DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20310

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2006

As our Nation celebrates its 230th Independence Day, American Soldiers are making tremendous sacrifices toward the cause of freedom and democracy. America was founded on the principles of liberty and justice, and today's Soldiers join the many generations of servicemen and women who have answered the "Call to Duty".

The Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776, established as our Nation's ideals that "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are among the list of "unalienable Rights". In December 1952, during the remarks for the opening of the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in Washington, D.C., President Harry S. Truman stated;

“The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence can live only as long as they are enshrined in our hearts and minds....Only as these documents are reflected in the thoughts and acts of Americans, can they remain symbols of power that can move the world. That power is our faith in human liberty...”

Today, American Soldiers are preserving liberty and helping others to achieve the very independence we cherish. With "Boots on the Ground" in over 120 countries, Soldiers are fighting for the cause of freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, while also building and preserving the peace from Kosovo to Korea, and from Africa to South America.

Liberty is our Soldiers' gift to the Nation, and to the world. Thank you to our Soldiers who have served, and to those who are serving today for your contributions to freedom. We also thank our families for their service and sacrifices. God bless our great Army, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

///Signed///

Kenneth O. Preston - Sergeant Major of the Army
Peter J. Schoomaker - General, United States Army, Chief of Staff
Francis J. Harvey - Secretary of the Army

Troops Reducing Illegal Border Crossings

Associated Press | June 13, 2006

SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, Mexico - The arrival of U.S. National Guard troops in Arizona has scared off illegal Mexican migrants along the border, significantly reducing crossings, according to U.S. and Mexican officials.

U.S. authorities said Monday that detentions along the U.S.-Mexico border decreased by 21 percent, to 26,994, in the first 10 days of June, compared with 34,077 for the same period a year ago.

Along the Arizona border, once the busiest crossing spot, detentions have dropped 23 percent, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Headin' down to the Border....

FY 2003 U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 905,065 people - 2,480 each day
FY 2004 U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 1,139,282 people - 3,121 each day - trying to cross the southwest border in Arizona

The Border Patrol is catching 1 in every 4, which makes for approximately 9,364 illegal immigrants cross the southwest border every day.

A small trash pile left by immigrants in the Arizona Desert before they are picked up by a vehicle for transport. My take is they should do 30 days of community service cleaing up their junk before we ship them back over the border.

Border Crossing Deaths Set a 12-Month Record
By Richard Marosi
Times Staff Writer
Los Angeles Times, October 1, 2005

TUCSON — A record 460 migrants died crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in the last year, a toll pushed higher by unusually hot temperatures and a shift of illegal migration routes through remote deserts. The death total from Oct. 1, 2004, through Sept. 29 surpassed the previous record of 383 deaths set in 2000, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Border Patrol. The dead were mostly Mexicans, many from the states of Mexico, Guanajuato and Veracruz, but also from the impoverished Southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. Migrants continue to die in automobile accidents and from drownings while crossing waterways into California and Texas, but 261, or more than half the total, perished while crossing the Arizona deserts, the busiest illegal immigrant corridor along the nation's 2,000-mile border with Mexico. The migrants, herded across the border by smugglers, have been traversing increasingly desolate stretches of desert as the Border Patrol cuts off more accessible routes. Arizona's most dangerous crossing is a 45-mile corridor between Sasabe, Mexico, and Three Points, Ariz., where the bodies of more than 40 people were found in the washes and sand during the Border Patrol's fiscal year, which ended Friday.

"It's overwhelming" said Dr. Bruce Parks, the chief medical examiner for Pima County, which includes Tucson. Outside Parks' office, a refrigerated tractor-trailer holds 60 bodies, mostly dead migrants, an overflow from the morgue. "This is an emergency for us." The death toll, largely the result of heat-related illnesses, was driven higher by more than 30 straight days of 100-degree-plus temperatures in parts of Arizona, according to the Border Patrol. The figures also reflect better record-keeping by the agency, which now checks regularly with coroners' offices to include bodies found by other agencies.

