Kathy Flann’s collection of eleven short stories in “Smoky Ordinary,” was a delight for me to read. For example, in her compelling tale, “The Dispossession of Billy Montgomery,” you will find plenty to hold your interest, while having a huge laugh at the same time. Ms. Flann’s fiction stories are centered around “Smoky Ordinary,” a community located in rural Virginia, just south of Washington, D.C. I highly recommend her book.

"In this online debate about the Israel/Palestine conundrum, the passions are high, but preliminary signs for a way out of the Middle East bloodbath poke through the arguments. Or maybe not. You judge."

"What is being created from the wreckage of the American occupation is both akin to what we intended and different from what we envisioned: what is emerging is a secular, pluralist, multiparty, market-oriented democracy. But, alas, this is not the age of miracles: Damascus and Tehran are not intimidated, the region's Salafists are not defeated, the Palestinians are not humbled--and there isn't an Iraqi leader in sight who would be caught dead in Jerusalem. Or have anything to do with the Americans."

"...the forthcoming Iraqi election is attracting more foreign attention than domestic. Most Iraqis, after the experience of the past seven years and two elections, have lost interest due to the huge amount of corruption, insecurity, lack of services and increasing poverty. Hence it is likely that external factors and influences will decide election results."

"This year, with the escalating occupation of Afghanistan widely believed to be on automatic policy pilot, conscience is fashionably cloaked with acquiescence. Many in Congress who say they don’t support the war keep voting to fund it -- and keep their voices muffled. The brandished wrath of the House Speaker or the White House chief of staff is most effective as a preemptive club."

"When in later years, these Jerusalem bureau chiefs retire from the field of battle and are promoted to the rank of armchair general back at media HQ – when they become a Thomas Friedman paid to pontificate regularly on the conflict -- they can be trusted to talk to those same high-placed officials, explaining their viewpoint and defending it. That is why you will not read anything in the NYT questioning the idea that Israel is a democratic state or see coverage suggesting that Israel is acting in bad faith in the peace process. "

"The conflict in Kashmir is a “political” and “human” tragedy and the world community, including India and Pakistan, have overlooked this critically important human dimension of the issue. The Kashmiris’ demand is simple and in accordance with the international law: implementation of the United Nations resolutions for a plebiscite to determine the future status of the disputed region in a peaceful and democratic way. Whatever the outcome, it will be impartial and binding for all the three parties – the people of Kashmir, India and Pakistan."

"In the last few weeks alone, the Israeli defence minister recognised a settlement-based university near Nablus, the Mossad reportedly carried out an assassination in Dubai and Netanyahu declared two religious sites located deep in the West Bank as part of Israel's archaeological heritage....The Israeli Knesset introduced a new law, calling Jews who came from Arab countries to Israel refugees and demanding compensation for them. These steps give the impression of a state ruled by right-wing hardliners that are not likely to be willing to make the kind of difficult decisions needed to usher in the aspired for independent viable state of Palestine with contiguous borders, or a solution to the issues of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees."