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| My Favorite Things
(from The Sound of Music) |
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Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Music by Richard Rodgers Raindrops on roses And whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles And warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages Tied up with strings. . . These are a few of my favorite things. Cream colored ponies An' crisp apple strudels. Doorbells an' sleigh bells An' schnitzel with noodles. Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings. These are a few of my favorite things. Girls in white dresses With blue satin sashes. Snow flakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes. Silver white winters That melt into springs. These are a few of my favorite things. When the dog bites, When the bee stings, When I'm feelin' sad, I simply remember my favorite things, And then I don't feel so bad. Roses....hmmm kittens... Kettles.......mittens.... La dee da, la dee da, La dee da, da, These are a few of my favorite things. When the dog bites, When the bee stings, When I'm feelin' sad, I simply remember my favorite things, And little by little my heavy heart sings. And then I don't feel so bad. |
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| June 12 - July 20, 1805 |
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| LEWIS AND CLARK AT THE GREAT FALLS Jim Carson http://www.jimcarsonstudio.com/ |
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| Sketch by Charles M. Russell Captain Lewis sees the Great Falls of the Missouri |
| AROUND THE GREAT FALLS (IN MONTANA)
On June 13 Lewis became the first white man to see the Great Falls of the Missouri River. But to his astonishment there were five separate falls, not one as the Indians had said--and they went on for a 12-mile (19-kilometer) stretch. Portaging around the falls was going to take much more time than he had planned. |
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| On Thursday, June 13, 1805, Meriwether Lewis, walking alone in advance of his small detachment--interpreter George Drouillard and Privates Joseph Field, George Gibson, and Silas Goodrich--arrived at the Great Falls of the Missouri. Thrilled by the sight, Lewis spent four hours contemplating the sight, and writing a detailed 900-word account of what he saw and how he felt about it.
"After wrighting this imperfect discription, I again viewed the falls and was so much disgusted with the imperfect idea which it conveyed of the scene that I determined to draw my pen across it and begin agin, but then reflected that I could not perhaps succeed better than pening the first impressions of the mind. "I wished for the pencil of Salvator Rosa, or the pen of Thompson, that I might be enabled to give to the enlightened world some just idea of this truly magnifficent and sublimely grand object, which has from the commencement of time been concealed from the view of civilized man. But this was fruitless and vain. "I most sincerely regreted that I had not brought a crimee obscura[*] with me, by the assistance of which even I could have hoped to have done better, but alas this was also out of my reach." |
| "I should have returned from hence but hearing a tremendous roaring above me I continued my rout across the point of a hill a few hundred yards further and was again presented by one of the most beautiful objects in nature, a cascade of about fifty feet perpendicular stretching at right angles across the river from side to side to the distance of at least a quarter of a mile. here the river pitches over a shelving rock, with an edge as regular and as streight as if formed by art, but without a nich or brake in it; the water descends in one even and uninterupted sheet to the bottom wher dashing against the rocky bottom rises into foaming billows of great hight and rappidly glides away, hissing flashing and sparkling as it departs the sprey rises from one extremity to the other to 50 f." |
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[*] Read about the "crimee obscura" next time on Bitts and Bytes. Lewis was chased into the river by a grizzly bear. Sergeant Gass reported that "Capt. Lewis' men returned & informed us that the falls were 20 mi. above." |
| June 17, 1805 - Great Falls, Montana--Not one but a series of five waterfalls were found at Great Falls.
All were too large to navigate, and had to be portaged. Clark took five men out to survey the route of the portage, which turned out to be 18 miles altogether. Lewis had the men build trucks and wheels to haul the boats overland and hunted for elk, to use the skins on his iron collapsible boat[**]. He also gave Sacagawea sulfur water from a spring across the river from the camp. [**] Read about Captain Lewis's "iron" boat in the next Bitts and Bytes. |
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| MICHAEL HAYNES http://www.mhaynesart.com |
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By June 16 Lewis had rejoined Clark, and six days later the portage began. It was the hardest physical task of the trip so far. The Corps would have to hike 18 miles to get around the five waterfalls. They left their heaviest boat and equipment hidden near the base of the falls. The other canoes and supplies were carried, dragged, and pushed. The Corps created makeshift wagons. When the wind was strong, they attached the boat sails to help move the equipment.
