Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
 Posted 06/24/2009 ET Updated 06/24/2009 ET On Iran, President Obama is worse than Hamlet. He's Colin Powell, waiting to see who wins before picking a side. Last week, massive protests roiled Iran in response to an apparently fraudulent presidential election, in which nutcase Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner within two hours of the polls closing. (ACORN must be involved.) Obama responded by boldly declaring that the difference between the loon Ahmadinejad and his reformist challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi, "may not be as great as advertised." Maybe the thousands of dissenters risking their lives protesting on the streets of Tehran are doing so because they liked Mousavi's answer to the "boxers or briefs" question better than Ahmadinejad's. Then, in a manly rebuke to the cheating mullahs, Obama said: "You've seen in Iran some initial reaction from the supreme leader" -- peace be upon him -- "that indicates he understands the Iranian people have deep concerns about the election." Did FDR give speeches referring to Adolf Hilter as "Herr Fuhrer"? What's with Obama? Even the French condemned the Iranian government's "brutal" reaction to the protesters -- and the French have tanks with one speed in forward and five speeds in reverse. You might be a scaredy-cat if ... the president of France is talking tougher than you are. More than a week ago, French president Nicolas Sarkozy said: "The ruling power claims to have won the elections ... if that were true, we must ask why they find it necessary to imprison their opponents and repress them with such violence." But liberals rushed to assure us that Obama's weak-kneed response to the Iranian uprising and the consequent brutal crackdown was a brilliant foreign policy move. (They also proclaimed his admission that he still smokes "lion-hearted" and "statesmanlike.") As our own Supreme Leader B. Hussein Obama (peace be upon him) explained, "It's not productive given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations to be seen as meddling." You see, if the president of the United States condemned election fraud in Iran, much less put in a kind word for the presidential candidate who is not crazy, it would somehow crush the spirit of the protesters when they discovered, to their horror, that the Great Satan was on their side. (It also wouldn't do much for Al Franken in Minnesota.) Liberals hate America, so they assume everyone else does, too. So when a beautiful Iranian woman, Neda Agha Soltan, was shot dead in the streets of Iran during a protest on Saturday and a video of her death ricocheted around the World Wide Web, Obama valiantly responded by ... going out for an ice cream cone. (Masterful!) Commenting on a woman's cold-blooded murder in the streets of Tehran, like the murder of babies, is evidently above Obama's "pay grade." If it were true that a U.S. president should stay neutral between freedom-loving Iranian students and their oppressors, then why is Obama speaking in support of the protesters now? Are liberals no longer worried about the parade of horribles they claimed would ensue if the U.S. president condemned the mullahs? Obama's tough talk this week proves that his gentle words last week about Ahmadinejad and Iran's "supreme leader" (peace be upon him) constituted, at best, spinelessness and, at worst, an endorsement of the fraud. Moreover, if the better part of valor is for America to stand neutral between freedom and Islamic oppression, why are liberals trying to credit Obama's ridiculous Cairo speech for emboldening the Iranian protesters? The only reason that bald contradiction doesn't smack you in the face is that it is utterly preposterous that Obama's Cairo speech accomplished anything -- anything worthwhile, that is. Not even the people who say that believe it. The only reaction to Obama's Cairo speech in the Middle East is that the mullahs probably sighed in relief upon discovering that the U.S. president is a coward and an imbecile. Two weeks ago, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman was exulting over the "free and fair" national election in Lebanon, in which the voters threw out Hezbollah and voted in the "U.S.-supported coalition." (Apparently support from America is not deemed the vote-killer in Lebanon that it allegedly is in Iran.) To justify his Times-expensed airfare to Beirut, Friedman added some local color, noting that "more than one Lebanese whispered to me: Without George Bush standing up to the Syrians in 2005 ... this free election would not have happened." That's what Lebanese voters said. But Friedman also placed a phone call to a guy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace -- which he didn't have to go to Lebanon for -- to get a quote supporting the ludicrous proposition that Obama's Cairo speech was responsible for the favorable election results in Lebanon. "And then here came this man (Obama)," Mr. Carnegie Fund said, "who came to them with respect, speaking these deep values about their identity and dignity and economic progress and education, and this person indicated that this little prison that people are living in here was not the whole world. That change was possible." I think the fact that their Muslim brethren are now living in freedom in a democratic Iraq might have made the point that "change was possible" and "this little prison" is "not the whole world" somewhat more forcefully than a speech apologizing for Westerners who dislike the hijab. Obama -- and America -- are still living off President Bush's successes in the war on terrorism. For the country's sake, may those successes outlast Obama's attempt to dismantle them. |
Why can't we get rid of Barney Frank... sigh....
Fannie, Freddie asked to relax condo loan rules: report
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(Reuters) - Two U.S. Democratic lawmakers want Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to relax recently tightened standards for mortgages on new condominiums, saying they could threaten the viability of some developments and slow the housing-market recovery, the Wall Street Journal said.
In March, Fannie Mae (FNM.N)(FNM.P) said it would no longer guarantee mortgages on condos in buildings where fewer than 70 percent of the units have been sold, up from 51 percent, the paper said. Freddie Mac (FRE.P)(FRE.N) is due to implement similar policies next month, the paper said.
In a letter to the CEO's of both companies, Representatives Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Anthony Weiner warned that a 70 percent sales threshold "may be too onerous" and could lead condo buyers to shun new developments, according to the paper.
The legislators asked the companies to "make appropriate adjustments" to their underwriting standards for condos, the paper added.
In an interview with the paper, Weiner said the rules have "had a real chill on the ability to get these condos sold," at a time when prices of condos have fallen enough to attract potential buyers.
In addition to the 70 percent sales threshold, Fannie Mae will also not purchase mortgages in buildings where 15 percent of owners are delinquent on condo association dues or where one owner has more than 10 percent of units, as the firm sees these as signals that a building could run into financial trouble, the paper added.
Both Fannie and Freddie are preparing a response to the lawmakers, according to the paper.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters.
(Reporting by Chakradhar Adusumilli in Bangalore; editing by Simon Jessop)
Stunning pictures of 'hole in the clouds' as astronauts witness volcano eruption from the International Space Station
By EDDIE WRENN
Last updated at 4:28 PM on 24th June 2009
A chance recording by astronauts on the International Space Station has captured the moment a volcano explosively erupted, sending massive shockwaves through the atmosphere.
Sarychev Peak, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, had been sitting quietly in the Kuril Island chain near Japan for 20 years, when it suddenly sprang to life on June 12.
Fortuitously, the International Space Station was flying overhead at the time, and managed to capture this spectacular image of the ash-cloud tearing through the atmosphere, sending clouds scattering in its wake in a perfect circle.
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Bird's eye view: Safe from harm, NASA scientists look down on the Sarychev Peak volcano as the dramatic eruption takes place. The force of the blast sends clouds scattering
The station, which orbits the earth from a height of 220 miles, makes nearly 16 orbits of our planet every 24 hours, and happened to be in the perfect spot to see the dramatic eruption.
The unique images have provided a wealth of new information about the eruption process, and volcanologists are now excitedly poring over the data.
Most unique is the mist-like 'roof' to the cloud, believed to be either steam or condensing water pushed ahead of the advancing cloud of ash. Known as a 'pileus cloud', it lasts just moments, making this a rare snapshot.
As the ISS continues its perfectly-timed flyby, the eruption continues unabated. The perfect 'plume' at the top of the volcano implies there is no shearing wind, which would have disrupted the pattern
Stretching behind the volcano lies the vast shadow caused by the eruption, as the blast continues to grow
Also visible, far below on the hillside, is the thunderous pyroclastic flow of super-heated rock as it cascades down the mountainside.
When most people picture volcanoes, they imagine red-hot lava flows. Pyrochastic flows are their deadlier older brother. Appearing at the start of an explosive eruption, they can travel at 130mph, chomping up the landscape as they go, meaning there's next-to no escape for anyone or anything caught in its path.
Where in the world? Sarychev Peak is to the north of Japan and east of Russia
But the most stunning aspect of the picture is the effect on the clouds: As the ash column punches its way towards the top of the atmosphere, the shockwave causes the clouds to scatter.
An alternative theory, one which these pictures is helping to test, is that as the ash rises, the surrounding air is pushed down, where it warms, and the increased heat causes the clouds to evaporate.
As the ISS continued its orbits over the next few hours and days, the astronauts could follow the plume as it drifted away from the island.
These images show the plume drifting through the atmosphere in the hours and days after the eruption
Between the two overpasses on June 14, the ash spread north and west from the volcano
By June 15, the ash had spread out to the east and west
The volcano is part of a seismically active cluster of islands running north east from Japan's Hokkaido Island, and up towards Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.
There are disputes between Russia and Japan over who owns which islands, but Matua Island, where the volcano is located, is generally agreed to be Russian territory. The Japanese call it Matsuwa Island.
The last explosive eruption from Sarychev happened in 1989, with eruptions in 1986, 1976, 1954, and 1946 also producing lava flows.
Ash from the eruptions has been recorded to reach more than 1,500miles from the volcano and commercial airline flights have been disrupted.
The height of the plume was measured at five miles high - a huge distance into the sky, although not enough to worry the astronauts peering down from above.
The International Space Station was first constructed in 1998 and is scheduled to be completed in 2011.
You've seen the hole in the clouds - now see the hole in the universe:
A hole in the clouds is one thing, but a hole in the fabric of the universe is quite another.
With interstellar matter evenly distributed across the skies, this black anomaly is a bit of a head-scratcher - is it a black hole? A worm-hole? A stairway to Heaven? Or just the start of the collapse of the universe, which doomsayers assure us will start in 2012?
NASA's picture of the 'hole in the sky' - now known to be a dark molecular cloud absorbing all the visible light from stars behind it
No, it's none of these things. Instead, its a dark molecular cloud - a mass of of dust and gasses which combine to blank out all the visible light from the background stars.
Many of these 'dark absorption nebulae' have been discovered across the galaxy, with this one called Barnard 68 in the Ophiuchus constellation.
Measurements place this at a relatively close 500 light years away - much further away and the odds are there would be stars visible in front of Barnard 68.
It is calculated to be about half-a-light year across (a light-year being the distance light can travel through a vacuum in the course of a year).
How t
Monday, June 22, 2009
"Let's face it. Congress could pass a resolution expressing regret for slavery every week until the end of time, and still, the racial hucksters would not be satisfied. They have made a career out of stoking the flames of racial animosity. And by encouraging African-Americans to dwell on the wounds of the past, or maybe agitate for government payouts, they distract them from the opportunities--the wonderful opportunities of the present. And when are they going to apologize for that?"
Laura Ingraham on Bill O'Reilly June 19th
and of course...
so lookie what Andrew, Madison Paul and Heather got me for fathers day... wow... hog heaven I guess.
we had a nice meal Saturday night for Jakes Birthday, and a pre party for Great Grandma Moffat. and turned out to be for Fathers Day too. Tammy took some pics of kiddos playing in pool... but, the best gift you can give is the one I received... the presence of family. Thank you all very very much for taking time out of your very busy lives to share time with me and Grandma M.
isabella wanted grandpa to laugh so she
thanks Isabella, Trisha and Jake.
my Fathers day gift from Austyn, Tammy
now I can have dry charcoal stored outside.. Grandma will be proud. Thanks you guys for your thoughtfulness.
Other Lives: HearYa Live Session
Other Lives recently recorded some great live versions of their songs for HearYa. Download, listen and watch below.
They are the second Oklahoma band to session with HearYa - Samantha Crain recorded songs there in 2008.
DOWNLOAD:
Other Lives - “AM Theme” (HearYa Live)
Other Lives – “Paper Cities” (HearYa Live)
Other Lives – “The Partisan” (HearYa Live)
Other Lives – “Precious Air” (HearYa Live)
Other Lives -”It Was The Night” (HearYa Live)
From HearYa:
This entry was posted on Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at 9:09 am and is filed under freeI have had the privilege of seeing many phenomenal acts roll through the HearYa studio for some intimate personal concerts. I don’t think there has been a session yet that has moved me like this one, featuring Stillwater, Oklahoma band Other Lives. Their arrangements are simply amazing and they have a unique ability to sound like they’ve spent years deliberating over every note while still coming off as natural and spontaneous.
As they were getting ready to start up the Leonard Cohen cover of “The Partisan,” I asked Shirk if he thought the band would mind if I lied down in the middle of the studio while they played. Different music elicits different reactions, but with the Other Lives, I just want the music to wash over me. I am still getting goosebumps listening to this batch of songs and I’m 10 listens deep.
