Veterans Day: The Spoken Word .....

As President of the United States, it is Barrack Obama's responsibility to give voice to our nations regard for our veterans. Today, at Arlington National Cemetery, he did that ... and did it very well ...

Here's a report from the Associated Press on today's Presidential tribute ...

And here is audio/video from msnbc.com of the President's speech ...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Google Gets It on Veterans Day .....

You can never be sure what significant occasions Google will mark with a specialized logo ... but today, they got it. Those of you who - like myself - were military brats, should find a special appeal in the graphic Google is using to observe Veterans Day.

Rockin' Roboticists .....

The road to a future career in engineering and design, electronics and more, is being navigated NOW by robots conceived, built and directed by Midland youngsters.

I had the great pleasure, recently, of traveling to Lubbock-Estacado High School for a day of high-tech, high-excitement competition. The 2009 BEST Robotics Contest attracted teams from schools across the Permian Basin, High Plains and Panhandle regions of West Texas - including Coach Curt Cowdrey and the Pegasus Project of Midland's San Jacinto Junior High School.

This is just the latest venture of perhaps the most extraordinary academic program in the Tall City ... and certainly the most fun. These are the same boys and girls (at the Lubbock contest, SJ had the highest percentage of girls on their team) who, late last year, built and launched their own rockets. This spring, they'll take the field at Midland College - with a full-size trebuchet in tow - to defend their championship in last year's West Texas Milk Jug Chuckin' Competition.

ADDED NOTE: This year's competition in Lubbock featured teams from two Midland schools, with a squad from Midland-Trinity taking the field with their robotic entry. It was a small, fledgling entry into to the contest - but I suspect that will grow, now that outstanding science teacher Chuck Bell has made the move to Midland-Trinity.

In the meantime, here are some photos of SJ's squad at this year's contest ...

Different Ways to Thank Our Veterans .....

One suggestion comes from this post at the White House Blog, about President Obama signing an Executive Order creating "an interagency Council on Veterans Employment to advise the President and Administration on how to set the bar for hiring and employing veterans."

The post goes on to quote U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, co-chair of the new council, saying, "veterans are an important part of our nation's past, present and future. They deserve our full support as they reintegrate into the civilian workforce."

She's absolutely right.

Call It What You Will ... But MARK It .....

IN FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Lt. Col. John Alexander McCrae, MD - Canadian Expeditionary Force

Here in the U.S., one doesn't see the poppies on people's lapels so much, as we used to when were children ..... One of the most ridiculous victories in America's 'war of drugs' was the declaration by 'drug czars' and their staffs that the poppy reminded people of addiction to drugs, rather than appreciation to those who gave the 'last full measure of their devotion' in service to their country. Such is not the case in Canada, England, and other countries that once formed the 'Commonwealth.' The paper poppies - and the fundraising for veterans' relief that they represent - have been prominent in photos and video the past couple weeks.

Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veterans Day ..... call it what you will ..... but find some way to mark this day. Here, in America, the focus of the day has been expanded to honor all men and women who, throughout history, have answered their country's call to serve. There have been many in our own family, but - mindful of the origins of this particular holiday - I will tell the boys of their great-grandfather Frederick, a sergeant with the 102nd Balloon Company, U.S. Air Service, American Expeditionary Force, and his service in France during the First World War.

Colorful West Texas .....

You couldn't have asked for better weather this past weekend, or a better opportunity for going somewhere in Texas where autumn is an especially-colorful occasion.

Which is what brought Younger Son and I to the McKittrick Canyon Trail of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, in far West Texas.

What we found was something new and wondrous for Younger Son, born and raised here, in the heart of the Permian Basin, where autumn is a time of evergreen and muted brown, with only an all-too-rare splash of red and gold to break the monotony.

For me, a dang-Yankee-from-back-east, it was a recollection of other times and other places, walking through sparkling forests, canopied and carpeted in color, and vistas of incredible crazy-quilts of color that were forested hills and mountains.

I'd like to offer the following images from our day in McKittrick, and to suggest that you make the trip, yourself, someday.

... and While We're on the Subject of the Armed Forces .....

It's one of a couple of times each year, when the news is filled with veterans-related features. Even ESPN is getting in on the act ... and they picked a hero of mine for their tribute.

Bleier was part of a tradition of professional athletes - from Christy Mathewson and Ted Williams, to Chad Henning and Pat Tillman - who left the ballpark for the battlefield, answering a higher call to glory ... sometimes at a terrible cost.

And while it has been noted that athletes' contributions to military service in general - and war in particular - is diminishing, what can not - must not - diminish, is our appreciation for the people like Bleier, and all who serve in our armed forces.

