LOOSE ENDS

Far too much election-time talk is sheer nonsense.

Have you noticed how often many politicians have been setting forth detailed condemnations of existing or proposed programs or procedure without having anything better which might be used to replace it to advantage?

If, as a builder, you plan to kick out a supporting wall or post, you will want to be certain you have something sturdy and strong to replace it, or you risk the entire structure falling down on your head.

Things just don't work the way some simplistic-minded people seem to think they do. So, when a politician paints graphic scene from a world that does not exist they can be deeply flawed. If he wants a complete withdrawal of armed forces from a specific area, he must also set forth how he plans to maintain the stability of that area once the troops are withdrawn. To simply pull them out is not enough. We owe that much to ourselves and to those people dependent on our troops being there. The suddenly withdraw supporting funding causes the same sort of misery. Withdrawn, maintenance funds handicap work-in-progress; harm everyone concerned and unless something is put is place of that withdrawn we have been totally remiss in our obligations.

“I will do thus and so...”is a common statement these days and nights being said by some who have not the slightest idea what they might actually be able to do, if elected , only that they will do away with that which now exists. What he sometimes means is that the name of the project will be changed and the plans continued with different persons in charge. Few individuals can come up with panacea recipes to replace detailed projects planned and being executed by many able and qualified people working together. Yet far too many make promises which are know at the time to be unlikely, if not impossible are being blatantly set forth. I have not heard any candidate say so, as yet, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to hear someone proclaim:”Elect me in November. Have our boys and girls home by Christmas!.”

Many voters would hear such a promise and think it made reference to our military “boys and girls”. Unused thus far, such a gross statement would be rebut ed, I hope. The same sort of double meaning used far too often in other area of other concern. Take this matter, for instance, of Presidents supposedly “creating new jobs” Healthy economies create new job opportunities – not Presidents from any political party.



Today, on the last day of September, we are about five weeks away from that day we will walk into the narrow confines of a voting booth and be there all alone to register our choice of the man we hope will be the leader of our nation for the next four years. I heard two TV newsmen exchanging views this morning and they seemed concerned about a growing sense of apathy among many of us. They hoped tonight's initial debate between Kerry and Bush in Miami would engender some enthusiasm to see us go the end of this race.

Guilty or not guilty? I've heard so many average persons say
“I'll be so glad when all this election stuff is over and done with!”

A.L.M. September 30. 2004 [c562wds]

 
HURRY!

What's the big rush?

I find it is now extended to include our leisure time, so we can hurry it all up and get back to work.

One theme park has announced it was building an new, scarier and more daring ride for the youngsters of both body and mind, to quake over. Another park let it b e know that is what they were doing and they are now hurrying construction to see who can be the first to build the fastest, highest, deepest and, loudest “roller coaster” of 'em all!

Now, there's a fine old term which has become antique almost beyond recognition: “roller coaster”. It used to mean a park or carnival ride which looked like the frame work for a building without the building; spread out in a bent line around several acres of land to make the riders think they had been somewhere. You could see the framework sticking up in the air a good hundred yards before you came to the amusement,but today's colossal scaffolding rigs form a skyline all their own from miles away from the park.
Lit up o at night they look like strung out spider webs to catch light planes, and low-flying condors, and other birds on their way to the amazing global wetlands which are said to be disappearing at rate equal to that of the authentic, genuine roller coaster.

The new rides will zip you off to a good start -up to 128 MPH in the first 3.5 seconds. After your stomach catches up with you, you realize you are climbing upward at a ninety degree angle and when you get to the top you actually be;live your are 456 feet above those milling throngs of ant-like creatures moving about in the park below. You spiral downward toward them, doing some flips ,turns, twists, curves, pretzel-like contortions along the way.

At the moment, during construction, the other ride promises to drop you off 129-foot hill to produce a feeling of weightlessness They creep along at a mere 120 mph, and go only to 420 feet up. The one installation is in New Jersey the other Ohio so if we check on relative sea levels between Garden State and Buckeye State terrain they can probably claim to be about the same.


When, I wonder, is all of this roller rampage going to come to a screeching halt? Will it – ever?

Oh, by the hurried way, the total travel time on one of the rides, I forget which one, is fifty-five seconds - from start to finish!

We gotta cut down on that total time so we can hurry more people through the procedure.

We had best send somebody a note on that point. Mark it “URGENT!” and hand-write across it with a with a red marker :“ASAP!”

A. L. M. September 28, 2004 [c480wds]

 
BIG WIND

The bay of Biscayne area of Florida is in for yet another blow this week. It, too, as with other recent big wind visitors, is unpredictable insofar as the direction it might take at any given moment.

It has a name. It is called the "First". It is part of a series of four planned "Debates" between contending forces of the present Presidential elections.
As number one in the series, experience shows it will at attract a far larger audience - some have said up to 50-million viewers – than those which will follow. The first one always does better and I think it might be because because so many viewers are disappointed in what they see and hear. Somehow the term "debate" doesn't quite encompass the far narrower concept of what we actually see and hear.

It is quite true that we see the two contending candidates on stage and hear one berate the other or his policies or lack of them. We hear opposite views expressed pretty much along the same lines as we have been listening to for weeks and months, but other than the fact that they are politically opposites, we see very little difference between them. Each of them is certainly qualified to be there or they would not have gotten this far. This year the competition has an unusual feature in the fact that both President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry had the same debate teacher at Yale University years ago. It would be interesting to know how that teacher or debate coach graded the two during their student years. It is still not too late for some deep-digging member of the media to evoke whatever statutes are presently required to gain access to Yale U. files and to come up with the grades students Bush and Kerry merited in the debates they did in college. Whatever it was will, no doubt, become evident when the two meet again on Thursday evening in Miami. Each of them seems to be more capable of doing a:debate ate: tha we have had in the Past. So this may well be a redeeming bout and give some impetus to the ones which will follow.

I hope so. We need more of this “Lincoln-Douglas” sort of political clarification of public affairs. If we look at the massive TV audience as being the “Judge” we will see how these two contenders do this time. I think the success or failure of the debates this year will determine if they are to be continued as a culmination package for our already too long campaign season.

Watch it. Be one of the prodigious panel of Judges. Many reports will say : “they both won.” We need more straightforward honesty if we are to profit from such meetings. One still has to decide if his favorite is a talker or a doer.

Decide that critical point and vote in November.

A.L.M. September 27, 2004 [c499wds]

 
ON HOLD

There are quite a few subjects which are going to remain “on hold” until the presidential election is completed.

It is unfortunate, but that is the way it works. Both major political parties avoid stirring up anything which might be misunderstood or purposely twisted to bring about their ruin.

As an example and of prime importance as soon as we feel we can discuss it safely, is the obvious fact that American forces in Iraq are going to have to be expanded, it is becoming increasingly evident that we are going to have to re-establish some form of military draft to expand our armed strength. We cannot continue to “draft” men and women from the National Guard. It is limited and, unfortunately, recruiting has dwindled due to the continued and, in some cases repeated calls to active service .We will have to be content with talk about shorter tours of duty, perhaps. Many feel we have mis-used the National Guard in recent years, anyway. There was time when regular army personnel looked upon the National Guard as a way for some men to avoid being drafted, and they sometimes scoffed at it as a haven for son's of rich men. Certainly some individuals whom I have known joined the National Guard limited service programs to avoid induction. The National Guard, in most cases, was thought of as being a civil defense force . They have been “called out” by several presidents to prevent civil disturbances - strikes, segregation and disasters -natural and otherwise. An echo of this past estimate of the National Guard have almost surfaced in criticism of George W. Bush having served in the Guard. Each time it has been mentioned it has been quelled because to hold that body up to any ridicule which now constitutes the backbone of our armed forces could be a costly thing on Election Day.

Don't expect to hear abut any meaningful changes in our foreign trade problem, either - trade deficits and a continued flow of American jobs and manufacturing facilities to overseas locations. That, too, is on hold until after election day when, it is hoped, we can return to the relatively calm land of ordinary living.. I find it interesting that we can become a people so markedly divided in so many vocative ways can ways can, still find it possible to seek and actually find an amazing sense of peace and unity.

The federal budget and the continued existence of Social Security programs and Medicare will be back on the desk for changes without all the pseudo-dramatic tenseness, frantic warnings of imminent dissolution and bankruptcy and such colorations so artfully applied in pre-vote days, weeks and months. I ,for one, will be glad to witness the return of normal times so we can get on with our lives. We will, no doubt, look back upon this particular presidential race as have been the one when we had an unusual series of hurricanes which struck Florida, in particular, and, we hope, blew away all evidence of chads and uncounted ballots so noticeable during the last election. We won't hear much about that subject either until the election decides - one way or another we hope, this time.

A.L.M. September 26, 2004 [c547wds]

 
FIRST ONE

More-and-more, it seems, no one can be said to have been “first” to make, do, say or think anything.

We often credit the wrong people with inventing the handy, convenient gadgetry we use so extensively today .It seems so unfair and there is an entire breed of do-gooders who are manning the barricades to do battle with anyone who champions anyone other than their favorite.

I know better but I still find myself thinking that Thomas Alva Edison invented the light bulb. Most people I know say Edison did it, but contending arguments from encyclopedia sources, patent office records, and chronic debunker's in the media crevices, contend that he only “improved” upon existing patents for making more usable light bulbs. Several fence-sitter,[peace-making accounts say it was a “simultaneous” invention – that Thomas Alva Edison, in America, and Joseph Wilson Swann, in England had, by some odd happenstance, both invented the light bulb at the same time in 1879, based on the discovery – perhaps from in the year 1811when Humphrey Day found that filaments empowered with electricity in a vacuum enclosure emitted light. The English Judicial Courts went along with that view when Edison started marketing a 16-watt bulb in 1879. He was forced to give half of his British operation to Swann and to market his bulbs as Swann-Edison products for years. One account I have read judges Edison to have been the inventor of the light bulb because he made one which was “practical” whereas the others provided light for a limited span of hours rather than days and nights, weeks and months.

Another “first” I have run into as I grow older is that which contends that Hannibal, from down Carthage way, when he decided to do Rome in took a herd of elephants across the Alps through Rome back door.

He did and he didn't, I find. It was not all that usual to use elephants in battle in area where the beast would be more-or-less at home but to try move any number of them through the snow packed may well have been a “first”.
The magazine illustrators and history buffs have had a field day showing the ponderous elephatanks bashing their way through snowbanks up to their tusks.

There are elephants and there are elephants and not all of them are Jumbos. Hannibal took along, it is thought, perhaps twenty small-breed North African elephants which measured, perhaps, seven feet bottom-to-top or vice versa ,which put them under even a modest Alpine snowdrift.. They did not take to the climate at all, and it is said he may have found his way to the River Po and more acceptable weather with, perhaps, half of the elephants he started with in Spain. He had cloth coverings made for them in the Alpine stay which was not a quick, over night trip. It is hard to say which appeared more pitiable ...the worn out elephants, debilitated and weary or the band of north African desert men in Hannibal's command. Either one, or both, in appearance, probably , at first sight, scared the togas off quite a few Roman citizens. I have never found any mention of Hannibal having ferried the left-over elephants back to Carthage when his Roman holiday had run its historical course.

I have wondered if bone-hunters today turn up some elephant pieces along Hannibal's trails from Spain into the edge of France, the Alpine heights and down the boot of old Italy, and wonder how they got there. Who, I wonder, to, who was first to do so? If not, there you chance to make the record books – digging up used elephant carcasses in the Alps. Be the first to do so.

A.L.M. September 25, 2004 [c629wds]

 
PEDESTAL PERSONS

All of us play favorites. Each of us, admit it or not, models himself or herself after someone who has been most influential the form of their way of life.

More likely than not, the model you use is a corporate blending you have build from associations with several persons who have crossed your path .No one person can be as perfect as that one we admire so completely.

That can be a vital point. So many of the choices of favorite people must be creative in the sense that they may come from any level of society – high or low, rich or poor, beautiful more-or-less and it can all be more of a cosmic presence of that special person in our life than an actual physical reality.

Such models as you chose may be held in secret if you wish. Their importance in our life need not be shouted from the rooftops or many public any way. Don't b e disturbed when you can't accept certain aspects of a person's life. Many sterling young men and women have successfully modeled their lives after those inventive, inquisitive and exploratory qualities of such men as Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Henry David Thoreau and others who, many will point out, lacked the gene of geniality and found it difficult, at times, to get along well with family, friends, and associates and competently in dealing effectively with common worldly cares an necessities.

Think it over. Who are your models?

I have mine . Do your have yours?

Two or three these people to be emulated will be, no doubt, prove to have been teachers in your early school years, ministers in your religious life, artists - musicians, painters, actors, for example - as well as masons building a temple; a plowman weaving patterns in tree-framed field of loam and clay; a new mother training her child in the best path. Far too often parents - mothers and fathers - and siblings as well, are overlooked.

Be aware of the danger your ideal ones becoming too much of an influence on your life. Try to keep from become a blinds follower of an ideal which does not exist. Try not to duplicate their lives. Be willing -even eager – to accept changes. If not you, too, may miss out on the very opportunity which kept your ideal person from being even more successful than he or she was.

You may insist that you have no such pattern, no such template upon which you conscious fashion much of your life, but you do none the less. There is always he distinct danger that anyone who relies on such hit-or-miss guidance will adhere to the wrong or destructive types of leadership with dismal results assured. Some are so self-satisfied they cannot bring themselves to accept the idea of anyone needing a mentor or guide.

Now, take all of this one step ahead.

To whom are you, yourself, such an ideal? What young boys or girls are looking at the way you are living and planning their lives to fit the pattern you are showing them.?

That's a great responsibility.

A.L.M. September 24, 2004 [c534wds]

 
APPLE BARREL EFFECT

We have heard a great deal in the last years or so-much of it not to well-informed - about a place called Chechnya. In all truth, which can also found to be rare at many informational stocks these days, we didn't have the slightest idea where Chechnya was, other than the apparent fact that it must be a part of Russia – and an unhappy part thereof, as well.

It was a perfectly natural thing for us to go along with President Vladimir Putin and others who spoke of the “separatists”. We learned they have been that for centuries. The local tribes - who live by an ancient code of tribal association unknown at any other place in the world. The first Czar's molested them and by agreeing to be part of Russia, in theory, they were left alone – ignored. Native Chechnya patriots have long conducted a steady campaign of separation from Russia, including the Soviet Union, seeking a separate national existence. When what is now called Russia was set apart from the, Chechen patriots thought it only right that Chechnya be set apart from Russia. It didn't happen that way, of course. The Kremlin and Interior Ministry insisted the “separatists” be brought under control.

President Putin no longer speaks of them as “Separatists” as he used to do. He has, almost as if joining in on a fashion of our day, suddenly being quoted calling them “Terrorists.”

We need to realize that President Putin was correct on both counts.

We have an old saying which illustrates what happens when a few rotten apples are placed in a barrel of perfectly good apples, and that is the case in Chechnya. Separatist bravado has changed to barbarity of the ancient type as Al Qaeda advisers have moved in to change the methods by which Chechen has been fighting for its freedom. Osama bin Laden listed Chechen resistance as being a vital portion of his global religious war. The movement has even adopted the Islamic extremism tactic of financing their activities by securing money through charity fund drives around the world.

The ancient Chechnya tradition has a particular type of revenge known as “adat,” which may, in some, strange manner, bring about a solution to this tragic series of wrong judgments.

Now, at least, Russia and the United States are fighting a common enemy

A.L.M. September 23, 2004 [c404wds]

 
AW, C'MON, NOW!

Speak up!

Express yourself

What do you expect to get done just sitting there doing nothing?

Help out! Do your part! Stop goofing off!

It is both amazing and disgusting to see that so many Americans - those qualified to vote -fail to do so. We're talking about well over one half of the eligible voters, not just a piddlin' few part-timers,too. Some get excited about a particular contest, perhaps, but neglect the elections which chose governors for our states, Congressmen and Senators to represent our area. Foreign statistics lovers have a field day pointing out how a few people actually elect the President of the nation which claims to be the world “leading” democracy. It can't be the “largest” because India has a greater population. It can have “quality” if it cannot brag about quantity, as long as sufficient citizens actually believe in what they pretend to admire and want and support its basic principles. The initial step in doing so is to exercise your right to vote in each and every election for which you eligible. That's the only way to bring forth the majority needed to fully express the desires of the people as a whole rather than just as small, sometimes fractional faction

Show that you care.

There will always be some “holdouts” who, for some, personal reason think it is not a good thing for them not to vote because the government the help
elect may become involved in something “evil;” and that makes them equally guilty and subject to eternal damnation. Yes, there may well be persons who refuse to vote for so-called religious. Others fail to do so because they have never learned to make up their minds anything important in their lives and have, chronically, left such decisions to others who run their lives for them.

I realize that most people reading this sort of thing do vote, but in all honesty, I realize that some of you have not registered and do not intend to vote in November. Here in Virginia the last date to do so is October 1st, I believe, but it may vary in different states. You can check that out and get started to taking your part in determining the way of this, our nation, and, perhaps much of the world.

Chronic non-voters, oddly enough, are very often quite forward in the audible and physical expression of “politic concerns.” They can and will harangue and march in protest against anything which they think they can argue is askew. Too often loud-mouths are activated non-voters. Listen carefully in the second week of November this year and see if you can pick 'em out.

A.L.M. September 22, 2004 [c456wds]

 
LETTERS - GOOD AND OTHERWISE

I wonder what Emily Post, Amy Vanderbilt any of the other manner-minded authorities of the past would say if they were plumped down ,without warning, into today's social events swirl?

I don't think they would be too much disturbed. We haven't changed that much and I find we still do a great many “polite things” we have always done. That which we continue to do wrong, and even try to do more - is largely in the area of trying to attract attention to ourselves as individuals or groups.

Everything we do today is far more visible that it used to be. Our means of communicating with each other has increased many times over and that which used to be considered to be private is now semi-public,or, at least, shared among more persons. The use of cellular phones and of the Internet's ability to send short sentiments swirling around the Earth in seconds - has modified letter writing to the point that it would not be recognized as being authentic by Emily, Amy or any such persons who made a good living writing book about the proper way of best composing a letter for whatever purpose. I do not think they would be dramatically opposed to much that in the mode right now. After all, in many ways, when you stop to think about their stance, it is obvious that they were, at that time, really the avant-garde in teaching radically new and different and improved ways of writing.

I can remember the type of letter writing which preceded their new method of how a proper letter should be writing, for whatever purpose, and there was nothing more deadly as to creativity and to the expansion of communicative potential.

Prior to the '30's, when their ideas were set forth in the our newspapers, magazines and books, and books, letters of all types -so-called “business” letter or others were a terror to receive. They favored letter writing which met a need rather than that which filled obligations to rules and which were often used as missiles in a combat showing off who had the most training in a formal school sense. The new concept was disturbing to many schooled in the old ways but the reformers proved to be amazingly alert to what people wanted. I have a strong feeling they would accept our view of the needs we face today to letter writing.

In truth, the art had almost disappeared.

But, it is back again. Much attention is being paid to the kids making use of so-called instant Messaging” on the computers. It attracts not only children but adults as well and they soon tire of the terse will exchanges of cryptic messages back and forth in staccato silliness; they try to something with more body. You will find instant writers are now writing longer messages to a few select associates. Furthermore, the computer provides instant access and more letters are being written than would have been done under the old methods. A half page of text exchanged several items weekly is far better that the long, two-pager we used to write once every month or two.

Style suffers, I must admit, and in that respect our panel of used authorities - Post and Vanderbilt - would be disturbed by the lack of style, by limited vocabulary, dependency, by some, on slang and abbreviations beyond comprehension. Emily Post, as I recall, came along early in the era and she was fading out, becoming a bit over worn, perhaps, when newcomer Amy Vanderbilt was gaining attentions in the magazines and on radio. The two of them covered a large number of years and they did so at a time when our language was undergoing shifts and changes at a fantastic rate.

Letter writing is reviving with the increased use of the personal computer, cell phone and other such gadgets which are in a phase of proliferation without precedent.

A.L.M. September 21, 2004 [c670wds]

 
LIGHTEN UP A BIT.

It is are relief during this election time, to hear the candidates lighten up a bit from and time-to-time and to see hear them say something not at all connected with the election issues or non-issues which have been beaten to a near-death state.

The welcome sound of something trivial or even silly is a welcome treat at such moments. Our overly long election routine is a good place to find boredom built in, so to speak and the speakers, too, come to such a point often.

I have been caught in situations, personally, when a good, dependable, story was needed to allow me time to think about what I really wanted to say. It is adaptable and can be told and re-told to audiences of all ages since it depend largely on your ability to handle two direction terms – the “ins”and the “outs”. You will find it to be amazingly flexible, too and the more your tell it the more you realize that it never gets the two word punch line by exactly the same route.

Here is the gist of the story but you are to work it out in your own way as you go along. You have to follow the lead of audience response and if you feel they can take another twist -.you add one ...perhaps another. Do not drag it out too long, however. The two word punch line can be dumped deftly at almost any place along the way.

Remember: two word -”in” and out” are your major concern.

“There was once a Mama Skunk who had two little boy skunks. One she had name “Out” and the other was called “In”. They were very well behaved as little skunks go, and she had very little trouble with them except when she sent them out to play. “Out” she would say, “go get your brother In and go out to play. I' ll get supper ready and when I want you to come in I will call out of the door. So the little skunks Out and In would go out to play until Mama Skunk called out of the kitchen door for them to come in. She would hold the door open and call out loudly” “ Out! In! It's time for you to come in. You've been out long enough Come in!” And, she was greeted by the sound of running skunk feet and in walked Out - alone. “

“ Where is your brother In, Out? In went out when you did but when you, Out came in I called out standing in the doorway calling.. You came in right away, but In must have stayed out there – and it is getting dark! How can that boy do that to me, his Mama!? It happens again and again! [REPEAT MAMA SKUNKS DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT AGAIN WITH A SENSE OF GROWING FRUSTRATION AND ANGER]...THEN....

“Out, honey, I hate to send you out again, Out, but could you go out; find In and bring him in. In has been out too long. He had better come in, Out . Go out and see if you can bring In in, In, please! See if you can find In as you always do Find Out and bring in In. I've looked everywhere out there but I can never find out where In is hiding out! Go out Out and bring In in. His supper's gettin' cold.

Out skunk went out and in a minute or so the big door opens and Out ushers In in and who goes right to his cool supper.

Mama thanked Out for bringing In in again. “You are a marvel, precious skunk son of mine! How do you do it? Are you gifted? Clairvoyant, perhaps?

“No, Mama I just go outside and take a deep breath. It's easy to find him, Mama. In stinks!”

A.L. M. September 20, 2004 [c661wds]

 
WORDS OF WAR

His native Mongolian name, we are told, was Tamer. In his youthful years, however,when he was struck in the knee by and arrant arrow he picked up and added designation as Timur-i lang, or something to that linguistic effect. That short-term nickname, which separated him from the usual run of Tamors, Timors and Timurs I suppose was, for a short time, the Tamer who limped when he walked. That tag ,logically, seems to have become and actual portion of his name in his ultimate time of fame, due, perhaps, to a rather loose habit of spelling things as they sounded in a time when grammar and lexicography were not deemed to be important in judging a man for what he really might be.

As Tamerlane,this crippled youth, mounted on his favorite horse, became the scourge of the entire generation in which he lived a man known to be fearless in all forms of danger, widely known and reverenced by men of might, brawn and dexterity throughout the known world of his time.

While others, without his stern will self-motivational powers, might have withdrawn from the fray entirely claiming to be, in all likelihood handicapped. Tamerlane is said to have sought out trouble where none seemed to exist. He dealt with it quickly, without mercy, ruthlessly, we say today,and went on to other things which, in his judgment had to be settled once and for all. His fame rested, so often, on his latest, cruelest accomplishment. There were no re-runs. His was a one-time onstage show and when he died in 1405 A.D. his empire disintegrated as well.

At this moment entering the 2lst century is and especially good time for us to review the actions of old Tam. He has also been called (quote)The Sword of Islam.(Unquote) He belonged to a Turkish Mongol clan which had accompanied the Mongol armies westward and settled in the Karshi Valley near Samarakand. He was born April 9, 1336, in what is today Uzbeckistan. The area was vast administrated ineptly by various strong men. Tamerlane associated himself with one of them and even after a crippling defeat gained complete control. He set himself up at Samarakand and began his conquest to the east and west. Never has and area be so devastated as were Syria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and other areas well known to us today. The so-called atrocities of the present war in Iraq and Afghanistan are petty little incidents compared to those purpertrated by Tamerlane - called The Great by many who admired him - and his deeds. A mention of several might suffice: At Sabzawar in Afghanistan, Tamerlane directed that a tower be constructed out of live men heaped on top of one another and cemented together with brick and mortar. At Isfahan he ordered a general massacre and used the heads of seventy thousand people be used to build a memorial minaret. Taking Baghdad in June 1401 the slaughter which followed was so severe that the dead were piled us as one hundred twenty towers overlooking the ruins of the city. He set off in August of 1404 to reconquer China which had only recently escaped from the previous Mongolian occupation.

Americans and Europeans had best glance at the many books written about Tamerlane to gain some perspectives of the nature of the enemy we face in our immediate future unless conditions change soon ...and radically so both here and
there.

The sword of Islam has been unsheathed.

It appears that leaders of the Tamerlane type are in charge and working to win while we are debating among ourselves if this is, as some insist, is, indeed another war between the world's two major faiths ...Islam and Christianity.

What have you decided?

A.L.M. September 19, 2004 [c635wds]

 
WONDER OF WONDERS

There has never been a time, I suppose, when Mankind did not look into the heavens above – especially at night - and say softly to himself: ”If I could come to know what makes all that work, I'd know all worth knowing!”

And, certainly ever since well before thew day when we first started counting time in B.C./ A.D. Terms, we have been constructing machines designed to help us learn how the galaxy functions. One of the earliest such gadgets is a small, many-wheeled, cogged and shafted creation powered by hand called the “Antikychera” - from its place of origin - the “Rhodes Calculator”.

Now a museum piece, it was in thought to have been part of the creative handiwork of a philosopher, mathematician and astronomer by the name of Posidonius. He lived on the island of Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean Sea south of Greece. In in 87 B.C.,or thereabouts, and played and active role in extending studies of the universe as it was then understood.

He mechanism, was made to duplicate the movements of the known planets and of the moon and was not intended for any additional purpose. We have to remember ,too, that on the island of Rhodes, at that time, the concept of the universe was quite primitive. They thought of the earth as a large solid afloat on a vast sea with and inverted bowl above in which the stars and the moon appeared at night. The mechanism was designed to duplicate those movements of the planets as then known to exist and that of the Moon.. An interesting question has arisen in more recent years raising the question as to the use of the machine.
It may well have been used more by those persons interesting in astrology rather than astronomy where a more exacting rule of accuracy might be sought. Such and assumption may well be correct, but I find that it is difficult to tell one from the other during those formative years. Those who advance the astrology emphasis suggest that, of the two, astrology may we well have been the most profitable side of the fence of which and enterprising inventor type individual might locate himself. And investment in such a machine, hence, which would help their business and expense of r&d could, in time, be met and financial disaster averted, or, at least, delayed for a time.

The now rusted remains of the original machine have been duplicated in every detail and the replica tells us the invention did, indeed, “work”. Much depended, however,on the proper application of hand power by means of a level arrangement. Many people ,today, refer to it as “the forerunner of today's computers” which is stretching it a bit because it merely traced out the paths of the Moon and planets and left you sitting there no wiser than your were before you started turning the power handle. It reminds us, perhaps, that there are gadgets on the market today which do about the same for us. They swerve valuable purpose, none the less The man or men, who made that first antikychera machine, dreamed dreams far beyond their ability to make a machine which would be of genuine help, but they were delving into the potential. We have in our human minds the solution to life's most pressing problems, if we but work to seek them out.

What is your dream? It may not concern the world of philosophy,
economics, manufacturing or commerce but it can be so fashioned that other men and women can make it work to their advantage.

Dare to think and plan beyond your ability to perform that which now seems as if it would be a miracle.

A.L.M. September 23, 2004 [c636wds]

 
WHO DONE IT?

This season's more than plentiful supply of serious hurricanes and associated tornadoes along the southeast coast of the United States make us aware of the fact that climatic changes are always afoot and that any quirk in their usual patterns may be a minor part of a major, much more profound change in climate which could re mold our civilization radically. We are all a part of such changes, know it or not.

I find it difficult to believe that a scant five thousands year ago, dependng on who's clocks and calenders we use, the area in which I now live was covered with layers of ice. If pale-Indian men lived in this area at all, they would have had a rugged time of it. For foods they would have hunted the mammoth, the bison, a giant sloth and tapir. Judging by what tools and weapons men of that time must have been a forced vegetarian. Tradition, however, holds that early man did indeed “hunt”for food. He was able to kill large animals by his skill and craftiness; by being able to deceive animals and to lure them into traps or to stampede herds of them over the edge of high cliffs and the, to butcher to his liking those which were killed in the fall. The mammoth, the bison must have been favorites. This is commonly described method of hunting in primitive times. The giant sloth was much larger than the creature found today. It was not carnivorous, even docile and easily killed and could, in a fully grown example, yield about eighteen hundred pounds of edible meat. That may explain, in part, why both the giant sloth and the tapir seemed to have died out. Were they killed out by man in his search for sustenance?

As the climate warmed, the ice coverings melted away and ,in due time, the coast lands were modified to new lines. A glance at the underseas edge of our continent will how you a “shelf” all along the seaboard which edged the seas in former times.. That changed when the continental ice coverings melted and we should remember today that we still have The Arctic and the entire continent of Antarctica, plus Greenland, and numerous mountain crests all around the world yet to melt. That water, augmented by violently increased amounts of rainfall in revitalized area could increase the physical size of our seas and oceans so that a new, inland shoreline would be developed. We could, you see, here in Virginia replace Norfolk with Richmond, or, with additional water the coastline may recede to quite near the Blue Ridge Mountains is some areas.

Unlikely? True, but possible. It even become probable in the mind of many when we experience such destructive power of wind and water has been evident in the storms which have hit the eastern coast in recent weeks.

Another hurricane is on the way this morning, forming even now in the South Atlantic and headed for the recently hard-hit areas once again. When it hits, and if you are in it, think about all of this for a moment. Are you a small part of something really big?

Each storm is a harsh reminder of our situation. Our tenure is temporary and short.

A.L.M. September 15. 2004 [c555wds]

 
NEW AND USEFUL?

Isn't it interesting how Nature releases new bits and pieces of information which we might be of use to us once we realize how they fit into the overall scheme of existing things? Over the centuries Man has adapted various plants, minerals, and substances of various kinds to make his life more pleasant, safer or longer.

Some such items, have come from the most unlikely places, too. Take one of the latest such finds have heard about, are found in, of all places, tiny clumps of strange microbes that have the remarkable ability to renew themselves completely in a matter of minutes after their DNA has been destroyed by every standard known to be harmful – intense, continued radiation, extreme dryness for protracted periods, and even exposure to the vacuum of space. These tiny microbes live although saturated by the intensely salty water of the Dead Sea - ten times as salty as other sea waters - seeping into their structures and breaking the body apart. Just how these tiny microbes - only five microns in length - develop the power to restore their shattered DNA structure is unknown, of course. They can restore their DNA pattern which has been broken, destroyed, mutated and accomplish that impossible feted in a matter of a few minutes.

Very few people, realizing that can be done, can avoid see in how important such a power could to mankind when disease takes control of the human body and, when human DNA structures are broke or endangered wouldn't it be wise to have something of that nature in our little bag of trick used to confute the ravages of disease among us.

The microbe has a suitable name . It is called “halo” with tech-sounding “bacterium”.Major work is being done to find the uses of this piece of knowledge at the University of Maryland where a research group is active in seeking out detailed uses of the Halo microbes abilities and the force which they provide for us to restore DNA. It is even being considered that, since Mars seems to have once had salty pools, it might also have halomicrobes in such areas to this day. Now that the initial discovery has been made and how it is to be used. True enough the experimental labs at our leading universities an other such establishments have taken on the battle for now, but you are a potential worker in the same field by setting forth forth your ideas are just as important as those of the experts.

Think about it. If DNA structures, when damaged, could be repaired, how would that influence the world. The tool with which we might work are found in plants and animals and plants and this discovery is and important one and it comes as a direct challenge to scientists and microbiologists, in particular - those of the present, and even more so, of the future. The humble halo microbe, found - as far as we know - only in the Dead Sea - a most inhospitable environment - offers a new chance for chance for a young, fearlessly alert, aggressive and venture-minded young man or woman to best the evils of disease and to bring to reality a better world for all of us.

A.L.M. September 16, 2004 [c557wds]

 
A WOMAN'S PLACE

It has not been too long ago since the Japanese denied a formal education to women.

They were not alone in such a crime against society. Other nations did the same thing and there are few who still continue to do so. We, in various ways, seek to oppose such a view as an infraction of an individual's basic human rights, and it is important that we understand the background of it all, be aware of its weaknesses and to seek to replace it.

The case of Murasaki Shikibu, the greatest of all Japanese novelists is certainly a prime example of what can take place if female education is given freely - surreptitiously - some may question if she came to be the “Greatest Novelist of Japan” but there are many who ascribe even greater fame to her. The extol her as a rare Japanese girl who's father permitted her to sit quietly by while her brother was being instructed in the Chinese classics and culture. She is said to have assisted her sibling in difficult translation passages when needed. Murasaki is described as being the greatest Japanese writer of all time. She was, in effect, at the least, the William Shakespeare of Japan. She was the main chronicler of the Heian Period from about 794 to 1192 A.D.

Murasaki. While quite young, started writing the novel titled 'The Tale of Genji”. It details the most intimate history of the political life of the Heian period. When completed, the book ran to a total of around six-hundred thousand words by modern typography counts.”The Tale of Genji “ features well over four hundred active characters who are named and identified, plus as many others who serve as “the populace”. It strikes the present day person, to be as if Rawlings had lumped all of Harry Potter's adventures into one, forever book or Will Shakespeare had left us one wide wad of drama. Murasaki set out to write the political history of her time and she did a full some job of it. She wrote at a time when Chinese influence, so long dominant , was disappearing from Japan and they need to be more aware of their true governmental status.

For centuries the Chinese language was used in Japan for all governmental documents and records. This was continued for many years to enable Japanese political leader to keep the people ignorant of true affairs of state. For woman such as Murasaki Shikibu to develop an expertize in Chinese was a real door opener. The very title of the work and limits it in a way, yet expands it in another. The word refers to someone of first generation of royal blood who has been declared unfit to be named as ruler. .

Japan, as that time, was polygamous nation so there is plenty of what has been termed as “sexual politics” in the novel. It uncovers all human passions and revels in domestic switcharoos unequaled. Mel Gibson will probably make it in to a longer- than-ever movie any year now.

A.L.M. September 13, 2004 [c520wds]

 
TOAD TALK

A youngsters, we never touched toads. They gave you warts.

Everybody “knew” that – adults included – so it wasn't a difficult thing to do since adults didn't touch them either. That made it easier for young girls and boys to refrain from taking the ugly little brownish-gray creatures in hand. However, since adults tended to thing and speak of toads as being ugly, nasty, filthy and repulsive so boys and girls, out of simply curiosity, seemed to be attracted to toads even more
.
We respected the frog and toads as gallant bug scavengers and, probably attributed more garden protection to them than they really deserved, but the main stage of development which fascinated us was the “tadpole”stage. That was the few days in which the egg was developing the general shape of small fish minnow-like, lithe and lively but with a long tail which made it, to us, at least, more of a “fish” than a frog. What kid, reared of a farm or near a gently flowing unspoiled creek, has not gathered in shoals of tadpoles and watched them gyrate and spill over each other in the still water? Small inlets of curbed creek water teemed with tadpoles. We used to dam up little sections of the streams edge and herd tadpoles into the inlet we created. A thin weed with a seed growth at the end would lure them, if deftly handled. It took a lot of silence and patience which most of us did not have in abundance, so we did a lot of plain old dipping to get our stock.
The frog stays in the tadpole stage for about twelves days or so, and kid interest did not always last that long, so we never really found out, for sure, which ones matured to be leggy jumping frogs or which ones were stub-legged walkers – toads. True frogs would have we-looking skins and like damp, cool living places; true toads would have dry-looking, warty surfaced skin coverings, so we could not have become experts on many of them regardless of our attention to them. Each, at birth had tiny gills and in the ten-twelve day tad period, the skin gradually grew over that area to hide them completely. They became amphibia and returned to the water only to breed. They stayed nearby water as a rule but could leave such areas for extended periods of time without suffering ill effects.

Some people actually raise toads as a hobby. You find their eggs hanging on water plants like littles strings of black-eyed pearls. True Frogs lay their eggs in batches or clumps. Pine tree needles are toxic to young toads, too, so be careful where you try raise them.You must have fresh water. There are exotic styles among toads, too.: Colorful Cane Toads in South America weighing in , commonly, at four pounds each.

Which was it, I'm wondering, that the young girl had to kiss in the fable to bring forth her Prince Charming?

A.L.M. September 14, 2004 [c509wds]

 
HAPPY TIMES!

It is quite evident to me as I read my favorite newspapers and magazines that the publishing tangent of our social order day does not subscribe to the much quoted maxim which decrees one “cannot buy happiness.”

Our entire social order would crumble into chaotic confusion if we actually believed in, and acted upon, such a sentiment. I think we get around it all by pretending that all the blessings we have as normal part of our daily life is just being supplemented, enhanced, enlarged, made more perfect - not being replaced. We are adding to our happiness, rather than purchasing a new stock. The means, then, that we are worthy of special commendation for being such good stewards of that which we already have and that we have been taking excellent care of it seeking ever to increase it's meaning in our lives and make life more complete and enjoyable for ourselves and those around us. Who could possibly accuse us of attempting to buy happiness? We are extending it's powers to be a worthy adjunct to our existence.

Your can buy diversion, the advertisements tells me, what may help shake off any burdens of doubt we may have about our lives and guide us into ofter unseen paths of contentment. That advertised economy cruise to Cancun, for instance – six wonderful days and about as many nights are typical of such enhancements of the already good life we enjoy, otherwise we could even think of such a Mexican vacation much less finance it. The ads in the glossy – inked to the very edge of each magazine or foldout – and the chopped-up sequence of tantalizing three-second suggestions which keep the viewer's busy visually while they are being firmly sold verbally on having whichever pictorial bait caught their fancy best. You, too, can enhance your good life.

Another methods of improving outward qualities of happiness is for you to learn the art of self-effacement. Make a concerned effort to think more of other people and, thus, less of yourself and your needs. I feel this compulsion strongly every time, for instance, I visit the Veteran's Hospital in our area. There I see people in far more need than I have ever been. Walk among them; talk with them and get a new view of loneliness and poverty ...the “minus values”of our culture.

Other less on how to improve the happiness quota in our lives is to watch small children at play, amongst themselves and unsupervised by by adults. Just yesterday on the cul-de-sac pavement outside my window I watched a very small boy teach himself to use a skateboard. Two other boys, older were “skating” back and forth and all around him. He had trouble holding his skateboard up in front of him where it was taller than he,and if he tried to step on it,as the older boys did, it skidded out from under his foot foot. At one point he saw the other "bellywhopping" down the slight incline in the road. He tried that and lacked a running start or a means of propulsion.,When he saw the others sit on their skateboards and push along with their feet, he tried that. The first attemptlanded him on his rear end because he too far back on the board. He slid forward and pedaled with his feet his feet and went down the hill laughing with the others. He did it again and again and here has never been a more perfect picture of happiness in one little boy. Watch other being happy. Learn. Emulate. That's a way of gaining new happiness.

One more happiness treatment comes to mind, much akin to the skateboard example. If you can find films videotapes, scripts of the comedy works of comedians Jack Benny, Red Skelton and Fred Allen you will have in hand an all time masterwork treatment of “how to” enjoy life. They all three depended heavily on self-effacement. Jack Benny would often built up complicated situations in which others in his cast were going to be in real trouble. He had it all rigged, however, so that when that moment of crisis hit – it all fell, comically, on him. That famous “look” of his told the entire story and evoked pity and laughter in his audiences.

Red Skelton did the same thing in shorter versions. He often tired to emulate someone and it usually ended in a super-pratfall such as only Skelton would dare undertake. Most of the time he escaped injury.

Fred Allen, much more of a writer, used it constantly in depicting the people who lived such fun-filled lives in his “Allen's Alley” feature on radio.

I suppose it still holds true that you “can't buy happiness”. Why buy it when you can borrow it so easily from other happy people? Ever more important is the fact that you can barter your happiness for that of as it evolves from your being genuine, real, earnest and fair-minded in all that you think, say or do.

A.L.M. September 13, 2004 [c849wds]

 
FIFTEEN SECONDS OF FAME

Andy Warhol, who created attention-demanding art with a can of soup, long ago set the per person quota of fame at fifteen minutes. I think his estimate is about right, too. Fame is said to be “fickle” but I feel it is more stable than the public perception of those things deserving the verbal designation “famous”. We would have far more famous individuals if we had outward, spoken respect for the good things many people do without receiving any recognition.

True fame comes to the individual does a good thing for another person and both know it. But it never lasts more than fifteen seconds. I had the special, strange sensation his week the first time I heard the song of mine sung by a group dramatizing the actual building of the stone church in which we continue to worship over two hundred and sixty five years later. They seemed to be enjoying doing so, as were the six or so children accompanying the pipe organ and singers with a rhythmic sound pattern tapping stone together emulating primitive builders in the act of building a stone church structure. I literally tingled in my deepest being for a time hearing that unusual sound added - and , then, the sensation was a gone.

In 1970 I wrote the book for full-sized musical comedy and a local high school produced it and performed to capacity audiences for six nights and a Saturday afternoon children's performance. On opening night, when the kettle drums rolled and the curtain seemed to shiver a bit in anticipation with the first notes of the overture – the fame sensation hit me and lingered. That, too, lasted perhaps fifteen seconds or so.. And, since I was playing string base in the pit orchestra, I quickly returned to the work at hand we had a successful show. Fame was mine when I hear that overture setting for three songs which had been a part of me one time, and were, at that moment, translated to other lives.

Few people lay claim to notoriety, logically, yet I think we all have such moments in our lives. Mine was quit vivid and memorable. A short story I have written was published by a college magazine and illustrated with an arty drawing of a nude female. The major newsstand taped a dozen copies of the magazine open to story on the street-side window, the edition of the magazine was banned in at least three women's colleges, and finally, a local anonymous gossip columnist absolved me of poor taste but questioned the judgment of the magazine; editors in choosing the illustration as being a bit excessive. During that time, I sensed that phase of fame known as notoriety, and found it to be, in all honesty about the comparison.

Another incident in my life which has accorded me such a sensation.; made me feel worth. I was in attendance at a church gathering in which adults were being examined concerning becoming church officials. Each of the young people before the examiners outlined his or her religious experience I was surprised when one young man concluded his remarks by saying that he was where he was in life because of attending Sunday School for ;taught by a man who is in this room." rooms! He called my name and came over to shake my hand and thank me public ally. That got to me - way down.

I have experienced “fame” of a more rustic or informal kind when I have romped with grandchildren or other kids of no relative connection ...playing with them rather than just cavorting in their midst; not just among them but trying to feel what children feel among their own competitive, fame-seeking peers. While playing guitar, piano or the old melodian, to back their efforts, I have shared fame with such tiny singers who felt they had reached perfection as their song completed itself and pleased parents and grandparents.

Such shared fame is the very best, I think.

A.L.M. September 12, 2004 [c680wds]

 
RAIL-SPLITER HERO

When I think of our great president Abraham Lincoln ...Number 16, was a he not?.. I, normally, think first of the image which depicted him, not as a tall, rather dour stove-pipe hatted, fully-bearded person, but as the robust, youthfully masculine and dynamic rail-splitter as shown in the John Leon Gerome Ferris' painting bearing that destructive title -”The Rail Splitter”.

I wonder how many other youngsters see Lincoln in that active role rather than as the oh-so-serious, heavily bearded oldster he became. He has dignity in either role and his eyes hold a strange, haunting hint of compassion.. It is there in either pose, of course, and those who look at the pictures come to sense an amazing of compassion and understanding in the man. It is in his eyes, or, could it be in tiny folds in his skin under the eyes toward the temple area which could well be the basic seed of a smile that is always ready to beam out to reflect inner good-will to all.

Another likeness of Abe startled me year ago, when one day in London when coming out of St. Margaret's Chapel just a few seeps from the main entrance to Westminster Abbey, I came, rather suddenly, upon a pedestaled statue of the older, bearded version of Abraham Lincoln sitting there in what happened to be a bright Brit sunlit afternoon. He seemed to be looking a bit up and away at the white clouds and blue sky and oblivious of the samplings of many nations of people passing by on either side. I think often of Abe being there in a land from which so much of our own heritage came. I have tried to make it a point to stop there a few minutes when I visit The City. I must look it up some time to find which Lord Mayor of London granted him permission the stay in that specific area.

I suppose we could say that the picture we have of Abraham Lincoln comes to us in the form of a “double feature” presentation: young and old, formative and mature, happy and sad, youth and old-enough to know better - that sort of mish-mash. I have read what people who know about arty things who insist they see in Lincoln, the rail-splitter and young man who, taking time to wipe genuine sweat from his brown with red bandanna handkerchief if :doubtless dreaming of great deeds” he must yet do, even as he pauses to rest his brown. One of those art-experts sees symbolism in the large size log Lincoln had chosen to work with saying he was a young man who was unafraid of hard work.

I have geographical ties to Abe. His immediate forebears lived just a few miles north of my present home here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia near two small villages a-growin' called Linville and Edom. We are all located alongside the celebrated Indian Trail which came to be called, The Great Road and .more recently, U.S. Route #11 now paralleled, more or less, by Interstate #81. Depending on which way you were going -either migrating to the west territories or returning from there with produce from the wilderness to eastern tern markets, it known as “The Knoxville Road “ for those trekking westward, or, “The Philadelphia Road (or Baltimore)if you were header northeast.

The Lincolns , who had worked to build quite a spread here, decided to go the Kentucky,Tenneesee, and such like places where even greater opportunities beckoned. The Lincoln men and women must have like hard work and vigorous, hard-scrabble living. Had they stayed here Abe Lincoln may well have been a native Virginian. I don't know that any painter has ever captured on canvas the deep agony which his rugged featured mirrored a fed minutes to the midnight deadline for his signature taking away one-half of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I think I prefer the “older” versions such as that in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. It 's nice to know about the younger buck qualities of the tall, ruggedly handsome calmly dignified man. As with the heavy, outsize log in the Ferris painting - he was for all this life called to solve big problems others had set for him to do. His big task - well done - was to maintain our nation as one against serious divisions and to have the courage others seemed to have lacked to officially free slaves to be equal citizens.

A.L.M. September 11, 2004 [c758wds]

 
DIP DOINGS

Ever and always here is, it seems, we find more excuses enabling us to avoid making use of established diplomatic principles in attempting to find solutions for our many international problems.

Political pressures narrow the perspective too much, and the problems take on escapist and make-do qualities which delude those undertaking negotiations for either , or both, sides. Good diplomacy transcends political cant.

We now have the capability of making use of these basic principles once more. In recent years their use has been out of fashion and inhibited by various points of non-alignment between our Executive and State Departments, but Secretary of State Colin Powell is , obviously, moving into new and promising areas of diplomacy which full accord of the Presidential office and staff.

This is a refreshing . Once more the channel through which many feel we might, at last, seek that way to peace and updated understandings which have long eluded us is open.. Capable individuals who have held the main position at “State”but have not always been accorded freedom needed to fashion agreements, to make concessions or adjustments to engender hopes of lasting peace.

This past week we have heard a well-oriented, sensitive and sensible report by Secretary of State Colin Powell concerning the pitiable situation in the Sudan. That which happens far away in Africa's Khartoum is among our vital concerns in spite of the fact that it is, at the moment, overshadowed and upstaged by our war against terrorism in other areas. Those who find it politically difficult, o support fully our present war situation, might well expend some of their protesting energies and funds by earnestly doing what they can to relive the needs of men, women and children suffering terror in the Sudan; genocide, murder and organized rape of wealth and sustenance supplies.

Secretary Powell has set forth the requirements for such service andit remains for resposive individuals and groups here at home to respond to the need insofar as they find it possible. Now that we have a man of such sterling character and purpose at the head of our State Department, we can, once again that area of peacemaking in which diplomacy is the “big stick” rather than force. The Secretary faces a battle on The Hill because there are still liberal lovers of power by purchase up there, well placed, and trying, at every turn, to control such situations to their own political advantage here at home.

We, as a nation, need to earnestly seek to try to pay more attention to the diplomatic resurgence which seems to be underway. All war are settled,
eventually by diplomacy, which is what “peace conferences” are all about when they are, at last, called.

A..L.M. September 11, 2004 [c463wds]

 
TIED DOWN

When you are required to wear an oxygen tube to supply or augment your need, you will learn what it means to be restricted – many would say “like a dog on a leash.”

There is one army experience I can equate with the feeling which crept over and through me the first time I was required to breath through a gas mask in a gas-filled chamber. Both actions, you see, were for my ultimate good. They each had some element of choice, I suppose, but one would be foolish to refuse to try them as potential pathways to desired physical ease and very existence.

No hurry, you say. That will never happen to me. I used to say that. A hard-talking man wearing three strips of authority on his uniform sleeve told me to enter the gas chamber, so I did it. Decades later, a man a wearing white coat prescribed a regular supply of adequate oxygen. I agreed.

You quickly learn to modify your life style to suit your capabilities.

Much of the change which will take place depends on the nature of your handicap. Mine involves the use of wheel chair for more involved or extended mobility requirements. That means, in transit, I can make use of a seven-pound tank which is attached to the back of the chair. Among improvement in that area: my tank exudes oxygen only on demand from my breathing. A supply lasts longer for new economy. My in-house installation consists of a unit which “makes oxygen” - don't ask me how, but it does – and that is connected to me by small, plastic tubing line -a twenty- five foot length plus a seven foot length which, with the production unit gives me a travel range to suit my daily work routine. The tubing will be a headache for some . It has built-in tendency to tangle and to catch on the oddest little projections. If you have a cat or dog it can drive them wacko with movement from no apparent cause. Some like to chew them.

Don't-do's include. Don't place your oxygen production unit under the heat activated sprinkler system thing. Ours went off in the middle of the night and the system is connected so every unit in the entire house was set a-dinging!
A second don't. When you move the unit away from the alarm, don't set in the next room just around the corner near the thermostat on the wall., or your air-conditioning system will run day and night and day and night and day and - so on!

I'm still working on finding something to keep my ears from getting sore. They have little pads and big, pencil-sized, cottony pads to tape around tubing but they move up and down, knot-up, slide and tear. They don't seem to like being there any more than we do.

On the whole, however, it's a good life ...an extension of what you have found to have been good for you in the past. Cheer up. Your later life is largely what you choose to make it.

A.L.M. September 10, 2004 [c523wds]

 
FRIENDS, HUH!

Who are our international friends?

Speaking with the name of the government, can we, in view
of recent revelations and vague memories of other such infractions of common rules of conduct, how can we call some nations our “allies”in our present war against terrorism?

The subject surfaces somewhere in our media every few months . How can some of our “allies” be called friends when they have profited from selling firearms to our enemies? The term firearms is usually used to mean all sorts of modern weaponry as well as suitable ammunition.. Such trade commitments to nation which offer havens of refuge and assistance to terrorist groups influence the degree of participation of certain nations when called upon to help us in tracking down suspected terrorist leaders. Small wonder, then, that the politicians of nations so compromised have been, and one might suppose remain, hesitant in giving sincere support to United States.

The allegations being spread around in recent weeks hold that France and Russia, in particular, have been selling munitions to Iraq and other nations and other nations harboring terrorists. Firearms of all sizes and types found in Iraq and Afghanistan, killing fields prove to be of French or Russia manufacture. There can be small wonder that politicians of nations so compromised by such double dealing might be hesitant, and continue to be so, when asked to cooperate with American efforts to quell terrorist ravages of more and more nation.

There is nothing new about these allegations. It has been evident for many years that what happens in the Mid-East is, directly or indirectly, financed in the West. That was estab lished;Lishe decades ago and our military and governmental people are aware of what has been business as usual . They are experienced in knowing what influence such conditons may have on our own policies. If figure concerning the movement of illicit arms aroud the world were made pub,a gret many Americans would be shocked. There are munitions sales-persons engaged in selling arms and supplies for waging war. They work in strange system involving graft, corruption, blackmail and deceit. Some of their firms have names you would probably recall without too much trouble. .

The real danger in this for all of us,is that we may be led to misjudge the sincereity the other nations who are sincerely and energetically, supporting the war on terrorism. We should be thankful for the dependable ones helping us! I have, purposely,not m,mentioned any of them this time,but get to know them and express your appreciation in any way you can.

We are also called upon to forgive the few “bad apples”in the barrel. Before these terror times are ended, .we are going to have to work together in ways we have never done before. More and more we are becoming nations without borders.


A.L.M. September 8, 2004 [c483wds]

 
NEXT!

Quite suddenly, without warning, the Mioian civilization on the island of Crete in the Mediterreanean Sea ceased to be. We have learned much concerning those advanced people of long ago by studying artifacts which remained after erratic series of tidal waves swept over the area. Those waves were caused by a volcano erupting seventy miles away in the Age an Sea on an island know, then, as Thira. Today the fragment of the island remaining is called Santorini and is a favorite site visited by tours of Greece and the Age an Isles, who, by means of donkey ride, climb the ragged wall of the sea- filled crater caused by the historical blast which caused so much horror and destruction so far away...

I think of the situation there centuries ago, and marvel at the fact that, even as I write many existing nations are threatened by others located just a scant few miles away, who seek to harm them, wish them no good will.

Even now another hurricane is sweeping across Cuba, just ninety miles from our southern shores, and we ignore it. We see very little of he storm, in Cuba. The pictures we are shown on TV are mainly from other islands - he Bahamas, The Leewards, and some this morning from Granada,. But none for the largest island of them all - Cuba. That island and the people there have been held hostage by Dictator Fidel Castro for many years and in time, there may well be a test of strength to see how the governmental ideas and ideals of communism and those of our own, capitalist society evolve when they face each other.

V. Putin, in Russia, is at a most critical time in his task of attempt to get rid of the problems caused by tiny but troublesome acreage of Chechen holdings in the southeast section of his economically bled nation. The situation has been made even more this past week by the massacre of hundreds of Russian school children. For doing so Vladimir Putin brands them as being ”terrorists” while our own media continues to call the “political activists”

Other nations see nearby pocket of enmity at work. In Iraq's northern area there are many Kurds who do not see things the same way as the new government. The Kurds of east Turkey bordering on those in Iraq. have long been at odds with Turkish authority. North Korea holds such a threat, but on a larger scale.. Lebanon longs to be freed from twenty-eight years of domination by Syria. One wonders which of these smoldering hotbeds will burst into flame at any moment.

We have more warnings today that did the people of Crete for they had no word that a walls of sea water would sweep them out of the pages of active history and drop, them withered and sere, into annals of archelogical data.

There is are some little bursts of sunlight from-time-to-time, such as a the sudden turn-around by Moomar Quadafe who has decided that he will forego trying to match nuclear war weaponry by agreeing to destroy his nuclear-war capabilities. Fidel could go out of history smelling like the rose he isn't he could bring himself to – like Moormar is doing in Lybia - switch from changing hating to loving America. That's a situation which illustrates so well the deep trouble they are in. Castro is not about to make such regenerative confession any more than others are ready to disavow war to gain their supposed ends. We have no idea from which direction the next attempts to harm us might come.

At the moment, many of our leaders are on the fence regarding V.Putin's strong words. Few are willing to endorse his statement about the need to become more firm dealing with “terrorists”. He may well have set some some new standards for all of us by doing what our old folks used to call - “by calling a spade a spade.”

A.L.M. September 7, 2004 [c673wds]

 
“Y'KNOW?”

I am disturbed by two numbers.

The first one designates the growing number of people I hear using “Y'know?” just about every time they open their mouths to say anything. Secondly, I wonder about the rate of increase this commonly-used evidence of ignorance and lack of training among those who know better but don't seem to care.

It has become common in average speech, that people no longer think there is anything wrong with such usage. Every one does it. That, to some people, makes it right, correct, worthy, commendable and even welcome in our daily speech – casual or formal – “to brighten up context or “to allow the hearer to participate in the thoughts being processed and transferred”.

It is unfair to point out several instances where the use of “y'know” has reached a condition of epidemic saturation. The term has develop meanings of it's own according to the punctuation marks required if it is written. The term ”y'know” can mean that the speaker is underlining what he has just said to be sure you understood it. He is either admitting he didn't say it very well, or that he doubts if you, in your retarded state, understood what he think he said at all. The same speaker may use the term “Y'know!” - with an exclamation point – to overlay text with a stroke of very yellow crayon goo to show you what has just been said was important. When used followed by a question mark , he is checking to see if you are still listening. If it has no markings, “y'know” it means anything either of you wish it mean and it is a good time to decide what is going to be said next. This is a point at which another expression is very often interposed -: “See what I mean?”

One of the most common location to see and hear “y'know” routine being done live is the usual spur-of- the-moment sport star interview when an announcer calls a player side to get his personal, sweaty opinions as to the progress or direction of the game in progress. At time, it becomes a duet performance with both speakers dropping in ”y'knows” to keep listeners and viewers informed to the max. Fortunately, these are short features but in longer, formal interviews and discussions such as performance can be deadly. The worst usage of “y'know” occurs on reports of the latest news.

I speak from personal experience in all of this. As a kid, - in the 6th or 7th grade, I think – I was walking to school one morning when my co-walker turned on me as I talked. “No, “ he scoffed I do not see what you mean!” He unloaded his disgust on me and told me I said it too often. I remember that reprimand because he said it loudly and in the presence of three of the prettiest girls in our school.

I haven't forgotten that dressing down by a classmate, y'know.

It has meant a lot to me. See what I mean?

A.L.M. September 6, 2004 [c521wds]

 
SELF STORAGE

Ironically, some of the costliest, most elaborate Egyptian burial systems have yielded very little information concerning the life and death of the ancients. The rich and the powerful were buried with big, extended pomp and huge monuments were erected to mark, and to protect the site. There are those who hold we have learned more from the common graves of the poor people of the civilization which populated the Nile River's length for many centuries of human development.

It has been my rather strange experience to have been concerned both in both military circumstances and, in early retirement years, with civilian funeral work, and the Egyptian methods are of special interest to me. I have assisted in embalming and crematory procedures and that phase of ”somebody-has- to-do-it” employment. There is nothing pretty about any of them, yet they touch our individual lives at one point without exception.

The Egyptian way of enabling their departed ones to enter the next life was done by attempting to restore the finest times and utmost signs of attained wealth that person knew to equip them for the journey to a better life. They devised methods of ”preserving ” many physical features to take with them into the mysterious realm where unto Death had mysteriously transformed them.

The basic materials seem to have made use of two forms of nitrate common to most kitchens today, a variety of fragrances and favorite perfumes of the populace over the centuries. Two other materials were needed - formaldehyde -still in use today – and miles of pure linen cloth -literally miles of it.,he estimate thousand feet in length a line wrapping for average mummies would to run to about eight-thousand feet in length. All internal organs known were taken out and wrapped individually either for return to the torso cavity or to be entombed in a separate chest nearby. The heart - considered to be the center of all life, thought and he center for all actions of the entire body, was never taken out.

Much of this did help the physical remains to keep some semblance of their previous reality. A big error in the system was to entomb valuables, often within the wrappings of the mummy itself. Each tomb became a treasure house of tempting riches and just about all of them - save for a few “lost”ones - were pillaged, robbed, vandalized and often emptied. Mummies were unwrapped, rob bed of their special holdings of jewels and small items, and sometimes crudely re-wrapped. On the average it took about as seventy days to prepare a body for entombment. Much of it was a natural, slow process.

By contrast, those poor people who were given a somewhat casual dusting of nitrate powders; wrapped in a light cloth and buried, as a rule, it seems, in shallow graves about four feet deep, have proved to be more reliable specimens for study than the finely entombed monied mummies.. The natural process of the body drying out in the sand under intense heat, shrank the body, but, in many cases, did so rather quickly and features, tissues, hair, nails, teeth, ligaments and small bones remained intact.

Fine tombs do not a mummy make, it seems.

You might want to think about all that from time to time as you grow older, but I doubt if you will feel the urge very often.

A.L.M. September 5, 2004 [c574wds]

 
“BYE BYE”, OLD POL

When is “enough” too much?

Some individual politicians can't seem to bring themselves to understand when it is time to step down from the pedestal on which they have studiously perched and preened themselves for so many years.

Nationally, where they are easier to spot, we have several politicians who are continuing endlessly at their designated posts in spite of visual evidence that indicates they should retire. Very often such successful servants bring their careers to a noble closure with a well-worded withdrawal from what has become a tedious tenure.

Television has done more to help the citizenry become aware of the fact that the when their chosen official's best days are in the past. When signs of aging appear when dotage and hints of hesitations creep into the home-viewed picture, it should serve as a recommendation that the admired winner needs to be pastured. We can, and often, do selfishly ride a good to steed to death.

On the national scene, where they are easier to spot it would seem than the voters of Connecticut and of West Virginia might want to express their gratitude to Teddy Kennedy and to Robert Byrd for all they have done for their states. You may have seen others in the same stage of attainment. The longer the voters put it off the more their states will lose in the development of new avenues of leadership and power in the legislative bodies. Delay may be deadly.

The critical area is not, however in Washington. The legislatures of the various states are home to ”dead wood” which should be “harvested” for whatever values are obtainable and young people brought in – eager,alert ,capable in modern terms, and in need of nurturing only experience only years of legislative hall experience can provide. That is out main source of tomorrow's national -and international leaders. Check out the tenure pattern in the legislature in your state and see how many members have become little more that living items of furniture in august Halls. You can tell if it is time to organize a “garage sale of seasoned salons” and to refurnish our legislative halls state-by-state.

A few will worry about “kicking the old-timers out of their jobs”.
Not to worry - as New Yorkers say.

Robert Byrd, is an accomplished fiddle player and he might can look forward to a totally new career making CD's and Video-tapes as the “Mountain State's” emblematic folk music star. Teddy Kennedy might do well giving swimming lessons.

