In military parlance ‘The Killing Ground’ is that area inside an ambush where the enemy is destroyed. A classic ambush is a U-shaped pocket formed by your forces; the enemy ,by ruse or terrain or direction of travel, is drawn into the open end of the U. Once inside, the opening is closed behind them, and the […]
Blog Archives
Hand in The Fire
Apr 21
If you take to yourself a woman, and with her, raise up a home and family, you have given hostages to fate, and the day will come when you must put your hand in the fire to ransom them.
Awalan
Home
Apr 17
While on R&R in Hawaii in 1970 from Viet Nam, I heard this song on the radio. It haunted me from that moment on. I searched for it every where with no success; with no title, no name of the singer, I was out of luck. I never heard it but once, and could find […]
The Titanic – Picking the Bones Clean
Apr 16
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There is a scene in James Cameron’s teeny – bopper – beach – blanket – quasi – semi – hysterical drama – ‘TITANIC”, in which a crewman assigned to con one of the lifeboats tells passenger Molly Brown [ the unsinkable ] to ” sit down and shut the hole in your face”. Those words were actually spoken on […]
Three Marys
Apr 9
Three Marys by W A Adams Three Marys on the road going to a tomb One old one younger one in bloom Hurrying thru a world changing as they sped The dark of the first new day ‘The sun is coming’ the oldest said She carried frankincense to anoint the dead The shadows grew lighter on […]
The Shape of Illusion
Apr 6
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The Shape of Illusion by William E Barrett This is a novel about a 17th century painting, in a Manhattan art gallery with a strange and unsettling quality. The theme of the painting is an unusual one, a subject not painted very often. The ancient canvas depicts Christ leaving Pilots Judgement seat, having been condemned. […]
The Third Thing We Learn
Apr 6
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It’s been said that a human child is a learning machine. We are born with our eyes open and the lessons begin immediately and never stop. At one year or so we take our first steps. In the effort to walk we learn three things. The first two we discover ourselves, the third thing we learn is […]
Short Round
Mar 30
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In the course of a conversation with a friend. I idly used the phrase short round. My friend frowned and said: ” What does that mean? I’ve heard that term a dozen times. What does it mean”? Because I’ve been asked that question several times by other people, I will try to explain what might […]
$4,000.00 Per Word
Mar 27
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My first-born son; recipient of centuries of Highland blood, wavy red hair [ he was the wonder of the hospital nursery – the only newborn the oldest nurse there had ever seen born with long red hair ] keen-witted, native good humor, easy-going, soft-spoken, with the heart of a lion. When I stand before the judgement seat […]
A Parable
Mar 7
Once upon a time there was a little boy named Frank who lived on a farm with his mother, father, brothers and sisters. Frank was five years old. One morning after breakfast; when the men had gone to work the fields, and his older brothers and sisters were off to school; Frank found himself with […]
Rabbits
Mar 4
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Focus. You have to focus. If you are going to accomplish anything of value, you must be able to bring all of your resources to bear on it; your knowledge, your intellect, your passion. Some one said ” NOTHING ON EARTH CAN STAND AGAINST A DETERMINED WILL”. I believe that to be true. If you […]
Tell it to Lincoln
Sep 28
There are calls in the news these days from worried politicians wringing their hands over gridlock in congress. The crisis of the hour concerns money; one faction wants to keep spending it as though there is no tomorrow; the other insists that tomorrow was yesterday and the spending must stop. Both sides are intractable, nothing gets […]
What Did They Fear?
Sep 13
“Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion” Constitution of the United States of America; 1st amendment 1787 Human beings act out of fear when they write laws; fear of loss, fear of injury, fear of harm, real or imagined, to the individual or the community. If you want to understand […]
The Dykes
Jan 31
The Dykes by Rudyard Kipling We have no heart for the fishing – we have no hand for the oar – All that our fathers taught us of old pleases us no more. All that our own hearts bid us believe we doubt where we do not deny – There is no proof in […]
Death is a Door
Jan 7
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Death is a Door by Nancy Byrd Turner Death is only an old door Set in a garden wall On gentle hinges it gives, at dusk When the thrushes call Along the lintel are green leaves Beyond the light lies still; Very willing and weary feet Go over that sill There is nothing to trouble […]
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