In order to understand why so many tornadoes occur in the United States, take a look at a topographical map of the North American continent, and especially of the United States. The Rocky Mountain range in the west, and the Appalachian Mountain range in the east, act like the sides of a gigantic natural funnel, allowing huge amounts of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, cold, dry air from Canada and the Arctic, and cool, dry air spilling over the Rockies from the Pacific (losing most of its moisture in the process) to come into contact--and often, conflict! When these three thermally unbalanced air masses meet, the reaction is almost always violent, and, in many cases, downright catastrophic!
The primary field of conflict, so to speak, is an area generally known as "Tornado Alley." It stretches from Texas all the way up to Minnesota. Better than 95% of the more than 1,000 tornadoes that occur in the United States each year (on average) occur in this region. Because of this, most of the research into severe weather and severe weather safety are concentrated in this area. In fact, the National Weather Service maintains two major facilities for this purpose in Norman, Oklahoma, often referred referred to as "the heart of Tornado Alley." The first of these, the National Severe Storms Laboratory, is devoted primarily to severe weather research, while its counterpart, the Storm Prediction Center, is dedicated to actively predicted to forecasting severe weather, and alerting the public when it actually develops.
In recent years, a second area, commonly referred to as "Dixie Alley," has been identified. It includes the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, the upper half of Georgia, and the western 2/3 of Tennessee. A number of the most destructive tornadoes in recent years have occurred, many of them at night, and more than a few of them in what would normally be considered the "dead of winter." The reason for this is that the "Dixie Alley" region is significantly closer to the Gulf of Mexico than the traditional "Tornado Alley." This creates a sort of "thermal flywheel" or "thermal storage battery" effect, allowing severe weather to develop much later in the day, and in the year, than might otherwise be expected.
In most areas of the United States, there are two periods when tornadoes, and the severe thunder-storms that spawn them, are most likely to develop. Both of these periods are times of transition from one season to the next. The primary season includes the months of March, April, and May, which is the transitional period between winter and summer. The secondary period includes late October, November, and early December, the seasonal transition between summer and winter. This especially holds true in the region known as "Dixie Alley." Also, and especially in "Dixie Alley," most tornadoes tend to develop late in the day, when the heat and humidity reach their daily peak. This is also the reason so many tornadoes occur at dusk, or even in the early nighttime hours. It should also be noted that tornadoes which occur at night are all but impossible to see, which makes them even more dangerous than their daytime counterparts.
In my next posting, we'll begin covering the basic safety measures to protect you, and those you love, against the dangers of severe weather, and especially tornadoes.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Just What IS A Tornado?
In order to properly understand and practice the principles of severe weather safety, we must first understand the major players involved, so to speak. When most people hear the the words "severe weather" or "severe weather safety," they almost always think of tornadoes, and for good reason. Such being the case, let's begin delving into the subject of sever weather safety by defining what is, and is not, a tornado.
The word "tornado" is of Spanish origin, and, literally translated, means "twisting" or "turning"--an apt description of the appearance of this most frightening severe weather phenomenon. The National Weather Service defines a tornado as, "a violently rotating column of air attached to a thunderstorm AND in
contact with the ground." If the column of air is not in contact with the ground, it is referred to as a "funnel cloud." Some people might well consider this to be an unnecessarily picayunish distinction. However, it has proven to be an essential one to permit the keeping of clear, consistent, accurate records, which are the basis of all severe weather research.
No matter what you think about this distinction, however, the fact remains that the North American continent in general, and the United States in particular, experience more, and more violent tornadoes than all the rest of the world put together! In the year just ended, some 940 tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service, causing a total of 54 deaths, and more than $2.6 billion in property damage.
In my next posting, we'll go into the reasons why so many of these horrific storms take place here in America, and the beginnings of what you can do to help protect yourself and those you love from their destructive fury.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Relative humidity and home heating comfort
This afternoon, I've had several phone calls from people who were
concerned about my staying warm during this cold snap. That caused me
to become concerned about a major factor in home heating comfort that I
am afraid many of you may be neglecting. That factor is the relative
humidity level (that is, the amount of moisture in the air relative to
the temperature) in one's home or apartment.
Why is this so important, you ask? Well, from my own experience, I can testify that, with the right level of relative humidity in the air (approximately 50%), you can cut back your thermostat by as much as ten degrees or more and still feel warm and toasty. This amounts to a significant savings on your next gas or electric bill! It also makes you less susceptible to colds, flu, and other diseases, since dry air puts a strain on the delicate tissues of the mouth, nose, and throat.
Having said all of that, however, it is just as important not to let the humidity level get too high, as that will tend to promote the growth of mold and mildew, especially black mold, which can be deadly. It is easy, however, to monitor the humidity level in your home with an inexpensive humidity gauge, available at many hardware stores or home furnishing stores. Moisture can be added to the air very easily when needed by means of an old-fashioned steam vaporizer or cool-mist vaporizer which are currently priced at from $15 to $30 at most drug and department stores. They're easy to care for, so this is basically a one-time purchase.
Please feel free to spread the word about this important subject. With the home heating season now in full swing, the home humidity level is an important factor for both health and economy reasons--please don't neglect it!
Why is this so important, you ask? Well, from my own experience, I can testify that, with the right level of relative humidity in the air (approximately 50%), you can cut back your thermostat by as much as ten degrees or more and still feel warm and toasty. This amounts to a significant savings on your next gas or electric bill! It also makes you less susceptible to colds, flu, and other diseases, since dry air puts a strain on the delicate tissues of the mouth, nose, and throat.
Having said all of that, however, it is just as important not to let the humidity level get too high, as that will tend to promote the growth of mold and mildew, especially black mold, which can be deadly. It is easy, however, to monitor the humidity level in your home with an inexpensive humidity gauge, available at many hardware stores or home furnishing stores. Moisture can be added to the air very easily when needed by means of an old-fashioned steam vaporizer or cool-mist vaporizer which are currently priced at from $15 to $30 at most drug and department stores. They're easy to care for, so this is basically a one-time purchase.
Please feel free to spread the word about this important subject. With the home heating season now in full swing, the home humidity level is an important factor for both health and economy reasons--please don't neglect it!
The Importance Of Severe Weather Safety
The year 2013 was an unusual one in terms of severe weather in several different ways. While there were only 940 tornadoes recorded by the National Weather Service (as opposed to an average of up to 1300), the violence of several of these monster storms more than made up for the seeming deficiency in numbers. Furthermore, the amount of property damage inflicted by these storms made them among the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. All in all, a total of $2.6 billion worth of houses and other structures were either severely damaged or destroyed outright.
Two of these storms in particular stand out in the minds of the "severe weather community." The first of these took place in Moore, Oklahoma, not far from Oklahoma City, on May 20, 2013. For the third time since 1999, this area was pounded by an EF5 tornado, with winds estimated as high as 210 mph. Two elementary schools were torn apart by the 1.3 mile-wide behemoth. In the case of the second school, Plaza Towers Elementary, 7 children lost their lives to the storm's fury. In all, 24 people were killed, 1150 homes were destroyed, and the total property damage reached an incredible $2 billion, making it the single costliest natural disaster of the year. Incredibly, many meteorologists estimated that this storm released as much as 600 times more energy that the 20 kiloton atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in August of 1945!
Just 11 days later, on May 31, 2013, another twister struck the area of El Reno, Oklahoma, some 25 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. Although this storm was finally rated an EF3 in terms of ground damage, several radar readings indicated winds speeds as high as 296 mph, the second highest wind speeds ever recorded. Furthermore, the funnel generated by this storm reached a stunning 2.6 miles in width, wider even the tornado that struck Hallam, Nebraska, in 2004.
Thankfully, because this storm's path was primarily over open terrain, property damage was a mere $35-$40 million, as compared to the $2 billion in damage caused by the May 20th storm. Sadly, however, 8 people died as a result of this twister's fury. Of these, 3 were well-known professional storm chasers, who were caught off guard by a sudden change in the storm's direction. Furthermore, Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Bettes and his crew were also caught off guard, and their car was tossed more than 200 yards by the violent winds. Thankfully, Bettes and one of his crew suffered only minor injuries, while the third member suffered multiple fractures and had to be hospitalized. (It was later revealed that the three professional storm chasers, in a possible error in judgment, had used a non-reinforced subcompact car, rather than the heavily reinforced 3/4 ton truck that was their normal vehicle of choice for storm chases.)
By far the most disturbing aspect of this particular incident, however, was the fact that many thousands of people attempted to evacuate the area, in spite of the fact that most severe weather experts strongly advise against anything of the sort during a tornado. To make matters worse, the roads around Oklahoma City were already clogged with afternoon rush hour traffic. The result, as described by numerous local residents, was utter chaos and confusion. (Part of the reason for the evacuation may very well have been an extremely ill-advised and controversial recommendation by a local TV weatherman that those who did not have access to safe rooms or underground storm shelters should attempt to outrun the storm in their cars, again contrary to the recommendation of the vast majority of severe weather experts. In this writer's opinion, that weatherman should have been severely reprimanded, at the very least, on the grounds of inciting a panic!)
This incident, perhaps more than any other in recent memory, underscores the importance of making clear, accurate information on the subject of severe weather safety available to everyone, and of reminding the public of their own responsibility to act on such information once they get it! To that end, I will be posting articles on various topics relating to severe weather safety throughout 2014. Links to relevant sites will be posted as well, and, if there is sufficient interest, questions from visitors will be answered online.
The bottom line on the subject of severe weather safety is that, while these storms can be undeniably frightening, and the sheer power they contain should definitely be respected, there is so reason for panic if you know what to look for, what to expect, and most of all, what to do when severe weather does strike. That is precisely what my efforts on this blog this coming year will be all about.
Two of these storms in particular stand out in the minds of the "severe weather community." The first of these took place in Moore, Oklahoma, not far from Oklahoma City, on May 20, 2013. For the third time since 1999, this area was pounded by an EF5 tornado, with winds estimated as high as 210 mph. Two elementary schools were torn apart by the 1.3 mile-wide behemoth. In the case of the second school, Plaza Towers Elementary, 7 children lost their lives to the storm's fury. In all, 24 people were killed, 1150 homes were destroyed, and the total property damage reached an incredible $2 billion, making it the single costliest natural disaster of the year. Incredibly, many meteorologists estimated that this storm released as much as 600 times more energy that the 20 kiloton atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in August of 1945!
Just 11 days later, on May 31, 2013, another twister struck the area of El Reno, Oklahoma, some 25 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. Although this storm was finally rated an EF3 in terms of ground damage, several radar readings indicated winds speeds as high as 296 mph, the second highest wind speeds ever recorded. Furthermore, the funnel generated by this storm reached a stunning 2.6 miles in width, wider even the tornado that struck Hallam, Nebraska, in 2004.
Thankfully, because this storm's path was primarily over open terrain, property damage was a mere $35-$40 million, as compared to the $2 billion in damage caused by the May 20th storm. Sadly, however, 8 people died as a result of this twister's fury. Of these, 3 were well-known professional storm chasers, who were caught off guard by a sudden change in the storm's direction. Furthermore, Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Bettes and his crew were also caught off guard, and their car was tossed more than 200 yards by the violent winds. Thankfully, Bettes and one of his crew suffered only minor injuries, while the third member suffered multiple fractures and had to be hospitalized. (It was later revealed that the three professional storm chasers, in a possible error in judgment, had used a non-reinforced subcompact car, rather than the heavily reinforced 3/4 ton truck that was their normal vehicle of choice for storm chases.)
By far the most disturbing aspect of this particular incident, however, was the fact that many thousands of people attempted to evacuate the area, in spite of the fact that most severe weather experts strongly advise against anything of the sort during a tornado. To make matters worse, the roads around Oklahoma City were already clogged with afternoon rush hour traffic. The result, as described by numerous local residents, was utter chaos and confusion. (Part of the reason for the evacuation may very well have been an extremely ill-advised and controversial recommendation by a local TV weatherman that those who did not have access to safe rooms or underground storm shelters should attempt to outrun the storm in their cars, again contrary to the recommendation of the vast majority of severe weather experts. In this writer's opinion, that weatherman should have been severely reprimanded, at the very least, on the grounds of inciting a panic!)
This incident, perhaps more than any other in recent memory, underscores the importance of making clear, accurate information on the subject of severe weather safety available to everyone, and of reminding the public of their own responsibility to act on such information once they get it! To that end, I will be posting articles on various topics relating to severe weather safety throughout 2014. Links to relevant sites will be posted as well, and, if there is sufficient interest, questions from visitors will be answered online.
