Mail Bag On Bush

Last screening: coffee and cigarettes by Jim jarmusch. Viewed the film because it was said to be about a bunch of cool people having cool conversations in different casual settings. Reminded us of what we are trying to do with Transcendence Television, the reality show, that's the running name now. But after 36 minutes I turned it off. Forced, stilted, transparent, insulting it was so bad, utterly meaningless. I had such hopes for it. how can you ruin such a brilliant idea as a movie about coffee and cigarettes? But it is everything that we are trying not to make. It has illustrated for me clearly that we are on the right path with this non-reality reality-show idea. Let it be real. Just real. No planning shit. No telling people to improv shit. Just catch the action and emotion of the human experience in the moment and edit it all together. show us what we are.

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And now for a few from the mail bag:

From New York City

<<From: Nicole Henderson
New York, NY
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2004 11:03 AM
Subject: I wanted you to know.

I am writing this letter to the people in the red states in the middle of the country -- the people who voted for George W. Bush. I am writing this letter because I don't think we know each other.

So I'll make an introduction. I am a New Yorker who voted for John
Kerry. I used to live in California, and if I still lived there, I
would vote for Kerry. I used to live in Washington, DC, and if I
still lived there, I would vote for Kerry. Kerry won in all three
of those regions.

Maybe you want to know more about me. Or maybe not; maybe you think
you know me already. You think I am some anti-American anarchist
because I dislike George W. Bush. You think that I am immoral and
anti-family, because I support women's reproductive freedom and gay
rights. You think that I am dangerous, and even evil, because I do
not abide by your religious beliefs.

Maybe you are content to think that, to write me off as a "liberal"
-- the dreaded "L" word -- and rejoice that your candidate has
triumphed over evil, immoral, anti-American, anti-family people like
me. But maybe you are still curious. So here goes: this is who I
am.

I am a New Yorker. I was here, in my apartment downtown, on
September 11th. I watched the Towers burn from the roof of my
building. I went inside so that I couldn't see them when they fell.
I had friends who were inside. I have a friend who still has nightmares about watching people jump and fall from the Towers. He will never be the same. How many people like him do you know? People that can't sit in a restaurant without plotting an
escape route, in case it blows up?

I am a worker. I work across the street from the Citigroup Center, which the government told us is a "target" of terrorism. Later, we found out they were relaying very old information, but it was already too late.
They had given me bad dreams again. The subway stop near my office
was crowded with bomb-sniffing dogs, policemen in heavy protective
gear, soldiers. Now, every time I enter or exit my office, all of
my possessions are X-rayed to make sure I don't have any weapons.
How often are you stopped by a soldier with a bomb-sniffing dog
outside your office?

I am a neighbor. I have a neighbor who is a 9/11 widow. She has
two children. My husband does odd jobs for her now, like building
bookshelves. Things her husband should do. He uses her husband's
tools, and the two little girls tell him, "Those are our daddy's
tools." How many 9/11 widows and orphans do you know? How often do
you fill in for their dead loved ones?

I am a taxpayer. I worked my butt off to get where I did, and so
did my parents. My parents saved and borrowed and sent me to
college. I worked my way through graduate school. I won a full
tuition scholarship to law school. All for the privilege of working
2,600 hours last year. That works out to a 50 hour week, every
week, without any vacation days at all. I get to work by 9 am and
rarely leave before 9 pm. I eat dinner at my office much more often
than I eat dinner at home. My husband and I paid over $70,000 in
federal income tax last year. At some point in the future, we will
have to pay much more -- once this country faces its deficit and the
impossible burden of Social Security. In fact, the areas of the
country that supported Kerry -- New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts -- they are the financial centers of the nation. They are the tax base of this country. How much did you pay, Kansas? How much did you contribute to this government you support, Alabama? How much of this war in Iraq did you pay for?

I am a liberal. The funny part is, liberals have this reputation for living in Never-Neverland, being idealists, not being sensible. But let me
tell you how I see the world: I see America as one nation in a world
of nations. Therefore, I think we should try to get along with
other nations. I see that gay people exist. Therefore, I think they should be allowed to exist, and be treated the same as other people. I see ways in which women are not allowed to control their own bodies. Therefore, I think we should
give women more control over their bodies. I see that people have awful diseases. Therefore, I think we should enable scientists to try to cure them. I see that we have a Constitution. Therefore, I think it should be upheld. I see that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Therefore, I think that Iraq was not an imminent danger to me. It seems so pragmatic to me. How do you see the world? Do you really think voting against gay marriage will keep people from being gay? Would you
really prefer that people continue to die from Parkinson's disease?
Do you really not care about the Constitutional rights of political
detainees? Would you really have supported the war if you knew the
truth, or would you have wanted to spend more of our money on health
care, job training, terrorism preparedness?

I am an American. I have an American flag flying outside my home.
I love my home more than anything. I love that I grew up right
outside New York City. I first went to the Statue of Liberty with
my 5th grade class, and my mom and dad took me to the Empire State
Building when I was 8. I love taking the subway to Yankee Stadium.
I loved living in Washington DC and going on dates to the Lincoln
Memorial. It is because I love this country so much that I argue
with my political opponents as much I do.

I am not safe. I never feel safe. My in-laws live in a small town in Ohio, and that town has received more federal funding, per capita, for
terrorism preparedness than New York City has. I take subways and buses every day. I work in a skyscraper across the street from a "target." I have emergency supplies and a spare pair of sneakers in my desk, in case something
happens while I'm at work. Do you? How many times a month do you worry that your subway is going to blow up? When you hear sirens on the street, do you run to the window to make sure everything is okay? When you hear an airplane, do you flinch? Do you dread beautiful, blue-skied September days? I don't know a single New Yorker who doesn't spend the month of September on
tip-toes, superstitiously praying for rain so we don't have to relive
that beautiful, blue-skied day.

I am lonely. I feel that we, as a nation, have alienated all our friends and further provoked our enemies. I feel unprotected. Most of all I feel alienated from my fellow citizens, because I don't understand what you are thinking. You voted for a man who started a war in Iraq for no reason, against the wishes of the entire world. You voted for a man whose
lack of foresight and inability to plan has led to massive
insurgencies in Iraq, where weapons are disappearing into the hands
of terrorists. You voted for a man who let Osama Bin Laden escape
into the hills of Afghanistan so that he could start that war in Iraq. You voted for a man who doesn't want to let people love who they want to love; doesn't want to let doctors cure their patients; doesn't want to let women rule their destinies. I
don't understand why you voted for this man. For me, it is not
enough that he is personable; it is not enough that he seems like one of the guys. Why did you vote for him? Why did you elect a man that lied to us in order to convince us to go to war? (Ten years ago you were incensed when our
president lied about his sex life; you thought it was an impeachable
offense.) Why did you elect a leader who thinks that strength
cannot include diplomacy or international cooperation? Why did you
elect a man who did nothing except run away and hide on September
11?

Most of all, I am terrified. I mean daily, I am afraid that I will not survive this. I am afraid that I will lose my husband, that I will
never have children, that I will never grow old and watch the sunset in a backyard of my own. I am afraid that my career -- which should end with a triumphant and good-natured roast at a retirement party in 2035 -- will be cut
short by an attack on me and my colleagues, as we sit sending emails
and making phone calls one ordinary afternoon. Is your life at
stake? Are you terrified?

I don't think you are. I don't think you realize what you have
done. And if anything happens to me or the people I love, I blame
you. I wanted you to know that.

From Holland, the Netherlands:

Hey fishy,
 

I think it’s sad that Bush is president again….
But I don’t like your election system at all. Two choices you can only make, which is sponsored by tuns of money.... and a lot of media etc. So: Thát is not democratical at all. It’s manipulation etc. So what do you want in america? What example is this for people..?

So that’s where it starts. And that Bush became president. I think it is painful for the world, for all the things he did and the violence he uses. He is too persistant and that is not what the world needs: attacking evil with evil. He should read the bible more and understand the essence of love and peace more how you can do something positive with attention in the world....  He should do avatar! For a better world.
I wish you all the best. Send him much love!! And maybe by that he’ll feel appreciated and relax more in his ‘being’ instead of doing.

Love!

A

Another from Netherlands:

Reelection of Bush, amongst my friends American and world-wide, 15% voted for Bush. The feeling is that we have a wrong leader and that he, by Iraq, has made the world more polarized and dangerous.
Love,
Mirjam

From Chile:
 

All I can say is that the results of the election reiterates that unfortunately the majority of the population of the US is very ignorant and easily persuadable...

Unfortunately there wasn’t a strong opposition: Kerry’s weak tactic of just highlighting Bush’s mistakes lacked energy. He looked like the bullied kid who can only defend himself by saying that his opponent is bad, without showing what he could do differently.
I feel confused. I would have expected more intelligence from Americans. But again, it’s not like they had another choice. Kerry did not inspire me.

I heard somebody said this when we found out about the elections’ result:

“Kerry no calienta ni a su señora” which translates into HE DOESN’T EVEN TURN HIS WIFE ON.
ES


From New York:

NEW YORK (AP) -- A 25-year-old from Georgia who was distraught over President Bush's re-election apparently killed himself at Ground Zero.

From Australia:

G’day Fishy,

What I observe is two nations yours and mine so easily manipulated by its leaders thru the deliberate the escalation of fear…take a tragic act of insanity…sept 11 and the Bali bombing and use what ever means available…media…rhetoric…lies (Bush and his hidden agenda re Iraq …Howard and the lies over The Tampa ‘children overboard’ incident just before the previous election) to keep that fear alive then intensify it…and you very quickly have the attention of the masses particularly those people who have yet to be awakened to the effect of their own indoctrinations…religions throughout time have used this form of control for thousands of years (its easier to control people by feeding their fears than to have them move forward thru their inspiration…one controls the other liberates) its what fundamentalists have used and continue to use today …the level of dishonesty in both leaders reveals a lot about our collective dishonesty and it’s a reminder for me to take responsibility for my part in the collective dishonesty in the world… to do what I can to be fairer and more real in my dealings with people and with my self…& to support the awakening of realness on the planet …I believe this retrograde step can  be turned around if people around the world decide to become more honest…with themselves and others and choose to act accordingly.

Love,

Kate

From Italy:

Ciao Fishy,


what can i say, i hate all this and i can not understand how is possible he has been reelected. why after all this problems, all this war, all this blood, you let him win. maybe he did something in the election, do you think is possible that he stole votes? cause i can not belive americans still trust him. for example the film or the books of Michael Moor didn't have any emotion on you. when i saw at that film i was so upset and i felt so stupid and small. i will do every thing to convince all the people i know to don't vote for berlusconi. 


You remember i always have been warried about the healt of the planet i'm scared about what can happen in few years but now i'm more scared on what can happen to that poor people and of course to us. is a stupid war we are in the 2004 and we still kill each others. we should try all togetar to do somthing good for the planet and you Americans  have to do something to change your president or as you can to put some limits on his powers. any way let me know if the election was 'legal' and what is happening there if there are manifestation to put him down. to conclude i 'm sad and scared  because i know this is  real bad time for all the world.
hope to see you soon, hope to hear about his death soon.
a big kiss. tua amica, D

Another from Italy:

Ciao il mio fratello! I donno what to say but all here in Italy feel bad coz bush take it again. U know how italian suffered coz there is money and Italian soldiers in Iraq and all this becoz of bush. In israel the situation is different coz jews are happy about bush but the palestenian not, coz bush didnt care enough about the middle east , for example like klinton did. I am disapointed coz i feel that the situation will more bad with G. Bush. In general in Europe the people are scared and disappointed,

Ciao, M

From Estonia:

Fishy,

I just wrote a column on the subject that was published on the election day for the newspaper that I work for (one of the 2 biggest dailies here):

    http://www.epl.ee/artikkel_277699.html

Well, it is written in Estonian of course, but the basic idea of the article is that Europeans don't have any problems with Americans or their values, it's the Bush administration that we (and not only we) have a problem with. If there is anything anti-American people were hoping for, it's the Bush re-relection. Nobody, even Osama Bin Laden or Saddam, has been able to destroy American values as effectively as Bush has.

Of course, we were all hoping for Kerry. We really really were. And of course the outcome was a huge disappointment. However, the fact that over 40 % of the American people voted for change is a very important signal, especially for us, Europeans. A really good signal.

All the best,
M.R.

From Japan:

Hi Fishy,

Good to hear from you, and I am good! I have been checking your transcendent activities through your newsletters, and congratulations for all your wonderful achievements over the last months. :-)

About Bush reelection I am very disappointed. I am against Bush's policies regarding Iraq which are causing many innocent Iraq citizens die every day, and for the same reason I am against our own Prime Minister who is riding on his coattail.

When the final election result was reported on the news, my husband said "Why again Bush?!",  I guess it was a question a lot of Japanese had when we heard about the reelection, and I wonder how the feeling is in the U.S., especially in Florida. Can you fill me in?

Love,
Kimi

From France:

Hi Fishy!!!

I hope you're fine. About Bush being re-elected, I simply couldn't believe it, I mean in France we really don't like him, considering all the measures he had taken as a president concerning so many things, such as environment, social life and obviously his dealing of international matters. He has killed so many people in Iraq now. It's true that we don't know many things about Kerry, but here, in France, we had thought that the American people would vote for anyone but Bush and i was pretty sure Kerry would be elected because American people couldn't accept being lied to and manipulated that way by Bush. So the news was a real shock and I still don't understand what made the majority of America vote for him. I hope I’ve clearly expressed my point of view and have news from you soon,
Bye. Nat

More from France:

I feel terrible. The vibe is pretty horrified, people offering condolences. Much anger, belief he stole the election again (8 million new Bush voters from where?), worries about US militarism and religious fundamentalism and the basic ignorance of the american people, if they did actually vote him in. Last election they gave the American people some slack, empathy, first as he lost the popular vote and second as the voters did not know how bad he was. This time neither apply.  Anything can happen in the next four years.

RS

From France:

Dear Fishy,

I wasn't surprised by the outcome. Many people I spoke to expected this and many also said Bush should finish what he started. As for
my own opinion, I would have liked to have seen a change but the choice
wasn't that great. Kerry lacked leadership qualities to move him forward, but was a much better candidate for America. People are usually taken by character rather than by actions.

Jazzy

From Spain:

Hey Fishy!

Hey, Bush again? What the hell happened? I don't trust the newspapers
(everything is so manipulated everywhere); I'd like to know what's
happening in the States, just explained by an American. Can you give me
some first-hand information?

I was really convinced that this time Kerry would win, after all that
has happened in the late two years.... How can it be that he won
again??? What is wrong over there with you guys? I trust you didn't vote for Bush?

Well, well. What about you? What are you doing in NY? It's now one year
and a half that we don't meet; I really would like to come to NY to see you soon!!!!!

Kisses,
M

Hey Montse, 

We are in shock here. there is nothing we can say about it. let me know if you ever want to come to New York and I will let you know next time I come to EU. You are lucky there. we here have been taken over by a bunch of simple-minded religious-righters who think that the terminator is a positive influence on political thinking who want to take us back to the dark ages.

Your friend in shock,
Fishy

From Israel:

So, does your voice count? Who voted for Bush?
You should only think positive, what has been done, is done (like starting a war on innocent people from the first place). And what have happened, happened, tough- but you can't change it! Look at this, this way stability is good against predators, And from my experience, lac of authority interpreted as weakness, you must have stability with the government to show your power, sad but true. 

I tolled you before I think one of the main problems in Israel is lac of stability in the government, and corrupted leadership. we are like third world country in that meter because it seams to me that politicians only care about their position, personal power and their mark, not the people, it shows very obvious in local parties, they have absolutely no shame in "the city authority". for me 1995 was a brake point, my prime minster Rabin was assassinated by a fanatic person with no respect for human beings, and  the rule of democracy. I can say that that  pretty much made me loose hope (with people? with authority? with peace? I don't know with what) around the same time there was heavy terrorism in my beloved city, the bus I use to take to school, non stop every day bombs explodes, ambulance sirens, braking news on t.v. It was no fun, may be that's why I was a depressed teen ager. And you've probably seen the "looser candidate speech" on t.v,
Well, Kerry him self said some thing important, the people most be united, because no meter how weans (if you can call it like that), naturally there will always be opponents, and in democracy we most respect the results.
Soon, Kat.

Another from Israel:

Hello dear friend,
If it o.k. to be a little bit more "ram" I would like to repeat something I believe:
"There is no "reality" only perception". If you really want to change something Start With your own perception and when you will feel more safe in the world Inside and Outside, It will empower and inspire others too.

Which creation are you going to feed with your attention, trust or fear? It's maybe the only Thing that is really a choice here.

My way of handling the continued attacks to Israel is exactly this...just to lower For one Degree the seriousness-fear and then to raise for just one degree the Trust-playfulness.
This one degree is not changing the world but it is certainly shifting me. I recommend the same thing with your country’s problems with Bush reelection.

Fishy I have a lot of appreciation to your Humanitarian Identity.
Love, Ram

From Guatemala:

Hi Fishy,
 
To my belief, Latin America is not swallowing the "pill" that the war against terrorism is the true objective of the permanence of the US in Iraq. At the beginning, after Sept. 11, we were sympathetic with Bush and America when it attacked Afghanistan. Later, when it attacked Saddam Hussein, we raised an eyebrow, still thinking that the purpose was to eliminate one big bandit and we still coped with the idea.  But when the US remained with artillery and warfare in Irak, we no longer sympathize with the idea since so many children, women and innocent children die and suffer from that invasion.

Americans living in our countries are more keen to understand that democracy is something that has to be achieved by ourselves and not by some external foreign government like the US. Most of the free countries around the world feel that the US invasion in Irak goes against their true freedom. On the other hand, if we talk about environmental issues, with Bush, we can surely forget he will do something substantial about it.

Climate change is at our footstep and Bush doesn’t want to recognize it. He is neglecting to sign the Protocol of Kyoto, even though the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has urged him to do so. 

