Sad news in the entertainment industry today:  Drummer/singer extraordinaire Phil Collins has decided to hang it up.
PHIL Collins has quit music for good after developing hearing problems, a dislocated vertebra and nerve damage in his hands from his 40-year career playing drums.
The Easy Lover hitmaker also thinks people are sick of him and his music.
“It’s a good time to stop,” said the star, who has sold more than 150 million records.
“I look at the MTV Music Awards and I think: ‘I can’t be in the same business as this’.
“I don’t really belong to that world and I don’t think anyone’s going to miss me. I’m much happier just to write myself out of the script entirely.
He let his leftist politics show a bit too much in the latter half of his career (see “Confusion, Land Of”), but he & Genesis did a lot of pretty good stuff – and “Easy Lover” with Philip Bailey is still a personal favorite.
“I’m not worried about not being able to play the drums again, I’m more worried about being able to cut a loaf of bread safely or building things for my kids.”
On the other hand, gotta like a guy who prioritizes his kids.  Or tries to, anyway.
Godspeed, Phil.  Enjoy your retirement, sir – you’ve earned it.
(Hat tip:  Professor Jacobson.)
Concerning end-times prophecies, Denizens, I must admit I’ve never really been all that clear whether Russia was Gog or Magog (though I suspect the Vicar could enlighten me).
That said, it seems pretty clear that either Gog or Magog just went to the dentist to have its dentures installed.
The graying bear is getting a make-over. Russia’s military is launching its biggest rearmament effort since Soviet times, including a $650 billion program to procure 1,000 new helicopters, 600 combat planes, 100 warships, and 8 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.
Analysts say Russia, while already the world’s fifth-largest military spender, needs strong conventional forces to reduce its overreliance on its aging Soviet-era nuclear missile deterrent. Valentin Rudenko, director of the independent Interfax-Military News Agency, says it could create “a whole new ballgame.”
“For about two decades we’ve had no real modernization, at least not like what’s being proposed now,” he says. “Russia will finally have a modern, top-level armed forces that are capable of protecting the country.”
Add that to all the turmoil in the Middle East, and it’s “look out, Israel”.
Watch & pray, Denizens.  Watch & pray.