Friday Funnies

After yesterday's very serious post, a little levity is needed, so here's one.

Prices are going up it's true — but nothing like this one — such a deal -7399% off.

Notice the sale price here was way higher than the original, thanks to a misplaced period.

This very obvious error was spotted on a national news site this week. I wonder how long it took for the typo to be noticed?

Here's the actual discounted price, which all would prefer, even if the savings are much less.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

No special plans for us, temps have cooled down with 🌨 on Sunday

A Disturbing Documentary

FYI: This longish post contains spoilers about a documentary that's currently streaming online.  I have tried to objectively present the details without including any opinion. This post was to present factual information gained from the film and online sources.

The 2023 documentary, Tell Them You Love Me, now airing on Netflix, tells the true story of Marjorie Anna Stubblefield, a white Rutgers University ethics professor convicted in 2015 of sexually abusing Derrick Johnson, a nonverbal black man with cerebral palsy. The alleged affair led to a criminal trial over disability and sexual abuse. 

What drew me in was the fact that while this happened in my home state of NJ almost a decade ago, I was ignorant of the story. After reading an online article, I watched the film to learn more. There was a lot to learn.

The story takes place in Irvington, NJ (where Johnson lived) and West Orange, NJ (where Stubblefield lived). The film was created by Louis Sebastian Theroux, a journalist and broadcaster known for documentaries exploring controversial issues. It was directed by Nick August-Perna, an award-winning director, producer and editor. 

The 102-minute film includes interviews with Stubblefield and Johnson’s mother and brother with opposing views on their relationship. It features interviews with Howard Shane, an expert in the field of augmented and alternative communication systems, Devva Kasnitz, disabled anthropologist and professor as well as several others connected to the case. 

In the documentary, Stubblefield claims she successfully taught Johnson to communicate through facilitated communication despite the fact that a clinical psychologist who evaluated Johnson determined that he couldn’t carry out basic tasks. His comprehension was termed limited; his attention span was extremely short. In the film, he appeared incapable of self-care and was fed by his mother who revealed that he also wore a diaper.

About Anna Stubblefield

Stubblefield’s last name is that of her former husband. Her maiden name is McClennen and she was raised in Plymouth, MI. Her parents trained in special education for their PhDs and were involved in women’s rights and environmental issues. Her mother worked with impaired children and taught social skills to disabled persons.

Stubblefield received her PhD and published articles on race and ethics. She was married to Roger Stubblefield, a black tuba player and classical composer with whom she had two children. For 11 years, she served on the faculty at the Newark campus of Rutgers University where she was a tenured professor. She prefers using her middle name.

About Derrick Johnson

Johnson was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after suffering multiple seizures as an infant. He's susceptible to muscle spasms, cannot stay in one position and has trouble with eye contact. He cannot dress or feed himself and only walks if someone holds him. He can’t control his speech, has never spoken, and screams when unhappy.

A clinical psychologist determined he lacked cognitive ability to understand and was unable to perform basic pre-school functions. He lives with his mother, who raised him and his brother as a single parent. A court made them his legal guardians.

What Is Facilitated Communication (FC)?

Facilitated Communication or FC, as it is commonly known, was developed in the 1980s in Australia by Rosemary Crossley, who remains a staunch advocate. It claims to allow nonverbal communication. Here's how it works: a person, called a facilitator, physically supports a disabled person’s hand or arm to help point to letters that spell words, similar to using a Ouija board. Research has shown the facilitator as the source of the messages, and not the disabled person. 

Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method. Pseudoscience is often characterized by contradictory, exaggerated or unfalsifiable claims.

The controversial process has been labelled as pseudoscience, scientifically discredited by experts and raised serious concerns from disability advocacy groups.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) termed it a discredited technique recommending it be avoided. The American Psychological Association and the Association for Science in Autism Treatment has also rejected FC.

How Did They Meet ?

Stubblefield and Johnson met in 2009 after his older brother, John, a PhD student at Rutgers University, took Stubblefield’s philosophy and disability studies class. He approached her to learn more about FC. 

Once she started working with his brother, she claimed that he progressed quickly, that success only occurred when she was facilitating. In the film, she refers to Derrick as Dman, which she claims was at his insistence. However, his family always referred to him as Derrick.

Stubblefield said that Derrick preferred classical to the gospel music he was brought up listening to. She also said he liked red wine which his brother contradicted saying he would never drink it at church. His mother, Daisy, became suspicious, and stated that her son’s words sounded more like what Anna liked, not what Derrick liked.

After, she told Johnson's mother and brother they were in love and she planned to leave her husband, Daisy reported her to the police. During a recorded phone call as detectives listened, Stubblefield told her that she and Johnson had engaged in a consensual sexual relationship. She was arrested and charged with sexual assault. She was 41 and Johnson was 30.

What Happened Next ?

In 2013, grand jury in Essex County, NJ, indicted her on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and she was held for trial. 

Stubblefield maintained that she and Johnson had a sexual relationship. Expert witnesses testified Johnson was mentally impaired and unable to consent. Daisy Johnson further testified that her son could not engage in physical or emotional intimacy. She accused Stubblefield of manipulating him through the keyboard. In a statement that was read, Stubblefield's husband accused her of being a manipulator. Since FC was not recognized by established scientific communities, the court ruled no evidence could be introduced and that its founder, Rosemary Crossley, could not testify. 

After a jury deliberated for under 3 hours in 2015, Stubblefield was found guilty and convicted on two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, She was sentenced to 12 years in prison to run concurrent. 

Stubblefield appealed and 2 years later the verdict was overturned by a New Jersey State Appellate Court. Her conviction was revoked on a technicality because in her trial, the court had disallowed testimony about FC. She accepted a plea deal, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge (third-degree aggravated sexual contact) and sentenced to time served, 2 years.

Where are Stubblefield and Johnson Now? 

Stubblefield had been suspended from Rutgers University before her arrest for allegations of improper conduct with Johnson. She held a job as a restaurant server upon her release. In the film, she says that she was let go due to a customer's complaint and now does unspecified part-time work from home. She has not seen Johnson since 2011. Her former husband retained custody of their son and daughter and has since remarried.

While Stubblefield has stayed clear of public scrutiny, that could change. She was featured prominently in the documentary and remains firm in her belief of a loving and consensual relationship despite evidence produced to the contrary. Despite the fact that she pleaded guilty, in the film, she defends her actions stating; I'm not guilty of a crime.

The documentary ended with a visit to Derrick Johnson at his NJ home, where he continues to live with his mother and spends time with his brother. It portrayed him as healthy, safe and loved. He no longer uses facilitated communication. 

Media Reactions Varied

The Guardian (a daily British newspaper) reported that the film is a disturbing tale of a white female academic’s sexual abuse of a non-verbal Black man.

The Daily Beast (American news website) stated that though Stubblefield seemed sincere, it’s not the same thing as innocent. The article added that she seems to have deluded herself into believing a fiction because it made her feel good about liberating Johnson from his disabilities.

Many other publications including Time magazine, Forbes and the New York Times Magazine all published articles about this case and are available online for anyone interested.

Tell Them You Love Me was a hard watch, which raised many issues. In the end, I found myself left with more questions than answers, including why?

If you've seen it or watch it in the future, perhaps you will as well.

The posts this week were a break from recounting our recent road trip adventures. Next week there will be another of those posts and you will see folks walking on the ocean floor. 

Miscellanea at Home

When trying to think of a name for this post, several thoughts came to mind - bits and pieces, odds and ends, this 'n that, sundries, hodgepodge or as UK folks might say, bits and bobs.

Many would apply in one way or another, but I rather liked the post title best.

As much as I enjoy recounting our road travels and appreciate the comments left by fellow bloggers, other things have been happening at home in Nashua, NH.

As most of us know, appliances, whether large or small, don't last forever. Of course, major appliances are more costly to replace than the smaller household ones, like coffee makers, blenders, food processors, slow cookers, food processors and others.

New coffee maker, same as before

In our case, it was the coffee maker, which was still functioning; however, the hot plate was worn so the coffee was not getting as hot as before. We really got our use from this appliance as it was used daily for some 4+ years. Its replacement is the same dual-use Hamilton Beach model that can brew multiple cups or a single cup. As it was still working, the old unit was recycled to a local thrift store with a note to explain the hot plate issue.

