BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
Duty
Last night I rented Winter Light, the third of a Bergman Trilogy on God, Religion, Faith and the lack thereof within ourselves.
It's only 80 minutes and describes a disillusioned parson who has lost belief but who goes on preaching even after a failure in counseling that leads to the death of one of his parishioners. His lover also remains on duty even though he (the Parson) has told her to get lost.
Apart from the content of Bergman's early films which never leave me unfulfilled, the photography itself compels me always to re-watch each movie with a remote in my hand so that I can stop the action and look at what becomes an amazing still photograph.
mek
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Monday, July 25, 2005
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
July 25, 2005
Neo-Crom?
Today’s Financial Times has a piece describing the Neo-Croms of England.
Neo-Cromwellians, that is. Who are they? Well, the reader might as well ask who are we?
Approve of the ban on smoking in restaurants? You’re a neo-Crom. How about pregnant women who drink a glass of wine or smoke a cigarette with their meals? Approve? No? You’ve only proven you are a Puritan.
Today’s AOL informed me that New Jersey wants to make it a violation to smoke while driving. This after the state has banned smoking from restaurants, offices, and stores. So if someone—dare I say, “if a girl or a guy?” wants to get into his car and have a smoke by himself, after holding out all day, he is liable for a violation. April Fool? No, I checked, today is July 25th 2005.
If I want to get into a SUV there is a whole segment of the population that thinks I should be castigated and taxed double. If I allow my children to watch TV the Puritans know that I am abusing my children. Should I fail to pack and strap my child into a child cage when I get into my SUV I am liable for a moving violation. No matter, that I bought the gas-guzzler itself just to protect my little darling from the rest of you maniacal drivers.
When I play my CD’s loudly in my car while I drive past your house I am breaking the law —and now on some beaches in New York, I must use earphones or turn the radio off. What about my personal freedom?
I saw my neighbor grilling frankfurters and feeding them to his family last Saturday. Very bad for the children and think of all the gain that is wasted fattening up the cattle prior to their slaughter. Oh, and let’s talk about the inhumane and unsanitary conditions in the abattoir. We need regulation. You should stop eating beef.
When I take my family on a holiday in the forests I am accused of eco-vandalism, and there are many of us who wish to make most of the national parks of limits—or to ration use, perhaps allowing only PhD’s into the woods, and then only after they have proved themselves to be capable of cleaning their campsites and leaving them in better condition than they found them—as any cub-scout would have done fifty years ago. As far as allowing the uneducated into the parks—well, what’s Six Flags for anyway?
And the low prices on JetBlue and similar airlines? More unnecessary pollution. Raise the prices, protect the environment. The masses shouldn’t travel anyway. Let them save their money for their own health care.
We need tighter regulation on advertising directed at children—enough of that candy stuff, I say. And I would appreciate it too, if my granddaughter would stop asking me for those toys she sees on the television that I have asked my daughter-in-law to toss out.
I am amazed that there are governmental restrictions that make doctors fear giving sufficient pain medications—and most doctors fear to protest at the risk of their license to practice
Now, speaking of drugs, dare I point out how much the unsuccessful War on Drugs is costing us? Imagine if the mega-billions spent on that war was directed in other directions and if marijuana and cocaine were as legal as alcohol and tobacco.
On, the other hand, perhaps alcohol and tobacco are next on the New-Crom’s list. Why not?
The Neo-Croms resent our easy pleasures.
mek
July 25, 2005
Neo-Crom?
Today’s Financial Times has a piece describing the Neo-Croms of England.
Neo-Cromwellians, that is. Who are they? Well, the reader might as well ask who are we?
Approve of the ban on smoking in restaurants? You’re a neo-Crom. How about pregnant women who drink a glass of wine or smoke a cigarette with their meals? Approve? No? You’ve only proven you are a Puritan.
Today’s AOL informed me that New Jersey wants to make it a violation to smoke while driving. This after the state has banned smoking from restaurants, offices, and stores. So if someone—dare I say, “if a girl or a guy?” wants to get into his car and have a smoke by himself, after holding out all day, he is liable for a violation. April Fool? No, I checked, today is July 25th 2005.
If I want to get into a SUV there is a whole segment of the population that thinks I should be castigated and taxed double. If I allow my children to watch TV the Puritans know that I am abusing my children. Should I fail to pack and strap my child into a child cage when I get into my SUV I am liable for a moving violation. No matter, that I bought the gas-guzzler itself just to protect my little darling from the rest of you maniacal drivers.
When I play my CD’s loudly in my car while I drive past your house I am breaking the law —and now on some beaches in New York, I must use earphones or turn the radio off. What about my personal freedom?
I saw my neighbor grilling frankfurters and feeding them to his family last Saturday. Very bad for the children and think of all the gain that is wasted fattening up the cattle prior to their slaughter. Oh, and let’s talk about the inhumane and unsanitary conditions in the abattoir. We need regulation. You should stop eating beef.
When I take my family on a holiday in the forests I am accused of eco-vandalism, and there are many of us who wish to make most of the national parks of limits—or to ration use, perhaps allowing only PhD’s into the woods, and then only after they have proved themselves to be capable of cleaning their campsites and leaving them in better condition than they found them—as any cub-scout would have done fifty years ago. As far as allowing the uneducated into the parks—well, what’s Six Flags for anyway?
And the low prices on JetBlue and similar airlines? More unnecessary pollution. Raise the prices, protect the environment. The masses shouldn’t travel anyway. Let them save their money for their own health care.
We need tighter regulation on advertising directed at children—enough of that candy stuff, I say. And I would appreciate it too, if my granddaughter would stop asking me for those toys she sees on the television that I have asked my daughter-in-law to toss out.
I am amazed that there are governmental restrictions that make doctors fear giving sufficient pain medications—and most doctors fear to protest at the risk of their license to practice
Now, speaking of drugs, dare I point out how much the unsuccessful War on Drugs is costing us? Imagine if the mega-billions spent on that war was directed in other directions and if marijuana and cocaine were as legal as alcohol and tobacco.
On, the other hand, perhaps alcohol and tobacco are next on the New-Crom’s list. Why not?
The Neo-Croms resent our easy pleasures.
mek
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
In many states a woman may not drink alcohol or smoke while pregnant, but she may get an abortion.
mek
In many states a woman may not drink alcohol or smoke while pregnant, but she may get an abortion.
mek
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
From this very blog. June 2003
"My job today is to re-file or toss all of my files. At present I have laid them all out on my dining room table in an effort to sort them. Looking at the mass of materials is making me very anxious."
I had laid out more unfiled papers on my dining room table a few days ago. They remain there--untouched.
From this very blog. June 2003
"My job today is to re-file or toss all of my files. At present I have laid them all out on my dining room table in an effort to sort them. Looking at the mass of materials is making me very anxious."
I had laid out more unfiled papers on my dining room table a few days ago. They remain there--untouched.
mek
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
The man who fights for his fellow-man is a better man than the one who fights for himself.
To think is to differ
Liberty is the most jealous and exacting mistress that can beguile the soul and brain of man.
As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever.
There is no such thing as justice - in or out of court.
You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free.
True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.
If a man is happy in America, it is considered he is doing something wrong.
No other offense has ever been visited with such severe penalties as seeking to help the oppressed.
I don't believe in God because I don't believe in Mother Goose.
The law does not pretend to punish everything that is dishonest. That would seriously interfere with business.
Clarence Darrow
The man who fights for his fellow-man is a better man than the one who fights for himself.
To think is to differ
Liberty is the most jealous and exacting mistress that can beguile the soul and brain of man.
As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever.
There is no such thing as justice - in or out of court.
You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free.
True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.
If a man is happy in America, it is considered he is doing something wrong.
No other offense has ever been visited with such severe penalties as seeking to help the oppressed.
I don't believe in God because I don't believe in Mother Goose.
The law does not pretend to punish everything that is dishonest. That would seriously interfere with business.
Clarence Darrow
Monday, July 18, 2005
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
To Maria:
Past three o'clock, before dawn,
I woke and looked over for you,
Needing you,
And I was comforted
To see you there, near,
Your legs wrestling with a pillow,
Your fingers stretched out
To me.
To Maria:
Past three o'clock, before dawn,
I woke and looked over for you,
Needing you,
And I was comforted
To see you there, near,
Your legs wrestling with a pillow,
Your fingers stretched out
To me.
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
One of the mysteries of my life has been my neglect of you in correspondence. You remain one of the persons most beloved in my life. You may justifiably feel skeptical about what I say now, you really would be astonished at the number of times and places I've thought of you with affection--even when I am sad about something because I know that you would understand the sadness even if no one else on earth did.
One of the mysteries of my life has been my neglect of you in correspondence. You remain one of the persons most beloved in my life. You may justifiably feel skeptical about what I say now, you really would be astonished at the number of times and places I've thought of you with affection--even when I am sad about something because I know that you would understand the sadness even if no one else on earth did.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
"He lay there in the dark thinking of all the things he did not know about his father and he realized that the father he knew was all the father he would ever know.
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
"He lay there in the dark thinking of all the things he did not know about his father and he realized that the father he knew was all the father he would ever know.
Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
Monday, July 11, 2005
BusterStronghart@Gmail.com
Just for the record.
Volume of a sphere: 4.19 x radius cubed.
Why is the night sky not filled to the brim with stars? Because there has not been enough time for the light from all stars to reach us. In the event that enough time would have passed the night sky would be brilliant with the light of myriad stars.
The number of stars increases with distance cubed -- but star brightness fades with distance squared.
Just for the record.
Volume of a sphere: 4.19 x radius cubed.
Why is the night sky not filled to the brim with stars? Because there has not been enough time for the light from all stars to reach us. In the event that enough time would have passed the night sky would be brilliant with the light of myriad stars.
The number of stars increases with distance cubed -- but star brightness fades with distance squared.
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