Anne Frank material returns to Prinsengracht

Prinsengracht Panaroma

Anne Frank's writings will be returned to the museum, perhaps, in part, to commemorate her birthday, June 12. If she had survived, she would be 80 years old tomorrow.

Yesterday, the day of the shooting at the Holocaust Museum, Washington, DC which resulted in the death of a guard, was also a day when Janet Langhart Cohen's play, "Anne and Emmett" was to be performed to an invitation only audience.

It is unclear when the performance will be rescheduled.

Holocaust Museum Shooting

Shocked by the shooting at the Holocaust Museum today at 12:50pm.

I just wrote to my acquaintance, one of the curators at the Museum, thankful the shooting was contained and that the incident didn't escalate into more bloodshed.

My thoughts are with the injured guard and his family.

Ban Gay Teachers, the Netherlands

I am disheartened by this article and the prospect of legalising a ban on gay teachers.

While the Netherlands is more conservative than one imagines, the general attitude about differences has been toleration, not acceptance but also not prescriptive.

While toleration is not a panacea, it has worked and enabled many to live their lives unencumbered by the intrusion of unnecessary laws.

In general people are not defined by their sexual orientation and most often if a friend, neighbour or acquaintance is gay, it is not a subject of conversation, conjecture or interest.

It was twenty years before my friend Harry told me he was gay. Did I suspect? Yes. But it was not relevant to the strength and bond of our friendship.

However, I also had another friend who was an "out" gay male who didn't get a promotion, although long overdue, because of his orientation.

Books: A Conversation With John Irving

John Irving, early years, via Achievement.Org

The New York Times Book Review, Sunday last, included a video discussion with John Irving.

An early Irving fan, I was intrigued with his approach to seeding a novel. It is the last sentence not the first that sets him on his course.

And a novel with this percolated ending can take as much as 5-7 years to complete.

Also although the interview does not address it, I suspect Mr. Irving writes his novels long-hand, in a journal.

He's just completed a new book set for distribution in the Fall.

And an earlier candid video interview in which he discusses his novel, "Until I find you."

What is a Miracle?

I asked my SIL this morning, "What is a miracle?"

Last Thursday, my extended family brother was taken to Albany Medical Center. Upon examination he was diagnosed with necrosis, had an operation, lost consciousness, had few natural bodily functions and was bleeding profusely from both his original wound, and beyond.

The ICU physician had no hope for his recovery.

Today, his bodily functions appear to be returning to normal and the bleeding has nearly ceased.

A few hours ago he was taken off the respiratory and may recover.

We'll know to what extent he recovers, and when, either later today or perhaps tomorrow.

As I am not a religious person, but a secular, humanist, I ask: "What is a miracle?"

Snapper Lost on the Road

This morning as I was gathering the trash I noticed an unfamiliar sight: a turtle crossing the road.

While this is not a main thoroughfare, it has quite a few cars and trucks coming and going during the day and occasionally at more than the restricted 25m/hr speed limit.

So I went out to see whether the turtle needed some help. And he did! He was totally lost, too far from water and seemingly very young.

MS and I got a shovel and held up traffic while we got the little guy off the road and into a nearby ravine. He snapped like mad when MS put him down, albeit, gently.

We are hoping we sent him on the right road, in the right direction to find his family and home.

Times Square

This photo is not the beach!

It is not one of the City's parks!

It is a photo of a New York phenomenon: lawn chairs in Times Square, one of Mayor Bloomberg's ideas.

Palin not at her best

Yes, I admit it, I have no love for Governor Sarah Palin, and wish she'd leave the national stage--silently, and forever.

And here is another instance of Palin gone wrong, pulling stuff out of a Gingrich piece, no attribution and possibly not an original thought in her head.


It dawned on me that she reminds me of Serena Joy in the Handmaiden's Tale, Margaret Atwood's brilliant dystopian novel. Or perhaps she reminds me of all those women I don't understand who seem to take stands in society that are against their best interests.

I could name a few, but looking at the lovely Palin is enough for one day.

NB: Governor Palin and her attorney deny charges of plagarism.

The Poetry of the Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge at Night, via Wiki

Lundberg waxes poetically here about tomorrow's event, Poetry and the Brooklyn Bridge.

I too wish I could be there.

Newport-Jamestown Bridge Rhode Island
(with Lighthouse)

But of all the bridges I've traveled, and there have been many, I think the only bridge I wrote a poem about was the Jamestown Bridge (Rhode Island).

I lost a clutch on the bridge and had to be towed off--memorable in and of itself.

I'll have to see if I have that poem saved somewhere.