I saw it happen.
An allegedly reputable cnn anchor asked an alleged cnn ‘expert’ what she thought of b.o.’s handling of the US reaction to the Libyan developments, whether or not she thought that b.o. had done about as well as could have been expected thus far.
Cannot quote her answer….but in so many words:
The problems are delicate. The US has to walk a tightrope…for, you know, G.W. Bush and Exxon and Big Oil and so on and so on cozied up to the madman and that is the reason why we have this problem today.
Cnn anchor did not question the answer.
I trust there is no need to refine the picture.
There was NO attempt to answer the question of b.o.’s dithering…pusillanimous response action/reaction….nada…….
b.o. faced a tuff problem…he still does, many of ‘em…and he has botched it ….
And msm BLAMES IT ON G.W. AND EXXON AND OUR FLAMING GORGING ON THE CHEAPEST FUEL AVAILBLE……WHILE THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT [READ b.o. admin.] forbids development of oil resources.
Bottom line: you cannot trust the msm.
You cannot trust lots of sources….
Soooooooooooo…you have to really discriminate and think and talk to lots of folks with differing opinions and read lots of uppity journals and stuff…and then hope you get to some kernels of truth.
Cnn can be ok….but not always. Not always bigtime!
Same for all the msm….Fox included…..
So you hafta discriminate.
The job is to figure out how.
Same thing for a successful national leader.
He or she does not have to be the most knowledgeable [sharpests] knife in the drawer…but he or she has to know how to find the sharpest knives…..
We the public have to ferret out the best sources of truth as well if we are to know what is really going on.
GOOD LUCK!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
THE OLD AND THE NEW
We attended a delightful musical at our local professional theater last night.
It was Reunion: A Musical Epic... a musical treatment of the American Civil War.
Moving and most thought-provoking.
We enjoyed a superb Italian dinner prior to the performance.
Arriving at the theater fifteen minutes before curtain, we were offing coats and viewing exhibits in the outer hallway when what to our wondering eyes should appear…but a good sized Michigan deer…working his way through snow drifts just outside the windows.
How appropriate.
Mid-19th Century – early 21st…
The old and the new…
The music of the War struck all sorts of emotional cords…and the deer somehow sealed the deal…
Italian dinner; Civil War authenticity; and rural deer - all in one package.
We loved it.
There is meaning here.
The event is pregnant with it...but I cannot put it into words.
Don't have to.
But I had to pass it on.
Ttoo late to figure it out tonight.
It was Reunion: A Musical Epic... a musical treatment of the American Civil War.
Moving and most thought-provoking.
We enjoyed a superb Italian dinner prior to the performance.
Arriving at the theater fifteen minutes before curtain, we were offing coats and viewing exhibits in the outer hallway when what to our wondering eyes should appear…but a good sized Michigan deer…working his way through snow drifts just outside the windows.
How appropriate.
Mid-19th Century – early 21st…
The old and the new…
The music of the War struck all sorts of emotional cords…and the deer somehow sealed the deal…
Italian dinner; Civil War authenticity; and rural deer - all in one package.
We loved it.
There is meaning here.
The event is pregnant with it...but I cannot put it into words.
Don't have to.
But I had to pass it on.
Ttoo late to figure it out tonight.
"NUFF SAID
The RAF, SAS, and the Royal Navy, Her Majesty’s Forces, have rescused British nationals from Libya.
US nationals were extracted from Libya by ferry boat.
‘Nuff said.
US nationals were extracted from Libya by ferry boat.
‘Nuff said.
WE HOPE THE HANDS DO NOT START TO WRING
We are busy here at The Study.
And, Lord knows, the world is busy in the greater world around us.
Revolution seethes in North Africa; sputters in Iran; same in Bahrain [sp?]; Egypt appears to have the lid on, especially important considering the location the Suez Canal; ripples observable all across this volatile part of the world, a vitally important province, if you will, of an American area of interest.
Iranian and Chinese naval assets are chess pieces in what is going on…pawns one might say….pawns to the US Navy, the king and queen and rooks and knights of the board (seas)….
But not all the players around the board appear to be deploying their pieces…and one of those players moves the king and queen, etc..
We hope that this is but an apparent failure to do one’s duty…an apparent lapse of will, ability, and knowledge, whatever characterization you choose to apply.
We hope the UN is not seriously expected to do anything.
We hope the presidential hands do not start to wring.
And, Lord knows, the world is busy in the greater world around us.
Revolution seethes in North Africa; sputters in Iran; same in Bahrain [sp?]; Egypt appears to have the lid on, especially important considering the location the Suez Canal; ripples observable all across this volatile part of the world, a vitally important province, if you will, of an American area of interest.
Iranian and Chinese naval assets are chess pieces in what is going on…pawns one might say….pawns to the US Navy, the king and queen and rooks and knights of the board (seas)….
But not all the players around the board appear to be deploying their pieces…and one of those players moves the king and queen, etc..
We hope that this is but an apparent failure to do one’s duty…an apparent lapse of will, ability, and knowledge, whatever characterization you choose to apply.
We hope the UN is not seriously expected to do anything.
We hope the presidential hands do not start to wring.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
OBSERVATIONS; PREDICTIONS; HUNCH(S)
In the Middle East, a domino teeters.
Some would say it promises to fall.
Others, it threatens to fall.
The hunch: the b.o. Admin has no clue on what to do [it rhymes].
He opines that it is not the place of one nation to interfere in the affairs of another…that not only should the US not interfere in such affairs, but that it cannot.
You know what????
Bull!!!
Great nations, great powers not only can involve themselves but they are obligated to so involve…and any freshman student of diplomacy knows as much.
b.o. therefore knows it.
b.o. therefore is either truthfully challenged or he is ignorant when he speaketh thusly.
Good grief. I wonder which.
Think, just think of the US assets in the area…..military, naval, economic, diplomatic….
They are not there for fun.
They are there to do a job.
Great powers do not just.....wring their hands when assets are threatened.
If they do , they are no longer great.
Pakistan…a shooting:
A US Embassy official kills and possibly wounds Pakistanis…alleging an attempted robbery.
There are a number of incredible collateral developments.
The mob calls for the death of the American.
A Senator goes on over to calm the waters.
The accused American is former special ops.
Is it usual for US embassies in such parts of the world to employ lethal folks as part of their essentials?
YES!
Why?
Because some folks in those parts of the world are always ready to take out one or more Americans….whenever they can.
I wonder if b.o. understands that……that not only are such folks ready to take down individual Americans, but they are hoping and praying to be able to take down as much of America as they can…as soon as they can.
The Mexican-US border shooting:
An American ICE officer hasjust been killed along the border….just inside the Mexican side….whilst carrying out his duties.
Another is wounded.
So far, no allegation has been made by Mexico of any US wrongdoing.
Nor will it be.
Indeed, this is “…the first time ICE agents working in Mexico have been shot.”
Prediction: such shootings and Mexican criminal crossborder activity will increase in frequency.
b.o. will have to augment border security, whether he wants to or not.
The Mexican criminals will attack the US security forces.
The US will have to cross the border to restore border security.
Friend of ours say I am nuts.
I say just watch.
Mexico is losing control of parts of the frontier.
Some force will have to restore order.
That force is the US.
Just watch.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
THERE IS NOTHING MORE DEMOCRATIC THAN A LYNCH MOB
Saturday morning….
Coffee made…two cups already consumed. Drunk seems too harsh a word.
Tv was on during the coffee prep….
Surfed three cable channels….cnn; msnbc; fox.
Cnn was fixated on the doings in Egypt; fox was arguing about whether or not US foreign aid should be totally stopped; and msnbc was exposing what they called a right-wing conspiracy to do away with bussing.
Imagine the horror of suburban parents wanting their kids to attend suburban schools!!!!!!!!!!
But to the point, what a depressing series of msm moments.
As the Egyptian fixation continued, the thought occurred: what is the American public really interested in in watching the riotous proceedings?
Is there even a scintilla of interest in Egyptian affairs?
Or rather, is the interest really in watching a riot…
How many of your acquaintances have you spoken with a month or more ago about everyday goings on in that most important country.
I will wager you have spoken to none.
So, the interest level is merely to watch a riot, a revolution.
Rioting ceases, interest ceases.
Another negative perspective :
A bit of wisdom recently overheard: “There is nothing more democratic than a lynch mob.”
