070510-N-4207M-033 SASEBO Japan (May 10, 2007) - Master Chief Culinary Specialist Moises Lovinaria and Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Lyndsee Pereyra perform the Tinikling, a Filipino folk dance, during the Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage celebration in the hanger bay USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is the Navy's only forward deployed multi-purpose amphibious assault ship and is the flagship for the Essex Amphibious Ready Group operating from Sasebo, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jhoan Montolio (RELEASED)
070504-N-4198C-007 OKINAWA, Japan. (May 4, 2007) - Cmdr. Tony M. Edmonds relieves Cmdr. Scott K. Higgins as commanding officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3, during the battalion’s change of command ceremony at Camp Shields, Okinawa, Japan. NMCB-3 is on a six-month deployment to the Far East in support of construction operations and the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Coveny (RELEASED)
070509-N-2908M-003 NORFOLK, Va. (May 9, 2007) - Sailors from V-2 Division move catapult parts on the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The nuclear powered aircraft carrier is undergoing Planned Incremental Availability in Norfolk Naval Shipyard. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joshua Mann (RELEASED)
070415-N-0555B-032 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 15, 2007) - Racing past the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the pilot of an E-2C Hawkeye, assigned to the "Black Eagles" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113 shows off his aircraft's maneuverability. Ronald Reagan and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 hosted an air power demonstration for their Sailors and the 465 family members and friends who embarked the ship for a Tiger Cruise. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher D. Blachly (RELEASED)
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: 03/14/07 6:33 PM
I have been thinking a lot about that scene recently in "Battlestar Galactica." I imagine or remember that I did something similar as I was about to land on an aircraft carrier. It was a highly crazy maneuver but I had a reason. I am thinking that I had just shot down two Libyan fighters and I did it for that reason. I wasn't showing off but I had a suspicion that at least one person on the carrier was reporting my movements and the Libyans, possibly even Soviet fighters, were sent up specifically to shoot me down. I got both of them though and I wanted to do something to cause some chatter. That was one reason. Another is that I was hoping to de-motivate them from attacking me again by showing them just how capable a pilot I was. Everything I read suggests that landing on an aircraft carrier is stressful enough on a good day. So I wanted to do something stunning that would show I was good enough to make such a maneuver even after the intense stress of that combat engagement where they sent up their best to get me. My thoughts are that just as I about to land on the carrier, I pulled what I think is called a barrel-roll. That's not the same as Claire describes as the over-turn performed by Raz over Osirak. Rather, it is similar to that scene recently when "Starbuck" rolled over the top of "Apollo's" ship. I did that and still made a perfect 3-wire landing on the deck. The Captain flipped out over that and my thoughts are conflicted over whether I explained why I did it. I might not have told him because I trusted no one. They were going to pull my wings but somehow I told President Reagan about it, or I didn't have to tell him anything and he had it figured out too and he did his part to keep me flying. So that one objective was to de-motivate them with that stunt. But another objective was to generate chatter that we could use to track down the people reporting my movements to the enemy.
03/14/07 6:53 PM
There are people now though that I do trust.
03/14/07 7:09 PM
I have had a lot of thoughts about something I might have been part of in Vietnam. A lot of thoughts I can't articulate. Something about refugees. Thoughts about flying air cover for refugees that were being transported out. I might have flown out some of those refugees too.
03/14/07 7:19 PM
chatter chatter chatter chatter
03/14/07 7:24 PM
blah blah blah blah
03/14/07 7:30 PM
The CAG probably called me a maniac for pulling that stunt on approach to the carrier.
JOURNAL ARCHIVE: 04/01/07 12:51 AM
I wonder if it was right before this speech when the Soviets killed me RIO and almost shot me down over the ocean, as I wrote earlier:
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=38671
Address at the United States Naval Academy Commencement Exercises in Annapolis, Maryland
May 22nd, 1985
Congresswoman Holt, Secretary Lehman, Admiral Watkins, General Davis, Admiral Larson, distinguished guests, members of the class of 1985, ladies and gentlemen: I am so proud and honored to be here and to have a 22-gun salute. [Laughter]
But it's an honor for any President to commemorate the graduation of new officers from our service academies, but today is a special privilege for me. I was reminded on the way up here that we have a lot in common. You were the first class to enter the Naval Academy during my term in office, and you might say we've finished a 4-year course together. Now we're both about ready for the real stuff. [Laughter] One thing bothers me, though. I still seem to be climbing that greased monument and you only had to do it once, 3 years ago. 1 [Laughter]
1 The President was referring to the Herndon Monument, an obelisk which freshmen must scale on the first afternoon of Commissioning Week.
Well, looking out over your faces in this inspiring and historic setting gives reason for confidence in our nation's future. These last 4 years have been spent preparing you to assume responsibility for the protection of our country and all that we stand for. You're part of a noble tradition.
America's independence and freedom, since we were but 13 Colonies huddled along the Atlantic coast, have relied on the bravery, the good sense, and leadership of her officer corps. We've leaned heavily on men of the sea, on our Navy and Marine Corps. Your careers will be no less significant to future generations of Americans than those of past naval heroes.
