Pennsylvanians know about the Islamic symbolism in the Flight 93 Memorial, and have stopped donating. The first indication came last September when State Senator Jane Orie came aboard as a fundraiser. She got a quick education in growing controversy.

In a 9/11 radio interview with Pittsburgh talker Fred Honsberger, Orie explained why she hoped the Flight 93 families would get back together and revisit their design choice:

Orie: “No matter who it is, and no matter where I went today for 9/11 events, everybody brought up this crescent. Whether it is intentional or not, it is disturbing to people.”Honsberger: “So everyone is bringing it up to you.”

Orie: “Absolutely.”

At that time, the Memorial Project had collected about $12.5 million, far short of the huge design’s anticipated 60 million dollar price tag. Six months later the amount sits at “A little more than $12 million.” It is possible that they are actually spending more on their fundraising efforts than they are raising.

Bill Steiner, who has been rustling up opposition on the ground in PA, dropped by Somerset recently and had a conversation with Memorial Project Superintendent Joanne Hanley. She appeared beleaguered, and confided that fundraising was sluggish, suggesting that the memorial would probably have to be built in stages. Presumably she meant something other than the normal stages of building, but was anticipating delays.

Now this week the Somerset Daily American has an editorial complaining that the whole state seems to be dumping

on Somerset County, bemoaning amongst other things the lack of funding for the Flight 93 Memorial.

This is not the preferred way to stop architect Paul Murdoch’s terroist memorial mosque Head of State move from being built. The damn thing ought to just be stopped by those in government who are in a position to stop it, so that a new and fitting design can be selected. At that point, money will be needed, but for now, with Murdoch in full command of the hijacked memorial, lack of money is what is needed. Starving the engines of fuel is one way to keep the hijacker from reaching his target, and until the hijacker is stopped, nothing else matters.

The people get it, and are voting with their pocketbooks. When are our our elected representatives going to step up and do their part?

Senator Orie is not the only Pennsylvania state legislator who has expressed concern, but Congressman Tancredo is as yet the only politician to actually call for the crescent design to be scrapped. If our representatives can’t be leaders, can’t they at least be followers?

To join our blogbursts, email Cao (caoilfhionn1 at gmail dot com) with your blog’s url.

Can handle the thought of putting on cheap plastic specs to get a 3D view of a virtual world?

Good news! Help is on the way!

[…]
Researchers at the University of Arizona’s College of Optical Sciences (OSC) in Tucson, and engineers from Nitto Denko Technical Corporation, in Oceanside, Calif., recently unveiled a prototype of a photorefractive polymer film on which 3-D images can be recorded, erased and replaced with new images. When carried out swiftly enough, this process leads to a series of images on the film that deliver three-dimensional action that can be picked up by the naked eye.

I’m confident I can say a display for your home might be a little pricey right now, not to mention a sort of still in the engineering Frankenstein-istic look about it, too. The “hope” (we hear a lot about that these days) is stuff like this tends to get to be real and affordable one day…hopefully before Darth Vader and friends try to take over the universe.Chasing the Green ipod

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Warm up reading (after you finish this one!): Fred Fry’s Maritime Monday – his 100th edition, btw.

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and Eagle1 tells some tale of how the ground pounders horned in on nautical work for many, many years.

A blast from the past, or more precisely post #1 in this series.

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Still getting the lay of the new land out here, so the postings time for research is at a premium. If you follow the link, I began with some history of the beginnings of the US Navy, when we began to consciously design and build warships. Harken back to the days of wooden ships, iron men, and the decision making process in Congress, and other places, that may remind you of some events today, or not. It was an exciting time, when a particular shipwright created a great design and got the ships to sea, where they performed remarkably well against the former motherland and other enemies in the foreign way.

“Art still has truth, take refuge in it”

What?  I have no clue what moron would make such a ludicrous statement, let alone wear it in public on a t-shirt.  I wonder if they think every painting really represents a real image any one of us could have observed.  Talk about “living in a fantasy world!”  I’ll blame t on the NEA, who has failed to provide the asterisked disclosure for art teaches to read verbatim to students letting them know some art is called “impressionistic” for a reason.

Ponder it.  If you can explain it to me, I will read your comments carefully…

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Today was the day of the time honored tradition of christening of a US Naval vessel, in this case, the one day to be the USS NEW YORK (LPD-21). House of 1000 Corpses divx I Wanna Hold Your Hand

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NEW YORK will carry to sea 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the Ground Zero site in her stem, a reminder for all the days of her service of that day in our history. CDR F. Curtis Jones, USN, will have the honor of serving as the PCO.

History…plenty of it was on display today to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11.

A big “Bravo Zulu” to Sgt. Wayne Leyde, WA-ANG.

Most, who don’t understand, would take the money and run. This man made a commitment, and his word is his bond.

How about the real people who can handle any situation?

It seems Medea Benjamin knows who

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….

Oh, the sticky sweet, dripping all over irony! Get over and read the article.

Unsolicited advice to Medea: You’re looking to apply “disproportionate force” for your defense. That can get you in trouble with the Rules of Engagement lawfare types.

In a very good way.

Her post, describing a discussion with a soldier at the USO is wonderful. Even if it didn’t give me an opportunity make a teaser headline from one of her observations, it’s still another one of those “must read” posts around the blogosphere.

Titled “Investments”, you won’t be disappointed.

Click thumbnail to view high rez flyer (300dpi). Fits letter size paper. Suitable for flyering your town or campus.

Please leave a comment on this post…a strange question appeared when I was trying to publish it.

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Here’s the open post…link ’em up!

In the meantime, today’s “sea story” isn’t directly about the sea, but rather things I learned while in the profession of being at sea.

Now, I take you into the “wayback machine” and send you three years of blogtime into the past for “The Value of the Military Skill Set – Part II.”

Comments appreciated. Fell free to travel about the links in that post to the other in that many-parted serial post.

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