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Step 3 – Faith
Son, Step Three of twelve begins a mental discipline. Made a decision to turn our will and life over to the care of God as we understood him. So three frogs are sitting on a log, one decides to jump in. How many frogs are on the log? Three – he made a decision – […]
13Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Step 3 – Faith | Continued
Step 2 – Hope
Son, Step Two of twelve states clearly – and with confidence: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. That is a mouthful, especially after the brutality of Step One. They tell us we are powerless – not much hope there. And our lives are unmanageable – if that […]
13Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Step 2 – Hope | Continued
Step 1 – Honesty
Son, Step One of 12 Step Programs states simply: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol (insert your own problem), that our lives had become unmanageable. I have said before that there are consequences to belief systems. Well, what would be the consequence of believing that you had become powerless, that your life had become […]
13Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Step 1 – Honesty | Continued
Hyperbolic Jesus
Dad, I have been described, with flattery and contempt, as inflammatory and as one who lends himself to exaggeration. I have never given this much credence, because I know that the only thing I know for a fact is that I know almost no facts. In college I made great marks from listening to lectures […]
13Nov2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Hyperbolic Jesus | Continued
Exercise – the age factor
Son, I was out walking again today. My brain almost refuses to accept the age of my body. “Come on,” the brain says, ” if you had not been so lazy you would not be in this mess.” My body argues in return, “You are Management, production has lagged because of inept management.” I feel […]
12Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
12 Step Programs – maturing over time
Son, The Alcoholics Anonymous movement was off and running with the publication of their basic text, ‘Alcoholics Anonymous.’ This text has taken on biblical proportions within the movement and is referred to affectionately as the Big Book. The movement spread throughout Ohio and to New York City. In 1938 John D. Rockefeller gave the movement […]
12Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on 12 Step Programs – maturing over time | Continued
12 Step Programs, the beginning of A.A.
Son, Let’s talk about 12 Step Programs, Treatment Modalities, personal tantrums, drug addiction, the criminal paradigm, and hope for the future. You have entered a world of faith, a particular faith. My response is one of a pleased parent. Your choice of a mainstream denomination pleases me. A 12 step program accepts a variety of […]
12Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on 12 Step Programs, the beginning of A.A. | Continued
Exercising back to health
Son, When I was 30 years old I ran a 15K race organized by our local Parks Department. They also had a 5K and a 10K run simultaneously. The reason for a 15K was because that was the distance between the North Side Park and the South Side Park, traveling along the parkway. 15 kilometers […]
10Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Exercising back to health | Continued
“Amen”, and “You got that right”
Son, We have written about motivational speaking, the ministry, teaching, and political stump speeches. They are not much different. At least not from the presenter’s point of view. Every successful presenter must read and react to his or her audience. In a recent post you wrote about going to see Hillary Clinton at Simpson College […]
10Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on “Amen”, and “You got that right” | Continued
Hillary Clinton at Simpson College
Dad, Last weekend I went to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa to attend a weekend class. On Saturday, I was in the building next to the gymnasium where Hillary was to give her speech. I slipped out of class and went to watch. She is a dynamic speaker and a brilliant politician. When she came […]
9Nov2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Hillary Clinton at Simpson College | Continued
I walked today – and I was careful
Son, This chronicling my new found attempt to get into shape has not gotten off to the start I had hoped for. There are bumps in the road of new exercise programs. Particularly if one has lived a sedentary life for about five years – and has begun the steep descent into the depths of […]
9Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Hate Crimes, revisiting the Jena 6
Son, Some people have responded in a rather angry fashion to a post I wrote on hate crimes. Some people really oppose the idea of hate crimes. But we use descriptive words like ‘hate’ to further identify and segregate a number of offenses. When a man beats his wife – it is not just assault […]
9Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Hate Crimes, revisiting the Jena 6 | Continued
Going for a walk – I hope
Son, I have been sick all week. After my strenuous walk last week – the violation of self thing – I became ill. I canceled all of my planned exercise for the week while I recuperated. Yesterday I thought that perhaps I had a minor heart attack while exercising. I thought I might have been […]
9Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Going for a walk – I hope | Continued
Podcasts
Occasionally Bryan likes to put a podcast together. Here is our work to date: the fireside chat -episode 001
6Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Government up side down
Son, My friends call me a liberal. That is because I live in a small town in the midwest where everyone hates hate crimes, and anyone who supports them. There is a real dichotomy in the lexicon of liberal and conservative. I am opposed to the Federal Government having more power of surveillance on the […]
5Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Government up side down | Continued
Exercise – violation of self
Son, As you know, I have been trying to get back into shape – just one more time in my life. My age plays a role and I do not yet understand that role. My brain thinks I am 30 years old – my body is not cooperating. The last five years has seen me […]
4Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Immigration
The Fireside is an online magazine. Here are some articles on immigration: Where is Woody Guthrie? Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Immigration – Underground Railroad English – a Mandatory Language Closed Borders – Unworthy Immigrants Dead Immigrants
4Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Immigration | Continued
Blogging – Journalism with attitude
Son, This morning, Sunday, November 4. 2007, CNN’s Reliable Sources is having a discussion on blogging. You and I have been grappling with the issues of blogging and journalism for months. The professional journalists on CNN all write blogs. It seems the major news outlets are beginning to embrace the world of blogging. What are […]
4Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Blogging – Journalism with attitude | Continued
The Jesuits at Sillary – imposing culture
Son, Sometimes we are a little hard on contemporary Christian fundamentalists. We don’t like their aggressive evangelism – their attempts to force their culture on us. That is a statement of perspective – their perspective might be that they are trying to save us from going to hell. Christianity has as rich history of abusing […]
3Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Jesuits at Sillary – imposing culture | Continued
Walk Fast, Run Slow – but exercise
I am beginning my third month of irregular exercise. It is irregular because I get going pretty good and then I over do it. Then I have to take extra days off to heal. My brain will not cooperate – it thinks my body is young and healthy and strong. The memories of two-hour racquetball […]
2Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Pandemic disease, test and immunize
Son, Drug Addiction is Pandemic. I made this case in an earlier post. Assuming this is true – what are we going to do about it. Pandemics are not new to the world. The past one hundred years have seen medical advances that have eradicated many pandemic illnesses. I think of Smallpox and polio – […]
2Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Pandemic disease, test and immunize | Continued
A Proud Man and His Family – 1950’s
Son, Your grandfather is a proud man. My mother stayed home to take care of the seven children – he worked two jobs to provide the basic necessities. He would never take a handout. Suggest government peanut butter and cheese to him and you might have a little squabble. I said that wrong – your […]
2Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
The Enola Gay –
Son, A death yesterday footnoted one of the most horrific events in the history of man. The death was of Paul Tibbits, he was 92. Mr. Tibbits piloted the Enola Gay into destiny – He and his crew dropped the first atomic bomb used in warfare. The idea of using such a weapon and the […]
2Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Enola Gay – | Continued
“Thank God for Dead Soldiers”
Son, The distorted logic used by some is maddening. It is hilarious when poked at by the likes of Mark Twain who said, “I left the South and they lost the war.” Two separate events connected by insanity. Humor is found in the ludicrous and the absurd – Mark Twain understood this. This failure of […]
1Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Drug Addiction is Pandemic
Son, There is a pandemic in America – and around the world. It is the scourge of drug addiction. Modern medicine, let’s say the last 200 years, has developed some of the most powerful pain killers and anesthetics ever imagined. These have served our populace well in the development of modern medical practice – and […]
1Nov2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Drug Addiction is Pandemic | Continued
Democratic Debate II – October 30
I posted my last commentary after a half an hour. I was trying to capture actual quotes from the candidates. After posting that hodge-podge of information, I sat back and just listened. I am beside myself with conflict. We have some really fine people running for President on the Democratic ticket. I like Joe Biden. […]
31Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Democratic Debate II – October 30 | Continued
Democratic Debate – October 30 8-8:30 PM
Brian Williams, the moderator, set the stage with his first question to Barack Obama, asking “Why do you think that Hillary Clinton votes like a republican?” Barack answered by explaining the need for change and his take on Hillary is that she is a person steeped in the experience of Washington politics. Then John Edwards […]
31Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Democratic Debate – October 30 8-8:30 PM | Continued
Blunt Abortion
The Governor of Missouri is Matt Blunt, son of a Missouri Congressman of a similarly appropriate name. The headline in today’s paper is “Blunt task force examining abortion affects on women.” How appropriate. This is a good article – good because it slants in my direction. Apparently Governor Blunt has formed a task force of […]
29Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Blunt Abortion | Continued
Police Pursuit – Losing Humanity
Son, This has been a sad week for me. As you know I have worked in the social service industry, after retiring from a career in information systems and finance. It is one of those thing us ‘baby-boomers’ do – giving back something that was given to us. The social service field is really tough. […]
27Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Police Pursuit – Losing Humanity | Continued
The Language of Poverty
Son, There is a wonderful article in this morning’s local newspaper. The headline is “The Language of Poverty.” It is written by a local reporter and it is well done. The subject matter and the source of information both inspirational. I will probably quote much of the article here and it can speak for itself. […]
27Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Extreme Moralists
Son, Everything is extreme. Everything is George W. Bush, “You are either with us or against us.” Even the two opening sentences of this post are all or nothing. We are in an age of the ‘extreme moralist.’ I am talking about both left-wing and right wing, and the fringe causes that no one wants […]
27Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Extreme Moralists | Continued
A Bag of Slime –
Son, A day or two ago I wrote a piece I called “Bloggers – Op-Ed on Steroids.” My notion was that bloggers, including myself, are uninhibited writers – absent the politically correct urine and vinegar. Bloggers come right out and speak their mind with no editorial over site. I continue to believe there is an […]
27Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on A Bag of Slime – | Continued
Blogging – Op-Ed on steroids
Son, This world of blogging is fascinating. Large audiences can be reached with the push of a button. Bloggers rarely report the news – rather we just comment on the news. Sometimes the word ‘comment’ does not quite describe what is really happening. Blogging has become a vent for the anger of a frustrated populace. […]
26Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
“gang” fights and small town living
Dad, In a previous post, you mentioned defining gangs in our home town, or, rather, the resistance to defining a “gang”. I remember once when I was young and impressionable (“the good old days”), I was hanging out with some friends one night in the parking lot of the Godfather’s Pizza in our home town. […]
26Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on “gang” fights and small town living | Continued
Al Gore – polarizing Global Warming
Son, You recently did a post that featured a video by John Stossel. The video was clearly against the concept that man is contributing to Global Warming. You and I talked before you created this post and you and I both agreed that this is not a time for finger pointing – it is a […]
25Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Cabela’s Deer Camp – no Assault Rifles
Son, There is a big advertisement inserted into this morning’s newspaper. The title is catching: Cabela’s countdown to Deer Camp. Cabela’s is a big outdoor paraphernalia producer and marketer. The colorful ad is four full pages. One entire page is dedicated to arming oneself for the foray into the wild – the firearm must be […]
25Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
So Dumbledore is Gay – So What?
Son, J.K. Rowling has done it again. She has successfully presented a social atrocity in a very human manner. Last week she was asked if Headmaster Dumbledore of the Hogwarts School of Wizardry was gay. She replied, “Yes.” Then followed with something like – that will probably get people angry again. Why? The answer is […]
24Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Electoral College: Protecting Minorities
Son, The race is heating up. The next year will see more debate on the value of the Electoral College, the process of electing the President of the United States of America. It is sort of a big deal. The Founding Fathers established a process based on their immense knowledge and understanding of history. They […]
24Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Electoral College: Protecting Minorities | Continued
Define “Gang”
Son, There was a shooting last week in your home town, where I live today. Two rival groups of people gathered on opposite street corners, taunting and trash talking. Someone fired a gun. The police report that several more shots were fired from both crowds. No one was injured, although there were bullet holes in […]
23Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Define “Gang” | Continued
Blogging – an artform
Son, Art has influenced human endeavor since the first cave man scratched his charred stick on the cave wall. This spark of imagination, ignited by primitive desire, generates the energy of human change and growth. Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Hebrews wrote the Pentateuch. The Ancient Greeks knew the value of art […]
23Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
The fearists of Climate Change…
Dad. I watched the video that you sent. I am adding it below for those of us who are not you and me. As I said in a previous post, I respect Al Gore for what he has accomplished, and I encourage everyone to do his or her part to live responsibly. This video points […]
23Oct2007 | bryan | 6 comments | Continued
Health Care Costs – you get what you pay for
Son, I was just watching the History Channel. The program was on ‘dangerous cargoes.’ One of the cargoes they showcased was ‘radioactive pharmaceuticals.’ Well, I guess that would qualify as dangerous. But the costs and benefits caught my attention. These radioactive pharmaceuticals are central to the ability to diagnose and treat a variety of cancers. […]
22Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Health Care Costs – you get what you pay for | Continued
War Profiteering – Republicans delight
Son, Our local newspaper is decidedly Republican. Their choice of syndicated columnists and their regular headlines reflect this bias. It is not as if they are trying to hide anything – their editorial page is very clear about their bias. And they are righteously proud of it. The loss of the meritorious values of the […]
22Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Making mulch – saving the planet
Son, This awareness of Global Warming is a real pain in the neck. At every turn I am reminded that I must be more resourceful. Life was so much easier when blundering around in ignorance. So, here is my current problem, I receive a great deal of junk mail. What are you gonna do? I […]
22Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
George Will – hold your conservative horses
Son, I like to read George Will’s column. I love the way he uses words; he is a true craftsman in the art of writing. His intellect is obvious. And I almost never agree with his message. His column of today, Sunday, October 21, is especially lost in his attempt to attack liberals. Mr. Will […]
21Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on George Will – hold your conservative horses | Continued
Rush Limbaugh – the need for acceptance
Son, The human condition of social acceptance has overridden basic moral values. For centuries governments, churches, and the literary/art community have served to help define a set of moral standards, to articulate them, to promote the clarity of civilized man. There is purpose. As social creatures by nature and nurture, we all have a need […]
20Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Rush Limbaugh – the need for acceptance | Continued
Traits of Self Control
Son, I continue with my series on behavior – I remain inspired by the efforts of Bill Cosby. Again – I found some old literature, not of my origin. This paper is like many others, it has been copied and recopied – it has served others. Perhaps it has more life. Self Control: 1. Has […]
19Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Traits of Self Control | Continued
Reckless Attitude Indicators
Son, I continue my diatribe on behavior, inspired by Bill Cosby. Many of us venture out into the world with fundamentally reckless attitudes that get us into trouble. The real dilemma is that the reckless attitude itself denies that it exists – that is a reckless attitude. I found some literature on this – again […]
19Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Reckless Attitude Indicators | Continued
Rules of Dysfunctional Families
Son, To follow-up on my last post I will present some of the rules of dysfunctional families. This is not advocacy – just observations. This is not original with me – I found it somewhere, copied many times over, worn and crooked print on old paper. Rules Projected in the Dysfunctional Family 1. Judge others […]
19Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Inspired by Bill Cosby
Son, Bill Cosby is a funny guy. Funny humorous, not funny wacko. He has taken up the mantle of leadership for his ‘brothers.’ Mr. Cosby is on a crusade to help raise the African-American community to a higher standard of living – higher standards of family values, of education, of responsibility, and of economic prosperity. […]
19Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Inspired by Bill Cosby | Continued