Writing: The Third Chapter

The Second Chapter is now complete -- 16,000 words and 41 typed pages, about 60 book pages. It is not edited and I still have some open questions about it, but overall, I am pleased.

.

In the third chapter, our central character is 28 years old. Whereas the second chapter had conflict as well as happiness, the third chapter will be more cerebral.

.

Young Heron has been living in a cave for the last ten years, part of a punishment handed out by the Chief of Chiefs. Even though Young Heron, our hero, is not supposed to have contact with anyone, over the decade, he has befriended the Sentinels -- lookouts, stationed on the hilltops -- who guard his Village from attack.

.

In this winter scene, our hero, an artist, calls to the Sentinel to come into his cave and warm himself by Young Heron's fire:

"The Sentinel, having made his way down the side of the hill, rounded the corner and entered my room, my cave.

“Warm yourself, my brother,” I invited. He came over to my fire in the center of the room, took off his snow covered robe of skins, his hood and dropped his bow. Underneath his robe, the Sentinel had hides covering his legs and a deerskin vest, with rabbit fur around his wrists and ankles above his moccasins. He turned his backside to the fire.

“The wind,” he said, “is getting stronger. I was going to go into my hut to avoid the wind, but I thought I would check on you. It is warmer here than in my drafty hut.”

Over the years, the Sentinels and I had come to know one another. As in village life, some were friendlier than others, but each of them had loosened their grip on my “situation.” I always maintained a respect for them and never took for granted any leniency, nor did I take liberties without some sort of understanding from them.

In return, I shared whatever small measure of comfort or pleasure that I had that they did not – such as my warm cave on a cold, windy day or night. I had also made drawings of them while on watch, or sitting by their fire, or just a drawing of their face which they took home for their families.

I offered the Sentinel some sassafras root to chew.

For my part, the Sentinels were an unexpected break in the solitude of my daily life. Most of the time, they were on the rocky top of my cave, watching the valley for any intruders. During warm weather, I might not see them for several days. But I knew they were there; I could smell their fires or hear their calls to other Sentinels on other hilltops. Their presence was comforting and helped relieve the loneliness of my life.

“I see new hands on your wall, yes?” the Sentinel asked.

”Yes,” I replied.

“How do you do that?” he asked.

I needed to be careful in my answer, as the hand was the handprint of my Son, Third Heron, and I did not want to admit that he had been here in my cave.

“By experimenting, I found a white soft rock which I could mash and grind into a fine powder. Next, I would mix it with water, take it in my mouth—but not swallowing—then blow it over the hand on the wall, producing the white outline of a hand,” I explained.

He moved closer to the seven hands on the wall which ranged from small to a medium-sized man’s hand, the seventh; the Sentinel was examining them carefully, moving left to right, small to large. I did not start doing the hands until Third Heron was two seasons old; as he grows older, there is a noticeable difference in the sizes of his handprint on the cave's wall. I saw the differences; maybe the Sentinel would not. There could be trouble for me if he chose to make it.

The Sentinel turned to look at me. He raised his eyebrows… and then he smiled. “Very nice, and clever, very clever,” he said knowingly. “While I appreciate them, do not expect me to praise you or tell anyone about them. I am not that sort of man.” Again, the smile. He understood that they were not my hands, that someone had been in my cave which was against the rules, but he would not say anything. I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed, to say “thank you.” We nodded to each other."

Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?

~~ Confucius, Chinese Philosopher, 551-479BC

Writing: The Ceremony of One

Chapter two has now grown to 14,000 words -- and it is not over. The Ceremony of One, a wedding scene of 1,000 years ago in what is now middle America, is the scene I just finished writing, but have not edited. For your enjoyment, Dear Reader, I have copied below some of the seven vows sequence that the two principals in this scene -- Young Heron and Lone Bird -- have taken.

Only the birds could be heard, as we began, taking three steps together. We then turned and faced each other; I spoke first. “Before these people, I promise to honor and protect you.”

Lone Bird responded, “Before these people, our friends, I promise to honor and inspire you.”

Walking again thee steps, I turned to speak to Lone Bird. “I promise that we will share the responsibility of our shelter and our food, together.”

Lone Bird responded, “And I promise that we will share the responsibility of our shelter and our food together.

As we made our commitments, the crowd began to whisper sounds of understanding and approval.

We stopped again. I started, “May our life together be long and prosperous, and may the Great Spirit bless us with children. I promise to share the responsibility of educating our children.”

