Kennedy and the 109

An interesting and (I thought) balanced piece on President Kennedy's service aboard the PT-109http://www.historynet.com/pt-109-disaster.htm/print/.  Essentially, Kennedy could have avoided combat via his old man's connections but he wanted (and got) something in the Pacific Theater.  As a commanding officer, he was a loose cannon and the 109 was cut in two by a Japanese destroyer and Kennedy and his men were left adrift in dangerous waters.  Then, to his credit, he successfully and bravely looked out for them until they were rescued.  I thought the article summed it all up pretty well--both the blemishes and the bright spots.  Then, you read the follow up letters and you'd think what was written was either a puff piece or on the other hand, evil muckracking yellow journalism.  Do people read anymore?  I wonder.

Legendary cocksman and future President Kennedy aboard the PT-109

Saw "Cedar Rapids" this weekend.  Generally okay--some laughs but wait for it on HBO or Cinemax or whatever when you're not surfing for something less idiotic than was on the previous station.  It's hard, but give it a try.  Did watch "A Serious Man," an effort by the Coen Brothers that I had completely missed.  It's a heavily Jewcentric effort and not for everyone but I found it fascinating.  I'm thinking it was probably the Coens dredging up some memories and characters from childhood to go with a story about a wound too tight college physics professor and his family in the mid sixties.  They nailed the period pretty good--the houses, cars, etc. are dead on.  Also, "F Troop" on the television.  In black and white, of course.  We had black and white at my house then--the old man was convinced that color TV was a passing fad.  He missed on that one.  He also had a dismal record in buying cars--each was more awful than the last--and had certifiably rotten luck when it came to hunting and fishing and we did a lot of it together, so I know.  But, like President Kennedy, he made it back from the Pacific War alive, and that was saying something.  Lots of young guys with piss and vinegar and cut out to be future presidents did not.