Largest Reenlistment Ceremony

I got this in an email, and checked it on snopes...it is true

I’m sure you already know about this. It was shown over and over on TV, right?

OK, so maybe it wasn’t shown over and over, but surely it was shown on TV at
least one time, wasn’t it?
This was the largest re-enlistment ceremony ever
held in military history. The ceremony was held on the 4th of July, 2008 at Al
Faw Palace, Baghdad , Iraq . General David Petraeus officiated. This amazing
story was ignored by the ‘mainstream’ media.
For those who have been in the
Al Faw Palace, you’ll have a better appreciation of the number of people crammed
around the rotunda supporting the re-enlisting soldiers.American men and women
volunteering to stay longer in Iraq, so that when we leave, the new democracy
will have a chance of surviving, is the exact opposite of what the media wants
you to think about Iraq. If only a bomb had killed 5 civilians in a marketplace
- now that’s the kind of news the media is eager to tell you about.
A
pizzeria in Chicago donated 2000 pizzas that were made and shipped to Baghdad ,
and were delivered on the 4th.
The media did report that 2000 pizzas were
sent to Iraq on July 4th… The only part they left out of the report was the
event for which the pizzas were sent.
I can’t help but wonder…
What would
the opinion of Americans be if they weren’t getting such obviously biased
‘news?’

This is a very cool story. However, you won't see it in the news. From the websites and various blogs that did report this, I have already seen liberals blame this on their new talking point "Eight years of George Bush's failed economic policies", saying the troops had no choice but to reenlist because of the unemployment rate and the economy. While of course, this may be true in some cases, they will not recognize the fact that...wait for it...some military members may actually be patriotic and support what we are doing in Iraq and around the world. These are the people that are on the ground, seeing what we are doing there. One of our main missions over there is training and working with the Iraqi Security Forces (both the Iraqi Police and Army). Troops on the ground are getting to know these people very well. They are winning hearts and minds. They hear, from the people, the good we are doing. Military members are fully aware that when they reenilist, it most likely means at least another tour in the Middle East, yet they do it anyway. Oh, lets not even mention the fact that the new GI Bill that was approved, grants about 86, 000 dollars for school (plus some cash for housing and books). That is plenty incentive to get OUT! Yet these patriotic men and women decided to stay in.

Oh, and I could think of no greater Officer to reenlist me than General Petraeus

Murdochs Bath House

As mentioned in another post, Murdoch's Bath House is another one of Galveston's historical buildings now gone, thanks to Ike.

It has gone through many hurricanes, and been rebuilt many times. In fact the one that was just destroyed was not the original, but because TX laws prohibit new piers being built, it did use pilings from some of the older structures.


What it looked like back then



The new Murdoch's (now destroyed)

Murdoch's Bathhouse is one of Galveston's most historic locations. Originally built in the late 1800's, the wood structure was constructed directly on the sand. Without the protection of a Seawall , the 1900 storm destroyed the bathhouse. Although the structure was rebuilt in 1901, the storms of 1909 and 1915 were so violent, that reconstruction was required after each.

Bathhouses such as Murdoch's, which were located on the shore, rented bathing suits and provided showers for the Island visitors. When Murdoch's reopened in 1910, it had 542 rooms, 251 for women and 291 for men. The cost at the time to rent the bathroom services were .25c.

In 1910, Mr. William J. Guyette Sr. opened Guyette Gift Shop inside Murdoch's. He knew that with so many visitors coming to Galveston Island, a shop that offered these visitors souvenirs, shells and trinkets, would be a great idea.

That same year, Gaido's Seafood restaurant was also opened inside Murdoch's Bathhouse. Both establishments are still thriving today and are considered Galveston institutions.

Mr. Guyette's son, William J. Guyette Jr. , took over operations of the gift shop after serving five years in the U.S. Army during World War II. With Mr. Guyette Sr. living just across the street at the Moody House, the 2nd generation would continue the daily operations of Guyette Gift Shop.

