15 March 2008

FROM MY CHAPBOOK…

0400 by Jeff Hess

My name is Jeff Hess and I’m a biblioholic. I own hundreds of books. Not valuable books, mostly Science Fiction paperbacks and text books, tomes rescued by the bag from library book sales. A few years ago, in the interest of not burying myself, I began reading more books from the library and taking notes. My electronic chapbook was born.

This is a passage I copied from Midrash and Literature edited by Geoffrey H. Hartman and Sanford Budick.

Démarche: A plan or mode of procedure; change in a course of action. [8]

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15 March 2008

DON’T FORGET BURMA NO. 123

0230 by Jeff Hess

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15 March 2008

TIME POWER: TODAY…

0001 by Jeff Hess

Today, as I go about my tasks, I’ll think about: …Can you do everything you have on your desk in one day? Of course not. So you end up with many screaming urgencies in the form of papers piling up around you. This is totally incongruous. The wise thing to do is to prioritize all these papers carefully and keep only the highest priorities in one small stack in front of you, with the rest of the desk clear. You now have a sense of urgency associated with these vital priorities, and the lower-priority items you have put out of sight, thus removing the sense of urgency. p. 18.

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14 March 2008

STEVE MILLER BAND, THE JOKER, 1973…

2359 by Jeff Hess

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14 March 2008

GOOD MORNING MYANMAR…

2030 by Jeff Hess

United Nations speical envoy Ibrahim Gambari has left Myanmar empty handed and his departure may signal the end of a small door through which the generals and the free world could have crossed into a place where a peaceful solution to the oppression in Myanmar was possible. Nehginpao Kipgen sees two paths: neither pleasant.

From Irrawaddy:

Ibrahim Gambari, a seasoned Nigerian diplomat who has been tasked with coordinating the United Nations” efforts to end the political impasse in Burma, wrapped up his latest visit to the country on March 10. The outcome of his mission, which ended without any improvement in the situation, was about as good as could be expected.

In the absence of a mandate from the UN Security Council, there was little chance that the special envoy could achieve anything concrete. When the Security Council refused to pass a resolution on Burma on January 12, it effectively ensured that Gambari”s efforts would become an exercise in futility.

Prior to his visit to Burma, the UN special envoy headed to neighboring countries to build some sort of consensus. As anticipated by many, including Burmese opposition groups and members of the United Nations, nothing has come of Gambari”s travels around the region.

Gambari was reportedly encouraged when the countries he visited paid lip service to the need for real improvement in Burma. But in the end, all he received were words without concrete commitments. China remains as determined as ever to expand its influence in the country for its own purposes, while India is still primarily concerned with countering Beijing”s growing clout.

The game being played by China and India is not about national security or ideology; they are not interested in spreading communism or democracy. The driving force behind the Burma policies of the two countries is economic interest.

Despite the shortcomings of UN efforts to date, however, we should acknowledge, with reservations, the good offices of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his efforts to bring about some resolution of Burma”s longstanding conflicts. Although substantive results have yet to be borne, the first meeting of the 14-nation “Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Myanmar” was convened on December 19, 2007.

There are two possible ways to end Burma”s current situation: through international intervention or by a popular uprising (supported by disgruntled military personnel). Although it may be naïve to even consider it, the swiftest way to bring change would be by military intervention, either by the United States or by the United Nations. Continue Reading »

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14 March 2008

FRIDAY FLASH FUN…

1500 by Jeff Hess

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14 March 2008

MUCKING OUT THE BLOGPILE…

1430 by Jeff Hess

I’m constantly tossing interesting websites into what I call my blogpile. Some of them find their way here in the form of regular posts, but more often than not they languish and get buried deeper in the pile. The end result is that I have to go back and do a bit of shoveling. Today’s item is Exploring Relationships with the Single Weirdo.

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14 March 2008

GOOD NIGHT MYANMAR…

1230 by Jeff Hess

Posted in Free Burma, Myanmar, Video | No Comments »

14 March 2008

FROM MY DAD… THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY EDITION…

0800 by Jeff Hess

I could never bring myself to forward all the email jokes, cartoons and other Internet comedy that land in my inbox. But then I started posting the ones my dad sends me. Judging from my comments and emails, my dad has become one of my greatest blogging assets. So for your morning Irish chuckle I present: From My Dad.

Gallagher opened the morning newspaper and was dumbfounded to read in the obituary column that he had died. He quickly phoned his best friend, Finney.

“Did you see the paper?” asked Gallagher. “They say I died!!”

“Yes, I saw it!” replied Finney. “Where are ye callin’ from?”

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14 March 2008

GOOD AFTERNOON MYANMAR…

0430 by Jeff Hess

As I look through the wires this morning, I’m finding no mention of any demonstrations or other acts of protest in Myanmar yesterday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 13 March 1998 murder of 23-year-old engineering student Phone Maw by riot police. Perhaps tight security is the reason.

From the Associated Press:

Authorities in military-ruled Myanmar stepped up security in the country’s biggest city Thursday on the anniversary of a police killing that led to major anti-government protests 20 years ago.

Truckloads of riot police with batons, shields and tear gas guns were stationed near large markets and important intersections in Yangon in an apparent effort to forestall any protests, witnesses said. Plainclothes police and civilian thugs employed by the junta also had a large visible presence.

Anti-government leaflets have been dropped in several places in the city since the government announced last month it will hold a constitutional referendum in May and general elections in 2010. Continue Reading »

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14 March 2008

FROM MY CHAPBOOK…

0400 by Jeff Hess

My name is Jeff Hess and I’m a biblioholic. I own hundreds of books. Not valuable books, mostly Science Fiction paperbacks and text books, tomes rescued by the bag from library book sales. A few years ago, in the interest of not burying myself, I began reading more books from the library and taking notes. My electronic chapbook was born.

This is a passage I copied from Midrash and Literature edited by Geoffrey H. Hartman and Sanford Budick.

Deictic: showing or pointing out directly the words this, that, and those have a deictic function [166]

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14 March 2008

DON’T FORGET BURMA NO. 122

0230 by Jeff Hess

Posted in Free Burma, Myanmar | No Comments »

14 March 2008

TIME POWER: TODAY…

0001 by Jeff Hess

Today, as I go about my tasks, I’ll think about: Urgent simply means calling for immediate action. p. 17

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13 March 2008

GOOD MORNING MYANMAR…

2030 by Jeff Hess

In my 5th grade class of late we have spent a great deal of time discussing the roll of The Crusades and how they shaped The Middle East and Judaism. I know that people can always find something to fight about, but I’m frustrated about how religion is so central to so many world conflicts. Like that in Myanmar’s Karen State.

From BosNewsLife:

Burmese government troops have launched new attacks on civilians in the northern Karen State are, displacing over 2,100 villagers, a major human rights watchdog said.

Britain-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide, which has investigated the situation in Burma, also known as Myanmar, quoted relief workers as saying that the attacks are “the largest against civilians in northern Karen State since the Burma Army completed the re-supply of its camps and construction of roads at the end of 2007.” Over 30,000 people are displaced in Karen State, adding to the already over one million internally displaced people within Burma, CSW said.

Many of the villagers are believed to be Christians as the Karen community is predominantly Christian BosNewsLife established. The ruling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council, sees Christianity as “a threat to its power base,” according to Christian Freedom International, another rights group active in the region.

“The Burma Army attacked several villages in northern Papun District of Karen State on March 4,” CSW said, citing relief group Free Burma Rangers. Some nine homes and three farm houses were reportedly burned down in Ga Yu Der village. “The Burma Army also fired eight mortar rounds into Tay Bo Kee village. In both cases villagers fled before the troops came, and are now on the run in the jungle,” CSW told BosNewsLife. Continue Reading »

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13 March 2008

MUCKING OUT THE BLOGPILE…

1430 by Jeff Hess

I’m constantly tossing interesting websites into what I call my blogpile. Some of them find their way here in the form of regular posts, but more often than not they languish and get buried deeper in the pile. The end result is that I have to go back and do a bit of shoveling. Today’s item is 50 Tricks to Get Things Done Faster, Better, and More Easily.

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13 March 2008

GOOD NIGHT MYANMAR…

1230 by Jeff Hess

Posted in Free Burma, Myanmar, Video | No Comments »

13 March 2008

MY COMMENTS…

1222 by Jeff Hess

Part of being a good citizen of the blogosphere is visiting, reading and, most importantly, taking the time to leave a comment on other’s blogs. It’s all about the conversation. In the interest of setting an example I’ve decided to link to those blog posts that have compelled me to leave a comment.

1219 Medical Mart deal reached

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13 March 2008

SHE ACTUALLY HAD A MYSPACE PAGE…

0816 by Jeff Hess


Do you think this might have tipped Spitzer off?

From her blog:

positive energy will attract positive energy: Law of Attraction
Current mood: determined

Hello Everyone!! how are you?? This Blog i am going to just talk about my feelings on relationships…from a boyfriend/girlfriend, to closest friends, to family and business relationships…they are all the same to me…

The past few months have been a roller coaster with so called friends, lovers, and family…but its something you have to deal with and confront in order to move on…

I stepped away from each situation that happened and asked myself…

1) What is this person doing to make my life better? (financial, intel, drive, networking etc.)

2) How does this person make me feel? (happy, sad, motivated, depressed, constantly doubting, drama, etc.)

3) How is this person a positive influence in my life? (do they share the same interests, same dreams, does that person make me better when i am with them, or when they are in my life…i would be the same person if they werent in my life, but its just better with them in it…is my best interest always number one in their head AND heart, etc.)

from all this, i mean…

*Does that person make you feel good?

*Does that person drive you to be better?

*Is that person right there behind you when things arent that good, or even if they are??

*Will that person be an asset to your life…(will that person have value): doesn”t have to be financial, i am talking respect, courage, and umm RESPECT.

Posted in Life, The Universe & Everything | 4 Comments »

13 March 2008

FROM MY DAD… THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY EDITION…

0800 by Jeff Hess

I could never bring myself to forward all the email jokes, cartoons and other Internet comedy that land in my inbox. But then I started posting the ones my dad sends me. Judging from my comments and emails, my dad has become one of my greatest blogging assets. So for your morning Irish chuckle I present: From My Dad.

An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for speeding in Connecticut. The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest’s breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car.

He says, “Sir, have you been drinking?”

“Just water,” says the priest.

The trooper says, “Then why do I smell wine?”

The priest looks at the bottle and says, “Good Lord! He’s done it again!”

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13 March 2008

GOOD AFTERNOON MYANMAR…

0430 by Jeff Hess

One of the unheralded dangers of dictatorships is that there’s no one around to tell the dictator they’re nuts. In the Soviet Union Josef Stalin latched onto the lunacy of Trofin Lysenko and millions of citizens starved when the crops failed. It appears that the generals have a similar nut on their hands.

From Reuters:

They may look leafless and lifeless, but Kyaw Sinnt is certain his nut-trees are the key to Myanmar’s chronic energy shortage.

Others are less sure, saying the junta’s plan to turn the country into a giant plantation of biofuel-producing “physic nuts” is yet another example of the ill-conceived central planning that has crippled a once-promising economy.

“I think it’s a great idea. Everybody can take part and it’s good for the environment,” Kyaw Sinnt said, standing next to a small patch of the stick-like shrubs in Pyaw Gan, a bamboo hut village typical of the parched “Dry Zone” southwest of Mandalay.

Fortunately for Pyaw Gan’s residents, the plants, also known as jatropha, are drought-resistant, and energy experts consider them a very promising source of biofuel since they do not oust food crops such as sugar or corn.

Clearly the former Burma’s ruling generals think so too.

In the middle of 2006, the State Peace and Development Council, as the junta prefers to be known, decreed that every farmer with an acre of land had to plant 200 physic nut seeds around the perimeter of their plots. Continue Reading »

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