A little boy at the rally.

[wp_caption id="attachment_70" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The PROTES rally"][/wp_caption]

]]> http://kalcauthen.wordpress.com/?p=204 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:46:20 +0000 Kal Cauthen http://kalcauthen.wordpress.com/?p=204 Client: Why does my little boy have such as hard time at the barbers?

 Celebrity Barber Kal.  There are several reasons why your child cries or misbehaves.

1. The parents do not prep the child prior to arriving at the barbers.

2. The child does not like the barber.

3. The clippers are to noisey

4. The parents don't let the child sit by himself.

5. Nine times out of ten its the parents fault. If the child start screaming the parents freak out causing more tension.

According to Celebrity Barber, Kal Cauthen

A little boy wanted $100.00 very badly and prayed for weeks, but nothing happened.

Then he decided to write God a letter requesting the $100.00. When the postal authorities received the letter to God USA they decided to send it to the President.

The president was so amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5.00 bill. The president thought this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy.

The little boy was delighted with the $5.00 bill and sat down to write a thank-you note to God, which read:
Dear God: Thank you very much for sending the money. However, I noticed that for some reason you sent it through Washington DC., and those buttheads deducted $95.00 in taxes.

Grandpa Rick helped Liam climb a tree for the first time. Liam loved it! He kept trying to reach for the leaves, which I'm sure he thought would make a good lunch.

.This is filler

This is filler

Hmm, I wonder what this is growing on the branch?

I'm awesome at this tree climbing thing, give me dap.

Often times he is a stealth kisser. . .he waits until you least expect it and he goes in for the gusto. Big, sloppy, kisses when you least expect it. Jeremy and I have learned that if we give each other a kiss, Liam gets jealous and will give us each one. I think it's funny.

So Liam has this ABC book that we read at least once a day. The book has a picture for each one of the letters, for example, A is for apron, B is for ball etc. Well G is for glasses and it has a photo of a cute girl with heart shaped glasses on. About two to three weeks ago, when we got to the letter G, Liam leaned in and gave this girl a huge kiss! I thought it was just a one time deal, but no. . .he kisses her every time we read the book! It's so hilarious. He doesn't kiss the the "A girl" wearing the apron, or the "H girl" wearing the hat, or the "Q girl" dressed like a queen, or the "U girl" with an umbrella - just the "G girl." There is something about her that he likes.

What is a mom to do? He certainly won't date until he is at least 18, so the idea that he already digs cute girls with heart-shape glasses makes me a little nervous. This will certainly be a book I'll keep around and when he becomes a teenager I'll show him his first crush.

Runtime: 91 Minutes - Country: USA

This film is focusing on a small and lonely town somewhere in the US - and this one seems to be rather awkward, such as the people that are living there. Dr. Jennifer Stillman (Nastassja Kinski, daughter of the genious actor Klaus Kinski - may god rest his soul) is a school therapist that just moved here - being very eagerly with her work. But most certainly, she does not seem to have a good start... all the people are looking at her like stuffed dummys, being very sceptical about her and the work that she wants to pursue here.

There we have the young boy Ben Miller (Bobby Edner), who actually is one of the first persons that are looking her straight into the eye. It seems to be a silent cry for help already - he is being harassed by his schoolfellows indeed - but what is the boy actually up to ? And what about the other people that are living in this town - who are all behaving rather curious ? Especially Dr. Michael McCann (Randy Quaid), Ben's father - it seems that he knows about one big secret - referring to himself, his son; but also the whole town... so Dr. Jennifer Stillman starts to investigate on her own, being disturbed by the local sheriff and basically all other inhabitants...

Ben Miller (Bobby Edner), who seems to know about one big secret

First of all: what about the overall title ? It has nothing to do with the general storyline, neither than any of the messages one could be able to get out of this production. It is a complete faux pas, if you would ask me. Since the audience would rather expect a general thriller with an universal meaning here - affecting whole mankind. If you have watched the film, you will know that it will turn out to completely different ! It rather is a portrait of one single misleaded children's soul...

To state it: I think that this is one of the toughest decisions I will ever make, concerning my general film reviews... the following phrase is obligatory, so let me pronounce it again: Warning, Spoilers !

Ben with his father - they seem to have a difficult relationship

Referring to the overall storyline: it seems to be a totally hilarious one; including one of the biggest coincidences ever shown in a film - right after Dr. Jennifer Stillman arrives in the town, there is a big slimy monster appearing, who starts to kill any of the inhabitants that are living in the town, obviously in a random order. According to Ben (who has a great affection towards Sci-Fi stories) this being actually is his father, a lifeform from outer space that is finally coming to get him. Since it is just like this: Dr. Michael McCann obvioulsy isn't his real father, he has adopted him five years ago - just when his mother died. The detailed circumstances are finally revealed towards the overall ending of this film...

I tought that the film would not have many surprises, after watching the first minutes - but this turns out to be different. Since there actually is an extraterrestial lifeform appearing on earth - but this one is actually brought to life by Ben - and his mysterious powers himself. He just copied this monster from a film that he was watching in the TV, being so powerful that he could actually bring this being into life. Towards the end, and with the help of Dr. Jennifer Stillman Ben starts to remember about the past events. Unfortunately his mother has been seen as some kind of witch, and was therefore killed by the overall townsmen, only leaving her son Ben behind - who has been adopted by Dr. Michael McCann. And this just is the overall secret behind all this...

Dr. Michael McCann is one of the first to encounter the "monster" face to face...

