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Page 44 of 791 pages « First < 42 43 44 45 46 > Last »
Nov 2007
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To Be Thankful
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Thu 22 Nov 2007 9:45
by Kevin McGehee
52° and mostly cloudy
in Chattanooga, TN
0 comments
[Our Times]
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It’s conventional these days to turn one’s thoughts on Thanksgiving toward the blessings in one’s own life—which tend to focus, as they might in these times, on family, health, and whatever degree of prosperity one happens to enjoy.
Not all that long ago it was also conventional to remember the story of the original Thanksgiving, and how the Pilgrims feasted to celebrate their good fortune in surviving a year in the New World and to give thanks to God for it. In many cases the celebrants had left family behind in England, or lost them to disease during the previous year in America. Some had been so weakened by sickness they would never fully recover no matter how much longer they lived.
Under those circumstances, prosperity had a slightly different definition than we know today. And one of the components of that prosperity was the freedom to practice their chosen faith without state interference—the reason they had left England in the first place.
It’s ironic that the popular image of this holiday is one of the most conformist…
Once, a co-worker of mine had gone on a hunting trip to Colorado and given me some cuts of venison and elk. I microwaved them for Thanksgiving that year, and I don’t remember what else I had with it. Maybe salad from a bag. As I recall, one of the things I was thankful for as I chomped on the free meat, was strong teeth.
Since getting married, of course, the quality of my holiday feasts has improved considerably—although when we lived in Alaska, thousands of miles from family and with Chris often having to work odd shifts just before or even on the day, we also improvised. Including the year we discovered that the Moose lodge we belonged to (still do, eight years after moving away) was going to serve Thanksgiving dinner. That was undoubtedly the best-enjoyed Thanksgiving we spent in Alaska.
Free to celebrate our holiday differently, nearly all of us choose to celebrate it in a traditional way.
Thankfully, I guess there’s hope for us after all.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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A Request
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Wed 21 Nov 2007 9:22
by Kevin McGehee
37° and mostly cloudy
in Maggie Valley, NC
0 comments
[Asides]
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Anybody out there have any pull with Uncle Sam? If you could use it to get the National Weather Service to adopt across-the-board telecommuting, so we could live here while Chris continues to work for the NWS, we’d be grateful.
Thanks.
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Oh, What Heights We Hit
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Tue 20 Nov 2007 17:01
by Kevin McGehee
62° and sunny
in Maggie Valley, NC
0 comments
[Asides]
[Yee-haw!]
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You’d think with less than two weeks to go before the road to Clingmans Dome closes, and a major holiday just two days away, people would find other things to do than walk up a steep paved trail to stand around on an elevated platform with dozens of complete strangers. But, no. It was too warm and too clear not to take advantage of the chance.
And that’s why we were there too, anyway. We found a decent parking spot, made the climb, looked around from the deck of the tower, and took a few pictures. If I had the proper cable along, I’d have those pics posted by now, but instead I have to wait until I get to a computer that will take the data chip my camera uses.
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Climb Every Mountain?
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Mon 19 Nov 2007 17:18
by Kevin McGehee
56° and partly cloudy
in Maggie Valley, NC
0 comments
[Asides]
[Yee-haw!]
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Well, not every mountain. But we’re hoping to be able to make an attempt on Clingmans Dome tomorrow. Unlike last year, the weather seems to be on our side and we should at least be able to get into the park.
If all goes right, we’ll be able to drive to within a half-mile of the summit, and the hike from there will involve a climb of 330 feet in elevation. Clingmans Dome is over 6600 feet above sea level.
I used to get to that altitude at least once a year as a kid; later when my job involved crossing the Sierra several times a year, it became even more routine.
I miss it.
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And a TV Network Will Remake ‘My Mother the Car’
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Sat 17 Nov 2007 13:02
by Kevin McGehee
60° and partly cloudy
in Coweta County, GA
0 comments
[Nature]
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In its final and most powerful report, a United Nations panel of scientists meeting here describes the mounting risks of climate change in language that is both more specific and forceful than its previous assessments, according to scientists here.
Synthesizing reams of data from its three previous reports, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for the first time specifically points out important risks if governments fail to respond: melting ice sheets that could lead to a rapid rise in sea levels and the extinction of large numbers of species brought about by even moderate amounts of warming, on the order of 1 to 3 degrees.» U.N. Report Describes Risks of Inaction on Climate Change
Left out of this report are a number of specific bad things that will happen if the UN doesn’t pass a sternly worded resolution against global warming climate change. - Elected officials will have to work harder to find phony excuses to raise taxes.
