Rogue Reporter

2012-09-16T12:26:00.000-04:00

More than 250 attend 2^nd annual Balderdash at Dill's Tavern

The second annual Balderdash festival brought more than 250 people to the 18^th Century Dill's Tavern, Baltimore Street, held September 18.

Sponsored by the Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society, NYCHPS, the event featured various historical crafting demonstrations. A home-brew beer festival, it also featured a beer-making demonstration and offered guests a chance to sample 30 different home-brewed beers made by local residents, said Sam McKinney, restoration director for Dill's Tavern.

“One particular beer-making method, out of ways to make beer from scratch, was demonstrated by a local man,” McKinney said. “We also had a husband and wife, who were born and raised in Cuba, make hand-rolled cigars. They made 100 cigars, which sold for $10 a piece. We sold them all.”

Cigars are composed of three parts, the wrapper, a binder and the filler. The wrappers, which are made from whole dried tobacco leaves, were grown on the 1.5-acre property of the tavern, McKinney said. The tobacco for the binder and filler was grown by Herbert Bomberger, a local farmer.

Normally, tobacco must be dried and cured for about two years, but in this case, the wrappers had dried for only one year, McKinney said. The cigar makers said that the leaves were sufficiently dried to make the wrappers. Some of the tobacco was dried at Bomberger's farm.

Binders hold together chopped bunches of tobacco leaves, acting like an interior wrapper. The wrapper is responsible for the majority of the taste of the cigar.

“We dried some of the plants for the wrappers in a firewood storage building,” McKinney said. “When we get the barn completed, we plan to hang and dry the tobacco on lathes, across the fore bay.”

Other demonstrations in 19^th Century crafts were a blacksmith, two craftsman who worked on barrels that are used as part of longrifles; and a furniture maker.

Money raised from the sale of cigars and other activities will benefit the tavern, he said.

For more information on Dill's Tavern visit www.dillstavern.org.

Second in Series: They served their country

2009-05-08T11:51:00.002-04:00

World War II and Korean War combat fighter pilot recalls career

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Dale R. Deniston, 86, Woodland Drive, Dillsburg, said he would not trade his years as a combat fighter pilot during World War II, Korea and as a member of NATO forces during the Cold War, for any other experience.
Born in Akron, OH, Deniston’s love affair with the wild blue yonder had its beginnings during his childhood and was reinforced by his mother’s job working in a plant that turned out Corsair fighters for the U.S. Navy. After graduating high school, Deniston enrolled at Kent State University, in 1939. In August of 1941, he entered the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program and received his commission in March of 1942.
Deniston was transferred to the Primary Flight Training Base at Oxnard, CA. He received advanced flight training in the North American AT-6 at Luke Field, Phoenix, AZ, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in 1942 and was ordered to active duty. After a brief stint with in Philadelphia with the 1st Air Force, he received his orders and was on his way back to the west coast, where he was assigned to the 57th Fighter Group at Mitchell AFB, where he was given a brand new P40 aircraft, fresh off the assembly line, he said.
“On July 1, 1942, we got all of our aircraft on board of the aircraft carrier, the Ranger, bound for Egypt, Africa,” Deniston said. “We launched off the coast of Africa and hippity-hopped to little pea patch landing strips where some body had planted grass and placed gas drums. We had to pump the gas into the wings, which gave us about a 300 mile range to our next stop, where did the same. We finally landed in Cairo.”
From Cairo, his squadron flew to Palestine, to an RAF, (Royal Air Force) at Haifa. They were paired with seasoned fighter pilots to get a taste of actual combat.
“I remember being told: ‘Beware of the Hun and the sun.’ The German Messerschmitt pilots would come down out of the sunk like a rocket. They were very fast.”
A “sprog,” the term for pilots new to combat, Deniston said the idea was to fly a few test missions. A belly gasoline tank was attached to his fighter to extend its flying range and his six “guns were fully loaded.”
“The South African commander, a major, said, ‘you get on my wing and stick like glue,’” Deniston said. “Soon after take-off, we went right down to the deck to avoid the German radar. We came up on an airfield, filled with German bombers and fighters on the line, fuel trucks and personnel. We came in and they didn’t know what to do. We shot up everything, did a 180-dgree turn and flew back to the 2nd South African Squadron.”
The attack had devastated a key fighter base that was part of German Field Marshall Rommel’s air support and supply group. During his time in Africa, he flew 100 combat missions, in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Malta and, later, from Sicily, into Italy.
“I was shot down on March 26, 1943, in the desert,” Deniston said. “The top RAF commander said that it was a tough, tough situation they were about fly. He said we might even have 50-percent casualties. We went in and shot all of their guns we could see on the ground and someone on the ground could see me and was shooting. I had 30-some bullet holes in the plane and I went down.”
Deniston said he was not sure at first, if he had crashed in enemy or allied territory After a bit of wandering, he saw a vehicle. Fortunately, he said, it was operated by a war correspondent. He was given a ride and safely made it back to base.
“When we got back to our air base, the Priest had said a mass for me and another pilot, T.T. Williams, who had been shot down,” Deniston said.
Deniston’s home, which he shares with his wife, Patricia, who holds a PhD, and is a retired college librarian, is filled with medals and awards, he received during his service to his country. In 1995, with the help of his daughter, Deniston completed a memoir: Memories Of a Combat Fighter Pilot: World War II and Korea. When he took the book with him to a reunion of his squadron, the majority of the copies he had made were quickly taken by fellow pilots.
Deniston also served in Europe, with NATO, and later in Guatemala. He retired from the Air Force in 1984.

First in Series: They served their country

2009-05-08T11:26:00.006-04:00

W.W. II veteran Wilbur Baker served with MacArthur in Philippines

Wilbur Baker, 81, remembers the exact date he was drafted by the Army for service during World War II – Feb. 12, 1943.

Baker and his wife, Margaret, 78, celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary in January. In their living room, in their Mechanicsburg home, surrounded by memorabilia from his service to his country, Baker talked about his experience during the war.

He had turned 18, and was in the 11^th grade at John Harris High School. He was assigned to the US Army, 2^nd Division, at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, for basic training. From there, he attended the machinist tech school at Fort Meade, Md., for 16 weeks.

“I came home on leave and later they shipped me to Fort Lewis Washington,” he said. “I was shipped overseas, with 7^th Infantry Division, 8^th Army.”

By convoy, he was shipped to Manila, in the Philippines, and landed along with General Douglas MacArthur who had vowed: “I shall return,” when forced to flee to Corregidor from the immanent Japanese occupation of the island nation.

“The 4^th Marine Division went in with us,” Baker said, adding jokingly: “Half the time we didn’t know where we were … they didn’t tell us much.”

Armed with an M1 rifle, Baker was assigned to headquarters, where, “if they didn’t have communications, I’d have to go to the front.

“From the Philippines, we were sent to Okinawa,” Baker said. “I remember the date was April 1^st, (1945), Easter Sunday. The Japanese troops moved into caves. We had to use flamethrowers to get them out.”

Baker said that military officers said the fight for Okinawa would only take two weeks. “It took two and half months,” he said.

After atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945. Baker was transferred to Seoul, Korea, assigned to an MP division of the 7^th Infantry.

Baker said his division was responsible for handling prisoners of war and to keep civilians off the roads “so the troops could get through.” Soon after, Baker’s world changed at one moment.

“We were on patrol, in a Jeep, when we hit a land mine,” Baker said. “I spent eight or nine months in military hospitals.”

The explosion had fractured his skill and shrapnel had hit his leg. His buddy was not so lucky, he said.

