The sad [and ever wanting to be avoided truth] is that the fellow who perchance said "You drive out west of here and you see headlights in the fields at midnight, guys putting in 16-hour days combining beans, and back east you've got people in offices with a phone in each hand, moving money around, not creating a damn thing, just playing a game, and the government can't do enough for them. Where's the fairness in that?" is being echoed by many tens of thousands here and there - and mentally echoed by millions!

While the escapism of the younger and less conscience-smitten makes for a less irksome dialogue when out for a cup of upscale 'Brazilian Beanwater' it is still those ways of the profligate and spendthrift wastrels that have taken the splendour from the autumn hue of many peoples lives this fall of 2009 ...

Mr. K. knows that even though his remarks are tongue in cheek, there is less likely a dreadful reckoning with Beelzebub by bankers and speculators - than there is the occurrence of the very real pain and suffering by millions ordinary people who do have to work for their meagre repast and upkeep .... Pain and suffering that has been brought on by the practices of the 'Wicked Wastrels of Wall Street' ...

Sometimes the company of the carefree is more pleasant indeed ... but truly it can also be gross escapism from the subjects and issues most necessary to address in this less than resplendent fall for so many.

This is really eye pleasing and intuitive to my senses. There will no doubt be a few glitches to iron out but I definitely feel this is an improvement on the entire website layout and it has greater appeal to this old experienced web-hand!

My terrible gut feeling that has been burning away for several months is that there is still no acknowledgement of the fundamental paradigm shift in global economics and social balance that has been brought on by 'instant' and 'universal' global communications/information exchange. ["Something for nothing"] = [Millions for Manipulation] within the financial world has moved past its tipping point.

The next "Crash" is going to be so overwhelming that it may well spawn a tyranny of untold dimension ... it will certainly spell massive suffering and dislocation for hundreds of millions of unsuspecting souls.

We who observe from a distance know that it is important that more people like Mr. Keillor speak this truth to their countrymen.

The people of Afghanistan have to determine how they will live ... and even if it take them many generations to finally drag themselves into the new millenium that is their choice to make ... and it should also be their effort that brings about such a change .... not that of an "Occupying Power".

Withdrawing from the Afghan environs will not "Weaken" America nor will it make it a "haven for terrorists" once more for America has means other than military boots on the ground to ensure its security. Indeed America will save enough lives and treasure by a timely withdrawl now so as to to ensure that security by other means.

Truly in this the age of the 'Drone' few countries will easily see the establishment of terrorist camps on their territory if there is the distinct possibility that such actions could result in more than mere sunlight broaching their front doors.

Vietnam involvement ended a decade too late ... let not America lose so many more loved ones in another ten wasted years of an unwholesome occupation of conflict.

This was a rambling bit of prose Mr. K. but the summation was all good as expected.

We who truly do reside in a great lone hinterland appreciate the implication of lifes innate ecclesiasticism for indeed bread is not always to the wise Ummmm ... We digress ... Yes there is much to be thankful for in the way of "unanswered prayers" ... and so much more to be enjoyed on the journey rather than in the final destination ... or in the supposed comfort zone of life so eagerly sought as a mark of "Success".

Jessica is am illusion ... of that we know after more than six decades on this mortal coil ... but she also can be a fortuitous enhancement for some of us during that marvelous 'journey' ... and we would all be poorer of body, mind & soul were this not so.

Be well Mr. K. - and thank you for this ....

"Lest we forget" ... Yes Mr. K. you are correct in your observation that the outreach of love and friendship is always more powerful than hate ... Something that we all can remember on this the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month ...