主的僕人

 

 

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FORT LEWIS — Hundreds of family and friends gathered in the gymnasium Tuesday, cheering at the first sight of their loved ones and then finally — after brief homecoming remarks — rushing onto the gym floor to share hugs and tears.

These were among the first of the brigade's roughly 3,800 soldiers scheduled to return to Fort Lewis in the coming weeks.

These soldiers have been part of a marathon deployment that began in June 2006, when they left to serve in Mosul, northern Iraq. They later shifted south to Baghdad. The brigade was initially scheduled to return home in June, but its tour was extended through the summer as part of the buildup of American forces in Iraq.

Many of the soldiers eventually ended up in Baqouba, camped out in tents in between missions to oust Sunni insurgents from a province just north of the capital city.

The tour was grueling and dangerous. Forty-seven brigade soldiers died in Iraq. Some of the deaths came during the three-month extension; 10 were killed in a single week that ended Aug. 6.

Within the Army, the extended tours have been controversial because of the hardships they carry for soldiers and their families. In response, Fort Lewis has stepped up support services that will include marriage retreats for couples.

For those living on post, the frequent memorial services for soldiers killed in Iraq are a constant reminder of the war's personal stakes. Akis Palma went to several of the chapel remembrances. But she kept her children from watching television clips of the war and tried to keep their focus on school as deployment wore on.

"Sometimes it was hard because when he called to talk, you never knew if that was going to be his last call," she said.

All of the soldiers got one leave back home during their 15-month tour.

The 3rd Brigade soldiers who arrived at Fort Lewis on Tuesday were an advance party, a few chosen from each unit to help organize the larger returns.

Brigade soldiers still overseas have additional work to do. They ride their Stryker vehicles on Baghdad patrols, helping train a Germany-based brigade of soldiers just starting their 15-month tour of duty.

recently, i wrote a poem in a sister's blog...

 

華盛頓州西雅圖華人浸信會誠聘副牧師，負責牧養粵語會眾。神學碩士畢業並有最少三年牧會經驗(具北美牧會經驗更佳) 。應徵請寄 ﹕CBC Pulpit Search Committee, P.O. Box 5507, Bellevue, WA  98006或電郵﹕cbc_pastor_search@yahoo.com。 

Fish processors are feeling a bit pinched to staff their operations as sardines crowd ocean waters off the North Coast this week.

Business owner Jay Bornstein attributes the labor shortage to a simple problem: "There are more jobs available than people to fill them."

Some point to industries such as construction competing for workers to fill temporary jobs, others say tougher border enforcement has cramped the flow of immigrant laborers across Mexico's border.

But this year, seasonal workers are feeling a squeeze of their own.

"They don't have a place to live," said Andreina Velasco, a migrant recruiter with the Northwest Regional Education Service District who helps students in migrant families access public education.

On the North Coast, the busy processing season begins with sardine landings in the Columbia River plume and continues with other fish stocks through the summer. Many migrant workers then move into the holly fields or tree farms before moving south for other seasonal work.

Large, mostly Latino groups are now streaming up the West Coast from picking grapes in California to packing fish in local seafood plants.

In one case, 40 people are coming to Astoria from California, "but there is nowhere for them to live," said Voleen Toten, who manages Elk Creek Terrace apartments in Cannon Beach.

"It's really tough for them right now," she said. "We see people with children living in vans in parking lots. It just breaks my heart."

At the 36-unit Elk Creek complex, one of few options in the area for low-income housing, the wait list stretches a year long, said Toten.

"If I had three times the space here I could fill it, and I'd probably still have a waiting list," she said. "That's how many people need housing."

Similar views were heard at low-income complexes up the coastline.

In Astoria, the 100 units at Bayshore Apartments are full, following a six-month stint with only about 20 tenants, manager Christian Pintea said. Another low-income option, Emerald Heights, is also at capacity. None of its 300 units is available.

Manager Susan Marshall estimated hundreds of migrant workers live at the complex.

"It's really been a struggle, because we are just full," Marshall said. "It's normally not a problem, and we have some people we've accommodated. But I just had someone a little while ago, and I had to tell them they'll have to wait."

While it's the first time the problem has posed such a hard hit to the area's migrant workforce, a lack of affordable housing is nothing new in Clatsop County, said Kathy Lucas, executive director of Clatsop County Housing Authority.

With multiple Seaside apartments undergoing conversions to condominiums, and new high-end condos in Astoria but no new affordable housing, even people with steady incomes are getting edged out of the rental market, Lucas said.

"All the housing agencies in the county are very aware of the lack of workforce and affordable housing," she said, adding a variety of factors are fueling the demand for low-priced summer rentals.

While migrant workers rely on a housing market with affordable rates and fairly short leases, business owners rely on them to provide the long hours necessary for seasonal labor.

This summer, builders working on a new paper machine at Georgia Pacific's Wauna Mill have needed temporary accommodations. Meanwhile, a healthy fish-processing industry has led at least three companies to expand sardine operations this year.

One of those companies, Da Yang Seafood Inc., was looking to fill 180 positions for this summer's whiting and sardine season.

Employees at the Seattle-based company's Astoria plant said already-scarce housing has been compounded by stricter policies at apartments. Some complexes are enforcing caps on the number of tenants allowed per unit, straining a community that often adapts to smaller units by packing in families and friends.

But Da Yang helps those workers in a variety of ways, said staff accountant Matthew Yip, such as providing English classes on nonproduction workdays and helping buy textbooks for those who earn high test scores. The business also works with the Migrant Education Program, supports mission trips by sending supplies to Mexico, and tries to connect workers with low-income housing.

"There are resources and ways to help the workers out so that they can focus on their job and eventually benefit the local community," Yip said. "They are going to live here, spend their money here and pay local taxes here in Astoria."

Between operations at Bornstein Seafoods and Astoria Pacific Seafoods, Jay Bornstein hires 100 extra employees each summer. He said he hasn't heard much about a housing crunch, but then again, it's always difficult to fill all the seasonal positions.

"It has been getting worse; part of it is sardine operations," Bornstein said. "But construction also has a big demand on folks, and agriculture. I think our economy is just very active at the moment."

Local agencies have reported limited means for dealing with the housing shortage.

Lucas, of Clatsop County, said workforce housing will be addressed at an upcoming conference, but the meeting isn't scheduled until September.

The company that runs Elk Creek Terrace is opening a new complex strictly for agricultural and natural resources workers, said Toten, of Cannon Beach. Even though the 22 units at Los Arboles are an hour and a half away in Scappoose, Toten has been recruiting on the North Coast, in hopes of finding some workers temporary shelter.

But these new apartments also have rigid rules for documentation, and Toten has received few if any applications for the units, she said. "Seventy-five percent of them just don't have the proper paperwork."

"We thought if we could get at least a few of them down there, maybe business owners could at least get a bus to take them there and to take them home. They could sleep on the way there and back," she said. "All the fisheries are having a horrible time trying to find enough workers.

"We cannot continue to wait for the government to take care of us. We are people, and we need to take care of our own first."

 

 

 

 

If you ride Metro Transit routes 255, 644, 197 or selected trips on the 952 custom bus route serving the Boeing Company’s Everett plant, you can grab your laptop, climb aboard and go on-line beginning Monday, April 9 as part of King County Metro Transit’s extended Wi-Fi pilot project. The pilot, designed to test the performance of Wi-Fi service on buses, will continue through at least the remainder of 2007.

This newest phase of the pilot, first launched in 2005, will assess the effectiveness of Wi-Fi service on longer commute bus trips serving communities such as Kenmore, Kingsgate, Overlake, Kirkland, Federal Way, Kent, Des Moines and Seattle. The new Wi-Fi routes now join the Route 197, an original pilot route, in providing free wireless Internet access to passengers who have laptops or Wi-Fi-enabled devices. 

Later this spring, Metro will expand the program to include several vanpools to gauge the technology’s effectiveness in smaller commuter vehicles.

“Since we launched the first phase of the Wi-Fi pilot, we’ve learned that many of our customers have come to rely on and appreciate this service – especially those traveling long distances to get to school or work,” King County Executive Ron Sims said. “This next phase will allow us to learn even more about customer response to the service, in addition to better understanding how Wi-Fi performs on these longer trips.”

Metro has teamed up with Sprint Cellular and Junxion, Inc., a Seattle-based mobile connection provider, to offer Wi-Fi service on 48 buses serving the four transit routes.  (Wi-Fi service on the Route 952 will be limited to the last trip in the morning and afternoon.) The Junxion boxes have been outfitted with a cellular air card allowing passengers to use their laptop computers or Wi-Fi-enabled devices to access the Internet.

