Gary Bird 1950-2001

REPOSTED: because I will never forget.

He was a corporate cowboy. Gary Bird worked in risk management, but his great joy was riding horses. He was practically born in the saddle. His mother was riding horses when she was eight months pregnant with him, until her doctor stopped her.

He lived in Tempe, Ariz., where he kept three quarter horses. He rode as often as he could, including multiday trail rides. His wife, Donna Killoughey Bird, and two children, Amanda, 15, and Andrew, 13, rode, too, but Mr. Bird was the avid one.

If he wasn't surrounded by open spaces, he would get edgy. In 1984, he was in New York for four days to attend a conference. By the fourth day, he told his wife, "I'm really claustrophobic here, because I can't see the horizon." As she put it, "It was a case of `don't fence me in.' "

Gary Bird moved to Tempe, AZ in 1973. He had a successful career in Risk Management, 12 yrs with Phelps Dodge Corp. Authored a book “TheWrap-Up Guide”, the authoritative work on the installation and operation of controlled insurance programs published by International Risk Management Institute (IRMI).

Mr. Bird was active in the community. He helped found the first Boys and Girls Club in Tempe in the early 1980’s. Served on the Tempe Planning and Zoning Commission and the Tempe Industrial and Development Board. He was active with the Friends of the Tempe Butte organization, helped plan and direct youth swim meets.

Gary Bird had just been promoted to Vice President at Marsh Inc, was on the 99th floor, Tower 2, WTC attending a meeting on his 2nd day as VP.

He is survived by his wife Donna, daughter Amanda, and son Andrew.

I guess to really honor him, we should go ride a horse.

Sources:
http://memorial.mmc.com/pgBio.asp?ID=24
http://www.irmi.com/About/PressReleases/2002/0505a.aspx
http://ltn-archive.hotresponse.com/november01/tech_circuit_p16.html
http://www.asuwebdevil.com/issues/2001/10/05/campusnews/112296

Please visit the other 2996 Bloggers

Pablo Ortiz 1/25/52 - 9/11/01

"They told me the last time they saw him he was going back up to help more people."

PROJECT 2996 (2006)

9/11 Tribute: Pablo Ortiz
Posted by: John H. @ 12:00 am

As part of the 2,996 Project it is my pleasure and honor to pay tribute to Pablo Ortiz, a true American hero. This man’s life has humbled and inspired me. I hope it does the same for you. Always remember, never forget 9/11.

Mr. Ortiz was a second-generation immigrant from Puerto Rico. He left his hardscrabble childhood in a tough section of New York for the Navy, becoming a Navy Seal and serving in Vietnam. Although suffering flashbacks for the rest of his life, Mr. Ortiz was proud of his service. Those who know him describe a conscientious man who demanded things be done right, especially from himself. These traits made him an outstanding Superintendant of Construction for the Port Authority of New York.

At least 50 people stuck on the 88th and 89th floors of the north tower were able to walk out of the building because Mr. De Martini, Mr. Ortiz and others tore away rubble, broke down doors and answered calls for help. Everyone above the 91st floor died.

In the most essential ways, these men, employees of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, pushed back the boundary line between life and death in favor of the living. Both Mr. De Martini and Mr. Ortiz, who continued to help other trapped people, died in the building.

Edna Ortiz remembers her husband as a very human man. ''I'm very proud of what he did.'' she says. ''But I wish he had come home.''

Mr Ortiz divorced five years ago (1998) after a 16-year marriage to Maureen Foo-Van Natten, a secretary for Community Hospice. Their two children, Justina 19 and 12-year-old JaShingiz (ages as of 2003), live with their mother in Schenectady.

The headstone has an etched cross and reads: "Pablo Ortiz. Father. Hero. Always in our hearts. 1/25/52 - 9/11/01."


Sources, please read them for full details:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/29/nyregion/port-authority-tapes-overview-fresh-glimpse-9-11-files-struggles-for-survival.html

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=167529&category=FRONTPG&BCCode=SEP11

http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookID=9285719440219&page=9

SCotUS takes it Both Ways

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS delivered the opinion of the Court with respect to Part II, concluding that the Anti-Injunction Act does notbar this suit.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS concluded in Part III–A that the indi­vidual mandate is not a valid exercise of Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS concluded in Part III–B that the individ­ual mandate must be construed as imposing a tax on those who do not have health insurance, if such a construction is reasonable.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS delivered the opinion of the Court with respect to Part III–C, concluding that the individual mandate may beupheld as within Congress’s power under the Taxing Clause. 

So, ObamaCare is officially  a non-tax Tax.  

The Four Freedoms We Fight For.

Reposted to remind us of what the USA stands for.



None of these Freedoms exist in Muslim Nations.
Islam does not permit Freedom.

ISLAM DEMANDS SUBMISSION.
USA PROVIDES FREEDOM.