The ground was rocky, uneven, and hard. Prickly pear cactuses were everywhere. The Corps wore through their moccasins every two days. The intense heat of the summer sun was interrupted by violent storms, with thunder, rain, and hailstones the size of eggs. Swarms of gnats and mosquitoes pestered them. Rattlesnakes and grizzly bears were a constant threat. Finally, after nearly a month of hard labor, the portage was complete. The Corps and their equipment were on the other side of the falls. They built new boats to replace the one left behind. They started back on their journey on the Missouri River on July 15, 1805. They were more than a month behind schedule, but happy to be past the Great Falls. Their next challenges were to find horses and make it over the Rocky Mountains! (Those are the Little Belt Mountains in the background.) |
| MYSTERY GUEST |
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| Do you know who this is? |
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| The New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) also known by its Maori name Korimako is a passerine bird endemic to New Zealand. It has greenish coloration and is the only living member of the genus Anthornis. The bellbird forms a significant component of the famed New Zealand dawn chorus of bird song that was much noted by early European settlers. It has a bell-like song which is sometimes confused with that of the Tui. The species is common across much of New Zealand and its offshore islands as well as the Auckland Islands. |
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| The bellbird is found throughout both the main islands of New Zealand apart from the north of the North Island. Its population and distribution had been seriously affected by the introduction of European-style farming, which has led to the removal of native forests (the natural habitat of the bellbird). |
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| Another important factor is the introduction of predatory species such as cats, weasels, stoats, ferrets, rats and food-robbing species like wasps. Predators either eat the birds or consume eggs, while food robbers compete with the bellbird for its natural food sources of nectar, honeydew and insects. The decline occurred around the same time as many other New Zealand species, but for unknown reasons was reversed and the species is still common across much of New Zealand. |
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What did the ancient Mayans use allspice for, other than as a culinary herb?
??? PASS YOUR MOUSE OVER THE QUESTION MARKS FOR THE ANSWER! |
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| Red-headed Pochard |
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Which national bird can't fly?
??? PASS YOUR MOUSE OVER THE QUESTION MARKS FOR THE ANSWER! |
| GLADS | ||
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| Blues | Green Star | Saphir |
| SETTERS |
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| English Setter and Gordon Setter |
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| English Setter and Chickens |
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| English Setter and Pointer |
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| End of Day |
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The National World War II Memorial was the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II. The memorial, established by the American Battle Monuments Commission, will honor all military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation's call to arms. The Second World War will be the only 20th century event commemorated on the Mall's central axis. DIMENSIONS: Length (back of arch to back of arch): 384 feet Width (back of basin behind Freedom Wall to bottom of ceremonial entrance): 279 feet Plaza: 337 feet-10 inches long; 240 feet-2 inches wide; 6 feet below grade Rainbow Pool: 246 feet-9 inches long; 147 feet-8 inches wide Ceremonial entrance: 148 feet-3 inches wide; 147 feet-8 inches long (curb to plaza) 2 Arches (Pacific and Atlantic): 43 feet above grade; 23 feet square 56 Pillars: 17 feet above grade; 4 feet-4 inches wide; 3 feet deep Freedom Wall: 84 feet-8 inches wide; 9 feet high from plaza floor; 41 feet-9 inches radius |
| Memorial Design
The National World War II Memorial design recognizes that the site itself pays special tribute to America's WWII generation. The memorial design creates a special place within the vast openness of the National Mall to commemorate the sacrifice and celebrate the victory of WWII, yet remains respectful and sensitive to its historic surroundings. The vistas from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial and the site's park-like setting are preserved, and the double row of elm trees that flank the memorial will be restored. Above all, the design creates a powerful sense of place that is distinct, memorable, evocative and serene. |
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| Memorial Plaza
View from 17th Street |
| The memorial plaza and Rainbow Pool are the principal design features of the memorial, unifying all other elements. Two flagpoles flying the American flag frame the ceremonial entrance at 17th Street. The bases of granite and bronze are adorned with the military service seals of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Army Air Forces, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. Ceremonial steps and ramps lead from 17th Street into the plaza. A series of 24 bronze bas relief panels along the ceremonial entrance balustrades depict America's war years--at home and overseas. |
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| COMMEMORATIVE AREA - THE FREEDOM WALL FIELD OF GOLD STARS |
| Within a commemorative area at the western side of the memorial is recognized the sacrifice of America's WWII generation and the contribution of our allies. A field of 4,000 sculpted gold stars on the Freedom Wall will commemorate the more than 400,000 Americans who gave their lives. During WWII, the gold star was the symbol of family sacrifice. |
| The memorial is constructed of bronze and granite. Granite was chosen for its aesthetic appeal, superior strength, and durability. Water resistance was another important criterion.
The two principal stones selected for the memorial are "Kershaw" for the vertical elements and "Green County" for the main plaza paving stone. "Kershaw" is quarried in South Carolina, while "Green County" is quarried in Georgia. Two green stones -- "Rio Verde" and "Moss Green" -- were used for accent paving on the plaza. Both are quarried in Brazil. "Academy Black" and "Mount Airy" were used to reconstruct the Rainbow Pool. "Mount Airy," quarried in North Carolina, is the original coping stone of the Rainbow Pool. To enhance the aesthetic appearance of the water surface of the pool, an apron of "Academy Black," quarried in California, was used for the vertical interior surfaces. |
| THE PACIFIC ARCH AND PLAZA |
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| THE ATLANTIC ARCH AND PLAZA |
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| The memorial is funded primarily by private contributions. The fund-raising campaign was led by National Chairman Senator Bob Dole and National Co-Chairman Frederick W. Smith. |
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| ATLANTIC ARCH (closeup) |
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| UPPER FALLS, YELLOWSTONE |
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| The Autumnal Woods (Under the Trees) |
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| Cliffs of the Rio Virgio South Utah |
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| FLAG OF BOTSWANA |
| The colors on the flag correspond to those on the national coat of arms. The blue represents water, the white-black-white bands depict the racial harmony of the people as well as the pluralist nature of the society. They are inspired by the coat of the zebra, the national animal |
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| RED-FOOTED FALCON pixdaus.com |
| MYSTERY GUEST REVEALED |
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| Condoleezza Rice |
President Bush nominated Condoleezza Rice, his national security adviser and one of his closest counselors, to replace Colin Powell as secretary of state.
 "The secretary of state is America's face to the world and in Dr. Rice the world will see the strength, grace and decency of our country," Bush said in a brief ceremony at the White House, with Rice at his side. "During the last four years I've relied on her counsel, benefited from her great experience and appreciated her sound and steady judgment. And now I'm honored that she's agreed to serve in my Cabinet," Bush said. |
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| Rice, 50, was the first female U.S. national security adviser. She is only the second woman and second black to be appointed secretary of state. |
| Born and raised in segregated Birmingham, Alabama, Rice was the child of two educators. After her father took a job in Denver, Rice decided to take college courses while still in high school. She was 19 when she graduated from the University of Denver.
In 1989, the first President Bush's national security adviser, Brent Scowcroft, helped convince Rice to leave Stanford and work for him in Washington. She quickly became one of Bush's most trusted advisers. From 1989 through March 1991, the period of German reunification and the final days of the Soviet Union, she served in the first Bush administration as director and then senior director of Soviet and East European Affairs in the National Security Council, and a special assistant to the president for national security affairs. |
| Although she was initially interested in music, Rice began studying the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. She earned her master's degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1975 and received her doctorate from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. She began teaching at Stanford University, where she would later serve six years as provost. |
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| Condoleezza Rice performed the Brahms Violin Sonata #3 in D minor with Yo Yo Ma at Constitution Hall in Washington DC. |
| DISCLAIMER: Material used in Bitts and Bytes is gathered from various sources--mainly the World Wide Web.
Authorship cannot always be credited nor the source defined. Authenticity of material is assumed to be correct, but is not guaranteed. |  |
