Do spirits speak the same tongue?

The more I live, the more I like life. I've really never disliked life. But it took a while for me to genuinely fall in love with life. Now I want my life to go on forever. I know everybody dies. But maybe I can survive. As spirit. That has advantages over a physical existence. Or so I presume. I'm imagining that a spirit can go virtually anywhere. Even to remote outposts of the cosmos. Being locked in a physical body has limits. A spirit can soar. Into other dimensions. I'm imagining that god is a spirit. For good reason. Because god wants to go anywhere and everywhere. To be in all places. Maybe if one is a spirit one can actually meet god. Not face to face, I suppose. Because spirits don't have faces. That would make them physical. Therefore, I wonder how spirits recognize each other. Maybe it's a sensory thing. I wonder if I'd recognize god in a spirit world. Of course, if I don't ever turn into a spirit, I'll be mighty disappointed. I know that my warranty as the physical me is likely to run out sooner than later. I'm surprised that it's lasted this long. Actually, I'd have no qualms about living another 100 years in my physical state. As long as I could maintain good health. Especially if I start living longer in Sardinia. It's a wonderful idyllic place. But then, maybe I look at Sardinia in a positive way because it's the home of my true love. And because it isn't the USA. I've grown tired of the U.S. And I need the freshness of Sardinia. It'd sure be nice if all Sardinians spoke English. Because it's gonna take me a long time to master Italian. That's another advantage of being a spirit. Because all spirits speak the same language, don't they? --Jim Broede

Making the best of life.

I'm never fully prepared, fully ready to leave Minnesota for Sardinia. Gotta pack. Knowing that I'm gonna forget stuff. That's the problem. I have too much stuff. And I don't know what to take. And what to leave behind. But gradually, I'm getting so that some day I won't have to pack. I'll have enough stuff in both places. In Minnesota. In Sardinia. And all I'll have to do is board a plane with virtually no baggage. Probably could do that now. If I had the inclination. Maybe the time after this, I'll try it. Just take what I'm wearing. And maybe a book. Or a newspaper. And my passport. Anyway, I'm taking off Saturday afternoon. Flying to Chicago. Then to Paris. Gotta change airports in Paris. To a small town 55 miles north of Paris. Then I fly directly to Cagliari, the capital city of Sardinia. Sunday night I'll be in Sardinia. With my true love. Until mid-February. Coming back in time to mosey down to Arizona. To take spring training with the Chicago Cubs. And by Easter (in April) going back in Sardinia for a while. Before I settle down in Minnesota again. For the summer. I'm on the go. Living in a way that I once thought I'd never be living. One day at a time. Savoring life. The way it should be savored. Which means that I'll also sit down and write. And complain. About aspects of life that annoy me. Such as politics. Especially in America. But in Italy, too. In fact, in the entire world. To put it less than politely, many, many politicians are assholes. They ignore the common good. And cater to the big-money interests. That's just the way it is. And I more or less accept it. Because I have better things to do. Such as walking along the many Mediterranean beaches in Sardinia. And living with my true love. Yes, making the best of life. --Jim Broede

Even in Paradise, I'm restless.

I'm becoming restless. About the way the world operates. Politically. Economically. Socially. I don't like the systems. The problem is that I don't know what to do about it. I feel powerless. So I have tended to withdraw. And get on with the rest of my life. Falling in love. Moving to Sardinia. To live with my true love. In a Sardinian village. Not far from idyllic Mediterranean beaches. Therefore, maybe I have no reason to complain. About politics. Especially American politics. Because I will have fled from the USA. With no hurry to return. I consider myself lucky. For being able to find Paradise. In the midst of all the turbulence and turmoil in the world. I guess that if I were younger, in my 20s or 30s instead of my 70s, I'd become a revolutionary. I'd join protest movements. I'd work for political change. And the narrowing of the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. Seems to me that as a society, we Americans have lost track of the common good. We automatically think that the common good means individual freedom. To make money. To become rich. To accumulate far more than what one really needs. Even if it's at the expense of the rest of society. I don't buy that. But I also acknowledge that the global economy has helped to raise the overall standard of living in some poor countries. And maybe lowered the standard a little in rich countries. Maybe that's good. But most annoying is watching the rich get richer. While much of the middle class loses ground. That ain't right. That tells me the common good isn't being truly served. And that makes me restless. Even when I'm living in Paradise. --Jim Broede

I love to break rules.

I am lazy in some regards. I hesitate doing some difficult things. Mentally. And physically. I've always been that way. As a youngster. As an adult. Young and old. Maybe I can argue that I'm not turned on. But if I'm honest about it, I am lazy. I don't feel like putting forth the effort. In English class, I hated memorizing poems. It was difficult enough reading a poem. But memorizing it was a gawd-awful task. Yes, a real task. Latin, too. That was a grind. Maybe because there was a great deal of memorization to it. Learning English was different. It never seemed like a memorization thing. It came naturally. Because I never thought of it as a task. I learned it because I had to communicate. As a two-year-old or a 76-year-old. And I learned English gradually. And I'm still learning it. Learning Italian is more of a task. And I have to fight/overcome my laziness. I would love to speak/communicate Italian as well as I do English. But I know that's impossible. And that's discouraging. I think I learned writing the same way I learned English. Gradually. Naturally. Even when writing is difficult/challenging, I try to make it easy. Enjoyable. By writing the way I want to write. Gives me a sense of freedom. I don't hesitate to break rules. Oh, I love to break rules. Not only when I'm writing. But when I am living, period. --Jim Broede

Maybe he's the happiest man alive.

I suspect that many of us are into life way over our heads. Overwhelmed. Tackling more than we can reasonable handle. And that's why things go wrong. We try to do too much. But the wise ones are more laid back. Put limits on themselves. And find idle time. In a sense, do nothing for a while. Take time off. To savor just being. Not feeling that everything on the agenda has to be accomplished. That it's all right to be lazy. And not so ambitious. But some people are trapped. Such as Barack Obama. Or for that matter, anybody who ever was president. It took a bigger toll than they imagined. Look at Obama. He's aged considerably in his two years in the White House. He coveted the job. But soon learned that it entailed more than he imagined. Made him feel overwhelmed. He could accomplish only so much. Because he was caught up in the nasty political system. And now he may even be secretly wishing that he doesn't win a second term. So that he can sort of retire. Slow down. And spend more time with his family. Away from politics. But then again, maybe Obama wouldn't trade his life for anything. Maybe he's not overwhelmed. Maybe he's the happiest man alive. --Jim Broede

The duping of the middle class.

Maybe we are headed for a double dip recession. Not only in the USA. But in Europe and other places. I wonder why. If there's a solid and viable explanation. Maybe it's a sign that capitalism doesn't work. And there must be a better system. Of course, not everyone is hurting. Rich people generally have survived the recession. In better shape than when it started. They have made money. Big corporations, too, have been showing record profits during the recession. It's the middle class and the poor that keep coming up short. Old-fashioned capitalism protects only the ruling elite. The rich. The rich always seem to find ways to get richer. At the expense of the rest of us. Evidenced by the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. Time to do something about it. By scrapping capitalism. And devising an economic system that serves the common good. Rather than merely serving the rich. That's been the problem from the beginning of time. A world divided between the haves and the have-nots. There's always been an upper class. An elite. The wielders of power. Even in so-called democracies. The ruling elite fool the masses. By duping the poor and middle class. Making 'em think that they really have a say. With their votes. But their votes aren't meaningful. Because money is power. The rich power brokers call the shots. Buying their way to power. --Jim Broede

I'm always looking for a story.

I find it difficult preparing for a trip abroad. Packing. Taking care of details back at home. And making sure that I don't forget this or that. As I approach the day of departure, I get a little nervous. And it's difficult for me to sleep the night before. But once I board the plane, I lean back. Take a deep breath. And smile at the thought that I'll soon be with my Italian true love. And inevitably I look around. Striking up a conversation with the person next to me. A stranger. And I tell myself I will know something very significant about that stranger before I step off the plane. That's the way I operate. Didn't always do that. But I've cultivated my innate curiosity. And I utilize my training as a writer. For newspapers. I'm always looking for a story. --Jim Broede

My most prized blessing.

I'm blessed. In so very many ways. Which means that if there's a god, I must be in good-standing with him. Otherwise. I wouldn't be blessed. Or it could be, I suppose, that god even blesses people he doesn't like. He doesn't discriminate. Instead, he finds ways to bless every one. Even so-called bad people. My guess is that god blessed all of us. Merely by creating each of us in the first place. Gave us life. Consciousness. And the ability to love. To savor it all. Maybe some of us choose to not love or not to savor anything. By choice. Maybe the biggest blessing of all is to do pretty much as one pleases. God could have created robots. And not given us freedom. In other words, we can make of ourselves whatever we want. We have all sorts of choices. And opportunities. Maybe that's the biggest blessing of all. But maybe the blessing I prize the most is my imagination. I can dream and think of virtually anything. By using my imagination. --Jim Broede

To hell with Berlusconi and politics.

I'm leaving the U.S. for a few months. To live in Sardinia. With my Italian true love. That means I'm likely to be in a very good mood. I'm always in a good mood. But now I'll be in a very good mood. I do get a little tired of living in the U.S. Because of the political climate. It's annoying. And there's not much I can do about it. But in Italy, I'll be somewhat sheltered from the happenings in the U.S. It'll be easier to ignore what's going on back in the states. Of course, Italy has sort of an unstable political climate, too. But in a different way than the U.S. The prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, is a buffoon. And I'm able to laugh at him. Because I'm an American. I know that he isn't my prime minister. That helps. My true love loathes Berlusconi. Maybe even more than I loathe Republicans. I encourage her to see Berlusconi's funny side. But she ain't laughing. I tell her that I laugh at Republicans. Because that's better than crying. Anyway, I'll push my true love to ignore Berlusconi's antics. And I'll take her by the hand. And we'll amble down a Mediterranean beach. And watch the sunset. Knowing full well that we are in Paradise. And to hell with Berlusconi and politics. --Jim Broede

An effort to end their boredom.

