Those Who Trespass Against Us

I was walking home the other afternoon on a bright sunny Fall day noticing that snow was beginning to appear on the mountain tops, the first hint that Winter will soon be in the Rockies. But I was a bit annoyed as I had been looking for gift cards to use as stocking stuffers in a Christmas parcel for a friend, and I couldn't find any suitable ones.

A car pulled over beside me and there was my friend Nancy, one of the first people (and most helpful) that I met when I arrived at College of the Rockies so many years ago now.

"I have a book for you," she said, and handed me a copy of Those Who Trespass Against Us, Toni O'Keeffe's amazing story of her father's survival despite years of abuse by those charged with his care in Ireland between 1939 and 1948.

I knew the book had been published but was so delighted to receive a signed copy from Toni, one of the truly wonderful people I have ever known, and so much fun too! Toni was director of communications at College of the Rockies most of the time I was there, and was also my student in the very first Writing for New Media course I taught in 1994!!!

It was also my privilege to meet Toni's father Walter O'Keeffe and spend an evening with this incredibly talented Irish gentleman, who had moved to Canada and raised his family. Walter would nod in agreement as I shared tales told to me by my grandmother that while I had never doubted were true, he confirmed with a smile and twinkle in his eyes.

Toni's story captures the very essence of the inhumanity that exists among us, but it is also a tale of survival! Walter O'Keeffe and his brothers were 'sentenced' to Greenmont Industrial School for Boys in Cork where those in charge starved, preyed upon and beat the children in their care. Toni brings great passion to the story, and often told me it was a story that had to be told, not only to bring out the horror imposed on her father, but more importantly perhaps as part of a healing process.

Working with her father Toni wrote: "It is my hope that through the process of telling his story he will be released from the demons that hold him so tightly and that he will find a place of healing."

Those Who Trespass Against Us was completed before Walter O'Keeffe died. May he rest in peace.

A must read! I am getting more info from Toni as to where it is available so email me at mj.morris@live.ca in the meantime.

My little annoyance over gift card availability paled in comparison, and to receive Toni's book made my day! Love you Toni!

US ELECTION NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE (ANAHEIM)

I received an email from my good friend Bruno Serato who owns the Anaheim White House restaurant. He plans quite a party on November 4, election day in the United States, but it has a twist -- both Democrats and Republicans will be attending. Good stuff Bruno to focus on those things that bring people together like a great meal at your restaurant.



Two years ago I was privileged to be Bruno's guest along with model Leighton Stultz for a few days while he was working on his coffee table book "Temptation at the White House" Bruno is a most gracious host and I count my stay there among the most memorable moments of my life -- and the food at the restaurant, simply magnificent. And Bruno, I see that the lemon tarts are included in the Democrats' menu. Great!

Suspense and excitement particularly at AnaheimWhite House. We will be hosting a "Race to The White House" featuring live coverage of the election proceedings on TV screens and four-course Obama vs. McCain menus that allows our guests to support their favorite candidate. The fun begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4.

The prix fixe menus, four courses features such items as John McCalamari and Sarah Palin pasta e fagioli soup on the Republican menu and the more "left leaning" BarackO-Chicken and Joe Biden veal.

You can view both menus below. The evening is intended to be a good-natured event with guests from either end of the political spectrum coming together to celebrate our freedom to vote and the spirit of the electoral process.



Like Bruno says, "Where better to hold an Election Night celebration than at the White House!" Call for Reservations to (714) 772-1381


THE REPUBLICAN MENU

Republican Candidate Senator McCain Menu Appetizer Arnold Schwarzenegger Governed Gnocchi

Delicious homemade potato dumplings served in a tomatobeurre blanc

~ Or ~ John McCalamari Sliced calamari with shallots & a dash of Italian grappaover black Barilla pasta Salad



Rudy Giuliani Supported Greens Boston lettuce & Mesclun greens tossed with our famous WhiteHouse passion fruit vinaigrette ~ Or ~ Sarah Palin Pasta e Fagioli Soup Our customary preparation with Italian sausage, pasta &cannellini beans Entrée (Please select one)

