Miss Ladybug

Go check out South Park Diva

2008-07-23T23:17:00.000-05:00

Lyric Mezzo is starting to get back into blogging. She's got a new post up:

Obama now playing the flip-flop game with Israel.

Go give it a read.

Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

2008-07-23T22:04:00.001-05:00

I've know about the Berlin Airlift since I was a child. How could I not, having lived in Germany and seeing the monument commemorating it outside Flughafen Tempelhof in Berlin?

In college, my German professor had me translate a magazine article about it from German into English.

This past May, I learned there was a children's book written about it. That book arrived in the mail today.

Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot: A True Story of the Berlin Airlift and the Candy That Dropped From the Sky, by Margot Theis Raven (author of America's White Table) and illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, tells of a young girl living in war-ravaged West Berlin and the American "Chocolate Pilot" who dropped candy to the children of the Berlin during the Soviet blockade of 1948-1949.

The book begins with a short history of the Berlin Airlift. It is mind-boggling, thinking of everything that went into keeping the 2.2 million people of West Berlin - the Allied sectors controlled by the United States, Great Britain and France - free from Soviet communist rule when Stalin tried to gain control by blockading all routes - rail, water, road - into and out of the city beginning June 24, 1948.

From June 26th, 1948 to September 30th, 1949, the British and American forces flew more than 277,000 missions, day and night, delivering more than 2.3 million tons of supplies. This is the same distance as going back and forth between the earth and the moon 130 times!

To keep people alive, Berlin needed 4,500 tons of food, coal, and essentials daily! Imagine packing, carrying, and unloading 646 tons of flour and wheat per day; 180 tons of dehydrated potatoes; 19 tons of powdered milk; 5 tons of fresh milk for babies and small children; 109 tons of meat and fat; 125 tons of cereal; and combined, cover 5,000 tons of coal and kerosene during the summer and winter. And many other essential items were part of the cargo!

Nothing was easy about this rescue mission and there were many problems; the weather was terrible; the runways short; the skies crowded; the pilots had little sleep; Russian planes harassed the exhausted fliers in the air corridors; coal and flour dust caused mechanical problems.

The greatest cost of the operation was the loss of lives: 31 Americans died, 39 British, and 9 Germans. But they are not forgotten. In Berlin today, the memory of the beautiful "bridge" is cherished by the people who love their freedom, and remember the brave pilots and the countries who did not forsake them in their time of need.

Van Frankenhuyzen does a beautiful job illustrating the story: a depiction of bombed out buildings that was very much a fact of life for the people of Berlin in those first years after the end of World War II; Mercedes feeding her chickens, hoping they will lay eggs soon, so her mother won't decide they would be more useful on the dinner table; Mercedes' mother reading a newspaper story about the Chocolate Pilot, Lt. Gail Halvorsen, dropping candy to waiting children near the runways of Tempelhof; tiny parachutes trailing behind the cargo planes.

Mercedes wants to go to the airport in the hopes of catching a candy-filled parachute. She can't go alone, her mother telling her "the streets are too dangerous with soldiers and rubble everywhere," but Frau Simon promises to take her soon.

The day arrives, and Mercedes joins all the other children hoping for a sweet treat, but a bigger boy catches the parachute Mercedes was going for, and she goes home empty-handed. She remembers from the newspaper story that children send letters to the Chocolate Pilot. Using the moonlight, she carefully writes out a letter:

Dear Chocolate Pilot,

We live near the airfield at Tempelhof, and our chickens think your airplanes are chicken hawks so they become frightened when you fly over to land. They run in shelter and some moult with no more eggs from them. It is a big problem for us. We need the eggs. But when you fly over the garden and see the white chickens, please drop some candy there and all will be ok. I don't care if you scare them.

Your little friend,
Mercedes

Lt. Halvorsen received many, translated into English, each week. One boy, Peter Zimmerman, has trouble running fast enough to get any of the candy, so he drew a map to his house, saying he'll be waiting in his yard at 2pm each day. Even with the map, the Chocolate Pilot can't find young Peter's house from the air, so he mails package of candy bars and gum to his address. Then, he receives the letter from Mercedes. He doesn't think he'll be able to find her garden with the white chicken - he wasn't able to find Peter, even with the map!

Mercedes is returning home with her mother on a foggy November day. She prays for the pilots' safety, and that the fog would go away and the Chocolate Pilot would be able to find her yard with the chickens. When they get home, Frau Simon has a surprise for Mercedes: there is a package sent from Tempelhof Air Field!

As she opened the box, the sweet smell of candy spread thick as jam through the room.

Chocolate bars! Packs of white and green mint gum! Pink bubble gum too! And Life Saver rolls, colored like the rainbow! Her Chocolate Pilot had found her at last!

Mercedes saw Mama blinking back happy tears. She gave her a thick chocolate bar to eat, and chose a creamy bar with nuts and caramel nougat for herself.

There was also a letter inside:

Meine liebe Mercedes (My dear Mercedes),
Frankfurt, den 4 Nov. 48

Thank you for your small letter. Not every day I fly over your home, but surely often. I didn't know that in Hahnelstrasse there lived such a nice little girl. If I could fly a few rounds over Friedenau, I surely would find the garden with the white chickens, but for this there is not enough time. I hope that through what is with this letter, I give you a little joy.

Dein Shokoladenonkel,
(You Chocolate Uncle)
Gail Halvorsen

Lt. Halvorsen had a seven-month-long tour of duty for the Berlin Airlift, but that isn't the end of the story. In the Epilogue, we learn Lt. Halvorsen returned to Berlin twenty-two years later as Colonel Halvorsen, this time as the USAF representative to Berlin, and as commander at Tempelhof. Two years later, he is invited to dinner to the home of a German couple he's never met. The young wife took out a letter from her china cabinet and asked the Colonel to read it. "The letter began: 'Meine liebe Mercedes.'"

