text:
Emperor Hirohito
|Emperor Hirohito
|Japanese name
Hirohito (29 April 1901 – 7 January 1989), known in Japan as the Shōwa emperor, was the 124th emperor of Japan in the traditional count of order of succession, who reigned for 62 years from 25 December 1926, until his death, making his reign, the Shōwa era, the longest of any Japanese Emperor. During his reign, he was the symbolic leader of his nation through prosperity (1926–29), the Great Depression (1929–41), victory and defeat in World War II (1941–45), the American Occupation (1945–50), and the rapid recovery of Japan to become an economic superpower (1950–86). He had significant decision-making power only in 1944-45, and made the decision to surrender in August 1945.
- 1 The emperor's name
- 2 Early Days
- 3 Ascent to Power
- 4 Reign as Emperor
- 5 Accepting the Terms of Surrender
- 6 After the War
- 7 Emperor Shōwa's Death
- 8 Image and memory
- 9 See also
- 10 Additional Reading
- 11 Bibliography
- 12 References
The emperor's name
Outside Japan he is usually referred to by his personal name, Hirohito (裕仁), however, the Japanese have a very different practice. During his life, in accordance with Japanese custom, the living Emperor's personal name is never used. He would have been referred to only as "His Majesty the Emperor" (天皇陛下 Tennō Heika), but the title could be shortened to Heika (陛下 "Your Majesty").
After his death, his definitive posthumous name, Shōwa Tennō (昭和天皇 "Shōwa emperor"), was announced on 31 January 1989. The name coincides with the era of Shōwa (昭和 "Enlightened Peace") which was the name attributed to his reign and is the name by which the Emperor is known within Japan.
Early Days
Prince Hirohito was born in the Aoyama Detached Palace, Tokyo on 29 April 1901, the eldest son of Crown Prince Yoshihito, who was later to become Emperor Taishō. He was the grandson of Emperor Meiji, during whose reign the Meiji Restoration had taken place.
He was raised by Count and Countess Kawamura, in accordance with the Japanese custom that imperial princes should be reared in a normal household unaffected by the elaborate ceremonial of the royal palace. The Kawamuras also were given charge of Prince Chichibu, Hirohito's younger brother and Kawamura treated them as he would his own grandchildren, subjecting them to a careful discipline. When Hirohito was five years old he and Chichibu were returned to the palace, where a kindergarten was arranged. At the age of eight Hirohito was sent to the Gakushuin Peers' School, where emphasis was placed on discipline, frugality, and diligence. There he was initiated into military training. He also proved an excellent pupil, showing a strong early interest in marine biology, as well as geography and history. Upon the death in 1912 of his grandfather, Emperor Mutsuhito, Hirohito became heir-apparent to the throne and was commissioned a second lieutenant in both the army and navy.
In 1915, Kimmochi Saionju, the former prime minister of Japan, tutored him whereupon he attended a special institute for the crown prince (Tôgû-gogakumonsho) until 1921. After his graduation in 1914 from the Peers' School, the Crown Prince's Institute was opened for his higher education, which required seven years; five sons of peers were his classmates. Upon his graduation in 1921 he became the first imperial prince ever to tour Europe, March to September 1921, to see how constitutional monarchy worked in Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. The public discovered Hirohito had surprisingly democratic qualities, an eager intelligence, and a shy, quiet manner (the last partly ascribed to his self-consciousness and myopic eyesight). The crown prince returned from his tour to find his father failing rapidly in health, and in November 1921 Hirohito was entrusted with the affairs of government as prince regent.
On 26 January 1924, Prince Hirohito married Princess Nagako Kuni, a distant cousin, who was to become the future Empress Kōjun. Together, they had seven children:
- Princess Shigeko (9 December 1925 – 23 July 1961)
- Princess Sachiko (10 September 1927 – 8 March 1928)
- Princess Kazuko (30 September 1929 – 28 May 1989)
- Princess Atsuko (born 7 March 1931)
- Crown Prince Akihito (born 23 December 1933)
- Prince Masahito (born 28 November 1935)
- Princess Takako (born 3 March 1939)
Although he was only the fifth child born to the royal couple, as the eldest male, Crown Prince Akihito would succeed Emperor Shōwa to become the current Emperor of Japan since January 7, 1989.
Ascent to Power
Prince Hirohito became heir apparent upon the death of his grandfather, Emperor Meiji, on 30 July 1912. At the same time his father became the 123rd Emperor, Taishō Tennō (大正天皇), thus ushering in the Taishō (大正) era. Prince Hirohito was invested as Crown Prince (Kōtaishi 皇太子) on 2 November 1916. He was appointed as Regent of Japan on 29 November 1921, ruling in place of his father, who was suffering from a debilitating mental illness, as a result of childhood meningitis and rumoured lead poisoning.
Reign as Emperor
On 25 December 1926, Crown Prince Hirohito assumed the throne upon the death of his father. The Taishō era ceased immediately, with the deceased Emperor being posthumously renamed Emperor Taishō several days later. Hirohito was formally enthroned in November 1928, by which time the new Shōwa era (昭和 "Enlightened Peace"), had been proclaimed. This became an increasingly ironic term as the increasing military domination of Japan's government led the country into war, first with China and then with the Western powers.
Since his father had been physically and mentally incompetent, power had drained away from the throne. In 1928 to 1931 the young emperor and his close advisers, Makino Nobuaki, Suzuki Kantaro and Nara Taketsugu, were most preoccupied with reasserting the power and prestige of the throne, and establishing the 'imperial will' as distinct from the policy of the government. Hirohito's removal of support for Tanaka Giichi's cabinet in 1929 was key to its downfall. His forthright opposition to the coup attempted by army officers in the 26 February Incident in 1936 did much to facilitate its suppression. In general his role was more symbolic than powerful, but everything was done in his name and he formally signed off his approvals. During Japan's period of "ultranationalism," 1931-45, Hirohito's constitutional obligations kept him from implementing his peace-oriented ideas in the face of almost total opposition from powerful advisers.
World War II
During the invasion of Manchuria (in 1931) and the war against China (1937–45), Japan took over other countries by force. By the late 1930s, Hirohito moved squarely into the camp of the 'renovationist' group who were tending toward an ever-expanding war in China. However, he opposed going to war with the United States in 1941, not out of pacifist tendencies but because he had a realistic concern about a probable Japanese defeat. He pressed for talks with Washington and welcomed the neutrality agreement with Moscow in April 1941 as a means of avoiding a recurrence of dangerous border clashes with the Soviet Union. He strongly opposed joining Germany in its war against the Soviets in June 1941, and helped replace the hawkish foreign minister.[1] Yet because his power was so circumscribed by the decision-making structure of the government, and he had no answer to the American oil embargo, by late summer 1941 he became fatalistic about going to war. He had little role in the replacement of Prime Minister Konoe by the war cabinet of General Hideki Tōjō (1884-1948), who demanded war. Hirohito continued to oppose going to war until the last minute, but pressure from his military bureaucracy forced his hand and Tōjō had his way and the attack was made on Pearl Harbor.[2]
The emperor played an increasingly influential role in the war; in eleven major episodes he was deeply involved in supervising the actual conduct of war operations. Hirohito pressured the High Command to order an early attack on the Philippines in 1941-42, including the fortified Bataan peninsula. He secured the deployment of army air power in the Guadalcanal campaign. Following Japan's withdrawal from Guadalcanal he demanded a new offensive in New Guinea, which was duly carried out but failed badly. Unhappy with the navy's conduct of the war, he criticized its withdrawal from the central Solomon Islands and demanded naval battles against the Americans for the losses they had inflicted in the Aleutians. The battles were disasters. Finally, it was at his insistence that plans were drafted for the recapture of Saipan and, later, for an offensive in the battle of Okinawa.[3]
He became publicly visible trying to maintain military and civilian morale as the islands came under heavy air attack in 1944-45 and food shortages mounted. With the Army and Navy bitterly feuding, he settled disputes over the allocation of resources, and helped plan military offenses.[4]
Hirohito's main adviser was Kido Koichi (1889-1977), who as the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal was the manager who controlled the information flow between the emperor and other officials, thereby helping to overthrow the Tōjō cabinet in 1944 and convincing the emperor to sue for peace. In April 1945 he helped bring in an elderly new prime minister Kantarō Suzuki (1868-1948), who was told to hold the armed services in line while peace initiatives were set in motion. Germany surrendered on May 8 and the imperial palace was burned down during an air raid on 25 May, underscoring the urgency, but Hirohito supported a quixotic effort to have the Soviet Union mediate a peace, unaware that it planned to declare war on Japan. The issue of an American guarantee of Hirohito's continuation as emperor prevented the prompt acceptance of the Allies' Potsdam terms, and led to two atomic bombs and the Soviet declaration of war in early August. The extreme national emergency now made it possible for the emperor to intervene effectively on behalf of surrender; he told foreign minister Tōgō that "since we could no longer continue the struggle, now that a weapon of this devastating power was used against us, we should not let slip the opportunity [for peace] by engaging in attempts to gain more favorable conditions." Hirohito unexpectedly spoke out at a deadlocked conference on August 9, saying "the time has come when we must bear the unbearable....[so I] give my sanction to the proposal to accept the Allied Proclamation." The military continued to stall even as their military position in Manchuria collapsed, The emperor lined up more supporters and on August 14 he forced the government to agree to surrender. His radio broadcast on August 15 calling on all Japanese to surrender was immediately accepted by the people and the military (though a few die hards tried and failed to stop the broadcast, and many senior army officers committed suicide.) Hirohito had ended the war, rescued his throne, and saved the lives of millions of Japanese. The "Greater East Asia War," as the Japanese called it, resulted in 1,675,000 Japanese army deaths, 429,000 navy deaths, and more than 300,000 civilian deaths in Japan, not to mention millions of enemy soldiers and civilians killed.[5]
Asada (1998) microscopically reexamines Japan's decision-making process, focusing closely on the days between the Hiroshima bomb and surrender in August 1945. An increasingly powerful "peace party" saw in the bomb the external pressure that could be used as leverage to counter the army leaders who clamored for the decisive homeland battle, and who were preparing civilians to fight invaders with wooden spears. To such leaders as Kido Koichi, Foreign Minister Togo Shigenori, and Navy Minister Yonai Mitsumasa, the bomb was of major help in their efforts to end the war, but the army remained intransigent. Hirohito sided with Togo: Only his "sacred decision" could enable the badly divided government finally to accept the Potsdam Declaration that called for immediate surrender but left the status of the emperor ambiguous. The shock of the atomic bomb enabled military leaders to accept surrender without loss of face; they thought of it as a scientific rather than a military defeat. Asada concludes that the bomb, rather than Soviet entry into the Pacific War, was the decisive and necessary factor in Japan's surrender.[6]
Even though the Emperor was regarded as divine by many Japanese, in reality he had little power. The Japanese constitution allowed the Emperor only to act on the advice of his ministers and chiefs of staff. However, when a group of officers in the Japanese Army staged a military coup against the political leaders in February 1936, the emperor went against the wishes of his senior advisers, ordering them to suppress the rebellion. As a direct result of his action, the ringleaders were later executed.
With national policy being decided by civilian and an increasing number of military officials, he reluctantly supported the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the second Sino-Japanese war in 1937.
Although he attempted to encourage cooperation with Britain and the USA, the increasing belligerence of his ministers, which had resulted in the Cabinet meeting on 4 September 1941, to discuss the objectives of the Imperial GHQ, seemed to wear him down and he gave his grudging approval for their suggestions. The objectives as mentioned included "a free hand to continue with the conquest of China and Southeast Asia", "no increase in US or British military forces in the region", and "cooperation by the West in the acquisition of goods needed by our Empire."
As the obvious preparations for war continued, the then civilian Prime Minister, Fumimaro Konoe, resigned, having found himself increasingly isolated amongst the military hard-liners. The army and the navy recommended Prince Higashikuni, one of the Emperor's uncles, as a replacement. However, the Emperor rejected this, saying after the war that if a member of the Imperial house were Prime Minister at the time Japan went to war, the Imperial house would carry the responsibility and this he did not want.[7]
Instead, he appointed the hard-line General Hideki Tōjō, who was known for his devotion to the imperial institution and asked him to review of what had already been sanctioned by the Imperial conferences. Based on the feedback from Tōjō, Emperor Shōwa gave his reluctant consent to the war, which culminated in the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and the simultaneous invasion of Malaysia.
Despite his lack of enthusiasm over the decision to go to war, he was pleased with the early Japanese military and naval successes that followed and the Emperor frequently appeared in public, dressed in military uniform in order to raise morale.
However, when the promised quick victory over the Allies did not take place and the war machine suffered its first reversals, with the Battle of Midway and the US invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi, Emperor Shōwa became critical of the political leaders, which eventually led to the removal of Tōjō from office on 18 July 1944. After the loss of Okinawa, Emperor Shōwa called on his ministers to seek a negotiated end to the conflict. However, his government refused, claiming that Japan and Germany could still win the war.
By spring 1945, however, Japan's defeat appeared imminent and the Japanese government had become deeply divided between military leaders who favoured continuing the war and civilians who wanted to negotiate for peace. Emperor Shōwa himself favoured peace. Yet it was not until after the atom bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that Emperor Shōwa insisted that Japan surrender.
Accepting the Terms of Surrender
The Emperor's speech to the nation is significant for two reasons. Firstly, it was the first time ever the average Japanese citizen had heard their Emperor speak and secondly, even though he was accepting the terms of surrender, as set out in the Potsdam Declaration, the word "surrender" is never mentioned in his speech.
The full text of the speech, broadcast on 15 August 1945, follows.[8]
| To our good and loyal subjects.
After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in our empire today, we have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.
We have ordered our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China, and the Soviet Union that our empire accepts the provisions of their joint declaration.
To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by our imperial ancestors and which we lay close to the heart.
Indeed, we declared war on America and Britain out of our sincere desire to insure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement.
But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone - the gallant fighting of our military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of out servants of the State and the devoted service of our 100 000 000 people - the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.
Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.
Such being the case, how are we to save the millions of our subjects, nor to atone ourselves before the hallowed spirits of our imperial ancestors? This is the reason why we have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the joint declaration of the powers.
We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to our allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently cooperated with the Empire toward the emancipation of East Asia.
The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met death and all their bereaved families, pains our heart night and day.
The welfare of the wounded and the war sufferers and of those who lost their homes and livelihood is the object of our profound solicitude. The hardships and sufferings to which our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great.
We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that we have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unavoidable and suffering what is un-sufferable. Having been able to save and maintain the structure of the Imperial State, we are always with you, our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity.
Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion that may engender needless complications, of any fraternal contention and strife that may create confusion, lead you astray, and cause you to lose the confidence of the world.
Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith of the imperishableness of its divine land, and mindful of its heavy burden of responsibilities, and the long road before it. Unite your total strength to be devoted to the construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude, nobility of spirit, and work with resolution so that you may enhance the innate glory of the Imperial State and keep pace with the progress of the world.
American Occupation and new status
The State Department in Washington, not General Douglas MacArthur made the decision to retain Hirohito and the imperial institution; the decision evolved by 1944 out of a wartime assumption that the emperor was not personally guilty but was essential for American plans for postwar Japan.[9] Rather than a flash of inspiration from the supreme commander, American policy toward the emperor represented a confluence of motivations that crystallized in the early days of the occupation.[10] MacArthur agreed with the policy and orchestrated dramatic public displays, as well as real changes, that made it clear a new era had arrived and that militarism and emperor worship had ended.[11]
Hirohito moved rapidly to ensure surrender by all army units, and to demobilize his soldiers, a decision that facilitated the American Occupation and demonstrated his willingness to cooperate. The Americans responded by deciding not to control Japan directly (as they controlled Germany), but to keep the Imperial government in place and operate through it. In an interview with American newspapers, Hirohito said that he was not responsible for Pearl Harbor and did not intend a sneak attack, exactly the right message to help rehabilitate his image in the U.S. Hirohito and MacArthur got along well, which was a signal for all their subordinates to follow suite. The Americans did not give orders; they made suggestions which the Japanese quickly accepted.
Hirohito met with MacArthur in a highly publicized visit on September 27, a few days after his arrival as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP). The photograph showed MacArthur to be older, informal and dominant, and Hirohito to be younger, subservient, and very clearly not a god.[12] The Japanese government told newspapers not to publish the humiliating photograph. MacArthur intervened and ended the system of police surveillance and thought control in Japan, allowing for the first time criticism of the emperor. The photograph was published, the government resigned and a new government took over the task of cooperating smoothly with MacArthur's general headquarters, the GHQ. A series of decrees in October, 1945, liberated women, freed the labor unions, democratized education, and broke up the old business monopolies. The military organization was closed down and the Shinto religion was disestablished. Hirohito cooperated with these radical reforms and the transition to a liberalized Japan went smoothly.[13]
The Occupation demanded the emperor make a formal repudiation of the traditional claim that he was an incarnate divinity (arahitogami). On 1 January 1946, he made a formal statement where he explained that the role of the emperor in Japan had changed. He explained that the ties between himself and the Japanese people had always involved "mutual trust and affection." He went on to say, "These ties do not depend upon mere legends and myths. They are not predicated on the false conception that the Emperor is divine and that the Japanese people are superior to other races." [14]
On January 1, 1946, just ten years after his imperial title had been changed to "Dai Nippon Teikoku Tenno," meaning "Imperial Son of Heaven in Mighty Japan," Hirohito reversed course and disclaimed his divinity in a statement to his people. The Japanese saw it as a turning point in their history. American newspapers hailed him as the leader of reform in Japan—a gross exaggeration that worked well for him and GHQ. Hirohito got across to the Japanese people another message as well: that the monarchy had always been compatible with democracy and the current democratiaation of Japanese society marked a continuation of ideals inscribed in the Five Article 'Charter Oath' of the Meiji Restoration.
After the War
After the war, he sought out popularity among the Japanese people, travelling extensively throughout Japan in order to monitor the progress of post-war reconstruction. After 1946, Hirohito played a minor role in decision-making, However his symbolic role was continued and Hirohito moved the imperial closer to the people. In 1958 this change in attitude was reflected in the choice for to be bride for his son, the Crown Prince. the emperor selected Shōda Michiko, the daughter of the former president and chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling Company. This broke a 1,500-year tradition requiring future empresses to be from noble families; Hirohito's wife, the empress Nagako, repeatedly lamented Akihito's marriage as a disgrace to the imperial family, but Hirohito's approval was widely hailed in Japan. In 1962 Hirohito published the first of several books on marine biology, a subject in which he did considerable research. In 1971 Hirohito visited Europe, the first visit abroad by a reigning Japanese emperor, and one that showed Europeans had long memories of wartime atrocities. In 1975 Hirohito paid an official state visit to the United States, where the wartime hatreds had dissipated.
Emperor Shōwa's Death
On 22 September 1987, the emperor was diagnosed as suffering from duodenal cancer. Although he appeared to recover well after surgery, he collapsed a year later, on 19 September 1988, and his health subsequently deteriorated, as he suffered from continuous internal bleeding.
On 7 January 1989, at 07h55, the grand steward of Japan's Imperial Household Agency, Shoichi Fujimori, officially announced the Emperor's death, revealing to a saddened public details about the Emperor's cancer for the first time.
Emperor Shōwa was succeeded by his son, Akihito; his death also bringing to an end the Shōwa era and ushering in the Heisei (平成) era. From January 7 until January 31, the emperor's formal appellation was Taikō Tennō (大行天皇)", meaning "Departed Emperor." As mentioned, his definitive posthumous name, Shōwa Tennō (昭和天皇), was formally released on 31 January 1989, by Toshiki Kaifu, the then Prime Minister.
Emperor Shôwa's state funeral was held On 24 February 1989, and departed with tradition in that it was not performed strictly according to Shinto ritual. It was also the first to be attended by foreign heads of state.
Today, Japanese public opinion is that Emperor Shôwa contributed greatly towards helping Japan to regain her economic and political stability during the post-war years.
Emperor Shōwa rests in the Imperial mausoleum in Hachiōji, alongside Emperor Taishō, his father.
Image and memory
Following longstanding tradition, on his death everyone in Japan immediately stopped using the name Hirohito and referred to him as the Shōwa Emperor, and his reign as the Shōwa Period. Outside Japan, he is still usually known as Hirohito.
Hirohito was violently hated and loathed outside Japan during the war, and was often depicted as a subhuman monster and head of an evil empire.[15] Brands (2006) examines the shift in American public opinion regarding him after the surrender. In June 1945 three out of four Americans wanted him tried as a war criminal; only 7% thought he should be allowed to stay in power. The media attacked anyone thought to be mildly disposed to Hirohito. MacArthur, however, found Hirohito's compliance with the occupation valuable in bringing democratic government to Japan. Hirohito became "humanized" in the American media; stories about his family began to appear, he was photographed in Western dress, and he renounced imperial divinity. News stories out of occupied Japan were censored or slanted to stress reconciliation rather than vengeance, and by June 1946 Americans were accepting the story of Hirohito as a pawn of Japan's military leaders and at the same time were coming to see the Japanese people as willing to accept American political and cultural influences.[16]
Inside Japan following his death discussions of the emperor's image and his role as a symbol of his times focused largely on the issue of his responsibility for World War II according to Finnish historian Olavi K. Fält. One side of his dual image, that of a constitutional monarch, represented the favorable, democratic connotations that had arisen since the war, while the view that he had been responsible for Japan's involvement in the war represented the postwar critical image that he had acquired. The interpretation of these images and of his symbolic significance is complicated still further by the question of what was meant by "responsibility". The Japan Times explained how the foreign media interpreted this predominantly in legal and constitutional terms, while for many Japanese it was mostly an emotional matter that was quite separate from anything that he as a person might actually have done. It was a question of symbolic authority such as is vested in the head of a family, a company, or a nation. The dichotomous nature of the Shōwa emperor's image, as possibly responsible for the course of events that led Japan into the war and at the same time as a symbol of unity, representing peace and democracy, would seem - in the light of the articles in the press - to have been understood as synonymous with the spirit of the times. In this sense he was a symbol of his age: whatever the symbol of the emperor was, the same could be said of the times in which he reigned. Although there was much discussion of his responsibility for the war, one might still ask whether this was really the most serious problem in practice. Was it not more important to resolve the issue of his responsibility as the head of the nation? As the emperor was felt to be a symbol of his age, should he not have automatically borne responsibility for the war in the eyes of the majority of Japanese people, or even served in an essential sense as the symbol of the whole nation's guilt with respect to the war?
See also
Additional Reading
- Asada, Sadao. "The Shock of the Atomic Bomb and Japan's Decision to Surrender: a Reconsideration." Pacific Historical Review 1998 67(4): 477-512. Issn: 0030-8684 in Jstor
- Bix, Herbert P. Hirohito And The Making Of Modern Japan (2000), 816pp, the highly influential standard scholarly biography excerpt and text search
- Bix, Herbert P. "Japan's Delayed Surrender: a Reinterpretation." Diplomatic History 1995 19(2): 197-225. Issn: 0145-2096 Fulltext: Ebsco
- Bix, Herbert P. "Inventing the 'Symbol Monarchy' in Japan, 1945-52," Journal of Japanese Studies, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1995), pp. 319–363 in JSTOR
- Bix, Herbert. "Emperor Hirohito's War." History Today 1991 41(dec): 12-19. Issn: 0018-2753 Fulltext: Ebsco
- Bix, Herbert. "Emperor Hirohito's war," History Today, (Dec 1991), Vol. 41, Issue 12, in Ebsco
- Brands, Hal. "The Emperor's New Clothes: American Views of Hirohito after World War II". Historian 2006 68(1): 1-28. Issn: 0018-2370 Fulltext: Ebsco also online edition
- Brinckmann, Hans, and Ysbrand Rogge. Showa Japan: The Post-War Golden Age and Its Troubled Legacy (2008)
- Butow, Robert J.C. Tojo and the Coming of the War (1961), 584pp
- Butow, Robert J.C. Japan's Decision to Surrender (1967), the standard history
- Dower, John W. Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II (1999), major scholarly study excerpt and text search
- Gluck, Carol, and Stephen R. Graubard, eds. Showa: The Japan of Hirohito. (1992) articles by scholars excerpt and text search
- Kawahara, Toshiaki. Hirohito and His Times: A Japanese Perspective. (1990). 181 pp.
- Kawamura, Noriko. "Emperor Hirohito and Japan's Decision to Go to War with the United States: Reexamined." Diplomatic History 2007 31(1): 51-79. Issn: 0145-2096 Fulltext: Ebsco
- Large, Stephen S. Emperor Hirohito and Showa Japan: A Political Biography (1997), 250pp; highly regarded scholarly biography; says the emperor tried to steer policy in a liberal direction online edition
- Morris-Suzuki, Tessa. Showa: An Inside History of Hirohito's Japan. (1985). 330 pp.
- Ruoff, Kenneth J. The People's Emperor: Democracy and the Japanese Monarchy, 1945-1995. (2001). 331 pp.
- Sheldon, Charles D. "Japanese Aggression and the Emperor, 1931-1941, from Contemporary Diaries." Modern Asian Studies 1976 10(1): 1-40. Issn: 0026-749x in Jstor
- Shibusawa, Naoko. America's Geisha Ally: Reimagining the Japanese Enemy. (2006). 397 pp. scholarly study of the astonishing reversal of hatred in 1945 into friendly admiration by the late 1940s
- Wetzler, Peter. Hirohito and War: Imperial Tradition and Military Decision Making in Prewar Japan. (1998). 294 pp. online edition
- Bix, Herbert. "Emperor Hirohito's War." History Today (Dec. 1991) 41: 12-19. Issn: 0018-2753 Fulltext: Ebsco discusses new Japanese sources that opened after the emperor's death in 1989
- Gordon, David M. "The China-Japan War, 1931-1945," The Journal of Military History 70#1 (January 2006) pp. 137–182, historiographical overview in Project Muse
- Harootunian, Harry. "Hirohito Redux." Critical Asian Studies 2001 33(4): 609-636. Issn: 1467-2715 Fulltext: Ebsco, focused on Bix (2000)
- Large, Stephen S. "Emperor Hirohito and Early Showa Japan." Nipponica 1991 46(3): 349-368. Issn: 0027-0741 in Jstor
Primary sources in English
- Honjo, Shigeru. Emperor Hirohito and His Chief Aide-de-Camp: The Honjo Diary, 1933-36. (1983). 263 pp.
Not recommended
- Bergamini, David. 'Japan's Imperial Conspiracy. (1971) contends that Hirohito led his nation into WW2 and intimidated opponents by conniving in religious frauds, blackmails, and assassinations. This book has very negative reviews from scholars who say Bergamini falsified his evidence. See for the consensus
Japanese books
- Fujiwara Akira, Shōwa Tennō no Jū-go Nen Sensō (Shōwa Emperor's Fifteen-year War), Aoki Shoten, 1991.
- Yamada Akira, Daigensui Shōwa Tennō (Shōwa Emperor as Commander in Chief), Shin-Nihon Shuppansha, 1994.
- ↑ Stephen S. Large, Emperor Hirohito and Showa Japan (1992) p. 103-8.
- ↑ Noriko Kawamura, "Emperor Hirohito and Japan's Decision to Go to War with the United States: Reexamined." Diplomatic History 2007 31(1): 51-79.
- ↑ Herbert Bix, "Emperor Hirohito's war," History Today, (Dec 1991), Vol. 41, Issue 12
- ↑ Herbert P. Bix "Japan's Delayed Surrender: a Reinterpretation." Diplomatic History 1995 19(2): 197-225. in Ebsco
- ↑ Herbert P. Bix, "Japan's Delayed Surrender: a Reinterpretation." Diplomatic History 1995 19(2): 197-225; Stephen S. Large, Emperor Hirohito and Showa Japan (1992) pp. 121-30.
- ↑ Sadao Asada, "The Shock of the Atomic Bomb and Japan's Decision to Surrender: a Reconsideration." Pacific Historical Review 1998 67(4): 477-512. in Jstor
- ↑ Terasaki Hidenari, Shōwa tennô dokuhakuroku, Bungei Shûnjusha, 1991
- ↑ http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/hirohito.htm
- ↑ American planning for the postwar world began in 1939. Joseph Ballantine and George H. Blakeslee, directors of the State Department's Far East unit, were influential planners along with historian Hugh Borton and especially Joseph Grew, who had been the US ambassador in Tokyo for ten years.
- ↑ MacArthur in early 1946 warned Washington that a war crimes indictment of Hirohito "will unquestionably cause a tremendous convulsion among the Japanese people, the repercussions of which cannot be overestimated. He is a symbol which unites all Japanese. Destroy him and the nation will disintegrate." Guerrillas would take to the hills and "a minimum of a million troops would be required . . . for an indefinite number of years" to stop the rebellion. Tōjō was put on trial instead and hung. Quoted in Tetsuya Kataoka, The Price of a Constitution: The Origin of Japan's Postwar Politics (1991) p. 37 online
- ↑ Hal Brands, "Who Saved the Emperor? The Macarthur Myth and U.S. Policy Toward Hirohito and the Japanese Imperial Institution, 1942-1946." Pacific Historical Review 2006 75(2): 271-305. Issn: 0030-8684 Fulltext: Ebsco
- ↑ On the photograph see primary source activities
- ↑ See Herbert P. Bix, "Inventing the 'Symbol Monarchy' in Japan, 1945-52," Journal of Japanese Studies, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Summer, 1995), pp. 319-363 in JSTOR
- ↑ http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWhirohito.htm
- ↑ Kiyoko Takeda, The Dual-Image of the Japanese Emperor (1988) examines British, Australian, Canadian and Chinese images of Hirohito.
- ↑ Hal Brands, "The Emperor's New Clothes: American Views of Hirohito after World War II". Historian 2006 68(1): 1-28.


text:
SCAI created this Privacy Statement to demonstrate our commitment to the privacy of our member and non-member users. This Privacy Statement discloses the privacy practices for this website.
Collection, retention, and use of personal information may occur if member and non-member users interact with the Website, by either registering with the site or participating in one of our services. Member users may be required to provide their name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, member id number, and/or other identifying information. This information may be used to verify status with the membership database and to respond to inquiries and/or requests. Non-member users may be required to provide an email-address, in order for SCAI to respond to inquiries and requests. SCAI may use e-mail addresses provided by users to notify them of upcoming events and news.
Cookies are small pieces of information stored by your browser on your computer, which are used to aid in web navigation. SCAI's Website may use cookies and session cookies. When member users log onto SCAI's Website, an identifier is temporarily created and may be placed in their computer's memory so the member user can access the members-only pages using their e-mail address and password. We may use cookies to understand site usage and to improve the content and offerings on our sites. For example, we may use cookies to personalize your experience at our web pages (e.g., to recognize you by name when you return to our site) or save your password in password-protected areas.A unique number called an IP address identifies each computer on the Internet. Each time a user connects to the Internet, their computer is assigned an IP address. When member and non-member users connect to SCAI's Website, the IP address is stored."Web beacons" or clear .gifs are small pieces of code placed on a web page to monitor the behavior and collect data about the visitors viewing a web page. For example, web beacons can be used to count the users who visit a web page or to deliver a cookie to the browser of a visitor viewing that page. We may use web beacons on this site from time to time for this and other purposes.
SCAI's Website makes public forums and discussion boards available to users. Please remember that any information disclosed in these areas becomes public information and users should exercise caution when deciding to disclose personal information. SCAI cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information transmitted in the public forums. SCAI is not responsible for the accuracy or dissemination of any information within public forums and/or discussion boards. This policy does not apply to content, information, ideas, stories, concepts or inventions that you send to SCAI by email. If you want to keep any content, information, ideas, stories, concepts or inventions private or proprietary, do not send them in an email to SCAI.This website may contain blogs, message boards, chat rooms and other public forums where other users can share information and stories and support one another or where users can post questions. Please understand that any information shared (including private or personal medical information or queries) in a public forum is not private; it is public. We strongly urge you to think carefully before disclosing any private or personal information or queries in a public forum. Any information provided, shared or sent in may be used by others in ways we are unable to control or predict. Please understand that when you voluntarily disclose personal information in any public forum, that information can be collected and used by others and may result in unsolicited messages from other posters or parties.
SCAI's Website contains links to other external websites that do not fall under its domain. SCAI is not responsible for the privacy practices and the content of such external websites.
Although SCAI has taken reasonable and appropriate measures to ensure that your personal information is secure, we cannot guarantee that the nonpublic personal information you provide will not be intercepted by others and decrypted. We are not liable for a breach of security that occurs for reasons outside of our control.
SCAI may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to (1) conform to legal requirements or comply with legal process served on SCAI, (2) protect and defend the rights of property of SCAI, or (3) protect the personal safety of SCAI personnel or members of the public in urgent circumstances.SCAI reserves the right to amend this Privacy Statement at any time for any reason. This Privacy Statement only applies to information collected by SCAI through SCAI's Website.
Learn how SCAI is advancing patient care »

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This is cool!
Before people came from all over the country for Breckenridge's views and ski slopes, they came for the gold and silver embedded in its hills.
The area is spotted with abandoned and resurrected mines that tell the story of the hard lives of some of Summit County's earliest
Among these is the Washington Mine, located on Boreas Pass in the southwestern outskirts of Breckenridge. Meticulously preserved and carefully reconstructed by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance, the mine is nearly a three-dimensional diorama of the town's mining history.
What remains of the mine today was once just the small antechamber of a much bigger operation that extended up from the current site.
But local historians have salvaged and, in some cases, rebuilt a small, cute campus that nevertheless paints a pretty realistic picture.
The 90-minute to two-hour tours of the Washington Mine run twice daily most days of the week.
A great option for families with children — the tour is entertaining, dimensional and, at times, hands on — local historians lead their guests back through the pages of Breckenridge's history, showing and telling the way people lived in and out of the mines more than 100 years ago.
Kids will have an opportunity to explore an underground mine, peer down a mine shaft, meet a tommyknocker, detonate simulation dynamite and pan for gold, exploring the local history with at least four of the five senses.
For grown-ups, there's the tour itself, offering an insightful look into the happenstance and economics that built Breckenridge. Tour guides also cover some of the more popular local legends, with exacting historical accuracy, of course, including that of the discovery of "Tom's Baby," a 13-pound gold nugget.
Complete with an (interpretive) underground mine tunnel, rails for transporting gold, a prospectors cabin and all the mechanics once used to empty the earth of riches, the Washington Mine has been beautifully preserved and reconstructed by the heritage alliance and is well stocked with relics of the mining age.
Located just a few minutes outside of Breckenridge, it makes for a fun and convenient family activity that is a little more unique and interactive than the average in-town museum.


text:
✿ Lever Back earrings with genuine dried flowers.
Inside you'll find Alyssum, ozothamnus, sneezewort, genista, hydrangea and forget me not flowers
* Each circle is 21 mm in diameter (13/16 inches)
* Circle depth 8 mm (5/16 inches)
* Hook size is 16 mm (5/8 inches)
* Earring total length is 38 mm (1 1/2 inches)
✿ Earrings' latch back hooks are rhodium plated with zirconia stones. ✿
✿ Only genuine dried flowers and plants where used in the process of making this piece, as well as all other items in this shop.
✿ This item was made using special Eco resin, which is crystal clear, UV stable, doesn't have any smell to it and is absolutely safe for your health. ✿
✿ Resin is a very strong material and in contrast to glass it can not break! ✿
✿ All items are shipped in a beautiful GIFT BOX ready for gift giving.
✿ Since all my products are handmade, each one is unique and special and there can be small differences with the original photo.
✿ Colors may vary on different computer monitors and in different lighting conditions.
✿ Please read shop policy and resin jewelry care tips before you make a purchase: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NatureOfMagic/policy
- Thank you!
✿ If you have any questions - just contact me. I'm always happy to help! :)
✿ I accept all payment methods, that are provided through Direct Checkout.
✿ Please note, that if you pay with PayPal e-checks your payment is not considered to be received until the check clears.
✿ I ship worldwide via First Class mail from Estonia (European Union).
✿ Every package is sent with a TRACKING NUMBER!
✿ NB! International customers, please note, that all customs fees are your responsibility!
✿ Delivery time BEFORE COVID-19 situation:
To Europe - approximately 3-10 days.
To USA and Canada - approximately 10-20 days.
To Australia - approximately 10-20 days.
✿ NB! Shipping can take longer dew customs or holidays, especially at Christmas time!
✿ All items are shipped in a gift box!
* NOTE! If you buy several items I can combine 2 items in one gift box(not necessarily though). Please leave me a note if you need all the items to be packed separately. Thanks!
Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
✿ If you are not happy please contact me before leaving a feedback so I can get a chance to make it right. I'm only happy when you're happy :o)
✿ If for any reason you are unhappy with the item, just return the item within 14 days of receiving it and in the same (new, not worn) condition and I will make everything to your satisfaction. I do offer a full refund minus shipping costs upon safe return of the item(s).
✿ Customer is responsible for shipping product back and any new shipping and handling cost on the product they want to exchange.
✿ If for any reason, the piece is damaged or broken during the shipping (This seems unlikely, all the pieces come so well packed), please note me explaining what happened and adding me a photo of the damaged product. I'll send you an exchange. Thanks.
* Do not expose the piece to chemicals or alcohol-based products such as perfume, hairspray, household cleaners or nail polish remover.
* Take off the jewelry when swimming and taking a shower or a bath.
* Clean and polish jewelry when necessary with a soft cloth.
* Keep the jewelry away from direct sunlight.
* Store the jewelry in a cool, dry place (preferably, an individual box).
This Privacy Policy describes how and when I collect, use, and share information when you purchase an item from me, contact me, or otherwise use my services through Etsy.com, NatureOfMagic.com or its related sites and services.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to the practices of third parties that I do not own or control, including Etsy or any third party services you access through Etsy. You can reference the Etsy Privacy Policy to learn more about its privacy practices.
* Information I Collect
To fulfill your order, you must provide me with certain information, such as your name, email address, mailing address, payment information, and the details of the product that you're ordering. You may also choose to provide me with additional personal information (for a custom order, for example), if you contact me directly.
* Why I Need Your Information and How I Use It
I rely on a number of legal bases to collect, use, and share your information, including:
• as needed to provide my services, such as when I use your information to fulfill your order, to settle disputes, or to provide customer support;
• when you have provided your affirmative consent, which you may revoke at any time, such as by signing up for my mailing list;
• if necessary to comply with a legal obligation or court order or in connection with a legal claim, such as retaining information about your purchases if required by tax law; and
• as necessary for the purpose of my legitimate interests, if those legitimate interests are not overridden by your rights or interests, such as
1) Providing and improving my services. I use your information to provide the services you requested and in my legitimate interest to improve my services;
and 2) Compliance with the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use. I use your information as necessary to comply with my obligations under the Etsy Seller Policy and Terms of Use.
* Information Sharing and Disclosure
Information about my customers is important to my business. I share your personal information for very limited reasons and in limited circumstances, as follows:
• Etsy. I share information with Etsy as necessary to provide you my services and comply with my obligations under both the Etsy Seller Policy and Etsy Terms of Use.
• Service providers. I engage certain trusted third parties to perform functions and provide services to my shop, such as delivery companies. I will share your personal information with these third parties, but only to the extent necessary to perform these services.
• Business transfers. If I sell or merge my business, I may disclose your information as part of that transaction, only to the extent permitted by law.
• Compliance with laws. I may collect, use, retain, and share your information if I have a good faith belief that it is reasonably necessary to: (a) respond to legal process or to government requests; (b) enforce my agreements, terms and policies; (c) prevent, investigate, and address fraud and other illegal activity, security, or technical issues; or (d) protect the rights, property, and safety of my customers, or others.
* How Long I Store Your Information
I retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to provide you with my services and as described in my Privacy Policy. However, I may also be required to retain this information to comply with my legal and regulatory obligations, to resolve disputes, and to enforce my agreements. I generally keep your data for the following time period: 7 years.
Transfers of Personal Information Outside the EU
I may store and process your information through third-party hosting services in the US and other jurisdictions. As a result, I may transfer your personal information to a jurisdiction with different data protection and government surveillance laws than your jurisdiction. If I am deemed to transfer information about you outside of the EU, I rely on Privacy Shield as the legal basis for the transfer, as Google Cloud is Privacy Shield certified.
* Your Rights
If you reside in certain territories, including the EU, you have a number of rights in relation to your personal information. While some of these rights apply generally, certain rights apply only in certain limited cases. I describe these rights below:
• Access. You may have the right to access and receive a copy of the personal information I hold about you by contacting me using the contact information below.
• Change, restrict, delete. You may also have rights to change, restrict my use of, or delete your personal information. Absent exceptional circumstances (like where I am required to store data for legal reasons) I will generally delete your personal information upon request.
• Object. You can object to (i) my processing of some of your information based on my legitimate interests and (ii) receiving marketing messages from me after providing your express consent to receive them. In such cases, I will delete your personal information unless I have compelling and legitimate grounds to continue using that information or if it is needed for legal reasons.
• Complain. If you reside in the EU and wish to raise a concern about my use of your information (and without prejudice to any other rights you may have), you have the right to do so with your local data protection authority.
* How to Contact Me
For purposes of EU data protection law, ©Nature Of Magic is the data controller of your personal information. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact us at email@example.com.


