"Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure." - Abraham Lincoln
Memorial Day is a national federal holiday falling on the last Monday in May. It's purpose is to honor the men and women who have died fighting in our, the U.S. A.'s, wars.
Sadly, it seems that Memorial Day has lost meaning to Americans who have not experienced what it is like to make sacrifices for our country...and that's a lot of people. For most, it's significance has been reduced to an appreciated day off work and flipping burgers on the grill. Because of this...everyone is to observe a national moment of silence at three o'clock pm. and the 3rd U.S. infantry places small flags at the cite of each headstone in Arlington Cemetery, making sure that none touch the ground the entire weekend.
Why wait? Honor the memories of our fallen heroes everyday by embracing a patriotic spirit and openly supporting our troops!
Notes: Originaly Memorial Day was called Decoration Day and pertained to only those soldiers died fighting for the Union in the Civil War. The South also celebrated a day for their heroic dead, but refused to share the same day with the North. It wasn't until after WWI that the two days became one.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Sunday's "Bite!"
Sunday's "bite!"
No, I am not referring to the Sunday morning, sometimes boring, ritual of going to church. What I am referring to, however, is the scientific fact that most shark attacks occur on a particular day of the week... which happens to be Sunday.
Why, you ask? Well, just think about it...
Most people plan their recreation around the work week (Mon. thru Fr.); this leaves only the weekends, Sat. and Sun., as the most ideal time to go on outing's (like going to the beach). Surfers flock to the coastline donned in their black wet suit and paddle a ways off-shore to catch a good wave. From below, a surfer's silhouette greatly resembles that of a large seal... a primary food source for sharks.
Attacks on humans by these apex predators are a simple case of mistaken identity. Unfortunately for us, a shark's hunting strategy often leaves devastation. (Recall the name of this entry.)
Ultimately, it seems that we humans are setting the schedule and the sharks are just following the leader.
FACTS:
1. When hunting sharks submerge to a depth of 6ft and then stun their victims by ramming them at high speed from below. This stuns the victim, leaves them disoriented, and gives enough time for the shark to take a bite.
2. Not only do most attacks occur on Sunday's, but they seem to also happen during times of a full moon.
3. Fla.'s Colusia County is noted as being the "Shark Attack capital of the World."
4. The day of the week with the second most number of attacks is Saturday... with Fri. coming in third.
No, I am not referring to the Sunday morning, sometimes boring, ritual of going to church. What I am referring to, however, is the scientific fact that most shark attacks occur on a particular day of the week... which happens to be Sunday.
Why, you ask? Well, just think about it...
Most people plan their recreation around the work week (Mon. thru Fr.); this leaves only the weekends, Sat. and Sun., as the most ideal time to go on outing's (like going to the beach). Surfers flock to the coastline donned in their black wet suit and paddle a ways off-shore to catch a good wave. From below, a surfer's silhouette greatly resembles that of a large seal... a primary food source for sharks.
Attacks on humans by these apex predators are a simple case of mistaken identity. Unfortunately for us, a shark's hunting strategy often leaves devastation. (Recall the name of this entry.)
Ultimately, it seems that we humans are setting the schedule and the sharks are just following the leader.
FACTS:
1. When hunting sharks submerge to a depth of 6ft and then stun their victims by ramming them at high speed from below. This stuns the victim, leaves them disoriented, and gives enough time for the shark to take a bite.
2. Not only do most attacks occur on Sunday's, but they seem to also happen during times of a full moon.
3. Fla.'s Colusia County is noted as being the "Shark Attack capital of the World."
4. The day of the week with the second most number of attacks is Saturday... with Fri. coming in third.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
History making flood swamps Nashville.
NASHVILLE, TN. - Incredible storms hit Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee over the weekend delivering no less than 13.52 inches of rain to Nashville, TN. alone. Flash flooding from the nearby Cumberland river overtook several local landmarks including the Grand Ole Opry House, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville NHL and NFL stadiums, and the Schermer Symphony Center. The river swelled to 40ft. above flood level.
Some unfortunate vacationers, who had been stranded at the Opryland Resort and Convention Center, were rescued by canoe (among other available means) and delivered to a safe location. The resort had evacuated around 1,500 people...some not even having enough time to pay for their meals. The resort was reportedly under 10 feet of water at one point.
Two historic locations, Ryman Auditorium (the original home of the Grand Ole' Opry) and Music Row, were spared from the disaster.
The National Weather Service explained that a slow moving weather system had developed from a combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and highly unstable air over Tennessee. The result was an unprecedented deluge of rain and severe weather.
Tennessee's Gov. Phil Bredesen declared 52 of the 95 counties a disaster area after seeing the destruction first hand via airplane. He is quoted as saying, "I have never seen flooding like this." It is officially the most devastating flood in the history of the region. The previous record had been set by Hurricane Fredrick in 1979.
The death toll is currently at 28 victims in three states and that number is expected to rise.
Rumors persist that 2010 is going to be an extremely bad year for severe weather including tornadoes. So far, it looks to be true.
Some unfortunate vacationers, who had been stranded at the Opryland Resort and Convention Center, were rescued by canoe (among other available means) and delivered to a safe location. The resort had evacuated around 1,500 people...some not even having enough time to pay for their meals. The resort was reportedly under 10 feet of water at one point.
Two historic locations, Ryman Auditorium (the original home of the Grand Ole' Opry) and Music Row, were spared from the disaster.
The National Weather Service explained that a slow moving weather system had developed from a combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and highly unstable air over Tennessee. The result was an unprecedented deluge of rain and severe weather.
Tennessee's Gov. Phil Bredesen declared 52 of the 95 counties a disaster area after seeing the destruction first hand via airplane. He is quoted as saying, "I have never seen flooding like this." It is officially the most devastating flood in the history of the region. The previous record had been set by Hurricane Fredrick in 1979.
The death toll is currently at 28 victims in three states and that number is expected to rise.
Rumors persist that 2010 is going to be an extremely bad year for severe weather including tornadoes. So far, it looks to be true.
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