A Wild And Crazy Believer

I believe evidence.  I believe observation, measurement and reasoning, confirmed by independent observers.  I’ll believe anything, no matter how wild or ridiculous, if there is evidence for it.  The wilder and more ridiculous something is, however, the firmer and more solid the evidence will have to be.
—    Isaac Asimov
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On This Day In:
2023	Faith Is A Challenge For All
2022	Looking For Solutions To Climate Change
	4 – 40hrs
2021	Our Identity Crisis Continues
	There’s No Hiding Place (Don’t Look Back)
2020	In Need Of Concerted Action
2019	Anything / Everything
2018	Touching A Nerve
	Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
	I Have Realities In My Past
2017	Did I See You In Chapter 13?
2016	As I Recall (I Got It Honest)
2015	Less And More Irritation
2014	That Marvelous Feeling
2013	Exceptional
2012	A Wild And Crazy Believer
2011	A Lack Of Scarcity
	The Joy Of Prevention

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There’s A New Dog In Town

Waiting to go inside…  Is that camera still on me?  Did someone say, “Squirrel”?  British gardeners require constant supervision…  Hey Youse, give us a treat!  Just a little shade…  In yer face training…  Are you ever gonna get a life, Dad?  The kennel never said my new home was a fixer-upper.  I’ve gotta do everything myself around here…  Yeah, the garden’s ok now, but wait until I’m done with it…  A quick pause between making trouble.  That’s right – I’m gorgeous!  Not quite enough shade…  She’s not fully trained, but I like blonds.  There’s like NO privacy in this house-hold!  Squirrel???  Someone please take that camera-phone off him!
Introducing “Shiva” – the newest member of the Barrett Family.
75 pounds of Anatolian Shepherd and Golden Retriever.  Two years old and compliments of Tony La Russa ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation).
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On This Day In:
2023	Starting Today, Be You
2022	Removing Self-negotiation
2021	Republican Congressional Leadership Continues The Big Lie
	You Just Can’t Hide (Dance To The Music)
2020	Cut To The Chase
	Fun Fog
2019	True Piety
2018	I Would, Too (A music-video for all) (I Would Tell Myself)
2017	100th Day (of the Trump Presidency)
	Both Unlucky
2016	Or Blog
2015	Stretched Today?
2014	Outta Here
2013	Getting Words Right
2012	There’s A New Dog In Town
	Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is
2011	A Conservative Is…

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Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is

The trouble is you think you have time.
—    Buddha
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On This Day In:
2023	Starting Today, Be You
2022	Removing Self-negotiation
2021	Republican Congressional Leadership Continues The Big Lie
	You Just Can’t Hide (Dance To The Music)
2020	Cut To The Chase
	Fun Fog
2019	True Piety
2018	I Would, Too (A music-video for all) (I Would Tell Myself)
2017	100th Day (of the Trump Presidency)
	Both Unlucky
2016	Or Blog
2015	Stretched Today?
2014	Outta Here
2013	Getting Words Right
2012	There’s A New Dog In Town
	Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is
2011	A Conservative Is…

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Gentle Reader

Gentle Reader, place all myths and legends of the human race at my disposal;  give me leave to choose those which I want to use and allow me to make changes where necessary, and I will undertake to prove anything you wish proven.
—    Isaac Asimov
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On This Day In:
2023	Life’s Great Illusion
2022	3rd (40)
	Might Still Flicker Or Shine
2021	Keep Growing
	I Keep Looking (I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For)
2020	I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Plans
	One Earth
2019	Beautiful Rules
2018	Skepticism
2017	WWGD?
2016	Growing Greatness
2015	When It Is Darkest
2014	Knowledge And Doubt
2013	Three Thoughts
2012	Gentle Reader
2011	Leave The Light On For Me Anyway

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See And Hold

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
—    William Blake
From:  “Auguries of Innocence“
[World within worlds and time without end…    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2023	Tread Softly, It Works…
2022	Whatever One Can
2021	Horticulture Anyone?
	Take To The Sky (Natural High)
2020	Heroes Die Too
	Front Update
	Still More Hope Than Fact
2019	The Ones Worth Remembering, Anyway
	Boot Edge Edge (My New T)
2018	To Reach The Next Threshold
2017	Streaking Tales
2016	Singular Reality
2015	He Says It’s Hard To Get There From Here
2014	Question From A Founding Father
2013	Make Heroes
2012	See And Hold
2011	Am Not, Are So

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How To Gain Effective Fire

Fire from the rear is more deadly and three times more effective than fire from the front, but to get fire behind the enemy, you must hold him by frontal fire and move rapidly around his flank.
—    General George S. Patton Jr.
[When I first read this quote as a child, I wondered how someone would KNOW how much more effective fire from a given direction would be.  Then I learned to play chess.  Upon a lifetime of reflection, this philosophy (engage and maneuver) has proven true in even the most unlikely of situations.  Success frequently goes to those who approach indirectly.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2023	Searching For Meaning As Well As The Path
2022	Think Global, Act Local
2021	Even The Tiniest Hole
	Turn Your Back To The Wind (Life Is A Highway)
2020	I’m Tired Of “Winning”
	If You Could… (If You Could Read My Mind)
	The Economy Or Your Life?
2019	Impeach #45 – (#TraitorInTheWhiteHouse)
	Time For Loving
2018	No Pride There
	London To The Hague
2017	At Least Twenty To Go
2016	A Sweet Smelling Blog Post
	Pre-Reacher
2015	Getting The Story Right
2014	Like Shells On The Shore
2013	More And Why
2012	How To Gain Effective Fire
2011	Patriot Act

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Earning Thanks

The mind earns thanks by doing.  The heart earns thanks by trying.
—    Anonymous
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On This Day In:
2023	SSSH! I’m Trying To Listen
2022	Prayers For Mariupol
2021	Assumptions Are Fatal In Science
	Starting To Look Back (It Won’t Be Like This For Long)
2020	Down On Earth
2019	Are You Moving?
2018	We Can Only Pray
2017	Heavier At That End
2016	The Difference Is Craftsmanship
2015	However Vast The Darkness
2014	The Omnipresent Teacher
2013	Don’t Waste
2012	Earning Thanks
2011	Fuzzy Vision
2010	Movies and Book

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Cheaper To Hold

Never yield ground.  It is cheaper to hold what you have than to retake what you have lost.
—    General George S. Patton, Jr.
[The next time things NEED to get done by the government and Progressives feel the urge to compromise because the Conservative side won’t, remember this quote…  The next time you hear about the 1% getting more while the 99% get less, remember this quote…  The next time you have the opportunity to vote, remember this quote…    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2023	“You’re Fired!” (A Nice Letter)
	I “Make” Ours Each Morning
2022	The Grand Essentials
	Second 40
2021	Adding Spice
	Be Who You Must (Part Of The Plan)
2020	Mo, Cilla, Mushy Peas And Rain
	No New Wars
2019	An Epitaph For #45 (#LyingDonald)
2018	Before And After
2017	Verbs
2016	Not Too Tidy
2015	Little Understanding
2014	Open Early
2013	Movies And A Lifetime Of Lyrics
	This Truth
2012	Cheaper To Hold
2011	Resistance Is Futile
	One Great, One Enjoyable, One Terrible…
	Unfortunately, No Approval Is Required

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A Short Course In Human Relations

The 6 most important words:  “I admit I made a mistake.“
The 5 most important words:  “You did a great job.“
The 4 most important words:  “What do you think?“
The 3 most important words:  “Could you please.“
The 2 most important words:  “Thank you!“
The most important word:  “We.“
The least important word:  “I.“
—    Author Unknown
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On This Day In:
2023	Set Asides
2022	I Love Flowers
	Hope And Fear: Global Warming / Climate Change
2021	I Should Have Started Earlier
	To Soothe Your Soul (All Day Music)
2020	Let’s Make It So
2019	Today’s Question
2018	A Moment Of Union
2016	Symptoms
2016	Tossers
2015	Hunger
2014	Outside Dependence
2013	Doing Right
2012	A Short Course In Human Relations
	If Death Be My Future
	Strive
	Such A Fool
2011	I’m Working For A Living

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If Death Be My Future

Surely if the species must die, let it die while leaving behind a greater species that can take up more effectively the eternal struggle with darkness and stride to the kind of victories we can’t even imagine today.  Properly viewed, to such a species death is no death at all, but another step toward the only worthwhile immortality – that of life and intelligence in the abstract.
—    Isaac Asimov
[This was written in my journal with no reference.  Looking it up, the one notation states it is from a 1967 article arguing against the value of individual / personal immortality.  I cannot speak for the species, but I will die contented if I pass believing I left my children better off than I was, in a world better than the one I have enjoyed being in.   —   kmab]
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On This Day In:
2023	Set Asides
2022	I Love Flowers
	Hope And Fear: Global Warming / Climate Change
2021	I Should Have Started Earlier
	To Soothe Your Soul (All Day Music)
2020	Let’s Make It So
2019	Today’s Question
2018	A Moment Of Union
2016	Symptoms
2016	Tossers
2015	Hunger
2014	Outside Dependence
2013	Doing Right
2012	A Short Course In Human Relations
	If Death Be My Future
	Strive
	Such A Fool
2011	I’m Working For A Living

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Strive

If we don’t know when we will be used by God as witnesses, then we have to live our lives the best we can, so that at any instant, God can use us.  We’re never going to be worthy – it is GOD who makes us worthy.  I don’t mean sitting at the edge of our seats 24/7, or putting on an act and trying to be holier-than-thou.  No, what I mean is something very basic, something very simple.  Whatever we do, let’s do it well … whatever we do, let’s do it well.  If we work at home, or work away from home, let’s work with ethics.  If we meet with people and interact with people, let’s be as genuine and sincere as we can be.  Whatever we do, whoever we are, let’s strive to be the best that we can be.  Let’s strive to be as honest, as genuine, as sincere, as human as we can be.  Just by doing that, we become witnesses of God, witnesses that Jesus is alive and well and is among us.
—    Written by:   Father Joseph N. Goh
From his sermon for:  “Third Sunday of Easter, 2012: Witnessing“
(click through to see the full sermon)
[Father “Joe” was a visiting priest at our parish for several years.  He has a ready smile and an open heart.  He also has one consistent message in each of his sermons:  God (Jesus) loves us all – each and every one of us.  Simple, yet profound.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2023	Set Asides
2022	I Love Flowers
	Hope And Fear: Global Warming / Climate Change
2021	I Should Have Started Earlier
	To Soothe Your Soul (All Day Music)
2020	Let’s Make It So
2019	Today’s Question
2018	A Moment Of Union
2016	Symptoms
2016	Tossers
2015	Hunger
2014	Outside Dependence
2013	Doing Right
2012	A Short Course In Human Relations
	If Death Be My Future
	Strive
	Such A Fool
2011	I’m Working For A Living

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Such A Fool

I conquer, and look for greater battles.
I toil, and look for greater tasks.
I solve, and look for greater mysteries.
I hope, and look for greater ideals.
I love, and look for greater beauties.
I am a fool;
But that he or she too,
Could be such a fool as I,
Is the dream of every person’s soul.
—    kmab
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On This Day In:
2023	Set Asides
2022	I Love Flowers
	Hope And Fear: Global Warming / Climate Change
2021	I Should Have Started Earlier
	To Soothe Your Soul (All Day Music)
2020	Let’s Make It So
2019	Today’s Question
2018	A Moment Of Union
2016	Symptoms
2016	Tossers
2015	Hunger
2014	Outside Dependence
2013	Doing Right
2012	A Short Course In Human Relations
	If Death Be My Future
	Strive
	Such A Fool
2011	I’m Working For A Living

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Delayed Reviews

Today’s blog is a review of one book (“The Bed Of Procrustes“) and three movies (“Elektra“, “The Flight Of The Phoenix“, and “Kingdom Of Heaven“).  Book first…
“The Bed Of Procrustes” is written by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (2010©) and is subtitled:  “Philosophical And Practical Aphorisms“.  Taleb is famous for his prior work titled:  “The Black Swan“.  That book was about something – his observation / theory that we humans are not very good at analysing probabilities and therefore make poor decisions which can seriously impact our lives, society and planet.  Part of what made the book interesting was Taleb’s frequent digressions into sarcasm and one-liners about various things he sees in our world.  This book, (“The Bed“…) skips the main story and just lists the remarks as a series of one-liners.  Because I love this kind of humor, I highly recommend this book.  On the other hand, you can simply follow this blog for the next few years and you’ll still get a number of his funniest quotes.  (Just kidding!)  Seriously, buy the book.  While it may be true that you will be able to pick up a number of the quotes from my site (over time), it’s not the same as reading them in the author’s intended format, structure or pace.  My site should never be considered a primary source for information – particularly regarding quotes.  It is only a venue for me to repeat words which have passed through my own consciousness then pinballed around enough to make it to this site.
“Elektra” is another of the comic-book based movies I collect.  The title character previously appeared in the “Daredevil” movie as the love interest for that movie’s title character.  In this movie, the main character is resurrected (she dies in “Daredevil“) in order to save and protect a young girl who is destined to save the world from evil.  Blah, blah, blah – okay, it’s a comic book movie.  Is the movie any good?  It’s not as bad as I expected, but it’s a fairly mediocre effort.  Are the special effects great?  So-so.  Is it worth it for the martial arts?  Not really, but they’re not bad either.  The upside?  It’s nice to see female superheros get their own platform.  They tend to be lower tier titles in the comic universe and that remains true in the cinema universe too, which I think is too bad.  It seems to me, there should be a great opportunity for a breakout smash which could change a career and create a new market for a franchise – much on the line of “Aliens” for Sigourney Weaver.  But, it’s not this movie.  Overall rating – moderate recommendation.
The second movie is “The Flight Of The Phoenix“.  This is the original from 1965 starring Jimmy Stewart and Richard Attenborough.  This was one of the first “survival” movies I ever saw and it captured my imagination.  Growing up in San Francisco, I had no real concept of a desert or of real heat.  (Now that I’ve lived in Saudi Arabia for two years I understand real heat.)  As I said, the whole idea of “survival” was a revelation to me.  Anyway, I really enjoyed this film way back when and when it came out on DVD I picked it up, watched it and then put up on the shelf with my other “classics from growing up”.  A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon the re-make starring Dennis Quaide, so I picked it up (see my review:  Edge, Class, Clash, And Flight) and enjoyed it enough it made me want to go back to compare / contrast it with the original.  What I found surprised me…  Despite the great actors in the original, I prefer the remake!
This is a surprise because I almost always prefer the original.  In this case, it felt dated (which it is given it was made 40 years ago), but the dating is not the time period, but the cinematography which somehow seems – not as good.  The original also feels longer.  It is, but that’s not the same as feeling that way.  My complaints about the re-make remain – primarily the extra “excitement” added to the ending and which adds nothing to the story, and the other minor complaints too, but all in all, I do feel the re-make is more watchable than the original.  I only wish there were a way to substitute the actors.  Overall rating:  this remains a classic for the actors and the genre – highly recommend.
The third movie is “Kingdom Of Heaven” starring Orlando Bloom.  In researching the movie for this review, I found out it is based on actual characters and events.  It is fictionalized in that the characters aren’t the ones who did the acts portrayed in their roles, but they did exist in that time period and location.  For some reason, I thought it was entirely fictional.  Anyway, I am now an Orlando Bloom fan.  I just like him.  He wasn’t great in this role, but he was believable as the evolving blacksmith to knight-crusader.  I’ve now seen Bloom in a number of roles – Pirates series, Rings series, and Troy – and I just like him.  He’s not just another pretty (male) face with a funny accent.
Okay, back to “Kingdom…“.  Basically, a “good-guy caught in a bad situation where your allies are actually the villains and your opponents may actually be ‘better’ people than you” movie.  These movies follow a basic premise and natural story line and this one touches all of the bases.  Good-guy flees home, meets up with zen master to receive training, heroic survival, meets future opponent and they become friends, meets bad-guys who are your allies, and so-on until the good-guy lives happily ever after.
Does the movie work?  Absolutely!  Why?  Because I’m here to see the battles and they’re realistic – certainly more so than “Lord Of The Rings” and “Pirates Of The Caribbean“.  (But I digress.)  The acting is good and for once there’s a movie about the middle ages where everyone is dirty and they stay that way for most of the movie.  You see, it’s the small things I look for in  a movie.  On a political note – it was nice to see the Muslims portrayed as the more civilized of the two conflicting armies.  What a change from the post-9/11 mantra.  I’m not sure there was as much peaceful co-existence in reality as portrayed in the movie, but it was interesting to see a little balance.  Overall rating:  highly recommend.
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On This Day In:
2023	No Trick At All
2022	Particularly Peaceful Neighbors
2021	Thoughts
	It’s A Rich Man’s World (Money, Money, Money)
2020	Pax Et Justitia
2019	And Unlawful Orders From A President
2018	Instinct For Presence
2017	Hard Enough
2016	Jumps
2015	One View Of Failure
2014	We Speak For Earth
2013	Inward Urgency
2012	Delayed Reviews
	Fulfilling My Duty
2011	Interference

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Fulfilling My Duty

It is a man’s duty to have books.  A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life.
—    Henry Ward Beecher
[But at some point I have to start reading more of them…    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2023	No Trick At All
2022	Particularly Peaceful Neighbors
2021	Thoughts
	It’s A Rich Man’s World (Money, Money, Money)
2020	Pax Et Justitia
2019	And Unlawful Orders From A President
2018	Instinct For Presence
2017	Hard Enough
2016	Jumps
2015	One View Of Failure
2014	We Speak For Earth
2013	Inward Urgency
2012	Delayed Reviews
	Fulfilling My Duty
2011	Interference

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They Follow A Pattern – If You Know What I Mean

I was browsing through my journal (again), looking for more things to post about and I stumbled across some lyrics I’ve already posted and some poems I barely remembered, but which struck me (again).
The song lyrics are to the song:  “It Ain’t Me, Babe“, written and performed by Bob Dylan.  Some break ups are harder than others.  Sometimes the person just doesn’t really meet your needs (or expectations).  Sometimes you just don’t really meet theirs.  It seems to me when I read through the lyrics they brought back memories:  sometimes I’m the singer, and sometimes, I’m the listener.  Check out the lyrics, then go listen to Bob Dylan.  Play a game with yourself and ask:  “Which was I the last time my relationship ended?”
The first poem is titled:  “The Fool’s Prayer“, and was written by Edward Rowland Sill.  I guess at one time this was a very popular poem in America.  I remembered it as soon as I stumbled upon it, but I don’t think I’ve seen it or heard it read anywhere in the last 30-40 years.  So, I was surprised to find it being read on YouTube.  I guess you can pretty much find anything there now.  Without spoiling the ending too much, if the King is truly a fool (or at least the fool in question), why does he know to go pray?
The second poem is a quickie about manners and being polite more than anything else.  Titled “Our Lips And Ears“, and anonymously written, it’s included as a throw-in —  just ’cause I like it…
The final entry is another poem titled:  “Stanzas On Freedom“, written by James Russell Lowell.  We (Americans) live in a Federal Republic.  That has a specific meaning which is quite different from a “democracy”.   Having said that, I believe it is perfectly acceptable to disagree with each others policies and positions, but we should rarely (if ever) questions the other side’s patriotism.  The last bit of the poem says:
“They are slaves who fear to speak
For the fallen and the weak;
They are slaves who will not choose
Hatred, scoffing, and abuse,
Rather than in silence shrink
From the truth they needs must think;
They are slaves who dare not be
In the right with two or three.”
The poem was about the abolition of slavery in America.  It asks:  can anyone claim to be free if any among us are slaves?  I would ask the same thing about education, health care, living wages and other civil rights (voting, marriage, whatever)…  Is our society “free” when the only rights we seem to have are the right to ignorance, poverty, illness and lack of opportunity?  I respect the patriotism and religious fervor of those who disagree with me, but I will not shrink from defending those less able to defend themselves in the marketplace of ideas.  Even if all I have are words,  I will be free to speak out.
Some time you will be in the majority and some time you will be in the minority.  Elections have consequences!  Neither side should be intimidated by force or other coercion to withdraw their beliefs.  Both sides should be encouraged to simply (or not so simply) develop better arguments to support their views and to sway additional voters for the next election.  That is what the free marketplace of ideas is all about – in a democracy or in a Federal Republic.
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On This Day In:
2023	With Every Dawn
2022	40Hrs
	Might I Have A Little More, Please
2021	All I See Are Nails
	More Money (For The Love Of Money)
2020	We Will Get Through This
2019	I Asked My Family Doctor Just What I Had (Good Lovin’)
2018	You Have Just Begun To Climb
2017	Equal Protection Under Law
2016	A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion
2015	Or You Don’t
2014	If You Ever Fall…
2013	Glory Days (part 2)
2012	They Follow A Pattern – If You Know What I Mean
	What I Live For (Precis)
2011	Giving

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