Trav's Thoughts

My pal Jamie over at Duward Discussion has brought back a great meme called Take This Tune.  It's easy to play.  Jamie provides a musical prompt each week, usually a video with the song lyrics.  The task is to write something inspired by the song or something in the lyrics.

Jamie put the meme on hiatus a year ago February.  I'm glad to see it back and I hope some of you will play along once in awhile.  I've always considered this game to be a great way to combine music and writing.  Or music and photography.  Or music and more music.

You get my drift. 

The prompt for this week is Feels Like Home, a song from the Randy Newman musical Faust.  

Jamie has impeccable timing.  My grandmother passed 26 years ago...21 April 1986.  Jump in the Wayback Machine with me now and I'll tell you a little bit about my Gram.  This essay was originally posted in 2007, and again in 2011.  Oddly enough, that 2011 post was for another Take This Tune prompt. 

When I was about 10, my parents divorced and my younger sister and I were raised by our single mom.  We lived about an hour and a half from my grandmother, and so we made lots of weekend trips over to the San Francisco Bay Area to visit.  They were like mini vacations for us.  We would laugh and sing in the car during the entire drive.

I remember the time we tried to take a short cut through Hayward to get to the San Mateo Bridge.  We ended up lost!  If there was a way to lose a large body of water like a bay and a huge bridge...we found it!  But such were our little adventures.

Editor's note:  I have inherited that trait.  Just after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, while driving late at night in downtown San Francisco, I managed to lose the Bay Bridge.  But that's a story for another trip in the Wayback Machine. 


Anyway, that shortcut turned out to be the best thing because we passed right by a 7-Eleven convenience store on a side street.  Once we figured out the short cut, we almost always used it and Mom would give in to our begging and stop for Slurpees.  Not always, but more often than not.  If she didn't, we'd have to wait until we got to Gram's.

My sister and I were Slurpee-holics in those days.


Gram was the best.  She was a fireplug of a redhead and she was so much fun when I was a kid.  She'd take us down to Tanforan Mall in San Bruno.  We'd have adventures in parking.  She'd drive and drive around the side lot next to the Sears entrance to the mall, waiting for "her" spot to open up right near the front.  My sister and I would play scout from the backseat, keeping an eye on the entrance and watching for people heading to their cars.  And then, just like that, Gram's spot would open up and she'd swing the big Caddy in like a pro.

Honestly!  Can you imagine a woman all of 4'9" wrangling a huge 1970's model Cadillac around a parking lot?


After our triumph in parking, we'd walk into the mall through Sears.  This was my first experience with any large shopping mall.  Gram would always take us to the toy store and the pet store.  Sometimes she'd need to stop at a shoe store, and she always picked the one next to Waldenbooks so we could browse while she got her shoes.  Sometimes we'd get a prize for being patient...a new Hardy Boys book for me and a Trixie Belden or Bobbsey Twins for my sis.

Then we'd head over to the Walgreen's.  Now back in those days at Tanforan, the Walgreen's was more than just a place where Gram could get her necessaries, as she called them.  Once in awhile we'd get new coloring books and the small boxes of new Crayola crayons.  Of course we'd lust after the big box of 64 with the built-in sharpener, but that was always reserved for a holiday or birthday gift.


But the Walgreen's...it was a drug store like it is today, but it also had a cafe/restaurant!  My sister and I were always on our best behavior with limited fidgeting and whining during the shopping phase of our outing, because we knew that after all that good behavior we'd get grilled cheese and hot fudge sundaes at the Walgreen's cafe/restaurant.

The best thing though...the ultimate...the grandest thing about going to Gram's was that she lived around the corner from a 7-Eleven.  Can you imagine anything better for a couple of Slurpee-holics?  After a day of racing Big Wheels down the big hill, or building Legos and Tinker Toys in the backyard, or drawing and coloring on the big dining room table, Gram would hand us a dollar and send us around the corner for Slurpees.

Yeah...back then you could get 2 Slurpees for a buck. 


My grandmother has been gone for more than 25 years now.  My grandfather just sold the house this year so he could move into a smaller place with more immediate onsite care and attention.  I'm a little sad about that, but all things change.

My aunt and uncle still live one block over from that house.  So now it's a two block walk to get to that same 7-Eleven. 

So what feels like home, now that the old house is no longer part of our family?

Memories.

Memories of my redheaded spitfire Gram, and Caddy wrangling in a parking lot, and Walgreen's grilled cheese and hot fudge sundaes, and Crayola crayons, and getting lost as an adventure, and Slurpees.


Memories are always home.

I'll bet you guessed what this week's Set was going to be as soon as you read my DWTS encores and recap post.  Who else would I choose to feature during Motown week?  Who else would I feature after this week's elimination?

Class and sass.  Beautiful smile.  Consummate entertainer.  

Set 119.  Gladys and her Pips.  Yeah.

If I Were Your Woman, written by Gloria Jones/Clay McMurray/Pam Sawyer, released in 1970


I've Got to Use My Imagination, written by Gerry Goffin/Barry Goldberg, released in 1973


Neither One of Us, written by Jim Weatherly, released in 1973


You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, written by Jim Weatherly, released in 1974


Midnight Train to Georgia, written by Jim Weatherly, released in 1973

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.

2. Go to Playlist.com to make your Set of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the Set, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.

2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.

3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.

4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!

I think that extremism in any form makes it easier to dehumanize.

I think it is never necessary to deride one thing because you like another.

I think it is never necessary to uplift something you like beyond it's reasonable value as something you like, just because you like it.

