It took me a long time before I finally decided to get me a Kindle, but I finally broke down and got myself a Kindle Keyboard, without the 3G. The Kindle Keyboard is the black and white version that gives the illusion of reading on paper. I loved my Kindle and the Kindle store, because I was able to get a lot of free books, to include classics and biographies of early revolutionary Americans. I was happy with myself that I finally broke down and bought my e-reader, because I had in the past tried to read PDF books on my computer and just couldn't seem to get through a book due to the discomfort of reading on my laptop. The downside of the Kindle, however, was that the PDF books were too hard to read once I imported them into the Kindle reader. I did, however, get through quite a few books on my Kindle... up until I got my IPad and installed the Kindle Reader app.
The upside of the IPad is that I can import those PDF books and read them comfortably without having to adjust the scale or zoom on them. Now I can download PDF files from Google books and read them on my Kindle app. There is a little glare on the IPad, but reading on my IPad is infinitely more comfortable and ocmvenient than my Kindle reader. In all fairness, I initially chose the Kindle over the IPad because I was afraid I would spend too much time browsing the internet and playing games on the IPad. Funny enough, I rarely play games on my IPad, and I don't even spend too much time browsing the internet... only when waiting for a car or during commercials while watching TV. Given any real time to read, I will open the Kindle app and start reading.
My biggest problem now, however, is the Kindle version of magazines that I recently ordered. I am afraid it is going to be hard to focus on my serious reading for my enjoyment of the articles, photos and ads on these magazines.
For those who may be interested, I am three quarters of the way through with How I Found Livingstone written by Sir Henry Morton Stanley. This is a fascinating book of adventure in late 1800s East Africa, that I have been enjoying for a while now (mostly on airplanes and in airports during my travels). I picked it up on a whim while I was still reading Through the Brazilian Wilderness written by Theodore Roosevelt. I don't know why I love these stories of remote wilderness expeditions so much, given I spend enough time in the wilderness here in Vietnam. It does remind me, however, that this stuff in Vietnam is nowhere near the wilderness these two authors experienced in their time.
In the meantime, I continue to buy other books and put them on the back burner. I just picked up Bury Us Upside Down written by a former Vietnam era Misty Pilot (Fast Forward Air Controllers) on a recommendation by a friend. The first few pages already have me captivated and now I am stuck with the dilemma of whether I want to finish Stanley's book first or move on to this one.
I am off to Hawaii next week for 10 days to participate in a command-level working group. It should give me some time to catch up on my reading. Cheescake Factory is also on the agenda...
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Can't Seem to Catch My Breath
Not ironically, I don't have a lot of time to get this post in. Between Vietnam blocking Blogger and me out of the office and not having any free time at work (we have a VPN that allows us to access sites as if we were in the U.S.), I have had absolutely no time to update my "daily" blog.
So, here I am to say I am doing fine. My job is morphing into something different, and the change should be good. During the transition, however, I will be doing two jobs at once... and I am afraid this will make me not very good at either for a while. But, as my last boss said often. "It is what it is." Whatever that means.
Megan is back in school and Diep is still satisfied with our new accommodations. I am satisfied as well, but my mission duties have kept me away from the house more often than not. It isn't likely that my home time will increase with the new job, but I think the stints will be longer in duration and less frequent. That could be a good thing.
It look like I will get a few days back in Hawaii on work related business. The time in the U.S. will give me the time to make some much needed purchases in clothing and electronics. I can't buy clothes that fit here, and I can't order anything with a lithium battery in the mail. This makes travel to the U.S. from time to time a necessity.
I changed my page photo to a pineapple plant I photographed in Quang Nam Province. I am not sure why, but I really like it. It somehow looks alien to me.
It may be a while before I am able to get a real update in. In the meantime, I hope this suffice.
Peace!
So, here I am to say I am doing fine. My job is morphing into something different, and the change should be good. During the transition, however, I will be doing two jobs at once... and I am afraid this will make me not very good at either for a while. But, as my last boss said often. "It is what it is." Whatever that means.
Megan is back in school and Diep is still satisfied with our new accommodations. I am satisfied as well, but my mission duties have kept me away from the house more often than not. It isn't likely that my home time will increase with the new job, but I think the stints will be longer in duration and less frequent. That could be a good thing.
It look like I will get a few days back in Hawaii on work related business. The time in the U.S. will give me the time to make some much needed purchases in clothing and electronics. I can't buy clothes that fit here, and I can't order anything with a lithium battery in the mail. This makes travel to the U.S. from time to time a necessity.
I changed my page photo to a pineapple plant I photographed in Quang Nam Province. I am not sure why, but I really like it. It somehow looks alien to me.
It may be a while before I am able to get a real update in. In the meantime, I hope this suffice.
Peace!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Bitter Melon
Every summer since I have been in Hanoi, I have experienced skin issues. I attribute the skin problems to the sun, sweat and pollution in the poisonous Hanoi air. In the summer months of Hanoi, the humidity goes to extreme - usually 80 - 90 percent - and the breeze stops blowing. Any exercise outside feels like you are running in a giant plastic bag with the heater on, or that you are wrapped in Saran wrap. The dust, dirt and pollution gets in my pores, on my arms and face mostly, and clog them up. The pores get infected and usually take a long time to heal, often getting re-infected before healing completely. I feel confident that I can blame this on the air quality in Hanoi, because when I go home to the U.S. for a couple of weeks in the summer, my skin clears up.
This year is different, however, and the only thing I can see as different this year from the others is that I began eating raw bitter melon in the morning. Diep loves bitter melon and usually stews it stuffed with pork. I don't really like any of my vegetables stewed or boiled, so I have stayed away from it in the past; plus even when I did eat it, I never ate enough to make a difference. Even now, I don't eat it every morning, but I do whenever it is available which is two to three times a week. Diep has always told me this vegetable was good for your skin, but I figured it was along the line of carrots are good for your eyes and apples are good for your health: That is to say, I believed it but never thought I would see a dramatic change like this. My skin looks and feels smoother with few blemishes in general. I really don't care if I look younger, but I am very happy to see this summer skin nuisance go away. The bitter melon is, of course, very bitter. But, if you mix a good heaping up with other vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, red and green bell peppers, olives and add a little bit of Italian dressing, it actually complements the other flavors well.
If you haven't tried this vegetable raw or cooked, it might be the thing you need to round out your diet and make you healthier. It was for me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_melon
This year is different, however, and the only thing I can see as different this year from the others is that I began eating raw bitter melon in the morning. Diep loves bitter melon and usually stews it stuffed with pork. I don't really like any of my vegetables stewed or boiled, so I have stayed away from it in the past; plus even when I did eat it, I never ate enough to make a difference. Even now, I don't eat it every morning, but I do whenever it is available which is two to three times a week. Diep has always told me this vegetable was good for your skin, but I figured it was along the line of carrots are good for your eyes and apples are good for your health: That is to say, I believed it but never thought I would see a dramatic change like this. My skin looks and feels smoother with few blemishes in general. I really don't care if I look younger, but I am very happy to see this summer skin nuisance go away. The bitter melon is, of course, very bitter. But, if you mix a good heaping up with other vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, red and green bell peppers, olives and add a little bit of Italian dressing, it actually complements the other flavors well.
If you haven't tried this vegetable raw or cooked, it might be the thing you need to round out your diet and make you healthier. It was for me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_melon
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Vietnam Stay-Cation
Because of the detachment's operational schedule in Vietnam, it is especially trying for me to find the time to take a vacation in the summer months. Up until this year, I had managed to get away to the U.S. with Diep and Megan, but it wasn't in the cards this year for a lot of reasons I won't go into here.
