Lebanon and Israel and America Pt. 1

This article describes a mass burial of Lebanese bombing victims in the city of Tyre:

A Shiite sheik arrives and begins talking to members of the media. I pull him aside and ask him one question: "What message would you send to the people of America?" "Israel?" he asks. "No," I reply. "America."

"I love the people of America. It's the government I hate. Tell the American people that we received their gift. The missile that they gave to Israel - we have received it, and this is the result," he says, motioning to the coffins.

Greece and Slovakia photos

I've posted photos from our one-week holiday on the island of Santorini, Greece last week, and photos from the Bratislava, Slovakia portion of our Austria and Slovakia trip, back in April.

Austria photos

I'm getting around to posting more holiday photos (I've got a bit of a backup). The latest are Vienna photos from our April trip to Austria and Slovakia.

Lebanon Pt. I

I think some people who know me are probably wondering why I haven't commented about the current situation in Lebanon, given the fantastic trip I had there a few months ago, and given my already negative feelings about Israel. I think really, I'm just so sad and pessimistic about the whole thing that I can't really come up with anything appropriate to say. I'm in a state of disbelief about the pointless destruction and the punishment of innocent people, both in Lebanon and Gaza, by a supposedly enlightened country, with the unflinching support by the US. The mind just boggles. What are they thinking? That this will contribute to peace in the middle east? That Hamas and Hezbollah will just give up and go home? That Lebanese and Palestinians and Syrians and Iranians will just eventually bow down and give in to Israeli/American will? Or, just maybe, will this radicalize more people and spawn a new generation of Jihadis? What seems like the most likely outcome to you?

Serious water crimes division

It's a good thing Britain doesn't have any actual problems. Now games with water guns are a real serious concern for the British police:

British police have condemned a role-playing game where contestants travel all over London armed with water pistols looking to "assassinate" other players, saying it could spark terrorism alerts.

Jeebus people, let's get some common sense and sense of proportion, already. At least the police will probably have more success catching and punishing these baddies (I mean, as opposed to actual terrorists) since they'll tend to be conspicuously carrying large, luminous, orange-and-yellow Super Soakers.

Sorry, I just came back from a relaxing holiday, and I'm finding this place a little hard to take today. Spend a few days away from Brits, and when you return the first things that hit you are the loudness, the coarseness, and the pointless undirected aggression. Then put yourself and the aforementioned unpleasant, grouchy gits in a small, overcrowded country, with miserable weather, and stir...

France photos

I've finally posted photos from our Easter weekend motorcycle trip down the French coast.