Malaysian Airlines MH370 - What the Hell?

(Map courtesy of IBTimes.co.uk)

How can planes go missing in this modern day and age?

Disappear without a trace - at all - at this late stage?

If it's true that cell phones ring, why not use GPS?

How come no one on the plane got out an S.O.S.?

Why did it take so long for the rescuers to learn

Once they lost transponder signals, radar showed a turn?

They were looking in a spot the military knew

Wasn't near the place the plane had vanished into blue.

What the hell is going on?  I want an explanation!

Why did all those people never reach their destination?

5 days of uncertainty on where the plane last flew.

Still no trace of wreckage or of passengers and crew.

Thoughts and prayers go out to those who've lost someone they love.

Hoping they find solace but, when push comes down to shove,

I bet they want answers more than anything right now...

When and where the plane went down but, mostly, why and how.

Putin's Jedi Mind Tricks

Putin met with reporters to answer questions about Russian involvement in Ukraine.

Putin answered questions he'd collected on a list

And, though this is not a quote, what follows is the gist:

Troops in Russian uniforms, insignias torn off?

"Those are not the droids you're looking for."  We Russians scoff.

Clearly the Americans and NATO are at fault;

Caused these wounds between our countries, now they're adding salt.

Those are not our soldiers planting mine-fields in Ukraine.

'though we should invade, we didn't... That would be insane.

Tanks throughout Crimea and in cities farther East?

Russian speakers asked for help, and so we felt the least

That a caring, parent country is obliged to do

Is protect those people from the Fascists.  Wouldn't you?

Do not fall for Jedi mind tricks; Putin's not a knight.

True, he acts mediaeval and he's daring us to fight,

But he is delusional.  I think he finds this fun,

And there's nothing chivalrous in anything he's done.

Happy Birthday Mom

We're having a party tonight;

A birthday for our guiding light.

When everyone comes

To celebrate Mums.

It's her who has kept us so tight.

My family's a big one and we

Aware that, were it not for she,

And all that she did

When we were a kid

And huddled about at her knee

Would never have turned out so well.

For, though we put our Mom through hell,

We always knew that,

At the drop of a hat,

She'd come bail you out of a cell.

I'm kidding - No-one's been to jail.

But Mom's always there...  Without fail

She's holding your hand,

So she'd understand

If we'd had to ask her for bail.

Springing Forward

A Public Service Announcement

Saturday we change the clocks to try and fool our brain;

Seems like there's more sunlight with the hour that we gain.

Proof that seasons come and go and Spring is on its way

'though we've half convinced ourselves that Winter's here to stay.

Even those who love the snow are sick of it by now...

It's too cold for skiing and the folks who drive a plow

Lost their minds 3 storms ago because they're human, too.

They, like all the rest of us, want Winter to be through.

When we hear the news Niagara Falls is, mostly, frozen

Winter weary northerners regret the states we've chosen.

As the year rolls into March, with all of us still freezing,

We begin to think a southern clime would be more pleasing.

You don't get this in Florida. (Photo/www.thebookoftravel.com)

Dr. Seussilitis Gets A Make-Over

My old background photo did not make for an ideal reading experience.  (Photo/Courtesy of NASA)

 

Frequent readers of this blog might notice something strange.

My old format had a glitch...  I had to make a change.

Several people told me that they couldn't read the words.

Since it's hard enough to find news-junky rhyming nerds,

Once I learned the problem, with no clue on how to fix it,

Realized the easiest solution was to nix it.

Had to change the background from a field of starry blue.

Chose to keep it simple and forego my lovely view.

Other than the look of things, there's not a lot that's changed.

I still like to rhyme the news so, clearly, I'm deranged.

But I'm also grateful to those readers who took time

Making me aware they couldn't see the things I rhyme.

'though this rhyming bug means I would write them anyway,

Knowing people take the time to read them makes my day.

Hope I've solved the problem and you'll have another go.

If there's still an issue with the blog, please let me know.

President Obama - Is Too Good Not Good Enough?

(Courtesy of pinterest.com)

I support the President; I voted for him - twice.

He is very smart and not in need of my advice.

But I've started worrying, with all that's in the news,

If I'm being too dismissive of the Right Wing's views.

Not about Obama Care, despite the current mess.

'though it needs some tinkering, it will be a success.

Not on the economy, which didn't crash and burn

(Even though the job growth rate is slower to return.)

Seems to me, domestically, he's doing all he can

Given that Republicans will not work with the man.

It's the other problem - with his image overseas.

Countries aren't afraid of him and, thus, do as they please.

Not as if he'll go to war 'cause, once a war begins,

People start to die and, in the end, nobody wins.

Unmanned drones cut down on that so using them is smart

Even if our foes believe they prove we lack the heart.

Putin's seized Crimea and the Syrians are slow

Handing in their chemicals to us because they know:
 President Obama is too rational to fight,

Drones don't pose the kind of threat that keeps them up at night.

When you win the Nobel Prize for Peace you're kinda stuck.

If no one's afraid of you they tend to push their luck.

So, Republicans believe a cowboy's what we need.

Do they have a point?  Can someone be too good to lead?

Kiss Crimea Good-bye

Situation in Ukraine is getting out of hand;

Ethnic Russians in the East have started to demand

That Kiev should look to Russia over the E.U.

Putin sent in Russian troops to help enforce that view.

All of Russia's Black Sea fleet is anchored in Ukraine;

Port was part of Russia, once, and so it might remain.

Residents are demonstrating; flying Russian flags.

Tearing down and ripping the Ukrainian's to rags.

Putin says his troops have only come to keep the peace.

So, he keeps on sending more as tensions there increase.

I don't think that I'd feel safe with soldiers in the street,

Knowing Russia's never gonna move its Black Sea fleet.

Not a lot Ukraine can do if Putin wants a fight.

He's a strong believer in the adage; "Might makes right."

Ask the folks in Georgia how much safer they feel now

8 years after Putin's troops invaded...  Yet, somehow,

All those Russian troops in Georgia didn't end the threat...

Surely that's the reason why they've not withdrawn them yet.

So, I wouldn't be surprised if Putin finds that he

Thinks Crimea faces threats in perpetuity.