The Hat

This is the hat I bought my husband.

It is bright orange on top for hunting.



It also converts into a regular ol' hat.

24 Years (and counting)

Today is my 24th wedding anniversary.

On a cold and snowy Friday night in 1983, I stood before the altar in my wedding gown and a hat. My husband was dressed in silver tuxedo.




We married in front of a church full of people and attended a reception at the Country Club. We dashed off to a weekend honeymoon at a B&B in Bath County.

A funny addendum to our new life together happened two days later. We returned home on Sunday. That evening we went to Burger King, which I think was relatively newly opened at that time and one of the few restaurants open then.

Something made us both sick. This was our first illness together. My husband was really more ill than I and he didn't want me around him. He was really missing his mother, as I recall. We had no medicine because, well, we'd just joined our households and we each came from our parents' house. I trotted out to a 24-hour convenience store for some very expensive Pepto. Upon my return he told me he couldn't sleep with me in the bed.

Our first night in our new home, I ended up sleeping on the couch!

Now when he gets sick, which is seldom, he wants me to take care of him. Which I do, although I try to do it from far away because I am very susceptible.

Last year I made a list of 23 reasons I love my husband. I won't repeat it but here's reason number 24:

24. He is considerate.

It could be a very long list because he's a great fellow. He's not without his faults, but who isn't?

We weren't supposed to exchange gifts this year. The dishwasher went clunk a while back and we replaced it and then I bought him an expensive gun safe because the lock on his other (cheap) one went bad.

However, I bought him several pairs of jeans and a very expensive hat because I couldn't help myself. The hat cost $50, which for us is a phenomenal amount of money to spend on a hat. We just don't make such purchases. But he'd been looking for a new "go to hell" hat to hunt in, one with blaze orange. I ran across this hat while shopping yesterday and, knowing he'd been seeking just such a thing (only for like, $3.99), I made the purchase. I haven't told him what it cost.

So I wasn't expecting anything, but when he came in from work this morning he handed me a bag.

He bought me a new Nikon lens for my D40. This is a 200mm lens for shooting shots of animals around the house, he said. It's something I've been wanting and thought I might get for Christmas so this was unexpected.

I am very anxious to get outside and shoot some pictures!

Forgive Me

Wednesday afternoon around 5 p.m., I pulled in the driveway and spied this:



We haven't seen very many nice bucks this year. I rolled down the car window and took a couple of pictures.



Alas, I showed them to my husband. It is hunting season. Today is the first day of rifle season but yesterday hunting with a muzzle loader was legal.

My husband lay in wait for this animal yesterday, and now the spirit of the majestic deer seeks fodder in the heavens.

I feel quite guilty because the deer is dead, even though I did not shoot it. I had a role in his demise simply because I saw him.

I am hoping the great spirit will forgive me. I hate that I played a part in this.

I honor the deer that gave his life so that we may eat. The meat will not go wasted.

I will spare you the obligatory and gory "mighty hunter with dead deer" photos. It is far better to remember the animal in his glory, free and alive and prancing through the field.

Weather Changes

Yesterday it went from this:



to this:



all in a matter of hours!

The temperature dropped, too, of course, since we had snow showers.

This past weeks seems to have been the peak for fall colors, finally. It's the latest I think I've ever seen it. The oak trees on the farm, as you can see, are just now turning.

Unfortunately we still need rain very badly.

Also, the governor last night released the state wide burn ban. It remains in effect in my county, though, as far as I know. Be sure to check your local laws and use common sense if you burn outside. The ground is still really dry.

Thursday Thirteen

13 things I love about my husband:

1. He calls me several times a day.

2. The way he likes to hold hands when we watch TV together.

3. The look in his eye when he sees me.

4. The way he trusts me to pay all the bills.

5. The fact that's he 6' 2" and he towers over me.

6. His patience with me when I'm all excited about some silly something or another.

7. The way he lets me find my own way.

8. His tolerance for my cooking (or lack thereof).

9. His willingness to do home repairs.

10. His willingness to help sometimes with the housework.

11. His intelligence about issues great and small.

12. His passion when he gets on a roll about some particular incident about which he has an opinion.

13. The fact that he loves me back!

This One Got Away

The Mad Gasser

Around Christmas 1933, in my county, not far from where I live, actually, reports began trickling in of an intruder who entered people's homes and then left a noxious gas that made people ill.

After the first incident, more appeared. The intruder made the rounds of the county, apparently sickening first one household and then the next.

Police couldn't catch him.

The phantom gasser was never identified. Nor was the gas he allegedly used identified.

This was during the Great Depression. Times were hard. Folks were facing a new year without knowing if they'd be able to eat.

Local media, which consisted of newspapers at the time, wrote about the story for months. Then it went away.

In 1944, similar events took place in Mattoon, Illinois. People panicked.

The media picked up that story, too.

This last incident occurred during World War II. Times were hard.

Both incidents have been attributed to mass hysteria.

Mass hysteria is a condition where unexplained physical symptoms arise in many people in a region. It's a collective delusion with visible symptoms.

Incidents involving mass hysteria are catalogued throughout history. There's the Salem Witch Trials, , possessed nuns in France, poisoning scares, the War of the Worlds incident with Orsen Well's radio show.

It's not unheard of at all.

Why do I bring this up?

I am wondering if the incidents at a local high school, where students are experiencing "twitching" and other unusual symptoms for which there are no explanations, might indeed be a case of mass hysteria.

I have heard a few news organizations wonder if it is a hoax, but I think that mass hysteria better describes it. It likely is a reaction to the state of the world today.

Think about it. On April 16 there were multiple murders at Virginia Tech. Combine that with the recent reports of MRSA that have had everyone scrambling to wash every surface with bleach.

Add to that the constant fear mongering from the federal government (war with Iran, flu pandemic, Orange alerts, etc.), religion (it's the end-time, after all), and concerns about drought and forest fires and who is bullying whom via text messaging, and you can see how everyone might be suffering from a bit of PTSD or hysteria.

According to Wikepedia, here are six things that must be in place for mass hysteria:

1. "Regional conditions must be conducive" to the mass hysteria's plausibility.
2. "Channels of communication must be available for the reports to spread."
3. "Social and economic stress, as well as a lack of faith in the authorities,predispose people to embrace unconventional interpretations."
4. "[E]very culture has marginal traditions that offer alternative explanations."
5. "A triggering episode often serves as the pebble that commences an avalanche of reports."
6. "[O]utbreaks of unusual manifestations are aided by breakdowns in official control."

