[August 03, 2014] My wife persuaded me to watch a television show she thought I might like. As most people know, I do not watch much television. Yet, the TV show Shark Tank, in its fifth season, has something most shows do not even allow. This is a show of a group of successful business people, the “sharks”,… Read More »
[August 02, 2014] A retired U.S. Marine officer writes that there are leaders who are cowards in the workplace. In this recent article, my first reaction was … yes! … leaders that are cowards on the battlefield have no place in the military. But this was not his intent with his article. “The Coward Leader” is about moral… Read More »
[August 01, 2014] Someone recently complained that today’s children are intellectually and physically lazy. The complaint is probably said by the grandmothers of every generation that has come before us; grandmothers, of course, being very smart and strong. At a commencement speech last year, the speaker told the graduates, “you’re pampered, privileged, and oversexed …”1 “Young people” spend… Read More »
[August 01, 2014] Recently someone replaced the U.S. flags on the Brooklyn Bridge towers with white flags. It was a classic “who dunit.” While several groups have taken credit for the act, one appears to be real. According to a spokesperson, we “do stuff like this for the thrill of it.” These are self-proclaimed anarchists who have the… Read More »
[July 31, 2014] The Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS), as predicted, slowed its southward advance into the heart of Iraq. While many in the U.S. Department of State predicted otherwise and the thinking was Iraq was in a state of collapse, the latest update from Iraq is that ISIS is “consolidating” its gains. In short, the… Read More »
[July 31, 2014] Savage manliness? Perhaps not. Camel jumping in Yemen is more of an oddity than a “savage manly” sport … although there are some professional jumpers from the Azraniq tribe who would disagree. The sport does require considerable strength and agility. There is some opportunity to get hurt by a fall or by the camel kicking… Read More »
[July 30, 2014] Anyone not under the proverbial rock these days knows that the U.S. immigration debate on policy is about as heated as it can get. It seems that everyone has an opinion, that opinion is not just the right one for the country but morally and constitutionally the right one. One side argues that U.S. federal law is… Read More »
[July 30, 2014] Wilson, a childhood friend of mine told the story of his days picking blackberries, many years ago in his father’s land. Those were the days before a heavy reliance on pesticides and so it was expected to have losses due to insect activity. My friend insisted that all those blackberries were “perfect” in every way,… Read More »
[July 29, 2014] Recognition began last night began of the 100th Anniversary of World War I. In Europe and American, there are many events and tours of the battlefields planned. This is good news because it provides leaders the opportunity to tell of the horrors, the sacrifice, and the heroism of the war. It also provides the world… Read More »
[July 28, 2014] Social media and news organizations are reporting on and sometimes participating in an increasing chorus of anti-Semitism. Largely a Middle Eastern and European event, we have seen it also in New York City and other large places globally. The country of Turkey is the latest to push the extremes of the rising tide of anti-Semitism.… Read More »