Phone cards for the troops

Folks, as you know the troops are in desperate need of calling cards to call their loved ones. Here is a chance to help out our wounded soldiers. Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii, which has handled more than 300 wounded (25th Infantry Division Soldiers), for the most part, has run out of phone cards for the troops there. I have verified this fact with a close friend who works in the Public Affairs office there. So if you missed the opportunity to send some to Walter Reed, you have a second chance. Send them to:

[Unstuck and Edited on 12-29-04 by request, please see excerpt from e-mail I received]

E-mail excerpt:

From: "Tippy, Margaret G Ms TAMC" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now].mil>
To: "Williams, Karen Ms TAMC" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now].mil>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]'" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]>
Subject: RE: Phone Cards
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 07:15:31 -1000

...Thank you for your generous offer but we have PLENTY of
donated phone cards thanks to the generosity of the American people and the Special Forces Association in particular! Please have the address deleted from the website. We have more than 300 cards and more arrive each day.

Thank you so much.

Margaret Tippy
Tripler Army Medical Center
Public Affairs Officer
ATTN: MCHK-IO

Email: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

[crazytimes]

By the way, Sam's Club sells phone cards for real cheap. I know it's only 3.4 cents per minute for US calls...not sure what it is from Iraq, but my mom used one when she was in Egypt to call us and it worked fine!

Thanks for the response. Strange that I have posted this sort of thing and no one seems to respond. Even bumped it myself a few times. I think a few of the clubs, like costco and sam's club have the cards much cheaper. Hope I get a bigger response on this. Thank you for your concern.

[crazytimes]

Unfortunantely I don't have a Sam's Club Membership. We have a WalMart and Sam's Club right next to each other. Is there a way I can get a day pass or something? If so I will pick up a pack of cards and mail.

[hmsram]

Originally Posted by crazytimes

Unfortunantely I don't have a Sam's Club Membership. We have a WalMart and Sam's Club right next to each other. Is there a way I can get a day pass or something? If so I will pick up a pack of cards and mail.

Maybe if you tell a manager you are there for the troops phone card they will hook you up with a pass...and not charge you the extra percent the passes usually come with.

[flash3992]

Thank you mbclark1. As a veteran I appreciate this post. Can you get an address to send phone cards to the troops in Iraq or Afganistan? If you can, please post them here. TIA

I have made this a "sticky".

I will try to find an address for the troops over there through my husband. We are a military family, husband retired after 37 years in Army, son over in South America. I am sure this is the nicest thing we can do for them.

[flash3992]

I know that when I was in Germany, in the '80s we use to get christmas cards addressed to "any soldier". I think Ann Landers started it, but I may be mistaken about that. I replied to a few that I got, and got responses. That really made me feel good. Letters from strangers thanking me for doing what I was doing......if that makes any sense. But, since 9/11, we can't send a card to "any soldier/sailor/marine". So I think you have a good thing going here. Our Troops need to know "we care"! It meant alot to me when I was in the service. SO!! COME ON DOD! Let's get the word out! While you are shopping this holiday season, take the time to think about the people that are far from home right now. I know for a fact that they will appreciate it!

[dlabrie708]

It is really difficult to send something unless you have an actual name to send it to. My friend's daughter is in Iraq right now and I sent a care package for her to share with her fellow soldiers. She said a lot of times the soldiers who don't get much do not want to take anything from the others who do, even though they insist. So, this time I sent her a package and put in another community package with a note to share it with her friends. I wish there was a way to send something to "any" soldier. It would be nice to take care of someone who doesn't have family taking care of them.

I know my friend is so sad this Christmas without her daughter. She is divorced and only has this one child. She wasn't exactly thrilled when her only child/daughter joined the Marines. It's funny too, because she is model material and yet she joined the Marines....well, you go girl!

So please keep my friend and her only child in your thoughts and prayers this Christmas. I just hope her tour goes by quickly and she comes home safe and sound!

Thanks,
Lori

[flash3992]

I'm sorry, but it was requested that the addy be removed. They now have over !300! phone cards! Thank you!! All contributions were greatly received. I am now "unsticking" this thread. But, please, don't forget our troops. It may not be a holiday, or a birthday for your family,....but some young person, in uniform, who is out there doing...it might be. Always remember the Troops!

Thank You.

[kristibagley]

My husband just deployed and I was wondering about good phone card deals so i can get a bunch and send them to him and his Marines. I know they get lonely and phone cards get expensive. i want to help all of them stay in touch with their loved ones. Any ideas?

[freefinder]

My MIL bought some phone cards at the base exchange that had good rates.We dropped off some phone cards and birthday cards at the local VA hospital.We drop off magazines there as well.I too wish any service person care packages could be given but understand the safety concerns.

[jane1043]

Guide for beginner how to convert WMV, ASF, WMA, AVI, RMVB, RM, RA, MOV ect to psp

PSP Video Format

The video codec supported by the PSP is a proprietary variant of the H.264 codec closely related to DivX. The format is also referred to as the Memory Stick Video Format. The audio codec used is AAC.

Before loading video onto your PSP it needs to be transcoded using one of the tools listed below. Some compatible (Sony) devices may be able to produce video in the correct format, and therefore may not require transcoding.

The PSP manual states that the maximum supported bit rate is 768kbps The native screen resolution is 480x272, which means it has an odd aspect ratio of 1.764, not quite 16x9. The device supports several scaling modes (normal, zoom, full, original).

File Naming Convention

When storing video on the card a strange file naming convention is used. All video files and thimbnails need to be stored in a folder called: /MP_ROOT/100MNV01.

Each video in this folder is represented by an data file and a thumbnail file called: M4V00001.MP4 and M4V00001.THM. The 00001 component of the file name is incremented for multiple videos.

The thumbnails are simple 160x120 JPEG images stored with the .THM extension. Note that the title of the video is stored in the header of the file.


Conversion Tools


1. Download the latest versions from office website: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] and run Pavtube Video to PSP Converter and you will see its main interface.


2. Import the videos to the file list by clicking Add button. Then you can edit the list using the buttons under the list.


3. Open the profile drop-down bar to select the target conversion format for playback on PSP player. After this, please open output drop-down bar to specify where to save your converted files.



4. Previewing the video is a good choice for you. Under the preview window, you can click the button to capture the still pictures to save on your PC for enriching the picture collection.

5. Edit the videos
Effect:

Adjust brightness, contrast, volume for video and audio. In addition, you can tick to modify the image effects in flipping and deinterlace.

Trim:


Drag the slider or set the number manually to choose the starting time and the ending time. You can gain the selected time phase for enjoyment.

Crop:


Open the drop-down list to select which edges to be cut off. Drag the frame-mark to specify the region you want.

6. For better effects, clicking setting button can satisfy you. Tick to select which part to modify, video or audio. One click for the parameter can make the triangle button appear. Hit it then amend the parameter.


7. Click the merge button to create a single file. If you wish to reduce the trouble of resetting, hit apply to all button.

8. Start to run the program by clicking the button. After this, you can confirm the converted file on your PC by hitting open button. Here all the preparing work is finished. Then you can transfer the converted file to your PSP player for enjoyment.

[jane1043]

Guide for beginner how to convert WMV, ASF, WMA, AVI, RMVB, RM, RA, MOV ect to psp

PSP Video Format

The video codec supported by the PSP is a proprietary variant of the H.264 codec closely related to DivX. The format is also referred to as the Memory Stick Video Format. The audio codec used is AAC.

Before loading video onto your PSP it needs to be transcoded using one of the tools listed below. Some compatible (Sony) devices may be able to produce video in the correct format, and therefore may not require transcoding.

The PSP manual states that the maximum supported bit rate is 768kbps The native screen resolution is 480x272, which means it has an odd aspect ratio of 1.764, not quite 16x9. The device supports several scaling modes (normal, zoom, full, original).

File Naming Convention

When storing video on the card a strange file naming convention is used. All video files and thimbnails need to be stored in a folder called: /MP_ROOT/100MNV01.

Each video in this folder is represented by an data file and a thumbnail file called: M4V00001.MP4 and M4V00001.THM. The 00001 component of the file name is incremented for multiple videos.

The thumbnails are simple 160x120 JPEG images stored with the .THM extension. Note that the title of the video is stored in the header of the file.


Conversion Tools


1. Download the latest versions from office website: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] and run Pavtube Video to PSP Converter and you will see its main interface.


2. Import the videos to the file list by clicking Add button. Then you can edit the list using the buttons under the list.


3. Open the profile drop-down bar to select the target conversion format for playback on PSP player. After this, please open output drop-down bar to specify where to save your converted files.



4. Previewing the video is a good choice for you. Under the preview window, you can click the button to capture the still pictures to save on your PC for enriching the picture collection.

5. Edit the videos
Effect:

Adjust brightness, contrast, volume for video and audio. In addition, you can tick to modify the image effects in flipping and deinterlace.

Trim:


Drag the slider or set the number manually to choose the starting time and the ending time. You can gain the selected time phase for enjoyment.

Crop:


Open the drop-down list to select which edges to be cut off. Drag the frame-mark to specify the region you want.

6. For better effects, clicking setting button can satisfy you. Tick to select which part to modify, video or audio. One click for the parameter can make the triangle button appear. Hit it then amend the parameter.


7. Click the merge button to create a single file. If you wish to reduce the trouble of resetting, hit apply to all button.

8. Start to run the program by clicking the button. After this, you can confirm the converted file on your PC by hitting open button. Here all the preparing work is finished. Then you can transfer the converted file to your PSP player for enjoyment.