In Tribute II

This was written by Robert Kent, my stepson, and Jimmy's older brother.

Michael James Cornett went home to be with the lord December 10, 2008. Known to his family as “Jimmy” he was born in San Antonio TX on August 18, 1978. He was a devoted father, brother and son. Surviving family include his mother Donna, father Mike, sister Janine, brother Robert , nephews Jacob and Aaron as well as stepfather Patrick along with many friends. Jimmy graduated Bellaire High School in May of 1997. Jimmy served in the United States Marines and United Stated Army completing two successful tours in Iraq, one with each service - protecting his family and this Country of which he served. In life he was but a traveler along a journey of discovery and accomplishment. In death he is now without boundary, without restriction, without pain. You can go anywhere you want Jimmy, do whatever you want because death is but another journey to another life for only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing and when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. We will meet you there.

In Tribute

I am here today to pay tribute to my stepson Michael James Cornett - Jimmy to us, Michael to his friends. On December 10, 2008 at 7:20 am, he was killed in a car accident in Manhattan, Kansas on his way to work on base at Fort Riley. I don't know where to start, except to say that he has been one of my heroes. He graduated from Bellaire High School and joined the Marines. He completed his hitch and got out right before 9/11, but then a few year later joined the reserves, got activated and went to Iraq. He had one close call that tour when his convoy was attacked and his roommate was killed, but he made it home safely. After getting back home, he switched to the Army and was sent back to Iraq where he was a forward observer for an artillery unit. Once again he made it home safely, despite a few close calls.
He was looking to make a career out of the Army, and would liked to be a drill instructor. He also had just adopted his two stepkids, despite the fact that he and his wife were splitting up. A number of people didn't understand that, but he loved Victoria and Junior so much, that he wanted to make sure they were provided for, no matter what happened. I don't have the capacity to be eloquent right now, but I wanted to get something in writing.

He was a good son, a good man, a great father , a dedicated soldier and always a Marine.



Currently Listening to

Stiff Little Fingers
The Tossers

Currently Reading

Brisingr - Christopher Paolini (just finished)

Currently Playing

World of Warcraft (no Wrath of the Lich King yet tho)

Where's the Beef? I'll Tell Ya Where...

I had a wild time in New Jersey. I was up there the first week of October on business, and it was my first time in that part of the country. I spent most of my time in the East Hanover area, but I had an opportunity to get together with Kelly Terrell, an old friend who is a high school drama teacher in Woodbridge. He took me into NYC to see the sights, and it was a blast. We took in Times Square at night which is something everyone should see once in their life. I also got to see a lot of the Broadway theaters and the Letterman show. Before Times Square, though, we went to a place I heartily recommend to anyone who has the means.

The place is Plataforma Churrascaria on W. 49th. Now there is a churrascaria here in Houston that I have heard great things about, but I cannot imagine it topping this place. The price is Prix-Fixe and the service is Rodizio style, which means that as long as you are interested, waiters will periodically stop by your table with a skewer of grilled meat of one type or another and slice off what you want - everything to sausage and chicken to lamb and beef. It was all incredible, but the most spectacular was the beef tenderloin wrapped in bacon.

Before the main course however, is the most spectacular salad bar I have ever seen. Calling it a salad bar is really a misnomer, actually. It features some wonderful salads, but also memorable cheeses, hearts of palm and artichoke, and a Brazilian rice and beans affair that is quite delicious. Also I had the first calamari I have ever actually enjoyed. I have a pretty adventurous palate, and will try almost anything. I have had calamari before, and it was ok, but kind of pointless. Frying may have been the culprit, because these had the consistancy of fried rubber bands with no real taste save the marinera sauce they were served with. The calamari salad at Plataforma was tender, flavorful, and very enjoyable. Add dessert and a couple of drinks and the bill was a revelation. Its not a place one would go to everyday, but on a special occasion this place will create an occasion you will never forget. The experience of a lifetime. (Kelly - I owe you a big one)

Currently Listening to:

Bruce Springsteen
Dropkick Murphy
Irish rebel music

Currently Playing:

Dark Age of Camelot

Currenly Reading:

The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall

Last Movie Seen:

Iron Man (on DVD)

great movie - Robert Downey Jr. was perfect for the part

I Don't like Ike

Well we survived hurricane Ike relatively unscathed. A hole in the ceiling and some siding are our only injuries and the power is now back on. I am heartbroken to see the footage coming from Galveston and surrounding areas, not only because of all my memories of going to Galveston most of my life, but mostly for all the people who got wiped out. The devastation in some areas is incredible with Bolivar seeming to have taken the brunt. I've heard numbers of 80% destruction in the Crystal Beach area. The legendary Balinese Room is gone, along with many other places I have spent time. The Kemah Boardwalk is no more, but will be rebuilt.

I would like to sing the praises of the first responders. I sat on my balcony watching the storm roll in (the wind and rain were coming from the other direction) and the Police were a constant presence. We live just off the corner of a major intersection, and I saw police making their presence known - patrolling with lights flashing right up till the worst of the storm. The day after the storm there were police going by every five minutes - even less working to enforce the curfew. Also there were several times when we saw police helping to clear storm sewer drains to help clear the streets of high water. They clearly went over and above the call of duty - being out in the storm when the rest of us were sitting it out, and pitching in to do what was necessary after the storm passed

Currently Reading
Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
Ulysses - James Joyce
Song of Albion trilogy - Stephen Lawhead

Currently Playing
Dark Age of Camelot (its been a while)

Currently Listening To
Reel Big Fish
The Sex Pistols
Shebeen

Last Movie Seen
are you kidding? Who can afford to go to the movies? I wait and rent them at the Red Box for $1.00

The Unfinished Revolution

Well I have continued reading Morgan Llywelen's series on Ireland in the 20th century. most recently with 1972, which starts in 1949 where the last book leaves off, and follows Ursula Halloran's fortunes and focuses on her son, Barry as he struggles with the Republican legacy he inherited from his Grandfather Ned Halloran, who fought in the Easter Rising in 1916 and the subsequent civil war. Barry joins the IRA and takes part in some border raids where he is baptized by fire and finds his idealism confronted by the reality of war. The story climaxes with Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972.


I always had a pretty superficial understanding of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland, but this book does a good job of painting a picture of the situation and how complex and horrifying it was. The IRA had been pretty weak and powerless for quite a while, and the Catholics in the Six Counties in the North were pretty much at the mercy of the Protestant, Loyalist and Unionist forces who beat, killed and burned out poor Catholic families with impunity. When the violence got out of hand, the British sent troops in which the Catholics at first welcomed, thinking they would be afforded some measure of protection. They were quick to realize that the British troops were on the side of the Protestants and did nothing to protect them.


Couple this with the fact that the government of the Republic did everything they could to suppress and destroy the IRA, the Volunteers, as they called themselves, were not safe anywhere. They saw their mission to be to make life as difficult as possible for the British forces, government of Northern Ireland and paramilitary groups who were making life miserable for Catholics in the North. The Provisional IRA, or Provos, broke off from the Official IRA, basically over the use of force. The Official IRA was more interested in the political process than in taking action in the North.


Well pretty soon there is violence everywhere, and while the IRA gets most of the bad press, there are some horrifying acts committed by Orange and Green alike, and it is easy to see why there is so much bitterness and rancor on both sides. I am currently reading the sequel, 1999 which culminates with the Good Friday Accord. The fact that there ever was an agreement is amazing, given all the bloodshed and violence that took place.

Currently Playing:

World of Warcraft (back again)

Currently Listening to:

The Clancy Brothers
The Aquabats
XM 53 Fungus

Last Movie Seen:

Get Smart

I loved it, thought Steve Carrell played it just right, not over the top, which would have been easy to do - it could have been a Saturday Night Live skit easily.

Trying to Reconnect

I find myself doing a lot of poking around on the internet these days trying to reconnect with folks I haven't seen in a long time, more specifically - people I went to junior high with at Lanier. I went to Lanier Junior High between 1979 and 1981 and had a really great circle of friends, but we all went seperate directions for high school. Some went to Bellaire, some to HSPVA. I have had a little luck, but not much - a dead end email address or two (either that or they didn't want to talk to me) and someone who will not write back.

At any rate, I thought I would post a few names of people I am trying to reconnect with in the off chance that either someone might know them or someone might be googling themselves.

Kurt Schade
Scott McEver
Reagan Wilkins
Ken Odle
Gwynneth Nolan
Nelly Kish
Krista Polk
Rachel Raun
Karen Hart
Joy Francisco
Eric VonDohlen
Barbara Rodriguez
Robert Whyburn

Currently Reading:

Next - Michael Crichton

Currently Listening to:

Dropkick Murphy - Live on St. Patrick's Day
The Best of Billie Holiday

Currently Playing:

Guitar Hero II

Last Movie I Saw:

Speed Racer

I really enjoyed it - more than I thought I would, but then again I never missed it as a kid.

To XM or not to XM

We bought a new vehicle right before Christmas last year, a Saturn Vue, and it came with an interesting feature, a three month free trial period of XM radio. Now, I figured I would enjoy it for free, but didn't think I would be motivated enough to actually subscribe.

