First in War, First in Peace: A Eulogy For the Man Who Transcends the Ages December 19, 2010

General of the Armies Forever

On this Date in History: General George Washington was eulogized on this date in 1799 with words that have come to describe him in American lore ever since. The ailing former president had died at his home, Mount Vernon, on December 14, 1799 and Congress chose a Virginian to deliver the eulogy. The man had been a close associate of Washington for much of his life and served with distinction under Washington’s command in the Continental Army. The eulogy went as follows….you’ll recognize the beginning:

Different Writing But Words Last Forever

“First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble and endearing scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere—uniform, dignified and commanding—his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting. . . . Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues. . . . Such was the man for whom our nation mourns.”

Who was the man who delivered those memorable words? “Light Horse” Harry Lee, who served as a general during the American Revolution who had a son named Robert. Robert E. Lee went on to establish quite a legacy himself. The mourning period for Washington went on for a couple of months (click here for details) with “mock” funerals and processions held in cities all across the fledgling nation. The official day of mourning was what would have been Washington’s 68th birthday, February 22, 1800. If you’ve been a consistent reader of this here blog, then you can tell the high regard that I have for General Washington. We often hear of lists of the “greatest presidents” and most often, you find Washington’s name at the top, even above Lincoln. People tend to forget that, without George Washington, we would probably not have a country. Many of the traditions and policies, even today, of the nation can be traced to George Washington, whom in 1976, President Ford posthumously appointed George Washington General of the Armies of the United States (history of title) and specified that George Washington would forever be considered the highest ranking American General Officer, past and present. Nobody does it better…not even Bond.

Try Reading This

Prior to that, in 1663, the Indians were brought to Christianity. The Massachusetts Bay Colony founded the first college in America in 1636 with a primary purpose being to educate Puritan ministers. Two years later, it was named for John Harvard who had left the college his personal 400 book library and half of his estate. Harvard’s first president had a dream of educating Indians to preach Puritanism to their fellow Indians. Several Indians were chosen to attend Harvard’s “Indian College” but only four attended as the others died of “hecktick fevers.” Joel Iacoomis was returning from a trip to Martha’s Vineyard when he became shipwrecked on Nantuckett, where he was done in by the natives who apparently didn’t appreciate his education. One, named simply Eleazer, died after he wrote a elegy in Greek and Latin. John Wompas didn’t die but instead quit after a year and bought a house on Boston Common. He got thrown in jail for not paying his debts but escaped to be an interesting real estate agent…he sold an entire town he didn’t own! It’s unclear if he brokered the deal for Manhattan. It must be noted that John Harvard’s Journal in 1997 said that Wompas became a “mariner.” I like the real estate story better. Only Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck graduated. He spoke Greek and Latin. But, then he died of tuberculosis when the next spring rolled around. I suppose that the Indians figured that attending Harvard was not a recipe for a long life because no one else signed up.

The Indian College sat vacant for many years, housing just a printing press. It was on that press that John Eliot produced the Algonquian Bible. Eliot’s work was the first bible produced in America.  It was 1200 pages and was called, “probably as good as any version that has been made…in a previously unwritten and so called barbarous language.” It took three years to print and its no wonder considering the english word “begat” translated to “wunnaumonieu” in Algonquian. A rare first edition turned up and was sold at auction on this date in 1986 for $220,000, which seems like a paltry sum to me for something so rare…but then again, there’s probably no one left who can speak Algonquian so it’s really just an expensive conversation piece.

Too Old To Be Guilty July 10, 2010

If we followed the logic of a 1787 Philadelphia judge, old folks could rule the dinner table and the streets

On This Date In History: In May 1787, an old woman in Philadelphia was grabbed and attacked by a group of people who cut her head in an ancient tradition of bleeding out any spells she may have cast. They thought she was a witch. This year there has been a heat wave in the Eastern United States.  The media tends to latch on to Global Warming  these days but the truth is, it has happened before.  In early July 1787, a big heat wave was going on in the city of Brotherly Love. Dogs and horses died. The fields were dry and tempers grew as hot as the weather. No word on whether anyone blamed Global Warming in 1787.   However,  at the same time, 55 men were gathered in Independence Hall arguing over the forming Constitution. If you look at the painting of the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to the left, you will note the central figure is General Washington. Just about every painting you see will feature the Father of the Country prominently. That is because he is largely credited with holding the conventioneers together. Not by words but simply by his presence. His silent, strong leadership was what everyone looked toward to get them through the turmoil. Another person in Philadelphia did not have the General to save her.

Philadelphia: City of Brotherly Love

The old woman who was tormented in early May was a German known as Korbmacher. During the heatwave, a little boy died. Some on the streets of Philadelphia chose to blame her and attacked her again On This Date in 1787. The Pennsylvania Evening Herald story read, “We are sorry to hear that the poor woman who suffered so much some time ago, under the imputation of being a witch, has again been attacked by an ignorant and inhuman mob. On Tuesday last she was carried through several of the streets, and was hooted and pelted as she passed along. A gentleman who interfered in her favour was greatly insulted, while those who recited the innumerable instances of her art, were listened to with curiousity and attention.”

Korbmacher Means Basket Maker In German

Eight days later, Korbmacher, which means basket-maker, was dead and the Philadelphia Witch Hunt was over. The newspapers wrote that they hoped justice would be done to those who had perpetrated such a beating on a person, let alone an old woman. Well, a trial did get underway as several people said they would testify against some of the alleged attackers. Three things are interesting about the trial. First was it was held just prior to Halloween also known as All Hallows Eve or Witches Eve. Second, there is no record of the results of the trial. The third, and perhaps most intriguing is the commentary about the innocence of Korbmacher from the bench by the judge:

Judge: Old ladies are innocent

“what! that a poor wretch whose sorrows and infirmities have sunk her eyes into her head, and whose features are streaked with the wrinkles of extreme old age, should therefore become an object of terror, and be endowed with the powers of witchcraft — it is an idle and absurd superstition! If, however, some damsels that I have seen, animated with the bloom of youth, and equipped with all the grace of beauty, if such women were indicted for the offence, the charge might receive some countenance, for they are indeed calculated to charm and bewitch us. But age and infirmity, though they deserve our compassion, have nothing in them that can alarm or fascinate our nature.”

James W von Brunn probably wishes his judge was the the 1787 Philadelphia judge

So according to the judge…Korbmacher was innocent simply because of her age.   If we used this judge’s logic today, then the 88-year-old man who killed a bunch of people at the Holocaust Museum in Washington would be set free because of his age.  Carrying out the judge’s logic in 1787, if  Korbmacher  had been young in the “bloom of youth” well then she may very well be guilty of being a witch because everyone knows that young women have a way of putting men under their spell!!!  How’s that for justice? All of this on the same streets that were at the very time witness to the construction of the very document that governs justice for all for this great nation. This witch tale is not remembered by most but it did make its way into a book that was reviewed by The  Spectator.  The author of the book was surprised to find that there is nothing in the record to show that any of the members of the Constitutional Convention made any notes related to the Philadelphia Witch Incident because it was widely reported at the time.  It’s too bad that General Washington didn’t go for a stroll at the hour of Korbmacher’s demise…his presence alone could have done what the Constitution could not.

