An Obama Win

Obama scores an early and overwhelming victory in South Carolina.

From the 'Sickening' to the Sublime

First, I want to pass on a link from a former colleague of mine who calls Dick Morris' analysis of the Clintons' South Carolina options and strategy "sickening." I'll let you decide for yourselves.

The second, somewhat lighter, offering today is in honor of today's Live From the Met offering.

Every Scot Has His Day

Address to a Haggis

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a'yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin was help to mend a mill
In time o'need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin', rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit! hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckles as wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro' blody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs an' arms, an' hands will sned,
Like taps o' trissle.

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer
Gie her a haggis!

Robert Burns -- 1786

The Envelope, Please

A link and some comment from Canadian cul-chah maven and all-around nice guy Paul Cantin:

Early general prediction? It'll be the oddball Coens vs. the more conventional Oscar-baiting Atonement, with respect (but fewer prizes) lavished upon PTA's There Will Be Blood.

Observation#1 -- Jason Reitman is nominated for best director on the back of a great young actor and a smart script, but surely Sidney Lumet better deserves recognition for Before The Devil Knows Your Dead.

Observation #2 -- No director nom for Tim Burton, which I think is a good thing.

Observation #3 -- Cate Blanchett nominated for two different films in two different categories! But for best actress, I think she will be overlooked in favor of Julie Christie or Marion Cotillard.

Observation #4 -- P.S. Hoffman is nominated for "Charlie Wilson's War," but not for "The Savages" or "Before The Devil Knows Your Dead." Weird.

Observation #5 -- Hurrah for Casey Affleck for best supporting actor for playing that coward Robert Ford. Unfortunately, it is Javier's year.

Mad Cows and Scotsmen

haggis alert

Fred Walks Away

Thompson has made the decision to drop out of the GOP race, according to a Fox News report that sources two of his staffers. No word yet on where he'll throw his support. Pundits wiser than I blame a late candidacy announcement and what they say was a campaign organization that failed, until recently, to "gel."

The New York Post, NY1 and the New York Sun are also reporting that former U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato will move his support from the Thompson camp to McCain's, leaving Giuliani out in the cold.

On another note, I am taking time to process the impressions I got of Obama, Clinton and Edwards in this weekend's Congressional Black Caucus debate. If I have anything useful to say -- positive or negative -- I'll add it in a later post.

A Giant Win

I'll happily admit that I was rooting for the Giants last night. You may have surmised from his posts that Bottlebee is a big Giants fan. He graciously took me to my first NFL game and has since treated me to a few fun Redskins games. So I was pullin' for my Cowboy-hatin' football fanatic buddy as much I was for the Gints. I'll admit it.

You've gotta feel bad for Favre and the Packer fans, but you also have to admit that the boys in white and red (where, oh where, were their blue ones?) earned that win. And since those Giants came within a hair's breadth of beating Pretty Boy Brady and the New England lookey-loos, I think we can expect an excellent Superbowl in two weeks time.

I will also go on the record as saying that any perfect season the Patriots try to claim should be followed by a big fat asterisk. (This from the pen of a woman who once espoused the general driving directions, "Given a choice between anything and New England, choose New England.")

------------------------------

On another topic, thanks for any good thoughts and prayers you've been tossing my way. Here's the lost and found item tally.

FOUND:
phone charger
phone

STILL LOST:
keys
extremely sentimental blue, white and silver earrings

NEWLY DISAPPEARED:
jump drive

The status of the previously mentioned intangibles is TBD.

Momentum Builds

Tonight, American voters again saw evidence of the not-yet-inevitable -- the emergence of each party's front runner. The conventions will be contentious, and there may yet be a few surprises. However, Romney's enormous win in Nevada and Hillary's narrow one put still more pressure on their rivals to perform.

The pollsters were, this time, correct in South Carolina in that McCain and Huckabee were within plus or minus four points of each other when the votes were counted. That win goes to McCain, but Romney's fund-raising dominance will be nearly impossible to beat in the long run. In addition, McCain's pragmatic approach to immigration and border security will meet with resistance from single-issue anti-immigration voters who will hold huge sway in this election.

Despite his strong showing in South Carolina, Huckabee's speech there teetered close to a bow out, but ended with some classic rallying lines. He is planning to hit the "reset" button, and take tomorrow as a new day. It is doubtful voters will be able to reset their opinion of Huckabee that easily and fully admit him as a first-tier candidate. It is notable that Thompson, who looked rather gray-faced addressing his troops shows no intentions of dropping out of the race. Also remarkable is Paul's 14 percent showing in Nevada: One can only surmise that the original Gen Xers and geeks are still buying his libertarian, antiwar message.

Florida is next for the GOP, in ten days time. If Giuliani's results there are thunderously different than they have been elsewhere, he will manage to make his voice heard in this debate. But it's starting to seem that Republicans are now fighting to set the ideological and policy agenda for the next presidency more than to work and reside in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

And the Democrats ... well, even with the endorsement of the Culinary Workers Union in Las Vegas, Obama couldn't pull out a win. Edwards couldn't even get a pulse. He can only hope for better with his home crowd in South Carolina next weekend. Meanwhile the Clinton machine, too, rolls on.

The Dream Lives

The Strib White and Blue

Check out these contributions to the world of political journalism from the Star Tribune in Minneapolis. It'll worth checking in to the Strib's site leading up to February 5 (that's Super Duper Tuesday to you) and beyond, I'm sure.

P.S. ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN!

Clone Quest Redux: California Dreaming

Would someone who's feeling a little more articulate than I am please explain to me why claims from a LaJolla company that it's successfully cloning human embryos make me so fundamentally sad. I mean, I want to cure diabetes and Lou Gehrig's and get those with spinal cord injuries up and walking again, but I can't clear the sinking feeling I feel in the pit of my stomach.

Anybody want to take a shot at this one?

Michigan's Native Son

After beating McCain 40 percent to 30 percent in Michigan, Romney is still not the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for this cycle -- I don't care what the pundits say. But he did put on a heck of a showing in his old home state.

With a caucus win in Wyoming and the 10-point spread he pulled tonight, he is going to be more able to bring his money and his organizational skills to bear in this race. The pressure's will start to mount on the so-called second tier candidates. This race may or may not end up with a front runner any time soon -- but all the Republican candidates, Romney included, are going to have to run like it's the race of their lives.

P.S. If you get a chance to find and view the video of President Bush at the sword ceremony in Saudi Arabia, do so. I haven't yet found it on the Web, but CBS ran some vis tonight of the president holding a sword and swaying to the music. With all respect for the position and his person, I'll say this for the gentleman: He is a joiner.

I am occasionally heartened by the tape on which he was captured playing an African drum and dancing to traditional music. The one time he didn't join in, though, was when fraternizing with the coed cheerleading squads at the annual Army/Navy football match-up. Probably a good call there, sir!

Great Minds, Great Voices

I agree with my onetime tournament partner, Diane Brady, that debating was the greatest skill I learned in school. Organizing a debate association and coaching other debaters come close, but I think debating itself is a finer skill.

Oh, and if you get Diane in a relaxed social setting, ask her for an opinion of the state of the dental hygiene industry. She may remember some of the arguments she once was forced to espouse -- and I'd hope she can still pull off that wonderful Southern belle accent of hers.

Not Required Reading

The Luddite's latest

Johnny B Goode

It is worth commenting on McCain's positive tone and thoughtful message in his victory speech. He retook his old New Hampshire territory with grace.

It's also worth noting that with over a third of the totals in Obama had started to gain momentum, but not enough to gain a win. Hillary maintained her squeaker of a lead all night.

We can expect tomorrow to see an official end to the Fred frenzy, with Thompson barely topping one percent of New Hampshire's GOP primary voters. Huck's army will have to turn out the votes in South Carolina to be seen as anything more than a fluke. And Rudy, well, Rudy can head into CA, FL and NJ having at least cleared more voters than the sole Republican isolationist, Internet phenom Ron Paul.

Early Returns

No surprise that there's an early call for McCain. No surprise that Giuliani's thank-you speech to supporters was gracious and hopeful in tone. What may end up being a surprise is if Rudy doesn't outpoll Ron Paul.

It looks like the much-touted Barak Obama blowout has been blown out of the water. This evening won't count out any top-tier Dems, of course, although it will tarnish Clinton's chances if Obama squeaks out a lead.

A little more than 15% of the totals are in. More later if there are, in fact, any surprises.

Thanks, Pal

GOP stalwarts in Southeastern Pennsylvania are seething over Montgomery County commissioners Chairman Jim Matthews' snub of Bruce Castor and his choice to name Democrat Joe Hoeffel as his vice chairman. It's safe to say his move will only serve to deepen the fault lines already evident in his party and give Hoeffel the green light to continue the kind of party-building moves that have been eating away at the GOP base for some time.

Seems wild rumors aren't always as wild as the truth.

Got 30 Seconds?

Here's some good fun, delivered in bite-sized increments. Much thanks to another member of the Canadian contingent, Paul Canniff.

Prayers Up the Atlantic Coast

I never had the pleasure of meeting Yolande Lono (see this 4 January 2007 blog entry), but her virtue and intelligence are, no doubt, evidenced in her offspring, my old university debating colleague Simon Lono.

I do not hesitate to say his loss is shared by everyone who has known Simon and, in fact, the world. I am sending my prayers, since my feet can't go to Newfoundland right now.

Word of the Day/Le Mot du Jour

Politivore. I think I am one. Are you?

As always with words of the day: Learn it; love it, wear it out.

The Matrix Demystified at MIT

Matrices are why I decided I would not make a good engineer way back in the 1980s. I figured such a mind-bendingly difficult topic would only be the beginning of truly challenging mathematics for me ... and I wasn't sure I could fight the intellectual currents that hard without drowning. Had MIT brought higher math to us folks in low places then, well, I might never have become math-phobic.

Best of 2007: Great White North Version

This from my former colleague, the inimitable "No Depression" contributer Paul Cantin, who scrawls his best-of list on his facebook account:

"Not that you asked, not that I care; it's the Myface, I can do what I want."

MOVIES 2007

1. No Country for Old Men
2. There Will Be Blood
3. Zodiac
4. The Diving Bell and the Buttterfly
5. Superbad
6. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
7. The Darjeeling Limited
8. Ratatouille
9. Juno
10. Once
11. No End In Sight
12. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
13. Margot At The Wedding
14. I’m Not There
15. 2 Days In Paris
16. Eastern Promises
17. Hot Fuzz
18. Grindhouse: Death Proof
19. A Mighty Heart
20. Sunshine
(very honorable mention - Brand Upon The Brain, Rescue Dawn)

Best DVDs (in not much of an order)

1. Blade Runner (Collector's Edition)
2. Ace In The Hole (Criterion Edition)
3. Two Lane Blacktop (Criterion Edition)
4. Killer of Sheep
5. The Jazz Singer
6. Breathless (Criterion Edition)
7. Warner Bros. Film Noir Vol. 4
8. Overlord (Criterion Edition)
9. The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky
10. 49th Parallel (Criterion Edition)
11. The Milky Way (Criterion Edition)
12. La Haine (Criterion Edition)
13. The Early Films of Samuel Fuller (Criterion Eclipse set)
14. Monsters and Madmen (Criterion set)
15. Rio Bravo

Best albums

1.THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE QUEEN - The Good, The Bad and The Queen (Parlophone)
A collision of sensibilities – The Clash, African beats, Blur, vanishing London, music hall, ska, Danger Mouse’s avant-hip-hop. Their Live In Soho online-only EP was sublime, too.
2.NEIL YOUNG - Live At Massey Hall (Reprise)
Made for an unfortunate juxtaposition with the mostly-coasting Chrome Dreams II. If it’s never been officially issued, does that make a 36-year-old recording a new release?
3. NICOLE ATKINS - Neptune City
Saw her open for Jesse Malin at the Bowery Ballroom in March and was impressed, but it couldn't possibly have prepared me for this album. If the Shangri-Las got into a gunfight in the Brill Building with Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, and the latter-day Smiths rehearsing in the next room, it might sound something like this.
4.ALISON KRAUSS AND ROBERT PLANT - Raising Sand (Rounder)
Could have been a train wreck, but it’s not thanks to the generosity of the artists to each other.
5.ARETHA FRANKLIN – Oh Me Oh My: Live in Philly, 1972 (RhinoHandmade)
If it’s officially unreleased for 35 years, does that make it a new release?
6.JIM BRYSON - Where the Bungalows Roam (Outside Music)
Best-kept secret in Canadian music gets better. One day he’ll be recognized as one of the finest songwriters of his day.
7.LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - Sound of Silver (EMI)
They’ve gone from mordant hipsters to poignant generational spokesmen in remarkably short order.
8.RADIOHEAD – In Rainbows (independent)
A very decent record, but more important symbolically as a pay-what-you-want direct-to-fans download than it is artistically in this band’s development. You have to admire the cajones.
9.J.DILLA – Ruff Draft (Stones Throw)
For anyone who thinks there isn’t an avant-garde in hip-hop, listen to this collection of rare and unreleased tracks by the late Dilla Dawg. On “Wild” he flips a home recording of a kid singing Slade into a hip-displacing jam. On hearing “Nothing Like This,” it’s your brain that does the flipping.
10.MARAH - You Can’t Take It With You EP (YepRoc)
While awaiting 2008’s Angels of Destruction, this place-holder vinyl-only EP contains one of the best songs of their career – “If You Didn’t Laugh, You’d Cry.” A lullaby for adults.
11.IVY MAIRI – Well You (Latentrecordings.com)
A precociously talented 17-year-old (at the time of the recording) given sympathetic support and production by Cowboy Junkie Mike Timmins. Lightning in a bottle.
12.SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS – 100 days, 100 nights (Dap-Tone)
Finally getting some overdue love. Brand-new old school funk, soul and R&B. If you wonder where Amy Winehouse gets it from, wonder no more.
13.AMY WINEHOUSE - Back To Black (Republic)
See above. Her offstage antics eclipsed her artistic achievement, but that could not shade the isolated pleasure of this record’s brighter moments.
14.THE SADIES - New Seasons (Yep Roc)
Well The Sadies went to Spain … and I kinda like the music.
15.JUSTICE – † (Ed Banger)
Bombastic bass, chunky beats and a deft ear for a pop hook make these remixmasters hitmakers in their own right.
16.ST. VINCENT – Marry Me (Beggars Banquet)
The Polyphonic Spree guitarist emerges as an often startlingly original solo act. Watch this space.
17.COWBOY JUNKIES – At The End of Paths Taken
In a year when the bigger news was the celebration of the 20th anniversary of their epochal The Trinity Session, the band also tossed off one of their most adventurous records in years.
18.BESNARD LAKES – The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horses (Jagjaguwar)
19.THE MIX UP – Beastie Boys (Capitol)
30.BATTLES – Mirrored (Warp)

Top reissues, 2007

ARTHUR ALEXANDER – Lonely Just Like Me: The Final Chapter (Hacktone)
ARETHA FRANKLIN - Rare and Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign Of The Queen Of Soul (Rhino)
PINK FLOYD - Piper At The Gates of Dawn (Capitol)
LEONARD COHEN – Songs of Leonard Cohen, Songs From A Room, Songs of Love And Hate (Sony Legacy)
VASHTI BUNYAN - Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind: Singles And Demos 1964 To 1967 (DiCristina)
JOY DIVISION – Unknown Pleasures and Closer (Factory)
JUDEE SILL – Live In London (BBC Recordings 72-73) (Water)
ESG – South Bronx Story 2 (Soul Jazz)
AMNESTY – Free Your Mind: The 700 West Sessions (Now Again)
EUGENE BLACKNELL – We Can’t Take Life For Granted (Ubiquity)

Paul's treatment of Canada's pop/thrash darling, "Alanis Morisette: A Biography" is available on Amazon.com

Reward for Capture

Here's a list of my possessions which are currently lost. If you're feeling charitable, please cross your fingers and say a prayer that I find them *shortly*. I hear St. Anthony's a pretty good advocate for those who have misplaced things: Some of these are rapidly moving into St. Jude territory, though!

in order of disappearance:
last year's Christmas present from Pete
my phone charger
my primary set of keys
my phone

also (for the record):
my intellectual uberconfidence
my undyingly sweet and kind nature

Please be on the lookout for any or all of these!

Coleman Doesn't Disappoint

Yes, it's Barbra writing about food again. I think I'm inspired by my "bff" bottlebee's gastronomic forays. And when I told him about this meal he said, oh yeah blog *that*. Think I'll handle this one in chronological order. Since I was under the weather (and since I generally do much of the commuting to maintain the long-distance thang), my sweetie did yeoman's service to make sure I had a great birthday. He drove a two-hour-plus one-way trip, spent eight and a half hours in the fine commonwealth of Pennsylvania with me, then drove the two-plus hours back to Atlantic Highlands. And we had fun in between. We visited at the house, smushed up close during "I Am Legend" at Oaks, Pa. (3.5/5 stars -- worth seeing) and then headed to Coleman for an early birthday dinner. I've wanted to hit that establishment since it opened. It stands as part of a conference center created on the site of the old Strassburger Mansion. The developers of the Normandy Farm Conference Center, which sits at the junction of Route 202 and Morris Road in Whitpain Township, Pa., did a beautiful job finding a new purpose for the old house by incorporating it into the posh little resort property. Until recently, I didn't know a thing about Jim Coleman, the chef who oversees the restaurant (and for whom it was, not surprisingly, named). For those others who are as ignorant as I, he hosts "The Chef's Table" on Philadelphia public radio, and is committed to using organic, artisanal and farm ingredients. I just knew his restaurant looked promising from the get-go. describe room, describe meal, close it out

Preparing for the Perfect Game

Before a recent Giants home victory, we served Manila clams as the first course of our tailgate picnic in the Giants Stadium parking lot. Clams are the perfect tailgate food — just fire up the grill, throw on the clams, and they’ll be ready before the first beer is gone.

For those who don’t know: The clams are alive; keep them on ice. Don’t use any that are cracked or already open. Put them on the grill, and when the shells open up, they’re ready to eat. It helps to have forks or picks available for your guests to remove the meat. The broth may be sipped right from the shell. I like to melt butter to dip the clams in just before eating. I don’t bother to clarify the butter; I just put a teaspoonful or so into small stainless cups, one for each guest, and put them on the grill to melt the butter. My cups have plastic lids, so any leftover butter won’t spill on the way home to the dishwasher.

Small clams are the best. I like littlenecks, but they’re getting expensive. Wild Edibles had manila clams—small and sweet—for $10.99/lb. There were about 30 manila clams to the pound. A half dozen per person is good for an appetizer course.

Away in a Manger: The Martha Stewart Story

Don't know if this little kernel of information makes me like the domestic diva more. A ceramacist, you say? I've long fancied myself a chip carver and whittler, but I've never gotten so much as the basic JMJ done for the nativity scene I'd like to carve.

I'm wondering if she'll market a mass-produced version of her creche.

Next Year In Washington Crossing?

Bottlebee was on the banks of the Delaware for the annual NJ/PA Christmas tradition. I'm glad I was safe and warm inside -- although this child of Valley Forge may try to make it another year.

the ghost of Christmas greetings past

Basil Pesto

It’s been a warm autumn so far, but the days of the basil plant are numbered.

Basil is always the first plant in the garden to die of cold—it doesn’t have to be an actual frost, just a cool night in the 30s, and every basil plant will turn black, withered and useless. So when I run out of home-grown tomatoes to enjoy with the basil, I pull my remaining basil plants. I dry some of the leaves, crumble them and keep them in a tin in my spice cabinet. Sometimes I put a teaspoonful of chopped fresh leaves in each chamber of an ice cube tray, fill it with water and store the ice cubes in zipper bags in the freezer. The basil turns black (just as it would out in the cold in the garden), but it still tastes good, and the ice cubes can be added as needed to season soups and stews. I make the rest of the harvest into pesto base.

I’m not sure where I got this pesto recipe. It’s probably from a newer edition of The Joy of Cooking. I found it on a slip of paper in my own handwriting stuck into my older edition of Joy. To the work bowl of a food processor, add two cups of fresh basil leaves, 2 peeled cloves of garlic, 1/3 cup pine nuts, and ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Pulse until it forms a paste. Then, with the motor running, slowly pour ½ cup of good olive oil through the feed tube.

When I’m making basil pesto in bulk at the end of the growing season, I leave out the nuts and cheese and freeze the paste in a zipper bag. I thaw the pesto base on the day of use, add the nuts and cheese, and buzz it all up together one more time in the food processor.

My food processor will make one triple batch of pesto base at a time. I’ve also made this recipe using a blender. The owner of a gourmet kitchen store (the same man who gave me the tip about freezing basil in ice cube trays) told me that pesto isn’t right unless it’s pounded in a mortar by hand (he said this as I was buying a mortar and pestle from him). If your taste is refined enough that you insist on manually ground pesto, feel free to adapt the recipe for mortar and pestle. But with the food processor, I can make a year’s supply of pesto base within an hour of pulling the plants, and I can’t tell the difference.

Apparently, even the sanctity of the bond between mother and newborn child isn't sacred to those who would spy: Check out this surveillance photo.

Our West Norriton Little League has won Pennsylvania's East Regional title for 10- to 11-year-olds, and is going for the state championship!!

More parkland news from my hometown ... also, it's worth noting that digging has already begun for improvements to the less polished of West Norriton's two Burnside Avenue baseball diamonds ... and, finally, an interesting firsthand piece on Philadelphia's cheesesteak wars.

(Note: As a suburbanite, I am slightly agnostic when it comes to cheesesteak allegiances. I would have wanted to like Jim's on South Street because that was my old 'hood downtown, but I just can't get behind wiz. I plead mercy on the Pat's vs. Gino's controversy -- they're both delicious. As for Tony Luke's, well, I will admit they make the best pork sandwich I've ever tasted; however, I do not buy their rights to represent cheesesteaks to the world. I like my hoagies from Lou's, my cheesesteaks from Pudge's II or Del's and my pizza from Charlie's. And I gotta go to Rick's before they're drummed out of town, I suppose.)

This is what happened to my first grade school. (Scroll down to the other environmental news section.) Burnside Elementary School had a fabulous playground, delicious tomato soup, memorably good teachers (a special shout out to Mrs. Kulp) and, apparently, an asbestos problem. Did I mention that it was walking distance from my home -- if I kept up with the bigger kids. It still looks a bit empty without the old brick building and the old tennis courts are a wee bit unkempt. But, all in all, I'd file this report under "good news."

I have yet to weigh them or dig into them, but I can say that my textbooks for two community college courses this Fall are heavy lifting at least physically. I'm hoping they're solid, but not overwhelming intellectually.

Please take a second to check out these vacationing Cape Bretoners from L'Arche who are grabbing Manhattan by the horns during their four-night stay. They bring a new face to the old image of a road trip. God help them! (And may He get them back home safely.)

We lost Ingmar Bergman and Tom Snyder. And it's a cloudy day. Blech!!!

I remember staying up as a fourth grader (after having saved up for a small black-and-white TV) watching Python on public TV, then Carson and Snyder on Philadelphia's Channel Three. And then watching Channel Three on Saturday nights when Dan Akroyd would occasionally tweak Snyder brilliantly with his parodies.

I'm tempted to roll over and pretend I didn't just hear the news.

P.S. Where, oh where, has Bottlebee gone? Well, actually, he's gone on a very short trip to Chicago with his better half. I've heard he's done research on an NYC-area taqueria and on natural peanut butter making. I look forward to his return, and may post some food stuff of my own in the meantime.

Please. Far be it from me (or anyone!) to defend every word that comes out of the mouth of Bill O'Reilly. But I, through no fault of my own, have been on the fang-bite end of a harassment campaign by MoveOn.org, and I must say I find it amazing that each of the Democrats who purport to be strong enough to be the leader of the world's flagship democracy would be controlled by such rabid bullies.

FWIW

Also, the challenging world in which Fatah is one of the good guys and Hamas denies a quid pro quo for Johnston's release. The distinctions between terrorism and conventional warfare get foggy sometimes. While that's a challenge to nations that would espouse policies like those justified by the Bush Doctrine (the U.S. included), one cannot discount the existence of nexus of terror in the face of groups like the Army of Islam.

The BBC's Alan Johnston has been freed.

Last night this time I was lying awake after hearing a lengthy public debate about fish guts. When I say lengthy, I mean it was clocked by hours not minutes. Approximately two of them.

Atlantic Highlands is trying to make its vibrant marina -- home to Seastreak ferry service to Manhattan, commercial and recreational fisherman, sailors and motor-boaters and a couple of eateries -- a "clean marina." The Clean Marina Program is a federal/state partnership that established best management practices and guidelines for all aspects of marina management, which you'd already know if you read that somewhat hefty link. In many marinas, fish may be a small part of the operation. But here in Atlantic Highlands it's a big one, and two camps have emerged: Old-school fisherman say appropriate dumping of fish heads and guts in the water is part of the "circle of life," while beach-goers and marina mavens find floating and landed fish bits unacceptable. Two proposals were raised and, so far, rejected as part of the local enabling legislation -- piercing the eyes and bladders so fish sink, and bagging fish detritus and giving it a burial in a nearby dumpster. As part of the marathon public hearing Wednesday night members of the public suggested manual grinders feeding into the water, machine grinders and composting. Apparently research has been done into contracting fish-grinding out, and it's been found to be rather costly.

Two bottom lines here. (One) I don't know which of the alternatives mentioned would be best for the environment and best for the marina. The beaches and docks here are beautiful -- they are all the more beautiful when nothing but the rare fishkill and some driftwood and shells wash ashore. At the same time, it is entirely possible that some of fishermen's ways may be beneficial to ocean life: It is in their best interests to preserve the fish stocks out there, too. Perhaps a nearby research facility or university can shed some light on the matter without holding clean marina measures up for too long. (Two) All concerned have to consider the fact that the Clean Marina Program is about more than fish, and that its passage is expected to be both an environmental and fiscal boon, as the "incentive-driven" program's home page describes. If it's desirable, then Atlantic Highlands should do it properly -- and do it soon.

Woodruff this evening on ABC's World News Tonight began a series on Iraqi refugees. Interesting and, of course, sad.

So this is what Bob Woodruff's been up to. I was wondering about him.

You've got a friend in Pennsylvania?

Well, it seems a large number of Nova Scotians -- and Canadians in general -- do. Me.

