The Fulcrum
Saturday, January 17, 2004
Trading Votes for Science
It seems it's as simple as that. Shrubby's grandstanding, election year announcement that NASA will focus its energies (and hence its monies) on returning men to the moon and eventually to Mars is the death knell for one of the most important and fruitful missions ever undertaken. Because of aWol's announcement requires that all future shuttle missions be dedicated to completing ISS, NASA has canceled all future servicing missions to the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hubble has provided incredible and unprecedented views of the distant universe; into the past; closer to the "Beginning" than we had ever seen. It gave us beautiful pictures, definitely. But it also gave us insights into the most fundamental questions that a sentient race could ask: "where did we come from? what came before?"
But NASA had to cancel the last servicing mission that would have provided Hubble with updated gyroscopes, batteries and perhaps, in a future mission updated sensors. The final mission to Hubble will now be a small rocket to ensure that Hubble de-orbits in a safe manner. The budget for that mission, likely around 2007 - to kill Hubble - must come, in a final irony, from NASA's astronomy budget.
Go here to see some of the incredible images brought to mankind by Hubble.
Hubble has provided incredible and unprecedented views of the distant universe; into the past; closer to the "Beginning" than we had ever seen. It gave us beautiful pictures, definitely. But it also gave us insights into the most fundamental questions that a sentient race could ask: "where did we come from? what came before?"
But NASA had to cancel the last servicing mission that would have provided Hubble with updated gyroscopes, batteries and perhaps, in a future mission updated sensors. The final mission to Hubble will now be a small rocket to ensure that Hubble de-orbits in a safe manner. The budget for that mission, likely around 2007 - to kill Hubble - must come, in a final irony, from NASA's astronomy budget.
As the news flashed around the world by e-mail, other astronomers joined the Hubble team in their shock. Dr. David N. Spergel, an astronomer at Princeton and a member of a committee that advises NASA on space science, called it a "double whammy" for astronomy. Not only was a telescope being lost, but $200 million worth of instruments that had been built to be added in the later shuttle mission will also be left on the ground, Dr. Spergel said.If I thought that this program would actually result in the establishment of a permanent base on the moon and the landing of astronauts on Mars, I might not despair for Hubble. But for a publicity stunt, one which he has already underfunded even in its announcement, aWol has ensured the destruction of one of the finest scientific instruments ever devised by man.
Go here to see some of the incredible images brought to mankind by Hubble.
Friday, January 16, 2004
Don't Adjust Your Set
It's not your computer, it's not the strange weather, it's not the couple of frosty beverages of choice you just had. No, it's not even the CIA or the NSA or the Secret Service. It's just me rearranging my blog template.
My side bar was getting too long, I thought. So I split it up into right and left and put my posts in the middle. I'm pretty sure I like it; it keeps the place neat, clean and with a certain visual appeal, I think.
Let me know what you think.
My side bar was getting too long, I thought. So I split it up into right and left and put my posts in the middle. I'm pretty sure I like it; it keeps the place neat, clean and with a certain visual appeal, I think.
Let me know what you think.
Friday Dog Blogging - Late Edition
If you've been watching the news or the weather, you know that where I live - near Rochester, NY - it's been very snowy and cold. So this edition of Friday Dog Blogging; featuring Baylea the Wonder Lab shows Baylea in our back yard, her face covered in snow after snuffling through about 12 inches of snow looking for her favorite ball.
We were freezing, bundled up in snow pants, parkas and hats. Baylea wanted to stay out all afternoon. We compromised: Baylea played, we froze.
We were freezing, bundled up in snow pants, parkas and hats. Baylea wanted to stay out all afternoon. We compromised: Baylea played, we froze.
Why I Read Bob Herbert
And why you should too:
Herbert wrote today about Al Gore's environment speech in NYC; about his passion, about his grasp of not only BushCo's rape of the environment in the name of donor quid pro quo, but of the larger danger of Shrubby's cabal. Read the entire article here, but these two paragraphs are just so outstanding that I had to include them in this post:
Herbert wrote today about Al Gore's environment speech in NYC; about his passion, about his grasp of not only BushCo's rape of the environment in the name of donor quid pro quo, but of the larger danger of Shrubby's cabal. Read the entire article here, but these two paragraphs are just so outstanding that I had to include them in this post:
The fates dealt Mr. Gore and the United States a weird hand in 2000. He got the most votes but the other guy became president. And the country, its Treasury looted and its most pressing needs deliberately ignored, has been rolling backward ever since.
