Remembering JFK

Ham on Wry devotes this post to the memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his unrealized potential to spur the transformation of America into a place where all citizens enjoyed the rights promised in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I must write this blog entry in the first person because I am sharing personal memories of that fateful day 50 years ago when Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President Kennedy and my world splintered.

President Kennedy took office in a time of great upheaval in our nation when a burgeoning civil rights movement shook the core of our national pride. We were definitely not "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" as our Pledge of Allegiance proclaimed. Kennedy envisioned a nation where freedom and justice applied equally to all its citizens and along with his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, pledged to move our country in that direction. His murder dashed the hopes of all who believed his promises.

Ironically, November 22, 1963 was exactly 50 years ago, for it also fell on Friday. I was a freshman in college and was hurrying to my French class, finding it odd that the halls were so quiet. As I neared the classroom, my French teacher leaned against the door, looking somewhat dazed. Usually, she stayed in the room speaking with students in French. One of my classmates followed close behind me, and she halted us both at the door. Speaking rapidly amidst her tears she announced, "President Kennedy was shot and killed. Class in canceled."

I was stunned and felt as though my body had turned to jello as I leaned against the wall for support and wailed. As more students appeared, the sounds of grief reverberated through the halls, creating a mournful symphony reminiscent of a funeral dirge. Eventually, we abandoned the building in silence, moving zombie-like toward our dorms.

My mom was waiting for me when I reached the dorm because I had a doctor's appointment in another city. Instead of going there, she took me home and rescheduled the appointment. We watched the news unfold on TV, and I regard that as a turning point in the way reporting happened on television. Live coverage of events did not occur prior to JFK's assassination, but that changed when he was murdered.

Many reporters who were just starting their careers during that time have said that they will never forget that day, and neither will I. To this day, no explanation that makes sense has emerged about Oswald's motive for assassinating President Kennedy, and I don't think any stunning revelation will answer that question in my lifetime. I keep thinking of Don McLean's song The Day the Music Died and wonder if we couldn't say that Kennedy's assassination was The Day the Our Nation Cried.

The image of Jackie Kennedy in her blood-spattered pink suit is forever etched in my memory. It came in part from the effect of the bullets that hit President Kennedy and partly because she climbed onto the back of the convertible in which they were riding in an attempt to gather some the matter that had landed there when one of the bullets hit his head. I can’t help but grieve for the unrealized future, especially when I see the utter calamity that calls itself Congress. Perhaps Kennedy’s memory can serve as a wake-up call to put aside the nonsense and remember Kennedy’s words. My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

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Bring Jobs Back to America!

USPS Forever Stamp Honoring American Workers

Ham on Wry takes great pleasure in offering the link below, which takes you to a YouTube video detailing a plan to return jobs to America. Nicky Smith discusses the Million American Jobs Project, a basically foolproof  method of creating jobs in this country. Its stark simplicity makes it easy to follow with no risk.

This blogger has offered previous posts dealing with the economic woes in America and has long believed that the overemphasis on consumerism has undermined our economy. However, because of that situation, Americans can use their buying power to help turn around the economy by pledging to buy American. Click the link below and follow the plan. It does not require major sacrifices and nets huge rewards for our nation without government action required. Take the pledge now!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/4FrGxO2Fn_M?feature=player_detailpage

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Happy Holidays from Congress-Food Stamp Cuts Take Effect Today

Jim Cole/AP file photo

For the first time in the history of the food stamp program (SNAP), across-the-board cuts totaling $5 billion over the next year start today affecting approximately one in seven Americans. Evidently the members of Congress who voted for this have their heads buried in the sand and don't understand that most Americans have lost ground since 2008 and still need a boost to feed themselves and their families. Timing could not have been worse, since Thanksgiving will soon arrive, increasing an already heavy burden on food banks and other organizations that provide food to those in need.

SNAP allocations built into President Obama's 2009 stimulus package ended yesterday, and Congress made no provisions to continue it. That programs was designed to improve nutrition and eliminate junk food so that recipients could buy more nutritious food rather than buying the cheapest food available. SNAP recipients will now face the same tough choices they had prior to the stimulus package.

This blogger knows all to well the plight of people who can't stretch their budgets far enough to include meat, fruit and vegetables as staples of their diets from her experience in the non-profit sector. They overly rely on simple starches and canned goods that don't offer enough protein and vitamins to meet daily requirements.

The extreme conservative wing of the Republican Party is clamoring for more cuts to SNAP, a position this blogger considers an absolute outrage. Citizens of this country should always have enough food. Ham on Wry once again offers the words of our Founding Fathers when they created the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America, to remind the Tea Party and all who think they have the right idea of where the focus of our government should lie, and it isn't with support for businesses and corporations. We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence (sic), promote the General Welfare (bold purposely chosen), and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Nowhere does the Preamble indicate an emphasis on business, commerce, trade, etc., yet the current Congress places more focus on that than citizens' general welfare. Perhaps those elected officials who have forgotten the tenets on which this country was formed should review the entire Constitution in order to perform their jobs more effectively. Surely, they can find bloated programs to cut rather than tampering with food sources.

The penurious supporters of further cuts to SNAP should be forced to live on it for a month to see the real consequences of their actions. In fact, their salaries should be cut in conjunction with the cuts they force on others.

It's time for change, voters. Remember the government shutdown and any cuts to vital programs that ensue at the polls next year. These idiots need a dose of their own medicine and should suffer the consequences of their ignorance.

 

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Beware the Anti-virus Pro Malware

Ham on Wry woefully reveals that the computer normally used to produce posts has been highjacked by an insidious malware that has rendered it temporarily useless.  Even though this blogger has a fair degree of internet savvy, she fell prey to a message stating that Microsoft detected high-level viruses that required immediate repair.

The message duped me into approving the repairs, which caused immediate problems and disabled Windows Defender.  Despite my best efforts and those of an organization that had published repair instructions for this malware, nothing worked.  In order to remove the malware, the skills of a technologist trained in malware removal are necessary.  Let this serve as a warning to all who read this post.  Microsoft doesn't use messages of that type, so never allow access if you receive one.  Do not purchase anything from Anti-virus Pro, because you will get nothing in return and the malware will still exist, according to the service person who tried to eradicate the problem by phone.

