Misc.

[magid]

At first I thought it was just me having LJ difficulties this morning, so I upgraded the version of Netscape I have on my work machine (I had been using 4.7, I believe). It didn't help with LJ, except that it distracted me from checking my friends page quite so obsessively as I fiddled with the appearance of the pages, changing fonts and sizes, getting used to new icons. It feels strange, still, and a bit embarrassing to admit that, actually. (One side benefit of upgrading seems to be the lack of random spaces peppering my posts from work. Still has the tendency to eat the last character, but no longer to add one. Interesting.)

It's already that flat grey overcast that means precipitation on the way; I hope it doesn't start until I've gotten the drive home done with and have already snagged a parking spot.
(Nope - in the few minutes I've been typing, the flakes are already coming down rather quickly, mid-sized clumps blowing in what looks like a rather active wind.)
(1610: OK, maybe not; the snow has slowed to small flakes drifting down.)

Where's Bitty? My friends page is moving slower than usual for a Monday :-).

We got an email at work outlining a new opportunity: we can bring stuff in to be sent to soldiers in Military Support Packages. This is not a pen pal sort of suggestion, which I could understand, but a request for actual stuff.

the whole list we were sent:
• Writing tablets
  
• Pens
  
• Pringles
  
• Paperback books~new or slightly used (most needed are those geared toward men)
  
• Current magazines
  
• Crossword books
  
• Hard Candy
  
• Gum
  
• Tic Tac's
  
• Noodles Ramen (all flavors)
  
• Beef Jerky
  
• Playing Cards
  
• Soap
  
• Shampoo
  
• Disposable Razors
  
• Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
  
• Hand Lotion
  
• Deodorant
  
• Hairbrushes
  
• Tissues (travel packs)

I suppose I can understand the reading material, since that could get old rather quickly. But somehow I assume that the military (with the percent of the federal budget it commands) should be able to muster basic toiletries, snacks, paper and pens. I just don't understand why I should be asked to send these things. As the bumper sticker says, it's not the military that has to have bake sales... It doesn't help that I am not in favor of this projected war, either. I'm not keen on Saddam Hussein, but he hasn't done much recently that he hasn't been doing for the last decade, as far as I can tell. And just because Bush can't seem to find someone more connected to 9/11 to make a war on doesn't mean it's ok to start a war with him.

Comments

[bitty.livejournal.com]

/me was sent home from work early, went shopping for soup veggies, came home, put the soup on to simmer, and is about to collapse and sleep off this impending cold.

/me also had trouble lj-ing from work today.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Hope you're feeling better soon.
mmm... soup....

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Military budget goes, as far as I can tell, mostly for R&D and building things with which to kill other people and break things. Fancy airplanes are _expensive_; you are on your own for providing most of your basic stuff (toiletries).

[magid.livejournal.com]

It seems so strange to me that they wouldn't budget for basic supplies for soldiers in addition to the fancy gadgets. I mean, I thought that part of the deal was that the military provided certain basic stuff, especially when sent on missions away from whatever home base.
If it's not part of the deal, is there no usual way for soldiers to get such supplies?
o