I think that a person doesn't have to be made into the demonic representation of all that is evil, just because his opinion is different than yours.

I think that if a person dislikes something or someone, he should be honest with himself about why he dislikes the something or the someone.

I think that disagreement with a course of action doesn't make the path wrong.  I think it simply means you'd prefer a different course of action.

I think that snide remarks may make one feel superior in the short term, but they don't accomplish anything of significance in the long term.

I think that "uncompromising values" might be a good philosophy for a beer company like Coors, but I think that digging in your heels and refusing to examine new information and facts is irresponsible in government.

I think that if I'm legally and rightfully occupying a space, you have no right to expect me to let you shove me out of your way just because that's what you want.  I think you should go around, wait for me to move, or ask me politely if you can be in the same space or get past me.  And I think that if I ask you to wait for me to finish what I'm doing, then you can respect that and patiently wait your damn turn.

I think that's probably more than enough thinking for today.  I'll have my CAKE now.

It's encores and results!

So despite some struggles to understand the music and dance style pairings for Monday's Motown performances, I did find some things I really liked.  I watched all of the dances back, some without music.  These are my encore choices.

So this time I saw the stumble, but that didn't really change my opinion of the Foxtrot from Maria and Derek.  I thought it was excellent.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


I appreciated how Maks made a Viennese Waltz out of a song more suited to Rumba.  And I thought Melissa had her best dance.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


I had some trouble understanding the Samba from Katherine and Mark as an actual Samba.  So I watched it without music...and I could see the Samba.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


I had absolutely no problem understanding, appreciating, and loving the Cha Cha Cha from Jaleel and Kym.  And I loved how delighted Kym was afterward.  This is my choice for dance of the night.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


That's some pretty good stuff right there.

Here's a reminder of our Motown Night leader board, after the individual performances combined with the dance marathon points:

39 Katherine and Mark
37 Jaleel and Kym
36 William and Cheryl
34 Donald and Peta
30 Melissa and Maks
30 Maria and Derek
28 Roshon and Chelsie
24 Gladys and Tristan

That's a pretty steep hill for Gladys and Tristan to climb to stay out of the dance duel.  If she's in the bottom two, it's going to be tough for her to out dance anyone she's up against.  

We've got a Motown medley to lead off the show.  Gotta love our pros!  Louis choreographed that routine.  Hey...what did Louis have to say about Monday's performances?  Check it out here.

First results...Jaleel and Kym are safe.  William and Cheryl are safe. 

AT&T Spotlight Performance features a young ballet dancer who overcame extreme poverty and war in Sierra Leone, the death of her parents, and loss of pigment in her skin, to make her way to the US as an adopted child and dance.  Natasha Bedingfield performs while Michaela dances.  I spy Adechike Torbert, an alum from SYTYCD Season 7.


Macy's Stars of Dance features Travis Wall and Nick Lazzerini, SYTYCD alumni, in a brand new dance troupe called Shaping Sound.  I spied quite a few dancers I know from SYTYCD.  It is wonderful to see the brilliance of Travis Wall brought to life on stage.  That was so good.


More entertainment as Boys II Men are in the ballroom, accompanied by Dmitry and Anna.  That was quite nice.

More results...Katherine and Mark are safe.  Donald and Peta are safe.  Melissa and Maks are safe.  Maria and Derek are safe.

Gladys and Tristan are in the dance duel.  Roshon and Chelsie are in the dance duel. 

Dance Duel is Jive.  I love Gladys, but I just can't see the judges letting Roshon go at this stage.  She's got a chance though, with Jive, because she can be sassy and really perform with high energy.  But this dance may just favor Roshon's personality. 

It's only about this dance...not about past performance.  Whoever dances better right now, stays in.  Both danced with energy, but Roshon had the edge for me.  Gladys danced well and with great style, but I thought Roshon was better and his dance had more content.

Judges say, in a split decision...Roshon and Chelsie are safe.  Len and Bruno picked Roshon and Chelsie, while Carrie Ann said Gladys and Tristan.

So Gladys and Tristan are out.  I hope she brings her Pips back with her later in the season to sing for us.  I have enjoyed her so much.  I'll miss her beautiful smile, her cool style, and her sass.


Tune in next week, when I think our 7 remaining pairs will dance to classical music. 

Later gang!

It's live from Hollywood!

Our eight remaining pairs return to celebrate the music of Motown.  How do we kick off Motown Night?  We do it with Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, and The Temptations.  Yes indeed we do!  Nice assist from the Dance Troupe.

The dance marathon returns as well, so this should be fun!

Gladys and Tristan dance Rumba to My Girl, performed by The Temptations.  It's an adjustment to wait so long for the dance to begin.  Rumba is not her dance at all.  It would have been nice for Gladys to get something up tempo and sassy.  Tristan incorporated some Pip-style moves into the choreography, but I'm sorry to say that I don't think it worked.  The dance was disjointed and it seemed like Gladys was struggling to remember the choreography.  She tried to perform her way through it, but the dance just didn't have a romantic Rumba quality.  They usually have good chemistry together, but I didn't see it in this dance.  The judges were kind, but I just can't say with honesty that it was a good dance.  I love Gladys.  I just wish she had gotten a style that suited her a little better so she could sass it up and have fun.  Judges say 7s across for a total of 21. 

