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Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
New school brings hope for Afghan youth
Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. The schoolhouse in Dara – which serviced thousands of families – was destroyed during the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, and since then has left a generation of children suffering. New hope emerged when the U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team out of Gardez laid down the foundation for the renewed education of Paktia youth when they helped rebuild the new Dara School. The school had its grand opening Aug. 27. “A good education will prepare these children and give them the tools to be future leaders in the community,” said acting commander of Combined Joint Task Force 180, Major Gen. Zannie Smith, who attended the school opening along with other dignitaries including Paktia provinces’ governor Asadullah Wafa and the senior political advisor to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, Ambassador Victor Jackovich. Built on a concrete base and reinforced steel frame, the vibrant, new school stands out like a beacon among the mud and brick walled homes which dominate the area. The new school took four months to build and cost $76,000, according to Maj. Mark Donlon, 407th Civil Affairs Battalion, Gardez PRT. Initially the school is expected to enroll 300 students, but the numbers are expected to quickly grow, according to Paktia Director of Education Abdul Moslin. Years of fighting Russian occupation and then living under the Taliban had driven many of the families of Paktia province to neighboring countries Pakistan and Iran. “We will encourage the refugees from Iran and Pakistan to return home,” said Wafa. “After the people hear about this (and the other programs being started by the PRT) hopefully they will return.” By next year the school is expecting to enroll more than 1,200 students. The school day will be split in half, with boys being taught in the morning and girls in the afternoon. “We are very happy because education is very important to making things better for the Afghan people,” said Mahammed Aqbal, one of the future students. “I want to become a doctor or engineer and to help keep peace in our country.” For now the school will train new teachers to prepare for the group of Afghan youth that will become the future leaders of their country. “This is a great gift,” Wafa said. “We will not forget this.” _________________________ All is not bad! John On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
JohnH wrote:
New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? -- Email sent to is never read. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 07:38:10 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:
JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? It's gotta be negative to be good, huh? John On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
It's gotta be negative to be true, John. Afterall, Harry is a yellow-dog
Democrat, and negativity is the only message coming out of the Democratic party anymore. "JohnH" wrote in message ... On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 07:38:10 -0500, Harry Krause wrote: JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? It's gotta be negative to be good, huh? John On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
JohnH wrote:
On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 07:38:10 -0500, Harry Krause wrote: JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? It's gotta be negative to be good, huh? John On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD Good, bad, or indifferent, if it is from military PR, it isn't to be believed. The military PR machine has a well-deserved reputation for lying. -- Email sent to is never read. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ...The military PR machine has a well-deserved reputation for lying. If so, they DO have something in common with the DNC, after all! |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ... JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? More Union b.s., Harry? |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
"John Gaquin" wrote in message ... "Harry Krause" wrote in message ...The military PR machine has a well-deserved reputation for lying. If so, they DO have something in common with the DNC, after all! And Unions and Ullico. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
Gene Kearns wrote:
On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 14:12:17 GMT, "NOYB" wrote: snip Let's see if they impose all of the idiotic competency testing pseudo-science on the Iraqis that they have on American teachers and schools... You also have to wonder whether the Iraqi teachers will be saddled with all the poorly funded social service delivery tasks of the American public school systems. The services are needed, no doubt about it, but they need to be properly funded and they need to be delivered by other than classroom teachers. Teachers have enough on their hands trying to teach, without having to undo the damage caused by poverty, incompetent parenting, et cetera. Also, the curricula needs modification. The kids need to be studying those subjects that teach them to think and to express their thoughts, such as English, math, hard and soft sciences, history, foreign languages, art, music, et cetera. In fact, the learning of a second language -any language- needs to be mandatory. As a nation, we need to overcome our conservative xenophobia, and language, art and music studies are some of the best ways to do this. -- Email sent to is never read. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
"Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net...
