1345 When is stealing not theft?

When a library publication prints the story. Conservator compares the theft of classified documents with the theft of maps, as reported in Library Journal and American Libraries.

"The headline for last Tuesday's article refers straightforwardly to an "accused Yale thief." The article's lead paragraph states equally straightforwardly that Mr. E. Forbes Smiley III is "charged with stealing rare maps," etc.

Needless to say, the initial notice in American Libraries on Berger's unauthorized removal of documents from the National Archives contains no version of the words "theft" or "steal." "

In checking the American Libraries website, I noted this resolution on disinformation. It's a hoot, considering their own carefully worded obfuscation and manipulation of information to say nothing of playing in the puddles instead of checking the ocean.

1344 Erma Bombeck and Peter Jennings

The Jennings eulogies have not mentioned his connection to Erma Bombeck. It was her appearances on Good Morning America in the 1980s that got us switched from CBS to ABC. Not that Jennings was on the morning show, but we'd turn off the TV after her monologue and when we turned on the TV in the evening after work, there he was. Walter was gone by then, we weren't crazy about Dan, so Peter seemed a fresh face--handsome and articulate--appearing everywhere in the world when exciting events happened.

CNN grabbed us briefly in the first Iraq war, then it was back to ABC and Peter. Fox News was a late comer to our local cable carrier, so I didn't pay much attention to it until maybe 2002 or 2003. I gave up on Mr. Jennings during the beginning of the current war. As professional as he was, he just couldn't hide his distain and dislike for President Bush. It colored everything he said, from word choice to the slight sneer. If he ever let a positive phrase pass his lips, I'm guessing he was quoting someone else, something all the MSM do to appear "balanced." I also didn't like that he was so critical of US policy, but hadn't become a citizen after two decades on the payroll (he corrected that shortly before the cancer appeared).

However, his eulogies brought out many things I didn't know--like he hadn't finished high school but attained the heights of popularity and income and continued on a never ending search for information and comprehending complex topics. He loved interacting with children and appreciated jazz. I didn't know that and feel better about him now. I know he will be missed by his many fans.

He is survived by his fourth wife, Kayce Freed, and his two adult children with third wife Kate Morton.

1343 Photos of Lakeside

Eric was one of my "blogging" students two weeks ago, and when he got home he posted some photos of his vacation here. Stop by and say Hello and introduce yourself.

1342 Sailing the front porch

My husband took sailing lessons last week in the mornings, but because he was teaching art in the afternoons, he didn't have any time to practice. He's found a neighbor to go out with him this afternoon (brave man--the water is terribly calm). So he's practicing on the front porch.

Here's the set up as I step around the corner to watch. The rope is tied to the kitty condo and held by his left hand. He has two 12" high folding stools representing the sides of the sunfish sail boat. The rocker is close by supporting the tennis racket which he is using in his right hand as the "tiller." On the floor is the instruction book with 200 diagrams and illustrations, open to the skill on which he's working.

I don't know what he looks like on the water, but he's darn good navigating the front porch.

1341 Reading the sports page

Yesterday in writing class, Naomi who teaches creative writing to children, mentioned an odd factoid about newspapers--the reading level of the sports page is higher than the front page or op ed! "It's the similes and metaphors," she said. "They require a higher level of comprehension." Could it be? So this morning at the coffee shop I glanced at the sports page of the USAToday, just for fun.

Here's a statement from the Money page:

"Sprint and Nextel have a game plan for the future, and it's not what you might think. The play book goes like this. . ." Couple of sports idioms--financial pages do a lot of that. Almost exclusively written by men who think their audience is male.

Now here's the sports page:

"Pittsnogle went from reserve center to cult hero to verb in the space of a few weeks. Physically, he's 6-11. Metaphorically, he stands much taller." This article uses these colorful and alliterative phrases: "a wisker short"; "unlikely underdog"; put him on a pedestal"; "play in the paint"; "quick-draw jumper." Full Pittsnogle story here.

Not only was the sports writing better paced with more difficult vocabulary and idioms, but it actually used the words VERB and METAPHORICALLY. I would have written more, but someone joined me at the table, so it was time to chat.

Made a believer out of me.

1340 Writing at Lakeside

Writing class this week is taught by Patricia Mote of Berea, Ohio. Not only is she an experienced teacher and author, but she is also a publisher and editor. And she comes to class prepared! I love that! So she brings a wealth of talent to the class. She's doing a beginners group in the morning and advanced in the late afternoon. Her next project is a book about the restored theater district in Cleveland which she tells me has the second largest number of theater seats in the country next only to New York.

I biked home at 5:15, ate a little supper and then returned to the Rhein Center (no AC and getting hotter as the day progressed) for watercolor class. Remember the chanters I wrote about a few entries back? Chant for peace with 7-11 songs (7 words sung 11 times)? Well, they were the only other group in the building. I thought I'd go crazy. Not a word about the One who can really bring peace.

1339 The Big E

This week at Lakeside, Dr. Eugene Swanger is the Big E. Yesterday it was standing room only in his lecture about China and Taiwan. As the room filled up Pastor Barbara had to direct some people to the lobby of the hotel to meet the fire code. It being Peace Week, one sweet 70- something lady in front of me said, 'Someone can have my chair, I can sit on the floor.' Then a negotiator type guy standing against the wall began interrupting Barbara's introduction of Dr. Swanger by suggesting, peaceably of course, how we could all adjourn to another room (already being used for something else) while wasting 15 minutes of the limited time. Pastor Barbara graciously declined his offer and continued. Love that woman. Great smile.

But usually, the Big E is Mike Albert, the Elvis impersonater. He draws a huge crowd and fills Hoover Auditorium. He puts on an outstanding show varying it from year to year, and has his own fan club.

I talked to him this morning on the phone. Yes, the Big E was in my son's shop to get his trailer fixed. My son asked him what he did and he just said he had a rock and roll band, because without his wig and bling bling, he really doesn't look like Elvis. When he found out who he REALLY was, my son called me and put the Big E on the phone, so we chatted about Lakeside. Really nice guy, too.

1338 Did you spend the night at Grandma's house?

Parenting is the title of a column in the Plain Dealer written by Dr. Sylvia Rimm. This morning's question was from a mother of 3 whose own parents who live close don't invite her children to have "overnights," but her husband's parents who live some distance welcome the opportunity. I only skimmed it since I was already writing this blog in my head, so I don't recall Dr. Rimm's solution.

Did you? I didn't. Well, once I think. It must have been for a very good reason, and because it was so rare, I remember that time with great fondness. My paternal grandmother was blind, but she knew all about kids--she'd raised 9 on a farm with no plumbing or electricity. My dad, understandably, believed she'd paid her dues in the mothering department, and didn't want her watching kids for anyone, not even my mother. His siblings just ignored his example, and so my cousins had all the fun plus grandma's good company and the influence of her sweet nature.

My husband and his siblings and cousin spent every week-end with his "Neno and Biggie." Those days and their fine Christian values and modeling really live on in his memory to this day. While his parents slept in on Sunday morning after a night of partying, the kids were in Sunday School at Memorial Presbyterian. The grandparents were actually raising his cousin, so I suspect the other children were welcomed playmates for her. He also spent his summers with his father's family at a cottage at Lake Webster, Indiana. His parents were divorced, so this was a way to be a part of his father's family. God bless all the aunties and grandmas who fill in the missing chinks in a child's life!

My own cildren never spent overnights with my parents, although all their cousins did (I think it was rare). I did ask once, was turned down, and never asked again. We lived two states away, so obviously a week-end jaunt wouldn't have been convenient. Once when the children were in pre-school we did take a week's vacation and left them with my sister-in-law who had a day care center. They thought they'd died and gone to heaven, and hoped all the other kids were new "cousins." When they were in middle school we flew them to California to spend a week with my father-in-law and his wife. They still talk about that visit (grandpa cooked bacon in the microwave!) and remember it fondly.

I didn't read Dr. Simm's reply, but because the writer refers to her parents' home as "museum like" I think I can detect the problem. Either Mommy has no rules at all and wants no one, especially Mom, to discipline the little sweety pies, or she has a list of rules to follow that runs to eleven type written pages, about bedtime, favorite foods, allergies, bath temperature, laundry soap, type of reading material, etc. Someone doesn't measure up in these kinds of situations.

