Ain’t That The Truth….

“Party Politics is the most narrow minded occupation in the World.” – Will Rogers, 29 March 1925 It is sad to say that this is probably more true today than even in Will’s Day.  But then again the Republicans in Will’s day were fighting just as hard against Social Security and the WPA as they fight today against immigration, helping the poor and healthcare for … Continue reading Ain’t That The Truth….

The Worst President Ever….

I laughed out loud. Couldn’t help it; I had just overheard Mr. Newport Beach say something about how Obamacare is an unmitigated disaster despite how, of course, it’s not, and if America were to somehow actually develop a health care system similar to, say, Canada’s, that would be the end of America for certain; we’d never recover from such a devastating blow. Or something. And … Continue reading The Worst President Ever….

Bitter Rivals….

Apple and IBM are teaming up to bring iPhones and iPads to business customers, the two companies said in a surprise announcement Tuesday. In a wide-ranging partnership, the two tech giants that were bitter rivals for decades will create a suite of apps and services aimed at enterprise clients…. “For the first time ever we’re putting IBM’s renowned big data analytics at iOS users’ fingertips, … Continue reading Bitter Rivals….

Yin/Yang and American Culture…. Parent /Child Relationship

Due to these blurred role expectations for adults and children, grown-ups have become a dying breed in America. According to writer and speaker Robert Bly, one-third of adult Americans are actually half-adults. “We have become a nation of squabbling siblings. We have abandoned our children to day-care centers and our elders to old folks homes, while we, like Peter Pan, simply ‘won’t grow up.’” Bly … Continue reading Yin/Yang and American Culture…. Parent /Child Relationship

US continues its losing streak in health care quality comparison

The U.S. spends the most of any country on its health care system, and yet it ranked the lowest out of 11 industrialized nations in overall healthcare quality, according to a report published Monday by the Commonwealth Fund.The report, which covered the years 2011-2013, compared more than 80 indicators of U.S. health care spending, quality and performance to the likes of Australia, the United Kingdom, … Continue reading US continues its losing streak in health care quality comparison

Personal Finance Classes???

Americans tend to score poorly on financial literacy tests, but it’s not entirely their fault: School systems don’t generally require personal finance classes, and many parents feel ill-equipped to pass on big lessons about spending, saving and investing to their kids. Here are ten basic tenants you should know in order to navigate today’s financial world: You have to earn more than you spend. SOURCE: … Continue reading Personal Finance Classes???

Christianity is Illogical and Anti-Science…

This is the last post of my blog series around Stephen Mattson’s post about the misconceptions about Christianity.  Christianity is Illogical and Anti-Science Christianity is often stereotyped as being anti-science, anti-academic and anti-intellectual. The reality is that many Christians embrace science and the exciting discoveries that it includes. Additionally, many believers aren’t opposed to doctrines that heavily involve scientific data and research: evolution, global warming, … Continue reading Christianity is Illogical and Anti-Science…

Yin/Yang and American Culture…. Remaining Active

This is a continuation of my Friday posts about the book “Yin/Yang and American Culture” by Kim Eun. It is a book well worth reading about the differences between America and much of the rest of the world. This post is about remaining active in our senior years. Although America is criticized for its youth-oriented culture, American elders enjoy more productive lives than their Asian … Continue reading Yin/Yang and American Culture…. Remaining Active

I Don’t Have Anything Against Rich Guys….

A stagnant economy has undoubtedly put a lot of financial stress on the middle class. And that is bumming out America’s 1 percenters. “Our country is rapidly becoming less a capitalist society and more a feudal society,” entrepreneur Nick Hanauer wrote recently in Politico, in an open letter to “my fellow zillionaires…. “If we don’t do something to fix the glaring inequities in this economy, … Continue reading I Don’t Have Anything Against Rich Guys….

Unfortunate Realities….

1. You will spend your life chasing a net worth number you think you will make you happy, but never get there. People talk about their “number,” or the amount of money they think will make them happy and content. I’m convinced these numbers are what most people live for. But they’re dangerous. People are bad at forecasting almost everything, but trying to predict how … Continue reading Unfortunate Realities….

Hope vs Cynicism…

WASHINGTON AP — To hear President Barack Obama describe it, there’s a creeping case of cynicism setting in across the country, leading Americans to suspect that not only is Washington broken, it’s beyond fixing. If that line of thinking continues, it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy with dire long-term ramifications, Obama says. If compromise-minded Americans get so frustrated they just tune out, lawmakers will feel … Continue reading Hope vs Cynicism…

Christianity is a Morally Superior Community…

The Community is Morally Superior Christians are sinners just like everybody else. If you’re expecting a perfect utopian environment of honesty, generosity, kindness, respect and inclusive love within Christianity—prepare yourselves for heartbreak. Churches, Christian organizations, spiritual leaders and the people representing Christianity will eventually fail you. Christian communities are far from ideal. Many enter churches assuming that everyone is going to be supportive, wonderful and … Continue reading Christianity is a Morally Superior Community…

Yin/Yang and American Culture…. Disabilities

A few months after I came to America, one of my American friends showed me a picture of her sister. “Isn’t she precious?” she said. I was taken aback ; her sister had Down’s syndrome. On another occasion, when I first met my new neighbor, she revealed that she had a mentally retarded son who was sixteen but had the mental capacity of a five-year-old. … Continue reading Yin/Yang and American Culture…. Disabilities

86% of strident conservatives think the poor ‘have it easy’

86 percent of strident conservatives think the poor ‘have it easy’ Illustrating the deep divide between GOP versus Democratic support for policies most benefiting the poor, a new Pew survey finds that a whopping 86 percent of steadfast conservatives think the poor “have it easy.” Similarly, business-minded Republicans 77 percent and young Republican-leaning adults 81 percent feel the same way.   That sentiment underpins Republican … Continue reading 86% of strident conservatives think the poor ‘have it easy’

Why You Shouldn’t Regret Taking Benefits at 62

Consider this headline from a recent survey of retirees: “Many Regret Decision to Take Social Security Early.” Sounds ominous, right? Well, the problem is that the title isn’t entirely supported by the survey’s actual results, which found that only 38% of respondents “say they wish they would have waited” longer before taking benefits. According to this, in other words, somewhere along the lines of 62% … Continue reading Why You Shouldn’t Regret Taking Benefits at 62

Christianity Causes Prosperity…

This is part of the continuing series about the misconceptions of Christianity by Stephen Mattson. Christianity Causes Prosperity Some treat Christianity as a cash cow, a way to become “blessed,” “rich” and “successful.” But this was never Jesus’ intention. Becoming a Christian doesn’t guarantee financial, relational, physical, intellectual, emotional or professional gain. Many have used the allure of “being blessed” and “getting rich” as a … Continue reading Christianity Causes Prosperity…

Yin/Yang and American Culture…. Women

This is a continuation of my Friday posts about the book “Yin/Yang and American Culture” by Kim Eun. It is a book well worth reading about the differences between American and much of the rest of the world. This post is about American Women… “There are two kinds of women in the world: American women and women.” This is a joke among Asian men doing … Continue reading Yin/Yang and American Culture…. Women

Common People….

Nobody wants to be called Common People, especially common people.” – Will Rogers, 21 June 1925 Ain’t that the truth Will, even in the 21st century. It is always surprising at how many people claim themselves to be middle-class versus those who really are. According to Wikipedia most researchers put the middle class in two categories: Upper Middle Class – Those are folks who earn … Continue reading Common People….