Video: Sample Clip: Luther Choir: "Go Tell It On the Mountain" with solo by Julia Mann.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Video: (3 of 3) Christmas 2008: Fr. Kevin Dooley's Story
Video: (3 0f 3): St. Paul's Church: Evansville, Wi.; Fr. Kevin Dooley's Classic Christmas Story.
Video: (2 of 3) Christmas 2008: Fr. Dooley's Christmas Story
Video: (2 of 3) St. Paul's Church, Evansville, Wi; Fr. Kevin Dooley's Classic Christmas Story.
Video: (1 of 3) Fr. Dooley's Christmas Story
Video: St. Paul's Church: Christmas 2008: A Classic Christmas story by Fr. Kevin Dooley
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas: Musical Bonus #2
Christmas Day; St. Paul's Church: George Wollinger with son Jacob making musical debut at St. Paul's.
Video: Merry Christmas Musical Bonus--
Musical Debut: George Wollinger and Jacob Wollinger----Christmas Day---St. Paul's Church--Evansville, Wi.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Audio: St. Paul's: Dec 22, 2008
Audio; St. Paul's Church: Evansville, Wi: Father Kevin Dooley: 4th Sunday of Advent: Dec. 22, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Audio: St. Pauls Church: 12-14-2008
Sermon of the Week: St Paul's Church: December 14, 2008; Fr. Kevin Dooley: Gaudete Sunday-----Paul was hopeful at the end.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Gospel of the Week: 12/7/2008
Fr. Kevin Dooley: Sermon of the Week: 12/7/2008 : "On John the Baptist"
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sermon of the Week: 1st Sunday of Advent
Sermon of The Week; Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church, Evansville, Wi. ----On Presence, On Showing up, vs. words.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
On Being Debt Free, Deleveraging, and being open to debt and keeping the economy going
And the preacher rose and lifted his hands in the air.
"You must renounce debt and the eternal woe of high credit card debt---it is the epitome of hell.
Then he paused.
"You must listen to your leaders when they tell you to keep the economy going and charge this Christmas and keep folks employed. "
Every one in the congregation paused, reflected....and then smiled quietly.
"You must renounce debt and the eternal woe of high credit card debt---it is the epitome of hell.
Then he paused.
"You must listen to your leaders when they tell you to keep the economy going and charge this Christmas and keep folks employed. "
Every one in the congregation paused, reflected....and then smiled quietly.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Reflection: Is Michigan just a lost Historic District?
Last week something remarkable happened---our US Congress asked the automakers to draw up a business plan that showed how saving the current industry made business sense----that action made the CEO's scurry to their private jets and head back to Michigan.
The bottom line of of the recent events might be that only a bankruptcy court can void the necessary contracts, void the compensation programs for the current ineffective executive staff, and fashion a new vision, of what a non-gasoline based, green, eco-friendly, and sustainable auto industry might look like.
Recently both the auto workers UAW heads and the company heads were heard to mutter, "Not me, Mom" just like two kids in kindergarten-----the situation is way beyond the blame game. It is about painful and quick change, and it will happen soon.
One pundit was heard to mutter lately that maybe one should create a giant historical museum, under the Smithsonian I presume, and mothball a giant area of Detroit for the lost historical site---and bring tourists to see it. Of course they would pay admission. Recently in our fair city, the notion of looking for lost historical districts has gained fashion---the idea is that if one assumes that one is of value and an esteemed destination that people have forgotten to visit---then it follows that one must search for a lost historical district to preserve as a major area of economic development. Hence---maybe we should just mothball Detroit---and place the new high tech automobile development somewhere far, far away where labor and management can begin again...fresh.
The bottom line of of the recent events might be that only a bankruptcy court can void the necessary contracts, void the compensation programs for the current ineffective executive staff, and fashion a new vision, of what a non-gasoline based, green, eco-friendly, and sustainable auto industry might look like.
Recently both the auto workers UAW heads and the company heads were heard to mutter, "Not me, Mom" just like two kids in kindergarten-----the situation is way beyond the blame game. It is about painful and quick change, and it will happen soon.
One pundit was heard to mutter lately that maybe one should create a giant historical museum, under the Smithsonian I presume, and mothball a giant area of Detroit for the lost historical site---and bring tourists to see it. Of course they would pay admission. Recently in our fair city, the notion of looking for lost historical districts has gained fashion---the idea is that if one assumes that one is of value and an esteemed destination that people have forgotten to visit---then it follows that one must search for a lost historical district to preserve as a major area of economic development. Hence---maybe we should just mothball Detroit---and place the new high tech automobile development somewhere far, far away where labor and management can begin again...fresh.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
"Fear of Capital Gains Taxes and other...irrational....fears"
Have you heard anyone who has been worried about capital gains taxes lately?
One of the general strategies of the neocons, was to wait till a crisis occurs .....and then put in the solution column one of the tried and true programs that has been in the wings of the neocon library. Cutting capital gains taxes has always been one of them. The next time you hear someone talk of this ...simply pause and break into laughter.
One of the general strategies of the neocons, was to wait till a crisis occurs .....and then put in the solution column one of the tried and true programs that has been in the wings of the neocon library. Cutting capital gains taxes has always been one of them. The next time you hear someone talk of this ...simply pause and break into laughter.
Help---We've Fallen....and Can't Get UP"-----
Some years ago, one of the hot gifts was a hand held device that seniors could use if they fell and could not get to the phone......the notion of falling and being left alone to die is a giant fear. In the t.v. ads there was a woman who said, "Help, I've fallen and can't get up." The ad was pretty effective. After all----fear is about 10-20 times more powerful an emotion that greed, and in time of crisis, fear is the emotion that comes to the forefront.
Even in the economic crisis the US faces ----we seem to be a nation that has fallen....and can't get up....or at least face the obvious-----that when one reviews the lack of dicipline and regulation of the complicated security products that were allowed to go to market---simply bailing out the present trillions, and adding to the leverage will not solve anything if the government does not send a strong signal that there will be a basis of our currency, and that we will not simply move to hyperinflation to bail us out till the next larger crash-----after all, this is all sounding like an old Howard Ruff book, "How to prosper during the coming Bad years."---it was 1979....and the news is sounding like one of his books.
Even in the economic crisis the US faces ----we seem to be a nation that has fallen....and can't get up....or at least face the obvious-----that when one reviews the lack of dicipline and regulation of the complicated security products that were allowed to go to market---simply bailing out the present trillions, and adding to the leverage will not solve anything if the government does not send a strong signal that there will be a basis of our currency, and that we will not simply move to hyperinflation to bail us out till the next larger crash-----after all, this is all sounding like an old Howard Ruff book, "How to prosper during the coming Bad years."---it was 1979....and the news is sounding like one of his books.
"All I Want In LIfe Is My FULL List Price" and other songs"----- A true story.
Back in the early 1980's, one of the most colorful Sales Trainers who covered the national scene was Don Sheehan----Don was a former Dale Carnegie sales star, the top in the nation at one time, who went on his own, and ran what he called "Don Sheehans Courses."
In addition to teaching selling skills, Don, also held Saturday seminars on such things as "Group Selling" etc. He distributed a special packed cassette bundle of 60 cassettes, and even though it has been over 20 years or so, I still have a few cassettes that I still treasure.
In one of the sessions, Don would ask the room of ...well, mostly men, to stand around in a circle. Then... he asked everyone to hold hands....and sing "All I want in life is my FULL LIST PRICE" and go around in a circle singing it. Once you did this for a minute or so on a cold Saturday morn, the memory of the lesson lasts a lifetime. It was the serious recession of 1982---and Don taught that in times of recession, the key to business success was not cutting prices, but being a price leader---offer extras to the service. Be the best in the line of business you were in....but never cut prices just because one felt uncomfortable about the possibility of rejection. VALUE was the key element to focus on,,,and to tell the customer all the advantages of the product.
In the Christmas of 2008 season, as coupons and discounting has reached a fearish pace in all kinds of retailers to the point of market confusion----those seminars of Don Sheehan have come back in my memory. As he used to say, 'Nobody ever survived in business by being the cheapest---it is the sure way to go out of business."
In addition to teaching selling skills, Don, also held Saturday seminars on such things as "Group Selling" etc. He distributed a special packed cassette bundle of 60 cassettes, and even though it has been over 20 years or so, I still have a few cassettes that I still treasure.
In one of the sessions, Don would ask the room of ...well, mostly men, to stand around in a circle. Then... he asked everyone to hold hands....and sing "All I want in life is my FULL LIST PRICE" and go around in a circle singing it. Once you did this for a minute or so on a cold Saturday morn, the memory of the lesson lasts a lifetime. It was the serious recession of 1982---and Don taught that in times of recession, the key to business success was not cutting prices, but being a price leader---offer extras to the service. Be the best in the line of business you were in....but never cut prices just because one felt uncomfortable about the possibility of rejection. VALUE was the key element to focus on,,,and to tell the customer all the advantages of the product.
In the Christmas of 2008 season, as coupons and discounting has reached a fearish pace in all kinds of retailers to the point of market confusion----those seminars of Don Sheehan have come back in my memory. As he used to say, 'Nobody ever survived in business by being the cheapest---it is the sure way to go out of business."
Everybody loves Capital Formation....But nobody wants to SAVE.
Recently I have been reading some local articles in our fair city about economic development---and it seems whenever those two words are uttered, "economic development", it is very necessary to hold a meeting, share lunch with hundreds, and put on a seminar or two, or three or three hundred to examine all the possibilities. And of course generate the support paperwork documenting all the effort of those seminars and meetings for the folks that write minutes so that in the final accounting of things, folks will know undisputedly that the governmental folks..well...did their best.
One recent article noted a key difference----that capital formation and simply spending money on infrastructure is different--yes. Spending on infrastructure just develops infrastructure and prepares a backdrop to the drama of the actual job creation---which requires capital. Let us say we want to develop a job that pays 30M per year. With interest rates of 3%, what would it take in terms of capital to have enough cash on hand to generate the income to afford the salary, much less the goods or services to be provided. The way I calculate it, it would be a million dollars in capital to provide 30M in income to assure the salary paid. ...for one person employed.
Maybe the math is too conservative....maybe you can find an investment that is guaranteed that produces better than 3% guaranteed---more power to you. The point is that capital formation is required to pay salaries. Everybody loves capital formation.
At the same time. Here is the mystery. Nobody loves to SAVE. Nobody in America is saving. All the piggybanks are broken it seems.
So---what is the conclusion? After all the ranting about job formation, job development, job, job job.......it is all hot air if the powers that be want to spend on infrastructure but never allow the citizens the disposable income or the incentive to save. Without the reality of saving----all the paperwork, all the meetings....yes all those wonderful sharing of feelings and lunches----are just a waste of time.
One recent article noted a key difference----that capital formation and simply spending money on infrastructure is different--yes. Spending on infrastructure just develops infrastructure and prepares a backdrop to the drama of the actual job creation---which requires capital. Let us say we want to develop a job that pays 30M per year. With interest rates of 3%, what would it take in terms of capital to have enough cash on hand to generate the income to afford the salary, much less the goods or services to be provided. The way I calculate it, it would be a million dollars in capital to provide 30M in income to assure the salary paid. ...for one person employed.
Maybe the math is too conservative....maybe you can find an investment that is guaranteed that produces better than 3% guaranteed---more power to you. The point is that capital formation is required to pay salaries. Everybody loves capital formation.
At the same time. Here is the mystery. Nobody loves to SAVE. Nobody in America is saving. All the piggybanks are broken it seems.
So---what is the conclusion? After all the ranting about job formation, job development, job, job job.......it is all hot air if the powers that be want to spend on infrastructure but never allow the citizens the disposable income or the incentive to save. Without the reality of saving----all the paperwork, all the meetings....yes all those wonderful sharing of feelings and lunches----are just a waste of time.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
OpEd: Reflection: "Controlling the Highs and the Lows"----Easier said than done
One of the classic rules of investing, intoned to all entry level financial professionals, is that one must develop the art of controlling the highs and the lows---and that to be at the top of one's savvy game, one must in fact reverse human emotion ---when there is fear, develop greed....and when there is greed...develop fear.
Why it was only last week, when Warren Buffett, the top gun guru who owns Berkshire Hathaway, and who recently bought GE at 22 and has been telling everybody in America to buy, buy, buy...especially since he has a big position in GE now, and he has even wryly said that it is important for America to buy since otherwise he might not look good----
The only problem----it is a rare person who can reverse human emotions--why recently when a friend owned Apple Computer at 180 and had purchased it only months before at 120, I mentioned that taking profits was good---to which he responded that he was holding for long term and I could tell that he was multiplying it out---why at that rate of increase, he..well..it would be worth a ton...but in the plunge it came down to 80 or so.
On the other side, when the market plunged a week ago I mentioned to a loved one that it might be nice to buy...a little, not the whole S&P, just a little....and even that suggestion was met with...well...glares that telegraphed that that individual thought I might have lost my mind.....
So there it is----the vast disparity between the platitude and the reality---if anyone out there has indeed reversed human emotions, or has a simple way to do it with maybe a combination of taiche, yoga and zen meditation....email me at the Observer at fre2observe@yahoo.com I am all ears.
Why it was only last week, when Warren Buffett, the top gun guru who owns Berkshire Hathaway, and who recently bought GE at 22 and has been telling everybody in America to buy, buy, buy...especially since he has a big position in GE now, and he has even wryly said that it is important for America to buy since otherwise he might not look good----
The only problem----it is a rare person who can reverse human emotions--why recently when a friend owned Apple Computer at 180 and had purchased it only months before at 120, I mentioned that taking profits was good---to which he responded that he was holding for long term and I could tell that he was multiplying it out---why at that rate of increase, he..well..it would be worth a ton...but in the plunge it came down to 80 or so.
On the other side, when the market plunged a week ago I mentioned to a loved one that it might be nice to buy...a little, not the whole S&P, just a little....and even that suggestion was met with...well...glares that telegraphed that that individual thought I might have lost my mind.....
So there it is----the vast disparity between the platitude and the reality---if anyone out there has indeed reversed human emotions, or has a simple way to do it with maybe a combination of taiche, yoga and zen meditation....email me at the Observer at fre2observe@yahoo.com I am all ears.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sermons of Fr. Kevin Dooley now on Mediafly
The various podcasts of The Evansville Observer as well as the Sermons of Fr. Kevin Dooley are now distributed on Mediafly as well as the Itunes network. They are free to all.
Click on the post to see the listing.
Click on the post to see the listing.
Sermon of the Week: October 19, 2008
Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church: Sermon of the Week: "Give to God the things that are God's"----what does that encompass?
Monday, October 13, 2008
"We're All in this Together" and other funny stories
Whenever total strangers appear out of the blue, maybe bankers, and such, opine the words "After all, we're all in this together," I just know----there is a little something funny goin on. After all, if they wanted a loan, ok. I would understand. But an outright theft disguised as a friendly bonding exercise is totally out of place.
Then when banking executives and high placed derivitave types explain that we are all in this mess together---I have to stop them and say: NO. You made a big mistake and you are outta here. You did fraud and misjudgement on your own time.
Then when banking executives and high placed derivitave types explain that we are all in this mess together---I have to stop them and say: NO. You made a big mistake and you are outta here. You did fraud and misjudgement on your own time.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
"Faith is just for Old Guys"---a true story
Recently I have been working at a local catalog firm in the sales department for the Christmas season----and last week, I loaned one of the classic Evansville Observer pens to one of my co-workers when her pen ran dry.
A minute or so later, I saw her looking at the Observer site, and she exclaimed ,"Wow, you even have sermons on here---old guy stuff."
I just smiled. After pausing a moment, I replied:
"Ya. I guess so. And sometimes young guy stuff too. It depends."
Over the years I have always noticed how the youngsters get to Confirmation and then are never seen again---usually till their first born when they as new parents get a larger view of their position in the larger universe. The birth of a first born can do that.
Still. There is a decided slant in the demographics of modern churchgoers to the older ages.
Last week, as I reviewed the essentials of banking, and the highly leveraged world it is---I reflected on how much faith is the very building block of success of our banking system----and the loss of it is a very scary event.
The loss of faith last week has shaken the very world financial system, and I hope that those in leadership regain not only the faith of the everyday citizen, but I hope that they are worthy of that faith. We certainly need it. It ain't just for "old guys."
A minute or so later, I saw her looking at the Observer site, and she exclaimed ,"Wow, you even have sermons on here---old guy stuff."
I just smiled. After pausing a moment, I replied:
"Ya. I guess so. And sometimes young guy stuff too. It depends."
Over the years I have always noticed how the youngsters get to Confirmation and then are never seen again---usually till their first born when they as new parents get a larger view of their position in the larger universe. The birth of a first born can do that.
Still. There is a decided slant in the demographics of modern churchgoers to the older ages.
Last week, as I reviewed the essentials of banking, and the highly leveraged world it is---I reflected on how much faith is the very building block of success of our banking system----and the loss of it is a very scary event.
The loss of faith last week has shaken the very world financial system, and I hope that those in leadership regain not only the faith of the everyday citizen, but I hope that they are worthy of that faith. We certainly need it. It ain't just for "old guys."
Sermon of the Week: 10-12-2008
Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church: October 12, 2008. Rich food and first class wine....no Thunderbird. The very best.....plan on it.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Audio: St. Paul's Church: 9/29/2008: Fr. Kevin Dooley
Sermon of the Week; St. Paul's: 9/28/2008: Fr. Kevin Dooley
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Reflection "There has been a terrible (error,accident, loss,occurance) and I need ALL your money"----"The Hold Up"------
Last night's sleep was wonderful---- after a busy week, and in the deepest part of Rem sleep, I had a dream of one of those old Lone Ranger movies. It began as the stagecoach was rumbling along through the pass----you know the one that all the cowboy sets used to use----and the masked bandits rode furiously to the stagecoach below and after firing a couple of shots high in the air, the stagecoach stopped. Then the lead bandit said:
"There has been a terrible error------I need all your money."
As a parent, over the years from when the kids were young, one gets used to the little hold ups of life----from the small requests of pocket change for a candy bar, to the car on Saturday nights and yes some gas money and such----
Those are the little "hold ups" in life---and we are all used to them.
HOWEVER: When we come to institutions of public trust---like our airlines, public utilities, financial institutions, and health institutions, there was at one time the notion that in matters of public trust, one had an obligation not to bet the farm, but to do "no harm" as the first principle of conduct.
A deep nosedive landing might be faster, a wild option trade for a customer might be more fun, a challenging risky surgery might be more exciting etc, but the first principle was, during those days of yore, that in the matter of public trust, the first rule was--do no harm.
Thus----when I hear our President tell us that there has been a terrible loss of faith in our financial institutons, and this was caused by something that the Congress and the President just could do nothing about, but as a result---the most conservative of investors, the treasury bill investors, conservative bond investors, will lose their pension funds unless they hand over 700Billion dollars to the treasury---rather their kids will hand over double or triple that amount over the long term----it just makes me wonder.
The very FIRST item of discussion of EVERY banker or investment professional in making a deposit of funds for an investor is----their risk level. RISK LEVEL is the whole point of the "KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER RULE." In modern times, it has been fashionable to think that the purpose of the examination of WHO the customer is is to discover if there are any TERRORISTS among us. NOT. The purpose is to match the RISK with CUSTOMER---and traditionally brokers were subjected to JAIL for inappropriate investments for their clients. Very serious infraction.
For a government to tell seniors, conservative investors that there has been a terrible mistake and the customer or taxpayer has been investing in a wild and crazy investment----makes the RED flags come out and the Fraud Calvary begins the charge----the problem is that the cavalry has to ride and charge against the very people at the top of our trusted country. And in those cases, the Cavalry has a tendency to look to the side, to turn to PR, to turn to schmooze.
To bailout, without a change in the essential structure of many of these structured investments and a complete change in the transparency of the market---which is in the trillions of dollars---will mean that this "Hold Up" will happen again.
Count on it.
Where is the Lone Ranger when we need him?
"There has been a terrible error------I need all your money."
As a parent, over the years from when the kids were young, one gets used to the little hold ups of life----from the small requests of pocket change for a candy bar, to the car on Saturday nights and yes some gas money and such----
Those are the little "hold ups" in life---and we are all used to them.
HOWEVER: When we come to institutions of public trust---like our airlines, public utilities, financial institutions, and health institutions, there was at one time the notion that in matters of public trust, one had an obligation not to bet the farm, but to do "no harm" as the first principle of conduct.
A deep nosedive landing might be faster, a wild option trade for a customer might be more fun, a challenging risky surgery might be more exciting etc, but the first principle was, during those days of yore, that in the matter of public trust, the first rule was--do no harm.
Thus----when I hear our President tell us that there has been a terrible loss of faith in our financial institutons, and this was caused by something that the Congress and the President just could do nothing about, but as a result---the most conservative of investors, the treasury bill investors, conservative bond investors, will lose their pension funds unless they hand over 700Billion dollars to the treasury---rather their kids will hand over double or triple that amount over the long term----it just makes me wonder.
The very FIRST item of discussion of EVERY banker or investment professional in making a deposit of funds for an investor is----their risk level. RISK LEVEL is the whole point of the "KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER RULE." In modern times, it has been fashionable to think that the purpose of the examination of WHO the customer is is to discover if there are any TERRORISTS among us. NOT. The purpose is to match the RISK with CUSTOMER---and traditionally brokers were subjected to JAIL for inappropriate investments for their clients. Very serious infraction.
For a government to tell seniors, conservative investors that there has been a terrible mistake and the customer or taxpayer has been investing in a wild and crazy investment----makes the RED flags come out and the Fraud Calvary begins the charge----the problem is that the cavalry has to ride and charge against the very people at the top of our trusted country. And in those cases, the Cavalry has a tendency to look to the side, to turn to PR, to turn to schmooze.
To bailout, without a change in the essential structure of many of these structured investments and a complete change in the transparency of the market---which is in the trillions of dollars---will mean that this "Hold Up" will happen again.
Count on it.
Where is the Lone Ranger when we need him?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
"Fixed" Investments
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
OpEd: Why Wall Street Matters; A reflection on CASH; "Fixed" Investments;
One of the cruel happenings on the day after a Crash on Wall Street ---any crash---is the pundit talk of folks that celebrate because "Thank goodness we were in CASH"-----that line is delivered in a very straight tone. Everyone knows who hears it that it is a pure lie.
So. For the every day laborer who has a 401K or pension, and lets the pension manager do the thinking, what is to worry about?
It is that word "CASH."
Most folks that are investing in "Fixed Investments" and getting a return of 3% might think they are in CASH or in an investment that is "guaranteed" by the government in some way----but most are in reality only guaranteed by the insurance company, or under the umbrella of a pension guarantee corp guarantee, which upon examination has limited ability to really cover the possible losses if these fixed funds have been or are dabbling in CMO, Collatoralized Mortgage Obligations or fancy hedged investments.
In summary---those who have to worry are the lenders----and if you have "fixed investments" in your retirement fund, YOU are the lender or bondholder. Thus YOU have a huge stake in the current Wall Street mess.
After all the fancy analysts in their Armani suits have switched to their sweatpants with backpacks and cleared out their desks, it is the small investor that stands to lose if the banking system cannot be stabilized.
This morning the index measuring "junk" or high risk bonds in desperate straights had risen from the index 200 to 800, or four times higher, and the Libor rate or the rate banks loan to each other had doubled from around 3% to around 6%. That in a word is FEAR in the Streets.
There has been contraction of credit in business as well as home equity lines as well as changes without notice in credit card limits. There may be further sharper limit decreases in these items. College loans may be affected, and some lenders have already discontinued their participation. In short...widespread pain nationwide and not just in stock portfolios.
Stay tuned.
Posted by Evansville Observer at 2:40 PM
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Audio: Daily Mass: 9/18/2008 First Reading
Daily Mass: St. Paul's Church, Fr. Kevin Dooley, First Reading
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Audio: Sermon: 9/17/2008: Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine
Sermon: 9/17/2008: Fr. Kevin Dooley: Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine; St. Paul's Church, Evansville, Wi. On Academic Knowledge v. Academic Wisdom; On the Wisdom of God; Having our hearts in it.
Audio: 9/17/2008: Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine
First Reading: 9/17/2008; Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine: St. Paul's Church: Fr. Kevin Dooley
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: Sept 14, 2008
Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church: The Religion of Fear vs. the Religion of Love; Why the message of threats might work, but is not what God calls us to.
St. Paul's: Sept 14, 2009: Prelude
Jane Oberdorf on piano; Prelude; St. Paul's Church, Evansville, Wisconsin; Sept 14, 2008; Feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Audio: Sermon of the Week: 9-7-2008
Audio; Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's: September 7, 2008; On Correction, Giving and Taking, Glimpses of the Early Church
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sermon of the Week: Rev. Luke Bocer: "To Whom Do You Belong?"
Congregational United Church of Christ, Evansville, Wisconsin: August 24, 2008; Rev. Luke Bocer; "To Whom Do You Belong?"
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sermon of the Week: 8-17-2008
Fr. Kevin Dooley; 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: On Growth; Christ's growth; Our Growth...and much more
Friday, August 15, 2008
Feast of the Assumption of Mary: St. Paul's Church
Sermons of Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church: 8-15-2008. Feast of the Assumption of Mary
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Memories of th Pioneer Drive In: The Spatula Days
Sometime ago, when I graduated from high school, I got a summer job at the Pioneer Drive Inn at Hwy 61 and Hwy 244 in White Bear Lake. It was the first job other than lawn care and I still worked the lawn stuff early in the day and then went to the cafe at night.
It was a time of classic transitions----just a mile from the Pioneer Drive Inn, with its classic canopy and the drive up tray holders with the menu and voice system, construction was in progress on the very first McDonalds for White Bear Lake. In just a few months, McDonalds would be rolling out the menu of 25 cent burgers and coke and fries.....and the Pioneer would surely be out of business and sold. Everyone knew. These were the final days.
One of the regular fry cooks had suddenly quit to take a position on the dishwasher line at Whirlpool in St. Paul, and the back up fry cook position had opened up. I was the "gofer" for the early training period, and was trained to be respectful to our head honcho fry cook, "Tony". He was about 21, rode a brand new Harley, and was dating the head waitress, "Susie".
She sure was a beauty-----that Harley. It was a Duo Glide---and by all Harley enthusiasts it was the most beautiful Harley of all time. It was not the Electra Glide--that came next. This was the model with the kick start and the magneto, not the points. Click on the post for some pictures. And it was beautiful. OK. And so was Susie.
Every Saturday night, just about 11PM, when the traffic started to slow just a bit, Tony would turn to me and say, " Well, it's time to blow this pop joint," and he would ceremoniously toss the spatula to me to take over.
Then with a wink, and a smile, he would shout, "Let's go Susie".
He would quickly punch out his time card and the two of them would head out and mount the massive Harley parked neatly on the side of the restaurant, in eye's view of Tony at the grill.
There was something magical about the way those two took off from the Pioneer Drive Inn. Those were the golden early years of biking and------ As modern folks know..... riding back then was rough. Even with shocks front and back.....the bikes still vibrated a lot. The engines were not balanced like they are today.
Then of course you had the people that did not like bikers and would try and run em off the road. You had to be pretty tough back in those days. Those were the Outlaw days of biking.
My wheels were a 52 Buick with a straight stick. Needless to say, I was not in the league of those wild and crazy Harley guys. In fact. In retrospect. I was pretty darn lucky to be back up fry cook and be the recipient of that tossed spatula.
It was a time of classic transitions----just a mile from the Pioneer Drive Inn, with its classic canopy and the drive up tray holders with the menu and voice system, construction was in progress on the very first McDonalds for White Bear Lake. In just a few months, McDonalds would be rolling out the menu of 25 cent burgers and coke and fries.....and the Pioneer would surely be out of business and sold. Everyone knew. These were the final days.
One of the regular fry cooks had suddenly quit to take a position on the dishwasher line at Whirlpool in St. Paul, and the back up fry cook position had opened up. I was the "gofer" for the early training period, and was trained to be respectful to our head honcho fry cook, "Tony". He was about 21, rode a brand new Harley, and was dating the head waitress, "Susie".
She sure was a beauty-----that Harley. It was a Duo Glide---and by all Harley enthusiasts it was the most beautiful Harley of all time. It was not the Electra Glide--that came next. This was the model with the kick start and the magneto, not the points. Click on the post for some pictures. And it was beautiful. OK. And so was Susie.
Every Saturday night, just about 11PM, when the traffic started to slow just a bit, Tony would turn to me and say, " Well, it's time to blow this pop joint," and he would ceremoniously toss the spatula to me to take over.
Then with a wink, and a smile, he would shout, "Let's go Susie".
He would quickly punch out his time card and the two of them would head out and mount the massive Harley parked neatly on the side of the restaurant, in eye's view of Tony at the grill.
There was something magical about the way those two took off from the Pioneer Drive Inn. Those were the golden early years of biking and------ As modern folks know..... riding back then was rough. Even with shocks front and back.....the bikes still vibrated a lot. The engines were not balanced like they are today.
Then of course you had the people that did not like bikers and would try and run em off the road. You had to be pretty tough back in those days. Those were the Outlaw days of biking.
My wheels were a 52 Buick with a straight stick. Needless to say, I was not in the league of those wild and crazy Harley guys. In fact. In retrospect. I was pretty darn lucky to be back up fry cook and be the recipient of that tossed spatula.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Sermon of the Week: August 10, 2008
Fr. Kevin Dooley, St. Paul's Parish, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time: On Walking on Water; On Asking for Help when drowing...and much more
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Sermon of Week: 8-3-2008: St. Paul's
Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's Church: August 3, 2008: On Bad Investing: On acquiring that which is free and available in abundant supply and whose returns exceed ten fold.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sermon of the Week; 7-20-2008:
St. Paul's Church: Fr. Kevin Dooley: On the Parables---Why not reading every detail of the explanation is best
Sermon of the Week: "Is your Heart In It?"
St. Paul's: Fr. Kevin Dooley: On Courage, On Having your Heart In it; On the Opposite of Courage----Discourage....and much much more.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Nostalgia: A Poscript on the "Wild West"
There is a notion...and it has been pretty doggone persistent over a few hundred years, that back in them there pioneer days, there was just the natural ways...just the wild and free livin of truly lawless and unrestrained individuals-----
There is also the further notion, that if we could just somehow get back to those good old days of wild livin, free of a strong central government....and in fact free of all regulation and inhibition of any kind, that ....well.....we would be perfectly happy....and if one was a business owner....rich....which is the same thing.
As a young boy, I had the freedom to read all the stories of Wyatt Erpe. I know that there was a lot more law in them there parts than some folks remember. I know that the lawmen did their job. Many gun toting hombres were driven from town. Back when the frontier was the frontier. When saloons were saloons. When bricks were bricks. When good was good....and bad was just bad....and not bad to the bone.
There is also the further notion, that if we could just somehow get back to those good old days of wild livin, free of a strong central government....and in fact free of all regulation and inhibition of any kind, that ....well.....we would be perfectly happy....and if one was a business owner....rich....which is the same thing.
As a young boy, I had the freedom to read all the stories of Wyatt Erpe. I know that there was a lot more law in them there parts than some folks remember. I know that the lawmen did their job. Many gun toting hombres were driven from town. Back when the frontier was the frontier. When saloons were saloons. When bricks were bricks. When good was good....and bad was just bad....and not bad to the bone.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Nostalgia; When Denial is the Only Weapon
Over a lifetime, I have become somewhat a specialist in "Denial." When I worked in a health care setting years ago, I picked up a book on Death and Dying and reviewed the four stages of loss----denial, anger, bargaining, and finally acceptance. The problem was, of course, those of us in a health setting rarely saw anything but the first two stages. And I came to a simple amazement of the power of denial in grief, loss, and in a lot of areas of life.
Denial gives me the power to run or bike and pretend that I am 18. Too much awareness of the total risks of life would be too much. A little denial is good. Anything is still possible. Without a little blocking, enthusiasm might be somewhat difficult.
Two other great weapons are blame and resentment. Whenever there is change, count on those two emotions.
This coming week is the week of graduation. It is also a time of huge risk of death on the highway. I hope we as a community, beginning with parents and teens, can pledge not to drink and drive.
Now is the time for responsibiity, not blame. It is the time to see and not be blind to what is clearly before us.
Denial gives me the power to run or bike and pretend that I am 18. Too much awareness of the total risks of life would be too much. A little denial is good. Anything is still possible. Without a little blocking, enthusiasm might be somewhat difficult.
Two other great weapons are blame and resentment. Whenever there is change, count on those two emotions.
This coming week is the week of graduation. It is also a time of huge risk of death on the highway. I hope we as a community, beginning with parents and teens, can pledge not to drink and drive.
Now is the time for responsibiity, not blame. It is the time to see and not be blind to what is clearly before us.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Nostalgia: Markets: What a difference 9 months makes:
Click on the post for a reflection from last October.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Nostalgia: On Being 18; on Being a Pioneer: and a FryCook; The Harley Days
Sometime ago, when I graduated from high school, I got a summer job at the Pioneer Drive Inn at Hwy 61 and Hwy 244 in White Bear Lake. It was the first job other than lawn care and I still worked the lawn stuff early in the day and then went to the cafe at night. It was a time of classic transitions----just a mile from the Pioneer Drive Inn, with its classic canopy and the drive up tray holders with the menu and voice system, construction was in progress on the very first McDonalds for White Bear Lake. In just a few months, McDonalds would be rolling out the menu of 25 cent burgers and coke and fries.....and the Pioneer would surely be out of business and sold.
Everyone knew. These were the final days. One of the regular fry cooks had suddenly quit to take a position on the dishwasher line at Whirlpool in St. Paul, and the back up fry cook position had opened up. I was the "gofer" for the early training period, and was trained to be respectful to our head honcho fry cook, "Tony". He was about 21, rode a brand new Harley, and was dating the head waitress, "Susie". She sure was a beauty-----that Harley. It was a Duo Glide---and by all Harley enthusiasts it was the most beautiful Harley of all time. It was not the Electra Glide--that came next. This was the model with the kick start and the magneto, not the points. Click on the post for some pictures. And it was beautiful. OK. And so was Susie.
Every Saturday night, just about 11PM, when the traffic started to slow just a bit, Tony would turn to me and say, " Well, it's time to blow this pop joint," and he would ceremoniously toss the spatula to me to take over. Then with a wink, and a smile, he would shout, "Let's go Susie". He would quickly punch out his time card and the two of them would head out and mount the massive Harley parked neatly on the side of the restaurant, in eye's view of Tony at the grill. There was something magical about the way those two took off from the Pioneer Drive Inn.
Those were the golden early years of biking and------ As modern folks know..... riding back then was rough. Even with shocks front and back.....the bikes still vibrated a lot. The engines were not balanced like they are today. Then of course you had the people that did not like bikers and would try and run em off the road. You had to be pretty tough back in those days. Those were the Outlaw days of biking. My wheels were a 52 Buick with a straight stick. Needless to say, I was not in the league of those wild and crazy Harley guys. In fact. In retrospect. I was pretty darn lucky to be back up fry cook and be the recipient of that tossed spatula.
Everyone knew. These were the final days. One of the regular fry cooks had suddenly quit to take a position on the dishwasher line at Whirlpool in St. Paul, and the back up fry cook position had opened up. I was the "gofer" for the early training period, and was trained to be respectful to our head honcho fry cook, "Tony". He was about 21, rode a brand new Harley, and was dating the head waitress, "Susie". She sure was a beauty-----that Harley. It was a Duo Glide---and by all Harley enthusiasts it was the most beautiful Harley of all time. It was not the Electra Glide--that came next. This was the model with the kick start and the magneto, not the points. Click on the post for some pictures. And it was beautiful. OK. And so was Susie.
Every Saturday night, just about 11PM, when the traffic started to slow just a bit, Tony would turn to me and say, " Well, it's time to blow this pop joint," and he would ceremoniously toss the spatula to me to take over. Then with a wink, and a smile, he would shout, "Let's go Susie". He would quickly punch out his time card and the two of them would head out and mount the massive Harley parked neatly on the side of the restaurant, in eye's view of Tony at the grill. There was something magical about the way those two took off from the Pioneer Drive Inn.
Those were the golden early years of biking and------ As modern folks know..... riding back then was rough. Even with shocks front and back.....the bikes still vibrated a lot. The engines were not balanced like they are today. Then of course you had the people that did not like bikers and would try and run em off the road. You had to be pretty tough back in those days. Those were the Outlaw days of biking. My wheels were a 52 Buick with a straight stick. Needless to say, I was not in the league of those wild and crazy Harley guys. In fact. In retrospect. I was pretty darn lucky to be back up fry cook and be the recipient of that tossed spatula.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Sermon of the Week: 6-15-2008; Fr. Kevin Dooley
On the Story of Tyko Intl; On Jeremiah; On Judas ; On using the grace of the Lord and not resisting, hoping to do it our own way .....and much more.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Video: St. Paul's; 1 of 2; Fr. Kevin Dooley: 6-8-2008
Sermon of the Week: Graduation Day: 6-8-2008: Graduating Up to a Merciful Heart; 1 of 2 Video.
St. Paul's: 6-8-2008
Sermon of the Week: Fr. Kevin Dooley: Graduation Day 6-8-2008; On Graduating Up to a Merciful Heart 2 of 2 video.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
I have Everything I need------a true story
Recently I bought a turntable so we could play some of those oldies and goodies from the 50's that I have stored in a stack in the carriage house. When I mention the stack, and ask friends where theirs is---they know excactly the spot. It probably has stayed untouched for a couple of decades.
As I sorted through the LP's, between my favorites, Johnney Rivers , Bob Dylan and such, I stacked hers and mine in separate stacks. After I had them all in order, I counted the big 5 vinyl records from my high school days----that is correct----five.
I then quickly went over and looked at the stack of cd's that I have accumulated---presto. I had added more than five in the past week. Many kids probably download more music in a day than we used to buy and collect in a year during the 60's.
I reflected on all of this as I was wandering my gaze while Nordic Tracking last week, and thinking of the huge job I faced in cleaning up my treasures of the past. I am not sure whether the sore muscles from Nordic Tracking or just the thought of all that heavy lifting, but I announced my new concept at the dinner table last night: " I have everything I need. Period."
Before you even think of trying that out in your family, be warned. It is an explosive concept.
My wife quickly spoke up. "Speak for yourself. I need the following items..............." Quite a list.
Suffice it to say we are still discussing my "problem" and considering a joint decision in the matter. However. It is clear to me that while the "War on Terror" and "Urban Sprawl" are big sized problems, as is the everypresent "Energy Crisis" ---- I would list the "Consumption Crisis" right up there with the best.
In fact. I would issue the challenge. Announce at dinner tonight that you need not buy another thing. See what happens.
You make the call.
As I sorted through the LP's, between my favorites, Johnney Rivers , Bob Dylan and such, I stacked hers and mine in separate stacks. After I had them all in order, I counted the big 5 vinyl records from my high school days----that is correct----five.
I then quickly went over and looked at the stack of cd's that I have accumulated---presto. I had added more than five in the past week. Many kids probably download more music in a day than we used to buy and collect in a year during the 60's.
I reflected on all of this as I was wandering my gaze while Nordic Tracking last week, and thinking of the huge job I faced in cleaning up my treasures of the past. I am not sure whether the sore muscles from Nordic Tracking or just the thought of all that heavy lifting, but I announced my new concept at the dinner table last night: " I have everything I need. Period."
Before you even think of trying that out in your family, be warned. It is an explosive concept.
My wife quickly spoke up. "Speak for yourself. I need the following items..............." Quite a list.
Suffice it to say we are still discussing my "problem" and considering a joint decision in the matter. However. It is clear to me that while the "War on Terror" and "Urban Sprawl" are big sized problems, as is the everypresent "Energy Crisis" ---- I would list the "Consumption Crisis" right up there with the best.
In fact. I would issue the challenge. Announce at dinner tonight that you need not buy another thing. See what happens.
You make the call.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Book Beat; "They Marched Into Sunlight" by David Maraniss
Why remember Vietnam? Maybe if you are fairly young and meditating about Iraq, Vietnam seems a long time ago. The sad thing is that there were some huge lessons from Vietnam that we forgot, and very much need to remember.
The author David Maraniss was a grad student at UW Madison in 1967, and the book is woven between the UW Madison Campus Dow Riots, the activities of President Johnson in Washington, and the battlefield. Because I was a grad student in 1969 during the student strike and riots, this book with the details of the UW Campus really brought back the history with its detailed sketching. The book also won the Purlitzer Prize.
The students were told by the student leaders that whatever their personal situation, whatever their personal sacrifice during the demonstrations, the mission of ending the Vietnam War was such a once in a lifetime purpose filled mission that they each must make the sacrifice. I do remember the words. I still remember the price I paid.
The book has some sketches of the young Paul Soglin which were helpful to those who mostly remember him as Mayor of Madison. Yes. There was a time in Madison when truth was written on the walls of buildings----and everything on the walls came true. As I recall when one walked down from the Capitol on State Street, the first two signs were "Free Bobby Seal" and then "Nixon's a Crook"------
The author David Maraniss was a grad student at UW Madison in 1967, and the book is woven between the UW Madison Campus Dow Riots, the activities of President Johnson in Washington, and the battlefield. Because I was a grad student in 1969 during the student strike and riots, this book with the details of the UW Campus really brought back the history with its detailed sketching. The book also won the Purlitzer Prize.
The students were told by the student leaders that whatever their personal situation, whatever their personal sacrifice during the demonstrations, the mission of ending the Vietnam War was such a once in a lifetime purpose filled mission that they each must make the sacrifice. I do remember the words. I still remember the price I paid.
The book has some sketches of the young Paul Soglin which were helpful to those who mostly remember him as Mayor of Madison. Yes. There was a time in Madison when truth was written on the walls of buildings----and everything on the walls came true. As I recall when one walked down from the Capitol on State Street, the first two signs were "Free Bobby Seal" and then "Nixon's a Crook"------
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Sermon of the Week: Pentacost
Fr. Kevin Dooley: St. Paul's: Pentacost: Mother's Day 2008---"The coming of the Holy Spirit..then..and now."
Mothers Day 2008---"Ave Maria"
Mother's Day 2008---St. Paul's---George Wollinger with Jane Oberdorf on piano singing "Ave Maria."
Mother's Day 2008
Hymns for Mother's Day---heard in Evansville "Gentle Mother" by George Wollinger with Jane Oberdorf on piano
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sermons; Fr. Kevin Dooley: 4-27-2008
Sixth Sunday of Easter: Fr.Kevin Dooley--On reaching out to the Samaria's
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Sermon; Fr. Kevin Dooley: 4-6-2008
Sermon: Fr. Kevin Dooley: Third Sunday of Easter; On Seeing the Risen Savior; On Hope
Sermon; Fr. Kevin Dooley: 3-30-2008:
Second Sunday of Easter: The Story of Thomas: or the additional beatitude.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Sunday Prior to Ash Wednesday
Mentor of Fr. Kevin Delivers Sermon on The beatitutes: Refers to Fr. Kevin as "The Boy Priest": The Beatitutes as a little orientation session for all on what is expected......
Sunday, February 17, 2008
"Campion's Champions"---a true story
(Ed.note; This is a post from 2006)
For the past 15 years something pretty special has been happening in Monroe. In fact it has had a huge impact in the whole state. It is all a story about one man. Fr. Campion. It is a story about his dedication to the handicapped. It is about his love and dedication to sport, his philosphy of sport and the character of those who are in sports.
Click on the post for the full story about the recent speech of Fr. Campion to the Monroe cross country team. It was about character. It was also about courage. Something that Fr. Campion knows well about, having to face the past year of difficulty in battling cancer.
In his speech to the cross country team, Fr.Campion mentioned that in his battle with cancer, the Monroe cross country team was in his mind as an inspiration to persist. Fr. Campion went over in his speech that he was proud of the runners that did not do alcohol. Athletes with character abstain.
I only met Fr.Campion once. At the end of a 5K race on a cold and wintry day in January in Monroe. The race was to benefit the handicapped. It finished on a hill near a local bar. It was windy and cold. All the fast runners had been finished for ten minutes and their hot beverages were being consumed as I approached the finish line. I remember his words, "Finish strong, Champions. Finish strong." He was at the finish line until the last runner completed the race.
Fr. Campion's speech on character last week in Monroe is a classic. It seems that without character, all the electronics, fancy uniforms, advertising and hoop alla that goes with sport just rings hollow. Folks are not really fooled by the show. They know deep down what is real, and what is show.
For the past 15 years something pretty special has been happening in Monroe. In fact it has had a huge impact in the whole state. It is all a story about one man. Fr. Campion. It is a story about his dedication to the handicapped. It is about his love and dedication to sport, his philosphy of sport and the character of those who are in sports.
Click on the post for the full story about the recent speech of Fr. Campion to the Monroe cross country team. It was about character. It was also about courage. Something that Fr. Campion knows well about, having to face the past year of difficulty in battling cancer.
In his speech to the cross country team, Fr.Campion mentioned that in his battle with cancer, the Monroe cross country team was in his mind as an inspiration to persist. Fr. Campion went over in his speech that he was proud of the runners that did not do alcohol. Athletes with character abstain.
I only met Fr.Campion once. At the end of a 5K race on a cold and wintry day in January in Monroe. The race was to benefit the handicapped. It finished on a hill near a local bar. It was windy and cold. All the fast runners had been finished for ten minutes and their hot beverages were being consumed as I approached the finish line. I remember his words, "Finish strong, Champions. Finish strong." He was at the finish line until the last runner completed the race.
Fr. Campion's speech on character last week in Monroe is a classic. It seems that without character, all the electronics, fancy uniforms, advertising and hoop alla that goes with sport just rings hollow. Folks are not really fooled by the show. They know deep down what is real, and what is show.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Theatre: "Betrayal" by Harold Pinter (orig post 2006)
Last weekend I had the pleasure of seeing the play Betrayal by Harold Pinter at The Jungle Theatre in Uptown in Mpls. I had known nothing of Harold Pinter, but he won the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 2005. If you click on the post you can access some info on his plays and his awards. He has been a very outspoken critic of human rights abuses and this activism goes back at least 20 years when he wrote the play Mountain Language which was inspired by the oppression in Turkey and the suppression of the Kurdish language.
I loved the play. See it if you can. What stunned me was his introduction in the playbill. Mr. Pinter spoke of the difference between "truth" in art versus "truth" in politics.
He says of "truth" in art or literature, "Truth in drama is forever elusive. You never quite find it but the search for it is compulsive....The real truth is that there never is any such thing as one truth to be found in dramatic art. There are many. These truths challenge each other, reflect each other...tease each other are blind to each other. "
....Political language, as used by politicians, does not venture into any of this territory since the majority of politicians...are interested not in truth but in power and in the maintenance of that power. To maintain that power it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives. What surrounds us therefore is a vast tapestry of lies, upon which we feed....."
"Betryal" is about that tapestry.
I have been approached by all sorts of folk lately, from relatives to fellow bloggers asking me about some of my sketches or stories, and whether all the facts are exactly correct. Particularly, the sketch in "The last latte," some have asked which relative this might have been. Excuse me. It was a fictional sketch.
In the sketches or stories of the blog, there is nothing but grey, and indeed my fair readers have very different views of the same story. That is as it should be.
On the political side, I BEGIN the reporting of the story. You may notice that in local politics that I often don't get the story right and that officials interject with corrections. That is what it is all about. They are writing the story too. That is the whole point of the blog.
I am not as pessimistic about politics as Mr. Pinter. I think that something good can come of difference.
So, to summarize. As my brother puts it as to my stories and sketches, "Dick never lets the facts interfere with the story."
As to the political stuff, YOU are writing the story. I am just starting the story. The facts we can debate about. The reality we can debate about. That is what life consists of.
I loved the play. See it if you can. What stunned me was his introduction in the playbill. Mr. Pinter spoke of the difference between "truth" in art versus "truth" in politics.
He says of "truth" in art or literature, "Truth in drama is forever elusive. You never quite find it but the search for it is compulsive....The real truth is that there never is any such thing as one truth to be found in dramatic art. There are many. These truths challenge each other, reflect each other...tease each other are blind to each other. "
....Political language, as used by politicians, does not venture into any of this territory since the majority of politicians...are interested not in truth but in power and in the maintenance of that power. To maintain that power it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives. What surrounds us therefore is a vast tapestry of lies, upon which we feed....."
"Betryal" is about that tapestry.
I have been approached by all sorts of folk lately, from relatives to fellow bloggers asking me about some of my sketches or stories, and whether all the facts are exactly correct. Particularly, the sketch in "The last latte," some have asked which relative this might have been. Excuse me. It was a fictional sketch.
In the sketches or stories of the blog, there is nothing but grey, and indeed my fair readers have very different views of the same story. That is as it should be.
On the political side, I BEGIN the reporting of the story. You may notice that in local politics that I often don't get the story right and that officials interject with corrections. That is what it is all about. They are writing the story too. That is the whole point of the blog.
