Nobody 674

Sunday, November 26, 2006
Nobody # 674

Nobody Asked Me But:

Today is both my son’s birthday and he and Benjamin’s second full day in their new home in Reno. Happy Birthday son, and may your new life be filled with health, happiness and love.

I love you,

Dad<<<

Question from “Food For Talk:” What are the three things that make you happiest?

1. Sharing life with my wife – from our vacations to sitting in our yard, to just being together.

2. Spending time with my family – my times in their presence are truly magic moments.

3. Spending time with my friends.

4. Watching Bruin basketball.

5. Reading at Starbucks with my cup of black and my Coldstone.

6. Creating something.

Follow-up question: What skill do you most need to improve?

Counting.<<<

News item from Tucson: “Some restrooms at UA will be 'gender neutral.'”

I wonder if my alma mater will now add a gender category to their admissions?

Gender – Choose one:
Male
Female
Neutral

Or: First guy - “Let’s duck into the men’s restroom man, I need to wash this ink off my hands.

Second guy - I can’t go it there, man. I’m a neutral.”<<<

Bruin quote of the week - after UCLA looked terrific in winning the Maui Classic, Darren Collison (left) would take no credit for his MVP trophy:

"Any one of us could have it," Collison said. "I'm more proud of the victory we had. This is a big victory for us."

I think the question of whether or not we have a replacement for Jordan Farmar has been answered – emphatically!<<<

More on UCLA’s 88-73 victory over 19th ranked Georgia Tech in Maui – this from the LA Daily News:

“It was an affair UCLA (4-0) controlled after the initial five minutes, and was never threatened during the last 30 minutes in an incredibly complete game.”<<<

Call me fool if you will, but I would have paid a thousand dollars for a very close in seat for Barbara Streisand’s recent concert at Staples Center. I get chills just thinking about it – the event, not the thousand.<<<

From Wikipedia: “Philosopher-kings are the hypothetical rulers of Plato's utopian Kallipolis. If his ideal city-state is to ever come into being, philosophers [must] become kings…or those now called kings [must]…genuinely and adequately philosophize." (The Republic, 473c).

Two notes:

1. Plato defined a philosopher firstly as a wisdom-lover.

2. Plato's ideas as put forth in Book II of The Republic with reference to women mean that he does not preclude philosopher-queens.

I have been thinking for the past couple of weeks about who in the history of American politics comes closest to qualifying as a Philosopher- King. My choice must have ruled with wisdom, power and compassion. I believe that Plato would have agreed that the latter is an integral part of wisdom. For purposes of this discussion, I have limited my candidates to strong presidents and one outsider. There are legislators and Supreme Court Justices who might have qualified in an expanded search.

First, here are those considered but rejected.

George Washington – He comes very close. He had the power part right, Strong but benevolent, and had an innate wisdom as well. But he was not A wisdom-lover and was too class-conscious to serve all the people Equally well.

Thomas Jefferson also comes close. He was certainly the philosopher and a powerful king as well but also one who too often used his power for petty purpose.

Andrew Jackson was too much power, too little wisdom.

Woodrow Wilson was strong and thoughtfully wise but impractical. Wisdom requires both thought and common sense.

Teddy Roosevelt was much the king but a philosopher has to use reason to temper impulse. TR was all about impulse.

Harry Truman is surprisingly high on the list. He had street-corner wisdom and a willingness to use his power to make the world a better place. But a Philosopher King cannot allow old loyalties to tie him into cronyism.

LBJ – It is hard to imagine a PK who drowns in his own crudeness.

Ronald Reagan was strong but simplistic; wisdom goes much deeper than a mantra.

Now for winners:

FDR. Is my first runner-up. He had them all – wisdom, power, compassion, and he used them well. But at times he was a little too careful, a shade too political. Stanford historian, Thomas Bailey, summed it up well when, referring to a Roosevelt biography subtitled “The Lion And The Fox,” wrote that for all his gifts FDR should have been “more the lion, and less the fox.”

Honorable mention: Eleanor Roosevelt who is only lacking the presidency on her Philosopher King resume. She was everything her husband was and more. There was no “fox” in her. She would have been a great president and our second PK.

And the winner is - Abraham Lincoln, whose great intelligence, including common sense, willingness to use his power in any way necessary to complete his mission and exceptional compassion in so doing make him an easy choice as our Philosopher King.<<<

What should the Democrats do first when they take over the House and Senate in January? The Los Angeles Times editorial page wants tax reform - a simpler, flatter tax code. The Washington Post has a different priority - reforming the “deeply flawed Bush administration legislation on the detention, interrogation and trial of ‘enemy combatants’ in the war on terrorism.”

If choosing between the two, I stand with the Post. Tax reform is important, but re-applying American values to our treatment of suspects, even terror suspects, is more important.

But neither of these should, in my opinion, be number one. I save that spot for replacing the Bush policy vacuum in Iraq with a plan that will extricate us from what has become an untenable mess.<<<

On that subject, the post-Rumsfield Pentagon has come up with three recommendations:

Go big – pour in more troops. (From where and to what purpose??)

Go long – Bush’s “stay the course” under a new name.

Go home – which they reject on the grounds that it is “likely to push Iraq directly into a full-blown and bloody civil war.” (As opposed to the “half-blown” bloody one now taking place?)
*Actually 13,000 civilians deaths in the last four months is in reality something more than half-blown.

I say establish a time-table for giving Iraq back to the Iraqis and come home – with honor.<<<

Which brings me to my Iraq quote of the week, from Frank Rich of the NY Times:

“At this late date, only triage is an option, not victory.”<<<

This, from Time Magazine is too good to pass up, so I will name it runner-up quote of the week:

“If Jane Austen were writing a novel about Bush's public aspect, the title would be Pride and Petulance.”<<<

Will John Murtha please shut up? He lost his fight to be second in command in the House because of past practices that were ethically, questionable. And now he refers to proposed ethics reforms as “total crap.”<<<

Come on Democrats. Don’t screw things up even before you take power. First it was the Pelosi/Murtha mess and now it is Pelosi vs. Jane Harmon. Harmon’s ability, seniority and centrist approach make her a perfect choice to head the House Intelligence Committee. But some petty gripes on Pelosi’s part combined with pressure from the Black and Hispanic caucuses to get one of theirs into the position make this look like same old politics with only the power having changed. This is NOT what the voters wanted, nor will it make them believe that their vote really made much of a difference.<<<

And on the subject of difference:

1. "Defense is just hard work. We have to be committed," Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson said. "They have to be more aggressive. What we always tell the guys is defense is a full-time job.”

2. Ben Howland at UCLA doesn’t “tell” defense, he demands it.<<<

Nobody 673

Sunday, November 19, 2006
Nobody # 673

Nobody Asked Me But:

Headline: Got God? No way! - Evangelical atheists increase visibility.

Can anyone tell me why the words evangelical and atheists should ever be linked? Why would any atheist attempt to convince a person of religion to give up his or her faith? I would defend my atheism against attack. I might even defend it as a conversation piece. But I have absolutely no desire to convert - to move someone away from their “way,” - anymore more than I want to be converted.

I believe that those who need to proselyte are insecure in their belief or non-belief.<<<

No more O.J. – please! Just when we start to think that O.J. Simpson has reached the bottom of humanity and good taste, he proved us wrong again.<<<

And then there is O.J. Mayo, considered the first or second best high school basketball player in the country. (along with UCLA recruit, Kevin Love)

Last week he signed a letter of intent to go to USC. Not to worry if you are a Bruin fan because this Ohio kid may not be allowed on the plane. The reason? As you can see in the quote below, his ego alone exceeds baggage restrictions.

