First Blog

Here are a couple of comments you may not have heard before.  The left and the right extremes.  Each has locked him or her self into cubicles and thrown away the keys.  Nothing except highly polarized information sustaining their viewpoint can penetrate their view-ports.  Of course, there are constant visits by their clergy to keep them pure, and to review the catechism.  When you enter one of the cubicles, you have a life sentence .   Can you image one on the far right saying, “You know that idea of Obama on health care makes sense.  I could go with it.”  Or someone from the far left, saying “The surge of Bush in Iraq actually had a benefit and began to stabilize the area.” Never, never, and never. Said the lefty to the righty, “My billionaires are honest, trustworthy, and brave.  Yours are dishonest money grabbing capitalists.”  Said the righty to the lefty, “My billionaires are simply trying to preserve the best form of government that has ever been.  Yours are closet comm

The killer Dylann Roof, of the Charleston church murders  is all the things that have been mentioned, racist, hater, perverted, and more.  All agree. These killings are also about stupidity.  This dropout is just plain stupid, a traditional breading ground for bad ideas and violence.  One thing about stupid people is they cannot admit or acknowledge it.  In most cases, they don't even know it.   They often wrap themselves in an idea or concept though which they can believe a truth or mission has been found, conveniently transcending academic achievement.  In this case it was racism and associated hatred.  Though he had dropped out, he had found his higher mission, and this proved in his mind he "knew" his higher objective had been achieved. This is one of many the forms of radicalization. It is one of those forms that must express itself in violence. He is also a product of schools that no longer teach any form of citizenship or personal responsibility.  He ta

In a recent report of compensation of university presidents, it is reported that the average annual compensation (in all forms) is just over $428,000 in 2014, up 7% from a year earlier, according to an analysis of 238 chief executives at 220 public universities from the Chronicle of Higher Education, nearly four times what the average full professor makes.   See http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/07/pf/college/highest-paid-public-university-presidents/ That’s a lot of money.   But what is the true compensation?   They suffer universal contempt from the faculty* who think the job is mostly routine, something any (very careful) idiot can do.   They are also living at the whim of their boards that seem to reflect the general public opinion which is about the same as faculty.   Most of them have given up successful research careers, which is what brought them into the business in the first place.   They live in the money world, where all kinds of observation is made about great educatio

When I was a kid, we had at least two delicacies at Christmas time, pickled herring and sardines.   Both were luxuries.   I came to love them both.   Need I mention that both come in variations of quality?   Well, they do.   Let’s talk sardines, those tiny fish packed into a small tin in a variety of sauces, mustard, tomato, olive oil and more.   Let's talk about sardines packed in olive, or extra virgin olive oil, my preferred.   Thinking they are all the same, you go to the store, and select the brand in your price range, normally about $1.00-5.00 for a 3.75 oz. tin.   What to pick? Sardines come from Mexico to British Columbia, from Morocco, Portugal, Norway, Scotland, and Poland.   There are many more places from which these prized tiny little fishes are harvested and packed. Do not be deceived.   The price is a not solid indicator of the quality, and the quality is not exactly determined by price.   Except in one case.   King Oscar sardines are packed in Poland.

The scale of crime and punishment.   This is a timeless hierarchy, sweeping across human history. When the citizen parks illegally, there is a punishment appropriate.  When the small time street crook is caught for stealing a few bucks and is caught, punishment appropriate is administered.  (The police are here) When the corporate embezzler steals thousands and is caught, punishment appropriate is administered. (The district attorney is here.) The ancient Code of Hammurabi ends here. When the CEO of a "cannot fail company" errors costing billions to investors is caught, there seems to be little punishment, aside from possibly losing their position. (Politicians are here - sometimes.) When the high level administrator of a nation agency errors costing lives and trillions in treasure is exposed, who is punished?  In many cases there can be an increase in their level of admiration. (Who is here? Who is complaining? Who is punished, except for the public?)

Said the upstanding  citizen to the professional gambler, "You are a moral disgrace to all our decent citizenry."  Said the gambler, "Sir, while what you say may be true, I do much good by serving as the instrument of morality to punish many of your other upstanding citizens who stray from their moral heights."