It strikes me as strange that I can't seem to get a truly great slice of pizza here in Northern N.J. I mean, isn't this Sopranos country? We're so close to N.Y.C. that if we fell over we might land there. And Everyone knows that N.Y.C. is the pizza capitol of the world (well, except maybe Chicagoans... but Deep Dish, while delicious, is not pizza in my book, and so it is not in the running). So again, why can't I find a great slice? Besides, pizza is pizza, right?
In short, of course not. You wouldn't say champagne is champagne, or chocolate is chocolate, would you?
For starters, what makes a great slice of Pizza great to begin with? Well, you can start by throwing out all the fancy toppings. A pizzeria that feels the need to dress up their fare with the likes of taco fixin's or bacon and American Cheese probably shouldn't be calling itself a pizzeria. Pizza is bread, sauce, and mozzarella cheese. If the underlying slice is sub-par, then you can load on all the bell peppers, mushrooms, chicken parm, and anchovies you want, but you are still left with a sub-par piece of pizza. After all, isn't a Pontiac Fiero with a Ferrari Testarosa body kit still just a Pontiac Fiero? And don't get me started on the chains like Pizza Hut and Dominos. Hey, I even enjoy Dominos from time to time, but their pies are to pizza what Taco Bell is to Mexican food. It is more about convenience than flavor.
The most important component to a winning slice of pizza is the sauce. I suspect many people would vote for the cheese, but in my less than humble opinion, the cheese is the least critical part of the equation. If the sauce and crust are great, than you could top your slice with Polly-O string cheese, and it would still be wonderful. On the other hand, putting the highest quality, fresh mozzarella over a bed of Ragu Marinara sauce, and you'll be quite disapointed. And there is no single permutation for great pizza sauce.
In my life, there have been 4 restaurants that I feel had truly GREAT pizza sauce. Salvatore's was located, I believe, on East Main St. in Huntington, NY. They've been gone a long, long time now, but I will never forget the wonderful sweetness of their pizza sauce. Chef's of New York, which I believe is still located on Larkfield Rd. in what might be East Northport, NY, had an excellent sauce that was thinner than most I have ever experienced. Luigi's, which is located on 25A in East Setauket, NY, seemed to use more oil than any other pizzeria I've ever eaten in, and as strange as it sounds, it was a good thing. In fact, it was a great thing. Finally, Angelo's Pizzeria, located in Mount Laurel, NJ, had an outstanding sauce that actually contained chunks of tomato. Believe me, their pizza was outstanding. I know from experience. Over the four years that we lived a couple of blocks from Angelo's, I think it is fair to say that I consumed 400 slices of their pizza. Now that was great pizza.
So back to the definition of a great slice of pizza. Starting with the crust, it needs to be thin, but not too thin. Crisp, but not too crisp. Bubbles are part of the charm (I notice many upscale pizzerias pop the bubbles while the pie is cooking... definitely not necessary). It should have a flavor like a good bread crust, not be flavorless as cardboard or too doughy. On to the sauce... this is even less specific. The sauce can work in so many ways, as long as it tastes good. More basil, less basil... more oregano, less oregano... more garlic, less garlic... sweet or tart, chunks of tomatos or not... no specific guidelines here, as long as it tastes good. And when it comes to the cheese, I subscribe to the less is more philosophy (this might be the only case in the world of cuisine where I believe less cheese is desirable). Add a little black pepper on top, and enjoy.
Now, if I can only find a great slice here close to home. I guess
I'll just have to keep looking. Wish me luck. :-)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Who needs a Nintendo Wii?
In a world where we as parents frequently feel pressured to provide more and more expensive toys for our children, it never ceases to amaze me how much fun a child can have with a well cultivated imagination. Case in point, when Erin was about 1-1/2 years old, Laureen and I decided to purchase a rug for her play area in our tiny, one-bedroom apartment in Verona, NJ. We went over to our local Target, picked out a very kid-friendly rug, and brought it home. We spent the next 1/2 hour or so setting up Erin's play area (unroll the rug, move her little Dora couch and lamb chair onto the carpet, set up her book case, carefully arrange her plethora of toys). When we had finished, we felt we had created a very enticing play area just for Erin, giving her a little of her own space in our already cramped home. When sitting in the middle of that rug, Erin was immersed in a world of toys and books all her own, an oasis of childhood pleasure for her to indulge in. Except that Erin had little to no interest in her newly created space. You see, she had taken a shine to something else that was distracting her from fully appreciating her new space. Erin was enamored with the cardboard tube that the rug had been rolled up on. Yes... a 5' cardboard tube had derailed our carefully laid plans. She carried that tube around for the rest of the day, banging into walls, knocking over knick knacks, and sharing lots of little private, toddler laughs with it. And her romance with the tube didn't end that day... it carried over for months. Whenever we brought the tube out from its home behind the CD racks, it would elicit squeals of joy from Erin, who would promptly start racing around the apartment carrying the tube that was twice as tall as she was. Well, at least she eventually warmed up to her play area.
More recently, Erin has been entertaining herself in a new way. Mind you, Erin has a room full of toys, books, crayons, and musical instruments. But all of this is frequently ignored as Erin plays with "The Fingers". "The Fingers" are, strangely enough, what Erin calls her fingers (imagine that). Except that they are more than just fingers. They are little people who wander around the huge world that is our little house, experiencing all kinds of adventures; from the mundane (shopping for groceries at Shop-rite) to the harrowing (stuck in the quicksand on the "Yellow Planet"). Sometimes the fingers have names (Poc and Boc seem to the most popular). Other times, they are simply "The Fingers". They always have very high-pitched, shrill voices, and almost never talk softly. And of course, as mentioned in an earlier posting to this blog, they like to sing "The Underpants Song", which incidentally, has many new verses (they are not always Mommy's underpants anymore... now almost everyone Erin knows has made an appearance in a verse of "The Underpants Song").
So, as Erin grows up, something I already instinctively knew is reinforced simply by watching our little girl. Life is not about "things". Erin shows me that regularly, as she eschews her bins and boxes of toys in favor of the limitless bounds of her own imagination.
More recently, Erin has been entertaining herself in a new way. Mind you, Erin has a room full of toys, books, crayons, and musical instruments. But all of this is frequently ignored as Erin plays with "The Fingers". "The Fingers" are, strangely enough, what Erin calls her fingers (imagine that). Except that they are more than just fingers. They are little people who wander around the huge world that is our little house, experiencing all kinds of adventures; from the mundane (shopping for groceries at Shop-rite) to the harrowing (stuck in the quicksand on the "Yellow Planet"). Sometimes the fingers have names (Poc and Boc seem to the most popular). Other times, they are simply "The Fingers". They always have very high-pitched, shrill voices, and almost never talk softly. And of course, as mentioned in an earlier posting to this blog, they like to sing "The Underpants Song", which incidentally, has many new verses (they are not always Mommy's underpants anymore... now almost everyone Erin knows has made an appearance in a verse of "The Underpants Song").
So, as Erin grows up, something I already instinctively knew is reinforced simply by watching our little girl. Life is not about "things". Erin shows me that regularly, as she eschews her bins and boxes of toys in favor of the limitless bounds of her own imagination.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Re-post of Realy For Life 2009
This is a post from the end of March that has dropped off the visible part of my blog, but I am re-posting it becasue I feel it is important and I would like as many people as possible to see it.
As many of you already are aware, Laureen, Erin and I have been participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event in West Orange, NJ for the past 4 years. Well, last year, I chose to get more involved and joined the planning committee as the Logistics Chairperson, a title I retain this year. Laureen, Erin and I have a great time every year, but get a little lonely out there over the course of the night. We'd love to have an influx of new team members to help us in our fight to raise money and hopefully, one day, eradicate this pernicious disease that has affected us all in one way or another.
