Weekly Drill Down: ‘Merry Christmas from Afghanistan’ Song, Best of 2009 Lists and More
- "Merry Christmas from Afghanistan" takes original singer/songwriter/warrior to a whole new level. (Bouhammer)
- Discover the top stories in the milblogosphere of 2009. (Milblogging)
- Fight terrorism. Get paid? That's what the Christmas day plane bomb hero did. (Hearts And Minds)
- Sad, sad news in 2009 is a painful reminder of the realities of war. (Stars and Stripes)
- C.J.'s gives us a rather straight-forward year in review (with an even more straight-forward illustration). (A Soldier's Perspective)
- Abu Muqawama slips out of daily blogging retirement to share this. (Abu Muqawama)
- Take a real shot to ring in 2010 from the inventor of the AK-47 assault rifle. (Danger Room)
- It's a bird; it's a plane. No, it's Russia to the rescue?! (Defense Tech)
- Boeing expecting $31 billion in defense business from India. (DoD Buzz)
- Can you guess what the top 3 Soldier Systems shockers were for 2009? Didn't think so. (Soldier Systems)
- Tis the season for … snow camo! (Strike – Hold!)
- Oh, and lots of holiday cheer from ITS Tactical, General Petraeus and OPFOR.
Rihanna’s Military Look
Counterculture groups like punks and goths have always embraced combat-style boots and dress. The look possesses that very extreme, fight-the-man edge, which typically scares the bejesus out of any little old lady crossing the street.
And then every so often the traditional soldier appearance mixes in with these extreme fashion statements, and it injects its sexed-up self into the mainstream. Such is the case in R&B star Rihanna's new music video for "Hard." She explained the music video's concept to MTV as "couture military. ... We have tanks, we have troops, we've got helicopters, we've got explosions."
In the video, the controversial singer sports an army-green mesh helmet and fatigues, aviator sunglasses, high-waist hot pants, military boots and what appears to be black Sonic the Hedgehog shoulder pads. While some of her outfits are very loosely based on modern soldier uniforms, the gold bikini, which appears later in the video, seems more likely inspired by Xena Warrior Princess or Princess Leia's infamous metal bikini.
What do you think of her Lady Gaga-esque military look? Would anyone serving our country actually wear any of these styles? We're gonna have to doubt it.
By the Numbers: Converse Boots
Converse Men's Sage Green Stealth Boots
Long before Converse began cranking out combat boots, the brand became world-famous for its "Chucks." Nowadays the American shoe company provides much more than a basic black basketball shoe.
Here's a CliffNotes history lesson of more than a century of Converse.
- 1929 – The year Converse Rubber filed for bankruptcy, along with legions of others companies.
- $5 million – Despite earning more than $450 million in revenues in 1997, Converse posted a $5 million loss because shoppers moved away from athletic shoes, opting for work boots or casual footwear instead.
- 1 – Times basketball star Chuck Taylor complained that his feet hurt before Converse outfitted him in their brand and, in turn, created a lifetime spokesperson.
- 1970s – The year Converse began producing industrial boots.
- $305 million – The amount Nike paid for Converse in 2003.
- 11 – Nicknames Chuck Taylor All-Star shoes acquired through the years, which includes "Chucker Boots," "Chucks" and "Cons."
- 7 – Number of figures in the amount Converse paid for a five-year sponsorship of FIBA, or Federation Internationale de Basketball, in 1990.
- 1985 – The year its "Chucks" are named the official footwear of the National Basketball Association.
- 60 – Percentage its international business increased from 1987 to 1988 because of expansions in Europe, Asia and North America.
- 2 – YouTube slideshows featuring Converse military boots paired with horrific background music. Check out the better of the two below!
Not enough Converse history for you? Visit Funding Universe for the entire backstory.
Weekly Drill-Down: ‘Empty Boots,’ Tactical Coffee and More
- "Empty Boots" provides powerful imagery to remind us of those who won't be spending the holidays with their families. (A Soldier's Perspective)
- Protect the troops from cancer-causing gun lubricants. (Army Technology)
- So sad, but so true: Women veterans struggling for acceptance. (Associated Press)
- An Australian Navy shipbuilder spices things up for its 2010 calendar. (Danger Room)
- First there was tactical teddy bears and tactical Snuggies … and now tactical coffee!? When will the madness end! (Tactical Gearhead)
- U.S. Army makes the list of 10 Biggest Social Media Stories of 2009. (Milblogging)
- Don't miss Heroes Week on Wheel of Fortune! Episodes featuring military personnel will run through Dec. 18. (Scoop Deck)
- Ever seen a split barrel before? Now you have. (Line of Sight)
Jungle Boots
Wellco Hot-Weather Jungle Boot with Panama Sole
Jungle boots are exactly what they sound like: Boots you wear on missions in tropical climates. In hot and wet conditions that leave your feet sticky and soggy, jungle boots have special features like drainage vents that prevent the uncomfortable realities of your surroundings.
While jungle boots were in use long before WWII, it gained momentum during the Vietnam War, when many troops were experiencing difficulties maneuvering through thick jungles filled with booby traps. The boots were not only lighter than the standard combat boot (initial pairs weighing in at three pounds), its canvas material also dried faster.
According to Moore Militaria, there was a range of variations and improvements to jungle boots starting in the 1950s. It began with the WWII double-buckle boot, which was altered by adding canvas sections. Then a leather band was tacked on to the top around 1962, which later changed to a nylon strap in 1965. Around 1967 the Panama sole, which gave soldiers the ability to shed mud by flexing the foot, was officially tested and implemented on some boot models. While innovative, it has never received to same popularity as the traditional Vibram sole.
Two of the main manufacturers still producing modern day jungle boots include Altama Delta Corporation and Wellco Enterprises. Founded in 1969, Altama actually began as a children's shoe plant but transitioned into green jungle boot manufacturing to meet the needs of the Vietnam War. Wellco entered the jungle boot market during that same period with its patented Wellco-Ro-Search technology. Wellco says its technology -- including molds and presses -- was used by three other manufacturers to make jungle boots at the time and plays a role in many military boots today.
Learn all about Altima desert jungle boots with a 10-minute, in-depth review (below).
Bloggers React to Obama’s Afghan Troop Surge
Everyone seems to have an opinion about President Barack Obama's decision to up the ante in Afghanistan. While The New York Times and The Atlantic Wire covered milbloggers initial reactions, we gave it a week to settle in. And, well, debates are still going strong (especially in the comments section!). Here's what some folks are saying.
Over at Abu Muqawama, Obama's speech wasn't as questionable as his reference to Eisenhower. "I do not know if President Eisenhower would have agreed with the current president's direction on Afghanistan, but I think he would have certainly recognized the considerations behind his decision-making process," writes Abu Muqawama.
The Dude, a contributor at Bouhammer.com, wrote an open letter to President Obama on Bouhammer.com. His letter starts out with: "Now that I’ve had a few days to ingest, digest, and perform my own mission analysis on your new plan for Afghanistan, I’m a bit concerned." He writes that his concerns come from his perspective of fighting in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. His biggest argument: What took you so long to decide to do this?
Commenter Alikat on SpouseBuzz brought up another interesting point: If we do set a timeline, won't the enemy be gearing up for a full-force effort after that point?
"In setting a prospective timeline for withdrawal the 'enemy' is also aware of when our troops will be pulling out," writes Alikat. "I'm plagued by self-imposed questions of 'How will this affect us all when the time for withdrawal does arrive?' and 'What if the withdrawal isn't successful, for one reason or another?'
Another commenter, Elton, at Small Wars Journal thinks the U.S. has "no vital interest in Afghanistan." He believes that the U.S. troops in Afghanistan will only delay the inevitable. "The fight between the Taliban and the Afghan gov't will happen without our presence," he writes.
Want to rehash the speech yourself? Watch it below. Or read the transcript here.
(Image via Wikimedia Commons)
Bates Individual Comfort System
If comfort and footwear hasn't clicked for you in the past, Bates offers an Individual Comfort System that might fit your foot just right.
Remember those TVs of yesteryear where you would have to fiddle with a knob and/or rabbit ears to get the picture to come in perfectly. Well, Bates gives you the ability to do the same with comfort. The Michigan-headquartered manufacturer provides a way for you to tune the firmness and cushion in the heel to maximize comfort levels.
Launched last September, the comfort system targets those who spend long hours on their feet. The dial technology is built directly into the midsole of the shoe and can be adjusted with ease. Just turn the blue dial to one of four settings, and give your feet the option to feel comfortable again.
- Firm Zone: Turn the dial to "F" for increased energy return to maximizes all-day support.
- Outward Zone: Flip it over to "O" to reduce outward tilt and encourage natural walking motion and stability.
- Cushion Zone: "C" on the blue dial means increased heel cushioning and maximized shock absorption.
- Inward Zone: Slide it to "I" for reduced inward tilt, which encourages natural walking motion and stability.
Want to add this technology to your footwear regimen right now? MilitaryBoots.com sells several pairs of Bates boots with midsole iCS (Individual Comfort System).