Other Recent Articles
A Chat About Laughing – A Social Regulator
My son and I chat every day – usually on line – (We live in different States). Sometimes we cut and paste the conversations into an article, usually when it is relevant to something that is being discussed here at The Fireside Post of when it is relevant to a current event. This one is […]
9Dec2008 | bryan | Comments Off on A Chat About Laughing – A Social Regulator | Continued
5 gifts that can change the world
It is that time of year when I scramble to get the last gifts before all of the other saps try scrambling to get the last gift, thus, I beat the crowd My family has been trying to get away from the obligatory knick-knack purchases that we have always ended up getting for those that […]
9Dec2008 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
Axioms of Simple People
The world often seems over populated with simple people. Simple people generally expose themselves rather quickly. They may be conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican, Christian or atheist, black or white, rich or poor. We recognize them through their life axioms. The simplified axioms seem harmless on the surface – but that is the problem. […]
8Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Axioms of Simple People | Continued
The Worst Church Marquees and Why They Are So Wrong
This has been a burr in my saddle for years. Longer than that, I guess. Before I made the switch to regular church attendance, the oh-so-clever church marquees were a beacon of tacky religion that always made me wonder why people would gather in a place like that. Now, they are just embarrassing and they […]
7Dec2008 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
United Way – Mission Lost
I have written before on the United Way. The continued degradation of their mission by participating agencies continues. This is just wrong. The United Way folks should look at their original intent – their original mission. Clearly the purpose was to Unite. Not only to unite social service agencies in their individual missions, but to […]
6Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on United Way – Mission Lost | Continued
The Scout Initiative: Naming Social Injustice
I have been thinking more about how to deal with social injustice, and I dug up this clip from To Kill A Mockingbird. There are layers of great stuff in this clip: There are several examples here of the actions that make a social movement. When Atticus learns that the Sheriff is not around, he […]
6Dec2008 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
THe Finer Points of Space Exploration
I was eight years old when the Soviet Union launched the first orbiting Satellite, sputnik. The space race began as a competition of pride between two countries determined to prove them selves as more advanced than the other. It became something of much greater importance. Our space exploration has produced, energized, and accelerated some of […]
6Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on THe Finer Points of Space Exploration | Continued
A Conflict of Ethics
All of us have ethics. We may not think consciously about them – but we have them. Sometimes these ethics are in conflict with each other – when that happens we find Hamlet, struggling with self doubt, pondering, “To be or not to be?” Ethics do not follow a smooth continuum of linear progression, with […]
6Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on A Conflict of Ethics | Continued
The Two Nap Dilemma
My children are in different stages of development. That makes life hard when you are trying to be appropriate with them and maintain your own sanity. My son doesn’t really need two naps during the day. He has been sleeping for about an hour in the morning and for a little over two hours in […]
6Dec2008 | bryan | Comments Off on The Two Nap Dilemma | Continued
The Internet: From Organized Reporting to Organic Journalism
On the internet, articles are typically written and distributed by persons rather than organizations, Organizations tend to be intimately involved with issues, where people tend to be intimately involved with other people. Some think that this devalues the articles or the authors online, but one cannot deny that internet material is typically apologetically about the […]
6Dec2008 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
The Christian Message and Economic Prosperity…
We have mentioned Dave Ramsey and Joel Osteen on this magazine, and I thought it might be a good idea to spend some time on the difference between a minister and a motivational speaker. I think that the line can get pretty blurry. In order to do the subject justice, we have to mention the […]
6Dec2008 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
Clean Body, Clean Mind?
