words to live by

One of my college professors -- this was back in the early 1970s -- was famous for his rambling lectures. I was in his office one day before class and he started jotting down notes. I asked what he was doing. He said: "Making a lesson plan." And I blurted out: "What are you doing that for?" And he smiled and said:

"You can't have total chaos.
You must have something from which to depart."

God bless you, Professor Young, wherever you are.

tribute

15. The Tradition of Patriotism

“A nation, our parents believed, should be judged in much the same way as an individual: by deeds, not words. Politicians and the government show their regard for our society, our community, and our fellow human beings by what they do – by their efforts to stop trouble before it starts, and to restore order or repair damage when it’s over. Mother and Dad were aware that songs, symbols, and pledges, however sincerely meant, were often used as shortcuts, as substitutes for the hard work of democracy, the sweat it takes to pursue justice. And they would not be intimidated from pointing this evasion out again and again, in part because they knew that inaction plays into the hands of the barons of power and money. They intuited what Marcus Cicero said over two thousand years ago in ancient Rome: “Freedom is participation in power.”

from: The Seventeen Traditions by Ralph Nader

And that's about all I have to say about the election.

Now back to arting around.