We wish you the Best of Everything in the coming New Year! Good Health, Happiness, Good Fortune and Prosperity for You in 2017!
SATURDAY NIGHT! DECEMBER 31st, 2016 – NEW YEAR’S EVE!
ARE YOU READY FREDDY?
LET’S CELEBRATE! LET’S PARTY!
GET DOWN, GET FUNKY! ROCK AND ROLL!
Happy New Year!
Some Past Memories (and pics) of New Year’s Eve:
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Champagne: a sparkling wine produced from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France following rules that demand secondary fermentation of the wine in the bottle to create carbonation, specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from Champagne and specific pressing regimes unique to the region. The term Champagne is used as a generic term for sparkling wine, but in many countries it’s illegal to label any wine Champagne unless it comes from the Champagne region and is produced under the special rules of the Champagne winemaking community (under the auspices of the Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne – CIVC).
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017!
Sunday, January 1st, 2017 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Monday, January 2nd, 2017 – New Year’s Day (Observed) Federal Holiday
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses! – Beautiful Pasadena, California
“In New York, people are buried in the snow.
Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear.
Let’s hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise.” ~Professor Charles F. Holder, 1890
The 128th Annual Tournament of Roses Rose Parade 2017
The parade has never been held on Sunday. Local tradition has it that “the Tournament has a deal with G-d; we’ll never hold the parade on a Sunday, and He’ll never let it rain on the Rose Parade.” According to the Tournament of Roses Association this “Never on Sunday” policy was instituted in 1893 in order “to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches and thus interfering with worship services.” The Rose Bowl Game and other bowl games usually held on January 1st are also never held on Sunday to avoid competing with the NFL.
The 128th Tournament of Roses Rose Parade “Echoes of Success”
A US Air Force B-2 “Spirit Flyover” from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri!
44 floats, 19 equestrian units with ~400 horses, and 22 marching bands!
And these beautiful restored cars will be used in the 2017 Rose Parade to drive the Grand Marshals, Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Inductees and special guests down Colorado Blvd:
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A BLAST FROM THE PAST!
Valley Hunt Club – Tournament of Roses – January 2nd, 1893.
Members of Pasadena’s Valley Hunt Club first staged the Rose Parade on January 1, 1890. Watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators on the parade route down Colorado Blvd, it is broadcast on multiple television networks in the United States and seen by millions more on television worldwide in more than 100 international territories and countries! It is produced by the nonprofit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association established in 1895. The Valley Hunt Club still enters a flower-decorated carriage in the parade.
Colorado Street (now Boulevard) near Fair Oaks Ave 1890. Carlton Hotel is center-right
1890 Colorado Street (later Boulevard) looking east from Fair Oaks. San Gabriel Valley Bank on right (S/E corner). A streetlight hangs over the middle of the intersection.
NOTE: Colorado Street was renamed Boulevard through Old Town Pasadena from Arroyo Parkway to Orange Grove Boulevard in 1958.
Rose Parade – Colorado Street (later Boulevard) – Pasadena, California 1925
The Italian Renaissance-style mansion of William Wrigley Jr. (of Wrigley’s chewing gum) was offered to the city of Pasadena after Mrs. Wrigley’s death in 1958, under the condition that the home would be the Rose Parade’s permanent headquarters. Tournament House is now the name of the home office where the organization is headquartered.
Tournament House – Pasadena, California
The 2017 Tournament of Roses Grand Marshals
Greg Louganis, Allyson Felix and Janet Evans
The 99th Rose Queen and the 2017 Royal Court
Miracle-Gro will have 4 former Rose Queens on their float in the 2017 Rose Parade!
The 103rd Rose Bowl! (2pm on ESPN)
The Rose Bowl football game was added in 1902 to help fund the cost of staging the parade. Originally titled the “Tournament East-West football game,” it is considered the first Rose Bowl. The next game wasn’t played until 1916 and they have been played every year since then. The Rose Bowl Stadium was built for the 1923 game.
University of Southern California Trojans
vs. Penn State University Nittany Lions
Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California
UPDATED JANUARY 6, 2017: USC won the game 52-49, in a see-saw battle, with the winning field goal coming at the very end of the fourth quarter!
NOTE (if you’re going to the game):
NOTE: NEW LAWS IN CALIFORNIA!
Even though it’s already illegal to hold a phone and talk or text while driving, Starting January 1, 2017 motorists cannot hold their phone for any reason! Phones must be mounted on the windshield or dashboard and “hands-free” functions (one-touch) will still be allowed as long as conditions are safe for use.
Senate Bill No. 880 & Proposition 63 = Stricter Gun Control Laws in California! The new laws include expansion of the assault weapons ban, background checks for bullet buyers at the point of sale, adds new felony charges for stealing firearms, broadens a ban on large capacity magazines (over ten rounds) and requires all felons to surrender their guns effective January 1, 2017.
California approved Proposition 64 to legalize “recreational” adult use of marijuana! Even though there is still Federal Prohibition and marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 Drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency, as of November 9, 2016, the State of California made it legal for any adult 21 years or older to:
• Possess, transport, obtain or give away to other adults 21 or older no more than one ounce of marijuana or 8 grams of concentrated cannabis.
• Cultivate up to six plants per residence and possess the marijuana produced by these plants. All plants and harvest in excess of one ounce must be kept in a locked space not in public view at one’s residence. Local governments may still forbid cultivation outdoors, but must allow it inside a private residence or accessory structure that is “fully enclosed and secure.”
• Medical marijuana patients keep their existing rights under Prop 215 to possess and cultivate as much as they need for personal medical use so long as they have a doctor’s recommendation, regardless of the Prop 64 limits for adult users. Beware though that local governments may still restrict cultivation via nuisance ordinances (except for the six indoor plant minimum allowed for personal use).
• Retail sales for adult use will not begin until licensed stores are in operation after Jan 1, 2018. In the meantime, Prop 215 patients with a doctor’s recommendation can continue to purchase at medical collectives and dispensaries.
