strategist

Remembrance Day

It's Remembrance Day back at home (it's the 12th here in Japan). I couldn't find a poppy to wear for yesterday's/today's remembrance of all those brave men and women who gave their lives in order for us to have a future. I should have contacted the Canadian Consulate to inquire where I could have found one.

I remember all those years ago back in primary school when the classroom teacher would pass around a small tray with the poppies on them and ask for small donations. Back then, I never really understand why the teacher was asking us to pay money in order to wear a red plastic flower on our shirts or jackets. I guess it wasn't until high school and university till I finally understood. Don't ask me why it took so long for the impact of the two world wars to hit home. I guess it was in my English classes when the teachers (in high school) or professors (in university) asked us to read poems about the "war to end all wars" and the other fight to save Europe.

Lest we forget... (Canada)

Genocide in the Sudan??

I came across this news article via Joi Ito's blog. After reading the article, I shudder to think of how future generations of mankind will judge our time on this planet. I only hope the world governments do something to stop the mass murder taking place around the world.

(NY Times.)

Secret Codes: Too tough to crack?

Interesting. I wonder if anyone will ever crack this code.

Excerpt Begins

Based on a painting by French artist Nicholas Poussin, but carved in reverse, the etching depicts three shepherds pointing at an inscription on a tomb that reads Et in arcadia ego (And I am in Arcadia, too).

Below the image is a line of letters — O.U.O.S.V.A.V.V — and beneath that on either end, the letters D and M.

Excerpt Ends

(Globe and Mail.)

Princess Diana: Was it murder?

Political punidits, Princess Diana's friends, and the UK Press are tossing around the question: 'was Princess Diana assassinated?' If the case is re-opened, will this mean the French will request exhumation of her body? I don't think the British people would accept any such request. For the sake of the children, I hope Princess Diana's body is never removed from her final resting place.

If it is determined without any reasonable doubt that Princess Diana's untimely death was at the hands of 'rogue agents' or 'agents who were given direct covert orders', it will tear apart the UK. I hope that when Prince William becomes King William, he direct his subjects to uncover the truth no matter what the costs to the country.

Oliver North: War Stories

Blogging away here while the television is tuned to Fox News. Right now, Oliver North is hosting his television show, War Stories. I like his show. It teaches military history in a wonderful narrative voice with accompanying 'personal interviews' with WWII veterans. Their stories are stories we must remember. Today's show was to 'celebrate the brave Merchant Marines' who helped win the war. I never knew the US Congress did not confer "veteran's benefits" until US President Reagan signed a bill into law.