The letter "is now kept in a bank vault, and is only brought out when her beloved Chocolate Pilot comes to visit once more. But every day when Mercedes walks under the skies of a free Berlin, the sweet memory of his gift still soars in her heart like the great silver planes of hope."

The book concludes with a blurb about Gail Halvorsen and his involvement in the Berlin Airlift and Operation Little Vittles, how people in the US heard about what he was doing and decided to help out, and what he has done since retiring from the Air Force in 1974.

Barnes & Noble recommends the book for children 4 to 10 years old. Honestly, a child of four probably isn't going to be grasping the concept of post-WWII Germany and the evilness of Stalin and the Soviet Union, but they will "get" the story of the children of Berlin just wanting a little bit of candy, and one American pilot doing his best to deliver that little bit of hope. This book is excellent for older children, especially as a way to give history a little perspective they could relate to: the children of post-war Berlin didn't have much, and something as simple as a candy bar or a stick of gum brought much happiness. And, it could be used as an introduction to the Cold War and the kind of tyranny we were fighting against. Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot would be a wonderful addition to your children's library.

Remembering Coolie

2008-07-22T00:00:00.003-05:00

May 15, 2005

One year ago, baseball lost someone special. Mike Coolbaugh was taken from his family, friends and fans all too soon. I know this first anniversary can't be easy for those who knew him, but I do know that he won't be forgotten. Let's remember the man and player that he was. I've not heard anyone speak ill of him in any way, only what a good guy he was, and how much he loved the game...

May 30, 2005

Previous posts:

In memoriam: Mike Coolbaugh 7/23/07
Mike Coolbaugh: The Tributes 8/11/07
Round Rock Express' Tribute to Mike Coolbaugh 8/26/07
Why the Rockies should win the World Series
10/4/07
The daughter Coolie and his wife wanted 2/8/08

Another mission complete for the Texas Fallen Soldiers Project

2008-07-21T21:51:00.000-05:00

Phil Taylor, founder of the Texas Fallen Soldiers Project, has completed another portrait, this time to honor 2LT Johnny K. Craver.

H/T: Gold Star Mother Nanette West

P.S. I Love You

2008-07-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

I don't recall hearing about this movie when it came out last December, but I had see it at the video store, but never brought it home to watch. Recently, Lyric Mezzo commented that she'd seen it, and that I'd really enjoy it. So, when I decided to run out for some movies to watch this weekend (I've got the house all to myself all weekend), that was one of the three movies I picked out, and the one I watched last night.

All I knew about the story was what was on the DVD jacket: "P.S. I Love You is your very own message full of fun, love, triumph and romance." What I didn't know is that shortly after we met Holly (Hillary Swank) and Gerry (Gerard Butler) at the beginning of the movie, we are at Gerry's wake. The rest of the movie revisits Holly & Gerry's life together, and Holly's journey to learning to live again after losing the husband she loved deeply. I can only hope that some day I will love and be loved that way...

This movie made me both laugh and cry. It's probably more of a "chic flick", I'll admit. Watching the "Special Features", I learned the movie was based on the book of the same title by a young Irish author by the name of Cecelia Ahern. I might have to see about reading the book.

Anyhow, I highly recommend this movie (rated PG-13: there's no actual sex scenes, though it is implied at times, and you see one bare arse, once), especially if you're in a bit of a sappy mood ;-)

Do's and don'ts for cats with a house to run

2008-07-17T23:42:00.001-05:00

I got this from somewhere years ago, and have no idea who the author is. You may or may not have seen it yourself. If you've ever had a cat, a lot of this is going to sound at least vaguely familiar ;-)

I. If you have to throw up, get into a chair quickly. If you can’t manage this in time, get to an Oriental rug. Lacking an Oriental, shag is good.

II. Every time you use the litter pan, get as much litter stuck to your paws and fur as possible. Distribute evenly throughout the house.

III. Doors
A. Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get one open, sit in front and cry pitifully. If this does not work, stand on hind legs and hammer with forepaws. Once the door is opened for you, it is not necessary to use it.
B. When you have ordered an outside door opened, stand half-in and half-out and think about several things. This is especially important during very cold weather, rain, snow, and mosquito season.
C. Swinging doors: avoid.

IV.Guests
A. Determine quickly which guest hates cats. Sit on that lap during the evening. You will know him/her because they will call you “nice kitty”. If you can arrange to have Puss ‘n’ Boots on your breathe, so much the better.
B. When sitting in laps or rubbing against trouser legs, select colors which contrast with your own. For example: for white furred cats, a good black wool is best.
C. For guests who gush “I just love kitties”, be ready with: 1) aloof disdain, 2) claws applied to stockings, or 3) a quick sharp nip to the ankle.
D. When walking among the dishes on the table, be prepared to look surprised and hurt when scolded. The idea to convey is “But you let me do it when there isn’t company.”
E. Always accompany guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything. Just sit and stare.

V. If one of THEM is sewing or working with paper and pens and the other is idle, stay with the busy one. Following are the main tips for HAMPERING:
A. When supervising cooking or other activities in the kitchen, start out on the counter. After you have been removed from the counters once or twice, sit just behind the left heel. This way, you cannot be seen and therefore stand a better chance of being stepped on, picked up and soothed or fed.
B. For book readers, get in close under the chin. Unless, of course, you can lay across the book itself.
C. For needleworkers, curl quietly in the lap and pretend to nap. Then reach out and slap needle(s) sharply. If you are offered a ball of yarn, ignore it. Repeat as needed.
D. People paying bills (monthly activity), or working on income taxes or Christmas cards (annual activities) offer unique hampering opportunities. First, sit on the paper being worked on. When dislodged, watch sadly from the side of the table. Wait until the person is lulled into a false sense of security, then roll around on the papers, scattering them to the best of your ability. Also chew on a few. After being removed a second time, push pens, pencils, erasers, etc. off the table one at a time.

