tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90586916508482873872024-02-20T06:11:40.192-05:00Comment Central CommitteeWe're in a frenzied search for under appreciated web sites and blogs hiding below the static noise level. Our specialty is substantive amplification, advocacy, critique, and flourish. We want to help you get it across. It's the Marconi in us. / E. SlaterEd Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-7963144987973711852024-02-08T23:20:00.000-05:002024-02-08T23:20:01.107-05:00How to Create Hate and Avoid Hate<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">We are egotistic and
self-absorbed. What we think is more important than what others
think. If others don’t agree with us, we need to let them know they
are wrong, to which of course they similarly respond. <span style="color: #cc0000;">(Some people
are conditioned to think life is not sacred when they see others
being treated badly. For those lucky enough to witness loving care,
the supreme value of human life is validated. So, there are those who
understand love and those who do not. Understand love.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">We assign identities to
people and place them in categories. Thus, we make it more convenient
to attack many people at once as members of a group. Divide and
conquer. <span style="color: #cc0000;">(Being kind, patient, and accepting of others takes work.
Hating is lazy. It's much easier. Be kind, patient, and accepting.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">We habitually think of
issues of having just two sides of an argument. This inevitably
polarizes the issues and creates two camps of competing enemies.
<span style="color: #cc0000;">(Intelligent people search for every alternative before making a snap
decision. Do your homework and think critically.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">To justify one’s position,
it helps to magnify the flaws in the positions of others, and even to
denigrate their character for holding such unacceptable positions.<span style="color: #cc0000;">
(Being a problem finder necessitates finding solutions, too.
Otherwise, you're just a negative person. Search for root causes and
solutions.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">We use threatening body
language in advancing our arguments with others. These include
scowled faces, loud voices, punching the hand toward others often
with an object in hand), and pounding the arm up and down. We “get
in their face.” <span style="color: #cc0000;">(Threats lead to lying and posing, both undesirable
traits. Don't make threats.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">Character assassination
allows the accuser to assume a false mantle of virtue signaling,
which in turn is not appreciated by those accused of being morally
deficient.<span style="color: #cc0000;"> (False accusations lead to resentment and onset of hatred.
No one is immune to feelings of resentment when there are false
accusations. Don't make false accusations.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">Assuming victimhood from
unfair treatment allows us to accuse others of oppression and thus
assign to them guilt and shame. Name-calling is the linguistic first
choice of weaponry. Another weapon is to recall past abuse, even when
such abuse no longer occurs. Next, current examples of presumed abuse
are magnified and harped upon. In that way, opponents become
irredeemable. Those accused of creating victims, in turn, come to
hate their attackers. <span style="color: #cc0000;">(Revenge is a negative, harmful behavior.
That's why forgiveness is so important. Consider forgiveness as a
choice you can make.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">A basic reason for assuming
victim status is that it provides excuses. We don’t have to take
responsibility for any of our own missteps that contributed to our
misfortune. We save face by blaming others and thereby create another
reason to hate them. I explore all this in my book, Blame Game, How
to Win It. <span style="color: #cc0000;">(This is right. Victimhood masks irresponsibility. Take
personal responsibility for your own lifestyle and don't play the
victim.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">We expect equity, not just
the equal opportunity of a level playing field. We assume everyone is
equally entitled, irrespective of effort, education, or ability.
Thus, when others deny us equity, we hate them for being unfair.
<span style="color: #cc0000;">(Equity is the opposite of personal responsibility, and it is
destructive. Reject the foolishness of equity.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">Sometimes, we create enemies
out of jealousy or desire for revenge over perceived imposed
inequity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">We censor or otherwise
“cancel” others, which of course generates reciprocal hate.
<span style="color: #cc0000;">(Creating false perceptions fuels hate. Don't create false
perceptions. Don't brag or pose.)</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;">(Dealings between honest
hard working people in a moral society create an atmosphere that does
not harbor hate. Be honest and hard working. Be moral.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial Narrow, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Text by </span>William R. Klemm, Ph.d.<span style="color: #cc0000;"> and (E. Slater)</span></i></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Also see “Intersection of Where to and Which Way” available from
Lulu.com bookstore. E. Slater</i> </span></p>Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-15794923863757968912019-02-19T00:36:00.000-05:002019-02-19T00:36:07.117-05:00Movie Review: I'm Not Ashamed<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Columbine tragedy. Masey McLain</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The lead up to the Columbine tragedy was
laced with unbridled hate, but more importantly, one student, Rachel
Joy Scott, wound an unbreakable thread of Christian goodness around
friends who didn't seem to need or deserve her compassion. The media
extravaganza was all about two lost youths who took out insane raging
hatred against other students in 1999, but Rachel's I'm Not Ashamed
story is the one unseen and unreported until now. Influential persons
in Rachel Scott's life provided context, but God's inspiration sent
her wings, which she used to transform dozens of lives despite
adolescent evil lurking nearby.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you have a place in your heart for
kindness, patience, and accepting others without bias, you'll say
<i>thank you</i> for this recommendation. Watch this film and persist
even when you think you can't stand the ugly parts. You've very
likely been a high school student just like the ones portrayed at
Columbine High School. I was affected extremely and deeply by the
Rachel Scott story. I think you will be, too. </div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-86334594199903372712018-11-14T16:13:00.002-05:002018-11-14T16:13:57.189-05:00Book Review...Hillbilly Elegy<i>I'm on the prowl for opinions that validate my own. Hillbilly Elegy reinforces my suspicion. I loved reading this book because I think it was written as a stimulus for me to crash ahead with an attack on the root of poverty.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPbs7kU3D1dFnWnZArgIkj5Zf27gmXYBbYThfmtyjr8nxZd6xlj6CV1lZYFJIyVj1POCmOTOariHEHHImcccdrkRGVbpL-4511KnBJ8_ezBt3m09TF8jrofLv6OGGSjk14OpydAzAK6Q1/s1600/hillbilly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPbs7kU3D1dFnWnZArgIkj5Zf27gmXYBbYThfmtyjr8nxZd6xlj6CV1lZYFJIyVj1POCmOTOariHEHHImcccdrkRGVbpL-4511KnBJ8_ezBt3m09TF8jrofLv6OGGSjk14OpydAzAK6Q1/s1600/hillbilly.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Hillbilly Elegy</b> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">(J.D.
Vance)...Book Review by Ed Slater</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Hillbilly Elegy author is a man with a graphic warning plus a
tattoo'd blueprint showing the route to an emergency escape. J.D.
Vance could just as well be described as the Indiana Jones of the
Appalachian poverty syndrome. He found the way out.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>J.D.
Vance's observations about his “Middletucky” home:</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">We
don't like people who are different from us.<sup>p3</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">We're
pessimistic and we're socially isolated.<sup>p4</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Our
men suffer from a peculiar crisis of masculinity...it's difficult to
adapt to a changing world.<sup>p4</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Too
many men are immune to hard work.<sup>p7</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I
was the grandson of the toughest woman anyone knew and the most
skilled auto mechanic in town.<sup>p13</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Uncle
David loved everything but rules.<sup>p15</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">There
was no disloyalty worse than class betrayal.<sup>p15</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">So
many men had come and gone but the Blanton men were always there.<sup>p17</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Lots
of men had no job and they were proud of it.<sup>p19</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">People
dealt with uncomfortable truths by avoiding them.<sup>p20</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A
man could find the time to make 8 children but not the time to
support them.<sup>p21</sup></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>J.D.
Vance's life and conclusions:</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
3 years I spent with my grandma (Mamaw) uninterrupted and alone
saved me. She demanded I get a job, and I did. My job was at a
grocery store.<sup>p138</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Find
yourself a description of emotional poverty, because a lot of people
are trapped by it.<sup>p143</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I
consumed books about social policy and the working poor.<sup>p144</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Our
elegy is a sociological one. Yes, but it is also psychology,
community, culture, and faith.<sup>p145</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">We
talk to our children about responsibility, but we never walk the
talk.<sup>p147</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Everyone
needs a stable loving home.<sup>p149</sup></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>The
birth of personal responsibility:</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">J.D.
Vance joined the Marines, graduated from boot camp, and was
instantly treated like a man.<sup>p145</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Marine Corps changed my perspective.”<sup>p172</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When
I stood and surveyed the children of a war torn nation (Iraq) I
began to appreciate how lucky I was.<sup>p173</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Marine Corps taught me how to live like an adult.<sup>p174</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">In
the Marines, my boss didn't just make sure I did a good job...he
took care of the whole me. The Corps changed my perspective about
who cares.<sup>p174</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Marine Corps builds responsibility into a man.<sup>p182</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Graduated
from Ohio State Summa Cum Laude and then Yale Law School. Member of
the Bar.<sup>p182</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Learned
the meaning and implications of ACEs (adverse childhood events).<sup>p226</sup></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="font-size: 11pt;">Taking
responsibility home:</b></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Schools
ranked near the bottom had little to do with staff, but more to do
with the students and family culture.<sup>p244</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It's
what happens at home that counts.<sup>p244</sup></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It
is culture, not politics that determines the success of a
culture.<sup>p261 (Moynihan)</sup></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="font-size: 11pt;">My
takeaway:</b></div>
<br />
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Attach
yourself to a <i>rock of stability</i> and cling to him or her like
your life depends on it. Pick Mamaw or Jesus Christ.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Know
the way to learn personal responsibility. Learn it and live it.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">When
you're convinced you've got it, make sure others learn what you
know.</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-87686140234842424982018-11-01T00:41:00.000-04:002018-11-01T00:41:39.406-04:00Movie Review...Hunter Killer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHD54wZ72CUg47Mc4dAgZzgzAUPB21thARHju8voJswGac2Ni7-2Pbacrrhq3pdhBjasBQhvu7qr2G9NT-1MRkdE0Yh_4lJDzZ_6BylrMjYIxpM-enok6Jo_XUkoZlVexEc9-NSW6h2Cz/s1600/hunter+killer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHD54wZ72CUg47Mc4dAgZzgzAUPB21thARHju8voJswGac2Ni7-2Pbacrrhq3pdhBjasBQhvu7qr2G9NT-1MRkdE0Yh_4lJDzZ_6BylrMjYIxpM-enok6Jo_XUkoZlVexEc9-NSW6h2Cz/s1600/hunter+killer.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
extra dimension brought to film making by the uncompromising sea and
inlet at Polyarny does not make Hunter Killer unique among submarine
movies. Hull cracks and ruptured hydraulic lines are not the
unexpected surprises. Torpedo technology and evasive
countermeasures...ho hum. The <i>unexpected</i> surprise is a first
time Captain Joe Glass (Gerard Butler) whose commission came out of
the blue the hard way, and whose tactical wisdom came from some
unknowable source.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Of
course, there are brave heroes. There are Defense Department
specialists whose educated guesses succeed and top brass skeptics who
safely predict failure, but who ride the wave to a final high five.
