Good read from Friedman in the NY Times

I don't generally like Friedman, he writes well, and his "international perspective" is well intentioned, but I find it somewhat pedantic and without "food for thought" above or beyond what I come across elsewhere...

But his article in yesterday's Times really struck a chord with me, and I encourage you all to read it - here's an excerpt that I found particularly poignant, and a thought that has crossed my mind more than once -

That’s why Donald Rumsfeld’s infamous defense of why he did not originally send
more troops to Iraq is the mantra of our times: “You go to war with the army you
have.” Hey, you march into the future with the country you have — not the one
that you need, not the one you want, not the best you could have.
A few weeks ago, my wife and I flew from New York’s Kennedy Airport to Singapore. In J.F.K.’s waiting lounge we could barely find a place to sit. Eighteen hours
later, we landed at Singapore’s ultramodern airport, with free Internet portals
and children’s play zones throughout. We felt, as we have before, like we had
just flown from the Flintstones to the Jetsons. If all Americans could compare
Berlin’s luxurious central train station today with the grimy, decrepit Penn
Station in New York City, they would swear we were the ones who lost World War
II.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/opinion/04friedman.html


Happy birthday to Patrick Brown, happy anniversary to Amy&Gene (May 8th for both events), happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there...

Peace,

Jeffrey

New month, new post

Happy communist labor day to all!!

We had a nice day off, the weather is wonderful, and things are going well here.

I really don't have all that much to say right now (it was a day off, and I spent some time in the sun, which accentuates the effect of the wine we had at the picnic I guess...)

The kids are doing great, summer seems right around the corner now.

Happy International Labor Day to all...

Gotta post something

I'd like to thank whoever lent me that $10 to join the "Brown Family Tree" NCAA bracket pool. Although I haven't seen a college basketball game since sometime around 1993, I was able to run roughshod over the league, but they all had last names beginning with "H", which somewhat dampens the thirll of my victory. I was the only "Brown" in the thing, so it would have been extremely upsetting had I lost :) I guess this prooves the "monkey throwing darts" theory of bracket selections...

Anyway, I don't have much to say, although we did enjoy a nice visit from the "bigdog" this past weekend, the kids were thrilled to see their grandpa, and we had nice weather to boot, so all is good...

That will have to do for now, take care all...

Peace,

Jeffrey

Regarding Health Care System

Interesting post by Krugman today: here

"and to the person who takes your cloak , do not withhold even your tunic"

Hi all,

Allison just sent me this link to an NPR segment (listen to the audio) - a beautiful example showing that Christ meant the words of the Sermon on the Mount to be taken literally:

"To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven."
Luke 6:29-36

happy Easter 2

Best to everyone in this wonderful family. If barack Obama can't disown his grandmother then I can't disown young Kenny. Drats!! but neither can any of you disown me. Ha ha..Some family news: Rose has bought a new old house threeblocks from Edward and Missy and Kathy and me. She closed on it last week and her Meriden house is under contract.We had the whole gang here for Easter Breakfast{Tom had to work}.Everyone is healthy and most seem happy. who'd a thunk it.. Happy easter and may this season of repentance and resurrection affect us all and the world around us..

Happy Easter!

I was the only one looking for an Easter basket this morning, which was a first and hopefully a last. It just wasn't the same without Monica gloating because she knows where my basket is before I do. She and Bessie will have much to report after their trip to Rome, I am sure.

Being the only one officially around this holiday has me thinking about how blessed I have been- we all have been- for so many years to have each other. Christ died so that we might continue to have His life in us. Never is that life more evident than when I am surrounded by all the good people in my family, striving in all of our different ways to be better people. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the inspiration you have provided over the years and to wish you all a very happy Easter!