Writers are a little below clowns and a little above trained seals.

John Steinbeck

I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little or make a poem which children will speak for you when you're dead.

Tom Stoppard

As much as I'd like to look like the cat on my home page, that image in the upper left is all I've got. It is my intent that this painting by Salvador Dali, A Dog Sleeping In The Shadow of the Ocean, and the quotes by John Steinbeck, who I assume needs no introduction, and Tom Stoppard, one of the greatest playwrights we've known, will help readers understand my mind. It even scares me that I understand Dali's ideas.

This blog will likely contain a potpourri of thoughts, political opinions, and philosophy that sometimes may be out of the mainstream. Some will call me a clown, some a trained seal, but hopefully, a few will enjoy my stories or find a new view of the world or the human species. In the end, which is often closer than any of us want to think, the output from my mind and heart will be all I can leave that may have value.

With this mildly revised site, as of 7/10/2024, I've posted a couple of older pieces from my old site and will add more over time.

Progressive Vs. Conservative

I'm nothing if not persistent in my effort to define the visions that these two political groups appear to use as guidance in both their approach to government and to attracting voters to their vision. And, I'll try once more. As I've said in the past, there are very few "new" ideas in the world. Most of what I'm going to say here has been said before, and I'm merely trying to make it as understandable as possible.

Read more »

Can We Be Non-Violent?

On 10/7/2023, Hamas struck inside Israel, killing men, women, and children with a viciousness seldom seen. Israel responded, perhaps understandably, by killing Palestinians at a ratio of about 6:1, and they don't seem to be finished as I write this on 11/10/2023. We're coming up on the second anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine and, again, the indiscriminate killing of thousands of innocent people in an apparent effort to gain some territory they believe is rightly theirs. The U.S. is striking targets in Syria as part of a murky strategy to kill terrorists in the region. In Sudan, an estimated 9,000 people have been killed, and another 5.6 million have been forced to flee their homes. Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are rattling their swords. Armenia and Azerbaijan are roiling again. Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India seem always to be on the verge of a shooting war. Close your eyes, put your finger almost anywhere on a world map, and you will find violence, the threat of violence, or oppressors of one kind or another.

Read more »

Is The Webb Telescope Looking At God?

I'd love to say that my title represents the first time for humans to be looking at the skies and asking that question. But, full disclosure. One such example exists in Polynesian myth in the islands of the Pacific. The idea of Supreme Deity manifests in divinities that Māori people call Rangi and Papa, Native Hawaiians Kāne, the Tongans and Samoans Tagaloa, and the peoples of the Society Islands call Ta'aroa. A native poetic definition of the Creator relates: "He was; Taaroa was his name; he abode in the void. No earth, no sky, no men. Taaroa calls, but naught answers, and alone existing, he became the universe. The props are Taaroa; the rocks are Taaroa; the sands are Taaroa; it is thus he himself is named."

Read more »

A New Site Host

I like to think I have a good grasp on technology, perhaps better than the average old guy, but I can tell you that over the years, I've had a number of websites hosted on several of the major hosts like GoDaddy and Webnode, and while I made them work, it wasn't as intuitive as I would like. I've never been sure whether it was a problem with the invisible techies on the other end, or my deteriorating old brain that was the problem.

Read more »

AI - Artificial Intelligence

A.I., it's all over the place, like a dog's breakfast. Experts, people none of us knew existed, are sitting in front of cameras expounding on A.I.'s benefits and dangers. So, what the hell? Why shouldn't I jump in and blab some bullshit?

Read more »

Feeling Or Fear?

Let’s be clear. Joe Biden suspended his campaign; he didn’t resign or quit. There is a convention to be had from August 19–22. Kamala is the presumptive nominee for president, and she'll name a running mate. Joe will be heavily involved in all that, just as he has been heavily involved in our nation's trajectory for over half of his life. We Democrats like a little drama in our politics, so this is a small bump in the road on the way to victory in November.

Read more »

Fourth Estate

The Fourth Estate or Fourth Power refers to the press and news media’s advocacy and implicit ability to frame political issues and originated in Britain. In the United States, the phrase "fourth estate" is contrasted with the "fourth branch of government,” a term that originated because no direct equivalents of the estates of the realm exist in the United States. The "fourth estate" is used to emphasize the independence of the press, while the "fourth branch" suggests that the press is not independent of the government.

Read more »

AI Is Coming To Get Us, Oh My!

There is a legitimate reason to be concerned about AI. Like any new technology, there are shitheads out there who will misuse and abuse this new tool that will revolutionize modern life. The list of how they might try to do that is a long one, but my focus is on the 2024 election.

Read more »

Is The Webb Telescope Looking At God?

I'd love to say that my title represents the first time for humans to be looking at the skies and asking that question. But, full disclosure. One such example exists in Polynesian myth in the islands of the Pacific. The idea of Supreme Deity manifests in divinities that Māori people call Rangi and Papa, Native Hawaiians Kāne, the Tongans and Samoans Tagaloa, and the peoples of the Society Islands call Ta'aroa. A native poetic definition of the Creator relates: "He was; Taaroa was his name; he abode in the void. No earth, no sky, no men. Taaroa calls, but naught answers, and alone existing, he became the universe. The props are Taaroa; the rocks are Taaroa; the sands are Taaroa; it is thus he himself is named."

Read more »

Progressive Vs. Conservative

I'm nothing if not persistent in my effort to define the visions that these two political groups appear to use as guidance in both their approach to government and to attracting voters to their vision. And, I'll try once more. As I've said in the past, there are very few "new" ideas in the world. Most of what I'm going to say here has been said before, and I'm merely trying to make it as understandable as possible.

Read more »

Can We Be Non-Violent?

On 10/7/2023, Hamas struck inside Israel, killing men, women, and children with a viciousness seldom seen. Israel responded, perhaps understandably, by killing Palestinians at a ratio of about 6:1, and they don't seem to be finished as I write this on 11/10/2023. We're coming up on the second anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine and, again, the indiscriminate killing of thousands of innocent people in an apparent effort to gain some territory they believe is rightly theirs. The U.S. is striking targets in Syria as part of a murky strategy to kill terrorists in the region. In Sudan, an estimated 9,000 people have been killed, and another 5.6 million have been forced to flee their homes. Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are rattling their swords. Armenia and Azerbaijan are roiling again. Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India seem always to be on the verge of a shooting war. Close your eyes, put your finger almost anywhere on a world map, and you will find violence, the threat of violence, or oppressors of one kind or another.

Read more »

Seattle (and ?) Public Transportation

Our little peeing contest in Seattle over public transportation is still slightly unsettled. 😁 Geez, Louise! This shouldn't be that confusing.
   Berliners love their transit system. Apparently, Parisians, Swedes, and most of Asia do, too. Gee, I wonder what we're doing wrong. It's fascinating how Berliners adore their transit system. And it's not just them; Parisians, Swedes, and most of Asia seem to have cracked the code. I'm genuinely curious: What's the secret?


Read more »