Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Some humor for a change
A man who dressed up as Darth Vader, wearing a black garbage bag for a cape, and assaulted the founders of Britain's first Jedi church was given a suspended sentence Tuesday. A person dressed as Darth Vader pictured at a launch of a Star Wars video game. Arwel Wynne Hughes, 27, attacked Jedi church founder Barney Jones -- a.k.a. Master Jonba Hehol -- with a metal crutch, hitting him on the head, prosecutors told Holyhead Magistrates' Court.
He also whacked Jones' 18-year-old cousin, Michael Jones -- or Master Mormi Hehol -- bruising his thigh, in the March 25 incident. Unfortunately for Hughes, the incident was recorded on a video camera that the cousins had set up to film themselves in a light saber battle.
"Darth Vader! Jedis!" Hughes shouted as he approached.
Hughes claimed he couldn't remember the incident, having drunk the best part of a 10-liter (two-and-half-gallon) box of wine beforehand.
"He knows his behavior was wrong and didn't want it to happen but he has no recollection of it," said Hughes' lawyer, Frances Jones. District Judge Andrew Shaw sentenced Hughes to two months in jail but suspended the sentence for one year. He also ordered Hughes to pay £100 ($195) to each of his victims and £60 ($117) in court costs. Barney Jones, his brother Daniel and cousin Michael set up the Church of Jediism, Anglesey order, last year. It claims about 30 members.
Jedi is the faith followed by some of the central characters in the "Star Wars" films. In the 2001 United Kingdom census, 390,000 people -- 0.7 percent of the population -- listed Jedi as their religion.
He also whacked Jones' 18-year-old cousin, Michael Jones -- or Master Mormi Hehol -- bruising his thigh, in the March 25 incident. Unfortunately for Hughes, the incident was recorded on a video camera that the cousins had set up to film themselves in a light saber battle.
"Darth Vader! Jedis!" Hughes shouted as he approached.
Hughes claimed he couldn't remember the incident, having drunk the best part of a 10-liter (two-and-half-gallon) box of wine beforehand.
"He knows his behavior was wrong and didn't want it to happen but he has no recollection of it," said Hughes' lawyer, Frances Jones. District Judge Andrew Shaw sentenced Hughes to two months in jail but suspended the sentence for one year. He also ordered Hughes to pay £100 ($195) to each of his victims and £60 ($117) in court costs. Barney Jones, his brother Daniel and cousin Michael set up the Church of Jediism, Anglesey order, last year. It claims about 30 members.
Jedi is the faith followed by some of the central characters in the "Star Wars" films. In the 2001 United Kingdom census, 390,000 people -- 0.7 percent of the population -- listed Jedi as their religion.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Death and deployment
White( a person whom I work worth) and I were talking. Both of us have a few deployments under our belt and never has anyone been seriously injured or died on those deployments.
However, this one has been quite the opposite. I have been here for less than 3 months and we have had 2 people die. Not from combat injuries because we are not engaged in combat here. But from natural causes. The first of which was a 21 year old Marine who's name I do not know died in the gym while working out from unknown causes.
The most recent of which passed away yesterday. At least we became aware of it yesterday. He was believed to have passed away some time before he was found. His service although not here was a memorable one. An honor guard of Airmen escorted the casket to the vehicle which would transport it from the hospital to airport. While the streets were lined with service members from the French Navy , Yemen Army, Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen who offered their respects and final salute.
I did not know the man well but I did know him. I had the good fortune of sharing conversations and laughs with the man. His passing has been tragic with me although I do not know if it was because I knew him or what he represented. I cannot help but to look at the table we sat at with a new profound sense of respect and yearning.
War is a cruel monster in which we as a people have become desensitized too and I have come to fear the idea of 'what if the last thing you said to your loved ones was the actual last thing.' This is a tragic place and situation in which no one should have to die not having seen their loved one's in such a long time and yet so far away from them.
But just in case I love you Kim and I love you Mom. Thanks for being the greatest influences in my life.
Farewell and Following Seas Lieutenant Colonel Joseph A. Moore, Chaplain Corps, United States Air Force
However, this one has been quite the opposite. I have been here for less than 3 months and we have had 2 people die. Not from combat injuries because we are not engaged in combat here. But from natural causes. The first of which was a 21 year old Marine who's name I do not know died in the gym while working out from unknown causes.
The most recent of which passed away yesterday. At least we became aware of it yesterday. He was believed to have passed away some time before he was found. His service although not here was a memorable one. An honor guard of Airmen escorted the casket to the vehicle which would transport it from the hospital to airport. While the streets were lined with service members from the French Navy , Yemen Army, Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen who offered their respects and final salute.
I did not know the man well but I did know him. I had the good fortune of sharing conversations and laughs with the man. His passing has been tragic with me although I do not know if it was because I knew him or what he represented. I cannot help but to look at the table we sat at with a new profound sense of respect and yearning.
War is a cruel monster in which we as a people have become desensitized too and I have come to fear the idea of 'what if the last thing you said to your loved ones was the actual last thing.' This is a tragic place and situation in which no one should have to die not having seen their loved one's in such a long time and yet so far away from them.
But just in case I love you Kim and I love you Mom. Thanks for being the greatest influences in my life.
Farewell and Following Seas Lieutenant Colonel Joseph A. Moore, Chaplain Corps, United States Air Force
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Tactical Aircraft
Some information for thought.
The last Air Force pilot ever involved in a real dog fight is coming up on his 2nd star. The same goes for the last Naval Aviator.
Back in Vietnam, Marines lost 1 tactical aircraft for every 6,000 missions. In Operation Iraqi Freedom our loss rate is 1 tactical aircrafter per every 1,500 sorties.
It's considered safer to fly fighter plane rather than helicopters.
The last Air Force pilot ever involved in a real dog fight is coming up on his 2nd star. The same goes for the last Naval Aviator.
Back in Vietnam, Marines lost 1 tactical aircraft for every 6,000 missions. In Operation Iraqi Freedom our loss rate is 1 tactical aircrafter per every 1,500 sorties.
It's considered safer to fly fighter plane rather than helicopters.
American Culture in Djibouti
Overall the general experience an American gets of Africa is reading National Geographic. However the Djiboutians here are Americanized to a degree. They receive BBC radio, Armed Forces Network radio and CNN so they know a lot of what goes on in American, England and France. American music is popular here.
What has me curious is how Djiboutian's handle the sudden public surge of homosexuality. Here on base one of the local Djiboutian's is gay and I mean to the eccentric point. The point where he wears his hat sideways, Dolce and Gabana sunglasses, Chuck Taylor's with fur interior linings. The word flaming has been used by people here from time to time. Especially after his serenade of "Scrubs" by TLC during the last karoake session. I have to wonder how Djiboutians relate to a person such as this. Especially the majority being Muslim and a small Catholic/Episcopalian population.
What has me curious is how Djiboutian's handle the sudden public surge of homosexuality. Here on base one of the local Djiboutian's is gay and I mean to the eccentric point. The point where he wears his hat sideways, Dolce and Gabana sunglasses, Chuck Taylor's with fur interior linings. The word flaming has been used by people here from time to time. Especially after his serenade of "Scrubs" by TLC during the last karoake session. I have to wonder how Djiboutians relate to a person such as this. Especially the majority being Muslim and a small Catholic/Episcopalian population.
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