At what point does it become American History
fiction
edward w pritchard
At what point do all the injustices and atrocities of the past become American History?
Start with Columbus throughout the Caribbean. Him and sailors did a lot of bad stuff to the Arawak Indians and related tribes. It's close to be labeled as genocide. Does blame for that accrue to us because we happen to live in modern America?
Jump forward to slavery for several hundred years and then reconstruction. How can people act that way?
What are we doing or tolerating now that could be judged an injustice or atrocity.
Probably better to think about other things.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
a second start in a brief life
a second start in a brief life
fiction
edward w pritchard
"If I had the wings of an angel over these prison walls I would fly" [1] so originally said the Anasazi Indians one day in the thirteenth century as they left their home at Mesa Verde and the four corners region and disappeared, without fanfare or as far as we know without regret. They left some small valuable black pots, a few dried out mummies and one hand made pair of wooden crutches in the
small clusters of pit houses they once lived in . But they didn't fly they walked and disappeared into the future to become "the ancient ones" to the Navajo Indians who told stories about them sometimes calling them the"enemy ancestors".
No one knows why they left. Scientists speculate-no water, secret enemies, mass ennui.
Start walking and don't look back.
[1]copyrighted Vernon Dalhert 1924 {also sung by the Bowery Boys} in one of their movies.
fiction
edward w pritchard
"If I had the wings of an angel over these prison walls I would fly" [1] so originally said the Anasazi Indians one day in the thirteenth century as they left their home at Mesa Verde and the four corners region and disappeared, without fanfare or as far as we know without regret. They left some small valuable black pots, a few dried out mummies and one hand made pair of wooden crutches in the
small clusters of pit houses they once lived in . But they didn't fly they walked and disappeared into the future to become "the ancient ones" to the Navajo Indians who told stories about them sometimes calling them the"enemy ancestors".
No one knows why they left. Scientists speculate-no water, secret enemies, mass ennui.
Start walking and don't look back.
[1]copyrighted Vernon Dalhert 1924 {also sung by the Bowery Boys} in one of their movies.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
a start in life
a start in life
fiction
edward w pritchard
Out of college, freshly graduated after six years with a history degree I spent the next nine years
selling life insurance. It was quite the ordeal because I didn't have the proper love of money that was the first requirement for success in the job. Net net I am not sure if I broke even in that endeavor.
How I wished I could be like old Ben Feldman of New York life. Working in the small town of East Liverpool, Ohio old Ben, the most successful life insurance salesman ever once sold 20 million dollars worth of life insurance in one day. Never a week went by when I was an insurance agent that I would not have lunch with a fellow agent who wasn't a close and personal friend with old Ben Feldman.
Doing a bit of historical research on New York life the top rated leading mutual insurance company today and a good philanthropic corporate citizen I came to find out that they got their start in business back in 1845 placing life insurance on slaves down Charleston SC way. For three years 1845 premiums on slaves financed the start of of a mega powerhouse of an American financial company.
It's undisputed that today New York life is a good corporate citizen and a fine place to work.Still like most success stories in business the Devil had a hand in their getting started in life.
And old Ben Feldman-what would he say on the matter? "No time to talk or judge I got ten prospects to see before lunch."
fiction
edward w pritchard
Out of college, freshly graduated after six years with a history degree I spent the next nine years
selling life insurance. It was quite the ordeal because I didn't have the proper love of money that was the first requirement for success in the job. Net net I am not sure if I broke even in that endeavor.
How I wished I could be like old Ben Feldman of New York life. Working in the small town of East Liverpool, Ohio old Ben, the most successful life insurance salesman ever once sold 20 million dollars worth of life insurance in one day. Never a week went by when I was an insurance agent that I would not have lunch with a fellow agent who wasn't a close and personal friend with old Ben Feldman.
Doing a bit of historical research on New York life the top rated leading mutual insurance company today and a good philanthropic corporate citizen I came to find out that they got their start in business back in 1845 placing life insurance on slaves down Charleston SC way. For three years 1845 premiums on slaves financed the start of of a mega powerhouse of an American financial company.
It's undisputed that today New York life is a good corporate citizen and a fine place to work.Still like most success stories in business the Devil had a hand in their getting started in life.
And old Ben Feldman-what would he say on the matter? "No time to talk or judge I got ten prospects to see before lunch."
Friday, March 29, 2019
five minutes from freedom
five minutes from freedom
fiction
edward w pritchard
Usually a hazy swirl surrounds our recollections of the past. But to this day I can vividly remember the slave auction house there on tenth street in Wheeling Wv one rainy Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the afternoon back in 1859. My Mother's great-grand Mother rode in a wagon by the large auction house building as a little girl and her Mother ordered her to close her eyes so she couldn't see
the chained slaves waiting to be taken to be sold.
Of course my Mother's relatives were too poor to own slaves but by circumstances they found themselves in a slave owning country.
To this day I recall my Mother's great grandmother thinking as she peeked at the chained slaves back in 1859 that they were only five minutes from freedom. Up over the roof of the slave auction building on tenth street in Wheeling Wv and ten miles North across the River to Martin's Ferry Ohio and a colored person could be free.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Usually a hazy swirl surrounds our recollections of the past. But to this day I can vividly remember the slave auction house there on tenth street in Wheeling Wv one rainy Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the afternoon back in 1859. My Mother's great-grand Mother rode in a wagon by the large auction house building as a little girl and her Mother ordered her to close her eyes so she couldn't see
the chained slaves waiting to be taken to be sold.
Of course my Mother's relatives were too poor to own slaves but by circumstances they found themselves in a slave owning country.
To this day I recall my Mother's great grandmother thinking as she peeked at the chained slaves back in 1859 that they were only five minutes from freedom. Up over the roof of the slave auction building on tenth street in Wheeling Wv and ten miles North across the River to Martin's Ferry Ohio and a colored person could be free.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
fro and yon up and down the Appalachian trail
fro and yon up can down the Appalachian trail
fiction
edward w pritchard
Back then the Cherokee Indians used the mountain trails originally made by animals to travel fro and yon up and down what we call in part the Appalachian trail. Sometimes it was for hunting, gathering or legitimate tribe business but sometimes the chief or Father in law had to sit a brave down
and talk to him about the romance of movement.
As I wrote elsewhere sometimes I walked and trudged the Appalachian trail each Spring and sometimes I just cruised along the adjoining roads in a big old white 8 cylinder Lexus with heated seats that only ran on super premium gas.
This year how I wish the Amtrac had a few sleeper train journeys from here to where North Carolina
meets Cherokee territory down in the Mountains.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Back then the Cherokee Indians used the mountain trails originally made by animals to travel fro and yon up and down what we call in part the Appalachian trail. Sometimes it was for hunting, gathering or legitimate tribe business but sometimes the chief or Father in law had to sit a brave down
and talk to him about the romance of movement.
As I wrote elsewhere sometimes I walked and trudged the Appalachian trail each Spring and sometimes I just cruised along the adjoining roads in a big old white 8 cylinder Lexus with heated seats that only ran on super premium gas.
This year how I wish the Amtrac had a few sleeper train journeys from here to where North Carolina
meets Cherokee territory down in the Mountains.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
ambient rain and thunder in space
ambient rain and thunder in space
fiction
edward w pritchard
and the background sir
please computer
ambient rain and thunder in space
bright Moon 67% at the gibbous
east facing window
curtains half opened window cracked
twin bed
four blankets
hotel room in summer
room is vactioners down and out for access with space for car to park in front of door
and your companion sir
Julie tonight
me 18
her 33
setting sir
I have just won $345 in a poker game
computer
yes sir
How old would she be if she were alive not here in the spaceship but back on earth?
I compute the barmaid would be 124 and 7 months old
anything else
add some music
you pick the type
fiction
edward w pritchard
and the background sir
please computer
ambient rain and thunder in space
bright Moon 67% at the gibbous
east facing window
curtains half opened window cracked
twin bed
four blankets
hotel room in summer
room is vactioners down and out for access with space for car to park in front of door
and your companion sir
Julie tonight
me 18
her 33
setting sir
I have just won $345 in a poker game
computer
yes sir
How old would she be if she were alive not here in the spaceship but back on earth?
I compute the barmaid would be 124 and 7 months old
anything else
add some music
you pick the type
Monday, March 25, 2019
2 am and time to think about the Moon again
2 am and time to think about the Moon again
fiction
edward w pritchard
It's 2 am and time to think about the Moon again. It definitely looks half full to me. We must be getting more optimistic as in the half full or half empty litmus test.
Tonight would be a good night to travel by moonlight if we were Comanches stalking our predators
or running from soldiers.
Technically using the Internet the moon is at the half Gibbous phase at 67% as viewed exactly from where I stand. It's simply a matter of perspective.
I am not going anywhere tonight but can I get there by Moonlight?
fiction
edward w pritchard
It's 2 am and time to think about the Moon again. It definitely looks half full to me. We must be getting more optimistic as in the half full or half empty litmus test.
