Local Signs of Global Warming

Photo: Trees Budding In First Week of February 2006


Photo: Jerome, Illinois Trees Effected By Global Warming

While temperatures continue to seesaw between Winter, and Spring the overall trend has been warmer temperatures. Warmer temperatures have been so persistent this winter that trees have already started budding.

I can not recall ever having seen trees in this area of the United States budding this early in the year. The photographs included with this post show buds on an elm tree in Jerome, Illinois.

Saturday, February 4th, 2006 it snowed, but only very lightly - with no recorded precipitation. My daughter asked me why it snowed. I explained it was Winter, but she responded by saying that it was already February!

In her generation's perception February is starting to look like the start of Spring!

My brother, on the other hand, said to me last weekend, "When we were kids it snowed".

That comment struck me as interesting, because Dave of The11thhour said exactly that same thing recently.

Children just thirty years ago would go out with shovels during the winter, walking from door to door we'd offer to shovel driveways, and sidewalks for five dollars each. By the time we'd return home, slightly frostbit, our pockets we be stuffed with money. This was common activity for this part of the Midwest - that and helping push cars back onto the road, and out of snow dunes.

Still there are those who insist to this day that global warming isn't taking place - including a Bushite I know who insist that global warming is still being debated.

Folks, the only people still debating whether global warming is taking place are corrupt, on the take politicians who are in the pockets of oil-coal-auto industry lobbyist.

For the rest of us who have lived long enough to know better global warming is as real as the buds on the trees this February of 2006!

Early Spring For Springfield - Let's Hope Not

Image: Springfield Illinois Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Tree

Dave at The11thhour recently posted an article relating how warm this winter of 2006 has been. One of the warmest on record! This unusually warm winter seems to be having an impact upon our local trees. As you can see in the photographs below several varieties of trees are already budding in the first week of February. This may seem like an innocent enough sign of an early Spring, but it also leaves trees vunerable to diseases, and damage.

It seems to suggest something is not quite right with mother nature.

Why has it been so warm lately?

I spoke to a gentleman who abides in southern Texas just last week, and he expressed concern over the high temperatures effecting his locale this early in the year.

Few of us here in the Midwest want to endure a long cold winter, and we sure hate to pay to heat our homes during the winter, but despite this desire to somehow escape winter we also must recognize that if temperatures continue to rise that agricultural production in the Midwest may suffer.

My guess is that the common cause must be global warming.

Thank goodness I don't work as a climate scientist under the Bush administration, I'd probably be unemployed already. The corrupt Bush administration, made up of oilmen, and on the take from oil interest, are currently running a campaign of intimidation of scientist at NOAA, and NASA - attempting to keep the word quite on global warming!

Try telling that to the trees!


Photo: Horace Mann Plaza - Trees Budding In February 2006

Trees are amazing things really. Here in the Middle West people tend to take them for granted I had the opportunity recently to speak to a young gentleman from Mainland China. He expressed how concerned he was at the lack of trees in Beijing (his home town is the Capital city of China). He told me of how dusty his city has become, and that no matter how much dusting he would do before he'd leave for the day, that by the end of the day everything would be covered in dust. He felt that despite the incredible economic growth of his city in the last decade that more trees were needed to make his city a place worth living in. He very much appreciated how Springfield, Illinois has trees lining each street.


Photo: Horace Mann Plaza Springfield IL Signs of Global Warming?

Trees provide shade, create oxygen, reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, clean air of pollution, and slow winds that would otherwise turn our towns, and cities into dustbowls. They also look nice, and create a more survivable place to live. We need to pay attention to nature simply because we can't afford not to. It seems obvious that something just isn't right when trees start to bud in late January, and early February here in the Midwest.

Something doesn't seem quite right with our weather, and we all must wake up to this fact.

ALPLM Union Station Renovation North Face

Photo: Buzz Of Activity On The North Side Of Union Station - ALPLM - Springfield, IL



Photo: Roofers Apply Masonry Tiles to North East Side of ALPLM Union Station


Photo: ALPLM Springfield, Illinois January 30th 2006 Union Station Renovation


Photo: ALPLM - Engineers and Cement Workers on Scaffolding Pour Concrete Into Cast


Photo: Crew Pour Concrete Into Four Cylindrical Cast Along Madison Street. Springfield IL

The photographs above are just four photographs which I took recently from the ALPLM Garage. From across the street one can get a very good view of the buzz of activity on the north face of Union Station which is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. Union Station is part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum located in downtown Springfield, Illinois.

I've been extremely impressed with the non-stop pace of activity on the Union Station Renovation, and Union Station Square Project. There have been very few days in which there hasn't been some type of progress on the project. Even on days when it was bitterly cold I have seen construction continue.

Letter to Dick Durbin - Save NASA as we knew it!

I sent the following email to Senator Dick Durbin:

Dear Senator,

A recent series of articles appearing in the New York Times revealed that the Bush administration is attempting to squelch free speech, and scientific discourse at NASA and NOAA.

It has been reported that when a "climate scientist" is asked for information about global warming at either of these agencies these scientist must obtain permission to talk with members of the press, must have PIOs present, or on the phone with them during interviews.

The scientist must provide their lecture schedules in advance to the PIOs.

This is without a doubt a scene out of Orwell's 1984!

These are scientist for goodness sake!

We pay these scientist a salary, expect them to be open, and honest with us. We want them to keep us informed - without having to fear for their jobs because of political pressures.

Now we have political officers (PIOs) being employed as censors, and being used to intimidate these climate scientist.

I have no trouble using analogies, and I will - it reminds me of the Soviet Union. Yes, the Soviet Union!

Senator, I've voted for you in every election in which I could, and I believe you are a man of honor, and a person who cares about this nation's future, and the fate of our planet Earth.

I'm no tree hugger, I'm just a working stiff, and a proud Democrat!

I must tell you that it seems as if the Bush administration is bent on the destruction of the nation I remember growing up in.

Please see what you can do about helping prevent the intimidation of scientist at NASA, NOAA, EPA, by executive branch operatives.

Sincerely, and Respectfully,

JeromeProphet - though I didn't sign it JeromeProphet.

I sure hope I get a response, as I'll post it here on this blog.
I let the Senator know that I was posting a copy of this letter to the blog.

Begin The End

Image: Hell In Springfield, Illinois

Begin The End
By Jerome Prophet

Footsteps crash down upon the dirt.
Each step an invasion.
Each step a desecration.
Your devastation.

Waves of destruction slam the turf.
Each wave an onslaught.
Each wave Hell's wrought.
A lesson taught.