To state it: this obviously is a B-movie that is referring to the overall 50's. But most certainly - it is a rather good one. After watching the first minutes you would not get rid of the feeling that this is a rather failing horror flick - referring to the title, the cover artwork and the basic storyline. But, it turns out to be a serious drama - certainly, only on a certain base. Considering this way, we have a young boy that has lost his mother early - under very brutal circumstances, since she has been seen as a witch. But her son has so much love for her that this feeling converts into a supernatural power - which could destroy any of those who would approach her. Finally, she sees only one option for his son to live on... she is forbidding him to use these powers. I certainly like this rather unique approach !

A personal reunion - but unfortunately (? )not a familar one...

Unfortunately there are many negative aspects also... that is why I labled this one as my overall toughest choice. To sum this up, the main negative aspect certainly is the overall atmosphere of the film. Referring to the script, it seems to have a hard time by moving between the horror elements (the shocking moments, the brutality, the portrait of the monster) and the general psychic portrait of the young boy. That is why I found myself laughing now and then - some scenes seem to be way too ridiculous. Just take the annoyingly reduced characters that are living within the town - they are so stereotypically that they would already give you a laugh - although it is not ment to be like this.

Talking about the technical part... it is fair. Referring to the whole camera work, the soundtrack et cetera - you would not get to see anything surprising here; but you would not be disturbed also. The acting part however could totally convince me, to admit it. Nastassja Kinski as the school therapist, Bobby Edner as the desperate child standing between all lines, Randy Quaid as his father - wow, this certainly is a well chosen and talented cast. Thumbs up for their great performances !

But, and to say but the last time referring to this film - the whole storyline seems to be way to synthetically, enforced and not very believeable. Too bad, since this film has been a little surprise for me. I will leave you with a 5.6/10 here. Feel free to leave a comment, I would be interested !

This DVD at Amazon.com - The Trailer

Torn page held tight in his dirty hand
The little boy runs, his eyes intent
Panting with eager delight in his plan.
Until at last, strength almost spent

He bounds happily up the toyshop stair.
A bell announces the entrance of the boy
Into paradise's market! Finally there....
His breath steadies as he waits, alive with joy,

For his turn. He smooths the crinkled image
Out on the counter, scatters his piggy bank's bliss
Across the glassy counter's gleaming mirage.
At last he can ask “do you have this?”

At last the box is lifted from the cart
And he clutches it to his racing heart.

It struck me that many of the poems or texts written for poefusion's latest friday five (little boy, torn page, market, dirt, cart) including the first one I wrote myself, were rather melancholy in tone. I wondered if this was simply because of what the words suggested, and decided to experiment with the idea of writing a happy poem based around these words. I rather liked the resulting sonnet!

Picture uploaded by the Library of Congress onto Flickr

Who are you, you mysterious boy?
Boy who wanders through my dreams
Dreaming of freedom from your fear and pain?

Painfully, obsessively, you pick at the dirt,
Dirt that, you think, sullies the wholeness of your mind -
A mind that so desperately seeks to be clean.

In clean, neat script, you wrote “Little boy”, again
And again on your hopes' bright, torn page...
Torn in your heart and fearing destruction.

And destroying hope, the dark blood drove you to despair -
Drove a cart and horses trampling and stamping,
Stamping confusion where you should have been most sure.

Oh sore-conflicted boy, who wanders - all alone
And always lonely along paths that are so strange.
Stranger to yourself, adrift in an ill-fitting world.

Our worlds met, one day, and I played at your side,
Beside you briefly in the sunlight, 'til your fear's leaden weight
Led you back to tread again those lonely paths of shadow.

For the shadows in your mind led your search astray,
And so you strayed unknowingly into the marketplace of the soul,
Soul-bewitched and swindled by its rainbow-sick illusions.

Illusions - the gift of healing, the lure of special insight-
But fear's insight blinded you, and your hurting heart
Hurt others - hurt them, yes, far more than you could bear.

So barefoot and soul-battered, so lost and so alone
Your lonely shadow wanders on, in life and in my dreams.
Oh dream-bound boy, how dark the paths where you are bound to walk.

I wish you may walk safe and sure through your life's dark maze,
Unmaze yourself, grow strong, and be the man you wish to be.
Be whole and true, and know the peace of being who you are.

This poem was prompted by Friday Five at Poefusion - a challenge to write a poem incorporating the words/phrases - little boy, torn page, market, cart, and dirt.

So this is the front.  I used the Sahara Sand SU paper, and some misc. green cardstock for the little seal.  The castle is from a super old SU stamp set from 1996!  But I really love it because the set is soooo cute!  I used markers and prismacolors for the image.

A little closer up.

And when you open it up.............there's a DRAGON inside!!! (and some cute little toadstools too!)

He's a cute dragon though and not scary at all.  Totally appropriate for a little boy I think!  Now only 6 more to make.

Send me a comment if you want the full recipe :)

The tornado season had started unusually early this year; Jimmy had been chasing storms for many years with his loyal companions, Boof and Rocky. Boof and Rocky sat beside him in his truck every year, when he was chasing storms.

Lightening had started flashing through the windows of the truck, startling Boof and Rocky then the hailstones began pelting on the roof of the truck. The strength of the storm blowing up from the side window of the truck had begun rocking the truck from side to side. Boof and Rocky had woken Jimmy with their barking,

“Okay, boyz I know we have to get a move along,” said Jimmy.

The wind speed had strengthened since he had woken up, “Come on Boyz we have to get out of here,” said Jimmy.

The truck was rocking vigorously as Jimmy and the Boyz jumped out of the truck and moved to the driver’s cabin. Boof and Rocky were anxious as they entered the cabin,

Jimmy said, “Boyz I will cover you up on the floor, this is going to be the mother of all storms.”

There was another belt of lightening that flashed down as Jimmy was trying to radio through to his home base. Trying to find his mobile phone in the cabin, he realized he was running out of time.

