Making the best of what I have.

I think we're not supposed to want the pleasantries of life too much. That the creator will deny us what we wish for. Or will give it to us in a way that maybe we shouldn't have wished for it. For instance, I expect that the Chicago Cubs will never make it into another World Series while I'm still living. Because at one time I wanted it too much. I put it above everything else. And I'm not supposed to do that. The creator frowns on it. In other words, the creator wants me to have higher standards. Not to wish for relatively trivial, unimportant things. And I'm beginning to understand that. Used to be I got annoyed when the Cubs missed opportunities to go all the way. So close, yet so far. Oh, it still bothers me. A little bit. But I handle it much better than I used to. And I do that by counting my blessings. Many blessings, in fact. And if that means I'm gonna be denied some of the other niceties of life, that's fine and dandy. I acknoweldge that I can't and shouldn't have everything. And that I should make the best of what I have. And be grateful for it. Believe me. I am. --Jim Broede

To put the final nail in our coffin.

Amusing. Yes, I find it amusing that the anti-big-government conservatives are calling for government to step in and solve the most horrendous of our problems. Such as the unrelenting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Whenever we're in deep, deep trouble, it's the role and responsibility of government to get us out. Doesn't matter that it's the greedy and irresponsible private sector of society that caused the problem. No, now it's the government that should be blamed for not doing something about it. These same conservative nitwits have been long working and clamoring for the destruction of government. Giving the private sector free and unregulated rein. And trying to bankrupt our government by driving it into debt. Into the biggest budget deficits ever. Now it's the Obama administration and the federal government that should be held responsible for all our woes. Therefore, we are supposed to return the Republicans and conservatives that got us into this msss back into the majority this November. Yes, to finish the job. To put the final nail in America's coffin. --Jim Broede

The freedom to destroy everything.

I see a tightly-controlled world in the future. In an attempt to save the world. That means a world government. A benevolent dictator. Equivalent to god. Ruling by divine right. That may be the only way to save the world. Because if we humans are left pretty much to our own devices, we'll destroy everything. Including ourselves. Yes, if we are to be saved, god himself must come down to Earth. And take charge. As the supreme dictator. That'll be a hard pill for some of us to swallow. Because we think of ourselves as independent beings. And know-it-alls. Equals to god himself. We will try to wrest control from god. So that we can have the ultimate freedom. The freedom to destroy everything. All of creation. Even god himself. --Jim Broede

I won't be around to lament.

I'm amazed. That there's so much incompetence and greed in the world. Yes, a multi-national oil company called BP, aka British Petroleum. With the technical know-how to drill for oil a mile beneath the sea. With no idea of how to contain a catastrophic oil spill. If by chance it occurs. But, so what? It's worth the risk. In the minds of incompetent and immoral BP executives. Because there's a potential for a huge cash return. Yes, I'm amazed. Because now the worst-case scenario is unfolding. It's a man-made environmental disaster that can't be any worse than if a hydrogen bomb exploded. I'm amazed. Because in the end we'll just live with it. And hold no one responsible. And just go about living life as if man-made disasters are inevitable. Just as inevitable as war. But maybe I shouldn't be amazed. That we human beings haven't got our act together. And never will. So maybe I'll have to accept the inevitable. We're gonna destroy our Earth. Sooner or later. But I'm gonna be an optimist. And assume the end won't be in my lifetime. Only soon thereafter. And thank gawd, I won't be around to lament. --Jim Broede

I'm totally, completely amazed.

I'm amazed. That's there's life. And that I'm part of it. Amazing. That I'm even aware. That I'm real. That I can ponder it all. Even write about it. Using language. Making sense of it all. Communicating. And feeling love. For another human being. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Even if all this ends. And I return to nothingness. It was still an amazing experience. To have this moment of conscious existence. How did this happen? I'm told that there's a creator. And maybe even a grand design. But I don't know that. Maybe life just is. I'm told that there was life before me. For millions of years. Maybe billions of years. And suddenly, here I am. Emerging. Out of the blue. I am a physical being. A thinking being. Why am I here? And at this time. Maybe for no particular reason. I just am. I'm totally, completely amazed. --Jim Broede

Time for Obama to brood daily.

I really would like to see Barack Obama lose his cool. To get really pissed. He sure has ample reasons to be pissed. I'd also like to see Obama write a daily blog. Called Obama's Broodings. --Jim Broede

Imagine Jesus as a comedian.

I'm reading a book. A novel. Called 'Jesus Tales.' By Romulus Linney. A playwright. It's an unconventional take on the life of Jesus. Gives Jesus a sense of humor. Likes to play practical jokes. On his followers. Not the least being Peter. Yes, imagine Jesus as witty and playful and fond of jokes. --Jim Broede

There's nice crazy & bad crazy.

I like crazy people. Nice crazy. People that make their dreams come true. That usually takes some degree of craziness. Gumption. Pursuit of the difficult, if not the impossible. But more than anything, nice crazy people believe in love. Unconditional love. Of course, there are all kinds of crazy people. Bad crazy, too. Take capitalists, for instance. They desire money more than anything. In a sense, that's the object of their love. Their preoccupation. A negative addiction. It's hard for them to love another human being. Or even nature. The environment. Take the people that run BP, the oil company. They took big risks and jeopardized the entire Gulf of Mexico. Just so their company could rake in big monetary profits. That's crazy. But not my kind of crazy. These kinds of crazies should be locked up. For the rest of their lives. --Jim Broede

War. It's become second nature.

Memorial Day becomes sadder every year. It's supposed to be a time when we honor the memory of our war dead. The sad part is that so many of 'em didn't have to die. Because we Americans have been getting embroiled in immoral and needless wars. In Iraq. In Afghanistan. In Vietnam. In so many ways, we've become a war-mongering nation. The Bush doctrine even called for preventive wars. Which means, we start 'em. Sad, isn't it? That we've become the instigator of wars. It's hard to remember when the USA wasn't at war. It's become a part of our national psyche. We don't even officially declare war any more. We just go off to war. Because it's the natural thing to do. --Jim Broede

Our coolest president ever.

I listened to the liberal pundits tonight. And they are annoyed with Obama. Because he doesn't act pissed. They want him to be downright angry over the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But Obama keeps his cool. Even if he's pissed, he stays calm. On the exterior. That's a remarkable feat. I gotta give the guy credit. He's the coolest president we've ever had. --Jim Broede

Oh, how fortunate I am.

Life was meant to be a pleasure. Full of happiness. With just an occasional dose of sadness. So far, it's worked out that way for me. Which means I can't complain. Even if I dropped dead tomorrow. Of course, I want more pleasure. More happiness. Maybe I'll never be ready to let go of life. Even in troubled times I choose to cherish what I've got. Mainly awareness. That I'm an alive and conscious being. When things aren't going right, I generally muse that things will get better. And invariably, they do. I wonder if I've ever been in depression. I suspect not. Oh, how fortunate I am. --Jim Broede

I'm too busy to go to work.

Once upon a time, I thought I wanted to work forever. Yes, to be gainfully employed. Right up to the day that I die. Yes, I actually liked to work. But now that I've been retired for close to 12 years, I'm spoiled. Never again do I want to go back to work. Of course, I would. If I needed the money. But I can live on my retirement income. That's good enough for me. I'm not tempted to go back to work so that I can have more money. It's more important to have time. Free time. To do what I want. To just plain goof off, if I so choose. I earned my living by writing. For newspapers. Interesting that I never gave up writing. I write more now than when I was working. But now I write strictly for pleasure. And I just focus on being me. A romantic idealist. A free-thinker. A liberal. A lover. That takes all my time. I'm too busy to go to work. --Jim Broede

Sadly, we'd rather sell our souls.

I'd regulate the hell out of business. Especially big corporations. Conservatives generally decry regulation. They want free rein for business. But when a company such as BP turns the Gulf of Mexico into a cesspool of oil, Republicans blame the Obama administration for not doing enough to prevent such catastrophes. But it's the very lack of regulation -- long-espoused by Republicans and conservatives -- that gave BP leeway to do as it pleased. For the sake of making profits. I'd regulate the banks, the insurance industry, the oil companies. You name it. They're mostly all run by greedy capitalists. With no or little concern for the common good. Capitalists can't be trusted. They'll exploit anything in sight. The seas. The forests. The skies. They want to turn the entire planet into money-making schemes. And up to now, we've let them get away with it. Because we haven't got our priorities straight. Sadly, we'd rather sell our souls. And our environment. And for what? A few bucks. --Jim Broede

An offer I can refuse.

I've been offered an opportunity to become a part-time paid care-giver. In large part because I have the experience. I spent 13 years as my dear Jeanne's care-giver. When she had Alzheimer's. Initially, I hated the job. It took too much out of me. But eventually, I learned how to handle it. And I became proficient. And quite compassionate and understanding. Really. I actually enjoyed caring for Jeanne. But I'm not sure that I'd want to become a hired care-giver. Actually getting paid for it. I might do it voluntarily. For no pay. But I think there's something wrong about becoming a paid care-giver. For me, that is. --Jim Broede

Maybe it's all pre-determined.

The public mood. I wonder if there really is such a thing. Pollsters keep telling me what the public thinks about this or that. That our so-called leaders have varying approval ratings. And what to expect if candidate No. 1 would face candidate No. 2 today. If I start believing the polls, it may not even be necessary for me to vote. Because the pollsters have already figured out the result. The thing is, many a candidate has hired someone to analyze the mood of the electorate. And thereby determined exactly what he must say to get elected. --Jim Broede

Maybe life is merely a dream.

I like to keep asking myself, what's the right thing and the wrong thing to do? Sometimes, it's difficult to decide. There's no clear-cut answer. Other times, it's an easy decision. However, I tend to like moral dilemmas. When the case can be effectively argued on either side. I don't mind making choices. That's what I was born to do. The reason I was given a mind and a spirit and a soul. To determine my own essence. Rather than become a robot. Of course, I may be fooling myself. Into thinking I have freedom of choice. It may only be an illusion. I've often wondered if life is merely a dream. And that some day I'll wake up. Only then will I know my true nature. --Jim Broede

Let's build a new society.

I'd tell British Petroleum (BP) to go to hell. And I'd bring criminal charges against their executives. For spilling oil into the Gulf of Mexico. And if possible, I'd put the whole damn company out of business. I'd sue 'em for every penny the company is worth. Not only to cover the cost of clean-up. But punitive damages, too. BP has no business being in business. As I see it, BP is out to make money. Any which way it can. And it doesn't matter to BP executives whether in the process the environment is wrecked. I think oil companies like BP are more a threat to our nation and civilization than all the terrorists in the world. BP is public enemy No. 1. BP epitimizes everything that's wrong with our capitalist system. BP just goes ahead and does as it damn well pleases. For the sake of making quick bucks for its shareholders. BP doesn't calculate the common good into its mission. Now's the time for government to step in. And start regulating the capitalist system. From stem to stern. I mean the entire corporate world. Wall Street. The banks. Let's put an end to the reign of the rich. Down with the greedy capitalists. Let's build a new society. A new economy. A new order. --Jim Broede

I'm learning to live in slow motion.

