We all have opinions about the wars America is fighting right now in Iraq and Afghanistan. What sometimes gets lost in the debate-especially on a day off from work filled with beer and barbecues-is that there are soldiers fighting on foreign soil right now, and those soldiers are real people who have dedicated their lives to serving our country. We’ve collected some links below of places where you can hear firsthand what they’re going through, either in their own words, or in articles and videos about them.“Service itself is our honor”: A soldier writes a powerful letter about why she enlisted in the military: “We are not your sons and daughters, whom you must protect and defend. We are your sword and your shield. We are men and women who volunteer to place our lives on the line so you do not have to. We do not decide when or where we will be sent. We go.” The IAVA Winter Soldier Project: Recalling the Winter Solider movement of the Vietnam Era, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America have collected testimony from soldiers about the ill-effects the wars have caused our troops and our country.Gunner Palace: An excellent documentary on soldiers in Iraq living in one of Saddam’s old palaces. Watch the trailer here. “A Company of Soldiers” and “The Soldier’s Heart”: The first of these two Frontline documentaries shows 30 days in the life of Dog Company, fighting in Iraq; the second looks at what happens to soldiers when they return home. “A Solider’s Story”: A Special Forces officer tries to come to grips with doubts over whether or not his efforts have helped in Iraq.“In Their Boots”: A multi-part video series discusses what it means to be a soldier in today’s military.“Taking Chance”: A first-person account of an officer escorting a fallen solider to his funeral. It first appeared on the blog Blackfive and is now a movie for HBO. Watch the trailer here.“The Things That Carried Him”: An incredibly moving step-by-step account of the process that a fallen soldier goes through to arrive home for his funeral.And don’t forget our article and accompanying videos on soldiers just back from Iraq.Do you have other places (videos, articles, blogs) where people can get a glimpse at what it’s like to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan? Add them in the comments.
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Man’s dog suddenly becomes protective of his wife, Internet clocks the reason right away
The online community came through in a big way.
Reddit user Girlfriendhatesmefor’s three-year-old pitbull, Otis, had recently become overprotective of his wife. So he asked the online community if they knew what might be wrong with the dog.
“A week or two ago, my wife got some sort of stomach bug,” the Reddit user wrote under the subreddit /r/dogs. “She was really nauseous and ill for about a week. Otis is very in tune with her emotions (we once got in a fight and she was upset, I swear he was staring daggers at me lol) and during this time didn’t even want to leave her to go on walks. We thought it was adorable!”
His wife soon felt better, butthe dog’s behavior didn’t change.
Otis knew before they did. Canva Girlfriendhatesmefor began to fear that Otis’ behavior may be an early sign of an aggression issue or an indication that the dog was hurt or sick.
So he threw a question out to fellow Reddit users: “Has anyone else’s dog suddenly developed attachment/aggression issues? Any and all advice appreciated, even if it’s that we’re being paranoid!”
The most popular response to his thread was by ZZBC.
Any chance your wife is pregnant?
ZZBC | Reddit
The potential news hit Girlfriendhatesmefor like a ton of bricks. A few days later, Girlfriendhatesmefor posted an update and ZZBC was right!
“The wifey is pregnant!” the father-to-be wrote. “Otis is still being overprotective but it all makes sense now! Thanks for all the advice and kind words! Sorry for the delayed reply, I didn’t check back until just now!”
Redditors responded with similar experiences.
Anecdotal I know but I swear my dog knew I was pregnant before I was. He was super clingy (more than normal) and was always resting his head on my belly.
realityisworse | Reddit
So why do dogs get overprotective when someone is pregnant?
Jeff Werber, PhD, president and chief veterinarian of the Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles, told Health.com that “dogs can also smell the hormonal changes going on in a woman’s body at that time.” He added the dog may “not understand that this new scent of your skin and breath is caused by a developing baby, but they will know that something is different with you—which might cause them to be more curious or attentive.”
The big lesson here is to listen to your pets and to ask questions when their behavior abruptly changes. They may be trying to tell you something, and the news may be life-changing.
This article originally appeared last year.
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14 images of badass women who destroyed stereotypes and inspired future generations
These trailblazers redefined what a woman could be.
Throughout history, women have stood up and fought to break down barriers imposed on them from stereotypes and societal expectations. The trailblazers in these photos made history and redefined what a woman could be. In doing so, they paved the way for future generations to stand up and continue to fight for equality.
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Why mass shootings spawn conspiracy theories
Mass shootings and conspiracy theories have a long history.
While conspiracy theories are not limited to any topic, there is one type of event that seems particularly likely to spark them: mass shootings, typically defined as attacks in which a shooter kills at least four other people.
When one person kills many others in a single incident, particularly when it seems random, people naturally seek out answers for why the tragedy happened. After all, if a mass shooting is random, anyone can be a target.
Pointing to some nefarious plan by a powerful group – such as the government – can be more comforting than the idea that the attack was the result of a disturbed or mentally ill individual who obtained a firearm legally.
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Doctors couldn’t explain the pain in her daughter’s foot. Then a nurse looked closer and spotted something that led to a devastating diagnosis.
A couple sat in an Olympian’s seat and asked her to swap. She has a name for exactly what they were doing.
Teacher chaperones a kindergarten field trip and shares 3 moments that perfectly capture how little kids think
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