• Tax Tip for 215 Patients: Patients who have a state medical marijuana ID card will be exempt from the state sales tax immediately, according to the State Board of Equalization. If you spend more than $100 per month on medicine, it should pay you to get a state ID card. State ID cards are available from county health departments; under Prop 64 the card fees are capped at $100 ($50 for Medi-Cal patients).
Prior offenders: If you have been convicted for a marijuana felony or other offense that has been downgraded by Prop 64, you may petition the court to have your record changed to what it would be if Prop 64 had been in effect!
And in 2017, salons and barber shops will legally be allowed to serve complimentary alcohol! The measure legalizes a practice already commonplace at many salons.
Baby New Year 2017
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Thinking everyone could use a little humor right about now.
Here’s a funny from the late Great Comedian Mitch Hedberg RIP – “Club Sandwich”:
“I order the club sandwich all the time, but I’m not even a member, man…
I don’t know how I get away with it. How’d it start anyway?
I like my sandwiches with three pieces of bread.
So do I!
Well let’s form a club then.
Alright, but we need more stipulations.
Yes we do; instead of cutting the sandwich once, let’s cut it again.
Yes, four triangles, and we will position them into a circle.
In the middle we will dump chips. Or potato salad.
Okay. I got a question for ya, how do you feel about frilly toothpicks?
I’m for ’em!
Well this club is formed; spread the word on menus nationwide.
[ I like my sandwiches with alfalfa sprouts.
Well then you’re not in the f*ckin’ club!” ]
Join the Club Club!
We joined the Club Club!
Late Lunch delivered from The Nook Restaurant in Encino on Tuesday Afternoon!
On the Menu: Turkey & Bacon Club Sandwich (no tomato or mayonnaise, with yellow mustard, and we also took off the lettuce) on toasted garlic sourdough bread with salted and seasoned fries, a dill pickle and an iced espresso. Yes, frilly toothpicks included.
Turkey & Bacon Club Sandwich w/Seasoned Fries from The Nook Restaurant in Encino
The Club Sandwich first appeared in 1894 at the famous Saratoga Club-House (originally called Morrissey’s Club House) an exclusive gentlemen only gambling house in upstate Saratoga Springs, New York where the potato chips was created.
The oldest recipe for the club sandwich was published in the Good Housekeeping Everyday Cook Book, by Isabel Gordon Curtis in 1903
The 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis helped popularized the club sandwich with four of the restaurants including a version on their menus.
The Nook Restaurant – 17316 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316 (CVS Shopping Center) 818-385-1271 www.breakfastatthenook.com NOTE: Open for breakfast and lunch Only!
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*for the Feast of St. Stephen and to celebrate Boxing Day* Makes about 30 Small Cakes
“Saint Stephen with a rose In and out of the garden he goes Country garland in the wind and the rain Wherever he goes the people all complain”
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Have ingredients at about 75 degrees.
Sift: 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
Sift before measuring: 1/3 cup cake flour and Resift 3 times!
1 whole egg
2 egg yolks
Beat until thick and lemon colored
2 egg whites
Whip until stiff, but not dry
Add and Fold the sifted sugar gradually into the whipped egg whites.
Beat the mixture until it thickens again.
Add and Fold in the egg yolk mixture and:
Add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Add and Fold in the sifted cake flour.
Shape the dough into oblongs with a paper tube
Place the dough on ungreased paper on a baking sheet;
or pour into greased ladyfinger molds.
Bake about 12 minutes at 375 degrees.
Remove the baking sheet from oven.
Immediately slide the parchment paper (with the ladyfingers) onto a wire rack.
Let cool for just a minute and remove them from the paper using a flat spatula or knife.
Cool completely on wire rack. (If they cool before removing them, they may stick and are hard to remove without breaking)
Ladyfingers are best fresh on the day they are made. To freeze, place in a plastic bag between layers of wax or parchment paper and store frozen for up to one month.
Ladyfingers are long, thin sponge cakes shaped like a large finger. Also known as Boudoir biscuits, sponge biscuits, sponge fingers, Naples biscuits, Savoy biscuits and biscuits la cuiller. They can be served with desserts like ice creams, custards and coffees, and they are used as a component in other desserts. Ladyfingers can be either soft and cakey or dry and crispy, but they always have a sponge-like texture. Their texture makes them a perfect choice for soaking up flavors, which is why they are frequently used in other desserts. Ladyfingers are usually plain with a neutral taste, but can be flavored with any extract, a bit of citrus zest, cocoa or spice to give them a flavor that stands out.
Tiramisu made with Ladyfingers
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“Stephen prosper in his time Well he may and he may decline Did it matter? does it now? Stephen would answer if he only knew how”
St. Stephen’s Day (Lá Fhéile Stiofáin) or the Day of the Wren (Lá an Dreoilín),
commemorates the life of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr who was stoned to death. The second day of Christmas is also called Boxing Day, Wren Day or Constitution Day.
St. Stephen’s Feast Day (Il giorno di Santo Stefano) is celebrated as a public holiday in Italy, the United Kingdom, most of Europe and Canada on December 26.
Traditionally in the United Kingdom, Boxing Day was a holiday when employers gave money, food, tools, cloth, clothing or other valuable goods to their employees. In modern times, Boxing Day is a bank holiday and a day for sporting events and the start of post-Christmas sales. Some schools, businesses and organization are closed for the entire week between Christmas and New Years Day.
St. Wenceslaus was a Bohemian prince born in 903 AD and killed in 938 AD. He is the patron Saint of Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) and his Feast is on September 28. The Christmas carol “Good King Wenceslaus” uses an old medieval melody about springtime, “Tempus adest florid” and mentions the Feast of St. Stephen:
“Good King Wenceslaus looked out on the Feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.”
St. Stephen was the first Deacon of the Christian church. A Deacon is supposed to care for the poor and St. Stephen’s Day is a day of charity for giving food, money and other items to servants, sevice workers, and the needy. St. Stephen is also the patron of stone masons, people with headaches and horses.
St. Stephen was Stoned To Death
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“Saint Stephen” performed by the Grateful Dead
written by Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and Robert Hunter
originally released on the 1969 studio album “Aoxomoxoa” Saint Stephen/Not Fade Away/Saint Stephen/Morning Dew
Cornell University, Barton Hall, Ithaca, NY on 5/8/77 >
A recording of the Grateful Dead at Barton Hall, Cornell University in Ithaca, New York on 5/8/77 was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2012!
“Did he doubt or did he try? Answers aplenty in the bye and bye Talk about your plenty, talk about your ills One man gathers what another man spills”
“Well way up north where the air gets cold/ There’s a tale about Christmas/That you’ve all been told/ And a real famous cat all dressed up in red/ And he spends all year workin’ out on his sled” ~The Beach Boys “Little Saint Nick”
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
HAPPY HANNUKAH & MERRY CHRISTMAS!
HAPPY HANNUKAH & MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Let’s begin our musical journey through the 2016 holiday by getting “Old School”:
Get Down, Get Funky Christmas! Run DMC “Christmas in Hollis” 1987 with animation from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” >
“It’s Christmas time in Hollis Queens/Mom’s cooking chicken and collard greens/ Rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese/And Santa put gifts under Christmas trees/ Decorate the house with lights at night/Snow’s on the ground, snow white so bright/ In the fireplace is the yule log/Beneath the mistletoe as we drink egg nog”
How about “Christmas Rappin'” with Kurtis Blow from 1979?! >
“Bout a red-suited dude with a friendly attitude And a sleigh full of goodies for the people on the block Got a long white beard, maybe looks kind a weird And if you ever see him, he could give you quite a shock”
Then sample a couple happy numbers from (recommended) Christmas films:
Do some “Rubberneckin'” by Elvis Presley
From “Fred Clause” with Vince Vaughn >
And then here’s the ultimate Christmas Cool:
Frank, Dean & Sammy! (with a cameo from Bing)
Ho Ho Ho! “Don’t Be A Do Badder” reprise
From “Robin and The Seven Hoods” >
and Frank & Dean sing “Marshmallow World” for a TV Christmas Special in 1967 >
And just to make sure it’s a very “White Christmas”:
A Christmas Classic! “Jingle Bell Rock” From “The Lawrence Welk Show” with Bob Ralston, his wife and kids (and maybe just a little rock guitar) >
Jingle Your Bells with Earl Scruggs RIP and the Bluegrass Allstars! > (Produced and directed by Jon Grimson for Gibson Guitar Corp. This historic session was recorded with 2 cameras and 2 takes. Earl Scruggs with sons Randy and Gary, Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs and Phil Leadbetter play “Jingle Bells” on the strings)
USAF BAND 2016 Holiday “flashmob” at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington DC > (Since 2013 the USAF Band has created a holiday video with a “flashmob”)
And Santa Claus Comes Tonight! (a repeat from our 2015 Holiday Playlist) “Here Comes Santa Claus” by Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy
From “The Cowboy and the Indians” 1949 >
Have a California Christmas with the Beach Boys! “Little Saint Nick” from “Shindig” 1964 >
A CHRISTMAS TRADITION (We really miss David Letterman & Paul Schaffer) Darlene Love “Christmas Baby Please Come Home” from “The Late Show” >
“And to all a good night!” >
“The Merry Xmas Song” by Pink Floyd 1969
Here comes Santa in his sleigh/Those silver bells they sound so gay/
His shiny sleigh is heaped with toys/To give to all good girls and boys
With dolls and gollywogs and clockwork trains
Trams, tin soldiers and little model planes
Going to fill your stocking so long as you’ve been good
And I’m sure that you have because you know you should
Middle eight!
“Have I got to sing that?”
“Yes!”
“No you don’t sing, you just say it.”
“Okay.”
“All right?”
“Right.”
“One, two, three…”
Cheerful face is wreathed in smiles/Can see him coming for miles and miles/
As he passes by he’ll catch your ear/ With “Merry Christmas guys and a Happy New Year!”
“Man!”
“Shout that as a cheery Christmas greeting, Alan.”
“Yeah, shout that one out, right?”
Turkey and sausages and Christmas pud/”Have another helping John!”/
Oh, I don’t think I could/Christmas parcels under the tree/
None for you and six for me!
“The Merry Xmas Song” was written for a one-off performance on BBC Radio in 1969.
AND FOR ALL MY ABSENT FRIENDS AND FAMILY
(and my little girls Nina and Bessie of blessed memory): “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd >
Merry What Have You…. The Dude Abides.
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Well, the weather outside is frightful for a lot of people.
Here in Los Angeles it’s really delightful! We are having our West Coast Winter again.
Flights Cancelled! Baggage Claim at Denver International Airport
People just have to travel for the holidays. You must know that traveling during the Winter Holidays is a crazy thing to subject yourself to… bad traffic, long lines, weather delays, irritated crowds and overworked staff are guaranteed to be part of the experience. We always advise you plan ahead, use a travel agent and buy travel insurance, especially if you’re flying or cruising during the holiday season.
Out here in California it’s cool and clear with blue skies and sunshine while most of the nation is suffering Arctic cold and blizzard conditions. We had a rainstorm or two come through last week, and it’s definitely “sweater weather” in Southern California with some nighttime temperatures getting into the 40s & 50s! We’ll just say “Sorry” for all you folks shoveling mountains of snow, driving in dangerous conditions, or just freezing your asses off. Stay warm and safe!
Happy Holidays! Yosemite Valley – First Snow of the Season!
