Susan,

well see tomarrow

LOVELY

Jun 18, 2008 18:07
US: 4 helicopter engines worth $13 m. missing near border with Afghanistan
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

The US military says four helicopter engines worth $13 million are missing in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

US spokeswoman Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green says the helicopters were being shipped overland from the US base in Bagram to a seaport for shipment back to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She says the parts went missing sometime before the 101st Airborne’s arrival in Afghanistan in April.

Nielson-Green says the parts were being shipped by a Pakistani trucking company, but it is not clear where they disappeared.

The US is not disclosing what kind of engines they were.

Dottie–

My pomegranate tree outside has six pomegranates– (bird food it will become)– When the weather gets cooler, I need to complete my backyard– I want to add some citrus trees now that Florida is replacing their citrus groves with the jatropha curcas as to serve for alternative fuel.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/apr/05/new-biodiesel-crop-jatropha-taking-sw-florida/?printer=1/

Did you see that last night, Max? Brit Hume had a deal about it– and I think you once said you like Brit Hume– so do I!

Adam: my friend’s mother killed his PC by vacuming around the plugs.
Last time i thought about backing up my PC, it crashed before i could back any of it up. So for me it’s safer to just leave it on it’s own

Avi–

is this true?

updated 8:32 a.m. MT, Tues., June. 17, 2008
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Gaza’s Hamas rulers on Tuesday said they have reached a long-awaited cease-fire with Israel meant to end months of Palestinian assaults on Israeli border towns and bruising Israeli retaliation.

The announcement came shortly after Egypt, which has been trying to broker the truce for months, said the cease-fire would go into effect on Thursday. Israel refused to confirm a deal, but said a “new reality” would take hold if Palestinian attacks end.

In a last-minute jolt, Israeli aircraft attacked three targets in the southern Gaza Strip. One of the airstrikes destroyed a car, killing the five militants inside. A large crowd gathered around the car’s smoldering remains, and a puddle of blood was visible on the asphalt.

Hamas officials accused Israel of trying to undermine the truce, but said they would not let the violence derail the Egyptian efforts.

“We are going to commit ourselves to the start time that Egypt is going to declare regarding the calm,” said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. However, the group’s television station said the movement would respond to “any Zionist aggression,” underscoring the delicate situation.

Egypt’s powerful intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, has been meeting separately with Israeli and Hamas officials for months in hopes of brokering a truce.

Israel has been seeking a halt to rocket attacks launched from Gaza nearly every day, an end to Hamas’ weapons buildup, and the release of an Israeli soldier held by Hamas for two years.

Hamas, meanwhile, wants an end to Israel’s military activity in Gaza and the lifting of an Israeli blockade that has caused widespread destitution in the already impoverished coastal strip

And Adam–

that sucks you lost four days of work– because when you lose, we do too!

Avi-

Hamas and Chavez~ I don’t hold my breath for either of them! LOL

@Adam-

Comment by Adam Housley
June 17th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Kathy-

She has too much time!

Adam
___________________________________________________________________________

You would be surprised at everthing I do! Ask Jen! LOL

Susan,

16:38 Egypt news agency confirms Israel-Hamas truce to begin at 6 A.M. Thurs. (AP)

dont hold ur breath….

@ Adam–

Did you fix Darvette’s site?

xxx

super hero quiz–

I got 4–dang– I most not have learned too much when I was reading comic books at the library!

http://encarta.msn.com/quiz_314/superhero_quiz_the_sequel_quiz.html

@ Rubicon-

Seems to me, if we wish to respect the Indian nations desire for autonomy, we should also be able to demand they accept full financial responsibility to properly police the border & have no crossings that are unguarded.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Now this makes good sense to me!

Sylvia–

My last computer was having problems so one of my neighbors told me her nephew builds computers and he could fix mine– Well to make a long story short, he brought it back and the computer was all screwed up– I just sent the drive to my brother and he called me to tell me half of the hardware was missing out of it– I was so pi**ed off! He fixed it and now he uses it in the warehouse– I had to get a new puter because of this thief! I haven’t said anything to my neighbor as it was not her who did this– but rest assured, I have not forgotten his face! LOL

grrr– now the posts are disappearing again–

Avi-

Has Hamas reached a truce with Israel?

