Small Steps

Many great actions are committed in small struggles. - Victor Hugo

Some progress is made by small steps, others by revolution.

(Other posts on Progress) 

Learning to be Free

He who is not capable of enduring poverty is not capable of being free. - Victor Hugo 

Don't give your kids everything so they may learn to be free.

(Other posts on Freedom) 

Return on Investment

To finish up my mini-series on women I give you this poem:

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.  
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.  
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.  
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.  
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.  
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. 
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit. - Anon


(Other posts on Women) 

Powerful Tears

The most efficient water power in the world - women's tears. - Wilson Mizner 


Power that can be used but not harnessed.


(Other posts on Women) 

Needed or Cherished?

Men are motivated and empowered when they feel needed. Women are motivated and empowered when they feel cherished. - John Gray 

Think of this when dealing with personal relationships but also in business relationships.

(Other posts on Work) 

Solutions

A women under stress is not immediately concerned with finding solutions to her problems but rather seeks relief by expressing herself and being understood. - John Gray 


Men, as much as you want to solve problems, sometimes that is not the best solution.


(Other posts on Women) 

Different Roads

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr. 

We all have different roads.

(Other posts on Life) 

Robin was Hood-winked

The wise and correct course to follow in taxation and in all other economic legislation is not to destroy those who have already secured success but to create conditions under which every one will have a better chance to be successful. - Calvin Coolidge 


So much for the progressive tax system.


(Other post on Government) 

Survival Not Mandatory

It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory. - W. Edwards Deming  


In the end, very few people will care if you or your company go extinct.


(Other posts on Change) 

Sensible Decisions

No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. - Isaac Asimov  


Change comes faster than expiration dates.


(Other posts on Change) 

Life's Requirements

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about. - Charles Kingsley 


Mental satisfaction takes precedence over physical satisfaction.


(Other posts on Pleasure) 

The Solution To Boredom

Nobody is bored when he is trying to make something that is beautiful or to discover something that is true. - William Ralph Inge 


People who do great things are never bored.


(Other posts on Achievement) 

Ill Tongues

There is nothing that so much gratifies an ill tongue as when it finds an angry heart. - Thomas Fuller   

It takes two to fight.

(Other posts on Criticism) 

Benefit From Procrastination

All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse. - Benjamin Franklin 

Sometimes you need to wait until tomorrow to fix things; they may not look so bad then.

(Other posts on Decisions) 

The Glad Season of Life

Youth is to all the glad season of life; but often only by what it hopes, not by what it attains, or what it escapes. - Thomas Carlyle 


Let youth fill itself full of dreams so there will be something to build later on.


(Other posts on Life) 

Success's Feeling

Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you're exactly the same. - Audrey Hepburn 

Which is not to say you should not celebrate your birthday or look forward to the next.

(Other posts on Success) 

Narrative is Linear

Narrative is linear, but action has breadth and depth as well as height and is solid. - Thomas Carlyle 

You are always more believable if you put your money where your mouth is.

(Other posts on Persuasion) 

Judgement's Perspective

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  

When you go to get a job you will be judged on how you did in the last one, not on how you feel you can do in this one.

(Other posts on Work) 

Dreams

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. - Edgar Allan Poe 


You have to have a dream before you can build it.


(Other posts on Motivation) 

Build Your Dream

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery 

Given the opportunity, people will build their dream.

(Other posts on Motivation) 

Inspired Action

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action. - Frank Tibolt



The chicken or the egg?


(Other posts on Progress) 

Speech is Free

Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both. - John Andrew Holmes

When situated so, it's known as chatter.

(Other posts on Words) 

Good Works

Old age is not a matter for sorrow. It is matter for thanks if we have left our work done behind us. - Thomas Carlyle 

Be thankful in your old age - leave good works behind you.

(Other posts on Time) 

Practical Limitation

I remember once going to a class in yoga where the teacher said that, spirituality speaking, if you believed that you had achieved enlightenment you have merely arrived at your limitation. - Milton Glaser 


Practically speaking, if you think you have reached perfection you have merely arrived at your limitation.


(Other posts on Perfection) 

Real Power

Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power. - Clint Eastwood   


What a self-respecting, disciplined individual can do is practically limitless.


(Other posts on Achievement) 

Fruit of the Limb

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is? - Frank Scully 


Be sure you are not being conned first.


(Other posts on Opportunity) 

Entropic Facts

Science is built up of facts, as a house is with stones. But a collection of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house. - Henri Poincare  

Organization distinguishes us humans. Entropy can be seen in matters of the mind as well as the physical universe.

