The Cardinal To Achievement

Human achievement seems to depend on factors that extend beyond word together with social status.  One segment of our population makes the nearly of their abilities together with opportunities spell others settle for the comfort of mediocrity or goal upward relying on social assistance.  This partition occurs across all cultures together with all economical groups together with a multifariousness of factors are probable responsible.

No doubt, mental disease together with psychological disorders often play a role, every bit practice genetic traits together with the character of parental nurturing.  While word together with access to a skilful didactics sure as shooting favor human achievement, many exceptions direct house together with roughly humans demonstrate remarkable success without the practice goodness of formal training.  Life is complex together with one's genetic constitution, skills, sense together with opportunities all influence its course.

But it seems to me that self-esteem is a crucial factor.  If ane is raised inward an surroundings where expectations are low, where criticism abounds together with where blame is oft placed on others, he/she volition hold out far less probable to compass their potential.  On the other hand, when skills are recognized together with fostered, when self-confidence is instilled together with when self-reliance is encouraged, personal achievement often follows.    

The Existent Chaplain Scandal

The ongoing chaplain argument inwards the United States of America House of Representatives seems to hold upwardly the production of both political as well as religious objections to the Catholic priest who has late held that position.  Some say his firing was inwards reply to his criticism of the Republican Tax Cut spell others study that evangelical Congress Members desire a chaplain who is to a greater extent than accepting of their beliefs.

In my opinion, the existent scandal lies amongst the engagement of a House Chaplain to start out with, funded yesteryear American taxpayers as well as plying his merchandise on Government property.  The same goes for those Prayer Breakfasts that our Presidents as well as Congress Members attend; I assume nosotros too fund those mystical events.

Legislators sure enough reach got the correct to attend the church, synagogue or mosque of their selection as well as tin try the advice of shamans if they like; they tin fifty-fifty adjust for their piety to hold upwardly photographed inwards social club to print or appease their constituents.  But this mysticism should non occur on Government belongings or hold upwardly paid for yesteryear American citizens.  The separation of Church as well as State is vital to our Democracy.

Diplomacy Works, Fifty-Fifty For Tyrants

President Trump in addition to his Administration are basking inwards the issue of iii American prisoners past times Democratic People's South Korea in addition to inwards the prospect of an upcoming pinnacle amongst the North Korean dictator.  While many of us who despise Trump applaud this shift toward diplomacy, nosotros rest unconvinced that the President's nation of war mongering in addition to populace ridicule of Kim Jong-un had anything to produce amongst this breakthrough.  On the other hand, to a greater extent than intense sanctions, joined past times China, clearly had an impact.

Both Trump in addition to Kim Jong-un are power-hungry narcissists who feed on attending in addition to punish those who turn down to proclaim their loyalty.  Fortunately, hither inwards the U.S., the Legislative in addition to Judicial Branches hold Trump inwards check; otherwise, nosotros would apace witness the ascent of King Trump in addition to the decimation of both human rights in addition to liberty of the press.

On a to a greater extent than positive note, the electrical flow scenario reinforces the fact that diplomacy tin work, fifty-fifty when dealing amongst a ruthless regime; though the results rest uncertain, it is a far ameliorate selection than armed forces intervention.  Unfortunately, our impulsive President has simultaneously blown upwards the nuclear understanding amongst Islamic Republic of Iran in addition to continues to threaten his perceived enemies, unusual in addition to domestic.

Racists United

Why is President Trump failing to denounce the overtly racist tweet of Rosanne Barr?  Simply put, racists stimulate got each other's back.

Besides, our Racist inward Chief relies on a base of operations that manifests racist tendencies; many (if non most) of his supporters harbor negative sentiments toward those who are non similar themselves.  This fact explains their anti-immigrant fervor in addition to their lack of reply to police line brutality.  If he is to remain inward office, Trump needs to retain the back upward of these relatively uneducated in addition to close-minded citizens.

Herein lies an chance to accept dorsum our commonwealth from the Trump Administration.  The Democratic Leadership must mobilize Americans who loathe such racism inward improver to those who are take away affected yesteryear racist policies.  Unfortunately, those who spend upward racism, inward all its forms, may non hold upward every bit large a grouping every bit we'd similar to believe.

Tolerating Trump

Those Americans who back upwards President Trump are either uneducated or enamored with his policies.  The latter include his anti-immigration stance, his overt racism, his revenue enhancement cuts for corporations together with the wealthy together with his whorl dorsum of regulations related to manufacture together with the environment.

But fifty-fifty if they back upwards such policies, i wonders how they tolerate his incessant lying, his attraction to dictators, his unsmooth speak together with behaviour together with his develop on on republic at habitation together with abroad.  One tin get hitched with conservative principles without attacking the press, the Judicial Branch together with the Intelligence Services.  Unfortunately, inwards Trump's case, his narcissism fuels impulsive tweets together with decisions that diminish American leadership, ridicule our Allies together with threaten both human rights together with private liberty across the globe.

It is extremely disturbing that roughly Republican Congressmen together with Congresswomen are willing to tolerate Trump's behaviour inwards lodge to force their conservative agenda; statesmanship is rare alongside their ranks.  While Trump destroys our Democracy, our environs together with our relationships with democratic Allies, they tow the business to protect their ain re-election.  America is no longer a beacon of judge together with freedom.  

Governing Yesteryear Scripture

Defending the Trump Administration's policy to course children from their parents at the U.S.A. border, Attorney General Sessions quoted the Bible, using a passage from Romans that instructs citizens to obey their government.  This depression indicate inwards the Administration's tenure is disturbing on together with then many levels.

First of all, efforts to defend that immoral policy deserve condemnation yesteryear anyone alongside a shred of humanity inwards their soul; capable of abolishing this outrageous utilisation alongside a stroke of his pen (or a elementary telephone call), Trump chooses to role it equally a political football, blaming the policy on Democrats.  Secondly, the role of Scripture to justify immoral behavior, spell recurrent throughout the shape of human history, is both ludicrous together with inappropriate; a quotation from the Bible tin last flora to back upward near whatever belief or behaviour together with mysticism has no house inwards the creation together with enforcement of federal legislation.

Once again, religious mysticism has reared its ugly head, this fourth dimension through the rima oris of our Attorney General, the ane soul who should last particularly committed to the separation of Church together with State.  But the Trump Administration pays niggling attending to our Constitution together with has repeatedly favored mysticism over morality together with science. 

Memoryland

Back inwards Cincinnati for a wedding, I am constantly reminded of my past times equally nosotros move almost the city.  Born in addition to raised here, I lastly left afterwards graduating from medical schoolhouse in addition to returned for entirely a few years when our kids were young.

Nevertheless, memories are powerful products of the human brain, oftentimes triggered past times sensory stimuli such equally sights, sounds in addition to smells.  Of course, my household town is loaded amongst sights that unleash memories, including certainly roads, buildings, neighborhoods in addition to natural landscapes.  Most of these memories mightiness live classified equally pleasant nostalgia simply about exhume painful or tragic events.

While habitation on our past times is mostly unproductive, the connections provided past times retentivity lend perspective to our lives in addition to offering insight into how nosotros became who nosotros are.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 trip downward retentivity lane (or through a memory-laden city) tin live both enjoyable in addition to enlightening.

Giving Inward To Mysticism

Most humans laissez passer inwards to mysticism.  Their religious faith is the production of a lack of education, guilt instilled during childhood or intellectual laziness; inwards many if non most cases, all 3 factors are involved.

The election of Donald Trump was the termination of greed in addition to mysticism inwards America.  The wealthy were looking for taxation breaks in addition to deregulation spell his religious base of operations was fueled past times their opposition to abortion, their racist in addition to provincial tendencies in addition to their distrust of science.  This latter group, devout believers, produce non worry near the political, environmental or international consequences of Trump's proclamations; they pose their trust inwards God.

Mysticism is non a benign human trait.  Since the days of Copernicus in addition to Galileo, it has been an enemy of scientific discipline in addition to a threat to human rights.  Even today, it threatens both the welfare of human culture in addition to the wellness of natural ecosystems.  To laissez passer inwards to mysticism is to laissez passer upwardly on truth.

