In my wanderings, I see parents who are sent to jail for not paying child support. They are given a sentence, but with a catch. They are given the “keys to their own cell.” The court makes a determination as to their immediate ability to pay. This “ability to pay” is the “key”. An example might be a term of 30 days in jail OR a payment of $100. The idea is that…
Last night I watched a news program intending to explain the circumstances leading to the terrorist attacks of September 2001. As I watched the program I learned several things, but more importantly – I was inspired. I was inspired by possibilities. I was inspired by the seemingly credible hope that better things may be possible. I was grateful for this, but I was also jealous. Here was…
You notice someone doing something that you think may be unethical. You don’t know the person committing the act very well, but you have no relationship whatsoever to the person who will be adversely effected from this act. Muddying the waters, it appears that this act – while unethical – will result in just ends (in the grand scheme of things). The person committing the act is…
The doctor’s office is normally a quiet place to write, but not today. Since I am unable to concentrate on anything else, lets talk about what is going on here. There is a gentleman sitting two seats down that is imploring everyone to pray. “We should pray for…” – the topics vary. That things will go back to the way they were twenty years ago … that terrorists…
As is the custom at my office, the bomb always drops at the end of the day. In a way, I guess this is sound policy. People get a chance to digest the news at home, away from the office. This way, it’s old news when it is time to go back to work and be productive. Today, the bomb was dropped at approximately 3:30 p.m. The private firm that our office has contracted with for legal services has…
I am at work and I am sitting quietly in a training session slated to go all day. It is a painfully slow class, and I’m only twenty minutes in. A straggler strolls in carrying herself like she owns the State. She is in a really good mood, but she can’t seem to get a song out of her head. I know this because she is singing it out loud. I’m using every ounce of will I’ve got…
Falling under the category: “surprised but not surprising”, a coworker with lung cancer passed away. When people around you die after being diagnosed with lung cancer, and after being a long time smoker, wouldn’t you think it might be time to stop smoking? (If you were a smoker?) I see folks hacking away, braving in-climate weather to get their nicotine fix, and I wonder what is…
It appears that my silent requests may be about to be answered. My wife will vouch for me … I’ve been wanting an online music service that would allow me to purchase/download music to my computer, play it on my computer where ever I am (even if I’m not connected to the internet), and burn it to CDs to play in my car (or elsewhere). The word on the street is that my favorite…
Have you ever found yourself sitting down on a Friday night with nothing to do; some notion that you would like to do something but little energy to do it and still less conception of what it might be? For me, it is an occasional bedfellow, and the burden I bear tonight in particular. I am coming down from my Sudafed high, so I’m rather tired. My mind however stubbornly asserts that it is…