REALITYCHEX.COM - Constant Comments - The Commentariat -- June 14, 2013

The Ledes

Monday, October 7, 2024

Weather Channel: “Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified into a Category 3 and hurricane and storm surge watches are now posted along Florida's western Gulf Coast, where the storm poses threats of life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds and flooding rainfall by midweek. 'Milton will be a historic storm for the west coast of Florida,' the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay said in a briefing Monday morning.”

CNN: “This year’s Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their work on the discovery of microRNA, a fundamental principle governing how gene activity is regulated. Their research revealed how genes give rise to different cells within the human body, a process known as gene regulation. Gene regulation by microRNA – a family of molecules that helps cells control the sort of proteins they make – ... was first revealed by Ambros and Ruvkun. The Nobel Prize committee announced the prestigious honor ... in Sweden on Monday.... Ambros, a professor of natural science at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, conducted the research that earned him the prize at Harvard University. Ruvkun conducted his research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and is a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School.”

The Wires

The Ledes

Sunday, October 6, 2024

New York Times: “Two boys have been arrested and charged in a street attack on David A. Paterson, a former governor of New York, and his stepson, the police said. One boy, who is 12, was charged with second-degree gang assault, and the other, a 13-year-old, was charged with third-degree gang assault, the police said on Saturday night. Both boys, accompanied by their parents, turned themselves in to the police, according to Sean Darcy, a spokesman for Mr. Paterson. A third person, also a minor, went to the police but was not charged in the Friday night attack in Manhattan, according to an internal police report.... Two other people, both adults, were involved in the attack, according to the police. They fled on foot and have not been caught, the police said. The former governor was not believed to have been targeted in the assault....”

Weather Channel: “Tropical Storm Milton, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, is expected to become a hurricane late Sunday or early Monday. The storm is expected to pose a major hurricane threat to Florida by midweek, just over a week after Helene pushed through the region. The National Hurricane Center says that 'there is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday.'”

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Public Service Announcement

Washington Post: "Americans can again order free rapid coronavirus tests by mail, the Biden administration announced Thursday. People can request four free at-home tests per household through covidtests.gov. They will begin shipping Monday. The move comes ahead of an expected winter wave of coronavirus cases. The September revival of the free testing program is in line with the Biden administration’s strategy to respond to the coronavirus as part of a broader public health campaign to protect Americans from respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), that surge every fall and winter. But free tests were not mailed during the summer wave, which wastewater surveillance data shows is now receding."

Washington Post: “Comedy news outlet the Onion — reinvigorated by new ownership over this year — is bringing back its once-popular video parodies of cable news. But this time, there’s someone with real news anchor experience in the chair. When the first episodes appear online Monday, former WAMU and MSNBC host Joshua Johnson will be the face of the resurrected 'Onion News Network.' Playing an ONN anchor character named Dwight Richmond, Johnson says he’s bringing a real anchor’s sense of clarity — and self-importance — to the job. 'If ONN is anything, it’s a news organization that is so unaware of its own ridiculousness that it has the confidence of a serial killer,' says Johnson, 44.” ~~~

~~~ Marie: I'll be darned if I can figured out how to watch ONN. If anybody knows, do tell. Thanks.

Washington Post: “First came the surprising discovery that Earth’s atmosphere is leaking. But for roughly 60 years, the reason remained a mystery. Since the late 1960s, satellites over the poles detected an extremely fast flow of particles escaping into space — at speeds of 20 kilometers per second. Scientists suspected that gravity and the magnetic field alone could not fully explain the stream. There had to be another source creating this leaky faucet. It turns out the mysterious force is a previously undiscovered global electric field, a recent study found. The field is only about the strength of a watch battery — but it’s enough to thrust lighter ions from our atmosphere into space. It’s also generated unlike other electric fields on Earth. This newly discovered aspect of our planet provides clues about the evolution of our atmosphere, perhaps explaining why Earth is habitable. The electric field is 'an agent of chaos,' said Glyn Collinson, a NASA rocket scientist and lead author of the study. 'It undoes gravity.... Without it, Earth would be very different.'”

The New York Times lists Emmy winners. The AP has an overview story here.

New York Times: “Hvaldimir, a beluga whale who had captured the public’s imagination since 2019 after he was spotted wearing a harness seemingly designed for a camera, was found dead on Saturday in Norway, according to a nonprofit that worked to protect the whale.... [Hvaldimir] was wearing a harness that identified it as “equipment” from St. Petersburg. There also appeared to be a camera mount. Some wondered if the whale was on a Russian reconnaissance mission. Russia has never claimed ownership of the whale. If Hvaldimir was a spy, he was an exceptionally friendly one. The whale showed signs of domestication, and was comfortable around people. He remained in busier waters than are typical for belugas....” ~~~

