We arrived in Scottsdale two days ago. It has been hot here, the temperatures are in the triple digits and yesterday it was 106° hot. We are here to open the house for the season and every time we do so it is inevitable that things don't work. We spend the first week finding and correcting problems as well as dealing with repair people. As to the heat, fortunately the report is that things will cool down starting this weekend…
I am going to violate the well-established wisdom of never talking to others about religion or politics because it causes controversy. I'm going to talk about both. The reason is because I think the clerk in Rowan County Kentucky where the county clerk, Kim Davis, refuses to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because she has religious objections is misguided I am offended, as one trained in law, that this is being defended as a religious faith issue when it is not. That's because of her…
Last night the President gave his 15 minute speech about immigration reform. Let me digress to say that no matter which way you lean on this issue, as a trial lawyer, I need to comment on his skill of delivery and how much can be communicated well in only 15 minutes if prepared. His timing was perfect and his genuine sincerity was palpable. It is a model for learning to give a talk well in a very short time. We are in…
Lita and I are at our home in Scottsdale this week. We arrived during the Arizona political campaigns. When I turned on the TV I thought I had landed on another planet. It is as if aliens have taken over the television channels because the TV advertising is totally and completely dominated by back-to-back repetitive political attack ads. Apparently, in Arizona, campaigns for political office have no connection with the qualifications of the person running for office or relevant issues. You can't find an…
Each time I allow myself to go on a rant it inevitably offends someone. But, it's time for me to do it again. I will leave out my views about those who maintain huge dams, nuclear plants and huge, ugly wind towers are a good idea for power sources. Here are a couple of things that trouble me. Yes, I know, there are a lot of people who probably don't agree, but this is America and we all are entitled…
There was a recent opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal entitled "the Pope's case for virtuous capitalism." In it Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York was critical of the media for what he said was giving the wrong impression of the Popes position on capitalism. He claimed that the principal focus of Pope France's economic teaching was that social activity must be based on the virtues of compassion and generosity. The cardinal claimed that: "all people, including the poor,…
There has been so much media reporting about immigrants recently it has reminded me of how blessed and privileged I am to have been the child of immigrants. Mother's family immigrated from what was Hungry-Austria, now Croatia, and the tiny island of Brac all the way to Anacortes, Washington. Dad, his parents and his siblings all immigrated from the poor area of Calabria- down in the toe of the boot of Italy ending up in Anacortes where they eventually met…
I am in the process of going through old files in an effort to become organized. What follows are some of the thoughts found in the materials. Maybe something here will entertain or even educate you. I found then worth saving. In June 1994 Parade magazine carried an interview of the late actor Robert Mitchum. When asked about his past reputation he didn't apologize. Instead he said: "Hey, I live way I wish. There are always people who will object….
In November of 2002 the New York Times published a story about two women in rural Alabama who were killed in a head on collision on a clear dry afternoon on highway 25. Traveling at 60 mph they died instantly, but their passengers survived. One of the drivers was Sheila Wentworth who had left her home at 4 pm on Sunday with her nephew heading North on highway 25. By coincidence, the other driver, Dorris Hall, left her home at 4:00 PM as well…
Today's post has no real purpose except to publish some notes I've made while reading before I lose them. Nothing profound here, but some are interesting or amusing perhaps. Here are a few of the notes: "I married beneath me – all women do." Lady Nancy Astor If you have wondered where the expression "crossing the Rubicon," referring to decisions of great significance originated, it's from Roman history. Julius Caesar made his military reputation with his campaigns in Gaul and became a popular hero. However, back in…