Tonight would be a good night to travel by moonlight if we were Comanches stalking our predators
or running from soldiers.
Technically using the Internet the moon is at the half Gibbous phase at 67% as viewed exactly from where I stand. It's simply a matter of perspective.
I am not going anywhere tonight but can I get there by Moonlight?
Sunday, March 24, 2019
psychologist or philosopher
psychologist or philosopher
fiction
edward w pritchard
It seems Americans are spending more and more time trying to understand our politician's motivations and thought processes. Often commentators and gurus seek to assist us in this endeavor by spoon feeding us their opinions on the matter. But are they anymore qualified than we are?
Would that an expert were available to explain and help us formulate answers to what motivates our elected politicians.
If only Sigmund Freud or Carl Jung were available. But, no both were Europeans and Europeans don't understand American politicians.
How about William James? American pragmatist, philosopher, psychologist and a great contemporary thinker. Unfortunately he's currently dead.
Still if Henry James were about and would help us understand the 2020 upcoming crop of candidates for Presidential election from a psychological perspective perhaps he would ask?"can philosophy and psychology stamp a warrant of veracity upon the politician's sense of his own divinity?"[1]
[1] author is misquoting William James who he is studying concerning mysticism,experience and truth
fiction
edward w pritchard
It seems Americans are spending more and more time trying to understand our politician's motivations and thought processes. Often commentators and gurus seek to assist us in this endeavor by spoon feeding us their opinions on the matter. But are they anymore qualified than we are?
Would that an expert were available to explain and help us formulate answers to what motivates our elected politicians.
If only Sigmund Freud or Carl Jung were available. But, no both were Europeans and Europeans don't understand American politicians.
How about William James? American pragmatist, philosopher, psychologist and a great contemporary thinker. Unfortunately he's currently dead.
Still if Henry James were about and would help us understand the 2020 upcoming crop of candidates for Presidential election from a psychological perspective perhaps he would ask?"can philosophy and psychology stamp a warrant of veracity upon the politician's sense of his own divinity?"[1]
[1] author is misquoting William James who he is studying concerning mysticism,experience and truth
will Nokia or Huawei win the 5G race
will Nokia or Huawei win the 5G race
fiction
edward w pritchard
Originally Decca records picked the Tremeloes over the Beatles rock band to promote mostly because of location, location, location. The Tremeloes lived closer to London. Somehow in spite the Beatles managed to become the more successful band.
Currently Nokia the Finnish telecom company is engrossed against Huawei a Chinese un-traded telecom for world leadership in the end to end delivery of telecom equipment. Friday Nokia a traded company symbol NOK pre-announced a compliance issue to regulators as an abundance of caution.
Huawei is secretive and silent in their business dealings but they do sell a lot of phones.
Currently President Trump pushes back against Huawei business practises while European regulators and politicians play footsie.
Will Nokia or Huawei win the 5G race. It should be decided in a few years.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Originally Decca records picked the Tremeloes over the Beatles rock band to promote mostly because of location, location, location. The Tremeloes lived closer to London. Somehow in spite the Beatles managed to become the more successful band.
Currently Nokia the Finnish telecom company is engrossed against Huawei a Chinese un-traded telecom for world leadership in the end to end delivery of telecom equipment. Friday Nokia a traded company symbol NOK pre-announced a compliance issue to regulators as an abundance of caution.
Huawei is secretive and silent in their business dealings but they do sell a lot of phones.
Currently President Trump pushes back against Huawei business practises while European regulators and politicians play footsie.
Will Nokia or Huawei win the 5G race. It should be decided in a few years.
2001 was a long time ago
2001 was along time ago
fiction
edward w pritchard
Jeff Skilling ex CEO of Enron energy company is out of jail and looking for investors to help him get back in the energy business. He wants to help us ordinary folks lower our electric, gas and water bills I suppose.
I'll skip the history lesson on Enron and the Bush family in 2001. Please read "Pigs at the trough"
by Arianna Huffington for the story of Jeff Skilling and Ken Lay at Enron.
However here's a brief quote in summary on Enron from Huffington's book page 21" Enron conservatives... are people.. who consistently, shamelessly and aggressively put their self interest
above the public interest."
Jeff Skilling is looking for new investors. Maybe he should look to followers of Ayn Rand the author
for a second act of his spiel.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Jeff Skilling ex CEO of Enron energy company is out of jail and looking for investors to help him get back in the energy business. He wants to help us ordinary folks lower our electric, gas and water bills I suppose.
I'll skip the history lesson on Enron and the Bush family in 2001. Please read "Pigs at the trough"
by Arianna Huffington for the story of Jeff Skilling and Ken Lay at Enron.
However here's a brief quote in summary on Enron from Huffington's book page 21" Enron conservatives... are people.. who consistently, shamelessly and aggressively put their self interest
above the public interest."
Jeff Skilling is looking for new investors. Maybe he should look to followers of Ayn Rand the author
for a second act of his spiel.
follow the buffalo
follow the buffalo
fiction
edward w pritchard
Wise were the native Americans when it came to where to live. Mostly some tribes just followed the
Buffalo about. No obligations had they like current Americans to fund the underfunded pension liabilities of the States they lived in or neighboring States.
California public employees retirement system [CALPERS] reiterated this week that they need to earn 7% year after year to fund current pension obligations which are currently $150 billion underfunded according to conservative estimates.
It's been a long time since a bank CD paid a one year rate over 7%. I worked in a bank then, back in 1990. Of course riskier investments sometimes pay higher returns.
Ohio currently has huge unfunded pension liabilities for public employees. A few other States may have under funded pension liabilities as well.
When will a border wall be imposed on the citizens from Ohio and California to keep citizens from fleeing to avoid additional obligation to help pay retired public workers pensions?
It doesn't matter to me. I will be gone then. I shall rise and pass following the buffalo.
Well maybe I do worry a bit for the grand children.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Wise were the native Americans when it came to where to live. Mostly some tribes just followed the
Buffalo about. No obligations had they like current Americans to fund the underfunded pension liabilities of the States they lived in or neighboring States.
California public employees retirement system [CALPERS] reiterated this week that they need to earn 7% year after year to fund current pension obligations which are currently $150 billion underfunded according to conservative estimates.
It's been a long time since a bank CD paid a one year rate over 7%. I worked in a bank then, back in 1990. Of course riskier investments sometimes pay higher returns.
Ohio currently has huge unfunded pension liabilities for public employees. A few other States may have under funded pension liabilities as well.
When will a border wall be imposed on the citizens from Ohio and California to keep citizens from fleeing to avoid additional obligation to help pay retired public workers pensions?
It doesn't matter to me. I will be gone then. I shall rise and pass following the buffalo.
Well maybe I do worry a bit for the grand children.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
a crush is a pig in a poke
a crush is a pig in a poke
fiction
edward w pritchard
Boredom and restlessness manifest a crush to admire but a crush is a pig in a poke. However were I to forget experience and life lessons and develop a crush it would be with Katherine Anne Porter the author.
I would call her Port for her sobriquet. She attracted and interested me when she wrote the short story "Rope" her wry comment on early marriage and relationships.
Crushes never workout. But I would invite Port to the sports bar to play Keno, eat cheap food and
I would have a beer and hopefully she would sip Napoleon brandy or seltzer water from a real glass.
We could talk about Sacco and Vanzetti but I would have to get up to speed concerning their trial by studying in advance.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Boredom and restlessness manifest a crush to admire but a crush is a pig in a poke. However were I to forget experience and life lessons and develop a crush it would be with Katherine Anne Porter the author.
I would call her Port for her sobriquet. She attracted and interested me when she wrote the short story "Rope" her wry comment on early marriage and relationships.
Crushes never workout. But I would invite Port to the sports bar to play Keno, eat cheap food and
I would have a beer and hopefully she would sip Napoleon brandy or seltzer water from a real glass.
We could talk about Sacco and Vanzetti but I would have to get up to speed concerning their trial by studying in advance.
things we don't know about Greenland
things we don't know about Greenland
fiction
edward w pritchard
Fact. Greenland is not routinely covered by the American news media. The average American knows little about Greenland and the politicians of Greenland seldom comment on the folly of Americans.
There are few roads in Greenland and there are no direct flights from Greenland to locations West of the Mississippi river.
I have never received a personal letter from Greenland nor a solicitation from an insurance company
endorsed celebrity from Greenland. It's unlikely that I will need to call anyone in Greenland this year.
My neighbors report they have never heard the American President praise or chastise Greenland, it's
people, celebrities or economy.
Greenland is a large Island place and does not have a major league baseball team just yet.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Fact. Greenland is not routinely covered by the American news media. The average American knows little about Greenland and the politicians of Greenland seldom comment on the folly of Americans.
There are few roads in Greenland and there are no direct flights from Greenland to locations West of the Mississippi river.
I have never received a personal letter from Greenland nor a solicitation from an insurance company
endorsed celebrity from Greenland. It's unlikely that I will need to call anyone in Greenland this year.
My neighbors report they have never heard the American President praise or chastise Greenland, it's
people, celebrities or economy.
