They gave their lives to shift a desperately dire outcome; in the face of an enemy who had killed millions... Absolute bravery paved the way for the June 6, 1944 D-Day Invasion; as evidenced in the official archives of paratroopers and glider corps; which led the effort...
The U.S. 82nd & 101st Airborne Divisions successfully implemented their mission 'entry-point' at Normandy, France... We must never forget those men who put themselves in harms way; and those who still do so, today...
"(---) The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you." -Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
WWII Vets mark D-Day anniversary in Normandy CRICQUEVILLE-EN-BESSIN, France-[June 6, 2011] More than 40 World War II veterans gather, to rededicate a reopened monument to the D-Day invasion...[read]
"In two coordinated operations, 24,000 airborne troops attacked just after midnight. At 6:30 that morning, Operation Neptune brought 160,000 troops to the shores of Normandy in the largest amphibious assault in history." [read]
Sarkozy says AF in action over Libya: # "Today we are intervening in Libya under the U.N. mandate with our partners and notably our Arab partners.
We are doing it to protect the civilian population from the murderous madness of a regime that in killing its own people has lost all legitimacy."
"There is still time for Colonel Gaddafi to avoid the worst, by acting without delay and without reservations in accordance with all the demands of the international community. The door of international diplomacy will open again the moment attacks end." [read]
"It's a grave decision we've had to take," Sarkozy said... "Along with our Arab, European and N. American partners, France has decided to play its part before history." Citing that, "The Libyan people need our aid and support. It's our duty." [more]
-VIDEO: Unrelated sequence of ultra low desert flying... Which is (of course) not recommended in the Dassault Rafale fighter; amidst rebels with surface-to-air missiles like the Sterla 2.
I also have some seriously mixed feelings, here... While I DO NOT see this as the duty of the USA (or at all recommended)... One cannot forget the extremists who are working violently to overthrow Kaddafi...
We needed her here on earth, but after a long illness prepared my Mother for a new journey...God and other worlds, called her home.
I am left deeply saddened; but at the same time, stronger with understanding of my mother as a completely brave & self-less woman, w/ great faith.
Mother, you now know the secret: VIDEO. I told her to look at the sky, and there we saw a magnificent sunset... And now beyond the sunset, she does see...
Now, in all Création du Monde there will be her memory: VIDEO. While we see this as loss... It is (for them) a new beginning.
Will post soon, when I return to the U.S... Think good thoughts.
VIDEO: Gov Jindal frustrated over decision-making red tape:VIEW. Fed Gov impeding State & local GOV clean-up operations; making this day's "lingering inaction" a deeper threat to wetlands...
And as of this writing... It's 60 days later, and State Governors are still delayed the vital Federal action needed, to prevent total destruction...
And look at this! Cousteau had already presented this technology... Obama Administration: Z-z-z-z...Z-z-z-zz
Cousteau, President & founder of the Ocean Futures Society; said the practice of dispersing chemicals into the Gulf has been a mistake because it kills marine life...He called the Deepwater Horizon spill, which started on April 20..... Still no commitment.#
Video: mobile water treatment plants, use a nonchemical oxidation to process...
Michael Vinick, chairman of Ecosphere Technology, said that 24 to 26 units ready to go in the region; as units can be placed on barges and taken out to sea. Each unit can process one million gallons of water daily... #
Vinick added that the oxygenation process brings much-needed oxygen to plant life in the marshes, which are robbed of it when they are coated with crude oil. The process of adding oxygen also revives sea life. Read more.
Obama Team ignored Governor Jindal’s demand for three million feet of absorbent boom material on May 24th; and also ignored Packgen (Maine Co) who had produced extra stock for the region... Read. Later insisting that Packgen’s boom didn’t meet its quality standards...
Engineering analysis shows Packgen boom "superior" Gov Joint Command Packgen responded by having an outside analyst inspect its product. Read.
And everyone knows that ships aren't going to be on the waters without the proper fire extinguishers & lifejackets; as is already GOV mandated.
A Jacques Cousteau birthday memory... It's too painful to view his beautiful undersea filming; as we (too) found pride and joy in pristine beaches, doting on endangered species... And now, most have run out of tears... Fittingly, I post this blue and white film... :|
I do know that each time our Gulf (custodians of endangered species) have endured and survived the decades of hurricanes; they've conditioned the type of strength to overcome this... And will.
