Coming to Colorado - A "Joint" Mission?

Well, it's about time we engaged in a spirit of cooperation. It's about time we learned to share our defense strategies and technology with Russia. Maybe we should invite Iran and Syria as well. North Korea could bring cupcakes.


Russian Airborne Troops To Take and Hold Denver Airport in Joint Military Exercise

How silly that Rick Santorum would talk about "evil" in the world. All rational people know that there is no such thing as "evil" in our world, other than Republicans, conservatives, Christians, pro-Israel fanatics, anti-abortionists, and tea-party proponents. Other than those fringe elements, there is no such thing as "evil' in our perfect progressive world.

Once we are rid of these charlatans, there will be nothing to worry about. Everyone will conform, and accept their role as essential (although anonymous) cogs in the wheel of economic/environmental progress.

We will not question who is being enriched by our work. It won't matter. We will be happy to have purpose provided for us. Cradle to grave. Mindless, soul-sapping rape. And we'll say thank you, is there more?

One Swallow Does Not Make a Spring

I thought someone's grandmother made that up. I thought she might have been Pennsylvania Dutch. I even thought I could have come up with that thought, given enough time and paid vacation to consider such things.

No, it was Aristotle.

Just a little factoid I have learned through Hillsdale College's Constitution 101 online course.

Time well-spent.

Family Ties

Exploring family history is such an adventure. I recently discovered that 3 generations ago, a brother and sister in my family married a sister and brother of another family.  Poring through the marriages, the widowing, the re-marriaging, I am seeing a flow of life I never saw before.

I found one member of my family who listed his occupation on a census as a "tonsil artist". I thought that meant he was a surgeon, but no, he was a barber. A lot of occupations are listed as "coal miner" or "laborer" or "farmer." What would today's census look like? What would be the most common occupations? Economic Advisor? Marketing Engineer? Advocate for Social Equalization Services? Agricultural Consultant for Sustainable Growth?

What I am finding through family research is that family takes in family...people take care of each other. It's very uplifting.

Santorum Wins Three?

Rick Santorum has won three important victories. Yes, they are important to his candidacy, but they are more important to the conservative cause. I think it's a sign that the populace is finally voting its conscience, rather than resigning itself to an inevitable candidate.

I hope Santorum wins, and I believe that  he can. But even if he doesn't win the nomination, he has indelibly written the conservative message on the rock of the GOP.

Bravo, Rick Santorum! It's a challenge, not a contest, and we're all the better for that.

Romney Schomney

Well, it looks like Romney wins Florida. Hopefully, it's not "game over," although I have to say, I prefer Romney over Gingrich. It's a matter of temperment. Plus, I think Romney will make a better decision when it comes to a running mate - which I think will be the deciding factor.

The best conservative candidate is Rick Santorum, but things are just not going his way. So, if I have to choose between Romney and Gingrich, I will go with Romney. That's just my take. If I thought the general election was going to be won by debates, I might go with Gingrich, but I don't think debates will even be a slight factor in the general election. It's going to be a showdown based on vision, based on whether we still view America as an "exceptional" nation or not. Romney does present America as an "exceptional" nation, and he does it elegantly.

So while my ideology still aligns with Rick Santorum, my practical vote would be for Romney, if he becomes the nominee. If Gingrich wins the nomination, I'd have to rethink everything.

Ben Breedlove and the Other Side

I don't know the whole story on this video yet. This is part II - part I provides a little more background about Ben Breedlove and his health condition. What strikes me about this video is his description of the near-death experience. The light; the peace; the wanting to stay there. I had a similar experience, but I would describe it as an "awareness of being," rather than near-death, or cheating death.

He talks about his favorite rap artist, Kid Cudi, and a particular recording, "Mr. Rager" — weirdly enough, my maiden name is Rager, so I looked up the lyrics and the official video. I have to admit, it made no sense to me. It was very dark and depressing.

I couldn't make out from the "Mr. Rager" video whether they were pronouncing the name "Rager" with a soft "g" or a hard "G" - the proper pronunciation is with a hard "G." But who's to say what is "proper?"

The Wizard of Oz...A Different Take

Here's a very different perspective on the story of the Wizard of Oz. Could it have been an allegory, commenting on the political and economic climate of the day? It's an interesting theory. Did you know that in the original story, Dorothy's shoes were made of silver - they were NOT ruby slippers!

Money and Politics in the Land of Oz - from The Independent Review, published by The Independent Institute.