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| The Blue Marble (Photo taken by the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.) |
There's a lot going on in the world right now. Fact is, there's always a lot going on in the world at any given moment.
Somewhere, someone has been stunned by the death of a loved one.
Somewhere, someone has felt their heart swell with emotion at the sight of a new-born infant, their infant.
Somewhere, someone is plotting to do harm to a fellow living being for grievances either real or imagined.
Somewhere, someone is actually doing harm to a fellow living being.
Somewhere, someone is planning to do something nice for a fellow living being. Neither expecting a reward nor recognition for doing so. Maybe it's just the right thing to do.
Somewhere, someone is actually doing something nice for a fellow living being. And that, my friends, happens more often than you'd realize. (Such things seldom make what some call the "news.")
There's a lot going on in the world at any given moment on any given day. That's been the case since the dawn of time.
I have refrained from saying or writing anything concerning the ongoing debacle in Afghanistan. I'll just say that this isn't the first time, nor will it be the last, that incompetent leadership has gotten good people killed or maimed.
Heavy emphasis on "won't be the last time."
Historians tend to wait before looking at an event like this in detail, waiting for the dust to settle, so to speak.
And that's all I'll say about that.
For now.
Life around Chez Sarge hasn't quite returned to anything that I would call "normal." We're still missing a key member of the crew. She can't be replaced but we need to continue on without her. Her sister continues to entertain us and give us the feline attention we crave, just not to the level we're accustomed to. Not her fault and I have to say, she has really stepped up her game in the past month. Anya is doing her best but even she misses her sister Sasha.
I went back and reread the comments from this post, made me happy and sad all at once. Those who have "been there, done that" will know what I mean.
Just wanted to reiterate that I consider all of you who stop by here to be pretty special to me at any rate. Whether you leave comments or not, doesn't matter. It's family we are.
Really looking forward to the Sandy Eggo trip. I know most of the players, this time I'm there in an advisory capacity. I don't have to push buttons, I get to watch somebody else do that...
"Not that one..."
"No, that one, over there..."
[SMACK!!]
"No, the other one..."
[SMACK!!]
"There ya go."
Yeah, it'll be fun.
Oh by the way, welcome to September...
82 years ago on this day, Nazi Germany kicked off the European portion of WWII. I'm sure my Polish friends remember this day.
Lest we forget...
Well our current great leader didn't learn from history, especially his own. The events of Extortion 17 in August 2011 and what was said in early May 2011 by him along with several other "leaders" means to me he already had blood on his hands even before this current debacle in Afghanistan. Ya, safe travels Sarge, looking forward to any visuals you can provide.
ReplyDeleteI think that most politicians are incapable of learning.
DeleteI think politicians 'learn' what gets them what they want.
DeleteYou're probably right.
DeleteMy heart goes out to the families of all who have been affected by the current debacle, and I'm not talking only of Kabul. I don't think more damage could have been done since January 20 by this administration if they had been trying to do so. At least we don't have mean tweets taking up the news cycle! /sarc
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the time in SoCal, keep your head on a swivel when out and about, we want you back home in one piece! And also enjoy giving lessons to the younger members of the team, especially in cussin' and 'did you hear what I said? Pay attention!'
Those who decided that these clowns should be in charge are reaping what they sowed.
DeleteAs I don't plan on being "out and about" much, that probably won't be a problem.
Just remember that bad things can also happen to people who don't go "out and about" much - stay safe, mein Freund
DeleteI'm going to go with "What would he do different if he was in the pay of the commies?"
DeleteTom - Situational awareness is something I'm fanatic about.
Deletejuvat - Not a damn thing...
Deletejuvat - He isn't?
DeleteBeans - Well, his kid certainly is. Or appears to be.
DeleteSo he's just a 'fellow traveler.' Okay, got it.
DeleteWell said Beans. Though I'd go with Lenin's definition, "useful idiot."
DeleteYes the Poles remember - and the perfidy of the Russians sneaking in the back door too!
ReplyDeleteYup, won't forget that either, nor how they kept that territory after the war.
DeleteI’m always reminding people of the Russian invasion, and their non aggression pact with the Nazis; and people are often shocked, being unaware and hearing it for the first time.
DeleteAnd people still think Communism is a good thing...
DeleteAt least the Nazis were open about killing people. The Katyn Massacres was just, well, typical communist behavior. We still see it in any communist country today. Sadly.
DeleteWe need more Dead Che! days.
I wouldn't be averse to that.
DeleteSarge, the animals know. They just are not able to communicate it like we are.
ReplyDeleteHistory is, on the whole, an unkind and harsh mistress whose revelations, while they may be delayed, are exacting. Occasionally like Fate (or The Muse!) she will turn something favorable or surprise us with unknown information, but on the whole she merely reveals the reality that bad decisions, made even for the best of reasons, end badly. And in a modern media world, so badly that those who made them and those who enabled them will never, every be able to turn their eyes away.