“And, Young Heron,” Lone Bird said loudly with a grin, “should we be so blessed, I promise that I will share the responsibility of children with you.” Lone Bird’s playful response was totally unexpected, and when the crowd heard it, there was a smattering of laughter that grew louder quickly, with most of the laughing sounds and whistles coming from the women in the crowd who approved of Lone Bird’s humor and courage. Lone Bird and I were laughing, as well.

When the crowd sounds diminished, she continued, “And I promise to share the responsibility of educating our children.”

We walked on, in step with each other, stopping a fourth time. Holding her hand, I said ”I promise to be devoted to you, and only you, as my One.”

Taking my other hand, Lone Bird said to me, “And I promise to be devoted to you and only you, as my One.”

Dropping our hands, we walked on side-by-side, then stopped.

“Lone Bird, I promise to be with you through the joys and the sorrows of our time on earth.”

“And, Young Heron, I promise to be with you during our joys and I promise also to be by your side through sorrows.” We walked on.

Stopping a sixth time, I turned to her and pledged, “I want always to fill your heart with happiness and peace.”

Lone Bird looked softly at me and said in a sincere voice, “I promise to fill your heart with happiness and peace, over and over, year after year.” A collective sigh came from the crowd, as we moved on to the last stop.

"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." ~~ William Faulkner

Global Warming Report Withdrawn

From the UK newspaper, The Guardian, "Scientists have been forced to withdraw a (2009) study on projected sea level rise due to global warming after finding mistakes that undermined the findings."

This study, by Mark Sidall of the University of Bristol, projected that the Atlantic Ocean would rise as much as 2.7 feet*, by the year 2100 -- all caused by Global Warming. This report supported another report in 2007 by the UN's IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) which also suggested that the Maldive Islands in the Pacific would disappear as well
since the Maldives has an average height above sea level of only 4'11.


Understandably, this report was so alarming to the Maldivan President that he has stated:
"We do not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for decades," so the Maldivan Government has begun looking for land (primarily in India) to relocate their citizens, when the catastrophe starts. (Funding for such a purchase of course would come from the countries causing the warming, which was the big flap at the Copenhagen Conference.)
.
Criticism of the 2009 report began shortly after it was published in Nature Geoscience, a new but respected magazine. Finally, the report was retracted -- much to the embarrassment of Nature Geoscience -- with a statement as follows:

"One mistake was a miscalculation; the other was not to allow fully for temperature change over the past 2,000 years. Because of these issues we have retracted the paper and will now invest in the further work needed to correct these mistakes."

Now, why aren't we seeing these retractions on Global Warming being reported by Newspapers and Television in our country? Why is it only European papers carry this category of news? I leave that answer to you, Dear Reader.
~~
* The sea level around the Maldives in 1970 mysteriously dropped 12 inches. Hopefully this was taken into their account as well. Sea level has since raised up to a "normal" level.

~~

There is no significant man-made Global Warming underway and the science
on which the computer projections of weather chaos are based is badly flawed.

~~ John Coleman, Founder of The Weather Channel

Writing: The Ceremony of One -- The Two Doves

Still in Chapter two of my third book, I have begun to detail a wedding ceremony set in the year 1000 between our 18 year old hero, Young Heron, and his 18 year old beauty from another tribe, Lone Bird. At the end of the ceremony, they sit on two tree stumps covered with skins, while the officiant, The Storyteller, recites a poem, as follows:

Two doves meeting in the sky

Two loves hand in hand, eye to eye

Two parts of a loving whole

Two hearts and a single soul

Two stars shining big and bright

Two fires bringing warmth and light

Two songs played in perfect tune

Two flowers growing into bloom

Two Doves gliding in the air

Two loves free without a care

Two parts of a loving whole

Two hearts and a single soul

~~ Author, Unknown

Jobs Saved? A Great Depression averted by the Obama Stimulus?

President Obama and his administration spokespeople -- VP Biden, Gibbs, etc. -- are prone (or instructed) to quote a "Jobs Saved" metric to prove that the stimulus worked. Although the Administration cannot cite the same statistic or number on the matter -- someplace between 1 and 3 million jobs saved by the Administration -- there is no statistical category that proves the number; his assertion cannot be proved.

Please, if there is any economist out there reading this -- can you enlighten me about the statistical category "Jobs Saved," because I can't find it among the minutiae of reporting categories. You would think that some category as important as "Jobs Saved" would be in Bold or CAPS or PURPLE. But, I can't find it. HELP! ME!!

As to the Obama Stimulus package saving the USA from another Great Depression, the President claimed yesterday: "Our work is far from over, but we have rescued this economy from the worst of this crisis," he said, which the Reuters News Service, an apologist for the Obama Administration, characterised his statement as meaning that Obama's Stimulus package averted another Great Depression.

