Mvsei Vaticani, the Musuem of the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel (where photography is forbidden, but widely engaged in, but this little Mennonite boy didn’t feel comfy taking any pics)
Some of the beautiful modern architecture of the Vatican Museum that contrasts so nicely will all of the old
More of the same, including the top of the famous staircase
I took a picture similar to this, but Benji’s was a trillion times better, so I put his up. Speaking of which, now that I have my grimy little hands on all his best Europe pictures, if he doesn’t start posting them soon, I will! His blog is hosted on my server so all I have to do is hop into MySQL, add myself an administrator account in WordPress, and go to town. The problem is, he would probably like that because I would be doing a lot of the work for him. Maybe I should post his pictures on my blog. And take credit for them! Yeah, that’s a threat that’ll scare him! Start posting, brother boy! 
Oh, yeah… the picture… that’s Heidi getting herself caricatured with the whole family standing around watching.
One of the many obelisks brought from Egypt to Rome by the emperors
The magnificent square of St. Peter
A sub-dome of St. Peter’s through the wire mesh window
Guarding the tomb of the Unknown Solider at the Vittorio Emanuele Monument
“I am currently reading a romance novel I was given about a year ago. The book looks really cool, but the story is so crazy that it sends me into gales of laughter and makes me seriously wonder what the author’s problem was. This will probably be the last romance novel I read in a long time. Maybe forever. Seriously, you learn more from reading Dr. Seuss than novels like this. Much more.”
-SuperGirlEmzel in ring tones, goat cheese, and pink fuzzies; Emily, like her mother, is a great writer; quite unlike her mother is her writing style of random hilarity
“…if [McCain's] elected, Roe versus Wade will be outlawed.”
-Obama campaign manager, David Plouffe
The whole of the magnificent square of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
Lightpole, St. Peter’s, and the Obelisk
St. Peter’s Basilica
Can you imagine what it was like to have been photographing a wedding in Sichuan, China when 7.9 earthquake hit and shakes for three minutes with the entire church crashing down?
Go look at the rest of the pictures.
(Via Vocal_Chordz)
The Coliseum at night (HDR)
Trying out my new 100-400! Heidi in the foreground, Benji in the background. We were in an old hotel called Hotel Esquilino right off of the Piazza Esquilino; I was leaning out one hotel room window, Heidi was leaning out another, and Benji was across the open courtyard looking out another with his signature look. I didn’t notice it ’til now, but Heidi looks great despite being severely jet-lagged and having just woken up.
Taking wedding pictures, the groom, um, takes a picture of the bride
“Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values… that your word is your bond that you do what you say you’re gonna do…”
-Michelle Obama, in a speech at the Democratic Convention, apparently forgetting about public financing
I just watched her speech and it was rather cringe-inducing at many points and for myriad reasons. Go watch the whole thing and draw your own conclusions and let me know in the comments what you think.
Update: Wow! Dennis Kucinich knows how to give a speech! I disagreed with much (actually pretty much of all) of what he said, but at the end (and throughout) I felt like getting up a joining the standing ovation! I particularly like his (unoriginal) turn of phrase “neo-con artists”.
David Duke (a former Louisiana State Representative, among other things) wrote an article entitled, “The Cold Hard Facts about the Georgia-Russia War!” I stumbled across this article on a splog that had juxtaposed my article and his. I would like to take each of David’s “facts” to task.
1) Ossetia is a ninety percent Russian area. Georgia has made repeated efforts to ethnically cleanse the region. Russian peacekeeping troops have been in Ossetia for years and were approved in international agreements so as to protect the citizens of the region from attacks by the Georgian military.
Several years ago, Russia started a campaign to bribe (with pensions, etc) South Ossetians and Abkhazians into applying for Russian citizenship. They also offered incentives for real Russian citizens to move to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This has resulted in 90% of South Ossetians and Abkhazians holding Russian “citizenship”. Christopher Waters, a law professor and Eastern European expert at the University of Windsor in Canada, said, “Given the sham-like nature of the granting of passports in so many cases, Russia’s basing its forceful actions on protection of nationals abroad… is invalid.”
2) Georgia, not Russia, started this war. Georgia invaded Ossetia trying to take control of the region and ethnically cleanse the Russian population.
Actually, Georgia did not attack Russia, so one cannot say Georgia started this war. Which part of Russia did Georgia attack? Which Russian official did Georgia assassinate? The truth is, Georgia was conducting counter-insurgency operations against illegal rebels inside its own territory. Georgia did not attack Russia. Russia attacked Georgia.