I think we can make a case for every one of those six conditions. First we had the Tech shootings and then MRSA (1). Both were widely reported ad nauseum (2). We have high gas prices, and the price of food is skyrocketing; it's going to be a lean Christmas for a lot of people this year. Nobody is expecting the government to do anything to help the lower classes (3). We're looking for the "other explanations" right now - toxins, in particular, are thought to be the problem at the moment (4). As best I can tell, it started with one report among the students and then spiraled (5). The officials so far aren't able to figure out what is happening, and as for other societal breakdowns, well, take a look around at invasions of privacy, the police state atmosphere at airports, the inability to attend a sporting event without being searched, etc. See if that doesn't make (6) sound likely.

I am not making light of the symptoms or what is going on at this local high school. I think it is every bit as real as any labeled disorder and these children are indeed sick.

Parents certainly have a right and a responsibility to do what they think they must to protect their children. The reactions from everyone appears to be warranted.

But we often discount how stress can manifest itself and how the psyche deals with issues that people, especially young people, cannot easily assimilate.

It has to come out somewhere.

What I'm wondering is if we're looking in the wrong place. Maybe it's not a sick building.

Maybe it's a sick society. Maybe these children are like the canaries in the coal mine.

Maybe we should listen to them chirp.

The Idiot Award

I gave myself an Idiot Award today.

Here's what happened.

My husband phoned before 9 a.m., mad as a hornet because a hot air balloon had drifted over the farm while he was trying to round up cattle to take to market.

The cattle stampeded and ran all over the place, causing him untold misery while he huffed and puffed and chased them every which a way. Hot air ballooning can be a problem sometimes for farmers.

He was not a happy camper.

When he called, he wanted the number of the county administrator's office so he could lodge a complaint.

"They're probably not in, today is a holiday," I told him. (This is very important to note for my Idiot Award.)

After listening to much muttering and fussing from him, I hung up the phone. I had to be at a ground-breaking ceremony for an article for the newspaper at 10 a.m. It was about a quarter to nine.

I decided to hustle to the newspaper office, which is five miles away (and in the other direction) to quickly take care of some business.

I breezed in the office just after 9 a.m. The editor was not yet in and I needed a word with him. I made some copies, bothered the typesetter, and then decided to leave.

I thought I'd go to the library and get a new book on tape.

I pulled in the library lot. Silly me. The library was closed.

Of course! It's a HOLIDAY.

What to do, what to do. I had 45 minutes to kill until I had someplace to be.

I know, I thought, I'll go to the grocery store and just not buy anything that needs refrigeration. So I sped down the road.

A few miles passed and I thought, Oh! I forgot the checks I need to put in the bank! I'd better do that.

So I turned down a road that would take me back towards my house, and off I went to home. I had just enough time, I thought.

I raced in the house and began filling out the bank deposit slips. As soon as I dated the form, I realized ... the banks are closed.

IT IS A HOLIDAY.

(I realize I could have used the ATM but I am old fashioned in that way. Don't use the ATM, don't pay the bills online. Hard to change my ways.)

So. By this time I was pretty sure I had the Idiot Award sewed up.

I hustled off to my ground-breaking, took my pictures, talked to the folks. Headed back home, stopped by the grocery, ran through there quickly.

I was home by lunch time.

My husband came in, still muttering about the hot air balloon. He asked about my morning and I told him, somewhat exasperated, about my forgetting about the holiday.

Then, as he was leaving, I reminded him to check the mail.

He looked at me funny. "The mail doesn't run today," he reminded me.

IT IS A HOLIDAY.

At that point, I gave myself the Idiot Award, and he laughed at me.

I laughed too. What else was there to do?

Veteran's Day

My father is a veteran of the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Army. He used to tell a story about serving meals somewhere far away from home. As he dished out potatoes, he spied his older brother, a higher ranking officer, coming down the chow line. When Jerry reached him, my father put just a dab of 'taters on his plate. When Jerry started to bark out the order for more potatoes, he looked up and found himself bellowing at his brother.

He jumped over the serving line to hug him.

Two of my uncles on my mother's side served in the Air Force. One served in the Gulf War; the other did his duty in Germany. I do not know either of them very well.

My grandfather on my father's side served in World War II. Grandpa died in 1989. He had black lung from working in the West Virginia coal mines in his younger days.

My grandfather had hopes of being a writer but never published. Prior to his death he sent me about 100 pages of writings and asked me not to share them with anyone else until he died. I respected his wishes and eventually made a little book which I gave to my father and other relatives. He told me just before he died that he had more things to send me but I never received them and I don't know what happened to them. He lived in California when he died.

In my grandfather's writings, the only pieces he wrote in third person were those he wrote about the war. I think it was too difficult for him to use first person because he didn't want to acknowledge what he had been through.

He served in France and was part of the push into Germany in 1945.

So in honor of those who fought to defend a better way of life, I present to you a small piece of my grandfather's memories about what it was like to have served in World War II. His name is Joe.

Warning: Some of this is a little gruesome, but then, war is.

The War

On February 7, 1945, a young man of about twenty six was ushered before an army captain in Hatviller, France, a small town west of the German border. He had been in the army approximately six months, going through infantry basic training, and had been sent over seas. As an infantry soldier he had left behind a wife and three small boys. After proper salutes and the briefing, he was sent to the front lines, where he joined two other guys in a muddy foxhole.

Tony Stokes and John Grindle looked him over, and decided they liked what they saw. He was sort of a quiet fellow, about medium height with gray eyes and a shock of brown hair. John was a regular army guy with about eight years and he had been on the line for about three months. Prior to that he had been in the transportation department, but had got butted from a staff sergeant to a private and sent to the front because of a drunken brawl, where he had sent a first sergeant to the hospital with a broken nose. Tony, like Joe, had been in the army about six months and also left a wife and two daughters at home. All three men were from the south, and all had strong feelings about America.

Joe had been a coal miner from West Virginia. Tony had been a warehouse long shore man from Mobile, Alabama. John had been a peanut farmer from Georgia, and all were prejudiced toward yankees and black men. After being together about three days and exchanging information about each other, they were beginning to form a friendship that would last the rest of their lives.

They were in the 100th Die 3971 of Regiment, 3rd battalion. COK third platoon and third squad. When Joe had arrived the third squad had been dug in on a small hill overlooking a valley. The foxhole had been enlarged enough to accommodate a 30 caliber machine gun with a field telephone. The hole had about eight inches of water in it from the melting snow and rain.

