“we all remember Bobby Kennedy in California in 1968”

“we all remember Bobby Kennedy in California in 1968” …

a month or two before Hillary Clinton uttered those words last year, i had begun asserting that 2008’s political year would prove disturbingly similar to that of 1968.

i was wrong.  but as June 2009 begins in just a few more hours, i cannot help but get a feeling of deja vu from last year.  perhaps it is 2009 that will prove disturbingly similar to 1968 ?  (yeah, yeah, i know, if i keep predicting the same thing over and over again, sooner or later i am bound to be correct… see China, Gold, Newspapers, Cars, etc.)

but still, the political/social/economic climate does seem to be heating up, perhaps producing another ‘long hot summer’ ?  will reciprocity reappear?  escalation?

time will tell

the lesson of Patton and Montgomery

the lesson of Patton and Montgomery, or audacity versus deliberation.

truth is, they both work.  it is in the exceptions to the rule that all too often lead to catastrophic failure.  Montgomery’s audacity in ‘Market Garden’, Patton’s deliberation at Metz.

ironically, the same argument works in reverse for polar opposites in coaching styles.  Dean Smith, the quiet professor.  Bobby Knight, the loud drill instructor.  when a professor yells, it warrants increased attention as does a whisper from a drill instructor.  they both work, and well, but different people respond better to one not the other.

abject fear … but of what ?

and he was right, but on the other hand...

he’s not in this stove : )

row, row, row YOUR boat

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream.

nuther nuke, historic ussc nominee, gm stares into the abyss… but the story of the day is…

nuther nuke, historic ussc nominee, gm stares into the abyss… but the story of the day is…

in Pakistan.  former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been declared eligible to stand for/hold public office again.

why is that so important ?

because, i suspect, the U.S. intends to deploy many thousands of it’s troops into Pakistan in the next year or two, and for that to happen, they will have to be “invited”.  either Sharif will become President or his political activity will be used to pressure the current President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari into such action.

add the context/future of the ‘surge’ in Afghanistan, if it “succeeds”, it will drive Taliban forces back into Pakistan, then… you can see where this is going.   U.S. troops will again learn the definition of “mission creep” as they go in to destroy the remnants (?) of the Taliban/Al Quaeda (or worse, to keep the ‘democratic’ Pakistani government from collapse) and wind up hunting for Pak’s nukes and/or preventing a nuclear attack from India

time will tell.  check back ’round January 2011.

Memorial Day is a day to remember lies also… or a ‘blast from the past’ (pardon the pun)

Memorial Day is a day to remember lies also… or a ‘blast from the past’ (pardon the pun)

“I will not wait on events, while dangers gather. I will not stand by, as peril draws closer and closer. The United States of America will not permit the world’s most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world’s most destructive weapons.”

… George W. Bush,  State of the Union Speech, January 2002

(note the curious use of the term “I” instead of “We” ?)

i cannot help but wonder how many more billions of dollars worth of ABM/Patriot missiles Japan and South Korea will be putting in orders for now? and with elections in Iran scheduled in less than 3 weeks – shs

isn’t it curious, with longer lifespans the more in a hurry humans become ?

isn’t it curious, with longer and longer lifespans the more in a hurry humans become ?

“it was just outside of Waco…”

“it was just outside of Waco when the reality began to kick in.

in ‘realtime’ on my colour TV, live on CNN.

that the fuckers who had such power, over their fellow man

will do such a thing, for their own selfish needs, “because they can”.

for some, money and status and position, well they only go so far

it’s the power of life and death o’er others that tells us who we are

‘stroke of the pen, law of the land’ ’tis said to be ‘kinda cool’

to accept that you must ask yourself “who are you trying to fool” ?

while those who do whate’er they will do regardless of public ire

laugh at another day’s holocaust, ’cause their homes are’nt the ones on fire

the divining questions

a divining question… to determine quickly a more detailed understanding of someone’s knowledge of history and their value system/weltanschauung, ask them (or yourself) two questions:

1.  “what do you consider are the greatest injustices in the history of mankind?”
2.  “what is the greatest injustice you have experienced personally?”

the bookend/opposite questions to follow on develop an even clearer view of a person’s values and boundaries:

3: “what do you consider the greatest achievement in the history of mankind?”
4. “what historic human achievement have you experienced personally?”

the divining rod and it's shadow