International language

at a church

free music performances

sometimes

famous old composers

one time

nursery rhyme music

ending with

"The Teddy Bears' Picnic"

- very cultural!

The last shah of Iran had his

faults, but he was far better

than the very ruthless fanatics

who now run the country.

Iranian exiles campaigning

for democracy in their

homeland include two

of his descendants.

   A blogger

just a simple lad

not looking

for hordes of followers

for the non-commercial blog

but hoping

that it can lift spirits

and heal wounds

     A few contrasts

the incredible human mind

and pedestrian powers of computers

marvellous old music

and very repetitive pop songs

sometimes grand statements

and messy reality

enjoying the search for wisdom

and the delusion of dogma

Anti-Zionists think that Israel should not exist.

As we have seen, some of them are extremely ruthless and dangerous. Some others seem to be decent but misguided.

A long time ago, there were plausible arguments for the creation of a Jewish state and plausible ones against it. Opinion was divided, among both Jews and non-Jews.

In 1948, Israel was founded via a UN vote. It has fought wars to defend itself. It has huge numbers of fervent supporters, within the country and elsewhere.

How do today's anti-Zionists think Israel should be abolished, if not by the use of force?                                                        

 Sir Bill Browder and Garry Kasparov both say that negotiation with Vladimir Putin doesn't work, and Ukraine must win the war.

 Browder was knighted in 2024 for "services to human rights, anti-corruption and international affairs". He has received several other major awards. Putin considers him a top enemy.

Kasparov is a former unofficial Russian opposition leader, a contributing editor for the Wall Street Journal, and a former world chess champion.

They both take a lot of personal security precautions.

     Renewal?

out of hospital,

restrictions all gone -

suddenly, somehow

the world

smiles and sings

                                                                                          

    Incredible Ukrainians

The heroes fight,

the mothers weep,

and the world awakens.

      The other AI

artistic intelligence

in music, painting, writing and such

is more important -

it makes us human

and keeps us human!

 Long ago, in various countries and cultures , the court jester was the main one who told the truth to the king.

Now, when a leader with authoritarian tendencies starts getting comedians banned, that's a very bad sign.

Political leaders: If Vladimir Putin or Hamas applaud your policy, it's a bad one. 

    

   Cultural festival

not much music

but color and drama,

crowds so excited;

football fascinates!    

                                                                                            

     Demolition

the ghosts have gone;

but stories stay

to haunt or heal

the memories we have

At the beach, most dogs

like the water. Those that

do, can be trained to surf!

They love it.

Beware of Western politicians who have very little respect or sympathy for Ukraine's heroic defense against Russian tyranny.

                                                    

     Old age

winds blow colder

and wounds heal more slowly

but love and humor

may broaden and deepen

     Difference

on behalf of the

eccentrics, court jesters and poets

may I say

if everyone was like us

there may be chaos

but if no-one was like us

would dull conformity win?

Despite his character faults, health

issues and so on, Donald Trump is

the US president again.

It's partly because his attitude to 

the defense of Israel has seemed

relatively practical.

This is a very big issue. Jews have

made huge contributions to science,

the arts, literature, etc.

     Place for poets

a very quiet bus stop,

plenty of greenery,

great coffee nearby -

here the world

seems to smile
 

 In the ancient world, for a long time Jews were thought of as warriors. 

Their second unsuccessful rebellion against Roman rule changed that. Huge numbers of them were massacred; most of those left fled to other countries, changed from an oral culture to a written one, and became "the people of the book".

Now, in Israel, they can have both military prowess and literary skill. The former is greatly respected in the region; let's hope that if and when the Israelis win this war, there will be peace for a long time.