Happy Birthday .....

Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis, academician, author, and an aetheist who became a champion of Christian faith and struggle, was born on this day in 1898.

In a way, I first "met" Lewis through a mutual friend, as I was studying the life and works of John Ronald Reuel (J.R.R.) Tolkien. Both were part of - for me, at least - one of the most interesting generations of modern English history.

There is a pretty thorough Wikipedia entry on Lewis. There is also the website of the C.S. Lewis Foundation, dedicated to advancing Christian thought & creative expression throughout the world of learning, and this site from Harper-Collins Publishers.

"What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step ..... You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

Women in the News .....

Let's see ... Sarah Palin and her book? naaah ... Michaele Salahi and her celebrity aspirations? uh-uh ... I'll go with Neda Agha-Soltan.

Who, you might ask? ... Exactly!

It's been less than a month since Queen’s College, in Oxford, England, announced that it had established the “Neda Agha-Soltan Graduate Scholarship” for philosophy students of Iranian descent. The scholarship is named in honor of a young woman that some have called the "Angel of Tehran" ... and, really, that's not much of a stretch, at all.

In this report from the Telegraph/UK, Layla Ferani writes that "on a hot day in June this year, protesters gathered in Tehran to chant slogans against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A 26-year-old philosophy student wearing blue jeans and tennis shoes looked on, before suddenly falling to the ground. She had been shot through the chest."

"Shaky video footage, captured on another protester’s mobile phone, shows blood streaming from her nose and mouth as several men attempt to stop the bleeding. Then, in what would become the most harrowing image of the post-election unrest, Neda Agha-Soltan’s eyes rolled towards the camera, and her body went limp."

Is it me, or has it been very, VERY quiet - in both the actual and the virtual worlds - regarding the events of this summer in Iran? With the exception of Eric at Fire Ant Gazette, no one in the local blogosphere (myself included) makes even a passing mention of it today.

But then, along comes the announcement of that scholarship in Oxford ... and the not-quite-unexpected response from official Iran, that the "Iranian Embassy in Britain criticized University of Oxford's establishment of a scholarship in the name of Neda Agha-Soltan, the young woman who was shot to death in the post-election events in Iran." ... all of which makes me think Queen's College did the right thing.

Happy Birthday .....

... to William Blake, English poet, painter, printmaker, and advocate for such causes as abolition, religious freedom and sexual equality. We've all had to read his poems at one time or another, in high school English classes, or college Lit courses ..... some of us have gone back, on our own, for more. A great man of words, I'll be the first to admit ..... but I've always been more partial to his pictures, which served so well to complement the images he conjured with his text.

Addendum: To this day, Blake's words continue to inspire ... here is "Tyger" by Guilhere Marcondes, who used one of his favorite poems, Blake's "The Tyger," as the starting point for his short film.

Simple Gifts at First Prez .....

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.

When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.
(1st verse and refrain from the original by Elder Joseph Brackett; 2nd and 3rd verses added later)




First Presbyterian Church of Midland hosted its second annual Neighborhood Thanksgiving Party, Tuesday night, where friends and family were joined by guests from Breaking Bread Soup Kitchen, and others who do not have a place, a family, or the means to enjoy a shared meal for Thanksgiving. In addition to a traditional holiday meal with all the trimmings, there was plenty of fellowship, and dancing to live music from Jody Nix and his band. Also, a large number of meals were packed "to go" for delivery to the home-bound.

Organizers were pleased with this year's event, and are already talking about getting together once again, same time next year. For more information about Breaking Bread Soup Kitchen, call First Presbyterian at 684-7821.

Marines Out There Will Understand .....

... the added significance of this day. It is written that no Marines ever faced worse weather, terrain, or odds than those who fought at the Chosin Reservoir, begining on this day in 1950 and continuing for the next week-and-a-half.

Sign me, The Proud Son of One of the "Chosin Few" who Served with Chesty Puller and the First Marines ... Semper Fi

Step by Step: Christmas for Our Troops .....

If you haven't checked-out and gotten involved in Christmas for Our Troops, you should. There's still time for you to show your support for the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with the United States armed forces.
This is a Midland-based effort that "provides individual Christmas boxes full of a variety of gifts, necessities and goodies for our local men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. These boxes will be shipped the first week of December via Priority mail to ensure that our troops have a package from home in their hands before Christmas Eve. This is a non-partisan private effort to give West Texans the opportunity to give a little something back to the military folks who give so much for us and this country."

