I too am disgusted by the majority of the military experts on television. They made the claim “we make our own reality” some time back and that about describes what we get from them. The newspapers have more depth, but not as much as what you get from a specialized blog like this. The newspapers are also saddled with putting out the “official” story from Washington, and locally the press is further handicapped by being from an area that has two military bases. They will not be putting out harsh articles and commentary, they already have enough trouble keeping subscribers. The service that you are providing the local community should get you some kind of an award, or at least an “attaboy” or a “good job”, not bring about discouragement. Offering an alternative view at the news which explains away the illogic of the “official” story has always been a worthwhile endeavor. It certainly is a welcome addition to the News-Herald’s lineup of blogs. If I come to the News-Herald website and you have a new article, I’m a happy camper for the next five minutes or so. And that and a dollar will get you a lotto ticket.

Since I usually have an opinion on everything, I will offer some feedback. I liked your earlier columns more, because you took care to add a few pertinent links in each one. Your most thought provoking article was the one on the shooting at the mall in Chicago and your commentary about self-defense that went along with it; but you haven’t yet gone back and done any more in that vein. I didn’t comment on that link, but thought about it for days.

I am extremely interested in weapons systems, so much so that I annoy the active duty folks at church asking them about them, but usually they just tell me “it’s classified” all the time. I understand that I’m too nosy, but descriptions of weapons systems would be nice.

Speaking of links, almost every military blog I go to has links to places which helps the guys overseas, or links to places which help the guys now fighting the lonely fight of the hospital wards. Links to honest charities and which ones to avoid would be a public service. It would also would remind everyone that less than 1% of the population is bearing 100% of the brunt of the two wars, and might could swing some small bit of needed help to those who could use it.

There has also been a paucity of stories locally about the local guys who have gone off to war, not political stuff but human interest stuff. Guys from somewhere else currently stationed out at Tyndall have always been considered local.

Just ideas. Like the other two fellows said, give it some more time. You are doing just fine.

Tell me, are they advertising your blog at all? You’re not going to find a readership by simply blogging and hoping people type in your URL by sheer luck. They need something to tell them to come here.