ANOTHER WAY

Why change?

We often ask ourselves such a question, especially when a new version of something seems to be taking over - be it a choice of clothing, fashionable do-dads of the moment, political, automotive or in business ventures. We ask ourselves: “Why change?” often because we are searching for sensible reasons which will support the argument that, in making such a shift, we can improve our lot in life. Common sense demands that we examine such a whim carefully. If we are reasonably happy, secure and safe – why should we shift to conditions which do not have those values?

We desire change because of innovative elements it may contain. By revising the situation in which we find ourselves we may create some excitement and movement but the creative urge within each of us demands bright, new elements which we might fit into a pattern which will please us – and others who depend upon us in a very real sense if only to be there, if needed.

At this time of the year marking the start of President George W. Bush's second term in office, many people seem to be wondering why members of his cabinet are leaving. Democrats and media elements which supported his opponent, headline the change using the words :”quit”, “leave”, “get out” bringing up a scene of rats escaping from a sinking ship. Bush supporter papers, radio, TV and other such PR formers speak and write of the members “resigning”, “handing in their ritual offers to withdraw”, and other softer, less combative terms. Both see changes being made and they wonder why. As citizens, we follow the same course.

Few of us really understand what an individual must give up when he or she accepts a job of this nature within the existing government of a nation as large and complex as ours has become. If we, personally, called upon to undertake such a task, we would run liked scared cats. Yet, these people – vast numbers of men and women who have served – and many extremely well - as members of the president's innermost council are seldom given the praise and recognition they deserve for those elements in the administrative “era” seen in retrospect when the phase is evaluated.

It is the job of such person to b e as aware of history as they can possibly be relation to their departmental section of our government. These are the men and women who make the decisions which are formed into legislation, rules and guidelines to control the vast structure of our government in all its on infinite parts and tiny pieces. I will not even begin to cited names of the present cabinet or of any others in the past. Think back over the work any one of them accomplished and you will be amazed at their efficiency and overall ability. They set forth .or activated, innovative concepts and actions which American citizens love and admire ...and rightly presented, will support.

Yes, there have been some “bad apples”, one must admit. Some it seems to have made poor selections; to have misjudged some individuals in whom they confided. We must expect some of that which occurs in all households to a degree.

Let's see these Bush cabinet changes as positive actions and hope they help solve problems we've faced for many years. We should be especially thankful to the individuals who have served and are now taking leave of the responsibilities of their jobs gracefully and in a traditional manner.

The incoming members will need our firm support as well. When they do something right in your view, consider it your civic duty to say so to those about you.

a.l.m. November 30, 2004 [c623wds]

 
WATER - WHITE AND OTHERWISE

I don't particularly care for “white“ water.

Talk about plain old “wet” water and I'll agree there's nothing finer than a tall glass of nature's brew - especially on a hot summer's day with a few chips of thin ice floating on the surface of the satisfying brew.

The sport of “white water” rafting is all down hill to me. I suppose you can say the same about skiing but there the trees, stumps of former trees of former trees, rocks, fences, bushes and other such hazards are all planted off to each side of your prescribed path well to each side of your prescribed path. Not so when you are sitting on a thin sheet of plastic just inches above hard, sharp rocks and who knows what else, with several centimeters of a hydrogen-oxygen mixture slithering along between hinderer and disaster.

I grew up in a household with a maternal Grandmother who had, as the centerfold of her exciting teen ager life the celebrated Johnstown Flood, 1889 in Pennsylvania. We lived not too far from the eroding banks of a wide, riotous river which could change overnight from a rather placid flow to furious, Lasix-charged waves, swirls and tall-tale ingredients of other tempting aspects.

On TV, watch a load rafters lumbering clumsily down their most daring sluice. Look at them carefully to see if any one is really having a good time. Most are perched there wide-eyed and wary - wondering why they wanted to be there at all. They remember that they seldom see a raft of river rats make it all the way down on TV versions – some clown has to fall off, usually at the very edge of a twenty-foot dam-fall. No seat is the best seat on a river raft it seems. The bounder at the rear end seems to get the roughest ride and those near the front get spray in the face. All seem to be giggling nervously which passes for a sign of enjoyment on film, but I always get the feeling they are glad when the last rapids are behind them and the “crew” is paddling them along in relatively smooth water.

At the landing, they are a fraternity fellow afters. The sacrosanct shibboleths of the white water rafters are now theirs to share with others who are also no longer tyros.

Stand tall. Walk away from the dock with confidence. After all you are not the only one with wet pants.

A.L.M. November 29, 2004 [c426wds]

 
TODAY'S CHOICE

If you were a teen-ager today, what occupation would you choose to be your life's work?

We make such a choice whether we do so actually and technically with formal announcements or not. We make such a commitment – with variations – even if we simply just allow things to happen.

I feel the usual path is something of a combination of both methods. We see other people who have become successful workers in such-and- such-a line of business and we tend to concentrate on the good things which result and overlook the less fortunate circumstances. That can take person into a deceptive tangent. That’s where the elements of chance and of circumstances enter in the equation.

The factors of “income, money, moola” can cause dramatic changes. The circumstances which evolve from “romance” in ourselves also has major control over what happens. With sufficient fund readily available we can consider all sorts of attractive possibilities; without such funding we are much limited. It has long been that way, I think, save for a very few “rich kids”. In those cases the family traditions or the sometimes rather fickle moods of the “holder of the family purse” which so often decides - -even dictates – what young members of the family must “do.”
It may appear that young people today have an advantage over our generation, but the entire field of what we call “the market place” has changed so dramatically that it is difficult for older people to comprehend what the young person wished to do ... become ... or be. In so many cases the very nature of work to be done has mutated into forms we do even recognize, much less understand.

And, this is as it should be, I feel. I dare say it has always been that way, but the changes have not been as frequent, so volatile, so dramatic as they have commonly become in recent decades. It seems only yesterday that the young boy or girl in our community finished high school with an ingrained idea of getting a job with one of several major manufacturing plants in our area and to - as the almost general maxim was - to “work his way up”. At then, there would be a generous retirement, plan in the future, as well.

Once this plan was in place, the element of romance became difficult for young people to turn aside and this ideal often led to an early decision to take this route. It made sense in it's day. So often those who were happy with that sort of life work had a second job they enjoyed doing ...farming, a real estate interest, crafts, hobbies, antiques and that sort of endless potential of serendipity.

I am glad I do not have to face the problem of “what shall I do with my life?” We should realize it is one of the major problem's facing youth today. We should be aware of it, and help when possible, mainly by butting out when we don't understand exactly what they are trying to do.

A.L.M. November 27, 2004 [c519wds]

 
ONCE IS ENOUGH.

When someone asked the first minister of our church at Ft. Defiance, Virginia, if he ever longed to take a trip back to his native Ireland for a visit his reply is said to have been a direct “No.”

And, for good reason, too.

It all happened in the 1700's, because John Craig arrived in the New World on his twenty-fifth birthday in 1734 after being on board ship sixty-seven days crossing the stormy North Atlantic. He, it seems, had no desire to duplicate that crossing.

He sailed from Larne Harbor, Ireland. We can assume that his, like most vessels making that trip in those years, was crowded after it made a stop on the south coast of Ireland for more passengers and for final supplies, they headed for America. Such passage was not exactly a pleasure cruise, at nest. We might well call their “ships” mere “boats” today and they were not designed or build for human comfort.

Contrary winds buffeted the ship about, it seems and storm high waves, kept passengers below deck most of the time. On one such rain-swept, wind-torn night John Craig, a young man of ambition going to the New World with ideas of possibly becoming a frontier doctor, decided to leave the hold and spend some time on deck.

On deck, he made sure of his foot and held fast to ropes there for the purpose. Covered from the flying spray with a taro wrapped around his round his shoulders he was fairly well covered. He felt the cold wash of wind-blown water on his face and hands, as he pondered on his fate. No doubt he wondered why he was where he happened to be at that moment, on the wet deck of storm-tossed ship bound for a world where all was new and promising.

For many year, he told noon of what happened in then next few minutes. He wrote about it that very night in his diary, but he next few women the next few moments.

He sensed a sudden quietness in the storm and leaned forward into the darkness toward the seas. At that instant, his hold on the hawser line lessened, a huge wave hit the ship and lifted him bodily up and away from the ship! He wrote later that he ,at once realized all was lost and gave himself willing into the loving arms of Providence. He choose to lie still upon the water and other caused a counter wave to tear away the huge wave on which he had been raised up and he felt himself dropped into a tumbled maze of ropes and other desk gear aboard his ship!

Recovered he made it below where he found warmth and he presence of fellow men and women. He dried his clothing as best he could; did not mention his on-deck experience to anyone, but, that very night, wrote a passage concern it in his diary which is extant to he read in our church museum to this day.

It is stance to see this Irish lad who was on his way to be a frontier doctor, a youth who taught school for several years , before he found himself and became a Presbyterian minister serving thousands of frontier men, women and children.

You can also understand why he might well have avoided any ocean voyages back to visit Ireland.

A.L.M. November 26, 2004 [c583wds]

 
A REMINDER

Do we need election reforms?

Right now, when we are all pretty much fed-up with election excesses – either real or imaginary – might be as good a time as any we might find to attempt to do something about such alleged or actual irregularities.

A primary obstacle has to be overcome before we can even begin to discuss election reforms seriously. We must set ground rules for the practicality of suggested changes and avoid merely echoing the set prejudices of existing political bodies. If major parties – not just two, if that seems to be the mood at the moment - if all parties s adhere strictly to their narrow views such reformation plans are doomed to failure from the start. A major obstacle is, then, that the negotiating parties be willing to concede certain point; to back off a bit from from their established views and to engage in some honest give-and-take negotiations which might put an end to such anovbeall problem.

During the recent election, how often did you hear it said that “both parties are pretty much alike.”or, “I can’t tell one party from the other.”, Or, edging toward a nastier attitude “ What difference does it make? Both of ‘em are cooked as a dog’s hind leg!”

It might be useful for each of us to go over, in our own mind and among our friends and associates, some of the many views heard expressed – even half foolishly – during the recent election daze. Without attempting to set them in priority , what were some ideas you heard?

No doubt one dealt with the length of our election time. That’s a all too common problem, it seems. Far too many candidates, and their party-bound backers, seem to think the active campaign begins the day anyone is elected to office – even before the have actually “taken over”and might be held responsible. Compared to other nations, our elections seem to be a permanent part of being an elected individual with a an intense crisis situation every so-many years.

Should adherence to one party or the other be demanded as qualification for voting? Should individuals be required to state which party they will support? Democrat? Republican? Independent? If so, why bother with a vote procedure at all?

I heard a great any complaints about the intensity of TV advertising. Most seem to think it was overdone in some areas and slighted in others. Some tally up the cost of TV and even argue that it be made free to all parties. Those who do so are admitting, of course, that he rest of their lives is pretty well controlled by TV to turn yet another phase over to TV would not make that much difference.

There were objections to “dirty” work pertaining to print, films, tapes, etc - all the way down to utter filth and obscenity on some, as yet, un-policed Internet pages.

I heard calls for uniform methods by which actual voting might be done. The argument favors the use of the same voting machines in each and every state. Others wanted to return to “simply”, printed ballots with boxes to “X” out, forgetting , it seems, that the main reason for getting rid of the paper forms was that they were too complicated.

I can't see an real reforms of any consequence taking place anywhere in the near future. Rather than wait, let's just plan to talk about it some more four years from now.
A.L.M. November 26, 2004 [c589wds]

 
REACTION!

When thing seem to be too quiet that’s the very time to ready yourself for special concerns.

And, fighting fire with fire is not recommended as a proper method to start with either. That demands, training, experience and a certain amount of daring-do and skulduggery.
I am constantly amazed at the extremes to which certain people will go to give expression to their inmost feelings. There can be worthy values in prompt response to evil but some such actions, taken to quickly, can be dangerous ...even fatal.

During our recent presidential election, we revived the use of terms dealing with moral values. Supporters of such standards are often called the “Morality Right” or some such name – often with tones of disrespect and ridicule . They are, or “we”, for I would, I think, be counted among them, have been – far too often – using a wrong approach to the evil.
Look at several such incidents which we have recently had to face.

When Nicolette -whatever-her-name was – just a week or so ago did a nude towel drop routine on a one minute promotional announcement prior to the Monday Night Football Game it was likened to the end of the known world by some skittish critics. The producers of that promo spot knew exactly what they felt item would accomplish – enhance potential sports-minded viewers – not all male in modern times.
Another incident was also in the the TV sports area, too. That’s where the main TV money happens to be right now, and it gets special attention from all concerned. It had to do with the failure of a portion of Janet Jackson which, by falling off when tugged instead of merely slipping a bit made Janet Jackson appear to have been barely chose as the titular head of the entire day’s sports activities.

Our presidential election presented several other incidents which excited protest from the Right and I cringe a bit when I think of the manner in which moist of them came to be answered. There were a few “Left” or “Liberal” slams, as well. Any of them, ignored, would have had far less affect!
When critics fly off the high-and-mighty handle too fast, it brings the incident to millions more viewers. The towel drop, for instance . went from one promo spot at nine in the east to hundreds of re-runs that night, the next morning and, well, it’s still being run daily to show that why it should not have been run at all. Literally millions of viewers who might not have seen it at all now have it memorized and some are wondering if we will see more such ad-ventures

I worked long enough on the other side of the fence in radio, TV and publishing to know listeners and viewers control what they see and hear is done by ignoring that which is bad and giving honest and persistent approval for that which strikes you as being good, proper and worthwhile.
Don't expect to change the world, either. Just a part of it – the part where we live. In truth, I feel. we are at the present time -out numbered. That's what we need to be working on.

A.L.M. November 2, 2004 [c547wds]

 
WHERE, INDEED?

It could sound very much like the lyrics from an inquiring song we all sang back in the fifties.”Where do old computers go?”Long time, a-....”

We are shedding PC's. - desk top, lap and palm - at a steady rate now. They become obsolete before you really get used to using any one of them. In Tokyo some University folks who figure out such important things have shared with the world at large the astounding facts which they have uncovered after much diligence - that it - by their figures, at least, mind you, that it takes about ten times the weight of the finished computer in fossil fuels and chemicals to make one.

Remember that then next time you jet halfway to nowhere to march in protest against improper use of fossil n and droplets of our limited water supplies. Have some gaudy posters printed; some films made and be ready to let everyone know they will need 22 kilograms of chemicals, 240 kilograms of fossil fuels and fifteen-[hundred (that's l,500 kilograms) of water ah-so-pure to make one computer. Don't specify which one, of course, and keep everything in ”kilograms”,too - which sounds more university-like. Most eager co-marchers will think they heard “gallons”and “pounds” anyway.

Be ready to contrast something quickly before people begin to ask questions about how such figures are were “Arrived At”. The same authorities claim they know it takes only twice the weight of the latest model car to make one just like it. Refrain from mentioning that the computer weighs -well, whatever it does when you lift it from one place to another, whereas the car weighs in at least a ton or so. 2X=computer. 10X=car. car. One way of coming up with such figures is to decide what you want them to be and “survey” to make it come out that way.

Used computer are becoming a familiar item to be seen at junk yards and landfills across the nation. The problem at many such locations used to be used refrigerators and freezers, but keyboard clutter has replaced that long-staying nemesis, along with all the related problems such disposal methods entail. What about all those valuable metals - gold, silver, ti-this and twa-that - which will seep into soil, enter the nation's waterways and strike bolts of terror to earthworm cultures around the globe?

The computer is the major tool of our time,and future historic digs into our landfill sites will marvel at how we got along with such simpled mechanisms. They may well wonder,too, why we apparently did not like them and junked them in garbage sites. It may well seem to have been because Man at that time (ours) had not found way to profit from reclaiming materials he had used in the making of his machines. We read reports claiming that sent per cent of such materials are being reclaimed in some areas. It is highly unlikely that we will see improvement in such eco-measures, since the machine of today is being presented more and more as a throw-away item It is less expensive to replace an ailing computer than to pay for “parts and labor”- a term which has become about as meaningless -or meaningful - as “Shipping & Handling Extra.”

` My first computer was one discarded for a newer model. My first printer was literally from a local junk yard were a dozen or so units have been dumped by a major manufacturing firm. My oldest son bought three of them and made a good one out of the trio of derelicts.

The next time you pass your local trash dumpster glance inside to get the picture. Most of the time you will see signs of our computer world in progress. There will be a discarded keyboard or two, perhaps computer parts or a battered hand-held unit, or empty cartons bearing the logo showing it, at one time, conveyed a wonderful magic box to some eager upgrader.

We will, I think, continue to build new “Mount Trashmores” studded with computer parts until some one finds a profit motive in reclamation and restoration. Since my first TS-80 the industry has been in a fluid condition. A time of standardization is always being promised but plans for tomorrow's computers are “yesterday's' in the designer's advanced thinking .

A.L.M. November 24, 2004 [731wds]
]

 
STONEWALL'S SURGEON

Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson was one of the casualties of the very first battle between Union and Confederate forces at Manasses, Virginia at the very start of the Civil War.

The former college professor from V.M.I. in Lexington,Virginia -Thomas Jonathan Jackson – suffered a hand wound and a lanky, young doctor, who have only recently joined his staff applied the necessary splint and bandages to the wounded center finger.

The twenty-four year old Doctor, who had completed Medical College at age twenty-one, had enlisted as a private recruit from New Orleans, La. To become a member of Company F, of the 2nd Virginia Infantry. He did so promptly after Fort Sumter and chose to return to his home state and town - Winchester, Virginia. Like so many men of that era, he had a strong affinity with the affairs home state and patriotism called him to join the fighting forces.