VI. Dietary
A. Never eat from your own food bowl if you can steal from the table.
B. Never drink from your own water bowl if one of their glasses is full enough to drink from. Try to develop a “cute” habit such as drinking from a running faucet. Always refuse to drink unless the water is running just right. After this habit is firmly established, suddenly refuse to drink from anywhere but the toilet. This will keep them on their toes.
C. If you become bored with your diet, immediately after food is placed in your dish try to cover it with the newspaper under your bowl. Sometimes this can even result in your fresh bowl of water being tipped over.

MOST IMPORTANT: Be sure to get enough sleep in the daytime so you are fresh for playing Catch Mouse or King-of-the-Hill on their bed between 2 and 4 a.m.

Begin basic training early and you will have a smooth-running household. Humans need to know a few basic rules, and they learn easily if you start early.

Happy Birthday, Kile

2008-07-12T02:00:00.001-05:00

Today would have been Kile's 25th birthday. It's been just over a year now since Kile was lost. I was able to meet his mother, Nanette, last night at The Dell Diamond before the Express home opener against the Oklahoma Redhawks. She and some of Kile's friends were going to be doing a couple of things to celebrate today. At the time of Kile's funeral, his family requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made into one of two memorial funds they had set up. If you'd like to give Kile a birthday present, consider making a contribution to one (or both, if you have the means and the desire) of these funds.

The 1st Lt. Kile West Memorial Fund (Austin Area Benefits)
Regions Bank, P.O. Box 249,
Hutto, TX 78634, account #8457016247.

These funds will be utilized to provide scholarships for deserving Hutto High School students.

Kile Grant West Memorial Scholarship (Houston Area Benefits)
% San Jacinto College Foundation
4624 Fairmont Parkway, Suite 208
Pasadena TX 77504
(281) 998-6104

These funds will be utilized to provide scholarships for deserving students to attend San Jacinto College in the Houston Area.

2008 Patriotic Jersey Auction

2008-07-08T20:45:00.002-05:00

As I had mentioned in my Celebrating Independence Day post, the patriotic jerseys worn by the team during the July 3rd game against the Albuquerque Isotopes, which was also Military Appreciation Night, would be auctioned off to benefit the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The auction of last year's patriotic jerseys raised over $10,000 for the fund.

I like this year's jersey a lot better than the ones they had last year. If you would like to see a list of all the jerseys up for auction, go here. Individual (game-worn) jerseys listed below:

#54 team autographed jersey (I don't think this one was "game-worn" like the others, as Dave Borkowski got called up before this game)

#23 Ryan Houston, RHP
#24 Yordany Ramirez, CF
#56 Ray King, LHP
#22 J.R. House, C/1B
#41 Micah Bowie, RHP
#40, Jack Cassel, RHP
#38 Kyle Middleton, RHP
#21 Josh Miller, RHP
#19 Josh Muecke, LHP
#47, Fernando Nieve, RHP
#57, Nick Reglio, RHP
#8 Lou Santangelo, C
#7 Jonny Ash, IF
#2 Danny Klassen, IF
#33 Edwin Maysonet, SS
#13 Tomas Perez, 2B
#29 Jorge Sosa, RHP
#20 Nick Gorneault, LF
#26 Jackson Melian, LF
#25 Ray Sadler, RF
#48 Paul Estrada, RHP
#10 Tommy Manzella, SS
#39 Chad Reineke, RHP
#53 Chad Paronto, RHP
#45 Ron Chiavacci, RHP
#6 Mark Saccomanno, 3B/1B

#46 Burt Hooten, Pitching Coach
#15 Ron "Papa Jack" Jackson, Hitting Coach
#35 Dave Clark, Manager

All auctions end on July 15, some time between 11 and noon PDT, except for the #54 jersey, for which the auction ends July 10 at about 17:50 PDT (didn't need laundering??). So, if you've an interest and have the money, go ahead and put in a bid. Starting bid is $50, and I don't see that there is a reserve. The #54 team autographed jersey currently has a bid of $431.

Pacific Combat Living History Program

2008-07-06T00:29:00.002-05:00

When I was looking for ideas for Father's Day last month, one thing I came across that I thought my dad would like was the Pacific Combat Living History Program at The National Museum of the Pacific War, which is located in, of all places, Fredericksburg, Texas. If that seems strange to you, there is a reasonable explanation: Fredericksburg is the hometown of Admiral Chester Nimitz, who had played a key role in the Pacific campaign during World War II. Knowing how my dad loves history, particularly military history, my sisters and I decided to include the admission to the current living history program in his Father's Day gift.

The program is not presented all the time: by the time Father's Day arrived, the first two of five weekends of presentations had already passed. This weekend marks the third weekend of presentations. This was the weekend my parents chose to make the drive to Fredericksburg. My mom called me after the presentation was over so my dad could tell me about it. He really liked it - it was kind of like a kid wanting to talk about a really cool field trip he went on at school ;-)

Included in the presentation, which lasted about 90 minutes, was exhibition of the period uniforms and gear that both American and Japanese military personnel used and demonstration of period weapons. Mom told me they had been able to convert all but one of the weapons to fire blanks. The one they couldn't convert was the flamethrower. This one was only demonstrated during the "assault" on the "Japanese bunker" at the end of the program...

After attending this program today, my mom was asking me about her dad's service during World War II. Grandpa never talked about his time in the Navy, and she knows I've kind of made myself a bit of a family historian, and that I've got a photocopy of the diary my grandfather kept during his sea service in World War II. I'll have to finish going over that diary soon, matching my grandfather's notes to specific events in the Pacific campaign.

