What I would like to see...

Just once I would like to see the President express a bit of public pique or even anger with the Russians. President Obama has not responded aggressively, so far as I know, to Russian President Putin's statement that Russia will not hand over Edward Snowden. Unless you have been sleeping on the moon you must know Snowden has released U.S. classified information to the world and has been indicted for his violation of American laws. If he is returned to the U.S., he would be tried in Virginia and if convicted could be sentenced to a term in a federal prison. 
Granted Russia does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. Since Snowden is at the airport in Moscow, however, the Russians could put him on a plane to the U.S. He has no passport and whether he has a visa or not is immaterial. 
So what shape could President Obama's displeasure take without turning U.S. - Russia relations into a 1950's Cold War era nuclear standoff? He could recall the American ambassador to Russia for consultations. He could call in the Russian ambassador in Washington and give him a dressing down.  He could order a halt to whatever commercial, social or cultural exchanges are set up for the next six to twelve months. (President Carter cancelled American participation in the 1980 Olympics in Russia.) This might put a crimp in some Americans' interests, but a little hard ball from time to time would do wonders for the national psyche.
You might ask if Mr. Snowden is worth all this. It is not only about  that blabbermouth. It is about our country, our laws and the right we have to expect cooperation from other countries and officials. Granted, President Obama has to play the long game and prudence dictates he take these humiliations in silence. Waiting to get even, however, is not in the American tradition. Such pettiness at a later date would be looked upon by the rest of the world as third-graders getting even over a playground argument. So, for just once, I would like President Obama to let Mr. Putin and the world know he is p****d off. It might not do any good for U.S. - Russia relations, but it would make me and - I believe - a lot of other Americans feel good. It might lead Mr. Putin to sit up and take notice, and it would put the rest of the world on notice.

(Complete blog here.)

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Dining out and orchids

On Saturday evening, just before dusk, we stepped out to take a short walk around the neighborhood and observed a hawk in a tree eating on a smaller bird. 

Earlier in the week, I observed some horses in the Stable Gate section of Moss Creek out in the corral munching on the grass. It was almost impossible to get any horse to look up, so intent were they on eating. 

And we had a bonus from a neighbor who left some plants for us to water as she departed on a trip. We got to witness the blooming of a a couple of orchids.

Dreaming

I had a strange – make that weird, dream last night. It started with me looking at a large painting with a three stories high chateau on a hill in the upper left corner. A dirt road extended out to the right and when it reached the edge of the picture it curved back toward the lower left corner. In the lower right corner a small building was surrounded by a manicured lawn. I was standing in a gallery looking at this painting. The picture slowly came to life when a procession started from the chateau, a vehicle in front and hundreds of troops marching in formation behind it. Simultaneously, a jeep moved out from the building in the right corner across the grass until it stopped just a few yards from the road. Then the figures came into view. General George S. Patton, Jr., was in the vehicle at the head of the procession.  He was standing up, bedecked in his dress uniform, battle and other ribbons smartly displayed on his left breast, an ivory-handle pistol at his waist, a riding crop in his left hand and obviously enjoying himself as the center of attention. Behind him marched his beloved 3^rd U.S. Army which he led across France following D-Day in 1944. In the parked jeep sat three American army officers and a man in a German uniform. His face was a scowl. It was obvious he absolutely hated the moment and wished he were elsewhere. When the parade of troops ended the jeep started up, turned and headed back to the small building and carried Adolf Hitler to his fate.

Professional and amateur dream analysts are invited to comment via e-mail to arch@archibald99.com. 

(Complete blog here.)

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Posting on Facebook while driving

I am a reasonably competent PC user and sometimes encounter difficulty posting on my Facebook  or Twitter page. It takes my full attention to do it properly and to type without misspellings or getting the wrong picture into the post. (The last sentence had three typos which I had to correct.) I also use a dictation program and  experience proves there are always multiple errors to correct at the end of the dictation. The proposal some auto makers are putting forth to allow drivers to post on the Internet (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) while driving borders on insanity, or foolishness multiplied.

It doesn't make any difference, typing or dictating. Defensive driving requires full attention. Can you imagine the outcome when a driver becomes more concerned with how his Internet post will look or be received than whether he is driving properly and safely? Accidents happen in an instant. Bad ideas abound.

(Complete blog here.)

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Fewer pecans this season

I never learned the answer (if there is one) to the rhetorical question, "If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?" Not many heard a major limb snap off a pecan tree near the entrance to Moss Creek plantation at Hilton Head, SC, on June 4, during an electrical and rain storm which passed through the area, but certainly it must have sounded loud and clear.

A similar storm  has been a daily feature for a few days and the forecast is for more such storms for the balance of the week. This one of many pecan trees in the area but the first one to suffer such damage this season. The same general area also houses dozens if not hundreds of giant, sprawling oaks, some of which are at least 100 or more years old.

Being a relative newcomer to Moss Creek I do not know who harvests the pecans when they are ready but it is obvious there will be fewer this season than in the past.
(Complete blog here.)
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