POWER

In listening to electioneering talk on TV, I often am told that the main reason for a man to enter politics is a desire for power.

It seems logical to assume that the man, or woman who seeks to lead a group of people, even an entire nation, certainly must be aware of the fact that, in doing so, he or she must have authority and the ability to move people in support of his ideas or of those of the political party he heads or represents. A man without such a means of activating his beliefs would be tragic from the start.

Power in the telling is often depicted as bad thing. That is not true. The mis-use of power is one of the avenues to avoid. It very much in keeping with our common expression about money. It is the love of money which leads to trouble rather than the money itself. The same is said of pride. We are encouraged to take pride in our accomplishments but to be sure it is not false pride, which condemns us to exile from proper society.

It should not be too difficult to look at our present presidential candidates to see how important power is to each of them. We may , as free citizens, disagree as to which man will best handle such power and authority which election hands to him. We have seen sufficient evidence in the past to realize that individuals can see such things in various lights and much which seems proper, or acceptable, to one can also be deemed to have been improper in the eyes of fellow citizens who don't see things in the same color, light and texture as other happen to see them. I, personally, have always been able to feel that – having been duly elected – the man chosen deserve to have, at least, an extended honeymoon period is which we all agree too his use of his newly gained powers to lead all of us to unified goals.. Properly chosen, he is the leader for all of us and his power should be should be respected and obeyed for the common good of all, until such time as he appears to have failed to make proper use of such a treasure. I feel perfectly at ease, then, to oppose him in the next election but until such a time arrives, he remains legally “our” president and should be respected as such, save conditions in which he has grossly disobeyed the trust we placed in him as a voting body which can, if the needs be noted, cut off his power as quickly as it was granted.

The two major candidates have each staked out the areas in which they are making their bid for gaining the powers of being President of our nation. Senator John Kerry in running his record as a veteran of the Viet Nam War and seeks the power to head the nation in opposition to our recent problems. Incumbent President George W. Bush cites his record of service to the nation in bringing about strong, prompt retaliation against Terrorist foes following 9-11. In a limited sense, it may be seen as a contest to see who will be Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces.

I have a disquieting idea that this current election been “simplified” to meet the need of an electorate which does not comprehend - much less understand - the complexities of the dire problems which face our nation during this first potentially tragic first decade of the new century. I have a strong feeling also that those people held to be aware of the potential for the rest of the decade are, even now, aware of the threat of a world-wide religious war in the making. Dumbing down an election to suit the electorate's capabilities is, I feel, wrong, but it has been done and it will be interesting to see how our ultimate fate is to be determined in November of 2004.


A.L.M . August 30, 2004 [c680wds]

 
OUR PORTRAIT

The picture people all around the world are getting this week would seem to justify the use of the term “the ugly American”.

We, here at home may not see it exactly as foreigners do.

We say the United States won over a hundred medals at the Summer Olympic Summer games and list them proudly as gold, silver and bronze. Reports in other lands suggest we gobbled up all the awards, “as usual”. Trickery, deceit and dishonesty were suggested. The results overall, are often seen in a slightly different light among most competing nations because of judging errors.

The Olympic Games are over, and with little protest from dissident groups, and the media's emphasis has shifted to the political scene in the United States. While the Republicans are in convention assembled in New York City, the Democrats will run riot in the streets. “527-groups” the Democrats have been scorning are, this week, given full support and funding as they march through New York's streets in vocal and muscular opposition to our government and our duly elected leaders.

The picture the average citizens of most foreign nations will be getting is severely warped and a notable infringement on our efforts to improve the international image of our nation.

To TV viewers the world over, this type of presentation abets their feeling that we are nation divided against itself in many way; that we are vulnerable to their most childish tactic and unable to defend ourselves if pushed to combat because of intense divisions at home. We are being pictured as a forlorn group of nincompoops. Promoters of the protesters give viewers the impression that all of those roaming the streets are people who oppose Bush, when, in truth, scores of those present are not politically oriented at all. Some are chronic, habitually marcher-protesters; others are supporters of Ralph Nader, a man many predict will wean five per cent of votes away from John Kerry. Watch for the number of posters which call attention to affair other than the election. I cannot miss to see the political import of the sign-holder who's big letters proclaim: “I pee on Bushes!” but I think sort of conduct, shall we say, unseemly. Certainly our opposition is up to, at least, the level that sort of sign suggests might be the norm.

In listening to some of these demonstrators attempting to voice their avowed convictions when interviewed by TV street people, I wondered if many of them do not have a difficulty which turned up far too often in the Athens Olympic games this past week - a dependency on drugs to see them though the ordeal of incompetent performance and some inept individuals serving as judges.

This week America is on stage! We are being exhibited world-wide!
What kind of picture should we be presenting?

A.L.M. August 29, 2004 [c480wds]

 
TAKE YOUR CHOICE

If you could choose the one time in which you would have most liked to have lived your life, what would it be? What one time; what era would you select?

Most people, when asked that question, start at once to classify various times according to what seemed to have been important then, such as peace, war, exploration, adventure, romance, wealth pr,perhaps, travel by river, sea, ocean ,or, more recently space into unknown worlds.

Many come to realize at regardless of which time is decided upon it will not prove to be easy. Nothing that Mankind undertakes is ever as easy as he thinks it might be. Results of any kind come about through the injection of energy. The world is forever congested elements of change, which becomes apparent in many forms. The most common is, perhaps, what we call “wartime” when the confusion boils to the surface in all of it puzzling complexities. We also have times of diversionary “peace”which appears as pauses in the momentarily quiet sequence of warlike aberrations.

All eras have been, and will be, demand the human will to work be activated.. Perhaps you can visualize yourself going back to becoming a well-bred, moneyed, Deep South Plantation owner with hundreds of acres of fine land and servants to do your bidding at every turn. Unless you know how to produce exceptional products and to be able to market them wisely in a complex, world-wide system of turning crops into cash, you are doomed to failure and unhappiness with your chosen lot. Others will take a stand at the opposite extreme and see HDT's “Walden Pond” as scripture inviting them into a world apart from Man. There are many such utopia plans which have caused devotees to avoid other humans as much as possible. That equation, however, seems to me to fail to support the quality of “happiness” which is one of the true keystone for most of us intent on building a better life. other men is to avoid them as much as possible. That equation, however, seems to me to fail to support “happiness” which is the true keystone for most of us intent on building a better life.

