Thursday, 31 March 2016

Bocce

We won.

And I mean properly won. Points ahead through the whole game, with the occasional display of skill.
Our opposing team were not amused. The seemed annoyed by our apparent flippancy, but as they did not raise this with me directly, this is only hearsay.

But who cares we won.


Monday, 28 March 2016

Greenville, SC

Has it's own Porcellino. A Florence landmark


Easter hike and dinner in Greenville. 

Thursday, 24 March 2016

The Tragedy of Liberation

War, tumult and great agitation
And then hope for Utopia's foundation.
Now the records unsealed,
read and studied, revealed:
The Tragedy of Liberation

Not always brilliantly written but informed. 

Tuesday, 22 March 2016

My Limericks, Tweeted

That's me!



Thanks to author Gary Corby for finding and tweeting my limericks. Tee hee.

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

The Ionia Sanction, Gary Corby

Our young agent now must seize
The chance to impress Pericles
If he can first of all
Save Athens from a fall
To invasion by Themistocles        

Saturday, 12 March 2016

Update

Sometimes Rubio is right




Words have consequences:
Posted by Marco Rubio on Friday, March 11, 2016

The Protest Cycle

Considering Trump is the candidate for anti-establishment protest.

And of course I have an opinion to share.

People will say despicable things. They have a right to say those things. If we suppress that right then they simply think them and fester in anger. Better to hear them said and to know with whom I disagree.

The most disturbing parts of the Trump phenomenon have been the invitations and commendations - sometimes subtle, sometimes not - to violence and intimidation. To ridicule and fear. This is how bad people come to power. This will only work, however, if everybody else stands aside and lets it happen. The forces and law and order first of all, and also the citizens.

A commentator on CNN said it best (sadly I forget her name): this has been going on for months but because Trump was not taken seriously, neither was his outlandish behaviour. Any other candidate would have suffered the consequences of his language.

From this stand point I was glad to see people out protesting the Trump rally. Political rallies are protested all the time, and I was happy to see citizens saying "enough with the violent and hateful rhetoric".

Shutting the rally down?

Not so happy about.

Of course I personally am happy to see Trump destabilised and denied a chance to spew more rubbish. I also realise that is self-centered and somewhat petty of me. Does he have a right to bring his followers together, and stand on a podium, and say stupid things? Yes, he does have that right.

And let's not forget: people are reactionaries. 

So continue to protest, and certainly always - citizens, media and police - highlight his incentives to violence and hatred, every single one of them.

That's all I have on that.

Monday, 7 March 2016

Pirates of Penzance

Atlanta Opera positively knocking it out of the park with this production. Humorous, clever, a good complement to the music. It is clear they had fun with this one.


Kevin Burette - splendid as the Pirate King
Maureen McKay - equally splendid as Mabel
Matthew Newline - Frederic
Curt Olds - Major-General Stanley

Friday, 4 March 2016

Trivia

That time our team was two non-US-raised people and we didn't come in last.

#Winning!
Or close enough


Thursday, 3 March 2016

Ethan Frome

The story: most everyone knew
Yet its sadness and mystery grew
With a framed composition
A message - its mission:
Beware should your wishes come true

Wednesday, 2 March 2016

Trump Supporters - Talk to me

Candidates are - or should be - about policy. This is why there are politicians with whom I disagree but still understand why others vote for them. We just disagree on the policies. 

I confess, however, to not understanding the Trump phenomenon. So I ask those who have cast their vote in his favor: explain it to me. My question is one of policies: what are his? I have not actually heard him explain a single policy through. What is his tax plan? What is his plan for health insurance (yes - removing the lines around the state, but how when and with what tools)? What is his foreign policy? What is his immigration policy? What is his plan with US troops abroad? What are his trade policies?

Watching him in debates and interviews, I still do not know. I don't each of these things about each candidate, but I get pretty close with any candidate who has had as much air time as Trump. 

So I repeat my question: what are his actual policies on these issues and others, and why do they speak to you?

Lost in Translation

When you said "Meet at bar at 7AM" I thought we were doing a whole "it's 5PM somewhere" wine thing.

Turns out, there is no wine at barRE at 7AM.

Now I know.