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A Socialistic Future Always Seems To Sound Good

Eugen Richter, a German liberal politician and journalist at the turn of the previous century, published “Pictures of the Socialistic Future” in 1893. As a work in the public domain, the ebook version can be downloaded for free. The novel describes a family anticipating the wonderful things to come from the new socialist program in their home country, Germany. Written several decades before the atrocities of the Soviet Union, Richter foretold the events in chilling detail, almost as though it was a script. It starts out with a great celebration and the rhetoric of Bernie Sanders ...

Coronavirus And The Red-Blue Flu

It’s safe to say we’ve been living in a totally different world these past weeks, and been forced to change many “normal” things we used to do, many of those things we took for granted. We’re now doing things, following new restrictions, and making sacrifices, to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and do whatever else we can for the good of all in this situation. Suffice it to say, the normal we’ve been used to, will no longer exist when this is over. It’s believed we’ll establish new normals when this ends, but will all the “normals” change, or will some things ...

Shovels Or Sun, Spring Fails Us Every Year

I checked. In March, spring arrived on time. The sun crossed the equator around March 20, heralding the arrival of the new season. That was more than a month ago, but it’s like this every year: life becomes a giant ketchup commercial, as we sit in anticipation of spring actually stepping up to the plate. It is the most rebellious of seasons, the frustrating toddler who won’t be strapped into his car seat, for months. I remember volunteering for a Girl Scout camping trip for my daughter’s troop. They set the date for June 15, and I spent the night in a tent in six layers ...

Going To The Cellar For Food, A Joy Of Homemade Preserves

Someone recently shared a picture of canned goods in her basement. I do not think it was a picture that they took, just one they found. Foods preserved in jars really make a pretty picture. I often went downstairs and just looked at all of the food I had preserved. We never had much money. Milk checks came twice a month with the first check being the larger one since it was an advance on what would follow. During the summer months especially the second check was small so I learned not to rely on it. I went to the grocery store with my little red checker — some of you will remember ...

Enjoying L’esprit De L’escalier And Other Fun With Words

Atrabilious, immiscible, susurrus, tergiversate, trompe l’oeil — I have a spiral notebook that probably dates back a decade or more of words I hadn’t known so looked up meanings and added them to the list. Terricolous, educe, missish, tergiversate, the list goes on and on. And I’ve forgotten almost all (including all those listed here). They are real words — most not acknowledged by my spellcheck (if that helps). There are others though that I do use and appreciate. I do have a word and then an expression I’d like to see used more commonly. First is “petrichor” which ...

Government Goes Too Far

I’m “social distancing.” I stay away from people. I do it voluntarily. There’s a big difference between voluntary — and force. Government is force. The media want more of that. “Ten states have no stay-at-home orders!” complains Don Lemon On CNN. “Some governors are still refusing to take action!” Fox News’ host Steve Hilton agreed. “Shut things down! Everywhere. That includes Utah, Wyoming...” But wait a second. People in Utah and Wyoming already socially distanced just by living there. Why must Utah and Wyoming have the same stay-at-home rules as New ...