Dark messengers sweep upon Earth.
Shrieks upon the wind.
Agonies convulsed in sin.
Time to Begin.

The End.

El Presidente Liberates NASA

Viva El Presidente!
Viva El Presidente!
Viva El Presidente!

El Presidente has worked tirelessly to liberate government agencies of subversive elements!. El Presidente has liberated subversive bastions such as PBS, EPA, NSA, CIA, FBI, and the Pentagon of their burden, and now El Presidente has liberated NASA!

Viva El Presidente!
Viva El Presidente!
Viva El Presidente!

Do not forget what El Presidente has generously taught,

"Whenever someone has the courage to speak - control them. If that doesn't work, destroy them." Instruction #148.

Nor should you overlook this further reading from El Presidente's Book of Truth,

"Scientific truth doesn't matter, and freedom of speech doesn't matter, not when oil money is involved." Instruction #243.


Scum was retrieved from the toilet of the Infamous New York Times - an article titled, Climate Expert Says NASA Tried to Silence Him. For examples on what can happen to you if you fail to stay current on El Presidente's views on the fiction of global warming you may read the following excerpts:

Article Snippet:

The scientist, James E. Hansen, longtime director of the agency's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said in an interview that officials at NASA headquarters had ordered the public affairs staff to review his coming lectures, papers, postings on the Goddard Web site and requests for interviews from journalists.

Dr. Hansen said he would ignore the restrictions. "They feel their job is to be this censor of information going out to the public," he said.

El Presidente's political officers must now approve interviews, and be present when any such questions might arise about global warming. Only El Presidente's most enlightend views on the fiction of global warming must be heard!



Image Source: www.the-fifth-hope.org

El Presidente must put to a stop these subversive scientist speaking without the approval of El Presidente.

More from the Traitorous NYT article:

"The fight between Dr. Hansen and administration officials echoes other recent disputes. At climate laboratories of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for example, many scientists who routinely took calls from reporters five years ago can now do so only if the interview is approved by administration officials in Washington, and then only if a public affairs officer is present or on the phone."

"All Must Speak With One Voice - And That Voice Must Be El Presidente!"
Instruction #5


Viva El Presidente!
Viva El Presidente!
Viva El Presidente!

Lightning Or Superstrobe?

Lightning Or SuperStrobe is Post #8 in the Weather Modification Conspiracy Series.

In Post #7 Mission Possible - Covert Strobe I ask if there could possibly be a way to hide the flash of a very powerful strobe installed aboard aerial reconnescence aircraft. I introduce a bit of history on the use of superstrobes which were employed during WWII as a means of illuminating ground areas during photographic surveys of potential bombing targets.

I stated that it would be an obvious giveaway of any aircraft's location if it flew over a reconnescence target, and started flashing very powerful superstrobes. I also question the role of superstrobes in the age of look down radar, and satellite based infrared imaging systems. Both of which would seem to have consigned superstrobes into history.

Yet, there remains one possible means of hiding a super bright flash of light from a superstrobe, and that would be in a thunderstorm. Extremely bright flashes of light which illuminate hundreds of cubic kilometers, including ground surface areas is common place during thunderstorms.

People seem to take it for granted that each, and every flash of light during a thunderstorm is an act of nature - a random act of atmospheric electric discharge, and nothing more. During thunderstorms entire cities, and regions are illuminated with hundreds of flashes of illumination from every possible angle, over the course of hours, and people on the ground assume that every single flash is of natural origin. Absolutely no thought is given to the possibility that technology might be behind at least some of those flashes.

No shade is pulled, no blinds are drawn shut, no important documents laying atop a desktop is covered as people assume each brilliant flash of light is an act of God, and not of man.

Yet it is precisely because the public assumes that such flashes of superbright light are always natural that thunderstorms provide an excellent cover for the collection of light enhanced high resolution digital imaging of ground areas, and structures even at night, and in adverse weather conditions.

Still there are many unanswered questions. Why would superstrobes remain useful in the era of lookdown radar? Why would digital photographic imaging be the choice over radar?

There is one obvious answer - radar can be detected - and from a military sense there is constant vigilance in the detection of radar based surveillance. As a covert imaging system radar lights up brighter than a superstrobe!

Any radar detection system (military or civillian) might detect lookdown radar employment (AWACS), but as long as flashes of light during a thunderstorm are assumed to be one hundred percent natural in origin superstrobes when coupled with digital photographic imaging systems could play a significant role in covert intelligence collection.

In Article #9 Stealth SuperStrobe Delivery, I'll explain how it is possible for superstrobe enhanced photographic digital imaging systems to evade detection even when deployed in close proximity to closely guarded military bases, and major metropolitan areas.

In future articles we'll look at why satellites can't make such a covert intelligence method obsolete, and we'll speculate about the possible future of such a program.

Richard Norton Smith

Photo: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum January 2006 Sunset

Some have compared Richard Norton Smith to the Pale Rider who rides into town, and finds himself cast as savior. He takes advantage of the town's hospitality, and then rides off on the day of the big gunfight leaving the town to face its just punishment.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum isn't about Richard Norton Smith, it's about Abraham Lincoln, and the United States which began in earnest with the Union victory of the Civil War.

Those flocking to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum are not doing so to meet Richard Norton Smith, they are pilgrims of Abraham Lincoln.

The Sun has not set on ALPLM - this institution is too busy being born to die.

The WeatherProphet Has Arrived!

I've decided to create another blog just for post focusing on the covert weather modification program. Crazy? Or Crazy as a fox? As I slowly introduce a variety of topics related to this conspiracy theory (or is it an urban myth) I'll let you decide for yourselves.

I'll be using weatherprophet.blogspot.com as a means of consolidating all of my prior, and future post on this controversial subject. This will make it much easier to gain an overall view of my ideas on the subject - and monitor my current level of madness all in one stop. Look for the link along the left hand side of this page.

I've also corrected a link in my Illinois Blogroll which I discovered wasn't working anymore. The Springfield Rewind link now works! And what an incredible site it is! Everytime I visit I step away feeling like a time traveler - a very nifty experience, and it's free!

I've added a link to Photos-Etc, a buddy of mine started his own blog after seeing mine - I'll have to get on him about not posting for a month now, and for not allowing anonymous comments! Randy, way to go! But we need more content soon.

I'll also be rolling out another blog in the coming weeks dedicated to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum - that blog too will mainly act as a collection point for post which I have already, and will one day post on that subject here at JeromeProphet.Blogspot.com!

To Blog Post 200 & Beyond!

Image: CIPS Building - Downtown Springfield, Illinois

Everyone sells their soul in one way or another. For some it is a trade of doing what they know is right for riches, for most it's a trade of pride, and dignity for sheer survival.

We've all kept the smile on the face long after we knew it should have faded, or should never have been there at all. At least half of those happily married can't be all that happy after all, and a good portion of us would leave their jobs at the drop of a hat - if they could.

As the moments pass, and life is squandered in quiet desperation we hear the modern oracles whispering of great times to come if we only keep quiet, if we just settle until everything is alright - until everything works itself out.

One day we'll have that perfect spouse, that perfect house, that perfect car, that perfect job, and that perfect life. One day, we are told, we'll all fly to nirvana in the first class section, soaring never ending towards a golden warm rising sun.

Perhaps it will be with Jesus, perhaps with Allah, or Buddah along for the ride, but we are promised that we'll reach that place - if we're good, docile, and compliant.

We bide our time.

We grow old.

We die.

We get our pictures in the obits.

We get processed.

We are forgotten.

We turn to dust.

The 200th post is over turn out the lights.

Mission Possible - Covert Strobe

Mission Possible - Covert Strobe is my latest article in a series of post delving into the speculative black-ops world of weather modification.

Any weather modification program worth the time, and money expended on its development would need to justify the expenditure upon it.

Making any such program a mulitasking work horse would be a sensible goal from both a practical, and economic standpoint.

Superimposing an intelligence gathering role upon a weather modification program would seems likely.

In my latest weather modification related article, Turning Day Into Night One Second A Time I mention the use of strobe lights deployed upon air recon missions during world war two.

During nightime air-recon missions these intensely bright photo-strobes (super-strobes) replaced phosphorus flares (but not entirely).

Flares were attached to parachutes and tossed out of aircraft prior to allied bombing missions. The flares allowed nighttime photography of targets during the target selection phase of bombing missions.

Such flares are still used to illuminate ground areas as they are difficult to shoot down, and can drift over specific areas of interest for up to a half hour. As we'll soon see once a technology has proven itself useful in intelligence collection it is rarely eliminated from an arsenal - even if it is little known of, or rarely if ever mentioned.

As world war two came to an end the U.S. rapidly shifted it's focus on fighting the Cold War. Before the development of ICBMs allied bombers played the critical role as the means of delivering nuclear bombs upon the Soviet Union.

The team which developed super-strobes during World War II also played an important role in the development of the Atomic Bomb. Super-strobes have remained classified along with any other important intelligence gathering technology, and methodology in the U.S. spy arsenal.

Whatever became of these powerful strobes? Did their development, and deployment end shortly after World War II, or perhaps with the deminishing role of strategic bombers during the Cold War?

Obviously any aircraft in the midst of a clear sky deploying (i.e., flashing) a super bright super-strobe would readily identify its position thus making use of such a device impractical (or it would seem).

If super-strobes remain in the U.S. spy arsenal then in what capacity?

What possible air-recon role could the super-strobe find in the current era of look down radar, and infra-red imaging?

Is there any way to hide a super bright flash of light? And if there is, what advantage could doing so lend to the collection of intelligence?

I'll attempt to answer those questions in my coming article,

Lightning or Super-Strobe?

Under The Strobe Light

Summary of Previous Weather Modification Postings

In several of my previous post I proposed that thunder plays a significant role in triggering rain events. I argued that shock waves (e.g., thunder) which radiate from the paths of particle beams (e.g., lightning) can initiate condensation events within clouds resulting in precipitation - in other words thunder can cause it to rain.

I also speculated upon the possibility that the relationship between thunder, and rainfall could be exploited via a weather modification program.

I argued that the technical means exist to develop a weather modification program, and that any such program would necessarily include both weather modification technologies, and the various methodologies of employing those technologies. A variety of important weapons, and techniques could be developed under the umbrella of a covert weather modification program.

I argued that triggered lightning results in triggered thunder which in turn results in triggered precipitation.

I also concluded that any government involved in the development, and deployment of such a program would desire to keep such a program in a covert phase for as long a period as possible.

Keeping a weather modification program covert offers the chief advantage of denying public and scientific debate regarding the merits of such a programl.

I argued that other nation's intelligence agencies would be able to detect the existence of an operational weather modification program, and therefore the chief motivation for maintaining the covert phase of such a program would bo hinder public debate over the cost, and risk of operating a weather modification program.

Turning Night Into Day One Second at A Time

During World War II, prior to Allied aerial bombing runs, air reconnescence missions were deployed over potential bombing sites. Collecting target information (photography) was a crucial first step in planning a successful mission.

At that time satellites did not exist, and these aerial "recon" missions were the primary means of collecting such important information within NAZI occupied Europe.

One aspect of collecting photographic reconnesance that hindered the U.S. military was poor weather, while another was the darkness of night. Today infrared photography, and look down radar allow imaging of ground conditions even in poor weather conditions, and at night.

During World War II Phosphorous flares were hung from parachutes, and tossed out of air recon aircraft. The flares emitted a very bright light thus illuminating the ground below until the parachute finally landed. The use of these flares helped light up the ground below thus allowing night time recon missions to push back the night to some degree.

One group of weapons developers led by E.G. Eggerton, the man who developed the strobe light, realized that strobes could be developed which would produce much more light than any flare. Strobes had the advantage of allowing the recon aircraft to fly at higher and therefore safer altitudes, while obtaining better artificially illuminated night time photographs.

At the end of World War II any programs related to the collection of air reconnescence remained classified as the victors found themselves embroiled in the Cold War, and thus darkness, and secrecy befell the powerful strobes developed for air recon missions.

In a nuclear age delivery of nuclear weapons would depend upon precise targeting, and therefore collection of accurate target information.

With the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, satellites, radar, infrared film, and eventually digital imaging chips (CCDs) the age of the strobe would seem as distantly removed into history as the flare, but is it?

Stay tuned for my next post on this subject.

Mission Possible - Covert Strobe

Dedicated to Jan!

Barnes&Noble Observation

I stopped at Barnes & Noble tonight, and spent about a half hour trying to locate several books I was interested in purchasing.

I ended up going home without buying anything.

Why?

I couldn't find the books. Just before Christmas I bought several books at Barnes & Noble, and saw several books I wanted to purchase for later. Now I can't find these titles!

It's not that the books I want are out of print, or that they're not popular enough to stock.

I'm becoming disappointed with Barnes & Noble. In a way they're the Macdonald's of the bookstore industry. There aren't a lot of bookstores in the Springfield, Illinois area, but still we deserve better than this.

I guess it off to Amazon.com I go!

D' Bears D'Feat

I had a feeling it was going to turn out like it did. I found myself squinting, and turning my head to, and fro - perhaps I was jinxing D' Bears by even watching the game?

Perhaps.

But in the end the lack of a consistent passing offense put too much pressure on the running game (which is never a good thing), and the "vaunted defense" (which I never really felt was particularly that good) just wasn't good enough to carry the game.

N'uff said.

My Kitty is Sick

Photo: Priskers Under The Weather


Photo: Priskers Under The Covers

Priskers, our tabby has come down with a virus. It most certainly is an awful feeling when one of your children are sick, and now for the very first time I have experienced a quite similar feeling with my cat Priskers.

Cats can be quite affectionate, but they also are well known for their independence. Some might call them aloof. Yet little miss Priskers has acted in exactly the same way a child does when they don't feel good.

She has chosen to hang out under some covers with me all day. She usually doesn't like having covers on her, but seems to like the extra warmth. As it is my day off, and I'm pretty much doing nothing all day Priskers has been my constant companion.

We have four cats, and Upper Respiratory Infections in cats are usually quite contagious to other cats.

I'm still wondering why Priskers came down sick? Stress plays an import role in illness in cats, and right now Priskers needs a quiet place to recover.

I've included two photographs of Priskers - her first ever on this Blog. As you can probably tell, she's just wanting a chance to sleep.

In case your wondering she has an appointment with the vet, and I have her on Claritin, and a decongestant.

To El Presidente's Credit

Image: Still Don't Have Your's?

I was reading a NYTimes article on Thursday about the how the size of yachts have grown so large that they are now called super yachts. These mega sized yachts have grown so large that in many cases they can't even find ports which can accomodate them. Imagine that!

In some cases after laying out two hundred million dollars for a super yacht the proud skipper then finds that he can't sail his noble ship into waters simply because the ship will run aground - his hull is too deep!

Coming to the rescue are newer ship building methods which rely upon designing these super yachts to meet the needs of the individual skipper. If the proud captain intends to sail to Island locations with shallow waters hulls can be designed that are wider, rather than deeper.

This new technological advance in super yacht design is really a credit to the growing concentration of wealth in the hands of the mega-wealthy.

So I must ask, why do some people still refuse see the good that this Congress, and the El Presidente has done in passing tax reforms which have obviously helped to solve this pressing issue?

Why is it that these types continually harp on El Presidente's every flaw, but fail to see the good that he, and his congress have done?

You just can't please some folk!

Photocredit: http://www.find-yachts.com

Goodwin Goodloss

When I discovered that my favorite author, well at least recently, is visiting Springfield, Illinois I excitedly told my wife to call, and find out the details on Doris Kearns Goodwin's planned visit.

Next month Goodwin will be speaking at a Banquet, but sadly I won't be attending - due to money, yes money.

Sorry, but at seventy five dollars a ticket I'd rather go to the bookstore, and walk out with a few good books - and a triple mocha.

Still, for at least a day or so I had imagined myself lucky enough to attend, and wanted to let Ms. Goodwin know how much I appreciated her recent book, Team of Rivals. I guess I could just put that in a fan letter one day.

And so it goes, another sad story from the life of the working poor.

Hunting Deer @ Govs. Mansion

Having just read an autobiography titled, Sketches of Early Life, and Times - Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois written by one of Springfield, Illinois' founding father's Elijah Iles. I found several passages memorable - one of which I wanted to share.

Iles mentioned that a grove exusted where the Illinois Governor's Mansion is now located, and that it was a great place to hunt deer. Kind of amazing to consider how much Springfield life has changed since the early 1800's!

Iles was a state repesentative when his district (I believe there was only one, or two) extended all the way north of what later became Chicago. He led a squad of volunteers, including Private A. Lincoln during the Black Hawk War.

Excellent book. To obtain it visit the Iles house, and make a donation!

Try tapping on the New Springfield bloglink for some excellent Springfield history.

Winter Sun Day

Image:Christmas Tree Sunset Jerome Illinois 01.08.06


Image: Christmas Tree & Sunset Jerome Illinois 01.08.06

Today was an incredible day for Central Illinois - weatherwise that is. I hadn't been feeling well this weekend (see previous posting), and slept most of Saturday. This led me to an early rise on Sunday morning. In fact I was up before dawn, and stayed up with just a few naps the entire day. It was in fact a long, productive day.

Productive for a Sunday meant visiting the doctor's office, and then the pharmacy. Stopping by Macdonald's with my spouse. Taking a drive on the west side of town with no particular place in mind - with the window rolled down!

Going to the grocery store to pick up a few items. And reading a good book while sitting outside on a lounge chair!

Not to mention football playoffs!

One would think this day was an ordinary day if I was living in Arizona this time of year, but this is Central Illinois, and it is only January 8th!

The weather gods conspired to make this a rare treat, and many automobiles were out on the road today - I suspect with people getting out just for the sake of enjoying this rare good weather day.

As the sun started going down, I wanted a reminder of this day. I have other photos from today, but I thought I'd post just two. We go a little overboard in the Christmas tree department - having three trees. I know some people have more, but we tend to toss our living tree out after New Years, but we keep our artificial trees up longer than most people - so as to help defeat the utter gloom of January.

Today's Winter sunset was spectacular, and I took these shots from inside our home. Another sad beauty which portrays the passing of time. Yes, every moment is fleeting, and you can't get it back - ever, so enjoy it, because you never know which may be your last.

Celebrating life seems to come easy on days like today. In summer a day like today would have been considered a cold, and horrible day - but to get into the sixties temperature-wise for this time of year, and in this part of the United States is certainly something to celebrate - especially with a much blue sky, and strangely "summerish" looking clouds floating above.

Ahhh.., just four more months until the weather starts to look like this everyday.

January Reading

I've just finished reading another interesting book - The Truth - With Jokes, by Al Franken. It was an easy read, and it had a few jokes in it which made me laugh.

A few days earlier I finished reading A Team of Rivals, a very good book written by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Anyone interested in Lincoln, or history should read this book!

A few days ago a coworker hands me a book - it's not really a book as much as it is booklet. It's only a few chapters long, and it was written by one of Springfield, Illinois' founders - Major Elijah Iles.

The little booklet represents Isle's autobiography, and it dovetails quite nicely with some side reading of which I was partaking on the Todd family, of Mary Todd Lincoln fame.

The Todd family, and Iles' own family had both crossed into Kentucky during the same period when that region was complete wilderness.

A few generations later many families from Kentucky were migrating for the Great Northwestern Territory, which included Illinois.

It's hard to think of Illinois as a great wilderness, but it was then an ocean of grass as tall as a man on horseback.

My own family has roots which go back to the very beginning of Illinois' statehood, and I find reading about the early days of Illinois very addictive.


Illness Strikes Springfield Area

It seems currently that many locally are becoming afflicted with a viral, or bacterial infection which unfortunately has taken me into its midst. I left work early Friday after holding out against its effects until lunchtime.

Friday night was an entire loss. Intending to make Saturday a worthwhile opportunity for recreation, and leisure I had hoped upon an early rise, only to find myself much too under the weather.

Finally, my loving wife inquired if I'd ever get a start on the day, which inspired me to step out from under the covers, and into the cruel cold dizzy world. Now that I am awake I find that my spouse is napping - but my spirits are up.

So here I am now wondering what to make of myself - shall it be surfing the net, or cracking open Doris Kearns Goodwin's No Ordinary Time?

Blog Is Dead

Dave of The11thhour recently shared with his readers his concern that blogging may turn out just to be another fad.

Dave, and I go back far enough to remember the Citizen Band radio craze that took the nation by craze back in the 1970's. I guess we can lay claim that we were then some sort of "leading edgers" at the time.

It was only a short while until the sheer glut of new CBer's, combined with a bad, and unusually long lasting case of "Skip" (CIA plot) combined together to render CB nearly impossible to use - pity. It was easier to listen to extremely powerful CB broadcast originating in Mexico (CIA) than it was to talk to your friend just down the street - pity.

Thus ended the fad, and social experiment of free radio communications within the United States (CIA) - pity.

Dave went on to real radio broadcasting, while I stuck to writing the occasional letter to the editor, and passively listening, and watching mainstream media - slowly become the oligopoly of evil it has become today.

Dave eventually left radio, but I suspect it won't be long until he begins a regular podcast - he'd be good at it - hint, hint.

Then came the Internet, and blogging. I highly doubt that blogging is a fad. I suspect Dave's speculation was more a lamentation over a seasonal, or holiday related decline in blogpostings.

I for one have an excuse. I recently purchased a stack of some rather interesting, and well written books, and have been reading like crazy.

I've previously posted on my purchase of 1776, but I also have recently finished A Team of Rivals, and have begun No Ordinary TIme.

I also have some industry related books which I'm reading. I actually get tested on the industry related books, and if I pass the test my employer forks over sixty dollars. Not a great deal of money, but if you take a few of those test here, and there it pays for a trip to the bookstore - to buy more books which I find truly interesting.

So it was a decision read three pleasurable history books during the holiday season, and two industry books - or spend a lot of time blogging. A big part of my blog are the photographs. One may not believe it, but it takes time to prepare those photos (I probably spend way too much time), and get them posted. So I just decided to spend a little time on a few good books.

And then there's Christmas, and New Years!

Anyway, blogging isn't a fad, and I'll probably continue posting to this blog because it's fun. If it ever ceases to be fun - I'll stop - and I'll start calling blogging a fad.

Koshi Kat Kristmas Morning Kampout

Photo: A Koshi Kat Khristmas Tree Kampout - Xmas Morn 2005

One of our four cats (Koshi) kept gathering up the Christmas tree skirt, and sleeping on it. I found it cute enough to snap this photo of Koshi. As you might notice, Koshi has a cat toy there with him for company. Notice that there are NO Christmas presents under the tree? With four cats we just can't chance leaving them under the tree all night anymore.

Honest Dave

Abraham Lincoln Home Springfield, IL Winter 2005

As I look at the daily postings on The11thhour I am struck to a certain extent with a sense of awe with how one person can generate as many well written, review oriented post as Dave at The11thhour.

While I don't always agree with his politics, I am quite certain of this - Dave has developed over the years from a news producer, to writer (his current profession), to one of the best bloggers in Central Illinois!

His reputation has grown far, and wide within the blogosphere, and for very good reason - he reads, as well as he writes!

I don't know if he reads quickly, or if he spends a great part of his day reading blogs, but never the less, he reads. And once having read, he then formulates his own spin - and cast that spin out upon the world via The11thhour.

I don't really know what I'd do if I didn't get my daily dose of Dave (that's 3D for short). When work looks all depressing, I can always depend upon Dave for making me laugh. When it seems I've lost focus, and don't quite know what happened that day I just check out Dave's blog for a quick jog back into the world of politics - from local, to national - he covers it all.

Dave is always scouting out for new blogs, and has introduced us to several fledgling blogs - acting as a talent scout for frustrated bloggers here in Central Illinois!

So here's to you Dave, hope you, and your's have a very excellent Holiday Season, may you continue to blog for as long as you want, but may you never want, as long as you blog.

JP

Blog Censorship in Moderation!

Photo: Christmas Colors

Commenatary "Moderation" Isn't A Key It's A Lock!

Having skittered about the USENET for well over a decade I have noticed how the "nanny factor" has helped to kill the free flow of ideas on some of the more controversial USENET groups.

Some USENET groups seeking to squelch a few troublemakers adopted "moderation" as a means of preapproving each USENET post to their USENET Group. These "Moderated" groups felt they had the need to censor each post for a variety of reasons - usually to prevent trolling, spam, and other forms of abuse.

One side effect of this method of censorship is the effect it has on legitimate posters to those groups. Most participants end up leaving (stop reading, and posting) the moderated group, and end up participating in unmoderated groups featuring the same topic.

Most USENET folk simply don't like censorship!

Comparing moderated with unmoderated groups of the same topic indicates that there simply is no comparison. The number of exchanges on moderated groups is practically non-existent, and the nature of the exchanges is unlively, and less controversial - in a word - BORING!

Grown ups like the free flow of thought available in unmoderated (uncensored) settings. Grownups resent the implication that a moderator sits back, and decides if his, or her thoughts are acceptible for publication to a online service.

Of course some USENET groups which are corporate sponsored groups use moderation to restrict discussion to just those narrow topics to which those groups are dedicated - and to help restrict spam, and obscene postings!

Moderation is however rare on USENET, and the vast majority of USENET groups, numbering into the tens of thousands are not moderated. Moderation simply isn't needed, and again is counterproductive to the free flow of ideas.


"Moderation" Is Censorship in the Blogosphere!

Now we have begun to see Blogs which are using "commentary moderation" to squelch out free discussion on their blogs!

I'm not sure why a blogger would feel that moderation is a useful feature unless their blog was the target of a significant amount of abuse?

It just doesn't make sense to me - especially when Google-Blogger allows the blog poster to simply delete comments if they are offensive.

