Well, it's time for another edition of "Pot Pourri". 

Why?  Because my blood pressure is rising.

But first, a READING LIST. 

If you want to stay informed, without risking your

powers of rational thought, peruse these regularly:

The Wall Street Journal

Foreign Affairs

Time Magazine

The Day (www,theday.com)
Anything by Charles Krauthammer

The Sunday Review section of the New York Times,

but Not the daily NYTimes!

• Detroit...and ObamaCare: the irresponsible triumph
  of wants over needs. 
• Economic Inequity: It's the Schooling and Parenting, Stupid.
• Pre-WWll, it was isolationism.  Today, it's surrender to a "world government".  Wrong both times.
• A bloated Federal Government vs the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the States. Read "No They Can't", by John Stossel.  Read also the article by Cal Thomas entitiled "Good News:Voters Losing Faith In Politics".
• Barack Obama came into office promising "Change".  But his "Change" is unacceptable to a strong majority of Americans. So, don't be surprised by the stale-mate in Washington.  "It's a good thing".

I hope that this is for real.  But real or not, it's right on point.

Folks,

last night's Talking Points Memo by Bill O'Reilly was the best that I have seen

by anyone on the subject...except by me during the previous days as posted on my

Rapid Response section of my web-site (www.asthma-drsprecace.com). 

"No Brag.  Just Fact".  Seriously, this is a Must Watch, found at

http://www.billoreilly.com/b/Mike-Huckabee:-The-value-of-life-in-America/-216492375519598227.html as a video.  

Do yourselves a favor and watch it in its entirety.  Then, to modify the current saying:

"WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING...DO SOMETHING!"

Watch this, then ask yourself, how did we get here?

This gentleman's video on YouTube has been so popular that Obama is said to have called him personally and invited him to the White House.

That's very interesting.

Watch it now before it's pulled from YouTube.

THE VERDICT...AND THE AFTERMATH...

Please see my comment in this section, written July 13, 2013, within minutes of seeing and hearing the verdict in the Zimmerman case. 

So much for expecting and hoping for a rational reaction from elements of the public. 

First let me offer a general comment directed toward those who are denigrating the American Justice System, including by violent words and actions: !@#$%^&*(!.

Now, let 's list some of the negative commentaries, especially those coming from that sad lot that pass for the "leadership of the Black Community". 

"America is still a racist nation".

A Black person can't get justice in the courts.

Trayvon Martin was just a child.  He needs to be avenged .

Zimmerman should be charged with a Hate Crime.

etc., etc., etc.

Indeed, after publishing an informative and balanced article by Mike Schneider of the AP on July 14, the Editorial Board of  The Day (www.theday.com) issued an outrageous diatribe on the subject.  Congratulations!

And now, let's make some observations.

America is not a racist nation.  Indeed, the most racist of Americans are many prominent Black "leaders" and their lemming-like followers.  

Many Black people get plenty of justice in the courts, thanks to their irresponsibility, as witnessed by the percentage of Black people who populate our prisons.

Trayvon Martin was not a child.  He knew where he was and what he was doing.  Unfortunately, he did it at the wrong time, on that fateful night.  And his case received impartial American justice that applied the applicable law - and not raw emotion - to the available facts. 

For George Zimmerman to be charged with a Hate Crime, given the available facts already found in a Court of Law, would be prosecutorial misconduct - and would be tantamount to Double Jeopardy. 

THE VERDICT...

As is always my approach in a criminal trial, I wait for the jury

to tell me what happened.  Only the jury can have all the available

facts, all the evidence that is "more probative than prejudicial".

The jury has arrived at its decision.

My only serious disappointment relates to the strong efforts by

some in the community, by some of what sadly passes for

"Black Leadership", and even by the Prosecution - including as

late as during final summation - to inject and play a "race card"

with all of its attendant emotional baggage. 

At one point, the Prosecutor asked rhetorically whether, if Martin

had been the neighborhood watchman, self-defense would be

considered a plausible defense.  In fact, I had already asked and

answered that question for myself a long time ago: of course!

The verdict would have and should have been the same.  

Once again, our system of criminal justice has proven itself worthy

of our confidence.  In fact, the weak link in that system is the occasional

evidence, often years or decades after the injustice perpetrated, of

prosecutorial misconduct, always an outrage. 

Now, at long last, can we stop injecting Race and race-baiting into rational

It is very important that you closely inspect the 1934 cartoon below. Keep in mind there were Communist and Marxist operatives in the U.S.A. in 1934, when we were in the middle of the Great Depression. This cartoon was in the Chicago Tribune in 1934. Look carefully at the Communist’s "Plan of Action" in the lower left corner.



Does this seem familiar? Remember the adage: "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it." To parody the words of Winston Churchill, "Never have so many been manipulated so much by so few.”

As I have already observed, what is needed to avert a World War lll between the world of Islam and the rest of the world is a civil war between moderate Muslims and the fundamentalist theocratic crazies.  Developments particularly in Egypt, and to a lesser extent in Turkey, should be considered and supported as the beginning of that civil war.  Meanwhile, the centuries - old conflicts between Shia and Sunni sects of Islam, and between Alowites and others are merely power-plays to determine who continues to enslave the People.  America was sucked into a prolonged war in Iraq without prior understanding of that fact.  These realities should form the basis for our national foreign policy in those areas.  

This is, officially, the SUMMER OF NEW LONDON HARBOR LIGHT!