What I want to talk about is the stay-cation that we took right here in Vietnam. After getting approval for one week off from the office, I purchased a round trip plane ticket to Saigon and left on Tuesday morning. Diep and Megan had already left the day before and Diep managed to get us high-end round trip bus tickets (12 USD/person) on Wednesday morning to Mui Ne, a promontory town in Binh Thuan Province. Mui Ne is a fairly remote beach town, 200km north of Saigon, that has developed rapidly in the past five years or so and is fairly sleepy in the summer months. From the looks of the tourists and the signs in town, it appears the majority of western visitors are Russian. Though this may sound less appealing if one considers the stereotypically fat, vodka-drunk Russians we learned about in the cold war era; the fact is, the majority of Russians I saw were young, sober, tanned and in pretty good shape.
Mui Ne is an administrative ward of Phan Thiet City - the provincial capital of Binh Thuan - and lies just east of the city proper. The people are pleasant and descend from the ethnic Cham, conquered by the Vietnamese in the 17th century. In my twenty years in Vietnam, I have never been to Phan Thiet or Mui Ne. I must admit, however, that Phan Thiet was one of the cities I first learned of shortly after enrolling in my Vietnamese language studies at the Defense Language Institute. I gained knowledge of this city because it is best know for its nuoc mam, or fish sauce - paralleled only by Phu Quoc Island in the manufacture of this fermented fish staple found in every household in Vietnam.
The five hour bus ride to Mui Ne took us through plantations of cashew, rambutan, sugar cane and dragon fruit. Traveling in the heat of the day wasn't ideal, but the trip wasn't unpleasant with my IPad and Kindle app in hand. With the 15 minute break at the halfway point, it only took a little while to shake the stiffness out upon disembarkation.
I asked my friend Pete where to stay in Mui Ne because he had once managed a resort hotel in the area. He recommended CoCo Beach Hotel, but Diep had seen some pictures her friend had taken at Sealinks Resort Hotel and made reservations there for two nights, instead. Sealinks is a golf resort that sits on the other side of the beach road, but it does own property on the beach side that allows guests access to private beach facilities. Given the opportunity to do it again, we would definitely opt for one of the hotels on the beach side. That being said, the Sealinks is a quality establishment with good food, great rooms and a fantastic panorama.
If I had wanted to spend my time swimming in the South China Sea, I would have traveled to Mui Ne during the peak season from the first of November to the first of May. Most hotels seem to raise their prices in the peak season by about 20 percent. The summer months bring afternoon thunderstorms that bring the rains from the mountains into the sea creating murky waters. Not ideal for swimming. Fortunately, I just wanted to take some time off and relax in a place where the traffic volume is low, the seafood is fresh and cheap, the breeze is cool and the atmosphere is calm. All of these things, I found in Mui Ne.
On Thursday morning, we took a taxi out to the Red Dunes on the east side of the promontory. The "red" dunes are actually more orange, but I don't want to be a stickler. Megan had fun riding a plastic sheet down the dunes, though the walk back up was a little tiring. The kids rent the sheets out to the tourist and they can become a nuisance in congregating around you. The view of the coast from the dunes is spectacular and the colors contrast well. Of course, great photos can be had if you can keep the kids out of them. The owner of one of the cafes at the dunes told us about the white sand dunes about ten kilometers further east. By this time, Megan was looking uncomfortable with shorts full of sand and we figured we had played on the dunes enough.
Later, Diep and I rented motorbikes for about 8 USD per bike, per day and took the opportunity to explore the surrounding city and beach. We drove to Phan Thiet and all over the town without any of the traffic congestion we see in Hanoi and Saigon. It was relaxing, though I was nervous about renting the bikes for fear of one getting stolen. Nothing untoward happened to the bikes, and the guys who rented to us didn't even ask for our passports or any other collateral.
Friday was a lazy morning with a nice breakfast and swim in the pool. After that we packed our fish sauce and headed to the bus terminal at The Sinh Tourist Cafe. The scene was a little busy at the terminal, but everything went smooth enough. My seat wasn't ideal on the way back, but I managed to suck it up without too much complaining. We departed at 1330 and got back to Saigon around 1900, which isn't bad considering we traveled into the city around peak traffic hour. The bus stops right on De Tham Street, the heart of backpack alley and walking back to our hotel was easy.
I flew back to Hanoi on Saturday afternoon and get back to work tomorrow. I do feel a little better than I did when I left, but I couldn't help but see all the emails going through on my blackberry. I know what I have waiting for me...
What I want to talk about is the stay-cation that we took right here in Vietnam. After getting approval for one week off from the office, I purchased a round trip plane ticket to Saigon and left on Tuesday morning. Diep and Megan had already left the day before and Diep managed to get us high-end round trip bus tickets (12 USD/person) on Wednesday morning to Mui Ne, a promontory town in Binh Thuan Province. Mui Ne is a fairly remote beach town, 200km north of Saigon, that has developed rapidly in the past five years or so and is fairly sleepy in the summer months. From the looks of the tourists and the signs in town, it appears the majority of western visitors are Russian. Though this may sound less appealing if one considers the stereotypically fat, vodka-drunk Russians we learned about in the cold war era; the fact is, the majority of Russians I saw were young, sober, tanned and in pretty good shape.
 |
| Boats docked in Phan Thiet |
 |
| Golden Fish Fish Sauce - Best Quality in Phan Thiet |
The five hour bus ride to Mui Ne took us through plantations of cashew, rambutan, sugar cane and dragon fruit. Traveling in the heat of the day wasn't ideal, but the trip wasn't unpleasant with my IPad and Kindle app in hand. With the 15 minute break at the halfway point, it only took a little while to shake the stiffness out upon disembarkation.
I asked my friend Pete where to stay in Mui Ne because he had once managed a resort hotel in the area. He recommended CoCo Beach Hotel, but Diep had seen some pictures her friend had taken at Sealinks Resort Hotel and made reservations there for two nights, instead. Sealinks is a golf resort that sits on the other side of the beach road, but it does own property on the beach side that allows guests access to private beach facilities. Given the opportunity to do it again, we would definitely opt for one of the hotels on the beach side. That being said, the Sealinks is a quality establishment with good food, great rooms and a fantastic panorama.
 |
| Sealinks Beach Property in Mui Ne |
 |
| Seafood in Mui Ne |
On Thursday morning, we took a taxi out to the Red Dunes on the east side of the promontory. The "red" dunes are actually more orange, but I don't want to be a stickler. Megan had fun riding a plastic sheet down the dunes, though the walk back up was a little tiring. The kids rent the sheets out to the tourist and they can become a nuisance in congregating around you. The view of the coast from the dunes is spectacular and the colors contrast well. Of course, great photos can be had if you can keep the kids out of them. The owner of one of the cafes at the dunes told us about the white sand dunes about ten kilometers further east. By this time, Megan was looking uncomfortable with shorts full of sand and we figured we had played on the dunes enough.
 |
| View of the South China Sea from the Red Sand Dunes |
 |
| Megan Happy for the Summer |
Friday was a lazy morning with a nice breakfast and swim in the pool. After that we packed our fish sauce and headed to the bus terminal at The Sinh Tourist Cafe. The scene was a little busy at the terminal, but everything went smooth enough. My seat wasn't ideal on the way back, but I managed to suck it up without too much complaining. We departed at 1330 and got back to Saigon around 1900, which isn't bad considering we traveled into the city around peak traffic hour. The bus stops right on De Tham Street, the heart of backpack alley and walking back to our hotel was easy.
I flew back to Hanoi on Saturday afternoon and get back to work tomorrow. I do feel a little better than I did when I left, but I couldn't help but see all the emails going through on my blackberry. I know what I have waiting for me...
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Beautiful Day in Hanoi
It seems for the past few months I have been losing weekends and holidays to work. I don't mind it so much for the most part as long as the work I am doing is interesting. Usually, the work entails travel somewhere else in Vietnam and that is interesting enough.
But this weekend, I got both days off. My excitement was tempered because Diep is still in Saigon, and I am nursing a sore hip. This hip thing has been on and off for a while; I thought I was over it a couple of months ago but it just came back on me. I am not sure what the deal is but I suspect it is related to over stressing it during exercise. I figured two days of easy activity might be what I need to get over it. It already feels better, but it is definitely not 100 per cent. Friday night it cramped up on me so bad that it woke me up. I managed to work it out before I died, but I had problems getting back to sleep. Last night was much better.
Yesterday Megan spent all day with her friends so I didn't do much more than walk out to get a bite to eat for brunch and dinner. At dinner time, some huge thunderheads were building to the west and the wind was kicking up. It smelled like rain. For whatever reason, the rain missed us but it cleared out the haze that we usually experience in the morning to where you could see the Tam Dao Mountains. This happens maybe five times a year. I saw the mountains while I was biking to work to check on the network connection because it went out yesterday.
Sunday morning bike rides rock here because of the low traffic flow. Usually going anywhere on a bicycle is stressful because of all the other vehicles on the road, but Sundays are special because many are nursing hangovers, sleeping in or just not going to work. The lack of people on the road allowed me to relax and enjoy the trip.
Later, Megan and I took the bus downtown to eat at Thai Express. After that we taxied down to VINCOM shopping mall to buy some earrings Megan was eyeballing with her friends the day before. Then we headed back home on the bus. It was sunny and hot, but not too much so. I enjoyed the father daughter time.
Next week the mayhem begins. I will be busy with a helicopter inspection team and then a congressional delegation. Following that, the week after we have a joint forensic review to evaluate the remains recovered during this field activity and then a repatriation ceremony on 22 June. Right after that I head to Khanh Hoa Province to finish some investigative work we started late last month. I finish up June with our family move into the new digs.
Diep said she would do the heavy lifting on the move, but it seems like a huge amount of work. I can help a little, but I will be on the road again around 1 July. I have to look at some sites in central Vietnam and then write some reports. I probably won't be back until around 6 or 7 July.
People have been asking when I am going on Summer vacation and where we might be heading. The short answer is, "I don't know." With the way I have been moving around and working, I am not sure I will have the time. That would be unfortunate because I have lots of use or lose leave built up. If I don't find a place to use it by the end of the year, about three weeks of vacation goes out the window.
But this weekend, I got both days off. My excitement was tempered because Diep is still in Saigon, and I am nursing a sore hip. This hip thing has been on and off for a while; I thought I was over it a couple of months ago but it just came back on me. I am not sure what the deal is but I suspect it is related to over stressing it during exercise. I figured two days of easy activity might be what I need to get over it. It already feels better, but it is definitely not 100 per cent. Friday night it cramped up on me so bad that it woke me up. I managed to work it out before I died, but I had problems getting back to sleep. Last night was much better.
Yesterday Megan spent all day with her friends so I didn't do much more than walk out to get a bite to eat for brunch and dinner. At dinner time, some huge thunderheads were building to the west and the wind was kicking up. It smelled like rain. For whatever reason, the rain missed us but it cleared out the haze that we usually experience in the morning to where you could see the Tam Dao Mountains. This happens maybe five times a year. I saw the mountains while I was biking to work to check on the network connection because it went out yesterday.
Sunday morning bike rides rock here because of the low traffic flow. Usually going anywhere on a bicycle is stressful because of all the other vehicles on the road, but Sundays are special because many are nursing hangovers, sleeping in or just not going to work. The lack of people on the road allowed me to relax and enjoy the trip.
Later, Megan and I took the bus downtown to eat at Thai Express. After that we taxied down to VINCOM shopping mall to buy some earrings Megan was eyeballing with her friends the day before. Then we headed back home on the bus. It was sunny and hot, but not too much so. I enjoyed the father daughter time.
Next week the mayhem begins. I will be busy with a helicopter inspection team and then a congressional delegation. Following that, the week after we have a joint forensic review to evaluate the remains recovered during this field activity and then a repatriation ceremony on 22 June. Right after that I head to Khanh Hoa Province to finish some investigative work we started late last month. I finish up June with our family move into the new digs.
Diep said she would do the heavy lifting on the move, but it seems like a huge amount of work. I can help a little, but I will be on the road again around 1 July. I have to look at some sites in central Vietnam and then write some reports. I probably won't be back until around 6 or 7 July.
