We Will Miss Her Wit

It's with sadness that I write that the wonderful, smart alec columnist, Molly Ivins, has passed away. She had recently been hospitalized for breast cancer. This was her third bout with the dreaded disease. She was 62 years old.

Molly Ivins wrote about politics at the federal level and within the state of Texax. She was sarcastic, funny, and incredibly intelligent. She always got you to chuckle and the same time making her point. In addition to her columns, she wrote two books about George Bush and his presidency.

Ivins was a California native, but called Texas home. She graduated in 1966 and began her career in newspapers a year or so later. She has written for the Fort Worth Star Telegraph from 1992-2001. She then syndicated her column, which was distributed to 400 newspapers nationwide.

My local newspaper carried Ivin's column every Tuesday. I hurriedly flipped through the editorial to see what she'd written about this week. She had a style of writing that had me laughing and thinking at the same time. I always enjoyed her style.

Here are some of Ivins recent columns: http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/columnists/molly_ivins/

My Grandma is My Mother

Antoinette never gave it a second thought when her daughter, Leanne, needed a kidney. The transplant she had seven years earlier was failing. So, Antoinette donated hers.

When Leanne found out she could not have children, Antoinette stepped up to the plate once again. She offered to be a surrogate mother for her grandchild. Leanne was sceptible at first. After all, her mother had already given her a new lease on life when she gave her a kidney. Could she really ask her to give birth to her baby too?

Baby Kye is now ten months old. The Australian family is doing just fine. Antoinette is happy to have a grandchild to spoil. Leanne is grateful to have a baby to love--and a mother who is so giving.

Morgan's Dream Fulfilled

Today is the anniversary of the Challenger explosion. That day, Christa McAuliffe lost her life. The Teacher in Space program was shut down by NASA. The hopes and dreams of many Americans died with it.

Twenty one years later, the woman who had been McAuliffe's back up is going to live her dream. Barbara Morgan of Idaho decided to stay with the astronaut program. She's a full fledged astronaut trained as a mission specialist. Soon she'll go off into space just as she hoped two decades ago.

A crew is going into space to install new solar arrays on the International Space Station. Morgan will man the space station's robotic arms as well as perform other duties on the space shuttle.

The Lone Republican

I don't normally touch on politics in this blog. However, I think events this week warrant a mention. Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska was the lone Republican on the Armed Services Committee to vote for a resolution against the President's troop surge.

Senator Hagel has been voicing his opposition to the war for the last two years. The Vietnam veteran has become very vocal in his opposition to the war in Iraq. Yesterday, he spoke firmly to the Senate. He believes this is a time for courage. He challenged his fellow Senators to get off the fence and voice an opinion one way or another about the war. He went as far as telling them that if they wanted a safe job they should go sell shoes.

Too often, politicians stick their finger in the air to see which way the wind blows rather than forming an independent opinion and sticking by it. They are so afraid of hurting themselves in the polls and the next election that they would rather do nothing than fix the problems that face us.

Senator Hagel deserves our respect whether we agree or disagree with his views. He has stood before his colleagues with honesty and integrity. The American people should applaud him.

Kids Learn From DNA Research

Seventh graders at Middle School 223 in New York got to play around with DNA. As part of a school project, eleven students were chosen to submit DNA samples. When the results came back the entire class was involved in the analysis.

The students used the results in a historical context. They were asked to come up with reasons why certain genetic markers appeared in their test results. Then they concluded what historical reasons or events might have affected their DNA. For instance, on student of Puerto Rican descent found that her DNA was 12% Asian. The students camp up with reasons why her DNA might show this marker.

The tests were donated by DNAPrint. This si the same company that analyzed DNA results for the PBS show "African American Lives".

I'll Graduate For You, Mommy

Winta Mehari was murdered on Thanksgiving Day while feasting with her family. She was 28 years old, a mother, and about ready to graduate form California State University East Bay.

The muder was committed by her husband's two brother. Her husand had died suddenly in March of 2006. Cause of death was never determined. Her husband's family believe it was Mehari's fault. So, on Thanksgiving Day they burst into her home killing Mehari, her 17 year old brother, and her mother. Another family member escaped by jumping out a three story window. He is now wheel chair bound.

The community was shocked by her murder. They pulled together to help the family through this tragic time. Donations poured in. Over a thousand community members showed up at her funeral.

On Friday, Mehari's youngest son took the podium for Mehari at her graduation ceremony. He held a sign saying "I'll graduated for you, Mum". Hundreds of family and friends were on hand as well asthe University President, Mohammad Qayoumi.

CSUEB has been around for 50 years. It was formally called Cal State Hayward. In that history, there have only been diplomas awarded posthumously--Mehari's one of them.