I'm a slow learner. That's why I need a long life. It takes so long for me to get things right. Because I'm slow. I'm learning to take my time. To not be in a hurry. I should have been kept behind in the first or second grade. Flunked. Required to take the year over. It would have given me more time to get the gist of what I was supposed to learn. I didn't learn what I should have learned in elementary school and high school. I really didn't get with it until my college days. And then I would have been better off if I had been left behind for a year or two. Or I should have taken 6 years instead of 4 years to earn a degree. I was raised in a home where we seemed to have to get everything done yesterday. Rather than today or tomorrow. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. Perform. Perform. Perform. Juggle. Juggle. Juggle. One really is supposed to live at a leisurely pace. That doesn't make one lazy. Instead, it gives one time to learn. In a smooth and leisurely way. I was raised to try to do too much. And to do things fast. Deadlines. Little wonder that I went into newspapering. Because I had deadlines to meet. That seemed the natural way of life. Daily deadlines. One had to get things done. And often that meant hurry up. Don't take time to savor what one is doing. Just get it done. Post haste. I suspect many of us are caught in the same trap. We put too much of a burden on ourselves. We need to slow down. Let some things slide. We aren't running some kind of race. We are supposed to live. To enjoy life. To make it last. Best way to do that is to live in slow motion. --Jim Broede

We are slow to change.

I'm leery of so-called universal truths. Because I think truth keeps changing. Depending on circumstances. We seem to live in a state of flux. That's why I think it's rather stupid to insist that our founding fathers knew what was best for Americans living in the 21st century. Sure, maybe they knew what was best in the 18th century. But times change. And so do universal truths. If for no other reason than a burgeoning population. More people. Crowded conditions. A constant reevaluation of what serves the common good. It wasn't the same 200 years ago as it is now. The founding fathers did a lousy job of preparing us for the future. Because they didn't know any better. They had a poor vision of what life would be like in the 21st century. Just as we modern Americans probably have little concept of what life will be like in the 24th century. My guess is that by then we'll have rid ourselves of American-style capitalism. Future generations will look at it as good riddance. As a national shame. Just as bad as a slave economy, on which our nation was founded. It took us almost another century to fully recognize that slavery was morally wrong. And we still haven't recognized the moral ineptitude of capitalism. And we still practice racial discrimination. Because we don't know any better. We are always in the evolving and learning process. We are slow to adapt. Slow to get around to doing the right things. We seem to be confused. Especially when it gets around to defining universal truths. Maybe the one solid truth is that we are slow to change. Very slow. --Jim Broede

A price worth paying.

I'm so liberal that I even allow myself to be conservative. On particular matters. In other words, I'm flexible. I don't allow myself to be locked in. That's how I define liberal. I'm able to move about. To change my mind. To even contradict myself. I think a true conservative is locked into a particular view. Won't budge. For the most part, I'm willing to give and take. Yes, to budge. But occasionally I hold hard and fast. Yes, I become sort of a stubborn, bull-headed conservative. Just to see what it feels like. After all, to truly and fully understand a conservative, I have to imagine myself being one. I know it's a horrific feeling. Requiring me to abandon common sense and principle. And to genuinely feel stupid. But it's a price worth paying. Because it helps teach me the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, night and day. --Jim Broede

My right to be naughty.

I find that sometimes people treat me like a naughty school boy. If I break a rule, they want me disciplined. As if I did it in a spiteful way. Or out of sheer stupidity. And therefore I should go stand in a corner. Or be suspended from school for a day. But hey, I'm a 74-year-old man. I'm not a school boy any more. I listen to reason. I don't need a spanking. Or even a scolding. Please treat me like an adult. Of course, my critics will say that I act like a child. Maybe so. Nothing wrong with that. I know some well-mannered children. And I happen to be well-mannered, too. But I've also earned the right to be naughty. Occasionally. That's one of the benefits of age. We're adults now. And we're a bit more privileged than youth that have yet to come of age. I'm allowed to swear and talk back to my peers. --Jim Broede

A profound thought for the day.

I've been thinking a lot about Paradise lately. Because I spend much of my life there. Yes, my little Paradise. Seems to me one can easily find one's way to Paradise by falling in love. I mean real love. Not fake and pretend and going-through-the-motions stuff. I know Paradise exists. Beyond a doubt. It's a huge garden. Perhaps the original Garden of Eden. Seems to me that god never banished us from Eden. We were given return tickets. To visit. Temporarily. And momentarily. If not forever. As a reminder of the power of love. Anyway, I'm sure everybody has a concept of Paradise. And I just read a profound one. In a book. A novel. Titled 'Love & Garbage.' By the Czech writer Ivan Klima. Here it is:

'We have been expelled from paradise, but paradise was not destroyed, Kafka wrote. And he added: In a sense, the expulsion from paradise was a blessing, because if we hadn't been driven out paradise itself would have had to be destroyed.
'The vision of paradise persists within us, and with it also the vision of togetherness. For in paradise there is no such thing as isolation, man lives there in the company of angels and in the proximity of God. In paradise we shall be ranged in a higher and eternal order, which eludes us on earth, where we are cast, where we are outcast.
'We long for paradise and we long to escape from loneliness.
'We attempt to do so by seeking a great love, or else we blunder from one person to another in the hope that someone will at last take notice of us, will long to meet us or at least to talk to us. Some write poetry for this reason, or go on protest marches, cheer some figure, make friends with the heroes of television serials, believe in gods or in revolutionary comradeship, turn into informers to ensure they are sympathetically received at least at some police department, or they strangle someone. Even murder is an encounter between one man and another.
'Out of his isolation man can be liberated not only by love but also by hate. Hate is mistakenly regarded as the opposite of love, whereas in reality it stands alongside love and the opposite of both of them is loneliness. We often believe that we are tied to someone by love, and meanwhile we're only tied to them by hate, which we prefer to loneliness.
'Hate will remain with us so long as we do not accept that loneliness is our only possible, or indeed necessary, fate.'

Now, if that's not a profound thought for the day, you must tell me what is. --Jim Broede

Makes me feel independent.

I like to cultivate opinions. About virtually any and everything. That means I'll ruffle a few feathers. Because some people won't like my point-of-view. Which is tough. That's their problem. Not mine. I'm amazed that some people would take umbrage with me. For having an opinion. After all, that's all it is. An opinion. I'm not foisting it on anyone. It's simply take it or leave it. I especially like to hold unpopular opinions. Makes me feel more independent. --Jim Broede

No reason to limit myself.

Life was meant to be lived. Maybe in a rather exotic and romantic way. Like in a storybook. I've always thought that. I knew right from the beginning what I wanted to be. A writer. Initially, for newspapers. It seemed like a profession with some pizazz. Glamour. Yes, like in a storybook. Living what I wanted to be. And finally, I decided I wanted to be a romantic idealist, a free-thinker, a liberal and a lover. So that's what I'm doing. This summer I'll spend 5 weeks in Europe. In pursuit of life. The way I want my life to be. To tell the truth, I'd much rather live life than write about it. But hey, sometimes I can do both. I see no reason to limit myself. --Jim Broede

Thinking about what I learned.

Nobody knows what to fully expect of life. But I find that if I take it one day at a time and not get too far ahead of myself, it works. Especially if I find at least some token time for myself daily. To reflect. To recuperate. To count my blessings. Yes, it's very much an attitudinal thing. Life is an adventure. Mostly a wonderful adventure. And one might as well try to savor it. On reflection, it seems to me that my 13 years as an Alzheimer care-giver did me far more good than harm. Of course, I'm looking at it after the fact. Thinking about what I learned. And how I'm applying that today to make a useful and productive and happy life. --Jim Broede

Let's find gold to go with Silva.

I like success stories. Especially, when the success comes unexpectedly. As in the case of Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Silva. I've written about him before. Silva was a high-paid flop with the Seattle Mariners the last two seasons. But the Cubs acquired him last winter in a trade for Cubs high-paid flop, outfielder Milton Bradley. Bradley continues to be a failure for his new team. But Silva. Well, behold. He won today, and improved his record to six wins, and no losses. And he has a sterling earned run average, giving up barely more than 3 runs for every nine innings pitched. Goes to show that baseball can be an unpredictable game. More proof of that is Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez. For the past several seasons he's been the Cubs most productive hitter. The reason he bats clean-up. He has a reputation as a clutch hitter and generally drives in more than 100 runs in a season. But for some unexplained reason, Ramirez has been in a season-long slump. He's batting .161, the lowest average for any regular player in the major leagues. And in his last game, he struck out four times. Of course, if I had my way, I'd bench Ramirez. And send him to a doctor for a physical and mental exam. If that shows nothing wrong, I'd ask Ramirez to let go of his gigantic ego, and accept assignment as the highest paid player in minor league baseball. With a promise of return to the Cubs if and when he finds his batting eye. And if he doesn't accept his new role, I'd trade him. Maybe the Cubs will get lucky again. And find a golden hitter to go with Silva. --Jim Broede

Taking turns stifling each other.

Hierarchal and bureaucratic systems are designed to stifle change. And individual initiative. That’s why people who clamor for change in our federal government really get nowhere fast. If elected, they soon discover that yokes have been placed around their necks. The system requires it. The system teaches that longtime practices are sacred. Look at the U.S. Senate. A minority can filibuster legislation. Even individual senators can put a procedural hold on virtually any appointment by the president. It’s absurd. But part of the system. Of course, this pisses off some people. They don’t like the way government is run. And they shout and holler, and even get elected to office. By calling for change. But once in, they quickly learn, they’ve been caught in the bureaucratic quicksand. And they sink quickly. And it’s the same old same old. Maybe it’s just as well. Consider the fact that lunatic fringe politicians on the far right are clamoring for idiotic change next time around. But hey, the system is set up in such a way that even a handful of liberals can block change. They’ve been well-taught. By a handful of conservatives that know how to block the liberal agenda. Yes, we can take turns stifling each other. –Jim Broede

We can out-zany 'em all.