1337 The Grieving Mother

This woman hanging around Crawford, TX is in a lot of pain, and it will only get worse if she lets the anti-war protestors take over her dignity and loss. If you read through the various accounts, the Bush Administration has been very patient with her, but for some reason she will not be satisfied until she has convinced the President by personally talking to him, that he should wave a wand and stop this war. Her grief has made her crazy. I feel very sorry for her. But you know what? That won't bring her son back, and then she'll find something else.

I watched my grandmother grieve for the last 20 years of her life after her son was killed in the China Burma India theater. She wanted answers, but never got them. And I'm so glad. Just two years ago we found out what happened to him. What a terrible, horrible waste of a fine young life caused by the incompetency and arrogance of his commanding officer. My grandmother's uncle was a teen-ager when he ran away and signed on to be a soldier in the final months of the Civil War, long before she was born. He died of dysentery and is buried in Tennessee. Grief? His family left his name out of the family Bible, and we didn't discover him until we started doing genealogy. Look down through history and find a war that doesn't have grieving parents or dissenters.

When my oldest son died over 40 years ago, I demanded answers from the hospital, the pathologist, a pastor, my friends and my family. (I didn't think to ask God because I wasn't a believer then.) I was not a nice person and I was really angry. If camping out at the summer White House would have given me answers, I probably would have tried it. There is no response in this world that heals that grief, you can't hug it away or talk it away or listen it away. Losing a son who volunteered to be a soldier in a time of war, to protect his country, who loved the Iraqi people and believed in the cause his mother doesn't like must make it all the more unbearable for her. I just wish she weren't dishonoring what he believed in by pursuing what she believes in.

1336 47,000th visitor

Some time during the night or early morning my blogodometer turned over to 47,000. Today the Truth laid Bear says I'm #441, which isn't bad considering there are over 14 million blogs out there. This changes all the time--once I was down in the 200s, and last week I think it was 700 something. I truly don't understand these rating services--I think I get rated on the basis of the ratings of the bloggers who link to me. Does that make sense to you? And always, always, Mr. Bear says I have an average of 71 visitors daily. No matter if 300 or 15 stop by, it is always 71. All of that is a fabrication, too. If my site gets pinged because someone strung together the words like "playful xxx kittens pursue Canadian librarians" and my little photo of librarian Susan's kittens comes up on the list, but reused on someone else's site, the site-o-blogger gives me a nod.

I'm now on a California consortium/list--I'm considered an ex-pat Californian because I lived in Alameda in 1944-45 and in Fresno in 1957. Wow. The right is really out there on the left coast. I've contacted an Ohio list, but haven't heard back. Maybe 38 years isn't long enough time to be an Ohioan? I say "warsh" just like a native.

1335 It's Peace Week at Lakeside

And therefore, my least favorite week to be here. In fact, this may be only the second or third season in 31 years that my visits have coincided with the peacenik vacationers with their long faces, home-made banners and candlelight marches. Now that I'm retired and have the whole summer to spend here if I choose, I'll probably come across them more often. These aren't the "peace in our time" folk I knew growing up in the Church of the Brethren, but the "Let's bring about peace by humming and meditating and pretending we understand Eastern religions" groupies. These are not "Christian pacifists" who seek the peace that passes all understanding, although some may espouse a syncretistic form of Christianity, but the "I won't talk to you if you aren't open minded" pacifists.

Here's some offerings this week, and I'll leave the leaders/instructors nameless so I won't be gossiping. They wrote up these descriptions, and are a good match for last week's "health and wellness" crowd (earrings, tatoos and hard bodies). Aside from the nuclear proliferation, gap between rich and poor, and beyond the rat race lectures/meetings which I think are pretty standard from year to year (nothing like 80 year olds discussing the rat race), we have these gems:

". . .gather in a circle, sing a simple song. . .connect with each person in the circle, sense the wonder and delight that comes from meditative and lovely openness to all in the circle."

". . .spiritual chants, sung repetitiously, brings the strength of spiritual power into our group as we gather together to share in our glory to the One God." Children welcome if they are old enough to sing.

". . .Look at developing more deeply our own connection with Spirit. . . Only open mindedness, positivity and solution allowed!!!"

YAWN. Sounds like 1970s left-overs.

Meanwhile, I'll be doing up the laundry from a fabulous week-end of wonderful, interesting guests, a week-end with the ballet, a concert and a little jazz flute ensemble. A cool front moved in and it was another unbelieveable thrill to enjoy the lakefront, especially Sunday with an ice cream social and a town band from (someplace nearby?). Sue and Jim have lived all over the USA east of the Mississippi, but despite 10 years in Columbus had never been here. I think they enjoyed themselves, and we certainly appreciated their fresh take on the sights, and their wonderful stories.

Here's what I'm looking forward to this week seven at Lakeside: two more lectures on China by Dr. Eugene Swanger, a class on creative writing, and a watercolor class. There's a paper making class that's back to back with the writing class, so I'm not sure I want to be THAT involved in the arts, but I'll consider it.

1334 Do you feel safer?

Martha Stewart has had her house detention extended. Golly, I sure feel better. Michael Jackson and O.J. are on the streets, but we are all protected now that Martha, charged with perjury and who has done her time with her head held high, still wears her ankle bracelet. And the NYT is really on this story, too. Captain's Quarters tallies up their stories on Martha (perjury) as against the Air American scandal (misuse of public funding--taking money meant for poor kids).

In these columns are the number of stories in the liberal media for the Air America / Gloria Wise scandal, compared to the number about Martha. NYT reporters must have waaaay too much time on their hands. Captain's Quarter's figures:

Media outlet.....AA/GW......Martha
NY Times..........0...........16*
Wash Post.........0...........10 (14 day search)
LA Times..........0...........3
CBS News..........0...........1
ABC News..........0...........4

What does this show? The Exempt Media has plenty of resources to continue coverage of a single celebrity who allegedly engaged in insider trading over 4,000 shares of ImClone stock, avoiding $51,000 in losses when bad news hit just afterwards. (Stewart wasn't convicted for insider trading, but obstruction of justice and perjury.) That amounts to 1/18th of what Air America got in misappropriated public funds by sucking money out of Bronx charity -- money intended for poor kids and Alzheimer's patients. Yet the New York Times has mentioned Martha Stewart* in 16 articles over the last 30 days, some of those in-depth reporting on Stewart and her ongoing legal struggles, but have not managed to put "Air America" and "Gloria Wise" into the same article even one time -- despite the misappropriation of public funds occurring in the Paper of Record's own back yard."

BTW, Happy Birthday Martha--best wishes for the huge comeback I know you'll have.

1333 Friday's Feast On Sunday

When I checked on Friday, the list wasn't up yet, so here it is, late. Not like me to be late.

Appetizer
Briefly describe your living room.

Fabulous view of trees, yard and creek. Peaceful decor; cream walls with khaki color crown molding; cream colored rug on dark marble; bamboo colored couch; deep blue and cream colored side chairs; antique rocker with blue and maroon upholstery and a few family pieces from our grandparents; glass top coffee table and end chairs; arts ‘n crafts style oak entertainment center; 50s modern side chairs with Frank Lloyd Wright pillows and rosewood secretary; walnut bookshelf with memorabilia and books galore; easel with painting; 7 or 8 watercolor paintings; lamps.

Soup
List 3 things you'd like to accomplish before the end of 2005.

I don’t set goals. And you can't trick me into it!

Salad
When you're online, what do you spend the most time reading/playing/doing? Suggest a site for us to visit.

I read political, religious and personal blogs and news sites. I skip entries even in my favs if they are potty mouth'd and cranky. I like Michael Yon in Iraq. Wonderful, sensitive photographs.

Main Course
What would the title of your autobiography be?

You're looking at it.

Dessert
What time do you usually go to bed?

About 9:30 or 10. Earlier if I can work it in.

1332 After stem cell, then what?

Unshelved has a good one.

1331 Do you like applause?

The caption under a photo of a musician in today's paper read, "Spencer Marks soaks up the audience's applause. . ."

