Other Recent Articles
Dates in Black History, 1875 – 1925
Son, I am cleaning my office and found some old notes from college. I have written recently about racism and thought these significant dates might be enlightening. 1875 – Civil Rights Act – dealt with public accommodation. 1877 – The end of Reconstruction. 1883 – Supreme Court decision overturning the Civil Rights Act of 1875. […]
10Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Dates in Black History, 1875 – 1925 | Continued
Garth Brooks on Ebay
Son, We have watched the interest in Garth Brooks with mild fascination. I just went to ebay and entered ‘Garth Brooks Concert Tickets.’ There are 1043 items. So I clicked on ‘1 lower level ticket.’ The bid started at $35 and after eight bids was up to $46.00. So I went to another item – […]
9Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Garth Brooks on Ebay | Continued
Fearists: the new face of terror…
Dad, We need a new term. You approached the idea of terrorism in other forms in a previous post. We need to identify that terrorists use violence, but many use fear and it is almost as destructive. I think if you use fear to influence others’ actions or to bring about social or political change, […]
9Oct2007 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
Domestic Terrorism – an oxymoron
Son, Your terrorism post inspired me. Terrorism is not about ideology – it is about power and control from sick people. These are people who will have their way at any cost. Domestic terrorism takes many forms – usually disguised as something else. Sometimes we call it Domestic Violence – that usually refers to a […]
9Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Calcium build-up solutions
Dad, Any idea how to get calcium build up out of my dishwasher? I have this white stuff, I guess it is calcium, caked all inside my dishwasher and it is not cleaning the dishes anymore. Bryan
9Oct2007 | bryan | 8 comments | Continued
Doing better in school
Dad, My daughter went to school without a fit for the second time today. We have been showering her with stickers and praise, and that seems to be working. I have made an effort to focus on her during the few hours that she and I are home together before she goes to school. Of […]
9Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Doing better in school | Continued
Terrorism disguised as intelligence
Dad, This morning I read an article on what is being called Islamo-fascism Awareness week and is being put on by the Terrorism Awareness Project. I was interested because I thought that understanding the difference between an Islamic Extremist and and Islamic Pacifist would be valuable, and that Terrorism Awareness could be a helpful conversation […]
9Oct2007 | bryan | 6 comments | Continued
People of Color – urbanites?
Son, Do you like the title of this post? Both terms are often used, erroneously, to describe a part of the American population. Bill O’Reilly uses the term ‘people of color.’ Urbanite has become a code word for a particular culture – implying color and crime. Your nephew lives in very rural northwest Missouri. He […]
9Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Fred Thompson, typical modern conservative
Son, Fred Thompson smugly announced his candidacy for president on the Jay Leno Show. I think he was expecting a coronation the next day. It did not happen. I don’t know a great deal about him – mostly what the talking heads report. I do know that he was a United States Senator and then […]
9Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Fred Thompson, typical modern conservative | Continued
Strategies for reducing energy – and other lifestyles
Son,I am very pleased with your awareness of your impact on the environment. I was in my twenties during the gasoline crunch of the 1970’s. Conserving was all the rage – for all the wrong reasons. It was about money – about saving money for yourself. That can be a strong motivator – but as […]
8Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
reducing my energy consumption…
Dad, I have been thinking a lot lately about how much energy I use. I try to evaluate my lifestyle all the time to find out if I can improve and better live out the values that I claim to have. I just read an interesting article on phantom power, and there is a good […]
8Oct2007 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
Parenting – locker rooms and restrooms
Son, Public restrooms are again in the headlines – they are seldom in the headlines to reveal their innate cleanliness. The whole Senator Larry Craig-in-public caused me to reflect back on raising-children-in-public. As you know I have always been a big YMCA supporter. You and your sisters learned basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and swimming at the […]
8Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Interpol – fighting terrorism
Son, 60 minutes is interviewing the Secretary General of Interpol – an international police agency. Astoundingly, prior to September 11, 2001, the Interpol offices were not even open on the weekends. That has changed. Their mission is to give international assistance to police agencies around the world. The staff is made up of police officers […]
7Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Interpol – fighting terrorism | Continued
Herm Edwards – KC’s embarrassment
Son, I am a fair weather Kansas City Chiefs fan. But even mildly interested folks like myself are embarrassed this year. The Kansas City Chiefs had one of the most potent offenses of this decade. Today they were shut out in the infamous Arrowhead Stadium. ( OK – they scored a touchdown with three seconds […]
7Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Garth Brooks – ticket follow-up
Son, Garth Brooks was to have a one-time concert in Kansas City, Missouri. The brand new Sprint Center – a KC downtown initiative, would host the concert. The problem was with tickets. How does one get them? Brooks is a real thoughtful guy – selling his gold tickets for $31. The concert organizers went to […]
7Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Garth Brooks – ticket follow-up | Continued
Democratic Choices for President
Son, Some anti-Obama guy keeps writing comments on our blog to criticize anyone who supports Barack Obama. That is his privilege and we have an ‘open comment’ format for that purpose. He likes to make it personal – that says more about him than it does about his choice of candidates – he has not […]
6Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Below is an excerpt from A Toolkit For Christian Education and Action on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, brought to us by our brothers and sisters at Sojourners/Call To Renewal “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in […]
6Oct2007 | bryan | 4 comments | Continued