~~~ Marie: Oh, Lord, do not let Bobby Kennedy, Jr., near that carcass. ~~~

~~~ AP Update: “There’s no evidence that a well-known beluga whale that lived off Norway’s coast and whose harness ignited speculation it was a Russian spy was shot to death last month as claimed by animal rights groups, Norwegian police said Monday.... Police said that the Norwegian Veterinary Institute conducted a preliminary autopsy on the animal, which was become known as 'Hvaldimir,' combining the Norwegian word for whale — hval — and the first name of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'There are no findings from the autopsy that indicate that Hvaldimir has been shot,' police said in a statement.”

New York Times: Botswana's “President Mokgweetsi Masisi grinned as he lifted the diamond, a 2,492-carat stone that is the biggest diamond unearthed in more than a century and the second-largest ever found, according to the Vancouver-based mining operator Lucara, which owns the mine where it was found. This exceptional discovery could bring back the luster of the natural diamond mining industry, mining companies and experts say. The diamond was discovered in the same relatively small mine in northeastern Botswana that has produced several of the largest such stones in living memory. Such gemstones typically surface as a result of volcanic activity.... The diamond will likely sell in the range of tens of millions of dollars....”

Click on photo to enlarge.

~~~ Guardian: "On a distant reef 16,000km from Paris, surfer Gabriel Medina has given Olympic viewers one of the most memorable images of the Games yet, with an airborne celebration so well poised it looked too good to be true. The Brazilian took off a thundering wave at Teahupo’o in Tahiti on Monday, emerging from a barrelling section before soaring into the air and appearing to settle on a Pacific cloud, pointing to the sky with biblical serenity, his movements mirrored precisely by his surfboard. The shot was taken by Agence France-Presse photographer Jérôme Brouillet, who said “the conditions were perfect, the waves were taller than we expected”. He took the photo while aboard a boat nearby, capturing the surreal image with such accuracy that at first some suspected Photoshop or AI."

Washington Post: “'Mary Cassatt at Work' is a large and mostly satisfying exhibition devoted to the career of the great American artist beloved for her sensitive and often sentimental views of family life. The 'at work' in the title of the Philadelphia Museum of Art show references the curators’ interest in Cassatt’s pioneering effort to establish herself as a professional artist within a male-dominated field. Throughout the show, which includes some 130 paintings, pastels, prints and drawings, the wall text and the art on view stresses Cassatt’s fixation on art as a career rather than a pastime.... Mary Cassatt at Work is on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art through Sept. 8. philamuseum.org”

New York Times: “Bob Newhart, who died on Thursday at the age of 94, has been such a beloved giant of popular culture for so long that it’s easy to forget how unlikely it was that he became one of the founding fathers of stand-up comedy. Before basically inventing the hit stand-up special, with the 1960 Grammy-winning album 'The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart' — that doesn’t even count his pay-per-view event broadcast on Canadian television that some cite as the first filmed special — he was a soft-spoken accountant who had never done a set in a nightclub. That he made a classic with so little preparation is one of the great miracles in the history of comedy.... Bob Newhart holds up. In fact, it’s hard to think of a stand-up from that era who is a better argument against the commonplace idea that comedy does not age well.”

Page Links

Thursday

Jun132013

The Commentariat -- June 14, 2013

Karen DeYoung & Anne Gearan of the Washington Post: "The United States has concluded that the Syrian government used chemical weapons in its fight against opposition forces, and President Obama has authorized direct U.S. military support to the rebels, the White House said Thursday."