Border Patrol officials also blame the increase on smugglers who lead migrants into dangerous terrain without sufficient food or water. Facing stiffer enforcement, they are more likely to abandon those who falter at the first sign of trouble, agents say. "It's the Sonoran Desert, miles and miles long … and absolutely no infrastructure — roads, telephone or houses — with very little shade," said Mario Villarreal, a Border Patrol spokesman. Immigrant rights activists say the U.S. border enforcement strategy forces migrants to take ever more isolated routes. Activists at a memorial in Tijuana on Friday read off more than half of the names of the 3,600 migrants who have died since U.S. authorities 11 years ago beefed up enforcement in California, according to Mexican statistics.




The crackdown, called Operation Gatekeeper, pushed migration routes east to the remote stretches of deserts in Arizona. In recent years, the number of Border Patrol agents in Arizona has been increased by a third to 2,850, and the border has been fortified with extra lighting, fencing and sensors. The agency this year doubled the amount of aircraft — including helicopters and unmanned drones — patrolling the border. Helicopters that hover over open desert areas, some agents and observers say, have driven migrants into a mesquite-covered expanse along Highway 286 that offers migrants cover from aerial sightings but is miles from the nearest town. Special Border Patrol search units in the Tucson sector have rescued 850 migrants, 300 more than last year, according to the Border Patrol...

Yeah trampolines are great - until someone breaks their leg on it! Tyler training to go airborne.

Another crazy exercise. Some days I love this job!

30 January  1968 - 16 February 1969    Monkey   Earth      (+)

The Monkey is lively, likable and witty. Highly sociable, the Monkey is talkative and, as a fascinating conversationalist, he attracts a wide circle of friends. People born under this influence have an innately low boredom threshold. Inquisitive in the extreme and forever believing that the grass is greener elsewhere, they need to find continual stimulation to keep themselves interested and amused. However, often Monkeys are too clever for their own good and can be mettlesome, opportunistic, and unscrupulous to the point of being tricky and manipulative. This is because Monkey types possess acute psychological perspicacity which enables them to read people like books. In particular, women under the Monkey influence can play rather subtle games with members of the opposite sex. And although Monkeys give the impression of getting on fabulously with everybody, this great rapport is often nothing but a ruse -- Monkeys are in fact egotistical and selfish. They tend to be lazy, concentrating on small matters while ignoring more important issues. They ignore obstacles, finding them beneath their consideration. Having a short attention span can make it difficult for the Monkey to successfully complete a task. For the Monkey to be prosperous, far-sightedness and vision are vital.
Playful, even obliging at times, the Monkey hides the poor opinion he has of others beneath his apparent friendliness. He distrusts people born under any other sign and considers himself to be superior to all of them. He has plenty of intelligence and a fantastic ability to pull the wool over people's eyes. He is so artful that he can even fool the Dragon -- who is strong, stubborn, and no fool himself -- and resist the magnetism of the Tiger, whom he teases unmercifully.
Monkeys are highly adaptable and versatile. Enthusiastic about everything, they spend their time broadening their minds and are especially fascinated with art. They like refinement, originality and luxury. Inventive and intelligent, those born in these years can solve most problems quickly and skillfully, and are able to accomplish much in business. Monkeys shamelessly acknowledge their attraction to money. They quickly assimilate facts and figures, picking up new skills and techniques almost instaneously. In business it is their opportunism coupled with their keen competitive instinct that gives them an eye for that tiny opening into which only Monkeys can insinuate themselves. Once they have instilled themselves, it is their ability to turn their hands to anything that will bring them ultimate success and, in many cases, even make their fortune. In short, the Monkey can do anything. For this reason, in Asia the birthrate skyrockets in the Monkey year, as in a Dragon year.
The Monkey can succeed in any profession. Politics, diplomacy, industry, trade -- none of them will have any secrets from him. He can try anything and anything will work, especially if he has been fortunate enough to have a higher education. Though the renowned adaptability of the Monkey personality takes those born under this sign into a variety of occupations, many will naturally gravitate towards show business. This is because Monkey-born people have a compelling need to be noticed. Unfortunately, because they are such audacious people and care very little about their reputations, it does not matter much to them whether the impression they create is one of pleasure or of shock. It is simply a case of the more publicity they can generate around themselves, the happier they are.
The first part of the Monkey's life will be happy. The second will be upset and confused and his plans will often miscarry. Once attaining a ripe old age, the Monkey will increasingly enjoy a simple, everyday life.

