Kristin Beck

Navy SEAL(ret), Public Speaker, Human Rights Activist

[valor4us]

DAY ONE: Combating Mental Health

GO HERE TO ACCESS THE BLOG :) 

https://combatingmentalhealth.tumblr.com

THIS is the start of a blog.... a journey into the depths of the Veterans mental Health crisis in America and one veteran becoming a counselor to try to help.

[valor4us]

Colorblind I was welding with a broken visor for about ten minutes, unbeknownst to me my eyes where getting ten times the sun blasted the whole time. An hour later the pain was intense enough for my wife to talk me into the emergency room. It was getting worse and I had to keep my eyes shut and a scarf wrapped tight to keep out any light. It was painful and getting worse. The emergency room lights were super intense; so my wife asked them to set up a side room with the lights turned off. The doctor on duty set up the room and then started checking blood pressure and all the other vitals. I was still wrapped up tight to even the slightest amount of light. The doctor had great beside manner and was doing everything with military precision. The room was still very dark and he unwrapped my eyes so he could drop pain killer and a florescent dye into my eyes. The pain subsided quickly with the pain killer. After about 15 minutes the doctor came back in and asked me to unwrap my eyes so he could throughly check them for damage. I saw the doctor for the first time. He was a black man in his mid thirties. He went about his doctoring, checking out the damage and ensuring that the nothing would be permanent. The eyes would heal up in about two to three days with the antibiotics and additional pain killers he prescribed. What an ordeal. I wrapped my eyes tight against the onslaught of light and got ready to leave. Again I was without sight. I started thinking about the whole emergency room visit. It was a fast visit and the doctor was professional and extremely helpful; heck he even set up that special room with no lights. I’m thinking about the whole night and like I always do I tried to come up with some lessons so that I might learn and be better; be a better person. First lesson: Don’t weld with broken equipment. You only have one set of eyes and I was lucky to retain my sight. Basically, If your going to be ignorant then you better be strong. Lesson number two: People are people, but some are better than others. Maybe not better, but they are more openminded and more compassionate to others...colorblind. This is a tough one to talk about. I am not PC and my thoughts are far from PC so here are my thoughts on this. Current events in America and so much racial discourse and fighting. I was blinded for a short time and unable to see this doctor. He was great. I didn’t know he was black or white, European or Asian or any other difference; he was just the doctor and a very nice doctor that did his job in a super professional manner. When I did finally get a chance to see him and noticed he was black nothing changed. Nothing changed for me or the doctor. He was treating me in the same professional way and I was treating him as my doctor who was trying to make me well. No language changed. No attitude changed. Nothing changed with the awareness that I was white or he was black. Think about that. Many people make the claim that they are “colorblind” and I wonder how often this is true or false. I look at my life and find that I always give everyone the same treatment no matter what their heritage, color, religion or anything and find that I am really color blind. I am wondering if that is thanks to my time in the military? Is it because in the first 5 years of military service my roommate and best friend was black? Did my parents raise me this way? Yes would be the answer to all of those questions. BUT and this is the biggest. The “colorblind” went both ways it was ME and the DOCTOR who just didn’t fall for it and we treated each other as if we were both human. How many people can truly say they are color blind? When is our country going to heal itself and get beyond this racial war that we seem to be in the middle of? I think we have more racial discourse and potential for all out riots nationwide right now in history than any other time. I think there are people who want this civil war. I think there are people who will profit while most of us lose. We the middle class, working class, unemployed, underemployed, poor, regardless of race/color/creed/religion/gender or anything…. will be THE PEOPLE will die and lose everything. I don’t want that to happen. I will fight against those who cause this civil war. I'm colorblind…. are you? ------------update--------- 2 Days after this post From a friend in Germany to add to the discussion: Here is my 50 cent from across the pond. I am not colorblind.. when I actually SEE someone the first time I can not but "judge" someone based on my life experience... This is not wrong .. it is how things work. And I think it is wrong not to acknowledge someones heritage, cultural background or looks or clothing style (or anything of that nonverbal information stuff ;-))and I must admit myself that I did not walk in their shoes but their story might just be more of an acccomplishment because they had to work against prejudice or probably not..And as a german ... We learned a hard lesson when we went wrong about racism... I feel that "colorblindness" can be racism too. I think it should be more of "accepting the colorfullness".. and not drawing early conclusions based on a color..like another commenter stated: if i look at c.g. jungs definition of personalities.. it is not about deniying someone is a blue or red.. its all about accepting THEIR color and understanding it needs the mix of all to paint a great picture more input: Adaire: I appreciate your thoughtful nature, how you question the circumstances that brought you to where you are now (Eyesight vs. Vision) and how you tied this experience into a personal lesson. I used to also think I was colorblind, in that, I have many family members who are of different color or different ethnic background and I love them all equally. My personal blindside was in not recognizing that no matter how "good", how well educated, how polite, how well dressed or financially well to do my black family members are, they have all had to deal with racism. They have all been scrutinized by a society that assumes that if they do make their dreams come true, it must have been at the cost to a white person (and somebody gave them a pass), and if they don't make it, it must be because they didn't try as hard as a white person (where utilizing connections and "networking" is seen as a smart way to get ahead).Saying we are colorblind isn't saying we choose not to see color as a barrier for how we treat others. (although I truly believe that is how you meant it.) Saying we are colorblind, tells POC (People of Color) that "I don't recognize the racist society we live in that simultaneously puts you down, while building me up, for no other reason than the color of my skin." I do hope our society continues this difficult conversation, and I so appreciate you post and opening up this healthy dialogue. 

[valor4us]

ICYMI... Articles in last few years. (not a complete list but its a few of them)

2013

June 3, 2013 The Latest Navy SEAL Book Could Impact the Military's ...

June 3, 2013 Transgendered woman reveals she served as Navy SEAL ...

June 3, 2013 The First Female Navy SEAL, Kristin Beck | SOFREP

June 3, 2013 Is This America's 'First Female Navy SEAL'? Transgender ...

June 3, 2013 Meet Kristin Beck, The First Transgender Navy SEAL - Mic

June 3, 2013 U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Beck Comes Out as Woman, Kristin ...

June 3, 2013 The Real Warrior Princess | RealClear

June 3, 2013 Defying Stereotypes: Navy SEAL Team 6 Soldier Comes ...

June 4, 2013 A Word About Kristin Beck | The Liberty Zone

June 4, 2013 Wellsville man, NAVY Seal, Purple Heart winner, helped kill Osama ...

June 4, 2013 This Former Navy SEAL Team 6 Member Transitioned To ...

June 4, 2013 Transgender Navy SEAL comes out in new memoir | MSNBC

June 4, 2013 Decorated Navy SEAL comes out as a woman - Philly.com

June 4, 2013 Hard Man Navy Seal Chris Beck Turns Back on Osama Bin ...

June 4, 2013 Retired Navy SEAL Comes Out as Transgender | Advocate ...

June 4, 2013 Transgender Heroes #3: Kristin Beck - Daily Kos

June 4, 2013 The Morning Pride: June 4, 2013 | ThinkProgress

June 4, 2013 Transgender Navy SEAL comes out - NY Daily News

June 4, 2013 The trans Navy SEAL who (almost) helped catch bin Laden

June 4, 2013 A Word About Kristin Beck | The Liberty Zone

June 4, 2013 Navy SEAL Kristin Beck comes out transgender in 'Warrior ...

June 4, 2013 Warrior Princess: Transgender Navy SEAL Kristin Beck ...

June 4, 2013 First transgender US Navy SEAL tells her story - Telegraph

June 4, 2013 Former Navy SEAL Becomes a “SHE”: Bearded Chris Beck ...

June 4, 2013 Transgender Navy SEAL Publishes Book Entitled 'Warrior ...

June 4, 2013 Queer Talk: Former Navy Seal Kristin Beck Comes Out as ...

June 4, 2013 kristin-beck-warrior-princess | OTB | Online Journal of ...

June 4, 2013 Transgender Navy SEAL Kristin Beck: 10 Facts You Need to ...

June 4, 2013 Meet Kristin Beck, a transgender Navy SEAL and ... - Zap2It

June 4, 2013 Steve Sailer: iSteve: More Uplift from the Press: Navy SEAL ...

June 4, 2013 Transgender Navy Seal: Kristin Beck, A Transgender ...

June 4, 2013 Transgender Navy SEAL, Warrior Princess : This ain't Hell ...

June 4, 2013 Former Navy SEAL Comes Out As Transgender -- NYMag

June 4, 2013 Ex-Navy SEAL 'Warrior Princess' comes out in new memoir ...

June 5, 2013 Kristin Beck - pierwsza osoba transpłciowa, która służyła w ...

June 5, 2013 Transgender Navy Seal Posed As Man Through Decades Of ...

June 5, 2013 Transgender ex-SEAL Kristin Beck now living as a woman

June 5, 2013 Former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck Reveals Secret Life as a ...

June 5, 2013 Former SEAL Team 6 member is transgender woman ...

June 5, 2013 Ex-SEAL details transgender journey in 'Warrior Princess ...

June 5, 2013 A Navy SEAL's biggest secret: Life as a transgender

June 5, 2013 Meet Kristin Beck, Transgender Former Navy SEAL | DrJays ...

June 5, 2013 TomoNews | Former Navy Seal, Kristin Beck comes out as a ...

June 5, 2013 TRANSSEXUALITÉ – Un héros de guerre américain raconte ...

June 5, 2013 Former Navy SEAL comes out as transgender woman - Keci

June 5, 2013 Retired Navy SEAL Comes Out as Transgender, "Patriots ...

June 5, 2013 Transgender Navy SEAL 'Warrior Princess' Comes Out - M14 Forum

June 6, 2013 Transgender ex-SEAL: I want some happiness - YouTube

June 6, 2013 Anderson Cooper's exclusive interview with transgender ...

June 6, 2013 Kristin Beck, the SEALs' Warrior Princess Who Came Out as ...

June 6, 2013 Kristin Beck: Transgender former Navy SEAL says how she ...

June 6, 2013 The First Female Navy Seal? | GenderTrender

June 6, 2013 From Chris Beck to Kristin Beck: U.S. Navy SEAL comes out ...

June 7, 2013 Transgender former Navy SEAL speaks out - TODAY.com

June 7, 2013 Kristin Beck, Transgender Former Navy SEAL, Speaks To ...

June 7, 2013 Kristin Beck, Transgender Former Navy SEAL, Tells ...

June 7, 2013 US Navy SEAL in bin Laden raid unit becomes transgender ...

June 7, 2013 (Watch) Transgender Former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck's ...

June 7, 2013 A Transgender Breakthrough « The Dish

June 7, 2013 Fallen Man, Fallen World and Chris Beck: Navy SEAL to ...

June 7, 2013 'Warrior Princess:' Fmr. Navy SEAL Reveals Transgender ...

June 8, 2013 Navy SEALS Team 6 unit member is transgender – LEXIE ...

June 8, 2013 Anderson Cooper's 2 part interview with Kristen Beck, the ...

June 8, 2013 Transgender Navy SEAL Kristin Beck speaks out about her ...

June 8, 2013 I'm the transgender Navy SEAL - Salon.com

June 8, 2013 Kristin Beck, SEAL Team 6 Veteran, Comes Out As ... - Care2

June 13, 2013 Former Navy SEAL speaks out on her sexual identity - The Wellsville ...

June 13, 2013 What Kristin Beck's narrative means to trans open service ...

June 15, 2013 Transtastic - Kristin Beck

June 15, 2013 Ex-Navy SEAL goes from Chris to Kristin - CNN Video - CNN.com

June 26, 2013 Transgender Navy Seal Kristin Beck: The Most Unique ...

June 26, 2014 Former Seal Team 6 Member Underwent Sex-Change Operation ...

June 26, 2014 SEAL Team 6's Kristin Beck: Transgender recruiting tool for Pentagon ...

June 27, 2013 Kristin Beck Warrior Princess - Silet 27 Juni 2013 - YouTube

July 3, 2013 Beck: Book doesn't tell whole story - News - The Wellsville ...

July 4, 2013 Kristin Beck's articles on arXiv - arXiv.org

July 6, 2013 Meet Transgender American ex-Naval seal Kristin Beck

July 8, 2013 Autobiografie von Kristin Beck: Vom Krieger zur Prinzessin ...

July 9, 2013 PRESS CALL: Former Navy Seal Kristin Beck Speaks Out ...

July 10, 2013 Transgender Former Navy SEAL Fears Discrimination in ...

July 11, 2013 4560 - Former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck talks trans workplace ...

July 11, 2013 Warrior princess: From Navy SEAL to transgender crusader ...

July 15, 2013 Transgender Fashion Show with Kristin Beck to Raise ...

July 16, 2013 Transgender Navy SEAL speaks out in moving memoir | The ...

July 19, 2013 Kristin Beck advocates for LGBT rights - Washington Blade

July 22, 2013 Out & About: Kristin Beck Book Signing : Transgender Forum

July 23, 2013 Thousands of Cadillacs: When Kristen met Kristin

July 27, 2013 Watch NBC TODAY Show: Kristin Beck, Transgender Navy ...

June 27, 2013 Obama's Pentagon uses Gender Confused former Navy SEAL to ...

July 29, 2013 Crossdreamers: Warrior Princess - On Using ...

August 1, 2013 The US Navy Seal who went from Chris to Kristin - BBC News

August 3, 2013 Trans activist, former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck: 'I'm on a new ...

August 8, 2013 Kristin Beck to speak at transgender conference, Southern ...

August 15, 2013 The Pentagon's Transgender Problem | Mother Jones

August 19, 2013 Kristin Beck truly is "Lady Valor" and a transgender heroine ...

August 23, 2013 Transgender Former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck Blasts ...

August 23, 2013 Transgender Navy SEAL Kristin Beck describes Chelsea ...

August 23, 2013 Kristin Beck is the Real Traitor, Not Chelsea Manning - Park ...

August 25, 2013 Chelsea Manning and the US military's coming transgender ...

September 3, 2014 A Navy SEAL Surfaces as Transgender - Huffington Post

September 3, 2013 Download Trans To Trans - 10 Minutes With Kristin Beck ...

September 20, 2013 Kristin Beck ENDA interview - YouTube

October 11, 2013 Ms. Kristin Beck : United States Representative Alcee L ...

November 1, 2013 Photo from www.flaunt.com/people/kristin-beck

November 10, 2013 Olson Foto Studio Blog | Kristin Beck was the subject of my ...

November 12, 2013 November Tampa Meetup - TBGLCC Dinner with Kristin Beck

December 14, 2013 Flaunt Magazine: Styling: Kristin Beck on Behance

December 2013 Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story | Human Rights Watch ...

December 2013 Kristin Beck - Wikiwand

  2014

March 2, 2014 Transgender Navy SEAL Kristin Beck to be Honored at 2nd ...

March 14, 2014 "Take Three Seconds" -- Kristin Beck on Leadership (Full)

March 14, 2014 "Take Three Seconds" -- Kristin Beck on Leadership (Highlights)

March 25, 2014 SOFREP Radio - Episode 85: Kristin Beck, Former US Navy SEAL, On ...

April 8, 2014 Hot Doc's – Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story | Easy Day ...

April 12, 2014 Transgendered US Navy SEAL Kristin Beck: An Art Gallery ...

May 13, 2014 Washington Monument reopens after earthquake

May 15, 2014 Transgender Ex-Navy SEAL: Military 'Going Through Puberty'

May21, 2014 The Heroines of My Life: Interview with Kristin Beck

May 22, 2014 I-Team: Transgender Navy SEAL exposes fake SEAL from Bay Area

May 30, 2014 Add Transgender Film 'Lady Valor' to Your Summer Movie Radar

June 4, 2014 Transgender Veterans Speak Out On Capitol Hill

June 5, 2014 Category: Kristin Beck - Garden of Peace Project

June 15, 2014 Pride Guide 2014 - GLO Community Center

June 16, 2014 Kristin Beck | The Gayly

June 20, 2014 DIA celebrates Pride Month: 'Be proud of who you are ...

June 27, 2014 SEAL Team 6 Member Becomes Pentagon's “Poster Girl” in ...

June 27, 2014 Kristin Beck | Consortium of Defense Analysts

June 29, 2014 Former SEAL Team 6 'Warrior Princess' helps Pentagon with ...

July 8, 2014 Wolfe Picks Up Three Titles Out Of Frameline

July 10, 2014 Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story - Edge Media Network

July15, 2014 Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story - 2014 Outfest

July 29, 2014 Frameline38: Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story - YouTube

August 7, 2014 CNN to air documentary on Wellsville member of Seal Team 6

August 13, 2014 Her new mission: retired U.S. Navy SEAL fights for transgender ...

August 14, 2014 Her new mission: former US Navy SEAL fights for transgender acceptance in new CNN Film

August 15, 2014 CNN To Air Documentary On Transgender Navy SEAL Kristin Beck

August 16, 2014 CatalystCon Film Series announces human issues documentary selections

August 20, 2014 Kristin Beck truly is "Lady Valor" and a transgender heroine

August 22, 2014 CNN documentary on Beck '89 airs Sept. 4

August 27, 2014 Kristin Beck interview: Transgender former US Navy SEAL - YouTube

August 28, 2014 Kristin Beck interview: Transgender former US Navy SEAL

August 29, 2014 'Lady Valor' Kristin Beck, a transgender retired Navy SEAL, is the anti-Barbie

August 29, 2014 Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story | The PFLAG Voice

August 29, 2014 Lady Valor Kristin Beck: 'It's natural to me no... - YouTube

August 29, 2014 TV This Week Aug. 31 - Sept 6: 'Houdini' on History - LA Times

August 29, 2014 CNN to premiere former Wellsville resident's military tale - Olean ...

September 1, 2014 CNN documentary examines journey of transgender Navy SEAL from Wellsville

September 2, 2014 Movie: Lady of Valor (Navy SEAL) - SOCNET: The Special Operations ...

September 3, 2014 Transgender ex-Navy SEAL: Here's my question

September 3, 2014 Kristin Beck Is A Different Kind Of Transgender Pioneer

September 3, 2014 Kristin Beck, a Navy SEAL and Artist Still in the Fight ...

September 4, 2014 I am Kristin Beck, Former U.S. Navy SEAL. I served as a ...

September 4, 2014 The Woman Stuck in a Navy SEAL's Body - The Daily Beast

September 4, 2014 Transgender SEAL is subject of CNN documentary

September 4, 2014 Transgender ex-Navy SEAL Kristin Beck reveals her story

September 4, 2014 Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story (2014) - IMDb

September 4, 2014 CNN’s Lady Valor Offers a SEAL With a New Mission

September 5, 2014 Exclusive: Lady Valor: Kristin Beck Interview Part II – PolitiSite

September 5, 2014 Interviewly - Kristin Beck September 2014 - reddit AMA

September 2014 Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story on iTunes

September 2014 When Fear, Hope and Courage Collide | Pear Penguins

September 5, 2014 Transgender ex-Navy SEAL lives in 'gray world'

September 6, 2014 Film looks at transgender Navy SEAL ...

September 7, 2014 Film looks at transgender Navy SEAL

September 8, 2014 'Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story' debuts digitally Sept. 9 and on DVD Oct. 28

September 9, 2014 WATCH: Portrait of a Transgender Hero — “Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story”

September 19, 2014 Warrior Princess: Transgender Navy SEAL fights against discrimination in military

September 21, 2014 CNN documentary on Beck '89 airs Sept. 4 - Alfred ...

September 26, 2014 Kristen Beck, Transgender Activist, to be Northern Virginia Pride ...

October 8, 2014 'Do Ask, Do Tell' symposium features Kristin Beck

October 11, 2014 Swords to Plowshares to Host Panel at Litquake of Women Veteran Authors

October 12, 2014 PHOTOS — Kristin Beck, LGBT Celebs Sparkle at ...

October 15,2014 "Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story" on DVD from Wolfe!

October 18, 2014 Pelosi endorses openly trans military service

October 21, 2014 Ban on transgender troops hurts U.S. military, advocates say

October 21, 2014 Ex Navy SEAL Kristin Beck speaks …transgender soldiers to discuss U.S. military's ...

October 23, 2014 Focus on care for transgender Veterans results in greater ...

October 24, 2014 Transgender troops say they want to serve openly

November 1, 2014 A former Navy SEAL lives openly as her authentic ...

November 9, 2014 DVD Previews 'Jersey Boys' a treat for fans only

November 20, 2014 Being Human is Not a Crime: Interview with Kristin Beck

December 3, 2014 Lady Valor

December 12, 2014 Kristin Beck on Transgender Visibility, True Liberty and ...

December 14, 2014 Warrior Princess Ford Hall Forum SU

December 31, 2014 Trans Navy SEAL Kristin Beck says Warrior Princess book deal led to suicide attempt

  2015

 January 23, 2015 ’Lady Valor' Film Looks at Life of Transgender Veteran

February 6, 2015 A Navy SEAL's life-changing secret

February 9, 2015 Did You Know: Monopoly Is 80. (Now Go Directly To Jail).

February, 9, 2015 Transgender ex-Navy SEAL to speak at MU

February 10, 2015 Kristin Beck at Marshall University 2015 - YouTube

February 10, 2015 'Lady Valor' defies societal rules

February 11, 2015 Lady Valor shares her story with packed room

February 12, 2015 Transgender Former SEAL Plans Primary Challenge to Md. Rep

February 12, 2015 Prominent transgender woman to run against Hoyer

February 12, 2015 Transgender former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck plans to challenge Steny ...

February 13, 2015 Kristin Beck, Transgender Former Navy Seal, To Run Against Steny Hoyer

February 13, 2015 Transgender former Navy SEAL jumps into politics

February 13, 2015 Transgender former SEAL plans primary challenge to Md. rep

February 13, 2015 Transgender former SEAL seeks seat in Congress

February 13, 2014 Transgender ex-Navy SEAL Kristin Beck running for ... - Metro

February 14, 2015 Kristin Beck, transgender former Navy SEAL, to challenge Steny Hoyer

February 14, 2015 Transgender ex-Navy SEAL Kristin Beck running for Congress

February 14, 2015 Former SEAL, a Wellsville native, planning run for Congress

February 14, 2015 Transgender ex-Navy SEAL launches bid for Congress

February 15, 2015 Transgender Woman Kristin Beck is an Ex-Navy Seal who Filed Papers to Run for Congress

February 15, 2015 Transgender former SEAL to run vs. Hoyer

February 25, 2015 Kristin Beck: I want to bring our country together | MSNBC

March 3, 2015 Lunch with Kristin Beck Fundraising Campaign for Columbia ...

March 4, 2015 WATCH: Kristin Beck Wants to Be the First Trans Woman in Congress

March 6, 2015 Kristin Beck: A Model of Courage Juniata Admission

March 18, 2015 Wellsville native and former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck to speak ...

March 19, 2015 Human Rights Watch 2015

March 20, 2015 Beck '89 -'Lady of Valor' coming to Alfred

March 20, 2015 Lady Valor: Interview with Kristin Beck

March 20, 2015 Lady Valor: Interview with Kristin Beck - Diplomatic Courier

March 21, 2015 Navy SEAL vet, a transgender Wellsville native, to speak

March 21, 2015 Toronto Flick Picks: Human Rights Watch Film Festival

March 24, 2015 Transgender veteran Kristin Beck on coming out as transgender ...

March 25, 2015 Transgender veteran Kristin Beck on serving in the Navy and running for congress

March 26, 2015 Former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck inspires at Alfred State College forum

March 28,2015 Kristin Beck to Receive Stonewall Democratic Club's ...

March 29, 2015 Transgender and non-binary in central Pa.: special report

March 30, 2015 Kristin Beck's big purple heart

April 2, 2015 HRWFF 2015 Film Review - Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story

April 2, 2015 The Social - Kristin Beck on life as a transgender ex Navy Seal

April 3, 2015 Video The Social, Canada

April 6, 2015 Transwoman Transforms Hearts and Minds What the Frack? - AURA

April 13, 2015 Power Your Life To Tackle Tough Transgender Topic

April 13, 2015 Former US Navy SEAL talks coming out as transgender during UMaine Pride Week

April 15, 2015 Coming Out Transgender – Kristin Beck: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey ...

April 16, 2015 trt 73 Kristen Beck Lady Valor

April 21, 2015 Trans Woman and Former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck Tells Her Story ...

April 22, 2015 VIDEO: Trans ex-Navy SEAL Kristin Beck won't hide

April 28, 2015 Some local angles to Jenner interview

April 30, 2015 'Lady Valor' Kristen Beck talks fighting, defending with Brendan and Bryan

April 30, 2015 Cele|bitchy | Exclusive: Navy SEAL Kristin Beck – Jenner ...

April 30, 2015 Kristin Beck joins The Fighter and The Kid - YouTube

May 3, 2015 Racism charges make it likely that Airborne Eddy is going to be Off the Air Eddy

May 4, 2015 Nation's biggest LGBT military event of the year to celebrate modern military families

May 11, 2015 Transgender former Navy SEAL: 'This is me. Chris Beck, the ...

May 12, 2015 2015 Esprit to honor vets with Port Angeles breakfast; public invited to Saturday speech by ...

May 14, 2015 “He's no hero” says transgender former Navy SEAL of Bruce Jenner

May 15, 2015 WEEKEND: Esprit to wrap week in Port Angeles with dinner, dance; transgender former Navy ...

May 30, 2015 LGBT Film festival starts tonight in Hartford

June 1, 2015 Caitlyn Jenner and SEAL Kristin Beck bring transgender ...

June 5, 2015 Transgender Positivity: 10 milestone moments

June 10, 2015 Etc - Walla Wallan meets Navy SEAL

June 15, 2015 Damn These Heels Film Festival: Lady Valor: The Kristen Beck Story

June 17, 2015 Navy Looks at Requiring High-Level OK to Separate Transgender Troops

June 22, 2015 Kristin Beck is a transgender former Navy SEAL running for Congress.

June 23, 2015 Washington Post on Twitter: "Meet Kristin Beck, a transgender former Navy SEAL who is running ...

June 23, 2015 On the campaign trail with Kristin Beck, a transgender former Navy SEAL

June 23, 2015 WashPost Promotes Navy SEAL Running for 'Congresswoman'

June 23, 2015 Meet Kristin Beck, a transgender Navy SEAL running for Congress

June 24, 2015 Washington Post on Twitter: "Meet Kristin Beck, a transgender former Navy SEAL running for ...

June 25, 2015 Transgender Former Navy SEAL Running for Congress Says Caitlin Jenner 'in Her Underwear' Is ...

June 25, 2015 Caitlyn Jenner in Her Underwear Doesn't Help Trans Cause ...

June 26, 2015 Meet Kristin Beck, a transgender former Navy SEAL running for Congress

June 27, 2015 Navy SEAL Has a Problem With Caitlyn Jenner's Underwear & Here's Why

July 7, 2015 Military Eases Policies for Transgender Members | Al ...

July 14, 2015 Kristin Beck, transgender Navy SEAL, says integration must ...

July 14, 2015 US expected to lift ban on transgender people in the military

July 15, 2015 Kristin Beck, transgender Navy SEAL, says integration must not hinder military readiness

July 15, 2015 Former transgender sailor hoping to re-enlist, this time as her "true self"

July 16, 2015 Former Transgender Sailor Hopes to Re-Enlist as Her 'True Self'

July 16, 2015 As Pentagon mulls ending ban, transgender soldiers talk about serving country openly

July 16, 2015 Transgender former Navy SEAL is 'proud' of Caitlyn Jenner

July 16, 2015 U.S. military may lift transgender ban - CNN Video - CNN.com

July 18, 2015 Katie Couric interviews transgender former Navy SEAL

July 22, 2015 Trans Politician Kristin Beck on Caitlyn Jenner, the Pentagon, Chelsea Manning & Running for ...

July 23, 2015 Kristin Beck | Fellowship of the Minds

July 24, 2015 Former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck was not a fan of Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair cover | Gay Star News

July 27, 2015 Kristin Beck, transgender Navy SEAL, on her daring run for Congress ...

July 27, 2015 Meet Kristin Beck, the transgender former Navy SEAL running for Congress

July 27, 2015 Kristin Beck, transgender Navy SEAL, on her daring run for Congress

July 28, 2015 Watch Kristin Beck, Transgender Navy SEAL, On Her Daring Run for Congress

July 28, 2015 NBC Cheers Longshot Transgender Candidate as 'Campaign Trailblazer'

July 28, 2015 Meet Kristin Beck, the transgender former Navy SEAL running for Congress - Bayoubuzz.com

July 30, 2015 Pentagon will start process to end ban on transgender troops next week

August 6, 2015 Purple Heart Day: Meet Transgender Former Navy SEAL ...

August 7, 2015 National Purple Heart Day profile: Kristin Beck

August 7, 2015 Keynote Speaker: Kristin Beck - Iowa Safe Schools

August 8, 2015 Kristin Beck Fires Back Following Mike Huckabee's Transphobic Comments

August 10, 2015 Upcoming Events | Transgender Community Social ...

August 11, 2015 Transgendered ex-Navy SEAL running for Congress - CNN Video

August 11, 2015 Kristin Beck smacks down Huckabee after trans military service comments

August 11, 2015 Pentagon Weighs Allowing Transgender Troops to Serve Openly

August 11, 2015 Transgender Navy SEAL Takes on Huckabee

August 11, 2015 Trans ex-Navy SEAL Kristin Beck to speak at McGuire VA ...

August 12, 2015 Former US Navy SEAL blasts Huckabee for being against trans people serving in military

August 12, 2015 The Navy SEAL running for Congress, who happens to be transgender

August 13, 2015 Health Care Costs For Transgender Troops 'Too Low To Matter,' Study Says

August 13, 2015 Huckabee under fire for stance against transgender troops

August 13, 2015 Kristin Beck slams Huckabee with tweet: 'I am twice the man that you could ever be'

August 15, 2015 Transgender Navy SEAL speaks at McGuire Medical Center

August 15, 2015 Kristin Beck, former Navy SEAL, advocates for transgender acceptance

August 14, 2015 Kristin Beck

August 18, 2015 Kristin Beck, Christine Howey, Debbie Mancini And Eve ...

August 20, 2015 Transgender SEAL says Pentagon serious about changing policy

September 22, 2015 Former Navy Seal Explains Growing Up Transgender -- Dr. Phil

September 29, 2015 Kristin Beck: Art Therapy's Role in Post-war Reintegration - YouTube

October 7, 2015 Transgender Navy Seal speaks at UK

October 9, 2015 Conferences : Home : Out for Work

October 11, 2015 Kristin Beck to Address FSH - United Coalition of Reason

November 5, 2015 Kristin Beck, Former Navy Seal, to Speak in Honor of the Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 9, 2015 Transgender woman, former Navy SEAL running for congressional seat

November 12, 2015 20 Powerful Books Written By Military Veterans to Honor Veterans Day

November 13, 2015 Beck to speak on transgender remembrance

November 14, 2015 Transgender ex-SEAL Kristin Beck - The Morning Call

November 14, 2015 Kristin Beck, a retired Navy SEAL and author of the book Warrior ...

November 16, 2015 Kristin Beck speaks at Bucks County Community College

November 19, 2015 People Profile: Kristin Beck | Transgender Universe

November 25, 2015 Vigil honors transgender victims

November 25, 2015 Kristin Beck: A Navy SEAL in Transition

November 26, 2015 Vigil honors transgender victims

December 5, 2015 A Navy SEAL in Transition: The Kristin Beck Story

December 17, 2015 How to Win in a Bar Fight, According to Retired Navy SEAL Kristin Beck

December 20, 2015 Ret Navy Seal Kristin Beck,  Women Being Allowed to Serve Combat Roles & ISIS

   2016

 January 2016 Kristin Beck's Biography - The Voter's Self Defense System ...

January 24, 2016 Kristin Beck - Warrior, Princess, Politician - Lisa Gene Cox

March 19, 2016 SU to show 'Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story'

March 25, 2016 Former Navy SEAL who is now living as a woman

March 26, 2016 Screening of 'Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story' March 30 at Trinity Episcopal Church,

March 29, 2016 SU's LGBTQ community shows film about gender ...

