Still on Page One

Posted on May 11, 2012 by jackpelham

It amazes me that,
After all these years,
We are still
On page one.

 

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Note:  I believe that this may have been a reference to Bible study, and how it doesn’t take much investigation before we end up “back in Genesis” trying to take yet another look at the puzzle to be sure we have got it right.  I can see this same theme at work in areas outside religion, however.  And interestingly, I’ve come to a point, at least in some areas of life, where I think I have progressed beyond “page one”. So I’ve either grown somewhat since I penned this thought, or I am more deluded!

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Three Snail Jokes

Posted on May 11, 2012 by jackpelham

Note:  These three are ready favorites of mine.  I heard them years ago from various sources.

Snail Joke #1

Once upon a time, a snail decided to go for a ride on the back of a turtle.  Do you know what the snail said?  (See answer in red at the bottom of this page.) Continue reading →

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Beer Makers’ Convention

Posted on May 11, 2012 by jackpelham

NOTE:  I heard this story years ago and thought it was hilarious, even though I don’t drink beer.

The CEOs of all the major beer companies were at dinner one night at their annual Beer Makers’ Convention. The waiter comes out and asks, “May I get you gentlemen started with something to drink before I take your meal orders?” Continue reading →

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How can I tell you?

Posted on May 5, 2012 by jackpelham

In a recent article, I posed the question “Should I tell you?“, regarding the situation in which I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about something, but am uncertain as to whether you will tolerate a discussion about it.  In this present article, I assume that the answer to the previous question is “yes”, and that I’m planning to risk the discussion.  This article is about the difficulties that often arise as the intended one-point discussion turns into a veritable “birds nest” of entanglements such as one finds in a backlashed fishing reel.

Here’s what I mean.  Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Fallacy, Logic, Paradigms, Philosophy, Politics, Religion | Leave a comment

Character Not Included

Posted on April 16, 2012 by jackpelham

Finally, after 6 years, I have published the first installment of my new book:

Character Not Included: What America must fix before she can fix anything else

The book is published in website format and can be read for free and without any subscription.

Character Not Included argues that, contrary to conventional American wisdom, our greatest political woe in the United States is not “Washington”, but the people themselves. Simply put, we are not currently exhibiting the level of aggregate character necessary to make for good overseers of our own government.  If we have got the diagnosis wrong, then it’s no wonder that our “solutions” are not working.

Future installments of the book are coming, but the timing of them may be somewhat dependent upon the response I get to the first installment, which is available for reading as of today.  I released it early as something of a market test to help me determine which projects should be priorities and which can continue on the slow boat.

If you like the book, or at least its concept, please be sure to “like” it on Facebook.  The book can be accessed through the hyperlinked title above, and I have built a Facebook page for it at: http://www.facebook.com/CharacterNotIncluded.

Jack

 

 

 

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How To Be Criticism-Proof

Posted on April 13, 2012 by jackpelham

If you or anything you care about is being criticized, and if you don’t really care about truth, honor, or self correction, this article lists some strategies you can use to pretend that you are criticism-proof.  The stakes are high because a snowballing criticism can be very dangerous to the reputation of a person or group, as well as to the status quo.  If you don’t nip it in the bud, you could end up being discredited, fired, shunned, or embarrassed.  Perhaps there is money at stake, or perhaps it’s the investment of years of your life that is to be defended.  Or it could even be your own sacred view of yourself that is in need of a swift and sure defense.  Regardless, if you don’t really care about the truth, but only about the appearance of being in the right, you’re going to want some really good strategies to defend yourself from those who might suggest that there is a better way than the one you currently espouse.  The strategies that follow in the list below won’t convince rational people, mind you, but they are apparently very useful for convincing yourself and your irrational audience that you’re OK and that the criticism being launched against your position isn’t worth considering.  So if it’s all about you, then you should find this list very helpful. Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Fallacy, Logic, Politics, Religion, Science | Leave a comment

The “Judge Not” Fallacies

Posted on April 12, 2012 by jackpelham

Increasingly popular in the United States is the notion that it is morally (or perhaps otherwise) wrong to “judge” others.  And akin to this notion is the notion that it is also wrong to judge anything else.  I have been instructed, at one time or another, that any of the following activities are inappropriate: Continue reading →

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Should I Tell You?

Posted on April 12, 2012 by jackpelham

If I believe you are wrong about something, should I tell you, or should I keep it to myself?

What a dilemma!

On the one hand, I could free you from some error that is hurting you or holding you back in some way. Continue reading →

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Just One Pull of a Trigger

Posted on April 12, 2012 by jackpelham

If it ever were to become necessary for me to shoot someone, I sure do hope that that person has colorless skin, has no sex, nor sexual preference, and no nationality, belongs to no socio-economic class, has no political affiliations, and belongs to no religious or non-religious or even irreligious group, has no family, friends, coworkers, employer or employees, or acquaintances, and is neither homeless nor lives in a particularly controversial or racially-charged place, nor on either side of the tracks, and has no beliefs, habits, or heritage whatsoever against which one might suffer temptation to take offense, including, but not limited to a criminal record, morally questionable behavior, tattoos, sectarian clothing or regalia, socially-identifiable music, a lawn taller than allowed by the local ordinance, or any hairstyle that I’m not already on the record as liking.

And I hope that nobody is running for office at the time, Continue reading →

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On Praying for Politics

Posted on March 17, 2012 by jackpelham

It would seem that many Americans pray about political elections.  I’ll share some evidence about that shortly, but for now, let’s take that as a given.  They may pray, for instance, that a certain candidate wins the Presidency, or that their political party can sweep the US House of Representatives.

I’m always curious, however, just how they think such a thing might pan out–if God were to comply with their wishes.  And what do they expect from God?  For instance, do they expect God to make the majority vote for the preferred candidate?  Continue reading →

Posted in Logic, Politics, Religion | Leave a comment