Weather Bottom Line:  The biggest benefit of the Friday’s front was the rain.  We needed it as we are behind both in the near term and also for the year.  The second best thing about it was a slight reduction in humidity levels.  Dewpoints in the mid to upper 60′s have brought some relief.  The heat was brought down a bit but we’re still going to be lurking around the 90 degree mark for the weekend.  This front represented a change in the long wave pattern: i.e. the jet stream.  The ridge that had been limiting rain activity will be broken down such that for at least the first half of the week, disturbances will be allowed to move in that will initiate rain and t’storm activity and also afternoon heating will be enough to support afternoon and evening storms.  That is something that we haven’t seen for a  few weeks so the prospects for rain will be enhanced for several days, which is a good thing.

George Washington Preferred Cincinnatus Over King George May 22, 2010

General Washington Would Not Be King!

Treaty of Paris-From L to R: John Jay, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Henry Laurens, William T. Franklin...the rest were too Chicken to Show up

On this date in History:  In 1782, there was some chaos in the new nation.  There was a shortage of funds to pay foreign debts and Congress was arguing about what to do.  Beyond that, while the British had surrendered at Yorktown, there was no peace treaty with the mother country and many thousands of Royal troops remained in the colonies.  Skirmishes and small battles continued on part of the frontier.  In general, the major fighting for the colonies was over but true independence would not come until November 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. 

Adams, Franklin and Jefferson collaborated on the Declaration of Independence But Jefferson Had the Mightiest Pen

Now, most of leaders in the colonial independence movement were from the wealthy classes and were, for lack of a better word, the elites.  Many of the founders were well educated in a classical sense and were some of the wealthiest members of society.  John Hancock was a merchant who was recognized by many historians as the richest of all those in America at the time.  General George Washington was not rolling in cash but the value of his land holdings put his net worth near the top of the list.  Thomas Jefferson enjoyed some financial success but his business decisions were not always sound.  But, his knowledge of historical ideas and his ability to master the language gave him a tremendous ability to express ideas and ideals.  John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson were charged with writing an independence declaration.  Adams and Franklin pushed Jefferson to actually pen the document because they acknowledged his greater written skills.  The ideals put forth on the Declaration of Independence were not new ideas as they had been espoused in the past, most notably by John Locke.  But, it was the way that Jefferson expressd those ideals that makes the document so remarkable.  Jefferson wrote  that “Bacon, Locke and Newton … I consider them as the three greatest men that have ever lived, without any exception, and as having laid the foundation of those superstructures which have been raised in the Physical and Moral sciences.”  

George Washington considered himself a planter much along the lines of the Roman tradition of Cincinnatus.  Early in the Roman empire, the Senate ruled Rome.  In a time of war, land holders were called to come and form an army to defend the empire.  In such a time of strife, a dictator was appointed and given temporary powers to rule until the end of the conflict.  Cincinnatus was called to duty in 458 BC and successfully led the defense of Rome.  When the conflict was over,  he resigned his position and returned to his farm.  This was the Roman tradition until around the time of Julius Caesar, who never relinquished the lucrative dictator position.  When several senators got together and murdered him, assassination was introduced into the world of politics.  When Augustus came to power, he remained as dictator but returned much of the rule of Rome to the Senate in the tradition of Cincinnatus while he controled the army on the frontier of the empire.  Augustus preferred to be called “principate” or “first citizen” rather than Caesar.    While Jefferson was greatly influenced by Locke, Washington’s demeanor was patterned after Cincinnatus.   

General Washington Resigning His Commission to Congress. He Voluntarily Surrendered Absolute Power, Not Once, But Twice. The Definition of the man, his character and integrity.

In the atmosphere of an unsettled and uncertain condition that prevailed in the colonies between Yorktown in October 1781 and the Treaty of Paris in 1783,  a proposal arose from officers in the army to settle the situation by proclaiming George Washington as King George I.  He had the ability to seize absolute power since he was the well respected leader of the entire Continental Army.  And many colonists put their Faith in his hands.  Yet,  On This Date in 1782, General George Washington refused to become king when he quickly dispatched such notions, writing from his headquarters in Newburgh, NY  that no such occurrence in the war gave him ”…more painful sensations…” than such talk.  He said that viewed such expressions with “abhorrence and reprehend with severity.”   The officer who had written the proposal to the general was admonished when Washington concluded, “if you have any regard for your country, concern for yourself or  posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your mind and never communicate, as from yourself, or anyone else, a sentiment of the like nature. “    The word of General Washington was formidable, thus saving the Democracy before it even really got started. The Constitution was adopted in 1787 and the General became the first President in 1789.  Eight years later, for a second time,  General Washington voluntarily gave up power when he refused to be nominated for a third term even though he had been elected twice as President by a unanimous vote of the electoral college.  Not once, but twice, did General Washington refuse the temptation of absolute power.  In the tradition of Cincinnatus, he returned to his farm where he died in 1799. 

Augustus Known as Principate; Washington as Father

While we do not refer to Washington as “first citizen” like Caesar Augustus, he is commonly referred to as the “Father of the Country.”  A 1788 settlement along the Ohio River became a village in 1802 and took the name of Cincinnati in honor of George Washington, though some accounts say that the moniker was derived from The Society of the Cincinnati .  Nevertheless, the Society of the Cincinnati also was formed by Revolutionary War soldiers who wished to promote the virtues of Cincinnatus.  By extension, those were also the  virtues espoused by General Washington who served as the first President General of the Society of Cincinnatus.  And the nation has largely followed the tradition of Cincinnatus as demonstrated by Washington.   The United States has been involved in a number of armed conflicts but, more often than not, does not control territories following the end of hostilities.  More to the point, politicians followed the tradition of Washington and limited themselves to just two terms in office, until Franklin D. Roosevelt broke the tradition by being elected to four consecutive terms in office.  Shortly thereafter, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was ratified making the tradition of Washington the law of the land: no one can serve for more than two terms as President of the United States.

From Your Son, Dopey

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

Many of us have our own form of Cincinnatus or George Washington who has influenced their life.  On this date a long long time ago, Robert B. Symon, Sr. was introduced to the world. And the world has been a better place for it. I’m hoping to one day live up to the old man but I haven’t quite gotten there. When I was a kid and he helped coach my football or baseball teams. the other guys on the team always told me that my dad was their favorite coach. They said he was nice. Today, I realize that is true. I think we all wish that we could be a person whom about people would say, “you know, I’m a better person for having known him” or “I’m just a little happier for having known him.”  My dad is one of the few people I know in life that I think that is the case. Come to think of it, Snow White is too. One would think that if I am surrounded and influenced by such people, some of it would rub off on me. Well, there’s always tomorrow.

Weather Bottom Line:  We had a storm that produced some funnel clouds and excitement on Friday evening.   There were also some wind damage reported in a few spots in Southern Indiana and large hail reports in Crawford, Franklin and Anderson counties in Indiana and Kentucky.   Rainfall totals were varied with some places getting around a half inch of rain while others about 3 times that in a short period of time.  It’s all over with now and look for temperatures in the mid to perhaps upper 80′s for the week ahead with rain chances being slim and none.

