Professional statistician and USMC reservist. Called to active duty on pointless 'homeland security' detail following 9/11. After about 1.5 yrs of this nonsense, he was sent to Kuwait and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. E-5 when called to duty; E-7 when he returned from Iraq.
He's close to the most conservative person I know - both personally and politically.
We manage to conduct civil political discussions on occasion.
... oh, yeah: he just got notice that he'll be going to Afghanistan as part of Obama's surge!
Friend B: Includes the following on his Facebook page:
Now this makes me proud. Utne Reader declares Montgomery Co, MD number one on its list of "10 Most Enlightened Suburbs" and, in the first sentence, lists as a reason, the fact that "it is home to probably the leftiest 'burb anywhere (Takoma Park)" --- as in "Edward Kimmel, 58, of Takoma Park, MD" (quoting my description from the Wash Post pict. after the tea party.)I stayed with Ed on my September visit to DC.
Eat your heart out, Berkley.
Somehow I manage to maintain friendship with both these fellows, with no apparent cognitive dissonance. I think they'd enjoy a beer together - tho' they'd likely agree on nothing!
During Friend A's post-9/11 deployment, I vowed to write him 1 letter/week for the duration of his deployment. (I made this vow in recollection of how wonderful mail-call could be - when you got mail!) I almost met my commitment, missing perhaps 3 weeks... and we continued to correspond via snailmail for a year or so after his return to civilian life.
'twas this experience that converted me to a snailmail guy. I now try to maintain correspondence with half a dozen folks. It's fun, and provides the illusion that I am participating in a time-honored civilized tradition!
Which reminds me that I owe you one (or more).
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