Christmas Spirit
A new Christmas is upon us but somehow it seems like recent Christmas' past: a suicide bomber in Mosul blew up an Army mess tent and killed or injured almost 100; President Bush is going to renominate 20 judicial candidates who have not passed earlier muster - (Democrats say they approved 240 of the President's nominations and sacked only 10); the market is having a Christmas upswing, but the dollar has fallen against the Euro and a it takes almost two dollars to get a British pound. Happy New Year!
#239 (04-88)
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And we thought Democrats could spend
Last night the Republican controlled Congress approved passage of the debt ceiling increase. The government's borrowing limit has climbed by $2.23 trillion since President Bush took office with Republicans in control of Congress: by $450 billion in 2002, by a record $984 billion in 2003 and by $800 billion this year. The increase in the debt ceiling alone over the past three years is nearly 2 1/2 times the entire federal debt accumulated between 1776 and 1980.

A recession, a sluggish economy and five tax cuts in four years -- coupled with spending on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and rising domestic spending -- have turned record surpluses that Bush inherited into a record deficit of $413 billion in the past fiscal year.
#238 (04-87)
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Hazardous to your health
Deep frying a Thanksgiving turkey can be hazardous; last year 15 people burned their houses down and hundreds wound up in hospital emergency rooms. Time to buy that canned ham.
#237 (04-86)
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Bond. James Bond
Super-spy James Bond is born today in 1924. After a rebellious school career, the half-Swiss/half Scots Bond attends Cambridge University before joining the Royal Navy and latterly, the British Secret Service. Although now aged 80, the unstoppable Bond shows no sign of slowing down due to his ability to magically transfer himself into the bodies of various younger men such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan.
#236 (04-85)
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Shooting in the night
The shooting on Election Eve into a front room window in my house was - I believe - a politically motivated hate crime. For details click on COLUMNS in the header.
#235 (04-84)
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Comment on Ordained Ministers
From a lady in Goose Creek, SC: "I firmly agree. Also, do not think churches should have political meetings. The church is there for teachings of Christ - and nothing else. If they so choose, then they should be taxed as any other operating business with a political agenda”.

From an Ordained Minister in England: “From a British perspective ....... we would always say that no minister who took seriously the claims of the Kingdom of God would ever entertain being involved in party politics ...... ‘Social action against injustice’, Yes, but party politics...never. There is no such animal as an altruistic politician. Every Blessing”

From a man in Arlington, VA: “Well said. One of my neighbors worked on his staff at the Senate. He thinks Danforth is great. But what does he know. He voted ‘against’ Bush. I tend to agree with you.”

From an Ordained Minister in SC who added: “Me either” to this unsourced quote - “…the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government.”

From a lady in Hanahan, SC: “I agree,” (with your thoughts).
#234 (04-83)
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Ordained Ministers
There may be some others, but when I think of "ordained ministers in government, " Cardinal Richelieu (who raised taxes on those who could least afford it and antagonized just about everyone in France is his day)
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Cardinal-Richelieu comes to mind and the thought does not endear me to the idea of an ordained minister serving in high office in the National government. All of this is fueled by speculation in the news today in Washington that John Danforth, a former Senator, currently US Ambassador to the United Nations and an ordained minister may be in line to succeed Colin Powell as Secretary of State. Mr. Danforth may be a nice gentleman but President Bush ought to respect the historic line between National government and religion.
#233 (04-82)
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Red Sox Win...Red Sox Win
The Boston Red Sox are again World Champions, the win coming in St. Louis against the Cardinals, a great baseball team, 3-0, and comes after only 31,458 days since the last time.
#232 (04-81)
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Red Sox Win Game Three
Backed with some good fielding and hitting, Pedro Martinez shut down the Cardinals and pitched the Sox into a 3-0 lead in the World Series. This is the beginning of the end of "The curse of the Bambino."
#231 (04-80)
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Red Sox Win Game Two
Despite another night with four miserable defensive errors, the Red Sox won game two and now lead the World Series two games to none. They are going to end "The curse of the Bambino."
#230 (04-79)
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Red Sox Win Game One
Despite some pitiful defense, the Red Sox offense has them up in the first game of the series that will end forever "The curse of the Bambino." Remember you read it here.
#229 (04-78)
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Red Sox Win 7th Game and ALCS

"Other sports dream of a great rivalry like this. Now there is a new twist to the old story. The Red Sox have staged the greatest comeback in the history of postseason baseball.
"For the tormented region called Red Sox Nation, what makes this feat roughly 10 times sweeter is that they did it to the Yankees. They did it to their rivals."
(George Vecsey, The New York Times, 10/21/2004)
#228 (04-77)
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"A dead chicken"

(Letter to the editor, The Chicago Tribune, by Stuart Shea, published October 20, 2004)

"Why even bother trying to explain your endorsement of President Bush? The Tribune would endorse a dead chicken for president if it were running Republican."

#227 (04-76)
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Red Sox victory must be noted
The Red Sox victory over the Yankees last night in game six of the ALCS is a baseball milestone. No team in history ever come back from three games down in a seven game series to force the seventh game. It is a remarkable baseball event and must be noted here. A win tonight will be - for me - almost as good as winning the Powerball lottery.
#226 (04-75)
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Endorsement
The New York Times (Kerry) and The Chicago Tribune (Bush) have each endorsed a candidate for president, so it is time for me to chime in. For me it is an easy choice. I believe as Senator John Kerry does that: America is strongest when we seek out and work with allies around the world; the country was rushed to war in Iraq and had no plan (and has none) to secure the peace; parts of the Patriot Act diminsh our personal freedom and rights; Social Security ought not to be privatized and trimming the deficit is an absolute must. Also, Senator Kerry went back for and saved Jim Rassman's life in Vietnam, honoring the principle set by General Sherman who once wrote to General Grant that if he were in trouble on the battlefield he was confident Grant would come for him. This kind of courage goes a long way with me. I urge a vote for Senator Kerry on November 2.
#225 (04-74)
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Watch Charleston's Newest Bridge Grow
Curtesy of C. Frank Starmer at Medical University in Charleston, you can click on this link: http://monitor.admin.musc.edu/~cfs/bridge/ and watch the growth of Charleston's latest bridge spanning the Cooper River. A truly magnificent series of pictures which hopefully will continue until the bridge is built.
#224 (04-73)
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Google Scores Again
Today Google released its Desktop Search Engine. I have downloaded, installed and used it already. It is a remarkable (and free) product that will index the e-mail and files on your personal computer and permits you to search for anything you need. I found it to be a carbon copy of the wider known Google search program that does for your personal data what Google does for the rest of the cyberspace universe. You can get the program at www.desktop.google.com . Compared to another program I have been using, Google is light years ahead. PCWorld magazine came today and has an article on desktop search engines but does not mention this Google product. Try this before spending money.
#223 (04-72)
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Comments on the last two comments...
You are absolutely right on both. (A lady in S.C.)

Thank you for the note...you'll forgive me my impertinence by respectfully disagreeing, however. After all, but for "foreign born" still being Constitutionally barred from running for president...just think, the genius of the administration of that greatest of presidents, Richard M. Nixon (my hero)...the legendary Dr. Henry Alfred Kissinger, could one day finally get his due and finally be addressed as, "Mr. President", instead of "Your Exalted Excellency"!!! (A man in Maryland/Virginia area.)

Well, I disagree on this one -- our parents weren't born here. And I remember thinking Henry Kissinger would have made a good president, if only he could have run. But I do agree about the shopping carts! (A lady in S.C.)
#222 (04-71)
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Be born here...
If you want to be President you ought to have been born here. The current hearings in the U.S. Senate on legislation to amend the Constitution to make foreign born citizens eligible for the highest office in the land ought to go for naught. Save something for the native born.
#221 (04-70)
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Want to be....
A good Christian, Muslim or Jew? Put the damn shopping carts back in the corral in the parking lot instead of leaving them sitting around blocking parking spaces and or potentially damaging arriving autos.
#220 (04-69)
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Archibald, Gandhi and Graham Greene
We share the same birthday, October 2. I am pleased as punch to be here and hope to stay for a long time.
#219 (04-68)
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The Winner
Well, I believe John Kerry was the clear winner in the debate on September 30.
#218 (04-67)
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Pharmaceutical Companies
How true this is:
An American car company can move its factories to Mexico and claim it's a free market.
An American toy company can outsource to a Chinese subcontractor and claim it's a free market.
A major American bank can incorporate in Bermuda to avoid taxes and claim it's a free market.
We can buy HP Printers made in Mexico.
We can buy shirts made in Bangladesh.
We can purchase almost anything we want from many different countries.
BUT, heaven help the elderly who dare to buy their prescription drugs from a Canadian pharmacy.That's called un-American! You think the pharmaceutical companies don't have a powerful lobby? Think again!
#217 (04-66)
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Well wishes for President Bill Clinton
Your autographed picture hangs on the wall in our den. You hang in our heart and we wish you well with the upcoming operation. Thank you for eight great years.
#216 (04-65)
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Medicare increases - part 2

And we humbly ask why the cost of Medicare is raising 17 percent:

"The display in Rosemont, Illinois, (a five foot cutout of President Bush with a muslimsforbush.com) was funded by Muhammad Ali Hasan and his mother, Seeme, who recently created the group "Muslims for Bush." Seeme Hasan said in a phone interview that she and her husband Malik, a Colorado physician who earned his wealth in the health care industry, have donated more than $1 million to Bush and Republican causes since the 2000 campaign."

The foregoing was put on the wire today by Rachel Zoll, religion writer for the Associated Press.
#215 (04-64)

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Medicare increases
The increase in Medicare premiums, announced late in the afternoon by an administration spokesman hoping no one would notice over the holiday weekend, will not escape the attention of most senior citizens. The raise is 17 percent, or about $12 per person. For a family of two this is $24 a month; $288 a year. This increase in insurance premiums is accompanied also by an increase in the deductible seniors and others in the Medicare program will have to pay if they go into the hospital. These increases are greater than the rate of inflation. On a personal level, the increases will not turn us out of our house and force us to live under a bridge, but for millions of Medicare subscribers already living on the edge, this could be the back-breaking straw. Some will undoubtedly be forced to opt out of the program and take their chances. There are many questions; here are just a few: why are critical drugs in America priced so high? why must Americans even think of sending prescriptions off to Canada to save a little? are insurance costs for medical practitioners justified by insurance payouts? why does an aspirin in a hospital cost $5 when you can buy 100 in a bottle at Wal-Mart for less than $4?
#214 (04-63)
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Guantanamo Bay Trials
The Greatest Generation tried Hermann Goering and Rudolph Hess at Nuremburg for being co-architects (along with Hitler et.al.) of the Third Reich. The current generation is trying Salim Ahmed Hamdan at Guantanamo Bay for being Osama bin Laden’s car driver. What has happened to us?
#213 (04-62)
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A touch of class
(My e-mail to the editor of The Post & Courier, Charleston, SC, August 21, 2004)
Today, I believe The Post & Courier showed a touch of exceptional high class, character and fairness in starting prominently on the front page that well written story from the New York Times News Service about the anti-Kerry group's ties to Bush family aides. I did not expect this from a paper that consistently writes, publishes and supports the Republican view in a city and state that leans heavily Republican. The space devoted on the inside of the section also demonstrates the willingness of the publisher and editors to truly serve the reading public. Well done. Thank you.
#212 (04-61)

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Middle Class Americans Pay More in Taxes than wealthiest Americans

August 17, 2004 (Excerpted from Newsday)

President George W. Bush spouted a familiar refrain on the stump Saturday: "If you pay tax, you ought to get relief - it seems like to be the fair way to do things instead of trying to pick winners and losers," he said. But pick them or not, with the Bush tax cuts, there are winners and there are losers.