We are “home for the holidays” again this year. White Christmas? Green Christmas? Here in Los Angeles you can decide. There was snow on the Grapevine (the top of the 5 freeway north where it crests on the way to Bakersfield) during the storms last week. There’s snow and skiing/snowboarding in the nearby San Gabriel mountains, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear; or you can have cocktails at the beach or picnic in the park….
or both on the same day.
And currently, as we write this part of the Blog, it is 71 degrees at 2:30pm on Tuesday, December 20 and there’s a puppy asleep in my lap and another asleep in the playpen next to me. They are such sweet little girls! (and at 5pm today in Chicago it’s only 28 degrees)
Puppy Laptime Naptime!
HAPPY FESTIVUS! December 23rd – “the festival for the rest of us”
A family tradition of “Seinfeld” writer Dan O’Keefe, Festivus entered popular culture in 1997 in the episode “The Strike” The holiday celebration includes a Festivus dinner, an unadorned aluminum Festivus pole, the “Airing of Grievances”, “Feats of Strength” and easily explainable events witnessed as “Festivus Miracles!”
Happy Festivus! “We Shall Begin With The Airing of Greivances!”
“I’ve got a lot of problems with you people, and now you’re going to hear about it!”
The English word festive derives from Latin “festivus” an adjective meaning “excellent, jovial and/or lively” which in turn derives from festus “joyous; holiday, feast day”.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS! December 24 & 25
Happy birthday Jesus! December 25 was the date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar. The prominence of Christmas Day celebration increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned Emperor on Christmas Day in the year 800 and then William I (the Conqueror) of England was crowned on Christmas Day 1066. In Colonial America, the Pilgrims of New England shared the Protestant’s (Puritan) disapproval of Christmas, and in 1620, they spent their first Christmas Day in the New World working to demonstrate their complete contempt for the holiday. Christmas observance was outlawed in Boston in 1659 by the Puritans and the ban wasn’t revoked until 1681. George Washington crossed the Delaware and attacked hungover Hessian (German) mercenaries during the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776, the day after Christmas. The holiday being much more popular in Germany than in America at the time.
Happy Holidays! The Citadel Outlets in Commerce,California 2016
The practice of special decorations at Christmas began in the 15th century: in London it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all the parish churches to be “decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green.” Holly was seen as protection against pagans and witches: its thorns and red berries represent the Crown of Thorns and the blood Jesus shed.
Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas 2014
The traditional Christmas colors are red, green, and gold. Red for the blood of Jesus shed at his crucifixion, green for eternal life and the evergreen tree, which does not lose its leaves in the winter, and gold for royalty is associated with the three gifts of the Magi.
Kevin Brown RIP as Charles Dickens at the Great Dickens Fair in San Francisco
In 1843, Charles Dickens wrote the novel “A Christmas Carol” credited with reviving the spirit of Christmas, seasonal merriment and emphasizing family, goodwill, compassion and redemption. The term Scrooge became a synonym for miser, and “Bah! Humbug!” a statement dismissive of the festive spirit. Also in England in 1843, the concept of sending greetings cards at Christmas was created and the first commercial Christmas card was produced by Sir Henry Cole.
The first commercially produced Christmas card made by Henry Cole in 1843
The Christmas tree was introduced in the early 19th century in England. In 1832, the future Queen Victoria wrote about having a Christmas tree hung with lights, ornaments and surrounded with presents. An image of the British royal family with their Christmas tree at Windsor Castle created a sensation when it was published in the Illustrated London News in 1848. A modified version of this image was published in the United States in 1850 and by the 1870s putting up a Christmas tree had become common in America.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2016 Arrives in NYC!
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Victoria & Albert’s Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 2016
Have a Psychedelic Christmas Tree!
The Christmas tree is considered by some as “Christianization” of pagan tree worship tradition and ritual of the Winter Solstice. The English language phrase “Christmas tree” was first recorded in 1835. Other traditional decorations include garlands, mistletoe & holly, poinsettia, bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, snowmen and angels.
Where’s Waldo? Mele Kalikimaka!
A number of figures are associated with Christmas and the giving of gifts. Among these are Father Christmas aka Santa Claus from the Dutch Sinterklaas for Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle; Père Noël, Saint Basil, the Weihnachtsmann, the Christkind, Joulupukki, Babbo Natale and Ded Moroz. The Scandinavian tomte is sometimes depicted as a gnome. Of course, the best known of these figures today is red-dressed Santa Claus.
The exchange of gifts is the modern commercial Christmas celebration, making it the most profitable time of year for retailers and businesses throughout the world. Gift giving is based in the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, the Christian tradition associated with St. Nicholas and the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh which were given to the baby Jesus by the three wise men.
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Monday’s Holiday Item: Vintage Currier & Ives Frosted Glasses (set of 8 with blue & white country winter motif)
Tuesday’s Holiday Item: Buzz Lightyear and Woody Christmas Tree Ornaments (Disney 1996, not my kids)
Thursday’s Holiday Item: Bendable Santa and a Happy Xmas Peanut M&M
Mele Kalikimaka! Wishing you a Happy Christmas!
Christmas Day is the least active day of the year for business and commerce in most Western nations. Retail, commercial and institutional businesses are closed for the holiday and almost all industries cease activity (more than any other day of the year).
HAPPY HANNUKAH! December 24-31
Hannukah is the Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt (167-165 BC) against the Seleucid Empire. Also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication it is celebrated for eight nights beginning on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar (late November to December on the Gregorian calendar).
Hanukkah became more widely celebrated in America in the 1970s, when Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson called for public awareness and observance of the festival and encouraged the lighting of public menorahs. And for secular Jews it became an alternative to Christmas celebrations, a celebration of religious freedom and a symbol of Jewish identity.
Happy Hannukah! Light the Menorah!
The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of the nine-branched Menorah(also called a Chanukiah/Hanukiah). The extra candle is called a shamash (Hebrew for attendant) and is given a distinct location usually above the rest. Light the shamash candle first and then use it to light the others. Three blessings are recited when lighting the candles: On the first night recite all three blessings and on all subsequent nights recite only the first two.