Happy Birthday to the Corps .....

It was on this day in 1775, that the Continental Congress approved a resolution to form the Continental Marines ... and the rest, as they say, is history.

Two battalions of Marines were raised to conduct ship-to-ship fighting, provide shipboard security and assist in landing forces. With their maritime mission in mind, recruitment was held on Philadelphia's bustling waterfront, at Tun Tavern ... some might say an appropriate place to find Marines!

The birthday of the Corps is celebrated worldwide, wherever Marines are posted. It was a big night in our household, with my parents in formal dress, heading out to spend the evening at the Marine Corps Ball.

Here is Wikipedia's write-up on Marine Corps history, a brief write-up about that first recruitment on the official USMC site, and a page devoted to this year's Commandant's Marine Corps Birthday Ball.

A Prayer from Those of Us Who Have it Easy, for Those of Us Who Don't ...

A reminder yesterday morning - during early service at First Prez-Midland, and at morning and evening gatherings at First Baptist-Midland - that not all Christians in this world have it anywhere near as easy as we do in matters of life and faith.

Yesterday, Christians nationwide observed International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, a reminder to offer a prayer from those of us who have it easy, for those of us who don't ... and maybe it shouldn't be a once-a-year thing, either.

CHAINS
(Prayer for the Persecuted Church)
Words and music by Mary Rose Jensen

"Lord, we remember the chains of Your friends
Suffering for witness to life without end.
Christ, Your sorrow brought joy and release
So, in their chains, give them peace."

"Lord, we remember the chains that now bind
Those who are tortured in body and mind.
Christ, Your rising gives hope for our plea
So, from their chains, set them free."

"God, protect and defend the accused.
Give them courage when they are abused.
Keep them faithful when tragedies fall and
Show them Your love most of all."

"Lord, we remember the chains that distress.
May Your church prosper, though under duress.
Christ, Your kingdom defeats every foe
So, by the chains may it grow."

The following was prepared by www.persecutedchurch.org/

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is a global day of intercession for persecuted Christians worldwide. Its primary focus is the work of intercessory prayer and citizen action on behalf of persecuted communities of the Christian faith. We also encourage prayer for the souls of the oppressors, the nations that promote persecution, and those who ignore it.

We believe that prayer changes things. Exactly what happens is a mystery of faith. God invites us to present to Him our requests and to pray without ceasing. Persecuted Christians often plead for prayer to help them endure. The most we can do is the least we can do — pray. We also encourage continuing prayer and educated involvement on behalf of persecuted Christians. Visit our partner Web sites to discover further ways to get involved.

How did the IDOP get started?

The IDOP began in 1996 through the efforts of the World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) in cooperation with a variety of denominations and faith-based organizations. From a core group of approximately 7,000 churches, the IDOP has grown to be the largest prayer day event of its kind in the world. The IDOP is a rallying point for Christians and others to stand behind those who suffer for their faith by providing prayer support and appropriate advocacy.

In 1998, Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Inc. (PPC) took oversight of the IDOP organizing efforts in the United States while WEF continues to coordinate the IDOP internationally. PPC is an independent, nonprofit, nonpolitical organization whose primary agenda is informed and active prayer.

What are the goals of the IDOP?

The goals of the IDOP and Prayer for the Persecuted Church are to:

• Increase awareness of the persecuted Church worldwide.
• Lead in prayer on behalf of the persecuted Church.
• Promote ongoing and appropriate action on behalf of the persecuted Church.

Why doesn’t the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church pray for all persecuted people regardless of their religious, political, or social affiliation?

As a human rights issue, the persecution of Christians dwarfs all other forms of religious injustice. It is beneficial to take advocacy for fellow believers who suffer for their faith as a starting point, as Christians living in free societies have been largely unaware of or silent to this increasing tragedy. As we gain a deeper understanding of the plight of our Christian family, we can also grow in knowledge about human rights issues affecting all people. A Christian’s compassion is not reserved only for fellow Christians, but is to be given to all who suffer injustice and oppression (Luke 12:29) and to those whose dark consciences press them to perpetrate evil (Matthew 5:44). Christians are encouraged to “do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10).

What have been some results of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church?

Prayer is a mystery and difficult to measure. However, we can look at some of the changes occurring in the past and draw inferences from them.