When I think Republican now, I think Rand Paul, Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin. Indeed, that's a motley crew. Weird. A better comic act than the Three Stooges. Almost unbelievable. But I'd like to believe that they are a godsend for Democrats. Of course, I could be wrong. If they prove to be attractive to a majority of Americans -- well, then we're in big trouble. They are outlandish comic book characters. In a sense, I can't believe they are real. I have to think they are all part of a put-on. With the likes of loonies Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. They act as if they are serious. Esposing far, far right wing views. Such as wanting to allow racial discrimination in private sectors. And to label as un-American criticism of BP for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Indeed, they verify daily that there's reason to suspect that some Republicans and Tea Party faithful are stark-raving mad. Lunatics. The scary thing, of course, is that they are being taken seriously. By far too many Americans. Paul even won the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Kentucky. I'd like to think these characters won't ever reflect majority opinion in the USA. But then, who knows? We Americans have a history of being befuddled. Doing strange things. Such as electing George Bush to two terms. But these characters are to the far right of even Bush. They are crazier than crazy. But in my lifetime, I've seen some pretty crazy characters come to power. In Germany. In Italy. In Libya. In North Korea. In Iraq. In Iran. In Burma. Yes, a lengthy list. So, why not America? We'll show the world. We Americans can out-zany 'em all. --Jim Broede

On practicing the American way.

I'm very liberal when it comes to immigration policy. About as liberal as one can get. And I know that annoys some people. But that's my intent. Somebody has to defend the liberal approach. And it might as well be me. I'm sure I won't get my way. But hey, there's no harm in standing up for illegal immigrants. For giving them a break. Because I think the vast majority of 'em are fine and decent people. Even if they've evaded the current immigration laws. I'd encourage them to become U.S. citizens. Without deporting 'em. Give 'em a break. And I'd compliment them for wanting to live in the U.S. Because it gives them a better opportunity at life than in the country they came from. Oh, some of you will say, 'Well, then let 'em come legally. Follow the rules. Be patient. Stand in line.' That sounds good. But still, I want to make it easier than that for the illegal immigrants. The ones that see an immediate opportunity. That have found jobs. And established families here. And are acting like good citizens. That is, other than by breaking immigration laws. Laws that I consider too strict. So yes, I'd look the other way. In the American tradition. We Americans look the other way and violate laws of all sorts on a daily basis. Traffic laws. Civil rights laws. Tax laws. You name it. We're a nation of lawbreakers. And many of us get away with it. So, dear illegal immigrants, you are practicing the American way. Congratulations. --Jim Broede

Still a long way to go.

I think many racists are well-intentioned. They really don't mean to be racists. And they don't have conscious ill-intent. They've just never seriously questioned whether their actions and conduct are racist. Maybe they espouse libertarian views. They think that for the sake of individual freedom everyone has the right to discriminate. That you are free to choose your own friends. And if you choose not to mix with black people -- well, so be it. They'd allow the owner of a restaurant, for instance, to turn away customers just because they have black skins. I can see their point of view. But I don't buy it. We have to learn to be civil and polite and courteous even to people we don't like. For whatever reason. That's why we give criminals, even the worst of 'em, basic human rights. I say, let's treat each other decently. For many years, we had a social system of separate but equal. We even required blacks to use separate drinking fountains. Of course, that was preposterous. And asinine. And unfair. And wrong as wrong can be. We've mended our ways. But not totally. We still have a long way to go. As evidenced by libertarians who claim that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 went too far. Actually, it didn't go far enough. --Jim Broede

'We ain't gonna take this anymore.'

Think about it. Maybe the most solid economy in the world is China's. Yes, the place we always thought of as inferior. Communist. Socialist. Autocratic. One thing about China. It's a well-regulated economy. The unregulated economies seem to be in big trouble. Right here in the USA. And in Europe. We've given capitalists more or less free rein. And it's proving costly. Capitalists generally refuse to regulate themselves. Because they are greedy. They think it's all right for the rich to become richer and for the poor to become poorer. And to hell with regulation. Maybe that worked for a while. But now we're in a more competitive world. Conditions have changed. If we continue to allow capitalists to do as they please, they'll exploit the masses. And divide the world into the haves and the have-nots. It's creating bigger and bigger numbers of have-nots. And some of 'em are standing up and shouting, 'We ain't gonna take this anymore.' --Jim Broede

The potential to become gods.

Science is working wonders. To the point that some day we'll be able to create life. From scratch. Yes, just like god. We've already created molecules that can be used as building blocks for all sorts of synthetic things. And now maybe life itself. That's amazing. But maybe also scary. For some people. Thinking maybe we are going somewhere where we shouldn't be going. Into god's realm. But then, maybe there are no bounds. Our actual god may be no more than another civilization. Far advanced. That learned to create earthlings. Or human beings. And then sent us off. To inhabit this planet. A zoo, so to speak. Maybe we were created for this specific environment. I could imagine the creation of other strange and exotic types of intelligent life forms. Capable of inhabiting such planets as Mercury, Mars, Venus. Even gaseous planets such as Jupiter and Neptune. I think of that as wonderful. Astounding. Awesome. Imagine putting us in a domain that would bring us much closer to god. Yes, I think we have the potential to become creators. Gods. --Jim Broede

Black faces. Yes, that kind.

I have to smile. That is, when Tea Party stalwarts deny they're racists. Take Rand Paul, the Republican nominee for a U.S. senate seat in Kentucky. He admitted in an interview that he has misgivings about portions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Particularly the prohibition against racial discrimination by private businesses. As if they should be allowed to do as they damn well please. Simply because they're private. Well, that got lots of reaction. Especially from liberals like me. Anyway, Paul has now backed off a bit. And declared that he wouldn't support repeal of any portions of the Civil Rights Act. But the fact that he disagrees with a vital/key part of the legislation raises suspicion that he's really a racist. Anyway, I think the Tea Party has been infiltrated by many racists. I'm still looking for black faces at Tea Party rallies. Haven't sighted one yet. But then, it wouldn't surprise me if the Tea Party decides to sponsor a Minstrel Show. To prove that it welcomes black faces. Yes, that kind. --Jim Broede

A gawd awful delivery system.

I subscribe to the New York Times. The printed version. And occasionally, the delivery is missed. Maybe 6 or 7 times a year. Which isn't so bad. It could be worse. I have a number I call. To report a missed delivery. And each time, I'm assured that I'll receive a replacement copy the next day. But it never happens. I tell the voice at the other end, don't give me assurances that I'll receive the copy the next day, or any day, for that matter. But still, the voice persists. There's no reason you shouldn't get the paper, albeit a day or two late. I say that's fine. Because I prefer the printed copy. Rather than the cyperspace copy. Because I take the Times with me when I go to a restaurant or out for a walk or go to bed. Anyway, I didn't get Wednesday's paper. So I called. Lodged my usual complaint. And got the usual assurance. Still, no paper. So I called again today (Thursday). Told 'em the same story again. Got the assurance that the paper will be here by Friday. And I'm sure that on Friday, it'll be the same song and dance. So, I'll call again and again and again. Just for the heck of it. To see how long this lasts. No, I'm not doing it out of frustration. It's more a case of curiosity. Just to see if the New York Times ever gets its delivery correct. To tell the truth, I have great faith in the truth of the Times' news reports. But it's delivery system is gawd awful. --Jim Broede

Oh, such an awful battle cry.

I like the idea of a regulated economy. Maybe even heavy regulated. Whatever it takes to bring rampant and greedy capitalism under control. Because capitalism ain't gonna regulate itself. It means that government has to step in. And become the regulator. I know that in America, Republicans abhor such an idea. After all, they are the party of 'no' and corruption. They want the rich to become richer. Even if that means making the poor poorer. It's obscene. But then, America was built on a foundation of obscenity. Actually, on a slave economy. On exploitation of the masses of people. For the benefit of the elite few. The money-grubbers have always had an advantage in America. They hold the real power. Because money buys influence. And ultimately, power. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people believe the capitalist bullshit lingo. That only in a capitalist society are the people truly free. And that socialism is inherently bad. Because it takes away freedom. Yes, it does. Takes away the freedom of the captalist to exploit the masses. The last thing the greedy capitalist wants is a society that serves the common good. Instead, the capitalist wants a government that serves the good of the individual capitalist. And to hell with the common good. Oh, such an awful battle cry. --Jim Broede

Wonders never cease.

My favorite Chicago Cubs pitcher is Carlos Silva. Maybe because he's a winner. His record is 5-0. With a team with a losing record. Silva knows how to pitch. He has a sinker. Which means the ball sinks. And hitters tend to hit the ball into the ground. Generally, that makes for easy fielding. The Cubs traded for Silva during the off-season. Got him from the Seattle Mariners. In exchange for troubled Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley. Bradley is a head case. With psychological problems. Silva had physical injuries while with Seattle. Anyway, Seattle and the Cubs traded their problem players. And so far, it's worked out best for the Cubs. And lo and behold, the Cubs have a 4-game winning streak. Goes to show that wonders never cease. --Jim Broede

I'd welcome illegal immigrants.

Funny, isn't it? The way Congress puts off dealing with immigration policy. Yes, it's so politically volatile that our politicians don't even want to deal with it. In large part, I suppose, because we are a nation divided. No doubt about it, we have millions of illegal immigrants. People flock here. Presumably because they like it. My inclination is to welcome 'em. Make it relatively easy for them to obtain permanent residency status. I like newcomers. People from all over the world. Gives us more diversity. More balance. And I like the mix of languages, too. We Americans would be much better off if we learned multiple languages. It would help us better understand other cultures. So anyway, all you illegal immigrants, welcome! --Jim Broede

I get it right. Occasionally.

I like baseball in large part because players are allowed to fail. In fact, most of the time. Think about it. The best hitters in baseball tout batting averges of .300. Which means they get hits about three times in every 10 tries. They fail seven times. The regular major league season lasts for 162 games. That's a long haul. And even the best teams generally lose 60 or 70 games. It ain't always perfect. And fielders make errors. They bobble ground balls. Drop flyballs. Make errant throws. And pitchers give up homeruns and bunches of runs. A no-hitter or perfect pitched game is very rare. Maybe once or twice in a season. Anyway, I feel comfortable with the game of baseball. Because it's much like my own life. I screw up about 7 out of 10 times. But just think. I get it right. Occasionally. --Jim Broede

Loverboy may not be listening.

I've learned acceptance. You'll find me complaining about lots of things in this blog. But in the end, I accept certain situations. Such as the state of American politics. And the state of the economy. And the gross stupidity I stumble across daily. Yes, acceptance is a pretty nice thing. Because one can't do much to bring about change. Because the system is the system. It's in place. And an individual learns to live with it. I can get around the system. To some extent. By ignoring it. Not letting it bother me. For instance, I can retreat to my cocoon, and pretend that I've escaped to another world. My own world. But that lasts only so long. One needs to eventually venture out into the real world. But I've also learned to gripe about things. Any and everything. Won't do much good. My ideas and rantings generally fall on deaf ears and empty minds. But still, I get satisfaction. Merely by sounding off. And I can talk to the animals, too. Especially my cats, Loverboy and Chenuska. They seem to be listening most of the time. Or so I think. Although, I noticed this morning that Loverboy had paws over his ears. --Jim Broede

Maybe he's smarter than I think.

