HEY EVERYONE!

I am happy to inform you that I just won the GRAND PRIZE of $750 in that photo contest I was talking about awhile back. All in all, there came to be OVER 3,300 ENTRIES and nearly 1,000,000 views.

You can see the winners here: [link]

I found out I won awhile ago, but I felt like holding off from letting you guys know until I actually received my check for $750. I did, so it was legit! THANK YOU if you voted on my entry, you helped keep it high enough in the ranking system for the judges to look (60th place).

I've got a wedding lined up today. I just can't wait to get out there with Masterworks Photography and shoot with their new cameras. Oh man, it's going to be great! I also got a job around a month ago working at the University of Cincinnati Combustion Research Laboratory. I'm doing research and development work on jet engines for General Electric. It's a wonderful job, and I'm so thankful to be there. Along with working for them, they've also had me shoot photography of their equipment and tests, and then I'll be building their website. Things really looking to be up for me!



I should be uploading some new stuff within the next month or so. I didn't completely wipe out my gallery. I archived a lot of the pieces, and if I'm feeling like it they might return. Nothing for now, though.

This day, September 11th, will live on in history until the end of time.

I want you to take a moment of silence to remember our brothers and sisters who have fallen on this tragic day, eight years ago. Recognize the incredible sacrifices given by our countrymen and countrywomen in their victorious fight in preventing such a terrible act from happening again. We love you all, and we miss you dearly. May we continue on in remembrance of your gracious contributions for our freedom, may we recognize your courage, your bravery, your honor, and your selfless service to this nation, and may God bless America henceforth and bestow His grace on us all.

Remembering this day, eight years ago, is easier for me than remembering yesterday. It’s clearer than day. I can look around the room I was sitting in, I can feel the lump in the bottom of my chest that I tried to ignore, I can see the strange, somber, and saddened eyes of my history teacher, who had maintained a Hulk-like kind of a build. I was twelve years old, just a kid. My friends were laughing their asses off like it was a video game. We had no idea what was going on. Oh, here they are, I can see them now. They’re walking into the classroom and the television is on. A plane flies into a building. A building collapses. A friend says, “Awesome!” Another, “That isn’t awesome, man, people are in there.” People are in there. Our teacher turns the television off. We start our health class and continue having a normal day, ignoring what we had seen until we got home. On September 11th, 2001, I lost my innocence. I had never before witnessed anything so terrible and real. I hadn’t even learned about the Holocaust. Before I knew about World War II, before I knew about the Spanish Inquisition, before I knew about Mayans sacrificing their enemies to their gods by ripping out their hearts and decapitating them, I witnessed live footage of hundreds of real people really dying.

Why does this have any significance? After thinking about it, I’ve realized that I experienced September 11th in a completely different way than those in different age groups. I was old enough to understand the gravity of the situation, yet young enough to be completely innocent, previously, to any event like that. This is the eighth year I have remembered those lost. This is the eighth year I have written a journal or blog entry about it on the internet. I have grown up doing this. I have garnered responsibilities, maturity, and knowledge about the world ever since that tragic day. Each year I change, some more than others. And as I change, the world changes around me. Things are different each time around, and this year is no exception.

When I graduated from high school, I was unable to join the armed forces. I just want that to be known. There were these complications with my asthma and allergies and other health problems, and I simply wasn’t allowed in. And so I hold a special kind of reverence for the men and women in uniform. I tear up whenever I hear a military song, the trumpets, the snares. I pledge my allegiance to the United States of America with dignity and pride, and I do place my hand over my heart. At my great-grandfather’s funeral, I about died when I witnessed his 21-gun salute. He had served in the army in World War II, and I had been given the tremendous privilege of helping carry his casket. To all of you serving in our armed forces, I have a special place in my heart for you. I love you unconditionally, and I thank you for your service. I am personally indebted to you, for giving me the freedom I’ve enjoyed for the past twenty years. Everyone should feel the same way.

But we don’t. We don’t love you, we don’t appreciate your service, and we don’t respect you. We could honestly care less about you. In fact, you’re cluttering our daily news a little too much as it is. Haven’t you heard? Michael Jackson just died, and Rihanna just lifted that restraining order on Chris Brown. This is big stuff, let me tell you. Eleven or so people already committed suicide because of Michael Jackson’s death. I mean, what’s going on with you all out in Afghanistan that’s so important? Didn’t you hear? We aren’t even the United States of America anymore. That’s all changed now. Remember last year’s election? Your votes weren’t even counted. As a matter of fact, your votes weren’t counted while over 250,000 fraudulent votes from A.C.O.R.N. were counted. Sorry about your luck. Maybe you shouldn’t have joined the armed forces? While you’ve been away, we’ve made a few changes. We elected this guy Obama purely because he can speak well. It’s funny really, he hasn’t done a single thing in his life other than publish two books about himself! And we elected him! You’re right, he’s definitely not qualified, but anyone’s better than George W. Bush, right? I mean, he’s who got you into that mess over there in the Middle East, remember? Speaking of which, why is it taking you guys so long to get the job done? Desert Storm took less than a week, right? You guys have been out there for like years and years and years! Gosh, I’m just so sick and tired of my tax dollars going to help out your thing over there. It’s really getting old. War is just so 2004, parties are what’s in these days. I mean, I really enjoy seeing my tax dollars be used for a cooler cause! I think Obama’s inauguration party was what? 750 million dollars? It’s not like you guys needed any extra help or anything, so don’t whine about it. That’s the last thing we need.

