Donald Trump's Loose Lips

The U.S government has always placed a premium on keeping its secrets, and this has extended into its  messaging to civilians as well, though today the emphasis is more on being aware of what we see and hear (If you See Something, Say Something) rather than what we say. But during WWII, wartime posters clearly sent the message that careless blabbing could carry dire consequences.

Last week's meeting in the Oval Office between Donald Trump and high ranking members of the russian government, in which classified information was allegedly revealed, reminds us that trusting information to someone with "loose lips" could ultimately sink ships and all of us with it.

Deer Leader Rudolph

"You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen, Comet, and Cupid, and Donder and Blitzen But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?" -from traditional song commemorating Deer Leader

It is the time of year once again when people the world over pay tribute to our great luminescent leader and true Emperor of the North, Rudolph the Radiant. As benevolent patriarch to his countless offspring, Emperor Rudolph sees to it that all his children have a profound understanding of their father's esteemed place in history. Once again this season, they take part in the reindeer games that were denied our young hero during his time of suffering and honor him by reciting the song that recounts his humiliation at the hands of his inferiors and his eventual redemption and glory. As all loyal citizens know, the song tells the story of how brave Rudolph bore the taunting of his peers, only to emerge victorious in the end through sheer pluck and determination. In subsequent verses added after his rise to preeminence, we learn how he showed compassion for his tormentors and oppressors, allowing the few that were deemed worthy of reeducation the opportunity to work side by side with the elves in the factories and mines, doing the good and necessary work of providing toys and coal for all children of the world.

All blessings upon good Rudolph and all his heirs! Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer's name has truly gone down in history.

Syria's Assad: Between Iraq and a Hard Place

“Perhaps, when we remember wars, we should take off our clothes and paint ourselves blue and go on all fours all day long and grunt like pigs. That would surely be more appropriate than noble oratory and shows of flags and well-oiled guns.” -Kurt Vonnegut 'Cat's Cradle'

As the second entry in my 'ruthless despot' series, I hereby present Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

It seems like only yesterday that South Korea's Kim Jong Un was grabbing all the headlines for his nuclear threats against the west and his nearby neighbors. But no sooner had ambassador Dennis Rodman defused the situation there, than, like a endless game of Whack-a-Mole, another dictator pops up to grab the world's attention.

Already, just a few weeks after Assad's military launched a sarin gas attack on his own people, here in the U.S., the media's focus has shifted more toward domestic budget issues for the time being.

Let's hope the latest UN/Russian/US plan to destroy Syria's chemical weapons doesn't go up in smoke and the middle east can get back to it's conventional mayhem.