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At Apple, per Jobs’ biography, a director reported a problem perhaps with Foxconn or one of their contractors in China. The meeting moved on to next item…when Steve Jobs suddenly turned around, “Why are you still here”. That Director of the Far East bounced out of his chair, went to the airport and took the…
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It rains in the forecast. Another day with poor sunlight translates into a less colorful day. We are practically prisms that soak up light. Sunlight to moonlight (if it’s too dark out, just show them your teeth). Sparks of divinity and specters of humanity. All conjoined in bi-pedalists, heralders and destroyers of the truth. Ambassadors…
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While hurrying out of Saigon on its last day, I got new wings. Let me explain. As soon as we stepped foot on an aircraft carrier (after an all-night ordeal, more on this in My Sliding Door) an unhinged chopper blade flew toward us. All faces flat on deck. Cold and wet floor . Back…
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In an exile song …there is a line “Hanoi, whose dream reaches out higher than Heavenly high” (Mong voi tay cao hon Troi). Every generation of refugees, whether it’s Jews from Germany, or Polish from Poland, Cuban from Cuba or Vietnamese from Vietnam, find new ways of expression. Most settled for cuisine, nostalgia and ethnic…
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We had 7 Billion just about a decade ago. Last week it’s 8 Billion. Quake, Covid and “surgical” drones only took out a few millions. That leaves us survivors until the next cycle of election. Democratic election, “peaceful” transition of powers, an US diplomatic selling point. Long ago, it’s the Wild West, where matters were…
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If you recall an old movie in which an Armed Forces DJ was the main character, you would figure out right away….. Yes, it’s “Gooooooooooooooood Morning Vietnam”. (other song would be “I feel good” to depict the era). At the end, it’s Louise Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World to accompany visual of lush-green fields (riddled…
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Countdown “Ten, Nine, Eight…” Press and drop to Usher in the New Year. Mechanically predictable! the law of physics: e.g. Trains arrive on time, auto-payment, life expectancy. Flip over another calendar page. Set the alarm. Direct withdrawal. Punch in and out mechanically just as the machine at work. Auto-reminder, preset dental appointment. Ours has been…
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We have seen the carnage played out. Almost to its final act. We came, and have yet conquered. Yes, the land perhaps. But not hearts and minds. I am not referring to Vietnam. I am talking about America. Its young history, fickle ambition and shifting shadow of past glory. We should have paused and enjoyed…
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Kennedy was about to say in his undelivered speech in Dallas on November 22, 1963 (per Theodore C. Sorensen): ” Words alone are not enough….Where our strength and determination are clear, our words need merely to convey conviction, not belligerence. If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words…
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So this is what it was like: watching news of war from foreign soil in the comfort of home i.e. TV dinner between viewers and the 19-inches screen. Back then, it’s the three networks, beaming daily footage back to American homes from the rooftop of Saigon’s Caravelle Hotel. It’s surreal, to have lived here almost…
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Thang Nguyen 555 