Engaging Life with Courage and Intelligence
Delusion is Real Delusion is part of the human condition. Whether we admit it or not, we all misperceive, misconceive, or distort reality at some point or another. However, delusion can become a powerful tool for extremists of all political stripes. They can artfully delude themselves, delude others, or both. Those engaging in industrial-scale delusion…
Technology and Culture Many of us must believe that our current social media platforms are indispensable for discovering, interpreting, and understanding world events. These believers, particularly among our youngest citizens, trust that social media is the best way for them to stay informed about what is happening and to distinguish between truth and lies, as…
By 2003, the George W. Bush regime did the following: a) lowered taxes for his ultra-wealthy benefactors, b) loosened financial regulations to allow his ultra-wealthy benefactors to snooker millions of students, retirees, and wannabe homeowners and investors, c) blamed all the problems on Democrats, and d) started a war with IRAQ. In 2025, the Donald…
The facts have not been verified, but Vance Luther Boelter may be a religious extremist. Extremism can be an individual mental problem, but it can also be a cultural problem that some individuals can be very susceptible to. I read the early reports on him, and he seems to be a complex bundle of contradictions….
A simple message for people with access to a telephone, a mailbox, or the internet.
President Trump’s erratic “the-world-is-on-fire” executive orders, pronouncements, and tweets have left the world’s economies and markets in chaos. Perhaps that’s what he wants… or maybe he doesn’t know what he wants. Possibly, he paid someone else to attend his world economy classes at the Wharton School. There is usually a method to anyone’s madness or…
Case Study 1 – The Russian Invasion of Ukraine In early 2024, the Russians, led by the Wagner Group mercenaries, thought that the territory around Donetsk, Ukraine, would be easily overwhelmed. Most of the area had been under Russian control since the beginning of the war. The city faced non-stop attacks from the air and…
When America was “great” between 1890 and 1932, there was an active, overtly criminal culture, particularly in large cities. The most famous criminal icon in this era was Al Capone of Chicago. Capone and his associates were able to control neighborhoods in many ways, including violence and intimidation. However, over time, many gangsters were able…
Many aspects of life are predictable. Gravity has kept me grounded on planet Earth for as long as I can remember. If I do not sleep enough, I am cranky the next day. I do not keep friends if I am dishonest and treat them badly. Sometimes people believe they can overcome the “normal” world….
Trump’s Unintended Consequence Number 666 For millennia, humans have been omnivores. In addition to consuming fruits and vegetables, humans have eaten animal products. The scarcity of animals in the food chain or religious inhibitions in some cultures have led to various forms of vegetarianism. At the end of the vegetarian spectrum is a vegan who…