A few days ago someone had posted a status line on Facebook, in which they were advising someone to “Be careful not to burn your last bridge.”

While I thought that the sentiment could be wise in some situations, it is obviously unwise in others. Since the poster lacked the consideration to add whom they were talking to, or about, in regards to who, and what situation that may have warranted the witty and overused bridge metaphor, I was left to assume that it was directed towards me…because it was public, so they wanted me to read it.

I am not quite sure what the situation or circumstances involved are, in the metaphoric burning of the euphemistic bridge, but I am sure that it is a bad idea to rely on faulty bridges, whether they are metaphoric or real.

You see, the metaphoric burning of the euphemistic bridge can be a positive thing in a metaphorized conceptual construct as well as it is in a tangible, tactile, and realized physicality.

Especially when you have either real or imagined marshmallows, graham crackers, thinly made chocolate bars, and a very long stick.

If you have the afforementioned items, or even if you can imagine having the afforementioned items than you possess the potential to make either real or imaginary S’mores, and that is not a bad thing, as it presents a definitive positive value in either a metaphoric conceptual construct or a roughly approximated interpretation of a known physicality.

Therefore, if the right circumstances are satisfied, the subject experiencing the imaginary S’mores, or the physicalized S’mores, will benefit in either reality, from the real or imagined burning of the real or imagined bridge.

But, the real issue is the bridge itself, whether it is real or imagined it must meet the requirements of the travellers on the bridge. Both metaphoric and physical bridges must meet load bearing expectations, whether the load is metaphoric or a physicality. The safe and expeditious transfer of the load is contingent on the construction of the bridge in question. The strength of the bridge is contingent on the design of the bridge, the labor and craftsmanship of the bridge, as well as the materials with which the bridge is built.

Therefore, if the metaphoric or physical bridge is poorly built, the bridge may be unsafe or unable to allow safe transport, though it may benefit the surrounding metaphoric or physical environment is aesthetic ways.

If the transport across the bridges, both metaphoric and physical, exceeds the regulated weight limit, than the operation of the bridge is contingent on further regulation of weight limit and transport vehicles, and may even facillitate the need to repair or replace the bridge in question.

As a policy, when my metaphoric bridges can no longer support the weight of the metaphoric bullshit that travels across their metaphoric surfaces, I metaphorically burn those bridges before the metaphoric bullshit can make it’s way to my metaphoric location…

…and then I roast metaphoric S’mores.

            ”Without waiting for my reply to his greeting, he pointed to the hook sticking out of my left sleeve. “Get that in Vietnam?” I said, “Yeah.” “Serves you right.” As the man walked away, I stood rooted, too confused with hurt, shame, and anger to react. This is the way it was for us, the platoon of Delta One-Six. This is the preface of The Killing Zone written by Frederick Downs. Most people hated the Americans who fought in Vietnam, so Downs published a book ten years after to show people that the Americans were just doing their jobs and trying to survive.

            Second Lieutenant Downs’ story begins telling us that he is twenty-three years old and had just recently graduated from U.S. Army’s OCS program and was going to be leading other men in the war. He tells us he thought he was ready but could not be sure until he arrived in Vietnam. He eagerly awaited for what he would find out.

            Downs was first stationed on one of three bridges in early September of 1967. Every day he was to lead his platoon One-Six on a search-and-destroy mission which was searching through Vietnamese hootches for any information the enemy has related to the battle as well as guns and ammunition. They would destroy the hootches so that the enemy could not use them. Patrolling the bridges was a good place to get used to the fighting and how Vietnam was. The bridges were relatively easy and safe compared to what Downs and his platoon would go through in the months to come.

            In November, platoon One-Six was moved from the bridge to the jungle. “We had gotten used to one way of the war. That was to change in November. November would be spend in the jungle of the Central Highlands, where everything seemed impermanent and the only thing of value to either side was survival. (99)” On November 6th of 1967, platoon One-Six was on its daily patrol when they spotted one dink with a female next to a few camouflaged hootches. The platoon stopped and was quiet as they were waiting for Downs’ order to fire. The point man, Muto, had the only M-14 of the platoon which had a heavier shell compared to the others M-16 round which was lighter. The heavier round was better in this moment since there was a significant amount of brush the bullet may hit. Downs yelled out “Fire!” The dink was hit several times and they went to check out the hootches and the body. They were all empty and Muto collected the weapon as a reward for his kill.

            On November 11th, platoon One-Six and another squad were on a patrol. Everyone heard gunfire and One-Six saw three dinks that were flushed out running along the tree line. Downs bet Schaldenbrand a pack of cigarettes that he would be able to hit one of them even though he said they were too far to hit. Downs picked up his M-16, adjusted the sights and aimed at the middle man while he was running. He fired a shot and the middle body went down. Schaldenbrand told Downs good shooting and hanged him a pack of cigarettes.

            The next day on the 12th, One-Six went on their patrol and noticed three dinks standing fifteen feet away with sticks in their packs trying to make them more camouflaged. One of the people in the squad had an M-60 and was told to fire. The man with the M-60, Indian, had not fired yet because his gun had misfired. So Downs yelled fire and shot the first guy in the neck and then the rest of the squad opened fire until they couldn’t see the enemy anymore. Downs went to check out the bodies and noticed there were only two dead. He asked how many dinks there were and Schaldenbrand told him there was three. Downs turned a little and saw that third dink. He was lying on the ground and his rifle was pointing at Downs’ head. Downs saw a flash and felt something hit the side of his head. He yelled “I’m hit.” He dropped into the grass as the rest of the platoon started to open fire once again. Downs was paralyzed momentarily due to the fear. The side of his head was burning and his ears were ringing. Downs looked around and found that dink returning fire to the platoon but then stopped and turned his rifle back at him when he saw his eyes open. Downs quickly got up and yelled for his squad to cover him as he ran back to safety. The dink got away. Downs wound was minor as the bullet only skimmed his ear.

