Chamblee54

Psalm 119 1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. 4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. 7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. 8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. 17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. 25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. 26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. 27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. 31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. 38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. 39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. 40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. 41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. 49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself. 53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. 54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. 55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law. 56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts. 57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes. 65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. 73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. 75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts. 79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies. 80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed. 81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? 85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. 89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. 94 I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. 96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. 97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. 107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end. 113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. 118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood. 119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies. 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. 121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. 122 Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. 126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. 127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. 129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. 131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. 132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. 133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. 136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. 137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. 139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. 140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. 141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. 144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. 145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. 146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. 149 Hear my voice according unto thy loving kindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment. 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. 152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever. 153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. 154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. 156 Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. 158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. 159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. 161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. 162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. 164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. 166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee. 169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word. 170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. 171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. 173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.175Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments … The text above is courtesy of Bible Reources.com. There are popup ads at this site. Pictures are Union soldiers from the War between the states. These images are from The Library of Congress

Tell me more about Mr. Dorian Gray. How often do you see him?” “Every day. I couldn’t be happy if I didn’t see him every day. He is absolutely necessary to me.” “How extraordinary! I thought you would never care for anything but your art.” “He is all my art to me now,” said the painter gravely. “I sometimes think, Harry, that there are only two eras of any importance in the world’s history. The first is the appearance of a new medium for art, and the second is the appearance of a new personality for art also. What the invention of oil-painting was to the Venetians, the face of Antinous was to late Greek sculpture, and the face of Dorian Gray will some day be to me. It is not merely that I paint from him, draw from him, sketch from him. Of course, I have done all that. But he is much more to me than a model or a sitter. I won’t tell you that I am dissatisfied with what I have done of him, or that his beauty is such that art cannot express it. There is nothing that art cannot express, and I know that the work I have done, since I met Dorian Gray, is good work, is the best work of my life. But in some curious way–I wonder will you understand me?–his personality has suggested to me an entirely new manner in art, an entirely new mode of style. I see things differently, I think of them differently. I can now recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before. ‘A dream of form in days of thought’–who is it who says that? I forget; but it is what Dorian Gray has been to me. The merely visible presence of this lad–for he seems to me little more than a lad, though he is really over twenty–his merely visible presence–ah! I wonder can you realize all that that means? Unconsciously he defines for me the lines of a fresh school, a school that is to have in it all the passion of the romantic spirit, all the perfection of the spirit that is Greek. The harmony of soul and body–how much that is! We in our madness have separated the two, and have invented a realism that is vulgar, an ideality that is void. Harry! if you only knew what Dorian Gray is to me! You remember that landscape of mine, for which Agnew offered me such a huge price but which I would not part with? It is one of the best things I have ever done. And why is it so? Because, while I was painting it, Dorian Gray sat beside me. Some subtle influence passed from him to me, and for the first time in my life I saw in the plain woodland the wonder I had always looked for and always missed.” “Basil, this is extraordinary! I must see Dorian Gray.” Hallward got up from the seat and walked up and down the garden. After some time he came back. “Harry,” he said, “Dorian Gray is to me simply a motive in art. You might see nothing in him. I see everything in him. He is never more present in my work than when no image of him is there. He is a suggestion, as I have said, of a new manner. I find him in the curves of certain lines, in the loveliness and subtleties of certain colours. That is all.” “Then why won’t you exhibit his portrait?” asked Lord Henry. “Because, without intending it, I have put into it some expression of all this curious artistic idolatry, of which, of course, I have never cared to speak to him. He knows nothing about it. He shall never know anything about it. But the world might guess it, and I will not bare my soul to their shallow prying eyes. My heart shall never be put under their microscope. There is too much of myself in the thing, Harry–too much of myself!” “Poets are not so scrupulous as you are. They know how useful passion is for publication. Nowadays a broken heart will run to many editions.” “I hate them for it,” cried Hallward. “An artist should create beautiful things, but should put nothing of his own life into them. We live in an age when men treat art as if it were meant to be a form of autobiography. We have lost the abstract sense of beauty. Some day I will show the world what it is; and for that reason the world shall never see my portrait of Dorian Gray.” “I think you are wrong, Basil, but I won’t argue with you. It is only the intellectually lost who ever argue. Tell me, is Dorian Gray very fond of you?” The painter considered for a few moments. “He likes me,” he answered after a pause; “I know he likes me. Of course I flatter him dreadfully. I find a strange pleasure in saying things to him that I know I shall be sorry for having said. As a rule, he is charming to me, and we sit in the studio and talk of a thousand things. Now and then, however, he is horribly thoughtless, and seems to take a real delight in giving me pain. Then I feel, Harry, that I have given away my whole soul to some one who treats it as if it were a flower to put in his coat, a bit of decoration to charm his vanity, an ornament for a summer’s day.” The text above is a selection from The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. The pictures were taken in Little Five Points on October 19, 2008.