I have discovered I currently have more friends in Halifax than I do in my hometown. This is heartening because rarely is Canada -- and Nova Scotia in particular -- far from mind. It's disturbing because, well, it makes me realize I have to get off my duff and start doing more around here. Sure, I've tried to remain politically in touch both in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Basic political volunteering, small jobs, discussion, and the rubber-chicken circuit tie me to a cadre of decent folk in the Mid-Atlantic states. That's not enough. I've done volunteer training in literacy and spoken-word book production, and have yet to volunteer.

Plus, I want to chat more with the neighbors and get better about looking up and keeping up old friendships. As Brownie Scouts we sang, "Make new friends/But keep the old/One is silver and the other's gold." Here's to riches!

On a somewhat contrary side note, enough people have now told me to write a book that I'm starting to think I could do it, and starting to consider the possibility that I should.

Expect slow progress, since I haven't even been able to keep up my blog.

Oh, and I've been informed by the kind gentleman who papered up a food post in this space that his goal is to give us one item a month. If I had known this, I could have more effectively supported his goal! That being said, I expect I'll enjoy his next installment. I'm sure you will too. As for me, I'm committing to a minimum of a posting a week -- more if I can. Watch this space.

Where the "mainstream media" (MSM) and the bloggers manage to meet. Believe it or not, it's not just in the magnificent worldview of Peggy "if-I-couldn't-be-myself-I'd-wanna-be-her" Noonan!

It's Sunshine Week. And, no, that's not a reference to the weather -- although it's temperate and on the sunny side where I am right now.

The media, citizens' advocacy groups and others join together once a year to highlight our country's right-to-know legislation and promote open and accountable public government. As pointed out on the Web site of the Asbury Park Press, a fine New Jersey newspaper aquired by Gannett back in the 90s, a devotion to open government can prove costly. Governmental agencies can charge fees for releasing records, the legal costs of court challenges to denials of information can add up quickly, and current legal precedent makes it unlikely that successful claimants will recover court costs. And this is pure speculation on my part, but I'm sure some citizens have been branded as cranks by their community, if not the authorities, for using the freedom of information mechanisms and for asking questions.

At the very minimum, citizens can show their elected representatives they care -- and that they're watching -- by showing up to meetings even when they don't have an issue on the agenda. They can also keeping track of agendas and official Internet postings on community topics. And, of course, they can ask questions, politely and in a clear voice.

Enjoy the sunshine, literal and figurative, and enjoy the freedom that our society offers.

I'm going to step on my new team member's toes, and express my opinion that there is nothing finer to eat on St. Patrick's Day than corned beef and cabbage. And that the best, simplest recipe I've ever seen for perfection in that department is in the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. Look for its "New England boiled dinner."

Some restuarants on the East coast, most notably Kildare's in my Pennsylvania 'hood, are offering green eggs and ham. Skip the gimmicks, the green beer, even skip the Guinness (just for one day). It's a good meal and a happy home most Irishmen are looking for!

I’ve been invited to contribute to this blog, with food and recipes my suggested topic. I do enjoy eating and don’t at all mind cooking, but I don’t have any recipes of my own, really. I get mine from Epicurious, or from one of the very few cookbooks I own, or my wife clips them from magazines. I may alter them to suit the ingredients available to me, or, more likely, shrink them by a factor of two, three or four. Most of my meals are made for two, although we occasionally entertain guests.

With all that in mind, let me present for your consideration a meal I made to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. We opted for a home-cooked Valentine’s supper to spare us the expense of going out – and, since I had the day off, the deal was that I would select the menu, shop, and prepare the meal to be ready when my wife came home from work.

An interesting recipe on Epicurious caught my eye: Rosemary Lamb Chops with Swiss Chard and Balsamic Syrup. I went to the Pennington Market for most of the ingredients. It has an excellent butcher shop, but the lamb I bought came vacuum-wrapped from a NJ source: Catelli Brothers French Rack Lamb Chops, 1.02 lb @ $19.99/lb = $20.40. This was an entire frenched rack, suitable for the fanciest of recipes. The store didn’t have any individual chops, but it was no problem for me to cut the chops apart myself. I also bought the red onion and chard there. The garlic came from my garden — some is starting to sprout, but it’s still ok. (It probably won’t last till the new crop is ready.) The rosemary came from two potted plants I keep under a shop light in my cellar. The rest of the ingredients we had in the pantry.

I made the balsamic syrup first, reducing the vinegar with rosemary and peppercorns to one-third its original volume and putting it through a sieve. We don’t have a microwave oven at the moment, so I warmed up the syrup at serving time with a mini bain-marie: I put boiling water in a tea cup and put the small ceramic bowl full of syrup on top, and brought it to the table.

I cut up all the vegetables in advance and sweated the onion and garlic with some olive oil. When my wife came home from work, I broiled the lamb chops with garlic, salt, and pepper in the oven, turning them once; it took about eight minutes. While the meat broiled, I wilted the chard in the onion and garlic. I probably used more water than the one tablespoon called for in the recipe, and I used a lid on the skillet. For once, everything was done cooking at the same time. I supplemented the recipe with some butternut squash (a family favorite), and my wife, without a hint of what would be on our table, brought home a perfect accompaniment: a 187 mL bottle of Casalnova prosecco, $5 at our neighborhood liquor store. And 187 mL was plenty of bubbly considering the dessert I’d prepared.

My wife loves things like chard and butternut; she thinks they promote health and longevity, and I hope she’s right. This was the first time I made chard that tasted good. We used the same recipe the next night with the other half of the bunch. The balsamic syrup recipe really brought to life the cheap vinegar we buy by the quart at BJ’s.

Now for dessert: The other day I saw on television NYC restaurateur Bobby Flay pour an entire bottle of Moet into a tray and put it in a freezer for his Champagne Granita. Great idea, but I can’t afford to do that with the good stuff. I went to the liquor store looking for something a little cheaper, maybe a half bottle. Instead, I found 750 mL bottles of Andre California champagne on sale for $3.34. At that price, how could I go wrong? I followed Mr. Flay’s recipe, adding lemon juice to the wine and scraping every half hour. After three hours in the freezer, it was ready to eat. The result was superb — certainly better than drinking that stuff. I served it plain, without the berries. My wife wants to try using rose water in place of lemon juice next time.

The meal was a major success. It was easy to prepare, fairly inexpensive, and it tasted great. Everything met with my wife’s enthusiastic approval, which made me feel good. I would encourage anyone with a bare minimum of cooking skill to use these recipes for a special dinner to impress a loved one.

The story of wonder-anchor Bob Woodruff got deeper for me after he woke up from his IED-induced coma, although I'll admit to being reduced to sobs by the sheer mechanics of the attack. I have long admired those who maintained their dignity through humbling situations -- and losing the ability to think, to speak and to perceive is an identity-stripping situation for someone who surely must identify himself, in a fundamental way, as a journalist.

It was sweet and painful to see Woodruff play learning games with his children ... diffusing tension by singing about his rehabilitation work while dancing with his wife ... talking with a young serviceman who also has severe restriction of his field of vision about having one good set of eyes between them.

As my friends no doubt know, I bumped my head some years back hard enough to crush my C-7 and, despite testing that assures me I'm still oh-so-brilliant, I can feel the loss of function. And I feel my own frustration. I admire Woodruff's ability to maintain his equanimity while being filmed at less than peak performance, and I admire his ability to admit that he is still not fully firing on all 12 cylinders. Part of me feels inadequate, like a slacker or a whiner, for not just standing up and doing what he is now doing. The fact of the matter is that it didn't go so well for me when I took the same robust approach, and my traditionally overexuberant confidence level diminished substantially as a result.

I worry, too, that Woodruff is pushing himself too hard for the sake of his recovery, the sake of a crucially important story and for the sake of other noble goals which I can only project onto him. I try not to play the celebrity game. I try to realize that those in the spotlight are every bit as human as the people I meet on the street every day, and that fame gives no one a right to guide my life. But we can't help but pick out both the cautionary tales and the role models in the media.

I cannot help but adopt Bob Woodruff as -- at the very least -- a mascot as I continue to insist that I will not only survive the challenges of life, but that I'll also succeed at thriving.

[This may lower my street cred, but, believe it or not, it was Latin pop superstar Gloria Estafan who was a role model for me when I first broke my neck. A tour bus accident had broken her back around the same time, and she came out of the experience with such strength and grace, releasing a musical work (Mi Tierra) of depth and beauty as she did. She helped me motivate to keep my mind and body active and to get back as quickly as I could to good, hard, productive work.]

I've already sweated for one journalist, a colleague and penpal, when he was embedded some years back in the Iraqi engagement. I've had the privilege of fullfilling a promise to buy a New Jersey Reservist a beer when he finished his tour. I also offered to buy -- and ship -- a dress to the guy who was getting the nickname "Klinger" for his devotion to getting back home to his kids at the end of his civilian commitment there. I was a footnote at one of many media gatherings that celebrated the spirit of writer and editor Michael Kelly after he was killed in theater. Let's just say sometimes I delude myself into thinking that it might have been less exhausting to have gone ahead and enlisted.

And I do drag around this sad little bag of guilt for identifying with the "signature injury" of this miltary action without ever having served. Whatever closed head trauma I suffered is nothing compared to the violent percussions and concussions these men and women have.