Let's be clear. The Great Depression was caused by a Banking Crisis, brought about by a Stock Market crash and intensified by a protracted Drought in the breadbasket of the US. Unemployment was high at nearly 25%, the circulation of money slowed to a drip and no purchasing power was available.

If anything averted the second Great Depression in our time, it was the TARP funds, created by President Bush aimed at recapitalizing the banking industry. What Obama has done -- demonized Bankers, Wall Street firms, and the CEO's of Industry -- looks like encouraging another Depression, rather than discouraging one.

Of the Stimulus funds -- $800 Billion Dollars -- only $242 Billion has been spent in a year, most of that by giving funds to distressed states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan and Caleefornia, as the Governator would say. Those Governors, like our Ed Rendell, will assert that Teachers and Policemen's jobs were saved, because they did not have to be laid off.

Uhhh, excuse me Ed. Why not lay off government bureaucrats first and Teachers, Policemen and Firemen last -- INSTEAD OF FIRST. Have you abandoned your rationality in order to play politics with jobs? Can I hear an "AMEN?"

PREDICTION: As 2010 election time nears, the remaining $500 billion of the Obama Stimulus Fund will suddenly find a fast lane and get placed in states where democrat politicians are in trouble -- Nevada, Arkansas, Indiana, Senator Boxer's district in Caleefornia.

So, what priority will President Obama have demonstrated to us then? That he cares about the American people and those out of work, or that he cares more about getting Harry Reid re-elected? It's our money, Dear Reader; it's our people out of work. If you were in the Oval Office, what would you do?

So, President Obama credits his Stimulus Package from keeping America sinking into the next Great Depression. But... what does America think about the success of his Stimulus Package? Here's a recent poll by the New York Times and CBS News

STIMULUS PACKAGE AND JOBS

Has created jobs 6%
Has not, but will create jobs 41%
Will not create jobs 48 %

CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL
Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Writing: The Confession

Algonquin Fertility Dance, by Theodore de Bry, 1590

My writing has progressed on the Second Chapter of my third book. The seduction of our young, betrothed hero has taken place at the hands of a scheming 30 year old woman -- Raven -- with an important 70 year old husband -- the Chief of Chiefs. Set 1000 years ago among the Hopewell peoples, the same powerful emotions with which we grapple today are present in my novel of that era.

Our 18 year old hero -- Young Heron -- has decided not to confess to the lovely Lone Bird, his chosen; the only person he will tell is, simultaneously, his Father as well as the Chief of his Village:

“Aiyee, Young Heron, my Son. Welcome back from Chi’cotha. Your tally skins from the Fertility Festival have been reviewed and we believe will be a great help as we predict future… resources,” Father stated. Some of the Council began chuckling at the word “resources.”

“What news do you bring from our first Village?” Father asked.

I began in a sad tone, “I am distressed to report that I fear our beloved Storyteller is soon to cross over to the other side of the river. Privately, he confided that he is bleeding from inside and that the bleeding cannot be stopped. He asked for a personal drawing of him that would be turned into a ceremonial pipe and buried with him. He is now as we know him, but he is showing weakness daily.”

“This is unhappy news,” Father agreed, “but death is a fate that awaits us all. Let us hope that each of us will have as important a life as the Storyteller.” The Council murmured sounds of approval.

“Unless there is other business… then this meeting is dismissed,” Father stated in his Chief’s voice; I remained behind as the others left, speaking softly to each other.

“Sentinel, tell those waiting outside that I will be with them in a moment, " Father said as he turned to me. " This is ‘grievance’ day, so I need to wait for my advisor who knows of these complaints and will help me decide; some will be happy and some will not, but that is our way.” Father was a good Chief and took his duties seriously, which made my confession even more difficult.

“Father, I need to speak frankly of a deeply personal matter,” I began, thinking that I could describe the scene leading up to the moment, hoping that Father would look more kindly on my actions, knowing the entire background. But my need to confess overtook me and I blurted out the ending.

“Raven, the Chief of Chief’s One, and I ‘joined’ while in Chi’cotha.” My voice was nervous and hushed; my head was bowed.

“What?” Father exclaimed. “Did you say that you… joined? Do you mean physically… joined?”

“Yes, Father. I wanted you to know, as it may affect your being Chief somehow.”

“Did Raven indicate that my being Chief was threatened by this?” Father asked in a concerned manner.

“No. It is just a worry of mine.”

“Alright.” His Chief’s voice took over as Father controlled his emotions. “Where were you when this happened?”