The bottom line on the subject of severe weather safety is that, while these storms can be undeniably frightening, and the sheer power they contain should definitely be respected, there is so reason for panic if you know what to look for, what to expect, and most of all, what to do when severe weather does strike. That is precisely what my efforts on this blog this coming year will be all about.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Reflections on September 2nd
At 9:00 A.M., local time, on September 2, 1945, on the deck of the battleship USS Missouri, an event took place which marked a seminal turning point in human history--namely, the end of World War II. It was a war which had been marked by more death and carnage, more loss and injury, more misery and suffering, than had ever occurred before in all of human history. The death and destruction had been capped by the use of the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both of which had unleashed forces and energies such as mankind had never before experienced. Even General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, the newly-appointed Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, who, as he would later state, knew war as few men then living knew it, had been deeply shocked and greatly sobered by what he had seen in the aftermath of the first two uses of nuclear weapons in all of recorded history.
It was in this spirit that MacArthur, to the admiration of even his harshest critics and detractors, planned and executed the Surrender Ceremonies in a manner that, to this day, stands as a shining example of grace, dignity, compassion, and magnanimity. So it was that at 9:00 in the morning, on that fateful September 2nd, 1945, General MacArthur stepped up to a microphone and made the following statement:
"We are gathered here, representatives of the major warring powers, to conclude a solemn agreement whereby peace may be restored.
The issues involving divergent ideals and ideologies have been determined on the battlefields of the world, and hence are not for our discussion or debate.
Nor is it for us here to meet, representing as we do a majority of the peoples of the earth, in a spirit of distrust, malice, or hatred.
But rather it is for us, both victors and vanquished, to rise to that higher dignity which alone befits the sacred purposes we are about to serve, committing all of our peoples unreservedly to faithful compliance with the undertakings they are here formally to assume. It is my earnest hope, and indeed the hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past -- a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance, and justice. The terms and conditions upon which surrender of the Japanese Imperial Forces is here to be given and accepted are contained in the Instrument of Surrender now before you.
As Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, I announce it my firm purpose, in the tradition of the countries I represent, to proceed in the discharge of my responsibilities with justice and tolerance, while taking all necessary dispositions to insure that the terms of surrender are fully, promptly, and faithfully complied with.
I now invite the representatives of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters to sign the Instrument of Surrender at the places indicated."
In just over 15 minutes, the surrender documents were signed by all of the representatives of the warring powers. Moments later, General MacArthur concluded the ceremony with these words:
"Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always. These proceedings are closed."
After the Japanese officials had left, General MacArthur stepped up to a different microphone than the one he had used earlier and broadcast a statement whose salient points remain just as applicable today as they were on that eventful day in 1945:
“My fellow countrymen: Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won. The skies no longer rain death. The seas bear only commerce. Men everywhere walk upright in the sunlight. The entire world is quietly at peace. The holy mission has been completed. And, in reporting this to you, the people, I speak for the thousands of silent lips, forever stilled among the jungles, and the beaches, and in the deep waters of the Pacific, which marked the way. I speak for the unnamed brave millions homeward bound to take up the challenge of that future which they did so much to salvage from the brink of disaster.
As I look back on the long, tortuous trail from those grim days of Bataan and Corregidor, when an entire world lived in fear, when democracy was on the defensive everywhere, when modern civilization trembled in the balance, I thank a merciful God that He has given us the faith, the courage and the power from which to mold victory. We have known the bitterness of defeat and the exultation of triumph, and from both we have learned there can be no turning back. We must go forward to preserve in peace what we won in war.
A new era is upon us. Even the lesson of victory itself brings with it profound concern, both for our future security and the survival of civilization. The destructiveness of the war potential, through progressive advances in scientific discovery, has in fact now reached a point which revises the traditional concepts of war.
Men since the beginning of time have sought peace. Various methods through the ages have attempted to devise an international process to prevent or settle disputes between nations. From the very start, workable methods were found insofar as individual citizens were concerned, but the mechanics of an instrumentality of larger international scope have never been successful. Military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. The utter destructiveness of war now blots out this alternative. We have had our last chance. If we do not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural developments of the past two thousand years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.
We stand in Tokyo today reminiscent of our countryman, Commodore Perry, ninety-two years ago. His purpose was to bring to Japan an era of enlightenment and progress, by lifting the veil of isolation to the friendship, trade, and commerce of the world. But, alas, the knowledge thereby gained of western science was forged into an instrument of oppression and human enslavement. Freedom of expression, freedom of action, even freedom of thought, were denied through suppression of liberal education, through appeal to superstition, and through the application of force. We are committed by the Potsdam Declaration of Principles to see that the Japanese people are liberated from this condition of slavery. It is my purpose to implement this commitment just as rapidly as the armed forces are demobilized and other essential steps taken to neutralize the war potential.
The energy of the Japanese race, if properly directed, will enable expansion vertically rather than horizontally. If the talents of the race are turned into constructive channels, the county can lift itself from its present deplorable state into a position of dignity.
To the Pacific basin has come the vista of a new, emancipated world. Today, freedom is on the offensive, democracy is on the march. Today, in Asia as well as in Europe, unshackled peoples are tasting the full sweetness of liberty, the relief from fear.
And so, my fellow countrymen, today I report to you that your sons
and daughters have served you well and faithfully, with the calm,
deliberate, determined fighting spirit of the American soldier and sailor, based
upon a tradition of historical truth, as against the fanaticism of an
enemy supported only by mythological fiction. Their spiritual
strength and power has brought us through to victory. They are
homeward bound—take care of them.”
It is a matter of record, as reported by numerous radio correspondents who were present at the time, that as the surrender ceremonies came to a close, the dark, depressing, forbidding layer of clouds which had hung over Tokyo Bay throughout the morning suddenly broke open, and bright shafts and beams of sunlight came streaming through the skies. As at least one radio correspondent commented at that moment, it was as if God Himself were expressing His approval, and His relief that the single most destructive conflict mankind had ever inflicted upon itself had finally come to an end.
At this moment in history, the United States was at the very peak of its national power, just as Britain had been at the peak of its national power at the end of the First World War in 1918. Sadly, since that time, both nations have been in a state of inexorable decline, due to their abandoning the moral and spiritual principles on which both of their governments were founded. Scripture foretells that, unless our two peoples return to those same principles, our nations will suffer the greatest national punishment that any peoples have ever been required to undergo. In this ever more turbulent and volatile period of mankind's existence, it is more important--nay, more essential--than ever before, that the Anglo-American family of nations heed that most eloquent warning which was sounded in 1903 by the Spanish philosopher and historian, Georges Santayana: "THOSE WHO FAIL TO LEARN THE LESSONS OF HISTORY ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT THEM!" May a just yet merciful God help our peoples to do just that!
It was in this spirit that MacArthur, to the admiration of even his harshest critics and detractors, planned and executed the Surrender Ceremonies in a manner that, to this day, stands as a shining example of grace, dignity, compassion, and magnanimity. So it was that at 9:00 in the morning, on that fateful September 2nd, 1945, General MacArthur stepped up to a microphone and made the following statement:
"We are gathered here, representatives of the major warring powers, to conclude a solemn agreement whereby peace may be restored.
The issues involving divergent ideals and ideologies have been determined on the battlefields of the world, and hence are not for our discussion or debate.
Nor is it for us here to meet, representing as we do a majority of the peoples of the earth, in a spirit of distrust, malice, or hatred.
But rather it is for us, both victors and vanquished, to rise to that higher dignity which alone befits the sacred purposes we are about to serve, committing all of our peoples unreservedly to faithful compliance with the undertakings they are here formally to assume. It is my earnest hope, and indeed the hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past -- a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance, and justice. The terms and conditions upon which surrender of the Japanese Imperial Forces is here to be given and accepted are contained in the Instrument of Surrender now before you.
As Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, I announce it my firm purpose, in the tradition of the countries I represent, to proceed in the discharge of my responsibilities with justice and tolerance, while taking all necessary dispositions to insure that the terms of surrender are fully, promptly, and faithfully complied with.
I now invite the representatives of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters to sign the Instrument of Surrender at the places indicated."
In just over 15 minutes, the surrender documents were signed by all of the representatives of the warring powers. Moments later, General MacArthur concluded the ceremony with these words:
"Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always. These proceedings are closed."
After the Japanese officials had left, General MacArthur stepped up to a different microphone than the one he had used earlier and broadcast a statement whose salient points remain just as applicable today as they were on that eventful day in 1945:
“My fellow countrymen: Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won. The skies no longer rain death. The seas bear only commerce. Men everywhere walk upright in the sunlight. The entire world is quietly at peace. The holy mission has been completed. And, in reporting this to you, the people, I speak for the thousands of silent lips, forever stilled among the jungles, and the beaches, and in the deep waters of the Pacific, which marked the way. I speak for the unnamed brave millions homeward bound to take up the challenge of that future which they did so much to salvage from the brink of disaster.
As I look back on the long, tortuous trail from those grim days of Bataan and Corregidor, when an entire world lived in fear, when democracy was on the defensive everywhere, when modern civilization trembled in the balance, I thank a merciful God that He has given us the faith, the courage and the power from which to mold victory. We have known the bitterness of defeat and the exultation of triumph, and from both we have learned there can be no turning back. We must go forward to preserve in peace what we won in war.
A new era is upon us. Even the lesson of victory itself brings with it profound concern, both for our future security and the survival of civilization. The destructiveness of the war potential, through progressive advances in scientific discovery, has in fact now reached a point which revises the traditional concepts of war.
Men since the beginning of time have sought peace. Various methods through the ages have attempted to devise an international process to prevent or settle disputes between nations. From the very start, workable methods were found insofar as individual citizens were concerned, but the mechanics of an instrumentality of larger international scope have never been successful. Military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. The utter destructiveness of war now blots out this alternative. We have had our last chance. If we do not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural developments of the past two thousand years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.
We stand in Tokyo today reminiscent of our countryman, Commodore Perry, ninety-two years ago. His purpose was to bring to Japan an era of enlightenment and progress, by lifting the veil of isolation to the friendship, trade, and commerce of the world. But, alas, the knowledge thereby gained of western science was forged into an instrument of oppression and human enslavement. Freedom of expression, freedom of action, even freedom of thought, were denied through suppression of liberal education, through appeal to superstition, and through the application of force. We are committed by the Potsdam Declaration of Principles to see that the Japanese people are liberated from this condition of slavery. It is my purpose to implement this commitment just as rapidly as the armed forces are demobilized and other essential steps taken to neutralize the war potential.
The energy of the Japanese race, if properly directed, will enable expansion vertically rather than horizontally. If the talents of the race are turned into constructive channels, the county can lift itself from its present deplorable state into a position of dignity.
To the Pacific basin has come the vista of a new, emancipated world. Today, freedom is on the offensive, democracy is on the march. Today, in Asia as well as in Europe, unshackled peoples are tasting the full sweetness of liberty, the relief from fear.
In the Philippines, America has
evolved a model for this new free world of Asia. In the Philippines,
America has demonstrated that peoples of the East and peoples of the
West may walk side by side in mutual respect and with mutual benefit.
The history of our sovereignty there has now the full confidence of
the East.
It is a matter of record, as reported by numerous radio correspondents who were present at the time, that as the surrender ceremonies came to a close, the dark, depressing, forbidding layer of clouds which had hung over Tokyo Bay throughout the morning suddenly broke open, and bright shafts and beams of sunlight came streaming through the skies. As at least one radio correspondent commented at that moment, it was as if God Himself were expressing His approval, and His relief that the single most destructive conflict mankind had ever inflicted upon itself had finally come to an end.
At this moment in history, the United States was at the very peak of its national power, just as Britain had been at the peak of its national power at the end of the First World War in 1918. Sadly, since that time, both nations have been in a state of inexorable decline, due to their abandoning the moral and spiritual principles on which both of their governments were founded. Scripture foretells that, unless our two peoples return to those same principles, our nations will suffer the greatest national punishment that any peoples have ever been required to undergo. In this ever more turbulent and volatile period of mankind's existence, it is more important--nay, more essential--than ever before, that the Anglo-American family of nations heed that most eloquent warning which was sounded in 1903 by the Spanish philosopher and historian, Georges Santayana: "THOSE WHO FAIL TO LEARN THE LESSONS OF HISTORY ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT THEM!" May a just yet merciful God help our peoples to do just that!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
The frustrations of writing online for pay
For the past several months, I have been on government disability due to a combination of Aspergers Syndrome (a form of autism) and attention deficit disorder (no hyperactivity), along with other health-related issues. To make a long story short, I have determined, with the concurrence of friends and family members who know me well, that some sort of freelance writing would be a good means of supplementing my disability income.
As it happens, I have done freelance writing in the past. Indeed, during the 1980's, I had over a dozen articles nationally published in a small publication known as "Link-Up." My particular specialty was in the area of personal computer communications, computer bulletin board systems, etc. (This was several years prior to the advent of the Internet as we know it today.) Unfortunately, pressure from family members at that time compelled me to abandon freelance writing for a number of years. They did not understand that it takes time to build up the kind of momentum needed to build a steady, livable income.
Now that I am on disability, and therefore have some financial stability to rely on, I have once more begun sallying out into the world of freelance technical writing. I knew, of course, that the marketplace has changed somewhat over the years. What I did not anticipate, however, was how radically that market had changed.
When, a few days ago, I stumbled on an ad from a firm called Demand Studios, offering $25 per article, I immediately submitted an application, which was approved a few days later. I looked through a list of possible titles for an article and selected one. I had already gone through their introductory material, and thought I understood the kind of material that they needed.
It was not until I had already completed a first draft of an article, however, and prepared to submit it for review, that I found out how wrong I was. Their submission process required a series of short segments of 400 to 500 words apiece, which had to be written into an online template in an almost "on-the-fly" style. Nothing in the introductory material I had perused had given me any reason to expect this.
This was a kind of writing that I did not, and still do not, feel that I could perform to their satisfaction, or, for that matter, to my own. I was so shocked and jarred, in fact, that I immediately emailed Demand Studios, asking them to immediately cancel my account, and deleted the article I had written from my hard drive.
As I thought over the experience, I realized that I had made a serious blunder. I had blindly assumed that this firm wanted the kind of writing with which I was familiar. In retrospect, I should have done more research about the company. Then, too, I feel that their introductory material should have gone into more detail regarding the length of the articles they wanted, and the actual mechanics of their submission process. Had they done so, I would have instantly realized that my writing style, which is more along traditional lines, was not, and most probably never would be, compatible with what Demand Studios wanted, and would not have taken up their valuable time and energy (or my own, for that matter!).
To say that I am frustrated over this experience is putting it mildly, and all the more so in view of the fact the primary blame lies solely with me. Mind you, I'm not giving up on freelance writing--not at all. It is clear, however, that I will have to do some research as to the current requirements of the freelance writing industry. To that end, I will most likely be purchasing the current edition of "Writer's Market," and will peruse some current books on freelance writing, in an attempt to get more up to speed, before I sally out into this field again. Any readers of this blog who can offer specific advice or suggestions in this regard are welcome to email me at Wideleg168@gmail.com.
As it happens, I have done freelance writing in the past. Indeed, during the 1980's, I had over a dozen articles nationally published in a small publication known as "Link-Up." My particular specialty was in the area of personal computer communications, computer bulletin board systems, etc. (This was several years prior to the advent of the Internet as we know it today.) Unfortunately, pressure from family members at that time compelled me to abandon freelance writing for a number of years. They did not understand that it takes time to build up the kind of momentum needed to build a steady, livable income.
Now that I am on disability, and therefore have some financial stability to rely on, I have once more begun sallying out into the world of freelance technical writing. I knew, of course, that the marketplace has changed somewhat over the years. What I did not anticipate, however, was how radically that market had changed.
When, a few days ago, I stumbled on an ad from a firm called Demand Studios, offering $25 per article, I immediately submitted an application, which was approved a few days later. I looked through a list of possible titles for an article and selected one. I had already gone through their introductory material, and thought I understood the kind of material that they needed.
It was not until I had already completed a first draft of an article, however, and prepared to submit it for review, that I found out how wrong I was. Their submission process required a series of short segments of 400 to 500 words apiece, which had to be written into an online template in an almost "on-the-fly" style. Nothing in the introductory material I had perused had given me any reason to expect this.
This was a kind of writing that I did not, and still do not, feel that I could perform to their satisfaction, or, for that matter, to my own. I was so shocked and jarred, in fact, that I immediately emailed Demand Studios, asking them to immediately cancel my account, and deleted the article I had written from my hard drive.
As I thought over the experience, I realized that I had made a serious blunder. I had blindly assumed that this firm wanted the kind of writing with which I was familiar. In retrospect, I should have done more research about the company. Then, too, I feel that their introductory material should have gone into more detail regarding the length of the articles they wanted, and the actual mechanics of their submission process. Had they done so, I would have instantly realized that my writing style, which is more along traditional lines, was not, and most probably never would be, compatible with what Demand Studios wanted, and would not have taken up their valuable time and energy (or my own, for that matter!).
To say that I am frustrated over this experience is putting it mildly, and all the more so in view of the fact the primary blame lies solely with me. Mind you, I'm not giving up on freelance writing--not at all. It is clear, however, that I will have to do some research as to the current requirements of the freelance writing industry. To that end, I will most likely be purchasing the current edition of "Writer's Market," and will peruse some current books on freelance writing, in an attempt to get more up to speed, before I sally out into this field again. Any readers of this blog who can offer specific advice or suggestions in this regard are welcome to email me at Wideleg168@gmail.com.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Book Review: "Nashville Streets & Their Stories"
Like many Americans, having reached the age of 60, I find myself becoming more and more interested in history in general, and the history of Nashville, Tennessee (my home town) in particular. Having grown up in what is still often referred to as "the Highlands of Belle Meade," a district in the southwest area of Nashville, I have wondered more than once how some of the streets and roads in my old stomping grounds came to be located where they are, and have the names that they do.
Happily, within the last year, Ridley Wills II, one of Nashville's best-known and most respected historians, has answered many of my questions on this subject in his latest book, "Nashville Streets & Their Stories." Some five hundred of Nashville's streets and public roads have their history explained in this work, written in a relaxed and entertaining style.
To be sure, there ARE some faults in this work. For example, there are a number of glaring typo's (i.e., "Inquirer" instead of "ENquirer," and the year that Cheekwood was donated to the State of Tennessee is listed as "1969," when in fact it was "1959"!). And, unfortunately, there are a number of omissions (e.g., West Tyne Boulevard and Nichol Lane; the latter, I believe, was named after my paternal grandfather, who resided in a house at the corner of West Tyne and Belle Meade Boulevards for a number of years), some of which are mentioned in passing in other listings, but are not given listings of their own! In the case of a lesser writer, such mistakes would be considered inexcusable. On the other hand, when one is writing a ground-breaking work such as this, some such miscues are all but inevitable. And not all of Nashville's streets have historical information about them as readily available as others. Hopefully, at some future date, an updated version of this volume can be prepared and published.
Overall, in spite of the minor flaws I have just detailed, "Nashville Streets & Their Stories" would be an invaluable addition to the library of anyone who calls Nashville home, and is interested in the colorful and eventful history of Music City, USA.
"Nashville Streets & Their Stories," by Ridley Wills II. (Franklin, Tennessee: Plumbline Media, LLC, 2012.) $18.95 (paperback). ISBN: 978-1-937824-01-3. Available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and at local bookstores and gift shops.
Happily, within the last year, Ridley Wills II, one of Nashville's best-known and most respected historians, has answered many of my questions on this subject in his latest book, "Nashville Streets & Their Stories." Some five hundred of Nashville's streets and public roads have their history explained in this work, written in a relaxed and entertaining style.
To be sure, there ARE some faults in this work. For example, there are a number of glaring typo's (i.e., "Inquirer" instead of "ENquirer," and the year that Cheekwood was donated to the State of Tennessee is listed as "1969," when in fact it was "1959"!). And, unfortunately, there are a number of omissions (e.g., West Tyne Boulevard and Nichol Lane; the latter, I believe, was named after my paternal grandfather, who resided in a house at the corner of West Tyne and Belle Meade Boulevards for a number of years), some of which are mentioned in passing in other listings, but are not given listings of their own! In the case of a lesser writer, such mistakes would be considered inexcusable. On the other hand, when one is writing a ground-breaking work such as this, some such miscues are all but inevitable. And not all of Nashville's streets have historical information about them as readily available as others. Hopefully, at some future date, an updated version of this volume can be prepared and published.
Overall, in spite of the minor flaws I have just detailed, "Nashville Streets & Their Stories" would be an invaluable addition to the library of anyone who calls Nashville home, and is interested in the colorful and eventful history of Music City, USA.
"Nashville Streets & Their Stories," by Ridley Wills II. (Franklin, Tennessee: Plumbline Media, LLC, 2012.) $18.95 (paperback). ISBN: 978-1-937824-01-3. Available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and at local bookstores and gift shops.
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