In a recent post OS member Aaroncynic asks "Why Do We Still Care About Politicians' Married Lives?"   He concludes that we shouldn't.  He notes that "how one's marital status affects one's ability to say, decide whether or not torture should be practiced is beyond me," and that"until w… Read full post »

For eight years I was a medical data analyst in the financial department of  a large public hospital.  The last time I did that was about fifteen years ago, but I doubt that much has changed during the intervening years.

When I read Cindy Ross' recent post "We went broke paying… Read full post »

Yesterday I visisted the shop of a young luthier in Portland, Oregon, Peter Tsiorba.  I took some photos that he could use on his web site.  The following is a small selection of them.  These were all taken with an ordinary digital camera, not a cell phone camera (like most… Read full post »

I took the following photos over the last few months.  They are an odd collection with no particular theme.

All of the photos were taken with an iPhone camera.

 Secret Office

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Some years ago I got a phone call informing me that the cell tower antenna array I ordered from China had arrived and was waiting at some port in Seattle. 

The only problem was that I had not ordered an antenna array.  I informed the caller of that fact.  She… Read full post »

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

-- Gospel of Matthew

 I think that there are two reasons why people, especially new people, have an increasingly hard time… Read full post »

I took this with my iPhone today while walking to the bus stop after work:

And this while walking back to work after lunch.  A while back I took another photo of this building.  I really like the textures and colors.

… Read full post »

Over the last six months on Open Salon I have posted a number of "art" photographs taken with a cell phone, and in general I've received some nice comments on them.  I don't see myself as having any particular talent for photography, and I think that anyone can take a reasonably… Read full post »

Here in Oregon we had a beautiful late summer, but the rain has returned, reminding me of the random effects of rain water on our urban structures. 

I haven't taken any photographs in a while.  I've had a lot on my mind, not very good things, and just wasn't… Read full post »

I've worked in offices for 25 years now. Increasing with age, the emotion most evoked in me by office work is sadness. I don't know why. It's clean, dry and warm. I've dug ditches and gutted fish, and office work is better. Nonetheless, I often experience an emotion that I previously… Read full post »

As Liz Emrich notes in her post "The Assumptions We Make," Republicans try to portray Democrats such as Barack Obama as part of an educated elite that neither cares for the "common person" nor shares his or her values. Liz calls this a "marketing ploy" that is designed to appeal to… Read full post »

I like all kinds of music. I grew up with classical piano lessons, and currently play flamenco guitar. But a strange thing happened to me on my way to the grave. Last year I discovered Progressive Metal music in my old age.

As far as "classic rock" songs --… Read full post »

The problem with the New Yorker cover is that it's not readily apparent what the point of it is. It looks exactly like something that might appear on the cover of a right-wing rag. So you have to reason through a little bit and conclude that the… Read full post »

Taken at lunch yesterday:

Taken on the way home:

This one a few days ago:

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In the last two decades there has been a fundamental shift in how conservative Christians perceive themselves and who they define as their enemies.

For centuries fundamentalist, evangelical, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians were at each other's throats. The main issues were why the Catholics are… Read full post »

I was always surprised by the great enthusiasm that many American Christians had for the war in Iraq, to the extent that some even perceived it as a "spiritual war" led by a Christian president. This is in spite of the purported devotion of Christians to "the God… Read full post »

When I was 40 years old I saw the Carlos Saura flamenco ballet movie El Amor Brujo for the first time. I was stunned. I had never seen or heard anything like it. The movie features the magnificent Cristina Hoyos and Antonio Gades, who/… Read full post »

Back in the "olden days" I tried my hand at black and white art photography. I had a lot of fun and actually produced a few photos that weren't too bad. The problem was that it was such a hassle trying to make photos without a darkroom.… Read full post »