Just completed watching part six of Nimitz.
So far, PBS deserves upper case letters.
So far, a superb showing. Should be must viewing for all little englanders.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
USS NIMITZ
PBS [note upper case] is broadcasting a ten-hour special this week entitled Carrier. It examines a six-month cruise of USS Nimitz, one of our twelve attack carriers.
The first two hours were interesting. It remains to be seen if the series will justify allowing PBS to appear in upper case letters.
A US attack carrier is, of course, a sight and sounds of freedom. We hope to benefit from the entire series. So far, so good.
As one young crewmember said, if I have it right, “This is what we do. We show force.” Another said, in so many words, we aim to be a best friend to our national friends. And we aim to be the worst enemy to our nation's enemies.
The US Navy is certainly capable of doing that very thing. In fact, a foremost mission of the Navy is to not have to actually use force. It achieves it’s mission most effectively when it’s very presence is enough to attain the success of the mission.
God bless the carriers.
The first two hours were interesting. It remains to be seen if the series will justify allowing PBS to appear in upper case letters.
A US attack carrier is, of course, a sight and sounds of freedom. We hope to benefit from the entire series. So far, so good.
As one young crewmember said, if I have it right, “This is what we do. We show force.” Another said, in so many words, we aim to be a best friend to our national friends. And we aim to be the worst enemy to our nation's enemies.
The US Navy is certainly capable of doing that very thing. In fact, a foremost mission of the Navy is to not have to actually use force. It achieves it’s mission most effectively when it’s very presence is enough to attain the success of the mission.
God bless the carriers.
A BUSY SEASON
We are moving inevitably into spring and for news junkies and students of public affairs, this transitional time is unusually active.
2008 is an election year, but even that fact does not account for all that is going on. It does account for a lot, tho.
The Pope’s visit was riveting. How many church leaders could get or expect such a reception.
The chaos of the democrat primary season is unbelievable. It couldn’t happen to a more appropriate group of confused Americans.
And then there has come upon the American scene quite a different sort of person.
rev wright spoke with moyers and at the National Press Club. I did not see the moyers talk. I did see/hear the Press Club performance.
The reviews said moyers did a half-as.ed job. Probably more like a quarter-as.ed job.
The reverend was remarkable at the Press Club. He has the gift of gab. But what a divisive, hate-driven gift to the Republican Party.
He is a disgrace to his profession. He is a disgrace as an American. Some have said he is a victim of his generational influences. I think not. He is too intelligent, too savvy to be such an ignorant figure.
He is glib, quick, and highly intelligent. I suggest rather that he is a hate- filled racist who, before he is done, will cause at least some harm to race relations in our Republic. And he is bound to injure the campaign of b.o.
I do suggest, however, that any average debater with a modicum of knowledge could take him on and win concerning matters of US History and current events, diplomacy, etc.
His remarks at the Press Club were full of Biblical references and I cannot address them. But his comments regarding civil and military matters, that is, political, diplomatic, international affairs, etc., seemed to me to be lamentably ignorant and rather more skillfully crafted to confuse rather than to really address issues.
Insofar as people believe him on matters of the American Enterprise in which we are all involved, he is a monster.
I rather expect and hope that he will be regarded as a talented rabble rouser whose positive contributions to society give no credence whatsoever to his outrageous distortions of historical or present reality.
God grant that he does not stir up enough trouble to do anything but insure the election of Republican candidates this fall.
Anyone who defends him is really not worth wasting time talking to, for they will not be folks of sound judgement.
2008 is an election year, but even that fact does not account for all that is going on. It does account for a lot, tho.
The Pope’s visit was riveting. How many church leaders could get or expect such a reception.
The chaos of the democrat primary season is unbelievable. It couldn’t happen to a more appropriate group of confused Americans.
And then there has come upon the American scene quite a different sort of person.
rev wright spoke with moyers and at the National Press Club. I did not see the moyers talk. I did see/hear the Press Club performance.
The reviews said moyers did a half-as.ed job. Probably more like a quarter-as.ed job.
The reverend was remarkable at the Press Club. He has the gift of gab. But what a divisive, hate-driven gift to the Republican Party.
He is a disgrace to his profession. He is a disgrace as an American. Some have said he is a victim of his generational influences. I think not. He is too intelligent, too savvy to be such an ignorant figure.
He is glib, quick, and highly intelligent. I suggest rather that he is a hate- filled racist who, before he is done, will cause at least some harm to race relations in our Republic. And he is bound to injure the campaign of b.o.