Carlos Zambrano has the arm that it takes to be a good baseball pitcher. But he hasn't got the head. The mind. He's a dumbbell. Doesn't get his head into the game. That's very frustrating for a Cubs fan like me. Because if Zambrano developed his mind, and controlled his temper, he'd be one of the best pitchers in baseball. And just what the Cubs need. But Zambrano's natural talent, a gifted arm, keeps going to waste. The Cubs have a team psychiatrist. And he might help get Zambrano's head straight. That is, if Zambrano weren't so dumb. So stubborn. A good pitcher tries to fool hitters. With his mind. Makes a hitter out-guess what he's gonna throw. He outfinesses the hitter. He's crafty. Varies his pitches. Changes speed. All sorts of tricks. Zambrano, on the other hand, is too predictable. Too stupid. And not only that, he often loses his cool. If Cubs players make errors behind him, Zambrano gets upset. He's been known to take a bat to a water cooler in the Cubs dugout. Yes, to throw a tantrum. Anyway, Zambrano is the highest paid pitcher on the Cubs roster. Something like $18 million a season. Not bad. So maybe I've misjudged Zambrano. He's smarter than I think. He's tricked the Cubs management into paying him more than he's worth. --Jim Broede

We need forward-looking radicals.

I like change. But I'm a little leery of change just for the sake of change. In other words, change could mean going from bad to worse. That's what I see happening on the American political scene. We're so disgusted with the state of politics that we get some dissidents to form something called the Tea Party. A so-called new brand of politic. In which America takes a sharp turn to the right. Because we think that the current Obama administration is too far to the left. When actually, it's in the middle. And we forget that Obama was elected to clean up a horrendous mess created by a far right wing government. Unfortunately, we want the clean up completed in two years, when really it'll take longer than that. After all, consider that it took 8 years for the George Bush administration to run the USA from a budget surplus to the worst deficit ever. In other words, we want a miracle. And we ain't gonna get it. We've averted a disaster. Such as a second Great Depression. Instead, we've gotten only a Great Recession. And we wanna blame that on Obama. When really the whole damn mess is the result of conservative Republican policies. But still, we're pissed that Obama didn't achieve a miracle tantamount to the parting of the Red Sea. So, we'll show him. By electing radicals that would return us to the 18th century. A time that we erroneously perceive as good times, when really it wasn't. Oh, I don't deny the need for a radical cleansing of government. But with astute politicians that will guide us into the 21st century. Not back to olden times. Yes, we need forward-looking radicals. Not backward looking ones. --Jim Broede

In Italy, use the toilet before 11.

I'm discovering strange things about Italians. For instance, when living in Italy, you don't flush the toilet after 11 p.m. It's an act of politeness. Courtesy. Because in Italian condominiums, sounds travel. Long and loud. Floors are tiled. Walls are thin. Hardly anything is made of sound-absorbant wood. Anyway, it's wise to use the toilet before 11. Otherwise, your neighbors will label you ill-mannered. --Jim Broede

Mighty Casey may be a Cub.

Oh, my gawd! My Chicago Cubs have won two straight games. That's the first time that has happened in a long time. Visions of three straight wins are dancing in my head. That's the nice thing about baseball. A long schedule. Some 162 games in the regular season. Hope springs eternal. Until a team is mathematically eliminated. And that hardly ever happens before late August or early September. One dreams of winning the last 40 games in a row. And sneaking to the top on the last day of the season. With a come from behind victory. On a grand slam homer in the bottom of the 9th. That sure beats the Mighty Casey striking out. Only thing is, I think nine Caseys are playing for the Cubs. --Jim Broede

Am I to become a nudist?

I'm starting to walk barefooted. Mainly, in the house. Indoors. But I'm gonna do more barefooting outdoors, too. Because it feels good. I don't think feet were made for shoes or sandals. Bare feet were meant to touch the holy ground. Of course, I know there are limits. Especially in wintertime. Here in Minnesota. It would be foolhardy to walk about barefooted on the frozen tundra. But in the summertime, I can work bare-footed. In the grassy yard. And my feet will be the better for it. I have a bunion. And no doubt, it was caused by improper fitting shoes. When I'm bare-footed, the bunion doesn't bother me. Anyway, all this bareness makes me wonder what's to come next. Am I to become a nudist? --Jim Broede

Till the end of time.

Once upon a time, I thought I wanted to be sane. But now I know better. I was put on Earth to live an insane existence. An insane life. Think of it. I am to test the limits of life. To be anything I like. To shape myself. To determine my essence. And I've been given an indeterminate amount of time. It could have ended yesterday. Or tomorrow. One never knows. That's the thrill of it all. Living now. I'm never in the past or the future. I'm now. Always have been. Always will be. Even when I'm no more. I'm my own forever. And I've determined that I want to live it all crazily. Savoring every precious moment. In bliss. In ecstasy. In rapture. In love with it all. That takes an act of insanity. And imagination. And that's what I'm doing. Truly living. Insanely. Till the end of time. --Jim Broede

And there's no escaping.

I’m no more or no less a freak than anyone else. In a sense, we’re all freaks. In that we do weird and strange things. I’m assuming that’s the nature of human beings. Doesn’t matter whether we perform as freaks individually. Or collectively. It’s all one big freak show. Just tune in TV. And read the newspaper. Or listen to the radio. Or look around. We focus largely on freakish occurrences. Things that seem a little bit out of the ordinary. But fact of the matter is that they are ordinary. Murder. Mayhem. Political raving and ranting. Oil spills. Celebrity antics. We emphasize the crazy. Report the lunacy. Because that’s what we are all about. We’re living in a giant insane asylum. We are inmates. Freaks. And there’s no escaping. Unless we leave the planet Earth. And start all over. –Jim Broede

Imagine, 900 years of experience.

Occasionally, I'm envious when I look at young people. Thinking it would be nice to be young again. That is, if I knew then what I know now. The benefit of experience. It's too bad that when one finally gains experience, one has aged. Significantly. I guess it's a trade-off. In many ways, life is much better now. Because of the benefit of experience. In so many ways, I can love better now than when I was young. But when I was young, I had more energy. More ability to burn both ends of the candle. But when I was young, I wasted so much time. Sure, I was getting experience. But I didn't know how to use it. To fully savor it. Not until now. And I have the ability to reflect. That helps. I am able to see and comprehend and learn from my many mistakes. I'm fortunate. In that my mind is still intact. It's a more efficient mind than when I was young. Because of stored knowledge. And I appreciate friends much more than I appreciated them when I was younger. Yes, I love more thoroughly and completely than I did 20 or 30 or 40 years ago. In meaningful ways. Maybe it's that I appreciate life more. Anyway, I admit, however, that I am a bit envious of the young. I want everything. I wish, in some ways, that god could make me young again; but with the same knowledge I have now. I suppose that could be accomplished by allowing me to live to 150. In good health. Heck, Methuselah lasted until 900-and-something. I would have liked to know him at 74. And at 150, too. I wonder if at 150 he looked younger than me at 74. And I wonder what he looked like at 900. Was he a truly old man? Anyway, just imagine living with the experience of 900 years of life. Wow! --Jim

An honest man won't survive.

If we have to be stuck with capitalism, then I want it regulated. Quite heavily. By the federal government. Let's have rules that guard against greed. And exploitation. Let's discourage people from getting too monetarily rich. By taxing the hell out of the excessively rich. Yes, let's better distribute the wealth. Robbing the rich, so to speak, to give to the poor. Because it's the right thing to do. In the long run, we'll be doing the rich a favor. They'll start feeling better about themselves. That they've really contributed to the betterment of society. To the common good. That would please socialist-minded fellas such as Jesus. I know that Jesus shunned politics. But that's exactly the type of politician we need. One that doesn't play politics. Because he's honest. He gives everybody a square deal. Unfortunately, natural born politicians are in control. Yes, they are liars and crooks. Shameful. Usually, we send such people to prison. But politicians are privileged. They are manipulators. Able to get special rules for themselves. And for their capitalist friends and associates. They help each other. By playing the political game. Oh, I lament. Like Diogenes. If only we could find an honest man. Maybe we had one. Once upon a time. But I think he was crucified. Nailed to a cross. I suspect the same thing would happen if the world ever sees another honest man again. He won't survive. --Jim Broede

Following our pied pipers.

How ironic. The very people who have presided over the decline of America may well be the very ones we elect to fix things. Think of it, folks. The neo-conservatives, the racists, the bigots are flocking to the Tea Party. They are out to unseat the incumbents. Regardless of political party. They hold their noses in the presence of both Republicans and Democrats. But hey, so very many of the Tea Party faithful have even a worse stench about ‘em. They’re rotten to the core. They’d finish the job of leading America down the path to ruination. And we nincompoops fall for their line. We buy into it. Because in difficult times, most of us tend to become more conservative. We think that’s the safe way to play the political and economic games. When really, it’s gawd-awful dangerous. We’ll hold hands and jump off the cliff. Together. A little like the zombies at Jonestown. They drank the poisoned lemonade. Willingly. One wonders how people can be so stupid. But we are. It happens often. Every strong and powerful and righteous nation has declined. Come to an end. Rather tragically. Because the masses didn’t know any better. They were suckered in. They followed their leaders. The pied pipers. Into oblivion. –Jim Broede

I'm a wild and crazy guy.

I like to do crazy things. Or at least what rather safe and conservative people consider wild and crazy. In other words, I'll take a chance. A risk. That's helped me become what I am. Among other things, a romantic idealist. I cultivate love. I live for love. And I'm willing to go off the deep end. For love. I've also renounced Christianity. I left the faith to become a free-thinker. I mean, I guess, that to believe something, I really have to believe. Not just go through the motions. And to some extent, I have to believe what I really want to believe. I adopt a belief. And then I fortify it. I find good and valid reasons that personally satisfy me. Doesn't bother me to go against the generally accepted popular belief. I also like to brandish liberal points of view. Especially when I'm amongst conservatives. I love to alienate capitalists and Republicans and patriots. Often, by defending socialism. I like to flow. But not in the mainstream. I'd rather meander off the beaten track. And it doesn't bother me to be a loner. To go my way. I'd just as soon wander in the wilderness for 40 days and nights rather than mix with the multitudes. And if people call me crazy, I'd take it as a compliment. --Jim Broede

Silly, isn't it?

