SAFe-ty First!

This past week, my team and I at Intrado packed up and hit the road for a few days of Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) training in Scotts Valley, CA. Once on the ground in Cali, we found cold weather, big trees, good food, and some learnin', too!

Westbound and Down

The first leg of our flight to San José was scheduled to depart Mobile Regional Airport at 6:10 AM on Sunday morning. Subtract the TSA-recommended two hours to allow for check-in and security, plus another to get ready and finish packing, and I found myself getting up at 3 AM that morning. Needless to say, I was looking forward to catching some z's on the plane.

We're not nearly as happy as we look.

Despite a short delay due to an issue at the check-in desk, we all managed to make it to the aboard easily enough (if not a little drowsy). The short flight to Dallas was mostly uneventful, as was the longer hop to San José. Before we knew it, we were touching down in the Golden State.

California Dreaming

Arriving in California at around noon, we found some lunch nearby and then set out to Scotts Valley.

Reminds me of the town Rambo blew up in First Blood.

A small city of about 11,000 people nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains about 30 miles south of San Jose, Scotts Valley probably isn't what comes to mind when you think about modern technology hub. However, several major players in the tech space got their start in Scotts Valley, including Netflix, Seagate, and Borland. Today, Intrado rents a small office space at the Enterprise Technology Centre, which was our ultimate destination this trip.

Among Giants

In addition to our Intrado office, Scotts Valley is also home to an old-growth forest called Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Not wanting to pass up an opportunity to see some of the largest trees in the world, we set out after lunch to go for a hike.

And what a hike it was.

"The Giant"

First of all, these trees are massive. I can't describe it any other way, and pictures don't do them justice. To think that something that big is a living organism boggles the mind, and if the sheer sizes of these trees aren't enough, the ages are nigh unbelievable. 

Redwood cross section.

Near the entrance to the park, a cross section of the redwood is on display. On it are markers identifying the rings that correspond to the years of specific historical events such as the birth of Jesus, the discovery of gunpowder, and the signing of the Magna Carta. To be honest, I couldn't quite wrap my head around the fact that I was standing in the presence of something that old. It's almost otherworldly, but I digress.

We were actually freezing to death, or at least I was.

While at the park, we walked a mile-long trail that took us around some of the more noteworthy trees in the area, including the Fremont Tree, inside which the famous explorer John C. Fremont supposedly camped while exploring the west coast (when asked by a reporter to verify the tale, Fremont simply said "It's a good story, let it stand").

The interior of the Fremont Tree.

Aside from the massive redwoods themselves, I found the most noteworthy aspect of the forest to be the eerie silence. Unlike the pine tree woods of the south (which are noisy with rustling leaves and creeping critters), the redwoods are almost painfully silent, with little noise made by flora or fauna. We spotted no birds or small animals during our walk; only a small deer made an appearance just before we decided to head out for the day.

Deer in the redwoods.

Base Camp

After a full day of flying and a walk in the woods (all the while running on about 4 hours of sleep), we were all exhausted and in agreement that soft beds and room service should be our next objective. From the park, we shipped out to our hotel, the Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley.

Looks like a big stone cabin to me.

To be sure, this wasn't your run-of-the-mill Hilton. The designers obviously wanted to embrace the winter resort vibe, complete with stone brick decor and a fireside bar in the lobby.

I'm not sure if the indoor waterfall is very winter-y.

The fireside bar. Cozy!

After checking in and touching base with our other teams from Mobile who had arrived after us, we all decided to crash for the evening. 8 AM was going to come quite early.

Back to School

Arriving at the Enterprise Technology Centre the next morning, we met up with the other engineering teams from Intrado for our first day of SAFe for Teams training.

Class is in session.

The day mostly consisted of a lengthy presentation divided up by some smaller workshops. Not much to elaborate on, but let's just say that our group was looking forward to watching the college football national championship game that night.

Game Time

The evening following our first day of training, our group met up at a sports bar in Scotts Valley called Bruno's. Let me tell you, this may have been the highlight of the trip.

Geaux Tigahs!

To start, Bruno's is a two-story sports bar in the heart of Scotts Valley. While the first floor has a traditional dining setup, the second floor features big screen TVs and large, overstuffed couches to relax and watch the game on. It wasn't long before we all settled in with some drinks and great pub food for the big event. 

Having the whole team together and just enjoying the evening was a great experience. It's no secret that times have been tough at Intrado recently, but that night we were alright.

Eating Crow

The next day consisted of another presentation mixed with workshops, much like the first. For our evening excursion, we decided to head 6 miles south to Santa Cruz for dinner at a dockside establishment called The Crow's Nest.

Impressive presentation. Food? Not so much...

The members of our team who had been to Scotts Valley before had spent sometime talking up this place during the trip over, so I was fairly excited to try it. From the outside, the presentation was impressive; it reminded me of an oversized seaside cottage overlooking the harbor.

Trust me, there's an ocean there.

Unfortunately, that's where the good news ended. Our team of 6 was squeezed into a table obviously intended for 4, my Coke was as flat as a board, my steak was just okay, and when I finally got outside to take a picture of the Pacific, it was so dark that I couldn't see anything (not their fault, but still disappointing). In the end, The Crow's Nest flew the coop.

SAFe-ty First!

The next day brought our first day of PI (Program Increment) Planning, and with it, no small amount of chaos and confusion (as was expected). That said, we rallied later in the day to get some good work done and set the stage for our last working day in Scotts Valley.

Later that evening, I decided to go ahead and take the optional exam for the course to get officially SAFe certified. Confident after acing the practice test, I jumped right into the real deal with no reservations.

My badge!

About half a dozen questions into the exam I started regretting my haste. However, I managed to pull through and pass without too much anxiety. Needless to say, it was a relief to finally have my certification in hand after studying for the last two weeks and sitting through two full days of instructor-led training.

Vittoria!

We powered through our final working day in Scott Valley without too much drama. We shook hands and bade farewell to our colleges from other locations that we'd only be seeing over conference calls for the foreseeable future, but not before we had one last outing to celebrate our completion of SAFe training.

For the occasion, we found a small, authentic Italian place nestled deep in the redwoods called Ristorante Casa Nostra. 

