Just a quick note from a devoted non-diarist. Occam's Hatchet has written a superb action diary on the subject of helping our troops in harm's way to get the best body armor available.
For those who don't know, standard-issue body armor -- hard as it has been to get -- is inadequate to the task of protecting troops in combat from modern munitions. Dragon Skin is a far superior product, but has been forbidden to the troops by the Pentagon, on pain of losing death benefits. This miscarriage of military sense must stop.
Please go read OH's important diary, and recommend if you like. And please, please drop an email or a letter to the Congresscritters linked therein. It's what you should want for Christmas.