It seems that now that I understand I have Aspie traits, I tend to put all my trouble off to that condition. I have to quit doing that. Anxiety is one of those conditions that likely exists in almost everyone in one form or another. The other thing I am coming to recognize is that many of the Aspie articles seem to think that if … Continue reading About Social Anxiety… Part 1
I often take pride in living out of the mainstream in many parts of my life. My deafness of 35 years now, suddenly shut off communications to almost everyone around me. So, I became focused on what I COULD do instead of what I couldn’t. Because of my loss of hearing, my other senses became more enhanced. I feel things and see and feel things … Continue reading Sometimes I Just Want To Be Part Of The Crowd
I’ve been to about 35 State House complexes, but this one is the most unique library I have come across. If I recall correctly, and I may not, it was located in the main Iowa Statehouse building in Des Moines. Given that the Internet has mostly taken over information gathering now, I suspect this is more of a museum now. But, it’s worth preserving. I … Continue reading Iowa State Library
I’m almost ashamed to admit it, but I have been binge-watching the TV show “ER” for a month or so now. I have been watching two to three episodes a day, and I’m in Season 8 (of 15). I just watched the episode where Mark Greene died of a brain tumor. It brought tears to my eyes, especially the unfinished letter he wrote to the … Continue reading I’m Almost Ashamed To Admit It, But…
Stephen Mattson is one of those people I follow regularly. He definitely gives me things to think about. The more I study about Christian history, the more I realize the truth of these words. Continue reading Theology Policemen…
I’ve gone through thousands of small towns in my fifty years of traveling America. One of the things that always catch my attention are the faded signs of the past. I am always tempted to stop and try to find out a little about the sign, as I’m sure it has an interesting history. I did try once, but all I got were shrugs and … Continue reading Ghosts Of The Past
Over the years, I have tried dozens of Photo apps. I have finally found one that really pleases me. Is it perfect? No, but it is getting there. One of the things that appeal to me is the user interface. It is just easy to use. Another thing is the variety of effects that are available. The app is called BeFunky. It is primarily meant … Continue reading BeFunky
Like it or not, we are all in this together so, at least learn to get along with each other… Continue reading The Tree Of Life
I visited the Smithsonian for the first time during my high school senior trip in 1965. We were the first class to ever leave the State for our trip. We went to New York City and then Washington, DC. Until that time, I had barely been out of Indiana, so this trip was surreal to me. I was just a naive farm boy visiting the … Continue reading The Smithsonian
Before I get started here, this list comes from Warren Buffett. I’m simply borrowing it to show you how I stack up. If you want to see his words, click HERE. It seems kinda strange that Warren Buffett would know much of anything about “poor” people. He has been a multi-billionaire for as long as I have known him. Everyone knows the story about him … Continue reading 12 Things Poor People Waste Money On
I am really anxious to get started on this deeper level of understanding about what it means to be a Quaker. In 2010, I did a twelve part series on this topic. That was enough at the time, but now I need a more profound understanding of this version of Christianity. One of the primary reasons for that is I see far too many versions … Continue reading Quakerism – A Deeper Level of Understanding: The Methods
For the second post in this new Americana Project, I give you one of the most stunning pictures I have ever taken. Since simplicity, symmetry, and beauty are so essential to my life, and particularly photography, this picture HAD to be number one. Yes, I realize that it is a little blurry, but since it is a scanned version of a developed photo print, that … Continue reading Americana #2: Pleasant Hill Attic – Lexington, KY
(click on the photo to see a larger view) Welcome to the first post in the Americana Project here at RJsCorner. This picture was taken in 2011 during my fourth visit to Mount Vernon. The significant difference between this trip and the first one, was more attention was paid to the slaves that kept the place as beautiful as it is shown here. Mount Vernon … Continue reading Spring Flowers at Mount Vernon
I have spent a lot of time here on RJsCorner talking about what I think is presently wrong with the U.S. In the same light, I also talk much about what has happened to Christianity. I have written so many posts on these topics that some of my readers seem to have the impression that I hate God and America! I certainly need to do … Continue reading Introducing The Special Projects for 2023.
French philosopher Blaise Pascal once wrote, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” It was a simple and profound thought about the nature of boredom, self-awareness, and our endless capacity to distract ourselves with stupid stuff. I am so adamantly drawn by all those ancient philosophers, who get to the very core of many human experiences. Being … Continue reading The Fear Of Sitting Alone In A Quiet Room.
I wonder how many of you can guess what this picture is? It’s been more than 40 years since it was built, so I imagine that many of the recent generations don’t recognize. But, I’m pretty sure most of my generation will easily remember it. Continue reading What Is This?
I wonder how many were drawn in by the title of this post? 🥴 When I see words I don’t recognize, I immediately enter them into my New Oxford American Dictionary app that has permanent residence on my computer desktop. Here is what they say: To put the two together to form one thought, I recognize and accept my limited knowledge and understanding of the … Continue reading One Thing I Hope You Understand About RJsCorner Is My Epistemic Humility
Let’s open up the new series with a BANG! This question was posed to my Quaker mentor, Philip Gulley, not too long ago. In an article he wrote several years before this recent question, his answer was “yes”. In response to that same question posed recently, he said “no”. The point of starting this series with this question is to illustrate that our spiritual beliefs … Continue reading Quakerism Re-visited – Part 1: Did God Exist Before Man?
Over the years, I have come to relish my solitude. I simply enjoy my own company. Being around others, especially many others, is draining. I know this isn’t a normal thing for most humanity, after all, we are social creatures, or so the saying goes. I found the saying below so many years ago and I long since forgotten its source. Loneliness is being alone … Continue reading Loneliness is draining; solitude is invigorating
I have been kinda collecting these type saying lately, so expect numerous post with them in the coming month. Of course, I will also add a few words of my own about how successful, or not, I have been in applying them to my life. 🥸 Finding personal happiness seems to be on the top of my mind lately. I am, as my friend, Bob … Continue reading Mind Your Own Business
This post is a teaser for a new, or at least updated, special series coming to RJsCorner soon about the Quaker version of Christianity. I must admit that I am pro-life in all regards. The Quaker belief that “There is God in everyone” very much aligns with the spiritual part of my life. I studied Quakers more than a dozen years ago here on RJsCorner, … Continue reading About War & Other Such Things
I’m sure many of you will recognize the picture above, even if it is kinda abstract. This one was found in a Peoria Museum exhibit focused on Lego bricks. The painting Starry Night by Van Gogh has fascinated me from a very early age, and when the Don McLean song Starry Starry Night came out, that fascination was firmly set. If you want to see … Continue reading Starry, Starry Night
This quote could be a byline for RJsCorner. I have made more than my fair share of being wrong in my life. That seems to be my main specialty. In fact, one of my remaining themes in life is around this topic. I just hope I can help some people not to have to make the same mistakes as I have made. I’m pretty certain … Continue reading Listen To Your Elders
This will be one of my few political posts here on the new RJsCorner. I will try to stay out of the mud that normally lingers about this topic. Even though we are about 18 months before the next presidential election, It looks like the Democratic nominee will once again be Joe Biden. He has done a fair to middling job so far during his … Continue reading I Hope He Is Up To It…
During my recent visit with my brother down in North Carolina, I accompanied him to Easter Sunday Mass. It was the first time in over 50 years that I stepped inside a Catholic Church during its service. What I found totally surprised me. But first, a little personal history. I spent a good part of the first 25 years of my life as a Catholic. … Continue reading The Catholic Mass
Part of my vow to spend more time on my favorite things, and not worry so much about what other people say and do, is doing more cooking. I have been cooking for the vast majority of my life. I started out at the age of ten, cooking for dad, my brother, and me. Then I went to college I was part of a team … Continue reading These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things…
If I were to open a new restaurant today, I certainly wouldn’t call it the “Sanitary Restaurant”! I’m sure there are some places that are proud that they don’t get any serious violations by the health department, but I’m also certain they don’t mention it as a reason to eat there. “Eat here because, it’s sanitary” Now some background for this last on-the-road trip to … Continue reading On-The-Road, North Carolina: Part 3 – The Sanitary Restaurant
I didn’t realize that the saying “when pigs fly…” was as old as it was. According to Wikipedia, the phrase has been used in various forms since the 1600s as a sarcastic remark, meaning “never”. When I came across this guy during my recent visit to Berea KY Arts Center, I knew I had to purchase him for my collection. Continue reading When Pigs Fly…
My North Carolina trip was initially scheduled to be about two weeks long, but due to health issues it was truncated to 9 days. The primary purpose of the trip was to visit my “estranged” younger brother. I can happily say that part of the trip was a resounding success. I finally managed to let go of a contentious past that has separated us for … Continue reading On-The-Road: North Carolina – Part 2
It kinda seems like many of my major heroes in life are connected. I am currently doing research for a series of posts about Leo Tolstoy and have learned that Gandhi looked to him for inspiration. Then Martin Luther King Jr. looked to Gandhi for his inspiration. I suspect that if I studied it, some of these guys likely were inspired by my earliest hero, … Continue reading A Lover Of Peace…
I, too often, question why I need to learn something new every day. I rationalize that given the time I have left on this earth, why not just coast? Well, the answer to that is that the more you coast, the more your brain stops working. I realize that my mental acuity is getting worse as each day passes. Often times when I read something, … Continue reading Never Stop Learning
I have enough posts in my queue now, so I am opening the spigot today. When I was looking for a graphic for today’s post, I initially searched for a water spigot. But I think the picture here is a better fit. I plan to do more to celebrate each day as it comes. What better way to celebrate than with a good beer? 🥸 … Continue reading Turning The Spigot Back On…
My North Carolina vacation was cut a little short, but I am gladly back home again. I think my mind is finally wrapped around the idea that I am not 40-years-old, but instead, nearly twice that age. My back just couldn’t take any more of our pothole filled roads anymore. I’m ok, but I am going to take another week off to fill my post … Continue reading Back Home Again…
You won’t see much of me this week as I have been on-the-road to North Carolina visiting my estranged brother. Thank the Lord, we have remedied the “estranged” part. It was a VERY nice two day visit. I think some of the North Carolina Walters clan will be joining us here at RJsCorner. It will be nice to keep up with them, especially my brother, … Continue reading On-The-Road
Determining our path in life is a lifelong adventure. Yes, there are many off-ramps that we will likely take that sometimes lead us astray. There are also paths that seemed right at the time, but ended up being dead-ends. That’s OK, as long as we don’t linger too long in them. Every one of us has the right to choose our own path in life, … Continue reading The Path I Chose…
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