Photos

What happens when two of my friends with a good eye buy nice cameras? The following!
Shuffleboard is intense

Army/Navy Baseball

I went to my first Army/Navy baseball game today, the first in a four game series. I wont bore you with the details, but it was a lot of fun. Army won in extra innings 6-3. It's always good when Army wins...and even better when Navy loses.

Dahlia Lithwick...

Dahlia Lithwick (who I saw from a few feet away when I was at the Supreme Court on Wednesday) is one of the best writers Slate has. She writes about legal issues and politics, and her coverage of the Supreme Court is outstanding. She has the ability to take complex issues, break them down so they are understandable to the laymen (without making the legal issues so simple they're useless), and does so all while making it funny. Here are some of my favorite articles of hers, and a quote from her coverage of the Alberto Gonzales hearings:

One of the finest moments comes when Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., busts out a big, big chart. Which happens after almost everyone has gone home. The chart compares the Clinton protocol for appropriate contacts between the White House and the DoJ on pending criminal cases with the Bush protocol. According to Whitehouse, the Clinton protocol authorized just four folks at the White House to chat with three folks at Justice. The chart had four boxes talking to three boxes. Out comes the Bush protocol, and now 417 different people at the White House have contacts about pending criminal cases with 30-some people at Justice. You can just see zillions of small boxes nattering back and forth. It seems that just about everyone in the White House, including the guys in the mailroom, had a vote on ongoing criminal matters.

Here are some of her other articles that I've enjoyed reading:

Justice Breyer Finds Anna Nicole Hot

A Questionairre Harriet Miers Can Answer

SCOTUS-gate

Thou Shalt Not Pray

Peanut Gallery...

I was just reading some articles online and for some reason decided to read the comments. What type of people feel the need to rant and rave online at people they don't know, I can't imagine, but, I thought I would share some of the more interesting posts. For the record, these comments were all left on this article which is not nearly as long as half the posts in response to it.

This one is an attempt to logically blame Bill Clinton for...everything.

It is difficult to prove exactly what the impact was of Mr. Clinton's lie regarding Ms. Lewinsky, but I would like to make an educated guess.

1. As a result of his lie, both he and the country were greatly distracted for many months. During these months, 9/11 was being planned.

2. As a result of his lie, Mr. Gore could not effectively use Mr Clinton in his presidential campaign, thus eliminating a proven vote winner and money earner. The result, Mr. Gore loses the election, and Mr. Bush becomes president.

3. 9/11 happens, in spite of warnings and intelligence that "something" was being planned.

4. Kyoto isn't ratified.

5. Wars are fought in Afghanistan and Iraq.

6. Tens of thousands die.

7. America is further divided.

It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that if Mr. Clinton had kept his marriage vows, or at the least not lied about it, the country, and the world, would be a much different place.One "little" lie, potentially makes all the difference.

This one speaks for itself:

Hilliray had pre knowledge of George W. Bush's ordered Air Force Drone attcak on the twin towers. Making her an accessory to the fact.

While Sarin Gas killed those on Board Flights, 11, 77, 175 and 93. The United Airlines Maintenace Logs have not been released.

Mass Murder prevents Hilliray from being president.In the end a president not associated with the Bilderberg Group or Skull & Bones is needed.

Anyway, I found the comments funny in how wacky and outlandish they were.

Jackson Pollock...

I don't know why, but I absolutely love this painting. I set it as my desktop. Before this was a self-portrait by some guy I don't know, and I don't know why I liked it. Funny thing about art I guess...sometimes, it's good and it draws you in, and you don't know why. There are these sculptures in front of the Library of Congress. I took one picture of them, which didn't do them justice, but they caught my eye. I could have sat there for hours looking at them. Likewise, this picture...it just draws me in, and I don't know why...my eye follows one color, then the next...then I see the whole thing...and then I'm drawn to one small section again. It's beautiful!

Firstie Club...

This is Kevin. He's one of the greatest guys ever, and not just because he says this:

Here is a picture of the two of us being super-cool...it's what we do.

One of the nicest things ever said to me:

I am going to bed more flattered than ever before because the person I see the most in has seen something in me.

Alanis covering Fergie...

This is too funny...and My Humps never sounded so good.

family and family...

My godmother came out to West Point today. This is the second time that someone from my family has been able to visit me. The second time was my mother on ring weekend. It was a good time for her to visit--the weather was nice, the tour group was good and the annual cemetery tour for the sophomore class was today also.

The cemetery tour is always moving. They have cadets and officers who knew some of the people who are buried there talk about them, unless they are historical graves, then it is history professors. Last year, there was a presentation at the site of CPT Eric Paliwona's grave. Two of his classmates, both officers who were married, introduced us and began simply with, "We're here to introduce you to our friend, Eric." They told stories of him as a cadet, as an officer, and in combat. It was incredibly moving.

Today, there was a Lieutenant Colonel whose father had died after Vietnam. He told us stories of his father's cadet career, and his army career. Around him were his children and two cadets. He went on to tell his fathers career and ultimately, death, and pointed to the cadet on his right--his cousin, his father's nephew, and on the left, a cadet who won an award in his father's name. He then said that he was only five when his father died. He told the cadets to look around them, and explained that the only reason he knows what he does about his father is because his father's classmates took it upon themselves to find him and tell him the stories. That they, his classmates, were his family too, and had made him their own son.

Another site was for a Lieutenant Colonel who had died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. His wife presented. This is the second time I'd heard her talk and seen her photos. Afterwards, I saluted and thanked her, explaining that her openness meant a lot to us, as cadets, and to the school. I was visibly choked up I think. She teared up and told me it meant a lot to her to present, and that when someone dies, you feel a need to ensure their memory is kept alive. By sharing his experience with the current cadets, she feels she can do that.

The desire to share something to make it real is something I didn't realize until tonight. I have been in the West Point system for five years now, called myself a cadet and worn the uniform for four. Until I saw my mother the first time when I was in uniform, and walked the halls with her...it didn't feel real to me. Until I shared it with her, it didn't mean as much.

Likewise, today...when I was finally able to introduce my Godmother to my friends, and show her what it is I've been dedicating myself to for so long, it wasn't real. But, tonight, she was able to see not just my friends, or my classes, or the buildings, but she was able to really experience what "the long grey line" is. She went on the cemetery tour with us and, I think, has an understanding of what this place means more than any other person I know who is not a cadet. And I can't think of anyone I'd want to share that with more.