Pearl Harbor hero laid to rest

Ed Chlapowski didn't set out to be a hero the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, but he certainly played a very important role in helping save countless lives that day. This past Sunday, he was laid to rest in Montana. Please honor his memory by honoring his wish: That the sacrifices of those who died on December 7, 1941 will never be forgotten.

Pearl Harbor survivor Chlapowski buried in Laurel veterans cemetery
by Mary Pickett, Billings Gazette

Ron Crocker didn't know Ed Chlapowski, but the retired chief petty officer, decked out in his dress uniform, came to Chlapowski's burial on Friday to honor a fellow sailor.

As a young U.S. Navy radioman, Chlapowski witnessed the bombing of Pearl Harbor and sent out the first message to the Pacific fleet of the attack. He died at age 88 on Sunday at his home in Billings.

After a funeral Mass at Little Flower Catholic Church on Friday morning, Chlapowski was buried with full military honors at the Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery in Laurel, one of several veterans' projects that Chlapowski actively supported during his life.

Crocker had been stationed at Pearl Harbor for part of his 36 years of duty and considered Chlapowski a hero for his service during the Japanese attack on the Hawaiian Islands.

Chlapowski had been a sailor on the USS Arizona until he was transferred to Adm. Husband Kimmel's staff as a radioman at the Pearl Harbor submarine base.

Just after he got off duty early on Dec. 7, 1941, he saw the roof of a Hickam Field hangar blown off and Japanese planes flying overhead. Running back to the radio shack, he sent out the message that the attack was under way and was not a drill.

Later, he would see smoke rise from the sinking Arizona, with many of his friends still on board. The painful memory of that sight never dimmed for him.

Over several decades of interviews with The Billings Gazette around anniversaries of the attack, Chlapowski expressed concern that the sacrifice of those who died that day would be forgotten.

Veterans attending the Laurel services remembered Chlapowski's support, too.

"Ed always came out to stand up for veterans," said Scott Stewart, a fellow member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 1634. "He was a nice man who will be missed."

Stewart's VFW post joined members of VFW Post 6774 to serve as the color guard at the burial. American Legion Post 4, of which Chlapowski also was a member, formed the honor guard.

As a chilly wind whipped across the cemetery, a volley of seven rifles rang out three times.

Burt Gigoux played taps on his cornet as Chlapowski had requested him to do.

Yeoman Second Class Terry Hunt and Engineering Aide Second Class Raymond Reeves folded the American flag after it was removed from Chlapowski's blue-gray casket. Retired Cmdr. Jim Forseth solemnly saluted the folded flag before presenting it to Chlapowski's family.

Hawaiian leis worn by most of the pallbearers brought a touch of the tropics to the service.

Although well-known for his World War II service, Chlapowski went on to a long life of other accomplishments. He and his wife, Betty, were married nearly 68 years and had seven children. His obituary in The Gazette noted his pride in his three sons and four daughters all graduating from college.

Chlapowski worked 34 years for the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller and served as a Billings City alderman for one term.

Cookies anyone?

This is so funny, and so true! From World Magazine:

If you give a politician a cookie
by Alex Tokarev

(Inspired by Laura Numeroff’s books, with special thanks to my children Kristin and Noel)

If you give a politician a cookie, he will make a mental note to reprimand you later, on a Sesame Street show, for serving unhealthy foods. While he is chewing on his sixth cookie, he will ask you for a glass of organic milk. If you give him the milk, he will most likely spill some of it on your carpet. When he notices the stain, he will cite you for violating property maintenance codes. As soon as he is done with the paperwork, he will send FDA agents to raid the nearby Amish farm on suspicions that they have sold you unauthorized raw milk.

To prevent further spilling, he is going to ask you for a straw. While he is blowing bubbles in his glass, he may notice that the straw is plastic. This will inspire him to write a bill that requires you to recycle it. When he eats a few more cookies and drinks another quart of milk, he will need to visit your bathroom. There he may notice that your toilet uses more than the federally mandated amount of water to flush. This will remind him to increase your sewage tax. If he notices that you are out of kid’s dental floss, he may file a complaint with Social Services charging you with child endangerment.

When he gets out of the bathroom, he may notice that the place is littered with cookie crumbs. He will ask you to evacuate your home until EPA removes the bio-hazardous material from the floor. (He will solemnly pledge to PETA that the ants and cockroaches attracted by the crumbs will be relocated in the most humane manner and at the expense of the homeowner.) All this talking, thinking, and legislating will make him thirsty. So he will ask for a glass of milk. And chances are, if you get him the milk, he will want a cookie to go with it. . . .

Join us for Reagan/Palin Appreciation Month!

Won't you join other supporters in celebrating the month of February as Reagan/Palin Appreciation Month? Please read this note from Fay of the Sarah Palin Information Blog:

February is the month five of our presidents were born (4 past and 1 future). It also marks the 100th anniversary of President Reagan’s birth. We would celebrate Governor Palin’s and President Reagan’s birthdays anyway, but since the liberal media has called for a Palin moratorium, the authors at the Sarah Palin Information Blog have decided to spearhead a Reagan/Palin Appreciation Month. We want to honor Reagan for his outstanding service to our country, and we want to honor Governor Palin for her accomplishements and for all she continues to do for our country.

President Reagan fought Communism from the time he worked in Hollywood through his years in office and won the Cold War without firing a shot. His famous line, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” will ring through history. America prospered during his Presidency as Reaganomics stimulated the economy, increased employment, and cut taxes and government expenditure. Ronald Reagan’s policies also increased the strength of our military.

Governor Sarah Palin has stood up and spoken out fearlessly in defense of conservative principles and national security when others remained silent,and she has taken the darts and arrows for doing so. And we have seen over an over that she was right. Her tireless efforts during the mid-term elections also helped elect men and women who will represent the American people instead of the establishment. All of her supporters are waiting anxiously in the hope that she will run for President and help lead our country out of the mess the current administration has gotten us into.

During February, as we celebrate President Reagan’s legacy and Governor Palin’s accomplishments, the Palin-friendly blogs that participate in Reagan/Palin Appreciation Month will be ramping up their coverage of all things Sarah Palin in a show of support for Governor Palin. We are asking all Sarah Palin supporters to sign the Reagan/Palin Appreciation Month Proclamation. Palin-friendly blogs that want to participate in this celebration can request to be added as sponsors of the Proclamation by using the Contact Petition Sponsor button on the petition website after signing the Proclamation.

February is barely a week away now, so let’s get organized to have a great month of celebration for two great Presidents – one who has finished his course and one who is waiting in the wings to bear his torch.

If you'd like to sign the proclamation, you can use the link in the note above, or by clicking on the Reagan/Palin graphic on my right sidebar. Join us in the celebration!

Dick Morris tells Sarah Palin not to speak out

What is it about Sarah Palin? Political pundits want to put her in a box. She is unconventional and does not do what is "expected" of someone who is involved in politics. She does what Americans expect of their politician.

Dick Morris (with Eileen McGann) wrote a piece titled "The Perils of Palin." Ah, there ya go Dick. You haven't been making headlines lately, so write something about Sarah Palin and you'll be sure to pick up a few readers. He states in his article:

"The lesson is simply this: She should not become a battering ram hammering at liberal critics - getting down into the mud with them - answering every attack, no matter how low, personal, or undeserved it is. She is a potential candidate for the Republican Party. As such, she needs to keep her own head unbloodied and intact. Battering rams don't find that easy to do."

Dick Morris goes on to say "The point is that Palin should not and cannot answer." What is wrong with this picture? How many times have we seen government officials stand there and not answer the questions asked of them. She did not ask to be put in this spotlight, and yet she was compelled to speak out. She was criticized recently for taking too long to answer, and now is being criticized for answering at all.

That is why the GOP stands around like a bunch of sheep, being led to slaughter. That is why when one of their own is viciously attacked, they just watch, not wanting to be "bloodied" themselves trying to defend her.

"Critics charged that she looked more concerned about her defending own personal reputation from the attacks than with the national tragedy that had just taken place."

Dick must have been watching a different video. Sarah Palin repeated over and over again how terrible this tragedy was, and did not single herself out but spoke in general terms, reminding everyone by quoting Ronald Reagan: "We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker."

Sarah Palin said she's not going to sit down and shut up. Encouraging her to do so is foolish. She got your attention, didn't she Dick?

Safety-conscious moose

Video from KTUU.com showing a moose using a crosswalk on the streets of Anchorage, Alaska!

Moose Uses Crosswalk

GOP Watches as Palin is thrown "Under The Bus"

I remember watching an episode of a news program once, something like 20/20 or 60 minutes, where they planted a small child, say 2 years old, in the middle of a busy shopping mall with a hidden camera on the child. The child was safe, being carefully watched, but the implication to those in the mall was that this child was "alone" - this child had somehow become separated from whomever was supposed to be caring for him. The experiment was timed to see just how long it would take before someone would come to this child's rescue. To everyone's astonishment, it was a very long time before anyone even approached this child. He was obviously alone, obviously distraught, but alas no one entered to help him.

What about a woman who is being attacked, say in a mall parking lot? Who among us would step forward and actually "do" something? Would we just stand by and watch as this woman is victimized? Well folks, many just have, and especially those in our GOP leadership. They've stood by as they watched Sarah Palin being thrown "under the bus," being blamed for the terrible events that unfolded in Tuscon. Where is our leadership? Why are they not interceding? Sarah Palin is far from helpless, far from the child in the mall, but nonetheless, no less deserved of defense than that child, or the victimized woman. Why have they not defended her?

Some GOP leaders, days after the event took place and Sarah Palin was libeled, took to the microphones and spoke in generalities about "rhetoric" and "targeting" and "crosshairs," but did one of them mention her by name and come out and defend her? While the "blamestream media" (according to Michelle Malkin) took Sarah Palin apart piece by piece, the GOP just stood by and watched. You know what they call that in legal terms? Being complicit. They had a moral obligation to say something and did not. How can we expect them to stand up for our rights on the floor of the house or senate if they can't stand up for one of their own against the media onslaught? This has been a wake up call on many levels. If you're a republican but not a Sarah Palin supporter, take a good long look at the person you support and ask yourself - where was your candidate? What did they say about this and when did they say it?

Rush Limbaugh discusses the lack of support for Sarah Palin from the GOP leadership while reading a post from Legal Insurrection titled We Just Witnessed the Media's Test Run To Re-Elect Barack Obama. He also predicts she will "wipe the floor with Obama" if given the chance. I hope he's right.

Please watch the video by clicking this link: Rush: Palin would wipe the floor with Obama

Palin Promotions' "A Debate I'd Like To See"

Here is a great promotional video from "Palin Promotions." Yes, this is a debate I'd like to see as well, only the scenario in my head is one where instead of Obama being tongue-tied because his teleprompter is not working, he reads and promotes conservative points through his teleprompter! I doubt he would even notice, he's so dependent on that thing!

Why the left hates Sarah Palin

As my friend Thomas S. Schmitz put it, this article is "spot on." Of note, the person who "got me to thinking.." as the author put it was a woman. I've personally witnessed that the anti-Palin vitriol is most keenly professed by women. As women we're told, like recruits in the Army, to "be all we can be." Yet we get confused on what it is we're supposed to "be." Are we supposed to be pretty, or smart? Are we supposed to be maternal, or successful in our career? For some reason, women are conditioned to believe one person can't achieve all of these things, and yet Sarah Palin has. And there is the rub, for most women at least. Forget all the feminism talk. Like I've said before, it's a bad bill of goods. It only applies if you're self-centered, and Sarah Palin is far from that. This article is spot on, if you're talking about why the left hates Sarah Palin, and why left-thinking women in particular hate her.

Why the Left Hates Sarah Palin
by Evan Sayet

It just happened again.

I spend a fair amount of time at my local coffee shop. I like to do my writing outside and, besides, it gives me an opportunity to try and initiate political conversations with the people who pass by — my hope always being to begin to enlighten them as to what conservatives really believe (and not just what the leftist media tells them.)

Today, the conversation turned to Sarah Palin and my latest acquaintance blurted out: “Oh I hate her.” Since she did not yet know my politics, and since we were in Los Angeles, it is clear that she expected to hear back what you usually hear back in this city: “Yeah, I hate her, too.” Instead, I asked her why.

At this point I could have predicted her response because it’s the same response you get from liberals no matter who on the Right you’re talking about: “Because she’s stupid.” I replied: “Being stupid is no reason to hate someone, but tell me, which one of her policies do you disagree with?” It wasn’t hard to predict her response: “All of them!”

I continued to push. “Well, then, if it’s all of them, it should be easy for you to name one.” Her reply? “They’re too many to list.”

“So don’t list them, just give me one,” I said.

This went on for awhile until my new acquaintance finally admitted that she didn’t know any of Ms. Palin’s policies. Before she ran off – Democrats always run off when asked to provide facts to justify their hatred for Republicans – I looked her in the eyes and said, “If you don’t know any of her policies, perhaps you should look into them.” She promised she would. She won’t. If there are two things you can count on with Democrats, they are filled with hate and empty of facts...

Follow this link to read the rest of this article.

Teachable moments

Teachable moments present themselves at not-so-regular intervals in our lives as parents. Sometimes as parents we rise to the occasion, and other times we struggle with them. A friend of mine experienced a teachable moment this morning with his son, and I just had to pass this along, with permission of course.

Had a good teachable moment with my son this morning...

We were listening to the radio on the way to school and they were talking about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords among other topics. When he left the car, he said, "Who even invented guns, anyway? All they do is hurt people and spread terror." And he closed the door.

So I rolled down the passenger window and he leaned on the door, standing in the school drop-off zone at 23 degrees below zero. That was my teachable moment where I was able to explain to him that guns are tools, the same as a knife or a car.

You wouldn't call a car "evil" but some drivers do not drive very well. You wouldn't call a knife "evil." What is a knife used for? For cutting things, just like we cut our meat before lunch yesterday or we cut our sandwiches or we cut string when we need a certain amount. That's not evil, but some people use knives for evil purposes.

In the same way, you couldn't call guns "evil" either. In themselves, they are a very powerful, dangerous tool; nonetheless, they are benign. It is the one who wields the gun who is good or evil, not the weapon itself.

My son seemed to understand. I'm sure we'll have to talk about that again sometime. What a wild and crazy world we live in where we have to explain such things to our children!!

I think this father did a wonderful job, during a very difficult teachable moment. Maybe this will help you explain recent events to your children as well.

"In another place and time..."

I'm not so much a "birther" (one who questions the origins of Obama's birth) as I am a fact-seeking constitutional conservative. What does this man have to hide, and why is his life story so tortured and twisted?

"In another time and place, the Obamas would have had their own reality TV show."

That's an understatement! Read this article from American Thinker. But be forwarned - you'll have to put your thinking cap on.

What Obama Has Said About His Own Birth

Food shortages predicted

We're tetering on the brink right now as a society. Our government is enacting laws and policy that affect us at a very basic level - our national and global food supply. Think about it - energy costs are rising. When energy costs rise, everything goes up. It takes energy to make things happen. Watch this video and ask yourself - are you prepared should we run out of food and supplies?

Gov. Palin addresses her critics

Gov. Sarah Palin was interviewed this evening by Sean Hannity of Fox News. In this interview, she spoke openly about the shooting, her reaction to it, and her thoughts about the accusations against her by some, including the mainstream media. It was good to see her address this issue. She has accomplished so much in her time in the national spotlight, but I can't help but wonder how much more she could accomplish if her time weren't spent constantly dealing with all this made-up nonsense. In my heart I believe she will once again rise above all the fray and come out stronger for it.

Follow this link to the entire video:

Sarah Palin on Sean Hannity

Join me on facebook!

"Finding Myself In Alaska" now has a facebook page! There are so many things - some fun, some inspiring, some serious - that I find that are just easier to post on facebook. These are usually short articles, quotes, small video clips, etc you won't see here. So, if you like what you see on this blog, hop on over to facebook and "Like" my facebook page! Click on the link to the right, just below my picture and it will take you to my page!

A different take on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. day, a day in which to honor and great man, his works, his passion, and his vision. Many of my friends have posted quotes from his most famous speech as their facebook status and have included clips of that speech. So much is known about that one particular moment in time, but here is a different look at his conservative vision by another great leader, Herman Cain. This speech, given via the Young America's Foundation, also includes points from actors Joseph Phillips and Professor Walter Williams. They discuss conservatism and the role of government in a free society. Please follow this link to watch this inspiring video:

A Different Take On MLK Day

My Blackberry is not working!

Gotta love the Brits...

News reporter gets hit by sled!

I hope this guy has a good health plan!

Be prepared - The top 100 items you should have

I found a really cool facebook page that I've been following. It doesn't appear they have a website, but if you have facebook you should be able to follow this link to their page:

Back to the Basics - Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

In a post today titled "Top 100 Items to Disappear First During a National Emergency", they give a list of the top 100 items they feel are most popular in a crisis and therefore, most likely to be in short supply or stolen if you already own them. Here is their list:

Top 100 Items to Disappear First During a National Emergency

1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking.
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.)
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Livestock

This is particularly true here in Alaska, where nearly everything is shipped to the state. It is said that Alaskans would run out of core essential foods and supplies in about 10 days. Take a look at the list - are you prepared?

From American Thinker: The Wilding of Sarah Palin

I've been struggling, trying to figure out how to be "profound" about the most recent onslaught against Sarah Palin. Weeks or months from now, the current insanities lobbed at this woman will fade into a blur with all the other insanities - not to be forgotten but not as keenly felt either. I'm so glad that when words escape me, there are others out there with the wits and will to write what I have thought. Everyone should read this. Women, particularly feminists, should read this carefully and take it to heart.

The Wilding of Sarah Palin

Under Construction!

You may have noticed the site looks a little different. I've decided to change the template. It's a work in progress (as you can tell from my header!) so please bear with me. Things might be a little "wonky" for a bit but the content is still there. Please feel free to let me know what you think!

Honoring our veterans by building homes

Whatever we can do - I say Whatever We Can Do - to help our wounded veterans is honorable and should be recognized. Check out this video about veteran homebuilder Dan Wallrath:



I'm especially impressed with their recognition that more still needs to be done for the victims of the Ft. Hood massacre. Please follow this link for the original story.