The One American Who Should Never Be Forgotten February 22, 2010

Gilbert Stuart's Familiar Painting of President Washington

On This Date in History: On this date in 1732 George Washington was born. His birthday used to be a National holiday on it’s own.  I had to edit this post though to reflect the number of protestations from people pointing out that Washington’s Birthday is still the holiday, officially. I have to admit that I did not know that.   Back in 1968, apparently the Feds moved the recognition from Feb 22 to the third Monday in February.  It’s cheaper to have a 3 day weekend than it is to close offices in midweek.  A few years ago when it was determined that there needed to be a birthday holiday for Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.  While Lincoln’s birthday was never a federal holiday, many states had such a designation. I broke a rule and assumed that it had been a federal holiday since I always got two days off from school.  Anyway,  since they added MLK, state governments did not want to increase the number of holidays so they eliminated the holidays for the birth of President Lincoln.  The third Monday in February is still officially Washington’s birthday, but no one calls it that.  Instead, it is referred to by the media and just about everyone else as President’s Day.  That is utter nonsense. I mean, do we need a day to remember Millard Filmore, Franklin Pierce and Chester A. Arthur? If  states wanted to eliminate a day, it could have been Columbus Day. I suppose they didn’t want so may holidays in January and February. In any event, the point of this piece was not a debate about holidays…it’s about February 22.  Today, I asked the students in my American History class what was significant about today.  One said “we have an exam” another said “it’s Monday” and another reminded me that it was his birthday.   That is the larger issue….for whatever reason, while it may not be official, pragmatically, we have lost Washington’s Birthday in the national lexicon.  The distance between the “Father of the Country” and Americans is growing.   

General Washington Resigning His Commission to Congress. He Voluntarily Surrendered Absolute Power, Not Once, But Twice. The Definition of the man, his character and integrity.

Recently, they came out with another poll of historians ranking the presidents. Lincoln came out on top followed by Washington. In my mind, General Washington is and always should be at the top of the list. I believe there is no other person who is more important in the history of the United States of America.  In many regards, if it were not for him, there very well may not have been a President Lincoln, or William Henry Harrison or Warren G. Harding. He should be studied more in school and his day should remain. Instead of using my words to put out a  full biography, instead, I am choosing on this day to commemorate his birth and life with some verbiage put out by historian David Hackett Fischer from Washington’s Crossing; (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004) 7-8.

“He was a big man, immaculate in dress, and of such charismatic presence that he filled the street even when he rode alone. A crowd gathered to watch him go by, as if he were a one-man parade. Children bowed and bobbed to him. Soldiers called him ‘Your Excellency,’ a title rare in America. Gentlemen doffed their hats and spoke his name with deep respect: General Washington.”

“As he came closer, his features grew more distinct. In 1776, we would not have recognized him from the Stuart painting that we know too well. At the age of forty-two, he looked young, lean, and very fit-more so than we remember him. He had the sunburned, storm-beaten face of a man who lived much of his life in the open. His hair was a light hazel-brown, thinning around the temples. Beneath a high forehead, a broad Roman nose bore a few small scars of smallpox. People remembered his soft blue-gray eyes, set wide apart and deep in their sockets. The lines around his eyes gave an unexpected hint of laughter. A Cambridge lady remarked on his ‘appearance of good humor.’ A Hessian observed that a ‘slight smile in his expression when he spoke inspired affection and respect.’ Many were impressed by his air of composure and surprised by his modesty.”

Fort Necessity Wasn't Much of a Fort

George Washington wasn’t always wildly successful but his life certainly is marked by perverence and a sense of duty.  In 1754, the Governor of Virginia sent a militia force into the Ohio Valley to challenge French expansion in that area.  A young, inexperienced colonel by the name of George Washington was put in command.  Washington and his men camped at Fort Necessity, which  was but a crude outpost not far from the far more substantial French fortification in what is present day Pittsburgh, or more specifically, about where Three Rivers Stadium housed the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates.   A detachment from the France’s Fort Duquesne was attacked by Washington’s forces but a French counterattack left Washington and his soldiers surrounded.  After 1/3 of the British had died, Washington surrendered .  The British were allowed to leave but this marked the beginning of the French and Indian War.

Washington's Daring Trek To Trenton and Then Princeton

By the spring of 1775, the Continental Congress established and made George Washington the singular commander in chief.  While the Fort Necessity escapade was somewhat of a fiasco, he had more military experience than any other American-born officer who was available.  He had been an early advocate of Independence and that was important since about a third of the colonists remained loyal to the crown, a third was riding the fence and the third that favored independence initially included a portion whose support was soft.   But, above all, the reason the Continential Congress chose the aristicrat-planter from Virginia was that he was admired, respected and trusted by nearly every Patriot.

The theme that runs through the narrative of this man is one of unflinching respect.  He was physically imposing for his time, and even would be today, standing somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 foot 2 inches with an extremely sturdy stature.  We know about crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Eve 1776.  It was a  brilliant plan, but the weather was dangerously awful and it was Christmas Eve for his men too.  So, it took great leadership to be able to get his men to execute the plan at night in sleet, rain and snow on Christmas Eve and do so by crossing a river under conditions that would make it near impossible to cross in daylight.

George Washington Cut an Impressive Figure

Washington’s mere presence was enough to bring the most arrogant of men to attention.  He served as the President of the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention in 1787.   It was a long hot summer and tempers flared to the point that several times, the conventioneer threatened to pack up and go home.  But, when necessary, apparently all George Washington needed to do was rise from his chair and talk of dissovlement abruptly ended.  Washington was the only president to be elected unanimously by the electoral college and he was elected unanimously twice.  He followed the example set by Cincinattus, of Roman lore, and returned to his farm after his service.  (The city of Cincinnati was so named in honor of General Washington)   In fact, it is extremely unusual for someone to give up absolute power voluntarily and George Washington did it not once, but twice, when he surrendered his sword  to Congress after the Revolution and then again refused to stand for a third term.  In many ways, he set the tone that the nation has generally followed in the over two centuries that have followed.

We could use General Washington today. Without him, there may never have been a United States of America and the freedom that has spread around the world in the past two centuries may never have come to pass. May his life always be remembered in the singularity of respect that it deserves and demands.

Weather Bottom Line:  I may update this later but, basically, I told you it would rain, though the weekend warmed up even more than I anticipated. Dont’ get used to it.  Look for falling temperatures by Monday evening and then we’re back well be below average for the foreseeable future..perhaps into mid March.  As it stands,  a second push of decidedly colder air comes down on Wednesday and late Tuesday into Wednesday we may get some light snow squeezed out from the denser, Arctic air.  Perhaps and inch of snow would fall over a 36 hour time frame.  That would come after some insignificant light snow or flurries Tuesday with moisture wrapping around the low as it scoots to the northeast…but that won’t  be much of a big deal. It’s not really coming together much but…if the data changes just a bit, we may have another significant snow event left in us for the first week of March..but, well see.

Crappy First House for the President and Crappy Weather Ahead for Louisville October 13, 2009

Executive Mansion Supposed to be Much Bigger

1801 Etching of Executive Mansion

On This Date in History:  If you’ve ever been to the White House, then you know it’s a large house but not nearly as large as many private mansions and certainly not as ornate as many of the residences built in the guilded age out on the Hamptons.  Now, Washington DC came to be the site for the capitol after a negotiation between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson regarding the Assumption Bill in 1790.  Virginians wanted the captiol closer to them in the South and Hamilton wanted a bill that allowed for the Federal Gov’t to assume state debts through the issuance of bonds.  This type of governmental power was more than Jefferson liked, but I guess that he liked the idea of having the capitol near his home more than his ideals so he agreed over dinner with Hamilton to push for support for the bill in return for Hamilton’s support of placing the capitol in or near Virginia.  The site agreed upon was on the banks of the Potomac River that separated Virginia from Maryland.  The exact site was chosen by that old surveyor himself, General George Washington who was the President of the United States at that time. 