“The fractured skull caused seizures,” he said. “I was given a medical discharge and have been going to the VA, (Veteran’s Administration) hospital, ever since.”

In addition to the fractured skull, Baker also suffered frost bite to both of his feet. His injuries kept him from working jobs he had wanted.

“I still have a lump on my head,” Baker said. “I wanted to be a shop teacher. I was hired for a job with JD Ferry Company, which was Cameron Street, Harrisburg.”

The company wanted him to report to work on Monday and bring his tools along. Problem was, Baker explained, he could not afford to buy the tools the job required. Veteran benefits did not cover the expense.

On January 9, 1949, he was hired by LB Smith, Lemoyne, to work as a mechanic in the auto body division. He also had met and married his sweetheart. She said she was working as a waitress at the time.

The couple moved to Florida for a better job, Baker said. They returned to Pennsylvania and Baker went to work with LB Smith, where he retired in 1979.

They are the parents of two boys and two girls, grandparents of 10, and have two great-granddaughters and one great-grandson.

While his injuries continued to cause him to have seizures, Baker and his wife said they have had a good life. For a hobby, Baker is a woodworker and has made cedar chests for all his granddaughters and gun cabinets for all the boys.

Hitman email scams

2008-09-02T13:54:00.002-04:00

Death threat email scams are on increase

Every day brings new and often more vicious Internet scams and hoaxes.
Fake check scams, fake business offers, fake lottery awards and other email scams are common tactics used by thieves attempting to separate the public from its money.
A new tactic being perpetrated against the public has a much more sinister tone. It is a scam/hoax that may originate from former Soviet Block countries in Eastern Europe. An unknown number of these emails were sent, apparently to random recipients, during the first week of July. I received this on July 9, 2008:

"ATTENTION: ATTENTION: ATTENTION:

I felt very sorry and bad for you, that your life is going to end like this if you don't comply, I was paid to eliminate you and I have to do it within 10 days.
Someone you call your friend wants you dead by all means, and the person have spent a lot of money on this, the person came to us and told us that he wants you dead and he provided us your names, photograph and other necessary information we needed about you. If you are in doubt with this I will send you your name and where you are residing in my next mail.
Meanwhile, I have sent my boys to track you down and they have carried out the necessary investigation needed for the operation, but I ordered them to stop for a while and not to strike immediately because I just felt something good and sympathetic about you. I decided to contact you first and know why somebody will want you dead by all means. Right now my men are monitoring you, their eyes are on you, and even the place you think is safer for you to hide might not be.
Now do you want to LIVE OR DIE? It is up to you. Get back to me now if you are ready to enter deal with me, I mean life trade, who knows, and I might just spear, (spare), your life, $8,000 is all you need to spend. You will first of all pay $3,000 then I will send the tape of the person that want you dead to you and when the tape gets to you, you will pay the remaining $5,000. If you are not ready for my help, then I will have no choice but to carry on the assignment after all I have already being paid before now.
Warning: do not think of contacting the police or even tell anyone because I will extend it to any member of your family since you are aware that somebody want you dead, and the person knows some members of your family as well.
For your own good I will advise you not to go out once is 7pm until I make out time to see you and give you the tape of my discussion with the person who want you dead then you can use it to take any legal action. Good luck as I await your reply to this E-mail contact.
Bye."
It was signed "may your soul rest in peace" and had a return email address at gala.net. The gala.net website is based in the Ukrainian area of Eastern Europe.
Law enforcement officials urge the public not to respond to this or similar emails. The incident should be reported to Internet service and email providers, as well as to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center division at www.ic3.gov and to local and state law enforcement officials.
FBI spokesman, Paul Bresson of the Washington, DC headquarters, said complaints about the scam began in December 2006. The emails were traced to Russia.
Within weeks the FBI issued a scam alert. Since then, the emails have gone through various evolutions and changes in wording and style. The emails threaten to assassinate the recipient unless the assassin is paid sums ranging from $150,000 to $3,000 and less.
The emails claim that the victims are being followed by hitmen who were hired by co-workers, friends and others. It warns the recipient not to go to police or family members would be killed.
In June of this year, the hitman scam emails were being sent as text messages to cell phone recipients, Bresson said. The scam appears then vanishes and is reincarnated with a slightly different twist, he said.
"Many of the emails are poorly written, contain bad grammar and broken English," Bresson said. "The more personal and specific the information ... such as home address, wife and daughter's names and other details, the greater the concern that the threats could be real."
In cases where the victim is addressed by name, lists family details, work details and other specific information, police should be notified immediately, Bresson said. In most cases, recipients of the email are in no real danger.
"Better safe than sorry," Bresson said. "We first take the information and analyze it based on sender location, contents of message, location of recipient and other factors. That information is then transferred to the appropriate local, state federal or international law enforcement agency."
Bresson said the Internet Crime Complaint Center complaint process detailed step-by-step. The standardization of the way the information is taken allows for investigators to provide leads to the criminals. It also contains a "FAQ," frequently asked questions section, contact information and links to other sites that list the latest Internet scams.
"It's important to educate the public about this scam," Bresson said. "It can be a frightening message to receive for many people."
For more information on this and other scams, visit www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/hitman.asp. The website has a compilation of information on hoaxes, scams, urban legends and misinformation.

Iraqi family finds new home

2007-03-27T19:23:00.000-04:00

After two years, an Iraqi family who had to flee their home because of death threats, will soon be reunited in San Diego, CA.
Their saga began near the city of Al Musel, the ancestral home for John, his wife, Nasra, and their Roman Catholic family (I am not using their last names because they fear retaliation against family and friends still in Iraq). Prior to and following the U.S. led invasion of Iraq, John was a water tank truck driver for a small company that supplied water to customers around the city, he explained with the help of an interpreter supplied y the International Friendship House, West Market Street, York, that has been hosting the family since Tuesday.
After the invasion, in July 2004, John’s employer had subcontracted with the U.S. military to deliver water to an “American military post,” John said. “I not only provided support with water transportation, I also did some translation – I studied English for nine years. I wanted to help them.”
It did not take long for “Islamic extremists who had supported Saddam, to say they were going to kill me and my family,” he said. “The terrorists arrested my oldest son, Lever, and broke his elbow. They warned him that our family had only one month to move or we would be killed.”
Knowing that it was not an idle threat, John and his family that consists of another son, Nasser, now 18, Lever’s wife, Milad, 16, and daughters Lara, 15, Liza, 11 and Lidia, 10, quickly sold their home and most of their possessions at extremely low prices in order to make the money they needed to arrange fake passports and transportation out of Iraq. In September 2004, they flew to Istanbul, Turkey.
In Turkey, they were taken to the border and each given inflated vehicle inner-tubes to use to cross to small rivers into Greece. Once in Greece, they made their way to Athens, where they contacted an organization that was founded to help Iraqi refugees.
Without valid passports or other documents, the family could not seek legal employment, John explained. At a bus station, the girls sold boxes facial tissues and the boys washed vehicle windshields hoping to make some money, but Greek police would chase them away. Finally, John and Nasra contacted their brothers in Sydney, Australia, asking for and receiving money to leave Greece.
In September 2005, the family had purchased airline tickets to the U.S. Lever and his wife had gone through customs without a hitch, but Athens airport security, stopped the rest of the family, and detained them because they said their passports were not valid. Lever and Milad boarded the plane, leaving the rest of the family behind, John said.
It took about one more year, before John and his family, received legitimate Greek passports that would allow them to leave the country. Unfortunately, the passports would only allow them to fly to Tijuana, Mexico.
“We took a taxi to the border crossing,” John said. “Then we turned ourselves into the border patrol seeking political asylum.”
LeAnn Strine, secretary of the Golden Vision Foundation, which operates the International Friendship House, said the family was taken then put into the Immigration and Naturalization Service system that brought them to a facility in Berks County, near Philadelphia. Despite the fact that it was nearly a foregone conclusion that John’s family met all the criteria necessary for political asylum, regulations required a three-step hearing process – notice to appear, a hearing to present the facts and a disposition hearing where the request is granted or denied.
John and his family, for five months, were separated -- men in one facility, women in another, and children from five to 17 in another facility, she said. Once the asylum was granted, Villanova School of Law student volunteers working with refugees contacted Golden Vision to alert them of John and his family, who are expecting to leave Pennsylvania sometime early this week.
Shawn Burke, an attorney who works with Villanova and the refugee effort, said there are a few identification document issues that remain to be settled. He expects that as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, the family will be on a plane to San Diego, CA.
“We are in America and we are feeling safe and peaceful here,” John said. “In America there are human values and democracy. We are not worried about or future. We are happy and secure.”
The family is going to share one house in San Deigo, until John can find work. The children, including Nasser, who has yet to formally complete high school, have some formal education to catch up on, Strine said. All of the children speak English fairly well, so they should not have great difficulty in adapting.
John said that his son, Lever, works in a grocery store owned by an uncle. John said he is willing to work anywhere, but hopes to take to the road in a “big truck” again.

Wish it were this cold now on Bear Mountain

2006-08-02T18:56:00.000-04:00

My home in cooler times.
It is now lushly green.
But exceedingly hot.
Rather snow than not.

Bike Week

2006-07-28T15:53:00.000-04:00

First -- mea culpa -- I have been on hiatus due to uncontrollable factors, but I intend to come back with a vengeance -- and with pics.
Thanks
Jeffrey B. Roth

Attendance at Gettysburg Bike Week three times more than last year*
*
Despite more than 50 acres of land available to them at the Allstars Sports Complex, south of Gettysburg, organizers of the 5th Annual Gettysburg Bike Week still had to cancel its Bike Games competition, Saturday afternoon so that the field could be used to park motorcycles – and more riders were arriving by the minute.*
Hordes of bikers streamed by in waves, combing every square yard of the complex of avenues, thoroughfares and designated parking lots, hoping to find an abandoned niche large enough for ride. By 2 p.m., helicopter rides were curtailed because the relatively small landing site had to be sacrificed for parking. Just entering or leaving by the main entrance to the complex required a minimum five-minute wait time.*
John H. Summers Jr., president and chief operations officer for Bike Week, initially estimated that the event would draw around 15,000 riders, but speculated on Saturday that the actual number might climb into the 40,000-region. That number did not include all the bikers who came to the area but did not participate in events at the sports complex, he said.*
“This is the biggest and best crowd we have ever had this early into the event,” Summers said. “They started showing up at 8 a.m., even though we did not officially open until 10 a.m.”*
Volunteers, Steve and Annette Shipley, both of Taneytown, MD, said they are members of the Battlefield Harley-Davidson Hog Chapter, and have attended the event in the past. This was the first time they volunteered to help.*
“The people are really friendly here,” Annette said. “They are just wonderful to work with.*
The Shipleys said there were more people than they would have predicted. Despite the large influx of people, the event was still family-oriented, she said.*
Summers said there were more vendors and activities available than last year. The addition of a headline musical group, as well-known as Mustang Sally, was a major drawing card.*
“We also have more activities geared towards younger people,” Summers said as pointed to a Harley-Davidson motorcycle built with balloons. “There are a lot of families here with a lot of kids.”*
The Indian Larry Legacy exhibit was a focal point for many motorcycle buffs. They asked friends and even strangers to take photographs of them standing next to one of the unique motorcycle creations.*
While Indian Larry Desmedt, whose name engenders visions of one-of-a-kind, priceless chopped motorcycles, died in a motorcycle accident in 2004, his legacy lives on. Considered by many as an artist in the field, his business partner, Paul Cox, and one of the current owners of the Brooklyn, NY business said the exhibit features one the earliest choppers built by his friend.*
“We do shows every weekend,” Cox said. “This is our first time here, but it’s a real good venue and has a great atmosphere.”*
East Coast Kitty of Ridgefield, New Jersey, owned by Karen Badre and Anthony Campione, said they were thrilled with the turnout on Saturday. Specializing in custom T-shirts and other specialty items, said it was their first time at the event.*
“We had learned of the event through word-of-mouth, Badre said.*
Campione said they have been in business for about three years and travel to shows on both the east and west coasts.*
If Saturday’s attendance was any indication of the event’s potential for growth, it may not be more than a few more years before it becomes a week-long event, he said.*
For more information visit http://www.gettysburgbikeweek.com.*/

Stairway to Heaven

2006-07-28T15:48:00.000-04:00

Stairway to Heaven was inspiration for balloon twister

A lot of people are inspired by music, but not in the same way as Dustin Queary.*
While attending the 2004 Millennium Jam in Belgium with his family, he became inspired by a performer like his mother. Today, Queary, 15, a junior at Gettysburg High School is one of the best balloon twisters in the world.*
“I saw a guy from Canada, who made a guitar out of balloons and played (Led Zeppelin’s) Stairway from Heaven on it,” Queary, who now performs with his two sisters and mothers as part of Adventures in Fun. “It sounded like Stairway to Heaven. I got interested then.”*
Others were using balloons to fashion remote control cars that worked, he said. Queary said he also liked the atmosphere of the event. There were also clowns, magicians and other performers showcasing their skills. Queary’s father, Rob, worked for the government, and his family lived in Germany, Austria, France, Spain and Switzerland. He came to Gettysburg about two years ago.*
“My Mom’s been doing it (performing) my whole life,” he said. “I really didn’t want to do it until two years ago.”*
Sisters Alayna, 14 and Alysa, 9 are also part of the act. Alayna is an unicyclist and stilt walker. Alysa is leaning how to be a balloon twister, he said. Rob does magic, stilt walking and twisting. Dustin also does caricatures. His mother, Shonna, said it is a great way to keep the family doing things together. In fact, it is now the family business – which also involves face painting and character mascots for special occasions, both public and private, such as weddings, anniversaries, Bar Mitzvahs, etc..*
Shonna started dressing like a clown and putting on puppet shows as a girl in Amsterdam, NY. She said she had a friend who worked with disabled children and she volunteered to help. Many of the children were autistic and responded well to that type of interaction.* Eventually, she became “Silly Shonna,” her registered clown character. She prefers to use the European-style clown face, instead of the full-face paint of the American variety. She said it is less intimidating to children.*
Both Dustin and his mother have recently completed their first of a two volume set of instructional DVDs that demonstrate the art of balloon twisting – Squeaks Like Teen Spirit that demonstrates his award-winning designs; and Shonna’s instructional demonstration called Batallic Outstanding Specialty Shapes, which depict her unique designs. Shonna said they will be producing the second volume in the near future.*
So far, this year, Dustin has placed first in a new competitor’s division of Diamond Jam at Mesa, AZ; second in the Diamond Master section at Mesa; second in the Large Sculpture Division of Twist and Shout at St. Louis, MO; and second place for Medium Sculptures at BAM (Balloon and Magic Mania) Virginia Beach, VA.*
Dustin’s work is so highly respected that he was offered a full scholarship to Belgium for six weeks to teach twisting. While he could not go this year, it appears the offer will be extended again next year, his mother said.*
Right now, Dustin is brainstorming ideas for an international twisting competition. He said his entry can be no larger than 12 feet tall. He is used to making life-sized creations. During Bike Week in Gettysburg, he created a full-sized Harley Davidson motorcycle. For this competition, he is considering creating a dinosaur of some type.*
“I was thinking of creating some kind of dinosaur,” Dustin said. “Or, I might do something on a jungle safari-type theme.”*
Dustin performs three times during the week at various restaurants. The family also travels to various functions. They have performed at the White House. for a Christmas celebration and at a Hillary Duff concert in Washington, DC, Shonna said.*
“I like seeing other people smile,” Dustin said. “I enjoy it because I make other people happy.”*
While balloon twisting and drawing caricatures take up a lot of his time, he still has to contend with school in the winter and trying to find time for his hobby – snowboarding. For a career, “I’d like to be an architect or professional snowboarder,” he said.*
Shonna said Dustin’s friends and those of his sisters, often ask them why they spend so much time working. She said some of their schoolmates are jealous of their success. For the family, it’s a great way to spend time together and to travel and experience new things.*
*
*
Adventures in Fun*
*
Adventures in Fun, is the family business, created by Shonna Flannigan and her family. They perform on uncicyle, as costume characters, create caractures, present puppet shows, story telling and face-painting. In all they have more than 20 years experience entertaining at schools, corporate gatherings, grand openings, at sales promotions, family nights in restaurants, weddings, and various private and public events.*
Award-winning balloon twister, Dustin Queary and his family, performs from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays at Ruby Tuesdays, York Road, Gettysburg; Wednesday 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Damon’s Grill, Eisenhower Drive, Hanover; 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, at Friendly’s Restaurant, Steinweher Avenue, Gettysburg; and Shonna performs, 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesdays at Friendly’s in Carlisle.*
For more information visit http://www.adventuresinfun.com.*/