In 1961, Hurricane Carla destroyed the bath house yet again. Reconstruction this time replaced the grander bathhouse with the two oblong wood structures, built several steps above the seawall and carried out over the Gulf of Mexico on wood pilings.

In 1974, Mr. William J. Guyesste Jr.'s son-in-law, James W. Little, took over operations of Guyette Gift Shops. Although Mr. Guyette still remained active in the shops, Mr. James Little, the 3rd generation, had now begun to take charge.

In 1983, Hurricane Alicia hit Galveston Island. This storm required the pier to have minor repairs.

In 1992, Mr. James Little's son-in-law, Patrick Schoenvogel, moved to Galveston Island to begin his role in the gift shops.

In 2005, the family connected the existing piers with a breezeway and porch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Since the State of Texas, will not allow anymore piers to be built, it stands on some of the original piling that once held Murdoch's Bathhouse.

http://www.galveston.com/murdochsbathhouse/

Diocese of Texas Damage Report

My old diocese (Episcopal Diocese of Texas) has published a damage report. I have a strong connection to a few of the places mentioned. Trinity Galveston is my old school as well as youth group, Camp Allen was a place I spent most of my summers and various other weekends, and my dad used to work at Episcopal High School, Houston.

I was saddened to hear that Trinity Galveston suffered water damage as well as damage to its Tiffany stained glass window over the alter. From the video I saw, about 1/3 of the window was gone.



Trinity after the 1900 Storm


Trinity in 1918 on Armistice Day
The window over the alter

Assessing damage, caring for Episcopalians in Texas
Wimberly said in his September 15 video update that diocesan officials and Church Insurance representatives will develop a "triage list" to guide efforts to rehabilitate congregational facilities. The bishops are also trying to contact clergy and he appealed to any who had not been called, but who were viewing the YouTube report, to contact one of the diocese's bishops.

The outpouring of aid, especially from the northern part of the diocese, has been "very humbling," Wimberly reported. "Many a coastal Episopalian found a church, found shelter, found friends -- people to surround them with their love and care," he said.

Winberly ended his seven-and-a-half minute video with prayers from the Book of Common Prayer and his blessing.

Ike shattered windows in Houston's high-rise JPMorgan Chase Tower, sending glass shards and debris into the yard of the diocesan center, two blocks from the tower. In a September 14 video message, Wimberly reported that the offices had sustained only minor leaks.

"The diocesan yard out here in the front is strewn with pieces of [JPMorgan Chase's] blinds, paper probably from their desks, a lot of glass from the windows that have been blown out," he said, as police helicopters flew overhead.

The diocesan offices will re-open September 16, and diocesan Treasurer Bob Biehl will meet with representatives of Church Insurance as they begin assessing damage to church buildings.

Episcopal High School in Houston had no damage but will be closed all week. The school's website said the facility might have power by September 21.

Damage in Galveston, a low-lying community on the coast, was extensive and evacuees were told they would not be able to return for at least five days.

Trinity Church (about eight blocks from the Galveston Bay) took on water and had a hole punched in a Tiffany window above the altar, according to the diocese. Pictures of Grace Episcopal Church in Galveston on television news looked as if there might be rising water in the nave, the diocese said.

Trees were blown down at the Camp Allen conference center outside Houston, which is housing a number of nursing home patients evacuated due to the storm, including some from St. James' House, Baytown. Many first responders are also staging at Camp Allen.

In southeast Texas, coastal communities including Bridge City and Orangefield were badly flooded. "Information from Port Arthur, Groves, Nederland and Port Neches says that the electricity, phone lines, water and sewer are either down or compromised," wrote the Rev. Cliff Rucker of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Port Neches in an e-mail to the diocesan center. Rucker, his wife Judith and their three cats had evacuated to his parents' home in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Wimberly, and suffragans Dena Harrison and Rayford High and co-adjutor elect Andrew Doyle will not attend the House of Bishops' meeting in Salt Lake City Sept. 16-19 in order to monitor the situation in the diocese.

