Are We Ready for This?

An article from "The New York Times" tells us the U.S. and Britain are sending ships to the Persian Gulf to send signals to Iran. The article informs us we should not view this move as "preparations for any offensive strike against Iran," that "Iranian tone and rhetoric creates an environment of intimidation and fear," and "the United States must be careful not to contribute to escalation."

Now, being of the old school, I tend to think if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck, then quite possibly, it might be a duck.

So, taking the above news and applying the "duck" theory I described, I just have to ask the question: Are We Ready for This?

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An Important Announcement

An important announcement was made on 5 December 2006. The "BBC" reported upon it 18 December 2006. This news of grave importance seems to have been drowned in a sea of important announcements. What is this important announcement?

As reported by "MehrNews.com" and the "BBC," the Iranian Government has begun implementing its policy of conducting commercial transactions in the Euro. "Commercial transactions" also include "oil transactions."

One of the world's largest oil producing nations has shifted from employing the U.S. Dollar as its currency of choice in business transactions (oil).

The question begging to be asked is: Who else is soon to follow?

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Good News?

This morning I awakened to the good news published in the "New York Times" via the article, Circumcision Halves H.I.V. Risk, U.S. Agency Finds, that U.S. Government health officials, specifically, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, have found circumcision "appears to reduce a man's risk of contracting AIDS from heterosexual sex by half." The good news is supported by an editorial in the opinion section entitled Rare Good News About AIDS.

There are several intriguing statements in the article.

The first intriguing statement provides the reason the studies were halted, that reason being "not offering circumcision to all the men taking part would be unethical."

The second intriguing statement is None were infected with H.I.V.

The third intriguing statement comes in the form of "They were divided into circumcised and uncircumcised groups, given safe sex advice (although many presumably did not take it), and retested regularly. "

The article states the studies were conducted on "nearly" 3,000 heterosexual males in Kenya and 5,000 men in Uganda, which gives rise to the fourth intriguing statement which lists 22 of 1,393 circumcised men who participated in the Kenyan study caught the disease, while 47 out of 1,391 uncircumcised men caught the disease.

Although the article raises many more questions than it answers, I have just one humble question:

Why was a medical study conducted with the goal of fighting a 20th century disease premised upon archaic medical thought and practice steeped in religious dogma?

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The Secret That Never Was

As I read today's "Los Angeles Times" article "Fallout Rains on Israel's Olmert After Nuclear Remark," the adage, "loose lips sinks ships," came to mind. It seems Mr. Olmert, during a recent television interview in Germany, responded to a query posed by the interviewer as follows:

"Iran openly, explicitly and publicly threatens to wipe Israel off the map," Olmert said. "Can you say that this is the same level, when you are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as America, France, Israel, Russia?"

Much speculation and controversy have arisen as a result of Mr. Olmert's remarks. A representative of the Likud Party has gone so far as to call for the Prime Minister's resignation.

In my humble opinion, an inadvertent "slip of the lips" pertaining to a secret that never was provides much food for thought.

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When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth

I don’t know why I phrased the title of this blog in the past tense. In hindsight, I probably should have titled it "While Dinosaurs Rule The Earth." You still think the title is incorrect? Well, I disagree. The dinosaurs are still amongst us. They just evolved into "politicians" and "big business," which is also known as "corporations" or "multinational corporations."

Like those giant lizards of old, we have the herbivores and the carnivores roaming about. Some are harmless, but most are not. We seem to have an abundance of T-Rex types amongst the ranks of the current crop. The one good thing I suppose is the T-Rex doesn’t discriminate – everything and everyone is suitable prey!!!

The dinosaurs of old were not known for innovation, and true to their dinosaur heritage, the present-day dinosaurs are not innovative. They still sing the same old songs they have been singing for years. Some folks are lured to a complacent state of being and to a false sense of security by that old swan song of the dinosaurs. To that, I say: A T-Rex is still a T-Rex, and the T-Rex does not hunt the tops of trees for leaves!!!

We all know the fate of the dinosaurs of old. I suppose the question begs to be asked is do we allow the dinosaurs of today to continue to lure us, through their swan song, to the path that ensures our own extinction.

Peace

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Whatever Happened To Empowerment and Accountability?

Do you remember the days when those two words were used incessantly?

I do. There was a point in time when one would hear those two words an average of every 30 seconds. A few years ago, we were being empowered to do many things, or someone was speaking of empowering someone else to do some thing.

As to accountability, from politicians to ad men, from high to low, everyone sought accountability, but how many were truly held "accountable?"

Have we reached the point where we treat our language, our words, our thoughts like last year's fashion throwaways -- to be used for the moment and tossed aside to make way for current year's fashions?

Have those two words lost meaning since achieving the status of "has-been buzzwords?"

I certainly hope not!!

The Changing Seasons

Slowly, we are moving towards the season of snow and ice, which is ushered in by the annual autumn festival of color provided by the leaves of trees. The vivid greens of summer give way to the bright oranges and reds of fall. It is the beginning of the gradual descent of leaves from branch to earth floor whose music is only heard when there are footfalls.

It is the time to put away the summer whites and dig up the clothing suitable for nippy mornings. It is the time when that favorite sweater takes its place at the front of the closet. It is the time when those warm, fuzzie slippers feel wonderful when one takes the first steps of a new day. It is the season of football and basketball and homecoming for many.

Although I shall miss the days of summer, I look forward to the new season and its pagentry of oranges, reds, and browns. It is a pleasant interlued before the ascent of the icy white of winter.

The Joy of ....

... a cup of hot apple cider.

Today started rather unceremoniously. Upon awakening, I made my usual trek to the coffee maker only to discover -- gasp -- No Coffee!!!!

How am I to start my day without that wonderful aroma which awakens my senses and helps each eye to open and focus??? I dare not race to the store. That requires more effort than I am prepared to put forth at such an early hour.

So, the hunt through the kitchen cabinets commenced. After a brief search, I happened upon a packet of Apple Cider, which was an amazing discovery, you might say, since I don't recall purchasing any apple cider.

After carefully following the directions on the packet -- pour water into cup, place cup in microwave, press button for "hot water," place contents of packet in cup, and stir -- I enjoyed my first cup of hot apple cider.

What a delight!!! Hence, the title "The Joy Of." Will hot apple cider replace my beloved coffee as my early morning companion???

Stay tuned to find out!!