Some Congressmen make sure that the American economy does not alter, and they say that their life style is not negotiable. They also stress that global warming has not been proven and is merely stuborness from the environmentalists. But Science is clear. Each year more than 3 billion tons of the carbon emmisions stay in the air and nature cannot absorve them. Almost two thirds of the carbon emmisions come from transportation and generation of electricity and the most powerful countries are the most responsible for that. The life style of Americans has been built through cheap energy and the activists in Washington, in favor of fosil fuel, want it to continue in the same fasion. They say that if they would ratify the Protocole of Kyotto, the American Dream would end.

But life as we know it, will end soon, and not just for Americans but for the entire world if something is not done quick enough. Climate Change needs to be detained and the U.S. should comply with lowering  5%  the level of  its carbon emmisions or know that climate conditions will worsen each day. United States, Australia and Canada are the ones who contaminate the most and are the most responsible for global warming, countries who have not signed the Protocole of Kyotto because their economy would alter.

The Protocole of Kyotto needs to be signed by the most powerful nations on earth, which are the ones which contaminate the most, like the U.S., something that Bush neglects to do.  Bush is covering his eyes and ears to all reason, even though has seen dramatic climate change phenomena with the last hurricaines that wiped out many homes in the States, one after the other!!!  Bush has even gotten proof from the Pentagon on future disasters that will  possibly wipe out part of the Eastern Coast of the U.S. by the year 2007, but still Bush doesn´t want to hear. It is his own country which will be suffering, but he doesn´t want to hear. In those terms, most of our foreign countries do not see with kind eyes this new election. We wanted to see CHANGE. We perceive the contrary, Things won´t change with him around. For the time being, the big American industries who presure Bush to keep things the same way, and that don´t want to suffer economical consequences due to the changes, will in the long run suffer along with the rest of the Americans. Because money doesn´t buy it all.

We should all tell Bush that our atmosphere is not negotiable and that money won´t be able to counteract the horrendous climate phenomena that is already forthcoming due to his neglect of signing the Protocol of Kyoto.

Love you,
V

From Turkey:

'ALLAH' you are funny not like Steve Martin but you are good.:):):)
(I think The God had left us for a long time ago!!!!!!!!)

I prayed. But it seems that the election will not be concluded as we wish and supporters of the war are going to win. I am very sad......
 
Tülin

From Germany:

Good to know you are in the democratic N.Y. now buddy!
Need still some more time to recover from the hit on my head when I checked the results on Wednesday morning (our time). Seems we have to carry along and out what we created during the last decade and Kerry is just a soul too brave and accurate to get our foolish argument in the future, the one we can point on to have a hit why everything struggled and failed. I lately heard that our leaders are just our own representation on another platform we do not act upon, but they play on the stage we support and provide. Maybe if we eat this our digestion may rise and what we leave behind will be another leadership in the future. So I agree with you to pray. Praying for better food for our minds to act in a way that manifestation can give us again a pure result of reflection in the future, but than the one we are proud about and one we love to see. Until than: a lot of air in the stomach and colon producing exactly the music we hate to hear, to see, to smell. Paralyzed by sense we wish we could point on and say: it was not me who….but we know it just came up as the result from just the wrong diet over a long, long time.

God may be with us all on this planet that is still our mother and love, although the “Texan Exxon Cowboy“ is blaming the meadows and hurting the horses. The right whisperer is going to come if we stop crying and arguing about the situation but go ahead for better foundations. Let’s act, baby!

Cheers brother!
Bernd

From Brasil:

Hi Fishy,
For me it feels unbelievable that a country re-elects a president that is pro-wars. Nowadays the whole world tries to find the most creative solutions in order to avoid wars and the "country number one" (as Americans call themselves) chooses somebody that think that the best solution for problems is war. And even more, it's obvious and it's worldwide known that Bush and Bin Laden's family have a close connection, basically they help each other. Don´t you think? Just reflect about what happened during the election's week!
Patti (Brazil) 

From the Ukraine:

Hi Fishy,
I don't support the politics of Bush and hoped that would win Kerry. As the person Kerry is more attractive, because Bush makes impressions of the man with a low I.Q. But the position of both candidates to Ukraine is identical, and for us it wasn’t important, who will win.  
We are interested more by own elections now.

The political analyst S.Bgesinskij has said that he can’t make the prognosis about results of elections only in two countries: in USA and in the Ukraine. Your elections were finished, and we wait for the second round. I was in Italy two weeks ago, in Milan and Venice and spoke with two Americans about elections of the president in USA. They are the businessmen and have said that both your candidates are not so different in economic politics. I think, that for USA the choice of the president is not very important, because their status obliges leader to act definitely. So the search of an external enemy and fight for petroleum will continue, even if would win Kerry. It is not bad. Simply it is life. Know, we have such joke about the American politics: you do not know what it is a democracy by the American way?!! Then our fighting fly to you!
Anna

From a Northern State (this is hilarious):

http://www.fuckthesouth.com/

From Canada:

I think Bush being re-elected is a good thing for Canada as Bush is open to trade
between the US and Canada. Our country does so much exporting with the US.
Kerry on the other hand is very Pro America and would prefer to keep all business, all jobs in the US and close trade opportunities with Mexico and Canada. However, I think Kerry is a better choice for World Relations.
Bush scares me.
Darc

From England:

From Miami:

Hey Fishy,

How could this happen?

Fucking Christian Bible belt, that's how. Fucking liberal media never let on to how powerful those fucks have become. Bush has become  a minister of sorts and not voting for him means that you don't believe in God. seriously that is how intertwined politics and religion have gotten in this country. I saw it at the poles man. And have gone to church few times and hear it being preached from the minister, it's disgusting.
 
All I can say at this point is, the people that voted for Bush will get what's coming to them, sad thing is the people that worked their asses of to get him out will to. This country is going to suffer and there is no one else to blame, but the ignorant bible belt rednecks. Bring it on, we deserve it
 
So disappointed right now man, I can't believe people were so happy with the last 4 years that they want 4 more. sorry to be such a bummer.

Bas

From Oregon:

well, i can't say that we are fucked. as always something in me refuses to believe that this is the final say. more than any other day today i have heard "there MUST be a greater purpose in this!!" because otherwise it makes NO sense....maybe i am just surrounded by more buddhists than most folks but that was the prevailing sentiment, even beneath the anger, disbelief, exhaustion and sadness. cool things happened in massage clinic today-- one of my clients came in with no complaints physically, just general tension and grumpiness at how the election turned out-- we found  all these knots in his back, and named them after republican voting states ("ahh. there goes ohio...") and proceeded to exorcise and erradicate them with trigger point and petrissage. very satisfying, to watch and feel someone's back dissolve and have them leave feeling better about life with a more relaxed and clear grip on themselves.

really what i feel most during this time is that NOW there is no other choice but to get active/ist. i asked great spirit for the opportunity and courage to write, and now it is here.  with everyone, now there is no excuse for being complacent in the least. we are going to have to be so creative in so many ways to get what we need and to maintain grace and global connection--it will be within that personal and individual network that we have been establishing over the years that peace is kept an option and that truth is shared. on some level this country IS  fucked because they asked for it. "hurt me, oh yeah, just like last time!" but on other levels we are waking up the last of the sleepers.

all i could think about this morning was if my daughter would do alright in a tree-sit...or if there will be any trees left out here in a few years. sure, oregon voted as a whole for kerry, which is phenomenal, but as a state it fucked its own ass. picture THAT! or not. once again it voted down any money for schools, any foresight in forest preservation and any diversity in love. it voted down the medical marijuana measure and is altering the bloody state constitution to make gay marriage illegal. portland is the lesbian capital of the country!! like anyone needs a law to declare love. but now domestic partners can't be included on insurance policies or make medical decisions for their partners, etc. i have to not eat all this bullshit because i don't need it on my cells. juno asks questions and we have to find ways to answer them withoout injecting hate into our voices. it is challenging but in its own way a method of discreating? we shall see.

lots to say on the subject of other news but i have to address it later-- be at peace though, and let the cynicism fall from your shoulders like heavy weather passing.
cheers-- julia

From the ever present humorists [thank God for them!] on the Internet:

From the Now Age Press [this is good stuff, worth the read]:


Turns out there was no real "coalition of the willing" in the war with Iraq, but Bush did have a real coalition in his war against John Kerry and the Democrats, a coalition of the shilling: the mainstream media. What appears to be the culmination of a forty-year, organized effort by right-wingers to hijack the Republican Party, has resulted in the take-over of all branches of the federal government, and many state governorships. And they couldn't have done it without their shills in the mainstream media to trumpet their tune. As the Democrats sulk, and question their purpose and political future, the actual results of the election may be in question. They, along with much of America, have been hypnotized.

This election, like in 2000, should never have been so close. But, like in 2000, the Democrats ran a lame campaign. It was convenient to lay Gore's loss (wait, he won) at Nader's feet, but that's just as dysfunctional as Bush's inability to admit error. I supported Nader in 2000, but this year I went along with the common belief that we needed to rally around a solid Democratic candidate that can beat Bush. But I was frustrated throughout the campaign as Kerry and his handlers felt it wiser to prove his was as tough as Bush than take a stand on crucial issues, like the environment. That's an issue where Kerry could have exposed the Bush's true colors: that he's shilling for the anti-environment Wise Use Movement (see Robert Kennedy Jr.'s new book, "Crimes Against Nature" for more on this). That John Kerry, a man with a nearly perfect rating from the League of Women's Conservation Voters, thought it better to play John Wayne than John Muir, or even John Kerry, was offensive to me, and, I assume, other Progressive voters. Perhaps that's why the youth vote felt inspired to vote against Bush, but not motivated enough to stand in line for hours to vote for John Wayne Kerry. But, the pollsters say that people don't vote on environmental issues. In today's New York Times (11/8), an article about the administrations intentions to ramrod their anti-environment goals down our throats said, "Nationally, the environment was a sleeper issue that never awoke"(2). Passion without principle is like pissing into the wind. Somebody gets wet.

