Rough translation, for my English speaking readers:

“In terms of the society, the idea of defenselessness began to take root, the dark fear that anyone, innocent as they may be, might fall into that infinite witch hunt, seizing some people with overpowering fear and other people with a tendency – conscious or unconscious – to justify the horror. “It must be for a reason,” justifiers murmured in low voices, as if through these words they might avert those terrible and inscrutable gods, and meanwhile looking on the sons and fathers of the disappeared as on lepers.”- from the prologue of the CONADEP’s report, Nunca Más.

That’s what I’m talking about! It’s about time. Thank you, sir, for saying so. You have my full support.

I forgive you for standing in front of the United Nations, before a shamefully covered “Guernica”, and lying about WMD and advocating a badwrong war. You spent pretty much all your capital of integrity on that move. I was disheartened by it and lost faith in you.

I forgive you even though we’re still being battered by the consequences of that action, and none more than the military men and women of this country.

But see, now you get to go back into my “good guys” pile. Because you said what needed saying (that the face of America includes Muslims, and we’re a better nation for it), exactly when it needed saying. Thank you, from a Christian who happens not to believe Muslim is code for terrorism, evil, or the destruction of America. Long live our country. May it ever promote religious freedom, including the right to pursue no religion.

I can’t be the only one who reacts this way.

As an aside, if you are interested in helping take care of our war detritus (and by that I mean the land mines we leave everywhere we send our armed forces), my charity of choice is Adopt-A-Minefield.

Dear Madeleine L’Engle: I am not going to be able to write you one of those greatly moving eulogies or remembrances that I’ve read all over the internet in the wake of your passing. I can only say one thing: I’m sad that the woman who taught me the word tesseract is gone from the world. Love, Anarkey.

Dear Jena, Louisiana: Please feel free to join us in this century. Your behavior is appalling. I’ve never been to your town, but I’ve been to Olla, and it makes me think of rustling sun-dried grass and train tracks and cicadas and chewing tobacco. I’ll extend these associations to your town, but only if you cut it out. Seriously, Anarkey.

Dear They Might Be Giants: I adore the new video to your song “I’m Impressed”. Sorry I missed your show a couple of weeks ago. Singing along, Anarkey.

Dear Buddhist monks in Myanmar: I love you for your courage. Fight the good non-violent fight, brothers. Praying for you, Anarkey.

Dear Atheists and Christians: You should read this. No, really. Notice that last entry there? “You’ll never harass the other side out of existence?” Thanks, Anarkey

Dear Belgium: Cheer up. I think you’re a real country. You make great chocolate! Sincerely, Anarkey.

Dear Elissa Wall: I honor your courage. By your example, you make the need for social justice real, and ours. Thank you, Anarkey.

• Coverage of the event in English
• La Nacion’s archival photos of the June 1918 snowfall
• La Nacion’s photos of Monday’s snowfall
• Coverage from La Nacion and El Clarin(in Spanish)
• A remembrance of the 1918 snowfall from El Clarin (in Spanish)
• Tango composer Bardi witnessed the 1918 snowfall on his way back from the horse races in La Plata, and created a tango about it called “Que Noche!“, which got plenty of radio play this past Monday.

It is strange, strange to see all those familiar places in snow.