You will hear during your career, as I've heard during times in my life, that maintaining the military at peak readiness-keeping our forces trained and supplied with the best weapons and equipment—is too costly. Well, I say it is too costly for America not to be prepared. As Presidents since Washington have noted: The way to prevent war is to be prepared for it.
And as obvious as that is, it's not always appreciated. There's a story about John Paul Jones' chief gunners mate. It was during the gore and thunder of that most historic battle. He was loading and firing cannon and carrying the wounded to the medical officer, cutting away the tangled rigging. And apparently in the midst of that first fight, John Paul Jones went below momentarily and changed into a new uniform. And as he emerged on deck a voice rang out through the smoke and fire—it was the British captain asking, "Have you struck your colors?" And the gunners mate, sweat and blood dripping from his body, turned and saw Jones now in his fresh uniform reply: "I have not yet begun to fight." And the gunners mate said, "There's always somebody who didn't get the word." [Laughter]
...
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=38671
Address at the United States Naval Academy Commencement Exercises in Annapolis, Maryland
May 22nd, 1985
...
One man who sat where you do now and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1968 is another member of our administration-Assistant Secretary of Defense James Webb, the most decorated member of his class. James' gallantry as a marine officer in Vietnam won him the Navy Cross and other decorations, including two Purple Hearts. James wrote several books about American service men and women. In his book, "A Sense of Honor," he describes the life that you have chosen. He wrote:
"Servicemen are always in motion, in the air at more than the speed of sound, underwater at depths whales could only dream of, on the surface of the water cruising at 30 miles an hour through crashing seas with another ship almost touching theirs . . . replenishing their oil supplies. Or they are on the ground, in the dirt, testing and training weapons that may someday kill others but today may deal them that same irony. The smallest margin of error separates a live man from a dead man. And in war, of course, they are the first and usually the only ones to pay. The President and the Congress may suffer bad news stories. The military man suffers the deaths of his friends, early and often." End quote.
I was trying to remember earlier about the title of that Tom Clancy novel I was reading in the Pioneer Square gulag last year. It was the one about "Ryan's" wife finding out about the family "Ryan" was supporting that she didn't know about and she was surprised to find out about it. I have also been thinking about those 11/2/2000 news articles where George W. Bush was saying that not even his daughters knew about his 1976 DUI's.
I looked it up and I remember this is the one I was re-reading while I was in the gulag. I can "remember" reading it before, but that must be an artificial memory because I don't remember reading it in the past 9 years.
Clear and Present Danger is a novel by Tom Clancy, written in 1989, and is a canonical part of the Ryanverse. In the novel, Ryan is thrown into the position of CIA Acting Deputy Director and discovers that he is being kept in the dark by his colleagues who are conducting a covert war against the Medellín Cartel based in Colombia. The title of the book is based on the legal phrase "clear and present danger".
The novel sold 1,625,544 hardcover copies, making it the #1 bestselling novel of the 1980s.
Aha. The "princess with the pink car." That is my wife and I am Pink Floyd. I also have some artificial memories of the wife from my artificial life sitting on the hood of my car and of her car. It is all some kind of symbolize to reflect real memories with my real wife.
At least I hope these are memories about my wife. I might have some explaining to do when I get back home.
These goddamned paparazzi bastards keep making me think I am going home soon but I know that trick too well from being a POW. "Tomorrow, Ray." "You're going home tomorrow, Ray." Stinking paparazzi bastards.
I have thought of this album several times over the past 9 years. It is one of my favorites, but I am not sure if I had a copy of it. I can "remember" it from 1998. I think I "remember" Jim Shea buying a copy of it and that got me to listening to. I only listened to country music until I knew Jim Shea.
Address at the United States Naval Academy Commencement Exercises in Annapolis, Maryland
May 22nd, 1985
...
One man who sat where you do now and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1968 is another member of our administration-Assistant Secretary of Defense James Webb, the most decorated member of his class. James' gallantry as a marine officer in Vietnam won him the Navy Cross and other decorations, including two Purple Hearts. James wrote several books about American service men and women. In his book, "A Sense of Honor," he describes the life that you have chosen. He wrote:
"Servicemen are always in motion, in the air at more than the speed of sound, underwater at depths whales could only dream of, on the surface of the water cruising at 30 miles an hour through crashing seas with another ship almost touching theirs . . . replenishing their oil supplies. Or they are on the ground, in the dirt, testing and training weapons that may someday kill others but today may deal them that same irony. The smallest margin of error separates a live man from a dead man. And in war, of course, they are the first and usually the only ones to pay. The President and the Congress may suffer bad news stories. The military man suffers the deaths of his friends, early and often." End quote.
I was trying to remember earlier about the title of that Tom Clancy novel I was reading in the Pioneer Square gulag last year. It was the one about "Ryan's" wife finding out about the family "Ryan" was supporting that she didn't know about and she was surprised to find out about it. I have also been thinking about those 11/2/2000 news articles where George W. Bush was saying that not even his daughters knew about his 1976 DUI's.
I looked it up and I remember this is the one I was re-reading while I was in the gulag. I can "remember" reading it before, but that must be an artificial memory because I don't remember reading it in the past 9 years.
Clear and Present Danger is a novel by Tom Clancy, written in 1989, and is a canonical part of the Ryanverse. In the novel, Ryan is thrown into the position of CIA Acting Deputy Director and discovers that he is being kept in the dark by his colleagues who are conducting a covert war against the Medellín Cartel based in Colombia. The title of the book is based on the legal phrase "clear and present danger".
The novel sold 1,625,544 hardcover copies, making it the #1 bestselling novel of the 1980s.
Aha. The "princess with the pink car." That is my wife and I am Pink Floyd. I also have some artificial memories of the wife from my artificial life sitting on the hood of my car and of her car. It is all some kind of symbolize to reflect real memories with my real wife.
At least I hope these are memories about my wife. I might have some explaining to do when I get back home.
These goddamned paparazzi bastards keep making me think I am going home soon but I know that trick too well from being a POW. "Tomorrow, Ray." "You're going home tomorrow, Ray." Stinking paparazzi bastards.
I have thought of this album several times over the past 9 years. It is one of my favorites, but I am not sure if I had a copy of it. I can "remember" it from 1998. I think I "remember" Jim Shea buying a copy of it and that got me to listening to. I only listened to country music until I knew Jim Shea.
My Two Visits to U2's Joshua Tree
A photo essay by Brad Biringer
...
Think of the great icons and moments of the '80s. What comes to mind? The Space Shuttle's maiden voyage. The U.S. Olympic hockey team beating the heavily-favored Soviets at Lake Placid. The rise of cable television. Joe Montana. Reagan's two landslide elections. Miami Vice. Big earrings. Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton winning Gold at the L.A. Olympics. Magic's Lakers versus Bird's Celtics. Springsteen's Born in the USA. U2's The Joshua Tree.
A great symbol of the '80s, the actual Joshua tree that appears on the U2 album jacket stands tall and proud in an extremely remote area of California's high desert. This photo, taken in 1998, provides a comparative synopsis to the way The Tree appeared when Anton Corbijn photographed it during U2's visit in December 1986.
From 7/16/1986 to 3/9/1987 is: 236 days, or 33 weeks and 5 days
From 7/17/1986 (??? Similar notion to 3/4/1959 ???) to 3/9/1987 is: 33 weeks and 4 days
The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band U2, released on March 9, 1987 on Island Records. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The album was massively successful, and is considered to have been U2's worldwide commercial breakthrough. In addition, it has often been praised by music critics as the band's best album and one of the best rock albums of all time. The album earned number 26 on Rolling Stones 500 greatest albums of all time list. The Joshua Tree won the Album of the Year award at the Grammy Awards of 1988.
...
A photo essay by Brad Biringer
...
Think of the great icons and moments of the '80s. What comes to mind? The Space Shuttle's maiden voyage. The U.S. Olympic hockey team beating the heavily-favored Soviets at Lake Placid. The rise of cable television. Joe Montana. Reagan's two landslide elections. Miami Vice. Big earrings. Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton winning Gold at the L.A. Olympics. Magic's Lakers versus Bird's Celtics. Springsteen's Born in the USA. U2's The Joshua Tree.
A great symbol of the '80s, the actual Joshua tree that appears on the U2 album jacket stands tall and proud in an extremely remote area of California's high desert. This photo, taken in 1998, provides a comparative synopsis to the way The Tree appeared when Anton Corbijn photographed it during U2's visit in December 1986.
From 7/16/1986 to 3/9/1987 is: 236 days, or 33 weeks and 5 days
From 7/17/1986 (??? Similar notion to 3/4/1959 ???) to 3/9/1987 is: 33 weeks and 4 days
The Joshua Tree is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band U2, released on March 9, 1987 on Island Records. It was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The album was massively successful, and is considered to have been U2's worldwide commercial breakthrough. In addition, it has often been praised by music critics as the band's best album and one of the best rock albums of all time. The album earned number 26 on Rolling Stones 500 greatest albums of all time list. The Joshua Tree won the Album of the Year award at the Grammy Awards of 1988.
...
Track listing
"Where the Streets Have No Name" – 5:37
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" – 4:37
"With or Without You" – 4:56
"Bullet the Blue Sky" – 4:32
"Running to Stand Still" – 4:18
"Red Hill Mining Town" – 4:52
"In God's Country" – 2:57
"Trip Through Your Wires" – 3:32
"One Tree Hill" – 5:23
"Exit" – 4:13
"Mothers of the Disappeared" – 5:14
Music by U2, lyrics by Bono.
Produced and engineered by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois.
Produced and engineered by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois.
U2 LYRICS
"Mothers Of The Disappeared"
Midnight, our sons and daughters
Were cut down and taken from us
Hear their heartbeat
We hear their heartbeat
In the wind we hear their laughter
In the rain we see their tears
Hear their heartbeat
We hear their heartbeat
Night hangs like a prisoner
Stretched over black and blue
Hear their heartbeat
We hear their heartbeat
In the trees our sons stand naked
Through the walls our daughters cry
See their tears in the rainfall