People have been asking when I am going on Summer vacation and where we might be heading. The short answer is, "I don't know." With the way I have been moving around and working, I am not sure I will have the time. That would be unfortunate because I have lots of use or lose leave built up. If I don't find a place to use it by the end of the year, about three weeks of vacation goes out the window.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Things I Usually Avoid
Never talk about religion, politics or money in mixed company. That is a saying I have heard from time to time for quite a number of years. Though I do not know the origin of the saying, I suspect it is in the primer of military officers and diplomats. In my honest opinion it is good advice, but as the presidential election looms I can't help but to share a little piece of my mind on a book I just read.
I just finished reading Dreams from My Father, A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama. I would say it took me a little over two weeks to read it and I would give the excuse that I only picked the book up when I found some free time in my hotel room and at home. But the fact is, it took me almost four years to read it. The book came to the office through an MWR book package for overseas military and I picked it out at the time to try and understand the then presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama. I got through the first maybe 30 pages before I simply gave up. You see, the Book is titled "Dream from My Father" in very bold letters and in much smaller print, the remainder of the title, "A Story of Race and Inheritance." The beginning of the book for sure is very heavy on the "story of race" and it seemed to me, for a man who grew up in a very race-neutral state like Hawaii, he carried a very heavy load of the black man's burden. In my mind, he has very little in common with most black folks living in the U.S. Excluding his childhood years in Indonesia he was raised in a white home and his lineage did not come from slavery, but rather his father was a relatively well-to-do Kenyan. At least he would have been well-to-do if it weren't for his drinking, polygamy, philandering and conceit.
Then-Senator Obama, in authoring his book, painted a pathetic picture of his maternal grandfather as a man who constantly tried too hard to show black folks just how much skin color didn't mean to him. It was my feeling throughout the initial chapters of his book that Obama thought his grandfather was a simpleton, somehow unable to see the world as it truly is: Full of racial divide. He also seemed devastated that his maternal grandmother, Toots, decided one day she would no longer take the bus to work because she had a run in with an aggressive black beggar at the bus stop.
The reason I had to put the book down the first time nearly four years ago was because I was a little offended by the logic train Obama was on that only black folks are disrespected, and it is only because they are black. It just seemed too convenient that every hardship and social shun he ever experienced was because he was black. The implication was, in my mind, that every rejection I ever experienced socially was because I was a misfit. This, because I didn't have the color of my skin as an excuse.
Anyway, I found I had to see this book from another angle in order to power through it. I began to read it as a book of discovery. I realized this was a very honest book full of raw thoughts and I decided I would read it from a detached perspective. And, while there is much I did not agree with from his political viewpoint - Obama's leanings are clearly socialistic in the book - I found the story line fascinating. I much enjoyed reading about his childhood in Indonesia, his time as a community organizer, and perhaps most of all his discovery of Mother Africa and his relatives there.
I took into consideration that Obama wrote this book in 1995, probably before he ever had aspirations to be President of the United States. In reading the book, there is little doubt in my mind that he was born in Hawaii - I think even Donald Trump would come to the same conclusion if he read the book. But, I also find it amazing that he was ever elected POTUS considering his admitted generous use of illicit drugs. There is no doubt in my mind he was a habitual grass smoker, and it is likely he experimented with blow... and perhaps even stronger mind altering drugs. There was even one reference he made in the book, and I hate myself for not marking it, that I inferred he was at some point in his youth arrested for felony car theft.
All that aside, I did enjoy the book. I am glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone who wants a better perspective on the President of the United States. Once again, it seems very clear President Obama has strong socialist leanings especially in reading through his chapters as a community organizer. In principle, I don't even disagree with the idea of Socialism, except that it doesn't work in the real world. I mean, why would I bust my ass to make my world better when I had to drag every lame dick and their load with me? Vietnam went through her experimentation with socialism, and though there are still remnants, I think anyone with even the smallest powers of observation can see that Vietnam is more capitalist based than socialist thanks to Doi Moi (the renovation) of 1986 - the policy change that saved the nation.
