I was in a big city recently and I noticed that the traffic was congested during non-rush hours. It took a while to understand the problem, and when I did it was with a sense of foreboding because there were entire lanes that had been removed from vehicular use and turned over to bicycles. With all the save-the-Earth hysterics running loose this trend will only accelerate unless something is done to control it. There were Read more…
I was recently buying new windshield wipers when the parts salesman mentioned that a mutual acquaintance, a mechanic, had passed away a few days earlier. This was surprising because the mechanic was not yet 60, and was in reasonably good health as far as I was aware. When I said as much the parts man told me that sudden, massive organ failure, brought on by excessive drinking, was the cause of death. This was news Read more…
Hawai’i, a sovereign nation minding its own business, was illegally annexed by the United States of America in 1898. About 60 years later American statehood was granted to the islands, and a 50th star was added to the American flag. Since then a movement to undo this act has existed in Hawai’i. Puerto Rico, a colony of Spain, was ceded to the United States of America (following the Spanish-American War) in 1898. About 55 Read more…
We humans have an innate tendency to help others. To varying degrees, in ways large or small, most of us help the people around us pretty consistently. Whether we hold a door for someone, give a co-worker a sheet of paper, or volunteer at a charity, most of us find a way to scratch that altruistic itch, and that includes the billionaires. Many, if not most of them, have a drive to help. Read more…
Recently, while shopping at a commercial food warehouse, I saw the power of a silent look. I’d been there many times before and knew how to get in and out with relative ease and speed. Given that the place was not open to the general public, and had restaurant owners, chefs, and other food professionals as its clientele, things generally moved briskly. There weren’t aisle-clogging browsers like in a regular supermarket. These shoppers were on Read more…
“WELCOME!” & “HOW’S YOUR DAY GOING?” In the last few weeks I’ve been bombarded by employees at various retail outlets shouting “Welcome!” on entering their stores; and asking “How’s your day going?” when checking out. Now, I’m not big on conspiracy theories. I believe that Oswald killed JFK– not Castro, or the Mob. I also believe that the pyramids were built by humans– not the mer-people from Atlantis, or UFO aliens. And I believe Read more…