For some of us, applause is the water that hydrates and invigorates and allows us to bloom more brightly. Is it the money? The sense of power over others? The memories of mom saying "good boy?" I watch performers every evening here at Lakeside, from amateurs performing in "Our Town" to professionals, some on their way up and some on their way down the important venues. Through their agents (or parents) contracts are signed, dates are blocked in on their calendars, rehearsals are set, hotel rooms and limos are reserved, and receptions and dinners in their honor are planned. But it seems to be about the applause, doesn't it? Applause pushes away the doubts of not measuring up--it comforts the grieving, warms the cold feet, and soothes the churning tummy--until the next time.

God designed me without an applause meter. I'll clap for others--even stand and cheer. But perform for applause, compliments or adoration? Never. Now, money--maybe.

1330 What I think about the new Lutheran hymnal

Not much.

Now these are readers

Occasionally I come across reader/bloggers (readloggers?), people who are such active, intense readers that I can't imagine how they have time to blog. Here is one of them. These two definitely have too much in common. What do you think?

1328 Judge Roberts and his children

There's some rumblings of outrage on the right that NYT is investigating Judge Roberts' adoption of two children from Latin America. Off limits! Outrageous! How low can they go! Well, yes, it's low, but Republicans raised (or lowered) snooping into personal lives to the level where any transaction that involves another person seems to be political grist, whether it's sex or paying social security for your nanny.

Besides, in case you haven't noticed or are not part of the adoption triad, adoption secrecy is not now, and never has been, about the welfare of the child. There have been powerful political and personal interests for as long as adoption went beyond an informal fostering system on the frontier. In Ohio, for instance, adoption records were not sealed until the early 60s. I suppose we'd have to go back and research who was in the state legislature at that time to figure out why children were more protected after a certain cut off date than before and who didn't want to be found or what estate needed to be protected.

Also, it's strictly political that you cannot keep an adoptee from his or her tribal heritage as an adult if they are some minor percentage American Indian, but you can keep them ignorant if they are African American, or Irish American or Turkish American or any other mix and match of cultures.

There is so much money tied up in the adoption process these days with people flying to the Balkans, or Russia or Central America to briefly "reside" that a mechanic and waitress who want a family by adoption are just out of luck. They'd be better off to wait for third cousin Susie to "get in trouble." You'd better have a nest egg of $20,000-$30,000 if you want a family by any of the more exotic methods.

And do you really think adoption by singles or gays is about the best interests of the child? No. It is political and social theory driving that change. It's always been about who has the power. And that ain't babies. What about open adoption? What baby ever asked for that? It's a social theory that by some miracle, children will be happier and less conflicted knowing that B-mom and A-mom exchanged addresses and colluded on this little "just as if" fantasy.

So that brings me to Judge Roberts. This is a powerful man, set to become even more powerful. There may be absolutely, flawless adoption records, but these days, his enemies would need to be highly ethical and moral people to at least not be suspicious. And when have you seen that on the left?

1327 You probably know this visitor

Cuppa at Brown Betty Brew has been battling an unwelcome visitor. You probably know him. He certainly has turned up at our household every time we move. Then drop down one and read her story about "putting the cat out." It's a hoot. I don't know if she writes for a living, but she should.

1326 Bush and Darwin

The left wing thought police are all over this one. But here's a sensible thought on the matter:

"There are those who believe that when someone has expressed his own thesis that it is only fitting that those who disagree with his thesis should be allowed to express their disagreement and objections to it. Indeed, there are some scientists who have even gone so far as to make a point of making the strongest possible case against the very theories that they have taken enormous pains to devise.

The outstanding example of this attitude was Charles Darwin. In his great book, The Origin of Species, he went to enormous trouble to set out all the arguments he could muster against his own theory. And, to his dying day, he continued to be heroically willing to entertain objections to his own carefully thought out position.

Would Darwin have objected to President Bush's seemingly paradoxical comment that both sides in the evolution debate "should be properly taught"? Well that might depend on whether he was permitted to hear the president's justification of his position, namely that both sides should be taught "so people can understand what the debate is about," and the president's further statement: "You're asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the answer is 'yes.'" "

Read the whole article here.