Maersk Alabama Attacked Again

MoonHowler

The US merchant vessel Maersk Alabama was attacked again by pirates off the coast of Somalia in the early hours on Wednesday.  This ship was attacked last year and their captain was held for 5 days.  He was freed by Navy Seals and three of the pirates were shot and killed. 

This time the Maersk Alabama was ready.  There were armed security guards with military training on board who fired back at the high speed boat carrying pirates.  Additionally, the security guards fired a high screeching  ear-piercing sound at the pirates. 

The pirates have been receiving ransom money from some countries.  The shipping insurance companies encourage paying the pirates to avoid lengthy expensive lawsuits.  (you have to be kidding!)   Firing on a ship should be considered an act of war and that is the end of that.

Senator Byrd Achieves Senate Milestone

MoonHowler

On Wednesday, the Senate honored Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) for being the longest serving member of Congress. Byrd was elected to Congress in 1952 and 6 years later, was elected to the Senate.

Byrd made the following remarks about his long tenure:

“I look forward to serving you for the next 56 years and 320 days,” Sen. Robert Byrd said in a statement marking the occasion. His only regret, Byrd said, was that his late wife, Erma, was not there with him.

“I know that she is looking down from the heavens smiling at me and saying congratulations, my dear Robert — but don’t let it go to your head,” Byrd said.

The 92 year old senator is known for his earmarks–he has brought home millions to his state, West Virginia, which has a long history of economic depression.

Senator Byrd was quite upset over the illness of Senator Ted Kennedy and his subsequent death. He was part of the large group who waited on the Capitol steps for the hearse bearing Kennedy’s casket to stop for a moment, so that staffers and other friends of the Lion of the Senate, could pay their respects. It was a warm afternoon and Senator Byrd had to be taken inside. He is not in good health himself.

Imagine, serving in Congress for almost 57 years.

WWII in HD Starts Sunday Night on the History Channel

MoonHowler

War isn’t in black and white any longer.  WWII in HD is  the first colorized HD World War II movie and will be shown in 5 2-hour segments beginning this Sunday on the History Channel. One of the goals of the production was to put the viewer in the historical moment of time. Both veteran voices and the voices of younger actors were used to put the viewer right there at the moment. Much of the footage has not been seen by the general public.

According to the History Channel:

WWII in HD is the first-ever World War II documentary presented in full, immersive HD color. Culled from thousands of hours of lost and rare color archival footage gathered from a worldwide search through basements and archives, WWII in HD will change the way the world sees this defining conflict. Using footage never before seen by most Americans–converted to HD for unprecedented clarity–viewers will experience the war as if they were actually there, surrounded by the real sights and sounds of the battlefields. Along the way they’ll meet a diverse group of soldiers whose wartime diaries and journals show in visceral detail what the war was really like.
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The series will be narrated by award winning Gary Sinise (“Forrest Gump,” “CSI: NY”) and will be voiced by top Hollywood performers. The video trailers may be viewed on the History Channel. It starts on Sunday, November 15 from 9-11. The show repeats in the middle of the night if you want to record it. 1 am-3 am.

Finally snagged the footage from the Wounded Warrier Project: