"One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others." - Lewis Carroll

Somewhere in Vermont there's an unemployed graphic artist.

The President has approved the sale of aircraft to Iran. I expect an outcry from each of the GOP candidates, an opportunity too good for them to pass up. I don't know any of the details (and they won't care), but assuming the deal has reasonable safeguards I'm fine with it. But I do have an idea I think the govt. should consider:
We'll sell planes, ships, satellites, even Jeep Cherokees, to anyone anywhere. But our engineering geeks will design and include in each of them a hidden OFF switch. If at any time the guys in the Pentagon suspect something nefarious is going on they can hit that switch and a satellite will beam a signal down to the plane or ship, etc. and turn it off. No detonations, just...dead. Sort of like that Volvo I drove; it just quits. (Turns out timing chains are pretty important.)
This shouldn't be that tricky. It's even OK if the buyers know the device is implanted, because it gets installed in such a way that any attempt at tampering with it permanently disables the vehicle and sends a signal back to us that they've messed with it.
You know your new car is keeping a record of everywhere you go and everything you do while driving it. So this technology shouldn't be too much for even the govt. If they get stumped they can ask GM for help.

NPR did a story this morning on Tennessee Ernie Ford that was outstanding. If you're old enough to remember him you're smiling, at least on the inside, at the memory of his singing. Great voice that sounded an octave lower than it really was, and a demeanor that made him imminently likable. A new boxed set of his music - 5 CD's - has just been released, and if it weren't expensive (I don't even need to look) I'd probably get it. Nothing like him since.

I worked outside in between thunderstorms and thought about how much I enjoy the kinds of tasks I'm doing now. And that not being especially good at something shouldn't keep you from doing it if it's enjoyable.
If I ever ask you to hold a nail while I drive it in with my framing hammer, decline. I can barely talk my left hand into doing it because of how many times I've smashed it.
Note: some things are exempt from the bit about doing them just because you find them enjoyable. Most medical procedures fall into that category.

People diss her music as popular kitsch, but I've enjoyed all the Celine Dion I've heard. Her life story would make a good Sunday night movie (remember those?), and the death this week of her husband and brother, both of throat cancer, is too unusual to be believed if it weren't true. She's always seemed like a classy performer and I feel bad for her.

After going to church last Sunday with Steve & Michelle we'll be back at Emmaus tomorrow morning. Alas, we'll go to Carl's Jr. for lunch all by ourselves; no kids or grandkids to talk and laugh with.