Category: Holidays

In the news from Guam, an alleged Bank of Guam credit card skimmer from Italy, a rather suave-looking, if confused, fellow going by the name of Nicola Marinelli was told that he’s considered a flight risk and would not be released on a $10,000 bond.

https://pacificnewscenter.com/alleged-atm-skimmer-seeks-release-to-go-back-home-to-italy/

Marinelli’s legal counsel, Earl Espiritu, in opposition, requested for his release on personal recognizance as he is innocent until proven guilty. Espiritu further noted that the offense is non-violent and that he is no danger to the community at this time.

“According to the declaration, Mr. Marinelli made admissions to the police; that his sole purpose to be on Guam was to commit crimes,” the AG’s Office, however, argued.

Well, at least he was honest about his intentions, wasn’t he? In my view, he’d be much better off consoling lonely, middle-aged divorcées or widows, letting them have the benefit of his wunnafulla company at the finest restaurants everywhere, as well as buying him just the right kind of clothing to bolster his image.

He has definitely missed his calling.

Meanwhile, in the Marshall Islands, this June article from Wall Street Journal describes the problem with running an economy on a strictly cash basis (on the island of Ebeye), and the laborious process of getting money transferred to a relative still living on Ebeye.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/unbanked-marshall-islands-gets-further-cut-off-from-the-worlds-money-1529665201

Since Islanders don’t have access to the military-only Bank of America branch on Kwajalein, the people who live on these tiny atolls are somewhat impaired, at the very least. And yes, you have to have a US Passport to go visit there, because the Marshalls are an independent Republic.

It seems to me that if they’d view their tiny atoll as a tourist attraction, their economy might perk up a bit. Not criticising at all, but they do need someone who can see that kind of potential in their tiny and rather remote island group. Where they are located, with little to no light pollution from cities, seems to be a perfect place for solar and lunar eclipse viewing, as well as a great place to see meteor showers and do some dark skies photography. There are also the lagoons, which probably harbor a lot of stuff left from WWII, in addition to the fish and other sea critters.

While you can’t visit the Wake Island atoll if you’re a civilian tourist, it’s still ours, sitting out there 2143 miles west of Hawaii and acting as a refueling stopover for big military planes. Wilkes Island is a national bird sanctuary. The lagoons would probably be great for snorkelers and SCUBA people, but as the 15^th AF Wing says, ‘Sorry, no tourists’.  http://www.15wing.af.mil/UNITS/Det-1-Wake-Island/

It would probably be a great place view eclipses, both solar and lunar. Maybe some day, they’ll loosen up a little.

However, if you’re really interested in doing tourist stuff in Micronesia and the Pacific, there is plenty of stuff to do on Guam and Saipan, including a ‘boonie stomp’, to some of their really beautiful natural waterworks.  http://www.micronesiatour.com/events?page=2

In addition, between now and Christmas, there are plenty of scheduled things to do to keep any tourist busy with hiking, running, biking and –athlon events, never mind the food and drink facilities.  http://www.micronesiatour.com/events?page=1

If you do go there, send us pictures and wear something besides a pink bathrobe.

All is still quiet on the Western Front. Let’s hope it stays that way.  That’s all for now.

Today we celebrate the birthday of John Moses Browning, and his Gospel. Sit you down and harken.

1 In the beginning was the 1911, and the 1911 was THE pistol, and it was good. And behold the Lord said, “Thou shalt not muck with my disciple John’s design for it is good and it workith. For John made the 1911, and lo all of his weapons, from the designs which I, the Lord, gave him upon the mountain.”

2 “And shouldst thou muck with it, and hang all manner of foul implements upon it, and profane its internal parts, thou shalt surely have malfunctions, and in the midst of battle thou shalt surely come to harm.”

3 And as the ages passed men in their ignorance and arrogance didst forget the word of the Lord and began to profane the 1911. The tribe of the gamesman did place recoil spring guides and extended slide releases upon the 1911 and their metal smiths didst tighten the tolerances and alter parts to their liking, their clearness of mind being clouded by lust.

4 Their artisans did hang all manner of foul implements upon the 1911 and did so alter it that it became impractical to purchase. For lo, the artisans didst charge a great tax upon the purchasers of the 1911 so that the lowly field worker could not afford one. And the profaning of the internal parts didst render it unworkable when the dust of the land fell upon it, and these profaners didst try and fit more rounds of ammunition into the magazines than the holy number of seven, appointed for the .45.

5 And lo, they didst install adjustable sights, which are an abomination unto the Lord. For they doth break and lose their zero when thou dost need true aim. And those who have done so will be slain in great numbers by their enemies in the great battle.

6 And it came to pass that the Lord didst see the abomination wrought by man and didst cause, as he had warned, fearful malfunctions to come upon the abominations and upon the artisans who thought they could do no wrong.

7 Seeing the malfunctions and the confusion of men, the lord of the underworld did see an opportunity to further ensnare man and didst bring forth pistols made of plastic, whose form was such that they looked and felt like a brick, yet the eyes of man being clouded, they were consumed by the plastic pistol and did buy vast quantities of them.

8 And being a deceitful spirit, the lord of the underworld did make these plastic pistols, filled with tiny springs and parts that were easily lostc, and they were unmenable to the artisans of earth so they were unable to muck much with the design, and lo these pistols did appear to function.

9 And the evil one also brought forth pistols in which the trigger didst both cock and fire them and which require a “dingus” to make them appear safe.

10 But man being stupid did not understand these new pistols and didst proceed to shoot themselves with the plastic pistol and with the trigger cocking pistols for lo their manual of arms required great intelligence which man had long since forsaken. Yet man continue to gloat over these new pistols blaming evil forces for the negligent discharges which they themselves had committed.

11 And when man had been totally ensnared with the plastic pistol, the lord of the underworld didst cause a plague of the terrible Ka-Boom to descend upon man and the plastic pistols delivered their retribution upon men. And there was a great wailing and gnashing of teeth in the land.

12 Then seeing that the eyes of man were slowly being opened and that man was truly sorrowful for his sinful misdeeds, the Lord did send his messengers in the form of artisans who did hear and obey the teachings of the prophet and who didst restore the profaned 1911s to their proper configuration, and lo, to the amazement of men they didst begin to work as the Lord had intended.

13 And the men of the land didst drive out the charlatans and profaners from the land, and there was joy and peace in the land, except for the evil sprits which tried occasionally to prey on the men and women of the land and who were sent to the place of eternal damnation b by the followers of John.

Now go ye forth and sin no more.
Amen.

Thanks to Friar Frog

You play the violin? Cool. I play the cannon. Happy 4th, TAH’ers!