I just finished reading TruthSeeker by C.E. Murphy.
This was a good book. Lara, the heroine, always knows a lie when she hears it. She is asked by an Elvin prince to travel to his world and help him find his brothers murderer. To find the person who is lying. The book is fast pasted, with strong characters. I liked the banter and I liked how the author kept bring in all of the little lies we tell everyday. Pointing out how metephores could be considered a lie. We are not really as fast as a rabbit, the night is rarely as dark as a tomb. Lara travels back and forth between the two worlds trying to help and trying keep herself and friends alive as they are pursued. This appears to be the first of a two book series. I will be getting the next one.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Different types of apocalyse novels.
Different types of Apocalypse Novels.
There are two basic types of apocalypse novels. One in which everyone is still alive, but we have lost the ability to keep everyone alive. The story ends up with everyone fighting over fewer and fewer resources. The second types are the books in which almost everyone is dead and the few remaining survivors must fight to restore some version of civilization.
Type one (everyone starts out alive)
- “End of Civilization” type novels. Everyone is still alive, but all of the accouterments of civilization such as Electricity, financial markets, respect for law and order have been eliminated. The resulting chaos and how people cope is the heart of the story. Examples include One Second After, Dies the Fire, Survivors
- Another example is the “Alien Invasion” version; we must struggle against the outsider. Usually very strange and otherworldly. Think “Day of the Triffids, Puppet Masters, Footfall, and War of the Worlds.
- Natural disaster destroys our world, again, everyone start out alive, the disaster kills some, but the loss of civilization kills more after the immediate effect. Examples include Lucifer’s Hammer, 2012,
- We destroy ourselves via atomic war, usually because of the evil Military Industrial complex. Such novels as; Alas Babylon, the Day After, and On the Beach.
- We destroy ourselves via a biological Germ, same premise but without the radiation hot spots. Examples include – The Stand, I am legend, the Earth Abides
- Zombie Books. The undead look upon us as their resource, we disagree.
Type Two
- Long after the event, People are trying to cope, examples include –The Road, The book of Eli, the Postman, Mad Max, the Eternal Road, and Time Traveler.
- Future worlds that have experienced a cut off from the past, such as Logan’s Run, The Eternal Road, Time Traveler.
The common item though out these books is that their world is different from ours. The conflict occurs when these people have to adjust to the new rules. They all seem to wish they could go back to the golden days of our world. That should tell you something about how good we have it.
There are two basic types of apocalypse novels. One in which everyone is still alive, but we have lost the ability to keep everyone alive. The story ends up with everyone fighting over fewer and fewer resources. The second types are the books in which almost everyone is dead and the few remaining survivors must fight to restore some version of civilization.
Type one (everyone starts out alive)
- “End of Civilization” type novels. Everyone is still alive, but all of the accouterments of civilization such as Electricity, financial markets, respect for law and order have been eliminated. The resulting chaos and how people cope is the heart of the story. Examples include One Second After, Dies the Fire, Survivors
- Another example is the “Alien Invasion” version; we must struggle against the outsider. Usually very strange and otherworldly. Think “Day of the Triffids, Puppet Masters, Footfall, and War of the Worlds.
- Natural disaster destroys our world, again, everyone start out alive, the disaster kills some, but the loss of civilization kills more after the immediate effect. Examples include Lucifer’s Hammer, 2012,
- We destroy ourselves via atomic war, usually because of the evil Military Industrial complex. Such novels as; Alas Babylon, the Day After, and On the Beach.
- We destroy ourselves via a biological Germ, same premise but without the radiation hot spots. Examples include – The Stand, I am legend, the Earth Abides
- Zombie Books. The undead look upon us as their resource, we disagree.
Type Two
- Long after the event, People are trying to cope, examples include –The Road, The book of Eli, the Postman, Mad Max, the Eternal Road, and Time Traveler.
- Future worlds that have experienced a cut off from the past, such as Logan’s Run, The Eternal Road, Time Traveler.
The common item though out these books is that their world is different from ours. The conflict occurs when these people have to adjust to the new rules. They all seem to wish they could go back to the golden days of our world. That should tell you something about how good we have it.
Friday, December 16, 2011
writing group
Why would I put myself though this? I have decided to start blogging about my writing. To explore the why and how of my hobby. To share my thoughts and explore techniques.
I attended my first writers group meeting the other night. I didn’t know what to expect going in and had not submitted anything for critique. I just wanted to observe, to watch the process, and judge the participants. In all honesty, I wanted to determine just how much would I be risking by participating.
I was very impressed. While there was a very wide range of attendees. They all seemed very hardworking and very passionate about their writing. I didn’t know there were people out there like me. Writing and trying to find that voice that fills the page with meaning and emotion. That voice that can reach down into another person.
Eleven people had their works critiqued. The critics were fair and honest and very helpful. I will definitely submit my own writing next time.
I attended my first writers group meeting the other night. I didn’t know what to expect going in and had not submitted anything for critique. I just wanted to observe, to watch the process, and judge the participants. In all honesty, I wanted to determine just how much would I be risking by participating.
I was very impressed. While there was a very wide range of attendees. They all seemed very hardworking and very passionate about their writing. I didn’t know there were people out there like me. Writing and trying to find that voice that fills the page with meaning and emotion. That voice that can reach down into another person.
Eleven people had their works critiqued. The critics were fair and honest and very helpful. I will definitely submit my own writing next time.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Change in Seasons
Fall is here and quickly turning into winter. Cold, Blustery days. the last leaves have fallen.
Our lives are like the seasons. Spring of our youth, full of hope and wonder. Turn into the productive summers, passionate heat and long lazy days mirror our 20's and 30's. Fall is like our 40's and 50's. We get to enjoy life, the kids are gone like geese flying south. Finally the winter of our life, cold and lonely, we prepare for the end, and reflect on what was and what could have been.
Our lives are like the seasons. Spring of our youth, full of hope and wonder. Turn into the productive summers, passionate heat and long lazy days mirror our 20's and 30's. Fall is like our 40's and 50's. We get to enjoy life, the kids are gone like geese flying south. Finally the winter of our life, cold and lonely, we prepare for the end, and reflect on what was and what could have been.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Facts of Life
You will never see a rich good looking man marring an ugly woman and you will never see a beautiful woman marrying a poor ugly man.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Writing a Book
Writing a book is like making furniture. The first draft is simple cutting down the tree and pulling it out of the forrest to see what you have. There is still a long way to go until you have a nice dinning room table.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Favorite Books
The following is the criteria I used for selecting my favorite books: I have to have read them at least twice, I have had to recommend them to someone else. And they have to have impacted my world view. And I really enjoyed them.
1. “The Stand” by Stephen King. He is at his best, great story, great characters, great setting.
2. “Sweet Thursday” by John Steinbeck. I love the characters, the voice, and the place. A simple story that captures the human condition.
3. “History of the English Speaking People” volume I-IV by Winston Churchill. He won a Nobel in Literature for these books. I have read all 4 volumes, twice. They tell how we got to be who we are. The History of WWII by Churchill is also great.
4. “The Sacket Brand” by Louis L’amoure I loved the William Tell Sacket character. He was the first hero I read about. He set the standards for all future heroes. I read every L’Amoure novel. Someone once said that these books were the male version of the romance novel. And I agreed, which shocked her.
5. “Farmers Freehold” by Robert Heinlein. I loved all of Heinlein’s books, but this one was more impactful. A man seeing what needed to be done and to hell with those who did not see it. The ultimate in self reliance.
6. “Alas Babylon” by Pat Franks. The first dystopian novel I read. The idea of normal people trying to survive a non-normal situation. Simple but deep.
7. “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven. Again end of the world, but based upon science. The characters are intelligent, the situations real. A great “what if” Scenario.
8. “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by William McNeil. Where Churchill explained, the rise of the west from the Roman times forward. This explains the rise from hunter gathers to the rise of the Romans.
9. “Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling. Sharing the Harry Potter series with my family has been a great joy. This final installment did a great job of bringing closure. I especially liked the epilogue.
10. “Grey Seas Under” by Farley Mowat. This book about a tug boat in the Canadian Maritime Provinces came the closes to capturing my life while I was serving on Coast Guard Cutters in Alaska. It really talked to me.
1. “The Stand” by Stephen King. He is at his best, great story, great characters, great setting.
2. “Sweet Thursday” by John Steinbeck. I love the characters, the voice, and the place. A simple story that captures the human condition.
3. “History of the English Speaking People” volume I-IV by Winston Churchill. He won a Nobel in Literature for these books. I have read all 4 volumes, twice. They tell how we got to be who we are. The History of WWII by Churchill is also great.
4. “The Sacket Brand” by Louis L’amoure I loved the William Tell Sacket character. He was the first hero I read about. He set the standards for all future heroes. I read every L’Amoure novel. Someone once said that these books were the male version of the romance novel. And I agreed, which shocked her.
5. “Farmers Freehold” by Robert Heinlein. I loved all of Heinlein’s books, but this one was more impactful. A man seeing what needed to be done and to hell with those who did not see it. The ultimate in self reliance.
6. “Alas Babylon” by Pat Franks. The first dystopian novel I read. The idea of normal people trying to survive a non-normal situation. Simple but deep.
7. “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven. Again end of the world, but based upon science. The characters are intelligent, the situations real. A great “what if” Scenario.
8. “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by William McNeil. Where Churchill explained, the rise of the west from the Roman times forward. This explains the rise from hunter gathers to the rise of the Romans.
9. “Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling. Sharing the Harry Potter series with my family has been a great joy. This final installment did a great job of bringing closure. I especially liked the epilogue.
10. “Grey Seas Under” by Farley Mowat. This book about a tug boat in the Canadian Maritime Provinces came the closes to capturing my life while I was serving on Coast Guard Cutters in Alaska. It really talked to me.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
OWS
I would love to see the following: someone should approach the “Occupy Wall Street’ Protesters and tell one of the groups that they have to give up their tent space to a “Tea Party” demonstration group. That their space was being redistributed to someone else!!! I bet they would be very upset at the idea and claim it wasn’t fair.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Experiment in Dialog
“So Johnny, what you doing?” asked Dan,
“Not much” Johnny answered.
“So who you waiting for?” asked Dan as he looked around the street for anyone of interest.
Johnny just raised one eyebrow as if to say, that is more information than you need.
Dan looked at Johnny, in his black Pea Coast, and knit watch cap, leaning against the brick wall of the Seattle YMCA, watching the crowds walk by. Something is up he thought.
Johnny watched the young man, lightly hopping from one foot to the other trying to stay warm. Just go away kid, he thought.
“So have you seen Tig? He owes me money,” Dan said, looking hopeful.
Johnny reached into coat and pulled out a pack of Marlboro reds, taking a cigarette, he returned the pack and brought out a Zippo lighter from his jeans, a quick snap of the wrist and a flame lit his cigarette, he returned the Zippo to his pocket in one smooth move.He took a long drag on the cigarette, looked at Dan and said. “Don’t hold your breath, he owes everyone money.” Exhaling slowly, enjoying the taste, and enjoying the looks of disdain from passing pedestrians.
“Can you believe it, four more days of shore leave, what you planning on?” Dan asked.
“I’ll think of something”
“Have you been here before? I mean is there anything cool around here” Dan asked, leaning up against the same wall as Johnny, watching the crowds.
“Nope, yesterday was my first time in town on shore leave” he said, looking at his glowing cigarette.
They both watched a businessman walk by in a three piece suite and carrying a briefcase.
“Man, that has got to be the ultimate in a failed life” said Johnny, "just imagine, going to the same office every day for 30 years, looking out the same window, if you lucky enough to have a window. Then turning around going home, knowing you will do the same thing all over again tomorrow, carrying the same briefcase”. Johnny shuddered, “The ultimate Hell”
“I don’t know, it might be nice to go home to some nice little woman every night”. Said Dan.
Johnny just shook his head and shuddered again, tossing his cigarette into the gutter.
And there she was, right on time. The most beautiful girl that had ever existed thought Johnny. Pure innocence with just the right amount of sexy. A face of classic beauty; full of youth and grace, and a body made by the gods to tempt man.
“Hi Brandy” he said
“Hi John” She said, “You remembered”. Then she smiled, lighting up his world. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek, “Thanks for last night, that was fun”
He stood there, his knees melting, and heart racing, looking at only her, not aware of anything or anyone else.
She grabbed his hand and said, “Come on, let me show you my town”.
He went, forgetting all about Dan and briefcases.
// End //
“Not much” Johnny answered.
“So who you waiting for?” asked Dan as he looked around the street for anyone of interest.
Johnny just raised one eyebrow as if to say, that is more information than you need.
Dan looked at Johnny, in his black Pea Coast, and knit watch cap, leaning against the brick wall of the Seattle YMCA, watching the crowds walk by. Something is up he thought.
Johnny watched the young man, lightly hopping from one foot to the other trying to stay warm. Just go away kid, he thought.
“So have you seen Tig? He owes me money,” Dan said, looking hopeful.
Johnny reached into coat and pulled out a pack of Marlboro reds, taking a cigarette, he returned the pack and brought out a Zippo lighter from his jeans, a quick snap of the wrist and a flame lit his cigarette, he returned the Zippo to his pocket in one smooth move.He took a long drag on the cigarette, looked at Dan and said. “Don’t hold your breath, he owes everyone money.” Exhaling slowly, enjoying the taste, and enjoying the looks of disdain from passing pedestrians.
“Can you believe it, four more days of shore leave, what you planning on?” Dan asked.
“I’ll think of something”
“Have you been here before? I mean is there anything cool around here” Dan asked, leaning up against the same wall as Johnny, watching the crowds.
“Nope, yesterday was my first time in town on shore leave” he said, looking at his glowing cigarette.
They both watched a businessman walk by in a three piece suite and carrying a briefcase.
“Man, that has got to be the ultimate in a failed life” said Johnny, "just imagine, going to the same office every day for 30 years, looking out the same window, if you lucky enough to have a window. Then turning around going home, knowing you will do the same thing all over again tomorrow, carrying the same briefcase”. Johnny shuddered, “The ultimate Hell”
“I don’t know, it might be nice to go home to some nice little woman every night”. Said Dan.
Johnny just shook his head and shuddered again, tossing his cigarette into the gutter.
And there she was, right on time. The most beautiful girl that had ever existed thought Johnny. Pure innocence with just the right amount of sexy. A face of classic beauty; full of youth and grace, and a body made by the gods to tempt man.
“Hi Brandy” he said
“Hi John” She said, “You remembered”. Then she smiled, lighting up his world. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek, “Thanks for last night, that was fun”
He stood there, his knees melting, and heart racing, looking at only her, not aware of anything or anyone else.
She grabbed his hand and said, “Come on, let me show you my town”.
He went, forgetting all about Dan and briefcases.
// End //
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Why socialism has never worked
Socialism hasn’t worked since 2 tribes tried to live together. It requires a top down approach, someone in charge deciding who gets what and how much everyone else has to contribute. That might work when you had everyone related in a tribe, a feeling that you were all in it together, But once 2 or more tribes try to live in one civilization, and the feeling that the top man was not looking out for your interest, resentment set in. People start to worry that they are not getting their fair share, or they are contributing more than other. Everything falls apart. It is at that point that capitalism and the markets take over, obtaining what you want and need based upon what you can pay for, earning things based upon the value of your labors. The markets are non-judgmental, or at least should be. Once you start introducing monopolies, or insider preferences, or discriminations, favoritism, and old-boy networks then again people feel slighted, but at least under capitalism, they can set up their own systems and beat the game.
The People demonstrating in the “Occupy Wall Street” gatherings fail to realize this. Like a lot of the left, they see what they want, free stuff, equality of results, not equality of opportunity. Etc. but to give to one you must take away from another. Who decides? If it is other than the market forces, then their will be resentment, and no incentive to produce.
The People demonstrating in the “Occupy Wall Street” gatherings fail to realize this. Like a lot of the left, they see what they want, free stuff, equality of results, not equality of opportunity. Etc. but to give to one you must take away from another. Who decides? If it is other than the market forces, then their will be resentment, and no incentive to produce.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Empire and Inventions
Each Empire has invented something that changed the world. Something that was totally new, and impacted all other aspects of life, science, art. These inventions changed the social relations, changed how people functioned, how we looked at the world.
Samaria = Writing
Egypt = Bronze
Greece = Geometry
China = Gunpowder
Arabia = Zero (algebra)
Rome = Arch
Great Brittan = Steam Engine
U.S.A. = Internet
Samaria = Writing
Egypt = Bronze
Greece = Geometry
China = Gunpowder
Arabia = Zero (algebra)
Rome = Arch
Great Brittan = Steam Engine
U.S.A. = Internet
Monday, September 26, 2011
American Policy
Throughout its history, The U.S. has had three (3) core foreign policy positions. these beleifes have held, regardless of president, or party. They are at the core of what we believe.
1. Fight our wars over there, - keep danger as far away from our shores as possible. That was why 9/11/01 was so traumatic. We had done such a good job keeping danger faraway. We failed for the first time since 1812. (Pearl Harbor, was on a territory, not homeland)
2. Free Trade - Which means open markets, and giving people choices. Letting Merit decide, not personnal connections. All go to our beliefe in the individual and their right to free choice and expression.
3. Spread Democracy - America was based upon a principle, not geography, and if our principle is correct, then it should apply to all people. We are the shinning city on the hill, showing all what could be.
If you look at our foreign policy decisions over the years, you will find that when we drift from these principles, we end up causing ourselfs more problems. and that when we adhear to these beleifes, things work out well in the long run.
