What in God's name is going on?

On Behalf of Veterns' Day...

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:54:34 GMT

I'm 'reprinting' an article from CNN, written by Bob Greene, CNN Contributor. I hope Mr. Greene does not mind, but I felt it an appropriate tribute to our servicemen and -women, both current and past.

We haven't forgotten you. God bless you all.

What Americans Owe to Those Who Serve

November 8, 2009 9:30 a.m. EST

Editor's Note: CNN Contributor Bob Greene is a bestselling author whose new book is "Late Edition: A Love Story."

(CNN) -- The woman's Halloween costume featured a Third Reich motif.

This was last weekend in a sprawling bar-and-restaurant complex near U.S. 41 on the west coast of Florida. I had made the miscalculation of stopping by in pursuit of a quiet cheeseburger, not realizing that adults in trick-or-treat costumes were making the rounds on this sultry evening.

The woman (or the costume shop from where she had purchased her uniform) at least had the good sense to omit the actual swastikas, but that was the only bit of subtlety. The Heinrich Himmler high-fronted military cap, the boots, the swagger stick she kept slapping against her palm. . .some of the customers, playing along, did little comic goose steps as they passed her.

I looked up from my newspaper and tried to surmise if anyone was going to be offended enough by this odious display to leave. She beat them to it; she and her friends made a few quick passes through the aisles of the place, then returned to the night, ready to continue their revelry elsewhere.

Halloween in the United States is an increasingly odd holiday, no longer child's play, but on this evening I was thinking about another holiday, this one official, that is coming up this week: Veterans Day.

And, having unexpectedly encountered the woman in her getup, I found myself wondering what, six and seven decades ago, they would have made of it: what the 16 million Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II, who were sent across the ocean to defeat a brutal enemy, would have thought about this scene.

They're old men now, the soldiers who remain; many are frail and in ill health. It can be easy for us to forget that, when they were uprooted from their daily lives in the 1940s, no one knew what the history books would eventually say. No one knew the outcome. They were little more than kids, many of them; they were in effect told by our country:

Are you in school? You'll have to leave it. Have a new wife? You'll have to say goodbye to her. Working at a job you like? Tell your boss that you have to quit.

We need you to go halfway across the world, because we need you to save the world.

And they did it. Some 292,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines were killed in battle during World War II; another 114,000 died from noncombat causes. Some 671,000 U.S. troops were injured, many of them grievously.

The uniforms they put on were not Halloween getups; neither were the uniforms of the enemies they confronted across the oceans. On their way to fight the war, it's a pretty fair guess that they were scared and lonely. They understood that there was no guarantee they would ever be coming home.

Each November we are asked to pause and honor them, which is, or should be, an honor in itself. After the events of the last week at Fort Hood in Texas, with their reminder of the sacrifices that the men and women of the military make for us, Veterans Day will hold special meaning this year.

This November also marks the second anniversary of the death, at age 92, of my friend Paul Tibbets, who I got to know extraordinarily well during the last years of his life. I'd like to say a few words about him here.

At the age of 29, out of all the men and women in the U.S. military, he was selected for a task of almost unfathomable importance. He was told to recruit, organize, supervise and command a group of soldiers and airmen who were to train in absolute secrecy. If he succeeded, he was told, then the war could be won.

Someone had started a terrible fight; he was asked to finish it.

He did. He got his unit ready. And on an August day in 1945, he flew a B-29 he had named for his mother, Enola Gay, to Japan, where he and his crew dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. It was the single most violent act in the history of mankind, and he carried it out without flinching because he believed, in the deepest part of his heart, one thing above all others:

He could end the long war. He could stop the killing. All of the American soldiers who were on their way to the shores of Japan for a land invasion could turn around and go home, could raise families, could live again in a world at peace.