Boxing for unity

2006-03-30T23:17:00.000-05:00

Boxing for peace and unity
bbb

A fighter and a dreamer

Virgil Love dreams of a world filled with happiness, peace and love.

A professional boxer and world-class boxing coach, Love decided to use the sport as a vehicle to promote self-identity, teamwork and cultural unity.

A 1965 graduate of Delone Catholic High School, New Oxfor, PA, Love, a native of Gettysburg, PA, enrolled in the journalism department of the University of South Carolina. After a few years in journalism, Love became involved in boxing.

(Funny thing, he graduated four years ahead of me -- "Beer, Sex, Sin & Wine -- I'm from the Class of 69." Didn't say I graduated exactly).

“I got hooked up with Mohammed Ali,” Love said. “I met Ali at the University of South Carolina during one of his college tour speaking engagements.”

At the time, Ali was to face heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Fraser in a match in South Carolina. Ali invited Love to sit in the front row, beside Ali’s mother, Dolly, Love said. He also was invited to the first Ali-Fraser fight in Madison Square Gardens in New York City, he said.

Promotes match between Teofilo Stevenson and Mohammed Ali

Love also met and became friends with Cuban boxing legend, Teofilo Stevenson, “the icon fobr machismo in Cuba,” Love said. As a result of his friendship with Stevenson and Ali, Love attempted to promote a boxing match between them.

“It was called the fight that never was,” Love said. “Despite the politics, I got Stevenson out of Cuba without a sports team … he stayed with me for three weeks in Gettysburg.”

The "match that never was"

Touted as the “Match of the Century” between the two heavyweight champions of the world, the fight became a political football, Love said. Ramsey Clark, U.S. Secretary of the State became involved, Love said. Even Bill Bradley of CBS’ 60 Minutes did a segment on the debate. Because of the strained relations between the two countries, the fight never materialized.

Love said Ali and Stevenson were friendly rivals. Ali was even quoted as saying that if the fight had happened, it would have ended in a tie. The match, Love believed, would have been a step in normalizing relations between Cuba and the US.

Many believe they were the best -- Ali was a professional boxer, while Stevenson still maintained an amateur standing. Love said that promoters saw the possiblity of making a great deal of money and attempted to make it a reality.

Cassius Clay

Ali, whose give name was Cassius Clay, won the gold medal in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome Italy. His rise to fame in the professional boxing world came about four years later, when fought Sonny Listen, and claimed the world heavy weight title in a six-round bout. Shortly after his win, Clay converted to Islam and took the name, Mohammed Ali.

Love said Ali was famous for predicting the round when he would knock out his opponent. When Love, met the champ, Ali had already made a name as an advocate for civil rights. While the promoters saw a change to reap a fortune in an Ali-Stevenson fight, Love saw an opportunity to broaden racial and international harmony.

Ali's symbolic act of tossing his gold medal in the Ohio River after he was not allowed to enter a cafeteria, was the precursor to a much more courageous action when he was drafted into the Army in 1967 and he refused to go as a protest to the Vietnam War. He was sentenced to three years in prison and stripped of his title and his boxing permit. He later appealed to the US Supreme Court and recaptured his right to box.

Teofilo Stevenson

Teofilo Stevenson of Cuba also went down in Olympic history with the capture of three Olympic titles. Amidst the terrorist attack in Munich 1972, Stevenson defeated Duane Bobick - known in the US as the “white hope.”

Stevenson went on to capture two other Olympic medals -- Montreal 1976, and Moscow 1980. Because of continuing political tensions between the US and Cuba, Teofilo did not compete in the Olympic games held in Los Angeles.

$4 million offered to fight Ali

Teofilo was offered $4 million to become a professional boxer and fight Ali after the Munich games. He declined the offer, saying he preferred living in Cuba. That did not deter promoters and in 1978, the push was on to promote three, three-round figths in the US. That never happened, Love said.

“Ali told me it didn’t make sense to fight because we were the best in the world. He in professional boxing, and me in amateur,” Stevenson was quoted as saying in an interivew around that time. As Love said, Stevenson and Ali became friends. Stevenson visited Ali in the US in 1995 and Ali went to Cuba as part of a delegation in 1998, which brought more than $1 million in medicine and other health care items.

Glory Gym is dream realized

The Glory Gym is the culmination of a 20-year dream, Love said. A former boxing coach at Gettysburg College, he also taught boxing at Camp Hill Correctional Center and Graterford Prison, near Philadelphia, Love has coached boxing in Pakistan and Turkey.

For three years, the gym was located in a room of the American Legion building on Baltimore Street, Gettysburg. His new gym is located in the former H&H Pontiac Garage at South Washington Street, at the intersection of West Middle Street, and is in the last stages of renovation.

“I do it for the kids,” Love said. “There are so many kids running the streets with no direction or no purpose. We opened up the program to keep the kids off the street.”

Founded in 1993, Love wanted to develop a world-class boxing program. In 2001, Glory Gym became a non-profit organization. Its program is designed to work with at-risk youth. Love uses boxing and other martial arts training as a way to help youth learn about their strengths and weaknesses and to develop positive self-images.

Intergenerational inspiration

Love is currently working with Steven Neibler, director of the Adams County Office on Aging and a member of the Glory Gym board to develop an intergenerational program. Love said many at-risk youth do not have extended families with grandparents.

“The seniors will learn do to floor exercises,” Love said. “They will learn timing and balance and train together with the youth. They will have a chance to bond with them through the sport.”

For more information, contact Love at http://www.glorygym.org or call 717-334-9293.

Glory Gym’s Mission

Glory Gym, founded by Virgil Love, a world-class boxing coach, and a native of Gettysburg, became a non-profit organization in 2002. Its mission is to “produce healthy, well-rounded, drug free athletes” by teaching them respect and self-discipline, Love said.

Programs offered include amateur boxing, junior Olympics, Olympic boxing and Golden Gloves, boxerobics, yoga, Tai Chi, pilates, Hispanic dance and voice and African dance and voice.

