Yesterday, December 7, was Pearl Harbor Day. Much of the day I was out-and-about. Dad’s brother, my uncle Frank, died on the USS Arizona that day, and especially since the 50th anniversary, 1991, it’s been a very significant date for me. I visited the Arizona Memorial in November, 1985, Frank’s burial place literally underneath my […]
UPDATE February 23, 2013: Still unsettled…. I sent this letter to the 28 members of the Minnesota Orchestra Association Executive Committee last week.
There are benefits of being on too-many e-mail lists. Surprisingly often, into the inbox, will come a nugget, as happened today, when Kathy forwarded to me, something Howie had forwarded to her: a 30 minute radio conversation with former Minnesota Education Association President Donald C. Hill of Northfield. You can listen to the entire conversation, […]
PRE-NOTE: I encourage you to watch the video at the end of this post. Thirty-five years ago, sometime in early December of 1977, I did my first homemade Christmas card for friends and family, a very simple card with illustration by my then 13 year old son, Tom, and a hand printed short phrase by […]
A week ago today, Black Friday was raging. Actually, it began on Thanksgiving Day, and if one carries it even further, I first heard Christmas (shopping) music at my coffee stop right after November 1. (click to enlarge) Christmas in America is not so much a celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace; […]
Pre-Note: This post has been held for some time, with precedence given to Election 2012. The topic of Public Education is timeless and crucial. Bob Barkley has very strong “street creds” in public education, from beginning public school teaching in 1958, through years of Quality Ed work within the National Education Association, through Executive Director […]
We went to Lincoln this afternoon. It was our second try. Last night was sold out at the local theatre. Today, the theatre was full. The film, of the last three months of Lincoln’s life, and the passage of the 13th Amendment, is well worth the abundant kudos. It is worth seeing. Here’s one of […]
Happy Thanksgiving! Tuesday evening we took the short drive across the Mississippi River to neighboring South St. Paul. The occasion was the Middle and High School Fall Bands Concert, in which one of our grandkids, 7th grader Ted, was a participant, and even a soloist! Truth be told, I almost forgot about the event. We […]
I wrote about the first segment of Ken Burns The Dust Bowl here. Part Two, last evening, was equally compelling. You can watch both part one and two here. Together, the two segments total nearly four hours. They are available on-line through December 4. They are well worth your time. And they provide lots of […]
Sunday evening we watched part one of Ken Burns’ latest photo-documentary: the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. I’d urge everyone to watch this series, which is playing on public broadcasting around the nation. You can watch the program online here, but only through Monday, November 19. Consult your local listing regarding part two. Born in […]