“Oh! Shit!” said Jimmy, frightened by the sudden belt of lightening.

Jimmy and the Boyz had been together through many storms before but never the strength of this storm. Suddenly the air about them had become still and dark again.

Then a giant gust of wind started picking up the truck, Boof and Rocky jumped up on Jimmies lap cuddling in tight against him for protection.

“Hang on tight Boyz!” said Jimmy.

Jimmy had been able to set his video camera going, filming everything that had happened since they jumped into the driving cabin.

“No one would believe us fella’s,” said Jimmy.

Suddenly the truck was let go by wind over a creek bed, miles away from where they were camping. The truck rolls along the creek bed, popping the doors open. The truck came to a stop, shocked and bewildered Boof and Rocky climbed out of the truck. Sitting for a moment by the truck,

Boof said to Rocky, “Come on we have to try and drag Jimmy out of the truck, before it blows up; there is petrol dripping.”

“We can drag him out Boof!,” said Rocky.

Starting to drag him out, Jimmy was stirring; the aroma of the petrol smell was making him gasp for air. Thankfully he was able to help Boof and Rocky; they were strong dogs, clever. Somehow they knew they had to drag him to the edge of the bank of the creek bed. Almost as soon as they reached the bank of the creek a flash flood came rushing down the once dry creek. Jimmy, Boof and Rocky sat in shock as the truck washed down the creek with all of Jimmies equipment on board.

Boof and Rocky started tugging at his shirt sleeves, telling him to stand up and get moving.

“Yes Boyz, I know we have to get moving,” said Jimmy. Ruffling their fur he cuddled them and said, “Thank you fella’s.”

He rises a bit wobbly from the shock of the day’s happenings, reaching up to scratch his head; puzzled wondering where they were. Boof and Rocky began tugging at his trouser legs,

“We will be Okay! We will take you back to the road,” said Boof and Rocky.

Jimmy knew they were capable of finding the road they needed. Dazed, Jimmy followed Boof and Rocky hopefully in the direction of the road. Boof and Rocky were getting worried,

“It looks weird Rocky,” said Boof.

“I know, it looks like the end of the earth,” said Rocky.

Boof and Rocky started walking a little faster, trying to find shelter before dark, and not knowing which way they were heading along the road.

“Boof you are the leader,” said Jimmy. Then he added, “You know we have to follow the North Star.”

Boof was walking in front leading Rocky and Jimmy, Boof slowed down a bit to let Jimmy catch up and then he could talk to Rocky,

“Rocky it feels weird, the silence is scary, we have not come across any humans, no animals, no cars, no trucks,” said Boof.

“The North Star is leading us somewhere; we may be able to get Jimmy help soon,” said Rocky.

They appeared to be walking forever, in the distance they could see lights of a town nearby. As they seemed to approach the town, the lights seem to move away each time. Until gradually a town became visible, although destroyed by the storm;

Rocky said, “Boof can you see the dog in the distance.”

“Yes!” Rocky. “A big black dog, just wandering about looking at us,” finished Rocky.

Rocky went on the defense, slowly walking up to the big black dog a little frightened of the size of the big black dog. Too Rocky’s surprise the dog was very gentle.

Blackie said, “It is okay I spotted you arriving in town, and came to guide you to my master the Doctor or what is left of the town.”

“Okay! You scared our entire group, and Master Jimmy is hurt and we need a doctor,” said Rocky.

“Who is the other dog?” asked Blackie.

“He is Boof our Leader,” said Rocky.

Blackie walked slowly across the path beside Boof, they acknowledged each other, cautiously. Boof allows him to lead them into town, but he also growls with a warning!

Boof said, “Do not lead us into a trap; your size does not make any difference to me!”

Walking into town a weird feeling was coming over them all.

Boof said quietly to Rocky, “The town is destroyed, know one is around.”

“I hope there is a doctor about, Jimmy is very tired and weak,” said Rocky.

There was a dazed little boy wandering about the street crying, “Mummy, Mummy!” “Where are you?” Boof and Rocky walk up too him and coax him to come with them all.

Jimmy and Blackie catch up to their companions, “Looks like we have another passenger,” said Jimmy.

He picks up the little boy and places him on Blackie’s back after he is the size of a little pony. Walking a little further a huge man, in a dirty overcoat and a straw hat; looking very pale from the tornado.

“I am the Doctor, Blackie has done a good job, bringing you to us and the little fellow as well,” said the Doc.

“Yes! We have been walking all day and night since the tornado, till we found Blackie and the little fellow,” said Jimmy

The Doc took the lead, and led them all into the barn where he had been helping others from the storm.

“Jimmy,” said the doc, “How did you get here?”

They both were sitting on the ground in the barn, with straw beds made up to help other who came into town looking for help. Doc was tending Jimmy’s forehead where it was bleeding.

Blackie, Boof and Rocky had cuddle up together on the straw and made a bed for the little boy lost in the storm. Gradually he had finally fallen asleep from exhaustion.

“Look Doc, the little fellow has fallen asleep finally,” said Jimmy.

“Happy but sad,” said the Doc, “I had just finished burying his mother, I could not help her,” finished the Doc.

Putting the final plaster on Jimmy’s forehead, “Now rest for a while like the others,” said the Doc.

The Doc pretended to sleep for a while, the quietly rose and walked over to Blackie and patted him on the head gently and beckoned him to come with him. They left the barn quietly while all slept peacefully.

The Doc and Blackie disappeared outside the barn never to be seen again.

Sleeping for a long time, Jimmy woke up to Boof, Rocky and the little boy playing in the barn.

“How are you Boyz? And Now little fellow what is your name?,” said Jimmy.

“Okay,” said Boof and Rocky.

