tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68506062217008473072024-03-14T05:16:59.571-04:00BoonFellowA Warm Companion
Celebrating Great Lines—Visual, Written, and OtherwiseGeorge M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comBlogger480125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-82186932924850230662013-03-22T13:40:00.001-04:002013-11-14T13:28:52.846-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-58545527158972790412012-12-28T13:46:00.000-05:002012-12-28T13:46:06.968-05:00Christmas 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIhwTLM4PXU/UN3ok9Vt2xI/AAAAAAAAE_g/de_XaMQ0AGs/s1600/Photo.christmas2012.nomasks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aIhwTLM4PXU/UN3ok9Vt2xI/AAAAAAAAE_g/de_XaMQ0AGs/s320/Photo.christmas2012.nomasks.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-77Dj20-Drns/UN3ovXxzADI/AAAAAAAAE_0/G2KBVuFCWHA/s1600/photo.Christmas2012.eleanormask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-77Dj20-Drns/UN3ovXxzADI/AAAAAAAAE_0/G2KBVuFCWHA/s320/photo.Christmas2012.eleanormask.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDAdY55Po9I/UN3ov9pb1mI/AAAAAAAAE_8/0V1-h8EKtTo/s1600/photo.christmas2012.dadmask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDAdY55Po9I/UN3ov9pb1mI/AAAAAAAAE_8/0V1-h8EKtTo/s320/photo.christmas2012.dadmask.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lsDcXUvV5PQ/UN3ow4ewQQI/AAAAAAAAFAE/jRUTSogP0bU/s1600/photo.christmas2012.henrymask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lsDcXUvV5PQ/UN3ow4ewQQI/AAAAAAAAFAE/jRUTSogP0bU/s320/photo.christmas2012.henrymask.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-21314751731778549462012-12-16T16:42:00.000-05:002012-12-16T16:42:11.691-05:00The Second Most Important Thing
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This Christmas finds me selling
things no one needs to people who have too much.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a flex-time Sales Associate in Fine Jewelry at Grackle’s,
the department store. There at the mall behind the locked counter in my black
pants and black vest, I sell rubies and emeralds and diamonds and pearls. I
have buckets of them. Fine watches, too. Though they come with warranties, I
offer extended insurance on them. The gems, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
One recent rainy Tuesday evening, a
few minutes before closing at 9 p.m. when the store was bright and empty,
except for idle clerks itching to be home, in came the happiest man in the world.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
He gave me a sunshine smile. The
next day would be his tenth wedding anniversary. He and his wife, the mother of
their four children, would fly to the Caribbean at dawn. He wanted to get her
something special. He was headed for housewares, but I said, “Sir, tin or
aluminum is no fitting gift.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Together
we browsed the pretty things. His eye fell on the gold necklace adorned with
emeralds and rubies. I took it out of its locked case, set it on the counter, and
unfixed it from its stand. After laying it on a blue display pad, I unsmudged a
ruby. It was his to handle. As in a fairy tale, the moment he touched it, he
had to possess it. At $10,000, it was the second most expensive thing in the
store.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
man was lucky, for it was on sale. I totaled the discounts, including one for getting
a Grackle’s account and another for joining our “Thanks for Helping” charity
program. Lo and behold, the necklace was his for $4,383. There was one catch:
It was a pre-sale. To get the deal, he would have to wait several days to pick
it up. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not
a problem,” said the man, so long as Grackle’s could give him a photo of the
necklace. He would give that in its stead to his wife.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not
a problem,” I said, dispatching a colleague.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now
the man’s woes began. We began the check-out process. It is a process because
there is much pressing of buttons. Because his account was new, the computer
would not approve his purchase. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
So much debt for so new a credit
customer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Downcast,
my co-worker returned. No photo. Printer malfunction. A cloud passed on the
man’s face, yet he beamed on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
I called Grackle’s credit center, the store’s lights, as they do at closing,
one by one by one went out. There we stood in near darkness, lit by lamps on
the counters, amid purses, pumps, and rings. Finally, the credit center gave
its okay. But my register would not accept the approval code: 4444. I called
again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
sorry, sir, that this is taking so long,” I said, my armpits damp. This was the
biggest sale of my short career. My commission would be one percent. “I’ll have
you on your way soon.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’d
really like to get home to put my kids to bed,” the man replied.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
the gloom, I waited on hold. Getting through, once again my register beeped its
displeasure at the go-ahead code: 4444.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well,
operator, what should we do?” I asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m not an operator,” she replied. “I’m
a Grackle’s credit specialist.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
called a manager. She came, face blank. Pressing a button to unlock the gate, I
buzzed her in to my secure area. Now she called. By now the store had been closed
a half hour. Now it was just me, her, and the happy man. Behind him, the
store’s undercover dick hung in the shadows by the dresses, grinning. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
the manager took charge, the man showed me pictures of his children on his
iPhone. I saw them. I saw his dog. I saw his wife. I saw his friends. They were
all as happy as he was. He kept saying, “I’d really like to get home to put my
kids to bed.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
all was well, the store had been shut nearly an hour. As we parted in the dark,
I shook his hand. “Congratulations,” I said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“When
I come back with my wife, “ the man beamed, “let’s have coffee from Grackle’s
coffee bar.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes,
sir,” I nodded.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
thing is, though, Grackle’s doesn’t have a coffee bar. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-47491912452498494932012-03-17T20:45:00.000-04:002012-03-17T20:45:54.105-04:00Principles of Life...From the Book "Shadow Divers"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QcLRkpI1IEQ/T2UwHL-fZaI/AAAAAAAAEdM/7E1dS7eOhnE/s1600/Shadowdivers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QcLRkpI1IEQ/T2UwHL-fZaI/AAAAAAAAEdM/7E1dS7eOhnE/s1600/Shadowdivers.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The 2004 book "Shadow Divers" tells the story of two intrepid scuba divers who spend seven years making extremely hazardous explorations of a U-Boat off the New Jersey shore in an attempt to determine its identity.<br />
<br />
Sunk in 230 feet of water 60 miles off-shore and not listed in any WWII histories, the submarine gives up its secrets only after the deaths of several of the divers' companions.<br />
<br />
This remarkable tale will be the subject of a movie directed by Peter Weir premiering in 2013.<br />
<br />
Here are the life lessons espoused by diver John Chatterton, truths he learned as a medic in Vietnam:<br />
<br />
"* If an undertaking was easy, someone else already would have done it.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">* If you follow in another's footsteps, you missed the problems really worth solving.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">* Excellence is born of preparation, dedication, focus, and tenacity. Compromise on any of these and you become average</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">* Every so often life presents a great moment of decision an intersection at which a man must decide to stop or go. A person lives with these decisions forever.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">* Examine everything. Not all is as it seems or as people tell you.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">* It is easiest to live with a decision, if it based on an earnest sense of right and wrong.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">* The guy who gets killed is often the guy who got nervous.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">* The guy who doesn't care any more, who has said 'I am already dead, the fact that I live or die is irrelevant and the only the thing that matters is the only accounting I give of myself' is the most formidable force in the world. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">* The worst possible decision is to give up."</div><!--EndFragment-->George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-72555739177798313212012-02-10T15:21:00.000-05:002012-02-10T15:21:18.470-05:00Hello, Tiger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5NSdcNNnBjU/TzV8IpJCxJI/AAAAAAAAEE0/aD6vH4psSTA/s1600/Feb5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5NSdcNNnBjU/TzV8IpJCxJI/AAAAAAAAEE0/aD6vH4psSTA/s1600/Feb5.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fN4lW3T3UlY/TzV8JTYWtfI/AAAAAAAAEE8/W2vWYEcOWH8/s1600/Feb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fN4lW3T3UlY/TzV8JTYWtfI/AAAAAAAAEE8/W2vWYEcOWH8/s320/Feb6.