Mitt Romney Short Ribs Boneless beef short ribs braised for 3 hours in a Cabernetreduction with a touch of a horseradish

Cindy McCain Sand Dabs Delicate whitefish fillets lightly breaded in a lemon & Italian herb sauce

Right Wing Rigatoni Large tube De Cecco pasta tossed in a sauce of Grana PadanaParmesan & sautéed pancetta

Dessert "Conservative" Fruit Tartlet Butter and sugar tart brushed with a thin layer of chocolate then filled with a pastry cream and topped with anassortment of fruit touched with an apricot glaze ~ Or ~ "Joe" The Plummer Chocolate Illusion A chocolate dome made from praline & butterwafers served with an orange salad

THE DEMOCRAT MENU

Democratic Candidate Senator Obama Menu Appetizer Left Wing Smoked Salmon Norwegian smoked salmon served with crème fraîche and salmonpearls ~ Or ~ Hillary Clinton Cheese Ravioli Ravioli stuffed with a combination of Italian cheeses inPorcini mushroom sauce Salad

Colin Powell Backed Caesar Salad Tender romaine hearts tossed with Caesar dressing, served ina rice paper nest ~ Or ~ Oprah Endorsed Pasta e Fagioli Soup Our customary preparation with Italian sausage, pasta &cannellini beans Entrée (Please select one)

Joe Biden Veal Tender veal medallions sautéed in a cognac & green peppercorn

Michelle Robinson Obama Salmon Poached all natural salmon served atop a white chocolatemashed potato puree

Barack O-Chicken Chicken breast rolled & filled with imported ham & Mozzarella cheese in a Porcini mushroom sauce

Dessert "Liberal "Lemon Tart Sweet butter and sugar tart filled with tart lemon curd and topped with Italian meringue ~

Or ~ "Joe" The Plummer Chocolate Illusion A chocolate dome made from praline & butterwafers served with an orange salad

More information at http://anaheimwhitehouse.com/

OBAMA CLEAR WINNER ON MYSPACE!!!

It's no contest between Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama and his GOP counterpart John McCain. Obama is the overwhelming winner. In fact when one looks at the main profile pages of the two, it looks like McCain is there simply because someone told him he should be.

The Obama page http://www.myspace.com/barackobama provides visitors with all kinds of useful information including video clips - and there are separate Myspace pages for students, women, Latinos, First Americans, Obama Pride, veterans and others. It had been updated most recently of October17 with information on early voting. The Obama site also has map of the US where you can join your state's Obama Myspace. There were 735 652 friends and 118 444 messages on October 19.

On the other hand http://www.myspace.com/johnmccain appears to have been last updated on September 8 with information about early voting starting in Ohio on September 30. Not much else there really. McCain's page had 182 725 friends on October 19.

To an outside observer the difference shows the huge generational gap between Obama and McCain, with Obama maximizing the potential of the popular social networking site. McCain looks out of touch with the 21st Century

Take a look for yourself.

On POLLSTER.COM

http://www.pollster.com/ and http://www.politicshome.com/usa/ (the main site)

If you are a political junkie like me, and with the US elections just over two weeks away, be sure to make pollster.com a part of your day. I had been following the American race on http://cnnpolitics.com/ but about three weeks ago discovered pollster.com and it is part of my day, simply because it gives me much more information from a wider perspective than CNN.

The site brings latest developments almost minute by minute at peak times of the day, including results from all the major polls, the top stories and commentaries daily and from what I have observed strikes a fair balance between Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin.

There is also a map of the US showing the electoral college votes in each state and tags them as safe, leaning or tossup.

For those interested in governor and house and senate races, information on them is also included.

Good stuff!

Let me explain

Before we get rolling let me explain PERSIATS + G! More than 40 years ago now I took a course in American history from Dr Charles W Paape, and he used the formula to put history into perspective. All elements of it are in every event to a greater or lesser degree.

For example the American presidential election is a political event of course -- but it is also about economics, religion, social life, intellectual life (education), the arts, science and technology, and the "G" is the geography of the United States, and indeed the world. So we see how they all come into play.

I have always been indebted to Dr Paape for his formula as I have used it time and time again.