Pi Day. Understanding Pi. (.785)

At 9:26:53 AM/PM today the numbers will stack up to a representation of the factor Pi. While it is generally used to compute the areas of circles or the volumes of pipe, it has many other uses in space exploration, etc. This is partly a re-post from a few years ago; with some portions rewritten.

We all take Pi for granted. It’s loaded into our computers and calculators for us, and we use it in equations all the time without ever thinking of it beyond it formulaic utility. Some years ago, while working as an estimator of utilities, I found it necessary; or maybe desirable; to understand the exact meaning of Pi and how it worked in relation to the circle.

Having failed at the subject all through high school, and even before that, I had this “fear” of math brought on by my parent’s assertions that I was not able to understand the subject, coupled with a school system which was geared to teaching to the test, rather than teaching an understanding the subject at hand.Had they wanted to really engage my passion all they would have had to do was make the problems relevant to real life. 

For example, you are on a ship and headed in any given direction for 8 days at so many miles per hour. How far have you gone? That would have got me interested in math early on. And by high school, rather than teaching geometry and trigonometry to pass a test, using Nautical Astronomy as an example would have proven more effective at teaching not only both of those subjects, but given the student a true perspective of what mathematics is actually used for. Inadvertently, it would also have taught the subject; which was supposed to be the point.

What is Pi? 3.14159 is the most common answer. Then browse Wikipedia for what that means. Ask the “math” student in your family. The answers you get will all be concerned with the number rather than what it really means, or stands for. That was the purpose of charting it, as I did above, almost 30 years ago while estimating the volume of pipe necessary to hold a specific amount of water. I used a 6” pipe for the example, mostly because it was easily equated to decimal form, and I had a boatload of 6” pipe on hand. However, the resultant .785 factor will work with any size of circle for are, or pipe for volume.

I kept running into Pi while figuring things out, and then rechecking my figures. But, like most folks, I never really understood what it represented, apart from an arbitrary factor that worked. And I really wanted to know why it did. So, I did what Captain Ellison used to tell us at the Baltimore School of Navigation; “Draw it out!” Well, I did. And while putting some of my papers in order the other evening; I am actually doing that; I ran across this and decided to post it for posterity.

In short, while Pi represents the factor used to determine the area within a circle, by careful calculation; and drawing the problem out; it becomes apparent that Pi actually represents .785% of the area of any circle. Will this change the world as we know it? I hardly think so. But it is an example of the beauty and perfection of numbers. 

While I have rounded off the number to obtain this new factor, it should not pose any real problems for any calculations confined to construction, travel etc. Would I use it to build a spaceship and plan a trip to Mars? Hardly. But for the average needs of an estimator; or carpenter; this factor works out just fine.

I hope someone finds this useful and lets me know! Pi for now!

Note: Though I was able to find something about the factor .785 referenced on line; and one fellow even describes drawing a square with a circle inside the perimeters; I still find this explanation and diagram easier to follow.

I Always Wondered Why.....

I always wondered why the Weekly Reader; that cool little newspaper we used to get in elementary school; was sometimes confusing to me as a kid. I mean, there was the time when the Weekly Reader was loudly lambasting South Africa for Apartheid at the same time as we were experiencing the events of Selma, Alabama here in the United States. 

But the Weekly Reader had nothing to say about that. Accordingly, I raised my hand and asked what the difference was between South Africa and Alabama. I was told to be quiet and sit down. So I’ve always wondered about that little newspaper.

Well, decades later while reading about the Bush family in Russ Baker’s “Family of Secrets” I came upon the astonishing fact that Allen Dulles; head of the CIA; was on the Board of Directors of the paper, acting as a sort of ghost editor in determining what stories got printed; or not. Kind of makes you want to rethink some of the things you’ve been told…

Homosexuality Is a Choice and Yearbook Photos in Utah

I guess by now everyone on the planet has heard Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s claim that homosexuality is a choice, and I don't completely disagree with that. While I believe that some homosexuals are genetically predisposed to being homosexual, I also feel that many people choose to live the homosexual lifestyle by choice. Now, before all you self-proclaimed “free thinkers” bite my head off for straying from the "party line", or threaten to firebomb my home in a show of your own tolerance, read on.

I would say to the Governor that if he is of the opinion that homosexuality is a choice, then he has established his position that sexual orientation is a choice in general. So, somewhere along the line, while maturing; well getting older anyway; he had to have made a choice to be heterosexual.

Now that we have established that sexuality is a choice for everyone; I would ask the Governor why his choice is right and the other choice is wrong. Don’t give me the biblical arguments; this is a Secular Republic. The Middle East is full of radical theocracies, all too willing to tell us what to believe. They are called terrorists. Or doesn't the good Governor believe in the War on Terror?

It is 2014; homosexuality has been around since the beginning of time. And, it will be with us for the duration. In the meantime I would suggest that the Governor get to work on the real problems which plague his state. Utah currently ranks 38^th among the 50 states in education. In Utah a child dies before their first birthday every day. The birth weight of babies born in Utah is among the lowest in the nation. Another child is abused every 41 minutes.

Instead of me listing them all, just hit the following link from the Children’s Defense Fund to get a real picture of life in the great state of Utah. I would tell the Governor to get busy working on these problems before he makes any further attempts at social engineering. How about starting with some food for those babies, and Child Protection Services for the abused ones? Oh, and maybe a few books for those students? After all, these are the children of the Governor’s “choice”; the products of heterosexual unions. Who knows, with a little help from the state, someday they may grow up to be smarter than their parents and elect a Governor who really understands the job.

http://www.childrensdefense.org/child-research-data-publications/data/state-data-repository/cits/2012/2012-utah-children-in-the-states.pdf

Note: As of 2 days later, high schools in Utah are altering students photos to "show less skin." You can't make this stuff up, which again calls to mind the similarities between the state of Utah and some of the terrorist nations we are supposed to be fighting. In that part of the world they have religious law; also known as "Sharia." And, in those countries it is mandatory for women to cover themselves.

Someone needs to remind the Governor that this is America. Keep in mind that he is one of  the same Conservatives who tell you they want to keep government out of your lives. Right....

You can view the news article here;

http://fox13now.com/2014/05/28/students-at-utah-school-upset-to-discover-yearbook-photos-were-altered-before-publication/

Selma Burke - Got a Dime?

If you've got a dime in your pocket then you are familiar with this women’s work as a sculptress. But there was a lot more to Selma Burke than just the plaque of Franklin Roosevelt which she created in 1945 for another project.  (More about that dime later.) I first became acquainted with Ms. Burke’s contributions to the world of art and education when I entered the old Mooresville Town Library back in the late 1990’s. There was a plaque of her - a portrait on wood – which still hangs there today, right where the old and new libraries are joined together.

Ms. Burke (who shares the same last name as my paternal great-grand parents) was born in Mooresville, North Carolina on the last day of the year 1900. Her father was a farmer and church Minister, while her mother did everything else.

Young Selma was interested in art at a very early age, but her mother was a pragmatic woman and wanted her to learn something which would lead to secure employment. Accordingly, she became a Nurse, graduating from St, Agnes Training School in Raleigh in 1924. From there she moved to Harlem, which was still in the throes of the great Harlem Renaissance. What a change this must have been for a farm girl from Mooresville, North Carolina! It was while in New York that she began her first job as a Nurse.

The Harlem Arts Community Center was an integral part of the Harlem Renaissance, and it was there that Ms. Burke was able to meet with some of artists who would influence her to take that great leap; from the security of nursing to taking a chance on following her dreams. Cautiously, she kept the day job, and sculpted at night.

Her early work was good enough for her to attain 2 grants; The Rosenwald  in 1935, and the Boehler in 1936. She also received money from the Foundation Grants program in the late 1930’s which enabled her to study abroad. Places like Vienna and Paris were now not just a dream; they were her new reality. This period of her life and studies earned her a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University in 1941.

Contrary to what many believe the bust of Franklin Roosevelt was never a bust at all; rather it started out as a plaque done while the President was still alive and in office. It was part of a project to honor the “Four Freedoms”, which was a cornerstone of FDR’s post war vision of guaranteeing peace and security foe the world.

The plaque was completed in early 1945. On March 10^th Eleanor Roosevelt visited Selma Burke in her studio to view the finished work. She echoed what many people have opined since the Roosevelt Dime was issued in 1946. She thought that Ms. Burke had portrayed him as “too young.” Ms. Burke told the First Lady, "I’ve not done it for today, but for tomorrow and tomorrow."  It measured 3.5’ by 2.5’ and was unveiled in September 1945 at the Recorder of Deeds Building in Washington. It still resides there today. Now the story gets a bit tricky.

John R. Sinnock was the Chief Engraver at the Bureau of Engraving. In 1946, the year after Roosevelt had died in office, he was asked to design a new dime to honor the fallen President. It’s obvious, in my opinion, that he merely lifted the profile from the original work by Ms. Burke, using it as the obverse on the new dime and placing his initials; JS; below the work. Even when confronted with the similarity in the design of the two depictions he vehemently denied it.

Ms. Burke paid it no mind at all, continuing to focus on teaching art to others. She established schools in New York and Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh school is fondly remembered as having contributed greatly to that cities cultural renaissance. The seeds first planted in Harlem were finally bearing fruit. She was also a Public School teacher there for 17 years.

She spent most of her final years at her studio in Buck’s County, Pennsylvania. It was there, while working on a project to honor Rosa Parks that she died. It was August 29, 1995. Her biggest contribution is probably having devoted her life to furthering the education of others while instilling within them a love of art.

There is one quote from Ms. Burke which sums up her philosophy in a nutshell; “Art didn’t start black or white, it just started ... There have been too many labels in this world: Negro, Colored, Black, African-American ... Why do we label people with everything except Children of God?"

"The Balloon Song" - Toddler World TV

The internet can be a black hole; or it can be a wondrous tool for communication and learning. As with most things, it all depends on what you do with it. This delightful little cartoon is an example of all that is good in the cyber world.

This video comes from Toddler World TV; which if you are a parent of a toddler, you are probably already aware. It’s new to me, but I can see where this would be a fun tool to work with your child/grandchild on learning the colors. The thing you have to watch out for when looking and listening to these little things is NOT taking away the simple melodies in your head. They will come back to you at the most unexpected times; like 3 in the morning when you’re trying to sleep! Kind of like an annoying commercial, except that the visual is more tolerable.

There’s a whole world of stuff on the website for Toddler World TV. Though not a replacement for actually parenting your child, there are actually lots of fun things on here which can make learning more fun for both parent and child. Now that’s what I call a good use of technology! See more from Toddler World TV at their You Tube location;

http://www.youtube.com/user/toddlerworldtv?feature=watch

"The Blue Tail Fly" - Politically Incorrect?

We learned this song in elementary school. The other day I was playing it on guitar, getting ready to play it for my granddaughters Molly and Julia, when I stopped as I realized the words and their full import. This song was sung far and wide when I was growing up, and in some places it is still a staple of childhood rhyme schemes. I have no problem with it, as the children singing it usually have no idea of what the lyrics mean. Some folks even think that the lyrics are two separate songs.

The above live performance by Burl Ives is a bit out of synch. I could have used another clip, but this one from 1964 shows just how out of synch most of America was regarding race relations at the same time as the country was experiencing massive racial unrest. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had yet to be passed, and the events in Selma, Alabama were still a year away.

Some folks have objected to this songs continued use in schools due to the racial overtones of the lyrics. The main character is a slave who tends to his masters every need. Some find that offensive. But listen more closely and you will realize that this song makes sport of the master’s dependence upon his servant, which actually plays a small part in his own unfortunate demise. The last verse is the best, and if you remove the quotation marks from the epitaph the meaning is completely changed. Instead of an epitaph it becomes a confession by the young servant.

As the world evolves, changes get made and things get lost. I hope that the people who object to this song will stop and really hear it for what it is; it’s a satire about the people who only think that they are in charge, but haven’t got a clue. If they did, then the blue tail fly could never hurt them.

“The Blue Tail Fly” by Elie Siegmeister and Walter F. Kerr

When I was young I used to wait

On my master and hand him his plate

And Pass the bottle when he got dry

And brush away the blue-tail fly.

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

My master's gone away.

And when he'd ride in the afternoon

I'd follow after with my hickory broom

The pony being rather shy

When bitten by the blue-tail fly.

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

My master's gone away.

One day he ride around the farm

Flies so numerous they did swarm

One chanced to bite him on the thigh

The devil take the blue-tail fly.

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

My master's gone away.

The pony run, he jump, he pitch

He threw my master in the ditch

He died and the jury wondered why

The verdict was the blue-tail fly.

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

My master's gone away.

He lay under the 'simmon tree

His epitaph is there to see

"Beneath this stone I'm forced to lie

The victim of the blue-tail fly."

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

Jimmy crack corn, and I don't care

My master's gone away.

"Hysterical High Spots in American History" from Walter Lantz (1941)

Walter Lantz is most noted for his Woody Woodpecker cartoons, but he had a life in animation before the advent of the noisy little bird we all came to love. This Technicolor cartoon from 1941 should give you a good idea of what Mr. Lantz was doing prior to the birth of Woody.

Beginning with Columbus’ voyage to the New World, Mr. Lantz takes the viewer on a tour de force through America’s most colorful moments. From Columbus and all the way through the American Revolution; which began today at Lexington-Concord in Massachusetts; on through the stock market crash of the late 1920’s and the Great Depression, this cartoon leaves nothing out.

The First Thanksgiving is covered in a humorous fashion, with everyone shaking hands and saying “Thank you” to one another. The Minutemen are here, as is Lincoln at Gettysburg. The Gold Rush in California, the New Deal, and even the rumblings of the Second World War, along with the first peacetime conscription of  the Armed Forces, are all covered as well.  

Today is the anniversary of the events that brought us freedom, and in spite of the events in Boston; the “Cradle of Liberty”; this past week, Americans will persevere and move on with their lives, always remembering the fallen that did not make it. And, along with that, we will keep our senses; all of them; even our sense of humor. And that, in itself, is a victory.

The Levine Museum of the New South - Without Sanctuary

Sue and I went to the Levine Museum of the New South; whatever that means; the other day, primarily to see the exhibit "Without Sanctuary", which is composed of photographs taken of lynching’s in the United States between 1882 and 1968. There were some 5,000 of them; and with 1,200 of the murders being distributed amongst various white groups such as Catholics, Jews and Hispanics; the visitor must take a momentary pause as they realize that no one group is/was ever safe from mindless hatred.

Another big surprise was that the 5,000 lynching’s were recorded in 44 of the 48 contiguous states; the only 4 dissenting states being Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. This was really a surprise to me, as I have always thought of these murders as being in the “pastoral south”, as Billie Holiday hauntingly sings in “Bitter Fruit”, which happened to be playing during the exhibit. I was very relieved to hear the song in that setting, as I had earlier remarked to both Sue, and a friend, that it would be most appropriate for the exhibit.

I don’t have to go into the viciousness of the topic of lynching, as I assume my “audience”; small though it may be; is way beyond that type of thinking, let alone action. There was a billboard provided for the people who chose to leave a comment. Most of them were along the lines of “God is great”, or, “Politicians kill people.” There were some that blamed the culture of the times; which to a certain extent may be true. I had to leave one of my own, which I felt really summed it up nicely. I wrote that in every era, and every nationality; be they Asian, as with the Japanese; or German, as with the Second World War; or Napoléon in his quest to conquer Europe and parts of Asia in the early 19th century; or even Caesar himself, with his holy Roman Empire; all the way to the tribal and cultural wars of the Middle East and Africa today; people are all capable, when properly manipulated; of the most horrendous horrors imaginable. It’s a sobering, and sad, reality, but history bears it out.

The exhibit was very informative; even to the armchair historian such as myself; and several facts were revealed to me regarding how widespread the practice of lynching was. And when that part of the exhibit was through, you get to walk through the “standing” exhibit of the Levine Center itself; which chronicles the emergence of the Charlotte region post-Civil War up until today. That’s me sitting at a mockup of the original Woolworth counter which was part of the early Civil Rights Movement here in Charlotte in 1960. Since I remember those events more clearly, this exhibit was extra special.

The cotton gins and the mills were represented in several exhibits which highlighted the plight of the mill worker in the earlier days of the 20th Century. The rise of the millworkers eventually caused the area to change from an agricultural to banking community, as the rising wages drove some of the mills out of business. The photographs of the millworkers; living in all but abject poverty; while toiling away for 60 hours a week; and always in hock to the “company”; were heart wrenching. These were people in their 30’s, who looked as if they were 60 years old.

This was a very educational and thought provoking exhibit. It asks you, as the patron, to examine the past, and judge the present and the future for yourselves. When confronted with the misery endured by others yesterday, it is often much easier to understand the present.

Cotton

Last year Sue and I were riding around Mooresville, looking at the pumpkin fields just before Halloween, when we saw the most beautiful field of cotton. Stopping the car I managed to pick a few bolls, feeling very much like a sharecropper as I did. It was, after all, someone else’s crop which I was picking.

I have grown cotton before; just a few plants on my back porch. I love the way it grows so patiently, with the buds giving way to the white flowers; which quickly turn pink; eventually become hardened bolls of the coveted white fluff.

We live in North Carolina, a state known for tobacco and cotton, both during the days of slavery, as well as after. Most of the tobacco is gone now, but cotton is still grown in the area. The beauty of the crop, as with opium, belies the pain behind the façade; the pastoral image of the Old South, with slaves singing in the fields as they harvested the crop.

In reality, when this time of year came, and the plants flowered so beautifully; creating fields of white flowers mimicking a snowfall; the slaves were very cognizant of what that beauty meant to them. This was the yearly lottery; when whole families could be separated from one another, never to meet again.

From late November, after the last of the crops were in, until the first of March, was the usual time when slaves were hired out for the winter; if they were lucky; or sold outright if they were not. The difference between the two lots is staggering; as with the former there was at least a chance of being re-united with your family after your “hiring out” was done. But, with the latter, there was no way of predicting what your fate would be, or even where that future lay. When you were “sold”; a vulgar term when used in conjunction with human beings; you were simply gone, most likely never to be seen again by your family or friends.

So, when I look at the beautiful plant which I have grown, or drive about looking at the fields of soon to be harvested cotton, I am very much aware of the “social” history of this pretty little flower. All of the cotton raised in this area is now harvested by machine, although many adults my age, both white and black, have picked cotton at some point in their lives.

There is no point to this post. It’s just me, looking past the flower.

Dick, Jane and Sally (1956)

This is where it all began for me; as far as reading goes. Dick and his two sisters, Jane and Sally, taught me how to read by allowing me to look into their little world. In a way they were the first “reality” type of show. They did the things we all do at the age of 5, at least back then. We waited for our Dads to come home from work, while our Moms took care of us. And the luckier kids had dogs, like Spot to play with.

Sue still has her 1^st grade reader, “The New We Look and See” by New Basic Readers. This is the 1956 edition. They say that this system of teaching young people is outdated and inefficient. Of course, I disagree. Upon the average, I read about 100 books per year, more if I were to count the ones which I begin but do not finish, and even more when you add in the number of books I take out from the library in order to read a specific portion, of which I have interest.

I am in favor of any program which teaches children to read; and even more so when it comes to any program urging young people to continue reading past the point of being functional. Dick, Jane and Sally were my first fictional characters; beyond the ones which my mom read to me at bedtime. These were characters to whom I could relate, and; more importantly; access on my own. They were a vehicle to make me want to read beyond the level in which I could merely pass the test.

I don’t know if they are still using these books anymore, but I hope so. If not, someone please tell me; whatever happened to Dick, Jane and Sally? Did they get old, like we did? Are they retired and living in Florida, like my Aunt Gloria? Or, have they gone the way of all things when they are considered obsolete? And if you see them, could you say hello for me? I kind of miss them.

Community School of Davidson - Holocaust Memorial Exhibit

This article appeared here 2 years ago and gave me quite a boost with the response I had from it. It was the first time I had ever gotten more than 35 “hits” in a day. I now average about 250. I was so impressed by the exhibit, and that these kids chose to take on such a topic as the Holocaust. The fact that it was being taught in school anymore was a real shocker to me. And, as a Jewish kid from Brooklyn, New York, the last place I ever expected to run into an exhibit like this was in North Carolina. So, I went in and took the tour. This is the original article from my 2010 visit. I plan on going tomorrow and see the newer, updated version of this accurate and sensitive portrayal of one of the darkest chapters in human history. That the Community School of Davidson chooses to shed light upon it brings great hope to a world that is seemingly crumbling all about us. Only through an understanding of the past can we hope to avoid the same mistakes. Harry Truman once said, “The only thing new is the history you don’t know.” Truer words were never spoken. Here is the original post;

I never know what I am going to do when I wake up each day. Aside from emergency situations that pop up here and there, I am largely at my leisure. When I read this morning’s paper I saw that the Community School of Davidson was having a Holocaust Memorial Exhibit for the next few days. It sounded intriguing so I figured I’d check it out.

To begin with, I was kind of surprised that the Community School of Davidson would be having this event. No real reason for my surprise, I just thought of them as an elite school and accordingly, and incorrectly as it turns out, to place no real emphasis on social issues. I love it when I’m wrong. Lesson learned.

These kids spent two weeks, or more, preparing the exhibit. Upon first entering you are given a guide, a 6th grade student at the school. These kids are animated and well informed in their presentations. The diagram shows the route and nature of the exhibits. The journey begins with Propaganda and moves onto Kristalnacht, the November 1938 “Night of Glass”, considered by many to be the beginning of the Holocaust.

From there the exhibit moves on to the Warsaw Ghetto, where in October of 1940 the Jews of Warsaw were restricted to a small area of the city and basically allowed to starve. The exhibit was done by creating a small alcove into a replica of a typical ghetto apartment. Remember, these kids were working with construction paper and magic markers, and yet the effect was claustrophobic. It was very effective work.

The Railcar was a particularly useful tool for realizing the cramped conditions and sheer inhumanity of the deportations. First there is a square foot marked off in the hall outside the exhibit into which you are asked to stand with 5 other people. That’s what the Jews experienced on their way to the concentration camps. It was unnerving for 5 minutes, think of the reality of it for an average of 2 days, without food or water. No sanitary facilities; stripped of all belongings except for the clothes on your back.

The Auschwitz Camp and Anne Franks’ hidden apartment were also displayed with great effect. The use of photographs and even laptops added to the availability of the presentations. The lighting was subdued and managed to add an appropriately tangible darkness to the subject.

There was a small exhibit about Oskar Schindler and Rabbi Gerber’s Red Shoes, as well as a section of children’s art depicting replicas of the art work done by the children interred at the Terezin Concentration Camp.

This exhibit was important in many ways, but chiefly it was comforting to know that the Holocaust will not be forgotten, it cannot be ignored. And these kids prove it. Many thanks to Davidson Community School for their efforts on behalf of tolerance. And thanks to the students who took their time to help create such an insightful tour. It was a job well done.

Two Degrees - One Night

Sarah Ruth Hoffman received her hard earned Master's Degree in Human Nutrition last evening. The ceremony took place at Winthrop University in South Carolina, where Sarah has been studying for over 5 years. Both Sue and I are very proud of her, and her brother Shane, as well, who also received his degree in Applied Physics this evening in Texas. So, it was kind of like when the kids were in Little League in 2 different counties. Sue and I would pass one another when we got home from work and then go separate ways to separate games.

