No Room In The Inn

Christmas is a wonderful season, full of delightful stories, and thoughts that inspire.
Most, if not all are derivative and don't start you pondering in a new way.
However, this past Sunday, while attending Blair and Julie's ward, their main speaker struck a chord with me, and gave me new thoughts to ponder. Probably old stuff to others but new to me.

He spoke of the phrase in the christmas story of "no room in the inn'; and how we normally consider that a bad thing. That people were insensitive to the mother of jesus and how lowly and miserable conditions were. We further probe the question of personal introspection - would we make room for the Christ child. That all still holds true and has a good feel to it.

This approach however takes the 180 look - the opposite point of view - that ' no room in the inn' was a good thing, for it meant
> a peaceful birth place, not a crowded to overflow capacity inn; full of noise, commotion, contention maybe
> a clean place, the inn would be too busy to be clean, while a manger could be cleaned up
> a private place, the inn would be shoulder to shoulder, the manger just rearrange the animals
> a visit able place- would the shepherds and the angels come visit and worship in a crowded inn. Or would the manger be more conducive for drop by visitors of humble sort.
> if the inn was simply the guest room in the relatives home, the above still would have held true

His birth most likely took place in the natural place for a peasant to be born—, the relatives had no room in the guest quarters, Bethlehem probably not even having something that qualified as an inn; back with the animals it was. That said, the context is probably different than tradition would have us think,but the question we should ask ourselves doesn't vary much - do we have room for Him? Will we accommodate Him in our lives?

Where can you find a Christmas miracle

Where can you find a good Christmas miracle these days?

Our son Evan like many a capital hiller takes the metro from Crystal City to the Capital South  metro station then wends his way to Congressman Roskum's office. It's part of his regular routine and normally is un eventful. This last Wednesday was different.

I received a call on the home phone, which I rarely answer, but looking at the caller ID it's a name instead of a company so I listen.  It's a guy calling from DC named Jonathon  who just got off the Metro.  Evan had gotten off the stop before this guy and had left his wallet on the floor behind his seat, Jonathon had found it.  When Ev got off the train, realizing that he had lost his wallet,  he turned around and proceeded to pound on the door to get back on, the train took off. Evan was freaking out but had the wherewith all to somehow not get hit by the train, get out of the station without his metro card,  and get to his office on capitol hill.  Our son Evan has Down Syndrome and was navigating his commute on his own. 

The wonderful people at his office sat him down, went over everything he had in wallet and began the process of trying to figure out what to do next. Meantime, Evan had his Illinois ID with our illinois address on it in the wallet. Jonathon found the card, then went online, reverse directoried our phone number and gave me a call.  What a kind and nice guy. Not only does he go the extra mile in locating us (Evan) but goes twain.  Jonathan  is in DC for a meeting and had a break around noon so he volunteers to walk to Roskum's office and give Evan the wallet.  One of the things he mentioned in meeting the people at Ev's office was how kind and caring they are about Ev.

Wonderful people all over the world
Angels both those seen and unseen watch over Evan.

Where are the miracles in DC this season?

Ev having the where wits  to not chase after a moving train and going to a familiar place for help.

Rep Roskum's wonderful staff who stand beside and support Evan.

A stranger named Jonathan who saw someone in need, interrupted his day and made a difference in the life of Evan.

If you are looking for a good christmas miracle this season, look no farther than the Capital South Metro.

attack yasmina khadra

I thoroughly enjoyed this painful book to read. One that challenges the comfort of not only dr Amin but of me as a reader. I kept waiting for the calming resolution - there was none. As in this conflict there appears to be none. One reads and ponders what could in fact heal the world.


" Dr Amin Jaafari is a Palestinian with Israeli citizenship. He is an incredibly successful surgeon, awarded numerous honours and living a seemingly idyllic life with his beloved wife, Sihem. They have a beautiful house, but no children. They have strong friendships with Israelis, absorbing a lifestyle that rejects a traditional approach; they’re not practising Muslims. Amin and Sihem are ostensibly the best examples of integration, and despite some tension in the hospital, Amin is blissfully unaware of differences. If we are to believe him, his wife is generally satisfied too.

