"Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants."
~~ patriot and abolitionist Frederick Douglass [1818-95], in December of 1860
"What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy?"
~~ Ursula K. Le Guin [1929-2018]
"Existentialism consists of experiencing experience directly."
~~ G.E. Nordell
“The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.”
~~ Italian neo-Marxist Antonio Gramsci [1891-1937]
"The most beautiful thing [THAT] we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."
~~ Albert Einstein [1879-1955], in 'What I Believe'
"[The Confederate flag is] offensive to an entire race."
~~ Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"It is not a simple matter to differentiate unsuccessful from successful experiments . . . [Most] work that is finally successful is the result of a series of unsuccessful tests in which difficulties are gradually eliminated."
~~ rocket scientist Robert H. Goddard [1882-1945]
"The Republican Party consists of lobbyists, letchers, liars, and lunkheads."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
~~ Sir Winston Churchill [1874-1965]
CUM DUBITO DESISTO — when in doubt, don't
"[Trump's] going after me on his Twitter account was sort of the end for me. A sign of full-blown demagoguery, as if Roy Cohn and Joe McCarthy got together and had a baby and it ended up being Donald Trump."
~~ Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s former communications director
“Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom reality.”
~~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt [1882-1945]
"Do the best that you can, with what you have, where you are."
~~ Theodore Roosevelt [1858-1919]
"I don’t make the rules – the elves do."
~~ Emma Soren, in The New Yorker Magazine
"The events that shape our lives can never be foretold, but only withstood and reckoned with for as long as we live."
~~ Joanne Walker
"Whenever you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble – and you will be right more than half the time."
~~ educator Henry B. Eyring
"There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea."
~~ Joseph Conrad [1857-1924]
“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.”
~~ poet May Sarton [1912-95]
"Only a fool argues with a skunk, a mule, or a cook."
~~ Will Rogers [1879-1935]
"The years forever fashion new dreams when old ones go. God pity a one-dream man."
~~ Bob Goddard
"Future historians will have to end every paragraph about Trump with the disclaimer, "Seriously, no kidding, he really said that shit."
~~ John Sheirer, on Facebook
"The most important thing any teacher can teach a student is how to learn."
~~ Martin Heidegger [1889-1976]
"The system cannot propose a place for novelty, so we must create something outside the system as it is."
~~ French philosopher Alain Badiou
“America is the land of opportunity and don’t ever forget it.”
~~ Will Rogers [1879-1935]
“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, we can’t eat money, or drink oil.”
~~ Indigenous teen water protector Autumn Peltier addressing the United Nations General Assembly, 9/2019
"We are the change and change is coming."
~~ Greta Thunberg, at the end of her speech at the Fridays For Future rally in Montreal, Canada on Friday 9/27/2019
"Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it."
~~ Dwight D. Eisenhower [1890-1969]
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
"President Trump, you have the right to remain silent."
~~ Mikel Jollett
"I'm not telling you [that] it is going to be easy. I'm telling you [that] it's going to be worth it."
~~ entertainer Judy Garland [1922-69]
"You can’t argue with saw dust."
~~ Jerry Bennett of Georgia USA, on Facebook
"The giving of love is an education in itself."
~~ Eleanor Roosevelt [1884-1962]
“Skeptics warned me: 'The U.S has no friends, only interests' ... Now it turns out that the pessimists were right. I was wrong.”
~~ Ilham Ahmed, co-president of the Democratic Council of Syria
"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst."
~~ Aristotle [384-322 B.C.E.]
"TANSTAAFL: There ain't no such thing as a free lunch!"
~~ popularized by sci-fi author Robert A. Heinlein [1907-88]
funny 'found text' t-shirts:
as seen on TV (red logo)
another one: PERSON OF INTEREST
and another: built (FORD logo) tough
Error 404: This t-shirt cannot be displayed
t-shirt not responding due to a long-running script
"When it shall be said, in any country in the world, my people are happy, my jails are empty, the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive . . . then may that country boast of its constitution and government."
~~ Thomas Paine [1737-1809]
"Hate is not a solution to anything, except for lowlifes who need someone to oppress (so they can at least not be bottom of the barrel)."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"I would rather take the chance and lose than to admit to myself that I didn't have the courage to try. I'd rather make a hundred mistakes, and take the consequences for every one, than to grovel in the dirt because fear had its foot on my neck."
~~ Errol Flynn [1909-59]
"The whole truth pure and simple? The truth is rarely pure and never simple."
~~ Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
"Years ago, fairy tales all began with 'Once upon a time' . . . now we know [that] they all begin with, 'If I am elected'."
~~ Carolyn Warner
"Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it."
~~ Alexander Dumas, fils [1824-95]
"I am among those who think that science has great beauty. A scientist in his laboratory is not only a technician: he is also a child placed before natural phenomena which impress him like a fairy tale."
~~ Nobel-laureate physicist Marie Curie [1867-1934]
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
~~ C.S. Lewis [1898-1963]
"Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."
~~ G.K. Chesterton [1874-1936]
"Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with the wind."
~~ Hamilton W. Mabie [1846-1916]
"The destruction of the information system ... is a technique of propaganda that’s extremely effective. It’s working, and the effects are lethal."
~~ philosopher-activist Noam Chomsky
"Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions."
~~ Sir Winston Churchill [1874-1965]
"Love truth, and pardon error."
~~ French philosopher Voltaire [1694-1778]
"I want the old Swamp back because this Trump Swamp is stinking it up now really badly."
~~ Abel Rodriguez, on Facebook
"George Washington could not tell a lie. Richard Nixon could not tell the truth. Donald Trump cannot tell the difference."
~~ 'SW', in the Albuquerque Journal Sound Off! opinion section
"The only security of all is in a free press."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826], in 1823
"Another day, another shooting in the U.S."
~~ Teresa Hanafin, reporter at the Boston Globe
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily."
~~ Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord [1754–1838]
"Anything human is mentionable, and anything mentionable is manageable."
~~ Margaret McFarland [1905-88], lifelong collaborator of children's TV host Fred 'Mister' Rogers [1928-2003]
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?"
~~ Mark Twain [1835-1910]
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
Please Pass This On To Nancy Pelosi
Please pass this on to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in any way that you can:
After the House votes to approve Articles of Impeachment against Donald Trump
DO NOT hand them as a gift to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
INSTEAD
Hold a press conference and tell Moscow Mitch that he has to release ALL 400-plus House bills
that he is blocking from being voted on in the Senate
and that AFTER all are voted on THEN the House will forward the Articles of Impeachment -
with the explicit threat that if McConnell does not do so by year-end
then the Articles of Impeachment will be handed to the new Democratic Senate on 2 January 2021.
After the House votes to approve Articles of Impeachment against Donald Trump
DO NOT hand them as a gift to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
INSTEAD
Hold a press conference and tell Moscow Mitch that he has to release ALL 400-plus House bills
that he is blocking from being voted on in the Senate
and that AFTER all are voted on THEN the House will forward the Articles of Impeachment -
with the explicit threat that if McConnell does not do so by year-end
then the Articles of Impeachment will be handed to the new Democratic Senate on 2 January 2021.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
News Factoids for Third Quarter 2019
U.S. importers paid $6 billion in tariffs in June, a 74% jump compared to a year ago, despite a slight decline in the value of imports. And $3.4 billion of that total came from tariffs imposed by President Trump.
U.S. annually uses 388 million pounds of potentially fatal pesticides that are banned in the EU, China, and Brazil.
293.6 billion: Number of emails that are sent per day worldwide.
80%: share of global spam emails sent by 'a hard-core group of around 100 known persistent spam gangs'.
$84: approximate annual revenue Google makes on advertising per Gmail user.
2017 marked the first year that firearms killed more people than car accidents.
~~ per The Hill political newsblog, 9/2019
The bottom 90 percent of working-age households are poorer than they were in 2007.
Wealth of the top 10% bracket is UP 11 percent; wealth of the 61-90% bracket is down 17 percent; wealth of the middle class 31-60% bracket is down 35 percent; and the wealth of the bottom 30% is down 31 percent.
~~ per the U.S. Federal Reserve, September 2018
"The oceans and the icy parts of the world are in big trouble and that means we're all in big trouble, too. The changes are accelerating." ~~~ Michael Oppenheimer, professor of geosciences & international affairs at Princeton University
“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, we can’t eat money, or drink oil.”
~~ Indigenous teen water protector Autumn Peltier addressing the United Nations General Assembly, 9/2019
Arnold Schwarzenegger offered to lend Greta Thunberg an electric car if she wanted; she accepted the offer and she and her father drove it to the Fridays For Future rally in Montreal, Canada where she spoke.
"We are the change and change is coming."
~~ Greta Thunberg, at the end of her speech in Montreal, Canada on Friday 9/27/2019
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
U.S. annually uses 388 million pounds of potentially fatal pesticides that are banned in the EU, China, and Brazil.
293.6 billion: Number of emails that are sent per day worldwide.
80%: share of global spam emails sent by 'a hard-core group of around 100 known persistent spam gangs'.
$84: approximate annual revenue Google makes on advertising per Gmail user.
2017 marked the first year that firearms killed more people than car accidents.
~~ per The Hill political newsblog, 9/2019
The bottom 90 percent of working-age households are poorer than they were in 2007.
Wealth of the top 10% bracket is UP 11 percent; wealth of the 61-90% bracket is down 17 percent; wealth of the middle class 31-60% bracket is down 35 percent; and the wealth of the bottom 30% is down 31 percent.
~~ per the U.S. Federal Reserve, September 2018
"The oceans and the icy parts of the world are in big trouble and that means we're all in big trouble, too. The changes are accelerating." ~~~ Michael Oppenheimer, professor of geosciences & international affairs at Princeton University
“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, we can’t eat money, or drink oil.”
~~ Indigenous teen water protector Autumn Peltier addressing the United Nations General Assembly, 9/2019
Arnold Schwarzenegger offered to lend Greta Thunberg an electric car if she wanted; she accepted the offer and she and her father drove it to the Fridays For Future rally in Montreal, Canada where she spoke.
"We are the change and change is coming."
~~ Greta Thunberg, at the end of her speech in Montreal, Canada on Friday 9/27/2019
Sunday, August 25, 2019
August 2019 Quotations (55)
"Donald Trump's overt racism is a high crime and not a misdemeanor."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"Behind every cloud is another cloud."
~~ entertainer Judy Garland [1922-69]
"I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things."
~~ George Gissing [1857-1903]
"The goal of art is to create conscience."
~~ T-Bone Burnett
"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby."
~~ Langston Hughes [1902-67]
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
~~ country music performer Dolly Parton
"The drops of rain make a hole in the stone, not by violence, but by oft falling."
~~ Roman poet Titus Lucretius Carus [99-55 B.C.E.]
"Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots."
~~ Frank A. Clark [1860-1936]
'found text' for back of t-shirt: upgrade cost may apply
"Democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy."
~~ Benito Mussolini [1883-1945]
"Medicine would be the ideal profession if it did not involve giving pain."
~~ Samuel Hopkins Adams [1871-1958], in "The Health Master" [1913]
"Those that don't got it, can't show it. Those that got it, can't hide it."
~~ writer Zora Neale Hurston [1891-1960]
"There are many people who don`t know what real pressure is. Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple."
~~ football coach Barry Switzer
"Like the genie in the bottle, machines will in no way be obliged to make such decisions as we should have made . . ."
~~ mathematician & philosopher Norbert Wiener [1894-1964]
"Think nothing of me — take no thought for the political fate of any man whomsoever — but come back to the truths that are in the Declaration of Independence."
~~ Abraham Lincoln [1809-65]
"Writing is my craft. I honor it deeply. To have a craft, to be able to work at it, is to be honored by it."
~~ sci-fi author Ursula K. Le Guin [1929-2018]
"It's a matter of taking the side of the weak against the strong, something [that] the best people have always done."
~~ Harriet Beecher Stowe [1811-96]
"Never confuse movement with action."
~~ Ernest Hemingway [1899-1961]
"The only absolute truth is that there are no absolute truths."
~~ Paul K. Feyerabend [1924-94]
"Comedy just pokes at problems, rarely confronts them squarely. Drama is like a plate of meat and potatoes, comedy is rather the dessert, a bit like meringue."
~~ Woody Allen
"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."
~~ Albert Einstein [1879-1955]
"Donald Trump deserves no respect because he respects no one, not even himself."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"Politics is like shoes. There's a left and a right, but eventually you will want to go barefoot."
~~ Jean-Luc Godard
"Flip the White House [in] 2020. The planet depends upon it."
~~ Monica Ballard, on Facebook
"America is a tune. It must be sung together."
~~ Gerald Stanley Lee [1862-1944]
"Plant trees. Plant lots of trees."
~~ ending credits of Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" [2006]
"This feels like a turning point in our country: When there are no repercussions for racism, what's next?"
~~ Teresa Hanafin, Boston Globe staff writer
"To live effectively is to live with adequate information."
~~ mathematician & philosopher Norbert Wiener [1894-1964]
"The evil of FoxNews is breathtaking."
~~ Loren Chapman [1927-2017]
"Information is information, not matter or energy."
~~ mathematician & philosopher Norbert Wiener [1894-1964] in "Cybernetics: Or, Control and Communication In The Animal and The Machine" [1948]
"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough."
~~ Franklin D. Roosevelt [1882-1945]
"There is something about a closet that makes a skeleton terribly restless."
~~ playwright Wilson Mizner [1876-1933]
"A bad oyster, like a bad marriage, is not known until too late."
~~ Old Farmer's Almanac
"I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying."
~~ Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better."
~~ Dr. Maya Angelou [1928-2014]
"The measure of intelligence is the ability to change."
~~ Albert Einstein [1879-1955]
"It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently."
~~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky [1821-81]
"Trump is making America hate again . . . this is Trumpville, where the truth goes to die."
~~ Teresa Hanafin, Boston Globe staff writer
"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking."
~~ Gen. George Smith Patton, Jr. [1885-1945]
"I not only use all the brains that I have, but all [that] I can borrow."
~~ Woodrow Wilson [1856-1924]
"It is a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word."
~~ Andrew Jackson [1767–1845]
"Word-work is sublime . . . because it is generative; it makes meaning that secures our difference, our human difference – the way in which we are like no other life. We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives."
~~ author Toni Morrison [1931-2019], in her Nobel lecture in 1993
"Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at."
~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe [1749-1832]
"Tucker Carlson’s claim that white supremacy is a hoax is easy to prove wrong. Just watch his show."
~~ journalist Margaret M. Sullivan
"There are three kinds of people in the universe. Those who can count, and those who
can't . . ." ~~ bumper sticker
"There can be no justice without peace, and there can be no peace without justice.”
~~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. [1929-68]
"It isn't all over; everything has not been invented; the human adventure is just beginning."