"We have heard from many of our neighboring bishops who have offered help and for this we give thanks … Please continue your prayers for those of us across the diocese as we together are going to come through this and be stronger and better for it," wrote Wimberly in an e-mail message.

Louisiana gets 'significant flooding'
Nell Bolton, head of the Diocese of Louisiana's Office of Disaster Response, told ENS September 15 that the diocese was "mobilizing in response" to "significant flooding" in areas all around New Orleans.

She called Ike a "really strange storm" that began to cause flooding east of New Orleans around Slidell on September 11. The wind blew for three days and the "water just kept coming up and coming up," she said. Flooding caused by Hurricane Gustav had not yet subsided, Bolton said, thus adding pushing Ike's surge levels higher.

"People are reeling" from Ike, she said, in part because they had little time to catch their breath after Gustav hit the area September 1. For instance, many people had just gotten their homes tarped over only to have Ike blow that material away.

Terrebonne Parish, the civil jurisdiction which includes St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Houma and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in the Bayou du Large area, was swamped by Ike's storm surge. The parish government reported September 14 that approximately 15,000 structures had been flooded. At least 100 people had been rescued.

Bolton and another person tried to reach St. Andrew's in the Bayou du Large area on September 14 but could not get through due to flooding. An ODR official plans to head to the area September 16 with basic supplies, including water and bleach, Bolton said. Deacons took food to areas of Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes September 15.

The diocese is attempting to help people with basic needs at the moment and will make plans about aiding in housing rehabilitation once the water recedes, Bolton said.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_100670_ENG_HTM.htm

I saw the video footage on KTRK.com, I tried to find it again, but no luck.

West End/Moody Gardens area

Check out this video of a flyover of the west end of Galveston. You can see Moody Gardens in the picture (the pyramids). If you know the area, you would know that to the west of that (the left in the video) is the airport. Well in the video it looks like the bay...until you see the runway down in the water. That part of the island is actually now part of Galveston Bay, I do not see how they will get the water out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7u6Ns0L5_A

RIP Balinese Room

Unfortunatly, one of the victims of Ike was the historic Balinese Room. It was one of the piers off of the Seawall. It once stood with 3 other piers (The Mermaid giftshop, Murdochs Bathhouse, and Hooters Pier), which were all three very old. These have all been destroyed. I hear the 61st Street Pier and Galveston Fishing Pier are gone as well. The Flagship hotel has been heavily damaged, the driving ramps up to the pier are gone.

Click to make larger

Growing up, the Balinese Room was always a mystery. It had been closed for years. I always heard the stories of what went on there. We thought there might be treasure in the walls! I actually got to go inside a few years ago (roughly 2005). It was just about to reopen, we just walked in and looked around. Pretty cool place.

All those piers added alot to Galveston, they will be missed.