I'm not boring. In the sense that I don't bore myself. I may bore others. But I always find something interesting to do. Or to think. To imagine. I'm able to entertain myself. Even when I'm alone. Yes, I'm able to live with myself. That's a nice trait. I know people that dislike themselves. Even to the point of hate. Of course, that probably means they aren't bored. But I like myself. I have no desire to be someone else. And generally, I'm not bored with other people. Even with people that might be categorized as boring. That's precisely what makes them interesting. Because it gives me opportunities to psychoanalyze boring people. That keeps my mind occupied. In novel ways. I can't remember the last time I was bored with life. Which means that maybe I was never bored. But still, I think I was. Long ago. But I've forgotten it, I suppose, because I was bored. That makes it forgettable. Maybe my memory is best when I'm not bored. Maybe dementia/Alzheimer's is a form of boredom. But when I was an Alzheimer care-giver, I was never bored. It aroused me. To think. A whole lot. About the disease. And how to be a better care-giver. I discovered things. Such as good vibes therapy. Which amounts to exuding happiness in the presence of patients. Always. Never letting up. Never being negative. The results were fantastically successful. Not only for the patient. But for me. When I encounter people who profess to be bored, I chide them. Even try to irritate 'em. That's a good deed. An effort to end their boredom. --Jim Broede

In idiotic fashion.

I hear the Republican aspirants for president complaining about government. That government has gone awry. That there should be less of it. Virtually no interference from government. Less regulation. There shouldn't even be an Environmental Protection Agency. And no taxes, too. When I hear these candidates speak, I become more convinced that they are idiots. And that's exactly what we need less of in government. Idiots. But think of it. These idiots want to become president. Seems to me that takes gall. For idiots to tell us they want our votes. So that they can run government. In idiotic fashion. --Jim Broede

Life gets better as one ages.

I'm becoming more conscious of my age. Because I never expected to live this long. It seems so strange. That suddenly, here I am. Three-quarters of a century on Earth. I don't feel like an old man. Unless I tell myself that 76 is old. When I was younger, I always thought of 76 as old. Not as old as 86. But old, nevertheless. Makes me a little self-conscious. Because I am now often identified by others as old. Because the majority of living people are younger than me. And now when I enter a room, I'm often the oldest person in the room. When I think about it, that makes me feel old. And odd. I'd like to ignore my age. And just go about living without any thought about age. But there are reminders. Such as things I am no longer adept at. Little things. Big things. But I compensate. Maybe that's the most important thing to do when one grows old. Find ways to compensate for what one loses. Both physically and mentally. Fortunately, I have to admit, that in some ways life gets better as one ages. --Jim Broede

God ain't perfect. But he's honest.

I like to think about life. And love. My two favorite subjects. Being conscious. Very much alive. And capable of falling in love. With life. That's the source of my happiness. That's one thing about me. I've been happy all of my life. Even when I haven't been happy. Because I choose to be unhappy occasionally. About things. About aspects of life. But I know that I can fix things. Make things better. Make myself happy again. So it doesn't bother me to be unhappy in a particular moment. Because I know it ain't permanent. I was unhappy when my dear Jeanne was on the decline. With dementia. But the two of us learned how to cope. Despite it all. And to live reasonably happy most of the time. With the help of genuine feelings of love. Love was our salvation. Love of life. Love of each other. I recognize that life has ups and downs. And I accept it. Knowing full well that I can't control all events. But I can control my reactions to events. I can deal with adversity. That makes me happy. The dealing. The coping. Sure, I sound like I'm complaining. About politics. About the economy. About social mores. But I like to complain. Makes me happy. That I'm able to complain. And able to speak my mind. I'd have it no other way. My guess is that even god is happy because he's able to be unhappy. Dissatisfied. With himself. With others. But that he accepts making mistakes as a part of life. A way to learn. I think that god, if he's honest, will admit that he's made mistakes. And learned from 'em. My god admits that he ain't perfect. Ain't all-knowing. And that makes him happy. Because he's honest. --Jim Broede

I learned much from my father.

I began my professional writing career as a sportswriter. Thank gawd, I gave it up. Early. Because I didn't want my life to revolve around sporting events. No doubt, games of skill and chance are intriguing. Captivating. But too addictive for me. Because I began to want certain outcomes. And if the player or team that I wanted to win happened to lose, I become disappointed. Annoyed. Morose. Moody. Used to be that I didn't handle it well. Maybe a bit like a gambler. I never bet money on outcomes. But I did bet my emotions. And that wasn't good. For me. Or the people around me. I remain a sports fan. Especially of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. But I've learned to control my emotions. Especially the negative ones. I can still become momentarily annoyed over an outcome. But it's only momentary. I put it all into quick perspective. Knowing that outcomes are completely out of my control. Things happen. Largely by chance. And I accept that. And besides, it's only a game. My father was an habitual gambler. He allowed his emotions to spin out of control. He could become elated when he gambled, and won. But he would become melancholy/depressed when he'd lose a bet. And he lost big sums of money. He became addicted to gambling. And became so depressed that he committed suicide. Some psychoanalysts believe that many habitual gamblers have a death wish. They like to take risks. For the momentary euphoria that it brings. But they pay a terrible price. Depression when they lose. Depression that can lead to suicide. My father never learned to cope. Never learned to put his life into proper balance. I've lived twice as long as my father. And I'm planning on sticking around even longer. Unlike my father, I am in no hurry to check out. I know the things I can't control. And I don't let that bother me. Instead, I put my focus on what I can control. My attitudes. I can choose to be positive and happy. Sure beats being negative and unhappy. I think my father made a poor choice. I'm avoiding his mistakes. He taught me well. Without knowing it. In that way, his suicide was a blessing. My blessing. Because I learned much from it. --Jim Broede

About living and loving.

I'm thinking how vulnerable I am. At age 76. I'm pretty much alone. I have to rely on myself. In other words, if something happens to me, I'm vulnerable. Let's say I become incapacitated. Because of ill health. A heart attack. A stroke. Dementia. And it's all complicated because I live alone. Nobody to really take care of me. Other than professionals. Hired care-givers. I'm all right as long as I can maintain my independence. A reasonable degree of mental and physical health. I suppose if I had to, I could still hold a 40-hour-a-week job. Maybe not the same kind of job I had when I was 20 or 30 years younger. The good thing is that I can support myself in retirement. With my retirement income. With social security. With a pension. As long as I can stay healthy enough to take care of myself. But it's only a matter of time before I become dependent. Or I just drop dead. Die. It could happen any time. And the older I become, the more likely that it's gonna happen tomorrow or next week or next month or next year. People don't last forever. And whatever happens, happens. And I have to accept it. And handle the situation the best I can. Right now, I do it by living one day at a time. Knowing full well that I may not be planning adequately for the future. Who does? Because nobody is guaranteed tomorrow. All the more reason to savor today. And that's what I'm doing. At this precise moment. Not in exactly the way I'd like to. Because I am momentarily thinking about tomorrow. Even though I'm in the now. In today. This may sound discouraging. Or downbeat. But for the moment, I'm recognizing the future. And acknowledging that I'm running out of time. And trying to not let it get me down. The fact that some day I won't have a future. I'll be dead and gone. I suppose the good thing about that is that I won't have to worry any more about the future. I'll be at the point where I started. Non-existent. Although, I'm free to sooth myself by imagining a spiritual life. A life in another dimension. Beyond my full grasp. My imagination is my salvation. Knowing full well that it's a form of self-deception. A way to keep myself alive and functioning. And I do it by writing. By thinking. By digging deep into my being. My soul, so to speak. I know what I'm doing. At the moment. A week from now I'll board a plane. And fly to Sardinia. To spend several months with my Italian true love. I'll be in Paradise, of sorts. Living life one day at a time. In love. With someone. With life. I'll walk along the most beautiful beaches in the world. I'll amble through quaint little villages. And the countryside. I'll sit down at a computer. And write. My thoughts. About living and loving. --Jim Broede

The kindest of 'em all.

Yes, many liberals and independents are disappointed in Barack Obama. For not combating mean-spirited Republicans effectively. For being too nice, if there is such a thing. Nice. That's not the way politicians are supposed to act. They gotta be mean to each other. Obama doesn't have much of a mean streak. But he's starting to contrast the issues. Effectively. And it helps that the Republicans have put up a weak field of candidates for president. They're all goofballs. Very beatable. Because they spout the crap that the Tea Party and other looney tune conservatives want to hear. There's not a moderate Republican in the bunch. They all have been run out of the party. Of course, I'm fearful that through some quirk or oddity on election night, a Republican emerges as the victor. But if that happens, we'll all get what we deserve. The final demise of the USA. Anyway, I'm going on the assumption that Americans ultimately will wise up. And re-elect Obama. And give his party the majority in Congress. Even though I'm not all that enamored with the Democrats. But I know full well their spirits are far less mean than those of Republicans. Obama probably is the kindest of 'em all. --Jim Broede

Our shameful legacy.

Seems to me that Barack Obama is a pragmatist. A man willing to compromise. Makes a liberal like me a little annoyed. Because I think he's selling out on principle. But then, I wonder if Obama is trying to teach me and others something. That life is a grand compromise. Full of give and take. Meeting people half way. I agree with such an approach. In principle. That is, up to a point. If I'm dealing with people that are totally uncompromising, hardly ever giving an inch -- well, that ain't fair. I turn out to be the loser. And the other side wins. Gets exactly what it wants. Instead, I want a deal in which both sides get something they want. But not everything. Yes, in my opinion, Republicans want everything. They refuse to compromise. Mainly because they don't want Obama to be perceived as a winner. They desperately want him to lose the 2012 election. Because they despise Obama. And if I were psychoanalyzing the Republicans that hate Obama the most, I'd conclude that it's solely because he's black. Yes, they are racists. They don't like black people, period. And they are livid whenever they see black Obama sitting in the oval office. In their Lily 'White' House. Some Republicans want black people to know their place. Subservient. Not all that far from slavery and Jim Crow treatment. If Obama were white, and advocating the same policies that he advocates now, he'd be accepted by these radical, bigoted Republicans. That's the difference. A simple white and black explanation. Maybe I'm wrong. But that's the way I see it. America was founded on a racist premise. That all men are not equal. Oh, our founders claimed all men are created equal. But in truth, equality was the farthest thing from their minds. That's why we had slavery. The height of immorality. Certainly, nothing to make Americans proud of their newly-formed nation. And it's a stain and a stigma lasting to this very day. Black people are not yet fully accepted by many, many of us. Especially by bigoted Republicans. Yes, it's a legacy of which all Americans should be ashamed. --Jim Broede

On growing up to be an executioner.

