A look to the sky would reveal a typical morning in Hono-

lulu, Hawaii, mostly clear skies, some scattered clouds

here and there, otherwise a beautiful day. As soldiers went

about there Sunday morning none could suspect that in

just a few short moments they would be a part of an even

that would change the world in a dramatic and mournful

way. It was 6 am on December 7th 1941 when the Japa-

nese military forces launched their first wave of 181 bomb-

ers of their carriers into the sky. In less than 2 hours, just

before 8 am Japanese bombers began their attack on the

us striking American vessels and military installations in

Oahu. They attacked military airfields at the same time

they launched their attack on us vessels anchored in Pearl

Harbor. The Navy air bases at Ford Island and Kaneohe Bay,

the Marine airfield at Ewa and the Army Air Corps fields at

Bellows, Wheeler and Hickam were all bombed and

strafed as other elements of the attacking force began

their assaults on the ships moored in Pearl Harbor. The

purpose of the simultaneous attacks was to destroy the

American planes before they could rise to intercept the

Japanese.

Of the more than 90 ships at anchor in Pearl Harbor, the

primary targets were the eight battleships anchored there.

Seven were moored on Battleship Row along the south-

east shore of Ford Island while the USS Pennsylvania (BB-

38) lay in drydock across the channel. Within the first

minutes of the attack all the battleships adjacent to Ford

Island had taken bomb and or torpedo hits. The USS West

Virginia (BB-48) sank quickly. The USS Oklahoma (BB-37)

turned turtle and sank. At about 8:10 a.m., the USS Arizo-

na (BB-39) was mortally wounded by an armor piercing

bomb which ignited the ship's forward ammunition maga-

zine. The resulting explosion and fire killed 1,177 crew-

men, the greatest loss of life on any ship that day and

about half the total number of Americans killed. The USS

California (BB-44), USS Maryland (BB-46), USS Tennessee

(BB-43) and USS Nevada (BB-36) also suffered varying de-

grees of damage in the first half hour of the raid.

There was a short lull in the fury of the attack at about

8:30 a.m. At that time the USS Nevada (BB-36), despite her

wounds, managed to get underway and move down the

channel toward the open sea. Before she could clear the

harbor, a second wave of 170 Japanese planes, launched

30 minutes after the first, appeared over the harbor. They

concentrated their attacks on the moving battleship, hop-

ing to sink her in the channel and block the narrow en-

trance to Pearl Harbor. On orders from the harbor control

tower, the USS Nevada (BB-36) beached herself at Hospital

Point and the channel remained clear.

When the attack ended shortly before 10:00 a.m., less

than two hours after it began, the American force has paid

a fearful price. Twenty-one ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet

were sunk or damaged: the battleships USS Arizona (BB-

39), USS California (BB-44), USS Maryland (BB-46), USS Ne-

vada (BB-36), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), USS Pennsylvania

(BB-38), USS Tennessee (BB-43) and USS West Virginia (BB-

48); cruisers USS Helena (CL-50), USS Honolulu (CL-48) and

USS Raleigh (CL-7); the destroyers USS Cassin (DD-372),

USS Downes (DD-375), USS Helm (DD-388) and USS Shaw

(DD-373); seaplane tender USS Curtiss (AV-4); target ship

(ex-battleship) USS Utah (AG-16); repair ship USS Vestal

(AR-4); minelayer USS Oglala (CM-4); tug USS Sotoyomo

(YT-9); and Floating Drydock Number 2. Aircraft losses

were 188 destroyed and 159 damaged, the majority hit be-

fore the had a chance to take off. American dead num-

bered 2,403. That figure included 68 civilians, most of

them killed by improperly fused anti-aircraft shells landing

in Honolulu. There were 1,178 military and civilian wound-

ed.

Japanese losses were comparatively light. Twenty-nine

planes, less than 10 percent of the attacking force, failed

to return to their carriers.

The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt

asked Congress to declare war on Japan; Congress ap-

proved his declaration with just one dissenting vote. Three

days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy also declared

war on the United States, and again Congress reciprocat-

ed. More than two years into the conflict, America had fi-

nally joined World War II.

More than 7 decades later the sound of the warning

alarms, bombs exploding and screams and cries still ring in

the hearts of Americans all over the world. This December

7th at 8 am will mark the 71st anniversary of this dreadful

day that will be remembered for another 70 years and

longer to come.

Info and articles gathered from varies sites including but

not limited to history.com, accuweather.com and others.

A look to the sky would reveal a typical morning in Honolu-

lu, Hawaii, mostly clear skies, some scattered clouds here

and there, otherwise a beautiful day. As soldiers went

about there Sunday morning none could suspect that in

just a few short moments they would be a part of an even

that would change the world in a dramatic and mournful

way. It was 6 am on December 7th 1941 when the Japa-

nese military forces launched their first wave of 181 bomb-

ers of their carriers into the sky. In less than 2 hours, just

before 8 am Japanese bombers began their attack on the

us striking American vessels and military installations in

Oahu. They attacked military airfields at the same time

they launched their attack on us vessels anchored in Pearl

Harbor. The Navy air bases at Ford Island and Kaneohe Bay,

the Marine airfield at Ewa and the Army Air Corps fields at

Bellows, Wheeler and Hickam were all bombed and

strafed as other elements of the attacking force began

their assaults on the ships moored in Pearl Harbor. The

purpose of the simultaneous attacks was to destroy the

American planes before they could rise to intercept the

Japanese.

Of the more than 90 ships at anchor in Pearl Harbor, the

primary targets were the eight battleships anchored there.

Seven were moored on Battleship Row along the south-

east shore of Ford Island while the USS Pennsylvania (BB-

38) lay in drydock across the channel. Within the first

minutes of the attack all the battleships adjacent to Ford

Island had taken bomb and or torpedo hits. The USS West

Virginia (BB-48) sank quickly. The USS Oklahoma (BB-37)

turned turtle and sank. At about 8:10 a.m., the USS Arizo-

na (BB-39) was mortally wounded by an armor piercing

bomb which ignited the ship's forward ammunition maga-

zine. The resulting explosion and fire killed 1,177 crew-

men, the greatest loss of life on any ship that day and

about half the total number of Americans killed. The USS

California (BB-44), USS Maryland (BB-46), USS Tennessee

(BB-43) and USS Nevada (BB-36) also suffered varying de-

grees of damage in the first half hour of the raid.

There was a short lull in the fury of the attack at about

8:30 a.m. At that time the USS Nevada (BB-36), despite her

wounds, managed to get underway and move down the

channel toward the open sea. Before she could clear the

harbor, a second wave of 170 Japanese planes, launched

30 minutes after the first, appeared over the harbor. They

concentrated their attacks on the moving battleship, hop-

ing to sink her in the channel and block the narrow en-

trance to Pearl Harbor. On orders from the harbor control

tower, the USS Nevada (BB-36) beached herself at Hospital

Point and the channel remained clear.

When the attack ended shortly before 10:00 a.m., less

than two hours after it began, the American force has paid

a fearful price. Twenty-one ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet

were sunk or damaged: the battleships USS Arizona (BB-

39), USS California (BB-44), USS Maryland (BB-46), USS Ne-

vada (BB-36), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), USS Pennsylvania

(BB-38), USS Tennessee (BB-43) and USS West Virginia (BB-

48); cruisers USS Helena (CL-50), USS Honolulu (CL-48) and

USS Raleigh (CL-7); the destroyers USS Cassin (DD-372),

USS Downes (DD-375), USS Helm (DD-388) and USS Shaw

(DD-373); seaplane tender USS Curtiss (AV-4); target ship

(ex-battleship) USS Utah (AG-16); repair ship USS Vestal

(AR-4); minelayer USS Oglala (CM-4); tug USS Sotoyomo

(YT-9); and Floating Drydock Number 2. Aircraft losses

were 188 destroyed and 159 damaged, the majority hit be-

fore the had a chance to take off. American dead num-

bered 2,403. That figure included 68 civilians, most of

them killed by improperly fused anti-aircraft shells landing

in Honolulu. There were 1,178 military and civilian wound-

ed.

Japanese losses were comparatively light. Twenty-nine

planes, less than 10 percent of the attacking force, failed

to return to their carriers.

The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt

asked Congress to declare war on Japan; Congress ap-

proved his declaration with just one dissenting vote. Three

days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy also declared

war on the United States, and again Congress reciprocat-

ed. More than two years into the conflict, America had fi-

nally joined World War II.

