I, apparently, made a mistake about how this was to be classified. (God forbid I ever manage to understand the arcane and arbitrary rules that seem to make "General Interest" a ghost town, while putting threads like this in under "News." The rationale is still beyond me, and I doubt I'm the only one who's mystified.)
You, apparently, Victoria, think that anyone who makes such a mistake deserves a "dunce cap" for even asking.
I think this says much more about your lack of civility than it does about me.
At least Snow Bunny ended her posting with a benediction. I'm not sure how I should take it, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, and thank her for it. She at least didn't take issue with someone asking questions, as such, as you seem to be doing.
Oh, by the way: The FEMA security certificate apparently is for the link to citizencorps.gov, and any such certificate that doesn't have a consistent internal name is a hazard to others' secure Web use. It can be used by someone spoofing FEMA's site to get past FReepers' browser security, and to plant ActiveX applets or other pieces of malicious software code that are akin to viruses. If they "accept" the certificate, that is, as I did not.
FEMA is endangering others in not getting someone competent on line to take care of this security hole. Snow Bunny may be endangering others here by using such a link. I hope she will remove it in the future.
Apparently? You made a MISTAKE and you should have the decency to say so rather than playing the victim. You sir came to this thread attacking the Canteen, and the Canteeners. You even complained about the Children's art and letters. You don't like my award? I can always give you a more deserving one.
"nuff said.
However, let me share with you how I feel about the Freeper Canteen, Snow Bunny and those who consistently post to it.
IMHO, the Canteen is one of the most important things going on FR right now. I know that is not a popular opinion among the posting elite. I also realize that there are more than a few criticisms of the Canteen on other forums. You know what? I don't care. Tough!
I would humbly suggest you go read Snow Bunny's profile. I had the distinct pleasure of doing that the other night, as I sat in amazement reading the letters of Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who frequent the Canteen from locations you and I have only read about.
Do you realize what this woman has accomplished? She has more time in Country - by that I mean Vietnam - than many of the VETS who post and lurk here. She's been Shot Down for goodness sake! How many of those on here can say that? This woman and the thread that she, and her cohorts post - and that Jim Robinson Sponsors - is a island of home for men and women far from home. In hostile territory. In constant danger. In trying conditions and NO ONE ELSE IS DOING THIS!
I know this may be hard to grasp: BUT THE FREEPER CANTEEN ISN'T ABOUT YOU!!!
It isn't about any of US. It's a haven. It's a glimpse of the United States of America and her people. If you've never been at sea for 90+ days. If you've only seen the outside of the ship when your work day AND duty shift were done and it wasn't flight ops and you sneak outside for 15 minutes of fresh air along side a couple of dozen other guys doing the same thing, then, you may not understand the Canteen.
If you've never had a Marine 1st Sergeant rip your butt off for screwing up his daily report - when you thought you had done a pretty good job - then you might not understand how comforting it is to see TomKow and ClaraSuzanne banter back and forth like your mom and dad did back in Nebraska.
If you've never had the jumpmaster make you feel like the lowest piece of animal slime on earth because you forgot to check a riser on your buddy's chute - and you didn't mean to, it's just that this is the third para - prep you've done today and it's only about 106 with 150% humidity and we're not jumpin' cuz we're on weather frickin' hold! You might not appreciate how compforting it is to see that little cartoon gif of a scantilly clad lass named Misty that reminds you of the neighbor's oldest daughter in your fifteen minutes of Online time this week.
If you've never been 18 1/2 years old sitting in a foxhole in some God-forsaken little sh****** you had never even read about and YOU WERE the best student in Geography in your highschool and you're in that foxhole because 19 a******* decided to kill about 4,000 of your fellow countrymen than you might not understand how refreshing a little joke, or a discussion about seemingly unimportant crap could be.
The men and women in service of this country deserve to be recognized. They deserve to be lauded. They deserve to be REMEMBERED! What they don't deserve is to looked down upon by a keyboard cowboy who gains self-worth by spouting off at the water cooler known as FreeRepublic about a thread that's for them! Not you!
If "Greybird" indicates your age than I feel sorry that you have gained so much experience and so little compassion. I hurt for you that you need to clarify the rules so precisely that you would malign the efforts of those who are only trying to brighten a day and bring a smile to men and women far from home protecting a society that sometimes forgets their out there.
IMHO, what you need to do is thank Snow Bunny for doing a job you're far too important for. It's obvious you don't have the time or the inclination to do what it is that those on this post do. Neither do I. So, this admonishment is meant for me as well as you.
Thank you Snow Bunny, TomKow6, Clara Suzanne, Victoria, Tonk, AntiJen; coteblanche; southerngrit; HiJinx; FallGuy; JohnHuang2; Mama_Bear; Victoria Delsoul; daisyscarlett; Iowa Granny. I appreciate what it is you and all the others do on this thread. Thank you for posting. Thank you for the girls, the humor, the gifs, the jokes, the banter, the weather reports, the caring, the love, the praise, the rememberances, the history, the stories, the letters, the cartoons, the light-heartedness, the joy, the prayers, the poems, the unit patches, the biographies, the formatting, the different costumes, hairstyles, cleavage lines, the burkhas, the girls, the photos, the kissing booths, the format, Freeper Friday, Themeless Thursday, the sense of home, the shared secrets, the inside jokes, the girls, the guys and all that you share in this little glimpse of America to those who risking all to protect us.
My thank you to those who are on station far from home. Thank you for leaving your families, the sacrifices that you make; the hard work, the sweat, the loss, the pain, the boredom, the nervewracking tediousness, the distance, the broken phone lines, the Dear John/Jane letters, the separation, the loneliness.
Thank you for overcoming those things to provide us with the finest military the world has ever known. I am so proud of you and the legacy that you share and continue.
As for you Greybird. You'll probably never get it and it wasn't worth the time to try except to acknowledge those who create this cyberplace each and everyday. For that impetus I thank you!
Semper Fi!
TS