What about St. Nicholas (canonized Bishop of Myra, early church)?

December 6th, 2016 ~ St. Nicholas Day

December 19th on the Julian Calendar
St. Nicholas Day
is celebrated in many ways—the stately bishop may

lead a town parade,

be commemorated in saint's day worship,

visit schools, hospitals and homes or provide the focus for a party,

come under cover of night to leave sweet treats and small gifts for children.  

On eve of "World AIDS Day", should there be more self-testing for HIV?

Press Release from World Health Organization (WHO.org):
Today, 40% of all people with HIV (over 14 million) remain unaware of their status. Many of these are people at higher risk of HIV infection who often find it difficult to access existing testing services.
"Millions of people with HIV are still missing out on life-saving treatment, which can also prevent HIV transmission to others," said Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. "HIV self-testing should open the door for many more people to know their HIV status and find out how to get treatment and access prevention services."
HIV self-testing means people can use oral fluid or blood- finger-pricks to discover their status in a private and convenient setting. Results are ready within 20 minutes or less. Those with positive results are advised to seek confirmatory tests at health clinics. WHO recommends they receive information and links to counselling as well as rapid referral to prevention, treatment and care services.
HIV self-testing is a way to reach more people with undiagnosed HIV and represents a step forward to empower individuals, diagnose people earlier before they become sick, bring services closer to where people live, and create demand for HIV testing. This is particularly important for those people facing barriers to accessing existing services.
Between 2005 and 2015 the proportion of people with HIV learning of their status increased from 12% to 60% globally. This increase in HIV testing uptake worldwide has led to more than 80% of all people diagnosed with HIV receiving ART.

Who misses out on HIV testing?

HIV testing coverage remains low among various population groups. For example, global coverage rates for all HIV testing, prevention, and treatment are lower among men than women.
Men account for only 30% of people who have tested for HIV. As a result, men with HIV are less likely to be diagnosed and put on antiretroviral treatment and are more likely to die of HIV-related causes than women.
But some women miss out too. Adolescent girls and young women in East and Southern Africa experience infection rates up to eight times higher than among their male peers. Fewer than one in every five girls (15–19 years of age) are aware of their HIV status.
Testing also remains low among "key populations" and their partners - particularly men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, people who inject drugs, and people in prisons - who comprise approximately 44% of the 1.9 million new adult HIV infections that occur each year.
Up to 70 % of partners of people with HIV are also HIV positive. Many of those partners are not currently getting tested. The new WHO guidelines recommend ways to help HIV positive people notify their partners about their status, and also encourage them to get tested.
"By offering HIV self-testing, we can empower people to find out their own HIV status and also to notify their partners and encourage them to get tested as well," said Dr Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of WHO’s Department of HIV. "This should lead to more people knowing their status and being able to act upon it. Self-testing will be particularly relevant for those people who may find it difficult to access testing in clinical settings and might prefer self-testing as their method of choice."
Self-testing has been shown to nearly double the frequency of HIV testing among men who have sex with men, and recent studies in Kenya found that male partners of pregnant women had twice the uptake of HIV testing when offered self-testing compared with standard testing.
Twenty three countries currently have national policies that support HIV self-testing. Many other countries are developing policies, but wide-scale implementation of HIV self-testing remains limited. WHO supports free distribution of HIV self-test kits and other approaches that allow self-test kits to be bought at affordable prices. WHO is also working to reduce costs further to increase access. The new guidance aims to help countries scale up implementation.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/world-aids-day/en/

Happy Birthday to Samuel Clemens (born on this date in 1835, near Hannibal, MO)

Informational biography from Writer's Almanac (American Public Media, Garrison Keillor):

November 30 is the birthday for the man known as “The Dean of American Letters,”  pen name "Mark Twain" born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida, Mississippi (1835). He grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, a port town on the banks of the Mississippi, and used to love watching the steamboats slide by as a child. Twain based two of his most famous books, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), on life in Hannibal.
When he was 12, his father died of pneumonia and Twain left school to apprentice to a printer for 50 cents a week. Always a mischievous and naughty youngster, he enjoyed writing short, funny stories. His older brother Orion was so impressed that he hired his little brother to write humorous sketches for the newspaper he owned, The Hannibal Journal, setting in place a lifetime of journalism, novel writing, and satirical essays.
Twain kicked about for the next 20 years, becoming a steamboat pilot, a prospector for silver and gold, a Confederate cavalry militiaman, and a real-estate speculator. He wrote about his days as river pilot in his book Life on the Mississippi (1883) and his days traveling the Wild West in Roughing It (1872). Roughing It was a favorite book for U.S. astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, who read passages aloud to each other as they orbited the Earth on the Gemini VI for 14 days in December 1965.
Twain first gained national attention for his story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (1865), which he wrote in a cabin on Jackass Hill in Tuolumne County. It was originally called Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog, and it’s about a greedy man who will bet on anything, whether it’s a frog or a bug. Twain disliked the published version, which he said was “full of damnable errors of grammar and deadly inconsistencies of spelling.”
Mark Twain favored white linen shirts and suits and smoked 20 cigars and countless pipes every day. He first fell in love with his wife, Olivia, when her brother showed him a photograph while they were on ship together. Twain said: “I do believe that young filly has broken my heart. That only leaves me with one option, for her to mend it.” On their first outing together, he and Olivia went to a reading by Charles Dickens. She turned down his marriage proposals three times before accepting. For the rest of their lives together, she edited his novels, essays, and lectures.
http://writersalmanac.org/

