the smedley log - suburban scrawl

Omni milestone

Omni celebrates 50,000 hits with a brief acknowledgement, as well as a FAQ for site visitors.

50,000 seems an even more impressive feat when you consider that she’s done it by posting substantively eclectic posts pretty much every single day, not by catering to one narrow focus, or going the pithy route like Eschaton or Instapundit (not that there’s anything wrong with that, to invoke Seinfeld). She’s a woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or go into depth, and it’s obvious that she’s got an audience.

Congratulations Omni!

For all the real farmhouses that have been lost, here’s one I wouldn’t miss…

The irony of this gave me a chuckle:

Proposal Made to Seize Souter’s Property

WEARE, N.H. (AP)—Following a Supreme Court ruling last week that gave local governments power to seize private property, someone has suggested taking over Justice David Souter’s New Hampshire farmhouse and turning it into a hotel. …

I say have at it.

The new journalism at Live 8 Philly

Two days until Live 8 Philly, and we found out yesterday afternoon that a member of the Philly Future team will be attending the Live 8 event on the Ben Franklin Parkway as a fully-credentialed member of the press. The lucky guy is Albert Yee, who will be posting his thoughts along with his routinely excellent photography—right from the site of the concert.

Albert has also announced his intention to sell prints of some of his Live 8 photos to donate the proceeds to charity. There are sure to be some prints worth buying there, too. For a comprehensive catalog of Live 8 content available at Philly Future, up to and including the day of the event, visit the Philly Future Live 8 page.

McCaffrey’s employee fund raided, then replaced

Two recent news stories caught my attention over the past couple days.

One, from last Friday’s paper, detailed the theft of $42,000 from the fund to benefit McCaffrey’s store employees. The fund was originally earmarked to help store employees with health insurance costs during the time their jobs were displaced while the local supermarket was rebuilding from a fire.

The store re-opened this past April (a story I addressed in a this May post), and discussions have been ongoing about what to do with the remaining funds from the $277,000 that had been donated by community members and the store’s owner. Then this happened.

Of course, I was away from the local area and not really paying attention when the follow up story appeared in Saturday’s paper. Apparently, the bank in which the fund was being held has decided to replace the $42,000 in the fund while it takes part in the investigation to recover the missing money. Apparently this theft was a case of someone writing fraudulent checks to a phantom business in Maryland.

The investigation is ongoing, and it is reprehensible that someone would carry out a plot to steal from a charitable fund, but I’m glad to see a horrible situation like this has been remedied so quickly—now, if we could only ensure a special mode of punishment for people who would actually plot to steal money from charity like this.

Weekend adventures: Crystal Cave

I got to visit Crystal Cave, near Kutztown, PA, this past Saturday. It’s the first time I’ve been there since I was in the single digits. The guided tours of the cave are about forty minutes in length, including a brief slide presentation prior to entering the actual cavern. It was interesting, and we even got to play a little miniature golf before leaving (they have a course on-site). Here are a couple photos from the tour:

This is a chasm that was off to the side of our tour path. Prior to taking the photo, there was no visible green tint, so that’s apparently just the reflection of the flash off of the rocks, which were probably formed from the remains of plantlife.

This is the formation the tour guide told us looks like Jack Frost (blowing his cool breath to keep the cave its nice constant 54 degrees). I think I can see the resemblance.

Billy Graham

I don’t know about those other guys
there’s somethin’ in the back of their eyes
but Billy, you’re the man
who don’t use slight of hand
ain’t wearin’ no disguise
I love you, Billy

I love the simple things you say
and you never seem to get in the way
no one is quite like you
compassionate and true
“just as I am”, I say
I love you, Billy
-The Swirling Eddies

Eminent Domain

“Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including large corporations and development firms.”
-Sandra Day O’Connor

Philly Future notes the new edict from the Supremes that says it’s okay to take private property for private economic development (clarifying, in a very intriguing way, the meaning of “public use”).

Bob shares some thoughts on the ruling that I haven’t had time to dig into yet.

Friday Random Ten V

It’s Friday morning yet again—time to set the digital music machine to random and see what comes up.

1. The Lust, the Flesh, the Eyes and the Pride of Life – 77’s (Live at the LPPOA)
2. Run to the Water – Live (The Distance to Here)
3. Rosealia – Better than Ezra (Deluxe)
4. Pantala Naga Pampa – Dave Matthews Band (Before These Crowded Streets)
5. A Whisper – Coldplay (A Rush of Blood to the Head)
6. Run, Baby, Run – Sheryl Crow (Tuesday Night Music Club)
7. Almost Blue – Elvis Costello & the Attractions (The Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions)
8. Babylon II - David Gray (White Ladder)
9. Beautiful Delilah (Live) – Stray Cats (Live And In Studio)
10. Windmills – Toad the Wet Sprocket (Dulcinea)

I’ve noticed the more dedicated “Random Ten” bloggers among us have taken to giving informal awards to various songs of the Ten that pop up in this little exercise. So here’s a couple from me:

1. Best unexpected song segment: the little ending of “Rosealia” that I always forget is coming (which segues into my next award…)
2. Best transition between two songs on this list: “Rosealia” to “Pantala Naga Pampa” (I am gulp a DMB fan for the past eleven years or so, but this one always earns a skip from me, except this time skipping would have breached Random Ten ettiquette?)
3. Song that’s actually a reprise on the album, but deserves to take the place of the version it’s reprising: Babylon II (much better version, in my opinion, than the one most people heard on the radio)

That’s all—go spin your own list.

20 Questions with Joe Hoeffel

Albert hooks the former U.S. Congressman for twenty questions on his blog.

Welcome to unclehood

My best buddy from way back, Bob, sets up shop at his brand spanking new blog and shares a birth announcement regarding his brother’s first born son, Bob’s first nephew.

Chimp upstages Andy Warhol

-I’m sure many a grouchy traditionalist has peered in contempt at a work of modern art and thought, “I bet a monkey could create better art than that…”

Today’s quote: Dwight Eisenhower

Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels – men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower

Post-Father’s day memories of the Vet

It’s not exactly a Father’s Day memory, but it is a memory that will always be there with any recollections I’ll ever have of my father. I can’t remember how old I was, but at some point in my early double-digit years, I fell into the quasi birthday tradition of going to the annual Phillies fireworks night with my father.

It was always on or near my birthday and it bore entertainment value of a dual nature: first the ball game, then the fireworks afterward. There were times that my whole family (or most of them) would join us, sometimes a friend or two, but mostly, it was just my father and I. For several years in a row, we didn’t miss one. It was my most cherished birthday gift, especially at the start.

As a young boy, it was a wonderful experience. I still remember coming out of the tunnel toward the seating area, that first instant when you could see the field along with the monstrosity of the entire stadium surrounding it. I know many of us here in Philadelphia grew to think of Veteran’s Memorial Stadium as an ugly, dilapidated pit of a sports venue, and many will remember it more for the historically dangerous playing surface or the sections of concrete that always seemed on the verge of collapse. But no amount of popular belly-aching about the stadium’s shortcomings could erase the elation I would always feel as a young man entering within the sightlines of that artificial, faded green playing surface. It was magical—even now I look back on it wistfully.

It may have been 1986 or 1987, the first time I saw a young southpaw named Bruce Ruffin pitch victoriously, a sufficiently isolated occurrence in the whole of his big-league career, but all I knew was that he must have been a pretty good pitcher, because he won my birthday game. It’s funny how a kid might think a player better than he really is, based on one or two triumphs at the right point in that kid’s memory.

But anyway, the games would always end, and then the fireworks would inevitably begin; they’d last for what seemed to me like an hour—for all I know now it might have been. The music would blare, which I didn’t mind, but my father would always mention his annoyance at the volume, as well as the music selection. To me there was nothing cooler than a little Springsteen, Bob Seger, or even a little John Cougar Mellencamp as the pyrotechnics exploded overhead.

Well, maybe there was one thing cooler: My dad and I going to the game and watching the home team, then the fireworks. It was very cool, right from the start when we’d hitch a ride on the EL from Frankford to Center City, then the Broad Street line to Pattison, right on through to the late night ride back out to the Northeast. Then, if we had a few extra dollar bills, there might be a Slurpee or Big Gulp waiting for me at the 7-11 down the street from the station before we drove the rest of the way home.

Nothing ever will be cooler than that.

Dad’s day

It’s that day again. The blogosphere is abuzz with poignant tales of fatherly guidance and comradery. Well, not here.

Just a happy Father’s day to all the paternal figures out there, especially mine.

Email ettiquette

Thanks to the University of Kansas for this fascinating little gaffe:

E-Mail Embarrasses 119 Failing Students

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP)—More than 100 students who failed their classes at the University of Kansas last semester found out who shared their misfortune. The school’s Office of Student Financial Aid sent an e-mail to 119 students Monday notifying them that they were in jeopardy of having their aid revoked.

But the names of the students were included on the e-mail address list – meaning everyone who got the e-mail could see the names of all the other recipients. …

If you’re sophisticated enough to utilize email at the post-secondary level, shouldn’t you also be sophisitcated enough to know recipients of a group mailing can see each other’s addresses? -or maybe this is some new “tough love” approach to academic achievement?

As Endangered Waterfowl

I’ve been tagged herein on the book meme that is ravaging all blogdom. I’ve never contributed to a blogospheric meme, so I hope I don’t shoot my eye out…

1) How many books to I own?

Along with my wife (Howard’s sister), we probably own about 800 books, not including about 300 children’s books.

2) Last book I bought?

Catholicism for Dummies. I have been interested in Roman Catholic thought and practice for some time, and have recently been giving serious thought towards joining the Church.

3) Last book that I read?

Well, I’m currently reading the aforementioned Catholicism for Dummies, which is quite good. I am also currently reading Rabelais’ Gargantua and Pantagruel, inspired by my cohorts over at The New Pantagruel forums. This is a 16th century anti-materialist satire that is quite difficult to describe—something akin to Monty Python’s Flying Circus for late medievalists. The last book I actually completed was Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. And no, 1987 was not the last time I read a book to completion. I’m just a little late in getting to the important ones.

Oh, I do want to second Howard’s recommendation of The Professor and the Madman. A concise, outstanding, and moving true story.

4) Five books that have meant a lot to me?

It’s really tough to choose only five, but here goes…

I. The Holy Bible. It continues to be the foundation upon which all my thought is built… or at least so I think!

II. The Problem of Pain, by C. S. Lewis. A great comfort to me around the time my mother became gravely ill and later died.

III. The Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis. A very satisfying total picture of redemption and its opposite.

IV. Orthodoxy, G. K. Chesterton. It’s really, really hard to pick just one of Chesterton. Herein he describes the romance of faith—that was a new concept for me, and now it has become an old, familiar one. Chesterton would have something interesting, insightful, profound, and life-altering to say about bat poop.

V. The Best of A. W. Tozer. If evangelicalism had spent more time listening to him and less time merely revering him, I would probably still be evangelical.

Honorable mention: Everything else by Lewis, everything else by Chesterton, Thomas A Kempis’ Imitation of Christ, Huxley’s Brave New World.

5) Tag five people who haven’t played?

Most of my regular reads have played recently or been tagged by Howard below or Eric at Ales Rarus, so how about 2?

– Joe at Joe Missionary—he was tagged for movies but not for books…
– Rand at A Form of Sound Words—A raging fundamentalist, with whom I disagree vehemently on almost everything. But, hey, at least we have something worth disagreeing about.

Friday Random Ten, Part IV

It’s another Friday morning. So set the digital music machine to random and see what comes up.

1. Swallowed in the Sea – Coldplay (X&Y)
2. One Flight Down – Norah Jones (Come Away with Me)
3. Ashes – John Francis (Fire in the Marrow)
4. Whatever I Fear – Toad the Wet Sprocket (Coil)
5. Deep End – Seventy Sevens (Pray Naked)
6. Planet Telex – Radiohead (The Bends)
7. Surrender – U2 (War)
8. Come Rain or Come Shine – Don Henley (Leaving Las Vegas – Original Soundtrack)
9. Tumbling Tumbleweeds – Meat Puppets (Meat Puppets)
10. Jesus in New Orleans – Over the Rhine (Ohio)

I’ve been tagged?

-and all this time I thought I was on base…

Well, since Funky Dung saw fit to tag me with these five questions, I should get around to answering them sooner or later, then pass them on to five other lucky recipients.

1. How many books have you owned?
-150, give or take (I think). I don’t really buy that many.
2. What was the last book you bought?
-God’s Politics by Jim Wallis
3. What was the last book that you’ve read?
-The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of The Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester(I started reading it several months back, but I got sidetracked, so it’s the one I finished last—still, it’s fascinating stuff.)
4. What are 5 books that have meant a lot to you?
(That’s a real tough one, so I can’t guarantee I’d pick the exact same list if you asked me again tomorrow, but these pretty much cover the gamut.)
-The Bible (I have read it, and I’m not just giving the George W. Bush canned piety answer)
-Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (there are many great books of poetry I’ve encountered, but this was the one that got me hooked)
-Hamlet by William Shakespeare (don’t ask, I just identified with it when I was younger)
-Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury (the book that taught me it was okay to keep my Buck Rodgers comics… )
-any of the Three Investigators mysteries (I was never into the Hardy Boys—I was strictly a 3I kind of guy. The first and only dramatic series to which I was ever addicted; I read all of the originals as a youngster.)

5. Tag five people that haven’t played yet. (this is really just a wishlist, as I’m not sure how many of these folks are into this sort of quiz thing)
-Matt at The Tattered Coat
-Cziltang’s answers
-Josh at Skaroff Blog
-Frank at iFlipFlop’s answers
-Omni isn’t really the meme type, I guess—that’s okay, I’ll still read you.
If I just tagged you and you’ve already played this game, leave a comment with a link to your answers and I’ll probably pick someone else. Or, just ignore me—I’m bound to go away sooner or later…

(Incidentally, I’d also like to read answers on these from my brother-in-law (answers here) and my newly re-connected buddy Bob(answers here, in the comments), though neither one has a blog at the moment, but I’d be happy to host the answers here.)

EFF: Legal Guide for Bloggers

Via Dan Gillmor, I happened upon the new Legal Guide for Bloggers from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

There have been many articles of similar ilk posted over the past several months especially, but this one is bound to be the most practically useful. It consists of several FAQ groupings, making it easier to find general information on specific areas of interest.

They Might Be Giants, but they will be free…

Tony clues us in to the free Penn’s Landing show on July 23, featuring They Might Be Giants. I’ve never seen them perform, so I’m definitely interested. Official details here.