Well down they go for the fourth time in a quarter final, another penalty kickoff and Becks kicks above the cross-bar, pints are drunk and many other Englishman will feel as wretched as Beckham no doubt does. Portugal can feel proud but I wonder about that patch of dirt that Sven-Goran complanined about.
Meanwhile the filthy zionists have been excluded from participating in the chess competition in Libya. Apparently Gaddafis new won acceptance by the west does not extend to allowing Israeli Chess Masters to play within Libya. BOO! HISS! Fortunately many players are boycotting the 'games'.
I will raise a glass of wine with Portugal and ponder the ongoing state of things.
I have been meaning to mention the new Agonist - link at lower left... It has rapidly developed into an excellent news resource. The lively 'family' atmosphere that used to permeate the Bulletin Boards is gone, a more nuanced measured response to posts is the order of the day.
The scoop format appears to be taken seriously and posters are not (yet at least) confident enough to let some exuberance out in the diaries and comments. I am well pleased with the transition, the usual team of suspects has worked hard and it is a real credit to their efforts.
If you are interested in world events dip into the site.
Friday, June 25, 2004
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
forgotten fluffy favorites:
The smallest deed is greater than the
grandest intention. Patti Labelle
It takes less time to do a thing right than
it does to explain why you did it wrong. Henry Longfellow
Life is a series of moments.
To live each one is to succeed. Corita Kent
Do a little more than you're paid to;
Give a little more than you have to;
Try a little harder than you want to;
Aim a little higher than you think possible;
And give a lot of thanks to God for health, family and friends. Art Linkletter
Do your little bit of good where you are; it's
those little bits of good put together that
overwhelm the world. Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Wise sayings often fall on barren ground; but a
kind word is never thrown away. Arthur Helps
You must have long-range goals to keep you
from being frustrated by short-range failures. Charles Noble
The smallest deed is greater than the
grandest intention. Patti Labelle
It takes less time to do a thing right than
it does to explain why you did it wrong. Henry Longfellow
Life is a series of moments.
To live each one is to succeed. Corita Kent
Do a little more than you're paid to;
Give a little more than you have to;
Try a little harder than you want to;
Aim a little higher than you think possible;
And give a lot of thanks to God for health, family and friends. Art Linkletter
Do your little bit of good where you are; it's
those little bits of good put together that
overwhelm the world. Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Wise sayings often fall on barren ground; but a
kind word is never thrown away. Arthur Helps
You must have long-range goals to keep you
from being frustrated by short-range failures. Charles Noble
Monday, June 21, 2004
A very comprehensive set of pages at the NY Times: U.S. Said to Overstate Value of Guantánamo Detainees By TIM GOLDEN and DON VAN NATTA Jr. Published: June 21, 2004
GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba, June 19 — For nearly two and a half years, American officials have maintained that locked within the steel-mesh cells of the military prison here are some of the world's most dangerous terrorists — "the worst of a very bad lot," Vice President Dick Cheney has called them.
The officials say information gleaned from the detainees has exposed terrorist cells, thwarted planned attacks and revealed vital intelligence about Al Qaeda. The secrets they hold and the threats they pose justify holding them indefinitely without charge, Bush administration officials have said.
But as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legal status of the 595 men imprisoned here, an examination by The New York Times has found that government and military officials have repeatedly exaggerated both the danger the detainees posed and the intelligence they have provided. continues at link at top^
hattip Sylv at agonist.scoop
GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba, June 19 — For nearly two and a half years, American officials have maintained that locked within the steel-mesh cells of the military prison here are some of the world's most dangerous terrorists — "the worst of a very bad lot," Vice President Dick Cheney has called them.
The officials say information gleaned from the detainees has exposed terrorist cells, thwarted planned attacks and revealed vital intelligence about Al Qaeda. The secrets they hold and the threats they pose justify holding them indefinitely without charge, Bush administration officials have said.
But as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legal status of the 595 men imprisoned here, an examination by The New York Times has found that government and military officials have repeatedly exaggerated both the danger the detainees posed and the intelligence they have provided. continues at link at top^
hattip Sylv at agonist.scoop
Baby Boom X 2
Twice the joy By David Seale Friday, 18 June 2004
As of yesterday, twins outnumbered singletons in the John James Memorial Hospital maternity wing.
/snip
It was surreal seeing set after set of twins....
Maternity manager Robyne Moore said one or two sets of twins was quite common in a hospital at any one time - in its 10-year history, John James has had three sets once - but five was something altogether special.
She conceded twins had become a lot more common in the past 20 years, thanks mainly to in-vitro fertilisation, but not this common.
"It's exciting for the parents in particular, even the parents of single babies get very excited - everyone gets excited about twins, even the staff," she said, adding there were six more sets due to be born there in the next six or so months.
/snip
It had been quite hectic work for the midwives, more so because of the increased number of premature babies.
Twins were often put in a crib together to settle them down. This usually worked, considering they were quite used to each other's company in the womb.
"When you look at Jack and Eve, when I put them in the cot, you see Jack automatically wrap his arm around Eve and comfort her; and then they're trying to kiss each other and hug each other all the time," registered midwife Allana Carter said. "But with Hamish and Charlotte, we've got, 'oh no, not you, we're back together again'."
Guess that shows there's never two - or should that be four - the same.
Canberra Times
Twice the joy By David Seale Friday, 18 June 2004
As of yesterday, twins outnumbered singletons in the John James Memorial Hospital maternity wing.