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ... JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan ? Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? More Union b.s., Harry? What "Union b.s." did Harry state in this thread? |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
basskisser wrote:
"Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net... "Harry Krause" wrote in message ... JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan ? Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? More Union b.s., Harry? What "Union b.s." did Harry state in this thread? I've now seen three separately sourced articles that indicate the mighty U.S. military machine did NOT find Saddam, but that he was "captured" by a local force and then the mighty U.S. military machine was led to where he was stashed. I don't know yet if it is true, but if it is, it plops yet another big lie in the lap of the U.S. military, which hasn't told much in the way of the truth on things that matter since the beginning of the War Against Vietnam. -- Email sent to is never read. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
"basskisser" wrote in message m... "Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net... "Harry Krause" wrote in message ... JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan ? Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? More Union b.s., Harry? What "Union b.s." did Harry state in this thread? Well, he is a union shill. Spiels for the union constantly. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
Calif Bill wrote:
"basskisser" wrote in message m... "Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net... "Harry Krause" wrote in message ... JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan ? Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? More Union b.s., Harry? What "Union b.s." did Harry state in this thread? Well, he is a union shill. Spiels for the union constantly. Well, Bill, perhaps if you were a bit more successful as a contractor, you could afford to pay workman's comp insurance and then be able to hire skilled craftworkers, instead of the pick-up crews you are forced to use. Hey, have you been over the Al Zampa Bridge yet? You know, the one named to honor the Zampa family? Opening day for Carquinez span Ceremony honors Alfred Zampa, builder of bridges Carl Nolte, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, November 9, 2003 ©2003 San Francisco Chronicle | Feedback | FAQ URL: sfgate.com/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/11/09/BAGO22TPNU1.DTL It was a great day for the working stiff Saturday when the state opened the newest bridge in the world -- and the first one named for a blue- collar worker. Pedestrians in their thousands walked across the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge, the handsome westernmost span of the Carquinez Bridge complex. Some wore hardhats and some had baseball caps with their union affiliation -- ironworkers, carpenters, pile driver operators. The bridge may open to automobile traffic as soon as today -- or as late as midweek -- depending on whether the rain expected over the weekend permits crews to finish restriping the approaches to the bridge on Interstate 80. The bridge is the first suspension bridge built in the Bay Area since the Golden Gate Bridge opened 66 years ago -- and the first bridge of its kind built in the United States in more than 30 years. But the talk Saturday was not about traffic or engineering. It was about Zampa, who was a legend in the bridge business, an ordinary guy who built great things. Gov. Gray Davis called him "a working-class hero'' who helped build nearly all the bridges in the Bay Area, including the Golden Gate and Bay bridges. Davis, who was the keynote speaker, recalled that Zampa had fallen off the unfinished Golden Gate Bridge, flipped over three times and broke his back on impact. "He always said, "I climbed halfway to heaven and I fell halfway to hell, and neither place seemed to want me,' " Davis said. "So I just went back to work." Dozens of members of Zampa's extended family were on hand Saturday to tell stories about the man, who died at the age of 95 three years ago, only weeks after he attended groundbreaking ceremonies for the bridge that bears his name. Zampa was no saint. "He liked his women, he liked bars, he liked to play pool, he liked to play the horses,'' said Dennis Zampa, his grandson. "He only went to the doctor twice. Once when he fell off the Golden Gate Bridge and once when he got his jaw broken with a pool cue. He was in his 70s the second time.'' "He was the toughest man I ever knew,'' said Ron Zampa, an ironworker and another grandson. "Dad would be proud,'' said Dick Zampa, his son, and an official with the statewide organization of the Iron Workers Union. "And I'm proud of every construction worker who participated in this celebration.'' Speaker after speaker praised the working men and women who built the bridge and noted that it is the first bridge or freeway in California named for a blue-collar worker. Most others are named for political leaders or peace officers. The day was also a valedictory to Davis, who was recalled last month and has only nine more days in office. The celebration was moved up a week, and that allowed Davis -- and not Arnold Schwarzenegger -- to preside. Critics said the change was pure politics -- a last hurrah for Davis -- but state officials claimed the change only happened because the bridge was finished early. No one mentioned the controversy Saturday. Joe Reyes, who was lead engineer on the suspension span, said he remembered starting on the bridge five years ago, when the design was only 35 percent complete. "Now I'm standing here with my kids -- Cody, who is 5, and Kala, who is 3, and they weren't even born when we started this.'' He said the wires in each of the cables are no thicker than a pencil; there are 37 strands in each of the main cables and enough wire, Reyes said, "to reach from here to Hong Kong and back.'' Speeches over, the crowd of several thousand followed two high school bands and antique cars over the bridge, marveling at the red cables, the unmarked roadway, and the sun that burst through the clouds. It took about 20 minutes to walk from the Vallejo side to Crockett. It is a handsome bridge, but the setting is not as dramatic as the Zampa bridge's more famous sister, the Golden Gate. The north tower is 420 feet high, the south tower 404 feet. The main span between the towers is 2,388 feet, and it will carry southbound traffic on I-80, replacing the 76-year-old cantilever bridge just east. The Zampa bridge cost $340 million, including approaches. Walking across on the roadway on the opening day was "a great experience, '' said Hezekiah Mason, a mechanical engineer who lives in Vallejo. He did not work on the bridge, but wanted to be there anyway. He brought along his grandson, Terrance Mason, who is 10. "Someday, when he's grown, I want him to be able to tell his grandchildren that he walked across this bridge on the very first day,'' he said. ---------------------------------- I had the privilege of interviewing some of the workers on this bridge late last year, and to take some interesting photos from the north tower. If anyone want a copy of the article, let me know. -- Email sent to is never read. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 18:21:40 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:
I've now seen three separately sourced articles that indicate the mighty U.S. military machine did NOT find Saddam, but that he was "captured" by a local force and then the mighty U.S. military machine was led to where he was stashed. I don't know yet if it is true, but if it is, it plops yet another big lie in the lap of the U.S. military, which hasn't told much in the way of the truth on things that matter since the beginning of the War Against Vietnam. typical John On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 19:16:55 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:
Calif Bill wrote: "basskisser" wrote in message m... "Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net... "Harry Krause" wrote in message ... JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth snipped I had the privilege of interviewing some of the workers on this bridge late last year, and to take some interesting photos from the north tower. If anyone want a copy of the article, let me know. typical John On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
"Harry Krause" wrote in message ... Calif Bill wrote: "basskisser" wrote in message m... "Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net... "Harry Krause" wrote in message ... JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth Story and photo by Sgt. Greg Heath, 4th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan ? Twenty-three years ago formal education along with the schoolhouse for the children of Dara and the surrounding area vanished. More military b.s., JohnH? More Union b.s., Harry? What "Union b.s." did Harry state in this thread? Well, he is a union shill. Spiels for the union constantly. Well, Bill, perhaps if you were a bit more successful as a contractor, you could afford to pay workman's comp insurance and then be able to hire skilled craftworkers, instead of the pick-up crews you are forced to use. Hey, have you been over the Al Zampa Bridge yet? You know, the one named to honor the Zampa family? Opening day for Carquinez span Ceremony honors Alfred Zampa, builder of bridges Carl Nolte, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, November 9, 2003 ©2003 San Francisco Chronicle | Feedback | FAQ URL: sfgate.com/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/11/09/BAGO22TPNU1.DTL It was a great day for the working stiff Saturday when the state opened the newest bridge in the world -- and the first one named for a blue- collar worker. Pedestrians in their thousands walked across the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge, the handsome westernmost span of the Carquinez Bridge complex. Some wore hardhats and some had baseball caps with their union affiliation -- ironworkers, carpenters, pile driver operators. The bridge may open to automobile traffic as soon as today -- or as late as midweek -- depending on whether the rain expected over the weekend permits crews to finish restriping the approaches to the bridge on Interstate 80. The bridge is the first suspension bridge built in the Bay Area since the Golden Gate Bridge opened 66 years ago -- and the first bridge of its kind built in the United States in more than 30 years. But the talk Saturday was not about traffic or engineering. It was about Zampa, who was a legend in the bridge business, an ordinary guy who built great things. Gov. Gray Davis called him "a working-class hero'' who helped build nearly all the bridges in the Bay Area, including the Golden Gate and Bay bridges. Davis, who was the keynote speaker, recalled that Zampa had fallen off the unfinished Golden Gate Bridge, flipped over three times and broke his back on impact. "He always said, "I climbed halfway to heaven and I fell halfway to hell, and neither place seemed to want me,' " Davis said. "So I just went back to work." Dozens of members of Zampa's extended family were on hand Saturday to tell stories about the man, who died at the age of 95 three years ago, only weeks after he attended groundbreaking ceremonies for the bridge that bears his name. Zampa was no saint. "He liked his women, he liked bars, he liked to play pool, he liked to play the horses,'' said Dennis Zampa, his grandson. "He only went to the doctor twice. Once when he fell off the Golden Gate Bridge and once when he got his jaw broken with a pool cue. He was in his 70s the second time.'' "He was the toughest man I ever knew,'' said Ron Zampa, an ironworker and another grandson. "Dad would be proud,'' said Dick Zampa, his son, and an official with the statewide organization of the Iron Workers Union. "And I'm proud of every construction worker who participated in this celebration.'' Speaker after speaker praised the working men and women who built the bridge and noted that it