crystal fairy posted >>>
I decided yesterday to go and try find me a real publisher for my book/sequel after all, as opposed to self-publishing.
Got the letter ready to send out. Now gotta find me a list of possible publishers and start pumping it out.

So I feel pretty danged good!


Book(s) aren't done yet, but I know it'll be hard to find a publisher and will prolly take time, so best get on with it and try to get the show on the road.

PacificStar stated >>>
OK PLEASE lets focus on the original topic how we can address the needs of military members; not get drawn down into a big debate over what military actions were good ideas or not. THANK YOU!

PacificStar posted >>>
I think that is good citizenship; keep it up. And thanks for the lists. Been a while since I have compiled anything. I tend to know more the civilian resources which I would also encourage Vets to use. I well remember "coming back to the world" outside of the military community and it is "different" and something of a "culture shock".

I see Mingle as a great way for a service member active duty or separating to build a network of friends that would not be so bound by borders. And a great opportunity to be seen as PERSON first and career second.

I do think it is important to really listen sometimes even if it is not always easy. It is tough being someplace far from friends and home and that little extra effort at real friendship is important.

I will still stress it is not always the more severe things like PTSD or serious injury but just getting to know people and how things are done. In the military the instruction/mentoring is a little more common than the civilian world. Sometimes small things mean a lot when you come home like being invited to a BBQ or sharing a babysitter's name.

THE GREAT DIVIDE
What do we need to know about veterans?
By Leo Shane III - Stars and Stripes
Published: May 29, 2013

Thomas Brennan, military affairs reporter at the Jacksonville (N.C.) Daily News

During an interview, my future employer asked if I suffered from PTSD due to my service overseas. Unashamed of my diagnosis, I said yes. Months later, the Sandy Hook massacre occurred and he hollered across the newsroom asking if I '��was going to go all PTSD and shoot up the place someday?'��

Do not joke about PTSD. It is a personal battle that hundreds of thousands of veterans share. We may struggle in crowds, have nightmares or have a myriad of issues. Our disorder does not warrant jokes and it does not warrant pity. A fine line of acceptance and respect should be walked. Accept us for who we are and encourage us to continue therapy, despite how difficult we find it. Do not allow us to become one of the 22 veterans who commit suicide daily.

'��Thank you for your service'�� is a default phrase by many. Replace it with action. Thank us by listening to us. Thank us by fighting the VA backlog that prevents us from the care we fought for. Thank us by asking the difficult questions. Make sure we are okay. Make sure we are not forgotten. Make sure we are understood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J.R. Martinez, actor and 'Dancing with the Stars'�� champion

Veterans want to live as normal of a life as anyone else. However, due to situations they'��ve constantly been put in, it makes the possibility more difficult but not impossible when they return home.

The biggest divide is experience and appreciation. Service members have witnessed life on a level that most citizens have only experienced through a movie. Continued communication is needed, not necessarily to understand each other but to know the limits of one another. We need not to judge each other but listen and work together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TawtStrat posted >>>
I suppose one thing that you could do is to keep posting militaristic flag waving threads and maybe that would make them feel valued and appreciated.

The problem that I have with that though is that a lot of servicemen come back from wars feeling that the whole business was stupid and awful and the last thing they want to hear is how what they did was great from people that stayed at home and sent them there in the first place, whether they were politicians, or tax paying "patriots" like yourself.

Far too often, people assume a level of familiarity with former military that not only breeches proper office conduct but also invades one'��s '��personal space,'�� says Kules, who today is Alumni Director for the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization dedicated to helping severely injured veterans transition back into civilian life.

What are nine things you should never say to a veteran?

1. '��Thank you for your service, but I don'��t think we should have been there in the first place.'��
Everyone has an opinion about the war but not everyone wants to hear it, says Kules, who explains that people often use him as a sounding board for their take on the war.

'��People should recognize their opinion is a personal view and not necessarily an appropriate thing to share with someone who has obvious physical injuries from a conflict,'�� says Kules. This is especially true in the workplace.

2. '��Why did you join? The military is a job for men.'��
This is extremely antiquated thinking, says Barbara Dorazio, an 18-year Army veteran who is now an Administrative Assistant at CVS Health and a member of VALOR, its veterans resource group. “Women are capable of doing most if not all jobs in the military, just like in the civilian workplace,'�� she says. '��Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but it is best to keep them to yourself in the workplace.'��

3. '��You�'re too rigid to deal with sudden changes.'��
Because service members are forced to adhere to a rigid schedule, many civilians assume they are unable to think outside the box or adapt quickly. That couldn'��t be further from the truth. Many veterans are among the most adaptable employees around.

'��Former military have a resourcefulness, an adaptability to change,'�� says David Casey, a former U.S. Marine who is now Vice President, Workforce Strategies and Chief Diversity Officer at CVS Health. And despite standard operating procedures set in the military, '��things never go as planned, and you have to accomplish your mission in all kinds of environments. The ability to be able to adapt is very important, especially in today's corporate environment,'�� Casey adds.

4. 'You'��re a mother/wife, how could you leave your family while you were deployed?'��
Dorazio points out that fathers and husbands have just as difficult a time leaving their families. '��Veterans wants to focus on being home with their families, not relive the deployment,'�� she says.

5. 'How did your husband/boyfriend feel about you being around all those men?'��
'��A veteran'��s relationship with a significant other is no one'��s business but their own,' Dorazio says. 'This holds true for civilians as well.'

6. 'Do you have post-traumatic stress disorder?'��
'��If you are talking to someone about their injuries, then the best way to ask this is to let the veteran volunteer this information him or herself,'�� advises Kules.

7. '��What'��s the worst thing that happened to you over there?'��
To non-veterans, this seems like a harmless question, but it'��s inappropriate, especially in the workplace. '��This is like asking someone, '��What'��s the worst day of your life? Tell me in detail-��no one wants to do that,'�� says Kules.

8. 'Have you ever killed anyone?'��
This question is extremely personal and may force a veteran to relive an episode that he or she prefers not to relive. 'The person asking this question doesn'��t have any idea how the veteran may feel about the situation,'�� says Kules.

9. '��Were you raped?'��
This question may seem pertinent given the rise in reported military sexual assaults, but just as with a civilian, this is an extremely sensitive matter. '��While there is a spotlight on rape in the military right now, as there should be, this question invades a veteran'��s privacy and it may force them to relive painful memories,'�� Dorazio says.

SassyEuro posted >>>
SUSPECT has been Identified, Manhunt continues

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/06/18/police-respond-to-shooting-at-sc-church/

2old2 posted >>>
THEY CAUGHT HIM!!!

SassyEuro posted >>>

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/18/us/charleston-south-carolina-shooting/index.html

Charleston Shooting Suspect Dylann Roof, 21, Apprehended
Jun 18, 2015, 11:35 AM ET
By TOM LIDDY and EMILY SHAPIRO via Good Morning America
4221 Comments
Dylann Roof, the alleged gunman authorities say is responsible for killing nine people in a Charleston, South Carolina, church Wednesday night, has been apprehended, authorities said. 3 males - 6 females

"I can confirm that there is a subject in custody in relation to the shootings in Charleston from last evening," U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said today at a news conference. "And, of course, this moves us into a different phase of the investigation, which will be pursued as vigorously and with as complete cooperation as the apprehension of this individual."

Police said Roof, 21, was arrested today at a traffic stop in Shelby, North Carolina, about 250 miles north of Charleston.

A citizen saw the suspect'��s car and reported it to police, who responded and made the arrest, police said. Roof cooperated with the officer who stopped him, according to police.

Officials said they believe Roof acted alone.

"I am so pleased we were able to resolve this case quickly," Charleston Police Chief Gregory Mullen said at a news conference.

SUSPECT has been Identified, Manhunt continues

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/06/18/police-respond-to-shooting-at-sc-church/

The Hollywood Reporter reportedly obtained the casting call from New York-based Extra Mile Casting. '��We are looking to cast people for the event to wear t-shirts and carry signs and help cheer him in support of his announcement. We understand this is not a traditional '��background job,' but we believe acting comes in all forms and this is inclusive of that school of thought.'��

His manager was quick to release a statement regarding the use of the song, stating that it was used without permission and that Neil was actually a Bernie Sanders supporter, according to Fox News.

However, when Trump'��s manager was reached for comment on the issue by FOX411, he countered the accusation, saying the Trump camp had paid for the rights to use the song.

'Through a licensing agreement with ASCAP, Mr. Trump's campaign paid for and obtained the legal right to use Neil Young'��s recording of ‘Rockin In The Free World.'��

However, according to an ASCAP document outlining the terms when using music for political purposes, the user has to contact the publisher or record label for the necessary licenses.

According to an excerpt of the document at Rolling Stone,
'��Can the campaign still be criticized or even sued by an artist for playing his or her song at an event?

Yes. If an artist does not want his or her music to be associated with the campaign, he or she may be able to legal action even if the campaign has the appropriate copyright licenses.'��

That said, the Donald Trump side will refrain from using the song, according to a spokesperson for his campaign who spoke to Billboard.
'��Nevertheless, we won'��t be using it again - there are plenty of songs to choose from. Despite Neil'��s differing political views, Mr. Trump likes Neil very much.'��

SassyEuro posted >>>
DAY 13,

NOTHING NEW
(in 22 hours) :

Looked up some resource s for Vets that I hope every Mingler will keep somewhere for reference.

Suicide Helpline 1-800-273-8255 press 1 Text 838255 24/7/365

www.love our vets.org/does-your-vet-have ptsd/support links

www. operation IV.org extensive resource list

This is not to say every vet is having major issues and needs help. It is just to say it is there and encourage anyone who needs it to go for it with full support and understanding you have every right to it.

Hopefully you find Mingle a welcoming place that is fun and compliments your life. Thank you for your Service and we are proud of you.!!! .

PacificStar stated >>>
OK PLEASE lets focus on the original topic how we can address the needs of military members; not get drawn down into a big debate over what military actions were good ideas or not. THANK YOU!

rockgnome posted >>>
sounds just like Texas.

jacktrades posted >>>
Resigned, I have to cut a acre of grass and the heat index is 108.

Leigh stated >>>
Ouch!...I just finished mine (3/4 of an acre) about an hour ago...It's 94 here today and the humidity is through the roof...This is very unusual for the Plateau...My grass is starting to look like it's late July...Don't forget to wear a dew rag around your neck Jack...It really helps keep you cool...

sweetestgirl11 stated >>>
We could bring them home and stay out of the Middle East