Weekly Open Thread – Bumped

Wow…

OK, that is an awesome picture.

Any background details?

It has to be, Mars is way too big.

Wow. Those are some sobering numbers for the gop:

http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=264

–but what’s really impressive is the section, ‘will do the right thing in foreign affairs:

I guess soft power can make a real difference.

Got this in my email today:

Red Shirt

If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for
a man…
Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a
Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and
two together.

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who’d
been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he
was heading home.

No, he responded.
Heading out I asked?

No. I’m escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No.. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq, I’m taking
him home to his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a
punch to the gut. It was an honor for him.. He told me that, although he
didn’t know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the
soldier’s family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in
so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you.
Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and
made the following announcement over the intercom.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the
honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join
us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his
family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the
forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow
soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.”

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant
saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made
me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here’s a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for
what you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every
Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called
the “silent majority.” We are no longer silent, and are voicing our
love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.. We are not
organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to
recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our
idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and
respect starts this Friday — and continues each and every Friday until
the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that … every
red-blooded American who supports our men and women a far, will wear
something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV — let’s make the United States on
every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the
bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this
with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long
before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the
once “silent” majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more
than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked “What can we do to
make things better for you?” is. “We need your support and your
prayers.” Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by
example, and wear something red every Friday.

Think of the tides! But the view would be great at the right time of month.

Just for random’s sake (be forewarned, the song is hard to get out of your head):

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/llama/