Liae Blog

It’s our human nature to cry, laugh, be moody and sad.

We can’t always be happy unless of course there comes a time when we can  walk straight to a drug store to buy medicines off the counter only to make us happy. But given the complexity of how things work between medicine manufactures, doctors and  insurance companies, it’s unlikely that will take place.

While there are many herbal medicines, there aren’t any for Happy Moods. Oh, please don’t tell me that St. Johns Wort or SAME-e and stuffs like that. It works only for a handful of people and it ain’t for HAPPINESS for all.

First, you would be telling me to define what I mean by Happiness. Right ? Happiness is a peace of mind, it’s an absolute control you have, you don’t blame yourself nor anyone, you are as happy as the 1 year old baby.

I’ve tried this and it seems to work, so why don’t I share with you my secrect receipe of being happy. Did you put butter on the pan yet ?

• First of all, consider that you are unique. There is nobody like you. Not a single person. Did you know that you could be someone else perhaps with a bigger nose or smaller eyes or your skin color would be different or perhaps you would 13 inches smaller or you would be born in a third world country . The probably of who you are is 1 in 1000000000000000 or something near to that. For further research, I suggest you google it to find out. Knowing how unique you are is a great feeling.
• When you are sad, think of all the people in the world. Do you have a meal to eat tonight ? You do. Do you know there are people who are starved to death. Do you know that rice crops have died due to climate change.
• Are you unhappy because you don’t have money ? Come on now. You don’t have money  ? It’s because you either didn’t work hard or you blow every penny you make. Saving never came to your brain. But don’t blame the past. Think of all the people who might not have what you have, even a few bucks. But would you feel sad again that every time you try to make happy, you need to think of underprivileged people. If that makes you sad, it’s the reality. What can you do ? If it makes you happy. Save some money and give to them when you have enough.
• Music is one of the best tool. MP3 players are cheap these days. Get one and get into the music. I have tried this and this works wonder. Yes, turn the volume all the way up. Get yourself higher somewhere in another world until you settle back to normal
• Routine Works can make feel sad. Spice it. Do it a bit differently. Ask yourself, how else can I do this ? For example, if you are a secretary and you boss gives you bunches of papers to type, why not type the last page first before the first. What the F*ck ? Monotonous has no rhythm.
• If you are allowed to listen to Radio, turn it on. Certain places allow this unless of course you in a operation theater.
• Watch some TVs you normally wouldn’t. It might do wonder.
• Play some games on video gaming system like XBOX 360. It will help you free your mind.
• Never Grow Up. I’ve told this to many people thousand times, and I’m a baby. Believe me. Have you see how innocent the smiles are from babies. It’s the best smile. It’s because, they are in the moment and they have nothing to worry about. So learn those two words “Be in the moment” and “worry” is only pulling you back. Forget it!
• Meditation – some of my friends think that I am praying even when I am looking at a picture without shutting my eyes. Meditation helps us empty our thoughts. There are significant research on the benefit of meditation. While methods might vary, they are one of the easiest thing to do.
• Keep a journal (if you like the old fashion way, notebook will be fine) or if you like Hi-tech, blogger.com or wordpress.com is my recommendation. Writing your daily activities and sharing will divert your thoughts that are making you sad.
• Money. Money. Money. You can have some, enough or not enough. For a moment, every single day, tell yourself, that you don’t need no money. Just do it. Or you could say, “I just want that much enough to pay bills” Thought of money itself can bring sadness in you specially when you have limited options to make them.
• Go online, make some friends. Internet is a great place to escape. For videos I would recommend youtube and for free online magazines, try spin.
• Learn Photography or Videography. Anyone can do this. Learning is easy. Put them up and see how comments flow. Youtube, Devianart and other Picasaweb are some cool places to test your skill. These days, anyone can afford a reasoable camera with a video recorder for less than $50.
• Make online friends. If you are sad that you don’t have real(good friends), try making friends online. Facebook is one heck of a place to start. The only thing you need to worry is when someone leaves you. Don’t take friends tooo deeply. They are just friends. Unless they were you classmates, you are just a friend. Just. Don’t cry if some one rejects you or does not respond.  There is a huge difference between Internet Friend and a Real Friend. If your real friends are nothing more than AS* W*ols, perhaps Internet friends are your real friends.
• Play some games. If you don’t have a PC. There are board games you can play. For PC, play games that help you learn or explore. There is no proof that playing a particular game will make you happy. Play a game that is fun and addictive. (I like sports game because they seem realistic and I was once a sportsmen) Another case ? If you PC can handle, I would recommend The Sims, your sadness will surely go away. And for all  those leg fans FIFA 10 and Hand fans, I would go for NFL 10
• Do social works – If have money to pay your bills and you are free, social works can uplift your moral, perhaps making a happier person. Would you like to leave some footprints on earth ? We know for sure, our foot prints won’t be be there on mars ?
• Hangout with friends. You can be from a good person to completely a different one based on the people you hangout with. No, don’t blame your friends, but blame the network you decide to join.
• Take a morning walk. If you are a night time person, convert that to day time person. It’s been said that morning walks help improve health; healthier you could mean more happiness.
• Karaoke, what a cool name. Not into it. You gonna love it. Get yourself one and sign along.  Music heals wounds. Sing like a rock star.

