So, I haven’t posted here in a long time. Sorry. I intended to post my reflections from Egypt, but the internet connection was kindof lame while we were there, and I was doing well to get my emails out and keep up with the stuff (like paying bills) that I needed to do on the web. Then, since we got back, things have been crazy.

Nevertheless, Becky wanted me to post my reflections from Egypt online, so that we could provide a link in the Christmas letter. Not everyone who gets the Christmas letter knows about this blog, though. So, I decided to post my Egypt reflections at mackenab.org. And, with that action, this blog is now defunct. I’m going to take all the archives offline very soon — leaving nothing behind but this post. Moving to mackenab.org and retiring this blog — including moving the archives offline — is something that I’ve been meaning to do for a long time now. It is time.

I plan to keep posting at mackenab.org, but it’s going to be more journally and less bloggy. I hope to post regularly, but I’m not going to make any commitments regarding a posting schedule at this time. My main resolution for 2006 is working out to be: In 2006, I will keep my commitments. Perhaps I’ll say more about that over at mackenab.org.

While I hope not to put my head in the sand completely, I’m just not that interested in writing about politics any more. It is just too painful and energy draining, and I need to devote my time to things like my career, my family, my friends, and my hobbies — not to babbling about politics, which is neither satisfying nor productive.

I eventually plan to redevelop this URL to promote my currently non-existent consulting business. I’m not quite there yet professionally, but I think that I will be soon.

So, it’s been quite a ride since my first post in Movable Type, on October 7, 2001. I’ll see you on the other side.

We depart for Egypt in a few short days. I plan to post updates on our trip once or twice a week. I also plan to email those updates to friends, family, and colleagues. If you know me personally and would like to receive the updates via email, then please send me an email. The address is allen AT mackenab DOT com .

Listen to this… Go on, listen to the whole thing…

This is the first segment of All Things Considered this afternoon. It is mostly an interview of the Secretary of Homeland Security. Around 4:30 in the clip, the SoHS refers to the reports that NPR has received from their reporters regarding thousands of people stranded in the convention center as “rumors.” Robert Siegel goes ballistic (in his own controlled way, of course) noting that these reporters have covered dozens of hurricanes, wars, and refuge situations. It was amazing on so many levels.

The situation in New Orleans appears truly horrible. Keep those folks in your thoughts and prayers.

Frank Rich has also been very good recently, including his column yesterday.

David Brooks, a columnist with whom I don’t have too much common ground lately, published an interesting column today. Brooks points to a counter-insurgency strategy that has been at least marginally successful in the past. I’m not sure if it would work in Iraq, but it sounds more plausible than what we’re doing right now…

This profile of Sam Cohen, inventor of the neutron bomb is one of the most fascinating articles that I’ve read in the last couple of months. Even if it doesn’t sound interesting, trust me, it is. Tons of insights on nuclear weapons, politics (of the left and right), and even the workings of the human mind.