Today I am issuing two blog challenges to the family.
1. Within 3 days of reading this blog, set a goal on the number of posts you would reasonably like to achieve over the course of 2009. Post that goal in your own blog, as well as in a comment here. Also note any milestones you would hit if you met your goal.
2. In looking back over the past year, note in a blog by 14 June what food you have and would eat again that a) in your youth you would never have thought of tasting, and/or b) that the family at large would not consider having on the table at a family function/reunion, but you would gladly eat it if it was on the table.
As for the first challenge is to hit to post by the end of 2009, I would like to go over the 150 mark, but I would be satisfied with 145 blogs which is 5 more than the high in 2008 of 140. Coming into the year I had 365 posts, and to date have well surpassed the 400 mark. My next milepost is 450 which I hope to hit by the end of June. If I reach my goal I will be posting my 500th post sometime in December.
I will give my response on the second challenge in the coming week.
Reflective Wanderings - Reflections on various topics that arise out of my personal, life and professional experiences. There are also are some family related news, travels and pictures.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
There is Danger in Being a Censor
I have been downloading onto my Kindle various Canadian history books. Many of the older documents cost only a few dollars. One such book I finished reading is The Red Watch: with the First Canadian Division in Flanders by J. A. Currie. Colonial Currie was the commander of the 48th Highlander, The Red Watch when they went oversees to be part of the 1st Canadian Division.
In reading the book I gained some insights into the perspectives and experiences of 1914-1915. I learned that battalions were often paired so that they were in the trenches for 3-4 days at a time and resting 3-4 days at a time behind the lines. Here is a quote about one of the moment of respite (billet life) about a mile or so behind the line. This happened about a week before the Second Battle of Ypres which almost destroyed the 48th in April 1915 (first time the Germans used gas on the western front).
“One of the happiest features of billet life was the receiving and writing of letters to friends at home. Pen and ink were plentiful, so was paper, and most of the spare time of the men was spent in writing letters to friends. All these letters had to be censored, and the censor was not Lord Kitchener, as some people seem to think, nor Sir John French, as the London papers would have it, but the colonel of each regiment. He is the heartless man who has to wade through reams of love letters, and he never even drops a tear when he finds one of his young men corresponding with two or more young ladies at home, and assuring each of them in the most fervent and fond language that he loves but her and her alone. Sometimes the commanding officer is so busy that the labor of censoring the letters is turned over to a junior subaltern who may happen to be handy. The letters are brought in to headquarters and left unsealed. They are supposed to be read by the colonel, closed and his name written across the front page vouching for the contents. On one occasion one of my platoon commanders brought into the orderly room a very large bundle of letters. His men had been very busy with their pens that morning, and he made some remark to that effect to me. At the moment I was very busy writing letters to irate mothers who would write to me whenever their sons neglected to provide a weekly batch of correspondence, so I told the young officer to take my stamp and censor the letters himself. When he had gone about half way through the correspondence, he gave an exclamation, jumping half way out of his chair. "What's the matter?" I asked in alarm, wondering if he had caught one of his men in treasonable correspondence with the enemy. ‘The matter,’ he said in a tone of rage, ‘Why, one of the men in my platoon is writing love letters to my best girl in Toronto.’”
There is clearly a danger in being assigned to censor the letters. LOL.
In reading the book I gained some insights into the perspectives and experiences of 1914-1915. I learned that battalions were often paired so that they were in the trenches for 3-4 days at a time and resting 3-4 days at a time behind the lines. Here is a quote about one of the moment of respite (billet life) about a mile or so behind the line. This happened about a week before the Second Battle of Ypres which almost destroyed the 48th in April 1915 (first time the Germans used gas on the western front).
“One of the happiest features of billet life was the receiving and writing of letters to friends at home. Pen and ink were plentiful, so was paper, and most of the spare time of the men was spent in writing letters to friends. All these letters had to be censored, and the censor was not Lord Kitchener, as some people seem to think, nor Sir John French, as the London papers would have it, but the colonel of each regiment. He is the heartless man who has to wade through reams of love letters, and he never even drops a tear when he finds one of his young men corresponding with two or more young ladies at home, and assuring each of them in the most fervent and fond language that he loves but her and her alone. Sometimes the commanding officer is so busy that the labor of censoring the letters is turned over to a junior subaltern who may happen to be handy. The letters are brought in to headquarters and left unsealed. They are supposed to be read by the colonel, closed and his name written across the front page vouching for the contents. On one occasion one of my platoon commanders brought into the orderly room a very large bundle of letters. His men had been very busy with their pens that morning, and he made some remark to that effect to me. At the moment I was very busy writing letters to irate mothers who would write to me whenever their sons neglected to provide a weekly batch of correspondence, so I told the young officer to take my stamp and censor the letters himself. When he had gone about half way through the correspondence, he gave an exclamation, jumping half way out of his chair. "What's the matter?" I asked in alarm, wondering if he had caught one of his men in treasonable correspondence with the enemy. ‘The matter,’ he said in a tone of rage, ‘Why, one of the men in my platoon is writing love letters to my best girl in Toronto.’”
There is clearly a danger in being assigned to censor the letters. LOL.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Whose Weather Would You Want For the Next Week
Here is the weather forecast for various members of our extended family in where they are living and were living? Of all the various places, which weather would you want to have for the next week?
Washington DC – Dave and Evie – sunny this weekend with highs around 80-84 into early week (lows 56-62)…. a week from now scatter thunderstorms and highs 74-76 (lows58-61)
Toronto/Brampton Ontario – Sears home base – clear for the weekend but rain starting Sunday, highs going from 70 and dropping to 64 (lows 48-50)…a week from now, mostly sunny with highs 71-73 and lows 50-56)
New York City – Camuti home base – other than showers late Saturday, and some rain today, it will be mostly cloudy with highs 71-78…a week from now, a few showers each day with highs 71-75 and lows 56-59.
London Ontario – mostly sunny with rain Monday, highs 63-75 (lows 42-51)…a week from now highs 70-75 (lows 51-58) and partly cloudy to sunny
Winnipeg Manitoba – where we lived for seven years – highs 57-63 (lows 40-47) and sunny most days….a week from now, 62-66 (lows 47/48) and partly cloudy
Calgary Alberta – Stephen, Gayle and family – highs 81 today and down to 55/54 by Tuesday (lows 51 to 39), partly cloudy with some rain Monday….a week from now, scatter showers giving way to mostly cloudy with highs 62-64 (lows 40-42)
San Antonio Texas – Josh with the Crossmen – scattered thunder storms over the weekend and into Monday with highs around 90 (lows, 67-69)….a week from now, sunny with highs around 97-98 (lows, 73-75)
Baton Rouge Louisiana – LSU – sunny 89-91 through to early week (67-69 lows)….a week from now scatter thunderstorms and then clearing, highs 87-90 (lows 67-72)
Leola Pennsylvania – Mom and Paul now reside – partly cloudy 77-82 (lows 51-62)…a week from now 75-78 (lows 56-60) and partly cloudy turning to scattered showers
Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania – where Evie spent most of her pre-teen and teen years – partly cloudy and then scattered thunder storms, highs 73-81 (lows 49-60)….a week from now showers giving way to sunny skies, high 75-77 (lows 56-58)
Portland Maine – Dennis, Erma and Tracy – showers most days, highs 68-70 (lows 45-53)….a week from now, showers most days with highs 66-69 and lows 50-53)
Erie Pennsylvania – where Dennis, Erma and Tracy lived – highs 62-70, lows 50-57 with partly cloudy giving way to rain on Monday and Tuesday….a week from now partly cloudy with highs 67-74 (lows 55-59)
Danville Kentucky – Dottie and Steve, Krista, Adam and Campbell – mostly sunny with thunderstorms in the evening Saturday, highs 80-88 (lows 61-67)….a week from now, 78-81 as highs, 60-67 as lows and some scattered thunderstorms Thursday and Sunday
Kingston Ontario – Joanne and Bruce – showers most days with scattered Thunderstorms on Monday, highs 54-63 (lows 44-49)….a week from now, partly cloudy, highs 63-69 (lows 51/52)
Norwich Connecticut – Christian, Elaine, Samantha and Jay – highs 66-69, lows 50-57 with some showers Sun to mostly sunny after the weekend….a week from now, highs 71-73 (lows 50-56) and mostly sunny
Iowa City Iowa – Dave, Evie, Jon and Josh lived for five years – highs 76-83 (lows 54-64) with rain Saturday and Monday….a week from now, some showers Saturday and Sunday with highs 75-79 and lows 55-59
My preference is for temperatures to be running 72-80 during the day and about 60-66 at night. Leola, Washington and Iowa City have weather next week in that range. Clearly Calgary is too cool while San Antonio and Baton Rouge are way too warm for me.
Washington DC – Dave and Evie – sunny this weekend with highs around 80-84 into early week (lows 56-62)…. a week from now scatter thunderstorms and highs 74-76 (lows58-61)
Toronto/Brampton Ontario – Sears home base – clear for the weekend but rain starting Sunday, highs going from 70 and dropping to 64 (lows 48-50)…a week from now, mostly sunny with highs 71-73 and lows 50-56)
New York City – Camuti home base – other than showers late Saturday, and some rain today, it will be mostly cloudy with highs 71-78…a week from now, a few showers each day with highs 71-75 and lows 56-59.
London Ontario – mostly sunny with rain Monday, highs 63-75 (lows 42-51)…a week from now highs 70-75 (lows 51-58) and partly cloudy to sunny
Winnipeg Manitoba – where we lived for seven years – highs 57-63 (lows 40-47) and sunny most days….a week from now, 62-66 (lows 47/48) and partly cloudy
Calgary Alberta – Stephen, Gayle and family – highs 81 today and down to 55/54 by Tuesday (lows 51 to 39), partly cloudy with some rain Monday….a week from now, scatter showers giving way to mostly cloudy with highs 62-64 (lows 40-42)
San Antonio Texas – Josh with the Crossmen – scattered thunder storms over the weekend and into Monday with highs around 90 (lows, 67-69)….a week from now, sunny with highs around 97-98 (lows, 73-75)
Baton Rouge Louisiana – LSU – sunny 89-91 through to early week (67-69 lows)….a week from now scatter thunderstorms and then clearing, highs 87-90 (lows 67-72)
Leola Pennsylvania – Mom and Paul now reside – partly cloudy 77-82 (lows 51-62)…a week from now 75-78 (lows 56-60) and partly cloudy turning to scattered showers
Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania – where Evie spent most of her pre-teen and teen years – partly cloudy and then scattered thunder storms, highs 73-81 (lows 49-60)….a week from now showers giving way to sunny skies, high 75-77 (lows 56-58)
Portland Maine – Dennis, Erma and Tracy – showers most days, highs 68-70 (lows 45-53)….a week from now, showers most days with highs 66-69 and lows 50-53)
Erie Pennsylvania – where Dennis, Erma and Tracy lived – highs 62-70, lows 50-57 with partly cloudy giving way to rain on Monday and Tuesday….a week from now partly cloudy with highs 67-74 (lows 55-59)
Danville Kentucky – Dottie and Steve, Krista, Adam and Campbell – mostly sunny with thunderstorms in the evening Saturday, highs 80-88 (lows 61-67)….a week from now, 78-81 as highs, 60-67 as lows and some scattered thunderstorms Thursday and Sunday
Kingston Ontario – Joanne and Bruce – showers most days with scattered Thunderstorms on Monday, highs 54-63 (lows 44-49)….a week from now, partly cloudy, highs 63-69 (lows 51/52)
Norwich Connecticut – Christian, Elaine, Samantha and Jay – highs 66-69, lows 50-57 with some showers Sun to mostly sunny after the weekend….a week from now, highs 71-73 (lows 50-56) and mostly sunny
Iowa City Iowa – Dave, Evie, Jon and Josh lived for five years – highs 76-83 (lows 54-64) with rain Saturday and Monday….a week from now, some showers Saturday and Sunday with highs 75-79 and lows 55-59
My preference is for temperatures to be running 72-80 during the day and about 60-66 at night. Leola, Washington and Iowa City have weather next week in that range. Clearly Calgary is too cool while San Antonio and Baton Rouge are way too warm for me.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Liberty University and Student Democrats
On May 15th Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia withdrew its recognition of the student organized Liberty University Democratic Club. The Dean of Students’ e-mail stated that recognition was withdrawn because “The candidates this club supports uphold the platform and implement it. The candidates supported are directly contrary to the mission of Liberty University…..The Democratic Party platform is contrary to the mission of Liberty University and Christian doctrine.”
Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. stated on the weekend “That the club still has the right to exist,” but the club cannot use the university’s name or receive funding. Further, the club is limited as to where they can meet, and are not able to advertise meetings on campus or distribute its literature to students.
Though Dean Hine says the college is “in no way attempting to stifle free speech” the college functionally is not allowing the Democrats to function on the same level as the Republicans.
Falwell has stated, “Parents and students support the University because they believe in the distinctly Christian identity and mission. Liberty University is pro-life and believes that marriage between one man and one woman provides the best environment for children.”
Liberty officials have noted that they have had a wave of complaints from donors, parents and trustees about the club. Instead of noting that a quality institute of higher education is a crucible for the free exchange and debate of views, and defending the same, the leadership marginalized the club.
Such marginalization of contrary views is not surprising given its point of view and mission. Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. often proudly proclaimed that Liberty was to be the “Harvard of the right.” An official brochure says the university has a “strong commitment to political conservatism, total rejection of socialism, and the firm support for American’s economic system of free enterprise.” In other words, LU is founded upon a vision of Christianity that is more grounded in the American cultural unabashed and unregulated free enterprise than it is in the understanding of eternal biblical principles. The Bible does not sanction any single economic system or government system, or even a social structure. Yet Falwell has founded a university to teach and support a particular cultural system and justify it in the garb of religious language.
Contrary to what it claims, Liberty does stifle free speech. Faculty who disagree with its narrow teachings are soon without a position. A faculty member who holds that global warming is taking place, or who hints that he/she does not hold to the young earth seven literal twenty-four hour creation story will find their position at LU at risk. Such a posture means students are not being educated by professors who have seriously examined and considered diverse views. Faculty are teaching from safe ground and with an approved set of teachings (hmmmm...sounds similar to what took place in the Soviet Union and Germany from 1933 to 1945, China since 1948, etc.).
A faculty member who voted for Obama, if their secret was discovered, could find that they are asked to leave the university. If the Democrat students were to put together a petition or have a public meeting outside the authorized classroom, such students are at risk of receiving 12 reprimands (demerits) and a $50 fine for participating in an unauthorized activity.
Irrespective of its statements to the contrary, LU has functionally stated that a person who is a Democrat and votes for Democrat candidates is not a faithful Christian…at least faithful a per their definition of what it means to be a Christian.
Liberty says that they are tolerant, yet they have student and faculty policies that contradict such claims. A university is a place for educating the mind, for arguing for and against a host of issues, a place to freely exchange and debate ideas in the search for truth. To allow the debate and free exchange of ideas on an equal footing does not mean that the university agrees with or promotes a particular set of views. It allows its students and faculty to sift thoughtfully and come to a more informed view. Liberty had the opportunity to be tolerant and embrace the free exchange of ideas, but instead they withdraw authorization for the students to have Democrat club on campus. Instead they by their actions they have undermined the fundamental founding principle of the United States, freedom of speech and exchange of ideas, and the ability to organize politically.
Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. stated on the weekend “That the club still has the right to exist,” but the club cannot use the university’s name or receive funding. Further, the club is limited as to where they can meet, and are not able to advertise meetings on campus or distribute its literature to students.
Though Dean Hine says the college is “in no way attempting to stifle free speech” the college functionally is not allowing the Democrats to function on the same level as the Republicans.
Falwell has stated, “Parents and students support the University because they believe in the distinctly Christian identity and mission. Liberty University is pro-life and believes that marriage between one man and one woman provides the best environment for children.”
Liberty officials have noted that they have had a wave of complaints from donors, parents and trustees about the club. Instead of noting that a quality institute of higher education is a crucible for the free exchange and debate of views, and defending the same, the leadership marginalized the club.
Such marginalization of contrary views is not surprising given its point of view and mission. Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. often proudly proclaimed that Liberty was to be the “Harvard of the right.” An official brochure says the university has a “strong commitment to political conservatism, total rejection of socialism, and the firm support for American’s economic system of free enterprise.” In other words, LU is founded upon a vision of Christianity that is more grounded in the American cultural unabashed and unregulated free enterprise than it is in the understanding of eternal biblical principles. The Bible does not sanction any single economic system or government system, or even a social structure. Yet Falwell has founded a university to teach and support a particular cultural system and justify it in the garb of religious language.
Contrary to what it claims, Liberty does stifle free speech. Faculty who disagree with its narrow teachings are soon without a position. A faculty member who holds that global warming is taking place, or who hints that he/she does not hold to the young earth seven literal twenty-four hour creation story will find their position at LU at risk. Such a posture means students are not being educated by professors who have seriously examined and considered diverse views. Faculty are teaching from safe ground and with an approved set of teachings (hmmmm...sounds similar to what took place in the Soviet Union and Germany from 1933 to 1945, China since 1948, etc.).
A faculty member who voted for Obama, if their secret was discovered, could find that they are asked to leave the university. If the Democrat students were to put together a petition or have a public meeting outside the authorized classroom, such students are at risk of receiving 12 reprimands (demerits) and a $50 fine for participating in an unauthorized activity.
Irrespective of its statements to the contrary, LU has functionally stated that a person who is a Democrat and votes for Democrat candidates is not a faithful Christian…at least faithful a per their definition of what it means to be a Christian.
Liberty says that they are tolerant, yet they have student and faculty policies that contradict such claims. A university is a place for educating the mind, for arguing for and against a host of issues, a place to freely exchange and debate ideas in the search for truth. To allow the debate and free exchange of ideas on an equal footing does not mean that the university agrees with or promotes a particular set of views. It allows its students and faculty to sift thoughtfully and come to a more informed view. Liberty had the opportunity to be tolerant and embrace the free exchange of ideas, but instead they withdraw authorization for the students to have Democrat club on campus. Instead they by their actions they have undermined the fundamental founding principle of the United States, freedom of speech and exchange of ideas, and the ability to organize politically.
Joshua Flies to Texas
At 8:30 this morning Josh boarded a Southwest flight for Chicago-Midway where he catches a flight to San Antonio TX. After a few weeks of drill he will be marching across the country with the Crossmen.
Last night Jonathan, Maggie, Evie and I took Josh out for a nice dinner at J R's Steakhouse, an upscale restaurant in Tyson's corner. This was his last real sit down meal until early August as over the coming ten weeks his meals will eating meals sitting on grass and pavement that are served from a rolling cooking unit.
We wish Josh and the Crossmen well on their upcoming season.
Last night Jonathan, Maggie, Evie and I took Josh out for a nice dinner at J R's Steakhouse, an upscale restaurant in Tyson's corner. This was his last real sit down meal until early August as over the coming ten weeks his meals will eating meals sitting on grass and pavement that are served from a rolling cooking unit.
We wish Josh and the Crossmen well on their upcoming season.
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