  But it's not a bad time for RACE ROCK LIGHT, either.  Watch on NBC (click right>) HERE.
 & we're having a party!  save the date: Thursday, July 25, 6 to 8 PM.

Sentinels on the Sound  - Lighthouse Saturdays - start next weekend

July 6 through September 7, 2013

10 Saturdays of lighthouse events, boat rides and performances! 

Make your reservation now  

July 6, 7:00 PM Lighthouses as Beacons of Light & Hope 

Pianist Martin Berkofsky in Concert

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN:

Sonata Op. 10, No. 2 in F Major

Sonata Op. 27 No. 2 in C# minor

Légende: St. François d'Assise: La Prédication aux   
   oiseaux,

Légende: St. St. François de Paule marchant sur les flot

Admission $35 donation, $25 NLMS members. Seating is limited to 45.

Benefits both Amistad America and NL Maritime Society Lighthouse Fund.  

Call for reservations: 860-447-2501

Pianist Martin Berkofsky lived in a lighthouse in Finland for two years.
He writes:  the symbolism of lighthouses: built by men to care and protect others-to protect and to save lives...what a powerful symbol and what a spectacular, powerful, and moving influence this had upon me and my music those unforgettable two years!

FRANZ LISZT:

   Pater Noster

What else is going on next Saturday?

Saturday, July 6, 10 AM

Excursion to Fishers Island to view Race Rock Light exhibition, with lunch at the Pequot Inn.
Taking the Fishers Island Ferry from New London. $60, limited to 11.

Call 860-912-6814 or 860-447-2501 to make reservations. (A 2nd Fishers Island excursion is scheduled for July 27.)
As of June 29: there are three spots left!

Right: Race Rock Light now on view at the Henry L. Ferguson Museum, Fishers Island, NY. Curated by Pierce Rafferty.

Our friends Amistad America will be at the Custom House Pier on July 6.
The ship will be open from noon to 4 pm for dockside visits. Stop by & learn about their new mission. FREE.      

There are Five Boat trips every Saturday (except July 13 - SailFest). Sign up now for July 6 

Six passengers, only, per trip. Tickets are $35 for adults,$25 children age 14 and younger.

All proceeds, beyond boat costs, go to the Lighthouse Restoration Fund.

Boat trips to New London Harbor Light - Saturdays at 11 AM, 1, and 3 PM.

Cruise to the lighthouse and climb 119 steps up to the lantern.

'Three Sisters' Lighthouse tours - Saturdays at 12 noon, and 2 PM. 

Sit back and cruise by New London's three harbor lighthouses: NL Harbor, Ledge and Avery Point Lights.

To make boat tour reservations, please call 860-912-6814, or or email nlharborlight@gmail.com. Payment will be accepted over the phone or through Paypal.  (Please be sure to specify which tour you would like to book.)  As of June 29: all but one boat tour still have openings.

See the full schedule  of SUMMER LIGHTHOUSE SATURDAYS activities, (click >) NEWSLETTER.

The Plum Island trip (8.30.13) is filling quickly -- and you must sign up 30 days in advance for a security check. Please call 860-912-6814, or or email nlharborlight@gmail.com & sign up, today.
Sponsors of Lighthouse Saturdays include: Veolia Water / New London Water Authority, Hefel Masonry LLC, Captain Scott's Lobster Dock,  CTrides, England Regional Council of Carpenters, Stone Masons Union, and Fishers Island Ferry.

Last Sunday's donation, only lighthouse tours brought 90 people through New London Harbor Light and raised $450 for the Lighthouse Fund - thank you! We will schedule another such day towards the end of the summer.   

We're also What's New on ShorelineEast.  Learn more about the Lighthouse Stamp HERE.

2013 is New London Maritime Society's 30th Anniversary. 

Every day, in every way,  we're getting better and better: We just were given a lighthouse!

      On Thursday, June 27, the GSA conveyed ownership of Race Rock Light from the US federal government to the New London Maritime Society. NLMS thanks the GSA/NPS for their confidence in us; we also thank the people who helped with the Race Rock application by writing letters of support, and the many members, volunteers, & donors who help us, everyday, to maintain our vision.

Be sure to stop in to see the special exhibition on view through July,2013

Celebrating Fifteen Years of the Frank L. McGuire Library, curated by Brian Rogers, NLMS librarian.

New Time: Every THURSDAY, from 5 to 6 o'clock PM  we're on TV.  

Watch New London Maritime Society (NLMS) Custom House Maritime Matters, 
on New London Metrocast cable, channel 25, with host Dr. George Sprecace.

Happy 4th!

 The Custom House Maritime Museum -  telling the stories of New London's waterfront! 

nlmaritimesociety.org

Be Part of Something BIG's goal is to raise $150,000 from the public towards the total of $300,000 required for the task of tenting, scaffolding, scraping, re-pointing, and painting the lighthouse.  Already over $60,000 has been raised from sponsors and foundations. Our goal is to collect $150,000 by October, 2013, to match a State of Connecticut Historic Restoration Fund grant to reach our ultimate goal of $300,000. Sponsors to-date include The Chester Kitchings Family Foundation, The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund,  Hefel Masonry, the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, the Stone Masons Union, and the Eschenfelder Family.   

Be Part of Something BIG - donate today.    

Buy an I'm Part of Something BIG  button for $10 at the Custom House and receive
discounts  on services and purchases at participating establishments
in downtown New London. Offers are good for 10 Lighthouse Saturdays, only.