He understood the controversy, and the anger, with which his mission would be received by some. He understood that there were people who would forever hate him. He and I talked about it many times before he died. After the war, he told me, President Harry Truman asked him if people were saying unpleasant things to him because of the bomb. Paul Tibbets told the president that, yes, some people indeed were.

And Truman said:

"You tell them that if they have anything to say, they should call me. I'm the one who sent you."

So it's November again. Veterans Day is upon us.

There is a quotation variously attributed to Winston Churchill or George Orwell. Regardless of our individual politics, regardless of our beliefs about the rightness or wrongness of a particular war, the words are worth reflecting upon anew this week:

"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

And so, to all who have served us, then, now, and in the future, a word of somber thanks, from those of us here at home.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene.

Horses Help Heal Heroes....

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:22:13 GMT

Horses are simply amazing, unassuming heroes in and of themselves...

Happy B-Day, Janis!

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:53:12 GMT

Wishing you happy thoughts and reassuring answers...

(1 November)

Kiwis Take Their Flight Safety Seriously... And Your Attention!

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:24:33 GMT

Mr. Dear, Sweet and Innocent sent me this. Absolutely brilliant artistic work!

(Notice how they all seem to be on the verge of snort!laughter)

Just... Quirky. And Snort-Worthy.

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:24:08 GMT

Talk about odd advertising. Any of my European fiends familiar with this commercial? I don't think it aired in the States.

Awesome for Aspiring Writers, Avid Readers...

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:10:45 GMT

Or, if this won't show up for some unexplained reason in the embedding... Click Here for Books In Minutes

Satirical Politics

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:38:21 GMT

My boss sent me this a couple months back. Thought I'd share *chuckle, chuckle* Yes, I do respect the president, but this really IS funny... (my favorite? "Pirates.")

From JibJab: "Its a bird! Its a plane! No, he's Barack Obama and hes come to save the day! JibJab puts the rock in Barack with a new, over-the-top satire that debuted in front of the President himself this Friday at the Radio & Television Correspondents Dinner!"

For the Theatre Fiends of Mine... (Proverbs)

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:02:05 GMT

Whilst searching hectically through old folders this morning (running late, as well, and still not finding what I was seeking), I ran across some old 'funnies' I'd had since those days gone by when miskosmind and I were volunteers at the local fine arts centre. As they're long, I'll probably post one every few days.

Yes, we were 'techies,' but you actors out there will probably see the humor, as well.

PROVERBS

Behold, my son, here is wisdom. Pay heed to these words, and in the days of thy play, in the hours of thy performing, thou shalt not be caught short. For truly, it is said, pay heed to the errors of others and you shall not make them yourself, and again, as we have been told from the old, to thine own self be true.

I. Give not unto the actor his props before his time, for as surely as the sun does rise in the East and set in the West, he will lose or break them.

II. When told the placement of props by the Director, write not these things in ink upon thy script, for surely as the winds blow, so shall he change his mind.

III. Speak not in large words to actors, for they are slow of thought and are easily confused.

IV. Speak not in the language of the TECHIE to actors, for they are uninitiated, and will not perceive thy meaning.

V. Tap not the head of a nail to drive it, but strike it firmly with thy strength.

VI. Keep holy the first performance, for afterwards you shall party.

VII. Keep holy the last performance, for afterwards you shall party.

VIII. Remember always that the TD is never wrong. If it appears that he is, then you obviously misunderstood him the first time.

IX. Leave not the area of the stage during the play to go and talk with the actors, for as surely as you do, you will be in danger of missing your cue and being summarily executed or worse.

X. Beware of the actors during scene changes, for they are not like unto you and are blind in the dark.

XI. Beware of actors when flying in walls, for they will stand and watch and get crushed.

XII. Take not thy cues before their time, but wait for the proper moment to do so.

XIII. Take pity on the actors, for in their roles they are as children, and must be led with gentle kindness. Thus, endeavor to speak softly and not in anger.

XIV. Listen carefully to the instructions of the Director as to how he wants things done – then do it the right way. In the days of thy work, he will see thy wisdom, give himself the credit, and rejoice.

XV. And above all, get carried away not with the glow-tape, or thy stage will be like unto an airport.

Ah, brings back memories...

VAG - Chapter 11: Temperance

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:54:43 GMT

The latest installment of the Black-Jones saga “The Voice of All the Gods” has been posted at ffn. Your teaser for this evening:

Chapter 11: Temperance

He whipped about suddenly, wand poised, rising from his seat simultaneously with menace and lost patience… jaw clenched, voice low.

“You’re pressing your fucking luck this morning.”

As always, reviews are much appreciated. Please sign in or leave an e-mail address, as I always prefer to respond to reviews. Thanks!

If you’d like to follow along in your e-book, turn to page:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4283573/11/

You may also find “The Voice of All the Gods” archived (periodically) at my community Kat Tales, located at:

http://community.livejournal.com/rjlk_kattales/

Look for the VAG tag.

Happy B-Day, Andi!!!!!

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:52:53 GMT

Totally got up early this mornin' to wish a most Britishly Happy Birthday to andacus

Hope your day is filled with much 'Pretty' and Gnnuh!

Happy B-Day, Aunty!

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 06:36:31 GMT

A big birthday wish (on the 7th) to aunty_kreist

Sorry... I meant to post earlier today :(

Hope it was good!!!

Happy Birthday, Mikey!!!!!!!

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:39:05 GMT

A most wonderful birthday wish to miskosmind

Hope your day was rewarding. Oink, oink...

Happy B-Day, Draco!

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:40:35 GMT

I'm a day early, but I know I won't have time to post tomorrow....

May your day be filled with love, joy, and life.

VAG - Chapter 10: Ambushed

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 04:37:07 GMT

The latest installment of the Black-Jones saga “The Voice of All the Gods” has been posted at ffn. Your teaser for this evening:

Chapter 10: Ambushed

“Let go of me!” she cried in sudden panic, breaking the otherwise stillness of the cavernous room. Struggles of arms flailing and hitting and feet kicking and lunging away were met with strong physical refusals for release.

“Shhhh! Quite!” came the hiss with a nervous edge. “Hush, you bird,” the male voice continued in a forceful whisper. His grip tightened on her arm, the hand at her waist transferring to the free one she was punching his chest with. Movements were heavy with effort, and Tia could feel him attempting to shake her – literally – into sense. But she was having none of it; this was twice this term she’d been brutally grabbed and tossed about like a kidnapped rag doll, and she’d had enough. …her reflexes slow and off mark. This was not good, and Tia realised a sense of true fear and panic.

As always, reviews are much appreciated. Please sign in or leave an e-mail address, as I always prefer to respond to reviews. Thanks!

If you’d like to follow along in your e-book, turn to page:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4283573/10/

You may also find “The Voice of All the Gods” archived (periodically) at my community Kat Tales, located at:

http://community.livejournal.com/rjlk_kattales/

Look for the VAG tag.

Belated Birthday Wishes

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:59:09 GMT

Cursed loss of reminders whilst travelling...

Regardless, a belated but sincere wish of happiness to moonynz on her birthday past. I hope it was a good one.

*hugs*

Happy B-Day!!!

Thu, 14 May 2009 23:16:45 GMT

A very happy birthday today to hogwarts_91 !!!

May your day be lovely and memorable.

VAG - Chapter 9: Spoken Places Feared

Sun, 10 May 2009 02:16:46 GMT

The latest installment of the Black-Jones saga “The Voice of All the Gods” has been posted at ffn. Your teaser for this evening:

Chapter 9: Spoken Places Feared

“What are you on about with Jones? ...but really, Black; you don’t want to be seen associating. Diddling with that sort needs to be kept in the dark. Didn’t you learn anything from your father?”