John Quincy Adams Marriage to 1st Cousin was Big Event in 1928

As for the residence of the Chief Executive, Washington was in favor of a mansion about 5 times larger than the ultimate final product.  In the spring of 1791, he and French architect Charles L’Enfant laid out their vision for the city planning and a huge presidential mansion was on the drawing board.  But, the building commissioners took one look at L’Enfant’s plan and probably almost had a collective heart attack when they saw the proposed extravagence and grandeur of not just the presidential residence, but also all of the buildings.

L’Enfant wasn’t too clued in on how a democracy operated and so he just assumed that if he had Washington’s blessing, it was a done deal.  So, he started working on the proposed big house right away.  Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson fired him in February 1792 after the grounds had been staked out, the cellar excavated and delivery of the stone for part of the foundation had been delivered.  Ever the egalitarian, Jefferson instead proposed that an open competition be commenced with a $500 prize be awarded for whichever plan was accepted.  Washington agreed to the new scheme and Irish architech James Hoban was the winner.  Washington and the commission thought that his traditional 18th century mansion was “convenient, elegant and within moderate expense.” 

You can buy a DVD concerning the Cornerstone Bicentennial

On this date in 1792, the cornerstone for the executive mansion was laid but the Capitol and other governmental buildings took priority.  I guess Congress figured that the country could operate just fine with a homeless president but not without a building for the Congress.  So, Washington never lived to see the house.  It was not complete until John Adams took up residence in November 1800.  Abigail Adams at first thought it was “built for ages to come” and “a castle of a house.”  It may have been built for ages to come but Abigail soon found it wasn’t built for them because only half of the walls had been plastered.  She complained that “not one room or chamber is finished as a whole.”  There was shabby furniture provided by the government and outside the construction workers left tree stumps, piles of debris, hacked weeds and in full view, a very conspicuous presidential privy.   Well, Abigail didn’t have  to suffer for long.  Jefferson defeated Adams in the presidential election and by March 1801, the Adams’ were asked to leave and Thomas Jefferson moved in to what I”m sure he deemed as a “fixer upper.” 

8AM Thursday...Wet Drive to Work

Alot of California Rain/Snow

Weather Bottom Line:  There is some interesting stuff going on.  While the Atlantic Hurricane Season has been pretty benign, the Pacific has been pretty active.  I’ve been bemoaning the fact that no one seems to care about the plight of the Philippines following back-to-back tropical cyclones that have killed over 600 people, hampered the economy and brought general misery.  They’re even having to import coffins.  The US media has largely been silent.  Anyway, the second of these storms was Typhoon Parma that came back to the Philippines after initially striking the nation.  It did so in reaction to the passing of Super Typhoon Melor as it was on its way to Japan.  Well, in less than a week, the remnant of Typhoon Melor made its way all the way across the Pacific and is now bringing heavy rain to California, which could be a problem in areas absent of vegetation from recent wildfires.  It will also bring heavy snow to the higher elevations of the Sierra and also winds as high as 100 mph on mountain peaks.

Now, the subtropical jetstream is set up with a flow from around Acapulco to the Ohio Valley and Southeastern US.  Tropical moisture is being gathered from the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific that will bring clouds and rain our way.  There is a tropical storm that is dying just off the Pacific coast of Mexico that will do nothing but add more moisture to the flow.  We have relatively cool air in place with all of this moisture set to come up from the Southwest and run over the top of us.  What that ultimately means to us is cloudy conditions with periods of rain for the last two days of the week and perhaps Saturday.  The clouds and rain will make it tough for us to get out of the 40′s until Sunday as a cold front comes through and clears out the mess. But it also serves to drag down air that will take us into the 30′s each morning for the first few days of next week.  Don’t even bother consider the 60′s any time soon and remind yourself of the threat of global warming as you turn on your furnace.

Sotomayor Rulings No Big Deal. Questionable ruling came in Constitutional Convention’s Shadow July 10, 2009

Senate Judiciary Chairman Sen. Pat Leahy

The nomination process of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court hits Congress next week.   The Constitution says that presidential appointments to the bench must be done only with the advice and consent of the Senate.  I had raised the possibility of the GOP to be able to block the nomination through a procedure that would not get her nomination out of committee.  But, either I was wrong about the potential, the right person didn’t get onto the committee or the GOP decided that politically it wasn’t a winner for them to exercise that option given that the GOP has always argued that judicial appointments should be allowed a floor vote and not be kept bottled up in a committee.  My guess is that the latter of the three choices is the case.

The news stories coming out are kinda interesting.  The UPI headline says that “most want Sotomayor” and then you see the poll that it is cited has 47% of the respondents in her favor.  Yes, that is most but it is not a majority and, in my view, the headline is true but misleading.  CNN’s more accurate headline says that “nearly half support Sotomayor.”  Trouble is that you need more than 50% for confirmation.  If we truly had a representative republic with the lawmakers doing the will of the people, then one might conclude that Sotomayor was in trouble.  But, the poll says some 70% of Democrats support her nomination and the Senate has 60% of Democrat members. 

A Pitch to the Senate?

I suppose the biggest opposition for her nomination come from those who point out that she has been involved in rulings that have gone to the Supreme Court and have been overturned by the final arbitor.  There are many numbers being tossed about but this CNN report says there have been 8 cases that have gone to the court.  5 were overturned, 2 upheld and one vacated.   The most recent of which was a case in which she joined the majority of judges that ruled against plaintiffs in a discrimination charge brought by non-African American firemen who said that they were not promoted because they were white.  Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer predicted the high court would rule against Sotomayor’s position.   The Supreme Court overturned that ruling by a 5-4 vote and now opponents of Sotomayor will call the main plaintiff. Frank Ricci, to testify.   Former MLB pitcher David Cone will also testify, presumably to say that Sotomayor saved baseball.   My bet is that she will probably be confirmed but ponder whether or not her rulings will be judged to be as liberal as many think. 

Whether or not one thinks that her rulings have been just or not, controversial rulings by judges have been a part of the Amerian landscape since the beginning of the Republic.  So, don’t think that the final nomination vote will cause  the end of the nation one way or another.  Judges are by nature put in place to make judgements, but they are still quite fallable…human, if you will.  For instance…

On This Date In History: In May 1787, an old woman in Philadelphia was grabbed and attacked by a group of people who cut her head in an ancient tradition of bleeding out any spells she may have cast. They thought she was a witch. In early July 1787, a big heat wave was going on in the city of Brotherly Love. Dogs and horses died. The fields were dry and tempers grew as hot as the weather. No word on whether anyone blamed global warming. At the same time, 55 men were gathered in Independence Hall arguing over the forming Constitution. If you look at the painting above, you will note the central figure is General Washington. Just about every painting you see will feature the Father of the Country prominently. That is because he is largely credited with holding the conventioneers together. Not by words but simply by his presence. His silent, strong leadership was what everyone looked toward to get them through the turmoil. Another person in Philadelphia did not have the General to save her.

Philadelphia: City of Brotherly Love

The old woman who was tormented in early May was a German known as Korbmacher. During the heatwave, a little boy died. Some on the streets of Philadelphia chose to blame her and attacked her again On This Date in 1787. The Pennsylvania Evening Herald story read, “We are sorry to hear that the poor woman who suffered so much some time ago, under the imputation of being a witch, has again been attacked by an ignorant and inhuman mob. On Tuesday last she was carried through several of the streets, and was hooted and pelted as she passed along. A gentleman who interfered in her favour was greatly insulted, while those who recited the innumerable instances of her art, were listened to with curiousity and attention.”

Eight days later, Korbmacher, which means basket-maker, was dead. The newspapers wrote that they hoped justice would be done to those who had perpetrated such a beating on a person, let alone an old woman. Well, a trial did get underway as several people said they would testify against some of the alleged attackers. Three things are interesting about the trial. First was it was held just prior to Halloween also known as All Hallows Eve or Witches Eve. Second, there is no record of the results of the trial. The third, and perhaps most intriguing is the commentary about the innocence of Korbmacher from the bench by the judge:

Judge: Old ladies are innocent

“what! that a poor wretch whose sorrows and infirmities have sunk her eyes into her head, and whose features are streaked with the wrinkles of extreme old age, should therefore become an object of terror, and be endowed with the powers of witchcraft — it is an idle and absurd superstition! If, however, some damsels that I have seen, animated with the bloom of youth, and equipped with all the grace of beauty, if such women were indicted for the offence, the charge might receive some countenance, for they are indeed calculated to charm and bewitch us. But age and infirmity, though they deserve our compassion, have nothing in them that can alarm or fascinate our nature.”

So according to the judge…Korbmacher was innocent simply because of her age. Yet, if she had been young in the “bloom of youth” well then she may very well be guilty of being a witch because everyone knows that young women have a way of putting men under their spell!!! How’s that for justice. All of this on the same streets that were at the very time witness to the construction of the very document that governs justice for all for this great nation. It’s too bad that General Washington didn’t go for a stroll at the hour of Korbmacher’s demise…his presence alone could have done what the Constitution could not.

SPC Severe Risk Sat 8am to Sun 8am

SPC Severe Risk probability Sat 8am to Sun 8am

Weather Bottom Line:  Friday is here and we will get to the low 90′s.  It’s summer.  Tomorrow will again be in the low 90′s with the possibility of a few afternoon t’storms.  Now, we have a cold front coming down and approaching.  Saturday night or Sunday morning, there will be a risk for thunderstorms.  The SPC has us in the slight risk for severe thunderstorms and has split the timing between Saturday and Sunday.  The models are a bit disheaveled but the general idea is that some time along the way, a short or series of shortwaves will move down along the approaching front.  Some models make the main short pretty strong, others have it weakening.  But, with the warm moist air at the surface, even at night, and with the lifting mechanism of even weak front, as well as the cold pool of air associated with any short wave (vorticity/upper low) there will be a pretty good shot at t’storms.  Of course, if one of these guys comes through, particularly if we haven’t had much activity, during daylight hours or early evening, then the risk for strong storms will be enhanced.   Anyway, Saturday looks to be the best day to get some yardwork done, though Sunday will be closer to seasonal averages temperature-wise.

SPC Severe Risk Sun 8am to Mon 8am

DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK 
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   1245 AM CDT FRI JUL 10 2009
  
   VALID 111200Z – 121200Z
  
   …THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS FROM NY/PA WWD INTO THE MID-MS
   VLY…
  
   …THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS ACROSS THE CNTRL HIGH PLAINS…
  
   …SYNOPSIS…
   UPR HIGH WILL REMAIN ANCHORED OVER THE SRN PLAINS THROUGH SATURDAY.
   ALONG ITS NRN PERIPHERY…AN UPR TROUGH WILL CONTINUE ACROSS SERN
   CANADA WITH A STRONG SHORTWAVE TROUGH DIGGING FROM THE GRTLKS REGION
   TO THE NERN STATES.  ANOTHER UPR SYSTEM WILL REMAIN JUST OFFSHORE
   THE PAC NW CST.  IN THE LWR LVLS…A FRONT ASSOCD WITH THE FORMER
   TROUGH WILL MOVE SEWD INTO NY AND PA AND SWD INTO THE OH…MID-MS
   VLY AND PARTS OF THE CNTRL PLNS SATURDAY AFTN/EVE.  THE FRONT WILL
   BE THE FOCUS FOR PSBL SVR TSTMS.
  
   …NY/PA WWD INTO THE UPR OH VLY…
   BANDS OF TSTMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ONGOING AT 12Z SATURDAY AHEAD OF
   THE CDFNT FROM THE CNTRL GRTLKS REGION TO THE MIDWEST.  MAINTENANCE
   OF A FAIRLY STRONG SSWLY LLJ WILL ADVECT MODEST LLVL MOISTURE NWD
   INTO THE UPR OH VLY TO NY DURING THE DAY.  THIS WILL PARTIALLY
   OFFSET CONVECTIVE CLOUD DEBRIS AND AROUND 1000 J/KG SBCAPE IS NOT
   OUT OF THE QUESTION DURING PEAK HEATING.  AS LARGE SCALE HEIGHT
   FALLS SPREAD SEWD…TSTMS WILL REKINDLE/DEVELOP AMIDST 35-40 KTS OF
   WLY BULK SHEAR.  A FEW STORMS WILL PROBABLY DEVELOP INTO BOWS GIVING
   DMGG WIND GUSTS AND PERHAPS HAIL. 
  
   …LWR OH VLY TO NRN MO…
   COMPARATIVELY STRONGER INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED TO EVOLVE ACROSS THIS
   REGION SATURDAY AFTN AS LWR 70S SFC DEW POINTS BECOME COMMON ALONG/S
   OF THE CDFNT.  THIS IN COMBO WITH STRONG HEATING AND PRESENCE OF
   STEEP MID-LVL LAPSE RATES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SBCAPES OVER 2500 J/KG.
    AS SRN PERIPHERY OF THE GRTLKS IMPULSE /AND PSBLY A
   CONVECTIVELY-ENHANCED VORT CENTER/ GRAZE THE REGION…TSTMS ARE
   EXPECTED TO FORM INVOF THE FRONT FROM SRN IA/NRN MO AND TRANSLATE
   ESE INTO THE LWR OH VLY BY EVENING. VERY UNSTABLE
   CONDITIONS…EVIDENCE OF DRY MID-LVL AIR IN FCST SOUNDINGS AND
   UNIDIRECTIONAL WNWLY FLOW REGIME ABOVE H7 ARE SUGGESTIVE OF A BOW
   ECHO ENVIRONMENT WITH DMGG WINDS AND LARGE HAIL LIKELY.  ACTIVITY
   COULD PERSIST WELL INTO SATURDAY NIGHT INTO PARTS OF NWRN KY/SRN
   IND. 
  
   …CNTRL PLAINS…
   THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A MINIMUM IN SVR TSTM PROBABILITIES ALONG THE
   BAROCLINIC ZONE OVER MOST OF THE CNTRL PLAINS AS STRONGEST SWLY LLJ
   AXIS AIMS TOWARD THE MID-MS VLY AND DIURNAL LLVL FLOW TURNS UPSLOPE
   OVER THE HIGH PLAINS.  HOWEVER…STRONG HEAT MAY LOCALLY BREACH THE
   CAP AND CONTRIBUTE TO AT LEAST ISOLD SVR STORM PROBABILITIES. 
  