Way back in post-WWII Texas, one nightclub stood above the rest. It offered the best entertainers, the hottest crowds, and the best illegal gambling in the state. It was the infamous Balinese Room on Galveston island, the swankiest spot on the Gulf Coast.
The Balinese was the jewel in the crown of Sam and Rosario Maceo’s Galveston-based empire. The Maceo brothers were Italian immigrant barbers turned bootleggers, who ended up as a gambling club owners. Their holdings on Galveston Island were immense, and their influence helped Galveston weather the depression far better than most other cities across the nation.
The Maceo empire was the dominant force on Galveston Island during this period. It included the Turf Athletic Club, often referred to as the "Weekend Bank of Galveston". The TAC would cash checks and loan money for its patrons.
The Balinese started its storied history in 1923 as the Chop Suey, at 21st and Seawall. It was closed nine years later for a gambling violation. Four years after that, it reopened as an oriental restaurant and night club, called the Sui Jen. The Sui Jen was a successful enterprise for Maceo, but as with the modern restaurant business, it's often time for a change. Maceo had a new idea for the Sui Jen.
America was in the midst of World War II, and at the time, many Americans were uneasy with all things oriental. Ever the astute businessman, Maceo remodeled the Sui Jen in a South Seas motif, and christened it the Balinese Room in 1942.
In its heyday, The Balinese played host to high rollers from all over the country, including local legends Glenn McCarthy, Diamond Jim West, and Howard Hughes. The showroom featured headliners such as Frank Sinatra, Sophie Tucker, Burns and Allen, Bob Hope, and Jack Benny. Long before Las Vegas attracted the big names to the desert, Maceo’s Balinese Room brought ‘em to Galveston.
For many years, the Balinese resisted attempts to shut down its illegal activities. According to one former employee, the Balinese was raided on 64 consecutive nights without a single bust.
Its defense was ingenious. The casino was at the far end of the pier at 2107 Seawall, about 600 feet from the entrance on shore. When the Texas Rangers would raid the place, a buzzer sounded in the gaming room, and chips, cards, roulette wheels, and other gambling devices were hidden in the walk-in safe, or in special compartments in the walls. The gaming tables would be set with tablecloths, china, and silver. The band would strike up “The Eyes of Texas”, and patriotic patrons would stand up and start singing, and the crowd would slow the progress of the rangers rushing to catch gamblers in the act.

Local law enforcement looked the other way. Frank Biaggne, sheriff of Galveston County from 1933 until 1957, was asked why he didn’t raid the notorious place. He replied that it was a private club, and he was not a member.
The Balinese Room’s luck ran out on May 30, 1957, when new sheriff Paul Hopkins made a raid. He demanded entrance, and two detectives (disguised as gamblers) who were already in the casino stopped employees from stashing the evidence. The charges stuck, and the equipment was confiscated and destroyed.
The Balinese Room was finally shut down, and sat empty. In 1961, Hurricane Carla tore through Galveston, and damaged the former hotspot. Many of the piers that supported the structure had been washed away, and over the subsequent decades, the building decayed further. No one would have been surprised to wake up and find that the Gulf had swallowed up the old structure after a heavy storm.
Fast forward to 2002. After several false starts, someone has finally resurrected the famous Galveston landmark. Houston attorney Scott Arnold is the man behind the new Balinese Room, and he’s off to a great start.
As you drive up, you notice that the damaged piers have been replaced, the 600-foot long building has been repaired and repainted, and the atmosphere of neglect is gone.Entering the building takes you into the new gift shop, featuring a collection of new Balinese Room merchandise, and some interesting artifacts, such as the original chalkboard ledgers that were used to tally the odds for baseball betting. The faded names of the old Texas League teams could still be read.
Further back along the pier, you’ll pass new businesses along the long, narrow hallway. A hair salon, an internet café, a metaphysical shop (featuring psychics, crystals, and swords) and a massage studio (with a unique glass floor that looks down upon the waves under the building) lead you back to the entrance to the Balinese Room proper. These small shops represent a departure from the original Balinese.
Finally, one approaches the entrance to the first big room. There we met Scott Arnold, attorney and real estate speculator. Scott showed us around, clearly proud of what he’d accomplished. And for good reason. The work that’s been done to the once-decrepit Balinese Room is nothing short of spectacular.

