Today is the Anniversary of the Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre of the Air radio adaptation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. This book still continues to influence science fiction writers, me included!  There are some books and/or authors who formed the bedrock of the craft and still exert their influence after many generations. To quote Mark Twain,“There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations. We keep on turning and making new combinations indefinitely; but they are the same old pieces of colored glass that have been in use through all the ages."

There are several web sites that provide the radio broadcast for your listening pleasure.  And while we laugh at the gullibility of the 1938 listening audience, we must make allowances for them. This was back in the day of Flash Gordon, the unrest in Europe that led to WWII, and people believing news broadcasters. Happy Halloween!  ~Michael S. Pauley

Tomorrow, October 13, marks the birthday of the US Navy. There are many activities and celebrations around the country. Here are a few, if you are in the area to attend.

Navy Birthday 2015: National Museum of the U.S Navy
October 13, 2015
1:00 PM — 1:30 PM
Celebrate the Navy's 240th birthday with the National Museum of the U.S Navy!Celebrate with the National Museum of the United States Navy as we present 1775-Present: A Glimpse into 240 Years of the U.S Navy. Through a series of paintings, etchings and photographs, this exhibit highlights each decade of the past 240 years. The exhibit will open on October 13th to commemorate the U.S Navy's birthday.

For more information please visit the National Museum of the United States Navy.

Navy Birthday 2015: Submarine Force Museum
October 9, 2015
10:00 AM —2:00 PM
Celebrate the Navy's 240 Birthday with the Submarine Force Museum!


Join the Submarine Force Museum for the 240th Navy Birthday! Meet Your Navy Fair! The Submarine force museum will host CAPT Carl Lahti, Commanding officer, Naval Submarine base in attendance.

For more information please visit the Submarine Force Museum.


US Navy Birthday Celebration
910 Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
http://www.midway.org/navy-birthday

Region: Downtown
Date: October 11 - 13, 2012

Time: 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Boot camps start at 7:30 AM

Price: Various pricing. Please check website.
Follow Us On: 3-day celebration including a Flight Deck Boot Camp, a global navy re-enlistment ceremony, a movie night and a live Navy Band concert. Work out with actual Navy fitness instructors! Watch the hit film Battleship on the Midway, and much more!

Here is South Carolina, the tragedy continues to unfold. Even though the rains stopped several days ago, the flood waters will take longer to subside and will continue to wreak havoc as they move downstream. People are returning to their homes to the shock that there might be nothing left to save. Many people have lost everything, all have suffered some loss. Friends have lost homes and/or businesses, loved ones, pets, and their whole way of life. This flood has forever changed the face of our state. But in typical Southern style, we all rally around each other. Those with little left themselves offer that little bit to their neighbors. Folks with one or two dry rooms in their homes are inviting even less fortunate neighbors to camp out with them. Churches and businesses which are themselves damaged are nonetheless providing meals and shelter for their community.

The clean-up will take months. Repairs to infrastructure may take years, given the number of bridges and roads completely washed away or undermined. Crops in the fields are gone. People's jobs are gone. But we as a people are here and we will get through this tragedy as we have other tragedies in the past. We are SC Strong! ~Michael S. Pauley

After a sleepless weekend of historic rainfall, dams collapsing, streets and bridges closing, we are just thankful that all the kids, their homes and ours, survived. That is more than some people have. Too many have lost everything. One daughter was evacuated from her apartment after a small dam on the Mill pond gave way in reaction to three dams collapsing further upstream. The historic building that houses my office was damaged, with several outbuildings/businesses completely washed away. We might be able to get in there today to survey the damage. Fortunately, we are on an upper level that does not seem to have suffered any water damage, as far as anyone can tell from cursory observation. A number of roads out of town have been washed away or closed. They have reopened 2 of them, but the bridges across the main rivers are dicey. Two of the kids are on the other side of the rivers from us. At least they are safe and did not flood out. We are sorry for those in Columbia where there is no city water in many areas, including a number of hospitals, and those that do have a trickle of water are having to boil it.

People who were evacuated had to move several times due to flooding or no water at the shelters. It was so bad here that the Extreme weather center had to relocate due to the extreme weather! Our state has suffered greatly from this weather event and we pray that the death toll does not rise. It will take a long time to recover from this tragedy, with many roads and bridges around the state completely washed away. We are stunned and a little in shock at the moment. Time to put on the waders, grab a shovel, and start reclaiming our lives.  ~ Michael S. Pauley

As we wait for the rain, there is some debate over whether sand bags will suffice or should we build an ark. Here's hoping that everyone stays safe and the hurricane-related weather does not follow the worst-case scenarios of all the projections. ~ Michael S. Pauley