Evan Brandt,
I bet all of us who have run for an election or have been appointed to an authority were not also candidates for the Mensa Society. Rather, we were ordinary citizens willing to put ourselves under the glair of public scrutiny. Surely our intent was that of acting to a higher standard as should be a mandate of all public servants. We have roll models galore throughout each state Capitol and in Washington DC. who reap enormous yearly salaries along with some undocumented rewards. Our locals are able to get along on $1200.00 a year for their efforts and I doubt, if any, qualify for some undocumented sums which seems only to attach to the purist of the pure among us.
Naturally, you would think that if these local do gooders had any brains they would have left town long ago before property taxes sky rocketed. But, like me, many eased into retirement still locked into a mortgage with the only escape from the town and taxes - death.
Getting that off my chest, allow me to comment on one problem facing the Water and Sewer Authority. In order to get beyond the issue of the Philly Fire Company being charged for sewer and water use. I would instruct the fire company's bookkeeper to itemize borough events that were not fire related and that the fire company provided both men and equipment at for public service. Then to these events the bookkeeper would ascribe a reasonable cost and issue the borough a bill. These funds would develop a system of barter between the the fire company and the borough. Messy at best, it would seem to me, but to get beyond "he said, she said" it could be a start in the right direction.
Ronald C. Downie
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Friday, March 27, 2015
Donald P. Paolucci
We lost another over the weekend, our longtime neighbor, Donald Paolucci, who left us Saturday at the age of 89, nine years my senior. Those of us, seniors of retirement age, knew Donald as an icon in our town's tapestry. His final photograph pictured him handsome to the end. I always admired Donald's composure, his self awareness, how he carried himself, and, especially, his clean and neat natty attire.
Sunday evening was Donald's and wife, Daisy's, tribute to their children and their grandchildren. They gathered Sundays each week around 6PM to break bread together in an old fashion family gathering long forgotten. In these days of hustle and bustle a family gathering is a tribute to the past when the Family was the centerpiece of community life. Hats off to the Paolucci Family.
My first recollection of Donald goes way back into the late 1940s or early 1950's when I watched him jog around the island at Manatawny Park. Our family lived at 220 Manatawny Street directly across from the island and, I believe, he lived on York Street. Sometimes joined by others, I surmised they were getting in shape for local football games the social clubs engaged in. I too was engaged in football but at the high school level. I never spoke to them because I was a teenager and they were men who had served in WW 2 - they were members of The Greatest Generation.
I have lived for 41 years at N. Evans St. most of these years as Paolucci's neighbor. Donald and I spent many afternoons on my front porch talking about Pottstown and, most often, sports. If he spotted me while coming or going ( Donald always seemed to be on the move), he would come over and sit a spell. Since both of us were afflicted with similar medical problems we had plenty of notes to compare. When this topic got too heavy Philly sports took a beating.
I'll miss Donald but in Daisy, the energizer bunny of former writings, their homestead will continue to be the blossom of the neighborhood. We'll always think of the Paolucci's as the consummate Family's Family, a good neighbor, indeed.
Connie&Ron Downie
We lost another over the weekend, our longtime neighbor, Donald Paolucci, who left us Saturday at the age of 89, nine years my senior. Those of us, seniors of retirement age, knew Donald as an icon in our town's tapestry. His final photograph pictured him handsome to the end. I always admired Donald's composure, his self awareness, how he carried himself, and, especially, his clean and neat natty attire.
Sunday evening was Donald's and wife, Daisy's, tribute to their children and their grandchildren. They gathered Sundays each week around 6PM to break bread together in an old fashion family gathering long forgotten. In these days of hustle and bustle a family gathering is a tribute to the past when the Family was the centerpiece of community life. Hats off to the Paolucci Family.
My first recollection of Donald goes way back into the late 1940s or early 1950's when I watched him jog around the island at Manatawny Park. Our family lived at 220 Manatawny Street directly across from the island and, I believe, he lived on York Street. Sometimes joined by others, I surmised they were getting in shape for local football games the social clubs engaged in. I too was engaged in football but at the high school level. I never spoke to them because I was a teenager and they were men who had served in WW 2 - they were members of The Greatest Generation.
I have lived for 41 years at N. Evans St. most of these years as Paolucci's neighbor. Donald and I spent many afternoons on my front porch talking about Pottstown and, most often, sports. If he spotted me while coming or going ( Donald always seemed to be on the move), he would come over and sit a spell. Since both of us were afflicted with similar medical problems we had plenty of notes to compare. When this topic got too heavy Philly sports took a beating.
I'll miss Donald but in Daisy, the energizer bunny of former writings, their homestead will continue to be the blossom of the neighborhood. We'll always think of the Paolucci's as the consummate Family's Family, a good neighbor, indeed.
Connie&Ron Downie
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Illusions
Accepting time as precious, all life dangles perilously as the object of a bank account bent on ever increasing its final bloated numbers.
Leaving future in the hands of dividers who base their opinions on deniers, guttural chastisers, guns, and flags is a damned fools errand.
Even knowing that we're all going to die, many vocals ignore that inevitability by plowing more deeply their
furrows expressly for pleasure.
Ronald C. Downie
Accepting time as precious, all life dangles perilously as the object of a bank account bent on ever increasing its final bloated numbers.
Leaving future in the hands of dividers who base their opinions on deniers, guttural chastisers, guns, and flags is a damned fools errand.
Even knowing that we're all going to die, many vocals ignore that inevitability by plowing more deeply their
furrows expressly for pleasure.
Ronald C. Downie
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Donald P. Paolucci
We lost another over the weekend, our longtime neighbor, Donald Paolucci, who left us Saturday at the age of 89, nine years my senior. Those of us, seniors of retirement age, knew Donald as an icon in our town's tapestry. His final photograph pictured him handsome to the end. I always admired Donald's composure, his self awareness, how he carried himself, and, especially, his clean and neat natty attire.
Sunday evening was Donald's and wife, Daisy's, tribute to their children and their grandchildren. They gathered Sundays each week around 6PM to break bread together in an old fashion family gathering long forgotten. In these days of hustle and bustle a family gathering is a tribute to the past when the Family was the centerpiece of community life. Hats off to the Paolucci Family.
My first recollection of Donald goes way back into the late 1940s or early 1950's when I watched him jog around the island at Manatawny Park. Our family lived at 220 Manatawny Street directly across from the
island and, I believe, he lived on York Street. Sometimes joined by others, I surmised they were getting in shape for local football games the social clubs engaged in. I too was engaged in football but at the high school level. I never spoke to them because I was a teenager and they were men who had served in WW 2 - they were members of The Greatest Generation.
I have lived for 41 years at N. Evans St. most of these years as Paolucci's neighbor. Donald and I spent many afternoons on my front porch talking about Pottstown and, most often, sports. If he spotted me while coming or going ( Donald always seemed to be on the move ), he would come over and sit a spell. Since both of us were afflicted with similar medical problems we had plenty of notes to compare. When this topic got too heavy Philly sports took a beating.
I'll miss Donald but in Daisy, the energizer bunny of former writings, their homestead will continue to be the blossom of the neighborhood. We'll always think of the Paolucci's as the consummate Family's Family, a good neighbor, indeed.
Connie&Ron Downie
We lost another over the weekend, our longtime neighbor, Donald Paolucci, who left us Saturday at the age of 89, nine years my senior. Those of us, seniors of retirement age, knew Donald as an icon in our town's tapestry. His final photograph pictured him handsome to the end. I always admired Donald's composure, his self awareness, how he carried himself, and, especially, his clean and neat natty attire.
Sunday evening was Donald's and wife, Daisy's, tribute to their children and their grandchildren. They gathered Sundays each week around 6PM to break bread together in an old fashion family gathering long forgotten. In these days of hustle and bustle a family gathering is a tribute to the past when the Family was the centerpiece of community life. Hats off to the Paolucci Family.
My first recollection of Donald goes way back into the late 1940s or early 1950's when I watched him jog around the island at Manatawny Park. Our family lived at 220 Manatawny Street directly across from the
island and, I believe, he lived on York Street. Sometimes joined by others, I surmised they were getting in shape for local football games the social clubs engaged in. I too was engaged in football but at the high school level. I never spoke to them because I was a teenager and they were men who had served in WW 2 - they were members of The Greatest Generation.
I have lived for 41 years at N. Evans St. most of these years as Paolucci's neighbor. Donald and I spent many afternoons on my front porch talking about Pottstown and, most often, sports. If he spotted me while coming or going ( Donald always seemed to be on the move ), he would come over and sit a spell. Since both of us were afflicted with similar medical problems we had plenty of notes to compare. When this topic got too heavy Philly sports took a beating.
I'll miss Donald but in Daisy, the energizer bunny of former writings, their homestead will continue to be the blossom of the neighborhood. We'll always think of the Paolucci's as the consummate Family's Family, a good neighbor, indeed.
Connie&Ron Downie
Ian, On His Birthday
Between urban centers, highways spirit
Both men and machines at top speeds.
Many routes are multiple centuries old ;
Animal trails eons in use, vegetation free,
Adopted by horse and rider for their ease.
Widened and then graveled to comfort use
Soon translated into macadam and concrete.
Their history is but an afterthought by now.
In somebody's world similar progression exists
Tracing antiquity into print for others to digest.
But, in your world, a learned one of open inquiry,
I surmise your thrust is not back but is forward.
Highways of the future may not follow footprints
Of wild animals, they'll follow hypothesis, theory.
Maybe you'll be forced to blaze your own trails,
Create you own theories, develop fresh hypotheses.
My bet's on you ! Another year pasted so many more
To come. Expanding beyond trails of your youth, you
Are beginning to develop super highways of the future.
Trial and error are endemic to your highway system.
Your's is not patterned to the rugged lay of the land,
It functions within the folds of your own brain matter.
You have the code, you have the map, lead the way.
Pot holes will occur and can be repaired, smooth riding.
On Your Birthday,
With All Our Love,
Nanny&PopPop
Between urban centers, highways spirit
Both men and machines at top speeds.
Many routes are multiple centuries old ;
Animal trails eons in use, vegetation free,
Adopted by horse and rider for their ease.
Widened and then graveled to comfort use
Soon translated into macadam and concrete.
Their history is but an afterthought by now.
In somebody's world similar progression exists
Tracing antiquity into print for others to digest.
But, in your world, a learned one of open inquiry,
I surmise your thrust is not back but is forward.
Highways of the future may not follow footprints
Of wild animals, they'll follow hypothesis, theory.
Maybe you'll be forced to blaze your own trails,
Create you own theories, develop fresh hypotheses.
My bet's on you ! Another year pasted so many more
To come. Expanding beyond trails of your youth, you
Are beginning to develop super highways of the future.
Trial and error are endemic to your highway system.
Your's is not patterned to the rugged lay of the land,
It functions within the folds of your own brain matter.
You have the code, you have the map, lead the way.
Pot holes will occur and can be repaired, smooth riding.
On Your Birthday,
With All Our Love,
Nanny&PopPop
Monday, March 23, 2015
Rude Awakening
Interrupted is the march of civilization by the extremes of fanatics, those wrapped in ancient beliefs extolling their God is best of all.
Treasured among the Great Civilizations yet recorded are those which honored their leaders equally with their members superior in knowledge.
Marching in lock step the dull of mind envision a brilliant utopia waiting ahead whether, or not, they understand the cruelty of servitude.
Ronald C. Downie
Interrupted is the march of civilization by the extremes of fanatics, those wrapped in ancient beliefs extolling their God is best of all.
Treasured among the Great Civilizations yet recorded are those which honored their leaders equally with their members superior in knowledge.
Marching in lock step the dull of mind envision a brilliant utopia waiting ahead whether, or not, they understand the cruelty of servitude.
Ronald C. Downie
Friday, March 20, 2015
My Thoughts,
Much hullabaloo in Pottstown about sewer & water. I spent 8 years involved there trying to keep the authority's eye on sewer/water problems.
This morning's TV Western, the arrogantly, egotistical Custer divided his troops into three divisions and lost the battle. Divide & conquer
Even the mightiest of Empires crumbled, sub coming to the needs of its lowly people's bellies; as today, the lowly never gain from Empire plunder.
Ronald C. Downie
Much hullabaloo in Pottstown about sewer & water. I spent 8 years involved there trying to keep the authority's eye on sewer/water problems.
This morning's TV Western, the arrogantly, egotistical Custer divided his troops into three divisions and lost the battle. Divide & conquer
Even the mightiest of Empires crumbled, sub coming to the needs of its lowly people's bellies; as today, the lowly never gain from Empire plunder.
Ronald C. Downie
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Knowledge Counts
History is bound to trample on supposed leaders who ignored the foundations of scientific knowledge but rather wrapped themselves in flags.
Treasured among the Great Civilizations yet recorded are those which honored their leaders equally with their members superior in knowledge.