The one thing that perhaps in an untoward way that we can look forward to are the tales of heroism and bravery by those who names we may never know but are working still - even now - to try and rescue people. These are the people whose names need to lifted up and emblazoned alongside those who guarded and made the ultimate sacrifice. They - all of them - are truly the best and brightest of us and in a real way, who we are and what we should be about. Perhaps someday, in a changed world, the people of Afghanistan can build an equivalent Yad Vashem, and there will another line of trees dedicated to The Righteous Among The Nations - those who being neither Afghani nor Muslim, choose to act on the side of goodness anyway.
Many of those stories also came about following the date you reminded us of today, the invasion of Poland. A sobering landmark indeed.
One can only hope that at least some Afghans who remain in their country remember that not all Westerners are in it for gain.
DeleteWell said, TB - especially the part about the unknown and unheralded working in anonymity for the betterment of all because it is the right thing to do. I am privileged to know a few of those folks, and there are none better.
DeleteRoger that, Tom.
DeleteAin’t that the truth (I can handle the truth)
ReplyDeleteSo can I, sad as it may be...
DeleteLet's hope and pray that WWIII isn't in the offing, because then chances of a WWIV ever occurring are minimal.
ReplyDeleteEinstein is alleged to have said, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
DeleteIf anyone's left that is...
Meteorological Summer is over, it's now Meteorological Fall/Autumn.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed.
DeleteCoulda fooled me. Our walk the dogs this morning was 95/95 at 8am.
DeleteRainy/squelchy and around high 70's here.
DeleteIn other words, you're in Florida...
Deletejuvat- Does Texas have more than two seasons?
DeleteNope! Summer and Nice! One is 9 months long.
Delete🤣🤣🤣
DeleteWhy even a shred of the idealism I had when I raised my right hand and took the oath in 1963 still exists, I can't explain. Maybe that is why my anger boils as I watch the clown show that passes for leadership in our Armed Forces. Bless the Marine LTC for his courage in taking his leadership to task. That is the kind of leader I would want my grandchildren to follow.
ReplyDeleteBecause somewhere in the diseased carcass of a nation, there is still the hope. We are still the last and best hope for peace, for prosperity, for avoiding worldwide serfdom, slavery, peasantry, debt-peonage. This nation is like someone who has a very bad flu, like one of the bad flus. It's attacking all the organs, and burning up what it can. But the body can recover, maybe, and maybe even recover to be as strong as it once was. Maybe.
DeleteI understand WSF, I'm the same way.
DeleteWhat Beans said...
DeleteI've kept some of the news from Mrs. Andrew. What Australia did to the dogs. What we did to the dogs. What we did to our citizens and to the world.
ReplyDeleteWe have a vice president who went and 'worshipped' at the site that John McCain was shot down and captured. And the press loved it. Until his daughter told the truth.
That's how bad it is. Saw an infographic of the line of succession in case Fumbles finally leaves, and there's no good that can come of this, at least for the first 19 successors.
So, well, I hope and pray every day. I just wanted to be left alone. To grow old and die when it's my time.
Enough said there.
Stay safe, and seek out the enjoyment of life and friends.
We are definitely in a rough patch.
DeleteTo put some things in perspective:
ReplyDeleteThere were more dire times in world's history.
It ain't 536 AD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE07L0gRPEk
Heck, it ain't 1942.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBuO6BDwUiU
All times have their chaLlenges, but ours are far from greatest ever.
Pawel,
DeleteThanks, I hadn't seen that channel before. Very informative. Lot's of things I had forgotten about, and I don't think I ever knew that they all happened virtually simultaneously. And frankly, you're correct about more dire times in history. I tend to think of this period more as a manufactured crisis than an actual crisis. Not that people aren't getting sick and dying, but the lack of competent leadership and the application of logic to the issue.
Thanks again.
Paweł - You are absolutely correct. Thanks for the reminder!
DeleteAnd what juvat said.
DeleteThe second video? Knew about that, but that's a very powerful presentation, wow! Never Forget! indeed.
DeleteYup, really well done.
DeleteNew reader, so I missed your post about Sasha. As a fellow cat person, I really feel for what you're going through. It sucks. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I really appreciate that.
DeleteLate here. Hang tough everyone, and DON'T get me started about the "politics" of the day. UNLESS you're in the mood for a three hour rant.. (:
ReplyDeleteWe JUST NOW got our electrical, internet & cable TV back. MOST WORRIED re our furniture stored in New Orleans. And we're a LUCKY EXCEPTION here in the Baton Rouge area. "Ain't no picknic headin' West" as Granny used to tell the settlers. (Unless one is already on the West Coast, that is, in which case "nevermind" :) )
Yeah, I heard y'all got pounded by Ida. Good luck with the furniture situation!
DeleteAh yes, the politics, best avoided in polite company.