@Adam-

Comment by Adam Housley
June 16th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Susan-

I am still catching up. When my computer goes down for three days I fall WAY behind. I know you care

Adam
__________________________________________________________________________________

You know I care!

Tuesday gadget day–

here is a $300,000 cell phone-

http://tech.msn.com/products/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7781932&GT1=40000

GOOD NEWS:

IDF killings kidnappers

FINALLY SOMEONES GOING TO SDEROT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT: Muataz Dugmush Killed in Israeli Airstrike
Tuesday, Jun. 17 2008

From Fox Jerusalem Bureau:

Fox News sources are telling us that in this latest IDF attack in Gaza this morning, one of the people killed is Muataz Dugmush from the Dugmush family.

Muataz Dugmush and his family were in responsible for the kidnapping of the Fox News and BBC journalists.

Greg Burke is en route to Sderot and is expected to be there at 1030ET.

adam: i’m glad you got it fixed. do you know what caused the problem?

Good Morning All,

Adam…I know what it’s like to have computer problems….I have had several go poof on me. My husband says I’m a computer jinx.

Adam you know the saying you have to read fast to keep up with Susan!

Dottie-

ditto about Sheriff Joe– He amuses me! LOL

grrr Word Press–

where are my posts?

Hey Adam–

Forget the library= I opened your blog and ended up at Rick Leventhal’s blog– and the thread which appeared– Stripper Pole Tax–

(John– you need to go pay a visit) LOL

@Adam-

We miss you when you disappear!

@LDG–

Hope you have a good day!

@ all-

xxxx

Susan, I do agree with you about Sheriff Joe but he is a “Hoot”

Sylvia, I am far from a night owl….I stay up a little late since I have been blogging and I am doing a job that keeps me there till 8PM ET…Before that however, I was always fast asleep by 11PM….

Hello to you….. I enjoy reading your comments.

Dottie
“Smile” it confuses people

Takes me about an hour to find out what is happening on the blog.

Terri,
Yuma is very special to me…

My parents near their retirement age went to Yuma… My Mom and Dad worked under severe conditions to raise funds to build the Yuma Boys and Girl’s Club… They did and with the help of the Rotary Club and some prisioners put up a building to be proud of… I have not heard how it is going…They retired in 1980 and my Momma passed away in 1981 and my Daddy moved back to Canada and passed away in 1987…..My Dad always said the sun shines everyday in Yuma.

Welcome Back Adam! I figured something was up!

If the Indian nation along the southern border with Mexico does not want a substantial fence, then apparently America must accept that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of drugs that are killing hundreds of thousands, will always have an easy way in.
Seems to me, if we wish to respect the Indian nations desire for autonomy, we should also be able to demand they accept full financial responsibility to properly police the border & have no crossings that are unguarded.
Many keep telling us we must do this or that “for the greater good.” Well guess what, the greater good in this instance would be to deal the border so the drugs stop, the trafficking in human beings stop, and we can feel somewhat confident terrorists find undetected or unobstructed entry into America, a significantly more difficult task. An entire nation is at risk for the sake of a 75 mile section of a border. That’s not logical if we are all to embrace the socialist nanny statism ideals of universal health care & all the other intrusions into our lives, under the guise of “better for the common good.”

@All

Busy day tomorrow, so with things done for tonight, out I go.

Be well and safe.
((departs))

Betty: Blogging on the bog?
An information dump? lol

Comment by John
June 16th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Betty……….re TarMac: “…..as well as how to unroll a roll of toilet paper when I’m bloggin (oops, mom’s fault)……”
Ehhh, thanks for sharing what room of your mansion you use while blogging. Do you use a laptop, or do you have the latest Apple Macinflush PC?

Mansion? LOL, hardly – small townhouse or villa or whatever you want to call it – I just call it “the dump”. I am on a MacBook Pro which is a “notebook” – my very first ‘puter in my whole life, not counting the stuff I bought the kids when they were in skool.

Adam……..”12 year old 3rd grader”……hey, I was only 11…..and that was because I didn’t have a fancy MAC like you Pepperdine Preppies.

“Comment by Adam Housley June 16th, 2008 at 1:34 pm ”

and welcome back to our good host!

Betty……….re TarMac: “…..as well as how to unroll a roll of toilet paper when I’m bloggin (oops, mom’s fault)……”

Ehhh, thanks for sharing what room of your mansion you use while blogging. Do you use a laptop, or do you have the latest Apple Macinflush PC?

@Betty

Ok, that qualifies as cute all around, IMO. Thanks for the explanation!

Comment by βɛʈʈɥ
June 16th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Comment by LDG
June 16th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
@Betty
“He, TarMac…” — ok, presuming you didn’t name him for the Mac

Also love my MacBook Pro, so it’s a combo -

Comment by LDG
June 16th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
@Betty
“He, TarMac…” — ok, presuming you didn’t name him for the MacAdam (McAdam) Scots family, I think there has to be a story there as to how you named him. ‘Cause I sure know what Tarmac is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Loudon_McAdam

That’s not too far off, having grown up in aviation. the name suits the dog too and it’s where the flying public spend all their time.

@John

Follow-up
re: Iranian money out of Europe

“The UK’s Daily Telegraph reported last week that Iranian assets held in Europe were being funneled back to Tehran using financial intermediaries in Dubai.” (paraphrased from various AP republishings)

That would be the value assets they want to get home. The operating assets we mentioned before have to stay out where they can be used, of course.

@Betty

“He, TarMac…” — ok, presuming you didn’t name him for the MacAdam (McAdam) Scots family, I think there has to be a story there as to how you named him. ‘Cause I sure know what Tarmac is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Loudon_McAdam

@Susan-AZ

Hi Susan! You sound busy. We are just adding to our good host’s comment count here. ((grin))

*continuation*

and here is the NATO ISAF homepage, covering activities throughout the country:

http://www.nato.int/ISAF/index.html

@John

re: Afghanistan reports

Here are two official open sources on military activities in Afghanistan

1) The U.S. (autonomous) Task Force assigned to the Southeast Afghanistan sectors opposite the Khyber Pass and the NWFP of Pakistan. Currently this is CJTF-101:

http://cjtf-a.com/

*more*

Speaking of embedding and belching– whatever happened to Robert Shaffer?

Morning to all–

Patty– I have all this driving to do today– I need a chauffeur!! LOL

Have a good day all!

xxx

Comment by LDG
June 16th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
@Betty
hehheh…
A one year old pup is just getting past the toe-nibbling stage and into the “play-play-play” of adolescence. You must be tired!

I can’t help but laugh!

@John

“yeah, because if you as much as belch…”

hehhehheh…

I’ll take it from that you have visited Dubai (or surroundings), and perhaps had an ill-timed belch?

That fco.gov link advises that a tourist’s passport be valid for at least six months after the end of the intended stay in the UAE…………yeah, because if you as much as belch without a license in the wrong part of town you will be imprisoned for up to 6 months.

@John

Glad you found it useful. Bill Roggio and the Public Multimedia Inc. guys are top notch on the open source side of things. They run embeds in both Afghanistan and Iraq that are first rate as well. I know I have mentioned them before (on Iraq things), but happy to give them a plug on this question as well.

re: “last sentence” — yeah, that is just not a happy thing, is it? Let’s just leave it with “… 29 camps that are publicly known from military press releases” (<– my quote) and the knowlege that by that you can infer they are priority surveilance objectives 24/7.

LDG……..interesting link (longwar journal). The war in Afganistan has become somewhat of the “forgotten war” in mainstream media………..nice to get some real information regarding the situation over there.
The most disturbing quote,IMO, from the article is the last sentence……….

