Dann Todd's 'Dain Bramage'^**

Garrison Keillor On The Benefits Of Military Service.

Garrison Keillor recently wrote a column on the value of military service. It's a nice column in which he recognizes how military service can change you for the better.

Garrison goes on to suggest that we amend the Constitution to include a 2 year full time active duty military service requirement for a person to become eligible to be President. I wonder if he has ever read Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" in which Mr. Heinlein's view of the future included a military service requirement in order to obtain the privilege of voting.

The one flaw in this column comes at the end. Garrison suggests that this active duty requirement for the Presidency would make the military more "representative of the country, more middle-class and educated". He is apparently out of his depth when it comes to the average military recruit.

Most grating of all is the suggestion that the military is populated by uneducated people. Nothing could be further from the truth. The average recruit has more education than the rest of the populace for his/her age group. Once a recruit has completed basic training, he/she is usually given advanced training within their field. Military service is commonly connected with improvising to accomplish more with fewer resources. That sort of resourcefulness provides invaluable instruction. And then there are the many continuing education opportunities.

In short, the military does not lack anything that could be provided by a rush of politicians looking to punch a ticket on their way to the White House. However, such politicians lack a great many qualities that military service could provide them.

Which was really the point of the first 90% of Garrison's column. Too bad he had to screw it up in the end.

by Dann 

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Michael Totten Is Back From Iraq

The Kurdish area, to be specific. And he has....

many

interesting

things

to say.

Makes me wish the media would just work at reporting the news and stop worrying about whether or not they appear to be supporting the "imperial designs of Bushitler McHalliburton".

by Dann 

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An Intriguing Cat Carrier Concept

Unfortunately, most of the cats we have owned make this idea start to look attractive.

by Dann 

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Un-American Activities

It comes as little surprise that the Democratic Party of Minnesota is acting as if they are inspired by Howard Dean; national chair of the DNC. Apparently the Democrats of Minnesota are protesting ads featuring families that have lost loved ones serving in Iraq as well as ads featuring military officers encouraging support for our men and women overseas.

According to the Democratic party in Minnesota, such advertisements are un-American. My jaw may require surgery after hitting the floor that hard.

by Dann 

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Spitting In The Face Of My Beloved Marine Corps

In case you hadn't heard, the student senate of the University of Washington rejected a proposal to erect a monument honoring Marine Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. For those with a functioning knowledge of U.S. history, Col. Boyington led Marine fighter squadron VMF-214 during part of WWII. He was a mulitple 'ace' having shot down 26 enemy aircraft. For his efforts he was awarded the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor. After being shot down during his last mission, Col. Boyington was kept as Prisoner of War by the Japanese army for 20 months. A Marine's Marine.

Those uneducated and self centered children at the U of W aren't worthy of such sacrifice. I suspect that they won't have enough knowledge to begin to understand the size and scope of their error for many years to come.

by Dann 

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Getting to Know You.....

A couple of weeks ago, Andrew Heller wrote an essay where he re-introduced himself to his readers. After acknowledging that the relationship between a writer and his/her readers can become predictable, he offered to begin that relationship anew with a questionnaire. You can read the article here.

My answers follow:

Name - Daniel Mayo Todd [I've seen worse.]

Childhood Ambition - To ride my bike 90 miles to my grandparent's house in Holly from Jackson. [the one time common sense prevented me from doing something cool and reasonably safe {at the time}]

Fondest Memory - A few years back, beloved bride and I took our progeny to a [relatively] local amusement park. The kids were old enough that we need not insist that they spend the entire day with us. We could choose to be together or we could choose to have some time alone. It was a great day. They choose to spend a lot of the day with us. When they left to do something different, it was because we genuinely wanted to do different things. It wasn't because we all wanted to do the same things but at different times. It's cool to be wanted by your kids.

Sound Track - Styx: Angry Young Man

Retreat where nothing gets to you - A good book; mostly science fiction or fantasy.

Wildest Dream - To be Chairman of the US House Ways & Means Committee - watch that deficit fall without any new taxes!!

Proudest Moment - Graduating from boot camp to become a U.S. Marine.

Alarm Clock is Set - 6:40 AM

I actually get up at - 6:40 AM....mostly.

Perfect Day - [oh man] Bob Evans for breakfast, Golf in the morning, dogs from the International Dog House for lunch, a book and a nap in the afternoon, Scallops for dinner, Shopping with beloved bride and a full wallet in the evening.

First Job - Caddy at the local country club.

Worst Job - Infrared inspection technician - The people I worked for were great, but I actually knew enough to repair and rebuild that sort of equipment from my Marine Corps days. Using it is a snap. Fixing it isn't so easy. The hours were pretty bad as well.

Indulgence - The Internet, duh.

Last Purchase - Groceries.....it's always groceries.

Favorite Movie - Star Wars [now called episode IV, but actually the first one released back in 1977]

Inspiration - Both of my grandfathers.

Last Book Read: "Gates of Fire" by Stephen Pressfield. [a review is forthcoming]

Hidden talent: I make a mean lasagna.

Worst recurring nightmare: I'm running as fast as I can but only move forward inches at a time. Whatever is chasing me is just strolling along and is closing the distance effortlessly.

What you can't stand: Socialism/communism/collectivism

Worst habit: Making everything about politics.

Thing you most want that you can't have: A chance to do just a couple things differently in my life.

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Now it's your turn. Answer the questions and post it on your website/blog. Email me a link and I'll add it here.

by Dann 

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