Savoring the snow and the cold.

Oh, where is winter going? I have this delusion. That winter in Minnesota really lasts for only 4 months. November through February. Of course, that isn't true. We can get snow and cold for 6 or 7 months. But hey, often there are relatively warm days in October and March. And it's in March that I generally escape for a few weeks to Arizona. To take spring training with the Chicago Cubs. So really, today, at the beginning of the New Year, I'm about halfway through my winter sojourn. Yes, it's a nice way to look at winter. Time is running out. I had better savor the snow and the cold while it lasts. --Jim Broede

More proof that I am religious.

I think I'm religious. In the unconventional sense. I like to fantasize. To believe in spirits. Even in an afterlife. I think it's romantic. To believe that life goes on forever. And I believe in love. And in destiny. But I don't believe what preachers and theologians tell me. I'm able to reach my own conclusions. I say to hell with orthodoxy. And to hell with organized religion. As for god -- well, I believe in something called god. Albeit, god is hard to define. Maybe impossible. But I like the notion of a creator. And a god of love. Seems to me that's what makes the world go round. Love. When I am in love, I am in Paradise. Nothing feels better than love. Maybe love more than anything else makes me religious. I'm not sure that I can fully define love. That would be a little like trying to define god. I suspect that a full understanding of love and god occurs only in a spiritual realm. In another dimension. Beyond the physical world. I think that anything I can imagine is possible. Absolutely no limits. Finest proof of that is me. The fact that I'm convinced that I'm real. Not just a figment of someone's imagination. I have real thoughts. Consciousness. Amazing. That I can even put this pondering into words. Meaningful words. At least, meaningful to me. And yes, I can even cultivate a loving relationship. And write a love letter every night. More proof that I am religious. --Jim Broede

...a sad commentary on society.

When I was a youngster, there were insane asylums. Mental institutions. Not any more. Or if there are, they are few and far between. Apparently, we believe in keeping the mentally ill in our local communities. In their families. Mixed in with the rest of society. I think that's fine to a degree. But I wish we had more mental institutions. Where the sickest of the mentally ill could go for treatment. Just like the physically ill go into hospitals. Well, there should be mental hospitals for treating mental diseases. And all this should be covered by our health insurance. We don't do enough for the mentally ill. We leave too many of 'em to cope pretty much on their own. Not a good idea. I think there's a stigma attached to mental illness. Sometimes, we like to keep it hush-hush. Like it's a shame. A disgrace. I think I know mentally ill people. And many of 'em don't seek treatment. Or even want to admit that they need help. Because of the shame. And that's the real shame. The feeling of shame. In recent years, I've been dealing with dementia patients. Many diagnosed with Alzheimer's. In so many ways, dementia is a mental illness. But we don't want to call it that. Because of the shame. But Alzheimer patients do strange things. Many of 'em don't even know what they're doing. In a sense, they are insane. With all the symptoms of mental illness. And they don't get the treatment they deserve. Because it's a mental affliction. If they had a physical illness such as cancer or heart disease, they'd probably get superb treatment, and superb understanding. But when they have Alzheimer's, they too often are treated like outcasts. Like weirdos. That's a sad commentary on society. --Jim Broede

I always find a way.

I think happiness is a choice. Available to virtually everyone. So, it's difficult understanding why so many people choose not to be happy. To be downright disgruntled. And depressed. I guess some of the so-called experts say it's due to a chemical imbalance. And that often the answer is taking a pill. An anti-depressant. But I have an inner yearning to be happy. I can't stand to be depressed or sad. It's against my nature. That annoys some people. Sad people. Some of 'em think it's very difficult being happy. Almost impossible. And here I am saying it's easy. Easy for me. Maybe I'm blessed. Because I can't stand being sad. I'm 73. And I'm estimating that in my entire life, I've probably been downright sad for a cumulative time of a year or so. Not a bad ratio. I've had to put up with one year of sadness. That leaves room for about 72 years of relative happiness. When I get in the doldrums, I don't push the panic button. But I do start asking myself, how do I get out of this funk? And I always find a way. --Jim Broede

...instead of a kick in the ass.

Let's end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and then continue to spend money as if we were at war. But let's spend it instead on domestic programs. On health care. And on public works projects, such as new bridges and new highways and new schools and new cultural centers and public transit. Yes, useful things. That's sure a lot better than spending billions of dollars daily on wars. Senseless and immoral wars. Maybe that'll put soldiers out of jobs. But with all the infrastructure projects, they can go to work rebuilding America. Instead of killing people in the name of patriotism. I admit, the American psyche contains a desire to invade countries. Well, if we can't cure that compulsion, let's redirect the invasion. And send in Peace Corps volunteers. To bring peace and prosperity to the entire world. That'll bring us goodwill, even from would-be terrorists. They'll laud our foreign policy and give us a pat on the back instead of a kick in the ass. --Jim Broede

I feel less like a baby.

Maybe exercise is good for a cold. That was the essence of an article I read earlier this week in the New York Times. Some doctors said that they keep on exercising, despite their colds. And that a couple of studies showed that the exercise generally doesn't have any ill-effects, and that it may even help one cope with the cold. And I believe it. I've often picked myself up out of bed and gone out and walked when I had a stuffy nose. And it made breathing easier. I'm more reluctant to exercise if I have a sore throat and a respiratory cold. But if it's a cold pretty much confined to sneezing and a runny nose -- well, exercise helps me feel better. I feel less like a baby. --Jim Broede

...when I was on automatic pilot.

I try to remind myself daily that I am an alive and functioning being. If I don't, I begin to wonder if I'm on automatic pilot. A robot. To really be productive, I have to be thinking. Aware of my existence. If not, I'd be too much like a dementia patient. So, I have a note posted on my refrigerator door. To remind myself that I'm alive and conscious. And often, when I'm out walking, I reassure myself that I am alive. And that I'm thinking. And sometimes, I take a break from walking and come in and write something like this. I've gone through stretches of weeks when I haven't stopped to actually reflect on being alive and conscious. Oh, I'm aware that I lived during that period. And I remember much of what happened. But I suspect we humans forget far more than we remember. And what we remember may be distorted recollections because we didn't remember it too well. That's one nice thing about being a writer. I can always look up what I was thinking yesterday or last week or last month. I have a record of it. However, I do find things I wrote 40 or 50 years ago and I don't remember writing it. Could be it was during a period when I was on automatic pilot. --Jim Broede

A mere mortal man, and not god.

I've learned to put some distance between me and the Chicago Bears football team. I keep pulling for 'em. But often I choose not to watch or listen to their games. Because I get too easily annoyed. Upset. Stressed. And that ain't good. The Bears are a mediocre team. Inept at times. They've lost some games they shouldn't have lost. And they've also won some that they shouldn't have won. They were outplayed. But they got lucky breaks. Anyway, here it is. The last Sunday of the regular season. And the Bears actually have a chance to finish 10-6 and qualify for the play-offs. It'll take some doing. Some luck, so to speak. First, they have to win their final game at Houston. And they need to have the Minnesota Vikings lose to the New York Giants. Which is a distinct possibility. But even if Minnesota wins, the Bears still have a chance to make the play-offs. If Dallas and Tampa Bay lose. That's an unlikely scenario. But hey, sometimes the Bears get lucky. Lucky to even get this far. Well, I could spend Sunday glued to TV or the Internet, and keep track of all those games. But I won't. Because it'll be too aggravating. Wishing to control the outcome of things over which I have absolutely no control. So, I'll do other things. Pleasant, non-stressful things. And I'll check what happened after I'm sure it's all over. And I'll accept it. Proving that I am a mere mortal man, and not god. --Jim Broede

Just imagine.

