Dateline: above the garage in Portsmouth RI, 23 April 2005

Vonne on the phone this morning: fairly depressed about what she's seeing south of Indy: smaller yards (than we have now), houses in same range (with substantial fixes looming), and the cost being around the same. She actually raised the issue of Terre Haute, where her mom lives. It would put me about 75 minutes from the airport riding on US70. I am a bit ambivalent about that, not because I don't want to be close to Nona. I will not fight the logic of the only daughter and the aging parent, and I don't want to anyway. Frankly, whatever makes her happy will work for me.

Got the notes down to 32 last night, watching a bunch of "Night Gallery" episodes from season 1 with Em late in the morning hours, while Jerry and Vonne Mei slept on the big sectional with us. Hope to finish tonight and then spend Sunday going back over the articles, finding homes for those I really want to include but didn't scoop up in the first go-around. Then deliver first thing Monday morn to Neil Nyren.

Today: the drill goes on and on. Have base pass and will look to do all haircuts except Em, then drop Em off at basket class over on mainland, catching second viewing of "Robots" with other kids. Then shoot for 5pm mass and swimming after that.

Reducing my pile of old newspapers:

Nice to see Rice work that charm some on Putin ("Rice Tells Putin U.S. Is No Threat in Region: Mixing Pressure with Moscow with Words of Mutual Respect," , by Steven R. Weisman, NYT, 21 Apr 05, p. A6.). Her conversation seemed very heavy on investment laws relating to foreign companies and energy. Good call. She continues to impress on her choices.

Waiting . . . waiting . . . there it is!

Koizumi issues biggest apology in a decade on Japan's WWII activities vis-a-vis China ("Japan's Chief Apologizes for War Misdeeds: 'Deep Remorse' Voiced as an Asia-Africa Summit Meeting," by Raymond Bonner and Norimitsu Onishi, NYT, 23 Apr 05, p. A3). The Japanese PM knows when something has gone too far, as do the Chinese ("China Moves To Crack Down On Protests Against Japan," by Jim Yardley, NYT, 23 Apr 05, p. A3). Point made. Everyone knows where this relationship is going.

China is just too important to the likes of Honda and Toyota. Already, a senior DaimlerChrysler exec startles the industry by announcing the company will build cars in China to export to US! ("China Looms As the World's Next Leading Auto Exporter," by Keith Bradsher, NYT, 22 Apr 05, p. C1). Think the Japanese don't want some of that cheap labor (right now about 1/18th the cost of US)?

I say, get it while it's hot, because the Chinese are getting used to this wealth thing far faster than most imagine. They want more, more, more. And all that more will require higher wages,etc. Already you have a middle class bitching about stock prices there ("As China Rises, Sinking Stocks Spark Middle-Class Protests: Investors Accuse Comunists of Hyping Market Outlook; Dilemma on State Shares," by James T. Areddy and Peter Wonacott, WSJ, 21 Apr 05, p. A1). You gotta love it when the Commies are accused of hyping stocks!

The Pace-to-Giambastiani scenario comes true on Chairman: Peter Pace steps up from Vice to Chairman in Joint Chiefs, the first Marine to hold the position. Rules say he has two more years available to him, although you never know with Rumsfeld, who likes to change personnel rules more than any other sort in his never-ending transformation quest. Ed Giambastiani, the Navy admiral, moves up from Joint Forces Command and will likely become Chairman in two years, following Pace ("A Marine on Message: Peter Pace," by David S. Cloud, NYT, 23 Apr 05, p. A10.). Pace is on message. He is one of the band of brothers that rules in the much tighter civil-military style of Rumsfeld. Expect more changes, not less, under him. Not because he's a push-over, but because he believes . . ..

Polio back in Yemen! More examples of why firewalling the Core off from the Gap's worst exports is a necessary thing. Also proof of why vaccines are the way to go (pay them now or charge yourself later). This is a bad sign, but it's indicative of the challenges ahead ("Polio Back in Yemen After 6-Year ABsence: Again Immunizing Against a Disease Thought Nearly Gones Just a Year Ago," by Donald G. McNeil, Jr., NYT, 22 Apr 05, p. A8). You shrink the Gap or you fear the Gap. That is the essential choice.

That's why my discomfort over Benedict as pope remains: to me, it's totally a fear-the-Gap call--a circling the Core wagons mentality displayed. Catholicism isn't all about "us" anymore, and hasn't been for a very long time. I had a bit in BFA I thought I would have to rewrite with John Paul's death. Now I just need to jack up the wording to make it more pointed.

I hear screaming in the background. Better go before something expensive gets broken--like one of my kids!