Bill's Correspondence Chess Diary

8:47:53 AM EDT

Former World Champ Boris Spassky visited Bobby in Iceland this week in an effort to encourage the reclusive former World Champ to return to chess.

I'd like to see Bobby return but I won't hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

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8:40:44 AM EDT

Goes to any of the 12 members on the board of Goldstar Mothers who voted to deny Ligaya Lagman membership. This organization which is for mothers who lost children during the war, denied Mrs. Lagaman membership after  her son Army Sgt. Anthony Lagaman died in Afghanistan.  What was the reason? The rules for Gold Star Mothers says a mother must be a US citizen. Ligaya Lagman is a Permanent Resident Alien and her son was a US Citizen.  

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) -- Everyone agrees that Ligaya Lagman is a Gold Star mother, part of the long line of mournful women whose sons or daughters gave their lives for their country. Her 27-year-old son, Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Lagman, was killed last year in Afghanistan, but American Gold Star Mothers Inc., has rejected Lagman, a Filipino, for membership because - though a permanent resident and a taxpayer - she is not a U.S. citizen.

"There's nothing we can do because that's what our organization says: You have to be an American citizen," national President Ann Herd said Thursday. "We can't go changing the rules every time the wind blows."

This excuse given by Ms. Herd is the standard one for groups of xenophobic idiots that Ms. Herd obviously belongs to. The woman lost her son who fought so this organization could even exist. If terrorists had their way, the DC based organization would be dust particles in a mushroom cloud.  

That explanation isn't satisfying the war veterans who sponsored Lagman's application, some other members of the mothers' group or several members of Congress.

Rep. Eliot Engel, who represents an adjoining district, said the group should change its rules immediately.

"Whatever the excuse, American Gold Star Mothers' decision smacks of xenophobia and is in stark contrast to what Mrs. Lagman's son fought and died for," Engel said.

Amen Congressman Engel.

A past president of the mothers' group, Dorothy Oxendine, of Farmingdale, said, "There's no discrimination in a national cemetery. There's no discrimination when they get killed side by side. So how can we discriminate against a mother?"

Apparently the board thinks they can. Just shows what a bunch of idiotic nitwits they are. They should be shamed nationally for the actions they have taken. People this stupid need to be ostracized.

Lagman has lived in the United States for more than 20 years. She was not at home Thursday, apparently tending to her husband, who is hospitalized. But her other son, Chris Lagman, said in Thursday's The Journal News that all she wants "is recognition as the mother of this fallen soldier."

"We can't go changing the rules every time we turn around," said Herd, the national president. "When we have problems within our organization with people not abiding by the rules, we just get it straightened out, we don't change the rules."

As I said before just the cover story for this board's unconscionable decision. Rules are the last refuge for scoundrels. Ms. Herd definitely qualifies as one.

Oxendine, the former president, said she is sure the general membership would approve a rules change if the board did.

"I can't believe that 12 intelligent women would ever not have it in their hearts to think about another Gold Star mother," Oxendine said. "You pay a high price to join the American Gold Star Mothers. I figure her dues were paid."

Yes Mrs. Oxendine, Ligaya Lagman has paid her dues but I wouldn't call any of these 12 women intelligent. THEY ARE MORONS!

The Gold Star Membership should oust the whole board or quit. That simple.

Below is the contact info for the organization. Let them know how you feel about their board's stupidity.

The American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
2128 Leroy Place NW - Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-265-0991 Fax: 202-265-6963
E-mail us at goldstarmoms@yahoo.com

Update- The Story is now on America Online's front page. The idiot board members at Gold Star Mothers are now going to get alot of publicity and alot of well deserved grief for their idiotic actions. Ann Herd the moron deserves every bit of it.

Also I've tried calling this afternoon, their phone is busy. Wanna bet they are getting deluged with phone calls?

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10:51:12 AM EDT

I found this post over at Jim Eade's Chess Journal(You can find it in my links section) and I've copied it here to my post. This sounds like a great way to support our veterans.

*****

This is a great program to support. Herm Drenth sent me the following e-mail:

   Hi Jim; I hope you remember me from the few times we met when I was president of the NJ State Chess Federation. Last September, my time as president expired and now I am involved in getting donations to purchase chess equipment for the VA Hospitals across the country. To date we have raised $14,000 and sent a total of 1100 plus sets to the 146 hospitals along with 158 hand held computer stations that Steve Doyle was able to persuade Aetna insurance to donate. 900 sets were sent to hospitals and about 200 to Major Hater in Iraq. ( 100 were pocket travel sets). Note; all work is done mostly by myself as a volunteer and every dollar donated is used to purchase and send equipment. We have much more to do with a need of some hospitals for more sets as we sent just 6 sets to each. We also would like to purchase chess CD's for the hospitals as they all have computers for games. Also there are blind heroes that we would like to get sets for. A program should also be set up for players to visit the hospital in their area (adopt a hospital)? ALA Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig years ago.   I would like to ask you to keep the "Sets for Vets" in mind and should anyone wish to donate, they should send a check to the US Chess Trust to get a tax write off. A separate cover letter must accompany the check designating it to the Sets For Vets program or we will not get it. If they are not concerned with a tax write off, they can send it to NJSCF treasurer Ron Groseibl, 22-50 Maple Ave. Fairlawn NJ 07410 (Ron is an attorney).   I am enclosing the list of hospitals that we sent sets to, to give you an idea of our outreach. Some hospitals report that some patients have Joined USCF and are starting clubs!  

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9:14:45 PM EDT

Afleet Alex won the second leg of the Triple Crown today. This was an amazing, because the horse nearly stumbled at the turn for home and another horse interfered with it. Kudos to Jockey Jeremy Rose for keeping his horse in the race.

Kentucky winner Giacomao finished 3rd. No triple crown winner again this year. There hasn't been a TC winner since 1978 when Affirmed did it.

There is other news out of Maryland concerning Pimlico Downs. The race track has serious financial problems and there are rumors the race could have to be moved.

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/sports/article.adp?id=20050521135409990012

It would be a great shame if this happens but understandable. The financial state of horse racing has been in decline for sometime. With the advent of other means of gambling, lotteries, casinos at Indian reservations just to name a few have reduced the numbers at tracks nationwide.

My father used to own harness horses and while I was young I used to spend summers with Dad watching races at Scioto Downs outside Columbus Ohio and Sportsmans Raceway in Chicago Illinois just to name two. I was proficent at reading a racing program at 10!

It was fun. Most of the horses Dad owned were not much. We did however own Fast Clip who in 1972 raced one of 10 fast times for a pacer at that time, 1 min 56 56.3 seconds in the Geers Stake in DuQuoin Illinois. Later that year Fast Clip finished second in the Little Brown Jug(The Equivalent of the Kentucky Derby for Pacers. Its raced every year in Delaware Ohio)  to Strike Out. Both horses breaking the world record for a 3 year old pacer on a half mile track. Strike Out timed in 156.3 and Fast Clip in 156.4.

The Preakness if it left Baltimore could well lose its identity. This happened with Harness racing's Hambletonian when it moved from Duquoin to the Meadowlands in the early 80's. The move to the big city was needed for financial reasons but the race lost the atmosphere it had where it had been part of a state fair.

I hope the Preakness stays at Pimlico. Time will tell.

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6:43:12 AM EDT

WPEC Channel 12 had a news segment. It was about a person who sues telemarketers. Wow!!!!!!

Then why didn't WPEC report that 3 years ago when they did a 'sweeps' piece on telemarketers? The law allowing telemarketers to be sued dates back to 1991 or 1992.

What was Channel 12's advise 3 years ago if you got an annoying telemarketing call? Just hang up.  Channel 12 wake up, its the 21st century already.

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2:11:20 PM EDT

The actor and impressionist best known as The Riddler on the Sixties version of Batman, passed away yesterday.

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/tv/article.adp?id=20050518130109990001&ncid=NWS00010000000001

Update- Outside the Beltway makes a good point.(http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/) Mr. Gorshin saw his career playing the Riddler as a boost to his career rather than blaming any career shortcomings on the one role that made him famous to millions.

 

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10:59:03 AM EDT

Marks the anniversary of the first day I met my wife. It's always remembered by the words she first spoke to me.

"How tall are you???!"

Still gets a good laugh today.

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9:41:00 PM EDT

In the last month we have had Scandals at Newsweek, The LA Times, The Sacramento Bee, and now its ABC's turn. According to a Spanish newspaper, the television news network staged a phony photo op. ABC was claiming it as an exclusive till they removed it today!

http://www.spainherald.com/760.html

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9:37:25 PM EDT

I have been much happier with CC and Alex and Colleen Dunne's handling of it of late. There is just one gripe remaining, they have to get much better when sending out assignment sheets and making sure the addresses are correct. Today I finally heard from Robert Keating in 00NF05. The address Alex provided was way off, I'm surprised Robert even got it.  

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6:22:55 PM EDT
Announced his retirement from pro golf today. Jack's last tournament will be the British Open this summer at St. Andrews.  He hasn't been in competitive in some years. Jack had a great career but I agree it is time for him to hang it up.

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