I would like to invite you to watch one of movie of Everest collection…

Erik Weihenmayer blind climber.

“I think this is the best time in history, the most precious time in history to be a pioneer, to reach out, to seize hold of adversity and challenges we face, to harness energy not only to transform our own lives, but to elevate the world around us.” Erik Weihenmayer

Erik Weihenmayer – World-Class Blind Adventurer.

On May 25, 2001, Erik Weihenmayer became the only blind man in history to reach the summit of the world’s highest peak – Mount Everest. And on September 5, 2002, when he stood on top of Mt. Kosciusko in Australia, Weihenmayer completed his 7-year quest to climb the Seven Summits – the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, joining only 200 mountaineers who have accomplished that feat.  At age 33, he was also one of the youngest. Additionally, he has scaled El Capitan, a 3300-foot overhanging rock wall in Yosemite; Losar , a 2600-foot vertical ice waterfall in The Mt. Everest region of the Himalayas; and a difficult and rarely climbed rock face on 17,000-foot Mt. Kenya.

In September, 2003, Erik joined 320 stellar athletes from 17 countries to compete in the Primal Quest, the richest and toughest multi-sport adventure race in the world: 457 miles through the Sierra Nevada’s, nine days, sixty thousand feet of elevation gain, and no time-outs. Averaging only two hours of sleep a night, Erik and his team surged past the finish line on Lake Tahoe, becoming one of the 42 teams to cross the finish line out of the 80 teams that began.

After Erik’s Mt. Everest ascent, Braille Without Borders, a school for the blind in Tibet, invited him to teach its students mountaineering and rock climbing.  His many climbs gave the teenagers the courage to excel in a culture which affords few opportunities for the blind.Erik and six Everest team members went to Tibet in May 2004 to train the students, then in October led them on a climb to the Rombuk Glacier on the north side of Mt. Everest. Once seen as pariahs, the teenagers ultimately stood together at 21,500-feet, higher than any team of blind people in history.  Steven Haft, producer of such blockbusters as Dead Poets’ Society, made a documentary on the ascent which opened to standing ovations at the Toronto, L.A., and London Film Festivals. The film was released theatrically in fall of 2007.

A former middle school teacher and wrestling coach, Erik is one of the most exciting and well-known athletes in the world. Despite losing his vision at the age of 13, Erik has become an accomplished mountain climber, paraglider, and skier, who has never let his blindness interfere with his passion for an exhilarating and fulfilling life. Erik’s feats have earned him an ESPY award, recognition by Time Magazine for one of the greatest sporting achievements of 2001, induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, an ARETE Award for the superlative athletic performance of the year, the Helen Keller Lifetime Achievement award, Nike’s Casey Martin Award, and the Freedom Foundation’s Free Spirit Award.  He has also carried the Olympic Torch for both the Summer and Winter Games.

In addition to being a world-class athlete, Erik is also the author of the book, Touch the Top of the World, published in ten countries and six languages.According to Publisher’s Weekly, Erik’s memoir is “moving and adventure packed, Weihenmayer tells his extraordinary story with humor, honesty and vivid detail, and his fortitude and enthusiasm are deeply inspiring.”  The book was made into a feature film which aired on A&E in June, 2006.

Erik’s second book, The Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles Into Everyday Greatness, co-authored with business guru and best selling author, Dr. Paul Stoltz,  was released by Simon and Schuster in January, 2007.  Through Paul’s science and Erik’s experience, the book shares seven “summits” for harnessing the power of adversity and turning it into the never-ending fuel  to growth and innovation. Steven Covey, author of the best selling business book of all time, wrote the Foreword. Erik has also been published in Time, Forbes, and Reader’s Digest.

Erik’s award winning film, Farther Than the Eye Can See, shot in the same stunning quality HDTV format as the ‘Star Wars’ prequels, was ranked in the top twenty adventure films of all time by Men’s Journal. Bringing home first prize at 20 film festivals and nominated for two Emmy’s, the film beautifully captures the emotion, humor and drama of Erik’s historic ascent as well as his team’s three other remarkable ‘firsts’: the first American father/son team to summit, the oldest man to summit, and the most people from one team to reach the top of Everest in a single day. Through screenings, the film has raised over $600,000 for charitable organizations.

Erik’s extraordinary accomplishments have gained him abundant press coverage including repeated visits to NBC’s Today Show and Nightly News, Oprah, Good Morning America, Night Line, and the Tonight Show to name a few. He has also been featured on the cover of Time, Outside, and Climbing Magazine.

In 1999, Erik joined Mark Wellman–the first paraplegic to climb the 3000-foot face of El Capitan, and Hugh Herr–a double-leg-amputee and scientist at Harvard’s prestigious prosthetics laboratory, to climb an 800-foot rock tower in Moab, Utah. As a result of their successful climb together, the three formed No Barriers, a non-profit organization with a goal of promoting innovative ideas, approaches, and assistive technologies which help people with disabilities push through their own personal barriers to live full and active lives. Erik also serves as a National Braille Literacy Champion on behalf of the American Foundation for the Blind.

Erik’s speaking career has taken him around the world, from Hong Kong to Switzerland, from Thailand to the 2005 APEC Summit in Chile. He speaks to audiences on harnessing the power of adversity, the importance of a “rope team,” and the daily struggle to pursue your dreams.  Clearly, Erik’s accomplishments show that one does not have to have perfect eyesight to have extraordinary vision.

* Source : – http://leadingauthorities.com/13649/Weihenmayer_Erik_detail.htm

** Previous story : –  Jerzy Kukuczka: Greatest Polish Alpinist Tribute – video.

** zapraszam na relacje z wypraw polskich himalaistów.

zapraszam do subskrypcji mego bloga

Clicca sull’immagine per saperne di più sull’impresa (documento tratto dal sito http://caicalolzio.com/).

N.B.: La serata sarà a scopo benefico, a favore di Telethon.

…E prossimamente, anche in Radio Thule!

McKinley - He's heavier than he looks

If we had been playing that game at the weekend we would have lost!  As part of our routine we had scheduled to weigh Whisper and McKinley.  Whisper was born August 31 with a birth weight of 14.7 lbs, while McKinley was born September 5 with a birth weight of 19.1 lbs.

McKinley is quite a tall cria and Whisper is just the opposite small and compact.  They were the last of the summer crias to be born and are very close in age.  With the exception of Theresa’s cria, the latest cria to be born on our farm, McKinley and Whisper are the two smallest crias of our summer cria crop.

When Ric picked up McKinley it was obvious from Ric’s face that McKinley was a little heavier than expected.  Ric valiantly carried him to the scales and back, but by the time he got to the pasture gate he was calling out “help me” for McKinley indeed was no light weight having weighed in at 54.5 lbs.

Next to go to the scales was Whisper – surely she weighed a lot less.  Were we in for a surprise!  Again as Ric picked up Whisper his face showed the strain (is Ric really getting out of shape I began to wonder, no more Open Farm Day cookies for him!), but Ric had good cause to be taken aback by Whisper’s weight for she weighed in at 58.7 lbs!  She weighed even more than McKinley!

Little Whisper - only she is not that little anymore!

We have been raising alpacas now for over 10 years and so usually are pretty in tune with how much a cria weighs based on its size, but these two really have surprised us for they do not look that big.  Both McKinley and Whisper have dense fleeces though and I suspect that some of that weight is fleece weight.    Whatever the reason for McKinley and Whisper’s weights, I think it is safe to say that they are both healthy, hearty crias and that their dams Bjorn and Willow are doing a great job in the milk department!  Keep up the good work girls (and stay away from those cookies Ric!)

Rosemary

I had great meetings Mr. Potts at Sudlow and Ms. Artman-Andrews at North High this week. I really look forward to their participation in the East Davenport Review. I have yet to talk to the folks at Central, McKinley, or Eisenhower. They are on the agenda for this coming week.

The most important thing for me now is getting the word out and helping everyone on the East Side understand the purpose of the EDR. I think that as people come to see the value we provide we will get more and more hits, more conversations started and more benefits seen in our neighborhoods.

Stay tuned and help get the word out. The best is certainly yet to come!

Dave

A large cat-like creature crossed the road ahead of me, and I knew immediately it must be a lynx. My wife, Beth, and I were in Denali National Park in Alaska, driving slowly along the fifteen mile stretch of road on which cars are allowed and had just passed the first viewpoint of Denali Mountain. I was convinced the creature that I had seen 200 feet ahead of us was a lynx – though I’ve never seen a lynx before.

Oh, how I have dreamed of seeing one in the wild and maybe even photographing one on a rare day. They are secretive and elusive creatures. But based on rumors of high lynx activity in the area (snowshoe hare population was rising) I knew that it had to be a lynx. My very first sighting!

First viewpoint of Denali on the public road in the Park

I stepped on the accelerator, simultaneously grabbing my camera and rolling down the window. Seconds later when we arrived at the location of the sighting, the lynx was still on the left shoulder. As I raised the camera, it darted into the bush – the only image I captured was a butt disappearing into the woods. I stepped out of the car (there were no other cars in sight) and walked around the area hoping to see it, again. Then it suddenly darted back across the road only 10 yards in front of me, so quickly, that I did not even have time to raise my camera before it disappeared into the brush.

Wow, I thought – my first and only encounter with a lynx and I missed the shot. What was the probability of my seeing another lynx in the wild – very small, I thought. What bad luck!

Dejected, I got back in the car, and we drove on. Then suddenly the whole scene repeated itself like a film rewound and re-played.  Another lynx darted across the road, again I sped up to the location, and again the lynx was gone–another photoshot missed. Another car approaching in the opposite direction stopped since they saw the lynx, too. We chatted for a few seconds. As we chatted, that lynx bolted across the road, behind my back. I never saw it. The folks in the car saw it all. Collectively we walked along the shoulder for a few hundred feet hoping for another sighting. But, no luck. Finally, we drove on, simultaneously excited about the sighting, but upset that I, once again, missed my opportunity of photographing a lynx. What bad luck!

We drove to the Savage River Canyon parking area. This is the end of the road for public cars. While the road continues another 85 miles into Denali National Park, cars aren’t allowed on it; the only way forward is on foot, special permitted vehicles and tour buses. We turned around and started back towards the entrance to the Park.

Dall Sheep overlooking Savage River Canyon, Denali National Park

As we approached the location of the last sighting, there before my very eyes is a photographer standing along the road photographing into the brush. I needed no debriefing to know what was happening. I pulled over, grabbed my 500mm lens, and stepped up to the lone photographer. Sure enough there was “my Lynx” hunkered down in the brush about 100-150 feet from the road partially hidden by bushes. Fortunately, it poked its head up clear of the obstructions and I took this shot:

Lynx in the bush

Within minutes a crowd gathered. Over the next 30 minutes, I counted over 20 photographers, 3 buses of tourists with people hanging out the windows to get a picture, 5-8 cars and trucks all backed up and crowded around the site.

Photographers lined up photographing a Lynx in Denali National Park

After minutes of excitement and hundreds of images shot the lynx finally got up and moved on. As she disappeared into the bush, we saw that there was a baby lynx following her. We were electrified–a cub, glimpsed and then gone and we never got to see it or photograph it. What bad luck!

But the story doesn’t end here. I lingered as the crowd dispersed, and the mother and kit reappeared and curled up to relax under the shade of a tree. While they were a long distance away (200-250 feet) and the light was shaded, it was a clear shot of the two of them. I watched and photographed in amazement for the next hour as mother and cub interacted and posed for the cameras.

My lucky day!

Lynx Love

Remember to wash your face

End of story

Rich Seeley

richard@seeley.com

www.richardseeleyphotography.com

978 985 5475

Witty title I know!  Surprised to hear from me?  Well I knew I needed to document these words before they left my brain.  Better here for you to read than me just hogging them in some book til one day they make it into a scrapbook!

A little background – McKinley attended Berry’s Chapel Preschool the last two years – one day/week as a 2 and 2 days/week as a 3.  We were very happy there.  When she got out for the summer this year, I knew our fall 4 year old class was a 3 day/week class, which bummed me out a little.  I don’t want her growing up so fast!  And I don’t want her away from home that much.  I reeeealy wanted 2 days/week which they did not offer.  So I muddled through the summer with some uneasiness.  August came and I really began to panic inside, my heart was not settled and I knew God was stirring it.  It was  a couple weeks of not knowing what to do.   He laid on my heart Mustard Seed Preschool, super close to home as was her other school, but something was different about this school.  Their director had spoken to our Moms Together a few years ago, and I knew I wanted my kids to go there as I fell in love with all she said.  But they didn’t start til 3 and since I did a 2 year old Mother’s Day Out somewhere else and was happy, we just never ended up there.  So here it is a couple weeks until the new year starts.  Preschool registrations begin like in FEBRUARY (news to this new mommy a couple years ago).  But I just knew in my heart God had a different plan for McKinley and our family.  I knew He was stirring my heart for a reason.  I got to a place of complete trust.  I canceled her old school not knowing if we’d even get in at Mustard Seed.  I filled out the paperwork and just continued to wait and pray.  I told the Lord if He wanted me to BE my kids preschool I would.  I was overwhelmed those days by his grace and when He provided a spot for her, I could barely get off the phone with the new preschool office without weeping.  So going into the year we were very very grateful and excited to see what God would do.

The year has gone well.  I am blown away at how solid and age-appropriately they present the gospel to these pre-schoolers.  Every morning at 9:00 they have devotion and I’m so grateful that “my job” allows me to go.  Jack and I sit in the back nearly every morning.  McKinley loves to look back and see me – we usually sign to one another “I Love You.”  I get to see her as she learns the catechism songs they learn to sing and sign – which are wonderful little songs about what we as Christians believe about God.  I get to see how much McKinley has learned and how she leans in close to listen to Ms. Kristin as she tells the morning devotion story.  There’s just something so very different about this place.  MORE than just biblestories.

Anyhooo.  So this week I had my first parent-teacher conference.  I was nervous I tell ya.  Christopher wanted to come, he really desires to be there as much as I do to support & seek wisdom regarding his girl.  The teacher pulled up a table and three chairs – sorta formal it felt which made us a bit nervous.  Jack and McKinley were in the room, playing with a ball & puzzles.  First thing.  Mrs. Casilda grabbed our hands and led us in the sweetest prayer.  She thanked God for my sweet babies.  She asked we be united with one another regarding McKinley.  She thanked Him for her sweet spirit, even mentioning “Blankie.”  Her words made me cry.  Another sign we were in such a special place.

Mrs. Casilda pulled out an evaluation packet she’d done with each of the children.  McKinley was right where she needed to be on everything.  She showed us how she’d written her name, knew all her numbers & letters (except for a few confusing lower case ones), she could draw a picture of herself (ie, looking for them to draw at least 3 body parts).  I’m afraid McKinley may have gotten my lack of artistic ability – she drew a circle with eyes, nose, ears, etc.  It looked much like my sad little stick figures we draw together at home.  She was very much fine in where she needed to be.

Then Mrs. Casilda said something that yanked on my heart a little.  She said, “The Lord is all over this little girl.”  You see…Grammy had said the very same thing the night before when she was here babysitting!  She told us how she is really “the perfect student.”  She’s obedient & compliant.  She does exactly what is asked of her the first time (wish it were that way at home!)  She said she is very very sweet.  While she’s not real boisterous and loud like some of the others, she still participates and makes her presence known.  She mentioned a story she’d read recently, something about Sally went to school on Tuesday and yadayadayada lots of other details.  And at the very end after lots of questions she asked the children what day did Sally go to school.  Only two children knew the answer.  And our McKinley was one of them!  I told her she has the memory of an elephant.  Mrs. Casilda continued with just what a joy it was to have McKinley in class (yeah, I realize that’s a line she uses with most of the parents) but then she went above it to tell us that McKinley makes her job easy.  And that she gratefully gets the sweet fruit though she knows we at home do all the labor.

Then I turned the tables on her, I made her cry!  I told her how McKinley had just yesterday morning “led devotion” with Jack.  She even signed & sang her catechism songs and then prayed about half of the Lord’s prayer!  What a gift to this mother’s heart.

So we are grateful for where we are at.  I love she only goes 2 days a week and one less hour each day.  Whereas she could have been gone for 15 hours from me this year she is only gone 8!  I know some of you think that sounds silly.  She is still sad to leave me each day, school doesn’t “excite” her really.  She’s sad & grumpy most mornings when I tell her it’s a school morning.  But I notice she comes jumping out of there in excitement every afternoon with a big smile on her face and always has “a great day!”  So I know she’s exactly where she needs to be.  And I’m so thankful the Lord has a plan for her and humble he guided this mommy’s heart!

These were taken on her first day of school in September!

Salmon-To-Go

In September, Beth and I traveled through Alaska. The first part of the trip was in Katmai National Park on the Alaskan Peninsula to photograph the grizzly bears on the Brooks River.  We stayed at the Brooks Camp in a cabin practically on the river. Access is by float plane since the Brooks Camp is on a remote lake.  We were there for 4 days watching and photographing the grizzly bears as they fished for the sockeye salmon. The bears arrive at this time of the year for the salmon run. Its easy fishing and they have a feast. I took 1600 grizzly photos.

Spin Cycle

The second part started when we flew back to Anchorage where we rented a car and drove to Talkeetna (the model for the hit TV series Northern Exposure) for one nite. The next day we did a flightseeing tour where we flew around Denali Peak (aka McKinley). The weather was perfectly clear. There is only a 30% probability of seeing Denali. We lucked out.  We landed on a glacier – very cool.

Denali and Glacier as seen from plane

On the Glacier

Then we drove to Denali National Park where we spent 3 nites in a cabin at the entrance. We did the grueling 11 hour round trip bus ride the next day to Wonder Lake – 80 miles on a dirt road. No public cars allowed. The place is highly regulated and controlled. But we did see plenty of wildlife and I got an incredible and lucky shot of a gray wolf as it popped its head above a bush to see what all of the commotion was about.

Grey Wolf in Denali National Park

Le foto e i filmati ripresi durante la spedizione alpinistica UOEI/Gamma al monte McKinley – 6194 m (Alaska – Maggio/Giugno 2009) la più alta montagna del Nord America e fra le più fredde del pianeta, raccontati direttamente dai protagonisti…

Clicca sull’immagine della locandina per visitare la pagina dedicata all’evento su Facebook.

P.S.: …e prossimamente anche in Radio Thule!

Today was a relaxing day – yay!   I needed one of those before it’s back to school all over again! (Last night wasn’t any kind of crazy, we just went down to one of the restaurants and had a few drinks.  I had a Harpoon Cider & a Gin & Tonic.)

Today, McKinley woke up at 6:45 because of the clock-setting back business, so I took him out and then tackled a bit of homework and other stuff I had to take care off.  When B rolled out of bed, we all went down the pond near our house and played in leaves, took pictures and enjoyed the beautiful day!

Then I started on a pot of chicken stock, which is boiling away right and smelling delicious!  After that, we carved our pumpkins!

Mine is on the left – with the wonky eyes!

Okay, I’m off to enjoy pumpkin pancakes and apple cider for dinner and hopefully a movie!  Hope everyone had a great sunday!

Happy Halloween!

He’s keepin’ an eye on the place while B & I go out for the evening!

P.S. I most definitely did not have Reeses  in my oatmeal this morning…nope, not me!

Does anyone really care what you go through?  Does nayone care that you are alone?  Or perhaps that you feel alone?  And what do you do in those situations?  Do you have anyone with whom you can share what it is that you are experiencing?

Click to hear the full podcast.

Co pewien czas, to tu, to tam, można napotkać nader rozpowszechnioną opinię, że z jakichś niepojętych powodów, my Polacy, jako nacja, mamy zawsze pod górkę. Ot, taki tragiczny naród. Przez los prześladowany. Nie lubią nas. Bierze się to najprawdopodobniej z powszechnej nieznajomości osiągnięć niektórych z naszych rodaków. Wstyd przyznać: podczas gdy my rozpamiętujemy swe porażki, świętujemy klęski – inni potrafią się chwalić swymi osiągnięciami lepiej i głośniej. Najwyższy czas skończyć z tą fałszywą skromnością. Dzisiaj: Leon Franciszek Czołgosz.

Podczas gdy zupełnie obce, różnojęzyczne encyklopedie i leksykony zgodnie zwą go Polakiem, polskie źródła, z typową dla naszego narodu skromnością, nazywają go „sympatykiem anarchizmu”. Niepotrzebnie. To naszemu rodakowi zawdzięcza swe powstanie oddział US Secret Service chroniący bezpieczeństwa amerykańskich prezydentów. Bez Czołgosza pięćset dolarówka wyglądałaby zupełnie inaczej. Gdyby nie on, najwyższy szczyt na kontynencie północnoamerykańskim nosiłby dziś pewnie inną nazwę. Mało kto, naprawdę mało kto może się pochwalić tak interesującym rejestrem czynów niepojętych jak nasz krajan. Spieprzył wszystko co można było spieprzyć. Również szereg rzeczy, których w zasadzie spieprzyć nie było można. Czołgosz nie był zwykłym, pierwszym z brzegu nieudacznikiem. Czołgosz był nieudacznikiem wyjątkowym. Ale po kolei.

Leoś Czołgosz przyszedł na świat w 1873 roku w jak najbardziej polskiej, wielodzietnej, ale za to katolickiej rodzinie w Alpena, w stanie Michigan. Tatuś Paweł ożenił się po śmierci mamy Marii z domu Nowak ponownie, ktoś w końcu musiał się zajmować sierotami. Wraz z dwoma braćmi wcześnie rozpoczął pracę w walcowni drutu, bracia przystąpili do strajku, zostali zwolnieni i mogli powrócić na rodzinną farmę. Tę niesprawiedliwość rodak nasz przeżył do głębi, ponieważ jednak musiał z czegoś żyć, kontynuował karierę, tym razem w hucie szkła. Będąc świadkiem codziennego wyzysku doznaje załamania nerwowego i wraca na łono rodziny. Rodzina wcale się z tego nie cieszy. Najmniej cieszy się macocha. Polityką się Leoś nie interesował, nie ma najmniejszego śladu, aby kiedykolwiek należał do jednej z licznych podówczas wywrotowych organizacji. Lub jakichkolwiek innych. Lubił natomiast czytać gazety i chodzić na rozmaite wykłady. Ten niepowstrzymany pęd do wiedzy okaże się zgubny. I w ten sposób dobrnęliśmy do Emmy Goldman.

Emma Goldman to też nie był byle kto, Emma Goldman to był proszę państwa ktoś. Obiekt uwielbienia wyrobników i filozofów. Legenda uciskanych. Gwiazda światowego anarchizmu. Kobieta pod każdym, naprawdę każdym względem niezwykła. Nawet dziś jej marmurowy nagrobek zdobi słuszny cytat i fałszywa data zgonu. Gdzież jej nie było. Wszędzie była. U progu XX stulecia była w Stanach Zjednoczonych i wygłaszała wykłady o ucisku człowieka przez człowieka oraz co można na to począć. Jednym ze słuchaczy był niejaki Czołgosz Leon. Wykłady spodobały mu się do tego stopnia, że postanowił poznać prelegentkę osobiście. Został jednak odpędzony przez najbliższe otoczenie gwiazdy. Otoczenie było przeświadczone, że ma do czynienia z policyjnym szpiegiem i prowokatorem. Coołgosz się nie zniechęcał. Doszło do tego, że anarchistyczne gazetki ostrzegały towarzyszy przed dziwakiem ponawiającym podejrzane próby zbliżeń.

Przełom wieków. To zadziwiające, ale czasy były wówczas takie, że marzeniem przyzwoitego anarchisty było spektakularne wyprawienie jakiejś głowy państwa na tamten świat. Najlepiej przy pomocy bomby. Z braku bomby – przy pomocy broni palnej. Głowy koronowane miały pierwszeństwo, w przypadku braku głowy koronowanej mógł to ewentualnie być oprawca zastępczy tzn. dyktator lub prezydent z dyktatorskimi zapędami. Gdy Leon Czołgosz przeczytał w gazecie, że Caetano Bresci zastrzelił akurat włoskiego króla Umberto I, postanowił pokazać, że Polak też potrafi i nabył rewolwer. Niezła kanalia była z tego Umberto, akurat odznaczył orderem generała Fiorenzo Bava-Beccarisa w nagrodę za otwarcie ognia do demonstracji składającej się głównie z kobiet i dzieci protestujących przeciw podwyżce cen chleba. Mediolański bruk spłynął krwią, ofiar śmiertelnych było ponoć trzysta. Pomińmy jednak na chwilę dyskusyjną kwestię sensu lub bezsensu terroru indywidualnego i poprzestańmy na twierdzeniu, że wzburzenie Bresciego było zrozumiałe. Podobnie jak i fala sympatii z jaką w pewnych kręgach spotkał się jego czyn. Motywy Czołgosza, który udał się do Buffalo w stanie Nowy York w celu odstrzelenia urzędującego i demokratycznie wybranego prezydenta pozostaną niejasne.

William McKinley nie był może prezydentem wybitnym, był jednak prezydentem powszechnie lubianym. Wyprowadził kraj z poważnego kryzysu ekonomicznego, umocnił międzynarodową pozycję USA, oparł ostatecznie dolara o parytet złota. Nie było powodu aby go nie lubić i dlatego lubiano go powszechnie. Akurat został wybrany na następną kadencję. I teraz będzie tragikomicznie. Nasz rodak zamieszkuje w Buffalo w pobliżu wystawy panamerykańskiej i czeka na prezydenta. W końcu 6 września pragniie zbliżyć się do głowy państwa ale nie wie jak to uczynić. Ustawia się zatem w kolejce zwolenników i sympatyków aby głowa państwa mogła zbliżyć się do niego z zamiarem uściśnięcia mu dłoni. Ach te amerykańskie rytuały. Sciskanie nie dochodzi do skutku bo Czołgosz dzierży w ręku zawinięty w chusteczkę do nosa rewolwer kalibru 0,32. Udaje mu się przystawić broń do piersi prezydenta i – zanim zostanie obezwładniony przez otoczenie – oddać dwa strzały.

Cresci strzelał z pewnego dystansu i trafił bez pudła. Czołgosz miał łatwiej, ale mu nie całkiem wyszło. Prezydent nie straci przytomności i zdoła jeszcze uchronić swego niedoszłego mordercę przed nieuchronnym linczem (Go easy with him, boys!). Po ośmiu dniach umrze w męczarniach na skutek powikłań zakażenia odniesionych ran.

Zaaresztowany, Czołgosz podaje fałszywe nazwisko (Fred Nieman), co jest o tyle zabawne, że policja znajduje w jego kieszeni kartę wyborczą, z której wynika nie tylko jak się nazywa, lecz również, że był w niedawnych wyborach zarejestrowany jako republikanin, ergo wyborca McKinleya. Postawiony przed sądem zostaje po krótkim procesie – przy aplauzie sali – skazany na karę śmierci.

Od Czołgosza odżegnują się wszyscy. Emma Goldman próbuje przedstawić go początkowo jako biednego, godnego politowania, zbłąkanego matoła, ściąga to jednak gromy na jej głowę zarówno ze strony kół oficjalnych jak i dotychczasowych sympatyków. Największe psy wieszają jednak na Czołgoszu anarchiści twierdząc, że dotąd nikomu nie udało się tak skutecznie zaszkodzić jednym głupim i nieprzemyślanym czynem anarchistycznej sprawie. Pogrzeb McKinleya odbył się w Washingtonie i zgromadził nieprzeliczone tłumy. Naród w zgodnym wysiłku rzucił się do wznoszenia niezliczonych pomników i mauzoleów upamiętniających zmarłego. Jakże żałośnie i patetycznie muszą brzmieć w tym kontekście ostatnie słowa Czołgosza:

„I killed the President because he was the enemy of the good people — the good working people. I am not sorry for my crime“. (Zabiłem prezydenta, ponieważ był wrogiem dobrych ludzi, dobrych pracujących ludzi. Nie żałuję swego czynu).

Leon Czołgosz umiera na krześle elektrycznym 29. października 1901 roku w więzieniu w Auburn. Ku utrapieniu rodziny pozbawiony zostaje chrześcijańskiego pochówku. Przewidując nieuniknione zbezczeszczenie zwłok, władze decydują się na zalanie trumny stężonym kwasem siarkowym. Nasz rodak rozpuszcza się całkowicie w ciągu 24 godzin.

Tak kończy się historia Leona Czołgosza, który pragnąc zdobyć uznanie tych, którzy go nie lubili postanowił – w interesie tych tych, którzy jego poparcia nie pragnęli, kierując się ideami, których nie rozumiał i wychodząc z błędnych założeń – zamordować wybranego przez siebie prezydenta, ściągając na siebie niechęć i nienawiść wszystkich. Gdyby nie pomoc zarazków gangreny – nawet to by mu się nie udało.

Today, I didn’t go to yoga OR zumba and instead I…

played outside with B & McKinley in the rain!

It’s really starting to look like fall:

& then I came inside and made Chicken Apple Curry! Yummm.

(it’s WAY more appetizing than it looks!)

I am going to TRADER JOE’S next week, which is cause for huge font and excitement, but here’s the question..what should I buy?  What do you recommend?

I was really excited about RotaRun.  I had to.  This was my first 21K race. 

My family and I, as well as my nephew and daughter’s classmate, left the house at 4:30 a.m.  We reached the vicinity of the starting line at around 5 a.m.  There was already a long queue toward the parking area.  Sensing that this might take quite a while, I asked my wife to do the parking chores instead.  I looked at my watch and saw that there was still enough time (around 20 minutes) to take a leak.  Afterwards, I leisurely proceeded to the starting area, knowing fully well that I still had enough time for my stretches.  Suddenly, I heard the countdown, and “Bang!” the gun went off.  I hurried off, starting dead last of the pack.

I passed the first water station, but I did not see any kilometer markers (I use these markers to gauge my pace, as I do not have any GPS watch).  There was not going to be any along the route, I would later found out.  I reached the first of a series of U-turns at a comfortable pace.  I got my first colored loop cord, which had a rather small diameter (too big for my arm yet too small for my head).  I had to raise it up to my biceps, fearing that I might accidentally drop it along the way. 

On Lawton Avenue, the runners had to contend with vehicle traffic going in the same direction.  Upon reaching the U-turn slot at Gate 3, I nearly got bumped by a vehicle, which tried to get past the runners (talking about how to court disaster).  I got another loop cord, and it was now getting harder to keep them in place.  When I reached another water station, I asked the people manning it if they knew the distance we had travelled but had no luck.  I would eventually find my luck, a few meters after entering Heritage Park, from a runner, who had a GPS watch.  He told me that the distance was about 11.8 km from starting point.

We left Heritage Park and traced back our route to the finish line.  I was now getting tired.  I had to take frequent sips of electrolyte and munches of energy beans.  On McKinley Road, a young runner told me that we were near the finish line.  I was surprised.  I glanced at my watch.  It read 1:50.  I could not believe it.  Then, I heard someone shout my name.  It was Bald Runner, cheering me on.  I felt invigorated.  I saw a sign, which read, “400 meters to the finish, go runners go!”  Maybe, the guy was right after all.

At the finish line, I asked a fellow runner if he thought the distance was shorter than 21 km.  He said that it was shorter by about 2 km considering his fast finish time, although he could not confirm this, as he had no GPS watch.  My unofficial time was 1:53.  I received a medal for whatever it’s worth.  I had mixed feelings.

Later at home, after reading several blogs, my suspicions bore me out.  It was indeed shorter, not by a small distance though but by 3 km.  What?  Is this some kind of a joke?  It couldn’t be.  This event was managed by Takbo.Ph.  How on earth could that happen?

I had this rather nasty feeling inside me that something was about to go pfft in this race.  There were no kilometer markers.  The water station people were unaware of the route distances as well.  There were just too many U-turns and loop cords to carry (I indeed dropped one of these cords but got notice and managed to pick it up).  A rubberized loop cord would have been a better option.  The management of traffic at the U-turns also leaves much to be desired.

We know that organizers have their shortcomings.  They are not perfect.  Distance measurement errors are usually taken lightly by runners.  However, to fall short by such a large figure is unforgiveable – a grave, mortal sin.  To say that the race distance is inaccurate is an understatement.  There are simply no race standards, in which errors of this magnitude will find acceptability.  We are not measuring light years here.  Maybe, Takbo.Ph got way too excited about their first race organizing chores that they forgot altogether to check on this elementary race component.  They may have assumed too many things.  Somebody just forgot to tell somebody about something.

Takbo.Ph had accepted the challenge and had staked their name and reputation with it.  They had the opportunity to shine.  However, this ain’t going to happen.  Not yet.

Family friendly to be sure. We approve. Neat space with plenty of room for the kids to run around. Variety of gifts to browse.

Reasonable pricing. Quiet. Nice views.

Mckinleysprings.com
509-894-4528

I have a feeling I will dislike holiday weekends until I becomes successful enough that they become a VACATION from work, not a REASON to work.

& lucky me, it was a$$hole day at work today.  I got screamed at by soo many neurotic, penny-pinching parents it wasn’t funny!  Total bummer!  I am ready to not be crazy busy, the kind of busy where you barely have time to shove anything in your mouth, let alone something healthy.  (Case in point, I have had pizza for three meals out of the last four.)

Thankfully, I’m off tomorrow & get to go for a mountain bike ride with my dad   (and tackle my ever-growing to-do list, yipee..)

picture of the day

McKinley loves him some Chobani!

Sorry my last few posts have been horrifyingly boring, I just can’t keep my eyes open for more than this!

Like any other Americans, the family living in the big white house on Pennsylvania avenue has traditions surrounding the holiday season as well. Sit back, and get comfortable, while we explore how Presidents have celebrated Christmas from President George Washington to President Barack Obama.

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. ~ President Calvin Coolidge

History of Christmas at the White House (1789-1849)

President George Washington and First Lady Martha (1789-1797)
President John Adams and First Lady Abigale (1797-1801)
President Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
President James Madison (1809-1817)
President James Monroe and First Lady Elizabeth (1817-1825)
President John Quincy Adams and First Lady Louisa (1825-1829)
President Andrew Jackson and First Lady Rachel (1829-1837)
President Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
President William Henry Harrison and First Lady Anna (1841-1841)
President John Tyler and First Ladies Lettitia and Julia (1841-1845)
President James K. Polk and First Lady Sarah (1845-1849)
President Zachary Taylor and First Lady Margaret (1849-1850)

History of Christmas at the White House (1850-1901)

President Millard Fillmore and First Ladies Abigail and Caroline (1850-1853)
President Franklin Pierce and First Lady Jane (1853-1857)
President James Buchanan (1857-1861)
President Abraham Lincoln and First Lady Mary (1861-1865)
President Andrew Johnson and First Lady Elizabeth (1865-1869)
President Ulysses S. Grant and First Lady Julia (1869-1877)
President Rutherford B. Hayes and First Lady Lucy (1877-1881)
President James A. Garfield and First Lady Lucretia (1881-1881)
President Chester A. Arthur and First Lady Ellen (1881-1885)
President Grover Cleveland and First Lady Francis (1885-1889, (1893-1897)
President Benjamin Harrison and First Lady Caroline and Mary (1889-1893)
President William McKinley and First Lady Ida (1897-1901)

History of Christmas at the White House (1901-1953)

President Theodore Roosevelt and First Ladies Alice and Edith (1901-1909)
President William Howard Taft and First Lady Helen (1909-1913)
President Woodrow Wilson and First Ladies Ellen and Edith (1913-1921)
President Warren G. Harding and First Lady Florence (1921-1923)
President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace (1923-1929)
President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou (1929-1933)
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor (1933-1945)
President Harry S. Truman and First Lady Bess (1945-1953)

History of Christmas at the White House (1953-1977)

President Dwight Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower (1953-1961)
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (1961-1963)
President Lyndon Johnson and First Lady Claudia (Lady Bird) (1963-1969)
President Richard Nixon and First Lady Patricia (1969-1974)
President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty (1974-1977)

History of Christmas at the White House (1977-2009)

President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalyn Carter (1977-1981)
President Ronald Regan and First Lady Nancy (1981-1989)
President George HW Bush and First Lady Barbara (1989-1993)
President William J. Clinton and First Lady Hillary (1993-2001)
President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush (2001-2008)
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (2009- )

Back to Happy Holidays Main Page

by Chris Moline, LEED AP

At Alexandria Carpet One & Commercial Carpets of America, we are proud to carry the very-green line of un-dyed wools by Earth Weave. Earth Weave starts by using only pure wool with no dyes, pesticides, or stain protections that are commonly used in the carpet industry. The application of these chemicals would greatly affect indoor air quality through off-gassing of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). The primary backing used is also an industry-first combination of hemp and cotton. Earth Weave is the only carpet company to incorporate an all natural primary backing that is specifically designed for use in biodegradable flooring.

The hardy hemp fiber is used due to its durability, strength, and mold and mildew resistance. Wool yarns are locked into place with a natural adhesive that is derived from the rubber tree that is completely biodegradable and non-toxic. Jute is used for the secondary backing. Jute was commonly used in the carpet industry before the introduction of the synthetic backings currently employed. This type of backing completes the picture of a completely natural and non-toxic carpet.
Following are the available styles and colors:

DOLOMITE
Snowfield

Granite

Tussock

Ursus

PYRENEES
Wheat

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Snowfield, Granite, Tussock, Ursus
RAINIER
Snowfield, Granite, Tussock, Ursus

For more information, you may email me directly or call 703-212-6383 and you will get the best, most up-to-date information available on this and many other natural floorcoverings.

All the best,

Chris

Thanks to my school being closed today, I had plenty of time this morning to play with the McKinley-monster…

It looked like this when I woke up.  I impatiently waited for a text message from school saying school was canceled.  It didn’t come until AFTER I was done cleaning off the Jeep.  I  went back inside & threw my snowy mittens at B & told him to get up, so we could play with the dog.  The below photos were taken at the pond where we did bootcamp.

I should lease him to the NBA…

Don’t ask me why I look ridiculous – I don’t know.

Alright, that was a quickie – we’re off to the grocery store before this delightful mix of sleet/freezing rain comes to visit this afternoon!

Edited to add 5pm: We’ve got about 8-10 inches now and I think we might avoid all of the disgusting rain/ice etc!  Yay