Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Hero Was Submitted By Mark Bell

LCpl. Nicholas J. Manoukian
22 years old from Lathrup, Michigan
1st Marines 6th Batallion 2nd Marine Division
Oct 21, 2006


Here
is a website that LCpl. Manoukian's mother set up for her son after he lost his life in Ramadi.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
It Is Foolish And Wrong To Mourn The Men Who Died. Rather We Should Thank God That Such Men Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Thank You All

I had a nice big post all planned out to thank you all for sticking with me and this blog, but if you've been with me long enough you know I'm not a very eloquent guy. I'm not good at speechafyin'. But through the three years that I've been blogging I've meet some interesting people. Some have come and gone and others have been faithful readers for quite some time. And I've come to think of you all as my friends. Which is rare for me. I'm a anti-social person. I don't like people. And I feel that you all, along with this blog, have kept me sane these past three years. If it weren't for this blog I'd have no where to put my nutty ideas. No place to vent my frustration. No one in my family is very political, and as I just stated I'm not big on people, so it here and it's with you that I get to share the crap that's on my mind. There have been a few times where I've just wanted to up and let Right-Wing & Right Minded go, but something always pulls me back in. Throughout it's different incarnations, Powerage Rambles On, Right-Wing & Right Minded back on ModBlog and now on Blogger, I've had some of the greatest people with me. From the guy that was with me since the very beginning to the Wednesday Hero crew who have just found this site. We may not always agree, and we may not be able to actually get along in the real world, but right here we're best buddies. So, thank you all for being here when I need you.

God, could I get anymore sappy?

IQ Test

A man walked into a very high-tech bar. As he sat down on a stool, he
noticed that the bartender was a robot. The robot clicked to attention
and asked, "Sir, what will you have?"

The man thought a moment, then replied, "A martini, please."

The robot clicked a couple of times and mixed the best martini the man
had ever had. The robot asked, "Sir, what is your IQ?"

The man answered, "Oh, about 164."

The robot then proceeded to discuss the theory of relativity,
inter-stellar space travel, the latest medical breakthroughs, etc. The
man was most impressed. He started to leave the bar, but thought he
would try different tactic. He returned and took a different seat.

Again, the robot clicked and asked what he would have.

"A martini, please."

Again it was superb. The robot again asked, "What is your IQ, sir?"

This time the man answered, "Oh, about 100."

So the robot started discussing NASCAR racing, bass fishing and what
to expect the Steelers to do this weekend.

The guy had to try it one more time. So he left, returned and took a
different stool.... Again a martini, and the question "What is your IQ?"

This time the man drawled out, "Uh . . . 'bout 50."

The robot clicked, then leaned close and very slowly asked,

"A-r-e y-o-u-r p-e-o-p-l-e r-e-a-l-l-y g-o-i-n-g t-o n-o-m-i-n-a-t-e H-i-l-l-a-r-y?"

In Case You Missed It

No, it's not a return of the full post. I don't have the time to look up stories like before. Rather it's just one story that really sticks out to me. Enjoy.

Chinese men are ordering "ghost brides" for after they die. Recently deceased girls are buried with a bachelor so he can have a bride in the afterlife. And this a common practice in this area of China.

A Rally Of Hate

Thousands of people, including the usual celebrity suspects, gathered in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to once again protest against the U.S. military. Can you imagine the vile hatred that was spewed away from the cameras and microphones at this anti-freedom rally.

The Best Worst Movie Of All Time

I've seen some pretty crappy movies in my time. Titanic, Spider Man 2, Repo Man. But those movies were just plain bad. However, last night I watched a movie that was so bad it was almost good. Billy The Kid Versus Dracula. Made in 1966, this movie is so B it's a C movie. Dracula sets up a young girl's family to be killed by the dirty savage Indians, it's a 60's western don't forget, and then proceeds to take the place of her uncle so he can make her his new bride. It's up to her fiancée, Billy The Kid, who's turned over a new leaf and is a good guy now, to try and stop him. Bad acting and a bad story. But there are two things that makes this just barely watchable. The first is Dracula himself. The hands down worst vampire ever. The red light and the disappearing/reappearing was priceless. And the ending. Bullets can't harm him, but throw your gun at his head and it'll knock him out. YEAH!!!! If you're lucky enough to find a copy of this, or catch it on Turner Classic Movies, you owe it to yourself to watch it.

