It is not news that war is once again breaking out in the Middle East on the Gaza Front.
Forces are staging and great volleys are being exchanged.
We are struck by the variety of world reactions to the growing hostilities.
On the one hand, prior to the outbreak of fighting, Israel was the target of a huge number of indiscriminate missile launches which cascaded down, blindly, on cities and towns and the like.
Only good fortune, good luck, or the Grace of God prevented numerous casualties.
The Study, perusing the news reports of those recent days, sees nothing of world outrage about this.
No outrage against the Arab barbarians carrying out these attacks. No outrage at all.
On the contrary, Israel is tacitly or overtly blamed for making such barrages ‘necessary’.
And then, when the counterattack is undertaken by the IDF, the outraged demonstrations begin.
We are busy here at The Study with happier thoughts about happier things, thank the Good Lord, but this Gaza matter is a biggie and is one to watch.
More to follow.
And we will endeavor to end this year of postings with some positive entries.
It is a sad note that some observers would have it that a successful Israeli offensive might be the best news we can hope for in that troubled part of the world.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
2008 - RIP
Ah Friends, dear friends, as years go on
And heads get gray
Touch hands, touch hands, with those that stay.
Quoted above is a short verse discovered some years ago. Regretfully, no citation is available, lost in the course of time.
But the sense of it fits the closing days of 2008.
What a year it has been!
We are sure that the events of this year will be catalogued, probed, and dissected by folks for a very long time.
The Study hopes to be a part of those goingson [is that a word?].
An early contribution to that effort is the observation that a lot of really good people, mature folks we were very aware of when we were young (er), are now passing from the scene.
A partial list:
Sir Edmund Hillary; Bobby Fischer; Margaret Truman; Van Johnson; Eartha Kitt; Doug Fraser; Paul Newman; Richard Widmark; Edie Adams; Charlton Heston; Eddy Arnold; Dick Martin; Cyd Charisse; George Carlin; and Dr. Mike Debakey.
We rather doubt that every year sees such an attrition of the important and the interesting.
At least we hope not.
And this is but a partial list.
Take a moment on the Eve of the New Year to touch a hand or to at least raise a glass to friends and relatives, living and dead, who have been or who are a part of your lives.
There is at least a very good chance that we will pass this way but once.
It is good not to miss the opportunity.
Friday, December 19, 2008
THE NEW AMERICA...QUOTED IN POWERLINE
The link below will take you to an item in Powerline which is terrific food for thought.
In a few words, "...the times they are achangin'" for the good ole USA.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2008/12/022333.php
In a few words, "...the times they are achangin'" for the good ole USA.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2008/12/022333.php
TEN INCHES OF SNOW FELL
Ten inches of snow fell on us this AM.
That is a lot of snow.
That is a lot of snow blowing and shoveling. We did both today.
And we are writing Christmas cards and sending off packages and making lists and checking them a couple of times and giving a party and going to some and doing other fun stuff.
And it is Christmastime.
The birdfeeder is full and the wood is stacked by the back door.
As we wrote in our annual Christmas Letter:
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
In 1872, Christina Rossetti wrote what would become the beautiful carol In the Bleak Midwinter. The first stanza, quoted above, could easily have been written for this Christmas Season of 2008. A hard, cold winter has come upon many of us, and it is a good time to thank God for family, friends, and our many blessings.
That is a lot of snow.
That is a lot of snow blowing and shoveling. We did both today.
And we are writing Christmas cards and sending off packages and making lists and checking them a couple of times and giving a party and going to some and doing other fun stuff.
And it is Christmastime.
The birdfeeder is full and the wood is stacked by the back door.
As we wrote in our annual Christmas Letter:
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
In 1872, Christina Rossetti wrote what would become the beautiful carol In the Bleak Midwinter. The first stanza, quoted above, could easily have been written for this Christmas Season of 2008. A hard, cold winter has come upon many of us, and it is a good time to thank God for family, friends, and our many blessings.
AUTO BRIDGE LOAN
The Executive Branch has acted, for better or worse.
Legislative under nancy and harry failed to act, for worse.
President Bush did so reluctantly. Imagine a Chief Executive worrying about forever modifying, perhaps not for the best, the American economic system.
But anyway, help was needed in some form. Congress could not provide it – was not able, competent enough to do so.
So the President acted. b.o. will have to carry the ball after inauguration.
God help us.
President Bush took the authority provided by the inept Congress and did what he felt was necessary.
As we write, the stock market is up a bit.
We at The Study are confused. We do not know who is right. But we know who some of the wrongs are.
Legislative under nancy and harry failed to act, for worse.
President Bush did so reluctantly. Imagine a Chief Executive worrying about forever modifying, perhaps not for the best, the American economic system.
But anyway, help was needed in some form. Congress could not provide it – was not able, competent enough to do so.
So the President acted. b.o. will have to carry the ball after inauguration.
God help us.
President Bush took the authority provided by the inept Congress and did what he felt was necessary.
As we write, the stock market is up a bit.
We at The Study are confused. We do not know who is right. But we know who some of the wrongs are.
PIRATES - THEIR TIME IS COMING
Nations are getting exercised about the pirate problem.
About time.
Big problem: what to do with captured pirates.
Can you believe it? There is no judicial mechanism at present to try these captured barbarians.
But at least nations are getting interested.
About time.
Big problem: what to do with captured pirates.
Can you believe it? There is no judicial mechanism at present to try these captured barbarians.
But at least nations are getting interested.
BLACKWATER WORLDWIDE TARGETED – 16 DECEMBER 2007?
AP is reporting that US prosecutors of Blackwater Worldwide have just received radio logs indicating that the charged Blackwater guards received 8 minutes of incoming fire from “insurgents and Iraqi police”.
Fom Iraqi cops??????
And the US Government is setting up to prosecute this security force.
We wonder how john murtha feels about this case?
Fom Iraqi cops??????
And the US Government is setting up to prosecute this security force.
We wonder how john murtha feels about this case?
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