Jack Bauer's career move

What?!?

I'll admit it: 24 is a guilty pleasure of mine. Like many other fans I'm eagerly anticipating the two-hour movie on November 23. However, I just got done reading the teaser on the Fox website. Have you seen the premise of the movie? (The emphasis is mine.)

Filmed on location in Cape Town, South Africa, and Los Angeles, 24: REDEMPTION stars Emmy Award winner Kiefer Sutherland along with Cherry Jones, Robert Carlyle, Gil Bellows and Jon Voight.

After sacrificing everything for his country, Jack Bauer is wanted by the U.S. government and now stands to lose the only thing he has left: his freedom. Working as a missionary in Africa, Bauer is called upon to stop a ruthless warlord from drafting innocent children into his murderous militia. First, Bauer must confront his own torturous past and face an impossible decision that will change his life forever.

All I can say is, God bless Jack Bauer.

Recession: What me worry?

Hey young-uns, listen up! The other day I heard the news reporter say, "This is the worst recession since 1982." 1982? That reminded me that in the fall of 1982 Susan and I got married. Susan was in graduate school finishing up a degree. Being the liberated, supportive husband that I was I said, "I'll leave my current job (a really lucrative job for that stage of my career) so that we don't have to move away and you can finish your program. It won't be so hard for me to find a new job." Famous last words.

I thought I was pretty well informed but I realize now that I was oblivious to what was going on around me. I spent at least six months flailing: resumés, mail, interviews, informational interviews, before I found a career-related job, and that one only because of family connections. The only right thing I did was what I had done - I'd saved up a lot of my early professional income, which gave us an adequate cushion while I was out of work.

The moral of the story is wake up, smell the coffee, pay attention. This could happen to you!

Airship up!

Only this morning did I realize how excited I am about the imminent arrival of a Zeppelin to NASA Research Park where I work. The first Zeppelin to fly in American skies in 70 years is en route from Texas and is projected to arrive in San Francisco on Saturday October 25, weather permitting.

"Airship up!" is the tradition call for launching a Zeppelin. You'll hear that often now that Airship Ventures will be operating flying tours of the Bay Area from points around the bay.

Lots of eye candy accompany this post. Click here for the airship's track, updated every 30 minutes. Click here for the Airship Ventures blog where pictures from the air via cell phone are being posted. Wow. Makes me want to buy a seat though at $500 a pop I'm sorry to say you'll have to pay for your own ticket.
Finally, I hear you saying, "What's the big deal? I've seen big floaty things over my football stadium all the time!" Well, what you've been seeing are blimps, not Zeppelins. Zeppelins are huge, 30 feet longer than a 747 and much larger in volume. They have an internal frame which makes them much more maneuverable, easier to control and quieter in the cabin. Blimps are only big bags of gas, have no frame and are thus more like hot air balloons, more subject to the whims of the winds, if you will.

Keep your eyes on the skies. You may see the Zeppelin today!

Toward more effective talk therapy

Thanks to our good friends Fred and Joy Pugh for directing us to this enlightened approach to talk therapy. (Facebook readers, you may have to go to my blog site to see the video clip. That would be blog.gslee.com)

[Revised 3/6/09 to replace expired video link.]

Click for video.

America Needs To Have A Superficial Conversation About Race

Thanks, The Onion. I think this article about says it all, especially extended to the presidential race.

America Needs To Have A Superficial Conversation About Race
By Ed Bryerly
Concerned Citizen
August 27, 2008 | Issue 44•35
Ed Bryerly

The people of America need to put aside their differences and come together on common ground. Especially at this crucial moment in our history. How better, I ask, to achieve this goal than to engage in an inconclusive, protracted, ignorant, and superficial examination of the issue of race?

The time for vagueness is now.

Read more>

My Washington DC Labor Day Trip, Part I

As has been my habit over the past few years, I accompanied my parents to my dad's annual WW II Army division reunion, this year held in Washington, DC. A quick bit of arithmatic will show that the youngest of those hardy vets is about 82 or 83, but you would hardly guess that was the case with many of those in attendance. More about that in a future post.

In the meanwhile enjoy part one of a little experimental eye candy. This multimedia extravaganza comes via a service called Photobucket.com. These pictures feature day 1 of sightseeing for me. The National Geographic Museum is a delightful small gem a few short blocks from the Capitol Hilton. The changing exhibits are always free and an easily managed bite-size bit of really interesting stuff. We were treated to an exhibit called China's Great Armada, a fabulous bit of history about Chinese ships that dwarfed Columbus' and built 200 years before his. You'll want to follow the link to learn more.

The majority of the pix are of the National Cathedral, the fifth largest Christian cathedral in the world, a place I've wanted to visit for many years. A little off the beaten path for the Metro, but just up the street from a number of bus lines. Learn more than I could ever relate to you by clicking through on the Wikipedia article linked to the Cathedral.

Randy Newman: "Korean Parents"

Okay parents, what's the solution to getting your kids to shape up, get good grades, become crazy good on the piano and be respectful at the same time? If you've heard Randy Newman's latest album, Harps and Angels, you know the answer is to rent some Korean parents! The track is, naturally, Korean Parents. Take a listen here. Credits to East Windup Chronicle, which usually doesn't discuss this kind of thing. Lyrics credit MetroLyrics.

Kids today got problems
Like their parents never had
Neighborhoods are dangerous
The public schools are bad
At home there are distractions so irresistible
The hours fly by
No work gets done

Some Jewish kids still trying
Some white kids trying too
But millions of real American kids don’t have a clue
Right here on the lot
We got the answer
A product guaranteed to satisfy

Korean parents for sale
You say you're not all that you want to be
You say you got a bad environment
Your work at school's not going well

Korean parents for sale
You say you need a little discipline
Someone to whip you into shape
They’ll be strict but they’ll be fair

Look at the numbers
That’s all I ask
Who’s at the head of every class?
You really think they’re smarter than you are
They just work their asses off
Their parents make them do it

[Saleslady]:
Oh, learn to play the violin
Oh, to turn your homework in right on time

What a load off your back that will be
No tears
No regret
Never forget who sent Fido to the farm

The greatest generation
Your parents aren't the greatest generation
So sick of hearing about the greatest generation
That generation could be you
So let's see what you can do
Korean parents and you

You can also hear Randy Newman discuss this in his own words on the Nonesuch Records website. I haven't checked this out yet myself but I'm looking forward to it.

Another country, another keyboard

Wow, just as I was thinking the German keyboard was tough, now I'm having to learn to retype on the French keyboard. I'm sure my WPM is down to 10 or 20! I may at some point decide to leave the typing errors until I return to the states. Wanna see The quick red fox?

The auick red fox ju,ped over the lqwy brozn coz:

We arrived in Paris this noon. The 8:30 am flight required we get up at 4:30 am and apparently none of us slept well, possibly because of the anticipation. The upshot is that we were all tired on arrival and all required naps. Despite that I, for one, am highly excited to be in PARIS! Parisien things we've done today: had lunch in a cafe facing the Seine and Notre Dame; witnessing a collision between a scooter and a car; buying tickets for and riding in a Paris bus; dining in a brasserie, and...; speaking a lot of French! Vraiment! I am amazed how much French is coming back to me. Just ask Gordon!

Bear-lin? Nein, Berlin!

For those of you who know Susan and me well (maybe too well), I couldn't resist the pun. We have reached Berlin and what a thrill it is. It is truly one of the world's major cities in all senses of that term. The streets of Charlottenburg, a major brand name, big name, expensive shopping district, were teeming with Saturday shoppers. There are all manner of people out, too. I heard at least a dozen languages spoken as I prowled the KaDeWe department store.

And what a department store it is! As I recall Herrod's in London or Macy's in New York City, this has them all beat. I don't know if the website communicates its extent, but check it out if you are so inclined.

http://www.kadewe-berlin.de/

Sorry, no eye candy until maybe I return to the US. I'm posting from an Internet cafe in a Dunkin' Donuts (really!) for the duration while in Berlin. Why yes, I'll have another....

Zou saz ÄThe quick brown fox jumped over ....'

No, that's not an error in the subject. At least that's not an error for a touch typist who doesn't check his or her work. These German keyboards are a little different from American ones, with the y and z switched, for instance, and with an additional modifier key on the keyboard that's needed to access the "@" symbol. I'm going to have to learn to tzpe, er, type all over again when I get home....

Over on Facebook Gordon is leaving all the keyboard artifacts in his posts. Apparently it's the new irony to leave that stuff in.

Chocolate -- Soldiers

Chocolate? The Chocolate factory in Delitszch where the Timberwolf HQ was during the last stages of the war. It still operates, too!

Soldiers? We were guests at the noncommisioned officers school not far away. Had a great time with them. They were all fluent in English so we had an entertaining give and take over lunch.

Ein, zwei, drei... Halle (Salle)

A little German seems to attract greater expectations that you can speak more English. Even a little "bitte" (please) can start a whole stream of German, despite one's protestations in English.

We're here in Halle (Salle), site of a great victory for the Allies that you probably haven't heard of. The reason is that the capitulation was negotiated between Gen. Terry Allen and Count von Luckenberg (sp?), a respected citizen of Halle and a World War I hero. While the Count was not in the German military command he convinced the German commander to let him negotiate with the Allies to try and avoid the destruction of the city with the attendant civilian deaths. Needless to say the attempts were a great success.

Today Halle boasts many turn of the century (19th to 20th) buildings, making it in its way more charming than some West Germany cities that chose to deliberately bulldoze their inventory and replace them with contempory buildings, which are now ugly, old 50s era buildings. I certainly am enjoying the colorful, lively, typically European city center of Halle.

Our hotel room has a sheet boasting of Halle's attributes: home of Georg Handel, city center of five towers, 1,200 years old, etc, etc. Last but not least, home of Europe's largest Beatles museum! While I bumped into it during my wanderings I didn't have time to stop inside. Sorry, Rick.

