Conversion Experience

'Converted' Skeptic: Humans Driving Recent Warming - NYTimes.com

I wonder if the skeptics will only be convinced when the deed is done, making it too late to be effective in stopping it?  Wonder what that will do to the economy?  This site has an interesting graphic that illustrates the warming over the past 250 years.

Israeli Hawks don't have the only view

Former top IDF officials worry that Netanyahu is bent on an Iran strike - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

death drip or shrink

Colorado shooting suspect James Holmes was seeing psychiatrist at university before massacre - The Washington Post

Vengeance may demand a blood sacrifice in atonement for the massacre in the theater but it seems obvious that one does not do things like this without some mental derangement.  Schizophrenia would fit the bill for the murderous behavior but may not be enough to satisfy the public.  However, it would allow for the planning and meticulous execution.

Poverty In The U.S.

Poverty In The U.S. By The Numbers : NPR

If you can read a graph these are some sobering statistics.  What is clear is that for the past 30 years poverty has trended up during GOP administrations and down during Democratic administrations.  While it cannot be laid specifically at the feet of the ruling party it is a pretty good indication of how their respective policies affect consumers.

The Death of the Middle Class

The Agenda: A Closer Look at Middle Class Decline - NYTimes.com

a must read.  I will attempt to keep up with the installments and post them here.

Sally Ride: off to the last frontier

Sally Ride, First American Woman in Space, Dies at 61 | PBS NewsHour

2012 photos

the deluge

Cuz'n Earl

Billy Joe Shaver

23 String Band

Punch Brothers

Punch Brothers

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

J.D. Crowe

Abigail Washburn

Kai Welsh and Abigail Washburn

Ben Sollee

Judi Lin and Mandy

Volunteers from the Y in Lexington.  Practicing the box step.

Abigail, Kai and Ben

Owen Reynolds and Mitch Barrett

Amy Nash and Stephen Gordon

Outlet Down

Master Musician's Festival 2012

Abigail, Kai and Ben

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Billy Joe Shaver

After the Deluge

The weekend of the Master Musician's Festival got started with a great big splash as the deluge spilled forth at the opening bell. People scattered for cover and I found mine under the sound tent where, graciously, the crew there saw fit to allow me to cower. I repaid their generosity by anchoring a leg of the tent when the blustery winds threatened to mistake it for a sail and take us to the South. The deluge, and I will continue to call it that, drenched the site for about a half hour leaving it a sodden and sometimes muddy mess. However, the volunteers and crew bustled about and the festival got started about an hour late with the opening act, Cuz'n Earl. These are musicians derived from several local bands and they certainly provided a lively kickoff to the festival.

They were followed by The Barry Mando Project, he plays a baritone mandolin for the curious. Their music was pretty jazzy but I like jazz so it was very enjoyable. One of the things I appreciated most about it was the drumming. Jazz drumming is a little different and it was interesting to listen especially to the sound of the snare and tom tom.

The crowd surged up to the stage before Billy Joe Shaver even took the stage. He did not disappoint. He sang us through a repertoire of songs he has written and never even scratched the surface. Wearing a knee brace he still managed to dance a jig or two and it was plain that he fed off of the adoration of the faithful. A particularly poignant moment was when he spoke of his son who fell victim to a drug overdose several years ago. He had a song he had written and he sang it a Capella in memory. It was indeed a treat to witness one of the major influences in so much of American music and note his love for both the stage and the music.

Friday night closed with the 23 String Band and this is not the same band I recall from a couple of years ago. This band was much more energetic and enthused. The mix of vocal harmonies was exquisite and it was apparent that each musician was quite the virtuoso. The lead singer, who hails from Owsley County, has an amazing voice. I really enjoyed them and would stack them up against either The Avett Brothers or Mumford and Sons.

I am sorry to say that I missed the opening act Saturday, Borrowed Blue, but I was told by several that they were very good. I arrived in time to catch Outlet Down and was impressed with their straight ahead hard rock. While their musicians were quite capable the guy doing lead vocals was very impressive with a voice reminiscent of Bon Scott of AC/DC and, in my opinion, is much better than Scott's replacement, Brian Johnson. He sang the upper register parts with an ease and no evidence of straining.

Stephen Gordon brought along a collaborator named Amy Nash who he described as a songwriter from Nashville, I don't think they named the town after her due to the age difference. I would say it was sort of like listening to James Taylor or, perhaps, Gordon Lightfoot. It was an easy style, strong on lyrics and strong lyrics are dear to my heart. Ms. Nash had an interesting voice and was quite pleasant to listen to both as the lead and in harmony.

Mitch Barrett and Owen Reynolds were pretty much as expected, solid performances and good songwriting for which Mitch is known. I did like him but, as I noted before, I perhaps liked him better singing with Carla Gover who gave the music an added dimension. I slipped off while they were performing and drifted over into the little valley where I happened upon a workshop hosted by Abigail Washburn, Kai Welsh and Ben Sollee. These small gatherings, perhaps 75 people allow for more personal interaction and a chance to learn what motivates these artists. I am writing another column about Abigail Washburn so I won't go into detail here but suffice it to say I was quite impressed. I may have also gained a small bit of sophistication making me able to appreciate Ben Sollee's interpretations on the cello. It is amazing how some knowledge of the personalities and motivations of musicians can give one insight into their music. I think, perhaps, that it is the social implications of music that I find most fascinating. So, stay tuned for my Abigail Washburn/Kai Welsh column.

Ben Sollee was his always impressive self which leaves novices such as myself with a lingering suspicion that I may have missed the point. However, one must never dismiss music on short notice for there is something in the artistry to be gleaned. Learning should be continuous and this is a trait of this festival.

The Downtown County Band was quite competent and performed well. Each member demonstrated an familiarity with his instrument and each performed vocally as well. They put on a good show but I watched them after my epiphany with Ms. Washburn and perhaps my senses were jaded.

As I noted in my previous column I first saw J.D. Crowe in 1969 and that was 43 years ago. He would have been about 33 and me 21. I have seen him many times since and while his virtuosity has not diminished the toll of the years are evident. One must stand in the presence of J.D. as one stands in the presence of greatness with reverence. In addition, his band has been made up of more luminous members in the past. Make no mistake, he was not a disappointment but maybe was not up to some of the performances he has done in the past. Since this is his last year touring we were very fortunate to have him present.

I expressed early on that Jason Isbell may be the best performer for this year's festival. In my opinion he was but for many others it was Billy Joe. Hard to argue with either choice. Isbell hails from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the home of much of the music that comes from the deep south. He is very strong with his lyrical sensibilities and has a voice and a band with the technical expertise to bring emotive expression to them. The guy can rock but it is evident his forte is writing. Dress Blues was my favorite song as I expected. It tells of a high school classmate who joined the service and went off to war, only to return in a box. Very poignant. Jason Isbell gets my vote but I think my grandson will vote for Billy Joe Shaver. We are both winners.

Well, just call me unappreciative but I just did not enjoy The Punch Brothers as much as I expected I might. Chris Thile has been here before in the incarnation of Nickel Creek and I was not impressed then either. I think it is just me and that I just don't care for the interpretations he writes for the mandolin. I am not musically trained enough to be very critical but it seems to me that the arrangements were much too structured and I don't think his voice is very expressive. These days lots of bands are trying to hitch a ride on the phenomenon of The Avett Brothers and Mumford and Sons. Some do it better than others.

But, the thing about music, as it is with all art, is that it does not have to have the acceptance of its audience even though everyone appreciates affirmation. This festival is successful at bringing acts that stretch one's experience and doing that is always good.

Hats off to the board for a very successful festival. Hope they were able to meed financial goals and I am already looking forward to next year.

Group Settlement? I think not.

Banks in Libor probe consider group settlement | Reuters

No Way!!  These banks should be held to account in public and made to accept not only the judgement of regulators but also from the 99% for their arrogance.

Hard Times on the Plains

Worst drought in 50 years could last through October - CSMonitor.com

our family and friends who farm the great plains are in desperate straits.  It appears that nothing is left but prayer, as if there is anything else when it comes to the weather.  What it will be like to lose that production may well be catastrophic.

I'll Raise You a Bus Bombing

Bulgaria suicide bomber confirmed to be Hezbollah member - The Globe and Mail

this ups the ante in the secret war between Israel and Iran.  What will the next play be?

Syrian End Game

Syria rebels seize Iraq border as UN action blocked - Hindustan Times 

One has to wonder what the game plan is for Russia and China.  With Assad poised to use chemical weapons will they continue to deter action by the UN.  Their position effectively precludes unilateral action.

Surprise

Libyan liberals take the lead - CSMonitor.com

A pleasant surprise for a country that I thought had no chance at avoiding an Islamist government.  Really good to see democracy take root in a hopeful format.

