Yes, it is war again. My yearly battle with seasonal allergies has erupted again into violence. Violent sneezing, gruesome coughing and a river of tears and clear liquid pouring from my eyes and nose. I am sure many of you readers are fighting the same battle I am these days. For some it is worse in the Spring. For me it’s worst in the Fall. Well, like any good warrior will tell you, “knowing your enemy” is of critical importance to winning the war. And although knowing what these pollens actually look like (when viewed through and electron microscope) will not provide you any critical advantage, it will at least make you feel better about nuking these scary looking irritants with Claritin, Benadryl or whatever your favorite weapon of allergic destruction may be. Grab a hanky and have a look at this interesting pollen slide show from the Telegraph UK.
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Know Your Enemy
Happy Fourth of July – Time to BBQ Properly!
Well, it’s time again to celebrate American independence and I hope everyone has a healthy, happy, safe Fourth of July. I think of many things when I consider Independence Day. From liberty and justice, to fireworks, family and most importantly, Barbecue! I love me some barbecue and there is no more appropriate holiday to “cook-out” in celebration than the 4th of July. Many folks do not know the subtle but undeniable difference between grilling (like what you do to hot dogs and burgers) and actual barbecue which involves the slow, smoky roasting of pork, chicken, brisket, etc. So have a look at this article by Craig “Meathead” Goldwyn to learn the secrets of meats, properly smok-i-fied to fall-off-the-bone perfection. Enjoy!
Gulf Oil Disaster: What Do You Think?
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I am not going to reveal my personal feelings with regard to the whole issue of energy policy and what it means to the future of our economy and ecology. This blog is not the venue for it. But I do think it would be interesting to use this post as a sort of informal poll of average Americans to see what the prevailing thinking is on this very complex and difficult issue.
Have a look at this photo taken yesterday by a US satellite that shows the still gushing, underwater oil geiser. Notice how it seems very likely that the oil will be swept out of the Gulf of Mexico by currents that will take the deadly slick around the Florida peninsula and, via the Gulfstream current, throughout the Atlantic. Then answer the following question in the comments:
“Do you think this disaster - however unfortunate – is part of the price we must pay to continue to pursue our current energy policy which relies predominately on oil and fossil fuels? – Or - Does this disaster signal that we must immediately discard fossil fuels in favor of developing an entirely new, domestic energy market based on renewable sources like wind and solar – even if it means we must endure a good deal of economic disruption and upheaval in the short term? In short, do you think it is possible to make this difficult shift in policy before we’ve irreparably harmed the global environment or do you feel that we cannot afford to change our energy policies and must focus instead on making the best of the fossil-fuel driven economic situation?”
It should be interesting to see how your responses stack up.
Last Ever Space Shuttle Launch Today
Because so much of modern medical science trickles into civilian use through the work done by NASA and the military, I thought it was fitting to spend today’s post saying goodbye to the Space Shuttle program. Today marked the final launch of the space shuttle Atlantis. It will be the last launch of the entire shuttle fleet.
I remember being in the fifth grade in 1980 when construction began on the first shuttle at the beginning of the program. It was such an amazing innovation; a reusable launch and reentry vehicle where all prior space vehicles were non-reusable rockets and splash down capsules. So much excellent scientific advancement has been yielded by this program. So many advancements in medical understanding too. It is sad to see the fleet retired. One wonders what the next step into space will be for the USA?
Happy Mother’s Day: How Will You Honor Mom?
Writing the blog for the Allen School Online poses a challenge as I must always weigh whether a given topic is going to be relevant to a large enough segment of our readers. Some very interesting topics are put aside if I determine that they would only be of import to a smaller percentage of readers. I am always seeking stories that will resonate amongst the largest common denominator. Alas, every single person who may read this post has one thing in common. Everyone has a mother. This weekend as you know (and if you’re just reminded by my humble post then shame on you and hurry up with your planning) is Mother’s Day. I have always felt that moms deserve more than just a single day each year for all the hard work and sacrifice they make on behalf of their children. But I guess the holiday all but ensures that even if we forget to honor them all year long, at least one day each year, we take the time to convey the gratitude and love we feel for all our moms have meant to us.
In case there are laggers in the group here – too preoccupied with studies to have devised any plan yet to celebrate – I would like to ask our readers what they plan to do with or for their mothers this sunday. Share your celebration plans in the comments and help those who may still be seeking a good idea for how best to honor mom. And to my own mother who, as all good mothers do, proudly seeks out and reads just about everything I write in the public realm let me say, “I love you momma and have a fantastic Mother’s Day!”
Springing Ahead – Winter Draws Near Close
I know not all of our readers are located as I am in the Northeast. However, if the news reports have been even partly accurate, this Winter season has been one of the more brutal ones in recent memory. Snow totals in the Northeast have been on the high side of the spectrum and my relatives in Southern California have been getting more rain there than they see in five years combined.
So it is with great anticipation that I await the 14th of March. This coming Sunday, March 14th, at midnight, we all set our clocks one hour ahead. While we lose one hour of sleep in the transaction, we gain one more glorious hour of evening sunlight to use outside, after close of business hours. That’s one more hour to spend walking, studying, reading or washing the car. Of course, it is still probably too cold in many parts of the country to spend much of this extra daylight time out of doors. But rejoice! For the last day of Winter is not far behind this Sunday’s “Spring Ahead”. The Vernal Equinox happens on March 21. This marks the first day of Spring and not a moment too soon.
I dreamed last night that we were taking to cover off the swimming pool. Can you tell I am ready for swimming and barbecues? How about you?
President’s Proclamation for MLK Day
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press SecretaryThe Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., challenged our Nation to recognize that our individual liberty relies upon our common equality. In communities marred by division and injustice, the movement he built from the ground up forced open doors to negotiation. The strength of his leadership was matched only by the power of his words, which still call on us to perfect those sacred ideals enshrined in our founding documents.
“We have an opportunity to make America a better Nation,” Dr. King said on the eve of his death. ”I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.” Though we have made great strides since the turbulent era of Dr. King’s movement, his work and our journey remain unfinished. Only when our children are free to pursue their full measure of success — unhindered by the color of their skin, their gender, the faith in their heart, the people they love, or the fortune of their birth — will we have reached our destination.
Today, we are closer to fulfilling America’s promise of economic and social justice because we stand on the shoulders of giants like Dr. King, yet our future progress will depend on how we prepare our next generation of leaders. We must fortify their ladders of opportunity by correcting social injustice, breaking the cycle of poverty in struggling communities, and reinvesting in our schools. Education can unlock a child’s potential and remains our strongest weapon against injustice and inequality.
Recognizing that our Nation has yet to reach Dr. King’s promised land is not an admission of defeat, but a call to action. In these challenging times, too many Americans face limited opportunities, but our capacity to support each other remains limitless. Today, let us ask ourselves what Dr. King believed to be life’s most urgent and persistent question: “What are you doing for others?” Visit www.MLKDay.gov to find Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service projects across our country.
Dr. King devoted his life to serving others, and his message transcends national borders. The devastating earthquake in Haiti, and the urgent need for humanitarian support, reminds us that our service and generosity of spirit must also extend beyond our immediate communities. As our Government continues to bring our resources to bear on the international emergency in Haiti, I ask all Americans who want to contribute to this effort to visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake.
By lifting up our brothers and sisters through dedication and service — both at home and around the world — we honor Dr. King’s memory and reaffirm our common humanity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 18, 2010, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service programs in honor of Dr. King’s life and lasting legacy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
How to Help Haitian Earthquake Victims
In the aftermath of a 7.0 earthquake in the impoverished island nation of Haiti, some of the world’s poorest citizens are dealt an ever more challenging hand than they had been faced with previously. With so little by way of resources in the best of times, folks in Haiti are now faced with having to rebuild whatever semblance of normalcy they might be able to regain with even less than the zero resources they had pre-quake. Follow me over the jump to a list of links to relief organizations where your help (either monetarily or voluntarily) is needed desperately. (more…)
Happy Birthday Elvis!
I used to have a number of Elvis Presley LPs and 45’s (you old folks know what those are) that I played on my little suitcase phonograph when I was a kid in the early 1970s. But, I was never a huge devotee of Elvis Presley until I stopped to visit Graceland, Elvis’s home-turned-museum in Memphis during my third cross country trip; this time from California to New York in early 2003. The totality of his achievement in music and his impact upon popular culture is overwhelming when you see, first hand, the monumental display of his life’s journey amassed in one place. A subsequent reexamination of all his music blew me up into a true believer. Alas the King is Dead – Long Live the King! Over the jump, enjoy a link to a fantastic slide show of a young Elvis on the cusp of superstardom in 1956, courtesy of Huffington Post. Enjoy! (more…)
Happy New Year From The Allen Online Blog
Well, its time to break out the horns, blowers, and noisemakers. Crack open a bottle of Champagne and reflect on the year that was. Auld Lang Syne to you from your favorite online education blog. We’ll see you here next year!!! Have a safe and happy New Year!
