JJG Journal

A couple of thoughts about religion and superstition in general:

It is not an honor or distinction to believe in something for which there is no objective evidence. I am happy to loose any “faith contest” with anyone because I am skeptical about any proposition for which there is no verifiable evidence.The effects of religion and superstition on human society are overwhelmingly negative. This is a rather obvious fact and no deep insight. Nonetheless, if you stated this fact, it would immediately disqualify you from elected office, at least in the
U.S. of the early 21^st...Continue Reading »

Guess what? Americans keep getting fatter. Obesity is now at epidemic levels. This does not bode well for our health care budget.

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If you see something wrong, for heaven’s sake, do not speak up or you’ll get the shaft. This is not the American way. Another aspect of the pervasively corrupting influence of the Iraq fiasco. Democracy can only survive if individuals are allowed to act their conscience. Ironcally the current U.S. administration claims to want to to foster democracy and at the same time actively surpesses it. What do you know? It’s all a big shell game.

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Instead of the Biennial Flight Review (BFR), I’ve decided to train for the Complex Airplane Endorsement as per FAR 61.31. The plane I am using is a vintage 1980 Cessna 172 Cutlass RG. I’ve familiarized myself with the plane’s specifications (v-speeds, weights, cg-limits, fuel, etc.), have studied the 172RG’s ...Continue Reading »

The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has been hijacked by politics. The rule of law is subordinate to ideoloy and political maneuvering. Thus is the legacy of Alberto Gonzales. He was the first Hispanic to lead the DoJ and it is a shame that he behaved like a crook, thus casting a shadow on his office and his ethnic origins. Hispanics deserve better than that and so do we all. I am looking forward to a time when upholding and enforcing the rule of law will be the DoJ’s first priority. Here some comments on Mr. Gonzales’...Continue Reading »

Mr. Greenwald’s analysis is flawless and eloquent. Speaks for itself.

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As a birthday gift my then girlfriend had given me a “Gift of Flight” certificate from a nearby flight school. Flying has always been an interest of mine but work and family commitments had so far prevented me from getting “serious” about it. The intro flight was done by a young instructor who was building time towards his ATP certificate. The flight took place in blustery winds and I was hooked. The instructor “danced” on the pedals during the landing to keep the small Cessna 172 Skyhawk on the narrow runway. This was in July.

At the beginning of April of the following year,...Continue Reading »

Jose Padilla lit up a stogie and was nailed for contemplating arson. Have I written something that could easily be misconstrued by a jury of my peers?

Garrison Keillor’s comment on this matter refects my views exactly. Mr. Padilla was the first American citizen arrested on American soil and on orders of the President held in indefinite detention without any access to the legal system. How many Americans will be treated the same in the future?

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Seven U.S. soldiers write the truth about the Iraq disaster in the New York Times. In a couple of years from now, with several thousand more U.S. and Iraqi casualties under our belt, well look back and say “What were we thinking?”

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If Pelosi persists in her imperious, mean-spirited, and myopic thinking in disregard of her oath to support and defend the Constitution, members of the House should replace her with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

It is easy to become disillusioned with politics when considering the state of affairs of the current U.S. two-party system. In the words of George Carlin your only real choice in the U.S. is “paper or plastic?” Spineless, opportunistic Democrats oppose ruthless Republicans. Where is the fun in that?

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