Wednesday, December 27, 2006
ATTENTION: BALL DROPPERS Between the exact day called "Christmas" and the official first day of the New Year you can experience some odd days which seem to be disorganized, out of sync as a brand new year looms ahead - one the Chinese are going to call "The Year of the Boar. We toss that bit of time information in especially for our trivia fans who are also. along with us, are awaiting the coming demands a brand new, set of hours, days, weeks,months a whole year in length. Once more, I hear, the City of New York has plans to herald the arrival of the opening moments of the New Year of 2007, as they lower a beaming ball of light from on high to ground level.They are, again, going lower the brightly beaming star-like of light to ground where few can see it! This gives me my annual opportunity to rail senselessly again at the authorities who conceived and act it all out with sober intent by dropping the ball...lowering it slowly and painfully to a point where few celebrants can see it and many can forget it ever shone on high! There is good reason ,it seems, for the Chinese to foresee a year that will be boring. New Yorkers! That ball should be an apple! That apple should be colorful, with a generous touch of gold and bright glitter! It should rise upward into the sky - as New York's finest space! Upward always! It should appear as a rising, far-seeing symbol of the city and of the dreams and plans of its citizens - America's plans and dreams, as bellwether should be vieing with the brighest of natural heavenly lights, rising into the sky as a token of promised mutual growth, advancing Hope, excitement, endearments, and heartfelt concern for all Mankind! One more thing! Don't leave the rest of us out! As the gleaming symbol of certainty rises to its highest point and holds firm, fire off a simple fireworks display behind it with the city itself as a background. Keep it simple: one bright star for each state and one for the District of Columbia - as another prime symbol of our pledge of unity. Andrew McCaskey Sr amccsr@adelphia.net 12-27-06 [c385wds]
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
STRANGE THINGS Most of us, I'm sure, prefer to think of this holiday time of the year as a time when bright, cheerful event and happenings which make up our lives happen as a continuing process and we find ways to accommodate such intrusions and try to blend the two extremes. The announcement which told us that the former dictator of Iraq will be executed by hanging. The verdict was not unexpected by many - including the accused, I dare say, The judicial system of Iraq is quite different from ours and they added a demand that the sentence be concluded within one month. When the provision was appended some thought it to be a bit improper - even wrong - especially at this holy time of the year. The court, I feel, acted wisely in making this requirement firm because precedent urged delay and contrary factions gathered and grew stronger in between sentencing and execution. It would come to be a serious last step of sympathy for the condemned person favoring a new trial or less punishment. That individual's life may be saved; but an injustice done those whom he had killed or robbed i increased.. His actions would, in a sense be approved in total disregard of existing laws. The man had been judged and was found wanting. At the same time, we have a haunting feeling that tells us what is happening is not in keeping with the religious feeling expressed by the religious elements of brotherly love, forgiving and admission of our own shortcomings. The "within thirty days" words will best mark this event in the future. It how a change in attitude for all of us who would stand firmly against the ever-increasing dire forces of terror which sound us. Another serious problem facing all of us is the warfare in Africa where open war is finally being admitted as Ethiopia seeks to forestall the very same terrorist forces from "taking over" the legitimate government in a Lebanon-like action. Perhaps we may need more such "thirty-day clauses " to bring our intentions to reality. Take that Yule tree down within three days; put the Christmas decorations away for another year; finish returning all of those wrong sizes, wrong color, wrong choice items to the mall and get started with some thirty-day clauses of your own. There are a host of things we are going to have to do - promptly and together. Andrew McCaskey Sr amccsr@adelphia.net 12-26-06 [c422wds]
Monday, December 25, 2006
ON THE GADGET ROAD As I recall a great many of the gadgets which have invaded our homes over the years came to be with us as part of our family habit of Christmas gift giving. Almost every year some mechanical apparatus or electronic contraption came into our living area our life - and stayed. The first such things were beneficial and largely machines made to made to lighten then workload of keeping a house in order. The Telephone was an early one and of genuine use for all of us. Ours was a ten-inch tall, black pole with a microphone built into the upper portion. On the side of that,perhaps one inch upright there was was a hook which held the listening part when it was not in use.. Other homes, primarily in rural regions, had wooden boxes which were hung on the wall, usually either too high or too low for comfort during any extended conversation. There was no set schedule but we also acquired a coffee percolator fired eclectically, a big "Easy" washing machine, an electric refrigerator and a pop-up toaster. There was a time, too ,when some people felt they had to have a player piano in their house. We got regular piano After 1925-26 when it was as discovered that more than one disc could produced with each studio session. A flood of record firms took over as radio came alive commercially and enhanced recorded music to new heights. The advent of radio was major era. It is still with us more than we may realize. As a family we were very much a part of it. It was those years which determined the occupational future of many of us and it led us into the Computer Age in an eager and ready state. We have many of the gadgets but the giver of the gift under our tree told us "It's something you may not think you need - but which you do! If it appears to be all broken, I'll be over tomorrow to fix it!" My wife Vivian and I - the two of us - are now into TIVO too. Andrew McCaskey Sr amccsr@adelphia.net 12-25-06 [c371wds]
Sunday, December 24, 2006
AFFIRMING WRONG It is easy us to set up strict standard by which may judge the way other people - individuals and entire nations - it is not so easy to apply the same honest, sincere and complete standards to ourselves. One would, usually, exclude any concept of "hatred" but to take such a survey one must cultivation an extreme and unbreakable sense of revulsion and intense dedication to threats which ring true and clear and worthy among civilized men and women of purified mind and body. There are great shortcomings among chose whom would harm us and there are lesser ones as well. The ultimate intent of any such action is far more importance than is apparent intensity Often the individual actions themselves which makes them all the more devious and threatening. As I type this and keep thinking of Christmas eve plans for tonight heir news that tells me and American plane has been ordered to return to La Guardia Field in New York because of a "threatening note" received concerning that particular flight. The same TV news cast had spoken previously saying that our F.B.I had alerted both French and British authorities concerning a plan concocted in Pakistan which calls for a Terrorist "attack" on "The Chunnel" installations connecting the U.K. and the continent. There will be additional casualties in Iraq today, mainly local citizens even as our war leaders shift positions and mull over pending plans modifying the manner go how the war is being conducted there. Some "crow" will need to be eaten, no doubt. Neighboring Iran has been told of the sanctions she must now endure now that she has refused to accept United Nation's request that she cease her nuclear enhancement programs. We are beset by mysterious means. We must be ready to react in unconventional ways. Andrew McCaskey Sr amccsr@adelphia.net 12-24-06 [c314wds]
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