Month: November 2007

Perils of Pakistan

Perils of Pakistan – – The Washington Times, America’s Newspaper

Mrs. Bhutto’s e-mail added, “The fact that militants hold open meetings without fear of retaliation proves the Musharraf regime is totally inept, unwilling or colluding in their expansion.

“Our rapprochement talks with Musharraf have foundered in the quicksand of his failing promises. There is no move towards democracy. It’s either back to dictatorship [1999] or back to a rigged election [2002]. Or Musharraf is replaced with a pliant interim government for two years run from behind the scene by the same military hard-liners. They claim in two years they can push NATO out of Afghanistan and replace president [Hamid] Karzai with one of their own, betting that the U.S. will be caught up in presidential elections for one year and it will take another year for the new administration to settle in.”

By way of conclusion, Mrs. Bhutto’s e-mail said, “The situation is grim, the risks are high, but I have faith in the people to turn around the problem if we can get a real election.” That horizon seems to be receding.

There are several hundred, if not thousands, of jihadis willing to commit suicide to assassinate Mrs. Bhutto. This, in turn, could trigger a civil war in a country with an estimated 50 nuclear weapons and delivery

Sand Hill Crane Family Slide Show

ROBERT GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY – Presented by Phanfare

These pics were taken in the Suntree area of Florida ~Viera~ south of Cocoa & Titusville.

A Sand Hill Crane couple recently had an exciting addition to their family. When they built their nest near the water’s edge it immediately drew attention of passers by. Soon there were two eggs sitting on top of the nest and the mother on top of them.

The really curious passed by the site every morning and would stop their cars to get out and see if there were any new cranes yet. Many brought cameras of all shapes and sizes and would stand near the water for long periods of time hoping to catch a photo of the hatching.

Robert Grover, a dentist, didn’t actually catch the birth but, he sure did capture some fabulous shots of the Momma, Papa and baby (the second egg never hatched). Then he put together a slide show with music. Click on the Robert Grover Photography link. Thanks to Ken Beall for passing this on.

World’s Priciest Cocktails

World’s Priciest Cocktails – Forbes.com
Sometimes, drinking away your sorrows doesn’t mend a broken heart. And these days, it can break the bank.

Take the $51,200 Dazzle cocktail, available at the Second Floor Bar at Harvey Nichols in Manchester, U.K. It’s got rose Champagne and strawberry and lychee liqueur. But the real buzz comes from the 18-karat white-gold ring with pink tourmaline and diamond stones nestled below all that booze.

Other cocktails don’t need gems to be ultra-pricey. Consider the Bar at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast’s $1,400 Mai Tai. Click on Forbes link for pictures