The tradition of lighting one additional candle on each night of the eight night holiday commemorates the miracle declared by Jewish sages: According to the Talmud, unadulterated and undefiled pure olive oil with the seal of the kohen gadol (high priest) was needed for the eternal flame in the Temple, which was required to burn throughout the night every night. One flask of oil was found, only enough oil to burn for one day, yet it burned for eight, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply.
Jelly Donuts (Sufganiyot)
Traditionally, fried foods, potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly doughnuts (sufganiyot) are eaten to commemorate the importance of oil during the celebration of Hanukkah, gifts are given each night and children are gifted with cash money called Gelt (Yiddish for money). Giving Hannukah Gelt dates back to the East European custom of children gifting their teachers money at this time of year as a token of gratitude.
Friday’s Holiday Item: Dreidels and Hannukah Gelt ($)
Dreidel: a small four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side, a gambling game played with a dreidel, especially at Hanukkah. The dreidel is a Jewish variant on the teetotum, a gambling toy found in many European cultures. Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet: נ (Nun), ג (Gimel), ה (He), ש (Shin), which together form the acronym for “נס גדול היה שם” (Nes Gadol Hayah Sham – “a great miracle happened there”) Nun stands for the Yiddish word nisht (“nothing”), He stands for halb (“half”), Gimel for gants (“all”), and Shin for shtel ayn (“put in”)
Hannukah! Eight Crazy Nights!
In the United States and Israel it is common to give and/or exchange presents with friends and family. In addition, many families encourage giving tzedakah (charity to those less fortunate) during Hannukah.
In 1951, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion gave Harry Truman a Hanukkah Menorah. In 1979, Jimmy Carter held the first public Hanukkah candle-lighting of the National Menorah on the White House lawn. In 1989, George H.W. Bush displayed a menorah in the White House. In 1993, Bill Clinton invited a group of schoolchildren to the Oval Office for a small ceremony. In 2001, George W. Bush held an official Hanukkah reception at the White House, along with the candle-lighting ceremony, and it has become an annual tradition attended by the United States’ Jewish leaders. In 2008, George Bush linked the occasion to the 1951 gift by using that menorah for the ceremony, with a grandson of Ben-Gurion and a grandson of Truman lighting the candles.
Created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate family, culture and heritage, the name Kwanzaa comes from a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits” and is modeled after the harvest celebrations of Africa. The colors of Kwanzaa reflect the Pan-African movement and people of African descent worldwide: Black for people of color, red for blood that unites people of African ancestry, and green for Africa. 7 Principles and 7 Primary Symbols emphasize a unique set of values and ideals during the 7 days of Kwanzaa which is spelled with 7 letters. The first US postage stamp to commemorate Kwanzaa was issued in 1997. There have been 5 more designs released since.
AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017! December 31st – January 1st
San Francisco Civic Auditorium – New Year’s Eve 1984-85
AULD LANG SYNE
First recorded in 1939: Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians performed it every New Year’s Eve for decades until his death in 1977. His version is played immediately following the dropping of the ball in Times Square every year.
Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?
CHORUS: For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup! and surely I’ll buy mine! And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne. CHORUS We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne. CHORUS We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne. CHORUS And there’s a hand my trusty friend! And give me a hand o’ thine! And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne. CHORUS
“Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song traditionally used to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. (Hogmanay, the Scots word for the last day of the year is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year).
Happy New Year 2017! Pour the Champagne! Don’t Drink and Drive!
Champagne: a sparkling wine produced from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France following rules that demand secondary fermentation of the wine in the bottle to create carbonation, specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from Champagne and specific pressing regimes unique to the region. The term Champagne is used as a generic term for sparkling wine, but in many countries it’s illegal to label any wine Champagne unless it comes from the Champagne region and is produced under the special rules of the Champagne winemaking community (under the auspices of the Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne – CIVC).
Happy New Year!
Me at the beginning of 2016 versus me at the end of 2016:
beginning of 2016
end of 2016
“The Dude Abides”
To all my Friends and Followers,
The end of 2016 is a welcome relief. It has not been an easy year.
We are still struggling with the tragic loss of our precious little girls in August,
and now we have the new beautiful little girls in our life to love and train.
We are angry, anxious and depressed about the outcome of the 2016 election.
We are worried about the current condition and future direction of our country.
This year was also full of lots of fun, entertainment and good times.
(Read our past Blogs and visit our facebook and Twitter pages to see the fun!)
We hope to expand and increase our “fun tolerance level” in the coming new year. There’s a secret plan ahead for JoshWillTravel in 2017, so if you haven’t yet, be sure to “LIKE”, Follow, and stay connected with us.
We wish you and yours a Happy Winter Solstice, a Happy Festivus,
a Happy Christmas-Hannukah-Kwanzaa and a very Happy New Year!
Goodbye 2016, and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!
What does the FUTURE hold for us in the year 2017?
Donald J. Trump – Baby New Year – New York City
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The earliest Latin Christmas hymns appear in 4th-century Rome. Christmas Carols in English first appear in 1426 written by John Awdlay, a Shropshire chaplain, who lists twenty-five “Caroles of Cristemas” probably sung by groups of wassailers going house to house. The songs were originally communal folk songs sung during harvest celebrations as well as Christmas. Carols like “Personent hodie”, “Good King Wenceslas” and “The Holly and the Ivy” date back to the Middle Ages. “Adeste Fideles” (O Come all ye faithful) appears in its current form in the mid-18th century, although the words may have originated in the 13th century. Secular Christmas songs emerged in the late 18th century: “Deck the Halls” dates from 1784 and “Jingle Bells” was copyrighted in 1857.
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
~ Buddy the Elf
Buddy:
[thinking Miles is an elf]
Did you have to borrow a reindeer to get down here?