Flashback Postal Service Ix

While I convey oftentimes expressed my disdain for organized organized faith inward this blog, I detect myself agreeing alongside Pope Francis this week.  His announcement that the conk penalty must hold out abolished, though based on his faith to a greater extent than than other factors, echoes a postal service of mine from Feb of 2014.

See: The Death of Capital Punishment

The Threat Of Provincialism

President Trump's election was, inwards large part, the resultant of his hope to enact policies that focus purely on the welfare of Americans.  Many of those who supported his populist message were looking out for their ain welfare, placing it higher upwardly the welfare of humans inwards general.

Such provincialism is particularly rigid inwards rural areas in addition to pocket-size towns, where residents tend to hold out like-minded in addition to where a distrust of the Federal Government is particularly strong.  Though many rely on subsidies (e.g. farm supports) in addition to plough to the Federal Government when natural disasters destroy their homes or threaten their livelihoods, they detest the liberal politics of urban centers.

Were this provincialism express to regional politics, it mightiness hold out amusing.  But the welfare of our species in addition to the wellness of our surroundings depend upon cooperation throughout our province in addition to across the globe.  We cannot effectively bargain alongside climate change, pandemics, poverty, environmental pollution in addition to human rights yesteryear focusing alone on our local community in addition to personal welfare.  Provincialism is selfish, close-minded and, inwards the long run, self-destructive. 

The Liberal Press

President Trump, similar many other conservative politicians, oft ridicules "the liberal media."  Of course, our narcissist-in-chief likewise refers to their reporting equally "fake news" in addition to openly suggests that they are the "enemy of the people."

While I despise nearly everything that Trump does or says, I must grip that professional person journalists tend to live on liberal.  After all, they are well-educated, worldly individuals, students of history in addition to well-informed on social issues.  Journalists are mostly open-minded in addition to tolerant, strongly devoted to costless spoken language in addition to human rights; to a greater extent than than most citizens, they are repeatedly exposed to the inequities inward human lodge in addition to empathise the vital business office that a costless press plays inward addressing those problems.

Unlike zealous politicians, who encounter the basis inward dark in addition to white, journalists appreciate the many shades of grayish in addition to operate to uncover the truth, wherever their search mightiness lead.  Truth, inward turn, is the enemy of zealots in addition to they fearfulness (and thence denigrate) those who convey it to light.  Fortunately, the harsh rhetoric in addition to threats that come upwards from Trump in addition to his admirers volition non prevail inward this country.

The Published Word

Published writing, whether inwards the score of literature, a intelligence article, an essay, a spider web log post or an email, must hold upwardly owned yesteryear the author.  After all, it volition hold upwardly a permanent tape of that person's ideas, experience, convictions as well as philosophy.

Those inwards the draw of piece of job organisation of writing (authors, journalists, bloggers, etc.) come upwardly to sympathize this fact as well as personally read as well as re-read their textile earlier it is published.  Subsequent to that publication, their writing (and its implications regarding the author) volition oft hold upwardly questioned or criticized as well as may boot the bucket provender for lawsuits or diverse forms of social persecution.  In that respect, the willingness to attain published content (whether fictional or not) requires a sure enough score of courage.

Unfortunately, those who pose out via email, text or tweet, attain non oft sympathize the permanence as well as potential consequences of their comments.  Then at that spot are those who pose out anonymously, refusing to guide maintain personal responsibleness for the content of their pronouncement.  Both of these scenarios are peculiarly disturbing for those of us who honour the published word.

The Delusion Of Simplicity

Nothing of number inwards life is simple.  Surely, no 1 would debate that honey or personal relationships are uncomplicated.  And who would advise that parenting is unproblematic or that their career has been devoid of complications?  To imply that at that topographic point are unproblematic solutions to our social ills or to the threats that nosotros impose on natural ecosystems is exceedingly naive.

Indeed, life itself is highly complex, having evolved into a vast array of species over the by 3.6 billion years.  Despite our technologic advancements, nosotros nonetheless create non fully empathize the countless biochemical processes that back upwardly life as well as are far from eliminating the many diseases that threaten its existence.

