Pearl Harbor Day 2009

Long before the terrible day of September 11th, 2001 another day brought tears to the many who lost loved ones. That day was December 7th, 1941. Most commonly known today as Pearl Harbor day. I remember my 5th grade teacher speaking to the class about the loss her family experienced on that day and how she lost her brother and how bad I had felt for her that day as she grew teary eyed as she recounted the event. Each year it's almost like I'm transported back to my fifth grade class on this day.

The United States is celebrating Pearl Harbor Day today. Sixty eight long years have passed since that ghostly day when more than two thousand people were massacred by a rampaging Japanese army.

But despite the lapse of time the nation has not forgotten the death and destruction wrought upon the United States by an enemy that has now become out most trusted ally, Japan.

But that was a different time. The world was different altogether.

Japan wanted to destroy the western hegemony in East Asia and Far East and it wanted to see the United States was not able to join the war with its European allies.

Despite the destruction wrought upon by hundreds of Japanese bombers that destroyed a number of naval warships, fighter planes and much of the infrastructure.

It could not dampen the US sprit that emerged more powerful than ever before. In fact a world power emerged from the ruins of Pearl Harbor.

The day is still remembered by millions of the US nationals across the world who remember the sacrifices made by their forefathers to make the US that it is today.

Pearl Harbor changed the course of the history, like no other attack in the last century.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was an unannounced military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941, which resulted in the United States becoming militarily involved in World War II.

It was intended as a preventive action to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from influencing the war the Empire of Japan was planning to wage in Southeast Asia against Britain, the Netherlands, and the United States. The attack consisted of two aerial attack waves totaling 353 aircraft, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers.

The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and damaged four more.

The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer, destroyed 188 aircraft, and caused personnel losses of 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building were not hit. Japanese losses were minimal, with 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.

One of the survivor O'Connor remember that moment "All the torpedo planes were coming right off our fantail, I watched the West Virginia go up from two torpedoes that were dropped. All hell was breaking loose. I saw the bombs that hit the Arizona."

O’Connor was deployed in pacific during Second World War he recalls how he survived that attack. "I said, 'Goodbye world,' and I hit the deck, Nothing happened. I got up, and here come two more torpedoes. They came right under where I was standing."

Eighty five year old ken Adams also belongs to meager survivor. Old Adams stay in his home most of the time and greets his visitor. He joined the survivors association in early 90’s to mark the 50th anniversary of the attack. Chapter 4 of survivors association arranges memorial ceremony every year at Laurel Land Memorial Park.

Adam said about chapter 4 and survivor that "What we did was formed a fellowship with just all of us, We were so close. We were like family.” Adam is also worried about this ceremony and this legacy after his time is done as in final meeting of chapter 4 in February 2008 only 10 people attended it. It forced the dissolution of chapter 4.

Adams is just worried whether his next generation will remember this historic moment or not.

My fifth grade teacher has long passed away but the story she told me of her loss has remained with me for these many years as a reminder of all the heartache and destruction that wars cause. So today, let us reflect on that and take a little time to enjoy the life that we have.

'Desperate Housewives': Plane Down!

The Christmas plane crash episode found Wisteria Lane residents battling blackmail, a jealous husband, and a clear descent into madness. And if you noticed, there was NO snow on Wisteria Lane during this Christmas time and it was rather "sunny" outside though mildly cold enough to wear jackets. So, perhaps a clue to where DHWS really takes place?

Last night was supposed to be the big, shocking Desperate Housewives that'd leave us all wanting more over it's coming, and rather long, holiday hiatus. It surely had all the elements of what should have been a great — or at least totally nuts-o episode: a huge accident, the possible deaths of mains characters, and a Christmas party on Wisteria Lane!

But, little about the hour was very shocking. And really, Sure, I've got questions, but I'm happy to wait a few weeks to get answers. I'm really let down too that the plane wasn't bigger to cause a little bit more death and destruction but I guess that would bring about comparisons to the flight that went down outside of Albany earlier this year.

Naturally, we viewers were left with may more questions at the end of the episode than were answered. (Again, probably an intentional move to get us to tune back in for the first episode back after New Year's.) Queries like: Is Mona really dead? Did she tell anyone about the information she knows about the Bolen family? Will Lynette's saving of Gaby's daughter Celia be enough to patch things up between the feuding pair? How, exactly, did Angie Bolen escape the plane's wings, yet Mona — who she was fighting with at the time — didn't? Who's dead — or at least, who's bloody hand is that — inside the Santa's Workshop that was seemingly inhabited by a dueling Orson and Karl, as well as Bree, before the small plane demolished it? Are there any other casualties? How did geriatric pair Mrs. McCluskey and Roy possibly move their wrinkly behinds out of the way in time?

