Valour-IT and Soldiers' Angels News

UPDATE: If you live in Texas and the video at the bottom of this post inspired you, you can get involved with this year's Holiday for Heroes.

Great news in the preliminary totals from the Valour-IT fundraiser at the project blog (checks still being counted). Hint: it's not $184,000.

And Valour-IT is getting some more media attention.

If you're a blogger, Soldiers' Angel Holly Aho has a contest for you.

And last--but certainly not least--what the rest of the Angels are doing these days.

Project Valour-IT - thank you!

Mission Accomplished. Jointly.

We did it! And man, the Sea Services outdid themselves this round!

Well done all, especially Cassandra and her Marines, and Curt's generosity in turning the firehose to the laggards once he'd established who was really the Big Dog this time. The Army and Air Force played the supporting role in the campaign!

For you book buyers - we have to get the books to Mr. Weisskopf for signature, then we'll get them to you. For you Cluebat winners, half of 'em will get sent out on Monday, the others will have to be made, so will probably go out the end of the week.

For the Gnome Home buyers - those are making their way up here from New Zealand, and will get sent to you when they arrive!

Well done, everybody! That's 280 or so laptops for wounded warriors.

By the way - if you'd still like to give - use the button below and help our Air Force bretheren reach their goal. Might as well pay it forward!

Valour-IT and Sheep-shearing???

Haven't given to Valour-IT yet? Here's some inspiration...

Flag Gazer tells us how sheap-shearing and Valour-IT are connected:

When she got here, we were talking about our troop support activities - something she always asks about. When we finished shearing, and I was getting ready to pay her, she said, "I have a proposition for you....

Project Valour-IT Last Day

Ah, those were the days. Bloodspite offers incentive!

That's just for me.

From She Who Will Not Be Swayed:

It's the last day of the Valour-IT Competition (Yay, we can rest tomorrow!).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Online team donations as of Friday night: over $155,000
Online non-team donations as of Friday morning: over $15,500
Online total: over $170,00.
Donations via check: Unknown at this time.

Therefore: Goal of $180,000 is most definitely within reach.

Looking at the team totals is very deceiving! We have received over $15,500 online in NON-TEAM donations as of Friday morning, so our online total is actually well over $170,000. And that doesn't include checks (I haven't got numbers on the checks yet).

SO.... $180,000 is eminently reachable. :D

Fuzzybear Lioness also notes this:

Valour-IT and Blood Brothers Valour-IT auction has something new and very special: Two copies of Blood Brothers: Among the Soldiers of Ward 57. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy and wrote:

This one's a must-read. Go get it. And it wouldn't hurt to thank Mr. Weisskopf for the service it's going to do to wounded warfighters and those of us who love them, either. John Donovan and I have been in personal contact with Mr. Weisskopf, and for all his journalistic "objectivity," his response upon hearing of Valour-IT tells us where his heart was in writing this book: "I wrote Blood Brothers for the very people your organization helps."

Now,we offer two signed-to-order copies of this book that explains better than anything else what faces the wounded warriors Valour-IT helps. Go and bid. They're worth every penny.

They are, and you can get them by clicking here, opening up the Army auctions... and bidding.You *do* now that if you have gnomes and have been treating them well, they deploy with you, right? Doing their little gnomish bit? C'mon, how many of you out there don't remember all those little things that usually went wrong, or missing, but sometimes went right or showed up? Gnomes.

Well, just as sometimes we warriors never get past our vocation and deployments, so to it is with your Gnomes. So, sure, before you deployed (or your neighbor did) their gnome may have lived in something that looked like this:

But you know your gnome would looooove one of these:

Custom-built pre-manufactured homes (with window, not shown) hand-crafted (literally, Murray pours the aluminum and hand-paints 'em all himself) in New Zealand by a Kiwi who donates one dollar from each normal sale to Soldier's Angels for Project Valour-IT and has offered up these custom Gnome Homes to Castle Argghhh!!! for this fundraiser. Comes complete with instructions!

First four receipts for $50 scores a Military Gnome Home!

C'mon, you know you want one. Or one of these...

But that's not the worst thing. Good golly no. I checked the Project Valour-IT totals to find the Marines *and* the Navy ahead - but worse, they met their goals, and, well, we Army guys are just punks. And not just by a nose, but by a few amphibious carrier lengths... to the tune of better than $10,000 ahead. Eeeep! We aren't likely to catch 'em, but geez, this is embarassing. Give people!

So, spend some of your hard-earned dollars helping wounded soldiers... and take some of that off the amount that the Social Engineers and Pork Barrellers are going to want from you next April!