Note From Freeps: "Literally thousands of ships were sunk during WWII. They were loaded with diesel, gasoline and diverse noxious and toxic chemicals. Surprise...surprise...the oceans are still there as are the fish and other sea creatures."
-So don't let your heart break, let convictions grow stronger; & have faith...
Video Caption: Réalisé en 1943 par Jacques-Yves Cousteau, le film "Epaves" est le premier tourné avec le scaphandre autonome "Cousteau-Gagnan", offrant les premières séquences sous-marines en méditerranée à près de 62m de fonds. On retrouve dans ce film, les 3 mousquemers, avec Philippe Tailliez, Jacques-Yves Cousteau et Frédéric Dumas, ainsi que le concours de Roger Garry.
A McDonald's was destroyed and several cars torched later that evening... And (of course) traditional flag burnings...
(ht/gateway)
In front of Louvre... -UAC4America says: I filmed this while on my trip to Paris in January 2009, but just finally got around to uploading it now... -Hezbollah flags are seen throughout the rally. -1:35 A banner proclaiming support of the Iraq resistance...
-AGENCE FRANÇAISE DE DÉVELOPPEMENT France provides Palestinians with a 200 million euro contribution over 3 years. And France’s AFD also provides 75 million euros of support in the form of project aid over 3 years for Palestinian Government’s three-year Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP) for 2008-2010...
Improving infrastructure and financial systems, urban and rural development, education and health...Construction and renovation of schools, including eight schools in the West Bank and six schools in Gaza... Energy, water, Rural electrification, and sanitation projects financed by the AFD. All of which commitments in 2007 totalled 3.5 billion euros... [PDF]
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France)
-Bouquet (above) by Farhad...
Leaving you this little tranquility post.... For times when one seeks to center & calm one's thoughts... Below are a few of my favorite Big Screen videos. ...So much to do as I leave for the states, next weekend!
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France)
Matt's headlines: EU Leans Right; New Elections Show Shift read. Social Democrats, the main party in the governing coalition, lost substantial ground. Note: The right can thank Obama for this... Nobody has noticed more than Poland. VIDEO:View.
BRUSSELS -- Europe was leaning to the right Sunday as tens of millions of people voted in European Parliament elections, with conservative parties favored in many countries against a backdrop of economic crisis.
Opinion polling showed right-leaning governments with edges over their opposition in Germany, Italy, France, Belgium and elsewhere. Conservative opposition parties were tied or ahead in Britain, Spain and some smaller countries. Story at: Washington Post
Meanwhile...Troubling & familiar signs, amidst Brown's desperate cling onto power despite his universal unpopularity...
Yesterday...British soldiers swear allegiance to the sovereign, not here today, gone tomorrow political no-marks... Brown chose not to insist the French invite her Madge, who was actually serving in uniform during WWII.
Video: British veterans boo the spendaholic, Scotch Prime mentalist as he arrives for the D-Day ceremony. -ht: Guido's blog of parliamentary misdeeds
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France)
Airforce One arrived in Dresden, Germany late yesterday; on the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings/war with NAZI Germany; with plans to visit Buchenwald (Jewish holocaust) with Chancellor Merkel; on a stop-over to France.
Image:AF-one; Dresden, Germany
Article: BERLIN, May 30 (Reuters) Merkel told reporters: "I spoke on the phone with the American president yesterday and we were in agreement that we had to do everything possible to come up with a good result for this complicated task... That conversation clearly influenced the negotiations last night."
That helped clear hurdles over financing that had threatened to scupper the entire transaction and allowed GM to agree the deal with Magna about the future of its European operations, of which Opel is the centrepiece.
Like its parent GM, Opel has suffered acutely from world recession. Its fate has gripped Germany, where the auto industry remains a potent symbol of the country's postwar recovery...Read more.
Obama's visit comes at a time of enormous loss, here in France... Including patriotic response to WWll...
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France)
UPDATE: Debris Found. as France and Brazil military planes and ships scoured the vast area of ocean where the Airbus A330 may have come down during the flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris...