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGaAFAPffwo/TzV8KOfjzFI/AAAAAAAAEFE/1LlcydIc8y4/s1600/Feb7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGaAFAPffwo/TzV8KOfjzFI/AAAAAAAAEFE/1LlcydIc8y4/s320/Feb7.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8j85zmWUtN0/TzV8KxAxKVI/AAAAAAAAEFM/m5L4YTm9NRU/s1600/Feb8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8j85zmWUtN0/TzV8KxAxKVI/AAAAAAAAEFM/m5L4YTm9NRU/s320/Feb8.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYUBk9lHa48/TzV8LvKrlOI/AAAAAAAAEFU/rtazLq_SCYg/s1600/Feb9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYUBk9lHa48/TzV8LvKrlOI/AAAAAAAAEFU/rtazLq_SCYg/s320/Feb9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A New Painting....George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-19944034495891409992012-01-01T08:46:00.000-05:002012-01-01T08:46:03.767-05:00New Sun, New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ4nA966Cx8/TwBjjtkqQ7I/AAAAAAAADf4/Ee_BQ2yv-9o/s1600/170px-KingArthur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZ4nA966Cx8/TwBjjtkqQ7I/AAAAAAAADf4/Ee_BQ2yv-9o/s1600/170px-KingArthur.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 21px;">Then from the dawn it seemed there came, but faint<br />
As from beyond the limit of the world,<br />
Like the last echo born of a great cry,<br />
Sounds, as if some fair city were one voice<br />
Around a king returning from his wars.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 21px;">Thereat once more he moved about, and clomb<br />
Even to the highest he could climb, and saw,<br />
Straining his eyes beneath an arch of hand,<br />
Or thought he saw, the speck that bare the King,<br />
Down that long water opening on the deep<br />
Somewhere far off, pass on and on, and go<br />
From less to less and vanish into light.<br />
And the new sun rose bringing the new year.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 21px;">--Idylls of the King</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 21px;">Alfred Lord Tennyson</div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-29792288483464804082011-12-24T11:43:00.004-05:002011-12-24T11:47:01.442-05:00Over the World a Star<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zV2qcIYmxJg/TvX7nTd5zCI/AAAAAAAADFU/AtjoTWyd-w0/s1600/gemini6d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zV2qcIYmxJg/TvX7nTd5zCI/AAAAAAAADFU/AtjoTWyd-w0/s1600/gemini6d.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times;">"We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times;">probably in polar orbit....Looks like he might be going <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times;">to re-enter soon....I see a command module and eight smaller </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">modules in front.</span>The pilot of the command<br />
module is wearing a red suit."</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">"Stand by. He's trying to <a href="http://boingboing.net/2011/12/16/jingle-bells-in-space-the-his.html">signal</a> something."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">-- Command Pilot Wally Schirra</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Gemini VI</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">December 1965</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9uxkBwwJ1Sg/TvX87S-F3DI/AAAAAAAADFs/Je4Y_NlytG0/s1600/Ge06Patch_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9uxkBwwJ1Sg/TvX87S-F3DI/AAAAAAAADFs/Je4Y_NlytG0/s1600/Ge06Patch_orig.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trajectory of the spacecraft traces the number six</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on the mission's official <a href="http://genedorr.com/patches/Gemini/Ge06.html">patch</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The brightest stars in the constellation <a href="http://160.114.99.91/astrojan/gemini.htm">Gemini</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Castor and Pollux appear inside the capsule.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When you find Gemini in the night sky, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the <a href="http://skywatchingworld.com/how-to-find-gemini/">direction</a> you are looking in is </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">towards the outside of our galaxy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/JiE_kNk3ucI/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JiE_kNk3ucI&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JiE_kNk3ucI&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains about 500 billion stars, according to </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the Khan Academy video above.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwUMtE9pW08/TvYBG84e8uI/AAAAAAAADF4/VZo-lp1IX_E/s1600/220px-WISE-_Andromeda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rwUMtE9pW08/TvYBG84e8uI/AAAAAAAADF4/VZo-lp1IX_E/s1600/220px-WISE-_Andromeda.