Review: Lock N' Load with R. Lee Ermey

I've been watching the new History Channel series Lock N' Load with R. Lee Ermey, and I've been really enjoying it. This show traces the historical and technological development of weapons and military technology. Since I consider myself to be a big fan of learning about this topic and am especially interested in older technology and military tactics, this show is right up my alley!

Each episode of this show takes an in-depth look at the development of specific weapons, such as artillery, machine guns, and pistols. The show has also shown the development of other military technology like armored vehicles, tanks and helicopters. The only downside is that the hour-long episodes cannot show the full story, but it does do a good job of hitting the major highlights. The show is also easy to follow, starting chronologically with older technology and advancing into modern weapons.

The best part of the show is watching the host R. Lee Ermey have fun blowing stuff up! Ermey is famous for his role in the movie Full Metal Jacket, and he has also been the host of another History Channel show called Mail Call. As the host, Ermey gets a hands on try at all the weapons that are discussed. Ermey also has a great wit and viewers can tell he is an ex-Marine. He is a riot to watch!

I'm really glad this show is on the History Channel, since I've been getting tired of all the paranormal, disaster, end of the world shows that have been on lately. If you haven't already, check it out!

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New Blog Design

I'd like to point out some new features here at My Adventures in History. As anyone who's visited my blog before can see, this site has gone through a major redesign. There are some new features to be aware of while browsing around:

• Subscribe - At the top of the site and below each post is a link to subscribe to this blog. You can do this by setting it up in a RSS reader or get my posts delivered directly to your email inbox. Right now, I have Feedburner set with posts summaries only. Please let me know by commenting if you'd like RSS summaries or the full posts.
  
  
• Take a Quick Survey - I'd like your input on what kinds of posts you'd like to see on my blog, and clicking the link will prompt you to take a short poll. You can choose multiple answers. If you select "other," please make sure you leave a comment letting me know what you'd like to see.
  
  
• Suggest a Topic - At bottom is an interactive widget where readers can suggest a topic they'd like to see. They can be very general topics or very specific ones. What I'm looking for is topics of interest to my readers, so I can write posts more along those lines. The last thing I want is for my blog to become boring.
  
  
• Top Ten Best Posts - A quick way to check out the top ten most popular posts on my blog instead of having to scroll through all of the archives.
   
• Comments Policy - Please take a moment to read through my updated Comments Policy. I've had to put one in place due to spam and link dropping.
  
  
• Bookmark and Share - At the end of each post, you will now find a button you can use to share the articles using a variety of social media, like Twitter and Digg.
  
  
• You Might Also Like - These links at the end of each post gives an idea of what other posts on my blog you might also enjoy reading. Some of these posts are older ones that can be found through the Archives.
  
  
• Social Media Links - I really enjoy social media and interacting with those interested in history. I use them to update others on my blog and my life in general. You can find links to my Twitter profile at the bottom and links to other social media on the About page.
  

As always, I love feedback from visitors and would like your reactions about the new design and features. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

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Fall Blog Announcements

Now that I've finished the post series on my exciting trip this summer, I'd like to announce some new events coming up on My Adventures in History this fall. First of all, something that I am the most excited for is that I will be soon rolling out a new design for my blog. I've been working on this in my spare time and am anxious to see it live! This will be happening next week, so please don't be surprised if my blog looks a bit different while I put it in place.

There is a lot more coming up this fall! There will be new posts about some of my other latest adventures, some book reviews, and a special post for Veteran's Day. I've also decided that the annual holiday caption contest will be returning late in November! This is a chance for anyone to pick up a sweet prize in time for the holidays. All participants have to do is post a caption for a picture and I'll pick two winners. Sounds easy, right? That's because it is!

One last announcement is that Blog Action Day 2009 is coming up in two days on Oct. 15. Although I won't be participating this year, I strongly recommend other bloggers to take part. Last year, I participated by posting about FDR and poverty. I really enjoyed the subject and the discussion that followed. The topic this year is climate change but I'm having difficulty relating this to my blog. So if you are a blogger, please consider participating.

Please stay tuned for these events and more happening in the next few months! As always, any constructive feedback is appreciated.

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Historical Trip Reflections

Even now, I found myself really gratefully that I was able to take this "historical" trip with my family. Coming back to Idaho was no doubt a little difficult for me after being able to see so many historic sites around the country. I often wonder why I was born in Idaho and not back East where it would be easier to visit more places with historical significance. Then again, Idaho has its own unique history and I like to explore it too.

Many of the places that we visited I had wanted to see for a long time, like Springfield and Antietam. Some of them, like Yorktown and Fort Dobbs, I had little knowledge about but walked away more appreciative of its history. The Museum of the Confederacy was a definite highlight. Visiting Fredericksburg was my first visit to a Civil War battlefield and made a strong impression on me. Antietam probably left the most profound impression on me though, and I'd like to return to explore it more.

Having some time to reflect since my trip has made me more aware of how visiting those places changed me. After our trip, I have become more of a proponent of battlefield preservation. I want my children and grandchildren to be able to visit these places. I believe that we have a responsibility to make sure that these hallowed pieces of land are not destroyed forever. To me, this is what we owe to those who died and gave up so much for our freedoms.

I appreciate history even more now, if that's possible! To actually stand in places where history took place made it seem more real and more relevant to my life than before. I can sense a new passion in me for history and for instilling this passion in others. Since I don't get to visit the East Coast very often, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our trip and can't wait for my next adventure.

Thanks for following my journey. I'll be announcing some more exciting things coming up at My Adventures in History soon, so please sick around!

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