another bird

Anyone who has perused this blog knows, I seem to like photographing birds. Why? beat me. I have many bird feeders on my porch, and even a birds nest in our beams. I guess I just like birds. So here are some photos of a seagull eating a horseshoe crab.

Well, anyone who has visited my blog has noticed that I've not posted for a while. I'm sorry to say the interest just wasn't there.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to entertain my fabulous brother-in-law and Lynn, but I think I would rather just talk on the phone or by email.

Also, I'm super busy with managing the museum and old city tours on the weekends and being a colonial character during the week, so time is a little short.

So, instead of leaving messages on the ol' blog, you'll just have to email me.

Maybe after the busy summer season, I'll start posting again.

Until then,
Thanks.

Mitchell
mitchellkramer@yahoo.com

WIFE

Pretty Wife





















Weird Wife

TOM DELAY READS MY BLOG!

That's the reason he's stepping down. I've embarrassed him.
Now, let the healing begin.

Maybe a political rant will attract web surfers

Maybe a political rant will attract web surfers!

I AM NOT POLITICAL! Sorry to shout.
By Mitchell Kramer

Look, I’m a big fan of the good ol’ U.S. of A.

I’m an 18^th century history buff. I work in an American Jewish history museum and really appreciate the principles of our country. Equality – not just class equality, but religious and racial equality. That’s the point of this country. It’s never been perfect, our treatment of the Native Americans and the practice of slavery are embarrassing. It’s taken a long time, but slowly, so slowly it’s gotten better. The civil rights amendment is right up there with the best things our country has done. The Geneva Convention is pretty great too.

I can even admit that I’ve agreed with a couple of our president’s recent policy decisions. Allowing a company from Dubai to run a few ports and work visas for the migrant workers, these seem compassionate… and conservative.

But come on, the scandals and behavior of the republicans in the House and Senate and most disturbingly in the White House is well, just icky.
Very very icky.

I have a hard time accepting that because we have a republican majority in every branch of government, we can’t more seriously investigate questionable practices and make it stop. Well, at least stop making scandalous behavior so common, so regular, and so seemingly acceptable in our halls of power.

You know, I hate to say it, but the international reputation and national pride of the United States seems in short supply right now…

But I’m not political.

So having said all that…

here is my list, affectionately titled…

EMBARESSINGGATE

Tom Delay with your gerrymandering, redistricting, and illegal use of contributions

John Ashcroft, illegal use of contributions.
Not to mention that the singing is really embarrassing.

Karl Rove- Winning at any cost.
I wonder who he has the deed to his soul? That’s right, I said soul.

My unsolicited advice to Antonin Scalia.
I have the feeling that anyone who has ever gone hunting with Dick Chaney is corrupt. Don’t do that anymore, you’re a Supreme Court justice.

What did Valerie Plame ever do to you?
Revealing the secret identity of a political opponents wife is mean and dangerous.

Dick Chaney’s energy-policy task force secret.
Inquiring minds still want to know.

Jack Abramoff and his cronies.
Who didn’t they bribe?

Let me say that lobbying is not intrinsically bad. A lobbyist for the American Heart Association or the NAACP is getting the word out for causes and organizations that need a voice. But political influence and cronyism is obviously sleazy. The people who do it know it’s wrong, don’t they?

Halliburton’s No bid contracts.
War profiteering is evil. Bribery is unethical.

Weapons of mass destruction
The whole going to war on a false premise thing

Abu Ghraib Prison
Photographing torture is gross.
Don’t do that.

Guantánamo Bay
Torture – the United States. And not just a little bit of torture.
Apparently, it was a whole lot of torture.
I’m pretty sure the whole point of being the guys in the white hats is not doing that.

Illegally holding prisoners of war –
Who, more and more, are looking less and less like terrorist masterminds.

The opinions are mine, if you want a little more detail and less biased opinion, I would refer you to the article, “The Scandal Sheet” By Peter Dizikes, it was very helpful in compiling my list.

Spring continues to emerge

BIRD HOUSE

YELLOW












BLOOM

The history post

So since nobody ever visits this site (except Steven and Lynn) I think I'll put some boring work stuff here. Well, it's not boring to me.

I spend a good deal of my time speaking to groups about the Jewish communities in the thirteen colonies around the time of the American Revolution. Where I work is right in the center of Independence National Historic Park and I'm creating a tour of the neighborhood that focuses on the Jewish community.

Here's a map I made with some notable Jewish sites marked.

A big part of my talks involves the Jewish people who were active in the Revolution. I discuss the Jewish soldiers and others who helped shape the country. Here are some portraits of some of the people.



This is Gershom Mendes Seixas, the only Jew among one of the 13 American religious leaders invited to invoke a blessing at George Washington's inauguration in 1789.

The first American-born leader of a Jewish congregation. In 1768 he became minister of Congregation Shearith Israel, the oldest synagogue in what would become the United States.

When the British occupied New York in the Revolution, he served as the religious leader of Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia.

Seixas sat on the board of trustees of King's College, later renamed Columbia.


Benjamin Gratz was a soldier and lawyer who fought in the War of 1812 and was an early settler in Kentucky. The Gratz family was filled with amazing people who were involved in early American History. They supported the Continental Army, explored the western frontier trading with Native Americans, helped create many lasting institutions in Philadelphia and along with Daniel Boone, helped settle Kentucky. Most notably was the families commitment to charitable work.

Rebecca Gratz may be the most famous and influential member of the Gratz family. Her story is remarkable, check out this site for her biography.
http://www.jwa.org/exhibits/wov/gratz/

Do you want to know what I want to know?

Who is the mystery person from the Franklin Institute who is visiting my modest blog?

Leave a comment.

Everyone, leave a comment and visit often.

Thanks.

SPRING IS COMING

Right in our very own yard
Signs of spring