Matthew S. Williams's Blog, page 160

3-D Printing Now Offering Cartiledge!

Since it’s development as a viable technology, 3-D printing has presented us with some very interesting possibilities. In addition to objects made of plastic, metal, and possibly meat (a proposed idea still in development), printers may be used to create something else entirely: cartilage! Yes, in a recent announcement, scientists at the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine claimed to have pioneered an approach to replace damaged cartilage.

The process combines two low-cost techniques – electronspinning and inkjet/bioprinting – to create the world’s first class of synthetic implantable biomaterial. The first is a method that that is used to create synthetic, polymer-based nanoscale-fibrous materials for implants and wound dressing, while the second is currently used to create tissue and organ material.

Each process is viable, but comes with its own share of shortcomings. Electrospun materials typically don’t have the ability to promote cellular growth, nor do they have the flexibility needed for cartilage replacement. And inkjet printed materials lack the structure and strength needed to support the loads that cartilage carries. But by merging to two systems together, the researchers at Wake Forest to overcome these limitations and create something viable.

Their hybrid approach alternates microscopic layers of electrospun fiber and printed, living cartilage cells cultivated from rabbit ears, thus generating an artificial cartilage pad that is suitable for implanting. An eight-week study in mice showed that the implanted pads developed cellular structure similar to natural cartilage, while separate mechanical strength tests demonstrated that it was equivalent to the real thing.

For medical practitioners, the benefits of this breakthrough are obvious. Natural cartilage not only takes a long time to heal, it has almost no ability to regrow itself. At present, doctors rely on approach that combines removing small sections of damaged cartilage with microscopic grafts. However, neither of these methods are effective at restoring the cushioning, lubricating tissue that allows for full range of motion or impact on the limbs. What’s more, the long term effects of bone on bone contact can require eventual joint replacement.

Though the research is still in the early stages, the initial results have been quite positive. With time, and assuming the results continue to be as positive, we could be looking at a cheap and effective way to rehabilitate damaged limbs.

Source: Wired.com

News From The Center of the Galaxy!

At least once a day, the black hole that resides at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy – aka. Sagittarius A* – shoots out an x-ray flare. These flares range in luminosity and intensity, but are usually only on the magnitude of a few dozens times its normal output. However, back in February of 2012, astronomers using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory detected the brightest flare ever observed from the central black hole, measured at 150 times its normal output.

Located some 26,000 light years from Earth, Sagittarius A* emits X-rays on a regular basis, and no one is sure why. However, a group of researchers postulated that it may be the results of asteroids or planets that wander too close to the hole and are consumed. Essentially, they believe Sagittarius A* is taking in rocky objects, eating them up, and then shooting out x-rays as exhaust.

According to Michael Nowak, a research scientist at MIT Kavli and co-author of a new paper in the Astrophysical Journal, a sudden increase in consumption might explain the flare. “Suddenly, for whatever reason, Sagittarius A* is eating a lot more,” he said. “One theory is that every so often, an asteroid gets close to the black hole, the black hole stretches and rips it to pieces, and eats the material and turns it into radiation, so you see these big flares.”

This is the standard procedure that astronomers use to detect black holes – i.e. by the light energy given off as they swallow nearby matter – since they are invisible to the naked eye. Not only are black holes notorious for consuming matter, even light and gravity, the very fabric of time and space, are consumed in their maws. However, through an x-ray telescope, the centers of galaxies can appear extremely bright, giving off massive amounts of energy as they devour their surroundings. As they age, they tend to slow down, consuming less and appearing fainter.

Another MIT alumnist, Frederick K. Baganoff, has been conducting observations on Sagittarius A* with the Chandra X-ray Observatory since 2003, and in that time he has noted some interesting things. For example, he calculated that, given the amount of gas in its surroundings, Sagittarius A* should be about a million times brighter than it is — a finding that suggested the black hole throws away most of the matter they would otherwise consume.

Or as he puts it: “Everyone has this picture of black holes as vacuum sweepers, that they suck up absolutely everything. But in this really low-accretion-rate state, they’re really finicky eaters, and for some reason they actually blow away most of the energy… We’re really studying the great escape, because most of the gas escapes, and that’s not what we expect.”

The physics that underlie this process are still a mystery, but researchers like Baganoff hope to learn more through more observation. In the end, the real pay off is that it will help us to understand the history of activity at the center of our Galaxy, a history which goes back billions of years and can tell us volumes about the formation of our Milky Way and even the universe itself.

Source: Universe Today

News From The Red Planet!

It’s been quite the busy month for NASA and the Curiosity Rover Team. In addition to the hectic research schedule and the excitement over all the potential finds, there’s also been a lot of planning as to what future mission will be like. Already, NASA announced that they plan to send another rover (InSight) to Mars in 2016, this one for the purpose of conducting interior planet studies. But given the success of Curiosity thus far, NASA announced recently that the multi-year, robotic rover program will continue, and will include an additional launch in 2020.

Apparently, this has much to do with the reelection of Barack Obama, whose commitment to space exploration also means that NASA can go ahead with its plans to create an outpost on the Moon. According to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, this and the planned 2020 launch will ensure that “America remains the world leader in the exploration of the Red Planet, while taking another significant step toward sending humans there in the 2030s.”

The planned mission portfolio includes the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers, two NASA spacecraft and contributions to one European spacecraft currently orbiting Mars, the 2013 launch of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter to study the Martian upper atmosphere, the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) mission, and participation in the European Space Agency’s 2016 and 2018 ExoMars missions.

That alone is pretty exciting  news. But in and around these grand announcements, the Mars Science Labs also released some information a week ago concerning the Martian soil samples which were thought to contain organics. Though the samples did prove to be “earthshaking” as was hoped, they did present some rather interesting findings which are now being released.

Apparently, the samples taken with the “Rocknest” inside the Gale Crater showed signs of water, sulfur and chlorine-containing substances, among other ingredients, that were delivered by Curiosity’s arm to the analytical laboratory inside the rover. Lamentably, this does not confirm the existence of organic compounds, as the team hoped. But the find does confirm what Curiosity team and NASA scientists have been postulating for some time – which includes the existence of water on Mars and the existence of complex chemical compounds.

Also, it’s important to note that this kind of soil surveying was not possible with any previous rovers or exploratory missions in space. Curiosity is the first Mars rover that is able to scoop soil into analytical instruments and conducts tests in the way it has, so really, any findings should be considered a windfall. Detection of the substances during this early phase of the mission also demonstrated the ability of the rover laboratory to analyze diverse soil and rock samples, which will continue over the course of the next two years.

And as the team was sure to mention in a Tweet made shortly after the “earthshaking” discovery did not materialize, there’s still plenty of time to find all that they are looking for. Curiosity’s mission is far from over, and she will hardly be the last surveyor – man-made or manned – that will be roving the landscape of the Red Planet.

Source: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Nominated for Blog of the Year 2012!

It’s just an honor to be nominated! Actually, its wonderful to be part of a community of people who inspire you, appreciate you, and share themselves with you. Getting nominated for an award is just a reminder of this process, and that’s what really nice about it.

So thank you so much to Renee Heath and Carolyne Page, the lovely ladies who are responsible for my nomination. You do such great work and are such great people, I hope to live up to your standard!

Like all Blogger Awards, the 2012 BOTY has rules which must be followed. They are as follows:

Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award.
Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.
Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!).
Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them.
You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience.
As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…!

Well then, here’s to the people I wish to nominate for this years “Blog of the Year”!

Raven Lunatick – Science fiction, fantasy, and weird-stuff enthusiast, this woman and indie writer is a real go getter who regularly produces flash fiction and interesting articles on the world of weird and scary things! Also, her selfless dedication to protecting the rest of us from such literature as Fifty Shades of Grey cannot be under-appreciated. Man, this woman is a trooper!
Rami Ungar – Dedicated indie writer, sci-fi fan and enthusiast of all things geeky, like me! Our paths are converging in many, weird ways, makes me think our destinies might be intertwined… spooky! And of course, he’s got a superhero alter ego – Revenger codename: Judgement!
Audrey Johnson – World traveler, social activist, humanist and all around adventurer, there’s very little Audrey hasn’t seen and done, and hearing about it is a real treat Also, were it not for her constant encouragement, writers like me couldn’t produce.
Nicola Higgins – Fellow writer, sci-fi geek, futurist and martial artist, Nicola is also a regular favorite of mine. And it’s not just because we have so much in common… necessarily   Read her stuff, you’ll see what I mean!
Lady Romp – Dedicated intellectual, fashionista, pop culture commentator, and speaker for women everywhere. Her philosophical investigations, social commentary and inspirational quotes are always interesting to read.
Mike’s Craft Beer – One of the best reviewers of beer and craft brewing I’ve known who’s passion and knowledge for the malted nectar of the gods is even greater than my own!
Khaalidah - The hardworking wife, mother, medical practitioner, writer and self-professed geek! I nominate her pretty regularly, but there’s a reason for that Her ongoing dedication to life, plus her thoughts on the world, on literature, on science fiction, and her active involvement in writing with myself and others is an inspiration. Oh, and did I mention her Revenger alter ego is the Veiled Tsunami?
Greta van der Rol – Action, science fiction and romance are this ladies trademark styles, and her passion for the written word (especially the production thereof) is encouraging and astounding. Hope to rival her vast collection of tomes one day!
Nina D’Arcangela – The Dark Angel lady – which is not only the meaning of her last name but her alter ego (she’s part of the Revengers too!) – her regular infusions of deep, gothic poetry and literature are nothing if not spine-tingly-dingly! But somehow, she still manages to be a bright and spunky lady and a breath of fresh air!

Congrats to all of you and all of us! I’m sure we deserve it (darn tootin’ we do!)

Nominated for Blog the Year 2012!

It’s just an honor to be nominated! Actually, its wonderful to be part of a community of people who inspire you, appreciate you, and share themselves with you. Getting nominated for an award is just a reminder of this process, and that’s what really nice about it.

So thank you so much to Renee Heath and Carolyne Page, the lovely ladies who are responsible for my nomination. You do such great work and are such great people, I hope to live up to your standard!

Like all Blogger Awards, the 2012 BOTY has rules which must be followed. They are as follows:

Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award.
Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.
Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!).
Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them.
You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience.
As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…!

Well then, here’s to the people I wish to nominate for this years “Blog of the Year”!

Raven Lunatick – Science fiction, fantasy, and weird-stuff enthusiast, this woman and indie writer is a real go getter who regularly produces flash fiction and interesting articles on the world of weird and scary things! Also, her selfless dedication to protecting the rest of us from such literature as Fifty Shades of Grey cannot be under-appreciated. Man, this woman is a trooper!
Rami Ungar – Dedicated indie writer, sci-fi fan and enthusiast of all things geeky, like me! Our paths are converging in many, weird ways, makes me think our destinies might be intertwined… spooky! And of course, he’s got a superhero alter ego – Revenger codename: Judgement!
Audrey Johnson – World traveler, social activist, humanist and all around adventurer, there’s very little Audrey hasn’t seen and done, and hearing about it is a real treat Also, were it not for her constant encouragement, writers like me couldn’t produce.
Nicola Higgins – Fellow writer, sci-fi geek, futurist and martial artist, Nicola is also a regular favorite of mine. And it’s not just because we have so much in common… necessarily   Read her stuff, you’ll see what I mean!
Lady Romp – Dedicated intellectual, fashionista, pop culture commentator, and speaker for women everywhere. Her philosophical investigations, social commentary and inspirational quotes are always interesting to read.
Mike’s Craft Beer – One of the best reviewers of beer and craft brewing I’ve known who’s passion and knowledge for the malted nectar of the gods is even greater than my own!
Khaalidah - The hardworking wife, mother, medical practitioner, writer and self-professed geek! I nominate her pretty regularly, but there’s a reason for that Her ongoing dedication to life, plus her thoughts on the world, on literature, on science fiction, and her active involvement in writing with myself and others is an inspiration. Oh, and did I mention her Revenger alter ego is the Veiled Tsunami?
Greta van der Rol – Action, science fiction and romance are this ladies trademark styles, and her passion for the written word (especially the production thereof) is encouraging and astounding. Hope to rival her vast collection of tomes one day!
Nina D’Arcangela – The Dark Angel lady – which is not only the meaning of her last name but her alter ego (she’s part of the Revengers too!) – her regular infusions of deep, gothic poetry and literature are nothing if not spine-tingly-dingly! But somehow, she still manages to be a bright and spunky lady and a breath of fresh air!