I wonder what motivates an executioner. When does a guy or gal decide that he/she wants to be a professional executioner? In Texas, for instance. Where there have been 236 executions under Gov. Rick Perry. One might say that he's the executioner. Because he could grant clemency. Maybe he's another Pontius Pilate. He could well suspect that he's allowing an innocent man to die. And I'm assuming that some of the 236 were innocent. They didn't deserve to die. And Perry suspects it's so. But somebody in the judicial system decided they all deserved to die. Interesting, isn't it? That about half of the death row inmates in the USA are black. When only 10 percent of the population is black. Sounds like executions were designed for blacks. One is far more likely to be put to death if one is a black that murdered a white. Much better chance of getting off if one is white and the victim black. Better, too, if one can afford a fancy, expensive lawyer. Rich people seldom, if ever, get executed. Maybe because their lives are worth more. Or because money is power. Money buys favors. Anyway, I wonder how many kindergartners want to grow up to be executioners. Rather than firemen or president of the USA. At least, executioners don't go around bragging about their job. Publicly, that is. Maybe they go home and tell their spouses and children and friends about it. Or their psychiatrist. Maybe it's their favorite topic of private conversation. If they talked about it publicly, it'd make a good story. If they talked to me, I'd write about it. Right here in this blog. I'd like to know exactly how they feel about giving someone a lethal injection. If that's any easier than pulling a switch on an electric chair. Or putting a rope around someone's neck and tripping the trap door of the gallows. Or like in olden times, taking an axe and chopping off a head. I wonder if those executioners practiced by chopping wood. But then an innovative Frenchman invented the guillotine. And that made lopping off a head all the more efficient. But still, someone had to release the blade. Ah, so nice to know that I live in a civilized society. Where one can still grow up to be an executioner. --Jim Broede

So I can exercise my independence.

I have my own declaration of independence. By speaking my mind. Nobody can shut me up. I'm able to write. Exactly what's on my mind. I like that feeling. The written word is so much more superior than the spoken word. Because I can see it. Not only hear it. But see it. Of course, I can hear and see someone who's talking or singing. Because we have videos. And recordings. But still, my real love is for the written word. That's the biggest discovery of my life. Not that I can speak. But that I can write. My own words. Allows me to capture a moment. And preserve it. In writing. And that makes for a better memory. Otherwise, I might forget. But I can always retrieve the written word. My thoughts. In ancient times, most people could speak. But few could write. Writing is a relatively recent method of mass communication. Although we now do it on a machine. A computer. Used to be with pen or pencil. Or a typewriter. Maybe penmanship will soon become a lost art. In elementary school, penmanship was my favorite subject. I excelled. Got straight 'A' in penmanship. Maybe I came close to flunking geometry and chemistry and Latin. But I relished learning how to write by hand. Slowly. Neatly. Legibly. But as I matured, I cherished speed. I began to scribble. So, thank god for the typewriter and the word processor and the computer. Even makes it possible for me to self-publish. Like with this blog. Which I write daily. So that I can exercise/exert my independence. --Jim Broede

My connection makes me feel whole.

I'm not gonna bring about any significant change in society. For that matter, maybe not even an insignificant change. I don't have that power. The one thing I can change is myself. My way of thinking. I can learn to adapt to almost anything. And be reasonably happy. I guess the word is acceptance. I adjust to the rest of the world. Even to things I dislike. Sometimes, by isolating myself. Creating a cocoon. My own little world. Insane people can often do that. They live in pretend worlds. Except I don't consider myself insane. Instead, I choose to be sane. And that makes the rest of you crazy. You are the inmates of the asylum. And I'm the overseer. The guy running the show. I've seized control. I refuse to be dominated. I'm free. As a bird. I'm able to soar into another dimension. Yes, I am creative. Very much like a god. Oh, I'm not a god. But I answer to a god. The god that created me. I have a direct connection. And that makes me feel whole. --Jim Broede

The gap doesn't have to be a chasm.

Republicans keep saying they don't want the poor and middle class to declare war on the rich. To simply turn the other cheek, instead. And to take all the abuse in stride. To allow the rich to steal from the poor and the middle class. As if that's the right and proper thing to do. The terrible thing is that Republicans have gotten away with it. Forever, it seems. The rich keep getting richer. And the poor keep getting poorer. And we less affluent people are told that's the natural order. That everybody has the opportunity to get rich in a capitalist society. And if anyone doesn't become a millionaire, it's his fault. Well, I'm not so sure that everybody should have the opportunity to accumulate unlimited amounts of money. That eventually it becomes obscene. Maybe when one becomes a billionaire. Because in a capitalist society, money is power. Makes one more or less a king. A dictator. The lord high potentate. And I'm for declaring war on these types of people. I want their power to be capped. To be limited. To be tightly controlled by society as a whole. By poor people. By the middle class. And if that means class warfare, so be it. I want fairness. And my idea of fairness is quite different from that of a typical Republican, for instance. I want to bring about a higher degree of democratic socialism. So that one can have the good life without becoming a millionaire. Yes, that means a better distribution of wealth. A constant narrowing of the gap between the rich and the poor. Oh, I concede that in practical terms, we'll always have a gap. But it doesn't have to be a chasm. --Jim Broede

A blood-thirsty lot.

I'm convinced that innocent people have been executed in the USA. But our judicial system is set up to make mistakes. And so some innocent people go to their deaths. Most of 'em poor people. Because they can't afford decent legal representation. I wonder when's the last time a rich person was executed. Doesn't happen. Because the rich can afford top-notch lawyers. The rich are privileged. It also doesn't help to have a black skin. That makes one more likely to get executed than a white guy. Justice ain't exactly color blind. Anyway, I don't like the notion of capital punishment, period. Most civilized societies have done away with it. But it still happens in many states. Particularly in Texas. Where Gov. Rick Perry has presided over 236 executions. Texans tend to celebrate executions. I'll bet if they sold $10,000 tickets to executions in Texas, there'd be a sellout all of the time. Standing room only. A way to support the state budget. When Perry recently publicly bragged about the high rate of executions in Texas, he drew applause from the raucous Republican crowd. Yep, Republicans are a blood-thirsty lot. Highly entertained even by the thought of state-sanctioned executions. --Jim Broede

The quest for basic necessities.

I've never had the desire to be monetarily rich. All I need is enough to get by. In a reasonably comfortable way. I don't want to be destitute. Or impoverished. Maybe that's why I'm a socialist at heart. I want social security. And Medicare. And affordable public education. And a shelter. And to be in love. I don't dream about being a millionaire. It's the farthest thing from my imagination. And I suspect I'm like the vast majority of people. I just need enough money and social welfare programs to keep my head above the water. And speaking of water, I'll be walking along Mediterranean beaches this autumn and winter. Fortunately, I'm able to live with my Italian true love in Sardinia. And it's also possible for her to live with me in Minnesota part of the year. It's a very nice exchange program. Makes life more affordable and interesting and adventuresome for both of us. We are trying to make the most of life. Without having to be monetarily rich. That's really the assignment for most people on Planet Earth. And it becomes more and more possible when we have political, economic and social systems that serve the common good. That tends to distribute the wealth in a way that narrows the gap between the rich and the poor. And makes it possible for the vast majority of mankind to get by pretty much like me. We all don't have to be millionaires. But it would be nice if just about everyone had the basic necessities. --Jim Broede

I never go a day without...

I have told my Italian true love that she must allow me to feed my addiction to bicycling when I come to Sardinia this autumn. It's a nice form of exercise. Better for me than extensive walking. Though I will continue to walk. A whole lot. Especially with my true love. Down the streets in Sardinian towns. And on the many Mediterranean beaches. I want to purchase a used bicycle. My true love is supposed to be making inquiries now. There are some bicycle trails in Sardinia. And in the town of Carbonia, where I will be living. Not many trails. But all I need is one decent trail. Even if it's only a mile or two long. I can go back and forth. I'll do my bicycling and some writing and practicing my Italian when my true love is teaching school. I have put on 5,992 miles on my bicycle since April. Today (Wednesday) I will eclipse 6,000 miles. And believe me, that isn't over-doing it. I am a man of moderation. And it is exercise that keeps me alive and healthy. And svelte. I am trying to set a good example for the rest of humanity. I have shortcomings. But adequate exercise isn't one of 'em. And I mean both physical and mental exercise. Though I could do better with some of my mental efforts. Especially in learning to speak Italian. But don't expect wonders/miracles. Physical exercise comes easier than mental exercise. I have more physical endurance than most people my age. Because I work out daily. Same goes for mental exercise. I never go a day without writing. And thinking. --Jim Broede

Can't please everyone.

Political pundit Bill O'Reilly says he may quit his $10 million a year job with Fox News if he gets a tax increase. Says it ain't worth working if the government takes a bigger chunk of his pay. That's the problem with some millionaires. They never have enough money. But the same goes for government. In fact, the U.S. has a huge budget deficit. But the 450,000 millionaires in the U.S. -- well, they have more than enough. Maybe the answer is to make millionaires like O'Reilly live on less. By making 'em pay higher taxes. I'm sure O'Reilly could find a way to eek out a fairly nice living even if the government took half of his earnings. Anyway, there's plenty of wealth in the U.S.A. It's just a matter of redistributing the wealth to serve the common good. Might even make some millionaires feel better. About themselves. Granted, maybe not O'Reilly. But so be it. Can't please everyone. --Jim Broede

Time to tell the GOP to go to hell.

Maybe Barack Obama is waking up. And taking charge, for a change. He's vowed to veto any deficit plan that comes out of Congress if it doesn't contain tax increases. Yes, he's gonna insist that the rich people start paying their fair share. He's telling Republicans to take it or leave it. Wonderful. Obama is doing the dictating. Calling the shots. He should have done that long ago. Better late than never. It's a sign that Obama has decided he ain't gonna turn the other cheek for the umpteenth time. He's saying enough is enough. Of course, Republicans most likely will stick to their guns. And insist on no tax increases. Because Republicans aren't truly interested in saving the nation. And government. They don't believe in give-and-take. They want all or nothing. Rather than give Obama a victory, they'd take the nation down with them. But the nation can still be saved. In the 2012 elections. If Americans wake up. And tell the Republicans to go to hell. --Jim Broede

Because I choose to be.

I may reside in hell. But I don't live in hell. Because I have learned how to isolate myself. To find or build a cocoon. That shelters me from hell. And I do it by falling in love. With someone. And with life. That allows me to find Paradise. Even in the confines of a world that serves as hell. Hell is occurring all around me. Look at the wars. The devastation. The inequality. The many, many uncontrolled tragic events. Yet I am able to find happiness. Merely because I am in love. Genuinely in love. And able to go to Sardinia. To live with my true love. To walk the beaches on the Mediterranean Sea. To forget that I am an American. Instead, I am the creation of the god of love. A citizen of the cosmos. Because I choose to be. --Jim Broede

Pretending there's no escape.

The world's economic problems could be solved. By moving in the direction of more equality. For everyone. By redistributing the world's vast wealth. And it is vast, believe me. But we allow most of the wealth to be concentrated in the hands of relatively few. We allow the few to live in luxury. Vastly superior to the rest of us. Maybe less so than in old and ancient times. But still, we tolerate a wide gap between the rich and the poor. Maybe because that's the way it always was. Right from the beginning of time. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can change economic and political and social systems. So that we have far more equality. But we don't. Because there's a ruling elite. An elite that's entrenched. That doesn't want to give up power. And knows how to keep it. Despite the inherent wrongness of it all. And the rest of us allow it to happen. Because we think we are powerless. That we can't change the system. And so here we are. Living in hell. And pretending there's no escape. No way to correct the course. --Jim Broede

Americans are stupid. Very stupid.

Seems to me that we Americans went generation after generation without seriously questioning the way we treated black people. We denied them basic human rights. Even after the Civil War. Even today in some more subtle ways. And I'm not merely talking about the ruling elite. The rich and powerful. But white poor people. And the white middle class. We all mistreated blacks. Put them into slavery for long periods of time. We really didn't even consider them one of us. But inferior people. Equivalent to only three-fifths of a white being. But we white Americans have also mistreated ourselves. We long denied women their rights. Even our mothers. And our sisters. We've made things somewhat better. But we still have a long way to go. Look at the way we treat the poor and the middle class. We give the rich preferential treatment. Make them more elite and powerful than the rest of us. We accept inequality as the American way. Always have. Maybe always will. That's why we keep electing Republicans. The party of the rich. Even the poor and the middle class often vote for Republicans. As if we deserve second class status. Sometimes, it makes me think that we hate ourselves. Maybe it's that we poor and middle class covet being monetarily rich. So we tell ourselves to become Republicans. Supportive of inequality. Yes, we Americans are stupid. Very stupid. --Jim Broede

A decent war for a change.

The Republicans are accusing Barack Obama of class warfare. When he calls for tax increases for millionaires. But it's Republicans that started class warfare. Long ago. By promoting policies that make the poor and the middle class poorer. By widening the gap between the rich and the poor. By giving tax breaks to millionaires and oil companies and big corporations. Well, I'm for full-scale class warfare. Let's start acting like Robin Hood. By taking from the rich. And giving to the poor. That's the kind of war I want. Sure beats obscene wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Class warfare aimed at the rich and their Republican cronies is exactly what we need in America. A decent war for a change. The filthy rich may have more money than the rest of us. But we have numbers on our side. Legions of poor and middle class can win this war. And take charge of the government. Yes, let's declare class warfare. Let's serve the common good. --Jim Broede

I live my absurd romantic dreams.

I like to have an absurd romantic dream or two. Daily. Just for the heck of it. Because, in the process, I often push the limits. And discover that many of my absurd dreams really aren't so absurd after all. Things that appear absurd initially prove to make sense. For instance, falling in love seemed absurd to me for many, many years. Positively ridiculous. But then I fell in love. And it was no longer absurd. Resulting in a happy marriage. For 38 years. Until Jeanne died. And then I thought I'd never fall in love again. That I was far too old for that romantic dream stuff. But lo and behold, I fell in love again. With a beautiful and intelligent Italian damsel. Even though she lives 5,000 miles away in Sardinia. But we didn't let that hinder us. I am now living half of the year in Sardinia. With my true love. That once seemed unlikely. Yes, even absurd. But I didn't let that stop me. Because I practice dreaming. Every day of my life. Especially absurd romantic dreams. And then going out and actually living 'em. --Jim Broede

A most ungodly concept.

I don't see those on the religious right as really in love with the god of love. They merely want salvation for themselves and not for humanity as a whole. They are selfish people. Opposed to the welfare state. They'd rather that when it comes to survival that everyone be on his own. And that only self-proclaimed 'Christians' be saved. And that everyone else be sent to hell. To me, that sounds like a most ungodly concept. Downright evil. --Jim Broede

Give me rule by a god of love.

I'm not sure that I want to buy into the concept/theory of survival of the fittest. Depends how we define the fittest. For instance, Republicans would like to define fittest as Republicans. Especially conservative Republicans. If that's all that ultimately survives on Earth, I want out. In an ideal world, I'd like the likes of me to be declared the fittest. An open-minded liberal. A romantic idealist. A spiritual free-thinker. And not least, a lover. Especially of life itself. I want life ruled by a god of love. Not by Republicans with ignorant and hateful political, economic and social policies. --Jim Broede

If god were evil and fiendish.

I'd like to think that Republicans are about to commit political suicide. By nominating the likes of Rick Perry or Michele Bachmann for president. And that a majority of Americans would rather give Barack Obama a second term. Even if they very much disliked him. But recognized that he was still the best of all alternatives. That would make me breathe easier. Make me want to continue living in the USA for maybe six months a year. The current crop of Republican aspirants for the top political office in the land scare the willies out of me. I'm praying that they are fictionalized characters. The creation of a practical joking god. And that god's kindness and love for humanity will prevail in the end. That for the moment, god is just trying to show us what he could do if he were truly evil and fiendish. By turning America into a Holy Hell. --Jim Broede

A worldwide welfare state.

I'm reminded by historians that until the industrial revolution in the mid-19th century, 90 percent of the people in the world lived pretty much hand-to-mouth. They barely got by. Times have changed. For the better. But times haven't changed enough. There's still a wide gap between the rich and the poor. And that's why we need more welfare states. To provide the basics for the 'have-nots.' Nobody should have to live hand-to-mouth. In poverty. Yes, the industrial revolution made an impact. And raised the living standard for many, many people. But now we need another kind of revolution. To bring mankind closer to the eventual elimination of poverty. A worldwide welfare state. --Jim Broede

Maybe I'll find a new homeland.

I don't have much faith in my fellow Americans doing the right thing. Politically. Economically. Socially. Because most of 'em are too busy doing their own thing. Just surviving. They don't care much about political, economic and social issues. Oh, they'll go to the polls and cast their votes. For this or that candidate. Because they think that's what Americans are supposed to do. But they hardly ever know what they are voting for. Often, they vote against their own best interests. They are ignorant. They are influenced by sound bites. Without understanding what's being said. They even believe the crap/bullshit dished out by Republicans. That a vote for a Republican is the patriotic thing to do. And that everything that's wrong about the country is Obama's fault. Because he's a socialist/communist. And because he doesn't have a legitimate birth certificate. I'm not kidding. Polls show that significant numbers of Americans believe this stuff. Maybe it's a sign that our education system has failed. Or it could be that many Americans are idiots, imbeciles and morons with severe learning disabilities. I don't know what to do about it. Anyway, it's not gonna be my worry. In two weeks, I'll be leaving for Sardinia. And staying through winter. I've been there before. I like the place. And I like the people. I'm impressed. My true love lives there, too. Who knows? Maybe Sardinia will be my future homeland. --Jim Broede

I can't stop thinking.

I like to share my thoughts. That's why I have a blog. Doesn't bother me if I sound foolish. Or like an idiot. Because sometimes I am foolish. And an idiot, too. I accept that. Being myself. In good ways. And in some not-so-good ways. No reason to hide. No reason to keep quiet. I'd much rather speak my piece. Even if nobody listens. For all I know, god is listening. Or some spirit may be eavesdropping. And I don't mind talking to myself. Because I'm a good listener. I often get a kick out of listening to myself. Because I say some surprising things. Yes, I even surprise myself. I air my thoughts. Because I want to put thoughts to a test. Maybe to stir a tempest. Yes, I like it when people disagree with me. When they take umbrage. That gives me opportunities to fortify my positions on issues. Or maybe to even change my mind. Anyway, I wish more people would share their thoughts. If they don't, I begin to wonder if they really know how to think. As for me, I've discovered that I can't stop thinking. Seems to me that's why I was put on Earth. To think. If I ever stop thinking, I won't have reason to stick around. --Jim Broede

Far away from the political scene.

I have so very many blessings. Not the least being the opportunity to live in Sardinia much of the year with my Italian true love. And getting away from the USA. Yes, another blessing. Because when I return, maybe I'll have a fresh perspective. And I'll be able ask myself, did I really miss America? And if so, what was it that I missed most? And would I prefer living in Sardinia full-time? I've reached a tentative conclusion. After spending last winter in Sardinia. It'd be nice if I could live half a year in Sardinia and half a year in Minnesota. That's my goal. Anyway, I'm packing my bags now. So I can fly to Sardinia. In about two weeks. Not to return to Minnesota until mid-February. Because I owe it to myself to experience a few weeks of Minnesota winter. To toughen me up. To prove I'm not a sissy. I have another underlying motive. I want to flee to Arizona for the month of March. So I can take spring training with my Chicago Cubs. Meanwhile, I have to admit there's much about America I don't like. The political climate, for instance. But there's not much I can do about it. Other than to forget about it while I'm in Sardinia. Instead, I'll walk along some of Sardinia's many beaches on the Mediterranean Sea. Convinced that I'm in Paradise. Far away from the hellish American political scene. --Jim Broede

An example for the rest of the world.

Pardon me. I'm for a welfare state. And I make no apologies about that. And if necessary, I want such a state supported in large part by rich people and rich corporations. Consider the fact that we have nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance. Many of 'em because they can't afford it. The number of uninsured has increased by 900,000 in the past year. Little wonder. Because of the sagging economy. But there's money in the pockets of the rich to help subsidize universal health care. Yes, health care for everyone. Socialized medicine. Like in such welfare states as France and Italy and Britain and Sweden. Yes, basic health care for everyone. Including the very poor. Seems to me basic health care is a human right. Just as is a basic public education. To prepare everyone for life. With learning skills. Job skills. Whatever it takes to get one by. Better than being an illiterate nincompoop. So, let's go to it, fellow Americans. Let's establish the best welfare state in the world. Better than France or Italy or Britain or Sweden. I want a model welfare state. Let's set an example for the rest of the world. --Jim Broede

The way our founders wanted it.

If Obama decided not to seek a second term, it would revitalize the Democrats. And stir the imagination of Americans. Opening the door to liberals. Maybe to Hillary Clinton. A moderate. That might pull the nation together. And make a sham of all those lunatic fringe Republicans. From Rick Perry to Michele Bachmann. Yes, a moment to restore sanity to the American political system. It would be like a gift from the gods. Make for a sensible discussion of the issues. Rather than the blatant bigotry we are seeing now because a black man sits in the White House. Republicans are not ready for a black man. Proving that America is still racist at the core. Republicans see maddening red when they see black. That ain't right. But that's the way it is. If it's a white Democrat perched in the White House, the Republicans will come around. They'll compromise. For the sake of the nation. Just as long as it's not a black man at the titular head of the country. Just the way our bigoted founders wanted it. --Jim Broede

Making amends for a political life.