Well, who knows, when you are sad, may be the best in you will come out. One final tip ? Write a book.

Here are a few links to songs, videos that makes me happy. I hope you enjoy them as much as I .

Remember : As for me, “Life is an Experience”. Enjoy, Learn, Share, While we all can. Time EXPERIENCE many things at  one time or in long span ? I would pick the later. So be healthy, stay longer so you can EXPERIENCE MORE.

Here is my final video embed of the tonight.

Useful Resources:

• youtube.com/watch?v=Zx3m4e45bTo – What’s money ?
• This song made me smile.youtube.com/watch?v=FJfFZqTlWrQ
• You are lucky to be here. Wonderful music by UK band The Verve youtube.com/watch?v=qujfdzLJPyU Just see how lucky you are!
• Get up now!! When you weep you weep alone, when you laugh, the whole world laughs with you. youtube.com/watch?v=QkSbcit01Gc
• The other person doesn’t know how much you love ?
• This is your music. Listen and Cheer up! You can actually play  this
• one here… look below:
• Everything you need to know about Meditation
• I need help. I want to write my story/blog, here you go…blogspot.com || wordpress.com

Is someone not appreciating your love ? Here a video you might have already seen. It’s cool though. People are going crazy over there with video responses and comments. Let’s play again.

That’s it for now, just remember : I’m not a very happy person although I try my best to be happy. Among all the things I have tried as listed above, those that works well are Meditation and making my mind like a baby when I have to deal with ANGRY customers. Wish you could take back the words you speak? Thinking before speaking might also make you happy. Tell yourself, you are just another person who is here to experience the gift of life in bundle (sadness, happiness, pain, gain and a whole bunches of them) Sadness is no exception, wonder why ? Any inputs you can give to me, I would love it.

Now, let us challenge the SADNESS and use it to our advantage.

– Ruben
Life is not a piece of cake. Think of how many other people might not even have luxury that you do. Food that you are eating right now ? Others starving ?

Here is a cute video, I love it for the lyrics and all. I used to watch this time and again when I was back in Australia in 1987 and I still watch it very often. This has to be one my best musical video ever apart from many other Nepali songs of course. Could it because my life ain’t going the way I want it to go ? WTF, life is life. Who cares about someone’s life anyways ? Do you ?

Enjoy!

I like Ads to observe creativity of the concept designer and also visual presentation for which you won’t be getting up and grabbing that phone to pickup. Are there laws in countries around the world for any kind of punishment for ADs that lie ? Forget about  the question for now, for Ads don’t belong to a TV Network and they will surely put any ADs. But once the Ad is in the air, who monitors them ?

You and I can only observe. You are lucky with that live and pause TV, perhaps you will have enough time to find where you left that huge Magnifying glass so you can find the smallest fonts used on TV Ads which I have no clue others call it blueprint or are my eyes so hurt looking at um and trying to make any sense of it all.

First we all need to find the answers on small fonts.

