Layng quietly in fields

Layng quietly in fields
Glstening lights

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Could I?



Today's Tids Issue 4,144
For Valor Of Men Upon Cold Seas:

I wonder if. I wonder, what would it be like. I wonder about D-day and try to see me sitting stone-faced in my LCI, as wind-blown waves beat against that metal hull plowing through turbulent seas. The steel echoes the pounding rush of water, resonating through all bodies rigid, with courage, or with fear. I feel cold and I shiver. I feel the jolt as the ramp flies open into the sea, baring souls to the devil on high cliffs above. I hear the roar of cannons muffling that of the churning seas. I wonder, would I be brave enough to wade ashore. I sit here today behind a keyboard seeking words that would express the intensity of those feelings of yore. And, I shiver again. I see men rush the beach. I see men crumble into blood red waves. My mind is traveling back seventy-four years to where one bewildered young man finally realizes it is his time. He raises his head, looking beyond his own conflicted mind. He sees men running, wading, crawling; craft after craft assaulting the beaches wide; inch by inch, yard by yard, finally to a place to catch a breath, to feel the courage rising above fear. A place finally, to wonder, can I, we go on. I see bravery and resilience on a day that turned the tide. I think of the men who did it and I wonder, could I?

Helen Keller once said that the only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.

As far as I’m concerned, bacon is an essential condiment.

Is Marx’s tomb a communist plot?

The Question:
Omaha got all the credit, and that was before Warren Buffet. Omaha beach that is. Name all of the other beaches where valiant solders stormed.

The Headlines:
--EU To Counter US Tariffs beginning In July; US Trade Deficit Falls To 7 Month Low; US productivity Growth Looks Weak.
--Repub’s John Cox Surges In Cal Primary To Win Spot Against Gavin Newsom For Governor; Most Congressional Primaries Too Close To Call; Pelosi Disturbed By Lack Of Dem Gains That Would Shut Out Repubs.
--Obama Admin Allegedly Gave Iran Access To US Financial System; New Senate Report Says O-Admin Misled People.
--Fashion World Shocked At Death Of Popular Kate Spade; Her Family Says They Are No Surprised.
--Hundreds More Houses Destroyed By New Lava Flows In Hawaii; All Neighborhoods Now Cut Off.
--FBI’s Former Deputy Director McCabe Seeking Immunity For Testimony About Handling of Clinton’s Email Investigation.
--Gennifer Flowers Comes Out With New Allegations Against Bill.

Would I rather be known for refuting the American Flag, or for wading through bloody waters towards Omaha beach?

What was that I just ate, again…Department:
One of those little mysteries of life is: What exactly is the difference between Baby Backed Ribs and Saint Louis Style Spare Ribs. And More important, what kind of ribs were they that I really enjoyed the other night. Well first, Baby Backed Ribs are the most popular, and therefore higher priced mainly because they are in greater demand. BB Ribs are cut from where the ribs meet the spine after the loin is removed. BTW, baby backed ribs don’t come from baby pigs. They have the name because they are smaller, shorter than the Spare Ribs. BB Ribs are tender and lean. (They may also be called “Pork Loin Back Ribs”, “Back Ribs” or “Loin Ribs”.) Spare ribs are meaty ribs cut from the belly of the animal after the belly has been removed. Saint Louis Style refers to the process that trims away cartilage and hard breast bone, leaving manageable meaty ribs. Spare Ribs are meatier than BB Ribs, and generally more flavorful because of high fat content. Also, while both types of ribs require slow cooking, the Spare Ribs brown easier because they are much flatter than the curvy BB Ribs. Regardless, the best taste result always relies on the BBQ mastery of the chef, be it in a fancy restaurant or back yard smoker. 

It is purported that at his Bachelor Party, Prince Harry said, “It’s really weird stuffing money into a stripper’s G-String when every bill has a photo of your grandmother printed on it.”

They should change the name of America’s Got Talent to America Imports Talent. Will Simon Cowell have to pay a tariff to keep his show going, as many of the top talent live abroad? I’m still wading through the early stages of this event which often I find hard to watch. Fortunately, there is generally a Red Sox game on another channel to which I can flip while judges are talking or some phony act is on stage. I also wish they were more like The Voice where the judges can’t see the person but only hear he or she without visual prejudice influencing judgments. I feel the same about some of these heart tugging tales, which while incredibly admirable in many cases, still potentially interfere with the sanctity of the judging. The judges are always enamored it seems with all of these dancing troops and acrobatic acts. As I have said in the past, what do you do for the second act? Last night a guy with a sword “wowed the intrepid four, but I thought he was just fair, with far too many lulls in-between less than sensational action. The final singer had a great voice, and I liked his song choice. But I wonder if much of his accolades were the result of his goodness in life.

Basically, I really don’t like the show, but I do enjoy some of the acts.

Tell me again, what exactly is a free gift. Aren’t all gifts free?

I think I was smarter before my subscription to the Wall Street Journal ran out.

I don’t know about you, but I liked it much better when I could sit in my hometown and watch the clouds roll by… and not see small local incidents of human foible-ism blown out of proportion into national events.

The Answer:
Utah Beach, the western most beach, was added in the final hours before invasion in order to put allies in striking distance of Cherbourg. While Omaha was indeed the bloodiest, heavy fighting also occurred during the British assault on Gold beach and Canadians slaughtered early at Juno. At Sword beach, British and Canadian airborne groups emulated the American actions at Cherbourg beyond Utah.  Despite the early carnages at Juno, then Canadians advanced the farthest on the first day. But in the end, they are all equal in bravery.

There is so much rancor and shouting, it is tough to know what is really important.

I know D-Day is important.





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