Ocean Guy

May 2008
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Iran’s Increasing Bellicosity

Posted by oceanguy | May 13, 2008

Lebanon is all but lost to Iran and Hisbollah, does anyone care? How about these words of “strength” from Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal warned on Tuesday that Iran’s relations with the Arab world would be affected if Tehran was supporting what he described as a “coup” in Lebanon.

“Coup” is probably in scare quotes because it was really nothing more than capitulation on the part of Lebanon’s “democratic” government… OK appeasement that went too far.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: The government, which you are a member of, challenged Hezbollah and then was completely defeated. Did you not expect Hezbollah to fight back?

Nayla Moawad: After we had granted Hezbollah so many concessions, it simply came down to the authority of the state. Hezbollah’s aim is to make it hard for the government to govern and to weaken it. Hezbollah has been preparing the coup which took place just now for two years — since its so-called “divine victory” in the war between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006.

Iran knows that the Arabs are afraid of them. They occupy Lebanon, manipulate Syria, arm the insurgency in Iraq, support Hamas in destabilizing the territories, intimidate the Gulf States into appeasement, all while developing nuclear weapons. Unfortunatley htey also know that America and the west do not have the stomach to do anything about it.

None of that is good news.

The longer we put off confronting Iran, the higher the price in blood and treasure will be when the war does begin.

Topics: Countdown to War, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Why Lebanon is Important

Posted by oceanguy | May 12, 2008

Translations from MEMRI:

In its May 11, 2008 editorial, the Iranian daily Kayhan, which is close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, stated that in the power struggle between Iran and the U.S. in the Middle East, Iran had the upper hand. It added that the U.S.’s efforts to “amputate [Iran’s] regional arms” in the Middle East had failed.
[…]
“In the power struggle in the Middle East, there are only two sides: Iran and the U.S.
[…]
“[Hizbullah leader] Hassan Nasrallah’s courageous and wise decision-making ability undoubtedly closes the path of the great scheme being woven against Lebanon’s independence, and he will be the final victor… Now, the U.S. and Israel are in the worst possible situation, and everything is ready for another defeat for them, which will be fateful for the [Middle East] region…

“Following this defeat, the Zionist regime will begin its slide down the slope. The U.S.’s influence in the [Middle East] region will stop, and the regimes identified with it will be replaced. The fate of Iraq and Afghanistan will pass into the hands of their peoples, and the political balances in the region will change… These are fateful days in Lebanon.”

These are dangerous times and the vast majority of the American electorate are either blind to it or are willfully ignorant of the threat. They just don’t want to hear about it. Meanwhile the threat gets more and more serious. How long will it take… how many casualties will we endure before we wake up?

Topics: Countdown to War | No Comments »

Players’ Championship Shuffle

Posted by oceanguy | May 9, 2008

1. Orion… Rodrigo y Gabriela
2. Orion… Metallica
3. Tenement Yard… Jacob Miller
4. No Woman No Cry… Bob Marley
5. You Got My Nose Open… James Cotton
6. It Serves You Right to Suffer… John Lee Hooker
7. The Itch… Keb Mo
8. Back to Black… Amy Winehouse
9. Fortunate Fool… Jack Johnson
10. Hoochie Coochie Man… Eric Clapton

Video of the Week: My Home… Florida by Mofro

I’m not sure that this is an authorized production, the musicians in the film are NOT Mofro, but the song is. and the scenery is all local. Enjoy…

Topics: Friday Shuffle | 1 Comment »

Friday Shuffle

Posted by oceanguy | May 2, 2008

1. Losing Hope… Jack Johnson
2. Walk Like an Egyptian… Bangles
3. One Bourbon One Scotch and One Beer… John Lee Hooker
4. Don’t Go No Farther… BB King
5. Riley B. King… Keb Mo
6. All Walks of Life… James Cotton
7. Why Didn’t You Call Me… Macy Gray
8. One Part Be My Lover… Bonnie Raitt
9. Bob Dylan Big Time… Kevin So
10. Peanut Butter Conspiracy… Jimmy Buffet

Topics: Friday Shuffle | No Comments »

Yom Ha’Shoah

Posted by oceanguy | May 1, 2008

Wow, This is the sixth year I’ve posted this poem for Yom Ha’Shoah. Yes, it still haunts me.

Not so subtle in the way it disturbs me, is a story of the liberation of the Ohrdruf Concentration Camp, posted at Yid with Lid, who asks that:

May the Memories of those who suffered through the Shoah always be for a blessing. And may we never forget what evil men can do when they are given Carte Blanche by the rest of the world.

As for Stolin’s Last Jew, he is no longer alive. But the news is better. Ms. Salzman wrote to say The Jews of Stolin are rebuilding their community… life goes on, but, we still remember all those who lost their lives in the horror of the Shoah, and we also remember those who suffered through the horrors and survived. Through the sadness and despair of the times, we can honor those murdered as well as the survivors by appreciating and remembering the simple, tender acts of one man…

The Last Jew In Stolin
by Sara Salzman

He holds the shovel with infinite patience
chink chink chink
as dry earth and tiny stones fall upon bones, bleached by time.

His body davens to the sound of Kaddish

chink chink
yitgadal v’yitkadash

They watch from the edge of the pit.
A ripple passes through the crowd,
each smooth naked body bends slightly at the waist
davens in time with the shovel.

Chink chink
Yitborach v’yishtabach v’yitpo’ar v’yitromam v’yitnaseh v’yit-hador

Chink chink
one by one they fade from view
until no bones are seen no bodies stare from the edge
only grass and dirt and stone.

He bows. Turns.
Walks back to town.

Through the woods, slowly pacing his steps.

Chashka.
Velvul.
Avram.
Sara.

To the edge of the woods, the edge of town.

Leah.
Yosef.
Channa.
Yankel.

Past the wood framed houses.

Shlemka.
Mindel.
Reb Ariyah
and the babies.

And in the town,
the wagons pass,
the peddlers cry.

A stone obelisk points to the sky.
Empty dates. No names.

Human feces at the base of the stone.

NOTE: In 1942, the Jews of Stolin, Poland, were rounded up by the Nazis and forced, naked and shivering, to dig a pit 11 miles from town. They were then shot, their bodies buried by the Nazis in the pit. In 1945, Russian soldiers liberating Poland, dug up the bodies, searching for Jewish gold. The bodies were not reburied. Since then, the sole surviving Jew in Stolin, now[April 2003] in his 80s, walks every morning to the pit to cover up bones exposed by the elements, and walks back home. His journey lasts the entire day. Meanwhile the Jewish Community in Stolin is rebuilding itself.

A note on the Mourner’s Kaddish, which gives the poem it’s unique yet familiar rhythm:

Kaddish, in Hebrew means sanctification. It comes from the root: kuf daled shin, meaning holy. There are various forms of the Kaddish prayer which, in jewish Liturgy symbolize the conclusion of a section of the service. One version is the Mourner’s Kaddish, recited by those in mourning for the memory of lost loved ones. It is not a prayer about death or grief. It’s a prayer of praise, about the greatness of G-d, and a request for peace and wholeness… personal peace, peace among people and peace among nations.

Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and let us say, Amen.

May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.

Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and let us say, Amen.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and let us say, Amen.

He who creates peace in His universe, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and let us say, Amen.

See below for the Mourner’s Kaddish in Hebrew and English Translation and Transliteration:
Click for the rest of this entry »

Topics: Anti-Semitism | No Comments »

Did anything really change?

Posted by oceanguy | April 30, 2008

Then:

I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother. …BHO March 18,2008 Philapdelphia

Now:

I want to use this press conference to make people absolutely clear that obviously whatever relationship I had with Reverend Wright has changed, as a consequence of this. I don’t think that he showed much concern for me. I don’t — more importantly — I don’t think he showed much concern for what we’re trying to do in this campaign and what we’re trying to do for the American people and with the American people And obviously, he’s free to speak out on issues that are of concern to him and he can do it in any ways that he wants. But I feel very strongly that — well, I want to make absolutely clear that I do not subscribe to the views that he expressed. I believe they are wrong. I think they are destructive. And to the extent that he continues to speak out, I do not expect those views to be attributed to me. …BHO April 29 Winston Salem

What changed? I saw the Wright Clips, I saw Wright’s complete taped remarks at the explanation… Far from the clips being taken “out of context” the explanation confirmed the outlandishness of Wright’s sermons. He very much looks like the same man to me… but what changed for BHO?

What changed was eruption of a bit of personal animosity between the two. Perhaps it started when Wright was shuffled to the back of the bus for BHO’s announcement as a candidate for President. Perhaps it started before that, who knows. But what the two men displayed with their public remarks over the last couple of days was not particularly friendly.

From my point of view, BHO has/had been the beneficiary of his association with Wright. Wright and his church gave BHO a “black” identity, Wright gave him an in to Southside Chicago politics. But as the possibility of BHO actually winning in November became a reality, it greatly changed the dynamic between the two men. I don’t think it’s quite as simple as some suggest, that Wright’s interests really lie is seeing BHO fail… IOW in Wright’s world a black man can never be elected President, and he has made his name and money demagoguing those fears. No, it’s not that simple.

Whatever the real story, it’s not about to die. The conflict is too juicy… too Hollywood like for people to let it disappear. As much as BHO would like the issue to be over, voters are clamoring for answers to the myraid of questions that have arisen because of the way he’s handled it.

Topics: As a Democrat | No Comments »

Jeremiah Wright: Self-Important Demagogue

Posted by oceanguy | April 29, 2008

Yesterday we heard that Jeremiah Wright thinks he is the Black Church of America. We learned a bit more about him all while raising serious questions about BHO’s long term association with Wright and membership in a church that attempts to mainstream extremist views.

That association is probably the catalyst for the unvravelling of BHO’s candidacy. Democrats, again seeking a candidate at the far left of the political spectrum, again faced with a National mood that ought to sweep them into the White House, are about to again blow it.

Although things can change overnight, if the current trend continues, BHO will get crushed in November. Maybe not quite Dukakis like, but he’ll lose by a wider margin than Kerry. All the while they keep convincing themselves that a Democratic President is inevitable… Unpopular War, Economy, Gas Prices, Unpopular Republican President… Everything points to a Democratic win…

But the same thing was said about the 2004 election. The Democrats blew that one by electing a left wing Anti-war war-hero. What were they thinking?

The Democrats have given up on the middle in this campaign and may be sounding the death knell of the party. This campaign and the ensuing defeat in November could be the end of the Democratic Party.

Topics: As a Democrat | 2 Comments »

Friday Mix

Posted by oceanguy | April 25, 2008

1. Times Like These… Jack Johnson
2. I See God in You… India Irie
3. Girl From the North Country… Bob Dylan
4. Anyone Who Had A Heart… Shelby Lynne
5. Sunrise… Norah Jones
6. Dancing Barefoot… Allison Moorer
7. Behind the Veil… Jeff Beck
8. Long Haired Country Boy… Charlie Daniels Band
9. Dreams I’ll Never See… Molly Hatchet
10. Apolitical Blues… Little Feat

Topics: Friday Shuffle | 1 Comment »

Second City Top Chef Playhouse

Posted by oceanguy | April 24, 2008

Well work demands have kept my Top Chef Reviews offline for a couple of weeks, but we’re back!

I need to reveal my biases up front, especially since I haven’t written anything to explain how things have unfolded for me. I have four favorites: Richard, Dale, Stephanie and Antonia, and last night all four featured prominently at Judges Table.

Richard [who is Dale from Season3] and Dale [who is Hung] are my two favorites to make it to the final. Both are experienced, imaginative and above all, professional. Meanwhile Stephanie, however talented she is, suffers from a bit of lack of confidence… she’s better than she realizes, and probably needs to be a bit more assertive in the team challenges. It should have bitten her last night, but as you’ll see, two wrongs sometimes DO make a right and she lives to cook another week. Antonia is confident, assertive and talented, but suffers from a bit of problem in Top Chef gamesmanship. Three times now she’s shown a bit of poor game playing judgment. When or if she gets sent home it will be for a game fault, not a fault in her abilities.

So with immunity after winning the Quickfire, Richard gets paired with Dale, a pairing they were both happy with, as was I. Their team work and the chemistry between the two of them was noticed by the judges and, for me, cemented the affection I’ve developed for the two of them. (Yes, even despite the dickhead haircut). Anyway they went to Judges Table, along with Francis and Spike, as the top two dishes of the night. Well, good for Spike, he finally got his butternut squash soup in front of the judges, but really, SOUP??? How could that be the winning dish? Sure making a good soup may separate the cooks from the chefs, but this is a talented group of chefs, soups can assume to be mastered by all of them. But congrats to Spike and Francis for making the top two with their soup and making themselves even less likable in the process. Spike has to go!

Speaking of those who have to go, Spike will be joined in the near future by Nikki, Francis [Andrew d’Ambrosi], and Lisa. In fact Lisa probably should have been tossed last night. Jennifer is more talented, but neither of them are particularly endearing… But, as I said, two wrongs made a right and Lisa gets to stay for another challenge.

I thought the Judges made two mistakes with the bottom two teams at Judges Table. The two teams, Jennifer & Stephanie vs. Antonia & Lisa were facing elimination. As Ted Allen put it, “Which is worse? Not following the rules of the challenge or making the inferior dish?” In my mind, discarding the guidelines of the challenge to do something you’re more comfortable with is the greater sin, [I don’t like n o stinking Polish Sausage, so let’s do… Sea Bass?] so when the Judges decided otherwise, I thought that was a mistake… the first wrong. I mean Sea Bass? instead of a good Kielbasa? Maybe they should have made gefiltefish, but a fish fillet? The sausage was too hard so they went with something they were more comfortable with… Correct me if I’m wrong, but Top Chef wouldn’t be Top Chef if the cheftestants were allowed to play outside the guidelines for every challenge. The judges made a mistake not deciding that.

So the elimination was between Stephanie and Jennifer, both who are way more talented than Lisa, who I thought should have packed her knives. The second mistake was selecting Jennifer for elimination… but at least that made it right that Stephanie stayed. I know it makes no sense, but it’s the way I saw it. Although Jennifer was the driving force behind the dish, Stephanie took care of the toast/croutons for their dish which was the item that made it the worst plate. Yeah, the big slab of cheese could probably have been attributed to Jennifer, but Stephanie probably should have gone for not being assertive and for poor execution on the bread she was responsible for. Luckily she didn’t and sadly Jennifer will not have a chance to show any more stuff.

Although I didn’t particularly warm up to her personality, I had Jennifer grouped by herself right behind my top 4. Lisa I have on the bottom right along with Spike, so it was a disappointment, both to see Spike do well, and to see Lisa escape by the skin of her teeth.

Here are some other random thoughts from the episode:

The challenge was stupid… Purple Drunken Polish Sausage? Antonia was right in her thoughts of the challenge, but c’mon, you have to play by the same rules as everyone else.

Bananas as scallops? Brilliant. Richard’s imagination may win the competition for him, especially with his skill in the kitchen.

Stephanie and Jennifer had a cute presentation, though I’d have liked to see more of the Second City Cast comments.

Mark is an enigma. Imaginative, and a straight shooter, he’s a gambler who’s been a bit inconsistent.

I’d like to see guest judge and arrogant prig, Johnny Iuzzini, compete with the group. Maybe that’s a twist the producers can introduce in the future… after a stint as guest judge, they are thrown in the next week as a guest cheftestant. Someone like Norman Van Aken, or Anthony Bourdain would be a blast to watch in competition, I think they’d do very well. Then there are some of those “local” chefs like Iuzzini, that I’d enjoy seeing getting their shorts handed to them… think about it Bravo.

If you have even a casual interest in Top Chef, you need to play in their webspace for a bit. As I’ve said before, it’s a very well done website.

Generally this season I’ve loved the challenges, the chefs are really cooking, and we’re seeing more of their work in the kitchen and a little less gossipy house stuff. Although I’d still like to see more cooking, I think they’re getting the recipe perfected for the show.

Topics: Top Chef | No Comments »

Just Wondering…

Posted by oceanguy | April 23, 2008

Might Hillary be more popular if she divorced Bill and kept him away from her?

Topics: As a Democrat | No Comments »

Critical Mass

Posted by oceanguy | April 14, 2008

I suppose that one side of the argument, one that BHO would appear to support, is that we can prevent the Islamist Critical Mass from forming simply by being nice to them… talking with them, conceding what they ask, and paying them. I would argue, on the other hand, that we need to confront the extremists and defeat them everywhere possible.

Just as we are beginning to do in Iraq with the surge, we need to increase the heat on the extremists, and let the moderate people know we are there to help, not to conquer. BOH would ease the pressure, McCain will maintain or increase the pressure… the choice is pretty clear. The problem is that the threat is not so clear to BHO and the left.

