March 31, 2008
Patti and the Angels Receive More Kudos
Patti Bader, leader, motivator and facilitator of literally hundreds of thousands of "troop support" volunteers has again received national attention. Her husband writes:
For founding Soldiers Angels and other exemplary work that she does to make the world a better place, Patti has just been notified that she is the recipient of the VFW 2008 James E. Van Zandt Citizenship Award.Press release here.From the VFW web site: James E. "Jimmy" Van Zandt was Commander-in-Chief of the VFW three times, and a veteran of three wars (World War I, World War II, and the Korean War). He served as an enlisted man in World War I and retired as an admiral following the Korean War. Descended from a pioneer family in Blair County, Pennsylvania, Jimmy worked his way from newsboy to United States Congressman. Recipients of the award named in Van Zandt's honor exemplify his dedication to public service, citizenship, and other admirable qualities.
[Denizens know, but newer visitors may not: besides sending hundred of thousands of care packages, ministering to the wounded, comforting families of the fallen, sewing blankets for hospitalized veterans, and caring for those on the front lines and their families on the homefront in myriad other ways, Soldiers' Angels is the organization that facilitates a program especially near and dear to the hearts of Castle Denizens--Project Valour-IT.]
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �March 2, 2008
Calling all Denizens, lurkers, readers, or anyone you can beg, borrow, or steal from.
Get out ‘yer checkbooks, damnit.
Seriously.
For crying out loud, for me to get a mailer from the organization begging me for cash is a deplorable state of affairs because I have so little and many have given so little. I’m a grad student. Jess and I live on $14000/year. We live in a dinky one bedroom apartment in central Indiana, have a 15 year old car we only drive to the grocery store while using public transit to get every where else (which I absolutely hate doing), and eat pretty low on the hog(Cricket would never eat like this: ramen, instant oatmeal, TV dinners for a treat, 2 hotdogs cut up into instant mac n’ cheese once or twice a week, and brown label vitamins to cover micronutrient deficiencies.). And, tack on the money I’ve been spending since my friend Yujiro died to take care of his widow, Emiko? Paying two rent checks summing to 1200 bucks each month and immigration attorneys is not cheap and definitely not easy on our monthly income. Yet, I’m still able to kick in some when asked.
I’ll be honest. It isn’t much. What I’m able to give probably only paid for postage to about 20 bigger givers. But it is something.
So what about you, pilgrim? Are you feeling good about how charitable you’re being right now? Gawd knows I’m not. I’m feelin’ pretty guilty I don’t have more to give. That I was stupid and bought a playstation last Christmas, using up quite a bit of our discretionary funds, makes me angry right now because there is something bigger and more important than The Wife having a new shiny toy to play with while I sleep on the weekends. So, if you feel like you’ve done all you can you should put that checkbook away. If you don’t feel like you have then it’s time to start. Make with the pen motions (or clicking on the links on the right border) already.
You want a reward? Fine. If we get $5000 by next this coming Wed to flow in from this website or otherwise confirmed to either Soldiers’ Angels or the subsidiary, and FbL’s baby, VALOUR IT I’ll do one of two things: option a is get John to take a picture of him leaning his knee on my neck while he holds one of the Castle’s working(but unloaded) firearms to my head to post here and option b is to make a shooting range target in gollum’s likeness to be posted here. You guys get to choose in the comments what you want. Oh, option C is to post one of the most embarrassing pictures in existence of me as a kid. We can do that one too. Put the confirmation number you receive via email in the comments section or email John(his email is on the right sidebar with “ry’s challenge” as the subject and he can forward all of that to me for totaling).
But either way, make with throwing money SA’s way. It is the right thing to do.
ry
aHEM. *koff* *koff* Izzis thing on? [taptaptap] Good.
There is no "Option A" or "Option B."
While the Armorer commends Ry's enthusiasm and heartily endorses his effort - the Armorer does *not* regret to inform the readership that he will *not* be photographed pointing a weapon at anyone, loaded or unloaded, he does not fully intend to shoot should circumstances warrant, however much he might currently find the idea of kneeling on Ry's neck appealing...
The Armorer *also* does not approve of making photo-targets of people he does not fully intend to shoot, should the circumstances warrant. Ergo, the Armorer can comfortably shoot at photo- targets of Osama bin Laden for example, or of metaphoric cultural targets like a certain Purple Dinosaur (but will not shoot at anthropomorphic targets when young children are present), or the usual "shoot/don't shoot" targets in competitive/training shoots. The Armorer does not approve of shooting at targets of culturally unpopular people or of Denizens, popular or unpopular. The Armorer feels this to be in bad taste. Plus, when you post things like that on the Internet, you just make it easier for the anti's to use that sort of imagery against law-abiding gun owners while we engage in an important cultural fight on the issues of arms and society.
This isn't to say the Armorer doesn't have a sense of humor or doesn't like to have fun. But just because the Internet exists, doesn't mean everything has to be posted on it.
I just made a bet with myself. Heh.
Readers are free to suggest other forms of penance we can put Ry to. The Castle pond might need some de-mucking this summer... oh, say, August, for example. -the Armorer
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �November 12, 2007
Project Valour-IT, last day.
Update: These two auction items featuring a lady lovely in body and spirit didn't quite reach their reserve bids. Reserve has been lowered, and they are up for a 24-hour auction (ending c. 0915 Tuesday). Reach the auction by clicking a picture. - FbL [The rest of this post is by John.]
Well, we clearly had eyes bigger than your collective wallets this year... you do realize that means we'll just be coming back at you quicker than we would have otherwise, right?
But we'll leave you alone until after Christmas, and your recovery from that. Probably in time for... tax day. Hmmm, yeah, send us your refunds!
But right now, after apparently hunting down and mugging some rich former Marine, the Marines are ahead in the fundraising competition. Oh yeah, did they mug a rich one. A $10K single donation. To insure a Marine win. Okay - so, where's my rich Army brother who will stand up? Heh, if PVIT is lucky... maybe that will cause the Marine's SugarDaddy to pony up more - yeah, that's it - get two money-hippos in a bidding war!
The AF and Navy are out of contention (unless they, too, mug someone rich) so why don't you all just reach deep and pony up just a little more for the Army team? And what is it with you Flyboys? All that flight pay, and the Air Force has never been a serious contender in the competition. Selfish selfish!
As Project Valour-IT Founder Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, the wounded blogger who gave up a finger, most of the use of both thumbs, and literally gave his left *** to the cause says, "I can't wait to give that feeling to another wounded soldier." Not the left ***, the ability to reconnect to their lives in ways you and I take for granted. Please help him do that. In case you missed it on Saturday - here's a post where the very real positive impacts of Project Valour-IT are laid out.
So, please, donate here.
Oh, and since *someone* fibbed about the size of a donation - which caused my match to be 50 times oversized... I'm going to make-up that shortfall and then double it today. Besides, I need the tax deduction this year. I just checked with my CPA. So I'm putting my money where my mouth is, to a four-figure tune. How 'bout you, if you can afford it?
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �November 11, 2007
Make the Connection: 11 Dollars on the 11th Day of the 11th Month
[Denizen Commentary - Kat]
"Thank you!" to all our veterans, past and present. They are the rock on which we stand. They were the hammer and the anvil, the sword and the shield. They were the lightening when we needed to strike and the shelter in raging storms. God grant that we should continue to have such men and women in the future should the times require it. They have shining examples in all those who have served before.
Last night, I went to a showing at the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City. They have an exhibit of photographs from the Civil War period. Some I had seen many times in history books. Others I had not seen before. There were many that look like our photos today: soldiers going about the daily business of preparation, cooking, sewing and relaxing with their comrades.
Somethings never change.
Afterwards, at a restaurant on the Plaza, I drank coffee and chatted with a fellow Angel. A man in dress army blues and a woman in a cocktail dress came out on the patio. He was a sergeant and he had only three ribbons on his jacket, though I know he could probably wear many more. They were his GWOT, Iraq Campaign and a Bronze Star along with an expert marksmen badge and his CIB.
I always have an Angel Coin or two tucked in the purse with some "thank you" cards. So, after they were seated, I got some items together and prepared to go over. I was a bit hesitant at first because the couple seemed to be having a romantic evening out. They kept holding hands and talking to each other quietly. Fortunately, her cell phone rang so I decided to take the opportunity to hand over the challenge coin and card.
I palmed the coin, held out my hand and introduced myself as I handed him the "Thank You For Your Service" card with my other hand. When he shook my hand and felt the cold metal touch his palm, he hesitated for a moment. I gripped his hand tighter around the coin.