The imagination. Next to being in love. The imagination is the best thing to have, I suspect. Or maybe it's only third best. Good health. Maybe that's equally important. Combine those three ingredients, and it's a nice concoction. Makes life pretty wonderful. Enough to make one feel good. I'd hate to surrender any of these three things. It would make life less bearable. I know that the imagination can be positive or negative. I think I have a positive imagination. Maybe that's because love and good health have been factored in. But even when things occasionally go bad, I try to compensate. With my imagination. I'm often able to salvage good from bad. Some people occasionally tell me that's wrong. That bad is bad. I don't buy that. For instance, my Jeanne had a bad marriage. And it failed. But because Jeanne was divorced, she became available. I found her. And we had a happy marriage for almost 40 years. Until Jeanne died. Jeanne had Alzheimer's. And that was bad, too. But it also was an opportunity to solidify our love. To put love to the test. And I think we passed the test. That's good, or so I imagine. Because I'm happy at the moment. --Jim Broede

My dream: Ambassador to Italy.

Wow! Maybe my vote will have finally counted. The recount continues in the race for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Initially, Republican incumbent Norm Coleman appeared to be the winner. By 218 votes out of 3 million cast. Incredibly close. But as the recount nears the end, Democrat challenger and comedian Al Franken has forged ahead by 48 votes. Wouldn't surprise anyone if he eventually wins by a single vote. And I delivered the decisive vote for Franken. So if he wins, he can thank me personally. Maybe by trying to get me appointed ambassador to Italy. --Jim Broede

She appreciates 'em all.

I have a remarkably well-adjusted granddaughter. Her parents split. The marriage didn't last. And there was hard feeling between the parents. Not the best environment for their daughter. But my granddaughter made the best of the situation. She maintained a good relationship with her mother. And with her father, too. In a sense, she set the good example. That a marriage break-up doesn't have to be never-ending hostility. Everybody can still be decent to each other. My granddaughter doesn't point a finger of blame. She sees good in both her mother and father. She's sort of a unifying force. Caught between the two. And salvaging two good relationships. Actually, more than that. Because her mom and dad went on to second marriages. Rather happy ones, too. So my granddaughter has a step-father and a step-mother. She's able to double her pleasure. With two sets of parents. And she also doubles her sets of grandparents. On and on it goes. Really, she's blessed. And she knows it. My granddaughter appreciates 'em all. --Jim Broede

I felt hurried and harried.

I was dreaming this morning. Feeling a bit overwhelmed. As if I were meeting a deadline. And I wasn't doing a very good job of it. I was in a hurry. That makes me feel uncomfortable. Anything but relaxed. It was a relief to wake up. And know that it was only a dream. And I was able to tell myself I don't have to hurry through life. I can take my good-natured time. Especially now that I'm retired. I set my own schedule. But yesterday was Christmas Eve. And I had social obligations. And I couldn't do everything I wanted to do. And I found myself hurrying. From this place to that place. And I didn't have time for my usual routine. Like my 6-mile daily walk. Instead, I got in only 2 miles. And I had to do that at 10 in the evening after I got home. So, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I had the dream. I felt hurried and harried yesterday. But now I'm slowing down. Consciously. I'm gonna walk at least 10 miles today. And at a leisurely pace. No hurry. --Jim Broede

If I didn't think, I wouldn't be.

I think I'm becoming a thinker. Maybe a shallow thinker. But a thinker nevertheless. I like to spend much of my day thinking. About what I'm gonna think about. Kind of funny, isn't it? Today I'm thinking about Rodin's sculpture. The Thinker. I think that's what I'll do. Pose. Like a thinker. And see what thoughts come to mind. The more I think about it, the more I think I was put on Earth to think. Think about why I'm here. I think of myself as a romantic idealist, a free-thinker, a liberal and a lover. I think that's what I am. But can't be sure. Seems to me I change from day to day. Even from moment to moment. I think I can be lots of things. Fill lots of roles. Because I have an imagination. Maybe that's what thinking is. The exercise of the imagination. I think, therefore I am. If I didn't think, I wouldn't be. --Jim Broede

...the role of a generalist.

I had a liberal arts education. And never took journalism courses. The idea was to become a generalist, of sorts. Knowing something about lots of things. But not necessarily an expert on a particular subject. Back in the late 1950s and the 1960s, that was deemed the best way to get into journalism, to become a writer for newspapers. Seemed like a good idea. And I don't regret it. But times have changed. Now many of the people who hire journalists encourage specialization. Become that expert on one subject. Well, I'm retired. So I don't have to start over. I'll settle for being a generalist. I like to dabble in all sorts of subjects. Politics. Sports. Economics. Philosophy. Psychology. History. Travel. I'm curious. As a writer, I allow people in all walks of life to teach me. I interview 'em. And have them tell me about their expertise. But in laymen's terms. Words that I can understand. I'd feel comfortable with a physicist or a doctor or a theologian or an astronomer or a politician or a baseball player. All kinds of people. That's what I liked about writing for newspapers. I'd take on any kind of assignment. Even if I didn't know much about the subject. It was an opportunity to learn. And to write about the subject in ways that ordinary people without expertise could understand. I think that's the role of a generalist. --Jim Broede

...like being with god.

I think it's possible to stop time. More or less. I do it often. By reliving a precious moment. I savor the moment over and over and over. I may even put it into writing. Which makes it rather concrete. Sometimes, when I am living a moment to the fullest, I'd swear that time has stopped. Because I'm completely absorbed in the moment. Lost. Nothing else exists. Nothing else matters. It's a nice way to live. It would be wonderful if all of life were like that. Of course, it isn't. But the older I get, the more I'm able to capture the moment. Maybe it's a hypnotic state. Maybe I transcend my being, my physical existence, and arrive in another dimension. Something akin to the spiritual. Paradise. I suspect that god lives outside of time. Therefore, a timeless dimension must exist. And I'd like to think that we humans would have access to timelessness. If only we knew how to get there. Maybe it's impossible while we exist in the physical world. But I have a feeling that I am touching it from the outside. And if I ever get inside, it will be like being with god. --Jim Broede

...a moon when there's no moon.

We got another overnight blanket of snow. It's starting to really pile up. We get 4 or 5 inches one night, and 4 or 5 more the next. I must go out and shovel the driveway. And go out and about. The exercise will be good. And sometimes, I just go into town without a real mission. Other than just connecting with people. Not knowing exactly what I'm gonna do. Just wanting to be on the move. This snow is different from the last. A light, fluffy snow. No drifting because we had virtually no wind. Really an easy snow to shovel. The snow started around midnight. I couldn't see the lights in town across the lake. But today, the visibility is good. Clouds. No sunshine. But still bright because of the reflective light off the snow. The snow even lightens up the night. Almost as if there's a moon when there's no moon. --Jim Broede

So many different meanings.

When I am in a European country, or any place for that matter, I like to observe people. Out on the streets. Or sitting in a restaurant. Or at a museum. And I marvel at how we look so much alike. I mean the mix. Could be in Italy. Or Germany. Or France. And it almost seems as if I'm at home. Because these are pretty much the same faces I see at home. Oh, the setting is different. Usually, more Old World like. Makes me aware that I'm in a different place. And I suppose if I were in China or Indonesia, the majority of faces would be a bit different. But not that much. Because I still see those faces in America. But in lesser amounts. Of course, I'm also aware of the difference in language. And maybe that's what keeps us apart. We don't always speak each others' language. But then I find that's true in America, too. Even when we speak English to each other, we really aren't speaking the same language. So many different meanings. --Jim Broede

It's just a game.

Football is a brutal sport. And I don't really know why I continue to follow the game. As a fan. Of the Chicago Bears. Maybe it's because I got hooked when I was a youngster. On the Bears. More than on football. I really don't watch much football. Only the Bears. And even though they are playing an important game tonight, I'm not gonna watch. Mostly, because I want to relax. And I get hyped up. Far too much. When watching the Bears. Because I'm pulling for 'em to win. And if they screw up in a big game, I get annoyed. Disgruntled. Upset. Which is stupid. Maybe even idiotic. The Bears need to win. Against the rival Green Bay Packers. To keep their hopes alive for getting into the playoffs. The Bears are just a mediocre team this season. So maybe they don't even deserve to be in the playoffs. But one always hopes that your team turns into a Cinderella late in the season. It happens occasionally. Last season, for instance. The New York Giants barely qualified for the playoffs. And they became the Super Bowl champs. Well, that won't happen to the Bears. But still, it would be a nice achievement to make the playoffs. Especially, when one wasn't expected to. It's gonna be a very, very brutal game tonight. Because of the weather. A wind chill of 25 below zero in Chicago. Brutal. Brutal. Brutal. I'll check the score. Maybe after 11. When the game should be safely over. I really want to know what happened. Out of curiosity. If the Bears win, I'll go to bed happy. If they lose -- well, I'll still go to bed happy. Yes, I'm learning to put football in perspective. It's just a game. --Jim Broede

...never too cold for a walk.

I was out walking this morning. Bright sunshine. Temperature hovering around zero. A guy in a van coming toward me. Passed me. Turned around. Stopped. And asked if I wanted a ride. "No," I said, "I'm just out for a walk." He said, "Awfully cold for a walk." I smiled. Because I know it's never too cold for a walk. --Jim Broede

About this thing called love.

When I was young, it was difficult visualizing being in my 70s or 80s. Thought I'd never make it. But here I am. At 73, and counting. Lord knows how much longer I'll last. But I marvel at having made it this far. It's a good feeling. But in my younger days, I thought maybe it would be a miserable time. Psychologically. Because I would be so aware that I don't have much time left. That I've already lived the vast majority of my life. But I'm surprised. I don't worry about it. Because I'm learning how to live. One day at a time. In the now. I don't get too far ahead of myself. Or behind myself, for that matter. I make the most of today. I've learned to love. And to know that's the most important thing in life. When I was young, I didn't know that. Either too stupid. Or too naive. I also put things off. Until tomorrow. Or next week. Or next year. Now I live. To the fullest. Which means, happily. And in love. With someone. But if not with someone, with something. In other words, a worthwhile life. I know that's why I was born. Why I was put on this Earth. To be a lover. To taste love. In every fiber of my body. In my spirit. In my soul. If I hadn't lived this long, Maybe I wouldn't have known it. So, I'm a lucky one. Blessed. And if I live another 10 or 20 years, maybe I'll know more. Heck, I'd like to live forever...so I could keep learning. About this thing called love. --Jim Broede

I can't live without love.

In a way, I consider myself rich. No, not monetarily. Rather, rich in the happiness quotient. In that I'm in love. And I've been in love most of my life. Oh, I'm comfortable. In terms of good health and other creature comforts. I'm not poor and destitute by any means. I have a nice home. On a lake. And enough money to pay the bills. And do a little bit of traveling. I guess I'd be considered a member of the middle class. I get by. I'm no millionaire. Not even close. But I am very fortunate. In that I had a very happy marriage. To Jeanne. For almost 40 years. Until Jeanne died two years ago. But life goes on. And I'm in love. Again. Just seems so natural to be in love. I'd rather have that than money. If someone told me I could have millions of dollars if I'd just give up love in my life -- I wouldn't take it. Love is by far the most valuable commodity in the world. Oh, I suppose I could live reasonably happy in solitude. But still, I'd need to find an outlet for love. In nature. In writing. In something. I can live without money. Without monetary and material richness. But I can't live without love. --Jim Broede

Keeping the rich richer than ever.

Personally, I'm for letting rich people stagnate. I don't want them to become poor. Or even middle income. I just don't want them to become richer at the expense of the poor and the middle classes. Here in America, we've worked on the principle that it's good to reward the rich by allowing them to get obscenely rich. Under the premise that much of their wealth will trickle down to the lower and middle classes. I don't believe it's been working that way. Evidenced by the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. The rich people in positions of power would like us to think it's working. But it ain't. Some of us have been duped into thinking it works. Because that's what we are told. But that's baloney. Even some of the rich fall for the bait. Bernard Madoff had a Ponzi scheme going. He told rich investors that he could make them easy money. Well, it turns out he made himself easy money. Like $50 billion. By robbing from the unquestioning wealthy to line his pockets. So many moneymaking schemes in America. Little wonder that Wall Street is collapsing. And big corporations are going out of business. But only after executives got their multi-million dollar bonuses. And now many of these corporations are coming to the government to ask for bailouts. With money from all of us taxpayers. Yes, the poor. The middle class. Everybody. We're all gonna pitch in to save the asses of some of the wealthy. Some of that bailout money is being used for so-called golden parachutes for executives who bolixed up everything in the first place. Yes, in America there's a scheme for everything. Especially a scheme to keep a handful of the elite rich richer than ever. --Jim Broede

Dancing alone.

In lieu of my usual walking last night, I shoveled snow for an hour. The entire driveway. Including some big snowdrifts. Everytime I exercise I marvel at the therapeutic benefits. Motion. Motion. Motion. The human body was made to move. Often in a rhythmic way. A nice, slow easy rhythm last night. Everything synchronized. I'm really no good at dancing. Why, I don't fully know. But when I walk or run or shovel snow or rake leaves -- well, I guess that's my form of dance. I'm doing it myself. Without a partner. Maybe that's the difference. If I take to a dance floor, maybe I have a different sense of rhythm. I'm dragged out there by a partner. I have to dance alone. And in solitude. No audience. Kind of like the way I write. Alone. Even when I wrote for newspapers. In a horrible setting. In a newsroom. So many, many disturbances. But I had to learn to shut it all out. I had to imagine that I was in the middle of an enchanted forest. Alone. Then I could write. I think I would write best on a desert island. And maybe in that setting, I could also dance. Yes, dance the dance of life. --Jim Broede

...sanity and purpose to life.

I think the world has gone crazy. Or so it seems. At least, it's too confusing for me to figure out. Maybe that's reason for me to withdraw. Into my cocoon. For protection. That way, I can create my own little world, so to speak. Because if I peek outside, I'm confused. Oh, I try not to be terrified. Because I just don't understand what's happening. All the political and social and economic turmoil. I have theories about what's wrong. Mostly, that people are crazy. I try to convince myself that many of 'em are nice crazy. But then, I also see many, many who are dangerously crazy. Absolutely looney. They need to be locked up. But as long as they are on the loose -- well, I find protection in my cocoon. I make it sort of a fortress. I need time to try to figure it all out. Maybe never will. All I know is that over a lifetime I have been able to fall in love. Twice now, really. That's my link to the outer world. Maybe it's the only thing that makes me think that there's sanity and purpose to life. --Jim Broede

Hey, it's the nature of things.

