I am a consumer. I’m a retailers dream come true. After over-consuming a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with family plus two students too far from home, my daughter and nephew and I headed to the mall for deals. We purchased exactly what we were looking for at a nice discount. But the mall and the stores were relatively empty, not a single long line anywhere. Good for us, but I wonder about the economy where they expect the average person will spend $900 on Christmas this year. I’ll spend half of that and I’m still consuming too much. Continue reading “Over Consumption”
Innocent Evil
There is a tidal wave of political and ethnic division rooted in tribal ambitions and tribal fears threatening the very fabric of our nation. And we can’t afford to ignore it. On C-Span Book TV yesterday, I watched the live Miami Dade Book Festival as one of the authors of “One Nation After Trump” presented. During the question and answer period, a 20 something clean cut and very articulate white male stood up in front of a packed audience and respectfully asked if people like the author were not the racist because they seem to celebrate the fact that whites will soon be a minority in their own nation? Continue reading “Innocent Evil”
Mortality Thoughts
With the continuing pains in my chest and the loss this week of one of our Ventura County community heroes, Mr. John R. Hatcher, III, I feel compelled to write about the great mystery facing us all, death. People close to me will tell you that I am a bit morbid because I talk freely and openly about death. Maybe that’s because I’ve had several very interesting experiences with it over the years. Continue reading “Mortality Thoughts”
Me and My Chest Pains
I woke up Thursday morning and experienced a sharp, fleeting pain in my chest, deep beneath my right breast to be precise. I ignored it and went ahead with my routine, including 35 minutes on the treadmill despite the continuation of the fleeting pain in the same place. Then I went to work and by noon I was in the emergency room. Continue reading “Me and My Chest Pains”