1. Fight our wars over there, - keep danger as far away from our shores as possible. That was why 9/11/01 was so traumatic. We had done such a good job keeping danger faraway. We failed for the first time since 1812. (Pearl Harbor, was on a territory, not homeland)
2. Free Trade - Which means open markets, and giving people choices. Letting Merit decide, not personnal connections. All go to our beliefe in the individual and their right to free choice and expression.
3. Spread Democracy - America was based upon a principle, not geography, and if our principle is correct, then it should apply to all people. We are the shinning city on the hill, showing all what could be.
If you look at our foreign policy decisions over the years, you will find that when we drift from these principles, we end up causing ourselfs more problems. and that when we adhear to these beleifes, things work out well in the long run.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Pleasures in Life
There are many pleasures in life, I thought I would mention a few of my most favorite, or at least those I can talk about in public.
Not in any particular order
1. Playing poker while watching Sunday Football
2. Catching a large Salmon on a small rod.
3. Sitting on the beach reading an excellent book.
4. Reading a bedtime story to my grandchild
5. Eating fresh warm tomatoes from my own garden
6. Helping a youngster realize their dream
7. Sitting on the couch, watching a movie with the love of my life falling asleep in my arms.
8. Sitting around a campfire listening to my children tell stories, about the "Old days"
Not in any particular order
1. Playing poker while watching Sunday Football
2. Catching a large Salmon on a small rod.
3. Sitting on the beach reading an excellent book.
4. Reading a bedtime story to my grandchild
5. Eating fresh warm tomatoes from my own garden
6. Helping a youngster realize their dream
7. Sitting on the couch, watching a movie with the love of my life falling asleep in my arms.
8. Sitting around a campfire listening to my children tell stories, about the "Old days"
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Bluest skies you have ever seen
The last few weeks have been beautiful, the reason we liver here in the Northwest. Everytime I go outside, I think of the song from the 60's TV Show "Here come the Brides" the song "The bluest skies you have ever seen are in Seattle". I like it when the body doesn't have to work to stay cool or get warm, it just is. If it was like this all the time, then everyone would move here, the trees would get cut down to make room for houses, the cars would produce smog and we would no longer have blue skies. Everything has to be in balance, enough wonderment to enjoy it, not to much to ruin it.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Answers
Questions to which the answer is always NO!
1. Do these jeans make my butt look fat?
2. Would you like to buy this bridge real cheap?
3. Is she prettier than me?
4. If you give me a hamburger today, I will pay you on Tuesday?
5. Do you want a hit off this; it will make you feel great?
Questions to which the answer is always YES!
1. Would you like an extra scoop of Ice cream with that?
2. Do you want to take the day off and go fishing?
3. Are there really such things a miracles?
4. Do you want to be on the team that picks our next swim suit model?
5. Do you like my painting daddy?
1. Do these jeans make my butt look fat?
2. Would you like to buy this bridge real cheap?
3. Is she prettier than me?
4. If you give me a hamburger today, I will pay you on Tuesday?
5. Do you want a hit off this; it will make you feel great?
Questions to which the answer is always YES!
1. Would you like an extra scoop of Ice cream with that?
2. Do you want to take the day off and go fishing?
3. Are there really such things a miracles?
4. Do you want to be on the team that picks our next swim suit model?
5. Do you like my painting daddy?
Friday, July 29, 2011
Beaches I have known
I have known quite a few different beaches. The Bristol Beach in England is made of pebles the size of hens eggs. The water makes a gurgling sound as it retreats. The beaches in Guam are made of fine coral sand, they get very hot. The beaches of the washington coast are covered in giant logs, weather beaten to a light tan. I don't remember what the beaches in Rio De Janero look like, I couldn't take my eyes off the heavenly objects walking around on the beach. The beaches in Kodiak Alaska are covered in Grey slate and Grass grows to the very edge with a share boundary between beach and field. The beaches in Mazatlan Mex or maybe it was Ensenada, I don't remember, but I do remember that they went on for miles and miles, and I was the only one on the beach. The Hawaii and California beaches are typical, sand, surf, cool breeze. The the greatest time ever was sitting on the beach in virginia, under and umbrella, 72 degrees with a slight breeze, reading a favorit book and watching my kids build sand castles. I didn't have to work to stay cool, or to heat up. I could just sit there and relax.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Places i have lived
Born _Washington D.C., the Goose Bay Air force Base Labrador Canada, then Alamogordo NM, then London England (Hyde Park), then Stoken-church England, then Davis Monthom AFB Tucson AZ, LaPalma California, Austin TX, Tustin CA, Lake Elsinore CA, Alameda CA (USCG), Port Angeles WA, Petaluma CA, Kodiak AK, Long Beach CA, Seattle WA, Kodiak AK, Homer AK, Port Angeles WA, Agana Guam, Cape Code MA, New York NY, Virginia Beach VA. Bremerton WA, …
Friday, July 15, 2011
Harry Potter
The final Harry Potter movie is out today. I can't believe this is all comming to an end. We all owe J.K. Rowling so much. These books were the first to interest in reading. We have gone to each movie as an entire family. Even when the family changed, the tradition continued.
I think this was such a good story for the simple reason was that it was a simple story full of complex issues. The simple story, good versus evil. The outsider wanting to fit in. The difference between childish fun and adult responsibilities. Complex ideas, Magic in a muggle world, where do you draw the line. causing pain and even death to your family and friends based upon the choices you make. etc.
All of this plus Harry is the nerd who lived under the stairs, the ultimately poweless who is discovered to have the ultimate power in Majic. His best friends are the supper smart girl in a mans world, and the poor, aquard boy, youngest son with wierd parents. Everyone can find something to dientify with.
Now look at the fring characters, All the good guys have something wrong with them, Tonks can't keep the same hair color, Lupin changes into a warewolf, Remus is an escaped con from a mean family, Hagrid is a bumbling oaf, mad-eye money is crazy and deformed physcally. All of the death eaters are smart, pretty, handsom, from rich families. J.K. is telling everyone that substance is more important than style. it is who you are not what you look like that is important.
The only normal and I think the most interesting person in the entire series is Ginny Weasely. Pretty, smart, Quidich jock, popular. She has 6 older brothers, a flighty mother and a proffesorial father. She repeatedly demonstrates her courage weather it is on the quidich field or in the chamber of secrets. When Harry is in trouble, she jumps in without question. Yet she maintains a seperate identity. She secretly loves Harry but does not pine away when the love is not returned. She holds no jealousy for Herminne. She tolerates her older brother but shows more maturity. As I said, I think she is the most interesting. I would love to read a book about those years from her perspective.
I also think that deep down, J.K. Rowling is more like Herminne, but wishes she were like Ginny.
When you add to this that Harry and the crew spend the movies solving
I think this was such a good story for the simple reason was that it was a simple story full of complex issues. The simple story, good versus evil. The outsider wanting to fit in. The difference between childish fun and adult responsibilities. Complex ideas, Magic in a muggle world, where do you draw the line. causing pain and even death to your family and friends based upon the choices you make. etc.
All of this plus Harry is the nerd who lived under the stairs, the ultimately poweless who is discovered to have the ultimate power in Majic. His best friends are the supper smart girl in a mans world, and the poor, aquard boy, youngest son with wierd parents. Everyone can find something to dientify with.
Now look at the fring characters, All the good guys have something wrong with them, Tonks can't keep the same hair color, Lupin changes into a warewolf, Remus is an escaped con from a mean family, Hagrid is a bumbling oaf, mad-eye money is crazy and deformed physcally. All of the death eaters are smart, pretty, handsom, from rich families. J.K. is telling everyone that substance is more important than style. it is who you are not what you look like that is important.
The only normal and I think the most interesting person in the entire series is Ginny Weasely. Pretty, smart, Quidich jock, popular. She has 6 older brothers, a flighty mother and a proffesorial father. She repeatedly demonstrates her courage weather it is on the quidich field or in the chamber of secrets. When Harry is in trouble, she jumps in without question. Yet she maintains a seperate identity. She secretly loves Harry but does not pine away when the love is not returned. She holds no jealousy for Herminne. She tolerates her older brother but shows more maturity. As I said, I think she is the most interesting. I would love to read a book about those years from her perspective.
I also think that deep down, J.K. Rowling is more like Herminne, but wishes she were like Ginny.
When you add to this that Harry and the crew spend the movies solving
Friday, July 8, 2011
Military Brat
I was a military Brat, My father was an enlisted man in the U.S. Air Force, I grew up on Military bases and or military communities in town. Although it was a traditional house, with a conservative father it wasn't totalitarian, my mother would never have allowed that. In my teens, my mother and I had many "discussions" about the world.
My dad got out when I was 10 years old. It seemed we moved just as much after the Air force as we did when he was in. I was always the "New Kid". Always on the outside looking in. This creates an unusual perspective. A child learns to not form close attachments, he/she learns to rely on his own judgement. Too ofter people would judge me without knowing anything about me. It is easy to paint the new kid as "Other", not one of us. I learned at an early age to not care what other people thought of me. To realize that they were not very intellegent and quite often, very narrow minded.
