Category: *Having My Say

On Just About Everything

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Three Kinds Of Men…

RJ Walters

It’s been a few days since I visited a Will Rogers quote, so I spent hours going through my archives looking for just the right one to say what I currently feel.  Well, actually, it took about one minute before I found one that grabbed me. But, spending hours just seemed more dramatical. I am not so much lately but for most of my life, I have been an avid reader. Except for my initial introduction to this novels and such via the Hardy Boys, Steinbeck, London, and a few others I have just not been that interested in fiction. … Continue reading Three Kinds Of Men…

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The Top Ten…

RJ Walters

No, I’m not going to have a countdown of my top ten list but I did just establish a new set of categories entitled “My 10 Pillars” in the header menu here at RJsCorner to reflect the new direction I recently took for this blog. They are not in rank order as each is just as important to me as the other. In the past, many of my posts were political in nature but since that venue is now totally in the gutter I have for the most part chosen a new track. I know this is not the first time … Continue reading The Top Ten…

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$1,000 Dinner!

RJ Walters

In Will Rogers’ day during the Great Depression soup kitchens were where millions got their daily meal if they got one at all. I know a thing or two about soup kitchens as I volunteered in one for over eleven years. It was a very rewarding and eye-opening time for me I am not a “meat & potatoes” guy, but $1,000 for dinner seems pretty excessive. I guess if you are a billionaire or a CEO it probably only means an hour or so of work.  The new remodeled Eleven Madison Park restaurant is now charging that and reservation are made months ahead! Eleven … Continue reading $1,000 Dinner!

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(WS) As Goes California…

RJ Walters

For as long as I can remember California has been at the forefront of every significant social change.  All change in this country just seems to seep into the west coast and then dredge across the country until eventually, all those Northeasterners have adopted it. The Southerners seem to always be the holdouts until they finally are forced into it. Here are some words from the New York Times to show you that California is doing it again. They are teaching us how to reinvent ourselves in the Post-Trump era. The new California, back from years of financial trouble, has … Continue reading (WS) As Goes California…

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Good Judgment

RJ Walters

Good judgment comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgment – Will Rogers It’s time I put out a post on the new quote in the header above.  I think experience and wisdom often go hand in hand and as Will says learning from mistakes is a big part of it.  I personally think I can remember more details of the things I got wrong than the things I got right. Due to my Aspie characteristics, I made a lot of social mistakes. Looking back I can see where opportunities were presented to me that I … Continue reading Good Judgment

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How did I get inside this old body

RJ Walters

I have to give Mark Twain credit for the quote in the title above. Something happened recently to make this quote “How did I get inside this old body”  jump in front of me.  In my youth, when I visited my grandmother the thing I noticed first was the line of pill bottles that were on her dresser.  She seemed to always be taking her medicine. Fast forward to today, and given the fact that one of the most lucrative businesses to be in is pharmaceuticals,  it is no surprise that many people over 60 have medicine cabinets that dwarf my … Continue reading How did I get inside this old body

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Getting Your News From Facebook?

RJ Walters

I read a statistic the other day that almost half the folks under forty say their primary news source is Facebook? That totally astounded me. Yes, Facebook is a nice tool to keep up with family and friends, and even some not-so-friends but a primary news source? But maybe I am old-school when it comes to where I get my news.  I want my news to be verifiable and truthful, not just someone’s personal feelings.  I want it fact-checked before it is presented to me. It takes a lot of effort to accomplish this and that takes resources and organization. Hearing … Continue reading Getting Your News From Facebook?

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The Best Thing About The Worst Time…

RJ Walters

I think just about all of us can pretty quickly recall some of our worst times in our lives. For me, one of those times was the damage done to my wife when the small Evangelical congregation we belonged revoked my membership due to my failure to align with the belief that, among other things, the earth is only 6,000 year old and any seeming proof otherwise is just God trying to trick us.  My wife, who was recuperating from cancer surgery, was devastated by the rejection but even more so by the sudden loss of so-called friends there.  It … Continue reading The Best Thing About The Worst Time…

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Thank You For Your Service…

RJ Walters

I seem to often get Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day mixed up. Aren’t they both primarily to recognize our American soldiers?  I think maybe it is time to broaden the concept of one of those days.  We need to recognize others outside our military who provide us with valuable services. That is what this post is all about. Just what is the definition of “memorial”? Isn’t it as shown here to recognize meritorious service to our community.  Surely no one can argue that meritorious service is provided only by our soldiers. Shouldn’t we be also recognizing others on this day? When … Continue reading Thank You For Your Service…

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Without Pictures

RJ Walters

I know this is Sunday and that is usually where I  do my weekly Squawk, but for this week I will squawk tomorrow, Memorial Day, on a topic that needs extended words. All the blog pundits say to always include enticing pictures with each of my posts.  But is that really necessary? I see the opposite in some blogs I follow. One in particular always has a half dozen or so stock images strewn throughout the text. In my opinion, this blogger is a very talented writer and the images do nothing but distract from the story she is telling. I … Continue reading Without Pictures

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Long-armed Selfie?

RJ Walters

For this artsy Saturday, I thought I would give you a long-armed selfie from 30+ years ago. It’s kind of out of focus but it is one of my favorite early pictures of my hubby and me.  I really don’t remember where or exactly when it was taken but that doesn’t matter. I know that you primarily know me by my avatar on my comments and blog posts. I wanted to show you that have not always been bald or had a white goatee. :) Continue reading Long-armed Selfie?

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Part Of The Tribe…

RJ Walters

“It doesn’t matter how sleazy they are if they are part of your tribe you support them.” Has our politics degraded to this? Some of the pundits say it has but I think it might not be so I was in college in the 1960’s and I can remember that the nightly news was all about campus protests and sit-ins. If you believed the reports back then every kid who was in college was a pot-smoking hippie. The reality of it, for at least Purdue University, was that the vast majority of us were just going to classes and doing … Continue reading Part Of The Tribe…

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Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks

RJ Walters

I know the title of this post is a worn out cliche but it does kinda make sense for this post about WalMart taking on Amazon in the online market. Another worn out cliche that fits this scenario is “Better late than never”. It is still kind of hard to think of Walmart as “old-school”. I can remember when there were none of them around. I think of McDonald’s in the same vein. Both are trying to hold on to the dominance they once had in their markets while others are quickly eating their dinner so to speak.  McDonald’s, at … Continue reading Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks

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Just Sitting There…

RJ Walters

This post is in honor of the new Will Roger’s quote in the header above. For those folks who might be viewing the post from the archive in the future, I will put the words here too. There are some folks in the country that seem to believe that our best days are behind us and if we could just bring them back we would be in great shape. As Will tells us, the trouble with that is that they want to find that point in time and then just sit there forever. That simply won’t work as time has the … Continue reading Just Sitting There…

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They Won’t Listen…

RJ Walters

Sante Fe Texas joins the list of tragedies in local high schools. The scenario is all too familiar. A disgruntled teen is depressed and wants to go out in a flash of attention.  This time he got his weapons from his father’s stash but he could have just as easily bought them himself.  This national tragedy that very rarely happens in other countries continues… It seems that a very real reality for teenagers now is to consider the possibility that they will be shot dead before they graduate.  I can’t imagine having that feeling when I was their age! But … Continue reading They Won’t Listen…

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I Am A Writer…

RJ Walters

I am once again trying to get you to understand my obsession with writing. Or maybe it is to help me understand myself, I don’t know.  But, here goes. I am such a writer. It’s not even funny. I’m rarely blocked. If anything, I have more material to write, than I have time to write. That’s been the prevailing theme of my life: So many words, so little time. And some of the words are actually pretty decent. I devote my waking hours to noticing things and thinking about them in ways that few other people do. When other people … Continue reading I Am A Writer…

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The American Tractor

RJ Walters

In my recent theme for artsy Saturday of simplicity, I want to give a salute to the American tractor.  Two hundred years ago almost 90% of us were farmers who grew our own food.  Even a hundred years ago about 40% of us were in that same state. It took industrialization to drastically change those numbers.  Today, less than 2% of us are needed in that category. So, this picture is to celebrate the American farm and the Ford tractor.   Continue reading The American Tractor

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Scarcity Mentality…

RJ Walters

I truly believe that we are coming to a point in our country’s history where some very basic changes are about to happen.  One of those changes is the realignment of our political parties.  Another is that we will finally reject the idea that our best days are behind us. Today, after the financial crisis, the shrinking of the middle class, the partisan warfare, a scarcity mind-set is dominant: Resources are limited. The world is dangerous. Group conflict is inevitable. It’s us versus them. If they win, we’re ruined, therefore, let’s stick with our tribe. The ends justify the means… … Continue reading Scarcity Mentality…

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Coping With Dissappointments

RJ Walters

I know the quote above from Will and the title of the post seem kinda disjointed but hear me out before you pass judgment. :) I have always been a dreamer in life. One of my favorite things in my youth was to lay back on the lawn on a clear night and gaze unendingly at the stars and dream of what my future life would be about. I had high expectations in those years. I was abruptly introduced to the idea that your dreams and expectations are never as good as you hope or as bad at you dread.  Marriage … Continue reading Coping With Dissappointments

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What Other People Think About You…

RJ Walters

Are you a worrier? Do you worry about what other people think about you? If so, it just might be preventing you from being who you were meant to be. According to many studies, people driven by worry are some of the least happy people in the world. About the only thing that does more damage to your personal life than worry is an irrational fear. Worrying about what others think of you will prevent you from being real. It will prevent you from taking risks that will make you a better person. It will prevent you from being what others … Continue reading What Other People Think About You…

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(WS) A Filtered Version Of The Truth…

RJ Walters

“Spin” is very dominant in the world today. Marketers and con-artist, not that they are one always in the same, both have those who make “spin” their occupation’s purpose. Spinsters take a topic and try to weave a narrow vision scenario. Spin becomes a “filtered version of the truth”. Thanks to a commentor on a recent post, I have the perfect example to use on this Squawk post. Yes, it definitely depends on where you grew up. If you know history, you know that unions were one of the primary reasons we have a middle-class today. In the midst of the Industrial … Continue reading (WS) A Filtered Version Of The Truth…

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A Country of Immigrants…

RJ Walters

I want to start off this Cackle with the thought that we need to welcome a much higher number of people to our country than we presently are. Our immigration quotes are shamefully low. Being a self-proclaimed progressive liberal, it might be a surprise to you that I am not as entrenched in the immigration debate as I’m supposed to be.  I can see some logic in both sides of the argument. One thing I ran across recently that pushed me a little to the conservative side is the following quote: Giving amnesty to the “Dreamers” is like allowing the … Continue reading A Country of Immigrants…

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Wild Inspirations…

RJ Walters

I don’t try to understand how my mind works. But, I am totally happy that I get quick broad streaks of inspiration on a regular basis. Sometimes I get quick mental flashes that interrupt whatever I was doing that demands my immediate attention. In the past, I would most likely decide to write it down when I got back to my desk. But, of course, most often the thought would vanish as quickly as it appeared.  So, now I immediately jot them down. Getting to the point of the post, I have always admired those who can take a pencil/pen/brush and create … Continue reading Wild Inspirations…

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Wisdom Is Wasted On The Eldery

RJ Walters

I don’t know if I invented the phrase in the title above, I kinda doubt it, but it does pretty much describe how I feel about the subject. Getting to the very core of this subject I wish I had learned most of my lessons earlier in life.  What good is that wisdom now that I am out of the mainstream and heading downhill? If I had just learned some lessons earlier I could have more successfully addressed the problems in my life. I like to think that I am a better person as a result of looking at the world … Continue reading Wisdom Is Wasted On The Eldery

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The Capacity To Enjoy Less…

RJ Walters

Will Rogers is my favorite source for quotes but sometimes I discover wisdom elsewhere.  :) In this case, it is Socrates. For those who might not know the guy,  he lived 2500 years ago and is credited with being the founder of Western Philosophy.  His words above are probably more relevant today than when he originally spoke them. Now I know this message is very counter to capitalism and if it were fully practiced in the USA our current economic foundation would likely collapse. Our economy  depends on each of us spending more and more, so developing the capacity to enjoy … Continue reading The Capacity To Enjoy Less…

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Waiting In Line…

RJ Walters

I have never been a person who patiently waits in a line. It has always seemed like a total waste to me. I will most often do anything to keep from having to stand behind other people. Now that I have taken the “One day at a time” approach to life, I want to live what I have left of life as fully as I can. Waiting in line is just not in that scenario.  And as Will said in the quote above many things just aren’t worth the wait. Most of my grocery shopping occurs during the early hours when the store … Continue reading Waiting In Line…

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No Man Is Great If He Thinks He Is – Will Rogers

RJ Walters

The topic of this post is the new quote in the header above.  I imagine everyone with an IQ above a cucumber knows who I am talking about.  #CO3 thinks he is the greatest human being ever to walk the earth!  But, I guess there are also some around, who do have the IQ of a cucumber who agree with him. I’m sorry Will, but I gotta improve what you said here with some similar words of my own.  This one just seems more appropriate to today’s primary situation, doesn’t it? If my quote is applied, #CO3’s greatness is about … Continue reading No Man Is Great If He Thinks He Is – Will Rogers

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The Happiest People in the World?

RJ Walters

You know the old saying that “money can’t buy happiness”, and happiness is the most sought-after thing in life for most of us.  Happiness is even embedded in our constitution, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. So, the question is just what does bring on happiness. Obviously, money is not the answer so what is? To answer that question we need to find the happiest people in the world and ask them that question.  In the March 30, 2018 edition of The Week magazine, they identified Finland, closely followed by Norway and Denmark as the happiest people.  That just doesn’t make sense? For … Continue reading The Happiest People in the World?

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The Perfect Picture

RJ Walters

I have about 20,000 pictures in my personal portfolio. Probably one-third of them could be deleted and not really missed but that is beyond the purpose of this post.  I have a list of about a hundred or so that are 5stars. One of the top ten in that category is shown below.  I entitle it  “Box of Eggs”.  I think my attraction to this picture is because of its symmetry. My Aspie traits are particularly honed to order and symmetry. I found the picture in a Des Moines museum some years ago. So, for this artsy Saturday, I give you a “Box … Continue reading The Perfect Picture

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Everybody’s Happy But Me…

RJ Walters

Sometimes I get the feeling that I am the only one in the world that doesn’t lead an “Ozzie & Harriet” life. I know I am dating myself with that phrase as it refers to Ozzie and Harriet Nelson which was a TV show eons ago. :)  They were America’s ideal fantasy couple in the 1950’s. It seems my wife and I are constantly arguing about almost everything.  If I say up, she says down.  I have it seems more than my share of health maladies that plague me. Bad bones, a prostate the size of a watermelon (just kidding), a … Continue reading Everybody’s Happy But Me…

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The Land of Opportunity.

RJ Walters

We need the above quote now more than ever. With #CO3 trying to shut down our shores to keep everyone out, we must remember that is simply NOT what America is about. That paranoia is driven by the 25% of us who fear one thing or another.  #CO3 and his supporters see others different from them as potential competitors for jobs or at the worst as those who might do us harm or threaten their lifestyle or even their very lives. America has been and will be again the land of opportunity for each us who are willing to put the work in to … Continue reading The Land of Opportunity.

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(WS) I’ll Tell You What the Bible Says…

RJ Walters

While waiting for my car to be serviced recently I browsed a Barnes & Noble store.  I don’t do that often anymore as most of my purchases are now e-books. When I came upon the Bible section it suddenly caught my attention as to the number of books by people who propose to “tell” me about what the Bible says. For those who are unfamiliar with my history in this area, I spent several years diligently reading the Bible from cover to cover desperately trying to glean everything I could from it. Of course, before I even started that task I … Continue reading (WS) I’ll Tell You What the Bible Says…

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Over The Hill…

RJ Walters

Being over the hill is probably the most often used phrase for getting older. When you turn forty, at least for my generation, you were considered over the hill. My hero Will Rogers certainly was an inventive guy. The way he looked at life such as the words above is what inspires me. I have never really thought about it much, but I never did get the feeling that I was on top the hill.  My life has just been happening day-to-day.  Uphill-downhill seemed more like potholes in life. When I finally reached retirement, or should I say when it reached … Continue reading Over The Hill…

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My Life Sucks…

RJ Walters

I think there is a pretty fair part of the folks in this country who think their life sucks. They haven’t had a raise in umpteen years. They have to have someone to blame and that person is often those they see as getting the “breaks” in life. It’s pretty hard for them to admit that for the most part “my life sucks because of me”. That reality just doesn’t sink for most of us.  They say they are stuck in an area with no good paying jobs but they never consider moving to a more prosperous area.  They say the only … Continue reading My Life Sucks…

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A Nice Change…

RJ Walters

Since this is my “aging week” here on RJsCorner, I will flat out tell you that I am thoroughly enjoying my “golden years” and yes they are proving to be golden.  All my life I have fretted about the future. What will I be when I grow up? Is there some other occupation that I was really built for? Since I am a weird person, should I remain a bachelor? Should I try to get another job or just retire? So many questions about life when you are young. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed every minute of my time … Continue reading A Nice Change…

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Bragging About It…

RJ Walters

This and the next few posts are to honor of the new header above about Will’s quote on old age.  I don’t know quite what the definition of “old age” is but I kinda think I might be getting there. I just don’t understand how I got all the way to this point in my life? It seems like yesterday that I was in college working my butt off to pay for school and to graduate. Admittedly my high school memories are pretty sparse now. I played those years out in the background as a shy kid who was totally clumsy in … Continue reading Bragging About It…

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Breaking Down The Myths About Deafness

RJ Walters

On my post a while ago entitled “Life’s Lesson” I said there were ten things that I have learned in my life that I aim to put forward for your consumption here on RJsCorner. It is important to me and I kinda think it should be important to each of us that when we come across myths about living, we should do what we can to dispel the ones that are false. The three primary myths I have encountered that demand my personal attention are related to are deafness, autism, and old age. Of course, I am intimately familiar with … Continue reading Breaking Down The Myths About Deafness

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Repeal The Second Amendment

RJ Walters

Now before you jump on me with your rants, I am not trying to take your guns away from you. Being a history nut I realize that the second amendment is presently not interpreted as it was when it was originally written.  The primary part of it was the first words “In order to establish a well-regulated militia.” The underlying fear back then was that now that the federal government has a standing army it poses a threat to the security of the separate states, so each state needs its own standing army, just in case. But today, conservative courts have … Continue reading Repeal The Second Amendment

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The Passing of Sneezy…

RJ Walters

I regret to tell you that the Snow White team recently had a death among its members. Sneezy, after years of sneezing, had a heart attack. His system just could no longer take the stress. But the good news is Snow White has already found a replacement. The new member is, like the other six, is a little man but he has the illusions of being a giant. He also doesn’t seem to have the ability to tell the truth about much of anything. We don’t know if his untruthful ways are the result of just plain ignorance or maybe some … Continue reading The Passing of Sneezy…