Saturday, 31 August...Assad Motivations...Justin Mourneau...

Assad - Time to Go.

So today, on my visit to Dad in Rogers, Mn I listen to "Car Talk" on the way there, but on the way home it is the President's speech asking our members of Congress to vote on action.

President Obama decided to ask for Congressional approval.  I think this is a brilliant move.  Now our Congressional leaders need to publicly state where they are when Assad is using chemical weapons.  It is time to stand and account.

Another question is why did Assad use chemical weapons this week?  He has to know that if he keeps doing stupid things that they are going to receive greater attention from the world.  What is he thinking?      It is hard to believe that given the dire situation he is in that Assad would try to provoke the US into an attack?  How could he possibility expect to gain from that plan?  I don't see it.

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So today we traded Justin Morneau to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Alex Presley.  Presley was stuck behind Andrew McCutchin in Pittsburgh and so he gets a chance here.  Morneau is a free-agent so the Pirates get him for two months and then I am hoping that he might come back to Minnesota.

Morneau has been a stand-up guy here in Minnesota.  If he doesn't come back, this is the end of an era.  MVP in 2006 - and now this may be the end.  

Justin, thank you so much for all the memories.

Assad Must Go!

Gas attack victims from Syria - August 28, 2013

So I arrive home from sixth-grade camp and it seems that we, the United States, are about to attack Syria.

This is one of those stories where every argument I hear, I agree with.  First, I hear that we shouldn't get involved in another act of war. When you think about the citizens that are always the unintended consequences of military actions, it seems best to hold back.  Why provoke more poisoning?

Then on the NBC Evening News Lester Holt and company so an extended clip of a school that had been hit with a gas attach.  Children shaking they are so badly burning.....

Where do we draw the line?  When does a government harm its citizens so much, that someone in the world steps in and says, "Stop."

I guess I live in a fairy-tale world where I hope we can take out the people in charge of something horrible like this.  I guess the more predictable result is that we will try to ruin the equipment that help caused this tragedy to happen.  I guess that will have to give me satisfaction.

Assad has crossed the line a long time ago.  I don't see how a man could know of these things and okay them....

Two Ghosts

Sixth-Grade Camp

Camera on a garbage can as three kids run by in the  twilight.  Fortunately the two stood perfectly still and that is what makes the picture.  I didn't even know I had this shot, and now I think is is my favorite.

True...

And, well deserved.

This Made Me Laugh...

Keeping Our Eye on the ball.

I happened to see this post today during afternoon snack.

"Let's Stop and Frisk some test scores" - That made me laugh.  These are complex issues, but I appreciate the desire to improve schools and make our schools more productive.  As to the details of "Stop and Frisk", I hear that crime is down in NYC, which is good.  I also understand that 81% of the people stopped were African American or Hispanic, and that would not be good.  I don't buy the argument that 81% of the crime in NYC is from African American and Hispanic people....Sounds to me like "Stop and Frisk" needs to be tightened up a bit.

Robie Home Tribute...First attempt

Last weekend I had the privilege of visiting Chicago and seeing Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House in Hyde Park.  While my "art window" doesn't look like any of the windows in that home, it does have many elements and memories of my trip to Chicago.  What a fun way to design...

Summer Reading....The Good, the Unusual, and more to go...

Under the Dome by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story got off to a quick start with lots of people dying at the start.  Once the ground was established the story telling got better, i.e., I started to learn more about each character and see where the battle lines were going to be drawn.

I enjoyed reading about this town under the dome, but I would give Mr. King's more recent book, "Playland", higher marks.  I liked the overall idea, or exploring how a community might react when cut off from the outside world, but I think it got a little over the top here.

Still a good diversion....


SYLO by D.J. MacHale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I like the main characters in this story, for the most part.  Tucker is a believable high school guy who is trying to fit in and find his place in this island community off the coast of Maine.  Tori develops as the leading female protagonist as these young people seek to make sense out of what has happened to their island late in August with the military moves in.

This story is a first in a series, which is never my favorite.  I like each book to stand alone as a story.

While I liked the characters, the premise of the book seems a bit out there were the buses don't run.  I am not sure yet whether I will pursue the the next time in the series.

I am surprise a bit.  This book was very highly rated by several sites - Kirkus Reviews among others.  I know it turned up on two lists I follow.  I read it so that I would have some idea of how my preferences as a reader compared with their lists.  The jury is still out....

View all my reviews