We can debate about the Iraq War if you want but if you think that we are less safe here in the US and abroad in US interests then you need to read this excellent piece by John Hinderaker of Powerline blog
Very interesting.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day
Have you ever wondered what Memorial Day really is? Do you even care? We get the day off from work and school. Many businesses are closed. The Federal gov't and the markets shut down. But why? If you have a great grandparent still living, or even a grand parent I bet that they can tell you why.
Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was originally known, is a day for remembering those who have served in our military and have died in that service. A day to say thank you to the brave men and women who serve and protect.
Just a little history lesson to let you know the origin of Memorial Day. Something to think about. After the end of the Civil War, General John A. Logan was impressed with the way that the South honored their war dead, setting aside a specific day for the purpose or remembering the dead and the living and to decorate the graves of those who had died during military service. On May 5, 1868, in his capacity as Commander in Chief of the veterans organization Grand Army of the Republic, General Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" become a national observance. The date of May 30th was chosen because it is not the anniversary of any battle but a neutral date. The term Memorial Day didn't come into use until after WWII.
We must always remember those men and women, living and dead who have served in our military. If you have a member of your family who has served or is currently serving, please tell them thank you. If you see a member of the military, wherever you happen to be, stop and tell them thank you.
For me, the best way to remember is to re-read the Gettysburg Address. I think Abraham Lincoln said it best.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate - we can not consecrate- we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was originally known, is a day for remembering those who have served in our military and have died in that service. A day to say thank you to the brave men and women who serve and protect.
Just a little history lesson to let you know the origin of Memorial Day. Something to think about. After the end of the Civil War, General John A. Logan was impressed with the way that the South honored their war dead, setting aside a specific day for the purpose or remembering the dead and the living and to decorate the graves of those who had died during military service. On May 5, 1868, in his capacity as Commander in Chief of the veterans organization Grand Army of the Republic, General Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" become a national observance. The date of May 30th was chosen because it is not the anniversary of any battle but a neutral date. The term Memorial Day didn't come into use until after WWII.
We must always remember those men and women, living and dead who have served in our military. If you have a member of your family who has served or is currently serving, please tell them thank you. If you see a member of the military, wherever you happen to be, stop and tell them thank you.
For me, the best way to remember is to re-read the Gettysburg Address. I think Abraham Lincoln said it best.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate - we can not consecrate- we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Start You Engines!
Today is the annual running of the Indianapolis 500. I can hear you saying, "So what. It is just a car race." JUST A CAR RACE! If you can say that then you have never actually experienced the awesomeness that is the Indy 500. So, strap on your seatbelt as I give you my hommage to the greatness that is the Indianapolis 500. I don't care about any other car race but this one but I do care about this one.
It is called the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" for a reason. What else could you say about a sporting event that is attended by approximately 400,000 people. The exact number of attendees isn't reported by the Speedway but there are 257,000 permanent seats and there are about another 150,000 people that are in the infield and other parts of the track.
Unless you have actually attended the race you can't imagine the excitement of the collective crowd as they wait for the race to begin. If you actually have a seat you arrive early to look for a place to park. There are lots that are open, that you can park in and walk the long walk to the speedway. The speedway itself sits in the midst of suburbia, surrounded by houses. There are also many people who earn some extra money on that day by charging a fee for you to park on their front lawn. Many who plan to sit in the infield arrive at the Speedway very early in the morning (like 2a) to get in line in anticipation of the opening of the gates. The lines of cars, trucks, RV's, motorcycles and other vehicles snake through the suburban streets. People sleep, people walk around keeping awake, people start their tailgate party early. The gates open at 5a and everyone genially files in, quickly finds a spot to park (they tell you where), gathers their stuff up and rushes to the area of the track that, if they are wise, they have already picked out in their head. Then the waiting begins.