Greenland is a large Island place and does not have a major league baseball team just yet.
Friday, March 22, 2019
the last conversation
the last conversation
fiction
edward w pritchard
In my philosophy humans are the only animals that remembers and reminisces about our ancestors and acquaintances after they are dead. I have no knowledge about whales or elephants in this matter.
It always steamed me to read of some European King or Roman Emperor who would have someone dug up from their grave to be tortured again after death because the Great Roman Emperor had forgotten to get in one last jibe when his former political foe was alive. Please Mr. Trump do not speak ill of Senator McCain the former prisoner of war. It's unbecoming.
My Father's older brother was a former prisoner of war. Tortured by the Nazi's during which he lost a lung. My last conversation with my Uncle was about how he and my Father as boys would fight and my Uncle the older brother would win and then both would get a whipping for fighting again from their Father.When I told my uncle that at his brother's funeral about him and my Father, he started crying. I always admired my Uncle the ex soldier and imagined I could endure pain and sorrow like him if necessary.
Please President Trump don't speak ill of former soldier Senator McCain.
fiction
edward w pritchard
In my philosophy humans are the only animals that remembers and reminisces about our ancestors and acquaintances after they are dead. I have no knowledge about whales or elephants in this matter.
It always steamed me to read of some European King or Roman Emperor who would have someone dug up from their grave to be tortured again after death because the Great Roman Emperor had forgotten to get in one last jibe when his former political foe was alive. Please Mr. Trump do not speak ill of Senator McCain the former prisoner of war. It's unbecoming.
My Father's older brother was a former prisoner of war. Tortured by the Nazi's during which he lost a lung. My last conversation with my Uncle was about how he and my Father as boys would fight and my Uncle the older brother would win and then both would get a whipping for fighting again from their Father.When I told my uncle that at his brother's funeral about him and my Father, he started crying. I always admired my Uncle the ex soldier and imagined I could endure pain and sorrow like him if necessary.
Please President Trump don't speak ill of former soldier Senator McCain.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
it's all ancient history to the young
it's all ancient history to the young
fiction
edward w pritchard
Nothing is harder than teaching History to students in the public schools. For four years as a substitute teacher I taught 100 days per year and whenever possible I would try to get a History assignment with older students.
Imagine explaining to an eight year old about the Holocaust, our ancestors causing the subjugation
and deaths of tens of millions Native Americans and selective breeding and slavery as a profit center from 1808 to 1865.
To breach the subject of Ancient History if the classroom teacher left no handout or movie I would discuss for a minute or two the ancient salt mines under Cleveland and Akron where the students and I were at. An inland sea 400 million years old was the source of the diamond crystal salt in your Mother's kitchen.
More recently say 50,000 years ago gigantic herds of Buffalo ran one after the other across three large trails through Ohio in search of salt and various food sources. Herds often numbered in the tens of millions and eventually there were no wild buffalo in Ohio and about a hundred and twenty years ago Buffalo were nearly extinct in America from the attempted genocide of the original native Americans.
As recently as 1000 years ago Native Americans may have hunted buffalo on a small scale in Ohio.
Now most native American tribes originally from Ohio are gone and forgotten. The rest is very complicated-read "Bury my heart at wounded knee" if interested.
Slavery should have been outlawed in America in 1787. Northern soldiers sang John Brown's body lies moulding in his grave because they didn't want to personally die. Slavery was a business with no heart or soul. Jim Crow and discrimination continued into the 21st century although most people
feel life isn't easy for them personally. Would you rather be you or one of the handicapped students in the special classes in a wheelchair down the hall.
The bells about to ring. Be sure put your name on your handout and leave it on your teacher's desk so she can see you did your work today. Nice meeting you all. Wait for the bell please. Tonight's a
full Moon check out the night sky. Stay in your seats until the bell rings. Did I tell you about the time I got robbed at gunpoint at the hotel I worked at?
fiction
edward w pritchard
Nothing is harder than teaching History to students in the public schools. For four years as a substitute teacher I taught 100 days per year and whenever possible I would try to get a History assignment with older students.
Imagine explaining to an eight year old about the Holocaust, our ancestors causing the subjugation
and deaths of tens of millions Native Americans and selective breeding and slavery as a profit center from 1808 to 1865.
To breach the subject of Ancient History if the classroom teacher left no handout or movie I would discuss for a minute or two the ancient salt mines under Cleveland and Akron where the students and I were at. An inland sea 400 million years old was the source of the diamond crystal salt in your Mother's kitchen.
More recently say 50,000 years ago gigantic herds of Buffalo ran one after the other across three large trails through Ohio in search of salt and various food sources. Herds often numbered in the tens of millions and eventually there were no wild buffalo in Ohio and about a hundred and twenty years ago Buffalo were nearly extinct in America from the attempted genocide of the original native Americans.
As recently as 1000 years ago Native Americans may have hunted buffalo on a small scale in Ohio.
Now most native American tribes originally from Ohio are gone and forgotten. The rest is very complicated-read "Bury my heart at wounded knee" if interested.
Slavery should have been outlawed in America in 1787. Northern soldiers sang John Brown's body lies moulding in his grave because they didn't want to personally die. Slavery was a business with no heart or soul. Jim Crow and discrimination continued into the 21st century although most people
feel life isn't easy for them personally. Would you rather be you or one of the handicapped students in the special classes in a wheelchair down the hall.
The bells about to ring. Be sure put your name on your handout and leave it on your teacher's desk so she can see you did your work today. Nice meeting you all. Wait for the bell please. Tonight's a
full Moon check out the night sky. Stay in your seats until the bell rings. Did I tell you about the time I got robbed at gunpoint at the hotel I worked at?
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
downside of civility
downside of civility
fiction
edward w pritchard
Once my daughter spent the seven dollar non subscription price and bought me a single issue of the business magazine " the Economist" for Christmas which I read cover to cover. It was the only time since Civics class in high school I recall anyone mentioning the Electoral College. Only time that is until this morning on Yahoo Finance and News where I see Elizabeth Warren the politician is discussing dismantling the Electoral College. Shouldn't we wait until the sweet sixteen college basketball March madness schedule is posted before we interfere in College life in America?
I am afraid Elizabeth Warren might be too intelligent to be elected President in America. Perhaps some of the the old boys of her party should take her aside and tell her the hard truth about politics in America. That is- Millard Fillmore is more likely to be elected President than some intelligent classy broad in America.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Once my daughter spent the seven dollar non subscription price and bought me a single issue of the business magazine " the Economist" for Christmas which I read cover to cover. It was the only time since Civics class in high school I recall anyone mentioning the Electoral College. Only time that is until this morning on Yahoo Finance and News where I see Elizabeth Warren the politician is discussing dismantling the Electoral College. Shouldn't we wait until the sweet sixteen college basketball March madness schedule is posted before we interfere in College life in America?
I am afraid Elizabeth Warren might be too intelligent to be elected President in America. Perhaps some of the the old boys of her party should take her aside and tell her the hard truth about politics in America. That is- Millard Fillmore is more likely to be elected President than some intelligent classy broad in America.
Monday, March 18, 2019
rites of spring
rites of spring
fiction
edward w pritchard
Blues slipped in the crack in broken window at 5am this morning and Jelly Roll Morton for breakfast brought "New Orleans blues" and "Courthouse bump".
It's time for the light rains of a New Orleans Spring to saturate the neighborhood and drum on the tin roof four doors down.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Blues slipped in the crack in broken window at 5am this morning and Jelly Roll Morton for breakfast brought "New Orleans blues" and "Courthouse bump".
It's time for the light rains of a New Orleans Spring to saturate the neighborhood and drum on the tin roof four doors down.
Sunday, March 17, 2019
incivility
incivility
fiction
edward w pritchard
Author spent time yesterday afternoon trying to find a local bar carrying Cleveland major league club's pre-season baseball game on television since local cable or network don't carry baseball on TV anymore for free. No luck no baseball on free TV in local community.
First bar had no baseball on TV all 200 patrons watching and engrossed in college basketball.They were happy and spending big money.
Second bar no baseball, no patrons, no silverware [barmaid went to the dollar store to buy plastic forks].There was one guy lecturing at the bar on every subject to barmaid. Barmaid grousing about no tips.
So author went to dollar store to buy beer and take home. Mother at store being verbally mean and short with five year old girl. Author should have said something. Author felling remorseful for silence at 4:40 AM Sunday morning coming down.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Author spent time yesterday afternoon trying to find a local bar carrying Cleveland major league club's pre-season baseball game on television since local cable or network don't carry baseball on TV anymore for free. No luck no baseball on free TV in local community.
First bar had no baseball on TV all 200 patrons watching and engrossed in college basketball.They were happy and spending big money.
Second bar no baseball, no patrons, no silverware [barmaid went to the dollar store to buy plastic forks].There was one guy lecturing at the bar on every subject to barmaid. Barmaid grousing about no tips.
