People Writing Songs That Voices Never Share…
I suspect some of you recognize the title words above but many, especially the younger generations, don’t have a clue. These words come from one of my all-time favorite songs entitled The Sounds Of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel. The song was popular in the 1960s and its message was typical of many folk songs during that era. I keep a copy of the lyrics around to remind me of it. To finish the verse including the title above: And in the naked light I saw Ten thousand people, maybe more People talking without speaking People hearing without listening People writing … Continue reading People Writing Songs That Voices Never Share…
About Will Rogers…
I will shout as clearly as I can that Will Rogers is one of my primary heroes. Here is what Wiki says about him. Known as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son”, Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee Nation family in Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma). He traveled around the world three times, made 71 movies (50 silent films and 21 “talkies”), wrote more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns, and became a world-famous figure. By the mid-1930s, the American people adored Rogers. He was the leading political wit of his time, and was the top-paid Hollywood movie star. Rogers died … Continue reading About Will Rogers…
Celebrating Our Disabilities and Our Personal Failures…
I want to forewarn you that this post is going to include some ranting and will probably offend some people. I am sorry if that offends you but I need to speak my mind on this topic. People who don’t come here often probably don’t know that I am deaf. I went deaf about thirty years ago from a congenital disease. Before you ask, no a cochlear implant is not a possibility for me. When I started going deaf I was first exposed to the “Deaf” community (with a capital D”. To them being deaf is something to be celebrated! Most … Continue reading Celebrating Our Disabilities and Our Personal Failures…
Oklahoma State House..
The picture above is of the ceiling of the senate chamber of the Oklahoma Statehouse. I have quite a story to tell about it. I have probably visited about 30 statehouses in my travels and this is the only one that tried to restrict pictures being taken. I guess fear of terrorists is at the core. I did manage to get several pics before I was warned that “pictures are not allowed in this area”. The building is such a beautiful place its a shame they don’t want you to have a lasting memory of it. Continue reading Oklahoma State House..
As Obamacare Takes Hold, Unpaid Hospital Bills Vanish – Forbes
As hospital operators begin to report second period earnings — the sixth consecutive quarter of new revenue from once uninsured patients — the number and size of unpaid medical bills continues to fall thanks to the Affordable Care Act. SOURCE: As Obamacare Takes Hold, Unpaid Hospital Bills Vanish – Forbes. If all those idiots in congress who are so adamant in taking away healthcare to those who couldn’t afford it without ACA were to concentrate on making the law better instead of trying to abolish it significant improvements could be made. There has probably been billions of dollars spent on … Continue reading As Obamacare Takes Hold, Unpaid Hospital Bills Vanish – Forbes
Making Up My Mind…
This is kind of a companion piece for this morning. There are just too many of us who almost blindly follow the “talking heads” of their choice. “If Fox News says it, it has to be true.” Independent thought is critical to making a democracy function and we seem to be losing that in giant chunks lately. Thanks Paul for this vital message…. Continue reading Making Up My Mind…
Social Justice Is a Christian Tradition — Not a Liberal Agenda
Many Christians are wary of participating in social justice because of a deep-rooted fear of being labeled “liberal,” “progressive,” or “secular.” They don’t want to be associated with “secular” movements, and are uncomfortable delving into issues that go beyond their cultural comfort zones. But the Bible tells us that Jesus cared deeply about the social causes around him…. Christians do a disservice to the gospel message by removing the cultural context from Jesus’s ministry and watering down his message to one of religious platitudes. We like to generalize the words of Jesus and transform his life into a one-size-fits-all model … Continue reading Social Justice Is a Christian Tradition — Not a Liberal Agenda
Virginia shooting proves Americans aren’t numb to tragedy..
For decades, members of the news media have struggled to determine whether a gruesome photograph or video crosses the line from newsworthy to something so disturbing that it is potentially harmful. Source: Virginia shooting proves Americans aren’t numb to tragedy — we just have a higher tolerance for it – Yahoo News Sadly we seem to get a weekly dose of tragedy of gun violence in this country. The stats show that we kill each other with our guns more than terrorists kill others in the world. Are guns the sole cause of al this? Of course not but in … Continue reading Virginia shooting proves Americans aren’t numb to tragedy..
The Rich Get Richer… Or….
Thanks Dan for reminding us what is really tragic. Continue reading The Rich Get Richer… Or….
Mills of Bygone Days…
Like so much around today the rural mills are fast becoming a thing of the past. I guess at the corporate farm level they take their grain directly to their corporate supplies. I found this mill about 40 miles east of Amarillo Texas this spring. Continue reading Mills of Bygone Days…
You Can’t Go Home Again…
I recently made a ten-hour walking tour of the college I graduated from. I had briefly driven around campus a few time before but never got out of the car. It was fifty years ago this month that I had my first … Continue reading You Can’t Go Home Again…
White Innocence..
There is a bush that we planted fifteen years ago that gives us twice annual beauty. I don’t know what kind it is, that is my wife’s thing, but I do appreciate it very much. It continues to thrive even though it took a pickax to plant it in the very rocky soil… Continue reading White Innocence..
Apple Live TV ….
Apple Inc. customers waiting for the company to revolutionize live television as it did for music and phone service will have to keep waiting, at least until next year. Source: Apple to delay live TV service to 2016 – Yahoo Finance. It is amazing how so few companies can change our culture so dramatically. Apple is certainly one of them. They revolutionized the music business so quickly. Gone are the black disks of my generation and now even tapes, CDs, DVDs, and record stores. Amazon is another who is shaking up the retail business. Where locally there are hundreds of choices, … Continue reading Apple Live TV ….
Old Time Tractor
I Am A Jon Stewart Fan… After The Fact…
He nailed the insane reason we still need to talk about climate change Yes, 99.9% of the scientific literature shows that climate change is real and worsened by the things we do every day, like driving cars and burning fossil fuels. Yet political representatives who continue to deny that very real science continue to serve on government science committees. In September of last year, Stewart nailed Representative Larry Bucshon (R-Indiana) for saying the science on climate change “still isn’t clear.” … “If scientists could be bought,” said Stewart, “these companies would have already made it rain in nerd town.” He pinpointed exactly why health care just can’t … Continue reading I Am A Jon Stewart Fan… After The Fact…
Museum of Indian & Art Culture – Santa Fe NM
The pictures shown in the slideshow are from the grounds of the Museum of Indian & Art Culture in Santa Fe New Mexico. It is a fantastic place to visit. Santa Fe is quickly become my favorite city on Native-America … Continue reading Museum of Indian & Art Culture – Santa Fe NM
States By Population..
An interesting way to look at our country. It helps you understand how all those very small conservative States have so much power over the majority of us in the U.S. congress. Continue reading States By Population..
Like a Death Wish… I Can Only Hope….
Last week, Jeb Bush told an audience in California, “It is strength, and will, and clarity of purpose that make all the difference.” This is the Tinker Bell school of foreign policy that has spread over most of the Republican presidential field. Clap if you believe in a stable Middle East where Syria is rid of ISIS, Al Nusra, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and any Iranian influence. Clap if you believe Iraq will be safe for religious minorities and free of undue Iranian influence, too….. As an electoral strategy, it is absolutely nuts that Republicans would preemptively tell the American … Continue reading Like a Death Wish… I Can Only Hope….
Lincoln Museum – Springfield IL
Abraham Lincoln is one of my favorite presidents. His library in Springfield Illinois is and impressive place. The pictures here are life-like figures from his cabinet. Most of these guys thought he was just a yokel who could be easily … Continue reading Lincoln Museum – Springfield IL
The Great Rocky Mountains..
Its been a while since I used my painter app on one of my photos. The app has many different style options but I kind of like this one.. Continue reading The Great Rocky Mountains..
RJ's Corner - Having My Say 