Grab the sand shovel and pail. Get away to the beach or your backyard or just get outside and enjoy the out of doors. For goodness sake take time and savor this last holiday before you need to return to schedules.
And while you do all that let's remember too what Labor Day is all about.
The next time you see the garbage men and women give them a smile and mouth a "thank you."
When you see a bus or metro driver wave a "hello." Give a toot on your horn and a thumbs up to the construction crews you may pass at work.
Try a nod of the head and a hearty "thank you" to the food server who takes and brings your orders. The next time you pass the maintenance people who clean the building where you live look them in the eye and give them a smile. When you see a police car patrolling your street give them a shout out and try a "good to see you!"
All these and more are the true recipients of the Labor Day holiday and with few exceptions all provide the goods and services to keep our economy flowing and contribute in a very personal way to the quality of life in our community.
Thank goodness for those who labor for each of us and for the Unions which represent them.
"HAPPY LABOR DAY AND SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
LABOR DAY 2016
Grab the sand shovel and pail. Get away to the beach or your backyard or just get outside and enjoy the out of doors. For goodness sake take time and savor this last holiday before you need to return to schedules.
And while you do all that let's remember too what Labor Day is all about.
The next time you see the garbage men and women give them a smile and mouth a "thank you."
When you see a bus or metro driver wave a "hello." Give a toot on your horn and a thumbs up to the construction crews you may pass at work.
Try a nod of the head and a hearty "thank you" to the food savor who takes and brings your orders. The next time you pass the maintenance people who clean the building where you live look them in the eye and give them a smile. When you see a police car patrolling your street give them a shout out and try a "good to see you!"
All these and more are the true recipients of the Labor Day holiday and with few exceptions all provide the goods and services to keep our economy flowing and contribute in a very personal way to the quality of life in our community.
Thank goodness for those who labor for each of us and for the Unions which represent them.
"HAPPY LABOR DAY AND SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
And while you do all that let's remember too what Labor Day is all about.
The next time you see the garbage men and women give them a smile and mouth a "thank you."
When you see a bus or metro driver wave a "hello." Give a toot on your horn and a thumbs up to the construction crews you may pass at work.
Try a nod of the head and a hearty "thank you" to the food savor who takes and brings your orders. The next time you pass the maintenance people who clean the building where you live look them in the eye and give them a smile. When you see a police car patrolling your street give them a shout out and try a "good to see you!"
All these and more are the true recipients of the Labor Day holiday and with few exceptions all provide the goods and services to keep our economy flowing and contribute in a very personal way to the quality of life in our community.
Thank goodness for those who labor for each of us and for the Unions which represent them.
"HAPPY LABOR DAY AND SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND JEFFERSON BARRACKS
In 1936, two women traveled across this country to record what they saw and heard along the way.
Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas writers recorded what they saw and the experiences they had in letters to Samuel Steward, an unorthodox writer and English Professor.
He in turn published their letters in the book "Letters from Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas."
In their account of the trip, Gertrude Stein wrote, "In the United States there is more space where nobody is than where anybody is."
I thought of this as a friend and I explored the spacious grounds of the Historic Jefferson Barracks overlooking the mighty Mississippi in St. Louis, Missouri. The grounds once owned by the State are now a part of the National Park Service.
The Jefferson Barracks and The National Park Service carry a rich, historical significance to our country through Civil, racial and national wars as we moved Westward.
The Barrack grounds with few limitations provide public walking and bicycling paths. Picnic grounds and Museums dedicated to Military, State and National History help tell the story.
This land as well as the 84.4 million other acres in other state reserves, lakes, rivers, and coastal areas are a lasting democratic tribute maintained by 20,000 employees and 221,000 volunteers of the National Park Service.
Established on August 25, 1916 by the United States Congress, our National Park Service celebrates its 100th Anniversary and suggests each of us find a park to visit during August 25 to 28 at FINDYOURPARK.COM
SEE YOU IN THE PARK AND AT THE POLLS!
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
POLITICAL RHETORIC AND SELFLESSNESS.
A VERY SHORT STORY
On a very hot August day here in St. Louis I had to travel about 15 miles for a meeting.