I have been running this blog for six months now, and have only deleted one comment which came from an anonymous commentary-poster. I left a message on that post inviting the poster of that comment to repost another comment less abusive. I was inviting that poster to be more detailed in exactly why they took offense to my post instead of simply leaving an abusive comment.

I extended an invitation to further dialog - not to squelch it by pretending the comment never existed which "commentary moderation" does.

Commentary Moderation is different - it doesn't even allow the "offensive" commentary post to appear on the blog to begin with! In this way the only voices ever heard on a moderated blog are those voices which the blogger agrees with enough to allow on their blog. There simply is no other way to describe this, but outright censorship!

Meanwhile the blog reader is expected to trust the blog poster to be honorable enough to allow free debate, at the very same time they are expected to somehow accept the blog poster's inherrent advocacy of censorship.

Comment Moderation is a form of censorship which is so dishonest that it doesn't even leave any tracks of its very existence! It is perhaps the most insidious assault to the nature of the free flow of ideas on the blogosphere thus introduced, and is intellectually dishonest in its very nature.

In a moderated blog the blog poster is using the heavy handed method of censoring each and every commentary post even before a reader has any chance to read it. Therefore readers can't even determine if legitimate commentary is being deleted just because the blog poster doesn't agree with the commentary.

In a moderated blog we the reader have no way of verifying if the blogger is a complete fraud when they claim to value free discussion, or when they claim some legitimacy in their political advocacy of liberalism, and a free press.

The blog poster which utilizes comment moderation also eludes all responsibility for what they post, and therefore greatly diminish the value of what they post. There is no avenue of open protest, or fact checking on a blog which utilizes commentary moderation, and therefore the legitimacy of postings on such blogs comes into question - as well as the motivation of its author.

A blogger using comment moderation can never be caught off guard, and can never be exposed on their own blog for being wrong, or for being an outright fraud!

Commentary Moderation is indicative of the level of trust which the mass public has been forced to provide to mainstream media, but now we see this same ugly relationship rising up in the blogosphere.

Certainly the oddest creature of all is the so called "Liberal" blogger who employs the heavy hand of commentary "moderation", which by its very nature is intellectual facism!

Liberals profess to tolerate differing ideas, and often complain that media consolidation has eliminated free speech, and open intellectual discourse within society. Yet what is one to believe of a so called liberal who then employs the tool of the facist - censorship?

Here at JeromeProphet I vow under ordinary circumstances to never impliment Google-Blogger's commentary moderation feature because it is just too heavy handed - constituting de facto censorship. I'd only use it in extreme conditions, and I'd post why I was using it.

I also pledge as a form of protest to never post a comment to a moderated blog. And so it goes! Censorship, no matter from which side it originates, is a hell of an ugly thing, and needs to be shown for what it is - intellectual violence!

Life Will Find A Way?

Photo: Winter Avian Paradise - Horace Mann Plaza Springfield, IL


Photo: Red Berry Tree Upon A Blue Winter Sky - Springfield, Illinois

Winter is harsh. So tough in fact that most people regret having to reach over to turn their alarm clocks off in the morning for they know they have to face some small segment of their day braving the cold.

For some it means getting their cars started, and waiting until their heaters warm their cars up so they don't have to touch a cold steering wheel. If they're lucky the worst part of their winter experience may be walking from their car into the office.

For other people the dry winter air is the worst part of winter. Many may spend part of their morning waxing their lips with chapstick, and then moisturizing their hands to prevent the desert like effects that central heating has upon their skin.

But these are inconveniences really.

While most people resent the high cost of keeping their homes warm in the winter we know that we'd never make it through the winter without all the modern contraptions we take for granted that keep us toasty warm four months out of the year.

We are vastly more fragile than previous generations when it comes to the way we deal with winter. Our fragility while not reflected in our actual experience of winter is revealed in our dependence upon a complex system of keeping us alive during these arctic like months.

Imagine the pain we would suffer if one winter morning we discovered that some terrorist group had attacked our local power plant, and disabled our only source of electricity?

Even natural gas, and oil based furnace systems depend upon electricity to deliver heat throughout the home.

As you'd awaken that horrible tragic morning the first thing you'd notice is your alarm clock not going off, and no lights coming on when you pressed the switch.

Only slowly would it dawn upon you that the winter which you never took seriously before was quickly oozing through the walls of your modern home to greet your every touch - your every breath.

You'd notice your breath hanging in the air in front of you, and your toes would curl as they touched the cold floors. Your windows, despite the light they'd allow into your home, would become your worst enemy.

You might look over at your fireplace, and wonder how long you could keep warm with your meager stack of wood. Not long at all, not long at all - perhaps a day or two, or perhaps less.

Panic would strike you after discovering that the entire region you lived in, and hunderds of thousands of your fellow citizens were facing a similar situation.

How could this be? How could this be, you'd ask yourself repeatedly. But no one would be there to answer. That night from the warmth of the Oval Office your nation's leader might speak in inspiration tones, telling you that help was coming, but you'd be too scared to waste your only remaining batteries listening to speeches.

It wouldn't matter anyway, for it would be too late for talk. Too late for talk as the winter would bare down upon you like never before.

Winter.

Cold, dark winter.

The foe of a thousand generations would have you by the throat, and the only choice left to anyone in your spot would be the same as that of any nomadic tribesman living a thousand years ago - to flee.

One of the reasons I get so angry with the Bush administration isn't because I hate my country, or because I hate rich people, or because I hate people who only care about rich people.

I love my country, and believe down to my very core that all the tax dollars, lives, and time wasted since 9-11 hasn't made any of us in this nation safer from a terrorist attack.

Meanwhile winter awaits.

Photographs: This berry filled tree is located on the south side of Horace Mann Plaza. I guess putting a nest in a tree filled with berries is a pretty good idea. They look very pleasant indeed, but it was extremely cold when I captured these images, and they must be frozen solid.

The low hanging sun in the southern sky, which is present in the "nest photo", lends a hopeful radiance. It's funny how in the winter even a bit of sunlight can have such a tremendous effect. Life will find a way.

The Kale Snow Riders!

Kale Snow Riders Race Down The Mountainside.

The furious winds dove down the mountainside carrying with them the snow riders. As torrential as the winds the kale snow riders raced across the frozen glacier not stopping or slowing until they reached the frozen bay.

A whaling ship had just arrived at the small whaling village of Ludac. The snow riders waited until nightfall before they entered for they had business to do with the Captain of the Franz Gelling, but wanted nothing of men.

O.K. I'll stop there. We'll just assume an exciting adventure takes place which involves the Kale snow riders, and the captain of the Ludac.

The image above is some digital art I created based upon a photograph I took Monday. It's a field of frozen kale in a field of snow. I kind of thought the kale looked like a group of nomadic tribesmen on horseback. This tribe survives on the very edge of what is survivable. They cover themselves, and their horses in furs to keep from freezing to death - hunting Bear, and Seals.

This post is dedicated to The Kale Snow Riders!
May you ride on - you group of intrepid vegetables!

Winter of Old

Photo: Horace Mann Plaza Pond - Springfield, IL - Winter 2005

It has been very cold these last few days in Springfield, Illinois. Good sleeping weather. I am convinced that there must be a type of hibernation instinct in people - we gain weight, and sleep a lot. This winter has really shown itself to be a "classic" winter. For many years winter in Central Illinois has been so temperate that children have grown up not knowing what a snow shovel looks like.

The shift appears to have taken place a few years ago, and Springfield has been getting snow that sticks around for more than a day. This is very much the type of weather I grew up with here in Springfield.

I've always believed that winter serves a cleansing purpose. It kills off, and culls many microbes, and fungus. It acts as a type of reaper to weak animals, and people. Most unkind winter can be, but it can also be very beautiful. The photograph above was taken at Horace Mann Plaza.

Few people were walking today. I bundled up, and braved the single digit temperatures for my lunch time photo gathering.

Daddy Bush vs. The Boogeyman!

It was revealed by in a New York Times article that the National Security Agency was employed by the CIA at the behest of the Bush Administration to spy on american citizens in the years following the twin towers attack. Presumably in the war on terror.

Unlike FBI wiretaps, which are authorized, and periodically reviewed by the judicial branch, the NSA's very existence is denied, and therefore little in way of constitutional checks and balances exist to prevent abuses by any executive employing this massive spy tool upon the american people.

Quoting Bush's radio speech (CNN):

"Yesterday the existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports, after being improperly provided to news organizations. As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have, and the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk."

End Quote.

Despite the president's supposed indignation, no well trained, or even sane terrorist (or spy) would ever feel secure making an uncoded long distance phone call within the United States.

Any long distance phone call originating within the United States would be transmitted via trans-oceanic fiberoptic cable (tapped), or satellite transmission (monitored). Even cellular calls originating in the U.S., but placed to locations outside its borders would be fair game - which implies they too are widely monitored. The NSA operates several Internet packet sniffing, and data analysis nodes monitoring Internet traffic including Voice Over Internet Protocols, and automated key word text search.

It has been known for many decades that the United States intelligence community has employed the use of extra-national assets to collect intelligence information on american citizens. The CIA employs friendly foreign intelligence agencies to spy on americans living in the United States. Means include the use of foreign spy satellites which monitor, and record cellular communications, microwave relay transmissions, and high resolution satelite imaging. This practice has circumvented legal prohibitions of using the CIA to spy on americans.

Therefore no well trained terrorist, or spy would ever assume their electromagnetic telecommunications would be private. It's an absurd assumption, and the president's handlers must hope that now that this encroachment has been revealed that it will represent the first step toward the legalization of NSA, and CIA spying upon americans.

The New York Times hasn't revealed any state secrets. The only people who may not have known would be average citizens, and they don't care anyway.

Most people have to be asking, NSA, CIA, FBI - what's the big difference? And most are probably saying, "I want the government to use all assets available, and to hell with any law that would prevent our government from catching the terrorist!".

Why don't americans care about this issue? Because we all believe that this power would only be used against the bad guys, and we're just average folk - we have nothing to lose. We're powerless working stiffs living in an age in which the individual doesn't matter anymore.

The average joe's response seems to be, "Just let me alone. Let me keep my job, come home in the evenings, watch a little television, surf the web - and I won't say anything when you spy on the arab down the street, or round up the muslim cleric, and detain him without trail for years".

Most people are so politically, and historically illiterate that they don't get the bigger implications of this story. They don't fear that once established, having the NSA spying upon american citizens will allow this secret massively funded spying aparatus to be used on anyone, at anytime to further the aim of any chief executive for any reason.

Remember the KGB? How about the Gestapo?

Just imagine George Washington authorizing that all mail be read by continental postal employees. Do you get the picture now? I sure hope so, because it's not exactly what our founding fathers intended for this nation. Being patriotic means more than quietly letting others spy on you, and turn your nation into a police state.

Just remember this, when a little boy looks over into the shadows of his darkened room, and believes that the boogeyman has crawled into his bedroom it doesn't matter how abusive, or even sadistic that child's father has been to the child, that little child will still call out to the big strong daddy to save him. It's basic human nature. Hitler knew it. Bush does too.

So all any despot needs to usurp democratic freedoms is a boogeyman. Which is why Osama Bin Laden remains a free man to this very day.

Spooky Little Nerd Prose

Photo: JP Morgan Chase Bank - Downtown Springfield, Illinois

Spooky Little Nerd Prose
by JeromeProphet

You're a son of the one.
A daughter of imperfection.
You're a child of the dark.
You shine in my direction.

I'm bound within your rhyme.
Your patterns forms a lace.
I'm etched within your time.
A place within a space.

Speeding up is down.
Slowing down is up.
Spinning all around.
Someone get a cup.

All could be true.
All could be so sound.
All could be so lost.
All could be profound.

Transdimensionality.
Is our eventuality.
A new cosmic reality.
A thought upon to dwell.

A quantum mind bender.
A brain cell blender.
A true contender.
A tall tale to tell.

Aero Hostile

Sweat Shirt Religion

You can hear me.
But you do not care.

You can see me.
But you do not care.

You can touch me.
But you do not care.

You can love me.
But you do not care.

We are all one.
But you do not care.

That shirt was made by a child.
But you do not care.

She only makes fifteen cents a day.
But you do not care.

She came home after sixteen hours working.
But you do not care.

She'll never have an education.
But you do not care.

She'll never have a chance.
But you do not care.

Greed is your religion.
But you do not care.

It is your soul.
But you do not care.

You have but one life.
But you do not care.

Snow Coming - It's For the Birds!

Photo: Snow Upon Elephant Grass at Horace Mann Plaza

Transition complete!

It is now too cold to safely live outdoors. I say this knowing that there are homeless people living outdoors right in this community. Also there are native peoples who live in the extremes of the artic who would consider this recent touch of cold as a warm spell. But it is all relative, and relative to my expectations it is cold out.

Most people would agree that the walls are slowly shrinking in upon us. Not really cabin fever yet, it's just a slow but sure seduction of the cave life. Bring me another Sabertooth Skin!

