Combing special operations and working K9’s is the marrying of two things I’m most passionate about. In this episode I sit down with Benito Olsen, former K9 handler attached to SEAL team 6 for numerous combat deployments and remarkably harrowing stories of missions he’s conducted with dogs overseas. From being blown up with his K9, to his K9 having a terrorist by the throat, these stories are gripping, raw, and incredible. The emotions brought during this episode managed to overcome us both and I’m very honored to bring this showcasing of how important the dogs are to our special operations troops.
In case you’re confused: This means that wounded warriors with Purple Hearts can transfer their benefits, regardless of their years of total service or ability to complete more obligatory service.
“Secretary Mattis has been clear – we must recognize the sacrifices these service members have made,” said Stephanie Miller, director of accessions policy within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. “This policy reflects our continuing commitment to wounded warriors and their families.”
All other laws and DoD policies concerning the transferability of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits – including the changes from July – remain in effect.
“If you can’t pass the Army Combat Fitness Test, then there’s probably not a spot for you in the Army,” said Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper.
By Meredith Mathis: On Being Raped By My Commander
Vulnerability is terrifying. Sharing our dark struggles leaves us wide open for the masses to throw stones at our strength, or perceived lack of it. But something truly miraculous happens when we allow others the honor of hearing our stories, even the parts we don’t quite understand. Our shame cannot survive being talked about – it dies the moment we share it. And our authenticity frees others to own their stories, too. And that’s where the healing happens.
Meredith Mathis is a medically retired Army logistics-turned-Public Affairs Officer, having served in OEF in 2009-2010 and 2012. She recently published a book titled The Mountain Still Stands: A Young Soldier’s Battle for Peace in a Time of War. Meredith lives with her husband Tyler and owns a photo restoration business.
Today's selection-- from Mendeleyev's Dream by Paul Strathern. Sir Isaac Newton’s adventures in alchemy: “By the time Boyle died in 1691, at the age of sixty-four, Newton had already published the Principia, his revolutionary work on gravity. This produced the first comprehensive explanation of how the mechanical-corpuscular world worked, the forces chat held it together. […]
Today's selection-- from Banking on Slavery by Sharon Ann Murphy. Evidence of the use of slaves as loan collateral in 1810 by the country’s national bank, its de facto central bank, the Bank of the United States: "Due to the limited extant documents from these earliest commercial banks, the most ample evidence of banks securing […]
Surprise, Kill, Vanish: The Secret History of CIA Paramilitary Armies, Operators, and Assassins The author uses recently declassified material and extensive interviews to delve into the history of our country’s covert operations. Having served in Special Operations I knew a lot of this history and some of the people involved. Nevertheless there were surprises. Behind […]
Our students have compiled research in three topic areas. Below are the links to their research tables that can be downloaded for searching and viewing. For a state-by-state review of Mandatory Reporter laws, click here. For a state-by-state review of Background Check laws, click...
Our students spend the summer working on the research project of the LDICP. Through their extensive research, massive databases of information on state statutes regarding the abuse of children have been created and will be posted here as their work is finalized. Here are...
on Live Write Thrive: Our goal as writers is to get readers to go on an emotional journey. Readers read to care, to feel, to experience. We need to ask: How can I get readers to go on this journey as played out in my story, especially since each reader’s journey is unique, different from […]
I know this will ruffle some feathers. I’ve seen many people say that they don’t care about the opinions of others. They write and publish for themselves. Doesn’t matter what any says. These authors don’t care. At least, that’s how … Continue reading →
Delighted to share the news of the latest release by John Dolan…the psychological thriller set in the Philippines...For the Hell of It…On pre-order and offer for November 9th. About the book “Apologies for all the deaths. But in my defense, … Continue reading →
Late one evening a man walked into a dentist’s office. “Can I help you?” asked the dentist. “I keep thinking I’m a moth,” said the man. “You think you’re a moth?” said the dentist. “You don’t need a dentist. You need a psychiatrist!” “I know,” said the man. “So why did you come here?” asked […]
Myself, along with my 4 daughters, daughter-in-law, and one of my granddaughters formed a book club in January to see who could read the most books in 2024. We stay in touch with a group text every day and Goodreads. As an incentive we all agreed to put $1 a week into a kitty and […]
It’s time for the 14th Annual Positively Present Gratitude Challenge! I love focusing on gratitude throughout November, and doing this Challenge is one of my year’s highlights. If you’re new… The post The 14th Annual Gratitude Challenge! appeared first on Positively Present - Dani DiPirro.
