tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76598328072279927692024-03-04T20:29:45.276-08:00KvetchingKent Halloran is a licensed and board certified environmental engineer with over 30 years experience in potable water, wastewater, and storm water engineering. Kent serves as water compliance engineer for Ohio State University where he researches water and environmental issues. He was also an instructor and lecturer on topics of water use, sustainability, and pollution prevention. He is a husband & father; actor; reader; brewer; volunteer with FLOWOhio.org; & lifelong Buckeye. Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-11477756461187205692021-06-14T11:41:00.005-07:002021-06-14T13:50:49.995-07:00A “Classic” Goodbye…<p style="text-align: left;"> <br /><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqf60wv_y6WR1uoM6Sm6plrEZ_WvrVlYTSAXIODMoesN1vdg_J5ql0f2am5Mmn0Py-Bf1aHu-xEkC_3aTNGiPB_1qeJaXsOlQjiKcrz-so0CRS7L6n1QVgAXAZM1AhR39KPxKUDRvJLP8/s4160/0912151355.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="4160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqf60wv_y6WR1uoM6Sm6plrEZ_WvrVlYTSAXIODMoesN1vdg_J5ql0f2am5Mmn0Py-Bf1aHu-xEkC_3aTNGiPB_1qeJaXsOlQjiKcrz-so0CRS7L6n1QVgAXAZM1AhR39KPxKUDRvJLP8/s320/0912151355.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Morris Minor</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Many of my friends and colleagues know that I own a classic car. Well, the term “classic” may be a tad generous, but it is definite an old vehicle. The vehicle to which I refer is my 1961 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Minor" target="_blank">Morris Minor</a> Traveller 1000. I have provided a link if you are interested in learning more about the history of this make and model.<p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />My Minor was purchased by my father in the mid-2000s. He and my mother drove a Morris Minor while they were dating in college. After several nostalgic drives, they both realized something important: most antique cars are not that comfortable or convenient to drive, especially with right-hand steering (at least in the States).</p>Several years later, after numerous attempts to sell their "old banger," I purchased it from them. They were grateful to have their garage space back and, at the time, I needed a vehicle for occasional trips. I also had a garage where I could store and work on the car. Over time I rebuilt the carburetor, installed a new fuel pump, fixed the fuel gauge, replaced the cooling fan, bodged the muffler back together (several times), <div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk17Lxr_2pAyfrV4RiVezPU7VJ_AwifBZ_Yo6NeoqhMj_ChNJtaH-uLlX6DSZ4ty0p_4TPGjaXlr8yTUC_wXjvdFrMO9tAP6k3dL5luAn0KoxUIK-banHMKecnSup-zTv5Pg2OmHlhYU/s4160/0912151355a.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="4160" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk17Lxr_2pAyfrV4RiVezPU7VJ_AwifBZ_Yo6NeoqhMj_ChNJtaH-uLlX6DSZ4ty0p_4TPGjaXlr8yTUC_wXjvdFrMO9tAP6k3dL5luAn0KoxUIK-banHMKecnSup-zTv5Pg2OmHlhYU/w200-h113/0912151355a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBdXbBpukupqkh4-yh9UaxF3XneZIpufG-bqp5iWn3SbyD0tXsweNiyfxzPFvgF0d8OcVS9WuPgBP2j6mVQFPzVMhusvT7aGbIvDp9eDzdXKCHxORhxwGZ7V_Ss6C4OR4VLkTAF79P7U/s4160/0912151355b.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="4160" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBdXbBpukupqkh4-yh9UaxF3XneZIpufG-bqp5iWn3SbyD0tXsweNiyfxzPFvgF0d8OcVS9WuPgBP2j6mVQFPzVMhusvT7aGbIvDp9eDzdXKCHxORhxwGZ7V_Ss6C4OR4VLkTAF79P7U/w200-h113/0912151355b.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I learned a lot about the British Series A engine (talk about almost useless knowledge) and the Traveller.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span>In addition to being right-hand steering, this car is unique in another way. First of all, the "wood trim" is actually not trim. When Morris first developed the Minor "Estate Wagon" it would hardly move due to the small (< 1L) engine. </span><span style="text-align: center;">Did Morris install a larger engine t</span><span style="text-align: center;">o remedy its anemic power to weight ratio? Of course not, they simply replaced the steel in the rear half of the estate wagon with aluminum. Since the aluminum of the 1960s wasn't structurally suitable for automotive body panels, Morris reinforced the aluminum with elm.</span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61u91Sro0bfWI1I128wcOwXWWO2-Pc8dQk2AX53IaFGEiW6Wh9ZXOAEW5m8m1O-cl6DBoilF0FyT6LLWKbKdLm03P53FbnFwodBDiJuOFVY4h0adWNFTrY0ftgctJqNY8aXzgy9GcP_s/s2048/Two+Clowns.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61u91Sro0bfWI1I128wcOwXWWO2-Pc8dQk2AX53IaFGEiW6Wh9ZXOAEW5m8m1O-cl6DBoilF0FyT6LLWKbKdLm03P53FbnFwodBDiJuOFVY4h0adWNFTrY0ftgctJqNY8aXzgy9GcP_s/s320/Two+Clowns.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image these two characters diving that tiny car 😵</td></tr></tbody></table>I used to drive it to rehearsals and occasionally to work I even incorporated it in one of the lessons for my sustainability course. Possibly my fondest memory of the car was in 2015, when <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mark.allison.9659" target="_blank">Mark Allison</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BATurner2" target="_blank">Benjamin Turner</a>, and I were performing a one act play at the old <a href="http://columbuscivic.org/">Columbus Civic Theater</a>. The play was called “Christmas under the Big Top.” Since it was the second of two one act plays being performed, the three of us decided to meet at my place to get made up and changed into costumes. This avoided conflict with the other show's cast in the Civic's tiny back stage area. Imagine what the other drivers thought when they saw these two characters driving that tiny little car! If we had been performing in an actual circus, I imagine stopping and having 20 clowns pile out of it.<p></p><p>Well, after Krista and I decided to live together, we moved to a different location. Unfortunately, we were never able to find a rental with a garage that we could afford. Despite having numerous covers and tarps over the next several years, time and weather were not kind. I no longer had a comfortable place to work on it and realized that, while I owned it, it would continue to deteriorate. The wood started to rot and the floor, which was always just a few lbs. away from collapsing entirely, would eventually do so.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQm1S5IfllHs8w7cDMLz0sFHEz8SCQEvQu-IS-HBpSYf1IXYY1qUJGVEfN2TmsQRb5GeUn6KQVFpldXja3PJmqr6cYgOjRNvUN6nHv_3SAqOFBANIe_bYeZgslVD5NaOIkAhc1i3TbvQ/s2048/DSCF3732.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQm1S5IfllHs8w7cDMLz0sFHEz8SCQEvQu-IS-HBpSYf1IXYY1qUJGVEfN2TmsQRb5GeUn6KQVFpldXja3PJmqr6cYgOjRNvUN6nHv_3SAqOFBANIe_bYeZgslVD5NaOIkAhc1i3TbvQ/s320/DSCF3732.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Museum Director Peter Stroble (L) and me</td></tr></tbody></table>I knew I could not expect to sell it in her present condition. Donating her for a charity auction seemed plausible. However, I kept thinking that a car this old and unique should be in a museum… Even if <a href="https://www.facebook.com/david.vargo1" target="_blank">David Vargo</a> called it a “Cockney Jeep”. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, that is exactly where it is going! I decided to donate it to the <a href="https://www.britishtransportationmuseum.org/" target="_blank">British Transportation Museum</a>.<p></p><p>Last Friday, June 4th, the director of the museum collected my Morris Minor. The museum intends to restore it and put it on display. So, stay tuned. I will update this blog when I receive updates.</p><p style="text-align: right;">- Food for Thought</p><div><br /></div></div>Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-2959332072507082852020-06-08T06:13:00.083-07:002021-06-14T11:00:23.396-07:00Planting a Native Pollinator Garden - Forsooth!<br />
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UPDATED - 12 July 2020<br />
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We have all been struggling during this pandemic with curfews, stay at home orders, wearing masks, washing our hands frequently, and protests against systemic racism. As a result, we are all finding new hobbies or rekindling interest in old pursuits, primarily to maintain our collective sanity. My brewery is back operating and Krista has become the Queen of Sourdough (or at least MY Queen). We have also planted a garden.</div>
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In June, I was discussing our current gardening efforts with a friend from the <a href="https://www.olentangywatershed.org/" target="_blank">Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW)</a>. She asked me to write an article for FLOW's newsletter. So, rather than posting more anger, frustration, and despair concerning the state our our nation, I decided to share that article through my blog. Here is that article, which has been updated as noted:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiPXmiBEnXEWBSBymX-__pGTCrlekVxGWsjNpppmiqxZAIxZJcyamMggb66RThHkmAxz2jNPnnE4NQiTVbxycciZAV3eiJGpcl4QxPjjTiY7Tnzg1-KfW16q3bKIN0ZDopHpUguvSXPo/s1600/shakespeares-will-on-display.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1319" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiPXmiBEnXEWBSBymX-__pGTCrlekVxGWsjNpppmiqxZAIxZJcyamMggb66RThHkmAxz2jNPnnE4NQiTVbxycciZAV3eiJGpcl4QxPjjTiY7Tnzg1-KfW16q3bKIN0ZDopHpUguvSXPo/s200/shakespeares-will-on-display.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ohio Native? William Shakespeare?</td></tr>
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Perchance, wouldst thou consider planting a garden using
native Ohio plants? Dost thou wish to aid in the meager lives of our pollinator
pals? Verily, where canst thou find the very inspiration thou needst? Join me,
for mine family hast done that very thing. Perhaps you wish to offer a guess as
to our inspiration, but I beg thee not to tarry, as 'tis the prime season to
plant an <u>Ohio Native Shakespeare Garden</u>!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKOW-Nz43FeQ-i47Eb5CmmBAI2MOKsdsQWO1l_Ym-SvgQw86DM-beDPhvCgEAiYHaRQ2iEaStemtWpnuDHCWgPyv2i71Hs1yjSSa3K_PGPOf4_INLxHdRzdvqCMMj4U0UUYEHaWV8iD4/s1600/DREAM5-POSTER-REVISED.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKOW-Nz43FeQ-i47Eb5CmmBAI2MOKsdsQWO1l_Ym-SvgQw86DM-beDPhvCgEAiYHaRQ2iEaStemtWpnuDHCWgPyv2i71Hs1yjSSa3K_PGPOf4_INLxHdRzdvqCMMj4U0UUYEHaWV8iD4/s200/DREAM5-POSTER-REVISED.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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For those of you who know me, before this pandemic I was occasionally seen on the stage for a few Columbus theatre companies who honored me with a chance to perform. My wife and I met on stage, and our last show together
was a version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” called simply “Dream,” so it was
natural for us to plant a garden dedicated to the immortal Bard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What in the world is a Shakespeare Garden? Well, according
to Wikipedia, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare_garden" target="_blank">a Shakespeare garden is a themed garden that cultivates some or all of the 175 plants mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare. In English-speaking countries, particularly the United States, these are often public gardens associated with parks, universities, and Shakespeare festivals. Shakespeare gardens are sites of cultural, educational, and romantic interest and can be locations for outdoor weddings.</a> The nearest public Shakespeare Garden is in Cleveland.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It may seem odd to consider a garden of native Ohio plants
mentioned by William Shakespeare. As far as I know, The Bard never ventured to
Ohio… which didn’t even become a state until almost 200 years after Ole
Will entered ‘The gloomy shade of death’ (King Henry VI, Part I).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Though gardening in our case is an ever-evolving event, our
Ohio Native Shakespeare Garden is now well underway. Our garden began life
(since we moved in) as a neglected weed patch. After weeding and removing invasive thistle, we were able to begin planting in late May.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ndU_su6WGQVA9d4EDhyiYbRYzxBLy-pCkK9sS6WQtO35cQzrtItdEnTcCi2RxObFHSqURfM7TnyPFd7fP1UGqx3tbqEImxWlJmIKpbudcKhQ_nOK7wBRKBXbbZLxm0g_UPb71uRilew/s1600/Garden.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ndU_su6WGQVA9d4EDhyiYbRYzxBLy-pCkK9sS6WQtO35cQzrtItdEnTcCi2RxObFHSqURfM7TnyPFd7fP1UGqx3tbqEImxWlJmIKpbudcKhQ_nOK7wBRKBXbbZLxm0g_UPb71uRilew/s320/Garden.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our garden... so far</td></tr>
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What was once an unsightly area now includes Ohio native
varieties of Yarrow, Fern, Poppy, Lavender, and the Bard's
favorite, Violets. All of these plants are mentioned in Shakespeare’s works and
most of them are available at <a href="https://sciotogardens.com/" target="_blank">Scioto Gardens</a> (a frequent contributor to
FLOW). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Under all the weeds, we rescued some wild chive (also
mentioned by the Bard) and a rose bush. We planted a second rose as well,
which, by any other name... <o:p></o:p></div>
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We may have stretched the concept of a Shakespeare garden
just a bit. Why? Well, we also included Ohio native plants that may not have
been mentioned in his works directly, such as: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LwCBVIvmPY2oVj77t22VySEvTJtbiV-LgPkU0NyPbcg_TIaGGk3UBa9uHoibiFTqYETqrSHuvOEfclxBA3FrT0ZuEmrHGb2-UhtiGkdy6jpRBOBl5PANoZTPc0ltmij3yhU69xne8Uw/s1600/Spiderwort.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1008" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LwCBVIvmPY2oVj77t22VySEvTJtbiV-LgPkU0NyPbcg_TIaGGk3UBa9uHoibiFTqYETqrSHuvOEfclxBA3FrT0ZuEmrHGb2-UhtiGkdy6jpRBOBl5PANoZTPc0ltmij3yhU69xne8Uw/s200/Spiderwort.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ohio Spiderwort</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>Cardinal Flower (I know the clergy are often mentioned
by the Bard);</li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Bee Balm (“To Bee, or Not to Bee…” with
apologies to a certain Danish Prince);</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Spiderwort ("hence you long legged spinners
hence" a line of mine from “Dream!”);</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Hops (ale is also mentioned or implied often...
Looking at you Falstaff and Dogberry); and</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Swamp Milkweed (we did it for the Queen...
milkweed attracts Monarchs).</span></li>
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We also planted a Swamp Oak tree in honor of Great Birnam
Wood (“Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never
vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against
him.” MacBeth Act 4, Scene 1). We added ornamental fencing and will be adding
mulch, a possible stone accent, and a birdbath.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We would have included a statue of William Shakespeare, but
alas, we doth lack the space.<o:p></o:p></div>
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20 June 2020 Update: Thus far, all of our plants are doing well (our
Spiderwort is particularly happy) and some of our seed have already sprouted.
Only one of our fern plants (an ostrich fern) appears to be distressed. I did
start the second phase, using a natural weed killer to try to prevent invasive and
undesirable plants from taking root. My recipe for a natural herbicide (nontoxic,
non-hazardous, and biodegradable) is:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aI4HXiWq1EI327jYnpfcH6vpiAlH-IBj52pJvpL2F03RgVCD1Eo3DcfkGQaYjwSaSsHy3sPTAtCnVaqo7pgyNYop57kyyRKT-uHtYX7NzYJ5Oi48bcPQxEmYGaZYvm6tKZA0tSI8Ke0/s1600/FB_IMG_1594643267994.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aI4HXiWq1EI327jYnpfcH6vpiAlH-IBj52pJvpL2F03RgVCD1Eo3DcfkGQaYjwSaSsHy3sPTAtCnVaqo7pgyNYop57kyyRKT-uHtYX7NzYJ5Oi48bcPQxEmYGaZYvm6tKZA0tSI8Ke0/s200/FB_IMG_1594643267994.jpg" width="111" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1 quart of distilled white vinegar (household is
fine)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1/4 cup of table or rock salt<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent (I used
Dawn).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mix these ingredients and use a spray bottle to kill plants.
Just be careful not to spray any desirable plants. It is safer, better for the environment, and a lot less expensive that commercially available weed killers.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgiPDiK1zlIMqvvhDl1sQTyrlfA2Km887x2lhHm_myz4_gZw0aWcfJm6DA6QmhS6jbw8sUDR7lz-RphtfWys284SxJ8qbOTJjfrKr-_Vfw5CbkYA0DPezRC3ceyKD9HpDjYYuYFBW88g/s1600/FB_IMG_1594643290705.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgiPDiK1zlIMqvvhDl1sQTyrlfA2Km887x2lhHm_myz4_gZw0aWcfJm6DA6QmhS6jbw8sUDR7lz-RphtfWys284SxJ8qbOTJjfrKr-_Vfw5CbkYA0DPezRC3ceyKD9HpDjYYuYFBW88g/s320/FB_IMG_1594643290705.jpg" width="320" /></a>12 July 2020 Update: We were finally able to add the mulch and stone and the results were stunning. We decided to leave the some day lily and a pair of hosta that were also uncovered when we weeded to garden in May. We did lose one of the fern plants (it received too much sun) as well as the rose bush we planted (it was on the bargain table anyway). The mulch did reveal large empty areas that we will fill as time allows. We still plan to add a birdbath as well as a possible bust of Shakespeare. And our friend Danielle had a brilliant idea, so our winter project will be to produce the appropriate quotes for each plant and attach these quotes to the fence.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6iP_f_E40rMv2CHAZsWiye8tiFPGQKg0GWXKw1VzzomwA9fvLFxlNZxfjKB0_8o7SWocYHXanfCM5Kr507yRbwGmH1jXHfOC7MVxR1H-GEGj60uapb48Rq6poqBmDqE1_boxEx6Nu-Y/s2048/IMG_20210527_184204426_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6iP_f_E40rMv2CHAZsWiye8tiFPGQKg0GWXKw1VzzomwA9fvLFxlNZxfjKB0_8o7SWocYHXanfCM5Kr507yRbwGmH1jXHfOC7MVxR1H-GEGj60uapb48Rq6poqBmDqE1_boxEx6Nu-Y/s320/IMG_20210527_184204426_HDR.jpg" /></a></div>14 June 2021 Update: With the exception of the fences, the entirety of the garden survived the relatively mild winter and every plant has survived, with most of them flourishing. The Yarrow appears to be attempting to completely dominate the garden. We have transplanted a few items and have installed lattice along the top of the fence to allow the hops vines further to climb. The hardest upkeep remains the occasional weed and invasive plant. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Late last year, we added a native Butterfly Bush and two Dwarf Lilac. I know the Lilac are neither Shakespearian nor native, but Krista loves Lilac. Therefore, I contend that when Oberon tells Puck: "...Yet Mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell: It fell upon a little western flower, Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound..." he was talking about a Lilac. Hey, prove me wrong. 😉</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are considering adding a few new plants, such as a purple Vernonica (Two Gentlemen from Veronica?) Overall Krista and I are quite pleased.<br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
- Food for Thought</div>
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<br />Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-30902295893471861552019-09-17T12:23:00.000-07:002019-09-17T12:23:05.464-07:00A Founding Father's AdviceOn this day in 1787, the fledgling United States ratified the document that would become the cornerstone of the new American Government from then until the present: The U. S. Constitution.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Dc4Dj1dlhsS3zwvjvYWuxary4FANnE4avdIhSaMYc_1HIqS1MLMIu1stetdbzywSy_4gYrc7Rku7VKT3eagAip-V30tbwsq1DiPIF5cgbGij7E1DLrhmKWZren9Rps9rrD8KxtSWcAQ/s1600/Southern_Chivalry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="565" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Dc4Dj1dlhsS3zwvjvYWuxary4FANnE4avdIhSaMYc_1HIqS1MLMIu1stetdbzywSy_4gYrc7Rku7VKT3eagAip-V30tbwsq1DiPIF5cgbGij7E1DLrhmKWZren9Rps9rrD8KxtSWcAQ/s320/Southern_Chivalry.jpg" width="320" /></a>Throughout American history, the Constitution has been often tested and has occasionally been found wanting. The founding fathers knew this would be the case, which is why they included a procedure to amend the document. Even with this ability, disagreements and interpretations have often lead to conflict, both within governing bodies, such as the Brooks-Sumner Affair of 1856, as well as outside government.<br />
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Lately, the disagreements and debates we have all been having have become almost as divisive and disrespectful as they were in the mid 19th century. I have read articles and opinion pieces that believe that we are just as divisive, or more so, than we were just before and after the Civil Way<br />
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Therefore, I am not writing this blogpost to reinvigorate some debate using my own personal talking points. I have already concluded that nothing I can write, say, or do will change anybody’s mind or beliefs. We as a society have become extremely stubborn and unwilling to listen to the positions or knowledge of others. I include myself in this assessment.<br />
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Instead, on this anniversary, I decided to let the words of one of our Founding Fathers offer a lesson that everyone in America should reflect upon:<br />
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Monday, September 17, 1787, was the last day of the Constitutional Convention. Pennsylvania delegate Benjamin Franklin wanted to give a short speech to the Convention prior to the signing of the final draft of the Constitution. At 81 years old, Franklin was too weak to make the speech himself. He had fellow Pennsylvanian James Wilson deliver the speech.<br />
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The following is as reported in Madison's notes on the Convention for Monday, September 17, 1787.<br />
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"Mr. President:<br />
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I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others.<br />
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Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele a Protestant in a Dedication tells the Pope, that the only difference between our Churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain french lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said 'I don't know how it happens, Sister but I meet with no body but myself, that's always in the right — Il n'y a que moi qui a toujours raison.'<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLvxSgTD2wix7QDabgqlZFXWf3gmz2v_o37zzKKoH5odZWo_KSL2iYI6uPtbidRe4ICo6PvFjkXi_EW5i7XDRfjrmWEVD_saQokPeJozqoXzdgBSAVYtIXMOqClfWkSqXvat5S7fgGLA/s1600/CONSTITUTION_iStock-923052552_2500-1800x1143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1600" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLvxSgTD2wix7QDabgqlZFXWf3gmz2v_o37zzKKoH5odZWo_KSL2iYI6uPtbidRe4ICo6PvFjkXi_EW5i7XDRfjrmWEVD_saQokPeJozqoXzdgBSAVYtIXMOqClfWkSqXvat5S7fgGLA/s320/CONSTITUTION_iStock-923052552_2500-1800x1143.jpg" width="320" /></a>In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other.<br />
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I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27bGh5qfAz_5vWKyoo2I1WRtpyLpqHtKMmQ1CYmvf1SbQ3WFdV5QzQcp1bq98UkS0EBReBHTXF-Jvy2nSXhj7z949GIl4U5FfUpIKB8AaJy57TcQF7JThpOouYhzuznQAcc-KmpHOgQM/s1600/Benjamin_Franklin_by_Joseph_Siffred_Duplessis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27bGh5qfAz_5vWKyoo2I1WRtpyLpqHtKMmQ1CYmvf1SbQ3WFdV5QzQcp1bq98UkS0EBReBHTXF-Jvy2nSXhj7z949GIl4U5FfUpIKB8AaJy57TcQF7JThpOouYhzuznQAcc-KmpHOgQM/s320/Benjamin_Franklin_by_Joseph_Siffred_Duplessis1.jpg" width="259" /></a>Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects & great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity.<br />
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Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress & confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavors to the means of having it well administred.” (<a href="https://www.usconstitution.net/franklin.html" target="_blank">Speech of Benjamin Franklin</a>)<br />
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If a person as wise and intelligent as Dr. Franklin can acknowledge that<br />
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<ol>
<li>He has on occasion changed his opinions based on new knowledge and </li>
<li>His own knowledge may not be perfect.</li>
</ol>
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Perhaps more of us should consider doing the same.</div>
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-- Food for Thought</div>
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<br />Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-39183010966011831152019-08-09T09:04:00.002-07:002019-08-09T11:24:05.922-07:00More Tragedies<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I know it has been a while since I written a blog post. I decided that I would not use this blog to just "vent my spleen" or grouse about the current state of politics, climate change, the environment, social justice, and the other issues I have attempted to address. I had originally intended this blog as a means to propose changes, either for individuals or groups to consider for improving or resolving a given situation.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The recent tragedies in El Paso, Texas and in nearby Dayton, Ohio are a painful reminder of just how dangerous life has become in the United States. There have been over 200 mass shootings in our country in 2019 thus far. Unfortunately, most experts anticipate more to follow.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeruo_1qMYbmYuf5djVwmHKKPgIHsILmgVGXjlhOF7kkh7Xawgl2_F9YOAuj1XiQ-yayFBEa7nJm4nhfw6ZEtJDRh7mx3K8ILhuY1YDp3mX0zRhpqhg1iZEmQ4wCdTngjQ4hVv6XEApQ/s1600/Second+Amendment+guns+then+and+now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeruo_1qMYbmYuf5djVwmHKKPgIHsILmgVGXjlhOF7kkh7Xawgl2_F9YOAuj1XiQ-yayFBEa7nJm4nhfw6ZEtJDRh7mx3K8ILhuY1YDp3mX0zRhpqhg1iZEmQ4wCdTngjQ4hVv6XEApQ/s200/Second+Amendment+guns+then+and+now.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">As painful as these tragic losses are, the certainty that almost nothing will change to try to prevent future tragedies from occurring is almost as painful. Unfortunately, nothing except the usual rhetoric will likely emerge from Washington D.C., politicians have already made their "thoughts and prayers" known, and a weary population begins to accept mass shootings as the "new normal."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">However, as I mentioned, I hate using this blog just to repeat my own personal talking points. I don't write these posts to get the majority of my friends nodding their heads in agreement and a few of them </span><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">skeptical or even hostile. On a previous Facebook post where I espoused stricter gun control, I did have an interesting and thought provoking discussion with a friend who disagreed with me. I also had a few "friends" tell me to "go play in traffic" and to "just shut the f&%k up." Believe it or not, I am not trying to renew this debate. I am asking if another potential course of action is feasible.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChE2J0gjcnp3I_6DzFLiJUaFCXXDRTLlqatLsOqCKilSDqE6p5xbyVHn-rHwcbDVEgx45loKRaEweuEnwd_z1aDf_OBZlcQFu-bSMZTF4TWgScMLoZtJCxZ4l3pPp25uYWQxi98jvdbE/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChE2J0gjcnp3I_6DzFLiJUaFCXXDRTLlqatLsOqCKilSDqE6p5xbyVHn-rHwcbDVEgx45loKRaEweuEnwd_z1aDf_OBZlcQFu-bSMZTF4TWgScMLoZtJCxZ4l3pPp25uYWQxi98jvdbE/s320/th.jpg" width="208" /></a><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">During the ongoing opioid epidemic, many lawsuits were filed against Big Pharma. The article </span></span><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/06/lawsuit-pharmaceutical-companies-opioids/529020/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&fbclid=IwAR2t_Cn0_vv3v_Hfx9zBzMOa2ZadQindW3rJKPl6tDcGOhVwS0wroTuB5CI" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">Are Pharmaceutical Companies to Blame for the Opioid Epidemic? - The Atlantic, Jun 2, 2017</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> describes just one of many examples of lawsuits filed against Big Pharma. "Some attorneys general and advocates are now asking in court whether the pharmaceutical companies who marketed the drugs and downplayed their addictive nature can be held legally responsible for—and made to pay for the consequences of—the crisis." (The Atlantic, 6/2/17).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Can similar lawsuits be filed against the National Rifle Association and gun manufacturers? They too have profited by selling a potentially dea</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">dly product to an extent that many believe to be extreme. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qtmRPqaORoF8qk1jV0Ru2OXiLgcQJBI6Z4sbC3iFYS-iQY2Q0zl584LeeL_qVOZQw5R-8vg_tJVP91i6pFHFpAEZmbZJOOBdYD9vDqAiZVMNsBEj-qxjoKdZQCKB5o2LaUtUWiNHJTo/s1600/george-carlin-source.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1300" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qtmRPqaORoF8qk1jV0Ru2OXiLgcQJBI6Z4sbC3iFYS-iQY2Q0zl584LeeL_qVOZQw5R-8vg_tJVP91i6pFHFpAEZmbZJOOBdYD9vDqAiZVMNsBEj-qxjoKdZQCKB5o2LaUtUWiNHJTo/s320/george-carlin-source.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I am not pretending I know the answer (I don't) and I suspect Second Amendment advocates will want chime in (if any of them actually read my blog). However, I offer the following caveats: 1) I am NOT advocating taking any individual's gun(s) away by simply asking this question; 2) I don't believe that the Second Amendment gives gun owners immunity from Government regulation - Just like free speech (a First Amendment right) is and continues to be regulated (hate speech prohibition, yelling fire in a crowded theater...) the right to "keep and bear" fire arms CAN be regulated. If you actually read the second amendment, the word REGULATED does appear, though the word OWN does not; & 3) I acknowledge the cost of such a lawsuit would be astronomical. </span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Perhaps, rather than debate this issue on Facebook (which would be fairly useless) we should ask one of the State Attorneys General who filed a lawsuit against Big Pharma: "... Ohio’s Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a handful of pharmaceutical companies..."</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">(The Atlantic, 6/2/17).</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> So, Governor DeWine, what do <u>you</u> think?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOp3Gng7Fe2PhC3WWc0e09gb99trjIoMGlh7W9wjDgfZ7p9kndTK4FohCWMIagBE17Li-mjVfnHe-XbKa7wYD4F_t9O6lCFy6-ax5H0D9zPqHd0UytRFlKMEtfo-skcMBlw1pAVU-9Ak/s1600/theodore-roosevelt-in-any-moment-of-decision-the-best-thing-you-can-do-is-the-right-thing-the-next-best-thing-is-the-wrong-thing-and-the-worst-thing-you-can-do-is-nothing1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOp3Gng7Fe2PhC3WWc0e09gb99trjIoMGlh7W9wjDgfZ7p9kndTK4FohCWMIagBE17Li-mjVfnHe-XbKa7wYD4F_t9O6lCFy6-ax5H0D9zPqHd0UytRFlKMEtfo-skcMBlw1pAVU-9Ak/s400/theodore-roosevelt-in-any-moment-of-decision-the-best-thing-you-can-do-is-the-right-thing-the-next-best-thing-is-the-wrong-thing-and-the-worst-thing-you-can-do-is-nothing1.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I do understand that these are frightening and polarizing times. We are all losing many of the very rights the gun lobby and the NRA claim to be protecting. However, most Americans agree that something must to be done to help prevent these senseless acts of domestic terrorism. Before anybody starts arguing for or against another individual's views or opinions, I suggest we take the words of big game hunter and gun owner Theodore Roosevelt to heart.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">If we wait until the perfect solution prevents itself, we will continue doing the worst thing -- nothing.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">-- Food for thought.</span></span></span></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-14942875456185039472017-11-03T09:29:00.001-07:002017-11-05T08:14:42.352-08:00Living More Sustainably<div class="MsoNormal">
Late last month, I had the honor of representing <a href="https://flowohio.org/">Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW)</a>
as a guest speaker at the Ohio State Undergraduate Student Government (USG)
forum titled “How to Live Sustainably.” I thought I would take a few moments to
post some of the presentation topics.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of
sustainability, I must warn you that a simple Google search will result in many
different definitions, interpretations, and misinterpretations of this concept.
To keep things simple, I will use the description from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency web page (as of 11/1/2017):<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Sustainability is based on a
simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being
depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue
sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and
nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future
generations.” <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sustainability/">USEPA
Sustainability Web Page</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTVq0TQDmAv6jJn3IHgDmYLkaQHmGcNTbqAbAM4SBNPeyn1HZUUDjjbXfadadwdE47v8odKaAvMb4NqYaK1qSwCbEVp-_jaIx6eFN-yNWAJ5qkkcl5DYu9ae8XaTIYlY_ZT-tacJCj8w/s1600/800px-Sustainable_development.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="800" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTVq0TQDmAv6jJn3IHgDmYLkaQHmGcNTbqAbAM4SBNPeyn1HZUUDjjbXfadadwdE47v8odKaAvMb4NqYaK1qSwCbEVp-_jaIx6eFN-yNWAJ5qkkcl5DYu9ae8XaTIYlY_ZT-tacJCj8w/s400/800px-Sustainable_development.svg.png" width="400" /></a>Another way to look at sustainability is shown in the
attached figure. This figure can be (and perhaps should be) applied to any
decision that is made. Essentially, whenever you make a decision, whether it is
a personal decision (making a purchase, deciding on dinner…) or a business or
professional decision, that decision can be considered sustainable if it
balances economic, social AND environmental needs. Unfortunately, many of our
recent governmental, industrial, and personal decisions are (and have been)
based almost exclusively on economic needs. Social needs, if considered at all,
seem to be focused on the needs of only a few members of society, and
environmental needs often don’t seem to be considered at all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was asked, as a board member of FLOW, to address how
students can live sustainably by volunteering with grassroots and other types
of community organizations. Explaining that sustainability is about <u>more
than one thing</u> I provided a top 10 list of things students (and everyone)
can do to live more sustainability. Here is the Top 10 List, with minimal
modification. These actions are intended to cost little or
nothing and some can actually save money. This list should not be considered all encompassing as there are many sustainable other actions or activities you can do that are not listed:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1. Learn
what you don’t know… about yourself</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> - In the world of sustainability, you
can't manage what you don't measure. Our individual impacts on the planet are
no exception! There are numerous online calculators that can help you determine
your carbon and water footprints. A few exampled include:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/" target="_blank">Carbon Footprint Calculator from the Nature Conservancy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.footprintnetwork.org/resources/footprint-calculator/" target="_blank">Ecological Footprint Calculator from the Footprint Network</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.watercalculator.org/" target="_blank">Water Footprint Calculator from GRACE Communications</a></li>
</ul>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>2.</b> </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Learn
how your community is addressing sustainability</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> – Many communities have
developed sustainability initiatives, and most have them published and
available for download. If they don’t, contact your community and ask them why.
I first got involved with developing community goals for the City of Kent (yes,
believe it or not), Ohio in 1996.</span><br />
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3. Connect with your community leaders and/or community organizations.</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> One of
the best ways to understand what your community is doing, or not doing, to work
toward their sustainability goals is to get involved and ask. Remember, elected
leaders are supposed to work for YOU!</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4. Read
the news and be an educated decision maker</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> - Stay on top of current events:
Local, State, National AND International by choosing “less” biased sources of
news and using multiple sources. Finally, VOTE in every election (special,
primary, AND general elections). I have included a figure I have used before as
a guide for selecting what news to follow and what to avoid.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGegPfpHy6MJoEa3wduLCzjwCFGKiIqOFZcSz2Eb2HZl906Wk29pS0PbfbaZ5KQg8UGQeZ7uU6Dxi4k-wEMSsyImGqVPMIO-059xVXzGbAoNOL4yaU9SfRpytOi-nF2Ovmsu7Z5oZzGc/s1600/news+infographic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="987" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGegPfpHy6MJoEa3wduLCzjwCFGKiIqOFZcSz2Eb2HZl906Wk29pS0PbfbaZ5KQg8UGQeZ7uU6Dxi4k-wEMSsyImGqVPMIO-059xVXzGbAoNOL4yaU9SfRpytOi-nF2Ovmsu7Z5oZzGc/s400/news+infographic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">5. Seek
healthy, fresh, and local sources for food in your community</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> – Whether you
are dining out or shopping for groceries, sustainable food choices are not hard
to find. To live more sustainably, you should consider eating “lower on the
food chain” and with minimal processed foods. Livestock (especially cattle)
requires vast amounts of water, produce approximately 1/3 of all greenhouse
gases, and result in the clear-cutting of rain forests for the production of
animal feed.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">6. Be a
smart consumer</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> – Find alternatives to avoid single use products and
anything “disposable.” Smart consumers also purchase products that are designed
to last, since similar amounts of water, electricity, and labor are required to
produce cheaper items that will wear out sooner and need to be replaced.
Shopping in consignment or thrift stores can also be a sustainable option.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">7. Learn
to navigate your community without a car</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> – Although this can be a challenge
in some communities, consider using local bus services, a bicycle, or walking
when possible. When you do drive, try to take care of several errands in a
single trip to save gasoline.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">8. Save
water where you can</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> – This should go without saying, and I have certainly
addressed this many times before. Simple changes, such as taking shorter
showers, not leaving the water running while shaving, brushing your teeth, or
working in the kitchen, waiting for full loads before using clothes and dish
washers, and adopting smart lawn and garden watering practices can save
hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water per year.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">9. Save
energy every day</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. The simple graphic can show you a few ways to save
electricity, most of which will save you money on your electric bill.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippkVgjgDJc6hMflfSt1jOtdmrOM6M747xINUjxKQwFuxQouKb7sgl6kS7lOv29di7F7-JH-nSmkK3G2lFEPctFm2tA8SSPs1zaQ35kPxp_wTOD-uvXxdRh-uxOy3jHKGcWhpQuLYAtb8/s1600/elect.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="676" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippkVgjgDJc6hMflfSt1jOtdmrOM6M747xINUjxKQwFuxQouKb7sgl6kS7lOv29di7F7-JH-nSmkK3G2lFEPctFm2tA8SSPs1zaQ35kPxp_wTOD-uvXxdRh-uxOy3jHKGcWhpQuLYAtb8/s400/elect.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">10. Volunteer! </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">– Join a local organization, such as FLOW, that focuses on
sustaining our natural resources. Activities such as combating invasive species,
restoring wetlands, picking up litter in our parks and along our water ways,
and planting native trees, rain gardens, and pollinator gardens are vital for
sustaining our natural habitat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe_wEnO34rlPtSH7nVQrQ5mNto4735qA7F-SmGpOs3UhPOfpm91Er9rVuCCJ-xWrfteJa7Vpz3WeWOJzLIkkvDftfbXBWOsejKjUijh9QaEu7M855eQLlP2yQzDYWf5MKeTZsDzWWJyU/s1600/Edmund-Burke-Quotes-and-Sayings-brainy-wisdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe_wEnO34rlPtSH7nVQrQ5mNto4735qA7F-SmGpOs3UhPOfpm91Er9rVuCCJ-xWrfteJa7Vpz3WeWOJzLIkkvDftfbXBWOsejKjUijh9QaEu7M855eQLlP2yQzDYWf5MKeTZsDzWWJyU/s320/Edmund-Burke-Quotes-and-Sayings-brainy-wisdom.jpg" width="320" /></a>Actually, at this point I must confess that I lied earlier. Sustainability
is <u>actually about one thing</u>. It is about that one thing that you do in
your life to make your own life more sustainable. Make just one change in your life and
stick with it. Once you focus on it long enough it will become a personal habit
that you will do without thinking. Once that happens, make just one change in
your life and…<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Food for Thought<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-76745933968971934252017-05-13T04:36:00.002-07:002017-06-26T12:18:17.860-07:00“Dilemma of the American Constitution”<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cutyv_sl4TrbMTUtSBaEbVUb1CR4HHBCdhmukAKrC_NtaXFW5zYIESdWRTpTXQPHN4URnOfCELy71iVLEXRLdYLrJGrNo41AIg1JeSzesMMOie1H-6fympjIurbOHdEhp8CeJq4G5Bc/s1600/MV5BMTIwMjc1MDI4M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjUxODAzMQ%2540%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cutyv_sl4TrbMTUtSBaEbVUb1CR4HHBCdhmukAKrC_NtaXFW5zYIESdWRTpTXQPHN4URnOfCELy71iVLEXRLdYLrJGrNo41AIg1JeSzesMMOie1H-6fympjIurbOHdEhp8CeJq4G5Bc/s400/MV5BMTIwMjc1MDI4M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjUxODAzMQ%2540%2540._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg" width="281" /></a>In the early 1960s, America was introduced to a new brand of British satirical comedy. <b>Beyond the Fringe</b> was a comedy stage revue written and performed by Alan Bennett (<b>The Madness of King George</b>, <b>The Lady in the Van</b>), Peter Cook (<b>The Princess Bride</b>), Dudley Moore (<b>10</b>, <b>Arthur</b>), and Jonathan Miller (<b>The Body in Question</b>). These four writer/performers have been credited with introducing Americans to a new brand of off-the-wall British comedy, opening doors to the stylings of <b>Monty Python’s Flying Circus</b>, <b>The Secret Policeman’s Ball</b>, and <b>Faulty Towers</b>, among many others.<br />
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So, why bring up an obscure British comedy? No, I am not an Anglophile. Okay, I enjoy a frequent British ale. And good Scotch… And gin… And I love fish and chips… And bangers and mash… And I drive an old Morris Minor… So maybe I am an Anglophile, but that isn’t the ONLY reason I mention it. There is an exchange during one particular routine that seems to address some of our current political troubles:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Moore: “Of Course you know the Americans must be frightfully jealous of our Royal Family.”<br />
*mumbled agreement*<br />
Bennett: “Except there is a sense where the President is the Queen and Prime Minister all rolled into one.”<br />
Moore: “One what?”<br />
Bennett: “Exactly, that’s the whole dilemma of the American Constitution.”</blockquote>
Perhaps, after over 50 years, we are finally realizing the dilemma Alan Bennett mentioned. Are we now finding a new answer to the question Moore asked? I believe we have.<br />
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For years, many Americans have replaced the adoration of the British royal family with worship of beauty and wealth. In addition to Trump, many Americans have followed the exploits of Paris Hilton, the Kardashian family, and numerous A and B list Hollywood celebrities. This adoration of the rich and beautiful has permeated our nation’s elections.<br />
<br />
Since the televised debates between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon (many attribute Kennedy’s win, in part, to his more polished appearance over that of Nixon), there has been a growing emphasis on the appearance of our Presidential candidates rather than their policies or integrity. After all, Trump is the second President who can attribute his election, in part, to his past celebrity.<br />
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So does this mean the worship of wealth has translated into the creation of an American monarchy? If this is not the case, then someone should have mentioned to our current President that he is, in fact, not a king. After just over 100 days serving as the President, Donald Trump has done his best to establish himself as a new American Monarch. Consider some of his actions since taking the oath of office:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41ZWw1YduWJibWG3x9MU1xr9Jg6ImQYU78-fGu0BM6GwPjHEPYUEqeoVEvi4iNwK1RaqdXKuCggO06_lrFYYUv1sZfL04cYmf2yykAD8MyNeT_6BCLMiodoEYLyKwv0GlDIGrfxLdAQ0/s1600/KingTrump_final-1200-630-27184318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41ZWw1YduWJibWG3x9MU1xr9Jg6ImQYU78-fGu0BM6GwPjHEPYUEqeoVEvi4iNwK1RaqdXKuCggO06_lrFYYUv1sZfL04cYmf2yykAD8MyNeT_6BCLMiodoEYLyKwv0GlDIGrfxLdAQ0/s320/KingTrump_final-1200-630-27184318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Executive Orders are presented with the fanfare of royal proclamations.</li>
<li>The Presidential admiration of dictators such as Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un.</li>
<li>His staff and publicists have been contradicted and have contradicted themselves during numerous interviews--often within the same sentence.</li>
<li>His first National Security Advisor was forced to resign, after serving less than a month, due to allegations of impropriety.</li>
<li>The presentation of “alternate facts”.</li>
<li>His daughter, (Princess) Ivanka, has an office in the West Wing and is a “special advisor.”</li>
<li>He has fired high-ranking government employees for simply not agreeing with him or swearing loyalty to him, such as former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and former F.B.I. Director James Comey. (I wonder if--in private--he yelled “off with their heads.”)</li>
<li>The American tax payers are paying for the security of Trump Tower to protect (Queen) Melania and (Prince) Barron who, at the time of this writing, have yet to move into the White House.</li>
<li>His son-in-law, (Prince) Jared, has been assigned multiple tasks varying from making government run more efficiently to bringing peace to the Middle-east. Prior to the Trump Presidency, Jared Kushner’s largest business deal, apart from being born into wealth, was the purchase of an office building for a record $1.8 billion that lost money and value following the 2008 crash.</li>
<li>Oh, and did I mention alleged collusion with Russia?</li>
</ul>
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Can anyone imagine a previous administration getting away with such action? In less than a year? Barack Obama had his very citizenship questioned by people who were unaware that Hawaii is a state. George H. W. Bush was criticized when he fell ill during a Japanese state dinner. Nixon resigned in disgrace because he attempted to cover-up the Watergate break in. Bill Clinton got caught lying about having sex with an intern and was impeached!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEN48SHoyz0IfMvDEWofNppKOa2qBLf0RQz1dRXGAxii-kN4N8vmfOYlFV6Z_VBtLs-Bo1aZNkoBIfZS14O-eV2fxPVZHFmUX3gDNggoAkwG2qAcLXJGjTvjPgtVQXSWghUxvat0ceuY/s1600/heres-what-donald-trump-supporters-really-believe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEN48SHoyz0IfMvDEWofNppKOa2qBLf0RQz1dRXGAxii-kN4N8vmfOYlFV6Z_VBtLs-Bo1aZNkoBIfZS14O-eV2fxPVZHFmUX3gDNggoAkwG2qAcLXJGjTvjPgtVQXSWghUxvat0ceuY/s400/heres-what-donald-trump-supporters-really-believe.jpg" width="400" /></a>These offences seem to pale in comparison to the ongoing Constitutional clusterf*ck that is the Trump Administration. Americans are confronted every week, every day with at best, dishonesty, and at worst, treasonous behavior. Yet with all of this insanity, Trump still has an approval rating hovering around 36 percent. These Trump supporters, mainly conservatives, would have never supported a President with ties to Russia, an enemy. Is this simply "team loyalty," turning politics into a grotesque spectator sport? Or, perhaps, these Trump supporters are not supporting their President. Maybe they are devoted to their monarch, to someone they see as, dare I say it, as their heaven-sent King.<br />
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-- Food For Thought</div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-14412839931978207602017-02-21T16:29:00.001-08:002021-04-26T13:42:46.108-07:00A Geographic ElectionFollowing the election and throughout the transition, many conservative and Republican voters, still basking in the victorious GOP sweep, were patting themselves on the back and complimenting the Founding Fathers. After all, it was their "Genius" to create a system that prevented the dense population centers from "dictating" government policy to the rural regions. Meanwhile, liberals and Democrats were, once again, bemoaning the "obsolete" electoral college that, once again, allowed a Republican to win the White House without the popular vote (twice in the last 5 Presidential elections). Either way you look at it, you cannot deny that Donald Trump won the Presidency not by winning the most votes, but by a geographic anomaly.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR20JmJWS129X4LxxqzwXVdZO7grES9-y9PsYx_ITt2YOBSoROZhAzWvWdajcPbgoy6B49yMldwos20X550Ofey0SGZiBL3SuCKvlBcyzGun31s3tDWyspiiFLqebYlKHra5TOTJIpneg/s1600/constitutional-convention.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR20JmJWS129X4LxxqzwXVdZO7grES9-y9PsYx_ITt2YOBSoROZhAzWvWdajcPbgoy6B49yMldwos20X550Ofey0SGZiBL3SuCKvlBcyzGun31s3tDWyspiiFLqebYlKHra5TOTJIpneg/s400/constitutional-convention.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">United States Constitutional Convention - 1787</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I do not disagree that the Founding Fathers were brilliant in the creation of this new nation and the revised Federal government in 1787. The original Federal Government, based on the Articles of Confederation, was ineffective. However, do not extend their genius to imply that they ever imagined their small republic would grow to 50 states. Nor could the Founding Fathers have ever imagined the financial strength and dominance of our current 2 political parties. Actually, the greatest measure of their genius can be found in Article 5 of the U.S. Constitution. This Article describes the process to amend the Constitution.<br />
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It would require a Constitution Amendment or another Constitutional Convention to eliminate the Electoral College. Short of that, there are several measures we can do as a nation to ensure that ALL elections are fair and ensure that each person's vote is counted equally. Most have been discussed in the news and social media, and many have one or more organizations dedicated to fighting and soliciting for (or against) these issues. These issues include:<br />
<ul>
<li>eliminate gerrymandering;</li>
<li>reinstate election financial reform;</li>
<li>mandate Congressional term limits;</li>
<li>eliminate the winner-take-all approach to awarding State delegates;</li>
<li>mandate a minimum number of voting precincts in densely populated areas;</li>
<li>eliminate intrusive voter ID laws to address non-existent voter fraud; and </li>
<li>make Election Day a Federal holiday.</li>
</ul>
In most cases I concur with making these changes, in others I am a bit more skeptical. Term limits would not be required if people would just vote and if some of these other measures became law. Furthermore, term limits would result in a revolving door of lobbyists and legislators. You would need to use a score card to tell current legislators from the former ones who would lobby for a living. I have even heard of proposing mandatory voting (which should not be required in a "free" society). However, nobody has mentioned one way to make our elections more fair: overturning of the Apportionment Act of 1911.<br />
<br />
<b>Apportionment Act of 1911</b><br />
<br />
The number of each state's electoral college delegates is established by combining the number of the state's U.S. Representatives and adding 2 (for each Senator) as established in the Constitution (Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2). While it is clear that each state has 2 U.S. Senators, the number of elected Representatives was first established in Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution which reads as follows:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXszujz2o5cM1XfL28V3unxzh8wf4eZuz1zhQpyyNas4O5ryt3A2w7m4qG1uLy4wrP5nktGxnPWmzHj5NvIsshx6CCAoJckIlgGYu1K7kXx2_Gt8TTMMcZ5u0EaK2s4StxqxU_ZA3CzI/s1600/ConstitutionPage1001_big.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXszujz2o5cM1XfL28V3unxzh8wf4eZuz1zhQpyyNas4O5ryt3A2w7m4qG1uLy4wrP5nktGxnPWmzHj5NvIsshx6CCAoJckIlgGYu1K7kXx2_Gt8TTMMcZ5u0EaK2s4StxqxU_ZA3CzI/s320/ConstitutionPage1001_big.jpg" width="243" /></a>Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse [sic] three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.</blockquote>
It is clear from this clause that much of it is no longer valid. For example, the famous "three fifths compromise" was included to increase the representation of the southern states by counting each slave as 3/5 of a free white. However, it is clear that the intent of the Founding Fathers was to have representation based on population.<br />
<br />
Obviously, we cannot maintain representation near the "number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand" requirement, which would require over 10,000 U.S. representatives. However we continue to maintain the 1 representative minimum for each state requirement.<br />
<br />
The number of Representatives continued to grow until the Apportionment Act of 1911 was passed. This act limited the number of Representatives in the House to 435, when it was amended in 1912. This number has been maintained since the 63rd Congress, with one exception*. The Reapportionment Act of 1929 provided the method to reallocate the number of seats as population changes occurred and the Apportionment Act of 1941 made this process self-executing after each census.<br />
<br />
* - There were 437 representatives in the 1950's when Alaska and Hawaii were admitted into the union. The number was reduced back to 435 following the 1960 census and the 1962 election.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFz9q4Q1_4WLlQrtn4xq59PbTdbiiONvJsfsNTj8nzzpxOETfq9Axf1QKGIxr7CUbcKkT-yOLF1VWNrIJ6IXuOQhzGFmWIFIQpDFl1-VVzx1UOfdIPUVJv3wSN0dtwjmFEqzv7F6yCUg/s1600/electoral-college-math-the-population-of-california-is-38-800-000-the-6760883.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFz9q4Q1_4WLlQrtn4xq59PbTdbiiONvJsfsNTj8nzzpxOETfq9Axf1QKGIxr7CUbcKkT-yOLF1VWNrIJ6IXuOQhzGFmWIFIQpDFl1-VVzx1UOfdIPUVJv3wSN0dtwjmFEqzv7F6yCUg/s400/electoral-college-math-the-population-of-california-is-38-800-000-the-6760883.png" width="327" /></a></div>
Although I am not a fan of increasing the size of Congress, this maximum number poses two issues associated with congressional representation as well as the Electoral College.. First, the population in 1910 was over 92 million. By the 2010 census the US had grown to over 300 million. Second, each state is still required to have a minimum of one U.S. representatives (or 3 Electoral College delegates).<br />
<br />
As the graphic indicates, residents from rural states have greater congressional representation in the House than do residence in states with greater populations. By dividing the population of California (the most populous state) by that of Wyoming (the least), California should have 66 Representatives and 68 electoral delegates (rather than 53 and 55, respectively) to match the amount of representation Wyoming has in the House and Electoral College. Based on this approach, Ohio should have 20 Representatives, rather than 16.<br />
<br />
Obviously, the hallowed halls of the House would swell if each state's representation were based on the ratio of its population with the least populated state's. So what? Can you honestly say that Federal gridlock would worsen?<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
<br />
So how can we prevent another geographic Presidential election? There are many ways to balance representation in the House and improve our Presidential election process. Some of these ideas (eliminating the Electoral College or the minimum 1 Representative per state requirement) would require a Constitutional Amendment. Overturning or passing a new Apportionment Act would not require a Constitutional Amendment, but given our current Republican dominated government, it is unlikely to be introduced, let alone discussed.<br />
<br />
Of course this is all moot when you consider that over 40 percent of eligible voters did not cast a vote during the past election. Off year and midterm elections consistently show even worse voter participation.<br />
<br />
I have often heard it said that Americans deserve a better government. Based on that percentage of non-participation, I disagree. Americans have the government they deserve. we will only deserve a better system when more Americans start taking part in our government and actually voting.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
-- Food for Thought</div>
<br />Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-13672529097120711102017-02-07T08:55:00.001-08:002017-11-20T12:29:44.855-08:00Moving ForwardI tweeted the following observation recently:<br />
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<br />
I made this tweet, in part, to get people to start thinking. I am not sure what I expected. I did received a few comments concerning the lingering fears from 9/11, even though the country where 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists originated is not among the countries listed in the executive order. However, one comment in particular made a very important point:<br />
<br />
“…I think both sides need to at least try to understand the perspective of the other. We have to do something to re-unite ourselves. Otherwise the terrorists will have succeeded in dividing us and their ultimate goal of us destroying ourselves will be accomplished.”<br />
<br />
I am not sure just the terrorists want to see us divided. I have read discussions that alleged the wealthiest “1 percent” of the US population want to keep the “working class” members divided, because if the 99 percent stay divided, the uber-wealthy can continue to fleece the country.<br />
<br />
Whether it is the oligarchs, overseas terrorists or some other force that has our country divided, one thing is certain: we cannot continue down this path if our nation is to survive.<br />
<br />
Here are my thoughts on some of the hurdles we must overcome to start the "reunification" or our divided nation. I realize that my thoughts are at best, reasonable, and at worst, just the rants of a liberal, straight, white, privileged, Midwestern male. I have no special training that lead me to these conclusions, but in my humble opinion, our current dilemma boils down to several major points. Granted this is oversimplification but here goes:<br />
<br />
<b>Blame Game</b><br />
<br />
People love to blame other people for their troubles... that way they do not have to admit fault and/or take responsibility. I can acknowledge the fear/paranoia associated with 9/11 and other incidents. One such incident affected me directly, though minimally.<br />
<br />
Since 9/11 Muslims have been a convenient group to blame for almost all terror based problems in our country. It is easy to blame one group for current and even imagined problems. Donald Trump plays the blame game constantly. Although I hate the comparison, Hitler also played the blame game masterfully during his reign.<br />
<br />
Anybody who reads and understands the history of the Middle East must acknowledge the many mistakes we in the west have made and continue to make in this region. “Western” aggression has been present in the Middle East since ancient Rome and the Crusades. More recently, the Ottoman Empire had their claims on the Middle East until World War I, and the U.S. and others in the west have installed various puppet dictators – some of which lead to the rise of Islamic republics, such as Iran. Finally, the current troubles and destruction associated with the recent wars help create ISIS.<br />
<br />
We are also playing the blame game against immigrants. Immigration records have shown that there is no great influx of Mexican or other Latin American people into the US. Yet we are building a wall to keep out the “hoard” of immigrants that simply do not exist… or arrive by plane.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it is time to eliminate the blame game and begin addressing our mutual problems in a constructive manner.<br />
<br />
<b>Admitting Mistakes</b><br />
<br />
People do not want to acknowledge their own mistakes, no matter if they were honest mistakes or ones based on false perception. Rather than acknowledge errors, many people "stick to their guns" or "double down" when confronted with facts that are contrary to their own beliefs. For this reason, there will always be people who will support the President they voted for, regardless of his or her actions or consequences.<br />
<br />
One of the challenges to admitting mistakes concerns the variety of news sources available. It seems there is always a media outlet that will support a mistaken premise, no matter how misguided or destructive that premise might be.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, people generally prefer media that share their own prejudices or bias, hence the popularity of Fox, Breitbart and similar news outlets. There are equally bias news sources on the left as well. How much better would we be if we all selected news from sources considered mainstream, or at least less bias, as the following chart indicates:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtSFoiMMKpBXcsI6AtPEP-BJXHls8g8a3-d0z-vaJ2W-XSKWC1jNOYrI-KNoRM-EzOaek3IzskV8TIw7NOcfB6z4Zy6KSYiPcLOTASf6S7amyVugkBvOko5nq1LsVZMil0pQPyD1Hsow/s1600/News+Media.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtSFoiMMKpBXcsI6AtPEP-BJXHls8g8a3-d0z-vaJ2W-XSKWC1jNOYrI-KNoRM-EzOaek3IzskV8TIw7NOcfB6z4Zy6KSYiPcLOTASf6S7amyVugkBvOko5nq1LsVZMil0pQPyD1Hsow/s640/News+Media.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
My primary sources for national and international news are all within the “Mainstream” on this chart, including the New York Times, Washington Post, (both of which use Reuters and AP), BBC and NPR. I also occasionally read the Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, and the Huffington Post. Unfortunately, there are dozens of similar charts, all of which draw the line between bias and partisan news in a different position. I guess we cannot even agree on bias.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To make matters worse, our President and his cabinet began their term developing conspiracies, discrediting the media, and trying to inject “alternate facts” into our national dialog. Apparently, to be a “true” American (in Trump’s mind) you should only get your news from his administration. Many of his followers seem willing to do just that. The left leaning and most of the mainstream media have fought against Trump’s war against the media. Even the conservative Fox News has begun to question Trump and his spokespeople more thoroughly. I never knew facts could be partisan.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It is going to be a monumental challenge to hold constructive and healing conversations between members of our divided nation when we have become so divided that we cannot even agree on facts, credible sources of information, and reality.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Short Attention Span</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Many people have short attention spans. Whether this is because of our technological revolution, differing education levels, or just the ever-growing chaos of life, who can say? Trump won many votes by keeping his message simple. Liberals should not assume that providing more detailed information and encouraging people to "go to our website" will have much influence, let alone win elections. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTi-XlWJ7UIMbxKklf1LIWiuPkkFYGQdNPU2gh1V7bb_BmytDhOK1c2cyRm90W4hUkhJdOvbmdroR5bKXzlr4_k29JneSm6j3Yc6mN2KFWbn7pWeIcmXReayWybMImSAXAEpzC8yow54/s1600/Coal+Mining.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTi-XlWJ7UIMbxKklf1LIWiuPkkFYGQdNPU2gh1V7bb_BmytDhOK1c2cyRm90W4hUkhJdOvbmdroR5bKXzlr4_k29JneSm6j3Yc6mN2KFWbn7pWeIcmXReayWybMImSAXAEpzC8yow54/s400/Coal+Mining.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U.S. Coal Mining Production<br />
Source: U.S. Energy Information Agency</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Lies are simple and apparently easy for some. Telling the unemployed coal miners "I will reopen the mines" is an example of a lie that Trump used to win votes. It is also one lie that can be addressed. Coal production has not declined as much as politicians have implied. Furthermore, regulations had little to do with the loss of jobs, except in cases of safety violations. Often mine owners use regulations as an excuse. Miners lost more jobs to automation, mines that closed for safety reasons, or mines being closed because they were unproductive. Finally, other sources of energy replaced coal, primarily Liquid Natural Gas, which burns cleaner and at one time was less expensive.<br />
<br />
These lies can and should be addressed. However, the miner and others who are unemployed must be willing to change professions.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Resistance to Change</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the discussion above, I cited an example of how one political lie turned economic decisions and mineral depletion into a promise to “go back” to better times. In spite of what was promised, we have to reach out and help mining families move forward. Just this week, Republicans kicked off their drive to roll back Obama-era environmental regulations by repealing a "Stream Protection Rule" meant to keep coal mines from dumping waste into streams. Allowing coal mining companies to contaminate water resources will not reopen unsafe mines, nor will it increase mining employment within mines that have been automated. It will simply save mine owners money by allowing them to discharge their waste rather than treat it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Change is enviable. It can also be frightening, especially to the families who have seen their prospects for employment diminish, in coal mining and other industries. This is similar to the manufacturing history of my home: During the late 19th century, the City of Columbus, Ohio had a comparatively large manufacturing sector. The city became known as the "Buggy Capital of the World," thanks to the two dozen buggy factories—notably the Columbus Buggy Company, founded in 1875 by C.D. Firestone. However, during the early 20th century, technology offered a new mode of transportation and eventually, Columbus’ buggy production collapsed. Workers were forced to change their profession as the buggy market dried up. Perhaps many of the buggy workers did not want to change jobs and leave the buggy manufacturing profession. But changes in technology and the market often doesn’t not allow that choice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Miners, in this example, have to understand that we are in an energy situation that is not sustainable. Fossil fuels are not renewable and Americans need to conserve these and other resources as well as continue to develop new, sustainable sources of power. Unfortunately, that leads me to my final point. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Simple, Easy Solutions</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
People want simple solutions. No matter how complex the problems, many people want an easy out. Climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels are examples of complex problems. Unfortunately, many politicians are all too willing to offer their constituents simple solutions (that are often ineffective) or dismiss entire problem as a "liberal hoax," in the case of climate change. Those of you who know me know my opinion of that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, if we are ever going to reunite our nation, we must also understand that many people believe they cannot afford to think and plan beyond our next paycheck. How are we going to get those on the far right to take climate change and energy consumption issues seriously? Humans cannot directly feel or experience climate change on a day-to-day basis. Many news sources and politicians still deny what most of the world has already acknowledged.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Perhaps we need to take a very different approach. Simplify the message. In the case of climate change, perhaps, if we can agree that fossil fuels are a limited source of energy, maybe we can get people to acknowledge that we need to begin finding new sources. That does not mean a complete shutdown of the fossil fuel industry. As these figures show, the three largest sources of energy both in the U.S. (and in the world) are fossil fuels. There is no way we can simply mothball all fossil energy sources immediately, </div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVqESRj6l4V7VmyeZeFCRpSbnRMjs5hh1p17FK0CZld0522tG3hIQwoNGsYebId29tvaBLlUpt7YYSqy76xlZFqqzSRoNBZdXOd_7FdOontcCUckb9rldD1jHBNkjhcestOEa1pDPrVQ/s1600/US+Energy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVqESRj6l4V7VmyeZeFCRpSbnRMjs5hh1p17FK0CZld0522tG3hIQwoNGsYebId29tvaBLlUpt7YYSqy76xlZFqqzSRoNBZdXOd_7FdOontcCUckb9rldD1jHBNkjhcestOEa1pDPrVQ/s400/US+Energy+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe6y4v6kiAENFFJv3PaT9wofFVaeIYD3zWwptB3kjIJLaI2HqfFjb7U4qC27JEnubyLBkwKvL5qQVe5cZ11ixH3XwjfiBHtMFp8FRkQ9Eab4hqIbqosIc-yShZJDZBEABAn5RhvvCqI0/s1600/US+Energy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe6y4v6kiAENFFJv3PaT9wofFVaeIYD3zWwptB3kjIJLaI2HqfFjb7U4qC27JEnubyLBkwKvL5qQVe5cZ11ixH3XwjfiBHtMFp8FRkQ9Eab4hqIbqosIc-yShZJDZBEABAn5RhvvCqI0/s400/US+Energy.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Current and Historic Energy Utilization in the United States by source.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b>Conclusion</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyJgDuTCk0VMMNhwCbFpupnkRW_FxBCgfaGzM3B5NjMCI_W2wU-C4eg92en46y5SY3WC1lHfICRAdunV5Ti6QFp1GUWN5cwU5dr0eT1hzN6bWEvQOREEazANUm52rhUkOj2DlAqPITkk/s1600/People-don%25E2%2580%2599t-care-how-much-you-know.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyJgDuTCk0VMMNhwCbFpupnkRW_FxBCgfaGzM3B5NjMCI_W2wU-C4eg92en46y5SY3WC1lHfICRAdunV5Ti6QFp1GUWN5cwU5dr0eT1hzN6bWEvQOREEazANUm52rhUkOj2DlAqPITkk/s320/People-don%25E2%2580%2599t-care-how-much-you-know.png" width="320" /></a>So does any of this ring true? Did I hit the mark; miss it entirely; or at least come close? I will let the readers decide for themselves. Can we come together and reunite our country? Can we find common ground upon which to build a new constructive American dialog to replace our current situation of verbal snipes and social media jousting? Who can say? It will take open minds and a great deal of compromise, two things that seem to be in short supply these days.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All I know is that, we cannot continue as we have in the past. We can not approach our mutual problems thinking that we have all the answers and the other side is just wrong. Maybe folks much more prominent and important than me should plan to listen more and try to understand opposing points of view before trying to solve the situation.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Obviously, this list is hardly all-inclusive. It certainly does not address the problems with our election system. Perhaps that is a topic for another blog post.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
-- Food for Thought</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-70947713632072506382016-11-11T11:38:00.000-08:002016-11-11T12:50:54.765-08:00So...Now What?(I took a brief hiatus from my blogging because I simply didn’t want to be an extension of the campaign noise by repeating information that was already being heard far too often. I was sure the 2 or 3 people who actually read my blog didn’t miss it too badly.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhdaCfqN5sC1IsheOQCA3yRcKEduewYHqpKgWfDQXDW08QdSYPE8u429PlHQne8E7BFLXiMQ_WbV748xN56l1KX85vDFpAu49vBa1zYW_KsW9Et5RRWBYGUrs4JOFuQJSuRVgrEudrmA/s1600/th+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhdaCfqN5sC1IsheOQCA3yRcKEduewYHqpKgWfDQXDW08QdSYPE8u429PlHQne8E7BFLXiMQ_WbV748xN56l1KX85vDFpAu49vBa1zYW_KsW9Et5RRWBYGUrs4JOFuQJSuRVgrEudrmA/s1600/th+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President-elect Donald J. Trump</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The election has become a memory as America and the world continue to react to the success of Donald Trump, President-Elect of the United States. Furthermore, the House remains in the hands of the GOP Leadership as does the Senate.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mKTeks9x7NZWKNSQzx4p1p01CxepqiSn7joo74v_yJp0eT1gG1EUBNjcukcSGfKz3eSWGs1gHZFICuf8hvvPe4eW-iG6l7SwBd-zQGS7WOtfmvgeKdekTgKvC1EqjVyKIpfWHvzxjRY/s1600/quote-the-single-most-important-thing-we-want-to-achieve-is-for-president-obama-to-be-a-one-mitch-mcconnell-89-14-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mKTeks9x7NZWKNSQzx4p1p01CxepqiSn7joo74v_yJp0eT1gG1EUBNjcukcSGfKz3eSWGs1gHZFICuf8hvvPe4eW-iG6l7SwBd-zQGS7WOtfmvgeKdekTgKvC1EqjVyKIpfWHvzxjRY/s320/quote-the-single-most-important-thing-we-want-to-achieve-is-for-president-obama-to-be-a-one-mitch-mcconnell-89-14-07.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sen. Mitch McConnell - The Oracle of Obstruction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In her concession Speech, Secretary Clinton urged her supporters to keep an “open mind” and give President Trump an opportunity to lead. Part of me understands and perhaps agrees with her statement. However, the other part of me wonders why we liberals and democrats should bother, given the obstructive and belligerent reaction the GOP had to President Obama’s election, as expressed by Mitch McConnell, before Obama was inaugurated: <a href="https://youtu.be/W-A09a_gHJc" target="_blank">Youtube video of Mitch McConnell</a>. Top priority? Not running the government, doing the business of the American people? Not serving as a member of the U.S. Senate while representing all of the American people and the citizens of Kentucky? Our tax dollars paid his salary so he could focus on his party’s bullsh*t? And don’t get me started on the right wing media! Our government requires cooperation and compromise. Any achievement credited to the Reagan administration would not have been possible without the cooperation of House Speaker Tip O'Neill, However, if that is how the modern GOP reacts when their opponents are in the White House, why in the Hell should the left be “open minded” or give Trump a chance?<br />
<br />
<br />
Before I can possibly consider being “open minded” I need to have one very important question answered:<br />
<br />
“If America isn’t great now, when was it ever great?”<br />
<br />
I am asking this question seriously, since Trump’s campaign slogan was “Make America Great Again.” What is Trump’s vision of greatness? Is he going to take serious action to reinvigorate the middle class? Address income inequality? Tackle climate change? Raise the minimum wage? Nothing in his campaign rhetoric leads me to believe these are even a remote possibility.<br />
<br />
So, it is fair to ask what is greatness in Trump’s, and by extension, the GOP’s eyes?<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOAVwKL7aSPq3Ouh_ZlR8s02enO2-wPacRUgjq2dPA51AW3gCqyPQI_pTYPSVL6PbDLO1d92Mr3vfpm3v9RU1OhVsh-UZMGpljwwtilMDfCUgSdX7T3TUtSzdYlEl5PkxJq11R6AoSKQ/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOAVwKL7aSPq3Ouh_ZlR8s02enO2-wPacRUgjq2dPA51AW3gCqyPQI_pTYPSVL6PbDLO1d92Mr3vfpm3v9RU1OhVsh-UZMGpljwwtilMDfCUgSdX7T3TUtSzdYlEl5PkxJq11R6AoSKQ/s200/th.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great American Family?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>1950s Sitcom world, complete with stay-at-home mom, family dinners, (Christian) church on Sundays, and married couples sleeping in separate beds?</li>
<li>The war years with the tragic cost in human life… as long as the corporations make healthy profits?</li>
<li>Prohibition? Talk about corruption and organized crime!</li>
<li>If I go any further back we will have to repeal a few Constitutional Amendments, specifically nos. XIII (Abolishing Slavery), XV (granting voting rights regardless of race, color, or previous servitude), and XIX (granting women the right to vote). Everyone knows slavery is bad, but corporate profits will soar with the free labor.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Forgive me Madam Secretary, but without some reasonable idea of where President Trump and the GOP plan to lead this country, all I have to guide me is the campaign rhetoric. So it is reasonable to assume the following are at least going to be strongly considered:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPIY3qsR1aSJ3vzmH51I54l9srissTGpEwGG9kgoExBxw8GUuV5m6qNh7rpi_vmeNl4a-u4efzdORvgTw5YYowaH5JrE_N4y-KG1QnwK3RrZKFjKBCmxVycERQLHLm1b2HyxFnUz2LRE/s1600/th+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPIY3qsR1aSJ3vzmH51I54l9srissTGpEwGG9kgoExBxw8GUuV5m6qNh7rpi_vmeNl4a-u4efzdORvgTw5YYowaH5JrE_N4y-KG1QnwK3RrZKFjKBCmxVycERQLHLm1b2HyxFnUz2LRE/s200/th+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will the GOP repeal the Clean Air and Water Acts?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Repeal of, rather than revision or improvement to, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) with no alternative yet being proposed or even discussed. So the poor will again be forced to wait until an ailment becomes so devastating that a trip to the emergency room is required.</li>
<li>Reduction or even elimination of environmental regulations that the polluters feel are “too expensive.” If you think the pollution is a problem now, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Hope you enjoy those algal blooms on Lake Erie, Lake Okeechobee, the Ohio River, and many other fresh water bodies.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y4jPkidAYEyfLFHOgYJpBGdGjecDediKlojbkwjmH6RwcQnx5Zj6S73GxvzrnmynsUZ8jdFLLXdFHLibPdAafqFscvRux5bww7dlsTO3L1Z7Z2LAgIZyfnh_XaDKPZSjS9TD6coF1OA/s1600/NGpeter-essick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y4jPkidAYEyfLFHOgYJpBGdGjecDediKlojbkwjmH6RwcQnx5Zj6S73GxvzrnmynsUZ8jdFLLXdFHLibPdAafqFscvRux5bww7dlsTO3L1Z7Z2LAgIZyfnh_XaDKPZSjS9TD6coF1OA/s400/NGpeter-essick.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recent Algal Bloom on Lake Erie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Speaking of water, I hope the citizens of Flint, Michigan and other communities enjoy the lead and other contaminants in their drinking water. I am in the process of developing a cocktail consisting of Flint Water, Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, and pickle brine. Now that’s a real lead cocktail (though it still needs work)!</li>
<li>The defunding of Planned Parenthood, which means women who are poor will have no place to turn to for routine health screenings simply because a small portion, approximately 3 percent of their (non-Federal) funds, has been used to perform abortions in the past.</li>
<li>Women’s rights, the rights of minorities and the LGBT+ community, or what I like to call <u>human rights</u>, will no longer be a primary concern once Trump nominates Scott Baio to serve on the U.S. Supreme court. So much for a Woman’s right to an abortion, marriage equality, and the ongoing discussion of our systemic racism.</li>
<li>Ongoing and increased subsidizing of fossil fuel companies, big pharma, agribusiness… and the approval of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines and similar projects.</li>
</ul>
<br />
So what can we liberals do to help insure that the issues of greatest concern to us do not get swept under the figurative political rug? Joining both local, grass root organizations as well as regional or National organizations can help, but protests and similar efforts rarely have a sustaining impact. It simply takes too much energy to maintain a protest and often once the protesters leave, business as usual returns. Remember “Occupy Wall Street?” Neither does Wall Street.<br />
<br />
So I am proposing a radical approach. Join a group or groups that focus on those issues of greatest concern to you. However, in addition to the groups usual agenda (planting trees, protesting at government centers, providing services to underprivileged), propose that the group and all of its members attack the opposition in the most effective way possible… in their wallet!<br />
<br />
Make a pledge to support only those businesses that support your causes. I no longer buy Yuengling beer because they supported Trump. We shop at <a href="http://www.costco.com/" target="_blank">Costco</a> and <a href="http://www.weilandsmarket.com/" target="_blank">Weilands Market</a> (local grocery store) because they both pay a living wage to their workers (and Weilands has a top notch liquor store!). To reduce our carbon footprint, we purchase electrical power from a supplier using only wind power (<a href="http://www.arcadiapower.com/" target="_blank">Arcadia Power</a>) and I walk far more than I drive, although if you saw my two vehicles, you might think I walk primarily because of safety concerns. These are just a few of the many purchasing decisions that we have made in an effort to support those firms who promote the ideas that are important to us. But we are only one household… imagine if groups of thousands made similar pledges:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Spending your consumer dollars at woman and minority owned businesses</li>
<li>Supporting corporations and establishments that contribute to the Gay Pride Parade and other LGBT+ community programs</li>
<li>Making purchases from boutiques or galleries that support fair trade</li>
<li>Shop at that small business in your neighborhood</li>
<li>Refuse to support sponsors of Fox News, Rush Limbaugh…</li>
<li>Research the charitable contributions of the companies where you typically shop. If they support causes contrary to yours, change your shopping habits and let the business know why you have done so.</li>
<li>When you do make more informed consumer decisions, it is just as important to tell businesses why you decided to shop with them.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Finding companies that support your interests is only an internet search away. I believe that this would prove to be a far more effective tactic because it uses the one weapon all people possess to some degree… their purchasing power. It also hits your opponents exactly where it will hurt the most, in their pockets.<br />
<br />
Just imagine how effective your efforts would be if your organization agreed to develop a list of preferred businesses, published it, and have members agreed to follow the list as much as possible. Maybe, once corporate profits began to take a hit from these monetary protests, positive, progressive changes just might re-enter the political discussion. After all, I recall hearing that we are “Stronger Together.”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
-- Food for Thought</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-56527322556947019142016-06-21T06:01:00.003-07:002016-06-21T06:40:19.673-07:00Scary words during the “Silly Season”<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMHe3VCl6fYwjuY2oVqrgW6PXg7k_OBOby_5FcIK4GdYeZvfO8F7X04QJAALEKpZxrdb-HJjcxBjh-FkZ-ksgsPYtOpk944dmV-g8knZY4DOeMt6SpRE7XJjEqM6iSA5UY1psN7Rquic/s1600/New-Election-Day-2016jpg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMHe3VCl6fYwjuY2oVqrgW6PXg7k_OBOby_5FcIK4GdYeZvfO8F7X04QJAALEKpZxrdb-HJjcxBjh-FkZ-ksgsPYtOpk944dmV-g8knZY4DOeMt6SpRE7XJjEqM6iSA5UY1psN7Rquic/s400/New-Election-Day-2016jpg.gif" width="400" /></a>Ah, the silly season is in full swing. This is a phrase a former colleague used to describe an election year. A city employee, he used it to describe the mayoral and other local elections. I like to use it to describe any major election, and it seems more than appropriate for this year’s election. As with most silly seasons, the 2016 Presidential candidates are using their full arsenal of scary words and phrases (*cue ominous organ music*) intending to scare the voters into believing some political sleight of hand and hopefully garner some votes they might have missed otherwise.<br />
<br />
Take the word “Socialism,” which has seen more than its fair share of use during the primaries and will likely keep cropping up during the general election. Let’s define this term for the record:<br />
<br />
Socialism (n): a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole. (www.dictionary.com)<br />
<br />
Socialism (n): economic and political system, aiming at government or public ownership of means of production. (Webster’s Encyclopedia of Dictionaries 1978)<br />
<br />
There are alternate definitions as well:<br />
<br />
Socialism (n): (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles. (www.dictionary.com)<br />
<br />
Socialism (n): to make social. To transfer industry from private to public or government ownership. (Webster’s Encyclopedia of Dictionaries 1978)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5lPClwcNKN9XlYFdaqfZDjYydssNU0hHl-zekJhMuAPv1xXRgtW9pVKqWEYula5CuPQ3SbJ-lYXo-fpW_Ba_qnGqgt5Za-fkzUMhmYxVRQ8AJxvMEvFJGkKevtgWp0sQwzqxb4eWLPo/s1600/bbcc1afcbcf6e333bb5a9e71100c76ef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5lPClwcNKN9XlYFdaqfZDjYydssNU0hHl-zekJhMuAPv1xXRgtW9pVKqWEYula5CuPQ3SbJ-lYXo-fpW_Ba_qnGqgt5Za-fkzUMhmYxVRQ8AJxvMEvFJGkKevtgWp0sQwzqxb4eWLPo/s320/bbcc1afcbcf6e333bb5a9e71100c76ef.jpg" width="320" /></a>These are obviously two somewhat different definitions, and depending on the source of its use, it can mean anything from more government oversight to government confiscation. Bernie Sanders used this term to describe his programs to help the poor and middle classes. However, ever since the 1980 election, when then Republican candidate Ronald Reagan said, “Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem,” many on the right have expressed their disdain for all things governmental.<br />
<br />
So the big question is, are government programs, government oversight, and actual governmental activities always a bad thing? Here is a list of things to consider, and to lighten the mood, I will try to emulate Jeff Foxworthy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLrha6mXU6RUkuNkVm2jItMBjI7S3Mh2-3mfsHb-Ez5wTeEAuHwI4N3QXzJtqB5-_lnwC98vu7CUvNMBMT5IdTm4ViHeIC606yrluy5Ktk2FYp3aYCdJ9LX-XCd5egiJH_Gt_QBoiX50/s1600/tumblr_mk8lt2V2Zt1rlsa3no1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLrha6mXU6RUkuNkVm2jItMBjI7S3Mh2-3mfsHb-Ez5wTeEAuHwI4N3QXzJtqB5-_lnwC98vu7CUvNMBMT5IdTm4ViHeIC606yrluy5Ktk2FYp3aYCdJ9LX-XCd5egiJH_Gt_QBoiX50/s320/tumblr_mk8lt2V2Zt1rlsa3no1_500.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
“You might be a Socialist if…”:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>You have ever used a computer or smart phone.</li>
<ul>
<li>Much of our computer and smart phone technology is based on research from the U.S. military, NASA, and other public sector sources. Steve Jobs did not sit on the toilet one morning and shout “Eureka! I have a great idea!”</li>
</ul>
<li>You have ever driven on the interstate highway system.</li>
<ul>
<li>Thank the Eisenhower administration.</li>
</ul>
<li>You have ever landed safely at a commercial airport within the United States.</li>
<ul>
<li>Thank the Federal Aviation Administration.</li>
</ul>
<li>You have ever driven on a public road.</li>
<ul>
<li>Thank your State and local governments.</li>
</ul>
<li>You enjoy fire and police protection.</li>
<ul>
<li>Thank your local government.</li>
</ul>
<li>You support the U.S. military and believe that the Veterans Administration needs to do a better job caring for our vets.</li>
<li>You ever had loved ones, or you yourself have ever benefitted from Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, or other social safety nets.</li>
<li>You have ever lived in a community with a neighborhood covenant/homeowners’ association that limits how you can treat your own property.</li>
<ul>
<li>Neighborhood associations ARE a form of government, governing your abilities to use your own property (no weird paint colors, no 8’ fences, no livestock…) for the betterment of all homeowners (the public).</li>
</ul>
<li>You enjoy comparatively low prices for gasoline and other energy (when compared to other nations).</li>
<ul>
<li>In part you can thank the Federal government subsidies and tax abatements to the energy sector that exceeds $50-$70 billion annually (source: OMB and NPR).</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
This list is just a sample of how our government spends our tax dollars. Our Federal government spends between a quarter to a half of a trillion dollars (yes, that is spelled correctly) subsidizing profitable corporations in this country. That number does not include the billions of dollars for food stamps and other Federal subsidies that go to the employees of Wal-Mart and other companies who refuse to pay their employees a living wage. If you want to eliminate socialism from our government, how about we cut these corporate giveaways and raise the minimum wage?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxJsWK7ZTJ_3eKtR3RNTJ5WZwUlG-_NwKkVrP9Oy8mBxx3t4_xTI0UeP6f_ww7slDm-M2GMTKJHjiGh2UKUEvx3U7Re3XZmUBriOuAN2mMx40-CaeaJoDhxg4hJvQeS3DG4oxXfS7Mz0/s1600/quote-if-you-don-t-read-the-newspaper-you-re-uninformed-if-you-read-the-newspaper-you-re-mis-mark-twain-34-63-58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxJsWK7ZTJ_3eKtR3RNTJ5WZwUlG-_NwKkVrP9Oy8mBxx3t4_xTI0UeP6f_ww7slDm-M2GMTKJHjiGh2UKUEvx3U7Re3XZmUBriOuAN2mMx40-CaeaJoDhxg4hJvQeS3DG4oxXfS7Mz0/s320/quote-if-you-don-t-read-the-newspaper-you-re-uninformed-if-you-read-the-newspaper-you-re-mis-mark-twain-34-63-58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A poorly timed survey I received in the mail has many other examples of the gross misuse of our language during a highly contentious election cycle. This survey was erroneously sent to me by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and was received on Friday, June 10th—a mere two days before the Orlando tragedy at the Pulse nightclub. The survey is titled<u> 2016 National Gun Owner’s Action Survey</u> (I am not a gun owner). Some of the questions (which can only be answered YES, NO, or NO OPINION) are great examples of how a survey can manipulate the audience’s responses. Here are a few choice examples, with my personal reaction to the questions:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Do you support laws that protect your fundamental right to use a firearm to defend yourself and your loved ones from a violent criminal attacker?</li>
<ul>
<li>Would such laws increase the number of gun related deaths similar to George Zimmerman’s killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin (who was unarmed)?</li>
</ul>
<li>Do you oppose any United Nations treaty that strips the U.S. of its sovereignty and gives the U.N. diplomats the power to regulate every rifle, pistol, and shotgun you own?</li>
<ul>
<li>In what imaginary reality is this even possible? This is a scare tactic similar to the “Obama wants your guns” tactic from the past. Well, if he wants them, he had better hurry.</li>
<li>The U.N. holding sovereign authority over the U.S. is an unrealistic situation for the following reasons:</li>
<ul>
<li>No U.S. President, no matter which party they represent, would consider giving up U.S. Sovereignty to the U.N.</li>
<li>The U.S. Senate would never approve such a treaty.</li>
<li>The U.S. has veto power in the U.N., so this measure would NEVER make it to the General Assembly.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<li>Would you vote to reelect a member of the U.S. House or Senate who supports the gun-ban agenda?</li>
<ul>
<li>Where is this so-called agenda? I have occasionally been called a bleeding-heart liberal, and yet I have no desire to ban all firearms. I have heard of registering guns and banning assault/military style semi-automatic rifles, but only an extremist left-wing organization would ever attempt to ban all guns. Besides, such a ban would never be supported by even the most left member of the current U.S. House or Senate. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
To be fair, I am certain that there is equally manipulative propaganda<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3aGMWZMh6Pf0HN_0CcUpe3D1v6BMGTfFv1DtJ99QFDJLeMg-71ZZw8OYsCnxC1bt-8Phk0ERqQS1aAXF1TtPuO0NsFMdenTBDVLkxl6q4jiy1djyYGzYMwagdlCEqUkY8npgFHFB95s/s1600/13495289_10153546877537541_6843296940934676350_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3aGMWZMh6Pf0HN_0CcUpe3D1v6BMGTfFv1DtJ99QFDJLeMg-71ZZw8OYsCnxC1bt-8Phk0ERqQS1aAXF1TtPuO0NsFMdenTBDVLkxl6q4jiy1djyYGzYMwagdlCEqUkY8npgFHFB95s/s200/13495289_10153546877537541_6843296940934676350_n.jpg" width="150" /></a>from the left, like today's headline from the New York Daily News. My sincere advice is to always consider the source and do a little reading of some objective material, if any can be found. Research the issues that matter to you before you cast your vote this November.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Food for Thought</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-64767527767999331442016-05-18T13:47:00.001-07:002016-05-18T13:49:13.698-07:00Keeping up with the MillennialsThis blog post is strictly for those of us of “a certain age.” All are welcome to read and comment on it, but it is addressed specifically to us 40-somethings and older.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUxZrGKRpu5Mbz0RH28okVvTddA13flyckmk68s43iOznDLPeOsxjfNvu8lKa6JaUTjFTAMlwR1LCHCTWZXlAHE2AF4XEmVIApZUoVGpEUgJC4Y2oSGfE8QPofzL-u9wp41G67bvs1nQ/s1600/000-3d-model-old-fashioned-telephone-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUxZrGKRpu5Mbz0RH28okVvTddA13flyckmk68s43iOznDLPeOsxjfNvu8lKa6JaUTjFTAMlwR1LCHCTWZXlAHE2AF4XEmVIApZUoVGpEUgJC4Y2oSGfE8QPofzL-u9wp41G67bvs1nQ/s200/000-3d-model-old-fashioned-telephone-01.jpg" width="200" /></a>Every year, a professor at Beloit College assembles a list that is intended to give faculty members some insight regarding the incoming freshman class. Originally distributed only to the faculty of Beloit College, it has gone viral thanks to the magic of e-mail and the internet. His current list was put into a slide show by MSN.com and can be found here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/smart-living/fun-facts-about-the-class-of-2016/ss-BBsDLyG" target="_blank">MSN's Fun facts about the class of 2016</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jSQnHYV60zOrJARmvJbVTae2iIvze_Zdyx5pv9-IWKfTL5VT3cwihp8Nyr4h3kllgah_hNkX_y5_R1ZcVA4K3Q-oR9awLVI_WEySC5j6O7Y0-HtxkB7YTJYIgI0zCqxoPckm2eBn-Og/s1600/733d8f931b01840b5c7e9d33b472b4f6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jSQnHYV60zOrJARmvJbVTae2iIvze_Zdyx5pv9-IWKfTL5VT3cwihp8Nyr4h3kllgah_hNkX_y5_R1ZcVA4K3Q-oR9awLVI_WEySC5j6O7Y0-HtxkB7YTJYIgI0zCqxoPckm2eBn-Og/s200/733d8f931b01840b5c7e9d33b472b4f6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Although this is a pretty good list for faculty members, it is a list worth considering for all of us “adults” when it comes to dealing with the “younger generations.” One friend of mine, who is a professor at Ohio State, had a rather rude awakening one day during class. He began to discuss the development process for camera film during class. When he noticed the blank stares, he realized his faux pas. When he asked the class, they admitted to not knowing what he was talking about when he referred to camera “film.”<br />
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Although these differences are clear to most elementary and high school teachers, the rest of us should find this list helpful. Especially if we find ourselves dealing with recent high school graduates, whether in academia, or when we are hiring a new employee.<br />
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In addition to the MSN list, here are some other fun facts about our most recent high school graduates:<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>Though born during the Clinton administration, they have no direct memory of his Presidency.</li>
<li>Within their memory, there has ALWAYS been a war against terrorism, as the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon occurred when they were 3.</li>
<li>The last time a man walked on the moon was 26 years before the class of 2016 was born.</li>
<li>The Vietnam Was is as remote from them as World War I and II are from us!</li>
<li>Many have never seen an 8-track tape, vinyl record, cassette tape, Beta Max, or VHS tape. </li>
<li>Many of them have never used a telephone with a cord.</li>
<li>Many of them have never used an analog clock or watch.</li>
<li>Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon are as historical to them as Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman are to us.</li>
</ul>
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Just some things to consider the next time phrases like “in my day” or “when I was your age” find their way into your vernacular.<br />
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Congratulations to the Class of 2016!<br />
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Food for thought.<br />
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Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-13543220090409757432016-03-04T13:53:00.001-08:002016-04-08T11:26:10.451-07:00The Misuse of WordsThroughout the social media revolution, our language has evolved. We have added new words, such as “blog” which was derived from “web log.” We have added new meanings to words: “Web” used to refer either to a form of cloth, something a spider spun, or the skin membrane between a duck’s toes; “surfing” involved a board and a wave; “windows” were framed glass used to let light (and occasionally fresh air) into your home; and “chats” were held in the same room, often while sharing a meal or beverage.<br />
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One word that has come to my mind recently is the definition of the word “friend.” To begin, let me quote the definition of the word from the Webster Encyclopedia of Dictionaries, Copyright 1978, which is a few years before the PC revolution, let alone the Internet:<br />
<span style="text-align: right;"><br /></span>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-align: right;">Friend (frend) <i>n</i>. One attached to another by esteem and affection; an intimate associate; a supporter.</span></blockquote>
That is it, the “old school” definition of a friend, less any references to the Quakers. You will notice that it is NOT a verb. In 1978 one did not “friend somebody.”<br />
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The definition of this beautiful word became of interest to me during a couple of recent Facebook discussions. It should come as no surprise to anybody reading this blog (both of you) that I am NOT a supporter of Donald Trump. Not only am I not a supporter, but I cannot believe anybody believes that a person who makes racist comments, comments against women, and has spent more time fear-mongering and insulting his opponents than proposing new policies is qualified to be President.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz8fBznANH2_4j2ibAYZCuQkzeJ6lKS1jlLkVTxoLyK9ZXPMTmMCgfeJvQZR347UnzwPSZUL7bDu79G4sTAdzRjIV1PTwPVnEyRw94HYwResfRgt-HiS9hT4j7nlmhTD96axfggOTQrY/s1600/12795406_10153907114325119_5106788509965335054_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz8fBznANH2_4j2ibAYZCuQkzeJ6lKS1jlLkVTxoLyK9ZXPMTmMCgfeJvQZR347UnzwPSZUL7bDu79G4sTAdzRjIV1PTwPVnEyRw94HYwResfRgt-HiS9hT4j7nlmhTD96axfggOTQrY/s320/12795406_10153907114325119_5106788509965335054_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>I recently posted a couple of memes on Facebook expressing that sentiment. In addition to that, I suggested that anybody who DOES believe Trump should be the next President should go ahead and “Unfriend” me. I had several people express their disbelief at my “intolerance” and lack of respect for the opinions of others. One person made an erroneous assumption and accused me of only wanting friends that agree with my choice in POTUS. That is hardly the case. In fact, even though I do not agree with the policies and beliefs of most of the candidates, I can respect people who feel strongly about the leadership qualities or integrity of their chosen candidate. At least candidates who are not willingly accepting an endorsement from the KKK.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8VuZ4KtbhUTkd96xqQs8nF5UfXVhhUmQQlejnp85YC_lOPPDWqaxJXzy7nfhDv0_MA-qzqEg7ICqcnT2Yq3kbjg7DOjcTdU1QuJyFZnpnf-D8oV9hJr-VDyYTBS3eioQsA3_D96jJoI/s1600/12790945_546614108845264_9166244478140700108_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8VuZ4KtbhUTkd96xqQs8nF5UfXVhhUmQQlejnp85YC_lOPPDWqaxJXzy7nfhDv0_MA-qzqEg7ICqcnT2Yq3kbjg7DOjcTdU1QuJyFZnpnf-D8oV9hJr-VDyYTBS3eioQsA3_D96jJoI/s320/12790945_546614108845264_9166244478140700108_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>As far as not respecting the opinions of others, who says you have to respect the opinions of others, especially if you consider the basis or source of that opinion? It can be argued that Adolf Hitler was the best thing that ever happened to Germany. He took a devastated, depressed, post-war economy and military and built a world power. But do you HAVE to respect this opinion, given that it ignores the atrocities Nazi Germany brought to the entire world? You should respect the person’s right to their opinion, but to respect any opinion because it exists seem naïve to me. I don’t respect the opinions of Ken Ham, who claims the world is only 6,000 years old because it ignores scientific evidence to the contrary. Nor do I respect the opinions of climate change deniers, who also ignore the vast majority of scientific data. They have the right to their opinions, but I reserve my respect to those deserving respect.<br />
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I am also not a stranger to debate. Two of my dearest friends in the world and I debate and argue all the time. We don’t now nor will we ever agree on everything. In truth we would hate for that to happen, because then we wouldn’t have anything to argue about!<br />
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It all goes back to my archaic definition of a friend. Of all my so called Facebook friends (about 560+/-), I can break them down into a few of broad categories:<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li>Acquaintances from high school and college; </li>
<li>People I have met, worked with, or hope to work with through the Central Ohio theater community;</li>
<li>Old friends and acquaintances from my former residences; and </li>
<li>Acquaintances I have met through friendships with others. </li>
</ul>
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But when it comes to friends, true friends, somebody I can count on when I need help and who can count on me; someone whom I trust and hope trusts me, of those I have a few very good, strong, positive friendships.<br />
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Friends are people with whom I exchange more than just text. I have been invited into their homes and into their lives. My friends are people with whom I have built a relationship and hope that the relationship continues to grow.<br />
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So, if a person is on my Facebook friends list, does that make them my friend? Not necessarily. Certainly the potential does exist for a new (or renewed) friendship by remaining in contact with people through social media. However, if a person is so diametrically opposite to me, believes that the best option we have for the President is the hatred and bigotry purported by Donald Trump, then I simply do not wish to associate with that person. So what is the harm in disassociating (unfriending) from these people? I have friends in my life and we all need more love and companionship in our lives, not just names on social media lists. I am afraid one of the results of the social media revolution is the ongoing misuse of the word “friend.”<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
-- Food for Thought</div>
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Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-14044704145488219482016-03-02T11:39:00.001-08:002016-03-04T11:01:59.858-08:00The Legacy of the Trump CampaignWhen I tried to start this blog entry several weeks ago, it began as one of my typical rants about the importance of voting. However, as I began to compose my thoughts, I saw more and more postings on social media and elsewhere encouraging everyone to vote. My own plea to get out and vote would be redundant to say the least. I thought I would make my own election prediction. Not of the election outcome, but of the enduring legacy of the Trump campaign.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHjBvlNQomRGJ7ygYla-t0je5BR9pe9Uu78QKcD1yjUz87kw15c_JgVkZUBhyxLlmRxxqh3NxJxuh6t8AfWTUATSYEtlIqs8sE7O89FuAyzvLp57snbqAWdJxNiQcvT7xwTKuNoHm7XM/s1600/3137FE_DA_080128harrison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHjBvlNQomRGJ7ygYla-t0je5BR9pe9Uu78QKcD1yjUz87kw15c_JgVkZUBhyxLlmRxxqh3NxJxuh6t8AfWTUATSYEtlIqs8sE7O89FuAyzvLp57snbqAWdJxNiQcvT7xwTKuNoHm7XM/s400/3137FE_DA_080128harrison.jpg" width="261" /></a>During the 2016 Presidential campaign we have seen some of the worst political lies since William Henry Harrison convinced the electorate that he—a Virginia plantation born, highly-educated member of a political family—was a simple, Ohio frontiersman, a man of the people. We have also witnessed the worst name-calling and mudslinging in any campaign since the Lincoln/Douglas debates when Stephen Douglas accused his opponent of being “two-faced.” Abraham Lincoln reportedly responded to this accusation by saying, “I leave it to my audience. If I had another face, do you think I would wear this one?”<br />
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As bad as the political sparring and negative campaigning have been, it seems to me that this political season has brought about something even worse. Something worse in all of us that goes beyond the inevitable comparisons to Adolf Hitler, cartoon depictions of candidates, manipulated statistical “proofs,” and exaggerated talking points. It has brought our own prejudices and bigotry to the surface.<br />
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Prejudice and bigotry are, in my humble opinion, two very different but related things. Let me begin by saying that we all have prejudices. They come from who we are, where we were raised, and a myriad of other factors such as parental values, education, religious affiliation, social circles, societal influences, and personal wealth. We have prejudices against people who are different from ourselves. It is when we act on these prejudices—becoming intolerant of these differences, and acting or reacting according to those intolerances—that we become bigots.<br />
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Prejudice and bigotry have been a part of the American population since we first became a nation. Gang wars from America’s colonial period through the industrial age and even into today were and are often along ethnic lines. Recent headlines and the Black Lives Matter movement have shed further light on how racially divided and bigoted our country remains. A few examples of how bigotry helped form national policy were discussed in a previous blog entry titled Refugees: What is wrong with us? (http://kent-kvetches.blogspot.com/2015/11/refugees-what-is-wrong-with-us.html). But not since the television sitcom <i>All in the Family</i> made comedic fodder of bigotry have so many people expressed their intolerance so openly and with such pride.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHDtS6acpPTigZS8bpn5yy3FSQiWYBvGQ6k4iCL_rfJqFKEaFiLmc_O2RoGqpC7NO1PKob2nLgQsrlI5_NnuDMPD4WkSomVSt4XjeIbgFE5XKHYsChqg_T_T2sXA7F3F-c0cMivBoXpQ/s1600/TRUMP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHDtS6acpPTigZS8bpn5yy3FSQiWYBvGQ6k4iCL_rfJqFKEaFiLmc_O2RoGqpC7NO1PKob2nLgQsrlI5_NnuDMPD4WkSomVSt4XjeIbgFE5XKHYsChqg_T_T2sXA7F3F-c0cMivBoXpQ/s320/TRUMP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Is this the fault of the Trump campaign? No. But Trump has made use of our bigotry and encouraged its expression for his own political gain. Ask a Trump supporter why they support “The Donald” and you will hear phrases like, “He says it like it is” or similar expressions. As a campaign, the Trump phenomenon is feeding upon and therefore validating our own intolerance. By broadly proclaiming Mexicans are rapists and Muslims are terrorists, he is using our fears and prejudices as his political base.<br />
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So what is the legacy of the Trump campaign? It isn’t the use of our own fears for the sake of political gain, which has been done before (too often). It is that Trump has made bigotry, hate, and intolerance not only acceptable, but fashionable.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
-- Food for Thought</div>
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Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-72841391863944015102015-12-29T07:40:00.000-08:002015-12-29T12:47:25.101-08:00Resolve to love yourself!As the final days of 2015 begin, many of us are naturally looking ahead to the New Year. What will 2016 bring us? A new job? A new love? New goals? A new mission? Let us all make a mutual resolution, shall we? Let’s resolve to improve our own self-image.<br />
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How many times have each of us gazed at our own reflection and wondered “what if?” What if I were thinner? What if I could lose ## pounds? What if I were taller? What if…<br />
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Don’t get me wrong, losing weight can be an important goal to help improve health. But I would argue that it can be detrimental when the primary reason for losing this weight is to make someone better looking. When will we grow out of this obsession with attaining the “perfect body?”<br />
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Much of our obsession can be blamed on media and advertising. But so what? We can’t control advertising, but we can control our reaction to it. We can refuse to purchase products of course, but our best reaction is to refuse to give in to the obsession.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkpNUmwAlJVkMZ0tNUSDOEeVe6zyzI_MbG9UfW6F9XvMS-zS6ct_5z1fbLcpuZogYxeFPDojBA5eqorjlnLK33euaECv6ypQxtanRqkbopxBG5wrOgCxt5XZjK1HWTRn8YtIiRlaSZsk/s1600/bn-0369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkpNUmwAlJVkMZ0tNUSDOEeVe6zyzI_MbG9UfW6F9XvMS-zS6ct_5z1fbLcpuZogYxeFPDojBA5eqorjlnLK33euaECv6ypQxtanRqkbopxBG5wrOgCxt5XZjK1HWTRn8YtIiRlaSZsk/s320/bn-0369.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vintage advertising - Can you name the product?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTks41c6Pq6cjMi3TWMjdKcKxQYH_0d9r8Zbt-7ch3Ui9rMsFhGIwwt_j1RMl_Nc-8K-GYTtO4R8eSNYPZoG9OqvZsQS8u42A38Ym4ALbDPTOQpQe7X92MqNRGt8WUrjsqzAerOmZChKA/s1600/vintage-women-ads-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTks41c6Pq6cjMi3TWMjdKcKxQYH_0d9r8Zbt-7ch3Ui9rMsFhGIwwt_j1RMl_Nc-8K-GYTtO4R8eSNYPZoG9OqvZsQS8u42A38Ym4ALbDPTOQpQe7X92MqNRGt8WUrjsqzAerOmZChKA/s320/vintage-women-ads-14.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another vintage ad... for men's sweaters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not everyone can be a bodybuilder, athlete, or super model. Whether it is genetics, financial limitations, or a love of pasta and red wine (GUILTY!), the vast majority of people are simply not wired for these so-called perfect bodies.<br />
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Although everyone has been subjected to the pressures of body image, unfortunately this obsession primarily affects women. Women have struggled with body image far more than men. The vast majority of anorexia and bulimia nervosa sufferers are women.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZLGZrXB2WtBNhndyWzA52aznvUTz875zzdhprHp3k-JhwcJxlbCzMI02e5x-yXvR0sM8Pf3Tv_Mjpgv7TQGUyHrcuKpZDWKQIgnQ1d0j96RKaT6q_x0rvmlc2lDJtgRe3DubRt2uizs/s1600/1023151450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZLGZrXB2WtBNhndyWzA52aznvUTz875zzdhprHp3k-JhwcJxlbCzMI02e5x-yXvR0sM8Pf3Tv_Mjpgv7TQGUyHrcuKpZDWKQIgnQ1d0j96RKaT6q_x0rvmlc2lDJtgRe3DubRt2uizs/s320/1023151450.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How does this impact woman's body image? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yet for women, body image is more than just a matter of being thin or fit. I saw one billboard near campus that floored me. It was advertising breast augmentation/plastic surgery. Can this possibly appeal to women enough to get them to consider invasive, unnecessary surgery? Apparently, it can.<br />
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I ran across a blog from a young college student that I knew when she was in high school. This young lady is a beautiful person with possibly the best singing voice I ever heard for a high school student. Her blog says it all, and I hope she doesn’t mind the cross post: <a href="https://positivelypaigec.wordpress.com/2015/12/28/thinner-beauty/" target="_blank">https://positivelypaigec.wordpress.com/2015/12/28/thinner-beauty/</a><br />
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We all have had people express their dislike or disgust with their body. I have had people close to me express their “horror” at their fat ______ (insert body part here). I know--I am one of them. And yet most of these people are usually healthy. How can we healthy people hate our bodies so much when others have cancer or some other life-threatening disease?<br />
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So for this New Year, let us all resolve to live healthier, embrace longer, love deeper, experience life, and accept ourselves and all others for the beautiful people we all are!<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
-- Food for Thought</div>
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<br />Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-75766591407272503402015-11-18T09:24:00.000-08:002015-11-19T06:56:46.873-08:00Refugees: What is wrong with us?<div class="MsoNormal">
Forgive me, but what am I missing? After the string of
terrorist attacks that culminated with the recent Paris tragedy, what do we in
America do?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We express our sadness and offer prayers to the
victims of the Paris attacks, but ignore the suffering of the victims of the
Beirut and Kenyan attacks, the Russian airliner tragedy, or the Syrian refugees, and the countless other
meaningless deaths of innocents.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Our political rhetoric gears up for another invasion
while our chicken hawk leaders all scream about ISIS (or is it ISIL) while
pointing fingers at the opposing party.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Social Media is flooded with memes and cherry
picked statistics that prove or at least infer that all Muslims are prone to
or associated with terrorism.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Our state leaders refuse to accept refugees
being repatriated by the Obama Administration.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Senator Ted Cruz suggests that we accept only
Christian refugees, since we all know only Muslims are terrorists. So much for
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” -- Matthew 22:39.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We change our Facebook profile picture by adding
an overlay of the French Tricolour. Again, did anybody add the flag of Lebanon or
Kenya to their Facebook profile pic?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Security measures are in place and getting
tighter.</span></li>
</ul>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9xPjpucqjL2jmMK_4cfANqvcQA1VmtDxPr68Si68VtAJtcDNi4rSwfklkEJl8yQ7MSR8nPlw-i9NaZ9jzycfFzdT8TP6dT9IHpuGq3IuSBkVkJMEKRLqArP5p3lJOaYW5i9Jh-qgHIA/s1600/900px-Flag_of_Kenya.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9xPjpucqjL2jmMK_4cfANqvcQA1VmtDxPr68Si68VtAJtcDNi4rSwfklkEJl8yQ7MSR8nPlw-i9NaZ9jzycfFzdT8TP6dT9IHpuGq3IuSBkVkJMEKRLqArP5p3lJOaYW5i9Jh-qgHIA/s320/900px-Flag_of_Kenya.svg.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flag of Kenya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHMNud1HRHoRfu4UTqWP8FzAnsGlUa6i1wG6sSFBgaB0wJ7hhqEJAeUK3S1l88f7zJeyKiksQmJhPkRbH6J9Q4nXZ1B1EQyzvQNZ8cap5sD9wJKOvrX5_e4ZFFfuB95bTN2XiAzsPeNs/s1600/Flag_of_Lebanon.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHMNud1HRHoRfu4UTqWP8FzAnsGlUa6i1wG6sSFBgaB0wJ7hhqEJAeUK3S1l88f7zJeyKiksQmJhPkRbH6J9Q4nXZ1B1EQyzvQNZ8cap5sD9wJKOvrX5_e4ZFFfuB95bTN2XiAzsPeNs/s320/Flag_of_Lebanon.svg.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flag of Lebanon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Is America really the land of the “free?” With today’s
technology, it should be relatively easy to track refugees. According to many
sources, Americans are, or at least can be, under constant surveillance. I am
not an expert on surveillance technology, nor do I wish to become one, but if
all it takes is a mobile phone or a fitness device to track our movements,
certainly we can repatriate refugees with enough security to prevent the
imagined mass incursion of terrorists we all hear about.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of us are <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">descended</span> from immigrants; my ancestors came
from Western Europe. Most Europeans who arrived to this country were not the
nobles, the rich, or the elite. Most were poor. Some were criminals, fleeing
from prosecution. The North American colonies were used by the British Empire
as a penal colony; the State of Georgia was first settled by European indentured
servants. So why is the <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">"home of the
brave"</span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">so afraid of aiding
refugees who are more victimized than most Americans will ever be?</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpd6TyqmCNl6pkuVEUMz8C75IGWD45cY0k1J-7TDnsYmd6r7NGCh9rAMrv3in2ZM8D-SJl4nLoe4bjSwgnQTFgSYnRW7cQ9Xvni3NMAA1Ig2G83R-iov7astSxFShkW0kF8ouIV8UGlY/s1600/StLouisHavana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpd6TyqmCNl6pkuVEUMz8C75IGWD45cY0k1J-7TDnsYmd6r7NGCh9rAMrv3in2ZM8D-SJl4nLoe4bjSwgnQTFgSYnRW7cQ9Xvni3NMAA1Ig2G83R-iov7astSxFShkW0kF8ouIV8UGlY/s320/StLouisHavana.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MS St. Louis -- Google it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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America has a history of leadership through fear or bigotry.
Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany were turned away. <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Japanese
Americans--many who were born in the United States--were interred in camps due
to their heritage</span>. Never mind the atrocities committed against the Native, Hispanic, and African Americans throughout our history. We seem to be repeating history.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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When will we stop looking for simple solutions to complex
situations? Simple solutions like believing ALL Muslims are terrorists. People have criticized recent comments by Bernie Sanders
that climate change and terrorism are linked. Yet, I am convinced that the
majority of Middle Eastern terrorism against the United States is not simply because
of our “freedoms,” as the fear-mongering media has claimed. It is because we
are over there, on their land, "stealing" their oil, and imposing our will. I do not care if my neighbor
disagrees with me, or even despises my personal views. I am sure many of them
do. But I will fight him if he enters my house uninvited, takes my property,
and tries to impose his beliefs and views upon me. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p>We have a long history of interfering within the Middle East. Here's just one example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi. Perhaps if we reduced our dependency on oil -- and thus help address climate change -- we could begin to divest from the Middle East and remove our troops. Maybe then we wouldn't be hated so much.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
-- Food for Thought<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-15010339885306009702015-10-11T15:05:00.001-07:002015-10-11T15:27:28.542-07:00Pardon My Insanity<div class="MsoNormal">
During a recent social media debate on gun regulation with a
friend and Masonic Brother, I had an epiphany. No, he didn’t convince to
purchase a handgun any more than I convinced him that some gun control might
prevent the next school shooting. It was more the way we concluded our
discussion. Nothing bad, I assure you. We parted on the square, still respect
each other, and remain friends. He even paid me a compliment by telling me that
our discussion gave him and his lovely wife something to discuss and think
about. He then said, “You will never make sense in the real world.”</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHUq6M5fv3I559PucVI6pe-G16d5vNdVjj3Q2FGXwKdnZ52yS5_-dxWEODJp741w7ky6T5nQJ1sgAFBr2AFJB4V0ka3EMJAKcSCBvhiMorrr4fhZHMbO1YiCE3EfU7B7CdPFSGJvKA1M/s1600/Donquixote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHUq6M5fv3I559PucVI6pe-G16d5vNdVjj3Q2FGXwKdnZ52yS5_-dxWEODJp741w7ky6T5nQJ1sgAFBr2AFJB4V0ka3EMJAKcSCBvhiMorrr4fhZHMbO1YiCE3EfU7B7CdPFSGJvKA1M/s320/Donquixote.JPG" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don Quixote by Pablo Picasso</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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At first I was a bit put off by this comment. It was like
complimenting a dueling opponent by telling him, “I so admire how your blood
shimmers on the edge of my blade.” But then I realized something: He’s right.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It reminded me of one of my favorite passages from “The Man
from La Mancha,” the Broadway musical based on <i><span lang="ES">El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha</span></i>
(<i>The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote
of La Mancha)<b> </b></i>by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. I love this
musical and would love to play the lead character someday, and I have read the
Putnam translation of this magnificent novel. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I use the following passage as an audition piece. It occurs
after the imprisoned author Cervantes is confronted by his fellow prisoners. The prisoners
wanted to know why he and his character, Don Quixote, don’t see life as it is.
His response is:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNzi3cU-Nb7VWoNItImGCvq8iDQPCzQ_bls96dE4d8D5ZsdBmuetFBNpQkTg08BUGUI26aXabtfcuRmcsXIJ9yI1NJ1dtrG1tYendSxCqUMiIPS7r5mHniojovmh1L36cB3Yk681PE9Y/s1600/98aa9f6aa18de5e018290b511a2f82f9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNzi3cU-Nb7VWoNItImGCvq8iDQPCzQ_bls96dE4d8D5ZsdBmuetFBNpQkTg08BUGUI26aXabtfcuRmcsXIJ9yI1NJ1dtrG1tYendSxCqUMiIPS7r5mHniojovmh1L36cB3Yk681PE9Y/s320/98aa9f6aa18de5e018290b511a2f82f9.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard Kiley as Don Quixote</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I have lived nearly fifty years,
and I have seen life as it is. Pain, misery, hunger ... cruelty beyond belief.
I have heard the singing from taverns and the moans from bundles of filth on
the streets. I have been a soldier and seen my comrades fall in battle ... or
die more slowly under the lash in Africa. I have held them in my arms at the
final moment. These were men who saw life as it is, yet they died despairing.
No glory, no gallant last words ... only their eyes filled with confusion,
whimpering the question, "Why?" I do not think they asked why they
were dying, but why they had ever lived. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
When life itself seems lunatic, who
knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender
dreams—this may be madness. To seek treasure where there is only trash. Too
much sanity may be madness—and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as
it should be!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So there you have it, my philosophy. I may not be clad in
rusty old armor carrying a broken lance and a crooked sword (OK, I would carry
the sword if I could get away with it). But I do tilt at a windmill or two on
occasion. This blog is my sword, perhaps a sword as ineffective as the one
carried by Cervantes’ gallant, armored madman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, what are these windmills that I continue to combat? Here
are a few examples:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The ongoing pollution and destruction of the
land, water, and air as well as the wholesale squandering of natural resources
by entities that put their greed and profits ahead of the common good. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">And don’t get me started again on the billions
of dollars in subsidies many of these entities receive from the U.S. Government
annually.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Organizations that refuse to pay a living wage,
or hire full time workers, and expect the <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbSEk63Xcs-uEa-Q_iZLlRa4431kIPiYN2gWaQXQ_TIyd-TjaxwFijrDyb_lBet5lSzW8ftq70MMqgTPR4NowJtOdXAqAXNyQaCiTh5Uvnp5Aj4H8z76Nto9GWWbEwZ70r81ieP0sOsU/s1600/21chart-533.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbSEk63Xcs-uEa-Q_iZLlRa4431kIPiYN2gWaQXQ_TIyd-TjaxwFijrDyb_lBet5lSzW8ftq70MMqgTPR4NowJtOdXAqAXNyQaCiTh5Uvnp5Aj4H8z76Nto9GWWbEwZ70r81ieP0sOsU/s320/21chart-533.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
government to subsidize their workers
with food stamps and other assistance. Since it has been argued that
approximately 70 percent of our economy is based on consumerism, doesn’t it
make sense to reduce the record profits and top-end salaries of these entities,
their stockholders, </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">and their CEOs to
put more money in the hands of the consumers? (SOURCE: Bureau of Economic
Analysis.)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The arrogance of some religious organizations
and individuals who consider bigotry, hate, and intolerance as religious rights
or freedoms. If you are unable to do your job or provide service to all people
equally, perhaps you are in the wrong line of work.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The hypocrisy of many who claim to be “pro-life”
and yet are also pro-death penalty and in favor of eliminating assistance to
the poor. It reminds me of a child that is no longer interested in a toy once
it is out of the package.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Politicians who express their “regret and
sadness” over another church or school shooting, yet refuse to engage in an
intelligent conversation about what we as a society can do to try and prevent
the next one. If the answer really is doing nothing, then perhaps we should
stop publicly expressing sympathy. This usually only serves to make the
expresser feel better about him or herself. Instead, perhaps these politicians
should express the same callousness as GOP Presidential Candidate Jeb Bush who,
when confronted with news of the school shooting in Oregon, said, “Stuff
happens.” Are these deaths inevitable, merely the price we pay for our Second
Amendment rights? If that’s the case, maybe they should be treated with the
same indifference as traffic fatalities.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The oligarchy that our nation has become through
the pressures (and money received) from corporate influences, special interests,
religious organizations, and billionaires effectively purchasing politicians in
both parties.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The bullheadedness of the American citizen who insists
all government is bad despite the fact that he doesn’t vote, can’t name his
federal, state and local government officials, and doesn’t research the issues.
Our government isn’t perfect, but the vote is our only chance to reclaim it.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9j4b8UtU9qERCLxsA68fnWkkUMnBj6moZFuCUVdFf2-V0ERf0lUkB-I24Uu6urKqxdIKIU0g8T6mJiUG3SUTjNvUcPjXTSwUkCmftJqxH-KToP2BYk_chkP4g16RBsuSQhbcK6FpTfQ/s1600/the-world-will-not-be-destroyed-by-those-who-do-evil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9j4b8UtU9qERCLxsA68fnWkkUMnBj6moZFuCUVdFf2-V0ERf0lUkB-I24Uu6urKqxdIKIU0g8T6mJiUG3SUTjNvUcPjXTSwUkCmftJqxH-KToP2BYk_chkP4g16RBsuSQhbcK6FpTfQ/s320/the-world-will-not-be-destroyed-by-those-who-do-evil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
Well, that is my Quixotic Manifesto. Will
anything change as a result of my blog or other social media rants? Will my
efforts help educate anybody? I doubt it. As I have said on several occasions: education is the art of pounding abstract ideas into concrete heads.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My ideas may not be, as my friend asserted, based in real
life. So maybe I am insane. But when
life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Food for thought<o:p></o:p></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-34464250999783139752015-09-10T10:25:00.000-07:002016-01-26T09:36:12.506-08:00Are We Doomed? Doing Our Part.<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 14.5pt;">During a
recent commentary, liberal talk show host Bill Maher stated that if every
person on the planet lived as we live in the United States, we would need five
planet Earths to provide all of the resources.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">While researching
this comment, I found an article written by Jason Jeffrey Semon in 2012.
According to this article, A</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">mericans
make up for roughly 5% of the world's population, but we consume 20% of the
world's energy, eat 15% of the world's meat, and create 40% of the garbage on
Earth. Mr. Semons concludes that we would need well over four planet Earths to
support the world if everyone lived the American lifestyle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">However, it is clear that most of the world’s population does not live
as well as we do. According to the World Health Organization (</span><a href="http://www.who.int/"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">http://www.who.int/</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> ) and UNICEF (</span><a href="http://www.unicef.org/"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">http://www.unicef.org/</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">) report titled <i>Progress on drinking water and sanitation - Joint Monitoring Programme
update 2014</i>, approximately 748 million people worldwide still lack access
to safe drinking water and 2.5 billion people worldwide lack improved
sanitation facilities. Imagine for a moment if nobody in the United States had
access to safe drinking water and DOUBLE IT! Then assume that nobody in the United
States had access to a flush toilet and MULTIPLY BY 7!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">If these
figures do not scare you enough, consider that the world population has more
than doubled between 1960 and 2000. Most population studies indicate that the
population is still rising and will likely continue to rise, especially in the
areas where access to water, sanitation, and other humane support are still
difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW2YP3TPoEaxdqgs8WALS8E1PMMW-9wGFtR5T5f7AwO6Aa8v70FGtYil4M1rvBt1rv-aB17kIENP_4KOa7ffZM3ayy13Kqwrgq8vf3Ok1HvFfUee8AVDOgkqBnKJZ84Tsx5WD2aRePHU/s1600/3606638-3x2-940x627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW2YP3TPoEaxdqgs8WALS8E1PMMW-9wGFtR5T5f7AwO6Aa8v70FGtYil4M1rvBt1rv-aB17kIENP_4KOa7ffZM3ayy13Kqwrgq8vf3Ok1HvFfUee8AVDOgkqBnKJZ84Tsx5WD2aRePHU/s400/3606638-3x2-940x627.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc8gNCE2X5u8jr1R_iyfbRqPSZtVOYhAj2iml_lQ5u947KnumczhPHD0lc72yK3sp1wY2wnt7vLHsciTZ4LCJGC08r0Sc5UmHrZC3V8nkx2-i05zowqDeyGmLATMvNF_rckPu6zWFYTU/s1600/Inferno-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc8gNCE2X5u8jr1R_iyfbRqPSZtVOYhAj2iml_lQ5u947KnumczhPHD0lc72yK3sp1wY2wnt7vLHsciTZ4LCJGC08r0Sc5UmHrZC3V8nkx2-i05zowqDeyGmLATMvNF_rckPu6zWFYTU/s320/Inferno-cover.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="color: #141823;">Clearly
trying to gain control of the world’s population is a major challenge to achieving
a sustainable future. Hopefully the world’s governments, NGO’s, and religious
organizations can work together to develop solutions to what has been called
our Human Population Crisis. This crisis has been the subject of numerous
scientific, demographic, and statistical studies as well as the focus of
fiction, including Dan Brown’s latest Robert Langdon adventure, <i>Inferno</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">However, a
sustainable future does not have to begin with killing the first born of every
family (for which I am eternally grateful). Nor should we throw up our hands in
exasperation, completely overwhelmed at the scope and magnitude of the problem.
It also doesn’t begin with dismantling every coal plant in America. It begins
with each and every citizen in America and eventually around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">We may not
be able to control the world’s population, but we can control how much of this
ONE planet’s resources we consume. The first thing we need to change in this
country is we all must CONSERVE our natural resources. Each and every citizen
must play an active part in this effort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnUGCliep-_p4GpHuqj8k3AKEm9htLqQG_SlGbFsNw6dTn4IgnxjRqocdfgzis8svZ32YIsZwxqwMjamOwZyQhDEbcGwB1JXLrUVIuOQe5A5Znb6bttcls_uQmojrZyEaXX06aoCFuOs/s1600/Teddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnUGCliep-_p4GpHuqj8k3AKEm9htLqQG_SlGbFsNw6dTn4IgnxjRqocdfgzis8svZ32YIsZwxqwMjamOwZyQhDEbcGwB1JXLrUVIuOQe5A5Znb6bttcls_uQmojrZyEaXX06aoCFuOs/s320/Teddy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #141823;">I have
done this before and I will do it again: I challenge everyone who reads this to
develop a list of just 5 new things you CAN and WILL do to reduce your
consumption of natural resources. For those readers who don’t believe
conservation is important, DO IT ANYWAY! Just think about all of the money
you’ll save! Here are a few inexpensive or money saving examples:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Take the bus or walk
to work if possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Reuse the plastic
bags from the grocery store or, better yet, use canvas or other reusable bags
and avoid plastic altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Take shorter
showers. Use an egg timer if necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Reduce your
consumption of processed foods. One food-processing factory I worked for uses
approximately 3 million gallons of water per day to produce frozen, processed
potatoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Choose one day a
week to eliminate meat and dairy from your diet. It takes 1,000 gallons of
water to produce 1 gallon of milk and 1,850 gallons of water to produce 1 pound
of beef (source: </span><a href="http://www.waterfootprint.org/">www.waterfootprint.org</a><span style="color: #141823;">). Furthermore, according to several sources, the meat
and dairy industry accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than energy
production worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Use energy efficient
lighting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Unplug or use a
switched outlet/surge protector to turn off appliances and chargers when not in
use. Many appliances have digital clocks which are not necessary and chargers
have transformers that ALWAYS use power when plugged in, even if the device
they charge is not connected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Plant a garden
and/or trees. Although it may be bit late to plant a garden, it is the perfect
time to plant a tree, depending on the species.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Keep you vehicles
tuned and proper air pressure in the tires, which saves gas when you do drive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Brew your own beer and
wine (I have a lot of friends who encourage me to continue my brewing
activities, though I doubt conservation is their primary focus).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Join and become
involved in local environmental groups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #141823;">Use the internet to
find other ways you can help conserve our natural resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeogVMDDN9f309XKtpJefMxYsS4p7lJqPaDhPqlxZrfwrTjIAlM6C8zHv2q9k82Htx9uF71b2iDQm0y99iRpsjOmrf-NhQrHcKD8QRDnpuz-Y34ambSxVF2BYW-4r0aVr3xO4M3NoNTk/s1600/Edmund-Burke-Quotes-and-Sayings-brainy-wisdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeogVMDDN9f309XKtpJefMxYsS4p7lJqPaDhPqlxZrfwrTjIAlM6C8zHv2q9k82Htx9uF71b2iDQm0y99iRpsjOmrf-NhQrHcKD8QRDnpuz-Y34ambSxVF2BYW-4r0aVr3xO4M3NoNTk/s320/Edmund-Burke-Quotes-and-Sayings-brainy-wisdom.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #141823;">This list
is hardly all-inclusive, and I have left off items such as insulating your home
or purchasing more efficient appliances or vehicles that cost more than a few
dollars to accomplish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Once you
have begun your conservation efforts post your results on social networks and
encourage your friends to do the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">We can all
make a positive difference on the environment and the future by researching these
issues and voting wisely. Our political system may not be perfect, but it is the
only positive opportunity we have to influence the government. Use your
intelligence and the vast sources of information that are available to most
Americans and make informed decisions on all federal, state, and local
candidates and issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I am aware
that many of you may consider what I am asking to be a sacrifice or an
inconvenience, but that is exactly what it will take if we are to make positive
changes for our future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-87097807169485681432015-08-31T08:19:00.001-07:002015-08-31T09:15:10.787-07:00Judgement Day revisited<div class="MsoNormal">
Remember May 21, 2011?
What was significant about this date?
That was the day preacher and Family Radio founder Harold Camping
predicted the world was going to end. He
purchased billboards advertising the rapture located all over Southern
California: “Save the date! Jesus is coming on May 21!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, May 21<sup>st</sup> has come and gone a few times. We all survived and many of us had a pleasant
laugh at the expense of the prognosticator who inaccurately predicted Judgment
Day. Of course, there are many similar predictions.
Remember the predictions based on the Mayans’ calendar, which ended on December
21, 2012. Some took that as an indication
that signified “the end of times.” Most
of us just assumed the Mayans run out of rock.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our periodic fascination with “doomsday” and tragedy reminds
me of an old joke I attribute to the late Lewis Grizzard, former columnist from
the Atlanta Constitution:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
During a terrible flood, the
preacher of a small community stood on the top step of his church as the flood
waters continued to rise. Soon a row
boat came by:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u>Boatman</u>: Preacher, get in
the boat sir, we have to get you out of here.
The flood waters are still rising and there is no end of this rain in
sight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u>Preacher</u>: You boys go on and
help others, I’ll be fine. If I need saving,
the Lord will save me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The boat left. Soon, the preacher was forced to move to the
second story of his church. As he looked
out the window at the rising waters a second row boat came by:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u>Boatman</u>: Preacher, we have
to get you out of here. Please get in
the boat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u>Preacher</u>: You boys are doing
good work, go on and help the others. If
I need saving, the Lord will save me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The waters continued to rise and
eventually the preacher was left standing on the steeple holding onto the cross. As the waters rose to the preacher’s ankles,
a helicopter spotted him, flew over and dropped a rope ladder.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u>Chopper Pilot</u>: Preacher, grab the ladder, we have got to get
you out of here before the dam fails.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<u>Preacher</u>: No thank you boys, I appreciate your offer
but I have faith, if I need saving the Lord will save me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Eventually, the Preacher was lost
to the flood. As he stood before the
Pearly Gates, Saint Peter expressed shock at seeing the Preacher, since it
“wasn’t his time.” The Preacher
expressed his disappointment, saying he thought if he needed rescue, “the Lord
would save me.” To which St. Peter
replied: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“We sent two row boats and a
helicopter, what did you want?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It occurred to me that this joke, which I first heard over
20 years ago, is a perfect analogy for our current political and climatologically
situation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the record, I am neither a theologian, nor a
climatologist. However, it occurs to me
that the political left and right can at least agree that something is
happening with our weather, and perhaps our planet as a whole. For evidence, I offer the following
observation: Since the beginning of the
new millennia, we have experienced the following extremely devastating and
record setting natural phenomena:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Hurricanes along the Gulf Coast and in the Atlantic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Shrinking polar ice caps.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Volcanoes in Iceland.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Haiti, Indonesia and
Japan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Record heat & droughts in California, Texas,
Russia, South America, India, the American Midwest and throughout the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Record rainfalls and floods throughout the
United States.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Blizzards and ice storms with intensities that
haven’t been seen in over 30 years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Invasive species, such as the Emerald Ash Borer,
the zebra and quagi muscles, and purple loostrife, attacking and displacing native
flora and fauna.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The increase in tropical diseases, such as West
Nile, hitting the United States, which is supposedly a temperate zone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This is by no means an all inclusive list, and this list
does not include purely man-made disasters, such as war. However, it does offer an
alternate version of Mr. Grizzard’s joke:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
Imagine a similar scenario, where a
“do nothing” politician, constantly denying climate change in spite of evidence
to the contrary, continually screams:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“If mankind’s actions need to
change, I have faith, the Lord will tell us they need to be changed.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
He and his followers (or mankind if
you prefer) are killed in a tragic flood. As they stand before St. Peter, the
politician explains why he did nothing to help address climate change. The politician concluded by saying that he thought that if man's activities needed to change, the Lord would have sent him a
sign, St Peter replies:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“We sent hurricanes, droughts,
floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, blizzards, water shortages and disease, how much
more of a sign did you need?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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So what’s my point?
Whether you call it global warming, climate change, or the will of God,
something IS happening in our environment. And before people start pointing their fingers at me and leaving comments to the contrary let me make one other statement: I am NOT being paid for saying this. I will wager that where ever you are hearing information that is contradictory, there is money involved (advertisements on radio and television for example).</div>
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In my learned opinion, there can be little doubt that the principal causes of these climatological
oddities, at least in part, are the activities of mankind. Between the world population that has almost
doubled over the past 3 decades, the increase in energy consumption, the demand
for more food production leading to deforestation, and the industrialization of China and India; one
question must be contemplated: Are we are in a midst of a climatological
disaster? Perhaps Judgment Day isn’t as
distant as we may think.<o:p></o:p></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-28724896590653722582015-08-29T09:15:00.002-07:002016-01-26T09:36:54.995-08:00Primary Voting - May 4, 2015<div class="MsoNormal">
Tomorrow is a primary election day here in Ohio. Many local
offices are up for grabs, including Columbus Mayor and 4 seats on the City
Council. I cannot understand why people, many of whom valiantly protect their
other rights (real or perceived), ignore their one real chance to affect
change. You can post opinions on social media until your fingers turn blue;
carry signs and protest government action or inaction; write editorials or
blogs; or just stand and yell on a street corner on just about any issue you
can imagine. Yet nothing the average person can do will impact government more
than simply exercising your right AND RESPONSIBILITY to vote.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking as a former mayoral and council adviser, while
serving as a city or town engineer, consider the impact your local government
has on your everyday life. The U.S. Congress and President may set national
policy, but when you think about it, how much does national policy affect your
everyday life on a personal level? Tax rates, trade policies, and similar
policies do have impact, but no more impact than local policing policies, sales
tax and sewer rates, street cleaning and pothole repair schedules, traffic
control, fire protection, public parks, libraries, and public schools!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
I have had my frequent rants on social media, and I do doubt
whether I provide any positive influence at all. But if I ever do have
influence, I hope it is through encouraging each and every person reading this
post (both of you) to do a little research beyond sound bites and attack ads,
and VOTE in every election. I have often heard that American deserve a better
government. I disagree. Voter turnout in the last election was around 20%
nationwide. If 80% of eligible voters cannot be bothered to vote, then
Americans have the government they so richly deserve. Our founding fathers
fought for the right of the people to have a say in the operation of their
Federal, state, and local governments. Is their legacy a country of people too
lazy and ignorant to exercise that right?<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-73592797746073968542015-08-29T09:15:00.001-07:002015-09-30T08:01:15.678-07:00The Value of Water - June 19, 2015 <div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In all the reports I've read and opinions I've shared there
is one thing that is eminent and undeniable. Something that even to the most
radically self-interested human on the planet cannot dispute. Water is a
priceless commodity, period. Society simply cannot function without water,
whether you are an environmentalist interested in the preservation of vital
habitat, an industrialist producing goods, a farmer producing food, utility
producing energy, or a consumer simply surviving in a complex society.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykH7_fL6_YeLqAZmG1huw4geSz78wUaU0C-2lkYgR36iRSyde-aJGaLA0sLG4iDtgZ0JvRrggD6CuwxBSm78ahtjp0EFOVAN6Xx6BH350o7fhEo1DzWrlKasBU4ntL7h3Hy-8plOW47c/s1600/Aral+Sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykH7_fL6_YeLqAZmG1huw4geSz78wUaU0C-2lkYgR36iRSyde-aJGaLA0sLG4iDtgZ0JvRrggD6CuwxBSm78ahtjp0EFOVAN6Xx6BH350o7fhEo1DzWrlKasBU4ntL7h3Hy-8plOW47c/s320/Aral+Sea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKgtBfESdE5fgyVj79bcWoOtTRMbQcqRetxxfyXtf9Bgh7fJBIULMCd6pMis3WNsdDSEJaGHt_G098oiq7X7ycg4UlpRPHmlzJOXeregRhpX5VQkrLe7vfcWCycs31J2XPOXd7w0GSzM/s1600/Dought+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKgtBfESdE5fgyVj79bcWoOtTRMbQcqRetxxfyXtf9Bgh7fJBIULMCd6pMis3WNsdDSEJaGHt_G098oiq7X7ycg4UlpRPHmlzJOXeregRhpX5VQkrLe7vfcWCycs31J2XPOXd7w0GSzM/s320/Dought+Image.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sadly, water is also an exploited and wasted resource. In
many regions water is an increasingly rare and valuable commodity.
Unfortunately, in the developing world, entire villages have disappeared as a
result of water mismanagement. The Aral Sea, located along the Kazakhstan -
Uzbekistan border was at one time the fourth largest lake in the world. As you
can see from the photograph, it hardly qualifies as a lake anymore because it
has dried up due to misuse of water for economic purposes (cotton farming
primarily). In the US, the west is in a midst of a crippling drought caused in
part, by unsustainable agricultural practices and increasing population.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKgtBfESdE5fgyVj79bcWoOtTRMbQcqRetxxfyXtf9Bgh7fJBIULMCd6pMis3WNsdDSEJaGHt_G098oiq7X7ycg4UlpRPHmlzJOXeregRhpX5VQkrLe7vfcWCycs31J2XPOXd7w0GSzM/s1600/Dought+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dAKHWD-dAkYk5r7-dpVTHon3yoMAgfvRSm7KYLa1f3cL1cqGADVl3Dn8XQZCXDnAH8p77eY7JjEDC8DTMmGSlJ75sYXaWp12XR20EL1o-QiQVfmErhiU8ztAAFqs57AAife_cPZZzzM/s1600/Nexus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dAKHWD-dAkYk5r7-dpVTHon3yoMAgfvRSm7KYLa1f3cL1cqGADVl3Dn8XQZCXDnAH8p77eY7JjEDC8DTMmGSlJ75sYXaWp12XR20EL1o-QiQVfmErhiU8ztAAFqs57AAife_cPZZzzM/s320/Nexus.jpg" width="320" /></a>I do not mean to "pick on" agribusiness because it
is certainly clear that waste occurs in every aspect of society. My point to
this particular rant is the we ALL must start focusing our efforts on reducing
ALL waste in our lives. Our children's future can no longer afford to live in a
society based on single use or throw away goods and the false perception of
infinite resources. Those disposable bags/boxes/razors/paper towels... all
represent water and energy used in their manufacture or production. Those food
scraps we all throw out represent water as well, not to mention carbon. Our
future is going to depend on the management and balance of our food, energy,
and water resources. We cannot continue to waste them or sacrifice one for the
other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-7885740233714764672015-08-29T09:15:00.000-07:002015-08-29T09:15:13.233-07:00Can we put the Confederate Flag issue behind us now? Please? - July 21, 2015<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Anybody who knows me knows
that I am a liberal. I say this without shame or embarrassment. I was among the
many who called for the Confederate Flag (actually the flag of the Army of
Northern Virginia) to be removed from the State House in South Carolina. I was
also living in Alabama in the late 80s and supported the call to remove the
Confederate Flag (actually the C.S.A. Naval Battle Flag) from that state house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">T<span class="textexposedshow">hese flags are historic, and to many they do represent
Southern Pride and State’s Rights, among other things. But to a large share of
Americans, they represent slavery, racism, treason, and hate. Do not blame
liberals for that, as it wasn’t long after the Civil War ended that hate groups
including the KKK adopted the flag for its own hateful purposes. It has also
been adopted by Neo-Nazi groups in Germany because flying the Swastika in
Germany is illegal.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">In a recent discussion, a good friend
relayed a mutual friend’s belief that this is a non-issue (tempest in a
teapot). White Americans (such as all the participants in this particular
discussion), and indeed most Americans of non-African heritage, cannot fully
appreciate the loathing many African Americans feel when they go to THEIR State
Capital and see a symbol used by racist groups flying on the dome. I imagine it
would be similar to seeing a flag from ISIS or Nazi Germany to me. So these
flags should be removed from all State Houses and other government buildings.
This does not eliminate racism in America. But it is a good first step.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Most liberals are content
with removing the flag from government buildings. So any further repercussions
or restrictions on displaying or selling this flag are not our fault. If a
business chooses not to sell these flags, than that is their decision, which I
assume is done for business reasons. Don’t blame the liberals. Walmart is among
the many establishments that will no longer sell this flag. The Walton family
is hardly considered a bastion of the new American liberalism. If these
businesses were “forced” or pressured by their customers to stop selling these
flags, well, that my friends is called free enterprise. The business chose to
honor their customers’ wishes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">However, I do oppose laws
that restrict the private sale and/or display of the Confederate Flags
(whichever ones are used). The State of Ohio recently passed a law that forbids
the sale of Confederate flags at the State Fair. That, in my humble, non-legal
opinion, flies in the face of the first amendment. According to the First
Amendment, we all have a right to express ourselves in non-threatening ways. If
a displaced Southerner living in Ohio wishes to display the “Stars and Bars,” I
believe he has the Constitutional right to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">-- Just another useless
rant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7659832807227992769.post-56239928508374219812015-08-29T09:14:00.002-07:002015-08-29T09:14:28.207-07:00Confederate Flag - June 22, 2015<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">When I lived in Alabama there was a
similar controversy (without the tragic killing of 9 people in a church). While
I was debating the issue with a friend he raised several points. His points and
my reactions are below:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">1. "The flag is
historic and should remain on the capital as a reminder of our history."
Then states in the East should fly the Union Jack; in the Great Plains should
fly Le Ticolore of France; Florida and the Southwest should fly the Flag of Spain...
Nope, th<span class="textexposedshow">at is no reason to fly the Stars and Bars
(the one that fly over the Alabama capital was the Confederate Naval Battle
Flag) on Government installations.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">2. "It is a symbol of Southern
Pride." Not true if you consider the thousands of African Americans and
other minorities who live in the South and find it offensive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">3. "It doesn't cause
any harm." According to whom? I do not have to elaborate on the atrocities
of groups who have adopted the flag as their symbol, chief among them the Ku
Klux Klan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Put simply, there are many
in America, of varying skin tones, who consider the Confederate flag a symbol
for either racism or treason. It doesn't belong on a Government facility. If
Southerners wish to display it at their homes, in their place of business, in
their pick-up trucks (pardon the "redneck" stereotype illusion) then
by all means do so. The flag should definitely be displayed over Civil War
battlefields, memorials, and cemeteries as a tribute to the fallen soldiers who
gave their lives for the Confederate States of America. If people wish to use
the flag as a personal symbol, no worries. The main issue facing the Southern
States, including South Carolina should focus only on removing the flag from
Government facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kent Halloranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596542564587121288noreply@blogger.com0