Quietly, unassumingly Rumbold stepped on to the scaffold in faultless morning dress and wearing his favourite flower, the Gladiolus Cruentus. He announced his presence by that gentle Rumboldian cough which so many have tried (unsuccessfully) to imitate—short, painstaking yet withal so characteristic of the man. The arrival of the worldrenowned headsman was greeted by a roar of acclamation from the huge concourse, the viceregal ladies waving their handkerchiefs in their excitement while the even more excitable foreign delegates cheered vociferously in a medley of cries, hoch, banzai, eljen, zivio, chinchin, polla kronia, hiphip, vive, Allah, amid which the ringing evviva of the delegate of the land of song (a high double F recalling those piercingly lovely notes with which the eunuch Catalani beglamoured our greatgreatgrandmothers) was easily distinguishable. It was exactly seventeen o’clock. The signal for prayer was then promptly given by megaphone and in an instant all heads were bared, the commendatore’s patriarchal sombrero, which has been in the possession of his family since the revolution of Rienzi, being removed by his medical adviser in attendance, Dr Pippi. The learned prelate who administered the last comforts of holy religion to the hero martyr when about to pay the death penalty knelt in a most christian spirit in a pool of rainwater, his cassock above his hoary head, and offered up to the throne of grace fervent prayers of supplication. Hand by the block stood the grim figure of the executioner, his visage being concealed in a tengallon pot with two circular perforated apertures through which his eyes glowered furiously. As he awaited the fatal signal he tested the edge of his horrible weapon by honing it upon his brawny forearm or decapitated in rapid succession a flock of sheep which had been provided by the admirers of his fell but necessary office. On a handsome mahogany table near him were neatly arranged the quartering knife, the various finely tempered disembowelling appliances (specially supplied by the worldfamous firm of cutlers, Messrs John Round and Sons, Sheffield), a terra cotta saucepan for the reception of the duodenum, colon, blind intestine and appendix etc when successfully extracted and two commodious milkjugs destined to receive the most precious blood of the most precious victim. The housesteward of the amalgamated cats’ and dogs’ home was in attendance to convey these vessels when replenished to that beneficent institution. Quite an excellent repast consisting of rashers and eggs, fried steak and onions, done to a nicety, delicious hot breakfast rolls and invigorating tea had been considerately provided by the authorities for the consumption of the central figure of the tragedy who was in capital spirits when prepared for death and evinced the keenest interest in the proceedings from beginning to end but he, with an abnegation rare in these our times, rose nobly to the occasion and expressed the dying wish (immediately acceded to) that the meal should be divided in aliquot parts among the members of the sick and indigent roomkeepers’ association as a token of his regard and esteem. The nec and non plus ultra of emotion were reached when the blushing bride elect burst her way through the serried ranks of the bystanders and flung herself upon the muscular bosom of him who was about to be launched into eternity for her sake. The hero folded her willowy form in a loving embrace murmuring fondly Sheila, my own. Encouraged by this use of her christian name she kissed passionately all the various suitable areas of his person which the decencies of prison garb permitted her ardour to reach. She swore to him as they mingled the salt streams of their tears that she would ever cherish his memory, that she would never forget her hero boy who went to his death with a song on his lips as if he were but going to a hurling match in Clonturk park. She brought back to his recollection the happy days of blissful childhood together on the banks of Anna Liffey when they had indulged in the innocent pastimes of the young and, oblivious of the dreadful present, they both laughed heartily, all the spectators, including the venerable pastor, joining in the general merriment. That monster audience simply rocked with delight. But anon they were overcome with grief and clasped their hands for the last time. A fresh torrent of tears burst from their lachrymal ducts and the vast concourse of people, touched to the inmost core, broke into heartrending sobs, not the least affected being the aged prebendary himself. Big strong men, officers of the peace and genial giants of the royal Irish constabulary, were making frank use of their handkerchiefs and it is safe to say that there was not a dry eye in that record assemblage. A most romantic incident occurred when a handsome young Oxford graduate, noted for his chivalry towards the fair sex, stepped forward and, presenting his visiting card, bankbook and genealogical tree, solicited the hand of the hapless young lady, requesting her to name the day, and was accepted on the spot. Every lady in the audience was presented with a tasteful souvenir of the occasion in the shape of a skull and crossbones brooch, a timely and generous act which evoked a fresh outburst of emotion: and when the gallant young Oxonian (the bearer, by the way, of one of the most timehonoured names in Albion’s history) placed on the finger of his blushing fiancée an expensive engagement ring with emeralds set in the form of a fourleaved shamrock the excitement knew no bounds. Nay, even the ster provostmarshal, lieutenantcolonel Tomkin-Maxwell ffrenchmullan Tomlinson, who presided on the sad occasion, he who had blown a considerable number of sepoys from the cannonmouth without flinching, could not now restrain his natural emotion. With his mailed gauntlet he brushed away a furtive tear and was overheard, by those privileged burghers who happened to be in his immediate entourage, to murmur to himself in a faltering undertone:….Text is by James Joyce, from Ulysses. This public domain text is brought to you by Project Gutenberg. Pictures are from ” The Special Collections and Archives,Georgia State University Library”.

Tom Dispatch has an audio feature about Afghanistan, and the many unanswered questions about the war. It seems that we invaded Afghanistan to get revenge for 911, and looked for a reason later.
Tom begins the monologue by discussing the prospects for Gen. Petraeus (spell check suggestions:Petroleum, Perpetrates ), and how a success there may actually be worse than failure. If we “conquer” Afghanistan, we will hold “the fifth poorest country on earth, the second most corrupt country, the world’s premier narco state.”
At the 3:06 mark on the tape, when Tom makes the comment about narco (spell check suggestions: Narcissus) state, PG had a flash of understanding, and a possibility for the reason behind this war. This may even have been powerful enough for the powers that be to ignore the reports about a terror strike in September 2001, and passively let 911 happen.
The rumors of CIA involvement in drug trafficking are wide spread and long term. When planes went to Central America in the eighties to bring arms to the contras, they came back to the United States loaded with cocaine. There are stories of collusion with the government in Cuba. There are many, many more stories about connections between the US government and the drug trade.
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, they cracked down on the poppy farmers. Much of the raw opium for heroin/morphine/opium is grown in Afghanistan. This was not a pleasing for the CIA.
Could it be that the real reason for our involvement in Afghanistan is to ensure the flow of narcotics into the hungry world? This would be a big cash cow for the CIA, although not enough to justify the amounts of money being spent on the conflict.
This is a repost. One part of the story that has come to light in the last year is the heroin problem in Russia. After years of “cold war” with the Soviet Union, wasting 30,000 Russians a year with narcotics might be seen as a form of revenge. Pictures today are from The Library of Congress

Andrew Sullivan had an uplifting feature, the other day, about obituaries. As is his custom, he found an article at another site, threw out a juicy quote, and moved on. It is up to Chamblee54 to provide more detail, and put up pictures for the text averse. These pictures today are from the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church cemetery.
It is a common practice to look at the obituaries (aka “Irish sports page”) first thing in the morning. If the reader is not included, then the day can proceed as normal. This custom does not take into account the possibility that you have died, and your family it too cheap to purchase a funeral notice.
The article in question is THE DEAD BEAT CLUB Ten things you don’t know about the obit biz. It starts off by saying that the family members are usually happy to help the obit scribe. They have stories about the recently deceased, like ” Eddie “Bozo” Miller boasted of regularly drinking a dozen martinis before lunch, yet he lived to age eighty-nine.”
Newspapers take different approaches to obituaries. Some assign rookies, or use the death beat as punishment for troublemakers. Others give the job to their best writer. The paid notices are usually written by family members, with the help of the undertaker.
Of course, there is the occasional oddball. Alana Baranick, obituary writer for Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer and lead author of Life on the Death Beat: A Handbook for Obituary Writers , likes to visit every municipality in the United States named Cleveland.
One oft repeated saying is that obituaries are about life, not death. As the source puts it: “The British “quality” newspapers — The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, and The Independent, substantiate the old chestnut about obituaries being about life, not death. These papers rarely mention the cause of death, focusing instead on presenting a vivid account of a lived life. American papers have an unhealthy fixation on death. It’s common for “complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” or “bile duct cancer” to show up in the story’s lede, never to resurface.”
Only one obituary has won a Pulitzer prize. ” Leonard Warren, a Metropolitan Opera baritone, dropped dead mid-performance in 1960. Sanche de Gramont (who changed his name to Ted Morgan), a young rewrite man at the New York Herald Tribune, banged out the obit in under an hour and won a 1961 Pulitzer in the Local Reporting, Edition Time, category.”
There is an The International Association of Obituarists. The headquarters is in Dallas TX, presumably near a grassy knoll. They have an annual convention, which is said to be a lively affair. The 2005 conference was in Bath, England. The 2007 conference was in Alfred NY There is also the Society of Professional Obituary Writers.
IAO was founded by Carolyn Gilbert, the lady who puts the bitch in obituary. Ms. Gilbert collaborates on a page, Remembering The Passed. RTP has a series of podcasts. They require an apple app to listen, which is too much work for PG.
Death is a part of life. Every language has a word for it, and English has a number of slang expressions. An incomplete list would include : ““passed on”, “are no more”, “have ceased to be”, “expired and gone to meet their Maker”, “are bereft of life”, “have ceased to be”, “rest in peace”, “push up daisies”, “whose metabolic processes are now history”, “are off the twig”, “have kicked the bucket”, “shuffled off their mortal coil”, “run down the curtain” or “joined the Choir Invisible”
Columbia Journalism Review (Motto: Strong Press, Strong Democracy) has a feature about Obit. “Krishna Andavolu is the managing editor of Obit an online magazine intended for those interested in obituaries, epitaphs, elegies, postludes, retrospectives, grave rubbings, widow’s weeds, and other such memorabilia of expiration. Part eulogistic clearinghouse, part cultural review, Obit purports to examine life through the prism of death. Founded in 2007 by a wealthy New Jersey architect who sensed an exploitable niche after seeing a middle-aged woman distraught over the death of Captain Kangaroo, the site is a locus for enlightened morbidity.”
OM is worth a visit. The top story features a picture of Betty Ford, who survived Breast Cancer, Alcoholism, and The White House, to die at 93. The site has an ad from Newlymaid.com, with the creative suggestion to Trade In Your Old Bridesmaid Dress & Get a New Little Black Dress.
OM has a popular feature called Died on the same day. Grim reaper recruits on July 12 include Alexander Hamilton (1804), Dolly Madison (1849), Alfred Dreyfus (1935), Lon Chaney (1973), Minnie Riperton (1979), and Mr. Butch.
No google search is complete without someone trying to make money. Obituaries Professionally Written says ” … we believe in honoring a life with respect, dignity and integrity. When needed, euphemism is used liberally. “
OPW content provider Larken Bradley says “”Obituary writing is an honor, a privilege, and great fun … I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing.”… After she dies she expects her obit headline will read, “Obituary Writer, Six Feet Under.”

“My books have been translated into twelve languages but I will sleep alone tonight in Tokyo raining.” ///These guidelines are very general and cannot cover every possible situation. /// “I pray that flowers and vegetables will water the 21st Century with their voices” /// PG meditates in an effort to hear what G-d thinks about this. She says the Republicans talk too much. /// “At dawn when the dew has built its tents on the grass, will you come to my grave and sprinkle bread crumbs from an enchanted kitchen?” /// Fight any instinct to be humorless, for humorlessness is the worst of all absurdities… Jean Cocteau /// “In the first kingdom of the stars, everything is always half- beautiful.” /// The sign in the department store window said Men’s pants half off,/// “He was leaving for America, often only a place in the mind.” /// Im a freak so dont ask me what i get into. /// “The only hope we have is our children and the seeds we give them and the gardens we plant together.” /// Those who practice telekinesis raise my hand. And so it goes. /// “These flowers will look into their hearts every day and see the sun reflecting like a great mirror their desire to live and be beautiful.” /// At night, these same flowers will look at the moon. They will want to drink beer. /// “I go to the public library and pour over books like intellectual catsup to gain information” /// All the condiment packages in food vendors say they contain fancy ketchup. Does plain ketchup taste any different? /// “The distances of loneliness make the fourth dimension seem like three hungry crows looking at a worm in a famine.” /// Contents are for informational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to think for themselves and act at their own risk /// “I shot the enemy planes down by holding out my arms straight from my body and running like hell, shouting: RAT-tattattattattattat!” /// “I went trough this phase last year where I pretty much ate nothing but kudzu.”/// “Let your granny gland relax a little and slow down those rocking chair secretions.” /// granny wonchta smoke some granny won’t you smoke some granny won’t you smoke some mara jew wanna /// “The dandelions are loners and pretty much stay off by themselves, but those daisies!” /// Endured the loud, nearly ceaseless self- important yapping on a cellphone by a woman in the waiting room at the Toyota dealership this morning. One call after another. Nobody could enjoy reading or anything else. An occasional call, fine. But this was horrible. /// “The returning path to my room was made comfortable by thoughts of flowers, America and Vida sleeping like a photograph” /// The vortex of irony you will create by commenting will sap the hair-care products off your stylish bed-head, and we do not want to be responsible for that. /// “It’s good to name creeks after people and then later to follow them for a while seeing what they have made of themselves.” /// When you quote people, who make a point of not reading you, there is no chance they will complain that you have stolen their words. ///”You certainly look pretty this morning. You look like a dream I’ve never had before.” ///Antidepressants can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults. Suicide is a known risk of depression and some other psychiatric disorders. Call your doctor right away if you have new or worsening depression symptoms, unusual changes in behavior, or thoughts of suicide. Approved only for adults 18 and over. ///”So perfect and beautiful as not to be with us, as to be alone in some different contemplation of the spirit” /// If interstate 75 was a playmate her turn ons would be: boiled peanuts, Harley Davidson’s, and orange juice. Turn offs; abortion. ///







“The awkward joy of trying to keep one lick ahead of an ice-cream cone on a hot summer day.” /// “Is life any more than a slopbucket of accident and confusion?” -Jeanette Winterson /// “Things are different at night. The houses and towns demand their beauty and get it in distant lights twinkling with incredible passion.” /// Neil Diamond thanked the LORD for the nighttime. It is not known whether she said you’re welcome./// “I spend a lot of my life interested in little things, tiny portions of reality like a pinch of spice in a very complicated recipe” /// Reality is television for doorknobs who can’t imagine a better world/// “This is a small detail right now but it could be very important a million years from now when archaeologists sift through our ruins” /// The archaeologists will be puzzled by the Big Chicken. They will not know to make a right turn. /// “When I am kissing you, I can look down on all things that are wonderful.” /// About Me: Just a normal guy here. Looking for a decent guy to settle down with…if that still exists??? Anything else you’d like to know, just ask! /// “Sand is crystal like the soul. The wind blows it away.” /// “Oh, Mona, we’re all damned fools! Some of us just have more fun with it than others!” – Armistead Maupin/// “A woman told me that she once got so sick eating a hamburger that she fell off the front porch.”/// “Bright colors are the refuge of the unlovely.” -Sophia LoRent /// “He was living the kind of hermit life kids dream about living. He was an ancient breathing statue of Huckleberry Finn.” /// “Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.” — William Gibson /// “I sometimes think that even our digestion is a soundtrack recorded in Hollywood by the television networks.” /// Anyone who watches the commercials on the evening network news will disagree. Many people eat dinner while watching these commercials. MSM presents commercials for laxatives and preparation H while people are passing the biscuits./// “One must keep track of all the small victories.” /// A dedicated shopper will remember her mall victories. /// “Dear Pard, Your letter explains why I saw two FBI agents watching a trout stream last week. It appears to be part of their training.” /// “if everybody who needed to be caned got what he deserved then there wouldn’t be a stalk of bamboo left standing.” -Larry Lynch /// “Haiku Ambulance: A piece of green pepper fell off the wooden salad bowl: so what?” /// pigeon overhead… fertilizer on the way… attorney beware /// “I love baked apples hot and fresh from the oven with rich cream poured like the wings of an angel over them.” /// The apples would have preferred to be in a pie. No one asked. ///”We both smiled across the darkness. It comforted us as dark-night smiles have been doing for thousands of years” ///Laugh when you can…. Apologize when you should…. And let go of what you can’t change…. Love deeply and forgive quickly…. Take chances and give your everything…. Life is too short to be anything but happy…. You have to take the good with the bad…. Love what you have…. Always remember what you had…. Forgive and forget…and always remember.. that life goes on/// “We meet. We try. Nothing happens, but afterwards we are always embarrassed when we see each other. We look away.” /// The ex governor had hair.. At which you had to stare… They threw him in a box … And cut off his locks… Why should I even care?/// “She was still a little awkward, but now instead of treating it as a handicap, she treated it as a form of poetry” /// What bothers me about That last comment is that a Jesuit referenced both the Waltons and the B52s in the same paragraph./// “She is the shadow of another planet being photographed in a totally white room” /// Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news which obeys its own special laws. – Douglas Adams/// “Let us pretend that my mind is a taxi and suddenly (“What the hell’s coming off!”) you are riding in it.” /// Margaret Mitchell was always wary of taxis, but did not know why, until it was too late. /// “Lions are growing like yellow roses on the wind and we turn gracefully in the medieval garden of their roaring blossoms.” /// PREMISE: DO NOT comment at all if you think the “right way” to handle Christian disagreement is to make an appointment and chat over coffee first. /// “It’s a hard decision whether to start at the top or the bottom of a girl.” /// It is relevant whether the person in question is a top or a bottom. /// “Want to go to a cave and eat some popcorn, or would you like to saddle up a couple of goldfish and swim to Alaska?”/// The dialog above is a visit with The ghost of Richard Brautigan. The replies are from various parts of the internet, or what goes for imagination at Chamblee 54. The pictures were taken at Short Mountain Sanctuary. ///

PG was trolling through a comment thread when he saw this comment. “And, I forgot to mention, this blog used to be about political issues.” Got that right. I keep waiting for this, or several other liberal blogs I visit, to even acknowledge the existence of the huge Obama administration scandal that’s been breaking over the last month or two, and there’s been nada. It’s got it all, right down to the DOJ responding to Congressional subpoenas with hundreds of blank sheets, department heads singing like canaries, perjury, death… Can you name it? Posted by: Brett Bellmore | July 09, 2011 at 05:53 AM Mr. Bellmore, do you have a link for that story? Posted by: chamblee54 | July 09, 2011 at 08:15 AM.
As you may have guessed, the second comment was PG’s response. In online discussions, there is little excuse for making grand statements without showing where you got your information. The reader might want to know more about the story, and he also might want to judge the context.
Before we move onto the administration affair, the original topic of the comment thread should be mentioned. A lady was drinking, in a hotel bar, in Dublin, Ireland. She was attending an atheist conference. At four am, she said  that she was exhausted, and going to her room. A man got on the elevator with her, and invited the lady to his hotel room “for coffee”. This piece of business has generated a bit of controversy, with thousands of comments at various blogs. Go here to know more.
The second comment after the link request mentioned this story. It doesn’t relate to elevator baristas, or Obama scandals. “A Bible-waving preacher protesting at a gay pride event was kissed on the cheek by a female gay rights supporter – a 74-year-old woman who was charged with simple assault, with the preacher’s blessing…The preacher, James Edward Belcher of Taylorsville (NC) … contends the kiss “was just one of many attempts to silence the preaching to those in need of salvation who practice a death style that they call a lifestyle.”
Ten hours after the link request, this appeared : “I’m not Mr. Bellmore, but I’d play him for a venti decaf latte. I’m going to give you a whole lot of links and you can decide for yourself which to read, and how much of it you want to take as presented….That should get you started.” Posted by: Slartibartfast | July 09, 2011 at 06:47 PM
The first link is from TownHall dot com. There is a popup ad, asking you to subscribe to THDC, that you must click through to get to the article. The deal is an ATF (The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives , a.k.a Alabama weekend shopping list) operation called “Fast and Furious”. It seems as though “straw buyers” went to gun dealers in Arizona, bought automatic weapons, and sent these weapons to drug cartels in Mexico.
Pajamas Media has a story, with the headline “The Definitive Scandal: ‘Gunwalker’ Much Worse Than ‘Iran-Contra”. “Quoting: “AK-pattern semiautomatic rifles” I really liked the way you described the weapons involved as opposed to the gratuitously inaccurate, but much more common, “assault weapons”. Too bad they don’t teach your wording in our Journalism schools. “
Committees in the House and Senate have investigated the affair, and issued a staff report . The introduction to the report states: “In the fall of 2009, the Department of Justice (DOJ) developed a risky new strategy to combat gun trafficking along the Southwest Border. The new strategy directed federal law enforcement to shift its focus away from seizing firearms from criminals as soon as possible— and to focus instead on identifying members of trafficking networks. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) implemented that strategy using a reckless investigative technique that street agents call “gunwalking.” ATF’s Phoenix Field Division began allowing suspects to walk away with illegally purchased guns. The purpose was to wait and watch, in the hope that law enforcement could identify other members of a trafficking network and build a large, complex conspiracy case.”
The last link in the comment is from ABC news . The headline was “In Secret Testimony ATF Chief Tells Congress about Controversial Gun Program”. There is an auto start video about a US Border Patrol agent who was killed using a weapon purchased in the program. An ad to the side of the page tells how California drivers get lower insurance rates.
Operation Fast and Furious appears to be a poorly conceived and executed affair. It appears to be similar to other programs to entrap people, in an effort to get the “big man”. Efforts by one branch of the government to decieve another branch of the government should be discouraged. PG strongly suspects that BHO will not be impeached because of Operation Fast and Furious. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.

The Public Service Commission held a hearing recently about a nucler power plant the Georgia Power Company wants to build. The PSC wants The Southern Company (parent of Georgia Power) to be responsible for cost overruns at a proposed nuke plant. SoCo says that this would drive up the cost of borrowing money, and might cause the company to cut corners on safety…“It could impact maintenance decisions”.
A while back, the Legislature passed SB31, which allows the utility to charge customers for the cost of nuclear plants while they are being built. Apparently, this was not enough of a break for the utility.
You need to disable your BS detector when you discuss something with this much money involved. PG suspects that SoCo underestimated the costs of the reactors to get approval. Once they got started they were “too big to fail”. This project was planned before the recent fukushima nightmare, which will not lower costs.
As for “maintenance decisions”… this is one of the issues with nukes. PG suspects that nukes can be operated safely. To do so requires constant, non corrupt oversight by the government. This, and the big money involved, lead to the slogan Nuclear Power = Big Government . To be fair, the electric infrastructure of Georgia is a huge, expensive affair, and comes under the heading of Big Government.
PG has written about this issue one, two, three, four, five, six times. HT to Peach Pundit. Pictures today are from The Library of Congress .

JoemyG-d reports today on a proposal in San Francisco to ban the sale of pets. The proposal has little chance of passing. There is no chance of this measure being enacted in Georgia. But maybe it should.
According the California source “The real problem, staff said, is hamsters. People buy the high-strung, nocturnal rodents because they’re under the temporary impression that hamsters are cute and cuddly. But the new owners quickly learn that hamsters are, in fact, prone to biting, gnawing through expensive wiring and maniacally racing on their exercise wheels at 2 a.m. So the animals end up at the shelter. Just about every species has its own rescue group in San Francisco, but no one seems to want hamsters. Hamsters are the No. 1 animal euthanized at the city’s shelter, said San Francisco Animal Care and Control director Rebecca Katz.”(Katz?)
Here is an animal euthanasia provider who supports the ban. People get pets as an impulse, or as gifts. When they get tired of them, the pet is often murdered. There is also the issue to the excess reproductive capacity of many animals.
When PG took speech and drama in high school, one of the cheerleaders started a speech by saying “you are going to think I am a monster”. Her proposal was to outlaw pets. The amount of food used to feed companion animals could be used to feed humans. Ditto the medical resources used to treat sick animals. People sometimes are so in love with their pets, that they do not see the harm they do to others. A dog that will not stop barking is an infringement on the rights of others. A pit bull, that gets loose, can ruin the life of someone who gets in the way.
PG lived for 23 years in a duplex, and had a wide variety of neighbors. He was fussed at for closing the gate to the back yard by one household. Another neighbor threatened a lawsuit for leaving the gate open. A Florida import dumped his catbox eighteen inches from where PG opened his car door. There was the little black dog that PG became friends with, only to be poisoned by enemies of the owner.
The United States is entering a period of austerity. It is well known that the pampered pets of the wealthy live much better than many human children. Maybe this money needs to be spent on people.
UPDATE: The following comments were left at JoemyG-d about this matter: There was nothing said about gerbils.//It is already illegal to purchase, import, or keep a gerbil as a pet in the state of California. It’s been the law for many years.//Where did Richard Gere get his?//New Hampster.
This is a repost. Here is a post about mass production breeding mills.