Since 2001, tax cuts have shifted the federal tax burden away from the wealthiest Americans (the winners) and to the middle class (the losers).That's not partisan, election-year spin. It's the conclusion of the respected, nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, run at the moment by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the former chief of Bush's own Council of Economic Advisers.According to a CBO report released Friday, the top 1 percent of earners - average annual income $1.1 million - saw their combined share of federal tax payments fall to 20.1 percent this year, from 22.7 percent in 2001.

For the top 20 percent of earners - average annual income $182,700 - the decrease was to 63.5 percent this year from 65.3 percent in 2001. At the same time, middle America - average annual income $75,600 - saw its share of the federal tax burden increase from 18.5 percent to 19.5 percent.That's fundamentally unfair.

#211 (04-60)
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Where we eat
A web site for the Republican convention has dropped Rudy Giuliani's list of the top-10 NY restaurants; the owner of No. 1 was identified in court proceedings as a "made" man in the Bonanno crime family.
#210 (04-59)
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Thou shalt not steal

NEW YORK, Aug 12, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Detectives investigating Monsignor John Woolsey of New York for fraud have uncovered bank accounts with hundreds of thousands of dollars in his name.
Woolsey, who is now the subject of a criminal investigation, is also being sued by a parishioner who alleges the priest swindled him out of a half-million dollars, some of which he used to buy a luxury condo on the New Jersey shore.
Authorities recently discovered Woolsey maintains a $200,000 balance with Citibank and $450,000 with Smith Barney, the New York Post reported. In addition, a Queens contractor told the district attorney's office he billed Woolsey's church, St. John the Martyr, for $160,000 worth of construction and labor. Woolsey reported those bills as totaling $500,000.

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Kerry saved Green Beret's life
Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry saved Jim Rassmann's life in Vietnam and Rassmann is ticked off at those who deny Kerry's heroism. For the full details see Columns on this web site and read this fascinating tale of real-life heroism in the waters of Vietnam.
#208 (04-57)
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Red Sox Nation Commentary
Well, the Red Sox traded Nomar to Chicago yesterday in a deal where they got two players I have never heard of before. That doesn't mean these two mystery (to me) men won't contribute, or they are not prime players. I am about to give up on the Sox' 2004 aspirations of a shot at the world title. It is again looking more like "some day in the next hundred years."
#207 (04-56)
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$445 billion deficit
Holy shit. I thought it was the Democrats who were the big spenders. Republicans control the White House and the Congress and have run up this deficit. Why is it when Democrats run a deficit the GOP screams that the end of the world is coming, but when they run the largest one-year deficit in the history of this country "it proves what they are trying to do is working."
#206 (04-55)
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More on donuts
On July 26, (see below) I commented on the more than a 1,000 donut shops in Boston and asked how many were in other areas. Here are some edited replies I received:

Las Vegas – Thirty-one, enough for the locals and the 50,000 tourists here daily.

Virginia – I don’t drink coffee and I don’t eat donuts. Have to meet my friends on a park bench.

Boston – I visited Atlanta a few years ago and went out in the morning to fetch some donuts, a usual thing back home. An hour later, I returned to my worried friends empty-handed. No donut shops.

South Carolina - The South Strand Krispy Kreme has been here for years and a new Dunkin' opened this spring.  Murrells Inlet remains the "Seafood Capitol of South Carolina" but I guess this makes Garden City Beach the "Donut Capitol."

South Carolina – I like a Starbucks in Hanahan…us yokels like good coffee too.

South Carolina – Do Bostonians enjoy Krispy Kreme as much as people in other parts of the country do?

South Carolina – Does Columbia still have a Dunkin’s shop? A favorite of mine years ago when traveling with the kids and the high school band.

South Carolina – I went to Myrtle Beach recently and noted many Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts shops. I must have counted at least 20 and could not believe it.

South Carolina – Three in our area (North Charleston) closed…and you have to travel far to get a donut.  BTW: The Krispy Kreme shop on Rivers across from the Naval hospital was where they made all the donuts that the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, schools and different organizations sold to raise money.  It was a pretty good fund raiser! 
#205 (04-54) 
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Al Sharpton Impressive in DNC speech
Rev. Al Sharpton stirred up the crowd at the DNC Wednesday night with a spirited "our vote is not for sale" speech. Sharpton told the cheering crowd black Americans had been promised "40-acres and a mule" by Republicans and never got the 40-acres and never got the mule -"So we decided to ride this donkey (symbol of the Democratic Party) as far as it would take us."
#204 (04-53)
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Suicide in Russian Army
109 soldiers in the Russian Army have killed themselves in the first half of 2004, a rise of nearly 40% from last year. Every army suicide is investigated as a criminal case, since top brass themselves admit that a large portion of the suicides were driven to their drastic final step. Faced with violent hazing from their peers and indifference from their superiors, many young conscripts opt for suicide — the only choice they see when they feel their life has been destroyed.
#203 (04-52)
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Eat your heart out
There are at least 1,050 doughnut shops in Boston, one for every 5,750 residents, eight times the national average, according to The Wall Street Journal, (page 1, July 26, 2004).
#202 (04-51)
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World War II Memorial and other sites
Over the past weekend I visited the World War II Memorial on the Mall in Washington and was touched to tears at the moment. The site is splendidly done, simple and dignified. The columns representing each state allow visitors to pause and think about the men and women from that state who served in the great conflict.  I and my wife were particularly surprised and pleased to find the columns for South Carolina and Massachusetts (my original state) were side by side. The four thousand stars, each representing 100 American men and women who died in the conflict are a sad reminder of the price of freedom.
I also visited the Library of Congress and saw the Bob Hope and Gershwin displays, as well as a selection of the cartoons of Ann Telnaes. In 2001, Ms. Telnaes became the second woman ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. Another stop was The National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles airport. The center currently houses more than 80 aircraft and 60 space artifacts. This will grow to more than 200 aircraft and 100 space artifacts as the ten story high building is more than adequate. Two of the many exhibits that overwhelm the visitor are the SR71 Blackbird and the Enola Gay. Two of the great airplanes of the twentieth century.
#201 (04-50) 
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The Twentieth Train

The spring of 1943 was a desperate time for Jews all over Europe. In Belgium, as elsewhere, the trains were carrying Jews to Auschwitz. This is a story told with simplicity of the courage of three men who, at the risk of their own lives, sought to rescue some of the victims. It is also the story of ordinary Belgium families - facing concentration camps and even death - who also rose to the occasion to prove once again that there are good people in this world. (The Twentieth Train, Marion Schreiber, Grove Press, New York, 2002, 308 pages, $25.00)
#200 (04-49)
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Cheney's intelligence
Either Vice-President Dick Cheney is not as smart as some people think he is or he covered up for his drug-addicted doctor for years. According to reports in The Washington Post today, Cheney knew his internist was addicted to drugs yet continued to use him as part of his medical team. Is this a double standard, stupidity or what?
#199 (04-48)
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It's Edwards


At 8:27 this morning Presidential candidate John Kerry e-mailed me and said he had selected John Edwards as his running mate. The e-mail message was sent in advance of the public announcement to approximately one million supporters and contributors on the Kerry mail list. Onward to victory in November.
#198 (04-47)
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Independence Day, 2004

A fresh flag flies at our home in Hanahan, SC, to celebrate our country's 228th anniversary, Independence Day, Sunday, July 4, 2004. Fifty percent of the 20 homes on our street regularly fly the American flag. Some 68% of Americans said they owned a flag, according to a recent study by the National Retail Foundation. Have a pleasant holiday!
#197 (04-46)
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Good Morning Lowcountry
Column enlightening (Letter to the Editor, The Post & Courier, Charleston, SC, June 25, 2004)

Kudos to the writers of Good Morning Lowcountry. Their daily offering is frequently hilarious and sometimes insightful and enlightening.
Sunday's collection of wit and witticisms about fathers was outstanding. I clipped, copied and mailed it to each of my five children who have the good sense and taste to not live in my Zip Code.

FRANCIS X. ARCHIBALD
1128 John Rutledge Ave.
Hanahan
#196 (04-45)
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No. 1
In a Wall Street Journal article June 24, 2004, (pg B5), Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, said that first day sales of former President Bill Clinton's "My Life" were so strong the publisher printed another 750,000 copies bringing the total number of copies in print to 2.25 million...Barnes & Noble and Borders Group said first day sales were the highest of any nonfiction book in their history...a Borders store in New York's financial district hosted Mr. Clinton on Wednesday (June 23) and attracted a crowd estimated at 2,000..."My Life" ranked No. 1 in sales on the Amazon.com web site.
#195 (04-44)
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Reading List

Today I picked up my copy of "My Life" by Bill Clinton at Books-a-Million in North Charleston. It is third in line to be read. At present I am reading "The First Billion" by Christopher Reich and John LeCarre's "Absolute Friends" is next on the list. These two books are checkouts from the local library.
#194 (04-43)
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On the home front
This spring I added a shed (12 x 12 x 8) at the side of my garage to house lawn and garden equipment. During the past week re-painting of the entire structure was completed. I cut a door opening between the side of the garage and back of the shed. This is a convenience that also promotes the passage of air to help cool the workshop in the garage.
#193 (04-42)
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Time and the dead - some responses
While I wait to hear from Time about their policy change (preceding article) here are some responses I received after posting the article:

Maybe because he was so well loved by millions of American people and because of his optimism and "proud to be an American" outlook! One person on NSMBC stated when he became president, it was like sunshine came to the United States. That's my view! (Source: a woman in Hanahan, SC)

I don't know why or when Time changed their policy but they should put Ray Charles, may he rest in peace, on the cover of their next issue. (A man in goose Creek, SC)

I doubt if you get a reply. If you do, please let me know what they say.
Reagan was such a pleasant. Really nice guy and everyone really liked him. I would guess that is why his picture was on the front. A most popular man. Time, like all magazines, is out to sell copies and whatever they think will sell copies - well, that goes on the cover. (A woman in Goose Creek, SC)

I think they used the same picture as one of the other major weekly's ... may have been Newsweek or U.S. News & World Report. (A woman in Hanahan, SC) (It was Newsweek.)

You keep the world intact! Stay on the bastards.
Personally, the whole Reagan thing has been a bit overdone for me. I was into it at first but please, not burying a white man for a week! Poor Ray Charles, he barely got any press on his passing. (A woman in Myrtle Beach, SC)

My only thought is that the whole week has seemed to be a rather carefully orchestrated attempt by the right-leaning media to canonize the late President and, at the same time, to have us forget Lebanon, the Iran-Contra matter and the pathetic so-called "investigation" which followed, the comic opera invasion of Grenada, the homophobic snide comments and indifference as the aids crisis took off and the bail-out of the savings and loans. Yes, Reagan did make many Americans "feel good" about themselves again. But I suspect the same could have been said by Germans of Hitler, at least by those who were not Jews, Gays, Gypsies or the old aristocracy who opposed him. Perhaps the greater measure of a President is the ability to challenge Americans, as Kennedy surely did, and Carter earnestly tried to. (A man in Garden City Beach, SC)

Tell us if you get a reason. (A woman in Massachusetts)
#192 (04-41)

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Time and the dead
This week Time magazine put the late President Ronald Reagan on its cover. This is a departure from custom which dictated, at Time, that dead men do not make the cover. When President Kennedy was assassinated, the new President Lyndon Johnson was on the cover the following week. Does anyone know when and why Time changed its policy? I have written to the editors and asked. No reply, yet.
#191 (04-40)
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George Tenet's resignation
President Bush caught everyone by surprise today with his out-of-the-blue announcement that CIA director George Tenet had submitted a letter of resignation, with effective date of July 11, for "personal reasons." Tenet is very popular at the agency and his leaving will have an adverse impact on morale there. Something the public doesn't know is at play here. The timing of the resignation is strange to say the least. Given that the country is in the midst of a Presidential election (and Bush's re-election is in doubt)it is unlikely any permanent director will be nominated before the end of the year. Deputy CIA director John McLaughlin will be acting director until a new director is confirmed. Tenet was expected to leave after the election, whether Bush or Kerry wins in November.
#190 (04-39)
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Hey, wait a minute
I thought it was Tom Ridge's job - as head of Homeland Security - to warn us about terrorism. Wednesday (May 26, 2004) he was not at the press conference when Attorney General John D. Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller issued warnings about the likelihood of terrorist attacks this summer. Are these people talking to each other? I would feel more comfortable if Ashcroft and Mueller were telling us they had thwarted terrorist planning instead of warning us to "duck and cover."
#189 (04-38)
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Celebrate Memorial Day
On the occasion of Memorial Day this weekend let us pause to remember those who gave their lives in defense of our country and our way of life, and give thanks for those who defended it yesterday, do so today and will do so tomorrow. Freedom is not free and we can honor our men and women in uniform by being as good an American as we can in all ways.
#188 (04-37)
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They are at it again
A report in the The New York Times in the (Saturday, May 22, 2004) morning will reflect that the Saudis have agreed to increase oil production by 500,000 barrels a day. They deny they are trying to help President Bush in his re-election efforts, as Bob Woodard recently reported they had promised to do. Strange.
#187 (04-36)
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Fast service response
One reader wrote: They (The Post & Courier) probably wrote the letters themselves.
#186 (04-35)
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Fast service
On Thursday, The Post & Courier ran a story on Wednesday's "he said, she said" argument between SC State Senator John Kuhn and Jenny Sanford, the Governor's wife. Today, Friday, there are two letters to the editor supporting Mrs. Sanford and criticizing Senator Kuhn in The Post & Courier. Does anyone wonder, as I do, how these letters got into the paper so quickly? Were the letters hand carried in? Were they faxed or e-mailed? Were there also phone calls? Was there pressure from the Governor's office? Is The Post & Courier expressing a preference for the Sanfords over Kuhn? Is The Post & Courier attempting to influence the impending Republican primary? Just wondering. (Oh, by the way, one of Senator Kuhn's opponents is running TV ads with a picture of him and the Governor side by side.)
#185 (04-34)
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William favored in South
William was the No. 1 choice for a baby boy's name in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee in 2003, according to the Social Security administration. In later years the boy can be then called "Billy Bob or Billy Jim" or if he turns out light in the loafers, "Billy Jean."
184 (04-33)
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Take the high road
We won the war but failed (to date) to secure the peace. In short order we knocked off Afghanistan and Iraq, neither of which was in our league. It was as if the Los Angeles Lakers took on a couple of third-ranked colleges and whipped those good.

Now, in Iraq we are faced with insurgency and guerrilla warfare and a horrendous prisoner abuse scandal. History proves that the hit and run tactics of guerrillas can go on for years, as witness 20th Century events in the Philippines, Vietnam and Chechnya.

In a few short days since the details started coming out on the prisoner abuses in Iraq, we are hearing rumors and suggestions that a small number of our troops in earlier wars may also have committed atrocious violations of Geneva Convention rules for the handling of prisoners. We are reminded that others have done far worse. We are also reminded of the terrible senseless horrors of 9/11, and that terrorists – who do not follow any rules of combat but improvise as they go along – attacked the United States in the first place. These rumors, suggestions and reminders imply, “It has all been done before and besides they asked for it.” How wrong is such thinking?

If we have not learned anything in the last 60 years, then what have we gained? Just because something was done sixty years or less ago does not make it correct or right today. Abominations committed by anyone in World War II, Korea or Vietnam – in the heat of battle or otherwise - do not excuse or justify similar or worse actions today in the War on Terrorism.

Restoring order and bringing peace to Iraq are the only legitimate American goals in that faraway place. The only way to do to do this is to take the high road and not slip into the gutter with our enemies in thought, word or deed.
#183 (04-32)
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The Hat Lady

My wife, Mary, wearing her own creation to the Hat Day tea in North Charleston, April 23, 2004. Mary took a common straw hat (purchased at local grocery store for $1.98) and painted it to match her jacket. She decorated the creation with a ribbon in the back and three butterflies, visible under the brim. The hat received several favorable comments at the tea and since.
(#182 (04-31)
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Something is wrong here
You can get a license for a firearm in South Carolina after 8 hours training but under legislation pending in the state Senate you will require 350 hours of training before you can braid hair. I feel safer already.
#181 (04-30)
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No. 1 in South Carolina
Many thanks to all who voted and propelled this website to the No. 1 position in South Carolina. You can see it all at Top NC & SC Sites
#180 (04-29)
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Shades of Florida voting
This evening the webmaster from the top North and South Carolina Web Sites called. He was compiling the April votes and was surprised my site was not moving up on the list of top South Carolina sites. We did a check on the linking code and it was defective. It linked to the site but your vote (if you voted) did not register. (Sort of like Florida a couple of years ago, although we did not find any hanging chads.) Those who have the time are asked to vote again (as Jim Curley used to say, "early and often"). Go to the site and see the "click here" message on the opening page (it is also on the links page) and click away. The vote ought to register automatically. The webmaster said in a second call that it appears to be registering. We'll know for sure in June. Meanwhile stay tuned.

Thank you for your time, effort and patience.
#179 (04-28)
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Plan of Attack
Finished Bob Woodward's latest book, Plan of Attack, last night. It is obvious President Bush was bent on attacking Iraq in November 2001. What is surprising is that it took until March 2003 to get it on. The war was over quickly in Iraq (President announced the shooting over on May 1, 2003, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln) but preserving peace and instilling democracy still has a long way to go. One year later the number of dead American servicemen and women has risen to 718, (579 since May 1, 2003). The center point of the book is that Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney were fixated on Iraq and have used three themes at various times to justify the war: i.e. the 9/11 attacks (no Iraqi connection has been established), suspicions about weapons of mass destruction (none have been found) and getting rid of a dictator (what about all the other dictators in the world?). The book should be highly interesting to readers curious about the process of moving elephants around. The American military machine is so big it takes a tremendous amount of planning, know-how, effort and guts to get it moving. The cautious have to be prodded and the bold have to be restrained. I liken it to making a cup of tea. The teabag only goes in at the moment the water is at optimum boil.
#178 (04-27)
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Abortion and communion
It is unfair for any Catholic Church leader to expect all Catholics who hold public office to fall on their swords on the abortion issue. Catholic candidates are elected - as all candidates are - by a majority of the persons voting and it is delusional to assume all of these are either Catholic or support Catholic teachings on abortion. I respect a candidate who says he/she personally deplores abortion but supports a woman's right to choose. Spokesmen for the Church may urge communion be denied to Catholics who do not toe the absolutist line, but such a position is not likely to be widely accepted - among the faithful or the clergy.
#177 (04-26)
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Pat Tillman, R.I.P.
Without diminishing the sacrifice of the many almost anonymous men and women who serve, we pause to salute Pat Tillman who gave his life for his country in Afghanistan on Thursday (local time there.) Pat was an NFL defensive back with a great on-going career (and a $3.6 million salary) with the Arizona Cardinals, who put it all on hold to join the Rangers, part of the Army's elite fighting men. The media will undoubtedly report on Mr. Tillman's loss.
#176 (04-25)
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People Who Read Newspapers
GOOD MORNING LOWCOUNTRY (Humor column from The Post & Courier, Charleston, SC, April 16, 2004)

A friend of GMLc lives in Hanoi as an expatriate business consultant .....sent us this take on American newspapers.

WHO READS WHAT:

1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.

2. The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.

3. The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country and who are very good at crossword puzzles.

4. USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand The New York Times. They do, however, like their statistics in pie charts.

5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country -- if they could find the time -- and if they didn't have to leave Southern California to do it.

6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and did a far superior job of it, thank you very much.

7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.

8. The New York Post is read by people who don't care who's running the country as long as they do something scandalous, preferably while drunk.

9. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country but need the baseball scores.

10. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure there is a country... or that anyone is running it; but if so, they oppose all that they stand for. They make exceptions if the leaders are handicapped, minority, feminist, atheist or illegal aliens from another country or galaxy, provided, of course, that they are not Republicans.

11. The National Enquirer is read by people stuck in line at the grocery store.
#175 (04-24)
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9-11 Commission
The nine staff reports of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, and other data about and from the Commission are available on the web, including the most recent (Number 9) about the shortcomings of the FBI in the war on terrorism. The Bureau's shortcomings were caused by a mixture of internal cultural self-inflicted wounds and lack of financial support from superiors and the Congress. One of the Bureau's self-inflicted wounds, and a major shortcoming, in my opinion, is the arrogant attitude they have had for decades toward the Attorney General's office and any kind of external supervision.
(#174 (04-23)
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Top Carolina Sites
My web site was featured on Top Carolina Sites today, a compilation of more than 200 web sites in the Carolinas touching on many aspects of daily living, business, shopping and the arts. Check the list out today at www.carolinasites.com. You can also go to the LINKS page (click above) and vote for my site. Currently I am 123rd on the South Carolina list and every vote helps to move up on the list. Thanks.
#173 (04-22)
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Backing up
I've had a computer since the early eighties and yesterday for the first time backed up my hard drive completely. For many years I kept data files backed up on CD's. I bought a 120GB external hard drive and installed it (really just plugged it in) and commenced the backup. This was about 5 p.m. yesterday and the backup finished this morning around 11 a.m. More than 180,000 files (26.3GB space on C:\) backed up. The external drive was in one of the slower USB ports on my computer. I switched this today to a USB 2.0 port, of which I have four (two in the back and two in the front). Had the initial plug-in been in the faster port I am sure the whole process would have finished much sooner. This afternoon I ran a test by deleting a file from C:\ and then restoring that same file from the external drive. Backing up in the future will be incremental as files are generated and thus the whole process will be on-going.
The price of external storage has dropped and this undoubtedly led me to this step. Coupled with the "no tools required" USB connection it seemed time to go beyond the saving of data files. I've read for years about the necessity and desirability of backing up and believe in it.
#172 (04-21)
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These guys mean business
The Washington Post reported today that an attack Sunday on the U.S. Government's headquarters in Najaf by hundreds of Iraqi militia members was repulsed not by the U.S. military but by eight commandos from the Blackwater Security Consulting firm which also sent in its own helicopters carrying ammo and subsequently taking out a wounded U.S. Marine. Reportedly thousands of rounds were fired and hundreds of 40mm grenades shot. The Iraqis suffered an unspecified number of casualties.
#171 (04-20)
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Against All Enemies
I finished Richard Clarke's book Against All Enemies today and am glad I read it. Maybe it is because I thought a year ago when the war in Iraq started that we should have been going after Bin Laden with the ferocity we attacked Saddam Hussein. No one doubts the world is better off with Saddam deposed, but that is not the issue. If knocking off despots was the issue why not do the same in North Korea, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, to mention a few candidates. We blew the chance we had to get Bin Laden when the world would have cared less, and would certainly have understood and might even have applauded. Clarke's book is critical of the Clinton and Bush administrations, but it is not an anti-Bush polemic purely for political reasons. I accept Clarke's argument that when the new administration arrived at the White House in January 2001 they wanted nothing to do with any ideas or programs left on the table by the Clinton administration. Every administration wants to invent a new wheel. We can only speculate whether things might have been different.
#170 (04-19)
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The Post & Courier replies
Dear Mr. Archibald,
Thank you for your message. I think you make a good point. At first, I
assumed that the desk used such a brief story because The Post and Courier
had published extensive accounts beforehand. I checked and found that we
have, of course, addressed the issue, but not to the extent that we could
assume readers knew the whole story. I will say, however, that this vote by
the legislature does not constitute a ban. It is just one step in a process.
I expect that, when the matter is ultimately resolved, The Post and Courier
will devote more space to the issue.
It is always helpful to hear from you.
Elsa McDowell
Public Editor
#169 (04-18)
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Gay marriage, inconsistency in coverage
The Post & Courier (Charleston, SC) owes readers an explanation, if not an apology, for giving only two and one half inches of space to the Massachusetts legislature's ban on gay marriages (pg 8A, Tues.,Mar.30,2004) after all the space and ink devoted to the same state's Court ruling late last year that gay marriage was allowed under Massachusetts' constitution. (Feedback submitted via e-mail to the newspaper this day.)
#168 (04-17)
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Another first
Last night I had another first in my life. I went to the circus and enjoyed it. This is my 72nd year and it is only three months old and already I have had two firsts: Epcot and the circus. Life is good.
#167 (04-16)
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Against All Enemies
Today I started on Richard Clarke's book, Against All Enemies, and found the opening chapter riveting as the author relates what happened in the White House Situation Room on 9/11. Media attention to the book this past week has been at the highest levels following his appearance on 60 Minutes last Sunday, release of the book on Monday and his testimony before the commission investigating 9/11 at mid-week. He has been under attack by the administration all week.
#166 (04-15)
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Remote blogging 2
The formatting for my blogs does not remain inside this Google template and I must add the HTML code to have a red title in larger point size as well as the "E-mail" link and reference to the archives.
#165 (04-14)
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Remote blogging
This is second attempt using Google and the format of my earlier blogs. Heading is red and it has the E-mail connection as well as the reference to the archives. I deleted an earlier attempt to post an entry to my blog using Google.
#164 (04-13)
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A phone call
Someone called me last night. It was a male voice and it sounded like that of one of those Indians who learned their English from listening to British businessmen and scholars busy building The Empire in the 19th Century. I assume it was an "outsourcing" call promoting some mortgage relief scam. He inquired if I was "Fraaancis." I said yes and the conversation went like this:
Caller (C): Are you the homeowner?
Me: No.
C: May I speak to the homeowner?
Me: No.
[He must have been reading from a script because he was undeterred and the conversation continued.]
C: Do the know the interest rate on the home mortgage?
Me: 22 percent.
C: 22 percent?
Me: Yes.
C: Do you know the balance of the loan?
Me: Three million dollars.
C: Three million?
Me: Yes.
C: Would you speak to my supervisor?
Me: No.
And I hung up. I wonder if this is one of those "outsourcing" jobs that some in the current Bush administration believe are good for America.
(#163 (04-12)
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Taking a bullet
When a baseball player gets beaned it is said he "took one for the team." This sort of erratic behavior was carried to a new height in Taiwan last week if you believe the shooting - one day before the voting - of the campaigning President and Vice-president was arranged to swing a close election to their favor. If so, it worked because they were re-elected by a razor thin margin. The losers have demanded a recount. The high court ordered all ballot boxes seized.
#162 (04-11)
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Presidential politics 2004
The fall of the Spanish government following the bombing in Madrid on March 11, 2004, brings renewed interest in the proposition I put forth last November that another major terrorist attack in America in 2004 could have a huge impact on the Presidential election. (See my earlier remarks of January 22 and 23, 2004, in the Archives on the left). In brief: in the event of a major terrorist attack, if the administration is perceived as "sleeping on the job" it will be bad for President Bush. There is no indication that the Spanish government was "sleeping" but voters who did not support the war in Iraq came out in large numbers and voted for change. American morale and support for the Bush administration will be tested over the next few months as never before. We have lost as many servicemen and women in Iraq to random acts of terrorism since the end of the shooting war as we did in the war. Supportive nations are going (to use Mrs. Thatcher's terminology) "wobbly in the knees," (e.g. Poland's president says he now doubts Saddam ever had WMD; the Spainards are going to withdraw their 1,300 peace keeping troops from Iraq). If this sentiment spreads, it is unlikely the United Nations will give the administration some cover (and the American people a breather) and agree to take over - from the United States - the major role of peace keeping in Iraq, after June 30, when we turn the country over to Iraqiis. If the drumbeat of bad news out of Iraq continues, a major terrorist incident in the United States could be the "huge impact" straw.
#161 (04-10)
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Happy St. Patrick's Day
And a bit of the Irish is in practically everyone tomorrow as a good portion of the world observes St. Patrick's Day. It is a time for fun, to be with family and friends and to recognize the accuracy of the belief that the problems of the world would be lessened if only the Irish were put in charge.
Enjoy the day.
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#160 (04-09)
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Obesity is shocking
I visited Disney World last week and enjoyed myself at Disney Downtown and Epcot. It is clearly evident that obesity stalks the land like a super-size order of French fries. It was shocking to see so many people, young and old, who obviously could trim down and would look better if they did so. To say nothing of the possibility they might live longer with fewer health problems. I also went to Naples, FL, for a reunion of graduates of Keith Academy, and had a good time with fellow graduates of this all-male Catholic High School.
#159 (04-08)
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Miscellany
The 2004 election is now 75% defined. Bush and Cheney will take on Kerry and a VP candidate being decided on. Gay marriages are spreading. Today Oregon was in the limelight. A mayor of a town in upstate New York faces criminal charges for having performed a marriage ceremony for gay couples. Suicide bombings continue in Iraq, as does civil unrest in Haiti. A rep from my ISP called today in an effort to ameloriate the damage done by dropping all my web site files from their server on Mon (see Tuesday below). Said he had spoken to the employee responsible. I am using a template called "sand dollar" (with some modification) as the template for this blog.
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For earlier blogs check on archives index to the left.

Web site update
Today I worked to update this web site and have my blog be the first page one sees when they log in. It has been an interesting project and one that will be ongoing for some time as I try to make the site more appealing.
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Web site
This web site has been down for the past 24 hours because someone at my ISP "dropped" all the files from their server and I have had to upload them from my computer and reconstruct the web site. Further changes will be forthcoming.


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#156 (04-05)

Fake Kerry-Fonda photograph
That picture of John Kerry and Jane Fonda together at an anti-Vietnam war rally is a bogus picture, according to The New York Times; and Jane herself on Paula Zahn Now, CNN, February 11, 2004. The picture was also discredited on Real Time, HBO, February 20, 2004, which showed how two separate photos were put together as though one.


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#155 (04-04)

Return of the Egret
Yesterday, Saturday, January 31, 2004, I awoke and went into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee and jump start my liver. I looked out the window toward my pond and saw an Egret, about 3 feet tall, standing at the edge of the pond. I rushed back to the bedroom to get my camera but by the time I could get it focused the bird flew away. Later, to my dismay, I discovered he had dined on my fish. All except two or maybe three small ones are gone. I had over 25 gold fish, some good size and they were holding up quite well in the cold weather and water of the pond. An Egret visited the pond and ate my fish in the early days of 2003.


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#154 (04-03)

al Qaeda and the 2004 election (part 2)
From The Economist Intelligence Unit, January 20, 2004, via e-mail.
"In the event of an actual terrorist attack, the advantage could quickly shift to the Democrats if the administration, or one of its law enforcement agencies, was shown to be negligent. Short of that, an attack--even a devastating one--would probably cause most Americans to rally round the presidency."


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#153 (04-02)

al Qaeda and the 2004 election

At a Sunday luncheon during the AFIO (Association of Former Intelligence Officers) National Convention and Intelligence Symposium, in Tysons Corner, Virginia, (November 1-4, 2003), I asked Ron Kessler, the keynote speaker who was discussing his latest book, “CIA at War,” whether in his discussions with informed sources as he was writing the book he picked up on a fear that al Qaeda might try to launch a major attack on the United States “next year” in an attempt to upset the re-election likelihood of President Bush. I made reference to the 1980 election when the Iranians held American hostages for almost a year and helped Ronald Reagan defeat President Carter, (who seemed to the American people incapable of dealing with the problem and the long-range threat from Iran.)

Kessler said he had not picked up any vibrations to that effect. He added that he personally doubted al Qaeda had the required sophistication to understand our election culture and timetable. I was shocked at his response as it related to al Qaeda followers lacking an understanding of American election processes.

Another attendee in the audience said to me that he also thought it unlikely and even if it did, it would help, not hurt, President Bush. I responded that if it happens again the American people will hold President Bush responsible. “After all he has had three years since 9-11 and if it happens again people are going to want to know what the hell the President has been doing for the past three years.”

This all comes to the forefront in light of a brief article in U.S. News and World Report, January 26,2004, (Washington Whispers, page 6), to wit: “The latest sign that the confident Bush-Cheney team is trying to quash talk of a runaway re-election is the administration’s whisper campaign that another terrorist attack could come before Election Day. Some see a potential attack as a genuine threat to a second term, while other say the talk is a bid to inoculate the public. FBI Director Robert Mueller tells us ‘al Qaeda would like nothing more that to replicate September 11,’ but he predicted no finger pointing. ‘We are in this together.’”

Stay tuned.


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#152 (04-01)