Ring Out, Wild Bells 2007

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Tennyson

Compare and Contrast

Two stories this weekend have peaked my interest – saddam not withstanding. They both revolve around the concept of ‘free expression’. Each story offers a contrasting viewpoint of how best to protect and promote freedom of expression.

In Venezuela, Chavez claims the role of sole arbiter of what constitutes a threat to national dignity and independence:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he will not renew the licence for the country’s second largest TV channel which he says expires in March 2007.
In an address to troops, Mr Chavez said he would not tolerate media outlets working towards a coup against him.

Radio Caracas Television, which is aligned with the opposition, supported a strike against Mr Chavez in 2003. “There will be no new operating licence for this coupist TV channel called RCTV. The operating licence is over… So go and turn off the equipment,” Mr Chavez said.

Mr Chavez said the channel was “at the service of coups against the people, against the nation, against national independence, against the dignity of the republic”.

In Iraq, members of the US Airborne division have worked together with local Iraqi’s to build a radio station where once there was none. The Mayor of Balad Ruiz notes that “This is a free station, the people can say what they want, and they can speak freely.” No mention of was made of shutting down any news outlet to better protect the citizens.

BALAD RUIZ, Iraq -In a city where there is no means for releasing information to its people, coalition forces have developed a project to give the people a chance at free speech.The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Al Noor radio station, also known as the The Light, located here, opened its doors to many with high hopes and happy faces from the Iraqi Army and police department as well as city officials of Balad Ruz and members of the 5-73 Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. “This is a great day for Balad Ruiz and its people,” said Mayor Mohammed Maroof Al-Hussein, city mayor. “I think this is a new stage for our city and a new way to serve our people.”This is a free station,” he continued. “The people can say what they want, they can speak freely.”

“This is a pro-government radio station that counters what terrorists are saying,” said Pratt. “It also lets the people know what the coalition forces are doing in their area to help them.

I find these two articles to be a great litmus test for an individuals political leanings concerning free speech.

Those who support the Chavez-Sheehan power coupling would find no fault in Chavez’s actions.

Others to the right of this power couple applaud the tenacity and hard work that the good guys are doing in Iraq in the name of democracy.

Where do you stand?

Farewell, Mr. President

Vice President’s Remarks at the State Funeral of Former President Gerald R. Ford

Nothing was left unsaid, and at the end of his days, Gerald Ford knew how much he meant to us and to his country. He was given length of years, and many times in his company we paid our tributes and said our thanks. We were proud to call him our leader, grateful to know him as a man. We told him these things, and there is comfort in knowing that. Still, it is an ending. And what is left now is to say goodbye.

You can leave condolences online at

The Gerald Ford Memorial

Ring Out, Wild Bells 2007

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Tennyson

Compare and Contrast

Two stories this weekend have peaked my interest – saddam not withstanding. They both revolve around the concept of ‘free expression’. Each story offers a contrasting viewpoint of how best to protect and promote freedom of expression.

In Venezuela, Chavez claims the role of sole arbiter of what constitutes a threat to national dignity and independence:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he will not renew the licence for the country’s second largest TV channel which he says expires in March 2007.
In an address to troops, Mr Chavez said he would not tolerate media outlets working towards a coup against him.

Radio Caracas Television, which is aligned with the opposition, supported a strike against Mr Chavez in 2003. “There will be no new operating licence for this coupist TV channel called RCTV. The operating licence is over… So go and turn off the equipment,” Mr Chavez said.

Mr Chavez said the channel was “at the service of coups against the people, against the nation, against national independence, against the dignity of the republic”.

In Iraq, members of the US Airborne division have worked together with local Iraqi’s to build a radio station where once there was none. The Mayor of Balad Ruiz notes that “This is a free station, the people can say what they want, and they can speak freely.” No mention of was made of shutting down any news outlet to better protect the citizens.

BALAD RUIZ, Iraq -In a city where there is no means for releasing information to its people, coalition forces have developed a project to give the people a chance at free speech.The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Al Noor radio station, also known as the The Light, located here, opened its doors to many with high hopes and happy faces from the Iraqi Army and police department as well as city officials of Balad Ruz and members of the 5-73 Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. “This is a great day for Balad Ruiz and its people,” said Mayor Mohammed Maroof Al-Hussein, city mayor. “I think this is a new stage for our city and a new way to serve our people.”This is a free station,” he continued. “The people can say what they want, they can speak freely.”

“This is a pro-government radio station that counters what terrorists are saying,” said Pratt. “It also lets the people know what the coalition forces are doing in their area to help them.

I find these two articles to be a great litmus test for an individuals political leanings concerning free speech.

Those who support the Chavez-Sheehan power coupling would find no fault in Chavez’s actions.

Others to the right of this power couple applaud the tenacity and hard work that the good guys are doing in Iraq in the name of democracy.

Where do you stand?

Farewell, Mr. President

Vice President’s Remarks at the State Funeral of Former President Gerald R. Ford

Nothing was left unsaid, and at the end of his days, Gerald Ford knew how much he meant to us and to his country. He was given length of years, and many times in his company we paid our tributes and said our thanks. We were proud to call him our leader, grateful to know him as a man. We told him these things, and there is comfort in knowing that. Still, it is an ending. And what is left now is to say goodbye.

You can leave condolences online at

The Gerald Ford Memorial

Inquirer Front Page ~ December 31, 2006

Hmmm…Saddam’s last words don’t jive with the Inquirer’s claim – translation via Healing Iraq

Saddam (as the noose is put around his neck): Ya Allah (Oh God).

Someone in the audience: Mercy be on those who pray for Mohammed and the household of Muhammed (Everyone repeats the prayer, including Saddam) –

Executioner and two people in the audience: … And hasten his return (the Mahdi), curse his enemy and grant victory to his son, Muqtada, Muqtada, Muqtada! (This is a common Sadrist chant.)

Saddam (smirking): Muqtada? Is this your manhood? (unclear)

NSA Muwafaq Al-Rubai’i: To Hell!

Saddam: (laughing) … disgrace to you. (unintelligible)

Prosecutor Munqidh Al-Far’awn: Please, no.

Muwafaq Al-Rubi’i: Longlive Mohammed Baqir Al-Sadr!

Someone in the audience: To Hell!

Prosecutor Munqidh Al-Far’awn: No. Please, no. I beg you.

Saddam (solemnly recites the Shahada prayer): I witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah. I witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Mohammed is the- (trap door is opened).

Audience: Prayers for Mohammed and the household of Muhammed.Someone: The tyrant has fell. May Allah’s curse be upon him.

Someone: May Allah’s curse be upon him. (commotion in the hall)

Someone: No. No. Stay back.

Someone: Leave him for 8 minutes, boys. Don’t take him down.

Someone: Everyone. Stay back. Everyone. Back.

Was the Inquirer attempting to mislead its readership with its banner headline of Saddam’s last words? If so, how else has the Inquirer mislead its readership in regards to the story of Iraq? Inquiring minds want to know.

Inquirer Front Page ~ December 31, 2006

Hmmm…Saddam’s last words don’t jive with the Inquirer’s claim – translation via Healing Iraq

Saddam (as the noose is put around his neck): Ya Allah (Oh God).

Someone in the audience: Mercy be on those who pray for Mohammed and the household of Muhammed (Everyone repeats the prayer, including Saddam) –

Executioner and two people in the audience: … And hasten his return (the Mahdi), curse his enemy and grant victory to his son, Muqtada, Muqtada, Muqtada! (This is a common Sadrist chant.)

Saddam (smirking): Muqtada? Is this your manhood? (unclear)

NSA Muwafaq Al-Rubai’i: To Hell!

Saddam: (laughing) … disgrace to you. (unintelligible)

Prosecutor Munqidh Al-Far’awn: Please, no.

Muwafaq Al-Rubi’i: Longlive Mohammed Baqir Al-Sadr!

Someone in the audience: To Hell!

Prosecutor Munqidh Al-Far’awn: No. Please, no. I beg you.

Saddam (solemnly recites the Shahada prayer): I witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah. I witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Mohammed is the- (trap door is opened).

Audience: Prayers for Mohammed and the household of Muhammed.Someone: The tyrant has fell. May Allah’s curse be upon him.

Someone: May Allah’s curse be upon him. (commotion in the hall)

Someone: No. No. Stay back.

Someone: Leave him for 8 minutes, boys. Don’t take him down.

Someone: Everyone. Stay back. Everyone. Back.

Was the Inquirer attempting to mislead its readership with its banner headline of Saddam’s last words? If so, how else has the Inquirer mislead its readership in regards to the story of Iraq? Inquiring minds want to know.

New Year’s Resolutions…

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Sell myself on ebay. Get your resolution here.

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Read the manual. Get your resolution here.

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Blame Canada. Get your resolution here.

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Point and laugh more. Get your resolution here.

New Year’s Resolutions…

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Sell myself on ebay. Get your resolution here.

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Read the manual. Get your resolution here.

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Blame Canada. Get your resolution here.

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Point and laugh more. Get your resolution here.