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Saturday July 4, 2009
Long before the U. S. Constitution was written, the Native American Indians
formed a pact that decreed that they should all live together in peace. The
Iroquois League of Nations was created sometime between 1570 and 1600.
The Indian
League of
Nations
Sunday June 21, 2009
There have been many outstanding Americans that were the bedrock of being
American, beginning with the framers of our wonderful constitution. Then in
every conflict following there have always been several that made
outstanding contributions to the American cause.
A REAL AMERICAN
- Chief Joseph
Sunday June 14, 2009
Today we are exposed to a many unpleasant shows on television. Much of
what appears on our screens is not only in bad taste but is outright
disgusting. There is one program however that when it comes to bad taste and
outright vulgarity surpasses all the others and that is the so-called,
“Jerry Springer Show."
The Jerry Springer Show
Saturday May 9, 2009
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de la Fayette was
the first person ever to receive an honorary American citizenship. This
man; born in the highest level of French aristocracy, with a promising
career as a French army officer and a member of the French court...
A Fantastic American
Saturday May 2, 2009
Andrew Jackson was a dynamic man of great charm and was extremely charismatic. It is said that he could have sold ice to Eskimos and talk birds out of trees.
Old Hickory
Saturday April 25, 2009
In 1778 Ethan Allen along with his “Green Mountain Boys” and Benedict Arnold marched up the Hudson to Fort Ticonderoga and though severely outnumbered they captured the fort and when the British commander asked to whom he was surrendering , Allen calmly replied, “ To the Great Jehovah and The Continental Congress.”
James Heth - Ethan
Allen
Saturday April 18, 2009
Today many Americans are very quick to criticize France. They say the French are haughty and treat Americans with hostility. These same Americans are displaying a glaring lack of historical knowledge. For if
it wasn’t for the French we today might still be a British Colony.
James Heth - France
Saturday April 11, 2009
In 1776 most of Europe was in confusion over what to do about the American revolution. Most every country was ruled by a king and the American Revolution
was indeed a threat to all of these kingdoms.
James Heth -
Another Fantastic American
Saturday April 4, 2009
Not all of the remarkable Americans were born in America. One rather
exceptional man in many ways was the so-called, “Gentleman Pirate”, Jean
Lafitte of New Orleans. No one really knows where Lafitte was born but it is
known that both of his parents were French aristocrats who died on the
guillotine.
James Heth -
Another Fantastic American
Saturday March 28, 2009
America has produced many exceptional men. Back in 1776 there were more than a dozen very remarkable men. There was too, a very young naval
officer that can only be described as being fantastic. He was twenty
three years old when he determined to take on the mighty English navy on
their home turf.
James Heth -
A Fantastic American
Saturday March 7, 2009
When President Obama stepped into the White House he was confronted with a deficit way over a trillion dollars left by the former Republican administration.
James Heth -
Un-American
Sunday February 22, 2009
In Newark, New Jersey an eleven year old boy sneaks into a supermarket and takes a handful of jellybeans from a counter to share with his little sister who is waiting outside. The police are called and in less than an hour the boy is behind bars in juvenile hall and his little sister is in the custody of the welfare department.
James Heth - Justice
Saturday February 14, 2009
As if to continue
the tradition of
incompetence that
was the hallmark of
the previous
Republican White
House, Republicans
are
attempting
obstructionist
devices
to hamper the new
administration’s effort to quell the fiscal downside that began under
Republican stewardship
James Heth - Party
First
Saturday February 7, 2009
Each day
it becomes more and more difficult to understand Republicans. They just
can’t believe that their party is over. This week they are falling all over
each other to denounce the president’s stimulus package claiming it is not a
stimulus bill at all but really just another reckless irresponsible,
democratic, spending plan.
James Heth - The Party
Is Over
Saturday January 31, 2009
It is interesting to note that all the Republicans in The House Of
Representatives voted against Obama’s stimulus bill while every one of them
happily had voted to give billions to Wall Street millionaires and bankers.
James Heth - Someone Who
Cares
Saturday January 24, 2009
Now
that the shouting, the screaming, the horn-blowing and the foot stamping is
over and the grey dawn has come and gone, the new president settles
carefully in his chair in the oval office and wonders just how he is going
to deal with all of these overwhelming problems.
James Heth - Moral
Leadership
Saturday January 17, 2009
In 2002 in Afghanistan there was a firefight in an abandoned
building and several Al Qaeda members were killed. There was one that was
seriously wounded and bleeding profusely from gunshot and shrapnel wounds in
his head.
James Heth - A Finding
Saturday January 10, 2009
One of the basic concepts in our great constitution
is the one of,
“presumed innocence”. This may come as a great shock to Patrick Fitzgerald, the headline grabbing prosecutor who in a
press conference with great fan-fare and an eager scandal seeking press, arrested, tried and sentenced the hapless governor of
Illinois.
James Heth - Presumed Innocence
Saturday January 3, 2009
The sheer reckless stupidly of the idea of
providing an Arab country like U.A.E. with atomic information as suggested by Bush is perhaps best illustrated by the present
insane conflict between Israel and Palestine.
James Heth- Reckless
Stupidity
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Mountain Shadows
Sunday July 5, 2009
We all love the sight of a flashing hummingbird as it flits from flower to
flower in our gardens. The sound of hummingbirds is one of the most
pleasurable sounds to our ears. It means a very much alive thing is
paying us a visit.
James Heth - Hummingbirds
Sunday June 28, 2009
That bees have an amazing social structure is generally speaking public knowledge. That they can compute complex mathematical problems is not generally known.
James Heth - Busy Bees
Sunday June 7, 2009
There are many treasures in and about Mariposa. Springs
explosion of wild flowers this year is a good example and of course, the
blue patches of Baby Blue eyes that turn hillsides into wondrous canvases,
are certainly major community treasures.
James Heth - Another Mariposa Treasure
Sunday May 10, 2009
There are few living things on this planet with the ability to survive that can match the common gopher. When finding a gopher hole a dog can dig for hours and come up with nothing but a muddy nose. A cat might sit all day by a gopher hole waiting in vain for the wily little critter to show its head, but the cat will catch nothing but a few catnaps, for the gopher had an escape exit on the other side of the garden fence that the cat knows nothing about and he left the scene within minutes after the cat appeared.
James Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday April 26, 2009
Everyone knows that this year there has been a dearth of wild flowers. A simple drive into Yosemite Park might actually blind you along the way from the brilliant flashes of golden poppies along the Merced River and over the slopes on either side of the road.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday April 19, 2009
Bolob Bentley III was six feet four inches tall and if soaking wet and in an overcoat weighed one hundred and thirty six pounds. He had rings of orange hair sticking out from around his head like a fiery halo. Bolob had been asked to leave high school by a committee from the school board and to avoid prosecution for the events in a math class he agreed to never set foot on the school grounds again. Bolob drifted from one job in a fast food joint to another.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday April 12, 2009
Oh, sure big things are wonderful: your first
love, a big promotion, an extraordinary bonus, your first house, your
wedding and the list goes on and on with the big things in life. We seldom
remember or recall the many little things that have filled our lives with
pleasure over the years.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday April 5, 2009
It is always beautiful within the mountain shadows, but in the Springtime it is sometimes actually spectacular. Such is the case this year. To experience the full blast of sights a drive in the hills will provide the eyes with an unmatched springtime treat.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday March 22, 2009
Every year in March and April wild flowers
bloom within the mountain shadows. This year however the abundance of
flowers is almost overwhelming.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday March 15, 2009
There are several signs of
Spring. The warm
showers, flocks of Robins hopping over your lawn, the huge white billowing
clouds that come just before the showers, the explosion of golden and bright
yellow daffodils.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday March 1, 2009
During this time of the year the mountains provide us with an array of
beautiful sights. The most obvious ones are the skies that jump from one
colorful cloud display to another. Sometimes the clouds are simply billowing
white mountains in the sky and then later as the sky begins to settle in the
west the white clouds appear as huge pink ships sailing...
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday February22, 2009
When the rainy season comes to the mountain shadows some people curl up with a book, while others tackle long postponed household projects. Others sit transfixed by their television sets. Others tiring of these functions wait for a light snow to cover the ground. Then anxiously they trudge outdoors.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday February 8, 2009
There are 11 different species of sparrows in
North America. They are not all within the mountain shadows but there are
several beautiful ones in and around the mountains.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday February 1, 2009
If anyone finds
themselves with time
on their hands and
nothing to do and is
looking for
something
interesting to while
away the hours,
watching an ant hill
is always most
interesting.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday January 25, 2009
A walk
in the mountain shadows is most always an extremely pleasant event.
However, there are a few creatures you must avoid.
First are snakes. A rattlesnake is so beautifully camouflaged that it
is nearly impossible to see until after you have stepped on him.
James
Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday January 11, 2009
Some birds
are smart. Crows and ravens are known for their cleverness and it is said that a crow can be taught to speak words. Parrots are
considered brighter than the average dog.
James Heth - Mountain Shadows
Sunday January 4, 2009
About every other day or so twenty to
thirty California Quail come marching up our driveway from the woods across the road. At times there
is a line of baby quails marching single file behind their elders. The adult males have a sort of feathered fan across their
heads.
James Heth - Mountain Shadows
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