MEMORIAL DAY 2022

Every few years I delve into the meaning of Memorial Day.  I did that last year.  Our Freedom was not free.  We are what we are today because of those who died protecting us.

Ever wonder what the difference is between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?  Read my posting of 2016.

What should you do on Memorial Day?  You already missed the PBS telecast of the Concert on the Mall.  But click on this for a You Tube recast.  This was a different kind of show, for it was lacking in stars, but more than made up for it with stories of patriotism.

In Hawaii, I sometimes went to the Shinnyo Lantern Floating ceremony at Ala Moana Beach  That has changed, and today will occur on their temple grounds.  However, you need reservations, and there are none anymore.  There will be a live broadcast from 6:30 to 7PM on KHON2.

I could again walk up to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific inside Punchbowl, but will not.

This the 60th anniversary of the official opening of the USS Arizona Memorial (left). There will be Taps Across America Tribute at the Battleship Missouri Memorial.  This Moment of Remembrance is an annual event for Americans, wherever they, at 3 PM local time on Memorial Day, to pause for a minute to remember those who have sacrificed their lives in military service to the country.  It does cost $35/person to board of ship, half price for 4-12.  Every 15 minutes from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center at 1 Arizona Memorial Place, you can catch a free shuttle to get you to the Aviation Museum, where the historic Ford Island Control Tower (red and white tower above, and below) just opened.

Otherwise, can report on two events happening on Thursday this week, June 2:  

• The nearly century old Scripps National Spelling Bee, will not be on ESPN, but on Ion, Bounce, Laff and TrueReal.

• 
  Here is how to get the program on Ion.  In Honolulu:
• I looked it up for Spectrum for my zip code, and was led to Channel 27 and 1027, KPXOHD.
• Semifinals at 7PM on Wednesday, with Finals at 7PM on Thursday.

Also on June 2 will be first game of the 2022 NBA Finals, with the Golden State Warriors hosting the Boston Celtics.  On ABC or fubo TV at 9PM EDT.  The odds are Warriors -160, Celtics +140.  

• A minus means the team is favored, or plus is the underdog.
• Go to the right column of this blog to out what these numbers mean.
• This site says that if you bet $100 on the Warriors, you will get a total of $162.50 back.  
• Or the implied probability is that the Warriors have a 61.54% chance of winning.
• If you bet $100 on the Celtics, you win a total of $240.
• Or the implied probability is that the Celtics have a 41.67% change of winning.

Tom Cruise is back.  

• His sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. will probably earn $156 million this 4-day weekend in the USA, and $280 million worldwide, even though the movie is not yet playing in China and Russia.  

• 
  The original came out in 1986.  Rotten Tomatoes reviewers did not think much of this production, giving a 57% rating.  However, the audience said 83%.  That was 36 years ago, with Take My Breath Away by Berlin going on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
• TG2 was completed two years ago but this release was delayed because of the pandemic.  Rotten Tomatoes bestowed 96/99 ratings.  The song this time is Hold My Hand by Lady Gaga.

Hurricane Agnes is a Category 2 storm, and poised to strike Oaxaca, Mexico over the cities of Puerto Angel and La Crucecita.  While earlier today she was up to 110 MPH, there is a weakening trend.  One potential danger is that, after moving on to Tabasco, Agnes could enter the Gulf Mexico and threaten the Yucatan.  Being an A means this is the first hurricane of 2022 in the East Pacific.  Next will be Blas.  In the Atlantic, the first will be named Alex.

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