Life

Evaluate your life and set a goal that is realistic for you. (Linda Dillon, in A Gentle Spirit, 22 January)

... there is more to life than meets the eye! (Iyanla Vanzant, Until Today!, 19 January)
31 January 2012

Rose Garden

I beg your pardon;

I never promised you a rose garden.

(Song sung by Lynn Anderson)

30 January 2012

Assumptions of Capitalism

Photo: Miss Melva - Mr. Dickie at Kennett Square, PA

One of the basic assumptions of capitalism is that anyone paid huge sums of money must be worth it.  (Robert B. Reich, Aftershock, p. 40) 29 January 2012

Over-consuming

Tens of millions of Americans are repeatedly over-consuming today and regretting it tomorrow: whether by overeating, over-borrowing, over gambling, excessive TV viewing, or indulging in yet other addictions.  (Jeffrey D. Sachs, The Price Of Civilization, p. 134) 28 January 2012

******

Yesterday I noticed that the LDS have an Internet radio station with two channels and a couple of podcasts.

Mr. Dickie

28 January 2012

Vigilance

Photo: Mr. Dickie - The Great Pumpkin

... men can lose their country if it is represented by an anti-Christian regime.  

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Introduction to The Cost Of Discipleship, p. 29) 27 January 2012

Limitations of Power

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Grotto of Lourdes, Emmitsburg, MD

Our blindness to the limitations of power [has] created great problems in our lives.
(Touchstones, 17 January)
26 January 2012

Choosing Leaders

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Emmitsburg, MD

... in recent times we have seen persons elevated to high positions who were later discovered to have falsified their academic or professional records.  Clearly the criteria that we human beings use to choose our leaders are imperfect and subject to abuse.  (The Upper Room Disciplines - 2003, 27 May)  25 January 2012

Bill Of Goods

Photo: Mr. Dickie - one of our hydrangeas grown from a cutting

You have got to know what it is you want, or someone is going to sell you a bill of goods somewhere along the line that can do irreparable damage to your self-esteem, your sense of worth, and your stewardship of the talents that God gave you. (Richard Nelson Bolles in Touchstones, 24 January) 24 January 2012

Alan Greenspan

Photo: Mr. Dickie - in our side yard

The disdain for regulation led Alan Greenspan to believe that financial institutions would police their own risks, a blunder that ended up costing the world economy trillions of dollars. (Jeffrey D. Sachs, The Price Of Civilization, p. 62 (see also p. 91-2)) 23 January 2012

Emmylou Harris 20th Anniversary On The Grand Ole Opry

Emmylou Harris

A society of markets, laws and elections is not enough if the rich and powerful fail to behave with respect, honesty, and compassion toward the rest of society and toward the world.  (Jeffrey D. Sachs, The Price Of Civilization, p. 3)

******

Last night I listened to the hour-long celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Emmylou Harris as a member of The Grand Ole Opry via the streaming audio of WSM 650 am in Nashville, TN.  They were performing in The Ryman.  Emmylou invited lots of guest: Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Shawn Colvin, Buddy Miller, Kimmie Rhodes.  While listening to the program I discovered that The Cracker Barrel website has an Internet radio station.

Mr. Dickie
22 January 2012

The 2008 Financial Crisis

The 2008 financial crash resulted from a confluence of forces: deregulation, monetary mismanagement, and reckless irresponsibility by the top management on Wall Street, who lusted after profits with sheer disregard for their stockholders, workers, and clients.(Jeffrey D. Sachs, The Price Of Civilization, p. 124-25)
21 January 2012

You Can't Do That!

Old Cape Henry Lighthouse - Fort Story, VA

Most of the people who will try to tell you that you cannot, who will label your push to freedom "selfish," will turn out to have measures of authority over your life, and will really be protesting your threat to the holds you have allowed them to have on you.  (Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Pulling Your Own Strings, p. 4) 20 January 2012

Public Opinion

In America today, there is little systematic public deliberation, and the public's views are rarely taken seriously in the political process. One key policy decision after another is adopted behind the backs of the public, often in direct contradiction to public opinion. (Jeffrey D. Sachs, The Price of Civilization, p. 179)
19 January 2012

Lessons Learned

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Blackwater Falls, WV

The Great Depression ... taught the country ... the need for thorough financial regulation to curb fraud and excessive leveraging of risk.  Yet the Reagan administration unleashed a process of dismantling that regulation.  (Jeffrey D. Sachs, The Price of Civilization, p. 61)

******

Ask yourself these questions.  

• Did you see it coming?  
• If not, why not?

Mr. Dickie

18 January 2012

"The Price of Civilization"

Thad G., a high school classmate from our days in Wichita, KS, recommended a book to me, The Price of Civilization - Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity by economist, Jeffrey D. Sachs.  I reserved the book at the library and took ten days to read it.

In my opinion, Mr. Sachs did an outstanding job of describing what went wrong with America.  His suggestions for the changes that will be necessary to fix the mess are well thought out.

Here are three quotes from the book.

• In fiscal year 2011, the federal government covered around 39 percent of its spending, roughly $1.4 trillion of $3.6 trillion, by borrowing.  (p. 209)
• There is no way to increase the scale of government if the government remains as incompetent and corrupt as it is today. (p. 210)
• The quality of life is deteriorating because we refuse to pay for the public goods needed for civilized society. (p. 211)

I posted that I read the book to both, weRead and LibraryThing.

Mr. Dickie

17 January 2012

Happiness By Acquisition

Photo: Mr. Dickie - at Cumberland, MD Railroad Station

... "happiness by acquisition" only sets up a lifetime of wanting.
(Larsen and Hegarty, Believing In Myself, 24 December)
16 January 2012

YouTube

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Dry lock on the C and O Canal

Some people don't know how badly they need a new way of life until disaster overtakes them.  (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 21 November)

People who have no future hope have no motivation for life today.  (Warren W. Wiersbe, Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary, p. 836)

Not everybody who asks for help should receive it.  (Warren W. Wiersbe, Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary, p. 800)

True reconciliation is not cheap; there is a price to pay. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary, p. 810)

******

I learned how to add comments to the thirty-eight videos I selected for my Sampler playlist I created for Mr. Dickie's Channel on YouTube.  There's a link to the Featured video page in the sidebar of this blog page.  You do not need to create a YouTube account to watch the music videos.

Mr. Dickie

15 January 2012

Mr. Dickie's YouTube Channel

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Old Bowie, MD

Don't simply make the best of it, make the most of it.
(after Warren W. Wiersbe, Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary, p. 764)

Chronic suspiciousness is a character flaw, not a compliment.  (Larsen and Hegarty, Believing In Myself, 16 December)

I will not yield to my compulsion to go on talking after I have made my point ... (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 1 December)

******

I continue to work on a project to create a YouTube channel for MrDickie1939.  I've made good progress.  I have it working with a Featured page which includes five Favorite videos.  There's a link to the Channel in the sidebar of this blog.

Mr. Dickie

14 January 2012

World Situation

... life, economics, and the weather resist most of our efforts to control them.  (Casey and Vanceburg, The Promise Of A New Day, 30 November)

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."  (Albert Einstein in Wisdom Of The Ages by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, p. 222)

There are certain things in which a man cannot change his mind but must abide forever by the choice he has made. (William Barclay, The Letter To The Hebrews, p. 184)

I don't know how you view the world situation, but, it seems obvious to me that things are in a desperate state.  (Selwyn Hughes, Every Day Light, Day 354)

Mr. Dickie
13 January 2012

Judgment

Self-absorption is the enemy of serenity.  (In God's Care, 10 December)

Today demonstrate forbearance in your language, your actions, and your reactions.  A calm, well thought out response has a soothing effect on others.  (Helen Steiner Ricer, From The Heart, 5 December)

Judgment comes from experience and great judgment comes from bad experience.  (Senator Bob Packwood in Believing In Myself by Larsen and Hegarty, 11 December)

[A] ... compulsive drive for perfection - an unrealistic idealism - can be a neurotic symptom as difficult to deal with as the alcoholic's compulsion to drink.  (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 23 December)

******

Last night I watched some of the weekly Wednesday night streaming video of the Music City Roots show from the Barn at the Loveless Cafe in Nashville, TN.  There were some technical difficulties this week that seemed to grow worse as the program continued.  The performer that I wanted to see was, John Cowan.  He came on at beginning of the show.  I hadn't heard of any of the other acts.

Mr. Dickie

12 January 2012

That Is The Question

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Doctor's Hospital, Lanham, MD

What prompts me to do or say things that cause trouble?
(One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 3 December) 11 January 2012

Existence of Mankind

Some day science may have the existence of mankind in its power, and the human race, [may] commit suicide by blowing up the world. (Henry Adams, in The Promise Of A New Day by Casey and Vanceburg, 13 December) 10 January 2012

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Book Lovers Link

What Works

When we do what works why are we so surprised that it works? 

(Rev. David Stier in Believing In Myself by Larsen and Hegarty, 9 December)

******

Yesterday I ordered, downloaded and installed version five of the Roots Magic genealogy program on the new Toshiba laptop. Before yesterday there was no genealogy program on the new computer. In the days ahead I will be setting up the folders for the new program and moving the genealogy files from version three of Roots Magic on the old desktop computer. I'm looking forward to being able to once again share the work I did in the past. It's also going to be fun to try out some of the features of the program that I wasn't able to use in the past. If health and interest hold up in 2012 I should be able to accomplish some interesting genealogy projects. I'll keep you posted on my genealogy blogs.

Mr. Dickie

9 January 2012

Slogan Or Solution?

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Cunningham Falls, MD during dry season

Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions.  

(Edward R. Murrow in Believing In Myself by Larsen and Hegarty, 4 December) 

8 January 2012

Grace

A man may, in his lethargy, his thoughtlessness, his unawareness, his procrastination, miss the chances which grace brings to him. (William Barclay, The Letter To The Hebrews, p. 182)  7 January 2012

The Season of Epiphany

Today, January 6th is Epiphany. Perhaps you are like me and need some help to remember what this is all about. I decided to submit a second post today with a link to a website I selected because I think it will help us out.

The Season of Epiphany:

'via Blog this'

The Way Through Life

Photo: Mr. Dickie 

Christmas Tree In The Great Hall Of The Library of Congress

I will not complicate the present by reviewing the past; nor will I dread what may happen.  (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 16 November)

The only possible way to improve the conditions of one's life is to improve one's emotional condition.  (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 29 November)

To search out the reasons for my own [behaviors] is a voyage of discovery. (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 3 December)

Start somewhere to unhook your mind from confusions, but don't do anything about your problems until you can see them more clearly.  (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 21 December)

There is no easy way through life. (The Promise Of A New Day, 19 December)
6 January 2012

Decisions

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, KS

"We make our decisions and then our decisions turn around and make us."  (F.W. Boreham in Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe, p., 709) 5 January 2012

Who Are Those People?

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Strasburg, PA

We should have much peace if we would not busy ourselves with the sayings and doings of others.  (Thomas 'A Kempis, in The Promise Of A New Day, by Casey and Vanceburg, 2 December)

...the world is full of people who would love you to behave in whatever ways are most convenient for them.  (Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Pull Your Own Strings, p. xiv)

"How rarely we weigh our neighbor in the same balance in which we weigh ourselves."  (Thomas 'A Kempis, in Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe, p. 731)

...comparing one person to another negates each person's uniqueness and is often insulting to each person individually, and comparisons will never lead you to self-knowledge.  (Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Wisdom Of The Ages, p. 256)

Speculating on other people's attitudes and motives is a waste of time and effort.  To search out the reasons for my own is a voyage of discovery.  (One Day At A Time In Al-Anon, 3 December)

Let them talk, whoever "they" may be.   (Eric V. Copage, Black Pearls, 27 December)

You don't get to judge what other people have or how other people live.  (Steve Case, Everything Counts, 29 December)

One of the hardest lessons to learn is that for all our good intentions, we can still royally mess up other people's lives.  (Steve Case, Everything Counts, 15 November)

We tend to emulate the people we admire, so be careful about the heroes you select.  (Warren W. Wiersbe, Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary, p. 804)

It is easy to lose what you have gained by making friends with the wrong people. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary, p. 841)

We need to consider our relationships continually, and make sure we are doing our part to nourish them so they thrive.  (Eric V. Copage, Black Pearls, 16 December)
4 January 2012

Power

Photo: Mr. Dickie - "The Road To Paradise" - Strasburg, PA

When you combine political power with economic power and ... [religious power] you have a formula for controlling the whole world. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary, p. 856) 3 January 2012

Acceptance

Photo: Mr. Dickie - Blackwater Falls, WV

For everyone at some time there comes something for which there seems to be no reason and which defies explanation.  It is then that a man is faced with life's hardest battle - to accept when he cannot understand.  (William Barclay, The Letter To The Hebrews, p. 152)

******

I maintained my interest in blogging throughout 2011.  I plan to continue posting to my four Google blogs in 2012 as time and interest dictates.  Here's a short recap of my blogging efforts.

• Mr. Dickie's Blog - 347 posts
• Arrow Prayers - 346 posts
• Henthorn Website Obits - 21 posts
• Henthorn Website News - 62 posts
• Total - 776 posts

Mr. Dickie

2 January 2012

Happy New Year 2012

In the time we have it is our duty to do all the good we can to all the people we can in all the ways we can.  (William Barclay, The Letter To The Hebrews, p. 123) 1 January 2012