“Tommy,” said the little boy.

Gathering his strength, Jimmy said, “Let’s all keep together and have a look outside.”

“Doc, Blackie, where are you?” said Jimmy loudly. A few times while keeping everyone together, Boof and Rocky started barking and ran on ahead to the truck they spotted parked by what was an old hotel. Jimmy reached the truck with Tommy in tow and stood shocked to see the truck looking as nothing had happened to his truck at all.

Puzzled Jimmy says, “Boyz! What has happened? What is going on?”

Boof and Rocky hopped into the truck sniffing around the driver’s cabin, and barking. Jimmy knew it was safe to lift Tommy into the truck and settled himself down to drive to the next town, or anywhere to get help if they would believe him.

You don't read much history.

Yes, it's true that those earliest nuclear weapons caused horrific death and destruction.

The first atomic bomb, dropped on Hiroshima, killed roughly 70,000 people immediately. Japan refused to surrender. Perhaps they reasoned that America had only one bomb, and could not make more.

The second atomic bomb, dropped on Nagasaki, killed roughly 40,000 to 70,000 people immediately.

Together, the two atomic bombs were responsible for the immediate and over-time deaths of around 140,000 people.

The atomic bomb explodes over Nagasaki

Awed and stunned by this raw power, the hard-hearted Japanese leaders were forced to unconditionally surrender.

Compare this to the cost in lives for a conventional military invasion of Japan.

In just the Battle of Okinawa alone, the invasion and securing of the tiny islands cost over 90,000 Japanese military deaths, close to 50,000 Allied deaths, and from 75,000 to 140,000 civilians dead or missing.

That's a total of around 280,000 lives lost to secure just a foothold from which to invade the main Japanese islands.

Victorious (at high cost) troops raise the American flag over Iwo Jima

So in the two atomic bombings, only HALF the number of casualties were incurred as compared to the invasion of Okinawa.

Okinawa had a pre-invasion population of about 500,000. That means that up to a third of the entire civilian population was killed in the World War II invasion of the islands. Add to that military deaths equal to another one third of Okinawa's civilian population.

Part of the reason for this was the fanatical bushido code of the soldiers, who encouraged or forced civilians to hold out to the death against the Allies - or even commit mass suicide rather than surrender and 'lose face'.

And meanwhile in the homeland of Japan, the Shosango and later Ketsugo war policies were being implemented to encourage every single man, woman and child to fight the Allies to the death... Even if they had only bamboo to use as a weapon. (I, Scott, saw footage of such World War II Japanese women undergoing bamboo spear combat drills.)

Above from Mike Kemble

Above two from Waiting Women

If the main Japanese islands had been invaded, a bloody massacre far more grueling and drawn out than Okinawa could be expected.

In 1945, Japan as a whole had a population of around 52 million... Roughly 100 times as many people as Okinawa had.

If the Japanese had not been forced to surrender by the atomic bombs, a conventional invasion might have incurred a similar casualty ratio as Okinawa had.

That would be roughly 35 million lives lost, half of those being Japanese civilians forced or propagandized into fighting to the death.

I'm not conjecturing out of thin air here - the official Allied plans for invading Japan if it refused to surrender predicted a cost of 1 million American and 10 million Japanese lives. Even after the two bombs were dropped, the military planners were unsure as to whether the stubborn Japanese leaders would keep on fighting tooth and claw.

So it's 140,000 deaths from the two atomic bombs, versus a potential 11 to 35 million deaths from a conventional invasion of Japan.

Do the math.

And keep in mind the massive civilian and prisoner death toll caused by the brutal Japanese invasions and occupations, such as the Rape of Nanking (300,000) the Death Railway (25,000), and the entire campaign of wiping out the 'inferior races' (10 million total).

Every day that the brutal Japanese bushido masters ruled, would have meant more torture and murder.

Thus IMHO, the atomic bombs were the lesser of evils and even justified to be used to quickly end the war.

 distributorcap NY

63 years later, there is still much debate on whether the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were necessary - we will never know. Five years later there isn't much debate whether the invasion of Iraq was necessary - it wasn't.

This post comes as an inspiration from an another written by Mountjoy over at FranIAm

On August 6, 1945, "Little Boy" was dropped from a B-29 bomber named Enola Gay over Hiroshima, Japan with a force of 13,000 tons of TNT. Between 100,000 and 130,000 people died immediately. Three days later, on August 9, "Fat Boy" was dropped from another B-29 christened Bockscar over Nagasaki. This plutonium-type bomb was more powerful and had a force of 20,000 tons of TNT. Approximately 45,000 were killed instantly.

Truman and the US Military began planning for the invasion of Japan called "Operation Downfall." The Americans knew casualties would be high - Truman stated after the war they had anticipated anywhere from 250,000 to one million US soldiers, as well as millions of Japanese civilians. The Japanese military also threatened to kill all Allied POWs if the country was invaded.

The justification for using the bomb evolved into ending the war quickly, with fewer deaths than an extended diplomacy and invasion would bring. Truman ultimately made the decision to drop the bomb to stop the war by inflicting destruction "sufficient enough to cause Japan to surrender." Truman also said "we have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans" (from the public papers of Presidents, Harry S. Truman).

The government of Japan was dominated by the military. They were determined to fight on - for in Japan honor of the nation was deeply embedded in the culture. On July 26^th, Truman, Churchill and Chiang Kai-Shek issued the Potsdam Declaration - the terms for surrender. The plan stated that the surrender was unconditional and the alternative was "utter destruction." It made no mention of the status of the Emperor - who the Japanese believe to be descended from God. It was rejected.

