Tuesday, January 31, 2006
PRETENDING How does a grown person - man or woman – justify their repeated use of childish methods in pro ported attempts to solve adult problems? How can a grown man or woman after having been separated and elected to represent other people approach his job in such a slipshod manner? Stubborn resistance to change is mandatory. How can he or she possibly relate to reality? How can they hope to get any problems solved without some exchange of some exchange of views? We see an adult sitting there before the camera who in no way aware of anything the opponent may be suggesting. It was, I think, quite obvious that the formal vote, when and if they ever got around to agreeing to take one would prove to be on strict party lines. It was, I read, one wandering vote asked. It worked out as most people understood it would. True enough – approval was gained, but at what cost? When our congresspersons take such time as is needed to play their little games, it is the bulk of the American people who are harmed. How can anyone hope to retain confidence and trust of the people when they see our lawmakers acting as so many of them do? How can people overseas retain any respect for such a governing system? When people in others nations see such a session as it is shown on TV they might well of surmise the one side to be hired buffoons or court jesters in place to offer contrast. It has long seemed to me, that every president deserves his own choice of the people with whom he hopes to work during his administration. I see no reason why such individuals need be subjected to a complete Congressional hearing and an extended trial. They are to nod their approval of the President's action, that's all. They get to meet the nominee. The come to know what they are likely to have to do with him from that point or, if they can ignore him. It is the president and his immediate staff's concern to sift out any vicuña coat peddlers, influence agents, and other such baddies. We need to make some changes in the way we select our governmental people. To provide easy ways for misfits, non-conformists, leftovers, has-beens, former-whatevers and professional power grabbers to move into government jobs has become more risky than ever before. Advancements in politics must be based more on past accomplishments. A.L.M. January 31, 2006 [c428wds]ryrvih
Monday, January 30, 2006
NO LET UP I am increasingly disturbed by the fact that the obvious growth of violence-oriented programming con continues in spite of repeated plans set forth which are designed to abate this negative value in our TV viewing. Intended to, at least, abate the use of sex-rooted language, actions and insinuations, many such efforts seem to have fed the contagion rather than curbed it. So-called “new” shows introduced to our TV screen have been, for the most part, rather sad imitations of some previous empty shows which have been withdrawn so often because they were “old”.The number of natural deaths among them is indicative of some wrong choices having been made in fixing something that was not really “broke”. Many of the old shows continue to run on other than what we are still trying to call, “the major network” channels. Cleavage and crotch sequences serve the new shows well. As skirt fringes rise, dialog sinks lower; as cleavages widen, action dangles loosely. Repeated limb and sternum shots and crotch transitions – both female and male - are costly decorations – in money and time. They are the spendthrift fool's tools, at best. When applied to newscasts the three fatality factors are very offensive but being used more and more, as well. Think back through the number of TV shows you count among your favorites, and only a few of them will be contain then excess of filth, suggestions and double-meaning which are made to be common in most new creations. Not that any of us can lay claims on purity awards...far from it. We all had standards of morality. We all had our own levels of depravity. Each had, is his or her own, personal degree a stance to which we might place ourselves and beyond which we did not. Present-day script writers, producers, directors, some actors and actresses and many critics, too often, today attempt to dictate that level of depravity beyond which we will not find it best to go and especially in our own homes among friends and family. In the end we are, to some extent, have ourselves to blame. If we seem to approve of it, we share the guilt of it being allowed to continue...even be magnified for a time. Take courage in the simple fact that we are doing exactly what is needed: we are not watching it. The TV people, and others such a magazine editors are, even now, wondering how it is that their way is fading in favor of Internet, cable grown up, and the host of inventive “hardware” which are part and parcel of the new times...here now and just ahead! Their demise is assured as we ignore their faulty efforts at reformation without genuine changes being made. We face a brighter future in the entertainment portions of our lives. Faulty art - in all forms – exists because we buy it. Think about that, and act upon it! A.L.M. January 30, 2006 [c505wds]
Sunday, January 29, 2006
TUG 'N DONKEY DAYSEven today in our high-tech times of change we can still see strong evidence that the old-fashioned, somewhat stodgy and slow tug boats continue to be seen in the harbors of our coast lines; inland, more so at just about any location where a bit of railway lore exists the donkey engine is also hard at work doing its part of the transportation work of this great nation of ours as it continues to grow. Both are fading away,I suppose - more certain as methods become more and more mechanized and modernized. We cannot predict the future of valuable assets. The names will become meaningless in time, and the changes will, we hope, be largely cosmetic nature such as name changes o conform to our times and also recognition of improvements made in each of the units. Names do that -become old-fashioned, quaint, and even obsolete. An example of one such change which has beentaking place all around us in recent months. Have you wondered what has become of the many phone booths that used to be scattered all over your area? Wall phones in public areas are not being replaced, because there is no longer any need for them since the cell phone as taken over. Young people now in pre school training will have to have such items as phone booths, record player -perhaps tug boats and little donkey engines - full-sized trains, as well, for that matter. A.L.M. January 29, 2006 [c308wds]
Saturday, January 28, 2006
RULES FOR BENDING
Current news headlines remind me, so often, of two short stories we have in our national treasury of such material which is not longer being read. One story deals with that type of person who insists that you follow rules exactly and the other is made up of people who have deeply ingrained feelings concerning their right to “something-for-nothing” and “pie-in-the sky” treatment. Both stories were written to be funny. Their merit is found in the fact that they are still comical when read today. They still have meaning today because they deal. The depict human traits which do not change with the pages of our calendar. Sometime about 1906 a man by the name of Ellis Parker Butler had fun writing a story he called “Pigs Is Pigs. And, Mark Twain had written one a little earlier called called “The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg.” The very titles themselves were enough to send the grammarian perfectionists into a frenzy of explanations concerning the proper use of pigs – singular and plural - “that” “is-are”, “who-whom”... with suggested means to keep our language pure. Neither of them will ever be called “classics” I suppose. They're too fun-filled. The Butler story speaks of someone, finding a rule who feels he is bound to follow that exact guideline, He is a person with “no bend”; no “give and take, “live and let live” ideas at all. Only at times when he finds such a plan is not working to his advantage will he be ready to shade a few of the stricter lines a bit, fail to dot a few “I's” or cross some ”t's” and learn “how to look the other way.” In “Pigs Is Pigs” the author has us meet Mr. Morehouse as he calls on Mr. Flannery at the Interurban Express office where expects to pick up a small crate containing two guinea pigs. He expects pay to make payment for their having traveled on Mr. F's rail system. When they check the manual they find no specific price quoted of ”guinea pigs” . The Express Company clerk enters the rated charged for: “Barn Yard Pigs”. The customer enters a loud complaint and refuses to pay the bill. They agree he will consult the home office of the express company. In the meantime, the clerk will have full possession the giunea pigs. Guinea pigs multiply at an astonishing rate, and those were a dozen; a score and more and more until the Express Company was making daily shipments of giunea pigs o all points south, north, east and west - awaiting word from the home office for rates on such shipments. In the end, several persons had to understand the need for occasionally bending rules. The Mark Twain story packs a strong moral lesson for us today, as well. A strange old man visits the town of Hadleburg one night - a town proud of its reputation of honest and purity. He leaves “a sack of Gold” behind to be given to that unknown person who, many year before had befriend him and made him a loan. One by one residents started remembering the man and the deed of long ago. A great many rules had to be modified for Hadleyburg to regain even a small portion of its old reputation. Rules must be tempered with a bit of common sense because people are no always what they appear to be. None of us. No one. A.L.M. January 29, 2006 [c000wds]
Friday, January 27, 2006
DEALS ON WHEELS It certainly ought not to come to us as some that was not expected to happen - that American car manufacturers find it necessary to cut back severely. When Ford Motor Company announced it plans to pink-slip from twenty-five to thirty thousand workers in is manufacturing, assembly and distribution systems some people expressed a limited measure of concern for the very first time. Such a cut goes far deeper than most citizens realize. It does not affect just the thirty thousand well-paid individuals will, no longer be getting their weekly check or benefits to which they are, as mere employees of a large firm, eligible. Financial and other advances through to have been associated with retirement can be quickly, and permanently nailed unemployment wall. There may well be others as we along but they will I'm sure prove to b e anti-climactic and “also ran”entries in the race toward ruin. The action of the “big boys” get the main attention and we often fail to realize how vital the smaller losses can be. For very job that is lost, many others in related fields go with it. Any actions by the “big boys”is impressive but the smaller ones are important as well. They don't attract the same attention. And, we often forget that when any job is lost many jobs go with it. There is ample evidence that we, as a nation, continue to buy new cars. We buy foreign-made cars and many reasons are cited for our doing so...among those reasons: quality. The nation's best selling units this past year have been HONDA cars and trucks. Owners will tell you why they changed. Their comments are not flattering the average local dealer, or distributor of American made vehicles. Many will say the present method of selling new American cars by inducements are on the very edge of nightmare and insanity. Rebates no longer make good sense. Giving a buyer back as much as half has never made sense. The American automobile makers need to realize value and quality must be maintained and their sales forces must be able to tell truth and sell cars. A.L.M. January 27, 2006 [c376wds]
Thursday, January 26, 2006
BIG NOSE I just learned recently that the career of the infamous Apache chief know to us as “Geronimo.” came to an end when he surrendered rather peacefully to a former Harrisonburg, Va, school teacher whom he knew only as “Big Nose.” The Spanish dubbed the Indian chief with the Spanish translation of our name Jerome. His native name by which we was a called during the days of the Apache War, and as he was known at home in Chiricahua, was “Goyathlay” which means “none who yawns”. He seem anything but one who appeared to be sleepy to both Mexican and U.S. Troops tracking him for many months. The American army Lt. Charles Bear Gatewood was called “Big Nose” by Geronimo himself because of what he saw first when the young officer came into his camp to talk him into surrendering. And, because he did just that, to Lt. Gatewood gets credit for bringing the expensive Apache War to an end. When Charles (the Bear) Gatewood went into the Sierra Madre Mountain range in Old Mexico in 1886 to ferret out the wily Geronimo and his warriors he had a force of five thousand soldiers and in that time he had just about one quarter of our nation's entire armed forces. Mexico also sent groups of various military units into the fray against the Indian chief, and they never quite accepted the treaty Gatewood made with Geronimo. In fact, on the very day he physical surrender was being enacted several hundred Mexican watched transfer tensely and when one Mexican officer accidentally or unthinkingly shifted the position of his weapon in his belt, the Indians drew their weapons and were on the alert. American troops stepped between them, it was reported, and the surrender ceremonies continued. Geronimo and his associates were sent to reservations in Florida, Alabama and Oklahoma. Atwood was cited for “meritorious acts while leading Indian scouts in 1886” according to West Point records. The citation accorded him was “for bravery and boldness and alone riding into Geronimo's war camp among hostile Indians and demanding their surrender.” He had previously been honored for another such act of bravery. In 1892 he was sent garrison duty at Fort McKinney, Wy. There, during a barracks fire, he was injured by a dynamite explosion and died at the age of forty-three at Fortress Monroe, Virginia while awaiting reassignment. Lt. Gatewood was born in Woodstock, Va. which he called “home”. For a brief time he lived in Harrisonburg awaiting news of his appointment to West Point and the start of his military career. A.L.M. January 26, 2006 [c446wds]
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
CHIEFS VERSUS INDIANS Our American educational system has, over many years, existed while displaying obvious shortcomings. They are becoming more noticeable as we progress toward a worthy rearrangements, but much remains to be done. Simply contrasts of the attainment by students under other, more efficient systems tell the story graphically. The average one of us dislikes the reading of any negative qualities in even the most colorful presentations. Simply put on such criticism is that we are constantly trying to create far too many Chiefs and not enough Injuns. We have justly been accused of attempting to turn out graduating classes which will consist mainly of executives with left over who will serve as workers. Now that outsourcing has become the way industry, commerce and business are to be run we have no need for training for non-existing. We are required to go along with the real world – like it or not. We must now fit individuals for daily life in being consumers, users, managers, delineations, or co-ordinaters. I ran a check on things I wear last night and I find only two items marked “Made in U.S.A.” One was a belt so marked that I don't know if it means the leather-like belt itself or just the metal buckle. Another item which I was led to believe was shipped from weaver's shamrock-scented hands - my genuine, authentic and sassy, narrow brimmed, little tight woven of the best of wool - my prized “Irish Walking Hat”.It is the only clothing I possess made U.S.A. The plague of mail order diploma mills now sweeping the nation shows the extreme extent to which illegal college degrees of all levels, high school and trade school certificate are being printed and sold. They are being sold – many from overseas source, and they are being accepted and used in the job markets. Meanwhile college enrollment costs are rising steadily even as standards for acceptance are being lowered. How is all of this going to end? And – how soon? It has ceased to be a mere matter of chiefs and Indians. It concerns survival of the entire tribe. A.L.M. January 25, 2006 [c368 wds]
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
DULLEST DAY? Earlier this week, I heard someone on TV testifying that it had been decided that the date – January 24th is known as “the dullest day of the year. I've never heard that it was so designated, have you? Certainly the individual who came up with that idea must have got up on the wrong side of his or her padded cell some morning recently. You cant just go around branding specific days as being complete duds. So much depends on your own special interests and what you consider to be worthwhile. If you're strong on music, for instance; if you don't mind stretching the category a bit that Justin Tubbs died of an aortic aneurysm January 24,1998. He was a son of the late Country Music Hall of Fame member Ernest Tubbs and that made a lot of good people sad. In 1994 David Cole, a superstar producer, died of spinal meningitis, a college music professor sued the “New Kids on the Block” for 21-million back pay charges and he accused them of lip-synching eighty percent of their concert lyrics. Good things for the date: birthday cakes for Mary Lou Retton, John Belusi, Edith Wharton, Tatyana Ali, one of the “Sesame Street” children you've watched growing up. 1986 In 1986 the “Voyager 2” space probe came within 51,00 miles of Uranus, giving earthlings their look at the distant planet. Then,there were a few in-between things which could have been bad or good depending on how you look at them: a Russian nuclear powered satellite plunged to the earth's surface,disintegrated and scattered radio active dust over much of Canada's Northwest Territory. In Lebanon gunmen were holding four American educators hostage. They were later released. The prosecution made its opening statement in 1995 at the O.J. Simpson murder trial in California. “Olestra” - a no fat, no-calories cooking oil was FDA approved – January 24, 1995. A U.S.Supreme Court upheld a Missouri law that limited the contributions an individual could donate to a political candidate in one election. And, of course, here are some oldies you just may not like to be reminded of because some of them sound just like yesterday. In 1908, in England, Robert Baden-Powell organized the first Boy Scout Troop. In 1962 Jackie Robinson became the first black member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1984 Apple-Macintosh unveiled heir first model to change computer thinking forever. It was also on January 24, 1848 – a day when, supposedly very little of consequence takes place, that gold was discovered in California. The President of the United State - President James K. Polk – made the discovery official that same year -eleven months later in December 1848. It's shame he couldn't have waited a few more weeks and made the announcement on Jan. 24, 1849 because the Gold Rush came to be called “the 49's” after all. A.L.M. January 24, 2006 [c496wds]
Monday, January 23, 2006
P.O.W. PASTOR How many ordained ministers do you know who have been prisoners of war? Not very many, I would guess. The sixth minister of Old Stone Presbyterian Church of which I am a member was in just such a situation for seventeen months. He wrote a book about it which he impishly titled “U. S. Bonds” It had originally been intended as a personal journal but family interest caused him to edit and rewrite much of the story of his Civil War imprisonment. He completed that work on January 1, 1874 in ”Ashley Manse” a log house down the hill a bit to the east of the church. You get a feeling for the intimate things one sets down in a daily diary, but he appended speeches, poetry. He passed his writings along to his wife when she visited “in numbers” as he put it. He often buried his manuscript awaiting her next visit. His prison was at Fort Delaware, just south of Wilmington, in mid-river and within sight of New Castle the place our first minister John Craig had landed in 1734. Records show his name to have been Issac W. K. Handy. He was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth,Va. The first entry in the journal was dated June 17, 1863. He had planned a family trip to visit his wife's family in Maryland He felt that the curbed life they lived occupied Portsmouth has been hard on them. During the eighteen months he had been there he had preached one hundred extra sermons and funeral services in addition to his normal pastoral duties and he visited he sick and dying, too. In strict accord with military regulations, he applied to the proper Federal officials for permission to visit his wife's ill mother whom she had not seen for five years. Reverend Handy knew he had friends in the Federal army who appreciated and respected his work, but he knew he had one enemy in certain General Dix who had sworn publicly that hat he would never do any favor for Preacher Issac W.K. Handy! And while you are waiting, help out a bit. We have yet to discover what the “W.K.” initials stand for in his signature. He always signed it with those two loose letters and with absolutely no hint of what they might mean . A.L.M. January 23, 2006 [c411wds]
Sunday, January 22, 2006
SO FEW It is not at all uncommon for most of us to have, at least, a basic understanding of what we sometime “secret language” known as the Morse Code. Most kids are thrilled to learn that the English letters “S.O.S” mean that danger threatens. Most of us are aware of the code because of some early association with boy scouting, military, or ham radio. Until recently a basic knowledge of code was part of the learning process of ham radio, but it has now been eliminated to stay in-line with our general educational tendency to lower standards to gain membership in an elite group called the educated. Many of us accept the idea that we can transmit intelligent exchanges of information by sounds, visual manifestations ranging from Semaphore flags to huge antennae arrays. We even have units seeking a connection of some sort of with extra-terrestrial civilizations. We think of code as being useful in rescuing sailors lost on tropical islands in our films, TV shows and imagination. Code can be a handy to have in time of need. Why don't we use it more often? The mine accidents in West Virginia which killed eighteen people this past week, illustrate the potential benefits. At one point they spoke of a pipe leading to the disaster zone. If that report any convict in any prison can tell you a tap becomes a “dit” and scrape become a “dah”. “Tap-scrape” on the transmitting pipe becomes “dit-dah” and will be read as “A”. All right, it's slow! I know that but if reliable information can be exchanged we are way ahead. One would think there would be a conscious effort on the part of safety program leaders of life saving groups that some members of that crew must have a working knowledge of Morris Code. We have many ways of bringing sub-surface sounds to the surface and some of those can certainly be adapted to work the proper, prompt and pertinent trapped with a minimum equipment they might carry with them as safety standbys. There is yet another aspect of all of such concern for safety. The Braille alphabet and numbers used by blind people are a simple system which uses two columns of three dots each arranged in a domino fashion and raised on the surface of a heavy paper. A working knowledge of “signing” would also enhance the chance of saving lives in times of disasters - natural or man made. A.L.M. January 22, 2006 [c426wds]
Saturday, January 21, 2006
HOT TIMES I have always been an admirer of volunteer firemen. There has always been a special a about them. They were brave men, just as workers in various fields of employment have proved to be - such as the miners of West Virginia's coal fields and other areas where we dig our riches from the Earth. They are more “caring”, one might put it without slighting anyone else. They started earlier, they had close family ties, they were concerned about household treasures of all kinds – both tangible and unseen – and what they did convinced them they actually touched people; rally made difference. Perhaps part of my feeling stems from the fact that the first fire company I remember was something a bit less than what a good fire department might have been. We looked at it in a sort of “Keystone Kops” way and did the best we could with what we had at hand. The Fire House was an old garage corner of the Court House and the Fire Chief and his wife had rooms above so they were close to our only vehicle - a used unit from a nearby city's used fire trucks lot. When a fire call came in one of them grabbed the telephone to determine the exact location of the blaze. The Chief would mount the high seat of the red truck; kick the motor to life and week a small latch on the dashboard which triggered his own, personal siren which screamed a high-pitched as if attempt to outdo the one roaring from Court House roof. Our town was odd one that it was strung out for five miles along a big river on shelve it left behind as it carved into stone cliffs on the other side. The town was divided into “East End”, “Central”and “West End” and that second siren was of important for those who lived in the central part of town. We could ell pretty much where a fire was by listening. If the siren continued steadily it meant the Chief and had turned up the steep hill in front of the Court House and hate was staying in the midtown section. I remember one ho day,however,when it didn't work so well. We boy knew for fact , that the fire had to be in East End. He would pass in a moment or so. Suddenly, the siren scream sickened and died away – completely. That could only mean he had stopped in mid-town “Central” which rapidly became a tragic thing. We looked for smoke but saw none as we ran toward the imagined fire. When arrived, there was the Fire engine and the Fire Chief was standing beside it under the shady canopy of the Sinclair Service Station. He was carefully topping-off the tank, so he could get along on to that fire in East End. Took good care of that truck, Chief did. Good thing he noticed the gas dial said: “Low”,or he may not have made it to the fire in East End. A.L.M. January 21, 2006 [c511wds]
Friday, January 20, 2006
WHEN LEADERS PUSH The somewhat confusing words of Mayor Negan recently which set forth his idea of what a restored city of New Orleans might be were disturbing. Many others have plans which are quite different from his overly opportunistic, fix-it plans. Had anyone else used the tired term “chocolate city” they would have been media vilified no-end and to purposely repeat it called for intense mental mismanagement. Such cute terms so often have within them divergent ideas which are not at all in keeping with many of the people one may cause doubt and lack of confidence in any such plans. The texture of such announcements must be acceptable to a majority support. Certainly any ideas which seem to have a set purposes of making things better for any one group – racial, political, religiously, social, economy or any such division is bad. Leaders in our time cannot truly lead in our multi-faceted society by favoring one group over another. We must believe in and unification concepts rather than divisions and special advantages for any section of our society. The mayor's declared intention sounded as if it might be an invitation for any and all blacks to make New Orleans their home so they could re-build it to their liking. He also ad-libbed a reference to God and punishment for which he later apologized but he did not with include his invitation. Even it really “unintentional” it was, no doubt effective for intensely religious segments of blacks in various sections of the country. Such a plan would, no doubt, be favored vocally by such stalwarts as the reverend Sharpton-Jackson-et al - standing, at the ready, for such a project. The Old New Orleans must have been a real patchwork quilt concerning ownership. I dare say much of the shoddy repair and maintenance work which never seemed to get finished in the city stemmed from elsewhere-ownership and lack of interest or concern. Judging by the financial plight of the city today, it will be many years before it can get on its own and completely out from under from under federal, state and other assistance programs. Ownership will probably be corporate in nature rather than parceled out to small holders. Certainly “leaders” will be needed to - again-and-again - point out the best of perplexing pathways to prosperity for all. A.L.M . January 20, 2006 [c410wds]
Thursday, January 19, 2006
ON ROMANY TRAIL Do you remember when gypsies roamed our back roads each Spring and Fall? You would not have to go back too many years o be able to recall those creaking, overloaded wagons trekking along the side of our roads. Those strange, puzzling and interesting people lost a lot of their charm over us when they were forced by economic pressures of the times -"Depression Years" - they have been called, to change their horse drawn and hand-powered carts and wagons for motorized just short junkyard permanence. I recall anticipating their arrival each Spring and Fall. They followed the greening grasses northward in the Spring they drifted south like colorful leaves fallen to enjoy warmer climes in eastern Carolinas. They never seemed to hurry at any time and accepted whatever type of weather that came our way. They seem ready to accept and make the most of whatever weather came our way. With the worst kind of weather many deer and and a few hares disappeared. We spoke of such game as being "ours" and our parents and others openly accused the gypsy intruders as common thieves. Anything that happened to missed, misplaced, bartered off, or sold during the summer months ,automatically, deemed to have been stolen by "those gypsy people. I remember hose times and wonder who was right and who might have been right and who could have been wrong. It was their. They were stand-offish, stubborn, light fingered, too. I still remember how happy some of those gypsy folks could seem to be. And happiness is something that's hard to fake. You are one or the other - happy or unhappy. A.L.M. January 19, 2006 [c288wds]
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
OMITTED Live and learn. I chanced to read one of those “Today in History listings just this morning and I was surprised to find that on this date in 1943, Americans were forbidden to have any sliced bread in the house. Those of us under “duration plus six months”contract with any of the military services missed a great many things happening “back home”. It was many years after the war before I actually saw and held a ration book in my hands. We were, now that I look back at it all, we members of the armed forces were the ones who were being ‘deprived” - not the people at home. The U.S.O. Was created to provide some of those little things we were missing which made life at home so much easier. Other groups worked with the same thing in mind; to provide “needed” items for G.I’.s living away from home minus the important little things so important to fulsome living. I assume the prohibition on sliced bread was considered to be an economic measure. If such a ban on sliced bread was set up to save money doubt if it could have been worthwhile. Or,it could have been that someone saw the term as a symbol of wastefulness. “Best thing since sliced bread!” is still used to say something is new and good to have. At the time, I did wish for white bread, I remember. We lived on brown bread ,baked and moved about like a stack of bricks. No paper wrappers. The rough texture of the bread itself had a bran husk barrier which opposed the cutting process of any average knife blade. It was best eaten in chunks torn from the main loaf by finger power. Some good-toothed individuals could bite into it like sunlight consuming an iceberg. I have asked around today and, thus far, I have not found one person who remembers the day when sliced bread was banned. Many think I'm silly to even ask. Most seem to think bread has always been sold sliced. Few realize that bread used to be marketed by the chunk or a family-styled twin-chunk or double loaf. I wonder what measures we have on the books right now as “security measures” which may strike people in the future as being on the silly side? A.L.M. January 19, 2006 [c411wds]
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
NEXT? We seem to have jumped ahead of ourselves a bit. Maybe you have noticed it, too. Regardless of whose picture appears on the screen, someone within sight of the screen will, say "...another one running President!" It doesn't seem to matter who the individual might be, or what they do for a living. Everyone is eligible. Last night a former contender stood forth and did a "speech" concerning comments concerning every possible negative quality he could think of about the life, work and supposed achievements of our President George. Al read the lists of accusations well enough - precise and without a shadow of double about any one of them. He went through all of it acting as if it just happened to be his turn to say disparaging things about our Head of State. He stressed the figure of "two thousand five hundred American youths dead". Most people in the room thought Al Gore was "running for president again." Hillary Rodham Clinton kept her name in the list by making a statement about George Bush running the nation as if it were a "plantation" leaving it wide open for people what that comparison may entail. Some killjoy said this morning she was quoting a line from a Republican used in the Ford campaign against Democrats. The mayor of New Orleans made a MLK speech in which he invited all blacks to come down to recreate what he called " the nation's largest and only Chocolate City." He, too, is running for President. Be careful about what you say in public. Mention something you think should be changed and you will be spotted right away - "running for President." Trent Lott is running for a seat in the Senate but that be a cover of some sort. Here in Virginia our own governor has been showing increased interest in New Hampshire and Vermont. There's no wonder about that. He is running for a stint in the Oval Office. A.L.M. January 17, 2006 [c398wds]
Monday, January 16, 2006
LETTER CARES Among the many things I plan to get finished this afternoon is the writing of a long, loose, chatty letter to a friend of mine in England. He will, I know, share my letter with his family, just as I do with his letters coming this way. How can I write about some of the strange things which have been taking place on this side of the Atlantic briny? I am not too proud of some of them. The 'hearings” in Washington, D.C. for instance: I know the people have seen films clips of the political events on TV and I'm sure they have seen a few pictures in their fine daily newspaper and, perhaps, even here on the Internet. I know they must wonder, at times, exactly what the world is going on with such extended and mindless meanderings. I think most of us gave upon watching TV version. It has been a case of “nothing in = nothing out” with many TV cameras in recent weeks. One mighty think that nationally known Senators - called “statesmen” after they are dead - would refrain from vilifying a presidential nominee for a specific office with such low-down, cheap, tawdry tactics. The nominees are usually well-qualified for placement in the office being recommend. If we continue this shameful system of investigation of the entire life of nominees we will, some day soon, find our selves without candidates.. Who wants to be so treated ? I have an idea that many people think all of our senators are of this low style. Far from it. I have no quarrel;with those from my state of Virginia, and other states as well, states as well. I should think that the good people of the New England area might be led to do something to curb on in their very midst who constantly seeks to condemn every nominee by narrow party methods. All of New England gets the blame for such gross conduct and the real, trouble makers go Scot-free. It is a condition which is now best solved at the ballot box. On the whole, however, I feel good about the state of union. I can speak forth strongly on our behalf even if I cannot see any good coming to us through disquieting actions as those urged upon us by Ted Kennedy and the likes thereof. A.L.M. January 16, 2006 [c405wds]
Sunday, January 15, 2006
THE BROTHERS BEE There were two boys in the Bee family in Charleston, South Carolina. The oldest had been named Hamilton when he was born July 22, 1822. Then in 1824 his brother Hamilton Elliott, was born as a February person - February 8th. The Bee brothers as they were known, were very much alike in some ways yet each had a distinct personality all is own - strong, stern, and capable. It would be unusual if you know anything much of either of them. The younger one, Bernard, had a claim to fame because he said something about a co-worker of his and most bios simply say: "brother of Barnard". Barnard graduated from West Point in 1845 and went off to the Mexican War with the 10th Infantry. In 1861 he resigned his commission to join the Confederate 1st South Carolina as a Lt. Col. in artillery. In June of the same year he became a Brig. Gen. and commanded 3rd Army of the Shenandoah st First Man n as. He was a one of the dead of that battle July 22, 1861, ending his short career. Hamilton Bee's military career was longer. He drew on his Mexican War experiences in the Federal army to become a Brig.Gen. in the Confederate forces. He was stationed at Brownsville, Texas where his duties were largely administrative. He did command a cavalry brigade in Red River Campaign and other actions. When the Civil War ended Hamilton Bee did what so many defeated Confederate officers seemed to think was the smart thing to do; he moved to Mexico to live. That did not last very long. He came back to Texas and a busy life in local politics -even then called "public service." That was Barnard Bee's brother - Ham. It was Barnard Bee who, overlooking the battle a First Manassas, gave a friend and fellow soldier a new an abiding name by saying" "And there stood Jackson like a stone wall!" A.L.M . January 15, 2006 [c341wds]
Saturday, January 14, 2006
WHEN? At what point, exactly, thousands of American citizens must be wondering today, is it legally possible to oust a man from public office – a man who has been duly set apart to be a “judge” among them; one who by verbal statements and by his official actions, demonstrates he does not believe in the very principles on which his official status is founded, how long should be allowed to continue in office? The specific case is current news from the State of Vermont, a site of frequent oddities in political matters. Now, in addition to having a screaming governor who, when under stress, startled the nation - and actually frightened more than we know by giving forth with a frantic, soul-depth cry which has yet to be examined for ultimate meaning or roots. We are now hearing a cry from another quarter of governmental powers - the judicial side. When is it time for the people to exercise restrictions on authority when such power are mis-used or improperly applied. In this case a judge has handed down a sentence of six months in jail for a convicted sex offense against a minor, and a second man charged in the same crime has been placed on parole. The Judge, explain in his strange actions has stated that he does not believe that punishment prevents crime. Are judge on their own? Are they above the bodies of men who made the laws he vowed to uphold when named to be a judge who would empower t This case involves but a single judge in one state, but it also suggests that it may be time for all of us to become aware of the tremendous changes which may well be taking place in our form of government. I have, purposely, omitted any mentions of those concerning the accused, the specific judge or the court involved. All that is the proper business of the people of Vermont, not of my area. In cannot act in the matter. I can be concerned, but it up to the good people of the State of Vermont to decide what, if anything, is to be done in this rather unusual manifestation of weaknesses in our system. We all have such irresponsibilities regarding other aspects of sound governing. For example, a number of states voters need to step on a few congressional toes to urge the elimination of some of the comedy routines some members perform so well during acts they call “Hearings” which are often more like “Tellings”, “Pointing's” and political playthings. This is wake-up time for many of us. A.L.M. January 14, 2006 [c446wds]
Friday, January 13, 2006
OF LOCAL INTERESTFor Local Records: a Time Line Biography of The Rev. John Craig - 1709- 1774. 1709 - Born - August 17th, in the parish of Donagor, County Antrim, Ireland - John Craig - destined to be the first to Presbyterian minister to the people of the area which has come to be known as the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. 1732 - John Craig graduated with an M.A. from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Later, speaking of that time: "America was then much in my mind, accompanied with the argument that service would be most pleasing and acceptable where most needful and wanting, which raised in me a strong desire to see that part of the world.? 1734 - John Craig embarked from Larne Harbor, Ireland June 10th, 1733 and after sixty-seven days at sea, landed at New Castle, Delaware August17th - which was also his 25th Birthday. 1737 - In September John Craig was ordained as a Minister of the Presbyterian Church. He had "entered on trials" and was licensed by the Presbytery of Donegal, having read under the Rev. John Thompson during several years of teaching school. 1738 - During 1727-38 James Anderson formed a Christian Society among settlers in "the Triple Forks of the Shenando" in the Virginia wilderness. Members of this society sent petitions to the Synod of Philadelphia asking for a minister in 1738 and l739. 1740 - Rev. John Thompson followed James Anderson briefly as a supply ministers at the wilderness outpost. In reply to the petition of 1739, Rev. John Craig was sent to the first congregation of the area when ordained in 1740. 1744 - John Craig married Isabelle Helena Russell also of Donagor , Ireland with whom he had, as a youngster attended church. They were married in Philadelphia, and returned to the wilderness ministry. They had nine children, three of died in infancy. 1774 - In the month of October the life of John Craig came to an end. He was buried in what is now called the "Old Cemetery" east of U.S. Route 1 near the site of the original Augusta Meeting House. The "new church" stands on a hill to the west as a sturdy memorial to its first minister. A.L.M. January 13, 2006 [c376wds]
Thursday, January 12, 2006
BY CHANCE We cannot escape entirely from the feeling which insists that some strange and wonderful things happen to us which can be explained only by considering chance to be a logical avenue of change. Look at your life critically and pick out those factors which have been instrumental in making you what you are today. Set aside a few of those elements over which you had little or no control. Your birth, for instance. Did you get to select your parents; choose your place of birth; your heritage? Some searchers think they see a pattern here...an ideal, a plan or purpose of some sort which guided the towards certain objectives. Our western hemisphere was discovered, some think, by wandering Norsemen long before Columbus set off to find a route to the riches of India and, on the way, chanced upon the Caribbean Islands. There is also a theory now being talked around that we were also discovered from the other direction. It is widely held someone from China visited our Pacific shores, probably at about the same time as the Norsemen hit the eastern edges of what is now Canada. He, or they, may have drifted with Pacific currents which still bring us occasional reminders of Asia, or they may have been a bit later trying to find a new route to the markets of Europe. No one knows because chance leaves no records on purpose. We find some by accident, however, and our intense studies are based on, an idea and plans of men of other lands, cultural habits and relationships which determined what our future was to become according to the plans of men from other lands who had never even seen our side of the world. Only when we get into the areas of religious concerns do we shy away from the idea of chance. What is providential and destined by a deity vies with the very idea of chance happenings. I cannot agree with the Deist view that holds the Universe came into being due to more or less accidental circumstances prevailing at the time. It has been, it seems in their view, set up as a giant clock-work mechanism of some type which has been ticking away and running down ever since. That would be chance, but it seems to me, to be a vastly more complicated concept demanding more such trite and trivial categorizations. When your child is in the process of being born at the hospital, you don’t want the doctors and nurses to be doing things by chance, do you? Think about it from time to time. To put your reliance on chance is risky at best. If you lose a dollar of two on the lottery from time-to-time, trusting to chance, the loss may not be too great, and that should be the extent of such ventures for most of us. To “bet you life” or any portion thereof, is foolishness. Much in mankind’s history which may seem to have happened by chance really came about from the concerted mental and physical efforts of scores of people in the past who contemplated and worked diligently trying to make their world a better place in which to live. We are doing it now in our space ventures,in our war efforts, as well, and and in countless other ways In truth, we leave very little to chance. We don’t trust it, and rightly so. A.L.M. January 12, 2006 [c588wds]