When I got to my destination I parked my car in a steamy garage and went to my meeting.
When I was finished I returned to my car to go home but the battery would not turn over.
Exasperated, I got out of my car and called out, "Can anyone give me a jump start?"
A young couple who were preparing to leave said, "We'll see if we can help you".
They were parked in a bad position to attach cables to my battery.
The woman who was driving the car moved it so the man could attach the cables.
They succeeded. My battery turned over and we all left. Needless to say I was most grateful.
On the way home I turned on the radio and heard a lot of political verbiage.
I thought what a shame that so many people who want to be elected don't seem to
understand the selflessness that is so much a part of who we are as Americans.
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
TELESCOPES, IN PUBLIC LENDING LIBRARIES?
A friend told me an about a new initiative to introduce people to science. The idea was to make telescopes available to people through libraries in the same way we lend books.
The idea was backed up by the Astronomical Society meeting in New Hampshire in 2014 and is now called The Library Telescope Program* found in many state library systems across the country,
At this writing, 131 telescopes will be available for use in small and large lending libraries in cities and counties in Missouri and Illinois, Recently my friend and I joined more than 50 volunteers to sort through parts and assemble 48 of those telescopes.
We worked with people unpacking shipping containers, cutting strings, checking lists for instructions and obviously determined to accomplish the morning's tasks itemized on large work sheets.
The volunteers included people of all ages, librarians, teachers, businesses people, representatives of interest groups like Eagle Scouts and other nonprofit organizations along with a few "old hands" who knew a thing or two about the assembly of a telescope. We learned of the considerable planning and logistics that are required to receive, store, ship and deliver the telescopes we worked on.
Once completed, the assembled telescopes were "star tested" and the volunteer assemblers were treated to a delicious home-made spread of sandwiches and desserts. A sense of team celebration was felt by all who had put together the 48 telescopes.
When the telescope is delivered it becomes the property of the library . Training for the Library staff and instructions on assembly and maintenance is once again provided by volunteers. Funding for the Program is provided by the Astronomical Society, local governments, donors and sometimes is authorized within the library operating budget itself.
Because of this Program an unknown number of people and children will be able to become familiar
with the science of our astronomical systems, see up close planets and stars unnoticed before. And perhaps all of us, along with the telescope users will better understand planet Earth's place in the Universe and science's role in helping us better understand each other.
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
*Ask your Library for more information about The Library Telescope Program or Google your state's Astronomical Society.
The idea was backed up by the Astronomical Society meeting in New Hampshire in 2014 and is now called The Library Telescope Program* found in many state library systems across the country,
At this writing, 131 telescopes will be available for use in small and large lending libraries in cities and counties in Missouri and Illinois, Recently my friend and I joined more than 50 volunteers to sort through parts and assemble 48 of those telescopes.
We worked with people unpacking shipping containers, cutting strings, checking lists for instructions and obviously determined to accomplish the morning's tasks itemized on large work sheets.
The volunteers included people of all ages, librarians, teachers, businesses people, representatives of interest groups like Eagle Scouts and other nonprofit organizations along with a few "old hands" who knew a thing or two about the assembly of a telescope. We learned of the considerable planning and logistics that are required to receive, store, ship and deliver the telescopes we worked on.
Once completed, the assembled telescopes were "star tested" and the volunteer assemblers were treated to a delicious home-made spread of sandwiches and desserts. A sense of team celebration was felt by all who had put together the 48 telescopes.
When the telescope is delivered it becomes the property of the library . Training for the Library staff and instructions on assembly and maintenance is once again provided by volunteers. Funding for the Program is provided by the Astronomical Society, local governments, donors and sometimes is authorized within the library operating budget itself.
Because of this Program an unknown number of people and children will be able to become familiar
with the science of our astronomical systems, see up close planets and stars unnoticed before. And perhaps all of us, along with the telescope users will better understand planet Earth's place in the Universe and science's role in helping us better understand each other.
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
*Ask your Library for more information about The Library Telescope Program or Google your state's Astronomical Society.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
BUCKMINSTER FULLER & THE ELECTION
At the end of June I met a friend to travel to Edwardsville, Illinois
We wanted to hear a program about Buckminster Fuller to see the geodesic dome built by Fuller and his architect partner Shojie Sado located on the expansive campus of Southern Illinois University.
The program had been arranged by an organization working for gun safety. We were a group of more than 15 men and women. We were invited to have lunch at a well appointed home close to the University and to tour the Dome afterward.
Buckminster Fuller was an architect, engineer, inventor, poet and global visionary who created the concept for the dome. Fuller also created the "World Game" which was played by other universities and governments throughout the world. The Game's purpose was to practically demonstrate how interdependent we all were for environmental and economic resources on this planet our "Spaceship Earth."
It was at one "World Game" event that I first encountered the thinking of this unusual man and his
universal respect for all effort that is made toward negotiating boundaries, walls and cultures as
waves of people moved from one place to another.
Ironically my trip to Edwardsville and the Buckmaster Center* came at a time when candidates for
elected office here and around the world are playing loose with human life and environmental resources as though there is no need to negotiate with each other much less respect our differences.
We need to remember Buckminster Fuller as we go to the polls and vote.
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS
*www.fullerdome.org
We wanted to hear a program about Buckminster Fuller to see the geodesic dome built by Fuller and his architect partner Shojie Sado located on the expansive campus of Southern Illinois University.
The program had been arranged by an organization working for gun safety. We were a group of more than 15 men and women. We were invited to have lunch at a well appointed home close to the University and to tour the Dome afterward.
Buckminster Fuller was an architect, engineer, inventor, poet and global visionary who created the concept for the dome. Fuller also created the "World Game" which was played by other universities and governments throughout the world. The Game's purpose was to practically demonstrate how interdependent we all were for environmental and economic resources on this planet our "Spaceship Earth."
It was at one "World Game" event that I first encountered the thinking of this unusual man and his
universal respect for all effort that is made toward negotiating boundaries, walls and cultures as
waves of people moved from one place to another.
Ironically my trip to Edwardsville and the Buckmaster Center* came at a time when candidates for
elected office here and around the world are playing loose with human life and environmental resources as though there is no need to negotiate with each other much less respect our differences.
We need to remember Buckminster Fuller as we go to the polls and vote.
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS
*www.fullerdome.org
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
SHORT STORY: PLAGIARISM AND ME?
At one time I had the pleasure of serving as an adjunct professor in a large urban university.
My course was a practical one about the field of public relations, the skills required by the
practitioner and the relationship between public relations and journalism.
There were 30 undergraduate students in my class, the majority of whom worked part-time and took classes in night school.
Students were required to write and to demonstrate their understanding of strategic management
by facilitating campaign for a program or company they identified as their "client."
One of my students, in his senior year, produced a strategic plan for an art museum, along
with mock-ups for print products.
I had worked hard with this particular student during the semester. I felt I had seen improvement
with each week that passed and I looked forward to receiving his paper as the term ended.
As I read through his work, I was gratified, almost impressed by how well he handled the assignment until I realized, with a sickening feeling that I had read his words elsewhere, his work was plagiarized. I felt my trust had been betrayed.
When I read what happened with the Donald Trump campaign and the way words were being plagiarized, vulgarized and demonized, I wondered could voters not feel a sickening sense of betrayal as I did so many years ago?
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
My course was a practical one about the field of public relations, the skills required by the
practitioner and the relationship between public relations and journalism.
There were 30 undergraduate students in my class, the majority of whom worked part-time and took classes in night school.
Students were required to write and to demonstrate their understanding of strategic management
by facilitating campaign for a program or company they identified as their "client."
One of my students, in his senior year, produced a strategic plan for an art museum, along
with mock-ups for print products.
I had worked hard with this particular student during the semester. I felt I had seen improvement
with each week that passed and I looked forward to receiving his paper as the term ended.
As I read through his work, I was gratified, almost impressed by how well he handled the assignment until I realized, with a sickening feeling that I had read his words elsewhere, his work was plagiarized. I felt my trust had been betrayed.
When I read what happened with the Donald Trump campaign and the way words were being plagiarized, vulgarized and demonized, I wondered could voters not feel a sickening sense of betrayal as I did so many years ago?
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
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