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Davis Winter Vacation Day 1
by ryan
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Davis Winter Vacation
also known as
The Brother Vacation: A Test of Sanity
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Days 1 and 2, by Ryan Davis
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The first day, we drove, then stayed at a Hilton in Charleston, SC.
The drive was pretty bad, but that made the hotel all the nicer once
we got here. After a good nights sleep, we had a busy day. I also gave my
new digital camera a spin, and here are some of the results.
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Ross in the car, when I started messing with the camera. He said he needed
a mug shot for MPS, so here one is.
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It turns out my camera has lots of nifty features, negative mode being one of them.
It can also take black and white, add a sepia tone for olde tymiy pixtures, and has
a solarize mode that makes things look drawn.
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This is the view from our room the next morning. A little bleak, but nice nonetheless.
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After an inexpensive breakfast, we toured the Yorktown CV-10, an aircraft
carrier used extensively in World War II and Vietnam. It was named after
another carrier that was sunk by the Japanese. (those sandal wearing goldfish tenders!)
The thing was just huge, and had a variety of aircraft on display. I'll spare you all
my obsession with jet turbines and insanely complicated machinery, and just provide
the human interest shit. As such, here's my family surveying the battlefield.
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This is one of the men who served aboard the Yorktown. The air in that ship was
heavy with the weight of history, of hundreds of men fighting for their lives
for vague reasons, and dying, just like Richard Shireman here. His face seems so
innocent and carefree. What horrors did he see before he died? What was the hell
he went through? The odd thing is, he is just one of thousands of anonymous people
who have given their lives, been memorialized, and still remain a mystery. Or I didn't read the
right placard.
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This is a picture of yours truly. Those of you who haven't seen me in a
bit might be a tad suprised, as my appearance has changed quite a bit. With
my camera, I look a lot like a photo-journalist in some war torn country.
Ross snapped this one, and it came out well. There was a good wind blowing, and
we were on the highest point that wasn't off-limits.
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On a self-guided tour into the heart of the ship, Ross excitedly found the
ship's butcher. "Its the butcher!" He repeated, and prompty lay down on the chopping
block. I snapped this shot of him right before... the accident. The Yorktown is crewed
by navy retirees, all reprising their wartime roles that they based 90% of their life
on, and the ships butcher had all but lost his sight. The cleaver didn't take Ross out
completely, just left him in excruciating pain. We talked it over for about 15, 20
minutes, and decided that Ross should be put out of his misery. Dad and I couldn't stomach
his shrill cries for mercy, the thick gurgling of blood in his throat mangling his words.
It proved too much for the butcher too, who in guilt thrust himself into the meat slicer.
In the end, it was Mom who had the gumption to finish Ross off. It was a bloody mess, but
informative of the ways of life onboard the ship.
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They had near the Yorktown a shoddy replica of a Vietnam base, with
sandbag bunkers, small huts, and helicopters. There was an unfortunate
accident when Ross got a little too curious about the armaments on one
chopper. Apparently the security system on the helicopter was on, and as
soon as Ross started tapping the rockets, the 35mm chain gun burst to life in a hail
of bullets and tracers. I caught the tail end of the whole affair, and now Ross is
is dead with 17 rounds to the chest.
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After the Yorktown, we boarded a small submarine, then took a ferry over to
Fort Sumter. Some of you may have heard of it. There, at 4:30am on April 12, 1861,
the first shots of the Civil War were fired. There is a rich history behind it, but
what I found the most interesting was that Anderson, the Union Commander, was a good
friend and West Point artillery instructor of Beauregart, the Conferate who gave the
order to fire.
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This is a cannon shell that broke through the outer walls of Sumter, but
got lodged there. The fort was bombarded numerous times, and once stood three stories
tall, at rought 55 feet. Now, all that remains is the lowest level. Nearby is the
fort that was stormed by the 54th Massachusetts, taking heavy losses. It was also in a
movie called "Glory."
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The trip so far has been very nice. I've been cranking through The Fellowship of the Ring
(thanks, Chris!) and Ross is heavy into Cryptonomicon. My camera can also take MPEGs,
but this computer couldn't read the files, so I'm gonna have to check on that.
We had some truly excellent seafood tonight, and some shoddy seafood last night.
We also went on a carriage tour through historic Charleston, which brochures and guides
keep refering to as 'the most historical city in the us' or something. I'm wondering
how history is measured, and how this city can be more historical than say, Savannah or
St. Augustine. Anyway, the carriage ride was relaxing, if a bit dull, and we all
got to pet the sweaty horse, which was a mixed blessing. But, while waiting for the
parents to buy tickets, Ross and I found a nice cat sitting in the horse stables. Ross
let it sniff him, then proceeded to pet it vigorously, and recieved a snap and a claw
for his enthusiasm. I kept my cool, and the cat eagerly licked my hand while a gave it
a nice petting. Then, we had to leave, I tried to do a bolder pet, and he wouldn't have
that at all, and my hand got the tooth and claw treatment as well. But, Ross did manage
to catch the cuteness in action. Look soon for the next posting!
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