I found an article online in Architectural Digest, which rated the lifespan of coffee makers and expresso makers to about 5 years: While you can continue using them if there are no major problems, they at least require a look, once this benchmark has been reached. Several signs that it can be time to repair or replace your machine include if the water is not getting hot enough, the pump breaks or the machine is leaking. Then, it is likely time to replace the machine.

And, so we did as recommended. Our replacement coffee maker works great and the morning coffee is very hot now. This  dual-use model comes in handy when only one of us wants a cup of coffee. A major plus is that it doesn't take a large amount of limited counter space.

Overall, I was curious as to how long other small kitchen appliances are expected to last, but despite various online searches, there wasn't much information available on this topic. But, there was a lot of information on how long other appliances were expected to last — all were in the category of major appliances

Internet source

According to This Old House: The lifespan of an appliance depends on how much it’s used, which seems like common sense to me, perhaps to you too. Yet, many major appliances are replaced before they've worn out and this is due to other reasons such as changes in styles, renovations, technology and consumer preferences; all of these can make newer products more desirable.

Out of all the major home appliances, gas ranges have the longest life expectancy: 15 years and electric ones from 13-15 years. Dryers and refrigerators about 13 years. Some appliances with shorter lifespans include: compactors (6 years), dishwashers (9 years)  microwave ovens (9 years) and window AC units (5-7 years).

Why do old appliances last longer?

No surprise here as it's all about what materials are used in the manufacturing processes. Quite simply, older units were built better with sturdier materials, like metal, which insured their durability vs. plastic now. This meant they could withstand wear and tear much better than newer counterparts. I can remember the appliances in my parent's home to verify this fact. They were basic and lasted.

Today, new appliances have more bells and whistles compared to those from 10 or even 20 years ago, there's so many features and electronics; some that can be controlled with other electronics. While those features on new appliances can be handy, sometimes electronics don’t mix well with moisture often present in the average dishwasher, refrigerator or washing machine. In addition, the plastic materials are less durable than steel or copper as many homeowners know.

Sometimes, repair isn't considered a good option, even if trying to be cost-efficient. According to a Best Buy Home Expert, repairing an older appliance could lead to another issue. In the end, a repair could cost more than a replacement. In those cases, newer ones are bought.

As for ourselves, it's been over 8 years since we were homeowners in NJ and VA. While we replaced a refrigerator when living in NJ, all the major appliances were bought new when we relocated to VA and renovated an older house. Thankfully, none had reached their termination point when we relocated to NH.

Living and renting in the mill apartment as we do now means we don't have major appliance repairs since we don't own those in the apartment—refrigerator, electric range, microwave and dishwasher. If any of these fail or malfunction, the procedure is to file a maintenance request with the management office. It's logged and an in-house maintenance person checks on the issue. That goes for replacing air filters and light bulbs in the bathroom fixtures as well.

Communal apartment laundry room on our floor

There's no washer and dryer in the apartments, instead each floor has a central laundry room for 5 floors in 2 mill buildings. Until 2 years ago, maintenance was performed in-house, then the older machines were replaced with this new equipment which lets residents use an app on their phone or add money to a laundry card. The company that installed these units, also handles repair issues, but now residents need to contact them directly. Thankfully, there haven't been too many breakdowns. When that happens, residents can use an available machine on another floor as needed and yes, there are elevators.

New blender & vintage book

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a new appliance that wasn't a replacement —this Black & Decker blender has been in almost daily use since being set up. Smoothies are a morning favorite with yogurt, fresh fruit, milk (low-fat) honey, cinnamon and a couple of ice cubes. Bananas and peanut butter also make a delicious breakfast combo and it's now Grenville's favorite.

Before buying, I checked out various makes and models and most important dimensions as the plan was to keep the blender on the counter top. Online shopping comes in handy as often stores have limited models. Yes, we did check a couple of local places, first.

 

Just like appliances were made better years ago, often so were some publications. The one shown in the photo was "rescued" from a discard pile. I volunteer with the Nashua Public Library Friends group and outdated books deemed not good enough for the annual sale are tossed out due to limited storage space or to be replaced by more current ones. This book is over 50 years old (1965 copyright). I'm planning to try some of the recipes it contains.