Marching in lock step the dull of mind envision a brilliant utopia waiting ahead whether, or not, they understand the cruelty of servitude.
Ronald C. Downie
History is bound to trample on supposed leaders who ignored the foundations of scientific knowledge but rather wrapped themselves in flags.
Treasured among the Great Civilizations yet recorded are those which honored their leaders equally with their members superior in knowledge.
Marching in lock step the dull of mind envision a brilliant utopia waiting ahead whether, or not, they understand the cruelty of servitude.
Ronald C. Downie
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Dear Zia,
It is extremely gratifying for a Great Grandfather to acknowledge a distant offspring for the creative effort of offering her words in verse to be judged by others. I have struggled for years in the pursuit of writing proper words placed in creative phrases that express what was on my mind. Unlike Zia, I rarely submit my words for judgement as, I surmise, most of you would also hesitate doing. Zia has my, and I hope all of your, congratulations.
Dear Zia,
Congratulations on winning with your wonderful words my Great Granddaughter !
Words are extremely important:
Not just for the contest judges,
But for you, the contest writer.
The ability to write what you think,
The desire to write what you feel,
Are like butterflies winging free.
They flutter then light on flowers
Knowing color, sensing nectar,
As do you when home is near.
May words become your companion
Throughout the rest of your long life -
Treat them well for they are friends.
Love, Old Pops
Ronald C. Downie
It is extremely gratifying for a Great Grandfather to acknowledge a distant offspring for the creative effort of offering her words in verse to be judged by others. I have struggled for years in the pursuit of writing proper words placed in creative phrases that express what was on my mind. Unlike Zia, I rarely submit my words for judgement as, I surmise, most of you would also hesitate doing. Zia has my, and I hope all of your, congratulations.
Dear Zia,
Congratulations on winning with your wonderful words my Great Granddaughter !
Words are extremely important:
Not just for the contest judges,
But for you, the contest writer.
The ability to write what you think,
The desire to write what you feel,
Are like butterflies winging free.
They flutter then light on flowers
Knowing color, sensing nectar,
As do you when home is near.
May words become your companion
Throughout the rest of your long life -
Treat them well for they are friends.
Love, Old Pops
Ronald C. Downie
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Decline and Fail
Into the endless wisps of cosmic space mingle sounds of the living with noise of the deceased, recent and past, waiting for mine and yours
It's an utter disgrace that such a huge number of the populous disregard civility as the basic tenant of a smooth functioning society.
Unable to learn from the past are those feeble of character, devoid of education, but triumphant in arrogant ego wrap themselves in a flag.
Ronald C. Downie
Into the endless wisps of cosmic space mingle sounds of the living with noise of the deceased, recent and past, waiting for mine and yours
It's an utter disgrace that such a huge number of the populous disregard civility as the basic tenant of a smooth functioning society.
Unable to learn from the past are those feeble of character, devoid of education, but triumphant in arrogant ego wrap themselves in a flag.
Ronald C. Downie
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Clouded In Song
"We'll Meet Again,
Don't know where,
Don't know when..."
"Some Sunny Day."
Join in along with Vera Lynn to the end of "Doctor Strangelove".
In the far distance a blooming mushroom cloud billows up in a distinctive way. Its destruction defies the beauty in the visual display that expands while Vera Lynn's lyrics sore to take reality away.
We live in the shadow of the bomb, not by choice, but by a thread sewing an illusion over the World that people of logic control the send buttons.
All the while in calculated ignorance, a cataclysmic weather change is encircling the Earth that will cause unheralded disruption to the life of inhabitants not yet born. Which will end life first as we have known it ?
Maybe it's just as good if we all join in with songs that brought the free world together to put down the sinister forces of evil. Vera Lynn had a wonderful way of bringing crowds together in song. A Sing Along is not only a thing of the past but it would do wonders for congress rather than for them to write letters which whip up a storm unseen till now. Join in, "We'll Meet Again, ...".
Ronald C. Downie
"We'll Meet Again,
Don't know where,
Don't know when..."
"Some Sunny Day."
Join in along with Vera Lynn to the end of "Doctor Strangelove".
In the far distance a blooming mushroom cloud billows up in a distinctive way. Its destruction defies the beauty in the visual display that expands while Vera Lynn's lyrics sore to take reality away.
We live in the shadow of the bomb, not by choice, but by a thread sewing an illusion over the World that people of logic control the send buttons.
All the while in calculated ignorance, a cataclysmic weather change is encircling the Earth that will cause unheralded disruption to the life of inhabitants not yet born. Which will end life first as we have known it ?
Maybe it's just as good if we all join in with songs that brought the free world together to put down the sinister forces of evil. Vera Lynn had a wonderful way of bringing crowds together in song. A Sing Along is not only a thing of the past but it would do wonders for congress rather than for them to write letters which whip up a storm unseen till now. Join in, "We'll Meet Again, ...".
Ronald C. Downie
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
You Listening ?
Arrogance instead of intelligence pervades halls of legislation whether at state level or federal. Term limits seem the only real remedy.
No matter the musculature of individuals the weakness inherent to many I read on Facebook is the lack of strength in their mental acuity.
Suggest to me the style of helmet complete with a proper face mask professional basketball should be outfitted with, also padding.
Ronald C. Downie
Arrogance instead of intelligence pervades halls of legislation whether at state level or federal. Term limits seem the only real remedy.
No matter the musculature of individuals the weakness inherent to many I read on Facebook is the lack of strength in their mental acuity.
Suggest to me the style of helmet complete with a proper face mask professional basketball should be outfitted with, also padding.
Ronald C. Downie
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Wealth
Farming the rays of sunshine, harnessing the currents of wind, and harvesting flows of seas are the real future of true wealth formation.
Mainly through extraction from the earth or through the multiplier effect of vegetation's bounty is the core of all wealth formation found.
Antagonistic to its core is the society of the haves to the multitudes of the withouts. "Man's inhumanity to man" pervades each generation.
Ronald C. Downie
Farming the rays of sunshine, harnessing the currents of wind, and harvesting flows of seas are the real future of true wealth formation.
Mainly through extraction from the earth or through the multiplier effect of vegetation's bounty is the core of all wealth formation found.
Antagonistic to its core is the society of the haves to the multitudes of the withouts. "Man's inhumanity to man" pervades each generation.
Ronald C. Downie
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Games & Governance
Fueled by discontent, a countryside whipped poor common to history awaits a renaissance, also common to history, which readjusts wealth.
Suits pop up like toast when listening to a speech in congress. Most resemble three day old bread hardened and crusty subject to crumbling.
Sabers are raising a rumpus in hearts of Israelis who count on America playing offense in the game with Iran. Hot war's a big risk for them.
Ronald C.Downie
Fueled by discontent, a countryside whipped poor common to history awaits a renaissance, also common to history, which readjusts wealth.
Suits pop up like toast when listening to a speech in congress. Most resemble three day old bread hardened and crusty subject to crumbling.
Sabers are raising a rumpus in hearts of Israelis who count on America playing offense in the game with Iran. Hot war's a big risk for them.
Ronald C.Downie
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Round and Round
Will Washington ever get its act together ? Today, stirring the pot of gruel is Israel's Prime Minister poised not to eat of his own making.
A new age is upon us, an age of enlightenment, age of the female, of truth finally arriving 3/21/15. The Age of Aquarius to arrive on time
Twisted thoughts create ripples on my mind. Their turbulence makes life hard to accept in this World full of carnage where humans are sacrificed.
RonaldC. Downie
Will Washington ever get its act together ? Today, stirring the pot of gruel is Israel's Prime Minister poised not to eat of his own making.
A new age is upon us, an age of enlightenment, age of the female, of truth finally arriving 3/21/15. The Age of Aquarius to arrive on time
Twisted thoughts create ripples on my mind. Their turbulence makes life hard to accept in this World full of carnage where humans are sacrificed.
RonaldC. Downie
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Our World
Termed barbarians by John Boehner are Middle Eastern combatants standing up against the USA. Watch out ! History replete with their victories.
Living close to the Limerick Nuclear facility I feel less safe lately since I can hear the sabers rattling from across the World. Is our existence in jeopardy ?
Failing to absorb it, history prone to repeat itself. Male domination egocentric to its core recorded such acts few would repeat. Females dehumanized.
Ronald C. Downie
Termed barbarians by John Boehner are Middle Eastern combatants standing up against the USA. Watch out ! History replete with their victories.
Living close to the Limerick Nuclear facility I feel less safe lately since I can hear the sabers rattling from across the World. Is our existence in jeopardy ?
Failing to absorb it, history prone to repeat itself. Male domination egocentric to its core recorded such acts few would repeat. Females dehumanized.
Ronald C. Downie
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