And then there is the gold standard of historical perspective:

The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.

The statement is universally attributed to variously: Plato, Socrates and other ancient and famous philosophers. However, according to Quote Investigator, the first author to pen those words lived in the 20th century: Kenneth John Freeman.

Girls at every age get better grades in school than boys do, in every subject—not because girls are smarter, researchers have found, but because girls try harder. p. 27

From Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax

Previously…

Found in my electronic chapbook.

From The Best of 2013…

One reader of my hometown newspaper is upset:

I have been disturbed for many months now on Pope Francis interview and his opinion on “gay” priests, in the ministry to the public. How could a man who claims to be a man of God say “who am I to judge”? How can this man who is the leader of the Catholic Church that has over two billion followers say that he is not to judge men in the pulpit? Men who are supposed to have taken a vow of celibacy, be the leaders of congregations, teaching the Bible, that strictly says that a man who lie with another man as he would a woman is an abomination (Old Testament Leviticus 18:22) and should be put to death, (Leviticus 20:13.) The New Testament, Romans chapter 1:18 speaks of the wickedness, non-believe and ungodliness of man. There lust have turned man to man and woman to woman, and, “verse 26-28,” what happens to people for their ungodly living.

Is this what Pope Francis wants for the Catholic people? To be turned away from God?

Just because he is for the common man and kisses babies, touch and bless the injured and disabled, does not travel in an armored car and washes the feet of the inmates in a prison and only lives in a two room apartment, does that give him the right to miss lead the catholic people? Saying that “who am I to judge” The Bible says we are to love one another as God loves us. We are to obey His word, all of His word not just what we want. The Bible is God’s word. The Pope is to teach God’s word. He is to teach the Truth. By letting gay priest preach in the pulpit Pope Francis is directly responsible for being a false teacher. As for gay marriage if it is an abomination to have a homosexual relationship then there surly can’t be any marriages. As to priest that want to be priest but wish to marry let them for “It is better to marry than to burn” (I Corinthians 7:9.) Is Pope Francis truly what is best for the catholic people, the Catholic Church? If he can be so wrong on this major issue how can anyone trust him on other issues? He said that the church focuses too much on homosexuality, I remind everyone you cannot pick and choose what you believe in the Bible it is all or nothing.

Joan Barton
Coal Run

What’s a Catholic to do when God’s infallible representative dismisses their personal bigotry?

You know the difference between a hissy fit and a conniption fit. (You get bonus points for knowing that you pitch them rather than have them.)

My Hess line moved to Palantine, Virginia (now Fairmont, West Virginia) in 1723. My father and his parents moved to Marietta, Ohio during World War II. My dad is fond of joking that he raised the average intelligence in both states when he moved.

Mrs. Doyle would so want one…

Happy New Year Zonk…

(And a very special thank you to the Doonesbury Navigator.)

Mano Singham writes:

Does anyone seriously still think that all this is just to counter the efforts of groups of low-budget malcontents with primitive technology? What we are seeing is the attempt by elements within the US government for full-spectrum dominance over the entire world. All of us are just ciphers, with no more privacy or rights than the rats who are the subjects of behavioral research in laboratories, to be manipulated at will.

Those who claim that if we have nothing to hide, we have nothing to be afraid of are like the rats who are satisfied to be given a bit of cheese if they behave well.

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. —Robert Hanlon, Scranton, Pennsylvania.

I’ve often thought that those who claim that politicians are idiots or too stupid to breed make a grave error by allowing the individuals or groups in question to escape charges of malice or flat-out evil, (presidents Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush and the Republican Party in general being prime examples).

That President Barack Hussein Obama is seldom marked as stupid by his detractors is instructive in this case.

Roldo Bartimole writes:

The numbers escape us. So easily. Too easily.

Yet they are scary.

On January 15, Cuyahoga County will make a big payment to bondholders. We’re still paying for Gateway! And soon they’ll be asking us for more. They want to extend the sin tax for 20 more years!

Look how Cuyahoga County and Cleveland taxpayers have been paying bondholders beyond the sin tax. Year after year. With 10 more years to go:

YEAR PAYMENT
1992- $1,569,377
1993- $5,546,406
1994- NO PAYMENT
1995- $7,700,000
1996- $8,500,000
1997- $7,010,000
1998- $8,250,000
1999- $7,850,000
2000- $7,400,000
2001- $8,500,000
2002- $7,600,000
2003- $5,978,119
2004- $6,167,849
2005- $4,958,754
2006- $5,734,149
2007- $6,344,939
2008- $3,533,992
2009- $3,691,943
2010- $2,493,427
2011- $2,925,316
2012- $5,091,820
2013- $6,250,000

And it doesn’t end there.

PAYMENTS WILL CONTINUE EACH YEAR through Continue Reading »

In my home-town newspaper this morning, the daily reader poll asks How long do you keep new year’s resolutions? and gives four possible responses: one day, a few days, at least a week and I don’t do them. I chose the final option. Any resolution looking more than 24 hours into the future is meaningless and even the one-day-at-a-time approach, once you look past the hype, has an, at best, sketchy reputation.

I’ve beaten, or perhaps more correctly, continue to beat, one addiction, tobacco (I haven’t smoked since 5 December 1981) but I’m losing my current battle against a more difficult addiction: food. Quitting smoking was a piece of cake, in no little part because I can not-smoke, compared to my fight to maintain a healthy weight because I must eat. Before Thanksgiving in 2011 I recorded my weight at 261.9 pounds (I’d actually weighed around 265 pounds in the weeks prior to beginning to record my data) and began a rigorous program of weight loss that focused on my daily actions. I weighed myself each morning, measured and recorded my blood pressure (very high blood pressure requiring several hours in an emergency room at the VA hospital here in Cleveland was the genesis of my endeavor) and minutely calculated and recorded my every morsel of food and every sip of liquid. The strategy worked.

On 5 February 2012 my weight was 222.3 pounds and my doctor instructed me to cut my daily dose of Lisinopril in half. Less than a month later, I weighed 212.1 pounds and I stopped my medication (again on Doctor’s orders) altogether. My blood pressure that day was 101/64. With the coming of spring I was able to get on my bike again and pushed my weight even lower.

On 15 June 2012 I weight 186.7 pounds and my blood pressure was 110/70. I had reached my goal.

I maintained my weight through the summer and by Christmas I felt secure enough to ask for 34-inch jeans, a size I hadn’t worn since high school. Then the climb began.

This morning my weight is 220.0 pounds and my blood pressure is 126/87 with a heart rate of 67. A week ago I received a three-month membership at the local YMCA as a wonderful Solstice present (as an atheist I participate in the seasonal celebrations of family and friends, but I don’t observe them in my personal life) from my darling. I’ve used that membership three days in a row and when I finish this post I’ll get my gear together and head out to the Y again.

Just for today I will do five miles on the stationary recumbent bike. Just for today I will not eat foods, nor drink liquids, that I know hinder my progress.

Tomorrow will take care of tomorrow.

Clark Bianco writes:

What neither side seems to realize is that the system is not reformable. There are multiple classes of people, but it boils down to the connected, and the not connected. Just as in pre-Revolutionary France, there is a very strict class hierarchy, and the very idea that we are equal before the law is a laughable nonsequitr.

Via Pharyngula…

Via Mano Singham…

When an organization tagged One Million Moms (with the backing of American Family Association, American Family Radio, Repairing the Foundations, One News Now, AFA Journal, The AFA Foundation and EWomen [the mates of The Knights Who Say Nee perhaps?]) hates a show they guarantee high viewership. I’m betting that this episode breaks some kind of record for views at Fox.

Most families enjoy watching Christmas programs and movies this time of year. Unfortunately not all Christmas features are wholesome entertainment. Glee’s previously “Never Aired Christmas” episode should have stayed just that and remained unaired, considering it was complete with a bisexual Santa, transgender Virgin Mary and its fair share of drunkenness.

Other religions do not tolerate this behavior [hmmm, like Muslims maybe? JH] and as Christians we will not either. Why any producer or network feels mocking a sacred and religious holiday where Christians celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ is acceptable is beyond me. GLEE should not and will not get a free pass to make a joke of Christmas.

A bisexual Santa, a transgendered virgin Mary and drunkenness. What’s not to love?

Via a comment on Mano Singham…

Via Mano Singham…

Roldo Bartimole writes:

The 11 Cuyahoga County Commissioners – less than three years in office – want more say and more money. They apparently don’t like being part-timers. That, of course, is what they signed up to be. Not that long ago.

At $45,000 a year.

Maybe they don’t know that the median income of Cuyahoga County residents is $43,600. That is family income. Presumably full-time working.

The part-time Council also has eight full-time administrative positions to do presumably the grunt work.

Now they complain and moan about the burden. Tough. You took the job.

The PD article by Andrew Tobias notes that the 11 members also want to hire a mouthpiece. For $80,000 a year. Nothing cheap about these guys. They call the mouthpiece “someone to communicate with the media and oversee a newsletter.” Guess they don’t want to be bothered. The mouthpiece would produce a newsletter, according to the article. It would cost $150,000 to $200,000 a year. Is this a joke?

There are some pretensions of grandeur in such a short time.

Two former Council members – Dan Brady and Dale Miller – are pushing this rather big power grab. Both were good Council members.

It makes you wonder about the “reform” from three commissioners to 11 council members, plus a county executive. It is looking like de-form from here.

If the decision to build a hotel with county dough is any example, part-time is too much time for this governing.

I get the feeling that we have another rubber stamp body that thinks it’s underpaid for ratifying decision made elsewhere in the power structure.

[Air conditioning is part of the challenge] because typically we become hungrier in the winter and put on a few pounds of insulating fat. In hot weather we lose our appetites, eat lightly and keep cooler by shedding a few pounds. p. 19

From Mindful Eating by Jan Chozen Bays Nhat Hanh

Previously…

Found in my electronic chapbook.

Roldo Bartimole writes:

It happens. It gets front page attention. It happens again. Again the front page tells of tragedy. Death. By gun. By fire. The TV people are there with the cameras. The scene is predictable. Neighbors reveal their remorse. Their pain is palpable. It’s painful to watch. Then it happens again. The ritual repeats. The vigils come and go.

Both television news and the morning newspaper tell us of the tragedies. It’s not like Columbine or Newtown. Where many killed at one time in places you don’t see as high crime places. But the killing none the less.

I have a niece and a nephew living in Newtown. My niece helped hide some children for hours in a school laboratory that day, trying to keep them not only safe but calm and unthreatened. My nephew and his wife have five young boys in school there but not the Sandy Hook one thankfully. They were in lockdown for hours. You don’t know what this does to young minds.

So I worry when I see in Cleveland over and over again – not the dramatic tragic event of a Newtown – but depressingly similar violence. Seemingly ever present – again and again.

Unlike Newtown, Connecticut, a suburban community with median income over $100,000, and Columbine, Colorado, with median income near $90,000, Cleveland has median income of $25,000. That means half our people Continue Reading »