In 1944-1945, the USA ruled the world, from Berlin to Tokyo, and all points in between. The USA controlled the globe, only the Soviet Union, our then ally, was outside of our control.

And we gave it all back to the people. By 1953, we had allowed the peoples of the world to create their own governments.
But the Soviet Union had keep all of Eastern Europe occupied and controlled by Soviet troops. It would take until 1989 to free Eastern Europe, but the USA finally freed them.

Laptops Save Lives

That's what Chuck Z says, and he would know. As Noah Shachtman of Wired puts it,

Suddenly, he [Chuck] was able to connect to the outside world. He was
able to take up his blog again, too. And from that, he was able to
muster the self-esteem and internal strength to begin his recovery.

From the reports of family and friends of a triple amputee:

The laptop was the first step to the road to recovery. It proved that he
was going to be able to do all the things that he did before.

From the CO of a wounded soldier:

He expressed to me today in an email how much that [laptop] helped him. So
thank you. Very much. For taking care of my Soldiers when I no longer
could.

From a laptop recipient:

I can't begin to tell how much [the laptop] has changed my stay at WRAMC;
I am able to correspond with my Soldiers, and my family. My Soldiers
are still down range in Iraq. They are coming home soon, and I look
forward to being back at my post to receive them. Again, thank you so
much.

From Chuck Z himself:

It was the first time I felt whole since I’d woken up wounded in Landstuhl.

As
Veterans Day approaches, you can "support the troops" in a powerful and
life-changing way. As Chuck says, "I can't wait to give that feeling to
another wounded soldier." Please help him do that.

Powered by ScribeFire.

TRUTH

Since GOOGLE blocks me from sharing this link directly, I post it here.

GOOGLE does not want anyone to share sites which speak the truth about Moslems.

Just because I am Free to do this

Using Blogs again

Some things require more than 140 characters.

Project 2996

Project Valour-IT

Offensive Attack on Free Speech

I haven't blogged in a while, because Twitter is easier and faster.
but this is much too long for a Tweet:

An email I received:

From: Levana - Health Care for America Now <hcan@healthcareforamericanow.org>
Date: Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Subject: Join us - special briefing from Rep. Doggett, actress Edie Falco, and more
To:[redacted]

Dear [redacted]:

By now, I'm sure you've heard about the lobbyist-funded right-wing extremists making trouble at town halls all across America.

These disruptions are funded by special interests like the insurance companies, who want to kill health care reform as quickly as possible.¹ They're trying to make sure nobody can have a productive, rational conversation about what health care reform will do for you and me. We can't let them stifle debate or we will not win health care reform this year.

So, we've organized a special briefing with Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett, actress Edie Falco, Richard Kirsch, Health Care for America Now's National Campaign Director, and Dan Heck, a regional director for Working America and Health Care for America Now to get the facts out about health care reform, find out what's at stake, and learn what you and I can do to help pass reform.

Can you join us for a special briefing on Tuesday, August 11th at 9 pm EST (6 pm PST) to learn about health care reform and how to right back against the lobbyist-funded right-wing? Click here to RSVP.

We've lined up some speakers on the call who really know what they're talking about.

Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett talk about his experiences with these disruption tactics and what you can expect. Actress and advocate Edie Falco will tell you what's at stake. Richard Kirsch, our National Campaign Director, will talk about our historic progress on passing health reform and what we need to do to get it over the finish line. And Dan Heck, a regional director for Working America and Health Care for America Now who's out there every day talking to real people about this issue will give you tips on how to combat some of the biggest myths out there on health reform and how to get involved in your community.

Can you join us for this special briefing with Representative Doggett, Edie Falco, Richard Kirsch, Dan Heck, and thousands of activists and organizers like you and me? Click here to RSVP for the call on Tuesday, August 11th at 9 pm EST (6pm PST).

We'll also take questions for the speakers. You can submit a question you'd like to ask when you sign up to RSVP for the training call.

It's crucial that we're out there busting myths and promoting health reform every day in August while Congress is back at home, listening to their voters.

Please join us!

To your health,

Levana Layendecker
Health Care for America Now

P.S. We've been busy loading hundreds of local town hall events into our system. It's crucial supporters of health care reform get out and make our voices heard this month while Congress is home listening to you. Click here to go to our homepage and search for events in your area.

1. Inside The Tea-Partiers Anti-Health Care Organizing Campaign - Talking Points Memo

Moving day

After 2 and half years of using Blogger, I have decided to move over to Mee.Nu.

Please update your bookmarks to wordmarvin.mee.nu

I am keeping the archives here.

but new posts are here.


.

1000 Words

Reposted from last year, but the need for Project Valour IT still exists




From Day by Day by Chris Muir, and Michael Yon.

Two of the finest.

They both have contributed to Project Valour-IT, have you supported our injured troops by donating -- so more voice activated laptops can be supplied.

The link is on the starboard sidebar (Right side for you landlubbers.)