“In her quarters,” I answered, still nervous.

Chapter two is now 27 pages long using 10,000 words, probably about 45 book pages. It is not over, as there are still three major sections to write in this chapter.

"Carrots of Wisdom" by Wm. J.H. Boetcker, 1914

William John Henry Boetcker lived until 1962. He was an influential Presbyterian Minister and a charismatic public speaker. In 1914, he published a small pamphlet that became widely quoted, often being mis-attributed to Abraham Lincoln instead of Boetcker. The famous Jeweler Louis Tiffany, Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan all quoted his work, while attributing it, incorrectly, to Lincoln. Here are Boetcker's "Carrots of Wisdom":

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatreds.

You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away a person's initiative and independence.

You cannot help people permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

~~ William J. H. Boetcker, 1914

Global Warming ... errr... uhhh Climate Change

This article is not about the recent snowfalls on the Eastern part of the US. Rather, it is about Dr. Phil Jones, of East Anglia University in the UK, who has just admitted that the Medieval Warming Period (MWP) was warmer than "man-made" Global Warming, errr... uhhh Climate Change, today.

That's right, the earth so warmed in the Northern Hemisphere from 800 - 1300AD that the Vikings name Greenland -- GREEN-land, and actually grew crops there, something that is impossible today.

Dr. Jones also admitted, according to the UK's newspaper, The Daily Mail, Feb. 14, 2010, that the earth has not warmed since 1995.

"Professor Jones also conceded the possibility that the world was warmer in medieval times than now – suggesting global warming may not be a man-made phenomenon. And he said that for the past 15 years, there has been no ‘statistically significant’ warming., ." Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250872/Climategate-U-turn-Astonishment-scientist-centre-global-warming-email-row-admits-data-organised.html#ixzz0fYilhmkZ

Man-made Global Warming is far from "settled science." So far, the US Government is relying upon UN Studies based upon Dr. Jones and his cronies studies, particularly the 2007 Report which won a Nobel Peace Prize, but is suffering when its details are challenged. And then there is the Al Gore film, which won an Academy Award and Mr. Gore was likewise awarded a Nobel Peace Prize; his film, "An Inconvenient Truth" has affected public attitudes and was required viewing in some school districts, and yet has been challenged from many quarters.

Why should we take the word of a discredited UN Report and a film maker (Al Gore) who has a financial interest in making Global Warming a fact? Thank God that same film maker also invented the Internet so that average people like you and me can challenge the elite's opinions.

Dear Reader, why should we take Al Gore's opinion as fact? Why should we take a United Nations Report as being worth anything? Wouldn't it be a wise move by the Obama Administration to establish a neutral, independent Climate Change Commission made up of Americans to separate fact from fiction before taking any US Taxpayer action? I vote "Yes."

"According to a U.S. Senate and Public Works Committee report, the “alarm about the future of polar bear decline is based on speculative computer model predictions many decades in the future. Those predictions are being 'challenged by scientists and forecasting experts,' said the report.
Those challenges are supported by facts on the ground, including observations from Inuit hunters in the region."

Writing: The Seduction

Yesterday, I was able to pen one page. It was difficult writing as I am leading up to a scene where our 18 year old hero is seduced by a 30 year old powerful woman who is married to the Chief of Chiefs. I suspect that this will be the most difficult scene of the whole book.

While it is tempting to be salacious and very descriptive in the narration and the dialogue, I am determined to resist such writing. The hope is that by leaving the details to the imagination -- and experience -- of the reader, the scene will be more compelling and provocative.

The writing must also convey that the young man knows that he is making a mistake, as he was recently betrothed to a young woman of his village. Yet the behavior of the of the older woman is so outside his experience that his best instincts are overcome with lust and he succumbs.

Of course, that is not the end of the story, Dear Reader. Those words are to be written later and to be read when it is published. :]

“You can seduce a man without taking anything off, without even touching him”

~~ Rae Dawn Chong, American Actress

Writing: On the way to Chi'cotha

With all the snow-bound days of the past week, I have been able to concentrate on the third book, second chapter, writing ten+ pages in the last five days; it now totals 17 pages and over 6,000 words.

Chapter Two will be a very eventful chapter with much of the plot details unfolding. Since the story is set 1,000 years ago in what is now Ohio, I am also blending in historic interpretations of the Adena and Hopewell Earthworks (Mounds and Embankments) as used by a tribe of pre-Columbian Native Americans representing a transitional stage of living, incorporating some traits from the Hopewell and anticipating the Ft. Ancient culture -- such as crop cultivation.