When the computer returns to functionality, posts will resume and occur more frequently.  Until then, may your computing proceed with no issues.  

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Dexter and Gizmo's Great Escape

Ham on Wry happily ends a roller coaster week of political wrangling by offering some humor. Dexter the cat helps Gizmo his dog pal escape the kitchen, despite their owner's best efforts to keep them confined. This should prove once and for all that cats have an amazing ability to problem solve. Click the embedded link after opening post and enjoy the show.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/17/cat-helps-dog-escape-_n_4115354.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share
 

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Tea Party Should Separate From Republican Party

Ted Cruz photo/salon.com

Ham on Wry has followed the proceedings during the 16-day government shutdown with deep interest and much research to separate fact from fiction by studying information presented by both sides. This blogger now concludes that a fundamental flaw exists in the Republican Party of today: the inclusion of the Tea Party in its roster. The Tea Party has radical views that one doesn't find in the Republican platform. That faction introduced the inclusion of the fight over the Affordable Care Act as part of the strategy to avert a shutdown and force President Obama to negotiate. That law passed in 2010 and the Supreme Court upheld it, yet Republicans wait until the brink of disaster to negotiate change. The government is operating again, but for just a few months.

The Tea Party strategy, heavily influenced by Heritage Action, damaged our nation in myriad ways. Globally, industrialized nations view the entire shutdown debacle as evidence that the United States can no longer claim leadership in either political process or economic security. Standard and Poor's estimates that the shutdown reduced the flow of money in the economy by $24 billion, and the Fitch rating agency announced that it might downgrade the AAA rating on US debt after a thorough review. People have lost their homes, their jobs, and face great uncertainty in their finances. Thanks to ill-informed House members like Ted Cruz, our nation appears financially ignorant and deeply divided, but reality shows a different view altogether.

A recent study showed that 51% of Americans fall in the middle politically and don't believe either party reflects their views. They feel disenfranchised with no one representing their beliefs in how government should run. The majority of them feel that the government should offer health care and emphasize citizens' interests over that of business. In addition, they express concern about the government consistently operating with budget deficits and believe financial matters should take priority along with basic human issues. It seems that neither party represents those of us who want reason and sanity to prevail.

The Tea Party's callous disregard of the negative consequences surrounding their stubborn refusal to deal with the issues other than the ACA reveals an entirely different focus than that of the mainstream Republican Party. Therefore, it should establish itself as a separate party and develop a platform congruent with its followers. It will make voting easier and allow Americans an alternative to the two-party system.

Ham on Wry also calls for those who believe no party represents their interest to form one that does. Perhaps then voters would engage more actively in the selection of candidates by means of independent thought rather than political ads designed to denigrate opponents rather than to inform about ideology.

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House Republicans Ignore Reality of Damage They Create

bossip.com image

Republicans will soon adopt an identical visage to that of John Boehner pictured above. Those who still insist on attaching provisions about the Affordable Health Care Act to reopen the government and stave off a crisis when the United States can no longer borrow money in two days will face the wrath of many Americans if the worst case scenario is realized. Any member of the House who displays the gross ignorance of believing that no lasting effects will occur if the deadline passes with no settlement have little understanding of the economics that will come into play.

Ham on Wry chooses to address this issue once again in order to send a wake up call to those citizens who still support the band of Republican conservatives whose stubborn adherence to this ridiculous ploy. Behind the scenes, Michael Needham, 31, who heads Heritage Action, a conservative group funded by the Koch brothers, has orchestrated this nonsense. For Republicans who refuse to join in lock step with Heritage's vision of future government, Needham raises the threat of using the vast sums available to Heritage and work against their re-election by supporting Tea Party candidates. He obviously doesn't subscribe to the power of a Supreme Court ruling or show concern for the harm his intransigence has already caused millions of Americans. Needham's smug words at a recent Christian Science Monitor breakfast reveals his lack of compassion. He told the attendees he is happy to sit in a situation that has shut down the NLRB and the EPA "until President Obama stops this unaffordable and unfair law." Needham displays a total disregard for citizens in both word and deed,

Citizens of this country must inform themselves by reading information from all sides and can find ample information available online and in libraries. All Americans bear the responsibility of making informed decisions about the government. The framers of the constitution could not have envisioned the havoc wreaked by allowing corporations to be considered citizens. No organization can realistically be defined as a citizen, but those with political motives now run the country, it seems. Voters don't elect them, but some members of Congress behave like their puppets.

Ham on Wry has included the following quote from the movie Network in previous posts, and it expresses this blogger's current frustration eloquently. "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more." Join me in bombarding Congress with demands to end this impasse and move forward.

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Boehner a Stumbling Block to Shutdown Resolution

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

 Ham on Wry found the perfect image of House Speaker John Boehner for this post, because it captures his true essence and reflects his attitude about ending the government shutdown. While he claims that he doesn't have the votes to end the shutdown, every TV network has released poll numbers that show just the opposite. Shakespeare's Macbeth said, in part, that life is "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." That, readers, sums Boehner's opinions perfectly.

In case any readers didn't know, members of the House can still collect their salaries during the shutdown under the 27th Amendment, as well as access their health club, all paid by taxpayers who suffer the consequences of their childish bickering and obdurate refusal to negotiate a reasonable end to the stalemate. Meanwhile, the public watches the countdown to yet another economic tsunami, if Republicans continue to hold government hostage until a delay of the Affordable Health Care Act is approved. This blogger holds all of these idiots accountable for their flagrant disregard for a law approved by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court. Their ridiculous posturing has far-reaching effects on innocent people who suffer because of the elected officials who are not doing their job effectively. A friend told of a couple scheduled to close on a new home last week, but the bank balked because the husband was a furloughed government employee, thus forcing them to live in a hotel. Ham on Wry decries their plight and knows several thousand other citizens have tales of woe as well.

Some moderate Republicans have expressed chagrin about the current state of affairs and urge their colleagues to stop the nonsense, all to no avail. Boehner has too much power when he can prevent a vote based on doubtful information and should call the vote. Only then will the truth emerge. He should do the country a favor and retire next year, because our nation has suffered mightily under his lack of courage and leadership. His failure to neogitate is costing citizens more than money. He has destroyed confidence in America's ability to govern worldwide.