Although I'm from Texas and have been through Fredericksburg, I've never been to the National Museum of the Pacific War. I would like to visit the museum and see this living history program, so I'm going to do my best to make it to one of the two remaining weekends: September 13 & 14, and November 8 & 9. There are three presentations each day, on a first-come, first-served basis, at 10:30am, 1:00pm and 3:30pm. Admission to the living history program is $5 per person, and is separate from the normal museum admission (which is not required for this program). If you are in the area over either one of these weekends and are interested in this nation's history, I highly recommend - based on my parents' "reviews" - that you make an effort to go.

Celebrating Independence Day

2008-07-04T23:37:00.003-05:00

I started celebrating Independence Day yesterday, leaving work a little bit early in order to miss out on most of rush hour traffic and get up to Round Rock in time to pick up some dinner on the way and still get to the Dell Diamond by the time gates opened at 5:30. The Express had several things lined up for this year's Military Appreciation Night.

Fans were invited to bring items for care packages to the troops. Inside the Home Plate gate, there was a large banner laid out on a table for fans to sign with well-wishes to the troops.

There would be a group of new Army recruits taking their Oath of Enlistment prior to first pitch.

All Express employees who have served in the Armed Forces were asked to join the new recruits on the field to be recognized before the Presentation of the Colors by the Round Rock Army Recruiting Depot's color guard.

The team would be wearing special patriotic jersey that will later be autographed and auctioned off on eBay to raise funds for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. Once the jerseys are up for auction, I'll link to that separately. Last year's patriotic jersey auction raised more than $11,000. It would be nice to see that figure surpassed this year... I like these jerseys better...

During the game, which was being broadcast on FSN, one of the new recruits got his hair cut for the camera...

The celebratory mood was helped along by a 6-3 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes to sweep the series. And, of course, there would be fireworks after the game. The display lasted for more than 15 minutes. I recorded most of it (sorry for the poor audio quality and the mostly out-of-focus fireworks), but for time's sake, I've only shared the finale. Enjoy!

Cassandra's Love Letter to America

2008-07-04T21:30:00.000-05:00

If you don't check in on Cassandra over at Villainous Company regularly, you're really missing out. Today, she lets us know why she is patriotic in her Love Letter to America. Excerpting it cannot do it justice. Do yourself a favor and read the entire essay.

Let's hear it for America

2008-06-28T12:56:00.000-05:00

From The Australian:

THERE is a certain familiarity to the concomitant series of actions and reactions when disaster strikes in the world. The US stands ready, willing and able to offer assistance. It is often the first country to send in millions of dollars, navy strike groups loaded with food and medical supplies, and transport planes, helicopters and floating hospitals to help those devastated by natural disaster.

Then, just as swift and with equal predictability, those wedded to the Great Satan view of the US begin to carp, drawing on a potent mixture of cynicism and conspiracy theories to criticise the last remaining superpower. When the US keeps doing so much of the heavy lifting to alleviate suffering, you'd figure that the anti-Americans might eventually revise their view of the US. But they never do. And coming under constant attack even when helping others, you'd figure that Americans would eventually draw the curtains on world crises. But they haven't. At least not yet.

...

There is a teenaged immaturity about the rest of the world's relationship with the US. Whenever a serious crisis erupts somewhere, our dependence on the US becomes obvious, and many hate the US because of it. That the hatred is irrational is beside the point.

We can denounce the Yanks for being Muslim-hating flouters of international law while demanding the US rescue Bosnian Muslims from Serbia without UN authority. We can be disgusted by crass American materialism and ridiculous stockpiling of worldly goods yet also be the first to demand material help from the US when disaster strikes.

The really unfortunate part about this adolescent love-hate relationship with the US is that, unlike most teenagers, many never seem to grow out of it. Within each new generation is a vicious strain of irrational anti-Americanism. But unlike a parent, the US could just get sick of it all and walk away.

The US has had isolationist periods in the past and it must be enormously tempted sometimes to have another one soon. The consequences of that possibility deserve some serious thought. If the neighbours worry about Russian bullying over oil and gas, just imagine a Russia unfettered by a US military presence in Europe. How long would South Korea, Israel or Taiwan last if the US decided it wanted to spend on itself the money it presently devotes to military spending in the Middle East and Asia?

None of this is to say the US does not deserve loud and frequent criticism. No country has as many or as strident critics - internally and externally - as the US. The US actually promotes such debate. But just occasionally we should moderate that criticism when circumstances demand a dose of fairness.

Indeed, why not break into a standing ovation every now and again? As more US C-130s and helicopters stand waiting on Burma's doorstep, desperate to help a shattered populace and stymied only by an appalling anti-US regime, this is one of those times.

Let's hear it for America.

H/T: TigerHawk

Paying a soldier a visit

2008-06-24T22:45:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had reason to be up in Killeen. I had a little bit of time before I had to head back towards home. I hadn't taken the time the other times I'd been in Killeen since last June to stop by, but I really wanted to pay Kile a visit. It was a quick stop, and I didn't bring anything for him.

I found myself up in Killeen again last week. This time, before I went to visit, I wanted to pick up some flowers. I decided on carnations, because I know they tend to last better than roses and such. When I saw the purple ones, thought they were perfect, all things considered.

I'll be up there again later this week, and hope to stop by again, with flowers again, if I can take the time to pick some up.

Morally depraved

2008-06-19T19:52:00.000-05:00

There are just no words to describe the depth of my disgust with this man who may be President:

This brings us to Amanda Carpenter's excellent story about Barack Obama and the Born Alive Infants' Protection Act ("BAIPA"). For those who may not know, abortion is not always a "successful" procedure, insofar as "success" is defined as the killing of an unborn child. Most early term abortions involve the dismemberment of the child in utero and subsequent removal of the "pieces" of the uterus via suction. As you might imagine, this method does not leave many unborn children alive. However, most late-term abortions involve some combination of poisoning the unborn child and inducing the mother to deliver early. However, some of the unborn children in question are not as ready to die as their mothers are ready to... ah... "eliminate" them, and they are born alive. The Born Alive Infants' Protect Act requires, very simply, that if doctors are unsuccessful in killing the children through abortion, they may not kill them by refusing medical treatment, thus ensuring that they will die cold and alone on, say, an operating table. Or perhaps a toilet.

With this information given, Barack Obama's vote against [updated for accuracy - the IL version of] BAIPA really needs no further explanation. By way of contrast, BAIPA passed in the United States Senate unanimously, without even a dissent from Hillary Clinton or Ted Kennedy. The House passed the vote by a shocking 380-15 vote. NARAL was fine with BAIPA. I disagree strongly with this notion that we can draw an arbitrary line between small humans in utero and small humans ex utero wherein the former class may be legally killed but the latter may not. However, the latter proposition is not opposed by even the most committed merchant of death, with the exception of the proudly morally depraved like Peter Singer. And it is in this company that we find the alleged moderate and decent person Barack Obama.

...

The question I have for conservatives and moderates - and, what the heck? liberals - is this: what sort of man thinks it should be legal to allow living infants to drown in a toilet immediately after birth? The answer is very simple: a morally depraved one. And the next question that I have is this: do you want such a man making the most important decisions that will face this country over the next four years?

There are many things I don't like about Obama. But this just shows me how morally bankrupt he is, where before I just thought he was incredibly naive and misguided.

H/T: Jeff Emanuel via Jeff Emanuel

Baseball fun: Round Rock to Help Fans Refuel

2008-06-18T20:56:00.003-05:00

Logging on to see how the Express were doing tonight (they were up 2-0 in the 4th) since I didn't go to the game, I saw the headline "Round Rock to Help Fans Refuel". I had a feeling it had something to do with the astronomical rise in gas prices...

As gas prices soar to unprecedented highs at the pump, Round Rock is offering to help fans cool off their pocketbooks by covering the cost of a gallon of gas.

Round Rock will offer ticket discounts on July 1 and July 2 equivalent to the Central Texas average for the price of a gallon of regular gas. For fans, that means a $4 reduction in ALL ticket prices.

General Admission tickets will be sliced to just $2 and box seats to just $8 for those dates. That means a family of four can snag four general admission tickets for just $8.

So, if you're in the area (like Fort Hood...), this is a great opportunity to take the family out for a fun evening of baseball. As a regular out at the Dell Diamond, if you go for the general admission tickets, I highly recommend you bring a blanket to sit on - you'll be on the grass berm, with your choice of above right field and by the visiting bullpen or above left field and the Express bullpen. Right field will be in the sun until the sun goes down. Left field gets some shade early from the Home Run Porch. If you opt of box seats, I prefer sitting behind the screen, which runs from section 117 (3rd base line) to section 121 (1st base line). I would rather not have to dodge foul balls or flying bats, which has been known to happen... Also, as I'd mentioned in another post, the seating down the 3rd base line gets the shade first.

Now, to get this deal/the fine print:

To redeem this offer, fans must print this page and bring it to The Dell Diamond ticket office on or before the July 1 and July 2 games. This offer cannot be combined with any other Express discount.

As a side note, the Express' Independence Day fireworks display will be on July 3rd, since they are on the road on the 4th. It's always been a very night display, and you don't have to hassle with traffic and what-not like you'd get going down to see other displays in the area. I expect to be there.

2-1, top of the 7th...

So You Want to Be President?

2008-06-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

It seems somehow appropriate that I found So You Want to Be President? The Revised and Updated Edition, written by Judith St. George and illustrated by David Small, during a presidential election year. I'd seen it a few weeks ago and read it in the store, but I finally picked it up today. As you might notice from the cover image, it is a Caldecott Medal winner (in 2000; the Caldecott is awarded "to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.")

This revised and updated edition was released in 2004, and I realize it will be a little outdated come November, but it is still something to help young children think a little bit about the office and those who have held it.

There are pros and cons to being president, and some that might be of interest to kids are listed in the beginning: you get to live in the White House, you have your own swimming pool, bowling alley and movie theater; you have to be dressed up all the time, can't go anyplace by yourself and always have "lots of homework".

Much interesting trivia about our presidents is given: 6 James', 4 Johns and 4 Williams, 3 Georges and 2 Franklins; 8 presidents born in log cabins; the tallest, shortest, and biggest; the oldest and youngest; they have all had siblings; several are related to other presidents; all kinds of animals have lived in the White House; some were musicians and some were good dancers; most were honest and some were not.

But, I think the most important part of the book is in the last four pages:

It's said that people who run for President have swelled heads. It's said that people who run for President are greedy. They want power. They want fame.

But being President can be wanting to serve your country - like George Washington, who left the Virginia plantation he loved three times to lead the country he loved even more.

It can be looking towards the future like Thomas Jefferson, who bought the Louisiana Territory and then sent Lewis and Clark west to find a route to the Pacific. (They did!)

It can be wanting to turn lives around like Franklin Roosevelt, who provided soup and bread for the hungry, jobs for the jobless, and funds for the elderly to live on.

It can be wanting to make the world a better place like John Kennedy, who sent Peace Corps volunteers around the globe to teach and help others.

Every single President has taken this oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Only thirty-five words! But it's a big order when you're President of this country. Abraham Lincoln was tops at filling that order. "I know very well that many others might in this matter as in others, do better than I can," he said. "But...I am here. I must do the best I can, and bear the responsibility of taking the course which I feel I ought to take."

That's the bottom line. Tall, short, fat, thin, talkative, quiet, vain, humble, lawyer, teacher, or soldier - this is what most of our Presidents have tried to do, each in his own way. Some succeeded. Some failed. If you want to be President - a good President - pattern yourself after the best. Our best have asked more of themselves than they thought they could give. They have had the courage, spirit, and will to do what they knew was right. Most of all, their first priority has always been the people and the country they served.

At the back of the book, there is a listing of all the people shown in the illustrations: Presidents, mostly, and some significant people in their lives. Also, each of our Presidents is listed, along with the years of service and very basic biographical information, as well as noting that while there have been 43 presidencies so far, only 42 men have actually served.

I highly recommend sharing this book with your children or your students. It would probably be best for children 8 to 11 year old. It's a wonderful addition to any children's book library.

Flag Day

2008-06-13T14:12:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is Flag Day. Last year, when Flag Day was coming up, I posted about What Freedom Means to Me: A Flag Day Story. If you have young children, consider giving it to them. I bought another children's book today, and I'll be posting about it as soon as I can.

Now, for tomorrow, Haole Wahine, emails about the Peace of Mind 5K taking place here in Austin tomorrow morning:

It's flag day, and the republic of TEXAS bikers are in town, so
they want people there waving flags. It oughta be good. They are having a big kick off for the runners, not just runners included. There will be a lot of bikers, and they are wanting a big turn-out for a great picture.

From the RunTex website:

Thousands of men and women have “borne the battle” of serving our country in the Global War on Terrorism and now struggle with the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). In an effort to increase public awareness and support for returning soldiers and their families and other loved-ones, a group of concerned Texans invite you to “pledge your allegiance” to helping the healing of those who have made significant sacrifices for our nation by sponsoring the first running event in the country aimed at specifically benefitting those who sustained combat-related TBI so that they and their families may have a better chance to resume a fulfilling life.

This Flag Day, show your support of these heroes by running in the Peace of Mind 5K.

Proceeds raised from this event will be distributed to education funds within Department Defense/VA Brain Injury Centers (DVBIC), Helping a Hero Organization, Brain Injury Association of Texas, and Easter Seals Central Texas. The common denominator is that all funds will go for a serviceperson or veteran who needs help as a result of their combat-related TBI.

It is set to start at 8am (wheelchair start, with the 5K start at 8:05) at 15th and Congress which is just north of the State Capitol. From when I went down to the National Heroes Tour stop at the Capitol back in March, I do know there is a parking garage just to the east of the Capitol, between 12th and 13th at Trinity (one-way northbound)/San Jacinto (one-way southbound).

I have a commitment to babysit tomorrow, but I'm not sure what time yet. I hope I can be one of many wavers of the American Flag down there tomorrow! Join in if you can!

If you would like to help out financially, there's a site set up for that, too. They have a goal of $50,000, and as of now, they're at 60% of that goal.

Update: JROTC needs help [Bumped]

2008-06-08T23:59:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's about 3am. Don't ask ;-)

I was just checking in with all my blog reading before hitting the hay since I've not been home since about 8am Saturday morning until maybe 45 minutes ago. Good thing Saturdays are generally light on posting... Good news from CJ about the fundraiser I had posted about previously: As of May 31, $3307 has been raised towards sending to JROTC cadets to Drill & Ceremony camp. This is $193 shy of the original goal of $3500. Help put it over the top!

Update, 1:40pm: CJ informs me that the Air Force [6/2 - cross-stitch] isn't getting any love. Any Zoomie want to help correct that?

Update 6/8/08: YEAH! Our goal was reached, AND exceeded! Thank you to everyone who helped!

Update: Rick White's Trike for the Troops

2008-06-07T17:55:00.000-05:00

Since I first posted about Rick White's troop support effort back in February, he's raised over $9000 more to benefit Soldier's Angels' Project Valour-IT. Since the original goal for this year's Trike for the Troops was $8000 to buy voice-activated laptops for 10 of our injured troops. Since he's now surpassed that goal ($9750 as of today), the goal of this year has been increased to $12000 to help 15 of our wounded. Since I last visited his site, he's added a video about this year's Bike to Work Day, which is coming up on June 25th, and this year's Trike for the Troops beneficiary. It's not too late to help out: to make a donation, just fill out the form at the bottom of the Trikes for Troops page.

Late for the prom...

2008-06-07T01:44:00.000-05:00

First heard this story this morning before work, just found this report:

Fashionably Late: 84-Year-Old World War II Veteran Finally Makes it to High School Prom

Smith was drafted into military service 1943, before he could finish high school. He returned home after World War II but never got his high school diploma.
...
Smith said this prom wasn't just for him. He said it was also for all the other soldiers who couldn't make it to their own.

According to the radio report this morning, his wife was his date ;-)

"...the larger truth..."

2008-06-02T23:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday before I left for the ballgame, I was in the kitchen and picked up the sports section my dad had left on the table - I wanted to skim through the article about the Texas baseball team. When I did so, a large (9x7) negative of the infamous image of the hooded Abu Ghraib prisoner jumped out on the front of the "Insight" section of the Sunday Austin American-Statesman.

In a piece titled "Seen, Unseen", Statesman staff writer Jody Seaborn writes about a new film by Errol Morris, Standard Operating Procedure. Morris is a documentary filmmaker who also blogs about photography for the New York Times. This movie, which apparently opens here in Austin (and elsewhere?) on Friday, "seeks to determine whether the abuses of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib were merely the work of a few 'bad apples', as the military and the Bush administration publicly maintained, or the result of policies sanctioned and encouraged by civilian and military leaders."

I would hardly call the article "objective journalism," even for an editorial piece (not when the sub-head reads "For filmmaker Errol Morris, the Abu Ghraib photos concealed as much as they revealed, and helped cover up the larger truth."):

For two years, Morris interviewed soldiers, interrogators and investigators, and examined letters, depositions, memos, and military and government reports to find the larger truth behind the infamous photos of abuse at Abu Ghraib. As he writes in his director's statement for the film, "The story of Abu Ghraib is still shrouded in moral ambiguity, but it is clear what happened there."

And what happened, Morris says, is that the seven military police soldiers convicted of abuses at Abu Ghraib — Staff Sgt. Ivan Frederick, Sgt. Javal Davis, Cpl. Charles Graner, Spc. Sabrina Harman, Spc. Megan Ambuhl, Spc. Jeremy Sivits and Pfc. Lynndie England — were doing what they thought their superiors wanted done.

...

In investigating Abu Ghraib, Morris collected more material than one movie can possibly hold. An excellent companion book, also titled "Standard Operating Procedure" and written by New Yorker staff writer Philip Gourevitch, uses the information that Morris gathered to further explore the story of Abu Ghraib. "There was no excuse" for Abu Ghraib, Gourevitch writes, "and there was nothing to show for it either, no great score of useful intelligence, no ends to justify the means. Nobody has ever even bothered to pretend otherwise. The horror ... was entirely gratuitous."

I won't excuse what those soldiers did. But one thing is sure - as Michael Yon explains in Moment of Truth in Iraq - we lost the moral high-ground because of Abu Ghraib, and that likely cost us the lives of countless American service men and women.

I have a problem with is Morris' conclusion, which it seems Seaborn accepts without question (Seaborn helpfully includes an "About Abu Ghraib" "fact list", as well as "additional information" pointing the reader to an article from Morris and Gourevitch in a March issue of The New Yorker, Morris' recent essay (on his NYT blog) about the photo of SPC Harman grinning over the body of a prisoner who it was later determined had been killed during CIA interrogation, Salon.com's "archive of 279 photographs and 19 videos from Abu Ghraib" and another documentary, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, that how these soldiers behaved is what was expected of American soldiers in Iraq:

The story of Abu Ghraib feels incomplete. We have a few so-called bad apples who were punished, but the officials responsible for the box where these apples rotted remain unpunished. It's an unsatisfying ending.

I don't know what the ending is yet. The ending is yet to be written by America and by Americans.

I've been asked, I don't know how many times, what about the smoking gun? Have you found the smoking gun?

What's the smoking gun supposed to be?

Well, I used to joke about it. I would say, what do you think you're going to find? Are you going to find the video conference call where Donald Rumsfeld tells Chuck Graner: "You ever think of piling them in a pyramid?" I don't think that exists!

But I think there are hundreds of smoking guns that we've seen. They're all around us. They're everywhere. How many torture memos does an administration have to promulgate before you get the idea that they're promulgating torture? How much stuff do you need to see?

Every time that we somehow just leave things be and accept the fact that lowly soldiers take the fall and the big shots run away and never are confronted by what they've done, I think we all lose, ultimately. It affects us all. And not for the good.

I just cannot accept that premise. I've known too many people in the military who would NEVER accept that as SOP. It just bothers me that others want to keep Abu Ghraib front and center, implying all our soldiers and Marines would do something like this without questioning the legality of these "orders". No mention is made in the article in regard to the fact that the military was already investigating what happened at Abu Ghraib prior to it becoming a headlining story for newspapers and TV news programs. Just as "Morris explores in Zoom [ed. - his NYT blog] - that it is necessary to understand what a photograph doesn't show us to understand what it does", there is more to the Abu Ghraib story that is shared in his "documentary".

A gift for a Gold Star Mother

2008-05-28T00:00:00.001-05:00

One year ago, on May 28, 2007, Memorial Day, Nanette West lost something precious. Her son was killed in Iraq.

On March 17, 2008, she was given a wonderful gift, to try to give her back a part of what she lost. She was presented with a portrait of her son, 1LT Kile G. West, painted by Phil Taylor [reproduced with permission], who has decided to use his talent as an artist to help ease the pain families of the fallen experience. Thank you, Nanette, for sharing this story with me.

So far, Phil Taylor has painted eighteen portraits. He does not charge the families for the portraits. It costs about $800 per portrait (I assume for supplies and framing, which I know isn't cheap [being a past purchaser of custom framing]). The Texas Fallen Soldiers Project is a non-profit organization. If you wish to help support this project, you can donate here via PayPal or you can mail a donation to:

The Texas Fallen Soldiers Project
2405 FM 423
Suite 300
PMB 912
Little Elm, Texas 75068

Sources:

KEYE 42: A priceless gift given to mother of soldier who died in Iraq (with video report) - 3/17/08

Austin American-Statesman photo essay - 3/17/08

Austin American-Statesman: Texas artist paints fallen soldiers' portraits for families - 3/18/08

Kile West honored by high school alma mater

2008-05-27T23:51:00.001-05:00

I wasn't home much this weekend, and at any rate, I don't watch a lot of local news, so I missed this story yesterday, and just happened upon it because the local station linked to my post on Kile's funeral from last June.

Yesterday, Memorial Day, Hutto ISD honored the Hutto High alumnus in a ceremony dedicating the new Kile G. West Memorial Field House. Kile was killed in Iraq on Memorial Day one year ago. I think this was a very appropriate choice, since Kile played high school football and baseball for Hutto High School.

KXAN video report on dedication (5/26/08)

Tribute to Kile West - Part 1

Tribute to Kile West - Part 2

Patriot Guard Kile West Mission video

Another video tribute to Kile

And another video tribute

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-26T21:07:00.004-05:00

Last night at the ballgame, I saw what I guess was a couple of JROTC cadets - one Navy and one Marine (I had no idea we had anything other than Army or Air Force JROTC programs around here...). Turns out they were passing out red poppies, along with members of the VFW. I later overheard a father talking to son, who was there to participate in the pre-game little league parade. The father was trying to attach the poppy to his son's ball cap and telling him that it was important to honor our veterans. I mentioned that there is a poem that explains the meaning of the red poppy, In Flanders Fields, and the symbol dates to World War I. I can only hope that father takes the time to look up the poem and share it with his son.

Today, as part of the pre-game ceremonies, the Austin Army recruiting depot's color guard presented the colors for the singing of the National Anthem. Also, day of game staff (mostly ushers) who are veterans were asked to come down onto the field to be recognized. There was a moment of silence to honor the fallen, followed by the National Anthem. After the colors were retired and the veterans left the field to go back to their assigned stations, many fans applauded them. I thought that was great, since a lot of these vets are Vietnam era veterans.

The flags, both outside the ballpark, and those inside the ballpark, above center field, were at half staff. Apparently, one of the veteran ushers reminded someone it needed to be done, and it was taken care of quickly before today's early game.

If you haven't already, please take a moment today to remember why we have Memorial Day. This shouldn't be just another 3-day weekend. (H/T to commentor bthun for the Memorial Day observation link)

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

2008-05-20T22:32:00.001-05:00

I stumbled upon an excellent book while in Barnes and Noble after work on Monday, checking to see if the store had a copy of Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot. Instead, I found The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain written and illustrated by Peter Sis. Essentially, it is the memoir of a man who was born in Czechoslovakia at the beginning of the Cold War and grew up under the thumb of the Soviet Union.

The book begins with an introduction from the author, which is a condensed history lesson of the rise and fall of the Soviet Union:

The Soviet Union and the Western nations managed their territories in very different ways. The Western Bloc countries were all independent democracies, while the Eastern Bloc was tightly controlled by the Soviet Union. But not everyone in the Eastern Bloc countries wanted to live under totalitarian dictatorships, and many people began leaving for the West. To prevent a mass exodus, the Soviet Union fortified the borders around much of Eastern Europe and eventually built a wall that cut the city of Berlin in half. And so Europe was divided - symbolically, ideologically, and physically - by what Winston Churchill, the British statesman, called an Iron Curtain.
...
I was born at the beginning of it all, on the Red side - the Communist side - of the Iron Curtain.

I wouldn't pick Sis's style of art for decorating, but his simple line drawings work beautifully in telling his story. Most of the illustrations are black on white, with red accent - flags and stars, mostly; the color you do see comes from the depictions of the work of the young Peter - he's drawn as long as he can remember... He tells his story through the pictures, like a storyboard or a comic book. Words are used sparingly with the illustrations, but he is able to make his point:

1948. The Soviets take control of Czechoslovakia and close the borders.
The People's Militia enforces the new order.
Communist symbols and monuments appear everywhere.
The Czech government takes its order from Moscow.
The display of red flags on state holidays - COMPULSORY. People who don't comply are punished.

You see the word "COMPULSORY" many times, along with the list of things that are mandated by the state that the people MUST do. I think it will be very eye-opening for an American child who has only known freedom.

Telephones are bugged.
Display of Western flags - PROHIBITED.
Only the official art, Socialist Realism, is permitted.
Certain books and films are banned. Art and culture are censored.
Western radio is banned (and jammed).
Letters are opened and censored.
Informers are rewarded for snooping.
There are shortages of almost everything. People stand in long lines.

"This was the time of brainwashing." That is the caption of an illustration which includes Lenin, the Kremlin, Stalin, Khrushchev and Brezhnev.

Sis also includes excerpts from his journals, from 1954 through 1977. Family members are declared enemies of the state. Children are encouraged to inform on their parents. He's in a rock band with friends. He wants to have long hair, but that brings the suspicion of the government and his father makes him cut it. Someone he knows is beaten to death by police. His professor is relieved of his teaching position - he is considered progressive. He also tells of a hijacking on June 8, 1972 in which the young hijackers shoot the pilot. He tells of censors looking for hidden messages in his artwork - is the wind sock blowing in the proper direction (from the east)?

You see color when he tells of things from the West that somehow find their way behind the Iron Curtain: a yellow submarine and a walrus, rock musicians and records and films... That all ends on August 21, 1968 when the Soviets invade, along with their client states of Bulgaria, East Germany, Hungary and Poland. "The Czech progressive government is sent to Moscow for 'reeducation'."

"He was painting dreams... and then nightmares. The dreams could be kept to himself, but the drawings could be used against him. He stopped drawing and was left with only his dreams."

He draws the fortified border, people trying to escape, and sometimes the soldiers are trying to stop them. My favorite illustration follows those images - a young man on a bicycle with his drawings, then the next page shows the young man, still on his bike, flying through the air with his drawings as wings, escaping from the pursuing police, and finally leaving a dark land labeled with "stupidity", "suspicion", "terror", "fear", "envy", "injustice", "corruption" and"lies" into bright one labeled with "truth", "justice", "hope", "inspiration", "integrity", "freedom", "joy", "liberty", "dreams", "wisdom", "dignity", "respect", "love", "morality", "happiness", "benevolence", "virtue", "spirit", "equality", "honor", "knowledge", "pride", "trust" and "art".

In the Afterword, he concludes "Now when my American family goes to visit my Czech famliy in the colorful city of Prague, it is hard to convince them it was ever a dark place full of fear, suspicion, and lies. I find it difficult to explain my childhood; it's hard to put it into words, and since I have always drawn everything, I have tried to draw my life - before America - for them. Any resemblance to the story in this book is intentional."

I cannot more highly recommend this book. Although this book is recommended for children from 8 to 12 years old, you could use this book for older children, too, especially in a teaching setting - I even asked my dad if he taught The Cold War in his World History class at a local high school. It is the first book that I am aware of that broaches the subject of the evils of Communism that is designed for a young audience, and for that alone, it is an important work.