On August 6, a new era in warfare was ushered in. Hiroshima was vaporized. Three days later the city of Kokura was spared when a cloud cover rolled in. But Nagasaki was not. After the bombings the Soviet Union, which had remained neutral - declared war on Japan.

The military still refused to surrender. Emperor Hirohito broke with tradition and called for peace. "It is my desire that you, my Ministers of State, accede to my wishes and forthwith accept the Allied reply." On September 1, 1945 Japan formally surrendered

Were the bombings necessary?

The Japanese government had been attempting to persuade the Soviet Union to mediate for peace. The US knew from intercepted messages in July 1945 that the Japanese government was seeking a way to end the war. But other factors were taking hold -- Truman was concerned about appearing "soft on Japan" and not "exacting a punishment on the Emperor." And within the US government, most people were intent on winning the war through military means and not diplomatic - which could be classified as revenge.

Doesn't this sound familiar?

The desire for revenge is understandable during war. But when seeking the least bloody manner to force surrender and save the lives of one's own military personnel, emotional responses and reactions often divert leaders from considering diplomatic solutions. The military and punitive measures seem bolder, more attractive and out-and-out necessary. This may have contributed to Truman's belief that Japan would not surrender without a large-scale invasion of the island and/or atomic bombings of Japanese population centers.

This is the one of the primary reasons Bush is still in Iraq. The military solution is more attractive and emboldening. 9/11 did change everything - it made emotion a major variable in the equation.

The Allies in WWII were overly dependent on military means to bring about a solution. It appears they did not use all other means necessary before dropping the ultimate weapon. American policy was geared around the fact that only military escalation could end the war quickly.

Score another point for the Bush administration.

According to Robert Butow "Secretary of War Stimson has raised the question of whether an earlier surrender of Japan could have been achieved had the United States followed a different diplomatic and military policy during the closing months of the war. In the light of available evidence, a final answer in the affirmative seems possible, even probable."

Had we continued talking to Saddam Hussein - could this whole mess been avoided ?- no doubt.

The use of the atomic bombs have been characterized as immoral, an aspect of war crimes, and as crimes against humanity - the same charges levied against the Nazi leadership. Many have stated that the use of atomic weapons on Japan was motivated by a desire to "show off" this powerful weapon to the new enemy - the Soviet Union. Others have said the lingering effects of radiation and the indiscriminate civilian deaths that have ensued make this equivalent to mass murder. Philosopher Michael Walzer of Princeton has labeled the bombings "war terrorism" - where the effort to kill civilians in such large numbers that their government is forced to surrender.

Again - why was the invasion of Iraq even considered - to keep the military prowess of the US top of mind? The unleashing of a civil war in Iraq - akin to mass murder?

The bombings have been criticized from all sides of the political and intellectual spectrum. Albert Einstein, Albert Camus, the US Council on Churches, scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project like Leo Szilard and James Franck. Truman's own panel - the US Strategic Bombing Survey stated "Based on a detailed investigation of all the facts and supported by the testimony of the surviving Japanese leaders involved, it is the Survey's opinion that certainly prior to 31 December 1945 and in all probability prior to 1 November 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated."

There is no way to be certain that the droppings of Little Boy and Fat Man on Japan ended the war quicker with less deaths than extended diplomacy or a land invasion would have. But we can regret that no attempt was made - that the bomb was not the weapon of last choice.

We cannot say the same for Iraq - all the death and destruction that followed the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 would have been avoided, as the pressure of diplomacy, economic isolation and other factors would have forced the hand of Saddam at some point. But emotional draw of 9/11 changed all that.  Invasion was not the weapon of last choice.

Hundreds of thousands could have been saved in Hiroshima and Nagasaki - we do not know.

Hundreds of thousands would have been save in Mosul, Baghdad and Basra etc. - that is for sure.

What is it good for...absolutely nothing

*Edwin Star - War

Yes!!

 I am dancing thru the rain drops!!  Past Radio City Music Hall & running straight home!!!  Another eventful week here in the city. 

Tomorrow I will be helping out with YuCA the Arts Organization at my Church to complete what I call The Children's Church Mural - Bronx Style.

YaY!!   I promise to post pictures on Monday of our wonderful Saturday Painting Time!!

So Here is my Daily Painting, ( While almost Daily)

Magic Hour

Magic sometimes comes straight out of conflict.  This piece was one of the final designs considered to become, A Permanent Public Art Installation or The Metropolitan Transit Authority of NYC

also know a the NYC Subway System

In this piec I wanted to show the battle that rages between DAY & NIGHT.  Darkness cannot exist in the ace of the Light.

This Blood Battle marks a special time of day called

The Magic Hour.

So, we never have to fear the night, because joy & light will always come in the morning!  Have a wonderful weekend you Beautiful People!!!

Yosuke Yamahata – La Cúpula Genbaku

¿Es usted un demonio? Soy un hombre. Y por lo tanto tengo dentro de mí todos los demonios.
Gilbert Keith Chesterton

La destrucción total. La decadencia de una civilización que como dice Voltaire, no suprimió la barbarie; la perfeccionó e hizo más cruel y bárbara.
Imagínate caminando por Hiroshima un día después de la fatídica explosión. Cuerpos calcinados, tufillo a chamusquina, sabor a plomo en el aire, ruinas en un ángulo de 360 grados. No puedes asimilarlo, no alcanzas a comprender el poder que esconden algunos pocos puños cerrados, te muerdes el labio impotente y en silencio. Pisas hierros ennegrecidos que aún se quejan y prefieres no detenerte sobre esos escombros descompuestos de quién sabe qué. Reconoces vestigios de una ciudad que tardará en ver el sol. No muy allá, todavía quedan pequeñas fogatas sin apagar que escapan del tono gris que lo envuelve todo. Y escuchas débiles súplicas a lo lejos que desgarran el silencio fúnebre.
El 6 de agosto de 1945, el Enola Gay, un B-29 estadounidense, dejó caer a “Little Boy”. Cumplían órdenes. A las 8:15:17 se escuchó un ruido sibilante que sólo fue el preludio de una gran tragedia como nunca antes se había visto…