Ira Glass and the new church experience…
Dad, Ira Glass is a master storyteller. His talent comes not from his ability to spin a story, but from his keen ability to recognize one and nurture it along with questions and encouragements. He is interested in people’s stories, in their lives and the interesting things that happen to them as unique persons. From […]
6Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Ira Glass and the new church experience… | Continued
Remembering Bill Clinton
Son, This next year will see an unusual recalling of a particular Presidency. Hillary Clinton will likely be the Democratic nominee. She is proud of Bill Clinton’s Presidency – and is not afraid to say so (Al Gore should have been so smart.) Allow me to cast a particular viewpoint on that time in America’s […]
6Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Washington Post and Faith
Son, I asked my brother to comment on some faith issues because I do not feel qualified – and I feel that he would have something to offer. He sent me an email with a link to the Washington Post. I don’t think he understood that I was inviting him to comment on our blog. […]
5Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Washington Post and Faith | Continued
Sedaris on Letterman
Dad David Sedaris on Letterman Here is a funny video of David Sedaris reading an essay on Letterman. This guy is funny, relevant, and smart. Bryan
5Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
This American Life (and my top five)
Dad, I have been hooked on this radio show for about three years, and I still can’t get enough of it. I have added a little banner for them on our sidebar. Ira Glass is a genius, but I will talk more about him in another post. The show is downloadable from their website for […]
5Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on This American Life (and my top five) | Continued
Barack Obama, attacked by skeeterites
Son, Barack is being attacked – and the campaign risks spiraling into trivia. But there are important points to be made. Barack does not wear one of those American Flag Lapel pins. Some have said that he is not patriotic because of this. Whoeee! Someone is nuts or something. Barack responded with a long soliloquy […]
5Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
how debt, spirituality, and corruption are shaping our conversations…
Dad, This format, the fireside, is a wonderful way for us to have the kinds of conversations that we have always had. We meander through subjects, we get excited and passionate, and we have small talk and sometimes just take a nap. The difference that we are running in to here is that the format […]
5Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on how debt, spirituality, and corruption are shaping our conversations… | Continued
Garth Brooks – Concert Tickets
Son, Warning to reader : This not a site to buy tickets! We just talk about stuff. Garth Brooks is doing a one-time concert on November 14th at the brand new Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Ticket scalping has become a sophisticated industry and the Brooks concert organizers, along with the City of […]
5Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Jesus might have said…
Son, Jesus was one of those really interesting characters in history; he never wrote anything himself. Socrates was another. The only thing we know about Socrates is what his student Plato reported. The only words we have of Jesus are those written many years later. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John contain many […]
5Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Dave Ramsey provokes
Son, I copied our last chat and have posted it here for our readers to ponder. I hope you do not mind but I felt this was relevant to what we are trying to accomplish on this blog. The readers can get a real flavor our how we talk when no one is listening: 12:55 […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 5 comments | Continued
Robert Johnson – Transformation
Son, Robert Johnson is Jungian Analyst. These are some really fun people – I guess that might say more about me than about them. Really fun in the sense that they talk about the human condition in the context of literature, mythology, and history. My notion is that they take the collective wisdom of man […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Robert Johnson – Transformation | Continued
Barack Obama – hope and caution
Son, You talk about Barack Obama – and you have expressed your support for him. Another reason for a father to be proud of his son. Proud because Barack is not afraid to challenge the status quo, to challenge the old guard, to have the audacity of hope. You again demonstrate the ability and willingness […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 6 comments | Continued
Insanity on the internet – dismissing wackos
Son, Bill O’Reily uses the term, ‘insanity on the net.” He is mad because of criticism that he cannot pinpoint so he casts his blanket curse. Shawn Hannity refers to Congressman Murtha as being insane. He is mad because a respected congressman does not agree with him. Are these guys nuts or something? If we […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Hannah Montana – Skeeterites victim
Son, You and I have been talking about the possibility of commenting on some particular celebrities. Bill O’Reilly had a segment this evening on that very topic. The world of celebrity blogging apparently is very big and popular. The problem is that they have crossed the line with fabricating stories. We have compared blogging to […]
4Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Father, Son, Brother, Nephew -village
Son, I relate to the Phantom of the Opera. Sometimes I feel like he and I are related. You are blessed with the wisdom, courage, and the temperament of your mother. She is a lady of extraordinary humanity. She married the Phantom and became forever perplexed. The Phantom is a crazy man, he lives in […]
3Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Father, Son, Brother, Nephew -village | Continued
here’s to the crazy ones…
Dad, the true marriage of art and technology. Thanks to Steve Jobs for giving us a place along the way. And, truly, “think different.” Bryan
3Oct2007 | bryan | 1 comment | Continued
Apple Inc. – Highway Reststop
Son, Steve Jobs, inventor, entrepreneur, corporate mogul, marketing wizard, philanthropist – what has he done? Apple Computer has created a stop along the highway, a place where weary travelers in the daily journey through technology can stop in and refresh themselves. This is an old story. The human relationship with technology is the outward manifestation […]
3Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Apple Inc. – Highway Reststop | Continued
Anonymous Blogging – is there value?
