Women On Submarines

Well, welcome to the 21st century. The Navy, after careful considerations, years of study, has decided to lift its ban on women on submarines. I think the re-runs of "Star Trek: Voyager"  starring Kate Mulgrew as the female captain, Kathryn Janeway, as a lead character, may have added to this decision. Of course, I could be totally wrong. A fictional starship is not a sub, but in the world of the movies and in the literature of the popular culture, they share a lot of the same plot themes. And America is living in a Star Trek world.

Of course everyone in the Navy doesn't agree with this decision to allow women on submarines. They cite close quarters, people bumping into each other as they rush about to duty stations in a crisis -- and the possibility of sexual activity. Well, I bet some might even think that American submarines will become manned with Klingon women! And there will go to Davy Jones, himself, the Navy that they love.

Dorothy Height, An American Icon

We owe our freedoms as Americans to those  among us who are the fighters for  civil rights, for civil liberty, for justice and for human rights. We owe our freedoms to those who choose to protest,  to work for improvements, better conditions, in our country, rather than to accept things as they are. More important than the founders, for the continuation of our freedoms, are our contemporaries. One of our great contemporaries was laid to rest today. She was a fighter for all that which makes America good. Her name was Dorothy Height. She was 98 years old.

The President spoke at her funeral, which was most appropriate for the nation's leader to honor one among us, who lived a most honorable life, and  who did the work that Franklin encouraged  each generation of Americans  to do, to keep our democracy, by working to preserve it. Dorothy Height devoted her life, worked long, to help us to keep our democracy, by working hard to make American democracy work for all of us.

Sandra Bullock: Moving On

Sandra Bullock seems to be getting it right,  moving on with her life. The media  is not now filled with stories of her telling folks that she wants to take a baseball bat to cheating husbands. She's filed for divorce and is adopting the kid, solo  --  the kid who she and her soon to be ex had planned to adopt together. A new life and a new kid! She is taking about motherhood not cheating husbands --said, "she's going full speed ahead on motherhood. A life is a life. Whether or not it came from your body should be secondary, in my opinion." BTW the kid is from New Orleans and is name after Louis Armstrong. for his song, "What a Wonderful World." She said the kid   is not going to be a collect-'em-all celebrity accessory.This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me."

According to press reports, she plan to live with the kid  in New Orleans is "a city synonymous with rebuilding –  New Orleans seems like the perfect place for Sandra Bullock to raise son Louis."

TheTiger Chasing Jack Nicklaus

The Masters at Augustus National is behind him. The first major of the year and no win. The five month lay off had its affect. Three other majors await this year,  when he has a chance to close the gap between himself and Jack Nicklaus, and maybe next year  to tie and to go ahead, for the record, as the all time greatest golfer with the most wins at the majors. Prepping for the next major, a stop at the Quail Hollow Championship, Tiger Woods first regular PGA Tour event this season..Today, Wednesday, 28th of April,  the Tiger faced the media, said he was ready to play golf, and will he able to deal with any hecklers if there are any.  Today the fans the gallery greeted him with applause. He is still the best player in the game. And like the Tiger said at his press conference, a video clip is below, "fans over the years have been great" to him.  The Tiger is a man on a mission.

The C-Note Make-over

Today, April 21, 2010,  The US Treasury Department unveiled a new 100 Dollar bill. The first make over of the C-note since 1996. Added to the bill are more features -- "advanced security features" -- to make it harder to counterfeit. Okay, the Treasury has a duty to try, but the only way to stop counterfeiting would be to get rid of money. Get rid of money? Right. Not any time soon, if ever. Well, the Treasury does have an obligation to try to make counterfeiting harder. From the pictures the new C-note looks. -- Well, it's going to take a little getting use to.

Benjamin Franklin is still on the C-note. But he has been joined by a disappearing Liberty Bell in an inkwell and a bright blue security ribbon composed of thousands of tiny lenses that magnify objects in mysterious ways. Move the bill, and the objects move in a different direction.The new currency will not go into circulation until Feb. 10 of next year. That will give the government time to educate the public in the United States and around the world about the changes.

Dorothy Height

Dorothy Height was for civil rights, women rights and human rights. She died today, Tuesday, April 20th, in a Washington D.C. hospital. She was 98 years old. She died from natural causes after a long illness. Height was an American, a leader in the African-American community. For more than forty years she was president of the National Council of Negro Women. In the 1950s and 1960s, was listed among the major figures in the struggle for civil rights. She began speaking out for civil rights during her teenage and young adult years in the 1930s, and she continued well in her 90s.

From the Washington Post:

"The late activist C. DeLores Tucker once called Ms. Height an icon to all African-American women. 'I call Rosa Parks the mother of the civil rights movement,.'  Mr.Tucker said in 1997. 'Dorothy Height is the queen.'  Ms. Height was on the platform at the Lincoln Memorial, sitting only a few feet from Dr. Martin Luther  King, when he gave his famous "I have a dream" speech at the March on Washington in 1963. 'He spoke longer than he was supposed to speak,' Height recalled in a 1997 Associated Press interview. But after he was done, it was clear Dr. King's speech would echo for generations, she said, 'because it gripped everybody.' " 

Dorothy Height, R.I.P.

The video was made on July 12, 2008.

Betty White & The Naked Hot Dog?

What is Betty White saying about "naked hotdogs?"

Yesterday, April 19th  --  a new honor for 88-year-old, Emmy-award winning, America's very popular senior star and icon, Betty White. Really? An achievement award?  Ms. White was honored with having a hot dog, at a popular California hot dog stand, named for her. Yes, now she is an item on a popular California hot dog' chain's menu . Ms. White  made an appearance at  the California hot dog stand, "Pinks." The occasion was the introduction of the new "Betty White 'Naked' Hot Dog. The hot dog is called a  "naked hot dog" because it comes with no toppings. Below there is a video of the opening. Note Ms. White's remark about the naked  hot dog.

Also for Betty White fans  -- as you know, she will be hosting the  "Saturday Night Live" show on May 8th. SNL announced, yesterday that hip-hop star Jay-Z will be the musical guest on the show.

Remembering Benjamin Hooks

Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks died today, Thursday, April 15th, in his home, after a long illness. He was 85 years old. He is being remembered on the net as one of America's great  Civil Rights leaders. He served as the executive director for 16 years of the NAACP. He also served his country in various capacities, working for the rights of Americans.  In 2007, he was  awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the country.

“He’s had an amazing career,” said Julian Bond, a former head of the Atlanta branch of the N.A.A.C.P. “Judge, F.C.C. commissioner, minister of churches in two different cities at the same time, businessman, head of the N.A.A.C.P. Most people do one or two things in their lifetimes. He’s just done an awful lot."

Benjamin Hooks, R.I.P

Sources: Bio, obit

Tied for 4th and Did Not Lose

The tied-for-fourth-place winner at the Masters got most of the mentions. The first place finisher was Phil Mickelson, who won his 3rd green jacket. A 3rd Masters jacket is quite an accomplishment. Phil Mickelson is Phil Mickelson. He is not  the Tiger. He got more press space than a golfer would have gotten in the Tiger less era -- 3rd green jacket or not. He's said that he knows what Tiger Woods has done for golf, opened up opportunities for golfers like himself to make more money, so I doubt he is in a corner bad mouthing, chucking out the gripes.

Tiger Woods returned. TV rating went way up. Sales of tickets went way up. He delivered drama. Coming from way behind at the end of day two, he finished day three within range of winning, and then -- Well, coming in 4th at The Masters, when put into perspective, wasn't all that bad. If he had won it, that would have been too easy. The public, especially the TV public - sports commentators -- love to see a star struggle.

The Associated Press reports that, "most golf fans at final round of The Masters Sunday were impressed with how Tiger Woods tied for fourth, despite not playing tournament golf for five months."

There are two videos in this post. In the first, Tiger Woods is reflecting on his game at the Masters, and on what he needs to do to get his game together. The second is a report on fan reaction to Tiger Woods appearance and performance at the Masters.    

So the Tiger stumbled? The Masters is only the first major. There are three others, and many more tournaments I'm looking forward to. The Tiger will move on to the next.

The Ninth Time Lucky?

Elizabeth Taylor and Jason Winters have announced her plans to get married. -- a 78-year old and a 49-year old, that's a 29 year difference, a whole generation. Well love is what love is, does not respect age, or anything else. Ms Taylor said of Mr. Winters, he is "one of the most wonderful men I've ever known, that's why I love him." Mr Winters doesn't seem to be a gold digger. He runs his own Hollywood talent agency, called, Sterling Winters Management, and he recently became Janet Jackson's new manager. He appears to be quite financially successful, and according to press reports, "he even reportedly bought a house for" Liz and himself to live in.

CBS reports that a "Liz Insider" told Usmagazine.com, "It's no secret that they've been together forever and are in love, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they were engaged. Right now they are keeping it between them. She didn't think she'd fall in love again, but since Jason came into her life that has all changed."

Well, Ms Taylor has been married eight times before, twice to Richard Burton. Her first marriage was to Conrad Hilton Jr, (1950-51), that lasted about a year, and was considered a mistake. Her second marriage was to Michael Wilding, (1952-57), that lasted five years. Her third marriage was to Mike Todd, (1957-58),  that ended with a tragic plane crash. Her fourth marriage was to Eddie Fisher, (1959-64), that lasted about five years. Is there a pattern developing? Her fifth marriage was to Richard Burton, first time,  (1964-74), this lasted about ten years. Burton is considered by film historians and gossip peddlers to have been the love of Liz life. Her sixth marriage, and a second try with Burton, (1975-76),  lasted about a year; the second time around was considered a mistake. Her seventh marriage was to Sen. John Warner, (1976-82). This lasted into a sixth year. Maybe Liz delayed a just a bit, until he had done a term, so not to be blamed for harming Number 7 hubby's senate career, with a celebrity divorce. Her eighth marriage was to Larry Fortensky (1991-96). Again, the five year pattern. Now, her ninth marriage cometh. Best wishes to the love birds.

 

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