   MEANWHILE…SHORT TERM MODELS SUGGEST MOIST UPSLOPE FLOW WILL
   STRENGTHEN OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF CO DURING THE AFTN AS A WEAK
   PLAINS ANTICYCLONE SETTLES SWD.  APPROACH OF ANOTHER WEAK
   DISTURBANCE ALONG NRN PERIPHERY OF THE UPR RIDGE WILL ENHANCE HIGH
   TERRAIN CONVECTION BY MID-AFTN AND A WDLY SCTD STORMS WILL ERUPT BY
   LATE AFTN ALONG THE FRONT RANGE.  ROUGHLY 40 KTS OF BULK SHEAR AND
   VERY STEEP LAPSE RATES WILL RESULT IN A SUPERCELL ENVIRONMENT WITH
   VERY LARGE HAIL POSSIBLE.  ACTIVITY WILL DEVELOP EWD INTO ADJACENT
   SWRN NEB AND NWRN KS DURING THE LATE EVENING.

Jim Morrison Conspiracy Theories Rival Those of Michael Jackson; The Wall Street Witch; General Washington July 3, 2009

 

Lizard King Still Walking the Earth With Elvis?

 Independence for the big Door:

Morrison Shrine/Grave

Jim Morrison died in a Paris bathtub on this date in 1971. He officially died of heart failure though a drug overdose was suspected. Just like with the conspiracy theories concerning the recent death of Michael Jackson, some of which suggest Jackson’s death was a fake,   almost immediately claims that Morrison really wasn’t dead hit the news.  Had there been a world wide web, I’m sure that the blogosphere would have been going wild.  Many conspiracy theorists floated the idea that Morrison was tired of his fame so he faked his own death.   That was the one that I always heard but there are a bunch of Jim Morrison conspiracy theories out there.  There was even a notion that the J. Edgar Hoover led FBI had him knocked off in an effort to stop the hippie movement.  I think his grave is some sort of haven or shrine for those who…well…I don’t know what they do or think. You can take the Jim Morrison Grave Tour on the web if you like.

On This Date In History:  Hetty Green died on this date in 1916. Who is Hetty Green? Why the Witch of Wall Street! Seems kinda sexist to call a rather ornery rich woman a “witch” when rich old coots might be called “tough” or “hard nosed.” Anyway, she is said to have learned to read the financial pages at age 6. She inherited a million dollars from her father at age 30. At that point, she became quite shrewd as she bought Civil War Bonds when others thought it was a bad investment. She made a mint. Basically, she took her million inheritance and increased it 100 fold. But, she was rather odd in that she lived like a pauper. Supposedly, Hetty married so that her heirs would be her children and not other relatives that she didn’t care for. She kept an office in a bank from which she negotiated a rent free lease. She moved from hotel to hotel to avoid paying property taxes. Hetty had a son and a daughter and when her boy hurt his leg in a sledding accident, she took him to a charity hospital. Well, hospital personnel recognized her and demand that she pay. She refused and decided to treat the child’s injured leg herself. He ended up losing the leg. She forced her children to eat as she did, which was ham sandwiches. Some call her thrifty, others a miser or the Witch of Wall Street. She is but one of a list of eccentric wealthy Americans.  Hetty died on this date in 1916 of a stroke suffered while arguing with a maid over the price of milk!! Can you imagine what she would be like with today’s rising prices?

Wonder if Hetty's Dog Was Toto?

Don’t worry, The Who may have been aware of the story because the Kids Are Alright. Hetty left each child $50 million. The more famous J.P. Morgan was worth a reported $70 million and her wealth equaled that of Henry Ford. In 2008 dollars, her fortune would have been near $2 Billion.

See what happens when you watch your pennies? She may have been a witch, but she was probably the wealthiest witch Wall Street had ever seen. Here’s a Forbes list of early wealthy Americans.

On This Date In 1775, Virginia planter and former British officer George Washington strode before the Continental Army, drew his sword and formerly took command as General of the Armies. While some opposed his appointment, he was chosen because of his leadership and because, as a Virginian, it was hoped he could bridge the differences between the southern colonies and those in New England. Washington had accepted the appointment two weeks prior under the stipulation that he not be paid except for reimbursement of expenses.

I Think The General Liked This Painting

While he is called the “father of the country” I think much is lost regarding Washington. He was quite remarkable and he really set the tone for the nation today. After he led the defeat of the most power nation on earth, Washington had all of the power. He had political power and the loyalty of the army. Other men in his position might have seized the reigns of power in the nation. There was some fear he may strike up a dictatorship. But he voluntarily gave up his sword and returned to Virginia. In 1787, the fledgling nation called again and he took the position of President of the Constitutional Convention. It is said his quiet resolve was inspiring to the delegates as they argued and compromised over a document that would last the ages. He was elected as the first President and won an overwhelming re-election. He could have served another term but instead, voluntarily gave up power for a second time.

FDR Broke Washington Tradition

Until Franklin Roosevelt, no one broke the two term tradition, though US Grant came reasonably close to gaining a third consecutive term. The two term tradition became a point of law following the passage of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution which was ratified in 1951. If you think about it, that is the general tone of the nation. How many other nations in history have conquered as much territory and defeated so many nations in battle and then voluntarily given up the spoils? Again, I take you to his farewell address of 1796 in which you can see all of the wisdom poured forth for the nation he helped to build. Washington died in 1799 from what most think was a cold or the flu….though there is speculation that he would have lived except for the practice of bleeding a patient. Washington himself may have been the cause of his own demise as he supposedly urged the doctor to let him bleed after the doctor was going to close the wounds. Speculation is that Washington bled to death. Here is the text of George Washington’s  farewell address, that is often quoted and paraphrased, in case you missed it before. Look for all of the items that would apply today and also look for his interesting take on religion in society.

Weather Bottom Line:  Really not much change in the story line for the Fourth of July weekend.  Today will be great with tons of sun and a high in the mid 80′s.  A low will be ejecting out of the southwest and get up to say, Memphis on Saturday.  That should be sufficient to throw over some moisture and create some isolated t’storms in the afternoon.  The short makes its closest approach on Saturday evening and that is when t’storm activity will have its greatest risk.  I intimdated that the SPC might widen its slight risk area and they have done so such that Louisville is barely in the risk region.  As I said previously, not a slam dunk for strong storms but not totally out of the question.   There will be clouds sticking around on Sunday with the risk for rain probably being greatest in the first half of the day.   As the long wave pattern continues to slowly shift, we should be out of the influence of the Great Lakes trof that brought us such cool weather the past few days and a slight ridge will start building in.  There’s a chance for a shortwave to come through the flow on Monday perhaps bringing a t’storm chance then, but otherwise, the signature of next week will be our afternoon temperatures moving back into the upper 80′s.

DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK 
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   1257 AM CDT FRI JUL 03 2009
  
   VALID 041200Z – 051200Z
  
   …THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS FROM THE UPPER OH VALLEY INTO
   THE SRN PLAINS…
  
   …THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS OVER ERN PARTS OF WY AND CO…
  
   …SYNOPSIS…
   QUASI-STATIONARY UPPER LOW OVER THE LOWER GREAT LAKES IS FORECAST TO
   PERSIST INTO SATURDAY…WITH AMPLITUDE OF THE ERN US LONG WAVE
   DIMINISHING.  THIS WILL RESULT IN BROAD WNWLY FLOW ALOFT ACROSS MUCH
   OF THE US FROM THE NRN/CENTRAL INTERMOUNTAIN REGION TO THE ATLANTIC
   COAST…DOWNSTREAM FROM AN UPPER RIDGE AXIS OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN
   WEST. 
  