Our gallery-style apartment kitchen

Above is a view of our gallery kitchen which has limited counter space, so the blender had to be a size that could remain on the counter. 

Our new coffee maker & blender share counter space with coffee & tea bags

I'm sure many of you know what I mean. When an appliance is put into a pantry or cabinet, it's used less often because it can take an effort to haul it out.

Another countertop space saver was replacing a towel holder with this one

Another way, we saved some counter space was to replace a free-standing paper towel holder with one that could mount on the side of the kitchen cabinet. More online research went into finding one with dimensions to fit the 11-inch space. The stainless steel one above was a perfect fit and priced right too, under $10.

So there you have it, some this 'n that from our corner of the world, the kitchen corner.

Your turn — what's been going on in yours ?

Friday Funnies

Vanity plates are everywhere these days, and there's so many personalized ones.

Many I've seen recently include a name, which perhaps makes it easier to find one's car.

The spellings can get creative when limited only 7 characters on a plate.

Couples seem to be together on a plate as well which got me to thinking what about if they became un-coupled.

Some plates have the owner's profession. The first one below seemed easy to figure out. It was seen in a hospital parking lot, I suspect it reads Recovery Nurse. But, the second plate has more bugs than bees.

Others show the owner's home state. As a NJ native, I could identify with the first plate below.

It's still fun to discover and, better yet, try to decipher these personalized plates. While these were relatively easy, others can be somewhat harder, some of those in a future post.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

It's been 🥵 here too, cooler &  rain 🌨  predicted in Nashua, NH

Anniversary in Acadia

Our recent road trip to Maine and Canada was a celebration that coincided with an anniversary — the 27th of our first date, which didn't occur in either of the places visited, but in our home state of New Jersey. When we lived there, and later in VA, we started taking road trips to celebrate special events, not that we needed a reason. 

Dogpatch Farm, Maine-made soap

A previous post detailed a stop at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, ME, an unexpected and interesting visit. Our next stop was in Brunswick, ME, home of Bowdoin College. Like many New England towns, this was a mill town thanks to its proximity to the Androscoggin River. Brunswick was the site of the Brunswick Cotton Manufactory Company, the first cotton mill in the state built in 1809 to make yarn and only the sixth in the U.S. at that time. Brunswick was a major lumber producer with some 25 sawmills, some went for shipbuilding. 

The Brunswick Farmers Market had recently opened on the mall in downtown. Held rain or shine, Tuesday and Thursday, May to November, it's one of Maine's oldest farmers markets. As it was early in the season, there wasn't much produce. I made a favorite travel purchase—homemade soap.

Our walk at Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust

The Brunswick stopover was a revisit with friends, Jack and Nancy. When we all lived on the VA Eastern Shore, Patrick and Jack volunteered as Master Naturalists. Our visit included a stop at the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust where we walked part of the trails and saw fields of daffodils, forget-me-nots and dandelions in bloom. 

Our accommodations at Bar Harbor Manor

Our anniversary destination was the town of Bar Harbor, located on Mount Desert Island where we stayed at the Bar Harbor Manor within walking distance of downtown. The town shares borders with Acadia National Park, which holds claim to some of the most stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife on the Eastern Seaboard. Open year-round., Acadia is located on the coast of Maine. Most of the park’s 47,000 acres are spread across Mount Desert Island, though portions of the park are on the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut. Bar Harbor is a popular base for visiting the park.

Hulls Cove Visitor Center at Acadia National Park, ME 

We began our visit to the park by a stop at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center where admission is purchased. All visitors must have one of these entrance passes: Standard Pass ($20-35), annual pass ($70) or America the beautiful Pass (Free admission) whether walking, biking, skiing, riding the Island Explorer or driving through the park.. Patrick's veteran status gave us to free admission. You can't see the Visitor Center from the parking area entrance. It's located 52 steps up the hill. (For those with special access needs, there's an entrance available through a back entrance.) 

