It is pretty annoying to see people on Facebook and other social media sites talk about their lives and yet when something major happens to you (good or bad) and those same people don't "have the time" to write something to you. The old saying that you find out who is truly your friend when you need something is true. When my friends (I only "friend" those I have personally met - unlike those that simply "collect" hundreds of strangers) have birthdays, new children, marriages, deaths, promotions, etc I try to comment on their status. You would think they would do the same (especially when someone passes) but unfortunately that hasn't been the case. A handful have written and that has been nice - it tends to be the people I am close with so that helps even more - but the majority remain silent or make a comment not realizing what happened and then are "cornered" into saying something polite when they learn. I don't want fake sympathy. I guess I need to focus on those that have always been there and try and forget the others. I am still new to this - it has only been 9 days (4 since I no longer had to make sure everything was done correctly) and so I guess I just have to live and learn. I know I'm not the first person this has happened to and I won't be the last.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
10 Years: Memorial
From the Stars and Stripes:
"Ceremony marks 10th anniversary of WWII Memorial's dedication"
http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/ceremony-marks-10th-anniversary-of-wwii-memorial-s-dedication-1.285273
"Ceremony marks 10th anniversary of WWII Memorial's dedication"
As veterans, VIPs and tourists gathered Saturday to mark the 10th anniversary of the dedication of the National World War II Memorial, many of them might not have been aware of the long struggle that went into creating what has become one of the most-visited sites in the nation's capital. "There was a group called Save the Mall who didn't want us to build the memorial on this spot," former Sen. Bob Dole recalled during the ceremony. "Our defense was that we'd already saved the mall. We saved everything else in America, because of young men who were willing to lay down their lives."
"When we designed it and built it, there was a lot of opposition," said the memorial's designer, Austrian-born Friedrich St. Florian. "It was quite a struggle to actually get it built. But in my heart, I never doubted that eventually the memorial itself would prevail and redeem itself. It now has taken its rightful place among the great memorials." Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who introduced the bill to create the memorial to the more than 400,000 Americans who perished in World War II, said that it's "hard to imagine the difficult journey from introduction of that simple bill in 1987 to the dedication of the memorial on May 25, 2004. Seventeen years later." But the focus of the event was on the veterans of the "Greatest Generation." Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, the keynote speaker, is a Vietnam veteran whose father, Charles Dean Hagel, served in World War II. "Anyone who grew up in a household with a World War II veteran knows the values, the standards, the expectations that were imbued in each of us," he said. "As we age, and hopefully become wiser, we recognize more and more every day the depth and the width of what our World War II veterans did. Not just during the conflict, but when they came home." Hagel added that like all memorials, this one "was built to honor the sacrifices of those who have gone before us, but also to instruct future generations that war is not an abstraction. War is real, with real consequences. This memorial was built to remind us that the peace, prosperity and freedom we all enjoy today was delivered by those who fought in the deserts of North Africa, on the beaches of Normandy, on the high seas and in the air, and everywhere in the Pacific. And it has been preserved by the men and women who stepped forward to wear the uniform of this nation in the decades that followed. "This nation may never again be shaped and led by an entire generation that fought and bled so completely for their country," Hagel said. "But the legacy of our fathers, our grandfathers and great grandfathers will forever endure. This legacy remains alive today in the millions of men and women who have stepped forward to serve our nation over the past 13 years of war. They, too, are a great generation, and their humility, patriotism and selflessness continues to inspire us all." Kaptur remembered the veteran who cornered the young congresswoman at an Ohio fish fry and demanded to know why there was no monument honoring World War II veterans in Washington. "It was the vision and the dream of a remarkable and humble man in northwest Ohio" named Roger Durbin, a mail carrier and Battle of the Bulge veteran who "wanted to encompass the full story of liberty's path in the 20th century." Designer St. Florian, who considers the memorial "the crowning achievement of my career," echoed Hagel's comments about the impact on the descendants of the veterans. "Memorials, really, as much as they are important for the veterans, they are built for future generations," he said. "They must remember the struggle of World War II, and they have to make the same commitment to defend freedom and democracy."
But for now, the greatest impact is still on the Greatest Generation. "Elizabeth and I enjoy coming down on Saturdays and greeting veterans from all across the country," Dole said. "These are people 89, 90, 91, 105. They make me feel good when they're 105. "It's interesting to watch these older men and some women when they come into the memorial. It's a very emotional experience, and there are a lot of tears shed by these rugged older guys. They're so thankful that the memorial is here, and that they have a chance to visit it through the Honor Flight program."
^ I like the World War 2 Memorial (I took the above picture a couple of years ago.) It amazes me that it took so long to build considering how World War 2 affected every American family and changed the country's role afterwards. ^
http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/ceremony-marks-10th-anniversary-of-wwii-memorial-s-dedication-1.285273
Stalingrad (2013)
From MT:
"Stalingrad Falls Flat in U.S"
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts_n_ideas/article/stalingrad-falls-flat-in-us/500817.html
"Stalingrad Falls Flat in U.S"
Despite high expectations, the Russian war epic "Stalingrad" barely grossed more than $1 million at its limited premiere screenings in the U.S. Following its record-breaking takings in Russia and China, "Stalingrad" arrived in the States under the Sony Entertainment banner. The first 3D Russian production initially showed at 308 IMAX screens. In key markets, such as Los Angeles, where it opened at the historic Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, early attendance figures were encouraging, a Sony marketing executive told The St. Petersburg Times. However, the one-week limited showing, coupled with the steep ticket price of $19.50, appear to be key factors limiting box office takings. Shot at a cost of $30 million with St. Petersburg providing the locale for key battle sequences, "Stalingrad" reportedly recouped more than its budget in Russia and China. Aside from its low box office takings, the Fyodor Bondarchuk-directed film set a precedent for foreign films to be mass-released in the U.S. "Stalingrad" caught the attention of film buffs as Ilya Tilkin's screenplay interwove a love story with Russian epic battle sequences in the Allied victory during World War II. Major battle scenes were shot at the former Krasny Triugolnik factory in St. Petersburg where huge sets were constructed for the film. According to a marketing spokesman at Sony, the company will also release the film on Blu-Ray with a retail price of $23, as told to The St. Petersburg Times. Currently, U.S. box office takings for "Stalingrad" stands at $1,013,945.
