Peace on Earth
Goodwill Toward All
Random thoughts about many interests and people, with a realization of the blessings of life. I try to follow my mother's advice, don't discuss politics or religion.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Women's LaCrosse
A new sport at Edinboro University is women's LaCrosse. Saturday was damp and brisk, but the spirit of these young women was not dampened. In the above picture, EUP is setting up an attack on goal.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Rain
I sit reading a magazine called "The Sun." The section I’m reading is called “Readers Write.” In this issue of "The Sun" the subject for the readers to write about is rain. As I sit reading about rain in "The Sun," it is raining. So, I stop to write about rain myself, and to take a picture of the rain.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Autumn Leaves
We took a walk today. Saw the sky change from grey to blue, and walked past the playing fields of young people, from the little gridders to the college frisbe games. My wife spotted this mundane sign of fall and stopped to photograph one of life's wonders.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
First Day of Fall
Today is another beautiful first day of Fall. The picture remines me of a walk taken four years ago. Seems like only yesterday. Time passes on, but remains much the same in these days that are the Fall of my life.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Edinboro Football
Saturday, September 12, offered a beautiful late summer afternoon, perfect for a football game. The Edinboro Fighting Scots defeated C. W. Post 31 to 23 in a come from behind victory that turned into a see-saw contest with Edinboro able to go ahead in the fourth quarter and grind out the final minutes for a victory.
An entertaining half-time show featured some well played music by the Edinboro University Marching Band and graceful moves by the dance team.
An entertaining half-time show featured some well played music by the Edinboro University Marching Band and graceful moves by the dance team.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Nine Eleven Zero One
9/11/01, most of us remember where we were and what we were doing when we first heard about the suicidal attacks by Al-Qaeda on the United States. Although, at first, we may not have understood what was happening.
On September 11, 2001, I was working in my office when a colleague came in to say a plane had just crashed into the Twin Towers. My first response was matter-of-fact. Hadn’t small planes crashed into large buildings before causing fire and falling debris, but no deaths? My nonchalant attitude prompted him to say, “No, this is serious.”
Without a TV, I used my computer to get the latest news, and the grim reality of airliners intentionally crashing into the World Trade Center, with an aftermath of death, falling and burning bodies, and crumpling buildings slowly sank in. To amplify my horror and concern one of my sons returned on the Tenth from leaving my other son in Manhattan to look for work, who knew, perhaps at the World Trade Center. Communication was difficult and we didn’t know where he was. Not until a day later did we know he was safe.
Like most Americans, I wanted swift and just action. For a time, it seemed as though it might happen, but slowly we became fearful, misdirected, and lost sight of our goals. A fog of confusion dimmed our clarity of purpose and denial set in.
Now, eight years later, I’ve retired, had a heart attack, started wintering in Florida, two of my children have graduated from college and started working. A crippling recession has caused declining wealth, unemployment, and homelessness. Ignorant pundits babble about health care for the sake of crippling a president, and incidentally a country. Celebrity misdeeds and death cry for our attention and crowd our airwaves. Young people die, but we barely acknowledge their sacrifice. 9/11, a day of terror, still stings the heart and mind of our countrymen and disunites our populace. 9/11, a day to remember, so that we can rightly and justly put it in the past. Meanwhile, wars smolder on the backburner of our concern.
On September 11, 2001, I was working in my office when a colleague came in to say a plane had just crashed into the Twin Towers. My first response was matter-of-fact. Hadn’t small planes crashed into large buildings before causing fire and falling debris, but no deaths? My nonchalant attitude prompted him to say, “No, this is serious.”
Without a TV, I used my computer to get the latest news, and the grim reality of airliners intentionally crashing into the World Trade Center, with an aftermath of death, falling and burning bodies, and crumpling buildings slowly sank in. To amplify my horror and concern one of my sons returned on the Tenth from leaving my other son in Manhattan to look for work, who knew, perhaps at the World Trade Center. Communication was difficult and we didn’t know where he was. Not until a day later did we know he was safe.
Like most Americans, I wanted swift and just action. For a time, it seemed as though it might happen, but slowly we became fearful, misdirected, and lost sight of our goals. A fog of confusion dimmed our clarity of purpose and denial set in.
