...   
      
    -> those years, it was the conversion of every assembly line we had to   
    FS> making   
    -> something for the war machine - just that simple. The combined   
    FS> production was   
    -> mind-blowing, and even the smallest line was converted to make   
    FS> something.   
      
    FS> Absolutely true!  And I *did* live through those times.  I worked in a   
    FS> "defense" industry, named a "war industry" following Dec. 7, 1941. I   
    FS> was too young for the draft but enlisted anyway ...   
      
    -> Now we have very little to convert, and my guess is not enough skill   
    FS> level to   
    -> even get a plant up and running fast enough to do much good.   
      
    FS> I hope responsible government officials (oxymoron?) are aware of this   
    FS> and have some hidden "master plan" to correct it in time ...   
      
    FS> Prior to WWII, even prior to the German invasion of Poland, it was   
    FS> apparent war was on its way.  I recall reading a lengthy newspaper   
    FS> article which outlined the great plan our government had in case a war   
    FS> *did* break out. *Everyone* was listed in the Federal War Plan Book,   
    FS> and a job for *all* of us was planned there.  For example (and this   
    FS> example *was* in the article) theater ushers will be made army officers   
    FS> because they're used to leading people.  That was no joke!!  Well,   
    FS> certainly not a *deliberate* one ... [sigh] ... then came the European   
    FS> War, the draft and, finally, Pearl Harbor ... and EVERYTHING seemed   
    FS> screwed up!  So much for the "master plan" of *those* days ...   
      
   I don't recall reading about this master plan, but I'm not surprised that we   
   had one - bad as it may be. :)    
      
   What i find interesting is just how quickly the war machine cranked up.  By   
   February of 1942 almost every plant had been converted to something for the war   
   machine.     
      
    -> Meanwhile China is marching on, often on the cutting edge.   
    ->   
    ->   
    -> Too late for me to take up Chinese, but some of you yonger dudes might   
    FS> be wise   
    -> to do so. :)  I think "Rosetta Stone" has a course. :)   
    ->   
      
    FS> No connection to the above but I am taking a couple of courses on   
    FS> linguistics.  Because of that I'd recommend learning Mandarin rather   
    FS> than Cantonese.  Why?  Because Mandarin is the official language of   
    FS> China -- tho Cantonese is more popular world-wide -- and Mandarin in   
    FS> simpler.   
      
   Note for the young dudes, learn Mandarin!  :)   
      
      
      
      
       
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