NOVEMBER 25 UPDATE
COMMITMENTS
Heather Kim, 1B/3B/C, Colorado Stars Gold, to Syracuse University
Maryland Legends Signings
Felicia Hammer with Troy University, AL
Sarah Marstellar with Holy Family University, Philadelphia
LINCOLN’S THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION
(Worth reading. Thanks to the Sylvester family.)
Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day
October 3, 1863
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
A. Lincoln
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY
From ABC 7 News:
Hotels Court
Inaugural Guests With Luxury
Location: Washington
Posted: November 13, 2004 12:49 PM EST
URL:
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1104/187377.html
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Washington
(AP) - As the capital gears up for President Bush's second inauguration, some of
its finest hotels are dreaming up ways to lure big-spending Republican Party
loyalists and Bush supporters to their properties.
Don't have a room yet?
The Ritz-Carlton offers four nights in a luxury suite, first-class airfare, a
pair of seats at the inaugural parade, a butler who travels to a guest's home to
pack their belongings in new Louis Vuitton luggage, and other perks to any
couple willing to spend $150,000 - about the same as a year's tuition for four
students at Yale, Bush's alma mater.
For one-sixth of the price, the Hay-Adams Hotel's $25,000 inauguration package
buys four nights in the Federal Suite, which has panoramic views of the White
House, Lafayette Park and St. John's Episcopal Church, and two bathrooms. The
package, which sold on Friday, also comes with an "on-call" Cadillac sedan,
presidential cuff links and a Tiffany commemorative keepsake.
"A lot of times people come here because the food's better than at the balls,"
Carter said.
Party planners expect things to be smoother than in 2001, given how quickly the
Nov. 2 election was settled. Four year ago, weeks of postelection wrangling
delayed the outcome until December, which cut into precious
inauguration-planning time and frayed the nerves of many a party organizer and
caterer.
"We were holding rooms for both (parties) at that time and once it was finally
decided, our reservations and sales office was just slammed," said Colleen
Evans, spokeswoman for the Ritz-Carlton. "So much was last minute."
These once-every-four-years events also are easier to pull off when an incumbent
wins a second term, she said. The incumbent's tastes are known, and second
inaugurals typically are more low key. The coming celebration also could be even
more muted than usual, with nearly 160,000 U.S. troops at war in Afghanistan and
Iraq.
For anyone curious about what it's like to be president, the Fairmont Hotel aims
to give a taste with its "President for a Day" package. The deal includes
accommodations in the hotel's presidential suite, a party for 10 with Beluga
caviar and Dom Perignon champagne, a Rolls Royce and driver to and from
inaugural festivities, and two dark-suited, make-believe Secret Service agents
whispering into their jacket cuffs.
The price: $40,000 for the required four-night stay.
None had been sold by week's end, but hotel spokeswoman Diana Bulger was
hopeful. "People have been known to buy more expensive things and this one
includes quite a few things that are fun," she said.
The Ritz-Carlton's luxury suite has a king-sized bedroom and dressing area, and
master bathroom with a double vanity, sunken tub and separate shower, but no
panoramic views of the White House. The hotel is about 2 miles away.
Included in the $150,000 package, however, is a reception for 25 with Cristal
champagne and Beluga caviar, a personal chauffeur, tickets to one of the
inaugural balls and two weekend stays at the Ritz-Carlton every year until the
2009 inauguration. The butler not only will pack the new set of Louis Vuitton
luggage, valued at $20,000, but ensure that it is shipped to the hotel.
"This package will appeal to a couple who enjoys indulging themselves in luxury
and wants to mark the election of the president in a memorable way," said Paul
Westbrook, the hotel's general manager.
Within a week of the election, Brenda Dismond, catering manager at the Palm,
another white-linen establishment, had booked two parties - one before Bush's
swearing-in and one after - for a total of 105 people.
"I think it's a lot easier for people to plan this time than last time," she
said.
But not for everyone.
Ken Zangara, a car dealer and Bush fund-raiser from Albuquerque, N.M., said none
of the hotels he had called as of midweek had vacancies. "They're all sold out,"
said Zangara, who raised more than $200,000 for Bush's re-election.
He said he has been to Washington several times since missing the 2001
inauguration because of a daughter's illness. He even knows what airline he will
take to get here - Southwest.
"I've got coupons with them so I could go free, but I've got to find some place
to stay," Zangara said.
THE SLIDE SHOW
Kodak announced it was ending production of the venerable slide projector. Somewhat humorous article in the Washington Post About Dads with closets full of slides which nobody watches anymore. I was discussing with my high-tec prfospective son-in-law how to convert slides onto a continuous play CD so that my slides would be playing more or less continuously. Asked how many slides I have, my legal eagle informed her beloved that I am one of those Dads with thousands of slides – pictures from all over the world. Of course, Kathryn had to tell him about a dinner party her Mother and I gave years ago after I returned from my first African safari. I showed slides, with a running narrative for about an hour, the took a break for dessert. Two former friends were sound asleep!
end