USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Ancient Greek Military:Mercenaries ~ December 16, 2003

Warfare in Hellas ^ | december 16, 2003 | LaDivaLoca

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[Radix]

I want to know why the prop looks like it isn't moving. is it just good photography?

You know, I didn't notice that myself. It is probably just a very fast shutter speed image. I have not done any real dabbling in photography in a long time. I do have a relatively new digital camera which I absolutely treasure. I only use it as anyone might use with an old fashioned Kodak Instamatic, or other such antique.

The new Digital Cameras are absolutely amazing, but I have never once tampered with F-stop, arperture, or any of the features and settings of my toy. The images that we post from different sites are definitely Digital. I mean by that, not scanned. Some of the photgraphers are clearly professionals, and I love to view their work.

I am going to ask that Valerie Lady if she can make the subject more clear. She is a wonderful FReeper photgrapher. You really have caught my interest on the matter. Perhaps I'll actually read the instructions which came with the fancy camera, soon.

I hope that you don't mind the ping to you here Ma'am!

-Radix

[Diva Betsy Ross]

The real blessing in life are being able to reach out and touch someone. To have the ability to make a difference in someone's day ,is a gift from God.

I have been blessed enough for five people, with these boys and this life. I joke about them, but they are so precious to me.

I count my blessings everyday that I have such well behaved, bright, enthusiastic, caring kids.

Everyday I pray for our troops and vets.

There is no average or inferior solider to me.... every man and woman who has stood up for this country has allowed me the gifts of freedom to raise my children as I see fit.

I will never forget who it is that allows me those freedoms.

It is the solider.

[radu]

Good evening to all at the Canteen!!

Howdy troops, veterans, and military family members!
THANK YOU for serving the USA!

[Soaring Feather]

Hiya radu!!!

*Chuckle*!!!! How be ya??? Besides red faced! ROTFLMAO!

[Fawnn]

tomkow6!!! #50!!!
tomkow6!!! #100!!!
Conspiracy Guy!!! #150!!!

[radu]

How be ya??? Besides red faced! ROTFLMAO!

Go ahead....beat me. LMAO!!
I be gettin' ready to get drenched. It's pouring buckets outside and I have to go out in that mess. The car club we belong to delivers Christmas food baskets to some needy families every year and tonight is the night. I need to head out now but will be back here later.

Shooooo....from the sound of the rain on the roof, I need a BOAT!! LOL!!

[Soaring Feather]

Be careful out there. It was warm here today. A lot of the snow melted and we are due for rain as well, but then it will turn cold and snow. :-(

See you later, I have to go out tonight too.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

From the men in the Military and the Canteen

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Re post 168
3 rd pic and caption.

LOL!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Congratulations to you and your boys for visiting our veterans and brightening their day. Thank you from a whole lot of us for doing this. Kids can sure surprise us at times. They just seem to "know". Good job, Mom.

[Hondo1952]

People like you are what makes it all worthwhile. You too are serving by what you do every day. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your visit. Just as I appreciate all you have done for me personally. Once again, I'm glad you finally found your way to the Canteen.

[StarCMC]

Hey Hondo - how be ya today?

[Kathy in Alaska]

4th ID Troops Express Jubilation Over Saddam's Capture

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2003 -- It was the height of irony.Soldiers from the Army's 4th Infantry Division were huddled around television screens in Saddam Hussein's opulent palace in Tikrit, Iraq, watching the Dec. 14 announcement that a task force from their division had pulled the former dictator from a hole in the ground beneath a hovel just nine miles away.

As the news broke, cheers and applause thundered through the marble corridors of the palace, now headquarters for the Fort Hood, Texas-based division.

"It was an unbelievable feeling," said Sgt. Billy Atkinson from the 124th Signal Battalion "I couldn't believe it until I actually saw it on the news."

Most of the troops watching coalition and military leaders describe Saddam's capture had little or no advance warning of the news. But many said they knew that something was in the air — something so major that it warranted a communications blackout at the headquarters preceding the announcement: no telephone access, no TV, no e-mail.

"Nobody knew for sure what was up, but we knew it was big," said Sgt. William Doyle from the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit based at Staten Island, N.Y. "We figured that we'd either gotten him (Saddam Hussein) or (Izzat Ilbrahim) al-Duri (vice chairman of Saddam's Revolutionary Command Council)."

"We had no official word," agreed Sgt. 1st Class Marshall Meyer from headquarters and headquarters battery, division artillery. "But we had an inkling that something very big was going on."

Capt. Duane Patin from the 2nd Infantry Division's Stryker Brigade, which is attached to the 4th Infantry Division, learned of Saddam's capture shortly after it occurred. "It was simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time," he said.

