Category: Society

Get Used to Weird Weather

Leave a Comment on Get Used to Weird Weather

Mother Nature is Offering Lessons

Climate Change

Remarkable would be the kindest word one could use to describe a reaction to those who still, incredibly, do not accept the reality of climate change. This is perhaps the largest example of willful ignorance in our time. The science is overwhelming and confirmatory in every sector of study and analysis.

We were warned some time ago that when the average global temperature (admittedly, a difficult thing to measure) rose by more than 1.5 degrees, there would be hell to pay. A growing body of evidence it cited that we have now crossed that line and sure enough,

Join the discussion at: Get Used to Weird Weather

You Really Do Need to Read That Fine Print

1 Comment on You Really Do Need to Read That Fine Print

A Lot of Contracts, Log-Ons, and Subscriptions Have Sneaky Content

Buyer Beware

It is an old truism that when entering into a contract or any sort of transaction, the guiding principle for the person making the purchase is “buyer beware.” The individual has a responsibility to understand what is being offered (and not offered) in any transaction and to act with that knowledge in hand.As we all know, that is often a hard standard to meet in the real world. Such documents increasingly have a mountain of legalese, usually presented in very long paragraphs written in small fonts.

Join the discussion at: You Really Do Need to Read That Fine Print

About Those Resolutions

1 Comment on About Those Resolutions

A Different Take on New Years Resolutions

We All Know The Pattern

I was a member of a commercial gym for several years. I used it quite regularly; I liked how I felt after exercising, the staff was very good, and the facility was excellent. While I was often there several times a week all year, I was not to be seen in January. For January was that time wherein the gym was full of new users, some who received gift memberships for Christmas, but most who had made New Years Resolutions to get in shape.

Join the discussion at: About Those Resolutions

The Three Questions We Raised Last Week

1 Comment on The Three Questions We Raised Last Week

How Bad Is It, Anything Helpful Out There, Focus on the Next 18+ Months?

Where We Are, How Do We Proceed

Things may not be quite as bad as the image at the top of this post, but you get the point.

Last week, after a welcome and helpful time for reflection, we talked a bit about that infamous election and what we know it meant, vs all the speculation about why it happened. We promised this week to take up the three questions that arise from a recognition as to where we are as a country.

Join the discussion at: The Three Questions We Raised Last Week

Laurel & Hardy Come to Mind

6 Comments on Laurel & Hardy Come to Mind

Not The Election We Expected. Now What?

The Value of Reflection

Like most everyone who reads this blog, I expect, I was taken aback (to put it mildly) by the presidential election. Not the result so many hoped for, and at least tentatively expected. Enough was “off track” that it seemed to me prudent to take a deep breath, sort through some data, reflect on it all a bit, and then organize thoughts and potential actions.

My first reaction was that famous quote from Laurel and Hardy, amended to say “Well, America – another fine mess you got us into.” A true statement,

Join the discussion at: Laurel & Hardy Come to Mind

Farewell to All That

18 Comments on Farewell to All That

This is a Tough One to Write

What The National Election Says About Us

 As a general guideline, I have always thought one should look at three primary things in choosing a president. One, character. Two, the ability to lead and get things done. Three, policies and positions.

In all candor, we generally have not had to worry too much about the first factor; even people we disagree with can be fudged to doing the best they can for the country, in their own way.

The second factor can be harder to judge with a new candidate,

Join the discussion at: Farewell to All That

The Closing Arguments Said It All

1 Comment on The Closing Arguments Said It All

Today is the Day, America

It’s all over except the remaining voters still in line across the country and the final vote counts. It is possible, but unlikely, that we will know who won by late tonight. More likely, it will take a few days.

There is nothing left to say at this point. Every American has the information they need to decide – now we are doing just that.

Both Chose Their Final Messaging

In so many ways, the closing arguments of both campaigns really did say it all.

One chose – not by coincidence,

Join the discussion at: The Closing Arguments Said It All

Reflections on Courage

3 Comments on Reflections on Courage

Character Counts. Courage May be the Most Important Component Today

So, I Had This Idea

 I decided a couple of weeks ago that the subject of Courage would be a suitable topic for this posting, the last one before election day. As you will see shortly, my focus was to be, and still partly is, on courage by election officials and judges.

But things happen. Last week, the billionaire owners of two of the country’s largest newspapers, the LA Times and the Washington Post, interfered with editorial autonomy at the very last minute and cancelled endorsements by both papers for VP Harris.

Join the discussion at: Reflections on Courage

Lessons Learned from a Once in 1000 Years Disaster

1 Comment on Lessons Learned from a Once in 1000 Years Disaster

We Know What Works In Such Situations

Hurricane Helene in the Mountains

We in the Great Smoky Mountains have all experienced (and many still are very much experiencing) a unique disaster. The force of one of the largest hurricanes to hit the US in many decades coming inland and up through the Appalachian Mountains. The mountains are full of steep terrain, deep valleys, and large trees. When that environment meets a hurricane, the damage is almost beyond comprehension, over a very large area. Some communities no longer exist, others took various levels of damage, just about everywhere took some damage..

Join the discussion at: Lessons Learned from a Once in 1000 Years Disaster

Two Words That Do Not Go Together

Leave a Comment on Two Words That Do Not Go Together

Mountains and Hurricanes

As most of you know (and many of you are living through), the recent hurricane that became a tropical storm centered on our beloved Asheville and surrounding area in the mountains. The damage is almost beyond description, but communities are pulling together and making progress on getting well. Some whole communities are gone.

Hope to be back with you next week, if communication is up. This is coming to you from a supermarket parking lot with good wifi!

Soon we will be back at politics etc. In the meantime, if you are in the damage zone,

Join the discussion at: Two Words That Do Not Go Together