Dr Amin Jaafari is a Palestinian with Israeli citizenship. He is an incredibly successful surgeon, awarded numerous honours and living a seemingly idyllic life with his beloved wife, Sihem. They have a beautiful house, but no children. They have strong friendships with Israelis, absorbing a lifestyle that rejects a traditional approach; they’re not practising Muslims. Amin and Sihem are ostensibly the best examples of integration, and despite some tension in the hospital, Amin is blissfully unaware of differences. If we are to believe him, his wife is generally satisfied too.

“They can take everything you own- your property, your best years, all your joys, all your good works, everything down to your last shirt- but you'll always have your dreams, so you can reinvent your stolen world.” 

“We’re not Islamists, Dr. Jaafari,” one man tells him. “And we’re not fundamentalists, either. We are only the children of a ravaged, despised people, fighting with whatever means we can to recover our homeland and our dignity.”

― Yasmina Khadra

Days of Honey. - Annia Ciezadlo

The Nytimes says -Ms. Ciezadlo is a seasoned young foreign correspondent — she reported from Baghdad for The Christian Science Monitor and from Beirut for The New Republic — who in “Day of Honey” turns her attention to Middle Eastern culinary traditions and to “the millions of small ways people cope” during wartime. Her book is among the least political, and most intimate and valuable, to have come out of the Iraq war.

It's a unique angle on ingesting war and the coping mechanisms built to go on. The food descriptions inspire one to open one's palate and core dinning s. the  dealing with living in war torn strife is challenging as you are grateful not to be in it yet saddened and guilt laden for having relative ease.

Food is a key part of everyone'slife, whether its live to eat or eat to live. Brigham has always had his own take on the reading / eating discussion and I thank him for the invitation

Food alone can not make peace. It is part of war, like everything else. We can break bread with our neighbors and kill them the next. Food is just an excuse - an opportunity to know your neighbors. When you share it  with others , it becomes something more.

In talking with kid guess the  mom-made foodscare our anchor. Cinammon rolls, salmonn, ribs, trifle, scones, and pancakes for a Saturday .   But they have to be at least similar to how mom makes them, or else they are just food. I wonder what a. Pioneer's take on the subject would be?

ReMake

Same story different movie

You've probablly seen a remade movie at one point in time. a movie that stays true to the basic script but is  fundamentally different because of a new producer and or director. the movie i have watched the most in my life was recently remade, and it is dramatically different.

New Director?

A person who supervises the creative aspects of a dramatic production or film and instructs the actors and crew.

They are chiefly on the hook for taking a screenplay and bringing it to life on the big screen.  A director determines the overall look of the film, sets its mood and tone, and instructs actors, actresses and members of the crew how to carry out the vision that's whirling around in that creative mind of his. 

Summary:

1.The movie director is the person who directs or guides on what the actors and actresses will be portraying in a movie while the movie producer is the one who makes the orders for creating the films.

2.A movie director is the one who envisages the script, managing a film’s creative and theatrical aspects while a movie producer starts, co-ordinates, manages and controls issues such as hiring key personnel, fund-raising, and arranging for film distributions.

3.The movie directors are the ones that do the imaginative visualization of what the completed movie will be while the movie producer is the one who carries out all the phases of film-making procedure from development to the completion of the project.

4.The movie directors don’t have the full control in a film while the movie producer is the one who has the general control of the whole project and considered to be the chief of staff as a particular movie is being made.

same scene in someone else’s movie where you’re in a supporting role? Anyone seeing these two take place at the same time would quickly realize that, while they are both about the same event, they each interpret the situations and emotions in entirely different ways. No two movies will ever be the same, because no two perspectives are ever identical.

And so my favorite , most frequently viewed film has under gone a transformation of emotion, tone, spirit, doctrine and overall effect. Not that the old one is/was bad; not that the new one is flawless and without room to improve. But the new is better for me. And has truly demonstrated the power of a new director - producer.

Traveler's gift - or another list of seven

The travelers gift

Andy Andrews

“The Traveler’s Gift effectively combines self-help with fiction . . . sustaining momentum while simultaneously passing on instructions for positive thinking . . . an exemplary job at providing positive suggestions for overcoming life’s obstacles.” - Publishers Weekly

Not the kind of book you read every month but an enjoyable quick  read . The starting premise of the struggling mid-aged male is too common of an entry point; but gratefully there is hope, inspiration, and a pathway to deliverance. Our hero takes a trip through time and visits several historic figures who bring him insights that if acted upon change the world. They are worth considering:

7 Decisions that Determine Personal Success

1. The buck stops here. President Truman. Forget the past and quit blaming it on yourself or someone. You are responsible from this day forward.