More than 7 decades later the sound of the warning

alarms, bombs exploding and screams and cries still ring in

the hearts of Americans all over the world. This December

7th at 8 am will mark the 71st anniversary of this dreadful

day that will be remembered for another 70 years and

longer to come.

Info and articles gathered from varies sites including but

not limited to history.com, accuweather.com and others.

AIDS AWARENESS

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) has been a huge concern

for the population for a very long time. AIDS is now the sixth leading

cause of death among people ages of 25 to 44 years. Many have mis-

conceptions on how the disease is passed. So here are some facts about

AIDS for better knowledge of the disease.

*HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is what actually causes AIDS.

*HIV has been found in: saliva, tears, nervous system tissue, spinal fluid,

blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. The only fluids that will

transmit the disease are: blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.

*HIV is transmitted by: intercourse (oral, vaginal, or anal); blood

(transfusions or needle sharing); and mother to child (shared blood cir-

culation or breast milk).

*HAART (Highly Active Antiretrovial Therapy) is not a cure. It is a treat-

ment that prolongs life for a bit longer.

*Side effects from HAART are: collection of fat on the back or abdomen,

diarrhea, general sick feeling, headache, nausea, and weakness.

My mom grabbed me and placed me under the table. I saw the fear in

her eyes as we heard the screams outside of the hut. She looked at

me with her pale blue eyes and pleaded with me in silence to stay hid-

den. I fought her on it. My place was to protect the coven in any way

that I could. She sat me back down under the table and this time used

her voice.

“Jenna, I need you to stay hidden. You will be no good to us if they

find you,” she said in her lilting voice that was stricken with fear. It

wasn’t fear of her own death, I sensed, it was fear of mine. She kissed

me upon my forehead and stroked my cheek and then got up. She

looked back once, a silver tear streaking her face and then she left the

hut, her dagger drawn.

I covered my ears to try and shut out the screams of my people. I sat

there under that table like a coward. Someone came crashing through

the side of the hut and I could only look away. I was so scared that

they were going to find me. I sensed a presence inching closer to the

hut. A presence that was not anywhere near good. That is when I

heard the low growl that could not be denied as my mother. I heard

the clinking of metal and then a bright light surrounded the hut and it

felt like I was engulfed in it. Where voices screamed that the light

burned, I felt the light comforting and felt like it was one of those

summer days that I use to play by the river chasing pixies. A pair of

arms pulled me out of my reverie. I was carried briskly away from the

hut after being hidden under a dark cloak to match the color of the

night sky. I was given to a rider who was told something in a language

that I could not understand. The rider rode for three days with the

other following us.

The destination, when I awoke from my slumber, was beautiful. It was

covered in green fields, had a waterfall, and ancient ruins. The other

rider took me from the arms of my companion and lowered their

hood. I saw my beautiful mother’s face and she smiled upon me. She

carried me into a building that I did not see. She handed me to an El-

ven creature and looked at me again.

“I have to go back Jenna. There might have been survivors. I need to

save them and bring them here.”

“Momma, please, don’t go,” I sat there pleading with her in the Elven

man’s arms.

“I have to Jenna. If I do not return, then know I love you always. I will

never be truly away from you. You will know where to look when it is

time,” With those words, she kissed my forehead and turned away

from me. She got on her horse, looked back to wave sadly, and kicked

the horse to ride off in haste.

The Elven man took me to the highest tower in the building, one

where I could over look the lands and be closest to the stars. I looked

around my surroundings and felt truly alone. Not one person that I

loved was there. Not one thing of our people was there. Only me.

The Elven man did not bother me too much for the next few days to

come out of my room. I sat there on my little chair, next to the window,

starring up at the stars. I knew that everything happened for a reason,

but this was agony waiting for some word of my mother and my peo-

ple. Why was I so important to save?

It was two weeks before anyone came to see me in my room. I was like

a zombie when I came down for meals. I ate in silence and quickly so I

could return to my room. This night that the Elven man came to see

me, he brought a visitor. A silver dragon. I looked at her quickly and

then back to the night skies.

“Jenna?” The silver dragon spoke to me. I looked again at her and saw

the look on her face. I knew at that moment my mother was not going

to return. A single silver tear fell down on my face and into my hand. I

placed the tear on a dying plant and stared back into the sky. A star in

the Draco constellation started shining brightly.

“I am sorry Jenna. Everyone in your village was killed. There were no

survivors,” The silver dragon continued, “It was your mother’s wish

that you were brought here and taught by me. I hope that you will fol-

low these wishes.”

All I could do was nod to the dragon. I didn’t want to think of continu-

ing on right now. I was the only survivor of my people. The High Priest-

ess of the lost Wiccan coven. Doomed to now walk the earth to try and

find my way.

“Do you wish for us to leave?” The Elven man asked.

I shook my head and looked up to the stars. Of course I didn’t want to

be alone. I had been alone enough these past few weeks waiting for

some kind of word on the fate of my mother and my people. Now that

I know, I had to know what was to be expected of me now. I looked to

the silver dragon and she smiled as warmly as she could.

“Your training will begin tomorrow. There is much that you do not

know that you will need to know.”

I simply nodded. I had no words.

“We will leave you Jenna,” The Elven man said, “Seek us when you

wake in the morn.”

The pair turned to walk out and I noticed that the silver dragon hung

back a little with a sad look upon her face. She then silently headed out

the door. I laid my arms on the window sill and rested my head upon

them and stared at the stars. The star that shone so brightly seemed to

be dancing in the sky. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I smiled thinking

of my mother dancing around the bonfire during one of our story

nights. Her radiant black hair flowing as she twirled in her white dress,

her bare feet barely touching the ground as if she were floating high

above all the others. I could see the twinkle in her blue eyes as she

danced.

I glanced at the plant before laying down on my bed. The plant had

grown into a radiant purple flower. I smiled softly and sad- ly as I

faced a night full of nightmares.

D.L

. Bartl

ett

IsabellaNoctem: Hello, Josef. I am Isabella.

josefDeLassio: Hello

IsabellaNoctem: So, Josef. How long have you been roleplaying for?

josefDeLassio: Well about 2 or 3 years maybe 4. Depending on what

style you’re looking at.

IsabellaNoctem: Ah, nice.

IsabellaNoctem: And what made you want to start Manhattan?

josefDeLassio: -Chuckles grinning- Well some people in the City of

Newark decided to try to whack me and then kicked me out of their

city for standing up for my fiancé and myself so I thought ok well then

I'll start my own city. It took a while at first to actually follow through

but with the motivation of a couple people I decided to take a shot

and with the help of Mr. Thomas Feretti we ended up getting support-

ers into the city and have expanded greatly.

IsabellaNoctem: Can you tell us more about Manhattan?

josefDeLassio: Well basically it’s a role-play city obviously but it is also

open to modeling agencies and just normal people to join. We actual-

ly just got a new modeling agency in Manhattan that’s in the 18- sec-

tion of IMVU run by a Miss AngieDis. It was originally named after the

city in New York but how I originally got the name was from "The

Manhattan Project". Newark was supposed to be the next big thing

and supposed to be a city of promise but it had a few problems. They

have their own rules when it comes to RP and the people who judge

whether or not a fight is voided are also the people who rp along with

eachother and have a fixed leader. Manhattan is the opposite. I see

the faults and political syster Newark had and capitalized on it Man-

hattan can at any point when enough people want elect a new mayor

same as every 4 months. We also use the same standard RP rules that

everyone else uses so say Johnny fights Sally and Sally loses she can’t

take the chat log to a friend in the city and ask if its right they can

both take it to actual judges in the city and see if it is valid. It is based

to help others and for that reason it has become more of an Idea than

a physical state.

IsabellaNoctem: How long have you had Manhattan?

josefDeLassio: About a month it became one month fully on the 5th

of November

IsabellaNoctem: Would you say you're successful as of only being a

one month Rp?

josefDeLassio: I'd like to think Manhattan is successful yes. Even with

little activity at the moment we have many who are willing to join and

being part of us faster than we can keep up with. However I wouldn’t

say I'm the only one to give credit to. There are a lot of people in the

background as well.

IsabellaNoctem: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

josefDeLassio: not that I can think of at the moment no.

IsabellaNoctem: Okay. It was a nice interview, Mr. DeLassio.

© Forge Publications 2012