You sit through high school marching bands and other prerace "stuff". If you are sitting anywhere by the pits then you can watch the frenetic last minute things. The cars are lined up on the track, 33 cars in eleven rows, surrounded by multitudes of people doing multitudes of last minute things. Then comes the moment when, if you are lucky, Jim Nabors sings "Back Home Again in Indiana" (he has only missed a year or two since 1971). The drivers make their last walk out to the cars. Then, what you are waiting for, the announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines!" Then the breath holding moment, have all the cars started? Are there any problems? Everyone is a go. The pace car is out on the track. The sound is tremendous. The pace car pulls out and the cars follow, weaving back and forth to heat up their tires (better traction). The cars zoom past at just under 100mph, staying in a rough approximation of the rows. Will this be the lap where the pace car pulls off. No. They go around one more time, the cars streaking past in a blur. How can they possibly go any faster (but THEY CAN!). Finally, the roar of the crowd swells as the pace car comes out of the fourth turn and pulls to the left down into the pits. You look down the track and the green flag is being waved and the race is on.
If you thought that the cars were going fast before and that the sound of the engines was deafening then you were wrong. The pace car is gone, the green flag is out and it is "horses out of the gate". The roar of the crowd (remember this is 400,000 people) is absolutely drowned out by the roar of the car engines as they jump to get out ahead of all the other cars. The cars pass so fast that you can barely see them before they are past.
Then comes the hours of cars going around and around, positions changing, cars giving out, people dropping out. I will be honest, I know that there are plenty of people that are hoping for a crash. When those happen it is spectacular to say the least. I only remember one crash that happened in front of us but I do remember it clearly.
The race finally ends, after 500 miles (that is 200 laps around the 2.5 mile track) and many hours. We all hope for a close finish but a safe one. Then it is the long trek back to your car, whether you are parked in the infield or outside. Everyone is tired, hot, sometimes wet if there has been rain, but all are full of the fun that they have had at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
So, lets give a great "drive safe and fast" to the men and women who are driving in this year's Indy 500. In order of position they are Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon(previous winner), Ryan Briscoe(R), Helio Castroneves(2 time winner), Danica Patrick!, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti( grandson of winner Mario), Victor Meira, Hideki Mutoh, Ed Carpenter, Thomas Schecter, Townsend Bell, Graham Rahal (age 19, son of winner Bobby Rahal), Darren Manning, Bruno Junquiera, Justin Wilson, Buddy Rice (past winner), Davey Hamilton, Alex Lloyd, Ryan Hunter-Reavy, John Andretti (nephew of Mario), Sarah Fisher, Will Power, Jeff Simmons, Oriol Servia(R), EJ Viso(R), Milka Duno, Marco Mores, Enrique Bernoldi, Jaime Camara, AJ Foyt IV (grandson of winner AJ Foyt Jr.), Buddy Lazier (previous winner) and Marty Roth.
Ladies and Gentlement........START YOUR ENGINES!
It is called the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" for a reason. What else could you say about a sporting event that is attended by approximately 400,000 people. The exact number of attendees isn't reported by the Speedway but there are 257,000 permanent seats and there are about another 150,000 people that are in the infield and other parts of the track.
Unless you have actually attended the race you can't imagine the excitement of the collective crowd as they wait for the race to begin. If you actually have a seat you arrive early to look for a place to park. There are lots that are open, that you can park in and walk the long walk to the speedway. The speedway itself sits in the midst of suburbia, surrounded by houses. There are also many people who earn some extra money on that day by charging a fee for you to park on their front lawn. Many who plan to sit in the infield arrive at the Speedway very early in the morning (like 2a) to get in line in anticipation of the opening of the gates. The lines of cars, trucks, RV's, motorcycles and other vehicles snake through the suburban streets. People sleep, people walk around keeping awake, people start their tailgate party early. The gates open at 5a and everyone genially files in, quickly finds a spot to park (they tell you where), gathers their stuff up and rushes to the area of the track that, if they are wise, they have already picked out in their head. Then the waiting begins.