"This is insanity," said Mr. Gore, referring to the administration's handling of the environment. But his speech made it clear that he could just as easily have applied that sentiment to the full range of Bush-Cheney policies. History will not be kind to the chicanery that passes for governing in the Bush II administration.
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Upyernoz vs Safire
Head over to Rubber Hose and see Upyernoz dissect William Safire's latest lame effort at spinning BushCo's misadventures in the world as successful.
The post is long, well written and worth every minute it takes to read it. Join the commenters in asking him to send this missive into the New York Times to add a little balance.
The post is long, well written and worth every minute it takes to read it. Join the commenters in asking him to send this missive into the New York Times to add a little balance.
France vs USA
I thought I'd just keep with the World Cup feel to my headlines today.
Lots of folks have blogged about France wanting to indict VP Dick "The Puppetmaster" Cheney for his role as then-CEO of Halliburton when that company was bidding, with a French oil company for gas rights in Nigeria. There is the possibility of a sitting Vice President being indicted by a foreign country for bribery and corrupt practices while a CEO for a company from which he is still receiving delayed compensation. If indicted, he would obviously not stand trial, but then would be unable to travel to any country within the EU without being arrested and brought to trial. That would make him really useful, right?
This is huge news, right?
Nothing in the Wall Street Journal.
Nothing in the New York Times.
Washington Post? Nope.
Where can you find the story?
The UN Observer.
Le Figaro (France's largest, conservative paper), of course (archived stories must be paid for, but watch the front page for upcoming stories).
Al Jazeera.
And an article - not on the front page - from January 9th in the Dallas Morning News.
Our wonderful, So-Called Liberal Media, doing it's job. Which is, apparently, nothing.
Lots of folks have blogged about France wanting to indict VP Dick "The Puppetmaster" Cheney for his role as then-CEO of Halliburton when that company was bidding, with a French oil company for gas rights in Nigeria. There is the possibility of a sitting Vice President being indicted by a foreign country for bribery and corrupt practices while a CEO for a company from which he is still receiving delayed compensation. If indicted, he would obviously not stand trial, but then would be unable to travel to any country within the EU without being arrested and brought to trial. That would make him really useful, right?
This is huge news, right?
Nothing in the Wall Street Journal.
Nothing in the New York Times.
Washington Post? Nope.
Where can you find the story?
The UN Observer.
Le Figaro (France's largest, conservative paper), of course (archived stories must be paid for, but watch the front page for upcoming stories).
Al Jazeera.
And an article - not on the front page - from January 9th in the Dallas Morning News.
Our wonderful, So-Called Liberal Media, doing it's job. Which is, apparently, nothing.
Brazil vs USA
I'm not talking about the next World Cup match up. No, unfortunately I'm referring to the latest incident caused by Brazil's requirement that Americans visiting that country to be finger printed and photographed. That move comes in retaliation for BushCo's new requirement for visitors from a long list of countries, including Brazil, to be photographed and finger printed on entry to the U.S. Several countries have complained about the intrusive process, but Brazil has been most vocal and was the first to take a counter action.
Here's the entire AP article, reprinted from this morning's Wall Street Journal:
Here's the entire AP article, reprinted from this morning's Wall Street Journal:
Brazil's New Entry Rules
Cause Yet Another Flap
Associated Press
SAO PAULO, Brazil -- An American Airlines pilot was arrested by federal police after making an obscene gesture when being photographed at the airport as part of a newly imposed entry requirement for U.S. citizens, federal police said.
The pilot allegedly lifted his middle finger while undergoing a new fingerprinting and photographing process put in place by Brazil for U.S. citizens Jan. 1, said Francisco Baltazar da Silva, chief of Sao Paulo's federal police. The pilot has agreed to pay a fine equal to $12,750, a federal prosecutor said.
The incident is the latest flap in a growing diplomatic spat between Brazil and the U.S. Brazil began requiring Americans to be photographed and fingerprinted upon entering Brazil in response to a U.S. antiterrorism measure that requires the same from citizens of all countries who need visas to enter the U.S. The Brazilian requirement became the government's official policy Monday, citing the diplomatic concept of "reciprocity."
American Airlines spokeswoman Martha Pantin said the incident was the result of a misunderstanding under investigation by the airline, but didn't provide more details. American Airlines is owned by holding company AMR Corp.