The Obama administration announced Wednesday that the Government would send condolence letters to the families of troops who committ suicide while deployed to a combat zone. Democracy Now has a video report. Pictures today are from The Library of Congress
A google search for the phrase “Condolence Letters to Families of U.S. Soldiers Who Commit Suicide” has interesting results. Most of the first page results are from “liberal media” outlets like NPR and Huffington Post. A site called Sodahead had a forum. 207 people have expressed opinions on the topic “Should U.S. Send Condolence Letters to Families of Soldiers Who Commit Suicide?”. Some of the comments are worth reading. The majority support sending the letters.
“Obama is doing this, So I would assume that right wingers are really against this. And the fact that it conflicts with their nutty religion as well.” // It was one of Clinton’s bad decisions! Of course they families should reveive a letter of condolence; otherwise, we indicate that we feel no sorrow as a nation. // Perhaps they should get us out of all these unjust wars, that beats the hell out of any impersonal Federal ‘greeting cards.’ // “Fred for all” said “No, they are murderers” (A picture of a mourning Iraqi lady was posted with it.) // “Joanna the great” said “They knew what they were getting into. Choosing to die is a cowards way out.” // “SlightlySweet” said “No. I don’t condone cowardice. You knew what you were getting into when signing those papers, if not than why join? The battlefield is filled with many horrors. The Armed Services aren’t for the weak.”
“Peanut9244 ” started a dialog. Peanut9244 … Sorry I was in Nam and there is nothing wrong with me. These punks today want all the glory because the have been playing war games on their xboxes and feel the have it all down pat…WAR DON’T WORK THAT WAY. I cant even remember ANY soldier in Nam doing himself in…and if he did the engire regiment would have known it. This is just another ploy of Obama to be guaranteed more votes come 2012….GOD HELP US ALL IF HE WINS. // Josh to Peanut9244 … I don’t usually point out grammar or spelling mistakes because mine isn’t usually the best, but maybe you had a head injury in Nam, That was hard to read. // elijahin24 to Peanut9244 … No. Usually they wait until they get home. Lots of Nam vets have taken their own lives.
“Bob the reasonable one” started a dialog. Bob, th…No. seriously? How can this be a good idea? // elijahin24 to Bob, th… Aside from the part where suicide is the result of mental illness, not weakness; how about the fact that the honors for the dead are really for their families benefit. And their families didn’t do anything wrong. // Bob, th… to elijahin24 … I can only state the obvious that expressing condolenses will be intrepreted by some as the govt. admitting complicancy in their death instead of mental illness….I know how predatory lawyers think…… // elijahin24 to Bob, th…The government is complicit in their deaths. Every bit as much as it is in the death of every soldier, sailor, airman and marine who has EVER died in combat. More so in wars that are not justified, like Veitnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom. And I say that as a veteran of OIF. That said, regardless what predatory lawyers think, you can’t sue the government for war. People have been trying for years, and nobody has ever been successful. // Bob, th… to elijahin24 … OIF? I’m drawing a blank on that…and I’m a retired Army Navy guy…About being complicit, if it’s a mental disease, then it is a pre-existing condition and the govt. is not involved. I just don’t like the idea of the govt. condoning suicide and expressing in any form acknowledgement of this selfish act…and just because lawsuits have been unsuccessful doesn’t mean that eventually it will happen…remember the tobacco companies were successful for generations also…… With DADT being repealed, I have now read about the demand is now for chaplains to be forced to perform homosexual weddings….with each new acceptance, comes more and more pressure to accept more….
There is nothing wrong with Condolence Letters; just don’t award them a Purple Heart . .. Just like if you get hit by a short-round or some such . . . No Purple Heart. // Many of those soldiers would have had ‘PTSD’ symptoms before they enlisted (i.e., they were mad already). The military needs a proper screening process instead of just accepting any fruitcake who wants to sign up for a good time or for something to do. // nolibsperiod (spell check suggestion: periodontics)said “No it dishonors GOD and country. Got a problem deal with it. Wackin yourself is’nt the way out. Only thing I agree politically about. I had a friend once who wack himself gave his wife a hundred dollar bill and said get a better one next time. Suicide is not and never will be a option to this guy. ” // Its not in the service of ones country to kill themselves while in uniform.
“Jay” started a dialog. Jay…Obama should visit the families because he’s the one causing all these suicides // Jay…We give Obama and the Presidency all the respect that Democrats and Black people gave to President Bush, you hypocrite. DEAL WITH IT // “D’oh!” to jay … No he didn’t Obama didn’t cause this war // jay to “D’oh!”…Which war? Obama expanded the war in Afghanistan, and Obama started the war in Libya, and Obama started the war in Yemen. The war in Iraq is over. Bush already had it won before Obama came along. Besides, our troops are committing suicide whether they are in one of the wars or not. They are committing suicide due to Obama’s policies.
“kobidobidog” started a dialog … Satan relishes suicide, and a wanted Jesus to commit suicide on a high place. War causes humans to do what Satan wanted Jesus to do. let us not encourage suicide by stopping war for Satan, and only Satan likes war. // Mechelle to kobidob…You stand by YOUR version of Gods word. But MY God says to embrace the suffering. It is NOT the families fault their child commited suicide. (The family) have every right to know there are people out there who are praying for them and are feeling their pain and are thinking about them and sending their sympathys. By not passing on these letters to these families the gaverment is doing a great injustice. You can hate behind your Bible but that is not what God would want. And just so you know….the devil knows the Bible by heart too. // bmeusmc to kobidob … Jesus did commit suicide…just sayin’.

The post on facebook was in all caps…IT’s OFFICIAL. SIGNED AT 12:20 IT EVEN PASSED ON TV. FACEBOOK WILL START CHARGING THIS SUMMER.IF YOU COPY THIS ON YOUR WALL YOUR ICON WILL TURN BLUE AND FACEBOOK WILL BE FREE FOR YOU. PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON. IF NOT, YOUR COUNT WILL BE DELETED. P,S, THIS IS SERIOUS THE ICON TURNS BLUE, SO PLEASE… PUT THIS AS YOUR STATUS. The fbf noted “I am not sure about this but giving it a try….” PG had heard this before, but wanted to see what Mr. Google had to say.
The top result is for the fan page of Hoax-Slayer. If you go through the posts, you will find a link to the Hoax-Slayer feature about the Blue Icons. Hoax-Slayer apparently is the Australian cousin of Snopes. Click on Snopes and two popup ads will appear. Then, you see the archive story: Lava Lamp Death: Freakish fatality: A man was killed by an exploding lava lamp.
The Hoax-Slayer fan page is a lively place. “HOAX VERIFIED!! ! — On December 25th, 2013 Facebook will start charging you for your account. To avoid this, you must get naked, stand on your dining room table , do the Macarena, all while singing ”I Will Survive”. Then and only then will Mark Zuckerberg come down your chimney to Tell you that your account will stay free. Copy and paste this to your wall if you’re tired of reading about this hoax….. have a good day :p ”
Facecrooks has a lot of likers who know how to copy and paste. There is also a link to a site promoting Walmart gift cards, with a picture of Caylee Marie Anthony.
Urban Legends agrees with the consensus about the news from Facebook. The page advertises Cymbalta, a prescription medication for osteoarthritis pain. One of the possible side effects is “suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults.”
World of Si is the source of the piano music embedded above. There is also a quote : “And why would Facebook run a selection based on a wall post, considering the post has poor grammar and spelling, and that they wouldn’t go through checking 700 million profiles for the post, nor would they be able to run a script due to the amount of people that would post an incorrect version of the status.” ( One of the other sources made a good comment… why would FB start to charge, when the google+ competition is about to go online? PG was too slack to copy a link for this. )
The last result on the first google page was from AOL lifestream . This is apparently a search engine, and this is a puzzling result. We found no results for “FaceBook”, but here is a baby bunny :) Please try again! Pictures today are from The Library of Congress. These are Union troops from the War Between the States.

There is doubt that the aid flotilla to Gaza will take place. The Greek government is blocking the ships from leaving. The US vessel Audacity of Hope set sail, but was turned back by the Greek Coast Guard.
WitnessGaza has an interactive map showing the location of seven ships: Stefano Chiarim, Louise Michel, Audacity of Hope, Juliano, Guernika, Tahrir, Saboteret. A Swedish news site has this report: Earlier this summer the Swedish Ship to Gaza group reported damage to their boat Juliano, while berthed in Piraeus harbour in Greece. The Israeli government later rejected the claims of the Swedish Ship to Gaza movement that “foreign agents” had sabotaged their boat, calling it a ‘James Bond-esque’ insinuation, with no bearing on reality.
The second part of this feature is a repost from two years ago. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
A boat carrying supplies to Gaza was stopped by Israel. Cynthia McKinney was taken into custody. In a telephone statement, Miss McKinney said : “…I had a suitcase full of crayons for children…My cellmates came to the Holy Land so they could be free from the exigencies of superpower politics… “
As the fishwrapper tells the tale, Miss McKinney was offered a quick release if she would sign a statement. According to her mother, Leola McKinney, the statement was written in Hebrew.  The story also has this tidbit: “Israeli officials blame Cynthia McKinney and her group for the controversy, saying they were looking for confrontation to attract publicity. The officials note that Palestinian Authority and the rest of the international community had agreed to the off-shore blockade to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza.”
A google search of “officials note that Palestinian Authority and the rest of the international community had agreed to the off-shore blockade to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza” did not yield the text of a statement by “Israeli officials”. Nor did it shed any light on an “international community agreement”. The ding ding ding you hear is a BS detector.
A google search for “palestinian authority agrees to blockade of Gaza” yields little except confusion. There is an article which says : “Hamas Saturday accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) of supporting the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip in a bid to weaken the Islamic movement which controls the territory.” The PA denies the charges, and says Hamas is playing politics. Ding, ding, ding.
What sort of government agrees to a blockade of its own people? What “international Community” has the authority to say it is OK? Even if the “international community” (or, for Cynthia McKinney, the intergalactic community) does agree to it, a blockade is an act of war. The suffering in Gaza continues, and that is the other certainty in this story.