Probably more than you care to know; the writing isn't that dry, I promise.

In this scene from a Village Festival, our hero's 18 year old girlfriend has just met what will turn out to be "the other woman."

“Who IS THAT!” Lone Bird said with a growling breath.

“She is a person from Chi'cotha that Father and I have known for sometime,” I responded flatly, hoping to pour water on her fire.

“Is she always that irritating? Do you see her every time you go there?” Lone Bird asked, barely under control.

“No, not always,” I answered truthfully.

“Well, I hope I never see her again, and I don’t think you should see her either!” The fire was coming back to Lone Bird’s voice.

“Are you jealous of her,” I said without thinking. I knew that I was in trouble when I saw her mouth open as her jaw dropped.

‘Whaaaat? Jealous! Of that old woman. She’s got to be 30 seasons or more. I don’t like her. I don’t like the way she talks to you. I don’t like the way she looks at you. I don’t like her inviting you to come look for her when you are away from me. But jealous, Not at all! Not the least little bit!! OOooooooooh!!!” She growled and stomped her foot. People nearby were beginning to look our way.

For the Ohiophlyes, Chi'cotha is the principal city of my literary Tribe and is my interpretation of the Shawnee word "Chalahgawtha" from which the current day name of Chillicothe is derived. The next stop in my novel for our hero is Chi'cotha, where "the other woman" is laying in wait for him, so to speak.

"I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English - it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them - then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice. "

~~ Mark Twain in a letter to D. W. Bowser

2009: Health Care. 2010: Jobs?

President Obama told Katie Couric during the Super Bowl build-up that he did not regret holding back on health reform to pursue a jobs agenda. Here's what the President said:

“Keep in mind: Jobs were my number-one priority last year.” Really. REALLY!

So, if Jobs are so important to the President, why is it that yesterday, President Obama showed up at a Robert Gibbs Press Conference WITHOUT his telepromter (TOTUS), to promote Health Care? This is the first time since July, 2009, that he has taken questions from the Press and it is on the subject of HEALTH CARE!

To review, here is the Pew Survey of the American Public's Priorities:



Note where Jobs rank (2nd) versus where Health Care ranks (8th). Also, note where Global Warming ranks (Last, 22nd).

Despite one whole year of trying to pass a health care reform bill, that a majority of Americans did not want, the President could not get it passed, even with a vast majority in the House and the Senate. His own party could not vote for the various iterations, despite the political payoffs of monumental proportions; his own party, the Democrats, would not pass any of the Health care proposals.

Yet, in face of having a nuclear subject on his hands, so hot with anger and rejection that it is glowing green, President Obama is going back to Health Care.

Matters of confidence are getting so fractured about the Obama Presidency that I want him to succeed at something like JOBS for the health of the nation, and so, I side with Democrat Douglas Wilder, the first African-American elected Governor (Virginia, 1990) who recommends that Obama get rid of the Chicago cronies that campaigned hard to get him elected, and replace them with experienced persons who can help him GOVERN. He and his advisors need to hear the American people, instead of their own contributors, supporters, idealogues, and Chicago Cronies.

On another related matter, despite the growing body of reports showing that Global Warming "scientific" evidence has been manipulated to prove a controversial but lucrative point, the White House yesterday wanted to officially open a Climate Change Agency, as part of the NOAA Agency, a part of the Department of Commerce -- read more bureaucrats -- but had to delay the official announcement due to a new Blizzard in Washington, DC.

~ As an aside, I believe that the American Presidency is so complicated today that only a person with experience as a Governor of a state, should be considered as an experienced candidate for the office. Otherwise, you have amateurs running a huge operation for the first time ~

~ Billboard erected by Small Businessmen near Wyoming, Minnesota, who wish to remain anonymous ~

Odds and Ends (Again)

Super Bowl Census Ad:

Did you see this ad on the Super Bowl last night? We paid $2.5 million for that? Somebody needs to be fired! I want my money back! Who is the advertising agency? Judge for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/user/paytonschlewitt?feature=pyv&ad={creative}&kw={keyword}#p/u/0/JHMEKDq4CZU

Really?

President Obama told Katie Couric during the Super Bowl build-up that he did not regret holding back on health reform to pursue a jobs agenda. Here's what the President said:

“Keep in mind: Jobs were my number-one priority last year.” Really. REALLY!

President Obama gave 51 Presidential speeches or statements on his Health Care agenda. He didn't push for Jobs. Everyone was asking for it. Jobs were the top priority of the people of the US, but the pressure and focus of the President with Congress was to pass Health Care Something. He now has the gaul to say "Jobs were his number one priority?" His record is his record! His statements are his statements! Oratory won't change that!! Paleeeze!!!