            On the 16th, One-Six was marching until one of the men spotted a hootch. As a man walked out of one, Downs could now see that this was a large camp. Camouflage underwear and clothes hung on lines, and men were moving around doing camp duties not more than a few meters away from them. The whole platoon was in position to start firing and they were amazed that the dinks hadn’t noticed them yet. Downs thought that the camp was at least company size, and that they were outnumbered about three or four to one. There was no way out and One-Six had to attack, and do it right or they would all be dead. Downs ordered an open fire and everyone started shooting. Quickly, there was no more dinks moving. Either they had died, or they escaped on the initial bursts of fire. They were amazed that they had successfully pulled that off and no one in the squad was hit. Men were running around the dink camp searching through hootches and seeing how they could find. The raid was a big success and they found a lot of intelligence and heavy weaponry.

            A couple months later in January, One-Six had been moved into a more rural area. They reached a fence and thought that it might be booby trapped so they quickly searched around it. The point men said it was all clear. They were ready to continue when Downs’ foot slipped backward a fraction of an inch, which hit the trigger mechanism of a mine. Downs never heard the explosion. His eardrums were torn from the loudness of the mine. He flew through the air and noticed his arm. “My eyes registered the horror of a brilliantly white jagged bone sticking out of the stump of arm above where my left elbow had been. Ragged, bloody flesh surrounded the splintered bone. (231)” Downs coolly calculated that the bomb couldn’t be just a regular land mine but instead a Bouncing Betty since it took off his arm, not his leg. The M-16 he was holding was shattered and his hand was mangled. Flesh had been ripped away, exposing the bones between his wrist and elbow. From the waist down, Downs’ body was torn to pieces. He rolled on his back and tried to keep his stump and torn up hand out of the dirt. There was six men that were also injured from the blast. One of the men called for a dustoff to take the injured men to a hospital. The last that Downs remembered when he was in the hospital before he passed out was looking at the doctor cutting into his flesh with a scalpel and it not hurting. He thought that he was going to die.

            I thought that this book was great. It was an easy read, yet it kept you wanting to keep reading until you finished. It shows us the Vietnam War through the eyes of one of the infantry men, and a very good one at that. Downs was saddened when he returned to America and no one cared what the soldiers had been through. The people back home didn’t respect the veterans at that time since they didn’t even want to be involved in the war. Downs shows us that the soldiers in Vietnam were just as courageous and brave as any other soldier. I liked this book since you could see what Downs had to go through as well as relive it through his writing. This book is greatly detailed and showed me how dedicated these soldiers were to help the people of Vietnam even as they didn’t respect the Americans fighting for them.

Physical Geography:

As we all know, physical geography is basically the study of the surface of the earth that includes plains, mountains, rivers and oceans.  The knowledge of this particular aspect of geography allows people to intelligently plan on suitable places where they can live, build factories, as well as farm and grow different crops to the maximum advantage.  It sis divided in several branches, namely, geomorphology that deals with: l) land formation, volcanic action and erosion, 2) mathematical  measurements of the earth, dealing with  the earth’s imaginary lines, namely meridians and parallels, the former being the circles going through the North and South Poles, and the latter being the circles that are parallel to the equator.  Based on these lines, we can measure longitude and latitude. On the basis of such measurements, we can locate spots on the globe.

There is also other branches of physical geography, namely oceanography, the study of seas, tides and currents; meteorology, the study of weather; hydrography, the study of bodies of water; and climatology, the study of climate.

Economic Geography:

This aspect of geography covers the importance of lifestyle that includes industry, agriculture, exploration of minerals, the growing of crops, distribution of raw materials, planning of cities and towns, as well as needs relating to transportation and trade. These, in turn, have allowed the supplementation of further studies, such as building roads through mountains, bridges over water, as well as farming in lands that are hilly, including the ability to build dikes and dams, as well as the necessity of irrigation.

Political Geography:

This branch of geography concerns the man-made divisions of the earth that include their boundaries and governments, separating countries and cultures. There is presently a new kind of political geography, known as geopolitics on the basis of which, the application of a particular method is used to ascertain the trend of politics globally.

Each of the above geographies cannot be isolated from one another, and as time goes by, depend on one another in areas of international and national importance.