Five Weeks Alone in the Forest

Carolyn Dorn set out on December 6th, 2006 on a hike in the Gila Forest. She would stay for two weeks and be home long before Christmas. Five days into her trip a storm hit. The river rose dramatically and she was trapped on the wrong side of the river. All she could do was camp out and wait.

Dorn hadn't returned home three weeks later. Her car was spotted just before Christmas. A search was started, but halted after 3 days when no sign of Dorn could be found.

Albert and Peter Kottke were on a hike heading out of the Gila Forest. On a whim, they decided to take a longer route out of the forest. As they peered across the Gila River, they saw movement. When they got closer they realized there was a woman stranded in the snow.

They found Dorn in good condition, but didn't have the strength to walk out with them. They set her up with food and drink. They left a book for her to read and a blanket to keep her warm. Then they set out to find help.

Dorn was rescued two days later. She was in stable condition, but severely dehydrated. In all, she survived five weeks alone in the forest.

Test Tube Mother

Louise Brown is known throughout the world as the first test tube baby. Louise's parents, John and Lesley Brown, tried for 9 years to have a baby the natural way. Enter Dr. Steptoe and Dr. Edwards who recommended using IVF. This was way back in 1978, when I was in 8th Grade, the story was plastered everywhere. Boy, were we amazed at this big advancement in medicine.

Now Louise is 28 years old. She had her first baby on January 12th. Her boy was conceived the old fashioned way. Both Mom and baby are doing fine.

It's surprising to think that the first test tube baby born 29 years ago. What a wonderful thing it was for childless parents. Medicine takes us in so many directions. Sometimes it seems we are going nowhere. But, medical breakthroughs like IVF don't happen over night. It's good to remember the advancements we have made. It gives us hope for the future.

In Memory of Martin Luther King Jr.

This is the day we honor Martin Luther King Jr., one of America's greatest heroes. The Civil Rights Leader proved to the world that you can fight oppression with peaceful means. His courageous leadership, integrity, and dignity is a model for us all. Those his life was cut short, his dream still lives on. We may be a long way from fulfilling the entire dream, but each day we take steps that brings us closer.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr, here are some links so that you may learn more about this great human being.

Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr from the Nobel Peace Prize website: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_luther_king

The March on Washington, 1963: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_on_Washington_for_Jobs_and_Freedom

Text and audio of the speech "I Have A Dream": http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Ripken and Gwynn go to Cooperstown

Cal Ripken Jr. , formerly of the Baltimore Orioles and Tony Gwynn, of the San Diego Padres, were voted in the first year they became eligible. Ripken received 98.5% and Gwynn 97.6% (who thought they weren't worthy of the Hall of Fame?) I cannot think of two more fitting individuals in the modern era to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ripken and Gwynn were on the ballot with hefty credentials. Both were All Stars (Gwynn 15 times; Ripken 19 times). Both played their entire careers with one team. That's 21 years for Ripken and 20 years for Gwynn. They played with all their heart and lived a life of integrity off and on the field. Both were known as ambassadors for the game of baseball.

Ripken was known as the "Iron Man" because of his 2,632 consecutive games played streak. That's 30 May 1982 to 20 Sep 1998! He had 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, won two gold gloves, and was voted MVP twice.

Gwynn won the batting championship 8 times. He ties with Honus Wagner. He left with a .338 lifetime batting average, 3,141 hits, and five gold gloves.

Gwynn and Ripken belong to an era that has now been overshadowed by steriod use. Their success shows that it can be done the honest way--with talent and alot of hard work.

Pay as You Go Restaurants

There's a new concept springing up among some restaurant owners in the United States. It's called the "pay as you go" policy and for a couple of restaurants it's working quite well.

Owners of the One World Cafe in Salt Lake City, Utah and the SAME Cafe in Denver, Colorado have incorporated this concept into their restaurants. The theory is everyone should benefit from a good, healthy, wholesome meal and pay by whatever means they have possible. Both have good size clientele who come from the well off to the poor. Those who can pay choose how much they will pay. Those who can't pay are required to do some sort of service for the restaurants such as mopping, sweeping, washing dishes, or other tasks that need to be done.

The food at both restaurants is organic and made fresh each day. People are encourage to take as much as they can eat and then determine what it's worth. Both have such loyal customers that they've received monetary and material donations. At the SAME Cafe, one person comes in regularly just to pay for a strangers meal.

Other restaurants have had trouble with this policy. People take advantage of it. Some restaurants who've tried "pay as you go" have converted back to set prices because they've been burned so many times. But, it's working out very well for One World Cafe and the SAME Cafe.

Subway Super Hero

Wesley Autrey was standing on a Manhattan subway platform with his two daughters when he noticed a disturbance. A young man looked like he was have a medical platform. Then the man fell off the platform onto the tracks below.

