(Copied from an email. I don’t know who wrote it but I randomly verified a few numbers.)
The state of America’s economy today will impact the prosperity of future generations tomorrow. We created this data card because we want every American to have a simple and easy way to track and discuss the key economic indicators that show the true state of our nation’s economy. The items featured in this card affect every American personally, whether we know it or not.
Join Allen West in standing up for the next generation by printing this data card and using it to start a conversation with your friends about America’s economy. The card will be updated monthly so you will have access to the most recent data.
But we must be vigilant in how we see – or read – things on the internet. It is easy for your sympathies to be played…and your hearts (or your wallets) drained.
Just one case in point… Although this involves Facebook (which I had abandoned a couple of years ago), the medium is of no consequence. A “blog” can achieve the same results.
And people will get hurt… Perhaps financially but always emotionally which can be the most costly.
It is NOT a victimless crime.
Please click on image above or the link below to listen/watch the report.
We all want to feel we helped someone, some animal or pet, or a family in need after a natural disaster.
At the same time, help yourself before you find yourself – or your own family – getting hurt.
Look into a “feel sorry for me” post or blog thoroughly before giving your heart.
If too many things are happening to someone, and you start to feel more sympathetic than ever, take a deep breath… Think about the entire scenario first. You will be able to breathe easier later.
“Just photos,” as they say… Photos of my beautiful daughter’s wedding a couple of weeks ago.
Well, with just a little writing, perhaps, with a smidgeon of our American history tossed in.
In my other blog posts, there has been mention of the “internment camps” in which one-half of my dad’s family was imprisoned in the US during WWII.
Internees were not allowed to bring in cameras amongst many other things deemed to be a threat to national or camp security – like knives, guns, tools…and cameras.
However, at one camp called “Manzanar” (where my Aunt Shiz and cousins were imprisoned), one brave soul braved the tight security measures and actually made his own camera…in secret. He then took prohibited photographs during his interment. His name was Toyo Miyatake… (Note: there is a super documentary on Toyo Miyatake called “Toyo’s Camera“: http://www.toyoscamera.com/. One contributor was George Takei who played “Sulu” on “Star Trek”. Takei was also imprisoned during the war.)
Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios
The actual camera he made is shown below; it is still in the possession of the Miyatake family:
Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios
In what I believe is a Signal Corps official photograph, the Toyo Miyatake family is pictured in their Manzanar barracks:
Toyo Miyatake’s family in Manzanar
This is one of the more well-known photographs taken by Toyo Miyatake at Manzanar during WWII:
Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios
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Jump forward to today.
Toyo Miyatake’s grandson is Alan Miyatake; my 11 year old son sneakily grabbed my EXPENSIVE DSLR and snapped this photo of Alan and I chatting at my daughter’s wedding. The gent on the left is Alan. We are the same age……but I do look YOUNGER, of course. Just kidding, Alan!
Alan Miyatake on the left
We’ve known each other for over five decades now; we attended the same church. When we played B-ball in the church league, he played guard. When he let loose a shot, his form reminded me of a graceful ballet. He was good… and his photography was fortunately much better. (Smile)
He shot my weddings…both of them, unfortunately. And there was no one else I was honored to have shooting my daughter’s. Both of us were joking before the wedding that we were both extremely grateful for auto-focus…
The following proofs are Alan’s work where noted.
Thanks, Alan…but I still challenge you in sports photography! LOL
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Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios. Isn’t my daughter just beautiful? Takes after mom, I am told.Copyright Toyo Miyatake StudiosCopyright Toyo Miyatake StudiosCopyright Toyo Miyatake StudiosCopyright Toyo Miyatake Studios
My four wonderful kids:
Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios. This would be the last photo of the four kids together before her marriage. I was honored to have Alan take this portrait.Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios. My oldest son Takeshi and my ex.Copyright Toyo Miyatake StudiosCopyright Toyo Miyatake Studios. Doesn’t she look gorgeous?
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And now, some of my snapshots… Gotta throw these in:
My son was the officiant (i.e., he married them off). He got choked up a few times. The bridesmaid on the far left is my cousin’s daughter, seven months pregnant.
Ever faithful and reliable Alan at work…They make their entry as husband and wifeFirst dance…
James and my youngest girl Brooke on their way for a dance. It was (HOPEFULLY) her first one.My littlest son’s (hopefully NOT his) first dance.Breaking of the ceremonial cask of “osake” graciously provided by my new in-laws.Remember Jake and Brady? Their parents, too…but Brooke was too embarrassed to dance…yet.Jake lost! She was too embarrassed to dance. 🙂My bud Don and his wife Marie. A guy couldn’t ask for a more loyal and faithful friend. Thanks, Cap.
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Alan, great job once again. I was honored to have you shoot my daughter’s wedding.
And congratulations, James and Robyn. Love you both.
What’s mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved.
There’s not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn’t be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character.
People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride.
That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it’s worth it, if at the end is home…a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.
We wouldn’t have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along.
There was less crime in our streets before they were paved.
Criminals didn’t walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they’d be welcomed by 5 barking…
The Bill of Rights stems from those natural rights…at least in my opinion. I ain’t a lawyer, thank goodness.
Original Bill of Rights
And if my schooling and failing memory are correct, this Bill of Rights sought out to protect us from our own newly created government. It sought out to call out these rights simply…and protect us from tyranny.
It put into simple language a guarantee of a number of personal freedoms, limit the government’s power in certain areas, and provide power to the states and the public.
The Bill of Rights cements our national culture, I feel.
Help me out here, smarter people than I.
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But can an American overrule this foundation, the Bill of Rights. Singly overrule this foundation?
Yes.
Its called an Executive Order. The President of the United States can act as a monarch in concept.
Tremendous power, yes?
But do we learn from our past mistakes?
A kind reminder: FDR signed an Executive Order in 1942.
Executive Order 9066. Notice, readers, it is not “We the people”. It is filled with “I”.
This Executive Order resulted in this somewhat familiar poster:
It stripped my father, uncle, aunt, and cousins completely of their rights.
Not just one right. All of their rights.
They were forced out of the West Coast and forced to live in concentration camps if they could not afford to move.
Their US Passports were confiscated. They were fingerprinted, photographed and assigned an inmate number. Man, woman or child…or baby.
All this happened with one signature. FDR’s.
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Some people say this Executive Order arose out of hysteria. Reaction to something that happened.
I just want to say I am against any Executive Order. Large or small in its magnitude. By definition, it serves to nullify the Bill of Rights.
Masako and Spam Musubi 