text:
May 21, 2009 — -- In what may go down as the biggest upset in the show's history, Kris Allen won "American Idol," beating out Adam Lambert, the season-long favorite.
Host Ryan Seacrest said on Wednesday night's finale that nearly 100 million votes were cast for the finalists. The 23-year-old Allen, a student from Conway, Ark., bested the 27-year-old Lambert, a musical theater veteran from San Diego.
It seemed even Allen couldn't believe the outcome. Breathlessly taking the mic after Secrest announced he won, Allen said, "Adam deserves this. I'm sorry."
"Idol's" two-hour finale included performances by the Black Eyed Peas, Cyndi Lauper, Carlos Santana, Rod Stewart and last year's "Idol" winner, David Cook. Lambert performed with Kiss and Allen dueted with Keith Urban.
Before the announcement, the two finalists dueted on "We are the Champions" with the surviving members of Queen.
Tuesday night, Lambert showed off his vocal prowess by making good of Tears for Fears' "Mad World" and Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," while Allen belted out "Ain't No Sunshine" and Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On."
Both contestants also sang a song penned by newbie "Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi, "No Boundaries." Allen performed it again after scoring the "Idol" title tonight.
Hanging over the finale was the overwhelming speculation that Lambert would win it all.
In recent weeks, Lambert emerged as the favorite of the "Idol" judges, guest performers and critics. The usually snarky Simon Cowell came out in full support of Lambert earlier this month, telling Oprah Winfrey that there's no way Lambert won't win because he's fearless, he's unique and "he's got swagger." Paula Abdul called Lambert the Michael Phelps of the current competition.
Last Wednesday, pop star Katy Perry wore a cape bearing his name for her "Idol" performance of "Waking Up in Vegas," the same week Entertainment Weekly gave him a cover.
Did Gokey Fans Go for Allen?
One factor that may have tipped the scales in Allen's favor: Fans of Danny Gokey, who was eliminated from "Idol" last week, putting their votes toward the underdog. Some 88 million votes were cast in that round, with only 1 million votes separating Lambert from Allen, according to host Seacrest. Nearly 100 million votes were cast in the final round.
Playing into Lambert fever was the speculation over whether he's gay and his coy refusal to address that question.
"A lot of people were trying to tear him down based on his personal life, and that maybe helped sway the voters in the other direction," said US Weekly magazine senior editor Ian Drew.
Lambert dodged questions about his lifestyle outside of Los Angeles' Nokia Theater Monday, telling reporters that he doesn't think the competition "has anything to do with your religious background, what color you are, your gender. It doesn't have anything to do with that. It's about music."
Allen echoed his competitor's sentiments — the 23-year-old college student from Arkansas gained support from Christian fans in part because he worked as a worship leader for his hometown church.
"For me, I hope that having the Christian vote doesn't help with anything," he said. "I hope it has to do with your talent and the performance that you give and the package that you have. It's not about religion and all that kind of stuff."
In the end, apparently Allen had the right stuff. In addition to the "Idol" title, he scored a recording contract with 19 Entertainment and a place in pop culture history.
Winners Among the Losers
But being crowned "The American" Idol isn't always worth its weight in platinum.
Former champions Taylor Hicks and Rubin Studdard were dropped from their respective labels after weak album sales.
Studdard was eclipsed by the success of the second season's runner-up, Clay Aiken.
And the fifth season fourth runner-up, Chris Daughtry, had the fastest selling rock album in history when his debut album "Daughtry" was released in 2006.
In Idol's latest class, Drew said there may be a winner among the show's losers.
"There's a million Krises out there in pop music," he said. "Regardless of what happened, Adam will still have a career whether it's be putting out records or, most likely, on Broadway."
Reporting contributed by The Associated Press.


text: HomeAmazing pigment and long wear! Bold, colorful and fully matte finish. Non drying and comfortable to wear!Antique Liquid Matte Lipstick$13.95PriceAdd to CartDirectionsDry lips, scrape off excess lipstick into tube and apply directiy to lips. IngredientsCastor Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Candelilla Wax, Lanolin, Cetyl Acetate, Liquid Paraffin, Ozokerite Wax, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Beeswax, Carnauba Wax, Myristyl Lactate, Lanolin Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Octinoxate, Grapeseed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Aloe Vera Lipoid, Soybean Oil, Phenoxyethanol, BHA May Contain: Mica CI 70019, Iron Oxides CI 77491/CI 77492/CI 7499,Titanium Dioxide CI 77891 **Please Note:Although we have done our best to show accurate color range, actual color of products may vary as we cannot compensate for differences in monitor and color settings. Distributed by On Call Artistry210 Cedar St. #126, Pataskala, OH 43062


text:
In regard to the physical design, a large 3.0" 1.04m-dot touchscreen LCD is featured for intuitive settings control and live view monitoring, and it uses a vari-angle design to permit easier viewing from high and low working angles. Additionally, built-in Wi-Fi with NFC is available for quick and convenient pairing with a smartphone or tablet for wireless image sharing, and Bluetooth is also featured for image sharing to and remote camera control from a mobile device.
- 635322919671
- 18-55mm Lens
- 32GB Memory Card
- Wallet
- Reader


text:
Angels Among Us: Practical Ways to Help Military Families
- Ellie Kay Founder of the Shop, Save and Share Seminars
- 2003 31 Mar
"Got your backpacks?" I shouted above the clamor of five children in the car as they prepared to go to school.
Yes! and Um...
"Um? Did I hear an 'um'?" As "Drill Sergeant Mom," I glared at my seventh-grade boy and said calmly, "Go get it!"
He scrambled out of the car, while the others fought over who got to talk to Dad first when he called later that night from his deployment to Red Flag. And I quietly wondered how "roughing it" in Las Vegas constituted "serving your country." But as my homework cadet reported in from parole, it was time to continue the roll call.
"Permission slips?"
"Water bottles?"
Yes! and Um...
"Um? Did I hear an 'um'?" Once again the drill sergeant cast her steely eyes on the guilty party. This time I zeroed in on my youngest, our first-grade son (aka "Turbo Dude" for his ability to hustle, which of course comes in handy when he's so forgetful!).
"You forgot your shoes again?!" I exclaimed as he squirmed under my laser-beam stare. "And if I hadn't asked you about it, you'd end up at the drop-off zone at school like you did last week--Shoeless Joe Jackson! Now go get them, quickly!"
The little guy scrambled out of the car, grabbed his shoes off the shoe rack in the garage, and "turboed" back into the vehicle at record speed. I fondly observed my "baby" and mentally counted the days until his dad would return home to play checkers with the chubby-cheeked cherub. This was day one, and there would be 29 more days of this particular absence.
With the roll call complete, this temporarily single mom began to back the huge white Suburban out of the garage, when suddenly she heard a sickening scrape of metal on metal, followed by her children's screams:
Mom, STOP!
"Oh, no! No!"
You hit the garage door! It fell off the tracks and landed on the back of the car!
"Oh, no! No!"
I lost it along with the kids. "Who left the garage door partially open?" I asked incredulously. The automatic door lifts it all the way up, and someone had to have purposefully stopped it before it was raised!
Suddenly the whole car became oddly quiet, and then one little voice broke the silence. It was the voice of Sweet Pea, our eight-year-old nearly perfect child.
"Um ... Mama? Papa said that when the weather is hot like this, we need to leave the garage door partly open. Since Papa is gone, I'm doing his job, and I left it partly open." A wave of tears filled his huge hazel eyes and spilled down his cheeks. "Did I do something wrong?"
Letting out a huge sigh and mustering a semblance of control and the kindest reply I could manage, I answered, "Well, Sweet Pea, I know you're being a big helper. But your dad meant the garage should be partially opened from the bottom when we're at home, not partially opened from the top when we're leaving."
Only 29 days to go!
As a veteran wife and mom, I've seen my share of "accidents" at home while Dad was away. Any military spouse will tell you that it seems as soon as the troops deploy, the children get sick, the washer breaks down, or a distracted mom absentmindedly plows through a partially opened garage door. We've purchased two garage doors in the past year. Overhead Custom Doors now carries our door in stock, ready for the next deployment!
But how do you describe what a deployment is to those who don't know? MCpl Ed Thompson is a husband, father of three, and a serving member of the Canadian forces. Here's his definition:
Most often we think of deployments as a time when a member departs for an extended period to some far-off exotic land. In fact, a deployment includes any time a member is separated from their family, such as a two-week assignment in sunny Wainwright or a yearlong assignment to the Middle East. So when you think of deployment, don't just think of our men and women serving overseas, but also think of those who are away from their families on course, training exercise, and assignments.
I have the confidence that the Kay family will survive these continued separations, even though it doesn't feel like it at times. We have in the past, and we will in the future. One of the ways we manage is through the help of "angels with skin on." These people put their faith into action and come to the rescue when daily routines become unbearable and the mundane issues of life--like mowing lawns and cooking dinner--threaten to be my downfall. They are the angels that walk among us, and their help is simply heavenly.
We all have our limits. Doing the single-mom thing while worrying about my spouse's safety will at times create so much tension that the thought of plowing through the week without help is almost too much to bear. It is precisely at these moments that God provides a strong back to take care of a few of Dad's chores, or we receive a hot meal when I'm too exhausted to cook.
In times of national concern, people ask themselves (or the military family) how they can reach out in practical ways to help the heroes at home. Americans really do care about each other, as is most evidenced during times of national tragedy. Often people--even extended family members--don't know how to help; that's what this section is for. It will help you help others to help you.
The other problem military families have is that sometimes well-meaning people think what they're doing is helping when it really isn't. For example, the in-laws that want to come and welcome the ship back into port. That seems like a very natural thing to do, and to suggest otherwise could be deemed ungrateful.
However, a closer look at the nature of military separations and reentry issues indicates that it would probably be better if the in-laws gave the sailor a couple of weeks to readjust to his nuclear family before they come to visit. That's why a copy of Heroes at Home in the hands of your family and friends will help you and a lot of other military members.
Here are some suggestions that you may want to pass along to those who want to be angels with skin on from those who think the right kind of help is simply divine!
Phone Calls
Initially there are quite a few phone calls, cards, and letters of support when military members deploy or when the TDY begins. This can be a great source of encouragement, but here are a few tips to make the most of your support:
Brevity. Keep the initial phone calls brief and to the point, such as: "I just wanted to let you know that we're here for you and want to support you in any way we can."
Sensitivity. Be mindful that sometimes people will want to talk and other times they won't, because they can feel bombarded by phone calls as well as the enormity of their circumstances.
Leave a Message. Due to the number of phone calls, some families may have an answering machine on at all times. If you get the machine, don't hang up; just leave a short message expressing your care and concern.
If you are related to a military family, your initial reaction might be to go and help them. Here are some items to keep in mind if you are considering a visit. These guidelines can also be photocopied and mailed to your extended family members so they will know how to best help you.
Ask First. Don't call your daughter or nephew and simply announce your intentions to come to their rescue. Ask permission to come and be prepared for a "no" or a "please, not right now" answer.
It's Not About You. If you get one of the two negative responses about a visit, remember that this is not all about you. Don't make life harder for these family members by insisting on your so-called "family rights" or "responsibility" to help.
Asset, Not Liability. If the military family feels that your visit would be a real asset during this time, carefully consider the living arrangements. If your family lives in military housing, it is more than likely very small. Consider staying at an inexpensive hotel, at billeting on base/post, or even renting an RV to stay in during your visit. Close quarters can make for added stress.
Permissive Help.If it is determined that you will go to visit your family, then decide to help without taking over. I've had many friends whose families show up and then let the mom do all the cooking for the additional family members! Ask permission to help; then once you get a green light, by all means clean, cook, do laundry, take the children to the zoo, mow the lawn, change the oil in the car, fix the broken door handles, run errands ... well, you get the idea.
Keep Those Cards and Letters Coming
During Desert Shield, our troops sat in the desert for six months for a three-day ground war. Once the media frenzy of the initial deployment wears off, people get on with their lives and tend to forget the families that remain alone for many weeks. Here are ways not to forget:
Mark Your Calendars. Make a weekly reminder note to send a card or make a call. A small note makes a big difference.
Humor Helps. Humor can be an incredibly healing balm and provide a much-needed release, so you might want to send a funny card, a poem, cartoon, book, photo, or family-oriented video.
Unconditional Love. Do not require a response from your friend. Your card may have meant a lot, but your friend may be so distracted by the stress of the deployment that they may forget to thank you (at least right away). The usual protocols do not always apply during sustained separations from family members.
When in Doubt, Send Chocolate (or Other Tokens of Support)Okay, this piece of advice comes from a chocoholic, but the logic is sound--give the heroes at home small gifts from time to time. These special treats can make all the difference during a difficult stretch. Small acts of kindness reap big rewards to those holding down the fort at home.
Money Is No Object. Thoughtful reminders that someone is thinking of you don't have to be expensive. Drop off a gift basket filled with your friend's favorite foods (did I mention chocolate?) or a video rental of a movie they've been wanting to see (be sure to let them know when it's due back).
Gifts of Time. I've been called the "Coupon Queen" many times, but why not make a coupon booklet as a gift? Include coupons for free baby-sitting, a meal, a favorite batch of cookies, a coffee date, running errands--the possibilities are only limited by your imagination!
Group Gifts. Groups of friends (such as a Sunday school class or work group) could join together and buy a long-distance phone card, a gift certificate for a favorite restaurant, or movie passes for a fun night out.
Saving Private Ryan
It can mean a lot to the family at home to know that others are keeping in touch with the military member. Here are some practical ways to reach out:
Prayer. There's an old saying "There are no atheists in foxholes." No matter what the military member's religious affiliation is, the overwhelming majority of people won't turn down prayer. Let them know you're praying for them regularly.
Prayer/Letter Chains. If you want to take the above tip a step further, organize a group of friends to pray each week. Have the weekly prayer partner write a note to the military member to let him/her know they're praying. But be sure it's all right with the service person before you organize this chain.
Letters. Your family can adopt a single service member. Send photos of your family, drawings from your kids, and letters of appreciation for the service they are rendering our nation.
Gifts. Check with the military member and see what restrictions there are on small gifts. One suggestion is a book called Taking the High Ground--Military Moments With God by Col. Jeff O'Leary (Cook, 2001). This book is bringing comfort and wisdom to thousands of veterans, military members, and their families. It gently gives them hope and points them onward and upward.
Angels With Skin On
It's one thing to give a family an open-ended statement: "If there's anything we can do to help, please let us know." Chances are they will never call for your help. Here are some ways to be proactive in your offer for help:
Refusals Permitted. While you offer help, be sensitive to the fact that they may refuse it. Don't take it personally; just make another offer to help at a later time.
Be Specific. Instead of a blanket proposal for help, offer a tangible form of assistance, such as "May my son and I come and mow your lawn on Friday or Saturday?" Or, "I'd like to bring you a meal one day next week. What day would be good for you to take a break from cooking?"
Group Projects. If your group wants to help, have specific projects in mind. For example, a youth group could clear away all the leaves in the yard. Remember, always have adult supervision and be responsible for those in your group. These projects can be a tremendous blessing to the families involved.
Excerpted from: Heroes at Home: Help and Hope for America's Military Families by Ellie Kay. Copyright (c) 2002, Ellie Kay ISBN 076422789. Published by Bethany House Publishers. Used by permission. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Clixk here to read an interview with Ellie Kay.


text:
Nowhere does Barth sound more like a typical Western Protestant than in his forensic categories for justification (as we have already seen) and his insistence upon what he understands to be the meaning of justification sola fide, yet Barth differs from the Reformers in crucial ways in his understanding of justification. Perhaps the biggest difference in Barth's sola fide is that he does not consider the justification of man to be contingent upon faith but rather how man's relationship to God's redemption in the twofold divine sentence is "realized."[1] Nevertheless, his insistence that faith never be seen as the attainment of merit or the accomplishment of justifying righteousness pervades his discussion of what is meant by faith alone. Barth makes this point countless times and appears to say it as many ways as he knows how. He sees this as the point of Paul's faith-works dichotomy and of Luther's sola fide.[2]
There is no instance of the combination δικ. δια την πιστιν. This means that from the standpoint of biblical theology the root is cut of all the later conceptions which tried to attribute to the faith of man a merit for the attainment of justification or co-operation in its fulfillment, or to identify faith, its rise and continuance and inward and outward work with justification. … As a human attitude and action faith stands over against the divine attitude and action described as δικαιουν, without competing with it, or preparing it, or anticipating it, or co-operating with it, let alone being identical with it. … [Faith as a human work] corresponds on the human side, to his divine justification. Not because of its intrinsic value. Not because of its particular virtue, or any particular power of its own. But because God accepts it as the human work which corresponds to His work … which corresponds to His righteousness. God recognizes, not that by this action man fulfils a condition or attains something which makes him worthy of the divine pardon … It is the good pleasure of God which singles out from all others this particular human action. … As the doctrine of "justification by faith" (alone) this conception of Paul was rediscovered in the century of the Reformation, and as such it was both attacked and defended. … "Justification by faith" cannot mean that instead of his customary evil works and in place of all kinds of supposed good works man chooses and accomplishes the work of faith, in this way pardoning and therefore justifying himself. … There is always something wrong and misleading when the faith of a man is referred to as his way of salvation in contrast to his way in wicked works.[3]
Taking this protestant stance on justification, Barth scathes any understanding that justification is "by" faith precisely because of the particular good qualities of it (even as the gift of God)—faith as notitia (knowledge), assensus (assent of the will) or even fiducia (the heart's trust) is not what justifies man.[4] This humble and free despair is what is most important for Barth about faith as it relates to justification.
There is as little praise of man on the basis of his faith as on that of his works. … For there is as little justification of man "by"—that is to say, by means of—the faith produced by him, by his treading the way of faith, by his achievement of the emotions and thoughts and acts of faith, by his whole consciousness of faith and life of faith, as there is a justification "by" any other works. … If it tried to be this, if man tried to believe with this purpose and intention and claim, then even if his faith was not a "dead" faith, even if it was a most "hearty" faith, even if it was a fiduciary faith most active in love, it would be there supreme and most proper form of his sin as the sin of pride.[5]
For this reason, Barth is not even comfortable speaking of "justifying faith."[6] In order to prevent a misunderstanding of faith as contributing anything to man's justification, Barth attempts to place the importance of faith elsewhere than on notitia, assensus, and fiducia. Barth would rather speak of faith as consisting "wholly and utterly" in humility because "it is the abdication of vain-glorious man from his vain-glory," or rather a "radical and total distaste for it."[7] Faith is a "despairing of self," a joyful "humility of obedience," a "free decision," and "a comforted despair."[8] Because of his denial that man's justification is dependant upon any human response and is "realized" (not actualized) through faith, Barth's sola fide is very different from that of any of the Magisterial Reformers. Even when he is attempting to echo the Reformers teaching that justification is not "by faith alone" because only faith contains the virtuous qualities necessary for being considered just in the eyes of God, he prefers to argue that faith is God's chosen instrument for "realizing" one's justification because it is a humble despair of self, not on account of its notitia, assensus, and fiducia.
[1] Ibid., 615. Carl F. H. Henry includes Barth in a list of modern theologians who deprived faith of it's cognitive content, thus perverting the doctrine of justification by faith. Although he admits that later Barth did try to rescue justification by faith from this dilemma, he complains that it was too little too late. Carl F. H. Henry, "Justification by Ignorance: A Neo-Protestant Motif?" Jounral of the Evangelical Theological Society, vol 13 no 1 (1970): 3-4.
[2] "Luther's sola fide: the opposition of faith to all and every work; the two statements (1) that no human work as such either is or includes man's justification (not even the work of faith as such), but (2) that the believer is actually the man justified by God. … The works to which they referred in this context are the thoughts and words and achievements of sinful man, including the works which he is able and willing and ready to do and produce as such in relation to the revelation of God and in obedience to His Law. … The sola fide does not actually occur in the Pauline texts. Yet it was not an importation into the texts, but a genuine interpretation of what Paul himself said without using the word sola, when Luther translated Rom 3:28. … [For] if he is not justified by the works of the holy Law of God, but by faith, then obviously he is justified only by faith, by faith alone, sola fide." Ibid., 621-22. Barth marvels that "even Augustine, the only name we can consider, did not understand him as the Reformers did. He did not understand the principle underlying the Pauline distinction of faith and works. … How could Augustine—and in his wake all Catholic exegesis and dogmatics—possibly have understood justification as a process which is fulfilled in the human subject, allowing it simply to begin with faith and to be completed with the infused grace of love, if he had had before him the contrast of Galatians as it revealed itself afresh to Luther." Ibid., 623.
[3] Ibid., 615.
[4] Barth believes himself to be following the sharp distinction of John Calvin on this point.
[5] Ibid., 616.
[6] Ibid., 618.
[7] Ibid., 618-19.
[8] Ibid., 619.


text:
POTTSTOWN,PA — If a silver lining could be said to exist in the case of the landlord accused of stealing borough water at multiple properties, it could be said that it brought the problem to the attention of the authorities.
Or, in this case, the Pottstown Borough Authority.
In June, landlord Frank McLaughlin of East Coventry was arrested by Pottstown police and charged with theft of services after devices designed to by-pass water meters were found inside multiple properties he owned.
That case is still working its way through the courts, but the borough authority's board wasted no time in acting at its Nov. 27 meeting and adopting a policy designed to minimize the loss once such a by-pass device has been discovered.
Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20121202/NEWS01/121209923/pottstown-borough-authority-adopts-new-policy-in-wake-of-water-theft-case#full_story


text:
Meredith, Edwin Thomas
Meredith, Edwin Thomas, 1876–1928, American publisher and U.S. secretary of agriculture (1920–21), b. Avoca, Iowa. After 1896 he owned and edited the Farmers' Tribune, founded (1902) Successful Farming, and started (1922) the magazine that became Better Homes and Gardens. An unsuccessful Democratic candidate for public office, Meredith was appointed to several government posts before he entered President Wilson's cabinet.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies


text:
by Amy Hadacheck, "The Fence Post" Reprinted with permission
After attending a whirlwind three-week international rural leadership conference in Germany this summer, Nick Levendofsky of Republic, Kan., has returned to the U.S., passionately determined to incorporate the many economic development tools he learned and meld them into developments for rural growth back home.
Admittedly on sensory overload after joining rural leaders from 34 countries on his first-ever international visit, Levendofsky amassed a 40-minute power point presentation from the 26th International Leadership Workshop for Rural Youth, which is held every other year in Herrsching, Germany.
Filled with tips for rural leaders, Levendofsky delivered a rural economic development update and compared and contrasted numerous aspects of farm life in Germany to the U.S., including a pictorial of Bavarian Farms, the majestic Bavarian Alps and stately European architecture.
In addition to his roommate at the workshop who represented Hungary, other participants at the event were from India, Serbia, Bangladesh, Columbia, South Africa, Switzerland, Madagascar, Austria, Russia, England and the Ukraine, to name a few.
The dominant conference theme of rural issues is particularly relevant to Levendofsky, whose goals for his tiny hometown of Republic and his rural roots will now be integrated into ideas.
"The rural exodus of our young people going to the cities is not just a U.S. problem, but it's a problem that's worldwide," said Levendofsky. "Unfortunately, a lot of countries don't have the programs that we have to encourage people to stay in the rural areas, or come back to rural areas."
With the message, "Think globally, Act locally," Levendofsky is intent on using the tools he learned and put them into action to help strengthen rural communities.
"I plan to take a lot of the skills that I learned about conflict resolution, communication and leadership skills, learning what people want and need, and helping them succeed, through my work with Kansas Farmers Union and at the local level," said Levendofsky. "At Farmers Union, we do a lot of work with beginning farmers and understanding their concerns, as they come back to rural areas. So, it's important to hear their concerns, as well as those of military veterans who are returning from combat to rural areas."
Levendofsky exchanged ideas for direct marketing with his new international friends. The group also brainstormed solutions for village and rural development, such as renovating structures to use for other purposes.
Levendofsky compared those renovations to Kansas issues and buildings, which are closing and being renovated for other uses, such as the Republic County Middle School in Belleville, Kan. Although the school was just closed, it's been purchased by the The Pioneer Group in Topeka, Kan., and is now being transformed into apartments and condominiums. The Pioneer Group redevelops neighborhoods in the core areas of cities and historical preservation projects.
Levendofsky observed that farms in Bavaria, Germany, are relatively small and laid out in a patchwork design. With farming on a much smaller scale than in America, Bavarian farmers put their energy and manpower into agri-tourism.
"Agri-tourism is very important in Germany. That's how they make their income; through the hotel and restaurant business, because they don't make as much money from their farms. So, what they do is host people at their homes, and rent them out." A room at the inn typically costs $75 a night and visitors are also encouraged to help out on the farm.
The young rural leaders visited a Bavarian organic dairy farm and learned that ecological farming (which is sustainable agriculture through reducing the demand on the earth's ecosystems,) is expanding considerably faster in Bavaria than the national average.
"Their tractors have 120-horsepower; considerably lower than ours in the U.S. Some farmers were using a John Deere 1020," observed Levendofsky, "And, interestingly, other farmers were happily raking hay by hand for hours, so manual farming is still being done."
While touring German farms, Levendofsky observed that corn grown in Germany has been developing similarly to corn in Kansas. "The corn was tasseled, like ours, and it was next to wheat, and then there was barley," said Levendofsky. He observed that the predominant type of cattle raised in Bavaria was Fleckvieh cattle.
The rural leaders also experienced sobering moments, when they saw Dachau's Nazi Concentration Camp in Germany. In his power point presentation, Levendofsky showed a photo of the cremation ovens, noting it needed no words; that it spoke for itself. "I thought I was prepared to see that, but it was harder than I realized," admitted Levendofsky, as he explained reactions from seeing the ovens.
When Levendofsky's flight to Germany was initially delayed a day due to the airplane's mechanical problems, Levendofsky was surprised to experience a rousing welcome from his new European counterparts, who were anxious to meet their new friend from the U.S.
With Levendofsky and only one other rural leader from Ohio representing the U.S., he watched with amazement the level of respect other participants offered them, and the enthusiasm about receiving guidance from the U.S.
As the conference got underway, Levendofsky quickly realized that many of the participants were fluent in three languages, including French, German and English. "They told me, that just knowing English isn't enough anymore," Levendofsky said.
What he does know is the importance of honing the tools provided for the young rural leaders as role models for social change in the vital footprint of rural sustainability and growth.
"When you make the commitment to come back to a rural area, you have to walk the walk, and talk the talk, and that's why this presentation is called, "think globally, act locally," said Levendofsky.


text:
Padman (2018) 720p Hindi
Directed: R. Balki
Released Date: 9 February 2018
Types: Biography ,Comedy ,Drama
Film Stars: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte, Sonam Kapoor
Movie Quality: 720p BRRip
File Size: 1070MB
Story line: Biography on Tamil Nadu activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, whose mission was to provide sanitary napkin's to poor women of rural areas. Who would use rag cloths or leaves during periods where use of sanitary napkins was rare. After he did not get fruitful results from his family and a medical college he approached, he decided to try it himself by making a uterus out of football bladder and filling goat's blood in it. He would roam around the whole day with the bladder, the aim was to check
Padman (2018) 720p Hindi Download Links
Links Last Updated on September 16, 2020


text:
Cave Wildlife Co
The Best Gopher Control Missouri Has To Offer!
Missouri's Best Gopher Control! We are the gopher control Missouri residents have trusted for years. We provide wildlife control services for raccoons, snakes, rats, opossums, and any other wildlife that is plaguing your home or business. Animals in your home can make your home unsafe and disrupt your peace. There's not much worse than your home not feeling like home! If you are feeling overwhelmed by the number of animals around your home or business and want them safely and peacefully removed, look no further than our wildlife removal Missouri company, which can eliminate these animals and make sure they do not return. Call the experts at Missouri gopher control and wildlife removal company which locals trust and get your home back under control!
Business Name:
Cave Wildlife Co
613 W 3rd StMountain Grove Missouri 65711USA
About Mountain Grove
Mountain Grove is a city in Wright County and Texas County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies within the Ozarks in the south-central part of the state. The population was 4,313 at the 2020 census. == History == A post office called Mountain Grove has been in operation since 1875. The community owes its present name to a stand of trees near the original elevated town site.In 1841 a settlement was built on land east of Mountain Grove near a spring in a grove of hickory timber.
Neighborhoods in Mountain Grove, Missouri
Ark, Ascalon, Autumn Oaks Caring Center, Branson Theatre District, Brookline, Cabool, Cedargrove, Century 21 Hometown Properties, Champion, Cinnamon On The Hill, Cinnamon Square, Cook Station, Country Living Assisted Living, Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home & Cremation Care Center - Mountain Grove, Culp Ford
Things to do in Mountain Grove, Missouri
Our Newest Profiles


text:
It was the year 2000, I had some money and I was new to the stock game. It was September. I had some money saved up and I wanted to get rich quick. So I took the money... about 15k and put it all into Amazon.com stock, trading at about $43.
By November, it was trading at $27. I had lost a lot of my money... I didn't have much back then. But I scrounged around and managed to buy more shares, but not a lot. I averaged down to $35.
By Feb of 2001, it was trading at $13. Damn, I remember how I was freaking out. If you don't remember, back in 2001, the world was coming to an end. All the stocks were crashing, the news was devoted to showing negative stock quotes, we were in recession, job loses, retail sales were stinky, the Nasdaq was at like 1600, and terrorists wanted to kill everybody. Not knowing any better, I bought some more shares at $13... I managed to average down to $25, but man, I was in pain.
Months go by...Then in September 2001, Amazon is trading at $6.... I remember the day. I could not believe how much money I was losing, and how I could have been so stupid to invest in this stock. I was watching the Yahoo message board and reading everybody crying and crapping. Jim Cramer (he didn't have a show then) was on CNBC crapping all over Amazon because they had over $2 billion in debt, no profits, and they were definitely heading for BK. Every singly analyst on the planet was using Amazon as toilet. And I certainly felt like shit.
I decided that I would not sell yet. I would just hold out and try to recoup a bit.
I waited 5 month, and Amazon was at $15 (March 2002). Oh man, I was happy! I sold half my position. Jim was still bashing the stock, and it was still swimming in debt. The brains on the Yahoo message board were calling Bezos the devil, and analysts were all predicting BK. To hell with this I said. In June, I sold the rest of my position at $19.
I was out baby! Sure, I lost about 12k, but at least I didn't lose it all right? And plus, the pig was going Bankrupt and it would be worth zero by 2003, so man was I happy.
Shat! Jeff Bezos was right in the end. Amazon started to show some profits. After about a year of profits the analysts started to perk up. After about 2 years Cramer was all over it, and in 2007 the stupid Amazon.cunt was at $90.
**** me, why did I listen to all those cocks. In the end, I had only myself to blame.
Amazon seems to be a lot like Sirius. Both had no profits, and had never shown a profit. Both were swimming in debt. Both stocks were scraping bottom just as the economy was in recession. Both were predicting future profits (as Amazon used to love saying "pro forma earnings"), both were hated by every cock hound on wall street.
Maybe in the end, they won't turn out to be the same at all... nobody knows for sure, but this time, just for fun, instead of selling I will hold on and instead of panicking, I will remain calm.
And if everything turns out wrong in the end, at least I will have another interesting anecdote to share next time we are in a similar situation.


text:
Congress Not Moved by Obama's Measured Case for Syria Strike
In a high-stakes address to the nation Tuesday night, President Barack Obama cautiously embraced a diplomatic effort to rid the Syrian regime of its chemical weapons, but urged the nation to stand with him in his resolve to launch a military strike if that effort fails.
The president said he asked Congress to hold off on voting to authorize strikes to give the diplomatic effort a chance to work, but indicated he was willing to act if it does not. Though it's an open question whether he was able to sway public sentiment on the issue of a strike, many members of Congress did not appear to be moved by his pitch that the Syrian chemical attacks were not just an affront to humanity but could also lead to future security risks to the United States.
"Our ideals and principles as well as our national security are at stake in Syria, along with our leadership of a world where we seek to ensure that the world's worst weapons will never be used," he said.
"America is not the world's policeman," he said, noting concerns from Americans to that effect. "But when, with modest effort and risk, we can stop children from being gassed to death, and thereby make our own children safer in the long run, I believe we should act. That's what makes America different. That's what makes America exceptional."
Obama told the nation that there was no doubt the Syrian regime gruesomely massacred its own citizens, and asked the country to view the hundreds of videos and pictures of the dead and dying.
"When dictators commit atrocities, they depend upon the world to look the other way," Obama said. "The question now is what is the United States of America and the international community are going to do about it."
Failure to act would embolden countries like Iran to develop other weapons of mass destruction, Obama said, and eventually make it easier for terrorists to acquire chemical weapons as well.
"This is not a world we should accept," he said.
The president also sought repeatedly to appeal to a nation where public opinion is overwhelmingly against a new war — saying that he would insist that the strikes be targeted but effective.
"I will not put boots on the ground in Syria," he said. "I will not pursue a prolonged air campaign like Libya or Kosovo." And he said that Syria was no match for the United States military if it tried to retaliate, and Bashar al-Assad knows that.
"Neither Assad nor his allies have any interest in escalation that would lead to his demise," Obama said.
Obama also addressed concerns about some of the rebels fighting Assad linked to al-Qaida.
"Al-Qaida will only draw strength in a more chaotic Syria if people there see the world doing nothing to prevent innocent civilians from being gassed to death," Obama said. "The majority of the Syrian people, and the Syrian opposition we work with, just want to live in peace, with dignity and freedom. And the day after any military action, we would redouble our efforts to achieve a political solution that strengthens those who reject the forces of tyranny and extremism."
The president's speech may effect public opinion, but votes in Congress are another matter. Numerous Republican lawmakers in particular have put out statements in the past few days either opposed to a strike or highly critical of the president's approach. Immediately after the speech, few lawmakers appeared to be swayed, judging by the flurry of statements being sent out.
On MSNBC, Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., made another pitch for the alternative resolution he drafted with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., that would give Syria time to give up its chemical weapons before facing a possible strike.
The president would have lost a vote on the strike authorization he has sought, Manchin suggested.
"The support is just not there," he said.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., responded with his own video ripping the president's proposal.
"Twelve years after we were attacked by al-Qaida, 12 years after 3,000 Americans were killed by al-Qaida, President Obama now asks us to be allies with al-Qaida," he charged. "Americans, by a large majority, want nothing to do with the Syrian civil war. We fail to see a national security interest in a war between a leader who gasses his own citizens and Islamic rebels who are killing Christians."
Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, said he continues to lean against an authorization to use force.
"I don't think the case for military action has been made," he said, despite briefings at the White House, a visit from the president to the Capitol earlier Tuesday or his speech. Grassley said his concerns and those of Iowans haven't yet been answered. "If the goal is to deter and degrade Assad's ability to use chemical weapons, how would a limited strike achieve this goal? What are the risks of military action? What is the U.S. national interest in striking Syria?"
Of course, it remains an open question whether Congress will ever vote on a Syrian authorization given the new diplomatic effort — and what appears to be a lack of votes.
"After this impassioned plea I cannot imagine Pres Obama not launching military strike if diplomacy fails, regardless of what Congress does," tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Graham, along with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has led the effort to back the Syrian rebels.
In a joint statement, Graham and McCain said they regret that Obama "did not speak more forcefully about the need to increase our military assistance to moderate opposition forces in Syria, such as the Free Syrian Army."
They also said Obama should have laid out a clear plan to test the seriousness of the Russian diplomatic proposal, preferably by bringing a resolution to a vote in the United Nations Security Council.