The latest step in this year's effort took place this last week at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, where young people assembled and stacked shipping boxes, getting them ready to be filled, sealed and mailed overseas.

There are other steps coming in the days ahead ... and other opportunities to for YOU to get involved. For more information, please contact CFOT Chairman Scott Davis at (432) 620-8820, or e-mail capatazhsd@sbcglobal.net . He'll tell you about ways you can contribute your time and effort, or about what is needed to fill those boxes the kids have assembled.

You can also make a financial contribution by contacting Western National Bank ("Christmas for OUR Troops Fund"), 508 W. Wall Street, Midland, Texas 79701.

A Wonderful Little Film We Almost Missed ...

I'm a regular visitor to the video rental store ... and I regularly read every shelf of the 'new releases.' This past week, my search brought me to a wonderful little film I'd never heard of.

Nothing outrageous about THAT, really. There are a lot of films that don't make it to Midland-Odessa theaters, or make it into the pages of local media reviews ... that's why I read the shelves of new release so carefully, every week or so.

But you'd think a film starring Christopher Walken, Morgan Freeman, William H. Macy and Marcia Gay Harden - all four of them Oscar nominees, and three of them Oscar winners - would have generated SOME buzz.

Submitted for your consideration, The Maiden Heist ...

... a comedy centered on three museum security guards (Walken, Freeman and Macy) who devise a plan to steal the artworks to which they have become attached over the years, when they learn the collection will be transferred overseas to another museum.

According to the film's write-up on Wikipedia, it had a tentative release date of May 29, 2009, before being shelved following the bankruptcy of its distributor, Yari Film Group. It made it to the large screen in June of this year, at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, before going straight to DVD this month ... and to our television at home, where both My Favorite Landman and I enjoyed it, and planned to rent a copy of The Accidental Husband, a romantic comedy starring Uma Thurman, Jeffrey Morgan and Colin Firth that showed in British theaters, but disappeared into that same Yari bankruptcy void before it could cross the pond to American theaters, instead going direct to DVD.

Let the Madcap Revels Begin ...

Understandably, most of the local buzz about the 2010 Texas gubernatorial election has been about Rick Perry and Kay Hutchison ... what they is and what they isn't, what they will and what they won't. But then along comes Farouk Shami, a Houston businessman who officially entered the race, last week, for the Democratic Party's nomination.

According to Shami's campaign website, "the day he becomes Governor is the day business as usual ends in Texas." We shall see ... and in the meantime, let the madcap revels begin. I'll be watching both parties' (Republicans and Democrats) progress with interest.

Crazy (and Creative) Young Canucks ...

Few entries in the University LipDub Project have gained as much attention - from news media AND prospective students - as this entry from Université du Québec à Montréal, in Canada.

"Present your own university with your self-made University LipDub video production," LipDub creators tell prospective producers. "Show the whole world that studying does not have to be boring. On the contrary, it is great fun!"

Boy, is it! With a 'good night' like this from the general student population, who needs frats?

This LipDub was produced during the integration (orientation) week of UQAM with 172 communication students. Shot and posted on September 10th, 2009, in just 2 hours and 15 minutes (though it was preceded by weeks of preparation and story-boarding). Did you notice the whole thing is one long shot - that's one of the trademarks, apparently, of a LipDub video.

Closer to home is this LipDub project from Texas State University in San Marcos.

Also, a good 'behind-the-scenes video from TSU ...

Conspiracy Uncovered at Midland Church ...

... though it's not the kind of conspiracy you'd find in a Dan Brown novel. Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption - a movement of Christ-followers who want to ...

● Worship Fully,
● Give More,
● Spend Less, and
● Love All.

It's a conspiracy without a hidden agenda ... every Sunday from November 29 through December 20, First Presbyterian Church-Midland will host classes devoted to Advent Conspiracy. The classes will meet from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. in Lynn Fellowship Hall. The classes will be preceded and followed by fellowship, with coffee, juice and a variety of brunch snacks.

There's Know Place Like Home .....

... especially if you're an old Kansas fan, like me. They're in the midst of a reunion tour, right now, which I was able to 'attend' - in a matter of speaking, from the comfort of my living room, watching a broadcast on HDNET.