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
LOOTING Looting is stealing. It is as simple as that. It should be punished in keeping with our laws concerning theft. I have never been able to understand how people seem to be so ready to pilfer when security measures fail. In the recent weeks of war in Iraq the populace seemed to feel free to take anything they could lay their hands on simply because it was no longer protected by physical obstructions such as windows, walls , locks and alarm systems. They seemed to feel it was theirs if they could get away with it. Looting is a criminal activity and should be treated as such. But ,what happens when there is no such governing authority functions at the moment? That's where we were in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities; that's where we were during the Watts riots in Los Angles and I dare say, during the Sept,11th events in New York City, if the truth be made known. Those people who have retained portions of the ill-fated Challenger debris as souvenirs are guilty ,as well. That is when it calls for something in the very fiber of the individuals citizens of a nation to live by certain generally accepted standards of honesty and integrity which preclude such acts of vandalism. We in the U.S have a rather unusual attitude toward such “petty theft.” We ofter view it as being humorous ..comic. Witness the popularity of “Hogan's hero's” on TV. Their “moonlight requisitioning””of almost an item was typical of so much of military life. I remember one military Mess Sergeant telling me that he counted on a good one-quarter of his monthly supplies never making it to the mess hall tables. He requisitioned with that amount of “drift” in mind. Just as long as the general public looks on looting as a minor form of pilfering, it will keep growing to become a major factor in health and stability of American life. It is highly contagious. In our educational system it is called cheating. A.L.. January 11, 2006 [c346wds]
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
CHANGING NAMES Why do some people feel they must change their name? For many reasons, of course, some required legally while others may be sheer whims. For convenience, too, in the case of unpronounceable combinations of letters of world, which in another language turn out to be silly, less than acceptable in mixed society or just plan dirty. there are times in life when we may wish to establish a new identity; writers, painters and musicians often start using various names with specific types of work they'd most girls, when they marry, change their their name. That would seem to be a terrible thing to have to do, may be that the idea of creating a new cast of life ....the new family... an incentive to make the shift worthwhile. I must be difficult for some to do.....that's where we get they hyphenated names form and they, too, can be troublemakers and in some ways, degrading for each other. To some such usage they sound high-highfalutin; putting on the dog, pretending their family was better than the spouses. Most of us, I think, are aware of the old vaudeville routine wherein a man Charlie wants his name officially changed to Bill. Every morning when the office staff comes in they will say: “Bill Stynx” rather than “Charlie Stynx”! For many divorced women name changes can be for passing humor. Names have been changed because those who have been responsible to record names on shipping manifests, for instance, could not spell them and wrote them down pretty much as they sounded. Many foreign families migrating to the United States, ended up with varied names because immigration officials could not always spell properly and names were often written down as they sounded when spoken. Name changed as they skipped foreign language to another, as well. Most of them, have been modified in some way over the centuries...last names have changed considerably...so you can't be sure what your name may have been years ago. A.L.M. January 10, 2006 [c347wds]
Monday, January 09, 2006
RICHARD PAUL EVANS Many novels, especially those tagged as being “romantic” have had sunny Italy as a background. Very often the historic foundation vies so strongly with story content that reader so often think he had been tricked into reading yet another travel brochure. Novelist Richard Paul Evan, certainly overcomes any such tendencies in his recent novel “The Last Promise.” He has made skillful use of the comforting warmth and lassitude of the seductive warmth and charm of the famous wine country – chianti's home – which ,alone,has made the Tuscany area a place in which to seek out solutions for problems of love twixt and among strange combinations of humans. I am told Evans, his wife and five children moved to actually live in Italy to soak up some of the local mannerisms. His accounts are first hand views in family tones grasping a strong sense of place; its people and its customs experienced in natural, informal ways. He listened to the artist who asked him to tell the story of her unhappy marriage to an Italian man who lived and loved in a bygone era. He did so and set down much of the mis-alliance. He wrote the love story and discovered another. He set down their love story wit its problems concerning where it took place. The telling , unknowingly perhaps, at times, overcame some of their problems. Both the artist and the writer had personal problems which kept them from living in the United States and these problems are solved by the honest, forthright telling of past events. A.L.M. January 9, 2006 [c272wds]
Sunday, January 08, 2006
FINEST GIFT What is the very best gift your can give to a young man? Sir William Osler once said the finest gift you can present to any young man is the gift of friendship. So, you see it is not too late or too early to do so; not dependent at all on when holidays and sanctioned gift-giving times are handy. I realize it sounds a bit on the corny side for our modern times. It's true, however. A young man on his way up, seeks your approval for what he wants to do. He, if he has any gumption at all, doesn't seek guidance in a mentor sense at all. In fact, he may -unwittingly - may even resent your attempts to offer financial aid, favors, or power influence of a social nature. Your friendly understanding and approval of those steps he has taken, or plans to take concerning his future is what he wants most over all others. You can't give any better gift than that of the desired and much-needed gift of sincere friendship. Sir William Osler was at the peak of his sensational medical career in May of 1905 when he may have been at a point at which he especially realized how he had made it to that degree and had come to know how important friendships they had been to his success. In 1893 he had identified those blood cells we now call platelets which revolutionized the studies of human blood and related conditions. He advanced steadily into a wider view and appreciation of what medical service to Mankind might be for eager, capable, studious young men and women. He related easily, it appears, to those young people of college age - both boys and girls - with alert eagerness. The actual gifts we, following Osler's example, can give to young people is varied. Be communicative, for example. Talk with young people rather than “at” or “to” then. And – listen to that which they have to say and evaluate it in your own mind without, necessarily, making it obvious that you see some flaws therein. They too will, in time, see those same flaws without you having pointed them out as misjudgments and potential hazards. They will, thus, discover for themselves how they can overcome such fears and false steps without your intervention. It a like situation arises again” - they have “been there-done-that”. At the same time, use your good-judgment should dangers continue. Last-minute rescues can be a true test of sincere friendships. Teach young people to have “a gift of gab”... the ability to talk with each other, and with older people in a loose, informal, congenial manner without staid, formal rules obscuring innovative thought and action. Remember , too, that - like it or or not - you are a model for them. Good or bad. You are one or the other. Check your own standing from time to time to make sure you continue to a worthy template of which that young person may base his life. The cardinal rule is said “to make a friend,you have to be one.” It can be given and received a one and the same time. The basis of a friendship is being interested, concerned, loving and caring all the way. “In the life of a young man the most essential thing for happiness is the gift of friendship.” Sir William Osler, Canadian doctor. May 2, 1905. Wise words. A.L.M. January 8, 2006 [c582wds]
Saturday, January 07, 2006
STATE OF STATES One night this past week we listened to, and watched ,the governor of the fine state of California as he delivered his annual "State of the State" address to an appreciative and responsive audience. We are still questioning Governor Swartzenegger's ability to perform as a knowing politician rather than as an actor and strong man of host of action movies. I wonder if we are acing properly in doing so, because he has, certainly shown that he can perform well in the public arena as a political of distinction. I find it improper for pseudo-comedians of TV and radio talk shows to ridiculed his Austrian accent and mis-quote him using sham dialect bits and pieces to bolster their often false allegations and suggestions. There can be little doubt California has endured more that its logical share of such foolishness because the because they go right on inviting such treatment by being different in all things. People from Virginia used to be lampooned for being "colonial" by nature, stuck-up, stand-offish. No more. Since Northern Virginia has become a dominant segment of the state's political, social, economic, and real estate holdings. It has changed rather abruptly. Virginia has become more and more of a beltway community.Traditionally northern was A. C. - Ag Controlled. It is now on D.C. District oriented and powered. We hear of massive debts various states are said to have and, yet, a change in just a few offices can cause that same state to have a surplus if budget plans are followed.The wizardry of high finance is always a good topic for potential claims to fame. There is, quite often, a welter of such insults which come out during election time, but skilled political handling curbs them before any real damage is done to the basic structure of the democracy we have ...and love. A.L.M. January 9, 2006 [c327wds]rkvgrs
Friday, January 06, 2006
JANUARY 6, 2006 WHAT ELSE? When dire situations such as the coal miner's deaths at Tallmansville,West Virginia occur most of us react in a normal and seek ways in which we can express the genuine sorrow we feel for the victims and, especially their families and all who must live in such a rigorous environment to survive. It is difficult for any who have not lived in an authentic coal mining area to really feel the unequaled depths and wide concern such people develop concerning their loved ones. There is a vast difference between working where danger is threatened or deemed possible to one in which death is a constant host standing ready for the slightest invitation. Two members of my high school graduation class died in coal mine accidents along the West Virginia - Virginia border. Less than a year out of school and all was lost. I remember such times in the 1930's, too when the annual totals for mining deaths went to, and beyond, four hundred men. Almost every time we heard of infractions of existing mine safety rules and plans were announced for additional regulations to be set tin place. Obviously, some such promised changes were brought about. They must have been since there has been improvement since our annual count is far lower. But when events such as the most recent mishap we are reminded of how other area of our existence are accident-prone. One important factor in the West Virginia case was the apparent lack of dependable communication at the site. The news media is being, I think, falsely accused of being lax in their responsibility to spread facts and not rumor. Studies will show how the false report of “ten alive and one killed ” was widely spread for hours before it was discovered that the exact opposite was, in fact, true:”Ten dead – one barely alive!” Someone will be found to have been the source of this major error. At this juncture there is sufficient need for us to ask ourselves some direct questions? Where else in our society have such instances of “poor communication” been a central favor? Are there other areas in which we should be giving them attention - getting at the truth in each of them? Is it a fact hat some criminal investigations are at a standstill because of the paucity of communications among those those concerned with their solution? Very few cities or towns are without their own backlog of unsolved crimes. It is obvious that someone spoke out of turn at Sago, West Virginia spreading rumor for fact among those residents awaiting news of the rescue work being attempted. All of this should remind us of the need for accuracy in spreading the news. We are in special danger in our time because of the nature of our competitive news agencies - everyone wants to be first. A.L.M. January 6, 2006 [c488wds]
Thursday, January 05, 2006
THE NEED TO KNOW We learn through necessity. We have to know what a problem is all about before we can deal with it. I find it disturbing that so many people - at least, those who express themselves concerning national defense planning tend to play at something so serious. One can prepare for such things only to a degree. We must know what the problem is before we can prepare to meet it which leads up to something called “common sense”. It may not be the best method, but examine our history and see how often we have been been saved by our ability to learn quickly from experience of our own and that of others. I find critics of our defense preparations who think too often in terms which are far too narrow and do not include many segments of our population. All is not forecast by other ahead of time. We learn things as we go along. We often often from others and in ways we don't understand at the moment. Braddock's Red Coats were well trained in battle techniques -all of the accepted, standard, right way to wage war, but they had to adapt - and quickly - to the methods used by the American Indian. Those who did not, died. Simple as that. So much for drills. A young lady was heard praising her aged grandfather: “I am so glad,” she said,..so very glad to see that you are finally learning to put your hand over your when you sneeze!” He looked at her and smiled.”It's the only way I know to catch my teeth!” We prepare for emergency by being aware of what might transpire in a time of stress. We prepare for war conditions by living a calm, well-adjusted life before the war threatens. The quality of our life style determine if we will be ready or not I have had more than one Englishman tell me that during the mad nights of the Great Blitz in London in World War II, they, too, were amazed at how well people rallied in the time of need. With fifteen hundred fires burning in the city at one time, large areas had to be ignored in order to save others. Thousands of citizens rose to the occasion, above petty personal feeling, and helped others even while their section was being eaten by flames. As families of citizens, they had to learn to us Bomb Shelters hastily dug in the garden or front yard. No amount of drill in peace time would have made them ready to endure the discomfort of such sleepless nights of terror. People here are concerned about security at our airports while the vast majority of container ships come and go without inspection in a dozen seaports. Disaster practice demonstrations have been performed in Chicago and other areas, and a city-wide evacuation _- a mass movement of millions of people - the entire population of our nation's capital is planned. If you have ever witnessed “normal” rush hours from DC into Virginia and Maryland you may question such a grandiose exhibition in several common sense ways. To think of and actually plan for such a farcical scenario, in the name of national defense, reflects poorly on the many people truly concerned and seeking to provide methods whereby the American people may be made more secure in the face of potential attack. About the only point of merit I see in such a plan is that we would have with us in Maryland and Virginia ample hosts of Washington reporters eager to let us know what they think was happening. A.L.M. January 5, 2006 [c610wds]
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
MAKING OUR OWN STUFF I often wonder. Do we still actively manufacture anything at all in the United States? You,certainly,must have asked yourself the same question several times in recent years as it has become more and more evident that very few of the things we buy are "Made in U.S.A." We all seem to know this is a transition which has been taking place, and yet, no one, it appears, has moved in any significant manner to either stop it...or to, at least, slow it down a bit. In fact those activities as have been taken seem to be working the other the way around by encouraging even more offshore manufacturing. Somehow, it seems totally wrong that we should permit,and even encourage such a transition when our economy has been suffering serious problems. I remember when I had close friends who worked in plants where items were actually made;finished products for the general market. No more. Other, than some small artisan-type operations, I can't think of very many people I know now who make products that will be sold locally. Food products, perhaps, and related short-term items, maybe. Drugs, chemicals, beverages and other such lines, but those lists are shortening year-by-year. Notice how much of our Christmas-time candy items bear “Made in China” stickers or tags. I have two pair of my favorite brand of shoes. It is a well-known name brand among shoes and I have the interesting information to pass along to others: "My shoes are not made in China!" So many styles of footwear for Americans of all ages are now coming to us from China that many assume they all do. Not so. My shoes are not made in China. They are made in India and have been for several years. They remain leading “American“ brand, too. Check your wardrobe. If you are in the same situation in which I find myself to be, you have several sport shirts made in Guatemala, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong - some from nations you may never even heard of and did not know existed! You are wearing clothing items from Malaysia in a plaid design a Scottish Highlander would wear with pride. Your heavy, quilted jacket is made in Bangladesh. At the breakfast table you will stay closer to home because of the perishable nature of foods, but aseptic treatment processes are moving in on us speedily so the shelves displayed be doubled as far as food supplies are concerned and foreign markets will be able to compete as longer periods of shelf life making previously perishable food products obtainable over a extended times. Retailers here in the United States,for a time, seriously tired to re-build some of the American capability for manufacturing, but,one-by-one, they have all more-or-less given in to reality and now make no pretense of offering "Made in U.S.A " products. We have,in effect, priced ourselves out of our own markets largely because we cannot control higher labor costs. We are buyers, now rather than sellers. We depend more and more on others to supply our common, everyday requirements and this is going to have its long-range affect on many aspects of our lives the deeper we become involved. A. L. M. January 3, 2006 [c556wds]
Monday, January 02, 2006
PART-TIME PSYCHO DUDE Try this little stunt the next time you find yourself with absolutely nothing to do: Be your own crystal gazer; your own psycho adviser person or fortune teller and see things you've never seen before ...well, maybe. It's kid's stuff on the surface, but it can be interesting to older kids as well ... even puzzling. To begin: take a clean, clear glass . Fill it with water almost to the brim and place it on a low table before you. Seat yourself comfortably on a chair so that you can look directly down into the contents of the glass from above. You are now ready. All you have to do is to relax - refrain from movement of yourself or of the table. Now - look - stare down into the depths, then gradually bring your prime point of vision to the surface and hold it there. You may have wondered what it might be like when fortune tellers feign to see or actually do see thing in crystal balls they use. You are now doing it. Make no attempt to adjust any lighting. If you see nothing - change to a different area more alive with light reflections. Case #1: I saw along corridor which appeared to be flowing away from me in deep, sharper than normal perspective. The floor was hardwood strips. I had a feeling it was evening or night time. To the right was a series of long windows, curtained with with long, white curtain almost to the floor along a full length hallway toward an existing light area. Ahead was a more intense light - tinted yellow. Ahead in a doorway, in that yellowish glow of light, stood a thin girl in the doorway and she seemed to be moving and rearranging her tousled , dark brown hair. She was fully clothed and intently re-arranging her long, dark hair. I couldn't see the person to whom she was talking, only a shadow passing the doorway now and then. I did not know the girl. She just stood there talking to someone and did not notice me at all. She she did not acknowledge my being there. I went on down the hall; entered the bedroom beyond her and there was no one present. Case #2: utter darkness on the water to start with and a light developed in the foreground and divided into two sections - upper and lower – to show me the inside of a church. It could have been the church we attend but larger and more ornate,I realized. I was seated above and behind organ pipes. I was look between them into the sanctuary, the high pulpit ahead of me and I suddenly realized the organ pipes installed along the edge of a balcony, were moving. Two larger pipes were split open. They were golden inside. They were moving toward the left. I was alone. The organ was not playing. There was no sound. It had a vague, dreamlike quality about it all and I wondered about why the pipes being gold on the inside and why they were moving as they were doing. They were not all exactly vertical, either, I found. A few leaned over the edge of the balcony and I felt they needed repair right away. Case #3 or same session : longer than the others. Nothing developed after several tries. Unease in my mind. I should be doing something else. I as was unable to concentrate on not thinking which is essential. I did see a dark area with the expanse... like a darkened TV screen - an entire cube and some flicker in gray stripe at times. I decided to give it all up. Wisely, too, perhaps. We psychics tire easily. It's hard work keeping your mind blank on purpose for a twenty minute session. Compare your notes with others who have done the same thing but do not like to admit having tried such a stupid stunt. Just imagine, however, what such trivial experiments must have meant to mankind over the centuries. Oracle ...prophet ....fortune teller... you can be all of them yourself! You may think this is silly, but it makes good séance to a great many people! A.L.M. January 3, 2006 [c699wds]
Sunday, January 01, 2006
REVIVAL It is odd, but on this first day of the fresh start of the “year” concept – Number 2006 – I should find myself thinking of it as being a time when the idea of community theaters - “movie houses” we called them, has been revived. As with a used year, some people seem to think they can wish, or buy themselves back into what they now remember as being happier times. One by one, up and down our area, town after town has a project underway to r e reopen a closed movie theater. It is a costly and somewhat deceptive dream in many cases. It is highly unlikely that a community in this area will support a theater of this type, being revered today as having been so inexpensive and, hence, popular with the general run of paying patrons. It can't work that way again. In nearby Staunton, Va. the 1930's version of the old “Dixie Theater” reopened as a four-box multi-screen shop in an effort to contest the opening of a new movie house in the shopping Mall south of town, after making a false start as a one-screen revival. More recently someone decided to redo the old “Visulite Theater” - so called because it was one of three theaters in the state which used a system which places the projection apparatus in back of the screen. There is not a great deal one might do to modify a rectangular, curb-side box – seating, at best, a hundred and fifty paying customers. It stands to immediate financial stability that augmented concessions are going to be the profit margin of primary concern for such a reconstituted “motion picture house”. Pop Corn is seen as the natural starting point for such a new beginning for something that old. New admission prices of about $4.00 for adults and $1.00 for children allow movie goers to see their favorite film features - all except the newest ones. There's another type. The “Wayne Theater”, in Waynesboro, Va., is trying to emulate the relative success of the larger “Paramount Theater” in downtown Charlottesville, Va. They are aimed at being art theater centered in addition to being movies houses. That which made fairly good sense in the University of Virginia area does not ,of necessity, apply to Waynesboro. Home movies hurt the local picture houses years ago and television came of age to deal it pretty much of a death blow. It remained for DVD and other such electronic marvels to spring the trap and drop the movie house into the box of lost and gone forever entertainment methods. A. L. M January 1, 2006 [c447wds]
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