The above paragraph was sarcastic, but along the same lines of thinking of many Americans. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth, and it’s pretty upsetting to think about. Your Commander in Chief, or the person occupying that position, will be expecting great things from all of you. This is a one way expectation, though. He won’t serve you in any way, shape, or form. I mean, he’s going to be commanding you to go places where you might die, and you might follow his orders there. However, a few months ago, when one of you so much as asked to see his birth certificate, you were denied. Many others were denied, also. The same man who won’t let you see his proof of natural born citizenship just took a vacation over at Martha’s Vineyard a few weeks ago. Estimates went around $35,000 for the stay. Pretty luxurious, I would say, for a week-long vacation. Where were you? Your Commander in Chief was comfortably playing golf with his pals, signing autographs, and taking a week off. I can imagine you were out in the middle of the desert, under enemy fire, on your third day without sleep, unable to sweat anymore due to dehydration. You haven’t seen your wife in hundreds and hundreds of days, if not years. She may have given birth to your son and you still haven’t seen him face-to-face. Has your Commander in Chief experienced what you have? Has he lived a hard life, burdened by the reality of hard labor and suffering? No one can know for sure, because he’s been able to lock his past away so no one else can know, but judging by what we do know, we can’t say that he has. What has he done? I mean, really. E-mail me when you find out, because I’d love to know.

Alas, I am getting off-topic. I just wanted to share my thoughts on Senator Barbara Boxer and finish up. A couple months ago, she publicly humiliated a Brigadier General Michael Walsh, interrupting him mid-sentence to inform him that she would rather be addressed as “senator” not “ma’am.”. If you haven’t heard about it, it’s pretty disturbing, and quite a shocker to watch. I mean, it was completely uncalled for. When I watch the video, I can imagine the same mistreatment and disrespect coming from all ends of the spectrum, from Hollywood, from college students, from liberals across the country. It’s just sick and twisted. I wanted to share Jim Hill’s letter to Barbara Boxer. Jim Hill is a National Guard aviator and captain on Alaska Airlines.

“Dear Senator Boxer:

You were so right on when you scolded the general on TV for using the term, "ma'am," instead of "Senator.” After all, in the military, "ma'am" is a term of respect when addressing a female of superior rank or position. The general was totally wrong. You are not a person of superior rank or position. You are a member of one of the world's most corrupt organizations, the U.S. Senate, equaled only by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Congress is a cesspool of liars, thieves, inside-traders, traitors, drunks (one who killed a staffer, yet is still revered), criminals, and other low-level swine who, as individuals (not all, but many), will do anything to enhance their lives, fortunes and power, all at the expense of the People of the United States and its Constitution, in order to be continually re-elected. How many of you could honestly say, "We pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor?” None? One? Two?

Your reaction to the general shows several things.

First is your abysmal ignorance of all things military. Your treatment of the general shows you to be an elitist of the worst kind. When the general entered the military (as most of us who served) he wrote the government a blank check, offering his life to protect your derriere, now safely and comfortably ensconced in a 20-thousand-dollar leather chair, paid for by the general's taxes. You repaid him for this by humiliating him in front of millions.

Second is your puerile character, lack of sophistication, and arrogance which borders on the hubristic. This display of brattish behavior shows you to be a virago, termagant, harridan, nag, scold or shrew, unfit for your position, regardless of the support of the unwashed, uneducated masses who have made California into the laughingstock of the nation.

What I am writing, Senator, are the same thoughts countless millions of Americans have toward Congress, but who lack the energy, ability or time to convey them. Some don't even have the 44 cents to buy the stamp. Regardless of their thoughts, most realize that politicians are pretty much the same, and will vote for the one who will bring home the most bacon, even if they do consider how corrupt that person is.

Lord Acton (1834 - 1902) so aptly charged, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Unbeknownst to you and your colleagues, "Mr. Power" has had his way with all of you, and we are all the worse for it.

Finally Senator, I, too, have a title. It is "Right Wing Extremist Potential Terrorist Threat." It is not of my choosing, but was given to me by your Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano. And you were offended by "ma'am?”

Have a fine day. Cheers!

Jim Hill
16808 - 103rd Avenue Court East
South Hill, WA 98374”

Jim puts it nicely in his last paragraph. I, too, am labeled “Right Wing Extremist, Potential Terrorist Threat.” As a matter of fact, most of you in the armed forces returning from the War on Terror are labeled "Potential Terrorist Threats” based on Homeland Security being indecisive on whether or not you will like this country when you return. A man in Alabama was pulled over a couple months ago and detained for the duration of a background check because he had the “DON’T TREAD ON ME” bumper sticker on his car. And he hadn’t been speeding or anything. These days, conservatives are being pulled over for simply being conservative. It’s ridiculous, and pretty scary. What is this country coming to? We are not the United States of America anymore. I can remember the feeling after this day, eight years ago. We were one nation under God. We were going to go out and kill those bastards, together, united.

But we aren’t anymore. The best we can do is to wake up, realize the problems, and try to change. I guess on this eighth anniversary of September 11th, I’m hoping the United States will become united sometime soon, hopefully in the next year. Obama’s campaign was all about hope. I guess he left that bad taste in my mouth, and I’m following suit. All we can do is hope for the better? Because we can’t really do anything ourselves? Again, bad taste in my mouth. I’m done ranting.

May we not forget what this country used to be.

May God forgive us all.

[link]

I'd really appreciate it!