• Over 100,000 U.S. churches, representing nearly every U.S. denomination, are estimated to have taken part in the IDOP.
• Christians in over 130 countries remembered the persecuted on the IDOP.
• Christian churches are growing in awareness of the problem and coming together in unity to pray for fellow believers.
• Christian leaders in restricted nations report that they are experiencing a new boldness in their witness to others.
• There has been increased media coverage of the problem of persecution in both secular and Christian publications. (In the U.S., such publications include The Denver Post, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson, Christianity Today, and Message of the Open Bible.)

Happy Blogaversary! .....

..... to Eric at Fire Ant Gazette, marking seven years of Abbye photos (and now, memories), observations profound and humorous, unrelenting trivialities, random Thursdays, baby squirrels ..... and so much more.

True, there WAS a hiatus ... and there IS a new look over this past year. But STILL, this remains one of my favorite stops in treks around the virtual neighborhood.

The Birth of GOP's Elephantasy .....

On this day in 1874, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon by Thomas Nast, an image that included the first important use of the Republican Elephant.
According to this archive piece in the New York Times, the cartoon is one of Nast’s most important because, "it marks the first notable appearance of the Republican Elephant, which the cartoonist would develop over the next few years into the universally recognized symbol for the Republican Party. An elephant had been associated twice before with the Republican Party ... however, in neither case did the caricature have a lasting impact on other political cartoonists or the public as a symbol for the Republican Party."

Everybody's a Lobo - Woof, Woof ... Meeeowwwrrr .....

Hey, my alma mater is featured on ESPN! Allright ... uhhh ... wait ...

Hmmmm ... I didn't know New Mexico athletics had added a WWF squad :-(

We Apologize for the Inconvenience .....

Wish I had a pair of UGG Boots. Then I could put them on and kick the people in charge of online marketing for UGG Boots ... which has included repeated waves of comment spam on my blog this past week.

So, I've made the move back to word verification for comments on my blog. I apologize for the inconvenience, and I hope you'll choose to invest the extra time and effort needed to post your comments ... THOSE are important to me. Thanks!

Strike Up the Birthday Band .....

John Philip Sousa - American musician, composer, director, writer, and the namesake for my beloved Sousaphone - was born on this day in 1854.

Being the son of a musician and member of the Marine Band, combined with the martial spirit of Civil War days of his youth in Washington, served to give Sousa's talent the bent which made him America's "March King." I would have a chance to enjoy that legacy during visits with my Dad to Marine Barracks-Washington ("8th & I") for summer evenings of music and marching that included several of Sousa's works.

Here is a nice site devoted to Sousa, maintained by the Dallas Wind Symphony. You can also visit the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music and Sousa's obituary in the New York Times .... hey, Jim, did you know he died just up the road from you, in Reading?

Oh, NO !!! .....

When it comes to pro sports, I left a piece of my heart in Yankeeland, particularly that special place where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers join, and the Ohio River is formed ... but not today.

Today, at least, that piece of my heart rests on the banks of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, where one can hear the bustle of Broad Street, and where - it is hoped - baseball fans in the City of Brotherly Love won't have to wait another quarter-century to once again raise championship cheers.

Awwww, Philly!

Community College Community: Welcome to Midland .....

I'm really not able to make an impartial observation, here … yet I think, nonetheless, that Midland College made a good contribution towards efforts to present our community – and our nation – to visitors from overseas.

As part of a week-long visit to the United States, a delegation from the City of Dongying, People's Republic of China, visited their sister city of Midland, Texas. That visit included a tour of the Midland College main campus, where they were greeted by MC President Dr. Steve Thomas, college faculty, staff and students. I work at MC, and was able to capture some images from the tour.
The visitors included Guo Feng Pu, vice chairman Standing Committee of Dongying Municipal People’s Congress (similar to a vice mayor); Wang Jian Wei, deputy director of finance and economic affairs in the Dongying Municipal People’s Congress; Wang Yueshun, a consultant to the Dongying Economic and Trade Commission; Mu Quingjun, deputy director of foreign affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office; and Deng Xuewen, interpreter with the foreign affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.
Dr. Stan Jacobs, MC's Vice President for Instruction-Transfer, conducted the tour. Dr. Jacobs reports the visitors were very impressed with the Health Science/Simulation Center program and the teleconference demonstration (with help from the Williams Regional Technical Training Center, MC's branch campus in Fort Stockton), which gave them many ideas for educational delivery systems back home in China. And that can be significant … West Texas may be known for large, remote, sparsely-populated stretches … but China has areas even larger, even more remote.

The visitors also enjoyed the Midland Art Association’s Fall 2009 Juried Art Show at MC’s McCormick Gallery, especially the large paintings of the horses in black-and-white, by Angelo State University professor Ben Sum (shown in the photo at right), which were among the show's prize-winners. I can’t help but think that his images, as well as those of Midland artist Ricky Chou (also on display at the McCormick), struck a familiar chord with our guests from Asia.

Also striking a familiar chord would have been the interpretation services provided by a pair of international students, living and studying here, in West Texas - Yafei Tang from Midland College, and Jeri Chen from UT-Permian Basin.

An unexpected bonus for the visitors was an up-close look at the American voting process in the Marie Hall Academic Building, which served as a polling location for three Midland County voting precincts in the Texas general election taking place that day.

All in all, a very good visit, and I think the Midland community - as a whole - did an outstanding job in welcoming the visitors from our sister city.

"Remember, Remember .....

..... the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot."

Was Guy Fawkes a patriot or a villain ..... a martyred saint or the Devil incarnate? It's been more than 400 years since the "Gunpowder Plot" was foiled ..... a date that (under a variety of names) is still marked to this day in England .....


It also provided the foundation for a society of its own, and a popular modern film. On the blogosphere, here is one Brit's view, and a site that helps you make your own Guy Fawkes mask (ala "V for Vendetta") which looks A LOT snazzier than a paper sack over your head, and a blog channeling Fawkes' spirit.

Happy Birthday, Beastie! .....

It was on this day in 1954 that Godzilla – “King of the Monsters,” Japanese movie icon, and the world’s foremost community DISorganizer – first unleashed his fury.

It’s been more than half-a-century since Godzilla – the product of an evolutionary process gone haywire from the testing of atomic bombs – was awakened, and set off on the first of his many deadly rampages.

For many of us in the United States, our introduction came through an “Americanized” version of the Japanese original, with added scenes and narration featuring Raymond Burr. The re-working is actually done pretty well, and “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” still remains my favorite of the 25-30 films that feature the creature … a career that eventually landed him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from MTV.

Here’s Wikipedia’s entry on Godzilla, and another entry on answers.com. You may also want to take a Godzilla Trivia Quiz.

Black's Been Better .....

... MUCH better, really. I've seen worse films than "Year One" ... but not very many, and not that much worse.

Considering the film starred Jack Black, and was directed by Harold Ramis, I thought it could be pretty good. Unfortunately, it came-and-went from local theaters pretty fast ... now I know why.

I'm wondering if the filmmakers really had any idea what they were doing, or where this film was going. Most of the story covered ground that had already been covered - and covered a lot better - by other films such as Caveman, History of the World - heck, even the dramatic film 10,000 BC.

However, the makers of Year One plodded along until someone realized it was 90-minutes-or-so long ... so they suddenly wrapped everything up with a big fight scene, and everyone went home.

And home's where I saw this film. One of the bennie's to seeing something on DVD is - in the event of disappointment - you're only out the time and cost of the rental. I would have REALLY hated to watch this after investing the time and money needed for a theater experience, including popcorn and soda.

If you're in the mood for some Jack Black, I strongly recommend Nacho Libre or - even better - School of Rock and Be Kind, Rewind, instead.

'Empty Bowls' in the Tall City Tonight .....

An especially good fundraiser is making its way to the Tall City this week, and I hope you'll do your part to fill-up some empty bowls.

Midland first 'Empty Bowls' event takes place Friday, October 23, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 4000 W. Loop 250 North. Proceeds raised benefit the West Texas Food Bank.
CLICK HERE to read more on this story from the MRT

For $10, you receive a hand-made ceramic bowl (created by local art students) and dinner (soup and bread). Accompanying your dinner will be music by the Odessa High School orchestra and the UTPB jazz band.

Empty Bowls is a grassroots effort to raise money and awareness in an effort to end hunger and food insecurity. Each group that participates in the Empty Bowls project works with their community to create their own event.

According to Empty Bowl's Wikipedia entry, "Art teacher John Hartom initiated the project during in 1990-91 when he joined a drive to raise charitable funds in his Michigan community. Hartom's idea was to organize a charitable event to give artists and art students a way to make a personal difference. Hartom's students made ceramic bowls in their high school art classes. The finished products were then used as individual serving pieces for a fund-raising meal of soup and bread. Contributing guests kept the empty bowl. During the next year, Hartom and other participants developed this concept into 'Empty Bowls.'”

I've participated in Empty Bowls before, at the UTPB C.E.E.D. Building between Odessa and Midland, and later in Odessa. This is the first year that they are having events in both cities. It's a wonderful event, and leaves you with a lasting memento ... and a reminder that some bowls out there are still empty.

Won't you please do your part to fill those bowls.