I do suggest, however, that any average debater with a modicum of knowledge could take him on and win concerning matters of US History and current events, diplomacy, etc.
His remarks at the Press Club were full of Biblical references and I cannot address them. But his comments regarding civil and military matters, that is, political, diplomatic, international affairs, etc., seemed to me to be lamentably ignorant and rather more skillfully crafted to confuse rather than to really address issues.
Insofar as people believe him on matters of the American Enterprise in which we are all involved, he is a monster.
I rather expect and hope that he will be regarded as a talented rabble rouser whose positive contributions to society give no credence whatsoever to his outrageous distortions of historical or present reality.
God grant that he does not stir up enough trouble to do anything but insure the election of Republican candidates this fall.
Anyone who defends him is really not worth wasting time talking to, for they will not be folks of sound judgement.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
IT TOOK ALL DAY
The winter of 2007-08 was a good one. There was lots of snow. It was cold.
We loved it whilst it was here.
We were/are ready for spring.
The koi pond was ready for spring.
Herself [the Wife] told me she could smell it.
She was right.
The order was given.
The pond was summarized [gotten ready for summer]: water drained; debris removed; pond rinsed; refilled with fresh water.
And this year we added a fountain in place of a water fall.
Neat!!
Tomorrow the water plants go in and then the 12 koi.
You have to take care of things. it was a smelly job. It took hours and hours.
It is harder now than it was fifteen or twenty years ago.
Or am I weaker??
Anyway, it always seems worth it when done. It looks beautiful.
The gardening around the pond is already being planned for the new season.
It occurs to me that our lives, the ways we confront the world and interact with it, operate on a number of levels, or layers. That we can choose to ignore quite a lot of things. Not always. But sometimes.
I forgot all about the primaries today, until I was done and cocktail hour arrived.
hillary and b.o. did their spinning and I skipped it all. I rarely watch or listen to their speeches. They spin; they misstate; they misquote; they misremember.
Really, the most fun/knowledge to be gained is to be found in the analysis by reputable commentators.
That is the trick, to pick the good analysts.
It is a waste of time to me to listen, except to reinforce negative opinion.
I know that sounds bad, narrow, ignorant. So what. I am right.
hillary is going to lower gas prices. Perhaps b.o. is also. Sure!!
And there is the out sourcing. Is that one or two words? One or both of them will stop that. Yeah!
And the Iraq War. That will be declared a loss and we will retreat. If they can get away with it.
Taxes will be raised and NAFTA will be discarded. Yes for the former but baloney on the latter.
Washington, D.C. will be changed. All the bad stuff will stop. I have a bridge to sell.
All the corruption will end. Sure!!
Iran will learn to love Israel and the national dems will usher in an era of unbelieveable peace and prosperity. No comment.
All the nations of the world that hate the US will learn to love the US. Of course.
The un will be listened to and hunger will end. In a pig's eye.
Global warming will be cooled off. Youbetcha!
hillary and bill or b.o. and his wife…michelle, I think…will grace the White House with a new brand of elegance. Yeah, right!!!!!!!!
rev wrong will give the invocation at the inaugural.
all the disgusting liberals who know these four people will be received by the winning candidate and spouse and will disgrace that which is honorable. This WILL happen.
This is the picture you will get if you listen to the speeches of the candidates, the dem ones. Well, they will not admit to last development mentioned above.
But the rest? Rubbish. Bulls..t.
I forgot about hillary and b.o. whist cleaning out the pond muck.
Pond muck is better to think about. It is nasty but it cannot be elected to anything.
And it is relaxing, especially when the new fountain kicks in.
hillary and b.o. are not relaxing.
It has been a good day.
Eveyone should clean out a koi pond once in a while.
We loved it whilst it was here.
We were/are ready for spring.
The koi pond was ready for spring.
Herself [the Wife] told me she could smell it.
She was right.
The order was given.
The pond was summarized [gotten ready for summer]: water drained; debris removed; pond rinsed; refilled with fresh water.
And this year we added a fountain in place of a water fall.
Neat!!
Tomorrow the water plants go in and then the 12 koi.
You have to take care of things. it was a smelly job. It took hours and hours.
It is harder now than it was fifteen or twenty years ago.
Or am I weaker??
Anyway, it always seems worth it when done. It looks beautiful.
The gardening around the pond is already being planned for the new season.
It occurs to me that our lives, the ways we confront the world and interact with it, operate on a number of levels, or layers. That we can choose to ignore quite a lot of things. Not always. But sometimes.
