Liberia Random Tid-bits

I have been in sort of a random this-and-that mode. I figured a lot of folks "back home" don't know much about Liberia.

Liberia's Flag was designed bases on the US Flag.

Liberia is the oldest Republic in Africa. It was formed by former freed slaves from the US.

Monrovia is named for James Monroe 5th President of the US

The official language of Liberia is English (though you may not recognize it when spoken by a local)

The country came out of 14 years of civil war in 2003 when the UN Mission (UNMIL) started here. Over 250000 people died in that/those civil war(s).

Liberia produces lots of rubber - Firestone has a large plantation here.

Liberia is where some believe dinosaurs still roam. The Kumbway and the Gbahali

Y'all Stay Safe!

A Long Time Ago in a Mexican Resturant Far, Far Away

Here is my story of what seems to be a hundred years ago. Before my wife and I were married, we had gone out on a date with another couple. I don’t remember why we were angry with each other, but we were. We were at a Mexican food restaurant, and had just ordered our food. The drinks had come, and while we were waiting, we were both not speaking. I just looked at her, I was angry because she was angry, and probably vice/versa. Yet, when I looked in her eyes, there was something more there.

To try to break the tension, I gave her a little wink, she didn’t cave, she would only keep a straight face. Even though she didn’t show it on her face, I though I detected that twinkle that says “I love you.”

I was just taking a sip of my drink, when her friend Bev said something like “Wow, you can tell just by the way you two look at each other that you are so in love!” She said it with conviction, so I know she was not being sarcastic. I nearly spewed my drink all over the table. It was a good thing they had not brought the chips out yet. I started to laugh, and I saw that my soon to be wife broke down and started to grin slowly. Then she busted out laughing.

Everyone at the table was laughing. Then Bev asked “Why are we all laughing?” I guess she thought we were laughing at my spewing my drink. We explained to her that were had been angry at each other and we weren’t even speaking to each other. If only she could have read the article on how to tell if a guy likes you, maybe she would have known for sure. Of course, we were no longer angry at each other and we had a nice night and date.

What I wonder is – did our love shine through even though we were angry at each other? Or was it that some people are just really bad at reading non verbal clues? I guess I will never know.

Just for information, it won’t be long until we have been married 29 years.

The Doobie Brothers and Missle Defense!

OK, I have to blame Kelly for this post. I just found out about her blog on blog catalog.

She had a post about her theme song - "Listen to the Music" by the Doobie Brothers. Well that post brought back memories of when I was a drummer in a rock n roll band (sounds kinda like a song) when I was in high school. We did cover of Long Train Running, China Grove, and Listen to the Music. Yes the fame of the after game dance - hah!



Jeff Baxter played guitar for the Doobies and Steely Dan amoung other groups. I love his style, and the feel of his music. I have liked the Doobies music, and what a lot of folks do not know that Jeff Skunk Baxter is an expert on missile defense.



Yes, that is right - he has worked at the Pentagon on Missile defense. Also "In 1995, Pennsylvania congressman Curt Weldon, then the chairman of the House Military Research and Development Subcommittee, nominated Baxter to chair the Civilian Advisory Board for Ballistic Missile Defense." - Wikipedia



So look up cool stuff on Jeff Baxter yourself. It is amazing what a career in rock n roll will lead to :P



Y'all Be Safe!

Woo Hoo for Me!

Yes, I feel a little like celebrating! First - my other blog got some love from two other sources this week! I thought it was great.

There was mention of it in Blog Catalog's Blog (I know almost redundant huh?)Then there was a great review at Doyoudiggit.com I am really impressed at how well written that review is! All I know is, it seems to pay off when you recognize other people's efforts and post about them. It seems that most of the internet is quite reciprocal when it comes to a little credit here and there. A big thanks to both Blog Catalog and Doyoudiggit.com !

Now for some other good news for me. I just was appointed as the Chief of personnel for the UNMIL UNPOL - I know a lot of UN's there. But for the United Nations Mission in Liberia UN Police, I am the chief personnel officer. So far everyone has treated me great - I am learning a lot about the job as I go!

Funny though - I still get paid the same :P

I Was Just Thinking About Flying Home When...

OK, just to let you all know, I am planning to be home back in the States the end of July for a few weeks during my "compensatory time off." I have even got my leave approved, I have already bought the tickets (I figured with rising fuel prices and such, it would be a good idea.

I got my tickets through Brussels Air, one of the few airlines that actually fly to Liberia from anywhere.

Well, this shows up in the news yesterday:

Plane aborts takeoff, injuring several passengers and closing
airport in Ivory Coast

© AP
2008-06-12 00:25:34 -


ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) - A Brussels Airlines flight carrying about 150 people aborted its takeoff from Abidjan's airport on Wednesday night, and several passengers suffered minor injuries while making an emergency evacuation.

One of the pilots of the Airbus 330 told the passengers he had avoided takeoff after hearing a loud popping sound which he thought was a tire exploding. A fire truck raced to the runway and quickly extinguished one burning tire.

By stopping on the runway and blocking it at about 9 p.m., the plane caused officials to close the airport to all incoming and outgoing flights.

The pilot initially told passengers to remain in their seats. But suddenly the crew started shouting, "Evacuate! Evacuate!" The doors of the plane opened, and everyone raced down the emergency slides.

Several passengers, including this correspondent, suffered minor injuries such as bruises and sprained ankles during the evacuation.

The passengers initially ran into a grassy area alongside the runway, then some walked and some rode airport vehicles back to the terminal.

So what does a plane in ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast have to do with flying out of Monrovia? You see, it is the same flight, you either stop in Abidijan before arriving in Monrovia, or after you leve Monrovia, depending on the day of the week. It is a refueling issue. OK, for those of you STILL clicking on the blonde joke, it is the same plane.

This is a follow-up report I found on the situation:

An engine stall was experienced during t/o due to a bird strike. Aircraft veered to the right and t/o was aborted around 120kts. Left and right landing gear brakes caught fire. This was rapidly extinguished by the fire brigade. Crew decided to evacuate and deployed the 4 lh escape slides. Preliminary inspection reports no damage to aircraft + no deflated tires. Several brakes will be precautionary replaced due contamination with extignuishing agent. Engine external/internal inspection revealed no damage at
this point.Tech crew is indeed underway for a full check-up prior release of aircraft OO-SFN.

I just kind-of hope they get a new one before I fly out of here.

Y'all Stay Safe!

A Great Blonde Joke!

For a great blonde joke - click here!

8 Totally Random Thoughts for no Particular Purpose

1. Sometimes boredom is a higher stressor than rocket-fire.
2. Blog Catalog is a cool place to share ideas.
3. Entrecard brings blog traffic.
4. Meals at the "PAP" UN dining hall are rarely bearable.
5. What the heck am I doing here?
6. It rains every day.
7. Doing business online is interesting.
8. This blog gets more respect than my other one.

An UN-Idol in Liberia? I Think Not!

Some of you probably wonder what the haeck do you do for recreation while in Liberia?

Well, right after I got here, I saw this poster. I was thinking UN-Idol. Gee... I wonder... What the heck, I will enter! There was actually a prize offered!

So, I decide to participate. Now, I do not have aspirations of winning or anything, but the whole idea of UN-Idol makes me sort of giggle. OK, look - don't say "You-In - Eye-doll" Say un-idol. You have to at least smirk at that.

OK, what I didn't know was that This guy was going to be there... so now there is photgraphic evidence. :P (and yes you stereo-typers he is Chinese)

So now, with photographic evidence, and all this pressure... I figured I needed some sort of special cosultation. So I found this "guru" to see what he could offer me. After all, he looks authentic doesn't he?

So anyways... nah....nah, nah, nah , nah nah... I sing Crocodile Rock - complete with "gator chop" motions and all

I was a little worried with this diverse international audience how they would react. (No I didn't steal these shots from a come-to-Jesus meeting. This is a real shot of the audience as I performed.

So guess what I won? If you guessed a certificate for participatiing you are absolutely correct. I didn't even win a prize for "worst dressed act (I think the guru got that one)

Y'all stay safe!

OK, I Never Heard Of A Virtual "Sit In"

Wow, it seem you can be all "hippy-like" without getting you hands, or butt for that matter, dirty. You can participate in a virtual "sit-in" Look, I cannot make this stuff up! It is for real.

Before I go off on how crazy it is, the thing is actually a good cause. These folks are raising awareness for human rights violations in Tunisia.

A year ago, the Tunisian regime blocked the two most popular video sharing websites: YouTube and DailyMotion. Why this harsh step? To prevent Tunisians from watching videos featuring testimonies from former political prisoners, human rights activists, and their families.

But Tunisian cyber-activists have managed to defy this ban, launching a virtual sit-in at the Tunisian presidential palace via Google Earth. The activists, from Nawaat.org, realized that Google Earth allows users to embed videos on top of satellite-image maps. The result is that any Google Earth visitor who visits the presidential palace can view a series of videos profiling victims of repression and torture. ("Enough oppression!" declares the wife of a jailed activist in one clip.)

What these guys are doing is a good thing. But , I still think the idea of a virtual sit-in is is crazy.

What I wonder is, do cyber cops come drag these guys away in virtual paddy wagons? How do you virtually hold hands and sing Bob Dylan songs? Anyways - the cause is good, maybe I will get into more about stuff like this - or maybe just silly stuff, I don't know.

A Day Late - Happy Peacekeepers Day!

OK, I know that I am like a day late and a dollar short. Yesterday, May 29 was International Peacekeepers Day. I should have posted sooner, but access to the internet was an issue. After all, I am a peacekeeper, so I should celebrate the day. It celebrates 60 years of international Peacekeeping.

This is how the day came about:

By resolution 57/129 of 11 December 2002, the General Assembly designated 29 May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism,dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.

The Assembly invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe the Day in an
appropriate manner. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the United Nations eace-keeping Forces in 1988.

You can find all about UN peacekeeping missions here. You can read about all the hoopla here. So anyways, happy belated peacekeepers day!