We Americans don’t know how to become outraged anymore. For instance, we seem to take as matter of fact a report (in the New York Times) that scientists are finding enormous oil plumes in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Including one as large as 10 miles long, 3 miles wide and 300 feet thick in spots. The discovery is fresh evidence that the leak from the broken undersea well could be substantially worse than estimates that the government and BP have given. Indeed, it’s sounding more like one of the biggest man-made environmental disasters of all time. But generally speaking, I think the public attitude is ho-hum. Except for people living along the gulf coast. Of course, BP says it’ll pay for the clean up. What a farce that is. BP’s customers will pay for the clean up. Down to the very last penny. It’ll be calculated in the price we pay for BP products. And you can bet that BP will continue to make annual profits in the billions. That’s the way the capitalist system works. All I can say is, down with capitalism. But that’s a shout that falls on deaf ears. So we Americans get what we deserve. Capitalism. A system in which the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. Silly, isn’t it? And we tolerate it. No significant game-changing outrage. We just live with it. –Jim Broede

It's only baseball games.

I've decided that if my Chicago Cubs can't finish in first place, I'd just as soon have them end up in last place. Yes, I wouldn't mind if they had the worst record in baseball. Maybe it's that I like extremes. Being the best. Or the worst at something. At least, if you are the worst, things are likely to get better. Next season. And if you are the best, on top of the heap, it can only get worse. The Cubs are teaching me acceptance. That it's all right to lose. Because it's only baseball games. I'd rather keep my sense of humor. And perspective. --Jim Broede

I'd be something in nothing.

I'm fascinated by the emptiness of space. Sure there's much in space. Billions of galaxies. Each with billions of solar systems. And quite possibly many forms of life. But astronomers have also discovered vast amounts of empty space. Devoid of any and everything. For instance, there's a void about 1,000 times the volume of what would be expected in typical cosmic gaps. "It's hard even for astronomers to picture how big these things are," said University of Minnesota Professor Lawrence Rudnick. "If you were to travel at the speed of light, it would take you several years to get to the nearest stars in our own Milky Way galaxy. But if you were to go to this hole and enter one side, you'd have to travel a billion years before you would get to the other side." The void is roughly 6-10 billion light years away from Earth. The reason the void exists is not known. "That's going to be a challenge for people that work on the development of the structure of the universe," Rudnick said. "It's a very hot topic in the cosmology right now." Personally, I'd like to explore the region of nothingness. At least I'd be there. And I'm something. --Jim Broede

Jesus was a socialist at heart.

In many ways, I abhor the thinking of modern day conservative Christians. As for the liberals, I can tolerate them more easily. Because I think they have it right. They want to help the poor. While the conservatives tend to flock to the rich. I'm not a Christian. Used to be. I was raised in Sunday School. Even got comfirmed. And baptized. And all that stuff. But I soon learned that I didn't like much of what Christianity stood for. Selfishness. Greed. Capitalism. Exploitation. Oh, I like that fellow Jesus. And I'd gladly follow him. And become his friend. His buddy. But I have no desire to be a Christian. Because I think Jesus wouldn't want me to be one. Because the whole movement has been corrupted. It's not much like what Jesus would want it to be. He'd say that most so-called Christians have misconstrued his message. Yes, it's the poor we're supposed to help. Not the rich. Jesus was for the common good. He was a socialist at heart. --Jim Broede

It was a less complicated time.

I like the idea of being up and wide awake as others in my community are mostly asleep. I don't know why that is. Maybe it gives me a sense of being alone. And alive. Relatively speaking. There's something nice about wandering in the night. When it's quiet. When much of the world seems to have shut down. At least that part of the world in whch I live. I would have loved to live in the Garden of Eden. When the only living humans were Adam and Eve. Yes, at the very beginning. Imagine that. Not having other people complicate one's life. Now we have billions of people. Crowds. Throngs. Hordes. More than we can deal with effectively. In a sense, the Earth has been overrun. Adam and Eve were able to roam. More or less freely. God set some rules, of course. But gave them the opportunity to violate his edicts. To become independent. Look at what that has wrought. Today's world. Well, I'm not sure whether mankind was better off at the beginning. Or now. In the middle of the night, I really imagine returning to Eden. It was a less complicated time. --Jim Broede

Love makes all the difference.

I have to be motivated. Often I can be enlivened by myself. But it helps if I get a little push or shove. And that happens when I'm in love. There's nothing more motivating than love. It wakes me up. Turns me on. Gives me gumption. And drive. And desire. And purpose. Actually, everything that's good. I didn't know this. Until I fell in love. And that didn't happen until I was about 30 years old. And here I am. Now 74. And thriving. Because I'm still in love. That is what keeps me going. Gives me the motivation I need to be a romantic idealist, a free-thinker, a liberal and a lover. I know myself. And I'm inspired. By my love. --Jim Broede

We aren't revolutionary anymore.

Apparently, the polls are showing that we Americans are becoming more and more disenchanted with government. Especially the federal government. And the distaste seems to apply to Democrats and Republicans alike. So, what are we gonna do about it? We'll probably defeat some incumbents from both political parties. But we'll still elect Democrats and Republicans to replace 'em. Seems sort of self-defeating. We end up electing more of the same old same old. We fool ourselves into thinking that new faces will bring change. No, it won't. The system will remain essentially the same. Change won't come until we change the system. That's gonna take a revolution. And the last time that happened here was in 1776. Since then, we've gone rotten. We don't know how to operate/conduct a revolution anymore. --Jim Broede

Taking care of business.

I feel if I've gone several days without alienating someone -- well, then I'm not doing my duty. I was put on Earth to annoy people. Oh, that's not my only mission. I'm suppose to be nice, too. And I am. Most of the time. But I also have a responsibility to piss off a select few. Certain people that are annoying in the first place. Therefore, they deserve to get the annoying treatment. Republicans, for instance. And racists. And hypocrites. And Alzheimer care-givers that always feel sorry for themselves. The list could go on and on. Anyway, that's why I post some of my annoying threads here. To take care of business. --Jim Broede

We have to learn how to care.

I'm trying to go out of my way to meet people with Alzheimer's. Because they need support. Or to put it another way. Care. Care from anyone that can give it. To help them through these next few years. It isn't sufficient for someone with Alzheimer's to be pulled through, cared for, by one person. It's too much for one person to handle. The patient needs stimulation. Lots of it. That is what will keep him alive and functioning for far longer than if he didn't get the stimulus. Unfortunately, too many of us just write off the Alzheimer patient. We try to put 'em away. Because it's demoralizing for some care-givers. Many of 'em can't take it. They don't know how to stimulate. They think it's too big of a task. And they develop a defeatist attitude. And that's contagious. It puts the patient in a hostile environment. Robs him of the much-needed positive stimulation. The patient ends up getting only token attention. And it's little wonder that they then tend to deteriorate quickly. It doesn't have to be that way. But it takes a lot of caring. By a team. Of friends. Of loved ones. And professionals. We have to learn how to care. Really care. Not just go through the motions. --Jim Broede

How I learned to love.

I'm meeting some very remarkable people. With Alzheimer's. They are learning to cope. Often, even better than their care-givers. Because they are accepting of their disease. Trying to make the best of it. I talked to one yesterday. He was diagnosed 4 years ago. But he's still very conversant. And he's very cognitively aware. If he wanted to hide his Alzheimer's, he easily could. He's that sharp. But he couldn't balance his checkbook. Or drive a vehicle. But by golly, he makes sense. Far more sense than lots of people that I know that don't have Alzheimer's. And he's learned to live one day at a time. To savor it all. I'm truly impressed. As I was with my Jeanne during her 13-year sojourn with Alzheimer's. Jeanne responded to the good vibes she was immersed in during the last 38 months of her life. She forgot her belligerence and anger. I discovered a Jeanne that I loved more than ever. Yes, precious Jeanne. I thought I loved Jeanne from the very beginning of our 38-year marriage. But I loved her more toward the end of her life than I ever imagined I could. Because Jeanne was remarkable. She was coping. She was setting an example. For me. I learned to love like I never loved before. I loved being Jeanne's care-giver. Yes, genuinely loved it. Genuinely loved Jeanne. Jeanne taught me how to love. I couldn't have done it without Jeanne. --Jim Broede

At least, god cares.

Too often, I don't know the people I'm dealing with. For instance, right here in this blog. Almost everyone chooses to remain anonymous. And when I try to contact a business with a simple inquiry, I get a recording. Gives me all sorts of information. Just about everything except what I want to know. It's almost impossible to get a real live being. And when I do get one, often it's someone with a hard-to-understand accent in some faraway place. Maybe India. If I have trouble with software on my computer, I call the manufacturer. That is, if I can get a number. Often, they don't take phone inquiries. I have to use email. And pray that I'll get a reply. I have a better chance of reaching god than a fellow human being. At least god has a direct line. And he often answers. Himself. No secretary. No assistant. No department head. Now I'm sure god is awfully busy. Far busier than the folks I'm trying to reach by phone. So, if god has time to spare for me, why don't real people have the time? They do, I suppose. Only they don't seem to care. At least, god cares. --Jim Broede

I'd stick BP with the tab.

Wow! Latest estimates have up to 60,000 barrels of oil leaking daily into the Gulf of Mexico. That's more than 10 times the amount initially cited by BP, the company drilling for oil 50 miles off the Louisana coast. The scope of the environmental disaster keeps getting bigger and bigger. Astronomical. And I put the blame on greedy capitalists out to make quick bucks, quick profits. Without implementing adequate safety measures. I'd require BP and any other companies responsible for the spill to forfeit all of their profits for the next 10 or 20 years, or until enough money is generated to clean up the gawd-awful mess. --Jim Broede

Crossing a bulldog & a chihuahua.

Leave it to the Brits. They are more advanced than we simpleton Americans when it comes to governing. Especially in troubled times. Too bad we Americans didn't lose the Revolutionary War. If we had, we probably would have ended up with a parliamentary form of government. In which, when neither of the two main political parties can corral a majority of seats in Parliament, one must compromise and form a coalition government. Often between widely divergent political parties. There must be a sharing of power. Imagine that. If Democarts and Republicans don't have a majority, they must still find a way to cooperate with another party to form a majority. What has happened in Britain is an almost-unheard-of-coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. The mayor of London has likened it to a cross between 'a bulldog and a chihuahua.' Mayor Boris Johnson said the new government, led by new Tory Prime Minister David Cameron, would have a 'fantastic hybrid vigour.' Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is to be the new deputy PM. Mayor Johnson said: 'You're not adulterating the Conservative brand by adding these Liberal Democrats, you're actually (probably) going to see an improvement. Maybe it's possible the British people have done something pretty brilliant.' Now let's hope that such cooperation between political parties becomes contagious and spreads to America. I could embrace an illness like this. --Jim Broede

For the sake of the team.

If I was gonna fix the Chicago Cubs, I'd probably start by dealing with two giant egos. First baseman Derrek Lee and third baseman Aramis Ramirez. They're supposed to be the Cubs best hitters. The ones that drive in the most runs. But so far this season, they've been flops. Ramirez is batting an atrocious .160, the lowest average of any regular player in the National League. And Lee is barely over .200. That ain't good. The Cubs hired a new hitting coach last winter. Rudy Jaramillo. And he's worked wonders with the Cubs less ego-centric players. Just about everybody in the line-up outside of Lee and Ramirez are among the top 15 or 20 hitters in the National League. The Cubs are getting plenty of base-runners. But they aren't being driven in. Mainly because of the slumping Lee and Ramirez. Both of whom are reported as reluctant to work with Jaramillo. Instead, they want to resolve their own batting problems. Because they've done it in the past, I guess. Sounds to me like their egos are a little too fragile to take advice. I'd tell both of 'em that Jaramillo helped other lesser hitters than them. And maybe it's time to listen. For the sake of the team. And if that hurts their egos, so be it. They can check in with the team's psychiatrist. Yes, the Cubs really do have a team psychiatrist. And he's sorely needed. --Jim Broede

Let's put first priorities first.

I don’t always like the ways we humans treat each other. I guess that’s my main gripe. When you hear me complain in this blog, that’s what it's all about. We could treat each other better. In so many, many ways. We do keep getting better at it. But, oh, progress is so slow. Look how long it took to free the slaves. And how long it took to give women some semblance of equal rights. We still have a long way to go. Sad thing is, some of us don’t recognize it. We’d rather rest on our laurels. Because we’ve elected a black president, we think we’ve solved the matter of racism. We constantly fool ourselves. In little ways. In big ways, too. For instance, I’m in constant dispute with some Alzheimer care-givers. The ones that always feel sorry for themselves. Focused too much on themselves. Rather than on their patients. They allow themselves to become frazzled and despondent and overworked and exhausted and belligerent and angry. And in the process they take it out on their patients. In negative ways. I keep pointing out that they do harm. To themselves. To their patients. Some of the situations are pretty bad. But hostile care-givers argue that I should be more compassionate and understanding. Toward them, the care-givers. And maybe I should. But in turn, I tell them they should be more compassionate and understanding. Toward their patients. Of course, they really get pissed when I tell them maybe they should consider doing something other than care-giving. Everybody would be better off if they left the job to others more suited for the difficult assignment. That would be no shame, I point out. It would be the right thing to do. But they take umbrage. They insist they are dedicated. Just overworked. And that their intentions are good. Which I don't deny. But to me, that’s not quite good enough. Their patients deserve better. And I want to come across as an advocate for the patient. In a sense, I want to put the interest of the patient ahead of the care-giver. That’s all I’m saying. If we were talking about crime, I’d tend to put the victim ahead of the perpetrator. I’d want to deal with both fairly. But let’s put first priorities first. –Jim Broede

We're just plain stuck.

I have a bad feeling about America's role in Afghanistan. As if our presence will make a positive difference. It won't. Because Afghans will ultimately do as they please. Or more likely, as Afghan's president, Hamid Karzai, pleases. And he and his cronies are corrupt as heck. So our military action in Afghanistan is more or less meant to fortify the presence of the corrupt Karzai government. In fact, Karzai is suspected of stealing the last election. And his brother is supposed to be a drug trafficker. And why are we in Afghanistan? I guess because terrorists used the remote country as a training ground for the 9/11 attack on the U.S. So here we are. Stuck in a costly war that has lasted 9 years, and counting. And even worse, we're stuck with Hamid Karzai. --Jim Broede

Poor me. I'm addicted. For life.

My Chicago Cubs are putting me to a test again this season. Playing lousy baseball. Maybe I should accept the fact that there are some lousy players on the team. But that's hard to accept. After all, this is supposed to be the major league level. Everybody is supposed to be reasonably good. But put it this way. Some are not good enough. And the Cubs seem to have ample numbers of 'em. Especially when it comes to relief pitching. And clutch hitting. And fielding. I'm thinking it's time for a rebuilding program. An overhaul. Let's get rid of some of the veteran players. And atart anew. With young players that gradually learn to play together. And maybe mesh several years down the line. In about 2014 or 2015. Heck, totally new franchises have emerged in recent years. And they've outperformed the Cubs. Merely by starting from scratch. Take the Tampa Bay Rays, for instance. And the Colorado Rockies. And the Toronto Blue Jays. And teams with much smaller payrolls than the Cubs have won world championships. Such as the Minnesota Twins. They've done it twice in the past 20 years. The Cubs, meanwhile, haven't been in a World Series since 1945. And they haven't won it all since 1908. Makes one wonder if the Cubs management doesn't know how to run a baseball team. For a fan, it gets downright discouraging. And I threaten to go in and get treatment to my longtime Cubs addiction. But it'll never happen. Poor me. I'm addicted. For life. --Jim Broede

Once you get to know me.

I highly recommend blogs. Everybody should have one. A place to express one's self. In writing. One's audience may be quite limited. But that's all right. I go to my blog virtually every day. Because I have something to say. Maybe some days it's mere trivia. But that's all right. It's still something. I like it when people like what I have to say. But I also like it when people get mad at me. In fact, downright furious. That makes for a good day. Because people need to be stirred. And it's nice to know that I had a role in arousing someone's passions. Of course, I don't like to be censored. That's a motivating force for my blog. I'm my only censor. In other words, I set the rules. My blog is my domain. Some people have tried to take it over. But that's pure folly. I won't allow it. At other web sites and blogs, I'm not the boss. I have to follow their rules. And generally, I do. I've been known to push the limits on occasion. Just as some people do in my blog. And they discover that I'm a rather tolerant fellow. I'll draw lines. But I allow myself to be pushed. Because I tend to be an open-minded liberal. Rather than a close-minded conservative. I occasionally stumble across an open-minded conservative. Indeed, that's a rare find. Worthy of special recognition. Another strange thing. I've noticed that I alienate mostly women. And not so many men. I'm not sure why that is. Because women are, by far, my most favorite people. Several of 'em are very special. But there also are some very ornery women. Some who outrightly despise me. I find that mostly funny. Can't get myself to take it seriously. Many women approach me anonymously. I'm not sure why. Could be they are shy. Or maybe they are frightened of me. Of course, they have no valid reason to be afraid. Because I'm a personable and kind guy. A real gentleman. Actually, very tender and gentle. I'm a romantic idealist. And I have a keen sense of humor, too. And I'm reasonably intelligent. So all in all, I'm quite likeable. Once you get to know me. --Jim Broede

It ain't right.

Why should it matter what I think? I just happen to have opinions. I may say black is white. And white is black. And that offends some people. I may criticize Republicans. And praise Democrats. I may advocate socialism. And I may call for a revolution. So what? Actually, I like to voice unpopular views. To go against the grain. Hey, I'm not foisting my ways on anybody. They can take 'em or leave 'em. Like this blog. It's not required reading. One can choose to ignore it completely. I suppose it'd be different if I were in a position of power and authority. If I dictated the way other people must live. But I don't. I just get up in the public forum and mouth off, so to speak. Often, in writing. Because that's one of my favorite forms of expression. The written word is solid. It's there to read and read again. Often, it's misread. Which is all right, too. People are free to choose their own meaning. To be judgmental. And to be wrong. Heck, I'm probably wrong as often as I'm right. Yes, wrong in the opinion of others. But that's all right. It's perfectly permissable. We're all free. Free to think what we want to think. Yet, there are some people who would like to restrict thought. To put limits on thought. To police thought. Even to the point of executing people. Not for their actions. But for their thoughts. Now that's idiotic. And immoral. It ain't right. --Jim Broede

We are all judgmental.

I keep sensing that a handful of people are annoyed with me. For what I write in my blog. For instance, one lady keeps telling me I'm judgmental. And that I shouldn't be. Of course, I am judgmental. I don't deny it. I have opinions. About what's good. And what's bad. I never did like Hitler. So I say it. I'm judgmental. And I have opinions on all sorts of issues. About some Alzheimer care-givers. That they are far too angry. And that they pose a danger to their patients. Yes, that's judgmental. But I voice my views anyway. Because I think the patients need advocates and protectors. Because they can't fend for themselves. Meanwhile, that lady who thinks I'm judgmental is judgmental herself. She castigates me for not being like her. I suspect that we are all judgmental to some degree. --Jim Broede

Learning to go with the flow.

I like to salvage something from bad or unexpected situations. Let's say that I'm traveling. And I get lost. That could be rather frustrating. Unless, of course, I discover something I didn't expect to find. A pleasurable experience, for instance. A nice restaurant. Nice people. Nice scenery. I may ultimately conclude that I was fortunate to have gotten lost. That I took a wrong turn. I think of life as an adventure. In which the unexpected happens. Even bad things. Maybe a car breaks down. One has to sit around for a day. Waiting for repairs. But that often presents an opportunity. To look around. Last summer, I was planning on finding a place to stay in Duluth. But there were no vacancies. I had to drive 50 miles out of my way. To a little town called Moose Lake. And I liked the town. And the people. It was a nice experience. Quiet. Restful. Pleasant. Think I'm getting to enjoy life. No matter what happens. Even when things don't go the way I want things to go. Often, I wonder if it's all by grand design. That I'm supposed to adjust. And go with the flow. --Jim Broede

The sick trying to care for the sick.

Some of the angriest people I know are care-givers. With Alzheimer patients. And that's sad. Because angry people make lousy care-givers. I'm in favor of anger management classes. Designed for care-givers. I do understand why care-givers can become angry. They often are overworked. Tired. Exhausted. And they feel as if fate has dealt them the severest of blows. Albeit, if they stop to think, there are many fates far, far worse. But the point I wish to make is that if they can get their anger under control, they can become pretty decent care-givers. But many of 'em don't know how to do that. The anger festers. And they too often end up doing harm. To themselves. But worse, to their patients. It's happening. Daily. I see it up close. And from a distance. On message boards. It's a major health care problem. We do not take adequate care of dementia patients and those with all sorts of mental illnesses. We do much better at caring for those with physical diseases and ailments. But we've neglected the mentally disturbed. And the irony of it all is that some Alzheimer care-givers have become mentally malfunctioning. So we have the sick trying to care for the sick. --Jim Broede

I know what really matters.

