Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:14CDT
From: "Arnold Nelson"
To: "NYTimes Letters" <letters@nytimes.com.>
Subject: Shoulders
Chicago IL Tuesday, August 19, 2008 6AMcdt
Editors, New York Times
Gentlepeople:
Your Thursday, August 14, 2008 sports section headline "Chicago Has Shoulders Broad Enough to Host Games" was great for an article on Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. I mean, isn't Chicago commonly referred to as 'the city of broad shoulders'?
Well, you're not the first ones to assume that, but the headline probably got the great American poet Carl Sandburg spinning in his grave. He wrote the 1916 poem 'Chicago' describing it as "City of the Big Shoulders." And c'mon, New York Times, he was a Socialist, too.
Arnold H. Nelson 5056 North Marine Drive Chicago IL 60640
[Never printed, no response]
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Letter to NYTimes on Chicago's "broad shoulders(?)"
Chicago IL Tuesday, August 19, 2008 6AMcdt
Editors, New York Times
Gentlepeople:
Your Thursday, August 14, 2008 sports section headline "Chicago Has Shoulders Broad Enough to Host Games" was great for an article on Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. I mean, isn't Chicago commonly referred to as 'the city of broad shoulders'?
Well, you're not the first ones to assume that, but the headline probably got the great American poet Carl Sandburg spinning in his grave. He wrote the 1916 poem 'Chicago' describing it as "City of the Big Shoulders." And c'mon, New York Times, he was a Socialist, too.
Arnold H. Nelson 5056 North Marine Drive Chicago IL 60640
Editors, New York Times
Gentlepeople:
Your Thursday, August 14, 2008 sports section headline "Chicago Has Shoulders Broad Enough to Host Games" was great for an article on Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. I mean, isn't Chicago commonly referred to as 'the city of broad shoulders'?
Well, you're not the first ones to assume that, but the headline probably got the great American poet Carl Sandburg spinning in his grave. He wrote the 1916 poem 'Chicago' describing it as "City of the Big Shoulders." And c'mon, New York Times, he was a Socialist, too.
Arnold H. Nelson 5056 North Marine Drive Chicago IL 60640
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Exchange w/ Mary Schmich, ChiTrib columnist
[I thot her reply was pretty cute]
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:00 CDT
From: "Arnold Nelson"
To: "Mary Schmich" <mschmich@tribune.com>S
Subject: Say it ain't so, Mary
Mary Schmich, you are a nationally recognized newspaper columnist, so what a nobody like me is doing writing you about grammar (something you write about often, and very well) is hard to believe.
In your Sunday August 17 column "Transitions -- 'grooviest bookstore in Chicago' -- closes" you talk about Gayle and Howard closing their bookshop. You use the sentence "They were both in recovery programs — him for his addiction, her for her enabling — the day in 1989...."
The only objects in this phrase are 'recovery programs,' so how can you refer to Gayle and Howard here with the object pronouns 'him' and 'her'? Wasn't 'he' in a recovery program, and wasn't 'she' also in a recovery program?
Outside of that, you are a great interviewer, writer, and especially, a grammarian.
Arn Nelson 5056 North marine Drive Chicago
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:04CDT
From: "Schmich, Mary"
To: "Arnold Nelson"
Subject: RE: Say it ain't so, Mary
Dang, Arn. I think you is right.
Thanks for reading so attentively and for coupling a compliment with a correction.
Mary Schmich
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:00 CDT
From: "Arnold Nelson"
To: "Mary Schmich" <mschmich@tribune.com>S
Subject: Say it ain't so, Mary
Mary Schmich, you are a nationally recognized newspaper columnist, so what a nobody like me is doing writing you about grammar (something you write about often, and very well) is hard to believe.
In your Sunday August 17 column "Transitions -- 'grooviest bookstore in Chicago' -- closes" you talk about Gayle and Howard closing their bookshop. You use the sentence "They were both in recovery programs — him for his addiction, her for her enabling — the day in 1989...."
The only objects in this phrase are 'recovery programs,' so how can you refer to Gayle and Howard here with the object pronouns 'him' and 'her'? Wasn't 'he' in a recovery program, and wasn't 'she' also in a recovery program?
Outside of that, you are a great interviewer, writer, and especially, a grammarian.
Arn Nelson 5056 North marine Drive Chicago
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:04CDT
From: "Schmich, Mary"
To: "Arnold Nelson"
Subject: RE: Say it ain't so, Mary
Dang, Arn. I think you is right.
Thanks for reading so attentively and for coupling a compliment with a correction.