• Suppose I wrote a letter to you, you owed me money, and my letter was so tiny that you had to go buy a magnifying glass. You would probably slap me.
• Smaller, the better. Put them in such a way that laws are on your side so on your body will sue you, forget about viewers because they have already seen the largest font $99 and FREE SHIPPING, Hurry, time is limited. Oh yeah, don’t you just love it when they raise the volume, Only so and so remaining, call in the next hours to get 3 pairs FREE or don’t be fooled if they are throwing you a car! LOL, please help me, my belly hurts.

Without ADs, perhaps nothing would be here to watch. Ads also help us create jobs. So many AD agencies are busy, bunches of people are working day and night for so many different projects. Ads that are shorter and funnier seem to be fun to re-watch time and again, perhaps I would be likely to remember it and buy product or services from that company.

Ads that I would certainly not accept are

• Any Ads that directly or indirectly compare to another company. Be the best on your own is my motto, so those kind of Ads are like No No to me! Those who are the best need no comparison, they are here, have been around and folks know. They were not born yesterday unless your product was for a baby; did you really create one for  the baby of such age! You Fool! LOL, help me out here!
• Ads that makes me a complete fool
• Ads that are just too good to be true; make money, get rich quick kind of SCAMS. Such ads are allowed to be run, what a joke! It’s okay if one guy or network makes the money and bunches of others lose the job. Economy won’t pick good or bad people. It’s just Economy.
• Any ads that leaves me with bunches of words that I can’t read. I call them, …. there, just because of those, I ain’t gonna buy your product.

Here is size of Magnifying glass and links for you on where to buy. But you can use what your grandma / grandpa used. Get one, stick it somewhere near the TV.

Blueprints, here they come. Watch out world.

I lived in Lincoln MA for about 2 years with an American Family. Back then, I used to ask to my family, i.e. with my broken English (as it is today still, sillly me!). The question would be; “Why do you leave you front door open ?” and the would reply, “It’s okay.”

A week ago, I had the pleasure of squeezing and bumping into a Tiny van, where my soon to be Boss had taken all the workers on a journey of a life time. He had some kind of a device (i guess it used to beep when cops were around, but when it didn’t beep, he would drive like crazy; for speed was his fun or habbit, may lord know!)

The deal was to find the cheap-as* place to rent for a new office he was going to start. The line of business would be in Home Improvement Areas such as painting and Renovations.

Everywhere he drove,  there were signs on the buildings; walls and what not on everything!  One particular note was pretty funny and the entire van filled with four guys and their laughter made it jerk. It was a full blown laughing out loud, and I think I had to tell myself to stop laughing so much. Here is a muk up of the signboard.

I think I could smell the tires burning, the boss drove off. We went everywhere, and there they were, no trace passing. Even no parking. But we did find a few phone numbers that we could read from 10 yards a way or may be 20. Wait! Wait! 20 yards away. I think.

Will that house be rented ? I hope so. I never wish bad for anyone. With this tough economy, rent is surely a good way to get some cash. If you were low on money, wouldn’t you let  the half of your house go for rent ? Hey, it might help you pay for phone bills, internet and what a few more like that GAS for a

Hungry Truck you bought a long time ago.

It’s easy to write to blame. But things must have changed back and now. Perhaps there is less of a vibe between neighbors, more homeless, rising unemployment, excessive drug use in towns. Could crimes to be blamed for it. I did a bit of a research and found this figure:

Crime Chart for USA by year from 1996 to a few years. I read, you can read it here, http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm

Progressive nations will always have to deal with many social issues. Crimes are pretty much the same whether you live in UK or USA or Australia. Could the crimes be the reason why there are so many NO TRACE PASSING BILLBOARDS ?

Back in 1986 or so, coming from Nepal, a poor and developing country, we didn’t have any billboards at all. The only billboards we read were, “Warning! Dog inside” and those billboards usually belong to rich ones. I thought they had lots of money in their home instead in banks. But things have changed even other there, people don’t leave a house empty. Doors are to be locked. Period. Someone will surely take some materialistic items off your home if you leave your doors wide open. But really ? What about the neighbors who have no jobs and all they  day is sit in the balcony looking around ?

I’ve learned a lesson here. Fear sells in developed country more than in others. Fear is a business for TVs to make money. Turn the news channel, first story is probably of killings and robbery. It’s so sickening, I just close my eyes and often wonder if just listening to music will help. It does. But only a handful of  them. Others take me to a place where anything is possible, like you can still hear the HE**s BE**s (AC/DC, my fav song of all) Writing on a blog like this one helps. and playing games like FIFA 10 (which I’m fan of), I seem to be escaping from the FEAR. Am I normal ?

A couple dinned, I was their waiter. He served in military and had lost one of his legs.  He told me a line, upon giving me a gift that I like (a US Army pin, looks cool on my black shirt and kind of uplifts me higher) I will never forget what he told me:

American culture was damaged by Hollywood. I hope your country remains the same. I was confused. I asked him, did you visited our country ? He replied, “Yes”

Then he got my message and and I could see his face going from fully bright to dark. I said, “It’s too late, MTV and everything has taken over the kids back in Nepal. Things aren’t as they used to be now.

Nepal too has changed by western culture. More and folks here in the cities enjoy English movies more than others, although Hindi movies might come in second. Nepali movies aren’t to their taste either.

I believe much has changed in this great land of opportunity. But who am I ?
Just another foreigner. I hope no matter what mini segment of the population face hardship, America is still the superpower.

Your desire to protect your family and your property is your right. It’s your right to defend. But is it getting more and complicated to do so. Are home Alarm systems the next billboard for NO TRACE PASSING. Even if so, a family will want protection no matter; indoor or outdoor.

Will there be a turning point in this land where neighbors share a meal instead of putting up the signboards ?

Will you goto work leaving your front door open ?

Welcome!

BigLots (r) TM

Biglots,  a corporation with its stores scattered through the United States is a bargain place to visit for name brand items. Being a gamer, you can’t ignore some deals that just got hit this week. A friend of mine just purchased FIFA 08 for $6 at biglots on the day while still this game is sold for $9 or something at the EA and other online stores. Even at amazon.com the price of this game was too much. So how does biglots do it ? Just ask  them ! But it proves to me, that if you are planning on getting anything, it’s worth checking into many places before you make the transaction. The same game was $9 bucks at Office Max on the same day. Any reason why one would over look the benefit of saving in Biglots ? But who knows, there could be something in Office MAX which is cheaper but expensive at Biglots and I didn’t know about it ?

I only wish Biglots carried food items like frozen foods, perhaps then, it would be totally a different shopping experience.

$3 for DVD, can you beat that price even for some topnotch/latest DVDs. I don’t know ? As for me, I buy everything except food from Biglots and it seems to save a lot of money. Of course, Walmart is there for other stuffs.

WALMART(R) TM

Enough can be written about this one. It’’s got everything. Shopping online is still not as easy as AMAZON.com, but you can assume the burden of traffic this  website might get — for Walmart is still the world’s largest retail giant. Since I am shopping for PC GAMES, I have to say, I am sorry WALMART. You always carry more of the VIDEO Games for other platform than PC. Those that you carry are way to expensive and you assume that everyone has a gamer PC ? Come on now. Yes, you still carry those old games like puzzles and stuff but they aren’t cheaper in no way. I would rather go play online some flash games instead of them. I find, Walmart is so big, it wants me to stay inside a lot. Spend a lot.  Want to save money, get what you want and get out of there. The more you look at those rollover and savings, you seem to want to  grab`um.

Dollar TREE(R) TM and Dollar General

Anything, Everything for a Dollar. I personally like to shop here for even a can of corn, gift cards etc. I doubt people shop to a location just because of the name.  Are there some among us who like to shop at  places that you ought to shop because you have so much money ?

I often shop because I like the cashier who greets you with a smile. Perhaps something a bit different else where.  In other places, you feel like you are not in a store, but in your neighborhood. In line with what I’m writing, your local Gas station could also carry locally grown stuffs like tomatoes etc. Get it there, instead of else where even if it’s a few cents more. First of all, it’s from your area, organic, and you are helping the neighborhood farmer.  Is your money going else where, for,  say to another country ? When you spend, do you ever wonder, who gets your money ? Is it really stupid to ask that question ?

Now if you fancy, go to a shopping mall and you have everything in-front of your nose. Who knows where things come from here ?

Online Stores

Well, there are so many. I just click what I wanna buy at google and at the top, I just click Shopping.  This kind of gives me an idea of prices etc but often what google shows is not accurate. Say I want to sort something by price, the price shown on the result is different that what is shown on the website. Isn’t that kind of like the Shopping search engine is still in BETA mode or why should we blame it because the shopping site just changed it and Google don’t know about it.