These two degrees made me think of that part in "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn", when Katie realizes that her children will go further than she has. It's a milestone moment when you realize that your children are now better educated than yourself.

Sue and I had to do a little bit of "family planning", so to speak, to pull it off. Sue got to go to Texas and be with Shane for his graduation, as well as see the grandkids, while I got to stay home and be here for Sarah's ceremony. It was a pretty good night either way, and we are tremendously proud of both the kids for going the "distance."

On the way home I compared my own life, as well as Sue's, at their ages, 24 and 34, respectively. It would appear that they now have more options than Sue and I did at those same times in our lives. And that's a good thing, as it means they are moving in the right direction. Sometimes you get to live your own dreams through the accomplishments of your children. Thanks, Sarah and Shane, for making our dreams a reality.

Budget Cuts to Pell Grants - A Short Sighted View

I have just finished reading the weekly White House Newsletter, which touts the importance of Education in furtherance of our National Goals. After all, neglecting Education is something we simply cannot afford to do! Of course, this newsletter came one day after the announcement about possibly cutting the Pell Grants, which the President also says we cannot afford. You cannot make this stuff up. He plans to cut the grants by $100 billion dollars over the next 10 years. Here is both the text of the White House Newsletter as well as the reply which I submitted, along with my request for a response, which they offer as an option. I will gladly print it here, when, and if, I ever receive one.

Good afternoon,

Just a few weeks ago, in my State of the Union Address, I spoke about how America can win the future by out-educating, out-innovating and out-building the rest of the world. I also talked about taking responsibility for our Nation's deficits, because we can’t win the future if we pass on a mountain of debt to our children and grandchildren.

Yesterday, I sent my budget proposal for 2012 to Congress, and I wanted to take a moment to explain some of the tough choices we had to make so we can afford to invest in our future.

Like American families, the Federal Government must live within its means. That means eliminating wasteful spending and cutting programs that aren't working. It also means that programs, like Community Development Block Grants, which I care about deeply, need to be scaled back to confront the crushing debt we face.

You can learn more about the budget proposal and watch Jack Lew, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, explain our approach here:

Getting our fiscal house in order requires shared sacrifice. But even in these tough times, we have a responsibility to make smart investments in our Nation's future.

That's why we must invest in innovation to ensure that the jobs and industries of the future are built right here in America. It's why we need to invest in roads, bridges, high-speed rail and high-speed Internet to help our businesses ship their goods and ideas around the world.

And it's why America must invest in education so that all of our children have an opportunity to fulfill their potential. Even though parents are the key to a child's education, we have a responsibility to ensure that America's students are prepared to compete and thrive in the 21st century global economy.

Yesterday, I visited Parkville Middle School and Center of Technology near Baltimore, Maryland. At Parkville, students gain a strong background in math, science and critical thinking skills that they will need to compete for the jobs of the 21st century. In fact, the most popular subject in their magnet program is engineering.

Investing in schools like Parkville, investing in quality teachers, investing in higher education – these are down payments on our children's and our country's future.

Here are just a few investments in education that I've proposed in the budget I sent to Congress:

•Preparing 100,000 new math, science and engineering teachers.

•Expanding Race to the Top, a reform program that has led more than 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning for less than 1 percent of what we spend on education each year.

•Helping more kids afford college by making the American Opportunity Tax Credit permanent and strengthening Pell Grants for 9 million students.

Here in Washington, we have to take a cue from millions of American families who have been tightening their belts while continuing to invest in their future. And that's exactly what my budget proposal does – it puts us on a path to live within our means so we can invest in our future.

Sincerely,

President Barack Obama

This email was sent to robertrswwilliams@yahoo.com.
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The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

Here is my response;

Mr. President,

I am a subscriber to your White House Newsletter. I find it informative and I am glad to receive it.

But you must realize, that your judgment in touting education as a necessary part of America's future goals, a view with which I agree wholeheartedly, when you are advocating a cut of $100 billion dollars, over 10 years’ time, from the Pell Grants, is questionable at best.

I can only surmise that your words do not apply to your intentions in this instance. Please feel free to correct me in this matter if I am wrong.

When the tax cuts, which were once again extended to the rich, outweigh the cuts to the Pell Grants, which they do, there can be no excuse for the cuts. The Pell Grants are but a drop in the bucket when compared to the burden we will all share as a result of the tax cuts. As such, I am sorely disappointed in your stand on this issue.

Ah, would that it could be, that no Americans could read at all! It would then be possible for politicians to write anything they wished, without fear of their true meaning being understood by the people.

