Dutch Elm Death

America & Default Culture

2009-12-12T15:13:00.000-06:00

Megan McArdle has a good post today.

An Awful Variation On The Foreclosure Tune

Are we as a people going to suck it up and pay our debts or are we going to walk away. This is something to thing about as both individuals and as a nation.

Vice-publican shows his spots

2009-12-08T14:22:00.002-06:00

We won't miss you Dick.

Dick Day to leave Senate to pursue racino gambling

This made me laugh.

2009-11-08T12:54:00.003-06:00

I needed a laugh today. Thank you Stephan Pastis.

iTunes Digitial 45s

2009-07-15T10:39:00.003-05:00

I just saw this today. It is an interesting marketing idea to a semi-old man like me, but not old enough to be part of the original 45 era. The digital music era destroyed the idea of the Album. 10 or so songs recorded and packaged to be listened to at the same time. This is a case of form forcing function. The digital era every becomes there own radio programmer and buys and arranges individual songs. This is a way to take two songs from an artist and sell them as one unit. How many albums have 10 great songs. Some do, but I can name several where I listen to two or three tracks and skip the rest.

I have to congratulate apple on the pricing strategy. Sell two songs for $1.99 that could be purchase separately for $1.98. It looks like you get a little extra album art for your penny, but I bet the extra penny is pure profit.

My little girl is cute.

2009-07-14T15:48:00.003-05:00

Check out the F family preview at Sova Photography. They did a great job on her two year pictures.

Obama Dog

2008-11-07T18:07:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to throw out my recommendations for the new 1st pet.

#1. a mutt like Sandy form little Orphan Annie.

#2. Pete the pup from the Our Gang shorts.

Quotes from Obama's Election Night Remarks.

2008-11-05T17:59:00.004-06:00

I just want to highlight some comments from the speech last night. If you believe Obama's rhetoric is empty, I submit these quotes for your consideration. The bully pulpit will have an occupant worthy of the title.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there."

Sorry, but this is not empty. This is an honest promise of struggle. His eyes are wide open and he has an understanding of our challenges.

"... I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand."

"It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other."

Are we looking at the return of big government liberalism. Sorry, Bush has already made big government trendy. Big government was a product of a large industrial economy. Will we rebuild our government for our post industrial and global world? We can hope.

"In this country, we rise or fall as one nations, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long."

Some have asked how will Obama show respect for the other side. Well first off he won't call you names or even un-American.

"Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."

"That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."

A weakness of the Democrats since the 60's is that they where open to the charge that they did not love their country. The new left especially was not comfortable with the rhetoric of the American revolution. Obama is helping them to overcome that.

Catch Phrase

2008-11-05T17:55:00.003-06:00

"Yes We Can!"

is the new

"So Say We All!"

Why Barack Obama?

2008-11-03T20:00:00.003-06:00

I wanted to write down why I am voting for Barack Obama.

These are my negative arguments for Barack Obama.

George Bush is the worst president in American history. He has severally weakened this country and it will take 20 years (5 presidential terms) to dig our way out. The Republican party did this to themselves because they loved power over principle and good government in 2004. The American people did this to themselves because we enabled, and are one in the same with these spend thrifts and fools.

John McCain decided to bow before Bush and Rovian politics in 2004. This is where he gave up ever being the McCain I supported in 2000.

John McCain’s second weakness is his age. His VP pick is absolutely more important then it would be normally. Sarah Palin is an inferior choice. It do not care that she is a gun toting red neck. I am a gun toting North Minneapolis elitist. She has a short executive record and most of it is weak to bad. Her theology is wrong, and worse then Obama’s wrong theology. She is a Penta-prosperity-gelical. I feel I am being generous with the -gelical suffix. Why did he not pick Huckabee all the strengths none of the weaknesses?

This is my Positive Argument.

His decision making process is conservative. He consults and is willing to change his mind in face of facts on the ground. He will not abdicate his post as commander-in-chief by asking his Generals to provide political cover.

He is a post Boomer. He was not old enough to make any decisions in the 1960s, so maybe he can lead us beyond them. I believe he will be presidential and support centrist positions on social issues, even though he holds liberal views on abortion and guns. IF the first thing passed is FOCA or federal gay marriage; He will not get to work on the core “social contract” issues he is running on. I am much more worried about social issues in a 2^nd term.

This ain't no upwardley mobile freeway,

2008-09-23T17:58:00.004-05:00

Chris Rea wrote these lyrics almost two decades ago. This was the second part of a two part song. It was intended to describe the M25 loop road around London, UK. It makes an interesting description of our current economic crisis.

The road to hell (pt2)

This ain't no technological breakdown

Oh no, this is the road to hell

And all the roads jam up with credit

and there's nothing you can do

It's all just pieces of paper flying away from you

Oh look out world, take a good look

What comes down here

You must learn this lesson fast and learn it well

This ain't no upwardly mobile freeway

Oh no, this is the road

Said this is the road

This is the road to Hell

You can see the video, in all its cheese 80's goodness, at YouTube.

Commemoration of Zechariah & Elizabeth

2008-09-05T18:00:00.002-05:00

In the Lutheran calender today we remember John the Baptist's parents. Jerry Fluth preached a pretty good sermon on John the Baptist just this last Sunday.

Zechariah first sang the Benedictus when his speech was restored. Here is the Benedictus in all its 1928 BCP glory.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; *

for he hath visited and redeemed his people;
And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us, *

in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, *

which have been since the world began;
That we should be saved from our enemies, *

and from the hand of all that hate us.
To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, *

and to remember his holy covenant;
To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, *

that he would give us;
That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies *

might serve him without fear;
In holiness and righteousness before him, *

all the days of our life.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: *

for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people *

for the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God; *

whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us;
To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, *

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Oh yes, my daughters middle name is Elizabeth!

VoteHelp.org

2008-09-04T22:19:00.006-05:00

My wife showed me the votehelp.org website today. A facebook / church friend had pointed it out to her. It claims to be of no party or click; in other words independent.

I answered several questions and I agree with Barak Obama 86.39% and John McCain 82.24%. In 10 of 27 categories the candidates and I agreed. I disagreed with both candidates in 4 categories. That left 13 categories to split between them; of which 7 went to Obama.

This provides evidence to support my earlier assertion; this is the best of all possible worlds.

Commemeration of Birinus, Bishop.

2008-09-04T16:00:00.000-05:00

Birinus, Apostle of Wessex was another early missionary with a few miricales under his belt.

Initial reaction to Sarah Palin's speech.

2008-09-03T23:19:00.005-05:00

She is what Michelle Bachmann wishes she could be; more polish and no botox smile.

The speech was mostly red meat lines feed to a friendly audience. The writer is to be congratulated for setting the phrases at a proper applause interval.

Yes, she did deliver it well.

Gregory the Great

2008-09-03T16:59:00.004-05:00

Today is the commemoration of Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome. He is considered a Doctor of the Church and one of the Latin Fathers. The Wikipedia article provides good detail about him.

He made important contributions to the growth and practice of Christianity. It is interesting to see what parts of his legacy my brand of Protestant Christianity embraces and what it does not. Missionary work to the Anglo-Saxons good. Liturgical reform and standardization good. Advocating Purgatory not so good.

This is the best of all possible worlds!

2008-09-02T21:46:00.006-05:00

We are about 60 days shy of election day. Back in December, an eternity ago, I thought; if the election comes down to a choice between Obama and McCain; the republic is in better shape then I dared hope. The Lord has heard my prayers and we live in the best of all possible worlds.

Well, we are back.

2008-09-01T12:42:00.002-05:00

I am going to give blogging a try again. Let's see if I can come up with pithy and interesting things to tell you about my life.

A Tree Grows in Camden

2008-07-01T12:04:00.001-05:00

We replaced the Elms with a single American Linden. We bought a 25 gallon container. The tree seems to be doing well. Thanks to my brother Jon for getting us a gift card to help with the purchase.

Making Coffee

2007-08-05T09:38:00.000-05:00

I saw a great reaction to our "new" yard this morning. The coffee pot sits under the window looking over the back yard. As I was preparing the Maxwell House, down the street comes this SUV. You can see the street quite clearly now. The SUV slows from a clip to a crawl. The older gentleman, driving, stares into our yard with shock, horror or just plain disbelief. I wonder if he was one of the Lundeen boys.

We always hear from our older neighbors about the Lundeen's. They lived in the house for at least 40 years. They had 6 boys and 1 girl. I do not know how everyone fit, but they left an impression.

The good news: Menard's has split rail fencing on sale; $21 for a 10 foot section.

They are gone!

2007-08-05T09:29:00.000-05:00

It was sad to watch. Our yard looks like it belongs to a Suburban tract house. I have a ton of pictures and some video. I will be setting them up on youtube and Flickr.

The Demise

2007-08-04T07:34:00.000-05:00

Today is the end.

Tree Wake

2007-08-04T07:07:00.000-05:00

We had a tree wake on Sunday. We invited a ton of friends and family. We cooked out. We sat under the trees. It was nice to have that final day. Next time we have a party some people will have a reference of the change.

We received an email from one family member who said we where weird. My wife was a little passionate in her response. How passionate? Sweet stuff is a mild Minnesota girl; our dearly loved relative told her not to be so "Salty!"

A friend said we should not mourn death, but celebrate the life of whatever we plant to replace them. Oh we will!

Flagging Fast

2007-07-28T21:26:00.000-05:00

When the City marked our trees, the northern tree was not showing any signs of disease. I flirted with the idea of having an arborist in to see if that tree could be saved. Well it is one week later and the north tree is starting to flag fast. I am glad it was still in good shape earlier on for pictures.

I spent the morning taking care of the yard. We are having some friends and family over for one last BBQ under the trees. It looked like fall in the back yard. The lawnmower did a nice job chopping up the leaves, but they are falling way to fast at this point to keep the yard clear.

Dutch Courage

2007-07-28T09:08:00.000-05:00

Many a young boy dreams of being an Astronaut. I was one of them. Everyone wants to be a hero, I even had the Space Shuttle tech manual back in the early 80s.

So ... some who grew up and got to live the dream, need a little help getting up on the horse. I heard Story Musgrave at one point say, "being 'launched' into space is really just sitting on top of an explosion." That definitely is the border of crazy / cool.

NASA if you are looking for any new Astronauts, specifically those with no science or flying background. I am your man. And I promise I will not need any Dutch Courage.

Taking Pictures.

2007-07-22T11:49:00.000-05:00

I have been busy taking pictures. We have lived here for two years and I can not believe how much I have not seen or appreciated in my backyard. There are only four unobstructed views of the crown of our trees in the neighborhood. That speaks well for how many tall trees we have here. I just wonder if anyone besides our immediate neighbor to the south will miss them any where near as much as we will.

The loss of shade will be devastating. Our Lot is oriented East / West and the trees are centered between the house and the garage. Our back yard benefits from an incredible amount of shade during the height of summer. Even with moderate drought in Minnesota this year, We only have two corners of the back yard that need water to keep from completely burning up.

We need to spend as much time as possible out there for the next week or two.

Lawyers to ambulances, Sharks to blood, Tree Services to...

2007-07-20T20:44:00.000-05:00

the orange ring of Death.

The markings are not even 24 hours old, and a tree service business card was left on our door today . The guy stopped back by this evening. Needless to say I was blown away by the quote. Not because it was so high, but because it was so low. These are two big trees. They are easily 8 feet around. I was preparing myself for the price to be double what he said it would be. The quote includes stump grinding and all clean up.

We share our grief.

2007-07-20T19:56:00.000-05:00

I related the bad news to family and friends in this email

We have had the orange circles of death painted on our two large Elm trees. I have been praying against the obvious for the past couple of weeks, but the Minneapolis Park Board Forestry Dept. caught up with us. Our back yard will never be the same. Our daughter will be sixty before anything could grow to a comparable size. Our neighbor has lived on this block her entire life. Just the other night she said she could almost remember when these where planted.

For those not in the know, when an American Elm gets Dutch Elm Disease it is marked for removal. An orange spray paint circle around the trunk.

There is nothing that can be done, but I will have my day. I will never support the Dutch National team in international football competitions again. I will root extra hard against them in the Euro 2008 Qualifiers. GO Group G; make me happy!

The End Begins

2007-07-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

My beautiful, large and old Elm trees have succumbed to the Dutch Death.

SweetStuff had been napping Thursday morning with our new baby girl. When She woke, she went to the kitchen and happened to look out the window. She noticed orange circles on both our Elms. At the front door was a note from the City Park Board.

She called me at work with the news, and wondered why I was not as crushed as she was. The funny thing is, earlier that morning, after I backed out of the drive way, I looked at the trees from the street and convinced myself that they where suffering more than drought stress.