Handel's MESSIAH: Concert Dec. 2, 2016, 7:30 p.m. Cathedral dot-org

from WEB Announced details (www.cathedral.org) :
Messiah – G.F. HandelCathedral Nave

Tickets: $25-$95
Check out our side aisle partial view tickets on Saturday (Dec. 2) and Sunday (Dec. 3), a bargain at $25 each!

Student tickets are $10, and are available in all sections except the Premium Nave. To purchase a student ticket, select the student price option in the drop-down.
Tickets purchased now will be held under your name at will call, and may be picked up beginning one hour before your performance.

Laura Choi Stuart – Soprano
Zoe Band – Mezzo Soprano
Rufus Muller – Tenor
Kevin Daes – Bass/Baritone
Washington National Cathedral Choir & Baroque Orchestra

There is no better way to start the Holiday season than to experience Handel’s Messiah in the unique setting of Washington National Cathedral. This unveiling of the story of Christianity is portrayed by Handel in the most sublime yet dramatic way. Through the use of a period orchestra and performed with stylistic authenticity, the Cathedral Choir and resident Baroque orchestra is joined by a world class team of soloists. Messiah at Washington National Cathedral is the best ticket in town. 

 

Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington DC 20016

Forthcoming volumes (Bicentennial edition of JOHN WESLEY's Works) - 2017 volumes 17 and 32

From Cokesbury - Abingdon Press (Publishers): The volumes expected to be released during the 12 months of 2017 will be
Volume 17 - "Oxford Diaries" -- edited by Richard P. Heitzenrater
and
Volume 32 - "Medical Writings" -- co-edited by James Donat and Randy Maddox.

(as per phone conversation - shared information Nov. 29, 2016)

Tyler R. Lubelt of Tamaroa, IL killed in Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan (to U.S. after Nov. 22, 2016)

Officials at Dover Air Force Base are preparing to welcome home a fallen soldier who was killed in Afghanistan.

Air Force Mortuary Affairs officials say the body of 20-year-old Army Pfc. Tyler R. Lubelt of Tamaroa, Illinois, was scheduled to arrive Tuesday at Dover, home to the nation’s largest military mortuary.
The Pentagon said Monday that Lubelt and 30-year-old Sgt. John W. Perry of Stockton, California, died of injuries inflicted by an improvised explosive device at Bagram Airfield. Two American contractors also died in the explosion Saturday morning, and 16 U.S. service members and one Polish soldier were wounded.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was carried out by a suicide bomber inside the base.
http://www.saukvalley.com/2016/11/16/body-of-illinois-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan-coming-home/arpdc2x/

Feast and Cake to celebrate 150th Anniversary (Princeton, IN congregation)

from local FOX TV news article:

PRINCETON, Ind. (AP) - A southwestern Indiana church that's marking its 150th year is celebrating the milestone with a feast.
Sunday's catered meal at the Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church in Princeton will be followed by cake and a special service.
Deacon Andrew Paris tells the Princeton Daily Clarion (http://bit.ly/2gF1Mav ) the church founded in 1866 is considered the first African American Baptist church in the city about 25 miles north of Evansville.
He says the church's first congregation worshipped in a shed until the current church building was built in 1871.
The congregation once had 180 members, but now numbers about 30 people, including 85-year-old Gloria Portee.
Portee says the church is filled with memories, but she wishes more people "would just walk in" to worship and join the small congregation.
http://www.fox28.com/story/33790185/southern-indiana-church-plans-feast-to-celebrate-150th-year

Concert (Hildegard von Bingen Schola) - St. Anthony's Hospital, Effingham IL - Dec. 4, 4 p.m. at Chapel

Program is SACRED MUSIC of the Advent and Christmas season -- the Schola consists of 11 - 19 year old young women directed by Barbara Konrad (a professional musician - teacher of the piano, organ, harp, and voice) -- Shumway Konrad Piano Farms Studio.

"Gloria Tibi Domine" / "May Love Be Ours, O Lord" / "Ubi Caritas" / "Waiting, Wandering, Wondering" / "The Angel Gabriel" / "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" / "Gaudeamus, Hodie!" /
"Child of Light" / "The Hands that First Held Mary's Child" / "Jesus, Infant Holy" / "No Wind at the Window" / "Single Voice, Solitary Flame" / "O Sanctissima / Silent Night, Holy Night"

From 4 - 6 p.m. in the Hospital Chapel.  Contact Carol Gapsis of Pastoral Care Department for further information and specific directions to the HSHS hospital.

The Hospital Chapel is a quiet place for reflection that is enhanced by the luminous beauty of the stained glass windows and a stately main altar.

The Chapel’s entrance is in a comforting alcove at the end of the Administrative Hallway to the left of the Maple Street Lobby.
http://stanthonys.lrswebsolutions.com/visitors-patients/our-chapel.aspx

Morning Prayer (21st Century resource UM Discipleship) - online posting

A Morning Prayer of Thanksgiving

A 21st Century Worship Resource

by The Rev. Dr. LaGretta Bjorn

Loving God, Creator of all that has been, all that is, and all that is to come;
You made us human and gave us hearts to love you and follow you.
We thank you for the many blessings you have given us over this past year.
God, we thank you for all of the blessings you have given us throughout our lives:
Food to eat,
Clothes to wear,
Shelter from the storm,
People who love us unconditionally.
We thank you for their love because we recognize that their love for us is
a reflection of your love. We acknowledge that there are times in our lives
when we, ourselves, feel unloved and unlovable.
Give us the grace to love others, even when they are difficult.
We trust in your faithfulness to carry us over the rough places of life.
We trust in your love to walk with us through the difficulties of our days.
We trust in your promise of life everlasting and put all of our hope in you.
We thank you for Jesus.
We thank you that he died so that we might have eternal life.
Forgive us for our sins:
The things you asked us to do and we failed to do
As well as the things you told us not to do but we did anyway.
We are sorry and we ask that you will strengthen us
So that we will always follow you.
We pray that your Holy Spirit will be felt by people who are
in pain in mind, body or spirit.
Help them to know that you are with them
and you are able to carry them through their trials.
Bless our church family.
Bless our community.
Bless our nation.
Bless our world.
Enable us to live so that your will might be made manifest in the world around us.

http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/a-morning-prayer-of-thanksgiving

Venison, Corn, Oysters

"Four Things To Learn about Thanksgiving" (TIME magazine online article):
If you want to eat what the Pilgrims and Wampanoag ate in the 1600’s, put venison, corn and oysters on your Thanksgiving menu. The venison was provided courtesy of the Wampanoag who, like every good Thanksgiving guest ever since, brought a contribution to the feast—in this case, five deer.
Turkey may also have been on the table, but unlike today, it was not the centerpiece of the meal. Bradford writes in his Journal that there was a “great store of wild turkey” as well as other fowl at the time of the First Thanksgiving. The early English settlers also ate duck, geese, swan, crane, gulls and even eagle.
Cranberries grew wild in New England, but if a curious Pilgrim had picked and eaten one, he would not have wanted to eat a second. Cranberries are extremely tart and need sweetening to be palatable. Since sugar was expensive in England, it’s unlikely the Pilgrims had brought any with them on the Mayflower.
http://time.com/4571371/thanksgiving-facts/

Proclamation (Nov. 23) for Thanksgiving as Federal Holiday

posted 11/23/2016 -- at White House dot-gov:
Nearly 400 years ago, a small band of Pilgrims fled persecution and violence and came to this land as refugees in search of opportunity and the freedom to practice their faith. Though the journey was rough and their first winter harsh, the friendly embrace of an indigenous people, the Wampanoag -- who offered gracious lessons in agriculture and crop production -- led to their successful first harvest. The Pilgrims were grateful they could rely on the generosity of the Wampanoag people, without whom they would not have survived their first year in the new land, and together they celebrated this bounty with a festival that lasted for days and prompted the tradition of an annual day of giving thanks.
This history teaches us that the American instinct has never been to seek isolation in opposite corners; it is to find strength in our common creed and forge unity from our great diversity. On that very first thanksgiving celebration, these same ideals brought together people of different backgrounds and beliefs, and every year since, with enduring confidence in the power of faith, love, gratitude, and optimism, this force of unity has sustained us as a people. It has guided us through times of great challenge and change and allowed us to see ourselves in those who come to our shores in search of a safer, better future for themselves and their families.
On this holiday, we count our blessings and renew our commitment to giving back. We give thanks for our troops and our veterans -- and their families -- who give of themselves to protect the values we cherish; for the first responders, teachers, and engaged Americans who serve their communities; and for the chance to live in a country founded on the belief that all of us are created equal. But on this day of gratitude, we are also reminded that securing these freedoms and opportunities for all our people is an unfinished task. We must reflect on all we have been afforded while continuing the work of ensuring no one is left out or left behind because of who they are or where they come from.
For generations, our Nation's progress has been carried forward by those who act on the obligations we have to one another. Each year on Thanksgiving, the selflessness and decency of the American people surface in food banks and shelters across our country, in time spent caring for the sick and the stranger, and in efforts to empathize with those with whom we disagree and to recognize that every individual is worthy of compassion and care. As we gather in the company of our friends, families, and communities -- just as the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag did centuries ago -- let us strive to lift up others, promote tolerance and inclusiveness, and give thanks for the joy and love that surround all of us.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 24, 2016, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people of the United States to join together -- whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors -- and give thanks for all we have received in the past year, express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and share our bounty with others.

The Past gives us Lasting Joy and Strength

But gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy. The beauties of the past are borne, not as a thorn in the flesh, but as a precious gift in themselves. We must take care not to wallow in our memories or hand ourselves over to them, just as we do not gaze all the time at a valuable present, but only at special times, and apart from these keep it simply as a hidden treasure that is ours for certain. In this way the past gives us lasting joy and strength.”
          -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
EXCERPT from a longer quotation -- cited by Al Williams (Trinity Presbyterian, Atlanta, GA website):
http://www.trinityatlanta.org/about/news/allison-williams-memorial-service

Nov. 20 - 26 -- National Family Week

proclamation from Press Office (White House dot-gov):
Through every passing generation, families have formed the backbone of our society. With pride, passion, and a commitment to their loved ones, family members give of themselves to create opportunities they never had and forge a brighter future for themselves and their children. This week, we honor the families who have built the America we know today and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring every family can have their chance at a fair shot.
Nobody should have to choose between spending time with their family and financially supporting them, and my Administration has prioritized efforts to strengthen families and address the challenges we face in our workforce. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the uninsured rate has never been lower, and more families have been able to get quality, affordable health care. But there is more work to be done. The United States is the only advanced country that does not guarantee paid family or sick leave, and too often, American workers have to make painful choices about whether they can afford to be there when their families need them most. Workers also deserve fair work schedules that ensure predictability and certainty. And women should be paid the same as men for doing the same jobs -- a principle that is not just fair and ethical, but also necessary because more women are their family's main breadwinners than ever before.
We all have a role to play in lifting up families, and the Federal Government is leading by example. To help give more families the comfort of safe and nurturing child care, my Administration published a new rule earlier this year to strengthen quality, health, and safety standards for child care programs. Earlier this year, I took action to expand overtime protections to more than 4 million workers, and because no one who works full time should have to raise their family in poverty, I have called on the Congress to raise the Federal minimum wage -- in the meantime, cities, States, and businesses across our country have taken action, answering the call to raise the minimum wage and helping American families everywhere.
Families of every race, religion, and background have written America's story and embodied our founding notion: that out of many, we are one. Adoptive and foster families open their hearts and their homes to welcome children in need, patriotic military families sacrifice precious time with their loved ones to give us the opportunity to be with ours, and last year, the families of gay and lesbian couples who fought so long for basic civil rights were finally recognized as equal under the law.
Through challenging moments and difficult times, America's families are representative of the strength and unity at the core of our communities. Their love is an enduring reminder of what is best about our country. This week, let us celebrate the devotion of dedicated family members across our Nation and pledge to give them the support they need to thrive.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Sunday November 20 through Saturday November 26, 2016, as National Family Week. I invite all States, communities, and individuals to join in observing this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor our Nation's families.

Week of Prayer next year for "Way Forward" - United Methodist Church

from LIST Serv -- www.igrc.org/

Bishop Frank J. Beard is asking that the Illinois Great Rivers Conference set aside the week of Jan. 22-28, 2017, as a Week of Prayer for the Way Forward Commission and its work.

The week selected is part of a church-wide call to prayer in 2017 and 2018 as the Commission moves forward its work. Bishops of the church have covenanted with one another to pray 15 minutes each day for the Commission. The second phase is involving each individual annual conference in prayer for a week.

Birmingham Area Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett told a gathering in Jacksonville, Fla. That the prayer emphasis was two-fold. “We are praying that God help us to more effectively fulfill the mission of the church. And we are praying to be one in Christ,” she said.

Bishop Beard said the selection of the week of Jan. 22 was strategic in that events inside and outside the church have called for people to be united.

“The week will be the first week in which a new president will be leading the country following a very contentious campaign,” he said. “And the week overlaps the Week of Prayer and Christian Unity, a worldwide ecumenical focusing on unity within the Christian faith.”

The Upper Room has developed a website called UMCprays.org. The website features many tools and resources to help you to plan for the week of prayer.

Electoral College: should it continue in 21st Century political decision framework?

from http://wwwdrshow.org/

Monday, Nov 21, 2016 • Live Stream Radio call-in show (WAMU)

The Electoral College: How It Works And Why Some Want To Abolish It

Donald Trump’s victory is the second time in 16 years the president of the United States has been elected without winning the popular vote. This has raised questions about the Electoral College. Understanding how we elect the president and whether the system needs to change. (Guests and moderator to be announced)

Winners of Presidential Medal of Freedom (21 medalist/s -- two posthumously)

from WHITE HOUSE dot-gov press statement =
President Barack Obama named 21 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The awards will be presented at the White House on November 22nd.
President Obama said, "The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation's highest civilian honor - it's a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better.  From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way."
This event will be streamed live at: www.whitehouse.gov/live.
The following individuals will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the National Basketball Association’s all-time leading scorer who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers to five championships and the Milwaukee Bucks to another. During his career, Abdul-Jabbar was a six-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a 19-time NBA All-Star. Before joining the NBA, he was a star player at UCLA, leading the Bruins to three consecutive championships. In addition to his legendary basketball career, Abdul-Jabbar has been an outspoken advocate for social justice.
Elouise Cobell (posthumous)
Elouise Cobell was a Blackfeet Tribal community leader and an advocate for Native American self-determination and financial independence.  She used her expertise in accounting to champion a lawsuit that resulted in a historic settlement, restoring tribal homelands to her beloved Blackfeet Nation and many other tribes, and in so doing, inspired a new generation of Native Americans to fight for the rights of others.  Cobell helped found the Native American Bank, served as director of the Native American Community Development Corporation, and inspired Native American women to seek leadership roles in their communities.
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres is an award-winning comedian who has hosted her popular daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, since 2003 with her trademarked humor, humility, and optimism. In 2003 Ellen lent her voice to a forgetful but unforgettable little fish named Dory in Finding Nemo. She reprised her role again in 2016 with the hugely successful Finding Dory. Ellen also hosted the Academy Awards twice, in 2007 and 2014. In 1997, after coming out herself, DeGeneres made TV history when her character on Ellen revealed she was a lesbian. In her work and in her life, she has been a passionate advocate for equality and fairness.
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro has brought to life some of the most memorable roles in American film during a career that spans five decades. His first major film roles were in the sports drama Bang the Drum Slowly and Martin Scorsese's crime film Mean Streets.  He is a seven-time Academy Award nominee and two-time Oscar winner, and is also a Kennedy Center honoree.
Richard Garwin
Richard Garwin is a polymath physicist who earned a Ph.D. under Enrico Fermi at age 21 and subsequently made pioneering contributions to U.S. defense and intelligence technologies, low-temperature and nuclear physics, detection of gravitational radiation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer systems, laser printing, and nuclear arms control and nonproliferation. He directed Applied Research at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center and taught at the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and Harvard University. The author of 500 technical papers and a winner of the National Medal of Science, Garwin holds 47 U.S. patents, and has advised numerous administrations.
Bill and Melinda Gates
Bill and Melinda Gates established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, the foundation focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, the mission is to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. The Gates Foundation has provided more than $36 billion in grants since its inception.
Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry is one of the world’s leading architects, whose works have helped define contemporary architecture. His best-known buildings include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Dancing House in Prague, and the Guggenheim Museum building in Bilbao, Spain.
Margaret H. Hamilton
Margaret H. Hamilton led the team that created the on-board flight software for NASA's Apollo command modules and lunar modules. A mathematician and computer scientist who started her own software company, Hamilton contributed to concepts of asynchronous software, priority scheduling and priority displays, and human-in-the-loop decision capability, which set the foundation for modern, ultra-reliable software design and engineering.
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks is one of the Nation’s finest actors and filmmakers. He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role five times, and received the award for his work in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump.  Those roles and countless others, including in Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, and Cast Away, have left an indelible mark on American film. Off screen, as an advocate, Hanks has advocated for social and environmental justice, and for our veterans and their families.
Grace Hopper (posthumous)
Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, known as “Amazing Grace” and “the first lady of software,” was at the forefront of computers and programming development from the 1940s through the 1980s. Hopper’s work helped make coding languages more practical and accessible, and she created the first compiler, which translates source code from one language into another.  She taught mathematics as an associate professor at Vassar College before joining the United States Naval Reserve as a lieutenant (junior grade) during World War II, where she became one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer and began her lifelong leadership role in the field of computer science.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest athletes of all time. Jordan played 15 seasons in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards; he is currently a principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets.  During his career, he won six championships, five Most Valuable Player awards, and appeared in 14 All-Star games.
Maya Lin
Maya Lin is an artist and designer who is known for her work in sculpture and landscape art. She designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and since then has pursued a celebrated career in both art and architecture.  A committed environmentalist, Lin is currently working on a multi-sited artwork/memorial, What is Missing? bringing awareness to the planet's loss of habitat and biodiversity.
Lorne Michaels
Lorne Michaels is a producer and screenwriter, best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live, which has run continuously for more than 40 years. In addition, Michaels has also produced The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and 30 Rock, among other popular, award-winning shows. He has won 13 Emmy Awards over the course of his lengthy career.
Newt Minow
Newt Minow is an attorney with a long and distinguished career in public life. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Minow served as a Supreme Court clerk and counsel to the Governor of Illinois. In 1961, President Kennedy selected Minow, then 34, to serve as Chairman of the Federal Communications Committee (FCC), where he helped shape the future of American television and was a vigorous advocate for broadcasting that promoted the public interest. In the five decades since leaving the FCC, Minow has maintained a prominent private law practice while devoting himself to numerous public and charitable causes.
Eduardo Padrón
Eduardo Padrón is the President of Miami Dade College (MDC), one of the largest institutions of higher education in the United States. During his more than four decade career, President Padrón has been a national voice for access and inclusion. He has worked to ensure all students have access to high quality, affordable education. He has championed innovative teaching and learning strategies making MDC a national model of excellence.
Robert Redford
Robert Redford is an actor, director, producer, businessman, and environmentalist. In 1981, he founded the Sundance Institute to advance the work of independent filmmakers and storytellers throughout the world, including through its annual Sundance Film Festival. He has received an Academy Award for Best Director and for Lifetime Achievement.  Redford has directed or starred in numerous motion pictures, including The Candidate, All the President's Men, Quiz Show, and A River Runs Through It. 
Diana Ross
Diana Ross has had an iconic career spanning more than 50 years within the entertainment industry in music, film, television, theater, and fashion. Diana Ross is an Academy Award nominee, inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Grammy Awards highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ross was a recipient of the 2007 Kennedy Center Honors.  Diana Ross’s greatest legacy is her five wonderful children.
Vin Scully
Vin Scully is a broadcaster who, for 67 seasons, was the voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers.  In Southern California, where generations of fans have grown up listening to Dodger baseball, Scully's voice is known as the "soundtrack to summer."  In 1988, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  Scully's signature voice brought to life key moments in baseball history, including perfect games by Sandy Koufax and Don Larsen, Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series, and Hank Aaron's record-breaking 715th home run.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen is a singer, songwriter, and bandleader.  More than five decades ago, he bought a guitar and learned how to make it talk.  Since then, the stories he has told, in lyrics and epic live concert performances, have helped shape American music and have challenged us to realize the American dream.  Springsteen is a Kennedy Center honoree and he and the E Street Band he leads have each been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson has performed on the stage, on television, and on the silver screen.  She has won two Emmy Awards and a Tony Award, and is known for her performances in Sounder, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, and The Help.  In 2013, she returned to the stage with The Trip to the Bountiful, and was awarded the Tony Award for best leading actress.  Tyson received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2015. 

Thanksgiving Run - Tradition at Niles, Michigan 49120 -- registration details for YMCA

	Time	Price	Details
5k	Time 9:15AM EST	Price $30	Price increases November 22, 2016 at 11:59pm EST
10k	Time 7:45AM EST	Price $30	Price increases November 22, 2016 at 11:59pm EST
1 Mile Fun Run	Time 9:15AM EST	Price $30	Price increases November 22, 2016 at 11:59pm EST

Place

905 N. Front Street
Niles, MI US 49120

Description

For 35 years the Niles-Buchanan YMCA has hosted a Thanksgiving Day Run in the community. It has become a tradition for many people who live or visit the Niles-Buchanan area at Thanksgiving. Last year, nearly 2,000 people from 24 states participated in the 10k Run, 5k Run/Walk, or the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run.  Proceeds from the Thanksgiving Day Run support the Annual Campaign which supports youth programming as well as financial support to families through membership scholarships.  The Niles-Buchanan YMCA Thanksgiving Day Run is the largest, most popular run in the Michiana area.
https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Niles/NilesThanksgivingDayRun

Eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month

from Writer's Almanac (American Public Media, Garrison Keillor):
Today is Veterans Day, honoring Americans who have served
their country in the armed forces. November 11 was originally
called Armistice Day, because it was on this day in 1918 that
the First World War came to an end. The armistice was signed
outside Paris at 6 a.m. in the railway carriage of Allied commander
Ferdinand Foch, and the cease-fire took effect five hours later: at
“the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.”

Veterans Fair (Charleston, IL & Coles County Fairground site) - 11/11/2016 - moment of silence 9:01 a.m.

from XFM news (radio website):

Charleston, IL – The Coles County Council on Aging along with the Coles County community will be honoring local and national military service members at the Annual Veterans Fair Celebration on Friday, November 11, 2015 at your LifeSpan Center, located at 11021 E. County Road 800N (from Route 16, North on Loxa Road approximately .5 mile at the corner of Loxa Road and DeWitt Avenue East.)  This event is open to U.S. Veterans of all ages.

Sponsored by The Tapella & Eberspacher Law Firm, the Veterans Fair Celebration will kick-off with Presenting of the Colors by Mattoon High School J.R.O.T.C.at 9:00 a.m. with selected brass student-players from the Eastern Illinois University Music Department playing the National Anthem – with a  Moment of Silence to follow at 9:01 a.m.  The Veterans Fair will also feature “Lunch with a Lawyer” – the quarterly FREE luncheon and informational program beginning at 11:00 a.m. 

The Thanksgiving-style meal will include turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, noodles, green beans and dessert. There is limited seating available for Veterans and their families.  Reservations are required – call (217) 639-5150.

It is important for everyone to have their affairs in order, but Veterans may have military-specific issues that need to be addressed.  Attorney Angel Wawryznek will be our guest speaker.  She will address Veteran-specific estate planning.  If you have specific questions that you would like answered the day of the Veterans Fair, please contact Angela Hampton at The Tapella & Eberspacher Law Firm at (217) 639-7800.   

Additional elements of the day include Sarah Bush Lincoln departmental services, Salvation Army, LakeLand College VA Services and other service providers for Veterans and Military families.  The CCCoA LifeSpan Family Theater will also show a special movie beginning at 1:00 p.m. – the 1970 military comedy, “Kelly’s Heroes” - starring Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O’Connor, and Donald Sutherland, just to name a few!

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther (born on Nov. 10, 1483 in Germany)

from Writer's Almanac dot-org (American Public Media, Garrison Keillor):
November 10 is the birthday of Martin Luther, born in Eisleben, Saxony, in what is now Germany (1483). He was a theologian, a prolific writer, and a religious reformer that sparked the Protestant Reformation.
He was also a devoted husband who once wrote: “There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage.” Luther met Katharina von Bora in 1523, when she came under his protection in Wittenberg. She was a former nun who had escaped her Cistercian cloister by hiding in a grocer’s covered wagon. The Reformation was in its infancy, and people were still shocked when former nuns, monks, and priests got married. Many of Luther’s friends were scandalized when he told them he was thinking of marrying von Bora, but eventually he decided that his marriage would “please his father, rile the pope, cause the angels to laugh and the devil to weep.”
The newlyweds moved into a former monastery that was called “the Black Cloister.” Kate had the building painted white, and remodeled it to allow for more spacious rooms. She also took over the family finances. Luther made a relatively modest income, so she helped out by brewing beer and raising cows, chickens, geese, pigs, and bees. To supplement their income, she took in boarders. She also saw to it that Luther took care of himself, making sure he ate regularly and dressed properly.
Together they had six children of their own, and also at one point took in Luther’s six nephews and nieces. By all accounts, their home was a lively and happy place. They played lawn bowling together, made music and sang, and often hosted Luther’s students and colleagues for dinner.

First Frost (Nov. 10, 2016) - 6 a.m. reading

Cowden, IL (62422)

as of 6:41 a.m.  = 33^°

Cloudy

Post-election service of prayer and remembrance (Nov. 9, 5;30 P.M.) Springfield, IL Laurel UMC

Hoping to quell the harsh words and hot heads that led up to Tuesday’s nationwide vote for president, local peace activists and religious leaders have scheduled a nonpartisan, post-election prayer service Wednesday night.
“It should be very meaningful,” Joyce Downey said of the 30-minute service scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 South Grand Ave. West, Springfield, IL.  The time for meditation, prayer, and readings is designed to help people put aside the “animosity, bullying and screaming at each other” that characterized a “very different” presidential campaign between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, said Downey, 66, a retired teacher who helps lead the Laurel Peacemakers group.
The Peacemakers came up with the idea for the unusual service and is hosting the event in cooperation with the Springfield chapter of the ecumenical group Church Women United, the Springfield Grassroots InterFaith Team and the Faith Coalition for the Common Good.
Everyone is invited, and organizers hope to refocus people’s attention on “words that are inclusive, that respect differences among people,” said Sister Marcelline Koch, director of the Office of Justice for the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, IL.

http://www.sj-r.com/news/20161108/post-election-prayer-service-scheduled-to-calm-emotions

Month of November, 2016 -- National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness -- POTUS

A PROCLAMATION
A heartbreaking disease present in more than 5 million Americans, Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia and causes people to lose many of the critical abilities they need to live independently. Too often, those suffering from Alzheimer's cannot recognize their loved ones or remember how to perform daily tasks, struggling physically and mentally with things that once came naturally. Although we have long known Alzheimer's to be irreversible and fatal, we maintain hope that by advancing research and treatment options we can work to change these outcomes and ensure brighter prospects for all those who face this disease. During National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, we resolve to continue working toward this brighter future as we stand with every person battling, Alzheimer's and their loved ones.
Alzheimer's disease is more likely to affect Americans as they grow older -- although genetics can also play a role, age is the most significant risk factor. But Alzheimer's touches many more individuals than simply those who are diagnosed. Dedicated caregivers -- whether professionals, family members, or friends -- are also emotionally, physically, and financially affected by Alzheimer's disease, giving of themselves to ensure those who face it are not alone. And because these individuals need access to information and resources in order to provide this essential care, we launched www.Alzheimers.gov to give them a place to find help.
Through the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease, my Administration has been working to meet a goal of being able to prevent and effectively treat this illness by 2025. Over the past year we have taken a number of actions to reach this vision, including developing a training curriculum that gives health care workers the necessary skills to care for dementia patients and better detect and diagnose dementia. We have also helped family caregivers look after their own health, in addition to addressing the needs of people with dementia, and launched a campaign to increase awareness of changes in the brain as people age so that older adults feel more comfortable having open conversations with family members and health care providers.
In addition to ensuring anyone with Alzheimer's can access proper care, we must harness the innovative ideas of the scientific community and work to prevent this disease. To ramp up research and development aimed at uncovering the answers to diseases like Alzheimer's, I have increased funding for research dedicated to understanding, preventing, and curing Alzheimer's and related dementias. I also introduced the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative, which will enhance our understanding of brain function and give scientists the tools they need to better understand and discover new ways to treat, cure, and prevent brain disorders. And through a bold new research effort that seeks to deliver personalized care through patient-centered research and collaboration, my Precision Medicine Initiative is working to revolutionize our understanding of diseases like Alzheimer's.
From researchers and advocates who are bringing us closer to preventing this disease to family members who devotedly look after their loved ones, people across our country are doing their part to support those touched by Alzheimer's. This month, let us honor those we have lost too soon and renew our efforts to ensure more Americans can live their lives with health and happiness.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2016 as National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and support the individuals living with this disease and their caregivers.
www.whitehouse.gov/the Press Office - Proclamations

Today is 98th Birthday of Billy Graham (Charlotte, NC)

noted at Max Lucado Twitter account

Rev. Graham born Nov. 7, 1918.

WIKI QUOTES =

God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.

I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right.

My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world.

John Wesley -- on this date in history

JOHN WESLEY's JOURNAL (7 November 1739):

"At eight our society met at Fetter Lane. 
We sat an hour without speaking. 
The rest of the time was spent in dispute"

Today is "All Saints Sunday" (after Nov. 1), 2016

Thanks to readers - visitors to my blog !

Editor - compiler - writer Timothy Shaw
trs5678@gmail.com/

Pageviews today(Nov. 6, 2016)              184 ADDED Comment Nov. 7, 2016 Pageviews today Nov. 8, 2016   Pageviews Pageviews today (Nov. 9) = 225; Pageviews today (Nov. 10) = 219 . Pageviews today (Nov. 11) Pageviews today (16th) 287 Pageviews yesterday (15th) Pageviews (11/17) = 275; Pageviews today (Nov. 18, 2016) Pageviews = 236 for Sat. 11/19/2016; Sunday 11/20 = 184 Pageviews Tuesday 11/22 = 224 Pageviews (11/23) = 171 Pageviews today =248 240 180 228 177

 (Thanksgiving Nov. 24, 2016) = 309 // Pageviews on Friday 11/25 = 191
Saturday 11/26 = 148 Pageviews Sunday, Nov. 27 = 113 pageviews;
Monday Nov. 28, 2016 =

Pageviews today

282; Tuesday Nov. 29 PAGEVIEWS 309. / / / TODAY 11/30 = 298 pageviews

All 50 states -- any exceptions? Yes !

United States	Most locations	Sunday, March 13 began	Sunday, November 6 end
	Hawaii, most of Arizona	No DST in 2016     http://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/2016.html

Message from American Red Cross -- hashtag

NOV. 5: REMEMBER TO TURN AND TEST

Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 a.m. Sunday, and the American Red Cross has a reminder for you and your family: When you TURN your clocks back one hour, also TEST your smoke alarms. After you test your alarm, remind your friends and neighbors to #turnandtest too!

Remember to "Fall Back" one hour between Saturday and Sunday Nov. 6 this weekend

Time to fall back! Remember to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night. Daylight Saving Time.

(From 140-word tweet from Shelby County IL Electric Co-operative, Nov. 4, 2016)

Cubs win World Series in stressful Game 7 at Cleveland stadium

from Wash. Post List-serv:

With two runs in the 10th, Chicago Cubs beat Cleveland Indians to break 108-year-old World Series ‘curse’

After blowing a four-run lead, the Cubs won, 8-7, in Game 7 to complete their rally from a 3-1 series deficit, as Cleveland's own 68-year drought extends at least another season.

On this date in 1976: Presidential shift with election of former Governor

from NY TIMES List-serv:

ON THIS DAY

On Nov. 2, 1976, former Gov. Jimmy Carter

of Georgia defeated Republican incumbent,

Gerald R. Ford, becoming the first American

president from the Deep South since the Civil War.

How well do you know Earth Science? Christian Science Monitor Quiz (Multi-choice)

Quiz (17 online questions)

Your score
11     Correct   Six Wrong = 65% .     You answered 11 of 17 questions correctly for a total score of 65%.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0818/Do-you-know-Planet-Earth-Take-the-quiz/So-are-you-an-Earth-science-whiz

National Sandwich Day (11/3/2016) - effort of SUBWAY & Feeding America

There's no reason anyone should go hungry. That's why Feeding America charity and SUBWAY sandwich shops have established the Good Deed Feed. Subway knows that, although they feed millions of people every day, there are also millions of people in the U.S. who don't know where their next meal will come from. So in honor of National Sandwich Day, on Thursday, Nov. 3, when you buy any sandwich and drink, Subway will give you another sandwich free and donate a meal to Feeding America.
We live in one of the richest countries in the world, yet at least 42 million Americans lack adequate access to affordable, nutritious food. In 2015, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1 in 8 Americans — including children, seniors, veterans, and students — were living in food insecure households. Among the households served by Feeding America, more than half (54%) have a family member who has worked in the past 12 months, and yet they still struggle to meet their basic needs.

Hunger in America is not about scarcity: There is plenty of food to feed every man, woman and child in the U.S. Even worse, according to another report by USDA, some 30-40% of our food supply ends up in landfills instead of on our tables — a whopping 133 billion pounds in 2010, worth an estimated $161 billion. So while food is literally being thrown away, food insecure families are making tough choices between food and utilities, food and transportation and even between food and medical care.

This is only a test of local Tornado Siren -- 10 a.m. 11/1/2016

The siren is sounding for a regularly scheduled test warning -- No Tornado is approaching or on Doppler Radar.