Just Blogging

Lisa Bevan asked:




There are many proud mom’s of military service men and service woman across this great land of ours (the proud United States). And there are no better gifts to give these mom’s except for military mom’s gifts.

What kind of gifts are these?

These are gifts that are for mothers. But these gifts aren’t for just any mother, they are for the elite military mother.

Here are a few gift ideas:
Special photo frames. These must be large enough to display not only photographs, but medals, pendants and certificates. You know those solider men and woman are always earning awards for bravery. Flags. Military mom’s love displaying these in all sizes and shapes. They especially like the kind that can be displayed outside for the world to see. Flowers. Do you want to give these mother flowers? Remember their favorite colors most certainly are red, white and blue. Tee shirts. Mom’s love to display proudly what their children do. Give these mom’s tee shirt proclaiming that their son/daughter is proudly in the Army, Navy, Marines, etc. Bumper stickers for their cars are also a nice thought. Prepaid phone cards. These mom’s can give them to their children. Then they can be sure to always be able to afford to call home, no matter where they are stationed. Care packages for their sons and daughters. Better yet, help the mom with a drive to prepare care packages for their sons/daughters whole unit. Cups and Mugs displaying son’s/daughter’s picture or a slogan about their son/daughter being in the military License plate covers that proudly show that their son/daughter is a soldier, as well as magnets that can be put anywhere on their automobiles.

Mom’s of soldiers are special mom’s. They have unique worries than most. But they also have reason to be proud of their sons/daughters accomplishments. Show them that you are proud of those accomplishment, too. Give those mom’s military mom’s gifts.

Omar Mazatleen asked:




The soldiers and officers both in military, navy, and other government armed forces are supplied with their complete tactical gears and equipment. The military supplies are given to the military servicemen and officers on a regular basis. Due to some circumstances such as immediate evacuation of their bases especially in war, some soldiers just leave some of their supplies that will eventually become the new possessions of the enemies such as rebels who took over the place. Some soldiers are also prompted to several situations that cause the premature wear and tear on their uniforms. These situations make the soldiers to sacrifice by just using the only gear that is left on them before their new supplies are delivered to them.

That was the story before when the military supplies such as camo gears and tactical gears were only limited for use by the armed forces. The military men just rely on their supplies for the sale of their uniforms and equipments is prohibited by the government. Now these equipments are open for sale even to the civilians. The military and civilians can use the same types of camo gears that were originally designed for soldiers. New garments are also designed with military inspired motifs.

Camo gears, garments, and even some equipment such as binoculars used by the military are now commonly available as surplus in different military supplies and surplus stores. Online stores also offer the same products for online shoppers. The military wannabies can now legally use the gears and equipments that were originally used by the military and were only part of their dreams before. If you are one of those wannabies who have been dreaming of becoming soldiers, now you can be one. You can look and feel like a real soldier without undergoing rigid trainings. But always keep in mind that you just got their looks not their jobs so you should not dream of using a real gun if you are not licensed to do so.

Victor Epand asked:




I am a in the military. My current residency is Louisiana. I would like to change my residency to Florida. What are the requirements to make this change? Also, I will be going to a 3 month school in Florida in conjunction with PCS orders to Puerto Rico. Would this help me?

Answer: to acquire a domicile of choice in a new place two things must happen:

(a) you must be in the state and

(b) while you are there and before you leave, you must intend to make it your permanent home.

Those two requirements are all that’s necessary. You don’t have to buy property in the new state, open a bank account there, vote, get a driver’s license, file a legal notice in the paper, or anything else. Physical presence, combined simultaneously with the appropriate mental intent, is all that’s required.

So your time in Florida will satisfy the presence requirement.

Unfortunately, proving mental intent can be difficult sometimes. So to prove that you really did intend to make the new state your domicile, it might be a good idea to do some or all of the things mentioned below, with the understanding that those actions are not what make you a legal resident; rather they are simply evidence that you did intend to make the state your SLR.

You do not need to live in the state for any length of time, own a home in the state, or to have an address in the state to be domiciled in it. You only need to be physically present in the state at the time you decide to make it your permanent home. You could for example, drive through the state and be so struck by its beauty that you immediately adopt it as your permanent home, but if you do not have feelings about it before you drive out of it, your domicile has not changed.

Domicile is primarily a state of mind that a certain place is your permanent home. It is a mental attachment that you carry around with you. Once you acquire a domicile it remains your domicile, even though you leave it, unless your state of mind changes while you are in another place.

If you change your state of domicile, you may have to prove it. You might, for example, have decided to stop paying state income taxes because you changed your domicile to a state with no income tax. Your old domicile, the state losing tax revenue, may question that change. Or your spouse, for example, might sue for divorce in your former domicile, and you might not like the divorce laws there. If you can prove your domicile changed, you might be able to get the case dismissed. In the case of taxes, if you cannot prove your domicile changed, you could end up owing taxes to two or more states, and require that a court decide the matter.

The best evidence of your state of mind is the contacts that other people can see you have with a specific state. For the kinds of actions to help prove your state of domicile see the list below. You may not prove successfully that your domicile has changed unless your show contacts beyond just the benefit of the legal consequences that a change of domicile would give you. You should have all your contacts with the one state you call your permanent home. If you have contacts with multiple states, it may be difficult or impossible to prove your domicile.

Actions to show intent:

1. Expressed intent, oral or written and physical presence, past and present (including duration) [Prerequisite to establishing domicile].

2. Voter registration [Important Factor]

3. Vehicle registration as a resident vice non-residence military [Important factor, but you have a choice.]

4. Motor vehicle operator’s permit [Important Factor]

5. Location of bank and investment accounts.

6. Explanations for temporary changes in residence.

7. Submission of DD Form 2058 (Change of domicile form).

8. Payment of taxes - income and personal property [Important Factor]

9. Payment of nonresident tuition to institutions of higher education

10. Declarations of residence on legal documents such as wills, deeds, mortgages, leases, contracts, insurance policies, and hospital records. [Important factor]

11. Declarations of domicile in affidavits or litigation[Important Factor]

12. Residence of immediate family.

13. Membership in church, civil, professional, service or fraternal organizations.

14. Ownership of burial plots.

15. Place of burial of immediate family members.

16. Location of donees of charitable contributions.

17. Location of schools attended by children.

18. Ownership of real property. [Important factor. However, ownership of property in another state will not disqualify.]

19. Home of record at the time of entering service.

20. Place of marriage.

21. Spouse’s domicile.

22. Place of birth.

23. Business interests.

24. Sources of income.

25. Outside employment.

26. Address provided on federal income tax return.

Generally, unless you have taken at least some of these steps, it is doubtful that you’re State of legal residence/ domicile has changed. Failure to resolve any doubts as to your State of legal residence/domicile may adversely impact on certain legal privileges which depend on legal residence/ domicile including among others, eligibility for resident tuition rates at State universities, eligibility to vote or be a candidate for public office, and eligibility for various welfare benefits. If you have any doubt with regard to your State of legal residence/domicile, you should see your Legal Assistance attorney for legal advice before deciding to change your domicile.

Matthew Beeson asked:




Military service is an integral part of anyone’s personal history and so is an important part of family history. From knowing if your great-great grandfather fought in the Civil War to seeing what branch your cousin served in the Persian Gulf War, finding military records can add a richness to your family story. You may also want to verify military service for a perspective employee. Whatever your reason, here are some ways to access military records.

First, you can try the National Archives. Most veterans and their next-of kin can get free copies of DD Form 214, which is the Report of Separation, discharge papers, medical information and more. To request these reports, they have to provide the veteran’s service number and Social Security number, branch of service and dates of service, and date and place of birth. The National Archives also allow members of the general public to access some military records as well. Here is some of the information that you can access without violating the veteran’s privacy: service number, dates of service, branch, rank, assignments and geographical location, military education, transcripts of Court Martial proceedings, and place of entrance and separation.

This doesn’t help much if you want to research a family member who fought in the Revolutionary War, so there are sites that can help you focus your research on more distant veterans. These require no permission because they don’t violate the Privacy Act of 1974.

Finding military records is more challenging than finding other types of records, such as birth, marriage, and death records. It is still worth your time, however, to do a military records search because it can add a lot of detail to your family history.

George Rogers asked:




If your entire career may consist of a military background, you have a great advantage for your resume. This advantage is made up of a good deal of experience and dedication that is extremely appealing to prospective civilian employers. However, you should find a Military Resume Sample for civilian purposes so that you can convert your traditional military resume into one that is conducive to your new civilian life. Much of this has to do with the fact that the military format is much more rigid and does not outline the capabilities that you want to display. If you use the military format, civilian employers will most likely overlook your resume.