"It's the perfect situation," Mayo said. "After (football) players like Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, the school is ready for a player of my caliber."<<<

Bush’s Three-step policy for North Korea:

Step 1 – “You better not develop any nuclear weapons!”
Step 2 – “You better not export any nuclear weapons!”
Step 3 – “Oops, there goes another nuclear, oops there goes another nuclear, oops there goes another nuclear blast.”<<<

20% or a great newspaper? You can’t have both. If The Tribune Co. insists on cutting the staff of the Los Angeles Times in order to maintain a minimum 20% profit margin then the Times will lose its status as one of America’s best newspapers.

Of course, one can always turn to television where news isn’t news anymore anyway. It is more about “the fight against erectile dysfunction - pictures at 11.”<<<

Domestic violence.

I don’t want to do it. The people on the liberal left are like kin to me. But if they don’t stop pressuring our party to move to the fringe, both too far and too fast, I may have to put a big hurt on them. They cannot be permitted to make the Republican mistake of allowing the party agenda to be seized by the extremist wing.

Here is my primer for the new Democratic legislative majority. Modify their liberal agenda so that it is palatable to the American political center. Americans have always been most comfortable there and unwilling to stray very far in either direction except in emergencies. For example 9/11 scared them to the right on civil liberties. To bring them back Democrats have to first convince them that freedom and freedom from terror can be one and the same. And they must convince before they legislate.

*Note – this is not to forfeit leadership in areas that are the cornerstones of American liberalism. It is simply imperative to move from the center towards the left, rather than start from the left and try to drag the center along.

It is not going to be easy. Like the right fringe groups when they were on top, the left fringe is likely to be so goal-greedy and so puffed up by their role in winning that they demand change at a warp speed almost certain to frighten the center.

Here is my recipe for success:

Define success not by counting legislative changes this term but by in acting in such a way as to build bigger Congressional majorities and retake the presidency in 2008.

Iraq: Wait for the final report of the Iraq Commission and then follow the best of its recommendations as long as it involves some kind of a tangible timeline for withdrawal from the wretched mess.

Health care: Pass a law requiring that the U. S. government, through Medicare, negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for the purchase of large quantities of medicines at mass purchase prices. Such a law creates a win/win/win situation:

Win number 1 – It is the right thing to do.
Win number 2 – if the President signs it, which is doubtful, the Democrats accumulate credits for 2008.
Win number 3 – If he vetoes, the Democrats still get the credit in 2008.

*Tip – be prepared for and ready to counter vicious attacks by the drug companies claiming that this is the first step towards socialized medicine.

Homeland security: Spend the money where it is needed, which is not on pork amendments directing a disproportionate amount of the funds towards protecting silos in Iowa. Speed up the protection of ports, transportation facilities and nuclear power plants.

Repeal the Patriot Act and replace it with a law that supports the gathering of necessary information within the framework of the Bill of Rights – warrants, fair trials, habeas corpus, etc.

Ban torture.

Restore transparency. Listen to the people. Lead, but don’t get to far ahead.<<<

Most of you did not do your homework on the five comedy DVDs you would want if shipwrecked on a deserted island (with a DVD player).

But here is Hugh’s list, then Elizabeth's response to the question and finally, my choices.

These are not in order, but my picks are:
Caddyshack (My mistake I finally found it)
Animal House
The Jerk
Monty Python and the Holy Grail Young
Frankenstein

And if I could sneak another one on to the island (which has to have electricity, a DVD player and a HD 65 inch screen) it would be Duck Soup. Could I bring Christie Brinkley with me now that she is divorced?<<<

Hi dad,

Hmmm, I'll have to think about this one - the best comedies, or at least the one's I would take. They have to be ones you can watch over and over, since you're stranded alone. Also, some comedies are funnier when you see them with other people. I would definitely take one Woody Allen, one Mel Brooks, and one Monty Python. A musical comedy would also have to be in there.<<<

My daughter makes a very good point about some comedies being better if watched with someone else – I hadn’t thought about that.

Here are my criteria and choices: It must be funny. Anything with Adam Sandler is ineligible (see rule number 1).

In no particular order:

Young Frankenstein
Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Dr. Strangelove
M*A*S*H*
Anne Hall

Barely missed
It Happened One Night
Manhattan Hannah And Her Sisters

Close
Animal House Caddyshack
The Sure Thing
Shampoo
Fargo
Early Woody<<<

Did you know: that someone moves to Pima County (Tucson+) every nine minutes, while someone else moves out every 15 minutes. In June, July and August it’s the same person.

And even more amazing to this relocated desert rat: By 2040 (when I’ll be pushing 80 – from the wrong direction) Arizona is expected to be the fifth-most populous state.<<<

Bruins 82, BYU 69! (below)
Our quote of the week is from Maureen Dowd:

“This will be known as the year macho politics failed — mainly because it was macho politics by marshmallow men.”<<<

Flash: Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have found that chocolate thins blood and protects the heart in the same way aspirin does.

Question: If I wash down my nightly aspirin with a chocolate malt, will I get double protection?<<<

Nobody 672

Sunday, November 12, 2006
Nobody # 672

Nobody Asked Me But:

Wonderful news:

Congratulations to Sheena and Gary. On Friday they had their first baby, (Sheena, as you may have guessed, did the actual having) a girl child whom they have tentatively named Abigail - yes, they do have a tough time making decisions. Special parents, lucky child!<<<

On the opposite side of life’s story, this past week marked the 11th anniversary of my mother’s death. I think this quote says it all:

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." - Henry Ward Beecher.<<<

Step one: Terrell Owens, the bad boy wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, said last week that he has a condition that induces him to sleep through meetings.

Step two: Child psychologists will give the condition a name – something like Can’t Help Falling Asleep In Class.

Step three: The name will be reduced to appropriate initials – CHFAIC.

Step four: Children in school who doze off in class will labeled as CHFAIC and schools will be required to provide them with electric stimulators to buzz them awake every 30 seconds or so.<<<

When we got home from Pasadena Friday night my new ESPN Magazine was waiting. It is their college bb issue and they pick Arizona (6) ahead of the Bruins (9). I immediately threw it away. Who wants to fill their mind with trash?<<<

On Election Day the NY Times asked its readers to submit reasons for why they voted the way they did.

Here is my answer:

1. Iraq - a wrong war conducted incompetently.
2. The arrogance of the executive branch - in both foreign and domestic matters, and its accompanying "right to secrecy."
3. The erosion of individual liberty in the name of safety.
4. Conducting the people's business as if "the people" were the wealthy, business class.

I forgot the fifth, and probably most important, reason. With the Democrats controlling Congress during the last of the Bush reign, he will not be able to appoint any more Samuel Alitos to the Supreme Court.<<<

The morning after:

Press Secretary Tony Snow said that the election outcome was “not what we would’ve hoped,” and, in a rebuke to congressional Republicans, added that the burden was now on the Democrats “to work with the President in ways that those losers never did.” "

This has been the most disappointing race in my political lifetime," said conservative activist Paul M. Weyrich, as he eyed twin Seppuku knives sent to him by an admirer.<<<

Republican Senator Jon Kyl, (AZ) after winning his hard-fought battle for reelection said, "Republicans have made some mistakes." He went on to name list three of them – “Bush, Cheney and Rummy.”<<<

President Bush had this to say: “Loser, how can I be a loser? I thought Karl said I wasn’t even running.”<<<

Here are two more losers among the “moral” majority: Rep. Don Sherwood (R-Pa.), lost largely because of allegations that the lawmaker had tried to choke his mistress.