Now, eight years later, I’ve retired, had a heart attack, started wintering in Florida, two of my children have graduated from college and started working. A crippling recession has caused declining wealth, unemployment, and homelessness. Ignorant pundits babble about health care for the sake of crippling a president, and incidentally a country. Celebrity misdeeds and death cry for our attention and crowd our airwaves. Young people die, but we barely acknowledge their sacrifice. 9/11, a day of terror, still stings the heart and mind of our countrymen and disunites our populace. 9/11, a day to remember, so that we can rightly and justly put it in the past. Meanwhile, wars smolder on the backburner of our concern.
Friday, September 4, 2009
September Calendar 2009
Early September and Labor Day weekend ushers in the end of Summer with hints of Fall. The weather has been beautiful and we've enjoyed backyard cookouts, tennis, and gatherings with friends. The shifting shadows of late Summer have brought cooler evenings and cheerful, sometimes foggy, mornings. There is peace in the air along with the bustlings of increased activities as school begins, vacations end, and the summer residents prepare to head South.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Something, Anything
I've been wanting to get back to writing the blog, but have been too lazy and unmotivated to be thoughtful and articulate. Unfortunately, I'm still in that mode, but if I don't start...,well you know.
I've looked in on twitter the last couple of days and done some searches to see what makes this popular site tick. The revelation is that the normally hidden thoughts of people that now shout out their mundane, but previously hidden thoughts give the lie to the notion that still waters run deep. Apparently, people are in a hurry to let us know that nothing much is on their mind, and probably never will be. Not that I'm any better, mind you, but, at least, I haven't (until now) proclaimed it with such resounding volume.
While, I'm about it I'll reveal one of my new pet peeves...the word "appalled" as when people write letters to the editor and begin by saying, "I'm appalled that (fill in the blank)." A few bucks for a thesaurus is in order; for instance, "I'm amazed that no one has noticed...," or "I'm in awe of the mendacity of people," or "I'm horrified by the injustice of ....;" or people could realize that the best way to write is to describe your issue in a way that will describe how appalled you are.
So, perhaps I should have started this return to the blog with this sentence, "I'm dismayed by the apparent lack of thought in the tweets on twitter."
I've looked in on twitter the last couple of days and done some searches to see what makes this popular site tick. The revelation is that the normally hidden thoughts of people that now shout out their mundane, but previously hidden thoughts give the lie to the notion that still waters run deep. Apparently, people are in a hurry to let us know that nothing much is on their mind, and probably never will be. Not that I'm any better, mind you, but, at least, I haven't (until now) proclaimed it with such resounding volume.
While, I'm about it I'll reveal one of my new pet peeves...the word "appalled" as when people write letters to the editor and begin by saying, "I'm appalled that (fill in the blank)." A few bucks for a thesaurus is in order; for instance, "I'm amazed that no one has noticed...," or "I'm in awe of the mendacity of people," or "I'm horrified by the injustice of ....;" or people could realize that the best way to write is to describe your issue in a way that will describe how appalled you are.
So, perhaps I should have started this return to the blog with this sentence, "I'm dismayed by the apparent lack of thought in the tweets on twitter."
Sunday, January 25, 2009
My First Take on Obama’s Inaugural Address
President Obama addressed the legitimate concerns of us who suffered through the Bush administration’s lowering of the esteem of Americans in the world while creating the worst of times at home. Obama reminded us of our own responsibility to the future, by recalling our history. Our history has fought for freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. We have honored disagreement and cherished justice, education, and morality. We worked hard and were inventive. We created a better life style for many people and offered the same opportunity for others, but somehow, we as a nation, lost sight of our history, our integrity and our ingenuity. I think Obama’s address reminded us of our greatness and challenged us to bring our best to our current problems. Don’t expect handouts and easy solutions. Roll up your sleeves and go to work.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Inaugural Quartet’s Cold Performance
My impression of the quartet of Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, McGill, and Montero playing Williams was that they performed live despite the cold, but according to this New York Times article, the performance was synced. With the havoc the bitter cold can have on performers and their instruments, it is understandable, if a minor disappointment, to know that their freezing perfection was due to being prerecorded. At least, now we know they are very good actors as well as musicians.
The Times article also has a beautiful video of the performance.