- Cats will be 0.17% more likely to sharpen their claws on the good drapes and furniture.
- There will be a detectable, though probably not accurately measurable, decrease in the number of times newspaper reporters will be able to blame a traffic altercation on “road rage.“ It may be possible, however, to offset this decline by reporting increased incidences of “phone rage” in theaters, restaurants, and stores.
- The earth’s penguin population will enact a space program and relocate to slightly less tropical Neptune.
- Jet contrails will be observed over portions of the earth that haven’t seen jet contrails since the last time one was observed there.
- The universe will implode, with women and minorities hardest hit.
- Most disturbingly of all: if the worst-case scenario comes about, the United States will be inundated with election campaign materials during 2008.
Obviously, something’s got to be done, and quickly.
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Neither Is ‘Greaser’
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Fri 16 Nov 2007 20:58
by Kevin McGehee
32° and clear
in Coweta County, GA
4 comments
[Our Times]
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I used to enjoy watching the “Sha-Na-Na” TV show, remember that? It started with a woman’s voice calling, “Hey, all you greasers! It’s time for Sha-Na-Na!“
A Casa Furniture and Bedding store in Alexandria has been advertising easy credit with a twist: “no gringo papers” necessary.
A sign outside the store at the intersection of North Beauregard and King streets reads, “Credito sin papeles de gringo.“ In English, that could be translated to say “Credit without gringo papers.“
[...]
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word gringo as “a disparaging term for a foreigner in Latin America, especially an American or English person.“
But the word “gringo” in the store’s sign is not intended to offend anyone, Miss Granados said.
[...]
Michael Barrera, president of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said he was aware of the sign but said the way “gringo” was used is not necessarily an insult.
“I think it’s more for marketing,“ he said. “Gringo is not always a pejorative term.“» Retailer denies sign is a slur
And now we have it direct from Mr. Barrera, that if a word isn’t always “a pejorative term,“ people shouldn’t get upset about it.
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Has Xenu Moved to South America?
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Fri 16 Nov 2007 20:34
by Kevin McGehee
34° and fair
in Coweta County, GA
0 comments
[Nature]
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As attentive observers are aware, Xenu has a knack for bringing cold weather everywhere he goes.
On October 14, 1997, Vice President Al Gore said, “For those who argue that global warming is already changing the world’s climate, this year’s El Niño weather front is more than enough evidence”, the audience was told by Gore. In the next day, a report by the San Francisco Chronicle said: “Gore links El Niño to Global Warming”. The Vice President stated at the summit that growing frequency of El Niño episodes could be connected to the gradual heating of the atmosphere caused by emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Ten years later residents in Argentina and Brazil are wondering if this winter will ever end. Buenos Aires recorded this Thursday (November 15th) the lowest November temperature in 90 years. Temperature in the Downtown weather station reached 2.5C. Since records began more than a century ago, only two days had colder lows in November. It was in 1914 (1.6) and 1917 (2.4). And ninety years ago the urban heat island effect was much less pronounced than nowadays. In Brazil’s southernmost province Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil temperatures fell to 2.3C. In São Joaquim Monday’s (Nov. 12) temperature was -1.2 C with frost.» Al Gore Wrong Again
So I think it’s perfectly reasonable to wonder where he is these days.
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One Way or Another, They’re Right
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Fri 16 Nov 2007 8:56
by Kevin McGehee
32° and sunny
in Coweta County, GA
0 comments
[War]
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The headline: Democrats see victory ‘out of reach’
In fact, the only way a victory in Iraq doesn’t put political victory out of reach for Democrats in 2008 (hence, “one way or another”), is if outright mission success comes before, say, the nominating conventions. That would allow the electorate to consider “the war” over while they’re considering which party’s ticket to support in November—history teaches that there is no “gratitude dividend” for those who lead a nation through rough times. Once the Second World War was ended, so was Churchill’s government in Great Britain. The end of the Cold War played no small part in George H.W. Bush’s election loss in 1992.
If the GOP were as diabolical as the Democrats like to depict them, the perceived end of our involvement in Iraq would be delayed until late October.
Instead, even if holding off until then looked to be the best thing both for Iraq and for the GWOT, I think the Bush administration would rather hurry it up, just to try to avoid the appearance of manipulating the news for political benefit.
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Page 44 of 791 pages « First < 42 43 44 45 46 > Last »
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