Viewing Tragedies in Proper Perspective

Confusions Over that CPR Incident

(This is from the form used in my state.)

Some of my friends have been asking me to react in print about the case of Lorraine Bayless, who died Feb. 26^th.  Now that more of the facts are known, I can admit that I was misled by news reports, as most everyone else was.

Valentines in Kindergarten

Reblogged from Invisible Mikey:

Kindergarten was awful at first, then wonderful.

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(Back by Popular Demand! Thanks for the requests.)

How to Own Christmas

Reblogged from Invisible Mikey:

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13,000 Santas in Londonderry - @Arthur Allison

Over time, the best and worst in people becomes concentrated and specified.  The dual nature of Christmas is a superb example.

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Since I'm getting a number of hits on this old article, I guess it's time to bring it back!

Getting in the Spirit

A Newsy Post you can Sing Along With

Life is Beautiful (1997)

The time between Halloween and New Year’s Day seems to go by faster every year.  I’m doing less than I used to, on purpose, but it still feels like activities, responsibilities, even the passage of hours speeds up.

Review: 10 Steps to Finding Your Happy Place

(The BOOK)

 (The cover has an inviting painting of a happy place.)

Controversial Films (Part Two)

Nazis, Newborns & Nuts

“We built that!”

When I was ten, I got into an advanced education program and began attending a different school where most of my classmates were Jewish.  The benefit of being immersed and welcomed into Jewish culture was at least as valuable as anything I learned in class.

Controversial Films (Part One)

Clansmen, Commies, Catholics and Climaxes

“What am I, Gandalf of Arabia?”

All movies are propaganda in the sense that they try to persuade the audience to believe that what’s on the screen is “real”.  It’s always an illusion.

Word Salad Sandwich

Obsession likability paranoia.

Kibble-reinforced, bio-degradable op-ed.

This is How

Here’s a better answer than I wrote before for those of you who wondered how it’s possible to emotionally handle giving up a wonderful dog like Spice, after raising her for a year in preparation to train as a guide dog.  This is excerpted from a letter we recently received from the new owner of one of our graduates, a black lab named Camille.

First Love

The sweet things in life stay in memory forever, long after injustices, obstacles and hardships have all fallen away.

Good Smells Survey

Since you couldn’t be here with me, I’ll send you some things to smell.

Films for At-Risk Youth

When I was a lonely, nerdy little boy in peril, I learned important survival tips and got cheap therapy from seeing movies about other young ones who were having a hard time.

Rethinking the N-Word

If you don’t think there’s a right time and place and purpose for every word, you and I have a serious disagreement.

Career Change

Yesterday I had to work late at the Urgent Care.  As a result, I was unable to accompany my wife and our guide-dog-puppy-in-training to the meeting of the puppy club.

Building and Letting Go

Our guide-dog-puppy-in-training is 14 weeks old now.  She’s bright, energetic and confident.  Much of her happy demeanor is reinforced by success in performing routines.  The biggest challenge for her has been learning to restrain herself when she encounters new people

Understanding the U.S. Occupation

As often happens during a revolutionary movement, icons will be mis-quoted and appropriated and remolded for other purposes.

Therapy Pup

I realized a new reason I love raising our new “guide-dog-in-training” Lila early this morning.  She’s a clean slate.  She doesn’t share the neuroses my wife and I have

Wooden Boats II (9/11/11)

Here are some more glimpses from our 35^th annual Wooden Boat Festival.

Turning Into Patrick McGoohan

I’m irritated at not being able to complete posts I begin because “real life” intervenes, so I’m just going to write this one in real time, despite interruptions.