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Sam Gold's WeblogAn information technology worker's observations on life, liberty, and insanity 7/4/2009 Independence DayThe United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congresson July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britainwere now independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire. Written primarily byThomas Jefferson, the Declaration is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 todeclare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The birthday of the United States of America—Independence Day—is celebrated on July 4, the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress.
After finalizing the text on July 4, Congress issued the Declaration of Independence in several forms. It was initially published as a printed broadside that was widely distributed and read to the public. The most famous version of the Declaration, a signed copy that is usually regarded as the Declaration of Independence, is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. According to most historians, Congress signed this document on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4, as is often believed.
The sources and interpretation of the Declaration have been the subject of much scholarly inquiry. The Declaration justified the independence of the United States by listing colonial grievances against King George III, and by asserting certain natural rights, including a right of revolution. Having served its original purpose in announcing independence, the text of the Declaration was initially ignored after the American Revolution. Its stature grew over the years, particularly the second sentence, a sweeping statement of human rights:
6/20/2009 Kimball Scout ReservationThe Camp Kimball Scout Reservation, located at Mount Potosi is located off of State Route 160. The 1,120 acre reservation is located thirty miles southwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. This high desert facility is at an elevation of 5,800 feet with daytime temperatures nearly twenty degrees cooler than in the Las Vegas Valley.
Kimball Scout Reservation has over four miles of roads, eleven miles of hiking trails, twenty-two troop campsites, latrines, washstands, two shower buildings, swimming pool, well and water storage system, activity shelters, trading post, large amphitheater, canoe pond, and a worship chapel, Serenity Hall. Kimball Scout Reservation also have a special first-year camper program to help them advance a rank during their week and an adventure program designed to meet the needs of the “older” Scouts who may not be working on merit badges. Kimball Scout Reservation offers more than thirty merit badges for scouts who need them. One of the often-told Scoutmaster Minutes compares a Scout camp to a city. Cities have streets, camps have roads and trails. Cities have buildings and homes, camps have tents. Where cities have many laws, at a Scout camp there are just two, the Scout Law and the Outdoor Code. A Scout Is... Trustworthy Loyal Helpful Friendly Courteous Kind Obedient Cheerful Thrifty Brave Clean and Reverent. These twelve points proudly guide this camp. As an American, I will do my best to be clean in my outdoor manners. I will treat the outdoors as a heritage. I will take care of it for myself and others. I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields, woods, and roadways. I am humbled that God choose me to mentor and lead these young men in one of the oldest youth programs in the United States. I struggle everyday to ensure a quality program is presented every week to these Boy Scouts. As long as I am able to, the Boy Scout Program will be alive and well.  6/6/2009 D-DayToday is the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the Invasion of Normandy. 65 years ago, Americans, British, and Canadian forces invaded Normandy to free Europe from the tyranny of Nazi Germany. Our greatest generation, ordinary people, did extrordinary things that day. Seeing the Normandy military cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, I am moved to see the rows upon rows of military gravestones. After seeing these gardens of stone, it is fitting that we take the time to honor these men and their sacrifice.
5/25/2009 Memorial DayMemorial Day is one of two holidays in the United States that honors our veterans. Veteran's Day celebrates and honors our living veterans while Memorial Day honors our war dead. To many Memorial Day signals the start of summer. When I think of Memorial Day, I think of near infinite rows of white military gravestones, the final resting place for our honored dead. These gardens of stone show how many hundreds of thousands of men and women who gave thier lives to preserve our way of life. A lot of people take this for granted, but I do not.
 5/10/2009 Lake Mead Railroad Tunnel Trail |
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