I was stressed out, far from home and family.  Earlier this month, I’d pulled an all-nighter, working like a caffeine-fuelled demon, in a hotel room in eastern Germany.  The prese… Read full post »

The news is just bad, bad, bad.  Markets down, unemployment up.  Ridiculous people doing ridiculous things with public money.  Politicians calling for executive suicide, preening for the cameras, rushing to the head of lynch mobs, and insulting Special Olympians.  You know what we/… Read full post »

It’s not that I’m wearing a secret smile.  It’s more that I’m not sure anyone else would quite understand my smile.  I ditched work and clients to have lunch with a very attractive woman.  With whom I exchanged flirtation.  And suggestive repa… Read full post »

It’s hard keeping up with the environmental consciousness of some of my wealthiest friends.  I might add, as delicately as possible, that it’s becoming hard to be in the same room with them, too.  They’re becoming just a little too delighted with themselves.

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Obama Magic Reaching Even Determined U.S. Foes

Item:  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, took time out from wiping Israel off maps and making tinfoil hats for his imaginary friend, to write a letter congratulating Barack Obama on his election win. – various ne… Read full post »

4 Rules to Remember

We don’t have a lot of time, people, so please pay attention and act accordingly.

A recession is knocking at our door.  It won’t be long until the door is kicked in.  In case you don’t remember, or haven’t lived through one, se… Read full post »

"Where MY candy?", asked the ladybug, not unreasonably...

 (Aila, age 2)

Oh, She Can Be Charming, Too...

(Excited ladybug, saying "Hi!")

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 AC/DC Never Change.  Thank Heaven.

(Brian Johnson, Angus Young, Malcolm Young.  Not pictured:  Cliff Williams, Phil Rudd.  Photo source - New York Times)

Hang on, reader – keep reading.  I know you’re probably not a hard rock fan, and you likel… Read full post »

(Earthrise from Apollo 11)

It’s hard to put your finger on when we began to lose touch with our ancient companions, awe and dread.  Those two emotions that have inspired us and motivated us, and that in many ways have defined our humanity…… Read full post »

(Angel - proud great pyrenees mountain dog)

I want points for courage, here, as I’m taking on the powerful small-dog lobby, which secretly controls Hollywood, the banks and the United Nations. 

Big dogs are a boon to mankind.  Big dogs are friends.  Big dogs share… Read full post »

How can you blame “Libertarianism” for the financial collapse, if you can’t define what it is?

Slate’s editor-in-chief Jacob Weisberg wants us to know that libertarianism has been proven wrong, and the credit meltdown is the evi… Read full post »

Today's National Post newspaper published a column of mine, in the wake of this week's Canadian elections.  I think the theme applies equally - perhaps even more - to the current American political culture. 

I feel sorry for today's young political operativ… Read full post »

(Canada... that big place on top of America... where the weather comes from.)

I know it seems that the whole world is watching, breathless, to see how the US elections will turn out.  Actually, it’s true.  We are.  But other things are happening around the globe, too.&nbs… Read full post »

This one gave me a bigger jolt than my gas station coffee, this morning.  Senator Obama will be on Bill O’Reilly’s show tonight at 20h00, right before Sen. McCain’s convention speech.

[pause for shocked breath intakes, shouted opinions & objections]

I&rs… Read full post »

My Oenophileophobia

I love wine – all wine, whether it’s $15 and bottled last week, or $400, and bottled mid-century by reclusive, mute Spanish monks.  I don’t resent wine connoisseurs, and I don’t dismiss them as “snobs”.&nb… Read full post »

The Election's Idiom War is Already Won

(The Battle of the Nile, 1798, by Thomas Luny) 

The polls, many showing Senators Obama and McCain neck-and-neck, don’t tell the whole story.  To judge by the language of the candidates and the media - particularly the televi/… Read full post »

(How Huffington Post sees Gov. Palin - per their cover page)

The folks over at Huffington Post have shown that in their hyper-partisan excitement, there are few levels to which they won’t stoop.  They’ve brought out some sexist howitzers, with which to pound Senator McC… Read full post »

A Lesson for Management and HR, from the deep.

(Carribean reef shark)

Caribbean reef sharks are worthy of respect for a particular reason.  It’s not just that they can grow up to 9 feet in length, and if so inclined, could disassemble a diver.  I respect these fish beca… Read full post »

On Inauguration Day, in January, Americans of different political stripes will be happy to move on.  A difficult, sometimes bitter, period in your history will end.  A new one, fresh and full of the promise of the new, will begin.  Your country’s best friends around the w… Read full post »

One Thing Soccer Taught Me About Life

When I was a kid, I played soccer. When we'd finish a game, everyone on each team had to line up and shake hands with all the other team's players. Those were the rules, and we obeyed them.  What began as a pro… Read full post »

Keep Those "Important" Novels Away From Me

I know people who read literature, whether old or new, and I like those people just fine.  But reading most books of the Western canon, or the great American novelists, or some fussy European avant-garde thingy just makes me feel tired and vague… Read full post »

 Would You Buy a Used Car From These Men?  I would.

(Photos courtesy of candidates' websites)

Peel away the sticky residue of a presidential campaign (McCain doesn’t know how many homes he has!  Obama had a nutty pastor!) and you’re left with two darned good… Read full post »

 Attack McCain, Praise Obama… But Above All, Talk About Sex

(Cartoon courtesy of the very funny Open Salon contributor, Bob Eckstein.)

I feel a kind of delight that the surest way to attract clicks and approbation on Open Salon is to blog about something sexual. … Read full post »

 Photo taken July 20, 2008, in the salt creek behind Cutlass Bay, Cat Island, Bahamas.

I dropped a dime.  I’m a rat.  I ran to the authorities and informed.  On a fish.

The idea of snitching makes me uncomfortable.  I went to college to immerse myself in So… Read full post »

I had a feeling the Saddleback Church Civil Forum was going to be a bit different.  I’m not among the 25 million people who’ve bought Rick Warren’s “The Purpose-Driven Life”, but I’m aware of the buzz around his book, his church and him.  Last night, he d/… Read full post »