I engaged in a little civil protest on my morning walk to the coffee shop. An ice storm 10 days ago has left broken tree limbs everywhere. I found the sidewalk blocked by them--impassable to someone in a wheelchair or walker. I've seen a local walking his dog with a walker,… Read full post »

North of the Border, we keep fussing about the illegals and their ill-treatment. This is like continuing to fuss over a blister instead of doing something about the shoes.
What I mean is: let's focus on Mexico to make it a place people want to live in and make decent wages. Maybe… Read full post »

Today being the day our thoughts are brought to it, I've been thinking about Islam. And wondering if the following historical critique might have some validity. In summary, nothing in Islam calls for the terrorism, misogyny, or primitivism associated with it. No, Islam calls followers toward the Subl… Read full post »

I have a serious proposal, but just to keep the metaphors unmixed, the title might also be "Holding Hamid Halal." With that off my chest,

 One way to get Karzai's focus onto corruption is to get all concerned nations to announce that should his government fall, he will not be allowed… Read full post »

"That which can be bought ought not to be bought with the blood of men" is from "The Book of the Deeds and Good Manners of the Wise King Charles V" by Christine de Pizan.

I believe the context of that statement is the question of whether to bribe the captain of a… Read full post »

I'm looking for some folks willing to devote 48 hrs to a Scott Peck "The Different Drum, Community Building and Peace" retreat.

The subject we would inquire into would be: what are the fundamental assumptions you are making that has you sympathize more with one side in the Israel/Palestinian conflict… Read full post »

The boycotts of Arizona are actually hurting.

So here's a suggestion: make note of all the cities that have declared such boycotts. Repeal the offending law. Buy a bunch of used buses.  Park the buses where the illegals come across, and offer food and water as folks climb aboard. Then drive… Read full post »

There are two attitudes guests, interlopers or illegal immigrants might have, and attitude determines behavior.

One attitude is that the guest is entitled, has a right to belong and be in.

The other attitude is gratitude.

The entitled attitude would produce behaviors of resentment, demand, and protes… Read full post »

Give a man a fish, he eats today.

Teach a man to fish, and he eats the rest of his life.

But! Teach his wife to run a fish market; give a man an uncorruptible game warden and a weights & measures official--and they can send their kids to college.

Given… Read full post »

My wife has a beautiful, female German Shepherd Dog. Not being a dog person, i'm assuming it's important to add that final noun--my wife always does.

So here's the thing, as Tia and I walk all over town, EVERYONE comments on what a beautiful dog "he" is. And here's the real… Read full post »

I've never been a dancer. Felt out of place and uncomfortable at school dances. Only went because whatever girlfriend at the time insisted.
When I married Donna, we attended a Mozart event at the Kennedy Center, and afterward joined a party on the roof, stars above, Potomac below, a jazz band seducing/… Read full post »

So imagine a nudity-activist showing up at airport security. S/he drops his/her gown into the tray and steps forward in full glory.

Now, how can s/he be legally required to appear unclothed to  strangers 100' away in some monitoring booth, and yet be legally prohibited from appearing unclo… Read full post »

Maybe there is no such thing as integrity, there is only survival.

Or more accurately, when two things are discovered to be opposites, they are then not different things but parts of a unifying thing.

The opposite ends of a stick are both “stick”.

The opposite of integrity is survival. Pe… Read full post »

That Title oughta bring in the readers!

So, i'm walking past the big TV hanging over the elevator at work and CNN has this byline at the bottom of the screen, "Women with high testosterone levels take more business risks" like that's a good thing.

Two things occur to me:

1)… Read full post »

I've been reading Andrew Bacevich, USArmy Ret (Colonel) and agree with his warnings that our glorification of our fallen heroes, supporting the troops, and admiration for the military all pose a threat to democracy here. Polls show admiration for the military to be 4 or 5 times higher than admiration… Read full post »

There are some things democracy, specifically Congress, doesn't handle well: monetary policy (so we gave it to the Federal Reserve Board), weapons procurement (does Congress know better than DOD which weapons are needed?) and healthcare.

Healthcare has to be rationed or a country goes broke. Cuba, Ca… Read full post »

My dad died 5/27. I emailed the family the obit I proposed to send in, that "told the truth" about what a mixed-bag he was. The grandkids all said no. I got mad that all they saw or knew was a funny old guy who was fun, built a cool tree-house,… Read full post »

 

One evening an old Cherokee said, 'My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is anger, envy, lust, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.The other is joy, peace, gratitude, love, ho…

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