Maria and Derek dance Foxtrot to Jimmy Mack, performed by Martha Reeves.  Ms Reeves' voice hasn't held up over time, but that's OK.  I didn't care for Derek's choreography last week.  This week he's back in the plus column.  This is classic Foxtrot choreography.  Maria looks fantastic in that silvery shimmery gown.  I didn't see her put a foot wrong, although Bruno and Carrie Ann pointed out stumbles.  I didn't see them, but I may have glanced down while I was typing.  Pam said she didn't see a mistake either, but I guess there was a slip on the stairs.  Since I didn't see it, I don't count it.  She has proven that she can do sexy and steamy, as well as elegant and sophisticated.  She keeps getting better every week.  That dance really made me smile.  Judges say 8,9,9 for a total of 26.

Roshon and Chelsie dance Rumba to Cruisin' performed by Smokey Robinson.  I love Roshon's lines.  He's able to make some great shapes with his upper body.  I thought he mostly controlled his balance better this week.  He has a tendency to get over his feet and slip.  He didn't to that this week.  I thought he had control of the dance.  He might be a scrawny guy, but I thought he showed a power in that dance that has been missing.  I thought he had the right flavor and I thought the dance was really good.  The judges have a point about the lack of smooth fluidity. Maybe it wasn't a great Rumba, but it was a fine performance and I enjoyed it.  Judges say 7,8,8 for a total of 23. 

Katherine and Mark dance Samba to I Can't Get Next to You performed by The Temptations.  I can't actually find the Samba rhythm in the song, so the dance looks weird to me.  That center section made sense, but the choreography just doesn't connect to the music.  This is unfortunate.  I think I'm watching a great performance, but it just doesn't make sense to me as a Samba.  Rats.  I can say it had high energy.  I can say that I saw Samba content.  I can say that Mark packed a ton of stuff in that 90 seconds.  I suspect I'll have to watch that back without the music.  I just had a hard time with it...but I think that's more about my reaction to the music than to the dancing.  I love that song, and I love a good Samba.  But I don't love a Samba danced to that song.  Judges say 10,9,10 for a total of 29.

Donald and Peta dance Foxtrot to The Way You Do the Things You Do, performed by The Temptations.  Love that bright sky blue color for the costumes.  I don't think that performance is going to get the 10 Donald wanted.  He had a few footwork issues and he lost his balance a couple of times.  Also, I wish he would have been more consistent with extending his arms straight out through his fingers.  I did enjoy his personality during the performance.  And he is quite a strong lead.  He has to maintain his control so he doesn't lose his balance during some pivotal moments.  That stumble near the end really cost them.  I did enjoy the performance, even thought it was a bit messy.  Judges say 9s across for a total of 27.

Melissa and Maks dance Viennese Waltz to Ooh Baby, performed by Smokey Robinson.  There's a chance for her this week.  She has to find her elegance.  I don't know how he did it, but Maks managed to find a Waltz rhythm in a song designed more for Rumba.  I thought Melissa danced really well in this piece.  I would have preferred that she hold the shapes better with her arms.  There were some moments when she rushed through the movements.  I don't find her to be elegant.  But she danced this Waltz with sophistication and class.  I thought it was her best performance.  I think getting her slowed down really helped.  Judges say 8s across for a total of 24.  I liked what Melissa said about the rehearsal footage.  The producers have a tendency to edit to an image of Maks as a tyrant.  Melissa said most of their week was not what was shown in the footage. 

Jaleel and Kym dance Cha Cha Cha to Ain't Too Proud to Beg, performed by The Temptations.  I love this Cha Cha Cha.  That loose frame that he's had in most Latin dances is gone.  He's sharp.  His posture is tall.  And his personality is all over this dance.  This one was a perfect blend of music, choreography, and dance style.  I thought Kym's choreography was fun and full of content.  Jaleel's lines were excellent.  His frame was terrific.  This dance suited him from the ground up.  His lines were fantastic.  The footwork was spot on.  It might really have helped him not only to be in the bottom two and the dance duel, but also to have danced Cha Cha Cha in it.  Judges say 10,9,10 for a total of 29.  Yes!

William and Cheryl dance Rumba to Bein' With You, performed by Smokey Robinson.  I expect him to be good at this, because it's mostly posing and swiveling hips.  He can do that.  I thought the dance was good.  They definitely had the sensuality, and I thought they danced without being raunchy.  I thought the routine was tasteful.  Pam definitely enjoyed it.  But I would like to see him work more on the technique.  He doesn't finish movements.  It bugs me that sometimes he jerks his legs back when he needs to be more crisp and taut.  Len has a point about the hips.  Rumba hips are not side to side.  Rumba hips roll through a ball swivel.  I didn't see that from William.  Judges say 9,8,10 for a total of 27.

That's it for the individual dances.  Let's have a little intermission...Smokey with Tears of a Clown, accompanied by Val and Anna.

Here's our Motown Night leader board:

29 Jaleel and Kym
29 Katherine and Mark
27 Donald and Peta
27 William and Cheryl
26 Maria and Derek
24 Melissa and Maks
23 Roshon and Chelsie
21 Gladys and Tristan

Now it's Dance Marathon, featuring Cha Cha Cha.  Our 8 couples dance together on the floor and are eliminated until one is left.  Points are awarded in reverse order, up to 10 for the winners.  I'll announce them in the order the judges choose.

Looks to me like everyone is doing well so far.  Gladys and Tristan are out first for 3 points.  Maria and Derek are out for 4 points.  Roshon and Chelsie are out for 5 points.  Melissa and Maks are out for 6 points.  Donald and Peta are out for 7 points.  Jaleel and Kym are out for 8 points.  William and Cheryl are out for 9 points.  Katherine and Mark win for 10 points.

Here's our final leader board for Motown Night:

39 Katherine and Mark
37 Jaleel and Kym
36 William and Cheryl
34 Donald and Peta
30 Melissa and Maks
30 Maria and Derek
28 Roshon and Chelsie
24 Gladys and Tristan

There were a few unfortunate music selections from the vast Motown catalog.  I do like paying tribute to the standards, but some just did not suit the dance styles they were paired with, and that bothered me a little.

Votes...only 8 per phone this week.  It's getting tougher to split between 4 celebrities.  But we did it for one more week.  My votes went to Donald, Katherine, Jaleel, and Maria.  It was a tough choice not to include Roshon.  But I'm going to have to narrow it down next week, since there are fewer and fewer votes.

Pam had some trouble choosing.  She decided to split between Katherine, Jaleel, William, and Donald.

You know the drill.  Tune in tonight for results, and check back here tomorrow for my encores and results recap.

Later gang!

Florence Beatrice Green (nee Patterson) of Great Britain, the last known veteran of World War I, has died.  She was 110.

She deserved better of me.  I did not see the announcement of her death two months ago.  I frequently searched on her name, and I simply missed that she had died.  The passing of the last person under military service in WWI requires commemoration.

Ms Green was 17 when she joined the Women's Royal Air Force, serving from 1918 through the end of the war as an officers' mess steward at RAF Marham and at Narborough airfield in the UK.

Ms Green was married for 55 years, until the death of her husband Walter Green in 1975.  On her birthday in 2011, someone asked what it felt like to be 110.  She said, "Not much different to being 109".

She sounds like a real pip.

I say again as I have said before, it is the nature of time that they leave us.  I make the choice granted me by liberty and freedom to remember their service and sacrifice, and to honor it always.

Peace to you, Ms Green.  You earned it.

In a standard baseball game, you get 3 outs per inning for a total of 27 outs through a 9 inning game.  There have been 20 pitchers who have retired all 27 batters without allowing a base runner by a hit, a walk, or an error.  That's called a perfect game.

Until today.

Philip Humber, of the Chicago White Sox, retired 27 hitters in a row in Seattle to beat the Mariners 4-0 and become the 21st MLB pitcher to throw a perfect game.  He is the third White Sox pitcher to do so.

Well done!

Heard all of these on the radio this week, and they all stuck with me.  That's like FoF karma, so I pulled them all together for Set 118.

Have a great weekend!





Lust for Life, written by Iggy Pop/David Bowie, released by Iggy Pop in 1977

I Want You to Want Me, written by Rick Nielsen, released by Cheap Trick in 1977

Good Girls Don't, written by Doug Fieger, released by The Knack in 1979

Because the Night, written by Bruce Springsteen/Patti Smith, released in 1978

Should I Stay or Should I Go, written by Mick Jones, released by The Clash in 1982

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.

2. Go to Playlist.com to make your Set of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the Set, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.

2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.

3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.

4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!

Re-posting from 18 April 2011, which was reposted from 18 April 2010, which was re-posted from 17 April 2009.  As I have said repeatedly, when you get it right once, there's no need to change it.  So let's call this my annual commemorative essay to honor the 79 men who flew to Tokyo with Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle to prove that the Japanese homeland was vulnerable, and to give the US a morale boost after a series of devastating defeats in the Pacific to mark its entry into World War II.

On 18 April 1942, 70 years ago, Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle led 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers off the carrier deck of USS Hornet in a raid against Toyko. Although damage was modest, the impact on American morale was immense. Click here to read a complete account.  Click here to visit an outstanding memorial site.

Lt. Colonel Doolittle and his 79 volunteers proved that the Japanese homeland was not invulnerable to attack. They also forced the Japanese to recall a number of fighter squadrons to protect the island from further incursion.

The sleeping giant Yamamoto feared was awake, pissed off, and fiercely determined to take the fight to the Japanese.

Today I pay tribute to the 80 men who accepted the challenge to fly those bombers, knowing that they would barely have enough fuel to make it to China to land after the raid. Because the task force was spotted by a Japanese picket boat, the flight launched 10 hours early and 170 miles farther away from Japan than originally planned.


Plane 40-2344, 34th Squadron, 17th Group
Bailed out over N Chuchow, China

Lt Col James H Doolittle, pilot (14 Dec 1896 - 27 Sept 1993)
Lt Richard E Cole, co-pilot (Born 7 Sept 1915)
Lt Henry A Potter, navigator (Died 27 May 2002)
S/Sgt Fred A Braemer, bombardier (Died 2 Feb 1989)
S/Sgt Paul J Leonard, engineer-gunner (KIA Africa 5 Jan 1943)

Plane 40-2292, 37th Squadron, 17th Group
Crash landed Ningpo, China

Lt Travis Hoover, pilot (21 Sept 1917 - 17 Jan 2004)
Lt William N Fitzhugh, co-pilot (Died 31 Aug 1981)
Lt Carl R Wildner, navigator (Died 7 Mar 1994)
Lt Richard E Miller, bombardier (KIA Africa 22 Jan 1943)
Sgt Douglas V Radney, engineer-gunner (Died 28 Jan 1994)

Plane 40-2270, 95th Squadron, 17th Group
Bailed out over SE Chuchow, China

Lt Robert M Gray, pilot (KIA enroute India to China 18 Oct 1942)
Lt Jacob E Manch, co-pilot (Killed bailing out of T-33 Nevada 24 Mar 1958)
Lt Charles J Ozuk, navigator (Died 9 Oct 2010)
Sgt Aden E Jones, bombardier (Died 9 Mar 1983)
Cpl Leland D Faktor, engineer-gunner (KIA bailing out China 18 Apr 1942)

Plane 40-2282, 95th Squadron, 17th Group
Bailed out over SE Shangjao, China

Lt Everett W Holstom, pilot (Died 2 Dec 2000)
Lt Lucian N Younglbood, co-pilot (Killed 28 Feb 1949)
Lt Harry C McCool, navigator (Died 1 Feb 2003)
Sgt Robert J Stephens, bombardier (Died 13 Apr 1959)
Cpl Bert M Jordan, gunner (Died 3 Apr 2001)

Plane 40-2283, 95th Squadron, 17th Group
Bailed out over SW Chuchow, China

Capt David M Jones, pilot (Died 25 Nov 2008)
Lt Rodney R Wilder, co-pilot (Died 7 June 1964)
Lt Eugene F McGurl, navigator (KIA Burma 3 June 1942)
Lt Denver V Truelove, bombardier (KIA Sicily 5 Apr 1943)
Sgt Joseph W Manske, engineer-gunner (Died 4 Apr 1998)

Plane 40-2298, 95th Squadron, 17th Group
Ditched off Wenchu, China

Lt Dean E Hallmark, pilot (Executed by Japanese 15 Oct 1942)
Lt Robert J Meder, co-pilot (Died in Japanese POW camp 1 Dec 1943)
Lt Col Chase Jay Nielsen, navigator (Died 23 Mar 2007)
Sgt William J Dieter, bombardier (Drowned 18 Apr 1942)
Sgt Donald E Fitzmaurice, engineer-gunner (Drowned 18 Apr 1942)

Plane 40-2261, 95th Squadron, 17th Group
Ditched off Shangchow, China

Lt Ted W Lawson, pilot (Died 19 Jan 1992)
Lt Dean Davenport, co-pilot (Died 14 Feb 2000)
Lt Charles L McClure, navigator (Died 1 Jan 1999(
Lt Robert S Clever, bombardier (Killed in US 20 Nov 1942)
Sgt David J Thatcher, engineer-gunner (Born 31 July 1921)

Plane 40-2242, 95th Squadron, 17th Group
Landed in Primorsky Krai, Siberia

Capt Edward J York, pilot (Died 31 Aug 1984)
Lt Robert G Emmens, co-pilot (Died 2 Apr 1992)
Lt Nolan A Herndon, navigator-bombardier (Died 7 Oct 2007)
S/Sgt Theodore H Laban, engineer (Died 16 Sept 1978)
Sgt David W Pohl, gunner (Died 18 Feb 1999)

Plane 40-2303, 34th Squadron, 17th Group
Bailed out over S Nanchang, China

Lt Harold F Watson, pilot (Died 14 Sept 1991)
Lt James N Parker Jr, co-pilot (Died 19 June 1991)
Lt Thomas C Griffin, navigator (Born 10 July 1917)
Sgt Wayne M Bissell, bombardier (Died 9 Jan 1997)
T/Sgt Eldred V Scott, engineer-gunner (Died 31 July 1978)

Plane 40-2250, 89th Recon Squadron
Bailed out over NE Chuchow, China

Lt Richard O Joyce, pilot (Died 13 Feb 1983)
Lt J Royden Stork, co-pilot (Died 2 May 2002)
Lt Horace E Crouch, navigator-bombardier (Died 21 Dec 2005)
Sgt George F Larkin Jr, flight engineer (KIA India to China 18 Oct 1942)
S/Sgt Edwin W Horton Jr, gunner (Died 26 Nov 2008)

Plane 40-2249, 89th Recon Squadron
Bailed out over NE Chuchow, China

Capt C Ross Greening, pilot (Died 29 Mar 1957)
Lt Kenneth E Reddy, co-pilot (Killed in US 3 Sept 1942)
Lt Frank A Kappeler, navigator (Died 23 June 2010)
S/Sgt William L Birch, bombardier (Died 18 Nov 2006)
Sgt Melvin J Gardner, engineer-gunner (KIA Burma 3 June 1942)

Plane 40-2278, 37th Squadron, 17th Group
Bailed out over NE Chuchow, China

Lt William M Bower, pilot (Died 10 January 2011)
Lt Thadd H Blanton, co-pilot (Died 27 Sept 1961)
Lt William R Pound Jr, navigator (Died 13 July 1967)
T/Sgt Waldo J Bither, bombardier (Died 25 Feb 1988)
S/Sgt Omer A Duquette, engineer-gunner (KIA Burma 3 June 1942)

Plane 40-2247, 37th Squadron, 17th Group
Bailed out over N Nanchang, China

Lt Edgar E McElroy, pilot (Died 4 Apr 2003)
Lt Richard A Knobloch, co-pilot (Died 13 Aug 2001)
Lt Clayton J Campbell, navigator (Died 17 Nov 2002)
Sgt Robert C Bourgeois, bombardier (Died 13 Nov 2001)
Sgt Adam R Williams, engineer-gunner (Died 30 Nov 1993)

Plane 40-2297, 89th Recon Squadron
Bailed out over SE Shangjao, China

Maj John A Hilger, pilot (Died 3 Feb 1982)
Lt Jack A Sims, co-pilot (Died 9 June 2007)
Lt James H Macia Jr, navigator-bombardier (Died 21 Dec 2009)
S/Sgt Jacob Eierman, engineer (Died 16 Jan 1994)
S/Sgt Edwin V Bain, gunner (KIA Rome 19 July 1943)

Plane 40-2267, 89th Recon Squadron
Ditched off Shangchow, China

Lt Donald G Smith, pilot (KIA Britain 12 Nov 1942)
Lt Griffith P Williams, co-pilot (Died 14 July 1998)
Lt Howard A Sessler, navigator-bombardier (Died 9 Feb 2001)
Sgt Edward J Saylor, engineer (Born 15 Mar 1920)
Lt (Dr) Thomas R White, gunner (Died 29 Nov 1992)

Plane 40-2268, 34th Squadron, 17th Group
Bailed out over Ningpo, China

Lt William G Farrow, pilot (Executed by Japanese 15 Oct 1942)
Lt Robert L Hite, co-pilot (Born 3 Mar 1920)
Lt George Barr, navigator (Died 12 July 1967)
Cpl Jacob DeShazer, bombardier (Died 15 Mar 2008)
Sgr Harold A Spatz, engineer-gunner (Executed by Japanese 15 Oct 1942)

Monument to the Doolittle Raiders at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio

At each reunion, the surviving crew members perform a roll call and then drink a toast to the Raiders who have passed since they last met. Each man has a special silver goblet engraved with his name. The goblets of those Raiders who have passed are turned down.  There are five Raiders still living.

A final toast between the last two surviving Raiders will be with a bottle of vintage Hennessy cognac from the year of Colonel Doolittle's birth, 1896. The bottle and the goblets have traveled to each reunion since 1960.


It is the nature of time that they leave us.  One day, all of those goblets will be turned down.  The deed will live on as we choose to remember it. 

Gentlemen, you have my profound gratitude for your service and your sacrifice.

Let me also recognize the 57 US Army maintenance crew, without whom the planes could not have been properly prepared to succeed.

USS Hornet

And lest we forget...the crews of USS Hornet, USS Enterprise, and Task Force 18 cruised into harm's way with the precious tonnage of an American Navy still reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor just a few short months before.

USS Enterprise

I realize that my previous essays have been deficient in that I have failed to recognize the Chinese citizens who assisted the Raiders, at great personal risk.  I correct that oversight today, and thank these people for their courage and sacrifices.

It's encores and results!

Monday's Festival of Tiny Costumes, otherwise known as Latin night, was light on tiny costumes.  But we enjoyed it anyway.

I just don't care that Gladys doesn't dance with any recognizable technique.  I love her sass, and she got to be sassy Gladys in her Samba with Tristan.  She's having fun and I'll keep having fun watching her.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


The only thing I didn't like about the Samba from Jaleel and Kym was the costumes.  Samba is the party dance.  Why go brown?  Let's see some bright yellows and reds and greens.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


I really liked how cleverly Mark designed the Argentine Tango for Katherine.  I thought it suited the artistry she has demonstrated.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


The tricks, lifts, and spins were incredible.  And this Argentine Tango from Donald and Peta had that slow-quick-slow quality that added to the depth and mystery.  It could have been dance of the night.  Maybe it should have been.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


It was Salsa without a lot of extra junk.  Just Salsa.  And it was danced really well.  That's why dance of the night goes to Roshon and Chelsie.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


Good stuff.

Oh...I did watch the Argentine Tango from William and Cheryl again.  Twice.  I'm still not seeing why that dance earned a 29 total from the judges.  Certainly not when I compare it to what I saw from Katherine and Mark or from Donald and Peta.

But that's just the opinion of a guy who watches for fun and doesn't have a trained eye.  What did Louis van Amstel think?  Click here to see.  If you don't get a chance to click over, Louis said 9s across for William.  To get a 10, Louis said he needed to see more fluidity from William.  Then Louis said both Katherine and Donald should have earned 10s across.

Here's a reminder of our Latin Night leader board:

29 Katherine and Mark
29 William and Cheryl
27 Donald and Peta
27 Maria and Derek
26 Roshon and Chelsie
24 Jaleel and Kym
22 Gladys and Tristan
21 Melissa and Maks
19 Gavin and Karina

The judges select the Salsa from Maria and Derek as the encore.  I didn't care for it Monday, and I didn't care for it this time either.  Too gimmicky for my taste.

Now let's get some results...Maria and Derek are safe.  Melissa and Maks are safe.  Gladys and Tristan are safe.

Train is in the ballroom to perform a new single of a new album, accompanied by Louis and Cheryl.

Macy's Stars of Dance features Sheila E.  It's a tribute to Latin rhythms and dance, choreographed by Liz Imperio.  Meh.  I didn't like that. 

Now it's Selena Gomez.  Her dancers I enjoyed, but the song wasn't really very good.

More results...William and Cheryl are safe.  Katherine and Mark are safe.  Donald and Peta are safe.  Roshon and Chelsie are safe.

Jaleel and Kym are in the dance duel.  Gavin and Karina are in the dance duel.  We've never had one of these before.  Both couples will dance at the same time, to the same music, with the same dance style.  Then the judges will decide who stays and who goes.

The dance is Cha Cha Cha.  Judging should be based only on this dance, not on past performance or who has been the better pair to date.  If that's the case then the better Cha Cha Cha I saw was Jaleel and Kym.  The dance Gavin and Karina did looked more like an up tempo Rumba.

Results of the dance duel...Jaleel and Kym are safe.

That means Gavin and Karina are out.


