Certain Truths

Here is some rules to live by when reading anything in the newspaper or watching a "talking head" These are rules that reporters should follow and very few do so.


Be strongly for transparency, which means our ability to see into the house of power. It is part of a commitment to transparency that one respects what is genuinely private, distinguishing it from what is truly public.

Be strongly against opacity as a tool of power.

Be strongly for accountability in government and civil society, especially where public money, human lives and people's livelihoods are at stake.

Be strongly against demagoguery (that's when a leader makes use of common prejudices, false claims and false promises in order to win power...) which means trying to raise the cost of participating in it.

Keith Olbermann Reads James Thurber - "I Went To Sullivant" Part 1

Here is a wonderful example of writing. I am very jealous of Thurber

Update from Home with More Art

The thought came to me about the Waffen SS during the "great war" I was thinking that we should have a breakfast called "waffle SS" The SS of course would be "Super Syrup"

Been an interesting several weeks. Carol had a bad attack in her digestive system and became very dehydrated. I finally talked her into checking into the hospital. She was there for about 4 days and got herself right. I am now watching her closely but she seems to have responded well and I am keeping her de-stressed and hydrated (She goes to the Ladies room a lot).

She is now back to her gardening and watching her with the flowers, all I can see is the "glow" of pleasure back in her face. She has also been "Feeding a Flock of Finches" by hanging these loose woven socks filled with Thistle Seeds. It is fun to watch each sock (3 of them) with about 4 or 5 Finches on them at a time. Today Carol and I watched a female Morning Dove spend the day "grazing" in our back yard. Its mate would stay close and then chase any other Dove away. We figured that the Dove had finished the first phase of raising her young and needed to get away for food and water. It was a delight to watch Carol just sitting and observing her Dove's.

We are at that age as I described it to Carol, that in the not too distant future, one of us will have to say goodby to the other. It is a day that I hope never comes and I can watch her with her garden forever.

Dang these sins and here is some more "Art"

Denny

Thoughts Found

The United States is now a universalistic enterprise which has no interest any longer in the universal -- meaning humanity -- but rather represents an imperial enterprise wholly-self-referent, and as such consumed by narcissistic politics within its Imperial Court. If nothing else this is -- as Rod Serling would say -- "The signpost up ahead."

It is the signpost planted by a once-magnificent enterprise. American religious nationalism of old has lost its way. We have lost our way in part because we can no longer see things as they really are, but equally because our American enterprise has forgotten what is most important to our life as a nation -- and what is most important to us is what we can give to humanity.

Imperial court politics gives the lie to a once-stainless charge of American mission. Read that signpost up ahead. Ignore it at your peril.

Michael Vlahos