I thus hereby restate my request for server-side software which forces a site's visitors to undertake a brief language test before being allowed to register on forums etc. Those (like Bob) who have communication abilities akin to that of a damp sponge wouldn't be permitted to post anything but collections of emoticons. [Irate Scotsman]

It's the concept of forcing people to post only emoticons that gets me. :)

5:11:04 PM     Discuss: []

Scoble tells the story of meeting someone extraordinary on a plane flight...

On the way down to Oakland, I sat next to Howard Poe. He shot down, with just a Springfield 1903 rifle, the first plane in U.S. World War II action. He was based at Kane'ohe Naval Air Station and had a lucky shot. The Japanese hit the air base first, before moving onto Pearl Harbor.

The weird thing is, his name isn't on the Internet anywhere. There are some descriptions of someone shooting down a plane at the Kane'ohe Naval Air Station, but no names. I'd expect to have found something somewhere that would talk about Howard's role in the war somewhere, but couldn't find it.

I spent four hours tonight reading various Pearl Harbor accounts on the Internet. Then I found something that probably explains why: most survivors don't like talking about their part in the war because of the visions that it brings back for most of them.

I don't know if that's true or not, but Howard today is suffering from Parkinson's disease and is very slow moving. Most people wouldn't try to talk with him and generally avoid someone in his situation, but his mind is sharp. He was traveling with his son, who is now caring for him. I was honored to sit next to him.

His son told me that he had worked managing a grocery store and usually worked 16-hour days. He had built up a sizeable fortune because he never spent his money, he told me. Still wasn't, either. Flying coach. Fortunate for me, cause I got to be the first one to tell his story to Google. [The Scobleizer Weblog]

This is such a neat thing to get out, and never would have seen it but for Weblogs. Now, I wonder if Scoble found any kind of confirmation on it?

5:10:22 PM     Discuss: []