Other Recent Articles
Excellent Blogging
Son, So we have been talking, and I wrote a post this morning, about where to take our blog. It occurred to me that we should be aware of fundamentals of excellence in whatever we do. Last summer (2006) I attended the National Rural Institute on Alcohol and Drug Abuse at the University of Wisconsin […]
19Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Excellent Blogging | Continued
Tornado Alley
Son, My home town is on the fringe of Tornado Alley. You grew up here. Now the tornadoes that come through here get to you about five or six hours later. Technology advances, we are more able to predict bad weather, and we are more aware of the need to pay attention to the forecasts. […]
19Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Tornado Alley | Continued
The bloggers market, finding a niche’
Son, You and I have had some success with this blog. First and foremost to me is the opportunity to talk with you every day – no father is more blessed. We started this thing so others could join in our father and son chats. It may be difficult for some to believe – but […]
19Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Water For Elephants
Dad, I just finished reading this book. It is one of those books that leaves you a little empty when it is over because you won’t get to spend time with those characters anymore. I wish that I would get a postcard from them. “Water for Elephants” is a beautiful story and an impressive bunch […]
19Oct2007 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Gas Grills and intentional living
Dad, I was having a conversation with my friend who was in town for a visit this weekend. We were discussing my gas grill. I bought a gas grill because I did some research on the most responsible way to cook meals. When you use your oven in the summer time, often the heat from […]
18Oct2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Psychcentral – help for troubled people
Son, We have had some comments this week from someone at an internet place called Psychcentral. I have just been to their site – I was even attracted by one of their blogs and wrote a comment to some poor desperate soul. I am impressed with Psychcentral – they have a great service. I know […]
18Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Blogging Ethics – Internet Ethics
Son, Historically, the common denominator of civilized man has been the rule of law. Without law we have anarchy. Without law we have chaos. Without law it is every man for himself. The internet is governed only by the laws or limitations of technology. The internet is a vast and open frontier. People like to […]
18Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Bush – acclimated to WAR!
Son, President Bush is scaring me. He had a news conference today and he said, “If you are interested in preventing World War III then you should be interested in Iran not having nuclear weapons.” He has said, “We’ve got a leader in Iran that says he wants to destroy Israel.” Is a threat against […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Hicks visit Manhattan
Son, I had my first paper delivery route exactly forty-four years ago next month. I took over the route two days after John Kennedy was assassinated – I remember both events very well. Forty-four years of work history and my place of employment was never more than two miles from my home. If I drove […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Hicks visit Manhattan | Continued
Fathers and cloth diapers
Son, You are bringing back some really old memories. I changed your cloth diapers, and those of your older sister. When your younger sister came along we had pretty much made the transition to disposables. I read your commentary and pondered your financial analysis of cloth versus disposables. The idea of our throw away society […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Fathers and cloth diapers | Continued
Dick Cheney, misunderestimating power
Son, I wrote in another post on Dick Cheney’s view of the power of the Presidency. I was essentially reporting and summarizing a program on PBS Frontline. twelve hours have passed and some thoughts have bubbled to the surface. Dick Cheney has been around a long time. He was present in the Nixon Administration and […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Dick Cheney, misunderestimating power | Continued
Dave Ramsey, meet Joel Osteen
Son, We have talked several times about Dave Ramsey, monetary guru of Christianity. I have been wandering around the Dave Ramsey Web site and I see a great deal of information on debt management, how to get out of debt, and how to stay out of debt. This man is important in America today. I […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 12 comments | Continued
Ghost in Your Genes
Son, I like to watch NOVA, a PBS program on public TV. Last evening they had a program on called Epigenetics, Ghost in Your Genes. It was funny that I was thinking of home made baby wipes while watching the program. Just before I sat down to watch the program I had been looking at […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Cheney’s Law – Frontline on PBS
Son, The power of the presidency. Vice President Dick Cheney has been working for three decades, often behind closed doors, to validate the President as the ultimate and last authority over the executive branch. Some of his friends claim that he has changed since September 11, 2201. The commentator on the PBS program Frontline reports […]
17Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Cheney’s Law – Frontline on PBS | Continued
cloth diapers…
Dad, My wife and I have flirted with cloth diapers for a long time. We had some that our mother-in-law gave to us when our daughter was born, but all we had were the safety pins and old plastic diaper covers from about the middle of last century. After having a dirty diaper in my […]
17Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on cloth diapers… | Continued
To the solicitors of pornography: What do you want with us?
Dad, So far, we have managed to create a nice blog that people read, without soliciting the help of sex or pornography. We talk about issues, faith, about our children and our family, we even share recipes and kitchen tips. We seem to be able to manage our blog with a reasonable readership without prostituting […]
16Oct2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
United Way – uniting community?
