Program expanded for Soldiers to earn $1,000 referral bonus

A $1,000 bonus for referring recruit applicants announced by the
Army in January, expanded recently to include more soldiers who are
eligible to receive this payment.
This latest recruiting incentive will pay soldiers for referring
applicants who enlist, complete basic training, and graduate
advanced individual training. The referral must be made by the
soldier at the U.S. Army web site prior to the new recruit’s first meeting with a recruiter.
The incentive is a pilot program included as one of the provisions
in the Fiscal Year 2006 National Defense Authorization Act. Dates
of eligibility for the referral bonus are Jan. 1, 2006, through
Dec. 31, 2007. The Army is now authorized to pay a bonus to any
Soldier who refers to an Army recruiter a person who has not
previously served in the Armed Forces and enlists in either the
Active Army, Army National Guard or the Army Reserves. The
referral may not be an immediate family member and the soldier
referring may not be serving in a recruiting or retention
assignment.
"Soldiers continue to play an important role in the recruiting
process and with this program we are able to recognize their
contributions,” Lt. Gen. Franklin L. Hagenbeck, Deputy Chief
of Staff, Army G-1 (Personnel), said.
“We thank Congress for their recent legislation to provide bonuses such as these,” Hagenbeck said.
The Referral Bonus Pilot Program includes Soldiers performing duties in the Hometown Recruiter Assistance Program (HRAP), Special Recruiter Assistance Program (SRAP), and the Active Duty for Special Work (ADSW).
For more information about this pilot incentive program, visit the U.S. Army web site or call 1-800-223-3735, ext. 6-0473.

I wanna hear it.

Jamie Foxx should produce a Christmas CD. I want to hear him this Christmas 2006 singing some Donnie Hathaway and some original Christmas music he arranged and wrote himself. He has such a soulful voice.
I want Kanye West to remake "Hurry Up This Way Again" by the Stylistics on a single. I know he can hit those notes and look good doing it.
Maybe they will both come over to my house to sing to me, instead.
I can cook and I got some yak.
...Let it flow let it flow ohh ohhh ohhhh ohhh...

Iraq's impending civil war

I've been wondering all week about why Iraq is edging towards a civil war. This Detroit Free Press editorial explains it.
Isn't this what this country does? Turmoil is always in the air somewhere in the Middle East. Haven't the people of this world been engaged in some kind of conflict for years?
The U.S. will teach these people to live in relative harmony but first must enhance their culture so that they can accept the American Way.
There are all kinds of checks and balances in our culture so that no one group imposes their will on another--thusly the Melting Pot theory.
Send some psychologists and social workers over there to help before they drain all of the resources from our communities, please.

I gotta get my nails done

I'm so sick of this weather. I'm tired of being glad for a 50 degree day in

February. When will summer get here?
But see, when it does warm up, I'll be the first to complain. *reminding self to

put a heavy duty air conditioning unit on lay-a-way--yes--LAY-A-WAY*
Who wants to swealter? But who wants to freeze?
Maybe the folk who own this building will get someone to clean up all of that

litter out there even if it is railroad property. I'd like to plant a garden. I already

bought the seeds. I got corn, peas, beans, sunflowers and some other types of

veggies and stuff. Even watermelon. The minute I plant something, we'll have

another frost. I just know it.
There is some other stuff I would like to write but I won't.
This Bloody Mary sure does make a good breakfast. I used V-8.
Anyway, I should go upstairs and make my bed. I bought a new mattress pad. I

can't wait to lay on my soft and wonderful bed. I'm going to Target today to get

some new sheets. Hopefully they won't all be $40-$60 for 350 thread count.

What I know

This blog started out as a personal diary but I have started to do a little promotion--using press releases and stuff. (this keyboard is sticking at the space bar--grr!)
I don't feel as if I can reveal enough. MY personal diary cannot be public (you should know why by now) so I will write what I feel is entertaining--commentary on news stories and stuff.
Anyway, I have turned my townhouse into studio. I have artwork in progress in the living room, no dining room table, no couch. Just a computer, television, chairs etc.
Well I gotta go do my hair so I can do momma's hair later.
Later.

