From McKlatchy, a list of violent incidents in Iraq on Monday February 11, 2008:
Baghdad
- Around 8:30 a.m. a roadside bomb targeted a civilian car in Al Mashtal area, killing one civilian and injuring two others.
- Around 9 a.m. a roadside bomb exploded near Al Mansour fuel station injuring two people.
- Around 11:55 a car bomb exploded near tribal sheikh Ali Hatem's office in Arasat area. About noon another car bomb targeted police patrols heading to the first car bomb site in Al Hurriya intersection exploded, 11 people were killed and 30 others were injured and Hatem was injured also in the bombing.
- Around 6 p.m. a parked car bomb near a police station in Dora neighborhood, injured three civilians and two police officers.
- Police found three bodies throughout Baghdad, one in Fidhiliyah, 1 in Obeidi and one in Tobchi.
Diyala
- Gunmen kidnapped Dr. Ahmad Al Jubouri in Muqdadiyah.
- Gunmen attacked an Iraqi army patrol in Muqdadiyah, three gunmen were killed.
Nineveh
- Mortar shells slammed into Al Zinjeli area in Mosul, injuring two residents.
- Gunmen attacked an Iraqi army convoy in Al Nahrawan area in Mosul, three gunmen were killed in the attack and one soldier was injured.
- A roadside bomb targeted a U.S. military convoy in Al Wahda neighborhood, injuring a woman and a child were near the bomb site.
- Gunmen attacked and injured one man near Mosul.
Babil
- A bomb placed in a neighborhood representative (Mukhtar) office in Hilla exploded yesterday, injuring four people.
Basra
- Gunmen kidnapped a foreign journalist and his translator Sunday night. An Iraqi police captain identified the kidnapped to be a journalist who works for CBS news and said the gunmen using two civilian cars kidnapped the two men near Qasr Al Sultan hotel in Basra.
Thanks to Juan Cole at Informed Comment for the tip.
Yes, the numbers of incidents of violence are down in Iraq, but how long can our military hold up our end of the surge?
From CBS4 Denver:
By Erin Emery, Denver Post
FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) ― A Fort Carson soldier who says he was in treatment at Cedar Springs Hospital for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse was released early and ordered to deploy to the Middle East with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
The 28-year-old specialist spent 31 days in Kuwait and was returned to Fort Carson on Dec. 31 after health care professionals in Kuwait concurred that his symptoms met criteria for bipolar disorder and "some paranoia and possible homicidal tendencies," according to e-mails obtained by The Denver Post.
Oyster writes of the husband of an associate of his wife who is about to leave for his fifth deployment to Iraq.
Habakkuk 1:2-4
The Prophet’s Complaint
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not listen?
Or cry to you ‘Violence!’
and you will not save?
Why do you make me see wrongdoing
and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
So the law becomes slack
and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous—
therefore judgement comes forth perverted.
I know well that the war is not God's doing, but our doing, but, nevertheless, I cry out with Habakkuk.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Bogie's Reputed Mistress Dies In New Orleans
From the AP via Yahoo News:
NEW ORLEANS - Verita Bouvaire Thompson, the reputed longtime mistress and confidante of Humphrey Bogart, has died. She was 89.
Thompson died of natural causes at JoEllen Smith Living Center on Feb. 1, according to her boyfriend, Dean Shapiro, a 58-year-old New Orleans writer.
May Verita rest in peace and rise in glory.
She sounds like quite a gal, matching Bogie drink for drink, cussword for cussword, minding his toupées, and reputedly mistressing him.
All the way to her death, her friends said, Thompson adhered to a striking style and outlook reminiscent of the 1940s and Bogart's movies, dressing in Chanel suits, high heels, hat and gloves - with a whiskey smash in hand.
That's style all right. And with all that, she lived to be 89 AND had a 58 year old boyfriend.
From Mexico, to Arizona, to Hollywood, to Natchez, Mississippi, to New Orleans in the 1990s, she lived life to the fullest. Somehow it seems quite fitting that she spent her last years in New Orleans. She's a New Orleans type of woman.
NEW ORLEANS - Verita Bouvaire Thompson, the reputed longtime mistress and confidante of Humphrey Bogart, has died. She was 89.
Thompson died of natural causes at JoEllen Smith Living Center on Feb. 1, according to her boyfriend, Dean Shapiro, a 58-year-old New Orleans writer.
May Verita rest in peace and rise in glory.
She sounds like quite a gal, matching Bogie drink for drink, cussword for cussword, minding his toupées, and reputedly mistressing him.
All the way to her death, her friends said, Thompson adhered to a striking style and outlook reminiscent of the 1940s and Bogart's movies, dressing in Chanel suits, high heels, hat and gloves - with a whiskey smash in hand.
That's style all right. And with all that, she lived to be 89 AND had a 58 year old boyfriend.
From Mexico, to Arizona, to Hollywood, to Natchez, Mississippi, to New Orleans in the 1990s, she lived life to the fullest. Somehow it seems quite fitting that she spent her last years in New Orleans. She's a New Orleans type of woman.
The Violence Continues
Seven American troops were killed in Iraq last week, five in Kirkuk and two in Diyala. Numbers of Iraqis were killed by bombs and other means. The violence continues. John McCain says the surge is working, and that we can stay in Iraq for many years as the violence decreases. He says we can have victory in Iraq. Will some enterprising newsperson ask him how exactly he defines victory in Iraq. What will it look like? We, the citizens, need to know.
The violence will not continue to decrease. Our military is worn out. Their equipment is worn out. The Iraqis do not have a functional government. They will not have one soon. Despite what McCain says, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
And then there's this story from Jane at Acts of Hope. A young man who had already served in Iraq received a letter saying that he would be redeployed there. He killed himself. He will not be counted as a casualty of the war, but he is very much a casualty of the war. Read the story as Jane tells it. Read her beautiful prayers, prayers that should never have been necessary. He is not alone. Others take their own lives as a result of PTSD after serving in this misbegotten war or to avoid returning to the war. We must bring the troops home. We must end this war.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The violence will not continue to decrease. Our military is worn out. Their equipment is worn out. The Iraqis do not have a functional government. They will not have one soon. Despite what McCain says, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
And then there's this story from Jane at Acts of Hope. A young man who had already served in Iraq received a letter saying that he would be redeployed there. He killed himself. He will not be counted as a casualty of the war, but he is very much a casualty of the war. Read the story as Jane tells it. Read her beautiful prayers, prayers that should never have been necessary. He is not alone. Others take their own lives as a result of PTSD after serving in this misbegotten war or to avoid returning to the war. We must bring the troops home. We must end this war.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Lenten Season At The Diocese Of Wenchoster
Pardon my tardiness with the Lenten column from the Diocese of Wenchoster, but I was traveling this week. Here's the word for the season from Bishop Roderick Codpiecium:
"Rimimber thou art dust,
End to dust thou shelt retarn."
Such will be may wards et both services on Esh Wednesday, when I will gently make the sane of the Craws on the foreheads of the faithful. Once again we are awl remainded of our mortelity end our depindence on the Lawd for our very being. I know I am. Then after the later marss we will adjourn to the Nane Bills for the great Linten tradit-i-on of bitter cakes washed dine with a paint or two of Old Roger – again a symbol of our moral fragility.
Lint begins, end I hope thet both the clargy end the larty of this darsis will take seriously the admoni-t-ion of Our Lawd to indeed put Satan behained us end keep our eyes on the metters of Gawd’s kingdom. I do implore you awl not to take the Linten nerratives literally however. Claiming up onto the pinnacles of our perish charches and announcing to mimbers of the Mothers’ Union that they’d bitter bear you up lest you strake your foot against a stone is not pastorally or medically sensible. I speak from experience. No, let your Linten obsarvances be simple end free from the excesses of some of our more boisterous clargy. I know main will be. End never forgit – it will itch at tames, but thet is what it is supposed to do!
Bliss you awl!
+ Roderick Codpiecium
Very likely, as the season continues, I will do further posts from the diocesan website, but you may want to explore on your own. The illustrations are excellent - as are the captions. Here's the link.
For Episcopalians And Anglicans Only
If you are Episcopalian or Anglican (or even if you're not) and enjoy a laugh, I urged you to visit Clumber's posts on the Anglican Periodic Table (there are
Clumber is a genius of an old dog. Can't you tell by the picture?
Yes, We Can!
Ormonde Plater has left a new comment on your post "Louisiana Folks, Please Go vote":
Mimi, Kay and I voted for Obama. Our daughter and her husband voted for Hillary and are shocked at us. (I'm shocked at them.) Yesterday I was teaching new deacons to sing the Exsultet and got them to sing "Yes, we can!" to the opening melody.
Ormonde, my friend, thank you.
Yes, we can!
UPDATE: The first estimate on voter turnout in Louisiana was 15%, which is pitiful. The corrected number is 25%, which is still pitiful, but it's better than the smaller number. I believe that part of the reason for the low turnout in the primaries is because we are habituated to the parties having settled on the candidates before we even get to vote.
Mimi, Kay and I voted for Obama. Our daughter and her husband voted for Hillary and are shocked at us. (I'm shocked at them.) Yesterday I was teaching new deacons to sing the Exsultet and got them to sing "Yes, we can!" to the opening melody.
Ormonde, my friend, thank you.
Yes, we can!
UPDATE: The first estimate on voter turnout in Louisiana was 15%, which is pitiful. The corrected number is 25%, which is still pitiful, but it's better than the smaller number. I believe that part of the reason for the low turnout in the primaries is because we are habituated to the parties having settled on the candidates before we even get to vote.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Louisiana Folks, Please Go vote
Today is primary day in Louisiana. Usually, all is decided by the time of the Louisiana primaries, but today we have a chance to make a difference in the choice of the Democratic Party. McCain seems to have a wrap on the Republican nomination.
I just received a call from MoveOn.org reminding me to vote. The woman asked for whom I would vote. I said Obama. She said, "That's great! I'm surprised at how many Louisiana people are for Obama." I'm pleased to hear that, too. I will vote for the Democratic nominee in the election, but I prefer that Obama be the choice.
Vote for whomever you choose, but vote. It's important.
Image from Wiki.
UPDATE: Results for the Democrats statewide in Louisiana - Obama - 57%; Clinton - 43%
UPDATE 2: I suppose I should put the Republican results up, too - Huckabee - 44%; McCain - 42%
Am I More Dog Than Cat?
You Are: 50% Dog, 50% Cat |
 You are a nice blend of cat and dog. You're playful but not too needy. And you're friendly but careful. And while you have your moody moments, you're too happy to stay upset for long. |
That's about right. I have had both cats and dogs as pets, but I believe that I want a cat for my next pet.
Thanks for the link to Scout the Dog's blog Scout's Food For Thought.
Friday, February 8, 2008
"New Orleans Citizens' Prayer"
Shamelessly nicked from Michael Homan's blog:
Our mayor, who art in Dallas
Hollow be thy fame...
Thy flyer miles, thy quips and smiles
In the Ninth, as it is in Lakeview.
Give us this day our faces red
And forgive us our embarrassment, as we forgive
those who embarrass us.
Lead us not into demolition
But deliver us from developers.
For thine is the Superdome, and the Market Force
and the RSD
Forever and never,
Amen
Michael says, "This was just forwarded to me from Jennifer. I didn't write it, don't know who did, but wish I did."
The prayer is so very right for the seldom seen around town mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, who is not known for breaking his back doing good deeds for the benefit of the citizens of his city.
Thanks to Oyster for the tip.
Our mayor, who art in Dallas
Hollow be thy fame...
Thy flyer miles, thy quips and smiles
In the Ninth, as it is in Lakeview.
Give us this day our faces red
And forgive us our embarrassment, as we forgive
those who embarrass us.
Lead us not into demolition
But deliver us from developers.
For thine is the Superdome, and the Market Force
and the RSD
Forever and never,
Amen
Michael says, "This was just forwarded to me from Jennifer. I didn't write it, don't know who did, but wish I did."
The prayer is so very right for the seldom seen around town mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, who is not known for breaking his back doing good deeds for the benefit of the citizens of his city.
Thanks to Oyster for the tip.
Another New Car
Hoookay. We have spent part of three days at the car dealership, unloading our leaking car (Yes,they took it back. I was not having the leaker.) and finding and arranging financing for the new vehicle. We now have pretty much the same car, but in the 2008 model which was not eligible for 0% financing. I'll say that although the whole process was a hassle, we came away satisfied, except for the lost time talking and waiting around the car dealership.
Grandpère lost his temper with the folks at the dealership when he first heard about the seriousness of the leak, but, after all, the fault lies with the factory and not with the folks who sell the cars. I had to calm him down, (he's a pistol, he is) but I was firm about not wanting to keep the car we had owned for a week. I believe that by remaining calm, I scored points with the manager, who, when all is said and done, was quite nice and obliging.
The manager's challenge was to get us in later model car with the same monthly note as the leaker, for the same loan period. He did it and took a hit on his price for the sake of retaining our good will. He said that he appreciated our patience. By giving him time, he was able to work things out so that the factory took the hit, rather than the dealer - which is where the hit should go. I surprised the hell out of him when I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek after he told us what good customers we were. I believe that I embarrassed him just a little.
So. Car problem solved. Exhaustion gone after a couple of nights in my own bed. Family drama calmer - for the moment - home sweet home.
It's amazing to me that we can walk away with a new car without one dollar changing hands, with a five year loan at our advanced age. We will probably not take that long to pay the car off, but still....
Grandpère lost his temper with the folks at the dealership when he first heard about the seriousness of the leak, but, after all, the fault lies with the factory and not with the folks who sell the cars. I had to calm him down, (he's a pistol, he is) but I was firm about not wanting to keep the car we had owned for a week. I believe that by remaining calm, I scored points with the manager, who, when all is said and done, was quite nice and obliging.
The manager's challenge was to get us in later model car with the same monthly note as the leaker, for the same loan period. He did it and took a hit on his price for the sake of retaining our good will. He said that he appreciated our patience. By giving him time, he was able to work things out so that the factory took the hit, rather than the dealer - which is where the hit should go. I surprised the hell out of him when I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek after he told us what good customers we were. I believe that I embarrassed him just a little.
So. Car problem solved. Exhaustion gone after a couple of nights in my own bed. Family drama calmer - for the moment - home sweet home.
It's amazing to me that we can walk away with a new car without one dollar changing hands, with a five year loan at our advanced age. We will probably not take that long to pay the car off, but still....
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