I would compare the online price with store price before I make any purchase.
Now, a lot of you may not have the time to do all this. But if you are starting now, you sure have time. Hit that shopping button on google.com to start your quest.

With the Economy being so bad, don’t expect that BLACK FRIDAY took everything off and you won’t have much chance now.

Stores will be extending DEALS until they earn enough. Have they really earned enough ? I doubt ti.

Perhaps some will have “Every Mondays” as Black Friday, or some will have Weekends as Black Friday. So it’s worth checking the stores. Here are a few, just google them.

• SEARS
• BEST BUY
• WALMART
• KMART
• BIGLOTS
• DOLLAR TREE
• FAMILY DOLLAR
• DOLLAR GENERAL
• AMAZON.com
• BUY.com
• EBAY.com
• Overstock.com
• OFFICEMAX
• LOWES
• HOME DEPO
• well, the list goes on and on. Why not visit a store near you, then the one about half a mile away… just incase you don’t add that GAS cost in your quest to find the best deal.

Good Luck!

Have I done my holiday shopping yet ?
I’ve only bought 1 gift for a friend, I have to buy for 18 others and still waiting for the prices to drop. They will or I will wait till that last minutes… LOL

Ok. No introduction needed, even the lousiest search engine can show up a the list of popular search as you type. What’s for 2012 ? You don’t even need to enter the last number to know what’s popular. I’m guessing there will more sells of stuffs like caps, hats, t-shirts, DVDs, and what-not-everything with 2012 theme.

So is 2012 really the worst year for EARTH ? Is showing popular searches really worth it or are these search engines feeding us  fear ?

The Movie 2012 : First,  the movie 2012 itself is gaining a lot of attention, it shows up everywhere OMG.

I bet those who enjoyed  The Day After Tomorrow and The Independence Day, won’t miss this one. Previews always look pretty, and boy 2012 previews look like the last computer animation on earth. Is that it ?

What if  ?

That what if I wrote above, is, what I see on the preview.
How about you ?

I’m a fan of animation, and also love the movies directed by Emmerich.  I’m looking forward to seeing the movie. Bullets are here for those are like me, watching the preview day and night…. LOL !!

• The previews are stunning here in H.264 oh yes baby, quicktime always rocks. What-ever connection you have, apple does offer options. Here you go, I liked their offerings in various mode…. http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/2012/
• On youtube, an add appeared so I found it. Watched it. A five minutes of the movie. I’m guessing this is in the middle part of the movie ? I hope that there are many who would survive 2012. Watch 5 minutes of 2012 Movie
• The official website of the movie, anything sells but this domain makes me freak out… how about you? I had expected the offical site to be something similar to others like the2012movie.com or something, but this is perhaps a great marketing strategy. I love the music score for this film as well as the animation.  whowillsurvive2012.com Check out when this movie is available in your area or sign up for updates. Who has ever pointed a finger to an  official movie site ? They always have the Top Notch websites, don’t they?  Flash oh yeah, tons of it! My question of course is, do they have a third party who does these web design work. I hope Movies makers create more Employment Opportunities. As for this one, Sony ? I think Hollywood needs to give away the web design business to free-lance web designers, what’s your view on this one ? If you think 2012 is coming soon and we all are going  to die, why are you so narrow minded ?

Rumors and Viral Stuffs

First, everyone thinks that you need an equation to prove something– of course for science, i.e. What exactly do we need here ?

Many sites claim that there are already enough signs and many more to come by the December 2012! Moon was hit just today by twice the force of a regular GUN, but hope it’s not a big force that changes our solar system or a system that man kind’s have failed to discover but it is linked to ours. If is always in our head, let me add one more, If, another planet just started moving towards the Earth, a friend told me today. Don’t worry, I call him a lunatic, who knows, what our GOD knows.

Here are a few websites I’ve visited including top videos on youtube. I hope you find them useful in your quest to learn something.