Brining A Message Of Despair

Newly elected House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and long time war critic John Murtha decided to go to Iraq and check out the situation themselves. And I'm sure they were given a warm welcome by the troops, kind of like Kerry and Hillary were. When are these far Left nutjobs going to learn that the vast majority of the troops don't like them? They constantly slam the job they're doing and then they expect them to embrace and maybe even thank them for "looking out for them". They can disguise it under the falsehood of criticizing the president, but it's the soldiers who're carrying this war out so it's them they're bashing.
Story

Just Leave The Perfume On The Table When You Leave

So, Elizabeth Taylor has announced her support for Hillary in '08. Doesn't Liz also support Michael Jackson? You know, were I running for president I'd want Liz Taylor's support about as much as I would Al Gore's.Boy, this one goes back quite a ways.

A Call For Help

I received this from a Wednesday Hero member. Head over and check it out.

The Fourth War

The president narrowed his eyes and placed his hands on his knees. "I don't need to review the situation for you, Lowe, and I don't need to tell you the danger we're in. But I want you to know this-let there be no doubt in your mind. If we are attacked, I will respond. And it won't be tit-for-tat, it won't be blood for blood. I won't trade one of our cities for just one of theirs. Overwhelming force has been our conventional-war fighting doctrine for years, and the same doctrine must apply in a nuclear exchange. So, Lowe, I need you to help me make this perfectly clear to our own staff. They might get one shot, but that is all they will get, for my response will be so overwhelming there will be nothing left. There won't be a second strike against us. I won't give them a second chance."

Pakistan is in turmoil. Their government has been killed off and a radical terror group has taken control. Their nuclear weapons have gone missing and wind up in the hands of al-Qeada. That's the plot of The Fourth War written by retired Air Force pilot, Chris Stewart. This is one of those "must read" books. Hands down the scariest book I've ever read. The only negative thing I can say about this book is that Stewart goes into way too much detail when talking about jets and planes. Unless you're really interested in how a pilot starts a jet, or the layout of Air Force One, you may find yourself skimming parts of this book.

Wise Sage Of The Day

"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."
Carl Sagan

Why The U.S. Military Is The Best In The World

Meet the M-32 MGL (Multiple Grenade Launcher). If you get a chance, watch the replay of Future Weapons on Discovery to see this thing in action. There may be a video stream on the site, I don't know. Discovery.com takes way too long to load on dial-up.

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Hero Was Suggested By Kathi

Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin
44 years old from Mercer, Pennsylvania
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
January 4, 2006


Sitting in the car with Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin's 18-year-old daughter, her father's friend of 21 years had just broken the news of his death.

During years of friendship and service in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Lt. Col. McLauglin and retired Capt. Brad Mifsud had a bond so close that they promised each other if something were ever to happen to either one of them, they would be there for the other's family.

Lt. Col. McLaughlin died when a suicide bomber rushed through a crowd of Iraqi police recruits in Ramadi and detonated a bomb that also killed a Marine and nearly 80 Iraqis. The day before the attack, Lt. Col. McLaughlin said he was fully confident that Ramadi had finally turned a corner in the insurgency. As hundreds of local men streamed into the Ramadi Glass Factory on Wednesday to join the city’s long-defunct police force, a wide grin spread over a pinch of tobacco stuffed into the 44-year-old’s lower lip.

"This may not look like much, but it's history," McLaughlin told a reporter. "We're making history right here."

With a significant wound to the back of his head, Lt. Col. McLaughlin turned to his injured personal security detail officers and inquired about their well-being. Waving off medical attention, he asked them to check on the soldiers under his command.

"In an act of extreme selflessness, he stated that he was OK, but to concentrate on saving the lives of his men," said Col. Grey Berrier, a close friend of Lt. Col. McLaughlin.

Lt. Col. McLaughlin died shortly after giving that instruction, according to the Guard.

A long-time artillery officer in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, McLaughlin was assigned to Task Force 2-222 Field Artillery and was the primary liaison between the 2-28 Brigade Combat Team and local tribal and government leaders in Ramadi. His efforts were instrumental in getting local sheikhs to support the recruitment drive and encourage more than 1,000 area men to volunteer for the force, commanders said.

"Mike is a true hero in every sense of the word, and he died while doing his job the only way he knew how - out front and with great enthusiasm and courage," said Col. John L. Gronski, commander of the 2-28 BCT. "This loss only strengthens our resolve to carry on and complete the mission in order to honor his memory."

A gregarious wisecracker, McLaughlin said his hope was to one day return to a peaceful Iraq, where he planned to walk the streets of Ramadi in a traditional Arab "man dress," or dishdasha, and sip coffee and chai with those sheikhs he had met during the war. McLaughlin said that one particular tribal leader he had developed a close relationship with dubbed him "The Sheikh of Sheikhs" - a nickname that was soon picked up by fellow officers in the brigade.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
It Is Foolish And Wrong To Mourn The Men Who Died. Rather We Should Thank God That Such Men Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Adios

761 illegals from all over the world were rounded up in Los Angeles and deported back to their own countries.
Story

A group of illegal Mexicans walk up to ICE agents and ask if any of them had any work for them. They were arrested and the local pro-illegal group, CASA, is saying this was an illegal raid.
Story

Why I Lean To The Red Elephant

This Was Sent To Me By John K

I'm a Republican Because...

I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.

I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.

I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations, and that the best government is that which governs least.

I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.

I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.

I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.

FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

Awesome

This story was too cool to not post. It has everything. Australia. I love the Australian accent. A shark. Sharks are cool. And a diver being swallowed head first by the shark and surviving. Wicked awesome.

No Title Needed

Deja-Vu

We've seen what happened when Iraq gave the IAEA inspectors the runaround and now Iran is doing it. But I'm sure they still only want nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

Now That's Quality Football

2
1

Almost two weeks ago I urged that you watch this game and I really hope you took my advice. I stated that Arsenal and Man U. displayed everything that makes this a great game and they didn't disappoint. 10 minutes left, Arsenal down 1-0 and they just exploded. If you've ever wondered why the rest of the world is so mad about the game this was the match that showed you why.

Dodging a Bullet

Talk about getting lucky. As you know, from my recent posts, Oklahoma has been under ice for the past week and we were due for another round this weekend. But that didn't happen. The warm air from the south was able to move far enough north that all we got in my area was rain. Which was a good thing because it's melted a lot of the ice. And it was the southern areas that didn't need anymore snow or ice. I hope this is the last of the Winter weather for the season. I love Winter but could live without the snow and ice.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning

I haven't done a movie review for some time, but this one deserves it.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning

This may be the goriest movie I've ever seen. From the very beginning, the birth of Tommy aka Leatherface, you will be grossed out. You see him actually being born. Water breaking, blood pouring out and the screwed up baby sliding out. Kind of slow at first but quickly picks up. And they don't hold back on the blood and gore. If you're squeamish then this ain't the movie for you. When he cuts the biker in half and blood is spraying everywhere or the chainsaw to the Marine and the taking of his face... damn. But it's R. Lee Ermey that really steals this movie. His best performance since Full Metal Jacket. He really makes you believe his character is a psychotic cannibalistic fake cop.

Not as good as the last one they made a couple of years ago, but still worth seeing. 4 stars.

Winter Storm Round 3

First it was the one back in December. Not too bad, but bad enough. Then we slap upside the head last week with this ice storm that's just now starting to melt a little. We hit 40 today. And now, this weekend brings round three. A pretty good snow storm is headed our way. Anywhere between 2-10" of snow is expect to fall on Saturday. Some towns in Oklahoma are in bad shape now, if they get any more they're in real serious trouble.

Wise Sage Of The Day

Never become so much of an expert that you stop gaining expertise
Denis Waitley

Not Going To Be Tolerated

Just a quick FYI, stupid comments like the one I deleted on yesterdays Wednesday Heroes post will not be allowed. If need be I'll go back to approving comments. It may be an inconvenience to me, but it's better than having some anti-military dumb shit posting their ignorant garbage.

Wednesday Heroes

This Weeks Heroes Were Suggested By CavMom

This week I have three people to talk about. Roy Velez and his two sons, Jose and Andrew. One who was lost in Iraq and another who lost his life in Afghanistan.


It happens almost daily. A stranger reaches out to comfort Roy Velez, unintended symbol of unspeakable loss and grief.

Today it's a woman who approaches as he's halfway through breakfast at Montelongo's Mexican restaurant.

"My brother told me about you and your sons," she says, extending her hand.

He takes her small hand between his - this sturdy man who has buried two boys who went off to war - and listens gently as her own story of sorrow spills forth. Her 8-year-old daughter, a traffic accident, her son at the wheel.

As waiters bustle about with trays of huevos rancheros and barbacoa plates, Mr. Velez does what he does best: offers up a soft prayer to help this mother endure her emptiness.

Strangers learn about Mr. Velez from newspapers and TV. They come to him to share their gratitude or their grief. They come to thank him and console him, tearfully, for his family's sacrifice.

This is how Mr. Velez chooses to live after losing two sons in two years, not riven with anger or paralyzed with sadness. But as someone ready for those who might slip into the darkness of despair.

For his strength for others, compassion and grace - and for serving as inspiration for anyone who knows his story - Mr. Velez is the 2006 Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year.
Because this story is so long, I've linked to the article which you can read in it's entirety.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Ice Storm Update

Well, if you've been watching the news then you know how bad it's been. The last I heard over 20 people had died across the country and in Oklahoma alone thousands are without power. My brother and his family being one of them. So he's staying with me. Like I said in an earlier post, some were without power for up to 3 weeks after the storm last month. I just hope that's not the case this time.

The Great Ice Storm Of 2007, Pt. 2

As you know, Oklahoma is one of the states that's covered in ice after this huge storm has moved through. Below are a few pictures I took. I tried to get one of the ice on my porch to show just how thick it really is, 1-1/2", but my camera's not very good and it didn't come out too well. This is a pretty bad one. I've only seen one worse than this and that was over 15 years ago. At least I haven't lost power or water.





Looks like snow, but that's a solid sheet of ice on the car.


My poor hedge. The last storm we had last month damn near killed it, this one will. I hate to have to rip it out this spring.

The Democrats Plan For Iraq

Ever since President Bush committed U.S. troops to Iraq to continue the fight against terrorism Democrats in Congress have done nothing but bitch, moan and criticize without ever offering another plan. Well, we finally have a plan. Cut the funding for the troops. They don't have the power to bring them out of Iraq on their own so Sen. Russ Feingold has offered up a plan that would force them home. I don't know, but this seems like a big "Fuck You" to the men and women over there. Pull the money out that they need to help train the Iraqi military so they can take over the responsibility of their own country.

The Great Ice Storm Of 2007

Here we go again. A big ice storm has once again hit The Great State of Oklahoma. So far it hasn't been that bad, but that's supposed to change tonight. There are people in my area without power, but so far I'm one of the lucky ones. With the last storm, power was out for 3 weeks in some areas. So if I stop posting for a while you know why.

Good News Friday

CavMom, who's a member of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll, is starting a weekly post she calls Friday's Good News. She'll be posting a story every week out of the Middle East that, for some reason or other, Big Media has chosen to ignore. Head over and check it out.

Coming To America

Reports are that Real Madrid superstar David Beckham could be coming to America to play football. Now, for those of you who don't follow the game, I'm sure you couldn't give a rats ass about this, but this is big news. Is he in the waining days of his career? Yes, but his is one of the biggest names in the game and him coming to play for a U.S. team could finally bring the recognition the sport deserves.
Story

Universal Health Care. The Way Of The Future?

Pregnant women in Canada have to find new doctors.

Don't get Cancer in the U.K.

Nurses in England eat pizza while man starves.

Man refused hip replacement surgery because English hospital doesn't agree with his abortion views. Also, you can be refused treatment for eating, drinking or smoking too much. Wow.

And this is the type of plan Ted Kennedy wants to implement in this country? God help us all. Now, our health care isn't perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than in other countries.

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Hero Was Submitted by Beth

Spc. Jordan William Hess
27 years old from Marysville, Washington
Company C, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment
December 5, 2006


"Specialist Hess died of wounds received on a battlefield upon which no markers or memorials exist, yet his name will be etched upon the small part of each of our hearts that has hardened to stone by the realization of his passing. I will take Specialist Jordan Hess’ name to my own grave, in the hope that I can somehow preserve the honorable life that he led,” said Capt. Ian Lauer, commander of Company C.

Spc. Hess was a study in contrasts who loved a challenge. He had a warrior's spirit and was thrilled at the chance to serve his county, his parents said from their home in Marysville. He also was content to look for his muse in various forms of art, including glass-blowing, photography and poetry. It was this balance that people will remember most about the 26-year-old who was critically injured Nov. 11 in Ta'Meem, Iraq, when an IED detonated near his combat patrol.

A three-year veteran in the U.S. Army, Hess spent more than a year in Korea as well as time in Germany, always looking for an overseas assignment, Bill and Tammy Hess said. They knew their son was on his way to Kuwait the last time they spoke with him in October, and they suspected he had been deployed to Iraq as part of a tank unit when they didn’t hear from him for several weeks. After his injury, Hess was flown back to the United States and treated for several weeks at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. His parents, as well as his six brothers and one sister, were flown there to be with him.

"None of us wanted to see him hurt like that," Bill Hess said. "But one of the greatest blessings in my life was that we were able to say goodbye."

Hess was an avid wrestler from the time he was young, and news of his death circulated at Lake Stevens High School, where he attended until 1999. "He was a strong-willed, independent young man with a unique sense of humor," the Lake Stevens wrestling coaches said in a statement. "The Lake Stevens wrestling community today feels a strong sense of loss."

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

The Next Level Of Abortion

The Following Story Was Sent To Me By Za

As if abortion wasn't bad enough already, U.S. doctors have discovered a new source of stem cells they think may be of some use. And all they have to do is create a specially made fetus and destroy it and Michael J. Fox will stop shaking. Ah, the future of medicine.
Story

Illegals In Rhode Island

The Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU is suing the Rhode Island state police for detaining illegal Guatemalan men.

You know, how dare they. How dare these cops do their job of holding criminals. I mean, where will it all end? Police arresting murderers? Drug dealers? This madness has to stop.

Wise Sage Of The Day

"The intelligent man who is proud of his intelligence is like the condemned man who is proud of his large cell."
Simone Weil

America In A Post-9/11 World

Three men detained in Miami, Florida.
Gas leak in New York.

Overreaction? Maybe. Paranoia? Perhaps. But, personally, I would rather have a little overreaction and paranoia than go back to the "Terrorism... what's that?" mentality.

The Return Of The Flip-Flops

I actually supported more troops before I didn't before I did before I didn't. It seems that Mr. Reid is the quintessential weather vane politician.

Very Cool, Pt.2

CENTCOM knows about Wednesday Hero. One of the members received an comment from a Sgt. Eric Jehnsen.

I came across your blog today and noticed your "Wednesday Hero"
entry. I realize that these are submitted from other sites and thought that you
might be interested in learning about more Heroes.

I am with CENTCOM Public Affairs and work on a team that has an aim
to build relationships and establish dialogue with bloggers. One of the
ways we do that is to introduce them to our website at www.centcom.mil. We also provide the opportunity to subscribe to our newsletter and Coalition
bulletin that is sent out regularly. Would you be interested in any of
these news products? If you are, I can sign you up right away. Also,
would you care to post a link to our site on your blog? Many of your readers
may find it to be a very good source of additional information. It also
provides a link to "Heroes in Action".

Please feel free to contact me if you feel our news products would be
a nice fit for your blog. I appreciate your time.

V/R

Sgt. Eric Jensen
CENTCOM Public Affairs
Electronic Media Engagement Team

The Perfect Sauce?

In the past I've brought you such great recipes as Taco Soup and Pizza Soup. Now I bring you a "recipe" for what may be the best sauce I've ever tasted. I stumbled upon it by accident. I wanted something for the sausages I made but didn't any one flavor. What you do it take some A1 steak sauce, I use Smokey Mesquite, mix that with some Taco Bell taco sauce, you can find it at your local grocery store, and add some ranch dressing. It's some damn tasty stuff. Put it on your burgers before you grill them or use it as a dipping sauce.

Very Cool

I received an email from a reader regarding the Wednesday Hero Blogroll that reads as follows:

We have produced a music video for the Wednesday Hero family.

You can see it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYbncMpXRWw

Enjoy the presentation and Happy New Year!

Wednesday Hero

This weeks hero was submitted by Jimbailoni

Sgt. Brent Dunkleberger
29 years old from New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania
1st Calvary Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team
December 11, 2006


Sgt. Dunkleberger was on his second tour of duty in Iraq when he was killed by an RPG when his convoy was attacked while on a security mission.

"We can't put into words right now the grief we feel, but we can put into words how proud we are of Brent. He chose to serve our country and give his life for what he believed in," said William Dunkleberger, Brent's father. "we thank the community for the outpouring of support and ask everyone to continue to pray for us. We also ask the media to respect our privacy during this very difficult time."

Sgt. Dunkleberger graduated high school in 1996 and enlisted in the United States Army in 2003 and became a tank driver for the 1st Calvary Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

He is survived by his wife and four children.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

An Update

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but with this problem with my connection and being sick this week I haven't been in much of a blogging mood. Though both do seem to be getting a little better. Some of the sites I had problems with on Saturday, or when ever I last posted, are sometimes loading. Though when they do it's done VERY slowly. But it's still strange how it's a hit or miss situation. Amazon will sometimes load sometimes not, it's 50/50, while I have no trouble with Blogger. I can update Norton antivirus but I can't download updates for Firefox add-ons. I was kind of hoping that it was FF 2.0.0.1 that was the problem. It didn't happen until after I installed it, but I went back to 2.0 and that didn't fix it. It could be my modem but it says it's working fine. I'm going to looking into getting another one tomorrow and see it that does the trick.