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andromeda, the galaxy nearest to us, (above) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">is 2.5 million light years away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It may contain one trillion stars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are about 500 billion galaxies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The universe, as we know it today,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">has a diameter of 26 billion light years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you do the math, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this is a whole lot of zeros</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that add up to something.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/T4uP32mnAjY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">O, Holy Night!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The stars are brightly shining.</div><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; z-index: 0;"><br />
</span>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-49953490498924414012011-12-23T12:55:00.001-05:002012-01-04T11:26:24.112-05:00The Art of Mooknar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0suWdd4Oy0/TwR80qyZ9mI/AAAAAAAADjA/S4drmVBLp4E/s1600/rapunzel_by_mooknar-d4cz4mz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0suWdd4Oy0/TwR80qyZ9mI/AAAAAAAADjA/S4drmVBLp4E/s320/rapunzel_by_mooknar-d4cz4mz.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Art of Mooknar (a.k.a Margaret Spencer)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For more, go <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110644831723176795097/MyDaughterMargaretSArt">here</a>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6phnauajHSA/TwR9YnMYuTI/AAAAAAAADjc/NKpiHECY6cA/s1600/black_canary_trading_card_by_mooknar-d4cnzn3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6phnauajHSA/TwR9YnMYuTI/AAAAAAAADjc/NKpiHECY6cA/s320/black_canary_trading_card_by_mooknar-d4cnzn3.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UMC9mun_iSY/TwR9ae3zNGI/AAAAAAAADjk/gnmNKY_uKvA/s1600/blood_elf_by_mooknar-d4844ca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UMC9mun_iSY/TwR9ae3zNGI/AAAAAAAADjk/gnmNKY_uKvA/s320/blood_elf_by_mooknar-d4844ca.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojLsDSu795c/TwR9dRbwy1I/AAAAAAAADjs/Rjm9InpxzxA/s1600/next_generation_by_mooknar-d4hdk66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojLsDSu795c/TwR9dRbwy1I/AAAAAAAADjs/Rjm9InpxzxA/s320/next_generation_by_mooknar-d4hdk66.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--VntsD6ojJI/TwR9la-dmiI/AAAAAAAADj0/ATr0gVSk4Ns/s1600/tangled_by_mooknar-d4czbvc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--VntsD6ojJI/TwR9la-dmiI/AAAAAAAADj0/ATr0gVSk4Ns/s320/tangled_by_mooknar-d4czbvc.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nRnnrh-QlRA/TwR9l7t3hrI/AAAAAAAADj8/_sTBlDId9vI/s1600/JaZZ_by_Mooknar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nRnnrh-QlRA/TwR9l7t3hrI/AAAAAAAADj8/_sTBlDId9vI/s320/JaZZ_by_Mooknar.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-82179247406768320872011-12-22T12:46:00.000-05:002011-12-22T12:46:06.282-05:00Henry Performing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/u3J8r--51SM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/BUK2PsT6VME?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZV5cbvFwpW4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-29062162168959451092011-12-22T12:45:00.000-05:002011-12-22T12:45:04.156-05:00Christmas 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PjrjGUtYbDk/TvNsjDlvNiI/AAAAAAAADBE/lbWq2PQJh-A/s1600/Photo.Christmas.family.2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PjrjGUtYbDk/TvNsjDlvNiI/AAAAAAAADBE/lbWq2PQJh-A/s320/Photo.Christmas.family.2011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ijF2S1sJGKI/TvNsla3iDLI/AAAAAAAADBM/WvxeUcLeoCU/s1600/Photo.Christmas.children.2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ijF2S1sJGKI/TvNsla3iDLI/AAAAAAAADBM/WvxeUcLeoCU/s320/Photo.Christmas.children.2011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-89907583862300180022011-12-22T12:44:00.000-05:002011-12-22T12:44:08.628-05:00Margaret Rescued<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SmXG154rH9Q/TvNsWzXdY-I/AAAAAAAADA4/Sv0Ku_6vGiU/s1600/IMG_0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SmXG154rH9Q/TvNsWzXdY-I/AAAAAAAADA4/Sv0Ku_6vGiU/s320/IMG_0275.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-46803349363989694322011-11-22T20:44:00.001-05:002011-12-23T17:28:42.715-05:00Vollis Simpson — "Junkyard Poet"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nIiPgUvd-0/TsxOR1VZCjI/AAAAAAAADAg/egH8a_vw5uA/s1600/IMG_7309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nIiPgUvd-0/TsxOR1VZCjI/AAAAAAAADAg/egH8a_vw5uA/s320/IMG_7309.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dubbed the "Junkyard Poet of Whirligigs" by <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/arts/design/06vollis.html?pagewanted=all">The New York Times</a>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Vollis Simpson, 92, comes to work every day in Lucama, N.C.</div><div style="text-align: center;">holding court for visiting video crews, all </div><div style="text-align: center;">while eating a lunch of Nip-Chee crackers and Pepsi. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">He curses like the B-29 airman he once was. </div><div style="text-align: center;">He spins a bawdy tale about a miniskirted visitor. </div><div style="text-align: center;">He worries about thieves coming to </div><div style="text-align: center;">steal his metal. He tells a visitor </div><div style="text-align: center;">he'll jump them, if he gets the chance, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the same way he tackled a shoplifting customer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">His mind is sharp, his body strong. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Vollis will be king of his spin-dizzy kingdom</div><div style="text-align: center;">for years to come.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DohqIiCa59I/TsxOKZolL1I/AAAAAAAADAY/2nDduCQteJg/s1600/IMG_7312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DohqIiCa59I/TsxOKZolL1I/AAAAAAAADAY/2nDduCQteJg/s320/IMG_7312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rxu_uWB1xDs/TsxOEG1zQII/AAAAAAAADAQ/YPT323dP_u0/s1600/IMG_7320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rxu_uWB1xDs/TsxOEG1zQII/AAAAAAAADAQ/YPT323dP_u0/s320/IMG_7320.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UrfqBNpgrAA/TsxN8UWzhKI/AAAAAAAADAI/tVr5T8vOZxU/s1600/IMG_7322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UrfqBNpgrAA/TsxN8UWzhKI/AAAAAAAADAI/tVr5T8vOZxU/s320/IMG_7322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgZotZgKL-I/TsxM8YykXyI/AAAAAAAAC_I/DHcShJxi0hw/s1600/IMG_7361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgZotZgKL-I/TsxM8YykXyI/AAAAAAAAC_I/DHcShJxi0hw/s320/IMG_7361.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yzn2-_WL2TE/TsxNDiPjM2I/AAAAAAAAC_Q/AoenHZDile8/s1600/IMG_7358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yzn2-_WL2TE/TsxNDiPjM2I/AAAAAAAAC_Q/AoenHZDile8/s320/IMG_7358.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEEzqul_9TA/TsxNKZvzHcI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/z7t8pj9VeRI/s1600/IMG_7356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEEzqul_9TA/TsxNKZvzHcI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/z7t8pj9VeRI/s320/IMG_7356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7khUHr81s9c/TsxNQgsodpI/AAAAAAAAC_g/69fVB4QP3Y4/s1600/IMG_7353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7khUHr81s9c/TsxNQgsodpI/AAAAAAAAC_g/69fVB4QP3Y4/s320/IMG_7353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4DDQIo-G_g/TsxNZvcoPdI/AAAAAAAAC_o/0zJ61zTMd8s/s1600/IMG_7344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4DDQIo-G_g/TsxNZvcoPdI/AAAAAAAAC_o/0zJ61zTMd8s/s320/IMG_7344.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qrv01Xm-Y6E/TsxNjVFSwYI/AAAAAAAAC_w/dKTk69K2ZLs/s1600/IMG_7340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qrv01Xm-Y6E/TsxNjVFSwYI/AAAAAAAAC_w/dKTk69K2ZLs/s320/IMG_7340.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qqxEz5Vx1U0/TsxNudajsfI/AAAAAAAAC_4/KLMYMyYM_34/s1600/IMG_7337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qqxEz5Vx1U0/TsxNudajsfI/AAAAAAAAC_4/KLMYMyYM_34/s320/IMG_7337.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usQUekPhdY8/TsxN2w7mUoI/AAAAAAAADAA/qirjZ3FNYbA/s1600/IMG_7330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usQUekPhdY8/TsxN2w7mUoI/AAAAAAAADAA/qirjZ3FNYbA/s320/IMG_7330.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-24831304275080854432011-11-06T19:42:00.000-05:002011-11-06T19:42:02.994-05:00Certainment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q-uQWNd540I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-88235178223199134172011-11-01T13:30:00.000-04:002011-11-01T13:30:07.616-04:00Crossing the Line<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XumUho-p4wI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-87663225552674309332011-10-25T13:53:00.002-04:002011-10-25T13:53:59.003-04:00His Talent is Transparent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkRS3wDg1xU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-45322544410573496962011-10-18T17:34:00.002-04:002011-10-18T17:34:24.056-04:00Still Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GnkVmOZDGBE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-50165706763008934502011-10-18T17:32:00.001-04:002011-10-18T17:33:42.243-04:00Turtle Joke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AyyEqWabykY/Tp3wRmJrenI/AAAAAAAAC9k/_H2dXXeeXWo/s1600/turtle.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AyyEqWabykY/Tp3wRmJrenI/AAAAAAAAC9k/_H2dXXeeXWo/s320/turtle.1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Turtle crawls into a police station. Head is bruised, shell dented.<br />