Are you already running behind this morning? If so, you're just one of millions because the dreaded autumnal time change took place at 2AM this morning.Personally, I hate DST and wish they'd go back to regular time. In today's world, there's really no reason to have it in today's world. Although people blame credit Benjamin […]
Hello everyone, my name is Stewart F. Brennan. I’m the creator of this, the World United Music blog. Over the past two decades, I’ve juggled my time and energy populating five different blogs containing alternative news, music, economics, political activism and creative passions while also supporting hundreds of artists, activists and alternative news journalists. I […]
All-American patriot, artist, designer, entrepreneur, flower arranger, chef, and joyful servant, Sunny Lou Starling, was carried on the wings of angels to the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, January 6, 2023. She once said her mission was to “Gather and feed all you can, as often as you can, because you never know if […]
WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish, 44-W-4"Failure isn't failure unless you let it be. It's simply a change in direction. Just count your many blessings move on. With God's help, anything is possible!"Deanie Bishop Parrish passed away peacefully in her home in Waco, Texas, on February 24, 2022, just one day shy of her 100th birthday. She met every challenge […]
Editors Note: After posting over five thousand features and twenty five thousand images over the last thirteen years, the time has come to end posting weekly features here on The Old Motor. At this point, the site’s future hasn’t been decided, although it will remain online for the foreseeable future. There may be future updates...
In this weekly series, we ask our readers to tell us the year, make, and model of all of these vehicles along with the location where the image was taken and anything else you find of interest in the photos. You can look back on all the earlier parts of this series here. The photos are via Americar....
New Kindle and Audiobook Releases, Sales and Freebies Are you in our FB Group, Ana’s Attic After Dark? If you use this list, please consider sharing it with friends or on social media! Please check out my October Racap for my October reviews and all the releases. I can’t believe it’s November already. This year […]
November 4, 1924. "Election night crowd at Washington Star." Two more "election screens," and an election bullhorn. 8x10 inch glass negative, National Photo Company. View full size.
November 1920. Washington, D.C. "Washington Herald election screen." The screen being white sheets hung from this frame on election night, with wire-service voting results projected onto them from a stereopticon -- a practice dating back at least to the 1890s in cities across the United States, and which gradually died out with the advent of […]
The Philadelphia Pipe Bending Company, founded in 1880, is still in operation today. Here we see two workers standing inside some large coils with advertising signage. 6½ x 8½ inch glass negative. View full size.
In reply to Merry Old Cole: 1919: with all due respect to fellow Shorpy enthusiast T. Water, this beautiful little roadster was in fact a 2-door called the Cole 861 Tuxedo Roadster, which according to a factory ad was "A perfect dream." It has the snappy double-cowl design, "with rear compartment access...provided by a wide […]
Of those accessories that have been mainly linked to stylish menswear garments, the dinner jacket – also known as tuxedo – has due to its cut and use of luxurious … The post The Dinner Jacket: A Timeless Piece of Elegance appeared first on Shopping Kim.
Here’s an old Italian recipe for canning peppers, one of my husband’s favorites. Searching the internet, you’ll come across many variations — all probably good — but here’s a basic recipe to start you on your course. The kids and I canned these using the boiling method, though pressure canners might make the process easier. Not sure how, […]
Microgreens seem to be all the rage these days and for good reason: they are packed with nutrients and easy to grow! The USDA and University of Maryland found that leaves from microgreens had more nutrients than the mature leaves of the same plants. And great flavor. Plus, you don’t need a lot of space […]
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 7, 2024 is: dedication \ded-ih-KAY-shun\ noun Dedication refers to devotion, loyalty, or commitment to a person or cause. It can also refer to a message at the beginning of a book, song, etc., that expresses affection or gratitude for someone, or to a ceremony to mark […]
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. The quickest (BEST!) 25 min dinner. With a nutty garlicky brown butter sauce, crispy sage & toasted pecans! Fall is in full swing and sage brown butter takes all of the glory here. And I really do mean, ALL OF THE GLORY. […]
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. With chicken, wild rice, and butternut squash (or sweet potato!). The coziest autumn soup to warm you up! Autumn is here, the leaves are changing colors to fiery-red, the nights are cooler, and we are having this soup all season long. It’s […]
Welcome back to Daufuskie Island, where every corner tells a story. This island is off the coast of South Carolina and is a 1 hour ferry ride from Hilton Head Island. Today I’m sharing how to make a sweetgrass basket: Materials: Coiled rope or raffia Colored yarn or embroidery thread Large-eye needle Scissors Instructions: Start […]
Welcome to Daufuskie Island, where time slows down and the rhythms of Gullah culture come to life. This inviting getaway off the South Carolina coast is more than an island; it’s a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Gullah people, descendants of West African slaves. These people were brought to work on the […]
