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The Meaning Behind Music
As part of the publicity campaign for the movie "Skyfall", the song by Adele is being played on the various radio stations. When I consider the downbeat words, the lack of narrative in the lyrics, and the uninspiring melody, I shouldn't like it ( Read more... ) -
Strike Two
What is it with male Republican candidates and the issue of rape??
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20054737
Not only can't they get their facts straight, they issue insulting non-apologies where they decline to re-examine their positions even though they admit they said something wrong.
Somewhere there are Sunday Schools not doing their job ( Read more... ) -
Disquieting Thought
I am exactly four times as old as Google today.
In internet terms, that makes me -- no, I don't want to hear it!! -
Altoona to Washington
The Loyal War Governors' Conference was the first formal test of the Emancipation Proclamation. Called by Governor Andrew Curtin of Pennsylvania, it was held at the Logan House Hotel in Altoona. Thirteen governors or representatives of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Michigan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Indiana, loyal Virginia, Wisconsin, Rhode ( Read more... ) -
150 Years Ago Today
President Lincoln called a meeting of his Cabinet. He warmed up with a story about Artemus Ward, then got to the issue. Antietam, and the retreat of the Confederates, had given him the victory he needed, and now he was going to proclaim Emancipation. The Southerners would have until New Year's day to rejoin the Union, otherwise, all slaves in ( Read more... ) -
150 Years Ago Today
After a council of war the previous day, Robert E. Lee formalized his plans. The Union garrison at Harpers Ferry had been increased to 12,000 men. This was no match for the Army of Northern Virginia in a straight fight, but such a force of Yankees in Lee's rear could completely cut his supply line. On the other hand, if such a number could be ( Read more... ) -
You Can't Trust Everything You Read
And now for something a little different:
September 6, 1862: Upon entering the town of Frederick, Maryland, Stonewall Jackson's column supposedly passed by the house of an elderly lady named Barbara Freitchie. Noticing a Union flag flying from a second-story window, Jackson ordered the staff shot away. But as soon as this was done, Freitchie ( Read more... ) -
A Move Towards Emancipation
August 25, 1862:
Secretary of War Edwin Stanton took a quiet but major step into turning the war into a war against slavery. After General David Hunter had been stopped from arming "contrabands" because of the violent reaction it would provoke, General Rufus Saxton had been sent to oversee the camps in which the escaped slaves were housed. Saxton ( Read more... ) -
Lincoln Replies
150 years ago, Lincoln replied to Horace Greely's "Prayer of Twenty Millions". He did not mention that he had a preliminary proclamation of emancipation drafted, but he subtly laid the groundwork for it, since it would go even beyond the Confiscation Act that Greely complained was not being sufficiently enforced:
Executive Mansion,
Washington, August ( Read more... ) -
The Prayer of Twenty Millions
150 Years Ago Today ( Read more... )