I learned that my happiess could not be based upon other people, but had to come from within. While there have been many times I have been unhappy in life, I always realized that it was up to me to change my situation. I think this is one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned.
I believe that most of us know when things are "right" and when they are "wrong". Avoid those situations that bring on the "wrong". If you in the wrong situation, figure out what the right one would be, figure out the path to the right situation and start moving down it. You will notice immediately how much better you feel about yourself once you are headed in the right direction.
My dad got out when I was 10 years old. It seemed we moved just as much after the Air force as we did when he was in. I was always the "New Kid". Always on the outside looking in. This creates an unusual perspective. A child learns to not form close attachments, he/she learns to rely on his own judgement. Too ofter people would judge me without knowing anything about me. It is easy to paint the new kid as "Other", not one of us. I learned at an early age to not care what other people thought of me. To realize that they were not very intellegent and quite often, very narrow minded.
I learned that my happiess could not be based upon other people, but had to come from within. While there have been many times I have been unhappy in life, I always realized that it was up to me to change my situation. I think this is one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned.
I believe that most of us know when things are "right" and when they are "wrong". Avoid those situations that bring on the "wrong". If you in the wrong situation, figure out what the right one would be, figure out the path to the right situation and start moving down it. You will notice immediately how much better you feel about yourself once you are headed in the right direction.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Generational Advances
My grandmother (Gertrude Johnson) was born in 1900, 3 years before the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk and died in 1972, 3 years after Armstrong walked on the moon. Her generation saw remarkable advances in transportation. Her world was a great deal larger than her parents.
My father was born in 1927, 2 years before the great depression and died in 1997. he was born into a farm house with out electricity, indoor plumbing, or a phone. Only 45 years after his birth, he had a suburban house, with air conditioning, a refrigerator, a back yard pool and 2 cars. His generastion saw remarkable advances in personal comforts and material wealth. he live an easier more comfortable life than his parents.
I was born in 1959, before the first communication satilittes, into a world on 1 phone per house that you "rented" from the sole phone company, and 3 channels on the black and white TV. Today, I can watch my nephew pitch baseball in Maryland on my computer, I can scratch my Information habit by simply accessing the internet. I have seen great advances in the ability to access information and enterainment. I know more and experience more.
How will my kids lives be different than mine? I believe they will be a great deal longer. Micro-Biology, nano technoly, will extend life significantly. will they be saying, my parents lived 70 years, I lived 140 years?
My father was born in 1927, 2 years before the great depression and died in 1997. he was born into a farm house with out electricity, indoor plumbing, or a phone. Only 45 years after his birth, he had a suburban house, with air conditioning, a refrigerator, a back yard pool and 2 cars. His generastion saw remarkable advances in personal comforts and material wealth. he live an easier more comfortable life than his parents.
I was born in 1959, before the first communication satilittes, into a world on 1 phone per house that you "rented" from the sole phone company, and 3 channels on the black and white TV. Today, I can watch my nephew pitch baseball in Maryland on my computer, I can scratch my Information habit by simply accessing the internet. I have seen great advances in the ability to access information and enterainment. I know more and experience more.
How will my kids lives be different than mine? I believe they will be a great deal longer. Micro-Biology, nano technoly, will extend life significantly. will they be saying, my parents lived 70 years, I lived 140 years?
Friday, June 24, 2011
Story Ideads
1. A single Space astronaught is sent in a ship on a 200 year voyage to a new star and new planet, the first person every sent on such an exploration. He suffers through 200 years of bordom just to be know as the first person to colonize a new planet in a new solar system. He will get to name everything, River Jones, Mountain Smith, etc. He get there to find that humans arrived 100 years earlier, they found a fast travel method.
2. "I turned 21 in prison doing life without Parol" the ultimate waisted life. By 21 Alexander had conquered half the world. Why do some lives turn out so differently? No one could create an empire now. But maybe in the future, in space, someone could create an empire of known worlds, Could it be someone who started out in Prison, with a wasted life and changed enough to gather the resouces, and support necessary to create an empire, and if so how?
3. A Space life boat lands on a new planet, how do modern people survive without technology, or very limited tech. How do humans interact with new life, You don't know what is poisoneous, what animals are agressive, how do you make fire when you lasers don't work. What is that sound in the bush at night.
More later
2. "I turned 21 in prison doing life without Parol" the ultimate waisted life. By 21 Alexander had conquered half the world. Why do some lives turn out so differently? No one could create an empire now. But maybe in the future, in space, someone could create an empire of known worlds, Could it be someone who started out in Prison, with a wasted life and changed enough to gather the resouces, and support necessary to create an empire, and if so how?
3. A Space life boat lands on a new planet, how do modern people survive without technology, or very limited tech. How do humans interact with new life, You don't know what is poisoneous, what animals are agressive, how do you make fire when you lasers don't work. What is that sound in the bush at night.
More later
Thursday, June 2, 2011
a Humble Winston Churchill
In the summer of 1941 Sergeant James Allen Ward was awarded the Victoria Cross for climbing out onto the wing of his Wellington bomber, 13,000 feet above the Zuider Zee, to extinguish a fire in the starboard engine. Secured only by a rope around his waist, he managed not only to smother the fire but also to return along the wing to the aircraft's cabin. Churchill, an admirer as well as a performer of swashbuckling exploits, summoned the shy New Zealander to 10 Downing Street. Ward, struck dumb with awe in Churchill's presence, was unable to answer the prime minister's questions. Churchill surveyed the unhappy hero with some compassion. "You must feel very humble and awkward in my presence," he said.
"Yes, sir," managed Ward.
"Then you can imagine how humble and awkward I feel in yours
"Yes, sir," managed Ward.
"Then you can imagine how humble and awkward I feel in yours
Monday, May 9, 2011
I remember Mama
Saw the movie "I remember Mama" with Irene Dunn last night. I remember seeing it years ago when my kids were very little and thinking. That is what people should be shooting for. A life of simple yet vast importance. A life focused on raising your children, helping those around you. And being the rock they lean upon. The most succesful business man, or rock star, or high priced actress will not be as important to your life and history, as your mother will be. Or as you will be to your children.
Thanks Mom
Thanks Mom
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wonders of the World
Truely Miraculous Things
- A baby's Smile
- The Aurora Boriealis
- The Cliff dwellings at Mesa Verda
- Flying Fish
- Sunrise over a trout stream
- Sunset over the Southern Pacific ocean
- The curve of my wife's hip
- A well writen sentance
- The Moon landing
- "Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughn
- The breath of a warm wind on a cool night
- The night sky over the Arizona desert
and finally
- A man exercising the right to vote
- A baby's Smile
- The Aurora Boriealis
- The Cliff dwellings at Mesa Verda
- Flying Fish
- Sunrise over a trout stream
- Sunset over the Southern Pacific ocean
- The curve of my wife's hip
- A well writen sentance
- The Moon landing
- "Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughn
- The breath of a warm wind on a cool night
- The night sky over the Arizona desert
and finally
- A man exercising the right to vote
St. Mathews Island Part 1
“All hands on Deck” “All hands on Deck” yelled the 1st class Boatswain Mate as he walked through the berthing area, rousting us from our racks in the middle of the night. “Dress warm ladies, its colder than a which’s tit, lay to the foc’sle and grab an ax handle. Its going to be a long night.”
We were steaming north into a ranging gale, 2 Korean fishing trawlers with 161 men aboard had become trapped in the pack ice off of St Mathews Island in the north Bearing Sea. The winter pack ice had moved south at an unexpectedly quick rate and caught the trawler unaware.
The Cutter Storis was built in 1943 as a small Ice Breaker and had seen time in Greenland during the war and had been the first vessel to circumnavigate the North American Continent traveling across the north of Canada in 1952, but that was during the summer.
This however was the dead of winter. We were having problems long before we got to the Pack Ice. The usual north wind had generated 20ft swells and we were headed directly into them. Every time we hit a wave we would bury our bow and generate huge showers of sea spray, the spray would land on deck and immediately freeze, this created more weight, causing more spray and more ice, an endless cycle that was causing us to become top heavy and in danger of capsizing. The American crab boats would have the same problem and every year 1 or more would capsize with all hands lost. So the bos’wain was getting everyone on deck to break up the ice.
We put on sweaters and then heavy arctic parkas, this was the late 70’s, no GORTEX or other fancy stuff, cloth parkas with fur lined hoods. And thick fur lined gloves that reached to your elbow. Twenty of us mustered at the foc’sle hatch and grabbed ax handles and baseball bats and made our way onto the foc’sle. The deck crew had previously put up “Life Lines” across the deck. We grabbed these as we made our way forward. The ship had slowed down but was still rising and falling 20 ft every 15 seconds. You learned to control it with your knees. At the bottom, you flexed to take the weight, at the top you flexed to keep yourself from being launched into the sky. Like trying to stop yourself on a trampoline, only it never stops. This is one of the reasons my knees are sore to this day. 10 years of doing this stuff. When the spray hit us, we turned our backs to it. We were soon covered in ice ourselves but continue on. There was no other option. We had to get to the fishermen, and to do so we had to break off the ice.