Bookworm simplifies what the left cannot see or will not acknowledge.

As for me, I don’t believe that all Muslims are imperialistic genocidal maniacs, just as we now know that, sixty five plus years ago, all Germans were not imperialistic genocidal maniacs. But the one sure thing history has taught us is that, in any group, when a critical mass becomes homicidally crazy, it’s irrelevant whether the entire group actually believes in or supports the crazies. For purposes of the damage that can be done, all that’s required is that critical mass.

Topics: Countdown to War | 1 Comment »

The Looming Big War

Posted by oceanguy | April 11, 2008

A World War is looming. Due to a variety of factors, mostly centered around America’s prosperity the relative comfort of its citizens, we are doing everything we can to put off entering that war. Even though our primary enemy has been waging war on us since 1979, we continue to look the other way, pretend they aren’t at war with us, and hope the problem goes away.

With every day that goes by without engaging and confronting that enemy, the eventual cost in blood and treasure rises. Every President since Johnson has mismanaged the situation in the Middle East, none more so than Jimmy Carter, but Nixon, Reagan, Clinton and the Bushes have made their own mistakes… always on the side of “peace”

The trouble is that the cessation of hostilities on one side does not equal peace. Blinded by an incredible myopia which keeps them from seeing the enemy before us, let alone understand them, we continue to hope we can eventually give them enough to make them friendly. We haven’t yet learned that money can’t buy you love.

Well, Iran is at it again, and the front runner to be President at this time next year is exactly the wrong person for the job. As Charles Krauthammer points out today:

On Tuesday, Iran announced it was installing 6,000 more centrifuges — they produce enriched uranium, the key ingredient of a nuclear weapon — in addition to the 3,000 already operating. The world yawned.

It is time to admit the truth: The Bush administration’s attempt to halt Iran’s nuclear program has failed. Utterly. The latest round of U.N. Security Council sanctions, which took a year to achieve, is comically weak. It represents the end of the sanctions road.

The president is going to hand over to his successor an Iran on the verge of going nuclear. This will deeply destabilize the Middle East, threaten the moderate Arabs with Iranian hegemony and leave Israel on hair-trigger alert.

Knowing this… or even if this is only a remote possibility… BOH must be kept from winning in November.

We are extremely unlikely to throw the first punch against Iran in the looming big war, whether we have a Democratic or a Republican President. That fact makes it absolutely imperative that we be prepared and positioned as strongly as possible when they throw that first punch. BHO will not be ready… he promises to not have America ready. Not in those exact words, but his message to our enemies is clear… America will be friendlier, and less confrontational, more willing to talk and give legitimacy to their grievances… and all the while giving them more time to prepare for that first big punch.

We don’t need… we cannot afford BHO’s Che’ Che’ Che’ Che’nges, when it comes to not standing up to the Fascists in the Islamic world.

Topics: Countdown to War | 2 Comments »

Six Word Memoir Meme

Posted by oceanguy | April 11, 2008

I’ve been tagged… and since I tagged her a while back, avoiding the challenge was not an option.

This is a toughie… only six words? At least it’s not a six word haiku memoir, [maybe Elisson could handle that challenge] but to do it in six words has been a nagging challenge. It’s been like trying to remember the name of a blind date from 30 years ago… Until you come up with the name it consumes any spare capacity for thought. So, although I can’t say I won’t find a better answer, at least I’ve got an answer and can think about some other things. Here’s what I’ve settled on for the time being:

Loving Laughing and Learning… Let’s eat.

Running a close second was:

I learned the hard way, dammit.

Topics: Memes | 1 Comment »

Shuffling back

Posted by oceanguy | April 11, 2008

1. Cheap Sunglasses… ZZ Top
2. Feats Don’t Fail me Now… Little Feat
3. Don’t Look Back… Peter Tosh
4. Take the Highway… Marshall Tucker Band
5. In the Summertime… Mungo Jerry
6. It wasn’t Me… Shaggy
7. Groanin’ the Blues… Eric Clapton
8. Red Red Wine… UB40
9. All Day and All of the Night… The Kinks
10. Knock on Wood… Buddy Guy

Topics: Friday Shuffle | No Comments »

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