Need a laugh Bunky? Tired of whining appeaseniks? Does Leftie logic make your head ache?
Well, Bunky, here you go.
Steven Den Beste writes: "I've received a letter from Dev, mailed from the UK. I will apologize ahead of time for the fact that my response to it will be blunt."
James Carroll, of the Boston Globe, Writes:"Watching with two eyes, we would see that in dealing with Saddam, no nation's convictions matter more than those of Russia and China." (via Fred)
Two differing opinions as to the most important consideration, our defense or stability of the status quo. Appeasement will not produce stability in the long term and serves only to fuel the ambitions of China, France and Russia. Which is really in our best interest?
An excellent Quisling source page by Aaron, The Liberal Slayer
Click for full size image.
a hat tip to Laurence
Guru would join Pope in front of bombs
Wonder if Schroeder and Chriac will be joining Chopra?
Chopra said he would hope to be joined by heads of state and "tens of thousands of people" from around the world as part of a human-shield movement. Once the threat of bombing subsided, he said the same peace contingent could turn its attention to "a total disarming of Saddam Hussein." The Iraqi leader should have no further say, but be given "asylum and a safe haven," Chopra said.
Chopra may have the ideal safe haven for Saddam in mind...he could become "the guru to the despots".
Journey into Healing will be offered in 2003 on the following dates & locations:
~February 28-March 4, 2003 Havana, Cuba
(ED: The irony obviously escapes Deepak)
Meatfest 23 opens for a limited run at Kesher Talk
Someone save me a wing.
I've never been a fan of Dan Rather; he always struck me as more than slightly off-kilter with his forced homilies, incoherent partisan on-air rants and fawning desperation to be as beloved as Walter Cronkite.
In his 1990 book, "Flashbacks", Morley Safer tells of his 1966 meeting with Dan in the bar of the Caravelle Hotel in Saigon.
”There were other encounters in the Jerome et Juliet.This was the place I first met Dan Rather. He had replaced me in London when I was sent to Vietnam at the beginning of 1965. At the end of the year he took over in Saigon, and I returned to the London bureau. In August 1966 we switched places once again. The day I arrive he introduced himself and invited me up to the bar for a drink. He could not have been more friendly.
A stream of admiration poured from his lips. A touch excessive, I thought, nevertheless very nice to hear. The man was trying very hard to be courtly, but the effect was destroyed by the strange way he was dressed. It was not the green army fatigues and combat boots—though it was most unusual for correspondents to be dressed for war in Saigon—it was the leather shoulder holster and nickel-plated Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver strapped on the outside of his clothing that gave an otherwise friendly encounter an edge of menace. I could not image who he might have to shoot in the Caravelle. The service was always quite good.”
UPDATE: The man who spoke Saddam Hussein's words in English during a CBS interview with Dan Rather late last month was an actor using a fake Arabic accent, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Juan set me off today with this piece of stupidity:
Q. Rock 'n' roll desperately needs a response to 9/11 and the current rush to war. Where are the rock bands of Generations X and Y on these issues? A lot of people were counting on you to address this, but you're doing it on the side, not in the music.
George Michaels questions the PM on MTV? What next? Peewee Herman advises Rummy? Arrggghh!
Not all rockers are anti-war morons. 3 Doors Down did a tour of the carriers and bases in the Gulf last October. They filmed on the tour with lots of shots of the troops aircraft and ships...their video of "when I'm Gone" is very cool.
Click here to play the video (note:streaming video requires a media player)
Visit the 3DD website for their photo gallery of the tour and send a message to the troops.
A couple of weeks ago a reader commented that the "no right click" script prevented easy browsing of the blogroll...I agree...it sucks navigation-wise. So I removed the script...click away.
Harley has doubled in size and lost much of his puppy appearance since the Walkies page. He weighs about 35 lbs and is full of it...wozzling everything and everyone. He begins puppy class this week.
He and I spent the day together messing around outside...going for walkies, potting bulbs and playing ball in the back garden until the sun slipped behind the clouds. Where upon Zoe picked up the interior entertainment slack with a smack down.
Carnival of the Cats readers: Here is a web slide show & tell of the big wrasslin' match and our day in the garden. (You'll no doubt notice harley is tethered to the coffee table with a leash to keep the game under the cat's control.)
Enjoy.
PS: Here's the latest pix of Harley if you're wonderin' how he turned out....he's a little too big and strong for cat wrestling now, I had to intervene before there were tears and vet bills, but Zozo still calls him out and ankle bites on a regular basis.
Work was a bitch this week. I'll get caught up tomorrow.
Solonor has been very busy turning Michele's "What's Not to Like" post and her reader's responses into a communal affirmation of the freedom and beauty of place we share. Click the flag to be wisked directly to Solonor's excellent page!
U.N. Secretary-General Clinton?
"Once again the future of Bill Clinton has become a hot topic..."
"...There are reports that Bill Clinton already has lined up support for his candidacy from Germany, France, England, Ireland and New Zealand. A handful of African states, led by Nigeria, are rooting for Bill. And Hillary has brought in Morocco and Egypt. The Russians have let it be known that they would not object to Clinton as the next secretary-general..."
Bill recently told the Democratic Leadership Council, "We don't have to be more liberal, but we do have to be more relevant in a progressive way." To that statement, he added his new doctrine: "When we look weak in a time where people feel insecure, we lose. When people feel uncertain, they'd rather have somebody who's strong and wrong than somebody who's weak and right."
Hazzah! The Carnival rolls into the People's Republic of Seabrook.
Repleat with bunny, naked cameramen, an air show and Ring Master Jack cracking wise.
LRN supplies amassed WASHINGTON (AP) A French-American consortium is behind an effort to start a liberal-leaning radio network that would offer an alternative to American right wing talk radio. French officials expressed a deep concern that American media has not properly defused “cheese eating surrender monkeys” and “axis of weasels” commentary.
''We believe this is a tremendous business opportunity,’’ Radio executive Lou Simpleton said Monday. Simpleton, who would be the network's chief executive, added, ''There are so many right-wing talk shows, we think it's created a hole in the market you could drive a SUV through. A SUV laden with explosive anti-conservative invective and hyperbole.''
The group, led by Anita Ditz, consists of investors who have financially supported Democratic candidates, even though they lost ground in the recent mid-term election. Hoping to start the network by this fall, they are talking with comedian and author Al Franken about working with the network and hope to attract entertainers and political guests who despise the US. Madonna would appear to have an inside track as she resides in the UK and is reported to have a passable voice.
Their group will be called Ashell Game L.L.C. and they are initially investing $10 million while hoping for assistance from weak-minded entrepreneurs who might otherwise donate to charities and the poor.
Simpleton said those who lean to the right are slap happy morons who enjoy dropping water-filled objects from windows and otherwise endanger citizens going about their business protesting the illegitimate Bush administration. Bill and Hillary Clinton who lean left, tend to be humorless and have a firm grip on the wallets of the entertainment world in Hollywood and New York.
"People in LA and New York are about style. If they're nothing else, they are about style, " sniffed Hillary Clinton "Let's face it: Middle America is not about style. But those Americans who are are attracted to my husband and I."
''We want to take an issue such as the death penalty and make it funny and engaging,'' Simpleton said. ''Our intent is to engage and entertain as a way to enlighten, engage in skit comedy, parody, political satire and cheap shots. We are very excited that Bill Clinton has agreed host “Talking Trash” a late night call-in show. Clinton's office did not return calls, but speculation around the stream of comely young female radio and TV professionals entering Clinton's private Mid-town office seem to indicate that co-host interviews are under way.
John Little's entry in Michele's civil defense poster contest is priceless. (warning: put down your beverages or keyboard/monitor damage may ensue)
Here's mine:
original artwork by Edward T. Grigware
Washington was largely shut down Monday by snow up to 15 inches deep. It could take early three days to clear some side streets. Hospitals in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania asked for volunteers with four-wheel-drive vehicles (SUVs) to help employees get to and from work.
"It's very nerve-racking out there, because you can't even find the road," said Merrie Street, a spokeswoman for the Harford County, Md., emergency center.
Where have all the liberals gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the liberals gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the liberals gone?
The voters rejected them every one.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Where have all their ideals gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all their ideals gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all their ideals gone?
They've abandoned them, every one.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Where have all the young black men gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the young black men gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the young black men gone?
Fallen into despair.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Where have all the generals gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the generals gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the generals gone?
They've become politicians, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the social programs gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the social programs gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the social programs gone?
They're bloated and broken, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the liberals gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the liberals gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the liberals gone?
The voters rejected them, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
France Claims Diplomatic Win, but War Still Looms
Sat Feb 15, 9:01 AM ET PARIS (Reuters) - "France trumpeted a diplomatic triumph on Saturday in its efforts to brake the United States' push for war on Iraq"
Read these articles on CDI:
•BP's deal with Russian oil firms "down payment" for compliance on Iraq.
BP's decision to invest a huge sum of money in Russian oil firms is a political decision not an economic one, the Russian business daily, Kommersant, says. This investment is a down payment for Russia's compliance on a war against Iraq.
The Soviet Politburo hoped that some day the Franco-German axis, initiated by French President Charles de Gaulle some 40 years ago, would break up NATO and deliver Western Europe into Soviet hands.
•The New Entente May Spring a Leak
Russia does not really care about Iraq - it will not confront Washington.
..."Russian reconnaissance planes need twenty-four hours if orders come from the command to join UN inspectors in Iraq. Sources in the Air Force command say that the order to go to this readiness level has already been sent to the AN-30 detachment based at Kubinka near Moscow."
CDI's Russia Weekly has more on the current political stand-off from the Russian perspective. Interesting reading.
The French and German leadership would do well to remember this English parable "In the end, small-minded evil men always get their comeuppance." Always.
Steven De Beste as a piece today about the USCGC Boutwell deploying to the Gulf. Baysiders, boaters and bridge commuters are accustomed to the Boutwell and CG craft gliding through the bay waters. Not a few of us have been towed off a mud flat or rescued from our weekend folly afloat.
Steven rightly tells of the Boutwell's might and strength and the Boutwell's website of her fine record. This line made me grin.
"...in 1967 Boutwell rolled 68 degrees in a storm while on an Alaskan patrol. This is the greatest roll on record for a Coast Guard cutter.
Gulp.
My office windows overlook a small boat marina, a picturesque gaggle of Victorian buildings housing offices and restaurants, boat yards and the Coast Guard Island on the Oakland-Alameda estuary...it's a laid back, slow sort of place...a wide winding road follows the shore...it's almost a backwater but for the red CG choppers whooshing by to the landing zone on the far side of the island. The restaurants, delis and coffee shops in the area are patronized by Coast Guard personnel, we exchange pleasantries, juggle for parking spaces and tables. Men and women in uniform are part of the background of my daily life. I sort of forget they are there. Until tonight...I was working late...taps drifted in the open window as they retired the colors for the night. It gave me pause. I packed up and headed home.
Work was busy today, no time for my daily reads, so imagine my surprise when I settled in the home cockpit, a glass of Merlot in hand and clicked on the USS Clueless. This is the beauty of the Blogoverse and the Net...the connections...someone far away reaches out and touches a piece of your day.
Amazing.
Here is a link to Pacific Tides Online, a CG zine style forum (hunk alert!). The Boutwell's FPO is on their site and a webmaster address...bet they wouldn't mind some mail from bloggers.
Stephen Green wrote an excellent piece yesterday The German Problem Revisited after reading Den Beste's Clash of Cultures, which produced a response from Andrew J. Brehm in Green's comments.
Stephen Fisks Brehm's response today.
Thanks to John Little for this story:
Please put this image and address on your blog:
A Coward's Feather
THE Sun today prints a single white feather to show our disgust at cowardly French President Jacques Chirac.
And we urge our readers to post it to Chirac’s headquarters in Paris to symbolise British anger at France’s soft stance on Saddam Hussein.
The Order of the White Feather was founded in August 1914 by Admiral Charles Fitzgerald.
The organisation encouraged women to give white feathers to young men who failed to join the British Army as the First World War raged.
To send your white feather protest print this page, cut out the image and send to:
Monsieur le Président de la République
Palais de l'Elysée
55, rue du faubourg Saint-Honoré
75008 Paris
FRANCE
Update: Reader Jaspar provides le Président's e-mail address.
This you gotta see. I just spit-taked another keyboard. I stand and salute in the direction of the Cal campus.
One of the best things about blogging is book recommendations. When a blogger quotes from something I don't know, or has a reading list and it interests me...I hit the Amazon link and as often as not the ole 1-click button shortly thereafter. I have a nice stack beside the bed to graze...oh... Lileks' review of "The Art of Noir" was spot on. I got it today and it's a great piece of eye candy as well as a trove of film infomation that will fill up the Netflix queue for weeks.
I don't go in for liberal baiting and bashing, but sometimes their social agenda sets them up for a good tweaking. David Sims of Clubbeaux obliges with a few predictions of the ramifications if Annika Sorenstam is offered an exemption to the Colonial and becomes the first woman in 58 years to play on the PGA Tour.