Join Ham on Wry in calling for him to either step down and allow someone more capable to assume his post or not to seek another term. After all, he can always join the rank of former Congress member who now have jobs as lobbyists. On further reflection, he probably can't after he has sullied his reputation in behaving like a spoiled child. Maybe he can work as a Walmart greeter, but that would require learning how to smile.

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Mark Twain's Opinion of Congress Relevant Today

Mark Twain/kootation.com

Hal Holbrook/en.wikipedia.org

Ham on Wry's blogger had the distinct pleasure of seeing Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight Saturday. Holbrook gave his first solo performance of Mark Twain in 1954 and still wows audiences 59 years later. His choice of Twain quotes about Congress struck a chord with me, as well as everyone else who attended indicated by the resounding applause for his portrayal of an American icon.

Holbrook has fine-tuned his characterization of Twain over the years and deftly conveyed the writer's sarcastic wit and sardonic view of life with precision. It spurred me to research Twain and offer some of the pertinent quotes about Congress that readers might find applicable, given the current state of affairs in Washington, D.C. Twain disdained politics and considered members of Congress "ignoramuses," as the following quotes will reveal.

As Twain, Holbrook said, "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." The audience howled with laughter at that and his story about Twain's friend who wanted to commit suicide and finally resorted to shooting himself in the head with a pistol. The bullet entered on one side of his skull and exited the other, destroying all the gray matter in between, but he didn't die. He was elected to Congress instead.

"It could probably be shown by facts and figure that there is no native American criminal class except Congress." Holbrook intoned that quote and variants thereof several times during the evening. Given the exorbitant amount of money spent on congressional election campaigns, most of which comes from lobbyist groups and other donors who couch their contributions in organizations with names such as American for Liberty or Concerned Denizens of American the Great, those words were prophetic. That Twain held Congress in contempt so long ago reveals that the citizens of today have the same frustrations as those of earlier generations, only the problems have increased exponentially.

This post ends with a Twain quote that readers would do well to consider a life's pursuit. "Life is short, Break the Rules. Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that makes you smile." Thank you, Hal Holbrook, for bringing Twain to life on stage. His wisdom has meaning that transcends his time on earth.






 

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Homeless Man Who Returned Backpack Filled with $40,000 Receives $148,000 in Online Donations

AP photo

 Ham on Wry's post today will uplift readers, as the blog takes a break from excoriating Washington politicians and concentrates on a story with a happy ending.

When homeless man Glen James  found a backpack containing over $40,000 in cash and travelers checks September 16, he never expected the kind of notoriety that followed his turning it over to the Boston police. Thanks to social media and news outlets, the story spread worldwide, prompting a man in Virginia to establish an online fund on GoFundMe.com to honor James' selfless act. Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis honored James with a certificate for being a Good Samaritan(see photo above).

The Today Show aired a segment October 3 during which James met Ethan Whittington, the man who established the fund for him. By airtime, over $148,000 in donations had been sent, far exceeding Whittington's expectations. The two embraced and James expressed his gratitude to Whittington for his thoughtfulness.

James confessed that he didn't enjoy talking on camera because he speaks with a stutter. He told the reporter Kerry Sanders that he never considered keeping the money and thought only of the best way to ensure it was returned to its rightful owner. Throughout the piece, James showed humility and kindness in his views. He has been homeless since 2005 and suffers frequently from vertigo, which makes it difficult for him to hold a job. He stays in a homeless shelter and panhandles to pay for the he needs to live, but that should soon change after he receives the money from the online site.






 

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House of Reprentatives Spending Proposal Delays Health Care Funding: Shutdown Looms

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Ham on Wry's disgust regarding the heinous posturing evident in the House of Representatives with its latest maneuver to delay funding of the Affordable Health Care Act knows no bounds. The members' callous disregard of the far-reaching effects such action places on government agencies and recipients of their services spurs this blogger to once again call for their ouster during the next election. That means any representative who voted for this abomination. The House has played citizens like pieces on a chessboard, and it's time to show disgust for their political jockeying at the polls.

The 27th Amendment protects the pay of congressional members, but government agencies, military personnel, and the U.S. postal service employees won't receive paychecks, although members of the armed forces will receive I.O.U's. What a relief that is for those laying their lives on the line for a country where politicians still get paid for wreaking financial hardship on others. Fortunately, once the shutdown ends, history shows that unpaid government workers will eventually receive lost pay.

John Boehner/Getty

For those who live in Ohio, voting John Boehner out of office would provide one of the greatest services a citizen can make to America. He shows a total lack of leadership and sways in the wind with his support to whatever group screams the loudest. Ham on Wry also urges Virginia to rid the country of Eric Cantor, another representative who speaks out of both sides of his mouth and does little to move government in a positive direction.

The Senate has vowed to veto the spending bill passed by the House, so a government shutdown looks quite likely, unless the House passes the Senate version of the spending bill that will restore funding to healthcare. Boehner's infantile whining and sour countenance do little to allow much hope of averting at least a short government shutdown. This kind of nonsense would cause immediate dismissal in the private sector. Remember that in the next election, readers.

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The Myth of "Unfettered Capitalism" and Why It Fails the 99%

en.wikipedia.org

The concept of unfettered capitalism reminds this blogger of a Hans Christian Anderson tale, The Emperors New Clothes, in which two tailors swindle a self-involved king by promising an elegant set of clothes that will be invisible to anyone unfit for his position or too stupid to see the clothing. The king parades his new outfit in front of his subjects, and everyone feigns admiration for such beautiful garments-everyone, except a child who cries out that the king is naked.  Consider politicians and pundits who insist that no regulations should inhibit the natural flow of capitalism as the king's subjects and the child a representation of those that call for more regulation because they recognize the damage wrought by capitalism run amok.

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, symbolizes the problems with the notion that regulations cause unnecessary interruptions to businesses. Most readers will vividly recall the economic meltdown that occurred in 2008, from which the United States has yet to recover. Dimon presides over one of the largest financial behemoths in the world and received a whopping pay package of $23 million in 2011, despite his organization's contributions to the financial disaster that happened during his tenure. How many readers would still be working for an organization that failed under his/her leadership?

World Com, Enron, Lehman Brothers, and others too numerous to list have gone under because capitalism has gone awry in the United States. Readers will also recognize the name Bernie Madoff (aptly named, according to this blogger) who stole $18 billion from investors using an elaborate Ponzi scheme to "rob Peter to pay Paul." That figure was the final tally from a court-appointed trustee who worked on the case. None of these egregious situations would have occurred if tighter controls existed allowing for more oversight of those entrusted with handling investors' money. Just trying to sort through hedge funds can make one crazy and hedge fund managers have confessed that they don't understand the instruments themselves. However, that doesn't stop traders from accepting the enormous bonuses that follow after persuading people to invest in them.

The American economy is now predicated on consumer spending, a situation that attracts disaster. When the economy depended more on the creation and sale of manufactured items, it had a solid base on which to thrive. Now, the shrinking middle class has fewer dollars to spend, and the wealthy elite purchase 38% of goods sold in this country. The government touts figures that show more people are employed with each passing quarter, but many of those jobs are part-time or at a rate much less than employees previously earned. Concurrently, prices of almost everything are rising, thus increasing the gap between income and cost of living expenses.

The Today Show aired a segment this morning revealing that just 11% of working women have paid maternity leave, while only 60% qualify for the 12 weeks of unpaid leave required under federal law for businesses with at least 50 employees. So much for the lip service paid by those in office about the importance of children as leaders of tomorrow. Even more startling, the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't mandate paid maternity leave. Congress capitulates to business groups that whine it would cost them too much to provide it. Clearly, this nation faces myriad problems caused by a capitalistic focus that will eventually divide the population into haves and have nots, as many works of science fiction have already depicted on film. Enough already!

Ham and Wry offers the following solution: fire everyone in Congress and get rid of all lobbyists. America's economy would vastly improve and perhaps the middle class could again occupy its rightful place along the Bell Curve.

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Aaron Alexis Named as Navy Yard Gunman

AP photo

The FBI has identified Aaron Alexis, 34, a defense contractor and former Navy reservist, as the gunman who killed 12 people and wounded 8 others is a shooting spree September 16 at the Washington Navy Yard. He gained access to the secure facility legally using his contractor status and commenced his rampage using an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun and later with a handgun he pilfered from a police officer. Police officers killed Alexis after he barricaded himself at the headquarters building inside the compound.

No motive for the crime has yet been determined. Alexis has a history of problems with the law, including two during which he used guns illegally. According to people who knew him, he regarded himself as a victim of discrimination from the Navy, possibly due to delays in receiving his pay, and began treatment for mental disorders from the Veterans Administration in August.

The shooter worked in a Thai restaurant and considered himself a Buddhist, but his actions at the Navy Yard were in direct conflict with Buddhist teachings.

Seven of the victims killed have been positively identified. Michael Arnold, 59; Sylvia Frasier, 53; Kathy Garde, 62; John Roger Johnson, 73; Frank Kohler, 50; Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46; and,Vishnu Pandit, 61. Ham on Wry extends its deepest sympathy to the family members of these 7 victims and those not yet known.

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Washington Navy Yard Scene of Deadly Shootings

alexwong/gettyimages

Just before 8:30 am EST Monday, a gunman or gunmen shot several victims injuring some and killing others at the Washington Navy Yard in the southeast section of D. C. The latest information identifies four dead and at least eight wounded; however, conflicting reports about the number of fatalities and wounded prevent this blog from reporting exact details yet.

Dr. Janis Orlowski from Medstar Washington Hospital stated that three critically injured victims had arrived at the hospital, including one police officer. She talked with all three and said the nature of their injuries points to the use of a semi-automatic weapon in the attack.

Washington, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier confirmed that one shooter who had barricaded himself in an office in the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarter building was killed and police are searching for two other possible suspects, one a white male possibly wearing navy fatigues and the other a black male around 50.

No one has yet explained how the perpetrator(s) could gain access to such a secure building.

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Remembrance of 9/11

boston.com

Almost anyone in the world who was at least five September 11, 2001 can answer the question posed by the post title with little difficulty. This blogger moved from New York City to another state several months before that horrific event but had many friends and colleagues who still lived there. Consequently, when a woman who shared an elevator ride in the parking garage at the office building where I worked started shouting into her cell, I heard her say," Oh, my God!", which drew every riders' attention. She then whispered, "A plane just hit one of the World Trade Center Towers."

I exited the elevator along with my fellow passengers and ran toward the office. No one there had yet heard the news, so I went to the meeting room and turned on the TV just as the second plane collided with the South Tower. A sense of foreboding discounted any excuse I might have offered to explain away the disaster. One plane might veer off course, but two? Never!

By then, everyone had assembled in that room with all eyes staring in disbelief as the TV blared. We worked for one of the Big 5 firms, and, since I was the only one who had worked in NYC, I told them we had a large consulting group working in the South Tower. Repeated attempts to reach the firm in New York failed, and we were sent home because working was out of the question in light of what happened.

After watching the footage of the two planes creating infernos of one of my favorite places in NYC, I tried unsuccessfully to reach friends who lived in other Burroughs and nearby suburbs. Finally I connected with one of my colleagues much later that day and learned that the entire team of consultants had escaped safely, thanks to one of the men who had lived through the 1993 Trade Center bombing. When repeated announcements instructed people to return to their offices, he responded, "Hell no!" and led the group of over forty down the stairs. They didn't stop until they reached the office in Midtown Manhattan many miles away.

While I didn't live through the debacle personally, I fretted every moment until I heard from friends in lower Manhattan near the WTC and in Brooklyn Heights. I repeatedly heard It could have been worse, but for all those who lost a loved one or dealt with relatives and friends who suffered severe burns and other major injuries those words had no meaning. Since 9/11 many first responders have also died or suffered with severe health problems from inhaling smoke and dusty debris from the rubble.

Each time I visit the city and take the subway that I used frequently to the World Trade Center, an eerie sensation overcomes me. Instead of exiting and seeing a newsstand directly in front of me, I see a wall. which feels as though I have reached the end of the world. As a reminder to what was, this post includes a picture of the WTC prior to 9/11 below. The memory of that iconic scene will live forever in me.

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Secretary of State Kerry Announces Support for Military Action Against Syria

Getty Images

Secretary of State John Kerry shown above with French President Laurent Fabius announced support from Saudi Arabia for military action against Syria based on evidence that Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons on Syrians in Damascus. He stated further that other Arab countries will sign a document casting blame on Assad for using such weapons, after a three-hour meeting with the Arab League in Paris. Well, whoopee! Of course, none of these called supporters will take the action that they expect the good old United States to spearhead--military strikes.

Forgive the sarcasm, readers, but understand it was done intentionally. This blogger sees no justification for the United States to stand at the forefront of a strategy that involves the use of our military equipment and/or military personnel. Let some other country lead the charge for once, if necessary. Although Nabil Elaraby, General Secretary of the Arab League, confirmed that several League members agreed to sign a denunciation, no specifics were provided. Hey, it's your region guys. How about "walking the talk" and ridding the Middle East of Bashar using whatever means you choose. The people of the United States are war weary and we have problems of our own to solve right here.

This blogger also fails to understand why political leaders can stand by and watch millions of people slaughtered by despots in Africa and do nothing but spring into action when Syria uses chemical weapons. Has this nation conveniently forgotten what Agent Orange did to the troops fighting in Viet Nam and denied it had harmful effects until enough pressure forced a confession? As the Beatles sang, "Speaking words of wisdom, let it be, let it be." It's time for America to adopt that mantra because we can't save the world.

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National Zoo Panda Cub a Girl!

photo from spiderxcat/Flickr

The National Zoo announced Thursday the Giant Panda cub born to Mei Xiang is a girl whose name will be announced on her 100-day-old birthday according to Chinese tradition. Officials will consult with their colleagues in China and hope to select from several choices of names for Mei Xiang's offspring.

The birth of the cub August 23 was followed the next day by a second cub that was stillborn. An examination determined that cub was also a female who had deformities which prevented normal development.

Mama is shown above in a photo taken August 29, supplied by Smithsonian's National Zoo with credit to AP, bonding with her baby. The zoo identified Tian Tian, another resident of the zoo, as the father of the newborn.  He weighs in at 264 pounds and was used to artificially inseminate Mei Xiang when their mating failed. The Zoo also used Gao Gao, another male Giant Panda from the San Diego Zoo, to boost the chances of conception.

The cub's panda markings are beginning to appear and zoo officials describe her as healthy and active, but the public will not glimpse her live until she has reached four months. She will stay at the National Zoo for four years and then journey to China where she will have a permanent home.
 

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President Obama Should Not Order an Air Strike on Syria

nytimes.com

Ham on Wry will offer to wry witticisms in this post, and has, instead opted to pen a plea to President Obama about the threatened air strike against Syria.

President Obama, your decision to order an air strike against Syria deeply disappoints this blogger. In order to serve the best interest of the American people, you must take greater care with your stance on an appropriate course of action, because the United States in not the world's police force. Announcing a military strike preceded the actual findings of the UN inspectors, an unwise choice on your part. As a British Parliament member cautioned in the British Parliament debate about an air strike, evidence should precede decision, and that nation will not join in military action at this time. If an air strike in Syria kills one innocent victim, it makes the United States part of the problem, not the solution.

America does not have the resources necessary to correct all the crimes against humanity in the world today. Until more of our allies call for military action, we must adopt a more studied approach. In all of your deliberations, remember that violence begets violence rather than quelling it. Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. demonstrated the power of peaceful demonstrations, but that option does not exist in countries led by despots. Have you not learned from the history of wars in which the United States participated no one really wins in the long term? Stand up for what is right, not what is expedient, President Obama. Use reason in choosing a course of action, because you could create greater hatred of the United States than already exists in many nations. Consider the legacy you are leaving for your children and all future generations of this nation. Teaching by example wields far more power than the spoken word. Our nation has damaged generations of young people for unclear reasons at an immeasurable cost to the country’s psyche.

The only people who profit from wars are those that build and sell the equipment used and those who own private companies that run covert operations in a paramilitary fashion. Please stand up to the hawks and do the right thing. Just say no!

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Curiosity Continues to Amaze

NASA aptly named Curiosity, the Mars rover that started its exploration just over one year ago. All the photos in this blog came from the NASA online site, so interested readers can see many more by using the following link to access the image gallery: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery-indexEvents.html#lowerAccordion-set1-slide9

The photo above shows the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, passing in front of Deimos, the smaller moon, on August 1st. Watching Curiosity's journey unfold far surpasses any fare one could see on TV. All who do are witnessing history in the making on a planet that might have once supported life.

 

The next image shows Mars entire path from August 5,2012 when it landed to August 1, 2013, just prior to its one-year anniversary. During that time, it has covered a distance of one mile, which sounds small but has produced gargantuan results.

 

 

Curiosity captured this westward view from its camera July 31, 2013 showing the landscape in the area. The area called "Elsie Mountain" is dominated by rocks. In the distance, a portion of Gale Crater forms the background.

 

Ham on Wry offers no wry commentary about Curiosity, since the entire mission is nothing short of a miracle.

 



 

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The Butler Delivers Oscar-worthy Performances

Anne Marie Fox/Weistein Company

The Butler debuted August 16tth and immediately claimed the number one spot at the box office. The movie chronicles the life of Cecil Daniels, born to a cotton picker in the south, who eventually serves as a White House butler for 34 years through eight administrations. Forest Whitaker as Cecil marries Gloria, portrayed by Oprah Winfrey, and has two sons. Both actors deserve Oscar nominations.

The all-star cast includes Cuba Gooding-too long absent from the big screen, Lenny Kravitz, Terrence Howard, Vanessa Redgrave, Robin Williams, Liev Schreiber, John Cusack, and many others, all of whom made the film a stand-out. Schreiber had a scene showing his character Lyndon Johnson conducting a meeting while sitting on the toilet as Gaines patiently waits for the others to leave so he can serve Johnson's needs. Crass though it might seem, Johnson did that frequently.

David Oyelowo, as Gaines' older son Louis, seethes at the racial divide in America and chooses an activist's path that leads him the Freedom Riders and the Black Panthers after meeting Carol (YaYa Da Costa) at Fisk University and discovering her passion to change the status quo for Blacks. Da Costa reminded this blogger of Angela Davis, well-known for her radical stance in the Civil Rights Movement, in both appearance and determination. Carol's choice to remain with the Black Panthers when they announce a "kill or be killed" stance eventually splits the pair. By then, the rift between Gaines and his son seems irreparable for several reasons.

Director Lee Daniels expertly juxtaposes the genteel existence of the presidents and the butlers who serve them, much on the order of Upstairs, Downstairs and Backstairs at the White House. The scenes of activists occupying a whites-only area at a lunch counter in Nashville and a Freedom Riders bus blown up in Mississippi brought back horrific memories of that period for this blogger. When James Marsden as President John F. Kennedy tells Gaines that watching those atrocities unfold had changed his brother Bobby's heart as well as his own, it reveals the difficulty someone has in understanding the agony of discrimination without a visceral experience to drive it home.

The Butler is a must-see movie on many levels. Those who didn't witness the Civil Rights Movement first-hand will perhaps better understand life during the period with which the movie dealt. Those who saw it unfold will benefit from a refresher course of the determination shown by civil rights activists in the pursuit of justice for all under the United States Constitution. History comes alive in this movie.

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United States Must Revamp Public Education Model

Ham on Wry supports a major overhaul to public education in order to engage students, meet their needs and those of their parents, and prepare them for the world in which they will earn a living. The science students in the photo above show interest and intent in the kind of learning environment that allows for hands-on and experimental experiences that promote critical thinking skills. The studies of life and physical sciences naturally lead to this kind of follow-through, but other subject areas often eliminate that approach in favor of the pedagogical method that relies mostly on lectures and note taking without allowing for real-world application.

Once a student leaves elementary school, group learning and project-oriented assignments, such as the digital learning lab depicted in the photo. are often left behind, As a former educator and someone who stays current with educational research, this blogger believes that our nation clings to an archaic  system developed prior to the advent of modern life. Replete with commuting to work, jobs that operate in shifts, and increased dependence on ever-changing technologies that become obsolete in hyper-speed, the old system no longer works effectively.

In order to prepare today's students for the world in which they will function, they must spend more time in school to allow for more physical activity and creative classes, both of which contribute to their well-rounded development. Since busing poses a problem in accomplishing this aim because school systems use the same buses to transport students who attend schools with varied hours, it should be outsourced to a private company that can handle the necessary logistics.

No Child Left Behind is a failed effort to raise educational standards. Testing should be eliminated as the main criterion to measure student learning, using it as only a portion of student measurement. Teachers use a variety of methods to assess student achievement, but the pressure to teach to the standardized test impedes their ability to address learning areas standard tests don't measure, such as creative writing. Successful educators know whether students grasp the material without using standardized tests to assist them.

Longitudinal studies have consistently identified leadership as the number one variable that correlates with student achievement, yet many school districts fail to recognize its importance. Efforts to hire excellent superintendents, principals, and teachers pay dividends far beyond the classroom by preparing well-educated citizens, some of whom will become the leaders of tomorrow. Rather than continuing a model that promotes mediocrity, the United States must replicate the models of excellence that have successfully turned around failing districts. Money spent on education must take greater priority when determining state and local budgets. Otherwise, the United States fails in its obligation to prepare its citizens with the ability to make informed decisions.

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Rudeness Abounds on Facebook

Rainy Days Caffe Facebook Page

Ham on Wry is convinced that many Facebook users have no idea what manners and good taste mean when it comes to posting on the site. She has witnessed family members having an online dispute, inappropriate pictures, mindless posts that list every detail of a mundane day, and now a coffee shop owner in Washington state posted a photo unnecessarily embarrassed a customer publicly for a supposed heinous offense.

Lorraine MacDuff, aka Rainy, owner of the Rainy Days Caffe (she evidently doesn't know the correct spelling of the word), asked Kellea Poore and her one-year-old and three-year-old, as well as her friend and children, to leave the restaurant after spotting crumbs on the floor from the scones they were eating. She said that she had just paid $50 to have the carpet cleaned, evidently an exorbitant amount in her mind, and told the mother not to return to the cafe with her children again. MacDuff  must not realize that even the most delicate eaters would have difficulty eating a scone without some crumbs winding up on the table or floor. Since she had her floor cleaned, previous customers must have made messes as well.

MacDuff then uploaded a photo of the "crime scene" to Facebook and thanked all the customers who brought children that weren't so messy. Once Poore spotted that post, she placed it on her FB wall, spurring several angry military wives to spew venom about MacDuff's treatment of Poore, who is also a military wife, thus compounding the problem and making national news. They evidently didn't understand the sarcasm that MacDuff said she intended. For that matter, Ham and Wry doesn't believe that sarcasm conveys well in writing of that nature.

MacDuff has not fully apologized to Poore and sees nothing wrong with her behavior, so Ham and Wry offers this suggestion to her. If you have a restaurant open to the public, you must expect some crumbs to fall and coffee to be spilled. It's all part of serving food and drink. Get over yourself and lighten up.

This blogger urges all who use FB to do so with consideration for others. Mark Zuckerberg did not envision his creation as a dumping ground, yet many use it for that purpose. She leaves you with the following admonition: think before you write. It will prevent users from being subjected to others' dirty laundry.

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Suspension Looms for Alex Rodriguez

yankeesanalysts.com

Alex Rodriguez reportedly faces a 214-game suspension Monday after negotiations halted Saturday. Rodriguez's main concern centers on the $100 million left on his contract, but it seems unlikely he will receive much, if any, of that money.

A-Rod has immersed himself in denial, oblivious to the mounting evidence that he took performance-enhancing drugs and recruited other players to use the same Florida clinic that fed his habit. Bud Selig called off further negotiations with Rodriguez in reaction to the allegation he hurled at the Yankees Saturday, implying someone was out to get him. He further stated that people in the Yankees organization would benefit monetarily, if the sanctions occur.