Mary Schmich
Friday, August 15, 2008
email to TX gov Rick Perry on ethanol
Chicago Friday, August 15, 2008
Governor Rick Perry
Your Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Wall Street Journal OpEd "Texas Is Fed Up With Corn Ethanol" is refreshingly clear and understandable, in contrast to the usual blarney put out on the subject by the Washington Bureaucrats. Even those attributes are multiplied considering your direct knowledge and responsibility in the area.
I do wonder why we hear so rarely about attributes of the subject that influence it more than any other:
Biofuels come from only a 2-dimensional space, the surface of the earth, and only 1/3 of that not covered by salt water. And that is further limited by corn's inability to grow just anywhere. Oil on the other hand comes from a 3-dimensional space, all that's under the surface of the earth, and the entire surface, covered by water or not. The depth of that space is ultimately limited to 4,000 miles, but so far we've only tried the first eight miles, and that in only a very few locations.
Brilliant geoligists are constantly working to predict the best places to try, but I think even they would agree that the final, and absolute, proof of the existence of oil anywhere in that space is drilling a hole that results in oil coming out.
Of course, biofuels are said to be 'renewable.' But how often?Pretty much only annually, and corn especially, is effectivly less than even that, requiring rotation with other crops to avoid exhausting the ground. Oil is assumed to be 'exhaustable', but considering the number of places where we've proved it is or isn't compared to the places we've left to look, for all practical purposes it is as good as renewable.
Arnold H Nelson
Governor Rick Perry
Your Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Wall Street Journal OpEd "Texas Is Fed Up With Corn Ethanol" is refreshingly clear and understandable, in contrast to the usual blarney put out on the subject by the Washington Bureaucrats. Even those attributes are multiplied considering your direct knowledge and responsibility in the area.
I do wonder why we hear so rarely about attributes of the subject that influence it more than any other:
Biofuels come from only a 2-dimensional space, the surface of the earth, and only 1/3 of that not covered by salt water. And that is further limited by corn's inability to grow just anywhere. Oil on the other hand comes from a 3-dimensional space, all that's under the surface of the earth, and the entire surface, covered by water or not. The depth of that space is ultimately limited to 4,000 miles, but so far we've only tried the first eight miles, and that in only a very few locations.
Brilliant geoligists are constantly working to predict the best places to try, but I think even they would agree that the final, and absolute, proof of the existence of oil anywhere in that space is drilling a hole that results in oil coming out.
Of course, biofuels are said to be 'renewable.' But how often?Pretty much only annually, and corn especially, is effectivly less than even that, requiring rotation with other crops to avoid exhausting the ground. Oil is assumed to be 'exhaustable', but considering the number of places where we've proved it is or isn't compared to the places we've left to look, for all practical purposes it is as good as renewable.
Arnold H Nelson
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Texas Governor Rick Perry on biofuels
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 10:41 AM
From: "Arnold Nelson" <ah_nelson@yahoo.com>
To: "WSJ Letters" <wsj.ltrs@wsj.com>
Chicago, Wednesday AM, August 13, 2008
Editors, Wall Street Journal
Gentlepeople: Texas Governor Rick Perry's Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Wall Street Journal OpEd "Texas Is Fed Up With Corn Ethanol" is refreshingly clear and understandable, in contrast to the usual blarney put out on the subject by the Washington Bureaucrats. Even those attributes are multiplied considering his direct knowledge and responsibility in the area.
It makes me wonder why we hear so rarely about attributes of the subject that influence it more than any other: Biofuels come from only a 2-dimensional space, the surface of the earth, and only 1/3 of that not covered by salt water. And that is further limited by corn's inability to grow just anywhere. Oil on the other hand comes from a 3-dimensional space, all that's under the surface of the earth, and the entire surface, covered by water or not. The depth of that space is ultimately limited to 4,000 miles, but so far we've only tried the first eight miles, and that in only a very few locations. Brilliant geologists are constantly working to predict the best places to try, but I think even they would agree that the final, absolute, proof of oil existence anywhere in that space is drilling a hole that results in oil coming out.
Also, biofuels are said to be 'renewable.' But how often? Pretty much only annually, and corn especially is effectively less than even that, requiring rotation with other crops to avoid exhausting the soil. Oil is assumed to be 'exhaustible', but considering the number of places where we've proved it is or isn't compared to the places we've left to look, for all practical purposes it is as good as renewable.
Arnold H. Nelson
5056 North Marine Drive Chicago IL 60640
773-677-3010 ah_nelson@yahoo.com
From: "Arnold Nelson" <ah_nelson@yahoo.com>
To: "WSJ Letters" <wsj.ltrs@wsj.com>
Chicago, Wednesday AM, August 13, 2008
Editors, Wall Street Journal
Gentlepeople: Texas Governor Rick Perry's Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Wall Street Journal OpEd "Texas Is Fed Up With Corn Ethanol" is refreshingly clear and understandable, in contrast to the usual blarney put out on the subject by the Washington Bureaucrats. Even those attributes are multiplied considering his direct knowledge and responsibility in the area.