Navy officials fired the commander of the service’s San Diego-based ethics and leadership-focused professional schools Wednesday due to a “loss of confidence,” the service said in a release. Capt. Lester Brown, Jr. was relieved of his duties as Navy Leadership and Ethics Command San Diego’s commanding officer. He had assumed command in September 2022. Officials […]
Soldiers and spouses who are trying to leave abusive partners can now get away from dangerous situations faster with the help of immediate funds from an Army-affiliated non-profit. Under a new policy from Army Emergency Relief, which provides financial assistance and loans to soldiers for a variety of emergencies, soldiers and Army spouses can access […]
Amidst rather nice weather, I've been catching up on household chores. I also realized finally and youtube'd some lessons on the correct way to use butt and crimp connectors for low voltage wires. I'd been doing it with the wrong tools and methodology you see; now I have new wire crimpers which should lead to better […]
So many notions, most unrealistic in the end, ran through my feeble brain the last week or so.Substitute the TW200 with an E-Bike? Less moving parts, yes but costs and their performance envelopes just didn't justify costs. Give up taking a motorcycle, whether the T-Dub or Scarlett, the Ural Sidecar Rig, when going camping? Just take […]
Obviously there’s a lot to discuss about the 2024 election results. I’ll offer just the following.None of this is about the merits of either candidate; it’s about the broad dynamics that shaped the outcome. You don’t have to like those dynamics any more than you like any other aspect of reality. But as the saying […]
A friend on Facebook asked me who I’d be voting for in November. For whatever they’re worth, my thoughts:I think reasoning tends to be more interesting and useful than conclusions, and going into my reasoning would take a while. But to try to summarize: I don’t think America has two political parties; I think we […]
Long before we were a sailing family, Alisa and I were a young couple in love with adventuring in Alaska. The opportunity to introduce Eric and Elias to the delights of outdoor living in the Great Land was one of the big bright sides of our return to Alaska. Earlier this winter, the boys and […]
So...this beautiful island is our home. See the barky? The boys just had their spring break. A week off from school and nothing to keep us from buggering off in Galactic. The weather was generally poor - nothing like the pics above for the most part - so we just snuck off to the west […]
Here is a link to a story about my struggle to draw with Parkinson's Disease. the story is from "The Daily Cartoonist" a Web journal concerning the world of professional cartooning. It was occasioned by the release of the documentary "Matters of Mind, My Parkinson's" which follows three families and their efforts to cope […]
Here is a short trailer for the PBS documentary "Matter of Mind, My Parkinson's. It follows the attempts of three people and their families to cope with the progressive, disabling and incurable neurological condition. The film won the Audience Choice Award for documentaries at the recent San Francisco Film Festival, possibly due to a scenery-chewing […]
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Katie Pesznecker shares her favorite Palm Springs haunts with us. What’s more, she just “leveled up”, achieving the exalted “MVP 100K” status on Alaska Air. Look for her ... The post Palm Springs, anyone? Katie sez “Yes, please” appeared first on Alaska Travelgram.
Devil’s Club is a common wild plant in Alaska that’s large & covered in hidden sharp thorns, growing everywhere from remote forests to even well-groomed Anchorage city trails. Just because you’re “in town” doesn’t mean you won’t run into devil’s club. It’s smart to stay on the trails, particularly if you’re not confident spotting it. […]
Here’s a delicious fall-time spin on classic blueberry muffins. If you’re a solo adult who likes good food, this recipe is for you. Or if you’ve got extra kitchen “helpers” around (read: kids who need entertainment), turn baking these Halloween muffins into a fun toddler snacktivity. Pumpkin BOO-berry Muffin Recipe Ingredients: 2 boxes Jiffy brand […]
These gluten-free pumpkin cookies are the softest, most delectable cookies you’ll ever eat! They are remarkably light in texture and are topped with a luscious, dairy-free brown sugar frosting. They are quick and easy, and the cookie dough requires no refrigeration. They will quickly become one of your favorite pumpkin desserts! I don't know about you,... […]
I’m home now. I’m looking at the flea market couch I brought up from California; I had cushions made three times over the years till I got it just right. Now it’s just right. It’s been in my life 42 years. Tim has been in my life 34 years, but he had to be out of […]
I’m saying my goodbyes to Toronto. I’ve seen my last Hot Docs Festival film, and I’m just back from my last author program. I’ve probably had my last roti, checked out my last book at my local branch library, gone to my last art workshop. Horror of horrors, I’ve even watched my last play. The thing […]
Salmon processors too poor to pay sick leave Once the economic engine of the Alaska Territory, the commercial fishing industry in the 49th state is now in such dire straits that it […]
Another big bust in the Pacific salmon fisheries For the second time in four years, a huge decline in North Pacific salmon numbers is being reported in the wake of a big […]
It’s here. The big day. My memoir, the one I spent 15 years struggling over, launches today from Raised Voice Press. I’m feeling very exposed, very vulnerable. This is not at all similar to when Dolls Behaving Badly launched from Hachette Book Group. That was a novel, and while some of it was based on… […]
I had had Alaska writer Dan Walker’s YA novel SECONDHAND SUMMER on my list for a long time, and two weeks ago finally had the chance to dive in. I wasn’t disappointed. Walker’s book, geared for middle school readers (but still immensely enjoyable for adults), follows 14-year-old Sam’s move to Anchorage from the small fishing… […]
I've always liked cornbread muffins. I like the taste and texture (especially the slightly crispy edges) and I like how easy they are to make. Over the years, I've tried a ba-jillion cornbread recipes, but this one is, by far, the best recipe yet. We give it a FULL FIVE STARS!! If you like your cornbread muffins on the sweet […]
My list of 10 Best Gifts for Cooks and Food Lovers helps last minute shoppers buy great presents for the food obsessed; most of the items on the list I’ve used and loved for years. Most importantly, if you act quickly, there’s still time to order most of my recommended gifts and have them arrive […]
It's that time of the year! I voted by mail for convenience and didn't get a sticker. I'm a little sad about that but will stop by one of the voter locations and ask for a sticker. Anyway! Click the images below to save and print to color. Small jpg of vote coloring page: Large transparent png of vote […]
All about insects is the theme for the next session of Sitka Sprouts on Tuesday, April 30. This is the last Sitka Sprouts session before summer. “We’re going to wrap up Sprouts this spring with a program about insects,” Sitka … Continue reading →
I LOVE my grandmother’s navy bean soup, but it takes forever to make with soaking the beans overnight and then slow cooking the soup all day. I decided to try it in my Instant Pot and it was a success! Not only that, but my kids loved it…score! Ingredients: 1-2 Tbs. olive oil 1 onion, diced 3 […]
Download Radio Show The June 30th show featured a conversation with Kari Sagel and Brooke Schafer in our semi-regular cross-over between the Sitka Library Show and the Sitka Nature Show. If you have questions or observations you want to share, please feel free to leave a comment here or on the page I’ve set up […]
Download Radio Show The June 16th show featured a conversation with Daniel Graham and Zach LaPerriere. Daniel was the artist who crafted the Sitka violin commissioned for the Sitka Summer Music Festival by Marcel and Connie LaPerriere, it was the made out of wood sourced in Sitka by Zach LaPerriere. We discussed the of the […]
Since 2016 I have worked in Hoonah to help build a vision. The Hoonah Native Forest Partnership is a unique model of community-based forestry that seeks to meet the objectives of land managers and the needs of the community. The project relies on training a local workforce in natural resource inventory and landscape improvement. I’m […]
At the end of July we took the boat over to Halibut Cove to hike the Saddle Trail with the kids to picnic at Grewingk Glacier Lake. It's a great trail for kids to master themselves, and Riggs hiked the whole way himself. Raina was in the backpack, but more because we wanted to hike […]
A man who just moved to Homer about a year ago from Chicago has started a podcast interviewing people from the Homer community. He called up my husband a few months ago and asked him if he would be willing to be interviewed. My husband said sure, so the second episode of Alex's podcast features […]
Well, 2017 was not a good garden year in my area, even for those of us with greenhouses/high tunnels. I'm sure I didn't help my chances at all; we had a month between returning home from the States and getting the roof on the high tunnel, and I didn't start any seeds or work the […]
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to enjoy classic pies that everyone looks forward to each year. From traditional pumpkin to pecan and apple, these pie recipes bring comfort and warmth to any holiday table. Each pie captures the cozy flavors of fall, making them the ideal dessert to end a special meal with family and... […]
Mountain View is in for a treat — a whole new store full of treats, in fact. Packed with dozens of varieties of handmade custom candies, classic favorites, and assorted other sweets, Sweet Creations Lollipop Boutique is one of the latest businesses to open doors in the neighborhood. Owner Missy Simms made it for the […]
During our time in Washington we also took some time to drive over to Kennewick to visit some of my family in that area. We camped in my aunt and uncle's driveway and visited them and some of my cousins. The highlight for the girls was the nerf war for sure (pictures here). It was […]
INGREDIENTS3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon active yeast (not rapid or instant)1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt1-1/2 cups slightly warm water (tepid)--2 teaspoons canola oil (For top and bottom of dough ball so it doesn't stick or form crust while rising)-2 TB butter melted in ramekin, with brush (set aside)--10” Seasoned Cast Iron SkilletMETHODAdd flour to bowl. Add yeast […]
My husband loves this cakeso much he had two pieces 'after' eating lunch...Ingredients2 Eggs1 ½ cup Canola Oil2 cups Granulated Sugar3 cups A-P Flour2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg½ teaspoon Kosher Salt1 ½ teaspoons Baking Soda4 cups Chopped Apples (peeled and cored): measure after chopping1 cup chopped Pecans: measure after chopping1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract⅔ […]
Picture of the day A musician playing a tenor saxophone at a jazz festival in Uruguay. Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, was born on this day in 1814.