March 30, 2016 LADY VALOR SCREENING

March 30, 2016 SU's LGBTQ community shows film about gender transformation

April 3, 2016 Kristin Beck - YouTube

April 3, 2016 Rift Among Navy SEALs Over Members Who Cash In on Brand

April 6, 2016 Kristin Beck - The Lady Valor - myBROCKPORT

April 13, 2016 Kristin Beck: Navy SEAL, advocate, wife, transgender woman

April 21, 2016 Two LGBT congressional candidates on Md. ballot

April 24, 2016 Kristin Beck Would Love to Train 1st Female SEALs -- On One Condition

April 25, 2016 Transgender SEAL vet fears DoD will lower standards for females

April 28, 2016 LGBT congressional candidates fall short in Md.

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"IN America we build ladders for people to climb up. We don't build elevators. BUT there are still people in America who are not even offered the LADDERS... EVERYONE should have an equal opportunity to advance and a bright future.

Kristin Beck

[valor4us]

WHY is America trying to win a war of ideas with bullets and bombs?

I am sitting here in my house in Wash DC cleaning up the koi pond of algae. I was in Afghanistan a few years ago and before that Iraq and before that Bosnia and before that Africa. It goes on and on and we just can't get it right. I think the LEADERSHIP in this nation is stagnate. I think many of us regular working class Americans are frustrated and tired of the same old thing out of our government. So I sat down and started typing today. I took some of my briefing from a lecture I gave back in 2012 about Technology, Innovation and Irregular Warfare and added some more thoughts. This is a blo

IT IS TIME to build the PEACE... and we need leaders to do just that.

[valor4us]

The Roller Coaster in my closet…

The Roller Coaster in my closet…

I grew up in the 60s and 70s and was told that certain things were never to be talked about in public. I was told things were kept private. I was told about a “closet” for those things. That closet in the 60s became the standard symbol for the Gay and Lesbian community as something that they lived in and someday they would gain enough “courage” to come out of to the world. Now 50 years later that closet is still used and a place where many of us live. We even have a “coming out” day where we celebrate people leaving a closet and entering the world.

Now hold on to your seats and don’t jump to conclusions on me too fast, but I think this whole idea of a closet is wrong. I think this idea of a closet is getting people killed and creating suicides in our community. Listen to my ideas and then make your judgement with or against my thoughts.

The old closet that we are forced to live within is a small room with one door. The term dates back to 1616 Europe as a private room for study or prayer and in the 60s was picked up by the gay community as a place to hid and protect your identity. In this closet we are isolated, alone, tired, hungry, afraid, sad, angry…. did I say we are alone?  And the scariest thing is the one door that opens up onto “main street.”  Yes, It opens out onto Main Street; a world of ignorance, prejudice and bigotry. A world where our parents will throw us onto the streets as teenagers to fend for ourselves. A door that opens up to the entire world to judge us.  Yes, Main Street is full of bullies and violence and even death to those of us who are different. The differences can be color, religion, gender, sexual orientation and many other things.  The differences are vast and many of us are targeted on the spot for being different. The most violent and in the news most often is the LGBTQ community. Its a scary Main Street especially if you are like me…. a dude in a dress that is judged on my appearance and beaten up and name called on sight. (I don’t see myself that way, but many people never see the real me.)

The idea of a “closet” and “coming out” from that small isolated room onto the world is wrong.

I made the mistake myself of living in that closet and coming out. I was a transgender US Navy SEAL with a beard and a job in the Pentagon and the next day “coming out” into the world in a dress walking down the halls of the Pentagon. No preparation and no idea what I was doing.  I had no support and no help. I lost family, friends, jobs and I was wearing all the wrong clothes and my make up was a mess. The point is I did it wrong because that little closet and coming out of it was the only thing I thought could be done. Stay isolated and live in fear and agony and never really live or come out into the world. IT WAS ONE OR THE OTHER. With these old school closets there were all kinds of problems of blackmail, extortion and treachery and constant fear of being found out. Being forced to make one or the other choice sometimes give us no choice but to end our own lives and that is no choice and wrong.

We should get rid of the idea of a closet. That closet is wrong and a death sentence to many of us.  The closet needs to be replaced with a huge room with a couch and a big screen TV and an Xbox. We invite people in and share our lives. The coolest thing in that room is there’s even a roller coaster.  I open that room to my best friend and then a few other friends then some family members. They really think this room is cool and we talk about stuff. We talk about how I am transgender and what I want out of life. We talk about my dreams and my fears.

That room gets bigger and bigger and we bring in more couches and add a swimming pool with one of those really cool slides. This room is awesome. My friends and I keep talking about all kinds of stuff. We are helping each other figure out who we are and we find out how awesome each of us really can be and become. We are living with no limits and no boundaries. There is no ignorance or prejudice because we are in a room together and supporting each other.

The room gets so big and we are all supporting each other that the walls seem to disappear and most of the world is in that room with me and you.

In this room we have time to grow with our “differences” and learn to be comfortable with yourself and others. We understand tolerance and respect in its truest form. We learn about our own body and most importantly our MIND and SOULS. We learn to love ourselves even with our differences and with that love we can now love one another and treat each other with dignity, respect and fairness.

IF I knew something besides that old-school isolated closet and grew up in that room maybe I would have learned about transgender terms and the LGBT community not to mention clothing styles and makeup. I would have learned about who I am as a human and how I fit into this world. I would have grown with support around me instead of being alone for the past two years of my life, struggling and making mistakes.

To live in a room like this is to be supported and loved. There is no fear of being found out. There is no chance of blackmail because that fear is overcome by support. There is no fear of the outside world because there is no door to Main Street. There is no door to that hate or bigotry of “that” world.  

Living in a closet is the worst place to be and that idea of a closet is the worst idea we could put on a young persons mind. If they ONLY have a choice between a closet and the bigotry and hate of Main Street then no wonder there are high suicide rates among LGBT youth. WE need to have more choices than a closet or main Street and I GIVE YOU A HUGE ROOM WHERE WE LOVE AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

That small closet needs to go away and be replaced by Central Park with all my friends and a roller coaster.

-Kristin Beck

[valor4us]

Earmarks

Earmarks were banned in 2011 and I agree with the ban.  Future Congresses could reinstate earmarks.  If that happens, I will vote routinely to block or limit earmarks.  I don' like them.  Here's why.  When on Congressman or Congresswoman wants something special for their district, they have to get support from other Representatives.  The horse trading that goes on leads to increased spending across virtually every Congressional District.  And that leads to increased spending, through horse trading, in regular spending bills.  It is just human nature to trade and cooperate with others in order to get what you want.  We have to guard against that.  We are $18T in debt.  At this point, ever dollar counts and earmarks are real dollars, as much as $10B per year.  The ban is a good one and I support it completely.

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GREEN is Good

By GREEN I mean the environment and not money unlike so many politicians before me. I graduated from college with a degree in Political Science. My intent was to serve my country.  After college the road was politics and holding office so I moved to Washington DC. My first job was working for Clean Water Action a grass roots political action organization. www.cleanwateraction.org

A war started I ended up serving in the Navy SEALs for 20 years; now I am back into politics. I fought to clean up the Chesapeake Bay back in the 1990s and will continue that mission.  GREEN IS GOOD, but it will take effort and dedication from our politicians and citizens alike. Here is one of my KEY issues with SOLUTIONS. (Beck is SOLUTIONS not Slogans) www.beck4congress.us

It's All About Rising Sea Levels  Set a 25% National Goal for Renewable Energy by 2030 Building out a Renewable Energy Infrastructure to produce 25% of the nation's energy requirement is well within our capability.  It just takes the will of the national and leadership.  I will provide a plan and the leadership.   You need to provide the will to back up a plan. Anyone familiar with the economics of Wind, Solar, Geothermal and Hydroelectric will tell you that we can meet this goal in 15 years or less, but we need your help.    Solar Powered Schools  We found about 10 schools in Maryland with significant solar arrays mounted on the roofs.  In Harford County there are six schools, which actually turn a profit on their solar installations. I believe it is entirely possible to turn a profit on every school installation and clear the air while we are doing it.  Can you imagine that? Every school producing a profit on energy production and cleaning up the Earth as they do it. The less energy we need from hydrocarbon power plants, the less we have to clean up down stream.  The savings multiply as we produce more and more clean energy.   (Read more below in details) Solar Powered Street Lights 

Who pays for all of those streetlights?  There are millions on millions of streetlights in America and we, the taxpayers, pay for them.  Why not have them pay for themselves and actually pay us back for a change?  I have a workable plan to generate twice as much electricity as is required to run a common street light today and then replace those energy grabbing lights with high efficiency LED lights.  Win-Win and get a paycheck when the job is done.  Brilliant?  No, just a better idea.      (Read more below in details)

Our Baseline Issues and Solutions Details

The Rising Sea Level DebateAsk one of the non-believers in "Climate Change" if sea levels are rising.  If they say "no", then move along.  There is no hope for them; the Sea Levels are rising, there is no question.  So there should be no debate.  However, the debaters will say that this is just Mother Nature acting the way Mother Nature acts.  They will say that we cannot control it and we have had no impact on it.  

Our part of the debate says, "So what? Who cares if we have had an impact or not.  If we did have an impact, then we should correct it.  If not, what do we lose by trying to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere?"  My position is clear, sea levels are rising and I am willing to make reasonable efforts to change it and eventually to stop it.

I have outlined three ways to act responsibly.  If the non-believers don't want to join in, then they are just acting irresponsibly and there is little you can do to change that.  It's ok.  There are millions of us who are willing to be responsible for our children’s future and this Planet. 

First: Set a National Goal of 25% of our Energy Requirement to be met by Renewable Energy Sources by 2030. I will push for a national goal of 25% of the nation's electricity requirement to be provided by renewable energy sources by 2030.  I will also push for the production of 35% of all electricity produced in Maryland to come from Wind, Solar and Hydroelectric by 2040.  We will also support the Keystone XL Pipeline, Cove Point and Natural Gas production.  We will take an all of the above approach to energy production with focus on energy that produces little or no CO2 followed by energy that reduces CO2 emissions.  We will push to clean up coal fired plants, which is entirely possible, by providing federal funds at a 2% interest rate on 40 year loans. THIS is possible, so lets get going and save our children’s future.

We must recognize that today America produces 50% of its electricity from coal fired plants.  For $10B to $20B we can clean up several key coal fired plants.  For another $10B to $20B we can replace the worst coal fired plants with natural gas fired plants.  For such a small amount of money we can eliminate great amounts of CO2.  Remember, these are loans.  The cost to the American Taxpayer is ZERO.  

There should be no impact on inflation or debt while creating thousands of jobs over a 15 year period. I will push as hard as I can for Maryland to add one new nuclear power plant at Calvert Cliffs.  When you add that to the mix, 65% of Maryland’s electricity will come from nuclear, hydro or renewable energy sources.  By just adding 35% of wind and solar (and upgrading our hydroelectric plants) we can be off the hydrocarbon train for electricity production in Maryland and other states will follow.  

We have a plan for doing just that.  Can you imagine the clear skies that will exist if there were no hydrocarbons used to produce electricity in the entire state?  In the Nation? It is possible.  In less than 20 years we could be there.  It just takes vision and a redirection of existing funds, along with a strong public private partnership.  

I will do everything in my power to deliver on this vision of our immediate future.

I have a long list of ideas of how to implement this goal.  I will list two of those ideas below.  They make perfect sense; they pay for themselves and provide a real return on investment.  The basic question is "Why Not?"  If there were a good reason, I would love to hear it.  In the mean time, let's get going on any and all projects that will help achieve a national goal of 25% of our energy production by renewable sources.  Both of these ideas will also cut the amount of greenhouse gasses that we put into the atmosphere.  It is a win-win for everyone and a huge win for our nation and our planet. 

Super Schools It Starts Now: 

Reduce the Ozone (and other bad stuff) in the Atmosphere and Reduce the Incidence of Asthma Attacks. Solar Energy for Schools The goal of this program is to reduce or eliminate the use of hydrocarbon based energy to power our schools.  This is just the first in a long series of uses for solar and wind power that replaces the need to burn oil, coal or any other hydrocarbon in order to supply the energy for that industry or function.  Schools are usually in session 180 days out of the year.  Most of the electricity use is for lighting, cooling and heating.  We can use wind and solar to produce about 200% of the annual needs of every school in the nation through this program.  By feeding the electricity into the grid all day, every day (including weekends, holidays and summer breaks) we can produce far more than the same schools will need when they draw electricity from the grid for the days a school is in session.  Go back and read that last sentence again. This is real and this program more than pays for itself and clears the air of millions of tons of CO2 every year.

I will work with the State of Maryland to reopen the BP Solar Panel manufacturing plant in Frederick Maryland to create about 300 high paying jobs and produce the panels to make this program a reality.I will work with the State of Maryland to create a model for the nation on how to enlist the help of local utilities to provide the interconnection to the grid at no cost.

I will work with Veteran owned businesses to help them obtained preferred vendor status in this program.  And I will look to the VA for additional support and funding.I will seek legislation to fund this activity at a rate of $500M per year for forty years or $20B from the budget of the Department of Education.  This is less than 1% of the budget of the Department of Education.  Schools that participate will do so on a first come first serve basis.  All schools, public and private can participate.  Elementary schools must install at least 50Kw, Middle schools 100Kw and High Schools 200Kw.  The installations for any one school can be phased in with a solid contract in place over a period of 10 years.  To be clear, an elementary school must install at least 5Kw per year to qualify for the federal funds.

I will sponsor legislation to repay schools that install at least 50Kw of solar power on or near a school for 40% of the cost of installation up to $200K per school spread over 10 years in equal payments. We will also sponsor legislation to repay schools that install at least 50Kw of wind power on or near a school for 40% of the full cost of installation up to $200K per school spread over 10 years in equal payments.  If wind power is not practical, a waiver will be granted for an additional $200K for solar power installations, which brings the maximum for any one school to $400K (up to 80% of the project’s cost).

A school can have both wind and solar and receive both grants.School districts are required to aggregate and sell the clean energy credits (if available) for no less than five cents per kilowatt in a manner that makes the school district the direct beneficiary, not a third party.  Any money that is available above five cents per kilowatt can go to a third party (most likely the installation company or prime contractor on the project).It is anticipated that local school districts will pay roughly 30% of the costs, states will pay roughly 30% of the costs and contributions from PTA’s, booster clubs, local business, parents, students, student body organizations and others will cover the balance of the costs.  We are supplementing the process with a promise to repay a portion of the costs (up to 40%). 

Solar Street Lights It Starts Now: Fewer Calories, Less Filling I intend to sponsor legislation to pay for the conversion of all streetlights nation wide to solar / wind powered LED lighting.  I believe that all government parking lots should also be converted to solar / wind power LED lights in 5% increments over 20 years.  After that, we will find ways to work with commercial enterprises to convert their parking lots to solar / LED lighting.  Some industries are already making headway such as telecommunications.  Verizon and Sprint have well documented solar and wind energy programs.  I am sure AT&T and others have joined in as well.  We need every industry to get more involved. 

According to the Boston Globe, US Taxpayers could save $2B annually that is currently spent on streetlights.  Many cities pay more than a million dollars a year and for some cities, it is the largest fixed expense they have.  There are over 26 million streetlights in the US, and they consume as much energy as 1.9 million homes and are as bad on the environment as 2.6 million cars.

You remember when light beer was introduced to the market, right?  The slogan was “Fewer Calories, Less Filling”.  Well, something similar can be said about solar powered streetlights.  Here we have, fewer Green House Gasses, and Less CO2.  Just like “Lite Beer” was good for your waistline, “Solar Street Lights” are good for your lungs and your pocketbook (about $20 per taxpayer per year).  We can cut CO2 emissions in the US by about one percentage point by just installing solar panels on every street light in America (about 1,000 watts) and feeding that energy into the power grid.  By offsetting the energy used by streetlights at night with energy produced during the day, streetlight power consumption and corresponding green house gasses are balanced out.  We get streetlights at night and solar power during the day.  It is a win-win for everyone.  And it pays for itself over time and eventually the streetlights will become a source of revenue for every city that implements the plan.  That means the potential for lower taxes for you and a cleaner environment.

I will propose legislation to pay for the installation of solar power on every streetlight in the US at $2.0B per year.  Funds will come from several sources to include the EPA, DOE, NASA and the Justice Department at $500M per year each until the job is complete.  These will be federal matching funds where state and local governments pay 60% and the federal government pays 40%.  In addition I will propose legislation that limits the wattage on each streetlight to 50% of the current wattage in order to push for the conversion to low energy LED lights.  Seattle did this recently to 21,000 streetlights and Seattle is now saving more than $1.2M annually.  This is a smart idea. Within a decade of each conversion, the cost to power the streetlights involved will be fully repaid and the payback will begin to the city and you the taxpayer.  Realistically, state and local governments are not likely to send you a check in the mail, but it will keep them off your back for additional taxes for a while and in some well-managed states, you could see a decrease in your tax assessments.    

BECK is Solutions not Slogans www.beck4congress.us

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NO time is wasted if to save ONE American and then finally our nation.

you will see many many plans and idea on ways to improve our Nation. Some of them are hot topics and I will drive harder than anyone you have ever seen. Some of them are distant plans that I will push legislation and maybe they will pick up steam in the future. I will endeavor to NOT promise anything that I don't have passion for the good of all AMERICANS. A friend asked me if I was biting off more than I can chew? Are you making promises you can't keep? Are you just wasting time bringing up programs that will be shot down? I am reminded of the starfishes... it goes like this. A huge storm hit Smith Island Maryland and all the starfishes were washed up on shore. Thousands of them were on the beach and dying. An old man was seen in the distance slowly bending over with his hand on his back for support. He would reach down to one starfish and throws it back in the ocean. I was young back then and saw him doing this every ten or so steps. It was heart breaking to see how much he struggled in his old age throwing a single starfish back in the bay amongst the millions that washed up on the beach. I walked quickly past hundreds and hundreds of starfish and finally caught up to him. I asked, “Sir, why do you do this? there are thousands on this beach and you are not making a difference.” He struggled to bend over and picked up another starfish and showed it to me as he threw it into the ocean and said, “But I made a difference to this one starfish and it is worth it.”  My job in congress is to save as many as possible and always do my best. Now imagine if we all went down to the beach and followed this example?   We all pitched in and saved EVERYONE? which would then be saving our NATION. -Kristin Beck

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BUD/S Training advice

My personal advice for potential SEAL candidates. This doesn't guarantee anything much of your success is up to you and how far you are willing to go...

Rule number one: Take care of yourself! If your body or your mind fails then YOU FAIL.   Again this is the number one and all following rules just point back to rule one. Don’t show up broken and injured in your MIND or your BODY.  If you do they will break you totally and you will not make it to the prize. This applies in all of life... think about it.

Boots: Wear the best running shoes you can afford, change them often, they wear out. go to a running store and have them fit you to your foot and style of walking/running. Don’t run in boots, you will do that when you arrive.  remember rule number one. to break your boots in, wear them into water till fully soaked then do light chores wearing them till they dry, do this 3 times. wear 2 pairs of socks when you do this.

Nutrition: Eat well, your body needs it. They say eat a rainbow; meaning eat carrots, orange, lettuce green, meat brown, other foods yellow/red/purple etc.  Most Americans eat brown all day every day, Mcdonalds and other junk...check it out, you will see how bad people eat.

Fitness Targets: Running down to 8 minutes per mile for 6-8 miles. Swimming get 2 miles in 60min in fins. (find some good slip on surface swim fins, not diving fins they are to stiff, you have to build up to stiff fins...) Run 3 times a week or swim 3 times a week, not both.   Remember rule number one, take care of yourself. If you need a couple days off then take them to recover, heal yourself. If you body is telling you something then listen…

Twice a week do this workout: 25 pull ups, rest 4 min, then 80 push ups in 2min, rest 4 min, then 80 sit-ups in 2 min then run 2 miles in 16 minutes.

Read the books: 1. A Message to Garcia (do the job don't ask to many questions, figure it out) 2. Ranger Handbook, (pay attention to small unit tactics and leadership) 3. The Moon is a harsh Mistress, (leadership and how to start a revolution) 4. Defense of duffer drift (memorize this book) 5. The soldiers Load 6. Enders Game(good grand tactics and fun easy read)

One last note:  Be able to read a map and use a compass, use a pace count and contour navigation skills.  If you don’t know what these are then look them up and practice with a friend in a national forest near you.  When out doing practice long range navigation always have a plan and leave that plan with a friend who can “rescue” you if needed.

NEVER QUIT…. YOU CAN DO IT… YOU CAN DO ANYTHING (I did).

[valor4us]

Who do you like?

Who do you like? by Kristin Beck TWITTER: @valor4us

I just departed a New York City pre-screening of the documentary film “Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story.” It was presented by CNN and Psychology Today, attended by CNN executives and a select audience of New York Professionals. In the Audience was Hedy, an 85 year old woman married to a marvelous gentlemen, a holocaust survivor from the death camps of WWII. Many other stories will abound as I recall the nights events, but I want to share one short conversation I had with Hedy.

Hedy enjoyed the film Lady Valor and mentioned one part that she liked the most. A question is asked of me in the film, “Who do you like?” further questions went on “Are you gay? Do you like women?”

I simply answered what was in my heart, “I like people.” The person asking the question was trying to force me into a label of “straight” or “gay” or “lesbian” or who knows what. Hedy, in her years of experience and wisdom was struck by my simple answer. Hedy came to me after the movie and asked me to go into detail. I spoke about my life of discovery, finding myself and finding others who have open minds and yearn for rational thought beyond mere passages from ancient books or bigotry of stereotypes and such. I am learning to look beyond the many “labels” that we are forced to abide by in society.

Hedy said why can’t we do that for everything?

Ok, my turn to be awestruck by a simple answer. I gave her a hug and said thank you. I now understand what I am really doing and see what you see in me. You all, reading this ask, What the heck are you talking about? Simply, I like people, no labels, just people. and Why can’t we do that for everything?