Job Creators in Action

AFP: US lawmakers lash HSBC over laundering controls

Lets not bother these guys with regulation.  They are doing such a good job of creating jobs.  Problem is they are just not legal.

The Death of Coal

Miners Weather The Slow Burn Of Coal's Demise : NPR

Much of this pain could have been avoided had our business leaders and politicians not been so subservient at the feet of King Coal.  Anyone with eyes to see could predict the eventual decline of the coal industry.  It has been short sighted and has caused great harm to the Commonwealth and other coal producing states.  Those decisions will strand those states in poverty for more generations repeating the outrageous profiteering of previous other corporate giants that have stripped these states of natural resources and left devastation in their wakes.

MMF 2012 Edition

Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies
And ev'ryone goes, 'cause everyone knows

Neil Diamond

Well, I am teed up for another go at the annual installment of the Master Musician's Festival. I tell people that this is the only weekend of the year that I block out on my schedule. Only family can bring enough pressure to get me to forgo it. I am really excited about it this year but then I am every year. It is hard to believe that this is the last year for touring for J.D. Crowe. The first time I recall seeing him was in 1969 in the lounge at Holiday Inn North in Lexington. I was a much younger man, for you mathematically challenged I was 21, and bluegrass was not my forte in those days but one always has to be impressed with talent. I observed many playbill leaders serve an apprenticeship under J.D. then move on to stardom. In the intervening years I have broadened my music appreciation and I am happy to be able to have that memory. Shucks, a lot of you weren't even a gleam in your parent's eyes then. J.D. Is the epitome of bluegrass and it will be a wonderful treat to see him again.

Tiffany Bourne and the MMF board have done a darned good job with the lineup this year. One of the criticisms I heard from last year was that Steve Earle wasn't an energetic enough performer to end on. I have to tell you that I thought that landing Steve Earle was a coup. His prowess at writing and performing are a match for anyone in the business these days and he was in Somerset at MMF. Count yourself lucky to have been there. However, this year's selection of The Punch Brothers should get the heels hopping for a closer.

Until my grandson told me I was not aware of who Jason Isbell was. I have spent some months becoming familiarized and he could be the one I am looking forward to seeing the most. A former member of the Drive By Truckers, he has branched out on his own with some wonderful music in the style of what we now know uniquely as Americana. The lyrics to his songs are poignant and meaningful. Listen for Dress Blues. A musical take on our soldiers and what they endure and sometimes end up. Also, Hurricanes and Hand Grenades is one of my favorites.

What can one say about Billy Joe Shaver that has not already been said. Those Texas Troubadours have got something in their whiskey that gives them a gift if they can handle it. Last year we had Guy Clark who is legendary and, according to Steve Earle, his mentor. Steve counts himself a Texan even though he's from Virginia. In the past we've had such Texans as Robert Earl Keen, Junior Brown and numerous others perform here in Somerset. Billy Joe Shaver, though, has written many songs taken to hit status by others and has been in the business long enough to have known many of the early performers. Shoot, he might be one of the early performers. I can recall him from at least the early 1970s.

I am glad to see Mitch Barrett again. He is a tremendous area performer but, to be truthful, I probably liked him better with Carla Gover as Zoe Speaks. He is a talented musician and has a flair for our Appalachian heritage. I have seen Ben Sollee before and, while he is a talented musician, I just am not sure I am sophisticated enough to appreciate his interpretations on the cello. However, I believe one of the goals of this festival is to educate people in the arts so I will once again present myself for education and perhaps I will have an eureka moment.

I am also pretty keen on Cuzin Earl and the Barry Mando Project. I am a bit familiar with the former and not so much with the latter but eager to pick up on some of the conversation I have heard about them. The 23 String Band is an amazing collection of area musicians. One of the things I like to see is local musicians getting exposure on a stage like this. As Michael Jonathon of the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour says, all one has to do is go out and listen. There is a wealth of music, great music, that does not get air time but is every bit as good as that which does.

This festival is always done so tastefully with a family atmosphere in mind. One can come with chairs, blankets but no umbrellas with which to shade oneself from the tortuous July sun. Oh, and Kelly, no pets. I have always placed myself front row center but, as I said last year, I'm thinking more of the shade this year. Also, front row center works pretty good until Saturday night and then it becomes more front row behind all the dancers and vision for a sitter is obstructed. It seems just a short few years ago that I was one of the dancers and revelers but once I start counting it may have been longer than that. Whatever the case, these days it's about the music. And my friends.

These days it seems that work and daily chores consume so much of our time and it is at the expense of those friendships forged in a younger day but which still retain that sweetness that comes from shared time and experiences. I rarely see many of them but at this festival it is like Old Home Week. They are all there even if they do appear a bit different. And they still bring just as much of that sweetness and reverie I knew long ago.

I hope you'll come out to help make this home grown festival a success. In this economy one would be hard pressed to get more bang for the buck. I'm looking forward to writing a review of the festival in a couple of weeks with some photos. If you see me there come over and introduce yourself and sit a spell.

My take on a long anticipated weekend.  Hot or not, rain or shine.

rmoore@somerset-kentucky.com    www.rfmoore.blogspot.com  

Who's the Best?

Magic Johnson laughs along with Jordan over Kobe's comments

Think Kobe might have gotten a bit carried away?

Listen to the Drums

Syrian Ambassador to Iraq Defects; Joins Rebels

The drumbeat grows louder.  Assad's removal from power is all but certain.  What remains is to leave a functional government in place, preferably one that does not swear fealty to Iran.

Speaking Truth

Ky. voices: Jason Bailey: Health care law will benefit Kentuckians in many ways | Op-Ed | Kentucky.com

here are just a few of the ways that the Affordable Care Act begins to provide additonal coverage while bending the curve for health care costs.  It points out the ways that it is economically helpful for states to set up exchanges.
 Many GOP governors are choosing to do their residents a grave disservice by opting out of the new health care act.  In its split decision the Court allowed states to do this without losing any of their existing Medicaid reimbursement.  An act that smacks of partisanship.  They claim it would place unsustainable costs on the state down the road even though the feds will pick up 100% of the cost for the first 3 years then the state would cover 10% of the additional cost.

China Faltering?

Is the Chinese Economy Running Out of Steam? : The New Yorker

it is interesting to hear of this but some experts have been speaking of some of China's problems of the future that may be very difficult to deal with.  The lack of  a prosperous middle class prevents China from developing a stable domestic demand.  Once a middle class becomes affluent they begin to demand more in the way of government services.  In addition, the one child policy is going to lead to a rapidly aging society that won't be easily turned around.  The long term picture for the next 50 to 100 years does not look that good for China.

Perry: Texas will opt out of Medicaid expansion, insurance exchange

Perry: Texas will opt out of Medicaid expansion, insurance exchange


How can it not be a good deal to insure the remaining part of your uninsured population for a mere 7% of the cost?  The benefit in improved health has to be more than that. I think Perry just has his shorts in a wad.

The Girl from Ipanema

Who Is She? Just One Of The Most Popular Songs Ever : NPR



 This is an entrancing song.  difficult to believe that the singer had never worked professionally before.  From 1962, give it a listen.

Go Figure.

Podcast: The Poison Beneath Us - ProPublica

It is just way over the top to think that one can pump toxic liquids into the deep underground without it having a long term negative effect on the water supply.  What are people thinking?  I just don't get it.

Cutting Off Your Nose?

Mystery After the Health Care Ruling: Which States Will Refuse Medicaid Expansion? - ProPublica

I'm curious.  If it means covering almost all of their citizens for only 7 % of the cost would it not be cheaper overall for the state to do so?  Seems like a gimme. Seems like it would take the state off the hook for indigent care they now assume in other ways.  Looks like cutting off your nose to spite your face as my Mom used to say.

The People Win.

The Associated Press: EU Parliament rejects ACTA anti-piracy treaty

Good deal!  A similar effort to allow corporate media outlets to market internet access for more profitability was defeated in the US recently.  The internet is a great leveling tool for the great numbers of common folks.  Without the ubiquity of the internet the movements toward freedom in the Middle East could never have happened.

Render unto Caesar.

Bishop's July 4 call: God grants freedom, not government

It appears that the church is willing to take a position that will have the effect of alienating its members from the ruling hierarchy.   Catholic doctrine can place as much emphasis on teachings of the church as it does on scripture.  The example of the coin mentioned in this article required some inventive thinking to circumvent.  The church needs to acknowledge that its secular endeavors are separate from the non-secular.

I thought it was a penalty before I thought it was a tax.