From a more personal standpoint, I don’t have enough good things to say about Jesse, Jenny, Colby, Jonathon and Josh. Shirk and I ended up hanging out with them after their set at Schubas to take in the Elvis Perkins in Dearland set. They were an absolute pleasure to hear in the studio and all around good people to spend time with. We wish them the best on the rest of their tour and look forward to seeing them back in Chicago at Lollapalooza.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
In honor of my sons, and son in law... on this Fathers Day Weekend.
One of my favorite writers, Erma Bombeck, once wrote to explain how it was that fathers came to be so wisely created.
Erma said, "When the good Lord was creating fathers, He started with a tall frame.
And a female angel nearby said, "What kind of father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without a lot of stooping."
And God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child-size, who would children have to look up to?"
And when God made a father's hands, they were large and sinewy.
And the angel shook her head sadly and said, "Do You know what You're doing? Large hands are clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails or even remove splinters caused by baseball bats."
God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day yet small enough to cup a child's face."
Then God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders.
The angel nearly had a heart attack. "Boy, this is the end of the week, all right," she clucked. "Do You realize You just made a father without a lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between his legs?"
God smiled and said, "A mother needs a lap. A father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle or hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."
God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel could contain herself no longer. "That's not fair. Do You honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a small birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests?" And God smiled and said, "They'll work. You'll see. They'll support a small child who wants to "ride a horse to Banbury Cross" or scare off mice at the summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill."
God worked throughout the night, giving the father few words, but a firm authoritative voice; eyes that see everything, but remain calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an afterthought, He added tears. Then He turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?"
And the angel shutteth up! Thank God for fathers of all kinds.
~~~~~~ I am very proud of my sons and son in law... they are the best "sons" and fathers one might ever ask for. They make me proud in some way almost every day. I am so richly blessed in the electronic age to be able to keep up with them and their busy lives. Sometimes, late at night, needing a cheerful thought to find the sandman... I think of them, what they have accomplished, what is to come... and how great they are as Dads!! My family, my sons as Fathers... Make me so very proud... and the sandman cometh!
To you each, Phillip, Paul, Jonathan and Jake... On this very special and precious weekend, and perhaps second only to Mother's Day, Mom and I wish you a very Happy Fathers Day, and in case I forget as we get together this weekend as one big family to honor each with their presence, I wish to tell you now... HAPPY FATHERS DAY. May God Bless and watch over you and your family - forever and a day!!
Friday, June 19, 2009
From Heather's Blog... Andrew... WAY TO GO BUDDY!!!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Glenn Beck; the letter...
GLENN:
I got a letter from a woman in Arizona. She writes an open letter to our nation's leadership:
the letter:
I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?
I got a letter from a woman in Arizona. She writes an open letter to our nation's leadership:
the letter:
I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?
Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:
One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with legal immigration.
Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.
Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.
Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.
Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!
Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don't you start there.
Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don't trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.
Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why ‑‑ what do you have against shareholders making a profit?
Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.
Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band‑Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.
Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try ‑‑ please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.
Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.
Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.
I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.
From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington. Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we're morons.
We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we're so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn't ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when hewill rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.
Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming.
Mrs. Moffat's baby boy turns 27 today.... Happy Birthday Jake... and many many happy ones to follow, too
happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear jake....
Happy birthday to you...
and many more...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACOB DANIEL MOFFAT
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear jake....
Happy birthday to you...
and many more...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACOB DANIEL MOFFAT
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Mike Anderson's new puppys.. think they are for sale too....
I am trying to upload videos of the new puppies on youtube without much success, maybe by the end of the day... sigh...
thinking of my own Mom who turns 90 on June 23rd....
Living legacy
Man's father fought in Civil War
Charles Cox, 93, of Pawnee poses with a photo of his parents and a picture of himself in the Army in 1942. Cox is one of the the nation's few remaining sons of a Union Civil War Veteran. RHETT MORGAN / Tulsa World
By RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer
Published: 6/17/2009 2:18 AM
Last Modified: 6/17/2009 3:16 AM
Man's father fought in Civil War
Charles Cox, 93, of Pawnee poses with a photo of his parents and a picture of himself in the Army in 1942. Cox is one of the the nation's few remaining sons of a Union Civil War Veteran. RHETT MORGAN / Tulsa World
Published: 6/17/2009 2:18 AM
Last Modified: 6/17/2009 3:16 AM
PAWNEE — Charles Cox traveled in a covered wagon, courted in a Model T and served on four continents in the Army.
His history also contains this jaw-dropping nugget: Cox's father fought in the Civil War.
Cox is the son of Joseph H. Cox, a Illinois infantryman for the Union Army from 1862-65. Charles was born when his father, who married three times, was 73.
"I think I was an unexpected child," said Cox, 93, of Pawnee.
Today, he's a link to Lincoln.
Only 52 children of Union Civil War Veterans are still living, according to the Pennsylvania-based Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The Sons of Confederate Veterans has located more than 100 sons and the United Daughters of the Confederacy has located more than 150 daughters.
Charles Cox wasn't on the list, which chronicles only one Civil War child from Oklahoma, a daughter.
"... Unless the order learns of family members of a veteran due to a news item or the survivors make themselves known to our order, it is not possible to know of them," David Demmy Sr., executive director of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, wrote in an e-mail. "I am not aware of any other organization that may attempt to contact and tabulate these folks ... ."
Cox shrugs off his unusual status, mainly because of the arithmetic of it all. Cox was 13 when his father died in 1928.
"My older brother had more to do with my childhood than anybody else," Cox said recently from an easy chair in his home. "He really was the one who saw to it that I was taken care of. I've never forgotten how he was so involved in my life."
J.H. Cox wrote down his remembrances of the war on stationery dated July 10, 1875. His family still has the original copies and other documents detailing his colorful life.
J.H. fathered 12 children from his three marriages, including eight from his last wife, Emma Thurston, whom he wed in 1889. When he made the first of two land runs into Indian Territory in '89, he wrote to his wife in a letter dated April 19, remarking on the difficulty of crossing the Salt Fork River.
"Now came the critical part of our journey," J.H. wrote. "Two men and one team had already drowned, and the ferry men were all drunk but I decided to risk it. I put harness and everything in the buggy, laid my overcoat off, and got Henry Gazway to go with me and lead the gray mare. I took poor Rompy who could barely breathe with distemper."
He continued: "The men behind whipped their horses in, and we hung to their halters. They had to swim almost from the bank. The gray mare swam like a duck but Rompy struggled for about 5 rods (came near pulling me in) and turned over on his side and gave up. Men from the shore yelled, 'Let him go, he will drown.' Those on the boat said, "Give him some more rope or he will drown.'"
In an April 22, 1889, letter to Emma, J.H. complained about food. "I don't think I shall stay as long as I intended, as I have had a falling out at my boarding house with the cook," he wrote. "The pancakes don't come up to standard. I went to turn one and it fell 4 1/4 sections adjoining. Please tell me what to do. My stove is a daisy, but I am sadly in need of a cook."
It was in Arkansas, near a place called West Fork, that Cox was treated for diphtheria at about age 4. He recalls the physician saying, "I don't know whether he will make it through the night."
"I proved that they were wrong. I'm still here," Cox said.
The family eventually settled back in Pawnee. Cox married Elna Griesel, a switchboard operator whom he first met in a Pawnee telephone office.
"Dad went in there to call a girlfriend and saw mother," Gazin said. "He thought she was a pretty good lookin' woman, and he might just have to get to know her."
Cox did medic-related duties while in World War II, working in such places as Capetown, South Africa; Brazil; Canada; India; and France.
"I got to be a world traveler," he said. "Wherever they had a problem, they sent me."
When the war ended, Cox made a career of education, first teaching at a one-room schoolhouse before spending roughly 30 years in the Pawnee school system. His wife of nearly 67 years died last May.
"It's a life that I don't really have to apologize for because the things I have done have been beneficial to a lot of people," said Cox, a company commander for the Oklahoma National Guard from 1954-60. "My life has been respectable. I have no reason for regretting. I've managed to survive all this time and I'm crowding 100."
His history also contains this jaw-dropping nugget: Cox's father fought in the Civil War.
Cox is the son of Joseph H. Cox, a Illinois infantryman for the Union Army from 1862-65. Charles was born when his father, who married three times, was 73.
"I think I was an unexpected child," said Cox, 93, of Pawnee.
Today, he's a link to Lincoln.
Only 52 children of Union Civil War Veterans are still living, according to the Pennsylvania-based Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The Sons of Confederate Veterans has located more than 100 sons and the United Daughters of the Confederacy has located more than 150 daughters.
Charles Cox wasn't on the list, which chronicles only one Civil War child from Oklahoma, a daughter.
"... Unless the order learns of family members of a veteran due to a news item or the survivors make themselves known to our order, it is not possible to know of them," David Demmy Sr., executive director of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, wrote in an e-mail. "I am not aware of any other organization that may attempt to contact and tabulate these folks ... ."
Cox shrugs off his unusual status, mainly because of the arithmetic of it all. Cox was 13 when his father died in 1928.
"My older brother had more to do with my childhood than anybody else," Cox said recently from an easy chair in his home.
Documented life in letters
Joseph H. Cox was a corporal of Company F, 127th Illinois Infantry. Enlisting in August 1862, he served in the 15th Corps under Gen. William Sherman before being wounded and taken to the notorious Andersonville Prison in Georgia, the first of several POW camps in which he was held. He escaped in December 1864 while being moved to Jacksonville prison and reached the Union lines the following February.J.H. Cox wrote down his remembrances of the war on stationery dated July 10, 1875. His family still has the original copies and other documents detailing his colorful life.
J.H. fathered 12 children from his three marriages, including eight from his last wife, Emma Thurston, whom he wed in 1889. When he made the first of two land runs into Indian Territory in '89, he wrote to his wife in a letter dated April 19, remarking on the difficulty of crossing the Salt Fork River.
"Now came the critical part of our journey," J.H. wrote. "Two men and one team had already drowned, and the ferry men were all drunk but I decided to risk it. I put harness and everything in the buggy, laid my overcoat off, and got Henry Gazway to go with me and lead the gray mare. I took poor Rompy who could barely breathe with distemper."
He continued: "The men behind whipped their horses in, and we hung to their halters. They had to swim almost from the bank. The gray mare swam like a duck but Rompy struggled for about 5 rods (came near pulling me in) and turned over on his side and gave up. Men from the shore yelled, 'Let him go, he will drown.' Those on the boat said, "Give him some more rope or he will drown.'"
In an April 22, 1889, letter to Emma, J.H. complained about food. "I don't think I shall stay as long as I intended, as I have had a falling out at my boarding house with the cook," he wrote. "The pancakes don't come up to standard. I went to turn one and it fell 4 1/4 sections adjoining. Please tell me what to do. My stove is a daisy, but I am sadly in need of a cook."
Traveling the world
Charles Cox was the last child born to J.H. and Emma, who was 30 years her husband's junior. When J.H. purchased property in Arkansas, he rode a train there while sending his wife, teenage son and Charles in a covered wagon, said Gail Gazin, the younger of Charles' two daughters.It was in Arkansas, near a place called West Fork, that Cox was treated for diphtheria at about age 4. He recalls the physician saying, "I don't know whether he will make it through the night."
"I proved that they were wrong. I'm still here," Cox said.
The family eventually settled back in Pawnee. Cox married Elna Griesel, a switchboard operator whom he first met in a Pawnee telephone office.
"Dad went in there to call a girlfriend and saw mother," Gazin said. "He thought she was a pretty good lookin' woman, and he might just have to get to know her."
Cox did medic-related duties while in World War II, working in such places as Capetown, South Africa; Brazil; Canada; India; and France.
"I got to be a world traveler," he said. "Wherever they had a problem, they sent me."
When the war ended, Cox made a career of education, first teaching at a one-room schoolhouse before spending roughly 30 years in the Pawnee school system. His wife of nearly 67 years died last May.
"It's a life that I don't really have to apologize for because the things I have done have been beneficial to a lot of people," said Cox, a company commander for the Oklahoma National Guard from 1954-60. "My life has been respectable. I have no reason for regretting. I've managed to survive all this time and I'm crowding 100."
This young man bought feed from us for his show pigs over the years and grew up about 2 miles from us.. now look...
A unique dairy in Payne County
Ashley StockampStillwater NewsPress
A Payne County farm is complete with pasture, barns and even a milking parlor, but there are no cows.
Chester and Dora Busch operate Feather Creek Farm, located between Stillwater and Glencoe. The farm is a full production goat dairy with about 100 milking goats, 48 of which are being milked at this time.
Dora Busch said they started in the dairy goat industry about seven years ago when their oldest son wanted to show dairy goats. After he graduated and moved away from the farm, the Busches decided to transform into a grade A goat dairy.
Feather Creek Farm became grade A in 2007 and they began selling their milk at Pure Prairie Creamery, LLC, a cheese factory in Ada. The cheese is sold in local groceries throughout Oklahoma including Consumers IGA and Companies Comin II in Stillwater.
“We sell it locally, we are legal to sell 100 gallons of raw goats milk, which is unpasturized,” Dora Busch said. “The only thing that has been done to the milk is that it has been filtered for cleanness. We can sell that from the farm every month.”
Pure Prairie Creamery, LLC Partner Bill Clark said the creamery produces a market for Oklahoma goat dairy producers. He said the Busches are one of his best producers.
“It’s been excellent,” Clark said. “They have the highest quality of milk of any producer we buy from. Their quality has been superb.”
Clark said he can’t talk enough about the quality of their milk and attributes their success to careful genetic selection. He said milk usually gives an average 9 percent yield on cheese, but Feather Creek Farm’s milk yields 10 to 11 percent.
The Busches hope to add a cheese factory to their dairy and sell direct to consumers, but Dora Busch said the Stillwater market is a tough market.
Chester Busch said he has wanted to milk for a long time, and took losing his job as an opportunity to farm full-time. He said now was a good time to get into the dairy goat industry because people are becoming more health conscious.
“It’s something I always liked doing,” he said. “It’s a specialty item, a novelty item. More people are getting more health conscious so goats milk is on the rise.”
Dora Bush said milking goats is the same process as milking cows, but is actually a little easier.
“The only difference is you’ve got two teats instead of four,” Dora Busch said. “My husband’s favorite saying is ‘If god had intended us to milk cows he would have given us four hands.’ ”
She said the size makes them easier to handle and the milk is a little easier to digest. She said the goats are good to work with and develop better personalities than dairy cattle.
“They’re very personable,” Dora Busch said. “Every single one of these goats has its own personality. They’re just lovable.”
Goats are considered browsers; they will pick through weeds and leaves instead of eating grasses. Dora Busch said the dairy goats are kept on an alfalfa and sweet feed diet to help with production.
“If all we did was let them browse, they would milk but it wouldn’t be what it is now,” she said. “It’s the same as with a cow dairy, the more production you can get out of one animal, the better off you are.”
Chester Busch lost his job in April and along with running the farm, distributes cheese for Pure Prairie Creamery. Dora Busch said this was a “mixed blessing” because he can now make more money on the farm.
“You don’t have to go out to an eight to five job,” Chester Busch said. “Farming’s really 24/7, but it’s something I enjoy doing.”
The Busches said they would like to expand their operation to around 150 milking goats. They also want to raise awareness for the industry and let people know the opportunity is out there.
For more information about becoming involved in the Dairy Goat call 405-334-1318.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
American Chopper show builds CNG cycle for OKC energy company
By Associated Press
Published: 6/16/2009 10:49 AM
Last Modified: 6/16/2009 11:20 AM
By Associated Press
Published: 6/16/2009 10:49 AM
Last Modified: 6/16/2009 11:20 AM
OKLAHOMA CITY — The stars of a cable television reality show have built what is being touted as the world's first compressed natural gas-powered custom chopper for a local energy company.
"American Chopper" stars Paul Teutul Sr. and his sons, Paul Jr. and Mikey, run a family business in Newburgh, N.Y., known as Orange County Choppers.
They built the CNG-powered chopper for Chesapeake Energy Corp., the top independent producer of natural gas in the U.S.
The Oklahoma unveiling for the CNG chopper will be Wednesday morning at Chesapeake's northwest Oklahoma City headquarters. The "American Chopper" segment featuring the CNG chopper will air on cable network TLC on June 25.
"American Chopper" stars Paul Teutul Sr. and his sons, Paul Jr. and Mikey, run a family business in Newburgh, N.Y., known as Orange County Choppers.
They built the CNG-powered chopper for Chesapeake Energy Corp., the top independent producer of natural gas in the U.S.
The Oklahoma unveiling for the CNG chopper will be Wednesday morning at Chesapeake's northwest Oklahoma City headquarters. The "American Chopper" segment featuring the CNG chopper will air on cable network TLC on June 25.
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