In observance of an anniversary -- and other news

Today is the fifth anniversary of President Bush's signing the authorization for the US to go to war in Iraq. Of the many legacies Bush has left to the Middle East, one in particular struck me this morning while listening to NPR. Iraq, where education was so important, now has a generation of kids who have almost no schooling. This story covers refugees in Syria, but Iraqi refugees in Egypt are having similar difficulties. One more item on the list of gifts we've brought to the region.

In other news, Mount Kelud in Indonesia has been on the verge of eruption for weeks, apparently. Today, Indonesia started evacuating the area around the mountain in preparation for the eruption. Of course, I want everyone to get out alive and be protected, and for there to be as little lost materially as possible. But the part of me that's a volcano geek can't wait to see the mountain go.

The seven interests meme

I asked the bhagwan to ping me on this meme and he complied, so now I must as well. Herewith I present a meme new to me but not, apparently, to anyone else:

Request feedback as a comment, and I will pick seven of your “stated interests”. You then explain your choice of them in your journal and iterate the meme.

Here are the interests bhagwanx asked me about:

( Baaaaah. I am a meme sheep.... )

Anyone? Anyone? Beuller?