knloregon

Carl, just like the model house in a new subdivision... need to get the first one into the right hands --- suggest that Mick and Tsap --- particularly Tsap --- might have some connections about putting the prototype to the test!

You are right Dan, Hoyt was a prolific writer of books about WW 2 ---- 'll have o check out your leads regarding Hickman, but the thing is, there isn't another theatre in WW 2 where ---three hundred ships--- were lost --- along with military engagements on both sides, that was, essentially unreported. --- How many ships were lost in the Channel crossing, and combat for D-Day ? a dozen at most? If that.

Good point. After al the information was declassified, we now can pinpoint the sunken wreaks from German U-boats --- and the map of the Gulf, the Caribbean and the east coast ---- is riddled with wreaks --- NEVER REPORTED IN THE PRESS ! --- nearly 300 ships sent to the bottom by U-Boats in US waters! ---thousands of American merchant seamen lost.. ---imagine now, if even one tanker is lost on the US coast? -- we had one (freighter) grounding here in Oregon 10+ years ago named: " The New Carrissa" (everyone wanted to know what happened to the old Carrissa) --- but the environmentalists had a sh-t fit. Eventually, the full weight the Attorney General's office forced the owners to remove the ship ---- at tens of millions of dollars --- even though the locals wanted to keep the wreak as it had---already---proven to be a lucrative tourist attraction.

I grew up in the Wash. DC area, and my parents were residents of DC back to the late 30's (separately, they were single, but dating) in the early 1940's. After Pearl Harbor, everything was rationed, particularly gasoline. So couples traveling from DC to the ocean on hot sumer days had to pool gas ration cards, and it was not unusual for 3 couples to travel in one sedan to the Delaware coast for a long weekend, (Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Henlopen...) and rent a cottage together. Very romantic... one hot August weekend, my parent's couldn't get free, so their usual traveling partners went without them... As early as 1940, but certainly, by 1942, there was a vague understanding that U-Boats were attacking allied ships ---often just over the horizon from the eastern beaches ---- but because of press censorship, no one had a clue to what extent, except that since the outbreak of war-- there seemed to be a lot of oil on the otherwise, pristine beaches. That 'vagueness' ended for those two couples in August '42' as they splashed in the warm ocean off Henlopen, a tangle of oily debris washed up in front of them, containing the badly burned bodies of a half dozen American merchant seamen, still in their burned cork life jackets, and covered with oil. Victims of a U-boat attack, just the night before. So this last Sunday, while pursuing the book stacks at GoodWill here in Portland, I came across a book that fleshed out much that I didn't know about that period: "U-Boats Offshore ---- When Hitler Struck America" --- By Edwin Hoyt. Man, this fills in a lot of details! (much of it quite exciting really ---except for the totally ineptitude of the America to stop U-Boat attacks at the beginning of the war ---but even so, not the full story, lost, I think forever, under the censor's hand. Beginning in 1964, (until 1968) as a sea scout, I sailed on small ships (YP --- Yard Patrol) out of Annapolis (Naval Academy) --- what an opportunity!~ We were trained seamanship by the same Chief Petty Officers that trained the plebes. And they were the best of the best -- still in their late 40's, but decorated veterans of the Pacific war --- and very patient, great instructors. While on the bridge of a pleasant weekend Chesapeake cruise I remember asking my non-com what it was like in WW2 --- he deferred, but pointed to forward deck to old mounting plates on the YP and told me: "there was once mounted a 3 inch gun that saw action against German U-Boats" --- -I thought he was pulling my leg! After reading this book, I now know he wasn't..

Really cool project Carl ~ ! "...I used a sold carbide 1/4" spiral down cut bit...." And considering that the wear on the bit for this project is about 1/3000 th. of the bit's life (or less) --- looks like you are assembling jigs and tools that could eventually pay off...

Well I once imported a "K-1 memory enhancement device" from China. On the weekends it follows me around all day and tells me what to do. It's pretty reliable, every Friday it can even create a "honey do" list for me on its own. ---------- Is this model better than the Chinatron 2000 with housework control? ---------- The Communist version seems difficult to control....

" Ok then not much you can do about step child, no way to be able to get them to the USA at same time as parent, future spouse would have to file a petition after she immigrates, and then the long wait for step child......" As Dan states, this is the current political reality, for those choosing to immigrate legally from China. Not to get into a political cat fight in an election year, but to quote the Republican (for the record, I'm a life long Democrat) candidate ---his stated policy is to reunite in the US (legal) immigrant families in a timely manner and furthermore, that any foreign (Chinese) student getting an advanced degree from an accredited US university also gets a green card!

Tough, Carl, and I feel for you, each of these important milestones in our Lives --- turning to dust. And they are all different and personal --- but getting laid together in the same car? for the first time? --- very special, (seriously) and as one who was not totally unfamiliar with the back seat, in that same time frame, we hang on to the memories, we (usually) don't see the participants much, or at all, ever again... But we always hope we will...... until we get the bad news that we won't ...

"..Is there by any chance another nearby dmv office? It might be worth a try to go to another office and possibly get a different response. I have seen time and time again over the years that office workers in various agencies don't have a clue about immigration issues and often will just say what they think is right, rather than what is right..." Hey Turbo, Mick's is the sensitive response. To be a little more blunt: You live in OK. Not a bastion of new immigration.... unless you consider Whites moving in with the Indians...

Wonderful ~ what small percentage of native speakers could have done as well? YOU should be so proud, TL, and Cici is bound to do great things, and expand on her (already) stellar example at graduation ~!

"...especially I am still having the Official Original Adoption Registration Certificate and the Notarial Adoption Certificate...." As the parent of two adopted Chinese daughters its hard for me to comprehend this---what you describe here is exactly the proof that has for a very long time been accepted at DOS as proof of adoption --- (does it have the official stamps?) Is there a possibility that, as you mention---the individual who handled this process did so for personal gain? --- that is, did he agree to shortcuts to get the document to you faster---for a fee?

RE: Yang's Place: "Our bed was very squeaky...." Nervous pre-interview energy, no doubt.... all night long... JUST KIDDING! congratulations! (and helpful write up)

Thomas, then it makes perfect sense to get the Mileage Plus Visa card, with a $95 annual fee, which (according to the membership guide----I haven't used it yet---gives you a $50.00 checked bag discount (roundtrip) ... with language thats a little vague, however, this is more specific: 'Your first checked-bag fee is waived for you and one other person on your itinerary.'' So there is $200.00 saved... Priority boarding is also probably worth something, except of course, you aint going anywhere until the last person of 'non-priority' is seated and buckled... Yeah, if the other airlines weren't pulling the same kind of crap --- United wouldn't be either...

Time constraints in the morning means we might have to compete for the toilet in the master bath.... sort of like musical chairs ----looser ends up downstairs...

If Randy can routinely find it, pretty sure DOS can, plus much more...

" I hope in the future I can still figure out how to tie my shoes! ...." its a challenge........

Great to see that SO CAL has plenty of selection ~ Portland does as well, and has something of a price war going on for the dim sum market --- dropping from nearly $2.00 each several year ago, to under $1.00 in some cases, (with the coupon from the Chinese language papers) ...

Hey Scott, maybe its not exactly city specific, but more of a regional matter --- Xi'an knocked my socks off - and Chengdu was not far behind...

The city of Kunming. He hangs out several blocs east of one noted international hotel. I pass him everyday, he has a major disability --- not of his own making --- and not of the "Slum Dog Millionaire" type either --- his limbs are naturally foreshortened from some genetic defect. But he writes in chalk on the sidewalk, beautiful Chinese characters, with ultimate precision. One (late afternoon) the last day of my stay -- I am dragging a huge load of luggage as I pass him, packing up. I drop it all, and give him a thumbs up --- (he really had a talent with characters) .... and place some RMB into his box (which, as it turns out, has no bottom) --- so you can see, a basic defense against street thugs... As I do this, several, obviously local residents of Kunming. just off work on the sidewalk, stop and beam at me, say nothing, but are clearly supporting me with their gestures, I avert my eyes, and walk on to the train station..

A working man retuning from work-- peddling along the shoulder of the new, 6 lane highway, clearly not designed for bike traffic--- he is covered in what appears to be dark grease --- on the back of his bike is his daughter, ( 6-8) in a pretty dress --- and colorful bows in her hair, all smiles, happy, and proud of her dad....

Great post Carl, your father obviously protected you from the events that won him honor, but were too horrible to relate. good example of the Greatest Generation.

I followed the 'Tiger Mom' phenom closely when it first appeared in the WSJ, and much of it I agree with---where I part ways, is when the child needs to continue a pursuit where they clearly have no aptitude. I have told my girls, yes, you need to stick with any activity --- to a point --- but if you aren't successful --- you need to move on! ---that part of success in life, is understanding what you do well, and what you don't do well...

Within the first two hours after I first set foot on the mainland, (Nanjing) driving from the old airport to downtown--- tearing down the old three story brick business fronts, and traditional houses ---- literally hundreds CAT backhoes and Japanese brands --- all working together, block after block---as if it were a matter of huge urgency, for several miles! -- huge clouds of dust made it all surreal and emaciated laborers hauling the long traditional hand carts with perhaps, 800 lbs of salvaged bricks. One such hod carrier got caught in the middle of the road, and couldn't overcome the inertia of the huge weight---and the bus driver laid on the horn! -- the glare between the two spoke volumes about class stratification. Several blocks further, to the west, highlighted in the illuminated dust---a dozen pre-teen kids on top of one of the half destroyed buildings --- with the backhoes, tearing down portions of the same buildings---all shrouded in dust! ---having a sword fight ! (from salvaged building materials) and one of them-----wearing a dunce cap!! Fedricho Fallini would have been proud!

Wow, sobering observation, Tsap...... RobertH is onto something here, though IMHO -- what makes China, China.. And since we all have multiple images, let them flow ~ ! (one at a time!) Last century, late afternoon, from my BJ hotel high above the surrounding old tenements --- pigeon keepers are releasing their flocks---which fly and turn in unison----catching the late afternoon sun in their wings and reflecting it up to my window..

SLM : "..Momma makes war and turmoil and the kid rebels..." No, my friend, not too much of a rant. I understand completely. from my experience, the traditional Chinese solution for youth rebellion, is to double down on discipline, even in the face of the student's success! --- if that success is at all American, which is to say, obvious, or proud. Its a tough row to hoe, partly because the hard-ass Chinese wife is partly right---here in uber-Liberal Portland, kids graduate HS (if they graduate at all --- slightly more that 50%) ---graduate with a high sense of self esteem ---but little preparation for either rigorous college, or the work force. Chinese push unfairly hard on their own kids, because unlike the kids in Portland, as an example, they have a clue what it takes to make it in the World Economy ---- America's liberals are, if nothing else, clueless...