Favorite Fathers Day Tweets

KatrinaNation (Katrina vandenHeuvel): "Best Father's day gift: Generations in the Balance - http://nyti.ms/bwxPY1 ."  A wonderful Op-Ed dialog between Tony and Daniel Judt, Baby Boomer father and Bright Teen son.


jdickerson (John Dickerson): "When you were a kid, how many degrees of separation were you from the guy who had the father with the musical car horn?"


donnabrazile (Donna Brazile): 1) "Let us honor our Dads, Fathers, Brothers & others who made a difference by saying thanks. To my Dad Lionel, brothers Chet and Kevin - Luv u!,"  2) "And to all the men who treat women & girls w/ respect & dignity -2 those who honor our inner beauty, GRACE. Peace, blessings & much luv Boo."

huffingtonpost (Huffington Post): "Father's Day: The 12 Weirdest Father's Day 'Awkward Family Photos' (PHOTOS, POLL) http://huff.to/aVHj9p."


NWF (National Wildlife Federation):  "Happy Fathers Day! Read why the Giant Water Bug is the most misunderstood dad: http://bit.ly/ccbhkj #fathersday."


Hegemommy (Jessica Pieklo): "Making breakfast while @phonetical sleeps upstairs. Have I mentioned it's good to have him home? It is."  "Phonetical" is Mom's hubby.



sfoshee1 (D. Scott):  "Dads - they're not around forever. Just pick up the phone. Today. #FathersDay"


[Post date: 6/20/10 ]


My Other Blogs: Check out my Amplify blog for synopses of current news stories. My news and political blog is South by Southwest. Follow me at Twitter. And Carol Gee - Online Universe is the home page for all my websites.

Halloween Forecast

Today it is raining; tomorrow it is supposed to be clear. That bodes well for all the carefully, and not so carefully, constructed Halloween costumes.

With the economy in bad shape, creative types have thought of cheap and easy ways to join the fun without a big expenditure of scarce money. Hand-me-down clothes, sized to fit, might do the trick and be a treat for Mom and Dad's pocketbooks.

Kids are funny about such things, however. They want to wear WHAT THEY WANT TO WEAR. Storm clouds will brew if parents stray too far from the kids' fantasies or the current fashion among peers. And adults can be just as picky. Often there is a lot at stake at the Halloween party, or parties. The little kid part inside of us still wants to be the coolest one there.

I say all this with very little actual knowledge. What I have is the history of the holiday from past years. I am sure that the couple of bags of wrapped candy bars will mostly go away as the bunches of kids who know this neighborhood parade through. Big and little, they are all adorable, polite and happy to be out and about. That does not change. And I can't wait to see what this year brings to our front porch. I hope it is not rain.

Yes, we'll have the light on for you.

See "Behind the Links." for further info on this subject.
Blogs: My news and political blog is at South by Southwest. My general purpose/southwest focus blog is at Southwest Progressive. And Carol Gee - Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for my websites.
Technorati tags: halloween holiday

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• Giveaway: tickets to a Halloween party and concert (timesunion.com)
• Halloween Costumes 2009: 15 Funny Ideas! (PHOTOS) (huffingtonpost.com)

"Dad's going after donuts."

We are retired now and all our children are past 50. And I have a sneaking suspicion that all four of them have fond memories of when they were little, and donuts. All I had to make was the announcement above and the two boys and two girls threw on last night's clothes so they could go along. The opportunity meant that they got to pick out the fancy flavors of the decorated or filled donuts at the little shop near the barbershop where their dad and the boys got buzz haircuts. Note that this was long before the Krispy Kreme brand took over the world.

Picking out the flavors meant a different one for each child. That way their siblings would not likely eat the ones that each individual preferred. E., the oldest girl, liked white frosting with colored sprinkles. M., the oldest boy, liked chocolate frosting with chopped nuts. T., the youngest girl, liked lemon creme filled, and F., the youngest boy wanted maple frosting and a few of the dozen donut holes, free with an order of two dozen. I liked the vanilla creme filled donuts and Dad like white coconut on white frosting. So the order was, naturally, for two dozen.

With everyone gone, I got a bit of quiet time to set the table with dessert plates, glasses of cold milk, OJ or cups of cocoa, and lots of paper napkins. Donuts for little guys are sticky and bound to end up on church clothes if we had waited too late. In any case, there were glazed donuts with coffee after the service in the parish hall.

We do not go out and buy boxes of donuts any more, I say sadly, as they are so not-good-for-us. But this morning we were craving them. This vicarious return to those old times, in a little piece of prose, is what I am giving myself as a substitute. And this Father's Day our youngest son dropped in early with a box of donuts in hand. It was just like those old times. Good times!

See also "Behind the Links."

Blogs: My news and political blog is at South by Southwest. My general purpose/southwest focus blog is at Southwest Progressive. And Carol Gee - Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for my websites.

