The Best of Us

Above & Beyond “ Dog tags of the more than 58,000 service men and women who died in the Vietnam War hang from the ceiling of the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago on Veterans Day, November 11, 2010. The 10-by-40-foot sculpture, entitled Above & Beyond, was designed by Ned Broderick and Richard Steinbock. The tens of thousands of metal dog tags are suspended 24 feet in the air, 1 inch apart, from fine lines that allow them to move and chime with shifting air currents. Museum employees using a kiosk and laser pointer help visitors locate the exact dog tag with the imprinted name of their lost friend or relative. [More] Tim W ”

Sleep Monsters

Meet The Press

When Childhood Fears Come True Peggy Noonan “ "What's so terrible for the little kids who hear about Newtown is that the 'dream' monster is now real," said a friend. This from Peggy Noonan's interesting "When Childhood Fears Come True." (Behind a paywall, but I copied some of it)  I think what's happening here is not to much the "dream monster" being realized as actually being created.   I know that the "End of Earth" monster promulgated by too many "Yes, the earth will die in 5 billion years and here's why." science shows is in my grandson's head.  I mean to kids 5 billion and next year are pretty much the same. So monsters do not have to be real. My childhood fear was that a windy night sounded like a tidal wave rushing to engulf our house.  More than once I got out of bed to look, because I heard waves lapping the house. I think because a tidal wave hit Montrose Beach (on Lake Michigan), near Chicago's Loop stuck in my head.  This happened mostly in December, as I look back, because the real fear was I'd die before Christmas presents. More on point, in 1955 3 boys my age were found strangled in the forest preserve very near to where we kids played and caught catfish.  I never ever forgot that, but not once did I go to bed worried that I was next.  We, none of my gang, ever stopped playing in the "woods" because of that incident.  By the by, I stumbled across "Death Closes the Case of Boys’ Murders," five years ago.  Here's another cut from Noonan's article that I like. ‘ Religion, said Mr. Kennedy, "isn't supposed to explain such things" as Newtown. "That's not the task of religion, never has been." Religion has to do with the central mystery of existence—"the tremendous and gripping mystery" of being alive. "Joseph Campbell once said people don't need an explanation of their lives as much as they need an experience of being alive." ’ Which is pretty much, "Life sometimes sucks, live with it kid."  ”

Ah, the comforting sound of the firing squad

Red flowers for Stalin’s birthday “ Stockholm Syndrome? I imagine this in Detroit 100 year from now (Roll) Communists across Russia are celebrating 133 years since the birth of one of the most influential dictators of the past century, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. [full] Like you I find it mind boggling that people will  publicly celebrate the most evil of people.  I guess when you grow up in a culture of daily terror it's like the crappy fish soup you momma made you eat; it's today's comfort food.  Or, maybe the Stockholm Syndrome at work?  Anyway, it's hard for some to accept that 80 years of their life was akin to roasting in Hell.  We'll have some of the same in 100 years. ”

Michael Mooron- He's BACK!

Michael Moore: Americans’ desire to own guns stems from racial fears I wonder if during WWII Americans had the opportunity to watch Nazi propaganda film?  I think it would have made it easier for families who lost loved ones to accept and understand their sacrifice.

And the answer is ...

—   you berk   " ...  if given the chance, what new law would you create and why?" “ “I think that any lays there are in Constitution or in life, are already made. I think that we should have, uh, a straight way to go in our similar, or, eh, in our lives as is this.” “For example, I’m a surfer, and I think that the best wave that I can take is the wave that I wait for it. So please do our only, eh, law that we can do. Thank you Vegas!” [DC] Irene Sofia Esser Quintero was still awarded third place, but more importantly is now allowed to vote in California. ”

MAYAN WTF?

WHOA! “ You can't see it, but electricity was arcing between two transformers. Nobody so far has said they'd ever seen such a thing outside of the movies.  Let me tell you something - I was not laughing at the Mayan thing at the time. I couldn't find my rosary until  our power came back at 2:30 AM.  ”

REVOLT

"Peace in our Time" Boner “ Has there been a House speaker in modern American history with less control over his members than John Boehner? [WaPost] Boehnor stripped  Reps. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., and Justin Amash, R-Mich of their seats on the House Budget Committee because they wouldn't play ball  with  the "cave-men."  There's your new leadership. ”