What's New In My Sidebar?
For being so opinionated on so many other things, you've probably wondered why I haven't come out and said who I support for President this year. The wondering can stop (if any of you were...).
I have decided - at the same time as Carol Moseley Braun, apparently - to support Governor Howard Dean, M.D..
For long-time readers, you'll remember that I initially expressed interest in Gen. Clark. But after watching all the candidates over these past months, reading their positions and mulling everything over, I've made my decision. I think that Dr. Dean can defeat the unelectable fraud currently in residence in our White House. I think he's got the right policy ideas and I think that he can lead us back to a true leadership position in the world.
I have added my voice to the growing chorus for Dr. Dean. If you haven't figured out who you're going to vote for, I hope that you are actively trying to come to decision. You may make no more important decision for yourself or your children this year.
I have decided - at the same time as Carol Moseley Braun, apparently - to support Governor Howard Dean, M.D..
For long-time readers, you'll remember that I initially expressed interest in Gen. Clark. But after watching all the candidates over these past months, reading their positions and mulling everything over, I've made my decision. I think that Dr. Dean can defeat the unelectable fraud currently in residence in our White House. I think he's got the right policy ideas and I think that he can lead us back to a true leadership position in the world.
I have added my voice to the growing chorus for Dr. Dean. If you haven't figured out who you're going to vote for, I hope that you are actively trying to come to decision. You may make no more important decision for yourself or your children this year.
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
A Friend in Need...
Everyone go visit Elayne Riggs today over at Pen-Elayne. She's feeling a bit down on herself and could use some encouragement, kind words and some general support and good will.
Off with you. Go be nice to your neighbor!
Off with you. Go be nice to your neighbor!
Rumsfeldian
Another word from this administration to describe a type of lying. Maybe this one should be limited to mean only hagiographic, sycophantic lying. Here, let me show you what I mean.
This is Rumsfeld, on Shrubby, in the New York Times, refuting Paul O'Niell's assertion that aWol was like "a blind man in a room full of deaf people."
This is Rumsfeld, on Shrubby, in the New York Times, refuting Paul O'Niell's assertion that aWol was like "a blind man in a room full of deaf people."
Mr. Rumsfeld defended the president for "his brain, his engagement, his interest, his probing questions, his constructive and positive approach to issues."Describes Bush perfectly, no?
Bush Election Boondoggles Part I
The biggest election year boondoggle is already getting plenty of press; both mainstream and in the blogosphere. I want to talk about another, much smaller boondoggle.
In this environment of ever expanding federal deficits as far as the eye can see, when state and federal programs to help the truly needy are being cut everywhere, BushCo, in a nod to their fundamentalist, right-wing, wacko base are willing to blow $1.5 billion on promoting marriage.
There is some evidence that education programs that promote good communication on important marital matters really do help couples remain married. There is less evidence, but still some, that such programs aimed at people before they marry are helpful as well. All well and good. However, you just know that nothing this administration does can be for the good it can do or because sound science says it's the right thing to do. What sort of restrictions can you imagine would be in such a program that would increase it's appeal to the rabid, bible-thumpers on the right?
Well, there's the much hated 1996 "Defense of Marriage Act," which specifies that for any federal program a married couple must only be defined as... go ahead, you know the answer... a man and a woman.
There are other problems of course. Many groups worry that such programs would be de facto coercion to marry or that there would be pressure for women to remain in abusive marriages.
Beyond that, I'm concerned that such programs would provide ammunition for local and state judiciaries to roll back the gains made in divorce law over the past several decades. They could be induced to add restrictions to divorce statutes and knowing the propensity of conservatives to define everything in terms of how it can benefit males (and especially WASP males), you could expect such restrictions to fall most heavily on women.
In combination with the DMA, such programs are sure to be heralded as a move back to the "good old days" when heterosexual marriage for life was not only expected, but tacitly enforced by societal convention and by the law regardless of the toll it takes on women and children.
"Compassionate Conservatives." Makes your head hurt doesn't it?
I think the word you're looking for is "oxymoron."
In this environment of ever expanding federal deficits as far as the eye can see, when state and federal programs to help the truly needy are being cut everywhere, BushCo, in a nod to their fundamentalist, right-wing, wacko base are willing to blow $1.5 billion on promoting marriage.
There is some evidence that education programs that promote good communication on important marital matters really do help couples remain married. There is less evidence, but still some, that such programs aimed at people before they marry are helpful as well. All well and good. However, you just know that nothing this administration does can be for the good it can do or because sound science says it's the right thing to do. What sort of restrictions can you imagine would be in such a program that would increase it's appeal to the rabid, bible-thumpers on the right?
Well, there's the much hated 1996 "Defense of Marriage Act," which specifies that for any federal program a married couple must only be defined as... go ahead, you know the answer... a man and a woman.
There are other problems of course. Many groups worry that such programs would be de facto coercion to marry or that there would be pressure for women to remain in abusive marriages.
Beyond that, I'm concerned that such programs would provide ammunition for local and state judiciaries to roll back the gains made in divorce law over the past several decades. They could be induced to add restrictions to divorce statutes and knowing the propensity of conservatives to define everything in terms of how it can benefit males (and especially WASP males), you could expect such restrictions to fall most heavily on women.
In combination with the DMA, such programs are sure to be heralded as a move back to the "good old days" when heterosexual marriage for life was not only expected, but tacitly enforced by societal convention and by the law regardless of the toll it takes on women and children.
"Compassionate Conservatives." Makes your head hurt doesn't it?
I think the word you're looking for is "oxymoron."
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
A Good Night
I don't do many posts on personal subjects, but tonight was such a nice night I just thought I'd share a little of it with you.
After a long day of work (the only "not great" part of the day), my wife and I came home - we work at the same office - made a nice, quick dinner, then had a great big piece of carrot cake. Now carrot cake happens to be my favorite dessert in the whole world. I usually only get it one day of the year; my birthday. So, as you might guess, today's my birthday (I'm not telling!).
It's cold, windy, snowy and just generally miserable outside. But inside it's warm and cozy; there's an open bottle of wine and a fire. It just doesn't get any better than that.
Now, if you're wondering what the hell I'm doing blogging with all of that outside of my den: my wife's on the phone to her parents. So I thought I'd just send out a sort of reverse birthday greeting to you all. I've had a great time writing this blog. But of course without readers - especially those who leave comments - it would just be typing practice. So thank you all very much. Your comments and your blogs have been a help and an inspiration to me.
So, with all I have here at home and with all of you out there, I feel it's been a very good year. And I'm ready to start another.
After a long day of work (the only "not great" part of the day), my wife and I came home - we work at the same office - made a nice, quick dinner, then had a great big piece of carrot cake. Now carrot cake happens to be my favorite dessert in the whole world. I usually only get it one day of the year; my birthday. So, as you might guess, today's my birthday (I'm not telling!).
It's cold, windy, snowy and just generally miserable outside. But inside it's warm and cozy; there's an open bottle of wine and a fire. It just doesn't get any better than that.
Now, if you're wondering what the hell I'm doing blogging with all of that outside of my den: my wife's on the phone to her parents. So I thought I'd just send out a sort of reverse birthday greeting to you all. I've had a great time writing this blog. But of course without readers - especially those who leave comments - it would just be typing practice. So thank you all very much. Your comments and your blogs have been a help and an inspiration to me.
So, with all I have here at home and with all of you out there, I feel it's been a very good year. And I'm ready to start another.
Hubris Defined
It's been widely commented on but, not surprisingly, underreported in the media, but I just had to say something on it.
Has there ever been a president - not including Reagan, I mean that's not fair, the guy had Alzheimers - who is so out of touch with reality? That just had to be an unscripted moment; did Rove turn away for an instant?
He's not only unelectable, he's impeachable!
"No President has ever done more for human rights than I have."I wanted yesterday to go into the whole "who said this" routine, but it's been done. I wanted to write about the sheer gall of aWol, but that's been way over done. I wanted to bang my head on my desk, but I've been doing that so much lately that I have a permanent bruise on my forehead.
Has there ever been a president - not including Reagan, I mean that's not fair, the guy had Alzheimers - who is so out of touch with reality? That just had to be an unscripted moment; did Rove turn away for an instant?
He's not only unelectable, he's impeachable!
Comments
Those of you who use BlogSpeak already know, but for those who don't and are looking for my comments link... Well, here's the message up on the BlogSpeak web site as of this morning:
Damn.
UPDATE: I've set up HaloScan for my comments. I'm not sure how long BlogSpeak will be down... I hope I don't lose all the comments I'd gathered over the past months. Anyway... comment away!
BlogSpeak is currently down because the bastards that host it decided to suspend my account. I do not know as of yet when this situation will be resolved. If you don't want any JavaScript errors on your pages, take the code off for the time being. Thanks for your patience.I'm off to find a (temporary, I hope) replacement. I hope BlogSpeak comes back up. I really like the service; it works.
Damn.
UPDATE: I've set up HaloScan for my comments. I'm not sure how long BlogSpeak will be down... I hope I don't lose all the comments I'd gathered over the past months. Anyway... comment away!
Monday, January 12, 2004
Army War College Critical of War on Terror
In a further shot at aWol's "War on Terra'," the Army War College authorized the publication of a paper exceptionally critical on the current direction of the War on Terror.
It'll come as no surprise to those in the center or left side of the blogosphere, but:
This has not been a good day for the administration with the major war-fighting colleges of their own military. This is important stuff. Read the rest of this article in the Washington Post on-line here. Read the whole report at the Strategic Studies Institute, here.
UPDATE:A paragraph from the SSI report that is the perfect description of why aWol's Global War on Terror (GWOT) seems oddly detached from any discernable or achievable goal:
It'll come as no surprise to those in the center or left side of the blogosphere, but:
The report, by Jeffrey Record, a visiting professor at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, warns that as a result of those mistakes, the Army is "near the breaking point."Record goes on to say that the Iraq misadventure was a dangerous distraction from the more important focus on al Qaeda.
It recommends, among other things, scaling back the scope of the "global war on terrorism" and instead focusing on the narrower threat posed by the al Qaeda terrorist network.
This has not been a good day for the administration with the major war-fighting colleges of their own military. This is important stuff. Read the rest of this article in the Washington Post on-line here. Read the whole report at the Strategic Studies Institute, here.
UPDATE:A paragraph from the SSI report that is the perfect description of why aWol's Global War on Terror (GWOT) seems oddly detached from any discernable or achievable goal:
“Terrorism” as a word and concept became associated in US
and Israeli discourse with anti-state forms of violence that were
so criminal that any method of enforcement and retaliation
was viewed as acceptable, and not subject to criticism. By so
appropriating the meaning of this infl ammatory term in such a
self-serving manner, terrorism became detached from its primary
historical association dating back to the French Revolution. In
that formative setting, the state’s own political violence against
its citizens, violence calculated to induce widespread fear and
achieve political goals, was labeled as terrorism.
Bold emphasis mine. Charles2
Comments Down
Blogspeak, the great folks who provide my comment system, are having problems today. Their website says that they hope to have the system up and operating by this evening.
If there's anything you want to let me know, or if you just have comments, send me an e-mail - see the link below. Thanks for your patience.
If there's anything you want to let me know, or if you just have comments, send me an e-mail - see the link below. Thanks for your patience.
U.S. Joins USSR, East Germany, China and North Korea
The Supreme Court today allowed the administration to withhold the names and whereabouts of hundreds of people seized in the United States by the government in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.Those other countries in my headline also allowed - or do allow - the secret arrest of citizens or residents without judicial review. Is this what BushCo's War on Terra' has brought us to? Are these the countries with whom we want the world and historians of the future to associate us?
That this vital, constitutionally important case was decided in such an egregious manner should be an affront to all citizens.
I am not - to head off the trolls - saying that the information being sought on detainees should be released without review, but such broad-based denial of rights and the lack of transparency of government actions are monstrous.
"It's the first time in history that the government has arrested people in secret," said Kate Martin, who represented the Center for National Security studies in challenging the government. "We had hoped that the court would look at the unprecedented and serious first amendment issues here . . . We have 200 years of law and tradition saying that arrests are public . . . We do not have secret arrests."Apparently we do have secret arrests now.
Congratulations to al Qaeda; you've moved our government another step closer to an oligarchic theocracy; another step closer to destroying our way of life.
NOTE: all quotes above from this article in the Washington Post on-line.
Diplomatic Might
This was an interesting letter - from an interesting source (note the signature block at the bottom). This is, perhaps a sign that the military, here in the form of a professor from the Naval War College, has had enough of the neocon acid trip of world domination through preemptive warfare.
The original was in today's on-line Wall Street Journal, here (subscription required), but I hope Prof. Stigler doesn't mind me reproducing the entire thing here:
The original was in today's on-line Wall Street Journal, here (subscription required), but I hope Prof. Stigler doesn't mind me reproducing the entire thing here:
America Still Needs Striped-Pants Brigade
It is ironic that David Frum and Richard Perle ("Beware the Soft-Line Ideologues," editorial page, Jan. 7) dismiss diplomacy while using an example that clearly indicates the risks of an assertive foreign policy. They express concern over the future of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Yet the assassination attempts on Mr. Musharraf must be partly caused by frustration over assertive American actions abroad and Islamabad's reluctant support of those actions.
And condemning diplomacy because it has not solved an incredibly complicated problem such as the Israeli/Palestinian dispute is ridiculous. Their shallow perspective is akin to dismissing the utility of military force following our defeat in Vietnam.
My students at the Naval War College are chiefly military officers, many of whom served in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are not "soft-line ideologues." Yet it has constantly surprised me how many of them believe that diplomacy will be a crucial weapon in the struggle against terror. Given that military force alone will never defeat the diverse forces that generate terrorism, we must avoid the narrow and dangerous perspective that Messrs. Frum and Perle offer.Andrew L. Stigler
Associate Professor
National Security Affairs
United States Naval War College
Newport, R.I.
Anger Management
I know that several other bloggers have already written about Dr. Dean's "anger problem." But after a piece on this mornings ABC news, I just had to add my two cents worth.
ABC showed a couple of video clips with Dr. Dean "getting angry." Now, I'm normally pretty mild mannered - but I do have a temper. I know people who have hair-trigger tempers and I know people who have volcanic tempers. Dr. Dean has none of these things. He appears to get angry on occasion, he yells a bit - although none of the clips I've ever seen of him show him truly losing his temper.
So I find it odd that people say he has an anger problem.
I find Dr. Dean's anger to be refreshing. He gets upset at things that should make him upset - they make me upset. He has real reactions to real problems and situations. He's not mealy mouthed about things, he doesn't try to talk his way around things so that whatever comes out of his mouth seems tepid and somehow out of touch with the reality of things.
In other words, he reacts - he gets angry - like a real person; not like a politician.
Since I last wrote about a politician - Gen. Clark, about 3 months ago - I've done lots of thinking, but have restrained myself from coming out and really endorsing any Democrat. I did however register at the end of last year as a Democrat so I could vote in the New York primaries. Some people might be somewhat turned off by Dr. Dean's so-called "anger problem." I think his reactions are real; I think they are appropriate for where we find our country right now.
I think I'm beginning to see my candidate.
ABC showed a couple of video clips with Dr. Dean "getting angry." Now, I'm normally pretty mild mannered - but I do have a temper. I know people who have hair-trigger tempers and I know people who have volcanic tempers. Dr. Dean has none of these things. He appears to get angry on occasion, he yells a bit - although none of the clips I've ever seen of him show him truly losing his temper.
So I find it odd that people say he has an anger problem.
I find Dr. Dean's anger to be refreshing. He gets upset at things that should make him upset - they make me upset. He has real reactions to real problems and situations. He's not mealy mouthed about things, he doesn't try to talk his way around things so that whatever comes out of his mouth seems tepid and somehow out of touch with the reality of things.
In other words, he reacts - he gets angry - like a real person; not like a politician.
Since I last wrote about a politician - Gen. Clark, about 3 months ago - I've done lots of thinking, but have restrained myself from coming out and really endorsing any Democrat. I did however register at the end of last year as a Democrat so I could vote in the New York primaries. Some people might be somewhat turned off by Dr. Dean's so-called "anger problem." I think his reactions are real; I think they are appropriate for where we find our country right now.
I think I'm beginning to see my candidate.
Sunday, January 11, 2004
When You Think Your Life Sucks...
I don't know how many people saw the report several months ago about the teenage surfer who was attacked by a shark and lost her arm. She seemed like a very strong young woman, but I really did wonder how she could recover from such an injury and return to her sport. For those of you who've surfed, you know it's a sport that requires incredible balance and quick movements.
I'm not really one of those people who like stories where there's some kind of moral about how strong the human spirit is - not usually anyway, but the picture that accompanied her story on CCN.com today really amazed me.
So, here's that AP picture; I hope it amazes you, too.
I'm not really one of those people who like stories where there's some kind of moral about how strong the human spirit is - not usually anyway, but the picture that accompanied her story on CCN.com today really amazed me.
So, here's that AP picture; I hope it amazes you, too.