What's really crazy about the supposed "meaning" of this election is that Bush has grabbed (and been handed) the moral high ground with his commitment to protect Americans from the dangers of gay marriage. God help us. The true morality tale of this president can be told in the thousands of innocents dead in Iraq, the Abu Gharib torture scandal, the dismantling of decades-old environmental regulations, record budget deficits while giving tax cuts to the rich, under funding of public schools, and the politicizing of 9-11. And let's not forget how the Bush crew hypnotized much of the country into believing 9-11 was not about their failure to protect us, but their protecting us from WMDs. As I recall, we were attacked by a handful of guys with box cutters, our planes, and ill intent. The real WMD danger, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, has only intensified since 9-11. Are you still sleeping?

How did we arrive at a place where fooling a wide swath of the American electorate would be as easy for Karl Rove & Company as getting a neo-con to go to war to steal someone else's oil? That's a no brainer. It's the same reason so many Americans confuse infant formula with breast milk, Pop Tarts with breakfast, pharmaceuticals with health, and television with actual experience. It's a discernment deficiency. And it's the root of the troubles facing us today. When many Americans can no longer distinguish between McDonald's and a home cooked meal, and choose Coke over water, how can they be expected to deal with more nuanced decisions? When our most primal relationship, that with our food, which we've been cultivating for hundreds of generations, is suddenly beyond the grasp of a majority of Americans, we're in big trouble. And we saw the results on Election Day. As long as the American mind continues to be molded by television we can expect more of the same. It's not about changing the channel. It's about turning off the tube and turning on to life. Time is not on our side.

-Craig Gordon

From Economists:

The voters have had their say. Now, the markets will have theirs.
Yesterday, the Dow rose - celebrating the Bush victory. But what's this? The dollar fell to its lowest level in nine years...and gold, the dollar's natural rival, rose to its highest price in 16 years. The votes that really count are those of the foreign central banks - the strangers upon whose kindness that the United States so desperately relies. Sooner or later, they're bound to turn their back on all of the United States: The dollar, the consumers, and the debt. That trend already seems to have begun. Even the New York Times has noticed. "The dollar's long-term path is downward," says the august journal.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration is planning to borrow the most it has ever borrowed in the next quarter - $147 billion.  

Since George W. Bush came to the White House, the dollar has lost more than 20% of its value. It is widely expected to lose even more in Bush's next four years. Also, since Bush was elected the first time, tax revenues have fallen $100 billion, while federal spending has gone up $400 billion. Over the next 10 years, deficits are expected to rise to nearly $5 trillion. This governmental recklessness, on the top of a private recklessness (as reported yesterday, Americans spend $1.04 for every $1.00 they earn) must bring the dollar down. Practically every economist says so. No currency, economy,or people have ever survived this kind of recklessness without some kind of crack-up. The currency markets think they can hear the crash even before it happens. Foreign central bankers must have their hands cupped to their ears too - straining for a hint of what is coming.
We don't know what will happen. If even the New York Times thinks the dollar must fall, we wonder why such widespread expectations are not already in the dollar's price. We remember earlier this year when almost everyone expected the dollar to fall - it did not.
Could the dollar turn out to be like George W. Bush? All the intelligentsia are opposed to him, but the man is popular with the masses. Like Bush, the longer the dollar stays in such an exalted position, the more harm it does. But that doesn't mean both won't be there for a long time

And last but not least, from Michael Moore:

Thursday, November 4th, 2004
My first thoughts about the election...

Cpl. Roberto Abad, Sgt. Michael D. Acklin II, Spc. Genaro Acosta, Pfc. Steven Acosta, Capt. James F. Adamouski, Pvt. Algernon Adams, Sgt. Brandon E. Adams, Spc. Clarence Adams III, 1st Lt. Michael R. Adams, Pfc. Michael S. Adams, Lt. Thomas Mullen Adams, Spc. Jamaal R. Addison, Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Adle, Capt. Tristan N. Aitken, Spc. Segun Frederick Akintade, Lance Cpl. Nickalous N. Aldrich, Spc. Ronald D. Allen Jr., Sgt. Glenn R. Allison, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Allred, Capt. Eric L. Allton, Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, Cpl. Daniel R. Amaya, Pfc. John D. Amos II, Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson, Airman 1st Class Carl L. Anderson Jr., Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael C. Anderson, Spc. Michael Andrade, Pfc, Spc. Yoe M. Aneiros, Lance Cpl. Levi T. Angell, Army Spc. Edward J. Anguiano, Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Todd Arnold, Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, Spc. Richard Arriaga, Staff Sgt. Jimmy J. Arroyave, Spc. Robert R. Arsiaga, Sgt. Evan Asa Ashcraft, Pfc. Shawn M. Atkins, Maj. Jay Aubin, Capt. Matthew J. August, Lance Cpl. Aaron C. Austin, Spc. Tyanna S. Avery-Fedder, Lance Cpl. Andrew Julian Aviles, Pfc. Eric A. Ayon, Sgt. 1st Class Henry A. Bacon, Sgt. Andrew Joseph Baddick, Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Bader, Staff Sgt. Nathan J. Bailey, Spc. Ronald W. Baker, Spc. Ryan T. Baker, Sgt. Sherwood R. Baker. Pfc. Chad E. Bales, 1st Lt. Kenneth Michael Ballard, Maj. Spc. Solomon C. Bangayan, Lt. Col. Dominic R. Baragona, Pfc. Mark A. Barbret, Pfc. Collier E. Barcus, Sgt. Michael C. Barkey, Spc. Jonathan P. Barnes, Command Sgt. Maj. Edward C. Barnhill, Lance Cpl. Aric J. Barr, Sgt. Michael Paul Barrera, Maj. Carlos Barro Ollero, Sgt. Douglas E. Bascom, Spc. Todd M. Bates, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Battles Sr., Gunnery Sgt. Ronald E. Baum, Spc. Alan N. Bean Jr., Spc. Bradley S. Beard, Spc. Beau R. Beaulieu, Capt. Ryan Beaupre, Spc. James L. Beckstrand, Sgt. Gregory A. Belanger, Cpl. Christopher Belchik, Sgt. Aubrey D. Bell, Pfc. Wilfred D. Bellard, Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Bellavia, Sgt. 1st Class William M. Bennett, Spc. Robert T. Benson, 1st Lt. David R. Bernstein, Spc. Joel L. Bertoldie, Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino Sr., Staff Sgt. Marvin Best, Cpl. Mark A. Bibby, Sgt. Benjamin W. Biskie, Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, Sgt. Jarrod W. Black, Chief Warrant Officer Michael T. Blaise, Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco, Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler, Spc. Joseph M. Blickenstaff, Spc. Nicholas H. Blodgett, Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg, Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Bohlman, Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey E. Bohr Jr., Lance Cpl. Todd J. Bolding, Sgt. Dennis J. Boles, Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling, Petty Officer 3rd Class Doyle W. Bollinger Jr, Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Bolor, Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker. Chief Warrant Officer Clarence E. Boone, Capt. John J. Boria, Pfc. Rachel K. Bosveld, Spc. Mathew G. Boule, Staff Sgt. Elvis Bourdon, Pvt. 1st Class Samuel R. Bowen, Staff Sgt. Hesley Box Jr., Pvt. Noah L. Boye, Lance Cpl. Aaron Boyles, Spc. Edward W. Brabazon, Cpl. Travis J. Bradach-Nall, Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Bradley, Staff Sgt. Stacey C. Brandon, Spc. Artimus D. Brassfield, Pfc. Joel K. Brattain, Pfc. Jeffrey F. Braun, Chief Warrant Officer William I. Brennan, Staff Sgt. Steven H. Bridges, Spc. Kyle A. Brinlee, Staff Sgt. Cory W. Brooks, Sgt. Thomas F. Broomhead, Sgt. Andrew W. Brown, Tech. Sgt. Bruce E. Brown, Lance Cpl. Dominic C. Brown, Cpl. Henry L. Brown, Pfc. John E. Brown, Spc. Larry K. Brown, Spc. Lunsford B. Brown II, 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, Spc. Philip D. Brown, Pfc. Timmy R. Brown Jr., 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, Cpl. Andrew D. Brownfield, Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, Lance Cpl. Cedric E. Bruns, 2nd Lt. Todd J. Bryant, Sgt. Ernest G. Bucklew, Spc. Roy Russell Buckley, Pfc. Paul J. Bueche, Lt. Col. Charles H. Buehring, Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, Sgt. George Edward Buggs, Spc. Joshua I. Bunch, Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, Staff Sgt. Michael L. Burbank, Staff Sgt. Richard A. Burdick, Spc. Alan J. Burgess, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey C. Burgess, Pfc. Tamario D. Burkett, Sgt. Travis L. Burkhardt. Pfc. David P. Burridge, Pfc. Jesse R. Buryj, Pfc. Charles E. Bush Jr., Pvt. Matthew D. Bush, Pfc. Damian S. Bushart, Sgt. Jacob L. Butler, Capt. Joshua T. Byers, Cpl. Juan C. Cabralbanuelos, Pfc. Cody S. Calavan, Sgt. Juan Calderon Jr, Sgt. Charles T. Caldwell, Spc. Nathaniel A. Caldwell, Staff Sgt. Joseph Camara, Spc. Michael C. Campbell, Sgt. Ryan M. Campbell, Spc. Marvin A. Camposiles, Spc. Isaac Campoy, Spc. Ervin Caradine Jr., Spc. Adolfo C. Carballo, Pfc. Michael M. Carey, Cpl. Richard P. Carl, Pfc. Ryan G. Carlock, Pfc. Benjamin R. Carman, Staff Sgt. Edward W. Carmen, Spc. Jocelyn L. Carrasquillo, Sgt. Frank T. Carvill, Capt. Christopher S. Cash, Spc. Ahmed A. Cason, Pfc. Jose Casanova, Lance Cpl. James A. Casper, Capt. Paul J. Cassidy, Staff Sgt. Roland L. Castro, Sgt. Sean K. Cataudella, Lance Cpl. Steven C. T. Cates, Pfc. Thomas D. Caughman, Staff Sgt. James W. Cawley, Spc. Jessica L. Cawvey, Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, Lance Cpl. Manuel A. Ceniceros, Cpl. Kemaphoom A. Chanawongse, Spc. James A. Chance III, Staff Sgt. William D. Chaney, Chief Warrant Officer Robert William Channell Jr., Spc. Jason K. Chappell, Pfc. Jonathan M. Cheatham, Sgt. Yohjyh L. Chen, Lance Cpl. Marcus M. Cherry, 2nd Lt. Therrel S. Childers, Spc. Andrew F. Chris. Staff Sgt. Thomas W. Christensen, Spc. Brett T. Christian, Spc. Arron R. Clark, Staff Sgt. Michael J. Clark, Lance Cpl. Donald J. Cline Jr., Pfc. Christopher R. Cobb, Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Codner, 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin, Pvt. Bradli N. Coleman, Cpl. Gary B. Coleman, 2nd Lt. Benjamin J. Colgan, Sgt. Russell L. Collier, Sgt. 1st Class Gary L. Collins, Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Collins, Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence S. Colton, Spc. Zeferino E. Colunga, Sgt. Robert E. Colvill, Sgt. Kenneth Conde Jr., Sgt. Timothy M. Conneway, Spc. Steven D. Conover, Capt. Aaron J. Contreras, Lance Cpl. Pedro Contreras, Sgt. Jason Cook, Command Sgt. Major Eric F. Cooke, Sgt. Dennis A. Corral, Chief Warrant Officer Alexander S. Coulter, 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd, Spc. Gregory A. Cox, Pfc. Ryan R. Cox, Lance Corporal Timothy R. Creager, Sgt. Michael T. Crockett, Staff Sgt. Ricky L. Crockett, Sgt. Brud J. Cronkrite, Lance Cpl. Kyle D. Crowley, Pvt. Rey D. Cuervo, Pfc. Kevin A. Cuming, Spc. Daniel Francis J. Cunningham, Staff Sgt. Darren J. Cunningham, Spc. Carl F. Curran, Cpl. Michael Edward Curtin, Staff Sgt. Christopher E. Cutchall, Pfc. Brian K. Cutter, Pfc. Anthony D. D'Agostino, Spc. Edgar P. Daclan Jr., Capt. Nathan S. Dalley, Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Dang, Spc. Danny B. Daniels II, Pvt. 1st Class Torey J. Dantzler, Pfc. Norman Darling, Capt. Eric B. Das. Spc. Shawn M. Davies, Pvt. Brandon L. Davis, Staff Sgt. Craig Davis, Staff Sgt. Donald N. Davis, Spc. Raphael S. Davis, Staff Sgt. Wilbert Davis, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey F. Dayton, Pvt. Jason L. Deibler, Spc. Lauro G. DeLeon Jr., Sgt. Felix M. Delgreco, Sgt. Jacob H. Demand, Staff Sgt. Mike A. Dennie, Spc. Darryl T. Dent, Pfc. Ervin Dervishi, Spc. Daniel A. Desens, Pfc. Michael R. Deuel, Pvt. Michael J. Deutsch, Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher M. Dickerson, Cpl. Nicholas J. Dieruf, Spc. Jeremiah J. DiGiovanni, Spc. Jeremy M. Dimaranan, Spc. Michael A. Diraimondo, Spc. Anthony J. Dixon, Spc. Ryan E. Doltz, Sgt. Michael E. Dooley, Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Dorff, Petty Officer 2nd Class Trace W. Dossett, Lance Cpl. Scott E. Dougherty, 1st Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, Pfc. Stephen P. Downing II, Spc. Chad H. Drake, Pvt. Jeremy L. Drexler, Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, Staff Sgt. Joe L. Dunigan Jr., Spc. Robert L. DuSang, Spc. William D. Dusenbery, 2nd Lt. Seth J. Dvorin, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason B. Dwelley, Pfc. Sheldon R. Hawk Eagle, Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., Cpl. Christopher S. Ebert, Sgt. William C. Eckhart, Spc. Marshall L. Edgerton, Pfc. Shawn C. Edwards, Spc. Andrew C. Ehrlich, Sgt. Aaron C. Elandt, Spc. William R. Emanuel IV, Lance Cpl. Mark E. Engel, Spc. Peter G. Enos, Senior Airman Pedro I. Espaillat Jr. Pfc. Analaura Esparza Gutierrez, Sgt. Adam W. Estep, Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, Pfc. David Evans, Cpl. Mark A. Evnin, Pfc. Jeremy Ricardo Ewing, Sgt. Justin L. Eyerly, Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko, Sgt. James D. Faulkner, Pfc. Raymond J. Faulstich Jr., Capt. Brian R. Faunce, Capt. Arthur L. Felder, 2nd Lt. Paul M. Felsberg, Spc. Rian C. Ferguson, Master Sgt. Richard L. Ferguson, Master Sgt. George A. Fernandez, Staff Sgt. Clint D. Ferrin, Spc. Jon P. Fettig, Cpl. Tyler R. Fey, Sgt. Jeremy J. Fischer, Sgt. Paul F. Fisher, Lance Cpl. Dustin R. Fitzgerald, Pfc. Jacob S. Fletcher, Spc. Thomas A. Foley III, Sgt. Timothy Folmar, Gunnery Sgt. Elia P. Fontecchio, Spc. Jason C. Ford, Capt. Travis A. Ford, Chief Warrant Officer Wesley C. Fortenberry, Sgt. 1st Class Bradley C. Fox, Spc. Craig S. Frank, Lance Cpl. Phillip E. Frank, Staff Sgt. Bobby C. Franklin, Pvt. Robert L. Frantz, Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman, Sgt. David T. Friedrich, Spc. Luke P. Frist, Spc. Adam D. Froehlich, Pvt. Kurt R. Frosheiser, Pfc. Nichole M. Frye, Sgt. 1st Class Dan H. Gabrielson, Lance Cpl. Jonathan E. Gadsden, Capt. Richard J. Gannon II, Spc. Tomas Garces, Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner, Cpl. Jose A. Garibay, Spc. Joseph M. Garmback Jr., Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, Sgt. Justin W. Garvey, Spc. Israel Garza. 1st Sgt. Joe J. Garza, Pfc. Juan Guadalupe Garza Jr, Spc. Christopher D. Gelineau, Lance Cpl. Cory Ryan Guerin, Cpl. Christopher A. Gibson, Pvt. Jonathan L. Gifford, Pvt. Kyle C. Gilbert, Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell W. Gilmore, Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald A. Ginther, Pfc. Jesse A. Givens, Spc. Michael T. Gleason, Cpl. Todd J. Godwin, 2nd Lt. James Michael Goins, Spc. Christopher A. Golby, Spc. David J. Goldberg, Lance Cpl. Shane L. Goldman, Cpl. Armando Ariel Gonzalez, Lance Cpl. Benjamin R. Gonzalez, Cpl. Jesus A. Gonzalez, Cpl. Jorge Gonzalez, Lance Cpl. Victor A. Gonzalez, Cpl. Bernard G. Gooden, Pfc. Gregory R. Goodrich, Sgt. 1st Class Richard S. Gottfried, Spc. Richard A. Goward, 2nd Lt. Jeffrey C. Graham, Sgt. Jamie A. Gray, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael J. Gray, Sgt. Tommy L. Gray, Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray, Cpl. Jeffrey G. Green, Lt. Col. David S. Greene, Pfc. Devin J. Grella, Spc. Kyle A. Griffin, Staff Sgt. Patrick Lee Griffin Jr., Cpl. Sean R. Grilley, Pvt. Joseph R. Guerrera, Chief Warrant Officer Hans N. Gukeisen, Pfc. Christian D. Gurtner, Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, Pfc. Richard W. Hafer, Staff Sgt. Guy S. Hagy Jr., Spc. Charles G. Haight, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Halal, Pfc. Deryk L. Hallal, Pvt. Jesse M. Halling, Pfc. Andrew Halverson, Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen, Capt. Kimberly N. Hampton, Sgt. Michael S. Hancock. Pfc. Fernando B. Hannon, Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, Sgt. James W. Harlan, Sgt. Atanacio Haro Marin, Staff Sgt. William M. Harrell, Sgt. Foster L. Harrington, Pfc. Adam J. Harris, Sgt. Kenneth W. Harris Jr., Pfc. Torry D. Harris, Pfc. Leroy Harris-Kelly, Pfc. John D. Hart, Sgt. Nathaniel Hart, Sgt. 1st Class David A. Hartman, Sgt. Jonathan N. Hartman, Staff Sgt. Stephen C. Hattamer, Staff Sgt. Omer T. Hawkins II, Sgt. Timothy L. Hayslett, Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hazelgrove, Sgt. David M. Heath, Spc. Justin W. Hebert, Pfc. Damian L. Heidelberg, Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, Spc. Jeremy M. Heines, Staff Sgt. Brian R. Hellerman, Staff Sgt. Terry W. Hemingway, Cpl. Matthew C. Henderson, 1st Lt. Robert L. Henderson II, Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Hendrickson, Sgt. Jack T. Hennessy, Spc. Joshua J. Henry, Pfc. Clayton W. Henson, Spc. Armando Hernandez, Spc. Joseph F. Herndon II, Pfc. Edward J. Herrgott, Spc. Jacob B. Herring, Sgt. 1st Class Gregory B. Hicks, Spc. Christopher K. Hill, Spc. Stephen D. Hiller, Sgt. Keicia M. Hines, Pfc. Melissa J. Hobart, Sgt. Nicholas M. Hodson, Sgt. 1st Class James T. Hoffman, Spc. Christopher J. Holland, Staff Sgt. Aaron N. Holleyman, Staff Sgt. Lincoln D. Hollinsaid, Spc. James J. Holmes, Spc. Jeremiah J. Holmes, Cpl. Terry Holmes, Airman 1st Class Antoine J. Holt, Pfc. Sean Horn, Master Sgt. Kelly L. Hornbeck. Staff Sgt. Jeremy R. Horton, Capt. Andrew R. Houghton, Lance Cpl Gregory C. Howman, Pfc. Bert E. Hoyer, Spc. Corey A. Hubbell, Pfc. Christopher E. Hudson, 1st Lt. Doyle M. Hufstedler, Staff Sgt. Jamie L. Huggins, Spc. Eric R. Hull, Cpl Barton R. Humlhanz, Lance Cpl. Justin T. Hunt, Spc. Simeon Hunte, 1st Lt. Joshua C. Hurley, Lance Cpl. James B. Huston Jr., Lance Cpl. Seth Huston, Pvt. Nolen R. Hutchings, Pfc. Ray J. Hutchinson, Pfc. Gregory P. Huxley Jr., Spc. Benjamin W. Isenberg, Spc. Craig S. Ivory, Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson, Spc. Morgen N. Jacobs, Chief Warrant Officer Scott Jamar, Cpl. Evan T. James, 2nd Lt. Luke S. James, Spc. William A. Jeffries, Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert B. Jenkins, Sgt. Troy David Jenkins, Spc. Darius T. Jennings, Pfc. Ryan M. Jerabek, Sgt. Linda C. Jimenez, 1st Lt. Oscar Jimenez, Capt. Christopher B. Johnson, Spc. David W. Johnson, Pfc. Howard Johnson II, Spc. John P. Johnson, Pfc. Markus J. Johnson, Spc. Maurice J. Johnson, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Vann Johnson Jr., Spc. Nathaniel H. Johnson, Staff Sgt. Paul J. Johnson, Chief Warrant Officer, Pfc. Rayshawn S. Johnson, Pvt. Devon D. Jones, Capt. Gussie M. Jones, Staff Sgt. Raymond E. Jones Jr., Spc. Rodney A. Jones, Lt. Kylan A. Jones- Huffman, Sgt. Curt E. Jordan Jr., Sgt. Jason D. Jordan. Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan, Cpl. Forest J. Jostes, Spc. Spencer T. Karol, Spc. Michael G. Karr Jr., Spc. Mark J. Kasecky, 1st Lt. Jeffrey J. Kaylor, Spc. Chad L. Keith, Lance Cpl. Quinn A. Keith, Lance Cpl. Bryan P. Kelly, Cpl. Brian Kennedy, Chief Warrant Officer Kyran E. Kennedy, Staff Sgt. Morgan D. Kennon, 1st Lt. Christopher J. Kenny, Spc. Jonathan R. Kephart, Cpl. Dallas L. Kerns, Chief Warrant Officer Erik C. Kesterson, Capt. Humayun S. M. Khan, Spc. James M. Kiehl, Pt. Jeungjin Na Kim, Staff Sgt. Kevin C. Kimmerly.  Spc. Levi B. Kinchen, Staff Sgt. Lester O. Kinney II, Pfc. David M. Kirchhoff, Staff Sgt. Charles A. Kiser, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Brian Kleiboeker, Spc. John K. Klinesmith Jr., Sgt. Floyd G. Knighten Jr., Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric L. Knott, Spc. Joshua L. Knowles, Staff Sgt. Lance J. Koenig, Cpl. Kevin T. Kolm, Pfc. Martin W. Kondor, Chief Warrant Patrick W. Kordsmeier, Capt. Edward J. Korn, Sgt. Bradley S. Korthaus, Cpl. Jakub Henryk Kowalik, Sgt. Elmer C. Krause, Pvt. Dustin L. Kreider, Pfc. Bradley G. Kritzer, Capt. John F. Kurth, Sgt. 1st Class William W. Labadie Jr., Sgt. Joshua S. Ladd, Sgt. Michael V. Lalush, Lance Cpl. Alan Dinh Lam, Spc. Charles R. Lamb, Spc. James I. Lambert III, Pfc. James P. Lambert, Sgt. Jonathan W. Lambert, Capt. Andrew David Lamont, Staff Sgt. Sean G. Landrus, Gunnery Sgt. Shawn A. Lane. Pfc. Moises A. Langhorst, Spc. Tracy L. Laramore, Spc. Scott Q. Larson Jr., Chief Warrant Officer Matthew C.  Laskowski, Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, Pfc. Karina S. Lau, Cpl. Jeffrey D. Lawrence, Staff Sgt. Mark A. Lawton, Lance Cpl. Travis J. Layfield, Staff Sgt. Rene Ledesma, 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc, Cpl. Bum R. Lee, Pfc. Ken W. Leisten, Staff Sgt. Jerome Lemon, Spc. Cedric L. Lennon, Pfc. Farad K. Letufuga, Spc. Justin W. Linden, Spc. Roger G. Ling, Spc. Joseph L. Lister, Staff Sgt. Nino D. Livaudais, Sgt. Dale T. Lloyd, Sgt. Daniel J. Londono, Spc. Ryan P. Long, Spc. Zachariah W. Long, Pfc. Duane E. Longstreth, Sgt. Edgar E. Lopez, Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez, Sgt. Richard M. Lord, Staff Sgt. David L. Loyd, Capt. Robert L. Lucero, Pfc. Jason C. Ludiam, Lance Cpl. Jacob R. Lugo, Pfc. Jason N. Lynch, Pfc. Christopher D. Mabry, Lance Cpl. Gregory E. MacDonald, Lance Cpl. Cesar F. Machado-Olmos, Pfc. Vorn J. Mack, Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Maglione, Spc. William J. Maher III, Staff Sgt. Toby W. Mallet, Chief Warrant Officer Ian D. Manuel, Pfc. Pablo Manzano, Pfc. Lyndon A. Marcus Jr., Staff Sgt. Paul C. Mardis Jr., Cpl. Douglas Jose Marencoreyes, Master Sgt. Jude C. Mariano, Spc. James E. Marshall, Sgt. 1st Class John W. Marshall, Pfc. Ryan A. Martin, Staff Sgt. Stephen G. Martin. Sgt. Francisco Martinez, Pfc. Francisco A. Martinez Flores, Pfc. Jesse J. Martinez, Spc. Michael A. Martinez, Pfc. Oscar A. Martinez, Spc. Jacob D. Martir, Sgt. Arthur S. Mastrapa, Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, Lance Cpl. Ramon Mateo, Spc. Clint Richard Matthews, Lance Cpl. Ramon Mateo, Cpl. Matthew E. Matula, Staff Sgt. Donald C. May Jr, Pfc. Joseph P. Mayek, Spc. Patrick R. McCaffrey Sr., Lance Cpl. Joseph C. MacCarthy, Pfc. Ryan M. McCauley, Cpl. Brad P. McCormick, 1st Lt. Erik. S. McCrae, Spc. Donald R. McCune, Spc. Dustin K. McGaugh, Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh, Sgt. Brian D. McGinnis, Spc. Michael A. McGlothin.  Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott R. McHugh, Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh, Spc. David M. McKeever, Spc. Eric S. McKinley, Pvt. Robert L. McKinley, Staff Sgt. Don S. McMahan, Sgt. Heath A. McMillin, 1st Lt. Brian M. McPhillips, Cpl. Jesus Martin Antonio Medellin, Spc. Irving Medina, Spc. Kenneth A. Melton, Cpl. Jaygee Meluat, Petty Officer 3rd Class Fernando A. Mendezaceves, Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Menusa, Staff Sgt. Eddie E. Menyweather, Spc. Gil Mercado, Spc. Michael M. Merila, Spc. Christopher A. Merville, Sgt. Daniel K. Methvin, Pfc. Jason M. Meyer, Sgt. Eliu A. Miersandoval, Spc. Michael G. Mihalakis, Pfc. Matthew G. Milczark, Cpl. Jason David Mileo, Pfc. Anthony S. Miller, Pfc. Bruce Miller Jr., Staff Sgt. Frederick L. Miller Jr. Sgt. 1st Class Marvin L. Miller, Sgt. Joseph Minucci II, Sgt. First Class Troy L. Miranda, Spc. George A. Mitchell, Sgt. Keman L. Mitchell, Sgt. Michael W. Mitchell, Spc. Sean R. Mitchell, Pfc. Jesse D. Mizener, Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Molinabautista, Pfc. Anthony W. Monroe, 1st Lt. Adam G. Mooney, Lance Cpl. Jason William Moore, Pfc. Stuart W. Moore, Sgt. Travis A. Moothart, Spc. Jose L. Mora, Sgt. Melvin Y. Mora, Pfc. Michael A. Mora, Master Sgt. Kevin N. Morehead, Capt. Brent L. Morel, Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno, Sgt. Gerardo Moreno, Spc. Jaime Moreno, Pfc. Luis A. Moreno, Spc. Dennis B. Morgan, Staff Sgt. Richard L. Morgan Jr., Pfc. Geoffery S. Morris, Pfc. Ricky A. Morris Jr., Lance Cpl. Nicholas B. Morrison, Sgt. Shawna M. Morrison, Sgt. Keelan L. Moss, Spc. Clifford L. Moxley Jr., Sgt. Cory R. Mracek, Sgt. Rodney A. Murray, Sgt. Krisna Nachampassak, Spc. Paul T. Nakamura, Spc. Nathan W. Nakis, Pvt. Kenneth A. Nalley, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher G. Nason, Maj. Kevin G. Nave, Spc. Rafael L. Navea, Spc. Charles L. Neeley, Staff Sgt. Paul M. Neff II, Pfc. Gavin L. Neighbor, Spc. Joshua M. Neusche, Cpl. Dominique J. Nicolas, Lance Cpl. Joseph L. Nice, Spc. Isaac Michael Nieves, Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon, Spc. Allen Nolan, Spc. Marcos O. Nolasco. Sgt. William J. Normandy, Spc. Joseph C. Norquist, 1st Lt. Leif E. Nott, Staff Sgt. Todd E. Nunes, Spc. David T. Nutt, Cpl. Mick R. Nygardbekowsky, Spc. Donald S. Oak Jr., Pfc. Branden F. Oberleitner, Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O'Day, Spc. Charles E. Odums II, Spc. Ramon C. Ojeda,  Cpl. Terry Holmes Ordonez, Cpl. Brian Oliveira, Spc. Justin B. Onwordi, Spc. Richard P. Orengo, Lt. Col. Kim S. Orlando, Lance Cpl. Eric J. Orlowski, 1st Lt. Osbaldo Orozco, Pfc. Cody J. Orr, Staff Sgt. Billy J. Orton, Sgt. Pamela G. Osbourne, Lance Cpl. Deshon E. Otey, Pfc. Kevin C. Ott, Sgt. Michael G. Owen, Lance Cpl. David Edward Owens Jr, Sgt. Fernando Padilla- Ramirez, Pvt. Shawn D. Pahnke, Spc. Gabriel T. Palacios, Capt. Eric T. Paliwoda, 1st Lt. Joshua M. Palmer, Staff Sgt. Dale A. Panchot, Pfc. Daniel R. Parker, Pfc. James D. Parker, Pfc. Kristen Parker, Cpl. Tommy L. Parker Jr., Sgt. Harvey E. Parkerson III, Sgt. David B. Parson, Staff Sgt. Esau G. Patterson Jr., Master Sgt. William L. Payne, Sgt. Michael F. Pedersen, Staff Sgt. Abraham D. Penamedina, Spc. Brian H. Penisten, Sgt. Ross A. Pennanen, Staff Sgt. Gregory V. Pennington, Pfc. Geoffrey Perez, Staff Sgt. Hector R. Perez, Sgt. Joel Perez, Spc. Jose A. Perez III, Pfc. Luis A. Perez, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Perez. Spc. Wilfredo Perez Jr., Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Pernaselli, Staff Sgt. David S. Perry, Pfc. Charles C. Persing, Staff Sgt. Dustin W. Peters, Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, Staff Sgt. Brett J. Petriken, Staff Sgt. James L. Pettaway Jr., Staff Sgt. Erickson H. Petty, Pfc. Jerrick M. Petty, Lt. Col. Mark P. Phelan, Pfc. Chance R. Phelps, Sgt. 1st Class Gladimir Philippe, Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps, Capt. Pierre E. Piche, Pfc. Lori Piestewa, Capt. Dennis L. Pintor, Spc. James H. Pirtle, Pfc. Jason T. Poindexter, 2nd Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney Jr., Staff Sgt. Andrew R. Pokorny, Spc. Justin W. Pollard, Spc. Larry E. Polley Jr., Sgt. Darrin K. Potter, Pfc. David L. Potter, Sgt. Christopher S. Potts, Spc. James E. Powell, Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Powers, Cpl. Dean P. Pratt, Pfc. James E. Prevete, Pvt. Kelley S. Prewitt, Sgt. Tyler D. Prewitt, Pfc. James W. Price, 1st Lt. Timothy E. Price, Lance Cpl. Mathew D. Puckett, Sgt. Jaror C. Puello- Coronado, Staff Sgt. Michael B. Quinn, Staff Sgt. Richard P. Ramey, Sgt. Christopher Ramirez, Spc. Eric U. Ramirez, Pfc. William C. Ramirez, Pfc. Christopher Ramos, Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, Pfc. Brandon Ramsey, Pvt. Carson J. Ramsey, Sgt. Edmond L. Randle, Pfc. Cleston C. Raney, Capt. Gregory A. Ratzlaff, Spc. Rel A. Ravago IV, Spc. Omead H. Razani. Spc. Brandon M. Read, Pfc. Christopher J. Reed, Pfc. Ryan E. Reed, Sgt. Tatjana Reed, Staff Sgt. Aaron T. Reese, Spc. Jeremy F. Regnier, Sgt. 1st Class Randall S. Rehn, Sgt. Brendon C. Reiss, Staff Sgt. George S. Rentschler, Sgt. Sean C. Reynolds, Lance Cpl. Rafael Reynosa- Suarez, Sgt. Yadir G. Reynoso, Cpl. Demetrius L. Rice, Sgt. Ariel Rico, Spc. Jeremy L. Ridlen, Pfc. Diego Fernando Rincon, Cpl. Steven A. Rintamaki, Sgt. Duane R. Rios, Capt. Russell B. Rippetoe, Pfc. Henry C. Risner, Sgt. 1st Class Jose A. Rivera, Cpl. John T. Rivero, Spc. Frank K. Rivers Jr., Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, Sgt. Todd J. Robbins, Lance Cpl. Anthony P. Roberts, Lance Cpl. Bob W. Roberts, Spc. Robert D. Roberts, Staff Sgt. Joseph E. Robsky, Sgt. Moses D. Rocha, Pfc. Marlin T. Rockhold, Pfc. Jose Francis Gonzalez Rodriguez, Cpl. Robert M. Rodriguez, Spc. Philip G. Rogers, Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Rooney, Cpl. Randal Kent Rosacker, Staff Sgt. Victor A. Rosales, Pfc. Richard H. Rosas, Sgt. Scott C. Rose, Sgt. Thomas C. Rosenbaum, Sgt. Randy S. Rosenberg, Spc. Marco D. Ross, Sgt. Lawrence A. Roukey, Capt. Alan Rowe, Spc. Brandon J. Rowe, Sgt. Roger D. Rowe, 2nd Lt. Jonathan D. Rozier, Spc. Isela Rubalcava, Pfc. Aaron J. Rusin, Sgt. John W. Russell. 