This priceless gem, from a colleague at the Church of God International Offices: I have discovered the difference between a northern fairytale and a southern fairytale. A northern fairytale begins, "Once upon a time..." A southern fairytale begins, "Y'all ain't gonna believe this..." This should be enshrined at Rock City.
Even the Sharks in Palm Beach Have a Social Season, and a Note About Republican Activist Helen Cluett
And in this case I'm not referring to the attorneys: Sharks gathered off Reef Road Thursday morning, but were not moving into public swimming areas. Mark Hassell, town lifeguard supervisor, reported Thursday that no sharks were seen congregating at Midtown Beach or Phipps Ocean Park. Both public beaches remained open. Midtown Beach was closed for …
Elitist Snob Advice: Stop Blaming the Republicans Because Your Agenda Isn't Passing
It's hard to catalogue all of the whining that our President and other members of his party have made because a) the Republicans have opposed their agenda (health care, cap and trade, card check, etc.) and b) it has not passed as a "consequence" of this. If we look at this objectively, however, we come …
John Kenneth Gaibraith, the Real Elitist Snob
If Galbraith, whose economics are back in vogue again, wasn't one, they don't exist: Here we reach the heart of the matter. Galbraith’s thinking about social and economic matters was always de haut en bas; his solutions emerged from the Olympian heights of his own ratiocination, to be applied to the clueless multitudes below. (No …
Continue reading "John Kenneth Gaibraith, the Real Elitist Snob"
Highway Bill Hits the Pothole of Politics
Our government loves to spend money, but not on really productive pursuits: Washington’s focus on jobs and search for revenue keep transportation bill parked in Congress The drumbeat of jobs, jobs, jobs in Washington and debate on financing have become major roadblocks to getting a six-year $500 billion transportation bill into gear and onto a …
Continue reading "Highway Bill Hits the Pothole of Politics"
Some Thoughts on the Engineering Profession
This is a very old piece, dating from the late 1990's, which I am reposting on this site. It's still relevant for a number of reasons, not the least of which to address an issue that became a hot topic in the following decade: the concept that science and religion are mortal enemies and mutually …
Continue reading "Some Thoughts on the Engineering Profession"
Directing the Federal Reserve for Dummies: A Guide for Clueless Directors
That's what it looks like to me: The Federal Reserve, in what one can assume is likely a very critical resource for bank directors, says that while newly appointed Bank Directors may have such mission critical skills as "basic management experience and skills, an inquisitive attitude, and a willingness to commit time and energy to …
Continue reading "Directing the Federal Reserve for Dummies: A Guide for Clueless Directors"
A Real "Alhamdulillah" Moment: Bishop John Chane Retires
It's the only word that really "captures the moment" about this event: Washington Episcopal Bishop John B. Chane announced Saturday he will retire in the fall of 2011, saying it was "time to elect a younger person to lead what I consider to be the best and one of the most influential dioceses in the …
Continue reading "A Real "Alhamdulillah" Moment: Bishop John Chane Retires"
The Gospel for Septuagesima: Christians Need to Stop Pining for the Big Payoff
From the 1928 BCP, it's the Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard: For the Kingdom of Heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire labourers for his vineyards. He agreed with the labourers to pay them two shillings a day, and sent them into his vineyard. On going …
Continue reading "The Gospel for Septuagesima: Christians Need to Stop Pining for the Big Payoff"
Is China Succeeding Because of Its Totalitarian Heritage, or in Spite of It?
That's the question people in the West simply will not ask: The second problem, and this is the most serious, is that Shirk fails to demonstrate that China has made such a great economic leap not only because it engaged in market reform - the former Soviet Union and East European countries did the same …
Continue reading "Is China Succeeding Because of Its Totalitarian Heritage, or in Spite of It?"
Positive Infinity 