With Some Fava Beans And A Nice Chianti

If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other.  If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear.  What one fears, one destroys.
―     Chief Dan George
Animals are my friends… and I don’t eat my friends.
―     George Bernard Shaw
Cannibal, n.  —  A gastronome of the old school who preserves the simple tastes and adheres to the natural diet of the pre-pork period.
—     Ambrose Bierce
From his book: “The Devil’s Dictionary“
[This post started with viewing a “Hannibal Lecter” video on YouTube:  he was thinking of having an old friend over for dinner…    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	What Really Hurts
2021	Republican Governors Don’t Help
	We’re Coming To Your Town
2020	With Friends Like This…
2019	Still Better Than Third
2018	A Tough Row To Hoe
2017	Just In Case
2016	Republicans Eat Their Young
2015	Still 99%
2014	Affirming The Wall
2013	Maintain The Freedom
2012	All Good
2011	Fountains Of Life
	Staying Alive

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Martyr, n.

One who moves along the line of least reluctance to a desired death.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2022	One World (Our Only Place)…
2021	Move The Heart
	Join Hands
2020	He Broke Even
	Whoever / Whatever
2019	The Right Anger
	Another P&P Review
2018	Does Fatalism Equal Mental Health?
2017	Choice
2016	Growing Worlds
2015	Change The Tide
	Martyr, n.
2014	You, Too!
2013	Bitter Stand
2012	Lost For Words
2011	On Market Reactions…

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History, n.

An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary”
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On This Day In:
2022	42
2021	Blessings Larger Than Life
	Tomorrow She Sails
2020	The Sun Came Out
	Not A Wink On Guard
2019	The Importance Of A Deadline
	Chaos Is Not Really A New Remedy
2018	History Will Judge Harshly
	Father Time, Perhaps?
2017	Odds Are
2016	Prayer, Too
2015	History, n.
2014	See It Sometime
2013	Precious Friend
2012	It Couldn’t Be Done
	Feeling Surrounded?
2011	Surprise!

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The Wee Bit

To that small part of ignorance that we arrange and classify we give the name knowledge.
—    Ambrose Bierce
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On This Day In:
2021	Our Common Humanity
	A History Story
2020	At The Very Least Smile More
	Your Touch
2019	Still Working On Both
2018	Two Jordans To Heaven
	Speaking Of #45
2017	All Greek To Me
2016	Judgment
2015	I Love Bacon, Too
2014	The Wee Bit
2013	Reading Rules
2012	Cadet Prayer
2011	Easy To Tell
2010	A NEW Lion In The Senate (Channeling Mr. Smith)
	Inception Redux
	A Quick Hit Of Stats

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Pray, v.

To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
Our prayers are answered not when we are given what we ask, but when we are challenged to be what we can be.
—    Morris Adler
[For a prayer I used to say whenever I had a big decision looming, see:   The Para’s Prayer on my Poems page.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2013	As I…
2012	But We Need Room
2011	A Definition Of Leadership

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Idiot, n.

A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2013	Temporary Reality
2012	The Great Objective
2011	Read A Book

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Destiny, n.

A tyrant’s authority for crime and a fool’s excuse for failure.
––    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2013	No Apologies
2012	Utterly Convinced
2011	A Key To Effectiveness

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Dawn, n.

The time when men of reason go to bed.  Certain old men prefer to rise at about that time, taking a cold bath and a long walk with an empty stomach, and otherwise mortifying the flesh.  They then point with pride to these practices as the cause of their sturdy health and ripe years;  the truth being that they are hearty and old, not because of their habits, but in spite of them.  The reason we find only robust persons doing this thing is that it has killed all the others who have tried it.
––    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2013	Ouch!
2012	Just Lookin’ Around
	Still Growing
2011	But Do You Want To?

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Heathen, n.

A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2022	A Murmuring Note
2021	Satisfied If Not Fulfilled
	You Don’t Know
	Urban Ballroom
2020	R.I.P. Kobe
2019	Looks A Lot Like #45
2018	Trying To Stay Young
2017	Seems Reasonable To Me
2016	We Can Get Through This Together (In Time)
2015	How Long Is A Piece Of String?
2014	Heathen, n.
2013	Wisdom’s Folly
2012	When The Student Is Ready
	Disconnected Leadership
2011	The Complex Richness Of Life

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Gravitation, n.

The tendency of all bodies to approach one another with a strength proportioned to the quantity of matter they contain – the quantity of matter they contain being ascertained by the strength of their tendency to approach one another.  This is a lovely and edifying illustration of how science, having made A proof of B, makes B the proof of A.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2022	A Happy Realization
2021	Is Science Cumulative?
	We’re Aging With Time
2020	Where #45 Is Leading The Republican Party
2019	Your Own Blog Posts
	The Man With A Code
2018	Choose Goodness
2017	Developing Translations
2016	Think Like A Hero
2015	Reductionism
2014	Gravitation, n.
2013	Ups And Downs
2012	Nerd Heard – And Good-Bye
	Your Continuum
2011	Career Tips (Part 2)

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Faith, n.

Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.
––    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2012	Surprise Me
2011	Confused With Truth

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Education, n.

That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.
–    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2012	Who I Want To Be
2011	Mythic Forgetfulness

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Eloquence, n.

The art of orally persuading fools that white is the color it appears to be.  It includes the gift of making any other color appear white.
––    Ambrose Bierce
From:   “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2012	Why Bother?
2011	Peculiar Notions

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Distance, n.

The only thing that the rich are willing for the poor to call theirs, and keep.
––    Ambrose Bierce
From:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2012	Rise Up!
	The Gift
2011	Artful Courage
2010	A Handful of Lessons…

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April Fool, n.

The March fool with another month added to his folly.
—   Ambrose Bierce
From:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2022	When Your World Seems Dark
2021	Keep Looking
	It’s Feeling Good
2020	Why Are So Many Of My Posts Simply Quotes?
2019	Two Books
2018	Prime Example = #45
2017	Building On
2016	Dueling Heroes
2015	Remarkable Creations
2014	Measured Faith
2013	April Fool, n.
2012	Faith, Ego And Patriotism
	As It Happens
2011	What Counts

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