“She’s business, Avery,” Regulus retorted lowly, a sudden bristle hitting him with Avery’s verbal sneer of Jones. “Don’t concern yourself with her.”

“Really, now? That’s some way to conduct business, I’d say. Intending to show up with her on arm, are you? Display her about the crowds? Shag her on Malfoy grounds to an audience of house-elves?” Scoffing laugh.

“If need be,” Regulus retorted, an oiliness to his words. “I do not presume to question the Dark Lord’s motives, Avery. I should hope you shan’t, either.”

Dark satisfaction rushed through Regulus at Avery’s sudden pallor and gape. True to his breeding, the boy did collect himself quickly, but he was no Black, and was easily intimidated. Playing Avery was simple, his reactions predictable. Unlike Ms Jones…

As always, reviews are much appreciated. Please sign in or leave an e-mail address, as I always prefer to respond to reviews. Thanks!

If you’d like to follow along in your e-book, turn to page:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4283573/9/

You may also find “The Voice of All the Gods” archived (periodically) at my community Kat Tales, located at:

http://community.livejournal.com/rjlk_kattales/

Look for the VAG tag.

Happy B-Day, Keith!!!!

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:38:20 GMT

Just a quick and heartfelt birthday wish to keith2237 on his special day.

May the faeries of old grant you your greatest desires.

Peace, my friend.

Just Amusing...

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:17:06 GMT

A friend e-mailed this to me a while back. Thought I'd give a few chuckles out.

One day I'll actually update my journal with real stuff, but I don't feel I'm emotionally ready for that. Not enough distance yet, ya know?

Why oh why won't Photobucket keep the original size and resolution?!? *sigh*

It states: Hikers and Bikers Move to the side of the road when a vehicle approaches.

Never Judge a Voice by Its...

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:40:18 GMT

A heartening moment. I'm sure most of you have already seen this - I saw it on CNN this morning - but it bears repeat performances.

I absolutely love the initial reaction of Simon, and her voice on this piece gives me chills in a wonderful way.

(I'd embed it, but everyone's disabled their embedding)

Never Judge a Voice by Its Cover

VAG - Chapter 8: The Best Laid Plans

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:36:50 GMT

The latest installment of the Black-Jones saga “The Voice of All the Gods” has been posted at ffn. Your teaser for this evening:

Chapter 8: The Best Laid Plans

A thorn in his side she might be, and he held nothing but contempt for her and her Muggle-loving ways, but Merlin he was only mortal and no priest! Held in check, his body merely acted as a device to continue the charade, to mesmerise the girl and ultimately gain her affections. His duty, after all, lay primarily in that sphere of influence. But then she’d gone and said that about his tongue – by all that was magical, did she understand just what she was up to? – and ran her own in invitation across a lip promising too much sweetness.

It was then control fled, and male instinct blinded him to his cause. He did not like her, but in that moment he wanted to taste her. And he despised her for that. Exposing a weakness in him that could spell downfall in his life, she climbed immeasurably high on his list of enemies.

As always, reviews are much appreciated. Please sign in or leave an e-mail address, as I always prefer to respond to reviews. Thanks!

If you’d like to follow along in your e-book, turn to page:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4283573/8/

You may also find “The Voice of All the Gods” archived (periodically) at my community Kat Tales, located at:

http://community.livejournal.com/rjlk_kattales/

Look for the VAG tag.

May Ye Have a Blessed Life on the Day of Saint Patrick

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:00:23 GMT

Big Day for the Ku Fu Master-Some-Day

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:53:12 GMT

A big happy birthday to our little drunk3n_monk3y on his special day.

(Return my phone calls, ya lazy bum, eh? kthx)

Utsi's Happy Day!

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:03:20 GMT

A very happy and relaxing day to utsi on her birthday.

Many wishes of joy and peace, m'dear. :)

Happy B-Days, J & D!!!

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:26:45 GMT

A most happy of b-days to shygryf and darsynia !! May you both enjoy your special day.