This is entry number 750 in this online journal. I’d like to take a little bit of time to archive some data. It is one of my peculiar imbecilities that I love meaningless statistics. Therefore, consider these statistics: Every journal entry falls into at least one of sixteen categories. This… Read More »Number 750
This is journal entry number 700. I started this online journal on August 9, 2006. These were the first words that I typed out: So here is the first journal entry. I felt like having as pretentious sounding name as possible for my journal. I have a few goals about… Read More »An Old Newspaper
He raped the whole country of morality, of integrity. He implemented a trend of corruption in a people who were not corrupt. He raised a generation of people who wanted to steal rather than to work for personal gain. -Robert Kayanja, Miracle Centre Cathedral in Kampala, Uganda That is a… Read More »The Hero of Africa
Once a year I get together and have a meal with Mark Wolfram. Unfortunately for me, I only get to see Mark once a year because he spends most of the year in Taiwan teaching, doing mission work and publishing The Taiwan Times. Wednesday night was that night. Mark met… Read More »Sedulous
Tuesday was the birthday of Ernest Hemingway. He is one of my favorite writers, along with Nathaniel West and Salinger. I borrowed this from The Writer’s Almanac because I found the information about The Moveable Feast to be fascinating and previously unknown to me. It’s the birthday of Ernest Hemingway,… Read More »Another Reason to Hate Abercrombie and Fitch
I kind of hate historical inaccuracy to a degree. I read something about an email that has been frequently forwarded about the hardships suffered by the men that signed The Declaration of Independence. It is sad enough that most people think we “declared” our independence on the 4th of July.… Read More »The Price They Simplified
Today is the anniversary of the publication of one of the great literary works of the 20th century. Today is the anniversary of the publication of Gone with the Wind. But as interesting as the story of the great villain Scarlett O’Hara is, the story of how Gone with the… Read More »Capital Punishment
It is often, most likely, mistaught to the children of America that George Washington chopped down a cherry tree. The story is used as an example of George Washington’s veracity. I’ve heard the story, but what is most intriguing about the story to me is why he would chop down… Read More »I Can Not Tell A Lie
Today is Bloomsday. There is a good chance that if you aren’t Irish or a Lit Major, that you have never heard of Bloomsday. To be frankly honest, until today I did not know about the existence of Bloomsday. But you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be… Read More »Happy Bloomsday
Day 7 in Arizona consisted of my getting up early in the morning to wander around the premises of the resort one last time. The highlight of this walk was checking out a statue that had been erected by the tribe that owned the casino to tribute an incident where… Read More »Arizona Day 8
There was an article about an old family friend retiring in the Boone News Republican the other day. Bob Person is a local and the best photographer in the area and he is officially retiring. Freeze Frame by Blair Schilling Bob Person’s impact on the community can be seen on… Read More »Post No. 500 – End of an Era
About a year ago I posted a comment on Shannon’s MySpace page where I was apologizing in advance for what Iowa State was going to do to her UNI Panthers IF Wesley Johnson played in the game. Wesley Johnson did indeed play in the game and he played well, but… Read More »Plus Five
Happy Birthday to Elainie! Of course today is also Election Day. I’m not the type that tells people how to think or vote politically. I think everybody knows who I’m supporting. However, I’ve never felt it necessary to try and convince people to think like me. I trust that everybody… Read More »Happy Birthday and or Election Day
On Wednesday I looked at about 10 houses. I kind of liked 1 house, so I might have a bit of direction as to what kind of house I want. Here are some pictures. I think I want to build something like this at some point. This house had a… Read More »House Search
Here are some pictures from the suffrage march on Saturday. My favorite sign is from the march is the sign about “Idiots” having the right to vote, but not women. For some reason that sign reminds me of Buck vs. Bell. The 1927 Supreme Court where The Supreme Court concluded… Read More »Suffrage March
If you are looking for something interesting to do in Boone this weekend, check out this article from the Des Moines Register. It is about a historical re-enactment of the only Suffrage March to occur in Iowa. It occurred in Boone almost 100 years ago. It is interesting to think… Read More »Boone and Women’s Voting History
I thought I would celebrate my Mom’s birthday by posting some pictures of her from the 1970s. I think that might be our old milk truck in the background! With the best child. With the middle child. Out at McHose Park. Out at the old house on W. 15th Street.… Read More »Happy Birthday Mom!
I recently became the Webmaster for the Ames Jaycee websites. Perhaps it is because at times of have been correctly labeled a history nerd (although if you are over the age of 16 and you still feel comfortable using the nerd concept, I feel really bad for you) and improperly… Read More »Nonvoting Position
As many of you know, there are many times that I like to fancy myself a wordsmith. However, it is a rare day when I actually practice this skill that I like to believe that I possess. I often hear the advice that you should write what you know. I… Read More »Unhappy in Its Own Way or Happy Alike?
After we left the Field of Dreams on Sunday, we visited the St. Francis Xavier Basilica. It is one of only 53 Basilicas in the United States. Random Flower Spires Spires The Church Altar Stained Glass Window Sanctuary Spire Willy Jay Dessert in Jesup Traditional Road Trip Photo The height… Read More »St. Francis Xavier Basilica
It is time to answer the most common questions I have received about my trip to Kentucky: What in Heaven would ever possess somebody to go to Kentucky, even for a visit? Teresa’s significant other Ernie lives in Kuttawa, Kentucky. He is a good guy and I wanted to visit… Read More »Kentucky FAQ