In the coming months Metro, nationally known for pioneering a range of new technologies and information systems, will be looking at whether the addition of Wi-Fi on buses and vanpools influences ridership or makes riding the bus more productive and enjoyable.

The Wi-Fi service will be able to serve multiple connections at any given time. However, some laptop configurations and factors such as number of onboard users, signal strength and amount of data being downloaded could all have a bearing on Internet service and speed.

Metro will monitor ridership trends, cost, technical performance and other service considerations as part of the Wi-Fi pilot. The information gathered will help determine how and where Metro and other transit agencies may be able to successfully use Wi-Fi technology on transit routes in future years.

http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/news/2007/nr070405_wifi.htm

 

 

 

Six Stryker Brigade soldiers from Fort Lewis were killed by a roadside bomb Sunday in Iraq, the single deadliest attack on Fort Lewis soldiers since 6 were killed in a bombing more than 2 years ago.

FRIDAY:  I was very sick & lost my voice.  It's like almost the whole fellowship was sick, lots of people was coughing, of course, I was the loudest and the most frequent cougher among all.  We watched a cartoon about Esther before Bible Study, it was so funny, made me laugh so much.  Every time I laughed, I choked then coughed, but I couldn't control to laugh... esp, when Esther was called "Queeny-Poo".

 

SATURDAY:  I had a lot planned on my schedule, but finally, didn't even finish 1/3.   However, I took the most powerful medication ... SLEEPING.  I slept until 3:30pm.  I felt a lot better.  It's like the total new me from the night before.  Yes, my voice was back!  Back to the talking queen.

 

SUNDAY:  Attended a Sunday Worship evaluation meeting right after service.  It wasn't as productive as I though, we identified a lot of issues, but not many of them had conclusions and action items.  I always asked what and why are we waiting for?  Maybe CBC is too big and decision making isn't just as easy as I want.  Dandan farewell party in the afternoon.  Wow, 40+ people attended.  Over the past 4 years in Seattle, Dandan surely has gained a lot of friendship, even though he's kinda annoying sometimes (I believe no one disagrees with me).  God, thank you for putting him in my life.  I won't forget about him.  When he told everyone I'll be the one he will miss the most, a couple drops of tear came down :~), but i don't think anyone saw.  Dandan, I surely love you and wish you the best in your future.  At night, we spent some gathering time at Lees' house.  Guys played HALO, some sang karaoke, and gals chatted.  Sisters, I really enjoyed the circle chatting a lot.  Frances, thanks for your open sharing.  I haven't been spending too much time to be close with you.  I'm always afraid we have generation gaps and I am an "old cake" to people in your age.  I sincerely appreciate to your openness.  And  thanks to Jacqueline for your story.  It's like a comedy.   Windy and Theresa, I know why you love your men and bless your relationships.  Oh, I couldn't not mention our sexy princess, really, I forgot what I was going to say to you when looking at you in the gym.  My mind didn't come back until I left church and drove all the way to Chinatown. 

 

Jesus, we, CCF, has a lot of blessings, thank you for putting us together, and giving the privilege to love and to bond with one another.  I love you all! :3

 

Dandan & Windy, take care, I'm sure we'll see each other again before meeting in the heaven.

 

【明報專訊】

美國一項研究發現，每天大笑15分鐘，一年便可燃燒4.5磅體重，聲稱可能是對付癡肥的最佳方法。

科學家安排一批18至34歲的男女作能量消耗測試，參加者先收看半小時沉悶節目，再看55分鐘能令人開懷大笑的喜劇。結果發現，參加者看喜劇時的能量消耗比休息時高出一至兩成，相當於步行0.8公里的消耗量。此外，笑可加速心跳，鍛煉不同部位的肌肉。

 

HA HA HA   HA HA HA   HA HA HA  

Be happy, everyone!

By Hal Bernton (January 11, 2007)
Seattle Times staff reporter

President Bush's new war plan is expected to affect thousands of Washington-based military personnel, stepping up the timetable for deployment for some Army soldiers and raising the possibility that others will face longer tours of duty.

The plan places a premium on combat troops, including the Fort Lewis-based soldiers who patrol in eight-wheeled Stryker vehicles in Baghdad.

One Fort Lewis Stryker brigade of 3,800 soldiers now scheduled for an Iraq deployment this summer will be sent there ahead of schedule, according to military officials, who provided no dates. That unit, the 4th Brigade 2nd Infantry Division, would be on its first tour of duty in Iraq.

