Saturday, August 15, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
Random Snippets: Chesterton on cheese
The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.
G. K. Chesterton
"Never Again". Yeah. . . right
A frequent comment by some casual students of World War Two has been to note how blind the Western Allies seemed to be to German atrocities. The common theme is that, "if it were we, we wouldn't let it happen."
Well, we are.
In the past few days there's been all sorts of news about ISIL horrors, starting with the Taliban actually condemning ISIL aligned forces in Afghanistan for the brutal explosive featuring killing of prisoners to the institutionalized assault and slavery of non Moslem women.
So we wouldn't let these thing happen, eh?
Well, we are.
In the past few days there's been all sorts of news about ISIL horrors, starting with the Taliban actually condemning ISIL aligned forces in Afghanistan for the brutal explosive featuring killing of prisoners to the institutionalized assault and slavery of non Moslem women.
So we wouldn't let these thing happen, eh?
Up in arms: Lex Anteinternet: NCSD Board Policy 5375. Dress Code.
I posted on this (nearly non news) item earlier this week:
Well, as with honored traditions everywhere, the tradition of student protest lacking information is now in full swing. Students in the district are rising in opposition and signing petitions, and the like, to change the policy as if its new, which it isn't, and as if it's oppressive. Shoot, its hardly a policy at all, so it would be hard for it to be oppressive. But if the policy was "brush your teeth before school", that would spark some anger as well, no doubt.
One of the comments in today's paper was interesting both because it hearkens back to the same discussion 30 years ago, and because it shows how amazingly naive students of this age really remain. Some student claimed that to the small extent it requires female students to cover up, and it doesn't do that much, it will sponsor viewing women as objects for assault. I have a post in the hopper that will deal with that, but sorry junior, that's not the case and the opposite is true.
The degree to which women "encourage" unwelcome attention including violent attention has been debated forever, and I actually recall a high school age girl, not here, being discussed widely while I was in high school as she was in the news after being attacked. Her attacker maintained and the judge accepted that she was partially responsible due to her dress, and there's been a few instances of such decisions since then.
Now, let be clear, the judge was completely in error and the criminal should not have been allowed to get away with that excuse. There's no excuse for such behavior at all.
But, it's also absurd to think that a certain type of dress isn't distracting in a negative way. Dress like an object and you'll become one to some degree. That's not good, but to a certain extent, that's actually nature. They don't print magazines with those photos in them because it proofs against assault you know, and certain sisters famous for being famous don't dress that way in the hopes you won't look at them and their. . . well anyhow.
That's not all of the dress code, of course. And this isn't much of a code at that. No beer shirts, no hats indoors, etc. But it frankly isn't much of an issue either. Most kids don't violate this most days, and haven't been, even without knowing about it. And it gives us a chance to see a time honored tradition, youthful protest over nothing in particular, at work.
Lex Anteinternet: NCSD Board Policy 5375. Dress Code.: The current NCSD dress code. Usually with something like this, the poster, if he's been out of school over 20 years (and I have. ....As noted, the dress code in the local school district, which is highly onerousness, has been in place for at least 30 years or so, and likely stretches back to the 1970s.
Well, as with honored traditions everywhere, the tradition of student protest lacking information is now in full swing. Students in the district are rising in opposition and signing petitions, and the like, to change the policy as if its new, which it isn't, and as if it's oppressive. Shoot, its hardly a policy at all, so it would be hard for it to be oppressive. But if the policy was "brush your teeth before school", that would spark some anger as well, no doubt.
One of the comments in today's paper was interesting both because it hearkens back to the same discussion 30 years ago, and because it shows how amazingly naive students of this age really remain. Some student claimed that to the small extent it requires female students to cover up, and it doesn't do that much, it will sponsor viewing women as objects for assault. I have a post in the hopper that will deal with that, but sorry junior, that's not the case and the opposite is true.
The degree to which women "encourage" unwelcome attention including violent attention has been debated forever, and I actually recall a high school age girl, not here, being discussed widely while I was in high school as she was in the news after being attacked. Her attacker maintained and the judge accepted that she was partially responsible due to her dress, and there's been a few instances of such decisions since then.
Now, let be clear, the judge was completely in error and the criminal should not have been allowed to get away with that excuse. There's no excuse for such behavior at all.
But, it's also absurd to think that a certain type of dress isn't distracting in a negative way. Dress like an object and you'll become one to some degree. That's not good, but to a certain extent, that's actually nature. They don't print magazines with those photos in them because it proofs against assault you know, and certain sisters famous for being famous don't dress that way in the hopes you won't look at them and their. . . well anyhow.
That's not all of the dress code, of course. And this isn't much of a code at that. No beer shirts, no hats indoors, etc. But it frankly isn't much of an issue either. Most kids don't violate this most days, and haven't been, even without knowing about it. And it gives us a chance to see a time honored tradition, youthful protest over nothing in particular, at work.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Today In Wyoming's History: Clearing scandal, eh?
Clearing scandal, eh?
It's true that Harding had some things to his credit, but it's hard to see how confirmation of his marital infidelity in this instance will serve to "clear the air around" his "scandalized reputation in history".
This is not to say that this wasn't worth investigating for the family, or worth reporting in the news. Just the concept of this repairing a "scandalized reputation" is odd.
In the news today was that DNA confirms that President Warren G. Harding had an illegitimate child by Nan Britton, with whom he apparently had a long running affair. The rumor had long existed, in no small part because Ms. Britton, after his death (and likely in need of income) wrote a book about their affair, which various Harding adherents discredited. Now it seems to be proven that she was telling the truth.
Harding has long been at best forgotten and at worst not viewed as a particularly good President. Knowledge of at least one other infidelity seems established, so how much this changes our view of Harding I don't know. In Wyoming, Harding might be best remembered for the Teapot Dome Scandal.
Harding was actually a really popular President while he was President, but his reputation sank thereafter, with Teapot Dome playing a prominent part in that. News of his infidelity, of course, came after his death, and was ultimately widely contested. Up until the news of the DNA test results, it still was contested.
Anyhow, it's not so much this news that causes me to post this item about Harding, as this odd statement that appeared in one of the news reports on this item:
And, secondly, he hopes the discovery will begin to clear the air around Harding’s scandalized reputation in history.
Hmmm. . . .“This book really ruined Warren Harding’s reputation, and as a result the important lessons of his presidency have been lost,” Robenalt said, who points out that Harding argued for non-interventionist policies before World War I that continue to be relevant following the lessons of the war in Iraq.
It's true that Harding had some things to his credit, but it's hard to see how confirmation of his marital infidelity in this instance will serve to "clear the air around" his "scandalized reputation in history".
This is not to say that this wasn't worth investigating for the family, or worth reporting in the news. Just the concept of this repairing a "scandalized reputation" is odd.
Lex Anteinternet: NCSD Board Policy 5375. Dress Code.
Predictably, when this story ran on one of the local television channels;
Shoot, this has been the dress code for at least 30 years, probably longer. If it was going squash something, it likely would have by now.
Lex Anteinternet: NCSD Board Policy 5375. Dress Code.: The current NCSD dress code. Usually with something like this, the poster, if he's been out of school over 20 years (and I have. ....the inevitable teenager commenting about how "we're supposed to show our individuality" and how this is squashing it, ran on the news.
Shoot, this has been the dress code for at least 30 years, probably longer. If it was going squash something, it likely would have by now.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
NCSD Board Policy 5375. Dress Code.
The current NCSD dress code.
Usually with something like this, the poster, if he's been out of school over 20 years (and I have. . . shoot, I've been out of grad school for over 20 years.. . . hard to imagine), makes some comment about how things have changed and how back in the day. . .
Well, in actuality I think this is the same dress code, more or less, that they had back when I was in junior high. It might actually be a little more restrictive than the applied code when I was in high school. I think the same rules applied, but they weren't enforcing them all that much. I know weweren't supposed to wear t-shirts with beer advertisements on them, but they weren't all that common at that time anyhow, and I don't think they bothered with enforcing that rule. We were not to wear hats in class, I do recall that.
Which isn't to say that things never changed in the district. There were real rules at one time, but I don't really know when they ended. I suspect, however, it was the 1970s. Up until some point just after the Vietnam War every male student at NCHS (but not KWHS) had to take JrROTC and that did create a male dress code for at least one day per week. Earlier in the school's history I think that applied for more than one day per week.
NCHS students in 1940s.
Girls at that time wore a school uniform, or at least for part of that time they did. I don't really know when it ceased.
Whenever it did, the dress code that is the topic of the NCSD video, has pretty much been in place for at least 40 years.
Help Support NCHS's Welsh Auditorium Project (and my commentary on the lack of a pool).
The NCHS Welsh Auditorium is a of course a classic, but it stings a bit to see how much support the old auditorium is getting while the pool didn't manage it, and the new massive construction will lack a pool.
After this campaign came out, I contacted one of the board members about whether supporting the auditorium might mean we could still get support for the pool. His reply noted that the auditorium had the support of a community organization that was backing it, where was ours.
I have to say, he was right. We have no community organization boosting for a pool. And I know that I don't have the time to try to start one, and I doubt after the defeat in the bond election, it would do much good. Still, this is disappointing. Which may say something (perhaps not all that complimentary) about me. A pool matters to me. Any high school will have an auditorium, but having spent a lot of time at NC I nonetheless didn't manage to develop warming feelings for the auditorium, which is probably because I didn't take any sort of performance type classes. Not that I begrudge the whole thing, but something just seems amiss.
Mid Week At Work: Testing an airplane
Posted in honor of my day in the airport yesterday, in which delays prevented me from reaching my destination, and every plane after the first one was delayed for one reason or another.
Oh well, I'm not really complaining about that. I want them to fly safely.
I am, however, complaining about the grandmother who spent the first 1/4 of the last flight berating her teenage grandson in a very loud voice. Not cool.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Perceptions and the Land and Water Conservation Fund
An article in today's Casper Star Tribune starts off as follows:
The law was built with a 25 year sunset, and it was extended once, meaning its set to sunset again on September 30.
Now, I'll make it clear that I hope its extended, but something like this says a lot about a whole host of interesting things. It makes it clear how inaccurate our recollection of the past is, and how little we understand about the relationship between the states, people and the Federal government is today.
Starting off with the present, our own state is amongst the most libertarian of them all, and generally has a fairly hostile few of the role of the Federal government locally. But that doesn't keep us from taking Land and Water Conservation Fund money or Federal highway funds. Indeed, we complain if we don't get the highway funds we think we're entitled to.
With the recreation funds, we have no shoreline at all, so we can't really say that we have an immediate right to any of the money. It isn't like local oil money. If we feel that we deserve part of it, as we're part of the whole, well. . . that says something about the local arguments on the Federal domain as well, doesn't it?
Regarding our recollections of the past, and soon to be a subject of another post, there's come to be a belief for some reason that the 1950s were politically "conservative". I'm not sure of the origin of that belief, but it's widely held, and I suspect it's widely held because of the concept that the entire boomer generation that came of age in the 1960s rebelled against their upbringing during the 1950s. There's a lot of reason to question that assumption or at least to nuance it, but it isn't really accurate to claim that the 1950s were a Happy Days like era of conservatism. In fact, the GOP was largely middle to middle left in the era, and the Democrats crowded them for that position. There were exceptions, but what we really see is that the GOP moved towards the Democrats after World War Two, and the Democrats moved towards the Republicans. Neither party had any problem with large Federal projects and Federal funding of any kind, reflecting the views that had come up during World War Two. So, we got stuff like the Land and Water Conservation Fund during a Republican Administration, and again during the 1970s we find that the GOP held the White House except for four years.
I'm not really making a point about the fund, or indeed any of this. It's just a comment regarding our perceptions.
Think of your favorite park, ballfield or city swimming pool. Chances are it was paid for in part by the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The federal grant gave $121,000 to help build Casper's Highland Park in 1974, for example. It supplied $64,000 at Curt Gowdy State Park in 1976. In 2007, it provided $66,930 to build a playground in Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund has doled out about $17 billion in 50 years, creating outdoor recreation opportunities across the country. But that run may be coming to an end.
Unless reauthorized in Congress, the fund will sunset Sept. 30.
“I don’t know how those projects would get off the ground without it,” said Dominic Bravo, administrator of Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails.The article goes on to explain how the Land and Water Conservation Fund started off with modest funding during the Eisenhower Administration, but it greatly expanded during the 1970s. It provides money to local government for recreational facilities of all types, and the categories are very broad, and its funded by revenues generated from off shore mineral exploration. The original concept, according to the Tribune, was to use those off shore proceeds to fund recreational activities for the entire nation and its (then and now) growing population.
The law was built with a 25 year sunset, and it was extended once, meaning its set to sunset again on September 30.
Now, I'll make it clear that I hope its extended, but something like this says a lot about a whole host of interesting things. It makes it clear how inaccurate our recollection of the past is, and how little we understand about the relationship between the states, people and the Federal government is today.
Starting off with the present, our own state is amongst the most libertarian of them all, and generally has a fairly hostile few of the role of the Federal government locally. But that doesn't keep us from taking Land and Water Conservation Fund money or Federal highway funds. Indeed, we complain if we don't get the highway funds we think we're entitled to.
With the recreation funds, we have no shoreline at all, so we can't really say that we have an immediate right to any of the money. It isn't like local oil money. If we feel that we deserve part of it, as we're part of the whole, well. . . that says something about the local arguments on the Federal domain as well, doesn't it?
Regarding our recollections of the past, and soon to be a subject of another post, there's come to be a belief for some reason that the 1950s were politically "conservative". I'm not sure of the origin of that belief, but it's widely held, and I suspect it's widely held because of the concept that the entire boomer generation that came of age in the 1960s rebelled against their upbringing during the 1950s. There's a lot of reason to question that assumption or at least to nuance it, but it isn't really accurate to claim that the 1950s were a Happy Days like era of conservatism. In fact, the GOP was largely middle to middle left in the era, and the Democrats crowded them for that position. There were exceptions, but what we really see is that the GOP moved towards the Democrats after World War Two, and the Democrats moved towards the Republicans. Neither party had any problem with large Federal projects and Federal funding of any kind, reflecting the views that had come up during World War Two. So, we got stuff like the Land and Water Conservation Fund during a Republican Administration, and again during the 1970s we find that the GOP held the White House except for four years.
I'm not really making a point about the fund, or indeed any of this. It's just a comment regarding our perceptions.
Hurt feelings?
There's a case pending, apparently, in the Federal District Court of Wyoming in which environmentalist have sued the Peabody Coal Company. I don't know what the suit is about.
Apparently the plaintiffs included lyrics of the chorus from John Prine's classic "New" Grass folk song, Paradise, in their complaint. For those not familiar with the song, those lyrics are:
Well, I suppose it isn't proper pleading, but Peabody has been around a long time and its survived okay since 1971 when the song was released. Apparently, according to an article in the Tribune, they've never liked the fact that they were the target of the song, and it is pretty pointed, but still, seems like moving to strike is fairly pointless.
Apparently the plaintiffs included lyrics of the chorus from John Prine's classic "New" Grass folk song, Paradise, in their complaint. For those not familiar with the song, those lyrics are:
And daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg CountyThe defendant apparently moved to strike that part of the complaint, and now that motion is pending.
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking
Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away.
Well, I suppose it isn't proper pleading, but Peabody has been around a long time and its survived okay since 1971 when the song was released. Apparently, according to an article in the Tribune, they've never liked the fact that they were the target of the song, and it is pretty pointed, but still, seems like moving to strike is fairly pointless.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Sunday Morning Scene: Churches of the West: St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, Denver...
Churches of the West: St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, Denver...:
Yet another photograph taken from a car window, this is St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church in south Denver. This church, named after the Patron Saint of Writers, is also associated with a Catholic School which is about one block away. The church was built in 1911.
Yet another photograph taken from a car window, this is St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church in south Denver. This church, named after the Patron Saint of Writers, is also associated with a Catholic School which is about one block away. The church was built in 1911.
Friday, August 7, 2015
Stalin Central Time?
On August 15, the clocks in North Korea will go back half an hour. The country will officially enter a new time zone which it itself has created – according to the country's official KCNA news agency, it will be dubbed 'Pyongyang Time.' As with much of what the North Korean state does, the new time zone is being framed as a triumph over imperial history. Pointedly, Pyongyang Time will begin on 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese occupation.From a press report.
"The wicked Japanese imperialists committed such unpardonable crimes as depriving Korea of even its standard time while mercilessly trampling down its land," KCNA says.
Painted Bricks: What is it? Granger Wyoming
Painted Bricks: What is it? Granger Wyoming:
Which makes a building like this a peculiarity. When I took this photo, because of some of the features of the building, I thought it was an abandoned church, and I had intended to post it on our Churches of the West site. But later I reconsidered as I'm not so sure of that. It doesn't really have a steeple, not that all churches do. It has some very church like features, but this could also have served some other purpose. I'll note the other side made me, at the time, even more convinced this was a church, but as the house is now apparently used as a private residence, I didn't want to linger while photographing, particularly as a curious dog inside the building was taking note of me on the street. I should also note, however, that on one side is a branch of the Sweetwater County Library, and on the other side is the Granger town hall. Maybe this was a government building at one time? Maybe it was a school?
So, what do we have here? If you know, post the answer.
This is a fairly substantial structure in the small town of Granger, Wyoming.
Granger is an old locality for Wyoming. It was a Pony Express stage stop, and the stage building is still there (which unfortunately I didn't realize until after I'd driven out of town). The town is small, and the population of about 140 has stayed constant for the entire 20th Century and into the 21st.
Which makes a building like this a peculiarity. When I took this photo, because of some of the features of the building, I thought it was an abandoned church, and I had intended to post it on our Churches of the West site. But later I reconsidered as I'm not so sure of that. It doesn't really have a steeple, not that all churches do. It has some very church like features, but this could also have served some other purpose. I'll note the other side made me, at the time, even more convinced this was a church, but as the house is now apparently used as a private residence, I didn't want to linger while photographing, particularly as a curious dog inside the building was taking note of me on the street. I should also note, however, that on one side is a branch of the Sweetwater County Library, and on the other side is the Granger town hall. Maybe this was a government building at one time? Maybe it was a school?
So, what do we have here? If you know, post the answer.
Friday Farming: Agriphemera: Planning A Subsistence Homestead(1934)
I was doing some early morning net surfing, having awakened far too early this morning, and ran across this:
Agriphemera: Planning A Subsistence Homestead(1934): There was a time when the U.S. government encouraged families to live on a small section of rural land and provide for their own ...I'm really amazed that the U.S. Government was publishing an item on subsistence farming in 1934. I wonder, would this reflect conditions in the Great Depression?
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Beauty: Function or Form?
Heavily rusted mid 1970s Chevrolet pickup truck, with Colorado classic vehicle plate and rough trailer, but lifted and with good tires, on Homer Spit, Alaska.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
New York Times: In Zimbabwe, We Don't Cry for Lions
Excellent article from the New York Times on how people closer to nature, and closer to lions, actually view them.
The war comes to some doorsteps
This has hit the Denver (although not the local Wyoming) news today. The FBI has issued the following warning, which is being reprinted in various papers and on the net:
Middle-Eastern Males Approaching Family Members of US Military Personnel at their Homes In Colorado and Wyoming, as of June 2015
5 pages
For Official Use Only
July 2, 2015
Download
(U//FOUO) In May 2015, the wife of a US military member was approached in front of her home by two Middle-Eastern males. The men stated that she was the wife of a US interrogator. When she denied their claims, the men laughed. The two men left the area in a dark-colored, four-door sedan with two other Middle-Eastern males in the vehicle. The woman had observed the vehicle in the neighborhood on previous occasions.
(U//FOUO) Similar incidents in Wyoming have been reported to the FBI throughout June 2015. On numerous occasions, family members of military personnel were confronted by Middle-Eastern males in front of their homes. The males have attempted to obtain personal information about the military member and family members through intimidation. The family members have reported feeling scared.
(U//FOUO) To date, the men have not been identified and it is not known if all the incidents involve the same Middle-Eastern males. If you have any information that may assist the FBI in identifying these individuals, or reporting concerning additional incidents; in Colorado please contact the FBI Fort Collins Resident Agency at 970-663-1028, in Wyoming please contact the FBI Cheyenne Resident Agency at 307-632-6224.
(U) This report has been prepared by the DENVER Division of the FBI. Comments and queries may be addressed to the DENVER Division at 303-629-7171.
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