On July 2nd Nkechi Diallo was booked and fingerprinted after being arrested for theft by fraud and perjury. In case you've forgotten, or (reflecting greater emotional IQ) never knew, Diallo was known previously as Rachel Dolezal. I suppose most of us have at least some idea of who this yoyo is but a brief run … Continue reading Thank You Nkechi
Secular Religion: Jesus For the Faithless
Living in a post 911 world I imagine that many readers might think that traditional religions offer a more immediate and present danger to us than the type referred to in the title. If you read a daily paper or watch any news on t.v. there is no shortage of stories featuring absolutely lethal fundamentalist … Continue reading Secular Religion: Jesus For the Faithless
A Farewell to Better Angels
In a speech before parliament (House of Commons) in 1826, John Hobhouse first coined the phrase, The Loyal Opposition. Predicated on the idea that a functioning democracy requires it's legislative bodies to be able to voice their dissent without fear of accusations of treason, it entered the lexicon as a specific term regarding British governmental … Continue reading A Farewell to Better Angels
Nothing In, Nothing Out
I am, by trade, a pediatric echocardiographer. Practicing for more than twenty years now, I have come into contact with tens of thousands of kids. No small percentage of them have been either college age or college bound high schoolers. During their examination I try and put them at ease by discussing, amongst other things, … Continue reading Nothing In, Nothing Out
Mindful Dressing, Mindless Culture
A while back (April 30th), the New York Post ran a piece focused on mindful dressing. For those blissfully unaware (as I was) of this new bit of societal mishegas, mindful dressing is all about the impact that that our choices in apparel have on us. Apparently it involves someone known as a fashion mentor. … Continue reading Mindful Dressing, Mindless Culture
The Song and…
Driving home today I caught about half of "The Long and Winding Road" on the radio, and experienced the wave of vague melancholy that I'm prone to when listening to the song. Part of that is the movement of the melody between tonic (E Flat major) and it's relative minor (C). The lyrics also play … Continue reading The Song and…
More Than One Road to Perfect
As a boy I loved going to the movies. With family or friends when I was little, on my own as I slipped out of childhood, I was seldom more dependably happy than when I was settling into a theater seat as the lights went down. The darkness helping me focus on the screen in … Continue reading More Than One Road to Perfect
Willie And Joe: A Life In Words
My mother turned eighty nine a little over a month ago, and it is not going well. Age has hit her in most of the ways it can; diminished in all capacities, the already considerable psychological issues of her younger life exacerbated to cartoonish proportion. I suppose there are people who manage to get older … Continue reading Willie And Joe: A Life In Words
Driverless Cars Can’t Be Any Worse Than Brainless Drivers
Recently, I have become aware of an increase in concern regarding the inexorable move towards automation. Surprisingly more of this kind of talk seems to be centered on the potential perils of self driving automobiles as opposed to job displacement via robotics. I understand the odd, eerie feeling that the thought of not seeing a … Continue reading Driverless Cars Can’t Be Any Worse Than Brainless Drivers
Without Limits
As we begin to move into spring I find my self in an oddly cheerful place. Stay with me, I know how that sounded. Spring is, for most of us, a time of rebirth, life, possibility. I understand all that, and to some extent share in that sense of hope. Being of eastern European heritage, … Continue reading Without Limits
Just Thinking 