/snip
It was surreal seeing set after set of twins....
Maternity manager Robyne Moore said one or two sets of twins was quite common in a hospital at any one time - in its 10-year history, John James has had three sets once - but five was something altogether special.
She conceded twins had become a lot more common in the past 20 years, thanks mainly to in-vitro fertilisation, but not this common.
"It's exciting for the parents in particular, even the parents of single babies get very excited - everyone gets excited about twins, even the staff," she said, adding there were six more sets due to be born there in the next six or so months.
/snip
It had been quite hectic work for the midwives, more so because of the increased number of premature babies.
Twins were often put in a crib together to settle them down. This usually worked, considering they were quite used to each other's company in the womb.
"When you look at Jack and Eve, when I put them in the cot, you see Jack automatically wrap his arm around Eve and comfort her; and then they're trying to kiss each other and hug each other all the time," registered midwife Allana Carter said. "But with Hamish and Charlotte, we've got, 'oh no, not you, we're back together again'."
Guess that shows there's never two - or should that be four - the same.
Canberra Times
Sunday, June 20, 2004
useful blog of the month award:
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Want to cut your electric bill? Check into compact fluorescent bulbs! They can save a dramatic amount of energy in the long run. After procrastinating for years, I've bitten the bullet and installed compact fluorescent bulbs in almost every light fixture here at ranchero indebto. And I'm reaping the benefits in more ways than one. Not only are compact fluorescent bulbs more energy-efficient, they last for years. Thats' right ... years. We're talking five years or more, depending on the bulb. Think about not having to change a home full of burned out light bulbs ... especially in those pesky hard-to-reach places ...now that's brilliant! continues:
daniel gray's geekbooks.com - from the swamps of joisey
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Want to cut your electric bill? Check into compact fluorescent bulbs! They can save a dramatic amount of energy in the long run. After procrastinating for years, I've bitten the bullet and installed compact fluorescent bulbs in almost every light fixture here at ranchero indebto. And I'm reaping the benefits in more ways than one. Not only are compact fluorescent bulbs more energy-efficient, they last for years. Thats' right ... years. We're talking five years or more, depending on the bulb. Think about not having to change a home full of burned out light bulbs ... especially in those pesky hard-to-reach places ...now that's brilliant! continues:
daniel gray's geekbooks.com - from the swamps of joisey
Sunday dawns cool in mid June in Canberra. The Brindabella hills are capped with snow and a cold chill is in the air. The forecast is for possible snow but it does not eventuate. Instead a sunny day enables me to get out in the garden after Mass. Whilst trimming the old growth of bushes I reflect on the gospel of today where Jesus asks his disciples "Who do you say I am?"
Deep down all of us are asking each other that question silently all the time. The more mature may actually be able to ask friends what am I like, what are my good points, my not so good points, what do I need to change about myself.
Those of us who are more obsessive probably focus more on our (perceived) failings. An ego inventory of the positive side is more important. I found myself thinking about faith, self identity and communal aspects in worship and service to others.
I grew up in the post Vatican II church, but have inherited some of the
Jansenist beliefs that the Irish Catholics brought to Australia. Self criticism and doubt rule. The traditional Latin Mass probably offers its adherents some sense of being the elect. I struggle on with the novus ordo that the Church continues to promote as the correct style of worship for the current time. For the past 16 years Catholics have been waiting for a new translation of the Roman Catholic Celebration of the Mass, and we still wait. Faith is such a personal thing and I give thanks that I have the gift of faith. Meanwhile I continue to notice that church attendance continues to decline.
In the garden the gum trees are beginning to blossom. Other winter blooming plants have a myriad of buds about to pop open, and the daffodil and jonquils are poking their green shoots higher and higher.
Down the coast I collected a bag full of fine broken shells.I have created a little shell "garden" with a strand of seaweed delicately draped across it, behind it I have placed a number of succulents in little pots with polished stones around each succulent. My artistic side is nurtured a little bit. A pansy creates a purple patch under a small fence but does anyone care?
Deep down all of us are asking each other that question silently all the time. The more mature may actually be able to ask friends what am I like, what are my good points, my not so good points, what do I need to change about myself.
Those of us who are more obsessive probably focus more on our (perceived) failings. An ego inventory of the positive side is more important. I found myself thinking about faith, self identity and communal aspects in worship and service to others.
I grew up in the post Vatican II church, but have inherited some of the
Jansenist beliefs that the Irish Catholics brought to Australia. Self criticism and doubt rule. The traditional Latin Mass probably offers its adherents some sense of being the elect. I struggle on with the novus ordo that the Church continues to promote as the correct style of worship for the current time. For the past 16 years Catholics have been waiting for a new translation of the Roman Catholic Celebration of the Mass, and we still wait. Faith is such a personal thing and I give thanks that I have the gift of faith. Meanwhile I continue to notice that church attendance continues to decline.
In the garden the gum trees are beginning to blossom. Other winter blooming plants have a myriad of buds about to pop open, and the daffodil and jonquils are poking their green shoots higher and higher.
Down the coast I collected a bag full of fine broken shells.I have created a little shell "garden" with a strand of seaweed delicately draped across it, behind it I have placed a number of succulents in little pots with polished stones around each succulent. My artistic side is nurtured a little bit. A pansy creates a purple patch under a small fence but does anyone care?
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