Those who offering unproblematic solutions to the problems that aspect individuals, human gild or our environs are delusional, seemingly unaware that all interventions bring potential side effects as well as unforeseen consequences; most of these individuals are poorly educated as well as prone toward mysticism.  Our Universe, our planet, our civilization, our relationships, our bodies as well as our natural environs are far to a greater extent than complex as well as interconnected than most humans appreciate; at that topographic point is cypher unproblematic nearly them.

Fall Without Football

Watching college football game is amid my earliest memories, gathered only about the dark in addition to white amongst my manly somebody rear in addition to uncles, enjoying both the snacks in addition to their beer-fueled banter.  Throughout high schoolhouse in addition to college, that designing continued every bit I joined friends on Sabbatum afternoons to scout the games in addition to indulge inward our favorite beverages.

My married adult woman in addition to I convey too honored that tradition over the years, enjoying the pageantry in addition to the legendary announcers (Jackson, Lundquist et al.) every bit much every bit the games themselves; however, other than her devotion to the Wisconsin Badgers, nosotros convey non been avid fans of whatever given teams.  Long disturbed past times serious injuries suffered inward the advert of schoolhouse pride in addition to big money, nosotros convey lost our enthusiasm for college football game every bit the prove of sports-related CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) has larn impossible to ignore.

Despite the enjoyment that college football game has provided over the years, nosotros tin no longer lend our back upward past times assist games or watching them on television.  This volition live on our offset autumn without football.

See also:  Modern Gladiators in addition to Brain Trauma Season

Treating Dementia

This afternoon, I attended a conference on the diagnosis in addition to handling of dementia.  Several crucial points were made, including the importance of an accurate diagnosis (only 65% of cases are genuinely due to Alzheimer's Disease).  Furthermore, a diversity of treatable weather condition may campaign dementia-like symptoms (alcohol abuse, depression, certainly vitamin deficiencies, slumber disorders, toxins, hypothyroidism in addition to hyperparathyroidism, amidst others) and, for these, curative measures are available.

Advances inward genomics in addition to biomarker technology scientific discipline may assistance amongst early on diagnosis, in addition to a salubrious life fashion (a Mediterranean diet, regular aerobic practice in addition to tobacco avoidance) may diminish the incidence in addition to progression of Alzheimer's Disease.  While certainly medications may alter the severity in addition to cast of dementia, curative treatments are non available at this request (though ongoing question studies offering hope).

What was non discussed at this conference (and a dependent area to a greater extent than ofttimes than non avoided past times physicians at this phase of human enlightenment) is the selection of assisted suicide for end-stage dementia patients.  This grouping of diseases, which rob individuals of their involve heed in addition to their dignity, house a bully bargain of stress on caretakers in addition to a tremendous fiscal burden on families in addition to on social club equally a whole.  Should a dementia patient, spell withal capable of making decisions, asking this intervention at a given request inward their illness progression, I, for one, strongly back upwards their correct to transcend amongst dignity.

See: Thoughts on Assisted Suicide 

Love Songs

We oft talk of "Love Songs" every bit ane category of music.  But when y'all mean value most it, almost all pop, stone together with province songs could hold out categorized every bit such; fifty-fifty the neat bulk of instrumental music (including jazz together with classical) has been inspired past times that emotion.  Exceptions appear to hold out express to secular vacation tunes together with commercial jingles.

Most of our pop music is devoted to the joy of love, the pursuit of love, the complications of dearest or the loss of love.  That dearest may need roughly other person, a pet, a house (including nature), an action or a mystical being, with less mutual subjects.

It is no wonder that the most complex together with intense human emotion has spawned together with then much creativity.  After all, zip is to a greater extent than of import inwards our lives.

Flooding Together With Federal Policy

As nosotros witness the tragic flooding from Hurricane Florence along the Southeast Coast, nosotros are reminded of the destruction inwards Houston caused past times Hurricane Harvey in addition to the repeated jump flooding along around American Rivers (the Red River of the Northern Plains comes right away to mind).

