Grief is the Only Response
Since I heard the news that Charlie Kirk died from the gunshot wound, I have been fighting back tears. I did not agree with his politics or social views, but he was a child of God, a loving family man, and he stood for what he believed in, as the Constitution gave him the right to do so. This type of tragedy should never happen. The very first posts I saw on Facebook after he was shot, and even before he was pronounced dead, was from my Democrat friends. They were shocked and stunned. “No, no, no,” they lamented. “We want change, but not like this. Violence is never the…
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Big Brother is Being Watched
George Orwell’s novel 1984 appeared to be prophetic – until it got stood on its head. Cameras, Cameras, Everywhere The first closed-circuit television system (CCTV), came into being in 1942 in NAZI Germany. It was invented by an engineer named Walter Bruch for the purpose of monitoring rocket launches at a safe, indoor location. It had no recording capability, which would have made it useless for security applications, but it set the groundwork for future technology. In 1966, Marie Van Brittan Brown patented the first home security video system, but due to the high production cost, nothing much came of it directly. However, it did garner recognition in the world…
Social Media Experiment
I seldom post anything political on my Facebook timeline because fights erupt amongst the commenters. Once in a while I’ll post something, though, but I include one or more links to provide the relevant facts. The other day, I saw the above meme. As is, it’s deceptive. I was going to post it with a link that clarified the details. But at the last second, I impulsively decided to omit the link, and in lieu of the link and explanation, I posted the statement, “You get what you vote for”. That was my amateur version of a sociological field experiment. I wanted to see how people would react. Oh My…
Iceland & Baby Names
I’ve always been fascinated with other cultures. Some of them have traditions which seem strange to those who live in other parts of the world. But keep in mind, if somebody else’s custom seems strange to you, they probably find your customs just as strange. One that I find odd is the baby-naming rules in Iceland. Iceland has very strict laws concerning what you can name your baby. They have lists of approved and forbidden names for girls and boys. If you want to use a name which is not on one of those lists, you have to submit your request to the Icelandic Naming Committee (with a fee), and…
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Political School Daze
Here we go again with the Bible in schools fight; it’s been happening with great regularity ever since the Scopes Monkey Trial in the 1920s. Currently, Louisiana is requiring that the 10 Commandments must be displayed in public schools, and Oklahoma says that schools must teach the Bible in the classroom. No doubt that’s only the beginning, and more states will come up with their own new laws. I have no objection to these things if parents want it in their own school district, but states have no business making laws, and if parents don’t want it, then don’t do it. If residents of California can vote on how much…
Anacostia – An Inspiring True Story
I came across the most interesting video at YouTube last night. I was intrigued, and today, I did some searching and discovered a wonderful, uplifting story! The Anacostia neighborhood in Washington, D.C. was a run down slum. The primarily black residents were living in abject poverty. Children had little hope of advancement in life. In the late 1960s, the Smithsonian Museum got the idea to take over an old abandoned building in that neighborhood, and turn it into a black museum, which they named Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. The community embraced the project, and it became so much more than *just* a museum. Besides covering black American history and culture, it…
Shades of Homelessness
People who have not been homeless, and have not intimately known the homeless, have some very wrong perceptions about the subject. Those on the far right think that if the homeless would stop being lazy and just get jobs, the problem would be solved. Those on the far left think we should round up the homeless like stray puppies and find good homes for them. Both sides have some learning to do. I’ve been homeless more than once, and fit in more than one of the below categories. I’ve also done a great deal of volunteer work that involved the homeless. I feel reasonably certain that I am qualified to…
Vintage Films – A Study in Race Relations
Anyone who’s around me for very long knows how much I love old TV shows (40s to early 60s), and old movies (from silent films into the early 60s). But my interest isn’t entirely for the sake of drama and entertainment; I find them a fascinating look into society and culture as it was in former generations. I always notice the parts assigned to people of color. Most are portrayed as not very bright. Most black people are in a subservient role and usually don’t speak unless spoken to. Hispanics are often portrayed as poor farmers or as outlaws. Asians tend to have stupid expressions on their faces. Native Americans…
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