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Remembering September 11th

Sometime in the mid-1970’s my father took me and my brothers to the World Trade Center. We went to the observation deck, stopped at Windows on the World, and generally had an outing for the day. I was probably 10 years old. I remember the spectacular views and how diverse the clientèle was at Windows on the World. It was a day that I’ll never forget. It was one of those places where most people from the NY metropolitan area would go at sometime in their life.

Well recently, I came across one of the tickets from the World Trade Center that we used that day. It says “Adult” so it may have been my father’s. It was at the bottom of an old box of childhood “stuff” that I was going through recently.

So I thought I’d share the actual ticket here.

The ticket is actually smaller than the scanned images above. I blew them up to get a better picture. It was certainly a poignant moment when I found the ticket and realized that that little piece of paper was all that was left from our visit to that wonderful and magnificent engineering marvel.

On this anniversary of September 11, 2001, let us remember those we lost, and let us also remember how we came together to help get America through one of the most difficult days in its history. Let us remember the heroism of the brave men and women who have fought for freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. And let us all, never forget what happened that day.

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Bits of Everything

Gov’s Wife Gets No-Bid Deal

The NY Post reports on a no-bid deal that involves the Governor’s wife.

NJ Approves Property Tax Cap / When Will NY?

Our neighbor NJ has approved a property tax cap. It begs the question when will NY show some political courage and do the same. The NY Times reports here.

See How Much We Owe

I can’t gauge how authentic this site is but it certainly makes you think. Check out the US Debt Clock to see how much money our government owes.

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The Autobiography of Mark Twain

Here’s a PBS News Hour segment on the new version of Mark Twain’s autobiography. Twain specified that his entire autobiography could not be published until 100 years after his death. In so far as he died in 1910, this is the year that it will be released.

This is a book that I’m very much looking forward to reading. The segment below is roughly 8 minutes, but it gives a detail account of the autobiography.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wzZhbctI4Q

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Baseball’s All-Star Ballot

With Major League Baseball’s All-Star game approaching fast, here is the official ballot to cast your vote. You’ll need to fill out your email address and date of birth but this is a ballot you’ll want to complete! Hurry because voting ends soon.

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Meet Robonaut


Robonaut2 is the next generation of dexterous robot, developed by NASA and General Motors. Photo Credit: NASA.

Coming soon to the space station (or as your next co-worker): Robonaut 2.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g3qzOZLs6s&feature=related

To learn more about Robonaut2, check out NASA.

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Bits of Everything

Boy Scouts Get New Stamp

The Boy Scouts of America celebrate their 100th anniversary this year, so to commemorate this event, the Postal Service has issued a new stamp. Please remember to purchase the new boy scout stamp and all your other stamps at the Huletts Landing Post Office.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgi_HIaTJK4

States Pension Funds Not Enough

The Washington Post had an alarming story on how state governments have promised to deliver $1 trillion more in retirement benefits than they have in their pension funds.

2011 Saratoga Racing Season in Jeopardy

The Saratogian reports that if the NY City OTB closes, then the 2011 Saratoga racing season is in jeopardy.

Former Vermont Governor Celebrates Anniversary

The Burlington Free Press finds out what former Vermont Governor, Madeleine Kunin, is up to.

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America’s Last Frontier

If you have 52 minutes, this is one of the best documentaries I have seen in awhile.

In 1980, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was established in the Alaskan Interior, cutting off 19 million acres of prime boreal wilderness from the mitts of fur trappers, oil tycoons, and would-be lodge owners alike. Only six families of white settlers were grandfathered in and allowed to keep cabins in the refuge—of them, only one still stays there year-round living off the land. His name is Heimo Korth, and he is basically the Omega Man of America’s Final Frontier.

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Innovative Transport of Power Through Whitehall & Canal Proposed


A major supplier of electricity to the Northeast is proposing to go down Lake Champlain, through the Champlain Canal in Whitehall, and back into the Hudson River to bring power to New York City and Long Island. This would be a new way to supply the growing power needs of our country without disrupting scenery.

It has been reported on North Country Public radio about a proposed power supply route that would use the historic route between Canada and New York which passes through Whitehall.

What is truly innovative, as I understand it, is that there would be no overhead lines, no cutting of trees and the power would come from renewable sources.

Here is a video that describes the concept.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75d6-SHFE08

I’m sure we’ll hear more about this in the months ahead.

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Bits of Everything

Vermont Neighbor Wins Olympic Gold

Hannah Kearney from nearby Norwich, Vermont won the gold medal in the women’s moguls at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics!

Historic Lake George Photos Donated to Bolton Library

The Adirondack Almanack has a story which should interest all history lovers.

Beautiful Bird Pictures

This site: http://birdbook.org/ has some stunning photography of different birds.

You will need to:

Click on the Copyright OK
Then select “Photographs”
Then select “Index” to see all birds
When you select a type of bird there are numerous pictures of each type.