The Times article also has a beautiful video of the performance.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration Quartet
The Inauguration Quartet
From soft sounds to tumultuous joy, the music began with the quiet Coplanesque strains of John Williams’ “Air and Simple Gifts.” The vibrant cello of Yo Yo Ma and the sweet strings of Itzhak Perlman’s violin found full voice and intertwined; they were joined by a quiet, sonorous woodwind phrase that repeated and built from the clarinet of Anthony McGill. The three instruments were joined in joyous harmony by the piano of Gabriela Montero. Just as Copland’s music captured the nation’s character and geographical expanse, Williams’ music brought this historical heritage to the present. The unifying emotion of his composition was captured by this enthusiastic quartet playing as a complete ensemble, listening and responding to each other with admiration.
After all of the discussion about the brutal weather and the delicate wooden instruments and how the performers would deal with the elements, it appears as though the violin, cello, and clarinet were wooden and not carbon or rubber. The musicians brought all their best stuff, from musicality to instruments.
Williams’ and the inaugural quartet presented a musical gem to emphasize the speech of Barack Obama as he became President of the United States of America.
Here is an imperfect video.
From soft sounds to tumultuous joy, the music began with the quiet Coplanesque strains of John Williams’ “Air and Simple Gifts.” The vibrant cello of Yo Yo Ma and the sweet strings of Itzhak Perlman’s violin found full voice and intertwined; they were joined by a quiet, sonorous woodwind phrase that repeated and built from the clarinet of Anthony McGill. The three instruments were joined in joyous harmony by the piano of Gabriela Montero. Just as Copland’s music captured the nation’s character and geographical expanse, Williams’ music brought this historical heritage to the present. The unifying emotion of his composition was captured by this enthusiastic quartet playing as a complete ensemble, listening and responding to each other with admiration.
After all of the discussion about the brutal weather and the delicate wooden instruments and how the performers would deal with the elements, it appears as though the violin, cello, and clarinet were wooden and not carbon or rubber. The musicians brought all their best stuff, from musicality to instruments.
Williams’ and the inaugural quartet presented a musical gem to emphasize the speech of Barack Obama as he became President of the United States of America.
Here is an imperfect video.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Winter Lights
Went out last night shortly after sunset in hopes of taking a picture of the moon. News reports said we'd see the largest full moon of the year. However, the sky was still full of clouds and light snow. 
Here's a shot of the end of our driveway instead.
We've had a long, snowy winter that actually began in Fall. The first of our deep snows came in early November, and we've only seen green grass for short periods of less than a day. The cold, the snow, and the short days have been building cabin fever, or as it's called these days, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The Christmas season brings a cheer to the heart and mind, but after New Years, the festivity slowly turns SAD.
We've been keeping our lights up longer to help keep a touch of cheer during this wintry time of year.
Here's a shot of the end of our driveway instead.
We've had a long, snowy winter that actually began in Fall. The first of our deep snows came in early November, and we've only seen green grass for short periods of less than a day. The cold, the snow, and the short days have been building cabin fever, or as it's called these days, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The Christmas season brings a cheer to the heart and mind, but after New Years, the festivity slowly turns SAD.
We've been keeping our lights up longer to help keep a touch of cheer during this wintry time of year.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Greeleyville Mystery
A very sad story out of Greeleyville, South Carolina today. A woman’s body was found in the children’s playground by a bus driver early in the morning. The driver notified the janitor who called 911.
Due to the quick action of the bus driver and janitor, most of the children had no knowledge of what happened. Not until much later in the day was the woman identified and the mystery partially resolved. Stories about the event may be read here and here. By these accounts the woman did not die by violent means. An autopsy will reveal the manner of death and she has been identified, so the mystery of why she died may also be discovered.
Nonetheless, the young woman's strange death made for an unsettling day for Greeleyville Elementary.
Due to the quick action of the bus driver and janitor, most of the children had no knowledge of what happened. Not until much later in the day was the woman identified and the mystery partially resolved. Stories about the event may be read here and here. By these accounts the woman did not die by violent means. An autopsy will reveal the manner of death and she has been identified, so the mystery of why she died may also be discovered.
Nonetheless, the young woman's strange death made for an unsettling day for Greeleyville Elementary.
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