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I was planning on a lighthearted blurb but then I saw what was happening at Fort Hood. Good God. So much tragedy.
I'm looking for the little bits of light: A veteran won his VA claim over his exposure to Agent Orange; the Department of Defense has gone a day and a half without posting a fatality; one woman is trying to bring back gleaning as a way to help feed the hungry. And still the shots are ringing out at Fort Hood.
Hope and sadness. It's that time of year where I am, and I've spent the last few weeks watching the summer green leaves go gold and red and fallen. The corn fields are down to stubble. Canada geese have become a common sight in the evening sky. The pigs, so carefully raised this summer, have gone to the butcher and there's been morning frost on the last of the squash. It's the season of passages, and though I am sad to see the light and warmth go, I appreciate that everything around me changes. There's no season-denying heat here, or perpetual summer; the land is lush and then shows its bones. Bare trees, snow-covered fields, then the red haze on the mountains as trees begin to show their buds. And it all starts again.
Twelve dead now! At the hands of a psychiatrist? Oh, dear God. Fort Hood is hurting. I can only hope that their season of mourning and shock passes and that calm and peace will come again. If you are in a position to show kindness to these folks, please, please do. An ear. A phone call. Make sure your people know they have a lifeline, and that there's light out there.
second gen's diary, "My Daughter is at Fort Hood," includes this information about how local Kossacks can help:
Edit: h/t anotherdemocrat Here's the Red Cross Safe and Well List for anyone who is looking for status of loved ones.
If you can donate blood, it is badly needed!
h/t Brooke in Seattle
If you are in Texas, Scott & White in Temple, the hospitals in Killeen, and Seton Medical Center in Austin are accepting donations, as are any blood donation center.
Any help is deeply appreciated.
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h/t .lirtydies
List of places to donate at Burnt Orange Report
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Tonight's Nominees for Top Comments
From noweasels:
The diary not so much...But the diarist's response to Clem Yeobright's comment (just read the subject lines) . . . priceless.
From Youffraita:
This thread, begun by Edward Spurlock in CatM's diary about offensive language, is just too funny.
From Cedwyn:
A threat to monitors everywhere.
From JanF:
This example of the Overton Window by Orinoco is brilliant. From today's Morning Feature.
From sardonyx:
Orbital Mind Control Lasers writes on the progress that's been made toward marriage equality. While you're there, be sure to catch the last sentence of soccergrandmom's reply.
In AKMask's Laser-enhanced fruit (and I'm serious, too!), newfie thinks this is a cool thing, but knows what would have been cooler.
TooFolkGR talks about connections and potential in politics.
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Virgomusic was kind enough to provide tonight's Top Mojo. Many thanks!
Top 30 Comments excluding tip jars, first comments and stuff:
1) {{hugs}} to you and the thousands of other by KateCrashes — 115
2) You are awesome. by Pris from LA — 114
3) Leave it. by tr GW — 114
4) And a massage for you...tough day as well by SallyCat — 112
5) As it should be, this is disgusting, and by Patric Juillet — 105
6) Let me be the first then by Adept2u — 94
7) Read this please (NYT editorial, and more)... by bobswern — 88
8) When you cut/pasted the small by Lisa Lockwood — 88
9) That sign is abhorant. by Hillbilly Dem — 86
10) Yes, and it's not oil, it's natural gas, by hannah — 86
11) Research and Reporting are beautiful things. by voracious — 86
12) You seem bitter. by edwardssl — 85
13) You can't hear us cheering when by KateCrashes — 84
14) Might as well get these out of the way..... by Inland — 82
15) When Milton Friedman won a Nobel Prize by FishOutofWater — 82
16) Please don't by gchaucer2 — 82
17) When you start by gchaucer2 — 81
18) . by noweasels — 79
19) You should read this excellent diary by heart of a quince — 78
20) What Part of Anything the US Does by Pluto — 75
21) As a Jew and as an American... by Below the Beltway — 74
22) This protest will do nothing. by KingofSpades — 74
23) That is one ugly man! by TomP — 74
24) Amen. My reaction last night, to the news: by BFSkinner — 73
25) This is disgusting by Shane Hensinger — 73
26) a taste of ugliness by Julie Gulden — 73
27) Every Republican in Congress own this rally by Dartagnan — 73
28) Butcha are, Blanche -- ya are by Dallasdoc — 72
29) Hmmmm. Thoughtful topic, Crissie! by kktlaw — 71
30) This is not going to end well n/t by Dump Terry McAuliffe — 70
31) What's insane about it? by Neferhuri — 70
Top 30 Comments with no exclusions, aka the Tip Jar list :-):
1) Tip Jar by Alan Grayson — 533
2) Tip Jar by gsadamb — 495
3) No tips, just good thoughts for those who need by second gen — 423
4) Tip Jar by JohnGaramendiCA — 318
5) Tip Jar by Jerome a Paris — 316
6) Tip Jar by MeMeMeMeMe — 314
7) Tip Jar by James Paton Walsh — 301
8) Tip Jar by Ojibwa — 290
9) Tip Jar by TomP — 290
10) Tip Jar by Maimonides — 270
11) Tip Jar by droogie6655321 — 260
12) Tip Jar by ben masel — 243
13) Tip Jar by calchala — 225
14) Tip Jar by Meteor Blades — 215
15) Tip Jar by Texdude — 209
16) Tips for trying ... by NCrissieB — 181
17) Tips? Flames? by Something the Dog Said — 167
18) Tip Jar by Congressman Eric Massa — 162
19) Tip Jar by testvet6778 — 150
20) Tip Jar by xofferson — 146
21) That, next to the flag? by droogie6655321 — 128
22) Tip Jar by DennisKucinich — 118
23) {{hugs}} to you and the thousands of other by KateCrashes — 115
24) You are awesome. by Pris from LA — 114
25) Leave it. by tr GW — 114
26) Tip Jar by the karina — 113
27) And a massage for you...tough day as well by SallyCat — 112
28) As it should be, this is disgusting, and by Patric Juillet — 105
29) Tip Jar by Paleo — 102
30) Tip Jar by AtomikNY — 96