In a way, I'm happy to see that the Illinois governor won't resign. And that he's gonna fight the charges against him. I suspect what he'll do in court is claim he never did what he said he was gonna do. He proposed. He threatened. And he also may assert that what he was doing is done every day. In the halls of congress. And even in small towns. That's the nature of politics. At every level. And that he just happens to be more open about it. Mostly, political favors are implied. You help me. I'll help you. Do me a favor. I'll do you a favor. Like friends. People do it in business. In the private sector. So, why even feign being surprised that it's done in the public sector? Corruption is rampant. Throughout our economic, social and political systems. Hey, it's the nature of things. --Jim Broede

How I became me. Today's me.

I want to be me. Not anyone else. If I were someone else, I wouldn't have the same consciousness. I would be different. Oh, I'm not totally satisfied with me. I can be better. I can make improvements. But I want to do it within my being. I think I was born with a particular soul or spirit or consciousness. I don't want that taken away from me. And made something totally different. I don't want to be remade from scratch, so to speak. I recognize that I have shortcomings. And some talents, too. Some assets, let's say. I remember me, to some degree, when I was 5-years-old and in the kindergarten. I'm not that boy any more. But I have evolved from the consciousness that existed 68 years ago. I recognize that. I'm aware of it. I know that was me. At that time. I've expanded my consciousness since then. And I'm not sure where I'm headed. Could be that when I die I will no longer exist. Period. I may be totally unaware that I ever lived. But if I had a choice, I'd rather retain a consciousness, an awareness of my past. --Jim Broede

And tell me, at whose expense?

It's one scandal after another. In America's unfettered capitalist money-making system. Except now lots of people are losing money. Because there was no regulation. Little, if any, oversight. Really, capitalists can't be trusted. Because they're so greedy. It's alleged now that financier Bernard Madoff bilked investors of $50 billion. Yes, that's billions, not mere millions. Imagine that. The insatiable appetite of Madoff. He couldn't settle for a mere $1 billion. Yes, folks, the scandals come one after another. You've been reading about 'em for years now. Wall Street is going under. The banks and lending institutions and insurance companies are folding. The Detroit automobile industry is flirting with bankruptcy. Investors are losing money all over the place. Because the system was allowed to run rampant. The big money interests bought their way into the seat of power. Washington. They bought deregulation. The regulators looked the other way. The battle cry was for less and less government. Government was portrayed as the enemy. Get government out of our lives, they bellowed. Give free enterprise free rein. It's the American way. The righteous way. Yes, everybody should be allowed to make a buck. Even $50 billion. And tell me, at whose expense? --Jim Broede

...resolving our differences.

I see some of my liberal left friends are hot and bothered and miffed because Barack Obama has picked a very conservative preacher to deliver the invocation at his inaugural. Hell, it doesn't matter to me. He could pick anyone. Even George Bush. And it wouldn't matter to me. It's insignificant. Anyway, that's the nature of Obama. To invite everybody into the tent. Wasn't all that long ago that Obama was being criticized by the right wing conservatives for associating with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Who gives a damn? I want my president to associate with anyone he pleases. That's the way to learn. By associating with all kinds. Not just with people of your own ilk. Listen to what they have to say. Try to figure out where you have common ground. Keep an open mind. Maybe they'll sway you. Or better yet, maybe you'll sway 'em. I'd even encourage Obama to sit down and talk to Osama bin Laden. Or with the devil himself. Yes, it would be nice if we could understand each other. That's a good start at resolving our differences. Maybe even without having to go to war. --Jim Broede

It's no big deal any more.

The Illinois governor. So he was gonna sell a seat in the U.S. Senate to the highest bidder. Big deal. Doesn't surprise me. Political favors beget political favors. That's the way the game is played. Unfortunately. I see a recent poll ranked Illinois as the 18th most corrupt state in the nation. Minnesota, where I live, is supposed to be one of the cleanest. Minnesota nice. If we cheat, we try to cheat in a nice way. So people don't notice. You don't even know you've been cheated. It's more open in Illinois. And the governor will do a nice song and dance and tell us he only talked about cheating. That he really didn't do it. So he should get off scott free. And he just might. If he has a good lawyer. And he's hired one of the best. That's the advantage of having lots of money. It's difficult for poor people to fight the system. The rich ones play the system to their advantage. When was the last time a rich man was executed in the USA? Only poor people get the death sentence. Because they can't hire a crafty lawyer to get 'em off. As it is, just about everybody in the U.S. Senate bought their way there. They're rich dudes. And they know how to raise money. Sometimes through chicanery. Or by collecting on political favors. And they stay in office by granting political favors themselves. Often in return for campaign contributions. It's so common that it's no big deal any more. --Jim Broede

Beyond the physical world.

I've had a cold. So I've spent more than the usual amount of time in bed. Figuring bed rest is better than no or little bed rest, especially when one has a virus. But there's such a thing as being in bed too long. I don't like it. I have a compulsion to be up and about. Moving. Exercising. I'd not live long if I were crippled. I have to be in motion to feel alive. Oh, I know that paralyzed people must make the best of it. Largely, by exercising their minds. But my mind wouldn't be right if I couldn't get physical exercise. And I mean exertion. I like to put strain on the muscles, on the flesh. I think that brings blood to my brain. Oxygen. Makes me clear-headed. There's something nice about being human. Being encased in a physical body. A protection for the spirit and the soul. But if I had a paralyzed body, I'd want out. I'd want to be able to free my spirit and my soul. So that it could soar into another dimension. Beyond the physical world. --Jim Broede

...can't even see over 'em.

We've had only 2 or 3 inches of snow over the past day or two. But the snowdrifts are 2 feet high in the driveway. That's one of the nice sculptured creations of Mother Nature. Doesn't take that much snow for drifting. Wind. Wind. Wind. Yes, wind-whipped snow and we have snowdrifts. Sometimes, 5 or 6 or 7-feet high. Like mountainous waves in the sea. Only these waves are solid. They remain intact for a long time. Until they melt. Or until they are shoveled or plowed. Oh, snow can take so many forms. I've often awakened in the frosty morning to snow-covered trees. Glistening from the bright sunlight. Like a scene out of Dr. Zhivago. Anyway, today I changed the scene a little bit. Shoveled the snowdrifts. So I could get out of the driveway. I keep adding to the snowbanks along the way. Some winters, I can't even see over 'em. --Jim Broede

...my faith in government.

I'm for bailing out the Detroit automakers. In essence, nationalizing 'em. I want the government to dictate what comes out of those plants. No more gas-guzzling vehicles. Instead, smaller cars that use little gas. And the primary mission should be to develop electric cars and to start manufacturing them in big numbers. Yes, government should take the lead. Show that it can be done. If private enterprise thinks it can do better than government -- well, then go ahead and try. And let's have government sponsor research projects into alternative fuels, such as hydrogen. I'm putting my faith in altruistic and well-run government rather than in the greedy, money-grubbing private sector. --Jim Broede

I'm sending my shoes to Iraq.

I liked it when an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at George Bush. Oh, I didn't want Bush to get hit or injured. He ducked the first shoe. And the Iraqi prime minister blocked the second shoe. I can understand the frustration of the Iraqi people. Including the journalist, who had family members killed during the war. Estimates range to more than 100,000 civilians killed so far. That affects lots of families. Mothers. Fathers. Children. Lives snuffed out by Bush's preemptive war. And it ain't over yet. Meanwhile, the journalist has been jailed. But I'd release him. And if George Bush had any sense of decency, he'd call for freeing the guy. Seems he's becoming a national hero. The following day, Iraqi citizens started pelting passing American troops with their shoes. I have some spare pairs of shoes. Think I'll send them to Iraq. Where they can be put to good use in case Bush makes another visit. --Jim Broede

...relieved that he lost.

I'm regaining some respect for John McCain. He wasn't the best of presidential campaigners. Sounded rather stupid and mean-spirited. But now I'm thinking that had to do with his handlers. McCain wasn't being his real self. He allowed Republican strategists to make a fool of him. Now McCain seems on his own again. A pretty decent guy. He's been a good loser. And seems willing to praise Barack Obama and to work for bipartisan solutions to the nation's economic problems. And best of all, McCain has hinted he won't support Sarah Palin for a future presidential run. Picking Palin for his running mate was one of his biggest blunders. Anyway, I get the feeling that McCain is relieved that he lost. He recognizes that being a senator from Arizona is a much easier and less stressful job than being president. --Jim Broede

I can read on a night walk.

I'm a night owl. I function better at night than during the day. Yes, I'm a slow starter. I customarily go to bed at 2 or 3 in the morning. Of course, I don't rise until 10 most days. Sometimes, I get by with only 5 or 6 hours of sleep. I got into this routine when Jeanne was in the nursing home. I would spend 8 to 10 hours with her. Daily. And I'd tuck her in bed between 9 and 10 most nights. Then I'd go home for my respite. I'd eat late. I'd write. And think. And relax. So I started getting up at 10. And make it over to the nursing home by 11. I'd feed Jeanne lunch and supper in her room. And often take her out and about in the wheelchair. Sometimes, all the way home in the wheelchair. A 6-mile roundtrip. Before I retired, I wrote for newspapers. And it wasn't unusual to attend night meetings. So I got used to working at nights. And going to bed late. Maybe that's how I initially became night-oriented. Oh, I like all times of day. But I think I flow better in the evening. Used to be that I'd read in bed at night. Maybe for hours in my younger days. But now I rarely stay awake with a book for more than 15 minutes. I still read. But often I get most of my reading done while I'm walking. I can walk and read at the same time. Along routes where there isn't very much traffic. I have a battery-powered reading light that attaches to a book. So I can read on a night walk, too. But I rarely do that. --Jim Broede

...all bad hombres.

I heard George Bush described last night as a Manichean warrior. On Bill Moyers Journal. On PBS television. Moyers' guest was Glenn Greenwald, a constitutional lawyer.

Anyway. Greenwald said the idea of being a Manichean comes from a third century BC philosophy, or religion, that basically understood the world as a never-ending battle betwen the forces of pure good and the forces of pure evil. A simplistic idea. Early Christianity rejected it. Pointing to the complexities of many moral ambiguities.

Bush and many of his close advisors view the world through the lens of pure good and pure evil. Yes, black and white.

"It means, " Greenwald said, "that anything you (the Bushies) do, no matter how limitless, no matter how brutal and immoral, is inherently justifiable because it's being enlisted for service of the good." Thus the mentality that lies at Bush's decision to start the war in Iraq and to establish torture camps and secret prisons.

Interesting, isn't it? The extremist Muslim terrorists claim the Bushies and supporters of the Bushie policies are the evil ones. Maybe we should put the Bushies and the Muslim terrorists into an arena and let 'em fight it out, and the side that remains standing -- well, they can claim to be the good guys. But I suspect they're really all bad hombres. Might be best if they wipe each other out. That would eliminate lots of evil. --Jim Broede

I am continually learning.

I like to speak my mind. And to attach my name to my comments. But I'm intrigued by people who speak their minds only if they remain anonymous. Seems to me they are afraid. Of something. Being identified. Maybe they don't have the courage of their convictions. Yes, a form of dishonesty. Maybe they are ashamed of their opinions, their comments. Or they lack confidence. I've always stood up for what I believe in. But I try not to foist my ways on others. I may try to persuade them this way or that way. But I cannot make choices for them. They have to choose their own way. I like to debate politics and religion and economics and social mores. For the sake of enlightement and knowledge. But that's all it is. An exchange of opinions. Which can be stimulating. And I like to know who I am talking and listening to. That helps in the process of understanding. To better grasp how one has come to a particular point of view. I'll be the first to admit that I may be wrong. Lord knows how many times I have changed my opinion. Because I am continually learning. --Jim Broede

Not a kangaroo court.

Close Guantanomo. And give every suspected terrorist the same treatment and rights we'd give to an American citizen. In other words, a fair trial. And representation by counsel. And the assumption that the terrorist is presumed innocent until convicted in proper legal proceedings. Of course, President George Bush says these terrorists are so bad that they should just be locked up, and the key thrown away. I'd still treat them in a reasonably humane way. Let them see how the American judicial system works, when it's run properly. We've deviated from the long-standing fundamentals of American justice. Even using torture. To our shame. Many of the 250 or so prisoners in Guantanomo have languished in their cells for 5 years and more. Without a trial. Some may very well be innocent. We won't know until they've been given a proper trial. In a legitimate court. Not a kangaroo court. --Jim Broede

...the dictates of Mother Nature.

I'm settling down for a Minnesota winter. Taking it in stride. That's the only way. I expect lots of snow. And temperatures dropping to 30-below zero. And wind chills of 50 or 60-below. But I can handle it. Ain't all that bad. Oh, maybe I'd like to eliminate about 15 of the worst days. Also, I take consolation. In that there are colder and snowier places. Take Fairbanks in Alaska. for instance. I've noticed that during their winters, there are periods when daily highs don't climb much above 40-below zero. Yes, that's the high. There's a psychological game that I play. After our temperature stays below zero for a few days, and it warms to 10 above, I rejoice. I'm happy. Because that seems relatively warm. Almost like I'm ready to go out in shirtsleeves. I also like to shovel snow. No snow-blower for me. Shoveling is good exercise. And I take my time. The wintry scenery is nice, too. Fir strees with boughs covered by snow. And the spectacular northern lights. And a white Christmas. In my 20s, I went south for a few years. To Florida. And I really missed winter. The change of seasons. And I tell you, the frigid air is fresh. And clean. So nice to breathe. Of course, when spring finally arrives, I willingly live without winter for 8 or 9 months. I like variety. I'm willing to accept the dictates of Mother Nature. --Jim Broede

...a reason to be hopeful.

Go back far enough, and you'll find that our ancestors thought it was all right to have an economy based in large part on slave labor. Or to stone a woman to death for what was deemed an immoral act. Or to judge someone to be a witch and hang 'em or burn 'em at the stake. Or to go on a Christian crusade to murder Muslims. Or to allow royalty to rule by divine right. Our American ancestors, of which we are proud, even hypocritically declared that all men are created equal. Yes, today we look back on these practices as wrong. Even as horrible crimes perpetrated by societies. And I'm wondering if centuries from now we'll deem societies that encouraged an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor as sort of sinful. As morally wrong. After all, we seem to have changed some of our attitudes dramatically over the course of time. And really, I think that most of us will admit that many of the changes have been for the better. We've recognized wrongs and made them right. Looks to me like it's an endless process...but a reason to be hopeful. --Jim Broede

We could do a lot better.

