De la Riva, Stephanie. 3^rd,C, American Pastime (Zerkle) to Wichita State.

Sorber, Brooke. OF, VA Shamrocks, to Univ of Virginia

Conroy, Kylie. IF, Katy Cruisers, to Baylor

First, we learned that the VA Redbirds’ Lara Rodriguez scored 1420 on the SAT. Then we learned that Amanda McKnight of the Katy Express scored 1450. Now, Amelia Runyan of Cal Lite has scored 1450. Can you top this?

ISP provider Interland has emailed a warning that the latest deadly virus is Slapper Worm. Currently infecting Linux systems but looking for other hosts. The people who create these viruses should be drawn and quartered (a really ghastly way to die).

Reading the summaries of the weekend’s meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund – I will keep this short because I know most readers have already absorbed the details – I contrasted the heavy agenda and need for action with the rather desultory results. Like so many organizations, especially the United Nations, these bodies are afflicted by the special interests which permeate their proceedings.

I was reminded of John James Ingalls’ epigram: the purification of politics is an iridescent dream.

In particular, I was drawn to reports about the Japanese banking crisis. If the news reports are correct, the United States listened to the latest Japanese plan, doubtful of its success, but too polite to demand more of the world’s second largest economy.

The reason for focusing on this issue was that, ten years ago this month, a meeting was held at the Department of State to allow the Japanese government to voice its criticism of an analysis of their banking system which I had written in the US annual global report on financial crime, etc. This report, which I created and wrote for 11 years, was the most authoritative journal of its time, and drew heavily on specialized intelligence. When the meeting started, and we realized how unhappy the Japanese were, all of the State Department’s higher-ranking officials somehow had immediate business elsewhere, and I was left alone to defend my position, which I refused to change. I don’t think the US has openly criticized the Japanese banking system in the last 10 years.

Speaking of dreams, a look at the calendar shattered a couple. Remember the great love story, An Affair to Remember? Deborah Kerr turned 81 today. And, glamorous Angie Dickenson turns 71. This was the day enigmatic James Dean died (1955), and the day the Babe hit that 60^th (1927). On this day in 1947, the first televised World Series game was played, and the beloved Yankees beat the Bums from Brooklyn, 5-3. More momentously, on this day in 1452, J. Guttenberg first published the bible – and changed communication forever. Almost as consequential for black Americans, James Meredith entered the University of Mississippi on this day in 1962. The ability to wage war from beneath the sea ramped up several degrees with the launching of the Nautilus in 1954. And, on this day in 1947, the Berlin Airlift ended, after almost 280,000 flights, a signal triumph for the US in the Cold War. Old Harry had cojones. Finally, like my father, I almost forgot that September 30 was my parents’ wedding anniversary.

Several years ago, an oil company contacted me, asking if I were the great-grandson of Angelyn Manning, who owned land on which they had discovered oil. Readily agreed, knowing that the mineral rights alone would be in six figures. They then asked for names of other descendants. I named only my sister, Angelyn, forgetting that she had taken over family genealogy chores from our Mother. She led them to 98 other descendants (a couple of great-uncles gave a whole new meaning to the term "sowing wild oats.") I got $35 for my share of the mineral rights. Last Christmas, I bought my beloved sister a computer to enable her to search far and wide for relatives. She hit the treasure trove, advising today she has now identified 425 cousins. I am not opening that list, so I don’t know how many are living, but, if they are anything like the group of obnoxious people who came to Mother’s funeral, I wouldn’t walk across the street to help them get buried. I skipped every family reunion when my Mother was alive and I intend to keep that streak going. Thank God the other half of the family was Roman Catholic who learned to turn the Pope’s picture to the wall. But, it can be fascinating. Had a great-great-great grandfather named Peyton Manning, of Mississippi. Had an ancestor named Forbes LeFlore, who liked fancy ladies and fought duels in New Orleans’ famed Oaks. Another ancestor journeyed with Lewis & Clark. One fought with Andy Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, and several fought on both sides of the Civil War. However, a Wyoming rancher turned gunfighter named Fred Hesse was no relation. If you’re not into genealogy, give it a try. It is truly addictive. Ignore the ones you don’t like. end

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