A 'Team of Rivals' in the White House? .....

It's been noted that Presidents typically say they want to be surrounded by strong-willed people who have the courage to disagree with them ... but President-elect Barack Obama actually might mean it.

According to this report from the Associated Press, Obama has spoken several times of the book, "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin, about how President Abraham Lincoln brought foes into his fold.

Now, "Obama is considering [Hillary] Clinton for secretary of state or another senior position, meeting John McCain on Monday to see how his Republican presidential rival might help him in the Senate, and sizing up one-time opponents in both parties for potential recruitment. He made one Democratic presidential opponent, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden his running mate." Read the rest of the story

"I think it reflects a great inner strength on Obama's part that he is seriously considering creating a team of rivals as Lincoln did," Goodwin told The Associated Press on Friday. "By surrounding himself with people who bring different perspectives, he will increase his options, absorb dissenting views and heighten his ability to speak empathetically to people on different sides of each issue. The challenge, of course, is to ensure that the discussions do not become paralyzing, and that once a decision is made the inner circle accepts that the time for debate is over."

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.

I Knew It ... I Just KNEW It! .....

I just KNEW there was more to this "Red State" stuff than meets the eye! You won't find this in what Jessica's Well calls the "super secret right wing blog astroturf network," but thank goodness there are still journalists of ... uh ... character out there ...
GOP GATHERS TO SUMMON NEXT LEADER
SMITHDALE, VIRGINIA - Under Wednesday’s full moon, heads of the Republican Party gathered in a dark ritual to summon their next leader.
Read the rest of the story in the Weekly World News

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.

Top Chef Season 5: Bright Knives, Big City .....

No longer do I find myself adrift late on Wednesday nights, when I get home from church ... Top Chef has returned!

It's Season #5 of Top Chef, the #1 food show on cable, and one of the few 'reality' programs that I truly enjoy watching. This season, Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi and the cheftestants are taking a bite out of the Big Apple, New York City ... I guess if they can plate it there, they can plate it anywhere. However, the first episode of the new season did manage - through the selection of this year's cheftestants, and the first episode's Elimination Round - to highlight New York's status as that most international of American cities.

Speaking of elimination rounds ... a little twist to the new season was the decision - in the first episode, at least - to double the displeasure with a double elimination. The winner of the Quick Fire Challenge still earned immunity in the Eliniation Challenge. But this time around, the loser of the Quick Fire - in this case, Lauren Hope, a Chef Tournant (relief chef) at Jag's Steak & Seafood in Cincinnati, Ohio - was sent packing ... OUCH! Something I liked about this Quickfire was the multi-tiered levels of competitions within the overall challenge. I also liked the way it tested basic knife skills before going on to test conception and execution of a dish.

So, what happens in the actual Elimination Challenge? No big surprise in the end, really, but a lot of fun getting there, as cheftestants paired-off to prepare dishes inspired by NYC's various ethnic districts (Italian, Russian, Chinese, Jamaican, etc.) and, again, engage in multi-tiered competition. When the knives were stilled, the flames had died and the smoke had settled, Patrick Dunlea, a student at NYC's Culinary Institute of America, was told to pack his knives and go home.

A few other points ..... with just the first episode to go on, Stefan Richter looks like a formidable opponent, as does Hosea Rosenberg, Gene Villiatora and Leah Cohen ..... it's hard to remember an episode of Top Chef that was bleeped so little, which was a pleasant surprise for someone like myself who never appreciated the Gordon Ramsay School of Culinary Cussing ..... the emphasis on some cheftestants' sexuality and 'gay pride' had me wondering if they would be equally please if one of their opponents was so vocal about 'straight pride' ... all in all, it looks to be another good, entertaining season.

Top Chef airs Wednesday nights at nine o'clock (central) on Bravo TV network (channel 63 on Suddenlink cable).

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.

Elephantasy .....

President of the United States George Bush approves of the idea ... but Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia thinks it will have America goose-stepping into the future.

According to this report from the Associated Press, the Republican congressman said he fears that President-elect Obama will establish a Gestapo-like security force to impose a Marxist dictatorship.

Broun cites a July speech by then-candidate Obama, in which he called for a civilian force to take some of the national security burden off the military.

"That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did," Broun is quoted as saying.

Disagreement with Broun has been something of a bi-partisan effort. The report from the AP notes that an Obama spokesman described the proposal as a civilian reserve corps that could handle postwar reconstruction efforts such as rebuilding infrastructure ... and that the idea was endorsed by the Bush administration.

Some of the buzz since Broun's broadside includes contributions from older citizens, suggesting the proposal might be similar to their own experience in the Civilian Conservation Corps, almost 70-some years ago.

Later today, I'll post something on what America's mayors have to say about the proposal.

"It may sound a bit crazy and off-base," Broun himself said of his own suggestion ...

... uh, yeah, it sure does.

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.

The Right Man in the Right Place at the Right Time? .....