The event, in a nutshell, is an all-night fundraiser. It is held at West Orange High School at their track, and the goal is to have at least one member of your team walking around the track at all times during the night. We lead off the night with a celebration of the Cancer Survivors present at the event... they take the first lap as a triumphant group to the rousing cheers of the more than 1000 people assembled. The next lap is devoted to the Survivors' Caregivers, who walk a lap with their Survivor loved-ones, once again with the cheers of over a thousand people as their backdrop. Then the teams join them on the track, and the entire "Community" (I say community because that's what you become that night, 1000+ souls all united, working together towards one common goal) begins to "Relay".
I hesitate to use the word "Party", because of the seriousness and respect afforded to the very real, insidious disease to which this event is pledged, but for much of the event, a party-like atmosphere pervaids the track and the areas immediately around it. At past events, there have been DJ's, a bounce house, clowns, and a dunk tank for the kids present, fire engines, refreshments (available for a small donation to benefit, what else, the ACS Relay For Life), dance troupes, live bands, themed laps (like a silly hat lap), and probably many more things that I am forgetting to list. And if that stuff sounds fun, trust me, this year will be even better. Why? Well, for starters, this is the 5-year anniversary of the first Relay in West Orange, so we are pulling out all the stops. I'm afraid I can't reveal all of the details, but trust me... on the evening of June 19th, in Northern NJ, there will not be a more happening place to be (OK... OK... maybe I'm overselling it... but only by a tiny bit, I assure you). It's really fun. Come check it out.
Of course, even with all the fun, we never lose sight of the importance of our cause. Every week, in Essex County, NJ alone, 74 people are diagnosed with some form of cancer. To me, that is a mind-boggling number. That's one county over the course of one week. Take a second and think about that......
Now, extrapolate that over an entire state, over the course of a year. Or go nationwide. The numbers are downright frightening. Of course, the spectre of cancer claims friends, loved ones, neighbors, and aquaintances every year. I have never met a person who has not been touched by cancer in some way, it is just that prevalent.In keeping with the very serious nature of the disease and what it means to our "Community" gathered at the track on the day of the event, we have a very poignant, moving ceremony after dark where we light over a thousand Luminaries lining the track, either In Honor Of Survivors of cancer or In Remembrance Of a Loved One taken by cancer. These lighted bags are so much more than a paper bag, a candle, and some sand. Each bag is a symbol... a symbol of love, respect, support (for the Survivors), and commemoration (for those lost to cancer). Most of all, they are hope... over a thousand beacons of hope... hope that there is a cure out there somewhere, and that with enough outreach, advocacy, elbow grease, and of course funds, we will find it (and sooner rather than later).
So please, if you're still with me, and you've taken the time to read this far, then join our team, raise some money, and take part in our event. Or, if you are unable or not interested in joining the team, then please take just a few minutes more, and check out my donation page for Relay: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/john_e_mcdermott
Literally every dollar we collect brings us closer to a cure! Thank you for your love and support!
As many of you already are aware, Laureen, Erin and I have been participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event in West Orange, NJ for the past 4 years. Well, last year, I chose to get more involved and joined the planning committee as the Logistics Chairperson, a title I retain this year. Laureen, Erin and I have a great time every year, but get a little lonely out there over the course of the night. We'd love to have an influx of new team members to help us in our fight to raise money and hopefully, one day, eradicate this pernicious disease that has affected us all in one way or another.
The event, in a nutshell, is an all-night fundraiser. It is held at West Orange High School at their track, and the goal is to have at least one member of your team walking around the track at all times during the night. We lead off the night with a celebration of the Cancer Survivors present at the event... they take the first lap as a triumphant group to the rousing cheers of the more than 1000 people assembled. The next lap is devoted to the Survivors' Caregivers, who walk a lap with their Survivor loved-ones, once again with the cheers of over a thousand people as their backdrop. Then the teams join them on the track, and the entire "Community" (I say community because that's what you become that night, 1000+ souls all united, working together towards one common goal) begins to "Relay".
I hesitate to use the word "Party", because of the seriousness and respect afforded to the very real, insidious disease to which this event is pledged, but for much of the event, a party-like atmosphere pervaids the track and the areas immediately around it. At past events, there have been DJ's, a bounce house, clowns, and a dunk tank for the kids present, fire engines, refreshments (available for a small donation to benefit, what else, the ACS Relay For Life), dance troupes, live bands, themed laps (like a silly hat lap), and probably many more things that I am forgetting to list. And if that stuff sounds fun, trust me, this year will be even better. Why? Well, for starters, this is the 5-year anniversary of the first Relay in West Orange, so we are pulling out all the stops. I'm afraid I can't reveal all of the details, but trust me... on the evening of June 19th, in Northern NJ, there will not be a more happening place to be (OK... OK... maybe I'm overselling it... but only by a tiny bit, I assure you). It's really fun. Come check it out.
Of course, even with all the fun, we never lose sight of the importance of our cause. Every week, in Essex County, NJ alone, 74 people are diagnosed with some form of cancer. To me, that is a mind-boggling number. That's one county over the course of one week. Take a second and think about that......
Now, extrapolate that over an entire state, over the course of a year. Or go nationwide. The numbers are downright frightening. Of course, the spectre of cancer claims friends, loved ones, neighbors, and aquaintances every year. I have never met a person who has not been touched by cancer in some way, it is just that prevalent.In keeping with the very serious nature of the disease and what it means to our "Community" gathered at the track on the day of the event, we have a very poignant, moving ceremony after dark where we light over a thousand Luminaries lining the track, either In Honor Of Survivors of cancer or In Remembrance Of a Loved One taken by cancer. These lighted bags are so much more than a paper bag, a candle, and some sand. Each bag is a symbol... a symbol of love, respect, support (for the Survivors), and commemoration (for those lost to cancer). Most of all, they are hope... over a thousand beacons of hope... hope that there is a cure out there somewhere, and that with enough outreach, advocacy, elbow grease, and of course funds, we will find it (and sooner rather than later).
So please, if you're still with me, and you've taken the time to read this far, then join our team, raise some money, and take part in our event. Or, if you are unable or not interested in joining the team, then please take just a few minutes more, and check out my donation page for Relay: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/john_e_mcdermott
Literally every dollar we collect brings us closer to a cure! Thank you for your love and support!
President Obama and his Propagandists (oops... I mean the Free Press)
I heard on the radio today, and I've been reading for the past few days, about how President Obama has received more combined press coverage in his first 100 days in office then Presidents G.W. Bush and Clinton combined. Many of the conservative radio hosts I listen to and respect are ranting and raving about this fact today... but I think they are missing the point. The issue for me is not the amount of press coverage that President Obama is receiving. In fact, I would say that the volume of coverage is not inappropriate in and of itself. He is, after all, America's first black president, a historical fact that on its face is worthy of increased coverage, and is something that brings pride to huge swarths of the American populous.
No, as I say, the amount of coverage is not at issue for me. It is the type of coverage that he receives, the sheer volume of glowing, postive coverage and the disproportionately small amount of time and space devoted to his mistakes... the way the print and broadcast media fawns all over our president... and the fact that if a Republican President (any Republican President) had made the same mistake, he or she (Palin 2012?) would have been savaged in the press. Imagine, for a second, if George W. Bush had tried to appoint even a fraction of the number of tax cheats to Cabinet posts and high Government positions that President Obama did attempt to appoint. The media uproar would have been deafening. Your ears would still hurt from the Media's voluminous righteous discord, and rightfully so.
I do not begrudge the President his rock star politician status... he can't help it if so many in the media follow his every move with the adoring admiration of a teenage groupie just praying that they can catch a glimpse of their hero. Maybe they'll get really lucky, and he'll even make eye contact with them. I wonder what kind of thrill that would give Chris Matthews of MSNBC. Actually, I'd rather not know.
It disgusts me that our so-called free press is so taken with our President that they find ways to sugar-coat even his mis-steps. There is a certain hypocrisy in a media that will excoriate a Dan Quayle as a dunce for mis-spelling a word in an elementary school (a man the media almost universally despised), but then happily ignore President Obama's claim, as a candidate for president, that he had already been to 57 states with one to go. Both are silly slip-ups that should have been meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Only one of them was treated that way by the American Free Press.
It also bothers me that so many in the press present themselves as impartial journalists, when in fact they are actually advocates for a particular point of view. In this case, they subscribe to the same philosophies & worldview as our President, and consequently, are in the tank for him. It is their responsibility, their duty as journalists to report the news in a detached, impartial fashion. It is a responsibility that they fail at miserably on a daily basis. What do they teach in journalism schools if not this most basic, core principle of journalism?
No, as I say, the amount of coverage is not at issue for me. It is the type of coverage that he receives, the sheer volume of glowing, postive coverage and the disproportionately small amount of time and space devoted to his mistakes... the way the print and broadcast media fawns all over our president... and the fact that if a Republican President (any Republican President) had made the same mistake, he or she (Palin 2012?) would have been savaged in the press. Imagine, for a second, if George W. Bush had tried to appoint even a fraction of the number of tax cheats to Cabinet posts and high Government positions that President Obama did attempt to appoint. The media uproar would have been deafening. Your ears would still hurt from the Media's voluminous righteous discord, and rightfully so.
I do not begrudge the President his rock star politician status... he can't help it if so many in the media follow his every move with the adoring admiration of a teenage groupie just praying that they can catch a glimpse of their hero. Maybe they'll get really lucky, and he'll even make eye contact with them. I wonder what kind of thrill that would give Chris Matthews of MSNBC. Actually, I'd rather not know.
It disgusts me that our so-called free press is so taken with our President that they find ways to sugar-coat even his mis-steps. There is a certain hypocrisy in a media that will excoriate a Dan Quayle as a dunce for mis-spelling a word in an elementary school (a man the media almost universally despised), but then happily ignore President Obama's claim, as a candidate for president, that he had already been to 57 states with one to go. Both are silly slip-ups that should have been meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Only one of them was treated that way by the American Free Press.
It also bothers me that so many in the press present themselves as impartial journalists, when in fact they are actually advocates for a particular point of view. In this case, they subscribe to the same philosophies & worldview as our President, and consequently, are in the tank for him. It is their responsibility, their duty as journalists to report the news in a detached, impartial fashion. It is a responsibility that they fail at miserably on a daily basis. What do they teach in journalism schools if not this most basic, core principle of journalism?
Erin will kill me for this one some day
So I'm sitting on the couch in our living room yesterday watching a program on the Military Channel about the battle for Najaf in Iraq. It's hot out, and figuring it is just to early in the season, I haven't installed any of the air conditioners yet. Because of this, all of the windows in the house are open and the fans are working overtime. With the windows open and because of our house's proximity to the road, every time a big diesel engine or a motorcycle goes by, the sound of the telvision is completely drowned out.
Erin has been quietly playing in her room, in the dark, for the better part of an hour. Don't ask me why she was playing in the dark because I have no idea. She just yelled at me the couple of times that I tried to turn on her light, so I accepted that she was happy in the dark (maybe she figured it was cooler in her room with the light off... again, I don't know), and left her to do her thing. Suddenly, I hear this hysterical laughter emanating from Erin's room. I rise from the couch and tiptoe to the doorway of her room, pausing outside. Erin is sitting cross-legged (in the dark) on the floor between her two dollhouses. She hasn't seen me. I quickly survey the room, but see no evidence of anything that could have been so funny. I'm just about to announce my presence and start my interrogation about what was so funny, when I witness her private little joke that had her in such hysterics.
Using her fingers in an upside down "V" like a pair of legs (more on this in another blog post to come), she makes them walk across the roof of one of the dollhouses, all the while singing, in an impossibly high, shrill voice:
"There goes Mommy's UNDERPANTS".
There was a good deal of extra special emphasis on the word "underpants".
Then she crumples over on to her back on the floor, laughing hysterically. I bit my lip and covered my mouth, trying so hard not to crack up laughing. I stood anonymously outside her door for a good 10 minutes as this little performance repeated over and over again, quietly sharing in what can only be defined as a "precious moment".
Erin has been quietly playing in her room, in the dark, for the better part of an hour. Don't ask me why she was playing in the dark because I have no idea. She just yelled at me the couple of times that I tried to turn on her light, so I accepted that she was happy in the dark (maybe she figured it was cooler in her room with the light off... again, I don't know), and left her to do her thing. Suddenly, I hear this hysterical laughter emanating from Erin's room. I rise from the couch and tiptoe to the doorway of her room, pausing outside. Erin is sitting cross-legged (in the dark) on the floor between her two dollhouses. She hasn't seen me. I quickly survey the room, but see no evidence of anything that could have been so funny. I'm just about to announce my presence and start my interrogation about what was so funny, when I witness her private little joke that had her in such hysterics.
Using her fingers in an upside down "V" like a pair of legs (more on this in another blog post to come), she makes them walk across the roof of one of the dollhouses, all the while singing, in an impossibly high, shrill voice:
"There goes Mommy's UNDERPANTS".
There was a good deal of extra special emphasis on the word "underpants".
Then she crumples over on to her back on the floor, laughing hysterically. I bit my lip and covered my mouth, trying so hard not to crack up laughing. I stood anonymously outside her door for a good 10 minutes as this little performance repeated over and over again, quietly sharing in what can only be defined as a "precious moment".
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Our Guest is Back
Here is a picture of our friend, the Garter Snake, who took up residence under our garage last summer. He is back... Keara spotted him on Friday. He's a little guy... maybe 9-10" long... but maybe as he grows, he'll help to control the animals that are eating our flowers. One can hope, right?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Congressional Power
The powers of Congress, as enumerated in Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution.
Section. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; — And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section. 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; — And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Declaration of Independence
We can all use a refresher from time to time:IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
Doing Dishes and Deja Vu
Well, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I am always surprised and occasionally amazed at the things that trigger memories to come rushing up from the depths they inhabit in our minds. Case in point: today I am doing a load of dishes (you can save the jokes about pigs flying, a cold day in hell, etc, etc... I've heard them all, and I get it... me washing dishes is a lot more rare than it should be). OK... so I'm doing a load of dishes, and I open the cabinet to get a new SOS pad. As I open the top of the yellow box, I am blasted with the odor of the soap pads contained within.
I've been told that scent is the sense that is most closely hard-wired to memory, and based on my experience, I would have to agree. For, when that soapy aroma hit my nose, it triggered some involuntary neural response, and I'm suddenly remembering some holiday (most likely Thanksgiving or Easter), in Grandma's and Grandpa's kitchen in West Babylon, and we're cleaning up from dinner. On this particular occassion, I'm standing at the sink on wash duty (again, no need for the lightning striking twice jokes... yes I was doing dishes, and yes, it is rare). Grandpa is standing to my right carving up the remains of the holiday roast, I believe to put into Duke's dish, which will provide some context of time for my family, because Dukey has been gone for quite a while now.
Anyway, I'm about to start washing dishes in the sink. However, I grew up in a house with an electric dishwasher, and have next to no concept of what I'm doing... seems simple enough... run dish under water, rub with soapy steel wool, rinse off, pass to person on drying duty (who I believe on this day was my Aunt Joanne). Except that I didn't realize that your not supposed to keep the water running the whole time. Well, Grandpa, who always had his own quirky "right" ways of doing things, watched me wash all the dishes while he carved the remnants of the roast, and when I was finished, in a manner that anyone who knew Grandpa would recognize instantly as his personal flourish, he made a real dramatic display of looking out the window over the sink.
"What are you looking, at Grandpa?"
"I'm looking at the pool."
"Why... what's going on?"
And, as always, his punchline:
"Well, you used so much water washing the dishes, I thought maybe the pool would be empty by now."
And all of this from the smell of an SOS soapy steel wool pad.
Blowing Bubbles
I love this photo of Erin, even though her smile is a little forced. We were blowing bubbles when I snapped this picture (one of her favorite things to do).
Monday, April 6, 2009
Trace Adkins
I've never been a big fan of Trace Adkins music, but his performance tonight on the Academy of Country Music Awards was awesome (with a big assist to the West Point Glee Club on backing vocals). All of the proceeds from the iTunes downloads of his song from this performance, "Til the Last Shot's Fired", will go to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit charity that exists to help the U.S. Soldiers injured in the line of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Check them out at www.WoundedWarriorProject.org.
Great new song from John Rich (of Big N' Rich)
John Rich
Shuttin' Detroit Down
Written By: John Rich, John D. Anderson
My daddy taught me that in this country everyone’s the same
You work hard for your dollar and you never pass the blame
When it don’t go your way
Now I see all these big shots whinin’ on my evening news
About how they’re losin’ billions and how it’s up to me and you
To come running to the rescue
Well pardon me if I don’t shed a tear ‘cause they’re selling make believe
And we don’t buy that here
Cause in the real world there shutting Detroit down
While the boss man takes his bonus pay and jets out of town/
And DC’s bailing out the bankers as the farmers auction ground,
Yeah while they’re living it up on Wall Street in that New York City town,
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down.
They’re shuttin’ Detroit down.”
Well that old man’s been workin’ in that plant most all of his life
Now his pension plan’s been cut in half and he can’t afford to die
And it’s a crying shame, ‘cause he ain’t the one to blame
When I look down and see his caloused hands,
Let me tell you friend it gets me fightin’ mad
Cause in the real world there shutting Detroit down
While the boss man takes his bonus pay and jets out of town/
And DC’s bailing out the bankers as the farmers auction ground,
Yeah while they’re living it up on Wall Street in that New York City town,
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down.
They’re shuttin’ Detroit down.”
Instrumental solo
Yeah while there’ living it up on Wall Street in that New York City town
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down
In the real world they’re shuttin Detroit down, they’re shuttin’ Detroit down.
Shuttin' Detroit Down
Written By: John Rich, John D. Anderson
My daddy taught me that in this country everyone’s the same
You work hard for your dollar and you never pass the blame
When it don’t go your way
Now I see all these big shots whinin’ on my evening news
About how they’re losin’ billions and how it’s up to me and you
To come running to the rescue
Well pardon me if I don’t shed a tear ‘cause they’re selling make believe
And we don’t buy that here
Cause in the real world there shutting Detroit down
While the boss man takes his bonus pay and jets out of town/
And DC’s bailing out the bankers as the farmers auction ground,
Yeah while they’re living it up on Wall Street in that New York City town,
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down.
They’re shuttin’ Detroit down.”
Well that old man’s been workin’ in that plant most all of his life
Now his pension plan’s been cut in half and he can’t afford to die
And it’s a crying shame, ‘cause he ain’t the one to blame
When I look down and see his caloused hands,
Let me tell you friend it gets me fightin’ mad
Cause in the real world there shutting Detroit down
While the boss man takes his bonus pay and jets out of town/
And DC’s bailing out the bankers as the farmers auction ground,
Yeah while they’re living it up on Wall Street in that New York City town,
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down.
They’re shuttin’ Detroit down.”
Instrumental solo
Yeah while there’ living it up on Wall Street in that New York City town
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down
Here in the real world there shuttin’ Detroit down
In the real world they’re shuttin Detroit down, they’re shuttin’ Detroit down.
Sad Day
A good customer of mine, a very decent man from a nearby town, called my store yesterday. His wife has been battling cancer for sometime now. They headed to Florida shortly after Christmas for a prolonged vacation. Three weeks ago, while still in Florida, she lost her battle with the disease. He' s lost without her... He pointed out to me how much he had taken for granted over the years... all the little things that he will miss... all the things he now needs to learn how to do... things that she did for him... Please add him to your prayers... He can sure use the support.
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