Miles Finch:
Hey, jackweed, I get more action in a week than you’ve had in your entire life. I’ve got houses in L.A., Paris and Vail. In each one, a 70 inch plasma screen. So I suggest you wipe that stupid smile off your face before I come over there and SMACK it off! You feeling strong, my friend? Call me elf one more time.
Buddy:
[after a pause]
He’s an angry elf.
[Miles promptly attacks him]
Hollywood film studios release their big movies during the holiday season always including new Christmas films, big budget “blockbuster” fantasy movies and megastar powered dramas for consideration for the Academy Awards. And YES, “Die Hard” and “Lethal Weapon” are Christmas films.
Clarence:
Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives.
When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?
“It’s A Wonderful Life” 1946
produced & directed by Frank Capra,
based on the short story “The Greatest Gift”
“Teacher says,
Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day That’s the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night…
Mele Kalikimaka!
Happy Memories!
A toast to absent friends and family,
and a toast to the blessed memory of everyone who left us in 2016!
E. Caitlin Phillips RIP
“Another Year Gone! Say Buh-Bye 2016… A New Year Ahead!”
WE WISH YOU & EVERYONE YOU KNOW,
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
JoshWillTravel PO Box 18376, Encino, CA 91416 joshwilltravel@yahoo.com
“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from.” ~ T. S. Eliot
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Sunday’s Holiday Item: 2016 Tournament of Roses – Rose Parade Drum Head
NOTE: The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl football game will be held this year on Monday, January 2, 2017, the New Year’s Day federal holiday!
Just around the corner from the Karate Kid Mural on Ventura Boulevard (at Texhoma Avenue) in Encino there’s the Thai ‘N’ I Cafe, a “hole-in-the-wall” restaurant that serves really great Siamese BBQ and Thai food.
There’s metered street parking on Ventura Blvd from 8am-8pm Monday through Saturday (FREE on Sundays) and a small parking lot in the rear of the restaurant accessed through a small driveway off the boulevard. Enter through the front door into a small foyer and dining room. It’s a straight shot to the Host Desk and cash register located at the back of the dining room. And there’s a large clean kitchen that parallels the dining room space so you can watch the food cook from Ventura Blvd through the front window.
CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY!
Thai ‘N’ I Dining Room
Thai ‘N’ I Host Desk
Thai ‘N’ I Kitchen
The food is tasty, delicious and full of flavor! They have great sauces! There’s an extensive menu, with lots of fun choices and specialty dishes. The service is excellent and there are usually people dining inside. There are not a lot of tables and not a lot of space, and we live pretty close, so we always get our food “To Go” and takeout. Open for Lunch and Dinner, they also have delivery service in a limited area in Encino and do catering for parties and events.
Buddhist Art and Shrine On The Wall at Thai ‘N’ I Cafe
On The Menu: 1/2 BBQ Chicken Combo with pad Thai and mee grob noodles, Chicken Satay with peanut sauce and small cucumber salad
Thai Food “To Go” From Thai ‘N’ I Cafe in Encino
Plated Dinner at Home (no sauces yet)
Chicken Satay Combo with Pad Thai and Mee Grob Noodles
NOTE: This is our “go to” place for Thai food in the neighborhood. We’ve tried Lum Ka Naad at Ventura and White Oak twice (read our previous Blog) and it was NOT GOOD both times. It wasn’t even close to the superior food from Thai ‘N’ I. Also, they are favored by the LAPD, and there are often uniformed officers dining on their breaks here.
Thai ‘N’ I Siamese BBQ & Cafe – 17544 Ventura Blvd (east of White Oak) Encino
(818) 783-8424 http://www.thaini.net
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“Rockin’ Good Times!”
starring Stan Davis and The Congregation Produced by Joshua Weisel for Cable Access Television
30 minute Variety Show
Shot LIVE in 1997 at TCI Cable Studio in Sherman Oaks for under $100.
Opening Number “Underwater” followed by the Host’s monologue (standup comedy performed by Stan Davis), 2nd musical number “Lemondrop” and the interview and introductions with the band followed by the closing number “Turn It Out”.
The Congregation “Underwater” performed on “Rockin’ Good Times!”
The Congregation “Lemondrop” with interview and introductions by Stan Davis
The Congregation “Turn It Out” performed on “Rockin’ Good Times!”
NOTE: The program was shot LIVE on tape without any interruption or break. Unfortunately, most of the “technical details” were beyond our control and we were at the mercy of the Cable Access Television crew and their equipment for the video and audio.
SECOND NOTE: Unfortunately, the Host Monologue/Stand Up Comedy portion of the show starring Stan Davis was not uploaded with the musical numbers and interview.
Once upon a time the giant cable companies were mandated to provide facilities and airtime for Public Cable Access. Pro and Con Productions decided to use this avenue to produce and shoot a “Demo” for a 30 minute variety show we called “Rockin’ Good Times!” and hosted by our talented management client at the time Stan Davis. We enlisted The Congregation and their manager, who we had met when we worked at Warner Brothers Records A&R, to be the musical guest.
Studio time and equipment was provided for FREE by TCI Cable in Sherman Oaks (which would later become Time-Warner and now Spectrum) after attending an orientation and training class. The equipment was far from “state of the art” (and so was the crew) but it was free, functioning and able to produce adequate broadcast quality video. Our studio time was also very limited, so we set-up, blocked, shot and struck the show in about two hours without any time for in-studio rehearsal.
We paid for the 3/4″ mastering and VHS videotapes. We also provided refreshments for our cast, crew and very limited audience. Total cost was under $100 for the entire production.
Public access studio time: $0 , two 3/4″ & two 1/2″ videotapes: $48, finding your vids posted on YouTube 14 years later: PRICELESS! (found it online in 2012)
“Rockin’ Good Times!” is currently available for airing on 3/4″ Video Master or VHS video.
Contact me if you would like to view the entire program and/or fund the next episode.
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“Space, The Final Frontier”
Meteor Showers 2017 Schedule & Guide
(ripped and edited, posted on December 13, 2016)
The Ursids meteor shower peaks on Thursday, December 22, and will produce about five to 10 meteors an hour. The meteor shower runs from December 17-25, 2016.
The Phases of the Moon
2017 Meteor Shower Guide
January 3-4 Quadrantids meteor shower will produce 40 shooting stars an hour at its peak. Believed to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, runs annually from January 1-5. Best viewing times are shortly after midnight. Meteors radiate from the constellation Bootes, but visible from anywhere in the sky.
April 22-23 Lyrids meteor shower is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thrasher. Discovered in 1861, the Lyrids is an average meteor shower producing about 20 meteors an hour. It originates from the constellation Lyra, but visible from anywhere in the sky. The crescent moon shouldn’t cause too much of a problem during the shower’s peak. The best viewing time for this shower is after midnight.
May 6-7 Eta Aquarids meteor shower favors the Southern Hemisphere. About 60 shooting stars an hour will be visible there and the Northern Hemisphere could see 30 an hour. The shower runs from April 19-May 28, but peaks on the night of May 6 and morning of May 7. A waxing gibbous moon could block out the most distant meteors but you should still be able to see the brighter ones. Meteors in this shower radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but will be visible anywhere in the sky.
July 28-29 Delta Aquarids meteor shower: Radiating from the constellation Aquarius but visible anywhere from the sky, this meteor shower produces about 20 meteors an hour at its peak. It runs from July 12-August 13. A crescent moon will have set by midnight, leaving dark skies for the early morning show.
Walkin’ On the Moon!
August 12-13 Perseids meteor shower is produced by the comet Swift-Tuttle and it usually produces about 60 meteors per hour. The Perseids are known for producing a large number of blazing bright meteors. The shower runs from July 17-August 24, overlapping some with the Delta Aquarids. It is best seen late at night or in the early morning of the peak dates of August 12-13. There’s a waning gibbous moon that could block out the fainter meteors, but the Perseids are so bright that you should still plan on catching the show. The meteors radiate from the constellation Perseus, but will be visible anywhere in the sky.
October 7 Draconids meteor shower is produced by the dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner. Discovered in 1900, the Draconids radiate from the constellation Draco, but are visible anywhere in the sky. This show produces only about 10 meteors an hour unless “Draco the Dragon breathes fire” (in rare instances Draco can fire off hundreds of meteors in a single hour). The nearly full moon will block all but the brightest meteors, and unlike other meteor showers, the best viewing time is in the early evening. The Draconids shower runs from October 6-10 and peaks on October 7.
October 21-22 Orionids meteor shower runs annually from October 2-November 7 and peaks the nights of October 21 & 22. It produces about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. Produced by dust grains left behind from the ancient comet Halley and it originates from the constellation Orion, but visible anywhere in the sky. A crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies ideal for viewing. The best time to watch is after midnight.
Orion, the Hunter
November 4-5 Taurids meteor shower is long-running from September 7-December 10, and there are two parts: the South Taurids which peak November 4-5 and the North Taurids which peak November 11-12. The North Taurids originate from dust grains left behind by the Asteroid 2004 TG10. The South Taurids are the result of debris from Comet EP Encke. A full moon on November 4 will ruin the show and by November 11-12 viewing conditions will improve. These slow-moving meteors radiate from the constellation Taurus, but are visible anywhere in the sky.
November 17-18 Leonids meteor shower runs annually from November 6-30. It will only produce about 15 meteors an hour at its peak on the night of November 17 and morning of November 18, but every 33 years it has a cyclonic peak that results in hundreds of meteors an hour. The last time this happened was in 2001 so it won’t happen again until 2034. Produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle and discovered in 1865, the meteors radiate from the constellation Leo and are visible anywhere in the sky. There’s a new moon and skies should be dark enough for a good show. The best time to watch is after midnight.
December 13-14 Geminids meteor shower will outshine the Perseids. Running annually from December 7-17, it peaks the night of December 13 and morning of December 14, when it could produce up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour! Produced by debris dust from the 3200 Phaethon asteroid, it was discovered in 1982. A waning crescent moon should allow for an excellent show. The best time to watch is after midnight. The shooting stars radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
December 21-22 Ursids meteor shower is produced by dust grains from the comet Tuttle. Discovered in 1790, this shower runs annually from December 17-25 and peaks on the night of December 21. It’s a minor shower producing about 5-10 shooting stars an hour. The crescent moon will set early leaving dark skies. The best time to watch is just after midnight. Meteors radiating from the constellation Ursa Minor are visible anywhere in the sky.
“Space, The Final Frontier”
“Don’t you know that you are a shooting star And all the world will love you just as long, as long as you are?” ~ Bad Company “Shooting Star”
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UPDATED 12-26-16: 2017 FULL MOONS & OTHER CELESTIAL EVENTS
January 12 Full Moon (the “Wolf Moon”, “Old Moon” or “Moon After Yule”)
February 11 Full Moon (the “Snow Moon” or “Hunger Moon”)
March 12 Full Moon (the “Worm Moon”, “Crow Moon”, “Crust Moon” or “Sap Moon”)
March 20 Spring Equinox
April 11 Full Moon (the “Pink Moon”, “Growing Moon” or “Egg Moon”)
May 10 Full Moon (the “Flower Moon”, “Corn Planting Moon” or “Milk Moon”)
June 9 Full Moon (the “Strawberry Moon”, “Rose Moon” or “Honey Moon”)
June 21 Summer Solstice
July 9 Full Moon (the “Buck Moon”, “Thunder Moon” or “Hay Moon”)
August 7 Full Moon (the “Sturgeon Moon”, “Green Corn Moon” or “Grain Moon”)
Partial Lunar Eclipse (visible in east Africa, central Asia, the Indian Ocean & Australia)
August 21 Total Solar Eclipse First total solar eclipse of the 21st century for the United States, the first visible in the continental US since February 26, 1979 and there won’t be another until 2024! Total eclipse will be visible in parts of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina – rest of the US will see a partial eclipse
September 6 Full Moon (the “Corn Moon” or “Harvest Moon”)
September 22 Autumnal Equinox
October 5 Full Moon (the “Hunter’s Moon”, “Travel Moon” or “Blood Moon”)
November 4 Full Moon (the “Beaver Moon” or “Frosty Moon”)
November 13 Conjunction of Venus & Jupiter
December 3 Full Moon – Supermoon (the “Cold Moon”)
Good China Express “Chinese Fast Food” in North Hollywood
“Chinese Fast Food” in NoHo on a Thursday night!