I forgot all about the primaries today, until I was done and cocktail hour arrived.
hillary and b.o. did their spinning and I skipped it all. I rarely watch or listen to their speeches. They spin; they misstate; they misquote; they misremember.
Really, the most fun/knowledge to be gained is to be found in the analysis by reputable commentators.
That is the trick, to pick the good analysts.
It is a waste of time to me to listen, except to reinforce negative opinion.
I know that sounds bad, narrow, ignorant. So what. I am right.
hillary is going to lower gas prices. Perhaps b.o. is also. Sure!!
And there is the out sourcing. Is that one or two words? One or both of them will stop that. Yeah!
And the Iraq War. That will be declared a loss and we will retreat. If they can get away with it.
Taxes will be raised and NAFTA will be discarded. Yes for the former but baloney on the latter.
Washington, D.C. will be changed. All the bad stuff will stop. I have a bridge to sell.
All the corruption will end. Sure!!
Iran will learn to love Israel and the national dems will usher in an era of unbelieveable peace and prosperity. No comment.
All the nations of the world that hate the US will learn to love the US. Of course.
The un will be listened to and hunger will end. In a pig's eye.
Global warming will be cooled off. Youbetcha!
hillary and bill or b.o. and his wife…michelle, I think…will grace the White House with a new brand of elegance. Yeah, right!!!!!!!!
rev wrong will give the invocation at the inaugural.
all the disgusting liberals who know these four people will be received by the winning candidate and spouse and will disgrace that which is honorable. This WILL happen.
This is the picture you will get if you listen to the speeches of the candidates, the dem ones. Well, they will not admit to last development mentioned above.
But the rest? Rubbish. Bulls..t.
I forgot about hillary and b.o. whist cleaning out the pond muck.
Pond muck is better to think about. It is nasty but it cannot be elected to anything.
And it is relaxing, especially when the new fountain kicks in.
hillary and b.o. are not relaxing.
It has been a good day.
Eveyone should clean out a koi pond once in a while.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
FRIENDS
Pope Benedict is visiting – Vatican City
The Dalai Lama is visiting - Tibet
The British Prime Minister is visiting – The United Kingdom
The heads of north korea, cuba, venezuela, etc., are not here.
Somewhere in my past half century of adulthood I was told that you can tell a lot about a man or woman by the friends they keep and by the books they own/read.
Well, the first three gentlemen above are friends of the United States.
The last three above are enemies of the United States.
The first two of these last three persons never leave their countries. The third one occasionally travels to various benighted places: cuba or the un.
I have heard one speech by the British PM.
I have heard parts of one by His Holiness, Benedict.
I have heard snippets by the Dalai Lama.
We need such friends. We can learn from them and we can benefit each other.
The world is really a cruel place. The good guys have a lot on their plates. The sad fact is that the good guys are nowadays not usually the strongest guys.
There is one strongest guy. You know who that guy is.
And our strongest ally to date is the United Kingdom.
For all its faults, the Roman Catholic Church will and does figure as an essential part of the victory of civilization over the barbarians.
And the Dalai Lama is the representative of an oppressed culture that does not deserve to perish at the hands of barbarians.
We live at the epicenter of the strongest power the world has ever known.
We have no idea of that strength…or of the threats to that strength that abounds without our borders.
What we don’t know can hurt us.
There is a lot we don’t know.
b.o. and hillary know a lot about Washington politics. They don’t know sh.t about such people as the above first three and the beauty of Western [Anglo-American] Civilization.
Vote carefully this fall.
The Dalai Lama is visiting - Tibet
The British Prime Minister is visiting – The United Kingdom
The heads of north korea, cuba, venezuela, etc., are not here.
Somewhere in my past half century of adulthood I was told that you can tell a lot about a man or woman by the friends they keep and by the books they own/read.
Well, the first three gentlemen above are friends of the United States.
The last three above are enemies of the United States.
The first two of these last three persons never leave their countries. The third one occasionally travels to various benighted places: cuba or the un.
I have heard one speech by the British PM.
I have heard parts of one by His Holiness, Benedict.
I have heard snippets by the Dalai Lama.
We need such friends. We can learn from them and we can benefit each other.
The world is really a cruel place. The good guys have a lot on their plates. The sad fact is that the good guys are nowadays not usually the strongest guys.
There is one strongest guy. You know who that guy is.
And our strongest ally to date is the United Kingdom.
For all its faults, the Roman Catholic Church will and does figure as an essential part of the victory of civilization over the barbarians.
And the Dalai Lama is the representative of an oppressed culture that does not deserve to perish at the hands of barbarians.
We live at the epicenter of the strongest power the world has ever known.
We have no idea of that strength…or of the threats to that strength that abounds without our borders.
What we don’t know can hurt us.
There is a lot we don’t know.
b.o. and hillary know a lot about Washington politics. They don’t know sh.t about such people as the above first three and the beauty of Western [Anglo-American] Civilization.
Vote carefully this fall.
AN OBSCENE time
They trivialize that which is important.
They render important that which is trivial.
They prostitute that which is noble and good.
They are liberals.
They have no appreciation for what has taken so long to build and mature.
They are ignorant.
They are disgusting.
And you know what?? They don't even know it.
Check out the link below.
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=293411344350742
Next time you see a Veteran or a Serviceman/woman, say thanks.
They are more important than a million covers of time magazine.
They render important that which is trivial.
They prostitute that which is noble and good.
They are liberals.
They have no appreciation for what has taken so long to build and mature.
They are ignorant.
They are disgusting.
And you know what?? They don't even know it.
Check out the link below.
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=293411344350742
Next time you see a Veteran or a Serviceman/woman, say thanks.
They are more important than a million covers of time magazine.
Friday, April 18, 2008
ELECT THE RIGHT PERSON
Dr. K writes:
There are four ways to deal with rogue states going nuclear: pre-emption, deterrence, missile defense and regime change.
Pre-emption in this context means that the US destroys a target that is preparing to attack the US.
Deterrence means that the US convinces ‘targets’ that they will be obliterated if they threaten the US.
Missile defense means that the US prepares the means to shoot down almost all missiles incoming to the Homeland.
Regime change means that barbarian leaders of barbarian nations are disposed of, either by their own people or by whatever means possible.
Dr. Charles Krauthammer discusses these four strategies in the article linked to below:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/04/the_end_of_nonproliferation.html
It is at once disturbing and encouraging.
We have a chance.
We might make it through the next years or decades w/o a devastating attack.
We might.
We might not.
So, think about the folks running for the Presidency of the United States.
Think about b.o..
Think about hillary.
And think about John McCain.
Think about who wants to cut and run in Iraq.
Think about who wants to stay and win. Yeah, win. And not to worry about what win means.
Win means that the enemy is CRUSHED.
For that is really what it is going to take. The barbarians and the supporters of the barbarians have to be…CRUSHED.
Ask yourself if b.o. or hillary can do that.
And then ask if John McCain could do it. Ask if the barbarians might believe that he would do it.
For that is the question. If the barbarians believe that he would, he might not have to.
If they doubt him, well, then the fog of war might descend.
Elect the right person.
There are four ways to deal with rogue states going nuclear: pre-emption, deterrence, missile defense and regime change.
Pre-emption in this context means that the US destroys a target that is preparing to attack the US.
Deterrence means that the US convinces ‘targets’ that they will be obliterated if they threaten the US.
Missile defense means that the US prepares the means to shoot down almost all missiles incoming to the Homeland.
Regime change means that barbarian leaders of barbarian nations are disposed of, either by their own people or by whatever means possible.
Dr. Charles Krauthammer discusses these four strategies in the article linked to below:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/04/the_end_of_nonproliferation.html
It is at once disturbing and encouraging.
We have a chance.
We might make it through the next years or decades w/o a devastating attack.
We might.
We might not.
So, think about the folks running for the Presidency of the United States.
Think about b.o..
Think about hillary.
And think about John McCain.
Think about who wants to cut and run in Iraq.
Think about who wants to stay and win. Yeah, win. And not to worry about what win means.
Win means that the enemy is CRUSHED.
For that is really what it is going to take. The barbarians and the supporters of the barbarians have to be…CRUSHED.
Ask yourself if b.o. or hillary can do that.
And then ask if John McCain could do it. Ask if the barbarians might believe that he would do it.
For that is the question. If the barbarians believe that he would, he might not have to.
If they doubt him, well, then the fog of war might descend.
Elect the right person.
WORDS TO THE WISE
The Pope has brought an important message to the US. That message is worth listening to, even if it is not agreed with.
The Pope's visit is good for the US. We are a good nation. Indeed, we are a very good nation. Indeed, we are the last, best hope for the future of the planet.
But the US is not perfect.
Benedict is not perfect.
But we can learn from him
Check out the link below for an eyeful.
We should be grateful for words of wisdom.
Believe me, the Pope is grateful for the United States.