The Cluebats of Argghhh! are back on the table too. If you missed out last time - send me a receipt for a $100 (or more!) donation, dated between 8-11 November, and I've got 20 bats available! And since the work is all done, these will ship quicker than the last ones, I promise! BTW - there's two of you from last time who never sent an address... it's hard to mail 'em without one! And don't feel compelled to donate electronically if you aren't comfortable with that. Even if the 20 bats go to Paypal donees, if you send me a snail mail receipt, I'll send you a bat.

And don't forget the Gnome Homes!

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Project Valour-IT

Today marks the observance of Veteran's Day. Me, being the stick-in-the-mud traditionalist that I am, will observe it tomorrow, because 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month just has significance far greater than a sale at Sears.

It's the Marine's birthday today.

And we're still shilling for cash for Project Valour-IT.

Project Valour-IT, a program which has provided over 650 voice-activated laptops to wounded warriors so they can reconnect with family, friends, and the Internet, needs your help! The campaign in Iraq is a war of IEDs, which results in many traumatic amputations and blindness among the wounded. And the generation of warriors fighting this war are wired. Taking away hands and eyes takes them away from a whole swath of the world that is integral to them. You are reading this post. Without something like Project Valour-IT - they can't. Isn't that worth a few bucks?

So, with that in mind. Give, so that we can help blinded Marines like Corporal Michael Jernigan.

Give so that we can help people like Staff Sergeant Mike Graunke...

Skip lunch, and donate that money, so that guys with a sense of humor like this Marine:

...can stay connected to the world, should his sign not work out. That's not asking too much, is it?

The Cluebats of Argghhh! are back on the table too. If you missed out last time - send me a receipt for a $100 (or more!) donation, dated between 8-11 November, and I've got 20 bats available! And since the work is all done, these will ship quicker than the last ones, I promise! BTW - there's two of you from last time who never sent an address... it's hard to mail 'em without one! And don't feel compelled to donate electronically if you aren't comfortable with that. Even if the 20 bats go to Paypal donees, if you send me a snail mail receipt, I'll send you a bat.

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Project Valour-IT

First off - thank all of you who have participated so far - we've raised almost enough for 200 laptops, by my rough calculation. If that seems like a lot - we've given out over 600 to date. The need continues, and will until the last IED explodes.

Team Air Farce seems to be having a bit of a marketing problem, but since they're a renegade element of the Army, I've decided to offer them some assistance.

So - if you're a Thunderbirds fan, and would like a shot at getting some Thunderbirds memorabilia - and at the same time contribute to Project Valour-IT, go visit Laurie at Soldier's Angels, New York and she'll hook you up! Or, if one more blog will just make your head explode - go direct to eBay, here.

C'mon, a signed team poster and other good swag!

Moving back to more important things, i.e., Army Team stuff - ya can't forget your Gnomes! You *do* now that if you have gnomes and have been treating them well, they deploy with you, right? Doing their little gnomish bit? C'mon, how many of you out there don't remember all those little things that usually went wrong, or missing, but sometimes went right or showed up? Gnomes.

Well, just as sometimes we warriors never get past our vocation and deployments, so to it is with your Gnomes. So, sure, before you deployed (or your neighbor did) their gnome may have lived in something that looked like this:

But you know your gnome would looooove one of these:

Custom-built pre-manufactured homes (with window, not shown) hand-crafted (literally, Murray pours the aluminum and hand-paints 'em all himself) in New Zealand by a Kiwi who donates one dollar from each normal sale to Soldier's Angels for Project Valour-IT and has offered up these custom Gnome Homes to Castle Argghhh!!! for this fundraiser. Comes complete with instructions!

First four receipts for $75 scores a Military Gnome Home!

C'mon, you know you want one. Or one of these...

The Cluebats of Argghhh! are back on the table too. If you missed out last time - send me a receipt for a $100 (or more!) donation, dated between 8-11 November, and I've got 20 bats available! And since the work is all done, these will ship quicker than the last ones, I promise! BTW - there's two of you from last time who never sent an address... it's hard to mail 'em without one! And don't feel compelled to donate electronically if you aren't comfortable with that. Even if the 20 bats go to Paypal donees, if you send me a snail mail receipt, I'll send you a bat.

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Project Valour-IT

Heh. I wonder why I bothered to get up this morning...?

The national election sucked.

Regionally, I batted about 50%.

