The World This Week

As 2011 ends I thought that it would be interesting to see the audience that this Blog has.  For the period May 2009 through December 2011 this Blog has been viewed by citizens in these countries.  The count is the number of page views:

United States 9,829

India 792

Netherlands 729

Russia 531

Germany 405

United Kingdom 281

France 225

Canada 162

Iran 145

Ukraine 118

Looking Back On The Past

Today, as I reflect on my U. S. Navy Career which ended thirty years ago I take the opportunity to view the many hats that I wore as a Crewmember of four ships.

USS Ranger (CVA-61)  - Top Gun of the United States Pacific Fleet!!

USS Sellers (DDG-11) - Guardian of Freedom!!

USS John Paul Jones (DDG 32)  -  In Harms Way!!

USS Hull (DD 945)  Last All Gun DD!!

All In Order From First To Last!!!!

Thirty Years

of

Retirement

from the

United States Navy

 You can quickly see the ships and the time I served in each.  I retired from the U. S. Navy on December 31, 1981.

This picture was taken at U. S. Navy Housing in San Pedro, California while I was assigned to the USS John Paul Jones (DDG-32). I think it was taken in 1976.

I have fond memories of my time in the U. S. Navy.  Yes, there were bad days; however in the overall scheme of events, the good days certainly outnumbered the bad ones.  Besides that who wants to remember the bad days.

I was a Yeoman and enjoyed several periods of shore duty.  My first shore duty was at Naval Command Systems Support Activity at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington D.C.  I was assigned to this Command after my tour in the USS Ranger.  My next duty was on the Staff, U. S. Naval Forces Europe - 1966 - 1969.  While there I worked in Central Files and the Plans and Policy Division.

Following my tour of duty on the greatest Anti-Submarine Warfare Destroyer in the Atlantic, the USS Sellers, which was homeported in Charleston, SC;  I was assigned to the Staff of Director, Navy Recruiting Area Three in Macon, Georgia.  The name was was later changed to Commander Navy Recruiting Area Three.  For my final sea tour I was assigned to the USS John Paul Jones on the West Coast.  A tragic motor cycle accident in May of 1977 resulted in six months of limited duty and I was then assigned to the USS Hull for my final sea tour prior to my final shore tour once again in Macon, Georgia on the Staff of Commander Navy Recruiting Area Three. 

I enjoyed my 21 years of U. S. Navy Service and made three major deployments.  Two to the Western Pacific on the USS Ranger and the USS Hull.  My only deployment off of the East Coast was while I was assigned to the USS Sellers to the Mediterranen Sea.

To learn even more about my Navy Career please visit:

http://www.uss-rangerguy.com/AlanThiese.htm

Merry Christmas

and

God's Blessings To You!!!!

Christmas Eve 2011

Macon, Georgia

U.S.A.

It just not seem that one year has already passed since we last celebrated the Birth of Jesus Christ our Savior.  This scene was acquired about six years ago and I have enjoyed it very much. 

The words on the scroll in the forefront of this scene have these words:

"O Come Let Us Adore Him"

I would suggest that these words apply to all of us today as well as they did when these lyrics were first possibly penned in the 13th Century.  These words are the chorus to the Christmas favorite "O Come All You Faithful."



Disney World 2011 Visit

Day Three

We spent our final day at Hollywood.  It was a fun filled day and also one that was very casual.  The younger ones took the Hollywood Tower Ride while we enjoyed Ice Cream with the Grand Children.

Disney World 2011 Visit

Day Two

 The Family Christmas at the Condo prior to anyone getting up.

 We visited the Magic Kingdom in the late afternoon and early evening. 

 Of Course, this is Space Mountain. 

 The Grand Children as well as us adults had to pay our respects to Minnie and Mickey. 

 You can view our two Sons in this image as they face the Castle.  We have one Tennessee Fan and one Georgia Fan.

The Castle was adorned with many lights which changed colors.  The evening parade was well attended. 

From my point of view, this Eagle was the highlight of the evening parade.  The drama and the lights made the parade an event that I had to view.

I captured this view of the early evening fireworks as we made our way out of the Park.  An interesting and a very exciting day for everyone of us.

Disney World 2011 Visit

Day One

The first three images focus on the Landmark Hotel at Disney World, the Grand Floridian.  The interior views show the ceiling with the interesting lights and the Christmas Tree which was at least thirty feet high.



 We stayed in a condo and we enjoyed the company of our two Sons and their respective families.  We even had a Christmas Tree.  Here you see the author of this Blog fabricating a Candy Cane.

The two shots above focus on the Disney themed decorations.  Each of these contained a special surprise for our Grand Children.  We celebrated Christmas during our stay at Disney World.

2011 Christmas Eve Candle Light

Service

You are invited to attend this Service which will be held at 5:00 P.M.

Saturday, December 24th

at

The Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity

1899 Tucker Road

Macon, Georgia  31220-5399

Please scroll through the following nine images which were taken on Sunday, December 18th which was the Fourth Sunday in Advent.  You and Your Family are cordially invited to attend the Christmas Eve Service.  Thank You!!!

Wishing You a Very Blessed Christmas 2011.

Georgia U.S.A.