You sit through high school marching bands and other prerace "stuff". If you are sitting anywhere by the pits then you can watch the frenetic last minute things. The cars are lined up on the track, 33 cars in eleven rows, surrounded by multitudes of people doing multitudes of last minute things. Then comes the moment when, if you are lucky, Jim Nabors sings "Back Home Again in Indiana" (he has only missed a year or two since 1971). The drivers make their last walk out to the cars. Then, what you are waiting for, the announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines!" Then the breath holding moment, have all the cars started? Are there any problems? Everyone is a go. The pace car is out on the track. The sound is tremendous. The pace car pulls out and the cars follow, weaving back and forth to heat up their tires (better traction). The cars zoom past at just under 100mph, staying in a rough approximation of the rows. Will this be the lap where the pace car pulls off. No. They go around one more time, the cars streaking past in a blur. How can they possibly go any faster (but THEY CAN!). Finally, the roar of the crowd swells as the pace car comes out of the fourth turn and pulls to the left down into the pits. You look down the track and the green flag is being waved and the race is on.
If you thought that the cars were going fast before and that the sound of the engines was deafening then you were wrong. The pace car is gone, the green flag is out and it is "horses out of the gate". The roar of the crowd (remember this is 400,000 people) is absolutely drowned out by the roar of the car engines as they jump to get out ahead of all the other cars. The cars pass so fast that you can barely see them before they are past.
Then comes the hours of cars going around and around, positions changing, cars giving out, people dropping out. I will be honest, I know that there are plenty of people that are hoping for a crash. When those happen it is spectacular to say the least. I only remember one crash that happened in front of us but I do remember it clearly.
The race finally ends, after 500 miles (that is 200 laps around the 2.5 mile track) and many hours. We all hope for a close finish but a safe one. Then it is the long trek back to your car, whether you are parked in the infield or outside. Everyone is tired, hot, sometimes wet if there has been rain, but all are full of the fun that they have had at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
So, lets give a great "drive safe and fast" to the men and women who are driving in this year's Indy 500. In order of position they are Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon(previous winner), Ryan Briscoe(R), Helio Castroneves(2 time winner), Danica Patrick!, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti( grandson of winner Mario), Victor Meira, Hideki Mutoh, Ed Carpenter, Thomas Schecter, Townsend Bell, Graham Rahal (age 19, son of winner Bobby Rahal), Darren Manning, Bruno Junquiera, Justin Wilson, Buddy Rice (past winner), Davey Hamilton, Alex Lloyd, Ryan Hunter-Reavy, John Andretti (nephew of Mario), Sarah Fisher, Will Power, Jeff Simmons, Oriol Servia(R), EJ Viso(R), Milka Duno, Marco Mores, Enrique Bernoldi, Jaime Camara, AJ Foyt IV (grandson of winner AJ Foyt Jr.), Buddy Lazier (previous winner) and Marty Roth.
Ladies and Gentlement........START YOUR ENGINES!
The Tenth Muse
The Tenth Muse
Jones, Judith
Knitting Sticks: 4
Judith Jones isn't a name that most people would know unless they are a part of the publishing community. But many of us who like to cook own her a tremendous debt of gratitude. For nearly 25 years she has been a senior VP and editor at Knopf. To her we owe the publishing of Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julie Child.
The Tenth Muse is her memoir. It is eminently readable and throughly enjoyable. You learn about her years in Paris, where she ran an illegal restaurant (short lived) in the apartment she was staying in. Her years at Knopf where she was responsible for sheparding MAFC through the years of writing and editing and testing of recipes. We also owe her a debt for the American publication of The Diary of Anne Frank. She knew it had to be published and she pushed until it was.
Friday, May 23, 2008
This Day in History
1533: King Henry the Eighth succeeds in having his marriage to Catherine of Aragon declared null and void (the sneaky old man)
1934: Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are gunned down in Bienville Parish, LA by Texas Rangers and Louisiana lawmen.
1945: Heinrich Himmler, the head of the Nazi Gestapo, commits suicide after his capture by the Allies.
1960: Israel announces the capture of Nazi fugitive Adolph Eichmann in Argentina. (a great book to read on the subject is Eichmann in My Hands by Peter Z. Malkin)
1934: Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are gunned down in Bienville Parish, LA by Texas Rangers and Louisiana lawmen.
1945: Heinrich Himmler, the head of the Nazi Gestapo, commits suicide after his capture by the Allies.
1960: Israel announces the capture of Nazi fugitive Adolph Eichmann in Argentina. (a great book to read on the subject is Eichmann in My Hands by Peter Z. Malkin)
What I learned from Sock Wars
I have to say that participating in Sock Wars III has been a frustrating experience. When I first started working on this post I had written that it was a great experience but I have changed my mind at the moment. Bear with me for a moment as I whine, then I will have it out of my system we will hope. I was so excited about participating, I waited anxiously for my target "dossier", I struggled through learning the pattern (which really isn't that difficult just a bit tricky), I knit like the wind for three full days and I finished my first pair of socks. I sent them off Priority Mail and let my target know that they were coming. She responded once via email and then silence. No acknowledgement that the socks were received, no going onto the Sock Wars website to mark that she was "dead" and that I had scored my first kill. Until she did that and sent me the info for her target I couldn't do anything else. I waited, I emailed her twice but only silence. So, I finally emailed the "Supreme Commander" Julie Gardner and explained the situation. She gave my target 48 hours to let her know if the socks had arrived and to mark herself killed. After that I was to knit for my target's target. However, I still had no dossier for that person. I had started another sock for myself, using the "Detonator" pattern so I could use that rather than starting from scratch. Technically, when you "killed" your target they were supposed to acknowledge that and then send you their target info and the socks that they had been working on. However, it was obvious THAT wasn't going to happen. So, I waited for word from Julie, I checked the website to see if "dejener" was listed as killed. And still nothing happened. So I emailed Julie again and she responded that she was still waiting to hear if my target had received the socks. O.K. So, as of this morning my original target is still listed as "Alive" and I am still in technical limbo. I will start to knit for my new target but my enthusiasm for the whole thing has been somewhat dimmed. If I didn't know that someone else is waiting for socks knit by me then I would just "bag it" and consider myself done and wait to be killed off. But I am not a quitter so I will persevere. I think I would sign up for Sock Wars again because I like the concept but I just won't get nearly as excited the next time.
OK, I am done whining for the moment.
OK, I am done whining for the moment.
Maria Chapman
What sad news to hear about the accidental death of Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria Sue. She was accidentally hit by her brother as he was backing the family SUV out of the driveway. They lifeflighted her to Vanderbilt University but the Lord, in His infinite wisdom took her home to be with him. I can't imagine losing one of my children that way. Please be praying for the entire family as they deal with having to lay to rest their sweet child. Especially be praying for Maria's brother who, though it wasn't his fault, will carry for the rest of his life the burden of what happened. Knowing that Maria is in the hands of our loving Heavenly Father with the prospect that they will see her again must have some comfort but still my heart breaks for them.
We don't know what will happen on a daily basis. The Lord may call any of us home at any moment, so make the most of the time that you have with family and friends. Don't forget to give your kids a hug today, and everyday. Don't let a tragedy like this remind you about it, make it a part of your day. Don't forget to give the hubby a kiss before he leaves for work. Take some time to slow down and spend time with those who are special to you.
We don't know what will happen on a daily basis. The Lord may call any of us home at any moment, so make the most of the time that you have with family and friends. Don't forget to give your kids a hug today, and everyday. Don't let a tragedy like this remind you about it, make it a part of your day. Don't forget to give the hubby a kiss before he leaves for work. Take some time to slow down and spend time with those who are special to you.
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