(Other posts on Ideas) 

Privileged Laughter

Laughter is one of the very privileges of reason, being confined to the human species. - Thomas Carlyle 

Don't confuse laughter with giggling - it's not fueled by reason.

(Other posts on Reason) 

Chaper Ten

Chapter 10

This is Chapter Ten of my never ending short story "Index Out Front." To read previous chapters follow the links to the right. 


I love plays. After preparing a lecture series on playwriting I love them even more. They are different than other forms of writing and understanding these differences gives you more appreciation of the art. Of course the lecture series ends with asking the students to write their own play on any subject and in any style. Her's was hard to discern. Was it a satirical comedy or just dark humor? Maybe it is a tragedy or Theater of the Absurd. I will let you decide.


Cast of Characters


COWBOY, older man of few words.
SHEP, his dog.
ENVIRONMENTALIST, young, energetic, hippie-type.
POLITICIAN, handsome older man with expensive looking clothes.
RABBI, middle aged man.
PASTOR, middle aged man.


At RISE:         (An outdoor setting in a clearing with a fire ring with a single florescent bulb
                            at the center. Rocks and logs for seating. An exercise bike to one side with
                            ENVIRONMENTALIST pedaling. All other characters seated around the fire ring.
                            Dusk on a warm evening.)


      COWBOY
Why in the hell can't we have a real fire?


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
                                 (Slightly winded)
An open fire creates pollutants, we all know that. Particulate matter and such, not to mention CO2!


     POLITICIAN
Don't you listen to the news? Global warming is a real threat they say, and we must all make sacrifices. Just buckle-up and do your part cowboy. Why just last week the Senate committee (of which I'm proud to be the chairman) heard testimony from one of the leading scientists and he assured us that if we all don't change our ways the world would become uninhabitable in one or two decades.


     COWBOY
Was that the same scientist that told us thirty years ago that over-population would kill us all in 10 years?


     PASTOR
As a result of my sermon on being stewards of the land, in Gods name, my church has formed a committee looking into ways we can save energy at the church....things like turning down the heat in the winter and not using the air-conditioning at all in the summer.
                                            (chuckling)
Might keep people from falling asleep during the sermon too.


     RABBI
Oh, we've been doing that for centuries. You gentiles have gotten way to much into the electric organs, electric guitars, loudspeaker systems and all that. It's high time you got back to basics.


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
                                             (stops pedaling, the bulb dims)
Who's ready to take over running the generator?


     COWBOY
                                             (Under his breath)
Not me.


     POLITICIAN
I'm way to old for such a work-out. Might have a coronary on that thing. Rabbi, how about you?


     RABBI
I suppose it is my duty.
                                             (Gets up slowly and goes to the bike. ENVIRONMENTALIST sits down
                                                at the fire ring. As RABBI starts pedaling the bulb brightens.)


     PASTOR
What's for dinner?


     COWBOY
I'd go for a big steak, some eggs and a shot of whiskey.


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
That's just like you - go kill and innocent creature raised on crops forced to grow with fertilizer made from oil from some polluting well half way around the world.


     COWBOY
Them cows eat grass most of their lives - try and eat that for dinner. They are just machines which convert grass into food.


     POLITICIAN
Machines!? We have finally got good-minded Justices on the Supreme Court which understand that animals have rights too.


     COWBOY
You wouldn't worry about them having rights if you raised some and had 'em blow snot all over you while stepping on your toes.


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
Enough, enough! I brought dinner and it didn't require any carbon fuels to produce either. It is locally grown brown rice, planted and harvested by hand. Along with that are radishes grown by me using fertilizer produced from my composting toilet.


     COWBOY
Oh, nummy.


     PASTOR
How are we going to boil the rice?


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
To boil it we would have to have a fire and we can't pollute like that so I've soaked the rice for a few days and let it germinate. It's a little crunchy but it's a small sacrifice to save the planet.
                                                                 (Goes about prepping dinner)
                                                                  (PASTOR and RABBI switch places on the bike)
     COWBOY
I'll pass.


     RABBI
I'll pass too - I'm not sure it's Kosher.


     POLITICIAN
I should have brought some of the steaks from my freezer. One of my campaign contributors keeps it stocked for me. All that it cost me was a little legislation protecting the big feed lots from those redneck cheap little farmers.


     PASTOR
Don't you have to worry about all that campaign finance reform?