As it warmed between our palms, I said, "Thank you for your service, Sgt..." I couldn't see his name tag in the dark. He gripped my hand tighter and said, "Wayne...just 'Wayne' and this is my wife Kim." I would have shook her hand, too, but now he wouldn't let go of my hand.
I continued, "We support our deployed troops. If you go back or have friends that are still there, please contact us." He gripped my hand again and said, "Thank you." I told them to have a nice evening together. The way they were leaning in close to each other the whole time, I figure he'd just came back and I should make myself scarce.
I was putting my coat on a few minutes later, preparing to leave when three young women walked up to the sergeant's table. On noting his uniform, one asked, "Were you at the Marine Corps Ball?" I could hear the humor in his voice when he replied, "No. This is Army dress...I'm in the Army."
The young woman, about 21 I'd say, was a little chagrined and apologized for her mistake. Then she said, "Still, thats great that you're serving our country."
Serving OUR country. OUR country. It's still "OURS" after everything and our veterans are "OURS". While the coin and thank you card might have made the sergeant's night a little nicer, hearing that young woman say "our country" made mine. That's the way it's supposed to be.
We're still connected, even after all the complaints, the angst and the general feeling that we're somehow separated, from each other and from those who serve.
We're still connected.
We're still trying to raise the funds necessary to honor our wounded veterans by giving them the means to reconnect and stay connected to their friends, family and the outside world while they are locked in the long process of recovery at facilities around the country. In many ways, these facilities are some of the toughest postings for our injured troops. Even on a base in the middle of nowhere Iraq or Afghanistan, they are still with people they consider friends and family; sharing risks, sharing dreams and the one desire that all men and women posted so far away always hold: the day they come home.
Even when they are extended, they still know a set time that they will return. They know the expected outcome. They know a general date. They can share that time and expectations with those they went to war with and those they will return to. They have something to look forward to and a dream to reconnect to.
In a hospital, with severe injuries to arms, hands, fingers and the brain, our wounded veterans.don't know the outcome. They don't know when they'll be home. Though surrounded by caregivers, sometimes a family member and other wounded, they are still isolated in their pain and struggle to return to some semblance of normalcy; to return to something close to "whole" both physically and mentally. They are isolated from us and many more that would give them support literally and in real time if they could reach them. But we can't physically reach them all.
They are trying to set goals when they don't know when it will end or how. When they went into the hospital they were still part of a great big family of the military. When they leave, many know that they will again be separated and isolated from that previous life.
Sometimes, that isolation and unknowing can be a hindrance to recovery. It destroys morale. It is a burden they cannot put down for the remainder of their stay, for their time in recovery and sometimes long after.
We can lighten that burden, even if we are far away. We can reconnect them to the outside world. We can reconnect them to their friends and family. We can give them something to look forward to. We can help bring them "all the way home".
Everyone has put up their challenges this week and pointed out some great auction items for bidding to support this project. I don't have anything to auction, but I do have a lot of pictures that show what it means to be "connected" from the past year of providing support for our troops. No one asked me to give that support. It was simply the right thing to do.
On the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th month in 1918, an armistice was signed to end the "Great War". Millions of young men returned home to parades and thanks giving for their service to the nation. We don't have many parades anymore and many a young man and woman comes home to nothing more than a few family members and a strange feeling that they do not belong.
Today, I believe it is appropriate to offer the 11, 11, 11 challenge. Today, every person that reads this blog is challenged to donate $11 dollars (or a higher amount in increments of $11 or ending in "11"). Even if you've given before for the project or several times, on this day, in remembrance of all those who have and still serve, please consider giving this small dedication to that sacrifice and all those that came after.
Send your $11 to Project Valour IT and help us remind our wounded that they do belong, they are not alone. It's "our" country and they are and always will be "ours".
Now for some pictures and video in flash traffic to remind you what that support really means.
Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows �November 10, 2007
Valour-IT Saves Lives?!
[FbL here. Title shamelessly stolen from Noah Shachtman. Imitation and sincerity and all that...]
That's what Chuck Z says, and he would know. As Noah Shachtman of Wired puts it,
Suddenly, he [Chuck] was able to connect to the outside world. He was able to take up his blog again, too. And from that, he was able to muster the self-esteem and internal strength to begin his recovery.
From the reports of family and friends of a triple amputee:
The laptop was the first step to the road to recovery. It proved that he was going to be able to do all the things that he did before.
