Ariel Sharon (Bulldozer) - That We Knew Him Better.

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Pre - deceased by many public figures and activists in the world of Zionism, including Itzak Rabin who portrayed for much of the world public the paradoxes of the Middle East, Ariel Sharon saw in his vision for Israel and for the Hebrew people a clear future in which the bothersome issues of the day, primarily in the region those of race, politics, and ethnic heritage, whence all Israelis could call their country and overall territories free and safe.  His idea in general for such goals and any interim accomplishments in that very difficult challenge as indirectly stated over time, itself fraught with internecine strife, was reachable as much with force of arms as with flag - waving and peace overtures and initiatives.  This is perhaps an oversimplified statement and offered in terms that are too strong for those who remember Sharon as a jovial, strong willed, personable, and good - to - know type of public figure who would never really raise a hand at anyone without reason, and only in self - defense.  Even though in the Middle East, especially with the conflicts of late involving Iraq and Afghanistan, at this time there are students of history who have read and know of the role of many Hebrew leaders vis - a - vis the British in colonial times and the wear and tear of that period in the story of Israel; and how vitally important it has been until recently with respect to its leadership.  Sharon is portrayed in life and in his passing as a great warrior and one who would never rush to judgment about the issues of the day on the Palestinians and Arabs in Israel itself.

People who read of his life, given their ability to stomach the visceral and pitched battles, literally and ideologically over the years, first between Israel and its territorial neighbors and then more recently between Israel and a terrorism with a 'virtual' territory that is characterized by an anytime / anywhere / any - who - type violence, might cite that the sabre - rattling that Sharon infrequently engaged in over the years is and was irksome.  That there was someone in the Knesset as Mr. Sharon was is a great tribute to the system in that country whereas politics and society might have given in long ago to the vagaries and demands of fanatics without him and his colleagues.  Public and political figures like Sharon switched political affiliations and took a difficult line against Palestinian ideological influences whereas many editorials have stated this worked to damage politics in Israel and its value before stakeholders in the region and the world.  This on his broad shoulders and that of the Likud party and conservatives as currently led by Benyamin Netanyahu have undoubtedly assured the clear sovereignty of Israelis in their continued settlement of their homeland.  As followers of the news in the Middle East and of its different countries, and as listeners to policies as pronounced in the past, and acted upon by Sharon and his associates, all of us need to learn to listen and listen carefully to the reasons and rationale for the continuation of Israel as everyone's friend in that region and as one, a people advocating for resolving dilemmas for the Palestinians as well as its own.  The withdrawal of Hebrews from some areas (in 2003?) by Sharon when he was last in power is an indicator of this.  One could go on and on about this and related topics, and how this leads starting from the public bars, cafes, restaurants and hotels; where people gather in Beirut, Lebanon in their daily lives and given the occasion, to Jerusalem where everyone of us either brings to mind what they have seen in books and articles or remember from their visit(s) there and how this all sums up to the ideas and vision that the place, and all of Israel as it needs, settle into a territory finally of 'peace and light', not of the destructive kind or as the result of violence, but of one dissolution with the conflicts and primitiveness of the past including any violence between Arabs and Israelis themselves.

People know the place does not have to become a party if past and present conflicts and adversities are ever resolved, and this hopefully given the legacy, (again for some in the passing) of Sharon and his friends and associates, though the Middle East needs at this point to take some stock of any continuation of bloodletting and destruction, however specific and specialized it might be today against the Hebrews as in the days of the height of Al fatah and Abu Nidal.  The passing of Ariel Sharon and the related dialogue in every forum paying any attention gives the world a cue to begin seriously considering a fulfillment of the need(s) for peace, and this is especially palpable in the reaction of Israel's territorial near and far neighbors with respect to Sharon's public funeral.  In addition, that there are now again and again new momentarily lengthy phases of this 'peace and light' gives one reason to pause and reflect on the possibilities for an end to the violence, and the potentialities as well for a release of all from the hatred and vicious oppositions that drive the conflict(s) in the region.  Public and popular acceptance of these and related considerations would be great for business, culture, and the business of government in the region for everyone, and then everyone would start forgetting what the fighting is for right now.  This is what might have said Sharon in one way or another, even incidentally or as an aside to what he and his colleagues dealt with each and every day.

NYT Coverage (article.)

"The Ecnomist." - editorial 

Remember places like Detroit and Birmingham, but help Syrian and Lebanese children refugees (and ignore the influence of Hezbollah, Al Aqsa, ... , right now, for instance).

Humble Hunger Relief Ambassador - Media Photo

CNN Impact Feature Story and CNN Syrian refugee news.

Wishing You A Speedy Recovery ... .

Michael Schumacher Racing (Statistics.)

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Pour saluer presqu'une fin a l'an 2013 - et une passation aux nouvelles oubliant le timonier et ses analogues: New York Times Article.

Exemple des croyances chinoises:  Comment laisser "Le Grand Timonier" et ses enfants au moins de son comportement et de son esprit, ceci dit par chacun(e) selon leur propre niveau, aux annales de l'histoire (pour commencer) -- (encore opinion) article - et son image, impression, ses papiers, articles, textes, ... et ses photos iconographiques jusque dans les rayons d'anciens personnages dont la voix hante l'oreille des contemporains les plus curieux et immondes venant des engins de loin de chez eux - Cliquez une fois que vous ayez compris, et nous soyons amis amicales (au moins pour le moment je vous le promets).  En court, oubliez tout cela pour le plaisir et le bien de tous maintenant, enfin assez.  Se rappelles, et il le faut, cette fois que je vous l'aie promis.

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Cette photo ne puisse, une fois y mise, sortir du dossier circulaire -- aussi, je vous l'assure encore depuis tous les bords de nos rencontres, communications, dialogues, ... .   

Release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky (Russia.)

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With the nightmarish beginnings of Mr. Khodorkovsky's judicial case in Russia some time ago, through his release yesterday, one now knows about the magical, chaotic and whimsical tone of administration in Russia at this point.  In fact, given the case of Mr. Khodorkovsky and his judicial pummeling at court in Russia and by the prison system there, one again is averse to possibly paying attention to the internal workings of the judiciary there aside from the simple application of the newer purported freedoms, civic and political and otherwise, set down in that country's constitution during the 1990's Yeltsin years.  That various political and other freedoms have been now instituted in Russia and its people have read the new rules, now that there have been 20 years or more since the inauguration of such rights in that country, it remains to be seen after this long time in what way the system involving the new rights will work for free - thinking people and those who wish to become and remain politically active, for instance as Kremlin outsiders.  

While I am sure that people like Mr. Khodorkovsky themselves have tremendous respect for the Kremlin, one reason why he appeared to allow the prosecutors to catch up to him and then that he even appeared at trial, and this despite the dubious character of the charges carried out against him, the idea that political activism and forces for liberal change in Russia continue to be muted by the regime are evident in every news report about the subject that has been published since some time ago.  Along with this is a kind of anti - Western tone that pervades many Russian establishments and institutions that has an attitudinal bent warranting, i.e., some Adlerian psychological analysis and evaluation.  While this will never happen, obviously many people are happy the Russian administration is able to deal with the politics of it and has allowed the release of Mr. Khodorkovsky to authorities in Germany who helped free him.  His family and admirers are surely very happy with the German authorities and Chancellor Merkel for their help and this might be grist for the mill of European politics that continues to appeal to Eastern Europe, and there are editorials about this every day, to simmer down politically.  The only judicial case in Russia I am able to remember in recent times or going as far back as the 1980's, for example, that has the same profile is the Scharansky story that was so well - publicized and covered in U.S. national papers for some time.  Mr. Scharansky is apparently alive and well somewhere, and still greatly influencing  international policy toward Russia and the former soviet union.  Mr. Khodorkovsky, inasmuch as he has vowed to stay away from politics, might continue at present as just quietly talking to people about his circumstances and career that have been in primitive and repressive circumstances, and as a commentary on his home country now might speak outside of Russia on the whys and wherefores of his own path through business and administration and his sentence, and in a place now where one finds the listening much more accommodating in mind(s.)  

Links:

RFERL Podcast.  RFERL News Coverage of Mr. Khodorkovsky's Release.  UK Guardian World News.

"China Jade" ... "China Moon". Without Being "Scooby Doo", This Is Nonetheless Impressive (okay?)

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Here, here! - See "Yutu," the Jade Rabbit.

Yahoo! News Story.

Xinhua News Story.

Bloomberg.

China Daily Story.

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Enough Already? Yoda Needs a Job.

Either I did see an ages old special on network television recently, or there is new interest among various movie producers to film another “Star Wars” prequel or sequel. This would be greatly exciting, not necessarily for the yuppie – age Gene Roddenbury (sp?) fans, but for example, for my brothers' kids who do enjoy and have like the past LucasFilm productions featuring the famed conflict between the space Empire and the Luke Skywalker crowd. I might be completely off – base here, but it could be one might re – assemble the older cast, including R2, etc., Chewbakka (sp?), Jabba the Hutt (sp?), the armies and bounty hunters, shadows and ghosts of Darth Vader and the chief Emperor in some huge cataclysmic, highly memorable movie that would, as Lucas notoriously does, have the forces of good getting all the women and limping across the finish line. Forget Ivan Reitmann for a minute, and just image Yoda, image here, and crowd entering into the space “Valhalla” after some very brilliant, well orchestrated, again space rout of the bad guys. Remember the Yodas of the world never have a chance against the lighting – strike forces of evil as commanded by the Vaders and chief emperor types through their ultra – multi computerized spacecraft that turn out as cream puffs when the real battling happens. This would be impressive for everybody in making a statement through the media without any political or other – worldly charged language or imagery, not even the biblical proportions sometimes ascribed to such things (no “Ben Hur”, or “Ten Commandments” promised – land thematics or anything;) it would be great! Get Lucas and his crowd again back to the core competency and highly idea – oriented, technical and intellectual work they have done for so long – putting greatly hopeful images and dialogue / discussion in the public forum. They could use Pixar again, too. This would be a great exercise in success for the old film – making team, including Lucas himself, and more movie and media awards awaiting, and this without any controlled substances or anything else – just clean fun. Comments invited (especially from your kids.)   

By Bill O'Reilly (Henry Holt & Company, 2013:) - Book Review.

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In his well – researched text on the Christ story entitled Killing Jesus, Bill O’Reilly takes a humanistic and multi – disciplinary approach to this story and its details and plot, characters and principal actors.  His investigative work and story – telling re – visit the integral parts of this Christian legend, and pages are filled with a rich and detailed portrayal of different features of the New Testaments’ telling of this remarkable life.  Turning points and main features of the book include a depiction in detail, and this text of almost 250 pages is longer than any of the New Testament gospels, of the ideas and different informative topics about this pivotal story in Christianity and the Catholic faith, and even in Judaism for that matter -  including the virgin birth, the flight into Egypt, the scene with the Christ child in the Temple with his elders, his meeting with and baptism story involving John the Baptist; the gathering of the Apostles with Christ as their spiritual and ideological leader, the emphasis upon Jesus as a humanistic and human character versus a literal miracle – worker.  The story also takes into account the scenes between Christ and the Pharisees, money changers, and others at or near the Jerusalem Temple, The Sermon on the Mount, the politics of the day as ruled by the corrupt and overriding Roman regime involving various characters such as Antipas, Pilate, and the Herod kings.  The story O’Reilly re – tells of the Passion and Crucifixion – essentially the stations of the cross, is a colourful and enticing narrative including the legend of Christ’s tomb and the post – mortem Pentecostal time when the Lord appeared among his disciples and apostles.  This invites us to investigate for ourselves the personal meaning of this cosmological view of a charismatic and political figure from the ancient world.  

None of these sub – plots are told or narrated as strictly from the standpoint of one, single gospel of the Bible’s New Testament, and O’Reilly allows for the rites, symbols, mysteries and their meanings to flow through to the reader on one’s own, personal level.  These details form the overall outstanding and highlighted thematics that give a very personal impression for the reader of the mysteries of modern Christianity itself that allow for the cohesion, flow and different assertions of ideas in the text.  From these literary currents as told through the author’s magnifying and examining literary lens, it is clear from the text that Christ was a complete natural, a greatly charismatic person regardless of whether or not one regarded or regards him as a spirit or a human prophet.  As a figure in the ancient world, especially during the time of the Roman empire, and even today, he would have eschewed not the overall role of spiritual leadership, but by his nature again would have avoided the kind of window dressing and fluff that might accompany it.  For this and other reasons, and the text implies as much, the followers of the Christ, Prince of Peace, Xavier, Son of God, the Nazarene, … , while not very numerous in the origins of what was at the time the new Catholic faith; the pattern of the fervor and contagion of the Christ story starting in the old times could not have been otherwise up to today with its massively populous following among people everywhere.  This begs the question about what the authors of this text, O’Reilly and Dugard, would have to write about, briefly or at length, about the story of Saint Paul, for instance as it integrates into Catholicism from the Christ story itself and again the meaning these narratives have in the modern Catholic faith, in the doctrine and among the laiety.  This review is after a reading and is not overall an endorsement nor rebuke of the ideas, themes, and topics, etc., discussed by the authors in the text.  Overall an excellent book. 

Avoiding Dialectic Revisionism - David Cameron in P.R.C. - December 2013.

From China News

"China Dream" as related to this summit and other politics.

With Li Ke Qian - Media Photo

AND =>    "Joe" - this is precious.

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Pictures Sometimes Do Speak Worlds about Things (Passed).

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