Monday, February 2, 2009

England, MY England! Brrrrrr!

Scots Guardsmen trudge through the snow outside the Foreign Office

(you can see more pictures at the Evening Standard here.)

London's buses didn't escape as the snow accomplished what even the Blitz had failed to do - brought the network to a halt

UK hit by worst snow for 18 years

Thousands of people were left stranded as the heaviest snowfall to hit the UK in 18 years swept across the country, causing travel chaos and closing thousands of schools.

Air, rail and road services were all severely disrupted as Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the authorities were doing "everything in our power" to ensure the resumption of key transport links.

An army of snow ploughs and gritters were working round-the-clock to clear roads as much of the UK was blanketed in snow.

Major airports closed runways and all British Airways flights from Heathrow Airport were cancelled until 5pm, as were all bus services in London and dozens of trains during the morning rush hour.

On the London Underground, 10 of the 11 lines were either completely or partly suspended as the "quantity of snowfall" disrupted services, a Transport for London spokesman said...


Brrrrrrr! I don't remember such snowfalls from my years in London. I am thinking that Gordon Brown may be breathing a sigh of relief as THIS takes over the headlines, rather than the foreign workers being shipped in to take jobs away from the Brits. Bit hot under the collar there, Gordon? But that's another story for another day. Meanwhile, go read the rest of this freakish weather story here.

Update: Checking the BBC for weather stories, I find this gem out of Wales( I have an uncle there, just to give a little-known BratFact) :

Weather forecaster Malcolm Weatherall of the Met Office said that up to 10cm (4in) of snowfall was expected in parts of Wales in the next two days.

"The cold weather will continue right through the night, but we not sure exactly where it will fall."

Warm clothes

Mr Weatherall said people going out should check the forecast and road conditions beforehand.

"Make sure you have plenty of warm clothes and footwear in your car," he said.

Snow was causing hazardous driving conditions on the A48 at Carmarthen. Drivers are being urged to be careful.

There was some disruption on the A55 in the north Wales and also to train services from south Wales to London....(here)

Okay, I did laugh at that one. Why? you ask? Because a weatherman with the name "Weatherall' harkens back to the olden days (even before I was born.lol) when British surnames reflected the trade of a person. See? You learned something new today!! All part of the BratFact service..

Monday Morning Madness!


As part of the Brat full service blog, I cruise the internet for interesting snippets, so you don't have to! Today, I come across a gem that almost defies belief. Really. Over at Yankeemom's I found a piece that has me shaking my head at how YOUR American tax dollars are being spent. Read on:

Heaven Help Us ~

Rantville Reborn (Via Instapundit):

look dumber

Excerpt From State Department Daily Press Briefing

Robert Wood/Acting Spokesman

January 29, 2009

QUESTION: About a month or two ago, there was an IG report that warned that Blackwater was likely going to lose its license to operate in Iraq. That has now happened. Considering that you guys have been aware of this impending decision for some time, I presume that contingency plans have been made. What are those? What are you going to do to protect your people?

MR. WOOD: Well, let me just say, first off, you know, contingency plans are obviously being looked at, but I think it was on January 23rd when the Ministry of Interior informed the Embassy in Baghdad that Blackwater’s applications for an operating license was not going to be approved. And so we’re going to encourage, of course, contractors working for us to comply with Iraqi law. We’re right now looking at the implications of this decision by the Iraqis for us. But let me just make clear that we will do everything necessary to make sure that our personnel have the security that they need.

QUESTION: Well, what do you mean you’re looking at the implications? Isn’t the implication that they can’t work there anymore and that you’re going to lose your main contractor?

MR. WOOD: Well, again, we’re looking at, you know, the decision and we’re going to study and see what the implications will be, and then we’ll go forward....


What is over there boggles my mind. Go read the rest here. Then tell me about the *warm and fuzzies* you get reading it. Oh, never mind. Heaven help us, indeed!

Pizza Party This Tuesday for IDF Soldiers!

From Israel National News comes this. Okay, the copy and paste is weird (lol,) but you CAN contribute by going to their website here. :

Israel National News

No such thing as a free lunch...


BUT, tomorrow there IS a free breakfast at Denny's!

Check it out, here.

H/T Vanessa

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Free Flowers For Troops

From CJ of A Soldiers Perspective:

ProFlowers.com and eMailOurMilitary.com have teamed up with me for an awesome offer. They want to thank our troops for the tremendous work they do on a daily basis and have come to me and a select few other milbloggers for help getting this out. They don’t want big productions, just to say thanks.


To say thanks, Proflowers.com has given me FIVE free $70 gift certificates to give away as I see fit. So, here’s how I’m going to work it. If you know a Soldier or Spouse that deserves free flowers, send me an essay on why you think that person deserves to win one of these e-gift certificates. Now, I know ALL military family members deserve free flowers, but I can’t give them to everyone. The essay should no more than 250 words. From all the essays I receive, I will post the top ten (without names) for voting. In addition to this offer, I will have a special gift for EVERY entry I receive. Send all entries to cj@soldiersperspective.us

Remember, that Proflowers.com is more than just flowers. The winning troops can use the e-gift certificates to purchase flowers, fruit baskets, spa treatments and the many other items that the website offers. So, this is a great gift for both males and females. I will send the winners a gift code that can be applied immediately and in time for a Valentine’s Day delivery.

Feel free to send this to as many people as you feel like and post on your blogs as well. The cut-off for submissions is 6 Feb, with winners being announced on 9 Feb - in time for Valentine’s Day...(here)

Every Day Heroes

Meet Stephen Cochrane:

Click photo for screen-resolution image
Country singer-songwriter Stephen Cochran is a former Marine and a wounded veteran. His back was broken in an ambush while he was serving in Afghanistan in July 2004. Now, with his music career on track, Cochran also works to promote programs that help to meet the needs of wounded veterans. Courtesy photo



Face of Defense: Country Music Star Earned Stripes in Iraq, Afghanistan

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2009 - Stephen Cochran was a normal 19-year-old with a dream of making music his life when the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks led him down an unplanned path to the Marine Corps.

"I dropped out of college. I walked away from a record deal," he said. "I was engaged."
He didn't discuss his decision with his parents, or even his then-fiancée, who broke the engagement when he announced he'd enlisted. "It was really the first grown-up decision I'd ever made," Cochran said.

The musician, born in Pikeville, Ky., grew up in Nashville's songwriting and recording community. There, he learned the art of songwriting from his father. He made his musical debut on the radio at age 3 and had his first band by 15....


The company offered a promissory note, but then Sept. 11 happened.

"It was just so horrific," he said. "It's like I'd been called. I'd never been pulled so hard to do something."

It may have been the audacity of the attacks, but more likely it was his family's long history of military service that drew him to enlist, he said. Both grandfathers served, as did an uncle and several other relatives.

"I've always been raised very, very patriotic. It's just what I had to do," Cochran said of his decision to join the Marines.

It wasn't long before he found himself in Kuwait with the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, waiting to cross into Iraq. He was 20.

Once the unit crossed the Kuwait-Iraq border, contact with the enemy was a daily occurrence, Cochran said. When the unit's tour was finished, the Marines had fought their way to Tikrit and back.

"We brought every man home with us," he said. "They said we did 111 missions. That was more missions than any other unit had done since Vietnam."

But daily battle takes its toll. Cochran said he thinks every Marine in his section showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Four months later, however, the entire battalion volunteered to go to Afghanistan with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. They figured nothing could be worse than Iraq. ...


There is more, and I found this story at Little Drops.....Into the Pool of Life. Not only is the rest of this hero interview there, but also Little Drops take on Appalachian boys who become men. Go read it ALL, here.

And....courtesy of my # 2 fan:




Country Music Singer Stephen Cochran, Live Concert and Music Vid - The best video clips are right here

Music and Me





Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide...yes

This song has given me courage in my darkest nights of the soul. Always, by Divine Timing, this song finds me again, just when I need it.

Listen... Can you hear me singing - LOUDLY!!! :)