1st Lt. Timothy Louis Ryan, Chief Warrant Officer Scott A. Saboe, Spc. Rasheed Sahib, Cpl. Rudy Salas, Cpl. William I. Salazar, 1st Lt. Edward M. Saltz, Capt. Benjamin W. Sammis, Spc. Sonny G. Sampler, Spc. Gregory P. Sanders, Pfc. Leroy Sandoval Jr., Spc. Matthew J. Sandri, Staff Sgt. Barry Sanford, 1st Lt. Neil Anthony Santoriello, Spc. Jonathan J. Santos, Pfc. Brandon R. Sapp, Staff Sgt. Cameron B. Sarno, Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, Lance Cpl. Jeremiah E. Savage, Capt. Robert C. Scheetz Jr., Spc. Justin B. Schmidt, Spc. Jeremiah W. Schmunk, Pfc. Sean M. Schneider, Cpl. Dustin H. Schrage, Maj. Mathew E. Schram, Lance Cpl. Brian K. Schramm, Spc. Christian C. Schulz, Master Sgt. David A. Scott, Pfc. Kerry D. Scott, Spc. Stephen M. Scott, Spc. Marc S. Seiden, Capt. Christopher Scott Seifert, Pfc. Dustin M. Sekula, Lance Cpl. Matthew K. Serio, Sgt. Juan M. Serrano, Staff Sgt. Wentz Jerome Henry Shanaberger III, Spc. Jeffrey R. Shaver, Maj. Kevin M. Shea, Spc. Casey Sheehan, Sgt. Kevin F. Sheehan, Sgt. Daniel Michael Shepherd, Sgt. Alan D. Sherman, Lt. Col. Anthony L. Sherman, Pfc. Harry N. Shondee Jr., Lance Cpl. Brad S. Shuder, Capt. James A. Shull, Pfc. Kenneth L. Sickels, Lance Cpl. Dustin L. Sides, Cpl. Erik H. Silva, Pvt. Sean A. Silva, Sgt. Leonard D. Simmons. Pfc. Charles M. Sims, Lance Cpl. John T. Sims Jr., Spc. Uday Singh, Spc. Aaron J. Sissel, Pfc. Christopher A. Sisson, Pfc. Nicholas M. Skinner, Petty Officer 3rd Class David Sisung, 1st Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, Pvt. Brandon Ulysses Sloan, Lance Cpl. Richard P. Slocum, Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Slocum, Pfc. Corey L. Small, Sgt. Keith L. Smette, Capt. Benedict J. Smith, Sgt. Benjamin K. Smith, Pfc. Brandon C. Smith, 2nd Lt. Brian D. Smith, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce A. Smith, Cpl. Darrell L. Smith, 1st Sgt. Edward Smith, Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith, Pfc. Jeremiah D. Smith, Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Smith, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Smith Jr., Spc. Orenthial J. Smith, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Capt. Christopher F. Soelzer, Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon, Cpl. Adrian V. Soltau, Maj. Charles R. Soltes Jr., Sgt. Skipper Soram, Pfc. Armando Soriano, Cpl. Tomas Sotelo Jr., Pfc. Kenneth C. Souslin, Spc. Philip I. Spakosky, Pfc. Jason L. Sparks, Cpl. Michael R. Speer, Staff Sgt. Trevor Spink, Maj. Christopher J. Splinter, Sgt. Marvin R. Sprayberry III, Pvt. Bryan N. Spry, Sgt. Maj. Michael B. Stack, Pfc. Nathan E. Stahl, 1st Lt. Andrew K. Stern, Staff Sgt. Robert A. Stever, Maj. Gregory Stone, 2nd Lt. Matthew R. Stovall, Pfc. William R. Strange, Sgt. Kirk Allen Straseskie, Pfc. Brandon C. Sturdy. Spc. William R. Sturges Jr., Spc. Paul J. Sturino, Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez Del Solar, Spc. Joseph D. Suell, Spc. John R. Sullivan, Spc. Narson B. Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Vincent M. Sullivan, Staff Sgt. Michael J. Sutter, Pfc. Ernest Harold Sutphin, Chief Warrant Officer Sharon T. Swartworth, Spc. Thomas J. Sweet II, Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Swisher, Maj. Paul R. Syverson III, Sgt. Patrick S. Tainsh, Sgt. DeForest L. Talbert, Sgt. 1st Class Linda Ann Tarango-Griess, Spc. Christopher M. Taylor, Maj. Mark D. Taylor, Capt. John R. Teal, Staff Sgt. Riayan A. Tejeda, Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault, Spc. Joseph C. Thibodeaux, Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen Sr., Cpl. Jesse L. Thiry, Sgt. Carl Thomas, Staff Sgt. Kendall Thomas, Spc. Kyle G. Thomas, Sgt. Anthony O. Thompson, Spc. Jarrett B. Thompson, Sgt. Humberto F. Timoteo, Capt. John E. Tipton, Pfc. Joshua K. Titcomb, Spc. Brandon T. Titus, Spc. Brandon S. Tobler, Sgt. Lee D. TodacheeneCpl. John H. Todd III, Sgt. Nicholas A. Tomko, Master Sgt. Timothy Toney, Pfc. George D. Torres, Lance Cpl. Michael S. Torres, 2nd Lt. Richard Torres, Spc. Ramon Reyes Torres, Lance Cpl. Elias Torrez III, Sgt. Michael L. Tosto, Spc. Richard K. Trevithick, Pfc. Andrew L. Tuazon, Staff Sgt. Roger C. Turner Jr., Pvt. Scott M. Tyrrell, 2nd Lt. Andre D. Tyson, Spc. Eugene A. Uhl III, Lance Cpl. Drew M. Uhles. Rick A. Ulbright, Pfc. Daniel P. Unger, Spc. Robert Oliver Unruh, 1st Sgt. Ernest E. Utt, Sgt. Michael A. Uvanni, Staff Sgt. Gary A. Vaillant, Lance Cpl. Ruben Valdez Jr., Sgt. Melissa Valles, Spc. Allen J. Vandayburg, Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip, Chief Warrant Officer Brian K. Van Dusen, Lance Cpl. John J. Vangyzen IV, Lance Cpl. Gary F. Van Leuven, Staff Sgt. Mark D. Vasquez, Spc. Frances M. Vega, 1st Lt. Michael W. Vega, Staff Sgt. Paul A. Velazquez, Cpl. David M. Vicente, Sgt. 1st Class Joselito O. Villanueva, Cpl. Scott M. Vincent, Staff Sgt. Kimberly A. Voelz, Staff Sgt. Michael S. Voss, Spc. Thai Vue, Lance Cpl. Michael B. Wafford, Sgt. Christopher A. Wagener, Sgt. Gregory L. Wahl, Staff Sgt. Allan K. Walker, Sgt. Jeffery C. Walker, Sgt. Donald Ralph  Walters, Pvt. Jason M. Ward, Pfc. Nachez Washalanta, Lance Cpl. Christopher B. Wasser, Pvt. David L. Waters, Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Waters-Bey, Maj. William R. Watkins III, Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher E. Watts, Chief Warrant Officer Aaron A. Weaver, Spc. Michael S. Weger, Staff Sgt. David J. Weisenburg, Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle, Pfc. Michael Russell Creighton Weldon, Lance Cpl. Larry L. Wells, Chief Warrant Officer Stephen M. Wells, Spc. Jeffrey M. Wershow, Spc. Christopher J. Rivera Wesley, Sgt. James G. West, 1st Lt. Alexander E. Wetherbee, Spc. Donald L. Wheeler, Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone, Pfc. Marquis A. Whitaker. Staff Sgt. Aaron Dean White, Lt. Nathan D. White, Sgt. Steven W. White, Lance Cpl. William W. White, Pfc. Joey D. Whitener ,Spc. Chase R. Whitman, Spc. Michael J. Wiesemann, Cpl. Joshua S. Wilfong ,Sgt. Eugene Williams, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Williams, Spc. Michael L. Williams, Sgt. Taft V. Williams ,1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Willoughby, Spc. Dana N. Wilson, Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry L. Wilson, Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson, Lance Cpl. Lamont N. Wilson, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 1st Lt. Ronald Winchester, Spc. Trevor A. Wine, Lance Cpl. William J. Wiscowiche, Spc. Robert A. Wise, Spc. Michelle M. Witmer, Pfc. Owen D. Witt, Spc. James R. Wolf, 2nd Lt. Jeremy L. Wolfe, Sgt. Elijah Tai Wah Wong, Sgt. Brian M. Wood, Capt. George A. Wood, Spc. Michael R. Woodliff, Spc. James C. Wright, Pfc. Jason G. Wright, 2nd Lt. John T. Wroblewski, Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Wyatt, Pfc. Stephen E. Wyatt, Sgt. Michael E. Yashinski, Sgt. Henry Ybarra III, Pfc. Rodricka A. Youmans, Sgt. Ryan C. Young, Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Zabierek, Spc. Nicholas J. Zangara, Spc. Mark Anthony Zapata, Pfc. Nicholaus E. Zimmer, Cpl. Ian T. Zook, Lance Cpl. Robert P. Zurheide Jr.

May they rest in peace.
And may they forgive us someday.

-- Michael Moore

Yes, so we are starting to wake up and smell the .. what exactly is that smell? ... doesn’t smell like coffee exactly... smells like... oh yes, cat urine.... no, I don't think so... smells like dog poop... could that be what it is? ah, no, I think it smells more like vomit honestly... is that what it is? ah yes indeed.... perhaps that's what it is. no. I figured it out. it’s the smell of rotting corpses. That's what it is. innocent people dying. The smell of death. That's what it is. Maybe a combination of all those things combined.... who knows. but we are all starting to wake up to it. In any case, the big cities continue to moan and the rest of the country kicks their heels in celebration. I think England’s daily mirror summed it up best.

PS – in other things, today was a good day actually. We had another production meeting with the production team and not only was it hilarious but I think we got a lot accomplished. From what I understand I am hilariously funny without actually trying to be. I hope that's a good thing.... more later.