8 January 2008
8 January 2008
REMEMBER THE MADDOX AND THE C. TURNER JOY…
1038 by Jeff Hess
When it came to playing chicken at sea, the Soviet Union was the master. And the Iranians have clearly studied at their feet when it comes to goading the United States Navy. I know. The U.S.S. Bainbridge played the deadly game with both. In the case of the latter, coming within 30 seconds of launching a Terrier missile.
So I know it happens. But when I read the news this morning about the U.S.S. Hopper, U.S.S. Port Royal and U.S.S. Ingraham I didn’t think of the Russians or the Iranians, but of the North Vietnamese, the U.S.S. Maddox, the U.S.S. Turner Joy and the lie that ended with the deaths of more than 50,000 American military personnel.
From The New York Times:
Five armed Iranian speedboats approached three United States Navy warships in international waters in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, then maneuvered aggressively as radio threats were issued that the American ships would be blown up, military officials said Monday.
The confrontation, which ended after just under 30 minutes without damage, shots fired or any injuries, took place during daylight on Sunday as the three American ships were entering the Persian Gulf.
Compare that to the New York Times lede on 4 August 1964:
President Johnson has ordered retaliatory action against gunboats and ‘certain supporting facilities in North Vietnam’ after renewed attacks against American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.
I’m just saying.
Look behind the curtains.
What do you think?
8 January 2008
FROM MY DAD… VIDEO WEEK…
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 blog chuckle I present: From My Dad.
8 January 2008
GOOD AFTERNOON MYANMAR…
0430 by Jeff Hess
In the United States, those how find great fault with our prison system often talk about how the result of our prisons are better-trained criminals. In Myanmar the result has been similar but drastically opposite (unless you’re a general). Throwing protesters into prison is producing better trained, and connected, revolutionaries.
From the Los Angeles Times:
Many others found themselves behind bars, where they could either try to sleep on the crowded concrete floor or get to know other protesters.
Most spent only a few days in jail, long enough to overcome distrust, make new contacts with the underground, and organize more cells that now communicate through coded messages, Internet drop boxes and old-fashioned couriers.
“Nobody knew what they were doing in the revolution. There was no organization,” said a small businessman who joined the street protests out of frustration with mismanagement of the economy.
“But when people were in jail, they got to meet each other. They could exchange e-mail addresses, cellphone numbers and make plans,” added the entrepreneur, who spoke on condition of anonymity because police are still arresting and torturing dissidents.
They walked out of jail with a new determination to tap into the growing sense that the generals are losing their grip, pro-democracy activists and their leaders inside and outside Myanmar said in interviews.
Occasionally government’s unintended consequences can be good.
What could you do to help make that more often?
8 January 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 Perfume of the Desert: Inspirations From Sufi Wisdom by Andrew Harvey and Eryk Hanut.
Between me and You, there is only me.
Take away the me, so only You remain.
– Hallaj p. 85
8 January 2008
8 January 2008
TIME POWER: TODAY…
0001 by Jeff HessToday, as I go about my tasks, I’ll think about: I suggest that you adopt Carl Roger”s notion that we are always in the process of becoming. p. 34
7 January 2008
GOOD MORNING MYANMAR…
2030 by Jeff HessThe Soviets had Lubyanka in Moscow. The British had H Block in Northern Ireland. The United States has Guantanamo. And the generals have Insein in Myanmar. Bloggers are tracking the status of political prisoners held at Insein and their reports aren’t hopeful. From Burmese Bloggers W/o Borders:
URGENT ACTION NEEDED
Dear Bloggers around the world! Your Help is much Needed ! Please spread the news of political prisoners inside Insein Jail, the most notorious jail in Burma!
Source copied from Ko Htike Blog. Here.
The latest news of Insein Prison is reported as follows:
Political Prisoner, Ko Kyaw Soe (aka Talky Kyaw Soe) was moved from a special unit to the main unit on 27 December. His head was badly injured during arrest which has effected his brain and neuro system. Until now, Ko Kyaw Soe and 6 other protesters have not been seen by family members. Instead, they can only send packages to them.
Political Prisoner, Ko Myint Lwin Oo (aka Thar Gyi) appeared before court on 26 December.
Five monks from Ngwe Kyaryan monastary (U Nanda, U Zarni Ya, U Ega Dama, U Indria and U Lar Thaka) have all been charged under Sections 505 b, 295 and 143.