It's been suggested that U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel has just the personality to make him a valuable asset as White House Chief-of-Staff ... that's a compliment ... I guess.

"The Chicago congressman and chairman of the House Democratic Caucus has been described in the past as a profane, hyperactive attack dog," Time Magazine's M.J. Stephey and Kate Pickert write in this "2 Minute Bio" of Emmanuel. "There are few people in Washington D.C. who could make for such a formidable gatekeeper to the Oval Office. Plus, with the 44th President having just four years of experience in Congress, Emanuel's lengthy political background and knowledge of individual lawmakers — not to mention his fund-raising prowess — are perfect for the job."

He may just become one of the more interesting characters to occupy this all-important post ... especially as our new president deals with the national/world economic situation. Among the snippets I learned from the Time bio ...

• Before working in the Clinton White House, Emanuel worked for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. He was first elected to Congress in 2002, and is the fourth-highest ranking House Democrat.

• In between his stints in Washington, Emanuel got rich working as an investment banker. He once sat on the board of Freddie Mac and recuses himself from any Congressional votes on the mortgage giant.

• A devout Jew, Emanuel was so intent on negotiating the passage of Congress's $700 billion-bailout bill that he got a special waiver from his rabbi to work through Rosh Hashanah.

• He studied ballet in high school and was offered a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet, but went to Sarah Lawrence College instead, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He has a master's degree in speech from Northwestern University. He's also a tri-athlete.

• Has been known to send out cheesecakes from Eli's Bakery in Chicago to campaign donors and the many Democratic candidates he has recruited over the years. Once, when a pollster made him angry, (and this is one of my favorite snippets) Emanuel sent him a dead fish.

Time will tell whether Emanuel has what it takes to help make the Obama administration a successful and effective one. I hope he does ... our country couldn't stand the alternative, no matter who was in charge.

Can We Stand Just One MorePt. 2 (the Yankee Version) .....

... comment regarding this weekend's 'Ignominity in Iowa City' between Penn State and Iowa? "What's sauce for the goose," said the blogger who posted a very similar photo just a week ago ...

Dogs and Blogs ... and Farewells ...

Is there something about blogs that's related to dogs? I ask myself that because, at least among those virtual acquaintances I've been encountered in the actual world, I've met several with canine companions ...

... and there are quite a few that have had to bid farewell to those companions ... a couple years back, it was Wallace and the Big Gold Dog, and just a year ago it was Jim and Figalwicks. In August of this year, it was Janie and Zoie the Wonder Pup.

And now we read this about Eric and Abbye.

It depends, I suppose, upon who you talk to, when trying to decide who might have been the REAL star of the Fire Ant Gazette. Me, I thought it was Eric, whose wit and wisdom, words and whimsy never ceased to entertain and stimulate. Younger Son disagreed. Whenever he saw me stopping-in at the Gazette, the first words out of his mouth are, "ahhh, the many moods of Abbye!" We'd then take a moment to refresh the screen a few times, to see if some new additions have been made to the Abbye gallery, Eric's photo tribute to his canine companion.

Although, statistics report, the cat has supplanted the dog as the #1 pet of choice, it's hard to imagine the dog ever relinquishing the title of 'Man's Best Friend.' The dog is our oldest friend, as well ... the first to cross over that intangible line and join us in the realm of domestication ... and the stories of devotion between human and canine are legion, ranging from "Ol' Yeller" and "Greyfriar's Bobby" to Ulysses' "Argus" and the residents of Clifford Simak's "City."

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog," said George Vest, in 1855, speaking to a jury that was hearing a lawsuit brought by a man whose dog had been killed. "When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens."
CLICK HERE to read the rest of Vest's closing argument to the jury

Good dog, Abbye ... stay ... they'll be along someday.

Happy Birthday to the Corps .....

It was on this day in 1775, that the Continetal 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 this morning, during early service at First Prez-Midland, that not all Christians in this world have it anywhere near as easy as we do in matters of life and faith.

Today, we 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.)

Offhand, but Significant Words .....

For someone such as myself, who has made a living from words, stories such as the following hold a special interest ...

"With just three offhanded words in his first news conference as president-elect, Barack Obama reminded everyone how thoroughly different his administration — and inevitably, this country — will be." Read the Rest of the Story by the Associated Press' Alan Fram

Plaudits to Pam .....

There weren't a lot of choices for watching this morning's downtown Midland implosion from the comfort of your own home. But I give KWES the edge among those who offered live coverage of this unique event in the Still-Tall City.

That being said, I think mywesttexas.com had the better shot(S) of the implosion, but KWES had Pamela Hamm ... and that's hard to beat.

Pam anchored KWES' live coverage of the event this morning (special kudos, by the way, to the station's enginering staff), and anchored it well. I can almost imagine the photog moving his arms in and out, telling Pam to "stretch" while Wes Perry spoke through the longest "three-mimute warning" in the history of the western world. Pam did just that, filling the time with her own recollections of the building when she was a student at Midland High School, and the downtown district was still the vibrant heart of the community. Pam's a hometown girl, a second-generation local media professional with many years of experience in the Permian Basin ... with Austin and New York City thrown in, as well.
• HERE is KWES' report from the scene
• mywesttexas.com's videos can be seen HERE and HERE
Good job, Pam ... and good job, too, to Jimmy at mywesttexas.com!

FOLLOWUP
"Blogging the Big Bang" - We had at least three bloggers on the scene, George at Sleepless in Midland, Wallace at Streams, and Bleu at Bleu Chocolate ... great camera work from all of them!

Wow! Just Imagine What She's Saying About the Democrats .....

Sarah Palin fired back at unnamed McCain campaign aides she claims maligned her, calling their criticism “cruel and it’s mean-spirited, it’s immature, it’s unprofessional, and those guys are jerks.”
Read the Rest of the Story from the New York Times' William Yardley and Michael Cooper

Happy Blogaversary! .....

..... to Eric at Fire Ant Gazette, marking six years of Abbye photos, observations, unrelenting trivialities, random musings, baby squirrels ..... and so much more.

Life (and Christ?) on Mars .....

Over the last few weeks of "Life on Mars" Detective Sam Tyler has explored a number of possibilities for explaining how, and where and when he is. Last night's episode introduced a new and interesting line of inquiry.

Is he a time traveler ... is he in a coma ... is he dead .. or is he on a journey that will bring him back to the Christian faith he lost as a child?

That last is the possibility that arose in the course of last night's episode, "Things to Do in New York When You Think You're Dead." At the heart of the episode is a racial confrontation triggered between the African-Americans and Puerto Ricans in the neighborhood following the death of a young black girl. While investigating the crime, and searching for a suspect, Sam is confronted with a pair of new characters - a pugilistic priest, and a homeless wise man - who may help him in another, more introspective investigation, and a search for his place in this strange (yet, still, God-created) world. It's a world much like our own, where miracles CAN happen ... or so it is hoped.

Finding his suspect, finding his way home ... and, this time around, finding whether his prayers to be reunited in some way with his 'father,' will at last be answered ... all contributed to another good episode of an outstanding television series ... I'll be watching again, next week.

Life on Mars airs Thursday nights at nine o'clock (central) on ABC (KMID-TV in the Permian Basin). And you can catch-up by watching complete episodes on the ABC/Life on Mars website. It is well worth your giving it a look.

So, What Kind of People Would Vote for Obama .....

Apparently, just about every kind of people. This report from msnbc.com's Tom Curry notes that, "no single group can take credit."

"If as the saying goes, 'victory has a hundred fathers, but defeat is an orphan,' among the 'fathers' claiming credit for Barack Obama’s triumph are different demographic groups and Democratic constituencies," Curry writes. "It was union members who helped make Obama president, says the AFL-CIO. It was young voters who lifted him to victory. Latinos were crucial. Single women were decisive."

But, Curry goes on to note, the numbers tell a different story.

The Power of Spectacle, Part 2 .....

Once again, the power and potency of spectacle, especially when employed in politics, was demonstrated. Just as it was more than two months ago, at a plateau of the 2008 presidential campaign, so it was again this week, at the summit of that campaign.
In late August, I offered this post, in which I tipped my hat to everyone involved in the conception and design, the prep-work and the production of finale to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, held in Denver's Mile High Stadium. "For all the chuckles from the punditz (in-print, on-air and especially online) regarding their choice of venue for the final evening," I noted, "it produced a stunning and spectacular evening that created positive and indelible images of the candidacy that, I'm sure, the Obama camp hopes will carry over to November."

Images and spectacle, bread and circuses ... it's a recipe for success in the arena of statecraft and politics that is as old as society itself. Sure, there are those whose words transcend the event, and become a part of us ... Martin Luther King could do that ... so could John Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Lou Gehrig. It's said that Napoleon Bonaparte, Queen Elizabeth I and Julius Caesar could, as well.

But there are also those occasions, where the setting, the context places an added emphasis upon the event, long after the words are mostly forgotten. Tuesday night may have been one of those occasions ... and I think the producers and directors at msnbc realized that when - just moments after the polls on the west coast had closed, and another block of states were projected to go to Barrack Obama, and he was declared the winner - their anchor team fell silent. For the next several minutes, we were treated to sights and sounds around the country, of people celebrating the announcement ... in Harlem and Times Square, in New York City ... in Spellman College and Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta ... and, most of all, in Grant Park in Chicago, where the crowd was estimated in the hundreds-of-thousands.

No commentary from Matthews, Olbermann, et. al. Instead, just moving back-and-forth from one location to another, relying solely on video and nat sound as people cheered and waved flags, laughed and cried, danced and prayed. Sometimes, all the words you need are found in scenes such as these that offer no scripted words ... but speak eloquently nonetheless.

And now begins the hard part ... whether the Obama administration will deliver on the promises of the Obama campaign. Time will tell. It's good to have image and spectacle ... but a little historical perspective on your side won't hurt, either.