So author went to dollar store to buy beer and take home. Mother at store being verbally mean and short with five year old girl. Author should have said something. Author felling remorseful for silence at 4:40 AM Sunday morning coming down.
atrocities
atrocities
fiction
edward w pritchard
Another atrocity has occurred in the world in far off New Zealand. When people are murdered while at their worship the World should be harsh and quick concerning the perpetrator. Certain mandatory
procedures against outrageous acts should be agreed on in advance and quickly completed in silent justice to victims.
Norman Rockwell gave us his series of pictures of the four freedoms.
Freedom of speech
Freedom from want
Freedom of religion
Freedom from fear.
All civilizations struggle with balancing justice and mercy. Silence the perpetrators of atrocities against freedom from fear and freedom of religion quickly without time spent in the spotlight as news
publicizing their outrageous ideas.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Another atrocity has occurred in the world in far off New Zealand. When people are murdered while at their worship the World should be harsh and quick concerning the perpetrator. Certain mandatory
procedures against outrageous acts should be agreed on in advance and quickly completed in silent justice to victims.
Norman Rockwell gave us his series of pictures of the four freedoms.
Freedom of speech
Freedom from want
Freedom of religion
Freedom from fear.
All civilizations struggle with balancing justice and mercy. Silence the perpetrators of atrocities against freedom from fear and freedom of religion quickly without time spent in the spotlight as news
publicizing their outrageous ideas.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
crazy stories or just irrelevant dribble
crazy stories or just irrelevant dribble
fiction
edward w pritchard
No one mentions to author here lately they don't like or think these rather crazy stories from his online "sketchbook" are sad, pointless, pathetic or irrelevant. Fear not author has a plan.
In Ohio state lottery Keno, that's gambling, if ten numbers are picked by the participant and none are matched of twenty of eighty during the online drawing on participants card then participant wins five dollars and that's the same payout as if he had successfully picked five numbers. So you see participant is incentiviz-ed to lose.
So it is with author's writing of these stories and brief thoughts and ideas. Ten years ago when stories began to be published ' on line" that means for free author had a goal of having one hundred thousand story views. Soon that goal will be met. And that's without receiving one cent of compensation. So in addition to not having to pay a professional counselor to weekly listen to his crazy thoughts soon author will reach millstone of most original ideas written down without compensation.[1] Ever by anyone.
Note to oldest son who will handle authors cremation and send smoldering remains into Ganges or local canal symbolically- crumble up a copy of this message and use it to start fire. Be not sad- it was fun while it lasted and nothing really matters eventually.
[1]Google has often notified author that industrious Russians and people of India hackers often secretly steal his works and publish it elsewhere for profit however author is still waiting for his checks from them and their efforts are not counted as viewing in the 100,000 per Google although the numbers could be substantial.
fiction
edward w pritchard
No one mentions to author here lately they don't like or think these rather crazy stories from his online "sketchbook" are sad, pointless, pathetic or irrelevant. Fear not author has a plan.
In Ohio state lottery Keno, that's gambling, if ten numbers are picked by the participant and none are matched of twenty of eighty during the online drawing on participants card then participant wins five dollars and that's the same payout as if he had successfully picked five numbers. So you see participant is incentiviz-ed to lose.
So it is with author's writing of these stories and brief thoughts and ideas. Ten years ago when stories began to be published ' on line" that means for free author had a goal of having one hundred thousand story views. Soon that goal will be met. And that's without receiving one cent of compensation. So in addition to not having to pay a professional counselor to weekly listen to his crazy thoughts soon author will reach millstone of most original ideas written down without compensation.[1] Ever by anyone.
Note to oldest son who will handle authors cremation and send smoldering remains into Ganges or local canal symbolically- crumble up a copy of this message and use it to start fire. Be not sad- it was fun while it lasted and nothing really matters eventually.
[1]Google has often notified author that industrious Russians and people of India hackers often secretly steal his works and publish it elsewhere for profit however author is still waiting for his checks from them and their efforts are not counted as viewing in the 100,000 per Google although the numbers could be substantial.
Friday, March 15, 2019
graduated in the bottom 25% of his class
graduated in the bottom 25% of his class
fiction
edward w pritchard
Shouldn't anybody who has the money and wants to go to a first rate college be able to attend maybe on a trial period or other manner.
For example shouldn't someone who graduates from college with a degree in marketing who managed to graduate while being in the bottom 25% of his class for his career be the marketing director of Midas Muffler and think up the inane commercials about a person with a King's crown on his head tell the world about Midas muffler over and over on morning TV?
fiction
edward w pritchard
Shouldn't anybody who has the money and wants to go to a first rate college be able to attend maybe on a trial period or other manner.
For example shouldn't someone who graduates from college with a degree in marketing who managed to graduate while being in the bottom 25% of his class for his career be the marketing director of Midas Muffler and think up the inane commercials about a person with a King's crown on his head tell the world about Midas muffler over and over on morning TV?
Thursday, March 14, 2019
herr director
herr director
fiction
edward w pritchard
It begins with some innocuous little girl tapping two Popsicle sticks together in front of a grand Cathedral in Germany and one by one an entire orchestra forms spontaneously to blast out Ode to Joy by Beethoven as a large audience takes pictures, relaxes and enjoys themselves from Life's journey.
Where is Herr director who arranged things behind the scenes to place one determined contented little girl to strike up the band and start the music?
fiction
edward w pritchard
It begins with some innocuous little girl tapping two Popsicle sticks together in front of a grand Cathedral in Germany and one by one an entire orchestra forms spontaneously to blast out Ode to Joy by Beethoven as a large audience takes pictures, relaxes and enjoys themselves from Life's journey.
Where is Herr director who arranged things behind the scenes to place one determined contented little girl to strike up the band and start the music?
pray for the perpetrators
pray for the perpetrators
fiction
edward w pritchard
A scandal has occurred and several dozen wealthy citizens have been accused of using illegal and unethical methods to get their beloved children into a top rated college. The blood is in the water
and a bored public is enjoying watching their fellow citizens and their children suffer.
Pray for the perpetrators America. Pray whether you believe praying helps and pray even if you yourself have never made a judgment error or committed sin and got caught with your hands in the cash drawer.
The attorney general is always stomping around looking for something to enhance his career.
Later he pleads for mercy in his own case.
fiction
edward w pritchard
A scandal has occurred and several dozen wealthy citizens have been accused of using illegal and unethical methods to get their beloved children into a top rated college. The blood is in the water
and a bored public is enjoying watching their fellow citizens and their children suffer.
Pray for the perpetrators America. Pray whether you believe praying helps and pray even if you yourself have never made a judgment error or committed sin and got caught with your hands in the cash drawer.
The attorney general is always stomping around looking for something to enhance his career.
Later he pleads for mercy in his own case.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Once a dream
Once a dream
fiction
edward w pritchard
In the 1980's into early 1990 I monitored and managed a $200,000,000 portfolio of mostly second mortgage home equity loans for an Ohio bank. Using the telephone myself, my telephone marketing staff and one hundred or so branch lenders to originated the loans until I left that bank I
very carefully and diligently monitored about ten thousand loans for delinquency, family problems and impact from the national economy and rising or falling interest rates.
A dozen years later I returned to that same bank and collected delinquent commercial loans for that bank for two years. It was during a time of transition for the national economy and myself.
During those fifteen years of banking experience with mortgages, appraisals, interest rates and home and commercial loans I gradually developed a sort of dream for the end of my life concerning real estate.
I would move to Florida somewhere near Sanibel island and live cheaply in a trailer home and walk along the beach and look for gold doubloons or rare sea shells.
By 2007 I was out of banking and like most Americans down on real estate. I recall reading a New York Times article in 2007 by Peter S.Goodman titled "this is the sound of a bubble bursting" about the turmoil in Florida and in particular, Cape Coral Fla, which is near Sanibel Island, caused by the great Housing crisis of 2007 and 2008. Many people were hurt in that real estate crash.
Soon I will own no more real estate. On a whim I dug out one of my books by Michael Lewis the financial writer I like which contains a copy of the original Times piece of the Peter S Goodman article on Cape Coral Florida "this is the sound of a bubble bursting" which I reread.. After that I went on line to Zillow and found a nice neat and clean little trailer near the beach in Cape Coral Fla, I can buy for a payment of less than $200 a month. There's even shuffle board and boccie ball.
Hmm, interesting.
fiction
edward w pritchard
In the 1980's into early 1990 I monitored and managed a $200,000,000 portfolio of mostly second mortgage home equity loans for an Ohio bank. Using the telephone myself, my telephone marketing staff and one hundred or so branch lenders to originated the loans until I left that bank I
very carefully and diligently monitored about ten thousand loans for delinquency, family problems and impact from the national economy and rising or falling interest rates.
A dozen years later I returned to that same bank and collected delinquent commercial loans for that bank for two years. It was during a time of transition for the national economy and myself.
During those fifteen years of banking experience with mortgages, appraisals, interest rates and home and commercial loans I gradually developed a sort of dream for the end of my life concerning real estate.
