Out with the old . . .

. . . in with the new (year, that is)


2017:




2018:

Star Wars

Finally managed to see the new Star Wars installment and like it. But I kept wondering - When is Captain Picard going to show up and say, "Resistance is futile"?

Russia props up international outlaw

LONDON/MOSCOW — Russian tankers have supplied fuel to North Korea on at least three occasions in recent months by transferring cargoes at sea, according to two senior Western European security sources, providing an economic lifeline to the secretive Communist state.

Shocking. Just shocking.

Story.

Inspired by someone?

Taya Kyle and I are working on a book of inspirational stories focusing on people who have struggled through adversity and gone on to help others in big and small ways. So far we have a wide range – from a young man who asked for donations for a food bank rather than candy at Halloween to a woman who was instrumental in establishing a university in war-torn Afghanistan.

If you know of someone who inspires you by helping others, we’d love to hear about them – send me an email at this address: author(at)jimdefelice.com

Tax 'revolts'

1773: American protest taxes by tossing tea in harbor.

2017: Americans protest taxes by paying early . . .


There's a dissonance there I can't quite get my head around.

First flight . . .

A Place of Absence


I haven't seen this yet, but the topic is gripping. Andrew McLaren was involved in it, so you know it's good:

The Caravan of Mothers is an organization of brave Central American women, who embark on an epic yearly bus journey throughout Mexico in a desperate search for their sons and daughters that have disappeared on the grim journey to the United States.  For the last thirteen years the Caravan of Mothers have created empowerment for these poor, indigenous peasant women that have become political and human rights activists by forming this alliance to find their loved ones. 

More on the movie.

The movie's website.

Inspired by someone?

Taya Kyle and I are working on a book of inspirational stories focusing on people who have struggled through adversity and gone on to help others in big and small ways. So far we have a wide range – from a young man who asked for donations for a food bank rather than candy at Halloween to a woman who was instrumental in establishing a university in war-torn Afghanistan.

If you know of someone who inspires you by helping others, we’d love to hear about them – send me an email at this address: author(at)jimdefelice.com

Terrible snub

I can’t believe Marshall, the movie about Thurgood Marshall as a young lawyer, got zero nominations for the Golden Globe awards. Hopefully that will be rectified in the Academy Award nominations.

Nominated or not, it’s a great movie with great performances. If you can’t catch it in the theater, it’s definitely worth a download.

'Tis the Season . . .

I must be in the Christmas spirit – I just bought a quart of eggnog and it wasn’t even on the shopping list.

Whether you like it or not


The State of our dis-Union:

For the people currently wielding power in Washington, the preferences of the American people count for very little.

Article.

In need of inspiration?

Ivan's story will inspire anyone, no matter what they have to overcome. Available in paperback at your favorite bookstore, on-line and mortar.

Boone 


I don't know how he'll do as a manager, but I do know this:

North Korea's ICBM

Report:

The Hwasong-15 is considerably larger than the Hwasong-14, and initial calculations indicate the new missile could deliver a moderately-sized nuclear weapon to any city on the US mainland. The Hwasong-15 is also large and powerful enough to carry simple decoys or other countermeasures designed to challenge America’s existing national missile defense (NMD) system.

Website.