Well I'm back from the Big Apple, always an interesting place to visit but July is not the best time. Thankfully the hotel's AC worked well enough. When you left the room and entered the hallway you got a taste of what was in store outside. I stayed in Manhattan the entire trip. I can't say its typical for the entire city but it is what I saw.
I've never been a fan of cities and would dislike living in one. Too many people, too much noise, crowded, dirty, no space... the usual complaints of the rural visitors to the city. It does have its good points though. The museums, Marshall chess club, monuments and buildings. I worked every day so I didn't get to see much but I did catch the fireworks on the 4th. I had to endure a few rain showers but I've been wet before in much worse weather and it was a good show.
A few personal observations on NYC that add to its character. People seem more fit and less inclined to being overweight. I attribute that to the fact that driving anywhere is almost impossible and where possible very expensive. Getting from A to B is mainly about walking. Eating out is also very expensive but the portions tend to be very generous. On the other hand there seemed to be a higher proportion of smokers.
Well now that I'm back I hope to get on track and post more in line with the original plan of this blog. Best laid plans and all that.
10 July 2007
26 June 2007
Visiting Michigan
I just spent the last week in Michigan. Lovely weather, beautiful countryside, wonderful time. Reminded me of why I love the state. The main trouble was all those little jarring things that kept popping up. For Sale signs everywhere, businesses and warehouses closed and overgrown with weeds, "wild/abandoned" areas growing, school systems shrinking, taxes increasing, property values falling, more and more cars on the road that seem barely functional. That gets depressing.
I don't have any answers for the problems facing the state and I guess that qualifies me to be Governor or a member of the Legislature. They obviously have no solutions, no ideas, no courage and no ability to lead. They do, however, excel in blaming others, even when they finally put together a budjet "solution". At least it reenforces my decision to move elsewhere to help care for and ensure my family's future.
Oh, well, for now I'll concentrate on the good points of what I saw and prepare for the next couple weeks. I'm travelling to NYC. A nice place to visit normally by not in July.
I don't have any answers for the problems facing the state and I guess that qualifies me to be Governor or a member of the Legislature. They obviously have no solutions, no ideas, no courage and no ability to lead. They do, however, excel in blaming others, even when they finally put together a budjet "solution". At least it reenforces my decision to move elsewhere to help care for and ensure my family's future.
Oh, well, for now I'll concentrate on the good points of what I saw and prepare for the next couple weeks. I'm travelling to NYC. A nice place to visit normally by not in July.
12 June 2007
Why? The terror of consistency
So let’s start with a little philosophy. I agree with Emerson when he says “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds…” but note it is foolish that is the error, not consistency although many misuse this quote by dropping foolish. Consistency is a necessity of life, from commodities I buy, to work I produce to positions and opinions I hold.
Lacking a consistent core philosophy leaves one open to effective, if not always valid, objections of “how can you claim to support A in this instance and not in that instance?” Thus in the defense of one’s perceived inconsistency the original point is lost. My core lies as a Christian of the Reformation with an awareness that Christianity did not start in the 1500’s. There is much of the earlier church fathers that is valuable and worthwhile as well as work done since and today. But the core is Christianity and that shaped by the work of the Reformation.
So when asked “why…?” I go back to my touchstone. When questioned on my own reasoning, logic, justifications and inconsistency I examine them and myself in that light. Sometimes I change; most often I don’t as I have given some thought to positions I hold. In those area where my views are inchoate are where I’m most likely to modify my stand.
I do like to ask the question “why”. I like to be able to answer it. I think the answers should be consistent. Now in matters of taste I can see where there is an inability to articulate choices. I like fruit ice creams better than chocolate ice cream. As a kid I preferred chocolate. Why, who knows? My tastes changed. I like cats better than dogs. Not that I dislike dogs, I just prefer cats. I’m sure I could find a reasonable explanation in that a cat fits my personality better than a dog but the point is: I have a dog (retired greyhound racer). Why? because my family prefers dogs and I prefer making my family happy.
[Having the dog and a cat isn’t possible as Miko was trained to chase small furry things. Now that she is off the track she has been know to catch rabbits, which is not pleasant for the rabbits, and the results of a greyhound/cat steeplechase in the house is also not pleasant to contemplate.]
So in the future I’ll talk about, among other things, ideas, my life, issues, that may or may not be consistent and try to figure out why. The answer, I believe, is the underlying core is either hidden or misunderstood. Unfortunately, for many the true core philosophy is whatever appears to promote their happiness and ease at the moment. Therefore they are tossed to and fro by the vicissitudes of life claiming to be victims of fate when they are really self victimized.
Lacking a consistent core philosophy leaves one open to effective, if not always valid, objections of “how can you claim to support A in this instance and not in that instance?” Thus in the defense of one’s perceived inconsistency the original point is lost. My core lies as a Christian of the Reformation with an awareness that Christianity did not start in the 1500’s. There is much of the earlier church fathers that is valuable and worthwhile as well as work done since and today. But the core is Christianity and that shaped by the work of the Reformation.
So when asked “why…?” I go back to my touchstone. When questioned on my own reasoning, logic, justifications and inconsistency I examine them and myself in that light. Sometimes I change; most often I don’t as I have given some thought to positions I hold. In those area where my views are inchoate are where I’m most likely to modify my stand.
I do like to ask the question “why”. I like to be able to answer it. I think the answers should be consistent. Now in matters of taste I can see where there is an inability to articulate choices. I like fruit ice creams better than chocolate ice cream. As a kid I preferred chocolate. Why, who knows? My tastes changed. I like cats better than dogs. Not that I dislike dogs, I just prefer cats. I’m sure I could find a reasonable explanation in that a cat fits my personality better than a dog but the point is: I have a dog (retired greyhound racer). Why? because my family prefers dogs and I prefer making my family happy.
[Having the dog and a cat isn’t possible as Miko was trained to chase small furry things. Now that she is off the track she has been know to catch rabbits, which is not pleasant for the rabbits, and the results of a greyhound/cat steeplechase in the house is also not pleasant to contemplate.]
So in the future I’ll talk about, among other things, ideas, my life, issues, that may or may not be consistent and try to figure out why. The answer, I believe, is the underlying core is either hidden or misunderstood. Unfortunately, for many the true core philosophy is whatever appears to promote their happiness and ease at the moment. Therefore they are tossed to and fro by the vicissitudes of life claiming to be victims of fate when they are really self victimized.
05 June 2007
Starting out
Why am I writing this and why are you reading it? I'm looking to organize my thoughts and perhaps have a few civil discourses. What about you?
For the moment I'm trying to get wrapped around where I want this to go. From whimsical to hobbies to the dreaded politics and religion I plan to wander with little direction and less of plan.
But first I'm going to learn how to use the mechanics of this site.
For the moment I'm trying to get wrapped around where I want this to go. From whimsical to hobbies to the dreaded politics and religion I plan to wander with little direction and less of plan.
But first I'm going to learn how to use the mechanics of this site.
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