We’re retired, not expired…and there is no deadline to produce for this site….and so we talk with friends and family; read; watch; debate with neighbors; put up yard signs; attend church and do various modest outreach projects….and do not turn to this site to share a thought or two…with probably no one.
We have a note somewhere in our work room that we write for writing’s sake…that it does not matter if there is no interrelation…interaction….dare I say….intercourse [sorry]….platonic, of course…..
But it does matter after a while. It is more fun…easier…to debate…present…argue…when someone sits across the smoke-filled room and the ice cubes clink merrily in the rocks glasses.
And deadlines do help. God knows.
Too bad, but there it is.
I sit for a moment at this site now because I am between tasks and there is a moment of opportunity….
It is still early in the cocktail hour and thoughts have not become foggy….
So, as the pace of life quickens at The Study….and as no dialogue is possible at this site…….it does not really deserve an audience….so little is being lodged here….we at The Study will ,I guess, carry on our modest harangues over the fence as it were….with living, breathing people…..not writing to the ether [?].
I have found it a real impediment to have no deadline and no one to talk to on these pages…..
If I can get past this/these impediments…..more posts will appear…..maybe.
In the meantime, know that our President is a liar, big time. The Congress is disfunctional. Our national security is increasingly being challenged and threatened.
And half the country thinks he is just the greatest leader of all time.
A country gets what it deserves. An ignorant citizenry is getting a very second-rate leader. Third rate.
Vote very carefully this November.
Watch the debates….think about the big picture..
As Churchill once said, the United States eventually does the right thing, after it has done all the wrong things.
The nation's future requires a thinking electorate.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
TOPLESS
If England was what England seems,
'N not the England of our dreams;
But only putty, brass 'n paint,
'Ow quick we'd drop 'er.
But she ain't.
'Nuff said.
The future queen should never have been in such a condition on the verandah.
The mag should not have been taking the pictures.
It should not publish them.
The public should not buy the mag.
Public taste has come quite a long way.
And England's not ...only putty, brass 'n paint....
Be more careful, Dear Future Queen.
The low brows are at the gates.
'N not the England of our dreams;
But only putty, brass 'n paint,
'Ow quick we'd drop 'er.
But she ain't.
'Nuff said.
The future queen should never have been in such a condition on the verandah.
The mag should not have been taking the pictures.
It should not publish them.
The public should not buy the mag.
Public taste has come quite a long way.
And England's not ...only putty, brass 'n paint....
Be more careful, Dear Future Queen.
The low brows are at the gates.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
FOR A YOUNGER READER
The Picoult book purchase mentioned in 16 August post was less than appropriate.
Dear Wife gave it away to a younger reader.
But she appreciated the effort.
Dear Wife gave it away to a younger reader.
But she appreciated the effort.
SEPTEMBER IN MICHIGAN 2012.
Perfect weather…
Repair and construction projects are proceeding.
No travel plans at present as above are pursued.
The building of an herb garden and other garden projects provide physical exercise.
And there is time to observe and consider what is going on in the greater world.
As Dear Wife would say, one has to prioritize.
We take time this Sunday morn for a few comments.
Regarding msm:
Generally the most reliable – not totally – but generally - Fox News.
Generally the next most reliable – again, less generally but relatively - CNN.
Generally the least reliable, with very few exceptions - MSNBC.
The only recent change in the above relativities is the improvement of CNN.
MSNBC is generally without merit. Even the panel guests are frequently disgusting, even in appearance.
The Study does not generally monitor ABC or NBC or CBS on their non-cable outlets.
Sadly, news coverage on the cable outlets and non-cable news outlets leans heavily, as any reasonable persons knows, to advocacy rather than reporting.
We know this is not any great revelation.
Just felt like saying it.
The best exceptions to this are generally FOX and to a limited extent CNN.
The violence against the US of recent days is clear evidence of a weakened US presence in the world, directly attributable to the policies of the US Administration.
This is the only possible conclusion for any thinking lay person outside of any inner loop.
Presidential spokespeople deny this.
So much for their reliability.
They appear unbelievably foolish.
One can only hope for a resurgence of respect, not love, in the world for the US.
If a nation cannot be loved, it had better be respected.
If neither is the case, woe betide that nation’s interests.
Repair and construction projects are proceeding.
No travel plans at present as above are pursued.
The building of an herb garden and other garden projects provide physical exercise.
And there is time to observe and consider what is going on in the greater world.
As Dear Wife would say, one has to prioritize.
We take time this Sunday morn for a few comments.
Regarding msm:
Generally the most reliable – not totally – but generally - Fox News.
Generally the next most reliable – again, less generally but relatively - CNN.
Generally the least reliable, with very few exceptions - MSNBC.
The only recent change in the above relativities is the improvement of CNN.
MSNBC is generally without merit. Even the panel guests are frequently disgusting, even in appearance.
The Study does not generally monitor ABC or NBC or CBS on their non-cable outlets.
Sadly, news coverage on the cable outlets and non-cable news outlets leans heavily, as any reasonable persons knows, to advocacy rather than reporting.
We know this is not any great revelation.
Just felt like saying it.
The best exceptions to this are generally FOX and to a limited extent CNN.
The violence against the US of recent days is clear evidence of a weakened US presence in the world, directly attributable to the policies of the US Administration.
This is the only possible conclusion for any thinking lay person outside of any inner loop.