I think these are perilous times. For America. For the world. And I blame it on an everybody-for-himself mentality. The notion of survival of the fittest. In America, we revere individual freedom. The right to choose the way we live. As individuals. Unfortunately, that often means at the expense of others. And it often comes down to who has the most money. And the most power. Those are the people that get their way. Because they form the power structure. They are the real deciders. Unless, of course, the masses get downright tired of being oppressed and exploited and manipulated. The main problem is the gap between the rich and the poor. The haves and the have-nots. The 'haves' and the rich don't seem too inclined to spread the wealth and to make life better for the poor and middle classes. They tell us that in America, at least, everyone has the chance to become rich. Yes, if they learn how to play the game. The game of making money and ascending to power. Then one can share in the riches and the power. And if one chooses not to do that -- well, that's just too bad. I get the feeling that many of us would rather just settle for the basic necessities of life. Such as good health care, a good education, leisure time, a basic survival income regardless of circumstances. And yes, if that means redistributing the wealth, so be it. Let's aim for the common good. For the good of society as a whole. Oh, we Americans say that's what we've been doing. Right from the beginning of our nation. But it ain't so. Look at our history. Look at how we've subjugated people. Denied them their basic civil and human rights. We still do it today. Maybe to a lesser extent than we used to. But we still have a long way to go. And we'll never have a perfect society. But we could do a lot better. --Jim Broede

Money for a position of power.

Imagine that. The governor of Illinois trying to sell the appointment of a U.S. senator. Had his telephone tapped. By the FBI. Embarrassing, isn' it? But doesn't surprise me. Money. And power. One breeds the other. Power means money. And money means power. That's the way the capitalist system works. Often, there's a fine line between what's legal and illegal. Looks like the Illinois governor lost track. So, he's being brought up on corruption charges. Just like his predecessor, who's serving time in a federal prison for corruption while he was in office. Maybe some day two ex-governors of Illinois will be cellmates. Yes, life has some ironic twists. To succeed in high public office in the USA, one must raise money. Lots of it. Little wonder that many, many of our senators are millionaires. They have to be big-time manipulators. Money-raisers. And that usually means doing people favors. Guess that's what the Illinois governor wanted. Favors. An exchange of political favors. Money for a position of power. --Jim Broede

Imagine 2 billion people.

China has long touted its economic system as better than America's. In other words, a mix of capitalism and socialism. With strong state control over business. Well, it's starting to look like China is right. We're becoming another China. And I'm thinking that ain't so bad. China is far ahead of us. Maybe because of its population. Over 2 billion. Several times more than in the U.S. The Asian mind is more atuned to serving the common good. The collective good. Of all the people. Rather than allowing free rein capitalism and unfettered profits that benefit a relatively few. Our American system has created an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. To benefit society, China is trying to limit the size of families. Because there are too many people to adequately accommodate everyone. So maybe each family has to be limited to one or two children. Of course, that doesn't seem right to many Americans. A loss of freedom to choose. But hey, what if we had 2 billion Americans? We've got enough problems dealing with only a small fraction of that. Imagine 2 billion people. --Jim Broede

...the courage of her convictions.

I like to observe people. They're entertaining. Some are snide. A handful of 'em that come to this blog. To make snide remarks. They're funny. Sometimes I print their comments. Other times, I just put them in the trash bin. Depends on my mood. One tells me to shape up. To not repeat myself. I'm sure it's a woman. She doesn't like what she reads. But she keeps coming back to read. In that sense, she compliments me. If something turns me off, I don't read it. Rather not waste my time. This woman never signs her name. Stays anonymous. I find that's a trait of snide people. They like to hide their identity. Maybe they lack confidence. Maybe they're just plain stupid. I'd be happy to debate this woman. If only she had the courage of her convictions. --Jim Broede

The ways people deal with life.

One of my nicest moments every day is to sit down and eat supper. Yes, a relaxing experience. I eat very little during the day. Just token amounts. I save the pleasure for the evening. As the day winds down. And I reflect on the day's most pleasant experiences. Always. I sleep well because I've ended the day well. Anyway, my salvation is exercise. If I didn't get my daily workouts, I'd turn into a blimp. Used to be when I ran instead of walked, I even became gaunt. Back in the early 70s. People thought I was ill. Albeit, I felt good. The assumption is that skinny people are sick. I've noticed that Barack Obama is slim and trim. Maybe because he keeps his cool. Isn't nervous. But he also works out. Plays basketball. A really nice aerobic exercise. But for a long time, Obama was a smoker. I think he has quit. I'm sure that takes willpower. Interesting. The many ways people deal with life. The tensions. The stress. I like Obama's approach...playing it cool. --Jim Broede

...a thriving middle class.

I'm pro-government. I think government can be one of the nicest inventions of mankind. A benefit to society as a whole. Oh sure, government can be bad, too. Oppressive. But good government -- well, it often serves the public good. Provides basic essentials for the masses of people. The infrastucture. Roads and bridges. Public transit. Health care. Education. Social services. Lately, here in America, we've seen governmnent come to the aid of private enterprise. Bailing out banks and lending institutions and insurance companies, and maybe even the automobile industry. Oh, that might sound like socialism. And maybe it is. But we have to ask, is that good? Yes, it can be. And I think that unfettered capitalism can be bad. Good, too. Maybe we need government and capitalists to balance each other. To see that neither one runs rampant. The advantage of government, run properly, is that it can provide basic services at less cost than profit-minded capitalists. Government doesn't have to be in business to make money. Just to provide service. Good service. Essential service. Capitalists generally are out to pad their pockets. Sometimes to the point of obscene profits. Little wonder that under many capitalist systems there's a wide gap between the rich and the poor. We'll never completely close the gap. But government can narrow the chasm a bit by regulation and by a fair taxing system. By taking from the rich and giving to the poor. In essence, helping to nurture a thriving middle class. --Jim Broede

The something that's missing.

I can converse with anyone who has ever lived. Oh, it may take a little imagination. But all I have to do is address their spirits. More or less the same way that I would chat with god. I can talk to my dear Jeanne. At any time. Doesn't matter that she died almost 2 years ago. The same goes for my mother. My father, too. Or Abe Lincoln. Or Napoleon. Or D. H. Lawrence. Or Genghis Kahn. Oh, I have to be in the right mood. And have the desire to communicate with a spirit. Then I begin the discussion. Maybe by asking a question. Or just telling them what I have on my mind. And then I listen. And they speak to me as if I'm in the spirit world. Where one just has to think a thought. Where the language is universal. Really, it's a nice experience. I like the spiritual connection. Because the people who live in the spirit world have keen insights. They are advanced. Living in another dimension. One very difficult for us physical beings to comprehend. One has to truly experience it to fully understand and grasp, the spirits tell me. Interesting thing, too. They say that the spiritual dimension brings them closer to god. And closer to understanding the concept of love. And that everyone in the spriit world has an overwhelming desire to live forever...because they are permeated by love. Something that all too often is missing in the physical world. --Jim Broede

...an opportunity to learn.

I don't want to give the impression that I only talk to the dead. (See thread below this one.) I talk a whole lot. Incessantly, some acquaintances would tell you. That's why when I was growing up my nickname at home was the Czech words for "Big Mouth.' I talked and talked and talked. And had opinions about virtually everything. The moment I emerged from the womb, I was talking. I was born to talk. And to write. I talk to the animals. And to Mother Nature. And to inanimate objects, such as rocks. I talk to god. And the spirits. Even to the snowflakes. I'm talking now to readers of this blog. Doesn't matter who. Oh, I also listen. Because that's how I learn. Yes, I think conversation is good. A mutual exchange of opinions. Sometimes, I change my mind. When I hear a convincing argument. But one thing, I try never to foist my views on others. There's no requirement that anyone has to think like me. I only reserve the right to express my opinion. Free speech, so to speak. Oh, I love ideas. I love the classroom. Love going to school. Auditing courses at a university and a seminary. And my favorite courses are the ones in which there's free-wheeling discussion. I've discovered that sometimes I'm wrong. And sometimes I'm right. Doesn't matter if I make mistakes. Because that offers an opportunity to learn. --Jim Broede

The dead give me comfort.

I talk to the dead. Out loud. As if they are still alive. Who knows? Maybe they are. And they hear me. I have two favorites. One is Jeanne, who was my wife for 36 years. She died almost 2 years ago. But I still talk to her. A whole lot. Sometimes in the quiet of our home. Other times, while I'm out walking. Or maybe when I'm driving. Always when I'm alone. I also talk to Dottie. Especially when I'm out walking. Dottie was our last dog. She died almost 10 years ago. She accompanied me on my daily jogs, for almost 17 years. She was a cross between a black lab and a German shorthair. She looked like the shorthair. The veternarian said Dottie lived so long because she got daily exercise. Anyway, I still share my life with Jeanne and Dottie. Gives me comfort. --Jim Broede

...an extra array of candles.

I'm into candles. Scented candles. They not only give a nice scent, but a warm glow to the house. Today I have 8 wicks lit. Only 3 candles. But one has 4 wicks, another 3, and another the more traditional 1. I have them all burning on the kitchen sink. Far away from anything flammable. Later tonight, I'll turn off all the electric lights. And watch the flickering candles. Candles remind me of religious and spiritual experiences. I've gone into churches with hundreds of lit candles. Very nice. An Italian friend tells me that on Monday in Italy it's a religious holiday in honor of the Virgin Mary. So I'll light an extra array of candles to celebrate. --Jim Broede

Knowing that I'm a cool cat.

More and more, I'm learning to keep my cool. To not get upset. Visibly. Or for that matter, even underneath. Oh, I'm no Barack Obama, the master of cool. But I do a pretty good job of it. And maybe where I learned the most was in the 13 years I was a caregiver to my dear Jeanne. Through the ordeal of Alzheimer's. I started out as anything but cool. I became easily rattled. Shaken by it all. But year by year by year, I became better at it. More accepting of the goings-on. In the last 3 years, it's quite possible I didn't lose my cool even once. Yes, not until the day Jeanne died. Then I lost it. But since then, I've retrieved my cool. Oh, I may still lose it on rare occasion. But I quickly recover. And some day I hope to be the equal of Obama. Of course, Obama sets a high standard. Most of us won't even come close to that kind of cool. But I have the potential. And the confidence. No sense in letting adversity or the nastiness of others get to me. It's a nice feeling to have a thick, protective skin. Knowing that I'm a cool cat. --Jim Broede

Makes me bold...or daring.

I watched a comedy skit tonight. On Barack Obama. Being so cool. It was funny. Anyway, his coolness may be one of his biggest strengths. Hard to faze the guy. I have to wonder how he cultivated such a cool demeanor. And whether underneath he's really that cool. Maybe it doesn't matter. Or does it? I suspect that many people fake their demeanor. They're actors. They play roles. But maybe if one acts the role often enough, one really becomes the act. One lives the role. Maybe that's what a good actor does. Becomes lost in the role. I once thought I was shy. But I learned to act bold. So now I really don't know whether I'm shy or bold. Maybe I'm a little bit of each. I have quite an imagination. So I can imagine a role. And how to play it. I think I could become a good stage actor. I once thought that would be impossible. Because I would suffer from stage fright. Because I was shy. But now I think I could take to the stage. Without fear. I suppose that makes me bold...or daring. --Jim Broede

To stay warm, keep moving.

I highly recommend daily workouts outdoors during a Minnesota winter. Much better -- and healthier -- than indoors. Years ago I used to workout indoors at the YMCA. And I'd catch so many, many colds. But when I decided to take to the outdoors instead, the colds were few and far between. Maybe one or two all winter. And I think there was one winter without a cold. The air is clean and brisk. And the colder it gets, the cleaner the air gets. Twenty below zero is a treat. Of course, I wear a ski mask and several thin layers of clothes. And on the coldest days, it's best to run/jog/walk during the daytime, especially on a sunny day. I don't let the snow stop me either. It slows me. But then I go longer distances. The secret to staying warm is keep moving. Don't stop. --Jim Broede

But I get first dibs.

I think my cat, Loverboy, is in love with my girlfriend. We're hooked up with an audio/video connection on our computers. So we see and converse with each other on a daily basis. And invariably, shortly after we connect, Loverboy comes trotting in, jumps up on the desk, and looks at the screen lovingly. I thought for a while that this was mere coincidence. But he does it maybe 90 percent of the time. I speculate that he hears my girlfriend's lilting voice, and that pulls him in. Like a magnet. His name is Loverboy. For good reason. He's a genuine loverboy. My girlfriend has a fluffy hair-do, that looks a little like a lion's mane. Very becoming. I suspect that Loverboy thinks she's a cat. A big cat. Actually, she's not so big. A rather petite woman. But to Loverboy, she must seem immense. Just the kind of cat he'd like to fall in love with. But I get first dibs. --Jim Broede

Yes, the good life.

There's no better way to live than in retirement. And in good health. Combine the two, and one has a winning combination. Oh, I'd like to think I still have the majority of my life ahead of me. But one can't have everything. But retirement and good health gives me an abundance of freedom. More than I've ever had. My time is very much my own. I can stay home and tend to my business. Sit down at the computer and write virtually anything. Or I can travel periodically. And cultivate friendships. Even a love relationship. Sure, my time will run out some day. I'll get sick and die. or maybe just drop dead on the spot. But hey, I'm at 73, and counting. I'm thankful to have gotten this far. I'd like to live forever. But I'll take what I can get. I've become a romantic idealist, a free-thinker, a liberal and a lover. Not necessarily in that order. But once again, it's a nice combination. Makes me happy. Before I retired, I liked writing for newspapers. A nice way to make a living. A way to meet people, too. And a way to learn about lots of issues. Yes, interesting. A way to satisfy my curiosity. But now I don't have to report for work every day. Or do someone else's bidding. I even write my own blog. And I even edit as I please. I think the Italians call what I have La Dolce Vita. Yes, the good life. --Jim Broede

Reading and rocking.

I'm gonna buy a rocking chair. Made of wood. Maybe with a cushion. And I'll put it in my newly-dubbed rocking chair room. A place with bookshelves all the way to the ceiling on all four walls. And a Norfolk pine tree and two potted tropical plants with immense leaves and hanging birdhouses and a wide range of lighting, from amber to a bright reading light. And this winter I'll spend much time in the room -- reading and rocking. --Jim Broede

'Not a sin, but a virtue.'

Bill Ayers. Remember him? He was supposed to be the "unrepentent domestic terrorist" that Barack Obama hung around with, according to John McCain and Sarah Palin. Just another way in our sound-bite culture to try to disparage Obama by association during the political campaign.

Well, now Ayers has spoken out.

"I was cast in the 'unrepentent terrorist' role,' Ayers wrote in the New York Times, "I felt at times like the enemy projected onto a large screen in the 'Two Minutes Hate' scene from George Orwell's '1984,' when the faithful gathered in a frenzy of fear and loathing."

Well, it turns out that Ayers was no more than one of many, many protestors of the Vietnam War in the 1960s.