2. Seek wisdom. King Solomon. Be with wise people and those who are searching for truth. Not just those who are on a journey.

3. Be a person of action. Joshua Chamberlain-Civil War-20th Maine Division. Do something. Don't be paralyzed by fear. Make decisions.

4. Have a decided heart. Christopher Columbus. Decide to have passion about your vision for the future. Don't worry about what others say. Poor is the man who believes what people say about him. 

5. Choose to be happy. Anne Frank-Jew during WW2. It's a choice. Be grateful. Choose today to be happy. It's contagious.

6. Have a forgiving spirit. Abe Lincoln at Gettysburg. Forgiveness must be given away. Give up bitterness. Forgive yourself and those who did not ask for forgiveness. 

7. Persist without exception. Gabriel in the room of unanswered prayers. Keep going despite. Don't worry about the pain of the process, picture the end results. Persist, work hard, expect. Have faith....

Yeah, those are seven things worth doing.

Humble Pride

Humble pride

Sunday, a friend of Parker's described how he perceived I should feel about Parker's labour as a missionary; Humble Pride - a very apt description. Proud of what he did, how he did it, and who he became; and intensely humble and gratefully that he had the opportunity, that he took advantage of it, that he  had presidents, leaders, missionaries, members, and non who loved him, worked with him and watched over him. And mindful of a god in heaven who was in the details.

Each of the boys served well and honorably. Their missions had much in common and all grew spectacularly. All were as unique and differed as Spain, Greece, Chicago and Paraguay do from each other . We have been fortunate to have met there ending Mission Presidents. There are few things as humbling  as learning /observing the power of your son(s). There are few things that make you more grateful than witnessing the love of adults for your child and knowing the energy and effort they willingly sacrificed and put into forming, shaping, and supporting your child's growth. There is  a strong emotion when you observe others looking at your son in adoration and witness that to them what your missionary had done was of vital importance.

I am indeed humbly proud of all my children. I am extremely grateful for the transformational power of a mission. 

A late quartet

Yaron Zilberman’s recent film “A Late Quartet” — about multiple crises among members of an esteemed Manhattan-based string quartet as it embarks on its 25th-anniversary season — makes this rarefied subject central to the drama. At least that’s true until the movie, which boasts a powerhouse cast, takes a melodramatic turn toward simmering resentments and an inappropriate affair.

So goes the nytimes review. The movie was thrust upon me in a flight from panama to Paraguay . I say thrust given sitting in coach with the monitor stuck in my head space .  What was more disturbing the dysfunctional relationships themselves or the way Parkinson's arrival on the scene disrupts and is the starting point of a cascade of problems?

Yes the movie was indeed too close. It did cause me to reflect on the necessity to "play big" as the Parkinson's constrains you to go small - in voice, stature and demeanor. 

The movie was interesting in its dissection of professional musicians and their music and their lives; but a little to soap opera -sequence in its story. The actors skilled and convincing.

Instagram and blogs

I ran out of free space to upload images on my blog , yet I developed the hair of photographing many events as a visual journal. I kept taking pictures but stopped posting. Then instantagram became popular. Many in the family and a few key friends insta - so I succumbed to that abbreviated form of communicating.

I don't find it open to philosophy, and post on books don't quite appeal, and it's not as satisfying as the blog writing. Which is interesting given my propensity to short, haiku like blog posts. Almost as many words in instagram but..

So new resolution, trying to keep up with both by doing both in moderation. We'll give it a whirl

Mr Colonial

Evan's ward in Washington DC does a beauty pageant of sorts - it is the Mr Colonial contest. The contestants sing, dance, demonstrate ant and have a beauty pageant of sorts. Evan entered and  had a tremendous experience. Thanks to those who helped him succeed and show his talents'

opening dance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXW5IgrA_So - Evan shows up at 2:20.