Eight Coworkers Claim Record Jackpot

I saw the press conference for the winners of the $365 million Powerball lottery on Fox News this morning.
(I WISH I had goods and services they could buy. Congratulations. i am soo happy for them!)
No, really--spend it well. Here is the relesed statement:

February 22, 2006 — A group of eight coworkers at the ConAgra Foods ham and corned beet plant in Lincoln, has claimed the record $365 million jackpot from the February 18 Powerball drawing.
The group elected to take the cash option on the jackpot, valued at $177.3 million. Their respective shares will be $22,162,500. After withholding of 25 percent federal and 5 percent state tax, they will share $124.11 million or $15.5 million, respectively.
The members of the group are:
Quang Dao, 56
David Gehle, 53
Alain Maboussou, 26
Chasity Rutjens, 29
Robert Stewart, 30
Michael Terpstra, 47
Dung Tran, 34
Eric Zornes, 40
The group is represented by Lincoln attorney, James H. Hoppe.
Before presenting the group with their prize, Gov. Dave Heineman noted the attention generated by the record jackpot and said, “Since its inception, the Nebraska Lottery has quietly raised more than $244 million for its beneficiary funds like K-12 education.
“I am pleased to have an opportunity to meet this lucky group of hard-working Nebraskans and present them with their share of these winnings.
“Ladies and gentlemen, life just got a bit more interesting for eight Nebraskans.”
The group bought their winning ticket, one of eight (8) five-play quick pick tickets worth a total of $40, at U-Stop at 110 West “O” St., in Lincoln, at 3:09 p.m. on Friday, Februar 17.
Members of the group told Nebraska Lottery officials that some of them have been playing Powerball for up to five years, pooling their resources to buy multiple tickets whenever the jackpot eclipses $45 million. Each has contributed $5 at a time to buy a total of eight five-play quick pick tickets for each drawing. They noted the irony of waiting to play when their respective shares of the prize after taxes will be just more than $15 million, which is the minimum starting jackpot for Powerball.
Dung Tran typically bought the group’s tickets, usually at the same location. He learned of their winning ticket by checking the Nebraska Lottery Players Hotline (800-224-LUCK) at about 4:30 a.m. the morning after the drawing. The winning Powerball numbers for February 18 were: 15, 17, 43, 44, 48 and Powerball 29.
While none of the group has formulated specific plans for their prize, potential actions mentioned to Nebraska Lottery officials included, “Wash my truck,” “Pay bills”, “Get some sleep,” and, “Continue working temporarily” until their spot is filled.
*now that's really nice of them*

SHANI DAVIS BRINGS HOME THE SILVER METAL!

Yea for Shani AGAIN! He won a silver Olympic metal Tuesday February 21 in the men's 1500 meter speed skating competition. American team mate, Chad Hedrick won a bronze--but he also holds a world record.
Now that's teamwork!
Tally up seven gold metals for the U.S.A.--one of them handed to us by Shani.
Another country won the gold in the 1500 speed skating competition.
Please follow the link on the title to find out more details about the Olympic games. They are turning out to be exciting. Remember, the Olympic competitions are to generate a spirit of camaraderie amongst the nations.
No fighting or bad sportsmanship allowed.

SHANI DAVIS: GOLDEN!

Chicago native Shani Davis, won a gold medal in the 1000m speed skating relay at this year's Olympics.
I searched but could not find a press release on Shani winning the coveted postion in history so I have included links to info about Shani.
It was reported that Shani was the first African-American to win an individual gold medal in the winter Olympics.There was a little controversy about his lack of participation in a non-required team speed skating event but he said he couldn't be distracted from winning.
Since he made history by winning a gold medal in his event,it makes sense to me. *good thing that he won* What ever happened to good sportsman like behavior? Why couldn't his fellow American Olympians be more supportive? I'm glad he had sense enough to prioritize.
I tried ice skating once. I mostly clung to the wall. I remember thinking that I didn't relize ice was that slippery. I didn't fall but I sure wasn't doing as well as my practices in the changing room, while standing on the carpet.
Congratulations, Shani on your win. Maybe you can teach me how to skate one day.
*i'm holding my breath and also waiting on aretha franklin to teach me how to sing*
MAKE SURE YOU PULL DOWN SOME ENDORCEMENTS!

Men are from Mars, and They Hate Valentine's Day

An independent survey by social dating website TeamDating.com, polled 500 married men and 500 single men ages 25-40 years old and found they think alike.
Apparently, St. Valentine's Day puts them off.
Whether married for years, or still looking for Mrs. Right, men seemed to agree that the expectations of the day are too high.
The survey, conducted in Los Angeles and Orange County, CA found ninety-one percent of married men said it was their least favorite say due to the expectations of topping what they did the previous year.

*or that they have to do anything at all*

The survey also found:
• 97% said that they plan what they are going to do the weekend before
• 94% said that any money spent on this day is a waste of money
• 72% said they plan on giving a gift certificate
• 4% of the men said they feel that the Holiday isn't even intended for men

As far as the bachelors, ninety-nine percent said they felt it was just another day.

Of the single men surveyed:
• 97% said it was their least favorite Holiday of the year
• 99% said to them it’s just another day
• 86% said they will go out and try too find single girls that are out as well
• 89% could not remember what they did the year before
• 93% didn’t even know that it fell on February 14th every year

"The overall disdain for the Holiday seems to be caused by the over expectations that women have placed on the meaning of what is done that day, or better yet, what is not done that day," explained Teamdating.com Chief Dating Officer Ray Doustdar, an expert in relationships and the online dating market.
"Men feel that no matter what they do, it won't be enough. Some try and take a creative approach with something out of the ordinary, but most fall back on the old reliable such as flowers and candy," he said.
"If you are going to get flowers, get them from a different florist so they are not a carbon copy of what you gave for their birthday or another recent event", Doustdar, said.
*I have no comment*

but...
Maybe enlisted men make better Valentines

New Yorkers send world's largest digital Valentine to troops

NEW YORK CITY (Army News Service 2006) Operation Love Our Troops, billed as a "Guinness Book of World Records" attempt to create the largest digital Valentine for America's troops, took center stage this week in Times Square.
The campaign received more than 10,000 messages from around the world since it was launched Jan. 4.
"It's a joint effort between Soldiers' Angels, a nonprofit military support group, and Library of Life.org, a digital scrapbooking Web site whose pages include numerous tributes to fallen service members.

*handsome Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Chief, Public Affairs, U.S. Army*

Organizers said they hoped their presence in Times Square would give a significant boost to the number of signatures by Feb. 14.
"This will be the largest digital Valentine's Day card ever sent to the troops," said Amanda Hale, vice president of communications for Library of Life.org.
"They already have over 13,000 signatures and expect to eventually have 20-25,000 in total when the card will be sent."
In addition to grabbing the attention of passersby, the campaign was featured on the CBS Early Show, ABC's Good Morning America and the NBC Today Show.

*handsome older brother of Vincent, Brig. Gen. Leo Brooks, Jr.*

Operation Love Our Troops set up camp on Military Island, home to the Armed Forces Recruiting Station and site of the iconic Life magazine photograph of a sailor planting a movie-star kiss on a nurse on the day World War II ended.

Volunteers from Soldiers' Angels and Library of Life were on hand to help people add their messages of support to the troops.

"I have a step dad in the Air National Guard who is deployed, so this means a lot to me," said Michelle New, a Soldiers' Angels volunteer from Cookstown, N.J.

Among those sending their messages of support was New York-based actor Hecter Ubarry, who will appear in the upcoming Bruce Willis feature "16 Blocks" in March.
"My nephew's in the Navy Reserve and he's deployed to Iraq, and my godson is in the Navy and he's also headed to the gulf," said Ubarry. "I worry about them. I hope the whole thing over there is resolved soon. I don't want to see any more of our troops killed."

Angela Spivey, an office worker in Midtown Manhattan, took some time during her lunch break to sign the Valentine.

"I just wanted to say hello and remind the troops that people are thinking of them," Spivey said.
"I think it's sweet that they're doing this for the troops."

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Reinhardt and Caroline Bernabei of Army Public Affairs, New York submitted this report.

Give your love, support and Valentines to the ones who protect our country.
*who can tell i just wanted to show the generals' photos? happy v-day*