I really need only two things in life to make me happy. Good health. And love. Maybe in that order. If I have good health, I can always make a living. By writing. Or whatever. Even hard labor. And I also can pursue love. Doesn't necessarily mean that I'll always find it. But much of the fun is in search of love. I really don't need many material possessions. It's nice to have a roof over my head. And adequate food. Again, I can get that if I have good health. I can always find a way. Oh, I've accumulated some things. To excess. But I can let that stuff go. And still be happy. The only thing I don't want to surrender is good health. I suspect that goes for most people. And that's why I'm a proponent of universal health care. I know what really matters. --Jim Broede

With great relish and pleasure.

I pretty much do as I damn well please. Live the way I want to live. Say what I want to say. Because few people really pay attention. That's nice. Gives me a high degree of freedom. A case of live and let live. I'm not gonna change other people. And they ain't gonna change me. On the other hand, if I were in a position of power and high visibility, I'd probably be in trouble. But I don't wield any significant power or influence. So I can be ignored. I like that. I don't want to have power. Because that would be a burden. And it'd be corrupting. Instead, I can settle for just being. Alive. And conscious. And able to enjoy the moment. With great relish and pleasure. --Jim Broede

Destruction in search of profit.

Ah, leave it to profit-minded capitalists to find a way to turn the Gulf of Mexico into an oil cesspool. Yes, they invented a spigot that can't be turned off. Oil, oil, everywhere. And not a drop to use productively. Of course, the oil companies have always told us that drilling is safe. And politicians like John McCain and Sarah Palin shout slogans such as 'Drill, baby, drill.' With no outward concern for the environment. Because oil is money. And offshore oil frees us from reliance on Middle East oil. But look at what we've got. A polluted sea. The loss of wildlife. An economic disaster. And no way to turn it off. Capitalists sure know how to destroy the world. In search of profit. --Jim Broede

We get what we deserve.

Just think about how much better off we'd be in America. If only we hadn't subjected ourselves to eight years of George Bush and Republican ways. We've wasted so much money on two useless and immoral wars. We've given the richest people in America trillion dollar tax breaks. And what has this done for us? It's put America on an economic decline. With the biggest budget deficits ever. And to think, we started the Bush-Republican era with a budget surplus. One that we could very well have today, if only we hadn't made such dirty, rotten political and economic decisions. We've tried to change course. But it's gonna take a generation to bail us out of this mess. Only thing is, we Americans aren't patient enough. We want miracles. We want the Republican debacle fixed virtually overnight. It won't happen. So, what will we do in our frustration? We'll end up putting Republicans back into the majority. Yes, our memories are so short. And maybe we are just plain stupid. We fall for the Republican bullshit. Which means, we get just what we deserve. More bullshit. --Jim Broede

Let's move into the 21st century.

I like the notion in Britain that Tories and Liberal Democrats may be forced to compromise with each other to form a government. Give and take is a wonderful thing. Often that makes for a good marriage, a good relationship. Something that we lack in American politics. Of course, no party gained a clearcut majority in Britain's election. Here in America, we usually have a 'majority' government. But only because many of us hold our noses when we go into the voting booths. All of the candidates stink. We just take turns changing the majority. And it really gets us nothing. It's the same old same old. We keep electing capitalists beholden to big corporate interests. Yes, to politicians dedicated to making the rich richer and the poor poorer. No big change. No revolution. We seem to be on a treadmill to nowhere. When really, it would be possible to change our political and economic systems. To something far better. Such as the serving of the true common good. But we Americans have the notion that the 18th century ideas of our founding fathers were the best. That they were enlightened political geniuses. Yes, maybe they were. For 18th century times. Only thing is, we are living in the 21st century. And we don't seem to know it. --Jim Broede

I am right. And I know it.

I like it that I don't have to think like other people. In other words, I can have my own opinions. Some people tell me I'm wrong. That I should think like others. Especially, like the majority. But I'm not necessarily for majority rule. Because I've learned that the majority can be wrong, and often is. That's the nature of life. A belief in majoriy rule. But that's exactly what's wrong with the world. The wrong-headed majority is what has caused the USA to go awry. I'm often told by the wrong-headed that I'm wrong. About lots of things. But since they are so often wrong, that means I am right. And I know it. --Jim Broede

They've never learned to laugh.

I get annoyed with people. Certain people. Not many. Very few, really. And I think that's because I've learned patience. I don't get angry any more. Just a little annoyed. And in many instances, I have no power to control other people. So I have to accept them. As they are. Oh, I can often ignore them. Especially if I know them only from a distance. Such as a politician in Washington. Or even my congresswoman right here in Minnesota. I try to respect her right to be a lunatic. An ignoramus. A laughingstock. Really, I've learned to laugh at people that used to annoy me. And the laughter lets off endorphines that make me feel good. No longer annoyed. I have also gained a greater appreciation and respect for people who make a living as comedians. I think that's a very reputable profession. I know that some comedians annoy people. With their jokes. But they deserve to be annoyed. Because they lack a sense of humor. They've never learned to laugh. And that's awfully funny. --Jim Broede

I'm on a nice course -- to Paradise.

I ask myself, if I could change my life, how would I change it? And my answer is: I'd just go on living the way I am living. Because I have the ability to change. In so many ways. And if I really want to change, I can go ahead and do it. I have some degree of flexibility. Always have. Look at how I've steered my life in recent years. I've let my life evolve. Rather naturally. Doing what comes natural. One day at a time. Trying to savor the experience. Knowing that I won't live forever. But making the most of the time that's left. Pursuing happiness. And contentment. And peace of mind. And love. Events happen in my life over which I have no or little control. And I have to adapt and make the best of it all. And I often have options. Choices. So I make choices. The ones that seem best at the moment. If it proves to be a wrong choice -- well, often it can be corrected. I have the ability to change. To take a different course. Anyway, I'm on a nice course. For the moment at least. It has taken me to where I want to go. To Paradise. --Jim

A reason to dance on graves.

Oh, what a volatile economy. Feels and sounds like the bottom could drop out at any moment. The stock market is shaky. A decline of 1,000 points in minutes. The country of Greece on the verge of bankruptcy. Maybe debt-ridden Spain and Portugal and Britain to follow. Yes, even the USA. The stalwart of capitalism. Maybe we are beginning to see the death pangs of capitalism. In which case, I have reason to celebrate. I'd dance on the graves of greedy American-style capitalists. Dance a jig. Maybe we'd have to start to settle for the bare essentials of life. A spreading of the wealth. No more filthy rich people. A new kind of economy that serves the public good. The common good. --Jim Broede

No time to think about time.

I'm becoming less aware of time. A good sign. Because I'm so enjoying life. I have no time to think about time. I suspect that people who are bored are more aware of time. Maybe because they are waiting for something to happen. But I don't have to wait. I have love on my mind. In so many positive ways. I enjoy what I'm doing. Falling deeper and deeper into love. And just plain feeling wonderful. --Jim Broede

So I can hear more Beethoven.

I was 16. When I purchased the phonograph record. Of Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. That was probably the start of my classical collection of 33 1/3 records. Some of 'em are still around. But not this actual record. Instead, I have the performace on a compact disc. And I listened a little while ago. And it brought me back to the spring of 1952. Shortly after the performance was recorded at Carnegie Hall in New York City. I think I paid $5.95 for the record at Geyer's Music Store in Watertown, Wis. That was a lot of money then. Maybe equivalent to $50 today. But, oh, what enjoyment. I must have played the 9th hundreds of times. Probably completely wore out the record. I'm not as keen on Beethoven symphonies today. Though I still like 'em. But I'd rather listen to the string quartets. Anyway, it was nice reliving 1952. Wow! That was a long time ago. I'm happy to have survived this long. So I can hear more Beethoven. --Jim Broede

The inherent human right to war.

We humans have made great technological advances. Which make for a more comfortable life. But we're still toying at finding and implementing advances in human behavior. For instance, we haven't yet eliminated the need and desire for war. We still wage wars. And in more destructive ways, I suppose. Because we apply our new-found gadgets and weapons. And we even have the ability to wipe out huge numbers of lives. In a matter of seconds. And now even solitary individuals can find ways to kill large masses of people. With bombs. And biological agents. And big governments are even helpless in trying to stop some crazed individuals. The rules of war have changed. To make it far easier to go to war. In the USA, we don't even need a formal declaration of war. And instead of wars on nations, we declare wars on terrorism. Or whatever. Substitute any word. Drugs. Obesity. Ah, yes, war is fashionable. Everybody has an opportunity to declare his/her own personal war. It's become part of human nature. An inherent human right. To wage war. --Jim Broede

I am still Adam.

I'm fortunate. In that I'm feeling the pulse beat of life. Daily. I wake early. Before daybreak. And I feel as if I am living in a primeval forest. In quiet. Solitude. But I am not alone. Because I am surrounded by spirits. Yes. By full consciousness. Knowing I have been blessed. And now I see it's more than a forest. A cathedral. A place to worship. I was put here to be aware. Of life. In its full glory. At the moment. I can feel. As Adam must have in Eden. When lo and behold. There was Eve. I am a descendant of Adam. Of the first man. I am experiencing it all. The beginning. And that means I am a part of everlasting life. Because I am still Adam. After all these eons of time. I am eternal. Lasting forever. --Jim Broede

Revolutionary thoughts.

I wonder why there aren't more revolutions in the world. Maybe it's that people don't get mad enough. Or they are just plain lazy. Too hard to overthrow a government. Takes genuine effort. Some risk, too. Some revolutionaries are put in jail. Or even killed. But the rewards can be bountiful. Look at Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba, more than 50 years ago. And there Castro is. Still in power. And admired. At least in Cuba. If not in the USA. I like old-fashioned revolutions. Like the Bolshevik Revolution. And the French Revolution. And the American Revolution. I like to see people becoming untamed and taking to the streets. Getting caught up in the fervor of a revolution. I'm of the mind that we need a really volatile revolution here in America again.To overthrow the revolutionary ideals of our founding fathers. Yes, let's correct their wrongs. Let's make for a new America. Let's make it the grandest revolution of all time. By overthrowing capitalism. In favor of the common good. --Jim Broede

Has she become a real crackpot?

If I wanted to become a well-known politician, I'd evolve into a crackpot. I'd sound like I've gone off the deep end. Like I've flipped. That's the way my congresswoman, Michelle Bachmann, did it. She started acting like a lunatic. Or maybe it isn't an act. Maybe she's an actual full-fledged lunatic. A raving madwoman. That got Bachmann national attention. She started sounding like a Sarah Palin wanna-be. In fact, she even started palling around with Sarah. What a combination. Sarah and Michelle. A double whammy. Both on the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. Early in her lunatic craze, Michelle was seen at a George Bush state of the union speech pushing, shoving her buxom way through the crowd. Just so she could touch the revered George. As if that would turn her into a princess. Sure enough, she grabbed his shoulder. And it was if she had touched god. Michelle hasn't come down from the clouds yet. She's turned into a super patriot. And she's clamoring for an outing of fake and disloyal Americans. She wants to differentiate between the real, true Americans and those unlike her. Traitors. Communists. Socialists. Hard to say what truly motivates Michelle. Could be it's all a clever act. Or it could be that Michelle has become a genuine crackpot. --Jim Broede

Faisal's life is a complete success.