Please point me to a single third-party account of Georgian troops engaging in ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia. While Russia and South Ossetia have shrilly made this “casus belli” time and again, no evidence has emerged; on the contrary the claims put forth have been shown to be greatly exaggerated or altogether false. On the other hand, clear evidence documented by third parties of all kinds have emerged about recent (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) and historical genocide by Russians and South Ossetians against Georgians.
The Washington Post does an especially good job of busting the Moscow myth of genocide.
“Now Ossetians are running around and killing poor Georgians in their enclaves,” said Major General Vyacheslav Borisov, the commander in charge of the city of Gori, which is occupied by the Russians.
3) The Georgian Army, commanded by their Minister of Defense (who is also an Israeli citizen), launched a surprise invasion and attack that caused the deaths of at least a thousand people in its first 24 hours. This attack was committed while the attention of the world was on the Olympics.
This is another lie, on two counts. First of all, according to Human Rights Watch and the South Ossetian doctor they interviewed, only 44 people were killed in Tskhinvali (the focal point of the Georgian attack), not a thousand. The second is that their Minister of Defense is not an Israeli citizen. He is a former Israeli citizen.
4) In the wake of Georgia’s military invasion and massacres, Russia responded by battling to protect the Ossetian people and fighting the Georgia military so it could not continue its invasion and assault. Thousands of Ossetian civilians became refugees from the Georgian assault.
We have already established that there were no massacres by the Georgian military, only quickly collapsing propaganda by SO’ians and Russians. Yes, thousands of Ossetian civilians (10,000, to be exact, according to the Russians) are refugees as a result of the conflict. In sharp contrast, according to the UN, Russia has caused close to 148,000 Georgian refugees.
5) Instead of reporting these cold, hard facts to the world, the Jewish-influenced media has been dishonestly reporting that the Zionist-allied Georgian state is a victim of “Russian aggression” and a “Russian invasion.” Georgia invaded, bombed, and massacred the people of Ossetia to start this conflict. On the cable news networks for hours after the Georgian launched invasion and massacres in Ossetia, all Americans were permitted to see was the Georgia President and Jewish U.S. State Department officials screaming about how Georgia was “invaded” by Russia!
Actually, it would be difficult to describe Georgia as Zionist-allied. Israel stopped arms sales to Georgia several weeks ago (before the conflict) due to Russian pressure.
And you continue to repeat the Kremlin’s discredited myths…
6) Instead of condemning Georgia from the outset for the invasion and massacre, Neocon controlled politicians such as George Bush are condemning Russia and attempting to move America and Europe toward a completely unjustified conflict with Russia.
Hardly. The U.S., especially Bush, has been very cautious and toothless in its response to Russia. They have limited the response to words and humanitarian aid.
I suppose David also thinks Britain and France attacking Nazi Germany was “completely unjustified” after Hitler invaded Poland.
While David has a philosophy on life that is shared by few readers of this blog (liberal, conservative, or non-political), it seems many commenters on news sites (and blogs) share David’s myths about the Russo-Georgian war. I hope this is helpful in debunking those myths.
I have been jealously following the Emerald Chorale tour as all my friends toured Ireland singing under Urie Sharp. I’ve seen lots of green inducing (no pun intended) pictures, but now we have the first video! And it’s a video of Meghann’s spectacular solo, nonetheless!
A Mennonite commenter recently criticized this blog for not being evenhanded enough. Here’s a clip of both Obama and McCain answering the same question. Can you get more evenhanded and fair than that?
He also implicitly criticized a focus on issues that Mennonites are not interested in. Well, this is an area that Mennonites are interested in.
You can, of course, ignore the pleas for donations. 
This is a rough draft of my upcoming Newslines column in The Sword and Trumpet. If it would have been written as a blog post, it would have been properly referenced throughout. However, the format desired by Sword and Trumpet is as given. If you want any of the statements in this article sourced, drop a comment, and I’ll give the URL.
For many years, Russia has been working to re-establish control over the former Soviet Republics. The most blatant such move was the poisoning of the current President of the Ukraine (Viktor Yushchenko) by the FSB (the new name for the KGB) in 2004. They did this in an election in which Yushchenko was threatening to beat the incumbent pro-Kremlin government. In 2006, the FSB also murdered Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian dissident in London, by poisoning. Russia has used its oil and gas to bully many former Soviet states into submission; many leaders of such states fly to Moscow for consultations before making any major decision.
The remarkably far-sighted McCain said in 1999, “The mindless slaughters being conducted by a Russian military that seeks to reassert itself… in the former Soviet Union… in an attempt to fold back into the Russian Empire those countries that have broken away from it, most notably Georgia.” This stands in sharp contrast to the lack of understanding of the issue displayed by Obama who has been criticized in the Washington Post, on ABC, and from many quarters for his fumbled handling of the matter.
Russia has been inciting violence in Georgia, a former Soviet republic to its south, for years by supporting separatist rebels in the Georgian states of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Ajaria, as well as shooting down Georgian reconnaissance drones (over Georgian territory) with Russian fighter aircraft. When South Ossetia and Abkhazia gained their autonomy from Georgia by pushing Georgian forces out of their regions, Russia sent in “peacekeepers” who mainly were there to support the rebels. Several years ago, Russia started a campaign to bribe (with pensions, etc) South Ossetians and Abkhazians into applying for Russian citizenship. They also offered incentives for real Russian citizens to move to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This has resulted in 90% of South Ossetians and Abkhazians holding Russian “citizenship”. Christopher Waters, a law professor and Eastern European expert at the University of Windsor in Canada, said, “Given the sham-like nature of the granting of passports in so many cases, Russia’s basing its forceful actions on protection of nationals abroad… is invalid.”
When Georgia made an effort to regain control of rebel areas in South Ossetia, Russia invaded with a huge column of tanks, easily crushing the diminutive Georgian army. Georgia hurriedly recalled its 2000 troops from Iraq—the third largest contingent in Iraq—but Russian troops had already secured not only South Ossetia (which Georgia was trying to regain control of) but also Abkhazia and significant portions of Georgia proper, most notably the large central Georgian city of Gori (whose capture cut Georgia in two) and the port city of Poti (which is Georgia main port on the Black Sea). Along the way, Russian troops looted banks, Russian bombers deliberately (or incredibly incompetently) bombed civilian targets, and Russian troops throughout Georgia systematically destroyed civilian and military infrastructure (crippling Georgia for years to come).
Wikipedia writes (and meticulously documents) that residential districts, a media center, and a hospital have been bombed by Russians in the Georgian city of Gori. Georgia has alleged ethnic cleansing of Georgians by South Ossetian and Russian forces. Human Rights Watch backs this claim up and has witnessed Georgian villages burning. In an interview with a South Ossetian (SO) officer, he said they “burned these houses (…) to make sure that they [the Georgians] can’t come back.” A SO officer gave an account of one of many summary executions of Georgian soldiers after being captured. Looting is rampant throughout Russian-controlled regions of Georgia with ethnic Georgians targeted. Russian soldiers got caught on a security camera robbing a bank. Russia claims to be taking action against the looters, but a Daily Telegraph reporter saw SO rebels looting and pillaging around Gori with a Russian officer shouting “Take whatever you want!” SO troops also carjacked a UN aid vehicle while Russian troops benignly looked on. Russian and British journalists report that SO rebels are abusing and executing captured Georgian troops, under the watchful eyes of their Russian protectors. AP reports that the Russians have captured civilian Georgians and used them as forced labor, a violation of the Geneva conventions to which the U.S., Georgia, and Russia are signatories. The UN describes the humanitarian situation in Gori (controlled by the Russian military) as “desperate”. Humans Rights Watch has appealed to Russian authorities to “immediately take steps to end Ossetian militia attacks on ethnic Georgians”.
Ironically, the reason given by Russia for defying the cease-fire agreement that they and Georgia signed (which stipulates withdrawal to pre-conflict lines) and digging in and fortifying its positions in Georgia proper was to “keep order and security”.
One of the principal reasons for Russia’s interest in conquering Georgia (beyond simply wanting to control the former Soviet Republics) is an oil pipeline running through it that links Azerbaijan to the sea. The pipeline is the only route out of the oil-rich Azerbaijan (a former USSR republic) that doesn’t run through Russia or Iran. In an interview before the Russian-Georgian war, Azerbijis expressed relief that they are able to sell their oil on the open market without Russia taking it all, as happened when part of the USSR. Apparently Russia doesn’t like this new development as much as Azerbijis. Russia has used its natural gas monopoly in the region to blackmail Europe with threats to turn off the taps.
Another reason was cited in a phone call between Condoleezza Rice and the Russian foreign minister in which the foreign minister said that the current pro-Western government in Georgia “must go”. The clear message Russia wants to send the former USSR is that: if you have a pro-Western government, we will invade until you kowtow to our will and kick that government out.
The Russian president Medvedev warned that anyone who kills Russian citizens—no matter where they are—will receive a “a shattering blow”. It apparently matters little if those are newly minted Russian citizens who are part of an illegal rebel campaign in another sovereign nation.
Fortunately, the fear of Russia has led to the opposite of submission to the threats. All the democratic, free, and open former Soviet republics—fearful of a rising Imperialist Russia and with fresh memories of the atrocities and oppression suffered under Russia in recent history—have stood firm in supporting Georgia and in calling upon the West to step up to the plate to stop Russian aggression.
The war has caused a number of things. First, it caused Poland to quickly ratify an agreement with the U.S. it previously opposed (public support went from 30% to 58%)—an agreement to host anti-ballistic missiles (ABM) in its territory. In return, the U.S. has agreed to give Poland a Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) battery that protects against invading aircraft and short-range missiles; extraordinarily, this will be operated by U.S. military personnel. Secondly, the Ukraine told Russia that if they used Naval craft based at a navy base leased from the Ukraine for aggression against Georgia, they would terminate the contract before the scheduled 2017, because it violates Ukraine’s neutrality in the conflict under international law. Since Russia did destroy Georgia’s Navy, apparently with craft from the Ukrainian naval base, it is unclear what will transpire. Thirdly, the Ukraine also offered the use of a Soviet-built radar station in the Ukraine for integration with European and American defense networks, including the ABM system. Fourth, Russia threatened the Ukraine and Poland with “military action” and nuclear retaliation for supporting the West. Finally, Germany joined America in its support of Georgia’s long-standing bid to join NATO.
The U.S. and France have clearly said that Russia is not abiding by its ceasefire agreement because it still controls the port city of Poti and the large city of Gori, both ethnic Georgian cities outside the borders of Abkhazia or South Ossetia.
Commentators rightly compare this invasion to Hitler’s attack on Czechoslovakia in 1939. President Carter’s former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski writes, “Unfortunately, Putin is putting Russia on a course that is ominously similar to Stalin’s and Hitler’s in the late 1930s. Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt has correctly drawn an analogy between Putin’s ‘justification’ for dismembering Georgia—because of the Russians in South Ossetia—to Hitler’s tactics vis a vis Czechoslovakia to ‘free’ the Sudeten Deutsch. Even more ominous is the analogy of what Putin is doing vis-a-vis Georgia to what Stalin did vis-a-vis Finland: subverting by use of force the sovereignty of a small democratic neighbor. In effect, morally and strategically, Georgia is the Finland of our day.”
Also similar is the Russians calls for and claims of peace and withdrawal, but their continued fighting and destroying even though Georgian troops have ceased all action. On Oct. 6, 1939 Hitler gave a speech to the Reichstag proposing a peace conference with Britain and France; 3 days later he issued orders for the invasion of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
The President of the Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko said, “It is the first time in Europe since the Cold War that a foreign army has entered the territory of a sovereign state without any internationally accepted legal basis. If we were to be ambivalent about this it would give tacit approval to put our country and our citizens under threat. Ukraine has to move towards the NATO alliance. It is the only way for our country to protect our national security and sovereignty. When the borders of NATO expand, so too does the region of peace and stability. The peace and security of Europe are under threat, thus a united Europe should give a robust and appropriate response.”
The question is, will the West appease Putin like Neville Chamberlain did Hitler? or will they refuse to allow imperialism against weaker neighbors a-la Winston Churchill?
Recommended reading:
“Russia’s state craft – Thievery and Intimidation”
Graphic Pictures of the War
“Travels in the Former Soviet Union”
“Report from Tbilisi”
“Russia’s Actions in Georgia is Cause for Great Concern”
“Failing the Georgia Test”
“Volunteering to Kill Georgians”
“The Russian Empire Strikes Back”
“McCain condemnation upstages Bush”
“Georgia on my mind”
“Brzezinski: Russia’s Invasion of Georgia Is Reminiscent of Stalin’s Attack on Finland”
“Russian Aggression meets ‘anticipatory capitulation’”
“True colors: Where’s the “anti-war” movement on the Russo-Georgia war?”
“We helped in Iraq - now help us, beg Georgians”
“Russia aims to keep control of Georgian port city”
“No, It’s Not Good At All”
For some time, I have been crossing my fingers in the hopes that Obama selects Biden as his running mate. Biden was definitely my first choice. Here’s why:
(Hat tip to Dad for emailing me that video)
From now on, McCain’s campaign ads can be simply clips of Hillary and Biden talking. Here’s a place for the McCain campaign to start.
Nuns praying
