A most historical election by Tony Green

It is the eve of the 2008 presidential election in the United States. In normal circumstances, I would be anticipating voting in this historic election, however, due to my permanent absentee status I have mailed in my ballot. Currently, I am in Japan to attend a business meeting convened at the last second.

In all likelihood, Barack Obama will be become the 44th President –elect of the United States. I was born at the end of the sixties and I would have never thought that this country, who I have proudly served in its Navy, would ever elect a black man to its highest office within my lifetime.

I wish I could be with my family to explain the historic moment in the history of the United States. As an African-American father I is my duty to ensure that the future generation understand the struggles proceeding this day. My children are both younger than 10 years old but I believe that they should at least experience enough of the occasion to be able to understand its significance.

For now, I am left to try to find an English speaking television station and give toasts the 88% of non-African-Americans who have chosen Mr. Obama their based on his ability and not his race and to the current 250 million Americans who hopefully will thrive under his leadership.
Champagne would be in order but given my current location, sake will work fine. Kampai!

Photo courtesy of http://www.Freefoto.com

Watering hole by Tony Green

From my time in the military and working in high technology, I have visited Japan many times. Recently, I visited Himeji on a business trip for the first time.

Some places in Japan are more comfortable for someone who did not speak Japanese to have drink after work without having a translator available.

Other places in the Japanese countryside might not be as amenable. In short, you would have a difficult going into a place and ordering a beer. Upon my arrival in Himeji, I was unsure where Himeji fit in.

After dinner, my colleagues were nice enough to take me to a watering hole where a foreigner could feel comfortable as the bartender and many of the patrons spoke English.

It was the quintessential Dive Bar where only after coming a few times for drinks you determined who the regulars are. In the course of an evening, you can have a conversation with a person in Japanese/English, another with some fellows from Germany, finally to a pair of girls from the Philippines.

If you are looking for a foreigner bar in Hijemi, check out the Tiger Pub. It is well worth the visit.

September Eleventh by Tony Green

The anniversary of 9/11 was quietly marked across the nation by the flags being hung at half-mast. There was some news coverage on the news. The most distinct coverage occurred on the sport radio show I normally listen to the way home.
The host of the sports radio program “JT the Brick” chose to deviate from the normal sports theme. I thought it was good to continue the nations healing. Everyone remembers where they were on that fateful morning.
That morning I had jury duty, the last time I had to report to the Alameda County courthouse, questioning as I would be assigned to a trial.
The morning stated differently when the sports radio broke in with the news on a plane hitting the world Trade Center. During the train ride people were talking on cell phones and to each other.
The moment hit home when I remember receiving a voice mail from my mother who lived near the Pentagon who called me because she was unsettled due the smoke smell in her apartment from the plane that hit the Pentagon. I called to make sure it she was alright and to comfort her on what must have been surreal day for millions of Americans.
There many conversations that people had that morning helping each other work through the emotions of that day. Moving forward I hope that tragedy shouldn’t be necessary to bring people together.

Photo courtesy of http://www.Freefoto.com

Not so Abnormal by Tony Green

The military has many jobs that require traveling. A person may be required to spend some time away from home. The circumstances vary from peace time where a mission may take only a few days to complete to a war time situation the mission continued until victory is achieved. In most cases, opportunities existed to breathe fresh air and bask in sunlight during moments of non-activity. Not in the case of the submariner.
As a submariner there are times where you are required to go a month or more without breathing fresh air and seeing sunlight. The air is generated from oxygen generators on board which produce oxygen by the distillation of the seawater the submarine travels through.

The air was regulated, however, if mission requirements called for not going to the surface to get fresh air the results were over time the oxygen levels would decrease slightly below to begin to make everyone a little drowsy.

In addition, as the cycle of the rise and setting of the sun sets your sleep patterns the effect of not seeing sunlight is mitigated by the fact the submarine operates on 18 hour days. Once you body gets used to the schedule the sun is barely missed at all. This may be a bit abnormal to most people but simply another day in the life of a submariner.

Once the submarine pulls back in port the first breath of air coupled with the experience of the first warm rays of sunlight are like a rebirth. The return to port signifies a return to normalcy on only to savor the outdoors but also a time for reuniting with loved ones who you have had no contact with. Sometimes though of your loved ones are what keeps you going during the long times while you are away.

In a sense, I guess I was not so abnormal after all.

Troubleshooting by Tony Green

The scenario is along these lines. A complex mechanical electro system is not functioning. As this system is producing revenue creating its designed product there is a lot of money at stake if the system is not brought back to normal operation quickly. Your job is to repair the equipment and return it to operation.
Where do you start? There could be an infinite amount of things that may have caused the problem. You realize that the pressure cooker is about to begin unless progress is made.
Suddenly you remember the seven step troubleshooting procedure you learned while you were in the Navy as a nuke.
You identify and elaborate on the symptoms, identify the list possible faulty components, and narrow down that list to the one that you suspect is causing your problem and finally create a possible retest procedure after performing a root cause analysis.
Yet, the system is still not working. You relax and try a few more things. As this process occurs you ensure that you are thinking positive thoughts as you have initially been stumped yet were eventually successful. After a few additional adjustments to your list of what may be causing the problem you find your culprit and the system is brought back into operation.
After breathing a sigh of relief that the crisis has been averted and receiving kudos from management you reflect on how you got the job done once more.
In the end you used two things: a process of determining the problem and a true belief that you would figure out the solution. Yes, with that you can fix anything…