Presidential spokespeople deny this.
So much for their reliability.
They appear unbelievably foolish.
One can only hope for a resurgence of respect, not love, in the world for the US.
If a nation cannot be loved, it had better be respected.
If neither is the case, woe betide that nation’s interests.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
BLACK DIRT AND CANASTA
And today we shopped for black dirt mixed for gardens and paving to build up new herb garden…8 inches or so high.
And then on to replenish larder….
How sweet it is!
And in grocery store found a new Picoult novel….Between the Lines….
Just finished large swaths of the Oxford History of Christian Worship….
Something light is now in order.
Maybe.
Found book in the grocery book section…right near the restrooms…..
Ok, I recommended it to Dear Wife…and then thought the jacket summary sounded fun.
We’ll see.
Need to order the yard stuff…perhaps tomorrow…retaining blocks first, then dirt.
I must say, a cigar would definitely taste good.
Have to make a tobacco run.
But now it is late….and there is a canasta game to resurrect and practice before inviting friends over….friends who do not require an electronic game.
Canasta takes this Old Fella back to the ‘50’s…..
Gotta go….
More later…
And then on to replenish larder….
How sweet it is!
And in grocery store found a new Picoult novel….Between the Lines….
Just finished large swaths of the Oxford History of Christian Worship….
Something light is now in order.
Maybe.
Found book in the grocery book section…right near the restrooms…..
Ok, I recommended it to Dear Wife…and then thought the jacket summary sounded fun.
We’ll see.
Need to order the yard stuff…perhaps tomorrow…retaining blocks first, then dirt.
I must say, a cigar would definitely taste good.
Have to make a tobacco run.
But now it is late….and there is a canasta game to resurrect and practice before inviting friends over….friends who do not require an electronic game.
Canasta takes this Old Fella back to the ‘50’s…..
Gotta go….
More later…
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
47th ANNIVERSARY
47 years on 14 August.
How time flies!
Nearly half a century gone by o so quickly in hindsight.
On Sunday we worshipped in the church where we were married.
The Sanctuary had been redone seven years ago…but our wedding chapel was unchanged.
All these years, it has been so close by…and only now have we revisited.
And yesterday, 14 August, the Anniversary day, we took a day trip to a city with a 100+ year old restaurant from our past; a store we needed/wanted to visit; and as a bonus found another selling Egyptian papyrus and hand-made paper from Katmandu, to name but two fascinating joys.
We drove and talked and laughed and reminisced and prayed….
Today we’ll call Texas and reconnect with our Best Man and Maid of Honor….
Bless their hearts….
A year ago we visited….
A prayer once again comes to mind:
This is the day the Lord has made
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Amen.
How time flies!
Nearly half a century gone by o so quickly in hindsight.
On Sunday we worshipped in the church where we were married.
The Sanctuary had been redone seven years ago…but our wedding chapel was unchanged.
All these years, it has been so close by…and only now have we revisited.
And yesterday, 14 August, the Anniversary day, we took a day trip to a city with a 100+ year old restaurant from our past; a store we needed/wanted to visit; and as a bonus found another selling Egyptian papyrus and hand-made paper from Katmandu, to name but two fascinating joys.
We drove and talked and laughed and reminisced and prayed….
Today we’ll call Texas and reconnect with our Best Man and Maid of Honor….
Bless their hearts….
A year ago we visited….
A prayer once again comes to mind:
This is the day the Lord has made
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Amen.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
NOT EVERY POLITICAL ENDOREMENT IS WELCOME
Candidate Romney is now well into his pre-election foreign tour and we have been told that not all has been smooth sailing.
We have watched respected analysts express dismay at the reactions of various foreign leaders and foreign media outlets to some Romney expressions of opinion.
And we too wondered at how unfortunate for our candidate.
And then a different thought occurred.
We remembered that maybe, just maybe, a negative reaction to our national candidate might not be all that bad.
We recalled that many foreign governments and media fairly salivated over b.o.
Some did not.
We at The Study did not and now our reservations have been confirmed by experience of nearly four years.
We were right and the salivators were wrong.
Fact.
And the foreigners who had reservations about b.o. just might be the allies with the clearest vision.
And so we suggest that maybe it is a good thing that the foreign admirers of b.o. do not care for the honesty of our hoped-for-next President.
Perhaps it is ok if those who adore the present President do not similarly adore his political opponent.
Not every political endorsement is worth having.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
LESSONS REGARDING THE SIMPLE FIX
The Study is quiet.
Sophie is asleep nearby and Herself is visiting cousins on the west side of the state.
‘Tis a cloudy and blessedly cool Wednesday morning.
Piles of newspapers have been read. Online news sources have been studied. Radio programs have been monitored.
I am reminded of a news column title…I think it was I see by the papers….or some words to that effect.
Anyway, we have been busy, as have many, and now it is nice to put a few thoughts to, I was about to say to paper, but rather to hard drive, to this journal.
We have had an opportunity to take note of a few happenings we have seen by the papers.
One encouraging observation is that the at least for awhile, the idea that there are simple fixes for terrible tragedies is at least muted in our msm.
Few prominent voices are calling for new gun control laws in the aftermath of the incident in Colorado.
The ignorant blame propaganda by gun lobbies.
The knowing credit the common sense of the American electorate.
Not all libs are complete fools.
The above is prompted by a news report that the leading cause of death of kids less than four years of age is drowning in swimming pools. “…90 children younger than 15 have drowned in U.S. swimming pools since Memorial Day.”
And NO ONE is calling for the abolition of swimming pools.
We hope and believe that there is an understanding amongst the people that more is going on here to cause, to allow, to make possible the horrors of shooting deaths and child drowning than the existence of guns and swimming pools.
A no brainer idea???
You bet!
And once one starts down this track, it occurs that sex ed will not cure problems of illicit sex.
Full employment will not solve the problem of out-of-control violence and crime in our cities and spillovers to the suburbs.
Quiet time in the corner will not curb misbehavior at home and at school.
Praising low achievement in school and work will not ensure successful individuals.
Government-run health care will not solve all health care problems.
Higher taxes will not secure our economic future.
Soft power will not solve the problems of the world.
You get the idea.
I wonder how many such statements I/we could list if I/we really tried.
Sophie is asleep nearby and Herself is visiting cousins on the west side of the state.
‘Tis a cloudy and blessedly cool Wednesday morning.
Piles of newspapers have been read. Online news sources have been studied. Radio programs have been monitored.
I am reminded of a news column title…I think it was I see by the papers….or some words to that effect.
Anyway, we have been busy, as have many, and now it is nice to put a few thoughts to, I was about to say to paper, but rather to hard drive, to this journal.
We have had an opportunity to take note of a few happenings we have seen by the papers.
One encouraging observation is that the at least for awhile, the idea that there are simple fixes for terrible tragedies is at least muted in our msm.
Few prominent voices are calling for new gun control laws in the aftermath of the incident in Colorado.
The ignorant blame propaganda by gun lobbies.
The knowing credit the common sense of the American electorate.
Not all libs are complete fools.
The above is prompted by a news report that the leading cause of death of kids less than four years of age is drowning in swimming pools. “…90 children younger than 15 have drowned in U.S. swimming pools since Memorial Day.”
And NO ONE is calling for the abolition of swimming pools.
We hope and believe that there is an understanding amongst the people that more is going on here to cause, to allow, to make possible the horrors of shooting deaths and child drowning than the existence of guns and swimming pools.
A no brainer idea???
You bet!
And once one starts down this track, it occurs that sex ed will not cure problems of illicit sex.
Full employment will not solve the problem of out-of-control violence and crime in our cities and spillovers to the suburbs.
Quiet time in the corner will not curb misbehavior at home and at school.
Praising low achievement in school and work will not ensure successful individuals.
Government-run health care will not solve all health care problems.
Higher taxes will not secure our economic future.
Soft power will not solve the problems of the world.
You get the idea.
I wonder how many such statements I/we could list if I/we really tried.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
MUSINGS
As ‘reported’ awhile ago, we at The Study have over the years established a tradition of celebrating certain British doings which especially appeal to us as we endeavor to keep alive the special relationship between our family and our other Mother Country, if you will.
Such has been the case with the weddings of Charles and Diana; Kate and William; the Golden Jubilee and the most recent Diamond Jubilee, an American version of which was held here a weekend ago.
We invited 15 or so folks over for fellowship, food, drinks, and ceremony: British memorabilia; trivia game and prizes; croquet; tales of visits to the UK; and finally our version of the Jubilee Beacon.
We shared an American household’s version of what was going on ‘across the Pond’.
We observed a few traditions.
And so it was especially gratifying to read in my alumni magazine this quarter an essay regarding the importance of traditions by the current Headmaster of my old school.
I excerpt and paraphrase some of his comments below:
In every culture there are moments that are marked by specific rituals or actions because these moments are defining moments either for an individual in the community or for the community itself. We surround these moments with ceremony and we embellish the moments with music or costumes or pageantry….
Tradition is not what we leave behind. Tradition is what we pass on. Celebrating the histories…is also celebrating our future. The promises made to earlier generations are made again, renewed and enriched by our shared experiences and inspired by the opportunity to shape a vision for the future linked by our common journey.
What splendid stuff!!
And so it is that we celebrate our family and our national traditions as we can, aware of the value of doing so.
Such are the musings of an old history teacher.
Such has been the case with the weddings of Charles and Diana; Kate and William; the Golden Jubilee and the most recent Diamond Jubilee, an American version of which was held here a weekend ago.
We invited 15 or so folks over for fellowship, food, drinks, and ceremony: British memorabilia; trivia game and prizes; croquet; tales of visits to the UK; and finally our version of the Jubilee Beacon.
We shared an American household’s version of what was going on ‘across the Pond’.
We observed a few traditions.
And so it was especially gratifying to read in my alumni magazine this quarter an essay regarding the importance of traditions by the current Headmaster of my old school.
I excerpt and paraphrase some of his comments below:
In every culture there are moments that are marked by specific rituals or actions because these moments are defining moments either for an individual in the community or for the community itself. We surround these moments with ceremony and we embellish the moments with music or costumes or pageantry….
Tradition is not what we leave behind. Tradition is what we pass on. Celebrating the histories…is also celebrating our future. The promises made to earlier generations are made again, renewed and enriched by our shared experiences and inspired by the opportunity to shape a vision for the future linked by our common journey.
What splendid stuff!!
And so it is that we celebrate our family and our national traditions as we can, aware of the value of doing so.
Such are the musings of an old history teacher.
Friday, June 8, 2012
BOOK CURRENTLY READ
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt....the book we are about to finish.
I suppose most folks, or many at least, have read it a long time ago.
We are returned from Savannah and had to read it.
Dear Wife read it some time ago.
Read it.
'Tis good stuff.
I have a sense I have made similar remarks as above some time ago.
It happens.
Sorry.
But again, it is late and wanted to mention a good read.
When you get a chance, visit Savannah....and Charlston...and Beaufort......
We had such a time.....
Learned so much...
Met so many people and things and facts....
I suppose most folks, or many at least, have read it a long time ago.
We are returned from Savannah and had to read it.
Dear Wife read it some time ago.
Read it.
'Tis good stuff.
I have a sense I have made similar remarks as above some time ago.
It happens.
Sorry.
But again, it is late and wanted to mention a good read.
When you get a chance, visit Savannah....and Charlston...and Beaufort......
We had such a time.....
Learned so much...
Met so many people and things and facts....
IT IS LATE
8 June…and we have missed any reference to a trifecta: Memorial Day; the Queen’s Jubilee; and the Day called D.
We note in an AP release that a 12-foot tall bronze statue of Major Winters of Easy Company, the 506th PIR…Screaming Eagles…. was unveiled Wednesday…
The 68th anniversary of The Day….06-06-44….
We made no mention of the anniversary here at The Study…..
Nor did b.o….
We are told the second time he has ignored the anniversary.
Such a piece of work.
But that does not excuse us…..
We were otherwise occupied.
So it goes.
We will try to do better.
Memorial Day was also ignored here..
We were otherwise occupied.
But, we did the duty with the Diamond Jubilee….
Not on the website….
But at The Study.
A lovely gaggle of friends over; lots of fellowship and food and bubbly and items relating to HRH Elizabeth II…..
But nothing written herein….
We will try to do better….
The Duke is in hospital.
Our prayers are sent heavenwards on his behalf.
Here at The Study we observed the wedding of Diana and Charles; the 50th Anniversary; the wedding of Kate and William; and the Diamond Jubilee.
We do what we can.
We tell our friends what we think is important.
It is a wonder they put up with us.
It is late.
Take good care.
We note in an AP release that a 12-foot tall bronze statue of Major Winters of Easy Company, the 506th PIR…Screaming Eagles…. was unveiled Wednesday…
The 68th anniversary of The Day….06-06-44….
We made no mention of the anniversary here at The Study…..
Nor did b.o….
We are told the second time he has ignored the anniversary.
Such a piece of work.
But that does not excuse us…..
We were otherwise occupied.
So it goes.
We will try to do better.
Memorial Day was also ignored here..
We were otherwise occupied.
But, we did the duty with the Diamond Jubilee….
Not on the website….
But at The Study.
A lovely gaggle of friends over; lots of fellowship and food and bubbly and items relating to HRH Elizabeth II…..
But nothing written herein….
We will try to do better….
The Duke is in hospital.
Our prayers are sent heavenwards on his behalf.
Here at The Study we observed the wedding of Diana and Charles; the 50th Anniversary; the wedding of Kate and William; and the Diamond Jubilee.
We do what we can.
We tell our friends what we think is important.
It is a wonder they put up with us.
It is late.
Take good care.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
DOWNSTATE
Tuesday morning and this Old Fella sits down to write a few lines…to reconnect with our site.
It is a commonplace that when one does not write…it becomes difficult to write.
It is true.
As the school teacher-turned-prostitute said to her less-than-successful client, “We will do it over and over ‘till we get it right.”
Sorry.
We are depressed at how little writing we have been doing.
As we used to tell our students, we have been suffering from literary constipation.
But the thoughts are still there….
And liberating them is always so much easier when doing so has been a habit, not a rarity.
Our routine lately has been that of verbal rather than written communication.
At any rate, we are now back from our trip South and our most recent trip North…and the summer season, with whatever it holds, stretches before us.
We hope and pray that we will now be able and willing to put our words where our mouth is and share a thought or two or even more.
To paraphrase Dr. Samuel Johnson, “He who is tired of […family, community, national, and world affairs] is tired of life.”
We are not tired of life.
Friday, May 4, 2012
EXCITING TIMES...
Friday morning, early May…
We are back from Savannah, Georgia….
So many things to think and write about after this long interval of hereing and thereing (I know, not really words)….
We flew and drove and carriaged and walked and talked and dined and viewed and ooed and awed (again, not really words) and immersed ourselves in cities and lands 16 hours away by car….but just a short distance in time by air.
Dear Wife has wanted to take us to Savannah for years….
And now we are back with a host of new memories and experiences.
It is a truism that Life is what happens while we make our plans…
But we look forward to a busy summer anyway….
To paraphrase Willy Wonka (sp?)....So much to do, so little time.....especially with my efficiency rating.
For so many years I taught thousands of students about US History w/o ever having been to the South….
First-hand experience is soooooo important…….
We had been to the West and to the East....but never to the South....
Big mistake.
The fall elections are looming ever closer....and the political scene is so full of promise and worry.....
News junkies can gorge themselves at will ....
And so many family doings......
May the Good Lord give us strength and health to do as He would have us do....
We all and our nation are entering upon most exciting times.....
We are back from Savannah, Georgia….
So many things to think and write about after this long interval of hereing and thereing (I know, not really words)….
We flew and drove and carriaged and walked and talked and dined and viewed and ooed and awed (again, not really words) and immersed ourselves in cities and lands 16 hours away by car….but just a short distance in time by air.
Dear Wife has wanted to take us to Savannah for years….
And now we are back with a host of new memories and experiences.
It is a truism that Life is what happens while we make our plans…
But we look forward to a busy summer anyway….
To paraphrase Willy Wonka (sp?)....So much to do, so little time.....especially with my efficiency rating.
For so many years I taught thousands of students about US History w/o ever having been to the South….
First-hand experience is soooooo important…….
We had been to the West and to the East....but never to the South....
Big mistake.
The fall elections are looming ever closer....and the political scene is so full of promise and worry.....
News junkies can gorge themselves at will ....
And so many family doings......
May the Good Lord give us strength and health to do as He would have us do....
We all and our nation are entering upon most exciting times.....
Monday, March 5, 2012
A VOTE FOR b.o.
A vote for b.o. in 2012 is a vote for massive subsidies for green power…ie., the Chevvy Volt; wind and solar; et alii., and a vote against the two black golds: OIL and COAL.
A vote for b.o. is a vote against the Canadian pipeline and greater exploration and drilling for oil and gas onshore and offshore.
A vote for b.o. is a vote therefore, w/o a doubt, for higher gas prices…indeed, for higher prices on anything that has anything to do with oil.
And that is a lot of things.
An vote for b.o. is not a vote for a cleaner environment.
Rather, it is a vote for shifting pollution and energy production to foreign regions which will be at least as dirty as any production anywhere near the US…and ultimately on a larger, dirtier scale.
One has to wonder if a quietly spoken agenda here by the b.o. admin is to increase the price of gas to prohibitive levels…thereby to guarantee the success of green interests of the nation and world.
Not to mention the green base supporting b.o.
A vote for b.o. is a vote against the Canadian pipeline and greater exploration and drilling for oil and gas onshore and offshore.
A vote for b.o. is a vote therefore, w/o a doubt, for higher gas prices…indeed, for higher prices on anything that has anything to do with oil.
And that is a lot of things.
An vote for b.o. is not a vote for a cleaner environment.
Rather, it is a vote for shifting pollution and energy production to foreign regions which will be at least as dirty as any production anywhere near the US…and ultimately on a larger, dirtier scale.
One has to wonder if a quietly spoken agenda here by the b.o. admin is to increase the price of gas to prohibitive levels…thereby to guarantee the success of green interests of the nation and world.
Not to mention the green base supporting b.o.
Friday, March 2, 2012
THINK ABOUT IT
Suppose for a moment or two that the government controlled the salaries and benefits of most of the employees in the country.
And then suppose that most of those employees became dissatisfied with their salaries and benefits and decided to strike.
Whom would they be striking against? Individual companies? The government?
Think about it.
When the government controls salaries and benefits of most workers, dissatisfied workers must deal with and perhaps strike not individual greedy capitalists, but rather all powerful, greedy government officials.
Which would you rather deal with?
And then think a bit about Greece and France and even Spain these days.
Think about rioting and national bailouts and national economic hardship and collapse.
Yeah, we really have it rough here where the government can order bailouts for companies it chooses, regardless of the collateral costs to greedy capitalists.
Students and employees in religious hospitals and universities, dissatisfied with the policies of their workplaces and study places, take their complaints to the national government, seeking government intervention on legalistic although questionable constitutional grounds.
More and more, the government of the US is seeking to morph previously worked-for self-improvements [bad phrasing] into some kinds of rights belonging to all citizens, even non-citizens, regardless of whether they earn them or not.
And the workers who usually have really earned those same enhancements, often at great sacrifice, get to pay for the freebies to the newbies.
I am beginning to fear that we are watching the [gasp] inevitable erosion of a fact of life, that lots of good things in life are not free; that when they become free they will cease to endure.
And then suppose that most of those employees became dissatisfied with their salaries and benefits and decided to strike.
Whom would they be striking against? Individual companies? The government?
Think about it.
When the government controls salaries and benefits of most workers, dissatisfied workers must deal with and perhaps strike not individual greedy capitalists, but rather all powerful, greedy government officials.
Which would you rather deal with?
And then think a bit about Greece and France and even Spain these days.
Think about rioting and national bailouts and national economic hardship and collapse.
Yeah, we really have it rough here where the government can order bailouts for companies it chooses, regardless of the collateral costs to greedy capitalists.
Students and employees in religious hospitals and universities, dissatisfied with the policies of their workplaces and study places, take their complaints to the national government, seeking government intervention on legalistic although questionable constitutional grounds.
More and more, the government of the US is seeking to morph previously worked-for self-improvements [bad phrasing] into some kinds of rights belonging to all citizens, even non-citizens, regardless of whether they earn them or not.
And the workers who usually have really earned those same enhancements, often at great sacrifice, get to pay for the freebies to the newbies.
I am beginning to fear that we are watching the [gasp] inevitable erosion of a fact of life, that lots of good things in life are not free; that when they become free they will cease to endure.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
PERSISTENT, SUSTAINED, AND GROWING
There was an acronym I used in my teaching many years ago:
PERSIA.
The letters stood for political, economic, religious, social, intellectual, and artistic realities of any society we were studying.
Each general area was further subdivided for purposes of study.
It was a helpful way to learn about how people were doing in whatever period we were studying.
This morning, after a few coffees and toast and fruit and the like, I started to apply this old template to what is apparent about the current realities of our nation and the world in this year of 2012.
Dear Wife is away on her annual trip to family in Florida.
The house was quiet and Sophie did not mind if I spent some extra time with the computer and the piles of books and papers.
When Herself’s away, the mice will play, as it were.
I listed and subdivided and ate lunch and brewed tea and consumed tobacco and wrote and thought and wrote some more….
And the result was a list of concerns which would challenge the optimism of a very optimistic old gentleman, let alone this author who is often less than optimistic.
The descriptive terms that come most to mind as I write this brief account are erosion; degradation; irrelevance; ignorance; and other such terms and phrases.
A balanced approach, of course, would require a consideration of compensating factors, hopes for revitalization and renewal and so on.
And they too exist.
But my goodness, the assaults on the persia categories are significant, sustained, and growing.
Would that the remedies were also significant, sustained, and growing.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
REASON TO HOPE
Let’s see if we can put it coherently.
iran, the nuclear wannabe, has but one ally in the Middle East, syria.
US directed regime change in syria would weaken iran, thus strengthening an already significant US presence in the region.
russia and china oppose anything that will enhance the US position, hence their support for syria and iran.
Israel does not trust b.o. and has its own perspective on nuclear matters in iran.
iran has repeatedly called for the annihilation of Israel.
Israeli and US military cooperation is significant. Publicly and probably, the leaders of the two nations do not trust or like each other.
Israel cannot wait to degrade iranian nuclear abilities as long as b.o. thinks he can wait, the result of the differing force capabilities of Israel and the US.
Should Israel strike iran, the US will be under immense pressure to support the effort…pressure hard, even impossible, for even a b.o. to resist, for the military/diplomatic necessities of supporting Israel will trump even b.o.’s peculiar view of US interests.
b.o. has made it difficult to avoid such a scenario by his handling of the incursion into Libya. His soft power nonsense compromised by a bungling of hard power in Libya has guaranteed the uselessness of any subtlety in undermining the Syrian regime, making the necessity of a military strike against iran probably inevitable.
We have every reason to hope that it will be made clear to b.o. and his regime that domestic US politics and misguided understanding of the real world of international affairs must give way to rational, necessary actions to successfully deal with very real threats to the welfare of the United States.
iran, the nuclear wannabe, has but one ally in the Middle East, syria.
US directed regime change in syria would weaken iran, thus strengthening an already significant US presence in the region.
russia and china oppose anything that will enhance the US position, hence their support for syria and iran.
Israel does not trust b.o. and has its own perspective on nuclear matters in iran.
iran has repeatedly called for the annihilation of Israel.
Israeli and US military cooperation is significant. Publicly and probably, the leaders of the two nations do not trust or like each other.
Israel cannot wait to degrade iranian nuclear abilities as long as b.o. thinks he can wait, the result of the differing force capabilities of Israel and the US.
Should Israel strike iran, the US will be under immense pressure to support the effort…pressure hard, even impossible, for even a b.o. to resist, for the military/diplomatic necessities of supporting Israel will trump even b.o.’s peculiar view of US interests.
b.o. has made it difficult to avoid such a scenario by his handling of the incursion into Libya. His soft power nonsense compromised by a bungling of hard power in Libya has guaranteed the uselessness of any subtlety in undermining the Syrian regime, making the necessity of a military strike against iran probably inevitable.
We have every reason to hope that it will be made clear to b.o. and his regime that domestic US politics and misguided understanding of the real world of international affairs must give way to rational, necessary actions to successfully deal with very real threats to the welfare of the United States.
Friday, January 27, 2012
JUST RIGHT
There is something very satisfying about this article.
It presses a lot of the right buttons.
http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2012/01/23/st-james-the-smallest-parish-in-the-diocese-of-west-texas/
WE'VE COME A LONG WAY
Another debate.
And another and another and another.
We remember when the so-called debates, as they exist now, did not exist…and it was not really so long ago.
The pre-now debates took place in smoke-filled rooms and amongst the party power brokers…
Our new, present debate system is part of democratization of the process….in which the 'little guy' gets to have his/her say.
The assumption is that having TV land watch the candidates of one party attack each other is the best way to win the upcoming national election.
After each transparent debate the pollsters poll the electorate to see who ‘won’.
Yes, this sounds like an enlightened system indeed, much superior to having party and political professionals evaluate the issues and strengths and weaknesses of the contenders.
Yes, we have really improved the process.
Evaluation of debating skills and personal issues about which the voter cannot possibly relate to a skill set required to run the most powerful nation in the history of the planet now becomes a major factor in candidate selection.
We've come a long way.
And another and another and another.
We remember when the so-called debates, as they exist now, did not exist…and it was not really so long ago.
The pre-now debates took place in smoke-filled rooms and amongst the party power brokers…
Our new, present debate system is part of democratization of the process….in which the 'little guy' gets to have his/her say.
The assumption is that having TV land watch the candidates of one party attack each other is the best way to win the upcoming national election.
After each transparent debate the pollsters poll the electorate to see who ‘won’.
Yes, this sounds like an enlightened system indeed, much superior to having party and political professionals evaluate the issues and strengths and weaknesses of the contenders.
Yes, we have really improved the process.
Evaluation of debating skills and personal issues about which the voter cannot possibly relate to a skill set required to run the most powerful nation in the history of the planet now becomes a major factor in candidate selection.
We've come a long way.
VERY SPECIAL
For years I’ve yearned to smoke a pipe
On the moors of England on a foggy night.
A favourite briar, an ounce of shag,
A glass of whisky and an historical lag.
The path was a wide track, perhaps just over the width of a one-lane road. It was late in the afternoon and it was heavily overcast and cool and had recently been misting. The ground was just shy of hard and the water in the several walleye hatchery ponds was lightly frozen over with the reeds and cattails showing up through the ice cover.
I had seen no other walkers or dogs, my only visible company being birds and an unnamed little animal the size of a chubby cat with a long tail which scurried across my path at one point.
I was comfortable with warm clothes and blackthorn walking stick and most flavorful cigar…reconnecting with one of my several fantasy worlds.
And then, in the words of Clement Moore [sp?], What to my wondering eyes should appear..., but a HERD of deer, on the path, just ahead…2/3 of a hatchery pond away.
They were in a group and I counted what I thought were five or six.
And then they began to cross the drained pond, and the six turned into 12 or 13.
The last time Dear Wife and I had seen more than a few deer in one place at the same time was in the ‘90’s on the estate of William Cecil, Lord Burghley.
A good walk had become very special indeed.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
WHY?
We watched the analysis of the state of the Presidency speech Tuesday night in The Study's library.
And then we watched the entire response by Mitch Daniels.
And we were impressed.
Why on earth is Governor Daniels not in the arena with Mitt, Newt, and Rick?
And then we watched the entire response by Mitch Daniels.
And we were impressed.
Why on earth is Governor Daniels not in the arena with Mitt, Newt, and Rick?
BUMPER STICKER
Noticed this on car yesterday:
YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE.
MINE IS AN AMUSEMENT PARK
I would have loved to have gotten a look at the driver....
No such luck.
YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE.
MINE IS AN AMUSEMENT PARK
I would have loved to have gotten a look at the driver....
No such luck.
Friday, January 20, 2012
OF INTEREST
At Church:
Discussions are under way at Church regarding the Jesus of history and the Jesus of faith… discussion groups.
Proposed subjects…current issues in the Anglican/Episcopal Church; Holy Communion – what really happens; and making the Church relevant in the modern world.
Stuff like that.
TV:
Outstanding TV shows we set the DVR for: Person of Interest; Bluebloods; Gifted Man; and Masterpiece Theatre [Downtan Abbey].
As possibly noted before, our new TV is proving to be very seductive.
BOOKS:
The John Ford book not quite done…but we did succeed in having an excellent Irish band play some of the music from the Cavalry Trilogy whilst at a superb pub last Saturday night.
Huston Smith’s Why Religion Matters and World Religions are being reread. Really important books for folks with minds.
We are trying to establish that we have minds.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
We at The Study view diplomatic developments in Iraq; Afghanistan; Pakistan; Israel; and iran with concern.
It appears to us that b.o. is not up to the task of running a superpower’s diplomacy with the aplomb and intelligence which are required.
Let the voters beware….
We are of the opinion that the arena of international relations is a jungle.
Those not able to play the game will be consumed by that jungle.
We want the US to be a consumer, not a consumed.
THIS IS THE WEEK THAT WAS
There was once a TV show by the title of this post.
At least I think there was.
And such a week this has been.
Did not watch the debate last night…and heard/saw no news until this morning after grinding and activating a pot of the new Starbucks Blonde coffee.
Good stuff.
Anyway, took a few phone calls…noted that the temp last night was just a bit above zero….and began monitoring news.
Of interest, worth noting:
1 GM is the #1 carmaker on planet. We like that.
2 b.o. has said no to Keystone. Don’t like that.
3 abc began debate questions about the open marriage allegation….Don’t like that.
4 He left the ship…Don’t like that.
We are proud of GM. We are used to it being a behemoth.
Keystone needs to happen. Canada will sell the oil. We need Canada to sell it us…US, that is.
As the experts point out, it will be sold to US or to China.
What do you say, b.o.?
Men and women should be faithful to each other. Some men and some women will be unfaithful. Some of them will see the error of their ways and repent and do a better job.
At The Study, we are willing to forgive a sin of a decade ago which has been dealt with.
Fie on the msm which tries to redramatize the issue right before an important vote.
Fie!!
The skipper fell into a life boat. A drop-dead beauty says he was on board when he apparently was on the phone from a lifeboat.
Whaddia think??
We’ll pick our cruise line and crew carefully before our next voyage.
At least I think there was.
And such a week this has been.
Did not watch the debate last night…and heard/saw no news until this morning after grinding and activating a pot of the new Starbucks Blonde coffee.
Good stuff.
Anyway, took a few phone calls…noted that the temp last night was just a bit above zero….and began monitoring news.
Of interest, worth noting:
1 GM is the #1 carmaker on planet. We like that.
2 b.o. has said no to Keystone. Don’t like that.
3 abc began debate questions about the open marriage allegation….Don’t like that.
4 He left the ship…Don’t like that.
We are proud of GM. We are used to it being a behemoth.
Keystone needs to happen. Canada will sell the oil. We need Canada to sell it us…US, that is.
As the experts point out, it will be sold to US or to China.
What do you say, b.o.?
Men and women should be faithful to each other. Some men and some women will be unfaithful. Some of them will see the error of their ways and repent and do a better job.
At The Study, we are willing to forgive a sin of a decade ago which has been dealt with.
Fie on the msm which tries to redramatize the issue right before an important vote.
Fie!!
The skipper fell into a life boat. A drop-dead beauty says he was on board when he apparently was on the phone from a lifeboat.
Whaddia think??
We’ll pick our cruise line and crew carefully before our next voyage.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
THE MOVIE...'WAR HORSE'
War Horse....Good entertainment...lots of meaningful insights....but fantasy....
and fantasy is ok....
Especially when it is conditioned by plenty of reality....
But my goodness....the ending is soo syruppy.
Note the two cavalry charges...the one for practice...the other for real.
Good juxtaposition.
But the ending taints the picture... it needed to be a little more....real.
This is not a cartoon.
and fantasy is ok....
Especially when it is conditioned by plenty of reality....
But my goodness....the ending is soo syruppy.
Note the two cavalry charges...the one for practice...the other for real.
Good juxtaposition.
But the ending taints the picture... it needed to be a little more....real.
This is not a cartoon.
b.o.
We have postponed the military exercises with Israel so as not to upset iran.
Surein’, we would not want them to dislike us.
And now they are threatening their neighbors.
Say what???
iran, threatening neighboring states????
b.o. is in charge. He will handle it. He has the world well in hand.
Sure he does.
The United States will get the leader it deserves, no matter how bad that leader is.
As the chicago pols say, vote early and vote often. Go b.o.
Let's vote him in again.
He has done such a memorable job.
Surein’, we would not want them to dislike us.
And now they are threatening their neighbors.
Say what???
iran, threatening neighboring states????
b.o. is in charge. He will handle it. He has the world well in hand.
Sure he does.
The United States will get the leader it deserves, no matter how bad that leader is.
As the chicago pols say, vote early and vote often. Go b.o.
Let's vote him in again.
He has done such a memorable job.
POLLS
The political debates are a bore.
Enough!!!
You would think that nothing else is going on in the world.
I wonder if in years gone by the political news was full of POLLS or if it was full of points of view and arguments and speeches by the candidates.
POLLS are wonderous things....
God save us from freakin' polls!
Enough!!!
You would think that nothing else is going on in the world.
I wonder if in years gone by the political news was full of POLLS or if it was full of points of view and arguments and speeches by the candidates.
POLLS are wonderous things....
God save us from freakin' polls!
AND SO IT GOES
You work withi a colleague for 20+ years.
You eat lunch together and argue politics and he coaches a soccer team against your own son.
It is a good game, a life time ago.
And you love every minute with him.
And then he dies.
You attended his wife's funeral.
And now he is gone.
And so are other colleagues. And their wives.
And your high school teachers are almost all gone.
And even your college teachers.
And now your own professional colleagues.
And you go to an Irish pub in town with 11 friends and you remember and you sing and you request songs.
And you shed a tear.
And life goes on, whether or not we go on in this place.
And so it goes.
You eat lunch together and argue politics and he coaches a soccer team against your own son.
It is a good game, a life time ago.
And you love every minute with him.
And then he dies.
You attended his wife's funeral.
And now he is gone.
And so are other colleagues. And their wives.
And your high school teachers are almost all gone.
And even your college teachers.
And now your own professional colleagues.
And you go to an Irish pub in town with 11 friends and you remember and you sing and you request songs.
And you shed a tear.
And life goes on, whether or not we go on in this place.
And so it goes.
BLESSED
We took our Granddaughters to a science center and viewed bats with six-foot wingspans.
We will be going back to view the night sky.
We took them to an art institute and viewed Roman gold.
We bought and ate pizza together.
We go to church together.
We watch movies together.
We support their piano and bass lessons and attend their recitals.
And they spend occasional overnights with us.
And we get to do all these things in our little home town.
We are very, very blessed.
We will be going back to view the night sky.
We took them to an art institute and viewed Roman gold.
We bought and ate pizza together.
We go to church together.
We watch movies together.
We support their piano and bass lessons and attend their recitals.
And they spend occasional overnights with us.
And we get to do all these things in our little home town.
We are very, very blessed.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
BOOKS AND TV
Currently reading, as possibly reported before, John Ford, Joe McBride. Not quite half through, on page 254.
‘Tis a long book.
December was busy.
The book is big, heavy, and full of all sorts of details about the director; his family; his profession; his private life; etc.
And lots of good pictures.
Another book just made known to me: The Widower’s Tale, Julia Glass.
Haven’t started it yet, but the jacket appeals: [paraphrased] Percy Darling is 70; is settling into retirement quite happily; reads novels and enjoys old movies; and likes to swim naked in his pond.
Now, there is an interesting fella.
I know someone very well who does most of those things.
All but one.
I would promise to report on my progress but I forget to keep such promises…
As a friend at Church remarked, “It is hard to manage retired guys.”
Regarding TV currently watched: Our purchase of a large flat screen TV has seduced me into trying out a few shows…some of them delightful fantasies…but delightful nonetheless.
Season 2 of Downton Abbey is eagerly anticipated… truly a masterpiece.
And then the other little items: Person of Interest; Gifted Man; Terra Nova; Bluebloods; and Body of Proof.
All of them appeal. All have interesting messages, albeit not new.
Have never watched so much TV since being a youngster.
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