Thursday, June 03, 2004
During WWII, the Japanese launched rubberized silk balloons loaded with explosives. The hope was that they would slip into the jet stream long enough to eventually come down over the mainland US and start forest fires. Then the US would be too busy fighting problems at home to fight the Japanese. At least, that was the plan. Out of 9,000 balloons, less than 350 made their way to the mainland.
However one did quite notably. Unfortunately, one landed in Oregon. A minister, his wife and five children were on a picnic that day. The minister was busy parking the car. Until this time the government and the press had kept information surpressed. The children dragged the balloon from the woods where it landed. Then the bomb exploded. It killed 5 children and the minister's wife. This was one of the few attacks that the US suffered during World War II.
I saw this balloon yesterday or at least what was left of it. I would love to have brought you a picture, but it wasn't allowed. It was basically down to a couple of hoops and some simple, rusted mechanics. There wasn't much to it. I asked the lady at the gift shop, but she had no idea what I was talking about. She said that she hadn't even seen it.
I was shocked, but I guess since she lived through WW II, she had no desire to experience it again.
MeMa and I went to a museum ran by the Oregon Historical Society. We also rode the street cars and light rail a lot.
Portland is amazing they have so much public transportation. They have buses, light rail, and trolleys. And they all take the same ticket. Why anybody would need a car in this town is beyond me. We easily traveled around town for lunch, went to museums, and shopped at the Safeway. (How do you fit three elephants into a shopping cart? Hint: take the "S" out of "Safe", and the "F" out of "Way".) We would have gone to the mall, but MeMa was tired. She is almost eighty after all. We got back to the hotel at 6 pm local.
We go to get a car today. We'll ride the Red Line to the airport, get our car, and drive down to Coos Bay to where her brother lives. The ride will probably wear her out. She will be eighty years old this year after all. Maybe Clifford can keep her better entertained than I can. I have bought a map of Portland and a book on Coos Bay.
I had thought of going up to see the Columbia River, but MeMa wouldn't make the trip. She can't handle a quarter of the walking that I can. Heck she can't even handle the food. I let her pick a place to eat and she said whatever I wanted. She was ill from it all day. Tomorrow I think that she will pick a place eat or we will not eat at all.
In other news, Southwest was up yesterday. It had been down four days in a row. I've got to remember though that I am new to this technical analysis stuff and I did make some money. Yahoo Finance says that the market should move lower, but they might as well flip a coin. I'm not sure any market analyzer is right much. If they were, there would be no need to report on it. I'd be sipping daiquiris in the Bahamas. (Okay, in Disney World.)
That's all for today. As I said, they don't allow photos in Museums so I didn't take any pictures. Well, except for the Columbia Avenue exit sign on the interstate. She's a sucker for anything with the name of a Tennessee Town in it. I hope she doesn't see the exit for Fairview. It's been our first day and she has bought souvenirs. Eight postcards, a spoon, a key chain, and a stuffed bear for her neighbor. She says that she won't be buying any more souvenirs. We'll see. We'll probably hit a Wal-Mart today for maps.
Later, folks.
However one did quite notably. Unfortunately, one landed in Oregon. A minister, his wife and five children were on a picnic that day. The minister was busy parking the car. Until this time the government and the press had kept information surpressed. The children dragged the balloon from the woods where it landed. Then the bomb exploded. It killed 5 children and the minister's wife. This was one of the few attacks that the US suffered during World War II.
I saw this balloon yesterday or at least what was left of it. I would love to have brought you a picture, but it wasn't allowed. It was basically down to a couple of hoops and some simple, rusted mechanics. There wasn't much to it. I asked the lady at the gift shop, but she had no idea what I was talking about. She said that she hadn't even seen it.
I was shocked, but I guess since she lived through WW II, she had no desire to experience it again.
MeMa and I went to a museum ran by the Oregon Historical Society. We also rode the street cars and light rail a lot.
Portland is amazing they have so much public transportation. They have buses, light rail, and trolleys. And they all take the same ticket. Why anybody would need a car in this town is beyond me. We easily traveled around town for lunch, went to museums, and shopped at the Safeway. (How do you fit three elephants into a shopping cart? Hint: take the "S" out of "Safe", and the "F" out of "Way".) We would have gone to the mall, but MeMa was tired. She is almost eighty after all. We got back to the hotel at 6 pm local.
We go to get a car today. We'll ride the Red Line to the airport, get our car, and drive down to Coos Bay to where her brother lives. The ride will probably wear her out. She will be eighty years old this year after all. Maybe Clifford can keep her better entertained than I can. I have bought a map of Portland and a book on Coos Bay.
I had thought of going up to see the Columbia River, but MeMa wouldn't make the trip. She can't handle a quarter of the walking that I can. Heck she can't even handle the food. I let her pick a place to eat and she said whatever I wanted. She was ill from it all day. Tomorrow I think that she will pick a place eat or we will not eat at all.
In other news, Southwest was up yesterday. It had been down four days in a row. I've got to remember though that I am new to this technical analysis stuff and I did make some money. Yahoo Finance says that the market should move lower, but they might as well flip a coin. I'm not sure any market analyzer is right much. If they were, there would be no need to report on it. I'd be sipping daiquiris in the Bahamas. (Okay, in Disney World.)
That's all for today. As I said, they don't allow photos in Museums so I didn't take any pictures. Well, except for the Columbia Avenue exit sign on the interstate. She's a sucker for anything with the name of a Tennessee Town in it. I hope she doesn't see the exit for Fairview. It's been our first day and she has bought souvenirs. Eight postcards, a spoon, a key chain, and a stuffed bear for her neighbor. She says that she won't be buying any more souvenirs. We'll see. We'll probably hit a Wal-Mart today for maps.
Later, folks.
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