^ I watched this movie a few days ago and agree with this article. The movie (called "Сталинград" in Russian) sounded like a, epic war movie, but the storylines were bad and the "special effects" were annoying. Everytime someone got shot it went into slow-motion and looked very fake. The director tried too hard to make a blockbuster and it shows. I watched the movie twice. Once in Russian and one dubbed in English and both times I came to the same conclusion - this movie is not good. I have seen numerous Soviet and Russian war movies and so far the best one is from the 1950s: "Ballad of a Soldier." "Stalingrad" doesn't even come close to the quality of that movie. ^
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts_n_ideas/article/stalingrad-falls-flat-in-us/500817.html
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Memorial Picture
^ This picture describes how modern-day America celebrates Memorial Day. Memorial Day is supposed to be a remembrance of the men and women who fought and died serving their country and yet it has become the unofficial start of summer with most people concerned with their BBQs rather than their freedoms. ^
Miserable World
From USA Today:
"The world's most miserable countries"
World news does not always fully capture people's level of happiness. Last year, Gallup found a majority of people in the world experienced positive emotions. Of course, in some countries and regions people were much more positive than others. People living in the countries experiencing the most positive emotions were the most likely to report high levels of enjoyment, smiling and a good night's sleep. The people in the most miserable countries, on the other hand, were the least likely to experience these emotions. These are the world's most content and miserable countries. To identify the countries with the most and least positive experiences, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Gallup's recent Positive Experience Index, which measured the experience of well-being the day before the survey in 138 countries. Survey respondents were asked whether they experienced lots of enjoyment, laughed or smiled a lot, felt well-rested, and were treated with respect. We also reviewed economic data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Life expectancy figures came from the World Bank.
These are the countries reporting the lowest positive emotions.
10. Nagorno-Karabakh
> Positive experience index score: 55 (tied – 8th lowest)
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 55% (tied – 16th lowest)
> GDP per capita: N/A
> Life expectancy: N/A
An ongoing war between Azerbaijan and those living in Nagorno-Karabakh, who are backed by Armenia, may be one of the main reasons it has such a low positive experience index score. An estimated 30,000 people died in the conflict and millions of people were displaced before the two nations agreed to a truce in 1994. Still, skirmishes between the two nations continue. The residents of Nagorno-Karabakh were among the least likely people surveyed to say they smiled or laughed a lot, or experienced enjoyment, or learned something new within the last day. Currently, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), along with the governments of France and the U.S., are trying to negotiate a permanent peace treaty between the sides involved.
9. Azerbaijan
> Positive experience index score: 55 (tied, 8th lowest)
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 57% (23rd lowest)
> GDP per capita: $10,789 (67th highest)
> Life expectancy: 70 (tied, 53rd lowest)
One might expect oil-rich nations to have high GDPs. Azerbaijan, however, is one example where this is not the case. Despite being an oil-rich country, Azerbaijan's estimated GDP per capita was $10,789 last year. The country's government has been criticized for rigging elections and widespread corruption. In addition, a war for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly Armenian region, broke out years ago with Armenia backing the region's people. The conflict claimed tens of thousands of lives as millions were displaced. High percentages of residents stated they did not feel treated with respect or learn something new within the last day.
8. Yemen
> Positive experience index score: 55 (tied, 8th lowest)
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 55% (tied, 16th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $2,348 (27th lowest)
> Life expectancy: 62 (29th lowest)
Yemen suffers from political instability, threats of terrorist attacks, and a declining economy. Its citizens ranked close to last in nearly every measure of and happiness in Gallup's survey. Only half of Yemenis said they felt well-rested, and only 55% said they smiled or laughed within the past day. Both figures were among the lowest of all countries surveyed. In the wake of violent mass protests, long-time President Ali Abdullah Saleh finally gave up power at the beginning of 2012. However, al-Qaeda has gained a strong footing in the country, and terrorist activities in the country continue. For the past several years, Yemen's economy has struggled as oil revenues have shrunk. Inflation rate in Yemen was among the highest every year since 2010. Per capita GDP, too, is very low, at an estimated $2,348 last year, which ranked lower than most countries.
7. Belarus
> Positive experience index score: 54 (tied – 4th lowest)
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 53% (11th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $16,106 (50th highest)
> Life expectancy: 70 (tied – 53rd lowest)
Just 53% of Belarusians surveyed last year reported they felt rested, among the least of all countries reviewed. Similarly, a lower percentage of residents than in most other nations said they smiled or laughed the previous day.The Belarusian economy has struggled with spiking prices in recent years. The country's inflation rate was 53.2% in 2011 and 59.2% in 2012, the highest in the world in both years. The national economy is largely state-controlled and is dependent on oil and natural gas subsidies from Russia. In addition to to its economic issues, Belarus is also considered Europe's last dictatorship, and residents do not have the freedom to assemble or freedom of the press.
6. Nepal
> Positive experience index score: 54 (tied, 4th lowest)
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 55% (tied, 16th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $1,506 (15th lowest)
> Life expectancy: 67 (38th lowest)
A mere half of Nepal residents said they were treated with respect the day before Gallup's survey, nearly the worst rate among all countries reviewed. And less than one quarter of survey-respondents said they learned something new the day before, worse than in every country except for Georgia and Pakistan. One explanation could be the poor state of the economy. The inflation rate was an estimated 9.9% last year, among the higher rates in the world. GDP was also exceptionally low, at just $1,506 per person last year, among the lowest in the world. Although the country's Maoist rebellion ended in 2006, Nepal has struggled to create well-functioning, stable political institutions.
5. Serbia
> Positive experience index score: 54 (tied – 4th lowest)
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 45% (3rd lowest)
> GDP per capita: $11,085 (65th highest)
> Life expectancy: 74 (49th highest)
The Serbian people have not had a particularly pleasant recent history, starting with the Yugoslav wars in the early 1990s and later the Kosovo War. These bloody armed conflicts were accompanied by war crimes committed by most parties. The Republic of Serbia, its most recent formation, was established in 2006. The country's political corruption and weak economy likely only added to Serbians' lack of positivity. Nearly one in four Serbians are unemployed, among the highest unemployment rates of the countries surveyed. Just 45% of Serbian survey respondents said they laughed or smiled in the previous day, and 49% said they felt well-rested — both among the lowest of all of the countries.
4. Bosnia and Herzegovina
> Positive experience index score: 54 (tied – 4th lowest)
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 47% (4th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $8,293 (60th lowest)
> Life expectancy: 76 (33rd highest)
Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered through a violent ethnic conflict in the early and mid-1990s following the breakup of Yugoslavia. Although it has been nearly two decades since the war ended, international peacekeeping forces remain active in the country. Local institutions, including schools, are often segregated along ethnic lines between Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs. The country is relatively poor by European standards, with a per capita GDP of just $8,293 in 2013, while its unemployment rate was an exceptionally high 27.0% last year. A number of former Yugoslavian nations had similarly high unemployment, including Serbia, Macedonia, and Croatia.
3. Lithuania
> Positive experience index score: 53
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 54% (14th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $22,566 (35th highest)
> Life expectancy: 73 (62nd highest)
Lithuania had a relatively high GDP per capita, at $22,566, in 2013. Despite the seemingly capable economy, Lithuanians were among the unhappiest people in the world. The country has a high suicide rate. It also had among the highest alcohol consumption per capita in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Heavy alcohol consumption can exacerbate or, in some cases, even cause depression. Lithuanians were among the least likely to say they have experienced enjoyment in the previous day or to say they smiled or laughed in the preceding 24 hours.
2. Chad
> Positive experience index score: 52
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 37% (the lowest)
> GDP per capita: $2,543 (30th lowest)
> Life expectancy: 49 (3rd lowest)
Chad is one of the poorest countries and most undeveloped nations in the world. According to the World Bank, 47% of Chad's residents lived in poverty in 2011, with a majority of the poor living in rural areas. As of 2011, life expectancy at birth was an abysmal 49 years in Chad, among the lowest in the world. Less than 2% of the population in Chad, largely a desert country, had access to electricity. A conflict between native Chadians and Muslims in the country continues. Chad ranked close to the bottom in the percentage of its people who said they smiled or laughed in the past day, and in the percentage of people who felt they were treated with respect.
1. Syria
> Positive experience index score: 36
> Pct. smiled or laughed: 41% (2nd lowest)
> GDP per capita: N/A
> Life expectancy: 75 (40th highest)
Syria's positive experience index score of 36 marks the all-time lowest score for any country Gallup has ever surveyed. Just 36% of Syrians said they felt happy in the last day, the lowest percentage in the world. Syrians were also less likely to feel well-rested than people almost anywhere else in the world. The country is in the middle of a civil war between the nation's military forces and rebels seeking to oust President Bashar Al-Assad. The war has taken the lives of more than 160,000 people, according to some sources. The IMF has not gathered data from Syria since 2010, nor does it produce estimates.
^ It does surprise me that 6 out of the 10 countries on this list are in Europe. I expected the majority to be in Africa and Asia. ^
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/05/24/most-miserable-countries/9471197/
Friday, May 23, 2014
Memorial Flags
From the Stars and Stripes:
"Flags In: Troops honor fallen at Arlington ahead of Memorial Day"
"Flags In: Troops honor fallen at Arlington ahead of Memorial Day"
It was a simple but meaningful process repeated on hallowed ground about 220,000 times on Thursday: Toe of the combat boot placed against the center of a headstone, flag planted at the heel.
With that small gesture, about 1,000 soldiers paid respects as they fanned out at Arlington National Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day weekend, each pausing to stake an American flag into the soil of each grave to honor those buried there. “They’ve given the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” said. Pvt. Juan Garcia. “We wouldn’t be able to live the lifestyle that the entire country does if it wasn’t for the men and women we’re honoring today. “It’s not something that should be taken lightly. It’s an actual person that died. That’s someone’s brother, someone’s sister, someone’s mom or dad.”
The participating soldiers were all members of the Old Guard. The event is known as the “Flags In” ceremony and has taken place annually since 1948, when the Old Guard was designated as the Army’s ceremonial unit. The soldiers also placed flags at the cemetery’s columbarium, which holds cremated remains. Four flags were also placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The flags will remain throughout the holiday weekend until Tuesday. And despite the holiday usually being celebrated with cookouts, Staff Sgt. Francisco Armenta said he hoped that everyone would take a minute to remember those who have sacrificed their lives. “It’s not just for barbecues, beaches, anything like that,” Armenta said. “It’s to remember the soldiers that fell in the past.”
^ It is fitting to have flags put on the graves of soldiers - especially on Memorial Day (which is this Monday.) It is something so simple that shows we remember their service and sacrifice. ^
NVDA
From the Stars and Stripes:
"No Veteran Dies Alone program helps vets in their final days"
There are close to 22 million military veterans in the United States today and more than 20% are either nearing or have already surpassed the nation's average life expectancy of 78. As a way to help families and veterans cope with the inevitable hardships during their loved ones' final days, and as a way to ensure that veterans will not be alone in their final hours, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has recently created a program dubbed "No Veteran Dies Alone" (NVDA). Founded within the past few years, the one-of-a-kind program places volunteers at the bedside of dying veterans as a way to provide comfort and reassurance to the families of those who previously helped defend the nation's liberty and ensured the freedoms that many Americans enjoy today. In some cases, veterans have moved to distant parts of the country making it financially difficult for their family members to be present; and in many instances, family members are either not around or are unable to commit to a 24-hour per day bedside visit with their loved ones. In extreme cases, the veterans themselves have outlived their family members or other loved ones, leaving them alone in their final hours. For Coarsegold residents and NVDA participants Robert Trice and his wife, the circumstances were overwhelming while they visited Robert's father in the Veterans Association Hospital in Fresno. Homer Trice, a member of the 29th Marine Division on D-Day and recipient of a bronze star for his bravery behind enemy lines, was facing complications during the aftermath of an apparent stroke he experienced in early February of 2014. Following several trips to Fresno and countless hours spent in the hospital, on May 2 a reluctant Robert, along with his wife and daughter, made the difficult decision to head home for some rest. "I had reached the end of my rope and the string tied to it. I was going to go home to get some rest," Robert said. However, on his way out of the hospital, something deep within his subconscious told Robert not to leave his father alone. Torn between staying with his father and getting the rest necessary to maintain his health, Robert decided to leave for the night and return in the morning. But not without addressing his concerns first.
On his way out the door, with a heavy heart, Robert approached an unnamed nurse and pleaded for another option. "I don't want him to pass away...to die alone," a teary-eyed Robert told the nurse.
To his surprise, the nurse informed him of the No Veteran Dies Alone program developed by the VA, which had been introduced to the Fresno hospital within the past six months. Taking Robert's hand, the nurse told him they would make sure there was another veteran in his father's room while Robert was away. She explained how a volunteer veteran would take his place in the wake of Robert's absence and hold his father's hand throughout the night if the nurse or doctor was not able to be there.
Feeling a bit more relieved by the comfort of the NVDA program, Robert kissed his father on the forehead, told him he loved him and walked out of the hospital, not knowing if it would be the last time he would see his father alive. "There was such a sense of relief because here I was walking out of my palliative care room, and when I looked back, I saw my father unconscious. I simply couldn't leave him alone," Robert said. Later that night about 8 p.m, with a fellow veteran by his side, Homer Trice passed away at the age of 90. Although deeply heartbroken by the passing of his father and hero, Robert expressed gratitude that someone was there for his father's final moments. When asked what he would say to the veteran who sat by his father's bedside while he was taking his final breathes, Robert accompanied his tears with a gracious smile. "There are no words to thank them, I'd give them the biggest hug," Robert said. He also said he would have used the program a bit more if he would have had the chance, believing this kind of program is necessary for all families and should not be limited to veterans. "I am just so glad they have the program, not just for my dad, but for all veterans who reach this inevitable stage of their lives," Robert said. "I think every hospital in the country, not just the veteran's hospital, should have something similar to that — it's the greatest thing since sliced bread." The NVDA program, designed to provide a presence and companionship to Veterans at the end of their lives when family and friends are unable to be there, stems directly from the organization's motto taken from Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address on March 4, 1865. The motto "to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan," embodies the No Veteran Dies Alone mind set and reflects the purpose and desire to provide for those who offered their lives in order to preserve our nation's freedoms. Much like with the Trice family, the Veterans Association is dealing with more and more veterans who are passing away each year. That's why the NVDA continues to pursue quality volunteers to help with their programs.
The NVDA volunteers do much more than sit bedside. Volunteers take time out of their lives to talk with veterans, assist family members with rest breaks, reading, playing music, keeping nursing staffed informed of any changes or concerns, and anything to make the veterans more comfortable.