Feminists will be incensed at the obvious discrimination poor Annika suffered. Male rules designed specifically to exclude women! Power has no place in golf, it’s an atavistic hangover from days when men would club women over the heads and drag them back to the cave!
Martha Burk will file a federal lawsuit to force the PGA to play LPGA courses and LPGA rules to “level the playing field” for women. Women will be given handicaps based on a points system devised by University of Michigan law school graduates. Tournaments will limit the number of Top 50 men who can enter a field, ensuring women finish somewhere in the money in tournaments.
Johnnie Cochran will file a lawsuit demanding that the PGA allow at least three men of color and two women of color – Tiger Woods doesn’t count – to win events each year “to right historical wrongs.” Rules for blacks will be further adjusted to accommodate the style of play unique to African-American culture. Shot counts will be computed based on the life challenges the golfer had to overcome.
The PGA will decree that the top ten of every tournament must include five women and three golfers of color – again, Woods doesn’t count. White men will be allowed to win 36% of PGA tournaments, the rest will be reserved for women and minorities.
My favorites on the Best of the Web's "A Day of Poetry for the War " were those poking fun at the "antiwar" movement, especially this one:
Jim Phillips's parody of Edgar Allen Poe is called "The Raving":
Once upon a Sunday dreary, while gazing, bleak and bleary,
Over many a shrill and shrieking rant of columnists galore,
In my heart I felt a sinking. "Have they lost their knack for thinking?!
It's enough to start me drinking!" And I must confess I swore;
I confess I spat the vilest of invective as I swore,
Spat and cursed, and stomped the floor.
For distinctly I remember, it was in the bright September
When a blast of flame and ember marked the starting of the war,
Yet this morning finds me tracking all these dodos, brains a-slacking
Still insistent that we're lacking all the proof which they ignore,
All the proof which, head in sand, they so conveniently ignore.
Quoth the peaceniks, "We need more."
And I scarce can watch the TV without the chill of heebie jeebies
At the sight of movie actors spouting off their gripe du jour.
To the Jimmy Carter stand-ins (Streisand, Baldwin, Penn, Sarandon):
If it's so dire, why not abandon this totalitarian shore
For the greener lands of France? Depart this dark repressive shore!
Quoth the peaceniks, "Nevermore!"
But there's just one valid answer to the throbbing media cancer,
And the queasy timid souls for whom there's naught worth fighting for,
And to Daschle's petty prattling, and Saddam's harsh saber-rattling:
We must now begin the battling of this deadly cheerless chore,
For should we shirk the burden of our grim and somber chore,
We shall know peace . . . nevermore.
::::::Bravo!:::::Applause!!!:::::
John Ray has Carnival of the Vanities #21
up on his excellent site Dissecting Leftism.
Am I missing something or did not Bin Laden make the link from al-Qaeda to Iraq on world-wide TV? The time for talking and hanky-waving Euroweenies is past. We need to open a can of whup-ass on Iraq before more terrorists slither out from under Saddam's rock.
I swear...you can't make this stuff up:
From Radio Netherlands:
Although Paris and Berlin deny any suggestion of a ready-made plan, it's clear that both governments wish to avert war by turning Iraq into a sort of UN protectorate. Russian President Vladimir Putin, visiting both France and Germany this week, was keen to join the "axis of peace".
"Everyone following developments surrounding Iraq knows that Russia, France and Germany basically share the same position."
Oh yeah Baby, to grab the largest piece of Iraqi oilfields and control prices. Putin is going to sell out these two schmucks faster than you can say "bombs away".
I was flipping through Lilek's excellent Jetsom Cove this morning and came upon the John Q. Hilter image. Awright! an idea for a parody immediately came to mind. All I had to do was find a few examples of Muslim dress, do some photoshopping and I would have a knee-slapping funny bit.
Then I hit this site, suddenly the humor died and I felt ill. Have a look at what is represented by Islamic Garden as
Femininity Muslim Style"A look at how Muslim women around the world wear the veil. Nearly 100 full color photos from the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan."
No one can convince me that these women would practice Hijab if they had a choice. That they would chose to be sexually multilated and denied basic human rights of freedom of expresson, association and self-determination. Half the Arabic population is effectively enslaved. The first two images in the montage below are from Afghanistan, the last two Iraq.
Perhaps Madonna might think about these women as she freely expresses her creativity and political opinion. Would she deny them the same freedom? Apparently so.
TV actor turned film director George Looney slammed what he called the dumbing down of U.S. media Monday, saying it was dangerous that movie treatments were not being taken seriously as a source of newspaper editorials and TV news reportage.
"We have decided that news is entertainment. It's hard to find good news, Hollywood must try harder to make it up. This movie seeks to correct the record that Clinton did not inhale, which is of course a right-wing smear...the truth of which you can judge for yourself. " he said pulling a photo from his wallet.
Looney, who rose to fame playing a doctor on TV, was in Berlin to promote his directorial debut "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," a musical comedy starring Julia Roberts, based on President Clinton's student days at Oxford University in the 1960's. The film opened to rave reviews from the Guardian: "--Two pinkies up!, Julia Roberts sparkles and she can dance, who knew!"
Reaction from the fans outside the theatre was less enthusiastic when it was announced that the promise of free wurst and beer was a rumor. A disgruntled fan, Dieter Wussel shouted " Kein wurst! kein Frieden! American Dachse Out of Hollywood! " A young women, Renata Dumpt, attired in a Dale Evans outfit burst into tears "I was told cowboys would be here today, where are the cowboys? Alle, die ich sehe, ist ein über dem hügel Schauspieler mit einem schlechten haircut."
Looney could not be reached for comment.
February 9, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq: Chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix said Sunday that a new member will join the inspection team in Baghdad tomorrow. American investigative expert Mr. Orenthal J. Simpson volunteered to assist the Iraqis in their search for WMD, records and missing scientists.
Shortly after the announcement that Mr. Simpson will supervise interviews, Rihab Taha, a scientist believed to have played a leading role in Iraq's biological weapons program, was seen leaving her home with several Gucci garment bags. Taha's Official spokesman, Mr. Amer al-Saadi, claims,
"Inspectors who discount the regime's declaration "have bad intentions towards Iraq because they are under the rule and the influence of Columbian drug lords and the American Mafia. Evidence Secretary of State Colin L. Powell offered the United Nations that Iraq has links to Al Qaeda was not properly handled and as Iraqi forensic experts will testify, has been seriously compromised." he reportedly said.
"I perceive the unraveling of the American's case for regime change," al-Saadi said "A lesser standard of proof is what we are seeing. We must ask the U.N. Security Council to address bias and injustices towards Arabic peoples in the past by denouncing American hegemony" he added: "If inspections do not fit, American war preparations must quit."
developing...
Did you catch SNL's anti-war skit tonight?...it was laugh out loud funny. The anti-war movement marginalized themselves by aligning with Hollywood loons, vandals, ANSWER and their ilk.
Oh. My bad. That IS the anti-war movement.
A hat tip to Mike at Cold fury for turning me on to the superbly written and entertaining Methuselah's Daughter:
First, let me briefly dispose on these three points. Oil: it is the lifeblood of the modern world, there are unstable regimes which threaten the world’s supply of oil, and the choices are starkly clear: act to protect the flow of oil or accept an inevitable economic disaster precipitated by the actions of a nation, group, or groups who believe they have nothing to lose by bringing the current world order to the brink of collapse. Terror: Iraq does support terror groups, both directly and indirectly. Involvement with the al-Qaida organization is likely tangential, but that is somewhat akin to the old saw regarding being “a little bit pregnant”, one either tolerates support for terrorism, or one does not. Liberation: Regimes are legitimate or they are not, they either serve the interests of their citizens or they do not, they reign by popular consent or by popular submission. When citizens disappear at the behest of government it is usually an indication that the rule is illegitimate.
I do not begin to presume that the above encompasses all there is to say on these topics; however, it serves to make clear my own mind in these areas.
Tread carefully she may or may not have thunderbolts.
It's a warm and sunny day in Baghdad-by-the-Bay...blossoms nod gently as the loons call across the water.
They actually pay people to write this badly? We won't even get into his inability to think or reason. Note the choice of photos, no bias here folks. Nope, none.
• Maybe the we should develop a non-lethal stun weapon that loiters until a raving moonbat sticks his head up to regurgitate bile and idiocy. It might be useful around The Civic Center, City Hall and along Market street too.
• Want more proof that SF is more than a little disingenuous about wealth distribution...read this story.
Oh the humanity...where will they go for their over-priced food and drink on the public chit? Who will fill the void in their meager lives after the opera? Hypocrites. This is the sleek, liberal monied crowd who fund Pelosi, Feinstein and Boxer. Of course they care about where the the poor dine too...they dole out food down at St. Anthony's a couple of times a year to prove they are just folks and to be sure their Botoxed visages are photographed for the Chron's society pages.
• Rep Pete Stark (D-CA) provides yet another example of Dem arrogance and stupidity. When is it permissable to denegrate one's recovery from addiction? Oh, Oh ! know ! Call on me! When they are a Republican, but of course. Can you imagine the media howl if Stark were on the other side of the aisle.
• This story, like Bobby Byrd's turn as a Reb General, in the wake of the Lott kerfuffle just boggles the mind. What is this man thinking?
So far the Dem presidental dwarves are an unimpressive lot. Kerry can't seem to answer a question or sort out his ancestry, Edwards is confused over which century he is in, Gephardt can't remember where his vacation house is located, Sharpton is unclear about the concept of rent and Leiberman doesn't have a chance since his party has spent the past two years ginning up anti-Semitism against Israel. Looks like Hillary! is the front runner. Wanna bet she is out shaking hands and posing for photo ops with forward deployed troops before the primary season begins?
• A very sweet photo of Hil and Bill's little girl, Chelsea. My, they did such a good job of raising her...don't you think? She knows to open the door of the limo before you puke, how to stick Dad with the bar tab, how to choose just the
• Finally, it wouldn't be Friday without insulting the French. John Little does it so well. I'll pass you over to his excellent Blogs of War. Go, then ask yourself why we care about their opinion.
Arrgh! Blogs that use sticky code so you can't click off their site are really, really annoying. So much so that I am no longer linking to those who insist trapping readers like hapless flies in a window.
You know who you are. I am sure you are quaking in your boots. Oooo! Oooo! Feste is delinking us!
The point is don't force bat shit code games on your readers...just let me read what you have to say and go on my way as I please. Some of us work with their edit mod as the desktop and build an active browser group as we weave our way through the Blogoverse...clicking back and forth to compare commentary....adding comments, updates and linking to our page. Forcing a blogger to close the browser to be rid of your page might be counterintuitive to encouraging a link or comment on other blogs.
Carnival of the Vanities #20 is up at Plum Crazy. Pop on over and give Lesley a round of applause for a plummy presentation...which of course may set me back for sometime as I struggle to achieve her level of style and grace.
Nnnnnn-nnn...splutter, yang-yang...Nnnn-nnn!...rrrrrrevvv-vvv...RRRrrooooAARRR! rattle, rattle...clunk, shreech!...creeak... clank....rrrrrr. Thunk...scrape...Nnnn-nnn.
(The sound of DiFi starting up the in-house Bobcat for major backfilling)
...if you're not reading IMAO you're behind the information curve.
Yeah, I know the song...we kissed rural California goodbye 30 years ago. One can still see bits of it fleetingly from the corner of your eye...a blossoming remnant of an orchard now adrift in a sea of backyard fences and driveways....images remembered more than seen. Wait a minute. This topic was supposed to cheer me up. Shall I start again?
Take 2: The weather was absolutely wonderful yesterday...decided to take a break...my heart just wasn't in blogging ...needed some face time with nature. Afternoon was sunny and warm...spring is coming...oak buds fatting up. Decidious tree branches a bright shiny mahogany. Almond, plum and cherry trees spread lacy pink and white blossom drifts...bright yellow Mimosa blankets the hills with sweet scent.
Oh! If you see Coastal brand strawberries from Watsonville, CA in the market...buy 'em...they will only be available for a week or so. An old-fashioned variety of early berries from the Monterey area and IMO the tastiest crop of the year.
The STS-107 mission patch will remain on the page until the shuttle resumes flight in honor of the Columbia crew who gave the last full measure in service to their countries and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who give their best every day to explore space and push the frontiers of our collective imagination.
The SF Bay Area contributes technology and support to NASA, the Hubble and the shuttle program. Many are small businesses. Local news coverage interviewed a few and the one theme that ran through them all was that they were inspired by astronauts of previous decades and thusly they fell in love with science/space at at tender age. That says much about our character and the men and women of all nations who journey into the unknown. Of all the myriad species that have lived and passed off this small blue orb spinning in space...only we look at the sky and wonder.
As did I last night...a perfect crystal clear cold winter sky...it is both vastly empty and overwhelmingly full. So many times I have watched the shuttle streak overhead. Just a week ago the Columbia passed over as I walked Harley. I waved...I always do. Silly I know, but there is something so connecting about it, knowing people like me are inside a trail of star dust.
Stephen Green put it exactly right for this old stargazer:
"They turned into shooting stars so bright, you could see them against the morning sun."