Congrats to all of you and all of us! I’m sure we deserve it (darn tootin’ we do!)

NASA’s Next Mission to the Moon

The buzz about NASA is that the human race is once again going to the moon, and planning to stay there! According to space policy expert John Logsdon, there are plans to establish a manned base on the dark side of the moon under the Obama administration. He further indicated that with the election pending, this news has been kept under wraps. But with Obama now secure in a second term, it is expected that there will be an announcement soon.

“NASA has been evolving its thinking, and its latest charts have inserted a new element of cislunar/lunar gateway/Earth-moon L2 sort of stuff into the plan,” said Logsdon in a recent interview with SPACE.com. “They’ve been holding off announcing that until after the election, noting that NASA’s mission, direction, and budget could have been revised under a Romney administration.”

For those who have been following the Obama administration’s plans for space, this should not come as a surprise. In 2010, the president signed the NASA 2010 Authorization Act into law, a bill which freed up $60 billion for NASA through 2013. This move was intended to reignite space exploration at a time when the US found itself lagging behind Russia, China, the European Union and India in terms of bold new space projects.

These project include a planned asteroid visit by 2025 and a manned mission to Mars in 2030. A manned outpost at the Earth-moon L2 “gateway” (shown in the diagram below) could serve as an important stepping stone to the outer solar system. But right now, NASA’s eyes are firmly fixed on Mars itself, since a manned mission is the next logical step in their research of the Red Planet.

“There are many options – and many routes – being discussed on our way to the Red Planet. In addition to the moon and an asteroid, other options may be considered as we look for ways to buy down risk – and make it easier – to get to Mars.” At a conference held this past September, NASA deputy chief Lori Garver went even further to outline NASA’s goals for the coming years:

“We just recently delivered a comprehensive report to Congress outlining our destinations which makes clear that SLS  – NASA’s new heavy-lift “Space Launch System” – will go way beyond low-Earth orbit to explore the expansive space around the Earth-moon system, near-Earth asteroids, the moon, and ultimately, Mars. Let me say that again, we’re going back to the moon, attempting a first-ever mission to send humans to an asteroid and actively developing a plan to take Americans to Mars.”

Suffice it to say, NASA is happy the election turned out the way it did. With their budget secure, the course of future space exploration has been set and remains in effect. Who’s to say where it will take us beyond Mars? To the Jovian satellites of Europa, Ganymede and Io? The Saturnalian moons of Titan, Rhea, Dione and Enceladus? I call Gliese 581 after that. I want to know for sure if the fourth planet (the setting of our story Yuva) is inhabitable or not already!

These are exciting times we live in, aren’t they?

Source: IO9, Space.com

Revengers Mission Update!

Revengers! We have received a crucial update from our agent in the field, Panacea, who has made a crucial discovery about the notorious pimp and hoodlum Billy Bob. As our next mission to rid this city of corruption, evil and influence peddling, she managed to tail our quarry as he once again attempted to elude detection. Here is what she found:

Target: Billy “Pimp Daddy” Bob

The tunnel is just large enough for a Mercedes to park. The two walk the underground tunnels. There’s more than one and they are well used. The homeless, those who have checked out of society, and run away teens live in them. I’ll have to go back and see who I can save.

But for now …

One of the tunnels leads into the basement of St. John’s Cathedral. The two arrive in time for the end of 6 PM mass. They mingle into the crowd and exit with them. They duck down an alley, just avoiding the street camera, and enter the back door at the abandoned paper mill.

They truly want to keep their plans secret.

Seems they are expanding their business. They’re making a new kind of designer drug and are giving it to their girls, in affect, making them slaves. Billy Bob and Gus are also giving the drug away to potential buyers.

They must be stopped!!!!

Oh yes, I almost forgot. They have a small army watching the place. At around 10PM they sneak their way back into the church and head out for their nightclub.

What’s our plan?

Here is what I would suggest: The abandoned paper mill is our target. So far, we have three volunteers – Panacea, Judgement and myself. On the night in question, we will allow them to do their thing, to think that they continue to act with impunity and have not been detected. Obviously, we cannot risk harming the women who are in there, so the strike will have to be surgical and well timed. When they are finished for the night and pack up to leave, that is when we’ll make our move.

Secure Billy Bob, evacuate the factory, and then we set it to blow! No trace of those designer drugs can be allowed to survive. And with Billy Bob in our custody, I’m sure we can “persuade” him to surrender all the details we’ll need to wrap up his dirty little business. That will include his partnership with the “respectable” Gus Darby, the restauranteur who’s been dipping his pen in Bob’s dirty ink. Here too, I’m sure he’ll have plenty of stories to tell us before we convince him to leave town forever…

And lets not forget the denizens who live in the tunnel. If help can be arranged for them, then we must see to it that they are evacuated to some place that can provide housing and proper care. If not, well… no one need know of their little home once we’ve taken care of Bob, right? One question, Panacea… how sure are we that the people of St. John’s Cathedral aren’t involved?

Pappa Zulu – Chapter 20 (Redux)

“Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. Then the worms eat you. Be grateful it happens in that order. “

-David Gerrold

It was like going from the depths of space down to a hole in the cold, dark earth. The fall was monumental, sudden, and very noticeable. One minute, she was light as the air and the next, as heavy and dense as the ground itself, as if gravity were taking hold of her and filling her with mass. The only thing that remained constant was the gentle thrumming that marked her passage, a tinny, high-pitched ping that kept repeating itself.

Over and over again, it wouldn’t stop. And then the world became bright again. Slowly, but surely, objects and distances began to take on form and value as the light entered in. It was soft at first, but gradually became harsh and unpleasant. How was it that things were in such a state of transition, going from good to bad like this? What was happening to her that made for such ugly changes?

The constant beeping became louder.

She could light glinting off a metal surface. White pillows and sheets beyond her reach. And then there was the body lying next to her, a long tube taped to their arm and a band on their wrist.

She looked up and saw a ceiling filled with millions of perforations. She recognized them as ceiling tiles that had been installed by the lowest bidder. Combined with all the other surroundings of note, she concluded that she had to be in a hospital.

She tried leaning up, but a couple sensations jumped her at the same time and convinced her to lay back down. One was the dizzy, stirring sensation in her head. The other was the sharp pain that went up her side as she tried to shift her weight.

Placing her head securely on her pillow again, she felt around for the source of the pain. It reached up like tendrils, embracing much of her right side, but the source seemed to be her leg. She could reach to the upper thigh, but a light caress and a passing glance told her her leg was covered in bandages. Her head wasn’t feeling particularly comfortable either, and something soft and scratchy seemed to be on her face. Further examination there revealed that she had a thick patch covering her right ear.

“Whoa! Hold up there, Sarge!” said a voice. She felt a hand reach across her and take hold of her hand. The chest leaning across her was discernible enough, and the body odors wafting off it weren’t a welcome distraction.

“Whitman?” she muttered. He pulled back far enough that she was able to see his face. Sure enough, there he was. His smiling, thin face, the close cropped head, the ridiculous smile. Though she had to admit, he looked much more somber and serious than usual. And his eyes were filled with something other thank crank or childish glee.

“How you doing, Sarge?”

She grunted and moaned something unintelligible. It was the shittiest thing in the world, being unable to move thanks to sheer disorientation. Shittier still to be unable to express herself or take stock of her surroundings. Whitman seemed to understand, from the way he was nodding.

“Yeah, you’re still loaded full of morphine. Doc said you’d be okay, though, after a few weeks. It’s been awhile already so I guess you’re on track or whatever.”

She frowned at him. Neither the look he was giving her or his inability to express things coherently was making her feel any better.

“What are you…?” she muttered, her eyes closing involuntarily. Her head began to swim from the effort of speaking again and she nearly blacked out. Whitman finished her sentence for her.

“What am I doing here? Well, we decided to come visit until you got better. Not much has been happening lately, and today was my day so…” he slapped his chest. “Here I be!”

She tried to form a smile but conveyed something that mainly looked nauseous. That was sweet of him. Even if he wasn’t the face she wanted to be seeing right now.

Her eyes popped open as she began to remember where she’d been before waking up here.

“Mill… what…?”

“The Corporal?” Whitman asked. “He’s fine. Just needed some stitches and a little time off his feet. He’s up and at ‘em again, no problem. Even been acting Sergeant since you’ve been down.”

“Oh,” she replied. That was good. She could barely piece it all together, but she remembered he had been hurt too. She couldn’t even stand right, half-asleep and half-awake. But he’d been carrying something else, a wound of some kind. “Where’s… Braun…?” she asked, remembering the other thing.

“The LT?” Whitman asked, surprised. “He’s outside. He’s come to visit too, never when we’re around though. He wanted to make sure you two guys were doing okay. Of course, Mill was out of here after one day. You he keeps coming back to see every night.” He paused to laugh. Saunders felt a strange sensation pour over her. She was in no shape to describe it, but she knew it felt good. She smiled broadly.

“God… I… was so mad…”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Guy… tells me we…. can’t…”

Her eyes drifted shut again. A feeling of darkness was descending on her, but of the incredibly warm, inviting variety. She leaned her head sideways and let herself drift. She was only marginally aware of the noise coming out of Whitman’s mouth as he turned away from her.

“Sir, she’s asking for you.”

Her breath caught in his mouth and her eyes snapped open. Was he really here, and had she been talking about him and their last civilized conversation? How much had she said?

She heard the sound of boots clopping against the linoleum and felt suddenly very alert. Her heart rate monitor seemed to be that much noisier too, registering her sudden spike in wakefulness. His frame appeared shortly thereafter and moved to her bedside, eyes about as wide as her own.

“Whoa there,” he said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “Easy there, Sergeant. Just stopping in to say hi. No need to stand on ceremony.”

She nestled back a bit, heard her heart rate begin to drop. Whitman and Braun were now standing on either side of her, watching with worry. She knew how they felt, though not exactly for the same reasons.

“How you doing?” Braun asked. “You comfortable?”

She wobbled her head, closest thing to a shrug she could manage. She was far from comfortable right now, but at least the pain was manageable. She could with less company though, the two of them standing over her like they were was feeling a bit too tight. Braun looked at Whitman and smiled broadly, though awkwardly. She wasn’t the only one feeling the slightest bit exposed right now.

“Your a lucky lady, Sergeant. You’re squads been keeping an eye on you. Everyday they come by to sit by your bedside.”

Whitman laughed modestly. “Well, the LT’s been stopping by too. Doc said you’d be coming out of it any day now, so… yeah, we’ve all been here.”

She felt a sudden warm sensation, her cheeks flushed and she felt the urge to look away. Was this flattery? The feeling that she was cared for? Hard to say, but it was nicer than worrying over having said too much or to the wrong person. She leaned back in the bed and let it wash over her, trying not to feel too embarrassed or crowded.

“Thanks…” she muttered eventually. Her eyes began to drift shut again and she felt their eyes continue to watch her...

The Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

Aerial photo of Pearl Harbor, Oct. 1941

Hello fellow bloggers and blogger-followers! As you know, there are times I like to break with my usual subject matter to mark an important anniversary. Not always are these dates which accord with major scientific breakthrough or accomplishments. Sometimes, they are just about the anniversary’s of major historic events that are important to us for any number of reason. And today people all over the world, including several friends and family members of mine, stop to remember the events of Dec. 7th, 1941 – the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Given the importance of this anniversary for so many people, not to mention the sheer historical importance of it, I couldn’t possibly let the day go by without saying something. And though I managed to acknowledge the 70th anniversary of Dieppe and the 100th anniversary of the War of 1812 this year, I neglected to say anything on the subject of the 68th anniversary of D-Day and never got over it! So in an attempt to not let another chance to pay my respects and acknowledge a major turning point in history pass me by, here are my thoughts on this somber anniversary. Please feel free to share your own…

_____

“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which live in infamy, the United States was suddenly and deliberately by naval and air forces by the Empire of Japan.”

These historic words by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which were part of his famous “Day of Infamy” speech, came just one day after Japanese forces struck at Pearl Harbor, signalling the entrance of the US into the Second World War and a major turning point in history. In addition to 2,402 souls that died and the 1,282 that were wounded, the attack forever altered American’s perceptions of themselves.

USS Arizona, burning after the attack

Until the end of 1941, most US citizens lived with the notion that their nation could remain uninvolved in the global conflict which was happening overseas. As Hitler overran Europe and the Japanese occupied much of China, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ocean, the majority of citizens remained committed to non-involvement, citing the state of their economy or the fact that America wasn’t “prepared for another war” as reasons to stay out of the fighting.

B-29 assembly line

All of that changed on Dec. 7th. For the first time, all people in the US, not just FDR and a hand full of analysts, came to understand that neutrality was not, and perhaps never was, an option. Some seven million men volunteered for military service within days, and American industry was fired up to produce all the tanks, aircraft, ships and munitions that would be needed to take on the Japanese Empire and the Axis Powers. Within three and a half years, total victory was won, though not without incredible sacrifice.

Little wonder then why this day is considered so important to historians and common people alike. Not only was it a tragic day, characterized by shock, loss and fear, it also was a day which led to one of the greatest national efforts ever seen, which in turn led to a victory that remains unparalleled in the annals of history. As just about every historian would say, Pearl Harbor “galvanized” the US and turned it from a semi-isolationist country that was still recovering from the Great Depression to a superpower which helped destroy Hitler, Fascism, and win the greatest and worst war in the history of civilization.

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FDR delivering “Infamy” speech before Congress, Dec. 8th, 1941

However, while the history books claim that it was Pearl Harbor which galvanized the US and erased its isolationist tendencies, FDR’s historic speech had a great deal of influence as well. When news of the attack first reached the public, the mood was one of shock, fear, and uncertainty. For years now, Americans had been fearing the specter of war and now that it was upon them, no one knew how to react or what would happen next.

But when people tuned in to listen to their President speak on the following day, they heard a stalwart man praising the efforts of US personnel and calling the citizenry to stand together against an evil power that was threatening not only them, but the entire world. Knowing that a man like FDR was at the helm, the same man who had seen them  through the worst of the Depression and was famous for uttering the words “You have nothing to fear but fear itself” was as much responsible for this turnaround as the attack itself.

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor

Years later, the significance and the true nature of this event are still the subject for debate. Since the initial days after the attack itself, there were some who speculated that the attack had been allowed to take place in order to achieve US involvement in the war. In fact, nine inquiries were conducted between the years of 1941 and 1946. However, due to secrecy and clearance concerns, especially where the issue of cryptography was concerned, the full details of the attack were not made clear to the public until 1992.

Reaction to the report was mixed. The findings seemed to emphasize that a combination of secrecy, a lack of inter-departmental communication, and an underestimating the Japanese forces capabilities and intentions prevented US forces from stopping the attack. However, some have claimed that these findings did not go far enough to probe the possibility that an attack was known of in advance and was allowed to take place, mainly for political reasons.

USS Arizona Memorial, interior

Much like with 9/11, it seemed that there were many questions and grey areas that were likely to give rise to speculation. When all is said and done though, hindsight is always capable of making it seem that their is intent and continuity to events, when in fact all things happen on an ad hoc basis and no one can see the outcome. In the end – and in this historians opinion – those who died on Dec 7th were victims of human error and the capacity for senseless violence.

To all those who perished at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day, to all those who died as a result of World War II and all wars previous and since; I think I speak for everyone when I say rest to peace on this day.

New Star Trek Trailer Released!

The first trailer of the upcoming Star Trek movie, titled Star Trek: Into Darkness, has just hit the airwaves. And if the one minute preview is any indication, it seems that JJ Abrams is sticking to the same combination of carnage and explosions that made the first movie such a hit. Not much is made clear about the exact plot from the trailer, but it does seem to indicate that Earth itself will be threatened by some “awakened evil” intent on getting revenge.

Star Trek geeks, I invite you to plumb this one for some hint as to what the reference material could be. Is Abrams combing the original series for an enemy and a plot arc, or is this something entirely new? Should we all just wait and enjoy the movie when it comes out? Okay then! Enjoy the trailer too…