“These strikes have done little to disrupt the growth of al Qaeda and the Taliban in northwestern Pakistan. The Taliban and al Qaeda maintain 29 terror camps in North and South Waziristan alone”

@Avi

Looks to be a warning against a possible threat to the expat community there. Here’s the official from the UK FCO. Note the date of status on the update:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/united-arab-emirates

@Betty

hehheh…

A one year old pup is just getting past the toe-nibbling stage and into the “play-play-play” of adolescence. You must be tired!

@John

sorry, false traffic re your question. But interesting in itself…

A different Iranian bank just got its assets frozen in the U.K. and it looks like the rest of the E.U. will freeze them as well.

from the AP:
“The British leader said that assets of Iran’s Bank Melli would be frozen. Last year, the United States accused the bank of providing services to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.”

This was one of the banks that the U.S.A. placed under Financial Monitoring (in late 2006?) as part of the sanctions against Iranian nuclear developments.

@John

“…this latest resurgency of the Taliban in Afganistan.”

Iranian armaments have steadly been found, but that has been on-going for the last couple-three years. No trainers and no Pasdaran operators have been caught inside Afghanistan in recent times. The Talib’s and Iran are not the best of friends by any means, but several of the warlord-narcolord types that run in the countryside of southwest Afghanistan have a long relationship with interests in Iran.

Sadly, a better explanation of the “latest resurgency” is the series of deals cut by the Government of Pakistan with established Taliban leaders who run several of the Tribal Territories of Pakistan. this has basically created a safe zone for the Taliban, and they have used it very well this year. The list of leaders and Pakistani regions under Taliban control is very (scary) long, but the biggest fish is a fellow named Baitullah Mehsud who operates as the defacto power in South Waziristan. He has control over about 10,000 Taliban fighters spread on both sides of the Durand Line. Another local Taliban leader, also operating from inside Pakistan, is Siraj Haqqani, again with substantial forces under his command.

On the bright side, significant NATO ISAF operations (clandestine) have vastly improved intelligence and targeting across the border, and there have been several strikes made. Some have been superbly successful, others hit the aimpoint but miss the priority target.

Here’s a recent open source overview:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/06/report_strike_target.php

***
wait one. something coming in open source on the Iran money question.

The UK ups its terror warning for the UAE — across from Iran —– is somthing hinted in this move?? i think yes….

Comment by LDG
June 16th, 2008 at 11:03 am
@Betty
“Oh, I get it now, it’s cats you’re rescuing!”

That’s cool! I’ve got a puppy I rescued in January – he was a year old a few days ago and now I need rescuing, as does my 10 year old doggie! He’s a sweetie……

LDG……….any thoughts on whether Iran is somehow involved in this latest resurgency of the Taliban in Afganistan. Seems like they’ve been stepping up their operations in the last few days and seem to have increased their ability to obtain weaponry.

…and good ‘morning’, All.

@Max

You might like the adult rescue cat. She is a Siberian and they are considered by some sources to be nearly hypoallergenic. I know someone with fairly severe cat allergy who keeps two like her, with no issues.

@John

re: Iranian money

Most likely short-term destination would be Malaysian, Chinese, or Japanese Banks, in that order. The money can’t just be squirrelled away in a hide as at least a part of those funds are engaged in serving obligations. Still waiting on a U.S. DoJ source to comment publicly on what they know about where it all went.

@Betty

“Oh, I get it now, it’s cats you’re rescuing!”

Yes, sorry for the confusion. I consider it a balance in my life, doing something for no reason other than it is a “good thing”. I am fond of cats anyway. I used to try to rescue people too, long ago, but that was different.

g’morning all.

argh, another monday. Too busy and not enough gumption to accomplish everything. Susan, I need an assistant!

I think Adam left us! Humph, ok John, what did you do to make him leave? *L* (just kidding)
btw..That was cute about your “hiding” yesterday.

I’m allergic to cats. But it’s getting a lot better, i don’t get a strong reaction very often now.

I thought it must have been a cat, as i was pretty sure LDG didn’t have children, but not 100%.

It will be interesting to see if this money finds it’s way to the newly created Iranian backed banks in Venezuala and our ‘friend’ Chavez…….

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2008/06/16/iran_withdraws_75_billion_from_europe_report/?rss_id=Boston.com+–+Latest+news

Comment by LDG
June 15th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
@Max & Susan Az

Oh, I get it now, it’s cats you’re rescuing! You had me wondering for a bit there….good morning! ✈ ✈ ✈ ✈ ✈

@LDG–

Your whole entire post– Way cool!!!

Comment by LDG
June 15th, 2008 at 11:33 pm ……

“…can tell you more on how the cats were rescued–”
——————————————————————————————————————

Beautiful story– all in one post– since I only got bits and pieces through our email–
My favorite part to this post @ June 15, @ 11:33 pm….

LDG: I literally cancelled all plans for the next three days, built an incubator and sat vigil with the little one. Against all odds, he made it through….
__________________________________________________________________________________

Going back way back when in a very old thread: Someone asked the definition of sacrifice–

Yours is an example- LOL

@ John–

to give— in my post– it somehow duplicated– just omit the one— to give– and then read! LOL

@John-

only a few minutes to go in Father’s day and I have once again NOT received a card nor phone call that starts with……”You probably don’t know me, but I think you knew my mother some time ago……….”

___________________________________________________________________________

wrong– I did not have your phone number to give to give you a jingle to let you know I was contacted by your forlorn!

He is doing great– and worth about 10 million! So– your loss, , my gain!

I’m elated…………only a few minutes to go in Father’s day and I have once again NOT received a card nor phone call that starts with……”You probably don’t know me, but I think you knew my mother some time ago……….”

On Father’s Day I will admit that, after I’v talked to my dad, I go into hiding for most of the day. Cowaring in the darkness of my bolted apartment at the first sound of steps coming down the hallway of my condo building. Like life hiding from the Grim Reaper

Yahoo, another year of freedom………….

@LDG—

So it seems we are an animal family…

…I am a bear.
————————————————————————————-

caveat– Keep yourself out of the extinction zone! PLZZZZZZZZZZ!

now I am talking like you– (caveat) (grin)

xxxx

Be back in a bit!

@Jen-

“and he burnt the chara out of the salmon.”

LOL one thousand times!!! You are a learner– Now you are talking just like me! A couple more visits, you will actually say da** instead of darn– (kisses and hugs).

BTW- Charred salmon is great!!!! (throw in some cajun seasoning) Voila~

The pink roses on the ice cream cake are for you! (It was supposed to turn out this way)~

And don’t forget—- Mi casa es tu casa 365 days a year!

xxxxx

@Max

re: “I hate how parts of the pages keep not loading.” — sign me up for your H8 club. Then again, as our good host pointed out once, WordPress just seems to have my number.

re: “LDG: is your “little one” a child or cat?” — Susan had it right. A cat. *more on that below*. My wife and I have no children, nor will. Probably best that be so, in this case anyhow.

@Susan-AZ

Thank you for fielding Max’s question while I was resting. Yes, four cats in total, which is a bunch.

re: “…can tell you more on how the cats were rescued–”

Two were adopted after weaning. Classic case of someone giving up a litter to adoption. Two littermate brothers. Were only able to adopt them by Foxy (Mrs. LDG) pulling a begging job of epic proportions on our then landlord. Thing is, she had never had any pet bigger than a songbird in her life, so it fell on me to be cat wrangler. (I have had years of experience keeping cats, or caring for friend’s cats, and helping with animal rescues from when I lived in other places) Those brothers are 4 years old as of next week. Big boys at about 7 ~ 7.5 kg. They are moggies, but look rather like American Shorthairs. They do have the typical Japanese cat tail defect (genetic).

Next one was an adult rescue. Abandoned animals are a huge problem in Japan as people have the idea that they can just “put the dog out in the forest” when they no longer want or are able to care for them (and we lack a functioning Humane Society or SPCA). This cat was left on the grounds of a hospital here in town, and no one particularly gave a darn for a couple of years. Oh, she was abandoned while pregnant and some of the hospital staff brought home a couple kittens, but not this cat. Two years ago, while my wife was working in the offices of that hospital, she befriended this cat and was quite upset to learn that it was the intention of the Hospital groundskeeper to catch this cat and have her destroyed. So we pulled an adult rescue, complete with revaccination, sterilization, and 60 days isolation to test negative for FLV and FAIDS. Oh, we repaired her broken hip also. I set her up in her own room and did the care during that time. She appears to be a ~7 year old (now) purebred Siberian, about 4.5 kg.

The “littlest one” was my only successful abandonded-infant rescue. Neighborhood children had brought in 3 birth-day abandonments, which both they and the local animal hospital were woefully unprepared to deal with. I tried with what means were at hand, but the odds are so poor (about 10% survival chance for a birth-day abandonment, less if they go more than 2 hours without milk) and we lost them all. After that, I laid in a rescue kit on the chance something like that ever happened again. Amazingly, not 3 weeks later, the neighborhood children brought in one more birth-day abandonment (still had a wet umbilical cord). I literally cancelled all plans for the next three days, built an incubator and sat vigil with the little one. Against all odds, he made it through. When I had to go back to my rounds, the local animal hospital and I worked out a “kitten daycare” for him until he was eight weeks old and fully weaned. He will be 2 years old on the first of July, is a beautiful Asian Shorthair tabby with no defects, and is now a little over 5 kg of stripey pouncy fun-fun-fun.

So it seems we are an animal family: 4 furry purries; Mrs. is a Foxy; and I…

…I am a bear.

Happy Father’s Day to all…an hour left.
Hubby got a ice cream cake for dessert today with Pink roses on it…it was all they had left at Dairy Queen.

Susan,
I can’t believe a week has gone by already, seem like yesterday and I miss you too. We have already talked about returning to AZ! BTW Rob fired up the charcoal this week…and he burnt the chara out of the salmon.

@Jen–

a week ago you two were here! waaa! I still miss you-

@Jen’s hubbie- Rob–

I hope you had a great father’s day as well as Max–

Missing you in AZ!

@Montana–

Hope your day was a good one too– enjoying the hot sun? I am not! LOL

@Max-

LDG: is your “little one” a child or cat?-

Max– let me answer this for you– the one he referred to on the post is a cat– plus he and his wife have three others– If memory serves me correct, all of the cats are rescues—

LDG can tell you more on how the cats were rescued– Foxy (his wife) gets credit too! LOL

And what did you do today for your padre?

My father is in Heaven and so is Ken’s so it wasn’t a Father’s day for us! But Ken is a father and we made it special for him!

Hope all are having a good day.

Adam, any hints as to what you will be covering this week?

Till later, Montana

I hate how parts of the pages keep not loading.

LDG: is your “little one” a child or cat?

At least we can hope that their suggestion of freeing hostages will happen, what ever the possibilites of that really happening are.

@LDG-

I have Tomasa’s cage here– the one she travelled in when she first came to AZ– So I am thinking about baiting the cat and trapping it- and then take it from there! My German neighbor done the street is very compassionate when it comes to pets– and we had allied up in the past when it came to rescues– LOL

ok– off now! I have to get Ken’s insulin syringes– Pharmacy is open–

xxx

repost. WordPress filter doesn’t like the romanization of some Japanese words, it seems.

***
@Susan-AZ

sorry, yes, was slightly distracted. It is about time for me to go, too.

re: “Arigatou for the fun and stimuli!”

*previous Japanese comment (below) edited out*
Most welcome, and I’ll see you on the next time through.

@All

Be well and safe!
((departs))

@LDG–

the cat looks very neglected! Hence, my attention! If it had been a fat and clean cat, I would have not noticed the cat and just put it in my head this was someone’s cat who likes to be outdoors– but this one looks like it needs help!

I will see what I can do to get it to accept me and get it off the street– I think he/she is on to I am the one leaving the food out for the last few days– because it was staring at me last night and I tried to go up to it slowly– We will give it time– but I will get it off the street– poor thing!

xxx

@Susan-AZ

re: “he looks homeless–” — hard to be sure, but no collar / no care is often indicative of a feral or abandoned (stray) cat. My friends in California have mentioned that the Humane Society there does safe-trapping, checks for microchip or other signs of ownership, and then does vaccine and sterilization for little or nothing and releases the now-relatively-harmless animal in the location where the trap was set. Might be worth looking into since a rescue is impractical.

(Sure wish we had anything like that available here. We don’t.)

I am losing you– or you are busy right now! (LDG)

time for me to go– Arigatou for the fun and stimuli!

oyasumi nasai–
(when you get to that point)

xxxx to all

@LDG-

(I lost you for a few minutes–)

even if there is a shortage of cacti currently in the discussion.
———————

that was the preceding thread! (grin)

There is a white cat roaming around here at night– he looks homeless– I have been feeding him or her! Tomasa is not tolerant of cats or I would have brought the cat in– but he/she ran off last night when I tried to approach him/her– but I see the food was gone this morning!
_______________________________________________________________________

fatalities– 9 too many!!

@Susan-AZ

re: “How many fatalities in your earthquake?” — 9 confirmed so far, 11 still missing (I *think*).

@Susan-AZ

“You too LDG–” — thank you, ma’am. I have littlest one curled up in a niche beside me in the office here as we comment.

re: borders being “on-topic” — further evidence of humans being the Rationalizing Beast. We are being faithful to the general ‘bloggin of our good host (natural disasters, borders, Venezuela issues) even if there is a shortage of cacti currently in the discussion.

@LDG–

How many fatalities in your earthquake? (sad)

@Adam–

Are you hanging out with your padre and Tamera’s father as well?

Happy Father’s Day to them both!

@Susan-AZ

re: floods in China

That would be so. Heavy rains in mountainous areas after a big earthquake are just a deadly combination. The floods are more widespread, of course, but the major casualties have been up in Sichuan, if I recall the nightly news correctly. Sure hope we stay dry up in the Northeast here for a few more days while the rescue crews are still looking for our missing.

I see we started page 2– time to scroll up!

@LDG–

Nice to see we are still keeping the posts in reference to borders– we just changed countries! (grin)

@LDG–

Yes, that was announced, *but* if you read the body of that article, there is no small suspicion that the Government of Colombia would announce such a thing if it were in fact happening.

——————————————————————————–

Yes– I did see this!

Kathy Texas–

Welcome back– I quickly read your blog– the wedding sounds very nice–

And yes to all– Happy Father’s Day!! You too LDG– Your hands are full with the parenting of meows!

off topic– China is experiencing flooding now?

BEIJING, China (CNN) — Flooding has killed 55 people and forced more than a million to flee their homes across a stretch of southwestern China, including the earthquake-ravaged Sichuan province, state media reported Sunday.

Authorities said that torrential rains are expected to pound the region for another 10 days raising water levels further, according to the news agency Xinhua.

@Kathy in TX

Welcome back!

Hey all I am back home! So truly sad about Russert, I worry about Big Russ and how he will take the news. Everyone at my house is alive and well, so as Hubby said he did his job. Next time I will blog while at the convention if I go next time. They had a blogger lounge set up but you needed your laptop.

Wow Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there!

@Susan-AZ

re: “THIS I HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE!”

well, that is prudent thinking on your part. ((nodnod))

H. Chavez had his “nice guy” mask on most of last week, and made some rather concilliatory statements all around for a few days. Didn’t last. But maybe some sort of summit is in the cards.

@Susan-AZ

re: “(Reuters) – A Colombian FARC rebel has offered…”

Yes, that was announced, *but* if you read the body of that article, there is no small suspicion that the Government of Colombia would announce such a thing if it were in fact happening.

Some gamesmanship is going on, however. Makes this topic rather timely. ((grin))

Betancourt was last seen in a rebel video at the end of last year looking gaunt and despondent in a jungle camp.

I sure wish she makes it!!! Her will is destroyed too!

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN1440222720080615

Colombia and Chavez to meet– June 14th

BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Saturday welcomed a call by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for FARC rebels to free their hostages as a step towards peace negotiations to end Latin America’s oldest insurgency–

THIS I HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE!