Posts

Feces and Politics

American politics are at the center of today’s blog. Seems to me, the difference between feces and politics is stark: one is destructive, and the other has purpose. Guess which is which? I realize this language may be offensive to some people. The truth is that feces have a biological purpose that is primary to life. Ingest food and nutrients, the body processes what is good and necessary, then expels what is considered waste. The waste then becomes processed and fertilizer. It is a natural byproduct of life. Politics is not a byproduct. It is a process, a method of governance. It is used to determine which policies are germane to American governance. We elect representatives who enact legislation that creates and enables policy to form and operate. Those same people hire civil servants to manage the operations that give life to the policies. As such, politics is not a dirty word. What is dirty is the misrepresentation, manipulation and lying that besmirches the political system
Post a Comment
Read more

Bits and Pieces

Car Swap: Latest news on this front. Last weekend I worked with a Toyota dealer. They offered a great trade-in value and had a used, 2008 Toyota Prius that would work for me. Mileage was a tad more than my trade-in, both in the high 90,000’s. However, the Prius has the premium features I wanted, all of those worked perfectly. Better yet, with one rear seat folded flat, my large walker-rollator would slip in just fine. The price was fair as well. A modest short term auto loan was arranged and I drove the car home. So now, I can drive anywhere without worrying about a breakdown. The brakes are new. The power steering works like a dream, and I have no oil leaks whatsoever. Meanwhile, the car is a hybrid electric vehicle that so far has got me 34.5 miles to the gallon on regular gas. The trade-in got barely 15 miles per gallon and that was premium gas frequently costing well over $5 per gallon. The ride is stiff and sometimes uncomfortable, but the benefits outweigh that issue. I am a ha
Post a Comment
Read more

Free Speech vs Political Manipulation

Giving voice to an idea to whomever and wherever is an act of courage and free speech. Allowing that speech is a construct of governance, creed, philosophy and value. All of the latter are manmade. Yet sharing any part of them is not automatic. It is made possible by people, however. Not liking the voice or the content of the message is not the matter at issue. What is at issue is whether the voice and message is allowed to sound. That’s where political manipulation enters the picture. Throughout America’s history, free speech has been a central fixture. And yet it has almost always been in dispute based solely on content being disagreeable to someone. Manipulation is the sole arbiter of this nonsense. Content is the message and needs to be heard and read, it needs to be thought over. It needs weighing. Only then can it be accepted or rejected. Either is not possible without the hearing and thinking. So, what’s the problem? Controlling what others can hear matters to those who wi
Post a Comment
Read more
  1.        Classical music - Intimate meanings I was raised in a sea of classical music. There were detours from time to time, but in the main, I knew mostly Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Wagner, Rachmaninoff, and so forth. Listening to such material became a primary intellectual pursuit. Even during childhood, understanding the music, its message and emotion, was the reward to concentrating on this artform.  In my dotage I appreciate and re-appreciate it. Watching artists perform classical music absorbs my attention. Emotions soar. Heartbeat slows or advances according to the music’s demand. Artistry of the performer creates the fresh context of hearing, seeing, and feeling the music. They are always different and evolving depending on the who and where of the reproduction. Amazing, really. Think of it: a pianist shuts out the audience and world to engage only the notes. This is the composer’s message within, and the pianist interprets it solely from within. The result is startling, mov
Post a Comment
Read more

Hamas/Israeli Protests

What Hamas did in Israel is horrid. 1200 deaths. Hundreds of abductions. What Israel did in response was horrid. Many thousands have died. Many more thousands are homeless, without proper medical care, little food, and families torn apart by death and injury.   Talking about the discrepancies in the first paragraph is about discussion, protesting, advocating and governance. The conversation, whether a wordy, academic discussion, or a thwarty foreign relations gambit, or a protest, is still a needed exchange of ideas. It is speech. It needs to be offered freely and heard as such. The format alone of the speech does not control the content.    We all need to understand the messaging being shared. Hamas is wrong. The circumstances of the Palestinians are wrong. The attacks and threats in Israel is wrong. Israel’s management of the issues before and present, are wrong and often the cause of unsettled moments like the current situation. Both parties – Israel and Hamas – can do much to advan
Post a Comment
Read more

Needing a Newer Car

The COVID pandemic created a soaring value in used cars. Accordingly, I bought out my auto lease early (contractual purchase value in lease) and sold the vehicle within two weeks for a much higher price. I took that profit of $10,000 and bought a used car outright. That car was 16 years old at the time, had high mileage of 90,000, and was a body type capable of handling the walkers and wheel chairs then common in our lifestyle. All these choices were good at the time. Now, however, several working systems of the car are failing and expensive to maintain. The car is a favorite of mine, a 2006 Mercedes R 500. A station wagon SUV, it is all wheel drive, air suspension, powerful, heavy and safe. It is reliable, too, but in old age more maintenance is required. At my age and income, I cannot afford to do this. Currently the brakes need major attention. Suspension and power steering problems beckon more expense. So, I have concluded that I need to find a newer, smaller, cheaper vehicle.
Post a Comment
Read more

Renewal or New?

Do you fix or replace? Renovate or remodel? Buy new or used? Many options. Choices to explore. What tips the decision to replace or buy new rather than fixing up or buying used? Or maybe there is another question? New has an expected longevity longer than used. New suggests later technology and better features than old. Attractiveness may be a factor, the new sporting style and design elements that press us into the future and away from the worn out past. But repair promises continued utility based on known routines. And perhaps a hardier constitution that will remain in operation longer than the new? They don’t make them like they used too. You recognize that old phrase. The old is better. The new flimsier. Knowing the pros and cons of both old and new makes us more aware of the features with more value. Keeping the old and adding newer features may be the best solution in the long run. And efficiency? What of that ‘feature’? Efficiency may produce more output and value than
Post a Comment
Read more