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Archive for June, 2024

If Only This Worked On #DonTheLiar And His MAGA-RINOs

Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on June 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Silence the angry man with love.  Silence the ill-natured man with kindness.  Silence the miser with generosity.  Silence the liar with truth.
    —     Buddha
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Click here (30 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Mutually Exclusive

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , on June 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

We can never truly understand people we hate, and never truly hate people we understand.
    —     Dr. Mardy Grothe
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Click here (29 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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My Debate Night Reaction: President Biden Vs. #TrumpTheFelon

Posted in General Comments, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged , , , , , on June 28, 2024| 2 Comments »

Bad debate nights happen.  Trust me, I know.  But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself.  Between someone who tells the truth;  who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit.  Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November.
    —     Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 28, 2024
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Click here (28 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Even If You’re Upstream

Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , , on June 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Never accept a drink from a urologist.
    —     Erma Bombeck
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Click here (28 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Create Music

Posted in Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , on June 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

This sentence has five words.  Here are five more words.  Five-word sentences are fine.  But several together become monotonous.  Listen to what is happening.  The writing is getting boring.  The sound of it drones.  It’s like a stuck record.  The ear demands some variety.
Now listen.  I vary the sentence length, and I create music.  Music.  The writing sings.  It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony.  I use short sentences.  And I use sentences of medium length.  And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals — sounds that say listen to this, it is important.
    —     Gary Provost
From:  “100 Ways to Improve Your Writing“
Found at one of the blogs I follow:  https://news.lettersofnote.com/
The specific post is:  “Nobody ever became a writer just by wanting to be one“
[Please visit the original site if you have a few spare moments.     —     kmab]
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Click here (27 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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There Is Always Risk

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , , on June 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
    —     Anais Nin
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Click here (26 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Needed And Wanted

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , , , , on June 25, 2024| 2 Comments »

In all our contacts it is probably the sense of being really needed and wanted which gives us the greatest satisfaction and creates the most lasting bond.
    —     Eleanor Roosevelt
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Click here (25 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Thoughts & Prayers

Posted in Faith, General Comments, tagged , , , , , on June 24, 2024| 2 Comments »

This morning I read an article which says there are over 1,300 confirmed deaths at this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia, with many hundreds more – not yet fully counted – projected among the undocumented pilgrims…
 
My thoughts and prayers go out for them and to their families.  God is Great and the reward for the just is an afterlife in God’s presence and full graces.  Inshallah
 
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Click here (24 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.
 
   

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Not As Long As There Are Still MAGAs To Be Fleeced

Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged , , , , , , , on June 24, 2024| 2 Comments »

Will people ever be wise enough to refuse to follow bad leaders or to take away the freedom of other people?
 
    —     Eleanor Roosevelt
 
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Click here (24 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.
 
   

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Grateful For The Gift

Posted in Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 23, 2024| 2 Comments »

Relish every summer day.  Stretch them.  Fill them with memories.  Smile and laugh more.  Gather with friends and visit family.  Put my feet in the water.  Grow things and grill things.  I make my summers count by making them beautiful.  I have no intention of raging against my aging.  I intend to embrace it, to embrace the muscle aches and the crow’s feet as the price of growing in wisdom and grace;  to understand that age is not my body forsaking me but my life rewarding me.
Aging, as I see it, is a gift, and I will receive it with gratitude.
    —     Charles Blow
From:  “The Beauty of Embracing Aging“
An editorial appearing in:  New York Times,  dtd:  June 5, 2024
[Found at one of the blogs I follow:  https://davidkanigan.com/
The specific post can be found at:   https://davidkanigan.com/2024/06/07/i-got-about-30-more-summers-left/
Please visit the original site if you have some free time.    —    kmab]
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Click here (23 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Most Introverts Will Agree

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 22, 2024| 6 Comments »

The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude.  Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind.  Be alone — that is the secret of invention:  be alone, that is when ideas are born.
    —     Nikola Tesla
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Click here (22 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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On Immigration

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 21, 2024| 2 Comments »

After all there is but one race – humanity.
    ––     George Moore
From: “The Bending of the Bough:  A Comedy in Five Acts“
I am a man;  I count nothing human foreign to me.
    ––     Publius Terentius Afer (aka:  Terence)
From the play:  “Heauton Timorumenos, The Self-Tormentor“
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Click here (21 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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What If?

Posted in 2024 Book Review, Book Review, Disclaimer, General Comments, Reading, Reviews, Running, Sports, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 20, 2024| 2 Comments »

“Can’t Hurt Me” (2018©) — book review
Today’s book is an autobiographical / self-help / inspiration book written by David Goggins.  Mr. Goggins is a former Navy SEAL (SEa, Air And Land) team member AND a U.S. Army Ranger school graduate (honor graduate).  (Note:  Mr. Goggins graduated Ranger training and is entitled to wear the “Ranger” Tab, but he never served in a Ranger Unit.  Technically, he is Ranger “qualified” but he was never an “actual” Ranger.)  He is more famous (world-wide fame) for his exploits as an “ultra”-athlete.  He has competed in many ultra-distance running and cycling events and won several.  At one time, he was the record holder for most pull-ups in a 24 hour period (although he stopped after breaking the prior record in just under 18 hours).  He is currently a professional motivation / inspiration speaker.
The book covers the author’s abusive childhood / family life, through his high school years and into his military service and then some of his post-retirement years as a fire-fighter / fire-jumper.  I believe the author is strictly a professional motivational speaker now, but he continues to train / workout.  (‘Cause that’s what he does…)
Background:  I first read about David Goggins when I was getting into ultra-distance running.  I’ve had a bad heart (AFib) for almost 20 years now and back in the late 2000s I imagined I could train my way out of my heart issues.  That never happened, but I did log a couple of thousand miles jogging in the attempt.  Elite ultra-athletes (David Goggins, Dean Karnazes and Scott Jurek) became my “new” athletic heroes.  I’d seen this book around in book stores, but after heart surgery and continuing “issues”, I didn’t really see much point in buying a copy.  My daughter had a copy given to her, so I borrowed it…
Is the book interesting?  Informative?  Entertaining?  Inspirational?  Is it worth the time to read it?  To be honest, the answer to all five of those questions is mostly so-so…
I found it a fast read because it touched on several common personal experiences, so I felt like I had a bit in common with the author.  The problem is I “really” don’t have ALL that much in common…  (LoL)  The author wants to be considered the best of the best of the best.  I don’t and I don’t believe I have ever wanted to be.  I’ve always just wanted to be “good” at whatever I do.  I’m a bit of a loner – like the author – but I don’t particularly wallow or glory in that introvert status.  It merely is what it is…
Goggins repeatedly discusses how he pushes through injury to do what others find unimaginable – like running on broken legs / feet.  I’m more of a “never do anything today, that’ll prevent you from doing your workout tomorrow” kind of person.  As such, I compete with myself (what’s my personal best) and not against others (“stealing the others soul”).  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m used to be as competitive as the next person (on average), but I’ve mostly outgrown my egotistical need to prove my “value” by killing myself to win.
The author had a terribly abusive childhood (physical and emotional) and he doesn’t seem to have overcome it.  Instead, he has channeled childhood abuse into an adulthood based around proving his “manliness” to himself (and others) by abusing himself under the belief this toughens his mind so he can do more and better than anyone thinks possible.  I’ve known a few obsessive people in my life, but NOBODY at Mr. Goggins level.
What about interesting and entertaining?  Again, so-so…  The book is interesting as a psychological study in personal motivation / obsession, but I can’t say it was “entertaining”.  How the author continually challenged himself and found ways to deal with his personal difficulties – mental (dyslexia, fear of water, fear of public speaking) and physical (taping broken bones, preparing for ultra-events and training for flexibility) were very interesting, but of very little entertainment value.
I had two “real” problems with reading this book and they both centered around language.  The first was probably the most trivial.  The author likes to use the “f**k” word – a lot.  I normally don’t mind swearing when it’s in context and / or used for emphasis.  I find it distasteful when used because you know how to pronounce it and / or just feel like saying it.  How “bad” is it?  Well, let’s just say it’s bad enough the publisher has come out with a separate edition which is advertised a “Clean Edition”.  LoL
The second language issue is the author’s assertion that male weakness makes you female – more specifically a portion of the female genitalia anatomy.  Give me a break!  I’ve known women who were smarter than me and some who were “better” athletes at some sports.  …Just like men are.  The ability to endure physical pain is not unique or specific to the male of the human species.   I think Mr. Groggins recognizes this (at some level) because he admits to modifying his own running style from being a plodder to being a graceful “floater”.  The “floater” kicked his butt in their competition.  He also states (near the end of the book) that some of the female fire-jumpers were every bit as tough as he was – endurance wise – when battling mountain fires for multiple hours over multiple days.  They (the women) were just as “hard” as the men.  Would it have been harder to just say:  “committed, dedicated, and tough”?  (pun intended)
Well, is this book worth your time, then?  Yes!  It is easy to see why some “wanna-be” tough guys (men and women) would want to hear the author speak and / or read this book.  At a certain level, it is an inspirational story – very inspirational.  If that’s what you are looking for, you’ll find it in this writing / life story.  It’s just a shame and a missed opportunity that the author was not able to demonstrate where the line between compulsion and normalcy is drawn and if it is possible to have one foot in both camps.  There is nothing inherently wrong with striving to be the best or world class at any endeavor.  The problem I have is there “really” isn’t ALWAYS a next challenge.  (IMHO) You can be the greatest warrior in the world, but if you never took an instant to enjoy the past or a poem or the sight of cherry tree blossoming, you have still missed the “best” from living life to the fullest.
The few brief paragraphs about the author’s reconciliation with his estranged brother was a hint there is more to the author’s life.  It’s a shame he didn’t feel confident enough about himself to go THERE.  We might have learned a lot more of value for the time we invested in sharing his pain.
Final recommendation:  Moderate to Strong recommendation.  In spite of my (somewhat) less than positive comments, I enjoyed this book and am not ashamed to admit some of it was vicarious admiration.
Disclaimer:  I did not purchase and do not own a copy of this book.  I borrowed my daughter’s copy.  Read it.  And have since returned it.  I believe she received it as a gift from a friend.
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Click here (20 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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MAGA’s Continuing Faith And Support Of #DonTheFelon

Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 20, 2024| 3 Comments »

Those who trusted at the wrong time and place will in turn mistrust at the wrong time and place.
    —     Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.
    —     Mark Twain
(Frequently attributed to Twain, but there is no proof he ever wrote / said this.)
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Click here (20 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Predicting Chaos

Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged , , , , , on June 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

A cause so tiny as to escape us results in a considerable effect which we are unable to predict;  we then attribute this effect to chance.
    —    Henri Poincaré
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Click here (19 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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