(no subject)

Two things to mention:
1) Went to class with damashita and scootercomputer today centred around teaching pre-lingual infants sign language. Since darkmuffin has an interest in sign as well, we'll probably work at teaching both boys sign. Getting back into an environment where people use manual communication reminded both damashita and me about how much fun it was.

2) After class we stopped at the store for a bit and came home. In the mail was something which still has me somewhat amazed- a handwritten card from the people in the Human Resources department at my new company welcoming me to the organization. There's a little quote inside from Samuel Taylor Coleridge (he of Rime of the Ancient Mariner fame) which says "Nothing is insignificant." That's just a little, unexpected touch which still leaves me a bit at a loss for words— despite trying to write about it— and somewhat in shock. Most places manage to get the big things squared around reasonably well, but this was so out of the ordinary. Wow. I don't know what else to say.

Grrrrr.

The death toll from Mosul, Iraq today is now at seventeen, all killed in a crash resulting from two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters colliding in mid-air. This brings the number of U.S. fatalities to 422. Doesn't sound like a lot, but of them, 283 have died since the commander-in-chief declared an end to active major combat operations in May on board an aircraft carrier which changed course and went back to sea so it wasn't plainly visible that the chickenhawk flew out to it when it was in sight of land.

139 killed during the "real war." 283 killed since Mr. Bush declared victory. The largest federalization of Washington state National Guard members since World War II, and this after the war is supposedly over, yet during a time when 67% of the fatalities have occurred. And this isn't even touching on the details reported by the Seattle Times this week, noting that of these National Guardsmen and women activated, mnost have had to buy for themselves things as basic to the equipments of a soldier as combat boots.

Speaking thereof, combatbootz, take care of yourself while over there, and know that the hopes and prayers (to whatever deities) of all of us— including those who were opposed to the war— are with you and your family-in-arms in the 81st Armored Brigade, hoping for you to have a safe and speedy return.

Hopefully you'll return to a nation which will elect a leader worthy of sending military forces where and when needed, with clearly defined victory conditions; rather than one who serves his own interest and those of his cronies.