Interview Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrlN8hedu0k - Evan is at beginning for 15 sec, then my roommate has a good story about him at 1:28, then he is dancing starting at 1:49-1:55

Casual wear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeJEDbKPczY - Evan is at 6:50

 haven't found footage of the kung fu yet but it is theere

As to marriage

Happy anniversary to my best friend, companion and partner. - LaRinda Elaine .

its been a wild, exotic, and glorious run.
And eternity might just not be long enough.

Marriage, watch and learn by elder whitney clayton

The Promises of the Lord are extended to all those who follow the pattern of life that builds happy, holy marriage relationships.

One evening several years ago, my wife and I were visiting the home of one of our sons and his wife and children for dinner. It was a typical event for a family with small children: there was much noise and even more fun. Shortly after dinner our four-year-old granddaughter, Anna, and I were still sitting at the table. Realizing that she had my full attention, she stood up straight on a bench and fixed her eyes on me. When she was sure that I was looking at her, she solemnly ordered me to “watch and learn.” She then danced and sang a song for me.

Anna’s instruction to “watch and learn” was wisdom from the mouth of a babe. We can learn so much by watching and then considering what we have seen and felt. In that spirit, let me share with you a few principles I have observed by watching and learning from wonderful, faithful marriages. These principles build strong, satisfying marriages that are compatible with heavenly principles. I invite you to watch and learn with me.

First, I have observed that in the happiest marriages both the husband and wife consider their relationship to be a pearl beyond price, a treasure of infinite worth. They both leave their fathers and mothers and set out together to build a marriage that will prosper for eternity. They understand that they walk a divinely ordained path. They know that no other relationship of any kind can bring as much joy, generate as much good, or produce as much personal refinement. Watch and learn: the best marriage partners regard their marriages as priceless.

Next, faith. Successful eternal marriages are built on the foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and adherence to His teachings.¹ I have observed that couples who have made their marriages priceless practice the patterns of faith: they attend sacrament and other meetings every week, hold family home evening, pray and study the scriptures together and as individuals, and pay an honest tithing. Their mutual quest is to be obedient and good. They do not consider the commandments to be a buffet from which they can pick and choose only the most appealing offerings.

Faith is the foundation of every virtue that strengthens marriage. Strengthening faith strengthens marriage. Faith grows as we keep the commandments, and so do the harmony and joy in marriage. Thus, keeping the commandments is fundamental to establishing strong eternal marriages. Watch and learn: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of happy eternal marriages.

Third, repentance. I have learned that happy marriages rely on the gift of repentance. It is an essential element in every good marital relationship. Spouses who regularly conduct honest self-examination and promptly take needed steps to repent and improve experience a healing balm in their marriages. Repentance helps restore and maintain harmony and peace.

Humility is the essence of repentance. Humility is selfless, not selfish. It doesn’t demand its own way or speak with moral superiority. Instead, humility answers softly² and listens kindly for understanding, not vindication. Humility recognizes that no one can change someone else, but with faith, effort, and the help of God, we can undergo our own mighty change of heart.³ Experiencing the mighty change of heart causes us to treat others, especially our spouses, with meekness.⁴ Humility means that both husbands and wives seek to bless, help, and lift each other, putting the other first in every decision. Watch and learn: repentance and humility build happy marriages.

Fourth, respect. I have observed that in wonderful, happy marriages, husbands and wives treat each other as equal partners. Practices from any place or any time in which husbands have dominated wives or treated them in any way as second-class partners in marriage are not in keeping with divine law and should be replaced by correct principles and patterns of behavior.

Husbands and wives in great marriages make decisions unanimously, with each of them acting as a full participant and entitled to an equal voice and vote.⁵ They focus first on the home and on helping each other with their shared responsibilities.⁶ Their marriages are based on cooperation, not negotiation. Their dinner hour and the family time that follows become the center of their day and the object of their best efforts. They turn off electronics and forgo personal entertainment in order to help with household duties. To the extent possible, they read with their children every night and both participate in putting the little ones to bed. They retire to their bed together. As their duties and circumstances permit, husbands and wives work side by side in doing the most important work there is—the work we do in our own homes.

Where there is respect, there is also transparency, which is a key element of happy marriages. There are no secrets about relevant matters in marriages based on mutual respect and transparency. Husbands and wives make all decisions about finances together, and both have access to all information.