Christmas 2011

So far this Christmas I have received several gifts.  A DVD - Pearl Harbor, which I watched on December 7th, a New Shirt and a New T-Shirt as well as the item shown above.  Now everyone knows what the "Flower Child" appreciates.

The two six-packs of Rasberry Flavored "Two if by Tea" drinks was the thoughtful gift from a Sibling who knows what type of radio shows I listen to. 

As we all prepare for the Celebration of Christmas 2011 I would like to wish all of the readers of "The World This Week" a Very Blessed Christmas Season and a Wonderful 2012.

The Flower Childs

2011 Disney World Visit

The Flower Child, His Bride and two Sons with their respective families recently visited Disney World.  We visited during the off-peak first two weeks of December.  It was a delightful trip and also an opportunity for all of us to be together to Celebrate Thanksgiving with a lovely meal and to also celebrate Christmas with a Family Gift Exchange.

Attention Advertising

No Exam/Graranteed Approval.  There is no doubt that this sign is true.   Why would anyone want to give an exam on a sure thing.  The last time I checked no one is going to get out of this life alive so no exam should be required. 

Profound!!!!

Payroll Tax Debate

United States of America

I may be uninformed, however I think that the Payroll Taxes our President and the U. S. Congress are debating is the same thing as the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) which is used to fund Social Security Payments. 

Now, before we proceed with this discussion I will inform you that I have been receiving Social Security Payments for eight years and ten months.

I remember that in the recent past our Elected Leaders decreased the amount of payment that an Employer and an Employee pay on their salary.  This decreased amount is set to expire at the end of 2011.  Recent discussion/debate between our president and the U. S. Congress has focused on the fact that this reduced level of payments should be extended to eliminate the impact of take home pay deductions for our Nation's Workers.

This may appear to be an appropriate means of spurring customer spending as the Country needs to spur economic growth.  Yes, it does sound good and our current elected leaders are now stating that failure to extend this reduced level of Payroll Taxes will have an estimated $1000.00 impact for each employee.  In short they will have $1000.00 to spend on customer goods which is reported as being necessary to improve our economy.

Please anticipate these current employees working to retirement and then depending on Social Security Payments to finance their life style.  I am confident that with decreased Payroll Taxes or FICA payments that soon it will be determined that Social Security Payments/Benefits will have to be decreased!!! 

What will happen then?  There will most likely be a dramatic downturn in the economy.  Yes, the short term benefit of continuing the current decreased Payroll Tax Deduction may allow economic growth; however what happens in ten, fifteen or twenty years when these same employees commence drawing reduced Social Security Benefits?

From my own point of view it appears that we are being set up for a vicious downward spiral of income for the very people who may now achieve short term benefits while they fail to anticipate the long term decrease in their own benefits.

Of course if you are a thinking person who can comprehend the "big picture" you will quickly realize that this is simply an opportunity for the current President to bolster his re-election chances.  No one will have to suffer any short term decrease in income if they will simply vote for him.  Thus the current debate is simply one that can be briefly stated as "an opportunity to buy the votes of the current electorate."

A sad situation indeed.  As I composed this entry today I recalled a story by Hans Christian Andersen entitled "The Emperor's New Clothes."

One summary of this story is that the Emperor's situation caused the adults to believe the Emperor was indeed clothed.  It took a child to say "But he isn't wearing anything at all!"

Is this the situation with the current debate regarding the Payroll Tax extension?  Only those who think of the long term consequences can actually see the true facts!!!  I hope not. 

Is it to late to contact your duly elected leaders?  I sincerely hope not. 

Vineville Academy of the Arts

Fine Arts Department

Macon, Georgia U.S.A.

This past Thursday, December 8th I attended the "An Old Fashioned Holiday" at Vineville Academy.  I called myself arriving early for a 6:30 P.M. performance at about 6:07 P.M.  The parking lots were filled and upon entering the Auditorium I quickly ascertained that this would be a Standing Room Only (SRO) event.

WOW!!! I thought to myself.  This is great.  The performance commenced at 6:30 P.M. and the Students at Vineville Academy performed several Violin selections employing the Suzuki method.  Great performances.

Nest we hear the Primary Chorus who sang selections appropriate to the season.  From my point of view the Ballet performances by two groups based on music by Peter Tchaikovsky was the high point of the event.

The Vineville Voices then sang several selections.  The program concluded with two groups performing Tap Dancing to musical selctions by Harry Connick, Jr.

A wonderful evening which certainly showcased the excellent talent of the Scholars of the Vineville Academy of the Arts.

The Neel Reid Story

Part IV

Macon, Georgia, U.S.A.

This is a scale model of just one of the Neel Reid Homes in Macon, Georgia.  It is the headquarters of the Federated Garden Clubs of Macon, Inc., and also known as "The Garden Center" located at 730 College Street in Macon.

The Neel Reid Display which is located at this headquarters is the feature of the next six images in this Blog Post.  The Garden Center is open four days a week, Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.  I would suggest that you take the opportunity to visit the museum quality display of the life of Neel Reid which is featured in two rooms of this historic home on College Street.  This home is just one example of the fine homes that Neel Reid designed during his brief career in the early 1900s.  To learn more please take the time to visit the display.

I would  suggest that you set aside about one hour to read all the information that is contained in these six displays as well as view all the pictures.