Estados Unidos había lanzado la bomba atómica. Hirohito no se rendía y no se les ocurrió una idea mejor. Panda de cabrones. Mientras el ejército japonés trataba de ocultar el bombardeo a sus ciudadanos, el presidente Harry Truman se dirigió a su población a través de la televisión:
“Hace poco tiempo un avión norteamericano ha lanzado una bomba sobre Hiroshima inutilizándola para el enemigo. Los japoneses comenzaron la guerra por el aire en Pearl Harbor, han sido correspondidos sobradamente. Pero este no es el final, con esta bomba hemos añadido una dimensión nueva y revolucionaria a la destrucción […] Si no aceptan nuestras condiciones pueden esperar una lluvia de fuego que sembrará más ruinas que todas las hasta ahora vistas sobre la tierra.”
Se le olvidó comentar que en Pearl Harbour murieron militares y aquí civiles. No necesitas la imaginación de Lewis Carrol. Tienes delante la fotografía de Yamahata. Impactante. El único superviviente que quedó en pie fue la Cúpula de Hiroshima. La Cúpula Genbaku. También conocida como la Cúpula de la Bomba Atómica.

El edificio fue diseñado por el arquitecto checo Jan Letzel y se completó en abril de 1915. Era un edificio para mostrar exposiciones. Y acabó expuesto. La bomba nuclear cayó casi encima de él (el hipocentro estuvo a 150 metros de distancia) y fue la estructura más cercana a la explosión. El edificio se ha conservado en el mismo estado desde aquel día, y ahora sirve de recordatorio de la devastación nuclear. Como símbolo de esperanza y paz. Un emblema que debería bastar para que un puñado de dedos poderosos decidan eliminar las bombas nucleares. Es Patrimonio de la Humanidad. Y el distintivo del Parque Memorial de la Paz de Hiroshima, que ocupa un gran espacio en el centro de la ciudad. Un centro de Hiroshima que aquella mañana quedó invisible. Oculto. Sólo podía verse el puerto de Aioi.
-"Una columna de humo asciende rápidamente. Su centro muestra un terrible color rojo. Todo es pura turbulencia. Los incendios se extienden por todas partes como llamas que surgiesen de un enorme lecho de brasas. Comienzo a contar los incendios. Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis... catorce, quince... es imposible. Son demasiados para poder contarlos. Aquí llega la forma de hongo de la que nos había hablado el capitán Parsons. Viene hacia aquí, es como una masa de melaza burbujeante. El hongo se extiende. Puede que tenga mil quinientos o quizá tres mil metros de altura y unos ochocientos de anchura. Crece más y más. Está casi a nuestro nivel y sigue ascendiendo. Es muy negro, pero muestra cierto tinte violáceo muy extraño. La base del hongo se parece a una densa niebla atravesada con un lanzallamas. La ciudad debe estar abajo de todo eso. Las llamas y el humo se están hinchando y se arremolinan alrededor de las estribaciones. Las colinas están desapareciendo bajo el humo. Todo cuanto veo ahora de la ciudad es el muelle principal y lo que parece ser un campo de aviación. Eso aún resulta visible. Allá bajo hay aviones".'
Bob Caron-artillero de cola/fotógrafo del Enola Gay.

La primera bomba atómica de la historia acabó con la vida de 120.000 personas de una población de 450.000 habitantes, causando otros 70.000 heridos y destruyendo la ciudad casi en su totalidad. En sólo unos pocos segundos, la onda expansiva, el calor de varios miles de grados, y la radiación, producto de la explosión, destruyeron todo lo que encontraban a su paso cercano al punto de impacto
La bomba atómica es un dispositivo que obtiene una enorme energía de las reacciones nucleares. Su funcionamiento se basa en provocar una reacción nuclear en cadena no controlada. Se encuentra entre las denominadas armas de destrucción masiva y su explosión produce una característica nube en forma de hongo.
Al no haber una rendición inmediata del Imperio Japonés, tres días después, una segunda bomba explotó 500 metros por encima del suelo que pisaban los ciudadanos de Nagasaki. Allí, el número de víctimas causadas directamente por la explosión se estima en 50.000 mortales y 30.000 heridos de una población de 195.000 habitantes. A estas víctimas hay que sumar las causadas por los efectos de la radiación nuclear. De una población de 645.000 habitantes, el número de víctimas pudo sobrepasar las 400.000 ó 500.000. De ellas, 200.000 ó 250.000 mortales (los datos difieren según diversas fuentes).

El fotógrafo fue Yosuke Yamahata. El gobierno japonés le envió al día siguiente del ataque para que documentara los efectos de la nueva bomba americana para su estudio por el alto mando nipón. Si os apetece leer acerca de su vida y encontrar algunas sensibles impresiones de lo que sintió al llegar al lugar, podéis clicar aquí. Es muy recomendable, además encontrarás fotografías de Nagasaki el día después. Un excelente trabajo. Una punzante faena.

http://www.nnc.cubaweb.cu/paginasat/gal4.htm

La guerra es un asunto demasiado grave para confiárselo a los militares. Ni a los políticos…
Que decidan las madres…

                                                                                                        Story of the day:  Entertaining Angels

   I have told the following story before and I thought that it would be appropriate to share it with Quote of the day.  Some of you may have heard it before, but to some of you, it may be new.