There are Navy Seals who do real Seal things, improvising every
aspect just right. Navy Medal of Honor right.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I hesitate to tell you the details of this story, but it's a
moral story. I felt good feelings when courage and bravery stood up.
I think I yelled when an old technology foiled the enemy's sure kill
multi-missile strike against the USS Arkansas. If you have a Hunt for
Red October DVD on your shelf, Hunter Killer should go right beside
it.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Ed
Slater October,2018</i></span></span></div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-32478889568481815092018-10-12T00:30:00.002-04:002018-10-12T00:30:28.316-04:00Teaching Patience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhqfs7-x6SINjWLhOMmTzlhqcBPbPoUD4XZpKegfNCJirn_8ZxNBm7cozUU0bebJQXZ8dhIGWbQf5xHpsUIdUZSIgaBRCfwF7F71rC1LdNtBQkp87B0JzjaAC-Zq0EM6TEELT9B3vIcJK/s1600/clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhqfs7-x6SINjWLhOMmTzlhqcBPbPoUD4XZpKegfNCJirn_8ZxNBm7cozUU0bebJQXZ8dhIGWbQf5xHpsUIdUZSIgaBRCfwF7F71rC1LdNtBQkp87B0JzjaAC-Zq0EM6TEELT9B3vIcJK/s200/clock.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Every infant has frequent needs
for a caregiver to neutralize hunger, discomfort, & fear. The infant has only one mechanism
(crying) to use as his/her signal mechanism.<div>
<br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Let's consider four infants (gender may
be male or female)</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Infant A gets fed, changed, and
coddled so frequently he's never uncomfortable for more than a
moment. He seldom has a reason to be impatient, and patience is hit or miss.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Infant B is neglected. Feeding is
at random times, and there is no connection with his crying and his
feeding. Infant B learns that he has no influence on getting what he
needs. He develops a sense of hopelessness.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Infant C cries when hunger or
discomfort strike. He is serviced in a reasonable time, but he comes
to believe that it is his crying that causes the comforting
response. As an adolescent, C believes he can cry to get what he
wants at the dinner table, the supermarket, the toy store, etc.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Infant D is on a schedule. Feeding
time is regular. When D gets hungry, he has learned that his feeding
is not triggered by crying, but by the clock. Caring for this infant
occurs on time every time. He learns that waiting is rewarded on a
predictable schedule. For D, there's a reward for patience. His
caretaker is rewarded with an adolescent who learns patience.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So what can a parent do? It seems that
infant D has the best chance of developing patience, and when a
parent establishes a disciplined approach to parenting “on a
schedule”, the child gets to practice patience. As the infant
becomes an adolescent, meal times, school schedules, and other
regular predictable events cement the needs to “wait patiently”
for rewards that are sure to come.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Teenagers encounter a wide array of
circumstances that can trigger impatience. Here are some major
categories of persons who interact with teenagers:</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Parents</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Teachers and Administrators</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Police</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Coaches, Band Directors, Club
Sponsors</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Doctors, Nurses, Healthcare
Administrators</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Other Teenagers and Other Parents</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Business Owners</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Drivers</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Employers</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pastors, Rabbis</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
How can all these people help teenagers
avoid impatience?</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Operate your special service or
trade according to a set of well known guidelines</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Follow the rules</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Maintain a regular predictable
schedule</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Keep your commitments</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Set an example of excellence</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Be a role model for patience and
self control</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the most likely impatience
triggers for teenagers lies with their parents' struggle to balance
freedom with safety. Most parents don't want to let go. Kids want to
push boundaries, and they want to be treated like mature adults.
Usually though, maturity doesn't develop on its own. There are stages
in the growth of maturity that take time, and there are outside
influences that have to be present. Few parents are able to devise a
lesson plan (or a care plan) that can be effective for their specific
teen. Lots of parents fly seat-of-the-pants because they just don't
have the time or energy. Most parents DON'T KNOW how to navigate
their child's maturity journey, and many are confused when they try
to piece together recollections of their own development.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There's nothing better than a great
role model. Don't think you can hand your teenager a “How to Find
Maturity” handbook and achieve magic results. Don't be fooled into
thinking public school educations are designed to teach maturity,
because they're not. Don't assume your teenager will “pick up”
the key points of maturity and the “pillars of adult behavior” at
the football game or in the parking lot after band practice.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Who are the role models who will make a
difference? You're the CEO of the enterprise to produce and deliver a
complete, mature young adult, so your behavior matters the most. We
found that the most influential people in our teenagers' lives were
other teenagers (peers), and it was almost universally true that the
other parents directly had an influence on both their own children
and our kids, too. If his friend Johnny had a curfew, our son
understood (and respected the idea of) curfews. If Sara's parents
took her to every soccer practice and they never missed a game, our
daughter understood the loving care and the sacrifice we made for her
soccer career. We said “yes” to major questions, too. Our twelve
year olds got a little taste of driving (a VW beetle) in a little
protected patch of an abandoned parking lot. By the time they were
ready for an official beginner's permit at 15 or 16, each kid had
already put in hours of practice. Each of them matured fully as
automobile operators as the time came for getting drivers' licenses.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Armed with the above instructions, can
you figure out how your quest to enable the development of your
child's maturity is related to your ability to teach him/her
patience? Have you scheduled enough time in your own life to devote
sufficient role model time to your child's development?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Then think about this: Figure out when
you yourself should be patient. Are there times when you should be
impatient? Think about when you want your child to be patient and
when his/her impatience is warranted.</div>
</div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-71100604167339585432018-05-20T22:37:00.003-04:002018-05-20T22:40:31.162-04:00Movie Review...The Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJHhLglzc1D66DPwuaB_PVmrZT8tf-TWXVW76pMMX5RaxM_opsmp0ll1r1WaCrBElRGEYf6kohXFh4Fu-K0QxWvldpHxWPk5rvKSKWUUYxR540eAUXfhNFLw5Edlt8gIGYhWNDcxdF2vu/s1600/post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJHhLglzc1D66DPwuaB_PVmrZT8tf-TWXVW76pMMX5RaxM_opsmp0ll1r1WaCrBElRGEYf6kohXFh4Fu-K0QxWvldpHxWPk5rvKSKWUUYxR540eAUXfhNFLw5Edlt8gIGYhWNDcxdF2vu/s1600/post.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 11pt;">I
always wondered why my dad ate toast with warm milk on top. He ate it
with a fork or a spoon for breakfast...or lunch sometimes. Once in a
while he ate bread and milk with a little sugar for dinner. I had
some, too. There was a reason for eating toast or bread with milk and
sometimes with sugar...no money for food.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="docs-internal-guid-8cb928f6-805f-132b-081d-f140c346e750"></a>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 11pt;">The
Post reminded me of the tasteless concoction we used to eat when
there was nothing else. This film is a very vanilla story skimmed off
the top of a dish where the bread is stale and the milk is sour.
There's no sugar. This film is a very little soap opra-ish story, but
the soap has no phosphate, no detergent, and no cleansing power. It’s
the old Pentagon Papers account, weakly offered. It's an attempt to
poke out the other eye of Richard Nixon, a failed (and dead)
president who was already blind to the place where ethical principles
were kept.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 11pt;">Thank
goodness for Streep, Hanks, and Odenkirk, whose performance statures
rose above the light soap scum. So, if you like good movies, you'll
declare this one to be a dud with no dynamite and no fuse. This Spielberg "gotcha" blows itself up with little more than a "pfft."</span></span></span></div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-32070236090676482502018-05-20T22:31:00.001-04:002018-05-20T22:41:25.994-04:00Movie Review...Den of Thieves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIarr1A5B6nzScVwqWN7TxhI3BV65kyhw0UyVyqMmggQ-1K5z5DeXINnh9etpw-6W8Laxi78ZnCepBC4b4tKHCAHmjFAExFGqhOAfEjju25MW_Pic56WiAPjnEzrcx-haxciRo2Pnk4fvF/s1600/den.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIarr1A5B6nzScVwqWN7TxhI3BV65kyhw0UyVyqMmggQ-1K5z5DeXINnh9etpw-6W8Laxi78ZnCepBC4b4tKHCAHmjFAExFGqhOAfEjju25MW_Pic56WiAPjnEzrcx-haxciRo2Pnk4fvF/s1600/den.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 138%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 11pt;">Gerard
Butler. LA’s number one major crime lawman. Roughshod. You’d like
Gerard’s crew to succeed in their enforcement duties, but your
hopes would be...well…. Just see the film and decide for yourself.
Den of Thieves leaves lots of emotions hanging up there on the big
screen. Bullet sales flourish, but bank robbery takes an
unanticipated turn for both the good guys and the bad guys. You’ll
see.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span>
<div style="line-height: 138%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 11pt;">I
had the feeling the heroes lived lives fraught with personal
distress. The thieves lived lives on banana peels, packing weapons of
paranoia and always looking over their shoulders. I asked myself how
smart were the factions? How sure was I when the end flashed?</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><br /></span>
<div style="line-height: 138%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 11pt;">Den
of Thieves is an action movie that does not have everything, but it
has enough. It was enough for me to say I was thrilled, but not
enough to offer lots of compassion for the losers. The film is easily
the best “thinker” to come along lately.</span></span></span></div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-82015023797701429362018-05-10T23:06:00.000-04:002018-05-10T23:06:04.075-04:00Movie Review...The Commuter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvi2s3IB05-GS7RhleYQ5guEhF1XeGfG7DPC3ND6Tx0r7_Jzp_mFrS_wMkWu0-nukosieJXXwiPWWAw7eWvVlt18V0CM0UPxGTR7EszvoFenlsaD7ACQ0YG652bW6XvBz-p5ZRmovxGCp/s1600/comm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="129" data-original-width="389" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvi2s3IB05-GS7RhleYQ5guEhF1XeGfG7DPC3ND6Tx0r7_Jzp_mFrS_wMkWu0-nukosieJXXwiPWWAw7eWvVlt18V0CM0UPxGTR7EszvoFenlsaD7ACQ0YG652bW6XvBz-p5ZRmovxGCp/s320/comm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
I didn't fully
appreciate this film until a week after I watched it with Doc. My
first impression was that the director stopped each scene short of
fulfillment. Scenes were set up without much preliminary explanation
and they ended with an “almost” moment. Now, I think the whole
idea was to make me hungry to know the secret at the finale. Now, I
see.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
There are
characters who did their jobs very well. The story line seems pretty
unbelievable until the 60 minute mark, when clarity starts to creep
in. Actually, the story has probably worn itself out in dozens of
previous extortion/bad guy/good guy tales, and The Commuter is
another episode that earned a “plus” on the Reel Jockey's
yardstick.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Here's what I
liked: Liam Neeson. Steady and believable. An ending you'll love.
Action packing that went to the limit. Here's what fell short:
Graphic train crash. Unbelievable.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
If you've been
impressed with characters Liam Neeson has offered up in films, you'll
appreciate this one, too.</div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-87039246398365824632018-05-03T21:21:00.000-04:002018-05-03T21:21:14.132-04:00and The Ninth Commandment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3q9LW6fb_04-ZHY4a_7SIrGoy5NM4xhSlz06qjpC7tGKpgSXZT5ew74SZhvY3Kh8WYVzcIW-mh7rA3XyW4frb_wAhNv291dSbgvtgB9A_OkZlhsE_EoPeXW1UsW8o_P2F5dOpXoNimbZ/s1600/never+give+up+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3q9LW6fb_04-ZHY4a_7SIrGoy5NM4xhSlz06qjpC7tGKpgSXZT5ew74SZhvY3Kh8WYVzcIW-mh7rA3XyW4frb_wAhNv291dSbgvtgB9A_OkZlhsE_EoPeXW1UsW8o_P2F5dOpXoNimbZ/s1600/never+give+up+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Letter from a person who does not need
a good reputation in order to be happy or successful:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Although I'd like
to be remembered as a boy scout, a faithful husband, and a man of
honesty, I realize that my certification as having a sterling
reputation is not necessary for me to be happy with myself. It'd be
nice, but not a key to my happiness. Being happy with myself is a matter strictly between me and the absolute authority in this universe.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="frame-contents">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dear Heavenly Father, architect of the
universe, creator of all life, I humbly come here today to praise
You. I praise Your complete and unconditional support for me. You
are the Rock that anchors my confidence. Everything I do is to honor
you. Amen</span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
I am a proud
product of the Boy Scouts of America process, I am an ambassador for
faithfulness, loyalty, friendship, and honesty. I know these things
about myself. So, if you drip lies into the public arena that are
designed to taint my reputation, the lies will not shake me...no
matter what the lie, no matter how widespread its repetition, nor how
famous the person who spreads it. It doesn't matter that people I
respect believe the lies (most won't). It doesn't matter what fake
evidence you distribute, it won't have a drastic effect, because I
know who I am.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
But, there's a
consequence. Every lie has an aftereffect. If you're the false
witness (liar), you should have a real fear...an expectation of shame
whittling away at your own self esteem and the specter of retribution
in the form of a shot fired at your own reputation from the
unfortunate situation you created. If you're an innocent victim, a
person who received the false message, and worried how to factor this
information into your friendships or daily activities, I understand
your unsureness. It's because reputations have a value in society.
Knowing who you are is a stronger pill, though, and when you have
God's promise of support backing you up, you can stand strong. God
provides the cure, and He never fails.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
In the face of an
attack on your reputation, be confident of who your really are. Don't
waver. Never give up. </div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-4299520704028570172018-04-21T00:52:00.000-04:002018-04-21T00:52:14.423-04:00Book Review...The Alice Network<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj652i-oJr3duk9mKmloBeX4qnHGE8TeXEmlq8znL2NClXfI525Cf7bqKQ7lv_N93rpvw6eysDQ1SbeOfp2z5GZsczjoqCidgD_DOjn3Q9IJ_f_VIGcocGdBYNoFphmPUsfFvWRCbzG9o4G/s1600/alice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj652i-oJr3duk9mKmloBeX4qnHGE8TeXEmlq8znL2NClXfI525Cf7bqKQ7lv_N93rpvw6eysDQ1SbeOfp2z5GZsczjoqCidgD_DOjn3Q9IJ_f_VIGcocGdBYNoFphmPUsfFvWRCbzG9o4G/s1600/alice.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Author
Kate Quinn reveals a picture of German domination in France during
WW1 from the standpoint of certain French women who could have been
named “audacious” and “courageous.” Traders in death.
Unconditionally loyal in their niche way to try to defeat the Kaiser.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On
a dramatic scale, “The Alice Network” is the wartime account of
three female volunteers spying on German officers deployed in a
medium sized French town and networking numerous other embedded spies
into a coordinated force against Germany. It's a seesaw balancing the
collection of strategic secret information with the potential to save
lives with the other alternative: getting caught and shot by a firing
squad.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A
key plot plays the middle between a greedy French businessman and his
German officer customers. It's about putting aside personal safety
and Victorian morals for the sake of duty, fighting fire with every
gun and wile in the arsenal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A
nicely done secondary plot explores a 1947 American character who
inserts herself in a tangential story about personalities who spanned
both WW1 and WW2 who worked toward the same end in both wars to
defeat Germany.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How
did “The Alice Network” make me feel? I felt a comradeship with
common ordinary people who were sacrificing to save the lives of
their French, British, and Belgian countrymen. I felt sympathy for
the female main characters who gave up years of their health, their
esteem, and their lives to join the cause, and I felt theirs was a
mission of hope for all the women whose lives were diverted by both
wars.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There's
a lesson in this novel, and I think it has an enormous value to the
world: When you and your loved ones bump up against the specter of
eradication and sure death, your world depends on every ounce of you
to engage. Your participation might save you, but inaction will
probably leave you to die on a faded page with your footnotes all
blown away. There is a circumstance where survival is everything only
if you're capable of survival. You must go with Alice. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Fiction
built on a pedestal of history. My kind of novel.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ed
Slater </span></span></span>
</div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-56131629129063905692018-03-10T23:46:00.000-05:002018-03-10T23:46:20.938-05:00Movie Review...Darkest Hour<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKZbLzsF0cBSEevvDfOkHKkIvmXVTBX-ABT7XlGeV_TSM4IGTeXvad11sRrz_0OD-P21PaZLEfxiZJc-VeZaRyIphFuNP6NVEGL6dxG8l2Kq38fVW20LHdQWP4J6_JIwUbHip_DmWEroJ/s1600/church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKZbLzsF0cBSEevvDfOkHKkIvmXVTBX-ABT7XlGeV_TSM4IGTeXvad11sRrz_0OD-P21PaZLEfxiZJc-VeZaRyIphFuNP6NVEGL6dxG8l2Kq38fVW20LHdQWP4J6_JIwUbHip_DmWEroJ/s1600/church.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTGIuIKOBurCogWcU9lHionXZ072AKkxCmm1S1Vu5OEQWxdncuvc2eY3n_MjVNLfqgFxoxbs5PWd8OZlqUiub0VVVD2hyphenhyphenANUbWg7YFK1OcXykD_TMkiNewu-PhMbZh3nYSXjYv2CSL2cS/s1600/layton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTGIuIKOBurCogWcU9lHionXZ072AKkxCmm1S1Vu5OEQWxdncuvc2eY3n_MjVNLfqgFxoxbs5PWd8OZlqUiub0VVVD2hyphenhyphenANUbWg7YFK1OcXykD_TMkiNewu-PhMbZh3nYSXjYv2CSL2cS/s1600/layton.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you have not paid $2 at Red Box to
rent Darkest Hour, go do it now. Here's why: Miss Layton (Prime
Minister Churchill's typist) creates a 10,000 volt electrified
emotion you need to experience in this story, a documentary
revelation tangential to World War 2; an inner feeling you've
encountered genuine compassion. It's about guessing and knowing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are no battlefield scenes, there
are no tank assaults, no artillery bombardments. There is only one
war strategy, and Winston Churchill pondered, developed, and
delivered his strategy for victory by meditating, listening, and
injecting his own historical recollections of war's reality.
Churchill proved something to his wife, George VI, Parliament, FDR,
Miss Layton, and the little girl on underground subway train. It was
about giving up. It was about what happens when you give up to a
murderer who has no conception of the most powerful, ultimate force
in the universe, but he's sure it's him.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Darkest Hour enumerates uncountable
examples of Churchill's brilliance, rhetoric and commandments that
all seemed to come into his mind inexplicably. Even Winston himself
didn't know their origin. That's your challenge...where did his inner
inspirations come from? I'm sure those inspirations came from a
source too complex for humans to conceive. Yet, the screenwriter told
the secret of saving Western civilization from the Huns without
disclosing the corner stone of Churchill's monument to victory.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm going with Miss Layton and the
little girl on the underground subway, whose hands God held gently
and firmly.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Gary Oldman's acting ability is of the
highest caliber. Anthony McCarten (writer) gets the gold scepter of
the storyteller's art. This is a great film production.</span></div>
<br />Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-89996169490286842772018-02-23T23:48:00.000-05:002018-02-23T23:48:40.208-05:00Please Love me Anyway<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_rjbBOGz-g3PTVySD7qdqMek34IZO9Jf5LvDLiXnwxjWa0YzAUJJLwfv7wd15aRj7xtherd7BFiuDq4vmySNnPXS8SS-0sto5sGNpCimH99hO08pCRVFfshyoz2Jt3-VhOHTMbPmnfU4/s1600/ch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_rjbBOGz-g3PTVySD7qdqMek34IZO9Jf5LvDLiXnwxjWa0YzAUJJLwfv7wd15aRj7xtherd7BFiuDq4vmySNnPXS8SS-0sto5sGNpCimH99hO08pCRVFfshyoz2Jt3-VhOHTMbPmnfU4/s1600/ch.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Someday, these thoughts
will dominate my fragile mind as I sit and stare at the wall. I'm
getting to be way too old. My leaping tall buildings barely gets me
off the mark and my landings are mini disasters. My twelve minute
mile is just an entry in an old log book.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There's the imaginary
race I signed up for this morning. It seemed I got a bad start. I'd
like to explain that I may not have heard the starter's pistol, but I
probably was letting something else distract me. I'm sure I didn't
know which way to run. I'm certain I didn't know how far I'd have to
go, and I was completely unaware of how big a load I'd have to carry
with me.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I'm suspicious that the
molassas I'm in came from natural causes. At least that's what I'd
like to say. There was a time when I could high jump my own height
(pretty good) and pole vault twice my height (not saying too much).
Now, I'd fall flat and break something I probably wouldn't need
anyway.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Memories like that light
up my mornings and evenings when boredom and dullness try to dim
things. I have an album that pulls incredible memories back to where
I can see them again, and I tell visitors my album is the first thing
I'd grab if the fire alarm sounds.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I get help every day.
Actually, I've always had help, and there have been some times when I
failed to say <i>thank you</i>. I regret those times, and I'm not
sure I could ever make up for my slight. It's unlikely that I'll
always be able to remember a good way to express my gratitude, so
I've thought of a little gift of appreciation I'll try to remember to
send...It's <i>time.</i> I'll tell a
story or make a picture that will give a moment of hope. I'll
describe some little thing you did that made me smile, and maybe it
will give your memory a tingle. Knowing that I had a moment of joy
could give you one, too. That's what I'll hope for.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On
those times when I was grouchy, there was probably some trigger
that's unimportant now. If I could have thought more about how my
insensitivity would leave its toll, I wish I had thought it through
before it happened. There were lots of times when I let circumstances
sneak in and fool me, but now I realize it's because I wasn't
prepared. If I could have thought through how to trust and rely on
the Boy Scout motto, I'd have been better prepared. The same salve
applied to those times when I was unkind, impatient, or insensitive
would have been theraputic, too, and I wish I'd used some of it right
away. It was right there in my kit with <i>courteous, kind,
and obedient.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If you try me with the
memory test, I'll probably do pretty good. If the test is fifteen
instructions, three only maybe with ifs and thens, six for a future
consideration, two or three based on assumptions that may or not be
right, and one with a high priority but at an unknown location, I'll
fail. I'll remember fourteen, but that one that escapes me will be
the one that's vital. Thank goodness I'm not in the bomb disposal
business.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When I try to figure out
who's to blame, I try to be objective about it...no guessing and no
crazy assumptions. Then, I remember that blame is just a game unless
there's a lesson that will make tomorrow better. Excuse me for
judging. If you're to blame for something it would be better if you'd
just be up front about it. Everybody will think more of you. You
won't suddenly become blameless, but that dose of humility will
trigger something like the relief you get when you step out of a
confessional.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I've been guilty and I've
been innocent. The smoke that wisps up from my ears comes from those
times when I really was innocent, but someone accused me, convicted
me, and nailed me to the tree up there. It's hard on your mind when
you realize you're defenseless in the process. There's actually a
relief when you put your guilt to bed, but there's an everlasting
snag in your psyche when you're nailed for being innocent.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So there's the
debilitation of my body and mind that could tempt you to want less of
me. It wouldn't be unexpected for you to do fewer visits, shorter
talks, or a complete walk-away. But, please love me anyway. When
we're together, please be kind and patient. Please accept me with my
three year old behaviors, because they're all I've got right now.
Humor my self-centeredness and my forgetfulness. I'll probably
remember things that happened sixty years ago and go blank on your
last sentence. You won't send me to get two things at the
supermarket, because I'll probably fail. Don't let me wander through
the neighborhood without a tracker or an ID badge on a lanyard.
Please just accept me just the way I am. Please. Someday, you'll need
to ask for the same things, and let's pray a someone who loves you
unconditionally is there with you.</span></div>
</div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-85764605886994940192018-01-04T12:52:00.000-05:002018-01-05T17:10:55.195-05:00<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGMd1mEg-JGmh6lTimj0t9UuHoglX23u1JFah46ajqCBrhKS3C9vqmf5VBzib0wCyeFyNnYMA3KX-SBuPAnXvxGovuyFi1UjNMr0R9d1hBgVne27VlBf97K_KEsS786gQeNYX6Earmswo/s1600/bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGMd1mEg-JGmh6lTimj0t9UuHoglX23u1JFah46ajqCBrhKS3C9vqmf5VBzib0wCyeFyNnYMA3KX-SBuPAnXvxGovuyFi1UjNMr0R9d1hBgVne27VlBf97K_KEsS786gQeNYX6Earmswo/s320/bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Dear
One,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Jeanie
and I have come to some pretty important conclusions as we've made
our way through the tough parts of life. We've been scared and we've
been unsure. We've been on a couple of brinks, but there have been
ropes and anchors that kept us safe. Not that we knew what we were
doing or that we planned ahead, but there were angels posing as
parents, grandparents, sons, daughters, and friends who led us here
to what we now regard as heaven on earth.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Heaven
was brought to Jeanie and me by a thoughtful and compassionate
creator. We thank our maker every day at least three times, but I
know that's not nearly enough. We owe everything to someone else and
we try to be grateful as much as we can.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Your parents have an angel in you. I've concluded you (and we)
are not here to just be background characters in someone else's
story, but instead we're main characters who have had an impact on
everyone we've ever met (and they on everyone they have ever met).
Everyone you have ever spoken to would be different without you.
We're all connected in some way, and we are better because of you. Of
course, your parents are better because of you, too. They're so
fortunate. Just like us. Thank you for being an influence in our
lives.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We pray
that your tests and medical interventions bring you relief and good
health. I believe the creator of the universe also created the answer
to every question, the solution to every problem, and the cure for
every affliction. Your cure has already been created. Although we
will never be capable of understanding the details of creation, I
believe our mission should be to start the search for answers and
solutions and cures and never give up. Hoping and searching and never
giving up are blessings, not burdens.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Love
from Ed and Jean</span></div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-54769839168391744592017-05-16T22:47:00.000-04:002017-05-16T22:47:26.926-04:00The Answer to Every Question<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r3Fv4_rN4LboZIlYoOUbv83bmeuMZrFuGkozQcd_vwYPWqRMvhKJp5cknZCPuc8ssQCCehhq84cYX7xujD8NjUWYlTYYEcPyOAH-kdSY2dlNgs13UmtWEfqKhINvDImcjuRUUsKtp_xv/s1600/hand.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r3Fv4_rN4LboZIlYoOUbv83bmeuMZrFuGkozQcd_vwYPWqRMvhKJp5cknZCPuc8ssQCCehhq84cYX7xujD8NjUWYlTYYEcPyOAH-kdSY2dlNgs13UmtWEfqKhINvDImcjuRUUsKtp_xv/s320/hand.jpeg" width="281" /></a></div>
You're going to want to write this answer on the palm of
your hand so you won't forget it. It's the answer to every question.
It's the answer you've suspected for a long time, but you were not
sure. I'll help you to understand and have confidence you know for
sure the one answer to every question.<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
In order to understand this, let's ask the right first
question.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
William, did you create the Universe?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
“No, sir”</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
A very good answer. Bold, direct, believable. Let's ask
someone else.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Cecil, did you create the Universe?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
“No. Certainly not me. God did.”</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Now, we're getting someplace. We have a handle on two
people who claim they did not create the Universe, and we have a clue
as to who did. Good answer, Cecil. Thank you.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Melody, do you agree with Cecil? Do you believe him when
he says there's no way he himself created the Universe, but he's
pretty sure God did it?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
“Yes, I agree with Cecil. He looks like he has an
honest face. And, I think everyone in this place will agree that a
power bigger than any of us created the Universe.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Thank you, Melody, Cecil, William. Now, I want you to
try this: God created the Universe and <i>every thing</i>. I brought
this grain of sand from a beach I was recently walking on. This grain
of sand probably was something larger some time ago; maybe it was in
a rock or part of a mountain. Maybe its elements (like silicon and
oxygen) came from some other kind of thing, like a planet or a
meteor. How was this grain of sand created? You already know.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
I have a piece of paper here with a question written on
it. It says “What is the square root of 15,129? You'll be able to
find the answer. Many people have found it before, and it's right
there in your smart phone. But you can't claim to have <i>created</i>
the answer. You just <i>found</i> it. Remember, today I'm trying to
figure out if the answer to every question has already been created.
I think the answers to all the questions have already been created
although humans haven't found all of them yet.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
I know all of this seems to be almost meaningless, but
it's not. Here's why: The answer to every question has already been
created, the solution to every problem has already been created, and
the cure for every ailment has already been created. If you and your
spouse are on the brink of divorce and you have concluded there's no
solution, no resolution, no going back, I have news that you may or
may not like. The solution is just hidden from you, but it exists.
Yes, your solution exists. Others have found theirs and you can too.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
If your loved one is suffering with a terminal disease,
there is a cure. The cure for every disease has already been created,
but we haven't had the ability to discover each and every one. Not
yet.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Peaceful solutions to every conflict have already been
created, but some conflicts will erupt into wars anyhow because the
right people haven't discovered or chosen to apply the solutions.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Why?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
It's because of you and me. We're frail and we're
incompetent. We're busy with ourselves, not others. We have our heads
down looking at our own feet and thinking about that grain of sand
inside one of our shoes that's causing discomfort. At least I am. God
created the solution for the discomfort and in a minute or two I'll
put that solution into action.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Some solutions can be found in history, where the've
been discovered before by people confronted by the same problems we
have. Reading and understanding history would make me less
incompetent. Some solutions are also time sensitive. Here's a
question you probably can't answer today, but you'll be able to
answer it someday when you no longer need to do so. Does anybody know
what the Power Ball numbers will be for next Wednesday? If so, shout
them out. We could argue as to whether God has created those specific
numbers already, or whether He'll wait to create them Wednesday
night. All in His time.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Accepting the idea that God has already created every
thing and that every answer is available for us to discover gives me
hope that we actually can do it given enough time.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
There's been a lot written about hope. The Apostle Paul
clarified to the Christian Church in Rome where one source of hope
can be found. He told them hope comes from the good character
qualities of men and women, people who patiently and persistently
work to find answers.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Write this on your hand: <i><b>never give up</b></i>.
The answer is there, guaranteed, because God never fails.</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.05in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
Never give up.</div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-6992811511248042842017-05-16T17:03:00.001-04:002018-01-06T10:54:37.434-05:00Why Aren't Robots Boosting Economic Productivity?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AQ2p0wMda8yzQsIysuJ5YlBdGt7TUaN-8nRjhFAPjRkDDzN_d5xxgVMnqtls8svvRSvLg79zp5tXE7Zhm9l-xYAWeo7ark4gkCY4kIB0YvKg4h0lOO678L95cz7dh3nLyXDCmflZmRs4/s1600/robot+dot+com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AQ2p0wMda8yzQsIysuJ5YlBdGt7TUaN-8nRjhFAPjRkDDzN_d5xxgVMnqtls8svvRSvLg79zp5tXE7Zhm9l-xYAWeo7ark4gkCY4kIB0YvKg4h0lOO678L95cz7dh3nLyXDCmflZmRs4/s1600/robot+dot+com.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Evan Horowitz has
succeeded in usurping the spotlight of fame by making it to the front
page (the entire page, not shared) of the May 7<sup>th</sup>
2017 Boston Globe's Business Section. Leslie Becker gets credit for
graphics, depicting a conveyor line throwing products and workers to
a heap of trash.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Every new industrial robot
costs between 3 and 6 human jobs, says the MIT, Yale alum report. I
get it. I'd better believe that industrial robots are not good for
America, stunting economic growth and stranding six workers per robot
in under employment situations. However, there are assumptions,
conclusions, and facts. Let's see how they match up.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Contention 1: ...robots
are failing to boost output or make the economy more productive.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i> </i>The
author has leapt over the devious chasm of cause and effect. There
are hundreds of causes of low and cyclic output, the most basic
cause being supply and demand. Manufacturers don't produce widgets
they can't sell. The effect of robots on the American economy
cannot be measured except by taking millions of factors into
account.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Contention 2: ...when
an auto manufacturer installs cutting edge robotic arms...the company
is supposed to become more efficient allowing consumers everywhere to
reap the benefit of less-expensive, robot-welded cars.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i> </i>Industrial
robots almost always make the car making process more efficient. Auto
manufacturers serve their shareholders by increasing company
value. Manufacturers make a choice whether to (a) reduce prices
and sell higher quantities of cars or (b) keep prices the same and
sell the same number of cars, reaping more per-unit profit.
<u>Company
value goes up either way</u>,
but consumers benefit from lower prices only if the price of cars
goes down (a). Shareholder equity goes up in both (a) and (b).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Contention 3: ...while
they might lay off some assembly line workers, in theory those
workers could move into high-demand jobs in other fields, like health
care.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i> </i>Without
a myriad of other factors, the theory works. But, other factors are
dominant, like the cost of re- education and who pays, the
temptation to stay at home collecting unemployment benefits, a
scarcity of jobs readily available with hourly rates of $45/hour
and 12 weeks paid vacation, family leave provisions, retirement
contributions, medical insurance, proximity of home to work, sick
pay, etc. These factors count as reasons not to scramble to quickly
get a new job after being laid off. If high-demand jobs like health
care were easy, tempting, and available, workers would have jumped
the assembly line ship already.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Contention 4: ...our
increasingly robot-driven world isn't living up to the great
techno-utopian promise, namely when machines do the work, humans will
reap the rewards</span>.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ask
any CEO: would you invest shareholders' equity in robots if someone
could not reap the rewards? He'd laugh at you. Of course someone
reaps the rewards. Rewards go to the bold and the hard working
citizens always trying to do better and be better. Otherwise an
enterprise would simply be a charity.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Contention
5:<i> ...recent economic research suggests the harm robots are
causing human workers is real...nobody in the local community really
gains from the arrival of robots: not managers, not college grads,
not even those with advanced degrees.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There's
someone who is not being harmed: the shareholder investors and the
company maintenance technicians who service the robots.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hook,
line, and sinker: MIT economist Daron Acemoglu and Yale collegue
Pascual Restrepo packed chicken and noodle theories and over cooked
assumptions into this Boston Globe takedown of corporate America
without telling the rest of the story. The rest of the story is that
corporate America is not made up of buffoons. Everything affects
everything else in a free market economy. Using some survey
statistics and stifling others unbalances any conclusions toward the
leanings of the authors, who have shown themselves to be agenda
driven. So, what can we do? (from Apricot Pie that first bite,
2014) ...listen to every voice and consider how every lesson can
increase the quality of your life. Hopefully, your goals will ratchet
upward in tune with every need to adapt to the world as it changes
(and change is inevitable.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #6aa84f;">image robots.com</span></div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-44864032302546730362017-05-13T00:37:00.001-04:002017-05-13T00:37:46.427-04:00Review The Coming Aristocracy by Oliver DeMille<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0UaYfBKtTEicGM1rv05lFX-LoHOdhJ-vZT1o89k5FbpczXOCkiP-r7v0xXEP2y-oMeR-WOm5WkDGLUYTD7PCiXpl7n9cEL5yCOF0MuUuZJ0ma9Hh-DjhlxNbAcMw-xCzfiE1oLx0vtIZ/s1600/418Odw7ib%252BL._SX330_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0UaYfBKtTEicGM1rv05lFX-LoHOdhJ-vZT1o89k5FbpczXOCkiP-r7v0xXEP2y-oMeR-WOm5WkDGLUYTD7PCiXpl7n9cEL5yCOF0MuUuZJ0ma9Hh-DjhlxNbAcMw-xCzfiE1oLx0vtIZ/s320/418Odw7ib%252BL._SX330_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Aristocracies rule according to one
basic principle: they establish two sets of rules, one for themselves
and another for everyone else. An aristocracy is only an aristocracy
when it operates above the law.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
DeMille observes that the founders
created the senate so aristocrats would have a place to practice
their high status, but the founders limited (enumerated) senate
powers. As a result, senators could expend their mighty energies
debating each other, while the people (in the form of the House of
Representatives) had the real clout. Whether the founders
pre-conceived this knot-tying distinction, I'm not sure, but I think it's great.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Lots of us are trapped into thinking
that government is the solution to economic problems and every
economic crisis. In fact, freedom is the solution.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
DeMille reminds us
that a clear distinction between education and training is important.
Education is a broad understanding of many fields, but training is a
depth of skills and expertise in a narrow field. In class structures,
broadly educated people comprise the aristocracy and trained people
do the work, depending on a job for survival. Think nineteenth
century and earlier. Think third world. But, freedom
depends on educated masses who have shared values, DeMille says.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I picked some of
the plumpest fruits in The Coming Aristocracy. Here they are:</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Freedom is taught in the
classic books of history. The books are no longer on the shelves.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Freedom flourishes when the
people are independent, free, and self-sufficient as possible.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>We must accept the
responsibilities that come with freedom.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Significant numbers of citizens
must become owners.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>In a free society, anyone can
build and operate a mini-factory.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Liberals believe in the state,
conservatives believe in the market.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>The hallmark of freedom is the
individual who ignores limits and lives his or her dream.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>There are two camps, those of
public debate and due process versus those of celebrity, populism,
emotion, and swaying the masses. Those are the conservatives and the
liberals.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Liberals sponsor “repetition
makes it true” and “perception is reality.”</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Liberals challenged with the
truth invoke denial, charges of conspiracy theories, and “everybody
does it.”</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Liberals label patriotism and
religion as “quaint.”</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Aristocracy is where elites
tell the government what to do and the government taxes the middle
classes to pay for it.</i></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Power as a purpose has a limit.