From the CO of a wounded soldier:
He expressed to me today in an email how much that [laptop] helped him. So thank you. Very much. For taking care of my Soldiers when I no longer could.
From a laptop recipient:
I can't begin to tell how much [the laptop] has changed my stay at WRAMC; I am able to correspond with my Soldiers, and my family. My Soldiers are still down range in Iraq. They are coming home soon, and I look forward to being back at my post to receive them. Again, thank you so much.
From the mother of a wounded soldier:
Buzz reports having the laptop has made staying at the hospital more tolerable. It turns out that the laptop is also becoming an important factor in his treatment because besides using it to stay in contact with friends and loved ones while he's hospitalized, he and his wife are using it to gather information on the latest research about spinal cord injuries.
From Chuck Z himself:
It was the first time I felt whole since I’d woken up wounded in Landstuhl.
As Veterans Day approaches, you can "support the troops" in a powerful and life-changing way. As Chuck says, "I can't wait to give that feeling to another wounded soldier." Please help him do that. Donate here.
Project Valour-IT update.
Fuzzybear Lioness put on her comms helmet and flogged us all again.
Okay, the Marines are doing okay - heh, which is amazing, considering who their enticer enforcer is.
Team Navy? Last year's winners? Well they showed up anyway. All the people they mugged in the alleys of San Diego musta caught wind of the fund-raiser and skipped town to not get caught up in the press gangs.
Then there's team Air Force, down the hill in the ville spending the flight pay and claiming crew rest... but fulla snark. Lotta snark for the people in last place...
But whatta ya expect - Mrs. Greyhawk got all tarted up to get a rise outta the Zoomies... well, I think the results speak for themselves...
Mrs. G - don't point a gun at the Amorer's brothers-in-arms...
Cuz' the Armorer will give it back to you looking like this.
Now, the rest of you - hit the Auctions, and click the button below.
C'mon, gimme the money you were gonna spend on a sixpack of beer. It all helps, and you'll look less like Alfred Hitchcock (or me) in profile... Donate via the Army Team.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �November 9, 2007
Valour-IT: New Auctions
Most-importantly, the Pinups for Vets items are now up (click to bid):
There have also been a number of new items added, and older items that might catch your eye. For example, the chance to blog on Drunken Wisdom, handmade glass-bead necklaces, an out-of-print book about the B-17, a high-quality model of an F/A-18, and an offer to design and host your website. There are also a number of autographed books spread throughout the auction pages. And I did some Googling and couldn't find a GEN Pace Challenge Coin for sale outside the Valour-IT auction.
I've included pics of more new (and old) items in "Flash Traffic" below, to spare the Luddites among us [click photos to bid].
Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows � Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �
November 8, 2007
Valour-IT Today
The best news of all is that Valour-IT has received over $30,000 in donations unaffiliated with a particular fundraising team! That means that our current total is around $85,000, not including donations mailed in.
But we have quite a ways to go, and so Soldiers' Angels is offering a beautiful donation incentive beginning today.
Due to constant bugs, the Valour-IT auction site had to be rebuilt. Participant accounts, bids, and items all transferred. If you activated your account for the old version, you should've received an automatic email telling you to click a link to activate in the new system (same name/password). If not, please email Holly (Soldiers' Angels webmistress).
And on the subject of auctions, there are some extraordinary items up for bid:
- Pentagon Challenge Coin from General Peter Pace
- Autographed Chris Muir print
- "Gone, But Not Forgotten" quilt
- Autographed custom caricature by John Cox
- A number of autographed/rare books
And please, keep spreading the word about Valour-IT to your friends and family. We have just a handful of days left!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And you don't have to get caught up in a bidding war for these. Just be one of the top two of the donors who drop their receipts on John. And, since the entire known world *doesn't* bother to stop here (or follow all of the links), your chances are purty durn good... --Bill
November 6, 2007
The Windup -- A-A-A-A-nd the Pitch!
Ah, the mystique of the flight suit!
When one of us steely-eyed, lantern-jawed stalwarts clad in a sage green one-piece (with 27-inch zipper) appears on-scene, male groundlings cringe in jealous awe, females of the feminine persuasion *swoon* from the onrush of multiple heady fantasies, children glow with instant hero-worship and junkyard dogs become fawning sycophants.
Ummmmm, that's the way it's *supposed* to work, anyway.