Two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire helped the Church spread the Word.
Two thousand years later, it might well be the Pax Americanum which preserves the Word.
God bless the United States.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/04/in_praise_of_criticism.html
The Pope's visit is good for the US. We are a good nation. Indeed, we are a very good nation. Indeed, we are the last, best hope for the future of the planet.
But the US is not perfect.
Benedict is not perfect.
But we can learn from him
Check out the link below for an eyeful.
We should be grateful for words of wisdom.
Believe me, the Pope is grateful for the United States.
Two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire helped the Church spread the Word.
Two thousand years later, it might well be the Pax Americanum which preserves the Word.
God bless the United States.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/04/in_praise_of_criticism.html
Monday, April 14, 2008
JUST WONDERING....
Why/how did the IOC ever grant the Olympics to mainland china, the prc, the nation of pollution, contamination, subjugation, aggression, atrocity, etc., etc.
How and why? I paid no attention at the time and will not do so now. But…my gawd!!!!!!!!!
What a mess!
China is like an enemy waiting to strike, waiting for just the right moment.
They take what they can and give what they must.
Here is a nation that aspires to great power status and is not made of the stuff of the only super, even hyper power that is the United States.
I don’t even remember what other nations were in contention for the games.
I wonder which ones they were.
They must have been really something to have lost out to the menace that is the prc.
How and why? I paid no attention at the time and will not do so now. But…my gawd!!!!!!!!!
What a mess!
China is like an enemy waiting to strike, waiting for just the right moment.
They take what they can and give what they must.
Here is a nation that aspires to great power status and is not made of the stuff of the only super, even hyper power that is the United States.
I don’t even remember what other nations were in contention for the games.
I wonder which ones they were.
They must have been really something to have lost out to the menace that is the prc.
PLEASE GOD....
I was in the gym a few days ago and b.o., aka barrack obama, was on the TV giving another speech.
I did not have the tv control device and thusly could not change the channel.
The young fella promised to make Congressional-style health care available to all Americans, free if needed, within four years of his becoming the boss.
Such a deal!!!!!
And of course, he will end the War in a couple of months. Our offensives in the war, that is. I don’t think he promised to stop the barbarian offensives against us, spelled US.
I know he did not.
And of course, as Chief Exec, he will cure any and all econ problems and, once and for all, put down, suppress, etc., all the nasty old corporations and enterprises profiting anyone but hourly factory labor.
What a guy!!
I have decided that if b.o. means any of what he says, that he might be more dangerous to our nation than hillary.
But then, I remember that hillary has bill…and that would be sooooooo hard to tolerate….the two of them in the spotlight again….
Please God, one more time, let the Republicans win one for the good guys.
I did not have the tv control device and thusly could not change the channel.
The young fella promised to make Congressional-style health care available to all Americans, free if needed, within four years of his becoming the boss.
Such a deal!!!!!
And of course, he will end the War in a couple of months. Our offensives in the war, that is. I don’t think he promised to stop the barbarian offensives against us, spelled US.
I know he did not.
And of course, as Chief Exec, he will cure any and all econ problems and, once and for all, put down, suppress, etc., all the nasty old corporations and enterprises profiting anyone but hourly factory labor.
What a guy!!
I have decided that if b.o. means any of what he says, that he might be more dangerous to our nation than hillary.
But then, I remember that hillary has bill…and that would be sooooooo hard to tolerate….the two of them in the spotlight again….
Please God, one more time, let the Republicans win one for the good guys.
CHARLTON HESTON, A BELATED R.I.P.
http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/larger-than-life-charlton-heston/
Another of the larger-than-life American icons has passed.
My heavens…think of how many in the last few months.
As this article and others have pointed out, such as these are not being replaced and made known to the rest of us as fast as they are passing.
The word used now for those who have the special qualities of our Charlton Hestons is nowadays , I think, gravitas, the sine qua non for that which demands our attention, our respect.
Perhaps I am showing my age, but I confess that I think the new Christmas carols, the new actors, the revisionist histories, the new ways of doing things, etc., etc., have a long way to go to catch up with those which were…with those which were.
The nation is the poorer for Mr. Heston’s passing.
The nation is the better for his having been here.
Another of the larger-than-life American icons has passed.
My heavens…think of how many in the last few months.
As this article and others have pointed out, such as these are not being replaced and made known to the rest of us as fast as they are passing.
The word used now for those who have the special qualities of our Charlton Hestons is nowadays , I think, gravitas, the sine qua non for that which demands our attention, our respect.
Perhaps I am showing my age, but I confess that I think the new Christmas carols, the new actors, the revisionist histories, the new ways of doing things, etc., etc., have a long way to go to catch up with those which were…with those which were.
The nation is the poorer for Mr. Heston’s passing.
The nation is the better for his having been here.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
NOT ON THURSDAY
So much for More on Thursday.
I should never predict when I am going to post again.
So much for being retired.
Stuff in the news to chew over during drinks or dinner or after Church on Sunday:
French troops capture pirates who seized a luxury yacht…with the ransom!
UN condemns highly effective military suppression of drug trade in Latin America … to protect civil rights of drug traffickers??? Can it be??? Say it isn’t so.
UN seeks to investigate nazi-like Israeli suppressions of barbarians??? Naah!!! What else is new?
Iranian fast boats again buzz US vessels in Gulf. No casualties. Thanks to the US vessels. It will not always be so.
barack is revealing more and more of himself… especially as regards the average joe, the common guy and gal.
bill c. is misremembering more and more and so is hillary.
rev. wright is to speak in Detroit… the city of kwami.
General Petraeus is a member of the 101st Airborne Div….Soldier; combat veteran; scholar;
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=16
nancy p. and h. reid feel he is not to be believed...that he is an unreliable resource.... Check out the link above...
I wonder what the three would say to each other over drinks after dinner...if they sat across from each other in front of a fireplace.
A fine, fine article on that unique institution – the English pub:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/travel/13Journeys.html?pagewanted=print
The New York Times… of all things… reviews a book in which the Special Relationship lives … even thrives… and the message is not one to be welcomed by the national dems….
For this is a call for new approaches to new threats…new kinds of threats…..
Quite different from the protectionist ignorance of the national dems and their like….the littleamericans/littleenglanders of the liberal mainstream…..
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/books/review/Ferguson-t.html?ei=5087&em=&en=084dcb3a7a106355&ex=1208145600&pagewanted=print
I should never predict when I am going to post again.
So much for being retired.
Stuff in the news to chew over during drinks or dinner or after Church on Sunday:
French troops capture pirates who seized a luxury yacht…with the ransom!
UN condemns highly effective military suppression of drug trade in Latin America … to protect civil rights of drug traffickers??? Can it be??? Say it isn’t so.
UN seeks to investigate nazi-like Israeli suppressions of barbarians??? Naah!!! What else is new?
Iranian fast boats again buzz US vessels in Gulf. No casualties. Thanks to the US vessels. It will not always be so.
barack is revealing more and more of himself… especially as regards the average joe, the common guy and gal.
bill c. is misremembering more and more and so is hillary.
rev. wright is to speak in Detroit… the city of kwami.
General Petraeus is a member of the 101st Airborne Div….Soldier; combat veteran; scholar;
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=16
nancy p. and h. reid feel he is not to be believed...that he is an unreliable resource.... Check out the link above...
I wonder what the three would say to each other over drinks after dinner...if they sat across from each other in front of a fireplace.
A fine, fine article on that unique institution – the English pub:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/travel/13Journeys.html?pagewanted=print
The New York Times… of all things… reviews a book in which the Special Relationship lives … even thrives… and the message is not one to be welcomed by the national dems….
For this is a call for new approaches to new threats…new kinds of threats…..
Quite different from the protectionist ignorance of the national dems and their like….the littleamericans/littleenglanders of the liberal mainstream…..
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/books/review/Ferguson-t.html?ei=5087&em=&en=084dcb3a7a106355&ex=1208145600&pagewanted=print
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
THE GENERAL AND THE DIPLOMAT ON IRAQ
Our C-in-C Iraq testifies in D.C.
Our chief diplomat testifies…same place.
harry reid says no progress.
h.r. is a menace.
he needs to be voted out of office and forgotten.
The United States MUST win in Iraq.
The US MUST win in Afghanistan. Go and see Harry Wilson’s War.
nancy and harry must be voted out of office and also all or most folks who sympathize with them.
Nuff said.
I am now going to bed.
More on Thursday.
Our chief diplomat testifies…same place.
harry reid says no progress.
h.r. is a menace.
he needs to be voted out of office and forgotten.
The United States MUST win in Iraq.
The US MUST win in Afghanistan. Go and see Harry Wilson’s War.
nancy and harry must be voted out of office and also all or most folks who sympathize with them.
Nuff said.
I am now going to bed.
More on Thursday.
national dem OLYMPIC NONSENSE
We’re just off the road…8 hours of driving. It is late. But is has been days and days since a note on this site.
And a lot is happening.
So, w/o a lot of thinking, a few thoughts:
The national dems want the President of the US to boycott the china Olympics.
They do this whilst being ok whilst living with the obscene amount of chinese goods we are importing and buying and enjoying.
national dems are into symbols…not INTO substance of diplomatic intercourse. I love that word.
Forgive me, I have been on the road a lot today and it is almost midnight and I have had three small scotches.
But we buy a universe of chinese goods to the detriment of other producers of those goods….and the dems are ok with that….and they bleat and pleat about WORKING WITH THE GD chinese re the Olympics…..who we need to help us with such barbarians as the government of north korea et allii.
Honestly, they bleat and holler about how we should be talking to barbarian iran, and then they bleat and holler about how we should be not talking to china.
national dems are a menace…especially when anyone takes them seriously…and lots of misguided Americans do take them seriously.
We should not be buying so many chinese goods.
We should be networking with the china commies to get them to be less barbarian.
Going to the Olympics is something that Bush needs to do…maybe not to the opening…….but the last time we boycotted the Olympics v. Russia or the USSR it was not worth the doing.
The British PM is going to the closing, to collect the Torch. He is not going to the opening.
hillary thanked him for not going, as tho her advice was a part of his decision
Bull sh.t.
He announced his positon long before she opened her mouth.
The Olympics need to go on.
We should find a way to display our displeasure/disapproval….but the national dem nonsense is idiocy. As usual.
And a lot is happening.
So, w/o a lot of thinking, a few thoughts:
The national dems want the President of the US to boycott the china Olympics.
They do this whilst being ok whilst living with the obscene amount of chinese goods we are importing and buying and enjoying.
national dems are into symbols…not INTO substance of diplomatic intercourse. I love that word.
Forgive me, I have been on the road a lot today and it is almost midnight and I have had three small scotches.
But we buy a universe of chinese goods to the detriment of other producers of those goods….and the dems are ok with that….and they bleat and pleat about WORKING WITH THE GD chinese re the Olympics…..who we need to help us with such barbarians as the government of north korea et allii.
Honestly, they bleat and holler about how we should be talking to barbarian iran, and then they bleat and holler about how we should be not talking to china.
national dems are a menace…especially when anyone takes them seriously…and lots of misguided Americans do take them seriously.
We should not be buying so many chinese goods.
We should be networking with the china commies to get them to be less barbarian.
Going to the Olympics is something that Bush needs to do…maybe not to the opening…….but the last time we boycotted the Olympics v. Russia or the USSR it was not worth the doing.
The British PM is going to the closing, to collect the Torch. He is not going to the opening.
hillary thanked him for not going, as tho her advice was a part of his decision
Bull sh.t.
He announced his positon long before she opened her mouth.
The Olympics need to go on.
We should find a way to display our displeasure/disapproval….but the national dem nonsense is idiocy. As usual.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
KIPLING STILL WORKS...AND WE NEED HIM
Kipling, Evelyn Waugh wrote toward the end of his life, “believed civilization to be something laboriously achieved which was only precariously defended. He wanted to see the defenses fully manned and he hated the liberals because he thought them gullible and feeble, believing in the easy perfectibility of man and ready to abandon the work of centuries for sentimental qualms.” [emphasis mine]
The quote above is just a tiny part of this excellent essay/review.
Use the link below and read the whole thing.
Kipling still works. He worked in the 1890's. He works now. And he will work when we are all gone.
Read the essay.
Read his poems, especially the ones referenced in this excellent piece.
God save us from contemporary libs.
http://www.newcriterion.com/archives/26/04/rudyard-kipling-unburdened/
The quote above is just a tiny part of this excellent essay/review.
Use the link below and read the whole thing.
Kipling still works. He worked in the 1890's. He works now. And he will work when we are all gone.
Read the essay.
Read his poems, especially the ones referenced in this excellent piece.
God save us from contemporary libs.
http://www.newcriterion.com/archives/26/04/rudyard-kipling-unburdened/
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
RE PRAYER…THY WILL BE DONE
Prayer is an interesting and important subject.
We are advised by friends and Rectors and The Good Book to pray and that our prayers will be answered.
“Seek and ye shall find.”
“Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” I hope that is right.
“If ye have but the faith of a grain of mustard seed….”
And there is the assurance that if ye ask and believe it shall be granted.
“Greater things than I do ye shall do also.”
But try defining or asking human advisors what is meant by will be answered.
You will get quite a variety of answers.
I have been thinking about this for some time and have been forming a number of conclusions.
One is that when you have lived for four or five or six decades and are talking about this with similar folks, that you will never be able to change anyone’s mind.
Forget about it.
That's not the point.
By that time, folks have made of up their minds. Done. Finished.
But it is still a worthwhile discussion.
It is good to discuss things besides the weather and who or what team won this or that meaningless sporting event.
Anyway, the following quotes are appropriate. I offer them inasmuch as they are in line with my thoughts.
I have decided that I cannot talk God into anything. That if I could, I should not because I am not smart enough.
I have decided that the best prayer is to give thanks for this or that; to ask for this or that; and then to utter the biggie: THY WILL BE DONE.
Here are the quotes. I hope they are useful. Again, I have lost the citations.
The central significance of prayer is not in the things that happen as results, but in the deepening intimacy and unhurried communion with God….
"If it were the case that whatever we ask, God was pledged to give, then I would never pray again, because I would not have sufficient confidence in my own wisdom to ask God for anything."
Prayer puts us in communion with Deity. Perhaps the goal of prayer really is that communion....
Finally, that other warning comes to mind:
Be careful what you pray for. You might get it.
We are advised by friends and Rectors and The Good Book to pray and that our prayers will be answered.
“Seek and ye shall find.”
“Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” I hope that is right.
“If ye have but the faith of a grain of mustard seed….”
And there is the assurance that if ye ask and believe it shall be granted.
“Greater things than I do ye shall do also.”
But try defining or asking human advisors what is meant by will be answered.
You will get quite a variety of answers.
I have been thinking about this for some time and have been forming a number of conclusions.
One is that when you have lived for four or five or six decades and are talking about this with similar folks, that you will never be able to change anyone’s mind.
Forget about it.
That's not the point.
By that time, folks have made of up their minds. Done. Finished.
But it is still a worthwhile discussion.
It is good to discuss things besides the weather and who or what team won this or that meaningless sporting event.
Anyway, the following quotes are appropriate. I offer them inasmuch as they are in line with my thoughts.
I have decided that I cannot talk God into anything. That if I could, I should not because I am not smart enough.
I have decided that the best prayer is to give thanks for this or that; to ask for this or that; and then to utter the biggie: THY WILL BE DONE.
Here are the quotes. I hope they are useful. Again, I have lost the citations.
The central significance of prayer is not in the things that happen as results, but in the deepening intimacy and unhurried communion with God….
"If it were the case that whatever we ask, God was pledged to give, then I would never pray again, because I would not have sufficient confidence in my own wisdom to ask God for anything."
Prayer puts us in communion with Deity. Perhaps the goal of prayer really is that communion....
Finally, that other warning comes to mind:
Be careful what you pray for. You might get it.
QUOTE(S) OF INTEREST
I discovered the quote below whlilst trolling through a large number of blogs. I have lost the citation.
But it is credited to J.S. Mill.
Sometimes folks who have experienced what I will call the horrors of war will declare that nothing is worth another war.
These folks have seen things that no one should have to see and for them, nothing justifies what is required of participants in what we call combat.
Well, having had a discussion with just such a person a few weeks ago, the following quote jumped out at me when I came across it.
File it away and use it when confronted by someone who argues against US projection of force.
It will not defend against arguments against an ill-conceived war or an unjust war. But it does the job against one that is ... shall I say, arguably necessary to prevent....dare I say...a greater evil.
"War is an ugly thing," John Stuart Mill wrote, "but not the ugliest of things." Far uglier, he wrote, is the feeling that nothing in life is worth fighting for. World War II was fought for several reasons but above all -- and proudly -- because the only way to stop the killing was to stop the killers.
But it is credited to J.S. Mill.
Sometimes folks who have experienced what I will call the horrors of war will declare that nothing is worth another war.
These folks have seen things that no one should have to see and for them, nothing justifies what is required of participants in what we call combat.
Well, having had a discussion with just such a person a few weeks ago, the following quote jumped out at me when I came across it.
File it away and use it when confronted by someone who argues against US projection of force.
It will not defend against arguments against an ill-conceived war or an unjust war. But it does the job against one that is ... shall I say, arguably necessary to prevent....dare I say...a greater evil.
"War is an ugly thing," John Stuart Mill wrote, "but not the ugliest of things." Far uglier, he wrote, is the feeling that nothing in life is worth fighting for. World War II was fought for several reasons but above all -- and proudly -- because the only way to stop the killing was to stop the killers.
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