Thursday, June 29, 2017
Simply unacceptable
Ever since inauguration day I have tried diligently to stay above the
political fray in spite of ample justification. I regret to say I have
lost the battle. I can no longer stay quiet about our disgusting
president's recent remarks about TV journalist Mika Brzezinski. Mr.
Trump is a bully and a pig. He does not merit scrubbing the rest room in
the oval office much less sitting at its desk. How can any decent
citizen make excuses for this horrible human being? Speak up. Our
elected re
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
A week in the sun
It's off to Cancun, my first time there although we've been to many different places in the Caribbean.
This time we're taking the whole family on this trip to celebrate our 50th anniversary and Sandi's 70th birthday.
Both of these events actually occur later in the year-September & October. Then it's home for a few weeks after which we'll be meeting my long-lost nephew.
More on that later. In the meantime this is probably my last post for at least a week or 10 days.
Later.
This time we're taking the whole family on this trip to celebrate our 50th anniversary and Sandi's 70th birthday.
Both of these events actually occur later in the year-September & October. Then it's home for a few weeks after which we'll be meeting my long-lost nephew.
More on that later. In the meantime this is probably my last post for at least a week or 10 days.
Later.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Happy "official-first-day-of-summer"
Yesterday was the official first full day of summer soltice-the longest day of the year-15 hours and 18 minutes to be exact. That's the good news. The bad news is that today it is 1 minute shorter and by the end of this month daylight time will be down to 15 hours and 14 minutes.
It doesn't sound like a lot until you look at the length of day tables in an almanac and realize the inevitable.
However, we all know it's part of that never ending seasonal cycle and to me it's part of what keeps life interesting. I wouldn't want to live somewhere where there were no seasons like the equatorial belt where there are only two.
Many children and, I suspect, adults don't fully understand why our climate is seasonal. Back in my teaching days I would explain by showing them a model of the earth, sun and moon. The tilt of the earth on its axis is of course the cause so showing a model of how it actually happens is very helpful.
Anyway, happy summer. To learn more about the summer season, click here georgeswebpage.com/almanac
It doesn't sound like a lot until you look at the length of day tables in an almanac and realize the inevitable.
However, we all know it's part of that never ending seasonal cycle and to me it's part of what keeps life interesting. I wouldn't want to live somewhere where there were no seasons like the equatorial belt where there are only two.
Many children and, I suspect, adults don't fully understand why our climate is seasonal. Back in my teaching days I would explain by showing them a model of the earth, sun and moon. The tilt of the earth on its axis is of course the cause so showing a model of how it actually happens is very helpful.
Anyway, happy summer. To learn more about the summer season, click here georgeswebpage.com/almanac
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Happy Last Day of School, Newtown.
Today is the last day of school for Newtown Public School students. It's also the end of the first year in the new Sandy Hook School.
The move into the new school this year was difficult for many of the staff and faculty because of the circumstances that necessitated a new school but everyone made it through with flying colors.
Have a well deserved, restful summer. I hope to be back in classrooms again this fall as a volunteer.
The move into the new school this year was difficult for many of the staff and faculty because of the circumstances that necessitated a new school but everyone made it through with flying colors.
Have a well deserved, restful summer. I hope to be back in classrooms again this fall as a volunteer.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Three cheers for the red, white and blue. Happy Flag Day
Here's everything you've ever (or never) wanted to know about our flag.
Thirteen
Star U.S. Flag, 1777 ~ 1795
The First Official United States Flag: This 13 star Flag became the Official United States Flag on June 14th, 1777 and is the result of Congressional action that took place on that date. Much evidence exists pointing to Congressman Francis Hopkinson as the person responsible for its design.The only President to serve under this flag was George Washington (1789-1797). This Flag was to last for a period of 18 years, until April 30th, 1795.
Each
star and stripe represented a Colony of which there were thirteen, united
nearly one year earlier by the Declaration of Independence. The thirteen
Colonies are listed below with the date that each ratified the Constitution
and became a State.
(1st)
Delaware, December 7th, 1787. (2nd) Pennsylvania, December
12th,1787. (3rd) New Jersey, December 18th, 1787. (4th) Georgia,
January 2nd, 1788. (5th) Connecticut, January 9th, 1788. (6th) Massachusetts,
February 6th, 1788. (7th) Maryland, April 28th, 1788. (8th) South
Carolina, May 23rd, 1788. (9th) New Hampshire, June 21st, 1788.
(10th) Virginia, June 25th, 1788. (11th) New York, July 25th,
1788. (12th) North Carolina, November 21st, 1789. (13th) Rhode
Island, May 29th, 1790.
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Fifteen Star U.S. Flag, 1795 ~ 1818 This 15 star, 15 stripe Flag was authorized by the Flag Act of January 13, 1794, and became the Official United States Flag on May 1st, 1795. Two stripes and two Stars were added for the admission of Vermont (the 14th State on March 4th, 1791) and Kentucky (the 15th State on June 1st, 1792) and was to last for 23 years, until April 12th, 1818. This flag is the only U.S. Flag to have more than 13 stripes.
During
the bombardment of Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key was
inspired by the sight of this Flag flying over the Fort to write the song
which became known as "The Star Spangled Banner", now our national
anthem. The 15 Star Flag is, itself, affectionately known by the same name.
The
five Presidents who served under this flag were; George Washington
(1789-1797), John Adams (1797-1801), Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), James
Madison (1809-1817), and James Monroe (1817-1825). Top of
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Twenty Star U.S. Flag, 1818 ~ 1819 The 1818 Flag of 20 Stars: Realizing that the addition of a new star and new stripe for each new State was impractical, Congress passed the Flag Act of 1818 which returned the Flag design to 13 stripes and specified 20 stars for the 20 states.
This
Flag became the Official United States Flag on April 13th, 1818. Five stars
were added for the admssion of Tennessee (the 16th State on June 1st,
1796), Ohio (the 17th State on March 1st, 1803), Louisiana (the
18th State on April 30th, 1812), Indiana (the 19th State on December
11th, 1816), and Mississippi (the 20th State on December 10, 1817),
and was to last for just one year until July 4th,1819.
The
only President to serve under this flag was James Monroe (1817-1825).
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Forty Eight Star U.S. Flag, 1912 ~ 1959 The 48 Star Flag: On July 4,1912, the U.S. flag grew to 48 stars with the addition of New Mexico (January 6th, 1912) and Arizona (February 14, 1912). This flag was official for 47 years, longer than any other flag before it, through two World Wars and the emergence of the United States of America as the leading nation of the world.
Eight
Presidents served under this flag; William H. Taft (1909-1913), Woodrow
Wilson (1913-1921), Warren Harding (1921-1923), Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929),
Herbert Hoover (1929-1933), Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), Harry S.Truman
(1945-1953), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
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your 48 Star Flag size here.
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