Bridges Level #1

• Try = ATTEMPT
• Peron’s homeland = ARGENTINA
• Luxurious home = VILLA
• Advocate = CHAMPION
• Disown = RENOUNCE
• Aware = CONSCIOUS
• Produce = GENERATE

Bridges Level #2

• U.S. 1040 tax = INCOME
• Hires = EMPLOYEES
• Try with difficulty = STRUGGLE
• Street musician = BUSKER
• Least wealthy = POOREST
• Extra = SURPLUS
• Take advantage of = EXPLOIT

Bridges Level #3

• Dispute = ARGUMENT
• Form of government = REPUBLIC
• Soldiers with horses = CAVALRY
• Outside of town = RURAL
• Sports center = STADIUM
• Connected = LINKED
• This planet = EARTH

Bridges Level #4

• Gesture of respect = SALUTE
• Staple food = RICE
• Losing hair = BALDING
• Tangible = MATERIAL
• Renown = ACCLAIM
• Got back together = REUNITED
• Outer portion = EXTERIOR

Bridges Level #5

• Striped equine = ZEBRA
• Thick-soled shoes = PLATFORM
• Damage = CORRUPT
• Not sure = UNCERTAIN
• Computer file transfer = DOWNLOAD
• Grasps = HOLDS
• Prefer = FAVOR

Bridges Level #6

• Involving the body = PHYSICAL
• Apply pressure = SQUEEZE
• Equilibrium = BALANCE
• Move toward = APPROACH
• Make the most of = MAXIMIZE
• Stored energy = POTENTIAL
• Assign a job to = TASK

Bridges Level #7

• Grievance = COMPLAINT
• Be the first to find = DISCOVER
• Navigable waters = CHANNEL
• Look for = SEARCH
• Place of prominence = BILLING
• Rare and wonderful = SINGULAR
• Precise = SPECIFIC

Bridges Level #8

• Make possible = ENABLE
• Given a chance to accept = OFFERED
• Left the ground at high speed = LAUNCHED
• Formal noon meal = LUNCHEON
• Shard = FRAGMENT
• Hollywood Squares regular = PANELIST
• Take a risk = VENTURE

Bridges Level #9

• Lift up = BOOST
• Recreational activity = GAME
• Extremely difficult = BRUTAL
• Narrow market = NICHE
• Christopher not Keanu = REEVE
• Launch path = TRAJECTORY
• Money-saving = ECONOMICAL

Bridges Level #10

• Joint participant = PARTNER
• Limit = RESTRICT
• Orphan’s hope = ADOPTION
• Quivering = SHAKING
• Wealth producing = LUCRATIVE
• Not accustomed to = UNUSED
• Gigantic = MASSIVE

Bridges Level #11

• Fill up the tank = REFUEL
• Motor City = DETROIT
• Full of danger = PERILOUS
• Can be depended on = RELIABLE
• Time of year = SEASON
• Act of winning = VICTORY
• Where the conductor stands = PODIUM

Bridges Level #12

• Formal offer of services = PROPOSAL
• Windmill engine = TURBINE
• Fast German auto = PORSCHE
• Where the trains run = RAILROAD
• Electromagnetic power = TESLA
• Highly visible = PROMINENT
• Area of authority = DOMAIN

Bridges Level #13

• Headdress = TURBAN
• Ringed planet = SATURN
• Piece of numerical data = STATISTIC
• Variant of a language = DIALECT
• Honor and admiration = PRESTIGE
• Intellectual = THINKER
• Creative = ARTISTIC

Bridges Level #14

• Flop = TURKEY
• What a graduate receives = DIPLOMA
• Little Fugue composer = BACH
• Connecting wire = CABLE
• Custom = TRADITION
• Restricted = CONTROLLED
• More than half = MAJORITY

Bridges Level #15

• Evil = SINISTER
• Fastener = BUTTON
• Baby cat = KITTEN
• Notre Dame buttress = FLYING
• Dental hygiene aid = TOOTHPASTE
• Interception point = BLOCKADE
• Never finishing = ENDLESS

Bridges Level #16

• Ice skate part = BLADE
• Highly refined = POLISHED
• Change to another = CONVERT
• Look upon = BEHOLD
• Math operation = ADDITION
• Lugs clubs = CADDY
• Noisy = BOISTEROUS

Bridges Level #17

• Direction of travel = HEADING
• Delivery of parcels = SHIPMENT
• Game participants = PLAYERS
• Increase = GROWTH
• Areas = REGIONS
• Meal portion = SERVING
• Highlighted = FEATURED

Bridges Level #18

• Interest in buying a product = DEMAND
• Getting angry = STEAMING
• Spherical Earth map = GLOBE
• Mass per unit volume = DENSITY
• Category of life form = SPECIES
• Good for intestinal flora = PROBIOTIC
• Unyielding = RIGID

Bridges Level #19

• Relating to the Sun = SOLAR
• Orbiting body = MOON
• Thickly liquid state = VISCOUS
• Ruling = SOVEREIGN
• Division = SECTOR
• Many varying = DIVERSE
• Crossword horizontal = ACROSS

Bridges Level #20

• Tile game = DOMINOES
• Austrailian capital = CANBERRA
• Made an analogy = COMPARED
• Teach = EDUCATE
• Rights = LIBERTIES
• Send to another = REFER
• Allow = PERMIT

Bridges Level #21

• Discoverer = FINDER
• Benefactor = PATRON
• Acquainted = FAMILIAR
• Additional information = APPENDIX
• Abstract idea = CONCEPT
• Send = DISPATCH
• Feudal Japanese ruler = SHOGUN

Bridges Level #22

• Not simple = COMPLEX
• Randomly intermittent = SPORADIC
• Made a map of = CHARTED
• Cut up the meat = CARVED
• Downward movement = DECLINE
• Make = FABRICATE
• Get another’s opinion = CONSULT

Bridges Level #23

• Similar = ANALOG
• Give the meaning of = DEFINE
• Fifth Avenue building = FLATIRON
• Political process = ELECTION
• Standard = CONVENTION
• King = MONARCH
• Room = CHAMBER

Bridges Level #24

• Law enforcers = POLICE
• River or hoop star = JORDAN
• Wander = MEANDER
• Florida wetlands = EVERGLADES
• Hot and dry = ARID
• Deep narrow canyon = GORGE
• Tropical storms = CYCLONES

Bridges Level #25

• Twig = SCION
• Prison escape = BREAKOUT
• Tall building = TOWER
• Shining = GLEAMING
• Span of existence = LIFETIME
• Abundance = PLETHORA
• Brother or sister = SIBLING

Bridges Level #26

• Think = REASON
• Wrong = MISTAKEN
• Artic biome = TUNDRA
• Type of canine = TERRIER
• Hold back = RESTRAIN
• Means of transport = VEHICLE
• Fall down = COLLAPSE

Bridges Level #27

• Ownership stake = EQUITY
• Blink of an eye = INSTANT
• Put on = APPLY
• Make less concentrated = DILUTE
• Television advertisement = COMMERCIAL
• Make up for = COMPENSATE
• Find a way through = NEGOTIATE

Bridges Level #28

• Greek philosopher = SOCRATES
• Give official approval = SANCTION
• Cold season = WINTER
• Understanding = AGREEMENT
• Pile of snow = BANK
• Exact = PRECISE
• Come back from behind = RALLY

Bridges Level #29

• Gear = EQUIPMENT
• Potato or computer = CHIP
• Shard = SPLINTER
• Go up suddenly = SPIKE
• the best = OPTIMAL
• Limit = THRESHOLD
• Nominee = CANDIDATE

Bridges Level #30

• Series of computer steps = ALOGORITHM
• Allow = TOLERATE
• Mingus’ type of music = JAZZ
• Johnny’s seeds = APPLE
• Sections = SEGMENTS
• Man-made = SYNTHETIC
• Take small bites = NIBBLE

Bridges Level #31

• In poverty = PENURIOUS
• Central American canal = PANAMA
• Rising = EMERGENT
• Decayed organic matter = COMPOST
• Beautiful = PRETTY
• Act of devotion = WORSHIP
• Poisonous = NOXIOUS

Bridges Level #32

• 1992 Olympics location = BARCELONA
• Metal pot = CAULDRON
• Olympic champion = MEDALIST
• British flashlight = TORCH
• Produce coines = MINT
• Head and shoulders sculpture = BUST
• Intentional = DELIBERATE

Bridges Level #33

• Make things different = CHANGE
• Anguish = DISTRESS
• Agreed = CONCURRED
• Ring of flowers or leaves = WREATH
• Put in the bank = DEPOSIT
• Increadibly beautiful = STRIKING
• Sample = SPECIMEN

Bridges Level #34

• Formerly Siam = THAILAND
• Steamed dough = DUMPLING
• Author Beatrix = POTTER
• Save for later = CONSERVE
• Make longer = EXTEND
• Lasting reminder = MONUMENT
• Airship = BLIMP

Bridges Level #35

• Go between = MEDIATE
• Promote = ADVOCATE
• Trade = EXCHANGE
• Crime = FELONY
• Dissolve officially = NULLIFY
• Real estate game = MONOPOLY
• Stormy = TURBULENT

Bridges Level #36

• Bahamian capital = NASSAU
• Copied illegally = PIRATED
• Hide = CONCEAL
• Not smooth = UNEVEN
• Resistance to disease = IMMUNITY
• Type of ship = SLOOP
• Fare well = PROSPER

Bridges Level #37

• 80s hair style = MULLET
• Entry point = GATEWAY
• Undersea voyage = SUBMARINE
• 20,000 Leagues author = VERNE
• Hopes = ASPIRES
• Andromeda or Milky Way = GALAXY
• Chops down trees = LUMBERJACK

Bridges Level #38

• Taxes = TARIFFS
• Forefather = ANCESTOR
• Boat races = REGATTA
• Perfect example = EPITOME
• Large game fish = MARLIN
• Ten year span = DECADE
• Very small charge = NOMINAL

Bridges Level #39

• Egg-laying mammal = PLATYPUS
• Make stronger = REINFORCE
• Rightful by heredity = LEGITIMATE
• Pushed out of position = DISPLACED
• Alka-Seltzer sound = PLOP
• What every bride needs = GROOM
• Give back = RETURN

Bridges Level #40

• What River City had = TROUBLE
• Brass instrument = CORNET
• Pool = BILLIARDS
• Unable to move = STUCK
• Belt fastener = BUCKLE
• Sham = FRAUD
• Striped squirrel = CHIPMUNK

Bridges Level #41

• Keeps cars on the road = GUARDRAIL
• Though = HOWEVER
• Healing salve = OINTMENT
• Send out = DEPLOY
• Shopping center = MALL
• Brazilian river = AMAZON
• Small monkey = MARMOSET

Bridges Level #42

• Determined = RESOLUTE
• Pass out = DISTRIBUTE
• Pester = BADGER
• Remove with water = RINSE
• Make a list = CATALOG
• Covering the whole earth = GLOBAL
• Care for = ATTEND

Bridges Level #43

• Dreamer’s opposite = REALIST
• Not separate = TOGETHER
• Homely = UGLY
• Become narrower = TAPER
• Something made = CREATION
• Green onions = SCALLIONS
• Pachyderm = ELEPHANT

Bridges Level #44

• Not probable = UNLIKELY
• Container for carrying = BASKET
• Highly educated = LEARNED
• Jurassic Park attraction = DINOSAURS
• Demand = EXPECT
• Fixes cars = MECHANIC
• Shared telephone line = PARTY

Bridges Level #45

• Whimsical doctor = SEUSS
• Holds a diamond = SETTING
• Unmarried man = BACHELOR
• Bout = EPISODE
• Projected appearance = PERSONA
• Rain on your wedding day = IRONIC
• School or pass = BOARDING

Bridges Level #46

• Beet soup = BORSCHT
• Beatles drummer = RINGO
• Studies nature or physics = SCIENTIST
• Underhandedness = SUBTERFUGE
• Jar or television attorney = MASON
• Shy = DEMURE
• Nearly = VIRTUALLY

Bridges Level #47

• Response = REACTION
• Story = TALE
• Verse = POETRY
• Without regard for authority = LAWLESS
• Fired = CANNED
• Small = PALTRY
• Hoofer = DANCER

Bridges Level #48

• Mother’s brother = UNCLE
• Apprehend = COLLAR
• Hand movements = GESTURES
• Gadget’s niece = PENNY
• Prevent success = FOIL
• Spiderman’s occupation = SUPERHERO
• Amazing event = MIRACLE

Bridges Level #49

• Extremely funny = HILARIOUS
• Fretting = WORRYING
• Adorned = DECKED
• Urge = ADMONISH
• The Beaver’s real first name = THEODORE
• Tree branch = LIMB
• Egyptian landmarks = PYRAMIDS

Bridges Level #50

• Rich industrialist = TYCOON
• Rotund = PORTLY
• Gulps = CHUGS
• Adventures = EXPLOITS
• Sweet treats = COOKIES
• Postulate = PREMISE
• Playful talk = BANTER

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Preston Tucker: Cars, Dreams and a Forgoten Chapter in History

Preston, Thomas Tucker, a forgotten visionary into the world of automotive history; inventor of the tucker turret of world war two, as well as the tucker torpedo which he has been most remembered for.  The story of Preston Tucker is not a typical American success story by any means; in fact, the result of all his work and efforts was bankruptcy, false charges and government hearings, and dead by the age at fifty three.  However, he was undoubtedly a man ahead of his times in the area of safety and quality for automobiles that has only been recently applied now.  The company that Preston Tucker built lasted only three years, including the time to obtain the necessary start the company.  The entire life of the company was hounded by economic troubles which eventually lead to government hearings as well as the closer of the Tucker Corporation.  The tucker torpedo boasted its new designs and safety features and efficiency, claiming it could reach 130 miles per hour and get thirty five miles to the gallon.  In existence now, are forty seven tucker auto mobiles out of fifty which were reputably created by the short lived company.   

Preston tucker’s fascination with automobiles was evident throughout his entire life.  He learned to drive at age eleven, and quit school to become an office boy at Cadillac at age thirteen.[i]  From then on he moved from various companies of the big three; ford, GM, and Chrysler.   In nineteen thirty five, tucker began a partnership with Harry A Miller, a famed engine designer, to build racecars for the Indianapolis 500 for the ford company. [ii] After ten cars, without any of them finishing a race, ford dropped tucker.  However, he did have some success during world war two.  In this time, he designed and built a bullet proof, air conditioned military car with a mounted turret which also had the same quality as the car itself.  Unfortunately for tucker, the military turned down his idea because it did not meet military requirements; it went too fast.  During world war two, the military deemed that a military car could go no more than 35 miles per hour.  The vehicle that tucker designed, was able to hit tops speeds of 115 miles per hour. [iii] Despite the rejected car, the military took the turrets and used them on bombers and PT boats and other navy ships.  After the war, tucker resumed his idea of a “safe car” which he had thought of doing his whole life.

After the war, the economy was growing rapidly and people could not wait to see what new cars would come out, seeing as no new models were produced during war time.  Throughout the years 1942 to 1946, the big three produced no new models, or at least, they were virtually the same car.[iv]  Tucker saw this as the opportunity to make his new car.  The tucker torpedo was a low riding car, with three headlights, brightly colored, with a rear engine which was never done before as an efficient way of building a car.  The new look impressed people enough, but inside was the most important to tucker.  The torpedo contained seatbelts, which the big three at that time, saw as an unnecessary cost.[v]  It also contained padded instrument panel, so when the car crashed, the driver would not be injured by any loose piece of the panel.  In addition, and most unique, Tucker designed a plastic windshield that would pop out when it received an impact from the inside, thus preventing a person from sustain injuries from having the head smash into the windshield.  Tucker believed that it should be considered manslaughter, any automobile related death that could have been prevented by the car maker.[vi]  That idea was expressed in his car.  In one incident, while testing the car, a driver going passed 60 miles per hour, hit something and flipped the car three times.  The result; the driver walked out of the car with a minor scratch on his right arm, and the car, though totaled, was able to drive away on its own power. [vii]

Despite the car having such noticeable success and potential, tucker could not keep up with the incredible demand and costs to get the company on its feet.  To begin with, tucker had to make a prototype of the car before receiving any money.  To get the plant needed to produce the cars, a former B-29 factory in Chicago, tucker needed to produce a car within sixty days.[viii]  The normal time required at era to make a running prototype for a car was around nine months.  Thus, the car was created out of old cars, helicopter parts, and anything that could be salvaged.  At the time of the showing, the car was not able to move on its own and had considerable oil leaks and design flaws.[ix]  Though this would not be the case in the actual produced cars, it would haunt him in the future accusations of fraud.  Next, tucker also had to receive 15 million dollars by March 1, 1947.[x]  Tucker decided to sell options to car dealerships, which amounted to six million dollars.  With much hesitation, the SEC gave the go ahead to begin the selling of stock for the Tucker Corporation.  Tucker would meet the amount needed for the deadline and purchase the plant.

In the spring of 1948, the SEC decided to act on the tucker corporation and launched a major investigation.  There is some evidence that the big three were involved in pushing for the investigation, as well as for bribing different lawmakers and employees at the Tucker plant to testify against Preston Tucker.[xi]  However, the only real evidence was provided in a letter by Preston Tucker explaining his troubles of getting the company started with raw materials and political hardships brought by the leading automobile companies.[xii]    The SEC charged tucker on cases of mail fraud, stock irregularities, and conspiracy to defraud, that if convicted would result in a life sentence.  The prosecution used the prototype model to argue the case that Tucker never intended to build any cars, and disregarded the fifty working cars that had come off the production line earlier that year.  Tucker would be later acquitted, but was left bankrupt and without a company, as it was taken away during the mist of the trial.  Later on, Brazil offered Tucker a chance to build and design sports cars, but before the idea brought forth fruit, Tucker was diagnosed with lung cancer and died the day after Christmas 1956.

Today, the tucker torpedo is a collector’s car, and highly prized by those who own one of the forty seven left.  However, the legacy of Preston Tucker is still argued.  Some argue that tucker was a complete fraud and public swindler, while others regard him as a martyr for the cause of the American dream, brought down by the big businesses to prevent a better car from entering the market with their mysterious political power.[xiii]  Moderates tend to merge both sides; he might have been trying to get rich, but did have the public interest in mind.  Many speculate that part of Tucker’s failure was brought about by his own lack of business and political skills, and his persevering idealism.  Tucker today is still thought of today as a great thinker in automobile technology, despite the fact that most of his ideas were never used again, such as his cause for a rear motor, and use of three headlights on the front of the car. [xiv] Other ideas, proved to be effective, like the pop out windshield were left in the dust of time.  The next person to push for seatbelts to be mandatory would be Ralph Nader.  Preston Tucker was truly a man ahead of his time.

Tucker once said in an open letter during his trial, “When the day comes that anyone can bend our country’s laws and lawmakers to serve selfish, competitive ends, that day democratic government dies. And we’re just optimistic enough to believe that once the facts are on the table, American public opinion will walk in with a big stick.”[xv]  Tucker firmly believed that the car he was making was in the countries best interest, and his public fight was representing a stand for small business and the idea of fair business.  In this letter, he blatantly shows the unfair dealings made by the large automobile plants without giving any names.  He accuses them of bribery and corruption in dealings with his company and the government.[xvi]  In retrospect, we can see the application of this idea in our new modern time; people are fed up with corruption and favor to large business.  Though the outcome is unsure, Tucker’s statement is still sound, and represents what he stood for; the common man, even if that was not his goal.  He stands for an idealism that was slowly weakening at that time, and has done so in the past.[xvii]  He represented the people, which is the job of the government.  Perhaps his failure was not so much a failure after consideration, but a legacy in idealism and an ever prevalent example of American ingenuity.

[i] Preston Tucker

[ii] Tucker, The Man and His Dream

[iii] Preston Tucker

[iv] Preston Tucker

[v] Tucker, The Man and His Dream

[vi] Tucker, The Man and His Dream

[vii] Preston Tucker

[viii] Tucker, The Man and His Dream

[ix] Preston Tucker

[x] Preston Tucker

[xi] Tucker, Preston

[xii] Tucker, Preston

[xiii] Preston Tucker

[xiv] Preston Tucker

[xv] Tucker, Preston

[xvi] Tucker, Preston

[xvii] Preston Tucker

Works Cited

“Preston Tucker“. UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography. FindArticles.com. 09 Jun, 2009.                                    http://findarticles.com

Tucker, Preston.  “An Open Letter to The Automobile Industry
             In The Interests Of The American Motorist.” thehenryford.org,June 15, 1948.

Tucker, The Man and His Dream.  Dir Frances Ford Cappola, Arnold Schulman. Paramont 1988.

Sentence:

I had the exciting opportunity of traveling to the Netherlands and getting acquainted with the country’s customs and traditions.  I have never seen so many tulips, windmills, and wooden clogs in my life.  The people are super friendly and very hospitable. 

When I was walking through a field of multicolored tulips, I came across an elderly vrow who stooped over in the field to pick some tulips.  I said hello to her and she presented me with a bunch of beautiful tulips; I was very happy that she was cordial to me.  She really made me welcome in her country!

I visited the beautiful city of Amsterdam; there are a lot of bridges and many people riding everyone on bicycles; it truly is a carefree city.  I stopped by a cafe to take in a delicious coffee and many people were happy to see an American citizen visiting their city.

Before leaving the country, I stopped by an art museum and saw the wonderful pieces of artwork by various famous European artists; I had gotten myself lost in the sea of bright and vivid colors.  Simply amazing!

1. The longest King Cobra in the world was captured alive in Port Dickson in April 1937 in Malaysia.
   Image via Wikipedia
2. The largest undivided leaf was found in Malaysia.
3. Only 0.85% of people in Malaysia use broadband internet services.
4. Malaysia is home to the third longest bridge in Asia, the Penang Bridge, 13.5km in length.
   Image by nhussein via Flickr
5. The Rafflesia, the largest flower of the world, is found in Malaysian rainforests.
   Image via Wikipedia
6. Malaysia has the oldest rainforests in the world with trees about 100m in height.
7. Malaysia is made up of over two hundred islands.
8. Trees only found in Sarawak, the Bintagor trees, are believed to contain properties that could help fight the virus that causes AIDS.
9. The Malaysian Stick Insect lays eggs that measure 1.3 cm!  This is larger than a peanut.
10. Malaysia has the most correctional facilities in the world.

Its always good to know about other cultures, religions, and ways of life.  Learning is the key to communicating.  I hope these facts could help.

Check out my other articles full of information on other countries:

Chinese here: http://socyberty.com/society/did-you-know-china/

Canada here: http://socyberty.com/economics/did-you-know-canada/

México here: http://socyberty.com/society/did-you-know-mexico/

Australia here: http://trifter.com/asia-pacific/australia/did-you-know-australia/

Greetings in Different Countries here:  http://trifter.com/asia-pacific/greetings-in-different-countries/

Let me tell you I cannot stand this kind of immoral behavior. Since Obama hit the political spot light all us have heard clearly what Obama stands for in politics.

He thinks that there should be economic justice. He believes this economic justice is accomplished by robbing the rich to feed the poor. Theft is theft no matter who does it.

Mr. Obama believes that business people behave unethical and immoral. In his mind, businesses take advantage of the unfortunate and poor. Because of this perceived reality Obama believes that government has to be a crusader for people.

I listened to tonight’s state of the union. Ordinarily, I would be in the battlefield with anyone talking about fighting the good fight.

However, Obama does not impress me as an honorable man. In addition, Obama’s brand of politics concerns me. Sharing the wealth is only good if a person is talking about sharing his wealth. As a forced governmental action, it is bad policy.

Every single one of us is born single, with no kids, with no debt, and with no miserable spouse. It is our own personal walk that finds us were we are in life. No person or entity can be blamed for any ones current condition. Only the person who made the decisions can own the consequences.

However, here we go again with the politics of poverty. I have empathy for those who are struggling. It is a horrible feeling to want to accomplish something but have no resources to get there.

Let us be real and honest. Tragedies happen, but we make them worse with our attitude and spirit.

Any person can find them selves in a difficult environment and succumb to the challenges. However, those who make it out do so using tenacity and by refusing to surrender.

Healthcare reform was a mistake because it is another big government bureaucracy that will cost a lot and condition people to further government dependence. Taxing the rich is wrong because when is enough, enough.

Politicians cannot say we will make big bureaucracies and make the rich pay for them. Eventually government will tax the rich so much that the incentive to be rich will not exist. Then where will Obama and his kind get there tax revenue.

I have spoken before about the delicate balance between government spending and taxes. There has to be a reason why people work hard to succeed. We all wish that motive was the joy of success and achievement. The reality is that money drives success.

Okay, money drives success in some. Other choose to be beat by their challenges. Politicians public policy can never fix bad attitude.

I cannot say I deserve something and my neighbor has to give it to me. The illegal immigrant is yelling that statement in a very load voice.

Well, I am sorry but what we deserve is what we earn. This is the only way life can work.

My intent tonight was to avoid watching Obama’s state of the union. I am satisfied his rhetoric was his usual politics.

This are politics that do not help Americans. His flowery rhetoric may be flamboyant. However, it lacks substance.

Tomorrow we will hear about Obama’s actions that are in contrast to his spoken words tonight. Such is politics.

When Obama started speaking, I saw a very nervous person. I hope the new conservatives in congress make Obama’s life difficult. They are not there to cooperate with Obama. They are not there to continue the traveling down the road of unchecked government spending.

How many more shovel ready projects are we going to hear about? Tonight we heard about more infrastructure construction. The US has no money. The US government is printing money. Previous lenders will not lend to America anymore. Obama wants to spend more money on roads and bridges.

The new START nuclear treaty with Russia does not make America safer. The Russians cannot be trusted. America will always need a sufficient nuclear deterrent.

I am finally going to leave stupid El Paso, Texas. The reason is that there are no real economic opportunities. Part of this condition is the job market that is flooded with college graduates. There is no need for the federal government to offer college assistance, unless it is a needed industry.

This is what Obama’s speech can down to tonight. Rich people are bad for succeeding. More money that Americans do not have to give in taxes is needed to stimulate economic growth. Corporations are bad and still need to be over regulated. No one will touch my crowning achievement, healthcare reform.

Well for me enough is enough. No one who spent his first two years as president trashing investors and businesses is going to convince me toady he is pro-business or pro-success.

What Americans need is a wake up call, not feel good rhetoric. Life has changed. We need to adapt.

An optimistic thinker will find a way. Where a cynic will sit down comfortably and criticize everyone else who is working.

In addition, government cannot save us from our selves. If we fail to make good decisions, we pay the price, not our neighbor.

Therefore, Obama’s carefully political rhetoric is just that, rhetoric. I know Obama has not plans to make the life of business people better. I know Obama has no interest in speaking about personal responsibility and self reliance. Obama definitely will not reign in spending and lower taxes.

The simple argument is that companies pay a lot in federal, state, and local taxes. This a great financial contribution to society. Moreover, companies, with the salaries they pay their workers, make an even greater financial contribution.

Therefore, this idea of taxing the upper 2% income earners is morally wrong. No one should be asked to pay a heavier load of the social responsibility because liberals want to appear like heroes and because other people want an easy ride in life. We all use government services. We should all pay for these services.

Golden Gate Bridge – located in San Francisco this bridge is believed to be the number one suicide site in the world. Its great height and the choppy currents below ensure that most who jump off the bridge will not survive though a few people have. One suicidal man jumped from the bridge and despite suffering injuries managed to swim to shore and drive himself to the hospital. It is believed over 1,500 people have committed suicide here.

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Aokigahara – a forest located at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan and is also known as the Sea of Trees. It is reportedly a rocky and icy place believed to be haunted and full of paranormal phenomena. It is popular for suicides in part due to a Japanese novel, “Kuroi Jukai”, in which the lovers end up committing suicide in Aokigahara. It’s estimated up to 70 people per year kill themselves in the forest.

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Beachy Head, England – this chalky headland is on the south coast of England and is 540 feet high. It’s believed that over 500 people have committed suicide here by leaping over the cliff. It is not believed that the guy in this picture is one of them at least on the occasion of this haunting picture.

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Niagara Falls – some people come here for a Honeymoon and some come to jump over the falls. It’s not really known how many have done both but you can imagine for yourself. It’s believed that over 2,700 people have gone over the falls and died but is putting yourself in a padded barrel and then floating over the falls considered suicide? If you live they put you in a padded room.

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Eiffel Tower – stands 325 meters high and is the tallest building in Paris. Named after its engineering creator, Gustave Eiffel, over 200 million people have visited the Tower and it is believed that 367 of them committed suicide here. Reportedly a woman jumped from the Tower in a suicide attempt but survived when she landed on a car and after recovering from her injuries she married the owner of the car.

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Clifton Bridge – located in England, this bridge is believed to have had over 1,000 people commit suicide from jumping from its height of 245 feet. It’s been around since 1864. In 1998 barriers were installed and the yearly suicide rate has been cut in half. Which leads to the obvious question. Why did they wait 134 years to build the barriers?

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Aurora Bridge – located in Seattle, Washington the bridge is 167 feet high and home to 230 reported suicides since it was built in 1932. The bridge is so popular for suicides it has been used for case studies by those who study such phenomena. A 160 lb person would cover the distance from bridge to ground or water in 2.2 seconds. Things got so bad here the state of Washington finally allocated $1.4 million in 2007 to build an 8 foot high suicide prevention fence.

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Coronado Bridge – located in San Diego this bridge opened in 1969 and has seen at least 200 suicides since that time. It is over 2 miles long and reaches a height of 200 feet at its center to allow Navy ships from the nearby Naval Base to pass underneath. It is the 3rd deadliest suicide bridge in the United States. The bridge has no bike lanes but on September 7th, 2008 the bridge was temporarily opened to bikers and over 2,000 of them jumped at the chance to bike the Coronado. None of them is believed to have jumped off.

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Sunshine Skyway Bridge – located in Tampa Bay this huge bridge is 5.5 miles long and reaches a height of 175 feet. The bridge originally opened in 1954 and was redone and reopened in 1987.  Since 1987 it is believed that at least 96 people committed suicide by leaping from the bridge. Another 57 were believed to have leaped to their deaths from the old bridge. Why the new bridge is more popular for suicides than the old one is not known.

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Hugs bridge. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

On the main road that runs between Macclesfield and Leek in the county of Cheshire, U.K. can be found an insignificant bridge that if you were to cross in a car you probably would not even realise its there. There is however more to this bridge than meets the eye, as there has been a bridge of some description at this important crossing point between Staffordshire and Cheshire since at least the 1600s.

The name Hug’s bridge would have been a corruption of the original name Hugh’s bridge, and it is thought to have acquired its name from the man who used to own it, Hugh Despenser. It is thought the Despenser family originally arrived here with William the Conqueror, and apart from the fact that they helped put down resistance which was occurring in nearby Macclesfield, they were also thought to be skilled medics and dispensers of medicine, which is where the term dispensers came from.

At one time a toll would have been needed to cross the bridge, and it is recorded in 1620 the bridge was destroyed in a flood as in those days it was only constructed of wood, and with the river Dane being the fastest rising river in the country it could transform itself in the blink of an eye! When the bridge was rebuilt again after the flood, the Cheshire side was built out of stone and the Staffordshire side was built out of flimsy timbers, definitely not a meeting of great minds! Another story I have come across in relation to this bridge is the following narrative from Millers “Old Leake”,written about 200 years ago and is as follows;

A begging Friar, returning from his rounds, alarmed the Monks of Gawsworth with the news that the Danes were coming, and knowing something of their character, they determined on resistance. They summoned all their tenants, retainers and servants and armed them with such weapons that were at hand, scythes, pitchforks and flails, and with their crossbearer at their head, marched to repel any invasion by the Danes.

The Monks found the Danes at the ford (now Hugh’s bridge) crossing the river. A furious battle took place. The Monks and their allies fought in desperation and having the advantage of greater numbers, drove the invaders back into the river; and the Monks were both masters of field and flood. A bridge afterwards erected at this place was and is called Hugs bridge, to keep in remembrance this celebrated battle of their territories by the Danes.