The reality is that the guys turn and start muttering imprecations about deity-condemned aviators into their beers, the gurlz walk up and ask if velcro holds up under repeated washings (nope), kids want you to give them the official US Gummint pen stuck in your shoulder pocket and household pets view you as a large, self-propelled squeaky toy.
But eventually, all conversations *do* zero in on that 27-inch zipper.
And *you* can find out First Hand -- as long as you can fit into a Coveralls, Flyers, Men, Summer, Fire-Resistant 27/P, Size 40R. Otherwise, you'll just have to put it on display.
Yup. A gen-you-wine Cold War relic worn by a Cold War relic flying Cold War relic aircraft during the Cold War, complete with CW4 sew-on insignia and a gen-you-wine NJARNG Aviation Safety patch -- which makes it a real one-of-a-kind, because I designed the patch in 1978 and the design changed in 1998.
And it's up for bids. The usual deal -- send proof of your Valour-IT donation(s) to John (*not* to me -- sorry, but KtLW has the annoying habit of screaming in my remaining ear if I'm online for any reason other than downloading recipes from FoodTV).
Runner-up gets a Vietnam-era poncho, only worn during the '71-'72 monsoon season at Fort Dix.
Certificates of authenticity included (as soon as I can think of something suitably off the wall recall the proper verbage).
And just to keep John from going all grumbly about handling the extra correspondence -- if any -- I'll throw him a bone in a knick-nack for the Castle Bar...
November 5, 2007
Valour-IT - so, some liberals have stepped up.
Heh. It was a hard-won $250 that I wrested from Cliff at OneUtah (and Cliff, gimme something rather less political than VoteVets and I'll still match your donation to Valour-IT - in addition to the one I sent to PVIT matching yours - and no military connection is required.)
Nonetheless, we've an ambitious goal for Team Army, $60K, and, well, frankly, we're lagging. Oh sure, we're ahead of the slackers in the other services (at least when I hit post) but we're lagging from the pace.
Accordingly, I'm going to have to resort to some, well, tough love.
So - if you don't click on the link below and pony up some dough, I'm going to send around these guys around to visit your blog and sit on your visitors. They're all former Sailors down on their luck, willing to do anything for a buck. Sailors are like that.
So, click here and donate....
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...or get a visit from these guys.
Your choice. Choose wisely.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �Valour-IT: Liberals Step Up
[FbL here]
UPDATE II: I've debated whether to include One Utah, since putting up a button in comments on one's own blog doesn't seem to quite meet the standards of actually blogging it. However, I sent the link in my latest email to Malkin and we'll see what she does with it. Btw, she says she will wait until the afternoon/evening then put up an new post/update of all the lib blogs we've found so far. The commenters at her site are now offering the following for each liberal blogger who signs up and posts, in addition to MM's $50 challenge (thanks to stevegg for kindly creating the compilation at my request):
F15mech - $50 to Team Air Force
trinitytim - $25 to Team Army
swj719AWG - $5 to each team ($20 total per left-wing blog)
SirKnob - $5 to Team Navy/USCG
steveegg - $5 (divided as equally as possible among the teams)
UPDATE: We have another one--Lawyers, Guns, and Money--which isn't going to appeal to most of the readership as much as one might think. ;) And I haven't heard from Malkin yet, but her readers are ponying up. Three cheers for following through; let's hope we end up emptying their wallets for Valour-IT!
I had some time to do some snooping in our blogger team lists this morning (scroll down), and am very happy to report my findings: at least four liberal bloggers have stepped up to Michelle Malkin's challenge to blog Valour-IT.**
Greg from the Left
Online Lunchpail (see sidebar)
Springbored's Springboard
And last, but certainly not least, our very own Trias at Insanity Blog.
Thanks to all of you who responded to Malkin in a polite and rational manner and threw the gauntlet right back down at her feet. Her commenters have issued their own challenges, and Valour-IT is looking forward to the donations your blogging will inspire.
Way to go, friends across the aisle! Let's keep lightening those wallets for Valour-IT!
**As mentioned before, the challenge is to just blog in support of Valour-IT, as we know that people on both left and right have generously donated to Valour-IT from the very beginning.
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �Gollum’s Three Friends Challenge.
Well, since people are so big on challenges and what not I think I’d like to jump in with one too. Does anyone remember the old commercial that ended with ‘and they told three friends, and they told three friends’ and the exponential progression on screen (3 photos becomes nine becomes 27 become 81 become 243...)? Well, that’s what I’m challenging to do. Get three friends to donate to VALOR-IT and charge them with getting three more. We want exponential growth here people! (Or is that technically geometric progression? I forgets me maths definitions.)
Look, I got my father-in-law to donate, and regular readers know that I(ry/Gollum) do not get along with the man well at all. Matter of fact, I’m certain he’d shoot me dead if he wasn’t a staunch Brady bill kinda-guy who can’t abide the thought of someone having a firearm. If I can do that you can guilt trip, badger, heckle, sing Henry the 8th I am I am, or whatever until they break down and donate too. It isn't about the war. It isn't about you and your political views (or ours for that matter). It's about the people and their lives. Period.
And if the fact that men and women who put their lives on the line and deserve this isn’t incentive enough, well, if you don’t do this I’ll be forced to ankle bite John. If you do, well, I’m sure we might be able to come up with a pic of John standing on my head or giving me the treatment with the Big Boot or with the Hairy Eyeball or something in the near future for your viewing pleasure
--ry
November 4, 2007
Valour-IT: A Message to Our Lefty Blogging Friends
UPDATE: Liberals Step Up!
Though very pro-military by definition, Valour-IT prides itself in being non-partisan at a time when the military is being pulled in partisan directions. If you think "we shouldn't be in Iraq or Afghanistan, it's Bush's fault they're wounded, and besides, the government should be taking care of the wounded (that's what taxes are for)," we won't argue with you. We might even cheer that third point.
We simply have a question: What are you going to do about it? They are wounded today, and nothing we do is going to change that reality. But we can support them as they make the first step in recovery, by helping them reclaim their connection to the rest of us, by giving them a laptop.
Sure, the government should be doing it and it's important to take the issue to Congress. But that takes years, and we're talking about someone in a hospital bed today. Hell, it took a year for the DoD to catch up with Valour-IT and realize their CAP program should be providing the voice software instead of us--which they now do (we provide the laptop to the wounded warfighter).
Now, Michelle Malkin has accused liberal bloggers of not truly caring about the troops, and she's put her money where her mouth is. She's already given a donation, but for every liberal blog that signs up with and blogs in support of Valour-IT, she's going to donate an extra $50 (up to 10 blogs).
She's now pointing out that she hasn't had to pony up a dime on this challenge. Prove her wrong, fellow bloggers. Not only do you get to donate your time/money to a great (tax-deductible) cause and support the troops in an immediate and direct manner, but you can "put MM in her place," too. ;)
--FbL
[Update: I am compelled to note that the closest thing to a resident lefty here at the Castle is Alan of GenX@40 - who has given several generous donations over the years, and that in our first year, at least, we had several stealth donations from second tier lefty bloggers - who still wish to remain nameless. One of them is still a well-known lefty blogger, who still wishes to remain anonymous - I checked. Which, sadly, is a reflection on the state of how the puritans of either side treat their own (I know, I work with a Dem politician, believe me, I know the perils of apostasy) who openly stray from the orthodoxy. Michelle can contribute another $50 if she'd like (but it will have to be on the basis of my word - and I'd like her to give it to the AF Team) - the lefty blogger did their donation via my good offices - which means they won't get to take the tax deduction, either. BTW - if Michelle gives another $50, that's only *half* the donation we got from the lefty blogger. -the Armorer.
FbL sez: Well said, John. Our resident lefties were definitely on my mind when I wrote that, and I know they have donated to Valour-IT in the past. My intention was not to slight them in any way or particularly call on them for donations. Rather, my hope was to draw them out to actually blogging for Valour-IT. Good (sad) point about reasons for wishing to remain anonymous... I'll check, but I think the stipulation was that they blog Valour-IT.]
[Heh. Princess Crabby dropped in on Cliff and left a challenge - which Cliff responded to in comments here, which I will edit to bring into compliance with the Rulez regarding personal attacks. I've issued a counter-challenge to Cliff - I'll match his *donation* - he doesn't have to blog a thing - up to $500, and I won't take the tax deduction, making it revenue-neutral, which should please a progressive blogger... I would note, though, that Cliff points out at least one lefty blogger who has blogged Valour-IT, if not perhaps in the way we intended. And he did leave Princess Crabby's comment up, with the Army donate button. - the Armorer]
Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