"I never killed or injured anyone," Ayers said. "I did join the civil rights movement in the mid-1960s, and later resisted the draft and was arrested in nonviolent demonstrations. I became a full-time antiwar organizer for Students for a Democratic Society. In 1970, I co-founded the Weather Underground, an organization that was created after an accidental explosion that claimed the lives of three of our comrades in Greenwich Village. The Weather Underground went on to take responsibility for placing several small bombs in empty offices -- the ones at the Pentagon and the United States Capitol were the most notorious -- as an illegal and unpopular war consumed the nation."

Ayers said he has regrets, including mistakes of excess and failures of imagination, posturing and posing, inflated and heated rhetoric, blind sectarianism and a lot else.

"No one can reach my age with their eyes even partly open and not have hundreds of regrets," he said. "The responsibility for the risks we posed to others in some of our most extreme actions in those underground years never leaves my thoughts for long."

The Weather Underground carried out symbolic acts of extreme vandalism directed at monuments to war and racism, and the attacks on property, never on people, were meant to respect human life and convey outrage and determination to end the Vietnam war, Ayers said.

Ayers said he can't imagine engaging in actions of that kind today. He's a professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

"Let's hope,' he concluded, "we might now assert that in our wildly diverse society, talking and listening to the widest range of people is not a sin, but a virtue." --Jim Broede

Here's the key question.

I'm confused. And I'll admit it. When it comes to the sagging economy, I don't have the answers. And I suspect that even the so-called experts don't. Seems to be a world-wide problem. Not just American. Maybe it's the result of everything going global. And we don't know how to deal with the changes of the past decade or two or three. My impression is that everyone is being hurt to some degree. The poor and middle classes more so than the rich. Yes, the rich can afford to lose and still have a comfortable existence. The less fortunate don't have much wiggle room. I guess that the rich -- the industrialists and the executives and the bankers and the money lenders at the top of the economic hierarchy -- are telling us that their businesses need government bailouts. So they can survive and offer us common folk jobs and credit. To me, that seems all right. That is, if there's agreement at the top of our political, economic and social systems that there be a dramatic closing of the gap betwen the rich and the poor. Yes, a redistribution of wealth. So that the rich are far less rich and the poor are far less poor. We need a burgeoning middle class. And how do we accomplish that? That's the key question. --Jim Broede

My blog isn't required reading.

I think I'm learning how to think without straining the brain. And that feels good. Because it feels so natural. So relaxing. It's like when I sit down and write a love letter. It's no strain. It's pure pleasure. Before I retired, when I was writing for newspapers, I got pleasure, too. From many of the stories I wrote. But hey, some of the stuff was drudgery. It was forced writing. Maybe toward the end it was like that. To a higher degree. Maybe that was a sign for me to retire. And now that I'm retired, I write every day. But I write what I want to write. And the way I want to write it. No editors. Just write for the pure pleasure of it. And so that's the state of my mind. The state of my thinking process. I think as a romantic idealist and a liberal and a free-thinker and a lover. I'm comfortable with myself. And I proceed at a leisurely pace. No hurry. No stress. No pressure. Used to be I had to write under a deadline. Especially breaking news. I had to think quickly. At a very rapid pace. That's no way to write. Oh, it takes skill. To write fast. But I prefer a different kind of skill. As a lover. Of someone. And of life. One must savor life. And love. That's my way. Nobody dictates what I do, or what I write. That's a nice thing about blogging. Gives me a sense of freedom. And it doesn't bother me if people don't like what I write. They have the option not to read it. They can come and go as they want. They can offer comments, too. But I'm the dictator. I decide whether they get published here. For a while, I allowed readers to say anything. But some of 'em got downright nasty. Obscene. So I drew a line. I decided that if they want to say such things -- well, then do it in their own blogs. This is my blog. I'm the boss. The editor. The commander-in-chief. After all, my blog isn't required reading. --Jim Broede

Just the opposite of Bush.

I see that many Republicans have a favorable impression of Barack Obama. Partly from his cabinet appointments. But also because he seems to want to govern from the center. Rather than from the left or the right. He's willing to meet people halfway. We didn't get that from George Bush. Despite the fact that Bush won the first time by the narrowest of margins. In fact, Bush didn't even get a majority of the popular vote. Yet, he governed as if he had an overwhelming mandate for a conservative far-right agenda. He almost completely ignored the people who didn't vote for him. Obama, meanwhile, has pledged to be the president of all the people. Even those who didn't vote for him. He's even appointed to his cabinet some people who denigrated him during the election campaign. Yes, Obama has a sense of fairness. And decency. I didn't see that in George Bush. And that's why I'm critical of him. He let America down. He led us into unnecessary war. His economic policies fueled the economic downturn. He refused to listen to the opposition. He was highly partisan. Now Obama is a refreshing change. He's articulate. Well-read. Intelligent. Open-minded. Yes, just the opposite of Bush. --Jim Broede

Yes, that's the common good.

I'm for nationalizing General Motors. Yes, let's have the American government (we taxpayers) buy and operate GM. At no profit. To produce mostly electric-operated cars. The wave of the future. Corporations generally are in the business to make profits. Big profits. Well, that doesn't necessarily serve the common good. Government, on the other hand, should be in the business of serving the common good. To produce and provide the sorts of things that are good for society as a whole. Without a profit motive. We Americans, especially those of us from the poor and middle classes, are bilked by greedy capitalists out to make obscene profits all too often. Of course, GM has been mismanaged and is now asking for a government bailout. Just like the banks and lending institutions. I'm for more than bailouts. I'm for the government taking over. Taking ownership. Of everything from banks to car manufacturers. Yes, even health care. Let's get the private insurance companies out of the business of making profits on health care. Maybe the government also could take over the pharmaceutical industry. Sure beats private enterprise raking in all that dough. At least in countries with universal health care, drugs and medicine come at a much lower cost. And the care is available to everyone, regardless of income. Yes, that's the common good. --Jim Broede

Picking the pockets of the rich.

It's a startling statistic from the New York Times. Corporate profits have doubled since recession gave way to economic expansion in 2001. Employee productivity has risen more than 15 percent since then. But the average wage for the typical American worker inched up just 1 percent (after inflation).

So, where has all the money gone? Well, I'd look into the pockets of the rich. The gap continues to widen between the rich and the poor. Maybe the rich are losing some of their money in the recent economic downturn. But for the most part, they are still rich. Because they had so much to start with. And the poor are still poor. Because they didn't share in the profits of so-called good times. But that's the nature of a capitalist society...and why I'm calling for a socialism that benefits the poor and middle classes while picking the pockets of the rich. --Jim Broede

Finding our way out of the morass.

I like parliamentary government because it usually means government by coalition. When one party doesn't gain a majority, it requires governments to be formed by competing, but cooperating political parties. Makes for more diverse representation in the acting government. Often, it means compromise. More give and take. In some ways, it would have been nice if America had lost the Revolutionary War. Then maybe we'd have a parliamentary-type government similar to Great Britain. With multiple political parties. In America, we pretty much have a choice between Democrats and Republicans. And maybe they aren't diverse enough. For the past 8 years, we've more or less had neo-conservative ideology shoved down our throats. Little balance, little diversity. And maybe that's why we are in a hell of a mess. But from the looks of it, president-elect Barack Obama is appointing a very diverse cabinet. Rather independent and intelligent people with wide-ranging views and, in some cases, with different political affiliations. The cabinet may become a debating society, of sorts. With all sides of issues being aired before decision-time. We lacked that under the deplorable Bush administration. And it's been America's loss. Finally, we Americans may be finding our way out of the morass. --Jim Broede