Finally rode again this morning, and it is a beautiful morning here in Chicago. It is cooling off a little although the temp will be back up in the 80's for the weekend and holiday. I look forward to a nice fall and riding into November. Last year I did ride until the very end of November and it was just great.
Kind of out of words this morning - just waiting for some more resignations from the bush administration. Now his group has a big pr campaign going to say that we should stay in Iraq - what a crock. Moveon or someone will be countering it soon. I appreciated the quote from the mom of a deceased GI in Iraq, saying something like, I would like bush to explain why I am burying my daughter while he is marrying his off!
Take care.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
A number of things!
Another week has started and the weather in Chicago is not bad.
Yesterday it was perfect. My block had a block party - seems pretty rare in the big city - I experienced these little neighborhood get togethers in other much smaller communities but I think this is unusual in this setting. Got to meet a few new folks.
Haven't ridden my cycle for almost two weeks - first the heat - then the rain - now a commitment that required wearing a suit - so in the four wheeled monster. Can't tomorrow as I am going down to Lafayette to my sister's retirement ceremony (my younger sister - how depressing! :-) not really. Maybe I'll ride on Wednesday.
Hooray! Our US AG finally resigns! I have new appreciation for his predessesor Ashcroft who at least had some scruples. Gonzales fits in the same boat with Rove - totally political animals with no consciences. This man was a danger to US society - his memos as White House counsel probably got us into the whole torture mess - we don't have to comply with the Geneva Conventions - unbelievable! Glad that he's gone - at least there is a little justice!
And Dick Cheney falls right in line (along with Rumsfield and Wolfawicz) with his totally political behavior. It's hard to find anyone in this administration who has a little humanism in even their pinkie! Did you see this clip on our VP?
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2879&id=10983-3748630-DEO01n&t=2
What an opportunist! The father knew it was a disaster to go into Iraq and the new tricky Dicky went along then. Why did he change his story a few years later?
With all the campaigning going on (ugh), we should just have the election this fall, get bush out, and put some Democrat in office this January - give them a five year term as they will need all of that time and more to start to right all of the wrongs of the bush administration.
Remember that you saw it here many weeks ago that the Dems should go with a Clinton - Obama ticket. I think that the country is so fed up with bush and his cronies that this unheard of ticket - a woman and a black man - should win. We need drastic action for terrible times.
That's about it for now.
Take care.
Yesterday it was perfect. My block had a block party - seems pretty rare in the big city - I experienced these little neighborhood get togethers in other much smaller communities but I think this is unusual in this setting. Got to meet a few new folks.
Haven't ridden my cycle for almost two weeks - first the heat - then the rain - now a commitment that required wearing a suit - so in the four wheeled monster. Can't tomorrow as I am going down to Lafayette to my sister's retirement ceremony (my younger sister - how depressing! :-) not really. Maybe I'll ride on Wednesday.
Hooray! Our US AG finally resigns! I have new appreciation for his predessesor Ashcroft who at least had some scruples. Gonzales fits in the same boat with Rove - totally political animals with no consciences. This man was a danger to US society - his memos as White House counsel probably got us into the whole torture mess - we don't have to comply with the Geneva Conventions - unbelievable! Glad that he's gone - at least there is a little justice!
And Dick Cheney falls right in line (along with Rumsfield and Wolfawicz) with his totally political behavior. It's hard to find anyone in this administration who has a little humanism in even their pinkie! Did you see this clip on our VP?
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2879&id=10983-3748630-DEO01n&t=2
What an opportunist! The father knew it was a disaster to go into Iraq and the new tricky Dicky went along then. Why did he change his story a few years later?
With all the campaigning going on (ugh), we should just have the election this fall, get bush out, and put some Democrat in office this January - give them a five year term as they will need all of that time and more to start to right all of the wrongs of the bush administration.
Remember that you saw it here many weeks ago that the Dems should go with a Clinton - Obama ticket. I think that the country is so fed up with bush and his cronies that this unheard of ticket - a woman and a black man - should win. We need drastic action for terrible times.
That's about it for now.
Take care.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Sicko
Another rainy day in Chitown. Had to take the bus today as I didn't want to ride in the rain. We seem to be getting more than our fair share of precip lately, but it is better than the stifling heat that we had before and other parts of the country are still getting. Global warming anyone?
We are getting into hurricane season - a very scary time. Have a colleague whose kids are in Jamaica, where Dean has hit. She finally got through on the phone yesterday and they are fine, but it is still scary.
Now Dean is a great name for a hurricane. Of the Deans I know, blustery and big wind are common descriptors. Also the ones I know have caused a lot of wetness (tears) and wanton destruction through their actions, seemingly unpredicatable, but well-planned on their parts. The quietness at the center is really an emptiness of true being. Everything swirling around is a front to intimidate and impress. What is a Dean, or a hurricane really like?
Saw Sicko this weekend and was really impressed. Of course Michael Moore puts his bias on his works, but that doesn't mean that much of the meat is true. Anyone who thinks about the current health care situation in America knows that it is terrible. About 25% of the folks are not insured and about 25% underinsured. The rest are precariously covered, as illustrated in the movie. I am sure that the systems in Canada, England, and France are not perfect, but they do seem to be beating the record of the richest country in the world. The statistics pretty accurately reflect the situation, and our infort mortality rate is pretty sad for all of the resources we have as a nation.
HMO's suck. Manage care to save money, not lives. What a crock. The insurance companies are making a ton of money while driving costs up. Denied healthcare means more expensive health care down the road, and less chance of success. The movie showed the stomach turning situation where hospitals turn out folks without insurance instead cab them to the curbside of clinics run by United Way agencies, who have minimal funding and don't make huge profits as most of the hospitals and insurance companies do
The next administration needs to propose and put into place a system by which all folks in this country will get the health care needs met on a timely basis. If it increases taxes, so be it. If it cuts into health insurance profits, so be it. The status quo is shameless.
We all need to do everything that we can to get universal healthcare into place; contact our state and federal representatives; etc. Must be done or we are condemning our country and children to failure.
We are getting into hurricane season - a very scary time. Have a colleague whose kids are in Jamaica, where Dean has hit. She finally got through on the phone yesterday and they are fine, but it is still scary.
Now Dean is a great name for a hurricane. Of the Deans I know, blustery and big wind are common descriptors. Also the ones I know have caused a lot of wetness (tears) and wanton destruction through their actions, seemingly unpredicatable, but well-planned on their parts. The quietness at the center is really an emptiness of true being. Everything swirling around is a front to intimidate and impress. What is a Dean, or a hurricane really like?
Saw Sicko this weekend and was really impressed. Of course Michael Moore puts his bias on his works, but that doesn't mean that much of the meat is true. Anyone who thinks about the current health care situation in America knows that it is terrible. About 25% of the folks are not insured and about 25% underinsured. The rest are precariously covered, as illustrated in the movie. I am sure that the systems in Canada, England, and France are not perfect, but they do seem to be beating the record of the richest country in the world. The statistics pretty accurately reflect the situation, and our infort mortality rate is pretty sad for all of the resources we have as a nation.
HMO's suck. Manage care to save money, not lives. What a crock. The insurance companies are making a ton of money while driving costs up. Denied healthcare means more expensive health care down the road, and less chance of success. The movie showed the stomach turning situation where hospitals turn out folks without insurance instead cab them to the curbside of clinics run by United Way agencies, who have minimal funding and don't make huge profits as most of the hospitals and insurance companies do
The next administration needs to propose and put into place a system by which all folks in this country will get the health care needs met on a timely basis. If it increases taxes, so be it. If it cuts into health insurance profits, so be it. The status quo is shameless.
We all need to do everything that we can to get universal healthcare into place; contact our state and federal representatives; etc. Must be done or we are condemning our country and children to failure.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Riding Again
It seems like forever since I have ridden to work, but it's probably been about two weeks. The heat here, and almost everywhere, has been brutal. And then we had several rainy days, which, although it broke through the heat and humidity a little, were not conducive to riding either.
Today was much cooler and the lake was calm. No marching boats in the various harbors, just standing at parade rest. I am really bonding with my bike, now that I have had it for over a year and all of the relatively minor mechanical problems have been rectified. It is just a joy to ride, and I left a little early this morning so the traffic was not too bad.
From one of the quotes in my collection that I use in my email address and closing, which I usually change weekly, I have discovered a man named Jiddu Krishnamurti. The quote is
You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.
I am in a bit of a contemplative mood so I am going to look into his writings. Anyone familiar with his writings?
Today was much cooler and the lake was calm. No marching boats in the various harbors, just standing at parade rest. I am really bonding with my bike, now that I have had it for over a year and all of the relatively minor mechanical problems have been rectified. It is just a joy to ride, and I left a little early this morning so the traffic was not too bad.
From one of the quotes in my collection that I use in my email address and closing, which I usually change weekly, I have discovered a man named Jiddu Krishnamurti. The quote is
You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.
I am in a bit of a contemplative mood so I am going to look into his writings. Anyone familiar with his writings?
Friday, August 3, 2007
Another Day
Another dog day of summer, but I'll take it.
I thought that I would continue with a few more thoughts on relationships, as I ended with that yesterday. I think that a shared sense of spirituality is a very important link between people. Again not that it is identical, but that spirituality exists, is important, and can be discussed. That one can understand the other's and can accept it. As we age, or get more seasoned, it gets more important. I think that we are coming to terms with who we are, what we have done, and perhaps with a higher being.
I think spirituality provides a strong link between people - it gives a strength that can be shared - it provides the basis for prayer, meditation, and study. It also gives a strength to be an advocate for others and to bridge differences. For as much as we human beings are different in this world, we are still more alike. We have the same needs and aspirations. We need to love and be loved.
I have not been a great student of the religions and faiths of the world, although I did take a comparative religion course in college, but I think they are more alike than we think also. The parts that are different are more made by us human beings. I think that we need to be aware of all of the parts of the various faiths that make us stronger in love and support for each other, that help us to be kind.
And finally, getting back to relationships, spirituality helps us to be one as a couple for the love and strength that it provides, but it also gives to joy to see individual growth in the partner. To be together - to be apart. It is something I wish for everyone.
Take care.
I thought that I would continue with a few more thoughts on relationships, as I ended with that yesterday. I think that a shared sense of spirituality is a very important link between people. Again not that it is identical, but that spirituality exists, is important, and can be discussed. That one can understand the other's and can accept it. As we age, or get more seasoned, it gets more important. I think that we are coming to terms with who we are, what we have done, and perhaps with a higher being.
I think spirituality provides a strong link between people - it gives a strength that can be shared - it provides the basis for prayer, meditation, and study. It also gives a strength to be an advocate for others and to bridge differences. For as much as we human beings are different in this world, we are still more alike. We have the same needs and aspirations. We need to love and be loved.
I have not been a great student of the religions and faiths of the world, although I did take a comparative religion course in college, but I think they are more alike than we think also. The parts that are different are more made by us human beings. I think that we need to be aware of all of the parts of the various faiths that make us stronger in love and support for each other, that help us to be kind.
And finally, getting back to relationships, spirituality helps us to be one as a couple for the love and strength that it provides, but it also gives to joy to see individual growth in the partner. To be together - to be apart. It is something I wish for everyone.
Take care.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
A few random thoughts
Another hot day of summer in Chitown - have to remember that I'll be wishing for this next January!
Took a quick trip to Louisville yesterday to brief a new trustee on our B of D. Haven't been there for about 25 years - she said that the metro area is 1.2 mil. Wasn't there long enough to make any real observations. Did have a great discussion with the cabbie on the way downtown and he expressed the prevailing sentiment that I am hearing more and more - that bush made a huge mistake going into Iraq, that it is a shame that our troops are dying for this mistake, that it is now a terrible mess for anyone to try to get out, and that the US can not solve other countries' problems. This guy was from Kenya and been here for nine years. Very articulate and insightful.
On the way back to the airport the cabbie was a lady who crossed herself getting on the Interstate, and then I saw my first real case of road rage. A guy in a van following another van, honking his horn constantly and following from about two feet - a disaster waiting to happen. This went on for three or four miles and then the enraged one cut across four lanes of traffic and exited the highway. Unbelieviable!
Cubs win on a wild pitch and now are in 1st place. Hope there is no looking back, but still two whole months to go. Woody is back today or tomorrow. Good luck to a great young man.
Finally, how does one know when they are really compatible with another person - perhaps a real soul mate? You can list preferences and experiences, etc., ala the online services, but what does that really mean? Should you be looking for someone similar or not? The old adage is that opposites attract, but then 50% of marriages end in divorce. I am thinking that there should be many similarities for compatibility purposes, but perhaps a few differences to keep life interesting. Just wondering.
Take care.
Took a quick trip to Louisville yesterday to brief a new trustee on our B of D. Haven't been there for about 25 years - she said that the metro area is 1.2 mil. Wasn't there long enough to make any real observations. Did have a great discussion with the cabbie on the way downtown and he expressed the prevailing sentiment that I am hearing more and more - that bush made a huge mistake going into Iraq, that it is a shame that our troops are dying for this mistake, that it is now a terrible mess for anyone to try to get out, and that the US can not solve other countries' problems. This guy was from Kenya and been here for nine years. Very articulate and insightful.
On the way back to the airport the cabbie was a lady who crossed herself getting on the Interstate, and then I saw my first real case of road rage. A guy in a van following another van, honking his horn constantly and following from about two feet - a disaster waiting to happen. This went on for three or four miles and then the enraged one cut across four lanes of traffic and exited the highway. Unbelieviable!
Cubs win on a wild pitch and now are in 1st place. Hope there is no looking back, but still two whole months to go. Woody is back today or tomorrow. Good luck to a great young man.
Finally, how does one know when they are really compatible with another person - perhaps a real soul mate? You can list preferences and experiences, etc., ala the online services, but what does that really mean? Should you be looking for someone similar or not? The old adage is that opposites attract, but then 50% of marriages end in divorce. I am thinking that there should be many similarities for compatibility purposes, but perhaps a few differences to keep life interesting. Just wondering.
Take care.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)