Is there a better way to wrap up a trip?

Oh man, what a treat. Not only was the food delicious, but we were truly relaxed for the first time all week. For me, it might have been because I had my certification, but I think we were all relieved to make it through all of the uncertainty and to the end of the work week.

Homeward Bound

For the second time in a week, we had to catch a 6 AM flight. That, coupled with the fact that we were flying out of a major airport and said airport was 30 miles away dictated that I set my alarm for 2 AM. Not fun.

Nevertheless, we somehow made it to the gate on time (thanks in no small part to TSA PreCheck. Best $80 I've ever spent!), despite running into some traffic issues along the way. Once again, our flights were uneventful, but I did find a neat burger joint in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport called Smash Burger. How could I pass it up?

Gonna smash this return trip... with Smash Burger!

In the end, we touched down in Mobile at 4 PM, almost exactly 12 hours after I woke up that morning. Commercial air travel never ceases to amaze me.

Looking Back

All-in-all, I have to say that this was a great trip. I don't get to travel nearly as much as I'd like, and for my first time west of the Rockies, I was impressed. I know Scotts Valley isn't San Francisco, Napa Valley, or any of the other more "touristy" California locales, but I still got to see some sights, enjoy some good food, and add another certification to my résumé, all the while avoiding any major disruptions (which I've found is something you should always thank your lucky stars for).

Anyhow, now that I'm in the office again, it's back to the grind. Time to put that new certification to work!

Interview with a Hero: PFC Leo Terrebonne

For the second part of my "Interview with a Hero" series, I sat down with World War II veteran Private First Class Leo Terrebonne of the Army Corps of Engineers at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, LA. Below is an abridged version of our conversation.

PFC Leo Terrebonne

PFC Leo Terrebonne

For my first question, I just wanted to ask a bit about you. Where are you from and what was your service experience like?

Well, I was born across the river in Westwego. I'm what they call a 'Cajun'. I don't know if you've ever heard of us? Anyway, in February 1943 I was drafted into the Army. I spent 11 months in the States training, and at the end of '43 we finished all of our engineer training, and in January of '44 they decided to send us to England... and I spent 25 months over there in England. While I was over in England I met an English girl, and we dated, and she became the wife! And we lived 44 and a half years together, her and I.

Did you live over there or did you move back here?

No, the only time I lived over there is when I was in the service. I used to always say that I had two homes: One here and one in England. All my Christmases and birthdays and holidays were spent with the English family, and when I came home I was back with my regular family.

How did you like England?

Well, I liked being married! It wasn't bad! A lot of guys didn't like it because they were not married, and they didn't have a family over there. Because Christmas and New Years and all that I spent with (my wife's family) and it was much better than having to spend it by yourself in some pub.

While you were in England, what did you and your friends do? Did you spend a lot of time playing cards or something?

Oh, no. I went dancing! They had a dance hall that opened at 11 o'clock in the morning! They had so many GI's just walking around doing nothing, so they decided to open the dance hall at 11 o'clock. They'd open for three hours, from 11 to about 1. And then from 1 to 2 they would stop, and the band would rest. And at 2 o'clock they would start again and we would dance until about 5, then stop for an hour. Every three hours the band would stop for a rest. And they we'd start again at about 6 or 7 to dance again and we danced to almost 10 o'clock, because at 10 o'clock everything closed in England at that time.

Was (the dance hall) popular when it was open? Were there a lot of people there?

Oh, yeah! We had, I'll betcha, about 2 million soldiers over there at that time. We was over there before D-Day. And D-Day was a madhouse. Everything was rush-rush. We weren't sure our invasion was going to succeed. At one (beach) they were blocked by a big boulder, until the engineers blew that boulder away and they could get on the beach. If they wouldn't have gotten on the beach, they would have had to withdraw or they would have drowned right on the beach.

Did people talk a lot about the invasion before it happened? You guys must have known that it was coming.

We actually didn't know when it was going to be. Nothing was mentioned. We knew it was coming, but as far as when, no. And the English people didn't even know, the American people didn't know. As a matter of fact, I don't think General Eisenhower knew. They were waiting for the weather, the weather was so bad. And they happened to get what you call a 'window', and they decide - actually the invasion was supposed to be on the 5th of June, and it wound up on the 6th of June.

Do you remember that day?

Oh yeah, like it was yesterday.

Do you remember when you heard that the invasion had started?

We heard about it that same day. And you would be surprised at how many planes that were in the sky. There were so many planes, I was wondering how they didn't run into each other! But I found out later they were flying 'stacked'. I don't know if you know what 'stacked' is?

They fly above one another?

One would fly low, another medium, and one would fly high. And so many of the planes were C-47s, the paratroopers, all the guidelines from the parachutes still hanging from the plane. The 82nd Airborne and the 101st Airborne - I used to see the 101st Airborne, they used to be stationed not too far from me. We used to go to Birmingham, and there were a lot of them in Birmingham.

In the Corps of Engineers, what did you do?

Well, I thought I had gone in as a carpenter. When I got there, the commander called me and told me the biggest surprise of my life. He told me I was the bugler!

The bugler?

Why? Because I used to play coronet in the school band. And he read my - when you go in, you've got to tell them all that you've done, and they put that in your record. And he read that I was a coronet player, and he wanted a bugler. But I didn't know any of the calls! The only thing I knew was Taps!

He had a book in his (desk) drawer. He pulled it out and said "You know how to read music?" I said "Yes, I do." He gave me the book and said "There's all the calls." He said across the street was Headquarters, and at the back of Headquarters was a wooded area, maybe two or three miles deep. He said "Every morning I want you to go walk as far back into that bush as you can (and practice), because we don't want to hear you practice!".

I was also what they used to call a special runner for the company commander. If you needed some officer or some enlisted man to come, he would tell me to go. Then in the afternoon I would take all the official records for our company back to Headquarters. I also used to pick up the mail and sort it out, (including) passes for the night.

The guys that you hung out with in the Army, what did you talk about? Did you talk about the war or what you wanted to do when you got home?

No, we talked about women. The girls! A little gambling. I don't drink. I never went to the pub. I think I went to one pub... but I didn't drink, so it didn't interest me.

If there's something important that you want people to know about your experience, what would it be?

I think people should live their lives the best way they can. I try to live happy. I mean, I know we get mad sometimes and we say things. But I try to eliminate some of the things that I used to do. I tell people about my wife... I treated my wife like I wanted to be treated, and I hoped that she treated me like she wanted to be treated. And it worked out beautifully!

Interview with a Hero: RDM 2-C John Clay Poche

I've always had a passion for World War II history. Whether watching old war movies and documentaries or reading encyclopedia articles on some of the major battles, I've always wanted to see and hear as much information about the conflict as I could. However, the source of information that I've always found the most fascinating has been the veterans themselves. Hearing their first-hand accounts of what they experienced, what they thought and felt, and how they put the conflict in perspective decades later is an educational experience like no other. Recently, I was privileged to interview a couple of World War II veterans at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, and I am proud to share a partial transcript of my first interview below.

But first, I'd like to share a little bit about the museum that facilitated the interviews.

National World War II Museum

Luckily for me, I live within driving distance of New Orleans, which is home to the National World War II Museum. While making a trip down to the Big Easy to see the museum would seem like a no-brainer, one reason or another had kept me from stopping by for several years. However, a couple of weeks ago, I finally got the opportunity to experience the museum first-hand.

And what an experience it was.

First off, the place is huge. The museum campus consists of no less than five buildings (with a sixth on the way!) and countless displays and artifacts to analyze. Everything from uniforms, maps, weapons, tools, and vehicles are there to be seen. It goes without saying that I was a bit overwhelmed by it all, and even after spending a full day at the museum, I estimate that I made it through only about a third of the exhibits.

However, despite the impressive scale and artifact collection, I believe that the museum's most important staples are the veterans themselves who often take the time to set up in the museum lobby and personally share their experiences with visitors. While artifacts, videos, and demonstrations are well and good, nothing beats hearing an account from someone who lived through World War II and experienced it first-hand.

For my part, I had always wanted to take the time to sit down for an interview with one of these veterans, and on the day of my visit to the National World War II, I was honored with the opportunity to speak with not one, but two of these heroes. In this post, I'll post an edited transcript of the first of these interviews, a short talk that I had with U.S. Navy Radarman 2nd Class John Clay Poche.

RDM 2-C John C Poche

RDM 2-C John Clay Poche

Briefly tell me about where you're from and about your service experience.

I was born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. At a very early age, we moved to Marrero, Louisiana. I was living in Marrero at the time I went into the military. I served two years, ten months, and 13 days with the Navy.

I went into the Navy because I knew if I was in the Navy I would have three hot meals every day, and a clean bed to sleep in every night.

And I was wrong! One day, and only one day, I did not have three hot meals. We were under siege by the Japanese fleet (Note: This engagement is known as The Battle off Samar, one of the most brutal naval battles of the Pacific war). We did not have the gunpower to fight with them, because all we had was one 5-inch gun, a tail gun. We did fire that gun; we scored 18 direct hits out of 115 [shots] fired (Note: 6 of the claimed hits were on the Japanese heavy cruiser Chokai).

I was in radar and we were giving radar bearings, relative bearings, and ranges to the to the tail gunner all the time. Every 30 seconds we were giving range and bearings, and they were using those range and bearing to fire at Japanese ships. It worked out real good.

The Japanese did not have radar. That was a big advantage that the American fleet had over them.

Poche's ship, the USS White Plains (CVE-66), a Casablanca-class escort carrier

A lot of people probably ask you about your combat experiences. I want to ask you about some of your experiences where you weren't in combat. What did you and your friends do when you had spare time? Did you play cards?

I played cards. Maybe 45 minutes before my [shift] would begin, I would play cards. Sometimes for money, sometimes for bragging rights! And I liked to brag!

One time, and only one time, we were playing with the Joker, the Joker was wild, and I had the Joker, and the Queen of Spades, and I drew three cards, and I got the Ace of Spades, the King of Spades, and the Ten of Spades! A Royal Flush! I bet two dollars, and nobody called!

Did you watch any movies?

We had movies on the ship, yes we did. We had sometimes 10 movies aboard ship. They would show a movie at certain times of the day, and they would always try to show a different movie. If we ran out of movies, we would get 10 more movies (Note: I'm guessing movies would be included in the regular resupply runs) or whatever our complement was. So, we seldom ever [saw] the same movie more than one time.

What were some of your favorite movies or actors?

Franchot Tone was one. And the movie he played in, I forget what it was, I was really fascinated by the acting. It was really very good. I don't remember the movie anymore but I remember the ending.

What did you and the guys talk about? The war? What you were going to do when you got home? What your plans for the future were?

Personal experiences, more than anything else. We talked about things at home, things that were important in their life.

What's one thing that you would want people to know about your experience that maybe they didn't know, especially young people? What would you tell them?

That the Navy life is a very good life, a very good life.

A Night at the Nexus

I've always been a fan of the theater. Growing up, my brother, father, and I would typically go to the movies at least once every couple of weeks, and it made quite an impression on me from an early age. The smell of popcorn, the dim lights, the big screen, and (of course) the movie itself... to a young me, it was a magical experience.

My love for the cinema continued throughout my formative years and well into my professional life. Two years out of college and into my first job, I was still attending the theater quite regularly (The Grand 18 in Hattiesburg was basically my second home). Then, in August of 2014, I moved to Mobile, Alabama, and things began to change.

With a population well over 300,000, the Mobile area didn't exactly lack for movie theaters, but what it did lack were theaters that people actually wanted to go to. On the west side of Mobile (where I lived), moviegoers had exactly two options: The run-down Carmike Wynnsong on Schillenger Rd (now an AMC), or the ghost town-like Regal Stadium over on Government St (which I had been advised to avoid). To a devoted moviegoer like myself who was also excited about living on a new metro, this was quite a disappointment.

In retrospect, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. Even discounting the two lackluster options in West Mobile, traditional theaters overall were becoming increasingly low-rent. The crowds were dying off, theaters were not as well staffed or maintained, and cinema complexes were steadily acquiring a dubious distinction as havens for wondering teenagers and other sketchy characters to congregate and loiter. Call me what you will, but that's a big turn-off for me.

At the same time, my home movie-viewing experience had improved significantly. My father (with whom I was living at the time) had a theater of his own in the upper floor of his house. Complete with a large screen, surround sound system, leather recliners, and even a snack bar, there was little reason for me to venture out in search of the "theater experience". That, coupled with the new 65" 4K TV of my own that I had situated in my room downstairs, afforded me ultra-convenient viewing options at home that made the argument for going out to the theater much harder of a sell.

As a result, my theater attendance dropped off significantly. Rather than darkening the door of my local movie house every other weekend, I found myself showing up only for the occasional blockbuster release (like the latest Star Wars film).

All of that changed after my first night at the Nexus.

Nexus Cinema Dining (or simply "The Nexus") is a new "dine-in" theater that opened this past spring in Mobile. Nestled deep in the suburbs of West Mobile and containing only two screens (and a total of 117 seats), you can be forgiven if you drove past it without taking notice. However, the establishment's unimposing size stands in stark contrast to the exquisite experience that greets anyone who stops by for a visit.

First off, all ticketing for the Nexus is done online through their website. Rather than the split matinée/regular showtime pricing at traditional theaters, all tickets are priced at a premium $16.58 apiece. Seating is also reserved, so you pick your seat when you order your tickets, which is really handy for securing the best seats when you purchase your tickets early. And speaking of early purchasing, be sure to do it whenever you can. Since seating at the Nexus is limited, prime showtimes of major releases tend to sell out as much as a week in advance.

The Nexus main lobby

When you first enter the Nexus, the first thing you'll notice is the unique layout of the lobby. In addition to being a theater, the Nexus is also a full-service restaurant and bar, and the lobby serves as the dining area. In addition, the second floor of the Nexus includes an upstairs dining room that serves as a sports event viewing area, and is a popular hangout for those who want to catch a game and a movie.

The Nexus sports bar

Located at the rear of the building, the Nexus' two theater rooms, the primary "Main Stage" and the secondary "Theater", serve as the main attraction.

Main stage room seating

Theater room seating

As you can see, each room is equipped with multiple rows of plush, motorized leather recliners for seating, as well as 1-2 rows of table seating near the back. Now, it may seem odd that the Nexus elected to mix recliner and table seating in the theater, but I tried the table seating in the "Main Stage" during my first visit and it wasn't all that bad. Indeed, the extra room to spread out a bit that the table provides comes in handy during the dining experience (more on that later), but overall, I still much prefer the recliners.

The video and audio technology employed by the Nexus is top-notch. Each theater utilizes a 4K laser projection system (as opposed to the traditional bulb projectors used by most theaters) which not only provides a sharper image, but also better color saturation and contrast. In addition, the Nexus is also equipped with a full Dolby Atmos sound system, which features object-based sound and over 100 distinct audio channels. Before each film, a short tech demo is played for the audience that showcases these technologies. To put it plainly, the Nexus spared no expense in this area.

Now, the dining areas, seats, theaters, and technology are all well and good, but what about the dining experience? I mean, that's the main attraction, right? After all, it's in the name. Well, I can proudly report that the Nexus succeeds on that level as well.

Recliners with fold-out trays and tablets running the Nexus in-house app

Every seat in the theaters and the dining areas includes a tablet running the Nexus Dining App that you use to order food. You simply scroll through the menu, pick out the items you want, hit "Order", and a member of the staff will bring them out to you promptly.

Me during my second visit

I found the dining experience to be the most impressive part of the Nexus. Not only was the service prompt and the servers courteous, but the food was excellent and the menu was quite extensive. Now, you are going to pay a bit of a premium for the food (my personal favorite, the VooDoo Shrimp, comes in at about $10), but I found everything delicious. With a good variety of appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts (including Old Dutch ice cream!), there's something for everyone, even the pickiest of eaters. And of course, if you're not in the mood for a full meal, you can always just stick with the traditional popcorn and soda (each reasonably priced at about $3).

When describing the dining system to others, there's one question that I get a lot: Is the shuffling of servers in and out of the theater during the movie a distraction? It's a good question and an honest concern, but I'm happy to say that it's not a problem at all. The staff is very good at discretely and quickly making runs into the theater without causing a commotion. The aisles between the rows are wide enough for them to walk past without disturbing anyone, and they have a habit of ducking when serving during the movie so that they don't get in the way of the picture. Honestly, after the first few minutes of the movie, you're fixated enough that you don't really notice the staff bustling about.

Now, there is one other thing to note: The Nexus does leave the overhead lights in the theater on during the movie, though they do dim them significantly. This may seem strange to those who have only ever been to a traditional theater where all of the lights are completely extinguished for the feature presentation, but some degree of light is needed for the patrons to dine and for the staff to move about without incident. But like the previous concern, it really isn't much of an issue. Once you're 5 minutes into the movie, I guarantee that you'll stop noticing it.

Needless to say, after my first visit to the Nexus, I was hooked. I've been back several times since and have not been disappointed. Without a doubt, the Nexus has rekindled my love for the theater, and that means a lot to me.

If you're ever in the Mobile area and feel the hankering to see a movie, or even if you've never experienced a dining cinema and want to see what the fuss is about, I would highly recommend that you stop by and enjoy your own night at the Nexus.

Union Blues

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who ended union protection agreements in Wisconsin.

Earlier today, I came across a very interesting article from The Washington Post concerning the case Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on February 26. This case, and the court's ruling on it, is expected to be of landmark proportions, and easily the single biggest ruling since Justice Neil Gorsuch was appointed to the bench by President Trump.

Background

In case you're not familiar with the issue at hand, let me give you a quick primer:

In 1977, the Supreme Court ruled that any public sector employee covered by a union contract (not just union members) could be required to pay union fees, provided that the money collected would not be used for "political activities" (Abood vs Detroit Board of Education). 

In essence, this means that if you work for a government agency (such as a school district) that has a collective bargaining agreement with a labor union (such as AFSCME), then you can be legally required to pay union fees whether you're a union member or not (such arrangements are often called "protection agreements"). The only stipulation is that labor unions cannot use money collected via fees from non-members for "political activities", such as funding a politician's election campaign or running a political advertisement.

The thought at the time was that everyone who benefits from the union's collective bargaining efforts, whether union member or not, should contribute to "the pot". Otherwise "freeloaders", or those who would reap the benefits of collective bargaining without paying dues, could potentially bankrupt the labor unions. 

However, in the years since, the line between "political" and "non-political" activity has become increasingly blurred, so much so that public sector employees now argue that it is impossible to make a legal distinction between the two. Even basic union functions like collective bargaining have become highly politicized, as the results of such negotiations can affect taxes and other public policies.

Thus, if union activities such as collective bargaining could be reasonably construed as "political activities", then requiring employees to fund them violates their Right to Free Speech by compelling them to financially support a political cause as a condition of their employment, or so goes the argument put forth by the plaintiff in Janus v. AFSCME.

Impact

 

Should the Court rule against mandatory union dues, the repercussions for public sector labor unions could be devastating. In a recent survey, only 35% of the members of the AFSCME responded that they would definitely pay union dues if not required to do so by law. Labor unions are also aware that union membership plummeted in Wisconsin after Governor Scott Walker (pictured) ended mandatory public sector union fees in the state. If the same were to happen on a national scale, it could be the end of an era for public labor unions.

My Take 

 

I agree with the plaintiff in this case. Compelling employees to pay union membership dues as a condition of employment is inherently unfair. Today, the line between political and non-political activity for organized labor is essentially non-existent, and we're fooling ourselves if we pretend otherwise. Besides, members and non-members don't receive the same benefits. True, there is some overlap in regard to areas like basic compensation, but other benefits such as legal representation are unavailable to non-members; requiring them to pay the same dues without the same benefits is unfair.

Now, that's not to say that I don't understand the union's position. Freeloading isn't very fair either, but like any business, if labor unions want dues-paying members, they should have to market themselves. Imagine a scenario where you have a business that sells a product that the public is forced to buy, no matter what. How much effort are you going to put into marketing that product? How much are you going to invest in its quality? Probably very little, since people are going to be compelled to buy it in any case. This is the kind of gravy train that public sector unions have been riding for decades.

Instead of imposing mandatory fees on everyone by law, unions should be selling benefits like pensions, legal representation, training opportunities, and the like to potential members to win their membership. And while they're at it, they can leave the heavy-handed political activism aside. Don't make workers have to choose between their political beliefs and their jobs, and stick to the original mission of organized labor: Benefiting workers. If pubic sector labor unions can do this effectively, then they deserve to stick around. If not, then their time is up.

The Battle of Mobile Bay

Battle of Mobile Bay, by Louis Prang

I've long considered myself to be a student of history. Though I'm a software engineer by trade, history has always been my favorite subject. In particular, I've always been fascinated by major historical events and the impact that they had on the world, and while some major events and the places in which they occurred may be familiar to almost everyone, I believe that just about every place has a rich history of one sort or another.

When I moved to Mobile, Alabama in the summer of 2014, one of the first things I made sure to do in my free time was to start researching the city's past. To be certain, Mobile does not lack for rich history, and my studies into it have only begun. That said, one event in particular caught my attention, and it's that event that will be the focus of this blog post: The Battle of Mobile Bay.

In the annuals of the Civil War, the Battle of Mobile Bay is often overlooked. While it may have lacked the scale, drama, and sheer violence of the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, or Shiloh, the struggle for control of the lower Mobile Bay was vitally important, nonetheless. In the end, the engagement would have ramifications that would be felt far and wide, and ultimately played a crucial part in securing an overall victory for the Union.

Background

From the onset of the war, the Confederacy decided to focus its naval defenses on a handful of vital ports in lieu of attempting to defend its entire coastline. When New Orleans fell early in the war in April 1862, Mobile stood as the last major Confederate port to the Gulf of Mexico. While Union naval forces had established a blockade of the port soon after hostilities began, specialized Confederate ships called "blockade runners" were able to evade the blockade with regularity.

Despite its strategic importance, the task of securing Mobile Bay for the Union was continually delayed. Capturing Vicksburg and securing the lower Mississippi was considered a higher priority and monopolized the Navy's attention and resources for almost all of 1863. In addition, the Navy had trouble securing the cooperation of the Army to provide the resources needed for the operation, as there was a continual need to divert manpower to the east to confront General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. As a result of these delays, the campaign to take Mobile Bay didn't begin until August 1864, relatively late in the war.

The capture of Mobile Bay was also important from a political perspective. While the Confederacy was on its last legs at this point in the war, the conflict was growing increasingly unpopular in the North. President Lincoln was up for re-election in November, and the Democratic party made it clear that they sought to sign a negotiated settlement with the Confederacy to end the war as soon as possible (even though the party's candidate for President, General George McClellan, favored a continuation of hostilities). Lincoln understood that any outcome that did not include the dissolution of the Confederacy and the complete reunification of the nation would be a disaster, and that a major victory (or two) before Election Day would be needed to secure his re-election and a continuation of the war. To that end, the capture of the last major Confederate port in the Gulf of Mexico would help immensely.

Union Forces

Navy

Admiral David Farragut

The Union naval force selected for the campaign consisted of a mixed flotilla of traditional combat ships (9), small gunboats (2), modern ironclad Monitor-class ships (4) and specialized river and shallow-channel navigation ships (3) for a total of 18 ships of the line. In command was Admiral David Farragut, who had led the successful Union naval campaigns to take New Orleans, Vicksburg, and Port Hudson.

Army

General Gordon Granger

Union Army forces provisioned for the battle included approximately 3,000 soldiers, not enough to secure Mobile itself but sufficient to neutralize and occupy the Confederate forts defending the bay. The ground forces were led by General Gordon Granger.

Confederate Forces

Navy

Admiral Franklin Buchanan

Only a small flotilla of Confederate vessels stood in opposition of the Union naval forces. Three small gunboats sailed alongside the ironclad CSS Tennessee, the only armored Confederate ship stationed in the bay. Commanding the flotilla from the Tennessee was Admiral Franklin Buchanan, who had commanded the CSS Virginia in her famous battle with the USS Monitor at Hampton Roads.

Army

General Richard Page

Confederate land defenses in Mobile Bay consisted of three strategically positioned forts: Powell, Gaines, and Morgan. Forts Gaines and Morgan defended the main shipping channel into the bay, while Powell defended the secondary channel. The overall commander of the Confederate Army forces was General Richard Page, who directed the battle from Fort Morgan.

Battle

Map of the naval engagement in Mobile Bay

The Union plan called for the operation to be divided into two phases: The naval action to secure the bay and initiate a bombardment of the forts, and the land action to lay siege to and force the capitulation of the forts themselves.

Naval Action

Sketch of the sinking of the Tecumseh

Hostilities began on the morning of August 5. The Union plan called for Farragut's fleet to enter the main shipping channel leading into the bay, keeping to the eastern side of the channel (close to Fort Morgan) in order to avoid the obstacles and mines that had been laid on the western side. The first shots were fired at 6:47 a.m. as the head of the Union column entered the channel. The ships and Fort Morgan exchanged fire, but neither were significantly harmed.

Shortly after entering the channel, the lead Union ship, the USS Tecumseh, sighted the CSS Tennessee. For reasons unknown, the Tecumseh decided to push straight through the minefield and head directly for the Tennessee. Upon entering the minefield, the Tecumseh struck a mine and quickly sunk with the loss of 93 of her crew of 114.

After the sinking of the Tecumseh, the second ship in the column, the USS Brooklyn, stopped to ask Admiral Farragut for orders. Farragut, unwilling to stop his ships to distribute orders, commanded his flagship (the USS Hartford) to sail around the Brooklyn and assume the lead position of the column. Once in position, Farragut made the bold decision to take his fleet straight through the minefield that had just sunk the Tecumseh and head right for the Confederate fleet (this is when he supposedly uttered his famous line, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!", though there is considerable doubt as to whether he actually said anything of the sort). The gamble paid off: The remaining Union ships made it through the minefield unharmed and ready to engage the bay's defenders.

Once through the minefield, the small, fast Union gunboats engaged the three defending Confederate gunboats: 2 were quickly neutralized and the last fled to the safety of Fort Morgan, where it escaped from the Bay the following day. This left only the Tennessee to oppose to the Union fleet, which Farragut's three remaining Monitor-class ships quickly moved to engage.

The battle with the Tennessee was fierce. The thick iron hulls of the ships caused most of the shots fired to simply bounce off, but under the superior firepower of the Union vessels, the Tennessee was slowly worn down. Eventually, the Tennessee sustained significant damage and was immobilized. Aboard the ship, Admiral Buchanan was badly wounded and the ship's captain, Commander James Johnston, requested permission to surrender, which Buchanan granted.

Land Action

Fort Morgan after the Battle of Mobile Bay

Once the Confederate flotilla had been neutralized, Farragut turned his attention to the forts defending the bay. General Granger's force landed on Dauphin Island in preparation to attack Forts Gaines and Powell while Farragut ordered his fleet to provide cover by intermittently shelling each of the forts. Shortly after the Union forces came ashore on Dauphin, the commander of Fort Powell, Colonel James Williams, asked General Page for orders. Page ambiguously replied to "Hold out as long as you can", which Williams took to mean to resist the Union forces as long as practical. After surveying the odds against him, Williams decided to abandon Fort Powell without a fight; he and his troops then retreated to Mobile.

Colonel Charles Anderson and the Confederate forces at Fort Gaines held out a little longer, but the end result was much the same: Undersupplied and thoroughly outgunned, Anderson surrendered the fort on August 8 after a three-day siege.

Once Forts Gaines and Powell were occupied, Fort Morgan was left as the lone remaining Confederate defensive position in the lower Mobile Bay. On August 9, Granger moved his force to the isthmus behind Fort Morgan, landing about 4 miles from the fort. From there, he and his troops slowly made their way toward the fort via trenching, or constructing a series of parallel tranches on approach. While this was a slow process, it did effectively keep the Union troops shielded from fire from the fort while making their advance.

Meanwhile, the Union fleet continued to shell Fort Morgan intermittently. These bombardments kept the fort effectively suppressed and culminated in a day-long bombardment on August 22. After seeing the Union ground forces continue their advance undeterred and with the Union fleet inflicting considerable damage to the fort itself, General Page surrendered Fort Powell on August 23. With the acquiescence of Fort Powell, the Battle of Mobile Bay came to an end.

Aftermath

Plaque commemorating the Battle of Mobile Bay at the U.S. Navy memorial

The Battle of Mobile Bay was not particularly bloody when compared to other major Civil War battles. All told, Union casualties stood at about 151 killed (mostly the crew of the Tecumseh) and 177 wounded, while Confederate casualties totaled about 13 killed and 22 wounded. However, Confederate losses also included over 1,500 captured, which was a painful blow to the manpower-strapped Confederacy.

The Union victory had a meaningful impact on public opinion toward the war effort. While given little attention initially, the successful conquest of Mobile Bay, when combined with other Union successes in 1864 (including the capture of Atlanta the month before), gave the public reason to hope that the end of the war was near. This newfound optimism helped secure Lincoln's re-election in November, which in turn afforded his administration the time it needed to see to the war to its conclusion.

Mobile itself was not as strategically important a target, and it would remain unconquered until the final days of the war. Eventually, it would fall after the Battle of Fort Blakely, which is considered the last major battle of the war.

The legacy of the Battle of Mobile Bay is still alive and well in the city of Mobile today. Many of the fortifications (including forts Powell, Gaines, and Morgan) are still intact and are in use as historical landmarks. In addition, the wrecks of the ships that fought in the battle (including the Tecumseh) have been located and surveyed.

Ultimately, the lasting legacy of the Battle of Mobile Bay might be found in the impact that it had on the war at large. While the strategic impact of the battle did little to alter the course of the war, its political value in helping sustain public support for the war should not be underestimated. When the need for a victory was dire, the Battle of Mobile Bay delivered, and in doing so contributed to a successful end to the war in a way that few other engagements did. After all, sometimes even the "small" battles can make the biggest of differences.

Ball of Fire

During its Golden Age, Hollywood had no shortage of talented and versatile actresses. However, few of them could light up the screen quite like Barbara Stanwyck. With a screen presence that burned brighter than most and a tough-as-nails constitution to match, Stanwyck was undoubtedly one of the silver screen's all-time greats.

Barbara Stanwyck

Publicity photo c. 1930

Early Life

Ruby Catherine Stevens was born on July 16, 1907 in Brooklyn, New York to Byron and Catherine Stevens. When Ruby was only 4 years old, her mother was killed in a street car accident. Grief-stricken, her father abandoned the family two weeks later to join a Panama Canal work crew and was never seen again. Suddenly an orphan, Ruby was raised in a series of foster homes until about age 10, when she moved in with her older sister who was working as a night club showgirl. Growing up backstage in New York's speakeasy's, Ruby watched her sister's performances and taught herself the dance routines. Because of her early exposure to show business, Ruby developed an appreciation for the stage and committed herself to pursuing a career in entertainment from childhood. At around 16, Ruby dropped out of school and found work as both a model and a dancer, performing at various theaters and clubs in and around New York City.

Broadway Career

Stanwyck during her short-lived modeling career, c. 1924

In 1922, Ruby was discovered by a Broadway talent scout. She was given a small role in a play called The Noose, which proved to be quite successful. At the suggestion of the play's director, Ruby adopted a stage name, combining the first name of her character with the last name of a co-star to form Barbara Stanwyck. Due to the success of The Noose, Stanwyck was soon given the lead role in another Broadway production, Burlesque. The play proved to be another success, but it would also mark the end of her Broadway career. Noticed by a Hollywood scout, she was given a screen test for a lead role in a new film, Broadway Nights. Unable to cry on command during the test, Stanwyck saw her offer reduced to a bit part. Still, the allure of Hollywood was strong, and Stanwyck eagerly accepted the opportunity to start a film career.

Early Hollywood Career

A young Stanwyck stares down Clark Gable in Night Nurse (1931)

Unlike her experience on Broadway, Stanwyck's start in Hollywood would prove rocky. Her first three films were failures, and in 1930 she was on the verge of leaving Hollywood for good when up-and-coming director Frank Capra selected her for a lead role in his new film, Ladies of Leisure. One of the first widely successful sound films, Ladies proved to be a commercial success and critics praised Stanwyck's emotional, heartfelt performance.

Stanwyck followed up Ladies with another prominent role in 1931, that of a heroic nurse rescuing two children from a devious Clark Gable in Night Nurse. Despite concerns over the film's dark subject matter, the production was a success and Stanwyck solidified herself as one of Hollywood's up-and-coming talents.

In addition to her newfound fame following her first successes, Stanwyck acquired a reputation of being one of the most professional and hardworking players in Hollywood. At a time when big names with even bigger egos dominated the set and made life difficult for directors, producers, and stage crews alike, Stanwyck stood out as someone who could be counted on to deliver a quality performance with minimal difficulty, regardless of what was asked of her. In addition, while petty rivalries between top actors were the stuff of legend, Stanwyck made it a point to be warm and inviting to her co-stars, regardless of their status or experience. Hollywood took notice, and Stanwyck quickly became one of the most popular actresses among both casts and crews alike.

Rise to Stardom

Over the next 6 years, Stanwyck starred in a number of productions with varying levels of success. While some of these films were successful (the most notable of which being His Brother's Wife in 1936) and helped build her profile, Stanwyck had yet to find her true breakout role. That would change in 1937 when she signed on to play the title role in the drama Stella Dallas.

Stella Dallas (1937)

Production still from Stella Dallas (1937)

The second screen adaptation of a popular novel, Stella Dallas proved to be Stanwyck's vehicle to superstardom. The film cast Stanwyck as the poor girl Stella, who is determined to make a better life for herself by marrying into the upper class. Once she weds her beau (an up-and-coming businessman), she finds that she has trouble fitting in with high society and struggles to manage her life and relationships. Stanwyck's heartfelt portrayal of Dallas (inspired in part by her own rags-to-riches story) resonated with audiences and critics alike, and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Peak Years

Now unquestionably one of Hollywood's top stars, Stanwyck found herself under consideration for virtually every top role that came by. Several prominent films followed, including the hits Union Pacific (1939) and Remember the Night (1940). Eventually, this popularity would see Stanwyck put together one of the all-time best single-year runs in Hollywood history in 1941.

The Lady Eve (1941)

Publicity photo for The Lady Eve (1941), alongside Henry Fonda

To kick off this remarkable run, Stanwyck starred in one of the greatest screwball comedy roles of all time in The Lady Eve, in which she plays a crafty card shark who ends up falling in love with her latest mark, a bumbling Ophidiologist played by Henry Fonda.

Hailed as one of the greatest comedies of all time, The Lady Eve was a smash hit. The on-screen chemistry between Stanwyck and Fonda was excellent, so much so that they reunited for another film later in the year (You Belong to Me), which would also be a hit.

Meet John Doe (1941)

Stanwyck and Gary Cooper in Meet John Doe (1941)

Shortly after wrapping up Eve, Stanwyck reunited with director Frank Capra to star alongside Gary Cooper in Meet John Doe. The film marked Stanwyck's fourth collaboration with Capra, but her first with Cooper, one of the top actors in Hollywood at the time. Cooper himself was eager to work with Stanwyck after having seen her recent work.

In Meet John Doe, Stanwyck plays the role of a sly reporter who, to keep from being laid off, publishes a sensational protest manifesto under the auspices of "John Doe" and unwittingly starts a political movement. Once word of the piece spreads, Stanwyck's character convinces her bosses to hire a bum (Cooper) to pose as "John Doe" and serve as a figurehead for the movement.

Meet John Doe was an instant hit. The film's timely narrative was well-received, and both Cooper and Stanwyck's performances were praised. For Stanwyck, the pairing with Cooper (her highest-profile co-star to date) was a boost for her career, and the two players would quickly reunite for another hit film.

Ball of Fire (1941)

Cooper and Stanwyck in a publicity still for Ball of Fire (1941)

Later in 1941, Gray Cooper signed on for the lead role in the comedy Ball of Fire, directed by Howard Hawks. While Cooper was a shoe-in for the male lead, the female lead was tougher to cast. Lucille Ball, Carole Lombard, Ginger Rogers, and Jean Arthur were all contacted about the role, but for one reason or another, they all turned it down. Cooper then suggested Stanwyck, with whom he had worked in Meet John Doe.

A screwball adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Ball of Fire sees Stanwyck play the part of a showgirl on the run from the police who want her to testify against her mobster boyfriend. She eventually hides out with a team of professors (led by Cooper) who are working on a new encyclopedia. Intrigued by her worldliness, Cooper allows her to stay with him so that he can learn the ins-and-outs of modern slang, which he intends to include in his volume.

Like their previous collaboration, Ball of Fire proved to be a hit for both Cooper and Stanwyck. Stanwyck in particular received praise for her performance (inspired in part by her past experience working as a showgirl), which secured her a second nomination for Best Actress.

Double Indemnity (1943)

Still from Double Indemnity (1943) with Fred MacMurray

After a hugely successful run in 1941, Stanwyck solidified her position as one of Hollywood's top actresses. However, her next big hit would not be until 1943 when she would star in one of the most iconic film noir roles of all time in Double Indemnity.

Adapted from a novella that was based a real 1927 case, Double Indemnity sees Stanwyck play the part of a femme fatale who convinces an insurance salesman to murder her husband. Though she was director Billy Wilder's first and only choice for the part, Stanwyck was quite hesitant to take the role; not only was it unfamiliar territory for her professionally, she worried that the nature of the part could damage her image.

In addition, Stanwyck was known for being particularly kind and approachable: This made it particularly difficult for Stanwyck (and others) to believe that she could convincingly portray a cold murderess. However, Wilder was sure that she was perfect for the role, and eventually convinced her to take it. Ultimately, the decision paid off for Stanwyck: Not only did she end up collecting her third nomination for Best Actress, but she put on a performance that is universally considered the best of her career.

Late Career

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Still from Christmas in Connecticut (1945) with Dennis Morgan

While Double Indemnity was a rip-roaring success, Stanwyck was eager to return to her roots a light and warm comedy (as she wanted to avoid being typecast). 1945's Christmas in Connecticut fit the bill: The script sees Stanwyck play an unmarried writer who must deceive her boss into believing that she is a perfect housewife when he invites himself and a war veteran over to her house for Christmas.

Christmas in Connecticut did well at the box office and would go on to become a holiday classic. For Stanwyck, the return to comedy was a success, but at 38 years old, her age was slowly becoming more of a liability. The more prominent roles in Hollywood were starting to shift toward younger actresses, and it would be 3 years before Stanwyck would have another unqualified hit.

Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)

Publicity still for Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)

The next few years saw Stanwyck's career slow down appreciably; her films over this span were generally poorly received, and Stanwyck herself wasn't getting any younger. Also, Stanwyck increasingly delved into film noir, spurred in part by her success in Double Indemnity and because the genre was more accommodating to older actresses (like herself) than comedy or traditional drama. While she may have entered the final phase of her film career, Stanwyck had one last Oscar-caliber performance to put on in the film noir thriller Sorry, Wrong Number.

In Sorry, Wrong Number, Stanwyck plays a bedridden wife who overhears a murder plot over her phone line and rushes to solve it before it's too late. Sorry, Wrong Number was a challenge for Stanwyck, as the script saw her character confined to a bed for most of the film. In addition, her scenes were shot over a grueling 12-day period, an taxing task for the aging actress. Nevertheless, Stanwyck's legendary work ethic prevailed; the film was a success and Stanwyck's performance earned her a fourth (and final) nomination for Best Actress.

Later Years

Publicity photo for The Big Valley, c. 1965

After Sorry, Wrong Number, Stanwyck's film career would begin to decline for good. While she established herself well in film noir in the second half of her career (including starring in successful productions like The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Clash by Night, Jeopardy, and Crime of Passion), her major hit roles were well behind her.

Late in her film career, Stanwyck began to explore opportunities on TV, beginning with The Barbara Stanwyck Show in 1960, which ran for a single season. After having been nominated for four Oscars for Best Actress and losing out each time, 1961 saw Stanwyck finally take home a major award when she won the Emmy for Best Actress for her performance in The Barbara Stanwyck Show.

In 1964, Stanwyck left the silver screen for good, and started a new role on TV in the Western series The Big Valley, which ran from 1965-1968 (it's this role for which she is best remembered by modern audiences). Stanwyck's performance in The Big Valley would earn her an additional Emmy win in 1966 and two more nominations, one each in 1967 and 1968.

Years later, Stanwyck would return to TV for what would essentially be the swan song for her long and illustrious career in show business. In 1983, at the age of 76, Stanwyck starred in the hit TV miniseries The Thorn Birds, for which she would win her final Emmy. In 1985, Stanwyck retired from public life for good. 

In 1990, Barbara Stanwyck died of heart failure caused by COPD (she had been a heavy smoker throughout her life) at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. By her wishes, no funeral service was held and her remains were cremated and scattered over Lone Pine, California.

Legacy

Publicity photo c. 1930s

Barbara Stanwyck's legacy ranks among the all-time Hollywood greats. A 38-year Hollywood career (not to mention an additional 22 years on television, for an astounding 60 total years in show business) that saw her make 85 films and score 4 Oscar nominations is one that cannot be easily overlooked. Her success was due in no small part to her captivating screen presence, which was remarkable even among the Hollywood elite. And yet, acknowledging that alone just doesn't do her legacy justice.

Hollywood has always been a place where large egos and a culture of selfishness has abounded. To an extent, Stanwyck was an exception to that rule. For sure, she wielded a larger-than-life persona and allowed nothing to stand in the way of her career, but it's the care and professionalism with which she practiced her craft that I believe is the other enduring side to her legacy. Whether it was taking the time to learn the names of the families of the crew and asking about them regularly, pushing through brutal shooting schedules without complaint, or even performing elaborate stunts that hardened daredevils refused to attempt, Stanwyck exercised a work ethic second to none.

All things considered, Stanwyck was an exceptional actress. Though a woman of humble origins, she exhibited a complexity that defies easy classification. That said, if I had to ascribe a moniker to her, I would choose no other than the title of the production that earned her a second Oscar nomination... a true Ball of Fire.