Monday, May 30, 2011

...God Bless the Red, White & Blue



Today is Memorial Day which is a United States Federal Holiday observed on the last Monday of May. It used to be called Decoration Day and commemorates U.S. Service Members who died while in the military service. First enacted by formerly enslaved African-Americans to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.

Memorial Day often marks the start of the summer vacation season, and Labor Day its end. To all of the troops that have given their lives for our safety and freedoms, thank you.

"A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd."
Max Lucado


Wednesday, May 25, 2011

...limitations




"All man is created equal". Hmmm. Equal in what regard? The trust fund baby vs the homeless orphan? Just asking. I guess that the most important thing is do the best with what he have. Sometimes doing this gives us more. I watched part of a program devoted to comedienne and actress Carole Burnette. Many times comedy comes from tragedy. It sure didn't stop her from becoming a resounding success. On this day in 2001 32-year-old Erik Weihenmayer, of Boulder, Colorado, became the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Reach for the stars everyone and if you need strength, ask for it.

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world."
Mohandas Gandhi

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

...inspired by true incident




On this day in 1830, "Mary Had a Little Lamb" by Sarah Josepha Hale was published. As a girl, Mary Sawyer (later Mrs. Mary Tyler) kept a pet lamb, which she took to school one day at the suggestion of her brother. A commotion naturally ensued. Mary recalled: "Visiting school that morning was a young man by the name of John Roulstone, a nephew of the Reverend Lemuel Capen, who was then settled in Sterling. It was the custom then for students to prepare for college with ministers, and for this purpose Mr. Roulstone was studying with his uncle. The young man was very much pleased with the incident of the lamb; and the next day he rode across the fields on horseback to the little old schoolhouse and handed me a slip of paper which had written upon it the three original stanzas of the poem...".

Mary had a little lamb,
little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb,
whose fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
and everywhere that Mary went,
the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
school one day, school one day,
It followed her to school one day,
which was against the rules.
It made the children laugh and play,
laugh and play, laugh and play,
it made the children laugh and play
to see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,
turned it out, turned it out,
And so the teacher turned it out,
but still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
patiently about, patiently about,
And waited patiently about
till Mary did appear.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
Love Mary so? Love Mary so?
"Why does the lamb love Mary so,"
the eager children cry.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
The lamb, you know, the lamb, you know,
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,"
the teacher did reply.





"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
Lao Tzu


Thursday, May 19, 2011

...umbrella







On this day, 1962 a birthday salute to U.S. President John F. Kennedy took place at Madison Square Garden, New York City. The highlight was Marilyn Monroe's rendition of "Happy Birthday". She wasn't standing over a steam vent but the performance was 'warm' to say the least. President Kennedly replied, after the performance...Kennedy responded to her performance with the remark, "Thank you. I can now retire from politics after having had 'Happy Birthday' sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way." Odd the way that things can happen. My thoughts go out to the Kennedy clan today. Maybe the old adage 'the more the merrier' might fit. The lawns and gardens in Chester County, PA should look lush in a few days as the rains have been falling almost ocnstantly. If you have a friend or family member in need, be their umbrella. You never know when you may need yours and find that you have left it in the closet. Oh, and if you are going to be an umbrella, be the best. "Louis Vuitton Umbrella" shown.
"A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life."
James Allen

Thursday, May 12, 2011

...using your head




By Dennis Prager of Colorado.

A Speech Every American High School Principal Should Give.... By DennisPrager.



To the students and faculty of our high school:I am your new principal, and honored to be so. There is no greater calling than to teach young people.I would like to apprise you of some important changes coming to our school. I am making these changes because I am convinced that most of the ideas that have dominated public education in America have worked against you, against your teachers and against our country.First, this school will no longer honor race or ethnicity. I could not care less if your racial makeup is black, brown, red, yellow or white. I could not care less if your origins are African, Latin American, Asian or European, or if your ancestors arrived here on the Mayflower or on slave ships. The only identity I care about, the only one this school will recognize, is your individual identity -- your character, your scholarship, your humanity. And the only national identity this school will care about is American.This is an American public school, and American public schools we recreated to make better Americans. If you wish to affirm an ethnic,racial or religious identity through school, you will have to go elsewhere. We will end all ethnicity, race and non-American nationality-based celebrations. They undermine the motto of America ,one of its three central values -- e pluribus Unum, "from many, one."And this school will be guided by America 's values. This includes allafter-school clubs. I will not authorize clubs that divide students based on any identities. This includes race, language, religion, sexual orientation or whatever else may become in vogue in society divided by political correctness.Your clubs will be based on interests and passions, not blood, ethnic,racial or other physically defined ties. Those clubs just cultivate narcissism -- an unhealthy preoccupation with the self -- while the purpose of education is to get you to think beyond yourself. So we will have clubs that transport you to the wonders and glories of art, music,astronomy, languages you do not already speak, carpentry and more. If the only extracurricular activities you can imagine being interested in are those based on ethnic, racial or sexual identity, that means that little outside of yourself really interests you.Second, I am uninterested in whether English is your native language. My only interest in terms of language is that you leave this school speaking and writing English as fluently as possible. The English language has united America 's citizens for over 200 years, and it will unite us at this school. It is one of the indispensable reasons this country of immigrants has always come to be one country. And if you leave this school without excellent English language skills, I would be remiss in my duty to ensure that you will be prepared to successfully compete in the American job market. We will learn other languages here-- it is deplorable that most Americans only speak English --but if you want classes taught in your native language rather than in English, this is not your school.Third, because I regard learning as a sacred endeavor, everything in this school will reflect learning's elevated status. This means, among other things, that you and your teachers will dress accordingly. Many people in our society dress more formally for Hollywood events than for church or school. These people have their priorities backward.Therefore, there will be a formal dress code at this school.Fourth, no obscene language will be tolerated anywhere on this school's property -- whether in class, in the hallways or at athletic events. If you can't speak without using the f-word, you can't speak. By obscene language I mean the words banned by the Federal Communications Commission, plus epithets such as "Nigger," even when used by one black student to address another black, or "bitch," even when addressed by a girl to a girlfriend. It is my intent that by the time you leave this school, you will be among the few your age to instinctively distinguish between the elevated and the degraded, the holy and the obscene.Fifth, we will end all self-esteem programs. In this school, self-esteem will be attained in only one way -- the way people attained it until decided otherwise a generation ago -- by earning it. One immediate consequence is that there will be one valedictorian, not eight.Sixth, and last, I am reorienting the school toward academics and away from politics and propaganda. No more time will be devoted to scaring you about smoking and caffeine, or terrifying you about sexual harassment or global warming. No more semesters will be devoted to condom wearing and teaching you to regard sexual relations as only or primarily a health issue. There will be no more attempts to convince you that you are a victim because you are not white, or not male, or not heterosexual or not Christian. We will have failed if any one of you graduates this school and does not consider him or herself inordinately lucky -- to be alive and to be an American.Now, please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our country. As many of you do not know the words, your teachers will hand them out to you.


Thank you Nancy O. for sending this to me.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

...industry resonates
















The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the times. It began in the United Kingdom, then subsequently spread throughout Europe, North America, and eventually the world. The development of all-metal machine tools in the first two decades of the 19th century facilitated the manufacture of more production machines for manufacturing in other industries. Everything old is new again as shown in Thomasvilles' latest offering, appropriately entitled 'Reinventions.' Redecorate with panache and sensibility. Shown are a few new items including an Apprentice Adjustable Table, a Shop Floor Chest and an Aperture Mirror. Redo an entire space or pick and choose a handful of these iconic and interesting pieces to thrust industry into your home or office. Don't forget your Summer House too! Mixing these metal and wood pieces and integrating seaside colorings with be just what James Hargreaves ordered.