“When I was 38-years-old, I decided to get into the ring again,” Love said. “I should have known that I had no business in the ring, but I did it, which was no big deal in itself. Then it became a symbol for me that anything’s possible. That is what I try to teach the kids.”

Love said the emphasis of the programs is to promote health through exercise related activities. It is also designed to stimulate personal growth, teamwork and cross-cultural interaction with other members of the community.

“We want to work with kids who have no one to pay attention to them,” he said.

Bilmo'sLog -- Podcast

2006-03-07T17:22:00.000-05:00

Creation -- cosmology all the things physicists and clerics love.

A quick review of ancient creation beliefs are not far from those of modern science.

http://shunn.livejournal.com/276088.html
http://www.thepaincomics.com/weekly041229a.htm

The Old Mill

2006-02-21T17:06:00.000-05:00

"The Old Mill"

(with apologies to 10 Nights in a Barroom)

Susquehanna valley dialect being studied

Speech is telling and Jennifer Bloomquist can tell if people if they are from southcentral Pennsylvania by the words, phrases and idioms they use. She is collecting this linguistic harvest from the area under the auspices of a National Science Foundation , (NSF).
Bloomquist, an assistant professor of linguistics and African-American studies, and her student assistants at Gettysburg College are beginning their final year of the two-year $40,000 NSF grant to investigate if the language of rural and urban African-Americans in Adams, York. Lancaster and Dauphin counties, (primarily), have added to and/or have been influenced by the dialect peculiar to this area, she said. That includes Pennsylvania Dutch's influence on blacks and vice versa.
They are gathering these verbal peccadilloes during structured interviews with residents of the area. The team is now focusing its investigations in York and its surrounding environs collecting the data from volunteer residents, 18-years-old and up, she said.*
Many of these interviews are being conducted with the oldest residents of the area, who not only volunteer to participate in the structured interview process, but who also share their personal stories about growing up in this area. The information, in addition to being published in academic journals, will be posted on a website designed as a database for Susquehannavalleyisms and as a virtual data collector and repository for online virtual interviews, she said.
During a recent interview at Hanover Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Alicia Turner of several Gettysburg College undergraduates assisting Bloomquist with the research, 10 resident were interviewed. Two of those sessions were with Bernadine Rickrode, 103, formerly of Littlestown, and Margaret Bair, 87, formerly of Edgegrove.
Both women, whose ancestry was German American, were asked if they used or heard any of the words or phrases, such as, creek or “crik.” Both Rickrode and Bair said they were had used many of the Pennsylvania words and phrases. They both said they had eaten hog mawl or pig stomach, as it is commonly referred to in the area.
“The reason we are doing this is that in the past when linguists studied the lower Susquehanna Valley they concentrated on white rural speakers,” Bloomquist said. “There are no data from black speakers in the area at all and very little data from city speakers. When I first looked into local dialect, I thought I would find some differences among black speakers. I am not totally convinced that Pennsylvania Dutch which characterized this area is as alive and well as people are led to believe.”
Bloomquist’s assistants have collected more than 175 hours of tape from 140 interviews, 20 of which were African Americans. While they will continue to interview residents regardless of ethnic background, they are attempting to focus on African American speakers as they can find, she said.
She has presented preliminary findings at the American Dialect Society meeting in January ‘04 and at the Southeastern Conference on Linguistics this past April. She is to go back to the American Dialect Society in January ‘06.
“The first part of the interview is collecting natural speech and we have them to talk about what it was like to grow up in the lower Susquehanna Valley, what the economy is like, what kind of changes have taken place and we ask them to look at some words that are specific to this area and ask if they know any of them,” she said. “The next part is a having them read a sort of non-sense story which is designed to get phonological features. The last thing they do is read a list of words that are minimal pairs that differ only by a sound unit.”
Some of the words, people are asked to read are “bad and bat, tight and tide, out and ought,” etc. The way people pronounce these words allows Bloomquist to get enough sample data to determine how dialect affects local language. Many of the same words are used in the nonsense story.
Turner of Norristown, a sociology major, and Eric Malave of North Philadelphia, anthropology major, which are field research assistants, working on the study has helped them to develop a greater appreciation of the people in the area. The people they have interviewed, especially older residents, enjoy the interaction.
“A lot of the older residents are very excited to see us,” Malave said. “They enjoy telling us stories about their youth.”
Turner said some of them have lived through many historical events that have changed the area. They have many interesting reflections to share she said.
“A lot of the older residents told us about living through the depression and World War II,” she said.
Anyone interested in volunteering to participate in the study should contact Bloomquist at 337-6801.

Tales from the beat II

2006-02-21T16:27:00.000-05:00

Ghosts of the Susquehanna

Apparitions appearing and vanishing in a dew-heavy, fog, white-robed, hooded and masked members of the True Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, brandishing red axe handles emblazoned by the KKK symbol, went about their mysterious pre-rally chores.

Some carried coffee mugs sporting the crimson logo, resembling spectral businessmen on a break from their dull daily routines. The mugs, axe handles and assorted accoutrements were available from a kiosk vendor, also dressed in full regalia. Lighters and other memorabilia, along with KKK publications, were being purchased by the scores.

Crickets quickened their songs, as shadows gathered in deep pools under the nearby copse of trees. A man dressed in a royal purple robe, classic conical hat, mask undone revealing his face, (the Grand Dragon), brought the meeting to order and introduced the Chaplian to give the benediction. The next man to take the podium, dressed in blood-red, was a well-known orator and political activist from a southern Klavern of the order. For the first hour of the meeting, the visiting Dragon lambasted the Jewish-controlled press. As he continued his tirade about journalists, I stood in front of the stage, camera at my side, taking notes -- occasionally waving to other Klan members (I was the only reporter there -- so I got all the attention -- my assignment only to be there is case violence broke out). During a break in the festivites, when the carnival-like spirit returned to the event, the living, moving fog darkened, enveloping all who entered the melody of the wheeping, sloughing trees mixed with the raucous sounds of the splashing, rushing river. Laughter, vendors hawking their wares and conversation created discordance, an unnatural anthem that activated the frissom mechanism of my back. With no where else to go, I waited patiently for the cross-burning. While being inundated by image, sound, smell and the cooling wet embrace of the thickening miasma, an attractive, young lady sidled up beside me and began a conversation. It was apparent that she was flirting -- then it hit me. "I'm a real idiot." Somewhere in the morass of flowing robes and swinging axe handles was her significant other -- boyfriend, fiance, husband. The question quickly became: (a.) Should I be rude and walk away? (b.) Be cool and continue innocent conversation? (c.) Fein a sudden illness or need to hit the "Porta-PottyTM?" While pondering the likelihood of my survival into the not so far future, my cheek was kissed by warmth and light was born out of the fog.As in Genesis, I felt the hand of creation providing Offering my apologies for having to continue with my job, I sauntered off to take pictures -- find my way up the steep, slippery, uneven path in an ink-black night, praying that I soon find the hard road and my car. At subsequent rallies of this type, I tried to limit my conversations to males and to topics, such as snakehunting -- and other good ole' country boy pastimes.

Untold tales from the beat

2006-02-16T16:58:00.000-05:00

Slapped by Jack Lalanne

When I interviewed 1960s fitness guru, Jack Lalanne, in the early 80's, he slapped my face, in response to my first question.
Jack Lalanne, among other things, is known for his incredible feats of strength, many he performs on each birthday -- ("1984 (at) Age 70: Handcuffed, shackled and fighting strong winds and currents, towed 70 boats with 70 people from the Queen's Way Bridge in the Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary for 1 ½ miles"). To learn more aboaut the exploits of Lalanne, go to http://jacklalanne.com
During a press conference where he was publicizing a fitness drink, Lalanne had just finished a prepared statement and asked for questions.