A.L.M. September 4, 2004 [c430wds]

 
RENOVATION TIME

During election times we hear ourselves talking about changes and renovations which are needed in our current elections system to make it easier for more people to vote; to make the voting itself more accurate and efficient, and to incorporate all the nation’s potential voters in all time zone equal opportunities to participate.

Immediately after the election – win or lose – we hear no more about the subject.

The “ins” are, perhaps, too busy trying to recall exactly what they did or did not promise and the “outs”are wondering what went wrong with their plans to outdo the “ins.”Any changes in the manner by which they might have won or lost the election are discarded and will not be considered until another election process shows up obvious weaknesses.

Would some sort of a bi-partisan “Elections Reforms Committee” work?
I rather doubt it. Some of the “errors”in our present system are purposely there because on party or the other sees their being in place as an advantage to their side of the vote. A “committee” to suggest change is such laws has been taken before if rather weakly. What we need to do now to get discussion started, since many of the flaws are deeply party parented, is not a committee, but an officially designated “commission” to look at the situation and not only recommend but require the Congress to approve certain parts, if not all, as recommended. That might put some teeth in the procedure and help bring a few such suggestions become realities.

The system needs unification. The changes to revitalize our elections system vary in different section of the country.. I would be helpful, for instance, if all sections of the country had identical registration rules and regulations. Do you remember what you had to do in order to register to vote? Most of us do not. As I recall, rather vaguely, I had to appear before a local official, who also owned our local drug-soda fountain I signed my name on blank sheet of white paper and printed my address and my date of birth in block letters. What became of that page of vital statistics I never knew, but I've voted ever since in various areas.

Another change that appears to be needed is some way of allowing voter in the extreme ends of our nation from being influenced by the already-balloted East. The East has long accused the Western state of climbing on board the wagon of whichever party seems to be winning in the East. It becomes especially troublesome when such a western state then claims to have been the one group which won the election for the party involved, hence they demand, and get leadership roles within the party.
Reforms, are in order to regulate the actual time of voting; once again due to the size of our extended nation in modern times.

There are many others, and prominent among them, always, is the argument asking for the total elimination of the Electoral College concept in our government.
Let's get a suitably empowered federal commission to work on these and other potential modifications before it is too late. Weaknesses, denied and left untreated, sap the very soul out of any living body.

A.L.M. September 3, 2004 [c552wds]

 
FEAR!

Our President, George W. Bush, spoke of “Freedom from fear”in his nomination acceptance speech before the Republican National Convention. I remember that topic being touched upon by another great President of our nation – F.D.R. He aroused us to a new understandings of the “fear”, if you recall

We were unaware of the eventually obvious fact hat were,at that time, in rather desperate need of such encouragement in those Nazi-ridden times. Roosevelt, as a strong leader of men, realized our extreme need of encouragement a the time - a phase in which when we had several quasi-uniformed groups who were actively opposing the basic principles of our government and extolling that of Hitler's';s Germany with others favoring Joseph Stalin's U.S.S.R. Such groups - “bunds” and and others who wore distinctive silver shirts as a symbol of their collaboration intentions, mystic or quasi-religious designations which would solve the nation's problems. Today, our president warns us of such dangerous groups as the Taliban, El Quida, the fundamentalist Muslim fringes and unthinking collaborators within our own people who go along with such groups and work to destroy our way of life. We are in special need of reminders because our enemy – called “Terrorists” cannot always be identified with certainty.

Our need is real. It is urgent.

It is high time our President speaks out strongly against that fear which, again, grips far too many people among us today. Franklin Roosevelt “our greatest fear was fear itself”. In many of the intervening years, we have suffered a loss of self-discipline at both national and stet governmental levels which is
“catching up with us. Negative attitudes are favored . Company standards of morality are openly scorned and have, even in the highest place, been redefined and corrupted openly. Basics of our social associations have given way to lust, avarice, greed, and the fringes of treason. We are beset by confusing, meaningless labels in which some who would ,purposely, speed up the decline of our governmental structures call themselves “Liberals.” In truth, they, often manifestations of the same misguided principles which caused F.D.R. to condemn them by name in his time ...and label them all as fearful wrongs.

I cringe when I hear “the hero of Chappaquiddick” publically and repeatedly call our President “a liar.” Something is amiss when that sort of thing is common in our political life. Such individual, by their slurs, show they are running afraid.

Fear kills Reason.

A.L.M. September 2, 2004 [c417wds]

 
HAT SIZES

It has been found that Neanderthal Man had a greater brain capacity than ours. The important factor,of course, is not size but quality of the contents and we have been confused as to what use N-Man made of his larger brain-box..

A marked disservice has been done Neanderthal Man man from the moment he was first discovered in the Neander Valley in Germany. They were a leading Stone Age people over much of the world. The “scientists”of a by-gone era, whom we think should have known better, did not realize that the specimen they were examining was the remains of an old man who had suffered from arthritis to the max 'n other debilitating diseases and, in all likelihood, possible skeletal malformations to start with severe or injury in his younger years.

N-Man has, over the years, had a “poor press.” Scientists continued pass down the same basic information even after discovery of other Neander relic proved some of it be untrue. No one likes to argue with anyone who claims to have been first to say, do or think anything. It became evident, for instance, that the first specimen examined was indeed that of an old man – of probably as much as twenty years or so and that he had lived an arthritic and other wise harsh existence for his alloted one score of years.

Seen in his true condition we can appreciate more of what N-man achieved. He was hunter-scavenger, he lived in natural caves, crevices, behind cliff sides to escape wind and foul weather, even built crude walls of piled up rocks to ward off worst attacks of Nature's wrath. Evidence has been found that he also buried his dead, which as an early sign of progress in a world where scavenger animals promptly removed anything thrown aside. Neander men buried most often in cave floors where a pit was scooped out and filled with fresh grass and greenery. The body was placed upon the mat of grass and handfuls of flowers, covered the corpse. The dirt and rock pounded down securely.

Our total knowledge about such early men, is fragmentary, of course. The world proved to be rough place for such men and they did not endure long. One reason - other than the cataclysmic, world-shaker, era-enders used to explain away the death of dinasours centuries earlier – is simple. The extra large size of the Neanderthal infant's head and the pelvic structure of the females were, perhaps a major cause of death among N-man infants and Mothers. We do not know for sure what caused their demise. Unfortunately they have lived in the public mind as a brutish, short and ugly cartoon-like character caused by mis-reading of evident by “experts” of a later time – those who who miss-read the facts about the very first such body found.

We might resolve to look carefully, today at whatever interests us, to to be sure our understanding we have of it is based on fact rather than half-baked conjecture.

Question even the best of so-called authority on the subject. And, we might do well to remember, as we learn, that brain capacity can be costly when exalted. We all need to check our hat size from time-to-time see that it remains constant.

. September 1, 2004 [c557wds] A.L.M

 
ETHANOL FUMES

It has been quite a while since we have seen any news coverage concerning the possible use of ethanol as one means of solving our fuel shortage and associated high costs problems. There was time when it was made to way out. Were we mis-lead or were we oversold?

Ethanol is still being made. In fact, the manufacturing of ethanol, in its many forms, show a steady increase. The era still numerous ways to spell the term but the major “spell checkers” services seem to have agreed on ethanol and excluded the dozen or so other ways of translating plentiful green plants into gasoline to move our cars along rather than costly barrels of crude.

Just and a few weeks ago a tanker flying the Singapore, sank about fifty miles off Chincoteague, Virginia. It was carrying a load of 3.5 million gallon of industrial ethanol from Linden, New Jersey to Houston, Texas One might assume that mean the product was moving from a Garden State point where it had been manufactured to a place in The Lone Starr state where it would be put to industrial use. Crude petroleum would be moving exactly the opposite direction.. The 570 foot long craft suffered an explosion which has, as yet, not been explained. The tanker took on water fast and did a dramatic photo-genie demise in which the bow was under water and the stern rearing high into the air as it continued to burn.

The U .S. Coast Guard Group on the Eastern Shore of Virginia got the “May Day” call promptly . The foreign accent voice sounded urgent and fearfully used the term which chills any fuel tanker sailor or rescue worker:”We are on fire!” The Coast Guard had a C -130 and several Jayhawk helicopters and on one HH-65 Dolphin helicopter with extra burn victim medical gear. The 85 foot Coast Guard Albacore cutter was diverted from the mouth of the Delaware River and sent on the way to the emergency scene.
A mere three and half million gallons of ethanol doesn't sound like a tremendous amount, does it? But it does indicate that commercial tankers are transporting such stocks on regular schedules. In general, we find little in the media to let us be aware of it being used, but it is , obviously, being produced and applied to our industrial needs.

One hears rumors that Ethanol is widely used in many of our gasoline formulations:”to keep octane rating high.” If it is a common practice the media needs to inform motorists and to clarify the use of ethanol as an additive.

One would think, as our gasoline problems continue to worsen, that we would be examining ethanol with special care. It seems to be a potential substitute which could be put to far more than at the present time. If the scientist community agrees that Ethanol is harmful to automotive engines – as some still insist it can be – then the media might do well to participate in seeing that it is banned.
,.
One thing is sure. We can't have it both ways!

A.L.M. August 31, 2004 [c529wds]

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