The Ultimate Power Struggle
We learned in last week's blog that Christmas is all about the confluence of religion and politics. Christmas is of course religious in that it's a part of the unfolding…
Talking Politics at Christmas Dinner
There is an old adage which says that when you're in polite company there are two subjects which should be avoided at all costs - religion and politics. The reason…
The Paris Climate Disaster
On December 12, 2015, nearly every nation on the planet signed the Paris Climate Agreement. The purpose of the agreement is to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global…
Paradise Lost
The town of Paradise was a lovely spot in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in northern California. The 27,000 residents of Paradise were mostly middle or lower class…
Tempest in a Teapot
Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters of my lifetime. On the morning of August 29, 2005, Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast near New Orleans, Louisiana. This…
Apocalypse Now
One of the most prevalent features of modern life are the constant warnings regarding the impact humans have on our environment. Over and over again, we are bombarded by dire…