1. Because of my vacation - RE: Blogs is a few days late - - - Did you miss it? Or did you even notice?

Of course I missed it! Didn’t you? You did, didn’t you?

2. RE: Current Events (politics, current news, etc) - Do you ever find a story that you have very strong feelings about - - on BOTH sides of the argument? Do you blog your confusion . . . do you wait until your feelings have resolved on one side of the fence, or the other….or do you just ignore it altogether?

Depending on the story - - all of the above. Some issues, I’ll blog my confusion and work out my issues to resolution on the blog. Input from visitors can sometimes really help see things a different way. Sometimes, I’ll wait until I’ve resolved myself to one side or the other - - and there are rare times where I just ignore it altogether because it’s just too much for my brain to strain on.

Tonight, for instance - - the story about Paul Johnson - the hostage taken by Al Qaeda, in Iraq. (Wait a minute here….Al Qaeda in Iraq? But I thought…) I’m always and forever torn on stories like this. We, very unfortunately, saw what Nick Berg’s fate was - - I can’t help but believe Paul Johnson is headed for the same fate - - regardless of whether or not the Saudi’s release the Al Qaeda prisoner’s. Do we really think that Saudi is going to help out an American? The U.S.A. - for that matter…do we negotiate with terrorists? No, sad for the family - but we do not negotiate with terrorists. If we did - - then that is all they would ever have to do to get their way with this country is take one of our hostage and make demands…knowing that we’d cave.

I know for a fact that if it were my father, brother, mother - or other friend or family member…I’d be screaming at the top of my lungs for release and negotiation. Out of love. Out of loyalty. Out of caring. Out of fear. Knowing, deep down in side that this country, for damn good reason, does not negotiate with terrorists. Nor should they. If it were my family/loved one - I would eventually be able to rationalize that, I think. These are terrorists we’re dealing with , here - there is nothing guaranteeing their behavior or the outcome. This country, and every free nation, for that matter - needs to hold hard and fast to the rule of non-negotiation with terrorists. Last time we negotiated with terrorists for the freedom of hostages - we armed Iran. Now look what Iran is doing?

It’s such a horrible situation altogether. All I can say is that my thoughts are with Paul Johnson and his family and I am deeply hoping for a peaceful ending.

3. On that disturbing note - - Give us those links. Let us know about those blogs….those things that make you go ‘hmmmmmmmmmmm…”

Believe it or not - even having been on vacation, I have actually found a few ‘hmmmmmmm’ posts upon my return:

Vinny’s Big Deal Out of Nothing shows a picture of Bill and Hillary Clinton at Reagan’s service at the National Cathedral on Friday. It appears they are sleeping. Vinny asks his readers not to make a big deal out of it - because they could have been praying - - in addition, the couple pictured behind them have their eyes closed too (Gerald and Betty Ford). I agree with Vinny’s sentiments when he asks, “Let’s not let Clinton hatred pollute everything, OK?” - - I can get with that. Although, almost every single time the camera panned to the Clinton’s, their eyes were closed….or they were stifling a yawn. Just something I noticed while watching the ceremony. I say if they were praying…great. If they were bored and sleeping…well, I don’t hold them to the highest of standards anyways…so….

That does it for my surfings. Great post, Vinny - - but pathetic response to my #3. I’ve been on vacation - give me a break! I’ve obviously got some blurfing to do. So…time for you to do your RE: Blogs for this week so I can see YOUR favorite “hmmmmmmm’ posts for the week!