The Ultimate Trial

If you realize what the real problem is — losing yourself, giving yourself to some higher end, or to another — you realize that this itself is the ultimate trial.  When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.
And what all the myths have to deal with is transformation of consciousness of one kind or another.  You have been thinking one way, you now have to think a different way.
—  Joseph Campbell
From the book:  “The Power of Myth“
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On This Day In:
2017	Vain Expectations
2016	Or Of One Thought
2015	What’s In Your Future?
2014	Light In Darkness
2013	How ‘Bout Just Obeying The Law?
2012	Or Maybe Not
2011	My Interval Is Too Short!

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Booking My Trip Into The Expanding Universe

A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.
—   Madeleine L’Engle
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On This Day In:
2017	Fear Instead Of Convictions
2016	Memorial Day – 2016
2015	A Handful Of Reviews
	And You Can Quote Me
2014	Get Wisdom
2013	Enjoying The View?
2012	Adam’s Rib
2011	I’m Sure I Remember That…
	Memorial Day, 2011

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Nothing More, Nothing Less

The true republic: men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.
—   Franklin Pierce Adams
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On This Day In:
2017	Memorial Day – 2017
	No Wonder I’m Smiling
2016	Thinking Science Fictional
2015	Dawn Is Coming
2014	Back When I Was A Firebrand
2013	Pen In Hand
	Word Up!
2012	Disturbing
	Trying To Keep Up
2011	Unreliable And Selective
2010	Adult-Onset Athlete

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4 Appearances In A Row, 4 Wins To Go

Congratulations to the Golden State Warriors
This Warriors appearance in the NBA finals (together with the Cleveland Cavaliers) will mark the first time in NBA history the same two teams have competed against each other for four consecutive Finals.  The Golden State Warriors are 2 of 3 in the series so far.  The only loss came in the 2016 series when the Cav’s came back (for the only time in NBA history) from a 3-1 deficit to win 4 games to 3.  Either way it (the Finals) goes, NBA history is being made before our eyes.  Go Dubs!!!  Bring the O’Brien Trophy home again, Splash Brothers.  Make it rain!
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On This Day In:
2017	And Yet I’m Still Having Fun
2016	I See Coincidence Everywhere
	CA3: Civil War
2015	I Resemble That Remark… (5!)
2014	The Writer’s Dilemma
2013	Just Paying The Rent
2012	Remembering…
2011	A Little Farther

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Land Of The Free, Because Of The Brave

2018 Happy Memorial Day
To all who have served and the families who waited and prayed…  Thank you!
—  A grateful nation
[This image was found on the web.  No ownership of the image and no support for the origin site is implied or intended.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2017	And Yet I’m Still Having Fun
2016	I See Coincidence Everywhere
	CA3: Civil War
2015	I Resemble That Remark… (5!)
2014	The Writer’s Dilemma
2013	Just Paying The Rent
2012	Remembering…
2011	A Little Farther

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Learn

If you don’t know, the thing to do is not to get scared, but to learn.
―  Ayn Rand
From her novel:  “Atlas Shrugged“
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On This Day In:
2017	And Yet I’m Still Having Fun
2016	I See Coincidence Everywhere
	CA3: Civil War
2015	I Resemble That Remark… (5!)
2014	The Writer’s Dilemma
2013	Just Paying The Rent
2012	Remembering…
2011	A Little Farther

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You Cannot Pretend

As a runner, you have to face the truth about yourself on a regular basis, and it makes you more honest.  You can’t pretend to be faster than you are.  You can’t pretend that you are better prepared than you are.  You cannot pretend to be a runner, you actually have to run.
―  John Bingham
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On This Day In:
2017	A Long Shadow
2016	Learning, Experience, Chances or Money
2015	The Critical State
2014	Dawn, n.
2013	Ouch!
2012	Just Lookin’ Around
	Still Growing
2011	But Do You Want To?

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The Irony Of Greed

“All The Money In The World”  (2017)  —  movie review
Today’s review is for the “based on a true story” dramatic kidnap / recovery movie, “All The Money In The World“, starring Christopher Plummer as J. Paul Getty (the richest man in the world), Michelle Williams as Gail Harris (Getty’s daughter in law), Charlie Plummer as John Paul Getty III (Getty’s grandson and the victim of the kidnapping) and Mark Wahlberg as Fletcher Chase (Getty’s security chief / counselor) who is tasked with getting the grandson back.  Charlie is no relation to Christopher in real life.
Basically, a 16 year old boy is wandering around the streets of Rome and gets kidnapped and held for ransom.  Because the boy is the grandson of the richest man in the world,  the gang assumes the grand-father will pay the ransom in a matter of days and they can return the boy.  Unfortunately, they don’t bargain on the grandfather being one of, if not THE, cheapest man in the world.  Getty refuses to pay and sends his head of security to the mother to try to help her get the boy back – without promising any money.
Blah, blah, blah.  There’s a lot of interaction between Getty and the daughter-in-law (now divorced from his son), between Getty and his security chief (Wahlberg’s character) and between Wahlberg and Williams.   Blah, blah, blah.  …And between the gang and III.  As things drag on, the gang “sells” III to the mob and they cut off an ear to prove they have III and that he is still alive.
Blah, blah, blah.  We are offered more proof of what a jerk Getty is (was) and then he finally kicks out the money to save the boy.  The rescue happens, JPG dies and the daughter-in-law gets all the money (trustee of the estate) until her kids grow up.  Blah, blah, blah, resolution.  Fade to after-credits…
Is the movie any good?  Does it work?  Does it have anything to say – about Getty or about wealth?  So-so.  Yes, mostly.  Probably not – on both counts.  The movie is mildly entertaining.  I didn’t look up the real-life events before the movie and I didn’t recall the events even though they happened during my lifetime (my late teens).  So, I didn’t know what was going to happen.  Did it matter?  No.  The movie was mostly interesting, but it felt like it dragged and was a bit long.  I think it was all the blah-blah about how cheap Getty was.  They established this – emphatically, but then kept beating the dead horse.  But…  I did think the movie worked because I was “entertained” by it.  I did want to find out if the kid survived and if Getty would pay for his pettiness.  The grandson did; Getty did not.  Not really (IMHO).
Final recommendation: moderate recommendation.  I enjoyed Wahlberg in this “different” kind of role.  I thought Christopher Plummer made a pretty good “asshole, rich tightwad”.  I thought Williams was “just” okay as the mother.  I thought Charlie Plummer was the weakest of the main actors.  I just didn’t believe him in the role.  Lastly, and it’s probably just me, but the movie was in color, but kept fading into a washed-out, almost black-and-white “vintage” look.  I found it irritating instead of artsy.  Like I said, probably just me…
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On This Day In:
2017	Or Revisiting A Blog Site
2016	Alas, Too Often The Latter
2015	Either / Or
2014	Memorial Day – 2014
	Perfection
2013	Memorial Day Video
	Equal = Equal
2012	Congrats, Nephew!!
	Doggie Vision Networks
	The Flash: Omnibus
	JLI: vol 1
	Flash: Rebirth
	Burning Images
	What Do You Believe?
2011	Are We Still At War With The Poor?

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And Blog To Word Up To The Universe

We read to know we’re not alone.
―  William Nicholson
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On This Day In:
2017	Or Revisiting A Blog Site
2016	Alas, Too Often The Latter
2015	Either / Or
2014	Memorial Day – 2014
	Perfection
2013	Memorial Day Video
	Equal = Equal
2012	Congrats, Nephew!!
	Doggie Vision Networks
	The Flash: Omnibus
	JLI: vol 1
	Flash: Rebirth
	Burning Images
	What Do You Believe?
2011	Are We Still At War With The Poor?

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Ooops! I Spoke Too Soon

Earlier in the week, I had a post called: Site Update / Poems Page Evolution in which I stated I had completed the updating of my “Poems” page so now there was a video associated with each of the song lyrics.
Well, it turns out YouTube has changed some of it’s policies so certain videos are banned from display based on the copyright laws of your country.  I have about 150+ lyrics posted and only about 50 have been recently updated, I’m not sure how many or the earlier videos are affected by this policy change.  I checked my first four and only one worked for me.  They may still work for you in your country.
In any case, I’ve made a good faith effort to provide this convenience for you.  I doubt I want to take the time and energy to update them again when YouTube (or the initial poster) can just change their policy / mind and make future changes fail again.  I’m afraid (for the time being) you will have to go look the videos up yourselves (again).  “The best laid plans of mice and men…“
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On This Day In:
2017	A Cautionary Wish
2016	Slogging
	It’s About…
	Man / Man
2015	Memorial Day – 2015
	Content People Love To Share
2014	I Resemble That Remark
2013	Long Range Exploration
2012	UBI
2011	Opportunity

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I’d Bet On Taxes

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
―  J.K. Rowling
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On This Day In:
2017	A Cautionary Wish
2016	Slogging
	It’s About…
	Man / Man
2015	Memorial Day – 2015
	Content People Love To Share
2014	I Resemble That Remark
2013	Long Range Exploration
2012	UBI
2011	Opportunity

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Site Update / Poems Page Evolution

When I started adding my own poems to this site (see tabs on top), I decided I was also going to add famous speeches which moved me.  After a bit, I decided I would also add my favorite songs – again based on the words (in this case lyrics).  Over time, that evolved a little to also include some songs for humor or just because I liked them and not just for the words / lyrics themselves.  Again, after some time, I eventually decided to start adding the videos.  To be a little more honest, I started actually using YouTube to listen songs and watch their associated videos.  About three years ago, I started adding the videos to the lyrics pages.  Unlike in my postings though, I put the videos at the end of the lyrics (beneath the lyrics), instead of front and top.  At that time, I began indicating which had videos by placing an asterisk after the song title on my “Poems” (“menu”) page, with the promise I would go back to add them all “as time permitted”.
Well, after a couple of years, I finally made the big push to get it done.  Over the last week, I have updated the last fifty (50) or so songs which still did not have videos.  If any of you have time to go check them out, I’d appreciate any of your feedback.  I haven’t bothered to remove the asterisks, even though there is really no reason to retain them on the page.
Anyway, I hope some of you will enjoy the lyrics and the videos as much as I have enjoyed reading them and listening to them over the years…
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On This Day In:
2017	Our Thirst
2016	History Favors The Victor
2015	This We’ll Leave Them
2014	Sounds Like Faux News To Me
2013	Reasons
2012	American Libertarianism
2011	The Goal

 

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An Infectious Political Cancer

When people treat corruption as a routine part of the process, you have something far worse than wrongdoing or moral failing.  You have a political cancer that breeds cynicism about democratic government and infects all of society.
—  Edward William Brooke III
Former Republican US Senator for Massachusetts
[Found at one of the blogs I follow:  http://gigisrantsandraves.wordpress.com/
The specific post was:  http://gigisrantsandraves.wordpress.com/2018/01/05/from-leonard-durso-when-people-treat-corruption-as-a-routine-part-of-the-process-you-have-something-far-worse-than-wrongdoing-or-moral-failing-you-have-leo/
Please visit the original site if you have a spare minute.  —   KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2017	Our Thirst
2016	History Favors The Victor
2015	This We’ll Leave Them
2014	Sounds Like Faux News To Me
2013	Reasons
2012	American Libertarianism
2011	The Goal

 

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An Approaching Disgrace

I believe racism in America is about fear and economic opportunity.  The fear is the fear of “others”.  Those not like us.  Those not from around here.  Them.  I believe there is a natural tendency in humans to bond with those we are near and associate with.  Call it localism, nationalism, tribalism or some other kind of “groupism” and it still results in the same thing – “us” against “them”.  This tendency is played upon and magnified by those who seek to “control” the majority of Americans – the majority who just want to get on with their lives, get ahead a little financially and raise a family.  The tactic is to divide and conquer and, as I mentioned previously, race is one easy way of dividing people who might otherwise find common cause.
There is a perception in modern society that we can’t ALL have great jobs – whatever “great jobs” means.  That may be correct.  But, we should all be able to work hard for a living wage.  Note, I said “living wage”, not “minimum wage”.  “Work hard” means more than just showing up, although that is a very important part of working hard.  It also means giving your best effort during the time you are working.  It normally means using your brains as well as your muscles.
I question this perception / belief / assumption.  I believe we can all earn a living wage.  We are not all going to be “rich”, but I believe our nation is unique in its ability to fund equal opportunity.  I’m not sure we always had this ability, but I certainly believe we do now.  I believe we are moving into a post-industrial (post-standardized, post-mass produced) world where the benefits of industrial scaling are beginning to decrease and the benefits of limited, customized, specialized manufacturing are starting to dominate.  On top of that, we are now better able to use technology to make very specific (small scale) manufacturing cost effective for the majority of products.  And finally, a significant portion of the economy is now purely digital, meaning: it isn’t consumed by use.
There is a saying that a smile is something you can give away freely and never have less of.  This is what we are approaching with an economy based on digital use without consumption.  The trick will be the distribution of wealth and opportunity for economic advancement.  It will be a disgrace to see race rather than ability as the determinant factor in distribution.
[The above is an excerpt from a book review I posted back in 2011.  The specific post is located here: https://kmabarrett.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/sir-charles/
The original posting was from “way back when” and I had almost no followers.  I just re-read the original and the above seemed (to me) to bear repeating…
—  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2017	Liberty, Collusion, History And The Republican Majority
2016	But I Have Too Many Questions
2015	A New Friend
2014	Do I Have To Fall In Love?
2013	More Democracy, Please
2012	Speaking Of Love
2011	Limits

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Expecting Profit

That is a good book which is opened with expectation and closed with profit.
–  Amos Bronson Alcott
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On This Day In:
2017	In Spite Of The President
2016	And Sets
	And My God For His Graces
2015	About Character
2014	Your Gain
2013	Look Up
2012	Count Me In
2011	Pirates Four, Three Songs
	Sir Charles
	Look First, Not Last
2010	Par-a-diddle

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