Pearl Harbor survivors meet for last time
By JAYMES SONG, Associated Press Writer Thu Dec 7, 7:58 AM ET
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - With their number quickly dwindling, survivors of Pearl Harbor will gather Thursday one last time to honor those killed by the Japanese 65 years ago, and to mark a day that lives in infamy.
In Tom Brokaw’s book, The Greatest Generation, he address’s the glory of our parents and grandparents time in the sun. It is a generation that defined so many of us.
In my case my parents lived in Nazi occupied Europe. I don’t believe I’ve ever had that kind of a “bad day”.
My father-in-law served in the Pacific with the Flying Tigers. I saw a picture recently of him in uniform and was amazed at his youth and the pride that filled his eyes. He was part of an all Chinese Support group. Up to few years back they would have a reunion to catch up, but time has reduced the number and physical ailments have put and end to those.
A while back we went to the Aviation museum in Galveston. I wasn’t to sure what would be inside but thought it would be an adventure since I have always been a fan of World War 2 airplanes. This place was a treasure trove of memories. It is an all volunteer sight and run mostly on donations. As we wandered through the displays you couldn’t help but me amazed at the sheer dimensions of these fighting machines. The bombers with their gun turrets made me claustrophobic just looking at them. Then trying to imagine someone shooting at you at the same time.
While we were there I noticed a gentleman around my Father-in-law's age. The guide who was giving the tour soon became another avid listener as the soldier told of being a pilot and the missions he flew in the Pacific. It almost seemed that the storyteller became a bit taller in his stance and his eyes became brighter with each word. To no one’s amazement, the rope barricade around the WWII fighter plane came down and this rightful owner was given complete access to “his” airplane. It was not a huge stretch to imagine him at 19 years old and he and the airplane learning together.
I am still amazed at the sights we saw that day, but my thoughts always go back to the gentleman there, who was one of the generation that allowed me to even be able to visit there in the 1st place.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Animal Farm part Deux
Wait for it..here it comes. Wait for it and there it is..
Let the official spinning begin……
Gates says U.S. is not winning Iraq war
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer 2 hours, 26 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Robert Gates, the White House choice to be the next defense secretary, conceded Tuesday that the United States is not winning the war in Iraq and warned that if that country is not stabilized in the next year or two it could lead to a "regional conflagration."
I believe it was George Orwell who said it best in Animal Farm. In a nutshell the old enemy is the new ally and the old ally…well you get the picture.
The Bush legacy will be defined in the next 2 years. The election in November gave the clue that perhaps the approach of the previous 6 years wasn’t as big a slam dunk as 1st perceived by the brains in the Rove corner. In a month or so well will adopt new plans and exit strategies from Iraq. Many of these will not be dissimilar from those that Don Rumsfield outlined in his suggestions prior to his hasty departure form Camelot. I believe in the end no one actually saw Rummy as the issue. In the end none of us have ever done better then our boss thought we should.
Unless you were a complete hermit you had to believe that Iraq had begun its rather dismal spin into civil war. The country is imploding quicker then a bad taco from Taco Bell. Even a society obsessed with Paris Hilton and “Benifer”, had to have noticed, that the war in Iraq was going south.
Many have said that this was President Bush’s Vietnam and sadly it would appear that history has jumped up to prove this correct. I just hope in the end, the spin-doctor era we are quickly approaching, that we do not lose sight of the men and women of our military who have given so much.
Let the official spinning begin……
Gates says U.S. is not winning Iraq war
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer 2 hours, 26 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Robert Gates, the White House choice to be the next defense secretary, conceded Tuesday that the United States is not winning the war in Iraq and warned that if that country is not stabilized in the next year or two it could lead to a "regional conflagration."
I believe it was George Orwell who said it best in Animal Farm. In a nutshell the old enemy is the new ally and the old ally…well you get the picture.
The Bush legacy will be defined in the next 2 years. The election in November gave the clue that perhaps the approach of the previous 6 years wasn’t as big a slam dunk as 1st perceived by the brains in the Rove corner. In a month or so well will adopt new plans and exit strategies from Iraq. Many of these will not be dissimilar from those that Don Rumsfield outlined in his suggestions prior to his hasty departure form Camelot. I believe in the end no one actually saw Rummy as the issue. In the end none of us have ever done better then our boss thought we should.
Unless you were a complete hermit you had to believe that Iraq had begun its rather dismal spin into civil war. The country is imploding quicker then a bad taco from Taco Bell. Even a society obsessed with Paris Hilton and “Benifer”, had to have noticed, that the war in Iraq was going south.
Many have said that this was President Bush’s Vietnam and sadly it would appear that history has jumped up to prove this correct. I just hope in the end, the spin-doctor era we are quickly approaching, that we do not lose sight of the men and women of our military who have given so much.
Monday, December 04, 2006
An Open Letter from Shamu
A trainer was injured during a show Wednesday at SeaWorld Adventure Park after Shamu the killer whale grabbed his foot and pulled him underwater twice, said Reuters.
The 39-year-old man was taken to a hospital and was listed in good condition, said Mike Scarpuzzi, a park official. Mike Scarpuzzi said he did not know the extent of the trainer's injuries.
"His skills and techniques, and close relationship with the whale played a major role in helping the animal calm down and allowed him to eventually swim out of the pool," Scarpuzzi said.
"While underwater, the whale opened its mouth and grabbed his foot and kept him underwater for a period of time," Scarpuzzi said, adding he didn't know how long the trainer was kept down.
Ok, ok…I did it.
Here is the deal, I am a killer whale. I am not your golden retriever. I don’t play ‘fetch’ as a rule in the wild, unless, it’s time to grab some lunch. You have me in a fish bowl. You may think it is ‘big,’ I do not.
I think the Pacific Ocean is big. There is a difference.
In the real world, I dine on seals and so on. If you insist on dressing like a seal, you ‘latex-wearing freak’, I will in turn assume you are a seal, as well, and treat you accordingly. This would include dragging you under water to see how long you can hold your breath.
I get that you think it is normal behavior for you to ride on my back, have me jump through hoops and be thrilled that some fat woman from South Dakota finds me ‘adorable.’
None of the above is a normal behavior pattern for me.
Hanging out in a pod and having a bunch of places I can visit is normal for me. Have you seen whales giving rides in the San Juan Islands? I think not.
Hey, while I am on this rant, what is with the mackerel? I know you got seals in here, what are the chances of tossing ME one of those once in a while. Let’s give the 5th grade class tour a real neat story to tell Mommy and Daddy when they get home.
And is there any chance I could get some curtains in here?
A little privacy would be nice…
How would you and the redhead from the concession stand like to have everybody watch you two do the ‘wild thing?’
Would you write that as being “educational?”
I thought not.
Shamu
The 39-year-old man was taken to a hospital and was listed in good condition, said Mike Scarpuzzi, a park official. Mike Scarpuzzi said he did not know the extent of the trainer's injuries.
"His skills and techniques, and close relationship with the whale played a major role in helping the animal calm down and allowed him to eventually swim out of the pool," Scarpuzzi said.
"While underwater, the whale opened its mouth and grabbed his foot and kept him underwater for a period of time," Scarpuzzi said, adding he didn't know how long the trainer was kept down.
Ok, ok…I did it.
Here is the deal, I am a killer whale. I am not your golden retriever. I don’t play ‘fetch’ as a rule in the wild, unless, it’s time to grab some lunch. You have me in a fish bowl. You may think it is ‘big,’ I do not.
I think the Pacific Ocean is big. There is a difference.
In the real world, I dine on seals and so on. If you insist on dressing like a seal, you ‘latex-wearing freak’, I will in turn assume you are a seal, as well, and treat you accordingly. This would include dragging you under water to see how long you can hold your breath.
I get that you think it is normal behavior for you to ride on my back, have me jump through hoops and be thrilled that some fat woman from South Dakota finds me ‘adorable.’
None of the above is a normal behavior pattern for me.
Hanging out in a pod and having a bunch of places I can visit is normal for me. Have you seen whales giving rides in the San Juan Islands? I think not.
Hey, while I am on this rant, what is with the mackerel? I know you got seals in here, what are the chances of tossing ME one of those once in a while. Let’s give the 5th grade class tour a real neat story to tell Mommy and Daddy when they get home.
And is there any chance I could get some curtains in here?
A little privacy would be nice…
How would you and the redhead from the concession stand like to have everybody watch you two do the ‘wild thing?’
Would you write that as being “educational?”
I thought not.
Shamu
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