It did not take long for his true identity to be discovered and his medical training and experience placed him where he was most needed - as surgeon - Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire. He is one of those men, I feel, who deserves a far more honored place among our American heroes than current versions of history have allowed him to receive

The young man who was to become the Medical Director of the famed Second Corps, was instructed to report to General Jackson at Harper's Ferry. He did so and when General saw the six foot, four-inches tall , thin and somewhat haggard man he did two things: one talked with the Doctor and urged him get about find in his quarters and , the second action – Jackson wired Richmond to try to determine who had made the mistake of sending him a tall, scrawny boy doctor who, obviously, needed medical attention worse than he did. McGuire had been fighting a severe illness and was just recovering from it when Fort Sumter changed his life so completely.

McGuire were on. He served with General Richard C . Ewell, them, with his passing, General Jubal Early. Then, there was Gettysburg and the resulting horrors associated with that stunning defeat.

In l864 Hunter McGuire had also fallen in love. His choice was a Mary Stuart of Staunton, Virginia. They agreed to stay engaged until the war ended. They were married in 1867. They had ten children so his heritage is, today, a large and varied one.

His career is a treasury of medical history and time of great discovery. He is also to be remembered also as a writer, orator, teacher and hospital administrator.

We sometimes forget that the Civil War was, of all wars, the most costly in human like and limb. The injuries which occurred to soldiers in that conflict were quite different and far worse than those know prior to the time. Medical facilities were, at best, primitive. We forget that Civil War doctors had no concept of the germ and antiseptic until years later. “Civil war surgeons worked with bloody hands, with bloody tools, and on blood-soaked tables.” War machines had changed radically and the new types of bullets were in common use known as Minie or Enfield balls. They were conical in shape and had a tendency to expand and hit a surface flattened and with a far wider field of serious damage. Cannons previously fired round balls of metal, but Civil War cannons fired hollow shells filled with shrapnel and explosives which burst in the air or on contact. The chances of being killed or injured skyrocketed with every such change in military methods of operation. McGuire and other doctors of that time had to deal as best they could with unprecedented injuries under the worst possible conditions.

Among the many innovations set forth by Dr. Hunter McGuire was the unheard act of releasing all doctors captured and returned to the enemy side. Hunter McGuire was captured at Waynesboro in 1865, quickly pardoned by U. S. General Sheridan was present at Appomattox,. Va. when Lee
surrendered in April of that same year.

Read up on the life and times of Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire, and see if you, too, are not led to believe that we do not honor this man as we should. One of our own, he speaks to us over the years and especially at this time when the clouds of war darken our horizons of Hope so often.

A.L.M. November 23, 2004 [c747wds]

 
TOMORROW'S TROOPS

If our armed forces of the future are to be, in any way, based on the examples our children are learning to respect and admire through their childish “games” - we are finished, doomed, wiped out, obliterated.

Aside from all military budgets, alterations in plans, devious, deft or dirty tricks being studied in chart and diagram settings nothing could be more critical than some sensible decisions concerning what our young people are going to be watching in their “entertainment” hours. Delay may be costly, and make such preparations yet another example of “too little” and “too late.”

There can no longer be even a slight pretense about the existence of too much violence in children's games which are increasingly popular at all age levels. The term itself has been violated. Mere containment of an enemy and putting a halt to their evil work is no longer sufficient. Total eradication is the rule. No “conventions” apply – especially from and ”Geneva” groups setting forth concepts of peaceful understanding – even though they be far from being practical. No game ever yields to an enemy. No quarter is allowed.

Wars cannot be perfect. There are said to be rules but they are ignored and of value only in attempting to justify any actions taken. The actual killing of another human being has now been altered to eliminate pain, suffering, and other such unpleasant elements. A person ceases to be in a brilliant flash of light as a rule – no bloodshed, physical suffering, no screaming , no return fire – all that is evil - gone forever. Those who produce, sell and encourage the use of such “games” actually use that sort of argument to help them sell their wares.

Temporary solutions have, thus far, tended to put the “foxes” in charge of protecting the “chickens.” Major producers of far-out versions of literary classics vow to modify their paths but little is done that will, in any way, impede the steady profits. Your computer screen has recently suffered a blight “pop-up” commercials. Among them was a program offered for sale which would kill all such unwanted pop-ups and it was made and sold by the same company which was producing in an epidemic portion the actual pop-ups. The game producers are, in a like manner, ”working both sides “of the controversial street to their advantages ...a film of a badly warped classic story; a “game” based loosely on it, and advertising extolling the cooperate view of the fine, old established classics for children. Re-selling such fake antiques is dishonest but profitable under present “arrangements”in regard to copyright and the extensions thereof.

The youthful impression as to what constitutes a modern defensive army is woefully inadequate. Their armed forces consist of a few muscle-bound hulks bearing equipment for killing which has not yet been invented. Military operations, far too many of them, are the youthful militant as wholesale transactions - mass obliterations - rather than and rifled shots intended to take out specific individuals.

Imagine for just a moment the type of military force the game player anticipates. Such a cadre doesn't exist. The idea of a nationwide draft will become evident at any moment now. It was a hush-hush subject during the election years – understandably so - but we can expect it to become front page discussion before too long it will become and active topic. A great many individuals are going to be awakened to new realization of what military life is - not what the “games” make it seem to be.

It's not yet being said, but we need some changes – and soon - in this area preparedness.

A.L.M. November 22, 2004 [c619wds]

 
YOUR BEST FOOT

All my interesting life I have been admonished to “put my best foot forward”, if I really intended to amount to anything in whatever field of work I chose to make my very own. I was into the octo years of my existence before I found out I have a
“better”or “best foot”

So, now that I have found out it is indeed my “right” foot, I have formulated definite plans to make the most of that suggestion during my tenure of the packet of years called “the Nineties.” A great many men have had sillier plans including some of those who have thought they wanted to be President of the United States and who are now glad they did not get the job. Yes, you heard an audible sigh from them but it was a sigh of relief rather than one of disappointment

. I mention that because putting your best foot out there in the open can be an invitation to kinds of real trouble you'd rather not know about - so I won't tell you. Anticipation is coupled with finest finest foot-forward-ism. It happened to men who used the technique to sell vacuum cleaners door-to- door. As well as sellers of brain-builder books in multiple units, or velvet covered widgets each with a knitted-in kosher dill pickle in a deep. roomy pocket with a green zipper for quick access. Those valiant sales persons put their best foot in the doorway and - crunch!

Your future may be potentially a time of danger, but it is critical that you come to be aware of the essential need of such knowledge. It was most important in military drill during World War II when many draftees entered the service of the nation while unaware of any different between one foot and the other. Some never learned and all the way through our thirteen weeks of infantry basic training when drill ability was showcased for brass or visitors, it always happened that he was on KP duty at the mess hall. Last time I heard of him was in charge of drilling recruits.

In today's parlance around the work places it no longer refers directly to your feet. You are expected to wear shoes when being interviewed, of course. Along with your best bib and tucker, you are expected to wear a smile; to be generally affable and to refrain from crude manifestations of who you really might be underneath it all.

I am a one of twelve million or so citizens of these shores who has PVD. That's “Peripheral Vascular Disease”. Quite often, after major surgery, a person is told he or she has_an .. “.opathy” which is medico-shorthand talk for nerve related “leg trouble. Over the years, I have come to feel that anything ending in “it is” means it itches, tickles, feels red or needs scratching. If the main, control portion of the big part of the word has “scope”it means “we're goin' in there and take a look at this thing!” Anything ending with ”ectomy” means “take it out. The original term “...opathy”- often combined with “neuro” to pin it down a bit - suggests “the works”,”the whole kit and caboodle”, and I have also concluded it can mean “we don't know exactly what's wrong, but hang in there!”

There may be a comforting P. S. appended, too: “If we find out anything, we'll let you know about it.”

So keep your best foot forward – that's the one on that side – right?

A.L.M. November 21, 2004 [c598wds]

 
OUR RATING

It may be a bit too early to determine how we, as a nation, did before, during and after our recent presidential election.

Thus far indication are that most participants in the convoluted events which make up an election of this scale seem to feel it went, on the whole, “very well.”

We are still too close to procedure to eradicate the deep feelings ,man many individuals came to know - possibly for the first time in their voting life. If one is among the winners it is spoken of as a good, well-mannered election. If one is on the losing side it can just as well be spoken of as having been the “nastiest” election we have ever had. We are just now beginning to approach the middle grounds of compromise. If we look a how we are conducting ourselves in other areas of living - fist fights and chair throwing at basketball games; brawls at baseball diamonds, and fine-able endangerments of other drivers in stock car racing. Gross miss-management of corporate groups, scandals in a wide variety. Entertainment “censorship” diversions and affiliates “far”of federal fines and
restrictions. We have criminal trials which have been going on for years, always promising summation but never quite getting there. Compared to all of that miss-conduct and more of such a nature readily available, our election seems to have been a relatively good one.

Accusations came from all sides during the heat of the election which is normal, and most of them were anticipated. The “Swift Boat” segment will probably be remembered as the most striking example of unusual activity. From the very first announcement that John Kerry was to run for the office of President and, hence, for that of Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, the Viet Nam card was the one to worry about. The entire “Swift Boat” collection was pre-viewed in it full form on C-Span television more than a month before the spots started to appear in certain vital areas. At the time, I was amazed at the lack of interest concern by the Media and by both major political parties. I think, in time, that Viet Nam card segment of the election will stand as the single, most critical incidents. Once underway it was self regenerative and could not be stopped had anyone seriously attempted to do so. Vilifications of the personal conduct of both major candidates came near to getting out of control in the hands of self-proclaimed political pundits.

Again, we came out of it all smelling like the proverbial rose when we compare our way of doing it to that of other nations. I have been in another country during an election time and I have high regard for the American sense of fair-play and decency which prevails when the time is past. The original C-Span “Swift Boat” charges, were actually toned down a bit before they were used in the actual election weeks.

We, again as a nation, seemed to have managed to go about getting it all done this time without another gaudy display of pettiness and self-pity setting forth alleged malfunctions of the procedural mechanism - endless recounts and aberrations designed to thwart the system itself and to make it suspect of gross error.

Ours may not be the a “perfect system” and we should not think
of it being that pristine, but world-wide evidence continues to judge it to be , by far, the best system yet devised by Man to determine what he is thinking at a specified time.

A.L.M. November 20, 2004 [c600wds]

 
EXCESS.

Do you remember when your parents, grandparents or others reminded you as a child not to get “too smart for your own breeches?”

Certainly, the saying must have originally read as being “too big for”-”too large or cumbersome” for - rather than “too smart for” which is the way I remember it used in my family. Today we tend to conclude they were referring to the physical dimensions of the posterior portions of the human body, but, in truth, the intent was to warn you not “to get to smart-alecky, self-impressed and not to get too smart-assed in our thinking mechanisms for our own good.

It still applies. We, today do not realize it very often but the truth is that we so much more aware of what is going on in the world -far more than Man has ever known before. We have, in a very real sense, come to a point where the average one of us is endangered by being too smart, too knowledgeable, too satiated with facts, figures, potentially existent circumstance and tons of non-essential trivia. We have even developed precise insights into procedures, methods, theoretical processes and programs. We have come to the place where we need to heed the warnings set so obviously before us before we stumble over them and fall.

On a personal level, wouldn't you agree that, because of today's communications systems alone you are so far ahead of ourselves the accumulation and bulk storage that you are forced to back off at times. You are ahead of yourself in so many facets of living. Such as the healthful condition of the physical bodies in which we live and aware of those things which might harm that tentative shell. We expend great effort seeking to determine the proper place of that containers in the whole Cosmos.

Part of the basic problems we face is to negate the false idea that we are all equal. It is entirely probable that we are “created equal”. That is a fine political and social concept but it has little or no application to actual living conditions in the real world. The vast majority of the inhabitants of this Earth are not. The last down the social and economic ladder has even less than that segment who have the least and about whom we express a measure of sometimes sincere religious concern.

Warnings? Some watch for religion-tagged, signs, omens and oddities of Nature. We have an even larger group of people who think of the future as an uncharted mystery realm and they are guided by hosts of spirit beings they alone can see and associate. Some place complete trust in the holy writings which has their approval. There must be scores of such methods - ways in which Man seeks to equate with his Maker. The strong emergence of any one of them can be seen as an indication that a ferment is in progress beneath the surface and that change is pendng.

The success of is, in itself, such a warning. It will take a hundred years or more for us to realize what the coming of The Computer Age has meant to all of us. We are still too close to the trees to see the forest.


A.L.M. November 19, 2004 [c553wds]

 
WHEN THE FROST IS ON.

This Fall we have been enjoying a special pie at our house. It goes quickly, once it is un-ovened, cooled a bit, sliced and it is known - while it lasts – by several names.

They look like pumpkin pie; they smell like pumpkin pies, they taste like pumpkin pies making use of the sense of logic with which we are blessed , it can be said that - if something looks like; smells like and tastes like pumpkin pie - it just has to be - well, now! Not too fast there, Buster! The experienced farm folks who raise and bring these things to us when we order pumpkins call them “Squash”. Specifically they often call them “Winter Squash” even though they grow in the Pumpkin Patch right along with the other bright orange globes, balls, nubbins and flattened-out styles If you want “squash” - real squash - Yellow Crook Neck, Patty Pan, Strait Yellow, or other strange-named types, you gotta go up to the vegetable garden where they grow. Squash grow in the garden; pumpkins in the ”Punkin' Patch”.

I have inquired into the matter and I find that we are all wrong. We are actually talking about gourds.

Pumpkins and squash are each types of gourds. We are concerned only with those which are considered to be edible. It might be likened to automobiles. They all do pretty much the same thing,but there are lots of different brands with peculiar characteristics . We choose the one we like best; the one that best meets our income level,our needs and soothes our desires somewhat. Some of the far-out models such as the tricycle DAVIS three-wheeler made in California for a few years,don't get much attention.


I was rather surprised to find that many chefs prefer using squash rather than pumpkin in making Pumpkin Pies. The result is a pie which is less fibrous. smoother and has a soft taste. I have long used the term pumpkin pie in a general sense to include squash pies and sweet potato pies. The creations can be different but it is the butter,spices, sugar and other such “accessories” which actually determine what the final creation is to become in the final moment in the oven.

I though I had settled the pumpkin,but this year also introduced a new note in the discussion which is going to be a doozie. It sounds silly,but I have had people ask me if a pumpkin a vegetable or a fruit? It can't be both. I hold with “veggie” but I think I'll sit this one out and just eat pumpkin pie regardless of its internal construction specifications.

Pumpkin makes a good soup, too,in case you haven't tried it; and the old folks used to enjoy it as a spread for bread - sweet pumpkin pulp with unflavored gelatin added. Good!

A.L.M November 18, 2004 [c486wds]

 
LONG TRIP

I sometimes find it difficult to believe that the French and English - even before our l607 Jamestown and 1620 Plymouth adventures, our unsuccessful 1588 try to set up a colony on Roanoke Island - had flourishing fishing locations on Newfoundland and up the St. Lawrence River in what is today part of Canada. We hasten to add however that they were temporary installations, used for for a season then abandoned,

Those settlements were a part of the gigantic surge of fishing the French,in particular, as well as others, undertook in the early decades of the 1500's. The fishing industry was an important one to maintain European dietary needs and the waters of the Mediterreanian Sea, the North Sea, Atlantic coastal regions were inadequate having been fished intensely for centuries. They found a new and phenomenal commercial source of sigh in the banks south a nd southwest of the land which had come to be know as Newfoundland. There are conflicting accounts of who discovered the island and the commercial fishing paradise along its shores. The area had a good supply of floating icebergs in the early spring when the fishing boats first arrived. Once the fish were found a setting of many sails and banners of several nations began.. Some, based on existing records, attributed the discovery of it all to the Norse, or Vikings, if the story was to be considered as being romantic. There are also claims the St. Brendan, out of Ireland, had discovered the area long before the Scandinavians ever set heel to the rocky shores. Certainly the French developed fishing. They seem to have been dominant, ,although some fearless Bristol England fishermen made the trip more or less regularly.

History books I read make references to the cod fish as having been the mainstay of the fleets success. Other fish are mentioned but one account alludes to them as being considered on for use as bait to ready hooks to catch cod. What also sounds like a “fish story ”is the instance that the cod of that era - the mid 1500's - weighed in at from 150 to 200 pounds per capita. The first time I read that figure I wondered who might be pulling my fin, or just who had made a mistake, how b-b-big and how long ago? The breed was larger, it seems, and it was a favorite to ship back to European markets.

Time was a telling fact on in the fish market of those days, and cod could be handled either “wet”or “dry.” A fleet could, working together, fill several returnees with fresh fish while the others would be stocked with sun-dried slabs of cod, salt-processed on the shores and stored in ramshackle lean-to wharf buildings. With favorable winds the trip back to the Le Harve area of France or the Normandy shore took about three weeks.

The French had one processing advantage over others .They brought their own salt with them - tons of it - from the sun-drying pits which prospered along the south shore of “ The Flemish Channel” back from the tip of Normandy as far as Dieppe.

The profit motive was the driving force behind the unusual venture and heroic efforts at sustaining a major industrial venture for that time. To go that far to fish, especially to some of us, for cod seems bit too much.

We, today, undertake long trips in acquiring certain things we desire, and many think it foolish that we even entertain ideas of importing materials from various bodies in Space.

With Man being what Man is, it has to be tried.

Now is the time for young minds to be pondering on what we might meet within such ventures. I have found one historian who faults the French fishing men of Newfoundland's Grand Banks for not having made use of the icebergs among which they often worked. Simple: a layer of ice; a layer of fish; a layer of ice; a layer of fish – but no on saw it! Refrigerated fish!

If, in your mind, you are planning a “long trip” for our nation, keep your idea box tuned to the “Well, now, it-could-just-be-that -” channel. Nothing is impossible except something which has not been rightly tried.

A.L.M. November 17, 2004 [c720wds]

 
THANKSTAKING DAY

Yes, I realize “giving” is the usual ending for the common word of appreciation. “Giving” seems to have more general acceptance than the opposite concept of “taking". This year, however, we are beset with a particular mix of circumstances which suggests it might be a good time for us to bring out and investigate those many possessions we do, all ready have; things - including deeply imbued holdings-which we, or our forefathers, accepted years ago and have worked hard to make our very own.

Life itself, is one of those treasures. We have it of our parents with God's blessing. This is a gift which obviously varies from one to another of us - some have good health, while others face difficult times. We, though our families, accepted that gift and we have learned to work with it to take it; to hold it close, and to use it to best advantage. If we are properly guided we learn to use it to the benefit of other – rather than merely ourselves.

Safe conduct in the maze of today's problems, may seem more demanding than in the past but we have always faced dangers with courage and fortitude. That is another one of the treasures we have taken to be our own due. The actions of our predecessors long ago determined much of what we believe to be just and good and proper today. It is quite accurate to say that we, today, face world wide problems on a much more immediate perspective. That's true. Wars, as well as the constant ”rumors” thereof, which used to be, primarily, distant, far-off occurrences happening to other people, but today they are with us in a media sense even before they rally start. We are very much aware of the social, ethical or economic wrongs which cause so many conflicts and we have yet to learn to deal with them with them even partial justice and equity.

We have learned a great deal from these riches we have accepted. We have taken such suggestions readily but the skill with which we might apply the principles involved will determine future. It is our basic acceptance of essential, fundamental rules we have taken to heart and mind years ago which will see us through future times of uncertainty, doubts and questioning.

A.L.M. November 16, 2004 [c396wds]

 
C'MON, TAKE A CHANCE!

Do you remember when we were worried about our culture being taken over by slot machines?

It didn't happen, of course, as so often happens to such dire predictions. Or, can we be sure?

Slot machines of the historic past were assembled from seemingly random accumulations of wheels of weird proportions, levers, cogs, springs, printed numerals and small, peek-in, plastic-glass windows. They grew more versatile since the days of ancient Greece when the Temple to someone-or-other was set up to dispense a spurt of holy water when a monied worshiper slid a drachma or two toward one end of a delicately balanced plane sticking through the wall over a vat of the wet stuff. Later on, the Roman off-shored the technique to the known world of their time.

Instead of simply falling victim to what came to be called the “one-armed bandit” we changed our definition concerning what a slot machine might be.

When you place a simply telephone call to your favorite professional today, what is your resulting experience? You were dozen choices : “Dial 2 if you wish to pay a bill”, Dial 3, if you want to schedule brain surgery” “Dial 5 if our are trying to locate a lost pogo stick.”,or Dial 13,if you are sick.” If you are willing to to wait on line until “one of our well-trained, widely experienced technicians is available. Line #7 comes in automatically and, while you are waiting. waiting, you listen to old tapes of elevator music tape played backwards for innovative mental stimulus.

When you take time from your busy day to self-serve the family van with gas, how can you be sure you will not choose the one pump island out of the twenty-seven offered – the one which bears a small notice “Diesel fuel only”, ”Credit Card only” or “Out-of-Order”.
Your cell phone can be a portion of today's gadgets given to chance . Taking chances seems to be a part of our modern way of life. even if you do not buy lottery tickets, enter contests, and appear on TV game shows, with an intention of becoming wealthy.
Turn on your TV set. Take a chance of something good.

A.L.M. November 15, 2004 [c387wds]

 
RELIGIOUS VARIATIONS

It would be normal for us to distrust public opinion polls after our repeated experiences with them in the recent elections, but we are now being presented with even more such polls concerning the plight of our religious life here in the United States. They present a dire picture.

I find it difficult to accept the poll reports shown on TV this morning which in someone reporter views which are said to “prove” that average attendance figures at Roman Catholic churches in America are down to critical points which indicate a time in the near future when numerous churches must be closed for financial reasons.

Such dire predictions are not indicated for this area in which the local catholic church appears to be doing well and has just recently added a second service for Hispanic membership.

One such poll reported this morning shows attendance at church by catholic worshipers to be at around 32-percent with a rate which predicts less than one third w
will be in church within the next few years. The loss is attributed to a large extent, to the exceptionally high cost of literation in payment for widespread costs of sex scandals to diocesan treasurers. Boston, where much of cited millions have been expended is is often cited as an example but it is done without any comparative estimates of potential loss to such a debt in other areas.

We need to be more c cautious in our poll-taking ventures and less trusting of those who do such work. It has been common knowledge in industry and commerce that polls general favor those who pay to have them taken. In days of not-too-old when radio stations vied with each other concerning numerical counts of listeners, it became quickly apparent that the station who paid have the survey taken was the winner.

We have come to place special trust in “exit” polls - as one is so designated when taken as the interviewee is departing the voting booth or building. The polls now being quoted were done, it appears, during the recent election period - a time when answers to any question are deemed to be particularly suspect. My maternal grandfather had a pet aversion to being asked for whom he intended to, or had voted for and his exacting suggestion if or when asked such a question is unprintable. in even the media of today. e was not a dedicated c churchgoer and would,n o doubt,have ,b been disturbed at having been asked about his attendance at such services. If anything, such questioning will get apologetic,.exaggerated or untrue responses. If you survey an area in which your interest concerning types of music preferred, you will find that respondents tend to set themselves up a notch on the quality scales in their responses. In the world of music hour ear will show you how musical entities have been fragmented to such an extent that even those who favor one type are at a loss to describe it or limit and not include half a dozen other associated types.. Religious denominations have, in a very real sense, done the same sort of deceptive re-identification and many people today do not understand what it is they are supposed to be believing. To answer definite questions about it all is not easy. The same fallacies occur in answers to questions concerning church “attendance.”

It seems odd, too, that we are being told catholic worshipers are diminishing we are also being told Protestant groups – especially Fundamentalist tangents - are increasing in number. Much is pre-determined by who is taking the poll. Cults, too, are said to show increased membership.


Catholic problems with sex life are not a new thing. It is a problem has never been adequately considered much less qualified. It will prove to be more of a problem in some times ... in some places ... and it is not an exclusive problem with the Catholic Church, but rather with the church catholic.


This , too, shall pass.


A.L.M. November 14, 2004 [c-683wds]

 
MEANDERING MYSTERY

Do I just imagine it to be true, or is it a known fact that the public interest and con­cern about cults and off-beat religious groups abounds in mysterious cycles?

We seem to go along for years without hearing about such oddball beliefs, and
the comes along a sudden flood of stories on the weird themes. And, each time it does so, it is accompanied by a list of newly declared devotees.

The current list is all feminine, too. That puzzles me, as does the fact that the list is appended to all stores about the phenomenon is always printed for us in the same sequence. Notice this year's list of personalities who have announced their intense new devotion to the observance of the rites and run-on reasoning of the oft and much-criticized “caballing”.

In addition to Madonna, who started the current list off early, others included are: Brittany Spears, Brittany Murphy, Denni Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Monica Lewinsky, Rosie O'­Donnell, Rosanne Barr, Diane Ladd and Sandra Bernhard. I don't know the background of all of these ladies, but it appears they do have much in common.

Spelling in variety of ways, the cabala is, most likely, the granddaddy-of-'em-all as far as cults are concerned. It is associated with the earliest days of Jewish lore. Some features bears out they were lifted from Egyptian religious concepts and there are Greek terms in the make up of the organization itself. Anyone seeking change quickly sees great advantages . It can be part of just about any cultural background an individual professes. It can be seen as the religion of he ancient Druid at Stonehenge and other such sites; or, if you like, you can do rituals attributed to the ancient Mayan of Aztec cultures. The oriental concepts are there; the Nordic, and even the pseudo social isms we think of as being modern. One cabala fits all and you use only what suits you ,specific need. Madonna had pointed that out. You need accept only those parts and portions which allow you to feel more comfortable.

The “black magic” qualities found in some writings the Cabala collections have served as the base for a n number of novels and films. It has served well as the foundation on which satanic worship cults, and has, it seems, never been without active members. To me, the list which is currently being bandied about shows how much such thinking of this nature is gaining and it has real meaning for all of us. I do not know the status of those on the current list but I do know some of the ladies mentioned do not represent the best qualities of today's society. Their obvious need for religious certainties in their troubled lives stands as a challenge to us. If those, and other young ladies need religious certainties and we allow them to sip at the deceptive brews of cults we ,too, are off course.

Often followers of cults are careful to insist that their beliefs do not constitute a “religion.” It can be a temporary means which allows them to do what they wish in a social sense, but they do not view it in the same eternal outlook of a true faith. I don't see it as a thing which can be said to course be their fault alone. They, of course, make the choice but the fact that all the rest of us have so little faith in our own professed Faith suggests that the continued success of such false, mis leading concepts places some of the reasons for their being at our own doorsteps

A.L.M. November 13, 2004 [c618wds]

 
FRAGILE FAME

The special pressures of fame must be a great trial to those who enter that area of living.

