Reading time – 111 seconds . . . In my Money, Politics & Democracy presentations I’m careful to avoid any of the demonizing of individuals that is sadly so common in our politics. Instead, I focus on the dysfunctional system that forces good people to compromise themselves. The engine of that is the insanely high… [read more]
What Your Bloodhound Knows
Reading time – 77 seconds . . . In a most accessible essay entitled The Umwelt, David Eagleman gives perspective to a 1909 concept of Jakob von Uexkull explaining the varied perceptions different animals have to their environmental signals. Snakes, for example, are practically blind to what humans see, but they have amazing vision in… [read more]
Where Is That Leader?
Reading time – 1 minute, 13 seconds . . . My friend Dr. Mardy Grothe writes a weekly blog focused on words, literature and philosophy. He is a beacon of mental light in contemporary America’s dark ocean of reptilian brain distaste of learning, the arts, science and ordinary sense. Last week his post included several… [read more]
Upcoming Calendar
Reading time – 21 seconds . . . About a year ago it became clear to me that, while 4 out of 5 Americans who knew about the catastrophic Citizens United case wanted it reversed, too few of us knew about it. Education, it became obvious, is a must if we are to turn the… [read more]
“I Don’t Subscribe to Global Warming.”
Reading time – 31 seconds . . . That is what Nebraska State Senator Beau McCoy said. He is running to be the next governor of the Cornhusker State and I’m guessing that he thinks his Luddite position will play well to Nebraskans, figuring that most are low information voters. You know the drill: treat… [read more]
The Almost Perfect Dumb-pocalypse
Reading time – 54 seconds . . . For decades we have had a most efficient, self-reinforcing cycle in our politics of incrementally allowing more and more money into our political infrastructure. As we did that, the Big Money Interests gained incrementally more influence over our laws, our bureaucracy and our courts to drive ever-larger… [read more]
Yesterday’s Horse Races
Reading time: 39 seconds . . . We have spent the last 69 years preparing to fight the Cold War, which ended 25 years ago. That means that for the entire duration of those 25 years we have maintained a military readiness, funding all the weapons that won’t be used and all the soldiers who… [read more]
Our Lady of What?
Reading time: 54 seconds . . . Picture a little country church. It has a white steeple, stained glass windows and a lovely, white porch in front of the double doors leading into the church. On either side of the doors is a pot bellied guy with a handlebar mustache and shaved head, wearing a… [read more]
Newton Was Right
Reading time: 56 seconds . . . In case you missed the short New York Times essay entitled When May I Shoot A Student?, I suggest you read this fine piece of satire about carrying guns on campus. Then consider the awful realities. We are living in times that are awash with fear. We fear “Islamists”… [read more]
Elephants
Reading time: 64 seconds . . . A guy is walking down the sidewalk when he spots his friend Ralph standing at the corner. He notices that Ralph is snapping his fingers. “Hey, Ralph,” he says. “What’s with the finger snapping?” “I’m keeping the elephants away.” “Ralph,” the guy says, “there aren’t any elephants around… [read more]
