Category: Uncategorized
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On the Train to Auschwitz
Electricity is shooting from my fingertips. My heart is racing. My breathing fast, too fast. “I can’t understand your accent. I’d like to talk with a supervisor, NOW!” My fifth ask. I’m on the phone with COMCAST, have been for the last 2 hrs today; 3 hrs on Tuesday, 2 more last Friday…etc. “I sody mem for…
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What Religion Are You?
When I say I’m an atheist, the very next question most people ask is: “Well, what were you raised? What were your parents?” Human beings. Somehow that answer isn’t good enough. They’re looking to place me in a spiritual box and lock me into a religion and all the stereotypes that go along with it.…
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[Spider’s] Web 1.0
I’ll never forget the first time I saw the World Wide Web. It was 1995. I was in my rented townhome in Alameda, a small island on the east bank of the San Francisco Bay. I already had a dial-up modem plugged into my Mac LC that I used to send graphic files and documents to…
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The Good Life
To escape the bickering, and whining, and catering to the needs and desires of everyone’s demands, I took our dog, Annie, for a walk on a quiet fire trail near our house. Bright and beautiful out, a sweet sea breeze came over the Oakland Hills with the afternoon sun. The mile and a half dirt…
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The Character of Places
I was 19 the first time I remember it happening. I was driving north from L.A. to Seattle, and it hit me like running into a brick wall when I saw the Welcome to Oregon sign— something was wrong with the place. Not wrong, exactly. But not what I thought it would be since I’d never…
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The Future Out of Time
I was 9 years old the first time I saw the future before it happened. Dad and I were up on the flying bridge of our 30-foot cabin cruiser doing the crossing from Long Beach to Catalina Island. I sat on the padded bench on top of the boat that warm fall evening, marveling at…
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Atheism and Morality
An Atheist on Morality… Einstein did not believe in God, as many [mistakenly] claim. Albert Einstein said, “My position concerning God is that of an agnostic.” He clarified, “The word God is, for me, nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends. No…
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New Book Review
New Book Review for A MARRIAGE FABLE: Journey Toward EnlightenmentIf you’re a fan of magical realism like I am, you will enjoy reading this mystical story. A quick read with plenty of drama kept me engaged. It’s a story filled with equal parts regret and redemption. It always feels good when a narcissist jerk gets…
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The Truth about Immigrants
Had some yard work done that required cutting concrete. My gardener gave me a quote of $150 to do the job. I accepted his bid as fair and equitable and we agreed he’d do the work last Sunday. He arrived promptly 8:30 Sunday morning and began cutting our concrete patio. He used a small electric…