     POLITICIAN
Oh, hell no! That was all created to get votes anyway. We built in so many loopholes for us who are well-minded while keeping out the opinions of those opposing ignoramuses. 


     RABBI
I was sure glad to see you pass those laws reducing our carbon footprint while keeping in mind the plight  of the less developed countries. It's time we sacrificed for their benefit as well as protecting mother earth.


     COWBOY
                                                                      (Under his breath)
You all deserve a "footprint" right on your head.


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
I'm doing my part to reduce my carbon footprint and I think the trend is catching on. If we keep hitting the people with how important it is they will come around.


     PASTOR
My church has certainly come around. Our donations have nearly doubled since we started our "Save the Earth for God" campaign. We're even attracting media attention which has brought in more parishioners, some of whom are very conscious - wear hemp clothes and all. I do miss the Bake Sales though, since we decided it was an unnecessary use of fuel. Life requires sacrifice......


     POLITICIAN
If there is anything I can do let me know. Legislation is getting easier to pass these days after so many of the public are on the bandwagon. We're making the car companies build less polluting cars and cutting back on production.


     COWBOY
They're cutting back on production because nobody wants those damn tiny things.


     POLITICIAN
Well they're going through some tough times financially but we're helping them out by giving them some money to weather the down-turn.


     COWBOY
My money, you mean.


     POLITICIAN
No, no, it's Federal Reserve money. They just print some more when they run short.


     PASTOR
We all need to do with less.


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
I've never owned a car. I just use public transportation if I can't find someone to give me a ride.


     COWBOY
Freeloader.


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
You right-wing rednecks are always saying nasty things like that and calling us righteous people names.


     COWBOY
I understand the truth is hard to bear sometimes.


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
I don't know why you can't just get along - you know, live and let live.


     COWBOY
Let me live with my steak.

    ENVIRONMENTALIST
You need to live right!


     COWBOY
I've got a question for you all. How much do you all need to reduce your "carbon footprint?"


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
Ideally you would reduce it to zero but that isn't practical, so as much as you can.


     COWBOY
So there is a difference between "practical" and "ideal?"
     
     ENVIRONMENTALIST
Of course, you can't live ideally.


     POLITICIAN
Everybody needs to reduce as much as possible, depending on who you are. Take me for example I need to travel by chauffeured car in order to help pass laws which will make people live as they are supposed to; even airplanes when I've got to go a long ways in order to have a meeting. I need an airplane where I can stretch out and relax, like in a private jet. Regular people don't need to do that.


     RABBI
I don't know how much we all need to reduce but I do know we all need to do our part.


     PASTOR
Jesus commanded us to take care of the land and each other - this I know. So it only makes sense that we all need to live minimally; like in poverty....


     COWBOY
So why don't you guys just shoot yourselves in the head? That would eliminate your "carbon footprint."


     POLITICIAN
I couldn't do that because I'm needed in D.C. to pass laws which will require people to live properly. If I wasn't around can't you imagine the mess we all would be in? I don't even want to think about it...


      RABBI
You are talking about suicide, which is a sin.


      PASTOR
I certainly don't want to spend eternity in Hell!


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
Shoot!? A gun?! Not only does that release lead into the environment but the carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, smoke, and all is an environmental disaster!


     POLITICIAN
Enough already! It's high time we hit the hay. I don't know about you guys, but I've got a big day tomorrow drafting new legislation.


     ENVIRONMENTALIST
This discussion isn't going anywhere anyway......


     PASTOR
I agree - good night.


     RABBI
I'm ready to say my prayers and turn in myself. Good night.


                                                        (All but COWBOY settle in for sleep)


                                                         (COWBOY gets up and starts gathering firewood)


                                                         (COWBOY pulls his six-gun out of his holster, checks the bullets and fires
                                                             in the direction of each of his companions)


     COWBOY
                                                          (Talking to his dog SHEP)
Well they won't have to worry about their "carbon footprint" anymore......let alone any other kind of footprint. Now let's go out and find some four legged critter, build a fire and cook him for dinner!
                                                           (COWBOY and SHEP walk off stage)


FALL

Roller Skating Octopus

Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.   

Most all work is linear - there is a start and a goal. Our friend the roller skating octopus may be cute but may have a tough time reaching the goal.

(Other posts on Work) 

Devil's Critic

The devil doesn't need an advocate. The brave need supporters, not critics. - Seth Godin 


Does it then follow that the meek need critics, not supporters?


(Other posts on Negativity)