  At the age of 16, my brother had to have an emergency appendectomy.  This emergency surgery led to him having other serious health issues, which in turn caused him to have to be on medication or this illness could have killed him.  The drugs were very strong and ranked high up there with chemotherapy.  He lost his hair and a lot of weight.  

   Needless to say, it was a very scary and heart wrenching time in our life.  As a family, me and Jeff, having 2 children at the time, decided along side my mom, dad, and brother that it would be best to move in all together.  We helped in every way possible and more importantly just loved him and prayed him through his situation.  We took turns giving him shots, reading Scripture, and just praying for him.

   He became very ill and weak because of all the medications that he was taking, which in turn discouraged him in many ways that only one can imagine.  Well, throughout this trial in his life,  he still managed to live as normal a life as possible and always managed to hold his head high.  

   One day, he decided to go to the mall.  He was hanging out and decided to sit on a bench that was so appropriately placed next to the mall entrance.  As he was sitting on this bench, a little boy around 12 years of age approached my brother, and began to speak to him.  They talked about life, they talked about school, and they talked about God. 

   What was unusual about this situation is that my brother had never met this little boy, but became intrigued by the conversation that was taking place.  The little boy then said these few statements that shook my brother to his core and grew his faith in God even more than it already it had.  The little boy said, "I know that you are sick.  Don't worry, it's going to be okay!  God's going to take care of you and you will get better!"  The reason these statements are so different from what they were previously talking about, is because that little boy knew nothing about my brother being sick.  My brother never even mentioned what he was going through as far as his illness.

  It started getting late and the little boy left out of the doors that were right next to the bench that my brother was sitting on.  Still amazed that the little boy knew of my brother's illness, my brother decided to follow this little boy because he wanted to thank him again for talking with him and to find out his name.  As he followed the little boy outside the doors of the mall, the ray's from the sun's bright light caught his eye, causing my brother to no longer see the little boy.  Now, I'm not saying that the little boy didn't get into a car at this point and drive away.  What I am saying is that this little boy came along and spoke to my brother at a time that he needed it the most, and for that moment, in the right place, my brother entertained an angel and didn't even know it.

   God can use anyone to be our angel.  They are sent to let us know that God is so real and that He is there to take care of us.  To let you know about my brother, he is completely healed and because of his faith and trust in God, he is now a living testimony for our Heavenly Father, in more ways than just one.

Quote of the day:  George Elliot

"The golden moment in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone."

Bible verse of the day:  Hebrews 13:2

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Throughout Scripture there have been so many accounts of Your angels and the work that they do here in this world.  Father, I don't know how, and my tiny mind couldn't even possibly come to understand why sometimes, but I do know that my faith and trust in You is so great, that I believe it when you say "when I entertain strangers,  I may just have entertained an angel."  I love You Lord and I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

I haven't done anything earth shattering. Got up, made breakfast, put some washing on, folded some clothes, made S's packed lunch, got the uniform out and drove to school. Then to the shop to buy a present for S's friend, who's having a birthday party tomorrow. Bought some playdough to replace the dried-up, gummy stuff in the cupboard and some new, red Wellington boots for Z.

Then we went to the park, singing made-up songs about the shiny new boots on the way, to make Z. laugh. We spent a happy hour on the swings, slide, roundabout and making up imagination games about hiding from dinosaurs and taking trips in the toy train, to the moon, enormous castles, the beach etc.. It was very fun and very interesting to watch him being so captivated by the stories we were making up and the adventures we were having.

He has a cold today, my littlest boy. Not a huddle-under-the-duvet-and-watch-TV kind of cold, just a streaming-at-the-nose-and-coughing sort of cold. Funny little thing. He asks me for a tissue and then carefully wipes his nose before handing it back to me, unaware that he's just smeared snot across his face and up to his eyebrow.

When we got home, I gave him a bowl of cold red grapes and a drink and we played with the fresh playdough. No rollers or special equipment, just the playdough and a dollop of imagination. I did look for the roller etc.. but it's obviously hiding at the back of a cupboard somewhere, too shy to come out.

We made spiders and cats and snails and snakes and a little boy sitting on a chair.

He loves to talk with them. He has whole, earnest conversations, with me playing the part of whichever creature takes his fancy. It delights him. He gets right down and talks into their 'faces', telling them stories and news of the day. He has such a soft little face and when he smiles, my heart seems to smile in reply.

Mornings like this one are priceless, full of joy and wonder. 

Now he's gone happily to bed and has fallen asleep almost immediately, after a little wind-down chatting to himself.

My achievements today were small in practical terms but enormous in  the ways that matter to me. In terms of mothering, this day is pretty perfect. :-)

When he starts playing again, two hours later, his mother overhears him say, "Can those disembarking mind the step and have a nice day. Those boarding, please enjoy your journey and those upset at the two hour delay, blame that fat cunt in the kitchen".

At the supermarket. In a trolley full of the week's shopping.

He was tired. I knew that but I was nearly finished and our fridge was almost empty, so I kept going, offering him soothing words as he got ever more agitated until finally, he started shouting at me.

"I want to get OUT! Stop this TROLLEY! I am NOT Happy!"

Followed by a gutteral roaring which startled the old lady next to us into dropping her frozen peas back into the freezer.

I was startled too and I made the fatal mistake of laughing in surprise, which of course wound him up even more.

"Noooo! Not laughing! Stop it! NOW!"

His little face was red and scrunched into a wrinkled scowl that reminded me of when he was first born. He's discovering himself, this boy. Discovering that there are choices out there to be made and experimenting to see which of them are his to make.

I remember when S. got to this stage, at almost this exact age. I'd known it was coming but his tantrums were so big, so unbridled. I wondered where my sweet boy had gone. Now, with Z, I know that it doesn't last for ever, that eventually they settle down and relax again, so I feel more philosophical about it.