Instead, start your civilian life with a military resume sample that will show you how to analyze your old resume and come up with creative and innovative solutions to successfully convert your old style into a civilian resume. Done properly, you will be a step above any civilian candidate with similar qualifications.

To make the transition to civilian life with a military resume, use a good sample to show you exactly how to “re-invent” yourself with your written materials. This will be the most challenging phase of your transition. Once you’ve worked out your civilian life plan with your military resume through a good sample, you’ll understand your civilian outlook and will be able to handle first meetings, interviews, and everything else that lies ahead.

The first thing that a military transition resume sample will show you is that a hiring manager does not have very much time to look over resumes, so you will need to lay out your skill sets with the words and skill sets well defined to be spotted at a glance. As a test, when you lay out your resume, give it to someone whose judgment you trust - and preferably one who does not have a military background - and allow them to look at it for only 30-40 seconds, and find out what they were able to pick up. If your resume is too full of technical information or military terminology, the qualifications you’re trying to demonstrate will not be identifiable.

Also, moving to civilian life from a military resume will need a sample that shows you how to make your resume much less verbose than it was while you served.

A quality military resume sample will show you how to join civilian life with a resume that assesses your strengths, formats the resume itself in a civilian-friendly way, and includes a winning cover letter.

Victor Epand asked:




Most of the exoskeleton suits are still in work and some of them work pretty well, but they are thinking too small and are too much under budget. Exoskeleton suits as everyone knows can be used for just about anything on the ground, combat or non-combat alike. If the current exo suit is as good as it says, I think they should look to a higher view. Of course this is a good starter but not good for lifting anything if your arms can’t handle it.

If they start thinking bigger and better like in the movies like you say, it can definitely do a lot better. Example, one worker exo could replace 3 people working on a construction project at the same speed, but 3 exo workers could get it done in a far faster time limit thus getting the whole project done far faster. Some people will say it will take jobs away instead of creating them. But if you don’t take away the jobs the fighting force overall will work much faster and efficient.

I’ve had an idea a little before, maybe some other people may have had the idea too, but if they work on the obliques a lot more and included arms for it. Maybe in case they had to tip a car over for cover, add the Dragon skin armor for plaiting around the whole exo which would cover the body shell and put a helmet on with all kinds of tech in it, and make it almost impossible for a bullet to slip in and still comfortable and quick moving. It could make a good front line assault group that can be used for certain missions.

And you know those soldiers that get booted from the army for being too strong…give those guys these and in case for some reason the system fails. They will be able to unload some of the more heavier stuff and still be able to move around on there own. Ideally like medieval times, there would be knights that wore armor into battle and really did some good punches to overall battles that may have took a lot more lives to defeat. I know a lot of people would think these are stupid ideas but if you get the right people and trained them good to pilot anything close to what I just said, it would be like you have god himself on your side.

As a former design specialist working for a DOD contractor the design of piloted and remote control was in development in the mid 80’s. The problems then were 1 Power 2 reset 3 panic the first verbal control panic button was Reset and returning unit to “Zero” Power was limited to battery, hydraulic, and diesel. The exoskeleton issue is to structure the system needs to closely fit the environment.

One can only wonder what will happen to all that delicate equipment when a little sand or dust gets in there. Will it short out when a soldier must cross a stream or the humidity of a rainy day? Care for a roll in the mud? I am a great enthusiast of sci-fi equipment. If you want an equipment hauler for here and now the bicycle is a simple, proven, and available combat vehicle.

The bicycle was the secret weapon that allowed 30,000 Japanese to defeat 100,000 British at Singapore in World War II. By traveling 3 times faster than on foot the Japanese were able to project an image of about the same size force as the British. Given Japanese control of sea and air “resistance was futile”. The Viet Cong proved the bicycle was a formidable hauler of supplies. The Germans had a bicycle corps trained to jump off their bikes and become infantry in seconds. The bicycle was considered ideal for recon and Special Forces.

Max Bellamy asked:




How are military insignia patches formed and modified, are an interesting story? An example of this can be witnessed in the way the Fifth Special Forces Group was formed for the Vietnam War, in 1962. The United States Special Forces, Vietnam (Provisional) was formed from members drawn from the First Group, the Fifth Group, and the Seventh Groups. The soldiers operated in small units and created several insignia patch designs for their identification. The Fifth Special Forces Group used the insignia of the beret fish that combined the yellow from the first group, red from the seventh, and black from the Fifth that was incorporated with bend lets that represented the flag of Vietnam.

Insignia are available hand-sewn and machine-sewn, as well as in several other variants. This is largely because many of the insignia for the US army personnel were remade elsewhere in different countries or within the country when new arrivals came or when new recon teams were put together.

A plethora of designs of military insignia patches has seen the emergence of several hundred private vendors who offer comprehensive solutions. These vendors offer customized solutions for the military, the police, business, uniform suppliers, teams and government agencies. They can virtually manufacture patches of any shape and size and in any color.

The military insignia was used on different items in the US. Initially, in the early years, the patches served as an insignia for the Army. This was later practiced in the Navy and the Air force used them. The Marine Corps also used patches during the Second World War but discontinued their use immediately after the war. The US Navy was never partial to shoulder sleeve insignia, and had its own traditions with respect to the use of the insignia. There were very limited cases where naval personnel wore insignia in the fashion of shoulder sleeve insignia.

Gabriel J. Adams asked:




Those men and women who choose to serve their country in the military unfortunately run a higher risk of incurring a traumatic brain injury (TBI) than those civilians who might be exposed to less risk. One reason for this is that military personnel are under a high risk for being involved in car accidents, which are the most common cause of all TBIs. In addition, military personnel are consistently at risk of being injured by powerful munitions, which can also cause a brain injury through concussive force. Though military service does exposed personnel to the risk of a penetrative brain injury, such as caused by a bullet or shrapnel, an even greater risk exists for a TBI caused by a concussive blast wave as a result of an explosive. The high occurrence of explosions due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in combat theaters such as Iraq and Afghanistan means American troops in the field are at a high risk of incurring a TBI.

Afghanistan, Iraq Conflicts a Major Risk Factor for Traumatic Brain Injury

We now know those who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq are at a much higher risk of TBI than combat veterans from previous wars. In the Vietnam War, 14 to 18 percent of all veterans had a brain injury. Today, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center says 31 percent of those admitted between January 2003 and May 2005 had some kind of brain injury. A 2005 study in the New England Journal of Medicine attributed these higher numbers in part to advancements in munitions, especially improvised explosive devices, and in part to improvements in body armor, which protects soldiers from what would previously have been a fatal penetrative wound, but not from a nonfatal blast injury.

Misdiagnosed/Undiagnosed Traumatic Brain Injury in Soldiers

Because the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury often do not appear until weeks after the injury is sustained, it is not uncommon for a TBI to go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. This is especially true when the symptoms of a TBI are subtle, such as a personality change or emotional problems, which are easy for strangers to miss. There does exist some evidence that such symptoms may occasionally be misdiagnosed as pure psychological, or even a result of a soldier’s malingering, partly due to the lack of resources and traumatic brain injury expertise that combat doctors might be forced to deal with.

And as Commander James Dunne, lead trauma surgeon at the National Naval Medical Center, observed at a 2006 summit of military physicians, the long-term consequences of an undiagnosed TBI can be devastating. Those servicemen and women with an undiagnosed brain injury can lose all-too-important treatment time, which can prolong recovery time and possibly cause serious personal complications and setbacks. Because side effects of a traumatic brain injury include behavioral and emotional problems, especially depression, TBIs can hold discharged soldiers back from reintegrating into civilian society or even from continued success in the armed services.

A 1996 medical study showed that a behavior-related discharge from the military was 1.8 times more likely for a TBI patient than for a soldier without a TBI. Trouble with motor skills, memory and the senses, some of the more common side effects of a TBI, can also severely hamper a veteran’s ability to find a job, care for family members, or perform other vital life tasks. And without a diagnosis, military TBI patients may be liable for tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of medical bills, on top of lost wages.

Proper helmets and body armor, particularly the newest Kevlar armor, remain the best way to prevent a traumatic brain injury among those who serve in the military. It is also important to have rapid diagnosis and quickly implemented treatment of a TBI to prevent secondary injuries due to the chemical and physical changes to the brain that can accompany a TBI, swelling for example. It can also minimize the cost, both personal and financial, of the injury to the soldier and his or her loved ones. If you believe that you or one of your loved ones might have an undiagnosed service-related TBI, an experienced brain injury attorney can help you get the help and compensation you deserve.

Anne Noonan asked:




Antique military telescopes are available to you as replicas, through several Web sites.

At these replica sites for antique military telescopes you can purchase great replicas of antique military telescopes that were used on ships and other military vehicles. You might find, for instance huge antique military telescopes that were used as port masters or small ones that were used as spyglasses.
In most cases, these replicas of antique military telescopes are not only attractive keepsakes but working telescopes as well.

The $44 spyglass telescope, for example, has a fine finish and a classic look. It is tiny enough to fit inside your pocket but when you unfold it it stretches to 14 inches. This smallest of the antique military telescopes has great optics. Its rosewood covering gives it an attractive look as well as comfortable grip. The lens on this spyglass telescope is protected from damage by a cap made of brass.

At the other end of the size spectrum of these antique military telescopes is the Port Master Telescope. Its cost is $385.

It’s massive (40 inches) but attractive, and stands on a gorgeous rosewood tripod. This antique military telescope is so tall that a taller than average adult can still view through it while standing.

The Port Master has a targeting telescope that expands and contracts and is mounted on top of its main tube. Once you have honed in on your celestial (or in this case naval) target, you’ll find a sharp clear image of even distant objects. The telescope’s positioning instruments bring you very exacting information about your target’s angle and its locking screws, which are adjustable, let this antique military telescope move easily. In contrast, it can also lock it in place.

The Port Master telescope weighs more than twenty pounds.

Katrina Eden asked:




Did you know you can program your body to burn more fat - not just when you’re active, but all day - and all night - long?

Increasing your metabolism (or fat-burning ability) really is simple once you know how …

Here’s what you need to know:

Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), more commonly referred to as your metabolism, is what dictates how many calories you burn each day just by being alive.

For the average person, about 60-70% of the calories they burn each day come about by doing precisely nothing. All you have to do is keep breathing. Most people burn an additional 20-30% of their calories through daily activity, including exercise, and the other 10% is through the thermal effects of absorbing and digesting your food.

The people who lose the most weight, and keep it off, are those who are not just willing to work hard on their body, but know how to be smart about it. And one of the smartest things you can do to maximise your weight loss is to build more lean muscle so that your body works FOR you rather than AGAINST you.

I’m not talking about bulking up or becoming a body-builder. Even a small increase in muscle mass can dramatically impact your BMR. You see, for every pound of muscle you gain, your body will burn an additional 50 calories per day - just by being alive. Sure, 50 calories isn’t much (about 12 M&Ms), but what if you were to build 5 pounds of extra muscle? Or 10? Keep in mind that 10 pounds of muscle would be equivalent in size to 4 tennis balls - spread out over your whole body - so it’s not as though you’d be physically bigger. In fact, if anything, you would look a lot leaner - I know I’d rather have 4 tennis balls worth of lean, toned muscle on my body than 4 footballs of pudge (the approximate size of 10 pounds of body fat).

Wouldn’t you?

Not to mention, that the extra 500 calories you’d burn would equate to around 110 M&Ms you could eat every day without affecting your weight! Or (crazy idea!) you could NOT eat them, and watch your body fat start to melt away as if by magic :

So how do you get to that magic place and start burning fat all day long - even while you’re sleeping?

The most effective way to build lean muscle is to train with weights. For beginner’s, even once each week will cause you to build muscle. For more advanced exerciser’s, I’d recommend 2-3 times per week. In my experience, multi-joint full body exercises are the best way to go. Remember - we’re not trying to be bodybuilder’s: no single-joint movements or split body routines necessary. In fact, this could even slow your progress down, unless you are an extremely conditioned and experienced exerciser.

This is not a quick fix! Building muscle is an ongoing process, and it takes some people longer than others. Those with a slight build can expect to gain around 0.7 pounds for every 12 weeks of training, while those with a solid build may build up to 3.5 pounds of muscle in the same time frame.

IMPORTANT! Women particularly - please do not worry about becoming ‘bigger’. Lean muscle will make you much smaller in size, although your weight on the scales may remain unchanged. Why? Just remember the tennis ball vs the football. If you need more reassurance, measure yourself around the belly button each week, or use a favorite pair of jeans as a size guide.

A final point before I leave you to go hit the weights room (I’m writing this from the café in my gym - gotta practice what I preach!). Even if you’re happy with the way you look right now, or still aren’t convinced on the weight-training front, remember that for every year that passes as a non-exercising adult, you lose approximately 0.5-2% percent of the muscle you had as a young adult. This decline begins around 25 on average, and is accelerated in those are very inactive.

Scary! And this explains why so many naturally thin people end up with a soft and droopy look in later years, or a sudden and unexpected surge in weight once they enter their thirties.

The moral of the story? Train with weights. Don’t forget to stay tuned for my next article - the best way to train weights for INCREDIBLE fat loss!