Kimberly Dozier of the AP: "Two senior Republican lawmakers said Thursday that terrorists are already changing their behavior after leaks about classified U.S. data gathering programs, but they offered no details. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said it's part of the damage from disclosures by National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden of two NSA programs...." ...

... David Ingram & Patricia Zengerle of Reuters: "FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Thursday that authorities would move aggressively to track down Edward Snowden and hold him accountable for leaking the details of extensive and top-secret U.S. surveillance efforts. Mueller confirmed that a criminal investigation had been launched into the leaks and said public reports about the National Security Agency's efforts to monitor Internet and phone data had hurt U.S. national security." ...

... Mueller Takes a Hard Line. Dan Roberts of the Guardian: "The FBI has shrugged off growing congressional anxiety over its surveillance of US citizens, claiming such programs could have foiled the 9-11 terrorist attacks and would prevent 'another Boston'.... In a frequently heated debate [before the House judicial oversight committee] over balancing privacy and security, [FBI Director Robert] Mueller went further than other government officials in claiming that the collection of data on all American phone calls had become an essential part of counter-terrorism efforts and would make the US 'exceptionally vulnerable' if watered down." ...

... No Kidding. Keith Bradsher of the New York Times: "The decision by a former National Security Agency contractor to divulge classified data about the U.S. government's surveillance of computers in mainland China and Hong Kong has complicated his legal position, but may also make China’s security apparatus more interested in helping him stay here, law and security experts said on Friday. The South China Morning Post, a local newspaper, reported on Friday that Edward J. Snowden, the contractor, had shared detailed data showing the dates and Internet Protocol addresses of specific computers in mainland China and Hong Kong that the National Security Agency penetrated over the last four years. The data also showed whether the agency was still breaking into these computers, the success rates for hacking and other operational information.... Kevin Egan, a former prosecutor [in Hong Kong] who has represented people fighting extradition to the United States, said that Mr. Snowden's latest disclosures would make it harder for him to fight an expected request by the United States for him to be turned over to American law enforcement. 'He's digging his own grave with a very large spade,' he said. But a person with longstanding ties to mainland Chinese military and intelligence agencies said that Mr. Snowden's latest disclosures showed that he and his accumulated documents could be valuable to China, particularly if Mr. Snowden chooses to cooperate with mainland authorities."

... Margaret Hartmann of New York: "The British government sent a travel alert to airlines around the world warning them not to let [Edward Snowden] fly to the country because 'the individual is highly likely to be refused entry to the UK." A British diplomat tells the Associated Press that ... any airline that does fly him to the U.K. is likely to be fined £2,000. It looks like he can cross 'crashing with Julian Assange' off his list of places to stay."

... Spencer Ackerman of the Guardian: "Two prominent Senate critics of the NSA's dragnet surveillance have challenged the agency's assertion that the spy efforts helped stop 'dozens' of terror attacks. Mark Udall and Ron Wyden, both members of the Senate intelligence committee, said they were not convinced by the testimony of the NSA director, General Keith Alexander, on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, who claimed that evidence gleaned from surveillance helped thwart attacks in the US." ...

Jayne Mayer & James Surowiecki of the New Yorker discuss the Snowden leaks with Dorothy Wickenden:

... When "American Exceptionalism" Meets American Blunders. Ian Bremmer of Reuters: "The United States is so eager to cast itself as a pinnacle of various behaviors and values that when it inevitably falls short, it leads to awkward contradictions. That's a shame, because the United States actually does have substantive differences from many other countries on civil liberties, human rights and democracy. It's just that its stance ensures any slipups and embarrassments overshadow everything else.... When the United States projects its standards upon the rest of the world, it makes it all the more glaring when the United States falls short of its own mark."

Jennifer Steinhauer of the New York Times: "When Senator Carl Levin of Michigan stripped a measure aimed at curbing sexual assault in the military out of a defense bill this week, it was widely seen as a trampling by a long-serving male committee chairman on female lawmakers seeking justice for victims. But the truth reflects a more complex battle driven by legislative competition, policy differences and the limits of identity politics in a chamber where women's numbers and power are increasing." CW: I'm still seeing it as a trampling. Levin is retiring; is enabling sexual assaults what he wants to leave as his legacy?

Frank Rich on Snowden, immigration reform, etc., etc.

The White House Mole. Massimo Calabresi of Time on CIA Director John Brennan's surprise pick of NSA lawyer Avril Haynes for deputy director.

Paul Krugman: "... the only way we could have anything resembling a middle-class society -- a society in which ordinary citizens have a reasonable assurance of maintaining a decent life as long as they work hard and play by the rules -- would be by having a strong social safety net, one that guarantees not just health care but a minimum income, too. And with an ever-rising share of income going to capital rather than labor, that safety net would have to be paid for to an important extent via taxes on profits and/or investment income." ...

... CW: another -- and perhaps better or more "capitalistic" -- alternative, which I'm surprised Krugman doesn't mention, is by requiring corporations (by law & by union pressure) to pay workers better wages for fewer hours. This also, of course, is "redistributing the wealth," but in this scenario, the wealth would presumably be redistributed on a somewhat more meritorious basis: i.e., the better, or more skilled, or more needed workers would get a bigger piece of the pie than the unskilled or "obsolete" workers. Yes, the social safety net is essential, but it is just as essential to give people incentives to "get ahead" & rewards for when they do. ...

... AND, speaking of unions, Brad Plumer of the Washington Post outlines some of the huge challenges they face. Whether you prefer my scenario or Krugman's, neither is going to happen in a country where the people who most need help vote for Jeff Sessions & Mitch McConnell, et al.

"They. Just. Don't. Care." Paul Waldman of the American Prospect: "Ramesh Ponnuru has a long piece at National Review imploring conservatives to come up with a health-care plan they can swiftly put in place when Obamacare inevitably collapses under the weight of its disastrous big-government delusions. Though I disagree with almost every point Ponnuru makes along the way..., I'll give him credit for trying to get his ideological brethren to come up with a proposal to solve what they themselves keep saying is a terrible problem.... The biggest problem with this kind of appeal is that he will never, ever get anything beyond a tiny number of Republicans to invest any effort in coming up with a health-care plan. That would involve understanding a complex topic, weighing competing values and considerations against one another, and eventually getting behind something that will be something of a compromise. And let me say it again: They. Just. Don't. Care."

Yesterday Charles Pierce did a number of Rep. Jeff Duncan (RStupid-S.C.), who is right upset that IRS bookkeepers are going to pull out their government-issue assault weapons and mow down bands of patriotic Tea Partiers. Pierce notes that Duncan is "the one who said that, if we expand background checks on firearms purchases, the United States will become Rwanda." CW: what we must realize here, of course, is that certain voters have elected to Congress men & women who believe the citizens must be armed against the government, & some of these members of Congress are happy to incite their constituents to violence. As Pierce concludes, "Somebody's going to get hurt behind this stuff."

I wonder what Marco Rubio's problem is with equal rights for gays. Perhaps he's using his "tough stand against equality" as a sop for the GOP winger contingent, but I don't see where discrimination against gays will make much of an impression on Tea Party members of Congress who don't want any ferinners -- straight or gay -- to sully our sacred soil.

Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "Human genes may not be patented, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday. The decision is likely to reduce the cost of genetic testing for some health risks, and it may discourage investment in some forms of genetic research." ...

... Lyle Denniston of SCOTUSblog explains the ruling "in plain English."

Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) makes it a triple as he slides into third base during the annual Congressional baseball game. Roll Call photo.Democrats Beat Republicans in a Landslide Third-Base Slide. Meredith Shiner of Roll Call reports on the annual Congressional baseball game: Rep. Cedric "Richmond [D-La.], donning an old-school Brooklyn Dodgers No. 42 jersey in honor of the late Jackie Robinson, dominated the game, pitching 7 shutout innings, notching 4 hits and driving in 2 runs, to lead the Democrats to the most lopsided win in 52 years of CQ Roll Call Congressional Baseball, 22-0.... Rep. Linda T. Sánchez, D-Calif., the only female player, was a fan favorite, getting to first base twice and taking second base on an error in the 5th inning after notching a single." Richmond was a varsity pitcher at Morehouse College.

Local News

** AP: "The Arizona Legislature embraced a signature component of President Barack Obama's health care law Thursday after a drawn out battle that divided the state's Republican leadership and saw GOP Gov. Jan Brewer work closely with Democratic lawmakers to expand Medicaid access. The Legislature passed Brewer's $8.8 billion state budget and Medicaid expansion after months of stalled negotiations, tense debates and political maneuvering from both sides. Brewer called it a 'sweet victory' for Arizona's budget and its people. The expansion will provide health insurance to an additional 300,000 poor Arizonans under a key provision of the Affordable Care Act."

Steve Benen: Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, vetoed a state bill expanding background checks, a bill supported by 86 percent of Nevadans, including 78 percent of self-identified conservatives.

News Ledes

Reuters: "Millions of Iranians voted to choose a new president on Friday, urged by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to turn out in force to discredit suggestions by arch foe the United States that the election would be a sham. The 50 million eligible voters had a choice between six candidates to replace incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but none is seen as challenging the Islamic Republic's 34-year-old system of clerical rule."

Washington Post: "Turkey's leader offered protesters concessions early Friday, officials and protesters said, in a step that may help quiet the demonstrations that have swept the country for two weeks. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a delegation of protesters in a closed-door meeting in Ankara that he would be willing to soften his approach to redevelopment in Istanbul's central Gezi Park, the issue that originally sparked demonstrations."

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Many thanks to those of you who kept Reality Chex going when I could not. My husband Aldo Scaglione died this (Thursday) morning, and the illness that preceded his death often precluded my posting here. I should be able to get back to it now, though I plan to continue to post more lightly on weekends than on weekdays.

Thank you again for all your help.

Marie

June 13, 2013 |

Marie Burns

Marie, my heart goes out to you at this very difficult time in your life. I recently lost my soul mate and miss him constantly. Your dedication to Reality Chex keeps me sane and hopeful. Thank you for your strong beliefs in researching the truth. By keeping active during this life changing event you will heal your lonely soul. During my husband's illness I read your columns and comments out loud. We cheered, laughed and marveled at the honesty represented by you and your cordray and it helped us face each day with strength. I am sending you healing thoughts to help you at this time.

June 14, 2013 |

Janet

Dear Marie-

I am sad for you that you have lost Aldo--in what I know has been a painful and trying time for you. What is amazing to me how you have handled such a difficult time with such courage and class. You are truly one of a kind. There is nobody like our Marie, "The Constant Weader."

I hope your passion for following the political currents and tides, as well as ferreting out "truth in the craziness" will be comforting as well as challenging to you in the days ahead. You know, I am sure, that you have many friends and fans in the commenters here on RealityChex. I treasure our enduring connection!

Peace and love!

June 14, 2013 |

Kate Madison

Marie:
I'm very sorry for your loss. In my area, at times like this, we visit each other and drop off cooked meals, etc., just to show we care. I can't do this for you since I'm 2500 miles away, but I wish I could.

June 14, 2013 |

Victoria

Marie,
Our hearts go out to you as you experience this sad event in your life. I hope, in some mysterious way, this provides comfort as you adjust to this new reality.
Our heads crave your brave analysis and un-dying search for truth in this world of media obfuscation and plutocratic exploitation .
As always, striking a balance between the desires of our hearts and our heads is the daily challenge we face.
The saying goes," Pain shared is pain halved", know that many hearts and heads are with you now. Roger Henry

June 14, 2013 |

Roger Henry

Marie, you are possessed of stunning strength and grace. My deepest sympathies go out to you. The loss of one's life companion, shared conversations and personal sounding board is an enormous void. That you continued your regular conversations on the follies of world politics with all of us during what must have been difficult times for you and Aldo is deeply inspiring and appreciated. Peace.

June 14, 2013 |

MAG

Marie, I offer my most heartfelt condolences. You truly personify "grace under pressure."

June 14, 2013 |

Suze

I am stunned––and I am crying. Dear Marie, I feel so bad for you as we all do here and wish, as Victoria has said, that we could comfort you in person, bring you warm dishes, put our arms around you, do the dishes and sweep the floor. But you are made of sturdy stuff and will weather this well as you seem to have weathered most things in your life even though you are left with that broken thing one tries to put together. Know how much you are treasured ––know how much we care.

June 14, 2013 |

PD Pepe

Dear Marie,
I'm so very sorry to learn of your loss. You have my deepest sympathies, my greatest admiration, and my heartfelt gratitude for your dedication to this blog and your fans and friends who meet here daily -- I'm one of them. Since I cannot give you a hug in person, please accept this long-distance embrace.

June 14, 2013 |

Rose in Michigan

June 14, 2013 |

Rose in Michigan

As I was thinking how much respect I have for Reality Chex, I uncharacteristically clicked on the comments and read your sad news, Marie. I am so sorry for your loss and send my heartfelt condolences. Please take care of yourself, and thank you for all you do to inform and support your readers.

June 14, 2013 |

Nancy

June 14, 2013 |

Nancy

Marie; Peace. I cry for your sorrow.

June 14, 2013 |

JJG

Marie,

If in some way all the heartfelt words of sorrow and condolence expressed here ease the pain of your loss at this time, it is in no small measure repayment for all the consoling information you have provided your readers over the years.

May memories of happier times be your constant companion in this saddest of times.

My sincere sympathy for your loss.

June 14, 2013 |

Jacquelyn

I, too, am so sorry that you lost Aldo. Peace and love to you.

June 14, 2013 |

Barbarossa

I hope the memories of the best times you spent with your husband will lift you from sorrow. I wish I could just give you a big hug and cook for you.

June 14, 2013 |

Diane

Dearest Marie,

I hope his passing was easy for him, at least. For you, my hope is that some consolation can be had from memories of good years together, and the fact that there are many people who have great love, respect, and concern for you.

Better days are ahead.

Ubi amici, ibi opes.

June 14, 2013 |

Akhilleus

Marie. Peace.

June 14, 2013 |

James Singer

Dear Marie,
May I express my heartfelt sadness for your loss.
Words fail. On the path of grief, one walks alone.
May your days get easier.
Sincerely,
mae finch

June 14, 2013 |

mae finch

As a constant reader but extremely rare poster, I want to send my heartfelt sympathy to you. I am so grateful to you for all that you do and hope you will find some comfort in knowing that there are many who send caring thoughts your way at this time of sorrow.

June 14, 2013 |

JoannieB

Many odd things about this internet business, some of which repel me as often as they attract. In this instance, though, I'm grateful for the connection our keyboards provide to people I would not have otherwise known, particularly you, Marie, the Constant Weader, who has become one of my cherished portals to a wider world.

Though of course I did not know your husband, I often wondered about him and the many mysteries of a relationship I could never know and only dimly sense. What did he think of your intelligence, your zealous regard for truth, your acerbic unmasking of political pretenders, and the extraordinary time and energy you devote to your work? I can only imagine how much he must have loved them all, and I am sorry to hear that whatever support his presence in your life provided is now gone.

As all of the Reality Chex family has said, my thoughts are with you.

Any comments on that "wider world" that beckons us all will have to wait. This moment and this day are for you.

June 14, 2013 |

Ken Winkes

Dearest Marie, I am sending white light to your beloved Aldo as he makes his passage into another dimension of life. And, to you, positive thoughts and light as you meet the challenge of your life's transition.

June 14, 2013 |

Mushiba

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. My heart goes out to you.

June 14, 2013 |

citizen625

The powers of connection amaze as the internet develops digital friendships and occasionally reveals the raw emotions usually reserved for flesh and blood. The immediate sorrow and consolation produced upon hearing of your loss took me aback, yet then I understood. You've got many friends out in cyberspace. RIP

June 14, 2013 |

safari

Marie: thank you once again for all you do for us with reporting the
facts and my heartfelt sympathy for your loss. Ciao.

June 14, 2013 |

forrest morris

Dear Marie,

I am so very sorry. We all cherish your work and so wish we could lighten your heart. Aldo must have been an amazing man - look who he married.

June 14, 2013 |

Haley Simon

Dear Marie,

I am very sorry to hear about the death of your husband. I hope his passing was gentle. Losing a loved one is so very painful. I wish you peace. Thank you for bringing light to the world.

Sincerely,

Julie

June 14, 2013 |

Julie in Massachusetts

Marie; My heartfelt condolences.

June 14, 2013 |

cowichan's opinion

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