Volunteers of the program are asked to visit with patients on a regular basis and can be available at all hours of the day, using the google.docs program to continuously update schedules and patient status in real time.
^ I think the No Veteran Dies Alone Program is a great idea. These are men and women who served our country and risked their lives and now when it is their turn to pass they won't be forgotten or alone. I do have to say that I do not understand Robert Trice's decision to leave his father when he thought it was near the end. I recently went through a similar experience and stayed 23 hours a day for 10 full days and made sure I was always close-by (I didn't leave the house for that whole period.) I made a promise that my family member would not pass alone and I kept that promise. It didn't matter how long it took or how exhausted I was the point was not about me about but about my family member. I would like the NVDA Program would gain more publicity especially to hospitals and veterans groups. ^
http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/no-veteran-dies-alone-program-helps-vets-in-their-final-days-1.284727
Shinseki Pledge
From USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/22/shinseki-va-delays-care-veterans/9457059/
"Shinseki pledges to fix VA's problems"
VA Secretary Eric Shinseki issued a message to veterans Thursday defending his leadership and promising to fix delays in care that have rocked his agency and the Obama administration in recent days. The 71-year-old head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the second largest federal agency, is resisting calls for his resignation. Shinseki used the narrative posted on the VA website to tout several accomplishments during his nearly six years of leadership. He noted that allegations of VA employees' misconduct have surfaced over the last several weeks, beginning with scheduling delays at the Phoenix VA and said that if found to be true "we will act." He wrote that the "reports of veterans' negative experiences while seeking VA care are of great personal concern to me. I fully agree with President Obama's statement (Wednesday) 'If these allegations prove to be true, it is dishonorable, it is disgraceful.' " The VA Inspector General is investigating 26 hospitals in connection with allegations that health care was delayed and that employees worked to cover up the time it was taking to see a doctor by falsifying records or keeping secret scheduling files. At the VA hospital in Phoenix, a retired doctor reported that up to 40 patients had died awaiting care. The inspector general has so far found no deaths in Phoenix connected to delays, although the investigation is far nearly completed. Shinseki said he has also launched an audit of all 150 VA hospitals and 820 out-patient clinics, employing a team of 200 staffers, to look into delays of care.
He talked about how busy the VA medical facilities are handling 236,000 appointments each day.
The embattled secretary listed a series of accomplishments, including enrollment of 2 million new veterans in the health care system, a 24% reduction in veteran homelessness, and more than a million veterans or eligible family members receiving education benefits. He promised to meet his goal of ending a backlog in disability claims by 2015. Shinseki cited high scores for medical care in customer satisfaction surveys and asserted that the agency is delivering quality care. "VA will do even better," he said. Growing numbers of critics have been demanding Shinseki's resignation, angry about reports going back several years that veterans wait weeks, months or longer before seeing a doctor. They include the American Legion, the largest veterans group in the country, several Republican lawmakers and two Democratic congressmen. In remarks Wednesday, President Obama said he is so far standing by Shinseki but withheld final judgment until further investigative and audit findings become available.
^ So far Shinseki is talking tough, but let's see his actions. ^
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/22/shinseki-va-delays-care-veterans/9457059/
Mental Military
From The Stars and Stripes:
"House passes new mental health screening for recruits"
New mental health screening that supporters say could help stem the high rate of military suicides or even stop shooting rampages passed the House on Thursday as part of the massive 2015 defense budget. The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., orders the National Institutes of Health to create a universal mental health evaluation for potential recruits that would catch past suicide attempts and psychiatric disorders. The data could be used by the services to weed out candidates with potentially dangerous mental health issues. Already, potential recruits are asked about past suicide attempts or mental disorders, and the military conducts security background checks. But recent studies have indicated such informal screening has not been entirely effective, and problems manifest or are detected after the recruit has entered service. “Let’s take it right back to the point of induction,” Thompson said. “There is no mental health exam and that was startling.”
Thompson said his bill would create a comprehensive mental exam to match the existing physical exams required for induction and could bar those prone to suicide or acts of violence from joining in the first place. The military is struggling with an epidemic of suicides and a surge in mental health disability claims following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A tragic new trend is also developing: mass shootings by servicemembers on military facilities, including two separate incidents at Fort Hood that left 16 people dead and an incident at the Washington Navy Yard that killed 12 people.
Many troops and veterans who commit suicide made attempts before enlisting, he said. The connection between mental disorders and military base shootings is more unclear but experts said Spc. Ivan Lopez, who killed three and wounded 16 at Fort Hood in April before turning the weapon on himself, fit the psychological profile of a rampage shooter. Aaron Alexis, the former sailor and defense contractor who shot and killed 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard in D.C. last year, was thought to have mental health problems not caught by the military. A series of Army studies published in March by the Journal of the American Medical Association found one in five soldiers has a common mental disorder and more than one in 100 had a past suicide attempt. Those same studies also found suicides among servicemembers who have never deployed to war zones have risen, despite perceptions that combat trauma drives suicide rates. The bill, which was approved as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, directs the mental health arm of the National Institutes of Health to develop a screening procedure for those who want to join the military and report back to the Department of Defense and Congress. The recommendation would also focus on creating a mental health baseline for new troops that would help track traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Department of Defense and military services would still be responsible for deciding exactly how to use the screening data and for developing a criteria for allowing recruits to join, Thompson said.
^ There should be mental health exam given to would-be soldiers and it should be uniformed through all the services. ^
Hard Times
The past few weeks have been trying and very busy. I am now
able to take a breath and start focusing on other things.
Someone really close to me has just passed away and for the
past 10 years I have been helping them (as much as they have been helping me.)
I won’t go into a whole sad story about all of that. This is about the people
and organizations that were supposed to be there to make things “as smooth as
possible” and yet didn’t.
As I mentioned I was helping this person for the past 10
years, but it was really for the past 10 days of this person’s life that I had
to constantly “fight” with everyone. I had to fight with the doctor and his
staff, I had to fight with the hospice nurse, I had to fight with the funeral
home, I had to fight with other family members and I had to fight with myself
to stay awake and make sure I was always there. I did all this fighting so that
I could make sure the last wishes of the person came true. Of course all this
fighting put a big strain on me that I am now just starting to realize what has
happened.
The hospice nurse didn’t want to start home hospice on the
Friday she first came to the house. She wanted to put it off until that Monday,
but I didn’t want the person to be in any pain – especially on the weekend - and so made the nurse start hospice. The
nurse was the hospice director and while she was an ok nurse she was a horrible
hospice employee much less a director. She said that she would do everything
and that the only thing we would have to do is make sure the person was as
comfortable as possible. That was not the case at all. Not only did we have to
constantly remind her to bring supplies (many which she never did bring) but
she made us get the pain medicine everyday – even though hospice was paying for
it - and that meant driving around the
state to find a pharmacy that had the medicine in the amount we needed it. The nurse also said that she would have a
chaplain and a psychologist come and help us. We have yet to hear from any
chaplain and the psychologist took a long time to contact us and then came (not
for me, but for other members of my family.) One thing my family member wanted
was a Catholic priest to give the Last Rites and that was supposed to be done
through the hospice chaplain, but as I already said the chaplain never got
ahold of us, and so we had to find a priest by ourselves (catching them after
Sunday service and asking them to come to our house and then having to wait
several hours because they were the only priest in 4 towns and had to do
another service elsewhere first.) The priest did come later that day and it
really helped. Again, this was something that should have been taken care of by
the hospice team and wasn’t. The nurse even had the gull to make jokes when we
were changing the clothes of my deceased family member (about how she – the
nurse – forgot supplies.) It really infuriated me more than anything has ever
before. Also the nurse said that when the person passed she would be with us
and have the funeral home there too within 30 minutes. The nurse took an hour
to come and the funeral home took 2 hours and 40 minutes – even though both are
only 23 minutes away. I refuse to have anything to do with that hospice
nurse/director ever again and only hope she gets the same treatment she gave us
when her time comes.
The doctor gave us issues. We had to constantly deal with
them to get the prescriptions every day for the pain medicine and make sure the
amount listed was enough to last. Also we had to wait all weekend for him to
sign the death certificate since we couldn’t do the burial or anything else
until we got it.
The funeral home also gave us some problems. We let them
know beforehand what we wanted and yet they waited until it was too late to
start doing anything. The main thing was
that they didn’t have the coffin we wanted and so they got it from another
state (1 ½ hours away.) It was the weekend and apparently no one was working
and so we didn’t get the coffin until Monday afternoon and we had to wait until
then to have a private family viewing. The funeral home also had to transport
the body to another state for the burial in a National Cemetery. There was no
problem with that at least.
The National Cemetery only gives you 20 minutes for the
funeral and you can’t have it at the plot, but in a semi-covered kiosk. It
seemed very rushed and not at all considerate to the family members. You don’t even get to see the coffin being
put in the ground – you have to wait a few hours and then find the grave
afterwards.
Having gone through this experience one thing has been made
clear to me: you cannot count on anyone else for help. The saying: “If you want
it done right you have to do itself” is definitely true. It also makes me
question the people living in this state. They say one thing and do nothing.
Their true colors have been shown and it reinforces my distrust and dislike of
them. They only want to work during regular business hours and don’t care if
someone passes away on a weekend (as happened in this case.) They don’t seem to
care about helping others (especially those dying) when it is after-hours or
the weekend. It makes me disgusted to think about how all these different
people, who are supposed to be in positions to help people and ease their
passing, really treat this as a job rather than a calling. Again, I can only
hope and pray that they all receive the same treatment that they gave us when
it is their time.
If I had known what
would have happened I would have made sure to go someplace else before my
family member got too sick. The only thing that helps me is knowing that
despite all the problems from different people throughout all this I know that
I did my best to make sure my family member did not endure any pain or
discomfort. I took care of it and made sure it was kept away from them.
One thing that still annoys me is when people (especially
those I have never met) tell me that now I can “finally” get-on with my life
(as though the last 10 years I did nothing) and them asking me what I plan on
doing – especially when my family member hadn’t even passed away yet and I was
solely focused on them.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
С Днем Победы!
From Russian Language Blog:
In just a few days Russia will be celebrating one of its most significant days, «День Победы» [Victory Day]. How much do you know about this holiday? Well, I hope after reading this post you will know quite a bit more. So let’s get going with the «День Победы – вопросы и ответы» [Victory Day Q&A.]
Q: What’s this Victory Day all about?
A: If you don’t know yet, «День Победы» commemorates Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
Q: How important is Victory Day celebration to average Russian people? Isn’t it all state-driven propaganda similar to now-defunct «День Великой Октябрьской социалистической революции» [the Great October Socialist Revolution Day]?
A: Victory Day is an enormously important holiday for all people of Russia (and the former Soviet republics). It wouldn’t be too much to say that it’s one of the three «наиважнейшие» [most significant] annual holidays, the other two being the New Year and one’s birthday.
«Иначе и быть не может» [how could it be otherwise] – even the most conservative numbers estimate the losses at 26 million people, including civilian deaths. These numbers are awfully impersonal. But look through a family photo album and chances are there will be at least one old photo of someone – father, husband, mother, sister – who perished in the war. As Russians so often say, «нет в нашей стране ни одной семьи, не затронутой этой войной» [in our country, there is not a single family that was spared by this war.]
Q: Why is Victory Day celebrated on May 9th in Russia when in Western Europe it’s May 8th?
A: The German «акт о безаговорочной капитуляции» [Act of Unconditional Surrender] was signed in Rheims, France on May 7, 1945. It was to be in full effect as of 11:01pm on May 8, 1945. However, the document had to be ratified the following day in Berlin since it had to be signed by the Soviet Supreme Commander, Marshal Georgy Zhukov. By the time the Act was signed, it was already «девятое мая» [May 9th] in Moscow.
Q: How do Russians celebrate Victory Day?
A: A few days before the Victory Day Russian leaders, including local leaders, lay wreaths at the war memorials. Then, of course, there’s the Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square and, later in the evening, a concert, artillery salvo and fireworks. Smaller parades and fireworks are held in many cities across Russia. This year things are going to be very different. To start with, the number of cities that will hold Victory Parades will be huge. 72 cities in Russia and 1 in Ukraine will participate in what’s become known as «общероссийский парад Победы» [the all-Russia Victory Parade]. Also, while traditionally Victory Day parades start at 10am local time, this year they are all synchronized to start at exactly 10am Moscow time – «в десять часов утра по московскому времени».
Q: Why 10am?
A: Because that was the time the very first Victory Day Parade started. The first parade took place on June 24, 1945.
Q: Are there any traditional Victory Day songs?
A: There are quite a few, but here are the two most famous ones. The first one, written in the first days of the war, became the de-facto war anthem, calling the country to rise up for the sacred battle. The second one, written for the 30th anniversary of the Victory, is a bitter-sweet reminder of the costs of the Victory.
«Священная война» [Sacred War]
«День Победы» [Victory Day]
Q: Do regular Russians get to participate in Victory Day parades?
A: Only as «зрители» [spectators]. Victory Day parades are 100% military parades, conducted in pass-and-review style. Civilians get to join in only through watching, waving Russian flags and wearing «Георгиевская ленточка» [the ribbon of St. George] – an orange (fire) and black (smoke)- striped ribbon that recently became a symbol of remembrance of «Великая Отечественная война» [the Great Patriotic War] and of respect for the war veterans.
Q: Speaking of veterans – are there many left? What’s being done for them?
A: There are just over 300,000 veterans left. Keep in mind that even the youngest ones are in their 80ies. While there are lots of «высокопарные слова» [highfalutin words] said about their heroic deeds and sacrifices and millions of ribbons handed out to schoolchildren, it is widely acknowledged that not enough is done to improve veterans’ living conditions or provide the care they need. As some point out, the money that «чиновники на верху» [high-placed government officials] spent on this year’s lavish festivities would’ve been put to better end use to improve veterans’ lives in a direct way.
Q: Where can I watch this year’s parade if I don’t have access to Russian TV channels?
A: I’ve been asking this question myself for a while now. Try the State’s official «интернет-канал Россия» [Internet-channel “Russia”] Some of our Facebook fans suggested the online real-time broadcast of Russia’s First Channel . It looks promising, but keep in mind that they broadcast on Moscow time plus not all of their sub-channels will be available from your country. Another suggestion was the English-language www.rt.com (go to their On Air section on the day of the parade; they must have at least some of it in the News segments). Failing all of that, wait until someone uploads videos to YouTube.
^ This gives a good summary of Russia's Victory Day to a non Russian/non former Soviet person. It's sad that Americans and the other Allies don't really do anything for VE Day or VJ Day. ^
http://blogs.transparent.com/russian/victory-day-all-you-want-to-know/
A New Anne
From the BBC:
"Anne Frank keeps memory alive for new generation"
A new play based on the best-selling diaries of Anne Frank, one of the most recognisable victims of the Holocaust, is set to open in Amsterdam. Entitled simply Anne, the play is the first stage adaptation to incorporate the Jewish teenager's complete family archive. The BBC's Anna Holligan was given exclusive access to rehearsals inside a purpose-built arena. Audiences will be shipped to the 1,100-seat theatre on board a ferry from Amsterdam's Central Station. Producer Robin de Levita describes the stage as a '3D design'. "Six months ago there was only dust," says the play's publicist, gesturing to the walls as he gives a tour of the theatre space. Now a revolving house twists to reveal the secret annex. Showing the front and back of the building in this rotating form almost simultaneously, is an attempt to help the audience understand life in hiding for Anne and her family.
Anne Frank's Diary, written during the two years the teenager and her family hid from the Nazis in occupied Amsterdam, has been translated into more than 60 languages and sold more than 25 million copies. In the new stage production, a cast of approximately 20 actors will deliver their lines in Dutch, but the play will be simultaneously translated into six languages. Archive footage is projected onto vast screens either side of the stage. To readers, Anne is a symbol of hope, heroism and a reminder of the horrors inflicted on Jews during World War 2. But as the 70th anniversary of her death in a concentration camp approaches, the foundation that holds the exclusive rights to the Anne Frank "brand name" is afraid her legacy is fading. With that in mind, the Switzerland-based Anne Frank Fonds (AFF) has recruited award-winning Dutch producer De Levita to revitalise her story and translate it into a contemporary play. "It's important that the story doesn't die," says Yves Kugelmann, director of the AFF. "We are living in a Playstation generation - that's what we're competing with. But there are so many important lessons that Anne Frank tells us about discrimination. "It is important for young people to step away from their computers and learn lessons from the past. But we have a responsibility to make sure we speak to that audience." De Levita comes with some impressive credentials. He has produced numerous shows on Broadway and London's West End including the musical Chicago and West Side Story. Anne is his first official stage adaptation since a Broadway production in 1955. De Levita says he wants it to be a "fully immersive, totally new" experience. "It's such a legacy, it's so perfect for a theatrical experience. "I know it's a risk and if we don't reach a big audience the whole project will fail. "If we succeed it should feel more like you're in a movie theatre." But the commercial nature of this new production is creating waves. Frank Leopold, the director of the Anne Frank House, believes it is inappropriate for the new production to profit from Anne Frank's legacy by offering canal cruises, champagne and canapés as part of an "Anne package". "It is being presented as a convivial evening out, with drinks, dinner packages and hostesses. In our view this is not appropriate to the history of Anne Frank," says Leopold.
There is some history to the disagreement - the AFF, which owns the copyright on Anne Frank's diary, and the Anne Frank Foundation, which runs the house, do not have an easy relationship.
In the past, they have argued about the Frank family archives, with the Swiss organisation causing particular upset by demanding documents and files from Amsterdam in order to set up its own Frank Family centre in Frankfurt (where the Frank family originally came from). But war historian David Barnouw says the row over the new theatre production is being overplayed. "When Otto Frank had the diary of his daughter transformed into a book, you had commercialisation then," he says. "It is sometimes big business. "And all those things about dinner or champagne or whatever... In the Anne Frank House you drink a beer and have a snack too. I don't think it's bad taste." With the play's opening night sold out, it seems that audiences agree - for the time being at least. As Anne Frank once noted in her diary: "I want to bring enjoyment to all people, even those I've never met."
No doubt, producers are hoping this new show will help the teenager to achieve that dream.
^ This new play seems like a really interesting way to get children to learn about Anne Frank as well as to show adults another side of her story. ^
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-27308964
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Pension Troubles
From the BBC:
"Kathryn Stone: Pension for Troubles victims needed 'immediately'"
^ People from all sides (Protestants and Catholics) that were wounded through no fault of their own during the Troubles - which lasted from 1968-1998 - should get these disabled pensions. It's a no-brainer. ^
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27317558
"Kathryn Stone: Pension for Troubles victims needed 'immediately'"
A pension for those severely injured
during the Troubles should be implemented immediately, the NI Victims
Commissioner has said. Kathryn Stone made the recommendation following the publication of an advice
paper on dealing with the past. The first and deputy first ministers have had the paper since 28 March. It makes four recommendations, including a pension and arrangements for
official apologies to all victims. A spokesperson for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
said: "We are currently considering the commissioner's advice." Ms Stone said the proposals "represent real and practical actions that will
meet the needs of victims and survivors". She added: "I am recommending that action be taken immediately to implement
the pension and an acknowledgement unit that will provide official apologies to
victims and survivors who have never had any formal recognition of their pain
and suffering." The paper is the result of two years of consultation with victims groups and
individuals. It also took into account a major conference in February that featured the
largest ever representation of victims. As well as a pension and official apologies, the paper proposes the formation
of an Information Retrieval Commission and a Historical Investigations Unit. Ms Stone said it was important that people seriously injured during the
Troubles were adequately compensated so they could live with dignity. "The main focus for the idea of a pension for those people who were seriously
injured is to afford them some dignity," she said. "The compensation payments they received during the 1970s were derisory and
went very quickly. "For me, there is nothing worse than trying to explain to someone they can't
have financial security because there is still political discussion about who is
entitled to it." The ideas are broadly similar to recommendations in the stalled Haass
proposals. Ms Stone said the original Haass proposals were "fundamentally informed by
the commission's detailed presentations to the Haass team". She added: "We cannot wait any longer to answer the call for action from
victims and survivors. "I believe there is the political will to meet the needs of victims and
survivors, that needs to be translated into action and that action must be
now." Ms Stone is set to leave her role as victims commissioner at the end of
June. Jude Whyte, a member of the Victims and Survivors Forum, said: "The vast bulk
of people who we are trying to get pensions for have been severely injured many
years ago." He welcomed the idea of letters of apology to victims. "I think saying sorry can be a very liberating experience for the person who
says sorry," he said. "And if the people who are receiving the apology will take it in the context,
I think it's a very positive thing." However, Kenny Donaldson of Innocent Victims United said he foresaw problems
with the proposals. "It's unfortunate that the same mistakes have been made as were made in [the]
Eames/Bradley [report on the past]. "It's unfortunate that the commission has put forward a document where the
whole issue around a perpetrator and an innocent victim still is not dealt
with. "That will be a problem." The SDLP's Alex Attwood said Ms Stone's recommendations should be fully
considered. "The proposal for financial assistance for those injured is not the
Eames-Bradley proposals of payment to victims - it should not be viewed as
such," he said.
^ People from all sides (Protestants and Catholics) that were wounded through no fault of their own during the Troubles - which lasted from 1968-1998 - should get these disabled pensions. It's a no-brainer. ^
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-27317558
VE Day
From MT:
"Putin to Commemorate World War II With EU, U.S. Leaders Despite Tensions"
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-to-commemorate-world-war-ii-with-eu-us-leaders-despite-tensions/499831.html
"Putin to Commemorate World War II With EU, U.S. Leaders Despite Tensions"
President Vladimir Putin will meet Western leaders for the first time since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis when he attends a World War II anniversary in France next month, the Russian Ambassador to Paris said Thursday. U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are among those due to attend the June 6 ceremony in Normandy to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings that helped turn the tide of the war against Nazi Germany.
Ambassador Alexander Orlov confirmed Putin's planned attendance in comments to BFM television, after France's president and defense minister both said the Russian leader — accused by the West of destabilizing neighboring Ukraine — was still welcome to come. "I have told Vladimir Putin, as representative of the Russian people, that he is welcome to attend the ceremony," President Francois Hollande said. Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian went further, saying that canceling Putin's invitation would be a historical insult. "It is in the order of things that (Putin) should be there," he told BFM. The comments by Hollande and Le Drian came a day after Putin urged pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine not to go ahead with a referendum this weekend on breaking away from Ukraine. Moscow has denied Western accusations that it is orchestrating the rebellion in the east, where Ukrainian forces have been largely unable to reassert control. Next month's ceremony commemorates the troop landings in 1944 that opened the Western Front in World War II and caught Hitler's forces in a giant pincer movement between the advancing Western allies and the Soviet army in the east.
"It was the landings that led to the Normandy campaign but the campaign would not have been successful without the Eastern front. In these moments of commemoration it is important that all of those who took part should be present," Le Drian said.
^ It's a little odd to have the Russians at a D-Day event since they didn't participate in the landings, but I guess since they were on the Allied side (from 1941-on) it makes some sense. ^
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-to-commemorate-world-war-ii-with-eu-us-leaders-despite-tensions/499831.html
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
The More You Know
From Yahoo:
"What to Do When Russia Invades Your Land"
Let’s say you are a former Soviet republic who has just seen some of its choicest territory annexed by Moscow. Few countries are in a better position to guide you through what happens next than Georgia.
Arrests of alleged spies under the former Georgian government of Mikheil Saakashvili drew criticism from the government that took power in 2011 after winning parliamentary elections (Saakashvili served out his term as president until last year). But Alasania said many of these spies did pose a threat, despite claims during the 2011 election campaign from his party that they were held on trumped up charges. Alasania said it was important to focus the mole hunt on the army. He said that only young pro-western officers should be promoted to key positions. Ukrainian officers who trained in Russia, Alasania said, should be sidelined or phased out. Ukraine’s military today appears to need all the help it can get. As The Daily Beast reported Tuesday, Ukraine’s current counter-insurgency campaign has largely failed and in some cases ended up targeting Ukrainian citizens and not armed separatists. Ukraine also suffers from a lack of reliable communications for its troops in the field. The encrypted channels Ukraine would need for secure command and control for its military are penetrated by Russia, according to U.S. intelligence assessments. Alasania said Georgia also had to rely on unencrypted cell phone communications during its brief war with Russia in 2008. This at times led to local mayors exercising command over Georgian troops outside the chain of command in the military, he said. Alasania said that his government wanted to give Ukraine the benefit of its own diplomatic strategy for dealing with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two provinces that Russian troops continue to occupy to this day. Alasania said, for example, that Ukraine should be prepared for Russia to begin asking smaller countries to recognize Crimea as part of Russia, just as smaller countries like Nicaragua recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia rallied its allies in the West, to block a global tide of recognition from building. And it worked. Maybe it’s a tactic Ukraine may have to adopt one day, as well.
^ This is a good "The More You Know" from people who, unfortunately, know first-hand what to expect. Sadly, this is the current trend. ^
http://news.yahoo.com/russia-invades-land-094500413--politics.html
Clinton Scandal
From USA Today:
"Lewinsky scandal players: Where are they now?"
From a Christmas shop to academia, key players in the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal took different paths in the years since the investigation that led to a president's impeachment.
Lanny Davis
Davis served as special counsel to President Clinton and was a leading spokesman for the White House during the impeachment proceedings and other White House scandals. Davis went on to conduct a successful private practice in public relations and crisis communications, including publishing several books on how to publicly respond to a crisis. He is now executive vice president of Levick, a PR/communications firm.
Linda Tripp
Tripp was a friend of Lewinsky's who secretly tape-recorded telephone conversations in which the two women discussed Lewinsky's affair with Clinton. Tripp ultimately turned the tapes over to independent counsel Ken Starr and revealed to him the existence of Lewinsky's blue dress stained with the president's semen. In 2003, the Defense Department paid Tripp more than $500,000 to settle a lawsuit she brought alleging that the department leaked personal information about her to the press. Tripp has since avoided publicity; she has married and now runs a Christmas shop in Middleburg, Va.
Starr
Starr, a former federal judge and U.S. solicitor general, was the independent counsel who led the investigation of the affair between Clinton and Lewinsky, eventually filing the Starr Report. He is now the president and chancellor of Baylor University in Waco, Texas, after spending some time in private practice and teaching law.
Henry Hyde
Hyde, a Republican congressman from Illinois, was chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, the panel charged with recommending action on impeachment. During the impeachment hearings, it was revealed that Hyde had an extramarital affair in the 1960s. Hyde retired from Congress in 2006 and died the following year at age 83.
William Ginsburg
Ginsburg, a malpractice attorney and friend of Lewinsky's father, represented Lewinsky for several months during the scandal. He had previously been involved in cases involving the deaths of Liberace and college basketball player Hank Gathers. Ginsburg died of cancer in 2013 at age 70.
Vernon Jordan
Jordan, an attorney and civil rights activist, was a long-time friend and adviser to Clinton. Jordan helped try to find Lewinsky a private-sector job after she left a position at the Pentagon. During testimony before a grand jury, Jordan said he was assured by Lewinsky that she had not had a sexual relationship with Clinton and denied that he ever encouraged her to lie. Jordan remained active in Democratic Party politics after Clinton left office. He also became a senior managing director of Lazard Freres & Company.
^ Since Lewinsky wrote an article everyone is talking about what happened. I remember that was all that was discussed in my Politics Class in school - as it was current affairs (pun intended.) The thing people need to remember is that Bill Clinton lied to the American people when he openly said (on camera) that "He did not have sexual relations." To me that shows the true character of someone. He was found out and rather than admit his affair he lied. ^
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/07/lewinsky-clinton-scandal-players-where-are-they-now/8807163/
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Ribbon Change
From MT:
"Kiev to Abandon St. George Ribbons on Victory Day"
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/kiev-to-abandon-st-george-ribbons-on-victory-day/499664.html
"Kiev to Abandon St. George Ribbons on Victory Day"
The orange and black ribbon of St. George could be largely absent from Victory Day celebrations in western Ukraine this year after an institute proposed an alternative to the symbol, which has come to be associated with pro-Russian separatist movements. In a published on its website, the Institute of National Remembrance asked Ukrainian citizens and media to use the European symbol for war victims, the scarlet poppy. "The scarlet poppy is both a European and a Ukrainian symbol," head of the institute Volodymyr Vyatrovich said, according to the statement. "Our songs say that poppies bloom where Cossack blood has been spilled." The new symbol was put forward by Kharkiv designer Sergei Mishakin and features the words "Never Again." The St. George ribbon's origins date back to the reign of Catherine the Great and it is adorned by many Russians on Victory Day, which falls on May 9, to commemorate the victory over the Nazis in World War II. It was worn by pro-Kremlin politicians to show their support for Russia's annexation of Crimea and their disapproval of the interim government in Kiev, but also by separatists who have seized government buildings in the eastern Ukraine.
^ It makes sense to change the ribbon since it has come to mean something different. The Swastika was used by many different cultures before the Nazis took it over and now most have moved away from using that. ^
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/kiev-to-abandon-st-george-ribbons-on-victory-day/499664.html
CDN Paying US
From the Globe and Mail:
"Canada could foot the bill for U.S. customs plaza"
Canada is open to funding or hosting a U.S. customs plaza, a sticking point in efforts to construct a vital second bridge between Windsor and Detroit, Transport Minister Lisa Raitt says. The Detroit International Trade Crossing is a top infrastructure priority for Ottawa, which is trying to broaden Canada’s most vital trade conduit with the United States. Ms. Raitt said Canada’s strongly preferred option is that the United States fund its own custom plaza. “But this is a vitally important project for us and I would encourage us to have open dialogue with the United States on any of these options, quite frankly, to make it go forward,” she told a Canadian American Border Trade Alliance conference in Ottawa Monday. Canada has put up nearly all the public money necessary for the project and the U.S. federal government appears to be balking at paying the cost of a $250-million U.S. customs structure on the American side. U.S. President Barack Obama’s $3.9-trillion 2015 budget sent to Congress in March failed to allocate funds for it. The bridge will be financed and built by a private contractor – yet to be selected – but Canada is shouldering the majority of upfront costs to build related infrastructure, such as extension roads approaching the bridge. This reflects the fact the deal was arranged over the wishes of the Michigan legislature. Legislative supporters of the existing Detroit-Windsor crossing, the Ambassador Bridge, repeatedly opposed the project and took action to ensure the government of Michigan could not spend money on the project or collect tolls.
Canada will be repaid for covering much of the U.S. share of infrastructure through toll revenues.
Ms. Raitt said she believes it would be a first if the United States left it to Canada to fund the American customs structure. “This has never happened before – in terms of the United States not paying for their own U.S. customs plaza,” she said Monday. “We’ve made that point very strongly at all of our levels of engagement, all of our levels of engagement – the importance of having the U.S. come to the table.” The new bridge, currently known as the Detroit River International Crossing or the New International Trade Crossing, will offer an alternative route for trucks at Canada’s busiest commercial border thoroughfare – one that carries one-quarter of the goods traded between Canada and the United States each year. About $120-billion (U.S.) worth of goods cross the border at the Detroit-Windsor crossing annually, carried mainly by the 2.7 million trucks that cross the existing Ambassador Bridge every year. Truck crossings are expected to more than double by 2035. A Canadian government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Canada’s willingness to discuss covering the cost of a U.S. customs plaza – or host it – could in fact galvanize Michigan to lobby Washington to pony up the cash or miss out on local economic benefits and jobs of building the structure. Canada and Ontario have jointly committed $1.4-billion to building a road that will connect Highway 401 to the new bridge. The Herb Gray parkway is expected to be finished this year.
Ms. Raitt said the federal government is “redoubling our efforts to open up our lines of communication” with Washington on the customs plaza.
^ It seems that Canada has shown it's hand to the US from the beginning of this project. The US knows that Canada desperately needs and wants this new link and is willing to do anything, including pay for it, to make it happen. The US doesn't see this new link as a priority and so could care less if it is done or not and aren't willing to put aside any money for it. Canada would make a bad poker playing since they showed the US everything up their "sleeves" from the beginning. ^
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/canada-could-foot-the-bill-for-us-customs-plaza/article18476264/
20th Chunnel
From the BBC:
"Channel Tunnel is 20 years old: In numbers"
It is 20 years since the Channel Tunnel was officially opened. Both Queen Elizabeth II and France's President Francois Mitterrand attended the initial ceremony in Calais on 6 May 1994, before travelling through the Tunnel, or le tunnel sous la Manche in French, for a similar event marking its opening, in Folkestone. It is impossible to explain all 31.4 miles (or 50.5km) of the Channel Tunnel without using lots of numbers. So here goes.
Seven
A few years ago it was voted one of the seven wonders of the modern world by the highly respected American Society of Civil Engineers. That puts it in the same league as the Empire State Building, the Panama Canal and the Golden Gate Bridge. (Also on the list by the way, the North Sea Protection Works, which is worth looking up online.)
830
At around 830m (that's 907 yards) Eurotunnel tell me their car trains are the longest in Europe. They're also pulled by the most powerful locomotives in the world.
40
It runs 40m (131ft) under the seabed. None of it goes through water. I was allowed to take a stroll through the service tunnel. Honestly, it's spooky.
One
It was finished a year late.
4 billion
It cost £4bn ($6.7bn) more than the original estimate, and that's without interest payments.
Three
There have been three fires caused by lorries on trains. They now have an intensive, automatic spraying system to douse any flames (on top of dedicated safety teams and equipment).
Three
There are actually three tunnels. Two for trains and a smaller, service tunnel down the middle (the one I walked down). It can be used as a "lifeboat" to get people out during an emergency. That is what happened in 2008 after the worst blaze, when a lorry caught fire seven miles from the French entrance. It took months to repair the damage caused by the 1000C heat.
Two
Two of the 11, mighty boring machines used to dig the thing are still down there, buried. Funnily enough, they don't fit them with a reverse gear, so it was cheaper to put in a 90-degree turn and bury them in the wall, rather than dismantle them and bring them out. The other machines are on show all over the place. At least one is a sculpture in the middle of a car roundabout in France.
85
Around 85% of the people taking their cars and vans through are basically from Britain. Only around 6% are French. So it turns out we like driving in France far more than they like driving here. They must have seen the M25 (M6, A14 etc etc).
20
Years old today.
^ I would love to use the Chunnel someday although it seems that they always have disruptions (fire, snow, wind, leaking, etc) so who knows if that will ever happen. ^
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)