Trav's Thoughts

Welcome to another Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's theme is Key.

I had intended to write a story for today's word. I had a good idea, but I just couldn't get it to go. I'm going to keep the start I made, and perhaps I'll be able to make something of it.

Instead, I think I'll post a favorite poem of mine. I've posted this one before. I think words are the key to knowledge, and knowledge is the key to life.

So this is my poem.

FOR LOVE OF WORDS
by Travis Cody

As I think, so shall I become, evolved
in perception as much as in deed,
Wandering far afield on rational plains, yielding
effortlessly to the subtlety of vision.

Unhampered by solidity does the mind itself proclaim
a knowledge unseen. . .vistas upon horizons,
Distorted normality in a world gone missing
from itself; consciousness devoid of reason or sense.

Stimulated as by intellect, makers of a new rhetoric;
to strive in the unattainable glory of articulate rhyme;
Lofty eloquence grandly spoken to replace substance,
clarity foregone in vehement poesy.

Passionate speakers they, grandiose and bombastic,
blanketing nonsense in ornately turned phrase.
Pompous and foolish, but succeeding to best the fools,
almighty speech broker, bargaining his dose of Roget's.

The poet no less the offender, archly wrings meaning
from none via assorted rhythmic fancy.
Intonation his rule, pure diction on the page;
metaphoric euphoria in an overture of language.

Such as these do equate life's purpose to a word,
beautifully set in print with its fellows in
Happy pursuit of indelible verse; ticketed as prized
work by souls lost in pursuit of less.

For want of a simple fashioning of words to encase
a meaning clear and untainted by fanciful muse
Do some seek a widening of the gates, marrying mind to
vision, blending a thought with its true word.

Deeded in time to each thing comes real meaning,
uncluttered by pieces of man's rude intellect.
Brilliant insight stands apace, waiting for a simple thing;
thought, once accepted, keys knowledge.

Unfettered light then unleashed upon us all, and with
its luminescence the need to embellish is lost.
Speak what is meant and what is conveyed will be known
to all, understood for its own, for love of words.

I don't know what's up with Mr Linky. When I went to get the MM linky box, there was a bandwidth error. So no linky box today.

Dance War premiers next Monday, January 7. I'm still not completely sure how this is going to work. As I understand it, Dancing with the Stars judges Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba will select two teams of all around performers...read that as singers and dancers. These teams will take coaching from Tonioli and Inaba, competing for...something. I don't know what.

I do know that Pam and I will be watching. It's got dancing! There may or may not be reviews. We'll have to see.

The Seahawks are playing lousy. We are not surprised by this. They have been inconsistent all season. Atlanta players are playing for pride and jobs. It shows.

Houston is spanking Jacksonville, which kind of sucks because I think the Jaguars are the scary team heading into the playoffs. See why the final week of the season is so tough to pick winners? I don't think Jacksonville played its starters for very long, but still...who wants to get blown out in the last game of the season?

Seattle sat the starters in the second half and Atlanta took advantage. I'm thinking it's a good thing the Seahawks have one home playoff game, otherwise I'd pick them to go out in the first round. They still might. If it's the Redskins, Seattle will be facing a team that is now healthy and with a powerful emotional motivator (the tragic and vilolent death of Sean Taylor). If it's the Vikings, the Seahawks will face one of the best running games in the league.

So defense is out the window for both Seattle and Atlanta. The teams combined for about 900 yards of offense.

Hey! Here's something cool. I get double headers on both CBS and FOX today. Plus I get to see my Raiders for the last time this season, with JeMarcus Russell getting his first NFL start.

Oh geeez! So much for being excited about getting the Raider game. On the first play from scrimmage Russell just threw an interception on a little screen pass.

**sigh**

Let this be a lesson to all of next year's draft picks. Sign your damn contract and get into camp! The NFL is not college. Players are bigger and faster and they don't care what you did in college. Get in camp, get your reps in, and work hard. That's your job.

Later babies.

The only thing I like about New England going 16-0 in the regular season is that it will become meaningless when they get picked off by Jacksonville or Indianapolis in the playoffs. Here's the conversation I want to have.

"Dude, remember the 2007 Patriots?"

"You mean the team that everyone said was the best ever and then couldn't get to the Super Bowl?"

Sorry...I just dislike that team.

Anyway, here we are at the end of another football season. Let's see what's in store for my teams today.

My Raiders have a chance to punk up San Diego and maybe deny them the 3 spot in the playoffs. With a win and a Kansas City loss, Oakland can also avoid finishing dead last in the division again. It looks like QB JeMarcus Russell will get his first NFL start. He struggled last week with turnovers, but those are the mistakes a rookie needs to make. The Raiders are on a 3 game losing streak and it would be nice to break that going into the off season. There's still so much work to do to get this team back on top. A win in the final game - playing spoiler to a division rival - would be sweet.

The 49ers have won 2 in a row behind QB Shaun Hill. SF can't really play the role of spoiler because Cleveland doesn't have to win to get into the playoffs. The Browns just need Tennessee to lose. But, as with the Raiders, starting the off season with a win - or 3 wins in a row - lets everyone head to the golf course with a smile and positive thoughts about next season. This actually works out pretty well because I can root for SF and Indy to win, and if they do I can still be happy for my friends in Ohio when the Browns make the playoffs. It's a win-win!

