TED Talks vary in quality; this is one of the best.  Exciting innovations that leave you happy that such creative people exist and have the opportunity to bring their ideas into existence.

Gun Control Obama’s Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has seen gunshot victims in the ER. He ignores four other groups of people: 1.  Those in the ER because of injuries they sustained because they did not have guns to protect themselves 2.  Those in the morgue for the same reason 3.  Those walking around unharmed because they did have guns to protect themselves––this includes the hypocritical wealthier proponents of gun control––who have armed bodyguards, but don’t care about the… read more →

A look at the world’s most revolutionary companies, such as Apple, Intel, and Genentech, and how they emerged through American venture capitalism.  Inspiring, and gives the pleasure of admiration.

Three problems with reparations: 1. It is too late. Every slave is dead. Every slave-owner is dead. 2. Those paying would be the innocent, especially: Those who came to the U.S. after the Civil War, and their descendants Those whose ancestors gave life and limb to end slavery 3. Many recipients are descended from slave-owners as much as from slaves. Should they take money out of one pocket, and put it another pocket?

An extraordinarily fine film I highly recommend.  Richard Harris and James Earl Jones give moving performances that make me wish I were capable of creating such fine drama.

Marriage: Marriage is like a deck of cards. In the beginning, all you need are two hearts and a diamond. By the end, you wish you had a club and a spade.

WRITING   If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.                      ~Benjamin Franklin

Rex Harrison in a tour de force of acting.  Gorgeous music integrated into the story.  Linda Darnell was never lovelier.  Beautiful costumes, interesting sets.

TEN COMMON DEATHBED REGRETS 1.  I wasn’t true to myself. 2.  I lost my true love. 3.  I didn’t stay in touch with my good friends. 4.  I worried too much about other people’s opinions. 5.  I didn’t have the courage to express my feelings. 6.  I let my marriage break down. 7.  I didn’t let myself be happy. 8.  I didn’t forgive and forget. 9.  I didn’t trust my intuition. 10.  I wish I… read more →

THE LIFE OF PI, by Yann Martel. Pi Patel, the protagonist of this improbable memoir, is so engaging and sympathetic that the reader is charmed into suspending disbelief just to share his fascinating adventures. In this respect, the book reminds me of John Irving’s The World According to Garp and Winston Groom’s Forrest Gump. The tiger on the cover reminds me of Pat Conroy’s Prince of Tides, another unlikely but darker story. An interesting side… read more →