Sending cards to the Troops

Have you joined the ranks of Soldiers' Angels? If not, go visit Castle Argghhh or The Middle Ground to read about the need for a Surge in Angels! If you are an Angel, or an AnySoldier or BooksforSoldiers volunteer, or you have family or friends deployed, you know that it is sometimes a challenge to find a card that hits the right tone. Luckily for me (and for the troops on my writing list!), the good folks at Hallmark have a line of cards which is perfect for the task. Continued Demand for Cards for Military Brings "America's Heroes" In response to a need for cards to send to Americans serving in the military, Hallmark offers America's Heroes – a line of cards first introduced in 2004 specifically for those in the military and others who protect and serve. When Hallmark learned from Hallmark Gold Crown® retailers that consumers were asking for patriotic and military themed cards throughout the year – not just for Veterans Day – America's Heroes From Hallmark was created to fill that need. Using information from retailers, Hallmark's employee idea submission bank, and the Idea Exchange (on-line consumer groups that provide opinions to Hallmark), artists and writers learned the kinds of cards people wanted to give. America's Heroes From Hallmark features 28 greeting cards. The most popular cards in the group express missing you, thinking of you, thanks and appreciation, and love. The line provides a mix of humorous, light-hearted and serious cards, including religious messages. In addition to being perfect for military personnel, most of the cards also are appropriate for those who serve in other ways, such as police or firefighters. Some cards are meant for anyone who is patriotic or supports those in the military or their families. One such card features a flag and fireworks, and simply says: Congratulations!...You deserve to be celebrated! America's Heroes cards are available in Hallmark Gold Crown stores nationwide, as well as in military outlets at home and abroad. Do I have to send a fancy card each time I write to a troop?? Not at all. But what a nice way to introduce myself to a new contact - someone who doesn't yet know my love for this country, and for the men and women who go out to serve it every day. There's a bigger picture here as well. We need to vote with our checkbooks (figuratively) to let businesses know that they are doing the Right Thing. If we don't generate sales for these beautiful cards, then Hallmark will do the normal business thing, and remove them from the shelves. So make sure to check for them in your local Hallmark store, and if they aren't in view - ask for them. Let's send the right message to Hallmark - and to our men and women in uniform!

What paper do You read?

I was exploring the Ejectia blogroll today (so many new blogs, so little time), and found myself visiting Ready, Fire, Aim, Apologize. This Guide to US Newspapers is probably old news, but it's the first I've seen it, and I had to share ... 1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country. 2. The New York Times is read by people who think they run the country. 3. The Washington Post is read by people who think they should run the country. 4. USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don’t really understand the Washington Post. They do, however like the smog statistics shown in pie charts. 5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn’t mind running the country, if they could spare the time, and if they didn’t have to leave L.A. to do it. 6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country. 7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren’t too sure who’s running the country, and don’t really care as long as they can get a seat on the train. 8. The New York Post is read by people who don’t care who’s running the country either, as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated. 9. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren’t sure there is a country, or that anyone is running it; but whoever it is, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority, feministic atheist dwarfs, who also happen to be illegal aliens from ANY country or galaxy as long as they are democrats. 10. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country, but need the baseball scores.

Give the mission time

As John of Argghhh points out, the troops are in Iraq and Gen. Petraeus is now fully implementing the plan for which the military deployments 'surged'. So it must be time for our short-sighted, instant-gratification driven culture to cry 'Failure'. How about we try something new? Let's allow the troops to actually have some space while they try to, ya know, perform the mission. Keep reporting on the actions in the Middle East, just don't make every IED explosion or terrorist who escapes into proof that 'the Surge is failing', for heaven's sake! As Eric of BlackTygrrrr says - Unless your name is General David Petraeus, your opinion on the war is irrelevant.