(Virginia Tech photo) Sometimes, heroes don’t wear uniforms. Sometimes ordinary people find themselves confronted by extraordinary situations, and bravery emerges from deep within. Sometimes that bravery emerges more than once. As a young Jewish man growing up in Romania, Liviu Librescu was confronted first with fascism in WWII, then with communism in the post-war era under Nicolae Ceaucescu. As a scientist, he gave a glimpse of his character when he, “… refused to swear allegiance to the communist government,” according to Laurie Copans of the Associated Press, essentially killing his career. Later, he was forced to resign after the government…
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I was new, my lap was wet, and everyone was laughing at me. Was I having a nightmare? Yes. But I wasn’t sleeping. Was this a scene from a horror movie? Yes. But there was no camera. My first few days on board had been pleasant, like the first few minutes of every scary movie you have ever seen. I enjoyed being invisible and irrelevant. One night, a few days after arriving, I was invited to sit next to the Captain for evening dinner. Nobody wanted a seat next to the Captain. The problem with sitting there, of course, was…
The Royal Navy gets into the music video world. [youtube]8pHsZqqZ2XE[/youtube] This video cracks me up every time I see it. I think it’s the music that makes it. [youtube]GT9RybyqB-Y [/youtube] The Canadians (or maybe it’s the French) shoot an Eryx missile – NOT. [youtube]YYhbHWwWsyg[/youtube] In what’s becoming a real phenomenon, the Dutch in Afghanistan join in the battling Amarillos. (See the video archives for British and American versions.) [youtube]m4eTnN6AW14[/youtube]
Things that make you go, “Doh!” German army drafts four-week-old baby. (Reuters) For those who don’t like flying, you’ll be comforted to know that a Pilot’s potty-mouth grounds Northwest flight. (USA Today) Beijing makes dent in bad English translations. (AFP) Be careful out there! Here are some police blotter stories from News of the Weird: Andre Henry was convicted on 27 criminal counts in Philadelphia in February (e.g., bank robbery, threatening witnesses and police officers), despite his cocky attitude on the witness stand. After the prosecution played back a recording of Henry confessing his crimes to a wire-wearing inmate, Henry…
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Blue Cooler: $35 Sixpack of Beer: $12 Having Navy SEALS ask you for a ride because one of them accidentally popped their boat: Priceless! Caption by: 2Lt William C. Hill
During the early days of OIF, I was listening to CNN describe the battle for Najaf, and literally sat up when I heard the story you’re about to read. Many months later, I found the details of the day in an excellent book, “Banking on Baghdad”, by Edwin Black. Most of what follows comes from that book. Despite what some would have you believe, the world looks to the United States as an example of what a country should be. The United States was, is, and always will be the shining beacon of human dignity that illuminates the path to…
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