Paxety Pages

A third of a century ago tomorrow, man for the first time stepped onto the soil of a body other than earth. The first moon landing by Apollo 11, and subsequent moon walk was a huge deal. In those days before home VCRs, I set up a 35mm camera in front of the TV set and snapped pictures. Here are a couple of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon.

July 17

Layne is back. Go there and read. He also has his book on sale.

Also take a peek at the North Florida Music Association site. We've updated the Hall of Fame page and added a photo section. What other place offers one-stop info on Judy Canova, Mouse & The Boys, and Inspection 12?

More murders in Israel. First reports are seven dead - 15 wounded.

July 16

Another murderous attack in Israel - this time the killers dressed in Israeli army uniforms, exploded a bomb beside a bus, then shot the civilians as they tried to run away. Brave men these, who did themselves run away.

I'm very concerned about the change in tactics we've seen in the last few attacks. There are rumors that Hamas, Hezbollah, and Al Queda have joined forces, and the tactics indicate something different is going on. This is not suicide - these killers appear to have planned an escape.

In Iraq, Uday is preparing his people for war:

Preparations were underway and "we will teach the Americans a lesson they'll never forget," Iraqi Culture Minister Hamad Yussef Hammadi told reporters on the sidelines of the parliamentary session.

Can anyone say "mother of all battles?" It became the daughter-in-law of the Ann Coulter-Katie Couric cat fight.

And let's free Iran while we're at it:

AN OPEN LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF IRAN FROM THE WEBLOGGING COMMUNITY

We are not politicians, nor are we generals. We hold no power to dispatch diplomats to negotiate; we can send no troops to defend those who choose to risk their lives in the cause of freedom.

What power we have is in our words, and in our thoughts. And it is that strength which we offer to the people of Iran on this day.

Across the diverse and often contentious world of weblogs, each of us has chosen to put aside our differences and come together today to declare our unanimity on the following simple principles:

- That the people of Iran are allies of free men and women everywhere in the world, and deserve to live under a government of their own choosing, which respects their own personal liberties

- That the current Iranian regime has failed to create a free and prosperous society, and attempts to mask its own failures by repression and tyranny

We do not presume to know what is best for the people of Iran; but we are firm in our conviction that the policies of the current government stand in the way of the Iranians ability to make those choices for themselves.

And so we urge our own governments to turn their attention to Iran. The leaders and diplomats of the world's democracies must be clear in their opposition to the repressive actions of the current Iranian regime, but even more importantly, must be clear in their support for the aspirations of the Iranian people.

And to the people of Iran, we say: You are not alone. We see your demonstrations in the streets; we hear of your newspapers falling to censorship; and we watch with anticipation as you join the community of the Internet in greater and greater numbers. Our hopes are with you in your struggle for freedom. We cannot and will not presume to tell you the correct path to freedom; that is for you to choose. But we look forward to the day when we can welcome your nation into the community of free societies of the world, for we know with deepest certainty that such a day will come.