In such plan we search for something which we cannot even describe in detail. We are anticipating a place where perfection will be obtained and yet every indication we have yet had tells us such conditions do not exist.

Best be content with what we have or, at least, a simplified version of it all. We need to be thankful for goodness which fill large portions of our lives. The only true pathway to the perfection we seek, idealistically, is to learn, now, to accent the good of being and to exclude that which does not work for betterment.

For all who do that: the best time to live is now.

. A.L.M. August 28, 2004 [c486wds]

 
IN MEMORY OF MILLER

This week-end at the Twinwood Air Field and Arena, Clapham, Bedfordshire, England, thousands of devotees of the music of Glenn Miller will gather to enjoy the “2004 International Glenn Miller Festival.” I wish could be there, for rather personal reasons.

It has been sixty years since Glenn Miller stood on this exact spot in the Control Tower at the air base wherein the “Glenn Miller Museum” is now located. Miller and an R.A. F. friend flew from this air field on their final flight.. He and and his pilot friend had a plan which would enable him to rejoin the Glenn Miller Band which had already shipped out across the English Channel and were awaiting his arrival arrival in Paris to begin a totally new phase of their sterling musical careers

The night Glenn Miller “disappeared” was a strange one for me and the group[I happened to be with that night in London. I was a member of an 18-piece dance orchestra which had been formed at the 467th Bomb Group, station, Rackheath, Norfolk County, a few miles north of Norwich, England. Our group was called the “Airliners” directed by Lt. Rex Floyd at the time and we, that very night, appeared on stage at the “Queensbury Club “ in London where the Glenn Miller Band appeared as the musical sensation of that wartime era.. The promoters had asked guest G.I. dance bands from various bases to do shows nightly and we were one of the bands invited. We, naturally, were proud to have been chosen ”to fill in” for musicians we all admired. It was an honor, we knew, and the mystery of Miller's “disappearance” had in it a memory with special meaning to each of us in our band which was widely known as “The Airliners in the East Anglia counties.

Miller is still known and emulated in England. Glenn Miller celebrations have been held annually in Norwich and it became an annual festival last year. That was when it was centered at Twinwood - much larger, two-days long and with more show and exhibit areas. Seven bands played in concerts at the 2003 Glenn Miller Festival - mostly in the Miller tradition - and the fact that the festival is back to entertain new records crowds – for three days of concerts, dances, shows, and musical entertainments, indicate it will be there many years to come. This year again features the “Bill Baker Band” which is the official RAF orchestra for Twinwood. Then, there is “Syd Lawrence and his Orchestra”, “ Chris Smith and String of Pearls orchestra”, along with the fabulous “Sticky Wicket Swing Band.” “John Miller and his Orchestra” will also be featured The maestro will be performing at the same site where his uncle – Glenn Miller – entertained troops sixty year ago.

The always growing Glenn Miller Museum will be open, there will be special aviation displays and demonstration performances of authentic jitterbugging, jiving and other dance form as well as fashions of the “the war time years.” Photograph collections will be on display and there will sufficient foods and social amenities available to assure of an enjoyable stay in the Clapham,
Bedfordshire area.

I assume the festival will end Monday evening with the same feature which closed the show last year. While the bands play medley's of “Miller music”, there was a dramatic flyover of Lancasters and Spitfires filling the sky with other memorable sounds. One again, Glenn Miller Festival will end, I suppose, as it did last year - with not a single dry eye to be seen anywhere!

A.L.M. August 27, 2004 [c610wds]

 
MUG SHOTS

How is it, I wonder, possible for Passport and Drivers' License photographs to remain so consistently poor?

No one I know seems to think their “this is me” identification photo resembles their actual physical appearance.

Subjects universally, it seems, think they are getting a bad deal, and many wonder why it has to happen at that point which is about as “official” as any photograph for which we pose, other than those who become candidates for prints used to decorate “Wanted” bulletins on post office walls. That's the official one, I suppose, so that makes our driver's mug shot and those on our travel papers merely “semi-official” because they are required by legal writing somewhere in the musty legalese tomes.

Annual awards are not given for the Best Photographer of the Year in either category - driver's permits or passports documents, so there is not a waiting line of potential students waiting patiently in line to undertake such specialized branches of cinema graphic lore and portraiture preparation techniques. That takes some of the artistic thrill out of being such a photographer, and, as a result the managers of the card granting area, usually turns the job over to the first person who passes through the area looking for food vending machines. They like to pull levers, push buttons, crank handles - so they will work happily at taking pictures for half and hour or so before they get hungrier. I'd swear the girl who took the shot for my driver's license - the one of the bent over, crabby-looking character, unshaven, wrapped in a thick, plaid lumberman's jacket and in need of a hair cut or two, had been waiting in line just ahead of me for an hour. To back up that theory, I noticed, too, that her terse, verbal instruction told me to say: “Cheese!” Real photographers prefer subject that you say:“Money!” Either way you get that same ghoulish smile on cracked, wavering lips hats pleases such pix makers.

“OK. Next!”

The passport person at my local governmental official in charge of preparing such papers said I would have to get a small “passport photo” from the photographer's studio-shop. I don't know how they do it, but some of the best photographer's on planet Earth can come up with the lousiest looking likenesses imaginable, if it is for passport publication purposes. They use their elegant studio equipment, of course, but time spent doing such a menial task is next to nil or just below it.

Does anyone you know like his or her identification photograph? Where you work, or where you play - does the ident card or badge pic you show or wear look like you or some one else you'd rather not know if it can be arranged.

A.L.M.. August 26, 2004 [c472wds]

 
UP, UP AND AWAY.

We build in some strange ways.

Up, for instance.

The ultimate purpose of building is so that we can escape the effects of adverse weather conditions and the minimize our chances of being exposed to such dangers. Plus more recent, new ones.

In so doing, we often add to such peril by reaching into higher, faster air currents or by needing increased structural support underneath it all to hold the massive upward thrust steady.

I would suppose the need to do so stems all the way back to the Tower of Babel in Biblical times and a need Man has felt all along - a desire to be up there with his God. Or, more precisely, that he may appear to be more godlike rather than bound to the relative flatness of Earth. I wonder if the same feeling has caused man to climb high and higher mountains in a semi-secret effort to stand side-by-side with his God.

One might think that, after the experiences of 9-11-01 some serious thought about building super-high buildings might be seriously considered. It was, for a short time, but the desire to construct a higher than ever ever building again on the site of the blasted Trade Towers in New York City proved to be the driving force behind any construction effort in spite of all the memorial edifice pretense.

When we witness the total devastation the average hurricane can spread along our coastal areas and well inland at time, one of the first things we think about is rebuilding where we should not have built so intensely to start with many years ago. A scattered, rather space population relative to the potential loss might make better sense than using fewer real-estate square inches and piling more and more on top of what is added each time around on reconstruction. It seems far easier to do that and raise flood insurance ,rent cal or purchase fees to make up for the potential difference ....fix it, in other words so "no one really loses any money". We should be more careful about building and re-building along risky coast lines, other waterways - rivers, lakes and even small streams. It is amazing how many people occupy areas of land public ally acclaimed as "Flood Plain Areas." Many business firms and commercial ventures play the same flood-insurance hide and seek...."now you see it; now you don't" magic game.

We also build and re-build ramshackle instant slums in areas which have been drained of all potential hope of success decades ago, often in “downtown” areas we also call “historic” sites which should have been erased from city maps long ago and redone as public parks or parking lots.

We have, in recent years, taken to building shopping arenas in barn-like roofed units surrounded by parking lots on all sides. Just how this craze will terminate is yet to be discovered, but it will probably have something to do with sheer shopper' s fatigue. What enterprise firm is even now developing a campaign designed to take advantage of the extended amounts of walking shoppers are now expected to do as routine?

We are constantly being admonished to build a better world, but the plans by which we are to work are not yet available. We are still ad libbing the old architectural tunes we played in ukulele times.

Where are our creative builders?

A.L.M. August 25, 2004 [c573wds]

 
WHICH WAY?

I find a rather large accumulation of talk cluttering today's news sources about “basics”.

They are enduring qualities which are also referred to quite often as the “old fashioned values” found in “the good life” lived, it seems, in the past. I meet people quite often who extol an era they once knew, or heard of, in which social, moral and spiritual ties solidified relationships in the finest ways and, always, far better than anything being does today.

So much of this talk remains just that - “talk”. Too often the nostalgia elements place it all in the past and it comes as a shock to find the very same principles apply today as well. That point arrives when we hear ourselves thinking “we have got to go back to the basics!”

But that can be a danger point, too. When anyone claims it essential that we go “back” to anything, I cringe inwardly. Returning to actions of the past scares me – no end.

I can understand that we might reflect, for a moment, or what has been tried in the past and may consider trying it one more time. It did not work or we would not be facing the situation in its present form.

To consider “going “back to the basics” to be essential action to be taken is an act of self-deception. It is, however, quite common to hear such views bandied about when a change is to be made. It is, in truth, not a time to go back to anything but, rather, a time to advance - to try new avenues of venture and inquiry, and, if it helps, to call it an act of “strategic withdrawal“ enabling us to set up new routes of attack on the problem. Going back admits defeat, mistrust, imperfection, half-way efforts and lack of concentration of power for good over that of evil.

Think of the number of problems facing our nation today Some are relatively new and others aged and still unsolved in relation to the use we make of them today. They have been, in many instances, been. Used, altered,modified and bent to meet the needs of a specific era, but they remain in need of changes to keep up to date.

Consider “Education” – everyone's business. The there is “Economics” - calling for specialists in various fields. How about War and/or Peace? What should we be doing about “Space Travel? Space Settlement?” Another one: what can we do to bring down “Medical Costs” of all kinds. If you want to make up as list of your very own., start for example, with “Railroads” and other forms of travel or consider what power source we are going to have available after we use up our fossil fuel stocks.

You can't go back to find the solutions for that which we need. Forward is the direction required and that which is basic to our every need is, in fact, that element we call “faith” knowing that goodness will endure as we work for it.

A.L.M. August 23, 2004 [c517wds]

 
BG MUSIC

Are you one of those people who “dislikes” background music?

There are some who insist they actually “hate” the recorded music foisted upon them when they make a telephone call and have to wait for “the next product consultant available”. They take their frustration out on all types of recorded music far too often, all music that is used to add interest to the dull moments of our daily routine. We are led about by music far more than we realize and owe musicians a debt of gratitude for helping to maintain a measure of sanity in our conduct most of the time.

The delayed telephone calls is only one example of such encounters which can cause us to regret that notes where ever set to stave or quavers to clefs. Some doctors add to the multiple miseries of such ailments as the common cold by piping channels of FM music into their waiting rooms. I don't think they plan it so intentionally, but the music chosen often matches the dates on the mangy magazines lying on tables and chairs about the room.

It is all intended to be there to provide acoustic activity to any blank space in the sound pattern of our modern day. Silence is not, in our day, as “golden”as it is once said to have been. Today silence is quietness; inactivity, an indication of everything being at rest instead of working.. Silence is the sound of nothing doing what it does so well – nothing. That means it is a mark of loss of of potential wealth had those moment been properly put to use. Background music keeps you from realizing all that sort of thing and feeling guilty about leaving a few moment blank. BG music does, then, improve one's opinion of one's self at critical moments.

We are led through our lives by the sounds of music.

Some people awaken to music as an alarm clock each morning using their local radio station as a electronic rooster. I, myself, am of an older school, and still, prefer waiting until I awaken naturally. I then, try to find some excuse or trying the stay abed, only to having them knocked down quickly by Mother Nature.

Listen to some of that “get up” music the radio people have used so successfully for years. So much of it has been so successful for so long because so many sleepers can take just so much of any one thing and they get up to cut the radio off or turn it to news of the latest version of age-old crimes redone. BG music beats an “alarm: sound any day, I would say so don't knock it till you've tired it. The best music to “get up by” should never be your favorite type of music – that will only put you back to sleep again. Chose the acid rock tune you detest the most if you really want to get roused up ....realizing, of course, when you do so, you will also be awakening the entire neighborhood in general.

This past week someone brought in a videotape copy of the movie: “Gone With The Wind.” The family watched it one evening. You will recall, it is a bit lengthy so that meant they were up well past usual bedtimes. Then, Sunday one of the TV channels ran the entire thing and they got hooked on it and stuck with it to “see if it ended the same way.”

It did. I listened to much of it and paid major attention to the sound track. ...to the background music which is skillfully used to lead the viewer all over the emotional map.

Often it is the music which echoes what has just been said, underlines it or put it in frilly italics Or, it anticipates what is now going to be said. It will stop breathlessly with tense, rasping, brassy tone before you even hear the spoken words – pained, caustic tones when needed or, in total contrast, soothing caresses done with strings, flutes and reeds.

Try it yourself. Listen to a good movie and try not to watch it in the usual way. Avoid the visual aspects. Using it only as points of reference to learn what the musical score has already done, is doing or will do. Learn to appreciate BG music.

A.L.M. August 22, 2004 [c737wds] .

 
SWIFT BOAT TO...

Remember the old song “Slow Boat To China?”

It is passe, of course, and “Swift Boat To Viet Nam” is now steadily part of the news. Wherever you turn, you hear about “Swift Boats.”

It all happened a third of a century ago, but the term “Swift Boat” is a key word in today's events and, strangely enough, many people are insisting they have never known the term until this past week.

The series of television spots now running in some areas are not something new in spite of the fact that Kerry people seem to be seeing and hearing about them for the first time. Just about every point that the advertisements are now making downgrading the Kerry “war hero” status claimed by the Democratic Party was made public months ago.

Just about every facet of the material as used in the series of spots now running was graphically displayed on C-Span in a special, nation-wide program which ran for a good hour and a half shortly after John Kerry indicated his campaign would be based primarily the “war hero” theme. Many seem to feel that was inevitable because he had no other platform on which he could base a run for the office. It was plain enough at that time - months ago - to see that a last-minute drive to unseat Kerry would be a part of the current campaign near the end of it all.

I wrote about it at the time and wondered how it could be that such material was so openly discussed in unusual detail on C-Span. That tape, after this fracas is all over, will be a collector's item ands it will be run many times showing what was happening well in advance of the time the material was used in the campaign. It was not a surprise at all. It was natural outgrowth of series of crass misjudgments made in formulating the original plan for John Kerry to run for the office. Planner ,no doubt, considered that , while Kerry could run on a “war hero” - even his attainments surpassed those of George W. Bush which had served through National Guard membership of a rather sketchy nature. It was also deemed possible because William Clinton, a man with no military experience whatsoever as well as anti-war group associations, had been elected by the American people to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces. One such a premise, the campaign was set underway.

The real message of the Veteran's Against Kerry spots do not dwell entirely on the nature of the awards he received,but note his active affiliation, even some leadership, of anti-war protesters. Deception has been proved to be a part of his dramatic throwing away of his military medals. He accusations of gross criminal activities by U.S. troops in Viet Nam in testimony before Congressional committees stands as an inexcusable affront to our National Guard and each of the branches of military service. All, he testified, were guilty of torture, disfigurement of natives, brutality - and he spoke as a as witness to such war crimes committed by members of the various American military forces.

I hear this morning that John Kerry is entering legal proceedings to stop the use of the Veteran group's spots. In accusing Bush of backing them and paying for the ads, he is, I would say, searching for any a way at all out of this dilemma - one which was so plainly indicated as being sure to happen months ago.

The election is being decided this week. Now, I feel, is the critical moment when Americans will decide which way they will go. I cannot be sure of either way. I know which I favor, but I also have the record of some strange things we have done in the past so neither way is going to come as a surprise.

A.L.M. August 21, 2004 [c661ds]

 
TOMORROW'S HEIRLOOMS

We watch the well-done “Antique Road Show” - the American version – on TV and some of imitators, and, quite often, I marvel at the value placed on rather common articles. The items evaluated often dated from not too many years ago, in many cases, and that can be bit shocking as one grows older.

Trivia is treasure in the mind of the eager, searching antique-seeking people I meet. The better ones, too, seem to come from families who, in their heyday, lived, one might say, below the mean average economic level of their time. The true antique seeker is a person who, for generations, had to do without the very things which seem to be so essential for them to enjoy life in those days.. The “better off” social and economic levels had such items, used them and, even now, think of them as common, rather than as special, much-desired items today.

Antique seekers, both professional and amateur, are given to chasing rainbows in the form of dream of what life would be like if such and such an items could be found. The quality of such things may vary greatly. I have witnessed deceit on more than one occasion, to, not maliciously done but through a convenient occasion of need. . A local antique gatherer I knew had on display in his kitchen a particular piece which he called a “kitchen cabinet” and I knew where he got it. The item was in the home of an aged old colored lady whom we knew as “Aunt Ebby” - short for “Elizabeth”. I used to see it when we called at her house to see what she needed in the way of firewood, coal oil, food supplies and other needs. She was fine old lady who had served various families up and down our road for many years. Her house was little more than a shack or shanty - one room with a wooden partition out from one wall which marked off the area she called her kitchen. There was was narrow front door on the wide wall and a double bed pretty much filled the living space. A box-like chest and two,odd, hand-me-down chairs. Along the inside of the kitchen partition stood her “kitchen cabinet”. I recognized it at once when I saw it in a collector home a year or two after Aunt Ebby's death.

One of Aunt Ebby's sons Clarence had build neat shelves on the partition wall on which they kept kitchen needs. In a creative week, shortly before his death in a rock quarry accident, that son had added boards as wide as he shelves to each end of the shelves on the wall. To those he added two boards across the front for two shelves which he hinged them at the ends. They opened as a door to show the shelves. He duplicated that same feature across the bottom two shelves He hinged a large board over the center it folded down a desk-like fold-down in front of the center trio of shelves. He nailed discarded pieces of decorative, do-dad porch molding to each of the doors a grab-on handles. To finish it all off, he burnt designs in each handle with a hot iron of some sort.

Mounted on the original partition wall for a backside, Aunt Ebby's kitchen cabinet stood in the new owner's fine home. Scrubbed, waxed and shiny, it look good . .I think of it as one antique which came to exist out of sheer, poverty-nurtured need and it was made with love and a deep desire of a young, black boy to provide his mother with a fine cabinet she needed.

I have not seen the collector for many years and wonder if the piece has been sold and re-sold. I cringe when I imagine it turning up as an item on “Road Show” some evening and I hear the price it might bring at a sale. Aunt Ebby is gone. Her boy, Clarence, too. Only that kitchen cabinet remains telling of their ever having been among us.

A.L.M. August 21, 2004 [c690wds]

 
DOING THE “AT”

It is rare that we come across a novel in which a precise setting plays such an overpowering role.

In the eastern United States we have a thousand miles of mountain trail running from Georgia to Maine called ”The Appalachian Trail”- spoken of with respect and appreciation as “AT” by those who live and love the type of outdoor living the trail encourages. It is one of the created wonders of this homeland of ours large unknown and unappreciated by the bulk of the population.

One does not,normally, associate crime with such an area but the novelist Jess Carr, who grew up in the Southwest Virginia area of the trail wrote an historical novel in l985 about a double murder of two hikers on the famed trail. It is a book which will endure for many years for several reasons. This is,I think, one of the few novels I have read which do a convincing job of analyzing what the long range influences of our sixties ideas concerning morality and social conduct have taken in our culture.

The very concept of the Appalachian Trail remains unique in so many ways as people discover it for the first time. The sheer grandeur and immensity of the trail through the backbone of the ancient, worn-down mountain range is something you will find is difficult to ignore.

Novelist Jess Carr uses a real-life murder which took place in the area and invents a memorable host of mountain people, visitors, government officials, families and relatives which is most convincing.

I read an older, library copy of the novel and I noted there were an exceptionally large number of dog-eared pages as one neared the middle of the book. That was, to me, was indicative of the fact that much of the first part of the novel gets to be tedious reading for anyone other than experienced hikers and trail devotees. I felt there was too much detail of segments of the trail which did not strike me as being different from others. The evidence of many dog-eared corners indicated a great many readers had difficulty doing more than a few pages at a time. Once the murders are committed the action takes over and move along rapidly. I found no more book-marks.

I am not the person to write a straight “review”of this book because I,personally, knew a score or more of the actual people who actively cause the tragic story to move and live.

It all a bit too close to me to see it distinctly without associating other known aspects of those people's lives. I still know some of them. The owner and trainer of the dogs used it the search efforts lives nearby and works as nurse nearby,having “retired” from her “Search and Rescue” team work.

“Murder On The Appalachian Trail”, by Jess Carr, was published in 1985 by the Commonwealth Press, Inc. Radford, Virginia and may not have had as wide a distribution as it might have received with a larger, nation-wide firm, but it is out there and it is available. Get a copy. Read it.

You will gain a new appreciation for the “AT”.

A.L.M. August 20, 2004 [c537wds]

 
DARE TO EXCEL!

If we learn any one thing from the Olympic Summer Games being held in Athens, Greece this week, let it be that we re-gain our national will urging that we dare to excel!

We have, in recent decades, allowed a tragic malaise to develop which has crippled our will to win; deadened ambition and remained as a cumbersome weight on the fattened forms of self-satisfaction..

We are being told to be more than mere spectators ; active players; participants rather than casual onlookers.

Our intent should be not so much on setting new records, but in intentionally, honestly and eagerly working to exceed what has gone before. It is a national attainment for all of us as we witness Mary Lou Retton of 1984 fame, congratulating Carley Patterson, from Baton Rouge, LA.. of 2004, as one congratulates the other – the old welcomes the new – as she sets new records in gymnastics in the current series of Olympic Summer games. Other names are being added daily, but those two are symbolic of the re-birth of initiative, drive, enthusiasm and the will to win which permeates many of the teams we have in action in the ancient homeland of the Olympiad concept.

Vast portions of our life today do not, in any way, resemble “games” - certainly not competition played for enjoyment. We are beset with social, religious, economic and other differences which are deeply ingrained in historical circumstances , and our wars and rumor thereof, are our burden. We have carried the load long enough. We have lived by the rules imposed upon us by such handicaps and we need to study and re-study the basic rules of conduct to see what can be eliminated and determine that which must be nourished and sustained. We do that in sports each time new records are established. We improve the manner in which we use the gifts of agility and performance we possess. The basic, almost mechanical nature of movements we are “built” to perform do not change. The setting of new records comes from our newly found discovery of better, more efficient ways to make use of the abilities we have had all along ....untrained, untried, unused. Discovered and disciplined - they make us pioneers, inventors, leaders, innovators, record-setters in sports or in other fields of human activity..

We are in special need of new understandings of the basics of government. Many of our old records - of which we are justly proud - can be
bettered. We cannot remain spectators and gawkers. We must be dedicated to Olympic-style dedication. We must take part in the activity to merit it's blessings

A.L.M. August 19, 2004 [c455wds].

 
AT WHAT LEVEL?

Are we “cooling off” concerning our attentiveness to Home Security?

It would seem that we are doing so. Many people now more or less ignore many of the security rules which were put in place after 9-11 and it is, I think, understandable that we have begun doing so. The wisdom of doing so will be decided by future history.

Where are we at the present time?

Exact points are impossible because we don't know the potential peaks or depths to which such statistics can move. We, however, as individual might to well to consider our own, individual stance in regard to safety in our small portion of the total security picture for the nation .

And we can and do have personal reasons which are valid for either accepting or refusing to follow such directives. The choice is ours ...yours ...mine. The end result is obscured by events and changes which have not, as yet even taken place.

Let me cite several example concerning such restrictions from the days of World War II in England. Many of us met up with such rules, and regulations which were hinderences and unworkable theories quite often.

When we first arrived in England from the States American soldiers were fitted out with gas masks of WW I vintage ...the big, shoulder hung tote-bag style and it was required that you had one on your shoulder when you took to visit the nearby city. I learned my lesson with the first few minutes and returned to my starting point were I rented a locker from the Red Cross in which we checked three such gas masks. I never actually wore one into the city once I realized that we were a small minority possessing them and perhaps half a million citizens among whom we moved as guests had none. The Gas Mask rule was ignored and I never had a MP stop me for not having one with me in town. Even military justice exhibited good common sense at such times.

In our first tin-hutted village there was in the midst of the them a cross-shape concussion wall type air raid “shelter”. Open to the sky the crossed brick walls were packed with dirt on the out and they were open to the foggy sky above. During the evening hours,I don't remember when, there was the somber moan of the he air raid alarm sirens from a far, and, in accordance with existing regulations, our officers woke us demanding immediate departure to the air raid shelter. By the time we got there the all clear moan had sounded nd we noticed that the British units on each side of us had slept peacefully through it all. We suffered out first “casualty” when a lanky kid from from Philadelphia scraped the side of his face diving against the brick -walled haven.

Within a few a hours a third regulation was crushed by common sense.

At some early hour our Commanding Officer had the proper call which caused us to form a sleepy company front and to respond to roll call in total darkness. He then set us in motion to march to the Mess Hall which was half a mile or so through the woods. At that point the door of the British Commanding office burst open and British voice demanded “Halt!” He was in base command, and lectured our officers by saying: There would be no formations of any kind on the base. Troops were then instructed to meander off to the mess hall through the woods, purposely avoiding any set path or roadway. We cheered his speech and went on our way mess-ward.

I remember that first mess, too. What a mess of a mess that mess was!
Imagine one hundred and nine hungry GIs fresh from state-side with American stocked rations on board the “Queen Mary” meeting British Army rationed menus for the first time. Ersatz sausages and Powdered Eggs mainly, big slices of rough brown bread and coffee or hot tea. As the new air base we were helping to start firmed up, so did our rations though U.S. supply lines.

We learn so much from experience and by this time,those who work at, for instance, American airports must realize there are certain rules and regulations which are best forgotten.

So, we seem to be in a questioning period in our estimates of what national security must be. That would seem to be a good thing. Perhaps we can eliminate some of those pesky little textbook “Do's and Don'ts”.

Common sense protects our common good.

A.L.M. August 19, 2004 [ 776wds]

 
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

Sand, sunlight and sea water!

What a fine combination for curative action for both Man and Beast!

Sand can be a efficient abrasive, speedily removing dying cells from the body surface, the warming sun beams of seek out impurities above and beneath that surface and eliminates their powers to harm the body, and sea water, with its saline additives is, in itself a remedial substance which washes away impurities and salves the affected area with a thin crust of protective salt.

It is unfortunate that this package Nature provides for our good health coincides with Nature's own schedule of disruptive hurricanes and tropical storms which inhibited the use of the health package. It can be argued that the distribution system in at fault because those of us who live far from the seashores do not have this sand, sun and sea water advantage readily available. Instead, we in the mountains are recipients of yet another such natural package of healthful ingredients good to the soul-side of Man. We are blessed with endless flows of fresh, mountain air; with a wide variety of visits without borders overlooks viewing places where one can see forever, and there is a impressive setting on which an expanse of trees, mountains, valleys, and hints of kindred folk such as ourselves living in a vast, free and every expanding setting in which our lives are nurtured, blessed and made fruitful. Flat-landers ...sea-siders will cry “Unfair” because they lack so much of that which we consider essential to living.

Wherever we live there are natural advantages which make it better - even “best” - for you and your family. It is more difficult for us to appreciate that which we have close by and to long for the type of natural inducements offering better health in some other section. All areas, oddly enough, find favor in the eyes of some, especially if they are forced by economic necessities or for other reason, to be absent from their native surroundings.

We hear more these days a of the use of “alternative” type of treatment in matters of public health. Who we are, where we came from, where we have been and doing what, all seem to join in creating our individual panacea for treating so many maladies. I won't say that any one of them is better than any of the others, but I will point out that the vast majority of people, when asked to write down a list of our most-used “alternative” treatments fail to mention one of the most natural of them all.

So few people realize that the number one choice is “prayer.”

A. L. M. August 17, 2004 [c457wds]

 
SPEED SPORTS

So often, it seems we predicate our enjoyment of sports events on the quality of speed.
As I get older, I find that either sports have changed radically and get more attention through dependency on speed, or that I have simply slowed down and can't keep pace with what is happening. Games moves faster or I react slower. It is one or the other and I am not entirely sure which is correct.

Why, for instance, should I now find I watch soccer games on TV rather than football? I watch golf tournaments and baseball game but shy away from basketball, volleyball, stock car and formula racing, but still look for horse racing, sulky competitions, and even foot races and field events. Baseball endures, forever,it seems although I get lost if things move along too rapidly. This is thing about speed being at the base of so many things goes back, I suppose, to my early days of riding atop the high back seat of my Uncle Andrew's fine Saxon Touring Car back in the early 1920's. That my first memorable encounter with speed because he used to rev that fine old car up to sixty miles per hour or better - or worse – my brother and in high, wing-like back seats above the in cloud of dirt road dust we were creating with spinning, wooden-spoked wheels.

I learn a negative lesson from that from that childhood experience, I think. We realized at the time that what we were doing was risky and, I'm sure we knew it was against the law of common sense as well as that of the Commonwealth of Virginia. To have such memories has kept me off of such curious forms of self-elimination as what have been loosely-called “roller coasters” in our leading family-style theme parks. You are not about to catch me on one of those flip-flopping, loop and counter-loop, whiz-bang, thundercrunchers - the thrill rides of our century. It may well have changed my view of sports activities, as well and made me favor less abusive types.

I remember when, Sir Malcolm Campbell, came from England with especially built sports cars which were driven up to as much as three hundred miles per hour on the famed Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. and we all agreed that was about as fast as we might ever move. Then, we talked about moving at the speed of sound; then breaking the sound barrier and who knows where we might be at the moment on some undetermined mach scale or other? Everything else is faster... why not sports?

There was s time, when I could look at a football game and know where the ball happened to be. No more. It hasn't been there at all, the explanatory diagramming shows me. I watch basketball and get the feeling it consists of sweating giants running endlessly from one end to the other in a restricted area seemingly only intent on knocking each other down as they strive to lower a ball into a hoop - maybe - and head back to where they came from. To do it all over again until somebody blows a whistle and they all hitting each others hands held high. I have come to prefer to watch a golf ball descending majestically through the sky to plop ever-so-lightly and to roll to within a few inches of the cup or far beyond it into the rough. I'd much rather see a soccer ball being driven from one player to another skillfully caused to elude the foot of an enemy player to be counter-claimed by another a pair of players. I can see it. I can keep up with it most of the time, and feel good about my attainment as a sports-watcher.

The final, honest look at it all, however urges me to accept the idea that I am guilt of lack of appreciation for sports which attract thousands of new fans daily. I don't particularly like admitting I've slowed up that much, but I find some satisfaction in knowing that you too will, in time, wish activity could take everything a little slower so you could stay with it.

A.L.M. Aug 17, 2004 [c708wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

 
OLYMPICS

Thus far, the Olympic Games in Athens have progressed very well and I have heard nothing of any terrorist actions being taken against them. The organizers have taken unusual steps to guard against such an occurance, remembering. that which happened not too many years ago in Munich. This year, I understand, the number of guards on duty at the games actually outnumbers that of the players in the games themselves.

The fact that there has been not one observable action in Athens by terrorist groups, and that is something which is worthy of special notice and consideration by the rest of us outside of the Olympic aura. The international games were seen as a prime potential target by terror groups because of the assured world-wide attention such action would create. Sports events, in general, throughout the world, are inviting targets because of the mass of people drawn together in one location. Imagine the carnage which would erupt if an attack were made on an American Stock Car race spectator crowd; a bowl event of any kind and kind; almost any major arena enclosure show. The absence of attack in Athens -Parius suggests that we might consider that our work designed to disrupt the flow of terrorist plans have been successful to an appreciable degree. The Evil Ones have missed some opportunities to make their point evident and it is good for us to think that our protective shields have worked and are working and that their abilities to organize and field such operations has been severely crippled.

I notice a comparative calm about the games themselves. There is contention among competing nations, of course, among the nations but in the past there was, along with it all, a political oriented sort of enmity which clouded the sports sentiment. Competition has been stiff. The United States has not been, as yet, accused of monopolizing the winning of gold medals - with just one in hand at the moment. There is a noticeable lack of political bickering and that is good for the games. Such tensions do not make for the best of relations and harm the unity needed for the success of the venture. Limited by the nature of our television coverage in which one network does it all to suit their time requirements. Events have moved along , as planned, which gives the lie to criticism from some who insisted the facilities would not be ready in time and that they would be second-rate and inefficient.

I realize some of you have red this far and made ready to remind me that the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece are not yet finished! That's true. Disaster could yet take place, but we must begin to expect better things - not more trouble. I seem to see in the sucess of this series of games a sign, you might say, of better, safer times ahead for all of us. Certainly, Iraq itself is not a prime example of peacefulness at the moment with new insurrections arising constantly against the new government and the U. S. presence there.

Our greatest threat at the moment might well be home-made.

We are in the midst of a Presidential Election in which the military histories of the two candidates have been grossly politicized to a dangerous degree. Molehills have become mountains; ditches appears to be chasms, and ruts are meandering canyons. We are at a point which requires we make a choice, and it is not as easy, not as simple as we thought it was going to be. We have deceived ourselves by talking ourselves into political corners where principles are subject to what we can get out of it all.

Ironically, that is not the central principle of the games being played in Athens where fairness, honesty, tolerance and forbearance are required. We have not practiced such basics in our political lives for a long, long time and it is a weakness which may well be seen, and understood, by those who would do us harm.

A.L.M. August 15, 2004 [c682wds]

Archives

05/19/2002 - 05/26/2002
06/02/2002 - 06/09/2002
06/30/2002 - 07/07/2002
07/07/2002 - 07/14/2002
07/14/2002 - 07/21/2002
07/21/2002 - 07/28/2002
07/28/2002 - 08/04/2002
08/04/2002 - 08/11/2002
08/11/2002 - 08/18/2002
08/18/2002 - 08/25/2002
08/25/2002 - 09/01/2002
09/01/2002 - 09/08/2002
09/08/2002 - 09/15/2002
09/15/2002 - 09/22/2002
09/22/2002 - 09/29/2002
09/29/2002 - 10/06/2002
10/06/2002 - 10/13/2002
10/13/2002 - 10/20/2002
10/20/2002 - 10/27/2002
10/27/2002 - 11/03/2002
11/03/2002 - 11/10/2002
11/10/2002 - 11/17/2002
11/17/2002 - 11/24/2002
11/24/2002 - 12/01/2002
12/01/2002 - 12/08/2002
12/08/2002 - 12/15/2002
12/15/2002 - 12/22/2002
12/22/2002 - 12/29/2002
12/29/2002 - 01/05/2003
01/05/2003 - 01/12/2003
01/12/2003 - 01/19/2003
01/19/2003 - 01/26/2003
01/26/2003 - 02/02/2003
02/02/2003 - 02/09/2003
02/09/2003 - 02/16/2003
02/16/2003 - 02/23/2003
02/23/2003 - 03/02/2003
03/02/2003 - 03/09/2003
03/09/2003 - 03/16/2003
03/16/2003 - 03/23/2003
03/23/2003 - 03/30/2003
03/30/2003 - 04/06/2003
04/06/2003 - 04/13/2003
04/13/2003 - 04/20/2003
04/20/2003 - 04/27/2003
04/27/2003 - 05/04/2003
05/04/2003 - 05/11/2003
05/11/2003 - 05/18/2003
05/18/2003 - 05/25/2003
05/25/2003 - 06/01/2003
06/01/2003 - 06/08/2003
06/08/2003 - 06/15/2003
06/15/2003 - 06/22/2003
06/22/2003 - 06/29/2003
06/29/2003 - 07/06/2003
07/06/2003 - 07/13/2003
07/13/2003 - 07/20/2003
07/20/2003 - 07/27/2003
07/27/2003 - 08/03/2003
08/03/2003 - 08/10/2003
08/10/2003 - 08/17/2003
08/17/2003 - 08/24/2003
08/24/2003 - 08/31/2003
08/31/2003 - 09/07/2003
09/07/2003 - 09/14/2003
09/14/2003 - 09/21/2003
09/21/2003 - 09/28/2003
09/28/2003 - 10/05/2003
10/05/2003 - 10/12/2003
10/12/2003 - 10/19/2003
10/19/2003 - 10/26/2003
10/26/2003 - 11/02/2003
11/02/2003 - 11/09/2003
11/09/2003 - 11/16/2003
11/16/2003 - 11/23/2003
11/23/2003 - 11/30/2003
11/30/2003 - 12/07/2003
12/07/2003 - 12/14/2003
12/14/2003 - 12/21/2003
12/21/2003 - 12/28/2003
12/28/2003 - 01/04/2004
01/04/2004 - 01/11/2004
01/11/2004 - 01/18/2004
01/18/2004 - 01/25/2004
01/25/2004 - 02/01/2004
02/01/2004 - 02/08/2004
02/08/2004 - 02/15/2004
02/15/2004 - 02/22/2004
02/22/2004 - 02/29/2004
02/29/2004 - 03/07/2004
03/07/2004 - 03/14/2004
03/14/2004 - 03/21/2004
03/21/2004 - 03/28/2004
03/28/2004 - 04/04/2004
04/04/2004 - 04/11/2004
04/11/2004 - 04/18/2004
04/18/2004 - 04/25/2004
04/25/2004 - 05/02/2004
05/02/2004 - 05/09/2004
05/09/2004 - 05/16/2004
05/23/2004 - 05/30/2004
05/30/2004 - 06/06/2004
06/06/2004 - 06/13/2004
06/13/2004 - 06/20/2004
06/20/2004 - 06/27/2004
06/27/2004 - 07/04/2004
07/04/2004 - 07/11/2004
07/11/2004 - 07/18/2004
07/18/2004 - 07/25/2004
08/01/2004 - 08/08/2004
08/08/2004 - 08/15/2004
08/15/2004 - 08/22/2004
08/22/2004 - 08/29/2004
08/29/2004 - 09/05/2004
09/05/2004 - 09/12/2004
09/12/2004 - 09/19/2004
09/19/2004 - 09/26/2004
09/26/2004 - 10/03/2004
10/03/2004 - 10/10/2004
10/10/2004 - 10/17/2004
10/17/2004 - 10/24/2004
10/24/2004 - 10/31/2004
10/31/2004 - 11/07/2004
11/07/2004 - 11/14/2004
11/14/2004 - 11/21/2004
11/21/2004 - 11/28/2004
11/28/2004 - 12/05/2004
12/05/2004 - 12/12/2004
12/12/2004 - 12/19/2004
12/19/2004 - 12/26/2004
12/26/2004 - 01/02/2005
01/02/2005 - 01/09/2005
01/09/2005 - 01/16/2005
01/16/2005 - 01/23/2005
01/23/2005 - 01/30/2005
01/30/2005 - 02/06/2005
02/06/2005 - 02/13/2005
02/13/2005 - 02/20/2005
02/20/2005 - 02/27/2005
02/27/2005 - 03/06/2005
03/06/2005 - 03/13/2005
03/13/2005 - 03/20/2005
03/20/2005 - 03/27/2005
03/27/2005 - 04/03/2005
04/03/2005 - 04/10/2005
04/10/2005 - 04/17/2005
04/17/2005 - 04/24/2005
04/24/2005 - 05/01/2005
05/01/2005 - 05/08/2005
05/08/2005 - 05/15/2005
05/15/2005 - 05/22/2005
05/22/2005 - 05/29/2005
05/29/2005 - 06/05/2005
06/05/2005 - 06/12/2005
06/12/2005 - 06/19/2005
06/19/2005 - 06/26/2005
06/26/2005 - 07/03/2005
07/03/2005 - 07/10/2005
07/10/2005 - 07/17/2005
07/17/2005 - 07/24/2005
07/24/2005 - 07/31/2005
07/31/2005 - 08/07/2005
08/07/2005 - 08/14/2005
08/14/2005 - 08/21/2005
08/21/2005 - 08/28/2005
08/28/2005 - 09/04/2005
09/04/2005 - 09/11/2005
09/11/2005 - 09/18/2005
09/18/2005 - 09/25/2005
09/25/2005 - 10/02/2005
10/02/2005 - 10/09/2005
10/09/2005 - 10/16/2005
10/16/2005 - 10/23/2005
10/23/2005 - 10/30/2005
10/30/2005 - 11/06/2005
11/06/2005 - 11/13/2005
11/13/2005 - 11/20/2005
11/20/2005 - 11/27/2005
11/27/2005 - 12/04/2005
12/04/2005 - 12/11/2005
12/11/2005 - 12/18/2005
12/18/2005 - 12/25/2005
12/25/2005 - 01/01/2006
01/01/2006 - 01/08/2006
01/08/2006 - 01/15/2006
01/15/2006 - 01/22/2006
01/22/2006 - 01/29/2006
01/29/2006 - 02/05/2006
02/05/2006 - 02/12/2006
02/12/2006 - 02/19/2006
02/19/2006 - 02/26/2006
02/26/2006 - 03/05/2006
03/05/2006 - 03/12/2006
03/12/2006 - 03/19/2006
03/19/2006 - 03/26/2006
03/26/2006 - 04/02/2006
04/02/2006 - 04/09/2006
04/09/2006 - 04/16/2006
04/16/2006 - 04/23/2006
04/23/2006 - 04/30/2006
04/30/2006 - 05/07/2006
05/07/2006 - 05/14/2006
05/14/2006 - 05/21/2006
05/21/2006 - 05/28/2006
05/28/2006 - 06/04/2006
06/04/2006 - 06/11/2006
06/11/2006 - 06/18/2006
06/18/2006 - 06/25/2006
06/25/2006 - 07/02/2006
07/02/2006 - 07/09/2006
07/09/2006 - 07/16/2006
07/16/2006 - 07/23/2006
07/23/2006 - 07/30/2006
07/30/2006 - 08/06/2006
08/06/2006 - 08/13/2006
08/13/2006 - 08/20/2006
08/20/2006 - 08/27/2006
08/27/2006 - 09/03/2006
09/03/2006 - 09/10/2006
09/10/2006 - 09/17/2006
09/17/2006 - 09/24/2006
09/24/2006 - 10/01/2006
10/01/2006 - 10/08/2006
10/08/2006 - 10/15/2006
10/15/2006 - 10/22/2006
10/22/2006 - 10/29/2006
10/29/2006 - 11/05/2006
11/05/2006 - 11/12/2006
11/12/2006 - 11/19/2006
11/19/2006 - 11/26/2006
11/26/2006 - 12/03/2006
12/03/2006 - 12/10/2006
12/10/2006 - 12/17/2006
12/17/2006 - 12/24/2006
12/24/2006 - 12/31/2006
12/31/2006 - 01/07/2007
01/07/2007 - 01/14/2007
01/14/2007 - 01/21/2007
01/21/2007 - 01/28/2007
01/28/2007 - 02/04/2007
02/04/2007 - 02/11/2007
02/11/2007 - 02/18/2007
02/18/2007 - 02/25/2007
03/25/2007 - 04/01/2007
04/01/2007 - 04/08/2007
08/05/2007 - 08/12/2007
08/26/2007 - 09/02/2007
11/18/2007 - 11/25/2007
12/09/2007 - 12/16/2007
12/21/2008 - 12/28/2008
01/04/2009 - 01/11/2009
07/26/2009 - 08/02/2009