Mitt Romney says healthcare penalty is a tax, contradicting spokesman who said it was not - Political Intelligence - A national political and campaign blog from The Boston Globe - Boston.com


It appears that the campaign determined it was more valuable to have a tax going forward even if it meant having one on his record just like it in the past.

They Fight for Liberty

It is one of the times of the year when we take time to contemplate the blessings of life in the United States of America. July 4^th is the day we set aside to honor the signing of that document that began us on the road to rebellion and independence from Great Britain which was the preeminent power in the world in that day.

It is reckoned that at any given time prior to victory in our war of revolution there was never more than a third of the population dead set on taking on the might of Great Britain. Most were simply desirous of a little tweaking in the relationship and many were outright loyalists.

Well, we all know who won, against all odds, by simply outlasting the British until they tired of trying to keep supply lines open across the pond. It was an incredible amount of resolve on the part of not too many rebels to persevere and not a little assurance they would surely hang if they lost.

The freedoms enumerated in our foundational document have been a noble experiment unknown to the world prior to this. It was just off the wall to think that the common people would have enough wisdom to govern a nation and, to be sure, sometimes we still think that. In truth, no one was really sure exactly what they had voted for and disagreements began to surface almost immediately and have continued to this day. Much to the consternation of Jefferson and Madison the Federalists under Alexander Hamilton enacted the Alien and Sedition Act which, among other things, placed restrictions on what we now consider a given, our Freedom of Speech. This act was designed to keep down the criticisms of the governmental power with everyone in fear of the damage to the fledgling nation. The opposition was certain it went too far. Surely, if it were enacted today it would be found lacking but we see similar actions even today. Most of the act was allowed to die a quiet death since the precedent establishing judicial review had not been decided yet.

As a nation we have been in a unique place in history by being protected by oceans on both sides and friends to the North and South. But there have been a few attempts at a direct attack on the mainland and all of them have been repulsed. But the attacks against our freedoms do not come so much from outside as it does from inside. We have our brave men and women in uniform who have given their lives to further the aims of the United States but they are by no means the only ones who have fought on behalf of their country.

There are those who fought the long fight to bring the freedoms we enjoy to all people regardless of creed, color or race. Some lost their lives in the fight, some carry scars even now from those battles for freedom. During World War II we embraced one of the provisions of the defunct Alien and Sedition Act by imprisoning the Japanese-Americans without due process or recourse through the courts but there were those who knew the wrongness of that and defied persecution to bring freedom.

 

It has always been the danger from within that is our greatest enemy. People who are not aware that a simple denial of liberty can lead to a greater one may see no fault in compelling behavior they perceive as right but often that coercion denies a person the right to assemble, freedom of movement, freedom to be secure from unreasonable search and seizure and the freedom to speak out against our government if we perceive it to be acting wrongly.

After 9/11 our country passed some laws that allow unusual amounts of surveillance of electronic and other types of media. The ability to peer into vast amounts of data and extract a significant fact reaches lengths we can only imagine and yet legislators from both parties approved it and it is ongoing. It is giving us valuable insight into threats but at what cost? There are those who are engaged in the ongoing battle to protect those freedoms that define our nation for without them who or what are we?

On the 4^th we will set off great fireworks as Washington envisioned and we will celebrate the rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air and that is as it should be. A great nation needs to remember the foundational circumstances that gave birth to our country that we love. We will celebrate the men and women who serve in our armed forces so that we can live the kind of life here that will never know the horror they see. But there are others that are often unsung and they are the ones that fought in streets with demonstrations and in courts with lawsuits to reclaim or ensure the blessings of liberty.

This year take an expansive view of who fights for our country and think not only of the revolutionaries or our armed forces but also of someone who fights on the home front in a different way. It is recounted that Benjamin Franklin upon exiting the session that drew up the Constitution was asked by a woman what he and his cohorts had given them. His reply was, “a republic, Madam, if you can keep it.” Never forget that it all began with citizens talking among themselves about ideas that had only been know heretofore in books of philosophy. Let that be a cause for celebration in your life and a renewal of dedication to the notion that all men are created equal. And don't leave out the women. They have fought as hard as the men. And remember that we can only lose it from within.

My take on this July 4^th celebration. The 236^th of our history. Tell me what you think.

Goodnight from Mayberry

TV icon Andy Griffith dies at 86� - NY Daily News

I watched an interview with Ron Howard commenting on his experiences with Andy Griffith. I was struck by a comment he attributed to Andy.  He said that the kind of life expressed in Mayberry was already long past.  That it depicted a life more in tune with the 1930s than the 1960s.  That kind of surprised me but he was probably right.  Although we can remember some of the similarities from our own home towns as a rule that time had moved on.  It is kind of sad because it was a much simpler time and it tugs us into reverie contemplating that comity and peaceableness.

Yes! It is.

Mitch McConnell On 30 Million Uninsured: 'That Is Not The Issue'

The Senate Minority Leader and Senator from Kentucky lays bare the callousness of those who oppose this effort.

If that is not the issue it is certainly a main portion of it.  The entire rationale for the health care plan was to get a handle on the exploding costs and the only way to do that was to get everyone insured.  The 30 million target would still leave 20 million without insurance.  The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not provide universal coverage to its citizens.  There is just no excuse for that other than being so wedded to the ideology of unfettered capitalism that it leaves one blind and insensitive to suffering.  Mitch McConnell tries his best to redefine the debate but only comes off as an insentitive jerk who does not care about the welfare of the people of the United States as much as he depends on the profit motive to answer all questions.

The Repeal of Prohibition

Prohibition Repeal

Well, the vote is in and the advocates of allowing legal alcohol sales in the city of Somerset have won the day. The vote was about 60% for and 40% against which is certainly a greater margin than I would have predicted. Those who voted for sales are justifiably pleased and some are ecstatic. Those who were not for sales are forlorn and some are angry. I sincerely wish it weren't so and that both sides could now come together and work for improved opportunities for Somerset but that is not likely since the vote was largely on ideological principles and they are not often good fodder for compromise.

I seriously doubt that most people will notice a difference a year from now but one thing that will stand out is that, for the most part, the bootleggers are out of business. This for the first time in my lifetime. This should allow for better regulation of underage drinking and the trade in other illicit substances that go with it. It bears pointing out that there is no shortage of residents in the county lockup even now with sales illegal.

Long ago it became painfully obvious to me that drinking had to go. I have a great many friends who imbibe with reason and dignity, something that eluded me. When I was drinking I found that driving to Tennessee, Richmond or Lexington was no obstacle and I expect that most others who drink find a way to do it also. However, now we should not see as many people making that hazardous return journey while under the influence and endangering every person they meet on the road.

There is sufficient reason for those who opposed this measure to fear its legalization since alcohol abuse is a major portion of the drug abuse we see as prolific. I doubt that fear is warranted. Those who opposed it on religious grounds will continue to oppose it and that is their right, just as it is the right of the others to consume alcoholic beverages if the law is heeded. In a secular society it is reason that should be the determining factor in making our laws.

I have every confidence that this move will prove to be a good one for the city and that it will encourage business growth and increased revenues. There will be some necessary increases in overhead but, if the record of our surrounding cities is any indication, it will not be a significant increase in light of revenues. The impact on business growth will not be in just restaurants, bars and liquor stores but in other businesses as well. I can well imagine that now Somerset will receive requests for annexation into the city which will expand the tax base and make more services available. Along with the other smart moves in the energy fields made by the city, Somerset is poised to become a preeminent city in South-Central Kentucky. The energy initiatives will attract other industry to Somerset and, like it or not, the cultural offerings of an area are a big factor in determining whether or not a company can relocate executives to that area.

The laws governing establishments that sell alcohol are strictly regulated by the state and, for the most part, are not subject to local influence. Only so many package stores can be established for the number of people in the city. Nightclubs can be policed and regulated so that they are no more trouble than any other entertainment business. You can bet that those establishments will be quite strict in verifying identification and age.

With contests come winners and losers but I encourage all citizens to not view it in such a light. I hope that there is not too much crowing from the victors and too much castigation from those who lost. In our republic there are always those who are on either the winning or losing side but once the election is over then we can accept the will of the people and move forward. At least, that is the way it should work but the example of our political system may cause one to doubt that. The example of the Prohibition Era should stand as a guiding light for us. During that period the only alcohol one could buy was illegal and so that is what people did giving rise to some of the most deadly confrontations our nation has ever know. The 18^th amendment that established prohibition is the only amendment to have been repealed when in 1933 that vote was rescinded.

That's my take on the wet/dry vote. The die is cast and we should not belabor the point but move on to the opportunities that are next. No one has been forced to change nor is anyone being made to participate in any activity considered wrong. Those people who were stalwart members of our communities are still just as they were and no one is made less because of this vote.