Rep. John E. Sweeney (R-N.Y.) was hurt by reports that his wife had called the police to complain he had been beating her.<<<

George Allen, who lost his Senate seat to Jim Webb had this to say: “All our trouble in this state and this country began when we let those nig, ah, I mean colored, ah, I mean black, ah, I mean African Americans vote.”<<<

Reactions from around the world: “It’s time for a Clinton government again, where U.S.A. was liked and respected throughout the world. Come on Hillary, get your hat in the ring.” (A teacher in the F Building at Hale Middle School just lost his lunch.) “

Europeans have tended to look at the U.S. as being synonymous with Bush.” (A resident of Granada Hills just lost his lunch.)<<<

Former Major League pitcher Johnny Sain (left) died last week. Sain's best year was 1948, when he and Hall of Famer Warren Spahn led the Boston Braves to the World Series. It was during that season when the famous saying was born: "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain." If you are old enough to remember that then buddy you’re just as old as I.<<<

The grim reaper was busy last week. Too bad the movie experts for the Associated Press weren’t. They couldn’t even get an obituary right. The AP had this to say as part of their report on the death of that good, great movie villain, Walter Jack Palance:

“In 1953, the Academy nominated him again for his role as Jack Wilson, the swaggering gunslinger who bullies peace-loving Alan Ladd into a barroom duel in the Western classic Shane."

Jack Wilson (Palance) didn’t instigate the classic barroom gunfight. Shane did the provoking in order to rid the homesteaders of this out-of-their-league menace and give them a chance to keep their land and live in peace.<<<

A 700 page report from a UK commission warns that at our present rate of recklessness, by the mid-century, heavier floods and more intense droughts could displace 200 million people. The report said unabated climate change would eventually cost the equivalent of between 5 percent and 20 percent of global gross domestic product each year.

Official reactions varied:

From 10 Downing Street – Tony Blair called for "bold and decisive action" to cut carbon emissions and stem the worst of the temperature rise.

From 1600 Pennsylvania – George Bush said, “What do I care, I’ll be dead by then anyway.<<<

Our tortured Vice President:

When asked last week by a right-wing radio host whether the debate over waterboarding was “silly,” VP Cheney answered, “I do agree.” “It’s not like we are breaking any new ground here,” the VP went on. “It has been used by the Gestapo, the North Koreans, and the Khmer Rouge.”<<<

Staying with the Gestapo for a moment, here’s a news item of interest: CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Part of a speech by World War II Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels was played over the public address system before a high school soccer game, prompting an apology by the home team's principal, who claimed that there was a mix-up somewhere.

“We thought the sound clip was from Hitler speaking at the Nuremberg rally.”<<<

Remember that song from Oklahoma that went, “Oh, the Demos and the Repubs can be friends”? It’s true even in politics. Hugh (who had an uncle and a cousin who were judges in Texas) and I adamantly agree that to keep the judicial branch independent, judges should neither be elected nor subject to referendum. That’s why I voted a straight yes for all incumbent judges listed on my ballot.<<<

And speaking of straight, yes, I voted a straight party line. And I suspect most Republicans (Hugh excepted) vote a crooked one.<<<

News release: The White House denied that Saddam’s conviction and sentencing two days before the election was mere coincidence as was the fact that gas prices dropped in the weeks immediately preceding November 7th.

Reaction: He’s my born-again President, so if he says that it must be the gospel truth.<<<

When he was a boy, Vince Carbino, a principal in South L.A, was taught a wonderful motto by his mother. It applies not only to his chosen field but to politics as well: "Excellence fears no observation."

When asked about this the President and the Vice President had identical and almost simultaneous responses, “Yah, but that only applies to excellence.”<<<

Did you know: That Iran is that it is only 51% Persian?<<<

My quote of the week belongs to Senator Barack Obama: When asked about his short résumé, Obama said that judgment is more important than experience. However, he acknowledged, “President Bush has given learning-on-the-job a bad name.”<<<

Just wondering: Could this election be an indication that the national Republicans, by playing to their far right wing, are marginalizing themselves in the same way as has the party in California?<<<

If you check out the link below it will lead you to today’s sports column by Mike Lupica (left) in the NY Daily News. The piece itself is worth reading, plus we met the columnist Friday in Pasadena at a signing of his new teen novel. The man is funny, nice, interesting and excellent, both in his regular profession - he has written his column in the News for over 20 years – and his new love, writing teen fiction.<<<

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/v-echo/story/470407p-395922c.html

Don’t forget your red wine today. It keeps you lean and long-lived.<<<

Nobody 671

Sunday, November 5, 2006
Nobody # 671

Nobody Asked Me But:

Rowdy Yates turned out all right and so did Dirty Harry. Clint Eastwood has become one of Hollywood’s Masters. Not only has he directed 5 great films, but four of them are among the best of all time in separate genres: “Unforgiven,” (1992) in the western, “Mystic River,” (2003) in the crime-drama, “Million Dollar Baby” (2005) in sports and now, “Flags Of Our Fathers,” (2006) it its portrayal of war. The fifth, “The Outlaw Josey Wales,” (1976) which opened his door to greatness, is another top-ten western.

I saw “Flags” (below) last Sunday. Although the plot centers on the three survivors of the second flag-raising on Iwo Jima, the real story is the war itself - detached and intimate, heroic and common, but always and unforgettably terrible. The three men, given the unwanted label of hero, ask “How can I be a hero when there are so many dead left behind and both my act and my survival were accidents?” Indeed, for the fighting men (and now women) in the hell that is war, life and death are rolls of the dice. I’m no fool. I know that, as in WWII, there are times when Americans must fight and die.

But part of the human tragedy is that too often we place our fate in the hands of brutes and idiots.<<<

Poor Ryan. I promised my newly teen-aged grandson that if he gave me 10% of his Halloween collection, I would give him driving lessons the next time I see him. But he wrote back that:

Hey grandpa,

Sorry, but I got no candy! There was a rip in my bag that I didn’t know about, and every piece fell out. I was really sad. And mom says I’m much too young to drive. But yeah, my costume (the black knight from Monty Pyton's Holy Grail) got a lot of praise. It was really cool.

love, Ryan<<<

Bruin Basketball The Bruins opened up their pre-season last Thursday with a 30-point win over a decent Cal Poly, Pomona, and I was slightly disappointed. If I am not careful, I may make this season tough on myself. I have set my expectations so high that I must be guard about being unduly disappointed every time we fail to look like the nation’s best. I suppose that is understandable in that we are one of the nation’s best.<<<

Here is the answer to last week’s question of the week: Which of the following categories of speech is never protected by the First Amendment? a. Indecent speech on the Internet b. Four-letter words c. Obscenity d. Nudity The answer is c. Obscenity is not a protected right, but it is narrowly defined so that free speech is not at the mercy of a censor’s whim. Follow-up question: Have we liberalized or “libertarianized” to the point that it is too narrowly defined?<<<

Headline: Starbucks wants to save you a trip across the street. Reaction: As much as I would love a closer Starbucks, I draw the line at their attempt to buy out Alice and Katz next door. However, if they want to take-over and make-over the house to our east, I wouldn’t mind.<<<

On Tuesday’s election: The place is Tennessee. The race is to fill the Senate seat vacated by Bill Frist. The candidates are Harold Ford Jr. a Democrat who happens to be black and Bob Corker, the white former mayor of Chattanooga. Why do I emphasize their race? Does it matter? Apparently it does to the Republican National Committee who, in a desperate attempt to appeal to the racism they hope still lies hidden somewhere in hearts of white Tennesseans, recently ran an add featuring a scantily clad white woman winking and saying "Harold, call me."

The message is as old as slavery itself. Free those blacks, give them power and before you know it they will be bedding our women. That’s not just dirty politics, that’s evil. And seemingly evil has found its level in Tennessee. As of the very latest polls, Corker has opened up a substantial lead, and among the third who admitted they were influenced by the above ad, they broke for Corker over Ford by a 2-1 margin.

Can you read this without feeling despair? I can’t!<<<

But my fingers are crossed that Wednesday morning will bring glad tidings that the Democratic Party has regained control of Congress. (Although a majority in the Senate is seeming less and less likely.) If this is the case, how should they proceed?