To suddenly arrive a point where your life is no longer your very own to be lived according to your wishes and desires, but, rather, one which must conform to what others expect of you, must be quite a jolt. A single deviation from that plan established by the mass, multi-mind of those who control your fate, can prove to be fatal.

One of the most tragic occurrences of this past year in thousands of homes across the land, and yet it has been largely forgotten by this time. It was personal tragedy for one young man. A small thing, in one way, because pertained just one, still boyish young man who was on the very edge of fame and a well-paying career. He struck us as being genuinely glib;, enthusiastic in every way and born with a seemingly natural ability to excel in the art of sincere salesmanship. He was well on his way to becoming the TV spokesperson for the only remaining line of computers still being made in the United States. He impressed us with his puckish humor as today's, modern version of “Tom Sawyer.” He oozed enthusiasm and had the verbal verve to match.

Suddenly, he was no longer there. We saw no obit notices. A few readers found short snippets in the folds of our newspapers that he had run afoul of the marijuana weed. I never knew the extent of his involvement but his career was at an end ... destroyed. Ever since that time, I have wondered when our scientific, medical, social and political people will find a workable plan to rehabilitate and restore such wasted talent.

Now – today – another young man of special ability his on center stage - young Ken Jennings, from Salt Lake City, Utah who in the prevailing and seemingly unbeatable champion on the TV program “Jeopardy.” This long-standing TV favorite recently revised its rules for the regular program showings to allow winners to remain on the show until defeated. Jennings has won millions of dollars and show not sign of being bested. He has won the hearts of million of TV viewer who are not setting forth all sorts of potentials for his future. is modest nature will, I think, cause him to do what all true champions ought to do – attain to a certain point that will make any future record setters have second thoughts, and to then retired
undefeated.

Ken Jennings is responding well to the pressures of fame and good fortune.

A.L.M. November 12, 2004 [c445wds]

 
REDOLENCE

I miss the election fervor.

Suddenly, it seems too quiet. The air is free of insults being flung right and left and hitting mostly people in the center each of whom harbors a hint of whatever the one side is accusing the other of being.

We are, as a nation a strange amalgam of diverse peoples often irked by contending views and appreciations who,most of the time, feel it proper to subdue any actions to change things too radically. Election time removes those barriers, at least in a vocal sense, and we find ourselves saying things we never thought we'd ever express; doing some unusual maneuvers and, at times, shocking ourselves and our peers.

There is a continuing warp and woof in the weaving of our election process time after time. I don't actually recall the campaign which put Woodrow Wilson in office but I do remember the aura of pungent displeasure expressed by many people well after that time concerning his set ideas about the place of the League of Nations in our future.
Later on, about the time of the sudden demise of our leading news magazine of that time “-”The Literary Digest”-by reason of polling the political postulation and naming the wrong man as being the winner elections took on a expansion of the senses.

From the Harding days comes a whiff of scandal which has, since that time, has permeated the political parameter in a manner not unlike the the theory of aroma therapy. We talked of personal scandals; of the Tea-Pot Dome oil affair and other such
evidences of poor judgment at various governmental levels. Evangelist Billy Sunday did his loudest and best to blame all such things on the Devil launched tabernacle terror throughout the land to confute, or, at least, confuse his satanic majesty.

With President Calvin Cooledge, things simmered down somewhat, and enabled him to spend a lot of his time in north woods retreats. He held the record for the most days-off, I think, for a long time but it has probably been upset by now with traveling Oval Office facilities having become what they are. The appearance of Herbert Hoover was quiet but his years became a continuing time of world wide economic transformations we have never known before or since. The “aroma” of the elections of that era are not pleasant at all. That time set my personal political clock. I witnessed the death, in many ways, of what had been called “yellow”journalism and saw the rise of “pinko”papers to follow. I came of voting age when Russia's “five year plans” were new endlessly, when Franco evolved out of the Spanish in-fighting, Il Duce and then Adolph Hitler and his counterparts. The FDR elections were phenomenal. Herbert Hoover was demeaned and Al Smith made “RAD-e-oh” a permanent part of the proceedings. I heartedly disliked the idea of a 3rd term but voted FDR , my Commander-in-Chief, over businessman Wendell Wilkie.

And, on and on ... into modern times.

Election time has been more volatile than I would have thought now that I have scanned my personal feeling about those past. Just last week I wrote about being glad it was all over for 2004.. Then, just a few days later I find myself missing the presence of election time sensitivity to our political needs. There is a special aura about election time, I now find, which comes to us as a fragrant, sweet smelling and valued reminder of evocative pressures from within us telling us what we wish - some day - to become and be for all Time.

A.L.M. November 11, 2004 [c609wds]

 
THANKS TIME


Every year when the caloric splendors of Thanksgiving Day are rolled by me, I think of an artist whom I have trouble even remembering at other times of the year. His name was George Henry Boughton, a man born “near Norwich, in Norfolk County, England” in 1836. He has always been, to me, the world's prime painter of Pilgrims.

George Henry was, probably one of those unfortunate children named after both father and father-in-law or after both grandfathers. He is never spoken of a either “George” or “Henry” but always as a two some. Picturing him, as a kid, and being from “near” the fine old city of Norwich, I looked at his paintings for years trying in vain to find some landscape reminders from that area - Wroxham Broads, perhaps, old Elm Street Hill, or Mousehold Heath, perhaps. Nothing. I found out later it was because when his family left near-Norwich, GH has attained to the age of two years. We have to say, that he was “brought up” at their new home in Albany, New York.

Until he was seventeen he was not an artist, although he did pen-and-ink drawings and other sketches frequently. He was destined to be a “business man”, but one fine summer day in that seventeen year when he was at a store buying some new fish hooks, he noticed a set of oil paints in colorful tubes. He bought that set instead of the fish hooks; found an old piece of used canvas and became a widely exhibited artist painting landscapes, Pilgrims, historic sites, pilgrims,peasant folks all over and more pilgrims. His work is widely respected and admired for its “simplicity, tenderness and subdued, but not weak, coloring.”

His most common picture of American pilgrim settlers of l620-plus phase is that called ”Pilgrims Going to Church”, owned by the New York Public Library. In it you see a group of men, women and children, walking - strung out loosely - through a small clearing on the edge of a forest. Two armed men are at the front of the line, women and children in the center and two armed men at the rear - plus a tailgater lagging perhaps fifty yards behind the group as a flank guard, a late member or the first of another such church-bound set of Plymouth Colony settlers. As an indication of his strong leaning toward doing pilgrims, other paintings include such titles as “Return of the Mayflower”, “The Scarlet Letter, “Priscilla and John Alden” and 'Going Home From Church” and “Pilgrim Exiles.” After selling some of his paintings at that l7-years mark, Broughton went to London to study art but stayed only a few months. He returned to New York City and opened a studio. He exhibited works in both New York and London. In 1861 he removed again to London - this time to make it his permanent home.

George Henry Boughton was a busy man. In addition to his paintings, his detailed knowledge of peasant and pilgrim life; details of their group and personal life-styles and an awareness of their simplicity, and self-governing strictness made him a perfect artist to illustrate special editions of “Knickerbocker's History of New York” an of “Rip Van Winkle”. An odd note appears in some articles about the special talents of a rather staid Boughton. He is widely respected and admired among fellow artists, it seems, as having been especially successful in painting female figures.

This year,when you see a copy of “Pilgrims Going To Church” in your favorite paper, magazine, or book; as the November page on your calender or on TV, think of seventeen year old George Henry Boughton as he decided to pass up a box of much-needed fish hooks in favor of a few tubes of oil paints. That decision change his world – and ours.

A. L. M. November 10, 2004 [c653wds]

 
THE GAMES THEY PLAYED

Many years from now experts on Mankind's progress will examine our records to determine what games we played as children.

Of what records? Of what games?

We take pride in the obvious fact that the mind of Man is much more receptive to new information than that of the general group of animal creation. It is far more flexible than we care to admit.

The games we make available to our children today are doing a great deal to determine what their future will entail. Objection has been raised consistently concerning the nature of such games. Used increasingly as entertainment-education tools they are exerting tremendous influence on our youngsters. Repeatedly, honest attempts to evaluate these entertainment-educational hybrids are thwarted by potential profit for the makers thereof.

At that time when we finally get around to a serious examinations of the situation, what will they find?

Initially it will be learned that there seems to have been a radical change general era following World War II. Games, in general, became sedentary rather than physical. Outdoor exercise games gradually gave way to indoor technology-assisted play.
We continued deeper into this area as the decades went by and today the majority of children play electronic games as their favorite pastime or watch special sport which have gone far beyond their ability to perform. Most children, being small versions of adults, seek an easier way to get a thing done,and certainly there can be n nothing easier than plugging in an appliance and pushing buttons or flipping levers.

If the investigators of the future have at hand a selection of “records” from various institutions detailing the progress, growth and changes of the genre they will see how their subjects conducted themselves and be able to judge much about their early training and experiences.