But keeping the news a secret until Saddam's identify was confirmed and the announcement made "was really tough," Patin said. "It took about 18 hours until the official announcement came out."

In the division's intelligence office, 1st Lt. Natasha Howard, too, learned of the capture before the press conference. "At first I didn't believe it," she said. "The first thing that went through my mind was, 'Is this a double, or is it really him?'"

When Howard's office got confirmation that the former dictator had, in fact, been taken into custody, Howard said she and her coworkers resisted the almost irresistible urge to celebrate — or even talk about it among themselves. "But it was a really happy atmosphere," she said. "People had smiles on their faces and were even whistling."

Perhaps the greatest feeling, she said, was learning that when Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III announced in his press conference, "We got him," the "we" he referred to was her own division.

"Everyone was happy that it was us — the 4th ID — that actually captured him," she said. "That made everyone feel really great."

Howard said most 4th Infantry Division soldiers haven't yet descended from exuberance over the capture, and the role their fellow soldiers played in it. "People are still excited," she said. "The initial excitement hasn't dropped yet."

When Howard spoke to her 8-year-old son the day of the announcement, he told her that he had good news and bad news. "The bad news is that you're not home yet," he said from his grandmother's home in New York. "But the good news is that you guys caught Saddam," he said, asking, "Did you know that?"

The rest of the story

[Hondo1952]

Hey there Miss Star. I be marvelous. How you be?

[StarCMC]

- Memo From Santa To Certain Southern States
Memo from SANTA

I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer serve the States of Georgia, Florida , Virginia , North and South Carolina , Tennessee , Mississippi , Texas , and Arkansas on Christmas Eve.

Due to the overwhelming current population of the earth, my contract was renegotiated by North American Fairies and Elves Local 209. As part of the new and better contract, I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies so keep that in mind.

However, I'm certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement, who happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Claus.
His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us.

Differences such as:

1. There is no danger of the Grinch stealing your presents from Bubba Claus.
He has a gun rack on his sleigh and a bumper sticker that reads: "These toys insured by Smith and Wesson."

2. Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that children leave an RC cola and pork rinds [or a moon pie] on the fireplace. And Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe. He dips a little snuff though, so please have an empty spit can handy.

3. Bubba Claus' sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flyin' coon dogs instead of reindeer. I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer one time, and Blitzen's head now overlooks Bubba's fireplace.

4. You won't hear "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner, and Blitzen..." when Bubba Claus arrives. Instead, you'll hear, "On Earnhardt, on Andretti, on Elliott and Petty."

5. "Ho, Ho, Ho" has been replaced by "Yee Haw" And you also are likely to hear Bubba's elves respond, "I her'd dat"

6. As required by Southern highway laws, Bubba Claus' sleigh does have a Yosemite Sam safety triangle on the back with the words "Back Off."

7. The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street"
and "It's a Wonderful Life" will not be shown in your negotiated viewing area.
Instead, you'll see "Boss Hogg Saves Christmas" and "Smokey and the Bandit IV" featuring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus and dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other.

And Finally,

8. Bubba Claus doesn't wear a belt. If I were you, I'd make sure you, the wife, and the kids turn the other way when he bends over to put presents under the tree.


Sincerely Yours,

Santa Claus

[StarCMC]

- Top Ten Reasons Saddam Surrendered Without a Fight!
Top Ten Reasons Saddam Surrendered Without a Fight!

10. MOLD IN SPIDER HOLE GIVING HIM TERRIBLE SINUS HEADACHE.

9. COALITION PROMISED TO LET HIM WATCH THE BEARS-VIKINGS GAME FROM HIS CELL.

8. HEARD A RUMOR THAT ALL WAS FORGIVEN.

7. RAN OUT OF CARB BLOCKER. AFRAID OF GAINING ALL THAT WEIGHT BACK.

6. TWO WORDS: INDOOR PLUMBING

5. WAS TOLD HIS SENTENCE WOULD BE COMMUTED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE IF HOWARD DEAN WINS IN 2004

4. AFRAID COALITION FORCES WOULD DIG UP HIS FAVORITE MASS GRAVE

3. CAN'T GET RUSH LIMBAUGH FROM TIKRIT

2. "F**k GEORGE W. BUSH!!! I'M STARVING."

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON SADAAM HUSSEIN GAVE UP WITHOUT A FIGHT:

HOPING TO MEET JIMMY CARTER!!!!!!!

[Hondo1952]

Oh Star you bad.

[Hondo1952]

Oh Star you bad.

[StarCMC]

I'm doing great tonight -- Madame Stinky Pants is due to awaken from her nap anytime, but I'm on until she does. So what was the story with your boys -- did you get to the bottom of it? I was LOL when I read your post!