John and Tony was sleeping outside in raincoats and shelters houses, only using the hole when the artillery started. Joe took one look at the water, took out his shovel and dug a small ditch at the bottom of the hole and drained the water out. He then, with his bayonet, cut several armloads of pine boughs, laid them in the hole, spread out his shelter house and made a dry bed. In the meantime, John and Tony was watching all of this. Tony said to John, "why in the hell didn't we think of that?"

Joe, in his West Virginia hillbilly way, replied, "You all didn't have sense enough." They didn't know Joe had been wrote up in this camp Joseph T. Robinson team camp news as being the best camouflage fox hole expert in the camp.

On about the third day, about 4 a.m., Joe was standing guard at the machine gun. The phone clicked and Joe lifted the receiver. The low voice of Lt. Nolon came over the wire telling Joe to be on the alert, as there was some kind of commotion down by the river. Joe strained his eyes trying to see through the fog and mist, but could see no movement of any kind. Suddenly a flare shot up from the other end of the line, and a gun opened fire, staffing along the riverfront.

Then all hell broke loose as the whole platoon opened fire, showering the valley with a wall of fire. The command came down to stop firing. When daylight came and the fog lifted, you could see a flock of sheep had drifted down from the hills, and that was what was making the noise. After that the third platoon was called the sheep brigade.

The water the men had been drinking came from a small mountain stream that was flowing approximately 20 foot from their hole. The snow had started to melt, and John had went upstream to relieve himself. Joe and Tony heard a loud yell from John. Grabbing their weapons, they started up to see what the matter was.

John was sitting down throwing up and at his feet laying in the water was a dead German soldier with the top of his head blown off. The small stream of water the men had been drinking from was flowing overtop of his half blown off head. The thought of drinking that water was just too much for John.

The next morning orders came down to get ready to move out, as a push was starting to crack the ziefreig line after loading up the machine gun and a weapons carrier, we had removed the phone and everyone mustered up.

The push started about 8 a.m. Joe and Tony had discarded everything but their shelter houses and raincoats. John had decided he was going to wear his heavy overcoat. As they proceeded up the muddy road, balls of mud would accumulate on John's overcoat, and he would cut off about six inches of the bottom. After a while it was cut off up to his waist, which left him with a good heavy top jacket.

That started a trend, and it wasn't long before the whole platoon was wearing the top half of their army overcoats. They named them after John and called them Johncoats.

D&E: Week 1

So, a week after lamenting my lack of weight loss, let's see how I'm doing.

I exercised six of the last seven days. Every morning at 7 a.m. during the weekdays I kept an appointment with Denise Austin and her Lifetime TV exercise show, and I have done the exercises to the best of my ability.

Then the next half hour I have either lifted weights, laid in the floor or on the exercise ball for various exercises, rode the exercise bike, or walked on the treadmill.

I missed Saturday morning. This morning I lifted weights, used the exercise ball, and did 10 minutes on the bike. I need to do more on the bike and with walking.

I made minimal changes to my diet all week. This is where I am hurting. To my credit, most of the things I put in my mouth are healthy so at least I am fat on healthy food. If that makes a difference. It probably doesn't.

My feet are still a bit sore. I saw the podiatrist Wednesday and she urged me to take an anti-inflammatory medicine. She had given me a sample of Celexa which I had refused to take, but I gave in and started it Thursday night. It does seem to help, and so far no stomach upset like I get with ibuprofen.

I also want to note for my own reminder that I have read that the medicine I take for asthma can cause weight gain. I need to ask my doctor about this next time I am in.

Weight loss: 0 ZERO, NADA, NOTHING. (At least I didn't gain anything.)

A Whiter Shade of Male

However the elections went this week, there will be no women on my county Board of Supervisors.

That’s because no woman stood for election. And none of the supervisor incumbents are female.

With the retirement of the lone woman on the Board of Supervisors, the higher octaves will resound within the county courthouse only from “assistants.”

I always felt better knowing a woman was on the Board. I hoped she pulled strings and made passionate arguments behind the scenes to ensure that the females of this community were heard.

I hoped that as our white county fathers looked at economic development opportunities, she made them think about the employment situation of all of the county’s citizens, not just those able to grow a beard.

I was dismayed that so many incumbents ran unchallenged on the ballot (write-ins not withstanding), because we deserve a choice. I was also unhappy because no female chose to run for office. When the polls closed Tuesday night, for sure we knew we would start 2008 with a slate of five male supervisors. The good ol’ boy network is in place at least until the next election.

This lack of diversity runs throughout county government.

We have a male county administrator and two male deputy county administrators.

The Finance Manager is a guy, too, as is the head of Public Works, the Zoning Administrator, the Building Inspector, the Director of Parks and Recreation, the Library Director, the Emergency Services Director and the County Attorney.

All five members of the Planning Commission, appointed by the supervisors, are dudes, not dudettes. So too are all five members of the Board of Zoning Appeals, also appointed.

The county’s Constitutional Officers – Treasurer, Sheriff, Commissioner of Revenue, County Clerk, and Commonwealth’s Attorney – do not shave their legs.

The General District Court and Circuit Court judges, as well as all of the county’s magistrates and the members of the Electoral Board, are men.

The school superintendent shaves his face in the morning.

The mayors of all three towns – Buchanan, Troutville, Fincastle – could walk around shirtless and not receive a citation.

Women turn up in county government in appointed positions which have little notoriety – Library Board, of which I am currently chair, Social Services, and the Industrial Development Authority.

Women run mowers for Parks and Rec – I have seen them – but do not serve on that board. Nor do they serve on the county’s transportation committee.

We serve the men in charge. We are the county administrator’s administrative assistant, the assistants to the deputy county administrators, the deputy court clerks, deputy sheriff’s or investigators, deputy treasurers, deputy commissioners, assistant attorneys, administrative assistants.

We do not hold the power.

The major exception is the School Board, where two females (only males ran as write-in candidates in one district and two other male-held seats ran unopposed) help mould the policies that define how we bring up our children. The School Board, I must point out, has no taxing authority and cannot do something major, like build a school, without permission from the five (male) county supervisors.

Several of the towns also have a council woman or two. Perhaps smaller government allows for more diversity.

The other exceptions are Director of Social Services, county voter registrar and the county Health Department Director, positions held by women. Those are state jobs, however.