Will it be that, if they examine prison records, they will find that - as children - many inmates where well schooled in all forms of violence and forceful achievement their goals? Or, will it be that some other records will show adults living in a fantasy world in which unlikely things happen routinely and aspiration as achieved without effort.
Yet another vast group of adults might then be living a farcical existence in which they pretend all is well and leave management and care up to others while they wonder how the came to be subjects under a dictatorship.

We can no longer deny that some real dangers exists. A quick glance at the current crop of games will show you that our children are being taught by what, to them, seems living example, that violence solves all problems ....if anyone does anything you don't like - eliminate them. They are being shown how man's history is nothing but a fantasy or a farce.

We may be too late. I think that more and more as I witness parents playing their children's games. Statistics of the future may not show that facet of figures which are steeped in clandestine caution.

It is, perhaps, past time for adults to tinker openly with today's “games” we allow young people to play.

A. L. M. November 9. 2004 [c533wds

 
THE GOOD YOU DO

Are you automatically irked when you buy an item of clothing and find it was made in some foreign country?

If you have a violent reaction which likens the situation to “treason” you are, perhaps and average American. Major retailers have sincerely tried to offer only “Made in the U.S.A.” items. They have quickly been made to realize it cannot be done. Our manufacturing abilities are a thing of the past and the usual expression we hear so often is that “they have been sent overseas.”

A more truthful statement might be that we, over the years, we have, literally, by allowing the production costs of such manufactured goods to climb to unprecedented heights in the name of some transient blends of warmed-over economic theory and left-overs of resident fevers of political correctness.

We used the expressions such as : “...over there they have thousands of natives who are paid pennies to do .....the slave labor....” We go to great trouble to establish the idea that native workers are being paid very low wages without any regard to what local wages scales may be .I have not the slightest idea how much – or how little the native worker in far-off Nepal was paid for sewing up the shorts I happen to be wearing as I sit here typing these views. I don't know what the minimum or average wage might be in Nepal, but if it bother you that you must buy finished goods from such areas, you need to modify your thinking a bit to be more at ease.

Those “pennies” we speak of might well be the only income that native worker will see this week or month. Those petty coins will go to help feed that man an d his family. You a re giving him or her a chance to live as a human being. You are providing for their welfare though you need. What better type of international relief” could we possible participate in than to provide employment for individuals in a poor country?

` Let's be honest about such “giving” in past years. There was a time when our churches gave generously to such projects but we see less money dedicated to direct assistance both in religiously oriented and government relief plans as well. When we “give”a needy person a job making our clothing, as an example, we provide work for millions of needy people around the world. We often refuse to see that we have abandoned certain work areas, and we also, tragically, have had a growing feeling of being ashamed of doing manual labor and of teaching our children to do so as well.. I happen to live in and area where Latinos - both legal and illegal - have quickly filled jobs local jobs local residents would no longer accept in the poultry-processing and fruit-growing businesses.

Instead of moaning so often about feigned fears of financial failure because “our jobs are being shipped overseas.” You might find it better for everyone if you honestly try to see it as good we are doing.

You have a part in it, too. Put on your new work shirt made in - somewhere far away - and reflect upon what your “pennies” may have had on lives in that area.

A.L.M November 8, 2004 [c562wds]

 
AT HOME

How aggressive do you want your local media to be?

During the recent political campaigns it became painfully evident that the media,in all its forms, was slanted toward the left side of the philosophical spectrum. It was generally thought at the time, to be expedient to speak of the off-balanced situation is rather hushed, esoteric terms such as that, but, now - with the election over – we need to speak and think of as it was – planned, overt actions taken with intent by many members of the media to side always with Democratic Party. It was often done in the guise of seeking ways to show both the “best” and the “not so good” sides of every point of discussion, or, said more blatantly as meant giving people a choice between “good” and ”evil”.

To protect our future as a nation, we are in dire need of curbing such tendencies. We must move now as a unit to determine who will, control each of the media's many elements in times of national stress. Right now, during “hangover time”, might be the best time we will have; our finest opportunity to examine the evidence and become aware of how very close we came to going totally wrong in the Summer and Fall months of the year of 2004. We need to determine how personal we want our media to be in our lives; how pervasive and with what authority it acts. And - all must be done without imposing by general consents and without imposing censorship.

The basic difficulty to be found in getting anything of value done on this sort of thing is found in the fact that the American people do not, by and large, agree that they are influenced by the media. PR people in Hollywood and in our TV production studios wherever they may be, lead us around like flocks of sheep to see their various creations. The very same lures can lead us politically, and it is technique of Today and of our Tomorrows.

Many facets of the media became evident in the recent election which had not been evident before. Among them was a rapid growth in what is currently being called “talk radio shows”. The name is mis-applied to the big network shows featuring a talker but the grass-roots style of regional voices are the ones which has shown phenomenal growth and impact. The Internet and E-mail were use extensively in the Howard Deane primary campaign and have served well as connectives between. Other potent media tools - Direct Mail, Phones and Cell Phone addictions, fax machines and copiers. All were used in the recent election to influence voting. When we speak of the Media, let's not limit it to newspapers, TV stations, radio stations and magazines... and all related branches.

I realize I am speaking into the wind with all of this talk. We Americans are not about to curb our media, save under the most dire conditions when, even then it is done, not by rules or law, but by common sense and gumption. That's our way. In the past we have depended on common sense and peer pressure. My guess is we will try it again and again until that one time, when it did not work.

A.L.M. November 7, 2004 [c558wds]

 
CLOSET CLUTTER

Old-time radio used to provide us with a weekly reminder which told us to take a look at ourselves. The specific program featured a patient, understanding, loving housewife and a bumbling, overly ambition. gullible and often inspired husband who was known by the appropriate designation of: “Fibber” - Fibber McGee

Fibber's wife Molly, long-suffering under his odd, clownish ways, was a paragon of self-containment in one way but, now and then, she found it necessary to stop her errant husband in one of his inventive escapades. She did do by saying curtly and conclusively: ”Tain' t funny, McGee!”

I thought of “Fibber McGee and Molly” on Tuesday of this past week as I stepped up to the voting booth at our town's community center. Fibber put everything in the closer just inside their front door andoon those occasions when it became necessary to open the door he often did so without making sufficient preparation for the avalanche of belonging which came forth unbidden.

We do the same sort of thing, soften, when we put our hand to the level of the voting machine. We open new vistas. How many voters were aware of the fact that they would be called upon to vote on several amendments to our state's constitution? Why are there five names of men running for President when we had heard of only two - and one other one is a few states? How do you vote for Congress person who is running unopposed? All sorts of things tumbled down upon you as you stand there and you solve part of it by voting against it whatever it might be. Or, ignore it. Vote your known preferences, pull the bar and get "outta there.” The little sticker and attendant tapes to your lapel says: “I Voted”
But, to what extent had you done so?

Too often, throughout the “political year”, we are kept so busy chasing after personal rainbows – enticing illusions of things which might be – just as Fibber McGee did so much of the time, and we fail to work at keeping our storage closet of experiences, knowledge, facts, figures and friendship in order so they might be better used to everyone's advantage.

The election times of our lives are about the only time a lot of us get to see ourselves as we really are. Our gathered problems are many They are often fermenting and they are thought to be unsurmountable. We tend laugh it all off; to shove them back into the narrow closets of our lives - we tend to make a big joke out of all of the confusion and clutter.

It is at that moment that we all in need of a “Molly” in our lives to step up and say to us: “It ain't funny, Mc-whatever-your name- might be!”

It is needful that we put our political stocks in better order.

Soon.

Now.


. A.L.M. November 5, 2004 [c496wds]

 
HELPER

Sheer necessity required that we make use of a two-car ferry boat years ago when we wished to cross the New River, upstream a few miles above Radford, Virginia. The crossing was widely known as Ingle's Ferry and the site can be visited today just a mile or so down river from Clayton Lake Dam.

The ancient river - deemed to be, by those who know about such things, the oldest river on the North American Continent, is the border between two Virginia counties – Montgomery and Pulaski. The current of the wide river is heavy at that point set within a gentle curve. The Pulaski side is rather steep , a pattern which holds downriver for many miles as the ancient waterway cut it's path through the limestone cliffs on it's way to join the Kanawha, Ohio and Mississippi. Our Montgomery side featured, for the most part, flat, fertile and flood- prone fields. At the top of the hill on the Pulaski side the village of “New Berne” - Newbern to us. The West End section of the City of Radford - a community five miles in cooperate length strung out on the series of “shelves” rising up from the flood plain level of the above the flood plain level of the stream.

The Ingle's Ferry installation is worthy of a book unto itself telling its history and importance, but my immediate concern is to note one way in which the old ferry boat managed to make a quicker trip across those rushing waters.

Loaded the two cars and perhaps a small, cart or buggy the long wooden vessel tugged at the cable to which it was attached and was poled out of the safety of the log-shouldered berth into the current. You could feel the rush of water grab at the emerging boat length; then along side and when it got to the rear end you felt a sudden downstream swerve. A confident glance from the pole man assured your all was well and you quickly came to realize the downward current of the river pushing against the angled side of our boat was being used to move us toward our destination.

By keeping the side of the vessel athwart the main thrust of the current we acquire a source of power we might, otherwise, we might be opposing. The boatman in charge has control of the degree to which the craft is to be aligned with the force available and we rely on his or her wisdom to maintain that condition to our best advantage. It is not the purpose of the boatman to attempt to alter the force of the current, or to arrange the course of the stream itself. It is his job to make maximum use of the power potential, and he may, if he choses to do so, modify the sources of such power just as we have done by the construction of Claytor Lake Dam above the Ingle's Ferry crossing. We have, in so doing, brought a measure of flood control to the bottom land areas below the dam as well as the shores of the resulting lake itself.

This is not just idle nostalgia. Is it too far out for me to see a relationship to what we are now asking the President of the United States, newly installed for a second term, to do for us? He is a steersman in one sense, a pilot, a boatman who keeps our craft in proper relationship to existing forces which impede our progress. A wise leader will use those opposing forces to help us on our way. I learned that simple less on many years ago from watching or riding the small ferry-boat across the New River in southwestern Virginia. I feel, too, that he is capable, if need be, of building a controlling complex above and beyond all at we see, if need be.

A.L.M. November 4, 2004 [c662wds]

 
AND THE WORLD GOES ON

Now, second-termer President George W. Bush spoke of his appreciation for his father having passed along to him the awareness that – in spite of all that happens to us – life goes on.

It is so true. During the election months - even”years” for some – living was, somewhat suspended ... placed “on hold” for a time while important political a considerations were given prime attention.

As a nation of people, we tend to “pick up” where we “left off” returning to the continuing scene often without realizing that changes may well have taken place with some of them in our absence. The Laci Peterson Case is before a jury at last, and TV watchers are again expressing their opinions. Some wonder what what became of Martha Stewart? Some are amazed to see Yasher Arafat-head of the P.L.O.- back in the headlines. This very morning the airwaves of the world are showing Arfafat both dead and alive. There are factions around the world which would like to see him one way or the other, but I have a feeling Yasher A. has bested such adverse conditions before and that he may well do so again. There is no one person whom we have seen to be in dire physical circumstances so often only to watch him extricate his pudgy little from the threatened danger. He out-MacIvers MacIver's TV unique ability to maintain a steady stock of instant-escape substances, gadgets or gizmo's. Vast numbers of people still see him as the Clown Prince of the Arabic world. Few realize his tremendous power.

Some things we can forget, as well. We will, probably not be seeing old films showing long-haired youths throwing their combat decorations over a symbolic wall. Such showings were intended as an embarrassment to candidate Senator John Kerry. Now that the election is over we realize that while such pictures stand as an item of shame reflecting adversely on all of our national culture, lifestyle, our sense of values which caused a generation of such youth to develop and influence our pathways.

Genuine concerning has returned to the consciousness of, millions of American now that the Election phase is ended. More genuine good is being contemplated today than we have known for some months.

Some of it may even be activated.

A.L.M. November 4, 2004 [c397wds]

 
UNITY

We have, in recent month, had some severe political and social problems which have, under election-time pressures, caused a great deal of division among us. If we follow true to the usual pattern we shall, as of now, begin a series of reforms designed to overcome some of the problems formed by overt expression of diverse opinion.

Few such plans have any real assurance of success. Most fail because they are basically dishonest, so do a close check on any reformation ideas you may be thinking of putting in place to sooth some of the irritations which were either caused by, made more difficult, caused by, or multiplied by Election 2004’s strange meanderings.

Our leaders will meet today and, in effect “bury the hatchet”. Many citizens cannot bring themselves to do such a thing. They are, instead, critical of those they supported during the campaign and see them as weaklings, willing toddies, and complacent co-worker against progress making the most off defeat.. The “healing process” as it is called, is an essential part of every political campaign of the governmental system which is sustained and strengthened by such diversity of opinion.

Unity is the key to continue success for our nation. The political campaign set forth those qualities which are deemed worthy of examination and comparison. The treatment is often harsh, intensely argumentative and on the edge of becoming violent, at times, in the estimation of some citizens. We did not overstep such limits this time around, and that, in itself, is a mark of merit. Too often, in the world-wide view, we see governments torn to shreds by “elections” giving license to violence. It doesn't happen that way here, for which we should be grateful
The secret of such a re-birth of basic ideals after strong disagreement is a to be found in the fact that both sides must do so. It is symbolized b y the re-establishment of civilities between the four men running for the major offices of the election, but it is really found when you and I, their followers and sustainer's, do so eagerly and with sincerity.
There is a other comparable undertaking the world over,and I hope it will be maintained as a hallmark this time around. We, with a unusual sense of humor, insert a paragraph of text - unseen but always there none-the- less – which serves each side. We remember the previous antagonisms and use them as model upon which plan for future encounters. There's something of a “Huck Finn” revenge quality in it through which we see ourselves and our actions, eventually, as having been petty or ridiculous. It is an American trait and we can't expect other to understand it. It enables us to laugh at each other and a ourselves as individuals and as political party clowns.

A.L.M. November 3, 2004 [c479wds]

 
NATIONWIDE SIGH

You,too, may have heard it today – the sound of a giant sigh of relief, of satisfaction and long-awaited pleasure. I was among those sighing,too, and we were celebrating the end - finally - of the 2004 Election campaigns. It has been a tedious time.

The campaigns start too early and run too long. This one started at a faster pace, too and hearers became tired if it. The campaign voices were loud. They were omni-present among us in print and on TV far too long; much too frequently. Some personalities were unpleasant; ill-fitted to aspire to the office in mind. Much of the subject matter brought up and, on the whole rather poorly handled, was of a nature which we Americans, in general, have not yet learned to be comfortable within public forums. To have our prospective leaders commenting on the merits and demerits of same sex marriages or discussing the prospect of all-out stem cell research do not make especially good in-home topics. We are in an era when religious matters are of world-wide concern. Terrorists attacks,until now not at all common in American thinking, are now an historic reality in the lives of citizens of New York and our nation's capital city. Beside such topics the usual election talk talk about taxes, trade-offs, pork deals, pensions, aid programs and employment positions(jobs) are rather tame subjects. The campaign was far too often urging citizens to vote their fears for the future rather than strength and blessings to be gained from unity.

It may be a good thing that we are on the verge of the time of the year in which we, as a nation, celebrate a day dedicated to being thankful. Tonight, as initial returns are just starting to come in to the nation's newsrooms, there are also a score or more of elaborate ways in which all can go wrong! There is serious thought tonight that we may become involved in a legal war among ourselves to decide who won in which contest. Election 2004!

A.L.M. November 2, 2004 [c364wds]

 
DEAD DEAD

I can't recall ever having thought of the subject of the intensity of death until our most recent Halloween celebration. The actual process of dying has always, to me, had a certain finality about it that causes reflection and thoughts concerning it's actuality as being somewhat “moot”, as legally- oriented folks might prefer to put it. “Now,” whenever that might be, “is too late.”

Even that excellent seer concerning many of the mysterious ways the human mind can work, “Garfield”, met with the problem when he met a ghost-person at the bar drinking in lonely sorrow because “he”, “she” or “it” had lost the ability to scare people. The ghost sipped and groaned forlornly: “ I wish I was dead!” Garfield, in sympathy, put his paw on the shadow and said softly: “I don't know exactly how to go about telling you, but ....”

Garfield underlined something for me which I had read earlier that witchday which said in plain text: “Ghosts don't know they are dead.”

Halloween's ghosts are not, you see, null and void. They don't consider of themselves as being empty, vacant, shadowy or non-existent.

And, at about this point you must be asking what the heck all that
have to do with anything?”

Right, but I was struck rather sharply by the idea that continuing shades of some of Mankind's great ideas and concepts live in a shadowy, non-substantive manner. Just because a concept or idea for a change didn't work out the first time someone believed it would, does not mean it is finished ...done ...or dead. We are living in an ere when this sort of wish-think might prove to be more important than ever before. Medical and other scientific study has changed the potential life span of humans far beyond our wildest projections.

Halloween is thought of as more or less fun-filled parody of an early holy day time. It is fashioned for kids, for chronic jokers of all levels, b but - deep down - I often sense an accumulation of fears, fancies and foolishness perhaps religious in nature. Listen carefully and you will find that someone will ask you if you believe in ghosts.

The inquiry is often disguised as humor. The questioner is hesitant to put his or her thoughts into words. Many seem to think they are being critical of their religious faith and they feel in tensely uncomfortable when phasing such a query.

I am thinking about this subject at an age level which allows me to cite an opinion based on more-or-less a full century of experience on a first and second-hand basis. I'm not quite that old, but my memories put me in touch with beliefs my parents and others must have used to answer my questions about spirits and strange occurrences

When people ask me if I believe in ghosts, I do not say “No, of course not.”

Let's just sit out here on the limb with each other!

Is that okay with you?

A.L.M. November 1, 2004 [c509wds]

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