http://tony.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Tony Close en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:27:50 GMT 2010-01-06T09:27:50Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976919100 Once upon a time, Ben Franklin was reported to favor the Turkey over the Bald Eagle as our national symbol.  On closer inspection, thought, it appears that this was a bit tongue-in-cheek of Mr. Franklin . . . Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:04:20 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976919100 Tony Close 2007-02-26T23:04:20Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976917039                                             I know these . . . Fri, 23 Feb 2007 19:47:44 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976917039 Tony Close 2007-02-23T19:47:44Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976913628 He talks with a limp Not immediately noticed, from his years of  practice in covering and masking. He talks with a limp Hardly noticeable But obvious to those who look to take advantage. He talks . . . Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:22:33 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976913628 Tony Close 2007-02-19T12:22:33Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976906730     Flash within my eyes shadow of an albatross Can't be whole for you    Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:42:51 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976906730 Tony Close 2007-02-09T13:42:51Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976880234 This past Sunday I visited one of my favorite hunting grounds, Great Meadows in Concord, Massachusetts and I was treated to a wonderful, and somewhat disturbing (see below), display.   First off, . . . Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:48:12 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976880234 Tony Close 2007-01-09T02:48:12Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976821205     The bird's morning chorus is emerging. Far to the east, and faint. And soon it will sweep over  and around me like a mantle pulled on the rising sun's rays      . . . Sun, 22 Oct 2006 13:05:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976821205 Tony Close 2006-10-22T13:05:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976809666 Listening into the calm Our hearts will echo Flight is inevitable Fri, 06 Oct 2006 10:12:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976809666 Tony Close 2006-10-06T10:12:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976805886    A month ago I lost my wife Barbara to the cancer she had so courageously fought for the past three years.  She was loved and cherished by many and is, and will be, dearly missed. . . . Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:17:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976805886 Tony Close 2006-10-01T20:17:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976805261 Fewer voices are heard and some seem to strain and struggle   Our trees have started their sleep and their retreating sap draws the soft green with it leaving the yearning red, the . . . Sat, 30 Sep 2006 19:40:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976805261 Tony Close 2006-09-30T19:40:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976777754 I'm trying to apply a gradient to text (text is in a seperate layer) but I can't figure out how to select only the text (the gradient is applied to the entire canvas). Does anyone know how to . . . Thu, 17 Aug 2006 10:42:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976777754 Tony Close 2006-08-17T10:42:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976771308 Dedicated to our warriors He stumbled and his foot came down harder than he intended. His head twisted with the pain and a thorn caught the corner of his eye. The sound of his skin tearing was loud, both . . . Mon, 31 Jul 2006 09:52:32 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976771308 Tony Close 2006-07-31T09:52:32Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976764540 Though not one moment but many, We knew the first. When we looked inward and outward equally clearly and will and fear first collided. In the balance of these lay our greatness In imbalance, . . . Tue, 04 Jul 2006 01:58:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976764540 Tony Close 2006-07-04T01:58:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976762520 There is something about a gentle summer rain that invites us to be still. The birds, though calling, stay perched. Foxes, squirrels and chipmunks watch, but don't venture.   Sounds are muffled . . . Sun, 25 Jun 2006 11:33:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976762520 Tony Close 2006-06-25T11:33:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976757230 For a while now, and for various reasons, I've chosen to stay out of the hot political topics on Gather. But, once in a while something will really hit a nerve in me and, as one who has never really . . . Sat, 03 Jun 2006 12:15:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976757230 Tony Close 2006-06-03T12:15:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976756980 An old saw from by-gone days when men were men and parrots were... So there's this fella with a parrot.  And this parrot swears like a sailor.  He can swear for five minutes straight . . . Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:29:51 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976756980 Tony Close 2006-06-02T10:29:51Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976755362 I came across this debate some time ago.  I though some of you might find it interesting. Who knows, perhaps it will spark a thoughtful, open and, of course, respectful debate on the natures of . . . Fri, 26 May 2006 11:42:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976755362 Tony Close 2006-05-26T11:42:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976753378 This just in: At New York's Kennedy airport today, an individual later discovered to be a public school teacher was arrested trying to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, . . . Fri, 19 May 2006 09:29:07 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976753378 Tony Close 2006-05-19T09:29:07Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976751353 Abbott and Costello's "Who's On First" Meets the 21st Century ABBOTT: Ultimate SuperDuper Computer Store. Can I help you? COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up a home office in the . . . Fri, 12 May 2006 10:11:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976751353 Tony Close 2006-05-12T10:11:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976751000 In Cape Elizabeth, my wife and I put our daughters on a plane back to Cape Town and started on a 3 day road trip - just the two of us (bye kids!). The plan was to travel a bit on South Africa's famed . . . Thu, 11 May 2006 10:12:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976751000 Tony Close 2006-05-11T10:12:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976743404 It is nature's way, the universe's law That I am never so driven As when I seek for each of you What you need now, and tomorrow   And, always failing, I have to turn from my lacking . . . Tue, 11 Apr 2006 09:28:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976743404 Tony Close 2006-04-11T09:28:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976741506 That damned syllable Can't live with, cant live without Say it fast and blur(i)t Mon, 03 Apr 2006 13:50:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976741506 Tony Close 2006-04-03T13:50:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976741377 The moon has no choice nor we, to reflect the mate Wedded lunacy Sun, 02 Apr 2006 17:00:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976741377 Tony Close 2006-04-02T17:00:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976741313 Daylight savings time To where does that hour flow Wind, and wind again Sun, 02 Apr 2006 11:44:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976741313 Tony Close 2006-04-02T11:44:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976740917         In Steven Pinker's book, The Language Instinct, I found my absolute favorite, grammatically correct English sentence: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo . . . Fri, 31 Mar 2006 12:48:07 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976740917 Tony Close 2006-03-31T12:48:07Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976740669 This stone will yield for me It will speak, whisper, sing what it will become. I will listen and my hands will follow every note, every word hoping that I will become with it Thu, 30 Mar 2006 14:39:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976740669 Tony Close 2006-03-30T14:39:00Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976740639 For Barbara Cold retreats to earth The delicate show their  force Thawing hearts venture Thu, 30 Mar 2006 10:31:29 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976740639 Tony Close 2006-03-30T10:31:29Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976738878 A few years back I rode my second PMC.  This is a two day, 200+ mile affair that is a fund raiser for The Jimmy Fund.  It's a wonderfully organized event that gives one two full days to cycle . . . Thu, 23 Mar 2006 01:21:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976738878 Tony Close 2006-03-23T01:21:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976738877 One of my favorite short rides in Eastern Massachusetts is from Bedford (where 4 and 225 split) to Concord Center via Carlisle Center.  Its about 10 miles of moderate New England terrain (but, then, . . . Thu, 23 Mar 2006 01:17:49 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976738877 Tony Close 2006-03-23T01:17:49Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976736648 Governor Romney, I'm trying to understand which part of Article 1 of our Bill of Rights you don't understand. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting . . . Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:34:26 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976736648 Tony Close 2006-03-14T18:34:26Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976736320 Ah, this is the life!  One daughter off to college, the other getting ready to go.  And the house is soooo quiet.  I can just sit here and read and write on Gather and.....hey, kids, quiet . . . Mon, 13 Mar 2006 11:35:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976736320 Tony Close 2006-03-13T11:35:37Z