I 'discovered' them ... kind of the same way Columbus 'discovered' America, really. They hadn't (yet) raised much of a ripple on the east coast by the mid-70s, so my introduction to them didn't come until I headed west, and came within earshot of album-rock FM radio, which provided a friendlier setting for the longer, more complex songs that comprised so much of the band's canon of works. My introduction to them was the release of their third album, "Masque," and the single, "Icarus Borne on Wings of Steel" ... and I was hooked.

From there, I moved backwards, and got copies of their first and second albums, "Kansas" and "Song for America." Then came the release of their fourth album, "Leftoverture," which included some AM-friendly cuts that quickly rose in the charts - and from there they REALLY took off.

That was all 35-or-so years ago. But last night, they showed me they still had it ... and I still love 'em for it!

Happy Birthday (#?) to The Doctor .....

Doctor Who, one of the most popular and longest-lived franchises in science fiction, premiered on this day in 1963.

In a day when a show's life is measured may be measured in just a short run of episodes, it's hard to imagine that one could remain - and grow - over 45 years. I think that's been helped by the near-limitless opportunities for story and character development. The series has taken viewers back and forth through time and space, in and out of alternative realities and - with the 10th Doctor at the controls of the Tardis - across the barrier between parallel universes. Occasionally, those travels criss-cross with one another, creating opportunities to resolve old issues, anser old questions from previous episodes ... and start new ones.

Add to that a changing cast, as well. This Christmas season, British viewers of the series will meet the 11th Doctor ... did I tell you the character is an alien with the ability to regenerate when mortally injured? He comes back as the same character, but with a new appearance and personality. Also ever-changing is the Doctor's companions, usually women, whose appearance does not always coincide with the Doctor's regeneration ... Rose Tyler accompanied the 9th and 10th Doctors. The 10th Doctor has had two companions since then.

It's really hard to overstate the show's impact. It continues to be referenced in just about every medium of pop culture ... the most recent I've seen was a quick sight gag/play-on-words on Robot Chicken, and an episode of American Dad ("Escape from Pearl Bailey," 2008), when a candidate for class president courts the vote of those who are "obsessed with an old British TV show," much to the approval of students in the bleachers dressed at the 4th Doctor.

... wish I had a scarf like that. Happy birthday, Doctor!

Worth the Trouble? .....

Last week, at the West Texas Regional Collegiate Symposium, one of the smaller break-down discussions was addressing social media in general ... and "Second Life" in particular.

That's because one of the participants in the discussion was a professor from UT-Permian Basin. As you may - or may not - know, the University of Texas is one of a number of major colleges nationwide that have 'Second Life campuses,' including the University of North Carolina, Texas A&M University and Harvard University.

But colleges are relative newbies to Second Life. Last month, it was reported that just over 16-million accounts were registered, and most of those accounts are held by private individuals, including people here, in West Texas. While watching practices from the sidelines, a fellow soccer dad has been updating me on where his Second Life avatar has taken him.

Me? I dunno ... it seems like a lot of work to get started, create an account of my own, maintain that account, develop my avatar - physique, hair, clothing, etc. - and then go exploring this virtual world ... all with what little time is left to me from activities in the actual world. On the other hand, though ... according to e-mails I've received from Second Life, I could end up like this guy, in the picture at the right ... hmmmm ... maybe I should give Second Life a second look ...

What Do YOU Think? .....

"We need 'Philosophy of Journalism,'" says professor and columnist Carla Romano in this post at the Chronicle of Higher Education. I'd like to know what you - especially those with experience in the business - think about that.

Romano suggests that, "every journalism student should be required to take a course in 'Philosophy of Journalism,' to develop the intellectual instincts and reflexes that will make the approach to truth of both practices a permanent part of his or her intellectual makeup."

Not a bad idea, really ... and it's an idea that that could, with serious application, yield tremendous and positive results for both news producers and news consumers. But, really, what do YOU think?

Thanks to Frank at Books, INQ. The Epilogue for the heads-up.

A Different Kind of Casting Call .....

Do you know someone whose home deserves an Extreme Makeover? If so, then the producers of an ABC television network program want to hear from you!

