I received this wild and wooly message via email yesterday from a relative who doesn't live in California.  If the information is true, this is pretty shocking!  What do you think? 

Can anyone share the LA Times article that presents this disturbing data? 

Sadly,… Read full post »

What the hell happens to people when they reach my age?  I’ve been a Facebook user for the past six months now, and I am dismayed by the amount of crap that people of my vintage share with each other.   

My Facebook “friends” are diverse collection of young, midd… Read full post »

Secretary Clinton's behavior in the Congo reinforces my long-held belief that she would not be an inappropriate choice to lead our country.  Her reaction to the question posed by the Congolese student not only demonstrated her lack of poise but a lack of respect for the student and the audience.… Read full post »

i am constrained by the margins

of my life

which one day will

end smashing into solid oblivion

or slowly grinding to a halt

for diminishing desire

it has to be that way

like verse on a page

running out of space

or dying

for lack of  inspiration to… Read full post »

in urban gallery

vivid brilliance

sprayed splashed on solid space

affronts

intrigues

delights

concrete yielding soul

drab brings forth art

expression

a cosmos

sweeping swirling tumult topples

civilization

give me the finger

splendid redolence of

wet streets infused

with the dying exhaust

of rolling machines

layered over steely,

glassy

canvas

find it

at the crossroads

the noise of fleeting

color rises

reflects back upon itself

he’s afraid to buy me flowers

clinking bobbing

glances

the roar of the stench… Read full post »

pondering the universe and its...

philo/mental/karma/sutra

waste of time

waste of time

what the fuck is...

shoot me.

another afternoon wastes away

and then another after that

time to go

time to go

food soon and sleep

good night.

red wheelbarrow on my mind

better red than

read. Read full post »

the demolition of the white patriarch in american television sitcoms 

Ward Cleaver is dead.  I don’t mean Hugh Beaumont, the actor who portrayed the fictional husband of June and father of Wally and the Beaver in the television show Leave it to Beaver; although Beaumont is, indeed, go… Read full post »

And I thought my State of California was dysfunctional!   

Today in the State of New York, Senate Republicans wooed two unsavory Democrats to their side giving the Republicans a 32-30 majority in the chamber.  With that accomplished, Republicans installed Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., fr/… Read full post »

something I created and thought I would share with you.

Read full post »

The Class of 2009 celebrated its “Time of Reflection” last Sunday.  The event came on the heels of Senior Awards Night, which took place on the previous Thursday.  Now, the school term is coming to a close and with it the graduation of my youngest child, Hilary.  While atte/… Read full post »

I want to paint.  Not my kitchen, which is what my wife, Jane, thought, when I revealed this to her.  I want to put paint and other stuff on canvas.  There’s something inside of me trying to get out.  I’m not sure what it is.  I just feel a creative urge. … Read full post »

I dislike our nation at war--whether it's in Iraq or on the sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood--but I believe there are situations when war is necessary for our defense and to preserve our freedom.  I think most Americans would agree with that.  I don’t like abortion either, but I al/… Read full post »

I was going to title this “Why I Wouldn’t Be a Republican OR a Democrat.”  I wanted to express my utter disgust with both parties and reject the extremism of the positions they represent and that are amplified by their standard bearers in the media.  What I hear coming fro/… Read full post »

Education and Athletics Compete for Scarcer Resources in Financially-Strapped Schools 

The California school district where I’ve coached girl’s basketball for the past two years is in the midst of a financial crisis.  As the state’s economic crisis has developed, thanks in/… Read full post »

John Garamendi is looking for another job. 

He’s not unemployed.  In fact, he has a very good job.  He’s the Lieutenant Governor of California.   But here he is, resume in hand, asking to represent the 10^th California District in the House of Representatives. … Read full post »

I consider myself a practical person.  Opinionated and judgmental, too.  I try to express myself respectfully and with humility, because I know—and my family has instructed me about this countless times—that I don’t always have all the information that I should.  I&rs/… Read full post »

Malcolm Gladwell’s Victorious Non-Conformists 

An acquaintance of mine, a fellow basketball coach, sent me a copy of Malcolm Gladwell’s fine article, “How David Beats Goliath,” which The New Yorker published in its May 11^th issue.  In his message to me… Read full post »

There were four churches in a small town: a Presbyterian Church, a Baptist Church, a Methodist Church and a Catholic Church.  Each church was overrun with pesky squirrels that disturbed the worship services.  

One day, the Presbyterian Church called a meeting to decide what to do about… Read full post »

The range of reactions to European efforts to achieve harmony, comparability and quality in higher education runs everywhere from enthusiastic support and diligent study to student riot.  

A decade-old plan, the Bologna Process, was named for Bologna, Italy, and dates back to June, 1999, wh… Read full post »

In 1284, the town of Hamelin, Germany suffered from an infestation of rats.  A man dressed in pied appeared and claimed to be a rat-catcher. He promised the townspeople he would remove the rats if the townspeople would pay him a sum of money.  The deal made, the man played a/… Read full post »

Plato’s Apology is said to be his version of the speech delivered by Socrates in defense of charges brought against Socrates at his legendary trial.  At one point during the trial, and in response to Meletus, one of his accusers, Socrates, relates his meeting with a well-known politician,/… Read full post »

Gay marriage is not recognized by the State of California, but that didn’t stop Carolyn and Kristin from celebrating their love together with family and friends.  On a warm—almost too hot—spring day two mature women pledged to cherish each other for the rest of their lives.&nbs… Read full post »

 Thinking cap on tight some quick Haiku over lunch hope you like these poems.

1.

bush cheney all done

hope springs eternal once more

don’t blow it, barak. 

2.

too much haiku verse

please make it stop, i beg you

damn the next poet. 

3.

shiki-san takes up pen… Read full post »

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

I remember the first time I saw this poem.  It was during my sophomore year in high school.  Our teacher presented it to our class during a lesson on poetry.  &/… Read full post »