Do not forget the Holocaust

Today was a sober day of remembrance for the Timberwolves. The 104th
Division liberated a concentration camp less known than others but one
that was equally brutal. In April of 1945 the Timberwolves entered
Nordhausen and discovered what other Allied units in other parts of
Germany discovered. In addition the prisoners supplied labor for the
underground manufacturing sites of the infamous V-1 and V-2 weapons of
the Germans. The caverns are immense and awe inspiring in their grisly
way. Google Nordhausen or Mittelbau-Dora for additional details. The
location is placid now amid countryside that reminds one of Western
Pennsylvania. But from 1943 to 1945 it was a place of the worst that
human kind can devise.

Happy Memorial Day from Europe!

If you're Belgian Memorial Day was Sat, 5.24. If you're Dutch it's Sun, 5.25. We were privileged to have celebrated it twice.

I am discovering that much of the Netherlands and Belgium have not yet forgotten the sacrifice of the US on their behalf, and that it not just the generation of WW II but also their children and their children's children. Did you know that Henri-Chapelle American cemetery in the Netherlands has over 7,000 American graves? And do you know that many of those graves have been "adopted" by local Dutch? That means that, at the least, they place bouquets on the graves on Memorial Day. Often the care goes way beyond that token. Likewise, at Margraten American cemetery, with over 8,000 graves, the Belgians do the same.

Yesterday evening we were guests of the village of Chapelle at a Memorial Day show. We arrived at 8 PM while the show was underway. It turned out this was by design. Led to our seats in the front of the community center with the veterans in the lead, the audience of over 800 people appreciatively clapped in rhythm as the vets made their way down the center aisle. Even now it brings tears to my eyes.

The Timberwolves are in Breda and vicinity

Today was a day of honor. The tour traced, roughly, the very first
days of combat of each of the Timberwolves' regiments. All of the
combat took place in the countrysides of the southern Netherlands and
the very northern edge of Belgium. And everywhere we went the local
communities wanted to pay homage to the Timberwolves. It is amazing to
me that these people have not forgotten. There have been at least five
occasions in the last two days where the mayor and citizens have come
out, wreaths have been laid, memorials refreshed and silence has been
observed. Citizens now three generations removed have been present at
these ceremonies, and flags fly from houses just for the Timberwolves.

In addition, today we were met by Timberwolf enthusiasts. The
Timberwolf Foundation (not the exact name) and friends took the day
off work and, in uniform, accompanied us from town to town in their
restored jeeps and trucks. I think there were at least 30 of them.

While I have no embedded eye candy let me refer you to some sites
maintained by local enthusiast groups. You'll get an idea of how
enthusiastic they have been.

How about those jeeps? Here you'll find YouTube videos of the stuff
these guys do, including, I believe, parade footage.
http://www.timberwolves.nl

And a couple of young guys, now 20 and 22, have created a museum in
their parents' garage. They've been working on this collection since
they were in grade school!
http://www.timberwolves.tk

Tomorrow we participate in the Belgian Memorial Day ceremony at the
American cemetery, Henri-Chappelle. And Sunday we're at the Margraten
cemetery for the Dutch Memoiral Day ceremony. These are big deals,
including royalty!

Timberwolves arrive in Amsterdam

Day one of our tour finds us in beautiful Amsterdam. Today Amsterdam puts her best foot forward with wonderful, summer-San Francisco-like weather. It is indeed a city interlaced with canals and alive with bicycles. The areas we've seen are picturesque low-rise retail and residential buildings punctuated with the majestic church or museum or other public building. Lots of interesting restaurants (Italian, Indonesian, Chinese, Indian, Greek, often all on the same block) and small shops. A great city to explore.


The Timberwolves gather for ths first time for this tour this afternoon for a canal tour. Just like in SF, the winds are starting to pick up so it will likely be cool on the water. Then a tour-opening dinner. That is, if we can keep our eyes open. Our bodies are still under the impression that we are on Pacific Time, after all. Or in other words, during our 7pm dinner that part of our brain that remembers such things will still be saying, "what are you doing, trying to stay up 26 hours in a row?"

P.S. I wouldn't recommend clicking through either of these pictures unless you have a fast Internet connection. The file size is huge, like 4 MB each. These are the original files from my camera since I haven't figured out how to reduce the resolution before uploading the pix to the Internet.

104th Infantry Division Timberwolves return to Europe!

By this time tomorrow a group of World War II "alumni" from the U.S. Army 104th Infantry Division, along with spouses, kids and even grandkid, will have arrived in Amsterdam. The purpose - to tour the battlefields where the Timberwolves fought in WW II. My dad, my son and I will all be a part of the tour.

Watch this space. Assuming I can find convenient Internet cafes I will try to post. And assuming I can figure out uploading pictures from my camera to the cafe computer, and upload those pictures to Blogspot, and... well, pray for me.

Happy 2008!

For all you following my blog via RSS, happy new year! May this be a wonderful year for you, filled with prosperity, joy and happiness. May you enjoy interesting and satisfying meals surrounded by family and good friends. Most of all, may you be blessed as you walk with God.