The question
"Mr. Lalanne, as the guru and pioneer of television fitness programs, how well is Richard Simmons filling your shoes?"

SLAP -- as other reporters back away in an ever- widening circle. It was a love tap. Otherwise, I would have went flying backwards, landing on my keester.

"I like your humor," he said, smiling, "Simmons, www.richardsimmons.com is not really serious about fitness, he's a television celebrity."
He must have liked my question, because he invited me to walk with him -- leaving the other reporters behind, mouths open, wondering what had just happened.

Richard Simmons & friend

\|/ 0 0 7 ’5 4 1 1 teh |= |_| 5 5 4 8 0 |_| 7

2006-02-14T21:52:00.000-05:00

\/ 0 0 7 ’5 4 1 1 teh = _ 5 5 4 8 0 _ 7
\/ - 4 \ 7 - 4 7 4 > .- ! 1 1 3 ! \ - ! 5 5 - 0 _ .- 3 5 5 0 7 3
7 3 - ) .- 0 6 - 7 3 0 = \/ 4 .- ( - 3 - 4 7 - > 3 .- ( 3 ) 7 0 7 3 - .- 0 7 3 ,
4 \ ) 8 4 7 3 - ) 3 \/ 3 .- 9 \/ 3 9 \ 3 ! \ 5 \/ ! ( - 1 ! ( 0 _ .-
0 = \/ - ! ( - \/ 3 .- 7 _ 3 \ 6 3 ) .- 3 ) \/ 4 5 7 3 - = 1 3 _ .- ; (> .- 0 1 0 6 _ 3 7 0 teh ( 4 \ 7 3 .- 8 _ .- 9 7 4 1 3 5 , 6 3 0 = = .- 3 9 ( - 4 _ ( 3 .- )

whan that aprille in his shojres sote
the droghte of marche hath perced to the rote,
and bathed every veyne in swich licojr
of which vertj engedred was the flejr; (prologje to the canterbjry tales, geoffrey chajcer)

Whan that Aprille in his shoures sote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engedred was the fleur; (Prologe to The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer)

When April with his sweet showers has
pierced the drought of March to the root,
and bathed every vein is such moisture
as has power to bring forth the flower; (Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer)

So as the title asks “So what is all the woot about?”

Wait, what’s w00t, you ask me -- it’s an interjection like YAYE of course. Don’t tell me, let me guess, you still don’t get it. You’re such a n00b -- OK, then in plain Old English -- (that would be something like neuen) can’t do that either, Middle English then -- neow-oumen. Has to be current English then? OK a newbie -- a noun, new to the game or new to whatever.

High school English

Remember when you were in high school? Seems like a distant shore on the other side of the galaxy to me at times, but I do remember a bit. For some of us that might seem like before the Battle of Hasting in 1066AD, which ushered in the age of Middle English, supplanting Old English -- but to them I guess it was Anglisch or **** you get the idea. Anywho, remember your English teacher constantly lecturing you about the proper use of English and to stick to the grammar. She or he would complain to anyone who would listen that adolescents use of slang was killing the English language.
Not introducing new words via vernacular or slang would be the death knell to the language -- take a look at Classical Latin if you don’t believe me. Then again, an argument has been made that Latin lives on in the Romance language and accounts for about 80-percent of modern English -- so maybe it is better to say it evolved, rather than became a dead language.

History of the English language

English is more of a pickpocket of languages rather than a somewhat pure Romance language or German for that matter. It helps to understand who the English were. I'll give you the short version, but here is one item for more indepth purusal
http://www.brittany-bretagne.com/pg/arthur2.htm

Are the English people the original settlers of the country we call England.
Noooo. The group of islands are called -- Great Britian.
The English are not the English, they are the Anglish. If you are familiar with King Arthur of legend, you know there was a war that destroyed the Round Table and sent the remnants of his kingdom fleeing Britian (Breton). They were fleeing the Anglish, part of the Anglo-Saxon mercenaries hired by competing Bretons (a Celtic tribe) to help ward off attacks by the Irish raiders. The Anglish were Germans. The Breton refugees crossed the English Channel and settled off the coast of France - Brittany -- so they now are French.
Are the Irish -- well Irish?
Noooooo. They are Gaels, or more precisely Iberians, who fled the onslaught of the Romans, leaving the coast of Spain and sailed to Erin -- the Emerald Isle. Who lived there before the Iberians -- the Tuath de Danu -- Gaelic for Greeks.
OK -- now who were the Scots or Hiberians -- where they Scottish?
Nooooo. They were Irish. A clan of Gaels, raided the northern tip of Great Britian and conquered the Picts. The spoke Pictish -- who were they? Look at another link I will provide a little later on.
So what did the people before Arthur speak?
A form of Celtic -- somewhat like the Welsch dialect of today.
After Arthur -- Old English, a dialect of Anglish with some Old Norse thrown in. (should mention the Romans arrived before Arthur's birth. The real Arthur is believed to be the son of a Roman provinical governor and a Breton mother.

Etymological linguists believe English is derived from a parent langauge that includes pretty much every language that developed in Europe and into India. It is known as Indoeuropean. What survives of it in modern usage are phonemes, small sounds that have meaning -- a, the, etc. How do they know?

Remember Darth Vader -- Lucas was playing with us from the start. In that name the whole plot of the movie is revealed. How?

What is Darth? Made-up without meaning? Try putting the words dark and death together -- Darth. OK, OK, so we know he is dark(side) of the force and brings death. How about Vader?

Hmmmm. Give up?

How's your Hindi -- Vader? How about Latin -- Pater? How about German -- Vater? How about Spanish -- Padre? Enough already -- it's father. Mother, Mater, Madre, etc. Sister is interesting in that it is Old Norse. Schwester is the German. Sororis in Latin. Hebrew and Arabic dialects are also included in the family. Further east, Chinese is the basis for Japanese, etc. But you get the drift, these are the clues. For more info -- http://www.wordorigins.org/histeng.htm

If you want to hear some Old English go to http://www.kami.demon.co.uk/gesithas/readings/readings.html

Or if you want to see what a modern English word looks like in Old English go to Just for kicks -- see if you can get someone to translate this: http://wandership.ca/projects/eow/

Necesse erat pensum domesticum meum, quod incidit in rabiem pensi deleri. (This happened to the original version of this post I had completed yesterday). Capiamus Cerevisiam!

L337 escapes the lab

Isn't L337 confined securely to the chatroom? Say w00t to your kids and watch their reactions. Watch any NCIS lately? Next time county how many times someone calls a team member a n00b. Or listen to the parlance between the n00b and the Goth forensic lab princess -- she is kinda cute -- wait, I'm sure there is a L337r way to say it. Be back in a minute........ ahhh --
( _ 7 3.... :) me happy.

Only time will tell what, if any, lasting impact L337 and its progeny might have on English. In 500 years, I doubt anyone would understand any of what I am writing now, unless the specialized in (what would they call it -- pre-cosmic string lingo). Language changes, get used to it. No one dialect is any better than another when used between consenting decoders.

Here are a few more helpful links including your own little translator of L337.

http://www.softempire.com/leet-speak.html

http://www.urbandictionary.com

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/kidtalk.mspx

Diabolus me goegit peccare!

Resistere irritum est. Praeparate vos ad translationem in modum subiunctivum.