"Ty Pennington and his Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew have been all across the map," we are told, "and they are ready to drive that famous bus to Midland, Texas!"

"What does it take to be picked for an 'Extreme Makeover,'" you might ask ...

According to an EMHE press release, "we are in search of deserving families and deserving people - people who have amazing strength of character and who put their own needs aside to help others. Whether it’s a mom, a soldier, a teacher, or a fireman, we think a deserving family, are families who inspire those around them. In addition, the producers are looking for families whose houses need major alterations or repair- homes that present serious problems for the family and affect the family's quality of life."

"To be eligible," that release goes on to say, "a family must own their own single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference in their lives."

The press relase recommends that interested families or those who wish to nominate another family should e-mail a short description of their family story to ExtremeTexas@gmail.com Nominations/submissions must include:

1. The names and ages of each member of the household
2. A description of the major challenges within the home
3. Explanation of why this family is deserving, or a positive role model in their community
4. Photos of the family and a photo of the home
5. Don’t forget to include a contact phone number

The deadline: for nominations is December 1, 2009.

For more information on how to apply please visit EMHE's website at abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome

How Bow? .....

I feel more than a little sympathy for President Barrack Obama when it comes to the criticism he has received over 'the bow' and what it represents to a new generation of virtual, international Miss Manners out there.

Some, however, have taken a more historical perspective in the coverage of the bowhaha ... err, brouhaha. The Associated Press notes ... "Obama's gesture on Saturday was not without precedent, however. Neither was the outrage. U.S. presidents from both political parties often have been criticized for attempts at culturally sensitive greetings to high-ranking foreigners" ... including former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon.

For my part, I think President Obama was poorly advised by his diplomatic corps on how - and how not - to bow. Sure, it's a nice gesture ... but it's especially nice if it's done properly, and in line with that culture's standards for the gesture.

And THERE is the added rub ... in countries such as Japan, the bow conveys A LOT about the place of the person offering, and the person receiving, in Japanese society. President Obama probably received many bows such as the one he offered ... but those were bows being offered a visiting head-of-state by Japanese who considered their position beneath his.

I had a similar experience last year, in Thailand, with their own traditional greeting, the wai. "Relationships are an important part of Thai culture, and the wai is one measure of those relationships," I noted at the time. "Who is the first to wai, who bows lower, who raises their hands higher, how the wai is returned - if at all ..... all are indicators of the relationship between the two individuals that are greeting one another."

In a way, that's something that goes against the grain of a more egalitarian society such as our own ... where many people are more inclined to offer the same greeting, the same handshake, the same hug to all they meet, regardless of their standing in American society.

It's not better, it's not worse ... it's just different. And I wish someone in the U.S. Department of State would better prepare our presidents - past, present and future - for that difference.

It's On! .....

One sure and certain sign in the Tall City, that the Christmas season is approaching, can be found just a couple blocks from home, where work on this year's edition of one of Midland's premier light displays is well under way. Here's a snapshot taken at an early stage in that work.

Statistically Significant Birthday .....

Journalist and adman, academician and market researcher George Horace Gallup, a pioneer of survey sampling techniques and creator of the Gallup Poll, was born on this day in 1901.

Polls are a bane or a blessing ... that determination usually being made on a case-by-case basis, and depending not so much upon their general effectiveness or accuracy, but rather on how their results square with our own, personal point-of-view. Sometimes, we also err on just what we ask the numbers to do, or how we "spin" them to suit our purposes.

All of which doesn't take away from the fact that polls are an effective tool, thanks to people like George Gallup. Sure, sometimes the numbers erred - "Dewey Defeats Truman," anyone? But if the pollsters know and love their craft, those errors are used to develop better methodologies for polling, and better procedures for analysis.

Here is his write-up on Wikipedia, and a nice Time Magazine profile of the man and his methods, from 1948. And from the businesses of which he was once part, here is his bio page at gallup.com, and a tribute page at Gallup & Robinson.

Lyrical Birthday Wishes .....

Canadian singer and songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, whose voice I coveted when I was a teen, was born on this day in 1938.

When asked to name "THE" music of the 70s, some might say disco, while others will say rock. Actually, I think it was both, and plenty more, besides. For example, it was a great decade for folk songs and ballads, too. There were many during that decade, who took some really fine poetry, and set it to music ..... they included Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Bob Seeger, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Chapin .... and Gordon Lightfoot - with that sound of his, that wonderful baritone voice, and that combination of acoustic and electric guitars.

Here is Wikipedia's write-up on Lightfoot, an entry in canadianencyclopedia.com, and his page on myspace.

Happy Birthday .....

Yesterday, a man who created a distinctive American sound for music. Today, a woman who created distinctive American images for painting. Georgia Totto O'Keeffe, who emerged as a major figure in American art in the 1920s - and remains so today, twenty years after her death - was born on this day in 1887.

She is chiefly known for paintings of flowers, skulls and natural landscapes. But she also had an eye for urban subjects, as one of my favrite paintings by her, Radiator Building, will show. And while she is most closely - and rightfully - identified with New Mexico, she was also at home in New York ... and Texas. Early in the 20th-century, she was an elementary school art teacher near Amarillo, and later an instructor in the art department West Texas A&M University, in Canyon. While there she created many beautiful images of nearby Palo Duro Canyon. During a trip through the Panhandle, My Favorite Landman and I spent the night in Canyon at the Husdspeth Inn Bed & Breakfast, a former boarding house where a young Georgia O'Keefe once took her meals.

I saw O'Keefe once, fleetingly, from a distance, as a crew of us were heading through Abique and Ghost Ranch on our way to a dig. I would have liked to meet her sometime, although she had a reputation as a very private person who did not encourage visitors, especially those who would show up, unannounced, at her doorstep.

Here is Wikipedia's write-up on O'Keefe, and a pretty good, comprehensive online gallery of her paintings. You can also visit, online, the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. And here's an audio/video tour of northern New Mexico in the company of O'Keefe, herself. The quality of the video isn't very good ... but the content is wonderful!

Happy Birthday .....

... to a favorite American composer of mine, among the most of 'American' of composers, Aaron Copland, born on this day in 1900.

A number of compositions are among what is called 'those old chestnuts' ... works that show up perenially on concert programs ... works such as Appalachian Spring, which displayed Copland's genius for finding a balance between modern music and American folk styles, capturing the essence of an ideal America while forging a distinctly American style of composition, and earning the title, “dean of American composers.”

Here is Wikipedia's entry on Copland, and a really nice, multi-media Copland Artist Page from NPR Music. Another nice stop is this site for Copland House.

Here's the man himself at the keyboard, in a performance of one of his lesser-known works ...

Advance Notice .....

At the start of this year, when I mentioned that we had rung-out the old year with a concert in Lubbock by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the most frequent response was something like, "ohhhh, I wish I'd known they were coming!"

With that in mind, here is advance notice on the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's return to Lubbock, Thursday, December 10, 7:30 PM at United Spirit Arena. Tickets are on sale NOW through Select-A-Seat/Lubbock.

According to TSO's website, "When Paul O'Neill first conceived Trans-Siberian Orchestra, his goal was as straightforward as it was ambitious. 'The whole idea,' he explains, 'was to do a progressive rock band that would push the boundaries further than any band before, following in the footsteps of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Pink Floyd, the Who ... but take it way, way further.'"

A performance by TSO IS an awesome experience ... and I hope, this year, you get to enjoy it.

... and The Written Word .....

One of the neat things about Veterans Day observances in the blogosphere is the niche coverage blogs provide, offering detailed looks at particular facets of the occasion, drawing upon the unique perspective and expertise of the bloggers.

For example, there is my e-friend, Frank in Philadelphia, book reviewer and proprietor of Books, Inq. - The Epilogue ... who suggested a link to a post about "Trench Literature – Reading in World War I" and what soldiers read in the midst of the great conflict that would eventually give rise to Veterans Day.

"The literature generated from World War I is well documented and will hopefully serve as a reminder of how the world can fall apart," Richard Davies, Udo Goellmann & Sara Melendre write in this post at abebooks.com/. "From Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, the poetry of Sassoon, Graves, Brooke, and Owen to All Quiet on the Western Front, there are numerous examples of acclaimed writing inspired by the Great War."

"But what did the ordinary soldiers of World War I read on a daily basis during life in the trenches? Reading material was in heavy demand from the men living in cramped conditions in a war that was static for long periods of time."

Interesting stuff ... and thanks to Frank for the heads-up.

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.