Technorati tags: [tagname]

Anniversary date -- June 10, 1934

My parents, J. and L. were married 75 years ago today in Wyoming. They are no longer with us, except in memory and spirit. Today's post is a celebration of what was "their day" for so many decades.

Honoring each of them at their memorials, we had poems written by their granddaughter, Diane. The verses follow:

May We Remember

By Diane, 2003

In honor of J., father and grandfather

As uplifting notes of a Meadowlark

drift on calm breezes in the prairie,

may we remember his smile and laughter

and recall the telling of a special story.

As magnificent mountains provide shelter

in forests surrounding meadows so peaceful,

may we remember his mighty hands

full of strength and yet so gentle.

As an eagle soars over majestic pines

gliding on the ever present wind above,

may we remember his deep and honest faith

and his heart so full of love.

***********************************************

Remembering Grandma

By Diane, 2008

In honor of L., mother and grandmother

A small seed planted in the soil,

emerges in the Spring as a beautiful flower.

Great things come in tiny packages,

bundled with strength and will power.

A needle and thread, guided by the right hands,

become a warm quilt made with love.

Great things come in tiny packages,

gifted from a Higher Power up above.

A ray of sunshine bringing joy to all,

inspires the beautiful voice of a songbird.

Great things come in tiny packages.

That's how Grandma will be remembered.

********** The end **********

Blogs: My news and political blog is at South by Southwest. My general purpose/southwest focus blog is at Southwest Progressive. And Carol Gee - Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for my websites.

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day, a federal holiday for government offices and local schools. Locally, rain is expected. Lots of local cemeteries have planned formal ceremonies to honor those killed in the line of military duty. Nationally, fatal car crashes mar the memorial Day weekend, all according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
The Texas experience of Memorial Day focuses on honoring the military and reflects the norm of marking this holiday nationwide, and it has been my adult experience. As I was growing up in Wyoming, however, our experience of Memorial Day had an additional meaning. It was popularly known as "Decoration Day," the day everybody went to the cemeteries where relatives were buried. We cleaned and cleared the grave sites and decorated the graves of our loved ones with fresh homegrown plants or flowers. Since our family had driven to town from the country for the holiday, we brought along a picnic dinner to eat in the city park. My maternal grandparents were interred in one nearby town, my paternal grandparents another. It varied from year to year in which town we visited.
Last year I posted here at Making Good Mondays about Memorial Day, in the context of going home every summer. Today is very bittersweet for me because my 93 year old mother passed away in December. We will be again be traveling to Wyoming this summer, but we will not be visiting the cemetery where Mom's ashes will be buried until later.
So today I celebrate my mom's good life from afar, with this little tribute to "Decoration Day." She taught me about the importance of paying attention to heritage as we visited the graves of her parents and paid our respects. Now my mom and dad's grave site is just a few feet away from the graves of my maternal grandparents. I find that thought fitting and comforting, somehow, as I await our trip.

My brand new blog is called "Behind the Links."
Carol Gee - Online Universe is the all-in-one home page for my websites.
Technorati tags: memorial day holidays family traditions texas wyoming cemetaries

Cruisin'

In these perilous economic times, not as many people can just pick up and go on a cruise. So how about going on a fantasy cruise, a pretend trip, an imaginary sail?

Let's go together. I'll show you the way. I'll be your guide. It will be fun, I guarantee you. And it will be free for the taking.

Taking a cruise takes a little work beforehand. You have to decide what to wear, which means you have to study the cruise line documents for suggested dress, and for the cruise's itinerary. Packing carefully is a good way to get off on the right foot for fun. You have to arrange for someone to water your plants and for the care of your dog, and for a ride to the airport.

It usually takes a plane ride to take a cruise, unless you live near a port. Then it takes a bus or cab ride to the dock where the ship is preparing for its next trip. Those who do not arrive on time miss the boat. . . and all the fun.

Everyone boards the ship after almost all the supplies have been loaded. The cruise ship sails. You follow the signs to your cabin, only to hear that you will have to participate in the lifeboat drill the very first thing. Taking your own life vest from the cabin, you make your way to an assigned station and learn how to save your own life in case of bad, bad, trouble. But take heart. And take note. You only have to do it once during the whole trip.

Now everyone is anxious to get unpacked and to find their way around the ship. Often, by the time you are through with life boat drills, your bags have arrived at your cabin. Your cabin has a closet and plenty of drawers and space for all your things. That is the beauty of cruising -- no packing and unpacking as you travel from place to place. You will be hungry and wondering what's for supper by now, and whether to change for dinner in the dining room. Or you might decide to eat at one of the more casual places that abound on board.

If you eat in the dining room, traditionally, you will probably be seated at the same table with the same people throughout the cruise, except at lunch, which is normally open seating. And you will get to know each other fairly well, often exchanging Christmas cards with them for a year or two. You will order from a menu and it will be some of the finest food ever, for "free."

Meals are included in the price of the cruise. You will need to take money for liquor, tips, on shore excursions, gambling and whatever you purchase from the ship's shops or on shore. Tips are given to the room steward, the bartender, your waiter, the wine steward, and the Maitre'd. All the live entertainment is free, as are the midnight buffets. So cruises offer almost the very best value for your travel dollar.

Entertainment on board varies widely. The lounges sometimes have a small group of musicians. There will always be some kind of stage shows or productions, two a night. Daytime entertainment might include a tour of the ship's bridge, the kitchen, a chef's demo, silly games and dance contests, bridge, a casino and special excursions at almost all ports of call. Solitary activities include a jogging track, swimming pool, a spa, a library, computers, or just sitting on a deck chair watching the waves and the sea birds. Or sleeping, or eating, or eating, or eating. Save your biggest clothes for the end of the trip, as you will gain weight. You cannot help it unless you are anorexic.

And before you know it your three or seven or 14 days are up and you arrive, safe, sound and relaxed at home port. You have tipped generously for absolutely wonderful service. You have your purchases from exotic places, along with instructions on how to pay the duties, if needed. And, hopefully, you have something to wear home, as your packed bags have been picked up the night before.

You will come home with a bit of a suntan, a few extra pounds, lovely memories, new friends, treasures from other countries, and a bit of laundry to do. And your will be thinking of where you want to go on your next cruise. . . very soon. I can almost guarantee it. In fact, now I am in the mood for a trip, myself.


My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about politics.

Technorati tags: cruise travel travel cruise lines travelogue

The End of 2008

You just thought you were through with last year. Today's post is a round-up of some neat links that my regular contributors, "betmo" and Jon. My good friend, Betmo, who writes a blog, Life's Journey, sent me the links marked at the end of the title with a *. And my other good friend, Jon, reads good stuff, sends me links to it, but is not a blogger. His links I mark with a #. It is all hot stuff. Enjoy!
Worsts --
Huffington Post: "Bye-bye 2008: Things I want to Forget#" (12/29/08)
Yahoo! News" "The Worst Predictions About 2008#" (12/29/08)
Newsweek Periscope | Newsweek.com: "The Dignity Index: The Worst of 2008#" (12/27/08)

No "merry, merry" here --
McClatchy: "Commentary: A battle of merry vs. happy*" (12/16/08)
The National Review: "A TNR Holiday: The Grinch Had It Right*" (12/24/08)

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about politics.

Technorati tags: news [news and politics 2008

The Bestest List

The Best Hubble Picture - "Cat's-eye Nebula*" Outstanding work by NASA!

The Top 10 Everything of 2008 - News Stories, Editorial Cartoons, Election Photos, TV Series, etc#. (Time Magazine). Worth exploring. Stories included.

The Best in the Online World - "The 50 Best Websites 2008#" (Time Magazine) To quote:

TIME.com's 2008 picks for the best the Web has to offer

The Best at Bonding - "Troubled Australian Fairy Penguins Protected by Friendly Sheepdogs#" (Huffington Post 1/6/09). To quote:

A colony of fairy penguins on Warrnambool's Middle Island off the south coast of Australia has dwindled dramatically due to attacks by foxes and wild dogs. However, their numbers are rising again thanks to their new bodyguards - two Maremmas, an Italian breed of sheepdog that bonds with the flock or herd of animals it is protecting.

The Best Old First Cat - "US First Cat 'India' Dies*" (The Raw Story 1/5/09) To quote:

The president, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India ("Willie")," press secretary Sally McDonough said in a statement.

"India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed," she said.

The Best Old Bugatti - "Rare 1937 Bugatti Supercar Found in English Garage#" (Yahoo! News 1/3/09) To quote:

It was the equivalent of finding an old Picasso or an unknown Beatles tape hidden away in your uncle's attic. . . only 17 were ever made, and when it's cleaned up and auctioned in Paris next month, experts believe it will fetch at least 3 million pounds ($4.3 million) and possibly much more.

The Best Nutty Idea - "Scientists find nutty risk reducer: Eat more nuts#." (Yahoo! News 12/8/08) To quote:

Eating a handful of nuts a day for a year — along with a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish — may help undo a collection of risk factors for heart disease.

The Best Things To Do To Be Happy - "Do five simple things a day to stay sane, say scientists#" (Times Online 10/22/08) To quote:

Steps to happiness

Connect
Developing relationships with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours will enrich your life and bring you support

Be active
Sports, hobbies such as gardening or dancing, or just a daily stroll will make you feel good and maintain mobility and fitness

Be curious
Noting the beauty of everyday moments as well as the unusual and reflecting on them helps you to appreciate what matters to you

Learn
Fixing a bike, learning an instrument, cooking – the challenge and satisfaction brings fun and confidence

Give
Helping friends and strangers links your happiness to a wider community and is very rewarding

Hat Tip Key: Regular contributors of links to leads are "betmo*" and Jon#.

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about politics.

Technorati tags: news 2008 best

Top Ten Christmas Posts -- a digest

What follows is a round-up of ten of my favorites' Christmas posts. Enjoy:

• Little Town of Bethlehem is Littler Now - by Professor Juan Cole at Informed Comment: A poignant update on the political situation in Bethlehem, including interesting photos.


• Christmas 2008 - by Michael J.W. Stickings at The Reaction: "Be safe out there, and love one another, and imagine a world at peace," is his embracing personal message for the virtual world of the blogosphere.


• happy winter solstice - by betmo at life's journey: My friend and regular contributor adds to our understanding of the holiday season with this post, also featuring lovely images.


• Our house - by TUA at The Future Was Yesterday: my favorite sceptic talks about why Christmas is special where he lives.


• You'd better watch out - by Lorianne at Hoarded Ordinaries: A great word smith and photographer combines her talents into this edgy post.


• On visiting Dickens' only surviving London house - at Maud Newton's literary blog: Great words and pics describe an important part of our Christmas literary heritage.


• Some light holiday reading - by Spadoman at Round Circle: This spirited writer labels his beautiful post as "light reading," but it has breadth and depth aplenty.


• End of Days - by "best friends for over sixty years and counting," Margaret and Helen: Our favorite phenom Old Friends share wisdom, grit, humor and holiday stuffing recipes; it is a must read (with over 100 comments).


• Merry Christmas! - by Steve Clemons at the Washington Note: Sharing an adorable pup pic and his enviable travel itinerary, Steve has wisely decided to observe only at the ski slopes.


• Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - by Andrew Sullivan, my favorite Conservative, at the Atlantic's, The Daily Dish: One of the best, Andrew (humbly) celebrates blogging successes of the past year, and ends with links to some of his most important longer pieces.

Happy Holidays. New Year's wishes for good things in 2009.

Technorati tags: christmas news blogs

The last seat

Traveling by air in a sparcely populated area is a challenge. My experiences and those of my family include getting patted down by TSA twice on an intra state flight, regular overflights of the nearest small airport, and lack of affordable flights to this area.

I got the last seat as I booked my flight online, back to Texas from Wyoming this coming Monday. I am prepared to pay an extra $15 to take my clothes and tooth brush along with me. But I and my fellow passengers will be secure because my carry-on will be fluidless, cremeless, toothpaste-less and hairspray-less. Ugh!

And United is not a bad airline, just a troubled one, like many others. Let us hope that the drop in fuel prices helps get them out of trouble. I don't even demand that they lower ticket prices, commensurate with the reduction. Just get your act together for the travelling public under the Obama administration, Airlines!


Technorati tags: travel

Some People Will Be Hungry This Thanksgiving: Reprised

Thanksgiving Day 2008 -- Bountiful tables, full tummies, excess leftovers characterize many of our Thanksgiving feasts. On one of our favorite holidays in the United States, we give thanks for all we have. Today's post is an updated republication of a post that has remained popular since it first appeared in 2005. I begin with an update:

An economist's view -- "The world financial, food and hunger crisis" by Lane Vanderslice from World Hunger Notes (updated Nov. 11, 2008). Some points:

1. The world food crisis has been replaced in large part by the world financial crisis.


2. . . . food prices have soared. . . rice, the staple food of billions of people, more than doubled from 2003 through March 2008. . . This is a crisis for the poorest people in the world. 2.6 billion people live on $2 a day or less. They spend approximately 50 percent of their income on food.


3. [Causes] What are key factors affecting the supply of food? [On] Demand side: There has been strong economic growth for the world economy over the past 10 years or so. . . the quantity people demand of food does not vary much with changes in prices. . . Commodity speculation has been widespread.


4. Supply side: A major factor affecting the supply of food has been the diversion of crop land to fuel production. . . the agricultural production of developing countries is now directed to a greater extent toward producing for export to developed countries rather than to producing goods for their own people. . . There have also been certain shortfalls in production. . . Assistance to agriculture by developed countries and multilateral development banks has been minimal, and, though some countries have adequately supported their agriculture sector including India and China, others have not, including many and perhaps most countries of Africa. Agricultural producers, especially the poorest, in Africa and elsewhere have been exploited or neglected by governments. Assistance to agriculture by developed countries and multilateral development banks has fallen dramatically.

Wikipedia page "Malnutrition" 2008 -- has what appears to be some good entries. For example:

Some environmentalists claim that the fundamental issue causing malnutrition is that the human population exceeds the Earth's carrying capacity;^[5] however, Food First raises the issue of food sovereignty and claims that every country (with the possible minor exceptions of some city-states) has sufficient agricultural capacity to feed its own people, but that the "free trade" economic order associated with such institutions as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank prevent this from happening. At the other end of the spectrum, the World Bank itself claims to be part of the solution to malnutrition, asserting that the best way for countries to succeed in breaking the cycle of poverty and malnutrition is to build export-led economies that will give them the financial means to buy foodstuffs on the world market.

World Hunger Notes is a fabulous resource for the latest news about world hunger. For example:

• Rising unemployment could push an additional 7.5 million to 10.3 million United States residents below the federal poverty line in the next two or three years, study says Eric Eckholm New York Times November 24, 2008.
• Some 691,000 children went hungry in America sometime in 2007, while close to one in eight Americans struggled to feed themselves adequately US food security report says Michael J. Sniffen Associated Press November 17, 2008

The original post -- Some Will Be Hungry This Thanksgiving -- Nov. 23, 2005

How does it feel to be hungry, really hungry? It is not the kind of hunger that comes with having missed a meal. It is also not the kind of hunger one feels when doing a very purposeful "cleansing fast," or fasting on Fridays, in the old days of an observed liturgical holy week.

This hunger is that which comes from not getting anything to eat, or very little to eat, on a regular basis for days, weeks, months or years at a time. It comes from not getting a nutritionally balanced diet. This kind of hunger makes it difficult, if not impossible for mothers to nurse their infants. Infants do not grow and thrive if they live. People - adults and children - starve to death, or they die of diseases brought on by malnutrition. There are entire nations starving or desperately endangered today; right now. And there far too many people in these United States that are also hungry. This week, this coming Thanksgiving Day, the weekend following , millions are hungry. For many of the rest of us, we will be trying to figure out what to do with all our leftovers.

A recent Reuters story focused on the just published United Nations report on hunger in the world which states that 6 million children a year die from hunger related causes. (see also the terrific pop up map in the title link above) Quoting Reuters,

Most of the 6 million child deaths a year are not due to starvation but
rather to neonatal disorders and diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria and measles which would be easily curable if the victims were not weakened by lack of nutrition.

The food crisis brought about by climate change is also part of the larger hunger picture. The BBC article begins,

Climate change threatens to put far more people at risk of hunger over the next 50 years than previously thought, according to new research. Scientists say expected shifts in rain patterns and temperatures over that time could lead to an extra 50 million people struggling to get enough food.

(BBC image) In Africa people in Malawi face a maize crisis. Quoting,

The worse harvest in a decade and failed rains are being blamed for what aid agencies warn is a rapidly emerging food crisis. What is making matters worse is HIV/Aids. One in seven people in Malawi is affected and it is fueling the problem of extreme hunger. Money that households would normally spend on buying seed and fertiliser, is being spent on transporting the sick to hospital and buying basic medicine instead.

In Zimbabwe even their own soldiers are hungry enough that there are shortages of food in the barracks and forced leaves. High food prices are a factor in Niger's hunger problems, because of the high demand for food in the surrounding countries. The crisis of African hunger was debated in this BBC feature; some of the discussion comments were excellent. Millions are at risk in Africa, but so are millions in southern Asia.

Earthquake survivors face winter hunger in the Kashmir area. It is a major crisis for the millions left homeless by the quakes in Pakistan, Kashmir and India. The article states, "As of 16 October, food had reached 440,000 people but an estimated 560,000 remained in "desperate need of assistance".

In our own hemisphere hunger is a major problem in several contries. The BBC reports that Guatemalans face hunger as a result of the recent natural disaster, Hurricane Stan. Rats ate the crops of many people in Nicaragua, one of the poorest nations in the Central America. The BBC article headlines, "The UN is to send 230 tons of emergency food aid to thousands of Miskito Indians facing hunger in Nicaragua."

Here at home, the Food Research and Action Center is an excellent site for exploring hunger in the United States. America's Second Harvest, the nation's food bank network, has excellent material on hunger in the U. S. The Children's Defense Fund explores the question of U.S. children's hunger in this 6-page PDF document. Here is what the USDA site has to say about "food security" in the U.S.:

Eighty-eight percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year 2004, meaning that they had access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households were food insecure at least some time during that year. The prevalence of food insecurity was 11.9 percent in 2004, up from 11.2 percent in 2003. The prevalence of food insecurity with hunger was 3.9 percent in 2004, up from 3.5 percent in 2003.

Since our population was 290,342,554 in July of 2003, the "3.9% of food insecurity with hunger" translates into 11, 323,360 hungry people in the United States. Is there anything that can be done about the recent increase in hunger? The above paragraph on hunger in America includes several references in the linked articles to organizations that endeavor to feed people who go to bed hungry. In your own city, there is probably a food bank, a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter that could use some help, either volunteering or donating. And many churches, synagogues and mosques as well as other faith based organizations focus of food pantries or feeding programs.

World wide, diminishing poverty and the predominance of violence and war will help. Improvements in agriculture are key to the long term solution. For example, unraveling the DNA code of the rice genome may be an answer for many countries where rice is the predominant staple.

Reference: Wikipedia's excellent section on hunger discusses many aspects of the problem and includes links to many organizations that work on hunger.

Technorati tags: thanksgiving hunger malnutrition news and politics

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about politics.

My trip has been marked by:

. . . the Fourth of July, and fresh strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream, after the big parade. Our family recipe uses angel food cake.

. . . an abundance of flowers in well-tended front yards. This town is ablaze with big and little blooms of all colors. The yards anchor log homes, frame homes, modular homes, very old big homes, and a new little subdivision.

. . . images of the wide-open West, as familiar as when I was a toddler. This is the town of my birth. My 92 year old mother is in a nursing home just a couple of blocks from where the hospital in which I was born was then located.

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about politics.

Technorati tags: diary travel imagery

Basic American Values

Today on this Fourth of July, 2008, I am posting an article from 38 years ago, taken from Robin M. Williams, Jr., American Society: A Sociological Interpretation 3rd ed. (New York, Knopf, 1970). It offers an interesting comparison with the values we perceive today. To quote:

Basic American Values

Within this diverse American society of many different racial, ethnic, and religious groups with their distinctive set of values exists a common core of mainstream values. Sociologist Robin Williams, after decades of study, has identified fifteen value orientations, the foundation of our beliefs, behaviors, definitions of social goals and life expectations. Some are contradictory -- freedom, individualism, and external conformity; equality and group superiority; nationalism and freedom -- and thus spark divisions among people. Still widely held by powerful groups, these values continue to have enormous impact in shaping our society.

1. Achievement and Success. Competition oriented, our society places much value on gaining power, prestige and wealth.
2. Activity and work. We firmly believe in everyone working and we condemn as lazy those who do not work.
3. Moral orientation. We tend to moralize, seeing the world in absolutes of right and wrong.
4. Humanitarian mores. Through charitable and crisis aid we lean toward helping the less fortunate and the underdog.
5. Efficiency and practicality. We seek problem solutions through the quickest and least costly means.
6. Progress. We think technology can solve all problems and hold an optimistic future outlook.
7. Material Comfort. We share the American Dream of a high standard of living and owning many material goods.
8. Equality. We believe in this abstract ideal, relating to each other informally as equals.
9. Freedom. Individual freedom from domination of others is a highly cherished value.
10. External conformity. Despite our professed belief in individualism, we join, conform, or go along, suspicious of those who do not.
11. Science and rationality. We believe through science we can gain mastery over our environment and secure a better life-style.
12. Nationalism. We think the American way of life is the best, and distrust "un-American" behavior.
13. Democracy. We believe everyone has the right of political participation, that our government is highly democratic.
14. Individualism. We emphasize personal rights and responsibilities, giving the individual priority over the group.
15. Racism and Group-Superiority Themes. We place higher value on some racial, religious, or ethnic groups than others through our attitudes and actions.

I close with this question. What has changed in 38 years, if anything?

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about politics.

Technorati tags: society American values

Not too long ago . . .

Summer was when we all began to make our travel plans. In the past we could look forward to getting something to eat on an airplane trip. Quoting, for example, from the June 2000, Family Circle, "Eat Light In Flight:"

Although airplane food will never get Michelin Guide ratings, airlines keep trying to please. Included on TWA's menu, for example, are low-sodium, low cholesterol and low-cal vegetarian meals. Air France's nine special menus cover almost every dietary requirement. American Airlines' recently revamped American Traveler Menu features "Heart-Healthy Meals." Surprisingly, some air travelers still ask "Where's the beef?" "We tried offering light meals," says Ruth Hickman, administrator of menu plans for TWA. "The passengers didn't go for them." Most airlines require 12 to 24 hours' notice, so call ahead if you want to eat light in flight.

This summer the travel and meal situation is a stark contrast to those halcyon days at the beginning of the 21st century.

• Air France today: Economy Class meals,(from FlyerGuide.net). The Air France U.S. website did not have information that I could find about the meals.


• American today: Economy Class meals (zilch). The American Airlines website says that a snack will cost you $3, and that you cannot get potato chips until after 10:00 AM. The flight duration must be more than three hours for you to be able to purchase a Fresh Light meal for $5. On flights of two hours First Class passengers get a complimentary meal; all others can buy something at the airport and carry it on board.


• According to the Airline Equality Forum overall reviews, American is a "Three Star Airline." Air France gets four stars.
• TWA was purchased in 2001 by American Airlines. Yesterday American Airlines made news headlines at the International Herald Tribune,"American Airlines to cut flights and charge bag fee." To quote from the story:




American Airlines, the largest U.S. air carrier, said Wednesday that it would begin charging $15 for many passengers to check their first bag, eliminating a free service that passengers in the United States have come to expect during the modern jet era.

. . . At the same time, American said it would take up to 85 aircraft out of its fleet, including jets and commuter planes, by the end of the year, one of the biggest cutbacks since the airlines culled their fleets after the September 2001 attacks.

. . . The reductions will translate to an 11 to 12 percent cut in service during the fourth quarter, American officials said. They said the airline would eliminate some jobs, but did not give specifics.

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about politics.

Technorati tags: news travel food airlines economy

Home Every Summer

Home Every Summer

Even big people want to go home every now and the then. Homesickness is not confined to little kids. Separation from one's roots may come at a cost. That price could be exacted in the form of unrequited longing, or as merely as a wish to visit loved ones and old familiar haunts.

These feelings are most intense for most of us two times during the year, at the holiday season and during "summer vacation." Thus, there are multiple motivations to "go home," wherever that is in our own heads. First, we usually want some time off from work, a vacation, and we want to "go home." The other thing is a need for variety. Summer comes and we want "something different."

And we want to spend time with those to whom we are attached. For me this means traveling from Texas to Wyoming to visit my family of origin every summer. Even though we are both retired, summer is when we take our vacation for that trip. That is because of habit, because of summer holidays, and because of weather. My teachers asked me as a child, "what did you do on your summer vacation?" Expectations of doing something during the summer begin early. The "something" might be tied to my birthday, Mother's Day or Memorial Day in May, or to Independence Day, the Fourth of July. Texas has a brief spring, and a long hot summer. Wyoming has a later spring, a short summer and a long, cold winter. Cold winters do not make for easy, safe traveling. So summer is the time to contemplate the trip North.

Predicting the end of the possibility of snow is difficult in mountain country. Wyoming has seen snow on the Fourth of July. The best we can do will be an educated guess. But we know for sure that being with my elderly mother would make a very special Mothers Day. My own birthday is not so important. And our adult children have gotten used to having m out of town on Mothers Day. And being in Wyoming for the 4th of July would also be very special. That is a big celebration in the town we visit, with a big parade, fireworks and a grand rodeo.

Both ideas are tempting. I will let you know, folks, what we decide.

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about the elections.
Technorati tags: diary travel thoughts family

All about rocks

Today's post is another in my series of "All About _______"
Others include:

• About the Stairway
• All About Mondays
• About - Dreams
• 250 on Fish
• All about Frogs
  

There is an old saying that "a rolling stone gathers no moss." It seems to fit with the "fresh start" approach many people take with New Year's resolutions. Moss might to grow on you if you sit still too long. So I'm going to get up and do something for myself as this new year begins. I am beginning with the message to myself, "Lighten up!"

In a lighter moment not long ago I came across this: "Smile vs Frown: How NOT to be a walking accident" - from a quirky and interesting little website called Happy Brainstorming. I bring this up because one of my resolutions is to find more to smile about in 2008. There are two reasons. I will sleep better, and I will put fewer wrinkles on this elder face. To quote from the website:

It is well known that non verbal communication is very important, as it judges your likeability. But it seems that the most important of all signals pass THROUGH facial expressions. The facial expressions are much more important than any other body language posture.

Rolling Rock is the name of a beer. I can't drink alcohol any more because of the medications I take, which is a little sad. A number of their TV commercials crossed over the edge enough to offend a few people and were banned. Rolling Rock has a website that requires you to be at least 21 years of age. I am old enough to go through its "Age Gate", but I won't. But I will say that there's nothing like a cold Tecate beer with a Texas barbecue sandwich on a hot summer day!

I collect rocks -- all kinds of rocks. Rocks are heavy. Though not the best thing to take on an airplane in large numbers, rocks make wonderful trip souvenirs. I have tumbled river rocks from high mountain streams in Colorado and Wyoming. I have a chunk of pink granite from a road work site where my brother worked. I have a plate of small polished rocks with a beautiful candle in the middle. I have a collection of beautiful fossils under the glass top of our coffee table. I have a big shell fossil as a doorstop for my front door. Our Texas Sage is in a bed that has a base of round river rocks. We collected flagstones from the building site of our current house, making them into flagstone walks to our tiny back yard. That was the year I learned to "tuck-point" concrete. Ah, those were the days!

Happy New Year, everybody!

Cross-posted at Southwest Blogger

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about civil liberties.

Technorati tags: rocks best loss daily diary life personal thoughts

Happy New Year to You, Dear Earth

I want to wish you . . .
A Happy New Year, dear Earth.
You deserve better than a penny's worth
Of righteous effort from us.

I want to wish you. . .
A better bunch of friends in high places.
You deserve a set of brand new faces
Honoring their Bully Pulpits.

I want to wish you. . .
A decent shot at normal temp trends.
You deserve relief from over extended
Fossil fuel fires of waste.

I want to wish you . . .
A Chilly Winter at both your poles.
You deserve fewer gaping holes
In those precious ozone layers.

I want to wish you. . .
A Happy New Year, dear Earth.
You deserve at least a rebirth
Of higher rescue aspirations.

Copyright by Carol Gee
December 29, 2007


Cross-posted at Southwest Blogger

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about the environment.

Technorati tags: environment climate changepoetry

Monday, Christmas Eve

"Ho, ho, ho!"

"O, Christmas Tree, O, Christmas Tree"

"Oh little town of Bethlehem"

"Oh, Holy Night"

"Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go"

"Oh, my gosh, I forgot to buy a gift for ______!"


Christmas Eve on the Internet:

It's Santa Claus, tracked by Norad. Check out this nifty website that is perfectly in tune with our commercialized, high tech times. At the other end of the spectrum, "Jesus' Birthplace to Host Major Christmas Eve Festival" covers what will be happening in the Holy Land. A Discovery Channel headline reading, "Bright Moon, Mars Light Christmas Sky," encourages a bit of stargazing as you watch for Santa. It will be unusually beautiful, with "a full moon and a full Mars" this Christmas.

For a full tummy - If you live in New York City and want to dine out tonight, here are the "hottest deals." In Boston, here are the best places to go. Despite Congress having left town, Washington, D.C. seems alive and well stocked with great placed to dine out. If you are lucky enough to be in Hawaii right now, Waikiki will feed you royally. An interesting and obscure little website - ekNazar.com - lists holiday events for members of the (East) Indian community who live in the San Francisco Bay area. The site also features "10,000 baby names."

On that happy note, Merry Christmas!" to all who love Christmas Eve almost as much as Christmas Day.

Cross-posted at Southwest Blogger

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about a Christmas controversy.

Technorati tags: best culture current affairs entertainment food life parties and nightlife travel and places

From "scrap paper"

Round-up of Recipes -- The following information comes from a booklet my daughter and I put together for Christmas a few years to distribute to all the members of our family. We have four children and six grandchildren. The content came from my husband and I, all the kids and my mom. We gathered favorite recipes, treasured memories and snapshots. Here are some examples:

Memories --

• A Christmas memory from our youngest daughter (now 40+): "Going to Granny U.'s . . . the sound of the hardwood floors and the smells from the kitchen; exploring the little "house" behind the back porch."
• This same daughter's Favorite Vacation: "Train trip to Wyoming" (from Texas). And she remembers "Carol's cooking: Mayo in everything!"
• A memory from our oldest son was called The strangest thing Carol ever cooked: I quote, "High protein milk shakes at midnight for all us kids. She had watched a TV program on starving children and wanted to make sure we had plenty of nutritionsls. This also falls under the category of the most nutritional thing Carol ever cooked." (Having a house full of four children under the age of six and a traveling husband can make one just a little crazy at times).
• Our oldest daughters vacation memory: ". . . long stretches between stops."
• Or youngest son's funniest thing I remember happening to me was, to quote,"Getting dressed in my good clothes, getting myself all muddy, then washing my shoes by standing in the toilet." (Remember what I said about getting a little crazy)?

Traditions, then and now -- Then: When the kids lived at home we went to Midnight Mass (Episcopal) on Christmas Eve most years. We are now "back-sliders." We did not teach our children to believe in Santa Claus, and they came our OK.
Now: Our tradition is to have our extended family of about 25 to our house on a day before Christmas. This year it will be on Sunday. We fix the meat or main dish and drinks, the rest is carry-in from everyone else.

We draw names for a ($5 limit) gift exchange after dinner. People have the most fun with our "Chinese Gift Exchange," where people draw numbers to pick a wrapped surprise package ($5, "White Elephant" or home-made). What makes it more fun is that, when your number comes up, you can also choose one of the things already opened by another person. They then choose and open another surprise gift. We had to wait several years before including the grandkids in this because they would too easily cry if someone took their present from them. But now, everyone happily steals from everyone else. The person with the highest drawing number, naturally has his choice of all the opened gifts or a surprise.

Recipes -- This recipe must be a real favorite because three different versions of it came in for the recipe book. Here is mine. Carol's Marinated Carrots --
Serves 12. Keeps well for two weeks in the refrigerator.

5 cups cooked sliced carrots.
1medium green Bell pepper & 1 medium sweet onion, thinly sliced
2 cups vegetable oil, 3/4 cup vinegar, i can tomato soup
1 teaspoon each of: dry mustard, salt, celery seed, dried basil & Worcestershire Sauce, 1/2 t. black pepper

Combine first three ingredients in a large bowl. Mix remaining ingredients for marinade. Pour over vegetable mixture.
Refrigerate for at least 12 hours before serving cold.


Cross-posted at Southwest Blogger
My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about the 2008 election.
Technorati tags: holidays diary family christmas

Reducing December's Monday stressors

There are four Mondays, including today, before Christians celebrate Christmas. And Jews celebrate Hanukkah beginning on Wednesday, December 5. Kwanzaa will be celebrated December 26 to January 1, 2008.

Handling stress -- For many of us the holidays are extremely stressful. Here, from the Mental Health Association, are some things you can do to make better Mondays this December. It is a list I have used for years:

1. Talk it out.
   
2. Work it off.
3. Watch what you eat.
4. Get plenty of rest.
5. Take a break.
6. Do something for others.
7. Make a change.
8. Don't depend on drugs or alcohol.
9. Accept the things you cannot change.
10. Don't try to be perfect.
11. Be a good problem solver.
    

References:

• "Holiday Stress Relief" from WebMD
• "Six ways to beat holiday stress" from The Happy Guy
  
• "Time Management Strategies For Holiday Stress Relief" from Small Business of Canada

Cross-posted at Southwest Blogger

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about being truthful.

Technorati tags: stress health holidays family