As most of you know I write poetry among other things. The site where all my writing can be found is:

Authorsden.com

Another reason I like that site is because I’ve found some terrific writers there. Some of the poetry is world class.

This morning when I had a couple of minutes at work I was checking out some of the other writing there and I found one that made me smile. The author is Stuart Macfarlane. Here is his page offered with his generous permission:

http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorID=67784

While there, I read his two poems which are actually taken from his book, “The Secret Diary Of Adrian Cat.”

TheSecretDiaryOfAdrianCat.com

Check him out. I think you’ll find something you like. Especially you, Glenn.

Minneapolis authorities should be thanking Senator Larry Craig for his recent “lapse in judgement.” His indiscretion in the airport men’s room has probably resulted in the savings of thousands if not millions of dollars for the community.

After all, they are busy building a bridge you know.

I’m sure they wouldn’t have time or money to devote to expanding the “facilities” at the Minneapolis airport to accommodate the influx of toe tappers for the upcoming Republican National Convention scheduled for early next year.

May I make a suggestion? How about a “secure” facility operated by the Department of Homeland Security for use only by Congress, the Executive Branch and other government payroll hypocrites who have such “needs?”

It could be an efficient design along the lines of Gitmo (but with air conditioning and amenities befitting such high caliber occupants) I can envision a sprawling complex of neatly organized “closets” since that is where they dwell most of the time. If properly constructed and with adequate security to keep out the probing eyes of the media, there would be no need for the “special” communication language they have needed up to this point.

Instead of tapping the toes and sliding the hand suggestively, there could just be a come hither wink or a coy smile before the passionate and romantic “interlude.”

Unfortunately, now that I think this through more clearly, this idea is probably destined to lie at the bottom of the Republican National Convention suggestion box.

With all the spying this administration has done and the removal of Constitutional protections, there would be FBI files on everyone who entered this “facility” which would, no doubt, be kept in Dick Cheney’s man-sized safe for future use when blackmail materials were needed to guarantee a suitable and acceptable vote on a critical issue like prayer in schools or gay marriage.

So, hang in there Minneapolis. You’ll be flooded with “pork” funds to rebuild that bridge and expand the “facilities” at the airport. Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime party next year. Money will flow like wine and there will be a lot of “turning the other cheek” in the restroom at the airport.

Your police department will be receiving cease and desist orders which will keep them from the airport for a few weeks early next year but don’t worry about crime. Giuliani and George W. Bush will be in town and we all know they are “Law And Order” kingpins…. Or is that Thompson?

Anyway, be safe and prosper!

Remember the original "Jaws?" The genius of Steven Spielberg and the incredible acting of masters like Robert Shaw made this award-winning book and screenplay come to life on the screen. It was a must-see in 1975.

My favorite scene is the monologue of "Quint" (Robert Shaw’s character) on the boat as he described the tragic events of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during WWII and what happened to her crew.

Another memorable scene was the one where the Richard Dreyfuss character is having a discussion with the Mayor and the Chief of Police under the sign which had been vandalized. Remember? His line to the Mayor was: "You’re going to ignore this particular PROBLEM until it swims up and bites you on the ass!"

Well, in the words of that great philosopher, Yogi Berra: It’s like Dejavu all over again!

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Remember the original “Jaws?” The genius of Steven Spielberg and the incredible acting of masters like Robert Shaw made this award-winning book and screenplay come to life on the screen. It was a must-see in 1975.

My favorite scene is the monologue of “Quint” (Robert Shaw’s character) on the boat as he described the tragic events of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during WWII and what happened to her crew.

Another memorable scene was the one where the Richard Dreyfuss character is having a discussion with the Mayor and the Chief of Police under the sign which had been vandalized. Remember? His line to the Mayor was: “You’re going to ignore this particular PROBLEM until it swims up and bites you on the ass!”

Well, in the words of that great philosopher, Yogi Berra: It’s like Dejavu all over again!

This just released story tells of another "problem" which is going to "bite" us and our children in the future:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070906/sc_livescience/climatechangeredrawsworldmaps

Oh, I know... Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, George W. Bush and the rest of the right-wing spin machine will poo poo this story. "It’s just part of the natural cycle," they’ll spew over "Faux" News and their many other outlets. (I’m assuming George W. Bush will be offered an anchor chair on "Faux" News after leaving office. He should be able to fit that in between lucrative speaking engagements to "replenish the ol’ coffers!")

But seriously, folks... This particular "problem" IS becoming more and more evident to the scientific community worldwide. This particular "problem" IS going to effect our future and the futures of our children.

I hope we can regain control of our country and our government in time to deal with this particular "problem" before it’s too late.

I wanted to take a little break from the political rants when I noticed this bit of news today:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070905/ap_en_mu/pavarotti

Pavarotti’s voice has that magical ability to touch that nerve in the audience’s soul which makes the skin tingle and the goose bumps rise. I remember as a child watching and listening to Mario Lanza. What an incredible talent! Pavarotti has that same magic. I was sorry to hear that he’s doing worse. Last week when they released him from the hospital I remember thinking maybe he’d beat this terrible illness. But it looks less and less likely now.

It is a loss for the world when such a light dims and finally goes completely out. It makes me realize that we are all connected in a way. Sometimes we get so tangled up in our anger at the current situation that we don’t take the time to listen to the music in the world.

The birds sing after the storm. The dogs howl at the moon. We sing when our hearts are glad. Glenn, I don’t know what we’d do without you.

I wish we could begin to come together again as a country and a people. I’m so tired of the division this administration’s evil and hatred has caused. We are all Americans. This nation has survived so many threats and horrible tragedies in her history. And I’m certain we will survive this administration.

I hope everyone will take a moment to think about the link we have with each other. Any human being who hears Pavarotti knows the magic. Every human being should realize that all the other human beings feel and cry and sing just like them. We are not six billion individual entities who should combat each other for superiority, wealth, power and all the other trappings which some consider “success.”

Maybe if there were speakers everywhere playing Pavarotti singing and making that music which has made people tingle for hundreds of years, maybe then things could begin to get better. Maybe what we need are a few of those good “Goose Bumps.”

For the new book released today: "Dead Certain"

President Bush participated in six interviews. One of the most telling statements of our illustrious Commander In Chief proclaimed the following:

He wants to make money ? "replenishing the ol' coffers" ? after his presidency. He said he could make "ridiculous" money on the lecture circuit, citing the experience of his predecessor, Bill Clinton, as well as his own father.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070904/ap_on_re_us/bush_biography

Could there be a more idiotic or unpatriotic statement from a man who is responsible for sending our armed forces to fight and die? Could there be a more callous insult to those fighting men and women AND their families?

I listened to a debate between a former White House aid and an Iraqi veteran on Hardball. Where do "they" find people who can sit on these pundit shows and defend this monster even when he says something as horrible and indefensible as this? I'll never understand!

I couldn't sit still. I had to vent about this so I came in and sat down at the computer to blog about it. I apologize if I'm not the first. There will probably be dozens more articles, blogs and stories written about this during the next few days.

While I'm in my "rant" mode, let me offer a few observations about "Georgie's" visit to Al Anbar province. His photo-op at Al-Asad air base took about as much courage as landing on the south lawn of the White House in "Georgie" I.

There is no safer place in Iraq than where this photo-op took place!

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/al-asad.htm

Al Asad Airfield, the second largest airbase in Iraq, is located in northern Iraq approximately 180 kilometers West of Baghdad and 12 kilometers Southwest of the Euphrates River. The airfield is served by two main runways measuring 14,000 and 13,000 feet. Al Asad, like other military airbases across Iraq, has numerous hardened shelters and hangars with multiple runways and taxiways, patterned after their Russian counterparts. According to the "Gulf War Air Power Survey", Al Asad had 33 hardened aircraft shelters. At each end of the main runway are hardened aircraft shelters knowns as "Trapezoids" or "Yugos" which were build by Yugoslavian contractors some time prior to 1985. Al Asad is protected by a 21 kilometer security perimeter.

A 21 kilometer security perimeter!?!? Several hardened bunkers and explosion resistant walls between ANYONE and "Georgie!" Oh, and 7,000 U.S. Marines and 3,000 American soldiers just for a little EXTRA secure feeling! Hell, this place used to be safe enough for Saddam to stroll around.

As we ALL know, this photo opportunity will be used extensively on "Faux" News and other media outlets when this administration spins more lies while pretending to care what General David Patreuas reports.

Another excerpt from "Dead Certain" proclaims (again I paraphrase) "Georgie" hoped he and his puppet masters could convince both parties by October that the war in Iraq should be continued indefinitely. Isn't that, after all is said and done, what "they" wanted all along? To provide the military industrial complex with a never ending supply of no-bid contracts?

Every day more Americans die in Iraq. Every day more Iraqis die. Every day more Americans KNOW how arrogant, incompetent and evil this administration has been and IS!

I hope George W. Bush is NEVER able to make a speech for money after this administration leaves office. I hope he realizes someday what he has allowed those who control him to do. Unfortunately neither of those things will probably come to pass. He'll add to his already bulging "coffers." He will NEVER look in the mirror and see the evil "We The People" see more and more every day!

As many of you know, I've been working on a book about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The errors in judgement of this administration are legendary but their decision to invade Iraq and their continued arrogance and incompetence which is demonstrated by the stubborn continuation of the action there has brought back horrible memories for many of us who served in Vietnam. The tragic deaths of over 3,700 brave American troops and the countless wounded which are the direct result of this administration's stubborness will bring another terrible consequence: The troops who are serving so bravely, in my opinion, will suffer more severe PTSD than any other group of fighting men in our history.

I met a new friend yesterday. His name is Greg and he served in Vietnam in 1968/69. He operated the 50 caliber machine guns on a Swift Boat (USN Patrol Craft Fast) until he was severely wounded and shipped back to the “World.” Each individual story I hear as I work on this book is unique but so similar.

We talked a little about PTSD and I look forward to more conversations with him about his time in Vietnam and the effects of it on his life after that service. The more we talked, the more I knew we shared some of the patterns and life-changing effects of our service.

I told him I had always admired the Swift Boaters for their courage because in my opinion nobody in Vietnam was more of an open, vulnerable target. The guys who flew the medivac helicopters rank right up there too.

Greg laughed when I talked about their vulnerability. He said it was true but “they” only got one shot. If they missed, there was a horrible price to pay. The firepower aboard these little vessels could bring complete destruction to an attacking force in very short order.

Information on the boats can be found here:

http://swiftboats.net/extras/boat_background.htm

Gives new meaning to Ali’s “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” doesn’t it?

The guys who served on the Swift Boats and PBR’s in Vietnam are a tightly knit group to this day. They have reunions every two years and I admire and envy that. I’ve thought for a long time about trying to organize a reunion for the people I served with in Danang but, like some other important matters in my life, I’ve always managed to procrastinate.

Greg is looking for a boat for his retirement. He’s always loved the water, like me, and wants to spend his retirement years exploring the, more friendly, rivers of the US. But during our conversation he said he still gets that rumbling in his gut sometimes when he looks at a shoreline and his mind’s eye sees an enemy gunner there. That will never leave Greg and that’s the tragedy of PTSD.