TOTUS: (The Teleprompter of the United States)

Secret Service Jargon below ...

FLOTUS = First Lady of the United States

SCOTUS = Supreme Court of the United States

POTUS = President of the United States

TOTUS = Teleprompter of the United States

Apparently, there is no Oratory from POTUS without his TOTUS. Here is a picture from his recent visit to an Elementary School. Can't risk off-the-cuff remarks here:

The Obama Strategy: DEMONIZING

Here are the current industries that the Obama Administration is Demonizing:

1. Heath Care Insurance Companies
2. Wall Street Investment Firms
3. Large Banks

Do you do business with any of these business categories? Do you think that the President is making it easier for you to do business with them or more difficult? Do you think that the costs of defending themselves will be passed along to you? Will his demonizing them help or hurt to cure any problems?

Why are these industries not on his list and apparently are his friends?

1. Trial Lawyers
2. Fannie Mae
3. Freddie Mac
4. Big Unions, including SEIU

I leave the answers to you, Dear Reader, but I think you can surmise mine.

Americans... still believe in an America where anything's possible - they just don't think their leaders do.

~~ Barack Obama

Writing

Today the Blizzard forced me inside and I spent most of my moments writing on Chapter 2. Consequently, I actually finished 6 pages of difficult writing.

In this scene, set 1000 years ago in Ohio before the Europeans, the 18 year old central character meets an 18 year old young women from his Village who has been flirting with him. Neither of them have ever, what we would term, "dated" another person. This is part of their encounter, as I wrote it during my snow-covered day:

The spring flowed out of the side of a hill and immediately fell over rocks, which allowed one to cup ones's hands for a drink or to put one's face there and drink the water in as it bounced. From the rocks, the water flowed slightly down hill until it was caught in a pond, dug by our ancestors.

“I am thirsty,” she said, as she turned her back to me cupping her hands, catching water and drinking. Lone Bird was beautiful. Her legs were long and muscular without being thick, and her back was straight and nicely formed. When she turned around facing me, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and then brushed the water away off the front of her body with a laugh. Her black hair was in two braids which fell mainly over her back, but now one was over her front shoulder. Her waist cloth was simple and undecorated. She was very appealing.

I leaned into the rocks and caught the water with my mouth, making some slurping sounds; I probably should have cupped my hands as well. I turned around to face her, and as she had done, wiped my mouth and brushed the water off my chest, laughing.

We looked at each other and a force of some sort moved back and forth between us, causing an aching feeling inside me. Both of us took a step forward, putting us very close to each other. Lone Bird bent over at her waist and in the Ojib way, rubbed her nose on mine, back and forth, gently. She was so close, but we were not touching. Her head tilted back slightly and I slowly moved forward and touched her lips with mine, gently, in the manner of our Tribe. Her breath was hot, as was mine, and our breathing was as if we had been running. I pulled my face back to look at her eyes. She was smiling; I thought that there were tears welling in her eyes, as she started to laugh. I laughed with her also. It was not laughter at something amusing, it was laughter of joy, and we were both celebrating the moment without saying a word.

In the distance up the hill, I heard my Father’s unmistakable whistle.

“Lone Bird, that is my Father calling for me. I must go to him. Will you come along, with me?”

At first, she hesitated and then smiled and nodded yes. I took her hand and we began to run towards the Village center.

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” ~~ Ernest Hemingway

Odds and Ends

TWO NEW HOMELAND TERROR THREATS
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a report to Congress on threats to the Homeland, Here are two threats that they listed:

• Dependence on fossil fuels and the threat of global climate change that can open the United States to disruptions and manipulations in energy supplies and to changes in our natural environment on an unprecedented scale.


• Climate change is expected to increase the severity and frequency of weather-related hazards, which could, in turn, result in social and political destabilization, international conflict, or mass migrations.

Really? These are terrorist threats? Sounds like an agenda. So Secretary Napolitano, what would you have us do? Coal supplies 50% 0f our electricity needs. We have plenty of oil, but laws prevent us from drilling. What would you have us do, Janet? Oh, and Hurricanes -- the lowest incidence in recent years in 2009. Anyway, isn't this in some one else's portfolio of problems to deal with, not yours? Or should I start duct taping my windows now?



*****************************
A STARTLING USE OF VOCABULARY:

The word "UNEXPECTED" is showing up a lot these days -- as in "unexpected temperatures," "unexpected Jobs Report," "unexpected economic downturn." Well, if these experts are being fooled all the time by "unexpected" results, then shouldn't we get some new experts? Or, maybe we should find several words to substitute for "unexpected" like "surprising, amazing, shocking, or startling."

*****************************

POLITICS IN ILLINOIS:
The state of Illinois is known for its rough politics, gangland political associations, and scandals. The current Governor, Pat Quinn, who took over from ousted Governor Rob Bogoyevitch, declared yesterday that he had claimed the Democratic nomination to stand for Governor in the November Election. He also learned yesterday that his Democrat running mate for Lt. Governor, has just been outed as having been accused of domestic abuse by his ex-girlfriend, a prostitute, and that he is also facing charges of tax-evasion. Just another political day in Illinois!

*****************************

CAN GOVERNMENT LEGISLATE JOBS?
From 1920 - 1933, the United States was under Prohibition; selling or consuming alcohol was illegal. This led to Speakeasies, Bootlegging, Organized Crime, and the start of the family fortunes based on rum-running. What did we learn from that? A Government cannot legislate behaviour.

But -- today, can Government Legislate Jobs, creating Jobs by stimulating the economy with a "Jobs Bill?" Jobs have been created this past year, but in a surprising/not-so-surprising way. The largest growth segment of the economy has been (drum roll, please) ... Government jobs, and primarily Government Union Jobs. Private Sector Union membership has actually declined in the last year, while the Union jobs working for the government has increased.

So to answer my own question -- can the Government Legislate Jobs? Only if the Government bureaucracies get bigger, because that's what happened this year.

*****************************************
GLOBAL WARMING NEWS:
India has disassociated itself from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, saying that they cannot rely upon the accuracy of UN IPCC reports. This comes after it was revealed that the IPCC Report citing melting glaciers in the Himalayan mountains was flawed and not peer reviewed.

Elsewhere, the Netherlands has criticized another part of the IPCC Report which stated that Netherlands was 55% under water. Actually, only 26% of the country is under water. The authors of the report reported that the Netherlands would be 55% under water if their rivers overflowed.

[Yeah, and I would be at a perfect weight if my height was 6'8"]

There are Lies ... Damned Lies ... and Statistics!

~~ Mark Twain

Have a nice weekend and go Colts!

Back To Writing

It is time to resume writing on my third book. I return to Chapter Two, which promises to be a dramatic chapter with romance, a wedding, a betrayal, a trial, and a banishment. What starts off in a chipper and sunny vein turns sour by the end of the Chapter.

Structurally, each Chapter will represent a ten year passage of time. In Chapter One, our hero was 8; in Chapter two, he is 18; in Chapter 3, he is 28, etc. I do not envision this book going much beyond a Chapter 5. Each Chapter has a different drama at play, with all them them being tied up together and resolved in the final Chapter.

And then, there will be the Epilogue. I first became aware of Epilogues while watching "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," which for some of my younger readers may not be a familiar name. It was a black and white TV series that premiered in 1955, 30 minutes long, and it presented "playlets" of suspense, mystery and sometimes horror.


Hitchcock, who lived until 1980 was a film director with a career spanning 6 decades. His most famous film is "Psycho," with "The Birds" and "North by Northwest" close behind.

In his television series, he would introduce each episode -- sometimes in costume, like a Pith Helmet which would have something to do with the plot -- and also appear at the end, in an Epilogue, speaking directly to the audience, tying up any loose ends. The Internet TV site, HULU, has the first Hitchcock Episode at http://www.hulu.com/alfred-hitchcock-presents

This book, my third, will end with an Epilogue like the others, thanks to Alfred Hitchcock. Oh, and for the musically curious, the Hitchcock theme music is "The Funeral March of The Marionette" by Charles Gounod.

“I never said all actors are cattle; what I said was all actors should be treated like cattle.” ~~ Alfred Hitchcock

"Failure (to convict) is not an option" ~~ Attorney General Eric Holder.

On November 22, I raised the issue of " Innocent Until Proven Guilty" as it relates to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) who the Obama Administration through Attorney General Eric Holder has decided to try in New York City in a civilian court with all of the attendant rights as prescribed by our Constitution to any citizen of the US.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other Democrat politicians are beginning to "push-back" on that decision to try him in NYC and also on the decision to try him in a Civilian Court. Still, the Obama Administration continues to hold-the-line on this decision to try him as a citizen with Constitutional rights.

In November, 2009, both President Obama and Eric Holder made statements that convicted KSM before his trial, thereby trampling on his rights, depriving him of being "innocent until proven guilty."

Now, in addition to Attorney General Holder and President Obama convicting him in the Press, President Obama's Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, convicted him openly on Sunday. Any good defense attorney will use these three statements to prove that a fair civilian trial could not be conducted because the Jury Pool has been polluted by three of the most powerful persons in the US, and the case could be thrown out; KSM would become a free man!

Surely, Obama, Holder and Gibbs are not stupid and naive on this point, which any viewer of "Law and Order" gets. So ... is their legal naivete intentional? To what end?

I cannot imagine any other reason, other than to provide "cover" for President Obama and Eric Holder with the far left -- as in;

"We tried to do the right thing and try these people as civilians, unlike the disastrous Bush Administration, who wanted them tried in Military Courts. But the politics of Washington and the recalcitrant Republicans got in the way and we were forced to take him back to Guantanamo and try him in a Military Court there. This is all Bush's fault! We had no choice!!"

Let's be factual -- the Democrats have been in control of Congress since 2006 and they currently have enough of a majority in both houses to pass anything they want; the Republicans cannot stop them.

Clearly, this issue of KSM and Civilian trials is owned by the Obama Administration and the Democrats in Congress are getting nervous. Further, closing Guantanamo is OK maybe, but what do you do with all the bad actors there?

.

I can hear the states considered for prisoner relocation now: "We can create jobs by housing them in Illinois (NO), Ohio (NO), Pennsylvania (NO), Michigan (NO). Nevada -- they take nuclear waste; why not nuclear prisoners?"

"Today, Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) issued a statement regarding the proposal to re-locate Guantanamo detainees to Nevada:

"#/?*%<&>@way"

The only place left then is Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay. Thanks, Nancy. ☺
~~~

I predict that Attorney General Holder will find a reason to resign over this issue. The decision to try KSM in a Civilian court is questionable to any thinking person no matter what political stripe they may bear. It is also a symbol of the amateurish and inexperienced idealogues populating the Obama Administration that is crewed with good people, I am sure, but 93% have never worked in private industry and do not know how to create jobs, have never served in the military, and who believe that the way out of a recession is to spend money like a drunken sailor.

What do you do with a drunken sailor, What do you do with a drunken sailor, What do you do with a drunken sailor, Earl-eye in the morning!

Put him in the back of the paddy wagon, Put him in the back of the paddy wagon, Put him in the back of the paddy wagon, Earl-eye in the morning!

Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober, Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober, Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober, Earl-eye in the morning!

Way hay and up she rises, Way hay and up she rises, Way hay and up she rises, Earl-eye in the morning.

~~ "The Drunken Sailor" a traditional Sea Chantey

Speaker Pelosi and Her Family's Travel

Details are slowly being released of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's
use of Military planes to transport her family members around.
.
Military planes can be used to transport the Speaker of the House, who is third in line to be President. However, the directive, ordered by President Bush, is for "official" business.
.
It is not clear whether her Son, Daughter, Son-in-law, and Grandchildren were on official United States business or whether you and I, Dear Reader, are paying for the personal travel of her family at $20,000 an hour for these jets.
.
What makes it even more egregious is that Speaker Pelosi and her husband are multi-millionaires and can well-afford to pay First Class commercial for family members -- or reimburse the taxpayers at the actual cost, rather than the $199 mandated repayment for a round-trip ticket. (A tip of the hat to directorblue.blogspot.)
.
Please draw your own conclusion from the information below which Judicial Watch obtained from their Freedom of Information Act requests.

22-Feb-2007: A military jet is used for the travel needs of the Speaker's son, Paul Jr.

13-Apr-2007: A military jet is utilized for the travel of the Speaker's daughter, son-in-law and grandson.

15-Jun-2007: A military jet is used for the travel needs of the Speaker's son, Paul Jr.

09-Jul-2007: A military jet is used for the travel needs of the Speaker's son, Paul Jr.

13-Jan-2008: A military jet is used for the travel needs of Paul Pelosi, Jr., son of the Speaker.

29-Sep-2008: A military jet is used for the travel needs of Paul Pelosi, Jr., son of the Speaker.

30-Oct-2008: A military jet is used for the Speaker's daughter and a son-in-law, Peter Kaufman.
.
25-Nov-2008: A military jet is used for the Speaker's daughter, her son-in-law and two grandchildren.
~~~~~~
Whether the Speaker was along or not, it brings her ethics into question -- she, who promised to "drain the swamp" three years ago of ethics problems, continues to be part of the problem.
.
As always, watch what the Political Class does, not what what they say. To them, words are cheap; to us, it is a solemn vow.

“Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.” ~~ Doug Larson, Gold Medal Runner, 1924 Olympics