Once on the foc’sle we started swinging our bats at the ice while others shoveled it over the side. You tried to hit the ice as hard as you could without slipping off the deck into the water. As they say one hand for the ship and one for yourself. We did this for about an hour till we had removed the danger then returned to the warm Mess deck, knowing we would have to do this again in a few hours. Ah to be in the British Navy and issued a cup of grog. Nothing for the U.S. Sailor, the puritans wouldn’t allow it. So, All night, 1 hour on deck, 2 hours getting warm, repeat.
After 2 days we finally reached the Pack Ice, this was my first time seeing it, some observations: the Swells were moving it up and down at the edges but within a few hundred yards, the swells had vanished, all the power that tossed our ship around so easily, could be tamed with a few inches of ice spread over hundreds of square mile. The Sky was blue and ice was White, whiter than anything I have ever seen, You had to wear sun glasses, even a few minutes and you would go blind. I also learned that the Ice was not one big piece, like on a lake or pond. But was constantly moving, large sections 100s of yards wide would rub up against other sections. Everything was slowly moving about, creating ridges and valleys, similar to Tectonic plates, but on a much smaller scale.
We made our way into the ice, at first we progressed easily, it was only a few inches thick and the Storis was made for this stuff, even when it thickened to 6 inches we continued on. A constant groaning sound coming from the hull. Down in the berthing area it was so loud that it was difficult to sleep.
After a day of steady progress we came to a sudden stop. The ice had become over 2 ft thick and we could go no further. At this point the Bridge watch started to look for breaks in the ice, long leads where the ice had split apart, sometimes as much as a 100 ft wide. These leads would open up, then close again a few minutes later. We would then back up and ram our way into a lead, travel a mile or so, then back and ram our way into anther lead, continually traveling in a northerly direction to the Korean Fishing trawlers.
I had established contact with the Korean trawlers earlier in the day via Morse code, everyone onboard was OK and the ships had not experienced any damage yet, but they were firmly held by the ice and being pushed towards the island a few miles away, It was critical that we get there before they went aground. The island was uninhabited, so we could expect no rescue efforts from shore, if the ships were pushed aground, the ships would break up and the men would be unable to make it ashore, they might be able to evacuate to the ice, but close to shore the ice had a habit of breaking up. It was a dicey situation…….
See Part II in next post
We were steaming north into a ranging gale, 2 Korean fishing trawlers with 161 men aboard had become trapped in the pack ice off of St Mathews Island in the north Bearing Sea. The winter pack ice had moved south at an unexpectedly quick rate and caught the trawler unaware.
The Cutter Storis was built in 1943 as a small Ice Breaker and had seen time in Greenland during the war and had been the first vessel to circumnavigate the North American Continent traveling across the north of Canada in 1952, but that was during the summer.
This however was the dead of winter. We were having problems long before we got to the Pack Ice. The usual north wind had generated 20ft swells and we were headed directly into them. Every time we hit a wave we would bury our bow and generate huge showers of sea spray, the spray would land on deck and immediately freeze, this created more weight, causing more spray and more ice, an endless cycle that was causing us to become top heavy and in danger of capsizing. The American crab boats would have the same problem and every year 1 or more would capsize with all hands lost. So the bos’wain was getting everyone on deck to break up the ice.
We put on sweaters and then heavy arctic parkas, this was the late 70’s, no GORTEX or other fancy stuff, cloth parkas with fur lined hoods. And thick fur lined gloves that reached to your elbow. Twenty of us mustered at the foc’sle hatch and grabbed ax handles and baseball bats and made our way onto the foc’sle. The deck crew had previously put up “Life Lines” across the deck. We grabbed these as we made our way forward. The ship had slowed down but was still rising and falling 20 ft every 15 seconds. You learned to control it with your knees. At the bottom, you flexed to take the weight, at the top you flexed to keep yourself from being launched into the sky. Like trying to stop yourself on a trampoline, only it never stops. This is one of the reasons my knees are sore to this day. 10 years of doing this stuff. When the spray hit us, we turned our backs to it. We were soon covered in ice ourselves but continue on. There was no other option. We had to get to the fishermen, and to do so we had to break off the ice.
Once on the foc’sle we started swinging our bats at the ice while others shoveled it over the side. You tried to hit the ice as hard as you could without slipping off the deck into the water. As they say one hand for the ship and one for yourself. We did this for about an hour till we had removed the danger then returned to the warm Mess deck, knowing we would have to do this again in a few hours. Ah to be in the British Navy and issued a cup of grog. Nothing for the U.S. Sailor, the puritans wouldn’t allow it. So, All night, 1 hour on deck, 2 hours getting warm, repeat.
After 2 days we finally reached the Pack Ice, this was my first time seeing it, some observations: the Swells were moving it up and down at the edges but within a few hundred yards, the swells had vanished, all the power that tossed our ship around so easily, could be tamed with a few inches of ice spread over hundreds of square mile. The Sky was blue and ice was White, whiter than anything I have ever seen, You had to wear sun glasses, even a few minutes and you would go blind. I also learned that the Ice was not one big piece, like on a lake or pond. But was constantly moving, large sections 100s of yards wide would rub up against other sections. Everything was slowly moving about, creating ridges and valleys, similar to Tectonic plates, but on a much smaller scale.
We made our way into the ice, at first we progressed easily, it was only a few inches thick and the Storis was made for this stuff, even when it thickened to 6 inches we continued on. A constant groaning sound coming from the hull. Down in the berthing area it was so loud that it was difficult to sleep.
After a day of steady progress we came to a sudden stop. The ice had become over 2 ft thick and we could go no further. At this point the Bridge watch started to look for breaks in the ice, long leads where the ice had split apart, sometimes as much as a 100 ft wide. These leads would open up, then close again a few minutes later. We would then back up and ram our way into a lead, travel a mile or so, then back and ram our way into anther lead, continually traveling in a northerly direction to the Korean Fishing trawlers.
I had established contact with the Korean trawlers earlier in the day via Morse code, everyone onboard was OK and the ships had not experienced any damage yet, but they were firmly held by the ice and being pushed towards the island a few miles away, It was critical that we get there before they went aground. The island was uninhabited, so we could expect no rescue efforts from shore, if the ships were pushed aground, the ships would break up and the men would be unable to make it ashore, they might be able to evacuate to the ice, but close to shore the ice had a habit of breaking up. It was a dicey situation…….
See Part II in next post
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
"Line of Death"
It was my first patrol after graduating from Radioman “C” school in Petaluma CA. Onboard the Coast Guard Cutter Storis out of Kodiak AK. It was the dead of winter and we were in the Bearing Sea, A place I grew to learn intimately over the next few years. But his was my first trip and an extra ordinary experience.
It started when the USSR (Russia) invaded Afghanistan. Strange to think that events on the other side of the world could impact me in the Bearing Sea. President Carter in his infinant wisdom decided to boycott the Moscow Olympics and decided that the Russians would no longer be allowed to fish in the Bearing Sea. I don't know which one upset them the most. Since we were the only military force within a thousand miles it fell to us to insure they stayed out of the fishing grounds. So the mighty Storis, a 230 foot 37 year old medium endurance cutter and her crew of 57 was the pointy end of the vast U.S. Military Industrial Complex. We were armed with a couple of 50 caliber machine guns and a 3 inch WWII era cannon. More than a match for any fishing trawler, but extremely inadequate when the first Russian Cruiser showed up, Their 8 inch guns and anti-ship missiles made it a Mike Tyson vs Pee Wee Herman cage match. We spent 2 weeks cruising up and down the line of separation or as we called it with a false bravdo the "Line of Death", using our significant reputation and fierce stares to hold back the mighty Russian Navy. Of course, we were a mere trip wire, sink us and they would have to answer to our big brother the U.S. Navy. The fact that the nearest Navy ship was off the coast of Hawaii was beside the point. If anything happended we were screwed, but hey that’s the price you pay for being the pointy end of the spear.
Any way some of the first message I ever sent where to the White House situation room. It is extremely empowering to know that the words I typed out on the Teletypewriter would be read by the President of the United States and be used by him in making decisions. True I was only relaying the Capt’s messages, but without me or my fellow radiomen, those messages would never have gotten to the President and he would have no situational awareness of what was going on at the fringes of his empire.
Back then we didn’t have satellite communications; everything had to go via High Frequency (HF) radios. This meant I had to bounce a signal off the Ionosphere, not an easy task in the far north; the Aura Borealis was constantly messing with the higher layers. I had to find the right frequency, correct power settings and just the right antenna to get a signal back to the Kodiak Communication station and then find their incoming signal. Synchronize everything and constantly adjust the demodulators to keep the signal on track. The signal was rarely good enough to receive a message correctly the first time, so we would get it several times and then piece it together. I loved the technical aspects. The problems of maintaining communications were constantly changing and required continuous innovation. We were the only link to shore and where providing a vital function to the Capt and crew.
