Ancient Geek Fumes

All My Friends Are Working Or Rich

2011-12-13T18:25:00.008-05:00

...and we don't need Social Security Retirement Income.

The current political debate by Washington politicians on a payroll tax cut extension is presented by most of the news media in an unclear manner. Many citizens assume the tax cut proposal involves a reduction in withheld Federal Income Tax. But this is not so…the tax cut proposal is a reduction in Social Security Payroll withholding tax. My goodness, a scheme like this could only be hatched in Washington. We have a near bankrupt Social Security System that is intended to supplement retiree income. And our federal politicians are moving to reduce the system’s life-blood revenue source. Where and when will the Social Security System revenue shortfall be addressed? It should be obvious to the most casual observer that this “tax cut” plan will more swiftly bring about the predictable bankruptcy of the entire Social Security System. Reduce Federal Income Tax if you must, but please leave the single funding source for our Social Security System untouched. The retiree community would be far better off if many of these Washington politicians were paid not to think.

Hank Jr.'s New Song

2011-10-11T06:42:00.019-04:00

Sure wish Hank Williams Jr. made a better analogy with his recent comment on Fox News Channel. You know, that statement comparing the Obama & Boehner golf outing to socializing by Hitler and Israel’s Prime Minister. Hank Jr. is an entertainer...not a politician...and the left wing media sure came out negative on Hank's acknowledged lame comment. But I wonder why "Fox & Friends" teleprompter readers (they are not reporters) strayed from the stated purpose of Hank’s invitation to make guest comments on their program? I've seen several cases where the "reporting" by "Fox & Friends" personnel is inaccurate or incomplete.

Fair and balanced, well maybe --- DJP

Take a listen to Hank's great song. http://www.hankjr.com

What others are saying: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Hank-Williams-Jr-wrote-a-new-song-about-Fox-New?urn=nfl-wp9130

A Stylist Redneck Ruminates

2011-10-06T14:33:00.001-04:00

Can’t help but notice her fundamental beauty as I look out across the driveway. Always wanted a Dodge Charger, and her Deep Ocean Blue color just warms my heart. So I picked up the November 2011 issue of “Car and Driver” magazine to read a feature article by staff writer Aaron Robinson on the new 2012 model. My attention was sharpened by a couple of bullet points along side the main article: “…Floats like a butterfly, stings like a Super Bee” and “…surprisingly sophisticated…”

But I darn near tossed that irreverent rag as the main article starts out: “Here’s the thing about Dodge: You expect it to be dumb and redneck.” Only slightly offended I continued to read on. “Who would even know why the number 392 is significant to Dodge except Coors-chugging Mopar wonks.” And now my feelings are getting hurt.

The article then slowly turns: “May the ghost of General Robert E. Lee smite us for our crass stereotyping.” And I feel a bit better now with General Lee on my side as Robinson continues: “Okay, the car is huge. Bringing home a Charger is like adopting a water buffalo; you need space.” Got to admit a smile crossed my face now to acknowledge that comment. Dodge claims a 175-mph top end speed, sports big gauges imbedded in a machine-turned real aluminum dashboard. Cylinder deactivation and variable cam timing augment the vastly improved suspension. I guess that buyers of who want a Big-Eight, 6.4 engine won’t mind it’s 17-MPG rating. You economy minded tree hugging “wonks” can always do an engine downsize to that frisky little 3.5 6-Banger. But then…where’s the fun in that. I suspect that’s a bit like sex with a ninety-year-old prostitute who claims to have a headache.

Winds Of The Rebellion At Sumter

2011-04-04T23:04:00.030-04:00

No formal Declaration of War initiated the American Civil War. The Confederate States of America (CSA) was not recognized internationally. And of course, The United States of America (USA) never recognized the legitimacy of the CSA government. The two belligerents were clearly involved in a nationalistic civil dispute, and a formal Declaration of War was not necessary under international law. The CSA was officially established in mid-February 1861, by the seven seceded Rebel States mentioned by name in Lincoln’s “Call for 75,000 Volunteers.” The Rebel military bombardment and surrender of the federal Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, April 12-13, 1861, became the officially recognized start of military rebellion between the USA and CSA. However, the Confederate States had already seized most of the federal property including U. S. Post Offices, forts, a U. S. Mint, and other U. S. properties located within rebel state borders. Lincoln’s predecessor President James Buchanan sent supply ships to Fort Sumter in January 1861, but those Union cargo ships were turned aside by Confederate Shore Battery Forces and did not resupply Fort Sumter. Winds of the Rebellion had reached gale force as they swirled from the newsrooms and pulpits of this nation.

President Abraham Lincoln’s April 15, 1861 Executive Order, “A Call For 75,000 Volunteers” is summarized as follows---and from the southern prospective was the last aggressive straw that broke the camel’s back.

“WHEREAS the laws of the United States have been, for some time past, and now are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals by law:

Now, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed. … I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular government; and to redress wrongs already long enough endured. I deem it proper to say that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth will probably be to repossess the forts, places, and property which have been seized from the Union; and in every event, the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of, or interference with, property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country. And I hereby command the persons composing the combinations aforesaid to disperse, and retire peaceably to their respective abodes within twenty days from this date. …”

Several southern states sat on the secession fence up to mid-April 1861, but when presented with Lincoln’s “Call For Volunteers”, the south’s richly populated Virginia quickly seceded on April 17, 1861. Virginia is followed in secession within the next few weeks by Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The eleven states Confederacy was now set and in place…and both sides felt strongly that they would prevail in this short rebellion. After all, both the United States and Confederate States knew that God was on their side.

Click here to read a short well written article on Fort Sumter published in "American Profile" on April 10, 2011. Publisher: Publishing Group of America, Franklin, TN.

"And The Buck Stops With Hillary -- Over"

2011-03-21T18:44:00.040-04:00

Hey "Obie", some of us been wondering...

How’s that Nobel Peace Prize thing going now? Sure picked one heck-of-ah way to post-facto meet that outstanding Nobel Award requirement. Agreed, you should have put it on the current honey-do list. But this 120+ missile strike on Libyan Air Force assets is sure an extreme way to finally meet that peace award requirement described in Alfred Nobel's will. You know, the part where the recipient needs to abolish or reduce standing armies. All that tough-talk in the law school faculty lounge is sure paying off now. OOH-RAH! Take it away Hillary! Obie -- Out.

Ma Nature Plays A Trick

2011-03-21T13:35:00.021-04:00

Yesterday Spring 2011 began in the late afternoon. A nice day here in North Central Upstate New York, much of the winter snow had melted, except for piles of white in those property shady spots. Did some necessary outside work in preparation for summer, raked the lawn where winter had deposited some natural debris, and removed the protective burlap from some of our favorite trees… trees that our hungry deer residents find great candidates for browsing.

So good old Ma Nature must be smiling today. On the first full day of Spring 2011, she sent a steady heavy wet snow falling at perhaps 1+ inch per hour this morning. “Sugar Snow” … the old-timers here in New York sometime call it. Perhaps little known by many, New York State typically ranks second behind Vermont in annual Maple Syrup production. Production in 2010 totaled 312,000 gallons, down 29 percent from 2009. Reduced production was due in no small part to an abnormally dry early 2010 Spring. Sugar snow, coupled with cold nights and above freezing days really causes that maple sap to flow. And I suppose those many Northern New York State maple syrup producers are also smiling today… right along with that tricky old Ma Nature.

Fair and Balanced…Give Us A Break

2011-03-06T11:03:00.028-05:00

Less than 350 miles North-Northeast from Tripoli, Libya, lays the home of the United States Naval Air Station Sigonella, Catania, Sicily, Italy. This U.S. Navy installation bills itself "The Hub of the Med." The activity occupies space with NATO Base Sigonella, an Italian Air Force Base in Sicily, Italy. A tenant of the Italian Air Force, U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella acts as landlord to many U.S. commands and activities. The base is located about ten miles west and seven miles south of the Sicilian east coast city of Catania, and about twenty-five miles south of Mount Etna. Much of this data was taken direct from the official Naval Air Station web site and all this information and more are available by simple Google search.

Present incomplete news reports are at best... half-truth. A significant number of the current news media are hand-wringing about a possible necessity of declaring a no-fly zone over Tripoli, Libya. A real probability for action may become necessary to protect those important Libyan oil fields. Developed countries worldwide cannot at any time tolerate oil field destruction by Libya’s somewhat unbalanced "strongman" Colonel Qaddafi. For goodness sake, take a look at what Iraq’s Saddam Hussein did to those Southwest Asia oil fields just twenty years ago. And just look at what is now happening to the price of gasoline, a meteoric rise caused in no small part by oil uncertainty and unethical oil market speculation. Historically, the American economy entered a recession following the First Gulf War, a recession significantly rooted in worldwide oil market production uncertainty.

So here is today’s question and suggestion to all U.S. News Media. Why doesn’t the “Fourth Estate” get off their collective butts, do some actual research, and report the truth? Please don’t give us the vague comments of a long retired U.S. General or rollout some retired Army Lt Colonel. Find yourself an informed and recently retired U.S. Navy Admiral or Vice Admiral to verify and report on this truth. A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is simply unnecessay in central Mediterranean Waters to implement and/or support a Lybian no-fly zone. The United States of America, coupled with very significant contributions by friendly NATO countries have more than enough land-based military air assets already deployed to implement a near immediate no-fly zone over Libya. And please don’t conclude there is no way to refuel military aircraft. With trivial effort a novice researcher will discover a significant aircraft refueling facility just 500 miles east of Sicily at U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Crete, Greece---click HERE to check this out. This too is all available without much effort via Internet search.

Big Stick Obie -- HA!

2011-02-28T09:15:00.011-05:00

Understanding and learning from history… something lost on the present federal executive administration. Eight and a half minutes worth the view time, then take some time to consider the wisdom presented by this video message. To view message click here.

Eight-hundred PSI is both amazing and impressive, with something that reportedly looked like a bicycle pump. And forty shots with acceptable muzzle velocity from this air rifle on a single charge. I'd like to see that pump. One of the things I did with a passion in a former life was bicycle touring & racing–with most of the fashionable required cycling accessories of the late 70s/early 80s. Not unusual to do 100+ mile trips (a century), and even the occasional "double century." I used "sew-up tires", basically a tubeless unit that is taped and/or glued to the wheel rims. These tires are inflated through an extraordinary valve to about 130 PSI, using a special purpose, non-standard bicycle hand pump. And it took much of the power I could muster to pump those tires to the last few PSI.

Did anyone else find it rather unbelievable last week to discover that the mighty USA has no aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea? Must be the Navy is too busy with homosexual awareness training these days. The CIA claims they saw the present Middle East unrest coming last year (here the CIA has a remarkable grasp of the obvious). That great President Teddy Roosevelt must be rolling over in his grave. “TR” telegraphed his approach to maintaining world peace a few days before assuming the U.S. presidency. He simply believed and repeated an old African proverb – "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”

And the point of this air rifle video is I'm sure lost on that U.S. community of progressive liberal whiners. That Lewis and Clark implemented TR’s philosophy of “Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick” a hundred years before by exhibiting power to potential adversaries through several air rifle demonstrations. My gosh, what a difference another hundred years makes–look what we now have in a lightweight & spineless POUS "Obie."

Open Letter to Nation Fooball League Commissioner Roger Goodell

2011-02-09T20:10:00.023-05:00

Dear Commissioner Roger Goodell:

Please take immediate and direct charge of the folks chosen to perform America's National Anthem during what is the single most important day in American sports. For goodness sake – many citizens of the world are watching this important American sports event. I won't honor or publicize the lady by looking up the spelling of her name... but the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl 45 was simply without merit, embarrassing and downright disgusting. Singing our National Anthem is NOT an audition opportunity for some want-to-be singer. Mr. Goodell, you simply must get involved in the selection process for this important opening ceremony experience. You obviously cannot and should not allow others to select future performers of our nation's precious National Anthem. Someone connected with the NFL understands how to properly initiate the Super Bowl with style and respect it so richly deserves… since it has been done before. Please review this instructive link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ETrr-XHBjE

If this performance doesn’t send chills up your spine -– rush to have someone check your pulse!

Respectfully, I strongly suggest you invite a vocalist – or even the entire choir – from one or more of the official United States Armed Service Choirs to deliver the National Anthem in the appropriate manner. You should direct and mandate such change so no future unpatriotic performance is ever delivered during Super Bowl Opening Ceremonies. This will assure that the National Anthem is performed as written and in the manner intended.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
DJ Paul

Old 34th New York Remembrance

2010-09-28T20:41:00.053-04:00

34th NY Infantry Regiment Monument at
Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Maryland

Spend some time this month in remembrance of those fallen boys from the “Herkimer Regiment”, those forty-three souls of the Old 34th Infantry Regiment of New York State Volunteers (NYSV) who were killed the morning of September 17, 1862 at the American Civil War Battle of Antietam. Three-Hundred & Eleven men of the 34th NYSV were engaged that day – men who hailed from upstate New York – and most of them Herkimer County residents. The Herkimer boys were engaged in a brutal fight -– perhaps better described as an ambush -- with well hidden Confederate forces for about one-half hour just after 9 o’clock that morning. The majority of these honored dead were fighting in the “West Woods” section of the Antietam Battlefield, slightly northwest of the now famous Dunker Church. An impressive monument was dedicated in 1902 to the valiant officers and men of the 34th New York Infantry Regiment, standing guard on the exact battlefield location where they struggled that truly longest day. This 34th NY Infantry tribute is displayed in the above photo.

I’ve been doing some research on the 34th NYSV for several months now – and can truthfully report that the real story remains unknown (maybe always will due to conflicting reports). But I strongly tend towards very bad leadership at all levels of federal command that day…of course starting right at the top of Union command with the cautious, ineffective, even incompetent leadership of commanding General George McClellan. The carnage inflicted this day by both Blue and Grey, the bloodiest single day battle of the rebellion and in American history, was nearly too awful for words. I’ll relate just one moving report quoted from the notes made during the Antietam Battlefield 34th monument dedication on September 17, 1902:

“The writer at the dedication related the following incident of the battle: Milford N. Bullock, of Company K, was found dead on the field after the battle. The position in which he was lying indicated the painful circumstances of his death. He was lying on his back, his rifle by his side. The ramrod of his gun was in his hand, the lower end against the trigger of the gun, and the muzzle of the gun at his head. It appeared at the time that the wound he had received had not been sufficient to cause instant death; but, being in mortal agony, he had contrived to end his sufferings by taking his own life. He had placed the gun by his side; the muzzle at his head, and by means of the ramrod had succeeded in discharging it. The circumstances were all so painful, that his comrades, at the suggestion of Captain Northup, agreed that they would not mention them in their letters home. But now, after forty years, there is no harm in referring to them. Young Bullock was from Stratford, Herkimer County, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. His courage, his fidelity to duty were always unquestioned. His grave is not at home among his kindred, but far away, like that of so many others. He sleeps among the many unknown dead, in the great National Cemetery at Antietam; but we have never walked down those beautiful shaded aisles without feeling that we were again very near to our beloved comrade of those far-off days.” --Lt. L. N. Chapin

But today let’s just remember those forty-three men of the gallant 34th Infantry Regiment NYSV who made the supreme sacrifice the morning of September 17, 1862. Twelve of these 34th NYSV soldiers are buried with fellow New Yorkers in marked graves at the Antietam National Cemetery, the grave number is indicated following the soldier's name. Several more unidentifiable 34th NYSV soldiers rest in unknown graves in this hollowed ground. Here are the names of those killed-in-action or mortally-wounded-in-action on this single mid-September day:

· Adle, John H. C. -- Grave #826
· Allen, William G. -- Grave #834
· Armour, David C.
· Ashley, Sergt. Jacob J. C.
· Bailey, Henry C. -- Grave #845
· Beardsley, John G. -- Grave #524
· Bramley, Henry D.
· Buck, Martin A.
· Bullock, Milford N. K.
· Carey, Corp. David A.
· Cool, Stephen B.
· Coon, James E.
· Coonan, Patrick D.
· Crouch, Corp. David F.
· Dickson, John F.
· Donohoe, James A. -- Grave #832
· Easterbrook, Albert G. G.
· Eldridge, William E. G.
· Gadban, Lewis D.
· Gillman, Henry A. -- Grave #831
· Greek, Ezra I.
· Hartley, Robert H. A.
· Hawley, George A. E.
· Hayes, Dennis D.
· Helmer, Sergt. Aaron G.
· Hill, Second Lieut. Clarence E. H.
· Hicks, Lawrence G.
· Hubbell, Henry D.
· Jolly, Peter D. -- Grave #593
· Lewis, William K. -- Grave #844
· Ladew, Warren C. B.
· Lyon, First Sergt. Henry C. I.
· Mead, Sergt. Garland W. G.
· Murphy, John A.
· Mycue, John D.
· Keef, Corp. Arthur B.
· Orcutt, Alvin E. -- Grave #825
· Rhodes, Color Sergt. Chester S. H. -- Grave #828
· Rubbins, William G. -- Grave # 829
· Salisbury, William A. C. -- Grave #827
· Sashagra, Anthony D.
· Walby, Ralph B.
· White, Daniel E.

Note: the letter following the named dead is the Company within the 34th New York Infantry Regiment to which the man was assigned during the Battle of Antietam.

Another seventy-four men of the 34th New York were wounded-in-action on the morning of September 17, 1862 in their bloody engagement during the Battle of Antietam. Nine troops remain missing-in-action (MIA). Many of the MIA are no doubt buried in unknown graves at Antietam.

Rant On Military Political Correctness

2010-08-07T06:31:00.048-04:00

I've got to stop reading that military.com stuff...since these articles are very bad for the blood pressure. Just deleted their latest email without reading and will soon unsubscribe. Fully expect to shortly see an announcement for a third-track U.S. Navy advancement system under a “Homosexual Awareness & Support Program.” Hell –– I say advance ‘em all on a promotional fast-track. You’ve got to get the homosexuals in khakis anyway, since its said they refuse wear white after Labor Day. Just read yesterday that the first contingent of female submariners has been selected, prospective boat supply officers in the first group I think. Probably safe –– can’t remember a single noteworthy event from any supply officer I ever sailed with –– except that patrol where we went to sea stocked with only steak in the meat locker (still don’t eat steak even to this day).

This female submarine sailor experiment, while so politically correct, is going to fun to watch. Green zone, yellow zone, red zone touching lectures will of course be held on a mandatory frequent basis. Standby for heavy rolls takes on a whole new defination. How do naval crews presently handle celebratory events where significant lines of latitude & longitude are crossed? I know the new-age CPO initiations have been cleaned-up to the point of being an essential non-event. These are, of course, trivial examples of the more evident issues relating to disciplined close-contact sailing. Ever wonder how truthful the Navy will be on disclosing personnel problems related to mixed-gender submariners –– you know –– sex, sexual harassment, pregnancy, boy-girl natural tensions, those predictable love-triangles, etc., and those POed spouses calling the XO or base chaplain when the very foreseeable boy-girl connections occur in isolated duty (can't even think about that boy-boy & girl-girl cluster thing). Been through this kind of thing in the late 70’s & early 80’s as a unit XO & CO -- and that's a hell-of-a-price for being stylish. Was the negative “Love Boat” press waffling from the USS Acadia (AD-42), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), et al –– just figments of the imagination? My gosh –– put relatively young men and women together in close quarters –– and in isolated duty on ships or stations –– and what should be obvious to naval leadership WILL happen. Sweep it under those green carpets –– don’t capture the data –– this morale damaging conduct shall be held secret –– military leadership can’t be held responsibe for an anomaly where they claim no statistical data is captured. Those three monkeys, hear no evil, see no evil & speak no evil come to mind. What can this present crop of politically correct U.S. Navy four-star admirals be thinking? Can they really think these “progressive changes” will make our American military more ready and more capable in a future fight? There has always been an honored place for Pride & Tradition in the U. S. Navy ... a point that today seems lost with current top naval leadership. Can that fourth star really be worth what you have predictably sired?

No question I’m a dinosaur submariner without new age gender-neutral social skills. And an unabashed advocate from the “Dirty Harry” school of hard knocks -- "If she wants to play lumberjack, she's gonna have to learn to handle her end of the log." But those 4-star Pentagon men might have unintentionally discovered the real truth for submarine manpower billeting. Perhaps there are too many men in those all male crews. Some serious number crunchers a whole lot smarter than our senior flag officers might better propose a reduced manpower plan aboard all our boats. Now such plans make better financial sense… and might actually increase skill, productivity, and safety coupled with reduced crew risk.

P.S. An old article worth re-reading:
Click here to view it.

P.P.S. Or the sadly humorous article & comments at:
click here for an informed smile.

“Killer Angels” and “Gettysburg”;Fiction and Myths

2010-07-06T11:22:00.077-04:00

Southern Ridge of Little Round Top
The novel “Killer Angels” and the related movie “Gettysburg” offer several heroic acts intended to demonstrate typical examples of warrior action during the Rebellion. These distinguished acts depict historical-fiction meant for application across the general Civil War combatant population. One significant combat event is selected to represent action on each of three days that encompass the Battle of Gettysburg:

· Day One, July 1st, 1863 - General John Buford’s courageous action to stand-and-fight a greatly superior Confederate Force with his dismounted cavalry,
· Day Two, July 2nd, 1863 - The Union defense of Little Round Top by the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment, and,
· Day Three, July 3rd, 1863 - General George Pickett’s Charge against the center of Union position on Cemetery Ridge.

One of the distressing late Twentieth Century revisions in American Civil War history is the extraordinary recognition now bestowed on Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain and the honorable 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment regarding the Union defense of Little Round Top. This recent revisionist history is in no small part rooted in Michael Shaara’s novel and in Ted Turner’s movie production, perhaps an unintended consequence of using singular exploits to represent typical action over the combatant general population. Some historians suggest that the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg might have been won by the Confederacy if the Rebels had taken Little Round Top in the late afternoon of July 2nd. Other historians have expressed a certain amount of skepticism concerning Colonel Chamberlain’s extraordinary contribution to the defense of Little Round Top – and to the larger question regarding far-reaching importance of Little Round Top to the outcome at Gettysburg and to the Civil War. This analysis is not intended to diminish the heroic action of the valiant 20th Maine or their fascinating commander Joshua L. Chamberlain. Rather, the goal here is to cite and exalt the efforts of other military officers and men who did not survive their struggle on that rocky hill.

Had Confederate troops of the gallant Texas 4th and Texas 5th Infantry Regiments (i.e., General John Hood’s famed Texas Brigade) broken-through to the summit of Little Round Top on the Union left – as they almost did in the afternoon of the second day – Little Round Top might have been captured by the Rebel troops.
It was West Point graduate Colonel Patrick Henry O'Rorke's 500 courageous Monroe County soldiers of the noble 140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment who joined to the right of the superb 16th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, filling weakened gaps in a near broken Union line and to eventually turn-back that bold assault on Little Round Top by the Texas Brigade. It is important to know that this later afternoon struggle between the Union 140thNY & 16thMI Regiments and the Texas Brigade took place some amount of time (perhaps more than a half hour) before General Hood’s 15th Alabama Regiment engaged Colonel Chamberlain’s 20th Maine Regiment. A successful Texas Brigade would have held the high ground atop Little Round Top and to the right of Harvard graduate Colonel Strong Vincent’s undermanned 3rd Brigade - the brigade that included the 20th Maine troops.Coupled with General Hood’s 15th Alabama uphill attack on the Union extreme left flank – the small Union 3rd Brigade, the 20th Maine and Colonel Chamberlain might have been crushed – sandwiched between Confederate Forces from both high right and low left by General Hood’s Rebels. No amount of 20th Maine heroics would make much difference had the gallant Texas Brigade secured the high ground summit of Little Round Top. This critical afternoon engagement, but a subset of July 2nd fighting, is not reported in the book “Killer Angels” or presented in the movie “Gettysburg.” Why do these works of historical-fiction overlook the heroism of these two young colonels? No doubt this is because Commander of 140th New York Colonel Patrick Henry O’Rorke was killed-in-action in the afternoon struggle against the Texas Brigade. And after issuing battle orders to Colonel Chamberlain, the Union 3rd Brigade Commander Colonel Strong Vincent was mortally-wounded-in-action just moments before Colonel O’Rorke’s combat death – Colonel Vincent then departing this life five days later. Both of these articulate Union officers were aged but 26-years when killed at Gettysburg. Whereas, Colonel Chamberlain survived for more than a half-century following the Battle of Gettysburg to write, speak, and promote his personal wartime endeavors – and those courageous acts of the 20th Maine Regiment. In fact, the many post-war writings of General Joshua L. Chamberlain and those of Confederate Corps Commander General James Longstreet significantly influenced Shaara’s book and Turner’s movie. Click here to review my July 2009 posting relating to the life and times of Patrick Henry O’Rorke.

Furthermore, if the Confederates had captured Little Round Top, they would likely have had a clear shot to Union supply lines and to the rear of many Union forces – together with a more direct road to Washington. At a minimum, Confederate Forces would have been better positioned on July 3rd to assist with General George Pickett’s Charge and with General J.E.B. Stewart’s unsuccessful cavalry attack on the Union rear and to those important Union supplies. Many significant historians speculate that another Union defeat at Gettysburg might have won the Rebellion for the Confederacy. This logic follows that a Union loss on Little Round Top would directly lead to a Union loss at the Battle of Gettysburg – and the Union defeat at Gettysburg would lead to Federal capitulation in the American Civil War and victory for the Confederate States. For me it seems there are too many "ifs" presented by this argument – but plausibly – it just might have happened. I'm not at all sure that a victorious Confederacy in the War of the Rebellion would have been all that bad for the Greater North American population, particularly in view of direction the Americas presently tend. Many northern-region residents of North America might perhaps find life more fit for human habitation somewhere in the Confederate States Of America - bathing in less federalism.

A closing thought: CSA Commanding General Robert E. Lee in no way accepted the premise that the Confederate Rebellion was lost following those three days in early July 1863 at Gettysburg. More Civil War causalities occurred following the Battle of Gettysburg than were suffered before the Gettysburg battle. General Lee does not appear to be a broken man as he writes this August 1863 letter from Richmond to his second-in-command & right-hand man Lieutenant-General James Longstreet:

GENERAL, I have wished for several days past to return to the army, but have been detained by the President. He will not listen to my proposition to leave to-morrow. I hope you will use every exertion to prepare the army for offensive operations, and improve the condition of our men and animals. I can see nothing better to be done than to endeavor to bring General Meade out and use our efforts to crush his army while in its present condition.

Very respectfully and truly yours,

R. E. LEE
General.

References cited:

Michael Shaara, “The Killer Angels” , Random House Inc., New York. 1975.

Ronald F. Maxwell, screenwriter & director of movie “Gettysburg” , Turner Pitchers Inc., Atlanta. 1993. Included on this DVD are valuable comments by the noted Civil War historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author James M. McPherson and beneficial comments by professor emeritus at the U.S. Naval Academy and noted military historian Craig L. Symonds.

Selected examples of numerous web site references:

http://www.gdg.org/Research/Authored%20items/beau.html

http://www.vincent.goellnitz.org/about.html

http://www.brotherswar.com/Gettysburg-2t.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg

Open Communication To News Media

2010-06-05T13:23:00.030-04:00

Arlington National Cemetery

The below email was sent because FOX News, and indeed most other broadcast media, seem to think that Memorial Day somehow honors living military personnel. Evidence is simple to see in the tone and content of their reporting on Memorial Day. Furthermore, Memorial Day also does NOT honor the service of Firemen, Policeman, and other such public protectors. Those public protectors who have died on-the-job should be certainly honored by a thankful public, but not by ceremony on Memorial Day. Political, fraternal and veteran jurisdictions should pick some other day to honor fallen public guardians who are not military war veterans. Memorial Day honors deceased military War Veterans... period!

-----Original Message -----
From: DJ
To: Friends@foxnews.com
Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 8:19 AM
Subject: Misguided...

The purpose of Memorial Day is to honor those Killed-In-Action, wounded and later died from those wounds, those who died in undeclared wars, and generally all deceased war veterans. Formerly known as "Decoration Day", the stated objective is to honor all deceased war veterans. Many people seem to be confusing Memorial Day with Armed Forces Day and Veteran's Day. Memorial Day does not honor living former or current military personnel... it is they who should be joining with all Americans in those many ceremonies and parades to express public honor for their brethren war-veteran dead. Please Click HERE for more information.

A Followup Letter to Congressman Arcuri

2010-03-31T08:33:00.008-04:00

Dear Representative Mike Arcuri:

Just a quick note to say thanks.
Your honorable commitment to vote NO on the US Senate bill on health-care was a bold act in the face of what appears to have been very strong pressure from your political party leadership. I must admit to being pleasantly surprised by your action, and I now hold a new view of Mike Arcuri… a man of his word. You publicly stated your intention to vote against the U.S. Senate “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (PPACA) more than two weeks before the actual vote, citing various problems in that legislation. Your solid position regarding a more incremental approach to national health-care reform is a far more sound approach to health care.

I've read most of the "Utica Observer-Dispatch letters-to-the-editor" regarding your vote on health-care -- some being very negative. And what I read is little more than the typical "progressive" whining by a vocal minority. But as a Libertarian (and registered Republican), I'll be giving Mike Arcuri a second look in November. Thank you again for your statement on the direction of national heath-care reform, and for that great "profile-in-courage" example.

Sincerely,

DJ Paul
Mohawk, NY

Holes Amid Green Fields

2010-03-10T16:39:00.023-05:00

What beckons to us regarding that game?
Those nests set out on green fields to be tamed.
Dimpled spheres found we so tricky to tuck,
small sums we do chase that do not awful suck.

Delicious gold suds and great play for keen boys,
exercise, fellowship, or to flaunt your new toys.
What drives we old duffers? High tallies humiliate!
On those frequent dark journeys to self-flagellate.

by DJ Paul
Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Open Letter To Congressman Mike Arcuri

2010-03-05T10:03:00.033-05:00

Click post title to see one view comparing various heath care bills

Friday, March 05, 2010

Dear Congressman Mike Arcuri:

Yes, the health care bill has been read. I strongly urge your no vote on current attempts by House leadership to rubber stamp the U.S. Senate version of the health care bill (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – aka PPACA). I’ll cite just a few serious issues with the senate bill:

1. The bill’s $871 billion cost is false and grossly understated for many reasons. The necessary quarter trillion dollar Medicare “doctor fix” – clearly part of any health care reform – was striped from the related bills very early in the legislative process. Those quarter trillion dollars will be simply added to the deficit under present direction. This is an obvious under handed legislative maneuver to bring health care proposals under a phony one trillion dollar target. Further, the proposed half trillion-dollar cut to Medicare is allegedly arrived at mainly through waste, fraud & abuse detection and enforcement. This is a dream that simply does not work in large state & federal programs. Simply look at the USPS, the Social Security System, and large regulatory agencies (e.g., HEW, EPA, etc.). I challenge you to cite one federal program where “savings” of that magnitude are realized via waste, fraud and abuse action.

2. The kickbacks afforded to senators from Louisiana and Nebraska – to plainly buy their health care yes votes – coupled with the obvious White House back room political dealing is unconscionable. Ask yourself, what is it in PPACA that made necessary those special deals for Louisiana and Nebraska? According to Mayor Bloomberg and the Governor, New York State taxpayers will be negatively impacted annually by billions of dollars in lost federal Medicaid support without similar PPACA provisions for New York State. Please focus on paragraphs 3 - 6 of this link ( click here ) citing the problems PPACA hoists on New York State.

3. Please refer to PPACA pages 2069 – 2078. Obviously, the language relating to provisions for federal support of “reproductive services” includes federal subsidies for abortion. How does a practicing Roman Catholic Christian vote for this bill? Please refer to the official policy statements of the Church from the Pope and the legitimate Catholic clergy for guidance.

4. The entire health care debate over this past year has been strongly unseemly. What is it that Democrat politicians find objectionable with federal legalization of authority to purchase private health care insurance across state lines? More health care insurance choices will naturally drive down private insurance costs through free enterprise competition. And what is it the congress finds objectionable with meaningful -- non-pilot -- health care tort reform? Skyrocketing malpractice insurance expense and preposterous court judgments that cost good medical professionals (and their malpractice insurers) too much are a real and present problem. As a simple self defense mechanism, rational hospital administrators and doctors are logically required to order patient medical tests far beyond those required. Last year Bassett Hospital Healthcare billed lab tests to Medicare totaling about $700.00 following my annual physical. My Primary Care Provider ordered these tests as part of a physical, my first annual physical under Medicare. I was not aware that these self-defense tests were conducted until the after the bill was received. Thank God, I’m a healthy man. What is Medicare billed for similar self defense tests conducted during an unhealthy person’s Medicare-backed annual physical? Any true health care reform must include tort reform provisions to better control unnecessary self-defense laboratory testing by medical professionals.

Thanks for your attention.

Sincerely,

David J Paul

Footnote: For source click here

Congressman Arcuri's votes with both Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and with the admonished and allegedly corrupt Congressman Charles Rangle 95% of the time.

NY-24 voters should be concerned that Mr. Arcuri’s heath care vote will be in lock step with his Democrat leadership. Please communicate with Mr. Arcuri to encourage his independence.

Three Great American Crows

2010-01-26T15:29:00.077-05:00

There was some fairly unusual weather here yesterday in Upstate New York. Temperatures rose to fifty-degrees Fahrenheit. It rained heavily at times throughout most of the morning, and then well into the afternoon. Some large and fairly deep puddles appeared along the edge of our driveway. I just happened to be looking outside in late morning when our three American Crows were observed flying in near the front driveway area. It almost seemed as though they waited to make sure I was watching.

The crows each took their turn enjoying rather long -- five minutes baths. Ice water didn’t seem to bother those crows. They waded into the large deep puddles, flapping their wings and shaking their bodies. At times they would dunk their heads into the ice water for a few seconds... then pull their head out of the water to shake off. Their behavior was kind of amazing. Just one crow would bathe while the other two looked on, as if the two non-bathers were standing guard. Said it before and I’ll say it again, there is some real intelligence in our old American Crows. One crow even returned to enjoy a second bath.

I’ve written about our three American Crows before. We’ve named these black-beauties Moe, Molly and Curly. Outside observers might say... they can’t be the same birds you noticed over the past five years. But I’m here to verify they are the same birds. Our property is their property, and they seem to know this. In winter, our birds are fed each morning within an hour or so of sunrise. We expect to use between 300-to-400 pounds of various wild birdseed and perhaps thirty-pounds of suet this winter. Common visitors in January 2010 include:

· Three-dozen Mourning Doves,
· Twenty-Five Blue Jays,
· Many Sparrows (several species),
· Many Black-Capped Chickadees
· Several Tufted Titmice,
· Many Finches,
· Several Dark-Eyed Juncos,
· One or two pairs of Northern Cardinals,
· A few Downy Woodpeckers,
· A couple of White-Breasted Nuthatch,
· Two or three Cooper’s Hawks.

The Cooper’s Hawks are typically seen perched in trees around the general population feeding area -- not everyday -- more like a couple of times a week. The hawks are fun to view in flight. But hawks are unwelcome visitors when perched in trees surrounding our feeding area. This is their way of stealth hunting -- waiting -- perhaps for one of the lesser intelligent Mourning Doves to slip-up and become the predator’s next meal. Bird kills only happened a couple of times this season. It is not our intention to provide backyard smorgasbords for hungry hawks. We understand too that hawks must eat to survive. However, all non-violent efforts are made here to see that they fly off somewhere else to find that next feathered meal. Thankfully, it seems our American Crows will not tolerate these hawk visits to their property. Crows seem to hold a deep hatred for hawks -- even to the point where they stop feeding for awhile -- taking time to drive hawks from their territory. Kind of amazing to see our hungry crows forgo food, choosing rather to drive those predators away from their lands. And while our American Crows perform this "mobbing" service to the greater ornithology community, the smaller birds continue to feed on the recent seed offerings. Moe, Molly and Curly are actually unknown friends of the smaller bird population -- jet black protectors of their property -- and to the smaller bird community who reside here in an uneasy coexistence.

Updated For 2011...Just Thinking

2009-12-22T08:05:00.012-05:00

Saved 30 bucks on postage and 50 bucks on cards over three years... made the attached GREETING for less than a 5'er.

Have A Very Merry Christmas!

~~~ And ~~~

A HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR IN 2012!

Reality Of Health Care Legislation-H.R. 3200

2009-08-12T10:58:00.023-04:00

(Click here to view Adobe PDF document House Health Care Bill-H.R.3200)

Yesterday, President Obama stated in a New Hampshire town meeting that he does not support a “single-pay” government controlled health care system. "Single-pay" is a health care system similar to the present British and Canadian health program. And the very necessary follow-up question was missing-in-action. Mr. President, does that mean that you would veto a congressional bill that establishes the framework for a “single-pay” healthcare system? Obama is not currently the most important person framing heath care legislation and the resulting debate. Rather, the Democrat-controlled committee staffers and the Congressional committee system membership authored this bill. Specifically, Members of Congress Mr. Dingell, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallome, and Mr. Andrews are the current sponsors and Ms. Pelosi is in the cat-bird seat regarding H.R. 3200––e.g., “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009”. The text of this bill can certainly provide citizen readers with the message of what congress is trying to do; and whither they tend. And many alarm bells are loudly ringing.

Liberal critics of those citizens presently asking tough questions about Congressional activities on health care propose that we may not know what we are talking about. They suggest that there are several House bills pending in various development stages and that none of these have been brought before the full House for approval. Also noted is the fact that the Senate has not yet acted on health care legislation. This is all true. For goodness sake it is elementary––and it is in the U.S. Constitution––all revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives. The House typically and significantly amends important legislative bills before the Senate acts on them. And the Senate will certainly approve a different set of amendments. Then a conference committee of Senators and Representatives will form and meet to iron out and resolve the legislative differences between the House and Senate versions. But a person of average intelligence can take a bill, read it, and determine the sense of Congress--and conclude if something fishy is underway. Indeed––this is what many middle-American citizens are now doing countywide––many are asking deep, considered, and legitimate questions about the general congressional plan on health care. Organized rebellion is the surest way to inform and communicate to federal officeholders who––after all––were elected to represent us in this republic. By the time a health care bill reaches the certain legislative conference committee, it may be too late for public input.

Be advised that I believe the whole truth is not presently being pitched by the federal administration or by the opposition "that great right wing" (Rush, Hannity, et.al.). Unlike many congressmen, I have attempted to read the proposed health-care act…and I’ve concluded that honest attempts by citizens to read the 1017-page bill will not in itself provide necessary comprehension to understand the proposal’s full impact––much less to vote on it. It is a cheap shot by some to say to members of congress..."you have not even read the bill"...and a cheap shot even if true. I submit that H.R. 3200 cannot be read and understood as a standalone document, since nearly every page in every section references some other prior act of congress, existing law, procedure, ruling, practice, or section governing conduct of various federal agencies, or the greater health-care administrative bureaucracy––including, but not limited to, the Internal Revenue Code. Citizens need to be well informed in the majority of existing federal health-care law, agency policy and procedures to accurately gage the bill’s real impact. This proposal appears to be a massive and shameful legislative collage of techno-speak... there is no way our elected representatives can grasp the full impact without a lengthy brief––or some other kind of detailed primer. The present congress is really scaring me––due mainly to what many reputable economists view as the unknowable financial macro-economy burden of the proposed health-care bill H.R. 32oo––a.k.a., “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.” Here is but one glaring example of the nonsense buried in this bill––please refer to page 203, line 13-18, where it is written:
“4) NOT TREATED AS TAX IMPOSED BY THIS CHAPTER FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES. —The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter or for purposes of section 55.”
Please tell me with a straight face that this paragraph is both logical and honest. Members of Congress need to act either individually or in some coalition of members to rewrite the proposed bill…and remove it from the present inept committee system responsible for a hideous and apparent anti-capitalist creation.

Many concerned Americans would strongly appreciate the appointment of a truly independent "blue ribbon" commission comprised of respected non-politician medical experts, health insurance experts, and economic experts to meet, analyze, and comment on the validity of congressional bills like H.R. 3200-"America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009"––and on President Obama's overall health care initiative. Their written product should be about 25-pages in length, written in plain language, such that the panel’s opinion can be read and understood by average Americans within a couple of days. I call on the administration to stop the jive and authorize production of such a “white paper” for better understanding and citizen benefit.

Don't what to tick off Liberals, sooooooooooo.... For moderate Republican, Democrat and Independent Citizens Only Click HERE to view an "Analysis of the July 15 draft of The American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" by the Levin Group (Adobe pdf).

A Few Days Following Independence Day...

2009-07-10T07:00:00.021-04:00

Following the Constitutional Convention of 1787, a lady bystander asked Doctor Benjamin Franklin what form of government we have. Doctor Franklin replied “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.” And the question today… Just how many contemporary U.S. Citizens are concerned about the present state of our republic?

It is indisputable that many U.S. Citizens and current U.S. legal voters do not comprehend the fundamental fact that our federal government is not a democracy. Our United States federal government is a republic––and it always has been. The Founding Father’s republic has evolved into an “unequal representative democracy”––a liberal-republic that presents citizens with many stunning examples of a strongly skewed representative-democracy. Voter fraud in American elections has certainly always existed at some level. But a real problem exists when federal-government-funded fraud by such left-of-center “community action groups” like ACORN generally support only Democrat candidates and actively backed the Obama presidential candidacy last year using federal tax dollars. Name one Republican elected official that the “non-political” ACORN supported. ACORN’s action is clearly government-funded cheating masquerading as simple community outreach. A few corrupt votes can tilt an election…and the entire direction of our county. Look no further than the last Minnesota U.S. Senate race for confirmation. The state of this new republic, without substantive checks-and-balances, is precisely what Dr. Franklin and his Constitutional Convention contemporaries feared most about the equality in representative-democracy. Too much power––almost dictatorial in KINGLY nature––centralized in federal government. The influence held by a single vote varies significantly and unequally across America by geographic location. Progressive politicians and political scientist may argue the semantics of statements written here. By carefully parsing public comment with half-truth, these liberal-progressives confound and blur federal government activity using misleading jargon and fancy political techno-speak. Clearly, their purpose will overwhelm common citizens––Middle Americans––and cause many concerned loyal citizens to simply tune-out. This has happened in many Middle American homes.

Fair-minded liberal Democrats must surely acknowledge that the Chicago Political Machine is both ethically challenged and flatly corrupt in many cases. And the current president is a product of this Chicago Political Machine, a man who “earned his stripes” in the trenches of a Chicago political quagmire. Yet somehow the stench of Chicago politics has not followed the new president to the White House. The new vice president earned his bones in the U.S. Senate, representing the small population of Delaware (45th of 50 in population). Few could rationally argue that Mr. Biden would be Vice President without the prior support of a plurality of Delaware’s relatively tiny population. Mr. Biden’s documented ethical indiscretions were first discovered in the 1960’s, during his first year at Syracuse Law School. There he was cited for plagiarism, summarily flunked-out of a required law school course, and subjected to a dismissal review by Syracuse faculty. As U.S. Senator, Mr. Biden has also been cited in several instances for using materials from other’s speeches without attribution––both acts of technical plagiarism and blatant dishonesty. Liberal Biden defenders––please tell us with a straight face––that our current VP has no trouble with honesty and truth. The present Speaker-of-the-House of Representatives is in reality only one of 435 elected US Representatives, sent to Washington by the people of San Francisco, California’s 8th Congressional District. It can be rationally argued that San Francisco’s congressional district is likely the single most left-wing-liberal congressional seat in the United States. It can’t be creditably stated that the current Speaker’s aggregate political stance in any way represents Middle American political thought. Further, the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate hails from the lightly populated state of Nevada, a state with considerably less than one percent of total U.S. Population. Senators are supposed to represent their state, and in this Senator Reid may do an adequate job. But Senator Reid too––with his frequent leftist flip-flops and public political gaffs (like his inept April 2007 "This war is lost." comment) ––in very few ways represent current Middle American political opinion.

For goodness sake, take some time and read or re-read America's founding documents--The United States Declaration Of Independence and The United States Constitution. A clear and present leadership crisis exists in contemporary American federal government, a dangerous collage of non-representative liberal-leftist-activist. While Benjamin Franklin and his colleagues left unwritten a constitutionally mandated one-man-one-vote equality concept, their exquisite production does specify explicit constitutional principles embodied by a truly representative republican form of government. The Framers collective objective was that equal representation is both vital and necessary in a successful republic. Federal liberal activism has slowly and steadily become the Washington norm…and our current crop of federal politicians are surely poised and ready to consume the principles of Dr. Franklin’s republic.

The Knight In Shining Armorat Little Round Top

2009-06-17T09:22:00.026-04:00

The O’Rorke family immigrated to the United States from County Cavan, Ireland when Patrick Henry “Paddy” O’Rorke was still an infant. Settling in Upstate New York, the community of Rochester became Paddy O’Rorke’s hometown throughout his formative youth. His scholarly prowess was legendary and is still recalled with fond affection by Rochester-area educators. Paddy O’Rorke left Rochester in 1857 to accept a cadetship appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated West Point in June 1861—at the top of his class. First assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers, Second Lieutenant O’Rorke showed rare skill and brilliant talent as an Army engineering officer. Paddy O”Rorke saw considerable Civil War combat during the summer of 1861 and into 1862. Serving with General McDowell’s Army, his first combat occurred during the Manassas Campaign at the Battle of Blackburn’s Ford and the First Battle of Bull Run. Confederate fire killed his horse under him while riding into battle at Bull Run. Leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, Paddy O’Rorke was additionally recognized for gallant and meritorious service during the significant Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

Colonel Patrick Henry O'Rorke was Commanding Officer of the noble 140th Infantry Regiment New York State Volunteers throughout the first half of 1863. The 140th New York became one of the best regiments in the Army of the Potomac––due largely to Colonel O’Rorke’s good discipline and training methods––military traits instilled and reinforced in the manly and good character of his Upstate New York Volunteers. In early afternoon of July 2, 1863, Colonel O’Rorke was leading the 140th New York to support heavy Gettysburg fighting near the Wheatfield––when he was spotted by General G. K. Warren--who urgently rode to his dear friend Paddy, requesting he instruct the 140th New York to turn-aside and defend Little Round Top. Colonel O’Rorke promptly understood the critical nature of General Warren’s pleading and ordered the 140th New York to the summit of lightly protected Little Round Top “on-the-double-quick”. This intelligent, articulate and promising twenty-six-year-old colonel was Killed-In-Action later in the afternoon of July 2, 1863, instantly slain by a Confederate sharpshooter with a shot through the neck. He had coolly jumped-up on a rock and shouted his last order…“Down this way, boys!” Colonel O’Rorke was at the front of his 140th New York Regiment, rushing downhill off Little Round Top summit in what some have called a charge. This critical 140th New York movement backed the heavily engaged and nearly overrun Union forces of the brave 16th Michigan Infantry Regiment––and ultimately reversed a nearly successful right flank break-through by the bold Texas 4th and 5th Regiments. A monument to Colonel O’Rorke is placed on the summit of Little Round Top where colonel fell. Some years later, members of the 140th Regiment of New York State Volunteers dedicated this monument in ceremonies to the memory of their beloved colonel.

Several written historical judgments state that Colonel Patrick Henry O’Rorke, among other leaders, were as vital to the successful Union Army defense of Gettysburg’s Little Round Top as was the notable Colonel Joshua Chamberlain. This statement is not in any way intended to diminish the very significant contribution of Colonel Chamberlain’s 20th Maine to the Union defense of Little Round Top. But Colonel O’Rorke died from wounds suffered in combat July 2, 1863 on Little Round Top. Obviously, Colonel O’Rorke did not have Colonel Chamberlain’s near 50-years post Gettysburg longevity to frequently write, speak, and even promote the courageous exploits of his regiment. Fighting men of the 20th Maine would have almost certainly been overrun by the tenacity and superior force of Texas 4th and 5th troops––from the high ground right flank on Little Round Top––had it not been for Colonel O’Rorke and his 140th New York’s quick and direct action to fight-back and repulse the Confederate advance on northwest incline of that rocky hill. Some observers––including General Ellis Spear––then second-in-command of the 20th Maine on Little Round Top, accused Chamberlain of “historical dishonesty” in some of his early 20th century writings. There can be no doubt that Colonel Patrick Henry O’Rorke and Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain––among many other leaders––were each important liberators of Little Round Top. Brian A. Bennett concludes in his book The Beau Ideal of A Soldier and a Gentleman: The Life of Col. Patrick Henry O'Rorke from Ireland to Gettysburg “…the exploits of Patrick Henry O'Rorke have been overshadowed on the pages of history by the actions of others on that rocky slope.”

As the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg approaches, please remember that righteous and honorable Civil War hero Patrick Henry O’Rorke, Colonel of the courageous troops of the 140th Infantry Regiment, New York State Volunteers--men who each hailed from Rochester and Greater Monroe County of the State of New York.

Approches to Little Round Top, 1863

Other references:
Brian A. Bennett, "Sons of Old Monroe: A Regimental History of Patrick O'Rorke's 140th New York Volunteer Infantry"

Jeremiah E. Goulka, "The Grand Old Man of Maine––Selected Letters of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain"

Garry E. Adelman, "The Myth of Little Round Top–Gettysburg, PA"

Ellis Spear, "The Civil War Recollections of General Ellis Spear"

Memorial Day Remembrances atFort Rosecrans National Cemetery

2009-05-23T09:26:00.018-04:00

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery

A highlight of my mid-April visit to San Diego was those reverent hours spent at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. What a magnificent and respectful place indeed. It seems appropriate to share a few photos taken during time on that hallowed ground. My words are insufficient to pay Memorial Day appreciation to these solemn memorial lands. But Rita C’s written words as captured here from her pen—better express those feelings experienced regarding a visit to this sacred place…

“The Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery has a beauty and tranquility that leaves peaceful hopefulness in the hearts and minds of visitors. Situated on the Point Loma Peninsula—just a few miles from Downtown San Diego, the national cemetery has breathtaking views of the bay and ocean on both sides. Walking the grounds creates a feeling that time has stopped, the cool green of the lawn and trees, the clear blue of the skies and ocean, and the purity of the white headstones lining and defining the landscape. Here veterans slumber in hallowed ground, reminding us that we all share a common destiny.”

As I walked among the thousands of white gravestones, my eyes caught a striking and unforgettable sight. There in a central location—side by side—lay a US Army 3-Star General and a US Army Private. Veterans are certain to know that few people can rationally argue that these two honorable men did not frequent the same social circles during their short time on earth. But they now share essentially the same ground forever...into whatever comes to them in the unknown here after. This observation and these thoughts presented me with a very peaceful and strongly balanced reality experience.

Note: Click article title for redirect to the official government Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Web Site.

Support Governor Paterson's Job Cuts

2009-04-13T08:15:00.005-04:00

My fifty years experience in both public and private employment has convinced me that nearly any company, firm, or agency can reduce their workforce by at least ten percent without significantly impacting productivity or services. Force reduction by targeted layoffs of unproductive workers or unnecessary programs can actually increase the aggregate organizational productivity. I refer to programs where the original mandate is essentially met, or cases where programs have no "sunset" stipulation. Programs without sunset will typically seek survival by finding an expanded purpose...a mode that fosters classic government waste. Closing certain correctional facilities housing non-violent "offenders" is just one example of a logical place to cut programs. I support Governor Paterson’s plan to cut state jobs by 9,000––and indeed would even encourage a deeper reduction.

Note that I’m retired from both private and public employment…and a current member of New York State PEF Retiree organization. I DO NOT support public union activity to retain unnecessary employees or unnecessary programs.

Preservation of The Wilderness Battlefield

2009-02-26T13:52:00.029-05:00

Today I’ve joined with the non-profit Civil War Preservation Trust to help save one of America’s most important Civil War battlefields. The Virginia lands where the Battle of The Wilderness was fought--May 5 and 6, 1864--are currently under a commercial development attack. The mega-retailer Walmart has launched a plan to build another 141,000-square-foot SuperCenter on a large plot of land located less than 2500 feet from the historic The Wilderness Battlefield. This when there are presently four existing Walmart stores all within twenty miles and an easy commute of The Wilderness Battlefield. Great success of Walmart SuperCenters in any location is a matter of record and fact. And the presence of this business historically generates additional business that feeds off the shopping appeal of Walmart. The Herkimer, New York Walmart SuperCenter was constructed on an abandoned factory site, and Walmart’s business operations have yielded additional business activity that currently surround Walmart including such stores as Agway, The Dollar Store, Taco Bell-KFC, Applebee's, Rite-Aid, McDonald’s, et al. Indeed, all of this new business activity is good for Herkimer County. But business activity that a new Walmart generates is unwelcome and will potentially destroy the rural beauty of the historic The Wilderness Battlefield.

The Battle of The Wilderness was the first time General Grant faced General Lee as opposing commanding Generals-of-the-Army. This battle was a horribly blind and vicious fight where the surrounding heavy woodlands blazed with many fires ignited by the explosive discharge of weaponry from opposing forces. Many of the wounded soldiers were burned alive where they lay by the wildfires. Battle causalities totaling 29,000 men killed, wounded, or missing-in-action resulted from the ensuing forty-eight hours of fierce and brutal combat. Those incredible 1861-1865 military services and sacrifices offered by the War of the Rebellion combatants must be forever respected and fittingly honored.

My reading on the activities of several regiments of New York State Volunteers (NYSV) during the “War Of The Rebellion” has recently focused on the gallant 121st Infantry Regiment of NYSV. The 121st NY was formed in July 1862 by orders from New York Governor Morgan to a committee representing New York State's Twentieth Senatorial District. The Honorable Richard Franchot, U.S. Congressman from Otsego County, chaired this State Committee of local activist from district townships. Committee members were empowered to immediately provision and form the new regiment. Regimental enlisted volunteers were residents mainly from the various townships of Herkimer and Otsego Counties. Representative Franchot was named colonel of the new regiment, and resigned and honorable discharged in late September 1862 to resume his congressional duties.

During the Battle Of The Wilderness, with Lieutenant Colonel Olcott commanding, the ten combat-hardened companies of the 121st NY Infantry fought this confusing and disorganized battle in a heavily wooded setting. The two-day battle found the regiment in frequent close contact and often hand-to-hand-combat with those "Johnnie-Rebs". Action was capably described by fellow Second Brigade soldier Isaac O. Best in his written account, “History of the 121st New York State Infantry.” It is not my purpose here to disclose the many heroic exploits of the 121st NY Regiment, except to report that commanding Colonel Olcott was shot in the head and taken prisoner by Rebels, the captains of both Company A and C were captured and taken prisoner, that following the battle about 100 men from the 121st NY were missing-in-action (some perhaps later found as burned corpses), and that about half of the regiment was either killed, wounded, or missing during the fog of combat. Several soldiers of the 121st NY were captured sent to the southern hell-hole Andersonville. So the lands surrounding this sacred The Wilderness Battlefield is soaked with the blood of many Herkimer and Otsego County residents who answered President Lincoln’s call to defend the Union. These brave and principled men voluntarily enlisted with the noble 121st Infantry Regiment of New York State Volunteers. This is why the lands around The Wilderness Battlefield must be preserved and forever honored as hallowed ground.

How to Simulate Submarine LifeIn The Privacy Of Your Home

2009-02-22T12:23:00.016-05:00

1. Obtain a large dumpster. Paint exterrior charcoal-black, weld all the covers shut except one which can be bolted closed from the inside. Coat the interior with one-gallon diesel fuel. Hitch it to the back of your ol’ lady's mini van. Gather twelve friends and bolt yourselves inside and let your ol’ lady pull it around for several weeks while she does the errands.
2. Sleep on the shelf in your closet. Replace the closet door with a curtain. Three hours after you go to sleep, have your ol’ lady whip open the curtain. Shine a flashlight in your eyes, and mumble, "You got the next watch, oops, sorry…wrong rack".
3. Don't eat any food that you don't get out of a can, a box, or have to add water.
4. Paint all the windows on your car black. Drive around town at high speeds with your ol’ lady standing up in the sunroof shouting course and speed directions to you.
5. Renovate your bathroom. Build a wall across the middle of your bathtub and move the showerhead down to chest level. When you take showers, make sure you shut off the water while soaping.
6. Repeat back everything anyone says to you.
7. Sit in your car for six hours a day with your hands on the wheel and the motor running, but don't go anywhere.
8. For proper air quality put lube oil in your humidifier instead of water and set it to "High".
9. Don't watch T.V. except movies in the middle of the night. Also, have your family vote on which movie to watch, and then show a different one. Get six copies of The Sound of Music and show it at least every other night.
10. Don't do your wash at home. Gather your neighbor’s clothes along with yours, pick the most crowded Laundromat you can find, and do the neighborhood laundry in a single washer and dryer. Make sure that 12% of the laundry is lost and 20% of the finished laundry is incorrectly distributed to the wrong neighbor.
11. Leave lawnmower running in your living room six hours a day for proper noise level. (For Engineering Divisions)
12. Have the paperboy give you a haircut.
13. Take hourly readings on your electric and water meters.
14. Sleep with your dirty laundry.
15. Bug juice becomes your favorite after work refreshment. Goes much better with a shot of torpedo gilly.
16. Invite at least 85 guests to a party, but don't have enough space, chairs, or food for them…and have no beer available within 500 miles.
17. Buy a trash compactor and use it once a week. Store up garbage in the other side of your bathtub.
18. Wake up every night at midnight and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on stale bread, if anything. (Optional--canned ravioli, cold soup, or cherry peppers)
19. Make up your family menu a week ahead of time without looking in your food cabinets or refrigerator.
20. Set your alarm clock to go off at random times during the night. When it goes off, jump out of bed and get dressed as fast as you can, then run out into your yard and break out the garden hose. Have the ol’ lady yell, “this is a test” after about ten minutes.
21. Once a month take every major appliance completely apart, scrape off any gunk, and then put them back together.
22. Use 18 scoops of coffee per pot and allow it to sit for 5 or 6 hours before drinking.
23. Invite at least 85 people you don't really like to come and visit for two or three months.
24. Store your eggs in your garage for two months and then cook a dozen each morning. Toss out the sulfur-smelling, dark green eggs only.
25. Have a fluorescent lamp installed on the bottom of your coffee table and lie under it to read books.
26. Periodically check your refrigerator compressor for "sound shorts".
27. Put a complicated lock on your basement door and wear the key on a lanyard around your neck.
28. Lock-wire the lug nuts on your car.
29. When making cakes, prop up one side of the pan while it is baking. Then spread icing really thick on one side to level off the top.
30. Every so often, yell "Emergency Surface", run into the kitchen, and sweep all pots/pans/dishes off of the counter onto the floor. Then, yell at your ol’ lady for not having the place "stowed for sea".
31. Put on the headphones from your stereo (don't plug them in). Go and stand in front of your stove. Say (to nobody in particular) "Stove manned and ready". Stand there for 3 or 4 hours. Say (once again to nobody in particular) "Stove secured". Roll up the headphone cord and put them away.
32. Write a controlled work package to change the oil on your car. Setup a card system of weekly tasks so you don't forget to change your oil or fill up the gas tank. Make sure you make a lengthy record of your car upkeep and get your ol' lady to sign-off your worksheet.
33. Periodically sleep on the kid’s teeter-totter; then give twenty bucks to a homeless person to put the board in motion every half hour while yelling “standby for angles and dangles” into an empty number ten tin can.

Great link: http://www.queenfish.org/noframes/acronym.html

My ride on USCGC Sapelo (WPB 1314)

2009-02-12T19:03:00.023-05:00

In September/November 1989, I was orderd to Adak, AI, Alaska to participate in a large multi-service military exercise (PACEX-89). A couple of US Coast Guard 110-foot Island-Class Patrol Boat Cutters had sailed to Adak to participate in this exercise as Coast Guard representatives. Coast Guard crews affectionately call this class of cutter the “110ers”. One night after dinner at Naval Air Station Adak O’Club, I was introduced to Commanding Officer USCGC Sapelo (WPB 1314). A conversation ensued, and I was eventually invited to join him the following day and go to sea aboard the 110-foot Cutter Sapelo. Twenty years later I've got to tell you...the regular Coast Guard 110er crews...that the windy Bering Sea north of Adak's Finger Cove Piers was very rough that late October day. Most of the US Navy ships remained at anchor or tied up to the pier that stormy day. But Cutter Sapelo departed Finger Cove and went to sea. What a ride it was indeed. Been to sea on most things that float from aircraft carriers on down to YTB tugs boats, albeit mostly under the sea on submarines. But when her crew navigated Cutter Sapelo back to the safety of Finger Cove piers that evening, I not ashamed to report being a bit "green-about-the-gills”. That the firm footing presented by those Adak piers were a welcome sight is a gross understatement. Departing Alaska following the exercise found me with a great deal of added respect for the men and women of the US Coast Guard, especially those who crew those little 110-foot cutters. I’ll call them the new age “Rough Riders”. A respectful tip-of-the-hat to the crews of Island-Class Coast Guard Cutters.

World War II U.S. Navy Machinist Mate Anthony “Tony” Rella

2009-02-04T06:37:00.031-05:00

Tears welled-up in his eyes the first time we talked about his ship. And it was with obvious pride the day when Tony Rella presented me with several documents to read. On Sunday morning December 7, 1941, Tony was a member of the ship's crew aboard USS NEOSHO (AO-23) moored on “Battleship’s Row”, Ford’s Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. NEOSHO (pronounced "nee-OH-sho") arrived in Pearl Harbor from the West Coast the day before, fully laden with fuels. Most of her cargo fuel was off-loaded throughout Saturday evening. During the Japanese surprise attack that Sunday morning, Captain Phillips and NEOSHO’s gallant crew navigated her to safer waters through the intense shelling and exploding bombs -- past the burning ships and the human slaughter that forever marks that awful day. Tony’s ship was totally undamaged; avoiding great peril as her crew expertly sailed the explosive fume laden NEOSHO past those many heavily traumatized and sinking ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Countless acts of unrecognized heroism certainly occurred that day, and just as certain Tony was heavily involved with his responsibility to bring his ship through the devastation. Tony was immensely proud of his service to his Country and his Navy. His active membership and strong participation with the Central New York Pearl Harbor Survivors Association was a source of particular personal pride.

USS NEOSHO was a Fleet Oiler (a tanker) tasked to deliver lifeblood oil and gas to the Pacific Fleet. Tony and the crew affectionately called her “Fat Girl”. Without the support of crews and ships like NEOSHO, the fleet and it’s aircraft simply could not operate. Work aboard Fleet Oilers proved hazardous for all and deadly to some. Loading of airplane and diesel fuel, a high tempo of operations, and a heavy demand of maximizing their cargo deliveries placed each ship’s crew in life and death situations. Tony was a U.S. Navy Machinist Mate, the kind of sailor who maintains much of the ship’s support equipment…the small engines, the pumps, the compressors, the hydraulic systems, and the ventilation, air & water systems. Tony did his job with high professionalism, whatever had to be done to keep and maintain this equipment in top operational condition. Any ship would be dead-in-the-water in relatively short order without the productivity of guys like Tony. But surviving the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is only part of Tony’s NEOSHO record.

In early May 1942, USS NEOSHO sailed into the Coral Sea north of Australia, in direct service to the American Pacific Fleet. The NEOSHO and her escort ship had been left behind in a “safe area” while the vital American Aircraft Carriers USS YORKTOWN and USS LEXINGTON sought out the Japanese Fleet. On May 7th, just as the major fighting began at the Battle of the Coral Sea, Japanese dive-bombers and torpedo airplanes found and hit NEOSHO and her escort ship, sinking her single escort USS SIMS (DD-409) with multiple bomb hits around midday. Burning and immobilized, the NEOSHO began listing sharply in the rough seas. The horror that followed over the next several days was still on Tony’s face as he talked about these events. Many of Tony’s shipmates lay dead or dying. On confused orders to abandon ship, a large group of shipmates boarded lifeboats and were swept away by the heavy seas, never to be seen again. NEOSHO was sinking as her able crew hung on and battled to save her. They expected rescue soon, but that rescue did not come for over four days. The crew had all but lost faith that rescue would ever come…but then finally a rescue ship appeared on May 11th. There were 293 men aboard NEOSHO just before the attack at the Battle of the Coral Sea. Of these, 184 men died while 109 survived. Just fifteen SIMS crewmembers survived her tragic combat sinking, but two of these sailors died from wounds within a few days of their rescue.

Tony Rella was honorably discharged from active duty following WWII as a Chief Petty Officer. He was enormously proud of his Pearl Harbor Survivor Medal, an award that took our government over fifty years to authorize. I’ve always been bothered by the military “awards and commendation” process. So many acts of heroism go unrecognized by the military. Tony, and many guys like him, volunteered to serve before America entered WWII. It was not politically correct in some sectors of American society to volunteer for military service in 1939 and 1940, with the currents of war increasing as Tony’s naval service began. Then, as now, a vocal minority of Americans were posturing an increasing isolationist view. America too had its own homegrown Neville Chamberlain...and his last name was Kennedy. Several of these appeasers are now marked by history as misguided cowards. Unlike Tony, some Americans had turned a blind-eye to the terrible world events unfolding in Europe and the Far East. But Tony’s heroism stands as a matter of fact and official record. His military service was then -- and is still -- worthy of several significant combat awards that somehow went unwritten, never to be awarded and presented during his lifetime.

The words of General Dwight D. Eisenhower may sum it up best -- “History does not entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid.” Anthony “Tony” Rella passed away October 25, 2007, we each lost an unsung hero on Tony’s passing that day. Tony…you Sir are fondly remembered and sadly missed. By honorable naval tradition…“Fair Winds and Following Seas.”

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

Many background facts presented in this posting were taken from Mr. Del Leu’s web site (www.delsjourney.com). This significant research was published to honor the memory of his late Uncle Bill Leu, and to honor the heroic crew of USS Neosho. Del’s work assisted in the preparation of Tony Rella’s obituary. Shipmate Bill Leu, who passed away in 2003, was also a Pearl Harbor and Neosho survivor...and served with Tony Rella aboard Neosho. Significant background information also came from an article "Fat Girl" published 2/6/1943 in the “Saturday Evening Post” magazine -- and other related papers -- that Tony supplied to me.

A Man In The Right Place

2009-01-31T15:55:00.051-05:00

A new company bgC3 LLC (www.bgc3.com/) was formed last year by billionaire Bill Gates. The firm's placard, bgC3, is thought to probably stand for Bill Gates Company 3--and the new firm has been touted by some writers as another possible Microsoft. Please get a grasp on reality. That Gates is some kind of genius who propelled the globe and all of its lemmings to the information age is incredibly naïve. Most any 1977-era technologist engaged in developing small computing devices centered around the 8-bit microprocessors was conversant with and actively using Digital Research's CP/M operating system (see www.digitalresearch.biz/CPM.HTM).

Simply put, what Gates did was to engage capable technologists and slick negotiators, some of these holding unscrupulous business skills, to eventually acquire unconditional rights to the unauthorized cloned upgrade of CP/M operating system produced by Seattle Computer Products (SCP). SCP's operating system, named SCP-DOS as later upgraded to 86-DOS, sports a virtual copy of CP/M user commands and a strikingly similar applications programming interface. To the user, that makes 86-DOS, PC-DOS and MS-DOS "look and feel" essentially identical to CP/M (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Kildall).

The CP/M & clone 86-DOS operating system combination were the essential products developed completely outside Microsoft that became the baseline for Microsoft DOS (see www.digitalresearch.biz/GATES41.HTM). Without the acquisition of this fiddled clone of the CP/M operating system, the Gates led Microsoft would likely be just another capable group of software development tool providers. Gates is an aggressive and sometimes predatory procurement artist, whose leadership style smacks of strong antitrust tendencies. He fortuitously surrounded himself with superior technical, business, and legal personnel in a collection of talent that cultivated a successful Microsoft. It was this team of working engineers, technologists and technical management business people who made Microsoft successful. But there is a point where predatory behavior becomes dangerous even to the predator.

To deny that Bill Gates is just another smart and very lucky man, a forceful marauder in the right place at the right time, is simply amazing. Gates is a man with important connections, who sometimes used marginal or downright unethical and illegal business practices to acquire technology and smother competition. Presiding Judge Jackson in the 1998-2000 antitrust case United States v. Microsoft states that Microsoft executives had "...proved, time and time again, to be inaccurate, misleading, evasive, and transparently false. ...Microsoft is a company with an institutional disdain for both the truth and for rules of law that lesser entities must respect. It is also a company whose senior management is not averse to offering specious testimony to support spurious defenses to claims of its wrongdoing." Solid business ethics are important in a company's formative years...and executive leadership in a younger Microsoft firm apparently had no firm foundation in business ethics. Bill Gates' technical business history for distorting the truth, even while under oath, is a matter of official judicial system record...

(see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft).

"bgC3"--another Microsoft for the “genius” Bill Gates? Right! There is a bridge for sale in Brooklyn for anyone who might actually believe that story.

Remembering American Civil War Soldier 1st Lieutenant William Kirkland Bacon

2009-01-24T20:19:00.057-05:00

My annual Memorial Day visit to pay respects to American war veterans found those hero's gravestones bathed in the warm afternoon sun. The unadorned, seemingly forgotten gravesite of twenty-year-old 1st Lieutenant William Kirkland Bacon was discovered during that visit in late May to Forrest Hills Cemetery, Utica, NY. Barely visible, the monument inscription reads: “William Kirkland Bacon: Late Adjutant of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment of New York State Volunteers, slain at Fredericksburg, December 16, 1862.”

Adjutant William Kirkland Bacon was affectionately known as “Willie” to his family and friends. Willie’s military life can be summarized by stating that in late April 1861, as he finished his sophomore year at Hamilton College--and following the attack on Fort Sumter--he answered his country’s call by enlisting as a private with Company A of the notable Fourteenth Regiment of New York State Volunteers (NYSV). Company A was the first contingent of Central New York Oneida County residents to volunteer for Union Civil War military service. The Fourteenth New York was first posted to protect and defend Washington D.C., where the regimental officer community recognized Willie’s quick intelligence, attainments, and talents. Later in 1861, Willie accepted a transfer to the Twenty-Sixth Regiment NYSV as Military Clerk. A vacancy occurred several weeks later and Willie was offered an officer’s promotion and assignment as the Twenty-Sixth New York Regimental Adjutant. Now a commissioned officer, Willie engaged in several skirmishes and a couple of major battles leading up to December 1862 at Battle of Fredericksburg. In combat during the Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas), August 30, 1862, Willie suffered his first wound, wounded-in-action to the left leg. Confederate fire hit him just above the heal while leading a party of Company F fighting men. The shot's impact knocked him from his wounded horse, and Willie struggled to painfully walk from the battlefield with aid provided by a few of his “Boys”. Unable to walk without assistance, he eventually made his way to an Alexandria, VA Union Army hospital. Willie’s father, William Johnson Bacon of Utica, found him in Alexandria about a week later and accompanied him to his boyhood home in Utica for convalescent leave. In October 1862, after six weeks rest and medical recuperation, Willie returned to his regiment with his painful Manassas combat wound still not fully mended.

Then, at mid-afternoon, Saturday, December 13, 1862, during savage combat at the Battle of Fredericksburg--and while leading front-line Union fighting men from General John F. Reynolds' Corps--Willie was mortally-wounded-in-action by Confederate fire to his upper left leg. With his leg shattered, and under heavy fire, two of his boys removed Willie from the battlefield. There a wagon ambulance delivered him and other wounded soldiers to a rear medical facility. His left leg was amputated later that evening (very high on the leg near the pelvis). Willie was drugged with available painkillers, and without much doubt he never regained a fully conscious state. He died early Tuesday morning on December 16, 1862, just two months short of his twenty-first birthday.

Adjutant William “Willie” Kirkland Bacon was born to a prominent Utica, New York Family, where his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were lawyers and all served in elected state office in Massachusetts and New York and as U.S. Representatives. Willie’s father, The Honorable William Johnson Bacon, served nearly two decades as an elected New York State Supreme Court Judge. Willie was the only son of Judge William and Mrs. Eliza Kirkland Bacon. Adjutant Bacon’s middle name--Kirkland--honors his beloved mother’s maiden name. Mrs. Bacon’s father was the Honorable General Joseph Kirkland, a well-known Utica-area lawyer, the first mayor of the new city Utica, and a New York State and federal elected politician. The Bacon family was emotionally crushed by Willie’s Civil War combat death at Fredericksburg, and never fully recovered from their deeply shared grief on his passing. No military medals were evidently ever awarded to recognize Adjutant Bacon’s heroism. Medals of Honor were awarded to enlisted personnel only at the time of Willie’s 1862 Civil War combat death. Furthermore, it was rare that medals for heroism were awarded to officers posthumously. In fact, many senior Union generals--including then Commanding General Burnside--felt that medal awards emulated too strongly the practices of European Aristocrats. A 1932 congressional award re-authorization, The Purple Heart, recognizes combat-related wounds or death for military service on or after April 5, 1917--and just in this new millennium finally recognizes those who perished as POWs. Published words in letters and books seems to be the preferred method to recognize officers killed-in-action during the American Civil War. One such letter, as sent to Willie’s father from Brigade Commander, General Zealous B. Tower states “…My short acquaintance with Adjutant Bacon prepossessed me greatly in his favor. It is a pleasing duty to inform you that in this battle your son was distinguished for gallant services at the head of his regiment. At Fredericksburgh he was conspicuous for manly bravery and cool determination, till he fell mortally wounded on that never to be forgotten battle-field.”

Bacon Post No. 53 of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was chartered in Utica, NY, October 24, 1867. G.A.R. Post 53 was named to honor the memory and Union Civil War service of 1st Lieutenant William Kirkland Bacon. Medal of Honor (MOH) recipient Joseph Keene—who won the MOH for valor at the Battle of Fredericksburg––annually joined former comrades from the 26th Infantry Regiment NYSV for many years on "Decoration Day", holding memorial exercises at the grave of William Kirkland Bacon. They each held a warm affection for Willie Bacon…"their Little Adjutant."

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A memorial book authored by Willie’s father Judge Bacon, "Adjutant Bacon: Memorial of William Kirkland Bacon, late Adjutant of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment of New York State Volunteers" served as a major reference for this log-of-remembrance. Judge Bacon’s work is preserved by Goggle digitizing and is available by Internet search.

Greed and Dishonesty by Stock Market Manipulators

2009-01-21T11:18:00.032-05:00

For goodness sake! A blind man can see that unprincipled and rampant naked-short-sellers, masquerading as good-for-the-market hedge fund management, are manipulating current stock markets. Out of control market speculation is a significant cause in the present inability of the stock markets to operate correctly. Investment seems to be the forgotten market purpose--while driving stock price down in a loose confederation of short selling more the rule. Money is selfishly extracted--not by investment--but rather by sucking the life blood from business. Immediate controls are necessary on these money-hungry stock short-sellers and hedge-fund operators. Several corrective steps have been mentioned over the past few months to corral these callous and deceitful market thieves. Here are just a couple of rational changes that will immediately yield a more honest and effective stock market:

1. Immediately place the up-tick rule in effect. Short sellers can not sell stock they don't own when that stock is losing value. Short sells are allowed only when the stock price is gaining.

2. Eliminate “naked short selling”. Short selling should be backed by legitimate “borrowed” stock…where trading rights to that short stock is paid for by a non-returnable and significant lending fee. Audit and investigate more aggressively...and institute very significant penalties for proven naked short selling.

These and other appropriate oversight should be directly implemented by swift action of the Securities and Exchange Commission--or by Executive Order of President Obama should that be required. More market regulation is urgently needed! So far the new president's administration has paid little more than a healthy quanity of lip service to a stock market out of control. Immeditate executive action is both required and necessary. Investors should personally look at the hedge fund cabal. Clearly, too much money concentrated in too few hands. Absolute unchained collaboration with strong anti-trust implications is apparent. No wonder hedge management spends big dollars on federal lobbyist to help preserve their unregulated status. If they had to deal with full transparency in the light of day they would move like cockroaches for shadowy protection under rocks.

Scum will always float to the surface...

Satire on Digital TV Transition

2009-01-19T08:51:00.013-05:00

To delay the Federal Communication Commission’s Digital TV transition mandate is very plausible--considering the financial mess that congress and the administration has generated. And yet such delay is just another example of an unbelievable lapse in government wisdom. Most of the “Great Unwashed” will simply put off those personal steps necessary to make an in-house DTV transition--for a period equal to any proposed delay. And to heck with those dumb little government converter coupons. Just send everyone another government check--call it a “converter stimulus check”. Funding might well be cut from the just authorized--$350 Billion Bush Administration’s Troubled Asset Relief Program. Or perhaps some of the forthcoming $825 Billion Obama 2009 Stimulus Package could be used to buy free converters for everyone. A billion here--or a billion there--that is just chicken feed. And DTV converters should be purchased only from American firms--that is if any could be found. And when an American converter firm is not found, use some more of those federal funds to build a factory. Think of it! An instant domestic high tech job creation program building DTV converters, a mandated emphasis to “Buy American” might be placed on components for DTV converter manufacturing, and all while rejuvenating a domestic electronics industry we let slip through our hands decades ago. Then the responsible people who have properly prepared for DTV transition could join hands...while singing “Kumbayah”. Together, we shall hold high hopes that recipients of converter stimulus checks spend the free cash on Digital TV Converters--rather than Coors. That free federal money worked so well for our economy last time. Now this is a government take over of personal responsibility at its finest!

New York State’s Troubling Budget Shortfall

2009-01-16T10:15:00.019-05:00

Simply put, immediate state legislative steps must be taken to reduce New York State spending. Increasing taxes and fees on already overtaxed state residents will directly result in a significant population and business migration to locations without the ridiculous financial burden imposed by New York State’s sales tax, property tax, school tax, and extravagant state fee structures. Marginal business will simply cease to be going concerns…and fold up shop. There will be no billion-dollar bailout for small business. An elementary principle in basic economics is the “Law of Diminishing Returns”. Typically applied to manufacturing & agricultural production--the law can logically extend to government taxes and fees. Beyond some point--further increases in taxes and fees--will rationally result in a smaller tax base and smaller treasury revenues--particularly when many residents and businesses have alternatives to live and do business elsewhere outside of New York State. Here are seven commonsense state legislative initiatives that should be immediately implemented:

There should be no new NYS taxes and no new fees.
Current NYS tax rates should not in any way be raised.
Current NYS fees should be frozen at January 1, 2009 levels.
No new or expanded NYS spending programs should be approved.
No increase in current state agency budgets, not even as adjusted for the present very low inflation rate.
Cut unclassified NYS employees, contract employees, and consultant services by 25% on or before September 30, 2009. Any state programs impacted by fewer consultants--and/or less employment other than by civil service classified employees--should be delayed, extended, or terminated.
Effective October 1, 2009, offer current classified NYS employees over age 50 a rational early retirement incentive program; where employee physical age plus years of state service = 76 or higher, employees may retire--at their descretion--from state service within their current tier without early retirement penalty. The agency shall hold the item vacant for a period of not less than twelve months.

A Hawk's Front Yard Visit

2009-01-14T09:00:00.012-05:00

Saw a feathered blob sitting in the front yard yesterday, just looking around on top of the snow about 200 feet from the front of our house. Watched it for a while through field glasses--and finally identified it as a probable Cooper’s Hawk--or possibly a young Red-Tailed Hawk. The hawk just sat there in the snow for perhaps 10 minutes or more--then I realized it was in process of killing something. I think the hawk must have knocked a Mourning Dove out of the air--then pounced on it for the kill--with those powerful talons. Signs of the struggle were very localized to the spot where the hawk was first seen. Our urge to run outside and drive the hawk away was suppressed. It is not our intention to provide a buffet for hawks…but they struggle for survival in winter too. We watched as most of the dove's feathers were plucked out--and then as the predator ate practically the whole thing. Very interesting...never have seen anything like it before. After the hawk finished dining, went down to checkout the spot--just a bunch of feathers and some spots of blood--not much evidence of the dove remained. We feed birds in the back yard area, where all the local feathered residents enjoy the seed, suet, and table scraps. Three American Crows (Moe, Larry & Curly) join us for daily breakfast, complemented by many Gold Finches, Chickadees, Dark-Eyed Juncos, many Sparrows, Tufted Titmice, Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mourning Doves, Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, etc.--all the standard feathered species found here in the Upper Mohawk River Valley.