Essentially the county is (not quite) a microcosm of the country. We have a female Speaker of the House (Nancy Pelosi) and Head of the State Department (Condoleezza Rice) in the federal government and a smattering of female congressmen and senators with a similar number at the state level. (The state has a male governor. Our county’s state representatives, whoever won, speak in baritones, too. In case you hadn’t noticed.)

The supervisors, including the lucky winner in the one seat that had a race, seem like nice guys. I have worked with the incumbents for several years and recently interviewed the hopefuls. None strike me as being petty or indifferent to women.

But they have little clue about what women face in the workforce or elsewhere – just like I can only speculate how difficult, or not, it is to be a man. We may not like it, but gender plays a role in everything we do, from the way we’re perceived at the grocery store to the amount of respect we garner when we step to the podium to object to some big developer’s project.

I know there are witty and intelligent women in this county. I meet them every day; they are the same women I described who work in the lower levels of government. Some are moms at home taking care of their children. Many run small businesses here. Others volunteer at school, strive to conserve county resources and historical structures – or drive to work in the city.

But on the whole we do not lead and we do not hold positions of power.

I wonder why.


**A version of this ran as a column in The Fincastle Herald on November 7, 2007. I made some editorial changes for the blog which consist of eliminating a name or two, mostly because I think I would be unhappy to find my name unannounced on somebody's blog and don't want to subject someone to that.**

Scared Yet?

I'm sure I will be accused of a radical reading, but it seems to me if House Resolution 1955 passes, and I am sure it will, anyone who says (or maybe even thinks) "somebody should to go to Washington and kick Congress's a** for making such stupid decisions" may as well hold out their wrists for the handcuffs.

Joe McCarthy is probably wriggling with joy in his grave.

You might also check out this article:
When Does the Lesser Evil Become Just Evil?

And while you're at it, read this:
A Paper Coup
and this:
Rapture Rescue
and this:
Midnight in America
and this:
Blackwater: Are You Scared Yet?

At this point I am more afraid of my "government" than anything else.

***
Here's HR 1955 - Read it carefully.

110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1955

←→
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 24, 2007
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
AN ACT
To prevent homegrown terrorism, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. PREVENTION OF VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM.
(a) In General- Title VIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 361 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle:
`Subtitle J--Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism
`SEC. 899A. DEFINITIONS.
`For purposes of this subtitle:
`(1) COMMISSION- The term `Commission' means the National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism established under section 899C.
`(2) VIOLENT RADICALIZATION- The term `violent radicalization' means the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.
`(3) HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism' means the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.
`(4) IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE- The term `ideologically based violence' means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual's political, religious, or social beliefs.
`SEC. 899B. FINDINGS.
`The Congress finds the following:
`(1) The development and implementation of methods and processes that can be utilized to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is critical to combating domestic terrorism.
`(2) The promotion of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence exists in the United States and poses a threat to homeland security.
`(3) The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens.
`(4) While the United States must continue its vigilant efforts to combat international terrorism, it must also strengthen efforts to combat the threat posed by homegrown terrorists based and operating within the United States.
`(5) Understanding the motivational factors that lead to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence is a vital step toward eradicating these threats in the United States.
`(6) Preventing the potential rise of self radicalized, unaffiliated terrorists domestically cannot be easily accomplished solely through traditional Federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts, and can benefit from the incorporation of State and local efforts.
`(7) Individuals prone to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence span all races, ethnicities, and religious beliefs, and individuals should not be targeted based solely on race, ethnicity, or religion.
`(8) Any measure taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism in the United States should not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, or civil liberties of United States citizens or lawful permanent residents.
`(9) Certain governments, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have significant experience with homegrown terrorism and the United States can benefit from lessons learned by those nations.
`SEC. 899C. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE.
`(a) Establishment- There is established within the legislative branch of the Government the National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism.
`(b) Purpose- The purposes of the Commission are the following:
`(1) Examine and report upon the facts and causes of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States, including United States connections to non-United States persons and networks, violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in prison, individual or `lone wolf' violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence, and other faces of the phenomena of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence that the Commission considers important.
`(2) Build upon and bring together the work of other entities and avoid unnecessary duplication, by reviewing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of--
`(A) the Center of Excellence established or designated under section 899D, and other academic work, as appropriate;
`(B) Federal, State, local, or tribal studies of, reviews of, and experiences with violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence; and
`(C) foreign government studies of, reviews of, and experiences with violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence.
`(c) Composition of Commission- The Commission shall be composed of 10 members appointed for the life of the Commission, of whom--
`(1) one member shall be appointed by the President from among officers or employees of the executive branch and private citizens of the United States;
`(2) one member shall be appointed by the Secretary;
`(3) one member shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;
`(4) one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;
`(5) one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
`(6) one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;
`(7) one member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;
`(8) one member shall be appointed by the ranking minority member of the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;
`(9) one member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
`(10) one member shall be appointed by the ranking minority member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
`(d) Chair and Vice Chair- The Commission shall elect a Chair and a Vice Chair from among its members.
`(e) Qualifications- Individuals shall be selected for appointment to the Commission solely on the basis of their professional qualifications, achievements, public stature, experience, and expertise in relevant fields, including, but not limited to, behavioral science, constitutional law, corrections, counterterrorism, cultural anthropology, education, information technology, intelligence, juvenile justice, local law enforcement, organized crime, Islam and other world religions, sociology, or terrorism.
`(f) Deadline for Appointment- All members of the Commission shall be appointed no later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this subtitle.
`(g) Quorum and Meetings- The Commission shall meet and begin the operations of the Commission not later than 30 days after the date on which all members have been appointed or, if such meeting cannot be mutually agreed upon, on a date designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Each subsequent meeting shall occur upon the call of the Chair or a majority of its members. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings.
`(h) Authority of Individuals to Act for Commission- Any member of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action that the Commission is authorized to take under this Act.
`(i) Powers of Commission- The powers of the Commission shall be as follows:
`(1) IN GENERAL-
`(A) HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE- The Commission or, on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties.
`(B) CONTRACTING- The Commission may, to such extent and in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties under this section.
`(2) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Commission may request directly from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes of this section. The head of each such department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality shall, to the extent practicable and authorized by law, furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the Commission, upon request made by the Chair of the Commission, by the chair of any subcommittee created by a majority of the Commission, or by any member designated by a majority of the Commission.
`(B) RECEIPT, HANDLING, STORAGE, AND DISSEMINATION- The Committee and its staff shall receive, handle, store, and disseminate information in a manner consistent with the operative statutes, regulations, and Executive orders that govern the handling, storage, and dissemination of such information at the department, bureau, agency, board, commission, office, independent establishment, or instrumentality that responds to the request.
`(j) Assistance From Federal Agencies-
`(1) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION- The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis administrative support and other services for the performance of the Commission's functions.
`(2) OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES- In addition to the assistance required under paragraph (1), departments and agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission such services, funds, facilities, and staff as they may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law.
`(k) Postal Services- The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as departments and agencies of the United States.
`(l) Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act- The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission.
`(m) Public Meetings-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall hold public hearings and meetings to the extent appropriate.
`(2) PROTECTION OF INFORMATION- Any public hearings of the Commission shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection of information provided to or developed for or by the Commission as required by any applicable statute, regulation, or Executive order including subsection (i)(2)(B).
`(n) Staff of Commission-
`(1) APPOINTMENT AND COMPENSATION- The Chair of the Commission, in consultation with the Vice Chair and in accordance with rules adopted by the Commission, may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may exceed the maximum rate of pay for GS-15 under the General Schedule.
`(2) STAFF EXPERTISE- Individuals shall be selected for appointment as staff of the Commission on the basis of their expertise in one or more of the fields referred to in subsection (e).
`(3) PERSONNEL AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The executive director and any employees of the Commission shall be employees under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 85, 87, 89, and 90 of that title.
`(B) MEMBERS OF COMMISSION- Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to apply to members of the Commission.
`(4) DETAILEES- Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement from the Commission, and during such detail shall retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption.
`(5) CONSULTANT SERVICES- The Commission may procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
`(6) EMPHASIS ON SECURITY CLEARANCES- The Commission shall make it a priority to hire as employees and retain as contractors and detailees individuals otherwise authorized by this section who have active security clearances.
`(o) Commission Personnel Matters-
`(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS- Each member of the Commission who is not an employee of the government shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties of the Commission.
`(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES- While away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.
`(3) TRAVEL ON ARMED FORCES CONVEYANCES- Members and personnel of the Commission may travel on aircraft, vehicles, or other conveyances of the Armed Forces of the United States when such travel is necessary in the performance of a duty of the Commission, unless the cost of commercial transportation is less expensive.
`(4) TREATMENT OF SERVICE FOR PURPOSES OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS- A member of the Commission who is an annuitant otherwise covered by section 8344 or 8468 of title 5, United States Code, by reason of membership on the Commission shall not be subject to the provisions of such section with respect to membership on the Commission.
`(5) VACANCIES- A vacancy on the Commission shall not affect its powers and shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. The appointment of the replacement member shall be made not later than 60 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.
`(p) Security Clearances- The heads of appropriate departments and agencies of the executive branch shall cooperate with the Commission to expeditiously provide Commission members and staff with appropriate security clearances to the extent possible under applicable procedures and requirements.
`(q) Reports-
`(1) FINAL REPORT- Not later than 18 months after the date on which the Commission first meets, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a final report of its findings and conclusions, legislative recommendations for immediate and long-term countermeasures to violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence, and measures that can be taken to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence from developing and spreading within the United States, and any final recommendations for any additional grant programs to support these purposes. The report may also be accompanied by a classified annex.
`(2) INTERIM REPORTS- The Commission shall submit to the President and Congress--
`(A) by not later than 6 months after the date on which the Commission first meets, a first interim report on--
`(i) its findings and conclusions and legislative recommendations for the purposes described in paragraph (1); and
`(ii) its recommendations on the feasibility of a grant program established and administered by the Secretary for the purpose of preventing, disrupting, and mitigating the effects of violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence and, if such a program is feasible, recommendations on how grant funds should be used and administered; and
`(B) by not later than 6 months after the date on which the Commission submits the interim report under subparagraph (A), a second interim report on such matters.
`(3) INDIVIDUAL OR DISSENTING VIEWS- Each member of the Commission may include in each report under this subsection the individual additional or dissenting views of the member.
`(4) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY- The Commission shall release a public version of each report required under this subsection.
`(r) Availability of Funding- Amounts made available to the Commission to carry out this section shall remain available until the earlier of the expenditure of the amounts or the termination of the Commission.
`(s) Termination of Commission- The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the Commission submits its final report.
`SEC. 899D. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES.
`(a) Establishment- The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish or designate a university-based Center of Excellence for the Study of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States (hereinafter referred to as `Center') following the merit-review processes and procedures and other limitations that have been previously established for selecting and supporting University Programs Centers of Excellence. The Center shall assist Federal, State, local and tribal homeland security officials through training, education, and research in preventing violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism in the United States. In carrying out this section, the Secretary may choose to either create a new Center designed exclusively for the purpose stated herein or identify and expand an existing Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence so that a working group is exclusively designated within the existing Center of Excellence to achieve the purpose set forth in subsection (b).
`(b) Purpose- It shall be the purpose of the Center to study the social, criminal, political, psychological, and economic roots of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism in the United States and methods that can be utilized by Federal, State, local, and tribal homeland security officials to mitigate violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism.
`(c) Activities- In carrying out this section, the Center shall--
`(1) contribute to the establishment of training, written materials, information, analytical assistance and professional resources to aid in combating violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism;
`(2) utilize theories, methods and data from the social and behavioral sciences to better understand the origins, dynamics, and social and psychological aspects of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism;
`(3) conduct research on the motivational factors that lead to violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism; and
`(4) coordinate with other academic institutions studying the effects of violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism where appropriate.
`SEC. 899E. PREVENTING VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE EFFORTS.
`(a) International Effort- The Secretary shall, in cooperation with the Department of State, the Attorney General, and other Federal Government entities, as appropriate, conduct a survey of methodologies implemented by foreign nations to prevent violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism in their respective nations.
`(b) Implementation- To the extent that methodologies are permissible under the Constitution, the Secretary shall use the results of the survey as an aid in developing, in consultation with the Attorney General, a national policy in the United States on addressing radicalization and homegrown terrorism.
`(c) Reports to Congress- The Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that provides--
`(1) a brief description of the foreign partners participating in the survey; and
`(2) a description of lessons learned from the results of the survey and recommendations implemented through this international outreach.
`SEC. 899F. PROTECTING CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES WHILE PREVENTING IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM.
`(a) In General- The Department of Homeland Security's efforts to prevent ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism as described herein shall not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, or civil liberties of United States citizens or lawful permanent residents.
`(b) Commitment to Racial Neutrality- The Secretary shall ensure that the activities and operations of the entities created by this subtitle are in compliance with the Department of Homeland Security's commitment to racial neutrality.
`(c) Auditing Mechanism- The Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Officer of the Department of Homeland Security shall develop and implement an auditing mechanism to ensure that compliance with this subtitle does not violate the constitutional rights, civil rights, or civil liberties of any racial, ethnic, or religious group, and shall include the results of audits under such mechanism in its annual report to Congress required under section 705.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting at the end of the items relating to title VIII the following:
`Subtitle J--Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism
`Sec. 899A. Definitions.
`Sec. 899B. Findings.
`Sec. 899C. National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Ideologically Based Violence.
`Sec. 899D. Center of Excellence for the Study of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism in the United States.
`Sec. 899E. Preventing violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism through international cooperative efforts.
`Sec. 899F. Protecting civil rights and civil liberties while preventing ideologically based violence and homegrown terrorism.'.
Passed the House of Representatives October 23, 2007.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk1st SessionH. R. 1955AN ACTTo prevent homegrown terrorism, and for other purposes.