As I said, we patrolled the line of separation, or as we called it the “the line of death” for 2 weeks until the U.S. Navy showed up and relieved us of the responsibility. As we departed the area to resume our patrol we told the Navy Destroyer to call us if they had any problems they couldn’t handle.
Obviously we were never in any real danger. The USSR was not going to start WWIII over a bunch of fishing trawler being kicked out of the Bearing Sea, But for a few days there I was at the center of an "International Incedent". God I loved my new job!
It started when the USSR (Russia) invaded Afghanistan. Strange to think that events on the other side of the world could impact me in the Bearing Sea. President Carter in his infinant wisdom decided to boycott the Moscow Olympics and decided that the Russians would no longer be allowed to fish in the Bearing Sea. I don't know which one upset them the most. Since we were the only military force within a thousand miles it fell to us to insure they stayed out of the fishing grounds. So the mighty Storis, a 230 foot 37 year old medium endurance cutter and her crew of 57 was the pointy end of the vast U.S. Military Industrial Complex. We were armed with a couple of 50 caliber machine guns and a 3 inch WWII era cannon. More than a match for any fishing trawler, but extremely inadequate when the first Russian Cruiser showed up, Their 8 inch guns and anti-ship missiles made it a Mike Tyson vs Pee Wee Herman cage match. We spent 2 weeks cruising up and down the line of separation or as we called it with a false bravdo the "Line of Death", using our significant reputation and fierce stares to hold back the mighty Russian Navy. Of course, we were a mere trip wire, sink us and they would have to answer to our big brother the U.S. Navy. The fact that the nearest Navy ship was off the coast of Hawaii was beside the point. If anything happended we were screwed, but hey that’s the price you pay for being the pointy end of the spear.
Any way some of the first message I ever sent where to the White House situation room. It is extremely empowering to know that the words I typed out on the Teletypewriter would be read by the President of the United States and be used by him in making decisions. True I was only relaying the Capt’s messages, but without me or my fellow radiomen, those messages would never have gotten to the President and he would have no situational awareness of what was going on at the fringes of his empire.
Back then we didn’t have satellite communications; everything had to go via High Frequency (HF) radios. This meant I had to bounce a signal off the Ionosphere, not an easy task in the far north; the Aura Borealis was constantly messing with the higher layers. I had to find the right frequency, correct power settings and just the right antenna to get a signal back to the Kodiak Communication station and then find their incoming signal. Synchronize everything and constantly adjust the demodulators to keep the signal on track. The signal was rarely good enough to receive a message correctly the first time, so we would get it several times and then piece it together. I loved the technical aspects. The problems of maintaining communications were constantly changing and required continuous innovation. We were the only link to shore and where providing a vital function to the Capt and crew.
As I said, we patrolled the line of separation, or as we called it the “the line of death” for 2 weeks until the U.S. Navy showed up and relieved us of the responsibility. As we departed the area to resume our patrol we told the Navy Destroyer to call us if they had any problems they couldn’t handle.
Obviously we were never in any real danger. The USSR was not going to start WWIII over a bunch of fishing trawler being kicked out of the Bearing Sea, But for a few days there I was at the center of an "International Incedent". God I loved my new job!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Fisheries Boarding
Fisheries Boarding
One of our major missions in the Bearing during the 1980’s, was to board the foreign fishing trawlers such as the Russian, Japanese, Bulgarian, Polish, Korean, etc and check them for compliance, making sure they reported how much fish they were catching, etc.
This is not an easy task in the middle of the Bearing Sea; things are rough by nature, and waves over 15 ft make the transfer via small boat nearly impossible.
One day we came upon a Bulgarian trawler about 200 miles north of Dutch Harbor in the middle of the Bearing Sea, in about 15 ft seas with a northwest wind at 20 knots. Our job, to board and inspect the vessel. This meant getting the vessel on a course that reduced the rolling and pitching of the ship which would enable our small boat to come along side in the rough seas. Our 17ft Whale boat came alongside and received the painter (line) from the trawler, the coxswain backed down which brought us along side directly next to the Jacobs ladder, a rope ladder with wooden rungs. The small boat was bobbing up and down 15 ft every 5 seconds and slamming into the side of the ship as the waves passed underneath as the coxswain tried to keep us along side, too much reverse thrust and we would slam into the side, to little thrust and we would swing out away from the ship opening a 6ft gap that none of us could get across, and every time the ship hit a waive, it would slow down so the coxswain would have to adjust the power to compensate. It is a very tricking maneuver in rough seas, and impossible in big seas.
This particular day, the new executive officer (XO) had chosen to lead the boarding team, a trained team of 6 enlisted men to conduct the boarding, I was the senior enlisted man for the team and responsible for conducting the inspection of the fish holds and processing lines while the XO met with the ships captain and reviewed the ships documents.
This was to be the XO’s first boarding, I was responsible for getting him onto the ship, The senior person (the XO) always goes first in these situations, both for protocol reasons and leadership reasons, You don’t push your junior personnel into unknown situations, you lead them into them. I would go last; help each team member onto the ladder and then scrambling up after them.
I stood next to the coxswain, trying to steady the ladder as the XO prepared to ascend. The trick is to wait until the top of the swell, jump for the ladder and let the small boat drop from under you, then scramble up the ladder before the boat rises and slams into your legs. So the XO got ready, He hesitated on the first swell, that’s OK, you need to get your timing, he hesitated again on the second and then the third, I knew the coxswain was getting frustrated, it is hard to keep the boat along side, and things were not going to get better by waiting.
Finally on the forth wave, the XO jumped for the ladder, then froze in place, the boat dropped, then to my horror, the XO dropped also, strait down, between the small boat and the ship. He went completely under. The coxswain screamed and tried to keep the boat away from the side of the ship but a larger than normal wave hit us and pushed us into the ship. I expected to feel the soft thud of us squashing him, but we hit the side and bounced off, almost immediate the XO bobbed to the surface between us and the ship. I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into the boat and we hit the side of the ship again. It all lasted just a few seconds, XO on ladder, XO falling, hitting side of ship, XO bobbing to the surface, XO back into the boat. I still don’t know how we didn’t crush him.
We took the XO back to our ship and got another officer to lead the boarding team. We were all a little shaky approaching that Jacobs ladder but all made it up without any further problems, conducted the boarding (no infractions) and prepared to return to the ship.
Getting back into the boat gracefully is near impossible; it is like transferring between elevators. You go down the ladder, trying to judge the top of the swell, to low and you get your feet crushed, to high and you miss the boat, get in the right position and then step into it.
We all made it no problem, We would conduct 2 or 3 of these boarding’s a day for several days and then go a week with no boarding’s as we moved to the next fishing area.
Anyway, once back onboard I went and visited the XO, he was working in his office as if nothing had happened. I asked him what happened. He said “Petty Officer Snodgrass, I honestly don’t know. I remember falling and remember coming up for air, and that’s it”.
“Oh well, glad to see you are ok” I said and turned to leave his office.
“Gary, thanks!” he said
“No problem sir” I replied and left to relieve the watch.
He was always a good XO.
One of our major missions in the Bearing during the 1980’s, was to board the foreign fishing trawlers such as the Russian, Japanese, Bulgarian, Polish, Korean, etc and check them for compliance, making sure they reported how much fish they were catching, etc.
This is not an easy task in the middle of the Bearing Sea; things are rough by nature, and waves over 15 ft make the transfer via small boat nearly impossible.
One day we came upon a Bulgarian trawler about 200 miles north of Dutch Harbor in the middle of the Bearing Sea, in about 15 ft seas with a northwest wind at 20 knots. Our job, to board and inspect the vessel. This meant getting the vessel on a course that reduced the rolling and pitching of the ship which would enable our small boat to come along side in the rough seas. Our 17ft Whale boat came alongside and received the painter (line) from the trawler, the coxswain backed down which brought us along side directly next to the Jacobs ladder, a rope ladder with wooden rungs. The small boat was bobbing up and down 15 ft every 5 seconds and slamming into the side of the ship as the waves passed underneath as the coxswain tried to keep us along side, too much reverse thrust and we would slam into the side, to little thrust and we would swing out away from the ship opening a 6ft gap that none of us could get across, and every time the ship hit a waive, it would slow down so the coxswain would have to adjust the power to compensate. It is a very tricking maneuver in rough seas, and impossible in big seas.
This particular day, the new executive officer (XO) had chosen to lead the boarding team, a trained team of 6 enlisted men to conduct the boarding, I was the senior enlisted man for the team and responsible for conducting the inspection of the fish holds and processing lines while the XO met with the ships captain and reviewed the ships documents.