Evidently, he doesn't comprehend that he is the person responsible for the penalty he will receive. Logically, his statement that the Yankees want him out to save money doesn't pass the litmus test. Why would any organization pay someone the astronomical amount Rodriguez receives and then want him to face a suspension? His performance in Saturday's Trenton Thunder game proved he has fully recuperated from his injury and still has the talent that made him famous.

Those who call for a lighter penalty do little to restore the game of baseball to its position of integrity. If players must take drugs to perform, something dire has happened to the All-American pastime.

Rodriguez can still redeem himself, if he accepts the penalty and moves on. Otherwise, he destroys any remaining notion that he is a man of character. 

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A-Rod Faces Suspension for Doping

Chuck Burton/AP

Another sports legend must answer to allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2010-2012. Accusations against Alex Rodriguez, third baseman for the New York Yankees, include not only his use of illegal drugs provided by Biongeneis of America in Florida, but also his recruitment of other baseball players to follow his lead and use the anti-aging clinic for the same purpose.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is threatening to place Rodriguez on lifetime suspension for his flagrant violations and many industry insiders agree that his abuse warrants that penalty. Other players face 50-game suspensions for their illegal drug use, but Rodriguez must agree to a much longer ban to stay in the game.

Many baseball fans regard A-Rod, as he is affectionately known, one of the all-time greats. He has a huge following and an equally large ego to match. He appears confident that he will not suffer any ill effects for his frequent use of drugs designed to improve his performance, which makes this blogger wonder about the accuracy of his statistics. He hit 647 home runs in his career, was named MVP 3 times, and played in 14 All Star games. Would he have achieved all of those honors without the drugs?

At best, his behavior causes disappointment; at worst, he has set a poor example for aspiring baseball players by sending a message that fame and fortune trump integrity. He joins many other sports figures who have crossed the line. Most readers will remember that Pete Rose was banned for 8-10 years for gambling on baseball, and more recently, Lance Armstrong was banned for life because of his consistent denials of doping during the Tour de France. Armstrong recently said the race was impossible to win without doping. If that's true, why have others won without drugs?

Winning at all costs is now commonplace in all professional sports. Even the exalted Olympics has been plagued with scandals related to performance-enhancing drugs, and, equally as disgusting, dishonest judges. What's the point of a contest if cheating is widely tolerated? The athletes of decades past played for the love of the sport. Today, it's all about the money. It's time to examine the purpose of paying so-called "stars" such exorbitant salaries that they'll resort to doing anything to climb to the top of heap.

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Rush Limbaugh Assures Listeners His Program Will Continue

Associated Press photo

 

 

The Politico website reported Monday that Cumulus was dropping Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity from its network, prompting Limbaugh to spout denials after the news broke on the airwaves. This blogger would turn cartwheels if Limbaugh would disappear altogether and finds his vitriolic spewing of ill will distressing at best.

 

Limbaugh's fans can take heart that his show will continue on other networks because of its ratings. That does not mean that his dominance will continue, however. Limbaugh angered both conservatives and liberals last year when he referred to Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown law student, as a slut. His low-class, spittle-laden attack provided plenty of fodder for Ham on Wry posts during the uproar and clearly demonstrated his propensity to use slurs when he can't provide substantive information to support his drivel.

 

Limbaugh suffers from delusions of grandeur and considers himself the foremost authority on almost any subject. Ham on Wry awaits the day when it can report  Limbaugh's departure from the radio world entirely. He has nothing positive to offer his listeners during his angry rants. This country suffers enough depressing news and doesn't need his brand of commentary. His cynicism lacks any trace of humor, providing nothing of value to the world. Ham on Wry will loudly proclaim, "Good riddance," when he finally ends his miserable show.

 

 

 

 

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Anthony Weiner Should Withdraw from NYC Mayoral Race

Photo/Bryan Pace, NY Daily News

Anthony Weiner's recent revelations about his continued sexting show that his behavior can be summed up using a synonym of his last name: hot dog. This blogger refuses to use another reference to one of his anatomical parts that she is certain many readers have seen already. Hot dog sums it up adequately because he has lost all credibility as a potential mayor and somehow feels he is immune to standards of character. His confession that he has continued the same outrageous activities that caused him to resign as a representative of congress two years ago makes him a national embarrassment, and he should cut his losses immediately.

Huma Abedin, Weiner's wife, has yet to make a damning public statement, which this blogger fails to understand. "Stand by Your Man" made it to the music charts, but Abedin takes it to new levels when she avoids dealing with the truth. Despite the fact that she praises him as a good father, he needs counseling on many levels. First, he should seek help for his addiction to sexting and his appetite for public exposure (no pun intended). Once he understands that problem, he desperately needs to examine the reasons he refuses to withdraw from the race when he has demonstrated such poor judgment in recent years. Does he really believe any voter is his/her right mind would choose him as the next New York City mayor after revealing his inability to handle a debilitating personal problem? That alone interferes with his capacity to govern wisely.

Early in his career as a congressional representative, Weiner won praise for his stance on abortion and middle class issues, and he advocated for health care legislation to expand Medicare to cover every American. At this point, however, his future in politics is doomed, no matter what he accomplished previously or how many soup kitchens he visits. The Democratic Party and its leaders are all singing the same tune: "Time to Say Good-bye."

 

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Music Stars Boycott Florida Until Legislators Repeal Stand Your Ground Law

Getty Images photo

Jay Z and Beyoncé have joined an impressive list of well-known musical artists who will boycott Florida in response to its "Stand Your Ground" law, following Stevie Wonder's announcement that he would not perform in any state with that type of law, shortly after the Trayvon Martin trial ended. Other artists include Usher, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, and Will I AM. Finally, the trial's high profile outcome has raised a hue and cry to end a law that was a travesty in the first place.

According to CBSMiami.com, justifiable homicide deaths have tripled since "Stand Your Ground" took effect in 2005, a statistic corroborated by a Tampa Bay Times analysis of cases that applied that law. Further, the Times found evidence of people who claimed self-defense while victims lay on the ground bleeding and even in circumstances when victims were shot in the back.

Although George Zimmerman was acquitted, the question of his responsibility in creating the situation that provoked Trayvon Martin to defend himself looms large. The 911 dispatcher told Zimmerman not to pursue Martin and wait, instead, for the police to arrive. Zimmerman ignored that advice and continued to follow Martin. None of us will ever know what really happened in that case, but this blogger does know that Martin's only crime was that Zimmerman didn't know who he was and suspected he had nefarious intent. He was simply walking through the neighborhood.

Thus, the death of Trayvon Martin reveals two glaring issues with "Stand Your Ground" as a defense of killing someone. The first involves the failure of the police to thoroughly investigate the killing and hold Zimmerman until evidence had been collected and examined. The second actually allowed the first to occur because of the manner in which the law is written.

Until Florida has elected officials that study a potential law and its many ramifications more thoroughly, it will maintain its reputation as a state that promotes gun ownership at any cost. As a former long-time resident of the state, "Stand Your Ground" was one of the many reasons I left. The current political environment does not promote reasoned debate and has become a rubber stamp for ridiculous laws. After all, its governor presided over an organization that paid $1.7 billion in Medicare fraud fines but escaped punishment because the board booted him just in time. Wake up, voters! Florida needs reasoned, fair-minded people making the laws.

 

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The Case Against American Intervention in Syria

photo/Guardian UK

Syrian refugees that fled to a camp in Zatari, Jordan now number approximately 115,000 with another 1.7 million who escaped to another country, according to the United Nations refugee agency. This tragedy illustrates that Syria's ruler, Bashar al-Assad is nothing short of a madman who has no regard for the citizens of his country. The unrest in that region has spread to parts of Turkey and threatens other neighboring countries as well.

Pool/AFP/Mandel Ngan

Secretary of State John Kerry toured the Zatari refugee camp Thursday and was met with strident pleas for help from the United States. This blogger wonders why some of the wealthy Arab nations don't take action against the maniacal despot al-Assad in order to quell the rising disquiet in the region, especially when the refugees expressed concern that the United States had not yet rescued Syria from tyranny. Why, indeed?

America can no longer afford to involve this country's military in conflicts fought in the Middle East when other nations there eschew their own military involvement. I am not referring to monetary support. Instead, I mean what is currently known as human capital-our armed forces. The number of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan totals just under 7,000, but that doesn't tell the entire story. Data about the wounded changes daily because the war in Afghanistan continues, but the number exceeds 50,000 and does not include those suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. Enough already!

While the United States has a role as a world leader, so do other nations that have not involved their countries to the extent that the U.S. has. Frankly, we don't have enough people of fighting age to handle all the pockets of unrest that currently exist in many of the Arab nations. The Boston Marathon bombing and recent thwarted terrorist plots here illustrate the need to pay close attention to our own security. If the National Security Agency can't stop contractor Edward Snowden from revealing secrets, this blogger suggests we have huge gaps in our country's efforts to protect its citizens. The administration and members of Congress must focus attention on this country before attempting to help others, much like the admonition on airlines for parents to place oxygen masks on themselves first and then help their children.

Until the United Nations can garner support for sanctions against al-Assad and western nations join forces with countries in the Middle East willing to do what it takes to topple his regime, America should stay out of Syria. Our country has spread its resources too thin already.

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Jury Finds George Zimmerman Not Guilty

Yahoo.com

Just minutes ago, George Zimmerman was found not guilty on all charges pertaining to the death of Trayvon Martin. All six jurists were polled and each confirmed that she had voted not guilty. Earlier in the evening, the jury requested clarification about a manslaughter verdict, which hinted they were no longer considering second degree murder.

In many instances, the prosecution made serious errors in the presentation of evidence against George Zimmerman, thus setting the stage for the jury to have reasonable doubt about convicting him of second degree murder. However, this blogger wonders why the jury didn't consider the fact that a police dispatcher had told Zimmerman not to follow Martin and instead allow the police to do their job. She also questions why Zimmerman was carrying a gun, since Neighborhood Watch members are told expressly not to carry weapons. Zimmerman could have avoided the whole ordeal if he had followed the dispatcher's advice.

This blogger also chides the Seminole County Sheriff's Office for not investigating the case in greater depth when it happened. So much for the Stand Your Ground Law in Florida. That law should never trump the arrest of the person who killed someone until a thorough investigation has occurred. Anyone can say s/he felt threatened, but some people who have claimed that shot the victims in the back. The law should be scrapped!


 

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Demonstators Proclaim Dzokhar Tsarnaev's Innocence in Boston Marathon Bombings

Brian Snyder/Reuters

The First Amendment of the US constitution allows free speech to all citizens, so Jennifer Michio, pictured above, exercised that right Wednesday when she demonstrated outside the courthouse where Dzokhar Tsarnaev was arraigned. Apparently, she hasn't seen the video that shows him placing a bomb near the Boston Marathon finish line or the content of the confession he wrote on paper smeared with blood before his arrest. This blogger has a hard time seeing her tee shirt knowing that victims and their families were subjected to that message as they entered and left the court house.

Tsarnaev faces 30 federal charges, the most damning of which is using a weapon of mass destruction to kill. His attorney, Judy Clarke, sought to speak on her client's behalf when she asked Judge Marianne Bowler to enter a not guilty plea on all charges. Instead, the judge said Tsarnaev would have to respond to each count himself.  Tsarnaev complied and answered not guilty to all.

Throughout the proceedings, Tsarnaev appeared disinterested with an enigmatic smile appearing at the corner of his mouth sometimes. His swollen face, bruised eye and arm in a cast belied his calm demeanor. This was the teenager that stated he couldn't stand the killing of innocent people any longer, presumably referring to Islamists. Yet, he saw no problem in killing four people, one of whom was an MIT police officer and maiming many others, some of whom lost their legs as a result.

Ham on Wry offers the following suggestion to all those who believe Tsarnaev is innocent, the victim of a conspiracy, or might not receive a fair trial. Show some respect to the victims and their families. The right to free speech does not trump the right of the victims and their families to be treated with dignity. Tsarnaev will get a fair trial. The whole world is watching.



 

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