Given that those who trouble to read these blogs are of inordinately high intellect, I’m sure that you not only know the definition of the key word in this title, but also could easily suss out to whom I refer. However, in the off chance there are some small few for whom the word does not ring a bell, I offer the following definitions: BLOVIATOR 1. A public figure, such as a politician or an actor, who makes outlandish, strident statements on issues, thinking that the average man will care about their opinions. 2. Someone who pontificates about issues of which they are uninformed, yet pretend to be expert. 3. A pompous blowhard who uses their...
Al-dawla al-islamiya fi al-iraq wa al-sham. There you have it. This is the full name (in arabic) of the group that is currently terrorizing large swaths of Iraq and Syria by using inhuman terror techniques more familiar to the middle ages. They also have a significant number of the citizens of the civilized world shaking in their boots and shaking their fists clamoring for retribution and then destruction. As I previously opined in a piece about the former dictator of Libya, Muammar Khadaffi, it’s nigh well impossible to focus on an enemy if you can’t agree on a name for the evil. Let’s see, Obama and his crowd insist on referring to...
The words in the title of this post, absent the (un) are inscribed above the main entrance to the Supreme Court building in our nation’s capital. It is a noble sentiment to say the least, and some would say it is the corner stone of our system of jurisprudence, not to mention, our democracy. But it’s not exactly a new idea. The earliest evidence I’ve found appears in Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian Wars wherein in he cites Pericles’ Funeral Oration in 431 BCE; which really wasn’t a funeral oration but a paen to the glory of Athens. Sidebar: I can never see the word Peloponnesian without thinking of the football...
Earlier this year, S. and I had dinner with the Barack Obama. Well, he didn’t actually eat with us, but he was there while we were eating. Actually, we weren’t eating when he was in the room with us, but we had finished our salad before he came in. Never mind the details. We met, spoke to, shook hands with, had our pictures taken with President Barack Obama and his lovely First Lady, Michelle (from whom I got a classic, big Michelle hug). To say this was a high point in our political/social life would be a understatement of indescribable dimensions. You should view this in the context of knowing that I’m not a celeb kind of guy. The...
As promised, I propose in this posting to bring light to one of the many mysteries of the Court. But first the preliminaries. I am sure that, you know the history and jurisdictional authority of the Supreme Court, so I will only add a thought or two to refresh your memory. Article III, Section 1 says in part, “the judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish….”. It goes on for the next couple of sections to talk about jurisdictional matters. You know the stuff, suits between the states, suits between the states and the...
Of course you know that SCOTUS is the operative acronym for the Supreme Court of the United States as POTUS is…well you get the drift. In the last few days of the Court’s term the media and a small, elite group of supreme court watchers are ever on point on whether and how SCOTUS will rule on the cases of the day. Most of us have little idea of the actual substance of the cases and have even less understanding of the often arcane logic that is exercised in reaching their decisions. Count me as one of the non-elite, small group of Supreme Court watchers. I’ve long been fascinated by what they say and why they say it. I’m not without...
After 30 years in the world of big business, Gary “retired” to pursue long ignored interests. While continuing his involvement in the corporate world by serving as a director of several public companies, he has, among other things, traveled the world in pursuit of the perfect bird photograph, served national and local charities as a director and donor, developed a personal web site as a platform for his writing on subjects of personal interest, and, occasionally, taken time to smell the roses.
Gary and his wife Sandra, shuttle between their condo in Dallas and their farm in Fannin county, Texas where they indulge themselves in organic gardening, long walks and entertaining friends and family.