Columnist Lee Dye reports: Maybe what the world really needs is a hot, sudsy bath. Researchers in Great Britain have found that even just washing your hands may make you less harsh in your judgment of others. Their study, published in the journal Psychological Science, asserts that feeling clean can “reduce the perceived seriousness of […]
5Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Clean Body, Clean Mind? | Continued
OJ Defines the Media, Media Defines OJ
OJ Simpson is in the news again – a regular for the past forty years. Ironically – OJ’s celebrity status was a product of the media – but the media was defined in many ways by the celebrity of OJ. The excitement OJ generated on the football field directly contributed to the excitement of televised […]
5Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on OJ Defines the Media, Media Defines OJ | Continued
OJ – Celebrity Tragedy
OJ Simpson has been a darling of the media for forty years. Few celebrities reach this level of achievement, we might think of Elvis and the Beatles. We could debate the similarities of these celebrities – rags to riches, riches to rags, stardom and tragedy. But OJ is strikingly different. Elvis Presley was a confused […]
5Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on OJ – Celebrity Tragedy | Continued
Obama’s Team Chemistry – the X-Factor
President Elect Barack Obama is forming his team for governing the United States of America. The buzz in the media centers around the personalities and talents of selected team members. The entertainment value of media questions has been noted by the President Elect, “I know you are having fun with this,” when asked about previous […]
4Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Palin – Everything That Is Wrong With America
Sarah Palin is on the airways. Most notably defending herself against accusations of incompetence by ‘anonymous’ members of the John McCain Campaign staff. With tags like diva and whack job, Palin took some personal hits. If Palin is the future of the Republican Party – then the future of the Republican Party is in deep […]
4Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 46 comments | Continued
A Gay Jesus and Catholic Art
“Corpus Christi” is a play written by an Irish Catholic named Terrence McNally, first performed on Broadway in 1998 and revived for two weeks in October. It is a controversial interpretation of the life and work of Jesus Christ, so it can be considered a part of the crazy-quilt reality of living as a Catholic […]
4Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on A Gay Jesus and Catholic Art | Continued
Obama’s New World Order
By Karen Tumulty and Mark Thompson It was hard to miss the message that Barack Obama was sending with the powerful tableau lined up behind him onstage in Chicago. “I assembled this team because I’m a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions,” the President-elect said of his national-security picks. The top three members […]
4Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama’s New World Order | Continued
Barack WHO?
Posted by Karen Tumulty After Sarah Palin got fooled by a prank call from “Nicolas Sarkozy,” you can see why a politician would be skeptical: WASHINGTON (CNN) –A Florida congresswoman – convinced she was being prank-called by a Barack Obama sound-alike – hung up on the actual president-elect Wednesday. Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was told […]
4Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Barack WHO? | Continued
A 4.5 percent mortgage for all?
by Frank James Who wouldn’t want one of those 4.5 percent mortgages that are now being considered as a way to revive the economy? Sign me up. But there’s evidently some disagreement about whether such mortgages would be available to those who would be refinancing, like me, or available only to those purchasing a home. […]
4Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on A 4.5 percent mortgage for all? | Continued
More Palin ‘Accessories’ Spending Revealed
By Michael Luo Gov. Sarah Palin wearing Cole Haan boots in October. Clothing and other items the Republican National Committee purchased for her caused a stir during the campaign. (Photo: Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press) Look for more “campaign accessories” bought on behalf of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in tomorrow’s end-of-cycle financial report filed by the […]
4Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on More Palin ‘Accessories’ Spending Revealed | Continued
Economic Speculating
Most of us admit that we do not understand the current economic crisis. But there are some simple principles at work. Everyone who has run a household for ten years understands clearly that they cannot sustain living on credit cards. The key word in setting policy, or planning a budget, is ‘sustainable.’ Can the policy […]
2Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Economic Speculating | Continued
A Pragmatic Pair Chosen to Confront Terrorism Threat
By Carrie Johnson and Spencer S. Hsu Washington Post Staff Writers In nominating former federal prosecutors to lead the departments of Justice and Homeland Security, President-elect Barack Obama yesterday selected two Democrats with sterling law-and-order credentials but less experience in detecting threats and gathering intelligence in the age of international terrorism. Eric H. Holder Jr., […]
2Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on A Pragmatic Pair Chosen to Confront Terrorism Threat | Continued
Take Us to your Leader Elect
Featured McClatchy cartoon Jim Morin / Miami Herald (December 1, 2008) | Cartoons for the week of 24 November 2008
2Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Take Us to your Leader Elect | Continued
Obama’s ‘Dream Team’
By Michael Falcone Barack Obama in May, 2008. (Photo:Doug Mills/The New York Times) Besides their impressive resumes and political star-power, a few of President-elect Barack Obama’s top cabinet choices have something else in common — hoop dreams. Though these days Eric H. Holder Jr., Susan E. Rice and Gen. James L. Jones, may be more […]
2Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama’s ‘Dream Team’ | Continued
Bush: ‘I Was Unprepared for War’
By Kate Phillips In what might be considered one of the first exit interviews, President Bush told ABC News’s Charles Gibson that during the eight years of his administration, the thing he was most “unprepared” for was the war in Iraq after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But he also said that he felt he […]
2Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bush: ‘I Was Unprepared for War’ | Continued
Michelle Obama geneaology off-limits
A surviving shack along road once known as Slave Street on a South Carolina plantation. Michelle Obama’s great-great-grandfather, who was born around 1850, lived as a slave, at least until the Civil War, on the sprawling rice plantation. (Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / November 22, 2008) by Frank James Michelle Obama’s roots can be […]
1Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Michelle Obama geneaology off-limits | Continued
Out for Obama: Gay Rights Group Plans Mega Inaugural Shindig
Cyndi Lauper scheduled to headline the Out for Equality inaugural extravaganza. (AP Photo) The “Out for Equality” ball (though its gay-rights organizers don’t want to call it a ball) is shaping up to be one of the single hottest tickets on inauguration night. And you don’t have to be L, G, B or T to […]
1Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Out for Obama: Gay Rights Group Plans Mega Inaugural Shindig | Continued
A Handpicked Obama Team for a Shift in Foreign Policy
Damon Winter/The New York Times Barack Obama’s national security team is to include, from left, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Gen. James L. Jones, a retired Marine commandant. By DAVID E. SANGER Published: November 30, 2008 WASHINGTON — When President-elect Barack Obama introduces his national security team on Monday, it […]
1Dec2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on A Handpicked Obama Team for a Shift in Foreign Policy | Continued
Obama’s confidence-rating: High, steady
by Mark Silva Perhaps it is the alacrity with which President-elect Barack Obama has set about assembling a Cabinet and army of advisers – an economic team named this week, defense coming next week. Or perhaps it is the expertise of the nominees – with a “towering” economic team that includes the six-foot-seven Paul Volcker, […]
29Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama’s confidence-rating: High, steady | Continued
Governing from Center Left or Center Right
Americans are finally experiencing rational government. As the Obama transition progresses we watch, with hope and with fear. The troubled world is scary and important decisions are at hand. Nearly every day there is a headline in the news about the transition. One day the media reports a ‘center-left’ process. The next day another headline […]
29Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Governing from Center Left or Center Right | Continued
Mumbai – Terrorist or Criminal?
The terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, are astonishing. Groups of armed men spread out in the city and began wantonly shooting people. The reports of fatalities are growing, and injuries are reported as over 1000 people. Hostages have been taken, demands of the release of criminals from legal custody made. One television reporter asked her […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
President-elect: ‘You can call me Barack’
Posted November 26, 2008 5:15 PM Veronica Lewis bows for President-elect Barack Obama, and his family, from left, Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha, 7, (hidden) Malia, 10, distributing Thanksgiving turkeys at the food bank at St. Columbanus Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago today. (AP Photo by Pablo Martinez by Mark Silva On the […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on President-elect: ‘You can call me Barack’ | Continued
Happy Thanksgiving: Charity shrinking
by William Neikirk Happy holidays, folks, and here’s some news. Citing the economic crisis, corporate America is cutting back on its charitable giving because of the economic crisis. The Wall Street Journal told us so on Tuesday. The publication is superior in reflecting board-room sentiment across America. But valuable inferences can be gathered from this […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Happy Thanksgiving: Charity shrinking | Continued
Thanksgiving Camp David-style
by Mark Silva Free-Range Roast Turkey. Cornbread Dressing. Cranberry Sauce. Sautéed Green Beans Morelia Style Gazpacho with Spinach Salad. It’s the Gazpacho that gives it away: These are the fixin’s for the Thanksgiving table today at Camp David, where President Bush has retreated with his family for the holiday. An overcast, wintry pall settled over […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Thanksgiving Camp David-style | Continued
Obama Volunteers at a Chicago Food Bank
President-elect Barack Obama, center, his wife Michelle Obama, left, and daughter Malia, 10, center, greet people at a food bank at St. Columbanus Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago, Nov. 26, 2008. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press) Tom DeFrank of the New York Daily News was today’s pool reporter covering Barack Obama’s visit to […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Obama Transition Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai
Onlookers stand at the site of a bomb blast in Mumbai Nov. 26, 2008. (Reuters) Obama Transition chief national security spokesperson Brooke Anderson condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, on behalf of the president-elect, saying: President-Elect Obama strongly condemns today’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama Transition Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai | Continued
Obama’s Speechwriter Moves to the White House
By Jeff Zeleny Barack Obama’s Chief Speech Writer at work on his victory speech for the New Hampshire primary election in a hotel lobby. (Jacob Silberberg for The New York Times) CHICAGO – President-elect Barack Obama’s wordsmith is moving to the West Wing. In his latest round of White House staff announcements, Mr. Obama said […]
27Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama’s Speechwriter Moves to the White House | Continued
Feminism and The Three Arguments Against Gay Marriage
By Michael Scherer Arguments against gay marriage tend to fall into three broad categories: it is a threat to tradition (the idea is historically not sanctioned; the bible does not approve); it is a threat to children (kids will learn about homosexuality in school, confuse gender roles, or even become gay themselves); and it is […]
26Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Feminism and The Three Arguments Against Gay Marriage | Continued
Barack Obama’s Leadership Paradox
Barack Obama has assumed the Presidency. Might we say he has transcended the transition? He will not take the oath of office until January 20, 2009 – but Barack Obama is the President in everything but title. Obama has assumed the leadership role in America and around the world. And the paradox of Obama centers […]
26Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
The Poverty Inoculation – Gratitude
This economy was beginning to make me sick. My stock portfolio has lost half of the value. Dividends are now 5% of $10 instead of 5% of $20 – so my income is shredded. The identification thieves skip my trash can – there is nothing left to steal. The illness was creeping into my neurological […]
24Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
The Value in Hunting
Every year folks from all walks of life participate in hunting. From the poorest redneck to the high brow elite, young and old, men and women all enjoy hunting. Some are strictly trophy hunters only going for the big buck, tom turkey or whatever their fancy. Some of us hunt for the combined thrill and […]
24Nov2008 | Cole James | Comments Off on The Value in Hunting | Continued
The Meaning of Jihad in Islam
By Ali Gomaa Within Islam the term jihad refers to a large category of meanings. Today, however, there are attempts to isolate this term to only one form of jihad to the exclusion of all others. This includes a conception of jihad that at best refers only to armed struggle, and at worst to a […]
24Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Meaning of Jihad in Islam | Continued
Can the Obamas Choose a Church? Will We Let Them?
By David Waters As everyone knows by now, the Obamas are between church homes. That’s a difficult place for any churchgoing family, but especially one that has become the focus of the fears and hopes of the entire world. Finding a new church won’t get any easier now that they’re moving into the White House. […]
23Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Can the Obamas Choose a Church? Will We Let Them? | Continued
Fix Pick: Brooks on the Transition
New York Times columnist David Brooks is reassured by the people with whom President-elect Obama has chosen to surround himself. (By Linda Davidson — The Washington Post) Amid the chaos of Cabinet picks and the whirl of White House staff announcements over the past week, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. That […]
23Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Fix Pick: Brooks on the Transition | Continued
The Saturday Word: Obama Aims for 2.5 Million Jobs
By Sarah Wheaton In his weekly address for broadcast today, President-elect Barack Obama announced his intention to create 2.5 million new jobs by January 2011. “There are no quick or easy fixes to this crisis, which has been many years in the making, and it’s likely to get worse before it gets better,” he said. […]
23Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Saturday Word: Obama Aims for 2.5 Million Jobs | Continued
The Inauguration: Planning Team Taking Shape
By Katharine Q. Seelye Barack Obama began preparing for his transition to the White House several months ago, and formally established his transition office right after his election. But the team planning his inaugural, set for Jan. 20, is just starting to take shape. One person who is expected to play a prominent role on […]
21Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Inauguration: Planning Team Taking Shape | Continued
Are Drug Addicts Worthless?
Well, that depends. While using drugs that addict is worse than worthless. While using an addict’s worth is in the negative numbers – they will lie and steal – to any one, any where, any time. When not using they return to their normal human pain-in-the-ass personalities. They are normal in the sense that humans […]
20Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Bailouts for white, not blue collars?
by Frank James Have the federal bailouts been biased towards white-collar and against blue-collar workers? That question was starkly raised by Rep. Barney Frank, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, which yesterday heard the chief executives of the Big Three automakers beseech Congress for $25 billion in taxpayer-funded loans. Frank, the committee’s chair, said: […]
20Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bailouts for white, not blue collars? | Continued
Trending Away From the GOP
By David S. Broder Sunday, November 16, 2008; Page B07 The deeper one digs into the returns from this past election, the more portentous the results seem. This Story Trending Away From the GOP 5 Myths About an Election of Mythic Proportions Watch Where You Walk, Mr. Obama I know the dangers of deciding too […]
20Nov2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Trending Away From the GOP | Continued