My Best Wishes to you, as you struggle with these and other issues,

Truly,

Robert S. Williams

Contact as above, or at;

http://robertwilliamsofbrooklyn.blogspot.com/

Here is a link to one of many articles concerning these cuts; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41560704/

"Colors Of the Mountain" by Da Chen

Sometimes, while reading a good book, like I am now, I will also be reading something I have read in the past. It is usually completely unconnected to the book I am currently reading, but it is always a book that has had a profound effect upon me. "Colors of the Mountain", Da Chen's beautiful memoir of growing up in Communist China, is that sort of book.

Born in 1962 to a family of former landowners, which was a crime in itself, the young Da Chen is beaten at school and ridiculed wherever he goes. He is the top student in his classes, but due to his grandparents having once owned land, he is repeatedly denied a higher education.

The family endures all the deprivations of Red China under Chairman Mao. Rotten food, bad medicine and a lack of justice are the most obvious symptons that plagued the country at the time. But what about the soul of a young boy who yearns to become more? What happens to the human soul when hope is always just out of reach? And when that hope is denied in an official capacity, what can one person do to alleviate the obviously flawed and cruel system?

These are the questions that confront young Mr. Chen as he grows up during the Cultural Revolution, a period in which he sees his grandfather publicly disgraced for having once owned land, as well as seeing his father jailed for having a University degree.

While some would surely give up under such treatment, Da Chen passes the countries University entrance exams in 1977, at the age of 14, scoring in the top 2%. He can no longer be ignored. He is now on a path that will not only bring to fruition his dream of attending Beijing Language Institute, where he eventually graduates with the highest honors, but will open up a whole new world for him.

Meanwhile, his father managed to work his way out of the labor camps by utilizing his own skills as an acupuncturist. He delighted in using the largest, and most painful needles, on the Communist Cadre members who had made his life a living hell for so many years.

Mr. Chen winds up his academic career in New York, at Columbia Law School, on a full scholarship. From there he lands a job on Wall Street. He lives today in the Hudson Valley area of New York with his wife and family. He is a noted brush calligrapher, specializing in spiritual design. He also plays classical bamboo flute.

When you compare Da Chen's remarkable life to the recent rumblings about China's democracy activist Liu Xiaobo accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, you have to wonder how much she has really changed. We have embraced freedom of trade with China, perhaps it is now time for China to embrace freedom of thought with her own people.

New Math and Clueless Clerks

Sue went to the grocery store at lunch today. It was a simple transaction, less than $20. The total was actually $17.07 Using her ATM card, Sue asked for $2.93 change in order to round the bill up to a neat $20. Easy to remember if you lose the receipt. The girl at the register handed her $20. Sue gave it back and tried to explain that she had been given too much change. The clerk was clueless, she had no idea what Sue was talking about. "The receipt says Debit $20.00, so I gave you $20.00.", was about the only response she was able to offer. Sue tried to reason with her, to no avail.

The Assistant Manager was called over, surely he could straighten this out. Nope. Totally beyond his power of reasoning. Time to call in the big guns. The Manager! It took him a minute or two, collecting information on all sides to the dispute, before carefully adding and subtracting the applicable numbers, which proved Sue to be correct. She had been given $20 too much.

It's frightening to think of all the time and effort that was brought to bear in correcting a problem as simple as addition and subtraction. But it's one of the many things I love about Sue. Me, I would have given up after the Assistant Manager and just tossed the $20 in the Salvation Army kettle outside.

"Goodbye Mr. Chips" with Robert Donat and Greer Garson

I have to confess that this movie has always been a favorite of mine, mainly due to the personality of Mr. Chips, which in my earlier years, reflected my own lack of confidence and shyness. And like Mr. Chips, I have required time and patience to overcome these obstacles.

This movie, like so many others, begins at the end. It is 1937, and Mr. Chips is instructed by his physician not to attend Graduation ceremonies at Brookfield, an upper crust English boarding school, for the first time in 57 years, due to his health. Naturally he attends at the last possible moment before retiring to his cottage, where he falls asleep in front of the fire, reminiscing about his life as a teacher, and later, Headmaster of Brookfield. The rest of the movie is a flashback of his life at Brookfield, from his first days as a novice teacher until his final days as the most beloved and respected of his peers.

When he first arrives at Brookfield he is unsure of how to proceed. For awhile it looks as though he has chosen the wrong profession for a shy and gentle man. His first days as a new Master are an exercise in futility. But time wills out and he slowly becomes an object of affection to his students.

When his German colleague takes him home for the holidays, Mr. Chips is transformed in many ways. He goes hiking in the mountains and gets stuck in the fog, forcing him to wait it out alone. Hearing a woman's voice calling out, he begins a perilous climb in search of the woman he assumes to be stranded. The woman turns out to be Katherine, an Englishwoman played by Greer Garson in her first screen role, for which she received an Oscar Nomination. She is the exact opposite of Mr. Chips, modern and outgoing. She even rides a bicycle! They spend the evening on the mountain waiting for the fog to lift. They become close quite quickly due to the anonymity provided by the fog and being so far away from the real world down below. Their affection for one another is palpable, but Chips dares not act upon his feelings, fearing rejection and humiliation. Actually, until he meets Katherine he is called by his surname of Mr. Chippings. It is Katherine who renames him "Chips."

When he and his German colleague Max, played by Paul Henreid, continue on their walking tour of the mountains they encounter Katherine and her lady companion once again. They become inseperable for the remainder of the trip, although Chips is still too "proper" to make his feelings known to this forward thinking woman. Indeed, it is she who engineers his asking her to dance on their last night together. And at the train station, while saying goodbye, she kisses him goodbye. To his way of thinking he is now engaged! Katherine has successfully maneuvered him into a de-facto proposal of marriage.

When Chips arrives back at Brookfield, his bride becomes the object of curiosity and attention at the all male school. His students are simply shocked that he has a wife at all, while his bachelor peers are in awe at the beauty she brings to the school. They cannot understand how the shy and uncertain Chips could have attained this beautiful woman for a bride.

His marriage marks a wonderful change in his life. Katherine has the boys over for tea and becomes a part of the school. She helps Chips bring a new way of thinking and teaching to the institution. When she passes away during childbirth,on April Fools day, along with the baby, Mr. Chips is left alone once again. It is almost as if fate is mocking him. But the lessons he has learned about taking chances and looking at things in a different light, endear him to both students and faculty.

When the First World War breaks out he watches as several of his students and colleagues march off to war, some never to return. When he reads out the name of Max, the German Professor, who had returned to his country at the outbreak of the war, along with the names of the English dead, the students, and the viewer, cannot escape the message that all lives hold value, even the lives of "so-called" enemies.

As a result of the shortage of manpower due to the war, Mr. Chips is finally made Headmaster, a position he has dreamt about for the last 50 years. When he finally retires and passes away, it is with contentment. He has tasted of love and left his mark on several generations of young men, who are better off for his having taught them.

This movie is a gem. A more poignant film would be hard to come by. I have never read the book, written by James Hilton, actually I have never even seen a copy of one. But I will be looking for it at the library, and reviewing it here. This was a wonderful viewing experience which I did not want to end.

"The Other Wes Moore" by Wes Moore

In the late 1970's I was stunned one day to pick up the newspaper in New York and read that I had been executed in Georgia. The deceased shared my exact name. We were only a few months apart in age. I wondered about this twist of fate many times over the ensuing decades. The fact that I was white and the other Robert Williams was black, almost explained his fate to me. I imagined that, were I in his shoes, I would not have received the Death Penalty.

Wes Moore has taken us one step further with this exciting and introspective book. In the fall of 2000 a group of young men in Baltimore, my old hometown, robbed a jewelry store. The robbery went bad and people were killed. One of the criminals was a young man named Wes Moore. He grew up in Baltimore, had no father, roamed the streets and went to school casually, that is, whenever he felt like it. To read about his life seemed "typical" and the reader was left unmoved. It was expected.

Two months later, the same paper carried a story about a young man, named Wes Moore, who had just earned a Rhodes Scholarship in Baltimore. He grew up in New York, attended similar schools, ran the streets and both had no fathers at home. How did these two come to such different endings? The social and economic patterns were almost identical in both of their lives. What was the difference that led one man to a sentence of Life without Parole, and the other to a life of Education and World Travel.

This book follows the paths of the two men, who were born into almost identical circumstances, and yet wound up at opposite ends of the spectrum. That they shared the same name is even more remarkable and serves to underscore the role that Fate plays in all of our lives.

Wes Moore, the author, journeys to Jessup Correctional facility, located near BWI Airport to conduct a series of interviews with the incarcerated Wes Moore. He explores the differences, as well as the similarities, which bought them to such different ends. What was the key that made one turn away from Education and Advancement, while the other embraced it?

This is one of the best books about life on the streets of Baltimore since "The Block" by David Simon and Edward Burns, who also wrote "Homicide: Life on the Streets." The biggest difference is that this book was written by one of the people who lived the life. The other book was written by someone from outside of that world.

In the final analysis it is attitude that makes the difference. The attitudes of both those that surround you, as well as the attitude that you carry inside, can make all the difference in the world. Just ask Wes Moore. Either one.

I'm Amazed!

I was really amazed at the volume of people that hit my blog, commented/ sent me e-mails about yesterday's post. I really thought something was wrong with my counter! I am used to about 35 hits a day and today's count exceeded 300! I hope that I've gained a few more readers and it's not just a one day spike. In the meantime I'm finishing up reading a book that was supposed to be today's post.

It's a memoir written by the daughter of a news reporter behind the Iron Curtain in Budapest, Hungary in the years just after the Second World War and up through the Revolution of 1956. But that's tomorrow.