The Curious Case

Went to the movies this afternoon. Saw the Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Very fine movie. Well acted and very well done. I highly recommend it. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett are terrific as are all the actors in it. In case you don't know, Pitt plays a man who is living his life backwards.

Last Day

Of 2008. So, what have we learned? Have we learned ANYTHING? By we, I mean you (dear reader) and me, your friendly neighborhood blogger. We as a country, I'm not sure anything sinks in over the long term. It's all just knee jerk reaction.
Well, I don't want to get off on a rant today. Me, I'm having lunch and going to a movie later. What did I learn? Well, I can still write a good essay even at my age.

An Unusual Day

Yes, it's an unusually warm day here in Winston Salem. I got up this morning and walked downtown to have brunch at Cat's Corner (my new fave brunch place). It was a very nice walk of about 5 blocks. Warm with a breeze and a cloudy sky. Looks like it's going to rain later, but at least I did get that morning walk in.

China Sends Ships to Defend Against Pirates

From The Times Online-

Three Chinese navy ships, armed with special forces, helicopters and missiles, are on their way to join the international anti-piracy task force patrolling the waters off Somalia.

The three vessels - two destroyers and a supply ship - will sail from the southern island province of Hainan later today. China announced it was joining the anti-piracy mission on Tuesday after the UN Security Council authorized nations to conduct land and air attacks on pirate bases.

It marks a break in tradition for the modern Chinese navy, which usually confines itself to patrolling coastal waters.

It has been spurred into wider action by the escalation of pirate attacks on merchant ships, including Chinese vessels, plying the shipping route linking Asia and Europe.

The three vessels - the missile-armed destroyers DDG-171 Haikou and DDG-169 Wuhan and the Weishanhu supply ship - are among the most sophisticated in the Chinese navy, all entering service this decade, the Xinhua news agency said.

China's willingness to send ships so far from home is the latest example of the growing power and confidence of the country's navy.

In recent years, the military has been stocking up on warships, planes, missiles and other weapons — a beef-up that has worried its neighbors.

The US and Australia have both expressed concern about China's military build-up and its lack of transparency. Kevin Rudd, Australia's Prime Minister, warned recently that Asia was in the grip of an arms race.

Denny Roy, a senior fellow at the East-West Center in Hawaii, said while the move was a positive sign that China was willing to use its fire-power for constructive purposes, it raised unsettling questions over the country's military buildup.

"The Chinese deployment gets at a question the US and other governments have been asking: 'Why the big Chinese military buildup when no country threatens China?' Or more bluntly, 'Why do the Chinese need a blue-water navy when the US Navy already polices the world's oceans?' he asked.

China has said the mission's purpose was to protect Chinese ships and crews that have come under attack from pirates.

The vessels would also be willing to share intelligence and conduct humanitarian rescue operations with other countries involved in the anti-piracy efforts, Senior Colonel. Huang Xueping, spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, said.

The two Chinese destroyers — the Haikou and Wuhan — will carry special forces, two helicopters and traditional weapons such as missiles and cannons. Colonel Huang did not say how long the mission will last, but a Communist Party newspaper has said the ships would be away about three months.

Pirates have made an estimated $30 million hijacking ships for ransom this year, seizing more than 40 vessels off Somalia's 1,880-mile coastline.

On Thursday, a German military helicopter rescued an Egyptian ship from pirates who shot and injured a crew member while trying to board the vessel off the Somali coast, said Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center.

So, now I have a Netbook

Yep, got it for Christmas. Very nice. It's white, which would not have been my first pick, but I'll just "Skin it" and that will help protect the glossy finish. It weighs about 2.2 pounds and that's very nice. I'm going out for a while today and am taking it with me. I'll do a video review of it later once I've had time to really try it out.

Intermission

LEMON JELLY Spacewalk from Mario Cavalli on Vimeo.

Netbooks

Last night, I'm over at my brother's house for Christmas and he pulls out two netbooks that he's been playing with. Now, for those that don't know, a Netbook is like a notebook, just smaller and with no optical drive (ie, you're not going to be putting a CD or DVD in it). I had the opportunity to sit around with both of them for a while and check my email, start up Microsoft Office, You Tube a video and they both worked very well. It really made me think, how often DO I use my optical drive? Almost never. I could really get used to using something like this. They are VERY light (a little over two pounds) and as small as a spiral notebook. Very cool.

Hanging at Cafe Prada

I've been hanging out a bit over at Cafe Prada. I was there for a couple hours this past Monday using their Wifi and having a Latte. It has big windows and is well lit. It's comfortable and the coffee was pretty darn good as well. It's at the corner of 4th street and Broad street.
They have an interesting music selection that they stream over the internet. It's from an Italian radio station. Here is a link to it-

http://www.r101.it/player/webradiononstop.php?adv=no

Christmas Parade Winston Salem 2008

 

A Day away from Work

Well, I'm taking a day off tomorrow. Kind of an early birthday celebration for me. I'm planning on getting an early start to the day. Getting a haircut, do a little shopping and meeting a friend for lunch. After that, I need to get home and write up an essay for class (yes, I'm taking an online course).
Friday is my actual birthday, but I have to work during the day. I'm thinking of going to see the Bo Stevens at the Garage that evening. We'll see how it goes.

Slowly Moving Forward

Yes, I'm slowly getting thru the holidays. This Friday is my birthday, so that will soon be over. Then it's the whole Christmas thing to get by. I'm done shopping for others, though I do need to get myself a couple pants and maybe a shirt. I did happen by the Christmas parade in Downtown Winston Salem on Saturday. Looked like there was a big turn out for it. Got a couple photos of Santa. I'll upload them later.

Follow me, my Subjects!

Well, sort of....anyway, there is a little click on thingy that you can, err...click on, to follow my insane ramblings, should you so choose. Yes, you can become one of my "subjects" (I AM "King of America", after all...). Just jump down to the bottom of the page and join in.

A Busy Month

Well, here we are again. It's December and I'm busy as all get out. I'm ready for it to be over. I'm ready for spring already. Give me lots of sunlight and mid 70s all year long.