. . . no, I am not criticizing the Miss America beauty contestant Marissa Powell, who fumbled her answer to a question about equal pay for women. I mean THE PRESS.
The media quickly called Miss Utah for her comically rambling response to the question, which by the way she has handled superbly to her own benefit. But on a daily basis, we are bombarded by the confounding eloquence of Boehners, Mitchells, Reids, Pauls, Dingells, Rangels, Waxmans, Grahams, Ryans and others, which the press dutifully reports to us verbatum and without question.
Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens, under his new contract, will get over $20 million per year for the next six years. Does that evoke any kind of reaction from you?
First, we surely can't blame Joe Flacco for this state of affairs nor probably even the Baltimore Ravens, although the latter is in a better position to initiate any semblance of a change to the system than the former.
A professor at one of Maryland's top public research universities recently wrote to the Baltimore Sun broaching the subject from the perspective of one who could utilize such sums in some very productive ways for the ultimate betterment of society but has no way of obtaining such.
He goes on to say that, with that kind of money, his institution could hire about 200 new assistant professors, start up 20 new science and engineering labs, offer full scholarships to large numbers of students, build new academic buildings for classrooms and labs every few years, support the education of students that would further ensure the best learning possible and that they are as well equipped to succeed as possible.
The blame, he goes on, belongs to folks who send their kids to the public schools but rather than adequately funding education, buy expensive tickets to professional sporting events, equip their homes with the best audio and video hardware available and buy all the goods and services offered by the advertisers and sponsors of those events whenever possible.
I think the gentleman makes a very valid point. But alas, he admits, he doesn't quite know how to change it.
(from "The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic" by John Shelby Spong)
". . . Throughout most of my professional career I was not drawn to the Fourth Gospel; indeed I found it almost repellent. . . . Because this book was thought to have spelled out 'orthodox Christianity.' John's gospel helped to fuel such dreadful events in Christian history as heresy hunts and the Inquisition. . . . [Eventually, though,] John's gospel began to unfold before me as a work of Jewish mysticism and the Jesus of John's gospel suddenly became not a visitor from another realm, but a person in whom a new God consciousness had emerged. . . . John's gospel is about life - expanded life, abundant life and ultimately eternal life - but not in the typical manner that these words have been understood religiously. . ."
“The difference between a moral man and a man of honor is that the latter regrets a discreditable act, even when it has worked and he has not been caught.”
-H. L. Mencken
“When men exercise their reason coolly and freely on a variety of distinct questions, they inevitably fall into different opinions on some of them. When they are governed by a common passion, their opinions, if they are so to be called, will be the same.”
-Alexander Hamilton
by Ray Jozwiak- Gonzo Piano
This Monday
June 17, 2013
7:30PM
At the Monday Night Songwriters Showcase at Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery (take the elevator on the right to the 2nd floor) 124 North Market Street Frederick, MD 21701 Telephone:
301-631-0089 Fax: 301-631-1874 http://www.brewers-alley.com/
(from In God's Name by David Yallop)
". . . Pope Paul's poor Church for the poor grew instead immeasurably richer. The Vatican divestment of Italian wealth had resulted in men like Sindona and Calvi robbing the world to pay St Peter and Pope Paul. . . "
(from Father Jesus Lopez Saez writes of David Yallop)" ". . . (Yallop) eloquently demonstrates that the
Vatican practiced a disinformation campaign. . .Lies about little things, lies about big things. All
these lies had but one purpose: to disguise the fact that Albino Luciani,
Pope John Paul I, had been assassinated. . ."