Acadia National Park is the only national park in the state of Maine. It was first established as Sieur de Monts National Monument in July 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson but then was changed to Lafayette National Park in February 1919 when it became the first national park east of the Mississippi. It was not until January 1929 that it officially was named Acadia National Park.

The Back Story of Acadia

George B. Dorr 

Acadia's history, dates more than 10,000 years ago with the Wabanaki people (“People of the Dawnland”). The 17th century brought fur traders and other European explorers, while the 19th century saw an influx of summer visitors, then wealthy families. Many conservation-minded citizens, among them was an American preservationist George B. Dorr (the "Father of Acadia National Park"). 

Dorr, heir to a New England textile fortune, spent most of his adult life overseeing the park's formation and expansion and worked to establish this first U.S. national park east of the Mississippi River. Acadia was first named Sieur de Monts National Monument by proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 (Sieur de Monts was a that George Dorr gave to Pierre Dugua, a French Explorer and nobleman who came to Mount Desert Island in 1604.). It was re-designated Lafayette National Park in 1919 and then renamed Acadia National Park in 1929. 

Acadia possibly stems from “Arcadia,” a part of Greece that explorer, Giovanni Verrazano was reminded of as he sailed by in 1524. Today, it includes about 49,052 acres in three main areas. The largest is located on Mount Desert Island. Next, is an approximate 2,366 acre tract of land to the Northeast on the mainland at Schoodic Peninsula. Third, to the Southwest (accessible only by boat) is Isle Au Haut. Baker Island (Southeast coast) and Bar Island (north side of Bar Harbor) also have national Park land.

While Acadia National Park can look small on a map, the park encompasses nearly 50,000 acres along the Atlantic Coastline of Maine — including Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula, Isle au Haut, and other outer islands, 60 miles of coastline, 33 miles of scenic motor roads, 45 miles of carriage roads, and more than 150 miles of hiking trails provide numerous ways to explore the park.

Cadillac Mountain

The 27-mile Park Loop Road leads to many scenic viewpoints along the coast, through forests and to the top of Cadillac Mountain. During peak season, visitors need to purchase one of a limited number of National Parks vehicle reservation passes to drive on Cadillac Mountain Road and see its impressive summit and panoramic views. 

View on Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. at 1,530 feet (466 meters) is located within Acadia. It features exposed granite domes, glacial erratics, U-shaped valleys, and cobble beaches. It's named after the French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac

Panoramic view on Cadillac Mountain

For half the year, from October 7 through March 6, this mountain displays the first rays of daylight to touch the U.S., and the perfect place to catch the sunrise year-round. The sheer scale and beauty of the mountain attracts many visitors. Luckily, our visit was before May 25 as from then through Oct 22, vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road between sunrise and sunset.

Cadillac Mountain is one of over 20 mountains on Mount Desert Island (MDI) that were pushed up by earth's tectonic and volcanic forces millions of years ago. If these once enormous glaciers hadn't sheared off their tops, it's been estimated they would be even higher than what remains today. 

Glacial remains on Cadillac Mountain

As glaciers moved across the landscape, sediment and rock of all sizes were trapped beneath the ice. This debris was pulled and dragged along the surfaces of the mountains. The smaller particles, such as sand, smoothed out the surfaces of the mountains and rock. The larger stones dug into the rock, leaving scratches that now line the sides and exteriors called striations. 

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park

Jordan Pond is a tarn in Acadia National Park near the town of Bar Harbor, Maine. The pond covers 187 acres to a maximum depth of 150 feet with a shoreline of 3.6 miles. A tarn is a mountain lake, pond or pool, formed in a cirque (or corrie) excavated by a glacier. The word is derived from the Old Norse word tjörn, a small mountain lake without tributaries, meaning pond. 

The pond has clear water, with visibility normally 44 feet and sometimes recorded up to 61 feet, the deepest recordings in Maine. Jordan pond exhibits high levels of dissolved oxygen and low levels of plant nutrients and plant life. Some types of boating are permitted; however, people and pets are prohibited from entering the water as it is the water supply for the village of Seal Harbor.