Look beyond the label of gender, race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything. Why can’t we just like each other for just being ourselves in all of our diversity as humans? What is wrong with us that we constantly label and judge each other? It’s inhibiting to all of our potential as humans.

I am so tired of labels and it seems that EVERYTHING in life and society reinforces those labels. Look around and see how many things point us “into” a label and divides us as people “into” those labels. The fashion magazines, the media, the news, our parents, our brothers and sisters, our friends, our neighbors, the church, the mosque, the guy on the corner who never met me is ENFORCING LABELS and controlling my thought and actions according to those labels.

When can we all just live our lives as we are and not live the “label?”  When can we just be ourselves and support each other in our own happiness and freedom?

I want to see less stereotypes in the media. Less Barbie and less Conan and more of us regular folk who are just as beautiful as people need to be, maybe more… if you look beyond the label.

I want to just “LIKE” every human and enjoy our diversity in all things. When I grow up I want to be like Hedy, she is really cool.

[valor4us]

Original music by Kristin Beck playing the didgeridoo.  I was in Australia a couple of times and learned how to play the instrument from a really cool guy out in the desert.... TAKE a walk-a-bout sometime and meet cool people. Open your mind. Be cool for someone else....

[valor4us]

Stoker #97

Squinting past the dirty windshield, JP saw smoke and haze covered everything, humanity below skiting about on endless errands. Guards, with their heavy grey trench coats and gear belts watch every move. The blanket of security in this new age lay heavy like a lead quilt.  

The city had a pulse that beat deeply and steady like a locomotive. Most of the buildings were squat square nearly windowless shapes huddled together tightly to fight off the never ending cold.  Civilization lived underground as did the buildings and industry. Winter seemed endless. There were a few taller buildings sprinkling the concrete landscape, built recently by the wealthy or the government, it was difficult to separate the two.   Air traffic was reserved to government or wealthy business due to immense expense of fuel and aircraft repair.   Ornithopters could be seen fluting to and fro with suited big wigs protected by heavily armed guards. The Airport was built into the side of a mountain before the war. JP lived within this mountain, a two-room 400 square foot apartment, where he raised his family. His one hope was someday to have a son fly like him and his father handing down the legacy. Flying was the only way to maintain the family home and the relatively plush life he had become accustomed too.

James Patrick, JP for short, turned from the outskirts of the city toward the massive pipeline cutting across the landscape like a scar long ago healed by time and the earth itself.  He followed the pipeline as he did every few months, dropping off supplies to the furnaces and doing the inspections that were more and more necessary as the earth fought to take back its land from the industrialized enemy.

He swooped in low and lit the yellow crew signal light as he approached the first stoker. Crewmen scurried about in the cavernous aircraft as it lumbered into position for the first drop. JP saw the smoke that rose from the tall chimney then he saw the stoker on the hillside waving his arms. The stoker waved his arms in a desperate greeting to the aircrew that he still manned his post. He was still alive.   The Green light was lit and the crewman shoved the huge pallet back a few feet, gravity took hold and the pallet sped off the ramp. The parachute caught and slowed the accent enough to cause minimal destruction to the stokers only connection to civilization.  The crewmen on the back ramp saw the stoker running toward the pallets landing site. The aircraft disappeared along the pipeline to its next stoker.

JP followed the pipeline, thirty minutes later saw the smoke of the next stoker and the ritual continued. He learned this route and the skills of a pilot from his father; he missed his old man. They were never really close, but he missed him.  A photo of his father still hung at the Rusty Rudder Saloon.

Stoker number 97 was one of the gray beards of the line, having been on the line for a decade or more. He was a funny one, he had a way to make the pilot laugh. JP made a ritual to wag the plane at him in response to the normal antics from 97. Stoker 97 was on the familiar hillside, but only wore a red shirt and had his hand high in the air. It appeared to be a clenched fist pointing at the heavens. JP was disappointed; most runs 97 would have a show or at least flash a moon at the aircrew. The pilot waged the wings at his old friend.  They had never met, but they had a camaraderie known to the each of them.

His journey continued without flavor for another eighteen hours. After landing at the refinery and refueling they made the return flight keeping a sharp lookout for stokers smoke along the way back to the city.  Smoke on both legs of the journey was a good indicator that everyone was alive and tending their duties.   The only communication to the furnace rooms of the stokers was by means of a powerful very low frequency radio; with its huge antenna it could blast the signal to all of the stokers along the pipeline at once. The stoker’s only signal in return was the smoke from their stack; if it smoked, they were alive.  If one stoker died the smoked ceased and in most cases the stokers down the line would have an increase in work to make up for the downed stoker.  If two stokers in a row died then there would be a drop in flow showing back at the headquarters, resulting in a emergency flight for JP.  The pipeline was the lifeblood of the city and always flowed.

97 watched as the aircraft swayed from side to side, its wings doing a slight dance; like a wave.  He smiled to himself and wished he were aboard that aircraft returning to his home to see his long lost family.   He frequently dreamed of the aircraft landing in his field. Its doors open, inviting him for a return flight out of the wilderness; back to the city and his mother.  

He slowly made his way to his supplies, starting the long haul from the field and into the storage rooms.  These were all of the supplies he would get from the city for quite a while; every scrap counted and was calculated. These supplies were precious to ensure the survival of the furnace and a steady flow in the pipeline, everything was calculated for one stoker and one stoker only.

He took four days to haul all of the supplies into the storerooms.  He was slowing down, much slower and he knew something was wrong.  He sat at his dinner table near the giant furnace and mixed another concoction of paint. His passion was painting. He used the heavy canvas that covered the resupply pallet as his medium and mixed coal dust, rust, dirt, mustard and other foodstuff as his paint. Brushes consisted of wood carefully carved and frayed or clothe tied tight and wound onto a stick, or even his own hair or his fingers were additions to his tools.   He had been the fire tender at furnace number 97 for well over a decade, he did not know the exact length of time. He was happy in his work over these long hard years. His mother due to an injury in the factory, when he was a child, finally resorted to begging in the tunnels to put food on the table. He volunteered for this position and luck had its way, he was picked as a government stoker.  Now able to send money to his mother and keep her off the tunnel floor and in their comfortable room in the east dormitory, floor 8 of building 6952B.  

He knew his time was coming close to an end, his blood was running slow like the thick ooze that sometimes crept from the pipeline bolts.  

He very carefully secured the canvass to a makeshift wood frame about the size of kitchen cutting board. He dreamed of the photo of his mother, it was the only photo he could remember ever seeing.  She must have been a teenager, long blonde hair and a smile that made his heart light.  He did his best to replicate this photo on his last canvas; calling forth the deepest of feelings and memories to lay on that blank canvas.  He worked with careful determined strokes for hours on end, stopping only to feed the fire and keep the furnace burning.  He did not eat. He did not rest. He painted until it was done.

Barley moving he lay down his brush and stood up got up to gaze upon his work.  A tear ran down his face, he stood there for hours maybe days.  Finally he moved toward the painting, picked it up and carried it to a hook near the main door that led outside. He looked at the painting then through the porthole that led to the access tunnel. Turned around and walked to his furnace, opened the door and entered his furnace to end the pain.

Drop in temperature was felt down the line, easily compensated through the summer.

The pilot flew his normal duty, dropping supplies as necessary to the stokers along the pipeline. He did not see the smoke from 97 that he expected. Puzzled JP strained his eyes into the distance hoping for the signal.  The smoke did not rise as it should and he knew his old friend had passed.  Supplies dropped into a lonely field. JP continued on in silence and remorse.   A message was sent to Headquarters, Furnace 97 required a stoker.

James “JP” Patrick number P-4876 son of Captain Patrick who was known as “Captain” and the savior of the North.

JP continued the trip in silence, his crew knew he was hurt by the lose of his friend.  After landing and buttoning up the aircraft the crew left him in silence. JP slowly made it back into the catacombs of life in the mountain and ended up at the bar.  The rusty hook was his father bar and sure enough his father was there sitting on a stool across the bar.  His father made eye contact and knew something was wrong. JP walked over and grabbed a seat next to him. The bartender brought over the regular without a word. They sat in silence for a good while, the silence was broken when JP said, “Number 97 is dead.” His father nodded. They drank their beers and another full pint was replaced without words.  His father merely grabbed his shoulder and looked him in the eye.  JP knew what he meant. Nothing was said, they have both seen many loses over the years and they both were solid rocks and had to be the leaders they were expected to be. A group of people walked into the bar and when they saw JP and the old man, they all called out, “Hey Captain, Hey JP, great to see you. Come over and shoot a game, lemme buy you a round.” JPs father was always called “Captain” he was the top gun in the bar, it was his bar. Captain and JP went over and spent some time with the boys, then politely left, walking side by side.  They didn’t have to talk, just spend time, time heals.

When JP got back to his apartment he hugged his wife and called the boys over. Son, I want to bring you down to the plane tomorrow. You are going to learn to fly. I want you to take over soon and you need to be ready.  Grandpa will work with us and you are going to be great. Trust me. He smiled at his oldest son Adam. Adam looked scared and insecure as he glanced over to his mother.  The younger of the two, Joseph was sitting right beside his brother eager to hear everything and hoping to be invited along. The next morning came early as JP was rousting the boys. He told Adam to get ready and then shook Joseph awake and asked if he would like to come along.  Joseph leapt out of bed already dressed with boots on jacket and cap at the ready. The morning was going smooth Adam was learning the controls and nomenclature. Little Joe was right there trying to stay out of the way, but absorbing everything like a sponge.  The day wore on into afternoon; Captain and JP agreed it was time to leave the hanger and take them up for their first flight. See what they were made of. They took off in a flurry of snow and ice and broke into the open sky above the city.  Little Joe was going back and forth from porthole to porthole. Adam sat still in his seat.  After a bit the Captain came back out of the co-pilots seat and told Adam to get up there and take the controls. Adam unbuckled and moved forward in the cabin.  He sat down reluctantly.  JP was excited to be able to pass his skills to his oldest son.   After about 10 minutes JP handed the stick to his son. Adam took the stick for a few seconds then leaned over and threw up at his feet.  He was turning green and was going to pass out. JP called for Captain to give him a hand. They removed Adam from the seat and buckled him in. Captain patiently cleaned up the mess with Little Joe at his side helping as much as possible. Captain took the refuse to the back of the aircraft and deposited it into a bin; meanwhile Joe had buckled himself into the co-pilots seat. They flew for another 10 minutes toward home; Adam was looking better so JP thought they could fly for a bit more. He coached Joe on the controls and then passed them over to him. Joe took to the controls a bit harsh at first, but with a few comments from his father he settled into a soft hand and was able to do a few maneuvers.  His father was smiling inside, but didn’t want it to show and embarrass Adam. JP took the controls and returned home to a smooth landing.  They all got out and secured the aircraft.

Captain took Little Joe by the shoulder and said come with me. He called out to JP “See you at the rudder.”

JP walked over to Adam, who was sitting on the stairs near the hanger with his head in his hands.  He had tears down his face and a sad look in his eyes. JP put his arm around his son and sat for a few moments. “Son, if you don’t like to fly then you don’t like to fly. It is not the end of the world.” JP said Adam looked up at his father and another tear ran down his face. JP continued, “I am still proud of you, we can find some other job that you enjoy.” Adam looked up again and said, “Dad, I like to sew and make clothes for mom. I like to stay at home and make everything nice. I don’t like to go outside, I don’t like to be away from home.  I want to make you proud, I want you to love me.” “Son, You just made me proud, you know what you like and you told me. You being a pilot isn’t what I want from you. What I want is for you to be happy and live a good life. Heck it seems like your brother may really want to be and is kind of a natural pilot. Your kid brother may just be taking my job sooner than I thought.” “Dad, I am really glad you aren’t mad. Thank you.” Adam said smiling. JP pulled him up and said they had to go to the bar and meet with Grandpa and Little Joe. They left the hanger and made their way to the rudder.

…meanwhile back to #97.

Signal received. Stoker at post #97. The chalk board was marked for the captain in charge of the need.  The Captain then spoke to the clerk. The clerk processed the request and ran the program to select the new stoker.  The screen on his computer flickered its numbers and volunteers and draftee’s names and numbers flashed across the screen.  The answer: name, building number, floor, dormitory location and room read out as a prize or a sentence? Popovstok/5326D/18/West/762.  The information was written on a small chalkboard then handed to an officer to collect the new stoker.

They entered the dormitory and found room 762 where the Popovstok family lived.  The officer knocked mechanically on the metal door with his staff. A grizzled old man opened the door. Seeing the two officers in their long Brown Trench coats his face turned gray. He asked, "How may I be of assistance to the government?" The officer showed the chalk board to old man.  It simply said,

Popovstok/5326D/18/West/762 Male age 13-18 for the duration

The officer said "We leave in 5 minutes with a boy." The two officers backed up to the wall across from door 762.

Closing the door slowly, he knew the task at hand was difficult; he also knew that this would bring income to the family. Government jobs were a steady check and the Popovstok family grew by one recently and they needed the food.  Father gathered the 4 boys and 4 girls around the supper table. Mother held the newborn son in her arms at the end of the table.

The family spoke quietly about which boy would be given over to the government. Young Tor was mute and stayed by himself most of the time.  Tor did however have affection and a kind of communication with Ehster, the youngest girl in the family.  He was not very strong, but was a hard worker when the directions were simple.  He was an obvious choice for father; mother started silently sobbing. She knew that he was a very sweet boy and a gifted child, he wouldn't last a day in the government; she wept.  Father had a different outlook and expected Tor would do well in a regimented job as long as it was simple.

He knelt in front of Tor and said, "Work hard son, we will look after Ehster and keep her safe as long as you work, we will all be safe. This is the only way you will ever help your family, you know this(as he grasped his chin and made him look him in the eye) you know I am right." He patted him on the head, "good bye son, Ehster is safe now."

Mother brushed father aside and hugged Tor.

Ehster sitting on the corner bench with her knees to her chin crying and peering up to catch glimpses of Tor.

Tor smiled at Ehster and gave her a signal that only she understood, turned his back to the family he walked to the door.  Father opened the door and led the way onto the stoop.

Father guided Tor in front of the officer and said "This is Tor, he doesn't speak, but is a good worker and can follow simple instructions.”

The officer looked at Tor, opened his mouth as if looking at a horse. The officer grunted and looked at father with a stern look and spoke, "Is this your choice to shoulder the responsibility to our Homeland?" Father responded "Yes." The Officer like a robot asked further, "Will he make you proud and serve the government well?" Father answered, "Yes, He will do us proud."  

Tor was sitting between the government men in back of the truck, trembling wondering about his unknown sentence and his sentence that was about to start.  He had no idea what he was going to do for the government; wild ideas floated through his head, dread crept its way in.  Soon fanciful dreams of wonder overtook the mundane and dreary world that surrounded him; he drifted off into a daze of color and beauty only known to him.

Back at headquarters Tor was told he would be a stoker, a very important position. He was instructed in every way as to the duties he was to undertake.

Stokers kept the fires burning to ensure the pipeline flowed at the proper rate.  The pipeline was constructed a hundred years ago and traversed the trans-continental plateau.  The line sat just above the permafrost and bored through mountain ranges.  It was huge and would be impossible to build today; you could drive four trucks side by side through the pipeline.

The enormity of the pipeline and its lifeblood that flowed was the only thing keeping the government in power and the mega-city on the coast alive. Whoever controlled the pipeline, controlled the country.  Unbeknownst to most, an internal battle for control of this pipeline between powerful families ensued; it was a power struggle with no open combat. This war of the elite had its trickle down, affecting the masses in name changes, new bosses and fluctuations in water and electric.

Tor received his instruction at a mock up of the furnace and the supplies and other duties were quickly covered in the few hours. They fitted him with clothing, giving him a few sizes larger than necessary for him to grow into. A pallet was built with additional supplies and extra clothing that he would need in the years to come. The pallet also contained a new radio that would receive the weekly instructions blasted from Headquarters.

Tor boarded the aircraft and the crewman buckled him into a parachute and sat him down on the bench seat.  Other crew were busy with duties to the aircraft and strapping down Tors pallet.

He was awakened by a shake on the shoulder and told to stand up. Tor complied as the aircraft ramp lowered into position. The aircrewman hooked up Tors’ parachute to a cable that ran the length of the plane.  The aircraft glided downward to its drop off point. The yellow light flashed.  

Tor was bewildered and scared beyond reckoning. A green light started flashing and the aircrew ran around for unknown reasons. The pallet was pushed and started back toward the ramp. The crewman took Tor by the shoulder and walked with him back toward the ramp. The pallet disappears and the crewman continued guiding Tor back then all of a sudden Tor was thrown into the air.

Screaming and flailing his legs Tor very quickly realized he was falling to earth under a parachute. He fell like a sack of potatoes about 50 yards from the pallet.

After stuffing the parachute under the canvas of the pallet, Tor started the trek toward the chimney of the furnace. It took him fifteen minutes to get to the door that led to a tunnel down to the furnace.  There was a huge ramp built up to this door then a tunnel that led down to the furnace room. The construction of the ramp and tunnels ensured that the heavy snowfall would never block the entrance to the furnace room. In the last 80 years there has only been one snowfall that blocked any of these doors.

Tor made his way into his new home.

It was dark and cold and Tor new he had to quickly build up the fire in the furnace to survive the night. The major lesson beat into his head. ‘You will not survive one night without a fire in the furnaces.’

Tor opened the heavy door to the main furnace and started feeding it with tinder and these drawings on canvas that he broke up adding smaller logs that lay near the furnace door.  He then found the torch and lit it off. It started easily like it was hungry for the yellow flicker of flames. Tor continued his new duties and fed more wood and a few drawings piled on a near table. He then filed a wheelbarrow with coal from storage and fed the flames their favorite meal.  The temperature of the furnace was starting to catch up to normal operating conditions.

He made a few dozen trips back and forth from the pallet to store the rooms and finally had every scrap from the pallet to include the parachute and the heavy wood base.

The flames burned for four hours before he saw his gages approach the proper operating range and he could relax and start exploring.

There was a main room with the pipeline running through the middle. The ceiling must have been 50 feet into the air; its sides ran down in a curve to the concrete floor following the same arc as the pipeline itself.  The walls of this room were dark multi-colored blacks and browns from the smoke of the furnace.

Across from the furnace was a huge door that led into the coal storerooms. The storeroom held enough coal to burn for a decade. Each furnace was supplied coal every five years from a special crew.  His job was simply to keep the flame and ensure the gages were always in the green.  

Another door across the room, lead into a smaller storage like a huge cubby off the main room for his dry goods. It was stacked high with barrels and boxes of foodstuff and items for his survival.  Each barrel or box was marked clearly with its item symbols to be understood by the illiterate.

There was also a tool and work area off to one side and a small table near the furnace where Tor assumed meals were taken.

Upon more exploration he noticed to one side of the furnace was an intricately carved bench. It appeared to be made from pallet materials and wood shavings stuffed into parachute material for cushions.  Then he started noticing more pictures and paintings hung in various places around the room.  He now regretted feeding the fire with some of the drawings.  He sat on the bench and took a rest.  He noticed a picture near the door, and smiled then sunk into the cushions and fell asleep.  

The furnace chugged with the pipelines a comforting gurgling, slippery, wavy sound along with many other machine contraptions in the room gave a subtle orchestra adding to his deep slumber.  

The stoker jerked awake to a loud whirring sound. It was coming from a contraption he had only seen once while in his training back at the government house.  It was a centrifugal fly-ball governor.  As the fluid movement changed it would speed up and open wider letting in more air at higher rates. It was at a speed and attitude that made a high-pitched whir.  He was so startled that he didn’t notice at first how bad off his furnace had become.

The gages were in the orange and he was derelict in his duties.  He quickly recovered and leapt to his feet and ran to the furnace door. Looking around he couldn’t find his wheelbarrow or shovel. Frantically he ran around the room and finally found his tools, he ran his barrow to the coal pile and loaded it and quickly got it into the furnace. He had to throw a few paintings on the fire to get the flames restarted. Finally after three loads in his barrow the furnace was chugging back to normal and his gages started their accent.  

He went to the table and slumped down in the chair and gave the couch a sideways look; knowing that it sucked him into a sleep of the dead.  He would have to be careful not to do that again.  He also knew he had to organize his tools and build a good pile of coal near the furnace to ensure he wasn’t caught off guard again.

He busied himself for a few days and continued to explore his surroundings.  He made a few meals and found that he was a lousy cook and was in dire need of some help.  He sat down and reflected on his old life back in his home with his sister.  He never knew how good his mothers’ cooking was.  He also never knew he would miss the sounds of the city or the voices, especially his sister Ehster.

The radio blared its weekly message, “Stoker, you are doing well. Keep the work steady and true for your countrymen that rely on you.  You are the keeper of the flame. Your government Thanks you.” Tor was staring at the now silent radio expecting more. That was it. He got up and went about his business.

Tor moved a painting of a girl that hung near the main door to the wall near his couch.  He made a comfortable sitting area were he could tinker with repair parts and other nick-knacks that were left in the storeroom.  He found that he enjoyed fixing things.  

There appeared to be years of broken items, scrape and extra parts around the furnace.  There were even two extra radios, probably unknown to the government.  There were so many neat little things to fiddle with and create new inventions or just amusements.  He started a multitude of experiments to see how it all worked and see if he could make something out of nothing.  

Tor added a set of gears and cables creating a wench to haul his coal from storeroom to the furnace.   He fashioned wheels and a large bucket, four times the size of his wheel barrow, to haul the coal and stage it right near the door for him to easily shovel into the gapping door of the furnace.  He loved his new contraption and wanted to build something else.

He was a few months into his adventures when an unexpected announcement came over the radio to stand by for delivery of supplies.  He was taught that upon hearing the announcement he was to get the flames hot and exactly 32 hours later he was to be out near the chimney to welcome the aircraft with supplies. Unknown to him each stoker is given special instructions for timing the arrival of the aircraft, due to the furnace location along the pipeline.   He checked his watch and made a note to be sure to be on his spot at the exact time.

Welcome the aircraft? The teacher said “welcome” the aircraft.  Tor thought for a moment, what could he do to welcome the aircraft? He looked around the room and retrieved a long piece of the old parachute and affixed a section of pipe to one end. He figured he could swing this above his head in a large arc, which should be a good welcome for something flying high above his head.  He tried it in a clear area of the room. Starting his swing he miscalculated the length of material the pipe clanged off one of the walls with a loud crash to the floor. He laughed to himself, yup this will do for a welcome.

The pilot glided into position after seeing the smoke from furnace #97, he thought about his old friend that used to stoke this furnace.  

As he got closer he saw this odd white flashing circle on the ground near the chimney. It looked like? Well he couldn’t come up with anything. Then he saw the new stoker jumping around with something swinging above his head. The pilot let out a laugh as he reached up to light off the signal to release the pallet.

The pallet exited right on target and the pilot pulled on the stick and wagged his wings at the stoker, just like old times. He watched and laughed more as the stoker lost control of his signal, wound himself up flailing to the ground and rolled around to the bottom of a small rise.  The pilot was in a full-blown laugh and wagged the plane a few more times.  His Co-pilot looked over at him smiling and then laughing himself.

This was the first smile, much less a full laugh, seen on the pilots face in many weeks. The entire crew, working together for so many years, stoker #97 was special to the pilot and they were all happy to see him back, somewhat to his old self. The new guy at furnace 97 was a pleasant surprise.

On the ground Tor saw the pallet leave the belly of the airplane. He was amazed at the sight and lost control of his signal and it wrapped around his body making him fall to the ground and then rolling down the hill.  He tried to keep his eyes on the aircraft as it sped away and saw the aircraft seemingly waving its arms at him. Like a young kid he lay there on his back and waved at the plane as it disappeared into the distance. Then he started laughing out load, something he rarely did.

He started breaking down the pallet and hauling the goods into the storerooms. It took him so many trips to finish the job, he was exhausted by the time he was done. He closed up the tunnel and shoveled a huge load of coal into the furnace and then he washed himself up and laid down on his bed for some sleep.

He had a dream of his sister, Ehster, and the airplane.  In his dream he was trying to figure out a way to reverse parachute back up to the plane and get a ride home. He missed so many things; things taken for granted.  

He missed the conversations, even though he never joined. He missed the laughter, although he only laughed when he and Ehster made their little jokes in private. He missed his mothers cooking. Oh the cooking, he missed the cooking so much.  He was getting better and working hard at the details of his meals.  He was trying to enjoy his meals and even fashioned some flowers out of brass and steel. They reminded him of the silk flowers on his families table; nearly the only color in their lives.

Waking in the morning, fully rested, he went about his pre-breakfast chores.  First things first were to set up the coffee pot. Fills the furnaces, re-loads his coal-hauling machine and checks the valves and gages around the room. Everything was in specs.  He grabs his coffee mug and fills it to the brim.  Taking a few sips, he sets his coffee mug down on the table and dons the protective mask needed to do the top deck and backside furnace inspections.

Tor climbs to the second deck of the furnace and checks the flews and vent flame temperatures.  Then climbs up and over the pipeline ducking his head under the ceiling at its highest point and goes down the ladder on the furnace backside. His weekly check of the backside gages and myriad of pipes that surrounded the pipeline all looked within ranges required of his duties.  He returns to the front of the furnace and feeds more coal into the flames.  

Morning furnace chores are done.

He washes up and starts his breakfast regimen.  He had worked out timings and the least amount of movements to prepare the perfect omelet. A dance around the stove, cabinets and table turned into a ritual and a release into a dream for him.

First he would pull the cast iron pan off the rack from the side of the furnace then move over to the olive oil and drip just enough into the pan. He would then Place the pan carefully on just the right spot.  Then glide over to the bowl and measure off the exact amount of powdered egg and top it off with the exact amount of water. A careful amount of mixing at the right pace as he was sitting quietly staring into the flames of the furnace and sipping his coffee would take just the amount of time to unwind from the morning chores.  

He then went to his spice rack and started his own special blend adding to the eggs. The eggs were gingerly poured onto the pan, giving off a nice little sizzle.   He would trot over to his cupboard to the barrels of pickled veggies and jars of bacon and select out his measured amounts.

The eggs were looking well as he stood over the stove. The timing was perfect as he added the veggies and bacon to the eggs. While the eggs accepted the additions and continued to cook he took the spatula down and flipped the eggs precisely in half to finish the cooking.   Perfect.  

He went and cut off a few pieces of dried meat from the barrel and added it into the oil that lay to the side of the now nearly complete omelet. The meat absorbed the oil and started looking like real meat.  Three and half minutes later the pan was taken off the stove over to the plate and with some coaxing from the spatula the meal slid onto the plate.

His Coffee an omelet with meat on the side is a wonderful way to start the morning.

He ate, taking his time and with a politeness that seemed more fitting in a great hall than the bowels of a furnace room. He was happy living and being here in this moment in this place.

Later in the week Tor started working with more of the gears and spare parts in the storage rooms.  He didn’t like all the wasted time it took to haul in all of the supplies. There has to be a better way. He used the wood from the pallets and his old wheel barrow and piping that looked like it was left here a hundred years ago.  He worked with a barrel and some piping and cobbled a steam cylinder and a small furnace.  He experimented with his parts and copied things he saw on the main furnace and the gears and how they were activated by the steam. He kept working until one day he was able to cause the wheel to drive a complete revolution powered on steam.  He was elated then started working harder on his device.  He ended up with a steam powered wheel barrow that could haul the pallet in four trips.  He was proud and wished he could show this to Ehster.  

Tor working on many projects over the course of months was able to add more gearing to the furnace and its flow that powered other items to haul the coal and move his world. He was able to make additional lights in the furnace room by means of static charge collected off the centrifugal regulator and then transmitted to an element. He then figured out how to store the charge between copper plates separated by parachute material. He carefully wound up the sheets between each other and was able to have a light for nearly ten minutes, which was plenty for some of the inspections that were difficult in the dark.   He made a whirling contraption that could fly around the room for twenty minutes and he made his bed a thousand times more comfortable by filling the old food bags with water creating a multitude of water cells that lay under the thin mattress. His water bed was like sleeping on air.  He loved making his contraptions and challenging his mind with more and more ideas.  He would look around finding problems to solve and go to sleep and dream of the problem; nearly every morning he woke there would be many solutions to attempt and conquer the problem.

The passage of time seems like a river just flowing past without notice with signs of its speed only when the jagged rocks are thrown in the way.

Summer comes and 97 is replenished with food supplies that are calculated for Tor to only last until the next summer….the necessity of ONLY one person being the stoker due to short supplies and limited space within the stokers abode. small bed near the pipe only enough room to walk from coal to furnace to food to bed….

Fall comes and Tor is doing great works of art an invention….

HIs family back in the city is happy with his paychecks each month. Ehster is growing and is a beautiful young girl. She spends the days playing in the fields outside the walls near their family home.

Tor is working hard at the furnace, a never ending chore…. Seasons pass and his art and contraptions cover the work place. His prison is an enchanted place.... to him. He was able sometimes to show off his inventions to the pilot who circled him in amusement a few times during resupply. Tor requests canvas and copper sheeting during the resupply in the next summer. They give him rolls of canvas and throw in many other useful things to his surprise. The pilot must have some input in the resupply. More art and contraptions are built out of nothing. All of the previous wood carving of old stoker are gone, burned in the furnace, except one.  The only thing saved was a girl standing with her arms outstretched, a reminder of a young beautiful mother teresa….Tor dreams of his sister Ehster at home happy welcoming him back into the family.

A few more seasons go by, he paints over some of his old art. Most of his paint is nothing more than charcoal from the furnace mixed with honey or other media…he has come up with an elaborate mix/concoction to make his art glorious, this mix of "paint" has taken him years to perfect.  He has grown into the person that was supposed to be.  when he moves it looks slow, but it is very smooth and actually very efficient in every movement and is everything is done with ease and quickly. He moves like water flowing from task to task. He has found himself and is very comfortable, only once in a while do you see him out of his element lost in the past… lost in the journey of different roads and different endings… then he snaps back. 
He is enjoying his life and is satisfied. Tor is out on one of his searches for things for his art and inventions. He falls into a crevice and is injured and gets a blood infection in his hand.

Slowly he is infected. His hand turns black and doesn't work, then arm into elbow, he cuts off his arm with his dinner knife and throws it into the furnace. It only helps for a short time. The disease crawls up his body. He continues his stoker duties the best he can and still paints with his one good arm. struggles….

Laying on the ground and unable to keep the fires burning.  The temperature falls, he is freezing to the ground. He keeps working for as long as he can. His contraptions hauling coal to him and doing some of the work. The flame is failing.

Back at headquarters they note the drops in temperatures and request a replacement. The government agents run the numbers and generate the name of the new stoker.  They arrive at a door much like they did at Tors door ages ago.  The new stoker is selected and trained.

He is dropped into the station by parachute like so many before and he then hikes his way up to his furnace #97. He opens the door, walks down the hallway into the cold furnace room and sees Tor laying on the ground near the open furnace door. Tor looks up at him. The New stoker sees him. The new stoker picks up the shovel. Smashes Tors head into the ground. He sits down and eats a protein bar from his pocket. Then casually walks over to the furnace. He picks up Tors body and feeds the furnace.

In silence he starts taking Tors art, inventions and wood carvings and stokes the every building flames. He feeds the fire with all except one piece of art, its a picture of a beggar on the side of the road with his hand out.  He looks at the painting and walks over to his bed and hangs the painting. 

The squake box blares out as the flames are dancing with color against the grey and red of the furnace, "Junction 97, your temperature is too high. Back off the flame!"

THE END

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[valor4us]

CNN presents LADY VALOR: This film brings exclusive interviews from Kristin’s family and friends about her service, as well as their reactions to her disclosure. It also includes exclusive footage of Chris Beck in training and combat. The documentary was filmed only a few months after the AC360 piece had aired, and the truth is still fresh and emotional for those closest to her. While many people have been supportive, some in the public have expressed more bigotry than she ever expected. After a lifetime of service, Kristin has learned that her fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness did not end on the battlefield.

www.ladyvalor.com

[valor4us]

"This is window dressing along my journey toward a place in peoples hearts with no judgements and no agendas… the journey getting there has been rough." -Kristin Beck

The Book "Lady Valor: A Journey from War to Peace" by Kristin Beck