I'm bracing myself though. Usually when I put him into bed, Z. smiles happily, snuggles down and goes to sleep. (S. most emphatically did NOT do this and I've been very grateful to Z. for being so reasonable about it..)

Yesterday, he very firmly told me it was not bed time and he wanted to come downstairs. "I know you do darling but it's sleeping time now. You can come downstairs in the morning."

Ensued another tantrum, but he did lie down in the end and fall asleep.

Oh well, it begins.. :-)

Anyways, Alois Kral died this week on Thursday, April 3rd. Exactly what were his contributions to physics? Kral was an electrical engineer whose work was used by The Manhattan Project, the team of World War II scientists who developed the nuclear bomb. Of course, Kral was not aware of this until after the atomic bomb was dropped.

The development of the nuclear bomb is of course a result of discovering nuclear fission, also known as "splitting the atom." Fission occurs when a heavy nucleus breaks up into smaller ones, releasing energy.

The Hiroshima bomb, Little Boy, was made from uranium-235. By bombarding it with neutrons, induced fission is made possible. As the heavy nuclei is split up into intermediate-sized nuclei, the binding energy per nucleon increases and energy is released.

The process of fission is self-sustaining. After a single reaction, a few neutrons are released, free to then induce more reactions in nearby atoms. This will produce more free neutrons which go on to continue the process. Tada! A chain reaction is produced!

Indeed the destructive atomic bomb was not the best investment of our knowledge of fission. This just goes to show that knowledge can be dangerous. And so can secret governmental plans.

The following pics are what would happen if "Little Boy" (the bomb dropped on Hiroshima) went off in my basement. Followed by a 50-megaton, also centered on my place. Lastly, what if the asteroid that theoretically killed the dinosaurs landed in my backyard? Good stuff! (The inner circle is the fireball, the purple is 3rd degree burns, the second and first degree.)

It looks like the sunburn (first degree burns) ring is inside the second-degree radius in the asteroid impact one. Still buggy?

I don't know why it started or where it came from. At first, I thought it might be hormonal and I decided to ride it out but as the week progressed, it got worse, until I considered going to see my GP to find out what was going on.

For those of you who have been reading my blog, you'll know that this isn't the norm for me. One or two days a month maybe but not this. This grinding, grey sadness felt a bit overwhelming.

And I ate. I ate everything in sight. Comfort eating on a large scale. Partly through boredom and partly to numb myself. I watched as if from outside, as I drifted through the days. I looked surprisingly normal really, for someone feeling so crap.

I took S. to see The Spiderwick Chronicles the other day and nearly cried when he wouldn't hold my hand. He said he felt embarrassed because there were people around. Now I'm pretty philosophical usually and at any other time, I would have shrugged and moved on, knowing that this was a stage that he'd reached, or was passing through and that everything changes. He can't stay a little boy forever.

Because it happened in the middle of this other stuff though, I felt as though my heart was breaking. Immediately, I extrapolated it to mean that now I wouldn't get any hugs and that everything was changing too fast and... well, you get the idea. It was like PMS gone mad!

I'm still tired and needing more sleep but I feel more balanced now, more peaceful, more connected. I'm still going to get it checked out though. It feels as though it could have a physical origin. Maybe I'll go to a naturopath too.

I went to Slimming World today. I'd put on a pound, which considering the amount and types of food I'd eaten, was a minor miracle. When Margaret, the woman who runs the group, asked me sympathetically whether it was Easter that had been the problem, I said no, it wasn't that. I just hadn't been following the plan.

She was a bit nonplussed but rallied quickly, to congratulate me on coming back and staying for the class. I replied that I nearly hadn't come, so she asked me why I'd decided to. I thought about it for a second and told her that if I didn't do something, nothing would change. It's true. I have to move forward. Staying in one place just doesn't do it for me at all.

When the class was finished and I was quietly packing up Z's toys and getting him into his chair, a very quiet woman, about my age, came up to talk to me.

She told me that she was sorry to disturb me (very English.... :-) ) but that she wanted to tell me that I'd been an inspiration to her. That my cheerfulness and positivity had made a difference to her and that she would feel very sorry if I left and she didn't get to have that anymore. She was embarrassed and said so. I, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with gratitude that she'd overcome her shyness to say this stuff at the exact moment I needed to hear it. I hugged her, thanked her and watched her walk to the door.

What she said didn't make everything I was experiencing go away but what it did do, is give me a new perspective, provide that little shift, to a place from which I can make my way back. It made me feel worthwhile and that's a good place to begin.

It's worth telling people when they're special to you, or when you think they look great, or when they've done something you really appreciate. Even if it's a stranger.

You never know what it might mean to them.

While sitting at Second Cup yesterday, I saw a mother and her child. The child was about 2 years old, and he had dreads. I was interviewing someone so I couldn't take a picture but seriously it made me think. My nephew Ramsay, is such a styling little babe I must feature him on the site.

First, we do not need to establish how cute Ramsay is. Let's face it. He's a babe, a stud, a future ladies man. I mean look at this kid. His lips give Shiloh Jolie-Pitt a run for her money, his shades are so risky bidniz, his mother is a fashion stylist and designe, and at 18 months, he's already rainbow styling! I have to also mention that DIVINO up there does not have two left feet. In fact, he is a dance machine! His favourite music videos are "Please don't stop the music" by Rihanna and "Gimme More" by Britney Spears. The moment he hears it, he starts shaking. Oh and he loves Rihanna.

And I leave you with a video that describes my little man, DVNO by Justice. So please, don't ask his name to figure out how cool he is!
Justice - DVNO