Freedom as a purpose does not.</i></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div>
I'd suggest you jump onto this author and his books like a squirrel onto a truckload of nuts.</div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-65830897999104886302017-05-07T23:37:00.001-04:002017-05-07T23:37:18.483-04:00Review Freedom Shift by Oliver DeMille<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_y0942qfROuvf2LiEIK1r-uPZ0PP3OMK1saYExMafYpT3lv8Dw5F6Wq9uIaxhrfx0W7JzALJTN1Pj5KaX52C3SP2aTssCCg45S0voZcf5dvGZ38rxuWf9k1Dl9ZGXFhDFK4lqkQTDsHX/s1600/8680244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_y0942qfROuvf2LiEIK1r-uPZ0PP3OMK1saYExMafYpT3lv8Dw5F6Wq9uIaxhrfx0W7JzALJTN1Pj5KaX52C3SP2aTssCCg45S0voZcf5dvGZ38rxuWf9k1Dl9ZGXFhDFK4lqkQTDsHX/s320/8680244.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Oliver
DeMille has found a gemstone way down inside the sand and gravel pit
of opinion on American freedom's history, and he has brilliantly
envisioned a cure that could resurrect America's heritage from a
lesson on the history of human greatness, where the 3%-97% rule
applies. The author latched onto a golden quote from his long time
mentor (Cleon Skousen) “<i>...during
the American founding era a mere three percent of the population made
most of the sacrifices, did most of the work, and made most of the
decisions which established America as the most free and prosperous
nation in history.</i>”
I'm giving the author an A for making this high value conclusion.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Other conclusions I really like:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">(There are producers and there are dependents).
“...only a society of producers can maintain freedom.”</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.1in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">The only hope for a new generation of producers is
to promote freedom.”</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.1in;">
“<span style="font-size: small;">...a thankful society naturally obtains a prosperous
economy.”</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">P.217: A Return to Tribal Education (chapter 20) is a
reminder that role models are a crucial element in family
development, and hence individual development. Elijah's story (with
an apprentice) adds credence to the author's opinion about setting an
example for our descendents.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
was scared halfway to a “</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>oh,
no, not social justice</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">”
conclusion when I read (p.245) Mr. DeMille's contention that Social
Justice is one of eight essential traditions of freedom. Luckily, his
explanation was soothing, though. His definition of social justice is
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>not</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">
central control of wealth redistribution, but one demanding that all
seven other enumerated freedoms be made available to all people, not
a limited group of privileged people. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Whew!</i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">If you have the privilege of reading Mr. DeMille's 262
pages, give special attention to his descriptions of “the Scarcity
Party and the Abundance Party” It's an insightful way to see our
current political parties and a way to envision a better choice. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-indent: 0.2in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The author gives credit for our sea of freedom to the 3
percent, our patriot founders. There is one chapter missing, though.
It's the chapter I'd call “What Made the Founders Think They Could
Succeed?” There would be a clear answer: it's the support of the
same force that created the Universe: A God who never ever fails.</span></div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-76441112918915019702017-04-03T18:55:00.003-04:002017-04-03T18:55:57.345-04:00The Psychological Impact of Identity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvfKeGNi4sO71eqk9FvdS7gunaDbVdtLioIrPTRUeX7I4bWzWKNy4PYF_P0arF9GF9cRSQK_2twqiJ8H6SpdqiZVqCg9IsdB1G1IQ8aTrxWQE6t9zrfF23u67XNi9P4g5-pojPGhzkr6A/s1600/elinor+joseph+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvfKeGNi4sO71eqk9FvdS7gunaDbVdtLioIrPTRUeX7I4bWzWKNy4PYF_P0arF9GF9cRSQK_2twqiJ8H6SpdqiZVqCg9IsdB1G1IQ8aTrxWQE6t9zrfF23u67XNi9P4g5-pojPGhzkr6A/s320/elinor+joseph+01.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
Who do you think you are? Know it or not, you have an internal picture of yourself, and you regard this personalized picture as your<i><b> identity</b></i>. You feel good (and validated) when you live out your identity. In short, if you have the identity of “host” you maximize your
utility (to put it economically) by serving drinks and pretzels. And if you have
the identity of “life of the party,” you maximize your utility by
entertaining the crowd.<br />
<br />
You act according to your identity or you pay a cost in utility. The life of the party doesn't feel good about just serving drinks and pretzels to party-goers.<br />
<br />
The stronger the identity, the higher the cost of acting contrary
to it. For example, once the Army builds into recruits the identity
of <i>combat soldier,</i> any soldier refusing to charge a machine gun nest
would pay a dear price in identity –- in fact, a cost dear enough
to outweigh the physical danger of charging.<br />
<br />
The <b>Psychological impact of Identity</b> may provide a window to
understanding why high school graduates make decisions. If we try to
use the identity concept like a mathematical tool, solving for n
variables, there's a chance a solution might pop up. Here are some
identities high schoolers might be aspiring to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sports hero<br />
</li>
<li>Knight in shining armor character<br />
</li>
<li>Academic dean's list ace<br />
</li>
<li>Be like dad (or role model)<br />
</li>
<li>Robin Hood character<br />
</li>
<li>Man of power and glory<br />
</li>
<li>Miss America<br />
</li>
<li>Wealthy beyond belief<br />
</li>
<li>Mother Teresa character<br />
</li>
</ul>
There may be some high schoolers who believe their identities are
of limited fame or fortune, like:<br />
<ul>
<li>Worker<br />
</li>
<li>Team member<br />
</li>
<li>Home maker<br />
</li>
<li>Park ranger<br />
</li>
<li>Truck driver<br />
</li>
</ul>
And, others may think their identities are stuck with descriptions
of victim, unworthy, failure, etc.<br />
<br />
Act according to your identity or pay a cost in utility. It might
become psychologically or economically rational to act according to this identity rather than paying an identity cost for abstaining. Consider how you can change your picture of yourself or adapt to fit an identity you'd like to aspire to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Inspiration from Garth Sundem</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image Elinor Joseph (pinterest)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Edited by Ed Slater</span>Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-61219620685650865502017-02-17T23:50:00.000-05:002017-02-17T23:50:00.951-05:00Open Immigration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5sFOizrhlceNSkLKUkedRmxMDL4DMnJujzWNN2LW0DBcDFp3x2TG0Ha20PY6pVqBsIayfeY9BniVP9_tSNzzOrg6fhdHR_xezF3Iy_1EUnJuKiVEvPKwwbdoyJGVYQB-H7Y470fJiSct/s1600/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5sFOizrhlceNSkLKUkedRmxMDL4DMnJujzWNN2LW0DBcDFp3x2TG0Ha20PY6pVqBsIayfeY9BniVP9_tSNzzOrg6fhdHR_xezF3Iy_1EUnJuKiVEvPKwwbdoyJGVYQB-H7Y470fJiSct/s1600/flag.jpg" /></a></div>
Does open immigration have a negative effect on a country’s standard of living?<br /><br />If you seek to forbid open immigration on the grounds that it lowers your standard of living, remember, it's only true if immigrants harm you through theft or injury. That's a matter for law enforcement. Otherwise, you can't make the standard of living claim unless your taxes are redistributed to the immigrants, diluting services due you.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you believe legal immigrants increase the pool of competition, thereby disadvantaging America, you're wrong. Open competition in a free market culture is necessary and fair. If you don't want open competition or a free market, find your way to Havana for a wake-up.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Inspired by Ayn Rand's comments on open immigration</span></div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-61296855724631209182016-12-27T00:52:00.000-05:002016-12-27T00:52:00.897-05:00Culture Blindness
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNfcJDHfH21Kaetm7mIKGJPar6DW4cbFO9s_AYPRqGMgnjtWqA_M_fPeJe9wol0leY0GMvKfMEbeWk7mnrfsPy13S9m_3TMo6CIoFSKutW2bMpiQd0fnfbYP-wZmggIprzrLu4PXEpuec/s1600/culture01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNfcJDHfH21Kaetm7mIKGJPar6DW4cbFO9s_AYPRqGMgnjtWqA_M_fPeJe9wol0leY0GMvKfMEbeWk7mnrfsPy13S9m_3TMo6CIoFSKutW2bMpiQd0fnfbYP-wZmggIprzrLu4PXEpuec/s320/culture01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Are we Americans one culture or many?
Are we objectively seeking to consolidate or to maintain a segregated
social-scape? Let's look at neighborhoods. We'll define a
“non-American” culture as one that chooses not to adapt (but
simply to cherry pick) American language and law.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We'll have to make a distinction
between citizens whose civic behaviors fit within the boundaries of
the Federal Regulations, State laws, and Municipal ordinances, and
those who don't.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Is it possible for a subset of
immigrants from Italy to create “Little Italy” on one side of an
American city and install the culture of Sorrento? Of course, if the
behaviors of those Italian-Americans don't break American laws. What
about language? How will the immigrants understand American law?
That's the answer to the requirement for all to understand the
English language.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Can 1500 immigrants from the Middle
East, followers of Hezbollah, define a local cultural zone in
Detroit, Michigan and adapt as American newcomers? Can they qualify
for citizenship and carry on lives honoring their Pledge of
Allegiance to the U.S.? Can 20,000 Vietnamese immigrants settle in a
locality and adapt? Can Somalians? Of course. The test has to be
based on <i>law abiding behaviors</i>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cuisine and religion don't matter
unless they are in conflict with American law. Homesteads and other
dwelling places don't matter so long as they conform to local codes
of health and safety. In all of these caveats, though, language
matters, because an understanding of American law matters.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sharia Law conflicts with state and
local laws in every jurisdiction in America. Common law in some other
cultures (punishment, child abuse, women's rights, confiscation of
property, etc) is at odds with American law. Immigrants must
understand American law, and they must understand that enforcement is
a societal imperative. Dual systems of law cannot exist in America.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Some regulations extend certain
privileges to citizens while they are in their own homes or on their
own property, but these privileges are not sweeping, they are
specific (like the castle doctrine). The certain privileges do not
include abuse or honor killing. They do not include injury, theft, or
sedition.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We send people to represent us because
we believe we can be accurately and effectively represented. We put
enforcement strategies to work so our rules can be monitored and
honored, and so lawlessness can be prevented or confronted. We agree
that enforcement of the rule of law is a good way to maintain our
peace loving existence.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So our laws must be laws of the people,
and they must be enforced. We live in a country where there is one
culture that applies to every man, woman, and child. It is the
American law and order culture. It must sweep through every town and
it must be absorbed by every person within our borders. It must be
practiced as accurately and precisely as each person can do. In
little Italy and in Detroit and in every geographic place in America,
the American law and order culture must be upheld and honored by
every person, every family, and every community.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
How will we help every recent arrival
to the United States learn and understand his or her responsibility
to live within the American law and order culture from day one? How
will we create the understanding essential to meet this cultural
imperative from the first second spent and the first step taken by a
guest on American soil?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
E. Slater</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
image sethkravitz.com
</h4>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-81377355195497719002016-08-22T09:40:00.002-04:002016-08-22T09:58:23.198-04:00Human Worth, Economic Value, Poverty, and Education<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTtsGoIOQYoH8Iz3gvdjXw4RxkVQ5lIhzDcCX9BczrKuWoNQJ41lTLwlG2NaHc66z5bwjikC2Ea3lp-UvgZjibX3fNDKamGxDalqKO9oRFmC0Wt4PKh9gDCYPbd3tBKqBulL9H47gpv1n/s1600/Apple-chalkboard-book.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTtsGoIOQYoH8Iz3gvdjXw4RxkVQ5lIhzDcCX9BczrKuWoNQJ41lTLwlG2NaHc66z5bwjikC2Ea3lp-UvgZjibX3fNDKamGxDalqKO9oRFmC0Wt4PKh9gDCYPbd3tBKqBulL9H47gpv1n/s320/Apple-chalkboard-book.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm offering my opinion to David H. Freedman's <i>The War on Stupid</i>, where he makes the case that education and poverty are related and in his view, poverty seems to be winning. He finds what and who we should blame for this situation, and he suggests some solutions. I believe he has set up a straw man scenario that he says can only be solved with huge transfers of money. I'm in general disagreement with his socialist-leaning advocacy essay.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to clarify my point of view about human worth and personal value.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In our Western culture, we want to maintain that human life has worth equal to every other human life and every life is sacred.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We believe every human deserves to be treated as though he/she has equal worth.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Human worth applies to every human as an intrinsic characteristic, not as a value assigned by judgmental people.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every human has an economic value as a producer and as a consumer.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Human economic value is set through interactions by the person (or his/her broker) and the marketplace.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Human economic value is necessarily a judgment made by people being judgmental.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Human worth and human economic value are completely unrelated concepts.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a person who has been accused, tried, convicted, and sentenced for being the most judgmental man in the world, I'm particularly sensitive to writers who confuse human worth with economic value. So, <i>The War on Stupid People</i> struck me as being an essay confusing these two concepts. Mr. Freedman starts by borrowing phraseology lifted from concepts in <i>The Myth of Neurosis</i> by Garth Wood, 1986.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Those who consider themselves bright openly mock others for being less so.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* ...we maintain open season on the nonsmart.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* ...degrading others for being “stupid” has become nearly automatic in all forms of disagreement.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* ...this gleeful derision seems especially cruel...(to)...the less intellectually gifted.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">* Rather than looking for ways to give the less intelligent a break, the successful and influential seem more determined than ever to freeze them out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr. Freedman goes on to document reasons why human economic values matter in society and in the workplace, but his conclusion that an IQ gap diminishes a person's worth is illogical. He leaves no doubt that an IQ gap impacts a person's economic value, and I believe everyone would agree. After arguing correctly that low intelligence results in lower wage earning power for a majority of people, the author then tries to convince us that the strength of the link between poverty and struggling in school is as close to ironclad as social science gets. This is also correct for a large segment of the population. So what do we have? Education is less successful when students live in poverty. I agree this is often and needlessly true, but I contend that living in poverty and less successful educations are both effects of the same cause: <b><i>individuals failing to take personal responsibility</i></b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>...our government and society are not seriously considering any initiatives capable of making a significant dent in the numbers or conditions of the poor.</i> I agree, and that's why I'm interested in making a dent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr. Freedman offers answers:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>We must stop glorifying intelligence...</i> This answer is illogical. I say we must continue to be ambassadors in pursuit of intelligence through superb education processes. We should strive for excellence, efficiency, and a spirit of continuous improvement in this pursuit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>...provide incentives to companies that resist automation, thereby preserving jobs for the less brainy. ...discourage hiring practices that arbitrarily and counterproductively weed out the less-well-IQ'ed. ...the less brainy are... more aware of their own biases, less anxiety-ridden, and less arrogant, and this is why the less-well-IQ'ed should be given special privileges in hiring).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where would the incentive dollars come from? Obviously, from additional corporate and personal taxes. These answers are the ideologies of totalitarian control of an unfree population, where individual responsibility is usurped and suffocated by a Central Committee of the State.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>...smart people should not be permitted to reshape society so as to instate giftedness as a universal yardstick of human worth.</i> The author again confuses worth with economic value. I say the way free people should influence society is by being the best, most honest, smartest, and productive they can possibly be. The way to ensure freedom is for every individual to accept personal responsibility for improving and adapting their own lifestyles. Every adult should take personal responsibility for himself/herself, family, and for incapacitated citizens. Other people who can reasonably care for themselves are not your responsibility, and you skew the concepts of personal responsibility and economic value when you interfere in their reasonably capable lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a descriptive way to characterize Mr. Freedman's appeal to energize people whose feelings have been hurt, desperate to clutch for more esteem by opting for more free education money. He seems to advocate robbing the money from others who got theirs by following the rules of decency and fairness and who took personal responsibility to make the most of their educational opportunities despite their financial conditions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/07/the-war-on-stupid-people/485618/</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">image www.supportingeducation.org</span></div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-44504686336435457742016-07-05T15:24:00.002-04:002016-07-05T15:24:58.074-04:00Why do American Jews vote Democrat?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WQxQusVyECmk_eoSwKPbs1gORuxWv1AIaDsU232sXWkvXNz-U-8DYqR91tmJvThtodpIZCvs4cUbT5fXFdFGMdDJEWb1v9HuQp3hW9lDYx_2UgFyWaMiIgG-12vgHmR3zr3QbDoxRDWY/s1600/star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WQxQusVyECmk_eoSwKPbs1gORuxWv1AIaDsU232sXWkvXNz-U-8DYqR91tmJvThtodpIZCvs4cUbT5fXFdFGMdDJEWb1v9HuQp3hW9lDYx_2UgFyWaMiIgG-12vgHmR3zr3QbDoxRDWY/s1600/star.jpg" /></a></div>
For American Jews, being called racists would be their biggest shame. Only 41% of American Jews are practicing Jews. That leaves the 59% group identifying more with secularism than Judaism. Secular Jews don't regard the conservative teachings of the Torah to have influence over their un-Jewish lives. Over half of American Jews see their European roots as “the people who suffered the Holocaust,” and a great majority of Jews have very strong fears of being called “racist.” I'd say they've taken their Holocaust revulsion and made a solemn promise to “never act like a racist.”<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the Liberal machine has succeeded in convincing lots of voters that Republicans are gun nuts and racists. Of course, this is nonsense except for an uncountable small number of conservatives and Republicans. That's why lots of Jews vote against the Republicans who have been falsely characterized as Nazi-like racists.<br />
<br />
Jews tend to harbor sympathy for the little guy. There's been overwhelming victimhood rampant in<br />
American media stories. Jews cannot let go of the idea that big guys take advantage of little guys, and<br />
Republicans have been painted as big guys (Wall Streeters, CEOs, wealthy, rich, successful). I think it's uncomplicated as to why Jews huddle with the little guy, since Jews have always been treated like little worthless people. American Jews have been repeatedly convinced that American racism disadvantages American Muslims, too. How can Jews vote against their sympathetic alliance with anti-racist Democrats?<br />
Why can't Republicans shake the labels of “racist” and “bully?” It's because of a coordinated effective media message that comes from at least eleven seemingly solid news streams.<br />
• CBS<br />
• NBC<br />
• MSNBC<br />
• CNN<br />
• NYT<br />
• WaPo<br />
• Yahoo<br />
• ABC<br />
• PBS<br />
• Obama administration news conferences<br />
• Hollywood elite using a public spotlight to illuminate their scripted fights against the evil<br />
Republican straw man.<br />
<br />
Conservative points of view and honest unbiased reporting are routinely attacked. Outlets that dare to<br />
expose the Lib 11 are assassinated (virtually) and demagogued by the 11. By the way, the shame of “being thought of as a racist” is also one of the biggest factors causing lots of non-Jewish Americans to vote anti-Republican, and I think this one factor was the most influential in electing Obama twice. Even Bernie's “free stuff” policy can't out attract the Democrat mainstream candidate, Hillary. Hillary is assumed by many to be anti-racist. I think she also has unadvertised assets that cannot be beaten in an otherwise fair election.Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-71223379523413180802016-06-29T16:18:00.002-04:002016-06-29T16:21:40.015-04:00On Hillaryism<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Reference: From June 28, 2016 Elkhart Truth Opinion page: “Hillaryism is more of the status quo” by Charles Krauthammer</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RwOZBbXdToUqq-0zc9BLQ6Y_Qe_PbK68k-vaN2CToA1uGxhX4XZ571KbyZ70R0ZRL2ZCrZGVdRG834PM-EXI5BAeHR9kc_khyphenhyphen7DjXN72yKlV3t4z3WqZ98N1CR_I_dJtiXf9iTO6zivl/s1600/mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RwOZBbXdToUqq-0zc9BLQ6Y_Qe_PbK68k-vaN2CToA1uGxhX4XZ571KbyZ70R0ZRL2ZCrZGVdRG834PM-EXI5BAeHR9kc_khyphenhyphen7DjXN72yKlV3t4z3WqZ98N1CR_I_dJtiXf9iTO6zivl/s1600/mask.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Charles Krauthammer, in his “Hillaryism is more of the status quo” essay contends that the 8 year development of an Obama legacy is one of tired cliches and vacuous, meaningless political teleprompter rhetoric. It's a caution that the gold star that's missing from Hillary's candidacy package is not there because of those missing things that would matter most: honesty, heart, and compassion. Krauthammer leads you and me to conclude Hillary's character, though implied by other Pulitzer class purveyors to exist, is actually imaginary. Non-existent. What's there behind the curtain is a collection of sand and gravel salted with fool's gold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hillary, he says, is trapped by circumstance, and she doesn't have any ideas for a way out that would also propel America forward. Faced with the prospect of crumbling infrastructure, she has neither the means nor the inventive gravitas to conceive of real repair plans, only useless 4<sup>th</sup> grade Arbor Day-ish posters designed to lampoon the crumble.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Krauthammer seems to have witnessed and reported accurately what I'd call the whore's rouge and faux beauty marks masking the foot fungus of real Liberalism. He refers to underlying sclerosis, dysfunction, and the source of present day miseries in his description. He uses sufficient clarity mixed with thesaurus enriched metaphors to attract the attention of the Conservative audience to his point. His “say it like it is” reputation probably limits readership to the untainted and the unastray, unfortunately.</span></div>
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.1in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The reality of Krauthammer's 700 word “Hillaryism” essay is that only a small crowd around Elkhart County paid attention. My guess is that only a few percent of Elkhart Truth readers tried to absorb Charles' opinion. I wish it were more. How many readers just browsed the headline and moved on? Eventually, we'll try to analyze why the other 90-some percent of readers gave up and skipped over to read Dilbert.</span></div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-75495482565123495922016-06-23T23:12:00.000-04:002016-06-23T23:12:20.251-04:00A Real Gun Crime Solution Would Require a Year of Real Chaos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VqN533h-KNKvEKu3OUpxRzDMIX6iy6j1E5kEc-WoqW9LCTlplhexeCaFDsttHXPXgvJlEz8a5C0F9yQ0zUqEjndycuv2gKRpWQvutH96-snV82RtaVMEJ6nr-hA8X7ny5RvOjI4wdTNP/s1600/ar15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VqN533h-KNKvEKu3OUpxRzDMIX6iy6j1E5kEc-WoqW9LCTlplhexeCaFDsttHXPXgvJlEz8a5C0F9yQ0zUqEjndycuv2gKRpWQvutH96-snV82RtaVMEJ6nr-hA8X7ny5RvOjI4wdTNP/s1600/ar15.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'd say a push toward logical comprehensive background checks and earnest enforcement by dedicated federal, state, and local police working together to enforce existing gun permitting laws would be a great step. It's a move that would not prevent many gun crimes, though. Neither would confiscation. If we tried heartily to take guns away, there would be a period of angst, complaints, and near revolution. It would be hell in a concealed carry handbasket, and there would certainly be a period of extraordinary chaos. Do it yourself machinists would start uber-gun manufacturing plants in their garages. Guns and ammunition would go away into hiding places, but they would never disappear. Enforcement would probably result in extreme right to privacy debates, and searches would become intrusive. Politicians would fall into a crevasse of chaos, relinquishing their legacies to a list of “Twenty-First Century Dictators”.</div>
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Or, we could use up our chaos and privacy dividends by engineering a way to study, inquire, examine, and profile every person on American soil over the age of ten about their liklihood of going crazy with a weapon. I know there's a cadre of psychologists and social workers who could take on this job and do it well. There are hundreds of college and university sociology and psychology departments itching to develop a robust process. Their outcomes could probably defuse potential knife attacks, car felonies, bullying, bombings, abuse, and suicides, too. I'm high on the idea of investing the dividend in the kind of crime prevention that would have a chance of working to solve the root of the gun crime problem (which I'm sure lies in the mental health arena).</div>
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I'll voluntarily be first in line to be tested. If I'm a nut job, then take my pistol away from me. I promise I won't start any media chaos or whine about my right to privacy. And, if people in my sphere are outed as gun sociopaths, strip them of their weapons and help me keep my family safe.</div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058691650848287387.post-87628990144507617922016-05-20T11:15:00.001-04:002016-05-20T11:15:16.070-04:00Are the Super Rich Devouring My Modest Wealth?<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="story-heading"></a>From ‘The Age of Acquiescence,’ by
Steve Fraser<br />
<div dir="LTR" id="story-meta-footer">
Book Review by NAOMI KLEINMARCH 16, 2015 New York Times<br />
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“Could the superrich kindly cease devouring the world’s
wealth? And while they’re at it, could they quit using their
financial might to influence public policies that favor the rich at
the expense of everyone else?”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JMh7iv8kKh9Gvx-wDmcvWRLVcwwxRNQr2IT1FJZ6bKRo1nfZiD4ww_aF9IxLzW7KjD30j2SCoDl8-FZ2D2ayeqU5PZxLw_7EG6teku7P9QKNG8OxZ10KA4C8oumWJ7BkfIc5XZiWLwLm/s1600/dollar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JMh7iv8kKh9Gvx-wDmcvWRLVcwwxRNQr2IT1FJZ6bKRo1nfZiD4ww_aF9IxLzW7KjD30j2SCoDl8-FZ2D2ayeqU5PZxLw_7EG6teku7P9QKNG8OxZ10KA4C8oumWJ7BkfIc5XZiWLwLm/s1600/dollar.jpg" /></a></div>
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My response:</div>
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Lets see. Are the superrich dovouring
<i>my</i> modest wealth? There's my modest home equity. Are the
superrich eating up my home equity? How would I know? Maybe I won't
realize it until I try to sell my house. The superrich might be there
at the closing demanding a percentage. Will they demand a processing
fee or a recording fee? Certainly it won't be a broad daylight
mugging (I hope not). Oh, wait, that sounds like the government and
the realtors, not the superrich. The biggest hit on the value of my
home came in 2009 as a result of Freddie and Fannie's yielding to
Administration demands and the incompetent acquiescing of mortgage
lenders. That debacle has left me about 20% low. I doubt if I'll get
a rebound soon and I'm not blaming the superrich for that.</div>
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Are the superrich devouring my 401k? I
want to know the details so I can fend them off. Are they siphoning a
percentage every month? Maybe they take it at tax time as a
percentage or a fee. Do they have my account number? Oh, I get it.
It's the IRS. They're not the superrich, are they?</div>
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Could this theft of my wealth by the
superrich be in the form of inflation, where they make everything
else more expensive, reducing the buying power of my assets? Are
those superrich people causing inflation so my wealth will be
devalued? Are rich people raising the price of cars? I'll probably
need another one in about 6 or 8 years. Car prices might be a lot
higher and my income might not keep pace. Gotta think this through.</div>
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Are the superrich devouring my
priceless art collection? Haha, just kidding. But there are some
priceless assets I have here in my memento trunk. They'll still be
just as valuable ten years from now, so I don't think I'm losing the
priceless value of my family mementos.</div>
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How are the superrich influencing
public policies that favor the superrich? Are they using lobbyists?
What policies are being influenced? How are the policies impacting my
home value or my 401k? How are those policies driving up the cost of
my next Subaru? If public policies are pumping up inflation, don't my
Representatives and Senators have the brains to figure it out?</div>
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Something I do trust is supply and
demand as a fair and equitable driver for consumer prices. I
understand that when materials or services are impacted by shortages
or surpluses, shifting prices and availability of substitutes drive
the market back to equilibrium. But in a free market where innovation
is free to work, prices would be expected to go down, not up. In
markets with prices and quotas frozen by law, all bets are off
because prices and inflation both rise to a new (artificial)
equilibrium. How about the effect of the law? Industries operating as
monopolies are watched by our FTC, and to suspect there's a restraint
of trade through an evil monopoly seems unlikely without government
complicity. Hush my mouth about government complicity and explain the
role of the superrich here.</div>
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What if we authorized a fixed amount of
money and a tight credit limit? Would it be predictable that the
superrich would corner the money supply? Could we have a situation
where only the rich could buy goods? Who would produce the goods? Who
would fix the washing machine? Who would grow the potatoes and the
corn? Who would milk the cows? My questions are useless, because
other factors would be born to adapt to a fixed money supply. Barter
would be the currency of the less rich, and commerce would flourish
despite the lack of dollar bills.</div>
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I'm not getting the buzz about
domination by the superrich. In fact, I'm not convinced that there's
anything except envy driving this opinionated book and its review.</div>
Ed Slaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04530191364973844513noreply@blogger.com0