It's not "officially" Winter yet, but make no mistake Winter is already here in Springfield, Illinois. The endless cloud cover, and the short days and long nights have brought us all back into the cave.

True, it's all very normal for this time of year, but just don't expect to see a big smile on my face until May!

Let's face it folks we are living in a vast refrigerated ping pong ball. Talk about depressing!

If I were a bear, or one of my lucky cats I'd stay home, and sleep all day for the next four months. I'd slowly awaken in the first week of April, noticing of course I had dropped about fifty pounds of winter blubber, stretch a big stretch, and greet 2006!

Forget about Winter folks, it's for the Penguins!

World Affairs Council Speech

El Presidente gave a speech on Iraq today in Philadelphia sponsored by the World Affairs Council. A long speech really - one which didn't amount to a damned thing.

El Presidente's speech touched so rarely upon any aspect of reality that whatever sounds leaving El Presidente's mouth were completely drowned out by a sound much louder though never heard today from the Hyatt. That would be the sound of truthful utterance, and an honorable word.

What a disgrace. Years into this debacle, and all we get is more of El Presidente's war spin. We can expect no reduction of american troops from Iraq during the coming years no matter what the american people believe about the war. The war is just too profitable for El Presidente's friends.

Winter Has Arrived

Photo: Ice Sickles & Snow Field - Jerome Illinois 12.09.05


Photo: Snow on Tree Branches - Horace Mann Plaza Springfield, IL - 12.07.05


Photo: Saint John's Hospital - Downtown Springfield, IL - Frigid Night 12.07.05

Winter changes much, but snow changes everything! Tonight I noticed the fiery golden sun splash its rays across the snow covered roads, and fields. The sky crystal clear above in varying shades of blue. Tree branches catching the sun's last rays lit up in darkening tones of burnt orange. Totally deadly, yet incredibly beautiful can be a winter's day in the Midwest.

All photographs included in this post were taken over the last several days in Springfield, and Jerome, Illinois.

Union Station Spiral Stairway to Heaven

Photo: Union Station Clocktower Gets A Spiral Stairway


Photo: ALPLM Union Station Spiral Stairway Awaits Crane Lift


Photo: Springfield, Illinois Union Station Stairway Prior to Installation

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum includes Union Station which is undergoing a rehabilitation project. The most exciting aspect of the Union Station Rehabilitation Project certainly must be the addition of a one hundred foot tall clocktower to the station.

The clocktower's steel frame can be seen in the photograph above. Running up the center of the clocktower is an amazing spiral staircase! The staircase as of yet, is not entirely installed, as the photographs above illustrate.

Hopefully, once Springfield, Illinois' Union Station opens to the public the spiral staircase will be available for anyone wanting the challenge of climbing up its winding spire. I imagine the view from any window atop the clocktower will be well worth the climb! Looking down upon the Union Square Park once it is finished, and down upon the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Complex will have to be be an exciting, and beautiful scene to behold. I wonder if a webcam will be installed atop the clocktower?

Union Station Roofing In Progress II

Photo: Union Station's Roofing Progress Continues


Photo: Union Station Roofing Project - Springfield, Illinois 11.29.05


Photo: Work Planks Installed to Southeast Face

Rehabilitation work on Springfield, Illinois' Union Station continues in earnest despite frigid temperatures, and dangerously cold winds. As the photographs in this post illustrate the application of roofing tiles to the station's south face of its east wing is nearly complete.

Wooden planking has been secured onto the southeast face of Union Station's roof. The planks are aproximately four inches wide which is just enough room to allow roofers to scale along the angled slope of Union Station's roof without slipping. Roofers must prepare masonry roofing tiles with powersaws equiped with blades designed for cutting masonry. The roofers then wedge the masonry tiles into place row by row.

The roofers have been working in cold temperatures, dealing with strong winds for many hours at a time high above the ground. It is obvious that a fall would result in severe injury, or death, and therefore there is no room for mistakes.

Union Station Roof Tile Delivery

Photo: ALPLM Union Station Roofing Delivery


Photo: Union Station Rehabilitation Project


Photo: Union Station Springfield Illinois 12.01.05


Photo: Lift Unloads Union Station New Roof Tiles

A new load of masonry roofing tiles was delivered to Union Station today. Union Station is part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Complex. The ALPLM is located in downtown Springfield, Illinois.

It was a cold December day. Strong winds combined with this season's first snow to make it one ugly day. However work continues on the Union Station Rehabilitation Project as evidenced in the photographs posted on this blog.

Union Station Beam Signing II

Photo: Union Station Beam Signing Ceremony - Springfield, IL


Photo: Final Beam for Clocktower Ceremony 11.29.05


Photo: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

This post includes a few more photographs of the beam signing ceremony for the new clocktower which is being constructed for Union Station. Union Station is located in Springfield, Illinois, and is a part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Complex.

The beam signing ceremony was conducted on November 29th, 2005 on the north side of Union Station just off of Madison Ave between fifth, and sixth streets.

Congressman Ray Lahood, and Richard Norton Smith were just two of those in attendance.

Union Station Beam Signing

Photo: Union Station Springfield, Illinois


Photo: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum


Photo: Clocktower Beam Signing - November 29, 2005


Photo: Richard Norton Smith - Beam Signing

The final steel beam was lifted into place for the new clocktower at Union Station. Union Station is part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Complex which is located in downtown Springfield, Illinois.

Various dignitaries attended the beam signing, as well as students throughout the state.

It was a very cold, and windy day. I felt sympathy for those speaking at the small podium as none of those speaking wore hats - I guess it doesn't look good on camera.

I could have walked up, and signed the beam, but I found myself overcome by my desire to photograph the event for historical purposes. Despite being surrounded by photographers, and journalist with notepads in hand I felt as a blogger I had to represent the blogging world - and so I did.

I'll post a few more photographs of the event soon.

November Falls

Photo: Horace Mann Plaza Fall Grass


Photo: Horace Mann Plaza Dead Butterfly Bush

November 2005 is coming to an end. This November was, for the most part a gentle fall from summer into winter. There was much beauty to capture even in the urban setting. I include two photos in this post. The first is of a patch of dormant tall grass, the second is of a butterfly bush which I posted a photograph of during the summer when it was covered in pink blossoms, and hovering bees.

Behind the butterfly bush, and across ninth street - if you can make it out - is Horace Mann East, which houses Horace Mann's IT, and MIS facility. Both photographs were taken on the east side of Horace Mann Plaza in late November 2005. Horace Mann Companies Home Office is located in downtown Springfield, Illinois.