is the first bridge or freeway in California named for a blue-collar worker. Most others are named for political leaders or peace officers. The day was also a valedictory to Davis, who was recalled last month and has only nine more days in office. The celebration was moved up a week, and that allowed Davis -- and not Arnold Schwarzenegger -- to preside. Critics said the change was pure politics -- a last hurrah for Davis -- but state officials claimed the change only happened because the bridge was finished early. No one mentioned the controversy Saturday. Joe Reyes, who was lead engineer on the suspension span, said he remembered starting on the bridge five years ago, when the design was only 35 percent complete. "Now I'm standing here with my kids -- Cody, who is 5, and Kala, who is 3, and they weren't even born when we started this.'' He said the wires in each of the cables are no thicker than a pencil; there are 37 strands in each of the main cables and enough wire, Reyes said, "to reach from here to Hong Kong and back.'' Speeches over, the crowd of several thousand followed two high school bands and antique cars over the bridge, marveling at the red cables, the unmarked roadway, and the sun that burst through the clouds. It took about 20 minutes to walk from the Vallejo side to Crockett. It is a handsome bridge, but the setting is not as dramatic as the Zampa bridge's more famous sister, the Golden Gate. The north tower is 420 feet high, the south tower 404 feet. The main span between the towers is 2,388 feet, and it will carry southbound traffic on I-80, replacing the 76-year-old cantilever bridge just east. The Zampa bridge cost $340 million, including approaches. Walking across on the roadway on the opening day was "a great experience, '' said Hezekiah Mason, a mechanical engineer who lives in Vallejo. He did not work on the bridge, but wanted to be there anyway. He brought along his grandson, Terrance Mason, who is 10. "Someday, when he's grown, I want him to be able to tell his grandchildren that he walked across this bridge on the very first day,'' he said. ---------------------------------- I had the privilege of interviewing some of the workers on this bridge late last year, and to take some interesting photos from the north tower. If anyone want a copy of the article, let me know. -- Email sent to is never read. I normally avoid the I-80 corridor. Live on the 680 corridor. Was thinking of fishing the area for sturgeon next week. As to hiring workers. Do not need to. Semi-retired, do the jobs I do not require extra workers for. Do to the excessive union charges and EXORBITANT workers comp insurance, I can make as much money doing crown molding and such. In some ways I wonder how they picked Al Zampa as the name for the bridge. His son the union shill forced it? There were lots of people who worked on the GG bridge. By buddy and best man at my wedding, his father worked on the bridge. So why not the Les Repass bridge. Maybe you ought to work for a living and have to make a payroll. Daddy the multi-millionaire boat dealer must have put you through university, as you brag on the good relationship. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
"JohnH" wrote in message ... On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 19:16:55 -0500, Harry Krause wrote: Calif Bill wrote: "basskisser" wrote in message m... "Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net... "Harry Krause" wrote in message ... JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth snipped I had the privilege of interviewing some of the workers on this bridge late last year, and to take some interesting photos from the north tower. If anyone want a copy of the article, let me know. typical John On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD Harry, seems to be taking taking credit for the bridge now that he interviewed a couple of workers. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
"Calif Bill" wrote in message ink.net...
"JohnH" wrote in message ... On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 19:16:55 -0500, Harry Krause wrote: Calif Bill wrote: "basskisser" wrote in message m... "Calif Bill" wrote in message link.net... "Harry Krause" wrote in message ... JohnH wrote: New school brings hope for Afghan youth snipped I had the privilege of interviewing some of the workers on this bridge late last year, and to take some interesting photos from the north tower. If anyone want a copy of the article, let me know. typical John On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD Harry, seems to be taking taking credit for the bridge now that he interviewed a couple of workers. Please show where Harry "seems to be taking the credit for the bridge". |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
Harry Krause wrote in message news:bs5d6j$9pohb$1@ID-
I had the privilege of interviewing some of the workers on this bridge late last year, and to take some interesting photos from the north tower. If anyone want a copy of the article, let me know. Harry, I have family in Martinez, CA, and went to Crockett to a restaurant called The Dead Fish, overlooking the bridge. I was there in Oct., I believe. Next time I go, I'll certainly eat there again, the seafood is fantastic. |
Today's GOOD news! (a little off topic)
basskisser wrote:
Harry Krause wrote in message news:bs5d6j$9pohb$1@ID- I had the privilege of interviewing some of the workers on this bridge late last year, and to take some interesting photos from the north tower. If anyone want a copy of the article, let me know. Harry, I have family in Martinez, CA, and went to Crockett to a restaurant called The Dead Fish, overlooking the bridge. I was there in Oct., I believe. Next time I go, I'll certainly eat there again, the seafood is fantastic. Aha! The Dead Fish! It is a fabulous restaurant. We happened across it while driving to the bridge, stopped to take some photos of the bridge from the back of the restaurant, and ate lunch there on the way back. Great meal. -- Email sent to is never read. |
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