Yet despite a staggering catalog of objects that were imbedded in and travelling through his body, our favorite embed talks about each near miss as a miracle. And he has been deflecting death and disability at every turn. I want to cultivate his ability to touch base with the positive, to recognize the luck that lets him see his loved ones and lets him return to his life's work. We are lucky to be able to listen to his stories again, and we are luckier that his story right now entwines with the lives of our veterans.

----

On other, lighter note: As soon as my buddy can set up his account, we'll see a posting from him -- a romantic meal field tested on St. Valentine's Day but suitable for wooing your sweetie whenever the mood strikes. And don't let the fact that he splurged on some cheap bubbly fool you. This guy knows how to eat and drink. I wouldn't call him a role model in that respect, but more of the kind of guy you'd love to have hosting (or attending) your dinner party, at home or out on the town.

Enjoy.

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I have plans to enrich the above post with a few links. Until then, gentlemen, start your search engines ...

For all those who actually like a blog to have content: Looks like we may have something new.

A friend has consented to post occasional recipes, restaurant recommendations -- and maybe even occasional day trips -- right here.

His invitation to join the blog is still pending, but he'll be a great addition when he gets here.

Watch this space, as they say!

OK, here's a regressive exercise I had been avoiding. Yahoo! Avatars. It reminds me of playing with Barbies and GI Joe. There are almost as many accessories and fashion choices. I kept it simple (for now). Extra bonus: a link to a library that has a problem with porn. Jeez!

I was asked how Election Day was. To be fair I was just asked how "the day" was. But I was focused on electoral activity from 4:30 am until, well, at least now. So this was my answer:

Long, painful & mercifully over. I can't feel my toes. But I did enfranchise at leat 7 new voters, including one new citizen, and did some (very rudimentary) translation for a lovely deaf woman who asked me for help. And explained the machines with glee to a dozen or two, mostly fidgety, kids.

A demain.

Ick!

Not being very big on banning books, imagine my surprise when I take out a semi-random title from a suburban Pennsylvania public library and get X-rated material. I am not exaggerating in the slightest.

I wasn't particularly pleased when Stephen Elliot's anthology "Politically Inspired" turned out to contain some liberal drivel. But the bits in its "erotic" chapters don't border on the grotesque -- they cross the line.

I'm sure this is yet another reason God hasn't blessed me with a kid: I can't begin to imagine what I'd do if my 11-year-old managed to get his hands on something like this.

Here's another quandary for those brighter minds than mine. Those companies doing business in China -- are they opening it up or are they perpetuating a totalitarian system of government?

I'd suspect the truth lies in the middle, and I can't pretend to write the history of China before it even happens. I will, however, bring this effort by Google to bolster free speech -- or perhaps to put a free speech spin on a controversial company -- to netizens' attention.

I like the fact that they include a list of in-links.

Enjoy your cyber and paper reading, whether it's controversial or plain vanilla. Of course, it's always a good idea to help your library circulate books that strike your fancy. It's an equally good idea idea to give feedback to them so their aquisitions people can put themselves in the shoes of the so-called average reader.

I've got to say, I already feel guilty for not tuning in to memorial names recitation at the World Trade Center. Hope you don't fall into that trap.

I am remembering. I have not forgotten. I am hoping history will not distort that awful day, while I, of course, hope time will heal all our losses and wounds.

My relatives heard from me today, as did that good man I mention here from time to time. I am trying to respect this day by living fully and respectfully, and by supporting this great country, its democratic processes and its elected leaders. I pray for all those who have lost someone or had their lives changed as a result of America's struggle against terrorism -- in short, for all of us.

I am trying to particularly remember those who are in harm's way, and those who try to keep harm from visiting our towns, cities, 'burbs and coutryside.

If you're up to some reading, please check out Rich Galen's reposting of his September 11, 2002 column and the New York Post Opinion pages' fine coverage of the anniversary.

Looks as though my access to the Internet may be sporadic for a bit. Given the occasional and sometimes random postings I lob onto here, a service interruption may not even be noticed. However, I'm absolving myself of any responsibility to even *think* about this blog until I get service reestablished. Or until I get a good, reliable place to post from a public Internet connection. Ta ta for now.

That second poem? Cummings. I pinned it down the other day, but haven't been able to post 'til now.

Fox News' Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig are out of Gaza. No word yet on how this was accomplished, although BBC World's Anita McNaught, Olaf's wife, opened a televised news conference prior to the pair's arrival in Jerusalem by stating an obvious fact: they will never be able to acknowledge some players in the process.

It is good to be relieved for the sake of the families and employers involved -- and it's nice to hear some good news for a change.

Both journalists looked to be the picture of health. Pictures can be deceiving, though, and I hope they do both enjoy good health, get crucial rest and continue to find happiness in their pursuits.

How kidnappings, abductions and detentions, supply lines and funding sources play into a commitment to end terrorism remains a volatile issue. Figuring out how governments, non-government militias and fringe terrorist groups interact -- and who gets the guns and bread when, how and from whom -- are questions that brighter minds than mine must continue to try to address.

In the meantime, two guests at the Hotel Terror were able to check out. They did, indeed, leave.

Ah, love. Yeah, right. Sure.

Well, I did run into what I thought was poetry -- good poetry -- in my early teens.

The first belongs to e.e. cummings; I haven't yet made a trip to a library to find a source for the second one -- it may have been an original one of mine or a less well known e.e. cummings work. I'm betting it also belongs to cummings. From my handwriting on the pair of them, I'd guess I was in the seventh, eighth or ninth grade. (around the same time I was doing dozens of extremely naive haiku studies of trees)

First cummings' iconic work:

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;

wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world

my blood approves,
and kisses are a better fate
then wisdom
lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry
-- the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids flutter which says

we are for each other: then
laugh, leaning back into my arms
for life's not a paragraph

And death I think is no parenthesis

e.e. cummings

And this one, of unknown parentage:

except in your
honour,
my loveliest,
nothing
may move may rest
-- you bring

(out of dark the
earth) a
procession of
wonders
huger than prove
our fears

were hopes: the moon
open
for you and close
will shy
wings of because;
each why

of star (afloat
on not
quite less than all
of time)
gives you skillful
his flame

so is your heart
alert,
of languages
there's none
but well she knows;
and can

perfectly speak
(snowflake
and rainbow mind
and soul
november and
april)

who younger than
begin
are, in the worlds move
in your
(and rest, my love)
honour

P.S. Please let me know if you'd like me to publish emailed & snail-mailed lists. Comments on this blog are public right now, so post gently, but I'd be delighted to get some feedback from any semi to fully literate readers. I cherish the bandwidth this blog takes up, and I'd like to think kindly of anyone who might post, too.

We'll see if I can even keep the links current on this puppy, let alone bang out prose for it. I'm in reporting-and-writing-for-a-real-live-paper mode, in my home state of Pennsylvania. But I'll tell ya something. I really, very badly need some Christmas lists from folks. I don't know if my immediate family tries to keep up with what I write, but I'm begging them, in particular, to send their lists to me -- one way or another. And it'd be fun to check out what all of you clowns who have looked at this blog like -- just in case I ever win the lottery. It's gonna be another homemade Christmas this year, one way or another, but it helps to know what you guys are diggin'.

[significant pause]

Some good news. And I can't believe that I failed to mention my St. Patrick's Day fun. Not only did I get to share corned beef with my darlings (mother and other), but I also rode in a St. Patrick's Day parade for the first time ever. Sort of! I rode in the cab of the truck which sailed along carrying Atlantic Highlands councilmen Lou Fligor, Kim Spatola, Carl Nolan and Pete Doyle. I also saw -- and heard -- the most bagpipers I've heard since I attended the Nova Scotia Tattoo. Happy belated St. Patrick's Day!

Feed my blog! I, of course, failed to mention a Southeastern Pennsylvania political event I attended recently: the March 15 Swann/Matthews reception in West Conshohocken. A number of Montco regulars were among the more-than-respectably-sized crowd that swarmed the candidates. I even asked for a grip & grin with the candidate. I'll freely admit he looks better than I. He also comes across as a soft-spoken guy who can get his message across. I continue to like him as a candidate, and I'm sure he's got what it takes to be an excellent governor. And, those of you who read me who also pray, please say a quick one for me. I've been looking for work since November, and have been out of work since just before my birthday. I'm getting a fair number of interviews: What I need is to seal the deal with someone. If I'm lucky I'll get benefits, but what I really need to do is to contribute to this marvelous American marketplace and to bring in some money.

If there's a more perfect love poem than this, I have yet to read it -- or write it.

fwiw

Sorry I missed this one: a Philadelphia area Lincoln Day dinner In attendance? According to a friend who was there, Zimmerman Treichel, Gale, Specter, Santorum, Matthews and Swann gave good face. Apparently some guy running against Treichel was also there. There are doubtless dozens of omissions in that tiny list, there were sins of omission by some politicos -- and there was an Iverson sighting at the afterparty.

Pittsburgh wins again -- Looks like former Steeler Lynn Swann will stand as the Republican candidate in the upcoming Pennsylvania gubernatorial race. Party leaders and committemen are apparently convinced of both his substance and his charisma, and I believe they should be. Most people I've spoken to seem enthusiastic, and all agree that he at least has a shot at replacing Rendell. It will take a concerted effort from all corners of the party -- and, of course, Swann and his political team -- to turn a shot at victory into the taste of victory. May the best man win!

Glad I missed it? The news - as usual - gets a little too "real."

Bob & Doug (I *swear* a CNN reporter in theater called them that -- on the air) both have head injuries. Woodruff has had shrapnel removed form his head and neck. They are described as "seriously injured," but stable. Take a moment to think about & wish well all casualties and hostages everywhere.

This, too. I mean, what the?? Pray for all the servicemen, journalists and others in war zones. Pray for our troops' success and speedy return home to the arms of those who love them, those who miss them. Pray for justice and for peace. And that's enough earnestness and enough religion for any Sunday!

What the?

A tiny, unassigned little opinion piece on Supreme Court judicial nominee Samuel Alito: Leave the Man Alone Already Somebody would probably have to comb private records to determine whether I ever managed to become an official, card-carrying member of the Young Republicans. Over the years they've sure seemed to be nice folks. I've certainly attended (and plan to continue to enjoy) lots of YR events and meetings. And I remain proud of the affiliation on my voters card -- particularly considering the GOP's big tent that officially enfolds people of all hue and creed who share a common outlook. Even an engenue understands that lawmakers sometimes feel compelled to employ obstructionist tactics when they have philosophical objections to candidates. However, bipartisanship is not a four-letter word, and bashing is outre. The quizmasters on Capitol Hill should stop letting party politics get in the way of the business of the nation.

More inevitability? For, I'd say, two years I've largely posted to this blog when I felt guilty of neglecting it and when I had experienced something noteworthy. Today, after the tv woke me up -- a fairly common occurrence given my prediliction for watching late night tv -- I watched a few news items in a row on CBS that seemed, well, blogworthy. Is the news improving, courtesy of Bob Schieffer? Am I enjoying thinking about the news again? Or are my creative juices slowly thawing? Is it possible that all three are happening? -------------- I'm semi-publicly giving myself three assignments, which I'm hopeful I'll revisit in future posts. If you stop back, I don't know if you'll find just writing and thinking exercises, reporting or analysis. I hope you'll find poetry, preferably just on the final item. (1) the interview Schieffer (?) did with the Ohio bishop who says he was abused by Roman Catholic clergy (2) the disabled veteran who just had plastic surgery to replace half his skull after he ran into an IED in Iraq (3) a more conventional love poem -------------- Another little bit of praise for tv: If I can find the listings for "Classic Arts Showcase" on WHYY, I may try to occasionally wake up early some days to exercise in front of the tube before work. It's that good!

Speaking of love monkey ... I do not endorse this link, but I think it's very funny!

The author of "Love Monkey" told me that I "had to" read his novel. I suspect all authors of books (and particularly those of books about to be rather successful) feel that way. Given the subject matter, I put this on my list of books to buy for cash at a real, live bookstore rather than through amazon.com. And I didn't get to it ... yet. Now that it's been adapted for tv, I suppose I'll have to read up to see what all the fuss is about.

OK. It was inevitable. I have written my first poem in years, my first love poem in recent memory. And, brace yourself, I'm going to inflict it on you: My heart is broken open wide.

Even as I type, I'm listening to a Web-based recording of the music from Queenship of Mary's lovely, prayerful Advent Evensong. It was a simple and dramatic evening of music and readings. I feel tremendously lucky (OK, blessed!) to be able to partake of fellowship with such talented and kind folks. If you're dying to hear what it was like, email me and I'll send you the file. It's not massive, but it'll take a minute or two to download.

I guess things weren't "flowing" as well as I was told by my now-former boss. My job search is officially on, and getting into full swing. Feel free to let me know if you know of someone who might benefit from having someone like me (link to follow) on their team.

The world is poorer for the loss of David L. Kurtz. I join his family, friends and admirers in grief at his passing. Mr. Kurtz was the father-in-law of a school chum of mine who is, herself, a beautiful soul. I was informed and educated more than a little bit by this obituary that appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer. In recent years, I've developed a keener feel for the fact that writing obituaries well is a beautiful art. It mitigates our sorrow and chronicles our times.

Did I mention that Atlantic Highlands has a new Councilman-elect? Or how very proud I am of him???

Oh, yeah, and I'm always thrilled to receive another piece of my crystal!

All I want for Christmas ...

... a stockpile of peanut oil

... a bigger box for my first-aid kit & some standard band-aids

... time away with the one I love

... soap (Crabtree & Evelyn's rosewater soap with cold cream; any cocoa butter soap; Clinique facial soap, mild)

... a particular pair of carved jade earrings

... another special piece of jewelry (needn't be expensive)

... peace, love and understanding

... a Christmas list from all those who haven't been too naughty

I've been away from the keyboard for way too long. But I've been tired ... and a little busy. My most charming mother has a better outlook on life due to successful surgery for a cataract, and my employer says he's happy that things at my workplace seem to be chugging along well -- as he puts it, "flowing." I tend to agree.

I did head out and volunteer to help at the fall dinner at home in Montgomery County, and I couldn't imagine what I'd be asked to do! I actually learned something, and did a task I'd never dreamed of -- perhaps it was my first little foray into fundraising. Folks in the county leadership were smart enough to resurrect the idea of a a 50/50 drawing, and when I casually said: "Give me a job," the gals in charge did. They handed me the raffle tickets and a basket.

I felt like squealing about not knowing nothing about running no raffles and running the other way at breakneck speed, but somehow I didn't. I recruited another volunteer and we worked hard to raise a respectable, if not monumental, total. I'm not sure I want to characterize the work as 'fun' exactly, but it was a real change of pace, and it was, in some ways, a hoot. A big ol' slice of life. I'll only do it next year if I think I can significantly increase the take!

Meanwhile, I've been contributing to the care and feeding of a New Jersey municipal candidate. Literally. I made him the stew I had promised him a week before, and it was OK. With almost two pounds of meat in it, I was pleased that it was at least a little more than edible. I think I know what I can do to soften the meat naturally, and I'm going to try it on my own next batch. And he even used the ingredients I left him to make last night's dinner, too. I know he's fed for tonight and has leftovers to last him through Thursday.

This is a guy who's fed himself successfully -- by himself -- for over 40 years!

Speaking of my favorite candidate in my favorite town -- my favorite guy, really, he's still working hard. And he seems to be largely enjoying it. I'll still say that Election Night can't come soon enough, as far as I'm concerned.

One ... more ... week!

Peter'll work hard, God willing, as a council member, but it's time to move from one challenge to another. So in you can vote in Atlantic Highlands vote early, but not often. One person, one vote to the best candidate!

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Oh, and I have one word for the person who suggested that I blog directly on relationships: No.

I abridge my own privacy enough by posting core dumps here. I try not to speak too directly of the people in my life. I hesitated to post the details of my darling mother's surgery, and I wrote nothing until I knew she was happy with the results. I mentioned Pete's candidacy only after it was public knowledge. I will admit that I do, both in public and private, revel in how well he's running his campaign.

But I have no real desire to try to get cute in discussing my friends, family and those in my life who insist upon defying classification. At this point, I'd just as soon post their Social Security numbers as describe the details of their interactions with me.

I've only recently come into contact with anyone over the age of 21 who jealously protected his privacy. Maybe it's a consequence of having lived in the self-promoting world of local and national media for the biggest chunk of my life. Breasting my cards isn't really my own style, although I do not reveal as much about myself as it may sometimes appear. I strive to be comfortable in public and to conduct my private life in a way that would stand up to scrutiny. Again, I'm not always perfect in that.

I do, however, respect those who guard their privacy, and I strongly defend their right to do it. Sunshine is a necessary disinfectant in public life, but individuals have the right to lives without unneccessary intrusion. Some things that happen behind closed doors are even good and proper in their privacy. And that's the way it should be, unless there's something in one's life that needs to see the light of day.

So, unless I find some overriding public interest in airing my laundry in public, I think I'll keep washing and drying it privately.

Broken promises and hopeful signs: I told a friend I'd only blog this if I finished my library book, which is due (after a long wait to get it & one renewal) tomorrow. I reneged. I had to get in the last GOP event I attended before I try to help out at another one. Jim Saring made sure to pass on an invitation to magisterial district judge candidate Oscar Vance's meet, eat & greet event at the Glenside VFW. It was a chatty, fun event, and I was glad to get a chance to meet the candidate and some members of his quite impressive family. As I mentioned to a family friend, it will be gratifying to see Montgomery County's chief of detectives get the support he deserves. I have no doubt that wise minds in the local GOP will rally behind this smart, hard-working guy, and I'm certain he will woo Democrats to support him, too. I was delighted to see Jon Fox there and more charming than ever. He remains the patron saint of grassroots politics and everyone's favorite adopted uncle. The GOP social/election season continues full swing with a candidates' breakfast and a Monte Carlo night on the horizon and the county Republican committee's fall dinner on tap for this evening. The dinner is being held at Westover Golf Club, famous for among other things its owners (baseball great Mike Piazza's family) and the regular Friday night dinner my family has attended for over 25 years. This year's speaker is the co-chairman of the RNC, Jo Ann Davidson. On my calendar for next week, the biggest "todo" has to be the reception for gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann Tuesday evening. Yes, all the candidates are expected at the fall dinner this evening. But this moderately-priced event will showcase two guys who deserve some attention: Swann and Vance. I've heard of some people I know asking the former wide receiver some interesting questions like: "Why are you a Republican?" My instinct is to like Swann a lot, and to be open to what both he and the rest of the field have to say. The goal in the gubernatorial race is twofold: Choose the best candidate for the GOP and then get that man elected. I'm behind a successful campaign that sees both of those goals met, and that means a fair fight followed by party unity. Speaking of campaigns in progress, I just have to post an update on my absolutely favorite candidate: He's been working hard in Monmouth County; his signs are out, about & sharp looking, and somebody shared some polling data with him that is not displeasing. Or so I heard.

I have known Atlantic Highlands Borough Council candidate Peter Doyle for some time, and I have at least as many positive things to say about him as I do the marvelous borough he calls home. He and I met at a Republican campaign function. The event was, incidentally, not a fund-raiser. It was held on Veterans Day, and, as a result, I have often thought that I have Pete’s strong military career to credit for bringing him into the circle of folks dearest to me. One of his siblings, also an active Republican, extended the invitation to him. Nearly five years after meeting him, I am still glad he decided to take her up on it. I am proud to have Pete’s friendship and devotion. I am, of course, also glad he has been brave or foolish enough to run for municipal office -- and I’m glad he represents the party I’ve come to see as the logical forum for bright young people who aspire to serve their communities. Anyone would be fortunate to know Pete. He charms people with his quiet, steady style, and it’s not just window dressing. He has stood by me through difficult personal events, not the least of which happened on September 11, 2001. Most families who were directly affected by the events of that awful day must be weary of -- and not inured to -- lesser stories of that adversity, so I’ll spare you the details. But Peter, who is by nature a fairly private person, was willing to open his home to a slightly estranged friend, no questions asked. He was emotionally supportive and accommodating at a time when many people, no doubt himself included, had faced some of the worst circumstances of their lives. He acted bravely on that September 11, and he has acted with consistent kindness ever since. I have always known him to make time in his schedule to live by his principals. He has always shown a tremendous devotion to family and friends, and he has never forgotten his roots or his responsibility to his fellow man. I have never seen him shirk a responsibility, and he is steadfast and loyal, almost to a fault. I have occasionally waxed eloquent about my own family’s record of public service: I boast about my sisters who are respectively a school nurse and counselor and a teacher. I am equally proud of our homemakers, family men and entrepreneurs. But I am perhaps proudest of my father, who had the guts and tenacity to serve as an elected official in the township where I was raised. He also was a Republican, although I know he always thought he worked more to help the area and not to gain power or practice partisan politics. I am proud of anyone who puts a hometown, borough or township ahead of themselves and wants to invest his or her personal resources to benefit the community. Pete has been fortunate enough to hear some of the great statesmen of our country speak, and he has been exposed to leaders in government at practically all levels. I know what he’s seen and heard in his military career, his private career on Wall Street and his fledgling involvement in the world of elective politics have made a strong impression on him, and I know that he wants to make his own corner of the world a better place. His family and his schooling instilled him with high ideals, and he has worked hard to live up to them. I have great faith that Atlantic Highlands will be a richer community, in all the best senses of that phrase, if it has someone like Pete watching out for it. And those who take the time to talk to him may find that they are enriched by knowing him.

OK. Enough with the spam comments. I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to turn word verification on. I am, however, quite open to legitimate comments.

I'm sending this out as a bit of a mash note to our embattled head of government ... from a chick who graduated from a United Methodist-founded college by the skin of her teeth. Also, I'd recommend the Christian Science Monitor's well-reasoned and fairly even-handed reporting on Harriet Miers.

More social column-type stuff, without the boldface names or photos -- and as always with an attempt to always be pleasant and good: My dear, dear friend had his Meet the Candidates brunch today. It was good; he was good, the food was even good. The view, as usual in his area of the world, was terrific. What a beautiful day! I didn't run into anyone who didn't seem interested and there was an acceptably reasonable level of earnestness. (I realize I often have to tone myself down in that department from time to time.) In short, everyone there seemed nice and everybody I saw seemed to have a good time. What more could you ask for at Sunday brunch? We even got to go across the street, check out a cool car show & pet some beautiful pooches. Speaking of nice people who had a good time, I finally managed to get to Penna. State Sen. Rob Wonderling's annual outdoor funfest this year. It was worth the wait. I failed in my attempt to drag my superlatively wonderful mother to the event, which is a picnic plus plus plus called Wonderwing. Apparently there were about eighteen hundred people there this year. I helped some of them find their parking lot or parking space. I also helped myself to three buffalo wings (two mild, one spicy), some celery & bleu cheese, one cheeseburger, one hot dog and a couple of sodas and waters. Hey, it was a good looong event ... There was also spin art (remember that?) and somebody gave me two gourds which will constitute my entire Halloween decoration effort. I put in one single chance on one of many groupings of cool sports trading cards. I didn't win, but it was great to see some very happy looking people who won everything from baskets of Pennsylania wine to kids art baskets to an autographed football ... to gift certificates for a ride on an airplane and handfuls or gift certificates for massage therapy. My kingdom for a handful of raffle tickets or a blank check for auction items! A big crew of my Eastern Montgomery County cohorts were there, both having fun & volunteering. Wonderling's staff and supporters seem fairly universally smart, hard-working, fun and interesting. Again, waiting a couple of years to get my butt to this bash at Spring Mount (2005 was the 4th annual) seems silly to me in retrospect. But better way late than never, for sure. I'm headed back to work tomorrow after my flu/bronchitis/battle with exhaustion/really nasty ick/whatever my doctors want to call it. I'm grabbing a nice long nap before I face the rest of this fabulously beautiful day.

Tears on the Pulpit

This is not about the facts -- it's just about my feelings: I've done only a little reading about the scandal involving priests who are alleged to have been pedophiles in the Philadelphia area. Just some print coverage over the weekend (including "the list") and a browsing of the news indexed on the Web. But I'm a Catholic who grew up in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and I have an evolving point of view.

I feel sorrow and shame for the priests who have attacked and molested children, to be sure. Also anger and pity. I am appalled that children, who are supposed to be worth just as much as -- if not more than -- adults in the Church's stated values system, were allowed to remain at the mercy of those who would do them harm. A culture of respect for life does not just mean helping fetuses set foot on this planet and keeping old folks safe from those who would pull the plug on them for the sake of convenience. And, yes, I ache for the families that were victimized by these apparent crimes. Not only the obvious victims: the targeted children, their immediate families and possibly their progeny. But also the families of those who were too troubled or sick to restrain themselves from attacking the most vulnerable among our population.

But as utterly repulsed as I am by their choices and their behavior, I am -- though my anger -- able to feel pity, compassion and concern for those accused of committing what are without a doubt egregious wrongs. The ramifications of their sins and crimes will never be completely known, and I pray that they'll be able to live healthy lives at some point.

Almost all of those involved as victims or perpetrators are fellow Church members of mine. As a result I bear part of the shame though I have never been molested by priest or religious and, as far as I know, have never known anyone who has been either a molester or victim.

I am ashamed, I am disgusted and I am rocked to my core. This crisis will change the Church -- and I don't just mean the Church will see less money come in in the form of donations, although that certainly will be the case. I, for example, was extremely reluctant to donate when I was a divorced Catholic, as I began to work through my feelings on the permanence of marriage. No small number of Catholics are certainly starting to muster their indignance and vitriol to justify reducing or eliminating their regular contributions to the Roman Catholic Church.

Yet I don't know how I thought my church -- or any religion or region -- would be immune to this kind of aberrant behavior. People are human, and they sometimes act in a manner that seems subhuman. I had hoped for better, and I feel like a fool.

I was up North when the story came to light about the Christian Brothers molesting youths. Now if I hear that someone I know went to any sort of Christian Brothers school, I must admit my gut instinct is to try to approach them with a sort of tender what-did-they-do-to-you-and-how-can-I-help attitude. That isn't the way it should be.

I used to have priest friends, had the pleasure of occasionally stopping up to the rectory for a sweet, even traveling with a member of the clergy or sharing a meal. Should people automatically think that I may have been a victim? I was not, and I don't like having to look at my Church that way.

I am trying to maintain faith in Church leaders and role models, from priests, religious and deacons to those who have achieved a position of greater authority in the hierarchy of the Church. It made me very sad to hear that at least two priests in my home parish in Pennsylvania cried as they discussed recent events during Sunday Mass this past week: Yet tears are not an inappropriate response from anyone who loves the Church and its people and anyone who loves God and seeks what is right in this world. As a Catholic -- and as an admittedly flawed human -- I want to be part of a productive dialogue and process that sees the church achieve more holiness and compassion for all, not less. And I, though I am lazy sometimes, want to be holier and to do the right thing. None of that is easy. In fact, I hesitate to post my thoughts here, because I don't want them taken out of context, and I don't want to needlessly inflame a very emotional issue.

Many years ago, I made a decision as a teenager to stay within my Church even as I questioned some of its theology. Those adolescent questions seem so insignificant as to be trivial now. I reaffirmed my decision to be a Catholic when I was a young adult. I do not expect to be outside my chosen faith, but I no longer expect my Church to turn like the giant ship of state I thought it was when I was much younger. I expect the impossible because this religion does, at this point in history, need to turn on a dime.

I was getting pretty preachy recently in my Gracie Manion/ADA posting, I thought. At the risk of sermonizing again, though, I would like to share my thoughts -- and my evening prayer -- with you tonight. I hope anybody who might happen to read this might take these words for what they're worth, and I hope they do someone some good: Lord who knows all things please try to understand me, and please help me try to know myself better, too. I suppose understanding you completely is supposed to come somewhat later.

I've never blogged about someone while sitting next to them. Until now.

The allegedly superlative man is a declared candidate for local public office, and he has told me privately that he wants to win.

Of course he does. I always feel that one should never enter a lottery like the ballot box unless they'd welcome the winning result. He has begun some, apparently smart and consistent, knocking on doors. He has gone to exactly one fund-raiser for a local nonprofit group that achieves public service. More will no doubt follow. I hope they're all at least as enjoyable as the one at Memphis Pigout.

Speaking of which, he and his running mate will be having a party to celebrate the launching of their campaign -- at the Ocean Club on the Atlantic Highlands Harbor, on October 2.

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On another topic: I hope to at least eke out at some point the post I briefly discussed with to you. You know, the one about how one of my main hopes these days is to become less cynical and no less wise?

Two Anniversaries to Remember

Gotta play catch-up: Two blogworthy events happened recently, and it's taken a little bout with the flu for me to have much time to say anything about them. I'll put them both under the category of difficult, but beautiful.

I was lucky enough to catch up with one of the city's hardest working men about town, Brian Andersson. And I was also lucky enough to be invited to an event celebrating the 15th anniversary of the ADA at Gracie Mansion back on August 16. Talk about inspirations! Not only is Brian running everywhere and doing everything, it seems, all at one time, but a more than significant portion of those in attendance had physical issues obvious enough to be recognized upon meeting them. And many of the folks at the event seemed to have transcended those issues completely enough that they made someone like me look as if I were standing still. It was a humbling experience, to say the least.

Brian himself pointed out what might have seemed to have been a blog-snub of the event after checking out my site. I beg a little indulgence because of the daunting nature of the considerable folks I met that evening. Some things take a little longer than others to seep through one's consciousness. My apologies to my most gracious hosts!

Speaking of daunting, I also recently attended the dedication of my home county's September 11 memorial, which was unveiled just in time to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and over the skies of Pennsylvania. I took a day off without pay. I hitched a ride with some nice strangers (don't ask -- but I can give you the name of an excellent quick lunch place in Montco that delivers!) In all ways, I basically moved heaven and earth to be there, just barely on time.

I was afraid I'd have to hold my tongue about the artistry or the appropriateness of the memorial, which incorporates a 1,200-pound steel beam from the Lower Manhattan site. But, while the statue is not a traditionally uplifting, feel good memorial, I must say I liked it much more than I thought I might.

It depicts a pair of rough, hard-working hands cradling the ragged beam in an almost prayerlike gesture. It's a challenging statue. When I heard its creator, Sassona Norton, speak about the relationship she developed with the twisted metal she inherited for a time after being commissioned I began to wonder a bit about the wholesomeness of the its message. But, as difficult as the piece may be and as bizarre an undertaking the artist undertook -- to live with the remains of such a storied attack -- I can still say the piece was well-conceived, well-intentioned and that it has something positive to say about the attacks and their aftermath.

For someone who had to look at remnants of the site and smell the smells of the charred earth and worse, the statue's not easy to look at. But not everything difficult is bad.

Don't take my word for it. The statue sits at the Swede St. entrance to the courthouse in Norristown, Pa. Go there and make up your own mind.

Update: I'm told that the peaceniks mentioned in my previous post have stepped their efforts against the Grand Old Party. Apparently unsatisfied with the impact they've had using their constitutionally-protected avenues, they've taken to breaking the law. I'm told they fraudulently represented themselves to federal authorities to have enlistment material sent to at least one YR officer. Is *this* what is passing for intelligent discourse these days?

"Jaundiced pachyderm" alert: It's taken me a little while to find time to bash out a blog entry on this, but a few things need to be said. A particular anti-war group that's been active at colleges and universities has targeted an organization that's near and dear to my heart: the Montgomery County (Pa.) Young Republicans. Seems a tiny stampede of protesters want all their left of center buddies to spam the volunteer board members of this organization to "encourage" them to enlist. Fine. It would seem that freedom of speech allows these e-warriors to do things that might degrade troop morale or undermine the work of the federal government. And I'm all about the First Amendment. I'm also a big supporter of anyone on the YR board who might want to enlist. Why, it seems like it was just last year that the YRs had to find another volunteer to replace a board member who was headed off to active duty in Iraq. Others in the Montco crowd have done their duty by this country. The chairman of neighboring Chester County also serves, as a Marine reservist. And a Bucks County YR apparently just signed on as a Ranger. Seems the activists' theory that Republicans are afraid of the consequences of "their" war falls short. Hmmmmm ... maybe these glib peaceniks ought to put their money where their mouths are and try some fearless action themselves. They might enjoy a working vacation: I’m sure they could hit up Sean Penn for a job on his film crew on his next visit to Iraq. Or maybe they’re more the "human shield" type. Maybe they'd even consider showing some true compassion and heading over to the war zone as aid workers to help rebuild that strife-ridden country. Who knows? It might it be a better way for them to spend their time than sniping at engaged, active young adults who are trying to do something positive for their communities.

P.S. I almost adventured into another cat. Repeat: I not want a cat. My somewhat-significant other is even allergic to them, I've found. This feline escapade got far enough that I had concurred with my neighbor on an fine name for this dark grey suck-up of a cat. We settled on Church, after a cat in that horrid Stephen King novel and, thus, Sir Winston Churchill. The damned cat would probably have followed me all the way to the pool if I hadn't stopped him. But I am fully convinced that he must have a home. Even if he does need a brushing and a collar.

The Sweetest Man says he isn't. Hmmmm. Furthermore, he doesn't believe in superlatives.

Seven days off from work. As usual, I visited the homestead in Pennsylvania and the sweetest man in New Jersey (who is running for public office, I do believe). I shopped until I dropped, and actually kinda enjoyed it. I discovered a cool new beach at Sandy Hook and sat solo in a [gasp!] bikini, reading and watching some glorious sunsets. I cooked -- oh, how I cooked! I enjoyed the company of old friends in PA, and had some fun dinners out in both states. Sadly, I also attended the funeral of my marvelous old friend, Bert. He will be missed by many. He outlived a woman who has always sounded like his ideal wife and a dear, dear woman whom he lucky enough to meet after her death. His longtime girlfriend was a remarkable woman, a dedicated journalist and a friend of mine, too. I should be so lucky as to live as good, stimulating and full a life as either of them. Remarkably, I was sort of happy to head back to work. Is it possible that I really like my job? One thing's for sure: As much as I was ready to return to the office, I did not want to leave Atlantic Highlands.

By the way, not to diminish the hopeful tone of the that previous post, but here's an update on O'Neill. One of the larger problems of her troubled kitty adolescence was her desire to run (particularly before she was spayed). After more than four cat recovery mission with the help of neighbors, I decided that (A) I loved her and (B) I was gonna set her free. I did not see myself spending the next ten or so years chasing a cat who desperately wanted to be outside. She has not come back to me. I'm thinking she won't, and I'm hoping she's OK.

The most atrociously cliched images of the sky used to -- and still do -- make me think of God and feel glad that He exists. You know, the rays of sunlight streaking through the edges of clouds. Glory and magesty, raw beauty. Particularly over the ocean. But last night I saw the most beautiful night sky that made me feel the same thing, only deeper. I was listening to a song I'd never heard before, and I can't remember much about it, just that it touched me and that it was raw and sweet. I looked up at the sky, thinking I must be near a city, because there was a light dome I had never noticed before. Only it was brighter than that and it wasn't tied to the ground. The moon was trapped behind clouds, and it shone through a dark sky like a spotlight in the fog. It was just this incredible, strong hidden light -- like a beacon. I've never seen anything like it before, but I certainly hope I see it again. Beautiful.