Society Archives - Agents of Reason

Safety Looms Large, Presidents Gather, and Disinformation Abounds

By Bill Clontz March 30, 2024 April 2, 2024 Leave a Comment

This Week We See an Interesting Mix of Subjects in the Physical and Political Worlds

Safety First!

Two interesting and compelling reminders about safety in transportation in recent days.

The first reminder is the sorry story about safety at Boeing. It is important to remember that commercial aviation remains one of the safest possible ways to travel, but the Boeing sage reminds us of a couple of points not to be overlooked.

First, as safe as flying can be, when you think about it, it can be dangerous when systems fail. We are packing a large group of people into a thin aluminum tube,

Join the discussion at: Safety Looms Large, Presidents Gather, and Disinformation Abounds

March 26, 2024

By Bill Clontz March 25, 2024 March 26, 2024 2 Comments

Today a Look at Trump, Health, & Journalism

If (When) Trump Loses, What’s Next?

What about the MAGA “movement?” What about the Republican party? I have long felt that Trump had strong possibilities of flaming out and crashing before (or during) the coming election, and that seems to be coming about. Never write off this guy’s survival instincts, but FINALLY a growing list of well-known Republicans are beginning to speak out and to say they cannot support Trump. We might not be where we are had they found the courage to stand up earlier, but perhaps better late than never.

Join the discussion at: March 26, 2024

Hey! That’s a Good Idea!

By Bill Clontz March 3, 2024 March 5, 2024 Leave a Comment

We Should be Doing More With These Winners

Have You Ever Noticed?

Sometimes a good idea rises to the surface, gets into use, has good results, but for one reason or another does not spread as quickly or as far as might be expected. Herein are half a dozen of such ideas that I think have proven out fully that really should be much more in use everywhere. Let me know if you have an addition to such a list.

Transportation

Traffic circles work like a champ. They are not very common in the USA,

Join the discussion at: Hey! That’s a Good Idea!

A Connected Set of Observations on Guns, Addiction, and Alexei Navalny

By Bill Clontz February 19, 2024 February 20, 2024 Leave a Comment

Three Very Different Yet Connected Realities

Guns

One of the latest mass shooting to hit America just occurred, in Kansas City, in an area where people gathered to celebrate their Super Bowl win. People were shot because they were in a place where someone else came to hurt people.

Shortly thereafter, police and first responders in a small town in Minnesota answered a call for help in the wee hours of the morning; a family was in danger. Shortly thereafter, two policemen and a fire rescue member were shot dead.

And so it goes,

Join the discussion at: A Connected Set of Observations on Guns, Addiction, and Alexei Navalny

Politics, Technology, Middle East War, and Super Ants

By Bill Clontz February 6, 2024 February 6, 2024 Leave a Comment

Something for Everyone Today

Taylor Swift Rigs The Super Bowl!

By now, you have surely heard about the Right Wing conspiracy theories that Taylor Swift has somehow conspired to right the Super Bowl for her boyfriend’s team to win and, according to one version, she will then appear at half-time to endorse Biden.

How nuts can these people get?! It really is amazing how this mindset has established itself among a lot of people. If something happens or is pending that I don’t like, there MUST be a conspiracy to blame, no matter how outlandish it seems.

Join the discussion at: Politics, Technology, Middle East War, and Super Ants

Good News – Part II

By Bill Clontz January 22, 2024 January 23, 2024 2 Comments

10 More Observations of People, Institutions, or Things to Celebrate

Continuing Our Relentless Pursuit of Good Stuff

A couple of weeks ago, this blog listed a number of good news stories that seemed to me were not getting enough attention, or at least were getting lost in all the doom and gloom we sometimes generate. I mentioned then there were other good news items that made that list but did not want to make the blog too long.

Today, the rest of that list. Admittedly an arbitrary list, not complete and in no special order.

Join the discussion at: Good News – Part II

Good News, Here & Now

By Bill Clontz January 9, 2024 January 9, 2024 Leave a Comment

As Promised Last Week, Signs of Progress and Possibilities

Where We Are

An awful lot of what we read in the media, and what we say to each other, calls out a sense of Doom, with a capital D. The political atmosphere seems permanently charged and forever divided There is, in fact, no shortage of seriously worrisome and frightening news out there, just waiting for us.

But hold on a minute- there is a lot of positive news to celebrate and encourage as well. Let’s remind ourselves of a few of them as we start a new year.

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Hey, Santa! You Missed Some Items on Our List – Part II

By Bill Clontz December 23, 2023 January 2, 2024 5 Comments

Here are Some More Things We REALLY Wanted to Find Under the Tree

Continuing our Shopping List with Santa

Last week we started a conversation about things we wished we had found under our nation’s political holiday tree. Most people agree on these items, although we may disagree on some specifics.

What follows is Part II of that list. At the end of this posting, I will include a short, summarized list of what was posted last week. Taken together these two lists would make our hearts sing – and our country better off –

Join the discussion at: Hey, Santa! You Missed Some Items on Our List – Part II

Hey, Santa! You Missed Some Items on Our List – Part I

By Bill Clontz December 23, 2023 December 26, 2023 6 Comments

Here are a Few Items We REALLY Wanted to Find Under the Tree

A Political Wish List

While one can always find disagreements, there are a handful of political reforms that would do wonders for this country. The funny thing is that to the extent our fellow citizens have thought about these items, they agree by large margins.

Hmm, they did not make it as gifts under our tree. Maybe we try again as New Year’s resolutions? Not to make this too long a read, let’s do this as a two part exercise. Let’s see what we have to work with this week,

Join the discussion at: Hey, Santa! You Missed Some Items on Our List – Part I