Congress

If we assume that Congress is populated by 500 plus individuals, each educated and independent thinking, it would be impossible to imagine vote after vote essentially along party lines. Party hacks lack the courage to think for themselves. They depend on party money and the party depends on them. Campaign donors regularly trump the wishes and needs of their constituents. Voters are stuck with one or the other party, with campaign money that effectively wipes out the chances of any independent candidate and the with persistent advantage of incumbency.

A one or the other, black or white option, in a complicatedly gray world just doesn’t seem to be working. Congress has an embarrassing approval rating. Congressmen regularly sit on committees and grill others about their transgressions while they themselves can’t be honest, can’t meet deadlines and can’t do their jobs very well.

This doesn’t bode well for American government. But what to do? I wish I knew. Do you?

Baptism

The Catholic Church teaches that everyone is born into the world with the sin of Adam, who is a symbolic character in a metaphorical narrative. Baptism is the sacrament that washes away these sins.

I prefer to believe that each child born into the world is born with the dignity of being human. Tis dignity can’t be taken away, but only given away. It’s those who attempt to take away another’s dignity are those who have then given up theirs.

It is then that baptism comes into play. Baptism is the means by which those who taken the dignity of others acknowledge this and ask to be cleansed.

PNI

The pornography industry has decided to enter the mainstream with a new network, PNI, Pornography Network International. Here are some of the shows which will appear in fall, 2018.

Naked and Not Afraid

The Big Bang Me Theory

Nude Housewives of Atlanta

World Nudes Tonight

Nudist Colony Update

T.W.A.T. Team

Late Nite with Stephen Colbare

Judge Judy Goes Nudie

The Sex Lives of Greek Warriors

Be sure to check your local listings.

The sex mess

As more and more of the powerful and notable are outed for their sexual misdeeds, it becomes more and more clear that sexual misbehavior happens across all of society. While this is a men’s problem at root, solving the problem can only come with honest discussion of the larger context and maze of related issues, some of which are:

Biology: The evolutionary message.

Manhood: We have no rituals to identify reaching manhood and many confusing and contradictory ideas of what it is.

Sex and love: In life and entertainment these are confused and confusing elements.

Marketing: Sex is used to sell just about everything, so why not itself?

Pornography: With Internet access, that speaks for itself.

The seductress: Traditionally one role for powerless women, but now
inadvertently (?) more common in the makeup, dress and persona of women.

Powerful women: This is a new issue for many men who have seen sexuality largely in terms of conquest.

Entertainment media: Sex sells and attracts audiences. So from daytime talks shows to sit coms to dramas we get titillating and generally unrealistic sexuality based on physical attraction, often in the workplace. Movies don’t fare much better.

There are issues I likely passed over. It’s all a mess and we are just now seeing the tip of the iceberg.

Keepin' it PC

Keepin’ it PC

Men, here are some words to help you navigate the sexual harassment waters in the office. Use them in conversation, as calling cards and in sensitivity training.

May I give you a non-sexual harassment hug?

Please give me a list of any body parts I can touch.

May I look over your shoulder? Do you prefer one shoulder over the other?

May I shake your hand with a degree of firmness?

May I genuinely compliment your hair and/or attire?

Is it sexual harassment if you pay for dinner?

Will you give me notice if you plan to seduce me?

Don’t worry. I make it a habit to never unzip at work.

Some random thoughts

Some random thoughts:

There is no creativity without play.

Politics has little room for conscience.

Preening artists are merely a distraction.

The Buddhists see fear and duty as obstacles to the blossoming of the human being. They’re right.

Baptism doesn’t wash away sins. That’s a lifelong task.

Christmas online

Just in time for Christmas online.

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