If I were Barack Obama, I would announce that I'm not gonna seek reelection. That I've had enough. That I made a mistake running for president. Because I really don't want the job. That I'll try my level best in the next 16 months to make a credible, decent effort at being president. Because I'm here now. And it's the right thing to do. But that it's also right for me to quit. To settle for one term. Because I'm really not cut out for this kind of life. I can't stand politicians. Or politics. I have better things to do with my life. I might even follow Jim Broede's advice. And move to Sardinia. So that I could go walking daily along the many beaches. Contemplating the spiritual side of life. Jim tells me that will make me feel happy. And fulfilled. Certainly more fulfilled than if I were living in the White House for another four years. I thought I could change Washington. But now I know better. Instead, there's danger that Washington will change me. Corrupt me. I once thought that I could make a difference. Being president. Being in a position of political power. But I don't wanna exercise that kind of power. It'd indecent. And I wanna live a decent life. Making amends for my time in the political realm. --Jim Broede

Maybe in a monastery. Far, far away.

I wonder if Barack Obama really knows who he wants to be. He's accomplished so much. Becoming president of the USA. But now maybe he doesn't know what to do. Now that he's arrived. In this fairy tale existence. I wonder if he feels overwhelmed. Unable to decide what to do next. Maybe he can't even believe that he's living in the White House. I suspect that Obama feels trapped inside himself. He's told that being president makes him the most powerful man in the world. But it really ain't so. Unless he knows how to exercise power. And he doesn't. Maybe he's even fearful of power. Of making mistakes. Of truly devising a plan. A political agenda that really works. I suspect that's the way I'd feel. Because I'm not a natural born politician. I really don't want power. At least, not political power. I want a spiritual kind of power. I'd be a misfit as president. In the wrong place. At the wrong time. Out of my league. Wondering how I ever got there. Let alone, deciding what to do next. Maybe that's Obama, too. He doesn't know how to deal with politicians. And their cronies. Most of 'em mean-spirited bastards. I suspect that Obama is telling himself he wants out. Sooner rather than later. He wants desperately to lose the 2012 election. He wants out of the insane asylum. So that he can return to a comfortable environs again. Maybe in a monastery. Far, far away. --Jim Broede

Doing each other favors.

When I am in Italy this fall and winter, I'll have a house-sitter. Back at my lake home. In Minnesota. A young man. He's unemployed. Except for odd jobs he picks up in the neighborhood. He's been living nearby. With his parents. So having him come in and live here is a win-win situation. Nice to have my place occupied. And he'll be able to take care of my cats, Loverboy and Chenuska. And keep an eye on the house. Also, he'll have privacy here. Better than living with his parents. Good for the parents, too. I also like the notion that I'm helping an unemployed man. Maybe more of us should do that. Sharing our homes with out-of-work people that can't afford their own places. In this instance, we are doing each other favors. Nice, isn't it? --Jim Broede

Better than being a mere tourist.

I like the challenge of adapting to life in Italy. And particularly, adapting to life in Sardinia. By living there much of the year. With my Italian true love. I know there are many ways to go about it. Not the least being to learn the language. But foremost, I'll try to savor something from each day. So that if I choose, I can sit down every night, and write about the day. An experience or two. An impression. Like I do now. By writing in my blog. But starting in October, I'll be writing while I'm in Italy. Trying to glean something significant. And worthwhile. I won't allow language to be a barrier. I'll be alert. Watchful. Observant. Thoughtful. Inquisitive. That's what makes life meaningful. To be aware. And to think about what I am seeing and experiencing. Interesting. My introduction to Italy. Much of it comes from my true love. And that's the way I want it. I am seeing Italy through her. To a large degree. That's an advantage. A big advantage. Better than being a mere tourist. --Jim Broede

Let's redistribute the wealth.

The 400 richest Americans control more wealth than the bottom 150 million Americans. Yes, I know that's a hard statistic to grasp. But it's evidence that truth can be stranger than fiction. And it's an example that the USA isn't a poor nation. The wealth is there. But most of it is controlled by extraordinarily few people. The super rich. The filthy rich. The obscenely rich. Personally, I'd like to see a more equal distribution of wealth. I don't know how that's accomplished. But there must be multiple ways. I'm for whatever works. My guess is that those 400 rich people have more political power than the 150 million. And that's why the rich are rich and getting richer. While the rest of us get poorer and poorer. Doesn't seem fair to me. But then, what do I know? Maybe life ain't fair. I'm sort of satisfied with my lot. I'm not hurtin' all that much. Maybe not at all. Because I'm in love and soon headed for Sardinia for a few months. I have a little bit of money. Including a monthly pension and social security check. I own my own home, too. And I'm in good health. At age 76. So maybe I shouldn't complain. But still, I think there's something wrong with America and the world. Seems to me it's immoral to have such a wide gap between the rich and the poor. Maybe something should be done about it. Dare I suggest a redistribution of the wealth? --Jim Broede

Too smart. Too meek. Too black.

I'm disappointed. About politics. Knowing that there's nothing I can do to affect change. What's gonna happen is gonna happen. And it may well be that Obama doesn't get re-elected in 2012. Makes me wonder if we'd have been better off with Hilary Clinton. Maybe she would have been more feisty than Obama. And stood up to Republicans much more forcefully. Unfortunately, Obama has two strikes against him. Merely because he's black. That's why Republicans treat him so rudely. They see red when they see black. They would show far more respect if he were white. That means Hilary would get respect. Because she's white. Maybe a little disrespect from male Republicans. Because she's a woman. But still, more respect than if she were black. You gotta be a white male to gain full respect among Republicans. And you've gotta be negative about your opponent. Bad mouth 'em all the time. Blame the opponent for everything. For the bad economy. For the bad weather. For famine. For earthquakes. For pestilence. Doesn't matter that Republican administrations and Republican congresses got us into all these messes. Because Republicans know how to play the blame game. They inundate a gullible and stupid public with bull shit. Enough to win elections. Democrats are too nice. They don't fight back with the same nasty mean spirit that typifies the Republicans. That makes Obama an easy prey. An easy pushover. He's too intellectual. Too meek. Too accommodating. Too black. --Jim Broede

Making the best of life.

I'm easily satisfied. By taking a relaxing approach to each day. By avoiding stress. By not worrying. By just letting the day flow. Naturally. I don't let things bother me. Other than momentarily. Because if there's a problem, I solve it. Immediately. Or I shunt it aside. To be dealt with at another time. And when during the course of a day I encounter someone who's uptight or worried, I give 'em advice. Relax. Relax. Relax. Slow down. Think positively. Play it cool. And I set the example. I show 'em how I'm handling my day. And I concede it may help because I'm in love. Not only with someone. But with life, period. And I recognize that I can't control everything. That I have to accept things going on around me. And still get on with my life. In a reasonably happy manner. Without getting too far ahead of myself. I have today. And I'm gonna make the best of it. One way or another. --Jim Broede

My kind of dictatorship.

Maybe I sound like a Marxist. Which ain't necessarily bad. Anyway, I'm inclined to support a dictatorship of the proletariat. I'd much rather have that than a dictatorship of Republicans. Of big business. Of rich people. Of bankers, especially those from Wall Street. A dictatorship of working people would be far more desirable. We'd have a better distribution of wealth. A narrowing of the gap between the rich and the poor. And we'd have collective bargaining. And strong unions. We working people would have a say-so about the political, economic and social values of our nation, and quite possibly of the world. Yes, I'd like a dictatorship of the proletariat worldwide. Much better than the moneyed-interests dictatorship we have now. --Jim Broede

Hypocrites and bigots.

Think about it. Holier-than-thou Republicans tried to bring down the Clinton presidency because of his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Got impeachment proceedings going over that. Didn't matter that Clinton's political agenda was damn good for America. Left the U.S. in tip-top financial condition. With a budget-surplus that would be frittered away by the Republicans. And now Republicans are pledged to defeat the Obama presidency. At virtually any cost. Not so much over his political agenda. Because in reality it's the same sort of agenda a moderate Republican could support -- that is, if there was such a thing as a moderate Republican. No, instead, Republicans hate Obama simply because he's black. Yes, Republicans are bigots. Also known as racists. And hypocritical moralizers. Many prominent Republicans were having illicit affairs at the same time that they castigated Clinton. They ignore real political issues. Ignore the serving of the common good. And portray themselves as the moral ones. When really, they are the immoral ones. Hypocrites and bigots. --Jim Broede

Italians sound soothing & romantic.

My true love thinks Italian politics are worse than American politics. But I find it easier accepting the Italian way than the American way. Maybe that's because I don't speak or understand much Italian. So when I'm in Italy (from Oct. 1 to Feb. 10) much of what is being said on Italian TV and radio and in the newspapers will go over by head. Just as well, I guess. I tell my true love that she should be more appreciative of Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Because he's a full-fledged buffoon. Good for laughs. But she counters that he does grievous harm to Italians. With idiotic policies. But I tell her that's the nature of politics. To ignore the common good, and to do grievous harm. I keep reminding her that as long as we have each other, Berlusconi is immaterial. A mere gnat. Good for laughs. And besides, I like living in Italy. Because I'm sort of hidden away from the constant barrage of American political babble. Another thing. When I hear babble from Italian politicians, it sounds soothing and romantic. That's the nature of the Italian language. It sounds good. Even when I don't understand the words. --Jim Broede

I'm learning graceful acceptance.

I keep learning that I have no control over the outcome of baseball games or American political decisions. Doesn't make any difference whether I am alive or dead. The outcomes will be the same. I have absolutely no control over the Chicago Cubs or over who's gonna be the next president. So there's no reason for me to even try to influence the outcomes. Or to anguish. Better that I just lean back and accept whatever happens. What will be, will be. It's almost as if I didn't exist. I can hope for this or that outcome. But hoping won't make one iota of difference. Therefore, I should not waste my time wishing for an outcome. And praying to a supreme power. I just have to learn acceptance. And try to handle outcomes gracefully. --Jim Broede

I don't ever wanna birth day.

I just had a birthday. On 9/11. And I try to ignore it. Because I don't like 9/11. Or birthdays, for that matter. I'd rather lose track of the years. And not have to count. In fact, I'm at my best when I lose track of time, period. I think it's silly commemorating anniversaries. Although I do it. Because some of my loved ones appreciate it. But I'm a liar, too. Because I mark the 25th of each month. Because that's when I first connected with my Sardinian true love. On the 25th day of October. Almost four years ago. Makes me think that maybe 25 is my lucky number. And October my lucky month. In that sense, I'm superstitious. A little like what I do when the Chicago Cubs go on a winning streak. I try to go through the same motions/ritual until the streak ends. Such as parting my hair on the right side instead of the left side. Stupid stuff. But hey, maybe that's why nice things happen. Anyway, my birth date has been kidnapped. Seized. Turned into a day of infamy. I don't like it one bit. I'm starting a movement. To eradicate 9/11 from the calender. I want to skip that day. And go from 10 to 12. Automatically. I don't ever wanna birth day. --Jim Broede

I like to drive other babblers crazy.

I've been accused by numerous people of having a mouth that's in constant motion. A motor mouth. In a conversation with me, some people claim they can't get in a word. Edge-wise. Or any-wise. I dominate. But believe me, I could go into a monastery. And take a vow of silence. And not talk for an extended time. Maybe a year or two. As long as I was allowed to think. And to write. And to read. One could put duct tape over my mouth. And I could still be happy. Some of my close friends doubt it. But I have confidence in myself. I could accomplish such a mammoth feat. Because I have resolve. I can do what I set my mind to. But I see no immediate need for a vow of silence. My mouth was created. For a purpose. To eat food, of course. But also to talk. Conversation was one of the best inventions of humankind. I love to gab. To babble. Because it helps me drive other babblers crazy. --Jim Broede

An escape from a worst nightmare.

The last thing I'd ever want to be is a super patriot. No way would I ever pledge undying allegiance to America, or any nation. That would be absolutely silly. Ridiculous. Overly patriotic people do far more harm than good. They operate with closed minds. They take patriotic stances just for the sake of it. Like the Nazis did in Nazi Germany. Imagine Nazis being stupid enough to die for Adolph Hitler. Or for their fatherland. It's all right to be sentimental about one's country. But hey, one should draw a line. I'd abandon my country if I thought it had gone dreadfully awry. At the very least, I'd take issue with my country's policies. Such as waging an immoral war. I'd work for change. But if I couldn't achieve it, I might well flee. To another country. Of course, my biggest fear is that the entire world goes awry. So that there's no place to go any more. That's my worst nightmare. But if that happened, maybe I could burrow underground. Or hide out in a remote primeval forest. Or on an isolated mountain top. -Jim Broede

A funny way for me to go.

I generally avoid people who are serious all of the time. I encourage them to lighten up. Some do. Some don't. I annoy people. Because I fairly often tell jokes. Even at funerals. Because I think that's what the dearly departed would want me to do. They'd abhor me coming to the funeral to sob. Laughter often quells sadness. When I think of my dear Jeanne, she brings laughter far more often than tears. She was a good influence on me. Because she knew how to take a lighthearted approach to life. I know a handful of people who I've never seen laugh. Sad, isn't it? But I even laugh about that. I refuse to be sad merely because other people are sad. Seems to me there are vast amounts of comedy. Even in tragedy. Take the American political system, for instance. It's tragic. But still, it's funny. I get comic relief by watching politicians. Their babble is so outlandish that I have to laugh. Right in their frowning faces. If I didn't know how to laugh, I'd probably die of sadness. That would be a funny way for me to go. --Jim Broede

About not being too serious.

One has to learn to be serious about not being too serious. Especially about one's work. Whether it be as a writer. Or a teacher. Whatever it is that one does for a living. When one becomes too serious, one doesn't have fun any more. One becomes too driven. Keeps his nose to the grindstone. Ceases to relax. In other words, makes drudgery of work. Instead of pleasure. If one ceases thinking of one's job as pleasure, it's time to find other employment. Or to retire. A teacher has to love teaching. And a writer has to love writing. Otherwise, such pursuits are a waste of time. Even when I was an Alzheimer care-giver, it was essential that I find pleasure in the pursuit. And I did as time went on. I looked forward to it. Daily. It was fulfilling. Rewarding. It was fun. Some people find that hard to believe. But I was testing good vibes therapy. And having fun doing it. Because it was getting the results that I wanted. For me, it was innovative. I was discovering a new way to deal with Alzheimer's. And to feel pleasure. And I was smiling. Feeling good about myself. And about my environs. And about Jeanne. All was not lost. We were salvaging something from life. Even in the worst of times. So much of life is not as bad as it might seem. Yes, I recommend being serious about not being too serious. --Jim Broede

The biggest ovation of the night.

We Americans are a macabre lot. We cheer a politician for executing 234 prisoners while he was governor of Texas. We cheer him because he did it without any qualms of conscience. He claims that there wasn't ever a single innocent man executed in Texas. And if there was, so be it. It's a lesson that one isn't supposed to mess with Texas. Or with Rick Perry, the leading contender for the Republican nomination for president of the USA. Disgusting, isn't it? Maybe if Perry and his Republican cronies and cheering execution backers come to full power, we Americans will have the opportunity to watch executions. On TV. Or in person. So we can learn the lesson for ourselves, don't mess with conservative, blood-thirsty Republicans. They don't wanna see a fetus killed. Under any circumstances. But if you are deemed a bad guy or gal -- well, that's a different story. Many in the Perry crowd also believe in torture. In excruciating death. Some of 'em think that death by lethal injection is too merciful. They want death to be slow and agonizing. Gives them great satisfaction to know that the dearly departed suffered. Let me tell you. This is a sick society. When at a debate of presidential aspirants, the audience cheers the notion of executions. Gleefully. Enthusiastically. It draws the biggest ovation of the night. --Jim Broede

The real significance of 9/11.

I'm leery about all the hullabaloo connected with the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It's getting far too much attention. We Americans overreacted to the 9/11 event right from the beginning. In such a way that it's causing America more harm than good. We should never have gone to war over it. If not for 9/11, we'd never have ventured into Iraq or Afghanistan. Costly wars. A waste of money and lives. More lives than we lost on 9/11. Anyway, 9/11 was a horrendous criminal act. And it should have been dealt with as such. Not as an act deserving of war. In a sense, the criminal terrorists have gotten the better of us. By leading America down a path of economic ruin and political bickering. As a nation, we are in an unholy mess. All of it unnecessary. If our government had shown more restraint. And not over-reacted. Now's the time to get over it. And return to normalcy. But that may never happen. Because we have become an uptight and fearful nation. We've lost our bearings. Our way. Lost our confidence. But I ain't going down with the ship. I'm confident. And I have my bearings. I have the finest of opportunities. To move to Paradise. Where my true love resides. Where 9/11 is significant. Only because it's my birthday. --Jim Broede

I'm against working too hard.

Some people work too hard. I've known people that actually worked themselves to death. Which doesn't seem to make much sense. Because if they had lived, they could have worked longer. Yes, if only they worked at a more leisurely pace. I've seen 24/7 care-givers die long before their Alzheimer patients. Of course, some of these same care-givers have been described as saints. Dedicated to their loved ones. But as I see it, they lacked common sense. There's such a thing as over-doing it. And that qualifies as downright stupid. In fact, some of 'em weren't very good care-givers. Especially after they reached the point of exhaustion. In a few cases, they did their patients more harm than good. In a sense, they've committed criminal behavior. Doing harm that could easily have been avoided. With proper rest. And I'm not just talking about care-givers. It could be anyone. In almost any profession. People are far more mistake-prone when tired. When they haven't had adequate rest. Yes, maybe there oughta be a law. Against working too hard. --Jim Broede

That's fair play, isn't it?

Republicans proclaim that Obama is an unpopular president. With approval ratings ranging between 42 and 45 percent. But at the same time, these Republicans seem to ignore the fact that the approval rating of the Republican-controlled Congress is only 18 percent. It's an indication that politicians are generally held in extremely low esteem. But Obama can take solace. Because he's more than twice as popular as members of Congress. Seems to me that if Republicans were subtracted from the people being polled, Obama would be immensely popular. And Republicans would have a zero percent approval rating. I imagine that all 18 percent of those that are supportive of Congress are diehard Republicans. Only a Republican could admire a fellow crappy Republican. By the way, I treat Republicans like Republicans treat others. That's fair play, isn't it? --Jim Broede

Onward! Let the revolution begin.

I was thrilled and inspired by Obama's jobs speech last night. It's what I wanted to hear from Obama. A passionate plea to do the right thing. For society. To help the people that need most help. The destitute. The unemployed. For government to intervene. Instead of merely waiting for the private sector to create jobs on its own. If it ain't financially advantageous, the private sector will wait forever. But we don't have forever. Which means that if the common good is to be served, government must step in. Because unlike the private sector, government tends to have a conscience. Because government is us. The people. Or at least, it's supposed to be. But the party of the rich, Republicans, have another idea. To allow for the survival of the fittest money-grubbers. And to hell with the rest of us. Republicans think that everybody has the right to be monetarily rich. Filthy rich. But seems to me that at some point one must ask, what's best for society? As a whole. And not just what's best for the few. Throughout history, the monetarily rich have been the true power brokers. After all, money is power. Money can buy all sorts of political favor. More so than the individual votes of common people. Therefore, America is dominated by the rich ruling elite. Time for that to stop. But it won't be easy. The rich are entrenched. They won't surrender power willingly. Onward! Let the revolution begin. --Jim Broede

The right and decent thing to do.

The world, as I see it, is divided into two basic types of people. Those who want to be monetarily rich. And those willing to settle for the basic necessities of life. I'm with the latter. And I think we are in the majority. But in this world, the minority holds sway. The super rich gravitate to positions of power. They more or less call the shots. Establish the rules. They are the capitalists. The rest of us could easily settle for socialism. For government providing the basic necessities. Such as public education and universal health care and social security. The basics that get us by. We find our happiness in pursuits other than the pursuit of money, and more money. Our religion isn't money. We don't have to accumulate lots of stuff. We can be happy living with the basics. And in a society where we sort of take care of each other. We actually think it's immoral to have an excessively wide gap between the rich and the poor. We also tend to be more docile than the typical money-grubbing capitalist. We don't seek power. Which may be our big mistake. Because then we allow the minority to seize control. To dictate selfish capitalist principles. Fortunately, some of us are becoming pissed over having to accept capitalist ways. We'd much rather live under socialism. We'd put curbs on exploitative capitalists. We'd regulate 'em. And make them pay more taxes. In order to serve the common good. But for that to happen, we're all gonna have to become less docile. Yes, more militant. Revolutionary. We have to overthrow the minority capitalists. And teach them to accept majority rule. Because it's the right and decent thing to do. --Jim Broede

A case of asking too much.

I'd not blame Obama for the sagging economy. That is, unless I were a Republican. Then it would make sense. Because idiots will believe almost anything. And a large part of the American citizenry are mentally deficient. No better proof of that than to look at Congress. Where Republicans hold sway. Fact of the matter is that the world's economy has gone into the dumpster. Especially in capitalist countries. Seems to me that the world's best/strongest economy is in China. Because China, though it has some capitalist tendencies of late, is largely a socialist country. That's the future. Socialism. Maybe blended with a smidgen of capitalism. Americans may be the last to wake up to such a fact. Especially if Republicans seize control of all branches of government. Republicans have accused Obama of being a socialist. And they have tried to block his programs and ideas at virtually every turn. So Obama can't seem to get anything done. To save the economy from further deterioration. The Republicans really don't want the economy to improve. Because that would hurt them in the 2012 elections. Of course, if the majority of Americans wise up, they'd see that the Republicans got us into this financial mess, and they want to keep us in it. Even at the ruination of the nation. The Republicans are interested only in gaining power for themselves rather than in saving America. If Republicans stopped to think about it, they'd conclude that doesn't make sense. But then, to ask idiots to think -- well, that's asking too much. --Jim Broede

I'm gonna make you jealous.

I'm preparing to leave America. For almost 5 months. To live in Sardinia. On the Mediterranean Sea. Until mid-February. Then I'll return. Maybe for 3 weeks. To briefly experience a Minnesota winter. Before I depart again. For Arizona. To take spring training with the Chicago Cubs. Then I'll return to Sardinia for two or three months. And come back to enjoy a summer in Minnesota. The idea is to live the way I wanna live. One day at a time. In Paradise. I've discovered over a lifetime that one must learn to create one's own Paradise. No matter where one lives. But hey, it helps to have choices. To be able to fulfill one's dreams. I'm gonna cavort with my true love. And dine on Italian food. And make frequent visits to the beaches. And read lots of books. And write my blog. And make the rest of you jealous. --Jim Broede

How to avoid being annoyed.

Doesn't bother me that I annoy some people. Because a goodly number of people deserve to be treated in annoying ways. After all, they have annoying personalities. I try to not let people annoy me. And for the most part, I succeed. But if I think they are annoying other people that I like, I occasionally decide to annoy them. Just for the hell of it. Because that gives me satisfaction. Gives them a taste of their own distasteful medicine. Maybe that makes me cruel and insensitive. But that's often the nature of annoyance. I have to be that way. To fully practice annoying ways. So I don't let it bother me. Because I do it with purpose. By grand design. For maximum effect. To accomplish my goal. I especially like to annoy people who lack a sense of humor. By dousing them with my grating type of annoying humor. I try to get them to laugh at themselves. But they steadfastly refuse. Because they are too annoyed to laugh. That's sort of sad. Because if they laughed at themselves, they'd no longer be annoyed. --Jim Broede

I don't hesitate saying it.

I don't believe everything I read in the Bible. But I certainly do believe that money is linked to evil (Timothy 6:10). Much of immorality and wickedness is linked to people having and wanting money. And that's why American-style capitalism is inherently evil. And why I think of Republicans as inherently evil. They want to create conditions that make rich people richer. At the expense of the less rich. The poor. And the middle classes. Of course, money can be put to good use. To benefit the common good. But in the hands of Republican politicians, it's generally put to what I consider immoral use. The aim of Republicans is to widen the monetary gap between the rich and the poor. To make money the most powerful instrument in the world. And that's bound to breed evil. Wrong-doing. I want a society in which money is downplayed. Or put to good use. Again, let me remind you that I am not a Christian. For many reasons. But partly because I think Christianity has been corrupted by money. But if Jesus were still alive, I'd have no problem letting him define how it's best for us to use money. But that's the last thing that many professed modern day Christians want. Especially Republicans. They really aren't true blue Christians, in the sense that Jesus would define Christianity. Instead, they are hateful money-grubbers. Yes, evil. At least from my perspective. And I could be wrong. In some ways, I'm the evil one. For being judgmental. But what the hell. That's what I believe. And I don't hesitate saying it. --Jim Broede

I have a better place to be.

Let's give free rein to the polluters. That seems to be the prime way for Republicans to create more jobs. Yes, disbanding the Environmental Protection Agency. Too much regulation, Republicans argue, hurts business. And therefore, thwarts creation of more jobs. But that's only more of Republican's incessant flow of bullshit. Republicans want rich corporations to be able to make more money. To make the wealthy even more wealthy. To make them stinking rich. Of course, that will make for a stinking environment. But to hell with the common good. Republicans want to make money for Republicans. For rich people. As if they aren't already rich enough. Listen folks. Listen close. To all of the aspirants for the Republican nomination for president. Many of 'em even deny there's global warming. Because if they acknowledged it, they might feel coaxed into doing something about it. But they don't wanna do that. Because it'll cut into corporate profits. By the way, the economy may be bad. The worst it's been since the 1930s. But still, corporate profits have never been better. Yes, the rich keep getting richer. And the middle class and the poor keep getting poorer. That's where we are at in America. And it's a dirty rotten shame. And instead of cleaning up the mess, it won't surprise me if Republicans take over the White House and the U.S. Senate. And if that happens, we Americans will get just what we deserve. A putrid stench that permeates the entire land. But I ain't gonna stick around to smell the decay. I'll be in Sardinia. On a Mediterranean beach. In Paradise. --Jim Broede

A new kind of Christianity.

Give me socialism. Because it tends to serve the common good. Of course, any economic system can be corrupted. But socialism's heart is in the right place. Because socialism, when run effectively, tries to distribute the wealth. In a way that discourages a wide gap between the rich and the poor. I like that. Socialism champions my kind of morality. I'm not a Christian. But I'm sure that famous Christian fellow Jesus, if he were alive today, would be a socialist. If he followed a secular path in his politics, I'd support him for the office of president of the world. He'd run the show in a way that would get my approval. But I'm sure he'd be opposed by Republicans. They'd scoff at the idea that a rich man has to give away his money to get into Paradise. They'd label Jesus a Pollyanna. And maybe even put him in an insane asylum. But still, Jesus would get my vote. And if they put me in the same loony bin with him, I'd try to be his buddy. And maybe the two of us could start a new religion. A new kind of Christianity that preaches socialism. --Jim Broede

One must learn to think big.

I became acquainted with a stranger and a potential friend the other day. She says she needs a reliable man and friends. And that makes me wonder. If she's aiming low. My guess is that it would be better to pursue genuine happiness. At almost all times. And that takes more than a reliable man and friends. Takes falling in love. With life. And making the most of everything that comes along. Of learning to savor the moment. Even in the absence of a reliable man and friends. For instance, ambling through the woods. Or walking along the seashore. Or climbing to the top of a mountain. To embrace nature. In solitude. In the absence of other people. That can be fulfilling. Reason enough to love life. Just being alive and conscious. Able to think a thought. To be aware of one's pulse beat. Sure, it's all right to have a reliable man and friends. But life is so much more. It's everything. To behold creation. The entire cosmos. Yes, one must learn to think big. Bigger than merely having a reliable man, or woman for that matter, and friends. --Jim Broede

It all comes naturally.

I suppose it's possible to be different people. Merely by becoming an actor. I wonder if many of us do that. Especially if we don't know who or what we are. So we test the waters. We climb on the world stage. And go at it. Different fits. That's why I encourage people in depression to become actors. To act happy, for instance. To play a role. To see how it feels. I wonder why people become actors. Maybe it's that they don't like being themselves. So they are looking for a new self. They may even try to change their essence. Or maybe it's that we don't have essences. We have to create 'em. Maybe that's how god designed us. To be actors. To be whatever we wanna be. Seems to me that I have opportunities to choose my role. So very many. Nice guy. Bad guy. Intelligent fella. Stupid. I've tested so many roles. But what I like best. Well, that's being a romantic idealist. A spiritual free thinker. A political liberal. A lover. And another thing. I'm always in the pursuit of happiness. And I prefer living in Paradise. With my true love. And believe me. That takes no acting. It all comes naturally. --Jim Broede

I want to see what's underneath.

When I meet a stranger, I like to make a startling first impression. Maybe because it's fun. Maybe because I'm devilish. I like to let 'em know, right off the bat, who and what I am. In the hope that they counter. In an equally candid way. I want them to say, 'My gawd, what's going on here? This is good conversation. I better participate.' Maybe because it gets to be personal. Right from the start. I don't wait for the formalities. Maybe I learned this approach when I interviewed people for stories that I wrote. For newspapers. I wanted to get to the significant stuff right away. I had to get people to talk. To open up. I wanted to come away with a good story. That's what I want from everybody I meet. A good story. About their life. About what makes them tick. I want to be able to write a whole lot about a person a half-hour after I've met 'em. I want to strip them. Naked. I want a glimpse inside their real being. I don't want a facade. I want to see what's underneath. --Jim Broede

To hell with the rules.

Doesn't bother me to invade some people's privacy. Especially if I feel they are in need of help. I sense that some people are too reclusive. They need help. But they refuse to ask for it. As if that would be a shame. They don't want to impose. So they just waste away. And don't get on with life. Guess they have a right to do that. A right to privacy. A right to be ignored. But I also have a right to be big and bold. To intervene. To inquire. To tell people that I really care. And to hell with the rules of privacy. --Jim Broede

The slow-witted can learn to think.

It's possible to teach many Alzheimer patients to think. Effectively. At least, I tried it. With dear Jeanne. And it worked. Even after she went into the nursing home. By encouraging her to focus. On one thing. One thing only. I explained to her. Slowly. And repeatedly. That her mind was like a single railroad track. Built for one train only. One train at a time. Not two. Not three. One. One. One. Her train was a thought. A single thought. Maybe it was to eat lunch. To be fed. To take in food. One bite at a time. Whatever we were focused on at the moment. Keep the track/the mind clear of everything else. Because that would be distracting. In essence, I was asking Jeanne to wear blinders. Anyway, that's why I had Jeanne eat in her room. Away from the noisy congregate dining area. Because the dining room was full of distractions. Like multiple trains on a track. Posing danger. Collision. Chaos. Confusion. That's how, if I were a teacher, I'd teach slow-witted teen-agers to think. To focus on one thought at a time. To wear blinders. The kind of blinders they put on a race horse. So that the horse only looks straight ahead. Not to the sides. --Jim Broede

Not as wise as a liberal wise guy.

