At the end of January 1968, during the first day of the Lunar New Year (Tet), across South Viet Nam, tens of thousands Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regulars attacked administrative centers, military bases and cities in the belief that they would be met joyously by the citizens of the South as liberators. 

At over seven hundred pages, I approached this book with a certain degree of trepidation; am I really that interested in Hamilton and what about his life could hold my interest.  Within a few pages, Chernow snagged me by bringing a man I knew little of into my life and presenting an exciting brilliant personality that fundamentally changed the course of history.

As we are growing up, we have a tend to either ignore or tune out the stories and experiences of our parents.  We think their ideas are so old fashioned, or that their experiences do not impact on our lives, little realizing that their stories and memories are in reality subtle learning tools for us to lead better lives.  Later, when they are old and we have families and real lives of our own, we sometimes ask them about some memory or story they mentioned years ago, but with failing memories or sadness caused by those stories, they may be reluctant to dredge them up.  We then are sad and realize that experiences in their lives will be lost forever and that someday, we shall be like them, trying to remember the good and trying to keep their sorrows and mistakes buried.

Okinawa is an often-forgotten battle; begun on April 1, 1956 and lasting for over two months, it was often overshadowed by the final days of the war in Europe (VE Day is May 8).  The news stories of the victorious Allied armies meeting at the Elbe, the fall of Berlin and the surrender of hundreds of thousands of Germans took first place ahead of a battle on a grimy island that few had ever heard of and still fewer could find on a map.  Yet, this (at the time) obscure battle had a decisive factor on the remaining war between the U.S. and Japan, for it was during this battle that the U.S. faced a full attack from the Kamikazes, a Japanese foe who was fighting on their home territory and where U.S. casualties began to equal Japanese losses.

The facts in this Wall Street Journal article Data Disprove the ‘Voter Suppression’ Myth will help you put into perspective the words of those who will continue to beat the drum of voter suppression. We have heard for years that asking for voter ID is an undue hardship to many and that it is all part of an attempt by one group (Republicans) to suppress the vote of other groups (Blacks, Hispanics, etc.). 

There are numerous videos on the web on how to set up your humidor but this one is pretty good.  Remember that if you are just starting out, do the basics the right way and you will eliminate problems down the road.