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A Haitian Eyewitness

We’ve all been transfixed on the news stories coming out of Haiti recently after the devastating earthquake that country experienced. Recently I had a chance to speak to Catholic priest, Fr. Murat Dorcent, who was present during the earthquake that hit Haiti. I met him as he traveled through the Northeast telling Americans what they can do to help and to thank people for their generosity. Fr. Dorcent traveled a circuitous route through the Dominican Republic to get to the United States.

Fr. Dorcent is the pastor of Our Lady of the Nativity parish in Verrettes, Haiti. It is approximately 1.5 hours by car from Port-Au-Prince. His large parish encompasses one mother church, 14 mission chapels and 6 schools that educate over 1400 children. Some of the mission chapels can only be reached on foot. Fr. Dorcent’s parish community serves over 50,000 people. He described the area where he works as a mountainous area in the country. However, he happened to be in Port-Au-Prince the day of the earthquake. His country parish is now receiving survivors and refugees fleeing from the carnage of Port-Au-Prince. He related to me that he has told his staff to receive anyone fleeing Port-Au-Prince. He is providing food and shelter to all those who make it to his parish. Below is a map of where Fr. Dorcent’s parish is in relation to Port-Au-Prince.

In the weeks since the quake, Fr. Dorcent has received over 50 orphans into his parish and close to 1000 people who have fled the city. He is trying to equip one of his schools with sewing machines to teach the displaced how to sew so that they can have a skill in order to find work. He will feed them and house them as long as there is a need.

Fr. Dorcent speaks French and some English. The last time I spoke French was in high-school. The interview below is the best I could do given the language differences.

Father, can you tell us exactly what happened the day of the earthquake?

“I happened to find myself in Port-Au-Prince that day. I was near the Presidential palace. The earthquake was violent shaking up and down, left and right. Every building just fell down. I was outside, near the Presidential Palace and saw it collapse. I rushed to the seminary where 200 seminarians were trapped. Thousands of people screaming, fleeing, yelling. It was beyond awful in scope. No words can describe what I saw that day.”

How bad are things in Haiti now?

“Today, we talk only about matters of life and death. Like it says in the book of Isiah, suffering has been brought unto us. We have seen Good Friday, we don’t know when Easter will come.”

What are your immediate needs?

“Our short term need is for food. Any donations right now go toward feeding and housing the homeless. Our long term needs are for our schools. We have children but we also are trying to teach adults technical trades.”

I know you have traveled to the United States with a message for Americans. Can you tell us this message?

“May God bless and protect the people of North America. Now and forever. Haiti is forever grateful.”

Fr. Dorcent is returning to Haiti this week. To send a donation directly to him, I have listed his address below. He assured me that all aid he receives goes directly to those in greatest need. He has told the Huletts Current that he will give us further updates in the months ahead.

Pere Murat DORCENT
Cure de la Paroisse Notre Dame de la Nativite des Verrettes
Boite postale # 45 HT4310
Saint Marc, Haiti

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Is He or Isn’t He? There’s No “Communication”

In a surprise move early Saturday morning, the House Rules Committee, approved rules for debate on the health care bill. Included was an amendment to allow a vote to remove abortion funding.

The committee okayed a Rule that allows the House to vote on the Stupak amendment, offered by pro-life Rep. Bart Stupak, a Michigan Democrat, to the health care reform legislation. Stupak claimed to have approximately 40 Democrats who threatened to vote against the Rule and the bill if he did not get a vote on his amendment. I wanted to make sure I could represent Congressman Murphy’s view accurately on this important vote.

The health care bill, HR 3962, would fund abortions in two ways — by allowing the public option (or government-run health care program) to pay for abortions and by allowing the affordability credits the government would give to consumers to be used to pay for health care plans that fund abortions.

I contacted Rep. Scott Murphy’s office on Saturday to inquire if he was one of the 40 Democrats who were supporting the Stupak amendment and to inquire which way he intended to vote on HR 3692.

I repeatedly left messages with his communications staff and even went so far as asking the person answering the phones where Congressman Murphy stood on this important issue. No one called me back and no one could state anything about Congressman Murphy’s position. I was referred to his Clifton Park Office where another communication’s person could supposedly answer my question. The number I was referred to didn’t even have an answering machine attached.

You would think that on such an important topic someone on the Congressman’s “communications” staff could communicate something. I’m still waiting for a return call.

Update 10/08/09 6:05 a.m.

The Stupak Amendment passed 240-194. This means that abortion coverage would not be paid for by the federal government and would continue the Hyde Amendment. Congressman Murphy voted against this measure, meaning he wanted abortion coverage to be paid for by the federal government.

This vote cleared the way for conservative pro-life Democrats to support the health care bill, HR 3962, which passed narrowly 220-215. Congressman Murphy voted “No” for final passage. Hopefully his communications office will be able to explain the reasoning behind his vote.