Image:Brazilian Pelican military squad
Sarko met with distraught relatives and friends of passengers at Charles de Gaulle airport, earlier...
Such a tragic, tragic situation...
Air France jet missing over Atlantic# Brazilian carrier TAM Linhas Aereas said the crew of one of its planes saw "bright spots" in the ocean about 1,300 km (800 miles) from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, which is located some 545 km (388 miles) off the South American country's northeastern coast.
The Brazilian air force said it was trying to verify if the spots were debris from the Air France plane. read.
Some people just missed disaster... Bernardo Ciriaco said there were two Air France flights leaving Rio for Paris Sunday night—and his brother was on one of them. It was not until hours later that his brother, Gustavo, called from Paris to say that he had been bumped to the missing flight, but then talked his way onto the other one.
"Thank God he complained until he got back on the original flight. Our family is so relieved," Ciriaco said.
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France) and US
There is so much going on in the world, but I will say... Take the few minutes to relax, be calm, and center your thoughts... All the worry, and troubles will wait for you. ;)
And if timing, is an obstacle... You might bookmark this post. It's evening here... BIG SCREEN Tranquility Videos... (Open in new window)
Back in France for 2 week family visit... Oops, D. Worth was unable to post updates; but, will add this, and others from pending file (perhaps) to archives below...
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France)
Remembering his 2007 visit to speak to US Democrat Majority Congress; as the most admired leader in the world... Image: Becier W.
The video (below) is really worth repeating today, at such a perilous moment in history; that his words of virtue might find their way, back across time... Most Americans wish that the few who lead us today, would not be taking such huge steps away from liberty and free markets; of the intended Republic that Sarkozy denotes in this video...
France has a very strong role to play here, and knows America the best. English translator, though you can still hear his words.
These are days when words of Alexis de Tocqueville, give us hope Sarkozy tells the story of our history to (what appears to be) this administrations' new 'hollow-shell'...
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay France (US trip!)
A few words from lagerfeld... and I'm instantly missing France... No reluctance to sound his own music, or to reveal that the Emperor has no clothes... He definitely knows what to do about the clothes. :)
Karl Lagerfeld defends fur industry saying: 'beasts' would kill us if we didn't kill them."
Excerpt from the telegraph: In an interview on the Radio 4 Today programme, Lagerfeld also said the issue of size zero models was insignificant compared to the "zillions" of fat people. (cont. below video)
(article cont.) Doctors have criticized the use of size zero models, saying it has contributed to a rise in eating disorders among girls who feel pressured to conform to this idea of beauty.
But he said: "In France there are, I think, less than one per cent of people who are too skinny.
"There are nearly 30 per cent of young people who are too fat. So let's take care of the zillions of the too fat before we talk about the percentage that's left."
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France) (US trip!)
I've always known Avenue Montaigne as highly guarded, & w/ proficient security. Curious clip from: Sky News w/ guards lifted from post. Image:by me- from Archives
Diamond thieves pull off 100-million-dollar Paris heist:read Touted as the biggest theft in French history, is thought to be the second biggest jewellery heist ever in Europe; in no more than a few minutes.
Questionable... So tell me why the metal sensors enabled those brandishing weaponry, to proceed beyond the extreme bullet-proof glass... And in the event of the slightest metal trigger, employees would have proceeded to safety vault.
I'm visiting Grandmother in the states, and she I looked at one another after viewing this on TV, and thought the same thing... Answers soon to come...
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France)
Five nations have been sharing information... to try to secure the swift release of the ship and its crew. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the ship had 21 crew members.
— Ukraine, Somalia, Russia, the United States and Britain... story.
The U.S. Navy said Sunday that a destroyer is tracking the Ukrainian ship, the MV Faina, in the Gulf of Aden. The nationalities of the other warships are not known.
The ship's cargo of 33 Russian-made 72T battle tanks made it a particularly worrying situation, that they might end up in the wrong hands... such as terrorists or violence extremists. The 2nd hand shipment was on its way to the Kenyan government, when Hijacked... Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua, however, insisted his country will not negotiate with pirates or terrorists. more.
Speaking by satellite telephone, Ali said the pirates are demanding a $20-million ransom for the release of the vessel. Reports on Saturday said the rebels wanted $35 million. story.
Time to call Sarkozy.... Remembering:Pirates Captured by French After Hostage Release
As the battleships monitor, unsure what to do... One thing is clear, the weaponry and equipment, on this Ukraine ship, MUST NOT reach Somali shores... Actually, using five or six warships, is like using a sword to get a fly...
I recommend (in the future) "Sea Marshalls" aboard ships; and a down-scaled upgrade combining all Nations; to create a new and improved small fleet force:
Like some of the bravest: The US Coast Guard... :#
They stayed behind during hurricanes (cat, 3 & 4) ... And saved thousands of lives. A few gangly pirates, would be rather simple stakes, in my view...
Scraped this off of a Military site: Some are saying that there is a safe internationally patrolled corridor for sea traffic in the region, in this case it was either ineffective or the ship in question was outside this corridor...
And there is always someone who will say, "I told you so." Somalia: Ships Sailing On Pirate-Prone Gulf Had Been Warned AllAfrica.com - 16 hours ago "The attack by Somali pirates would have been avoided had the owners heeded warnings of insecurity along the Gulf of Aden. Last month, the International"...
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France)
Sarkozy inaugurates 43-nation talks: Story France and Egypt will be the first countries to co-chair the new body, but details like the location and powers of its secretariat remain to be resolved. #
Image Above: Eric Feferberg/Agence France-Presse
"Everyone will have to make an effort, as the Europeans did," Sarkozy said in the keynote speech, "to put an end to the deadly spiral of war and violence, that, century after century, repeatedly brought barbarity to the heart of civilization." Read Story.
Arab League will not receive formal observer status but will be invited to meetings of the EU-Mediterranean partnership known as the Barcelona process... -Secretary-General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, weighs in: Paris gathering will not lead to normalization" Note: Defeatism has always been man's own worst enemy...
VIDEO- EuroNews Interview: Mohamed Abdel Azim with Moussa in Cairo... ps: عذرا ترجمة ذلك بصوت عال Merci...
It will take courage to bring together 43 leaders from Europe, the Middle East, north Africa and the Balkans... And courage to allow time to evolve; because using words to solve conflicts, when sixty years of bombs have failed... Could mean that those future generations are not aligned to fight!
Oh, and (as Video assumes) Americans have not voted 100% for Obama... We'll let you know... ;)
Eugène Boudin, a marine painter... And expert in the rendering of all that goes upon the sea and along its shores... He was one of the first French landscape painters to paint outdoors...
Of pastels, summary and economic, he garnered the splendid eulogy of Baudelaire, and Corot who, gazing at his pictures, said to him: "You are the master of the sky...Remastery... :)
My Favorite Painting Tip: "Heavenly Clouds in Oil" 1) Paint 3 or 4 shades of cartoon clouds, on Canvas 2) Paint thin white outlines around each cloud 3) After 24 hours, take cloth (spritzed with turpintine) 4) Gently Rub out each cloud... And Viola!
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France)... POST UPDATED (below) Greetings from France... Quick little post, as I'm back in the studio for awhile. Will post more, whenever possible...
Today's links... Amazon Indians mount last stand against land invasion # "The Makuxi, Wapixana and three other tribes have fought for decades to get the Brazilian government to protect Raposa Serra do Sol, a spectacularly beautiful area on the borders of Venezuela and Guyana. [read]
UPDATE: 6/30/08... My intuition sees a vision of the beginning of "mass elevated" sea-level in this region... Eminent sea-level changes are preparing to appear, in this region. View coastline along the city of Qingdao in eastern China.[view]
-Posted by D. Worth (US) | for- M. Barbay (France) -Barbay painting in Moujan for Moscow Exhibit. Recent posts (below) Leaving Lyon on 14th, and back to Studio (Moujan) A little advance-posting here, as I am not often at location of internet...
Meanwhile... You might really like this charming little Video... Have a Wonderful day, people... Recent world events (below) Durée : 5 minutes.
Video Caption; Zoo de Beauval: Un petit court-métrage rempli de passion et de beauté à travers ces cages où la liberté est plus importante qu’elle n’y paraît...
Merci à Kévin Ventolini d'avoir capté un peu de l'âme de Beauval... -Tourné pendant l’été 2006 en mini-DV.
