Historic Data About American History Landmarks

This online pamphlet is worth a look for those interested in nuggests about American history. They include information about historic U.S. Supreme Court decisions as well as historic documents and more.

A Work of Mary Blake and a Book Review

I came across the following poem in an excellent book titled The Christian's Treasury authored by Lissa Roche and published by Crossway Books; page 138:


Song of Work

Work while the sun climbeth high in the heaven,
Work in the noon-day's dust and heat,
Work till the evening its blessing hath given,
Work while the moon keeps vigil sweet.
Work while the verdant grasses are springing,
Work in the summer's radiant glow,
Work in the autumn with gladness and singing,
Work in the time of frost and snow.

Labor is noble and rich in its guerdon,
Sweet after toil comes peaceful rest.
Take on thy shoulders, rejoicing, the burden,
Pleasure is good, but work is best.
Great is our Lord, of labor the master,
Follow the path his feet have trod.
Strive, with the joy of all honest endeavor,
Then at the last, find rest with God.

Mary Blake (1840-1907)
Irish poet

There is much more of similar quality in the book and covers a broad range of topics. The book is recommended.

If it's About the Children then Why Doesn't the Money Get to Them?

President Bush's veto of an SCHIP funding bill led to the predictable charges that he and his fellow Republicans are callous to the plight of children. That in turn resulted in some blog responses that revelaed an important feature of SCHIP. SCHIP stands for the States Children's Health Insurance Program but do not allow yourself to believe that funds marked for SCHIP end up funding health insurance for children. If you decide to believe that then you mmight have an emotionally satisfying feeling that coincides with your view of Bush and republicans but the funding part of the belief would not necessarily accord with the facts. Michells Malkin's blog entry, Democrat poster-child abuse, the nutroots’ pushback, and the continued campaign to silence the Right, contains this informative bit of data courtesy of the United States government:

"According to the states’ budget projections, 13 will spend more than 44 percent of their SCHIP funds in 2008 on people who are neither children nor pregnant women.

Michigan tops the list with 71.6 percent of its SCHIP money earmarked for adults who have no kids. In New Mexico, 52.3 percent of the state’s SCHIP dollars will be spent on childless adults.

Source: Department of Health and Human Services/CMS Data"

But why would SCHIP money go to adults who have no children? The answer can be found here. Quoting:

"The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is jointly financed by the Federal and State governments and is administered by the States. Within broad Federal guidelines, each State determines the design of its program, eligibility groups, benefit packages, payment levels for coverage, and administrative and operating procedures. SCHIP provides a capped amount of funds to States on a matching basis for Federal fiscal years (FY) 1998 through 2007. Federal payments under title XXI to States are based on State expenditures under approved plans effective on or after October 1, 1997."

Look at that- jointly financed within broad Federal guidelines allowing each state to determine eligibility groups. Why is that fact not trumpted by those "concerned about the children?" Instead of engaging in political gamesmanship why doesn't the congress ensure that tax dollars intended for children actually benefit children? If they lack the willpower then can critics at least cease the sanctimonious chatter about concern for children? Maybe in an ideal world they would but in an ideal world funds marked for children would get to the children.

American Bees

Tammy Horn has authored a book titled Bees in America How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation which traces the historic impact of bees in the United States. The book notes some poetic references to bees including this from an English folk song:

The Lord made the bees,
The bees made the honey,
The Lord made man
And Man made money.1

There is also this written by the noted American poet Emily Dickenson:

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee
One clover, and a bee,
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.2

Presently bees in America have become afflicted with a mysterious disease. The linked article from Week in Science alludes to this and mentions some other recent scientific discoveries related to bees.

Diseases are nothing new to bees. Like other organisms they are afflicted with their share of them. Bees in America How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation notes some imported diseases. The tracheal mite acquired its name because it afflicts the tracheal passages of bees and impedes breathing. Mating of mites actually occurs within tracheal tubes as does the parasitic feeding of mites.

Another mite, known as the varroa mite, infests royal jelly within a hive and feeds on bee larvae. It has caused more damage than the tracheal mite and came to the United States from Asia in 1987. The tracheal mite had arrived a little earlier in 1984 and came from Europe.

As bees are of great value to American agriculture and the economy, efforts to control bee diseases are extremely important. The current disease affecting American bees has not yet been identifed with certainty. Events will be noted as they unfold.



References:

1. Tammy Horn, Bees in America How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation, 102

2. Tammy Horn, Bees in America How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation, 136;
Quoted from: Emily Dickenson, The Poems of Emily Dickenson, 392.

3. Tammy Horn, Bees in America How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation, 228