Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Friday Morning at the Pentagon

This has been a tough post to think about, not because it is very personal or even confrontational, I just don't know if it is something that you come here to read about.

So here goes. I hope you enjoy the article. Your opinion about relevance in the comments please.

Friday Morning at the Pentagon

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY
McClatchy Newspapers

Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war. Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals.

This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate, Army Lt. Col. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.

The PentagonImage by mindfrieze via Flickr

Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America Website.

"It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands here.

This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.

Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area.

The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. "10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.

"A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class.

"Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden ... yet.

"Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel.

"Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer.

"11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt... Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30.... Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts.

They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along.... Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.

"There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.

These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.

"Did you know that?

The media haven't yet told the story."


Copied directly without alteration from Michael Yon's amazing blog 'Michael Yon Online'


kthanxbai!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

National Geographic photographers have the coolest job.

Crankylitprof over at the blog Cranky Epistles shared a video with us that just blew my mind.

An NG photographer goes off to the frozen wilds to film Leopard Seals. These are relatively dangerous creatures so nothing is to be taken lightly with them.

On his first day he finds a huge mother leopard seal, who starts to bring him live food, thinking that he needs it. He doesn't take the food.

A leopard seal growling while sitting on the s...Image via Wikipedia

She then starts bringing him weak and infirm live food and again he doesn't take it.

Finally she starts chewing up the food to show him how to eat. Absolutely amazing.

Watch the very short film here


Nature is just wonderful.




kthanxbai!

Nice short story

Day 27 Short FictionImage by texasgurl via Flickr

My blogfriend YK has a new short story up at this locale. Its a good read - enjoy!



kthanxbai!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Religious Perspectives

Sugar Plum SnowflakeImage by CaptPiper via Flickr

Sebastian over at Snowflakes in Hell has a very interesting article that I happily stumbled upon. Its always nice to hear someone on your side of the battle against antisemitism and general hatred.



kthanxbai!

The Real Things in Life

With Thanksgiving just behind us and a veritable plethora of family based festivals coming up I think its time that we focused slightly on the Real Things in Life.

We worry about who the next American Idol is going to be and even who is to blame for the Economic Disaster we are in the middle of but now let's think about the guys out there, doing their normal jobs and paying the price for democracy.

Marines Net Top Awards in Enemy Ambush

In well-rehearsed fashion, the four Marines knocked on a farmhouse door, opened it and tossed in a flash grenade before rushing inside.

The morning of Nov. 16, 2005, was another day in Operation Steel Curtain to stem the flow of mercenaries entering Iraq from Syria. The end of this particular assignment was in sight as the Marines were running out of houses to check for signs of hostiles on the outskirts of New Ubaydi, near the Iraq border.

Navy CrossImage via Wikipedia



What they couldn't know was that two dozen insurgents had picked the last farmhouse on the road for a final stand.

Clicketh thee here to read the whole story. I highly recommend it.

kthanxbai!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Down with the flu

english teacupImage by digiyesica via Flickr

Headache, blocked nose and my throat feels like someone is starting a cactus farm in it.

Nice cup of milky tea and a Comtrex or 2 and I'll be right as rain. By Tuesday.

If you do happen to find out that I've blogged in the next 24 hours please tell me about it - I'm sure it'll be 'interesting'!

kthanxbai!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Lazybum

So apparently my life isn't relaxed enough so the wife, baby and I have taken a midweek break. Right now I'm in a coffee shop in Eilat using the iTouch and their internet.

So light or no blogging for now

kthanxbai!

You are observant

You are observant. Yes you are.

I mentioned that the short film in my bloggage of yesterday, Jam, had two of my fave people on it and then went on to laud the amazingness that is Stephen Fry.

And the other fave person? That must have been Mr. Philip Schofield.

Philip SchofieldImage by TGIGreeny via Flickr


So who is he and why do I like him? Well, as always, I'll answer the second part first.

Not only does he answer my DMs on twitter, but he also sends out interesting Tweets. That's why I like him today. In the last 20 odd years he has been a TV presenter in the UK and has always come across as a 'good egg'. The same way that Stephen Fry appears but without the 'I know more than you so sit back and learn'.