This was to be the XO’s first boarding, I was responsible for getting him onto the ship, The senior person (the XO) always goes first in these situations, both for protocol reasons and leadership reasons, You don’t push your junior personnel into unknown situations, you lead them into them. I would go last; help each team member onto the ladder and then scrambling up after them.
I stood next to the coxswain, trying to steady the ladder as the XO prepared to ascend. The trick is to wait until the top of the swell, jump for the ladder and let the small boat drop from under you, then scramble up the ladder before the boat rises and slams into your legs. So the XO got ready, He hesitated on the first swell, that’s OK, you need to get your timing, he hesitated again on the second and then the third, I knew the coxswain was getting frustrated, it is hard to keep the boat along side, and things were not going to get better by waiting.
Finally on the forth wave, the XO jumped for the ladder, then froze in place, the boat dropped, then to my horror, the XO dropped also, strait down, between the small boat and the ship. He went completely under. The coxswain screamed and tried to keep the boat away from the side of the ship but a larger than normal wave hit us and pushed us into the ship. I expected to feel the soft thud of us squashing him, but we hit the side and bounced off, almost immediate the XO bobbed to the surface between us and the ship. I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into the boat and we hit the side of the ship again. It all lasted just a few seconds, XO on ladder, XO falling, hitting side of ship, XO bobbing to the surface, XO back into the boat. I still don’t know how we didn’t crush him.
We took the XO back to our ship and got another officer to lead the boarding team. We were all a little shaky approaching that Jacobs ladder but all made it up without any further problems, conducted the boarding (no infractions) and prepared to return to the ship.
Getting back into the boat gracefully is near impossible; it is like transferring between elevators. You go down the ladder, trying to judge the top of the swell, to low and you get your feet crushed, to high and you miss the boat, get in the right position and then step into it.
We all made it no problem, We would conduct 2 or 3 of these boarding’s a day for several days and then go a week with no boarding’s as we moved to the next fishing area.
Anyway, once back onboard I went and visited the XO, he was working in his office as if nothing had happened. I asked him what happened. He said “Petty Officer Snodgrass, I honestly don’t know. I remember falling and remember coming up for air, and that’s it”.
“Oh well, glad to see you are ok” I said and turned to leave his office.
“Gary, thanks!” he said
“No problem sir” I replied and left to relieve the watch.
He was always a good XO.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Poverty
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Samoan Bar
We pulled into Pearl Harbor on a fine spring day after leaving the cold wintry frost of Kodiak Alaska two weeks earlier. Once liberty was granted I caught a cab and made a bee line for Hotel Street, the famous red light district of Honolulu, I always preferred to go out alone on the first night in a new town, I had been cooped up with these guys for months, the last thing I wanted to do was spend an evening swapping sea stories. Anyway, like I said, I headed for Hotel Street, walking, talking to the hookers, checking out the bars and strip joints, I was a young male, single and in the big city for the first time in over a year, a month’s pay in my pocket, life was great.
I saw a little bar across the street, the doors to the bars in Hawaii are always left open to catch the breeze and it looked quite, a place where I could get cool beer and not be hassled or husseled. I walked in and sat on a stool at the bar removed my ships ball cap and ordered a draft, the bar tender looked at me sort of odd but gave me the draft, I took the first drink, god it was good, cool, refreshing and invigorating. Life just got even better. I looked around, the first thing I noticed was that this was no tourist bar, no fishnets hanging on wall, no fern plants in the corner and no candles on the few tables. The next thing I quickly realized was that I was the smallest person in the bar. Now I stood 6’6” and 230 lbs at the time. I rarely saw anyone bigger, and here I was the smallest in a room, an unusual occurrence to the say the least. I realized that everyone else appeared to be of Samoan decent and thought “Oh Crap” I had walked into a Samoan Bar in a strange town not a smart move in the late 70’s. Now you need to know that this was a time of the Civil Rights era, and that the pacific islanders were caught up in the movement and hated white people for all the terrible things we had done, such as introducing coca cola, snakes, and Hollywood, not necessarily in that order.
I saw 4 young gentlemen at the pool table, each holding a cue and looking at me like I was lunch and they had skipped breakfast, the runt had me by an inch and 50 pounds, the ugly one was missing his front teeth and had arms the size of telephone poles, the mean looking one had a glass eye and tattoos covering his face, it was the biggest of the group that worried me the most, he just looked like a giant dog straining at the leach and waiting for permission to attack.
I realized that the smart thing would be to just get up and leave, it was obvious that I was not wanted. And I never stay where I am not wanted, but being a young male, full of vim and vigor, I couldn’t just leave, not until I finished my beer, and I couldn’t rush that or it would look like I was afraid or something. The fact that I was scared shitless was beside the point, the important thing was to not show it, finish my beer and walk out like I wasn’t running for my life.
At that point an older Samoan gentleman at the bar turned to me and said, “You need to leave haoli”. He wasn’t being rude, just trying to save my life. He was the type of guy who had worked all his life at hard physical labor and had the scars and painful eyes to prove it. The last thing he needed was someone disturbing his nice quite evening, and having the police come in and scrape my ass off the floor would disturb his evening. I totally understood. But I was going to finish that beer, So I downed it quickly and put my hat back on. It was at that point my entire evening, maybe even my life changed. The old man looked at my hat and said “You in the Coast Guard?”
“Yes Sir” I replied, “We just came in today, we are down from Alaska for a month of Training”. I started for the door, sneaking a peak to see if I was going to be jumped from behind by the 4 monsters of the pool table, although if I had been thinking correctly, I would have realized they did not need to wait until my back was turned. They weren’t moving but pushing me out the door with their eyes.
As I passed the old man he grabbed my arm and said, “You guys saved my brother last month, pulled him off his sinking fishing boat off of Maui, Thank You”
“No problem” I answered, I wasn’t going to tell him I was off the Aleautions a month ago,
“Let me buy you a beer” he said.
Now I was always up for a free beer but I turned and looked at the four Pool monsters. Seeing my apprehension he turned and said.
“Hey, Tibby, this guys in the Coast Guard”
Tibby, the mean looking one, don’t ask me how someone who looked like that could be called Tibby, it must have been a Samoan thing and I wasn’t going to ask him. Anyway he came over, carrying his Pool Cue,
“You in the Coast Guard, huh?”
“Yeah, just pulled in today”
He turned to the bar tender and said “get him a beer”
He didn’t ask if I wanted one, but I don’t think he was the type of person who asked people what they wanted.
“Thanks” I said and sat back down next to the old man who told me that Tibby was his nephew and it was his father that the Coast Guard had saved.
Tibby retuned to the pool game, told his fellow monsters what was going on, all three of them looked at me and slightly nodded. I now had permission to stay in their bar. Life was great again.
The old man and I sat down he told me about his life, working for the Navy in WWII, he had worked all over the Pacific except for Alaska, so we swapped sea stories all night and watched the hookers take their customers into the flea bag hotel across the street.
They would be in there about an hour, but sometimes as quick at 10 minutes.
He told me that a lot of hookers were not women but men in drag, I think he was warning me.
So we sat and had comfortable time when I recognized one of the less popular officers from the ship walking down the street with a tall girl In a slinky Chinese dress on his arm, they turned into the hotel.
I was in slight shock, this was one of the more stuck up officer, quick to point out other’s failing. “He is off our ship” I said. Then asked, is she a she?
He looked, then turned to me and shook his head No.
I smiled, For the first time ever I was looking forward to tomorrow mornings’ muster onboard the ship. Life was really really great.
I spent several hours in the Samoan bar that night, learning where to go, who to see for a good time, etc and had a wonderful time, this is why a became a sailor I thought.
I said my good nights to the Pool Monsters and thanked the old man for a great time, especially considering how it could have gone. And walked out into the night, headed for a special address the old man had given me but that is a story for another time.
I learned several lessons that night, one - Don’t walk into a Samoan bar unless they know someone picked up by the Coast Guard, always a risky thing, so just don’t walk into a Samoan bar unless invited. -Two - Be careful who you select for an evening of fun, and third - Never do anything in public you don’t want people to know about, because, of course I told all my buddies who I had seen walking to that hotel and with whom.
I saw a little bar across the street, the doors to the bars in Hawaii are always left open to catch the breeze and it looked quite, a place where I could get cool beer and not be hassled or husseled. I walked in and sat on a stool at the bar removed my ships ball cap and ordered a draft, the bar tender looked at me sort of odd but gave me the draft, I took the first drink, god it was good, cool, refreshing and invigorating. Life just got even better. I looked around, the first thing I noticed was that this was no tourist bar, no fishnets hanging on wall, no fern plants in the corner and no candles on the few tables. The next thing I quickly realized was that I was the smallest person in the bar. Now I stood 6’6” and 230 lbs at the time. I rarely saw anyone bigger, and here I was the smallest in a room, an unusual occurrence to the say the least. I realized that everyone else appeared to be of Samoan decent and thought “Oh Crap” I had walked into a Samoan Bar in a strange town not a smart move in the late 70’s. Now you need to know that this was a time of the Civil Rights era, and that the pacific islanders were caught up in the movement and hated white people for all the terrible things we had done, such as introducing coca cola, snakes, and Hollywood, not necessarily in that order.
I saw 4 young gentlemen at the pool table, each holding a cue and looking at me like I was lunch and they had skipped breakfast, the runt had me by an inch and 50 pounds, the ugly one was missing his front teeth and had arms the size of telephone poles, the mean looking one had a glass eye and tattoos covering his face, it was the biggest of the group that worried me the most, he just looked like a giant dog straining at the leach and waiting for permission to attack.
I realized that the smart thing would be to just get up and leave, it was obvious that I was not wanted. And I never stay where I am not wanted, but being a young male, full of vim and vigor, I couldn’t just leave, not until I finished my beer, and I couldn’t rush that or it would look like I was afraid or something. The fact that I was scared shitless was beside the point, the important thing was to not show it, finish my beer and walk out like I wasn’t running for my life.
At that point an older Samoan gentleman at the bar turned to me and said, “You need to leave haoli”. He wasn’t being rude, just trying to save my life. He was the type of guy who had worked all his life at hard physical labor and had the scars and painful eyes to prove it. The last thing he needed was someone disturbing his nice quite evening, and having the police come in and scrape my ass off the floor would disturb his evening. I totally understood. But I was going to finish that beer, So I downed it quickly and put my hat back on. It was at that point my entire evening, maybe even my life changed. The old man looked at my hat and said “You in the Coast Guard?”
“Yes Sir” I replied, “We just came in today, we are down from Alaska for a month of Training”. I started for the door, sneaking a peak to see if I was going to be jumped from behind by the 4 monsters of the pool table, although if I had been thinking correctly, I would have realized they did not need to wait until my back was turned. They weren’t moving but pushing me out the door with their eyes.
As I passed the old man he grabbed my arm and said, “You guys saved my brother last month, pulled him off his sinking fishing boat off of Maui, Thank You”
“No problem” I answered, I wasn’t going to tell him I was off the Aleautions a month ago,
“Let me buy you a beer” he said.
Now I was always up for a free beer but I turned and looked at the four Pool monsters. Seeing my apprehension he turned and said.
“Hey, Tibby, this guys in the Coast Guard”
Tibby, the mean looking one, don’t ask me how someone who looked like that could be called Tibby, it must have been a Samoan thing and I wasn’t going to ask him. Anyway he came over, carrying his Pool Cue,
“You in the Coast Guard, huh?”
“Yeah, just pulled in today”
He turned to the bar tender and said “get him a beer”
He didn’t ask if I wanted one, but I don’t think he was the type of person who asked people what they wanted.
“Thanks” I said and sat back down next to the old man who told me that Tibby was his nephew and it was his father that the Coast Guard had saved.
Tibby retuned to the pool game, told his fellow monsters what was going on, all three of them looked at me and slightly nodded. I now had permission to stay in their bar. Life was great again.
The old man and I sat down he told me about his life, working for the Navy in WWII, he had worked all over the Pacific except for Alaska, so we swapped sea stories all night and watched the hookers take their customers into the flea bag hotel across the street.
They would be in there about an hour, but sometimes as quick at 10 minutes.
He told me that a lot of hookers were not women but men in drag, I think he was warning me.
So we sat and had comfortable time when I recognized one of the less popular officers from the ship walking down the street with a tall girl In a slinky Chinese dress on his arm, they turned into the hotel.
I was in slight shock, this was one of the more stuck up officer, quick to point out other’s failing. “He is off our ship” I said. Then asked, is she a she?
He looked, then turned to me and shook his head No.
I smiled, For the first time ever I was looking forward to tomorrow mornings’ muster onboard the ship. Life was really really great.
I spent several hours in the Samoan bar that night, learning where to go, who to see for a good time, etc and had a wonderful time, this is why a became a sailor I thought.
I said my good nights to the Pool Monsters and thanked the old man for a great time, especially considering how it could have gone. And walked out into the night, headed for a special address the old man had given me but that is a story for another time.
I learned several lessons that night, one - Don’t walk into a Samoan bar unless they know someone picked up by the Coast Guard, always a risky thing, so just don’t walk into a Samoan bar unless invited. -Two - Be careful who you select for an evening of fun, and third - Never do anything in public you don’t want people to know about, because, of course I told all my buddies who I had seen walking to that hotel and with whom.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Green - Grey effect
We were crossing the Bearing Sea in mid January, A rare calm day when we came upon a strang occurance. The sea was divided into two colors, green on one side and grey on the other. It was a stark contrast, a deep Aqua green and a sharp line dividing it from a milky grey. The young Ensign turned to the Salty Captain and asked "Sir, What causes that"
The Capt, not wanting to be bothered with stupid questions, said, That is known as the Green/Grey effect.
The young Ensign didn't understand, and finally asked, what is the Green/Grey effect?
The Capt, answered, that is when the water is green on one side and grey on the other side.
The young Ensign didn't bother the capt with stupid questions again.
The Capt, not wanting to be bothered with stupid questions, said, That is known as the Green/Grey effect.
The young Ensign didn't understand, and finally asked, what is the Green/Grey effect?
The Capt, answered, that is when the water is green on one side and grey on the other side.
The young Ensign didn't bother the capt with stupid questions again.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Truck
The berthing area usually held 10 to 16 men, junior petty officers, and senior seamen. Each assigned a “Rack” or 2.5 ft wide and 6 ft long with a 2 inch thick mattress on a metal bed. These racks, two, sometimes three high, could be triced up to get them out of the way for cleaning underneath.
When underway the roving watch was responsible for waking the next watch section. They would approach each man gingerly and lightly touch him on the foot and say “Are you awake”. They would keep doing this until they received the response “Yes, I am awake” all the time trying not to wake anyone else. They never got too close, you never knew what a man was dreaming about, and the unwritten rule, was that if a man took a swing at you while coming out of a dream, it didn’t count, and he couldn’t be held responsible.
One of the junior petty officers was notorious for not getting up and to his watch station, requiring a revisit by the roving watch, something they hated doing, especially after a long boring night. After repeated failures to get to his watch section on time, a few of the junior seaman got together, So the guys got together and hatched their plan, I heard about it and made sure I was awake to see what happened.
One night, at about 2 in the morning, they crept up to his rack and slowly pulled back the privacy curtain, it was an upper berth so they had full range of motion. Once they were situated, and everything in place, they started to gently shake him, saying “Bill, wake up”, “Bill wake up”, -- when he opened his eyes, they turned on 2 flashlights, shinning them into his eyes, and yelled “WATCH OUT FOR THE TRUCK” then hit him in the face with a pillow.
He lost it, started screaming and crying, we lay in our racks and laughed so hard no one could go to sleep again for the night.
He was never late for watch again!
When underway the roving watch was responsible for waking the next watch section. They would approach each man gingerly and lightly touch him on the foot and say “Are you awake”. They would keep doing this until they received the response “Yes, I am awake” all the time trying not to wake anyone else. They never got too close, you never knew what a man was dreaming about, and the unwritten rule, was that if a man took a swing at you while coming out of a dream, it didn’t count, and he couldn’t be held responsible.
One of the junior petty officers was notorious for not getting up and to his watch station, requiring a revisit by the roving watch, something they hated doing, especially after a long boring night. After repeated failures to get to his watch section on time, a few of the junior seaman got together, So the guys got together and hatched their plan, I heard about it and made sure I was awake to see what happened.
One night, at about 2 in the morning, they crept up to his rack and slowly pulled back the privacy curtain, it was an upper berth so they had full range of motion. Once they were situated, and everything in place, they started to gently shake him, saying “Bill, wake up”, “Bill wake up”, -- when he opened his eyes, they turned on 2 flashlights, shinning them into his eyes, and yelled “WATCH OUT FOR THE TRUCK” then hit him in the face with a pillow.
He lost it, started screaming and crying, we lay in our racks and laughed so hard no one could go to sleep again for the night.
He was never late for watch again!
Monday, January 17, 2011
U.S Navy
Only 3 times in world history has there been a Navy as strong as today's U.S. Navy. the British in the 1800's and the Romans at the beginning of their Empire. In each case the Navy was stronger than all of the other navy's combined. Today, Their are many similarities between the three. All were Maritime nations with a strong fishing and merchant fleet. All relied upon trade to support the homeland. And all three called their ships "She", most other cultures call ships He, (Russia, France, China, Japan, etc). Only sailor who view thier ships as a partner vice tool call ships she. It is the strong attachment to the sea and the ships that sail it that enables a country to build a strong Navy. Russia tried for years but could never achieve it.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Seahawks
I am very disappointed in the Seattle Seahawks today. It is the end of the season. I guess we should be happy for how far they got. It was much farther that anyone thought they would get this year. Oh well, wait until next year
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Welcome
Welcome to the Northwest Pundit. I hope to use this blog to discuss politics, family, and sea stories.
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