I want to wish all of my readers a
happy and peaceful holiday season!
If you are tired of reading and hearing
about all of the hatred and heartache in the world today take a moment to
relax with some videos I have chosen. They each in their own way say
something about this special season.
We don't all have to believe in the
same things to understand that there are some things that are
universal.
Yeah, I know, this next one doesn't really fit the serious theme of this post, but we've all been there and I just couldn't resist. :)
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
46 comments:
Happy Christmas, Lynnette.
Merry Christmas, folks.
Thanks guys. I am having a quiet Christmas. I don't have to go anywhere today. :)
I am going to enjoy some Christmas cookies and candy and maybe relax with a good book. :)
Wizards in Winter
For the techie people out there. :)
Merry christmas to all of you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h81UOjlFmMs
I went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens yesterday. Luckily we got there a half hour in advance (not intentionally), because the theatre was already pretty full. People ended up sitting in the very front where you are right on the screen.
I liked it. The action was great and the character development was decent. The only thing that I didn't care for was that it was a little long. They could have cut out 20 minutes and it would have been a tighter action movie. But I do recommend it for those who haven't seen it. :)
@ Lynnette,
Okay, so here's what's happened…. All the Republican pundits and talking heads have gone home for the holidays and discovered that the Trump voters are real, and, in fact, are solidly represented inside the pundit's own family. So, now they're streaming back to their desks in Washington and New York City, and they're freaked!
Baghdad claims to have finally retaken Rhamadi. NYT
Lynnette: "I went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens yesterday.
[...]
I liked it. The action was great and the character development was decent. The only thing that I didn't care for was that it was a little long. They could have cut out 20 minutes and it would have been a tighter action movie. But I do recommend it for those who haven't seen it. :)"
Being born in 1975 I grew up with Star Wars and kinda feel like a kid before Christmas when I await going to the new movie. I have yet to go see it, I'm holding out until the worst craze has passed and I can get good seats.
Did you watch it in 3D? If so, was the 3D version good? The only movie I've seen so far where 3D really added to the experience was Avatar - which was just great watching that way. The three Hobbit movies were OK in 3D but just as good without it. All other movies I have seen in 3D were made worse by it, I thought.
Lee: "Okay, so here's what's happened…. All the Republican pundits and talking heads have gone home for the holidays and discovered that the Trump voters are real, and, in fact, are solidly represented inside the pundit's own family. So, now they're streaming back to their desks in Washington and New York City, and they're freaked!"
We discussed Trump at my Glögg-party yesterday and the consensus of everyone but me was that he won't be the Republicans candidate. I say that he might be. I say it might very well be Trump VS. Hillary in the general election. I didn't think so some months ago as I imagined one of the others would rise in the ratings. But so far Trump seems to only rise and contenders like Jeb Bush have dismal figures in the polls. Unless he starts to slide soon the party might have to face the facts and rally behind him - I think.
What's your thoughts on that?
Second: the one actual American at my Glögg Party said she thought that a majority Americans will vote for the Republican cadidate as so many are dissapointed with Obama. I tend to disagree. I do believe there's some dissapointment given the high hopes for actual "change" that were not really delivered on, but I don't think most of the voters who ushered in Obama really lays the blame on him and the Democrats.
What's your thoughts on that?
Third: Do you believe it will matter much to the general election if Trump ends up as the Republican candidate or if someone else comes along to claim that nomination. If we take for granted that Hillary will run for the Dems, does she stand a greater chance against Trump, or a worse chance or is it all the same?
What's your thoughts on that?
"But so far Trump seems to only rise and contenders like Jeb Bush
have dismal figures in the polls."
Told you long time ago that Jeb had no chance.
I told Lynnette some weeks ago that we were entering brand new territory here with Trump. The Republican's PR bullhorns have sold their followers on the idea that it's perfectly okay to believe in faerie tales and fantasies. Now they're surprised to find out that their Republican ‘base’ actually believes that now. It's a whole new ball game, and there are no precedents to steer by. And it's of their own doing, but…
Most likely it'll not be Trump. Most likely it'll be Cruz, Rubio maybe, but probably Cruz. Likely would have been Rubio, except that Trump has driven the Republican ‘base’ even crazier than is their usual base state. So, I figure Cruz, maybe Rubio or even Trump (tie there for second place). Be a ‘brokered’ Republican convention either way. And Hillary wins walkin’ away with it, doesn't matter which of them it is. (Republicans still be fighting amongst themselves even after the convention is over and one of them has 'won' the nomination.)
Post Script:
There is a chance a ‘brokered’ convention could go for a wild-card--nominate Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan, or somebody like that, but I think anybody sane would like to avoid being pulled into that. They had a hard enough time getting Paul Ryan to agree to be Speaker of the House--damn little chance he'll agree to run for President this time if they can't agree on one of the current runners, but it is possible.
Post Post Script:
"…nominate Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan, or somebody like that…"
Could even nominate Jeb Bush--but, I wouldn't bet on Jeb Bush accepting the nomination either, not if he had to take it from a compromised position, coming in behind Trump and Rubio and Cruz and maybe even behind a couple of others, and him getting it as a default, after they couldn't agree on any of the front runners and were just tired and wanted to give up and go home. Even Bush might walk away from it then.
Baghdad claims to have finally retaken Rhamadi.
I've been watching that too. I have to wonder if it may actually be true, given Al-Baghdadi's sudden reappearance with his "don't think we've forgotten about you, Israel" speech. Daesh seems to like to spread as much mayhem as possible, as widely as possible. So if they are losing ground in one place it wouldn't surprise me that they will pop up somewhere else. But Israel is a rather poor target given their pretty decent security and intelligence service.
I hope for the sake of the people of Iraq and Ramadi that the reports about Ramadi are accurate and not wishful thinking.
Did you watch it in 3D? If so, was the 3D version good?
I didn't see the 3D version. I know someone who did and she said it was even longer than the regular version that I saw. She is a Star Wars fan, but still ended up falling asleep during part of it. Of course, that might have been because she went to the later showing at 10pm. But the friend I went with actually started to nod off during part of the movie, and we went to an early matinee.
I am glad I went to the theater, because the flight scenes are so much better on the big screen. If you go to see the 3D version you'll have to let me know if it is worth it.
I had only seen the first 3 movies, not the middle 3, so I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't miss any of the story lines from those missing films. I won't spoil any of the film by telling you any details. While I found out one thing from someone, who shall remain nameless, it was actually nice in the sense that I was prepared for it. I will say that they have set up the next film rather nicely. :)
I saw a poll recently that asked Americans if they would be embarrassed if Trump became President. I think it was 50% who said "yes".
Gallup poll: Most admired man in America… Barak Obama (No, the Democrats don't blame Obama for his failure to overcome Republican resistance--figure he's done ‘bout as well as anybody could considering the wholesale resistance and obstructionism that the Republicans have thrown at him at every step.) Your American female friend, Marcus, is a Republican who has come to believe in their faerie tale fantasy machine.
Americans are still more likely to be killed by lightning than by ‘radical Islamic terrorists’. stats
I'm waiting for the Republicans to take up the fight against dangerous Islamic weather patterns, call it what it really is, and save us all.
It seems Da’esh supporters are still hangin’ on in the villages surrounding Ramadi. Took several thousand Iraqi troops to move a few hundred Da’esh fighters out of the central city (WaPo), and they still hang ‘round in the neighboring villages. Doesn't necessarily look so good as a forerunner for taking back Mosul.
By the way…. Does anybody except me remember back when the Republicans were bragging about how ‘deep’ and ‘talented’ their presidential bench of contenders was?
And yet, out of this supposed bumper crop of political talents, they give us Ted Cruz and Donald Trump as the current front runners?
Just to fill out the full circle… This conservative media outlet is blaming Obama for the rise of Donald Trump. (No separate explanation for Ted Cruz though; maybe one isn't needed.)
Took several thousand Iraqi troops to move a few hundred Da’esh fighters out of the central city (WaPo), and they still hang ‘round in the neighboring villages.
The Iraqi Army isn't the US military. Hopefully they will have learned from Ramadi what works and what doesn't, bnecause Mosul will be more difficult. But the coalition has been preparing for that fight already by cutting off supply lines to Daesh. That should give the Iraqis a vital assist.
Giving people some backup if they choose to go up against Daesh would help with removing lingering Daesh fighters from surrounding areas I would hope. Giving people a reason to go up against Daesh would also go a long way in that endeavor also.
Hmmm...too many "also"'s in that last sentence. Pretend one isn't there. ;)
Doesn't necessarily look so good as a forerunner for taking back Mosul.
According to Zeyad tribal volunteers took part in the retaking of Ramadi. That sounds promising. If we can get local Sunni tribes to participate in the fight for Mosul it would help. It is, after all, their city.
"It is, after all, their city."
Has been since Saddam dispossessed the prior inhabitants of the region in his ‘Arabization’ campaigns, you mean.
George Pataki has quit the Republican Presidential race. This may come as a surprise to the many people who didn't know he was in the Republican Presidential race.
Be damned… The Saudi are in such poor financial shape that The House of Saud is actually going to impose taxes this coming year (sales taxes anyway, no income taxes contemplated as of yet) Financial Times
This may come as a surprise to the many people who didn't know he was in the Republican Presidential race.
LOL! Like me. That was my reaction when I first saw that.
Has been since Saddam dispossessed the prior inhabitants of the region in his ‘Arabization’ campaigns, you mean.
Well, I guess we'll see who wants it badly enough to fight for it.
Lee,
The link to the Financial Times article won't let me get past the sign up for something page.
"I guess we'll see who wants it badly enough to fight for it."
I expect Da’esh will probably put up a fight for the west side (the ‘Right Coast’ as it's known locally--means the perspective is as viewed from the north). I'm not sure who's otherwise interested enough in the west side to contest it with them. We want them out of there; that's for sure, but the locals all seem to have other priorities that trump their concerns about Da’esh in downtown Mosul.
It may be awhile yet before anybody gets around to that, our urging notwithstanding.
"The link to the Financial Times article won't let me get past the
sign up for something page."
I think all you have to do is register your e-mail address (and then take yourself off of the e-mail list they'll put you on, claiming you agreed to be put on it, whether or not you agreed to be put on it, but they will take you off promptly.) I'm not signed up for anything anyway, but they do have an e-mail address on me--one of the garbage addresses I keep for just such nuisances.
A chilling message from ISIS
I guess that tactic might be considered similar to our targeted drone strikes.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
And on another subject…. I see that Jeb! has now adopted the ‘Establishment’ Republican story line that the rise of Donald Trump can be blamed on Barack Obama. Politico.com
Hmmm...that reminds me of the tendency of everyone in the Middle East to blame all of their problems on Israel.
Looks like a big fire in a hotel in Dubai. Reminds me of that old movie...Towering Inferno. I would hate to be on the top floor.
Finishing touch to their big fireworks display?
It seems that Da’esh supporters in both Europe and in the U.S. are eager to ring in the new year with body counts in Europe and the U.S.
Yes, apparently there has been some kind of threats in New York and Munich. Although this time around we may have been a step ahead of them.
This one's pretty good. ISIS is a revolution
It's quite thoughtful, and fairly well written. (I have my disagreements with significant parts of it, of course. It's rather long (10,000+ words), and it's hard to get this far into the weeds without triggering the ‘yes, but…’ responses, but it's worth the read anyway if you've got the time to give to it.) I think he especially misses the point he approaches only tangentially here near the end:
"Among Muslim leadership I’ve interviewed around the world, I listen
to PowerPoint presentations intoning on ‘dimensions of ideology,
grievance, and group dynamics’, notions that originate exclusively with
Western ‘terrorism experts’ and think tanks. When I ask: ‘What ideas
come from your own people?’, I’m told in moments of candour, as I
was most recently by a Muslim leadership council in Singapore, that:
‘We don’t have many new ideas and we can’t agree on those we have.’"
I see there the second major reason to wean ourselves from a fossil fueled future. These people need to be left to their own devices. They would eat one another and mostly leave the rest of us alone if they didn't have the oil money. They got oil; they got sand. What else they got anybody wants? Even they don't want whatever else they got.
Aside from my several reservations, he's got a lot of pretty good stuff in there makes it worth the read.
Thanks, Lee. I'll have to read it a little later. I wanted to put up a New Years post and now I have to do de-Christmas. lol! But the article does look good. :)
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