I HEAR YOU KNOCKING - FATS DOMINO

Friday night with Fats Domino.

Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino Jr. (born February 26, 1928) is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Domino is French Creole and Creole was his first language. Domino was delivered at home by his midwife grandmother. Like most families in the Lower Ninth Ward, Domino's family were new arrivals from Vacherie, Louisiana.  His father was a well known violinist, and Domino was inspired to play himself. He eventually learned from his uncle, jazz guitarist Harrison Verrett.  Fats released five gold (million-copy-selling) records before 1955.  Domino also had 35 Top 40 American hits and has a music style based on traditional R&B ensembles of bass, piano, electric guitar, drums, and saxophone.

UN LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION ON DRONE ATTACKS

The United Nations has launched an investigation into the use of unmanned drone strikes and targeted killings in counterterrorism operations.

The probe will investigate 25 strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, and the Palestinian territories. It also will focus on civilian killings and injuries caused by the strikes.

British lawyer Ben Emmerson, the U.N. special envoy on counterterrorism and human rights, will carry out the probe.

Emmerson says the use of drone technology is "here to it stay," adding it is imperative that "appropriate legal and operational structures are urgently put in place to regulate its use."

Most attacks by unmanned drones have been carried out by the United States.  Israel has used them and other nations have access to the technology. 

It's about time.  Although President Obama did not mention the drone war in his inaugural address, the drone attacks in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia may well kill terrorists, but the attacks also kill innocents, including women, children, and people who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The attacks are not as precise as the administration claims.  In addition, fear of drone attacks traumatizes people who live in the areas where the attacks occur.  It's accountability time, and I hope the investigation by the UN sheds more light than the Obama administration has been willing to do.

JESUS AND MO - GUESS

 

Click on the strip for the larger view.

From Jesus and Mo.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDPÈRE!

May you have a great day, Tom!

My gift to Tom will be a nice pair of jeans.  When we go out to eat or to a movie, Tom will often ask if he can wear his jeans, and I have to say, "No, not with me."  People wear jeans nearly everywhere, but Tom's jeans are another matter.  They're from Walmart, which would not be so bad, but they usually have holes in them or are stained with black grease or blood from the many small and not-so-small wounds he accumulates from his yard work.  The other day, I persuaded him to go to a store other than Walmart to try on nicer jeans.  It took us a while and many tries before he found a pair that suited him, so now he has one pair that he can wear to a restaurant or a movie and look decent.  Now that I know the style and size, I will buy him another pair for his birthday, and he will have two, which should do nicely for now.

Tom doesn't like to have too much made of his birthday, because it's sort of a sad day for him, since he's one year older, but I see birthdays as a reason for celebrating having made it through another year more or less intact.  Glass half-full or half-empty?   

He's off working at the boat center today.  He was on TV a few nights ago on Channel 8 in New Orleans.  The reporters visited the center and did a fine job with a lovely news piece on the museum during the nightly news.    

FOX 8 WVUE New Orleans News, Weather, Sports New Orleans News, Weather, Sports

NEW BUBBLE SITES AT BAYOU CORNE SINKHOLE

 

BAYOU CORNE — Eleven new bubble sites have been found in inundated swampland west of an 8.5-acre sinkhole in northern Assumption Parish, including a frothing spot dubbed the “mother of all bubble sites,” officials said Tuesday.

The sites are roughly in a row west of an unnamed oilfield access road extending south from La. 70 South through the wooded swamp, a parish map shows.

The sites bring to 34 the number of known bubble sites in the Bayou Corne and Grand Bayou areas in the vicinity of the sinkhole on Texas Brine Co. LLC’s leased property.

My guess is that the people who were ordered to evacuate from their homes last year will very likely never be able to return.  The troubling situation in the area is worsening, and who knows when or where it will end?  I wonder if further numbers of residents of nearby areas may be asked to leave.  Highway 70, a much used road, is near the sinkhole activity.  If the highway is impacted and forced to close, it will greatly inconvenience workers and travelers in the area. 

The "mother of all bubble sites"

If we take stuff out from under the ground beneath us, why are we surprised when the ground beneath us collapses?  When will we ever learn?

LUTHERAN ORDINARIATE? THANKS, BUT NO THANKS

Two leading Lutheran clerics have rejected suggestions from the Vatican that it could create a subdivision for converted Lutherans similar to its structures for Anglicans who join the Roman Catholic Church.
....

Bishop Friedrich Weber, the German Lutheran liaison with the Catholic Church, said the idea was unthinkable and amounted to "an unecumenical incitement to switch sides."
....

Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, head of the Vatican's powerful doctrinal office, was reported in Catholic media last week as saying Rome might envisage a special section for Lutherans.

[The Rev Martin] Junge said very few Lutherans wanted to switch to the Catholic Church and creating a special subgroup for them would complicate ties between the churches and confuse Lutherans who wanted to work in harmony with Catholics.

I can only conclude that the arrogance of the authorities in the Roman Catholic Church is without bounds.  Lutheran leaders told Rome what to do with their my-way-or-the-highway offer for Lutherans to have their own separate pen similar to those of the converts to the Anglican Ordinariates.  Lutheran Bishop Weber suggested that those members who want to be in full communion with Rome should simply join the Roman Catholic Church, which I think is very sensible.  The "Anglicans" in the ordinariates are, in fact, Roman Catholic converts.

Thanks to Ann V for the link.  

BO - THE FIRST DOG

President Obama and Bo - BFF

"How could you?"

I love Bo's white boots.

Photos by Pete Souza and Sonya N. Hebert / The White House

MICHELLE OBAMA'S VIRAL EYE-ROLL

Was it something John Boehner said? :-D

Geaux, Michelle!

H/T to Addicting Info.  Thanks to Doug for sending the link.

KRUGMAN ON DEFICIT SCOLDS

The reality, first, is that the deficit scolds — who are, after all, making a living by scolding — depend on constant warnings of imminent fiscal crisis to drum up interest. Saying that it’s a longer-term issue, and not our first priority right now, is not something they can afford to hear.

Ain't that the truth?  Read Krugman's post.

NO BETTER CHOICE THAN PAUL

• Paul Ambos, Esq named acting Chancellor

Dear Friends in Christ, It is an honor to announce that, with the concurrence ofthe Standing Committee, I have appointed Paul Ambos, Esq., to theposition of Acting Chancellor of the Diocese of New Jersey.

That the position title includes the adjective “acting” is a reminder that this appointment is effective for the remainder of my tenure as Bishop Diocesan; that is, through November 2, 2013. It will be up to the Twelfth Bishop of New Jersey to determine – again, with the concurrence of the Standing Committee – who he or she will appoint to serve the Diocese in this ministry.
Paul Ambos is well known and widely respected in our diocese. For many years he has been active and effective in advancing the mission of our Church through his parish, this diocese and the wider Church. He has a keen intelligence, a faith-filled heart, a firm foundation in the Gospel of our Lord and an inexhaustible energy for our mission. Those who have attended our Convention in the past ten years and more are aware of the tremendous volume of work that Paul has contributed to the Convention through the Standing Committee on Constitution and Canons and the Committee on Resolutions. In addition, he presently serves as Senior Warden of Christ Church, New Brunswick and sings in their choir. His devotion to our Church is lived out in activities too numerous to mention. His service and sacrifice are exemplary.

I have had the privilege of working closely with Paul Ambos throughout my years as your Bishop. I have often drawn upon his wisdom, grace and good counsel. I have a very high regard for his love of our Lord and his loyalty to our Church. He is well-versed in the laws, statutes and canons that govern our lives and the life of our Church. I believe that he will be a wise counselor and strong advocate for the Diocese and for its Bishop. In the aftermath of the sudden death of our beloved brother, Canon Chancellor John Wood Goldsack, I believe that Paul is well qualified for the role of Chancellor and I have confidence in him.

This is an extraordinary season in the life of our Diocese. I am grateful for Paul and for all those leaders who are working so hard to help with an orderly transition to the next chapter of our ongoing mission in the name of Christ our Lord. Thank you. Thank God for you.

May the Lord who has given us the will to do these things, give us the grace and power to accomplish them, with joy. Right onward!

Faithfully yours in Christ,
 
+George
 
To think I knew Paul when he was only a member of a Standing Committee of the national church, Senior Warden of his parish, and member of the choir in his parish church, and look at him now, Acting Chancellor of the Diocese of New Jersey.  My question:  Do I have to call him "Sir"?

Seriously, I could not think of a better man.  Paul is a mensch. 
  
Blessings and congratulations on your appointment, my friend.  Amen to Bishop George's prayer.

UPDATE: Post corrected to show that Paul was not a member of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church, however he was was an early friend of Fr Jake, Worldstopper, which is where Paul and I "met".  Then, we met face to face in New York, at GC2009 in Anaheim, and again in New Jersey.  Paul and his wife Catherine are two of the finest people I know.    

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