But that's not the worst thing. Good golly no. I checked the Project Valour-IT totals to find The Navy ahead. And not just by a nose, but by a few aircraft carrier lengths... to the tune of better than $10,000 ahead. Eeeep! Matty and Jimbo better bring their A-game to this thing, this is looking to be a *really* carpy week around here!

No matter! We will prevail!

Did you know there were Project Valour-IT auctions? For those of you who wanna *get* something for your donation to the cause?

You can see them right here. All the services are represented. The Air Farce here. The (hock, ptui!) Squids here. And the Jarheads are too busy, so they left it for the distaff side...

Of course, you'll want to check out the *koff* Army offerings first! Two *Autographed* copies of "Blood Brothers" the iconic book for Project Valour-IT. You can read more about the book here.

So, spend some of your hard-earned dollars helping wounded soldiers... and take some of that off the amount that the Social Engineers and Pork Barrellers are going to want from you next April!

The Cluebats of Argghhh! are back on the table too. If you missed out last time - send me a receipt for a $100 (or more!) donation, dated between 8-11 November, and I've got 20 bats available! And since the work is all done, these will ship quicker than the last ones, I promise! BTW - there's two of you from last time who never sent an address... it's hard to mail 'em without one! And don't feel compelled to donate electronically if you aren't comfortable with that. Even if the 20 bats go to Paypal donees, if you send me a snail mail receipt, I'll send you a bat.

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Attack on the Fortress of Snarkitude!

Project Valour-IT, a program which has provided over 650 voice-activated laptops to wounded warriors so they can reconnect with family, friends, and the Internet, needs your help! The campaign in Iraq is a war of IEDs, which results in many traumatic amputations and blindness among the wounded. And the generation of warriors fighting this war are wired. Taking away hands and eyes takes them away from a whole swath of the world that is integral to them. You are reading this post. Without something like Project Valour-IT - they can't. Isn't that worth a few bucks?

Oh, sure, I could take the easy route. I could tug heart strings like I just did up there. But that's not me. This is *also* a blogwar, and since a lot of people think POWs should get Penthouses instead of pens, I'll just skip the prisoner-taking part.

I could snark the Navy for their dismal performance to date... but like the poster says...

Sure, I can whack on Noonan, Boss of Team Air Farce again... so, I will! Mebbe it'll cause him to get on the ball...

But I'm saving the big guns for Team Villainous - the Jarheads. They jumped ahead with a *huge* donation this weekend. And now, well, see for yourself...

Now we know where it came from. Sigh. Cassie, I know you'll do almost anything for the cause... but, dang, woman, that took large organs of reproduction!

SGT Hook is providing supporting fires, though the Captain of Team Army is taking the high road...

Now, to help remove the stain on Cassies honor, you should just click the button below and donate via Team Army. That's what your mother wants you to do. She told me. I've got the email.

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Valour-IT News You Can Use

UPDATE: Soldiers Angels/Valour-IT's official press release about the competition

[With John's permission, I'd like to make this post stay up top for the weekend.]

[Weeeel. Okay. It's not like weekends are high traffic, anyway. Or that I'm selling ads. Okay people - new stuff comes in below this post - FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND! Yanno, if you'd just pony up the bucks, all this would Just.Go.Away. It's kinda like the elections, except we're doing more useful stuff. -the Armorer]

Supporters of Valour-IT, you've been doing amazing work. Not only have we raised a tremendous amount of money, but there's been a lot of great work going on behind the scenes that is starting to bear fruit.

But we're gearing up for the last week of competition, and we're not yet halfway to our goal. Let's get to work! Here are some news and tips that should help us make it to the top:

Auctions: We now have a one-stop auction page. To bid on available items or put something up for auction with proceeds going to Valour-IT, check it out. More info at the project blog.

Flyers: New and improved flyers are finished. You can get them by clicking here. You can find some tips for using flyers here.

Media: Keep pushing the local media angle (newspapers, local TV, news/talk/music radio); we don't have a chance of meeting this goal without reaching far beyond the blogosphere. Tips for contacting media here. We're finding that the technology angle is a great pitch: the laptops are high-tech, the project was conceived and implemented online by a wounded soldier and a music teacher who met each other through blogs, and the bloggers are what drive the fundraising--those three aspects are all great media fodder. If you're asking simply for a little attention, see if they'll just link Valour-IT on their webpage.

Reaching Out to Win: As I wrote above, we have to reach beyond the blogosphere if we want to succeed. With that in mind, here's what you can do:

1. Talk to your friends, neighbors, community and religious organizations of which you are a member. Tell them of the need and impact of Valour-IT.

2. Compose an email briefly explaining Valour-IT and send it to everyone on your email list (be sure to send them here to verify it's legit). Remember, Valour-IT is non-partisan and can practically sell itself when you tell people what it does.

3. Email the big-time, national talkshow hosts that you think might be interested in Valour-IT, especially if you have a membership in their "insider clubs." The more emails they get, the more likely they'll take it seriously or one will be noticed.

4. If you have a connection to a media bigwig, please let us know.

5. Keep up the great work! Mention Valour-IT on your blog at least once a day or put a up a post that stays at the top. We're heading into Veterans Day, and these wounded veterans deserve the very best effort we can give them.

Keep up the great work! I am constantly amazed at the creativity, energy and intelligence of all invovled in this effort. You are awesome!

-FbL

[Heh, that's all way too multi-partisan and kissy-face for my taste! Accordingly, I'm going to add:

BTW - If you'd like to see some good slapdowns, go visit Cassandra at the Fortress of Snarkitude. Of course, don't you *dare* give money to her. You know those Marines, they're so cash-poor they'll run out and buy a tank or something with it.

And, of course, don't forget, in addition to all of that, you should just click the button below and donate via Team Army. That's what your mother wants you to do.

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

-the Armorer]

Project Valour-IT

You know you want to do it. You want to help. Soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen - in a war of IEDs, they're suffering a lot of traumatic amputations and blindness, compared to more bullet-oriented combat. Explosives and big, jagged chunks of metal do a lot of damage to exposed limbs.

And let's face it - the generation of warriors fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are a wired, keyboard-centric group of guys and gals.

And losing one hand, both hands, their eyes - cuts them off from what is to them the lifeblood of much of their contact with their friends.

In other words, they can't do what you are doing right this moment. Use a computer.

That's what Project Valour-IT - Voice Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops is all about. Getting them connected again.

Oh sure, you could contribute via the Marine Team. And if you do - Cassie will send a Marine Wife from her stable to personally deliver a kiss and a full body massage. Really! Don't believe me? Click here to see your masseuse!

Now how could you not want a part of Team Villainous? I love the smell of snark in the morning! It smells like... Victory!

Of course, you could just click the button below and donate via Team Army. That's what your mother wants you to do.

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Project Valour-IT

So, Noonan over at Op-For scores Jan, Chris Muir's liberal chick on Day by Day.

Well done, Zoomies!

Buuuuuuuuuuuut...

John - we *all* know Sam is the kewlest, smartest, and toughest chick character in the strip... not to mention packs some serious heat.

And guess who has a tattoo?

Zed's cool with it. After all, he won the prize!

As for Op-For? Well, the Team Air Farce needs the help!

If yer a blogger - Join Team Army!

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Project Valour-IT

So, you're one of those people who won't donate unless you get something tangible in return, eh? Or, you like to get kewl stuff that *also* has some Good Works attached.

Okay - I got something for you.

Murray, the Castle Worker-in-Metals, lives in New Zealand. He has a business. One of the items he hand-crafts is, Gnome Homes. Yep, Gnome Homes.

The Castle Tree is home to a Gnome Home.

What's cool about Gnome Homes (aside from they're just... kewl!) is that for every one sold, Murray donates $1 to Project Valour-IT. 24/7, btw, not just during a fundraiser.

Stay tuned to this space to see what Murray does for a fund-raiser...

In the meantime - the Army Team continues to maneuver towards the objective - thanks to those who've helped so far - and for the rest of you... it's Payday! What's yer excuse?

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Sink the Squids!

Consider your young soldier of today. Wired. Connected. So used to using keyboards they can thumb-type faster than I can type in a regular way - and I'm pretty good, actually.

Then take away a hand, or the use of it. Or both. Or her eyes.

Then you've got that sullen fellow sitting in that chair up there.

Or, you can give a little of yourself, just a tiny bit - a 6 pack worth of beer is fine. Or soda if you don't drink. If 130 of you who read this space regularly (vice those who've given already this time 'round, natch) give $5 each - that's a voice-activated laptop.

Payday is tomorrow... but I bet you've got $5 sitting in that account right now....

Oh, sure, you *could* donate via the Navy Team... simply by clicking on that graphic.

You could waste your money that way. Or, you could toss it down the Marine rat-hole. Or even *shudder* donate via the Zoomies.

But you don't want to do that. You want to click on that button down there - and be Army Strong! You know you do. And in your heart of hearts, you want to do it again... after payday!

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Participating bloggers - feel free to swipe these graphics. Permission is *not* granted to use them in a manner that is derogatory to Soldier's Angels, Project Valour-IT, or wounded warriors.

Um, Kassie?

Dear? Sweetie?

Is that the best ya got?

Foto above of Sekrit Strategery Seshun at Villainous Centeral.

Half-vast? They look pretty vast to me!

So, of course, you should donate to... Matty's Team! It will really peeve Nancy Pelosi and John Murtha if you do this... because they think that it should all be done with taxpayer dollars, rather than citizens pulling together to take care of the troops!

Project Valour-IT Blogwar!

So, it starts. The clouds have been gathering over the horizon.

The enemy is on the move.

Fusileers - to horse!

I am raising the Regiment, to join Blackfive's Army Team, to smite the ascot-wearers, and the bell-bottomed disorganized hosers who walk that drooling bulldog. Except the bell-bottomed hosers don't even *have* a leader yet! Is there no one who sail the briny deep who can channel the spirit of John Paul Jones? Oh, sure, a couple of them plead things like... "But I'm doing war work!" "I'm deployed/ing!" Whiners. Ah-ha, they found a sailor target to take on the job...

No worries - while we're waiting for the sailors to get organized, we'll work on this punk:

BTW - feel free to swipe the graphic to snark Noonan. And the other graphics which will be coming along mostly daily.

Like the Most High Commander sez:

"At that time I had no use of either hand. I know how humbling it is, how humiliating it feels. And I know how much better I felt, how amazingly more functional I felt, after Soldiers' Angels provided me with a laptop and a loyal reader provided me with the software. I can't wait to do the same, to give that feeling to another soldier at Walter Reed." - Captain Chuck Ziegenfuss at TC Override

Want to be part of something big?

Valour-IT's online fundraising competition begins today! Let's see who can raise the most money to help reconnect our
wounded warriors with the world!

WHAT: Friendly fundraising competition for Valour-IT.
WHEN: October 30th through Veterans Day, November 10th .
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 lines are drawn by service rivalry:

The lines are drawn by service rivalry:

Jarheads (Marines) will be led by Villainous Company
Zoomies (Air Force) will be led by Op-For
Squids (Navy) will be led by Chaotic Synaptic Activity.
Doggies (Army) led by Matt and Jim of Blackfive

Non-military bloggers should choose a branch the Army to support.

Now, normally, I don't take part in the brutal gentle inter-service
rivalry, especially during war.  But this is for a very important
charity.  So, civilian bloggers, choose your branch.  Choose wisely...

Sign up for the Army team by enlisting at the Project Valour-IT site and click (under Army) "Join". We'll generate links, buzz, and get these heroes some Commo support!

• Blog and email regularly about Valour-IT and the competition
• Tell your friends, family and neighbors about Valour-IT

So all you bloggers sign up with your choice of service and get the word out.  Donate NOW!!!




It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

The snail mail address for those who'd rather donate that way (be sure to put ARMY in big letters on the check):

Soldiers' Angels
1150 N Loop 1604 W, Suite 108-493
San Antonio, TX 78248

Let's be a part of something big.

Dang Straight! And there will be Cluebats!

Project Valour-IT - Wrap up.

Well done!

The totals are in - $18,265

Not bad, not bad at all for spur-of-the-moment, low pressure effort!

More importantly, we scored some intriguing opportunities to pursue on the celebrity and near-celebrity front, so that's cool too.

We didn't beat National Review Online, ($19, 550 when I hit "post") but I don't know what their last night at midnight total was, either.

In other words - all y'all done good! We eliminated the backlog of 11 laptops, and have money (and in-kind laptop donations) to handle the new needs that will inevitably pop-up.

And it's all due to your efforts - as bloggers and as contributors!

For those who scored cluebats, we'll probably start production on those next week, and I'll be hitting you up for snail-mail addresses if I don't have them already.

Of course, we're taking donations 24/7 should you suddenly find a wad of cash you don't know what use to put it to! Just click the graphic below!

And you can still score Grim's Stetson!

Feel free to join us! And those of you who already have - thank you ever so much!

(Feel free to swipe the roll-code)

(If you are a supporting blog and aren't listed - drop me a note!)

Project Valour-IT - LAST DAY!

This post will be up high all day - new stuff comes in below.

Hey! It's Payday! So shave off a little green to Project Valour-IT!

From yesterday:

Weekend 2214.11
Monday 2475
Tuesday 3801
Wednesday 5850.00
Thursday 2080

Total $16,420.