• History Channel among many others have pretty interesting shows, not endorsing anything, but simply putting the facts before our eyes. Watch`um or just google`um with related keywords. Dooms are always in titles and in phrases here and there not only on H but also on D and NetGeo.
• CNN - CNN goes maya Theory on this article.
• MSNBC - What else are living here on earth, will those species gone long time ago will ever forget us ? – wonderful resource on the series, learn about extinct species etc here
• ABC’s pretty hit article and gossips should I say ?
• BBC – a debate about the end of the earth on BBC

Yours and Mine Gossips

I talk with friends and many believe that 2012 is it, and some  say isn’t

I’ve seen it. Believe me. One friend has changed his lifestyle completely; now seems to enjoy life even more so. One who used to save a lot is spending a lot–I just hope he will have some left after 2012. And there are others who don’t give a penny to 2012. Others are taking interest in about things very seriously, so 2012 is positive too. Not to mention a friend planting a tree, for he was the one screaming to his grand-mother the other day; OMG I would have only 2 months to drive!

If the end is coming, why would not a single Government Talk. Over 190 countries/Governments and not a single one of them can tell you anything about it ? No way. They don’t know. They know. Who cares ? They are in the mix. They are fighting. Government is in the mess itself. May be I’m wrong. May be you are right. What the heck. May be somone knows the answer and we will find later. let’s just have fun for now…

As for me, this is just another count down to Y2K.

But

a whole lot fun,

as well as  gigantic ball of momentum, interests, and a global awareness that just keeps on rolling as the days approach nearer.

We owe it to ourselves to do something for the planet for giving us a life.
What have we done today for 2012 ?  or someday ?

My memories of the July 29, 1967 USS Forrestal Fire, an article published here which was sent via email to me from my friend Jimmy.

My memories of the July 29, 1967 USS Forrestal Fire. Very briefly, I’ll write about my memory leading up to that day.

I was a recent convert to my faith in Christ Jesus. Aboard the USS Forrestal I made a decision to turn my life over to Jesus and live for Him because I know through things that happened in my life. He was Real wad I wanted to live for Him.

This renewed faith took place on the way to South America, Rio Dejaneiro a stop in route.

The morning of 7/29/1967, I believe some time early in the morning about 3 AM the ship; Forrestal was in extreme north of the Golf of Tonkin, North Vietnam. Forrestal sounded the man overboard alarm and all the men that could, were called to look over the side for him. This happened the same day or no more than 2 days prior to the fire of July 29, not sure. This man was picked up by one of the ships Helicopters and he let go of the safety ring mat was lowered to him, about halfway to the copter. This man was never seen again only sea snakes that, according to the Ships Captain, may have taken him to the bottom.

Back to July 29, 1967, about 10:50 AM, I was hungry and started from the forward part of the Ship to aft. I was heading to the galley and wanted to be early in One to eat lunch because the lines most of the time were long and to eat took awhile. I was about half way past the forward elevator on the hanger deck and several bombs went off and the general quarters alarm sounded, “ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS” and I think it was said, “This is not a Drill”. My battle station was forward at the focsle. I turned and ran forward of the hanger bay to the first ladder up to a birthing area that leads to my sleeping area and forward to the focsle. Half way up the ladder a 10001k Bomb went off and my feet were no longer touching the ladder for an instant the ship seemed to go vertical. When the Ship returned to its horizontal position, I jumped to the top of the ladder and noticed I was shaking on the inside. I had a New Testament, Psalm and Proverbs in my upper left pocket and took it out and read one verse, this one verse when completed, seemed as if someone invisible took their hand and swept through my body. From the top of my head, to my feet and I was completely calm at that moment. I instantly started for the focsle. On the focsle, wounded were being brought for medical attention. I helped to carry water and whatever was asked of me to do to assist.

I remember helping, also, with the wounded in the Ships hallways and one man with his face burned off or to a black char, asked if He could have a cigarette to smoke. He was given one in his mouth mat looked like a note below the chin This seemed to satisfy hint Later, the Captain wanted men to help aft hanger bay to put out fires. I went aft and helped put on OBA’s (Oxygen Breathing Apparatus), on men going in to aft compartments to extinguish Fires, plus the danger of thick smoke and chlorine gas from the burning floor tile One man was reported found dead with watches on both arms. This man had on an OBA but may not have heard the warning ding because of Ms taking watches from the dead sailors His acts do not reflect the overall heroism of the men who fought the fires that day. (The reason I told this is to show that not everyone had their mind on the fire – bet most of them did) One story that was told later by the chaplain was about a Christian man who, also, carried a small New Testament and went into the burning compartments and saved several men and in his last attempt, he did not return and was later found dead.