Public v. media interests

2006-02-14T17:11:00.000-05:00

the press and the public interest: a definitional dilemma
Everette E. Dennis

A response: Representative or democratic modes – who wins and who loses?
Jeffrey B. Roth

The public buys its opinions as it buys its meat, or takes in its milk, on the principle that it is cheaper to do this than keep a cow. So it is, but the milk is more likely to be watered.
Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

Formerly a public man needed a private secretary for a barrier between himself and the public. Nowadays he has a press secretary, to keep him properly in the public eye.
Daniel J. Boorstin, The Image, 1962

Majority versus minority versus individual interests

Majority versus minority versus individual interests is a quick summary of the themes contained in the abstract written by Everette E. Dennis, et. al, first published in Enduring Issues in Mass Communication, St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company (1978).
To respond to the inherent philosophies forwarded by Dennis, a schema is required to outline the historical and evolutionary basis for the socio-political operational definition of the term “public interest.” Dennis notes that Plato and Aristotle provided the foundation for centuries of scholarly debate on what in fact constitutes either the public or their interest. While Dennis did not elaborate on those theories, by induction, it is obvious that the definitions were based on their society’s mores’. The Golden Age of Pericles – the womb of Democratic theory, restricted its political largesse to free, property holding adult males. Only they had a voice. They were, in fact, a minority of the total population, but they held political power through a form of Democratic oligarchy.
Under the Roman Republic, ending with the death of Gaius Julius Caesar at the hands of Senate, representative Democracy quickly withered, died and was replaced by tyranny (tyrannous rex in human form).
The Republic represented more strata of Roman society – not only property owners, but any free Roman citizens – either native born or naturalized through service in the Legions had a voice in the operation of the government. Even women had rights. While wives did not vote, they could own property and divorce their husbands.

More recent history

Without dipping into the history of the Magna Charta and the steady, yet erratic evolution of democracy in the western world, by the time of Rousseau, common interest theory – the common good and the general will or as Dennis termed it in modern parlance, “shared interest and mutual trust … unitary formulation is based on universal moral precepts.” In this way … “individual interests cannot justifiably conflict with the public interest or with each other. Only a universal moral order can confer validity, or justifiability…. ”
Two later philosophers, Hobbes and Hume were exponents of preponderance theory – “preponderance of force.” For Hume that force was one of opinion. Dennis also notes that Bentham advanced the idea of “superior sum of individual interests.” That approach, Dennis said, described the relationship between the Federal Communications Commission and the television networks – the “lowest common denominator idea.”

Competing interests – Hocking, Held and the U.S. Supreme Court

At this point, the nexus between the public interest and media interest can be illustrated by that of William Ernest Hocking, who said freedom of the press “has always been a matter of public as well as individual importance. Inseparable from the right of the press to be free has been the right of the people to have a free press.”
In a similar strand, Dennis noted that Professor Francis E. Rourke said that “motivation for legislative attacks on executive secrecy” has resulted from efforts by the press and the members of the scientific community. This trend represents “the wide variety of interests [but] each … can also point to a clear public interest in the success of its special efforts.”
Clearly, theoretically speaking, there has been a clear historical convergence of the rights and interests of the public with the rights and interests of the media. The U.S. Supreme Court, in an opinion issued by Mr. Justice Brennan – New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, according to Dennis said there needs to be a “profound national commitment to the principle of debate on public issues which he said should be ‘uninhibited, robust and wide open.”
Others have disagreed, Dennis notes, among them Jerome A. Barron, who commented that holding “newspaper publishers’ interests and the public interest … identical … was romantic and lopsidedly pro publisher.”
Another voice, which of Virginia Held, a political scientist, said the issue would be better defined in terms of preferences of the majority and the interests of the minority. The result is a conceptual definition that suggests majority role might be in conflict with public interest, because it can be in conflict with the essential need to preserve minority rights and other less popular, but no less valid interests.

The courts

Dennis noted the courts have generally held in press freedom cases: the free flow of information, information about public affairs, the publication of newsworthy information, communications diversity, government regulation of certain communications activities affected by the public interest or matters in the public interest are usually immune from libel and privacy recovery.
Professor Hans Morgenthau noted that by being free the press is automatically involved in the public interest because the press “belongs to all of the people.” The abolition of competition between media outlets goes against that idea. There are many times that the interest of the public and hence the press is at odds with individual or government interests.

Patriot Act and the death of open government

Dennis wrote this article prior to the implementation of the Patriot Act and the governmental response to terrorism. In the name of national security, the executive branch, primarily, but certainly enabled by the legislative and judiciary as well as has increased the government’s ability to intrude on the privacy of its citizens without worry of violating fair trial, legal search and seizure and other equal protection rights offered in the U.S. Constitution.
At that time strides were being made in eroding government’s blanket of covert operations and secrecy through FOIA and other Sunshine and Open Records laws. With 9/11 and the Patriot Act government is trying to curtail that access. An affect of this change of political whimsy is the increasing arrogance of elected officials who openly flaunt their disdain of information access laws. It is happening at all levels of government.
In the past three weeks, I have had to butt heads with two school boards and one municipality over flagrant open records violations. In on case, the solicitor of a school board attempted to tell me that my assertion about an access issue regarding the use of recording devices at public meetings was flawed.
With tape recorder in hand, I insisted that he open his little law book and check, just in case the dumb reporter was right. Guess what? Not so dumb afterall.
Rather arrogantly -- because he didn't like being proven wrong in a public forum, especially, in his supposed area of expertise -- he managed a chuckle and said "keep us on our toes."

I also informed him that rather than file some toothless civil action in trying to fight violations of the Sunshine Law, my preference was to utilize the barely used provision that allows summary charges be filed against officials who intentionally violate the law.
On top of that, I informed him that a summary conviction would erase any immunity from civil or criminal litigation resulting from a decision made while in violation of the Sunshine Law. It would in essence destroy their shield.
Needless to say, I am not often popular with some public officials. A number of years ago, a state official lied to me, with no reason, about his military record. I found out about the deception. When I confronted him about it, he changed his story, but still lied. I ultimately exposed him and he was ridiculed by fellow members of the state legislature who were actually Vietnam War Veterans. They protested by carrying signs in front of his senatorial office.
Again, he accused me of lying, even though I recorded everything. I was interviewed by the Associated Press and various local, regional and national media organizations about his accusations. I had the evidence provided by the U.S. Department of Defense. He was lucky I did not release his entire military record, because there was some much more damaging information than that about where he was stationed while in the Army.

Why do I bother?

I believe that whenever a public official attempts to hide information that by law is open to the public, then it is my duty as a journalist, on behalf of the public interest, to challenge each incident.
It does not earn me extra money to go through the hassle. Often, it makes me persona non gratis. I do my job to satisfy my values and ethics. Not for the recognition, awards or money apparently – I do it because it needs to be done. I do not go after officials for the fun of it. It is much easier to be lazy and acquiescent.
Sorry – that is just me.

Night on the Mountain

2006-02-14T12:46:00.000-05:00

I shall be telling this with a sigh
somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken," 1916

As I reached the foot of Bear Mountain -- only two miles up to go before home -- I could not resist stopping and trying to catch a photo of the moon (yes I have a thing for the night sky). With little light -- it is somewhat difficult to get anything worthwhile. But this gives you a taste of the scene.
Read my poem:
www.astropoetica.com/Summer04/emc2.html

Snow on the mountain

2006-02-13T13:40:00.000-05:00

Blogs and Journalism under Snow Moon

2006-02-09T17:03:00.000-05:00

“History is a distillation of rumor.” Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution

In The Weblog: An Extremely Democratic Form in Journalism,
Jay Rosen said weblogs are a form of online journalism – that shares a common purpose: “to prevent events from disappearing without reflection, narration, and the means to look back.”
“A weblog can “work journalistically – it can be sustainable, enjoyable, meaningful, valuable, worth doing, and worth it to other people….,” he stated he does not see weblogs as a “real threat to the established media.” He does believe that the genre is just as effective in its ability to influence its readers as traditional “opinion journalism.”

