Bay Packers …..(husband USMC delpoyed Iraq)
Cuchieddie – Raiders
Sierrahome – Colts
patrickdaniel – Chargers, Cowboys
Eve – Colts ….(husband USARMY deployed Iraq)
Beth – Bears , Saints
Chief – Seahwaks
Chrissie – Bears, Broncos and Cowboys
Deployed:
Andy ( USMC) – Colts
Mike ( USARMY) – Seattle Seahawks
Sand Man ( (USMC) – Bronco’s
Dave (USARMY) – Patriots
Tim ( USMC) – Bears
Jean ( USARMY) – Atlanta Falcons

Sunday FINAL Scores
CIN 21 @ BUF 33 FINAL
JAC 24 @ NO 41 FINAL
CAR 7 @ TEN 20 FINAL
SD 17 @ MIN 35 FINAL
SF 16 @ ATL 20 FINAL
ARI 10 @ TB 17 FINAL
GB 33 @ KC 22 FINAL
DEN 7 @ DET 44 FINAL
WAS 23 @ NYJ 20 FINAL
SEA 30 @ CLE 33 FINAL
HOU 24 @ OAK 17 FINAL
NE 24 @ IND 20 FINAL
DAL 38@ PHI 17 FINAL

Campaign flyer offends Muslim community
ROCHESTER
There is a new debate in Monroe County related to Governor Spitzer’s plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. The debate has worked its way into the county legislature races. It has to do with a campaign mailing sent out by the Republican Party.
It is not so much what it says but what it shows that has members of the Islamic community upset. The flyer suggests that county legislature democrats want to license potential terrorists and the literature contains images intended to depict terrorists.

“Seeing these things are very wrong for me to see it in that way it means someone is profiling me that I’m a terrorist,” said Dr. Muhammad Shafiq.

Dr. Shafiq is the Imam at the Islamic Center on Westfall Road in Rochester. He says the images are offensive to Muslims and believes the Republican Party is using fear tactics to persuade voters.

“Especially as a Muslim, it looks very very wrong the way they portrayed the pictures as linking Arabs and terrorism, equalizing them to terrorism, is racial profiling,” said Dr. Shafiq.

County clerk Cheryl Dinolfo disagrees.

“I really do take issue with that way of thinking because, again, that piece is about not one particular nationality,” said Dinolfo.

Dinolfo says licensing illegal immigrants could jeopardize the security of the entire nation. She uses 9/11 as an example.

“The fact remains that there were terrorists who came into this country and harmed our country using licenses to do so,” said Dinolfo.

County Democrats say the Republicans are attacking them on the licensing issue that the county legislature has virtually no control over. Democrats accuse Republicans of using the topic to try and hold onto control of the county legislature.

“Frankly putting someone on the face of campaign literature with an Uzi in his hand and accusing Democrats of aiding and abetting terrorists is about the terrorists is the lowest form of discourse or communication I’ve ever seen in this community,” said Monroe County Democratic Chair, Assemblyman Joe Morelle.

Dr. Shafiq is calling on County Republicans to denounce the mailing. But Thursday night, the county clerk offered no apologies.
Dinolfo is not up for reelection next Tuesday. Nine county legislature seats are being contested. Republicans currently control the Monroe County legislature 17-12.

Wild Thing’s comment………
Ah the Muslims are outraged again. What else is new? Ask me if I care? NOT! Muslims are always angry about something, so we can discount that. On the broader point, issuing licenses to illegals does indeed compromise our security. Drivers’ licenses are used as de facto ID cards in our country. Those—Hillary, Obama, Edwards—who would issue these cards to illegals put pandering to foreign lawbreakers before the security of our people. No doubt about it.
Most of the 9/11 terrorists had American drivers licenses. Some of them, sad to say, had licenses from my sorry, leaky DMV state, North Carolina. Also, eight of them were registered to vote. Last but not least, ALL of them were Muslims.
Any Muslims who object to “profiling” can stick it up their … turbans.
I say ignore the complainers and continue to use the offensive images and you will win. Cower and remove them and you lose because you show that even if you are against the practice, you have no strength, will, or cojones to see it through and if you will cave to the enemy on a complaint how will you accomplish anything at all?