WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT
THINGS OF CONCERN
"A dissertation Relating to the State of the World and the State of the Mind". This book was prompted by the events of 9/11, and is about the world and the relationships with other countries and cultures. In it I ask how you personally feel about issues, and discuss how important that is. I present that how you personally respond to things determines your very own future. Subjects include WMD, Morality, Terrorism, the Economy, Global Conflict, Education Reform, Immigration Policy, Environmental Awareness, and Respect for Life and Property. Not only are these issues discussed, but resolutions are offered in terms of long term programs to turn things around, and note that turning around and therefore changing them satisfies the definition of revolution (peaceful!!). Not fomenting rebellion, just looking to resolve these long standing threats to our civilization.
Providing an analysis of the US economy, its current situation and downward trend, and surprisingly, offering solutions. The United States is based on free enterprise and a capitalist system, and its strength has always been that with hard work, anyone with aspiration can achieve. Well, right now, due to both financial and social pressures, our economy is in a state of distress. Because this condition is the accumulation of myriad imposed conditions and trends, there is no one single thing that can pluck victory from the jaws of defeat. As a result, the basic tenets of our culture are challenged as we are being marginalized. But looking at the issues it can be seen that a synergistic approach will bring together the right actions to restore direction and resolve. Our economy is bottomed out, and our country's spokespersons, the two major political parties, are so ideologically imbedded within their platforms, that we have reached a stagnated-standoff. By looking at job availability, outsourcing, immigration policy, fiscal responsibility, entitlements, government charter and services, and education, and properly defining each element as to how it affects both the economy and its direction, a clear and workable solution can be crafted and implemented.
In these United States of America, we pride ourselves in rule of law and in opportunity to excel, all offered by our government's guarantee to its citizens of protection of the rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Each of us can translate our God-given capabilities and natural abilities into our efforts in supporting ourselves and ways to achieve our personal goals. Paramount to our societal freedom is our Constitution (and Bill of Rights) and our Declaration of Independence. These documents help define our rule of law. They must be appreciated as being the baseline and lynch-pin for what this country represents.Each of us appreciates things in their own way, this book translates the author's appreciation into an analysis of this country's current status and how all things relate.
Here is a discussion long in the coming, about how our political system has deteriorated into goals of party policy, self-interest, vitriolic outburst. Diplomacy is the elusive but real objective, wherein all parties try to constructively build rapport and agreement, and in this case, for our nation and its citizens. This book looks at the issues that divide us, and why. This includes healthcare, rights of the people, terrorism, budgets, immigration.
Here is a sad then happy tale discussing loss of some of our own precious free time- and then a rip-roaring resolution. It can literally take your breathe away to realize how many needless hours are spent by so many people in their daily commute to and from work. Rush hour will always be a disaster if the transportation system is in overload and a two hour commute looks like overload. The freeway is a compromise- underused when not in rush hour, overwhelmed during the rush hour. Here is an offering that will appeal to everyone- it cuts down travel time by 50%, it cuts down costs by 80%, and reduces pollution by 96%. What is this magic panacea? It is the application of logic and intelligence to a mass transportation system that will be cost effective, easily implemented, easily maintained; and will meet the needs of all commuters. No kidding!
This book consists of two essays, looking at two different ways of being and existing. The first looks at Inner Development- the opportunity of seeing yourself; and the second, America-the place of opportunity to live and prosper happily. Inner Development involves spirituality, and recognition that all religions move towards it by offering ritual and discipline through faith. Religion offers how to live, how to die, and what comes next, but spirituality goes beyond that and becomes a common thread within all of them. This is explored within essay 1 of this book.America is based on foundational guarantees to protect mans rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is founded on principles of law, but now there is a challenge to people who work to achieve by those who demand, and who feel they deserve. So essay 2 explores what has fostered the “gimme” mind that is becoming rampant within this most wonderful of countries, and what is necessary to restore our path to the basics of freedom.
Mankind has struggled with communication even before the spoken word. And as socialization occurred, this became a broader concept of spreading ideas to larger masses of people. Peaceful discussion through diplomacy, either between people, groups, or nations, is always the best way to handle such conversation. But it can get out of hand, starting with discussion, following with demonstration, segueing into mob and riot, and on an international scale, the most awful being entering into war.
This book deals with the phenomena of rioting, why, when, what, and how to prevent its occurrence. It looks at the psychology of the mob, of the people that make up the mob, of the hi-jack of good intentions that produce the mob and the riot. Once understood and societal action implemented, the riot can forever be removed as a necessary arsenal of conversation.