<br />
Cop says, "What happened?"<br />
<br />
"Ittt wasss awwwfulll," says the turtle.<br />
<br />
"Whaddaya mean?" replies the cop.<br />
<br />
"Ohhhhhh," says the turtle. "I wasssss mugggged."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E9_1tJvMX_o/Tp3wa_Br_oI/AAAAAAAAC9s/fk84QYYfkak/s1600/turtle.2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E9_1tJvMX_o/Tp3wa_Br_oI/AAAAAAAAC9s/fk84QYYfkak/s320/turtle.2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
"Who did it?" asks the cop.<br />
<br />
"Threeee snailsss," says the turtle.<br />
<br />
"Snails! What did they look like?" asks the cop.<br />
<br />
"I don'tttt knowww," the turtle replies." Itt alll happenedddd soooo fast."George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-41440653318998840012011-10-18T17:28:00.002-04:002011-10-18T17:28:33.902-04:00Action Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ojMGeKTVvWY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-42065337692331337172011-10-18T10:26:00.001-04:002011-10-18T10:26:27.812-04:00Can't You Just See the Sunshine?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PbiLytJ4y-g/Tp2MHf2AIuI/AAAAAAAAC9U/mpkFM5SjYOc/s1600/Carolina.mov"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv21.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Daa1aae9ee3eee373%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1318969471%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D82AB613AD5A5F2CDD07CC1A337F61EDB0761B6F4.9FB01C74558B829917A006F38A0116B33AA4D3AD%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv21.nonxt3.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Daa1aae9ee3eee373%26itag%3D18%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1318969471%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D82AB613AD5A5F2CDD07CC1A337F61EDB0761B6F4.9FB01C74558B829917A006F38A0116B33AA4D3AD%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Carolina On My Mind"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Insteads</div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-51934166357206944072011-10-07T17:36:00.000-04:002011-10-07T17:36:21.059-04:00The Lime Lizard<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LvFE5Vy2pxU/To9wHzCVC3I/AAAAAAAAC80/GHUYa4cSmiU/s1600/greenanole1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LvFE5Vy2pxU/To9wHzCVC3I/AAAAAAAAC80/GHUYa4cSmiU/s320/greenanole1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span>I went into the woods yesterday to eat lunch and read.</span><span><span> </span>I found a spot by a fallen tree and put my sweater against the trunk and my jeans jacket down so I could sit on it. Next to me I put my white plastic Apple backpack that contained my lunch.<span> </span>I read the newspaper. Sad to read about Steve Jobs' passing. Then I had lunch---salad and tuna fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><span> </span>After that, I picked up my book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-War-Familys-Sacrifice-Vietnam/dp/0060153180">In Love and War</a>," a memoir in alternating chapters by a Naval aviator and his wife. He was shot down in 1965 shortly after the start of the Vietnam War. He was the highest ranking officer held as a POW and was tortured, held in solitary confinement, and remained a prisoner for seven years while his wife raised four children and led a national campaign to raise attention to the plight of her husband and<span> </span>other American servicemen. It is hard to imagine such courage. And for seven years.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><span> </span>After some time passed, I thought I noticed something on my backpack. At first I thought it was a leaf. Then I looked again. It was a five inch long brilliant lime green lizard, probably an anole. It whip-like tail was three inches. I thought it wanted to sneak in my bag to eat a crumb. I stayed still, sitting on the ground, my back against the tree trunk, legs stretched out in front of me, the book open in my lap.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J07ZY7m6hY/To9wIudouJI/AAAAAAAAC84/gh58gFGcLdo/s1600/greenanole2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J07ZY7m6hY/To9wIudouJI/AAAAAAAAC84/gh58gFGcLdo/s1600/greenanole2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span> </span><br />
After a few minutes, to my surprise, the anole leapt down to the ground and sprang onto my thigh. It climbed up my leg until it poised by my right hand at the edge of the book. I think it liked the warmth of my leg. Maybe it sensed the heat from several inches away.<span> </span><br />