I am not as pessimistic about politics as Mr. Pinter. I think that something good can come of difference.
So, to summarize. As my brother puts it as to my stories and sketches, "Dick never lets the facts interfere with the story."
As to the political stuff, YOU are writing the story. I am just starting the story. The facts we can debate about. The reality we can debate about. That is what life consists of.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
On the Perfect Marriage: On "Mr. and Mrs. Smith--the Movie"; On Politics...and more
Recently we've had a debate in our family. After viewing "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" staring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, I theorized that this indeed was the perfect marriage. Rough in the beginning. O.K. very rough. And then in the end it is just perfect ballet.
My middle daughter, who wishes to remain anonymous, objected strenuously. She is a psychology major and I inquired whether the textbooks describe the marital bond as similar to that of Brad and Angelina. "Heavens no, dad. Are you saying that marriage is like the elevator scene where she nearly kills Brad?"
"Yes," I replied. "That is so real." "The only part that seems too long is the scene at the end where they move in perfect harmony with the machine guns killing all the enemy. Without even a nick or scratch from flying fragments. I am still waiting for that in real life.
Recently "Fred" has written about what he learned about the "open meeting" law at a recent municipal conference for new aldermen. He says:
"One thing I'm learning is that the requirements of open-ness and transparency in local government gives rise to a general slowness in getting things done. For example, alders can almost never have private conversations among themselves about issues. The monthly meetings, held in the public eye, are where we must discuss things before coming to decisions. That's to protect us from accusations of "secret deals" etc, and to ensure that you the citizens have access to the decision-making process."
So, as a matter of debate, I would propose that meetings in our fair city should resemble the relationship of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie during most of the movie----with wild differences of thought that are aired---but rather in public not in private.
If one ever sees orchestrated movement in perfect harmony we will know that something is wrong--terribly wrong. It is only an absolute miracle if all alders could agree in the normal happening of things on anything, and then probably only if they had chatted in private before the meeting or something. Heaven forbid.
So there it is. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" the movie and the politics. If we ever see perfect harmony, perfect lawyering, perfect grant proposals, perfect public works and perfect dancing with machine guns----or perfect harmony in voting---we will know.
Now. Who is the Brad Pitt? O.K. you all can fight about it.
That's how I see it. You heard it on The Evansville Observer
My middle daughter, who wishes to remain anonymous, objected strenuously. She is a psychology major and I inquired whether the textbooks describe the marital bond as similar to that of Brad and Angelina. "Heavens no, dad. Are you saying that marriage is like the elevator scene where she nearly kills Brad?"
"Yes," I replied. "That is so real." "The only part that seems too long is the scene at the end where they move in perfect harmony with the machine guns killing all the enemy. Without even a nick or scratch from flying fragments. I am still waiting for that in real life.
Recently "Fred" has written about what he learned about the "open meeting" law at a recent municipal conference for new aldermen. He says:
"One thing I'm learning is that the requirements of open-ness and transparency in local government gives rise to a general slowness in getting things done. For example, alders can almost never have private conversations among themselves about issues. The monthly meetings, held in the public eye, are where we must discuss things before coming to decisions. That's to protect us from accusations of "secret deals" etc, and to ensure that you the citizens have access to the decision-making process."
So, as a matter of debate, I would propose that meetings in our fair city should resemble the relationship of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie during most of the movie----with wild differences of thought that are aired---but rather in public not in private.
If one ever sees orchestrated movement in perfect harmony we will know that something is wrong--terribly wrong. It is only an absolute miracle if all alders could agree in the normal happening of things on anything, and then probably only if they had chatted in private before the meeting or something. Heaven forbid.
So there it is. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" the movie and the politics. If we ever see perfect harmony, perfect lawyering, perfect grant proposals, perfect public works and perfect dancing with machine guns----or perfect harmony in voting---we will know.
Now. Who is the Brad Pitt? O.K. you all can fight about it.
That's how I see it. You heard it on The Evansville Observer
Friday, January 11, 2008
OpEd: Reflection: I Do NOT know best
One of the emotions of the newly engaged couple is that surely their love is like no other. And as a natural byproduct....any product of that love must be like no other. Indeed...every young parent believes, and I insist must believe, that it has been ordained from all time for them to raise the perfect child, a child like no other, a child that may have to change the world, since indeed....the parent has not had an opportunity to effect that revolution yet.
It is required that a young parent be so enthused. So confident. so entirely religious in devotion to that first born. As the parent of the first born, one is convinced that imparting every wisdom of the ages will give that youngster a headstart---the cutting edge to the life of unlimited success.
Somewhere along the way....maybe after the third child......for some parents this never occurs......
One comes to the conclusion that one does not indeed know best. That this child is a mystery to itself and one's parents..... and a wonderful mystery indeed. And that behold even without the wonderful wisdom of the parent...it is going to be and do just fine. One begins to have confidence that this first born can deal with the NEW just fine. That the OLD is not relevant. Call it an OBAMA moment.
The OBAMA moment will come for Evansville tomorrow as folks convene for the Economic Summit.
Stay tuned.
It is required that a young parent be so enthused. So confident. so entirely religious in devotion to that first born. As the parent of the first born, one is convinced that imparting every wisdom of the ages will give that youngster a headstart---the cutting edge to the life of unlimited success.
Somewhere along the way....maybe after the third child......for some parents this never occurs......
One comes to the conclusion that one does not indeed know best. That this child is a mystery to itself and one's parents..... and a wonderful mystery indeed. And that behold even without the wonderful wisdom of the parent...it is going to be and do just fine. One begins to have confidence that this first born can deal with the NEW just fine. That the OLD is not relevant. Call it an OBAMA moment.
The OBAMA moment will come for Evansville tomorrow as folks convene for the Economic Summit.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
"The Case of the "Farsighted" Pundits
It is a curious matter that when one reviews pundits, on political, finance, sports or whatever it appears that most of the visionary talk is about politicians a long distance away--2000 miles or so is best.
It seems that though most Americans have "nearsightedness" and have their vision corrected routinely with eyeglasses, the fact is that few Americans have the problem of "farsightedness" where the vision is poor longer range but great short range.
Thus the irony----- pundits always act as though they are "farsighted"------mostly though, whether it is the local news, or local issues, it is rather that folks find it inconvenient to even admit differences in the nearsighted range. In the all consuming effort to please, like a little child being good for an ice cream cone, the pundits act ......blind......and look thousands of miles away.
It seems that though most Americans have "nearsightedness" and have their vision corrected routinely with eyeglasses, the fact is that few Americans have the problem of "farsightedness" where the vision is poor longer range but great short range.
Thus the irony----- pundits always act as though they are "farsighted"------mostly though, whether it is the local news, or local issues, it is rather that folks find it inconvenient to even admit differences in the nearsighted range. In the all consuming effort to please, like a little child being good for an ice cream cone, the pundits act ......blind......and look thousands of miles away.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
"The mystery of Lot and Little"---the poem
(Ed.note: I found these words on a scrap of paper in a book in the local library. I have republished them without editing.)
A
lot of
a
little
is a
little
A
little of
a
lot
is
ALOT
A
lot of
a
little
is a
little
A
little of
a
lot
is
ALOT
Monday, January 7, 2008
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