A Few of Fr's Finest...Every Day - Week in Review....02-01,02-03

Billie and Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

[Mama_Bear]

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Good Morning!
It's the weekend...
Come in, relax, enjoy!




If you would like to be added to or removed from the Finest ping list, FReepMail me.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Mama.

[GailA]

Good Morning ALL a beautiful sunny day here in Memphis. Coffee's on

[GailA]

[Budge]

Columbia

[Molly Pitcher]

Thank you Mama Bear. Prayers for the Shuttle families....

[FreeTheHostages]

Amen

[lonestar]

Hangin out. Literally.

I'm about 60 miles from where shuttle debris is being reported. So sad. I heard it and didn't know what it was. Our windows shook and I live in far Southeast Texas.

[Dubya]

Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming




I find this Airman's response to the Washington Times it should be printed in all newspapers across America. Especially now when the President is calling up more Reserves and National Guardsman. Get this response out to everyone you know. It's time the Jane Fonda's & Shaun Penn's of this country wise up and support the troops that defend them.

Noel Pritzl
1st Vice President USDR


Military pay article

On 12 Nov, Ms Cindy Williams (from Laverne and Shirley TV show) wrote a piece for the Washington Times, denouncing the pay raise(s) coming servicemembers' way this year -- citing that the stated 13% wage was more than they deserve.

A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to get a bonus for this!

"Ms Williams:

I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GIs earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted ! overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest leave and earnings statement
(LES), I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through Windows' Calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.

I work in the Air Force Network Control Center (AFNCC), where I am part of the team responsible for the administration of a 5,000-host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for Network Technicians in the Washington, D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience with my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year, nor does it pay less than this. No, this job is being offered at $7! 0,000 to $80,000 per annum. I'm sure you can draw the obviou s conclusions.

Also, you tout increases to Basic Allowance for Housing and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (housing and food allowances, respectively) as being a further boon to an already overcompensated force. Again, I'm curious as to where this money has gone, as BAH and BAS were both slashed 15% in the Hill AFB area effective in January 00.

Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you have NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces. Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off AFDC, WIC, and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN, I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make, though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving ! you full "deployment experience."

As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone -- obviously they've been squandering the vast piles of cash the DOD has been giving them.

Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites.

And when you're actually over there, sitting in a DFP (Defensive Fire Position, the modern-day foxhole), shivering against the cold desert night; and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE (meal-ready-to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.

Talk to your loved ones as ofte! n as you are permitted; it won't nearly be long enough or often en ough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your op-ed piece.

But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it. You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment rights and every other right you cherish. On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective nose at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe.

We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies. And you, Ms Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?

Rubbish!

A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC"

IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND SHOW OUR SUPPOR! T OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN. THANK YOU.

THIS LETTER SHOULD BE APPLAUDED BY ANYONE WHO'S EVER SERVED OR HAD A FAMILY MEMBER SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES! THIS YOUNG MAN DESERVES A MEDAL!

[Mama_Bear]

I just now heard the news. A horrible tragedy. I am praying for the families of those we have lost...

[jwfiv]

A sorrowful Good Morning to you all.

This ol' cowboy is grieviin' somethin' awful.

It's a hard world we live in.

May the Lord always bless America.

I'm so sorry...(

[BlessedAmerican]

Such a sad morning. May God surround the families with His love and give them grace for these days of grief and mourning.

On a different and a personal note, which I hope is appropriate here....My nephew has been deployed and I am wanting to send a 'care package.' What restrictions should I be aware of and what types of things would be appropriate? Thank you dear Freeper friends. God bless us one and all.....

[Dr. Zoo]

You can find that information on this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/833874/posts

[MeekOneGOP]

For the Space Shuttle Challenger Crew/passengers...

Click here for “Taps”

Rest in peace...

[MeekOneGOP]

Regarding the Shuttle disaster this morning...

It was so strange. I was sitting here FReepin' away on my computer this morning and I heard a noise. I turned my head sideways and thought to myself, 'what was that?' I didn't think much about it until I heard about this disaster and that it happened over the D/FW area. I was on MSN with my buddy John who lives in Farmers Branch (North Dallas) and he said he heard a noise too. Oh, and my Dad called me a little bit ago (I'm doing his taxes Monday for him), and he heard a loud noise at his place in Quitman, Texas. That's about 72 miles East of my place here near Dallas. He said he went outside to see if something hit his house, it was that loud.

What a horrible and sad thing, huh?

Today is Chinese New Year's. Ming was so sad to hear this news. So sad....

I printed off the picture of the people on the shuttle and showed to her and her son Yujing...

[dutchess]

What a very very sad day. When I first heard they lost contact...it was almost deja vu of the Challanger tragedy...How awful for the family members who were waiting at the landing strip. May the lord give them the strength to deal with their loss...

[dutchess]

Hi Meek. Yes a very sad day... Have not heard about anyone being hurt by the debris which is amazing when you see the size of some of the pieces... God bless the families of the 7 astronauts...

[dutchess]

Blessed. Can we add your newphew to the military prayer list? May the Lord keep him safe...

[dutchess]

Hi Gail. What a very sad to for our country....