It crouched there. I could see how thin, even emaciated it was. It is not easy living in the woods. Down the center of its spine ran a grey stripe. On top of its head I could see how its green coloration fractured into plate-like shapes. Its toes were long and terribly crooked.<span> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><span> </span>More time passed. I noticed that to the side of my right thigh I had kicked away leaves and disturbed the earth. Where I had done so, ants had crawled in. A one-inch long worm writhed terribly in the soil from their many bites, and the ants tormented it.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span><span><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PkkTS7_-c1A/To9wJBvRCvI/AAAAAAAAC88/ODqKsSWWtzo/s1600/greenanole4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PkkTS7_-c1A/To9wJBvRCvI/AAAAAAAAC88/ODqKsSWWtzo/s320/greenanole4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From where the lizard crouched, the eye on one side of his head looked at me. The other eye could see the ground. I wondered if he could see what I saw. The one eye I could see looked very wise. Shrewd even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With sure movements, the lizard sprang down, landing first on a leaf sprouting up. Soon enough, he had the worm between his powerful jaws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chomp, chomp, and the worm was down his gullet. A merciful death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To my surprise, he hopped back up on my thigh. He breathed heavily, his sides moving in and out like a bellows. There he rested to digest, partly under the shadow of the bottom edge of the hardback book. I think he was considering whether to go underneath this giant overhang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, after a while, he skittered down my legs and rested at the top of my hiking boots. I think he also was deciding whether to explore inside my shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Instead, he marched back up the tops of my thighs. By now, I knew what he was going to do. He jumped up on my open book and stood astride its pages, somewhat looking up at me. From there, there was no question he was going to sit on my left hand in my lap which was clasped on top of my right hand, enjoying a commanding view. In my right hand I held a pen. Next time, I will get him on my pen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"></span> But this was not enough, and quick as lightning he ran up my bare arm,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>jumped onto my T-shirt sleeve, then to my shoulder and leapt onto my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sweater which lay on the downed tree. From there he headed up a dead tree limb which stood up almost directly behind me. Perhaps he wanted the best possible vantage point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I turned back to my book. No bird saw him. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-75036604731886184062011-09-22T14:08:00.000-04:002011-09-22T14:08:05.692-04:00The Statue of Responsibility<div style="text-align: center;">A counterpoint to the Statue of Liberty, </div><div style="text-align: center;">this 300-foot tall monument would be built </div><div style="text-align: center;">on an island at a west coast port.</div><span id="goog_2124535778"></span><span id="goog_2124535779"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5iDy6JRkEJE/Tnt3rC-uXwI/AAAAAAAAC8s/QAjX9Efy01Y/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5iDy6JRkEJE/Tnt3rC-uXwI/AAAAAAAAC8s/QAjX9Efy01Y/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Holocaust survivor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Frankl">Dr. Victor Frankl</a>, a psychiatrist, proposed its creation.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">"Freedom," he said, "is only part of the story and half of the truth. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">whose positive aspect is responsibleness. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">In fact, freedom is in danger of degenerating </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">into mere arbitrariness </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4T4LA-gN88k/Tnt3slewqRI/AAAAAAAAC8w/nIpl4hLluHY/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4T4LA-gN88k/Tnt3slewqRI/AAAAAAAAC8w/nIpl4hLluHY/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">There would, of course, be a gift shop</div><div style="text-align: center;">on the top level.</div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-20074738744587304792011-09-22T13:11:00.000-04:002011-09-22T13:11:59.046-04:00Making a Splash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nYdPtcx-4mo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Newcomer Lisa Hannigan</div><br />