Turmoil, that is what politics is. Lately there is only controversy rather than bi-partisanship. And the reason is not with politics itself, which is the use of power to accomplish, it is with the politicians and their procedures. Choice used to lie with the lesser of two evils, but it is getting closer to equally bad choices. It is time for a closer examination of how to approach diplomacy, which tries to offer reasonable acceptability to all interested parties. This study examines the roots of political dissension and provides the thinking process to move forward.
It is necessary, since technology has shrunk the world so that issues anywhere are issues everywhere.
Sometimes it is hard to listen to a person who just KNOWS EVERYTHING,(especially if YOU really do know everything). This book tries looking at both sides of issues, and with the goal of confirming or revising positions as necessary.
It explores some of today's embedded societal opinion differences, such as political platforms, societal structure, religion , climate change, entitlements, to name a few.
It is up to you to maintain the discourse and be a part of bringing everyone's thinking to a level of agreement.
Everyone walks their own path, or so they think. But not really, because if you allow others to influence you without your own consideration, then they are guiding you as well. And maybe that is OK, but maybe not. This book is a look at the recognition that if you do not control your own direction, then you might very well be missing some of your own unrealized goals in life. So take a look, then give it that consideration, and if you so desire, speak up and direct your efforts towards that forward motion that is your life’s path. How to do it is easy, just pay attention to what is going on. Your awareness is the key, your action is the unlocking of your own potential.
This book looks at several key subjects that are on-going in everyone’s life, and offers thoughts on how to be involved. These include energy and water shortfalls, war, immigration……as examples, but the message is not they we have issues, it is that you can be a part of resolving them.
The failure in 2015 of the gas storage fields at Aliso Canyon, Porter Ranch, California was a physical, environmental, and personal disaster. Thousands of people were involved- residents displaced, SoCalGas struggling to handle it, regulators searching for solution. And it took years to get where we are , BUT maybe it's not yet complete This book is historical documentation of the status of Aliso's safety, design, and future. Although now re-opened, there is still a 7% probability that sometime within the next 50 years, there will be another disaster. This involves the Porter Ranch Community, SoCalGas, many government agencies, many political figures, many experts. And after all was said and done, and the facility modified according to new regulations, there still remains a serious challenge to the safety of the facility and the community. Due to interpretation of data, the safety criteria to accommodate earthquake occurrence is in question. That means potential evacuations, environmental pollution, facility repair or shut-down, health issues- all to be repeated. Hardly desirable, in fact an affront on imbedded policy and procedure, and the faith in our government oversight system.
Change is a part of life, and transition is how we segue into it. In politics, every administration CHANGE brings new perspective into the equation. Party platform is supposed to offer a glimpse into what is to be expected, campaign rhetoric offers both platform and personality. So when all is said and done, there is an expectation that what was selected is representative of what was disclosed.
But that is not all there is, the transition and transparency of actions plays an outsize part of acceptance of the new reality. Therein lies the detail. Each of us as citizens has our bedrocks, our basis, our premises; and when we make choices, they are always using our foundations as stepping stones. We need to transition to new paradigms; having them forced upon us is a major shock to the system. It behooves leadership to always recognize that those outside the leadership role need to be consulted, be made aware, and be solicited for concurrence in dealings that affect their lives.
This book looks at today’s climate in the United States of America, and offers insights into how we arrived to this point, what it represents, and considerations on how to make adjustments to the status quo.
Our political climate is in disarray, and our political representatives are squaring off in a struggle for control. There are the left and right, democrat and republican, liberal and conservative. And the average person, obtaining most knowledge through the press, sees the disparate outputs that unfortunately reflect total bias. What to believe, and how to handle the challenges presented against our normal processes, is exactly the subject of this missive. Recent actions by our political leadership have flaunted those bastions of democracy- our US Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence. From tariffs to immigration, from National Guard activation to partial gutting of the government, and from demands for loyalty to a person to attempts at control of the press-each aspect chips away at our status quo.
Recognizing these challenges, this document presents thoughtful examination of what is, what can be, and how to achieve it. Tearing down is not constructive unless it is replaced with a new and true paradigm. Reviewing the ability of this administration to so do is the intent.
A collection of artwork of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore area of Southern California by husband and wife. The artists present oil paintings and pen & ink drawings created on location during their travels, each artist offering their own perspective. Donna works with layers of oil paint and Joe uses the simplicity of line with pen and ink. "Two Visions" is the collection exhibited at the Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch in Southern California.
Everybody has life experiences, and we all absorb these inputs to continuously steer ourselves along our path. This book is a sketch of the life of an individual, starting at age 35 and still going. So it's a journey, and it has its convolutions in realizations, drama, disappointment, joy, growth. Nothing new here, except that it is a look not only at what, but how and even why. The uniqueness lies in the fact that the pages are direct quotes and sketches done at the time of the condition, and so there is a flow from source to eye to mind to hand to pen to paper. It's life happening, it's thought occurring, it's real.
This book is a personal inquiry relating to the formation of self. Exploration of beliefs, the ego, emotions; the impact placed by events on the essence of a person based on the cumulative factors that make up each being.
"The behavior of each of us is a composite, encompassing the long-term results of external actions playing onto our internal response mechanisms." This was the hypothesis upon which the inquiry began, with the goal of understanding if, how, and why this happens, and to determine whether there was a way to corral the responses into a learning experience rather than simply a reactive process.
How does a person became what they are? Where do beliefs belong and what influence do they exert?
One of the most interesting and important aspects of humanity is our ability to communicate ideas. Key to that is how we do this communication. Proper communication requires that the parties be aware of each other, their needs, their goals, in other words, a more expanded view of interchange than just a few words. This book examines the key criteria for good communication- involving the speaker and the listener, the set and setting in which this is done, the nuances of ego, of intent, of rationalization, of all aspects that round out the real conversation and its real content.
This book is an investigation into why no matter how hard humankind tries to do something, there will always be a fringe that cannot accept societal conditions and will operate outside those bounds. It looks at the individual, mind-set, groups, societies, and civilizations in terms of what affects behavior. It examines the effects of genetics and environment on development. Mankind is an amalgam given genes and heredity, upbringing, environment, and mutation, and we have a great diversity of populations, specifically due to the geographical constraints that have allowed independence of societal development. Is there some overarching methodology that can pull the moral and ethical standards of the diverse population together into a viable society that is dedicated to the freedom of all people to co-exist in peace, devoid of strife, devoid of crime?
Every single day each of us is faced with life's decision requirements. Some are so easy that it's like sliding on ice. But some are life-changing to major degree, and so choice becomes one of priority- which is really the better way to go?Here is an examination of what is involved in determining your own pathways, and how to maximize that precious commodity, your own happiness. I don't mean only the laughter, but the satisfaction of heading in your own right direction. Included are the factors of reality/perception/imagination; of urgency and immediacy; of power and politics; of ego; of pain; and many more of the influences to your decision-making process.
How many times do we say "I wish I had done that"? This book encourages the actions to accomplish you own desires to modify your perspective. It is time to focus changing those things about you that you want to modify, eliminate, or replace. It takes effort and will, and it requires our positive attention and energy, because if it were easy you would have a already done it. so look at yourself, identify your issues or desires, and plan for accomplishing the steps necessary to satisfy them.
Here is a primer to support accomplishing something important to you- your desire to change. It starts with a look at your drives and the reasons for them. It examines how any current dissatisfaction can be converted to action to increase your overall happiness. You can modify your thought process and inclinations through your own self-developed program plan. Nothing esoteric, simply a conscious look at yourself and the necessary steps to allow you to get a grip on your direction and institute any desired shift.
We have all done it- experienced the desire to just get away from conditions we did not want to enter. This is universal and recurring, and the good news is that such situations can be dealt with. There are three choices in handling confrontation- back off, laissez-faire, or rectification. And that is what this book is about- an exploration of these choices and discussion of what led to the issue, examination of the choices for resolution, and selection criteria for ensuing future actions. Understanding how you got there is a key, it not only bounds the situation, it lets you plan future pathways that will not repeat your issues. Looking at where you are at the time gives you the pause needed towards preparing your future actions, and then of course comes doing what you have decided as resolution for your quandary.
Logic helps, it is part of everyone’s upbringing, and using this capacity is simply part of living. Sometimes all you need is a gentle nudge and you are on your way out and upwards.
Here is a small book that speaks to personal loss. It doesn’t try to develop how to deal with it, rather the words want to offer opportunity for each of us to look carefully at what grief represents to both the lost and to the grieving people that remain. We have each placed ourselves in the position of watching a loved one depart, because it has happened to each of us. We see what effect that has on the person as they move towards that ultimate freedom. And it is a tremendous impact on our psyche.
Follow the awareness of what is happening, the unfolding of grief, and the somewhat degrees of closure that must resonate from within. They help.
Something that almost seems to be a part of the human experience, and yet it is an acquired attribute- PREJUDICE. It really is not a necessary part of our existence, but here it is – ubiquitous. Prejudice has impacts way beyond the given focus, it aims us down a narrow path of future experience that puts blinders on so many alternatives.
Although things can be used positively, or negatively, the preponderance in this case is negative bias. Well, it ‘s time to look at conditions straight in the eye, recognize where constraints limit us, and embark on a self-de-programming that will free us up to fully and positively interact with the rest of the world. I speak of recognizing and respecting contacts and experiences, dealing in an open and risk-free manner, and realizing the positive aspects of unencumbered relationships, hopefully without prejudicial bias.