Well, somebody has to go.  Gavin gets my most improved award.  Maybe if he can squeeze it in, he'll come back later in the season and sing.

Dude!  Next week is Motown!  And some of the songs our pairs will dance to will be performed by the original artists.  This should be fun.

Later gang!

It's live from Hollywood!

Welcome to the Festival of Tiny Costumes, otherwise known as Latin night!  Oh...that is Carlos Santana y'all!  Now we can put every routine to Santana music and I'll be a happy guy.

Dance Troupe put a pre-heat on the ballroom.  Let's see how our celebrities stoke the fire.  We've got Salsa, Samba, and Argentine Tango.

Jaleel and Kym dance Samba.  Samba suits the loose and relaxed way he naturally dances.  If I can't have Santana for music, then Gloria Estefan works too, although I think the tempo of this arrangement is a bit slow for the party dance.  Still, this choreography had all the proper elements I expect from a Samba.  I thought Kym put the movements together in such a way that Jaleel could connect them smoothly.  I liked his musicality and rhythm.  He had controlled hip action and I thought his footwork was very good.  The performance made me smile.  Judges say 8s across for a total of 24.  Good score.  I think there might have been a few technical issues with posture and that free arm, and that kept him from getting into the 9 range.

Melissa and Maks dance Salsa.  I'm so glad that the concussion injury wasn't more serious last week.  I didn't think she did very well in the side by side work in this Salsa.  But when she was in hold, I thought her confidence went up.  I thought that last throw spin took some courage...she easily could have hit her head again.  I can't take any issue with her attack of the choreography.  I think Maks gave her some very difficult steps, and she handled them fairly well.  But I felt that she was behind the music in spots and racing to catch up.  I think it was a mix...in hold she did really well with hip action and rhythm, but out of hold and side by side I thought she lost musicality and timing.  Overall I enjoyed the performance.  Judges say 7s across for a total of 21.  Hmmm...I don't know.  The things she did well, she did very well. 

Maria and Derek dance Salsa.  Bad ribs.  Bad foot.  And now she has banged her chin on the floor during rehearsal.  HA!  Then they wrapped her up in bubble wrap.  That's hilarious!  I like the yellow dress for the performance...I get to see legsses!  There were a lot of tricks in the first third of the choreography, and I thought that messed with the continuity.  I have to say, it didn't get much better for me.  This is one of those times when I think Derek overdid it and tried to be too clever.  Maria doesn't need all of that extra stuff.  Just give her dance moves and let her shine.  I liked the dancing that they did, but it was so choppy with all the tricks and other junk thrown in.  I didn't like that performance.  And Bruno was wildly inappropriate with his comments.  I'm no prude, but let's clean it up.  Judges say 9s across for a total of 27.  I won't say the dance didn't deserve that high score, but I didn't like the performance.

Katherine and Mark dance Argentine Tango.  I have incredibly high expectations for this dance.  I think she fulfilled most of them too.  I liked the footwork steps Mark chose for this dance.  Katherine was crisp and precise.  I liked the drama that built through the piece.  They told a complete story that really emphasized the the layers of emotion.  Mark put together a dance that showed off style and artistry.  And technically, I don't know that they could have been better.  They danced with balance and harmony.  I really enjoyed that performance.  Judges say 10,9,10 for a total of 29.  I thought we were going to get the first perfect 30, but Len is going to hold that 10 paddle.  You'll have to make it a double wow to get him to throw it.

Gavin and Karina dance Samba.  Gavin has a terrific Samba bounce in the first part of this dance, and I think he's got some good hip action.  He looks like he's having fun.  I thought he handled the footwork and character of the dance during the beginning and middle.  Unfortunately, I thought it started to fall apart at the end.  He lost his timing and technique.  He got really sloppy with his posture and frame.  I don't think it was as bad as the judges said, particularly because of the beginning.  He was doing fine through about half of it.  It's just that the bad parts happened at the end.  Judges say 6,6,7 for a total of 19.  That's too bad.  Gavin had been improving each week.  Samba just didn't quite fit for him.

Oh...it's a break for Santana to play.  Nice!  And it's Louis returning to the ballroom to dance with Anna.

William and Cheryl dance Argentine Tango.  William injured  his ankle in rehearsal.  MRI revealed ligament damage, which is painful and will ultimately need to be repaired.  He has to focus on technique, because Tango is all about crispness and precision.  This dance had some pace to it, and I thought that impacted the drama and passion.  In other words, I thought drama and passion were missing from the performance.  Anytime the music tempo is a little quicker for Argentine Tango, I always want to see those quick-slow-quick movements.  You know what I mean?  There needs to be a dramatic pause of emphasis.  I missed that in this dance.  It was all done at pace and so I didn't feel a sense of heat between them.  The crowd can scream and Carrie Ann can fan herself all she wants.  Pam has been attracted to William's sex appeal since dance one.  This time?  She frowned through it and called it flat.  Judges say 10,9,10 for a total of 29.  I'm not buying it.  Maybe we'll see something to justify that score when we watch it back.

Gladys and Tristan dance Samba.  I love that they got Samba because we get sassy Gladys back now.  And she's having a fabulous time dancing to Fever sung in Spanish.  All of the posture issues are still there.  But she's shaking her hips and gliding across the floor.  She's got some Samba bounce.  She struggled a little connecting each movement and making it smooth.  But she did have the party flavor and character of Samba.  Tristan made the choreography simple for her, since she played 3 different dates this week and had to learn the dance in between.  I didn't care about the mistakes and the technique problems and the posture issues.  I enjoyed watching her because she had a good time.  Judges say 7,7,8 for a total of 22.  I think the 8 was generous, but like I said, I don't care about what was wrong with the dance.  I enjoyed what was right with it.

Roshon and Chelsie dance Salsa.  If you work at trying to be sexy, you end up looking silly.  I don't think Roshon should worry about that.  He's got so much natural rhythm...all he needs to do is dance.  I like how confidently he places his feet.  Salsa is like club dancing, so his hip hop background really helps him.  I think he had terrific control of the dance from the first movement.  Chelsie's choreography was outstanding, and he attacked the piece.  And from that...excellent choreography and skilled movement...came an outstanding dance.  Roshon had rhythm and musicality.  I believed him in the dance.  Well done, young man.  Judges say 9,8,9 for a total of 26.  I thought that should have been 9s across. 

Donald and Peta dance Argentine Tango.  There's a bit of over confidence in rehearsal this week.  Let's hope it doesn't slip into cockiness.  There's that quick-slow-quick I wanted.  It's cool.  It's arrogant.  It's dramatic.  The musical tempo keeps the pace, but the dancing slides behind it and then catches back up.  Then that spin...so rapid.  Donald and Peta danced with wonderful nuance and finesse.  There was definitely a reason for confidence in rehearsal.  That routine was stunning.  Peta has done a tremendous job of teaching, and Donald has done a terrific job of learning.  The strength of the routine was in the lifts and spins.  I disagree with Len.  I thought the dancing was incredible as they built the tension and drama of the routine.  I really liked the performance.  Judges say 10,8,9 for a total of 27.  I don't know about the 10 and I don't know about the 8.  I thought it was 9s across.

Here's our leader board:

29 Katherine and Mark
29 William and Cheryl
27 Donald and Peta
27 Maria and Derek
26 Roshon and Chelsie
24 Jaleel and Kym
22 Gladys and Tristan
21 Melissa and Maks
19 Gavin and Karina

I settled in this week with my top 4 pairs.  My votes were split between Katherine, Jaleel, Roshon, and Donald.  Maria and Jaleel are actually vying for the same spot, but this week I had to go for Jaleel.  I didn't care for Maria's Salsa.

Pam's top 4 includes Katherine, Roshon, and...not William.  Her 4th set of votes went to Maria.  She wasn't as down on Maria and Derek as I was this week.  She did not care for William's routine.

So there we are.  We're voting on merit now.  It was hard not to vote for Gladys because she's such a delight.  But I'm not going to be responsible for Roshon hitting the bottom 2 again.  Nope...not me!

You know the drill.  Tune in tonight for results...the bottom 2 will have a dance duel to see who stays in the competition.  And check back here tomorrow for encores and my results recap.

Later gang!

I think it's sometimes lost in the fascination with and dramatic romanticizing of the Titanic wreckage site that 1,514 people died.  There were 2,223 people on board.  There were 20 lifeboats that would hold 1,178 people.

Many of the lifeboats were launched less than full.  Only 709 people made it onto those boats.

Consider this...the full ship's capacity was 2,435 passengers and 892 crew.  If Titanic had been full on this her maiden and only voyage, there were lifeboats aboard for a third of the souls.  And that was by design and in accordance with existing maritime law.

Have you heard the phrase "failure of imagination"?  The builders of Titanic failed to imagine that anything could go wrong with their mammoth creation.  They failed to imagine any possible need to remove every passenger and every member of the crew in the middle of a frigid ocean.  Outdated maritime regulations failed to imagine that new laws must be enacted to ensure that every soul had a place on a lifeboat should any disaster occur at sea.

No technological advance has yet been invented to counterbalance the basic reality of human frailty in the face of disaster, and especially of disaster at sea.  To decide that one has built an unsinkable ship, and to make a considered decision not to outfit it with enough rescue equipment to at least try to save every soul on board, is the height of human hubris and ego.

It is tragic that men were forced to choose death so that their loved ones could be put aboard those few lifeboats.  It is tragic that many third class passengers couldn't get to the lifeboat decks, and so drowned.  It is tragic that people put on life vests and plunged into frigid water, hoping to hang on until another ship came to save them, only to freeze within minutes. 

On this, the 100th commemoration of the sinking of RMS Titanic, I remember those who died.  I remember those whose lives were irrevocably altered by the loss of loved ones.

I remember how senseless and needlessly 1,514 people perished.

Had a classic radio station playing last weekend.  Heard the voice.  Made me smile.

Set 117.  Petula Clark.  'Nuff said.





I Know A Place, written by Tony Hatch, released in 1965

Don't Sleep in the Subway, written by Tony Hatch/Jackie Trent, released in 1967

A Sign of the Times, written by Tony Hatch, released in 1966

Downtown, written by Tony Hatch, released in 1964

I Couldn't Live Without Your Love, written by Tony Hatch/Jackie Trent, released in 1966

1. Grab the banner, make your post title Five on Friday, and be sure to link back here.

2. Go to Playlist.com to make your Set of five songs. You may choose a particular theme to share with us, or post random tunes if that's your vibe for the day. You can simply post the Set, or you can add a little summary about what you are sharing.

2a. Don't feel restricted by the tracks listed on Playlist.com. And don't be discouraged if the Embed code won't work. You're welcome to use any type of media to share your Sets.

3. Be sure to sign Mr Linky so everyone can visit your Set.

4. No tags, but feel free to invite your friends to play along if they need a post topic on a Friday.

Go forth and enjoy music!