<span id="goog_1097365817"></span><span id="goog_1097365818"></span>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-41748679726989447662011-09-21T07:28:00.000-04:002011-09-21T07:28:18.560-04:00A trip around the neighborhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PdDEpC0uHWI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-53446015693609880352011-09-18T16:17:00.000-04:002011-09-18T16:17:38.218-04:00New Word: Touchfoil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPL74HyIavc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tablets are so 2011.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Scrolls are in for 2012.</div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6850606221700847307.post-65089459011304318352011-09-14T08:50:00.000-04:002011-09-14T08:50:40.685-04:00"Some Chicken...Some Neck."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jr8bwzdc5c0/TnCXZMRdJ6I/AAAAAAAAC8k/pqslplJzsVI/s1600/rooster2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jr8bwzdc5c0/TnCXZMRdJ6I/AAAAAAAAC8k/pqslplJzsVI/s320/rooster2.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>So said Winston Churchill in a speech before the Canadian Parliament following the Battle of Britain, the air war that took place in the summer and fall of 1940. </div><div><br />
</div><div>(Though the Blitz, the Nazi bombing of British cities and factories, continued into mid-1941, Britain's victory in the preceding air war crushed Hitler's ambitions of launching a naval invasion of England.)</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GFoSvPyUTAk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>Shortly before the Nazi onslaught began in July 1940, the commander-in-chief of France's armed forces Maxine Weygand predicted, "In three weeks, England will have her neck wrung like a chicken." (Of course, it should be noted that by the time Monsieur Weygand made his forecast the Germans had overrun his country.)</div><div><br />
</div><div>Nonetheless, England was at the precipice. No nation had been able to withstand the Nazis advances. The Luftwaffe's sinister shrieking dive bombers had proved terrifyingly effective in Poland and Spain. Worse, Germany's air force was twice the size of Britain's. Many British leaders, even its foreign minister, thought their best hope was a negotiated surrender. American ambassador Joseph Kennedy told FDR England was doomed. (Even after the British won the campaign and withstood the Blitz, Kennedy told the press in November 1940 that "Democracy in England is finished.")</div><div><br />
</div><div>Yet Britain won. And decisively, as recounted in this 2008 feature in <a href="http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2008/August%202008/0808battle.aspx">Air Force Magazine</a>, which is published by the U.S. Air Force Association. How did Churchill pull it off? The reasons run across the board: </div><div><br />
</div><div>* The British had superior technology. They made better use of radar, allowing them to scramble their fighters at the last minute, saving fuel. Even the gas they used had more bang—100 octane shipped from the U.S.—which boosted their fighters' performance. </div><div><br />
</div><div>* They had better intelligence, having cracked the German's top-level "Enigma" code. </div><div><br />
</div><div>* Their fighters—the planes and their pilots—were equal to the Nazis. The Germans had no experience in air-to-air combat. The clumsy Stuka dive bomber was little use in dog fights. The Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter, though a formidable machine, lacked the fuel capacity to spend long periods over England, reducing its ability to escort bombers. The British more than matched both, sending slower Hawker Hurricanes against the Stukas and the faster, more maneuverable Supermarine Spitfires (below) to shoot down bombers protected by the Me 109s. (Even from a manufacturing standpoint, the British outclassed the Germans, building replacement fighters at a faster rate than the Nazis could.)</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XCh3wWgyrjg/TnCdwtjIDkI/AAAAAAAAC8o/dYuZqkrmZuI/s1600/supermarine-spitfire-mk-vb-wallpapers_17330_1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XCh3wWgyrjg/TnCdwtjIDkI/AAAAAAAAC8o/dYuZqkrmZuI/s320/supermarine-spitfire-mk-vb-wallpapers_17330_1024x768.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>* The Nazis made tactical and strategic errors. Just as their bombing of British radar sites was proving effective, Hitler ordered resources diverted to a bombing campaign against civilians in London. Thus, the RAF had time to regroup. Meanwhile, British civilian morale rose, as Churchill ordered reprisal raids against Berlin suburbs, strikes that shocked Germans.</div><div><br />
</div><div>* It should go without saying that the British had Churchill, one of history's greatest leaders. His ability to inspire his citizens to fight for the light of freedom far surpassed Hitler's dark ambitions. One man's will can turn the tide of history.</div>George M. Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07818413936028778734noreply@blogger.com