   AT THE SURFACE…A LOW IS FORECAST TO MOVE ESEWD ACROSS THE MID MS
   VALLEY TOWARD THE UPPER OH VALLEY BY THE END OF THE PERIOD…WITH A
   TRAILING COLD FRONT MOVING SWD ACROSS THE OZARKS AND INTO THE SRN
   PLAINS. A QUASI-STATIONARY FRONT WILL EXTEND EWD FROM THE LOW. 
  
   …MID MS VALLEY INTO THE OH VALLEY…
   AN MCS IS EXPECTED TO BE ONGOING AT THE START OF THE PERIOD OVER
   PARTS OF NRN MO…ERN IA AND NRN/CENTRAL IL.  THE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM
   WILL BE PRIMARILY ELEVATED TO THE NORTH OF THE SURFACE LOW AND
   QUASI-STATIONARY FRONT…MAINTAINED BY STRONG LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE
   AND WARM ADVECTION LIFT NEAR THE NOSE OF A 50 KT SWLY LOW LEVEL JET.
   GIVEN THE BACKGROUND 35-45 KT MID LEVEL WINDS AND RESULTANT STRONG
   VERTICAL SHEAR…THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR A FEW SEVERE STORMS TO OCCUR
   IN THE SRN PART OF THE MCS DURING THE MORNING…ALTHOUGH WEAK
   INSTABILITY SHOULD LIMIT THE OVERALL SEVERE THREAT.  STORMS MAY
   INTENSIFY BY LATE MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON AS STRONG DIURNAL HEATING
   OCCURS ALONG THE SRN EDGE OF THE CONVECTIVE CLOUD SHIELD OVER PARTS
   OF THE MID MS VALLEY AND UPPER OH VALLEY.  CONTINUED FAVORABLE
   LOW-LEVEL AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR WILL ENHANCE STORM ORGANIZATION AND
   INTENSITY…AND MAY COMPENSATE FOR WEAK MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ACROSS
   THE AREA.  DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
   STRONGER STORMS…WHICH SHOULD DIMINISH AFTER 03Z.
  
   …SRN PLAINS INTO THE OZARKS…
   AIR MASS IS EXPECTED TO UNDERGO SUBSTANTIAL DIURNAL HEATING AHEAD OF
   THE ADVANCING COLD FRONT…AND WHEN COUPLED WITH SURFACE DEW POINTS
   IN THE 60S TO LOW 70S…WILL RESULT IN MLCAPE OF 1000-2000 J/KG.
   STRONG HEATING WILL GRADUALLY WEAKEN THE CAP DURING THE
   AFTERNOON…AND LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE ALONG THE FRONT WILL PROMOTE
   DEVELOPMENT OF SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS.  ALTHOUGH MID LEVEL
   WINDS/DEEP LAYER SHEAR WILL BE MODEST AT BEST…LARGE
   TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT SPREADS ASSOCIATED WITH A RELATIVELY DEEP
   MIXED LAYER…AND DRIER AIR IN THE MID LEVELS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
   LARGE DCAPE VALUES INDICATIVE OF ENHANCED DOWNDRAFT INTENSITY AND
   THREAT FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.  THERE WILL ALSO BE A THREAT FOR
   LARGE HAIL WITH STRONGER CELLS.  SEVERE THREAT IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD
   SWD ALONG THE FRONT AND ASSOCIATED OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES THROUGH THE
   EVENING HOURS.
  
   …ERN PARTS OF WY AND CO…
   WEAK UPSLOPE LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP OVER THE ERN
   SLOPES OF THE ROCKIES ON SATURDAY AS A WEAK SURFACE RIDGE MOVES INTO
   PARTS OF SD AND NEB.  THIS WILL MAINTAIN SURFACE DEW POINTS IN THE
   LOW 50S…AND CONTRIBUTE TO AN UNSTABLE AFTERNOON ENVIRONMENT WITH
   MLCAPE AROUND 1000-1500 J/KG.  THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP
   OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON AND MOVE EWD/ESEWD INTO
   THE HIGH PLAINS WITHIN A BAND OF 25-35 KT MID LEVEL FLOW.  DEEP
   LAYER SHEAR WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR ORGANIZED STORMS TO
   DEVELOP…INCLUDING A FEW SUPERCELLS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL
   AND STRONG WIND GUSTS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.
  
   ..WEISS.. 07/03/2009

 

7/3 SPC convective outlook for 7/4/09

The Most Important Man in US History-Perhaps the World February 22, 2009

Gilbert Stuart's Familiar Painting of President Washington

 

On This Date in History:    On February 22, 1732 George Washington was born.  His birthday used to be a national holiday until a few years ago when it was determined that there needed to be a birthday holiday for Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The government did not want to increase the number of holidays so they eliminated the holidays for the birth of President Lincoln and President Washington and combined the two into a holiday commemorating all presidents and they called it President’s Day.  That is utter nonsense.  I mean, do we need a day to remember Millard Filmore, Franklin Pierce and Chester A. Arthur?  If they wanted to eliminate a day, it could have been Columbus Day.  I suppose they didn’t want so may holidays in January and February. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

General Washington Resigning His Commission to Congress. He Voluntarily Surrendered Absolute Power, Not Once, But Twice. The Definition of the man, his character and integrity.

Recently, they came out with another poll of historians ranking the presidents.  Lincoln came out on top followed by Washington.  In my mind, General Washington is and always should be at the top of the list.  In many regards, if it were not for him, there very well may not have been a President Lincoln, or William Henry Harrison or Warren G. Harding.  He should be studied more in school and his day should remain.  Instead of using my words to put out a biography, instead, I am choosing on this day to commemorate his birth and life with some verbiage put out by historian David Hackett Fischer from Washington’s Crossing; (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004) 7-8.

“He was a big man, immaculate in dress, and of such charismatic  presence that he filled the street even when he rode alone.  A crowd gathered to watch him go by, as if he were a one-man parade.  Children bowed and bobbed to him.  Soldiers called him ‘Your Excellency,’ a title rare in America.  Gentlemen doffed their hats and spoke his name with deep respect:  General Washington.”

“As he came closer, his features grew more distinct.  In 1776, we would not have recognized him from the Stuart painting that we know too well.  At the age of forty-two, he looked young, lean, and very fit-more so than we remember him.  He had the sunburned, storm-beaten face of a man who lived much of his life in the open.  His hair was a light hazel-brown, thinning around the temples.  Beneath a high forehead, a broad Roman nose bore a few small scars of smallpox.  People remembered his soft blue-gray eyes, set wide apart and deep in their sockets.  The lines around his eyes gave an unexpected hint of laughter.  A Cambridge lady remarked on his ‘appearance of good humor.’  A Hessian observed that a ‘slight smile in his expression when he spoke inspired affection and respect.’  Many were impressed by his air of composure and surprised by his modesty.”

We could use General Washington today.  Without him, there may never have been a United States of America and the freedom that has spread around the world in the past two centuries may never have come to pass.  May his life always be remembered in the singularity of respect that it deserves and demands.

Weather Bottom Line: Kinda interesting the snow on Saturday.  Down by the river the rain fell first with a little sleet and then an extended period of snow.  But the accumulation was little more than a dusting.  On the east side of town, it looked more like an inch or so of accumulation as I suspect the ground temperatures fell to freezing sooner than the areas along the river.  All in all, it turned out pretty much as expected though the airport did get to the upper 40′s before the snow fell.

