Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day. Armistice Day. Remembrance Day. A commeration of the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 1918 with the signing of the Armistice with Germany. This day was set forth to honor all those men and women serving in our military, past and present, for there sacrifice, honor, and service. More than just a day off of work or school, this day is a time to look at what we have in this country and remember those who fought for our rights, our values, and our beliefs. We are all one nation and one people thanks to the men and women who helped to defend it. Everyone, everywhere should take the time if they have the opportunity to thank a vet or serviceman.

Are Mormons Prudes?

Last weekend I read an article in my local newspaper written by the Associated Press. The article was about how bloggers and gay-rights activists, among others, plan to boycott Utah, the home of the mormon church. The mormons, they say, had led a campaign to defeat the gay marraige proposition that was on the ballot in California this past election. Proposition 8, as it is known, had been pushed by several celebrities and others to end the discrimination that homosexuals, gays and lesbians, have had to endure due to their sexual orientation. I'm sure that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would espouse that homosexuality is a choice and an afront to God. I guess no one at that church has read a biology, psychology or history book. Homosexuality is not a choice, no more than eye color is. It may sound ridiculous to ban or boycott the state of Utah because of it's affiliation with these people, but maybe the threat is a start. The article points that 62% of Utah residents are mormons. That may be a lot of people, but surely it wasn't the only group that defeated the proposition. Sadly, we are still a child-like people, too fearful of what is different or of what we do not understand. As such, we will gladly trample on the civil liberties and rights of others so that we can keep the familiar and the safe. What a sad commentary on the human society.

History Is Made

"History is the essence of innumerable biographies." --- Thomas Carlyle::: The first Afro-American President of the United States of America. Elected September 2008 - Barak H. Obama.

Election Day

"We'd all like to vote for the best man, but he's never a candidate." -- Kin Hubbard

Later today all of America will hit the polls to cast their ballot for the man they believe is qualified to lead this country for the next 4, possibly 8, years. Either way, the election is historic in that we will elect either the first Afro-American president or the first female vice-president. But either way, will the man we put in the oval office be able to lead us out of the war in Iraq and re-polarize our economy. So much has gone wrong in this country. It's time to set things right. Every eligible man and woman should get out and vote. Doesn't matter who they vote for, as long as they vote. Put the right man in office, whomever it may be.

The Drought is Over

"It matters not how strait the gate, How charged wih punishments the scroll; I am the master of my fate: I am captain of my soul." --- W.E. HENLEY, "Invictus"

1980 to 2008

Philadelphia Phillies win the 2008 World Series

4 Games to 1

Stellar Perfomance

Our sun has been shining on our world for 4 and a half billion years.

It has elicited wonder, fear, awe and legend.

It arose from a swirling cauldron of gas spinning in a lonely part of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way. Billions of years ago that's all that occupied this section of space. As the gases spun around they started to condense and coalesce. As the gases came together and the mass got greater, it began to form the sphere we see today. Gravity, the most pervasive force in the universe, gave it this form as it has for almost every star and planet we see. The force of gravity pulled the edges of the sun inward from all directions making the sun the ball shape we are familiar with.

Not all of the gas went into the sun. Some of the left overs went into making the surrounding planets that would make up our solar system, and the Earth. The early sun was composed of primarily one element --- hydrogen. Hydrogen is the most abundant element found in the universe. It is the simplest element found on the periodic table of elements. And when the immense force of gravity inside the new sun started to compress these atoms of hydrogen a spark was lit. The fire of thermonuclear fusion began. The sun began to give off the light and heat that would make life on Earth possible and provide the enormous amounts of energy it does today. But the immense pressures did more than just provide light and heat. A bi-product of crushing hydrogen atoms gave rise to all the elements we see today. As they hydrogen atoms were compressed together, they began to form new, more complex, elements: helium, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. With these elements the planets, asteroids and everything in existence was created. Essentially, everything we see today was created by stardust. Today, the sun (Sol, the latin word for sun) is categorized as a G-Type main sequence star. It stands as the lone master of the solar system. But this is not the norm with stars. Scientists have found that most stars in the universe actually are paired. The majority of star systems are 2 (binary) or more stars. These stars exert a gravitational force on each other, sometimes with drastic consequences. Our solitary star will continue to burn for another 4-5 billion years. Life will continue to change until the last of the hydrogen is burned away and the sun continues to burn off the heavier elements beginning with helium. This will continue until the star can burn no more of itself and fusion will cease. At that time one of two things will happen. Either the sun will inflate and engulf the inner planets of Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars before shrinking to a dwarf; or it will explode in a massive supernova. Until that time, we will continue to reap the rewards of this miracle of the universe and enjoy the warm, energetic life-giving rays of the sun.

A Day At Popcorn Park Zoo

Horses and Camels.

Peacocks. The gators scared Emily.

Mommy and Emily watching the tiger.

Yes, Emily liked the lions, tigers and goats!

And after a long day at the zoo, Emily helps mommy make some Halloween cookies.