Now, think about that.
If at first it seems silly, give it some time.
A riot is often as not a lynch mob, or just short of it.
Think about it.
Another depressing observation:
We are put in mind of the book…Tale of Two Cities…..and a character known as Madam Labarge, or some name close to that.
I will not take time to look it up.
She is the one who knits while the evil aristocracy is decapitated.
I think.
Anyway, another interviewee this morning started going on about how he hopes revolution comes to Algeria next…that a domino effect gets under way of toppling the present order of things….all cross north Africa and the Middle East.
Nothing like a little riot and mayhem to shake things up.
There is nothing more democratic than a lynch mob.
Coffee made…two cups already consumed. Drunk seems too harsh a word.
Tv was on during the coffee prep….
Surfed three cable channels….cnn; msnbc; fox.
Cnn was fixated on the doings in Egypt; fox was arguing about whether or not US foreign aid should be totally stopped; and msnbc was exposing what they called a right-wing conspiracy to do away with bussing.
Imagine the horror of suburban parents wanting their kids to attend suburban schools!!!!!!!!!!
But to the point, what a depressing series of msm moments.
As the Egyptian fixation continued, the thought occurred: what is the American public really interested in in watching the riotous proceedings?
Is there even a scintilla of interest in Egyptian affairs?
Or rather, is the interest really in watching a riot…
How many of your acquaintances have you spoken with a month or more ago about everyday goings on in that most important country.
I will wager you have spoken to none.
So, the interest level is merely to watch a riot, a revolution.
Rioting ceases, interest ceases.
Another negative perspective :
A bit of wisdom recently overheard: “There is nothing more democratic than a lynch mob.”
Now, think about that.
If at first it seems silly, give it some time.
A riot is often as not a lynch mob, or just short of it.
Think about it.
Another depressing observation:
We are put in mind of the book…Tale of Two Cities…..and a character known as Madam Labarge, or some name close to that.
I will not take time to look it up.
She is the one who knits while the evil aristocracy is decapitated.
I think.
Anyway, another interviewee this morning started going on about how he hopes revolution comes to Algeria next…that a domino effect gets under way of toppling the present order of things….all cross north Africa and the Middle East.
Nothing like a little riot and mayhem to shake things up.
There is nothing more democratic than a lynch mob.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
WE MISS HIM
Sunday, February 6, 2011…the hundredth birthday of Ronald Reagan.
No attempt here to list accomplishments.
No attempt here to list all the reasons he is one of the greats, but we at The Study have been and will be thinking about this American…
We do so with pride, affection, and an awareness that his like do not often pass this way….
Not that there are not many ‘ordinary’ folk who exhibit similar traits in everyday life, but rather that too often our leaders lack the quality package which he exhibited.
We miss you, President Reagan.
No attempt here to list accomplishments.
No attempt here to list all the reasons he is one of the greats, but we at The Study have been and will be thinking about this American…
We do so with pride, affection, and an awareness that his like do not often pass this way….
Not that there are not many ‘ordinary’ folk who exhibit similar traits in everyday life, but rather that too often our leaders lack the quality package which he exhibited.
We miss you, President Reagan.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
STAY WARM...STAY COZY
Thirteen inches of snow on the ground and below zero temp predicted for tonite.
A county truck just blocked our driveway plowing the street….Tis ok…we can handle it.
We'll dig out in the morning and be glad.
A goodly fire is blazing in the hearth and Dear Wife is journaling and/or reading in front of it.
I intend to join her.
Sophie is sharing the traditional heat source with her.
We have shoveled and cooked and cleaned dishes and now we settle in for the night.
Candles at dinner again as the new chandelier still has not arrived.
No traffic to speak of outside…
We are experiencing something of the ambience of an historical night.
Cool!
The msm is full of the troubles in the Mid East and of the foibles of life in the nation’s capital.
Egypt has captured the interest of the msm.
All of a sudden, most of the former everyday big items are pushed to the background.
Where did they all go?
I am reminded of the story of the little girl who turned to her father one night and asked, “Daddy, how come there is just enough news in the world every day to just fill the newspaper?”
One should remember not to let the msm control our awareness of important world happenings.
We should use them, the msm folk.
They should not manipulate us.
Big mistake to let that happen.
A cozy fire; candles; quiet inside and out; a fat, happy dog; Dear Wife [this list is not in any order of importance]; books and computer and paper and pen/pencil.
Has time travel occurred??
We could be back in the 19th Century, in some ways.
It occurs to us that a number of the world’s hot spots then, the 19th Century, are among the major hotspots of today.
British newspapers of the former era would have been full of problems in Pakistan; India; Iraq; Afghanistan; Iran; Egypt; Africa; Russia; and I could go on….but not necessary.
I name only the international problems.
The at-home problems were often very similar as well.
You get the point. Problem areas persist…and those areas were not problems then because the Good Guys were ignorant or were really just bad guys.
They were problems then because they could not be solved.
And we are having a devil of a time solving them now.
And our nation is not The Bad Guy.
It may not be run by the best guy in the world right now, but it is definitely not the bad guy.
Funny how the mind can turn on to such thoughts.
But it bothers me that folks today think that our recent ancestors were somehow less intelligent than we are….that they were ill-equipped to deal with the big problems…that we are so much better equipped now.
Two words for such thought: b..l sh.t!!
Sorry.
Another misunderstanding that bothers us here at The Study…..that empire is by definition a bad thing.
I defy the average person who holds that opinion to demonstrate any real knowledge of what empire was…beyond some impressions gained by less than casual thought/conversation/study.
Somehow the word in common parlance reeks with unwholesome baggage.
The tragic mess of Africa today is blamed on imperialism.
The mess in the Middle East is blamed on imperialism.
Problems in Asia are blamed on imperialism.
Problems in Latin America are blamed on imperialism.
And the everyday citizen believes all this blaming with a faith about as strong as he believes anything going on in the world far away to be true.
As a teacher of mine used to say to us young lads, “Poor Fellow…poor, poor fellow.”
This is becoming a negative essay.
Right!
Not good.
Well, there is a fire to tend and a book to read and thoughts to be thought and written about…hopefully more positively.
Stay warm. Stay cozy.
Think good thoughts.
Thanks for reading.
A county truck just blocked our driveway plowing the street….Tis ok…we can handle it.
We'll dig out in the morning and be glad.
A goodly fire is blazing in the hearth and Dear Wife is journaling and/or reading in front of it.
I intend to join her.
Sophie is sharing the traditional heat source with her.
We have shoveled and cooked and cleaned dishes and now we settle in for the night.
Candles at dinner again as the new chandelier still has not arrived.
No traffic to speak of outside…
We are experiencing something of the ambience of an historical night.
Cool!
The msm is full of the troubles in the Mid East and of the foibles of life in the nation’s capital.
Egypt has captured the interest of the msm.
All of a sudden, most of the former everyday big items are pushed to the background.
Where did they all go?
I am reminded of the story of the little girl who turned to her father one night and asked, “Daddy, how come there is just enough news in the world every day to just fill the newspaper?”
One should remember not to let the msm control our awareness of important world happenings.
We should use them, the msm folk.
They should not manipulate us.
Big mistake to let that happen.
A cozy fire; candles; quiet inside and out; a fat, happy dog; Dear Wife [this list is not in any order of importance]; books and computer and paper and pen/pencil.
Has time travel occurred??
We could be back in the 19th Century, in some ways.
It occurs to us that a number of the world’s hot spots then, the 19th Century, are among the major hotspots of today.
British newspapers of the former era would have been full of problems in Pakistan; India; Iraq; Afghanistan; Iran; Egypt; Africa; Russia; and I could go on….but not necessary.
I name only the international problems.
The at-home problems were often very similar as well.
You get the point. Problem areas persist…and those areas were not problems then because the Good Guys were ignorant or were really just bad guys.
They were problems then because they could not be solved.
And we are having a devil of a time solving them now.
And our nation is not The Bad Guy.
It may not be run by the best guy in the world right now, but it is definitely not the bad guy.
Funny how the mind can turn on to such thoughts.
But it bothers me that folks today think that our recent ancestors were somehow less intelligent than we are….that they were ill-equipped to deal with the big problems…that we are so much better equipped now.
Two words for such thought: b..l sh.t!!
Sorry.
Another misunderstanding that bothers us here at The Study…..that empire is by definition a bad thing.
