Posted on October 7, 2008
barber wheat field
Here we are again revisiting the battle of Saratoga. When last we left generals Burgoyne and Gates on September 19th they were pretty much locked in a stalemate. The British unable to advance against superior numbers of colonial troops dug themselves in and fortified their position. But, by early October supplies for the British army were running low.
On October 7th Burgoyne sent out a “reconnaissance-in-force” of about 1,500 men and cannon to forage for supplies. While harvesting wheat from the Barber Wheatfield to replenish their supplies, the British were once again set upon by the Morgan Rifles along with Learned’s and Poor’s brigades. The Americans, inflicting over 400 casualties on the 1,500 man force, pursued the British and eventually attacked the fortified positions on the right of the British lines. It was during this action that Benedict Arnold – who would be seriously injured – helped rally the American forces to victory, culminating in Burgoyne’s retreat and eventual surrender ten days later, on the 17th of October.
FollowPosted on September 30, 2008
be complex
Every year the world grows more and more complex. Technology, politics, economics, the environment all these systems grow more and more intricate. In a complex world intricate systems cannot be managed with a simplistic, black and white, right and wrong style of thinking. There is a need for those leaders in the systems that are the engines of the modern world to have critical thinking skills, an intellectually nuanced way of balancing and weighing options with respect to the influence of actions taken here, effecting situations there.
We are now in a situation where there are those in the electorate that have no appreciation for the intricacies that are woven into the fabric of the twenty-first century. They honestly believe that present day situations can be handled with yesterday’s ideologies. This election – congressional as well as presidential – is about understanding the complexities of our times.
The question now is: are those Americans who are intellectually capable of appreciating the world’s situation also intellectually capable of appreciating their need to voice their concerns in the voting booth.
Posted on September 19, 2008
change we can believe in
In 1777 seven thousand British and Hessian troops led by General John Burgoyne, marched out of Canada toward New York City in an attempt to separate the Eastern Colonies, now New England, from the rest of our fledgling nation. Simple strategy, divide and conquer. Burgoyne’s route was to take his army along Lake Champlain then Lake George, finally following the Hudson River south to New York City. Unfortunately Burgoyne hit a little snag.
On this date, September 19, 1777 the seven thousand soldiers under Burgoyne met 17, 000 patriots outside of Saratoga, New York at Freeman’s farm and the Battle of Saratoga was begun. The battle that was to become the turning point of the American Revolution would culminate on October 7th with the final assault on British positions and Burgoyne’s eventual surrender. When news of the British defeat reached Europe, France made a decision to back the rebellion and the rest, as they say, is history.
I visited the Saratoga National Battlefield over the summer. During my visit I overheard a park ranger inform a couple of grade school kids that this was the place of the most important battle of the last thousand years (obviously alluding to the Battle of Hastings in 1066). When you think about it, she might have been selling Saratoga short. The founding of the United States and the effect this country and this form of government has had on the world over the past 230 years is amazing. And so today, I hang the American flag from my front porch to commemorate what is one of the most important dates in world history.
Posted on September 15, 2008
v.i.p. (very insecure people)
Saturday afternoon my wife and I went window shopping at the Tanger Outlet stores in Riverhead (pretending we were shopping because in this economy…). My daughter is getting married in March so my wife was looking at dressy dresses. At the Sak’s Fifth Avenue outlet store, let me repeat that, outlet store, they have a V.I.P. section. I really have to say that again. The Sak’s outlet store has a V.I.P. section. Isn’t that an oxymoran. Or is an oxymoran someone who shops in the V.I.P. section of an outlet store.
Before you know it, the maitre d’ at McDonalds will be asking if you have reservations. And in the voice of the Church Lady, “Don’t we all need to feel special?”.
Posted on September 5, 2008
monkey on his back
There is a thing about being alive. One side of the coin is routine the other side is unlimited diversity. The saying goes that you only live once. Carpe diem. There is so much to explore in life, internally and externally. Today in the New York Times there were two articles that grabbed my attention. The first piece was on page one. It described the activity of brain cells in subjects as they were asked to recall film clips they had recently viewed. I’m always fascinated by the workings of the brain, for it is neural activity that comprises what we experience as consciousness. The other article was, to me, even more fascinating.The article dealt with an elephant in China that was addicted to heroin. Seems some bad guys fed him heroin to keep him calm after his capture. The elephant developed an addiction and eventually experienced withdrawal. He was treated with methadone and has now recovered. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/world/asia/05briefs-ADDICTEDELEP_BRF.html?scp=1&sq=elephant%20heroin&st=cse
Here’s the picture: An elephant with a monkey on his back. 
