The Music Of Her Laughter

Lemon Tree
Favorite Line(s):
When I was just a lad of ten,
My father said to me
“Come here and take a lesson from
the lovely lemon tree”
“Don’t put your faith in love, my boy”,
my father said to me
“I fear you’ll find that love is like
the lovely lemon tree”
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On This Day In:
2020	Close, Sustained And Careful
2019	#45: Spread The Fear
	Fear The Beards
2018	Slice, Nick, Cut, Bled
2017	Like Most Blogs
2016	The Window Left Open
	Free Experience
2015	Reality == Perception / (Times Reported * 10)
2014	Tear Da Roof Off Da Sucka
2013	Exposed Spirits
2012	Ow-ow
2011	Focused Relatives

In Pursuit

I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.  ’Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
—    Thomas Paine
[While I agree with Paine – in general – on the admirable traits required to accomplish great things.  I am equally reminded of the saying (I made up based on the title of a Star Trek – Original Series episode): “there is no truth in beauty, although there is a beauty in truth“.    Anyway, I would caution readers the above quote is equally valid for many mass murderers and terrorists – maybe even more so.     —    KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2020	Close, Sustained And Careful
2019	#45: Spread The Fear
	Fear The Beards
2018	Slice, Nick, Cut, Bled
2017	Like Most Blogs
2016	The Window Left Open
	Free Experience
2015	Reality == Perception / (Times Reported * 10)
2014	Tear Da Roof Off Da Sucka
2013	Exposed Spirits
2012	Ow-ow
2011	Focused Relatives

A Half A Mile Or So

Sail On
Favorite Line(s):
Sail on down the line
Ain’t it funny how the time can go
Friends say they told me so
But it doesn’t matter
It was plain to see
That a small town boy like me
Just wasn’t your cup of tea
I was wishful thinking
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On This Day In:
2020	Facing The Truth
2019	How Much Is Your Education Worth?
	Is America Ready: Mayor Pete – 2020!!
2018	Disruptive Definition
2017	A History Of Small Insights
2016	Be Uncommon
2015	Ooops!
2014	What Price Freedom?
2013	Remembering Val
2012	Good-bye, Val
	Survival Value
2011	Traitors In Our Midst
	Life Ain’t Easy

I Never Could Keep A Secret

The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.
—    Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2020	Facing The Truth
2019	How Much Is Your Education Worth?
	Is America Ready: Mayor Pete – 2020!!
2018	Disruptive Definition
2017	A History Of Small Insights
2016	Be Uncommon
2015	Ooops!
2014	What Price Freedom?
2013	Remembering Val
2012	Good-bye, Val
	Survival Value
2011	Traitors In Our Midst
	Life Ain’t Easy

Rainin’ Fire In The Sky

Rocky Mountain High
Favorite Line(s):
Now he walks in quiet solitude the forest and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake
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On This Day In:
2020	Stand Up!
	Crowd Sourced Scouting Report
2019	Only One Direction
2018	Respect Is Long Gone
2017	Dream Of Dreamers
2016	Dear Automakers
2015	And Some Not So Brave Too
2014	In My Lifetime…
2013	Democracy
2012	Borrowed Expectations
2011	Not Necessarily True

The Imposition Of Position

Rank does not confer privilege or give power.  It imposes responsibility.
—    Peter Drucker
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On This Day In:
2020	Stand Up!
	Crowd Sourced Scouting Report
2019	Only One Direction
2018	Respect Is Long Gone
2017	Dream Of Dreamers
2016	Dear Automakers
2015	And Some Not So Brave Too
2014	In My Lifetime…
2013	Democracy
2012	Borrowed Expectations
2011	Not Necessarily True

It Was Rainin’ Hard

Taxi
Favorite Line(s):
And she said, we must get together
But I knew it’d never be arranged
And she handed me twenty dollars
For a two fifty fare
She said, Harry, keep the change
Well, another man might have been angry
And another man might have been hurt
But another man never would’ve let her go
I stashed the bill in my shirt
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On This Day In:
2020	Neither Alone, Nor Lonely
	Giving
2019	That’s Why It’s Called Faith
2018	So We Agree, #45 Is Dumb – Too
2017	The Morality Of Spying
2016	He Doesn’t Remind Me Of Me
	The First Rule
2015	Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow
	The Man Without Fear
2014	I Blame Robocop
2013	Future Trustees
2012	Praise Not The Day…
2011	Educated Living

We Need Professional Journalists AND The First Amendment

The smarter the journalists are, the better off society is.  For to a degree, people read the press to inform themselves – and the better the teacher, the better the student body.
—    Warren Buffett
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On This Day In:
2020	Neither Alone, Nor Lonely
	Giving
2019	That’s Why It’s Called Faith
2018	So We Agree, #45 Is Dumb – Too
2017	The Morality Of Spying
2016	He Doesn’t Remind Me Of Me
	The First Rule
2015	Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow
	The Man Without Fear
2014	I Blame Robocop
2013	Future Trustees
2012	Praise Not The Day…
2011	Educated Living

A Girl Like You

Suavecito
Favorite Line(s):
Never,
I never met a girl like you in my life
I never, no, no, yeah
I never met a girl like you in my life
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On This Day In:
2020	Life’s Mysteries
2019	I Doubt I Ever Will
2018	Who Will Thank (If Not Remember) Me
2017	Reinforced Learning
2016	I Choose To Believe
2015	What They Don’t Teach You At School
2014	Still Trying To Die (5)
2013	Honest Doubt
2012	Choice
2011	Ownership Of Thought

Clear Global Standards

The low cost of generic drugs makes them essential to global public health.  But if those bargain drugs are of low quality, they do more harm than good.  For years, politicians, regulators and aid workers have focused on ensuring access to these drugs.  Going forward, they must place equal value on quality, through an exacting program of unannounced inspections, routine testing of drugs already on the market and strict legal enforcement against companies manufacturing subpar medicine.  One model is the airline industry, which through international laws and treaties, has established clear global standards for aviation safety.
Without something similar for safe and effective drugs, the twin forces of subpar medicine and growing drug resistance will be so destructive that developed countries won’t be able to ignore them.  As Elizabeth Pisani, an epidemiologist who has studied drug quality in Indonesia, put it, “The fact is, pathogens know no borders.”
—   Katherine Eban
From her article: “The Worldwide Threat Of Generic Drugs“
Appearing in Time Magazine, dtd: 3 June 2019
The article also appears online at:  https://time.com/5590602/generic-drugs-quality-risk/
[I personally subscribe to the hard copy of Time Magazine.  This quote is being offered without permission or authorization.  I make no claim of ownership or authorship.  I am receiving no compensation from the author or the magazine for posting this quote.  I found the article interesting and am simply offering the quote for your consideration.    —    KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2020	Life’s Mysteries
2019	I Doubt I Ever Will
2018	Who Will Thank (If Not Remember) Me
2017	Reinforced Learning
2016	I Choose To Believe
2015	What They Don’t Teach You At School
2014	Still Trying To Die (5)
2013	Honest Doubt
2012	Choice
2011	Ownership Of Thought

Layin’ In Bed

Help Me Rhonda
Favorite Line(s):
Well since she put me down
I’ve been out doin’ in my head
I come in late at night
And in the mornin’ I just lay in bed
Well, Rhonda you look so fine
And I know it wouldn’t take much time
For you to help me Rhonda
Help me get her out of my heart
Help me Rhonda
Help, help me Rhonda
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On This Day In:
2020	For Sale
2019	Letting Go
2018	Trying To Give More
2017	The Reproductive Value Of A Presidential Election
2016	For Me It’s Been Faith
2015	Where Many Paths And Errands Meet
2014	Rimmed Out
2013	Likeness
2012	Sums It Up Quite Well, Actually
2011	Momentary Abandonment

Fortes Fortuna Juvat*

Cautious, careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards never can bring about reform.
—    Susan B. Anthony
[“Fortune Favors the Brave”  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2020	For Sale
2019	Letting Go
2018	Trying To Give More
2017	The Reproductive Value Of A Presidential Election
2016	For Me It’s Been Faith
2015	Where Many Paths And Errands Meet
2014	Rimmed Out
2013	Likeness
2012	Sums It Up Quite Well, Actually
2011	Momentary Abandonment

This Can’t Go On

Evil Ways
Favorite Line(s):
You’ve got to change your evil ways, baby
Before I stop lovin’ you
You’ve got to change, baby
And every word that I say is true
You’ve got me runnin’ and hidin’ all over town
You’ve got me sneakin’ and a peepin’ and runnin’ you down
This can’t go on
Lord knows, you’ve got to change, baby
Comment(s):
I’m sorry, this is not the best sounding video version on YouTube, but I just can’t believe how young Carlos Santana and his band members look in this version – of course, it was 1969!    —    KMAB
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On This Day In:
2020	A Different Premise
2019	Can Too
2018	To Get Strength
	Drip, Drip, Drip
2017	Bricolage Art
2016	Just A Shame
2015	Treasures Of The Mind
2014	Not Quite Exceeded Reach
2013	Who’s Side?
2012	Why I Joined The Army And Not The Navy…
2011	Is It Your Turn Yet?
	Just Trippin’

Rational Response

Democracy relies on an informed and engaged public responding in rational ways to the real-life facts and challenges before us.  But a growing number of Americans are untethered from that.  “They’re not on the same epistemological grounding, they’re not living in the same worlds,” says Whitney Phillips, a professor at Syracuse who studies online disinformation.  “You cannot have a functioning democracy when people are not at the very least occupying the same solar system.”
—    Charlotte Alter
From her article:  “Down The Rabbit Hole“
Appearing in:  Time Magazine, dtd:  21/28 September 2020
Also appearing online at:  https://time.com/5887437/conspiracy-theories-2020-election/
Under the title:  “How Conspiracy Theories Are Shaping the 2020 Election—and Shaking the Foundation of American Democracy“
[I am currently a paid subscriber to “Time Magazine“.  This quote appears without permission or authorization.  I do not (and have not) received any compensation for posting this quote from either the author or the magazine.  I am not claiming any ownership of the quote, nor am I promoting the purchase of the magazine.  It’s merely something I read and found interesting – so, I’m passing it along to anyone who reads this blog post.    —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2020	A Different Premise
2019	Can Too
2018	To Get Strength
	Drip, Drip, Drip
2017	Bricolage Art
2016	Just A Shame
2015	Treasures Of The Mind
2014	Not Quite Exceeded Reach
2013	Who’s Side?
2012	Why I Joined The Army And Not The Navy…
2011	Is It Your Turn Yet?
	Just Trippin’

I Hear It, Too

I Hear A Symphony
Favorite Line(s):
You’ve given me a true love
And ev’ry day I thank you love,
For a feeling that’s so new,
So inviting,
So exciting.
Whenever you are near,
I Hear A Symphony,
A tender melody
Pulling me closer,
Closer to your arms.
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On This Day In:
2020	My Thoughts On #LyingDonald’s Corona Briefings
2019	As I Recall
2018	Effective Violence And A Government At Risk
2017	Playing The Same Music
2016	Survival Instinct
2015	Tears
2014	Bourne Again (4)
2013	God’s Protection
2012	Happy Easter!!
	Edge, Class, Clash, And Flight
	The Value Of Bureaucracies
2011	Logic Cuts