Rationalization (making excuses) ….

In psychology and logic, rationalization (also known as making excuses) is a defense mechanism in which perceived controversial behaviors or feelings are logically justified and explained in a rational or logical manner in order to avoid any true explanation, and are made consciously tolerable – or even admirable and superior – by plausible means. Rationalization encourages irrational or unacceptable behavior, motives, or feelings and often involves ad hoc hypothesizing. This process ranges from fully conscious (e.g. to present an external defense against ridicule from others) to mostly subconscious (e.g. to create a block against internal feelings of guilt). People rationalize … Continue reading Rationalization (making excuses) ….

The Rich Get Richer….

“There is one rule that works in every calamity. Be it pestilence, war or famine, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” – Will Rogers, 1 November 1929 Notice this quote was only a couple of days after the giant stock market crash starting the Great Depression. That day wiped out a lot of “paper” fortunes and a lot of real jobs. It would be more than a decade before we began to really recover. And that even took a world war to accomplish.  While we have faced many more calamities in the years since nothing compares to … Continue reading The Rich Get Richer….

The Campaign to Kill Killer Robots Gains Steam…

A slew of reports over the last two weeks detailing cases of U.S. armed drones killing civilians signaled a new wave of outrage over the unregulated use of drones by the U.S. There was one report from the United Nations, another from Human Rights Watch, and one from Amnesty International. The uproar—and the sense that Washington has done little to make more transparent its use of drones—culminated in a debate Friday at the UN. But a parallel movement has emerged to make sure that a different and perhaps more terrifying technology never makes it this far. The Campaign to Stop … Continue reading The Campaign to Kill Killer Robots Gains Steam…

Still Clinging To My Hard Copy Magazines….

I guess I am of that rare breed who actually gets a weekly hard-copy magazine. That magazine is Time. Each weekly issue rests on my bedside stand and is read nightly until completed. I think maybe Time is the only weekly magazine left with my political slant. There is just something about actually holding the info in my hands that still appeals to me. Now don’t get me wrong, 95% of what I read is probably digital. I have a Kindle Reader for most of my books now and part of my regular daily activity is spending about an hour at … Continue reading Still Clinging To My Hard Copy Magazines….

Fundamentally Wrong…

  As she is currently in my Inspiration Hall of Fame I must admit that Elizabeth Warren inspires me. She seems to really care about all the people instead of just the biggest donors. She says things that need to be said but are just too bold for many to say. I see where the Tyco CEO who was convicted of looting billions from his company is soon to be out on parole. I also know that there are millions who will spend the rest of their lives behind bars because they had a little too much cocaine in their … Continue reading Fundamentally Wrong…

6-Year High Schools….

Having only a high school degree means a future of $15 bucks an hour or below. But only a quarter of students who enter community colleges actually graduate (the rates are only slightly better at 4 year schools). Meanwhile, many of them that do graduate have skills that aren’t suited to the jobs they’ll actually need. We’re graduating too many sports marketing experts, and not enough web programmers, and so on. SOURCE:  Foroohar: To Compete, America Needs 6-Year High Schools | TIME.com. Let’s face it having a high school diploma just doesn’t mean much anymore. I don’t know if that … Continue reading 6-Year High Schools….

Diversity Is More Than Race….

To some the word diversity is a threatening one but I hope most of us realize that as a nation and even a world diversity is to be celebrated. It means that we are different from each other. It means that we have different approaches and perspectives to life. It means that it is not a boring vanilla world but a multi-colored rainbow. ;) To many, if not most people, diversity means different races of people. But another big part of diversity, at least in my mind, is our physical condition. I like to think that as a deaf person … Continue reading Diversity Is More Than Race….

A Change In Direction…

I have not looked at any politics of the day for more than a week now. I have even reconfigured my daily internet reading to remove politics as a point of focus. That alone has helped to significantly brighten my general attitude toward daily living.  To complete this refocus I have decided to take the blog in a slightly different direction. I will no longer be talking much about the politics of the day but will instead be concentrating more on things more positive.  Things like what makes us who we are, and of course a usual dosage of Will Rogers … Continue reading A Change In Direction…

Heeding His Call….

We must recognize that Jesus’ life and teachings have no resemblance to the lifestyles we have set for ourselves. So we can go on using his name and ignoring his message . . . or we could start calling ourselves something different . . . or we could practice squeezing ourselves through the eye of a needle . . . or we could do the really hard thing – earn the label we have been wearing and heed his call. SOURCE:  Kathy Vestal: I Tithe…but should it go to my local church? | Red Letter Christians. Continue reading Heeding His Call….

Theological Certainty…..

Jesus Avoided Theological Certainty Within the New Testament, the people Jesus seemingly condemns the strongest — and most frequently — are the ones who have the greatest amount of theological certainty — the Pharisees. The spiritual leaders, the most prestigious religious institutions of the their day, the ones who were the most confident, the most sure and vocal about theology, were flat our wrong — and Jesus called them out on it. This should be a warning to us all. Much of Jesus\’ teaching was confusing, complex, and often created more questions than answers, and that\’s OK. Even His own … Continue reading Theological Certainty…..

Buy Nothing Day – Enough is Enough…

I just needed permission to say ENOUGH! – ENOUGH to the frenzied rush to buy stuff for people who already have everything.”Enough to the myth that happiness must be purchased. Enough to an economy that is awarding CEOs salaries 500 times that of their workers and still manages to seduce people in poverty and wealth alike to give more money to these predatorial corporations. Enough to the American dream that now consumes over 40 percent of the world’s stuff with less than 6 percent of the world’s resources. Enough to a dream that would need four more planets if the … Continue reading Buy Nothing Day – Enough is Enough…