Basically he comes across as a nice guy and I respect that.

What a Twitter! Phillip Schofield is more interested in tweeting than eating

And then there was Gordon the Gopher. If you don't know what I'm talking about then watch the video below or ask Mr. Google if he can help.



From his current TV show's website:

Phillip Schofield joined This Morning in September 2002 and currently presents the show four days a week.

By the age of ten, he had already decided he would like to pursue a career in broadcasting and began to write to the BBC. He was finally offered a job in September 1979 at Broadcasting House, London, working for radio outside broadcasts as a booking clerk.

Aged 19, Phillip left the BBC to emigrate to New Zealand with his family. He quickly landed a job presenting on Radio Hauraki in Auckland and went on to appear on television. Three-and-a-half years later, he decided that it was time to return to Britain.

Within four months of returning to the UK, the BBC presentation department offered him the job of fronting Children’s BBC from the Broom Cupboard.

Phillip accepted and stayed with presentation for two years. He then went on to present five series of the popular Saturday morning show Going Live, four series of Take Two, three series of his own quiz show, The Movie Game, two series of the highly acclaimed travel show Schofield's Europe and a series of Television's Greatest Hits.

In 1993 he signed a two-year contract with ITV and starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the London Palladium.

Phillip then took the show around the UK and Ireland from December 1993 until February 1995. In December 1995 he took up the Dreamcoat again at the Oxford Apollo Theatre and in February 1996 moved to the Hammersmith Labbatts Theatre through to the middle of 1996.

In 1996 he also signed an exclusive contract with Carlton Television and presented a number of shows including Schofield’s Adventures in Hawaii (a one-hour special), Schofield’s Quest, two series of Tenball and two Christmas specials: Schofield’s Gold and Six Little Angels.

Autumn 1996 saw Phillip presenting two series, One In A Million and Schofield's TV Gold, followed by a one-off Christmas special, Now We’re Talking. In autumn 1997 Talking Telephone Numbers returned for its fifth series and a further series of One In A Million ran through to July 1997.



kthanxbai!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Twitter + YouTube = fun video

I am new(ish) to Twitter so still get excited when little things happen.

Imagine my delight when a huge Twitter-YouTube event occurred!

Two of my heroes whom I follow on Twitter are in a short film together.



I'll leave it to you to recognize my two twitter 'buds'.



kthanxbai!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Geekdom, here I come

In the past I have spoken about being a Geek to the 3rd Power and The Twit Is Strong In This One. Well here is Geekdom incarnate:Jawa garden Ornament. Me wants one.
Yoda slippers. Not what I want. Ever.

Go and develop your own variety of Star Wars geekdom over at The Star Wars shop.

kthanxbai!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

They've invaded the internet

I grew up in the (ahem) 70's with the Muppet Show and Sesame Street. I was allowed to watch as much of either of them as I liked, which in all honesty wasn't more than half an hour a day as we had no VCR but we did have British terrestrial TV.



As technology advanced the foam puppets moved over to Fraggle Rock and eventually even that was replaced on the TV shows, for the next generation of kids, by Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Postman Pat and other imaginative heroes.



I recently found out that my beloved wife, Mrs Jumblerant (aka Her Indoors or Mrs J) did not watch Sesame Street or the Muppet Show as a child. Her elder siblings made sure that the first programs she watched were Happy Days and The Love Boat. Sadly she missed out. She never learnt rudimentary Spanish on the stoop with Maria, or how to count, with the Count.

Sesame Street marked 40 years of production on the 10th November and I'm happy to say that our son Jack will be able to grow up with the The Muppet Show as well as it starts to make a return on YouTube.

Click here to get to the Muppet Show Channel on YouTube for some modern-day Muppet Show fun.

And here, thanks to Topless Robot, is the Muppet Show's 10 Weirdest Moments.

kthanxbai!


Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Oops, you forgot

I know you're busy and have all those chores to do.

