DOOLEY Observed: The American Spirit is Alive, it's Alive, it's ALIVE

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."-- Thomas Jefferson

"When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." .... jbd

"When once a job you have begun, do no stop till it is done. Whether the task be great or small, do it well, or not at all." .... Anon

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

Television is one daylong commercial interrupted periodically by inept attempts to fill the airspace in between them.

If you can't start a fire, perhaps your wood is wet ....

When you elect clowns, expect a circus ..............

Sunday, November 3, 2013

The American Spirit is Alive, it's Alive, it's ALIVE

A year after it was canceled at the last minute by Hurricane Sandy, more than 47,000 runners are participating in the 43rd running of the New York City Marathon, taking on the 26.2 miles through the five boroughs.

In a double victory for Kenya, Geoffrey Mutai successfully defended his title and Priscah Jeptoo rallied to win the women's race.

Mutai set the course record the last time the marathon was held, in 2011. In windy conditions Sunday, Mutai had an unofficial time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 24 seconds, well off his mark of 2:05:06 set in nearly perfect conditions.

Jeptoo came from behind to win the women's title Sunday. She trailed Buzunesh Deba by nearly 3½ minutes at the halfway point, but started making her move as the race entered Manhattan and passed Deba with just more than 2 miles to go.

Jeptoo won in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 25 minutes, 7 seconds Sunday. The London Marathon champ clinched a $500,000 bonus for the World Marathon Majors title. An Ethiopian who lives in the Bronx, Deba finished second for the second straight NYC Marathon.

In 2012 the race was called off because of Sandy's destruction, but not before the week's events enraged many residents and runners. City and marathon officials initially vowed that the race would go on, and many New Yorkers recoiled at the idea of possibly diverting resources after a natural disaster. The decision to cancel didn't come until a day-and-a-half before the scheduled start time, and by then, many out-of-town entrants had already made their long trips to the city after hearing the earlier assurances.