On our right, brunch was being served in the showroom. A buffet was set up in what was previously the hat check room, and the folks were lined up to sample the offerings. But we didn’t come for the food. Scott led us into the showroom, and we were stunned. It appears to have been meticulously restored. The bamboo and reed wall coverings, now kitshy and retro, lined the room in their South Seas 1940’s splendor.
A good-sized crowd was enjoying the brunch buffet at tables spread around the room. The Sunday afternoon crowd was a bit more casually attired than the high rollers who frequented the Balinese in the past, but they were still having a wonderful time. Many assembled here today were wearing their Mardi Gras beads; it was the Sunday before Fat Tuesday, and the night before was the pinnacle of Galveston’s annual Mardi Gras celebration.
The old South Seas murals looked brand new; according to Arnold, they only required a light dusting after all the years of neglect. The palm trees, resplendent with black neon, fish netting, and an assortment of glass globes and sea artifacts (all original) looked just as they must have before the Rangers shut down the Balinese.
An older couple took to the dance floor and moved gracefully to the music. They were smiling and having a wonderful time. I had to wonder if their parents had done the same thing fifty years ago.
I asked Scott Arnold if I could see the old casino room. He smiled, and led me to a door at the back of the showroom. He unlocked it, and we entered the once forbidden space. “This room required the most work” Arnold noted. And the work was still going on. New flooring had been put down, and a fresh coat of paint lined the walls. Arnold showed me where the gambling machines used to sit. Around the room were panoramic windows looking out into the gulf, and over to the Flagship Hotel on its nearby pier.
Behind me, I noticed some beautiful acrylic drawings. Arnold told me that they were original, and some of the oldest works by Grace John. Many investors would be tempted to sell off this memorabilia, but Arnold plans to keep them right were they are, keeping a watchful eye over the back room.
Scott Arnold has big plans for the Balinese Room. He’s looking for a restaurant tenant, and a nightclub. Unless the laws in Texas change, gambling won’t be returning to the Balinese room, although I get the feeling from many of the folks visiting for brunch that they wouldn’t mind.
We reentered the showroom, and I talked with one of the bartenders; Jose Rey. He told me the story of the legendary Balinese room bartender Santos Cruz, who mixed a new drink for singer Peggy (Margaret) Lee in 1948. He named that drink after the Spanish version of her name: Margarita. You could sense Jose’s pride that he was working in such a historic place.
By the dance floor, the same piano that Duke Ellington used to play was being put to good use by a jazz pianist. She sang and played a selection of jazz and Big Band hits, and her voice filled the showroom with magic. In many settings, the music would have felt retro, almost silly. But here in the Balinese Room, it felt right. I was sorry I’d left my tux at home.
Over the years, I’d often talked with friends about the glitzy history of Galveston, and how the island is a shadow of its storied past. We talked about how amazing it would be to see the notorious Balinese Room brought back to its former glory. And now, thanks to Scott Arnold and his vision, it's happening.
On this Sunday during Mardi Gras, I found myself standing in the storied showroom of the Balinese Room, listening to my father’s music, and loving it. For a moment, I lost myself in the music and if I squinted just right, it was Saturday Night, I was back in the 40’s, at the swankiest joint on the Gulf Coast. Duke was on the keys, Sinatra was singing, and I was tappin' my toe, living the Delicious Life.
-http://www.balineseroom.net/returnofBalinese.htm

Hurricane Ike, Camel Spiders, and Babies

As I sit here in Marine Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, California, I have been glued to the internet, phone, and TV trying to watch Hurricane Ike and the aftermath. It is a sad sight to see the place I grew up in shambles. I was born in Houston, lived there for a while, then moved to La Marque, TX and lived there until 98. La Marque is just across the causeway from Galveston. I did go to school and attended youth group on Galveston though.

I have been watching and reading Houston/Galveston local news (KHOU, KTRK, Galveston Daily News, Fox Houston) as well as the national news networks. It bothers me that there is not alot of coverage of Galveston or the mainland. It is all about Houston and Kemah. The coverage of Galveston I am seeing is limited to the Seawall (mostly in front of the San Louis) and a little of the West End (which was heavily damaged). I can't find alot of info about the downtown area, or East end. I haven't seen any news reports about the mainland areas of Galveston county. From the community forums I have read, many people feel the same way. I have heard some rumors that some are being told it will be at least 30 days till residents can get on the island. Whether this is true or not, no doubt people are not getting the answers they are looking for. They just want to get to their homes and save what they can, before either the looters or the mold gets to it. I understand, however, why the city and FEMA are slow to let people back on. They want to have the support systems in place to support those people (Police, Fire, National Guard, food/water/sewage).

As I speak, Sarah (sister) is in labor. I will be an uncle soon.

Oh, and yes...there are camel spiders out here.