Part I of a three part series: THE QUEST FOR SPAMTOPIA -- BACK TO BACK IN 2008

[Slomo]

Waiting ...

[MaNuMaNiAc]

At long last, the Spammeister has spoken Great job Chop!

[Joe Schmoogins]

This is my first encounter with SPAM... I'm excited!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

SPAM engenders strange synchronicities.

Shortly after the first SPAM Odyssey in 2003 (which I spent in San Antonio, and then road tripping 4650mi across the West, watching the team go 15-4 to end the season), I was sent by the Japanese government's JET program, entirely randomly, to OKINAWA. In Okinawa SPAM is a hallowed foodstuff following its inception into the local diet after the Island was ravaged for 6 months during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. The poor Okinawans were starving, and SPAM no doubt saved many Okinawan lives in the aftermath of the battle.

Incidentally, the Battle of Okinawa was the bloodiest battle of WW II - nearly 500,000 were killed, including almost 1/4 of Okinawa's civilian population. Some of them were killed by Japanese soldiers who lied to the locals that the US forces would rape and torture them before killing them. Japanese soldiers forced the locals into caves and threw in grenades, or pushed them off cliffs - we are talking tens of thousands of Okinawan civilians. Poor Okinawa has been subjugated by greater powers for most of the last 500 years, and yet the locals are still incredibly generous, welcoming people, certainly not deserving of the trials that have beset their tropical island home.

Also noteworthy, Okinawa is the birthplace of karate which was developed by the locals back in the 1500s after they were subjugated by Japan and forbidden to possess weapons.

I eagerly await the second installment, Chopper.

[ClingingMars]

Post Of The Year by far

-Mars

[bigfundamental21]

All Hail the King of SPAM! I am literally on the edge of my seat with anticipation for the next installment.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Thanks everyone. Whew...it's been quite a journey.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

May the SPAM be with you, Chopper.

[phxspurfan]

lol... "headbands...more headbands!"