It makes me wonder why we hear so rarely about attributes of the subject that influence it more than any other: Biofuels come from only a 2-dimensional space, the surface of the earth, and only 1/3 of that not covered by salt water. And that is further limited by corn's inability to grow just anywhere. Oil on the other hand comes from a 3-dimensional space, all that's under the surface of the earth, and the entire surface, covered by water or not. The depth of that space is ultimately limited to 4,000 miles, but so far we've only tried the first eight miles, and that in only a very few locations. Brilliant geologists are constantly working to predict the best places to try, but I think even they would agree that the final, absolute, proof of oil existence anywhere in that space is drilling a hole that results in oil coming out.
Also, biofuels are said to be 'renewable.' But how often? Pretty much only annually, and corn especially is effectively less than even that, requiring rotation with other crops to avoid exhausting the soil. Oil is assumed to be 'exhaustible', but considering the number of places where we've proved it is or isn't compared to the places we've left to look, for all practical purposes it is as good as renewable.
Arnold H. Nelson
5056 North Marine Drive Chicago IL 60640
773-677-3010 ah_nelson@yahoo.com
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Will Obama be "at least a competent president"?
Chicago, Wednesday AM, July 23, 2008
Editors, Wall Street Journal
Your OpEds are the best in the business, never more than when they include Mr. Shelby Steele. There was more information in his Tuesday, July 22, piece 'Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama' on Barack Obama than anywhere else since he began his run for president.
Deep in the middle of this article is a thought I have not seen anywhere else: "... an Obama presidency might nudge the culture forward a bit -- presuming ... he would be at least a competent president. (A less-than-competent black president would likely be a step backwards.)"
Barack Obama is the least prepared, most inexperienced and under educated candidate for US president or Vice President in history. His most significant work experience is eight years in the Illinois State Senate, a job requiring less management talent that a Chicago Bears third string jock strap attendant, without the responsibility. And if he'd been 100% white he'd never even have got that gig.
Next on his Curriculum Vitae is "Neighborhood activist", a Chicago euphemism for junior precinct captain, itself a euphemism for an errand creature who is given a list of voters every two years, and is told: "If any of these people don't vote, you're outahere, pal!!!"
Obama has a hardly used Harvard Law Degree, teaching Constitutional law at the University of Chicago, as Clinton at the University of Arkansas. Clinton went on to get elected state Attorney General, elected and reelected Governor of his state. OBama? See Chicago Bears attendant above.
For all of John McCain's problems with teleprompters, Obama cannot speak without one. Listen to one of his off the cuff public speeches, he says more 'uhs', 'ums' and 'ya knos' than a class of third graders. Ronald Reagan learned to speak as an actor, but practiced management by being elected and re-elected Governor of the nation's largest state.
It's unfortunate that so many prominent American blacks are so impressed with Obama - the absolutely brilliant and super educated Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, recently said "it's a remarkable accomplishment" that a black politician is on track for his party's presidential nomination.
Obama's election as President will be no less embarrassing for all concerned than the election of any run-of-the-mill far left fringe Democrat politician. Presuming Obama would be at least a competent president is a mighty big presumption if you expect to "nudge the culture forward a bit."
Arnold H. Nelson 5056 North Marine Drive Chicago IL 60640
Editors, Wall Street Journal
Your OpEds are the best in the business, never more than when they include Mr. Shelby Steele. There was more information in his Tuesday, July 22, piece 'Why Jesse Jackson Hates Obama' on Barack Obama than anywhere else since he began his run for president.
Deep in the middle of this article is a thought I have not seen anywhere else: "... an Obama presidency might nudge the culture forward a bit -- presuming ... he would be at least a competent president. (A less-than-competent black president would likely be a step backwards.)"
Barack Obama is the least prepared, most inexperienced and under educated candidate for US president or Vice President in history. His most significant work experience is eight years in the Illinois State Senate, a job requiring less management talent that a Chicago Bears third string jock strap attendant, without the responsibility. And if he'd been 100% white he'd never even have got that gig.
Next on his Curriculum Vitae is "Neighborhood activist", a Chicago euphemism for junior precinct captain, itself a euphemism for an errand creature who is given a list of voters every two years, and is told: "If any of these people don't vote, you're outahere, pal!!!"
Obama has a hardly used Harvard Law Degree, teaching Constitutional law at the University of Chicago, as Clinton at the University of Arkansas. Clinton went on to get elected state Attorney General, elected and reelected Governor of his state. OBama? See Chicago Bears attendant above.
For all of John McCain's problems with teleprompters, Obama cannot speak without one. Listen to one of his off the cuff public speeches, he says more 'uhs', 'ums' and 'ya knos' than a class of third graders. Ronald Reagan learned to speak as an actor, but practiced management by being elected and re-elected Governor of the nation's largest state.
It's unfortunate that so many prominent American blacks are so impressed with Obama - the absolutely brilliant and super educated Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, recently said "it's a remarkable accomplishment" that a black politician is on track for his party's presidential nomination.
Obama's election as President will be no less embarrassing for all concerned than the election of any run-of-the-mill far left fringe Democrat politician. Presuming Obama would be at least a competent president is a mighty big presumption if you expect to "nudge the culture forward a bit."
Arnold H. Nelson 5056 North Marine Drive Chicago IL 60640
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Chicago, Illinois USA Tuesday PM, July 22, 2008
Editors, UK Financial Times
Gentlepeople:
In his Tuesday, July 22 column 'Obama for commander-in-chief' Gideon Rachman asks "why is Barack Obama just four points ahead in the polls?" Obama is the least prepared and most inexperienced candidate for US president or Vice President in history. His most significant work experience is eight years in the Illinois State Senate, a job requiring less management talent that a Chicago Bears 3rd string jock strap attendant, without the responsibility.
Obama's second biggest career move was "neighborhood activist, " a Chicago euphemism for junior precinct captain, itself a euphemism for an errand creature who gets a list of voters every two years, and is told: "If any of these people don't vote, you're outahere, pal!!!"
Obama has a hardly used Harvard Law Degree, McCain used his service academy commission for 20 years, flying in combat, and oh yeah, 4 years as POW. And you want the Harvard grad to be CinC? Obama taught Law at the University of Chicago, as Clinton at the University of Arkansas. Clinton went on to get elected state Attorney General, elected and reelected Governor of his state. OBama? See Chicago Bears attendant, above.
For all of John McCain's problems with teleprompters, Obama cannot speak without one. Listen to one of his off the cuff public speeches, he says more 'uhs', 'ums' and 'ya knos' than a class of third graders. Ronald Reagan learned to speak as an actor, but practiced management by being elected and re-elected Governor of the nation's largest state (60% of population, and 90% of GDP, of the UK.)
It's unfortunate that so many prominent, accomplished American blacks are so impressed with Obama - the absolutely brilliant and super educated Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, recently said "it's a remarkable accomplishment" that a black politician is on track for his party's presidential nomination.
Obama's election as President will be no less embarrassing than the election of any run-of-the-mill far left fringe Democrat politician. The question is not why Obama is 'only' four points ahead of McCain - why was he even nominated? Answer: If he'd been 100% white, he'd have trouble getting that Chicago Bears comparable position, AKA Illinois State Senator.
Arnold H. Nelson 5056 North Marine Drive Chicago, IL USA
Editors, UK Financial Times
Gentlepeople:
In his Tuesday, July 22 column 'Obama for commander-in-chief' Gideon Rachman asks "why is Barack Obama just four points ahead in the polls?" Obama is the least prepared and most inexperienced candidate for US president or Vice President in history. His most significant work experience is eight years in the Illinois State Senate, a job requiring less management talent that a Chicago Bears 3rd string jock strap attendant, without the responsibility.
Obama's second biggest career move was "neighborhood activist, " a Chicago euphemism for junior precinct captain, itself a euphemism for an errand creature who gets a list of voters every two years, and is told: "If any of these people don't vote, you're outahere, pal!!!"
Obama has a hardly used Harvard Law Degree, McCain used his service academy commission for 20 years, flying in combat, and oh yeah, 4 years as POW. And you want the Harvard grad to be CinC? Obama taught Law at the University of Chicago, as Clinton at the University of Arkansas. Clinton went on to get elected state Attorney General, elected and reelected Governor of his state. OBama? See Chicago Bears attendant, above.
For all of John McCain's problems with teleprompters, Obama cannot speak without one. Listen to one of his off the cuff public speeches, he says more 'uhs', 'ums' and 'ya knos' than a class of third graders. Ronald Reagan learned to speak as an actor, but practiced management by being elected and re-elected Governor of the nation's largest state (60% of population, and 90% of GDP, of the UK.)
It's unfortunate that so many prominent, accomplished American blacks are so impressed with Obama - the absolutely brilliant and super educated Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, recently said "it's a remarkable accomplishment" that a black politician is on track for his party's presidential nomination.
Obama's election as President will be no less embarrassing than the election of any run-of-the-mill far left fringe Democrat politician. The question is not why Obama is 'only' four points ahead of McCain - why was he even nominated? Answer: If he'd been 100% white, he'd have trouble getting that Chicago Bears comparable position, AKA Illinois State Senator.
Arnold H. Nelson 5056 North Marine Drive Chicago, IL USA
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