Faisal Shahzad. Now that's quite a name. Unusual. At least in the USA. Maybe not so in Pakistan. Where Faisal was born. He's only 30. Well-educated. But sort of incompetent. Or just plain nuts. Or I suspect, wants to make a name for himself. To become famous. To get into the news. The front page of newspapers. And pictured on TV. World-wide. So he becomes a would-be terrorist. Builds a Rube Goldberg-type bomb. Drives the explosive into busy Times Square in New York. Parks the vehicle at a crowd-laden busy intersection. Sets the fuse on the bomb. Walks away. And waits for the explosion. Only thing. He botched the job. He's caught 53 hours later. On a plane. Trying to leave for Dubai. Now he's in custody. And famous. For being an inept would-be terrorist. And maybe a hero with the Tailiban in Pakistan. Sure, he'll spend the rest of his life in prison. But he's made a name for himself. He's a celebrity of sorts. A hero with some. A villain with others. But he'll have the smug satisfaction. Of doing something that caught world-wide attention. That's his motive. Nothing more. Nothing less. Now we've all heard of Faisal Shahzad. Our media has given him exactly what he wants. Faisal's life is a complete success. At least from his perspective. --Jim Broede

I tell you, it's aggravating.

My Chicago Cubs are the most aggravating team in baseball. And I tell myself every other day that I'm gonna abandon them. Ignore 'em. Renounce my allegiance. But I always keep coming back. Aggravation after aggravation. The Cubs had a three-game winning streak. And their bats seemed coming alive. So, what happens? The Cubs go to Pittsburgh to face the team with the worst pitching in major league baseball. And lo and behold, the Cubs have lost the last two nights by scores of 3-2 and 4-2. I presume that the Cubs figured all they had to do was to show up. And feast on bad pitchers. I tell you, it's aggravating. I wonder why I keep coming back for more and more aggravation. --Jim Broede

Just for the hell of it.

Usually, I'm not very serious when I poke fun. Sometimes, I just like to do it for the hell of it. And maybe I shouldn't. I should just keep quiet instead. Like when I poke fun at Texans. I really know some pretty nice Texans. But I also know some not so nice ones. And they're the ones I have in mind when I poke fun. Same goes for Minnesotans and Floridians and Californians. But for some reason, I'm inclined to single out Texans. Maybe it's because of George Bush. I hold Texans responsible for producing Bush. Texans could have nipped his political career in the bud. But they elevated him to governor. And look where that led. And now Texas has a governor maybe worse than Bush. So I'm taking my wrath out on Texas. Yes, just for the hell of it. --Jim Broede

The scary can be fascinating.

I like to talk to strangers. Especially if they initiate a conversation. But I'll also initiate on my own. When I was a kid growing up, I was shy. I wouldn't think about approaching strangers and making small talk. Or any kind of talk. But that was stupid. How else does one get to know strangers? Unless one opens up. Yes, make them feel comfortable. Or even a bit uneasy at the beginning. But as one makes good conversation, everything seems to become more relaxed. I especially like to talk to strangers when I'm in a foreign country. Such as Texas. Because foreigners are different. In so many ways. They have a different culture. And accents that I'm not all that familiar with. I've been to many countries. All over the world. But the most peculiar foreigners I've ever met are Texans. They're very strange. Reminds me of zombies. The walking dead. I suppose that can be scary. But the scary also can be fascinating. --Jim Broede

A figment of my imagination.

I had weird dreams last night. Like I was flitting from one dimension to another. I was still me in each dimension. I sensed maybe I was catching glimpses of the future. I remember asking in one dream, 'What year is it?' And someone replied 2077. Of course, I would have been 142 years old then. That is, if I were living in my current life. At times, I felt trapped. By flitting from one dimension to another. That I didn't have the opportunity to decide what was real and what wasn't. I had the impression/feeling that I was living all these lives simultaneously. And that I had multiple consciousnesses. But I was aware only of the one in which I was in when I wasn't dreaming. But maybe that was merely a dream, too. And not real. That all of life is a figment of my imagination. --Jim Broede

What do I have to complain about?

It's the nature of our economic system. To make money. At the expense of other people. And at the expense of the environment. The rich want to keep getting richer. They never have enough. Most people are willing to settle for less. For the basic necessities. For a decent life with a handful of fellow human beings. I see the gawd-awful statistics. Like the 1 percent of the richest have more wealth than the so-called bottom 95 percent. And the richest 5 percent wield the power. They control the government. They control the decisionmakers. And therefore, they control politics and the economy. And really the rest of us just sit idly by. We feel powerless. Because the system is rigged. I sit in my little cocoon in Minnesota, and I accept the destruction. The rape of the environment. I get indignant. Like many of you. But I feel helpless. Because BP will get away with this. And we ordinary people will pay for the clean up. Which will take decades. And many people along the gulf coast will lose their livelihoods. It's a sad state of affairs. And it'a all due to a system of politics and economics that allow the few to dominate and exploit the many. Maybe in the end it'll take a bloody revolution. And even then, the exploitive few will find a way to prevail. But hey, I have my consolation. I'm in love. And I expect to be in Europe this summer. With my love. So, what do I have to complain about? --Jim Broede

What is 'very good' literature?

I seldom read a book from beginning to end in a single day. But I did the other day. Picked up 'The Reader,' by a German, Bernhard Schlink. A very fascinating story. And it's been turned into a motion picture starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes. Anyway, I felt cheated. Manipulated by Schlink. Drawn into the book by a truly good story. But I wanted more. I didn't want everything falling into place. I wanted more real life. Not a fabrication. But I have to admit, I was entertained. By the story. Wanting to see how it all ended. And I even cried a little bit. Little wonder that a director decided to make a film of the story. But I much prefer stories that plod along. Like real life. I would have taken the story in a different direction. More realistic, I think. And I would have stopped and savored what I was reading. Certain pages. A chapter. A moment. I want to make truly good literature last. For a long, long time. I'm in no hurry to get to the ending. The best moments of life should be taken slowly. Yes, I get back to that word, savor. I recently read another book, 'An Italian Education.' By an Englishman, Tim Parks, who moved to Italty in 1981. At age 28. He married an Italian woman. And he teaches English at the University of Verona. And he writes fiction and non-fiction. And he writes about life that he knows. Very personal. And I took a week to read the book. And I sent him an email. Telling him how much I enjoyed the book and his writing style. And I got a nice reply from him the same day. I've been in Verona. And if I'm there again, I want to meet Parks. I feel a connection. A meaningful real life connection. Much more so than to Bernhard Schlink and his 'The Reader.' Makes me think. About how one differentiates the 'very good' from the merely 'good' literature. --Jim Broede

A round-the-clock silence channel.

I'm awake. Almost all night. With a bad cold. A cough. So I switch on the TV. The news. A big mistake. It's gawd-awful. Worse than my blog. Not necessarily the news per se. But the inane way it's presented. One has to fill up air time. A 24-hour cycle. And eventually one runs out of things to say. So it's babble, babble, babble. There must be a better way. To fill up time. I have a suggestion. Try silence. An hour of silence. Maybe two. Or three. Time to think. To ponder. To brood. Let us fill up the time with our own creative thoughts. Maybe I'll form a new cable channel. The Silent Channel. Nothing but silence. For 24 hours a day. Round-the-clock silence. --Jim Broede

What is time?

I find life enchanting. Interesting. Like living a good book. But in the story of life, I don't want a beginning, a middle and an end. I can do without the end. I want it to be on-going. Never ending. I want to live one day at a time. Continuously. Forever and ever. If god can have forever, why can't we mortals have forever? Haven't we been created in god's image? I wonder how god defines forever? Maybe it's different for everyone. My forever is as long as time exists. For me. And if I don't exist, there's no time. No forever. No nothing. But I still lived in my own foreverness. Makes me wonder. What is time? I don't know. And maybe I don't want to know. --Jim Broede

I'm having a jolly good time.

Maybe it'll be the worst environmental disaster in American history. Yes, the turning of the Gulf of Mexico into a gigantic oil slick. Not only that, the coastal wildlife habitats will be destroyed. And the gulf fishing industry will go kaput. All for the sake of drilling for more oil. I'm beginning to wonder if we're out to destroy the planet. What with an overheated planet already and oil spills and an arsenal of atomic warheads that could obliterate everyone of us -- well, it's downright scary. But I wonder if maybe that's the right way to go. Let's destroy everything. Maybe after two million years of dormancy, life will spring up again. The planet will replenish itself. And we can start all over. And do a better job of it the second time around. Actually, I'm wondering if it might be the 9th or 10th time around. That we've been here many times before. Only to botch the job each time. Yes, maybe there's something to the theory of eternal recurrence. We're condemned to live the same sorts of lives over and over again. Only thing is, I don't feel condemned. I'm having a jolly good time. Despite it all. --Jim Broede

Learning to accept. What is.

Oh, I've got a cold. Makes me feel miserable. But not deathly miserable. That's some consolation. But still, it gets me off my game. Because I like to feel healthy, wealthy and wise. All the time. But then I know from experience, this indisposition is only temporary. I'll feel better in a day or two. Of course, the day will come when I don't ever feel better. When the bottom drops out. When all goes kaput. And I'm deathly ill. Or I just drop dead. But then I won't know it. I'll be gone. Completely. Maybe just as I was. Before being born. As if I never existed. At least from my perspective. I used to think that was scary. But I'm not so sure any more. Because I'm learning. To accept. What is. --Jim Broede

Even Sherlock H. can't find him.

We're being carefully watched. Photographed. Video taped. Recorded. I don't know if that's good. Or bad. Or doesn't matter at all. For instance, we have a picture of the guy that left a car. With a bomb. In Times Square. Over the weekend. And now begins the task of trying to locate him. Ala Sherlock Holmes. With the slightest of clues. Could be we've reached the point where we can't hide any more. We'll be discovered. Because somebody is watching. Maybe it's the government. The police. Or big private corporation. But still, I suppose, it's possible to hide. Take Osama bin Laden. We'd like to find the crafty guy. We have a notion where he is. But still, he eludes us. Gotta give him credit. In this age. When it's virtually impossible to hide. He's still eludes us. Even Sherlock H. can't find him. --Jim Broede