Dona Nobis Pacem

The Peace Globe initiative is a blogger movement to promote world peace. Many bloggers are participating in the hopes that things will change.

Poverty. Hunger. Cold. Wars. Global Warming. Health. Wrongful imprisonment. Greed. Corruption. Ignorance.

It's a long list of troubles. The issues circle this ol' globe and not a single area, including my own, is immune.

I believe there can be a better world. A world where resources are shared and not hoarded by the few. A world where the land is respected, not raped. A world where the small and weak are regarded with wonder, not tramped on and forgotten.

There must be another way. The one we're using isn't working very well.

Seemingly one little voice crying out amidst the turmoil won't be heard, but maybe the hundreds, thousands, millions of us who know that the world can be a nicer place if we only decide it will be can raise our voices until the sound smashes the sound barrier.

Maybe then those with the authority will listen. Because that is the power of prayer, and I pray every day for a better and more just world. Please join me.

Amen.

A Tragic Tale

The news made the round in whispers about town yesterday.

Dead, they said. For a long time. Not missed for weeks.

He was about 26.

You know him - or maybe someone like him. He lived across from the school in the more run-down community. Bill - not his real name, but I know his real name - was raised by his great-grandparents following who-knows what events that precipitated such an upbringing.

He attended the same schools as I did, though years later. He haunted the halls that my friends' children walked, played ball with them. I understand he was a slugger in the rec leagues, a fierce hitter, and a force on the basketball court.

He had no way to go to college. No money for that. On top of that he had epilepsy. Finding work was difficult.

He ended up at a retailer and a fast food joint. His great-grandparents passed away. He remained in their home, living without electricity.

He was one of the working poor. Right here in my town. He was a shadow, one of those people you see but don't see. You know someone lives in that house where the lights never shine, but ... it's not your business.

It should be our business, shouldn't it? Here in this county where you can't travel down any country road without running across a church? Where the Christian crowd is such that the churches have to spend their fortunes on bigger buildings and more ministers ... and not on those who might need a hand up?

Shouldn't we have done something?

I cannot believe it. To die and to lie for weeks before someone finally thinks to miss you. Can you imagine how that must've been? To be that lonely? No one to call. No one to cry out to? No one to hold at night? Not even a friend who's only a name on a blog.

Such sadness that must have entailed.

I did not know this young man personally; I never met him. But I feel guilty for his death all the same. I drove by his house. I saw but did not see.

I did nothing.

It's easy to think that this can't happen to you or to someone you know. So easy to believe that the entire world lives in your comfort zone. Reality is hard and difficult, dirty and dangerous and damned near enough to drive you insane if you think on it, so it's best forgotten.

But we need to think on it. In a land so full of wealth, how can we stand back and let one person go another day without meeting basic needs?

I don't know if this story will be told anywhere else besides here. Someone who actually knew Bill could certainly tell it better. I know the story is making the rounds locally, in whispers, with heads shaking and a few people resolving to do more.

How many deaths will it take, I wonder, before we all make that resolution?

Diet and Exercise

My efforts to lose weight are proving fruitless.

About 24 years ago, when I weighed a whole lot less, I fit into a very tiny-waisted wedding dress.

Today I suppose I'd need a barrel.

My weight began to creep up almost immediately after I married, but I kept it in check. My husband also has weight issues and his favorite diet when we first married was the Scarsdale Diet, which was very similar to the Atkins Diet.

So occasionally we'd do some half-hearted Scarsdale Diet and things would be lovely.

Then it was time to have a baby, and endometriosis reared an ugly, painful head. Infertility loomed. I was 23 years old.

The doctors put me on a variety of drugs, some of which mimicked pregnancy in an effort to "kill" the endometriosis so I could then have a baby.

My weight blossomed like a stink flower overfed on Miracle Grow.

Then at the tender of age of 29 came the hysterectomy and hormone pills. Boom. Instant menopause. Also instant migraines and more weight gain.

My weight crept and crept. Up and up. Conspicuously missing was exercise - I wasn't raised to exercise. I lived on a farm, I slung hay bales when I was young.

But I no longer did those activities. Hiking, something I loved to do but my husband did not, became infrequent because I feared to go by myself as the world churned with rage.

I worked part time and full time jobs and put myself through college. I stayed busy but my work was not physical.

In August 2003 I took a trip to Williamsburg. The weather was hot and humid. I huffed and puffed during the entire trip.

I vowed to lose weight. But nothing happened.

My husband went on the Atkins Diet in 2004 and his pounds fell off. I followed suit and lost weight too. I also gained problems with depression and constipation. I felt terrible.

I went off the diet. But even today, bread makes only rare appearances in our house; we eat much better and healthier. I began buying organic - fresh fruits, veggies. Not so much processed food. Fewer snacks.

I attempted to exercise in spurts, but nothing stuck. I couldn't find the time and I didn't think it would help.

Finally, in December 2006, I began walking very slowly on the treadmill. Before this I would attempt to do miles at a time and become frustrated when I couldn't, so I didn't go back. This time I just did five minutes and called it a day. Then I did seven minutes. Then 10.