Jordan Pond House

This restaurant and shop has a long tradition within Acadia National Park. It's on a hill overlooking a beautiful lawn along the Jordan Pond. The Jordan Pond House traces its history from 1847. The first settlers conducted a logging operation, establishing a small mill near the foot of the pond. The original farmhouse was built by the Jordan family of Seal Harbor, for whom the pond and house were named.

Jordan Pond House, Acadia National Park

Toward the end of the 19th century, the location became a popular recreational area for summer vacationers. The Jordan Pond House was turned into a small restaurant. The first popovers and tea were served here by the first proprietors, Thomas and Nellie McIntire around 1895. 

Jordan Pond Tea House, circa 1019

In 1928, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the property and donated it to the National Park Service in 1940. The McIntires operated the restaurant 50 continuous seasons until their retirement in 1945. In 1946, Rockefeller began a company to run the Jordan Pond House restaurant. The original building burned in 1979; the current building was completed in 1982.

Our anniversary treat, popovers filled with blueberry ice cream

Afternoon tea with popovers remains a popular, not to be missed, tradition on a visit to Acadia National Park. Reservations are usually required in season, luckily, the restaurant had re-opened the week of our visit, wait time was under an hour. Of course, after lunch, we each savored our own Jordan Pond House popover filled with blueberry ice cream.

This anniversary road trip continued into Canada. Future posts will include highlights from our visit there.

These Falls Reverse

Dorothy, Rain & Patrick

To be clear, the Reversing Falls does reverse, but we didn't fully experience this unique event in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada on our May road trip.

However, it's where we did have a great experience — a first-time meet-up with a fellow blogger Rain. As it happened, this was a first-time visit for all 3 of us. We met at the falls restaurant for conversation, refreshments and great views.

Of course if we had waited just longer, we might have seen this natural wonder in its totality, but time didn't allow that day. And, we would not be going by this area again on our road trip. Still, we saw at least a part of this daily event. While there, we read about the falls, watched a video, then walked on the Skywalk and watched the falls coming from the Bay of Fundy into the Saint John River.

The extended area from the restaurant at the falls is the skywalk area.

Us on the Skywalk at Reversing Falls

What are the Reversing Falls?

The Reversing Falls are a series of rapids on the Saint John River located in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, where the river runs through a narrow gorge before emptying into the Bay of Fundy. The semidiurnal tides (two high and two low tides of about equal size every lunar day) of the bay force the flow of water to reverse against the prevailing current when the tide is high. The rapids or "falls” are created by a series of underwater ledges which roil the water in either direction. This can cause a significant navigation hazard. Vessels can only enter or exit from the river at slack tide.

The Reversing Falls Rapids are created by the daily collision of the Bay of Fundy and the Saint John River. At different points in the tide cycle, there are three distinct interactions between these bodies of water.

At low tide the river empties into the bay causing a series of rapids and whirlpools. As tides rise they slow the river current for a brief period, slack tide. The Bay's tides continue to rise, gradually reversing the flow of the river; rapids form again, peaking at high tide. 

Slack tide generally is only 20 minutes and occurs when the Bay of Fundy waters begin to rise and slow the river's flow, eventually stopping it completely. This is the only time that sail boats and pleasure crafts can sail between the bay and the river.

At high tide, the Bay of Fundy tide continues to rise, gradually reversing the flow of the river, and rapids form again, peaking at high tide.

A full tide cycle takes 12 hours, 25 minutes. From high to low tide takes 6 hours, 13 minutes.

Now a tourist destination, the Reversing Falls have been an important industrial site for over a century. The Canadian Pacific Railway constructed the Reversing Falls Railway Bridge in 1885. This structure was replaced in 1922 and is now used by the New Brunswick Southern Railway. The railway bridge crosses the gorge immediately downstream from the falls, parallel to the Reversing Falls Road Bridge.

Irving Pulp & Paper, New Brunswick, Canada

The location of the falls was the site of a foundry and other light industrial operations on the east side of the gorge The large Irving Pulp & Paper Limited mill is on the west side. The paper company which has operated the pulp mill since purchasing it in the late 1940s, has encountered criticism for maintaining the facility at what is seen as one of Saint John's prime tourism spots. 

This criticism was most voiced in the 1980s and 1990s when the city government created Fallsview Park on former industrial foundry lands on the east side of the gorge. The park lookouts are considered a prime viewing location for the Reversing Falls Rapids. Unlike the Skywalk there's no cost to visit this park and use the lookouts.. 

Years ago, a popular travel book labelled the Reversing Falls with the distinction as being among the worst tourist attractions in the world. Admittedly, that does seem rather extreme. As we know from personal experience, reviews are subject to opinion and often even a bad review can attract more folks than not. In reading a number of online reviews from others who have also visited the falls, that review seems not to have deterred any.

Even though we didn't view the complete transformation, we enjoyed our visit. As the main purpose was a blogger meetup, this natural phenomena was an added bonus.

Since returning home, I've watched several online videos to see the full Reversing Falls effect. This drone video by Jesse Sullivan (only background music) is interesting if you are included to watch it. Total playing time is a bit over 7 minutes.

By the way, we did see a moose at the falls, luckily it wasn't on the roadways. This one was captive in the restaurant lodge area.

The Reversing Falls weren't the only natural wonder we experienced in Saint John, New Brunswick. A future post will show how it's possible to walk on the ocean floor, of course, at low tide. 

Friday Flag Day 🇺🇸

Annual flag display in Hudson, NH, from Memorial Day to Independence Day

The usual Friday Funnies have been given today off to commemorate Flag Day, today, June 14. It's not a national holiday and government offices like courthouses and United States Post Offices are open as are public offices and schools. While many Americans may be unaware of this day, others will have flags on display.

The U.S. flag that often is referred to as the Stars and Stripes was adopted on June 14, 1777 by the Continental Congress as the official American flag during the Revolutionary War. Until that time, Colonial troops fought under different flags with various symbols including rattlesnakes, pine trees, and eagles with slogans like "Don’t Tread on Me," "Liberty or Death" and "Conquer or Die" to name some.

The Flag Resolution of 1777 stated: "Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

Interestingly, it wasn't an American who labelled the U.S. as the Stars and Stripes. That credit was given to a French nobleman and military officer, the marquis de Lafayette, who volunteered his aid to the Continental Army led by General George Washington.

Did you know that . . .

There's an entire vocabulary of terms associated with flags?

Vexillology is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general. Someone who studies flags is a vexillologist, one who designs flags is a vexillographer, and the art of designing flags is called vexillography. A hobbyist or general admirer of flags is known as a vexillophile.

Dr. Whitney Smith

That terminology is due to a New Englander fascinated by flags from his childhood. The term, vexillology, was coined by a Massachusetts teenager in 1957. Whitney Smith, Jr combined the Latin word vexillum (a kind of square flag that was carried by Roman cavalry) with the Greek suffix logia (the study of) and coined vexillology. In 1961, he co-wrote The Flag Bulletin, the world's first journal about flags. The following year, he established The Flag Research Center at his home serving as its director.

Dr. Smith, a Harvard graduate, who later taught political science at Boston University, credited his interest in flags to youthful memories of Massachusetts Patriots' Day celebrations (unique to his home state). Later, turning his childhood passion with flags into a scholarly discipline. Dr. Smith became the preeminent scholar on the history, symbolism, and significance of flags amassing newspaper articles, flag-related publications and flags. Over time, this collection of documents and tens of thousands of books, pamphlets, engravings, electronic files, and flag-related artifacts was the largest in the world. 

Dr Smith died in 1976 from complications of Alzheimer's disease. The Whitney Smith Flag Research Center Collection is now housed at The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin. It is now the world’s oldest institution dedicated to interdisciplinary research initiatives on all aspects of flags, flag histories and flag usage.

When asked why flags should be taken seriously, Dr. Smith’s standard reply was: "People kill for flags. People die for flags. It is incumbent on us to try to understand how a piece of cloth can incarnate that power."

So, today on Flag Day in memory of a New Englander who felt so strongly about all flags, this post has many facts that apply specifically to the U.S. flag.

Street art mural in Nashua, NH

The U.S. Flag Code

On June 22, 1942, Congress passed a joint resolution amended in December 1942, that has come to be known as the U.S. Flag Code, a federal law that sets forth guidelines for the appearance and display of the U.S. flag by private citizens. These guidelines specify times and conditions for display of the flag, manners and methods of display, and buildings where such display should occur.

What's seen as the most important guideline involves how U.S. citizens should behave around the flag. For example, members of the armed services and veterans are asked to stand at attention and salute when the flag is passing in a parade or being hoisted or lowered; civilians should place their right hand over their hearts.

The flag should never touch anything beneath it, like the ground, floor, water or merchandise. The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. It should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery, too often it has been used for these purposes.

Violating the flag code isn't illegal even though the U.S. Flag Code is a federal law. Guidelines are only stated within the voluntary and non-binding language such as, "should" and "custom," meaning there is no penalty for violating any of its provisions.

General Guidelines for Displaying the Flag

• When the flag is hung vertically on a wall, window, or door, the union (blue section) should be to the observer’s left. When the flag is hung horizontally or vertically against a wall, the Union should be to the observer’s left.
• In a procession, the American flag should be to the right (the flag’s own right) of any other flag or, if in a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
• When displayed from a staff from a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff.
• When the flag is displayed otherwise than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out; or so suspended that its folds fall as freely as though the flag were staffed.
• When displayed over a street, the flag should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.
• On a platform, the flag should be above and behind the speaker, with the union uppermost and to the observer’s left.
• When displayed from a staff in a church or auditorium, the flag should occupy the position of honor and be placed at the speaker’s right as he/she faces the audience.
• When the flag covers a casket, the union should be at the head and over the left shoulder.

When to Display the Flag

As a symbol of respect, honor, and patriotism, the flag can be displayed any day of the year according to the following guidelines. The custom is to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on flagstaffs in the open; however, if illuminated, it can be displayed at night. It should not be displayed in inclement weather. The flag should be displayed every day, especially:

• New Year’s Day, January 1; Inauguration Day; Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
• Lincoln and Washington's birthdays; National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29
• Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter Sunday; Mother’s Day and Father's Day
• Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day (half-staff until noon)
• Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4
• National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27
• Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, September 17
• Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day, second Monday in October
• Navy Day, October 27; Veterans Day, November 11
• Birthdays of states (date of admission); state holidays
• Other days as proclaimed by the President of the United States

Also, the flag should be displayed at every public institution, in or near every polling place on election days, and at schoolhouses during school days.

“America’s Tall Ship” the USCGC Eagle is the largest tall ship flying the Stars and Stripes 

Displaying the U.S. Flag Alongside Other Flags

• In the U.S., no other flag should be placed above the American flag or, if placed on the same level, to the right of the American flag.
• The United Nations flag may not be displayed above or in a position of superior prominence to the U.S. flag, except at the United Nations Headquarters.
• The flag, when displayed with another against a wall should be on the right (the flag’s own right), and its staff should be in front of the other staff.
• The American flag should be at the center and the highest point when displayed with a group of state flags.
• When flags of states, cities, etc., are flown on the same halyard, the American flag should be at its peak.
• When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height, and the American flag should be hoisted first and lowered last.

Some U.S. Flag No-Nos

• The flag should not be dipped to anyone, including government officials or the President.
• The flag should never be displayed with union (stars) down, unless as a signal of dire distress.
• The flag should never touch anything beneath it: the ground, floor, water or merchandise.
• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, always aloft and free.
• The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored so that it might be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
• The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
• The flag should never have anything placed on it.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose, nor embroidered on cushions or handkerchiefs, printed on paper napkins or boxes or used as any portion of a costume.

How to Properly Dispose of an American Flag

• If the U.S. flag does touch the ground, it does not need to be disposed of (this is a myth) just ensure the flag is washed or dry-cleaned.
• When the flag is in torn or in a condition no longer fitting its status, it should be destroyed in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning.
• Most American Legion posts will conduct an annual ceremony, often on Flag Day to retire old or worn flags. Contact your local chapter if unable to dispose of the flag yourself. Boy Scout or Girl Scout groups also might have information about retiring a flag.

Admittedly, I didn't know a lot about flag etiquette (very little) before doing this post. Even though I am not a native of New England, it was that connection with Dr. Smith that led to this post. 

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Happy Father's Day to fathers stepfather, grandfathers and others

and in memory of our fathers as well