Son, There are many social service agencies in all communities that compete for the limited local dollars available. The imperative of local communities is that they respect the dollars donated and use these dollars wisely. The United Way was formulated, I think in the 1960’s, to offer the synergy of cooperation among social service agencies. […]
16Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
life with no TV (or TV with no life)
Dad, As you know, my wife and I don’t watch much television. In fact, we have only one small TV and it is only connected to the VCR and DVD player in our bedroom. Our living room has no television, and the chairs are arranged so that when you are sitting in that room you […]
16Oct2007 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
Parenting – the baby wipe metaphor
Son, I just read your great post on making your own baby wipes. You and your wife are examples of what parenting should be. The baby wipes are but one manifestation of parental love – that outward sign of parents who put real energy into their children. Parenting takes energy. Good parenting comes to life […]
16Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Parenting – the baby wipe metaphor | Continued
Abortion – conflicting messages
Son, I just saw President Bush on TV stating that he believes, “…health care should be private because medical decisions should be between the patient and their doctor…” Whoa – Where did I hear that before? I don’t think the President was aware of what he was saying. President Bush just presented the fundamental argument […]
16Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Visiting the doctor
Son, Do you remember Dr. Peterson? He was our family physician for about twenty years. Years ago I was standing at the top of a ladder, trimming a tree with a hand ax, when the ax slipped and I cut my knee. I went to see Dr. Pete. He walked into the exam room and […]
16Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Visiting the doctor | Continued
home made baby wipes…
Dad, My wife and i have been making our own diaper wipes for a few years now. I love that they have no alcohol in them, and that we don’t have to buy packaged wipes and throw away the wrapper every time we run out of wipes. They are also biodegradable and can be flushed. […]
16Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
President Bush – inspiring talk
Son, I am watching a live broadcast of President Bush talking in a town-hall style format. He is on a roll and is actually doing a pretty good job. I don’t seem him like this very often. He just said, with force, vigor, and even some charisma, (I can’t type fast enough so I’ll have […]
15Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Collecting on Soviet Debt – adventures in email
Son, Do you like the title. It is a come-on. Wal Mart would call it a loss leader. Anything to get the customer in the door. So this is really about getting someone to come look at us, and I’ll try to work in something about the Soviet Union to validate the title. It struck […]
15Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Collecting on Soviet Debt – adventures in email | Continued
Writing, Blogging, Journalism
Son, I am trying to get this sorted out in my own mind – so I’ll just think out loud right here. Writing has many forms, creative, essay, informative, technical, and business to name a few. Each form has a function. With creative writing we expect to see plenty of colorful adjectives expounding on the […]
14Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
KU Fans – don’t know any!
Son, The KU Jayhawks are on a roll. Downhill. They are picking up steam but their train isn’t pulling any freight. They ain’t nobody. They haven’t played nobody. No freight, no load, no body. I don’t know any KU Fans but before I run into any, and they will becoming out of the woodwork like […]
14Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on KU Fans – don’t know any! | Continued
European immigrants wanted to own property
Son, The idea of owning property is a value brought by the early illegal European immigrants to this country. Jamestown was founded on trade – the idea of making money. By the time of the European migration to this continent all of the land in Europe was taken. If land was not inherited, it could […]
13Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on European immigrants wanted to own property | Continued
Revelation – Oracle of the Bible
Son, I have been mildly amused at the seriousness with which some take the Book of Revelation in the Bible – the oracle of Christianity. Earlier manuscripts called it The Apocalypse of John. Apocalypse is sometimes translated Revelation in English. It begins, The revelation of Jesus Christ, unto his servant John… It is a book […]
13Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Revelation – Oracle of the Bible | Continued
Blogging – Breaking Rules of Journalism
Son, We are in a time in history of rapid change; and some folks don’t like it. They don’t like it because change often requires challenging, if not breaking, established rules and protocols. Bloggers are struggling to get the respect of the professional journalist community. I think that is a mistake. I am not interested […]
13Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
renting vs. buying
Dad, My wife and I have been talking about our plans for the future, and the issue of buying property has come up, as it usually does when we have this conversation. We are comfortable with renting, and we have come to that place through a long process of evaluating our lifestyle. We do not […]
13Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on renting vs. buying | Continued
Chris Dodd – White Hare
Dad, I have been spending some time looking at Chris Dodd. I like his demeanor and his politics. He has a lot to offer and I think that I would like to see Barack as his VP on the ticket. It is early, and I am looking around, and I am influenced and intrigued by […]
13Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Chris Dodd – White Hare | Continued
Blogging in China
Son, So I have been blogging with you for less than two months. Actually, I never read a blog before two months ago. But I think of myself today as a blogger. I write things and I watch the statistics. It is about 2:00 on Friday afternoon. There has been about a three hour lull […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Blogging in China | Continued
Al Gore or Gandhi?
Dad, Like all of his other supporters, I would like to congratulate Al Gore on winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He has big shoes to fill. On February 2, 1977, Jimmy Carter addressed the nation in a cardigan sweater and asked us all to do our part and turn down our thermostat and wear a […]
12Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
Cowboy Diplomacy and noblesse oblige
Son, Noblesse Oblige – the idea that nobility carries with it obligation. The idea is as old as Tunk’s Mountain. The term is French and it means the ‘obligation of the Nobility.’ History has shown that when the Noble Class fails to share the wealth with the people, the people will ultimately revolt. The American […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Al Gore – Ozone Man
Son, The sweet smell of vindication. Time will ultimately tell the truth. Al Gore has been awarded the Nobel Prize for his lifetime achievement in bringing the issue of Global Warming to the attention of humanity. In 1992 Al Gore was a Vice Presidential Candidate, running with Bill Clinton on the Democratic ticket. They were […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Al Gore – Ozone Man | Continued
Sabre Rattling – a necessary evil?
Son, Is there any evil that is necessary, that is somehow justified? The problem is in the definition of evil. Evil is a complex concept – debated by the intelligencia. Let’s reduce the idea to something more simple, focusing on one element. It is not evil to be clear about consequences. Actually – it would […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Sabre Rattling – a necessary evil? | Continued
The Al Gore Situation,
Dad, I think that I agree with you about the Al Gore situation. I would be interested to see him in action in another presidential race, but I think that it is a long shot. Even on the environmental issue, he has a lot of questions to answer, but I would tune in for the […]
12Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on The Al Gore Situation, | Continued
Father Guido Sarducci, an American Priest
Son, I was watching some old news clips on television and they had this Priest from the late 1970’s. He was giving a sermon on how God keeps a tally in our lives. He has a sort of Italian accent but I think he must be second generation immigrant because he capably introduces capitalist ideology […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Father Guido Sarducci, an American Priest | Continued
Al Gore – political Tea Leaves
Son, There are people who would like for Al Gore to run for President again. Tomorrow the Nobel Prize committee will announce their selections and Al Gore is a nominee. He is attracting some attention for sure. There is an active Draft Al Gore movement. I happened to be watching a couple of Hollywood Awards […]
12Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Old Sayings – and thoughts
Son, I am still cleaning my office. I found this paper that I will share. I don’t know who wrote these things – some are cute – some are profound. Here goes: To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world. Going to church does not make […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Old Sayings – and thoughts | Continued
Ben Afleck on Hardball
Son, Writer, actor, director – So he gets to comment on world events. Chris Matthews is asking him about Senator’s votes for or against the Iraq War. Afleck notes the Youtube video about Cheney arguing against an invasion of Iraq. So Chris Matthews plays some clips from the Republican debate and the authority of the […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 9 comments | Continued
Serenity Prayer – full version
Son, What has become known as the Serenity Prayer was actually written by a protestant minister in 1934. Reinhold Niebuhr wrote the prayer as a routine closing for a Sunday Sermon. The Prayer has been condensed and cleansed of the reference to Jesus. This was useful to use the prayer as a method of inclusiveness. […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Obama – The Soul of Black Folk – Incarnated.
Son, You are young and you support Barack Obama. The elder statesmen of politics dismiss Obama for that very reason – only the young and inexperienced support him – but what do they know? Young people do not have the experience of time – so you are left to your intuitive hope and faith for […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Barack Obama – Mr. Cool
Son, I’m watching Morning Joe again. They are talking about Barack Obama – Mr. Cool. The reference is to his image versus the manner he is displaying. Barack Obama hit the national scene with the stature of remembered charismatic leaders of the past. People talked about the intelligence of Bill Clinton, the charm of John […]
11Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
The Bible – faith, truth, knowledge?
Son, So we have been talking about faith and truth and knowledge. Let’s put this discussion this in context. For one to say, “I know the Exodus out of Egypt is true because the Bible says so,” is , by the definition of the word know, a position that must be defended with facts beyond […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Bible – faith, truth, knowledge? | Continued
Truth – an understanding
Son, We talked about faith and knowledge – there is another confusing word TRUTH. Let us begin with an example: Ptolemy postulated about 200 CE. that the Sun and the stars rotated around the earth. This became the known truth for about 1700 years. It was a very convenient scientific truth because it fit the […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Faith and Knowledge – differences
Son, You and I talk often about faith. It struck me that perhaps we are getting mixed up on semantics. Faith and knowledge are different things. Knowledge requires proof, faith does not. There is a new show on television with Jeff Foxworthy as the host. It is called, “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?” […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Bill Maher and Chuck Hagel…
Dad, I was watching this clip this morning from Bill Maher: I like Chuck Hagel – he strikes me as an individual who is not influenced by political pressures to cater to the party’s wishes. I think that he probably is not running because he knows that he does not conform enough to win a […]
10Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Bill Maher and Chuck Hagel… | Continued
Bill Maher on Morning Joe
Son, I am listening to MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Bill Maher will be on, but first a few comments about last evening’s Republican debate. How did Fred Thompson do? Joe says ‘…you would expect him to be more prepared.” He didn’t make any major mistakes and that is a good thing. I watched the debate and […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
The Republican Debate – 8:00 PM CST – today
Son, I am watching the Republican debate and hope to sort something out – here they go, I’ll grab what grabs me: Fred Thompson stumbles out of the gate with a crafted answer – his pause reflected a person unsure, and afraid he might make a mistake. Afraid he would fluke out of the spelling […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued