Fettes College in Edinburgh, Scotland.

DSC_1816, originally uploaded by Zeus Ocean Storm.

Allegedly, an inspirational component in JKRowling’s creation. That and the rest of the Edinburgh skyline and culture. But this post is not a comparitive analysis. Why not?

While I have seen several of the Harry Potter films, I have yet to read any, yes – any, of the Harry Potter books. Most likely because I generally do not respond well with populist and pulp productions. That goes for books, movies and television – the three most prevalent presentations. Case in point, the book that I am reading right now, A Son of Thunder by Henry Mayer, was copyrighted in 1991. But I digress.

I am going to read them. Why now?

I have been on the fence, wife and both adult children have read the series and are are quivering with impatience for the next movie. (I have seen several of the movies, staying awake through most of them.) Adult daugher has even authored a fan fiction book using the HP character set.

Also, a passing interest generated from being in Edinburgh last year. The tour director pointed out the places where JKR started writing the series and the place that influenced the architecture of Hogwarts.

But I have so many other books in the round to it pile.

I just write what I wanted to write. I write what amuses me. It’s totally for myself.
J. K. Rowling
British fantasy author

Time, Space & Place. Saturday, July 4, 2009 in Freeport, Maine for a small town’s celebration of America’s Independence Day.

The Letter P on Flickr.

Son & I brought along (of course) our cameras and settled into a letter P theme. This is applied Street Photography – capturing collectively shared experiences and remembrances.

Without much effort, I captured fourteen P’s. I hope you like them. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts.

PETA to artist Indiana: EAT vegetarian

PORTLAND — Artist Robert Indiana isn’t too keen on adding the word “vegetarian” to his famous EAT sign that went on public display for the first time in 44 years last month.

Wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier to add one “M” and change the sign to EAT MEAT?

I’m just saying.

On this day in history, Mainer Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain gave the command to fix bayonets.
In his words:

“At that crises, I ordered the bayonet. The word was enough. It ran like fire along the line, from man to man, and rose into a shout, with which they sprang forward on the enemy, now not 30 yards away. The effect was surprising; many of the enemy’s first line threw down their arms and surrendered. An officer fired his pistol at my head with one hand, while he handed me his sword with the other. Holding fast by our right, and swinging forward our left, we made an extended “right wheel,” before which the enemy’s second line broke and fell back, fighting from tree to tree, many being captured, until we had swept the valley and cleared the front of nearly our entire brigade.”

http://schwartz.eng.auburn.edu/ACW/lrtmap.docs/chamberlain.html

For this action, he was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. His citation reads:

Daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults, and carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top.

For a good read on JLC’s Civil War activities, I recommend Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. This book was the source for the PBS movie on the The Civil War. Shaara takes the reader from before, then during, then after that epic three day battle. This book became the foundation of the Shaara family trilogy on JLC’s civil war career, starting with Of Gods and Generals and finishing with Last Full Measure. Read these three books for a full appreciation of how our country transitioned to We The People.

Killer Angels was mandatory professional reading when I taught at the Air Force Senior NCO Academy. The book piqued my interest into the Civil War and introduced me to a heroic Mainer – Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Since then, I have walked the hallowed ground of the Round Tops, read the Gettysburg Address at the National Cemetery in Gettysburg, and now, frequently drive by his statute at Bowdoin College.

History lives on when we remember.

The Common Law, originally uploaded by Zeus Ocean Storm.

In several short days, American’s will be celebrating the 233rd birthday of our greatest country on earth. That always brings The Declaration of Independence to mind. Recently I have been to Williamsburg, VA – a true patriotic pilgrimmage if there ever was on.

This has followed up with a renewed interest in our founding fathers. So far, I have read the American Sphinx : The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph Ellis (worthy of another post currently in draft). A Son of Thunder: Patrick Henry and the American Republic by Henry Mayer is next. And know that the third in this historic trilogy will be a reading of John Adams by David McCullough.

But I digress. This picture was taken in Jamestown – inside the first church in America. English Common Law is the law of our land, however, I remain intrigued by the parrallel Scottish Law concept. Common law is fully based on prior decisions which results in the rigid automation of precedence. Scottish law is more flexible, implemented to find the truth first, then do what is right under the circumstances. Then this plaque appears in the first surviving English settlement. Setting and settling once and for all the law of the land. But all laws have prior precedence.

Now the purpose of this post – some of the more and most remarkable precedences that come to mind. Can you recognize their source.

Thou shalt not….

Know that before God,

We whose names are underwritten, This one is personally significant as I am a direct descendent of one of the signers.

When in the course of human events……

We the People of the United States

THE Conventions of a number of the States

And we are today, a nation of laws. Thomas Jefferson would chafe at the size of the federal government. In fact, for Thomas Jefferson, all federalist were evil. But here we are today, the republic to which we stand, with an ever more pure federalist government. Laws are needed. They are the boundaries that protect and preserve our lifes, our liberties, and our pursuit of happiness.

But then again, perhaps it’s time for a restorative resetting revolt.

We The People will celebrate our Independence Day.

#15. “Sometimes, I realize that I don’t have fleeting thoughts. They are really fleeing thoughts”. RMSmithJr 20090620

#16. “Patience may be a virtue, but prolonged patience is a weakness.” RMSmithJr 20090619

Stephen T. Johns was assassinated in the line of duty on Wednesday, June 10, 2009.

I know, the word assassinated is usually reserved for public figures killed by bad & mad men because of ideological differences. Stephen was a black man working as a security guard for the national holocaust museum. His killer, a mad man & a bad man, was filled with hatred for all things racist. There is no greater ideological difference.

As of right now, there are 9,258 google news articles related to this tragedy. Three memorial funds are being set up in Stephen’s honor.

Stephen’s singular act of dedication and courage also deserves additional, albeit sadly, posthumous acolades.

1. The Presidential Medal of Freedom, “It is designed to recognize individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” “

2. The Congressional Gold Medal, “awarded to an individual who performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States.”

3. The Purple Heart. This one may be more difficult to justify since the core eligibility is restricted to military personnel. However, its purpose is to “Being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States or as a result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed forces” James W. Von Brunn was an enemy of the United States.

Mr. Johns, you are a hero that we never knew, or would have known if this travesty against humanity had not occured. Your selfless act is deserves the accolades of this grateful nation.

I will be forwarding this message to the White House and all members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation for their consideration.

Investing. Look at the stocks listed in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Look back 10 years for best performance.

By up to $250 shares of the best performing stock. The $250 amount is my quarterly budgeted amount for personal investing.

This practical exercise will also be useful to learn my way around my eTrade account.

Repeat quarterly to round out personal portfolio.

Came home from vacation to find the master bath room shower leaking at the wall. Troubleshot it last night. Figured out the shower arm was busted at the brass fitting. Was going to fix it this weekend. After all, how much water was leaking.

Way more than I thought.

Paint bubbles started appearing this afternoon in the living room ceiling. Deja vu – this has happened before with the condensation on a hot summer day coupled with more than at least several loads of cold water wash/rinse. (Who had the bright idea to place the master bathroom and laundry room above the living room anyways?)

So I got home, removed the faulty six inch shower arm and headed off to the land of orange aprons. The selection of shower heads was monumental in scope, size and diversity. At least six dozen variants. Keep it simple, all I need is to get wet, get soapy, get rinsed, get out. Tropical breezes are way too optional.

So I get home, again. #1 son capably and very competently assists under my pretend tutelage. No more leaks.

Have dinner with appropriate attitude adjustment beverages.

The paint bubbles of water remain dangling, tantalizing. It is now their time. I pop several of them with scissors and capture the minimal water. One has a persistent drip, drop and dribble. Get the battery operated drill with a 5/8″ spade bit. Drill a hole to relieve the unknown pressure.

It was like turning on a faucet in the ceiling. A steady stream of water poured out into our panic. #1 son gets a plastic mixing bowl. I then run and grab an empty plastic coffee bucket, with a handle. We alternate standing under the torrent with the water tossed out into the rain on the deck. Finally, it slows enough so we can catch our breath and get our cameras to further capture the photographic evidence.

Son and I are laughing, chuckling, guffawing and audibly disturbing the global IT conference call going on in dear wife’s/mother’s work-from-home office. Soorrrryyyyy.

Do I dare drill another hole for further pressure release?

I’m still away, but will be returning towards reality promptly.

The subtitle of my vacation could be, Three Boats with other stuff in between. Given the historical context of where I am visiting, boat riding is an appropriate theme.

I am spending this week in time in Williamsburg, Virginia. Like the tri-cornered hat, this area has three points of interest; Jamestown-the first permanent settlement. Yorktown – the beginning of the end of the Revolutionary War. And Jamestown in between – where many ideas developed as men of the minds coalesced.

The first boat was the ferry from Cape May, New Jersey to Lewes, Maryland. Sure, we could have droven around and down through the Philadelphia, Baltimore & DC corridor, but where is the fun in that? (self-answering question).

The second boat was on the schooner Serenity for a sunset cruise out of Yorktown.

The third boat was on the Ms Hampton II for a harbor tour from Hampton to the Norfolk Navy Base. Gray ships of steel that project America’s might across the globe. There is no other naval force even remotely equivalently that these ships can’t squash like a bug.

We The People came over to this great land on boats. It is only appropriate that boat rides should be included in this experience of history. There will be pictures posted soon on my flickr site.

Until then, Be Free.