I would move to Florida somewhere near Sanibel island and live cheaply in a trailer home and walk along the beach and look for gold doubloons or rare sea shells.
By 2007 I was out of banking and like most Americans down on real estate. I recall reading a New York Times article in 2007 by Peter S.Goodman titled "this is the sound of a bubble bursting" about the turmoil in Florida and in particular, Cape Coral Fla, which is near Sanibel Island, caused by the great Housing crisis of 2007 and 2008. Many people were hurt in that real estate crash.
Soon I will own no more real estate. On a whim I dug out one of my books by Michael Lewis the financial writer I like which contains a copy of the original Times piece of the Peter S Goodman article on Cape Coral Florida "this is the sound of a bubble bursting" which I reread.. After that I went on line to Zillow and found a nice neat and clean little trailer near the beach in Cape Coral Fla, I can buy for a payment of less than $200 a month. There's even shuffle board and boccie ball.
Hmm, interesting.
Sunday, March 10, 2019
one doesn't hear much about organized crime these days
One doesn't hear much about organized crime these days
fiction
edward w pritchard
I follow with some interest the idea that organized crime from Sicily controls or influences American
business by using illegal actives to stay ahead of the competition. I once liked to read about Lucky Luciano when I was young and once I worked for an successful Italian family that ran a legitimate business and it was common for them to be accused more in jest than serious as having mob ties when they were successful. This despite the fact that they worked very hard and always tended to business. True the owners I worked for were loyal to their families, had a lot of dinner meetings over elaborate meals and were strict with their employees like me. Still I never saw or heard anything nefarious and I was in a position for a short time to view the inner workings of a small part of the business.
So it was with some interest I was planning last year to see the John Travolta Movie about John Gotti and Son that had premiered at the Cannes film festival. Alas the film got mediocre reviews and when I heard the show was shot in Cincinnati rather than NYC I decided not to see it.
A few years ago I did follow the organized crime trials in Philadelphia. However I was disappointed
when I read a bit of the indictment accusing the defendants of health care fraud, unconscionable charging of excess interest on loans and other normal business activities in addition to crime and violence. I imagine the Internet, chat rooms, face book and other technology along with RICO have made it hard for organized crime to operate and to have a loyal following of ordinary citizens who like to read about their exploits.
My favorite look at the Cosa Nostra comes from the Italian author Luigi Barzini in "the Italians".
It's a great book attempting to analyze and describe the idiosyncrasies of the entire Italian people.
It's a love/hate look at Italians and includes Barzini's take on Sicily and the Mafia in chapter 14. It's
worth a look.
fiction
edward w pritchard
I follow with some interest the idea that organized crime from Sicily controls or influences American
business by using illegal actives to stay ahead of the competition. I once liked to read about Lucky Luciano when I was young and once I worked for an successful Italian family that ran a legitimate business and it was common for them to be accused more in jest than serious as having mob ties when they were successful. This despite the fact that they worked very hard and always tended to business. True the owners I worked for were loyal to their families, had a lot of dinner meetings over elaborate meals and were strict with their employees like me. Still I never saw or heard anything nefarious and I was in a position for a short time to view the inner workings of a small part of the business.
So it was with some interest I was planning last year to see the John Travolta Movie about John Gotti and Son that had premiered at the Cannes film festival. Alas the film got mediocre reviews and when I heard the show was shot in Cincinnati rather than NYC I decided not to see it.
A few years ago I did follow the organized crime trials in Philadelphia. However I was disappointed
when I read a bit of the indictment accusing the defendants of health care fraud, unconscionable charging of excess interest on loans and other normal business activities in addition to crime and violence. I imagine the Internet, chat rooms, face book and other technology along with RICO have made it hard for organized crime to operate and to have a loyal following of ordinary citizens who like to read about their exploits.
My favorite look at the Cosa Nostra comes from the Italian author Luigi Barzini in "the Italians".
It's a great book attempting to analyze and describe the idiosyncrasies of the entire Italian people.
It's a love/hate look at Italians and includes Barzini's take on Sicily and the Mafia in chapter 14. It's
worth a look.
i never liked opera until
I never liked opera until
fiction
edward w pritchard
When I worked part time at a nursing home the head RN who was my boss put me in charge of six wealthy male patients who were finishing out their lives on the payor pay wing of the nursing home and not on any kind of medicare or government assistance. Five of my patients although over 80 could walk so I spent a lot of time walking with the awake ones up and down the halls and outside in the rich neighbor where the nursing home was located. A lot of the time one of the Lpn's or aides would walk with us so I had someone to talk to which I liked because they were young pretty women. My sixth patient was in a wheelchair and was an ex Russian Olympic world class weight lifter and had had a stroke and refused to be pushed or to have one of the pretty girls walk with us. He was extremely strong in his right arm, although the left arm hung limp from stroke and using his good hand one revolution at a time of the wheelchair he would wheel himself up and down the halls which were five and fanned out in a star from the center RN's desk there at the nursing home. The reason the Russian weight lifter wouldn't allow any of the pretty nurses to walk with us was because he had took it on himself to educated me about Opera which he had sung in college and like most foreigners wanted to be an opera star when he was young. When he came to find out I didn't know about or like opera he called me a cretin and squeezed my right forearm with his good hand very hard nearly breaking my arm, which was strong as I also worked as a furniture mover then and proceeded to lecture me on opera plots, composers and the intricacies of opera. After a few months I had dated some of the nurses and one of them wouldn't talk to me or make eye contact and it was awkward there at the nursing home so I quit and went back to being a night auditor at a hotel.
Nearly forty years passed and I was reading philosophy now and then with an educated Italian guy and he also liked opera and sometime briefly would tell me about the beautiful women who sang as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata.
Still I never liked opera until the internet came along. It's true never was a beautiful woman so captivating as when she is dressed up like a doll singing "the dolls song" in tales of Hoffman or
singing and playing some other interesting roll in some other famous opera in costume that strikes my fancy. Sometimes I will do a google search of the 127 most stunning women of opera. Other times I just search most beautiful women players of the piano or violin cause once I knew a real lady who played those two instruments.
fiction
edward w pritchard
When I worked part time at a nursing home the head RN who was my boss put me in charge of six wealthy male patients who were finishing out their lives on the payor pay wing of the nursing home and not on any kind of medicare or government assistance. Five of my patients although over 80 could walk so I spent a lot of time walking with the awake ones up and down the halls and outside in the rich neighbor where the nursing home was located. A lot of the time one of the Lpn's or aides would walk with us so I had someone to talk to which I liked because they were young pretty women. My sixth patient was in a wheelchair and was an ex Russian Olympic world class weight lifter and had had a stroke and refused to be pushed or to have one of the pretty girls walk with us. He was extremely strong in his right arm, although the left arm hung limp from stroke and using his good hand one revolution at a time of the wheelchair he would wheel himself up and down the halls which were five and fanned out in a star from the center RN's desk there at the nursing home. The reason the Russian weight lifter wouldn't allow any of the pretty nurses to walk with us was because he had took it on himself to educated me about Opera which he had sung in college and like most foreigners wanted to be an opera star when he was young. When he came to find out I didn't know about or like opera he called me a cretin and squeezed my right forearm with his good hand very hard nearly breaking my arm, which was strong as I also worked as a furniture mover then and proceeded to lecture me on opera plots, composers and the intricacies of opera. After a few months I had dated some of the nurses and one of them wouldn't talk to me or make eye contact and it was awkward there at the nursing home so I quit and went back to being a night auditor at a hotel.
Nearly forty years passed and I was reading philosophy now and then with an educated Italian guy and he also liked opera and sometime briefly would tell me about the beautiful women who sang as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata.
Still I never liked opera until the internet came along. It's true never was a beautiful woman so captivating as when she is dressed up like a doll singing "the dolls song" in tales of Hoffman or
singing and playing some other interesting roll in some other famous opera in costume that strikes my fancy. Sometimes I will do a google search of the 127 most stunning women of opera. Other times I just search most beautiful women players of the piano or violin cause once I knew a real lady who played those two instruments.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
meet me at the border wall Mr. Bezos
Meet me at the border wall Mr. Bezos
fiction
edward w pritchard
I saw an interview of George Harrison former Beatle a few months before he died poignantly saying
" everyone is dying and no one seems to be doing anything about it." Now I see Jeff Bezos richest man in the world is facing the same wall. Rich or poor, good or bad everyone ages and dies.
Jeff Bezos recently has done a make over on himself, lost weight, got a new friend and is investing in and learning about a company called life extension which I assume has a business plan to help wealthy white guys live forever or at least a lot longer.
George Harrison studied Buddhism to find peace and Jeff Bezos looked into space travel and helping
put people in space in personal space pods.
Alas as every philosopher throughout history finds out "no matter how rich you are eventually you must get back to Mother earth" [ Memphis Slim-writer].
If back in the 1990's I had invested in Amazon instead of Lycos I could be facing the same problem
of how to use my wealth to live forever. I wasn't thinking straight then at all. How could I not invest in an internet startup that was going to lower the cost of delivering books to people. Maybe if I had attended Princeton like Jeff.
Meet me at the border wall Jeff and we will walk down to the mountains of Equador and find medicinal plants and a lifestyle to extend our lives. Please fill your pockets with gold coins before you leave Jeff. Not bitcoins so we have some money which always make the great journey a little easier.
"Where are the snows of yesteryear?" Francois Villon
" all things to nothing descend
grow old and die and meet their end" Master Wace
fiction
edward w pritchard
I saw an interview of George Harrison former Beatle a few months before he died poignantly saying
" everyone is dying and no one seems to be doing anything about it." Now I see Jeff Bezos richest man in the world is facing the same wall. Rich or poor, good or bad everyone ages and dies.
Jeff Bezos recently has done a make over on himself, lost weight, got a new friend and is investing in and learning about a company called life extension which I assume has a business plan to help wealthy white guys live forever or at least a lot longer.
George Harrison studied Buddhism to find peace and Jeff Bezos looked into space travel and helping
put people in space in personal space pods.
Alas as every philosopher throughout history finds out "no matter how rich you are eventually you must get back to Mother earth" [ Memphis Slim-writer].
If back in the 1990's I had invested in Amazon instead of Lycos I could be facing the same problem
of how to use my wealth to live forever. I wasn't thinking straight then at all. How could I not invest in an internet startup that was going to lower the cost of delivering books to people. Maybe if I had attended Princeton like Jeff.
Meet me at the border wall Jeff and we will walk down to the mountains of Equador and find medicinal plants and a lifestyle to extend our lives. Please fill your pockets with gold coins before you leave Jeff. Not bitcoins so we have some money which always make the great journey a little easier.
"Where are the snows of yesteryear?" Francois Villon
" all things to nothing descend
grow old and die and meet their end" Master Wace
Friday, March 8, 2019
cut out the middlemen
cut out the middlemen
fiction
edward w pritchard
Often am I warned in advertisements by life-alert and others that nefarious Iranian, Russian and African teenagers are attempting to hack my computer, cable TV remote and front door lock to spy on me and peek at my past due credit card bills. What do the Iranians know about me- my enemies are the IRS and the Ohio bureau of motor vehicles in collusion with the car insurance industry.
Why don't we cut out the middlemen and pay the ambitious hackers in Iran, Russia and Africa to secretly monitor the sitting President's son in law and immediate family members phone and computers to see which New York Investment bank they have contacted recently to see what the first family in DC is up to. It would save the tax papers a lot of money on subpoena's and lawyers once the first family are all out of office and out of the white house.
The folks in government in DC. It's like when you are sleeping soundly and you wake suddenly because your arm has been over your head in an awkward position not being moved for a while and not received enough blood and you panic temporarily to learn what it means to have a useless appendage.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Often am I warned in advertisements by life-alert and others that nefarious Iranian, Russian and African teenagers are attempting to hack my computer, cable TV remote and front door lock to spy on me and peek at my past due credit card bills. What do the Iranians know about me- my enemies are the IRS and the Ohio bureau of motor vehicles in collusion with the car insurance industry.
Why don't we cut out the middlemen and pay the ambitious hackers in Iran, Russia and Africa to secretly monitor the sitting President's son in law and immediate family members phone and computers to see which New York Investment bank they have contacted recently to see what the first family in DC is up to. It would save the tax papers a lot of money on subpoena's and lawyers once the first family are all out of office and out of the white house.
The folks in government in DC. It's like when you are sleeping soundly and you wake suddenly because your arm has been over your head in an awkward position not being moved for a while and not received enough blood and you panic temporarily to learn what it means to have a useless appendage.
what's Apollo management up to these days
what's Apollo management up to these days
fiction
edward w pritchard
Once I was interested in investing in a company called Verso paper which was for a while, a few financial crisis ago, under the tutelage of Apollo capital the brain child of Leon Black former associate of Micheal Milken the junk bond king at Drexel Burnham.
I was glad to see Verso paper is still in business with 4000 plus employees down south western Ohio in Miamisburg, near Dayton. The stock still trades following the bankruptcy and turnaround, the stock price is up significantly since I initially followed it and rumor has it that Verso will be the last major Ohio company to go paperless one day. Ominously I see a law firm in NYC., Glancy , Prongay and Murray, is inviting investors in Verso paper [ VRS] to call with questions about former investors rights and interests in Verso's stock price. The merry go round of American capitalism is still spinning in a circle I see.
I have to respect billionaire Leon Black founder of Apollo capital et al as he is avid Art collector and that's a good thing. I often try to indoctrinate my very young grandson in the importance of art in the good life. I'll teach my grandson about art and leave it to his grandmother after I am gone to teach him about leveraged buyouts, compound interest, workouts and high risk bond portfolios.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Once I was interested in investing in a company called Verso paper which was for a while, a few financial crisis ago, under the tutelage of Apollo capital the brain child of Leon Black former associate of Micheal Milken the junk bond king at Drexel Burnham.
I was glad to see Verso paper is still in business with 4000 plus employees down south western Ohio in Miamisburg, near Dayton. The stock still trades following the bankruptcy and turnaround, the stock price is up significantly since I initially followed it and rumor has it that Verso will be the last major Ohio company to go paperless one day. Ominously I see a law firm in NYC., Glancy , Prongay and Murray, is inviting investors in Verso paper [ VRS] to call with questions about former investors rights and interests in Verso's stock price. The merry go round of American capitalism is still spinning in a circle I see.
I have to respect billionaire Leon Black founder of Apollo capital et al as he is avid Art collector and that's a good thing. I often try to indoctrinate my very young grandson in the importance of art in the good life. I'll teach my grandson about art and leave it to his grandmother after I am gone to teach him about leveraged buyouts, compound interest, workouts and high risk bond portfolios.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
the invisible language of business and politics
the invisible language of business and politics
fiction
edward w pritchard
Once I found myself in a banking meeting among the senior officers, I wasn't one, where I worked,
in a meeting where I wanted to discuss ideological issues of fairness towards the troops who worked for our bank and also our lower income customers and almost everyone else wanted to raise our salaries and bonuses. I was given a quick education in the invisible language of business and politics, told I was an impractical dreamer, and also told that I didn't care about the real purposes and issues of life.
It makes me smile then to see the new freshman representative woman office holder Dem-NYC-14th
Ms. OC is being schooled in a similar fashion by Dem party old boy Joe B. He is probably giving her sound advice. Having it to do it over I would look to my own family security first as is natural and practical.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Once I found myself in a banking meeting among the senior officers, I wasn't one, where I worked,
in a meeting where I wanted to discuss ideological issues of fairness towards the troops who worked for our bank and also our lower income customers and almost everyone else wanted to raise our salaries and bonuses. I was given a quick education in the invisible language of business and politics, told I was an impractical dreamer, and also told that I didn't care about the real purposes and issues of life.
It makes me smile then to see the new freshman representative woman office holder Dem-NYC-14th
Ms. OC is being schooled in a similar fashion by Dem party old boy Joe B. He is probably giving her sound advice. Having it to do it over I would look to my own family security first as is natural and practical.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
nod and smile all opinions are equal
nod and smile all opinions are equal
fiction
edward w pritchard
On you tube an author I admire and like to read, Paul Theroux, a few years ago gave an interview expressing his opinion that the American south has been injured by globalism and that three states in particular Alabama, Mississippi and parts of South Carolina have pockets of poverty on a scale comparable to Africa. Mr. Theroux has years of experience traveling in all part of the world which qualifies him in my opinion to state his thoughts on globalism and poverty in America or elsewhere however I disagree with his assessment although I nod and smile in that all opinions are equal and add to the debate on what is the good life, what constitutes happiness and what is a just society. He has a valid point concerning globalism and job loss.
Lately in the news media the subject of poverty in America has grown more quiet because of the clamor of economists claiming we are at full employment which alleviates the need for any concern or discussion on poverty and fairness in America.
If I may weigh in on the subject- people are different- some cherish the American dream-some wish to take to the woods, refurbish an $1800 dollar trailer without running water, use a wood burning stove and composting toilet to save money and the environment and live their life as they choose to.
Sometimes such a property looks a bit rundown as do a lot of houses five miles out of an American city.
As for Paul Theroux's observations, first watch his interview and notice that the pockets of poverty shots in the film could be anywhere, and like Mr. Theroux I like to travel and and I often desire to be different and desire to be elsewhere [1]. I own about a dozen books written by Paul Theroux and have shared with him during my readings of his works his suffering during his divorce and the slights to his reputation he had to endure in Singapore and elsewhere. I know he always has a point of view which he is not afraid to state.
Nod and smile all opinions are equal and seldom does a philosopher change his opinions based on reasonable arguments from the other side of the issue in question.
