"Time is a train, makes the future the past, leaves you standing there, your face pressed up against the glass."
- U2 'Zoo Station'
See the theme from 'Condo' U2 Zoo Station live in Chicago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsni9fEl4ws
Kato and the Jet were scrunched into a compartment of a China Air airliner crossing the Pacific. The roar of jet engines, wind, and echo filled the tiny compartment. The Jet looked over at Kato. He was really scared. Really really f***ing scared. The Jet thought, 'time for the pep talk'. The Jet never got scared. He welcomed death, to relieve him of the terrible tragedy of his feelings. He knew no man would ever be able to desecrate his death. The Jet spoke into the microphone of his state of the art field suit. He could leap from the aircraft and dive into the ocean with it. The utility belt was about as good as Batman's.
"Hey, Kato."
"What?"
"You know what military honor is?"
"It's doing what you are told to do even though you don't want to do it." said Kato.
"No, that's not what it is. It's how you honor others." said the Jet. — March 11, 2010 9:54 a.m.
The Chinese intelligence briefer handed Kato and the Jet packets of information and began a Power Point demonstration.
Here is an authentic video on the trash gyre and efforts to collect smaples and investigate it, like Kato and the Jet were being tasked to do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLrVCI4N67M
When the briefing was over, Kato and the Jet were pretty concerned, and they understood why their superiors were sending them. But why in secret, and why the rush?
Kato asked
"Sir, what will be done with our research, if I may ask?"
"Your findings will be used by scientists at the highest level to expand our understanding of the trash gyre. Much is being written and researched about environmental concerns. China must know what is factual, for economic and political decision taking. It won't do much good for China to expand opportunities for our people if it causes a catastrophe in coming decades. Secrecy is important on this mission because of the delicate politics that surround these issues. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is that you accomplish these tasks. Our government will soon begin negotiations with counterparts on these vital matters, which affect all of humanity. These issues will be discussed at the forthcoming Copenhagen Conference." — March 10, 2010 9:48 a.m.
Morbid Curiosity
Yeah, wasabi is good for you. I think. I love spicy food and capsiacin (whats in hot chili peppers) is supposed to be good for you. You know, back in the day, we used to mix tequila with Squirt soda. The thing about tequila is to eat before you drink or it'll burn a hole in your gut. I stick to beer because I'm an addictive personality. Its my drug of choice. And before I drink a mixer, I'll smoke some bud, and swig some beer. Refried knows what I'm talking about. tommy Chong baby, earth medicine. This is my life...........— March 15, 2010 6:53 p.m.
Furry Children
It was starting to get dark when a huge freighter ship came into view. Kato and the Jet were really happy, because they were tired and sleepy. They boarded it at the helm, with grappling hook, hauled their bounty of scientific samples aboard, and climbed a stack of shipping containers. At one row the front one was lower than the back one- good cover from the bridge. They spread their stuff out and crashed. Noone was going to be climbing around the containers on the deck of the freighter at this time. With a good nights sleep, they could reconnoiter the ship at first light. When you get on a ship in the middle of the Pacific ocean, after all you've been through- sack out. Morning came. They awoke, perused the ship stealthily, and returned. They ate energy bars, and relaxed. "Hey, Kato. How come you so happy all the time?" the Jet asked. "You don't want to know." said Kato. "Yeah, I do. You not happy all the time, but you are alot happier than me." said the Jet. "I read Dalai Lama." said Kato. The Jet laughed out loud at that, even having to make sure he didn't laugh too loud. The sun was out, they were laying on shipping containers on an enormous east bound freighter. "I'm not kidding, Jet. You ever read Dalai Lama?" "Hell, no. That's not approved reading. Was it assigned to you in Westernization class?" "No, my grandfather make me read it when I join Army." "Why would he do that?" asked the Jet. "My grandfather know when I join Army, I be in trouble if I read Dalai Lama. Also, he very mad I join Army." The Jet laughed again. "Kato, you impress me. Now you surprise me. I don't have to read Dalai Lama to be happy. You know what makes me happy?" "What?" "Being in the military makes me happy." said the Jet.— March 14, 2010 9:18 p.m.
Furry Children
Kato immediately turned his spotlight to full power, and encircled the device, filming it. Then the two swam quickly away from it. They had other things to do, and the device was heavy. Their orders were to collect samples of the water in different places. They had done their Michael Moore bit. Now it was the time to bring back samples. They knew where the device was. They swam below and around the hot spot. They surfaced, swam to their gear, pulled it out, swam to the collection point, and spent the next many hours collecting water samples. The time came for them to swim away, to a shipping lane. That took a good while. Finally Kato and the Jet arrived in a shipping lane where they could hitch a ride back home. They were really tired, as they floated on the water, resting. They had removed their hoods. They had all they're equipment, they'd achieved each goal in the mission, and they'd filmed an American sensor. All in all, a good few days work.— March 13, 2010 2:26 p.m.
Furry Children
After Kato had stretched he followed the Jet on a course for the edge of the Pacific trash gyre hot spot. They pulled rip cords, and began angling for the precise landing area. Winter storms had clumped huge mounds of trash, some looked practically like islands. It was going to be a dangerous dive. They landed in the ocean feet first, released their parachutes and tied them together with heavier equipment, tethered themselves together, and donned enormous swim fins. On their diving hoods were powerful lights, cameras and inside, intercoms. The Jet had a long pole. On either end was a powerful melting device. Kato had a large spot light/digital camera. The Jet would lead and Kato would illuminate the way from slightly behind. They descended into a Dante's Inferno of lifeless debris. The Jet was pushing debris out of the way with the pole, while he made his way downward, his swim fins rising and falling, rising and falling. Kato was filming everything. "Jet! Go right!" An entangled mass of trash, with a steel I beam protruding from it came out of nowhere. The Jet whirled to his right, struck the I beam with his pole, and went backward. Again he struck the I-beam to regain balance, and got underneath the peril. Within a half hour they were underneath the massive pieces of trash. "Hey, whats that?" Said the Jet. "What?" asked Kato pointing the spotlight where the Jet was looking. "I saw a flash of light. Come on." said the Jet. "Are you sure?" The poles melting rod produced a white hot flash, that they had to look away from. Maybe the Jets eyes were playing tricks on him in this lightless environment. "I'm positive. Lets go." They swam toward the light the Jet had seen. When they got there, they found what looked a little like a small satellite. "What is it, Jet?" The Jet swam around it, examining it. "LOOK!" the Jet cried. There was an American flag on the strange device.— March 13, 2010 10:37 a.m.
Furry Children
Kato looked at the Jet. He would have to think about that. Someone pounded twice on the container: prepare to jump. The small, square container was mounted in the lower rear tail section of the China Air 747. A few seconds later, explosive charges in the bolts of the fuselage panel of the compartment blew,and the panel gave way, to join the rest of the garbage in the Pacific trash gyre. Kato and the Jet fell out of the plane, and a replacement fuselage panel slid into place a split second later. Techinicians began dismantling the compartment. In the air Kato was beginning some stretching exercise as he fell to Earth. He had been cramped in the compartment. The Jet was whizzing around Kato in a cork screw, his arms back and to his sides. It would be a few minutes until they reached the point where they would deploy parachutes, and land in the hot zone of the Pacific trash gyre. Kato could tell that the Jet was having the time of his life as they rushed on into the future: Julieta Venegas - Bien o Mal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOYWgg33JMU— March 11, 2010 2:36 p.m.
Morbid Curiosity
Well, this is just a very, very disturbing piece:| But it does apply to us, after all. Speaking of elephantiasis, I think the dream sequence in 'The Elephant Man' is very realistic and evocative.. Yet I was saddened that Robert Downey Jr. was snubbed again by the Academy, after his deft, captivating portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. Pistol Pete's Foghorn Leghorn was a shoe in.— March 11, 2010 2 p.m.
Furry Children
"Time is a train, makes the future the past, leaves you standing there, your face pressed up against the glass." - U2 'Zoo Station' See the theme from 'Condo' U2 Zoo Station live in Chicago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsni9fEl4ws Kato and the Jet were scrunched into a compartment of a China Air airliner crossing the Pacific. The roar of jet engines, wind, and echo filled the tiny compartment. The Jet looked over at Kato. He was really scared. Really really f***ing scared. The Jet thought, 'time for the pep talk'. The Jet never got scared. He welcomed death, to relieve him of the terrible tragedy of his feelings. He knew no man would ever be able to desecrate his death. The Jet spoke into the microphone of his state of the art field suit. He could leap from the aircraft and dive into the ocean with it. The utility belt was about as good as Batman's. "Hey, Kato." "What?" "You know what military honor is?" "It's doing what you are told to do even though you don't want to do it." said Kato. "No, that's not what it is. It's how you honor others." said the Jet.— March 11, 2010 9:54 a.m.
Furry Children
The Chinese intelligence briefer handed Kato and the Jet packets of information and began a Power Point demonstration. Here is an authentic video on the trash gyre and efforts to collect smaples and investigate it, like Kato and the Jet were being tasked to do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLrVCI4N67M When the briefing was over, Kato and the Jet were pretty concerned, and they understood why their superiors were sending them. But why in secret, and why the rush? Kato asked "Sir, what will be done with our research, if I may ask?" "Your findings will be used by scientists at the highest level to expand our understanding of the trash gyre. Much is being written and researched about environmental concerns. China must know what is factual, for economic and political decision taking. It won't do much good for China to expand opportunities for our people if it causes a catastrophe in coming decades. Secrecy is important on this mission because of the delicate politics that surround these issues. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is that you accomplish these tasks. Our government will soon begin negotiations with counterparts on these vital matters, which affect all of humanity. These issues will be discussed at the forthcoming Copenhagen Conference."— March 10, 2010 9:48 a.m.
Furry Children
KATO - ORIGINS! - FIELD DIVE INTO THE PACIFIC TRASH GYRE Kato was wearing his Chinese Army uniform when he walked into the briefing office. There was the Jet, in his Chinese Air Force uniform. He didn't know what it was all about. He went and said hi to the Jet and sat down. The Jet was tense, even for him. An intel Dilbert walked in, and said "Men, there is an enormous gyre of trash in the pacific ocean. We wish for you to dive into it, collect samples, and return them to us for analysis. It must be done in secret, for we do not wish to share our actions or understandings with other parties, at least for the moment." Kato started to sweat visibly, but the Jets eyes were locked onto the briefer, who continued "You will leap from a commercial aircraft at over 20,000 feet, collect samples, swim to a shipping lane, and secretly board a ship back to China. Are there any questions?" The Jet looked over at Kato, who was now pale in addition to being covered in sweat. "Sir, may I have a word with Kato?" asked the Jet. "Of course. Take your time. Go into the next room." Kato and the Jet went into the next room and closed the door. BLAMMO! The Jet grabbed Kato by the lapels and slammed him into the wall. "You're afraid aren't you?!" he hissed into Kato's face. BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kato shoved the Jet in his chest, and he went flying backwards across the room, fell backward and slid on his rear. He jumped back up. "Don't touch my uniform, Jet. I wouldn't like if you disrespect my uniform." said Kato. The Jet flew back into Kato's face, and growled "You disrespect your own uniform, because you're scared. Don't accuse me of anything. This is not a suicide mission, its not even that dangerous. Why are you afraid?" "When I was a child, I live in trash dump. The ocean is so big. Think Jet- if our superiors want us to examine the trash, it must be very big. It scares me." "You must do this, Kato. I envy you because you feel fear. I don't. I just have rage in my heart. The sky and the ocean are where I feel free, where I can be happy. I chose you to accompany me and you are afraid at the first mention of things. Do you want our children to live in trash like you did?" "No." "Then we must do as we are told, dive into the trash, and bring some back so it can be analyzed. How can we solve such problems if we don't adequately understand what is happening?" "I understand. Okay." Kato and the Jet walked back into the briefing room, where the briefer was laying out maps and instructions. He acted as if nothing had happened.— March 9, 2010 1:20 p.m.
Furry Children
Veronica was side stage, and when she first saw Kato, she didn't recognize him. Then she saw the way he moved, and knew it was him. It only added to her anguish. The Copenhagen Conference was supposed to be about green sustainable living, and protecting the environment. Tim Versace had explicit instructions to be diplomatic, but as soon as he had hooked the audience, he had reverted to form. Bagging on Mercedes Benz and challenging people to race. Veronica didn't think that would go over very well in Europe. Then when Kato showed up, Veronica was embarrassed and ashamed. Why couldn't Tim take care of himself by acting like a mature adult? Kato was mature, and Veronica knew he was a kind of superman, but he carried himself responsibly, and never shot off his mouth like Tim Versace. Kato noticed Veronica, and how upset she was. He slid over to her, and hugged her, saying "Don't worry."— March 9, 2010 1:19 p.m.