Unrelated to the book itself, I do think everyone should have access to healthcare. I only disagree with the method of reform. I personally believe that reform lies in the pricing of health services, pharmaceuticals and insurance. This triad is a monster that needs to be slain. Both employer and employee are the victims to this parasite. There is no reason in the world, in my mind, that I can buy a pill that cost fifty cents in Vietnam that costs 20 dollars in the U.S. Same formula and made by a first world nation.
This election year will be interesting to say the least. I can't say I have made up my mind on who to vote for yet for all the lies flying from both sides. I might not know the truth, but I can sure spot a half-truth a mile away. I really want to vote, but I am not sure who to vote for. I can say this for sure, I would like to see the electoral college eliminated. It makes no sense anymore. Give me my popular vote. One person - one vote!
I just finished reading Dreams from My Father, A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama. I would say it took me a little over two weeks to read it and I would give the excuse that I only picked the book up when I found some free time in my hotel room and at home. But the fact is, it took me almost four years to read it. The book came to the office through an MWR book package for overseas military and I picked it out at the time to try and understand the then presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama. I got through the first maybe 30 pages before I simply gave up. You see, the Book is titled "Dream from My Father" in very bold letters and in much smaller print, the remainder of the title, "A Story of Race and Inheritance." The beginning of the book for sure is very heavy on the "story of race" and it seemed to me, for a man who grew up in a very race-neutral state like Hawaii, he carried a very heavy load of the black man's burden. In my mind, he has very little in common with most black folks living in the U.S. Excluding his childhood years in Indonesia he was raised in a white home and his lineage did not come from slavery, but rather his father was a relatively well-to-do Kenyan. At least he would have been well-to-do if it weren't for his drinking, polygamy, philandering and conceit.
Then-Senator Obama, in authoring his book, painted a pathetic picture of his maternal grandfather as a man who constantly tried too hard to show black folks just how much skin color didn't mean to him. It was my feeling throughout the initial chapters of his book that Obama thought his grandfather was a simpleton, somehow unable to see the world as it truly is: Full of racial divide. He also seemed devastated that his maternal grandmother, Toots, decided one day she would no longer take the bus to work because she had a run in with an aggressive black beggar at the bus stop.
The reason I had to put the book down the first time nearly four years ago was because I was a little offended by the logic train Obama was on that only black folks are disrespected, and it is only because they are black. It just seemed too convenient that every hardship and social shun he ever experienced was because he was black. The implication was, in my mind, that every rejection I ever experienced socially was because I was a misfit. This, because I didn't have the color of my skin as an excuse.
Anyway, I found I had to see this book from another angle in order to power through it. I began to read it as a book of discovery. I realized this was a very honest book full of raw thoughts and I decided I would read it from a detached perspective. And, while there is much I did not agree with from his political viewpoint - Obama's leanings are clearly socialistic in the book - I found the story line fascinating. I much enjoyed reading about his childhood in Indonesia, his time as a community organizer, and perhaps most of all his discovery of Mother Africa and his relatives there.
I took into consideration that Obama wrote this book in 1995, probably before he ever had aspirations to be President of the United States. In reading the book, there is little doubt in my mind that he was born in Hawaii - I think even Donald Trump would come to the same conclusion if he read the book. But, I also find it amazing that he was ever elected POTUS considering his admitted generous use of illicit drugs. There is no doubt in my mind he was a habitual grass smoker, and it is likely he experimented with blow... and perhaps even stronger mind altering drugs. There was even one reference he made in the book, and I hate myself for not marking it, that I inferred he was at some point in his youth arrested for felony car theft.
All that aside, I did enjoy the book. I am glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone who wants a better perspective on the President of the United States. Once again, it seems very clear President Obama has strong socialist leanings especially in reading through his chapters as a community organizer. In principle, I don't even disagree with the idea of Socialism, except that it doesn't work in the real world. I mean, why would I bust my ass to make my world better when I had to drag every lame dick and their load with me? Vietnam went through her experimentation with socialism, and though there are still remnants, I think anyone with even the smallest powers of observation can see that Vietnam is more capitalist based than socialist thanks to Doi Moi (the renovation) of 1986 - the policy change that saved the nation.