[1] attributed to Nietzsche
[2] this author has traveled in Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina
fiction
edward w pritchard
On you tube an author I admire and like to read, Paul Theroux, a few years ago gave an interview expressing his opinion that the American south has been injured by globalism and that three states in particular Alabama, Mississippi and parts of South Carolina have pockets of poverty on a scale comparable to Africa. Mr. Theroux has years of experience traveling in all part of the world which qualifies him in my opinion to state his thoughts on globalism and poverty in America or elsewhere however I disagree with his assessment although I nod and smile in that all opinions are equal and add to the debate on what is the good life, what constitutes happiness and what is a just society. He has a valid point concerning globalism and job loss.
Lately in the news media the subject of poverty in America has grown more quiet because of the clamor of economists claiming we are at full employment which alleviates the need for any concern or discussion on poverty and fairness in America.
If I may weigh in on the subject- people are different- some cherish the American dream-some wish to take to the woods, refurbish an $1800 dollar trailer without running water, use a wood burning stove and composting toilet to save money and the environment and live their life as they choose to.
Sometimes such a property looks a bit rundown as do a lot of houses five miles out of an American city.
As for Paul Theroux's observations, first watch his interview and notice that the pockets of poverty shots in the film could be anywhere, and like Mr. Theroux I like to travel and and I often desire to be different and desire to be elsewhere [1]. I own about a dozen books written by Paul Theroux and have shared with him during my readings of his works his suffering during his divorce and the slights to his reputation he had to endure in Singapore and elsewhere. I know he always has a point of view which he is not afraid to state.
Nod and smile all opinions are equal and seldom does a philosopher change his opinions based on reasonable arguments from the other side of the issue in question.
[1] attributed to Nietzsche
[2] this author has traveled in Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina
rock on Mr. Nietzsche
rock on Mr. Nietzsche
fiction
edward w pritchard
What if Harold Bloom the authoritative Shakespearean scholar switched from the literature to the philosophy departments there at the college where he teaches and instead of writing many a thick book on the secret motivations of the author of the Shakespearean tragedies instead wrote and surmised what was going on in Nietzsche's head as he spent the last ten years of his life insane obsessing about eternal recurrence while rocking back and forth in a chair in his room?
Rock on, rock on Mr. Nietzsche
cut off the right arm
and after the skin has shriveled and stink has mummified
drive the ten inch fingernails and the rest of the severed appendage
into the heart
and I'll sit and think
and sit and think
monotonously rocking about.
fiction
edward w pritchard
What if Harold Bloom the authoritative Shakespearean scholar switched from the literature to the philosophy departments there at the college where he teaches and instead of writing many a thick book on the secret motivations of the author of the Shakespearean tragedies instead wrote and surmised what was going on in Nietzsche's head as he spent the last ten years of his life insane obsessing about eternal recurrence while rocking back and forth in a chair in his room?
Rock on, rock on Mr. Nietzsche
cut off the right arm
and after the skin has shriveled and stink has mummified
drive the ten inch fingernails and the rest of the severed appendage
into the heart
and I'll sit and think
and sit and think
monotonously rocking about.
Sunday, March 3, 2019
alone in London
alone in London
fiction
edward w pritchard
Why does a change or a mystery always have to start with the sound of an all night ambient rain storm? Alone in London to awaken suddenly to a constant continuous rain in an unfamiliar
hotel room is disconcerting. Glancing right two tea cups and a plate of biscuits are on the night stand.
Glancing left the space on the bed is empty and out the open window the foggy street below drips with the rain.
Staring and listening to the sound of the all night ambient rain I lay my left arm diagonally across the empty bedside toward the open window and instantly realize I am dreaming of being alone again in London. Looking right no tea cups are on the night stand. Looking left curtains cover the window.
It is raining outside. No one lays to my left so I fulcrum from the elbow my left hand back toward my heart and examine my knuckles up close in the darkness and listen to the steady rain.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Why does a change or a mystery always have to start with the sound of an all night ambient rain storm? Alone in London to awaken suddenly to a constant continuous rain in an unfamiliar
hotel room is disconcerting. Glancing right two tea cups and a plate of biscuits are on the night stand.
Glancing left the space on the bed is empty and out the open window the foggy street below drips with the rain.
Staring and listening to the sound of the all night ambient rain I lay my left arm diagonally across the empty bedside toward the open window and instantly realize I am dreaming of being alone again in London. Looking right no tea cups are on the night stand. Looking left curtains cover the window.
It is raining outside. No one lays to my left so I fulcrum from the elbow my left hand back toward my heart and examine my knuckles up close in the darkness and listen to the steady rain.
do reasonable arguments to the contrary change a philosopher's opinions?
do reasonable arguments to the contrary change a philosopher's opinions?
fiction
edward w pritchard
Does everything change always over time or is change an illusion? Such is the grand question when it comes to philosophy and to baseball. As in can you step into the same river twice or can our local Cleveland Indians team change a lot of good players in trades, like Michael Brantley, and end up with a better team.
First before to reasonable dialectics author's opinion is Cleveland Indians should change team Indians name from Cleveland Indians to something different in respect for original Native Americans, first and foremost in honorable memory of author's Aunt Ruth only Native American he ever knew, and to fix an anachronism of History, thereby proving change is possible.
Will the Cleveland major league baseball club be a contender to go to the World series this year? I
would say the odds are the Cleveland team does better than last year after recent trades are about the same odds as the cable TV networks allowing free local baseball games this year on free TV stations.
Do reasonable arguments to the contrary change a philosopher's opinion? St Paul of Tarsus changed from persecuting Christians as Roman tax collector to the greatest proselytizer of all time. Coriolanus Roman general of Shakespeare's play switched sides to enemy sometime after Act 1 author recalls.
You can change a philosopher's opinion by reasonable augment but half the time it takes an act of God to do so. The cable guys should allow free major league baseball games on regular TV as a public service in compliance with the FCC requirements to broadcast.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Does everything change always over time or is change an illusion? Such is the grand question when it comes to philosophy and to baseball. As in can you step into the same river twice or can our local Cleveland Indians team change a lot of good players in trades, like Michael Brantley, and end up with a better team.
First before to reasonable dialectics author's opinion is Cleveland Indians should change team Indians name from Cleveland Indians to something different in respect for original Native Americans, first and foremost in honorable memory of author's Aunt Ruth only Native American he ever knew, and to fix an anachronism of History, thereby proving change is possible.
Will the Cleveland major league baseball club be a contender to go to the World series this year? I
would say the odds are the Cleveland team does better than last year after recent trades are about the same odds as the cable TV networks allowing free local baseball games this year on free TV stations.
Do reasonable arguments to the contrary change a philosopher's opinion? St Paul of Tarsus changed from persecuting Christians as Roman tax collector to the greatest proselytizer of all time. Coriolanus Roman general of Shakespeare's play switched sides to enemy sometime after Act 1 author recalls.
You can change a philosopher's opinion by reasonable augment but half the time it takes an act of God to do so. The cable guys should allow free major league baseball games on regular TV as a public service in compliance with the FCC requirements to broadcast.
the desert has it's compensations
the desert has it's compensations
fiction
edward w pritchard
The desert has it's compensations if you find yourself wandering within. The grandest sight in creation is overhead. The naked eye can see 2.6 million light years across space to the Andromeda galaxy most any night. From darkness until blissful sleep one is entertained and bewildered by the drama of the overnight sky.
Your enemies are far away when you are in the desert. Odds are small you will meet an invading army living in the desert. If you do it may be pleasant company to have someone to philosophize with. For the desert births many religions and great thoughts.
Strange sights occur in the desert. A goat in a tree, rocks dripping color, two camels spontaneously racing and a bewitching woman with incredible eyes and a mauve silk veil hiding her smile as she talks are long remembered.
Great riches may be found in the desert the most precious of which is fresh water which is the essence of life in the dessert. Food which is second priority after water is on your mind as you walk
blocking ruminations of past slights.
No one carries much when walking or on camel caravan across a desert. Should paths be crossed with a peddler in the desert a new shirt or tunic and protections for the eyes in a sand storm are top priority. Also should one be wealthy a small telescope would be a welcome luxury.
Once did I wander with a companion in White sands Chihuahuan desert Mew Mexico. Deep in silent thought time passed too quickly often remembered.
fiction
edward w pritchard
The desert has it's compensations if you find yourself wandering within. The grandest sight in creation is overhead. The naked eye can see 2.6 million light years across space to the Andromeda galaxy most any night. From darkness until blissful sleep one is entertained and bewildered by the drama of the overnight sky.
Your enemies are far away when you are in the desert. Odds are small you will meet an invading army living in the desert. If you do it may be pleasant company to have someone to philosophize with. For the desert births many religions and great thoughts.
Strange sights occur in the desert. A goat in a tree, rocks dripping color, two camels spontaneously racing and a bewitching woman with incredible eyes and a mauve silk veil hiding her smile as she talks are long remembered.
Great riches may be found in the desert the most precious of which is fresh water which is the essence of life in the dessert. Food which is second priority after water is on your mind as you walk
blocking ruminations of past slights.