First, they should replace the Bush concept of the supremacy of the executive with the Constitutional principle of the separation and balance of power. As to the program they should pursue, I have laid out some general ideas in this E-letter in response to a column written by former Newt Gingrich lieutenant and House Whip, Dick Armey:

Dear Mr. Armey,

I am a liberal Democrat but found your piece in today's Washington Post both perceptive and interesting. I hope the new Democratic majorities are smart enough to (1) govern from center-left rather than far left and (2) govern as a party with ideas rather than simply reactions. Impeach the President? No, although there is certainly more cause than for the farce that was the impeachment of Bill Clinton. But it would be divisive to a country already too divided and would continue the dangerous trend of making impeachment less than the serious thing intended by the Constitution.

We do part company, however, on the role of government. While I oppose large for large sake, I also oppose small so that a small minority of the private sector can get richer. Too many Republicans have forgotten the tag line on that famous saying by the greatest of all Republicans, (no, not Newt) A. Lincoln, who, after saying that government "should do for people what they cannot do for themselves," added, "or do as well."

So here's to a Democratic "Contract With America" that is wise in foreign policy and caring in domestic, that defends our country without pandering to interest groups nor doing harm to the Bill Of Rights, that balances the budget while at the same time providing truly equal opportunity for all.<<<

On Iraq: Peter Bergen, a senior fellow of the New America Foundation, and the author of “The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of Al Qaeda’s Leader”makes an interesting point. Osama wants a legitimate Jihadist Islamic state as a starting place for his radical Islamic empire, and we must prevent a part of Iraq from becoming one.

For this reason he is adamantly opposed to a complete withdrawal, which would be seen as a sign of weakness. Instead we should make the American presence less visible by withdrawing American troops to bases in central and western Iraq and rely on contingents of Special Forces to hunt militants.

Reaction: I still say that to soften our presence the bases should be outside Iraq but, other than that, Bergan’s thesis makes a lot of sense.<<<

From Slate: “Rush Limbaugh Fakes Stupidity. You may think he's dumb as a chair, but it's all an act.” Sorry but I don’t buy it. No one is that good an actor!<<<

True or false:

Florida Republican Congressman Clay Shaw has been running radio ads to boast of his record working closely with a President, but the one he's talking about is Bill Clinton. (True)

Spider silk is 5 times stronger than steel? (True)<<<

At the Stones performance at Bill Clinton's 60th birthday show in New York City this past week Sir Mick Jagger told the crowd when he stepped onstage, "I'd like to welcome President Clinton. And I see she's brought her husband."

Reaction: That which is said in jest often becomes reality – and in this case not one to be feared.<<<
And while on the subject of the Clintons, a remark by Bill is my pick for quote of the week. While speaking in Tucson, he said:

"We are not about cut and run, but we do believe in stop and think."<<<

Did I tell you about our lost clothes? Because our suitcases were not large enough to bring home both what we brought and bought, we mailed a box of dirty clothes home from Cirencester. (right) You can send such items home without worrying about customs – but not without worry about their eventual arrival. We sent them by the slowest route, which still cost close to $100, and were told that it would take “about” one week. After 20 days we started to worry a little, after 25, a lot, and after 30 we gave them up for lost. But on the 40th day the postman brought them – the box a little beat up but our clothes intact.<<<

And just in case you might think otherwise, it was a simple coincidence that most of the new (and sharp) size xx tee-shirts in England that actually fit me were from a store called Fat Face.<<<

When I think back over our trip or see UK pictures gliding across as my screen saver, I am filled with memories that warm me from head to little toe. Such it is with all our trips. But the joy of being gone doesn’t take away from the joy of the return. Thus I borrowed the following lines from the great Quaker poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, and revised them a bit.

In “Maud Muller” he wrote the famous:

Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, “It might have been.”

My poor but appropriate revision:

Of all glad words of tongue or pen
The gladdest are these, “Home again.”<<<