I still haven't given names to my new friends - the magpie birds who I share this habitat with. There are at least a dozen nests, nestled in all manner of trees, that surround the apartment complex where I nest. The birds are more reliable and stable than my human neighbors. Friendlier, too. Despite having … Continue reading The Magpie Cafe: Summer Update
Tag: election 2016
Fear, Anger, Riots, & Death
Go deeper. In other words - more reductionism, not less. Back to the beginning. Anger. "We" (humans) don't learn because what we are taught (at the highest levels) is simple rhetorical bullshit. It's a power play. "We" have not "evolved". Not consciously, and especially, unconsciously - in some 40,000 years. Anger is still a secondary … Continue reading Fear, Anger, Riots, & Death
The Perfect Storm
The Perfect Storm was a phrase made popular by journalist Sebastian Junger, with his 1997 novel and subsequent major motion picture. The subtitle is: A True Story Of Men Against The Sea. I think the phrase applies now as then. You can read my review of the book here. The perfect storm describes a confluence of circumstance … Continue reading The Perfect Storm
Relief day
Relief day, Wednesday 25 March, 2020. Even the Magpies know it! It's been exactly two weeks (Wednesday, 11 March, 2020) since doomsday. That was the day "When The World Stops", according to Time magazine's "Special Report: COVID-19" (vol.195.no 11.2020). Errg. My mood has never been this high (8.5 on my mood scale), since I can't remember … Continue reading Relief day
Life and death matters, part II
Life and death matters, part II will focus on the current and on going health crisis. Because what's more important than your health. Right? Rising is my favorite source of news and current affairs. I especially enjoy Krystal Ball's take on matters of life and death - which is today's current health crisis. If the … Continue reading Life and death matters, part II
Foke Woke
Foke Woke is a phrase I came up with in a dream state. Meaning the "woke" culture is fake, and made up of folks. Indeed, misguided folks, like Krystal Ball, whom I called out in my previous post. Maybe self love? Krystal and I share the same birthday - the day of "Contentious Conviviality". We … Continue reading Foke Woke
Failing to learn from losing
Failing to learn from losing is a chapter title in my recent book Election 2016: The Great Divide, The Great Debate. Actually a partial title. The full title is "A Sobering Weekend: Failing to Learn from Losing" (pg. 109). Last night's Democratic debate reminded me of that chapter. The sub-title is, "April 12, 2016". Empathy is just … Continue reading Failing to learn from losing
Snowbound, screens, & self care
On the cusp of the New Hampshire primary, here in Colorado I've been snowbound. It has snowed six of the last eight days. Back-in-the-day (forty-nine years ago to the day), such a barrage of snow would not have fazed me. In fact it would have invigorated me. Then, I was living in a cabin in … Continue reading Snowbound, screens, & self care
2020 Democratic Candidate Quiz
The Washington Post has devised a quiz to see who you most agree with regarding policy positions amongst the Democratic candidates. I took it, and so did my friend Max. (Max is a fictional composite of real people I know who first appears in Election 2016: The Great Divide, The Great Debate.) Max and I debated … Continue reading 2020 Democratic Candidate Quiz
Books, bookstores, and bookshelves
Books, bookstores, and bookshelves could certainly be a book in itself. So where and when to begin? I may be the foremost expert on the subject. Because in my life I have been a reader, builder, seller, writer, and teacher - all at a high level. When I was three my father would read to … Continue reading Books, bookstores, and bookshelves