Autrey had little time to think. He had to save the guy before a train came. He jumped down to the tracks. He grabbed the guy, threw him down and the rolled into a gap between the tracks. A train came to a screeching halt as it passed over them. Several cars ran them over.

Autrey and the man he rescued, Cameron Hollopeter, were fine. Hollopeter was sent to the hospital for observation and Autrey went on his merry way. He visited Hollopeter and his grateful family in the hospital later that day.

Update: Jane Doe has a Name

If you've been reading this blog, you've heard of Jane Doe in my posts 18 Aug 2005 and 14 Dec 2006. In December, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department was getting closer to finding out who the young, nameless murder victim was.

They went down to Mexico and pinpointed the town she might have been from. They spoke to people, passed around fliers, went door to door. In the end, a woman came forward who believed Jane Doe was her daughter.

Well, the DNA results came in and the DNA matches between Jane Doe and the woman. Jane Doe's name is really Yesenia Nangaray. She came to America in hope of a better life at the age of 15. She contacted her mother a couple of times from the Bay Area and then the calls stopped. Her mother, Maria Del Carmen, thought the worst. And, her worst nightmares came true!

Yesenia was murdered at the age of 16. It was 6 weeks after she came to America.

The hunt is now on for a suspect in her murder. The suspect, Miguel Angel Nunez-Castenada, was from the same town.

Sgt. Scott Dudek and the members of his team should earn the highest humanitarian award possible. They could have left the unknown teenager in the category of crimes that were never solved. There are so many Jane and John Does who died each year and are buried without acclaim. But, they didn't do that. They worked on her case as if she was the Queen of England. Because of their dedication, we know her name and a mother in Mexico knows she must grieve.

There were more positive results of the investigation. Since they spread their net across the US and Central America, many parents learned that their missing daughters were alive and well. Maria Del Carmen does not have that happy ending, but she at least now knows what happened to Yesenia.

A Woman Takes the Gavel in the House of Representatives

I turned on CSPAN this morning to watch history being made. For the first time in the history of our nation a woman took the position of Speaker of the House. That woman was Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, CA. She is now in control of the House and is in line for the Presidency right after the Vice President.

Whether you like Pelosi or not, you can help but see how far we've come. When I grew up in the 1970s, women were moving into the business sector with great zeal. They were scoffed at, ridiculed, and told to "go back to the kitchen".

Women kept on going. They continue to grab occupational opportunities and moving into sectors never before opened to them. And, now a woman is the #3 most powerful person in the United States Government.

I look at the young woman coming up today. They can reach for the stars if they want! The opportunities are all around them. They only have to work hard to get where they want to go.

This is a proud day for woman and a proud moment in American history. Way to go Pelosi!

Filipino Women Makes Good on Childhood Promise

When Lourdes McLaughlin was ten years old, living in Baguio City, Philippines, she came across a set of dog tags in a cave. They belonged to an American soldier. She hid her prize because others might want to sell the dog tags. She vowed that one day she would return the dog tags to the rightful owner.

Sixty years later McLaughlin found herself in Texas. She still carried the dog tags with her. It was time to make good on her promise. She contacted a genealogist and the search began.

The genealogist learned that the dog tags belonged to Darrel Thorsted. He was a prisoner of war and never came home after WWII. He died in captivity.

They found out that Thorsted had family in Utah, his brother, Chester, now 86 and Paul, now 83. McLaughlin sent the dog tags to Chester.

The family had lost track of Darrel. He was in the military and left for the Philippines. The last letter they got was in 1941. This was when they learned that he was married to a Filipino woman and had two children. After that, they heard no more until they were contacted by the military that Darrel had died.

The dog tags may not seem like much, but for Chester and Paul it's a long lost treasure. They have no mementos of Darrel except for a photograph of his flag draped coffin. The dog tags provide a link to Darrel's last days.

Historic Deeds Recovered

Buried in the musty, dusty archives of Marietta College was a long lost treasure. Inside a folder titled "Unknwon Deeds" were deeds signed by none other that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

The deeds were found by Linda Showalter, a Special Collections Associate. It's a good thing she found them as they'd almost faded away. A couple of more years and they would have been completely unreadable.

One of the deeds is for 214,285 acres in Ohio County. It was dated 10 May 1792.

The documents are very fragile. They will be sent for preservation so that future generations will be able to research them.

Happy New Year to All!

Wishing you all a wonderful, prosperous 2007!!!

These are all the stories I ran in 2006:

January Archive
February Archive
March Archive
April Archive
May Archive
June Archive
July Archive
August Archive
September Archive
October Archive
November Archive
December Archive

Hope you've enjoyed them! Here's to more good news in the coming new year :)