The Exciting Monkey
Monkeys are clever, social, witty people and these are the very qualities they will look for in their relationships with others. Being the gregarious sort, they normally have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who provide them with the mental and social stimulation that is so important to the Monkey's well-being. But the natural curiosity and desire for new experiences that drives those born in this year mean that, all too often, serious long-term relationships simply don't provide enough excitement to maintain their interest. Monkeys revel in the thrill of the new; consequently, short-term love affairs tend to suit this group best.
Unfortunately, the Monkey is unlikely to find a satisfactory lover, for he is not a stable personality. Though he can be passionate, his critical sense and his clear-sightedness combine to cool off his ardor all too quickly. He has a tendency to treat relationships as games and as a consequence has trouble staying committed for an extended period of time. The impatient Monkey gets bored easily and is constantly looking for excitement, stimulation and new games. Luckily his sense of humor saves him from disaster. Mischievous rascals particularly through their earlier years, they delight in stirring things up and then standing back to watch the sparks fly. If there's the slightest hint of danger, intrigue, or downright outrageous behavior attached, so much the better.
In love no other sign produces more charming, amusing, and romantic companions than this one. Once a Monkey does decide to settle down in a permanent relationship he or she will make a splendidly stimulating partner. The Monkey's love life may tend to be complicated, but he or she will assume family responsibilities with equanimity and good humor. Whatever the sign of his marriage partner, the Monkey is likely to have a lot of children.
The Monkey gets on splendidly with the Rat, Dog, Dragon and Boar, although naive Boar needs to realize the Monkey is always three steps ahead of the game. He is avoided by the stubborn Tiger, whom he is advised to treat with respect, and the Rooster, who will criticize him.
September is the month of the Monkey. The time of the Monkey is from 3:00 p.m. to 4:59 p.m.; their direction of orientation is west-southwest. The Monkey's color is gold.

Yep ANOTHER trip. I will be so glad to get home after this one. Travel only about one week out of the month as far as I know now. The Course in FL is on OSHA Compliance and updates. Some great courses, but long days. Wednesday we were able to get out early and explore Universal Studios. My co-worker, Tom and I went to the Twister Show, saw the Blues Brothers show, grabbed a few Guinness at the Irish Pub, headed on to the Mummy Ride (my favorite), the Back to the Future, and then over at Islands of Adventure we hit the Dr. Doom ride twice. He went on the Hulk rollercoaster while I checked out all the MARVEL stuff they were peddling in the shops there.

Now on the eve of the last class I sit here and think of all the things I have learned, had crammed into my head over the last month - three weeks of courses in how to get the job done. It is overwhelming some days. The problem with running the safety program is that it is as good as you make it. Obviously if you do a crappy job then you'll brobably get fired. If you genuinely try to get it all done you'll never sleep. I am realizing that now. I am now working on prioritizing the work that we have to get done and start from there. One small step at a time.

When in Norfolk, I had the opportunity to take a tour of the Langley Research Center. One of the ladies in my class works there. The class: Indoor Air Quality for Industrial Hygiene. You know how some classes are a 'firehose'? This was a TSUNAMI. I felt like I was playing catch-up all the time to stay with the instructor. Homework every night and tons of MATH. Ugh. The cool thing about Langley is they do all the structural and R&D with the aerodynamics of aircraft and some of our ground vehicles too.




This is the first wind tunnel ever made. Pretty Orwellian.

After working the last 10 days straight, some good R & R was in order. Oh, yeah the party at the icehouse was last weekend but it WAS a working weekend. That's what naps are for :) I flew into PHX coming back from Alabama, and grabbed lunch with buddy Velasco, then hopped on a flt to LAS.

Yep - my first time in "Sin City". I didn't get into any trouble. I drank moderately, and had a B L A S T with the group I climed Mt. Kilimanjaro with (minus Paul - I know you were there in spirit, Paul, but it still wasn't the same). I had the Vegas deer-eyed look the whole time. I arrived in time to grab a quick workout, dinner then we saw KA. My first Circue du Soleil performance set the bar high. Phenomenal. One of the most amazing things I have ever expreienced.... hmm like climbing the tallest mountain in Africa? There seems to be a trend with these folks, the 'Ecclectic Eight'.

On the way back to Luxor where Ed, Rachael and I were stayin we stopped at this ridiculous looking slot machine in the casino downstairs. Ed and I looked at each other and had 'the look' of two guys up to something. After examining the machine that looked like it belonged on the stage of a "The Price is Right" show we saw it took $1 increments.

Ed said, (let me know if I got this wrong, Ed) "My Granfather always said you should never bet more than a dollar." I figured, ah what the heck - threw a dollar in and off we went. Spinning the wheel and earning and losing credits. I had commented, "this is pretty good entertainment for a dollar," after about 30 minutes of this. I must ahve been really buzzed because I didn't understand when the machine stopped and we had 4 credits left. Ed was convinced we had won something. I didn't understand what was happening. Good thing he was there. Some lady came up and asked if we needed a cup for quarters. I still had no clue, but was starting to get my hopes up. Then some other casino employee came over and threw a card into the machine and then left. Ed was more vehement in his stand that we'd won in fact he said we won 480.00$ what I didnt see was the number 480 come up on the side of the machine Ed was on when the guy put his card in the machine. Now a small group of people started gathering around us. I was getting more nervous as time went on. This was really weird. I wanted to believe Ed, but didn't wnat to get my hopes up. I didnt understand where he got the figure 480$ from and he didn't tell me about the display he saw. Finally the guy with the card came back and opened a wallet. Right there he counted out one - two - three -four hundreds and twenty - forty - sixty - eighty dollars into Ed's outstreched hand. I was dumbfounded. Had we really just won $480 of one dollar? I was so content flying home, only hoping I had had the time to stay longer.


The money I split with Ed and my take paid for everything except for the flight. Having tight funds right now really had me nervous taking the trip. There wasn't going to be another chance to hang out with the Ecclectic Eight anytime soon. All in all an awesome time. Although it was one single day I feel like I compressed three into the time I spent there.

One of my favorite venues in PHX - The Ice House - too bad the music was terrible. You can have the greatest light show - the most incredible dancers - it all supports the groove and if there isn't one the party bites. I used to go to the "Rave" parties in the desert (you know the 'secret squirrel' ones), and in town.

These candykids would come up to me and say, "hey man, are you rollin'?" I'd answer, "yeah man - on the music."


To which the reply was usually bewilderment, a pause, and then "coooooooool." They'd wander off to find some more Vicks Vapor Rub.

My buddy Tim called me one night and told me to turn on MSNBC.

I asked, "why, what's on?"

"Just turn it on....", he said. It was a covert camera the daughter of a DEA agent had in her stocking cap at a party at the Nile Theater in Mesa. The footage panned and, yup there I was sitting down, coated with sweat from dancing and looking like all the kids around me who were on something. Even though I wasn't doing anything wrong it looked bad. Escpecially since I was in the AZ Military Academy at the time.

Persistence, Courage & Gumption

Never underestimate what the force multipliers will, determination, and hard work can accomplish.

DFA

The coolest part of the terminal in Detroit is the crazy fountain in the Alpha Terminal. Next stop Vermont for a class for work, a visit with my Cousin there, and hopefully some snowboarding - yep you KNOW I brought my board!

PHX - Bound

Beat up by the mountains, tired from the last night of revelry with a great bunch of friends, we hit DIA to head home.

Copper Mt.

Day two (today) we spent at Copper Mountain. I liked Copper Mtn. better. The only catch was the crowd. We were thinking, "today is gonna be great - no crowd on a Monday." We forgot that spring break for a lot of folks started this week. It was still a great day to board. Lots of fresh powder falling all day. Now we are making the short but slow drive back to Dillon in the snowshowers.

Tonight is the last night here so we are determined to finish all the leftovers and drink the rest of the bar at the house. Tomorrow we head back to Phoenix. I am both sad, but anxious to dig into all the work at home and work waiting for me.

Tired Pups1

4 of us tired guys after 2 full days of boarding. Day one was at Beaver Creek.

The perks at work are decent sometimes, this was during the shoot for the new ASU calendar.