I'm a wise guy. I have smarts. Intelligence. But I can be cocky and conceited, too. I do it mainly to be funny. Silly. And I take being called a 'wise guy' as a compliment. Because many times I don't wanna be taken seriously. So I go into the 'wise guy' mode. Tongue-in-cheek. It's all right if people often take me as cocky and conceited. Because sometimes, I really am. It's no put-on. I'm capable of overwhelming self-confidence. For instance, I consider myself far superior to Republicans. Although that isn't necessarily saying much. It's so easy. Because Republicans are amazingly inferior. They ain't very wise. Not as wise as a liberal wise guy. --Jim Broede

The making of a free spirit.

I like to think of myself as a free spirit. But I'm not sure how free. Freedom is a relative thing. No doubt, there are spirits more free than mine. But I'm reaching for more freedom all the time. By soaring. To new heights. Beyond planet Earth. Where I discover other spirits. They are my teachers. My mentors. Often, my comrades. I learn from so many other spirits. My true love in Sardinia is a free spirit. In some ways, she's more free than I. And in other ways, I'm more free than she. Together, we make each other more free. It's a nice relationship. My true love makes me a more daring spirit. More willing to gamble. To take chances. To explore the unknown. Without trepidation or fear. I'm attracted to free spirits. Naturally. My Jeanne was a free spirit. She died in 2007. I miss her physical presence. But her spirit still lives. I'm thinking that may be the nicest thing about the spirit. It lives forever. Maybe that's what makes a spirit so free. --Jim Broede

Waiting for next year. Like always.

I'm swearing off the Chicago Cubs again. I do it periodically. When they are going through a horrendous stretch of inept baseball. I so much want the Cubs to win. And play decent baseball. It doesn't have to be championship caliber. Just decent. The one thing I can't stand is indecent baseball. And that's what I've been getting. For a couple weeks now. Seems to be that the Cubs have given up on the season. Maybe they're discouraged. Because the general manager has been fired. And there may be big changes by next season. Many players may not be coming back. I like that thought. A house-cleaning may be necessary. Complete rebuilding. Young players. Rather than veterans. Yes, I'm waiting for next year. Like always. --Jim Broede

There's so much to like.

I like to make people talk. Because I'm a good listener. And if they talk, it allows me to practice my listening skills. Seems to me that many people don't talk enough. They are too reserved. Too secretive. Too shy. I'd like to see them open up. So that I could know them better. Another thing. I want people to talk about themselves. In depth. In detail. To show me what makes them tick. Then I can understand them better. Of course, that allows me to be more psychoanalytical. And that scares some people. Because I tend to be probing. In order to satisfy my curiosity. Nothing wrong with that, it seems to me. Thing is, so many of us don't know each other. That's often a shame. Because there's so much to like. --Jim Broede

He's so obviously superior.

I keep trying to figure out Barack Obama. No doubt, I like the guy. I voted for him the last time. And I'll back him next time, too. Maybe I'll never quite understand Obama. Because he's black. And I'm white. Arbitrary labels put on each of us. In America, that makes a difference. Our experiences have been quite different. Merely because of the color of our skins. I find that annoying. But probably not as annoying as Obama finds it. Although I can't be sure about that. Because Obama, if he is truly annoyed, finds ways to hide it. I don't like that about Obama. I suspect he hides too much. Makes it more difficult for me to know him. I trust Obama. He's my idea of a decent guy. Intelligent, too. Personable. But he's hated by bigots. Racists. Republicans. Because he's black. Thing is, racists feel inferior in Obama's presence. Fact of the matter is that they are inferior. And that makes them furious. Come to think of it. Maybe that's why Obama doesn't get furious himself. He's so obviously superior. --Jim Broede

Obama is too used to disrespect.

Over the generations, black people have put up with too much. Right from the days of slavery, to Jim Crow, to discrimination of all kinds right up to current times. They've been treated like second class citizens, or worse. And they've just taken it on the chin. Being far to submissive. And there's no better example than Barack Obama. He turns the other cheek. Time and time again. He allows Republicans to push him around. To disrespect him. And he takes it. Never shows rage. Keeps his cool. But that seems to be in keeping with the tone of many, many black people. Begging everyone's pardon. Some of 'em aren't militant enough. Forceful enough. Finally, black people have one of their own in the White House. And what does he do? He's pragmatic. Forgiving. He allows racist Republicans to have their way. Lets them push him around. They tell Obama that he's a second class president. That they'll do almost anything to see that he doesn't get a second term. Really, because he's black. If he were white, they'd show more respect. Yes, it's sad. That Obama doesn't get pissed. Maybe because he's black. He's used to shoddy treatment. To disrespect. Apparently, he expects it. And takes it. --Jim Broede

Yes, wonders never cease.

A supervisor in the circulation department at the Minneapolis Star Tribune is a decent and accommodating woman. She makes things work. She satisfies the customer. Even if it means breaking the bureaucratic rules.

Here's the story. I subscribe to the weekday edition of the New York Times. And it's delivered by the Star Tribune carrier. Early every morning. Except that he occasionally misses delivery. Maybe once every month or two. The New York Times tells me all I have to do is call a 1-800 number and the missing paper will be delivered either the same day or the next day. But it never happens. Yes, the New York Times hands out a line of bull shit. And I repeatedly tell the New York Times representative that at the various locations where I'm connected by phone. It ain't ever local. Always some distant place. Maybe in North Dakota or Iowa or Florida or Tennessee. God knows where. But it ain't local. So I have repeatedly suggested that I be put in touch directly with the local carrier. But that's not the way the bureaucracy customarily operates. That would be too efficient.

Anyway, I defied the odds last Thursday. After missing delivery of my paper. I called the Star Tribune circulation department. But to no immediate avail. The representative I talked to, after a wait of 10 minutes, explained that I'm to go through the 1-800 number directly to the New York Times. And then New York will contact Minneapolis. And get me the paper. But I explained that never happens. Finally, I asked to talk to a supervisor. At first, she gave me the same spiel. The same run-around. I would have to jump through the prescribed bureaucratic hoops. I appealed. To her sense of decency. Suggesting that she had the power to right everything. Locally. And do you know what? She listened. To reason. Agreed to call the delivery man on my route. To explain the situation to him. This morning, I received not only the Thursday paper, but a complimentary copy of the Saturday edition, too. Thank gawd. A kind, considerate and humane individual. In the circulation department at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Took only a minute or two for her to straighten out a mess. By bypassing the bureaucracy. She finally gave me the royal treatment. Which I deserve. And I'm returning the favor. By giving her well-deserved plaudits. Imagine that. A worker that listens to reason. And dares break the bureaucratic rules. Yes, wonders never cease. --Jim Broede

We don't deserve politicians.

Politicians. They're excuse-makers. Yes, that's another name for politicians. Always making excuses. For not getting things done. For not fixing problems. With the economy. With unemployment. With everything. Instead, they just squabble with each other. Blame each other for gridlock. If I had my druthers, I'd pick 'em all up and dump them in the deep, blue sea. Never to be seen again. The only bad thing about that, it'd pollute the sea. Make a stench. Yes, it's a problem. Finding a proper and clean way to dispose of politicians. A little like radio-active waste. Where do you put the stuff? It's there to haunt you forever. Maybe incineration would be the best. Incinerate every politician. Turn 'em into ash. But then, what does one do with the ash? Bury it? No, that would pollute the ground. Well, I'm not giving up. There must be a way to dispose of our stinking politicians. Maybe we could appeal to god almighty himself. He created 'em. He's responsible. Please, god. Do something about it. We don't deserve politicians. --Jim Broede

No reason for Nicola to be unnerved.

It's time to celebrate. Ruaridh MacAlister has found true love. And if there's a wedding soon, I want to be invited. I'll travel all the way to Edinburgh, if necessary. That's where I met Ruaridh two years ago. And this is what I wrote in my blog about Ruaridh on May 5, 2009:

I'm a lover. And so is Ruaridh MacAlister, a Scotsman. But we're different kinds of lovers. I can love only one woman at a time. Ruaridh plays the field. Picture Ruaridh walking down the street. A woman on each arm. And maybe a woman traipsing behind. Ruaridh draws women from all around. Every woman is a conquest. He's a Don Juan, so to speak. He doesn't hesitate to tell a woman, "You're beautiful." And he reels them in. Right and left. And he makes love. Physical love. It's genuine. But very physical. And there's something to be said for that. But I like a love that runs far, far more deeper. Into the spirit. Into the soul. Focused on one. Not on the many. And love-making takes a long, long time. Getting to know someone. One. Ever so gradually. I understand where Ruaridh is coming from. That's his way. Right for him. Makes him feel like a true lover. But I couldn't handle Ruaridh's way. I need my own way. I'm a one-woman man. Always have been. Always will be. Ruaridh can make a conquest in a few days. Maybe overnight. I can't. I won't. Once thought all I would have was one love in a lifetime. That would be sufficient. But now, maybe it's two. Yes, two in a lifetime. Because I never want to give up on love. I never want to retire from love. I want to love forever. Or for as long as I'm alive and able. But only one love at a time.

Yesterday, I received this wonderful word from Ruaridh:

Hi Jim,

Ruaridh here. You will be pleased to hear that I have found the woman of my dreams and I am extremely happy. It's now one year in and I'm engaged and genuinley over the moon. We are both very happy. Nicola my partner is slightly un-nerved by your blogg that keeps appearing on google when my name is searched, thought you might want to put a good word in for me.

Kindest regards,
Ruaridh

Yes, folks, Rudy (his nickname) has seen the light. Has found true love. He's become a true lover. I have no doubt about it. No reason for Nicola to be unnerved. She's found the best. And so has he. --Jim Broede

All I need to make a good life.

I'm up and at 'em today. Haven't decided exactly what to do. No set plan. I don't even bother thinking two minutes ahead. I like taking life that way. I know what I'm doing. Seated at my computer. Writing. And noticing that my favorite cat, Loverboy, is with me. Perched in the letter basket. Atop my printer. He's looking out the south window. His eyes half shut. A sign that he might doze off. It's a still, calm day. No breeze whatsoever. The sun breaking through a hazy sky. Nice temperature. Comfortable. My desk is a clutter. I'm gonna clean if off. Soon. I don't want clutter today. There's a cobweb, too, on the window screen. I'll take care of it. A thought just came to mind. A memory. From yesterday. When two young deer wandered into the yard. They browsed. Stayed for 15 or 20 minutes. And that made my day. Makes my present moment, too. Just thinking about it. Shows that I'm capable of reliving a precious moment. A wonderful experience. Little things. That's all I need to make a good life. --Jim Broede