~~ Gene Roddenberry [1921-91]
"It demands great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck, and an even greater miracle of perception and charity not to teach your child to hate."
~~ James A. Baldwin [1924-87]
"A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the even greater values of freedom of expression and the right of the people to know."
~~ Judge Murray Gurfein [1907-79] - Pentagon Papers decision, 17 June 1971
"When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. It's only difficult for others. It's the same way when you're stupid."
~~ actor Ricky Gervais
"I decline utterly to be impartial between the fire brigade and the fire."
~~ Sir Winston Churchill [1874-1965]
"Dare to be naïve."
~~ visionary R. Buckminster Fuller [1895-1983]
"Not all capes wear heroes."
~~ Dr. Stephen Strange (fictional character from Marvel Comics)
"Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other."
~~ Oscar Ameringer [1870-1943]
"For revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival."
~~ social reformer Frederick Douglass [1818-95], on 4 July 1852
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
~~ G.E. Nordell
"Behind every cloud is another cloud."
~~ entertainer Judy Garland [1922-69]
"I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things."
~~ George Gissing [1857-1903]
"The goal of art is to create conscience."
~~ T-Bone Burnett
"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby."
~~ Langston Hughes [1902-67]
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
~~ country music performer Dolly Parton
"The drops of rain make a hole in the stone, not by violence, but by oft falling."
~~ Roman poet Titus Lucretius Carus [99-55 B.C.E.]
"Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots."
~~ Frank A. Clark [1860-1936]
'found text' for back of t-shirt: upgrade cost may apply
"Democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy."
~~ Benito Mussolini [1883-1945]
"Medicine would be the ideal profession if it did not involve giving pain."
~~ Samuel Hopkins Adams [1871-1958], in "The Health Master" [1913]
"Those that don't got it, can't show it. Those that got it, can't hide it."
~~ writer Zora Neale Hurston [1891-1960]
"There are many people who don`t know what real pressure is. Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple."
~~ football coach Barry Switzer
"Like the genie in the bottle, machines will in no way be obliged to make such decisions as we should have made . . ."
~~ mathematician & philosopher Norbert Wiener [1894-1964]
"Think nothing of me — take no thought for the political fate of any man whomsoever — but come back to the truths that are in the Declaration of Independence."
~~ Abraham Lincoln [1809-65]
"Writing is my craft. I honor it deeply. To have a craft, to be able to work at it, is to be honored by it."
~~ sci-fi author Ursula K. Le Guin [1929-2018]
"It's a matter of taking the side of the weak against the strong, something [that] the best people have always done."
~~ Harriet Beecher Stowe [1811-96]
"Never confuse movement with action."
~~ Ernest Hemingway [1899-1961]
"The only absolute truth is that there are no absolute truths."
~~ Paul K. Feyerabend [1924-94]
"Comedy just pokes at problems, rarely confronts them squarely. Drama is like a plate of meat and potatoes, comedy is rather the dessert, a bit like meringue."
~~ Woody Allen
"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."
~~ Albert Einstein [1879-1955]
"Donald Trump deserves no respect because he respects no one, not even himself."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"Politics is like shoes. There's a left and a right, but eventually you will want to go barefoot."
~~ Jean-Luc Godard
"Flip the White House [in] 2020. The planet depends upon it."
~~ Monica Ballard, on Facebook
"America is a tune. It must be sung together."
~~ Gerald Stanley Lee [1862-1944]
"Plant trees. Plant lots of trees."
~~ ending credits of Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" [2006]
"This feels like a turning point in our country: When there are no repercussions for racism, what's next?"
~~ Teresa Hanafin, Boston Globe staff writer
"To live effectively is to live with adequate information."
~~ mathematician & philosopher Norbert Wiener [1894-1964]
"The evil of FoxNews is breathtaking."
~~ Loren Chapman [1927-2017]
"Information is information, not matter or energy."
~~ mathematician & philosopher Norbert Wiener [1894-1964] in "Cybernetics: Or, Control and Communication In The Animal and The Machine" [1948]
"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough."
~~ Franklin D. Roosevelt [1882-1945]
"There is something about a closet that makes a skeleton terribly restless."
~~ playwright Wilson Mizner [1876-1933]
"A bad oyster, like a bad marriage, is not known until too late."
~~ Old Farmer's Almanac
"I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying."
~~ Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better."
~~ Dr. Maya Angelou [1928-2014]
"The measure of intelligence is the ability to change."
~~ Albert Einstein [1879-1955]
"It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently."
~~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky [1821-81]
"Trump is making America hate again . . . this is Trumpville, where the truth goes to die."
~~ Teresa Hanafin, Boston Globe staff writer
"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking."
~~ Gen. George Smith Patton, Jr. [1885-1945]
"I not only use all the brains that I have, but all [that] I can borrow."
~~ Woodrow Wilson [1856-1924]
"It is a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word."
~~ Andrew Jackson [1767–1845]
"Word-work is sublime . . . because it is generative; it makes meaning that secures our difference, our human difference – the way in which we are like no other life. We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives."
~~ author Toni Morrison [1931-2019], in her Nobel lecture in 1993
"Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at."
~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe [1749-1832]
"Tucker Carlson’s claim that white supremacy is a hoax is easy to prove wrong. Just watch his show."
~~ journalist Margaret M. Sullivan
"There are three kinds of people in the universe. Those who can count, and those who
can't . . ." ~~ bumper sticker
"There can be no justice without peace, and there can be no peace without justice.”
~~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. [1929-68]
"It isn't all over; everything has not been invented; the human adventure is just beginning."
~~ Gene Roddenberry [1921-91]
"It demands great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck, and an even greater miracle of perception and charity not to teach your child to hate."
~~ James A. Baldwin [1924-87]
"A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve the even greater values of freedom of expression and the right of the people to know."
~~ Judge Murray Gurfein [1907-79] - Pentagon Papers decision, 17 June 1971
"When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. It's only difficult for others. It's the same way when you're stupid."
~~ actor Ricky Gervais
"I decline utterly to be impartial between the fire brigade and the fire."
~~ Sir Winston Churchill [1874-1965]
"Dare to be naïve."
~~ visionary R. Buckminster Fuller [1895-1983]
"Not all capes wear heroes."
~~ Dr. Stephen Strange (fictional character from Marvel Comics)
"Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other."
~~ Oscar Ameringer [1870-1943]
"For revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival."
~~ social reformer Frederick Douglass [1818-95], on 4 July 1852
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
Thursday, August 08, 2019
Koch Industries gets caught again
Koch Foods lost a sexual and racial harassment EEOC class-action lawsuit by employees last year and had to pay out $3.75 million. The recent 680 arrests by ICE & CBP at one of the Koch Foods chicken processing plants in Mississippi targeted immigrant workers who organized unions, fought back against discrimination, or challenged unsafe & unsanitary conditions. Labor problems in Trump's America are solved speedily and efficiently asking ICE/CBP to round up the workers and deport them. The Trump administration is helping Nazis terrorize immigrants in their homes and streets as well as in the work place.
Does this make you feel safer?
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
Does this make you feel safer?
Monday, July 01, 2019
News Factoids for Second Quarter 2019 {this is Post #450}
Measles cases in the U.S. surged to the second highest level in 2 decades. Reported measles cases jumped by nearly 100 in april, pushing the total recorded in 19 states to 555 this year. That's the second highest total, after the 667 recorded in 2014, since the U.S. declared measles eliminated in the country nearly two decades ago. There were 372 cases last year.
A government report released in April said that over 18 months time in 2016 and 2017, 152 overdose deaths involving kratom were reported in the United States, with kratom as the primary overdose agent in 91 of the deaths. Mitragyna speciosa (commonly known as kratom) is a tropical evergreen tree.
A draft United Nations report by the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services says that up to 1 million species face extinction, many within decades, as a result of human influence. The report, obtained by Agence France-Presse, said that deforestation has led to the loss of greenhouse gas-absorbing trees, polluted waters are killing protein-rich fish, and pollinating insects are dying rapidly. The pace of species loss is 'tens to hundreds of times higher than it has been, on average, over the last 10 million years', report says. The causes are shrinking habitats, hunting & poaching, climate change, pollution, and invasive species – all of which can be traced to human activity.
A double survey several days after the release of the redacted Mueller Report reveals that viewers of Fox Faux News are split: 75% believe Emperor Trump and 25% believe Mueller; viewers of CNN are also split: 75% believe Mueller and 25% believe Emperor Trump. Since Robert Mueller is a man of great honor and there is no reason to dis-believe anything in his historic report, this factoid is clear proof that Fox is all propaganda and that its propaganda works.
About 68 percent of U.S. adults use Facebook, far more than the number who use Instagram or WhatsApp (also owned by Facebook). Among these Facebook users, about three-quarters of them visit the site daily. As of last year, according to Pew, a little more than half of kids ages 13 to 17 reported using Facebook.
The United States annually uses 388 million pounds of potentially fatal pesticides that are banned in the EU, China and Brazil.
ICYMI: Robert Mueller will testify to Congress on July 17th, to a House Committee and to a Senate Committee on the same day; both will be closed to the public, and transcripts of each session are expected to be made public a few days later.
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
A government report released in April said that over 18 months time in 2016 and 2017, 152 overdose deaths involving kratom were reported in the United States, with kratom as the primary overdose agent in 91 of the deaths. Mitragyna speciosa (commonly known as kratom) is a tropical evergreen tree.
A draft United Nations report by the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services says that up to 1 million species face extinction, many within decades, as a result of human influence. The report, obtained by Agence France-Presse, said that deforestation has led to the loss of greenhouse gas-absorbing trees, polluted waters are killing protein-rich fish, and pollinating insects are dying rapidly. The pace of species loss is 'tens to hundreds of times higher than it has been, on average, over the last 10 million years', report says. The causes are shrinking habitats, hunting & poaching, climate change, pollution, and invasive species – all of which can be traced to human activity.
A double survey several days after the release of the redacted Mueller Report reveals that viewers of Fox Faux News are split: 75% believe Emperor Trump and 25% believe Mueller; viewers of CNN are also split: 75% believe Mueller and 25% believe Emperor Trump. Since Robert Mueller is a man of great honor and there is no reason to dis-believe anything in his historic report, this factoid is clear proof that Fox is all propaganda and that its propaganda works.
About 68 percent of U.S. adults use Facebook, far more than the number who use Instagram or WhatsApp (also owned by Facebook). Among these Facebook users, about three-quarters of them visit the site daily. As of last year, according to Pew, a little more than half of kids ages 13 to 17 reported using Facebook.
The United States annually uses 388 million pounds of potentially fatal pesticides that are banned in the EU, China and Brazil.
ICYMI: Robert Mueller will testify to Congress on July 17th, to a House Committee and to a Senate Committee on the same day; both will be closed to the public, and transcripts of each session are expected to be made public a few days later.
Friday, June 28, 2019
June 2019 Quotations (51)
"I don't believe that laughter is the best medicine. Actually, medicine is the best medicine. But I think that having a good sense of humor about Life is really important."
~~ comedian Ken Jeong, MD
"Sometimes . . . my greatest accomplishment is keeping my mouth shut."
~~ Winnie The Pooh
"The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent . . . However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light."
~~ cinema master Stanley Kubrick [1928-99]
"Every move [that] Mitch McConnell, the President, and the Republicans make is cruel."
~~ author Charlie Steel
"Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened."
~~ Anatole France [1844-1924]
"If you want to succeed, strike out on new paths – rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success."
~~ oil baron John D. Rockefeller [1839-1937]
"Some of the most important battles aren’t necessarily the ones that will be won in your lifetime."
~~ Stewart Udall [1920-2010]
"Art is not supposed to be easier! There are a lot of things in life that are supposed to be easier . . . but not Art. Art should always be tough. Art should demand something of you. Art should involve foot-pounds of energy being expended."
~~ Harlan Ellison [1934-2018]
"One result of [today's] programming pandemic is that we are losing the ability to discern fact from fiction. Another result is that large segments of our societies are subjects of mass hypnosis."
~~ T-Bone Burnett, in keynote speech at SXSW 2019
Power generation from wind turbines is thriving in New Mexico because Arizona blows and Texas sucks.
"Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents - choice, not chance, determines your destiny."
~~ Greek philosopher Aristotle [384-322 B.C.E.]
"We'll free every slave in every town and region. Can anybody get a bigger army than that?"
~~ line in the movie "Spartacus" [1960]
"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions."
~~ Leonardo da Vinci [1452-1519]
"Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself."
~~ Persian poet & mystic Rumi [1207-73]
"A cold beer at the end of the day is the best thing life has to offer."
~~ Haruki Murakami, in "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" [1994-95]
"There’s nothing I want people to learn from me. It’s what you discover for yourself that makes it powerful."
~~ philosopher Werner Erhard
"Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything."
~~ Napoleon Hill [1883-1970]
"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things."
~~ Leonardo da Vinci [1452-1519]
"Only two things certain under this administration: death (for the little people) and tax cuts (for the rich)."
~~ Paul Krugman
"I fought for a radical cinema, and I continued all my life."
~~ Agnès Varda [1928-2019]
"Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl."
~~ Benjamin Jowett [1817-93]
"We are drowning in information, but starved for knowledge."
~~ John Naisbitt
"Capitalism is more important than democracy."
~~ Stephen Moore, senior economic adviser to the Trump campaign, 2018
"Machines, though helpless by themselves, may be used by a human being or [by] a block of human beings to increase their control over the rest of the human race."
~~ Norbert Wiener [1894-1964]
"Men have become the tools of their tools."
~~ Henry David Thoreau [1817-62] in 1854
"Mass incarceration is a form of voter suppression."
~~ Georgia Parke
"Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment."
~~ Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu [IVth Century B.C.E.]
"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."
~~ Colin Powell
"To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will."
~~ boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson [1921-89]
"Donald Trump and William Barr have set America on the road to tyranny.”
~~ Hillary Rodham Clinton
"The most heroic word in all languages is 'revolution'."
~~ Eugene V. Debs [1855-1926]
"Put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success."
~~ Swami Sivananda [1887-1963]
"Let the improvement of yourself keep you so busy that you have no time to criticize others."
~~ Roy T. Bennett
"I believe in the idea of the rainbow, and I've spent my entire life trying to get over it."
~~ entertainer Judy Garland [1922-69]
"It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones."
~~ Nelson Mandela [1918-2013]
"The criminal ineptitude [after Hurricane Katrina] makes you furious."
~~ rock music legend Bruce Springsteen
"We will never have peace in the world until women take power."
~~ Coretta Scott King [1927-2006]
"Wisdom is everything! It makes one a slave to the truth."
~~ Clifford Wallace Thornton, Jr.
"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
~~ Dr. Seuss {Theodor Geisel 1904-91}
"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."
~~ John Lennon [1940-80]
"A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow."
~~ William Shakespeare [1564-1616]
"Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty."
~~ art critic John Ruskin [1819-1900]
another 'found text' for back of T-shirt: HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED
"The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman's life, to her well-being and dignity. It is a decision she must make for herself. When Government controls that decision for her, she is being treated as less than a fully adult human responsible for her own choices."
~~ Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
"What matters above all in a work of art is the vital depth of which it may have sprung."
~~ author James Joyce [1882-1941]
"I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom."
~~ music legend Bob Dylan
"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
~~ Søren Kierkegaard [1813-55]
"The world tells you to follow your dreams.
But Buddhism will tell you to wake up."
~~ Chamtrul Rinpoche of Tibet
"When you have a situation where the wealthiest family in America ... has $174 billion in wealth, it is really absurd and unacceptable that they are paying their workers starvation wages."
~~ Sen. Bernie Sanders about Wal-Mart 6/2019
"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
~~ comedian Ken Jeong, MD
"Sometimes . . . my greatest accomplishment is keeping my mouth shut."
~~ Winnie The Pooh
"The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent . . . However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light."
~~ cinema master Stanley Kubrick [1928-99]
"Every move [that] Mitch McConnell, the President, and the Republicans make is cruel."
~~ author Charlie Steel
"Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened."
~~ Anatole France [1844-1924]
"If you want to succeed, strike out on new paths – rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success."
~~ oil baron John D. Rockefeller [1839-1937]
"Some of the most important battles aren’t necessarily the ones that will be won in your lifetime."
~~ Stewart Udall [1920-2010]
"Art is not supposed to be easier! There are a lot of things in life that are supposed to be easier . . . but not Art. Art should always be tough. Art should demand something of you. Art should involve foot-pounds of energy being expended."
~~ Harlan Ellison [1934-2018]
"One result of [today's] programming pandemic is that we are losing the ability to discern fact from fiction. Another result is that large segments of our societies are subjects of mass hypnosis."
~~ T-Bone Burnett, in keynote speech at SXSW 2019
Power generation from wind turbines is thriving in New Mexico because Arizona blows and Texas sucks.
"Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents - choice, not chance, determines your destiny."
~~ Greek philosopher Aristotle [384-322 B.C.E.]
"We'll free every slave in every town and region. Can anybody get a bigger army than that?"
~~ line in the movie "Spartacus" [1960]
"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions."
~~ Leonardo da Vinci [1452-1519]
"Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself."
~~ Persian poet & mystic Rumi [1207-73]
"A cold beer at the end of the day is the best thing life has to offer."
~~ Haruki Murakami, in "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" [1994-95]
"There’s nothing I want people to learn from me. It’s what you discover for yourself that makes it powerful."
~~ philosopher Werner Erhard
"Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything."
~~ Napoleon Hill [1883-1970]
"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things."
~~ Leonardo da Vinci [1452-1519]
"Only two things certain under this administration: death (for the little people) and tax cuts (for the rich)."
~~ Paul Krugman
"I fought for a radical cinema, and I continued all my life."
~~ Agnès Varda [1928-2019]
"Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl."
~~ Benjamin Jowett [1817-93]
"We are drowning in information, but starved for knowledge."
~~ John Naisbitt
"Capitalism is more important than democracy."
~~ Stephen Moore, senior economic adviser to the Trump campaign, 2018
"Machines, though helpless by themselves, may be used by a human being or [by] a block of human beings to increase their control over the rest of the human race."
~~ Norbert Wiener [1894-1964]
"Men have become the tools of their tools."
~~ Henry David Thoreau [1817-62] in 1854
"Mass incarceration is a form of voter suppression."
~~ Georgia Parke
"Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment."
~~ Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu [IVth Century B.C.E.]
"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."
~~ Colin Powell
"To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when no one else will."
~~ boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson [1921-89]
"Donald Trump and William Barr have set America on the road to tyranny.”
~~ Hillary Rodham Clinton
"The most heroic word in all languages is 'revolution'."
~~ Eugene V. Debs [1855-1926]
"Put your heart, mind and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success."
~~ Swami Sivananda [1887-1963]
"Let the improvement of yourself keep you so busy that you have no time to criticize others."
~~ Roy T. Bennett
"I believe in the idea of the rainbow, and I've spent my entire life trying to get over it."
~~ entertainer Judy Garland [1922-69]
"It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones."
~~ Nelson Mandela [1918-2013]
"The criminal ineptitude [after Hurricane Katrina] makes you furious."
~~ rock music legend Bruce Springsteen
"We will never have peace in the world until women take power."
~~ Coretta Scott King [1927-2006]
"Wisdom is everything! It makes one a slave to the truth."
~~ Clifford Wallace Thornton, Jr.
"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
~~ Dr. Seuss {Theodor Geisel 1904-91}
"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."
~~ John Lennon [1940-80]
"A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow."
~~ William Shakespeare [1564-1616]
"Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty."
~~ art critic John Ruskin [1819-1900]
another 'found text' for back of T-shirt: HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED
"The decision whether or not to bear a child is central to a woman's life, to her well-being and dignity. It is a decision she must make for herself. When Government controls that decision for her, she is being treated as less than a fully adult human responsible for her own choices."
~~ Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
"What matters above all in a work of art is the vital depth of which it may have sprung."
~~ author James Joyce [1882-1941]
"I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom."
~~ music legend Bob Dylan
"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
~~ Søren Kierkegaard [1813-55]
"The world tells you to follow your dreams.
But Buddhism will tell you to wake up."
~~ Chamtrul Rinpoche of Tibet
"When you have a situation where the wealthiest family in America ... has $174 billion in wealth, it is really absurd and unacceptable that they are paying their workers starvation wages."
~~ Sen. Bernie Sanders about Wal-Mart 6/2019
"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Another Letter Printed in the Local Newspaper
HEADLINE: The pro-life movement is based on lies
I am male, so the storm surrounding abortion, women’s rights, safe health care procedures, and pseudo-Xian pro-life people has not required me to have an opinion or speak to any of the issues.
There are plenty of issues that I am adamant about. That said, I am very pro-choice and demand equal rights for all, and, in fact, repeat my own philosophical statements whenever they seem to apply.
“I have the same rights that you do, the same rights that I afford you. We each have only the collective rights given to all,” and, “Rights only exist when they apply to everyone. When only some people are accorded a so-called ‘right’, then it is privilege and subjugation.”
But I decided that I need to speak up on the issue because I stumbled upon the so-called truth of the matter.
I am opposed to all religions, and the larger disease of magical thinking. But it turns out that the fundamentalist Xian claim that their non-existent godhead defines the life of a fetus from conception, or more recently, at the first heartbeat, is categorically not true.
The Judeo-Xian Bible clearly states that life begins when you take your first breath of air.
Genesis 2:7: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and [the] man became a living soul.”
Job 33:4: “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”
Ezekiel 37:5-6: “Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.”
I don’t have to believe any of this, nor do you. But when pseudo-Xians make claims based on the word of God, they had better be accurate when they do so. It is quite telling that after all these years of back-and-forth, I would stumble upon actual facts in the matter at this late date.
Other cited verses found in my research are just plain off the mark, and only a propagandist could twist the texts cited by the pro-life leaders, and re-quoted by their teeming mob of followers, into actually specifying the magic moment when life occurs.
So I am posting this factual ammunition for use by any pro-choice readers to fling in the face of these false pro-lifer misogynist hate-mongers – they won’t listen, of course, but the battle must be fought.
Another of my sayings that applies here is, “The use of force is proof of the absence of reason.”
G.E. Nordell
Rio Communities
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
I am male, so the storm surrounding abortion, women’s rights, safe health care procedures, and pseudo-Xian pro-life people has not required me to have an opinion or speak to any of the issues.
There are plenty of issues that I am adamant about. That said, I am very pro-choice and demand equal rights for all, and, in fact, repeat my own philosophical statements whenever they seem to apply.
“I have the same rights that you do, the same rights that I afford you. We each have only the collective rights given to all,” and, “Rights only exist when they apply to everyone. When only some people are accorded a so-called ‘right’, then it is privilege and subjugation.”
But I decided that I need to speak up on the issue because I stumbled upon the so-called truth of the matter.
I am opposed to all religions, and the larger disease of magical thinking. But it turns out that the fundamentalist Xian claim that their non-existent godhead defines the life of a fetus from conception, or more recently, at the first heartbeat, is categorically not true.
The Judeo-Xian Bible clearly states that life begins when you take your first breath of air.
Genesis 2:7: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and [the] man became a living soul.”
Job 33:4: “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”
Ezekiel 37:5-6: “Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.”
I don’t have to believe any of this, nor do you. But when pseudo-Xians make claims based on the word of God, they had better be accurate when they do so. It is quite telling that after all these years of back-and-forth, I would stumble upon actual facts in the matter at this late date.
Other cited verses found in my research are just plain off the mark, and only a propagandist could twist the texts cited by the pro-life leaders, and re-quoted by their teeming mob of followers, into actually specifying the magic moment when life occurs.
So I am posting this factual ammunition for use by any pro-choice readers to fling in the face of these false pro-lifer misogynist hate-mongers – they won’t listen, of course, but the battle must be fought.
Another of my sayings that applies here is, “The use of force is proof of the absence of reason.”
G.E. Nordell
Rio Communities
Monday, June 03, 2019
Reasoned Comment on Mexico Tariffs
Folks here in Albuquerque, New Mexico are in a panic about the idiot (and unconstitutional) tariffs levied by Emperor Trump on imported goods from Mexico. The most common comment is 'OMG what will Chipotle Restaurants do? they'll have to shut down!'.
ROFL: While these tariffs will have an adverse effect on consumer prices, the impact is not likely to change anybody's lifestyle. However much Chipotle - and all the other Southwest or Italian dining establishments here - use imported avocado and tomato as ingredients, the Trump Tax on them is on the *wholesale price*, which even at the final 25% tariff in five months, will barely amount to TEN CENTS per whole avocado and even less per whole tomato. The tariffs on Mexico and China are really not money-makers, not for the U.S. Treasury, not for anybody.
If Chipotle or the other restaurants feel the need to raise prices, they don't even have to reprint all their menus for this temporary insanity: get stickers printed and put one on each menu that says 'Prices on some food items may be temporarily increased a few pennies during the Trump Tax tariffs". Then change the computer to show which menu items get the teeny increase, and print a new summary line on the bill for the meal that reads "Trump Tax Tariff is only 12¢' (or whatever).
Trump and his obedient servants want you to panic so that you will not notice that they are manipulating the international situation to start World War III or Armageddon with Iran or China or even Turkey. War profiteering is the money-maker, guys.
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
ROFL: While these tariffs will have an adverse effect on consumer prices, the impact is not likely to change anybody's lifestyle. However much Chipotle - and all the other Southwest or Italian dining establishments here - use imported avocado and tomato as ingredients, the Trump Tax on them is on the *wholesale price*, which even at the final 25% tariff in five months, will barely amount to TEN CENTS per whole avocado and even less per whole tomato. The tariffs on Mexico and China are really not money-makers, not for the U.S. Treasury, not for anybody.
If Chipotle or the other restaurants feel the need to raise prices, they don't even have to reprint all their menus for this temporary insanity: get stickers printed and put one on each menu that says 'Prices on some food items may be temporarily increased a few pennies during the Trump Tax tariffs". Then change the computer to show which menu items get the teeny increase, and print a new summary line on the bill for the meal that reads "Trump Tax Tariff is only 12¢' (or whatever).
Trump and his obedient servants want you to panic so that you will not notice that they are manipulating the international situation to start World War III or Armageddon with Iran or China or even Turkey. War profiteering is the money-maker, guys.
Friday, May 17, 2019
My Letter Printed in the Local Newspaper
HEADLINE: Time to take a stand
The racist pinheads who flew the Confederate/K.K.K. flag in the Fourth of July parade last year are still among us. There is still time to do something to prevent a recurrence this year or in future.
Very simple law: The public display of the Confederate/K.K.K. flag or any of its many variants is racist and a hate crime under local and federal law. There should be a sizeable fine for the first offense, some amount bigger than a speeding ticket.
But our local officials have neither the integrity nor the cojones to stand up against such fear-mongering.
As Nelson Mandela often said, if you are not taking action in opposition to inhumane policies and practices, then you are complicit in their existence.
July is fast approaching.
G.E. Nordell
Rio Communities, NM
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
The racist pinheads who flew the Confederate/K.K.K. flag in the Fourth of July parade last year are still among us. There is still time to do something to prevent a recurrence this year or in future.
Very simple law: The public display of the Confederate/K.K.K. flag or any of its many variants is racist and a hate crime under local and federal law. There should be a sizeable fine for the first offense, some amount bigger than a speeding ticket.
But our local officials have neither the integrity nor the cojones to stand up against such fear-mongering.
As Nelson Mandela often said, if you are not taking action in opposition to inhumane policies and practices, then you are complicit in their existence.
July is fast approaching.
G.E. Nordell
Rio Communities, NM
Thursday, May 09, 2019
HA! A SMALL MIRACLE
Drove the 40 miles up to the Albuquerque V.A. Medical Center last month for my fourth session of experimental acupuncture, which seems to produce a wonderful effect. After that, I decided to mosey up San Mateo to Jack-in-the-Box (don't often get to Jack's cuz there are none in Valencia County).
After ordering my sandwich, I set my drink on the table and noticed that Congresswoman Deb Haaland was seated at the other end of the room. So I walked over to say hello.
(Fear did not even occur to me since I have practiced Landmark Education's technology for forty years now, including SELP, TMLP, the Six-Day Course, and the Communications Curriculum.)
She was with two staff members and they all asked nice questions, and I responded about my longterm Reason-Based Taxation project. One said that he remembered the document and named two workers who were assigned to look into it.
They walked away with a positive conversation from a non-constituent (I'm in District 2) and a reminder about Reason-Based Taxation; what I walked away with was on overt invitation to come in to the office in Downtown Albuquerque to have a deeper conversation on the matter.
Not a miracle? There are 2.1 million residents in New Mexico. What are the odds that Deb Haaland and I would choose the exact same restaurant for lunch?
http://www.ReasonBasedTaxation.info/
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
After ordering my sandwich, I set my drink on the table and noticed that Congresswoman Deb Haaland was seated at the other end of the room. So I walked over to say hello.
(Fear did not even occur to me since I have practiced Landmark Education's technology for forty years now, including SELP, TMLP, the Six-Day Course, and the Communications Curriculum.)
She was with two staff members and they all asked nice questions, and I responded about my longterm Reason-Based Taxation project. One said that he remembered the document and named two workers who were assigned to look into it.
They walked away with a positive conversation from a non-constituent (I'm in District 2) and a reminder about Reason-Based Taxation; what I walked away with was on overt invitation to come in to the office in Downtown Albuquerque to have a deeper conversation on the matter.
Not a miracle? There are 2.1 million residents in New Mexico. What are the odds that Deb Haaland and I would choose the exact same restaurant for lunch?
http://www.ReasonBasedTaxation.info/
Wednesday, May 08, 2019
HERE'S THE PLAN, GUYS !!
If the facts warrant (which seems to be the case), House Democrats should go ahead and impeach Donald Trump for his crimes. This is necessary to set the record straight, so that history will know that the Democratic Party fiercely defended the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.
So okay, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will prevent any action to convict. But when the Democratic presidential candidate wins the 2020 election, we might just also turn the Senate BLUE, and the new Senate leaders will be able to set up a vote to convict Trump. (And we don't have to worry about President Pence!)
Let's see how much traction we can get on this: post, tweet, share, email, and tell your friends and enemies.
You have nothing to lose but your chains.
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
So okay, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will prevent any action to convict. But when the Democratic presidential candidate wins the 2020 election, we might just also turn the Senate BLUE, and the new Senate leaders will be able to set up a vote to convict Trump. (And we don't have to worry about President Pence!)
Let's see how much traction we can get on this: post, tweet, share, email, and tell your friends and enemies.
You have nothing to lose but your chains.
Saturday, May 04, 2019
Thursday, May 02, 2019
RECIPE/INVENTION OF THE MONTH: Breakfast Sushi
My local Albertsons grocery store made lots of changes after they were sold to a retail conglomerate in Texas last year, including adding a Starbucks stand and a small fresh sushi stand in the Service Deli section. Sushi always costs a lot, probably due to the labor involved, so I have been buying one only on Albertsons's Senior Discount (10% off!) Day each month. The California Roll is the cheapest, and the ten little roll things make two meals.
But that gets kinda boring, even with wasabi and ginger and a packet of soy sauce. So I looked at what else the two workers/franchisees could make, and came up with New Mexico Breakfast Sushi.
There would be slices of fried egg (whipped up with some cream, like an omelette), bacon or sausage, cheddar cheese, maybe a green onion slice, and the usual rice wrapped up in the seaweed. To make it truly New Mexican, they could offer either the plain version or a set with Hatch green chile™ - inside, not as a salsa. No wasabi, no ginger, no soy sauce - but it's gotta have two packets of ketchup in the box!
So next time I go food shopping I will speak to the two franchisees and see if I can enroll them in dangerous activity such as innovation . . .
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
But that gets kinda boring, even with wasabi and ginger and a packet of soy sauce. So I looked at what else the two workers/franchisees could make, and came up with New Mexico Breakfast Sushi.
There would be slices of fried egg (whipped up with some cream, like an omelette), bacon or sausage, cheddar cheese, maybe a green onion slice, and the usual rice wrapped up in the seaweed. To make it truly New Mexican, they could offer either the plain version or a set with Hatch green chile™ - inside, not as a salsa. No wasabi, no ginger, no soy sauce - but it's gotta have two packets of ketchup in the box!
So next time I go food shopping I will speak to the two franchisees and see if I can enroll them in dangerous activity such as innovation . . .
Sunday, March 31, 2019
News Factoids for First Quarter 2019
CLIMATE NEWS
The oceans have been setting high-temperature records for several years now, according to a study published in the journal "Science" in January 2019. And what's more, they're getting about 40 percent warmer than a United Nations panel estimated back in 2014. Earth's oceans absorb up to 93 percent of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases — and as they get warmer, adverse effects such as loss of marine life, vanishing ecosystems, and worsening storms are bound to ramp up.
Antarctica is melting 6 times faster today than it was in the 1970s.
Antarctica is losing its icy covering at an unprecedented pace, according to a study published jan 2019 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Antarctica's glaciers may have melted at a rate of 40 billion tons per year in the 1980s, but that total increased more than six-fold from 2009 to 2019. In the National Academy's most recent measurement, Antarctica's ice sheet lost 250 billion tons of ice every year. It takes 360 billion tons of melting ice to produce a millimeter of sea level rise, so sea levels have gone up by nearly 7 millimeters due to Antarctica's melt alone. At the world's current carbon emissions rate, global sea levels could rise 3 feet by 2100.
The jet stream is moving so fast right now that commercial planes are traveling faster than the speed of sound.
OTHER NEWS
"President Trump made 8,158 false or misleading claims in his first two years."
— per Washington Post in 21 January 2019
Report: Americans got 26.3 billion robocalls last year, up 46 percent from 2017.
Donald Trump version of the 'I'm with stupid' T-shirt has the arrow pointing UP !
Cong. Adam Schiff's wonderful 'smackdown' speech of 28 March 2019
watch speech from C-SPAN [5:13] on YouTube
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
The oceans have been setting high-temperature records for several years now, according to a study published in the journal "Science" in January 2019. And what's more, they're getting about 40 percent warmer than a United Nations panel estimated back in 2014. Earth's oceans absorb up to 93 percent of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases — and as they get warmer, adverse effects such as loss of marine life, vanishing ecosystems, and worsening storms are bound to ramp up.
Antarctica is melting 6 times faster today than it was in the 1970s.
Antarctica is losing its icy covering at an unprecedented pace, according to a study published jan 2019 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Antarctica's glaciers may have melted at a rate of 40 billion tons per year in the 1980s, but that total increased more than six-fold from 2009 to 2019. In the National Academy's most recent measurement, Antarctica's ice sheet lost 250 billion tons of ice every year. It takes 360 billion tons of melting ice to produce a millimeter of sea level rise, so sea levels have gone up by nearly 7 millimeters due to Antarctica's melt alone. At the world's current carbon emissions rate, global sea levels could rise 3 feet by 2100.
The jet stream is moving so fast right now that commercial planes are traveling faster than the speed of sound.
OTHER NEWS
"President Trump made 8,158 false or misleading claims in his first two years."
— per Washington Post in 21 January 2019
Report: Americans got 26.3 billion robocalls last year, up 46 percent from 2017.
Donald Trump version of the 'I'm with stupid' T-shirt has the arrow pointing UP !
Cong. Adam Schiff's wonderful 'smackdown' speech of 28 March 2019
watch speech from C-SPAN [5:13] on YouTube
Friday, March 15, 2019
HEY, GOOGLE:
Nice of you to announce the algorithm changes that make it more difficult for small websites to appear in search results, but you are damaging any chance of a 'free market' of ideas or products. Google is a monopoly helping other monopolies.
HERE'S AN IDEA: Plan a day of bottom-ranked results each year or quarter or month that gives startup entrepreneurs and struggling vendors a leg up. This could be to celebrate something or somebody, such as a U.S. President who was elected by Congress after placing third in the national election.
SECOND IDEA: You could set this up as an option on the basic search box page, i.e.'bottom-ranked results'.
THIRD IDEA: Some internet entrepreneur could build a search engine that reverses the algorithm and displays the least popular results first, for people who are tired of seeing the same sites on every search (Facebook, Fox, HuffPost, CNN, Amazon, Twitter).
Google's motto "Don't be evil" was replaced in 2015 by "Do the right thing", but your algorithm practices have violated that fake ethos for a long time.
~~~ G.E. Nordell at www.genordell.com
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
HERE'S AN IDEA: Plan a day of bottom-ranked results each year or quarter or month that gives startup entrepreneurs and struggling vendors a leg up. This could be to celebrate something or somebody, such as a U.S. President who was elected by Congress after placing third in the national election.
SECOND IDEA: You could set this up as an option on the basic search box page, i.e.'bottom-ranked results'.
THIRD IDEA: Some internet entrepreneur could build a search engine that reverses the algorithm and displays the least popular results first, for people who are tired of seeing the same sites on every search (Facebook, Fox, HuffPost, CNN, Amazon, Twitter).
Google's motto "Don't be evil" was replaced in 2015 by "Do the right thing", but your algorithm practices have violated that fake ethos for a long time.
~~~ G.E. Nordell at www.genordell.com
Thursday, February 28, 2019
February 2019 Quotations (54)
"And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been."
~~ Rainer Maria Rilke [1875-1926]
"I'm undoubtedly a liberal, which means that I'm in almost total agreement with the Eisenhower-era Republican party platform."
~~ TV news anchor Rachel Maddow
"That's the nice thing about science, you will lose all your paradigms, sooner better than later."
~~ John C. Landon
"Knowledge is not a series of self-consistent theories that converges towards an ideal view; it is rather an ever-increasing ocean of mutually incompatible (and perhaps even incommensurable) alternatives, each single theory, each fairy tale, each myth."
~~ Paul K. Feyerabend [1924-94]
"The man who has begun to live more seriously within begins to live more simply without."
~~ Ernest Hemingway [1899-1961]
"One would like to be grand and heroic, if one could; but if not, why try at all? One wants to be very something, very great, very heroic; or if not that, then at least very stylish and very fashionable. It is this everlasting mediocrity that bores me."
~~ Harriet Beecher Stowe [1811-96]
"There is more barbarity in eating a man alive than in eating him dead."
~~ essayist Michel Eyquem de Montaigne [1533-92]
"Political systems that were supposed to represent everyone now return governments of millionaires, financed by and acting on behalf of billionaires. To expect governments funded and appointed by this class to protect the biosphere and defend the poor is like expecting a lion to live on gazpacho."
~~ British author George Monbiot
"I’m at a bit of a loss in how to successfully negotiate with an angry, hurting faction [of the GOP] that doesn’t like critical thinking, facts, science, or reason. I suspect it might take a few generations for them to die off, but they are indoctrinating their kids . . ."
~~ Zane Paxton, on Facebook
"It's never too early to be annoyed by Christmas."
~~ Grinch character, as written by Dr. Seuss
"Defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out."
~~ poet Edwin Markham [1852-1940]
"Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together."
~~ English art critic John Ruskin [1819-1900]
"If people think [that] nature is their friend, then they sure don't need an enemy."
~~ Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. [1922-2007]
"Advertising is the greatest art form of the XXth Century."
~~ communications theorist Marshall McLuhan [1911-80]
"I did not become a vegetarian for my health; I did it for the health of the chickens."
~~ Isaac Bashevis Singer [1902-91]
"We must be willing to let go of the life [that] we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
~~ British author E.M. Forster [1879-1970]
"Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope."
~~ Edith Wharton [1862-1937]
"If I revealed who I'm dating right now it would swing the election {snort, snort}."
~~ Ernestine character, as portrayed by comedian Lily Tomlin, live interview 1984
"Don't let your mouth write a check that you're ass can't cash."
~~ author Charles Portis, in the 1966 novel "Norwood"
"Those who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by them."
~~ Ursula K. Le Guin [1929-2018]
"The US of A has never had a capitalist economy. Currently we have a fascist political system with Wall Street exercising a piracy economic system - they want it, they take it."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"Don't worry about old age; it doesn't last that long."
~~ historian Marshall Trimble
"[Bear] in mind that Truth is hate to those that hate the Truth."
~~ Oregon blogger Paul Walters
"One can follow the sun, of course, but I have always thought that it is best to know some winter too, so that the summer, when it arrives, is the more gratefully received."
~~ romance novelist Beatriz Williams
"Winter is not a season, it's an occupation."
~~ Sinclair Lewis [1885-1951]
"To keep a warm heart in winter is the real victory."
~~ Marty Rubin
"We all grow tired eventually; it happens to everyone. Even the sun, at the close of the year, is no longer a morning person."
~~ author Joyce Rachelle
"Success is not worth rejoicing over, failure is not worth grieving over."
~~ Luo Guanzhong [XIVth Century] of China
"We're no longer talking about a situation where global warming is something in the future. It's here. It's now."
~~ Gavin A. Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, in February 2019
"No more 'incremental progress' bull****. It’s time for a wholesale political revolution."
~~ musician/activist Michael 'Killer Mike' Render
"We need heroes today more than ever."
~~ T.A. Barron
"Being like everybody is the same as being nobody."
~~ television writer Rod Serling [1924-75]
"Love sought is good, but given unsought better."
~~ William Shakespeare [1564-1616]
"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
~~ cartoonist Charles M. Schulz [1922-2000]
"The arts are essential to any complete national life. The State owes it to itself to sustain and encourage them. Ill fares the race which fails to salute the arts with the reverence and delight which are their due."
~~ Winston Churchill [1874-1965], in 1938
"Online trolls have nothing to communicate or contribute, they just think that they can wear reality down to their level by repeating nonsense over & over."
~~ G.E. Nordell
why Republican pseudo-Xians get no respect: "He answereth and saith unto them, he that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."
~~ Gospel of Luke, chapter 3, verses 10-11
"It is really a good thing that the Angry emoji on Facebook is available without limit, or we would all run out before 2020."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you."
~~ Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu [IVth Century B.C.E.]
"Always remember that half the population is below average, and it is even worse on Facebook."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"[Michael D.] Cohen’s testimony may not all prove correct. But all of it is plausible - and not a word of it has been contradicted, let alone refuted."
~~ journalist David Frum
"If you love life, she will love you in return."
~~ pianist Arthur Rubinstein [1887-1982]
"You live as long as you dance."
~~ Rudolf Nureyev [1938-93]
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."
~~ author Isaac Asimov [1920-92]
"Whoever one is, and wherever one is, one is always in the wrong if one is rude."
~~ Maurice Baring [1874-1945]
"The strongest of all warriors are these two: Time and Patience."
~~ Count Leo Tolstoy [1828-1910] of Russia, in the 1869 epic novel "War and Peace"
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."
~~ Carl Jung [1875-1961]
"Any form of art is a form of power; it has impact, it can affect change -- it can not only move us, it makes us move."
~~ actor & activist Ossie Davis [1917-2005]
"You stop explaining yourself when you realize [that] people only understand from their level of perception."
~~ actor Jim Carrey
"If you want to be successful, you must respect one rule: Never lie to yourself."
~~ Paulo Coehlo
"My mind is like my internet browser: 19 tabs open, 3 of them frozen, and I have no idea where the music is coming from."
~~ author unknown
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice [that] it always coincides with their own desires."
~~ suffragist Susan B. Anthony [1820-1906]
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enogh people to make it worth the effort."
~~ Herm Albright
"There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception."
~~ Aldous Huxley [1894-1963]
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
~~ Rainer Maria Rilke [1875-1926]
"I'm undoubtedly a liberal, which means that I'm in almost total agreement with the Eisenhower-era Republican party platform."
~~ TV news anchor Rachel Maddow
"That's the nice thing about science, you will lose all your paradigms, sooner better than later."
~~ John C. Landon
"Knowledge is not a series of self-consistent theories that converges towards an ideal view; it is rather an ever-increasing ocean of mutually incompatible (and perhaps even incommensurable) alternatives, each single theory, each fairy tale, each myth."
~~ Paul K. Feyerabend [1924-94]
"The man who has begun to live more seriously within begins to live more simply without."
~~ Ernest Hemingway [1899-1961]
"One would like to be grand and heroic, if one could; but if not, why try at all? One wants to be very something, very great, very heroic; or if not that, then at least very stylish and very fashionable. It is this everlasting mediocrity that bores me."
~~ Harriet Beecher Stowe [1811-96]
"There is more barbarity in eating a man alive than in eating him dead."
~~ essayist Michel Eyquem de Montaigne [1533-92]
"Political systems that were supposed to represent everyone now return governments of millionaires, financed by and acting on behalf of billionaires. To expect governments funded and appointed by this class to protect the biosphere and defend the poor is like expecting a lion to live on gazpacho."
~~ British author George Monbiot
"I’m at a bit of a loss in how to successfully negotiate with an angry, hurting faction [of the GOP] that doesn’t like critical thinking, facts, science, or reason. I suspect it might take a few generations for them to die off, but they are indoctrinating their kids . . ."
~~ Zane Paxton, on Facebook
"It's never too early to be annoyed by Christmas."
~~ Grinch character, as written by Dr. Seuss
"Defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out."
~~ poet Edwin Markham [1852-1940]
"Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together."
~~ English art critic John Ruskin [1819-1900]
"If people think [that] nature is their friend, then they sure don't need an enemy."
~~ Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. [1922-2007]
"Advertising is the greatest art form of the XXth Century."
~~ communications theorist Marshall McLuhan [1911-80]
"I did not become a vegetarian for my health; I did it for the health of the chickens."
~~ Isaac Bashevis Singer [1902-91]
"We must be willing to let go of the life [that] we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
~~ British author E.M. Forster [1879-1970]
"Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope."
~~ Edith Wharton [1862-1937]
"If I revealed who I'm dating right now it would swing the election {snort, snort}."
~~ Ernestine character, as portrayed by comedian Lily Tomlin, live interview 1984
"Don't let your mouth write a check that you're ass can't cash."
~~ author Charles Portis, in the 1966 novel "Norwood"
"Those who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by them."
~~ Ursula K. Le Guin [1929-2018]
"The US of A has never had a capitalist economy. Currently we have a fascist political system with Wall Street exercising a piracy economic system - they want it, they take it."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"Don't worry about old age; it doesn't last that long."
~~ historian Marshall Trimble
"[Bear] in mind that Truth is hate to those that hate the Truth."
~~ Oregon blogger Paul Walters
"One can follow the sun, of course, but I have always thought that it is best to know some winter too, so that the summer, when it arrives, is the more gratefully received."
~~ romance novelist Beatriz Williams
"Winter is not a season, it's an occupation."
~~ Sinclair Lewis [1885-1951]
"To keep a warm heart in winter is the real victory."
~~ Marty Rubin
"We all grow tired eventually; it happens to everyone. Even the sun, at the close of the year, is no longer a morning person."
~~ author Joyce Rachelle
"Success is not worth rejoicing over, failure is not worth grieving over."
~~ Luo Guanzhong [XIVth Century] of China
"We're no longer talking about a situation where global warming is something in the future. It's here. It's now."
~~ Gavin A. Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, in February 2019
"No more 'incremental progress' bull****. It’s time for a wholesale political revolution."
~~ musician/activist Michael 'Killer Mike' Render
"We need heroes today more than ever."
~~ T.A. Barron
"Being like everybody is the same as being nobody."
~~ television writer Rod Serling [1924-75]
"Love sought is good, but given unsought better."
~~ William Shakespeare [1564-1616]
"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
~~ cartoonist Charles M. Schulz [1922-2000]
"The arts are essential to any complete national life. The State owes it to itself to sustain and encourage them. Ill fares the race which fails to salute the arts with the reverence and delight which are their due."
~~ Winston Churchill [1874-1965], in 1938
"Online trolls have nothing to communicate or contribute, they just think that they can wear reality down to their level by repeating nonsense over & over."
~~ G.E. Nordell
why Republican pseudo-Xians get no respect: "He answereth and saith unto them, he that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."
~~ Gospel of Luke, chapter 3, verses 10-11
"It is really a good thing that the Angry emoji on Facebook is available without limit, or we would all run out before 2020."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you."
~~ Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu [IVth Century B.C.E.]
"Always remember that half the population is below average, and it is even worse on Facebook."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"[Michael D.] Cohen’s testimony may not all prove correct. But all of it is plausible - and not a word of it has been contradicted, let alone refuted."
~~ journalist David Frum
"If you love life, she will love you in return."
~~ pianist Arthur Rubinstein [1887-1982]
"You live as long as you dance."
~~ Rudolf Nureyev [1938-93]
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."
~~ author Isaac Asimov [1920-92]
"Whoever one is, and wherever one is, one is always in the wrong if one is rude."
~~ Maurice Baring [1874-1945]
"The strongest of all warriors are these two: Time and Patience."
~~ Count Leo Tolstoy [1828-1910] of Russia, in the 1869 epic novel "War and Peace"
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."
~~ Carl Jung [1875-1961]
"Any form of art is a form of power; it has impact, it can affect change -- it can not only move us, it makes us move."
~~ actor & activist Ossie Davis [1917-2005]
"You stop explaining yourself when you realize [that] people only understand from their level of perception."
~~ actor Jim Carrey
"If you want to be successful, you must respect one rule: Never lie to yourself."
~~ Paulo Coehlo
"My mind is like my internet browser: 19 tabs open, 3 of them frozen, and I have no idea where the music is coming from."
~~ author unknown
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice [that] it always coincides with their own desires."
~~ suffragist Susan B. Anthony [1820-1906]
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enogh people to make it worth the effort."
~~ Herm Albright
"There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception."
~~ Aldous Huxley [1894-1963]
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
Wednesday, January 02, 2019
My Websites - Year-End Statistics for 2018
Readers here probably don't much care, but this is posted for the record:
Total on the several domains are 1,636 pages and 29,360 coded covers (books, DVDs, posters, etc).
There are 63 new pages & 1,500 newly-coded covers for 2018.
Other web-related 2018 statistics include: reached 686 connections {up 18} on LinkedIn; 274 friends {up 43} on two Facebook accounts; 42 new postings to my blog {all-time count now 437} . . . and the worsening 2018 statistic for Amazon was $105.02 in commissions.
Copyright 2019 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
Total on the several domains are 1,636 pages and 29,360 coded covers (books, DVDs, posters, etc).
There are 63 new pages & 1,500 newly-coded covers for 2018.
Other web-related 2018 statistics include: reached 686 connections {up 18} on LinkedIn; 274 friends {up 43} on two Facebook accounts; 42 new postings to my blog {all-time count now 437} . . . and the worsening 2018 statistic for Amazon was $105.02 in commissions.
Monday, December 31, 2018
News Factoids for Fourth Quarter 2018
October 2018: The Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico announced that Netflix is about to complete its purchase of ABQ Studios [est. 2007] in the Mesa del Sol district; Netflix plans to increase its presence here and make the city a 'production hub'.
61 percent of Trump's twitter followers are not real, according to a new analysis by SparkToro online marketing company — per article at newsweek.com
The number of mobile phones on the planet - 7.2 billion - now exceeds the world’s population.
funny new internet spam cliché: "Your urgent is needed"
Nationally, the November 2018 voter turnout was 50 percent higher than in the last midterm election and, importantly, millions more young people voted.
The draft version of The Contract for The Web was released by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in November 2018. "The web was designed to bring people together and make knowledge freely available. Everyone has a role to play to ensure [that] the web serves humanity. By committing to [these] principles, governments, companies, and citizens around the world can help protect the open web as a public good and a basic right for everyone."
Copyright 2018 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
61 percent of Trump's twitter followers are not real, according to a new analysis by SparkToro online marketing company — per article at newsweek.com
The number of mobile phones on the planet - 7.2 billion - now exceeds the world’s population.
funny new internet spam cliché: "Your urgent is needed"
Nationally, the November 2018 voter turnout was 50 percent higher than in the last midterm election and, importantly, millions more young people voted.
The draft version of The Contract for The Web was released by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in November 2018. "The web was designed to bring people together and make knowledge freely available. Everyone has a role to play to ensure [that] the web serves humanity. By committing to [these] principles, governments, companies, and citizens around the world can help protect the open web as a public good and a basic right for everyone."
Saturday, December 29, 2018
POEM for 2019
Trump and Putin went up the hill
To fetch some laundered money
Trump fell down
And lost his crown
And none of this mess is the least bit funny
Copyright 2018 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
To fetch some laundered money
Trump fell down
And lost his crown
And none of this mess is the least bit funny
Friday, December 28, 2018
December 2018 Quotations (50)
"The greatest threat facing the United States is its own President."
~~ Washington Post Editorial Board, 12/2018
"Freedom is never given; it is won."
~~ Civil Rights leader A. Philip Randolph [1889-1979]
"Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to p*ss us off."
~~ 86-year-old woman in Letter to New York Times
“Trump is a stupid man’s idea of a smart person, a poor man’s idea of a rich person, and a weak man’s idea of a strong man.”
~~ Fran Lebowitz
"Before you heal someone, ask him if he’s willing to give up the things that made him sick."
~~ Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates of Cos [c. 460 - c. 370 BCE]
“Peace has victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson [1803-82]
"And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then the lie passed into history and became truth." — George Orwell, in "1984"
~~ J.K. Rowling retweet to White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders
“We’re in a hell of a mess in every direction. Respect for government, respect for the Supreme Court, respect for the president, it’s all gone. Even respect for the Federal Reserve.“
~~ feisty former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker
'found' text for T-shirt: garaged when not in use
"Donald Trump believes that Truth can be multiple choice: today is Tuesday or Friday or Sunday, it doesn't matter, it's whatever he says."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"I do not care a damn for any art that is not used for propaganda."
~~ W.E.B. DuBois [1868-1963]
"Donald Trump and every congressman and senator who take campaign donations from the N.R.A. have blood on their hands."
~~ Norman Kolpas
"Once you wake up thought in a man, you can never put it to sleep again."
~~ writer Zora Neale Hurston [1891-1960]
"Just because a problem is obvious doesn’t mean it’s going to get solved."
~~ pro blogger Matt O'Brien
"If you're serious about changing your life, you'll find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse."
~~ author Jen Sincero
“There is no power in the world that can stop the forward march of free men and women when they are joined in the solidarity of human brotherhood.”
~~ labor leader Walter Reuther [1907-70]
"The obstinacy of cleverness and reason is nothing to the obstinacy of folly and inanity."
~~ Harriet Beecher Stowe [1811-96]
"No blessing, no good, can follow in the path trodden by slavery."
~~ Dorothea Dix [1802-87]
"Progress is rewriting your own story."
~~ Audi TV ad 12/2018
"It is human nature to try to impose order and form on even the most defiantly chaotic and amorphous stuff of life . . . Some of us wage war. Others write books."
~~ novelist Lisa Halliday
"Many people, especially politicians, say we can’t shift from fossil fuels overnight. That may be true, but if we don’t start, we’ll never get there."
~~ Canadian eco-journalist David Suzuki
"As my grandfather would say, if she had another brain it'd be lonesome."
~~ folklore insult, source unknown
"Future historians will have to end every paragraph about Trump with the disclaimer, 'Seriously, no kidding, he really said that sh*t'."
~~ columnist John Sheirer, on Facebook
"The only normal people [that] you know are the ones [that] you don't know very well."
~~ Alfred Adler [1870-1937]
"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."
~~ Emily Brontë [1818-48]
"Your task is not to seek for love! But to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."
~~ Persian poet & mystic Rumi [1207-73]
"The government should be in the business of keeping families together, not tearing them apart."
~~ Sen. Kamala Harris
"Religion is at its best when it makes us ask hard questions of ourselves. It is at its worst when it deludes us into thinking [that] we have all the answers for everybody else."
~~ American poet Archibald Macleish [1892-1982]
"There is a separation of colored people from white people in the United States. That separation is not a disease of the colored people. It is a disease of white people. I do not intend to be quiet about it."
~~ Albert Einstein [1879-1955]
"The history of human achievement is that people have done remarkable things from very improbable beginnings."
~~ Sir Ken Robinson
"No person who can read is ever successful at cleaning out an attic."
~~ Ann Landers {Eppie Lederer 1918-2002}
"We are now in a second Gilded Age. Giant firms at the center of the American economy are distorting the market and our politics. We must resurrect antitrust."
~~ economist Robert B. Reich
"In a 'you and me' world, when you are successful, whole, validated, and fulfilled, I win."
~~ philosopher Werner Erhard
"If you want something [that] you've never had, you must be willing to do something [that] you've never done."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"Once weapons were manufactured to fight wars. Now wars are manufactured to sell weapons."
~~ Arundhati Roy
"Republicans have been pointing out that the Democratic [Party] platform contains no mention of God. Neither does the U.S. Constitution."
~~ TV news anchor Rachel Maddow
"As long as our country's leadership is so appalling and so corrupt, I'l be speaking out at every venue. To be silent in the face of such villainy is to be complicit."
~~ Robert De Niro
"Weakness is provocative."
~~ Donald Rumsfeld
"A great nation ought not to be a hammer, but a magnet."
~~ G.K. Chesterton [1874-1936]
"Fashion is what one wears oneself. What is unfashionable is what other people wear."
~~ Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
"We explore because we are human and we want to know."
~~ Stephen W. Hawking [1942-2018]
"Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
~~ Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel [1928-2016]
"Donald Trump isn't a President. He's a motivational speaker for racists."
~~ John Pavlovitz
"Q: How are we to treat others? A: There are no others."
~~ Hindu sage Ramana Maharshi [1879-1950]
"I cannot bear to associate with the ordinary run of people. I have to surround myself with individuals who for the most part are more than a trifle insane."
~~ Wallace Thurman [1902-34], considered a member of the The Harlem Renaissance
"My three favorite things are eating my family and not using commas."
~~ outdoor marquee at Dunn Lumber of Washington State
"We cannot and need not eradicate our ego; rather, we must make sure [that] it is a serving ego and not a deserving ego."
~~ Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."
~~ Gautama Buddha [5th Century BCE]
"Reason is the only way of talking about a problem that is universal."
~~ Sam Harris
"You better cut the pizza into four pieces, because I'm not hungry enough to eat six."
~~ baseball great Yogi Berra [1925-2015]
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
~~ Washington Post Editorial Board, 12/2018
"Freedom is never given; it is won."
~~ Civil Rights leader A. Philip Randolph [1889-1979]
"Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to p*ss us off."
~~ 86-year-old woman in Letter to New York Times
“Trump is a stupid man’s idea of a smart person, a poor man’s idea of a rich person, and a weak man’s idea of a strong man.”
~~ Fran Lebowitz
"Before you heal someone, ask him if he’s willing to give up the things that made him sick."
