Category Archives: Opinion Pieces and Editorials

Where we are allowed to share our opinions with others.

The Character of Aaron Burr: A Review

This is a review of Roger G. Kennedy’s biographical book, Burr, Hamilton and Jefferson: A Study in Character.   Kennedy’s  is not the sort of book one should read when not familiar with the history of the United States, the … Continue reading

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Who Should Pay for Waging War?

War is a zero sum game, in which nations battle over territory and natural resources. It therefore follows that those who get the most territory for the least expenditure of resources are the most successful. For this reason, war should be financed at the expense of the enemy, and not at the expense of one’s own people. In lieu of taxation, issuing letters of marque and reprisal is a better choice. Continue reading

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Didactic Fiction: Propaganda or Art?

Today I came across this quote in a Facebook posting:  “Some major writers have a huge impact, like Ayn Rand, who to my mind is a lousy fiction writer because her writing has no compassion and virtually no humor. She … Continue reading

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Enjoying Nature: It’s Springtime — Almost!

We thought that spring had finally come.  The flowers were blooming, the air was warm. The birds were chirping and the small leaflets were starting to bud on the trees. The blossoms of every flower seemed to reach out and … Continue reading

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The Harvest Moon, the Autumnal Equinox and the Holidays of Autumn

In  a perfect world, the lunar calendar and the solar calendar would be in synch. The cycles of the moon and the revolution of the earth around the sun would work together to create a single unified calendar by which … Continue reading

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What is Work?

On Labor Day, we celebrate all those toilers who labor for others. But what exactly is work? Why do we work? If you work and nobody pays you, are you still working? Why get a job? Is it still a job if you pay for the privilege of working? As Tom Sawyer. He knows how to get people to pay him for working. Continue reading

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Finding a Soulmate: The Spinster and the Beggar

The Spinster and the Beggar A lonely spinster walked daily down a narrow street to her place of employment as a librarian. She wanted for nothing, for she had a well paying job, and she was always dressed beautifully and … Continue reading

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Bedtime Stories: Of Dust and Strings and Everything

[Note: This article was first published on Hubpages in 2008. It has been deemed idle and de-indexed, so I am republishing it here.] My daughter received a copy of The Golden Compass for Christmas from old family friends. I would probably not … Continue reading

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Article Directories: No Rules, Many Rules or Few Rules?

[This article was originally published on Excerptz on July 29, 2011, but I have been notified that the site is closing down, so I am republishing here.] On February 24, 2011 quite a few article directories were subjected to a … Continue reading

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Forced Choices

My daughter and her cousin were playing  a game. The name of the game was “Would You Rather.” “Would you rather be eaten by sharks or burned in a fire?” A moment of hesitation. “Eaten by sharks.” “Okay. Would you … Continue reading

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