After the fires were out, it took about three days to get to the Philippians, Subic Bay, where we took off the dead men. Three days of seeing the slain men on the hanger bay while going to chow to eat was something that could not be avoided I remember the men in wire stokes or basket looking things that were used to transport men from ship to ship. The bodies were not lying neatly like one would see a body at home, these men were on their bellies, sides and backs; whatever way they were placed when retrieved from their place of death.

My memories of the July 29, 1967 USS Forrestal Fire
Very briefly, I’ll write about my memory leading up to that day. I was a recent convert to my faith in Christ Jesus. Aboard the USS Forrestal I made a decision to turn my life over to Jesus and live for Him because I know through things that happened in my life. He was Real wad I wanted to live for Him. This renewed faith took place on the way to South America, Rio Dejaneiro a stop in route.
The morning of 7/29/1967, I believe some time early in the morning about 3 AM the ship; Forrestal was in extreme north of the Golf of Tonkin, North Vietnam. Forrestal sounded the man overboard alarm and all the men that could, were called to look over the side for him. This happened the same day or no more than 2 days prior to the fire of July 29, not sure. This man was picked up by one of the ships Helicopters and he let go of the safety ring mat was lowered to him, about halfway to the copter. This man was never seen again only sea snakes that, according to the Ships Captain, may have taken him to the bottom.

Back to July 29, 1967, about 10:50 AM, I was hungry and started from the forward part of the Ship to aft. I was heading to the galley and wanted to be early in One to eat lunch because the lines most of the time were long and to eat took awhile. I was about half way past the forward elevator on the hanger deck and several bombs went off and the general quarters alarm sounded, “ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS” and I think it was said, “This is not a Drill”. My battle station was forward at the focsle. I turned and ran forward of the hanger bay to the first ladder up to a birthing area that leads to my sleeping area and forward to the focsle. Half way up the ladder a 10001k Bomb went off and my feet were no longer touching the ladder for an instant the ship seemed to go vertical. When the Ship returned to its horizontal position, I jumped to the top of the ladder and noticed I was shaking on the inside. I had a New Testament, Psalm and Proverbs in my upper left pocket and took it out and read one verse, this one verse when completed, seemed as if someone invisible took their hand and swept through my body. From the top of my head, to my feet and I was completely calm at that moment. I instantly started for the focsle. On the focsle, wounded were being brought for medical attention. I helped to carry water and whatever was asked of me to do to assist. I remember helping, also, with the wounded in the Ships hallways and one man with his face burned off or to a black char, asked if He could have a cigarette to smoke. He was given one in his mouth mat looked like a note below the chin This seemed to satisfy hint Later, the Captain wanted men to help aft hanger bay to put out fires. I went aft and helped put on OBA’s (Oxygen Breathing Apparatus), on men going in to aft compartments to extinguish Fires, plus the danger of thick smoke and chlorine gas from the burning floor tile One man was reported found dead with watches on both arms. This man had on an OBA but may not have heard the warning ding because of Ms taking watches from the dead sailors His acts do not reflect the overall heroism of the men who fought the fires that day. (The reason I told this is to show that not everyone had their mind on the fire – bet most of them did) One story that was told later by the chaplain was about a Christian man who, also, carried a small New Testament and went into the burning compartments and saved several men and in his last attempt, he did not return and was later found dead.

After the fires were out, it took about three days to get to the Philippians, Subic Bay, where we took off the dead men. Three days of seeing the slain men on the hanger bay while going to chow to eat was something that could not be avoided I remember the men in wire stokes or basket looking things that were used to transport men from ship to ship. The bodies were not lying neatly like one would see a body at home, these men were on their bellies, sides and backs; whatever way they were placed when retrieved from their place of death.

To read more of this story and other works by Jimmy, please visit his site:
http://www.revski.org

While going trough a forum, I found one cute signature and It made me ponder more than reading the entire forum topic.

The signature I found was ………….

“No one ever wins, no one finally loses, except the dead. Under the sun they rot together, in absolute biological equality.