Not a threat to traditional media
The reason it is not a viable competitor for consumers of traditional mass media lies in its inability to reach the same audience numbers. In addition, there are more competing weblogs than traditional media outlets.
Granted, a weblog writer can adopt the same professional standards and ethics as those accepted by traditional journalists. The key word is “can” rather than “must.” It is an option for a weblog writer, which clouds the definition of journalism. As Thomas Carlyle noted, history or as Rosen claims attempt “to prevent” events from disappearing from the archival artifact function of journalism. Media consumers generally take it for granted that professional journalists attempt to be objective and accurate in recording the elements of various news events. Even columnists react to specific factual events in their attempt to use their work to influence readers. It has also been said that history is written by the victors of the latest conquest, socio-cultural-economic-political, etc. Both of these observations, when added to human nature, emphasize the impossibility of representing an event with 100-percent accuracy. First, the actual physiological and intellectual processes involved in generating a journalistic product must be considered. To do that, basic interpersonal communication theory provides a sound, structural touchstone to begin to realistically understand the perceptual

2006-02-09T17:02:00.001-05:00

Let's play truth or lie. The following 20 statements about me are true, with one exception. See if you can spot the lie. After you are satisfied with your choices, click tha "Answers" link at the bottom of the page. (This is a great ice-breaker at parties or first day of classes). 1. 1960s fitness guru, Jack Lalanne, slapped my face in response to a question I posed. 2. I have attended numerous meetings of the True Knights of Klu Klux Klan and some skin head meetings. 3. I have attended numerous rallies celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. and a few Black Panther rallies. 4. The hereditary Prince of the Island of Bali is a friend of mine; another friend is the god father of my children and is a famous economist whose has been honored by his home country of Malawi. 5. I had a friend (now dead) who was friends with Albert Schweitzer and Albert Einstein. 6. I graduated from Yale University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Drug Dependence Institute; and was one of the first men to graduate from a private all-female college and the first to win an academic honor there. 8. I graduated high school with honors and was considered to be an outstanding student and was well-liked by the student body.. 9. I spent a day riding around in a limousine with Hugh O'Brien, who was best known in the 1950s as Wyatt Earp; and have spent time with Charlton Heston, Pat Berenger, Meredith Baxter Birney, Carl Sagan, the Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy; Fred Grandy (Gopher on Love Boat); to name a few famous people. 10. I have been on high speed chases, numerous drug busts, at many fires and disasters, in various prisons, and I have known and spent a great deal of time with murderers, rapists, child molestors, kidnappers, thieves, etc., and have had my life threatened numerous times. 11. I was invited to get on country-western singer, Johnny Paycheck's bus (Take This Job and Shove It), but another guy got on first and he was seriously beaten -- I also spent time with jazz player, Dizzy Gillespie -- President Gerald Ford, Vice President Al Gore, four governors, and other highly-placed political figures. 12. I have helped change several state laws, several federal regulations, shut-down a major state psychiatric facility where patients were dying mysteriously, have been a guest at many professional seminars and spoke at many schools. 13. I sat in on plans to rob a US Army armory and asked my opinion about the plans success, have been friends with professional call girls -- have met numerous drug dealers and tracked down a child porographer. 14. I was reponsbile for the FBI's capture of a serial bank robber who used bombs as his weapon of choice and I've been on America's Most Wanted and talked to John Walsh. 15. 16. I have been in several TV ads, featured in the beginning of a film, featured on a PBS program, and interviewed by the National Enquirier, interviewed by the Associated Press, on radio and numerous times by TV journalists. 17. I have attended a witches' convention, have known a number of psychics, and have been on several ghost hunts and also investigated a Weekly World News (Batboy's home) story about two kids who were sent through time from the Battle of Gettysburg to the present time, and I tracked down one of their relatives. 18. I have worked with the US Army -- the Governor of the State of Maine, and have known numerous celebrities, international poitical figures and noted scientists, have worked with police, district attorneys, actors, writers, artists, etc. 19. I have taken hundreds of photos of many dead bodies -- in various states of mutilation, etc., and have did forensic photography of various crime scenes for CSI units. 20. I have talked people with guns and weapons into letting their hostages go and then surrendering to police and have told people their loved one had just died -- slapped their daughter because she was raped and interviewed a man suffering from a voodoo curse.

2006-02-09T17:02:00.000-05:00

Answers: 1. True. While surrounded by print and broadcast journalists, Jack Lalanne, who was known for his incredible feats of strenght on each birthday -- ("1984 Age 70: Handcuffed, shackled and fighting strong winds and currents, towed 70 boats with 70 people from the Queen's Way Bridge in the Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary for 1 ½ miles") had just finished a prepared statement and asked for questions. My question: "Mr. Lalanne, as the pioneer of television fitness programs, do you feel that Richard Simmons is filling your shoes?" SLAP -- as other reporters back away in an ever- widening circle. It was a love tap. Otherwise, I would have went flying backwards, landing on my keester. He smiled and said that "I like your humor," he said, adding, "Simmons is not really serious about fitness, he's a television celebrity." He must have liked my question, because he invited me to walk with him and ask him more questions -- leaving other reporters behind, mouthes open, wondering what had just happened. 2. True. Apparitions appearing and vanishing in a dew-heavy, fog, white-robed, hooded and masked membersof the True Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, brandishing red axe handles emblazoned by the KKK symbol, went about their mysterious pre-rally chores. Some carried coffee mugs carrying the same logo, which they had purchased from the vendor selling the axe handles and other organizational memorabilia.. Crickets quickened their songs, as shadows gathered in deep pools under the nearby copse of trees. A man dressed in a royal purple robe, classic conical hat, mask undone revealing his face, (the Grand Dragon), brought the meeting to order and introduced the Chaplian to give the benediction. The next man to take the podium, dressed in blood-red, was a well-known orator and political activist from a southern Klavern of the order. For the first hour of the meeting, the visiting Dragon lambasted the Jewish-controlled press. As he continued his tirade about journalists, I stood in front of the stage, camera at my side, taking notes -- occasionally waving to other Klan members (I was the only reporter there -- so I got all the attention -- my assignment only to be there is case violence broke out). During a break in the festivites, when the carnival-like spirit returned to the event, the living, moving fog darkened, enveloping all who entered the melody of the wheeping, sloughing trees mixed with the raucous sounds of the splashing, rushing river. Laughter, vendors hawking their wares and conversation created discordance, an unnatural anthem that activated the frissom mechanism of my back. With no where else to go, I waited patiently for the cross-burning. While being inundated by image, sound, smell and the cooling wet embrace of the thickening miasma, an attractive, young lady sidled up beside me and began a conversation. It was apparent that she was flirting -- then it hit me. "I'm a real idiot." Somewhere in the morass of flowing robes and swinging axe handles was her significant other -- boyfriend, fiance, husband. The question quickly became: (a.) Should I be rude and walk away? (b.) Be cool and continue innocent conversation? (c.) Fein a sudden illness or need to hit the "Porta-PottyTM?" While pondering the likelihood of my survival into the not so far future, my cheek was kissed by warmth and light was born out of the fog.As in Genesis, I felt the hand of creation providing Offering my apologies for having to continue with my job, I sauntered off to take pictures -- find my way up the steep, slippery, uneven path in an ink-black night, praying that I soon find the hard road and my car. At subsequent rallies of this type, I tried to limit my conversations to males and to topics, such as snakehunting -- and other good ole' country boy pastimes.