Hungry for dinner and driving around North Hollywood, the drive-thru line was too long at the In-N-Out Burger as usual, so we decided on Good China Express “Chinese Fast Food”. The restaurant is located in the corner mini-mall, next to a check cashing place, across the street from the Sears at Laurel Canyon and Victory.
Good China Express “Chinese Fast Food” in North Hollywood
We’ve eaten here before, but not in a long time. It’s very clean and has an “A” rating. It’s a Chinese hot table buffet restaurant like Panda Express and they have a nice selection of dishes to choose from. Menu choices are combination plates served with fried rice, chow mien, assorted side items and beverages. Quick and relatively inexpensive, you get a lot of food for the money. We took our food “to go”, put it on a plate and popped it in the microwave to heat it up when we reached our destination, and enjoyed a big, hot and tasty dinner.
Good China Express “Chinese Fast Food” in North Hollywood
On The Menu: “Combo B” Two items: orange chicken, beef with broccoli and all fried rice (no chow mien) to go for $7.00 and a can of club soda to drink.
Good China Express – “Combo B” 2 items with all fried rice (no chow mien)
Good China Express – 12102 1/2 Victory (at Laurel Canyon) in North Hollywood
All photos copyright 2016 JoshWillTravel
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The Battle of Pearl Harbor: a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaii Territory on the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941.
There were also coordinated Japanese attacks on the United States in the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Remember Pearl Harbor!
United States Naval Ships lost or damaged:
Battleships
Arizona (RADM Kidd’s flagship of Battleship Division One): hit by four armor-piercing bombs, exploded; total loss. 1,177 dead.
Oklahoma: hit by five torpedoes, capsized; total loss. 429 dead.
West Virginia: hit by two bombs, seven torpedoes, sunk; returned to service July 1944. 106 dead.
California: hit by two bombs, two torpedoes, sunk; returned to service January 1944. 100 dead.
Nevada: hit by six bombs, one torpedo, beached; returned to service October 1942. 60 dead.
Pennsylvania (ADM Kimmel’s flagship of the United States Pacific Fleet): in drydock with Cassin and Downes, hit by one bomb and debris from USS Cassin; remained in service. 9 dead.
Tennessee: hit by two bombs; returned to service February 1942. 5 dead.
Maryland: hit by two bombs; returned to service February 1942. 4 dead (including floatplane pilot shot down).
Ex-battleship (target/AA training ship)
Utah: hit by two torpedoes, capsized; total loss. 64 dead.
Cruisers
Helena: hit by one torpedo; returned to service January 1942. 20 dead.
Raleigh: hit by one torpedo; returned to service February 1942.
Honolulu: Near miss, light damage; remained in service.
Destroyers
Cassin: in drydock with Downes and Pennsylvania, hit by one bomb, burned; returned to service February 1944.
Downes: in drydock with Cassin and Pennsylvania, caught fire from Cassin, burned; returned to service November 1943.
Shaw: hit by three bombs; returned to service June 1942.
Auxiliaries
Oglala (minelayer): Damaged by torpedo hit on Helena, capsized; returned to service (as engine-repair ship) February 1944.
Vestal (repair ship): hit by two bombs, blast and fire from Arizona, beached; returned to service by August 1942.
Curtiss (seaplane tender): hit by one bomb, one crashed Japanese aircraft; returned to service January 1942. 19 dead.
Pearl Harbor on October 30, 1941, looking southwest
Monday, December 8th, 1941
On December 8th, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the United States Congress declared war on Japan.
“December 7th, 1941, A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”
Within six months, five battleships and two cruisers were patched and sent to shipyards in Pearl Harbor and on the U.S. mainland for extensive repair. USS Oklahoma, was raised, never repaired and capsized while under tow to the mainland in 1947. USS Arizona and the target ship USS Utah were too heavily damaged for salvage and much of their armament and equipment was removed and used aboard other vessels. Today, the two ships remain where they were sunk, with USS Arizona becoming a war memorial.
Throughout World War II, Pearl Harbor was frequently used in American propaganda:
One further consequence of the attack on Pearl Harbor and its aftermath (notably the Niihau Incident) was that more than 110,000 Japanese American residents and citizens on the west coast were relocated to interior internment camps. In Hawaii, where 150000+ Japanese Americans composed over a third of the population, only 1200 to 1800 were interned in high-security camps such as Sand Island at the mouth of Honolulu harbor and Kilauea Military Camp.
Today, the USS Arizona Memorial on the island of Oahu honors the dead. Visitors to the memorial reach it via boats from the naval base at Pearl Harbor. The memorial was designed by Alfred Preis, and has a sagging center but strong and vigorous ends, expressing “initial defeat and ultimate victory” and it commemorates all the lives lost on December 7, 1941 (both American and Japanese).
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
Ceremonies are held annually at Pearl Harbor and although December 7 is known as Pearl Harbor Day, it is not a federal holiday in the United States. The USS Missouri, the last U.S. Navy battleship ever built, where the war ended on September 2, 1945, is now a museum ship moored near the USS Arizona memorial.
USS Missouri (Photo by Justin Brockie Wolcott, Connecticut)
The attack on Pearl Harbor, without a declaration of war and without explicit warning, was judged by the Tokyo Trials to be a war crime.
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vs. Penn State University Nittany Lions