I defy the average person who holds that opinion to demonstrate any real knowledge of what empire was…beyond some impressions gained by less than casual thought/conversation/study.
Somehow the word in common parlance reeks with unwholesome baggage.
The tragic mess of Africa today is blamed on imperialism.
The mess in the Middle East is blamed on imperialism.
Problems in Asia are blamed on imperialism.
Problems in Latin America are blamed on imperialism.
And the everyday citizen believes all this blaming with a faith about as strong as he believes anything going on in the world far away to be true.
As a teacher of mine used to say to us young lads, “Poor Fellow…poor, poor fellow.”
This is becoming a negative essay.
Right!
Not good.
Well, there is a fire to tend and a book to read and thoughts to be thought and written about…hopefully more positively.
Stay warm. Stay cozy.
Think good thoughts.
Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
IMPRESSIONS
Something big this way cometh….
So goes the quote by some person a while ago….
We are told a great snow storm is bearing down…will arrive sometime this evening…
It is at times like this that the city/suburban dweller feels something of the challenge felt by the farmer day in and day out.
It is at times like this that non-farm folk are exposed, vulnerable to the forces of nature.
The sailor feels the presence of nature….as do those who fly the planes and work on the edge of things.
‘Tis a sobering moment of truth, a sobering interval of time for those of us so insulated from the forces of nature.
Sort of reminds one of just how great those forces of nature are….of how we are a part of something very great indeed – that maybe, just maybe, the world does not revolve around us and our desires as much as we like to think it does.
Egypt….
The events in this ancient land remind us of the importance of the Middle East…a crossroads…a reservoir of precious natural resources…a region which inevitably draws the great powers of the world into competition and conflict, a process which seems destined to go on forever.
Decades, centuries, millennia…
Remember this when you are tempted to think that our ancestors should have known better than to have involved themselves in this fulcrum of world affairs….
Some geopolitical challenges simply cannot be ignored or resolved.
Some things simply have to be dealt with, over and over and over.
Movies:
Dear Wife and I have seen several movies recently, contrary to our normal custom.
We have mentioned this before: the most recent C.S. Lewis film ; The King’s Speech; and True Grit.
I saw the last two, Dear Wife all three.
In all cases, the main feature was preceded by an endless stream of previews… nearly all of which were nothing less than litanies of incredible violence and mayhem and destruction.
They weren’t even very sexy.
They simply destroyed, attacked, and blasted.
I am sure a great deal has been and will be said about this phenomenon of the lust for violence…
We can think of lots more attractive movie topics.
So goes the quote by some person a while ago….
We are told a great snow storm is bearing down…will arrive sometime this evening…
It is at times like this that the city/suburban dweller feels something of the challenge felt by the farmer day in and day out.
It is at times like this that non-farm folk are exposed, vulnerable to the forces of nature.
The sailor feels the presence of nature….as do those who fly the planes and work on the edge of things.
‘Tis a sobering moment of truth, a sobering interval of time for those of us so insulated from the forces of nature.
Sort of reminds one of just how great those forces of nature are….of how we are a part of something very great indeed – that maybe, just maybe, the world does not revolve around us and our desires as much as we like to think it does.
Egypt….
The events in this ancient land remind us of the importance of the Middle East…a crossroads…a reservoir of precious natural resources…a region which inevitably draws the great powers of the world into competition and conflict, a process which seems destined to go on forever.
Decades, centuries, millennia…
Remember this when you are tempted to think that our ancestors should have known better than to have involved themselves in this fulcrum of world affairs….
Some geopolitical challenges simply cannot be ignored or resolved.
Some things simply have to be dealt with, over and over and over.
Movies:
Dear Wife and I have seen several movies recently, contrary to our normal custom.
We have mentioned this before: the most recent C.S. Lewis film ; The King’s Speech; and True Grit.
I saw the last two, Dear Wife all three.
In all cases, the main feature was preceded by an endless stream of previews… nearly all of which were nothing less than litanies of incredible violence and mayhem and destruction.
They weren’t even very sexy.
They simply destroyed, attacked, and blasted.
I am sure a great deal has been and will be said about this phenomenon of the lust for violence…
We can think of lots more attractive movie topics.
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