Interesting note: As of the time of that update, we were ahead of National Review Online and their week-long fundraiser. This morning, as I hit "post" on this, they're at $16,915.

So - for those of you who like a little competition - how about we set our goal to *Beat* NRO's fundraising totals? Just for the bragging rights? Something I can drop in Jonah's coffee tomorrow morning?

Please?

It's not like it's not for a Good Cause.

So, the fundraising for Project Valour-IT continues today - and ends tonight in terms of blogging it - until the Big Push this fall. This was just a raid to warm everybody up and refine the TTPs.

Please click on the graphic below - and give up a little beer/winecooler/pack of cigarettes/movie rental money (or more, like Blackhawk!) to help the wounded re-connect to their wired lives. At this point - I'm just wanting to stay ahead of NRO!

Feel free to join us! And those of you who already have - thank you ever so much!

(Feel free to swipe the roll-code)

(If you are a supporting blog and aren't listed - drop me a note!)

Project Valour-IT update.

New stuff comes in below this post.

You wanna hear about some impact for your Project Valour-IT donation?

I heard from the sister of a severely wounded Marine how much it helped her brother's rehabilitation to have one of our Valour-IT laptops. He lost use of both arms temporarily due to burns, so the laptop was an incredible blessing to not be isolated. Last word was that he was far ahead of the expected progress for his rehabilitation (I think he lost one or both feet too it was a very severe injury).

Read the rest here.

You guys are simply grand. Act vice bloviate indeed. Stuff that in your pipe and smoke it, WW!

From yesterday:

97 donations since Friday Weekend 2214.11 Monday 2475 Tuesday 3801 Total: 8490.11

Nice trend, too!

Last night, Fuzzybear Lioness provided this update:

58 Donors today: $5,850.00

Including $1000 from someone we believe is an orthopedic surgeon. I think that's particularly cool because he would recognize the need for and impact of this program. Pretty cool, huh?

[sound of shoes being removed and mumbled counting going on]

Lessee, that's $14,340.11 Which was more than NRO had raised as of last night in their fund-raiser.

Plus....

Today we also had someone who will be adopting a soldier and paying the entire cost of his/her laptop. We also have someone who will be donating a top-of-the-line new laptop.

Catch it all up at Fuzzy's place.

So, the fundraising for Project Valour-IT continues. Please click on the graphic below - and give up a little beer/winecooler/pack of cigarettes/movie rental money (or more, like Blackhawk!) to help the wounded re-connect to their wired lives. At this point - I'm just wanting to stay ahead of NRO!

Feel free to join us!

(Feel free to swipe the roll-code)

(If you are a supporting blog and aren't listed - drop me a note!)

Project Valour-IT

Is there a need?

You tell me.

That's $330,000 of assistance, folks.

More importantly - it's 500 severely wounded soldiers we've helped.

That's a battalion. 1/3rd of a Brigade.

Pat yourselves on the back.

Go ahead.

You deserve it.

Thank you.

Project Valour-IT update.

New stuff comes in below.

I'll avoid a sense of tartness, given the *tens* of thousands of readers of the participating blogs (even allowing for a huge overlap) - but the 97 (as of yesterday evening) of you who've donated thus far - You Rock, Baby!

The goal was at least $7260 to clear the current backlog of laptop requests.

We're there!

Fuzzy reports:

97 donations since Friday Weekend 2144.11 Monday 2475 Tuesday 3801 Total: 8420.11

Nice trend, too.

But of course, we aren't done. Why? Because, well, there's a coupla thousand of you who haven't availed yourselves of this opportunity, of course.

And it's the Army's Birthday. And Flag Day.

It's also the anniversary of...

1936 Oranienburg Concentration Camp opens
1940 Nazis open a concentration camp at Auschwitz

Something the Army, along with all the other services and our Allies, helped to disestablish, at no small cost to all concerned. As we did Saddam. And Milosevic, Noriega, et.al. And no, it wasn't always easy, nor fair, and certainly not perfect.

But, while we've raised enough to meet the immediate need, this war is still a hot one, the casualties are still coming. This request (above and beyond the 11) arrived yesterday from Brooke Army Medical Center, at Fort Sam Houston:

Female army SSG with hand injury (we've only had two or three female requests). Two fingers amputated. As Chuck can testify, that means additional damage to the hand and months of limited use.

So, the fundraising for Project Valour-IT continues. Please click on the graphic below - and give up a little beer/winecooler/pack of cigarettes/movie rental money (or more, like Blackhawk!) to help the wounded re-connect to their wired lives.

And join these fine people, who are all doing their bit, too.

(Feel free to swipe the roll-code)

(If you are a supporting blog and aren't listed - drop me a note!)

Project Valour-IT

New stuff comes in below this post.

Consider your young soldier of today. Wired. Connected. So used to using keyboards they can thumb-type faster than I can type in a regular way - and I'm pretty good, actually.

Then take away a hand, or the use of it. Or both. Or her eyes.

Then you've got that sullen fellow sitting in that chair up there.

Or, you can give a little of yourself, just a tiny bit - a 6 pack worth of beer is fine. Or soda if you don't drink. If 130 of you who read this space regularly (vice those who've given already this time 'round, natch) give $5 each - that's a voice-activated laptop. The Cluebat Clique (8 people who gave $100 and counting) have already funded one.

How 'bout you make this possible for another wounded warrior of any service to get connected again? Captain Chuck Ziegenfuss was a deployed milblogger who nearly lost his hand in an IED attack. Project Valour-IT, brainchild of Chuck and Fuzzybear Lioness, let Chuck blog again.

Chuck's much better now, and can use a regular computer - but his voice-activated laptop helped him along the path to recovery.

Think I'm blowing smoke? While milbloggers don't cite the BBC approvingly all that often - that makes this story all the more interesting.

C'mon. $5. Tax-deductible.

Cluebats: For those with deeper pockets, there's only 10,9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0! bats left (by the way, you don't have to leave the receipt in a comment - email contact is fine for those who prefer to keep things to themselves) to qualify for a Castle Argghhh Cluebat Clique membership!

Donate here, or click the graphic up top.

And I'm gonna harass ya until I get those last two Cluebats spoken for.

All original ten have been spoken for. But... since the laptops cost $660 with shipping, and we've come up with $1000 for readers of Castle Argghhh!, I'll put up three more - so we can get *two* with some change left over. Thanks guys!

I've already used up two of those three. Heck with it - *everybody* who puts in $100 (with receipt) today will get one.

Just sayin'.

Update: AFSis sez "My post is up today... and yes, I've made my donation. It's not "cluebat" worthy, but it's all I could spare."

I say - If you gave all you could spare, you gave more than most!

Mudville Gazette
The Armorer at Castle Argghhh!
Blackfive
Smash
Da Goddess
BloodSpite
Boston Maggie
Small Town Veteran
Righty in a Lefty State
Homefront Six
One Marine's View
A Rose By Any Other Name
Echo9er
AFSis at My Side of the Puddle.
The Countervailing Force.
Thoughts by Seawitch
The Cool Blue Blog
Dadmanly
High Desert Wanderer
Silent Running
My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
Blue Star Chronicles

Project Valour-IT Update

Receipt: XXXX-7103-XXXX-6672: $500

If I can't get over there myself, I can at least support those who have, and have paid a high price.

Blackhawk is an active duty soldier. Can I get like a *HUGE* Hoo-AH! for Blackhawk?

Acting vice bloviating, indeed!

With this donation, plus all the others, readers of Argghhh! have given enough to score 3 laptops.

You guys rock.

Simply rock.

Valour-IT Mayday

This post will be up top all day - new posts come in below.

Fall-IN!

Now listen up, troops.

In a comment thread over at Greyhawk's place, Milbloggers got hammered because we were perceived as not being authentic "milbloggers", because we weren't properly spouting off about every bad thing that was going on in and around the military. Leaving aside the fact most of us exist to *counter* all the bad news, which is more than adequately covered elsewhere, I made another point - that instead of just bloviating, we *act*.

The time has come, ladies and gentlemen, to *act*.

The Arsenal of Argghhh! will give a "Cluebat of Argghhh!" to the first 10 people who produce a receipt for a donation of $100 or more to Project Valour-IT.*

Now I'll let Fuzzybear Lioness run with the tale.

Valour-IT has run out of funds again. Right now we have a waiting list of eleven wounded warriors who need our help, and the list is still growing.

Marine Lt. Gen. Amos recently said:

When we send them off to do the nation's bidding in a place like Afghanistan or Iraq and they're wounded, we're not returning the same individual... When we send them back wounded there is a piece of me that says I haven't kept my bargain. What's left for me to do is to continue taking care of them. [source]

It's left to more than generals to continue taking care of them. It's left to all of us. And part of how we take care of the wounded is by helping them reconnect and rediscover their self-sufficiency in a way that supports their recovery. A voice-activated Valour-IT laptop is a huge part of that support.

When I shared the article about Lt. Gen. Amos with someone who has a great deal of expertise in leadership and management, her instant reply was, "What a leader!" Yes. And like any good leader, Amos is leading by example. Will you follow?

"It's a function of loyalty," the 59-year-old general said. "In Marine speak, it means fidelity. It's a wonderful word not used very often - except in the Marine Corps. It means faithful. It implies faithful almost to a fault...

"I owe it to them."

So do we. -- FbL

Donate here.

Fusileer 6

Update: There's only 10,9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 bats left (by the way, you don't have to leave the receipt in a comment - email contact is fine for those who prefer to keep things to themselves):

John,

Attached are receipts from PayPal and Soldiers' Angels
for my donation of $100 (wish it could be more).

No doubt, a worthy cause.

==============
Frank

Fusileer 6

Update: Blackfive signs up!

Project Valour-IT.

Fox News ran a webstory yesterday, dating from the Milblog conference, that highlighted Denizenne Fuzzybear Lioness' role in Project Valour-IT - the voice-activated laptops for wounded troops.

Fuzzy virtually denies it, and hides behind her fluttering fan here.

I left this comment on her post - which I am putting here because she *can't* delete it.

Heh. Don't believe her, folks.

Sure, Chuck Ziegenfuss and his wife Carren were involved. But Chuck said, publicly, that Beth was the force that made it happen. After all, Chuck was wounded, couldn't type that well and was on some pretty good drugs. So Fuzzy caught that lateral and took off downfield. Matt, Lex, and I made the mistake of being in her way.

She's the one who kidnapped Matt, Lex (who even as we speak is corrupting Denizennes Brab and BCR while whining and dining in Seattle) and I, took us to an undisclosed location, and tickled us with feathers and schmeared chocolate on us until we agreed to be her blogslaves and do her bidding for Valour-IT.

Matt and I just did what we were taught in SERE School - survive. Lex spilled his guts and cried like a baby.

Oh, sure, the Great Folks at Soldier's Angels were a big help, as were (and are) all the volunteers, whether live and in person, or fiscally and digitally via the blogs.

But Beth was the driving force, make no mistake.

And anything she says to the contrary is just embarrassing drivel designed to throw you off the scent.

She's the heroine.

Don't let her fool you.

Because when you watch the moving hand, the other one will slip into your heart and empty your wallet for Valour-IT.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

BTW - when was the last time you dipped into your beer/chai money and sent some to Project Valour-IT? Memorial Day is coming up - that sounds like a ready-made holiday to use as an excuse.

Skip a 6-pack this weekend, and send that money instead to Project Valour-IT by clicking on the Cox and Forkum cartoon below. Or skip that Magnum of Mouton-Cadet you were thinking about. Or that keg. Have burgers instead of filets... you know what to do.

Doncha feel better already?

Project Valour-IT (CA)?

The Huntress points us to an article in Canada's National Post that mentions Project Valour-IT. I would suggest that if interested Canadians were to contact Soldier's Angels, or perhaps Fuzzybear Lioness (getting famous in her own right, too!) *who made Project Valour-IT a reality* that if they will bring the money to the table, Soldier's Angels would be glad to help out our Allies and Comrades in Arms. Just sayin'. CAPT H, Torch Bearers, Alan, Flea - I think this could go somewhere. Perhaps even under the Banner of the Red Ensign. We could even get in a little of that appreciation that so interests Damian.

I'm serious guys, all the groundwork has been laid, the processes are in place, and rather than start from scratch - all you need to do is raise money retail

Just a thought. I'm sure we can put Maple Leafs on machines. Hopefully, you guys won't have enough casualties to *justify* starting a whole new project on your own, but if you'd like to, Soldier's Angels will pass on the specs, I'm sure.

And I *know* Canadians contributed to Valour-IT, so it's only fair *we* reciprocate.

And after all, it's not like we haven't worked together before...

Hey, Beatles fans...

Want some gen-yoo-wine Beatle's art - and a chance to help Project Valour-IT?

Say no more! Visit Little Toni at Random Bits of Pomposity and find out how by clicking here!

H/t to Fuzzybear Lioness.

And just because I hate to waste another post on this little gem...

To Be 6 Again

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife turning back and forth, looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off, he asked what she'd like to have for her Birthday.

I'd like to be six again, she replied, still looking in the mirror.

On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster... everything there was. Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. He then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&M's. What a fabulous adventure!

Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed eexhausted. He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked,

Well Dear, what was it like being six again??

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. I meant my Dress Size, you dumb nut!!

The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he is going to get it wrong.

H/t, Rich B.