First Blog

For general happiness, research shows that regular, or even occasional, exercise is more important than money*.  Works for me. The Yin and Yang of our lives is the conflict between chaos and order**. Which dominates your life? Today is National Hug Day. Hug somebody! For politicians, now mostly semi-literate, talking points is the preferred literary form. Just listen to political campaigns - all of them. Do you have a favorite President?  And why?*** * https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/well/move/even-a-little-exercise-might-make-us-happier.html ** Jordan Peterson, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos  (A great book) The (symbolic) rules are 1.     Stand up straight with your shoulders back 2.     Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping 3.     Make friends with people who want the best for you 4.     Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today 5.     Do not let your children do anything that makes you dis

"Hate is not a good political advisor." Generals are advised not to plan battles while angry. CEOs are advised not to face competition through hate. Lawyers are advised not to argue from the passion of hatred. Married folks are advised not to exude hate in family disputes. Professional fighters are advised to keep their cool. So, why are so many politicians fueled by hatred?  

In education as in medical care, there is so much government money it has become a "neon welcome sign" for every fraudster, pitchman, politician, ed-author, and peddler looking for a quick buck or more influence. They offer easy cures, cheap fixes, and sure-fire programs. While data should prove points and move arguments, it is more often misused, fudged, disguised, forgotten, or ignored. So, forget data! The pissing contest in education is all about liquefied data. Experts tell us, "Charter schools, yes! Public schools, yes! Counselling services, yes! More equipment, yes! Higher salaries, yes! Stronger unions, yes! Smaller classes, yes! More testing, yes! Less testing, yes! Group learning, yes/no!” To be honest, there are too many tricksters, some massaging data, some taking fees, some writing books, some supporting political parties, and others gathering votes. The whole pot is something of an expensive, mostly tasteless, non nutritious stew - served to

I'm not talking about climate change or global warming here.  Our discussion is about climate risk.  Just a couple of decades past, all the buzz was about global cooling. Now it is about warming.   Unhappily politicians have become involved.  You must ask yourself, and answer honestly.  If I support party A and they claim this, do I believe them?  Or if I support party B, and they believe the opposite, do I believe that?  Short answer.  Believe neither.  Any politician supporting or denying "climate risk" is being political, not scientific.   NOBODY understands it.   If you really want to know, here's a very short list what to do and know. Remove most of the $$$. Establish theories of reflectivity of solar energy by atmospheric particle suspension, particulate and aerosol (micro and nano). Understand the nature of oceanic currents, historic and current. Establish consistent locations and equipment for thermal measurements. Understand the effects of atm

In the great race, luck is also a runner, but you never know how far it will go. You don’t want to be the best looking horse in the glue factory. -- anon They say all librarians are shelf-aware.  -- anon Sometimes, the only way to prevent something is to predict it.  ---------------------------- Some politicians, like a crowd of high-schoolers in the cafeteria, prefer to shoot spitballs  even  at  political ghosts, picking little issues, picking dumb issues, picking weak issues. Too much spit is flying about. Let’s call it, “Politics by Spit.”

One way to understand any topic is to better understand its opposite or an alternative.   For example, to understand the nature of gravity, it is useful to imagine no gravity.   To understand the qualities of a good teacher for example, think first of the qualities of a bad one.   This prescription - too see me, first see me not - gives broad outlines and shapes, while not rendering fine detail. In this first installment of a new sequence of micro-essays, we consider the differences between… Today, we consider the politician and two new breeds, those coming from business accustomed to deals plus things money can buy, and those emerging from the basement mimeograph machine accustomed to running off provocative missives to save the world. Caution . If you lean left or right, you may not like what’s to come. Businessmen think in terms of deals and profit (i.e. money). If dollars are involved all come to their normal levels of wishing for more. Thus, between them understanding

Politicians have always been disappointing. Now, despite doing almost nothing, their quality of lies has hit new lows, basically at the high school level. On Stupidity Doing something stupid simply because it’s new does not qualify it as being innovative. The stupid solution and the innovative solution are different, though frequently confused. Stupid is still stupid, even when dressed in silk. She called her unplanned pregnancy a conceptual heir. Beware of false morality offered in the name of humanitarianism. A global world will not work if there remain only a few cheaters. Rich cities and states can survive globalism only because they can afford cheaters. The larger the organism, the easier is the opportunity for disease.

Skeleton vs. Luge The Luge is a tiny sled where competitors mounting it feet first and on their backs run down an ice track (same as Toboggan run) at speeds up to about 140 km/hr.   The Skeleton is also a tiny sled where competitors mounting it head first and on their stomachs run down the same track at about the same speeds (130 km/hr). Naturally, there are horrific crashes.  The Luge drivers have their feet smashed up and limp about their whole lives, clearly handicapped and with limited career choices.  On the other hand, the Skeleton drivers smash their heads terribly resulting with lifelong migraines and muddled thinking.  Not quite as handicapped, Skeleton crash victims often go on to successful careers in politics. 

W e made it through the last election cycle, I think, finally. The balance of power has shifted just a bit.   Yet, it is in no way clear what will happen.   The three preceding sentences could have been written in many years past.   So, we at least biennially get the new crop.   Not chemically enhanced, genetically engineered, nor fertilized, much less vaccinated, this crop is much the same as always.   In the parley of cookery, we call the outcome pot luck .  W e’re at that time of the season to discuss what’s for dinner.   Our chefs are local and we trust their excellence.   Let’s suppose this time we’re preparing a (nice juicy) politician as the main course.   This happens you know.   When families get together, politics may not come from the kitchen but sit there at the table, offering food for dispute, often helping with indigestion.   L et’s make a top ten list of these political birds and what we want to see.   And let’s try to do it without politics.   Maybe that’s

Has President  Trump not only bypassed the establishment of his party, but inspired others of extreme wealth to grab at the ultimate brass ring?    There is an undertow in this country that politicians are most expert at achieving nothing of greatness.    There may be a growing belief that the Presidency should be held by someone who understands how to administrate an ultra massive organization.    So far, we have a few possibles for 2020. Donald Trump – Republican Howard Schultz - Democrat Tom Steyer – Progressive Jaime Diamond – Unknown Michael Bloomberg - Independent The presidential days of the old-style college professor, simple socialist, senator, or even governor may be gone.  In marches a new group, already robed in royal purple, ready and perhaps able to command the helm of a ship essentially too big for anyone of modest means.

An interesting point about our military leaders and those of any responsible country is that they are scholars of war, conflict, weapons, strategy and tactics.   They all attend a war college to learn their craft.   Almost all have read extensively on the subject.   Some are historians of their profession. Many are articulate communicators about their operations, needs, equipment, troup strength, training, and promotion practices. They are sincere professionals – whether you agree with them or not. Now contrast this with the typical politician, especially elected officials.   Few have studied politics.   Few understand much more than pre-written talking points on any topic.   Few have any training on compromise and the other crafts of legislation. Most leaders probably rely more on intuition and instinct than any form of analysis. Putting your faith in politicians is therefore a risky belief. Next contrast this with pundits and news commentators.   Now we are dipping down yet

Many politicians not fulfilling their election promises end up promising again to do what they haven’t done.  Or excusing what they haven’t done to evil-doers from the other party. Or stating they really have done what they haven't done.  --------------- Stove-top diplomacy.  It seems on diplomatic side of the street, President Trump has appointed two rather different personalities, Nikki  Haley (UN Ambassador) and Rex Tillerson (Secretary of State). The difference between them is simple: Haley likes to turn up the burners giving more and more heat.  Tillerson tries hard to keep the lids on all the pots.  Hmm. What’s for dinner? ------------ Nancy Pelosi, who you might admit is getting a bit long in the tooth, has called the Rep tax bill Armageddon on one day and then Frankenstein on another. Her next claim may that by supporting it you will have eaten a poison apple that will make you fall asleep forever. She also missed calling it equivalent to the black plague.  Nancy

The world you grew up in is no more.  The world of reasonable honesty and reasonable lies has been replaced by abject dishonesty and blatant lies. Lies.  Yes. People have always told them.  You have told them; so have I.   We need lies; they are a foundational structure of social living.  They both deceive and protect.  Children tell them to their parents to avoid consequences, like punishment.  Adults tell them to their bosses, to enhance their position and/or avoid consequences of poor performance.  Our bosses tell them to their boards to suggest business is good, the project is on target, or the detractors are wrong.  The boards tell them to shareholders to protect their own credibility and most importantly, stock values.   Our politicians tell lies to their constituents, though sometimes innocently with them not actually knowing much more than they've been told.  They enhance their positions to the detraction of their opponents and to the inflation of their personal positi