In a month I was doing a 1.5 miles every day. I began to lose weight. Things looked good. I was feeling better.

Then the dizziness struck. I couldn't keep my balance when I was walking the floor, much less a treadmill. Desperate to keep my momentum, I bought Denise Austin tapes. I did them as best I could. A couple of times I lost my balance and fell on my face, but I persevered. In July I was able to get back on the treadmill.

In August 2006, I developed shin splints. This hurt a lot.

I bought a recumbent exercise bike so I could get off my feet. I began lifting small weights.

Finally in November I hopped back on the treadmill. I worked myself back up to 20 minutes a day. Then Wham. February of this year brought me plantar fasciitis that turned into a heel spur.

And here I am, still limping along. I am walking 10 minutes a day on the treadmill, sitting 10 minutes on the bike. Occasionally I go to the sports complex and walk around it twice, which is supposed to be about a mile. Some days I make it around four times before my feet hurt so bad I can hardly make it to the car.

I also lift weights. I do some exercises on a medicine ball, I get in the floor and stretch. Occasionally I do a Tai Chi routine with a video tape. What's really missing, though, is good cardio and I know that.

My feet are still hurting, though they are better. I ignore it and do the best I can.

The weight has crept back. I'm not quite where I was in 2005 but I am close. I crave sugar a lot. I try not to give in but often do. I eat 100 times better than I did even four years ago, but the weight keeps coming.

Despite the return of the flab, I feel better than I did 2 years ago. I have more energy and I am stronger. I can walk longer distances without feeling winded. The effort has had tangible results.

Just not the results I want.

I'm not asking for solutions, I'm just trying to put it out here where I can look at it. To many people I am sure I haven't done enough. Not enough willpower, some think. No self control.

Maybe they are right.

But for me, the changes I have made have been difficult and in some respects incredible. I know I can do more, if the injuries will halt long enough for me to figure it out. And I really want to find a way to change my eating habits that doesn't leave me feeling depressed, or sick or weak or any of the other things that diets often do to me.

I have to be able to think and work and get through the day.

I am not looking for longevity. I figure I will live as long as I am supposed to. But I would like to feel good while I'm on this earth. I'd like to be able to walk to McAfee's Knob without wondering if someone will have to ride up in a 'Gator to get me back down.

I consider myself to be in terrible shape. Mrs. E., bless her heart, told me during our recent first "get to know a fellow blogger" meeting that I didn't look anything like she expected from my descriptions. She did not think I looked as bad as I believe I do. Her words made me feel a little better about myself.

I would like to lose 15 pounds by Christmas. I think this is doable, even with Thanksgiving.

I just don't have any idea how to go about it at this particular moment.

Keeping Warm

A friend who lives in England told me she keeps her house at 57 degrees at night and 67 degrees during the day in winter (after I translated for Celsius, which is what they use there).

in the past we have kept our house at 68 degrees in winter, night and day. However, with the price of electricity rising - APCO has a request before the SCC and has been granted leave to go ahead and start charging higher rates again - we've been looking at other options.

We heat with a heat pump and a furnace. The electric bill used to cost us about $200 in the winter. This past January/February/March, it hit $300+, and we expect it to do the same in the upcoming season. It's quite a punch in the paycheck.

We don't quite know what uses all the power. Our house is not that large - 1,500 square feet - but there you go. Maybe we don't have enough insulation or something.

So we're considering keeping the house between 60 and 64 degrees. However, 64 degrees is cold for me to sit and work at my desk. I huddle in a blanket but my fingers freeze and typing slows down. I have an electric space heater that I use but my husband swears it takes as much power to run the small electric heater as the furnace (although I don't believe that myself). The government differs with my husband's thoughts on this matter. It says if you cut the thermostat back and use a space heater in one room you save money.

We also have a fireplace with a stove insert. The wood stove requires the built-in fan to run by virtue of its design. The stove insert blasts heat into the house, so much so that it makes the living room nearly unusable. The heat traps itself in the front room. We have to run electric fans to blow it through the rest of the house.

The wood stove is nowhere near the room I use for an office; I am in the other end of the house.

I am not sure we're gaining anything with the wood stove. Plus I am allergic to many trees and the wood smoke from the fireplace generally makes me sick.

I am wondering what other people do for heat, and how warm they heat their homes. I am wondering if people are able to keep the cold at bay.

I am hoping for a mild winter with lots of rain.

Right or Left Brained?

Becky at Peevish Pen pointed me toward this test that tells you whether you're right or left brained.

I was rather surprised.

13 Random Lines

1. From National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States. Page 13, the sentence that encompasses Line 13:

Making up the eastern third of Kentucky and Tennessee and extending into Virginia and Alabama, the Cumberland Plateau is composed of sedimentary rocks deposited 250 to 350 million years ago during the region's transition from shallow sea to continental uplands.

2. The American Heritage Thesaurus, Page 13, Line 13:

"To oversee the provision or execution of: administrate, carry out, dispense, execute (Compare conduct). (defining the word "administer")

3. Folk Medicine: A New England almanac of natural health care from a noted Vermont country doctor. By D. C. Jarvis, M.D. Page 13, Line 13:

The amount of sugar in your blood is one teaspoonful. This amount is so essential that, were it reduced to a half teaspoonful, you would lose consciousness.

4. An American Childhood, by Annie Dillard. Page 13, Line 13:

Oops. Page 13 just says "Part one". So 13 pages from the end, Line 13:

Pretty soon all twenty of us - our class - would be leaving.

5. Last Days of Glory, by Tony Rennell. Page 13, Line 13:

One conspirator sent a suggestion of how the positions in the private office should be carved up, putting himself down for a promotion and a handsome L1,000 a year salary, and ending his note with the ridiculously melodramatic suggestion that Reid should 'burn it at once if you think best.'

Okay, that's enough of that. It's not 13, though. Yikes.

FYI: Virginia Voluntary Water Conservation

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Office of the Governor
Timothy M. Kaine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2007

GOVERNOR KAINE ENCOURAGES VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION AND CALLS ON LOCALITIES TO UPDATE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANS
~Warns that drought conditions could become acute in the spring of 2008 if lack of rain continues ~

RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today urged localities to update water conservation and drought contingency ordinances and plans and begin preparations to implement those plans. The Governor also encouraged citizens and businesses to strictly follow all calls for water conservation issued by public waterworks or local governments.

In areas where local water conservation requirements have not been initiated, citizens and businesses should voluntarily conserve water to the greatest extent possible. This includes minimizing non-essential outdoor water uses such as irrigation and vehicle washing as well as reductions in indoor water uses.

“Assure that there are no water leaks in your home; limit showers to periods of less than 5 minutes; turn off the water when you brush your teeth; and only operate dishwashers and clothes washers with full loads,” Governor Kaine said. “These simple actions when performed by millions of citizens throughout the Commonwealth can result in a significant reduction in the stresses placed on our water resources.”

The entire Commonwealth is currently experiencing significant drought, which intensified in the six weeks preceding last week’s welcomed wide-spread rainfall. While last week’s rain addressed many short term drought impacts, the underlying long term precipitation deficit remains.

Fortunately, the Commonwealth is approaching the time of year when water demands will diminish greatly. With the end of the active growing season, the water needs of actively growing plants will be virtually eliminated and human demands for most non-essential outdoor water uses will cease. If, however, weather predictions of a dry winter materialize, Virginia is poised to experience significant drought with the onset of the growing season in the spring of 2008. The long range weather outlook calls for the potential for above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall through January 2008. While it is unlikely that serious water shortages will occur prior to the spring of 2008, it is essential to prepare for the potential for serious water supply impacts in the coming months.

All local governments should review existing local ordinances requiring mandatory non-essential water use restrictions at this time. Any locality that has not adopted such ordinances should consider doing so now. All local ordinances should be consistent with the mandatory non-essential water use restrictions contained in the Virginia Drought Assessment and Response Plan. It is likely that these ordinances will be required in the spring of 2008.

“The best drought responses are those that take into account the individual nature of water supplies and the users of those resources, and these must be developed at the local water system level,” said Governor Kaine. “We must use the window of opportunity that we have between now and the spring of 2008 to develop the best local response plans that we can. I applaud the efforts of the 55 water suppliers in the Commonwealth who have implemented existing water conservation plans to address the impact of the current drought on their systems.”

The Governor is also directing all executive branch agencies and institutions to review existing drought water conservation and contingency plans or develop new plans and eliminate all non-essential water uses at this time. The elimination of non-essential water uses must be consistent with the requirements contained in the Virginia Drought Assessment and Response Plan.

Today’s actions are in addition to those the Governor has already taken to address specific drought impacts on farmers and forest lands. As the result of Governor Kaine’s request that the US Secretary of Agriculture declare the entire Commonwealth an agricultural drought disaster area, all Virginia localities are now eligible for federal disaster assistance to address agricultural drought impacts. On October 18, the Governor issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in the Commonwealth that includes a ban on all outdoor burning. The most immediate danger related to the drought is the potential for a significant fall wildfire season.

“I ask that all citizens be vigilant in controlling potential sources of wildfires,” said Governor Kaine. “This includes being mindful of parking vehicles in proximity to fuel sources such as dried grass as well as avoiding all outdoor burning. While the recent widespread rainfall has provided some temporary reduction in wildfire potential, this relief will rapidly dissipate without additional periodic rainfall. The current ban on all outdoor burning will remain in place until further notice.”

For water conservation tips, visit: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/waterresources/waterconservation.html

The October Drought Monitoring Task Force report is available at: http://www.deq.state.va.us/waterresources/drought.php#DroughtStatusReports.

The Virginia Drought Assessment and Response Plan can be found at: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/waterresources/pdf/droughtresponseplan.pdf.

Quarreling with the News

Today in The Roanoke Times (some links are to other news outlets because I have such a difficult time finding things on the Roanoke paper's website):

Item 1.
On page 1.
"Young adults use more medicines"

... "This is good news, that more people in this age range are taking these medicines," said Dr. Daniel W. Jones, president of the American Heart Association.
Still, he said many more people should be on the drugs that lower cholesterol or blood pressure and which have been shown to reduce risks for heart attack and stroke....

How in the world can this be "good news" - that more people are taking drugs? Maybe for him, the prescriber, it's good news, but these drugs are, in my opinion, relatively unproven. They haven't been around 100 years. Who knows what they actually do to people. Not to mention side effects.

No. This is NOT good news. Good news would be "more young adults are eating proper portions of healthy fruits and vegetables and eschewing candy, soda, and other processed foods."

What a nation. We think popping pills solves everything. Egads.

Item 2.
Virginia Section, Page 1.
Living in Limbo

Salem is one of the 10 sites NS picked for its intermodal facility. Two of the sites are in Botetourt County, but no one seems to think they're sites that would be chosen because they are miles from the interstate.

Salem residents are concerned because they don't know where the site is going. The Virginia Rail office was to have made a decision first in February, then in April, but nothing has been forthcoming.

The area of Salem chosen is near where my grandmother lived. I spent many days on East Riverside Drive, which is across the Roanoke river from the proposed site.

The Roanoke River has a tendency to flood in this area; my grandmother was wiped out three times before she moved to Front Street (which is also close to this train facility).

There are old people, and young people, who live near this facility, and it will not be a place that facilitates good health. Smoke and noise, etc., not to mention the stuff that they cart through there, will cause health problems.

Item 3.
Virginia Section, Page 3
Drought in Southeast is expected to cut nation's beef supply.

National Cattlemen's Beef Association spokesman Joe Schule says the sell-off of
breeding stock will ripple through the industry until breeding animals are
replaced.

"You piece all those small producers together, you've got, normally, a very vibrant cattle industry in the southeast region and really a big part of the cattle economy," Schule says. "It's definitely going to continue the stagnation of the cattle herd."
That will hurt consumers, Schule says, because supply is a big factor in the price of beef.

We are in this space, my husband and I. We haven't the feed to get through the winter, and the price of hay has doubled, which we cannot afford. We're trying to hang out as long as we can... though I am not quite sure why.

I don't expect the weather to suddenly become more predictable in future years; I think it will be less so. The small farmer is going to have a devil of a time trying to exist, much less make ends meet.

With the housing boom busted, I don't see so many farms being sold to subdivisions; instead, I see farms being foreclosed on and folks ending up living with their children (because most of the farmers are older people).

Item 4.
Virginia Section page 5

Man recorded life in 5-minute segments

This fellow, now dead, wrote 37.5 million words in a journal. Which is a somewhat like a blog except without hyperlinks.

My initial reaction was that he needed to get a life and look outside of himself. I'm not sure what that says in terms of my own blogging and journal writing. I believe strongly in journaling and writing about your feelings, etc., etc.

Just not to the point of actually not living.