I haven’t read “The Art of the Deal,” but I suspect that part of it has to do with the give and take that is necessary in order to achieve a deal. My understanding of the word “deal” implies that I get some things I want, and you get some things you want. I don’t… Continue reading The Art of the Compromise
Category: Politics
Reacting to Terrorism in Nice
Every other year Cardiostim, a major international convention for cardiac electrophysiologists, is held in Nice, France. Starting in 2000, and up until I retired, I made it a point to attend this meeting. The sessions were fun, but more fun was the chance to get away from it all and enjoy the sunny ambiance of the… Continue reading Reacting to Terrorism in Nice
Memories of Van Cliburn
In the long struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, from the end of World War II until the end of the Soviet era in 1991, there were intense moments of high drama, like the Berlin Blockade and the Cuban Missile Crisis, intermixed with moments when the icy hostility melted a bit. With… Continue reading Memories of Van Cliburn
The Root of All Evil
Imprecise language may not be the root of all evil, but it runs a close second. The ability to communicate may be the most basic characteristic that makes us human. If we lose that capability, all sorts of unintended consequences ensue, à la the Tower of Babel. Which brings us to the recent US Supreme… Continue reading The Root of All Evil
Amendments Don’t Kill People…
It’s a good of example of the problems that unclear writing can cause. Can we blame the deaths of kindergarten kids on poor sentence structure? This short bit of 18th century English prose, the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, at least has the virtue of terseness if not clarity: A well regulated Militia,… Continue reading Amendments Don’t Kill People…
University of Louisville Hospital Merger with Catholic Health Initiatives Rejected
After much anticipation, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear rejected the proposed merger between the University of Louisville Hospital, Jewish Hospital, Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital with the Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives. Even though this will probably hurt all institutions involved financially, I feel this was the right thing to do. Although some other factors were cited… Continue reading University of Louisville Hospital Merger with Catholic Health Initiatives Rejected
Shame On Us
It is difficult to imagine a human being who would not be deeply saddened by the story of Tyler Clementi. The young college student, a promising musician, was gay and was “outed” in the most malicious and humiliating manner. As a result he ended his life, jumping from the George Washington Bridge. I wonder what… Continue reading Shame On Us
The Great Depression 2.0
I think the current economic crisis was predictable and inevitable, it was only the exact timing that was tricky to determine ahead of time — similar to the situation in California where seismologists say that a big earthquake is coming, but no one knows when it will happen. Over the years there have been some… Continue reading The Great Depression 2.0
Subliminal Message in McCain Response to Obama Infomercial
Didn’t anyone notice in McCain’s response ad to Obama’s infomercial last night that it contained what appears to be a nearly subliminal photo of Obama wearing a white Muslim-style hat? During the ad there are a number of still photos shown, separated by a loud old-fashioned flash camera sound. One of those photos, shown for… Continue reading Subliminal Message in McCain Response to Obama Infomercial
The Primary Season Was Too Long
I think one possible explanation for the “Palin Phenomenon” is that the whole primary process took much too long. This has been the longest election ever. You may recall it began just after the last midterm election, i.e. 2 years ago! I believe that such a long process sucked all the life out of the… Continue reading The Primary Season Was Too Long