No one carries much when walking or on camel caravan across a desert. Should paths be crossed with a peddler in the desert a new shirt or tunic and protections for the eyes in a sand storm are top priority. Also should one be wealthy a small telescope would be a welcome luxury.
Once did I wander with a companion in White sands Chihuahuan desert Mew Mexico. Deep in silent thought time passed too quickly often remembered.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
speaking of temporary shelters
speaking of temporary shelters
fiction
edward w pritchard
A girl from my neighborhood once told my wife at the time that I ran wild as a boy. It was an
inappropriate but true thing to say for since I was four years old I often roamed the neighborhoods
unsupervised and as uncivilized as Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn.
Once a friend and I were across the canal in the woods when we found a large old uprooted hollow tree stump with ice on it's floor one June day. The next day my friend couldn't return to our temporary shelter as he had contacted vegetation rash from the hollow tree. So I used the hollow tree as my cave house, scrapped some of the ice off the walls to chill my seven up drink and had several adventures
throughout that summer with the old tree stump as a back drop.
A few years later I and some older guys hid out in the sticker filled gullies behind our grade school waiting for the workmen at the new apartments on the lake to leave after they finished installing about a hundred washers, dryers refrigerators and stoves. Patiently we waited to commandeer the boxes. Over the next few days we broke down the boxes and rearranged the packing crates to make a box city there in the swamp along the lake behind the new apartments. The central area of the box city floated precariously on the swamp and could only be reached by crawling through a very long tunnel of boxes to reach the living room which looked out on the lake. I was the last of the boys to leave the sight and the workmen threatened to call my dad the day they started to burn our settlement. My Dad heard about what happened with the box city and me trespassing but I didn't get in trouble because before my Dad was a soldier or worked as a rate clerk in the trucking industry when he was twelve my Father had played Tom Sawyer in the school play and got to kiss Becky Thatcher in the cave in the Mark Twain story.
My last temporary shelter was a downtown apartment near the University where I met a girl I liked.
After that I was married and had four children who I tried to supervise closely so they wouldn't grow up to be wild or vagabonds.
fiction
edward w pritchard
A girl from my neighborhood once told my wife at the time that I ran wild as a boy. It was an
inappropriate but true thing to say for since I was four years old I often roamed the neighborhoods
unsupervised and as uncivilized as Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn.
Once a friend and I were across the canal in the woods when we found a large old uprooted hollow tree stump with ice on it's floor one June day. The next day my friend couldn't return to our temporary shelter as he had contacted vegetation rash from the hollow tree. So I used the hollow tree as my cave house, scrapped some of the ice off the walls to chill my seven up drink and had several adventures
throughout that summer with the old tree stump as a back drop.
A few years later I and some older guys hid out in the sticker filled gullies behind our grade school waiting for the workmen at the new apartments on the lake to leave after they finished installing about a hundred washers, dryers refrigerators and stoves. Patiently we waited to commandeer the boxes. Over the next few days we broke down the boxes and rearranged the packing crates to make a box city there in the swamp along the lake behind the new apartments. The central area of the box city floated precariously on the swamp and could only be reached by crawling through a very long tunnel of boxes to reach the living room which looked out on the lake. I was the last of the boys to leave the sight and the workmen threatened to call my dad the day they started to burn our settlement. My Dad heard about what happened with the box city and me trespassing but I didn't get in trouble because before my Dad was a soldier or worked as a rate clerk in the trucking industry when he was twelve my Father had played Tom Sawyer in the school play and got to kiss Becky Thatcher in the cave in the Mark Twain story.
My last temporary shelter was a downtown apartment near the University where I met a girl I liked.
After that I was married and had four children who I tried to supervise closely so they wouldn't grow up to be wild or vagabonds.
curb your temper
curb your temper
fiction
edward w pritchard
My life being in transition and not wanting to move away permanently I found myself a dozen years ago walking by day and sleeping in pitch dark alone on the Appalachian trail at night. In the middle of the night, still deep in sleep, a thundering crash startles in the woods and clutching a stout walking stick one jumps awake to do combat with bear or coyote. Such time is not appropriate one to remind a man to curb his temper or be mindful of his surroundings. Instincts rule and a half century of rage
is released as aggressively pointing a small bright flashlight at an unfamiliar woody hillside lost ground is tramped preparing to do battle with unseen foes. You are not alone for three hundred generations of truculent male ancestors ride across your adrenaline to join you as you ultimately find you are not afraid and you realize you should have maybe been a soldier for a while after all.
On later trips on the Appalachian trail I slept in the backseat of a big old white Lexus my youngest brother found me to help with my times of troubles, in a very cheap dive hotel with groups of my children, or on a hard wooden platform at a trail shelter with brute neighbors where my walking stick was only swung at someone in my imagination; justified because after 10 hours of walking with a heavy pack I couldn't bear to hear about why an old hippy's companion Virginia dropped out of college a dozen years ago.
I never actually saw a bear on a trail hike but two of my son's did while I escorted their sister uphill for a few hours to retrace our steps back to the trusty Lexus to take us to Damascus, Virginia to feast
at the Mill stream restaurant. Just me and three of my four children having the best meal I ever had because of the company I enjoyed that weekend trip. Traveling and exploring with one's grown children is memorable.
Next to a strong walking stick and some ready cash the most important things to take on a seven day Appalachian trail hike are a good high lumen's flashlight, a light weight warm blanket and plenty of caffeine drinks and a few dozen power bars. Don't over plan and don't be afraid of the dark or the unknown future. Before you know it both will rise and pass from your life. Sleeping safely on a soft blanketed mattress at home a dozen years later you can say-I hiked on the Appalachian trail and one dark rainy night I heard a bear or maybe mountain lion stalking me as I slept a sleep of the ancient
slumbers of my ancestors.
fiction
edward w pritchard
My life being in transition and not wanting to move away permanently I found myself a dozen years ago walking by day and sleeping in pitch dark alone on the Appalachian trail at night. In the middle of the night, still deep in sleep, a thundering crash startles in the woods and clutching a stout walking stick one jumps awake to do combat with bear or coyote. Such time is not appropriate one to remind a man to curb his temper or be mindful of his surroundings. Instincts rule and a half century of rage
is released as aggressively pointing a small bright flashlight at an unfamiliar woody hillside lost ground is tramped preparing to do battle with unseen foes. You are not alone for three hundred generations of truculent male ancestors ride across your adrenaline to join you as you ultimately find you are not afraid and you realize you should have maybe been a soldier for a while after all.
On later trips on the Appalachian trail I slept in the backseat of a big old white Lexus my youngest brother found me to help with my times of troubles, in a very cheap dive hotel with groups of my children, or on a hard wooden platform at a trail shelter with brute neighbors where my walking stick was only swung at someone in my imagination; justified because after 10 hours of walking with a heavy pack I couldn't bear to hear about why an old hippy's companion Virginia dropped out of college a dozen years ago.
I never actually saw a bear on a trail hike but two of my son's did while I escorted their sister uphill for a few hours to retrace our steps back to the trusty Lexus to take us to Damascus, Virginia to feast
at the Mill stream restaurant. Just me and three of my four children having the best meal I ever had because of the company I enjoyed that weekend trip. Traveling and exploring with one's grown children is memorable.
Next to a strong walking stick and some ready cash the most important things to take on a seven day Appalachian trail hike are a good high lumen's flashlight, a light weight warm blanket and plenty of caffeine drinks and a few dozen power bars. Don't over plan and don't be afraid of the dark or the unknown future. Before you know it both will rise and pass from your life. Sleeping safely on a soft blanketed mattress at home a dozen years later you can say-I hiked on the Appalachian trail and one dark rainy night I heard a bear or maybe mountain lion stalking me as I slept a sleep of the ancient
slumbers of my ancestors.
Friday, March 1, 2019
Texas has caught headache
Texas has caught headache
fiction
edward w pritchard
Texas has caught headache as the sound of 1 billion reverberating pairs of Chinese feet ordered by the Emperor of modern China terrifies the modern world. Some slight was perpetrated by the American President against China's neighbor North Korea and so each citizen of China must stomp,stomp,stomp his feet in place for hours and hours on end in crescendo of protest. It's an ominous sound "full of sound and fury signifying nothing" said the lady leader of Great Britain.
We thank our Chinese neighbors for their support laconically said the leader of North Korea over the noise. Observed the Dali lama with a wink- it's good exercise.
I hear the stomping of Chinese feet in my sleep said an elderly lady from North Carolina.
fiction
edward w pritchard
Texas has caught headache as the sound of 1 billion reverberating pairs of Chinese feet ordered by the Emperor of modern China terrifies the modern world. Some slight was perpetrated by the American President against China's neighbor North Korea and so each citizen of China must stomp,stomp,stomp his feet in place for hours and hours on end in crescendo of protest. It's an ominous sound "full of sound and fury signifying nothing" said the lady leader of Great Britain.
We thank our Chinese neighbors for their support laconically said the leader of North Korea over the noise. Observed the Dali lama with a wink- it's good exercise.
I hear the stomping of Chinese feet in my sleep said an elderly lady from North Carolina.
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