Part of my problem with radio is that I have such eclectic, wide ranging tastes, and like most people, I also get bored with repetition. Take rock radio, for example. Here in Houston there are not really many options. There's the Arrow, that is heavily 70's oriented classic rock, the 80's station that plays a very narrow batch of stuff, mainly the new wave bands, Pat Benatar, Bryan Adams, you get the picture. 103.7, the station that used to be KLOL-type album rock is now Jack-FM, which seems to be a mix station by another name, and other than the moldy oldies and top 40, that is it. Now a few of those stations may sound good on paper, but they have a limited play list that they repeat over and over, and after a few days you have heard it all (many times). Sad, huh.

Let's compare that to XM, shall we? It's hard to know where to start really. Sticking to our rock comparison, we will examine the beginning of the dial where there is a station devoted to the 60's one for the 70's and one for the 80's, and one for the 90's. My wife listens to the 60's and 70's stations a bit and they aren't bad, but are a little more pop oriented (this is more obvious on the 70's station). The stations that get the most play when we are in the car together are Top Tracks and Big Tracks. Top tracks is rock from the 60's and 70's, while Big Tracks is rock from the 70's and 80's. They both play a good balance, and Big Tracks, for example, plays a lot of music that got airplay in the 80's quite a bit but didn't make it to the oldies stations. It sounds a great deal like what KLOL did in the mid 80's. I have heard songs on Big Tracks that I haven't heard since the 80's. While those stations are good, there is sooo much more. there is a station for every category: general heavy metal, 80's metal, new metal, classic alternative, new alternative, grunge, obscure classic rock, acoustic rock, and even punk gets it own station. So you see there is a wide variety of stations for whatever you are in the mood for, and speaking of different moods, lets explore a little wider.

There are a lot more stations to choose from, and I'm not always in the mood for rock. There is actually a real Jazz station, not just that smooth jazz stuff (there's one of those if you want). Also, I like opera, but on broadcast radio one is limited. 88.7 usually broadcasts opera on Saturdays around noon, but that's it. XM has a whole station devoted to just Opera and vocal music, where they play whole operas, as well as lieder, choral music, and similar things. I also find myself listening to the stand-up comedy channels quite a bit.

Well, as you can see, I found myself enjoying XM quite a bit more than I thought I would, and when our free trial was up we did subscribe.

currently reading:

Blowfly - Patricia Cornwell
Dubliners - James Joyce


currently listening to:

Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire
Dropkick Murphys - Meanest of Times
Flogging Molly - Float
XM112 - Vox - the opera station

Looking for:

1972 and 1999 by Morgan Llywellyn

Currently playing:

Need For Speed Pro Street - PC
Guitar Hero III - XBox 360

Just in Time for St. Patrick's Day

My reading of late has included a number of books by Morgan Llywelyn, covering a number of different aspects of Irish history. Until recently though, most of these have been from Eire's distant, sometimes mythical past, including Cuchulainn, Finn Mac Cool, and more recently, Brian Boru, the king who came closer than anyone ever had before or since to creating a completely united Ireland, til his death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

I have recently been reading a series dealing with more recent matters beginning with the book "1916". I am actually not finished with it yet, but it has inspired me to do alot of further research and reading. The book centers around events leading up to the Easter Uprising in, of course, 1916. The story begins a number of years earlier with the character of Ned Halloran, who is on his way to America for his sister's wedding, and is unfortunately taking this voyage on the Titanic. The book follows Ned as he goes off to boarding school, and as he becomes a part of life in Dublin, which includes immersion into the politics and factions in town. He becomes involved in an assortment of revolutionary groups that end up being an integral part in the ultimately unsuccessful Easter Uprising in 1916, in which a number of key buildings in Dublin are seized by revolutionaries, but eventually crushed by the British, leading to the execution of several of the key leaders, but ends up bringing to prominence several other revolutionaries including Michael Collins and Eamon De Valera.

I have never known that much about recent Irish history other than what I saw on the news, but this book has done a good job of cutting though and explaining all the different factions and their disagreements and sorting out all the different groups, while making it all real and immersing the reader in the whole scene. Sinn Fein really is separate from the IRA, just like they always said - who knew?

1916 is just the first book in the series that follows the fate of the Irish throughout the 20th century and their quest for Independence from Britain, the tumult of the civil war that followed, and all the way through the troubles centered around Northern Ireland culminating in the Good Friday Accord. It has encouraged me to learn more on my own, and to me that is one of the hallmarks of a good book. On a related note, I would also recommend the movie "Michael Collins" starring Liam Neeson, with Neeson as the title character. It starts with the end of the Easter Uprising following Collins through his exploits in the war against Britain and the civil war that followed. It also stars Julia Roberts and Alan Rickman. Warning - it is a bit violent, but then again, given the subject matter, that is to be expected.

Also Flogging Molly is in town tonight promoting their new album "Float", but having been sick, I am unable to go. It's a really good album though, their first one recorded in Ireland, and has a mature sound to it, and Dave King's thought provoking lyrics. Check it out if you have the chance.