Water Pipe Leak

Today, as I was walking near the Warren Avenue Bridge which connects east and west Bremerton I noticed a leak in a large water pipe that runs under the bridge. I went to city hall and reported the leak to the public works department. Hopefully I saved the city a bit of trouble.

Sunday Volunteering

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/aug/28/with-pruners-rakes-and-mops-silverdale-church-to/  On Sunday, I helped a church group clean up a neighborhood near downtown Bremerton. The idea was to show God's love in a tangible way to people. I am not especially religious, but it was a   good day, and I met several interesting people including an ex-Navy man who told me about his old ship: "The USS Maddox." The USS Maddox was severely damaged by Kamakaze planes during World War Two and was also one of the U.S. ships involved in the Gulf Of Tonkin Incident. The Gulf Of Tonkin Incident was one of the triggers for America's long and senseless war in Vietnam.

Obama Goes All Out For Dirty Banker Deal | Common Dreams

Obama Goes All Out For Dirty Banker Deal Common Dreams

Corporate America

One of the most accurate satires of modern corporate America is when Jennifer Aniston's waitress character in the hilarious film "The Office" argues with her manger about how many "flourishes" she should ghave on her uniform.

Apparently, It is not enough  when America's working poor  efficiently perform the tasks of their low-wage jobs, corporate America also demands that they pretend to be blissfully happy when they are doing them.

A Wise Man

Years ago, the news program "60 Minutes" interviewed the new leader of a country in Africa ( Unfortunately, I don't remember which one). The former rebel leader had worn a pistol in a boot holster, but when he became the leader of his nation, he replaced the pistol with a writing pen. I wish every leader could be as wise as this man.

Book Review- "The Crossing" by Howard Fast

"The Crossing" by Howard Fast is the inspirational true story of how General George washington brought the Continental Army back from the brink of collapse during the American Revolution.

In 1776, after several bloody defeats at the hands of the British army and their Hessian mercenary allies, the American rebel force under the command of George Washington was in tatters.

Thousands of Washington's troops were wounded, sick, hungry, and lacking decent clothing. There was no money to pay the troops and the rate of desertion was high.

To save his army, Washington devised a bold  plan to cross the icy Delaware River on the evening of December 25 and attack the Hessian Garrison that was stationed in Trenton, New Jersey.

The actual battle did not come off as planned, but it was still a smashing victory and probably saved the American Revolution.

For those who think that the United States is in decline because of our current economic problems, I would advise them to read "The Crossing" by Howard Fast.

America’s Rampant Inequality Impossible to Deny | Common Dreams

America’s Rampant Inequality Impossible to Deny Common Dreams

  My Comment: The massive wealth inequality in the United States is a direct result of the Reagan and Bush tax cuts for the super rich.

How Safe Are You? What Almost $8 Trillion in National Security Spending Bought You | Common Dreams

How Safe Are You? What Almost $8 Trillion in National Security Spending Bought You Common Dreams



  My Comment: Just imagine what could have been bought with the money wasted on pointless wars and unnecessary military spending.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Daily-Reminder-to-Click-.html?soid=1103615757410&aid=70FORgX6G-A

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Daily-Reminder-to-Click-.html?soid=1103615757410&aid=70FORgX6G-A

Habitat for Humanity Advocacy:

Habitat for Humanity Advocacy:

BART Pulls a Mubarak in San Francisco; Shuts Cell Phone Service to Impede Protest | Common Dreams

BART Pulls a Mubarak in San Francisco; Shuts Cell Phone Service to Impede Protest Common Dreams


        My Comment: The loss of freedom begins when ordinary people accept the premise that government has the right to limit or stop peaceful protests.

Book Review- "Love Comes Softly" by Janette Oke

"Love Comes Softly" by Janette Oke begins with young pioneers Martha "Marty" and her husband Clem traveling west in a covered wagon sometime in the late 1800s. When Clem is killed in an accident,  a pregnant Marty finds herself stranded in the midwest with no way to get back home.

Widower Clark comes to the rescue with a proposition. If Marty will consent to a platonic marriage with him and take care of his daughter Missie, then Clark would pay for Marty's trip home in the spring.

A modern reader might wonder why it would be necessary for Marty and Clark to be married in order for Marty and Clark to live in the same house. Today, a man and woman living together is more or less accepted by society, but a 100 years ago it was a much different story.

At first, Marty deeply resents the arrangement while she grieves for her dead husband, but slowly she comes to appreciate Clark as a kind and gentle man and a hard worker.

From the title, "Love Comes Softly" it is not hard for the reader to guess the ending. Still, I very much enjoyed the story of two people overcoming grief and falling in love.

Book Review- "James Dean-A Short Life" by Venable Herndon

If actor James Dean (Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant) had lived, he would have been eighty years old in 2011. It is hard to imagine James Dean at eighty. Can one still be a "Rebel Without a Cause" at eighty years old?

Because he was so talented, it is likely that Dean would have adapted himself to changing times and getting older, but we will never know because he was killed in a car wreck in 1955 at the age of 24.

"James Dean- A Short Life" by Venable Herndon is a pretty good biography of those 24 years.

Book Review "Soldier X" by Don Wulffson

"Soldier X" by Don Wulffson is a fictionalized account of actual events that occurred during World War Two. In 1944, 16 year old Erik Brandt is drafted into a desperate German army that is losing ground on all fronts.

Along with several other boy soldiers, Erik is sent to the Russian Front to defend a German outpost that is under siege by the Russian army. Erik's position is overrun by the Russians and he finds himself trapped behind enemy lines. Erik learns that the Russians are not taking any prisoners so he switches uniforms with a dead Russian soldier. In the Red army uniform, Erik is wounded by a German officer and is then sent to a Russian army hospital. Erik uses a knowledge of the Russian language to continue to pretend to be a Russian soldier.

After the hospital is attacked by the Germans, Erik and a Russian  nurse named "Tamara" are pushed by the tides of war into numerous dangerous situations while they attempt to get to Switzerland.

Soldier X is an exciting story of a little known chapter of World War Two. Since there are graphic descriptions of  combat and wounded soldiers , It might be helpful for a teacher or other adult to explain some of the events in the book to younger readers.

Young Sailor

A few days ago, I noticed a sailor with a cast on her foot trying to get through the door of a mini-mart that I was just entering. I held the door open for her and I was struck at how very young she was. I am so grateful for the American young people that sacrifice so much to serve their country and I wish that we had leaders with the wisdom to be damn careful before putting our soldiers in harms way.

Strange Encounter Six

Today, I visited Bremerton's Forest Ridge Park, which in my opinion is Bremerton's best park. As I was walking down a driveway in the park, I noticed a car that had the engine running, but there was apparently no driver or passenger in the vehicle.

  Of course I thought that was very odd, but I decided to give it some time in case there was a perfectly logical explanation. I walked a short distance and then after a couple of minutes I returned to the car (which was still running) and found a young man fully reclined in the drivers seat. I knocked on the window and asked him if he was all right. The young man indicated that he was. I contemplated whether I should call the police to be sure,but decided not to. I hope that I did the right thing. Later on, I noticed the car was gone.