I just found a flaw in my win-win scenario. For my pals in Ohio to be happy with the Browns making the playoffs, my Sugarbaby Dixie in Tennessee won't be happy if the Titans get eliminated. Sigh. Word is that Indy will play starters for the first half to stay sharp for the post season. So that could help Tennessee, although Indy's back up players have gotten plenty of experience with all the injuries the Colts have had this season. The good news for Indy is that Marvin Harrison is once again healthy enough to play. That's big for Indy's chances to get back to the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks don't have playoff position at stake, but it would be nice to get a win for momentum heading into the post season. It is critical for Seattle to stay healthy, so I wouldn't expect the starters to play for more than a half. I'd like to see them run the ball better, but they haven't done it well all season and it's too late in the game to fix it. The defense has been particularly strong the last couple of weeks, most specifically in the pass rush. I still don't think this is a very good team, but Pam is happy to be back in the playoffs...and anything can happen.

After back to back 11-5 results, I'm at 159-81 for the season, or 66%.

Week 1 = 12-4
Week 2 = 11-5
Week 3 = 10-6
Week 4 = 8-6
Week 5 = 9-5
Week 6 = 7-6
Week 7 = 10-4
Week 8 = 10-3
Week 9 = 9-5
Week 10 = 7-7
Week 11 = 10-6
Week 12 = 12-4
Week 13 = 8-8
Week 14 = 14-2
Week 15 = 11-5
Week 16 = 11-5

Typically, the final week has been one of my worst. It's as tough as the first week because you just don't know what teams are likely to do. Last night's game was a good one, with starters playing the entire game. Both teams got away with no major injuries, and I think the tough game will serve to keep them sharp for the playoffs.

And I don't care what the NE organization has said over the course of the season, it was big for them to finish the regular season unbeaten. They wanted it. If they hadn't, they wouldn't have played Tom Brady and the rest of the offensive starters the whole game and risk injuries. And the Giants wanted to spoil it, otherwise there was no reason for them to play starters for the whole game either.

But, not every team will have that kind of attitude. For some, the key is to get out of the last game without sustaining serious injuries so they will be at full strength for the playoffs. For a very few, winning is important to get into the post season. For the rest, there are 3-4 hours to play until the off season.

So here we go with my final regular season picks for 2007.

Patriots over Giants - I would have been fine getting this one wrong.
Seahawks over Falcons
Bears over Saints
Dolphins over Bengals
Packers over Lions
Jaguars over Texans
Bucs over Panthers
Eagles over Bills
Browns over 49ers
Steelers over Ravens
Chargers over Raiders
Cowboys over Redskins
Cardinals over Rams
Vikings over Broncos
Jets over Chiefs
Colts over Titans

Don't forget to check out Turnbaby Talks later at 8pm on Blog Talk Radio. Bond from The Couch will be live and in person...hilarity may ensue.



Later babies!

My dear friend Ann from Anndi's Luggage has been telling us all about the vocabulary game Free Rice since October. You can clink the link here or the button in my sidebar to go to the site. This is what you do...

1. Click on the answer that best defines the word.
2. If you get it right, you get a harder word. If wrong, you get an easier word.
3. For each word you get right, we donate 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program.

Click the link to read more and to play. Since Oct 7, nearly 12 billion grains of rice have been donated.

My pal Matt from Bagwine Ruminations made this video to promote the website.



Go to Free Rice now and play the game. You might get a little smarter and you'll feed some people.



Edit:

As Matt points out, "Yo Travis...Just for the record, everyone should know that you wrote this. I merely tweeked the lyrics in a way so that I could comfortably spit the words out."

I forgot to give myself a writing credit! Me! A writer! Sheesh!

Matt did a superb job of condensing the lyrics into a pretty powerful message for his video. Here's the full version:

Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’,
That website keeps a'callin’,
To feed those who are starvin’,
Free Rice.
Freerice.com will hook ya.
Fight hunger won’t ya.
Play and improve somebody’s life.
Simple words or tough ones,
Select the definitions.
One word is 20 grains of rice.

Click the link, play the game
Guess the word, fill the bowl
Feed your brain, and the poor
Free Rice
Click the link, play the game
Guess the word, fill the bowl
Feed your brain, and the poor
Free Rice

Yearnin’ yearnin’ yearnin’
To help some needy children
With surplus we ain’t usin’.
Free Rice!
People across the nations
Since October the seventh
Have donated millions of grains.
With thanks to corporate sponsors
You can help end world hunger.
One word is 20 grains of rice.

Click the link, play the game
Guess the word, fill the bowl
Feed your brain, and the poor
Free Rice
Click the link, play the game
Guess the word, fill the bowl
Feed your brain, and the poor
Free Rice

Sing it to the theme from Rawhide. And while you're singing, click over and play Free Rice.

I've got over 300 cassette music tapes in a plastic tub. I've been looking for a good option for converting them to CD, and I finally found it last week at the Sharper Image store.



Woooooooo!! This is the Ion Tape2PC USB Cassette Archiver. It RAWKS! All you do is plug the USB cable into the laptop, drop a cassette in the player, and record using the software provided. Then the software uploads to Itunes. From there I can burn CD's or download to my Ipod.

It's gonna take awhile, but I'm so happy to finally have the piece of equipment I need to do this.

Plus, sitting right next to the cassette archiver was this...



...the Ion USB Turntable/Vinyl Archiver. It works on the same principle. After I finish with the cassette project I can move on to the albums and 45's.

My sweet Lady got them for me. She's the best!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a Manic Monday post about an ornament I remembered from my childhood.

I suspected that my mom had the ornament, but I was afraid my sister or my aunt might have it. One of the first things I did when I got to Mom's on Christmas Eve was check the tree. And guess what I found...



That's the little wind chime ornament I remember.

I was going to ask if I could have it. But during the conversation, I realized that right now it's very important for Mom to keep it. So one day I'll get it for my own tree.



It surprises me sometimes...shocks me...these seemingly small things that impact me so many years later. I got a taste of that kind of nostalgia last week when we were going through boxes of stuff. Little jolts of memory would hit, and I would realize what kept me from going through them for so long.

Remembering the past is fun. But there are also some darker things to face as well.

And now it's all in plastic; carefully organized so that when I open one box I'll find the football memories. The second box will have childhood memories. The third box will have other memories.

It's just stuff. Stuff that makes up a life. My life.

Welcome to another Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's Christmas Eve theme is Joy.

And what an appropriate word, as I am following Mimi's suggestion and flying a Yuletide Peace Globe.

I wish all the members of my blogging community the joys of the season, with respect for all customs, beliefs, and traditions.



Joyous Yule from me and Pam and Mr Tucker!



Quick update: We're headed over the river and through the woods to Mom's house. I'll catch up with y'all when we get home either Wednesday or Thursday!

Well, it's not snowing hard in Chicago. The major problem is the wind and it is really affecting play. I see players trying to go without gloves...that's just nuts in that kind of cold.

My Raiders got down 14-0 very quickly on a couple of long plays for Jacksonville. JeMarcus Russell is in the game now. He's having to overcome some holding penalties on his first drive. He's making good decisions so far.

Russell made a mistake, throwing late over the middle, and the ball was picked off. But the Raider receiver stuck his hand in and stripped the ball, and the Raiders recovered the fumble. It's not the way you like to get a first down, but we'll take it.

Geeez! The Eagles lead the Saints 21-14 in the first quarter. There has been over 300 yards of offense already! Yikes! How about some defense??

Oakland was unable to make anything out of the interception-then-fumble-recovery, settling for a field goal.

Jacksonville is pretty good. The Jaguars just returned a punt to the Raiders' 3 yard line and followed it up with a short TD pass on the next play.

Oakland can't move the ball. And Russell just threw his second pick. No fumble to get the ball back this time. But, these are the mistakes the kid needs to make.

Jacksonville is really good. They are doing exactly what they should be doing to an inferior team. I guess now I'm just looking for some positive plays from Oakland.

Russell just threw the ball late over the middle again. Luckily the ball wasn't intercepted. But he took a good pop out of bounds and was shaken up a little. So McCown is back in the game and he immediately gets the team moving. But they stall and give the ball up on downs instead of going for a field goal.

The Raiders defense is having a meltdown. They held the Jaguars out of the end zone and Jacksonville was set to kick a field goal at the end of the half. Then the defense started mouthing off at the officials for some reason. The refs threw two flags for unsportsmanlike conduct and tossed Warren Sapp out of the game with another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That's 45 yards worth of penalties. So that puts the ball at the Raider 3 yard line with 21 seconds to play in the half.

But the Raiders intercept the ball at the goal line and run it back to the 37 yard line! What a sequence!

Well, the Raiders came out with a good defensive stand to start the third quarter but then they couldn't move the ball on offense. Chicago is blowing out Green Bay on the other channel.

Now it's time for lunch. Later kids!

Don't forget to check out Turnbaby Talks at 8pm tonight on Blog Talk Radio, with special guest Janna from the Jannaverse. Turn invited her readers to write some holiday haiku, and she promises to read some tonight. Check it out!

Happy Christmas Eve Eve! No, that's not a typo. That's what I call Dec 23. It fits, don't you think?

Two more shopping days...are you done?

So we woke up this morning to a crash and a thump and a snarl, then gallops down the hallway. Evidently, Mr Tucker was having a war with my shoes that I left out last night. He seems very proud of himself that he prevented this intruder from getting into the bedroom. We're playing along and showering him with praise.

The shoes have been imprisoned once again in the closet.

Such a goofy kitty!

Well, today is the penultimate gameday for the 2007 football season. Let's see what's in store for my teams, shall we?

My Raiders have another tough one at Jacksonville. The Jaguars should have one of the two wild card spots secured, but another win today would just about guarantee the 5 spot. I'm about as happy as I can be with my Raiders. They have been competitive all season and have doubled last year's wins from 2 to 4. The only real criticism I have of first year head coach Lane Kiffin is that I want him to just hand the ball to JeMarcus Russell and let the kid play. At 4-10, the Raiders are looking to next year, and it's time to get the kid consistent playing time. I understand wanting to protect him against playoff bound teams, but the experience he gets this year puts him that much further ahead for next season. Coach Kiffin explains that winning games is important and that he's trying to put the players on the field that give the team the best chance to win. I guess right now that means starting Josh McCown, even with the injured hand, and bringing Russell off the bench.

The 49ers host NFC South champ Tampa Bay. SF got a big win last week behind QB Shaun Hill, who came out of nowhere to throw for 197 yards on 21 of 28 with a TD. Hill should get the start again today. SF has all kinds of problems to address in the off season and the major issue is QB. Alex Smith was the top choice in 2004, but he's never had a strong arm and the shoulder injury this season makes his status even more questionable. With his progress derailed due to that injury, his rehab will be important. It will also be interesting to see if Coach Mike Nolan is still 100% sold on Smith after the issues they have had over the injury. But one good game doesn't make Hill the guy either.

If the Seahawk's hadn't already won the NFC West, I would have some concerns about this game. The Ravens come to Seattle on a huge skid, losing 8 in a row including the heart-breaker against New England and the embarrassing loss to Miami last week. Baltimore seems like a team that is just going through the motions, and in my mind that makes them dangerous. Should they wake up, the defense can create all kinds of trouble for a playoff bound team. Seattle needs to be aware. It helps that the Seahawks are at home, where they have played their best football this season.

The Colts have clinched the AFC South, the 2 seed in the playoffs, and a first round bye. They host Houston today in what amounts to a meaningless game, but I expect them to play this as a normal game to keep in rhythm. The ultimate goal is to get back to the Super Bowl, and to do that a team needs to stay sharp. Although Houston has been eliminated from the playoffs, the Texans are in the midst of a breakout season.

Well, my Raiders are on CBS this morning. But it's snowing in Chicago where Green Bay is playing the Bears! I love to watch a snow game.

I had another good week for picks last week, 11-5. That puts me at 148-76 for the season, for 66%.

Week 1 = 12-4
Week 2 = 11-5
Week 3 = 10-6
Week 4 = 8-6
Week 5 = 9-5
Week 6 = 7-6
Week 7 = 10-4
Week 8 = 10-3
Week 9 = 9-5
Week 10 = 7-7
Week 11 = 10-6
Week 12 = 12-4
Week 13 = 8-8
Week 14 = 14-2
Week 15 = 11-5

Here we go for this week.

Steelers over Rams - got that one
Cowboys over Panthers - got that one too
Browns over Bengals
Lions over Chiefs
Colts over Texans
Packers over Bears
Giants over Bills
Jaguars over Raiders
Saints over Eagles
Bucs over 49ers
Cardinals over Falcons
Patriots over Dolphins
Seahawks over Ravens
Titans over Jets
Vikings over Redskins
Chargers over Broncos

Later babies!

Bench decorum is a point of emphasis in NCAA college basketball. One point in particular is the coach's box.



The coach's box is basically a line on the floor past which a coach is not allowed to move. In the diagram, the box extends from the baseline to the little hash mark you can see. The idea is to keep coaches on their own benches and away from the middle of the floor. It keeps them from gaining an unfair advantage. It also keeps them from blocking the view of scorekeepers and clock managers. And it limits their ability to distract the officials by constantly chattering at them.

Coaches have been told to stay within the coaching box. They have been advised that a technical foul will be assessed if they do not stay within the coaching box. A technical foul awards two uncontested free throws and possession of the ball to the opposing team. It is clearly stated in the rules on page BR15-BR16.

During the Tennessee vs Xavier game today, both coaches were assessed technical fouls for this violation. And the pronouncers pitched a fit that the officials had made a mistake because the game should not turn on such a call.

I beg your pardon?

How about criticizing the head coaches for making the mistake?

Coaches and pronouncers can bitch all they want to about the "spirit" of the rule. But the bottom line is that the rules say that a technical foul will be assessed for "leaving the coaching box for an unauthorized reason".

You know what? Wandering two steps out of the coaching box is an unauthorized reason.

A referee's job is difficult enough without the added requirement of interpreting the "spirit" of the rule, or a coach's intentions. Referees are told to call the technical when they see the coach outside the box. If a coach doesn't want to get that techincal, which can change momentum in a tight game, then he should pay attention to what he's doing and be aware of himself on the bench.

After all, aren't these men supposed to be examples to the young men they are coaching? What example does it set to yell at an official when the coach is wrong and the official is right?

I've been a coach and a player and I understand that emotions can get out of control. I have believed, in the heat of the game, that I did not interfere with the receiver or grab that facemask. And then when I watched the film, I saw the clear evidence of the infraction.

So I say to Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl...Sir, you made a mistake and stepped outside the coach's box. The referee saw you and he did what he was required to do by assessing the technical foul. You, Sir, need to realize that it was your mistake.

And I say to the two pronouncers of the game...Gentleman, you do a disservice to the game by suggesting that a referee should be aware of the "spirit" of the rule. I would prefer that you support the rules, rather than perpetuate the idea that some rules should be ignored.

Rules are rules and I'm damn tired of phrases like "let the players play" or "a game shouldn't turn on a referee's whistle" or "that call wouldn't be made at the end of the game".

You know what? Games have rules. Play by them.

OK, I'm climbing off my soapbox now.

Sandee from Comedy Plus tagged me for this one.

1. Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.
2. Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months (see below).
3. Pick your month of birth (see below).
4. Highlight the traits that apply to you.
5. Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them.
6. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve done it!

I was born in April 1964. So let's see about these traits, shall we?

Active and dynamic: I'm selectively active and dynamic. As I get older I do fewer things, but I put my full effort and intensity into the things I do.

Decisive and hasty but tends to regret: I'm decisive, but only after weighing risk and return. If I've considered my choices carefully, then I'm satisified with my decision and there's no need for regret.

Attractive and affectionate to oneself: First, how does one say they find themselves attractive without sounding like an ass? And describing my "affection" for myself would be way too much information. Heehee!

Strong mentality: I've had some challenges in my life. Overcoming each one has made me pretty strong. It's also taught me limits, and when to ask for help.

Loves attention: **blush** OK, sometimes I like to be the center of attention. Most flirts do, and I am a flirt of the first order.

Diplomatic: I don't like to hurt someone's feelings, so many times I won't say what's on my mind. Other times I'll speak up, but I'll still try and moderate my language so as not to offend. I think that makes me more tolerant than diplomatic.

Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems: I have pretty broad shoulders and I don't mind them getting soaked in tears. I'll offer advice when asked and I'll genuinely do my best to help. But I don't have answers, only suggestions.

Brave and fearless: I'm afraid of spiders, but give me a can of Raid and I'll kill them.

Adventurous: I was bullet proof when I was a boy. Most boys think they are, don't they? When I was about 8, I climbed a 20 foot tall swing set at a park behind my house and walked the length of it. I don't do stuff like that anymore.

Loving and caring: Yup.

Suave and generous: I don't know why these two words are together. I think being suave is the same as being phony, and I'm not like that. But it takes a genuine person to be generous with his time or his money or his friendship or his love...and I try to be that way.

Emotional, aggressive, hasty: I'm very emotional, mostly quick to anger. I was an aggressive football player, and I still carry some of that with me. I try not to be hasty, but I have been guilty of making snap appraisals - sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't.

Good memory: Not really. Many times I need some kind of visual stimulus to kindle a memory, like a photograph or a ticket stub.

Moving: I have no idea what this means. But I love to dance, so maybe I'm a mover. LOL!

Motivates oneself and others: I try to be a self-motivator. If you're waiting around for someone to give you a push and a reason, then you're not getting anywhere. Of course, I needed someone else to motivate me to get my second bedroom organized this week! Sometimes everyone needs to have someone else around who believes things can be done and leads others to accomplish tasks. I'll step into that role once in awhile, but I have no problem following someone else.

Sickness usually of the head and chest: I don't know how being born in a certain month affects the way a person gets sick.

Sexy in a way that only their lover can see: I think everyone is sexy to someone.

Now the rules say I'm supposed to tag 12, but that's just crazy! So if this looks interesting to you, find your birth month below and have at it.

JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

APRIL: Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE: Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER: Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER: Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

Hey gang!

After you scroll down and check out the Taylor Hicks videos...what? I'm a loyal and steadfast Soul Patroller! What did you expect????

Sheesh!

Anyway...after you watch the videos, head over to my friend Pauline's place at Cursuum Perfidio. Pauline is a wonderful writer and a contributor to the Friday feature Flash 55, which is a full story written in exactly 55 words.

Today Pauline has posted A Winter's Tale, which is not to be missed.

Cheers y'all!

For those of you who are new visitors, and for those who may have forgotten, I am a Taylor Hicks fan and a member in good standing of the Soul Patrol.

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

...Travis rested.

Dang! It's a lot of work to clear things out of boxes. I had about 20 boxes of stuff that I've been lugging around with me through several moves. And now they have all been emptied and re-sorted into plastic tubs.

YAY ME!

Now we can actually get into that little second bedroom. There's still a lot more to do, but now it's fun projects like sorting through old photographs and toys and mementos of life.

But that's for another day. Today it's about catching up with y'all in the bloggosphere.

Later gang!

Welcome to another Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's theme is Carol.

That's my aunt's name...but she spells it with an "e" on the end. So I guess I'll do something else.

The season hasn't quite arrived until I hear Burl Ives!



One of the best voices ever, Mr Nat King Cole.



Heehee!



Spare a thought for the men and women serving our country around the world, who will be away from their families during this holiday season.



I wish you all the joy of the season as you celebrate your traditions. Be kind, be tolerant, be happy.

Joyous Yule!

We interrupt this vacation to bring you our regularly scheduled NFL Sunday.

My Raiders host the Colts today. Bad news for Oakland as Indy can clinch the AFC South with a win. With only three games left, it's time to see Raider rookie QB JeMarcus Russell. I wasn't happy with the kid when he held out of training camp. And it would be nice if he could contine to sit and learn from an established veteran. But he's the guy next season and we might as well start seeing what we're paying for. Still no Marvin Harrison for the Colts. It's doubtful whether he makes it back this season, but there's no point in bringing him back now. If three more weeks of rehab gets him back for the playoffs, then that's the thing to do.

Marvin Lewis is 40-38 as head coach of the Bengals. He's taken them to one playoff game and lost it. I don't know much about what has gone wrong in Cincinnati, but I do know that they have some talented offensive players on that team. Is it time for Lewis to move on? I don't know. On Saturday he lost to a SF team that is dead last in almost every offensive category this season. The 49ers QB was a guy who had never started an NFL game. In fact, Shaun Hill has only appeard in 4 games in his 6 NFL seasons. These are two teams that had high expectations at the start of the season, and nothing has gone well for either one.

After all the wringing of hands in the Emerald City, the Seahawks will host a playoff game as winners of the NFC West. Seattle is still alive mathematically for a first round bye, but it's most likely that they will play on Wild Card weekend. The Seahawks have won five in a row and have one of the easier schedules over the last three weeks of the season. Today they are at Carolina, then they host Baltimore, and then they finish up in Atlanta.

I had my best result last week at 14-2, bringing me to 137-71 for the season. That's back up to 66%. Well, it's 65.87%. I'm already 1-1 for week 15.

Texans over Broncos - got this one
Bengals over 49ers - dangit
Titans over Chiefs
Dolphins over Ravens - yeah yeah, but I think the Ravens have already gone fishing
Patriots over Jets
Browns over Bills
Seahawks over Panthers
Saints over Cardinals
Bucs over Falcons
Packers over Rams
Steelers over Jaguars
Colts over Raiders
Chargers over Lions
Cowboys over Eagles
Giants over Redskins
Vikings over Bears

Some of these east coast games may be played in snow. I never played in snow so I don't know how much fun that is for the players. But I always love to watch a snow game.

Oh...in college football news, the "lesser football championship subdivision" programs are deciding national championships on the field after real playoff tournaments.

Division 1-AA: Appalachian State beat Delaware for it's 3rd straight championship
Division II: Valdosta State beat NW Missouri St
Division III: Wisconsin-Whitewater upset Mount Union - I point this out because MU had won 2 championships in a row and had a 37 game winning streak coming into the game.

Don't forget Turnbaby Talks tonight at 8pm EST on Blog Talk Radio.



Later babies!

FINALLY!

I'll be around here and there. Behave yourselves.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaaaaa

These bloated drug cheats...IN ANY SPORT...are not going to get the message until we as fans stop making excuses for them.

I say to you, Mr Eric Gagne, that you had my attention between 2002 and 2004 as you saved 84 straight games for my Los Angeles Dodgers. However you are now a possible drug cheat according to the Mitchell Report, and those 84 games no longer mean anything to me.

I say to you, Mr Paul Lo Duca, that you were my favorite player while you were with the Dodgers, and it hit me hard in 2004 when you were shockingly traded to the Florida Marlins. However you are now a possible drug cheat according to the Mitchell Report, and that loyalty is withdrawn.

I say to you, Major League Baseball, fix your house.

I say to you, professional sports, fix your respective houses.

I say to you, sports fans, force them to fix their houses.

I say to myself, take the final steps to put professional sport in its proper context.

If the people who play these games for millions of dollars do not respect themselves or their sports, then why should I?

The Mitchell Report

Players named

Note:

The report took issue with assertions that steroids were not banned before the 2002 collective bargaining agreement.

They had been covered, it said, since management’s 1971 drug policy prohibited using any prescription medication without a valid prescription, and were expressly included in Vincent’s 1991 drug policy.

Senator Mitchell says not to punish the players. Bullshit. They knowingly chose to do something that was illegal. And they gained an unfair advantage over players who stayed clean.

Cheating is cheating.

Rock pioneer Ike Turner died yesterday. He was 76.

Rocket 88, released in 1951, is generally considered to be the first rock and roll song.



Music insiders understand the legacy Ike Turner leaves behind. His influences can be felt throughout the music industry, in nearly every genre.



Still trying to get around to your blogs. I'll see you soon...promise.

Two more sleeps until my vacation!

I had to read something for work last night, so I didn't make it around to everyone's blog.



From Rudolph to Charlie Brown, and A Christmas Story to It's A Wonderful Life, Mo and his special co-host Neila from Blog That Mommy! will be talkin' Christmas Specials this Wednesday, 7pm on Blog Talk Radio.

Last week I had nothing to say on Tuesday. I still feel a little lost without my Dancing reviews, but I do have this one thing to say.

Tony Kornheiser must GO! I'm sick of listening to him speak in columns!

Mr Kornheiser is one of the jokers...I beg your pardon...one of the pronouncers on Monday Night Football.

Now I enjoy Mike Tirico. But he doesn't get to talk enough. And I enjoy Ron Jaworski. But he doesn't get to talk enough.

You know why neither Mr Tirico nor Mr Jaworski gets to talk enough?

Because Mr Kornheiser can't shut up! His brand of confrontational speech is annoying. I don't want to listen to the two color guys argue and try to talk over each other during the broadcast. I don't want issues on my football coverage. I want football!

Mr Tirico should keep the viewer informed of down and distance, time, and other business during the game. He does this well. Mr Jaworski should explain the plays and the action, and be allowed to use his superior knowledge to point out things the viewer might have missed.

And Mr Kornheiser should go back to his radio show and Pardon the Interruption, where he excels at his brand of sports journalism. Just please get it away from my Monday Night Football.

Whew. I feel surprisingly better now. And my TV is on mute, which is the way I prefer to watch MNF these days.



Later on that same night...New Orleans beat Atlanta, and my record for picks for week 14 is 14-2. Woooooooooooooo!!! That's my best result for the season. It's not my best result ever. In 2003, I had a 16-0 weekend. But I'll do a victory dance for 14-2 because 14-2 is damn good!



Let's see now. I'm facing some dungeon time, so I'm going to give this Five Courses meme a go. Ann from Anndi's Luggage tagged me back in November for this and I'm in trouble for not doing it. Jeff from A Word in Edgewise also tagged me for it, so now I'm in double trouble.

Oh, before I screw up...I think the meme originally comes from Blue Tea person.

Dangit! I better shape up quick or I'll end up in the dungeon at Bloggingham Palace.



Here's the rules:

Devise a list of 5-10 courses you would take to fix your life. It's more fun to be in classes with friends, so include one class from the person who tagged you that you'd also like to take.

1. Sports Knowledge, Doctoral Dissertation - Dr Trav...it has a nice ring to it don't you think? My thesis is called Hey dummy, why did you run frantically away from the pursuit, give up 10-15 yards of field position, run clear across the field, and then get tackled within a yard of where you caught the ball on the opposite side? I should take this with my tagger Jeff, and then we'll get a radio show and be the Sports Docs.

2. Ballroom Dance 101 - This is the class I would take with my tagger, Miss Anndi. What? Yes I'm well aware I've already taken the class several times. It's my money and I'll take it again if I want to.

3. Advanced Snarkiness - I do ok with basic snarkiness, but I'm outta my league when the Hoochies and Hotties really get rolling.

4. Tuneage Tutelage on The Couch with Mr Bond - I know some music, but Bond is The Man when it comes to comprehensive knowledge about bands and record labels and genres. There's a companion course to go with this one called Introduction to the Lost Sounds of Louisiana, taught by John at Altjiranga Mitjina.

5. Coming to Terms With Your Fear of Spiders - Uhm...I may have to drop this one and take something else.

6. Using Your Innate Charm - Yeah! I'll sub this one in and learn how to sweet talk myself out of the dungeon.

I'm breaking the rules and not tagging. But feel free to play along if you like.

I'm still one meme down.

Welcome to another Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's theme is Ornament.

My grandmother decorated her artificial Christmas tree the same way every year. She would lay it down on the floor and string the lights. Then she would fix the topper and turn the garland around. Then she would put the ornaments on it, and they would go in the exact same locations as they had every season.

Then she would call my grandfather and have him stand the tree up and put it up on the table in the front room window. And it would be perfect.

I don't remember many of the ornaments she used. My mom and my aunt split them after Gram died. And maybe my sister got some of them.

There was one in particular that I do remember. It was like a little wind chime, without the sound. It always hung on a branch that was in the path of the furnace vent. When the heat came on, it would blow on the ornament and the innards would spin.

That's the one ornament I wish I had for myself. I remember just sitting and watching it spin. And when the furnace clicked off, I would sit closer and blow on it.

I think about that ornament every Christmas season. I think it might be time to find out who has it and get it for myself.



If you cruise by Idaho Daily Photo, you can get an ornament like this one for your blog. Roger offers lots of different styles, and all he asks in return is that you link back to his blog.

We never got any real snow today. Just a few little flakes.

There's only 5 more sleeps until my vacation!! Woooooooooooooo!! I'm not really going anywhere. I just needed time off. And my town is a pretty good place to be.



Pam is celebrating with her Seahawks. They trounced Arizona to win the NFC West. I still don't think Seattle is a very good team. But they'll be in the playoffs, which is a hell of a lot better than any of my teams have done. Of course the bonus is that I get to watch Pam do her victory dance. Now that's entertainment.

Pittsburgh put up very little resistance against New England today. The next two weeks are CAKE for the Patriots. They host the Jets and then the Dolphins. On paper neither of those teams has a chance to beat NE. The Patriots travel to New Jersey to take on the Giants for the last game. That should be interesting, because the only thing left to be decided may be whether NE finishes 16-0. So the question becomes, is going unbeaten more important than making sure none of your key players suffers a freak injury? For the Giants, if they have secured a playoff spot, will the emphasis be on staying healthy or on spoiling the perfect regular season for NE?

Picks are going well for me today. I got 12 winners, and I have a good chance to go 13-3 or 14-2, my best result of the season. Even if I don't get the last 2 games, I'll take 12-4.

These teams have clinced their respective division titles: New England, AFC East; Dallas, NFC East; Green Bay, NFC North; Seattle, NFC West. I won't get into the different permutations of what needs to happen to settle the other division races or the wild cards. It's going to change after tonight's game between Indy and Baltimore anyway.

OK gang. We're off to listen to Turnbaby Talks. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

We have a very light slushy snow falling this morning.

I have never played football in 18 degrees, like the Raiders and Packers will today. I think the coldest temperature I ever played in was maybe mid-50s. I have played in torrential rains and mucky mud. During my freshman year I watched our varsity play in tule fog. Well, I think they played...it was tough to tell because all we could see was a bunch of legs running around on the field.

I am going on record today. I am not among the "everyone", as in "Everyone loves Brett Favre". I don't love Brett Favre. I don't hate Brett Favre. I respect the man's determination. He's having a great year and I respect that. But I've never been on the Favre bandwagon. So to all the sports writers and talking heads, I ask that you amend your statements and stop telling us that we all love Brett Favre.

Well, my Raiders are off to a pretty good start. They've moved the ball some on offense. They've been able to get a bit of a running game started. But the best news is on defense. The defense has held on 4th down and intercepted a pass.

I'm waiting for the day when a football player makes one of these stupid leaps into the stands, falls, and breaks his ass. Maybe that will put a stop to the practice.

Tackling!! This is a fundamental part of football and the Raiders are not doing it well at all today.

I would like to ask all players in the NFL this question: Why oh why do you give up so much ground after you catch the ball??? You're not going to turn the play into a touchdown, so just put your head down and square your shoulders and get as many positive yards as you can. I detest watching these players run 10-15 yards in the wrong direction, thinking they are going to outrun the defense. They cost their teams valuable field position. Sometimes if you just get your shoulders turned up field and keep your legs moving, you can break tackles and end up with a big play instead of a big loss.

Green Bay is just a better football team. I can accept that. My Raiders have played pretty well. Of course just as I say that, it looks like Tim Dwight fumbled a punt and the Packers recovered in the end zone. The replay confirms the fumble and TD. Ah well. The good news is that Dwight managed to avoid a gruesome injury. He was bent backwards and was fortunate that his foot didn't get caught beneath the defender, otherwise that leg snaps.

We're only getting smatterings of very light snow. It's not sticking on the ground. I suppose that's a good thing. Neighboring counties don't need any more challenges as they begin to clean up and pull themselves together from last week's storms.

On that note, we're off to put together some lunch.

Later babies.

Quick edit...check out Turnbaby Talks tonight at 8pm EST on Blog Talk Radio.

Thanks to those who have commented or sent email expressing concern about the recent storms and flooding in Washington State. We're fortunate that we haven't been in any of the hardest hit areas.

As much of a football guy as I am, I completely forgot that there was a game on Thursday. You know why? Because I don't have a premium cable package and I don't get NFL Network.

My Raiders are in Green Bay today and the weather looks like snow. Oakland has already doubled its win total from last season and a win today could be the third in a row. Rookie QB JeMarcus Russell saw some action last week and may play again today. The Packers stumbled last week at Dallas and QB Brett Favre was injured. He is expected to play. At stake today for the Raiders is continued improvement on the path back to playoff contention next season. The Packers can win the NFC North today with a win. Oh yeah...Vinny needs a Raider win today for his fantasy football pool.

A strong running game has Minnesota in the mix for a Wild Card playoff spot. At 3-9, the 49ers join Atlanta and St Louis as the three worst teams in the NFC. The SF offense has been a mess all season, mostly due to injuries. It's tough to tell whether SF is on the right track, but it's certainly clear that QB Trent Dilfer is not the answer. He has thrown for only 7 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Alex Smith wasn't much better, but at least he has an excuse...he was injured early in the season and tried to play through it.

The Seahawks can win the pathetic NFC West by beating Arizona today. Seattle is in the midst of a 4 game winning streak, and all the talk from fans is positive again. There's still something about this team that I don't like, but Pam is happy about the winning and life is good when my Lady is happy. The Cardinals have won 3 out of 4 and are in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. A win today put Arizona a game behind Seattle in the NFC West and bring the hand wringing back to the Emerald City.

The Colts travel to Baltimore where the Ravens are coming off a tough loss to New England. The Ravens had the game won, but through a series of odd events that the best fiction writers couldn't possibly concoct, the Patriots pulled off the comeback and escaped with the perfect record intact. Baltimore has a solid running game, but generally struggles to score points. Indianapolis has played well all season, despite serious injuries. The Colts can conceivably win the AFC South in several different ways.

Well, I went from one of my best results to my worst last week.

Week 1 = 12-4
Week 2 = 11-5
Week 3 = 10-6
Week 4 = 8-6
Week 5 = 9-5
Week 6 = 7-6
Week 7 = 10-4
Week 8 = 10-3
Week 9 = 9-5
Week 10 = 7-7
Week 11 = 10-6
Week 12 = 12-4
Week 13 = 8-8

Yeesh. Now I'm 123-69 for the season, or 64%. Ppppppfffffffffttttttttttt.

Here's my picks for this week. We're on the honor system here, so trust me when I tell you that I had picked Washington prior to the game Thursday evening.

Redskins over Bears
Bengals over Rams
Cowboys over Detroit
Packers over Raiders
Bills over Dolphins
Bucs over Texans
Titans over Chargers
Jaguars over Panthers
Giants over Eagles
Seahawks over Cardinals
Vikings over 49ers
Patriots over Steelers
Browns over Jets
Broncos over Chiefs
Colts over Ravens
Saints over Falcons

I suspect that when this schedule was put together, New Orleans at Atlanta might have been the game to decide the NFC South. Instead, the Monday night game is pretty much a yawner between a couple of sub-.500 teams trying to salvage whatever they can out of a disappointing season.

YAY! I get my Raiders at Green Bay in the morning on CBS, and the game isn't opposite the Seahawks this week. Wooooooooooooo!! Seattle is on FOX in the afternoon.

Have a great Sunday.

When we got up and started moving around, there was sunshine and blue sky. But now it's starting to cloud over a bit.

I haven't been around to blogs for the last couple of days. Sorry about that. I'll catch up this weekend.

Well, I'm off to check out a few more blogs before it's time to head out and run some errands. Catch y'all later.

"This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny." Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 27 June 1936

I published some of the following words as a Thursday 13 submission last year on 7 Dec. The words stand alone, as they did a year ago.

But I was a young blogger then. This year, I can add some things to make the words a little more special. And I think it is necessary that I do so.

This is an important day. We must remember these events. We owe it to the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and other service personnel who fought for the freedoms we enjoy. We owe it to the people who loved them...those who waited for them, and wrote them letters, and sent them photographs, and searched the news wires for any small word of them, and dreaded the Western Union man.

We must never take these events for granted.

I honor those who gave "the last full measure of devotion". I honor those who persevered through the horrors of combat and came home.

To the Greatest Generation, I say thank you.



I dedicate this special remembrance to...

...my grandfather, who lied about his age so he could join the United States Merchant Marine. He doesn't talk about his service, but I have asked him if he would write it for me so I can have it after he's gone. I know that he served as a Seaman from early 1944 until the end of the war. I found his name on the Manchester NH World War II Veterans Honor Roll. He was barely 17 in 1945.

...the 1,177 men who went down with USS Arizona.

...the additional 1,158 service personnel killed during the attack.

...the 68 civilians killed during the attack.

...the 1,178 military personnel and civilians wounded during the attack.

...rescue and medical personnel who braved oil slicks and searing heat to pull victims to safety and render first aid and comfort.



...the numerous and varied acts of heroism above and beyond the call, such as Ship's Cook Third Class Dorie Miller USN, serving on USS West Virginia, who carried many of his wounded shipmates to safety and attempted to rescue his mortally wounded Captain. Then he manned a 50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft gun for which he had never been trained.



...the crew of USS Nevada, who managed to get their battleship underway during the attack and tried to steam out of harm's way, ultimately running aground in order to avoid being sunk in the middle of the harbor.



...the pilots and service crews who were able to get a few P-40's and P-36's off the ground from Haleiwa airfield. These planes engaged enemy aircraft and shot down as many as 11, losing 4 of their own.



...Navy and civilian salvage crews, who worked for more than 20,000 hours on over 5,000 dives. Their efforts helped put 11 ships back into service from 1942 through 1944. They were also able to re-float 4 sunken battleships, which were ultimately returned to service and saw action against Japan later in the war.



...all veterans of the Pearl Harbor attack.

To all who performed above and beyond the call in the early morning hours of 7 December 1941, and in the subseqent days leading to 15 August 1945 when Japan surrendered and World War II came to an end, I offer my deepest respect and gratitude.



"Yesteray, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Congress, 8 December 1941.



Today in Hawaii, a memorial will be dedicated to USS Oklahoma.