Terry Gross: All I Did Was Ask & the Wisdom of Others

Terry Gross: All I Did Was Ask & the Wisdom of Others

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Terry Gross has been the host of the NPR program Fresh Air for a long time. She conducts interviews and has conversations with writers, actors, musicians and artist’s. She collected her most interesting interviews in a book she titled All I Did Was Ask. It is an entertaining summary of conversations with people over the years of her radio work which I enjoyed reading. When she interviewed the actor Michael Caine he said some things I thought were informative. I…

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Jane Wyman & Ronald Regan

Jane Wyman & Ronald Regan

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Jane Wyman died last Monday. She was 93 years old. She was married to Ronald Regan in 1940 and they later divorced, which explains the bumper sticker during Regan’s campaign for the presidency: "Jane Wyman was right." What I admired about her was her refusal to say anything negative about Regan with the media after he was in politics. She was quoted as saying "…It’s bad taste to talk about ex-husbands and ex-wives… Also, I don’t know a damn thing…

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“Ethnosectarian” and Bush Administration Doublespeak

“Ethnosectarian” and Bush Administration Doublespeak

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I’ve written before about this administration’s dishonest use of doublespeak in order to give information in a false manner.(See posts of 11/29/06 & 1/13/07) Their use of political framing, with the advice of Karl Rove and Frank Luntz, is best illustrated by the infamous "Mission Accomplished" banner following our invasion of Iraq. Now General Petraeus has coined the word "ethnosectarian" instead of "civil war"to put the reality of civil war deaths in Iraq in a false light. The reality is…

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Improv Wisdom – A book Worth Reading

Improv Wisdom – A book Worth Reading

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My friend Carl Bettinger who practices law in New Mexico has been active in improv work to improve his trial skills. He recently recommended that I read Improv Wisdom, subtitled "Don’t prepare, just show up" written by Patricia Ryan Madson. Here are a few of the ideas and observations from this short, informative book: Remember "pisces mortiu solum cum flumine natant" (only dead fish go with the flow) Say yes: Cultivate phrases like "you are right, Good idea" etc Substitute…

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Global Warming is A Fraud – That’s Really What Some People Believe!

Global Warming is A Fraud – That’s Really What Some People Believe!

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As we all know, Galileo’s telescope observations and his calculations convinced him the earth revolved around the sun rather then the other way around. However, that was contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church. After a Church trial in 1633 he was compelled to recant his claim, to be under house arrest for the rest of his life and to have his writings banned as well as his books burned. The Church insisted the Bible taught the opposite of…

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Confession on the Internet

Confession on the Internet

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The Los Angeles Times published an article about Catholic’s and confession. It says in the mid 1960’s thirty eight percent of Catholics went to confession at least once a month, but today only two percent go. Through most of the twentieth century Catholics viewed confession as a sacrament and a solemn obligation, but no longer. The article says there are now website’s where you can log in and anonymously list your sins. Of course, these are not sites sanctioned by…

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– Fame is Fleeting

– Fame is Fleeting

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Sic Transit gloria mundi is a Latin phrase which more accurately is translated as “Thus passes the glory of the world” but is most often interpreted as “Fame is fleeting.” Until 1963 the phrase was part of the coronation of a new Pope. Three times during the ceromony a person carrying a brass staff mounted by a brazier would kneel before the new Pope and warn him “Sancte Pater, sic transit gloria mundi” or “Holy Father, thus passes the glory…

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The Bush Adminstration Objects to Medical Coverage for Low Income Children – SCHIP Program

The Bush Adminstration Objects to Medical Coverage for Low Income Children – SCHIP Program

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The State Children’s health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is under attack by George Bush. The program began in 1997 which provides federal funds on a matching state fund basis to give health care to children unable to afford it. It was directed at families whose income was too high for Medicaid, but too low to afford private insurance coverage. According to the New England Journal of Medicine (Volume 357:1036 September 6, 2007) it has been enormously successful. Some 6 million have…

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Molly B – Saved from A Certain Death

Molly B – Saved from A Certain Death

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While returning from a fly fishing trip in the Dillon, Montana area, my wife, Lita, pointed out an article in the Great Falls Tribune about Molly B. The article reported that on January 5, of last year, this 1200 pound bovine was about be slaughtered at a packing house. While waiting in a pen outside she suddenly jumped the gate just minutes from her scheduled slaughter. With police, plant workers and animal control officers in pursuit, she ran down the…

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Nate Washington – May 2, 1914 – August 18, 2007

Nate Washington – May 2, 1914 – August 18, 2007

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Nate (Nathaniel) Washington died recently (August 18th) at 93 years of age. (See obituary) Nate practiced law in Grant County with Jim Wickwire. He was a man of many accomplishments. He was born in Coulee City. His dad died in a drowning accident when he was young. While attending Ephrata high school he was captain of the football and basketball teams as well as student body president. He attended the University of Washington during the depression only with the help…

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