Saturday Mix

I never voted for a winning presidential candidate for 20 years before picking Bill Clinton and regretting it. That means in 1976 I voted for Gerald Ford instead of Jimmy Carter. The sad passing of Betty Ford yesterday gave me an opportunity to think about the Fords. The Fords represented the kind of Republican that used to characterize the GOP before it fell off the edge into its own lunatic fringe. Supporters of small town America with down-to-earth values, the Fords were the first couple America needed in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal and the debacle in Vietnam. Solid on foreign policy and willing to thoughtfully compromise on domestic issues, Gerald Ford's reputation should grow among historians in coming years. Betty Ford will also hold a high place among First Ladies for her willingness to speak out on issues and her frankness about personal problems. Just heard a sound bite of her advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment. Their qualities are greatly missed in America today.

And no I didn't vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980. That was my John Anderson vote. Hoorah for Jimmy Carter, America's greatest ex-President. Who's the competition there? Perhaps John Quincy Adams, the non-Founding Father, who fought slavery as a Massachusetts Congressman after his single term in the White House. By the way, Michelle, Daddy John Adams, the Founding Father, was the first President to live in the White House. He is also according to legend the only President caught skinny dipping in the Potomac. Story goes John had been dodging a female reporter who knew he liked to cool off with a swim. She sat on the neat pile of Presidential clothes until she got her interview.

Also sad to hear about the end of the space shuttle program. Say what you will about the cost/benefits of the space program (certainly better than the cost/benefits of perpetual war), yesterday's final launch is a symbol of American decline. It's a tip of the iceberg thing-we now have to ride Russian rockets into space just as the Chinese are kicking our ass in solar power research and other countries are taking over in other areas of scientific research that were once dominated by America.

WBZ radio broadcasts the President's weekly radio address at 6 am and 10 am with the Republican response at 7 and 11. The Republican view comes from a different Congressman or Senator each week so while it generally hews to the party line occasionally you can hear some leader who really provides food for thought. Not this morning, however. Maybe things would be more interesting with a five minute weekly debate between the parties. Choose a topic on Wednesday, select a Senator or Rep who knows something about the topic from each side, and give them a minute to present their side and a minute to rebut the other side. Don't let Barney Frank talk more than once until all the other Democrats speak at least twice.

The NRT  Board of Directors met a couple of Saturdays ago to develop a vision for the next five years in three areas: Education, Conservation (at Sheep Pasture), and Agriculture. I got the job of collating the individual and group comments on these subjects. Don't know if we'll follow through with a full survey to members and townspeople, but you, dear readers, have an opportunity to comment. If you are a member or a visitor to Sheep Pasture, drop me an e-mail at edh1620@gmail.com commenting on the strengths and weaknesses you see, and any new ideas you might have or old ideas that you'd like to bring back.

$5,985. That's the check that came from the State's Abandoned Property Division on Thursday thanks to a friend who noticed my name on the list. You can try your luck here.

Did you know that the proven reserves of natural gas will only last another 63 years? Who is the biggest producer? What does this imply for the US? Take a look at this interesting interactive graphic from General Electric. Did you know that Sheep Pasture's Oliver Ames was once on GE's Board of Directors?