The bloody hand looked rather ladylike to me. So, I'm guessing we're supposed to interpret that Bree is dead. And that is: totally not a remote possibility in any and all scenarios. The producers would never kill Bree. So do Orson or Karl have unusually lady-ish paws? Not that I've ever noticed before. (Have you ever taken note of that, viewers? Tell me in the comments, if so!) So, it's probably just a play to get attention. Either someone else is dead — or hurt badly — inside that Santa shack or Bree is simply bloody and will live to see another day. Or, I suppose, it could be Karl or Orson, one of whom has very delicate hands. Or could it be that the three left the house just in time and someone else came into the house to either stop them from fighting and was the last person remaining in the house - say one of the gay neighbors? One of them could have Palmolive hands or could it be - GASP - Bree's son! DUN DUN DUNNN! And we didn't see Carlo's niece so here's for whacking her because she has as much appeal as watching paint dry thus far this season! I'm hoping it's not Katherine's daughter Dylan or Susan's - Julie!

Oh well there was much more to speak about during the episode - like Carlos & Lynette's work feud to the cat fight between the girls that had to be broken up by Bree.

All in all I'm satisfied for the next few weeks until we learn who died!

'SNL' Lampoons Alleged Violence in Tiger Woods' Marriage

Rihanna was the guest musician on the latest episode of 'Saturday Night Live,' and while her hilarious appearance in a digital short with Andy Samberg was a highlight of our week, it was another sketch that gave us pause. Host Blake Lively played Elin Woods in a segment lampooning the model's marriage to scandalized golfer Tiger Woods. The skit focused on allegations that Elin beat her husband with a golf club after learning of his infidelity.

We think, had the genders been reversed, 'SNL' wouldn't make light of the potentially violent situation - and with Rihanna on board, we wonder if a domestic violence gag was in especially poor taste.

In the sketch, Kenan Thompson (as Tiger Woods) appears bruised and battered while Blake Lively wields a golf club. Thompson says, "Right after my last press conference, I was in my home, having a chat with my lovely and deceptively strong wife Elin. I guess I wasn't looking where I was going and I fell down the stairs. I was disoriented from the fall, so I stumbled to the other side of the house and I launched myself through a plate glass window."

"Ja, says Lively, "this is what happened."

Exercise Machines You Should Skip

While machines might seem like the fool-proof way to exercise, they aren’t always the safest. In fact, sometimes they actually contribute to the injuries you were trying to avoid in the first place.

The Seated Leg Extension

The myth: It's the safest way to work your quadriceps, or thigh muscles.

The truth: Physiologists at the Mayo Clinic determined that leg extensions place significantly more stress on your knees than squats. Why? Because the resistance is placed near your ankles, which leads to high amounts of torque being applied to your knee joint every time you lower the weight. What's more, Auburn University scientists found that people who squat long-term have tighter, stronger knee ligaments than those who don't squat at all.

The alternatives: Free weight squats, split squats, and lunges-performed with perfect form-are all better choices for working your quads and protecting your knees.

The Behind-the-Neck Lat Pull-Down

The myth: The best way to perform the lat pull-down is to pull the bar behind your head, down to your upper back

The truth: Unless you have very flexible shoulders, this exercise is difficult to do correctly, and can increase your risk for shoulder impingement syndrome -- a painful condition in which the muscles or tendons of your rotator cuff become entrapped in your shoulder joint.

The alternative: Simple -- just pull the bar in front of your head, down to your collarbone. You'll work your back just as hard, but with less risk for injury.

The Pec Deck

The myth: It's a super safe and very effective way to work your chest muscles.

The truth: This apparatus, also called the chest fly machine, can overstretch the front of your shoulder and cause the muscles around the rear of your shoulder to stiffen. The result: Doing this movement frequently can lead to shoulder impingement syndrome.

The alternatives: Forget the machine, and stick with exercises such as the pushup, dumbbell bench press and dumbbell incline press; they're easier on your shoulders and the best way to build your chest overall. In fact, Truman State University researchers found that pectoral muscles are activated for 23 percent less time during the chest fly, compared with the bench press.

The Seated Hip Abductor Machine

The myth: This machine is the best way to work your out thighs, including your glutes.

The truth: Because you're seated, it trains a movement that has no functional use. And if done with excessive weight and jerky technique, it can put undue pressure on your spine.

The alternative: Work the same muscles, but while standing. Simply loop a resistance band around both legs, and position the band just below your knees. Now take small steps to your left for 20 feet. Then side-step back to your right for 20 feet. That's one set. This is much harder than it sounds, but you can do it anywhere, and it's also a great warm-up for any sport.

The Seated Rotation Machine

The myth: Twisting on this machine helps melt your love handles.

The truth: It works the muscles under your love handles, but will do little to reduce the fat that covers them. What's more, because your pelvis doesn't move as you rotate your upper body, this exercise can put excessive twisting forces on the spine.

The alternative: As long as you don't expect to shrink your love handles, you can use rotational exercises to work your obliques. But here's the secret to safety: Before you do any rotational exercises, brace your abs forcefully -- as if you're about to be punched in the gut -- and hold them that way as you do the movement. This limits your range of motion and helps to keep you from rotating excessively at your lower spine.

The Smith Machine

The myth: This machine -- which looks like a squat rack with a built-in bar that runs on guides-gives you all the benefits of squats, but none of the risk that comes from holding a heavy barbell across your back. That's because the bar can easily be secured at any point during the movement.

The truth: Because the bar runs on guides, you can only move straight up and down as you squat-instead of down and back, as you would in a free-weight squat. The result: An unnatural movement that puts extra stress on your knees and lower back. Need another reason to skip the Smith? Canadian researchers found that traditional squats produced almost 50 percent more muscle activity in the quadriceps than squats done on a Smith machine.

The alternative: If you're not comfortable with barbell squats, simply do the exercise while holding dumbbells at arm's length next to your sides. You won't need a spotter, and your body will be free to move through the natural motion of the squat.

When sex doesn't sell: Slew of bad ads backfire in the blogosphere

File this under "stupid sex ads." While it's true that sex sells -- and has for more than a century-- a rash of recent ads from top marketers has proven there are exceptions to that rule.

Take this TV commercial from Hall's Refresh, a sugar-free candy "with advanced moisture lotion." The ad carries a theme that's popping up on a number of TV shows, from ABC's Cougar Townto Fox's Glee : older woman hitting on a younger man (remember the teenage Puck's pool-cleaning service in Glee?). In the Hall's ad, a harried looking mom, helping her son move into his new dorm, is kindly offered a Hall's Refresh by his roommate. What happens next verges into "what were they thinking?" territory. The teen- and the middle-aged mom gaze at each other, mouths wetly moving from side to side as they masticate. "I wonder if she likes it," the roommate thinks in a suggestive voice-over. Sure, it's debatable whetherCougar Town's depiction of that dynamic is pathetic or empowering, but the Hall's ad plays squarely to creepy.

Just in time for the holidays comes this spot for Boost Mobile, which uses the stop-action charm of TV classics like Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer in a less than wholesome way. While some may find the commercial amusing, others may find the depiction of Mrs. Claus as a cheating spouse with a snowman fetish offensive. As one blog asks, "will you forgive Boost Mobile for ruining Frosty forever?"

Mrs Claus - Alternate Ending

With thousands of messages vying daily for consumers' eyeballs, marketers have become even more desperate to reach audiences and are willing to take more risks. Sometimes it results in top-notch, pioneering ads. Other times, it fails miserably. When such a misstep occurs these days, however, it gets broadcast across the Internet. Unamused viewers post their critiques on social media sites and link to the video on video-sharing sites. So even though a spot may have been geared toward a specific demographic -- say men between the ages of 18 and 34 -- the social media effect means it's suddenly being viewed by a much broader audience.

Indeed, a sub-category of media blogs have popped up to offer advertising critiques, ranging from Nielsen's AdFreak to the global advertising-focusedAdLand. And then there's the spirited AdRants, not to be confused with the Ad Rant column that runs on DailyFinance's sister publication WalletPop.

The wrong type of shock factor

"Everyone is trying to stand out," says Peter Hempel, the president of DDB New York, an advertising agency owned by Omnicom Group (OMC), which didn't work on any of the ads mentioned in this story. "Every brand makes a decision: are they going to stand out on the merits of their brand or on shock value? We always stand out by trying to astonish. If I astonish you, you like my brand. If I shock you, it's for a moment."

Check out this print ad for an Australian brewery, which turns Snow White into a somewhat less than virginal character (the tagline is that the beverage is "anything but sweet.") A decade or more ago, that ad might never have reached audiences outside the land down under, but bloggers and beer enthusiasts ran with it. One blog, Zelda Lily, wrote "the ad is pretty offensive, especially considering they crowned their sexually promiscuous spoke woman with the title of "ho," while one beer blog said it was "damn funny." The ad apparently was pulled after Disney (DIS) objected to the unchaste depiction of one of its princesses.

PepsiCo (PEP) was aiming for a young male demographic with its edgy iPhone app for its AMP drink, which gave out hints on how to score with different types of women (by the way, "cougar" was one of the stereotypes included in the app.) Pepsi pulled the ad after negative feedback from customers.One poster on Jezebel.com wrote "To make half of the population apathetic and disinterested in your company should never be the goal of advertising," while some reviewers on iTunes gave the app one star out of five and added negative comments, such as one who called it "sexist and stupid."

And don't forget another recent pistachio ad featuring would-be son-in-law to Sarah Palin, Levi Johnston, with a tag line that tries to poke fun at his apparent failure to effectively use birth control ("Now Levi Johnston does it with protection.") The ad, predictably, led to many nut references, and Web comments ranged from asking whether consumers should boycott the pistachio company to those who found the ad amusing.

Before social media and email, Hempel says the rule of thumb was that every seven angry letters represented one thousand complaints. Now, he says, "You know exactly how many complain."