Another Fort Lewis Stryker brigade already is based in Baghdad, with infantry troops this week involved in a major battle in a Sunni area.

That unit — the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry division — is scheduled for a 12-month stay that would end in June. The deployment could extend if commanders think more combat force is necessary to try to quell violence through summer. Last summer, an Alaska-based Stryker brigade's tour of duty was extended four months as part of an effort to increase troop strength in Baghdad.

But Joe Piek, a Fort Lewis spokesman, said at this point there are no plans to extend the Stryker deployments.

"It's a possibility, but when you look at that Stryker brigade, it is just halfway through the one-year point," Piek said. "I think it's far too premature to talk about any Fort Lewis unit remaining in Iraq longer than planned."

The plan for more troops in Iraq could also affect the Washington National Guard, which, depending on how long the troop increase lasts, could face stepped-up deployment dates.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, about 6,500 of the 8,500 members of the Washington National Guard have deployed overseas.

The biggest National Guard unit is the 81st Brigade, which in early 2005 returned home from 12 months in Iraq. The brigade is scheduled to be called back to active duty in 2009, but soldiers said they have heard some reports that the call-up could come in 2008.

Earlier this week, retired Col. Rick Patterson, a National Guard spokesman, said he had "no information or inkling" of an earlier call-up date.

Washington-based Army reserve units, which typically offer logistical and other support for combat units, also could be affected by the troop increases.

Bush, in his Wednesday speech, said the new plan would have U.S. units working more closely with Iraqis, and give the troops the freedom to secure all areas of Baghdad without political interference from the Iraqi government.

Bush said the plan offered the best hope for stabilizing Iraq. But he acknowledged that it offered no guarantees of success, and that the next year will likely bring more violence and deaths.

The speech left some families of Fort Lewis soldiers hungry for more details.

"The president just did not give a good enough description of what he thought should happen," said Rachel Reese, wife of Staff Sgt. Gaylord Reese, who is deployed in Iraq. "He was very vague. Twenty minutes [of speech] for something we have lost so many lives over; I don't think it's good enough."

Another Stryker brigade wife, Jenny Armstrong, said she was putting her faith in God. "I'm just praying that he [Bush] knows what he is doing," said Armstrong, whose husband, Staff Sgt. Adam Armstrong, is in Iraq. "God is in control, and he will ultimately make this work, if it was meant to be."

During the speech, Bush admitted mistakes have been made in Iraq, and that things have not gone as hoped. That candor won praise from some.

"Nothing has gone the way it was talked about, and I'm glad that is finally coming out," said Katy Wise, whose son, Alex Montalvo, serves with a Fort Lewis brigade.

Wise said she initially supported the war but has been disappointed over the past two years. She said she has not supported putting more U.S. troops in Iraq, but after listening to the president, she'll take a "wait-and-see attitude."

Montalvo, who is home on leave from Baghdad, said troop morale remains high. He welcomed Bush's statements that the brigades would be allowed to pursue insurgents and terrorists without political interference.

"If the president and the Iraqi governments are serious about lifting the restrictions, that would make our mission a lot easier. It could expedite the mission's success."

 

 

 

 

 

 

【明報專訊】日本「大男人主義」人所共知，鑑於最近中老年人士的離婚率上升，「大男人協會」提倡老婆至上的新10段準則，其中「段數」最高的是要向老婆說「我愛你」，希望一洗日本男士的歪風，做個愛妻的「新大男人」。

日本男性退休後賦閒在家，仍端起架子對家務不聞不問，只管妻子服侍。許多女性無法忍受丈夫的大男人性格而離婚。

有見及此，「全國大男人協會」提倡「新大男人10段準則」(見表)，希望男士改變頑梗的觀念。會長天野稱，以前常對太太發脾氣，直至生意失敗，太太也得了抑鬱症，才發覺她很重要，故成立此協會，希望鼓勵其他男性與妻子和睦共處，解決中年離婚危機。

 

click this heart to see the 「新大男人10段準則」

 

 

 

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:  You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's almost 6pm on Thur, suddenly I got a call from ALAN.  I though he left already at 0500 (that's how military say time), my first feeling wasn't that good. But thankfully, it's all just because his flight was delayed.  Now he's getting ready to depart in a few minutes and just wanna say: