Sunday, December 31, 2006

Winter in NM


Record-setting snow fell over the weekend, but luckily we got Kent moved before things really got icy Friday night. By Saturday morning, there was over 15" on the ground.

The family across the street got out in the snow by noon and built a truly enormous snowman. Of course, Little Schlepp went out to help.

Although pretty to look at, the storm stranded travelers, caused us to cancel holiday dinners with friends, knocked out power over at Paul and Toni's place. Last I heard, McGoey had borrowed a pole lopper yesterday evening to cut frozen branches away from the utilities.

Friday, December 29, 2006

Christmas Cats


Christmas with the family is always special, but this year we had special guests: a pair of orphaned mountain lion cubs. Their mother had been killed by a poacher, but NM Game & Fish trackers found the den before the little guys starved. Here's a shot of them under the Christmas tree.


About five years ago my sister-in-law Kathleen nursed three other orphaned mountain lions until they were about 35 lbs each. That gang is now happily at the Albuquerque Zoo. Please support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, in particular, support the NM Wildlife Center, Kathleen's organization.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Happy Holidays from Travel Schlepp

From one small bear to the rest of teddy beardom and all the rest, have a safe and happy holiday, a festive Festivus, a salubrious Saturnalia, a joyous Noel, a wonderful Hanukkah, a rejuvenating Solstice, and a merry Christmas. For all the year's work on international security, nonproliferation, and WMD threat reduction, my job is not endangered by an outbreak of world peace.

Look for the December Schleppcast later today, but first... I have to make a trifle and not get any fur in it.

-- Travel Schlepp

Saturday, December 09, 2006

More Lyrics for Iraq

From Loreena McKennett's "Lullaby," based on Blake. She answers the question, "Who has gotten us fouled up in Iraq:?" with "The Kings and Nobles of the Land have done it! Hear it not, Heaven, thy Ministers have done it!"

========================================

O for a voice like thunder, and a tongue
To drown the throat of war!
When the senses are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness,
Who can stand?

When the souls of the oppressed
Fight in the troubled air that rages,
who can stand?

When the whirlwind of fury comes from the
Throne of god, when the frowns of his countenance
Drive the nations together,
who can stand?

When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle,
And sails rejoicing in the flood of Death;
When souls are torn to everlasting fire,
And fiends of Hell rejoice upon the slain.
O who can stand?

O who hath caused this?
O who can answer at the throne of God?
The Kings and Nobles of the Land have done it!
Hear it not, Heaven, thy Ministers have done it!

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Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Talking Heads and the Iraq War

LIFE DURING WARTIME
Slightly modified from the Talking Heads 1987 original on their "Stop Making Sense" album. Kinda scary how this song describes what's going on right now in Iraq.

Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons,
packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, out by the highway,
a place where nobody knows.
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance,
I'm getting used to it now.
Lived in a brownstone, lived in the ghetto,
I've lived all over this town.

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around.
No time for dancing, or lovey dovey,
I ain't got time for that now.

Transmit the message, to the receiver.
hope for an answer some day.
I got three passports, couple of visas,
don't even know my real name.
High on a hillside, trucks are loading.
Everything's ready to roll.
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nightime.
I might not ever get home.

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around.
This ain't no mudd club, or C. B. G. B.
I ain't got time for that now.

Heard about Baghdad? Heard about Tikrit?
Heard about Diwa-ni-yah?
You oughta know not to stand by the window;
somebody might see you up there.
I got some groceries, some peanut butter,
to last a couple of days.
But I ain't got no speakers,
ain't got no headphones,
ain't got no records to play.

Why stay in college? Why go to night school?
Gonna be different this time?
Can't write a letter, can't send a postcard,
I can't write nothing at all.
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around.
I'd love you hold you, I'd like to kiss you.
I ain't got no time for that now,.

Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock,
we blended in with the crowd.
We got computers, we're tapping phone lines.
I know that ain't allowed.
We dress like students, we dress like housewives,
or in a suit and a tie.
I changed my hairstyle so many times now
don't know what I look like!
You make me shiver, I feel so tender.
We make a pretty good team.
Don't get exhausted. I'll do some driving.
You ought to get you some sleep.
Get your instructions, follow directions,
then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day,
whatever you think is best.

Burned all my notebooks, what good are notebooks?
They won't help me survive.
My chest is aching, burns like a furnace.
The burning keeps me alive.
Try to stay healthy, physical fitness.
Don't want to catch no disease.
Try to be careful. Don't take no chances.
you better watch what you say.