Having decided that inundation insurance is a coin losing proposition, person insurance companies possess got backed away from such coverage, donating that pick to the Federal Government.  As is oft the case, the USA Government accepted the challenge in addition to is at nowadays billions of dollars inwards the ruby (even earlier the destruction caused past times Hurricane Florence).

One wonders whether Federal dollars would hold out ameliorate spent buying upward properties on floodplains in addition to barrier islands in addition to assisting alongside local engineering efforts rather than encouraging insurance holders to rebuild inwards those flood-prone areas.  After all, global warming is threatening coastal communities every bit body of body of water levels ascension in addition to volition probable intensify the ability of tropical storms in addition to hurricanes.  We cannot hold back leadership from the electrical flow Administration only both the fiscal in addition to climate realities volition eventually forcefulness the Federal Government to convey a to a greater extent than intelligent approach to this recurrent in addition to worsening problem.

Praise For Christine Ford

On behalf of all Americans who assist nigh women's rights together with equal justice, I desire to commend doctor Christine Blasey Ford for her courage.  Despite her personal fearfulness together with anxiety together with the threats made to her family, she was willing to seem earlier the Senate Judiciary Committee to bill Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual laid upwards on during their high schoolhouse years.  Her testimony was calm, credible and, inward my opinion, 100% convincing.

On his part, Judge Kavanaugh delivered an emotional opening controversy but together with hence resorted to dismissive, confrontational together with disrespectful behaviour when questioned past times Senate Democrats.  Repeatedly reminding the Senators together with the TV audience of his professional person accomplishments together with his regular church building attendance, the guess sure pleased Trump together with his conservative base of operations but probable failed to convince most Independents together with Democrats of his innocence.  An innocent private would non ridicule those entrusted amongst assessing his fitness for the Supreme Court, he would non respond unproblematic questions amongst rambling soliloquies together with he would welcome an independent investigation to clear his name.

America needs to a greater extent than patriots similar Christine Ford together with fewer pompous, entitled white males similar Kavanaugh; she certainly earned my gratitude together with admiration, regardless of the Senate vote.  No doubt, the many women who convey experienced sexual laid upwards on or harassment part my sentiments.

Truth In Addition To Politics

Almost every human endeavor relies on truth (at to the lowest degree equally defined yesteryear the latest scientific evidence) inwards monastic country to offering products together with services that are safe, reliable together with competitive.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few careers (fiction writing comes to mind) may live on independent of truth spell some, peculiarly those that peddle mysticism (e.g. organized religion), are threatened yesteryear science-based truth.

Politicians, on the other hand, keep a fuzzy human relationship alongside truth.  Focused on the demands of their constituents together with on their ain re-election, they alternative together with guide what truths they publicly believe.  Those who stand upward for regions alongside coal, gas together with crude oil production play downward testify of global warming spell those who hail from agricultural areas are abhor to admit the environmental pollution that results from farming together with ranching activity; many other examples could live on offered.

Worse yet, around politicians seem willing to prevarication or to post away the truth inwards monastic country to farther their political or personal agenda.  Our President offers an extreme trial together with the ongoing efforts to elect Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court unwrap that Conservatives (including Evangelicals) are willing to overlook faux testimony inwards monastic country to hit their ultimate goals.  Of course, truth volition eventually prevail merely harm (perhaps irreversible) to our government, to our surroundings together with to our social club may occur beforehand.

Natural Solutions To Climate Change

While our President too his Administration turn down the testify too ramifications of global warming, nosotros must produce what nosotros tin to protect our abode planet for hereafter generations too for all life that shares Earth's ecosystems.

Though nosotros are all aware of efforts to wean mankind from fossil fuel, it is every bit good of import to empathise that nature tin play a major purpose inwards reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide.  For an overview of this concept too how y'all powerfulness participate, see the websites of Nature4Climate too The Forgotten Solution, sponsored inwards portion past times The Nature Conservancy.

Of course, nosotros tin every bit good brand a deviation past times reducing our personal unloosen energy consumption, past times planting trees, past times supporting conservation groups and, almost importantly, past times voting Trump too other climate alter deniers out of office.