Loyalty is a form of respect. Prophets teach that successful marriage partners are “fiercely loyal” to each other.⁷ They keep their social media use fully worthy in every way. They permit themselves no secret Internet experiences. They freely share with each other their social network passwords. They do not look at the virtual profiles of anyone in any way that might betray the sacred trust of their spouse. They never do or say anything that approaches the appearance of impropriety, either virtually or physically. Watch and learn: terrific marriages are completely respectful, transparent, and loyal.

Fifth, love. The happiest marriages I have seen radiate obedience to one of the happiest commandments—that we “live together in love.”⁸ Speaking to husbands, the Lord commanded, “Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.”⁹ A Church handbook teaches: “The word cleave means to be completely devoted and faithful to someone. Married couples cleave to God and one another by serving and loving each other and by keeping covenants in complete fidelity to one another and to God.” Both the husband and wife “leave behind their single life and establish their marriage as [their] first priority. … They allow no other person or interest to have greater priority … than keeping the covenants they have made with God and each other.”¹⁰ Watch and learn: successful couples love each other with complete devotion.

There are those whose marriages are not as happy as they would wish, as well as those who have never married, are divorced, are single parents, or for various reasons are not in a position to marry. These circumstances can be full of challenge and heartbreak, but they need not be eternal. To those of you in such situations who nevertheless “cheerfully do all things that lie in [your] power”¹¹ to persevere, may heaven bless you richly. Seek after the ideal of forming an eternal marriage, including by striving or preparing to be a worthy spouse. Keep the commandments, and trust the Lord and His perfect love for you. One day every promised blessing concerning marriage will be yours.¹²

One of the sweetest verses in the Book of Mormon states simply, “And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them.”¹³ The promises of the Lord are extended to all those who follow the pattern of life that builds happy, holy marriage relationships. Such blessings come as the delightful, predictable consequences of faithfully living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for my wonderful wife, Kathy, who is the love of my life.

Marriage is a gift from God to us; the quality of our marriages is a gift from us to Him. I bear testimony of the marvelous plan of our loving Heavenly Father, which provides for eternal, wondrous marriage. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes

1.  
   1. See “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129.
2.  
   2. See Proverbs 15:1.
3.  
   3. See Alma 5:11–12, 26–31.
4.  
   4. See Moroni 7:43–48; 8:25–26.
5.  
   5. See Doctrine and Covenants 107:27–31.
6.  
   6. See “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” 129.
7.  
   7. See Thomas S. Monson, “Priesthood Power,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 68; Gordon B. Hinckley, “Life’s Obligations,” Ensign, Feb. 1999, 4; Liahona, May 1999, 4.
8.  
   8. Doctrine and Covenants 42:45.
9.  
   9. Doctrine and Covenants 42:22.
10.  
    10. Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010), 1.3.1.
11.  
    11. Doctrine and Covenants 123:17.
12.  
    12. See Handbook 2, 1.3.3.
13.  
    13. 4 Nephi 1:11.

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World Book Day

http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/

Each year on April 23rd, 25,000 passionate readers spread the love of reading by sharing free World Book Night U.S. paperbacks within their communities.  The volunteer book givers each personally hand out 20 books to light or non-readers across America. That's half a million books shared on one day!

Brigham introduced us to the concept, and so this evening found Rindy and I at the naperville train station targeting appropriate people to share the gift of reading.

Rindy handed out copies of  The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency while I distributed 20 copies  of City of  Thieves. Neither meaningful but both enjoyable. We enjoyed being part of a global effort to encourage reading.

Behind The Beautiful Forevers

 " Katherine Boo’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity won the 2012 National Book Awards in nonfiction. The minutely researched, compassionately reported account of waste-pickers in an Indian slum earned praise for its “interview-based narrative in which the interviewer never appears.” 

I had seen the book on a list and checked it out and read it all without knowing it was non-fiction. Katherine Boo weaves a compelling, if not somewhat disturbing  story of Annawadi a Mumbai slum; based on three years of uncompromising reporting, a bewildering age of global change and inequality is made real. It's a world hard to imagine, difficult to understand, and impossible to forget. It describes opportunity in an unequal globalize world; and in a very real manner details the conditions that sabotage the  innate condition of moral action. Good and bad at times appear relative in this undercity life

"He wanted to be better than he was made of" - describes the aspirations of one of the main characters who aspires to be like ice is to water - transformational and more than it is

"Chronic uncertainty had helped create a nation of quick-witted creative problem solvers" - though it accurately describes the residents of Annawadi - could just as easily describe the survivors in  my office from today's economy.

"Unpredictability has a way of grinding down individual promise" - leaves individuals existing by not having anything bad happen to them.

Behind the beautiful forevers -by  Katherine boo - is a recommended read.

Flood of 2013

Parker got up first needing to be at work by 6am, Mac and Rindy getting ready for seminary, me in bed. Parker went in the basement to get milk and discovered the flood had arrived, we' d  been recipients of torrential rain, the road in front became a river and the twin sump pumps became overwhelmed. The rain came down and the water came up.

So 5:30 am became the start of a long day of- pumping and wet vac the basement, cut up and tear out the carpet, move books to high ground, move all the toys, throw out the sectional couch, and get the industrial fans drying it out. Avoiding the mold as best we can.

Service. we belong to a great ward - quickly we had the bishops wife and daughter over with a pump, the missionaries with heavy lifting and hard labor, and then the Bosell family to top of the assist. Many hands indeed make light labor. Rindy and Mac did a lion's share of all - and as always rindy's vision got it done in the best way,

The ward - multiple families in the ward got it. Several extremely worse than we. The ward ruined out in force to help. Parker and Rindy joined in and after finishing at our basement went to help others. Once again. Rindy's critical engineering skills made a significant contribution. She can Mcguiver  with the best of them.

Thankful for friends, thankful that we have some know how and some reserves. Thankful for protection. Hopefully, we will be fixed in a month or so

1,051,897.53

how many minutes are there in two years

Two years looking forward seems like an eternity.
Two years looking backward seems like a dream.

The speed of each son's mission in turn has accelerated - the first two years were relatively long compared to the subsequent missions. As such, Parker's was indeed quick and I imagine by the time Mac goes it will be a blink of an eye.

What do I like about missions:
- the blessings that come to our family
- the spirit of the work that enters our home
- the transformational nature of the experience on the missionary
- the road to conversion and life's journey that it launches the young missionary on as they hear, see, and know and do for themselves.

I am thankful for my mission and the pathway it put me on.
I am grateful for the mission of each of our boys and the pathway it put them on.
I am grateful to have Parker home again.

Jiro

I tend to find international or art or documentary films of quality only through referral. I have neither the patience nor the time to research a movie - I'm just not that big of a movie fan.

BUT

When I get a quality reference I general jump on it. The other night while orienting me to the splendor Amazon Instant Video, he showed me his queue which included Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
It just happens that last night I was not sleeping so I thought I'd follow O's advise. It's ideal for the iPad as it is in Japanese with English subtitles, however quality speakers might have enhanced the incredible score, which heightened the experience. I found the description on Amazon insightful and accurate:

"A thoughtful and elegant meditation on Work, Family, and of Perfection."

The learnings:
^ always look ahead and above yourself
^ always try to improve yourself
^ always strive to elevate your craft

Are you being too positive

negative abeMuch of Abraham Lincoln's literary genius was in his "acute understanding of the power of negation in language," reports Douglas L. Wilson in The Wall Street Journal (1/17/13). In part, this was because "dogged opposition was his lot in the major political struggles of his life," specifically his opposition to "the expansion of slavery and the destruction of the Union, a resistance which gave his negative constructions a moral focus." For example, as he once wrote: "If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong." He also made good rhetorical use of "the antithesis," in his 1858 US Senate campaign against Stephen A. Douglas, when he proclaimed: "With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed." Lincoln often used negation "to emphasize restraint -- what is not to be claimed or not to be done." Of his presidential oath, he wrote: "I could not take the office without taking the oath. Nor was it my view that I might take an oath to get power, and break the oath in using that power." His most famous use of negation, ironically, was in the affirmative, in the Gettysburg Address: "We can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground." And: "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." And most of all, "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." In his last great speech, the Second Inaugural, Lincoln powerfully expressed a positive through a negative in four famous words: "With malice toward none."  Hope you enjoyed that interesting snippet I crossed today