~~ Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates of Cos [c. 460 - c. 370 BCE]
“Peace has victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson [1803-82]
"And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then the lie passed into history and became truth." — George Orwell, in "1984"
~~ J.K. Rowling retweet to White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders
“We’re in a hell of a mess in every direction. Respect for government, respect for the Supreme Court, respect for the president, it’s all gone. Even respect for the Federal Reserve.“
~~ feisty former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker
'found' text for T-shirt: garaged when not in use
"Donald Trump believes that Truth can be multiple choice: today is Tuesday or Friday or Sunday, it doesn't matter, it's whatever he says."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"I do not care a damn for any art that is not used for propaganda."
~~ W.E.B. DuBois [1868-1963]
"Donald Trump and every congressman and senator who take campaign donations from the N.R.A. have blood on their hands."
~~ Norman Kolpas
"Once you wake up thought in a man, you can never put it to sleep again."
~~ writer Zora Neale Hurston [1891-1960]
"Just because a problem is obvious doesn’t mean it’s going to get solved."
~~ pro blogger Matt O'Brien
"If you're serious about changing your life, you'll find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse."
~~ author Jen Sincero
“There is no power in the world that can stop the forward march of free men and women when they are joined in the solidarity of human brotherhood.”
~~ labor leader Walter Reuther [1907-70]
"The obstinacy of cleverness and reason is nothing to the obstinacy of folly and inanity."
~~ Harriet Beecher Stowe [1811-96]
"No blessing, no good, can follow in the path trodden by slavery."
~~ Dorothea Dix [1802-87]
"Progress is rewriting your own story."
~~ Audi TV ad 12/2018
"It is human nature to try to impose order and form on even the most defiantly chaotic and amorphous stuff of life . . . Some of us wage war. Others write books."
~~ novelist Lisa Halliday
"Many people, especially politicians, say we can’t shift from fossil fuels overnight. That may be true, but if we don’t start, we’ll never get there."
~~ Canadian eco-journalist David Suzuki
"As my grandfather would say, if she had another brain it'd be lonesome."
~~ folklore insult, source unknown
"Future historians will have to end every paragraph about Trump with the disclaimer, 'Seriously, no kidding, he really said that sh*t'."
~~ columnist John Sheirer, on Facebook
"The only normal people [that] you know are the ones [that] you don't know very well."
~~ Alfred Adler [1870-1937]
"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same."
~~ Emily Brontë [1818-48]
"Your task is not to seek for love! But to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."
~~ Persian poet & mystic Rumi [1207-73]
"The government should be in the business of keeping families together, not tearing them apart."
~~ Sen. Kamala Harris
"Religion is at its best when it makes us ask hard questions of ourselves. It is at its worst when it deludes us into thinking [that] we have all the answers for everybody else."
~~ American poet Archibald Macleish [1892-1982]
"There is a separation of colored people from white people in the United States. That separation is not a disease of the colored people. It is a disease of white people. I do not intend to be quiet about it."
~~ Albert Einstein [1879-1955]
"The history of human achievement is that people have done remarkable things from very improbable beginnings."
~~ Sir Ken Robinson
"No person who can read is ever successful at cleaning out an attic."
~~ Ann Landers {Eppie Lederer 1918-2002}
"We are now in a second Gilded Age. Giant firms at the center of the American economy are distorting the market and our politics. We must resurrect antitrust."
~~ economist Robert B. Reich
"In a 'you and me' world, when you are successful, whole, validated, and fulfilled, I win."
~~ philosopher Werner Erhard
"If you want something [that] you've never had, you must be willing to do something [that] you've never done."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"Once weapons were manufactured to fight wars. Now wars are manufactured to sell weapons."
~~ Arundhati Roy
"Republicans have been pointing out that the Democratic [Party] platform contains no mention of God. Neither does the U.S. Constitution."
~~ TV news anchor Rachel Maddow
"As long as our country's leadership is so appalling and so corrupt, I'l be speaking out at every venue. To be silent in the face of such villainy is to be complicit."
~~ Robert De Niro
"Weakness is provocative."
~~ Donald Rumsfeld
"A great nation ought not to be a hammer, but a magnet."
~~ G.K. Chesterton [1874-1936]
"Fashion is what one wears oneself. What is unfashionable is what other people wear."
~~ Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
"We explore because we are human and we want to know."
~~ Stephen W. Hawking [1942-2018]
"Always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."
~~ Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel [1928-2016]
"Donald Trump isn't a President. He's a motivational speaker for racists."
~~ John Pavlovitz
"Q: How are we to treat others? A: There are no others."
~~ Hindu sage Ramana Maharshi [1879-1950]
"I cannot bear to associate with the ordinary run of people. I have to surround myself with individuals who for the most part are more than a trifle insane."
~~ Wallace Thurman [1902-34], considered a member of the The Harlem Renaissance
"My three favorite things are eating my family and not using commas."
~~ outdoor marquee at Dunn Lumber of Washington State
"We cannot and need not eradicate our ego; rather, we must make sure [that] it is a serving ego and not a deserving ego."
~~ Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."
~~ Gautama Buddha [5th Century BCE]
"Reason is the only way of talking about a problem that is universal."
~~ Sam Harris
"You better cut the pizza into four pieces, because I'm not hungry enough to eat six."
~~ baseball great Yogi Berra [1925-2015]
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
Saturday, December 08, 2018
"I Am Spartacus" Game
There is a new game being played out across America and elsewhere.
When someone is asked what their name is when ordering at Starbucks or McDonald's or Arby's, et cetera, they tell the sales clerk 'Spartacus'. Then when the order is called out as ready, the first player stands and raises a fist and says loudly "I am Spartacus". What makes it a game is seeing how many other customers do likewise: raising their fist and saying "I am Spartacus".
For more information, visit the Spartacus [111–71 BCE] entry at Wikipedia.
Copyright 2018 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
When someone is asked what their name is when ordering at Starbucks or McDonald's or Arby's, et cetera, they tell the sales clerk 'Spartacus'. Then when the order is called out as ready, the first player stands and raises a fist and says loudly "I am Spartacus". What makes it a game is seeing how many other customers do likewise: raising their fist and saying "I am Spartacus".
For more information, visit the Spartacus [111–71 BCE] entry at Wikipedia.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Recipe of The Month: Thanksgiving Dinner For Singles
Thanksgiving Dinner For Singles
This meal is quick and easy, and includes planned leftovers.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups water
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup dried or frozen cranberry pieces or raisins
1 or 2 green onions, sliced
1 pkg Buddig deli-sliced turkey meat, chopped
1 6 oz. pkg Cornbread Stuffing Mix (Albertsons sells Signature brand)
(This recipe is modified, so measurements are not the same as printed on package.)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Add water and butter and fruit pieces to a saucepan with a lid; bring to low boil.
2) Add onion and meat pieces; stir.
3) Add dry stuffing mix; stir and turn off heat; cover.
4) Let sit for 5 minutes.
5) Remove half of stuffing to large plate; replace cover.
6) Eat while warm.
This recipe makes a meal for now plus leftovers for tomorrow. (Or meals for two.)
You can reheat the leftover stuffing in the same pan
or remove stuffing to a plate and reheat it in a microwave.
You're welcome.
This meal is quick and easy, and includes planned leftovers.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups water
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup dried or frozen cranberry pieces or raisins
1 or 2 green onions, sliced
1 pkg Buddig deli-sliced turkey meat, chopped
1 6 oz. pkg Cornbread Stuffing Mix (Albertsons sells Signature brand)
(This recipe is modified, so measurements are not the same as printed on package.)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Add water and butter and fruit pieces to a saucepan with a lid; bring to low boil.
2) Add onion and meat pieces; stir.
3) Add dry stuffing mix; stir and turn off heat; cover.
4) Let sit for 5 minutes.
5) Remove half of stuffing to large plate; replace cover.
6) Eat while warm.
This recipe makes a meal for now plus leftovers for tomorrow. (Or meals for two.)
You can reheat the leftover stuffing in the same pan
or remove stuffing to a plate and reheat it in a microwave.
You're welcome.
Thursday, November 08, 2018
NEW MEXICO DID THE 'BLUE TSUNAMI'
NM Democrats took back the Governor & Lt. Governor positions.
NM Democrats re-elected Senator Martin Heinrich.
NM Democrats took all three Congressional seats.
All the way down the ticket, Democrats won!
We kept both the state Legislature and Senate in control of Democrats.
Even won the big fight for State Land Commissioner.
And NM Democrats put a Latina and a female Native American in Congress.
Did any other states do this?
Copyright 2018 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
NM Democrats re-elected Senator Martin Heinrich.
NM Democrats took all three Congressional seats.
All the way down the ticket, Democrats won!
We kept both the state Legislature and Senate in control of Democrats.
Even won the big fight for State Land Commissioner.
And NM Democrats put a Latina and a female Native American in Congress.
Did any other states do this?
Saturday, November 03, 2018
snippet from poet Langston Hughes [1901-67]
snippet from "Let America Be America Again" [1935] by poet Langston Hughes
The steel of freedom does not stain . . .
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain --
All, all the stretch of these great green states --
And make America again!
The steel of freedom does not stain . . .
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain --
All, all the stretch of these great green states --
And make America again!
Thursday, November 01, 2018
October 2018 Quotations (56)
"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."
~~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. [1929-68]
"Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering - and it's all over much too soon."
~~ Woody Allen
"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."
~~ Walt Disney [1901-66]
"Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime."
~~ Ernest Hemingway [1899-1961]
"If we're serious about preventing catastrophic warming, we can't dig any new coal mines, drill any new fields, build any more pipelines. Not a single one."
~~ eco-activist Bill McKibben
"Power is like being a lady . . . If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."
~~ Margaret Thatcher [1925-2013], former U.K. Prime Minister
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing you can do is keep your mind young."
~~ Mark Twain [1835-1910]
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
~~ Mahatma Gandhi [1869-1948]
"Only a fool would try to deprive men and women of their right to join a union of their choice."
~~ Gen. Dwight D. 'Ike' Eisenhower [1890-1969]
"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."
~~ Eleanor Roosevelt [1884-1962]
"Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"Make perfect art and you will be admired. Make imperfect art and you will be loved."
~~ experimental filmmaker Jack Smith [1932-89]
"Looks like they're gonna do it, Kavanaugh on the court: women of America, consider yourself boofed."
~~ TV talk show host Bill Maher
"Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.”
~~ musician Frank Ocean
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
~~ Theodore Roosevelt [1858-1919]
"There can be no peace without justice and respect for human rights."
~~ lawyer Irene Khan
"A leader is best when people barely know [that] he exists; when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves."
~~ Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu [IVth Century B.C.E.]
"The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity."
~~ salesman & speaker Zig Ziglar [1926-2012]
"All political power emanates from the barrel of a gun."
~~ Chairman Mao Tse-tung [1893-1976], in 1927
"[Donald Trump is] the biggest moronic liar America has ever known."
~~ Truth Matters, on Facebook
"K.K.K. stands for KnucKle-draggers of AmeriKa."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"Don't brood. Get on with living and loving. You don't have forever."
~~ author & speaker Felice Leonardo 'Leo' Buscaglia, PhD [1924-98]
Dunning Kruger Effect: "Never expect rational debate with someone who thinks taxes are theft."
"Either everyone counts in America or no one does."
~~ Beto O'Rourke
"The divine right of kings has been replaced by the divine right of wealth – and it looks almost exactly the same."
~~ author Naomi Klein
"What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?"
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"The most tragic thing in the world is a man of genius who is not a man of honor."
~~ George Bernard Shaw [1856-1950]
"When the speech condemns a free press, you are hearing the words of a tyrant."
{Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826] never said this, so I might as well do so} ~~ G.E. Nordell
"Honesty and integrity are by far the most important assets of an entrepreneur."
~~ salesman & speaker Zig Ziglar [1926-2012]
"Clean up your act . . . Try to act Presidential"
~~ tweet response by John O. Brennan to tweet by {hashtag} realDonaldTrump
"For 2 years [Trump] has been pushing hate, bigotry, and violence from his podium. It's way past time for this to STOP!"
~~ Help STOP Truth Decay, on Facebook
"Knowledge has an infinite scope, and could take us across the galaxy."
~~ physicist David Deutsch of U.K.
"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all . . . and don't write it on Facebook either!"
~~ Anonymous
"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."
~~ novelist Anne Lamott
"Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on."
~~ Louis L'Amour [1908-88]
"Travel and tell no one, live a true love story and tell no one, live happily and tell no one - people ruin beautiful things."
~~ Kahlil Gibran [1883-1931]
"Your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth."
~~ Sister Joan D. Chittister, O.S.B.
"We live in capitalism, its power seems unescapable - but then, so did the divine right of kings."
~~ fantasy author Ursula K. Le Guin [1929-2018]
"The power of the people is stronger than the people in power."
~~ internet activist Wael Ghonim
"There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women."
~~ Madeleine Albright
"If we become too timid to fight for what is right and just, we will lose in the legislatures what we have won on the picket lines."
~~ labor leader James R. 'Jimmy' Hoffa [1913-75]
"Whatever you do, never run back to what broke you."
~~ musician Frank Ocean
"When you stop treating people like a waste of time or a dollar sign, then you can begin to add real value to your life."
~~ Kora-lea Vidal
"I have always found it quaint and rather touching that there is a movement in the U.S. that thinks Americans are not selfish enough."
~~ Christopher Hitchens [1949-2011]
"Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature, unaware that the Nature [that] he is destroying is this God [that] he is worshipping."
~~ Canadian scientist Hubert Reeves
"Why join the navy if you can be a pirate?"
~~ Steve Jobs [1955-2011]
"Humanity is acquiring all the right technology for the wrong reasons."
~~ R. Buckminster Fuller [1895-1983]
"Ideas won't keep; something must be done about them."
~~ Alfred North Whitehead, OM FRS [1861-1947]
"Scientists and artists are the world's noticers. Their job is simply to notice what other people cannot."
~~ physicist Frank Oppenheimer [1912-85]
"The whole eloquence of cinema is achieved in the editing room."
~~ Orson Welles [1915-85]
"Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul."
~~ Gen. Douglas MacArthur [1880-1964]
"When you are face to face with a difficulty, you are up against a discovery."
~~ British physicist William Thomson, Lord Kelvin [1824-1907]
"The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents and the second half by our children."
~~ Clarence Darrow [1857-1938]
"Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave."
~~ Frederick Douglass [1818-95]
"The truth is like a lion. You don't have to defend it. Let it loose. It will defend itself."
~~ Saint Augustine [354-430 C.E.] of Hippo
"Today is the word for winners and tomorrow is the word for losers."
~~ motivational speaker Robert Kiyosaki
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
~~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. [1929-68]
"Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering - and it's all over much too soon."
~~ Woody Allen
"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."
~~ Walt Disney [1901-66]
"Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime."
~~ Ernest Hemingway [1899-1961]
"If we're serious about preventing catastrophic warming, we can't dig any new coal mines, drill any new fields, build any more pipelines. Not a single one."
~~ eco-activist Bill McKibben
"Power is like being a lady . . . If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."
~~ Margaret Thatcher [1925-2013], former U.K. Prime Minister
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing you can do is keep your mind young."
~~ Mark Twain [1835-1910]
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
~~ Mahatma Gandhi [1869-1948]
"Only a fool would try to deprive men and women of their right to join a union of their choice."
~~ Gen. Dwight D. 'Ike' Eisenhower [1890-1969]
"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."
~~ Eleanor Roosevelt [1884-1962]
"Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"Make perfect art and you will be admired. Make imperfect art and you will be loved."
~~ experimental filmmaker Jack Smith [1932-89]
"Looks like they're gonna do it, Kavanaugh on the court: women of America, consider yourself boofed."
~~ TV talk show host Bill Maher
"Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.”
~~ musician Frank Ocean
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
~~ Theodore Roosevelt [1858-1919]
"There can be no peace without justice and respect for human rights."
~~ lawyer Irene Khan
"A leader is best when people barely know [that] he exists; when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves."
~~ Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu [IVth Century B.C.E.]
"The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity."
~~ salesman & speaker Zig Ziglar [1926-2012]
"All political power emanates from the barrel of a gun."
~~ Chairman Mao Tse-tung [1893-1976], in 1927
"[Donald Trump is] the biggest moronic liar America has ever known."
~~ Truth Matters, on Facebook
"K.K.K. stands for KnucKle-draggers of AmeriKa."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"Don't brood. Get on with living and loving. You don't have forever."
~~ author & speaker Felice Leonardo 'Leo' Buscaglia, PhD [1924-98]
Dunning Kruger Effect: "Never expect rational debate with someone who thinks taxes are theft."
"Either everyone counts in America or no one does."
~~ Beto O'Rourke
"The divine right of kings has been replaced by the divine right of wealth – and it looks almost exactly the same."
~~ author Naomi Klein
"What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?"
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"The most tragic thing in the world is a man of genius who is not a man of honor."
~~ George Bernard Shaw [1856-1950]
"When the speech condemns a free press, you are hearing the words of a tyrant."
{Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826] never said this, so I might as well do so} ~~ G.E. Nordell
"Honesty and integrity are by far the most important assets of an entrepreneur."
~~ salesman & speaker Zig Ziglar [1926-2012]
"Clean up your act . . . Try to act Presidential"
~~ tweet response by John O. Brennan to tweet by {hashtag} realDonaldTrump
"For 2 years [Trump] has been pushing hate, bigotry, and violence from his podium. It's way past time for this to STOP!"
~~ Help STOP Truth Decay, on Facebook
"Knowledge has an infinite scope, and could take us across the galaxy."
~~ physicist David Deutsch of U.K.
"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all . . . and don't write it on Facebook either!"
~~ Anonymous
"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you."
~~ novelist Anne Lamott
"Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on."
~~ Louis L'Amour [1908-88]
"Travel and tell no one, live a true love story and tell no one, live happily and tell no one - people ruin beautiful things."
~~ Kahlil Gibran [1883-1931]
"Your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth."
~~ Sister Joan D. Chittister, O.S.B.
"We live in capitalism, its power seems unescapable - but then, so did the divine right of kings."
~~ fantasy author Ursula K. Le Guin [1929-2018]
"The power of the people is stronger than the people in power."
~~ internet activist Wael Ghonim
"There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women."
~~ Madeleine Albright
"If we become too timid to fight for what is right and just, we will lose in the legislatures what we have won on the picket lines."
~~ labor leader James R. 'Jimmy' Hoffa [1913-75]
"Whatever you do, never run back to what broke you."
~~ musician Frank Ocean
"When you stop treating people like a waste of time or a dollar sign, then you can begin to add real value to your life."
~~ Kora-lea Vidal
"I have always found it quaint and rather touching that there is a movement in the U.S. that thinks Americans are not selfish enough."
~~ Christopher Hitchens [1949-2011]
"Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible Nature, unaware that the Nature [that] he is destroying is this God [that] he is worshipping."
~~ Canadian scientist Hubert Reeves
"Why join the navy if you can be a pirate?"
~~ Steve Jobs [1955-2011]
"Humanity is acquiring all the right technology for the wrong reasons."
~~ R. Buckminster Fuller [1895-1983]
"Ideas won't keep; something must be done about them."
~~ Alfred North Whitehead, OM FRS [1861-1947]
"Scientists and artists are the world's noticers. Their job is simply to notice what other people cannot."
~~ physicist Frank Oppenheimer [1912-85]
"The whole eloquence of cinema is achieved in the editing room."
~~ Orson Welles [1915-85]
"Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul."
~~ Gen. Douglas MacArthur [1880-1964]
"When you are face to face with a difficulty, you are up against a discovery."
~~ British physicist William Thomson, Lord Kelvin [1824-1907]
"The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents and the second half by our children."
~~ Clarence Darrow [1857-1938]
"Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave."
~~ Frederick Douglass [1818-95]
"The truth is like a lion. You don't have to defend it. Let it loose. It will defend itself."
~~ Saint Augustine [354-430 C.E.] of Hippo
"Today is the word for winners and tomorrow is the word for losers."
~~ motivational speaker Robert Kiyosaki
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Honoring Journalism
If sanity is ever restored in Washington, DC there should be a movement for a federally-funded War Correspondents Memorial at Arlington or on the National Mall. They risked as much as any soldier, and usually carried no weapon but their pencil or pen. Names to include begin with Ernie Pyle [1900-45] and Edward R. Murrow [1908-65]. Maybe it should be given extra significance with a Tomb of the Unknown War Correspondent.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Working Minds Essay #115: Pre-Election Report
Google has changed their ranking algorithm so drastically in the last year that I am reaping next to no commission money from the Amazon links on the 1,600 hand-coded pages on my five online bookstores and the other sub-sites of my various domains. Before the 2008 G.O.P. Economic Meltdown, I earned $100 in some months; then payments fell because folks were buying less, so that last year I made $30 some months; this year the algorithm changes have shrunk my commissions to single digit dollars – daily results show no sales at all for two and three weeks at a time. (Amazon's associates fee schedule pays 4% to 6% commission on each purchase from my links depending on the product category.)
I have tried several programs and products to increase SEO ranking on my websites, but it isn't happening. Google Plus was announced as being shut down this month and in the process of removing Google+ code from a dozen or so of my 1,600 pages, I discovered a recommend-ation by the Manta.com business website that joining Google Small Business was a good thing to do to increase SEO ranking. I have done so, but it is early yet to see results.
So working all day to add more content on my websites is not cost effective at this time. This happens to coincide with increased activity among non-family connections on Facebook. Facebook is the number two time-waster on the internet (Pinterest is the #1 time-waster); Facebook is a surveillance engine and its availability as social media is secondary: while Facebook is active on your PC or laptop or PDA their software captures every keyboard stroke that you make.
However, I have gotten into the habit or practice over the last several weeks of spending almost all of my online work time using Facebook to spread the word to promote Democratic Party candidates and democratic/progressive memes.
My favorite politician is Martin Heinrich, the U.S. Senator for New Mexico who is up for re-election to his second term. Republican opponent Mark Rich is weak and has few fans, but former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson just got into the race and he is well-funded as a Libertarian Party candidate by the Koch Brothers and other out-of-state money. Kool-aid Republican trolls abound on Facebook, with several especially dimwitted out-of-state trolls trying to damage Martin Heinrich.
In indulging my bitterest ad hoc humor to respond to these trolls, I developed a bunch of memes that I use to stomp on them, 'with prejudice'.
Here are those memes and sayings and factoids, for use by readers of this blog:
1) Blue Tsunami or fascism - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or economic disaster - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or voter suppression - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or environmental disaster - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or gun violence - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or torture & murder - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or racism - CHOOSE !!
I select two or three items from the above list and post as a comment; these get lots of Likes and red hearts.
2) "Zero Tolerance for Pollution in New Mexico"
3) “If the Republican Party had anything of value to offer the American voter, they would not need to lie and cheat and steal to win elections.” ~~~ G.E. Nordell
4) "The battle against ignorance and apathy and magical thinking is a full time job." ~~ G.E. Nordell
5) "FASCISM is when the corporations and the military take the government away from the people" ~~ Benito Mussolini, 1926
this event took place in the USA with the execrable Citizens United decision of January 2010 and then the GOP gameplan Secret Powell Memorandum of 1971 was fulfilled the day that Emperor Trump took office -- and now SCOTUS is locked in for the next 30 years
6) The Gamble v. US case goes to SCOTUS this week -- without Kavanaugh, the 4 to 4 vote lets the matter hang – WITH flunky Kavanaugh, the law will be changed so that anyone that Emperor Trump pardons for federal crimes cannot be charged for state crimes – THAT is why the hurry-up and the cover-up – Kavanaugh is the Trump Crime Family's get-out-of-jail-free card !!
We have but 20 days until the November 6th national election – local elections are equally important this time and always – which may just be our last chance to restore the Constitution as the basis of law and government in the United States.
Blue Tsunami or fascism - CHOOSE !!
Copyright 2018 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
I have tried several programs and products to increase SEO ranking on my websites, but it isn't happening. Google Plus was announced as being shut down this month and in the process of removing Google+ code from a dozen or so of my 1,600 pages, I discovered a recommend-ation by the Manta.com business website that joining Google Small Business was a good thing to do to increase SEO ranking. I have done so, but it is early yet to see results.
So working all day to add more content on my websites is not cost effective at this time. This happens to coincide with increased activity among non-family connections on Facebook. Facebook is the number two time-waster on the internet (Pinterest is the #1 time-waster); Facebook is a surveillance engine and its availability as social media is secondary: while Facebook is active on your PC or laptop or PDA their software captures every keyboard stroke that you make.
However, I have gotten into the habit or practice over the last several weeks of spending almost all of my online work time using Facebook to spread the word to promote Democratic Party candidates and democratic/progressive memes.
My favorite politician is Martin Heinrich, the U.S. Senator for New Mexico who is up for re-election to his second term. Republican opponent Mark Rich is weak and has few fans, but former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson just got into the race and he is well-funded as a Libertarian Party candidate by the Koch Brothers and other out-of-state money. Kool-aid Republican trolls abound on Facebook, with several especially dimwitted out-of-state trolls trying to damage Martin Heinrich.
In indulging my bitterest ad hoc humor to respond to these trolls, I developed a bunch of memes that I use to stomp on them, 'with prejudice'.
Here are those memes and sayings and factoids, for use by readers of this blog:
1) Blue Tsunami or fascism - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or economic disaster - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or voter suppression - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or environmental disaster - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or gun violence - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or torture & murder - CHOOSE !!
Blue Tsunami or racism - CHOOSE !!
I select two or three items from the above list and post as a comment; these get lots of Likes and red hearts.
2) "Zero Tolerance for Pollution in New Mexico"
3) “If the Republican Party had anything of value to offer the American voter, they would not need to lie and cheat and steal to win elections.” ~~~ G.E. Nordell
4) "The battle against ignorance and apathy and magical thinking is a full time job." ~~ G.E. Nordell
5) "FASCISM is when the corporations and the military take the government away from the people" ~~ Benito Mussolini, 1926
this event took place in the USA with the execrable Citizens United decision of January 2010 and then the GOP gameplan Secret Powell Memorandum of 1971 was fulfilled the day that Emperor Trump took office -- and now SCOTUS is locked in for the next 30 years
6) The Gamble v. US case goes to SCOTUS this week -- without Kavanaugh, the 4 to 4 vote lets the matter hang – WITH flunky Kavanaugh, the law will be changed so that anyone that Emperor Trump pardons for federal crimes cannot be charged for state crimes – THAT is why the hurry-up and the cover-up – Kavanaugh is the Trump Crime Family's get-out-of-jail-free card !!
We have but 20 days until the November 6th national election – local elections are equally important this time and always – which may just be our last chance to restore the Constitution as the basis of law and government in the United States.
Blue Tsunami or fascism - CHOOSE !!
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
The Problem Is The National Debt, NOT The Budget Deficit
When Reagan took office, the National Debt was ONE TRILLION DOLLARS, which included the entire Vietnam War.
At the end of Reagan-Bush (12 years), the National Debt was FOUR TRILLION - the GOP quadrupled it.
Clinton did lots that I don't like, but his fiscal policies shine: in his first term the increase was reduced to 25% and at the end of his second term he handed a BUDGET SURPLUS to George W.
George W. squandered the surplus and quadrupled the National Debt from $5.7 TRILLION to $25 TRILLION -- George W. Bush ran up the most debt of any person in the history of mankind.
Barack Obama saved the world economy before the GOP managed to prevent all his further proposals; in any case, Obama held the National Debt steady at $25T.
The idiot Trump has already handed $5.8T in loot to the One Percent in only 20 months, it simply gets added to the National Debt -- AND -- the GOP is now coming after your Social Security and otherwise working to bankrupt the country.
Blue Tsunami or economic disaster - CHOOSE !!
Copyright 2018 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
At the end of Reagan-Bush (12 years), the National Debt was FOUR TRILLION - the GOP quadrupled it.
Clinton did lots that I don't like, but his fiscal policies shine: in his first term the increase was reduced to 25% and at the end of his second term he handed a BUDGET SURPLUS to George W.
George W. squandered the surplus and quadrupled the National Debt from $5.7 TRILLION to $25 TRILLION -- George W. Bush ran up the most debt of any person in the history of mankind.
Barack Obama saved the world economy before the GOP managed to prevent all his further proposals; in any case, Obama held the National Debt steady at $25T.
The idiot Trump has already handed $5.8T in loot to the One Percent in only 20 months, it simply gets added to the National Debt -- AND -- the GOP is now coming after your Social Security and otherwise working to bankrupt the country.
Blue Tsunami or economic disaster - CHOOSE !!
Monday, October 15, 2018
TRUMP DENIES HIS OWN SELF
Emperor Trump accused Sen. Elizabeth Warren of falsely claiming Native American ancestry, and promised a million dollars to the charity of her choice if she could prove it. Warren released DNA results today proving that she had Native American ancestors back "6 to 10 generations". Even though many tapes exist of Trump's accusation and promise, he denies having said what is on the tapes.
So the only conclusion possible here is identity theft: Somebody is going around pretending to be Donald Trump! The problem though is how to determine which is the real clown and which is the fake clown.
{ my name is G.E. Nordell and I approved this message }
Copyright 2018 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
So the only conclusion possible here is identity theft: Somebody is going around pretending to be Donald Trump! The problem though is how to determine which is the real clown and which is the fake clown.
{ my name is G.E. Nordell and I approved this message }
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
RECIPE OF THE MONTH: Anytime Veggie Meal
Anytime Veggie Meal
one 8½ oz. can whole kernel corn
one 7 oz. can mushrooms, stems & pieces
butter
garlic powder
1) Choose a medium size microwaveable soup or ramekin dish.
2) Open and drain the canned corn and spread into dish.
3) Sprinkle garlic powder on corn to taste.
4) Place several dabs of butter on top of corn.
5) Open and drain the canned mushrooms and spread atop the corn.
6) Heat in microwave. (My low-power microwave oven does the job at 2½ minutes.)
7) Serve while hot.
one 8½ oz. can whole kernel corn
one 7 oz. can mushrooms, stems & pieces
butter
garlic powder
1) Choose a medium size microwaveable soup or ramekin dish.
2) Open and drain the canned corn and spread into dish.
3) Sprinkle garlic powder on corn to taste.
4) Place several dabs of butter on top of corn.
5) Open and drain the canned mushrooms and spread atop the corn.
6) Heat in microwave. (My low-power microwave oven does the job at 2½ minutes.)
7) Serve while hot.
Saturday, October 06, 2018
The GOP Hurry to Subvert Supreme Court
Why the hurry by Republicans? The Gamble v. US case goes to SCOTUS next week – without Kavanaugh, the 4 to 4 vote would let the matter hang; WITH flunky Kavanaugh on the court, the law will be changed so that anyone that Emperor Trump pardons for federal crimes cannot be charged for state crimes – THAT is why the hurry-up and the cover-up: Kavanaugh is the Trump Crime Family's get-out-of-jail-free card !!
Monday, October 01, 2018
September 2018 Quotations (55)
"Make no mistake: Brett Kavanaugh’s a liar. He lies about little things. He lies about big things. He lies under oath."
~~ editorial in the Boston Globe newspaper
"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."
~~ John F. Kennedy [1917-63]
"Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself."
~~ Thomas Paine [1737-1809], in "The Age of Reason"
"Fascism is cured by reading, and racism is cured by traveling."
~~ poet & philosopher Miguel de Unamuno [1864-1936]
"Wow. I'm in the middle of a story about a rotten president who is about to be impeached. This is a once in a lifetime event!"
~~ reporter Bob Woodward, in 1972
"When you know who you are; when your mission is clear and you burn with the inner fire of unbreakable will, no cold can touch your heart, no deluge can dampen your purpose. You know that you are alive."
~~ Chief Seattle [1786?-1866]
"If anyone wants to clap, now is the time to do it."
~~ character Eeyore (a friend of Winnie the Pooh)
“I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the State, the community, the citizens acting together, can do a number of things better than if they were left to individual action.”
~~ Theodore Roosevelt [1858-1919]
"Kavanaugh is a corporate supremacist to a fanatic level of protecting corporate cruelty and greed. Giving him an unaccountable lifetime position on the Court will weaken our democracy and empower the corporate state."
~~ Ralph Nader, in September 2018
“We’re supposed to stand up to discrimination. And we’re sure as heck supposed to stand up clearly & unequivocally to Nazi sympathizers. How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?"
~~ Barack Obama
"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"The greatest gift [that] you ever give is your honest self."
~~ children's TV host Fred Rogers [1928-2003]
“Building bridges takes us further than building walls.”
~~ Dr. DaShanne Stokes
"We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn."
~~ cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson
"Charisma is not so much getting people to like you as getting people to like themselves when you're around."
~~ blogger Robert Brault
“If I do not believe as you believe, it proves that you do not believe as I believe, and that is all that it proves.”
~~ Thomas Paine [1737-1809]
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).”
~~ Mark Twain [1835-1910]
"Blood is thicker than water? So is toothpaste."
~~ Steven Martin Cohen, on Facebook 2018
"Does it seem funny to you that the same folks who complain when anybody mentions Hitler are the same crowd that worships dictator-wannabee Trump?"
~~ G.E. Nordell
"That was the heart of the problem: every choice made sense from some vantage point.”
~~ Jacob M. Appel
"Adapt to that which you can't prevent. Prevent that to which you can't adapt."
~~ eco-activist Bill McKibben
"The world has arrived at an age of cheap complex devices of great reliability; and something is bound to come of it."
~~ engineer Vannevar Bush [1890-1974]
“The world is most consistent with purposeful creation.”
~~ Nobel-laureate Arno Penzias
“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.”
~~ novelist Thomas Berger [1924-2014]
"Beware of altruism. It is based on self-deception, the root of all evil."
~~ Robert A. Heinlein [1907-88]
"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
~~ French/Dutch philosopher René Descartes [1596-1650]
"Belief is a moral act for which the believer is to be held responsible."
~~ playwright Lillian Hellman [1905-84]
"Science fiction is literary fiction with the lid blown off."
~~ Robin Winter
"The real purpose of Socialism is precisely to advance beyond the predatory phase of human development."
~~ Albert Einstein [1879-1955]
"Education is not something [that] you can finish."
~~ author Isaac Asimov [1920-92]
"My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to find peace with exactly who and what I am. To take pride in my thoughts, my appearance, my flaws - and to stop this incessant worrying that I can't be loved as I am."
~~ Anaïs Nin [1903-77]
"We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It's our basic human right."
~~ Aretha Franklin [1942-2018]
"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."
~~ Mahatma Gandhi [1869-1948]
"Artists use lies to tell the truth while politicians use them to cover the truth up."
~~ from "V Is For Vendetta" [2006]
"An elective despotism is not the government [that] we fought for."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"All [that] tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
~~ Edmund Burke [1729-97]
"Totalitarianism has many forms . . ."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"In the long run, the public interest depends on private virtue."
~~ James Q. Wilson [1931-2012]
"Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness."
~~ George Orwell [1903-50]
"If they do not give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair."
~~ Cong. Shirley Chisholm [1934-2005]
"It's not a principle until it costs you money."
~~ advertising pioneer William Bernbach [1911-82]
"If you can go through life without experiencing pain, you probably haven't been born yet."
~~ playwright Neil Simon [1927-2018]
"The reason [that] I talk to myself is because I'm the only one whose answers I accept."
~~ George Carlin [1937-2008]
"We must talk about poverty because people insulated by their own comfort lose sight of it."
~~ activist Dorothy Day [1897-1980]
"Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man."
~~ Arthur Schopenhauer [1788-1860]
"I think [that] the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise, what is there to defend?"
~~ Robert Redford
"You know [that] great things are coming when everything seems to be going wrong. Old energy is clearing out for new energy to enter. Be patient!"
~~ motivational speaker Idil Ahmed
"Only a fool would try to deprive men and women of their right to join a union of their choice."
~~ Gen. Dwight D. 'Ike' Eisenhower [1890-1969]
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you 'til it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
~~ Harriet Beecher Stowe [1811-96]
"The road to wisdom is paved with excess. The mark of a true writer is their ability to mystify the familiar and familiarize the strange."
~~ Walt Whitman [1819-92]
"I don't care how much talent a team has. If the boys don't think tough, practice tough, and live tough, how can they play tough on Saturday?"
~~ football coach Paul William 'Bear' Bryant [1913-83]
"We all write poems; it is simply that poets are the ones who write in words."
~~ John Fowles [1926-2005]
"You will be too much for some people. Those aren't your people."
~~ Glennon Doyle Melton
"Do not judge my path, you haven't walked in my shoes . . . or ridden my broom."
~~ pagan poet A.M. Galdorcraeft
"Everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them."
~~ R. Buckminster Fuller [1895-1983]
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
~~ editorial in the Boston Globe newspaper
"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."
~~ John F. Kennedy [1917-63]
"Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself."
~~ Thomas Paine [1737-1809], in "The Age of Reason"
"Fascism is cured by reading, and racism is cured by traveling."
~~ poet & philosopher Miguel de Unamuno [1864-1936]
"Wow. I'm in the middle of a story about a rotten president who is about to be impeached. This is a once in a lifetime event!"
~~ reporter Bob Woodward, in 1972
"When you know who you are; when your mission is clear and you burn with the inner fire of unbreakable will, no cold can touch your heart, no deluge can dampen your purpose. You know that you are alive."
~~ Chief Seattle [1786?-1866]
"If anyone wants to clap, now is the time to do it."
~~ character Eeyore (a friend of Winnie the Pooh)
“I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the State, the community, the citizens acting together, can do a number of things better than if they were left to individual action.”
~~ Theodore Roosevelt [1858-1919]
"Kavanaugh is a corporate supremacist to a fanatic level of protecting corporate cruelty and greed. Giving him an unaccountable lifetime position on the Court will weaken our democracy and empower the corporate state."
~~ Ralph Nader, in September 2018
“We’re supposed to stand up to discrimination. And we’re sure as heck supposed to stand up clearly & unequivocally to Nazi sympathizers. How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?"
~~ Barack Obama
"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"The greatest gift [that] you ever give is your honest self."
~~ children's TV host Fred Rogers [1928-2003]
“Building bridges takes us further than building walls.”
~~ Dr. DaShanne Stokes
"We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn."
~~ cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson
"Charisma is not so much getting people to like you as getting people to like themselves when you're around."
~~ blogger Robert Brault
“If I do not believe as you believe, it proves that you do not believe as I believe, and that is all that it proves.”
~~ Thomas Paine [1737-1809]
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).”
~~ Mark Twain [1835-1910]
"Blood is thicker than water? So is toothpaste."
~~ Steven Martin Cohen, on Facebook 2018
"Does it seem funny to you that the same folks who complain when anybody mentions Hitler are the same crowd that worships dictator-wannabee Trump?"
~~ G.E. Nordell
"That was the heart of the problem: every choice made sense from some vantage point.”
~~ Jacob M. Appel
"Adapt to that which you can't prevent. Prevent that to which you can't adapt."
~~ eco-activist Bill McKibben
"The world has arrived at an age of cheap complex devices of great reliability; and something is bound to come of it."
~~ engineer Vannevar Bush [1890-1974]
“The world is most consistent with purposeful creation.”
~~ Nobel-laureate Arno Penzias
“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.”
~~ novelist Thomas Berger [1924-2014]
"Beware of altruism. It is based on self-deception, the root of all evil."
~~ Robert A. Heinlein [1907-88]
"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
~~ French/Dutch philosopher René Descartes [1596-1650]
"Belief is a moral act for which the believer is to be held responsible."
~~ playwright Lillian Hellman [1905-84]
"Science fiction is literary fiction with the lid blown off."
~~ Robin Winter
"The real purpose of Socialism is precisely to advance beyond the predatory phase of human development."
~~ Albert Einstein [1879-1955]
"Education is not something [that] you can finish."
~~ author Isaac Asimov [1920-92]
"My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to find peace with exactly who and what I am. To take pride in my thoughts, my appearance, my flaws - and to stop this incessant worrying that I can't be loved as I am."
~~ Anaïs Nin [1903-77]
"We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It's our basic human right."
~~ Aretha Franklin [1942-2018]
"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."
~~ Mahatma Gandhi [1869-1948]
"Artists use lies to tell the truth while politicians use them to cover the truth up."
~~ from "V Is For Vendetta" [2006]
"An elective despotism is not the government [that] we fought for."
~~ Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826]
"All [that] tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
~~ Edmund Burke [1729-97]
"Totalitarianism has many forms . . ."
~~ G.E. Nordell
"In the long run, the public interest depends on private virtue."
~~ James Q. Wilson [1931-2012]
"Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness."
~~ George Orwell [1903-50]
"If they do not give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair."
~~ Cong. Shirley Chisholm [1934-2005]
"It's not a principle until it costs you money."
~~ advertising pioneer William Bernbach [1911-82]
"If you can go through life without experiencing pain, you probably haven't been born yet."
~~ playwright Neil Simon [1927-2018]
"The reason [that] I talk to myself is because I'm the only one whose answers I accept."
~~ George Carlin [1937-2008]
"We must talk about poverty because people insulated by their own comfort lose sight of it."
~~ activist Dorothy Day [1897-1980]
"Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man."
~~ Arthur Schopenhauer [1788-1860]
"I think [that] the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise, what is there to defend?"
~~ Robert Redford
"You know [that] great things are coming when everything seems to be going wrong. Old energy is clearing out for new energy to enter. Be patient!"
~~ motivational speaker Idil Ahmed
"Only a fool would try to deprive men and women of their right to join a union of their choice."
~~ Gen. Dwight D. 'Ike' Eisenhower [1890-1969]
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you 'til it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
~~ Harriet Beecher Stowe [1811-96]
"The road to wisdom is paved with excess. The mark of a true writer is their ability to mystify the familiar and familiarize the strange."
~~ Walt Whitman [1819-92]
"I don't care how much talent a team has. If the boys don't think tough, practice tough, and live tough, how can they play tough on Saturday?"
~~ football coach Paul William 'Bear' Bryant [1913-83]
"We all write poems; it is simply that poets are the ones who write in words."
~~ John Fowles [1926-2005]
"You will be too much for some people. Those aren't your people."
~~ Glennon Doyle Melton
"Do not judge my path, you haven't walked in my shoes . . . or ridden my broom."
~~ pagan poet A.M. Galdorcraeft
"Everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them."
~~ R. Buckminster Fuller [1895-1983]
{each set of posted quotations are then posted at the Working Minds website, alphabetical by author}
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Kavanaugh hearings
Joseph N. Welch stood up to Sen. Joseph McCarthy at the Senate Army-McCarthy hearings on June 9, 1954, responding "Have you no decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"
This totally applies to the Republican Party in 2018.
This totally applies to the Republican Party in 2018.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
News Factoids for Third Quarter 2018
Germany produces 85% of its electric power from renewables.
MAKES SENSE TO ME: When you’re stressed, you eat ice cream, cake, chocolate, and sweets. Why? Because stressed spelled backwards is desserts.
Americans own 46% of the world's 1 billion guns, per U.N. report.
~~ headline at TIME Magazine
U.S. drug companies increased prices for 104 drugs by an average of 31.5% (!!) in June.
Facebook says that posts on my account have 300 'likes' (7/2018) - up 100 since May.
Many open American jobs are going begging just now because positions that require a bachelor's degree are offering $10-$12 per hour.
A survey in February 2016 found that 20 percent of Donald Trump supporters think that ending slavery was a bad idea.
Copyright 2018 by G.E. Nordell, all rights reserved
MAKES SENSE TO ME: When you’re stressed, you eat ice cream, cake, chocolate, and sweets. Why? Because stressed spelled backwards is desserts.
Americans own 46% of the world's 1 billion guns, per U.N. report.
~~ headline at TIME Magazine
U.S. drug companies increased prices for 104 drugs by an average of 31.5% (!!) in June.
Facebook says that posts on my account have 300 'likes' (7/2018) - up 100 since May.
Many open American jobs are going begging just now because positions that require a bachelor's degree are offering $10-$12 per hour.
A survey in February 2016 found that 20 percent of Donald Trump supporters think that ending slavery was a bad idea.
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