Political Prisoner, Ko Kyaw Swa Htay has been charged under Section 7, Political Prisoner, Ko Htun Htun Naing has been charged under Section 505, Political Prisoner, Ko Aung Min Naing has repeatedly been given court appointments, which have not been kept. Political Prisoner, and one of the leaders of 88 generation, Ko Hla Myo Naung is still in the main unit’s hospital where treatment is of the lowest standard.
Except for shower time, all the political prisoners are banned from going outside their cells. Apart from the famous and well-known leaders, the rest, and especially younger prisoners are subjected to physical and mental abuse and torture.
There was a meeting on 26 December between the judges and attorney generals, who decided not to hold hearings for the time being.
How will you respond?
7 January 2008
MUCKING OUT THE BLOGPILE…
1400 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 Alice Illustrations other than Tenniel.
7 January 2008
7 January 2008
FROM MY DAD… VIDEO WEEK…
0800 by Jeff HessI 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 blog chuckle I present: From My Dad.
7 January 2008
GOOD AFTERNOON MYANMAR…
0430 by Jeff HessWhen the leadership won’t act, the rank-and-file have to take to the streets. That’s tough when you’re in a monastic organizatino where leaders are venerated and ritual obediance expected. Increasingly Buddhist monks around the world are not waiting for instructions from the top to act in solidarity with their brothers in Myanmar.
From Narinjara:
A leading monk organization working on Burmese monk affairs was formed by five monks’ organizations in Bangladesh on Friday at a monastery in the Chittagong Hill area in Bangladesh, said U Thiha, the spokesperson of the new organization.
He said, “All monk organizations agreed in a meeting to form an umbrella monk organization to lead Bangladeshi monks in cooperating with Burmese monks for carrying out their religious purpose in Burma.”
How do you sing The Internationale in Burmese?
7 January 2008
FROM MY CHAPBOOK…
0400 by Jeff HessMy 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 Perfume of the Desert: Inspirations From Sufi Wisdom by Andrew Harvey and Eryk Hanut.
All sailors totter on planks of fear and hope –
But when “planks” and “sailor” have vanished,
What remains but drowning?
– Rumi p. 81
7 January 2008
TIME POWER: TODAY…
0001 by Jeff HessToday, as I go about my tasks, I’ll think about: Happiness is living all your unifying principles. p. 33-4
6 January 2008
MUCKING OUT THE BLOGPILE…
1400 by Jeff HessI’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 “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.”
6 January 2008
MY COMMENTS…
1242 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.
1238 Is Clinton too angry, or does she need to be angrier still?
6 January 2008
6 January 2008
FROM MY DAD… VIDEO WEEK…
0800 by Jeff HessI 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 blog chuckle I present: From My Dad.
6 January 2008
GOOD AFTERNOON MYANMAR…
0430 by Jeff HessThere are no quiet revolutions, most just don’t grab international attention until an event occur rs that some media gatekeeper adjudicates as being newsworthy and plays the story on the front page, the cover or the evening news. There are those who knew about the military dictators of Myanmar long before September of last year.
They were paying attention.
From the Lancashire, England, Telegraph:
Matthew Egan, from Bury Road, Rawtenstall, became interested in Burma when he completed a degree in International politics at Manchester University.
For the past 12 months he has campaigned to raise awareness and encourage action in Burma, including organising a music night, an online campaign and now this march.
The 25-year-old who works for Salford Council, said: “I wanted to focus on one issue and I felt Burma was really neglected because people had forgotten about it until everything kicked off again in September when there was a crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners…
What have you been focusing on of late?
6 January 2008
FROM MY CHAPBOOK…
0400 by Jeff HessMy 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 Perfume of the Desert: Inspirations From Sufi Wisdom by Andrew Harvey and Eryk Hanut.
[Rabi”a al ‘Adawiyya (717 – 801 CE) was born in Basra. As a child, after the death of her parents, Rabi”a was sold into slavery. After years of service to her slave master, Rabi”a began to serve only the Beloved with her actions and thoughts. Since she was no longer useful to the slave owner, Rabi”a was then set free to continue her devotion to the Beloved.]
O Lord,
If I worship You
From fear of Hell, burn me in Hell.
If I worship you
For hope of Paradise, bar me from its gates.
But if I worship you for Yourself alone
Then grace me forever with the splendor of Your Face.
– Rabia p. 79