And then there's that Buffy marathon going on later. And the kids need a bath.

Twitter isn't going to tweet itself and you just have to Facebook that kindergarten friend of yours from 28 years ago who doesn't even live on the same continent as you BUT you completely forgot to go here and vote for me by copying and pasting the 3 lines of info below;

Jumblerant

http://jumblerant.blogspot.com/

http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Jumblerant

I know!! Crazy isn't it?

What you also forgot was that not only can I easily find out where you live, but I also know where to buy gasoline and matches ;-0

Subtlety and not so subtlety didn't really work did it? 3rd times the charm.

kthanxbai!

The Insomniac's Guide to Ambulances

I have worked alongside EMTs for nearly a decade. Some are good, some are bad and some are indifferent.

Ben Yatzbatz falls into a 4th category - bloody amazing. If I were ever in need of a paramedic he would be the one I'd gasp for.

Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic vehicle w...Image via Wikipedia


Now go over to his blog and read his latest composition, 'Armchair' definitely worth a visit, trust me!

The Insomniac's Guide to Ambulances

kthanxbai!

Isn't nature lovely?

Nature can really spring a surprise on you every now and then.

Here are 300,000 starlings having fun.




kthanxbai!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Using Oprah for the power of good

her highness the Oprah of Winfrey recently started her new season of chat shows with a Flashmob dance that took over Chicago's magnificent mile.

A group that assists Jews from around the world to move to Israel put together this Flashmob dance in Jerusalem's central Ben Yehuda Street to promote themselves.

Quite impressive when you realize that us Jews aren't renowned for our dancing abilities, except for Sammy Davis Jr., of course, but he was the exception!



kthanxbai!

Bear Shot After Swiss Zoo Intruder Mauled

After reading this headline I was appalled. The poor innocent bear was just doing what he normally does and this crazy guy goes into the bear pit without thinking about the consequences.


Then I read the article. The intruder was mentally handicapped.

So who is to blame here? The doctors for letting him out by himself? The zoo for not ensuring the bear pit was inaccessible, even to crazed loons? Or society, for putting the bears out for show in the first place.

Is there any blame to be apportioned in the first place?

What do you think? Discussion in the comment area please, and keep it kinda pleasant!!

kthanxbai!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Jason Boas 1974 - 2008

Jason Boas 1974 - 2008


My school friend Jason died from pancreatic cancer last November. Here is the charity he started. His legacy I guess - No Surrender. Click on the pictures to get to the websites.

The BBC story of how he battled can be seen here:

BBC NEWS | Health | 'Cancer at 33 is very lonely'

Music Week had this article about him:

Industry accountant and charity campaigner dies


The Sun wrote this about Jason:

Jason Pledged No Surrender on Cancer






Thinking of you buddy.


Politicians with makeup

Damn Cool Pics has found some very interesting Photoshopped pictures of World leaders.

Fidel before the morticians get to him


B.O. on his day off


Gordon thinking about getting away from it all and becoming a geisha.



I'm not sure that this picture was touched up at all . . . .

More at the link.

kthanxbai!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Autistic Teen Finds Inner Voice

I just saw this awesome video on YouTube and thought you might be blown away by it too.

Happy viewing.



kthanxbai!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Kidneys, livers and hearts I understand, but fat?

Its safe for me to return to Peru now.

The land of Paddington Bear and the location for Stephen Fry's (praise be The Tweet) amazing books and documentaries;

'Paddington Bear: The Early Years'
'Stephen Fry and the Spectacled Bears'
'Rescuing the Spectacled Bear: A Peruvian Diary'


My sister, who we all now know is not obese or even 'puffy' would have been safe in Peru even though it has come to light, with the arrest of 3 local Peruvians, that over 60 people were murdered.

And why were so many innocent lives taken? Organ sellers? Blood collectors? To get their money or valuables?

No.

To sell their fat on the blackmarket for cosmetic use in Europe.

WTF??

This is some scary stuff. And more reason than ever for me to get on with this exercise and diet regime.

kthanxbai!