Peace Remains Elusive

I've been wondering this week if human nature is so tribal that we will never have peace. TPTB are doing everything possible to prevent the Donald from cutting a peace deal with Russia over Ukraine. Syria is spinning out of control and may spell a conflict between Türkiye and Israel. Speaking of Israel, the Houthis and Hamas have been hitting the IDF and Israeli infrastructure, including a weapons manufacturing facility. The Houthis also chased a US carrier out of the Red Sea, sank a Israeli ship in the Arabian Sea, and shot down a US fighter jet (as did Russia) this week. A Russian cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean by some sort of underwater drone or mine. So in the season of peace, there's plenty of conflict to go around.

Good morning, good people!

Sick of Xmas tunes? Well, you will soon be sick of tunes ringing in the New Year!

I think I will just post a tune that is not associated with a season, just associated with good times!

Welcome to Friday Night Photos everyone. Your once a week break from the daily madness of the crazy world we live in. Post any photos, memes, music, or whatever else you find of interest that helps you escape the madness.

It took awhile but the out of towners finally showed up for the winter. Usually the migratory birds start to show up in October and November. This year most didn't show up until the last two weeks. On Monday I put a long lens on the camera and met up with the usual suspects (bird photographers) at Santee Lakes to do a little bird photography.

Male Phainopepla

It's inarguable that the world is in flux. What is arguable is what it will look like when it's all said and done. Will the 195 recognized countries remain the same as they are now, in the same continental configuration, or will the land mass be reformed into new man-made models? Like the breakdown in the dystopian novel, 1984.

There's a lot of different ideas floating about with a lot of different competing allegiances at play. Will it be a one world order with a centralized power structure or a federation of state entities?

One thing is certain, IMHO, that whatever may become of this world wide upheaval, it will most probably be a New World Order.

There is a certain component of the nascent order that's becoming obvious to me, and perhaps to you as well, and that is the role of billionaires in this theoretical world realignment. The new administration that is about to take power here in the US is loaded with billionaires and near billionaires. As is the world, writ large.

Happy Boxing Day!

It's the day after Christmas: Boxing Day (in the UK), St. Stephens Day in 'western Christianity'. On Boxing Day,

servants, tradespeople, and the poor traditionally were presented with gifts. By the 21st century it (Boxing Day) had become a day associated with shopping and sporting events.

Sounds like Black Friday, doesn't it?

I learned about Boxing Day when I lived in England. Didn't do much shopping then, but did exchange presents with my friends and family on that day. Another thing in England - at least where I lived in the northeast - which was different than I was used to from the USA: On Christmas Day, if the family could afford it, they ate out. Poor families saved for months to afford it. Eating out on that day was a BIG DEAL.

Ohh and Boxing Day is also the one of the days for Mummer's Plays, traditional British plays done by amateurs, often featuring sword fights or dances and resurrection. Once again, this happens in England, and sometimes there's a parade beforehand! This tradition is in Philadelphia in the USA as well, when the Mummer's Parade is on New Year's Day. Fun stuff!

By Michael Maggs - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

St. Albans Mummers Production of St. George and the Dragon on Boxing Day in 2015. I love the costumes!

Hi all,

Hope all have a great Boxing Day Eve.

Here are some Christmas songs, if you need a musical interlude at any point today... A collection of my
favs... and hopefully not stuff Joe will post... Why yes of course it is quirky...