GFS still insisting on light snow or flurries on Sunday.  Really nothing much of consequence if we do get some passing snow showers.  On Monday, there is some indication of a slight move above freezing for an hour or two but, as I’ve said before, if you’re not a thermometer you won’t know it and it won’t last long.  Move to the low 40′s for Tuesday afternoon.  Warmer Wednesday and toward 60 on Thursday.  Some of the models are pushing back the threat of t’storms to late Thursday night.  If that happens, any threat for strong storms will back off.   While the rain chance in this scenario for Wednesday is diminished, I would still suggest that rain chances at least increase on Wednesday with a higher chance on Thursday.  Colder, below seasonal conditions return for next weekend.

First In War, First in Peace; First Indian Bible December 19, 2008

General of the Armies Forever

 

On this Date in History:  General George Washington was eulogized on this date in 1799 with words that have come to describe him in American lore ever since.  The ailing former president had died at his home, Mount Vernon, on December 14, 1799 and Congress chose a Virginian to deliver the eulogy.  The man had been a close associate of Washington for much of his life and served with distinction under Washington’s command in the Continental Army.  The eulogy went as follows….you’ll recognize the beginning:

“First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in the humble

Different Writing But Words Last Forever

and endearing scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere—uniform, dignified and commanding—his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting. . . . Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues. . . . Such was the man for whom our nation mourns.”

Who was the man who delivered those memorable words?  “Light Horse” Harry Lee, who served as a general during the American Revolution who had a son named Robert.  Robert E. Lee went on to establish quite a legacy himself.  The mourning period for Washington went on for a couple of months (click here for details) with “mock” funerals and processions held in cities all across the fledgling nation.  The official day of mourning was what would have been Washington’s 68th birthday, February 22, 1800.  If you’ve been a consistent reader of this here blog, then you can tell the high regard that I have for General Washington.  We often hear of lists of the “greatest presidents” and most often, you find Washington’s name at the top, even above Lincoln.  People tend to forget that, without George Washington, we would probably not have a country.  Many of the traditions and policies, even today, of the nation can be traced to George Washington, whom in 1976,  President Ford posthumously appointed George Washington General of the Armies of the United States (history of title) and specified that George Washington would forever be considered the highest ranking American General Officer, past and present.  Nobody does it better…not even Bond.

Try Reading This

Prior to that, in 1663, the Indians were brought to Christianity.  The Massachusetts Bay Colony founded the first college in America in 1636 with a primary purpose being to educate Puritan ministers.  Two years later, it was named for John Harvard who had left the college his personal 400 book library and half of his estate.  Harvard’s first president had a dream of educating Indians to preach Puritanism to their fellow Indians.  Several Indians were chosen to attend Harvard’s “Indian College” but only four attended as the others died of “hecktick fevers.”  Joel Iacoomis was returning from a trip to Martha’s Vineyard when he became shipwrecked on Nantuckett, where he was done in by the natives who apparently  didn’t appreciate his education.  One, named simply Eleazer, died after he wrote a elegy in Greek and Latin.  John Wompas didn’t die but instead quit after a year and bought a house on Boston Common.  He got thrown in jail for not paying his debts but escaped to be an interesting real estate agent…he sold an entire town he didn’t own!  It’s unclear if he brokered the deal for Manhattan. It must be noted that John Harvard’s Journal in 1997  said that Wompas became a “mariner.”  I like the real estate story better.   Only Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck graduated.  He spoke Greek and Latin.  But, then he died of tuberculosis when the next spring rolled around.    I suppose that the Indians figured that attending Harvard was not a recipe for a long life because no one else signed up. 

 The Indian College sat vacant for many years, housing just a printing press.  It was on that press that John Eliot produced the Algonquian Bible.  It was 1200 pages and was called, “probably as good as any version that has been made…in a previously unwritten and so called barbarous language.”  It took three years to print and its no wonder considering the english word “begat” translated to “wunnaumonieu” in Algonquian.  A rare first edition turned up and was sold at auction on this date in 1986 for $220,000, which seems like a paltry sum to me for something so rare…but then again, there’s probably no one left who can speak Algonquian so it’s really just an expensive conversation piece.

NAM Snow Thru Mon AM...Not too Enthusiastic

Weather Bottom Line:  Really, nothing has changed from the previous thinking.  We jump to near 60 on Friday then a cold front brings some showers and we only get to the 40′s on Saturday.  Early Sunday, a low runs up from the Southwest almost right over the top of Louisville.  We’ll get some rain that may turn to a little snow but the real story will be the very cold air that gets dragged down behind it.  It’s kinda tough to get to single digits without snow on the ground but both the GFS and NAM take us to the upper single digits on Monday morning and struggle to get us to 20 in the afternoon.  It’s going to be cold.  Probably below freezing from before sunrise Sunday until Wednesday morning.  We’re a little warm on Christmas Eve with another little system wandering across that will bring in another cold shot, though not as cold as earlier in the week, but may produce a few light snow shower.  Really, a White Christmas doesn’t look all the likely.

Death For The General of the Armies December 14, 2008

 Nothing to Add For Now: Monday night and Tuesday look interesting but for now, I’ll leave it at that.  Too many other things to deal with but I would say to plan on delays on Tuesday morning.  Travel may be difficult.

This Date In History: On this date in history, the father of the country passed into immortality. General George Washington succumbed to what most scholars think was something we face every year: cold or flu. However, more recent analysis indicates the notion that he died from acute epiglottitis.

Washington kept very meticulous journals and had reported to be in great health. But, on December 12, 1799 his entry included the details of his daily evening check of the plantation. He was out for about 5 hours in miserable weather which he described as rain, snow, hail and wind. My guess is that it was sleet and not hail. In any event, his clothes were wet and his hair filled with ice and snow. Instead of changing clothes after he came in, he instead had dinner. The next day he had a sore throat and other signs of a cold. In spite of this, he went out on Friday the 13th in more crummy weather, that included sleet, to mark some trees that he wished to be…you guessed…chopped down. Not sure if they were cherry trees. That evening he was quite hoarse but insisted on reading aloud to Martha and his secretary. The next day he had a high fever and felt awful.

I’ll spare the rest of the details except that his condition worsened and he eventually died on this date in 1799 at the age of 67. I’ve read it was the flu or a cold. This new report says it was acute epiglottitis which is a viral infection that causes swelling at the base of the tongue and larynx and makes breathing and swallowing painful and difficult. I’ve also read over the years that he may have bled to death. The accounts I have read says that the medical treatment of the day called for opening wounds to bleed out whatever the infection or disease. It has been suggested that Washington himself told the doctors to bleed him some more even though the doctors said it was too much.

In any event, General George Washington died and left a legacy that the nation still follows today. When looking back for role models, people often turn to FDR, or Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln or perhaps JFK. But, it seems to me that when one studies the life, accomplishments, ideals and most importantly, the actions of General George Washington, it is clear to me that he is rightly and justly called the Father of the Country. He is a man whom we would all do better to emulate and certainly someone whom our politicians should look to for any guidance from the past. I believe that without George Washington, it is possible, even probable, we would not have the United States. He was that important, that unique and that towering a figure in life, and if viewed closely, in death as well.

Congress finally recognized this notion in that, in the mid to late 20th century. In the early part of the century, General John J. Pershing was designated as General of the Armies but he never wore more than 4 stars. He is the only person to have held the rank in life. In 1799 shortly after Washington’s death, the rank was established by Congress posthumously by Congress. In the late 1970′s, Congress officially designated General George Washington as General of the Armies of the United States of America and will forever hold that designation. Congress wanted to make clear that Washington is the nations senior general officer. In other words, no one can outrank George Washington.