Unrelated to the book itself, I do think everyone should have access to healthcare. I only disagree with the method of reform. I personally believe that reform lies in the pricing of health services, pharmaceuticals and insurance. This triad is a monster that needs to be slain. Both employer and employee are the victims to this parasite. There is no reason in the world, in my mind, that I can buy a pill that cost fifty cents in Vietnam that costs 20 dollars in the U.S. Same formula and made by a first world nation.
This election year will be interesting to say the least. I can't say I have made up my mind on who to vote for yet for all the lies flying from both sides. I might not know the truth, but I can sure spot a half-truth a mile away. I really want to vote, but I am not sure who to vote for. I can say this for sure, I would like to see the electoral college eliminated. It makes no sense anymore. Give me my popular vote. One person - one vote!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Special Visitor
Today the Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, visited the office. These visits always require lots of preparation and coordination, and fortunately, my participation in that tedious task was nominal. I did, however, get to enjoy a little time in the lime light with my colleagues and it was cool to feel like a rock star, if but for a little while.
I suppose like everyone, there are those aspects of my job that I wish were better, but the overall satisfaction I get from my work is much greater than most people could ever dream about. As a DoD employee, it is nice to have the Pentagon Chief come and tell you personally what a great job you are doing. Even better that I had to share that praise with only a handful of other people. All of the office staff received a challenge coin and hopefully I will have some pictures to hold as proof of the visit soon. I was looking through my stash of coins and realized this was my third SecDef coin in succession.
I spent most of last week on the road, visiting two recovery sites in Quang Binh Province, one recovery site in ThuaThien-Hue,and one recovery site in Quang Nam Province. We spent lots of time in planes, cars and helicopters, but it was good to see what the teams are doing. I suppose my sympathies go most out to the guys in Thua Thien-Hue Province because they are base camping on the southern side of the Bach Ma Mountains where it is very hot and even more humid. The humidity is so high that the team members are having problems drying out their clothes after washing. It doesn't help that the site they are recovering sits on a 45 degree slope. I can only imagine how miserable it must get moving up and down that mountain with socks that aren't quite dry. Trench foot sucks!
Final preparations are being made on our new accommodations; we will sign the new contract soon. I was very comfortable where we are now, but Diep was ready to move on. We should be living in our new residence at Frasier Suites at the beginning of next month. Since I spend such little time at home, this is all about Diep and Megan. Hopefully this will be some place we can hang our hats for more than two years this time!
I suppose like everyone, there are those aspects of my job that I wish were better, but the overall satisfaction I get from my work is much greater than most people could ever dream about. As a DoD employee, it is nice to have the Pentagon Chief come and tell you personally what a great job you are doing. Even better that I had to share that praise with only a handful of other people. All of the office staff received a challenge coin and hopefully I will have some pictures to hold as proof of the visit soon. I was looking through my stash of coins and realized this was my third SecDef coin in succession.
I spent most of last week on the road, visiting two recovery sites in Quang Binh Province, one recovery site in ThuaThien-Hue,and one recovery site in Quang Nam Province. We spent lots of time in planes, cars and helicopters, but it was good to see what the teams are doing. I suppose my sympathies go most out to the guys in Thua Thien-Hue Province because they are base camping on the southern side of the Bach Ma Mountains where it is very hot and even more humid. The humidity is so high that the team members are having problems drying out their clothes after washing. It doesn't help that the site they are recovering sits on a 45 degree slope. I can only imagine how miserable it must get moving up and down that mountain with socks that aren't quite dry. Trench foot sucks!
Final preparations are being made on our new accommodations; we will sign the new contract soon. I was very comfortable where we are now, but Diep was ready to move on. We should be living in our new residence at Frasier Suites at the beginning of next month. Since I spend such little time at home, this is all about Diep and Megan. Hopefully this will be some place we can hang our hats for more than two years this time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)