Son, Words – are they the same if you know who said them than if you do not know? Do words stand on their own? Does an idea stand on it’s own? Or is in necessary to put everything in the context of who said it? I write as Ohg Rea Tone, a nom de […]
2Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 5 comments | Continued
Rush and Reid: public faces vs. personal faith
Dad, As I was reading my morning news and blog sites, I began to ponder about the ways that our faith should play out in our private and public lives. Rush Limbaugh is a Methodist. I am proud to be part of a theology so diverse that it can include the likes of Rush, President […]
2Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Rush and Reid: public faces vs. personal faith | Continued
Blackwater – responsible killers!
Son, There is some sort of bizarre debate happening in the mainstream media. Blackwater is a security company that has contracts to guard United States government employees in Iraq. The debate is around the notion that shooting people is sometimes less responsible than at other times. Civilization has often debated the nuances of ‘justifiable homicide.’ […]
2Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Blackwater – responsible killers! | Continued
A voyage of the Banned!
Dad, It is National Banned Books Week, according to the American Library Association. I saw the title of this post on a poster at the local Library. What a great chance to stop and remember the great pieces of literature that have made this prestigious list… A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess A Wrinkle in […]
2Oct2007 | bryan | 2 comments | Continued
God – an image – flat and boring?
Son, So it says. Made in his image. That is certainly appropriate. Think of a human image – a Polaroid, a picture, 35 mm, digital, painting – even portrait if you will. All images. The comparison of the two-dimensional image of a picture of a person to a real person is an appropriate metaphor for […]
1Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on God – an image – flat and boring? | Continued
Where Bilbo meets Aslan…
Dad, Here are two passages from books that I have been contemplating. They are about life and safety. The first is from The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step out onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing […]
1Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Where Bilbo meets Aslan… | Continued
Is God an Arab?
Dad The answer is yes. “God created us in His image, and we decided to return the favor.” -George Bernard Shaw We tend to believe that God is in our image, rather than the other way around. Is God male? White? Female? Chinese? Arab? …yes. Bryan
1Oct2007 | bryan | Comments Off on Is God an Arab? | Continued
Dave Ramsey: the good, the bad, and the ugly…
Dad, When my wife and I moved to Nashville, Tn a few years ago we had nothing but some debt, a few barely marketable skills and a toddler. We weren’t sure now the new life we were living together and the new value system that we were trying to implement married the idea of money […]
1Oct2007 | bryan | 7 comments | Continued
Health Insurance – Subtleties of ‘cherry-picking’
Son, We talked earlier of how the Health Insurance Companies determine cost and how they use that information to put pressure on medical professionals. If we take the analysis a step further we can see other means of insurance company cost savings, and health care mismanagement. Remember, health insurance companies are not benevolent organizations interested […]
1Oct2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
Show Me State Jeep Club
Son, I went for my daily walk today. It is a beautiful fall day here in Northwest Missouri. I walk four blocks to the extensive hiking/biking trail that runs through our picturesque parkway system, then I walk three miles along the trail. I turned onto the trail at one of our local parks. The park […]
30Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Show Me State Jeep Club | Continued
Harry Potter and the wizard’s allegory
Son, Inspired words. Words written with inspiration – not the words of man alone – but inspired by something greater. Where have we heard that before? The transformation of a human into something greater – some force for good – a force that can conquer a marauding giant with a mere flat rock hurled from […]
29Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Living Without Debt
Dad, My wife and I are making an effort to be out of debt and to stay that way. We have made a commitment to not borrow money for anything. For any reason. The first thing that people shout when they hear that is, “What about a house? You have to borrow money if you […]
29Sep2007 | bryan | 3 comments | Continued
On being a Methodist
Son, So you want to be a Methodist. Responding in a public context is difficult. My role as a father is to affirm and encourage – while also giving my opinion – even if it is different. Let me be clear – I do not dispute the United Methodist Church as anything less than a […]
29Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 4 comments | Continued
Bloggers blog! a New age of Journalism.
Son, Everybody wants to be something. We tell people that we like to read, or we like to paint, or we like to write, or we like computers..we all want some identity with what we think we are. Here is the reality – writers write, painters paint, potters pot, and bloggers blog. But bloggers use […]
28Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Sarcasm – a toxic elixir
Son, I can be thoughtful – and I can be sarcastic. The sarcasm is a strategy learned many years ago while growing up. It is an old recipe, handed down through generations in my family. I have used it well to win fights – and I have lost many wars. You have heard me say […]
28Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Sarcasm – a toxic elixir | Continued
Dead Immigrants
Son, We have become a disgusting society. Reader – prepare yourself for some sarcasm – this struck me as a blatant disregard for human life – read on. The banner headline on MSNBC as we speak is “Unidentified bodies often buried at taxpayer expense.” Heaven Forbid! What have we come to? Doctor Stern (Someone being […]
28Sep2007 | Ohg Rea Tone | 5 comments | Continued