Nobody 661

Sunday, August 6, 2006
Nobody # 661

Nobody Asked Me But:

As I write this Nobody and, as always, struggle to keep it to a reasonable length, I remember a line from Robert Louis Stevenson that I have used before: “The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.” (Happy Thought, from “A Child’s garden of Verses.”)

So here are the week’s words from a happy King James.

What is even more scary than this administration’s attack on some of our most fundamental freedoms is that so few people object.<<<

As our first trip to the United Kingdom draws nearer, we surely hope that Lord Byron was joking when he said: “The English winter- ending in July, To recommence in August.” But we are packing umbrella’s and jackets just in case.

Here is my must list for the London part of the trip:

Visit the British Museum to see the Rosetta Stone.

Visit the British Library to see the original Magna Carta.

Ride the London Eye.

Walk through St. James Park and remember that Henry VIII created it.

Eat my way through Harrods’ ice cream department and then wind up at their Starbuck’s for number 300 on my list. As Barb discovered on line last night, there are something like 170 SBs in England and Scotland, so I will be well over 400 by the time we start back home.

Have a drink at The Audley, a pub visited by Chris and Chloe in “Match Point,” and one of Woody’s favorite London watering holes.

See a play and attend a concert.

Visit Churchill’s War Room.

Buy a pair of shoes at John Lobb, where the shoemaker will give you simple style but great fit for only 2,000 pounds ($3,900) a pair. Pricy, yes, but remember the old saying; “take care of your feet, and they will take care of you.”

In this last must, the price is true but me buying a pair is one of the great lies of all time.<<<

Remember when Donald Rumsfeld boasted that “the care” and “the humanity” that went into our precision assaults on military targets would minimize any civilian deaths? Such casualties were merely “collateral damage,” unworthy of quantification.

Well that collateral damage has now been quantified. The “low” estimate, coming from the White House is 30,000. The LA Times recently said the 50,000 was a more accurate estimate.

And for what have they died? There is no peace in sight, no end to fear or death or terrorism. Hell, there isn’t even a restoration of electricity in many places.<<<

The quote of the week is from Thomas Friedman – NY Times

“It is now obvious that we are not midwifing democracy in Iraq. We are baby-sitting a civil war.”

Did you know that: In a world without Will Shakespeare a degree in English literature would take about 4 months to complete. The play wouldn’t be the thing nor would we wait “with bated breath.” - The Merchant of Venice.

Did Israel Lose the war on the seventh day?

Last week I was strong in my praise and adamant in my support of the Israeli invasion of South Lebanon to, once and for all, destroy or badly cripple Hezbollah.

Now I am not so sure. Had this been a Six-Day War the price may have been bearable, (if the death of innocents is ever bearable) but starting with day seven Israel has been the loser. The perception, back in those early years, was that Israel was the invincible military colossus of the Middle East. That perception weakened somewhat during their Lebanese misadventures in the 1980s and has taken a new and costly blow with their inability to quickly overcome and defeat Hezbollah. Hundreds of innocents are dead and the terrorist group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has become the folk hero who fought the hated enemy to a standstill while sending fear and death into Northern Israel with every missile. He has given hope to all the Islamic fanatics who believe that Israel is not forever.

As I write this Israel is in the midst of a huge ground offensive that may strengthen security on its northern border and reestablish its image as a power not to be reckoned with. So far, no good. I still hope it works, but it would have been better to hit harder, faster.<<<

Before American education takes another hit, its critics should note that the average Brit, when quizzed, can only name 3 of the 7 continents. It’s the relationships, stupid – child and family, child and teacher – and not test scores that measure success in education.<<<

Columnist Kathleen Parker sees a strange link between Susan Smith and Hezbollah.

Smith, you will remember, killed her two children and then got sympathy for her loss.

Hezbollah not only struck first this time but also pretty much invented the suicide bombing of innocents, as well as the use of women and children as shields. And yet, the “Twilight Zoners” of the world once more condemn Israel.<<<

A long time ago, in the land of Ajo where I first taught, I had a close friend. Now I have two or three – see how much I have progressed. Anyway this man and I spent lots of time together. We even moved to California the same year – Bob to Corona, me to Simi Valley. Despite our friendship, he felt ambivalent towards me. How did I know? I knew because when our group played poker, he would get a little (or a lot) drunk and start taking verbal shots at me. Which brings me to the Far Right Catholic’s lethal weapon – Mel – “I really love Jews,” Gibson.

You see, “Braveheart,” is asking American Jews to forgive him for his insensitive remarks. Here, by way of Maureen Dowd, is a response from Leon Wieseltier, the author of “Kaddish ” and the literary editor of The New Republic:

“He has been a very bad goy,’’ Leon said.

“It is really rich to behold Gibson asking Jews to behave like
Christians. Has he forgotten how bellicose and wrathful and unforgiving we are? Why would a people who start all the wars make a peace? Perhaps he’s feeling a little like Jesus, hoping that the Jews don’t do their worst and preparing himself for more evidence of their disappointing behavior.”

“Perhaps he thinks that all he needs to do is spend a few months in AA — Anti-Semites Anonymous.”

So, who do I think is the real Mel Gibson? I’m betting on an old Latin saying: In vino veritas, in wine, or in this case tequila, there is truth.<<<

In a recent Sports Illustrated online article there was a photo essay about Baseball’s nastiest pitches. Here is one of the 11.

Spitball - Gaylord Perry

“The effect of this pitch is more psychological than anything. Perry would mix it in with a vast assortment of pitches to keep hitters off-balance. He gets the nod over "shineball" artists such as Ed Walsh and Eddie Cicotte because, unlike them, Perry had to be sneaky about throwing it. (The pitch was banned in 1920.)”

Tell me again why Perry is Hall of Fame and Barry, Hall of Shame?<<<

While driving, I am listening to taped broadcasts of the old radio series, “Suspense.” Today an episode, broadcast during WW II, was a great example of, “my, how times have changed.” The sponsor was the internationally acclaimed Roma wine from that world famous California wine country around Fresno. Roma was not only cheap (because there were no import duties on it) but loved around the world, as illustrated by the Cuban gentleman praising its virtues to his American guest.<<<

While I don’t buy most of the libertarian line, I love this one. At the Marginal Revolution blog, George Mason University economist Alex Tabarrok weighs in with the libertarian perspective on our government’s inefficiency in war. I think he is much too general but his comment certainly applies to this administration in Iraq:

“The Pentagon is the Post Office with nuclear weapons.”

On second thought, how dare he insult the Post Office.<<<

Washington D. C. - The question of the week in our nation’s capital seems to be whether the Iraqi War was and is an ideological failure or a management failure.

I’m no Rhodes scholar, but I know the answer to that one: BOTH!<<<