David Ball-Romney's Comments

the contrarian - What Does It Mean When Government Action Eliminates Jobs? by Dave McGill

Oct 16, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 54

David Ball-Romney Oct 17, 2009, 11:58am EDT

The stimulus package was designed to dam a river of shit. How many more people would be unemployed if we could somehow have continued with the Bush Administration? We've at least delayed the next "Great Depression," though we may find ourselves in a river of shit when most of the Baby Boomers are attempting to enjoy their retirement!

Nay or yay for Genetic technology by Shadie X

Aug 21, 2009 | rating: 8.5 | comments: 25

David Ball-Romney Oct 10, 2009, 7:40pm EDT

Humanity would do well to focus on fostering mental health first, but since we will probably not worry about our mental health first, I suggest seeking ways to minimize the harm. I'll expect nations with no sense of "human rights" to start creating various "slave races" soon, let's try to stop them!

Why am I Pagan? by Todd ..

Oct 21, 2006 | rating: 6 | comments: 7

David Ball-Romney Oct 9, 2009, 10:31pm EDT

An explanation of my approach to religion that I have for strangers:

Long ago some of our holidays were Pagan holidays. Christianity came, but the natives still wanted to celebrate their holidays. So names like "Cernunnos" were replaced with names like "Jesus," so that the masses would be worshiping something with the right "brand name". With "religious freedom" those who controlled the "Jesus" and related brand names no longer received most of the proceeds from it, and so Hallmark and KMart and others eventually filled in the gap.

I haven't found a passage in the Bible explaining how a chocolate Easter bunny helped Jesus to resurrect. I don't recall "the three wise men" bringing a mystic tree to the manger.

I'd rather wear some white sheets, call myself a druid, and tell those "Johnny-come-lately" groups to get their own holidays. And I have found that by not partaking of the guilt and dreaded obligations associated with some holidays, I enjoy them a lot.

I'm not just a "Druid," I'm also a practicing Buddhist. And I actually have great reverence for things spiritual. "Religion" is sometimes humanity's attempt to "brand name" and "market" what may defy definition. (You could read "The Gospel of Thomas" if you don't believe me...) "Spirituality" does have an important role in making life full of joy and wonder.

Confessions of a Careless Driver by De (It takes a pillage to raze a village.) M.

Jan 17, 2009 | comments: 20

David Ball-Romney Oct 9, 2009, 10:19pm EDT

I do bad things to avoid drivers who appear to be asleep, on their cell phones, terminally ill or elderly, clueless, or blind. The danger from these drivers, in my opinion, outweighs the risks that I take to elude them. Some don't seem to know that the light is green or that the speed limit is actually a lot higher than they think. Some apparently haven't decided which lane they would like to use or perhaps feel challenged by the "one lane" rule. Do you blame me?

the contrarian - Needed, A Better Yardstick by Dave McGill

Sep 18, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 75

David Ball-Romney Sep 20, 2009, 3:52pm EDT

We don't merely need new ways to measure the system, we need a new system!
Far too often we put all of our eggs into a single basket, but instead we should create a system in which more people become in charge of their own destinies, rather than having to work for a few large corporations.
We need a system wherein something "someplace in between" nonprofit organizations and for-profit organizations may exist -- a new way of doing business.

the contrarian - IRAN SPEAKS by Dave McGill

Jun 12, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 36

David Ball-Romney Jun 16, 2009, 10:00am EDT

Why do they get an election orgy? ;-) But seriously, what was THEIR problem, hanging chad?

What might the world look like if all UN member nations had election observers who could declare elections invalid and petition to the International Criminal Court to have foreign leaders physically removed from their nations? (I'm not sure that I would want to live in that world, but I'm posing an alternative as a point of departure from the present status quo, with the hope of a better idea.)

The Toll - 4/5/09 - No Continent For Many Women by Dave McGill

Apr 6, 2009 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 28

David Ball-Romney Jun 7, 2009, 7:36pm EDT

What, do you think that our world is "modern"?

We're still trying to crawl out of "the dark ages" and by "we" I definitely don't mean everybody and I can only hope that I am included in this "we".

Our prison creates unhealthy environments in which many people are raped on a regular basis, but most people don't seem to have a problem with that.

Some day, "mental health" and "individual happiness" could be a higher priority of societies.

A Photo by J* Malukas ;) S.

May 8, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 6

David Ball-Romney Jun 7, 2009, 7:30pm EDT

Would this be our cottage? :-)

the contrarian - How Well Do You Know US? by Dave McGill

May 29, 2009 | rating: 8.9 | comments: 77

David Ball-Romney May 29, 2009, 7:37pm EDT

It takes an honest citizen to hear what you say and respect it.

the contrarian - Assisted Suicides and Other Ways to Get Rid of the Old Folks by Dave McGill

Mar 22, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 49

David Ball-Romney Mar 30, 2009, 3:03pm EDT

"A+"
I've thought that China would be the first "in the modern world" to adopt the practice of killing the elderly for economic reasons. How many in their younger generation are expected to support their elderly? Don't they have an even more challenging "ration problem" than do we? Considering their government's seeming lack of concern for "human rights," I foresee the decision being made as coldly as if it were coming from a military bunker.

"Economic Issues" are "Military Issues" because a nation with a weak economy doesn't have much of a voice in the international community and cannot defend itself for long.

We could save our elderly (and "our souls"), if we had been more responsible and not voted for politicians like Ronald Reagan who pandered to our greed and who did not save for their future and who did not care for the poor.

Are we a nation of swine? Not all of us.

Can we be trusted to spend our money responsibly? Apparently not. Instead, we prefer to vote based upon immediate gratification and occasionally vote for someone like Obama who will fix the messes of his predecessors.

Didn't President Clinton want to save Social Security? It wasn't hopeless.

The future seems uncertain, but I'm not planning on retiring here!

Would You Trust a Condom Made in China? by Anita D.

Mar 28, 2009 | rating: 9.8 | comments: 33

David Ball-Romney Mar 30, 2009, 2:44pm EDT

China seems as ethical as our worst multi-national corporations, at best.
They'll use us and discard us when they think that we're of no further use; I fully expect China to try to take over everything.
Look at what they do to people inside their own borders and ask "Do we really think that they will have more regard for people outside of their borders?"

Are Executives Worth Their Compensation? by Anita D.

Feb 26, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 30

David Ball-Romney Mar 3, 2009, 3:08am EST

Do you think that there will come a day when the pay that people receive is directly related to the good that they do for society (rather than for "investors")?

To A-Rod, from one fallen sports icon to another... [Humor] by Mark Jepsen

Feb 9, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 4

David Ball-Romney Feb 12, 2009, 2:02pm EST

A friend of mine did something like that while writing a paper. He said that he fell asleep even though he had taken "no doze" and when he woke up, his paper was done.

the contrarian - Thanks Mr. President, We Are In Your "Debt" by Dave McGill

Jan 16, 2009 | rating: 9.3 | comments: 51

David Ball-Romney Jan 21, 2009, 12:31pm EST

For the sake of the world, I would like those "War Crimes" trials to come to pass.

Original Title: At 2:47 a.m. on January 1, 2009, I became self-aware... New Title: That's a Crock! by Mark Jepsen

Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 12

David Ball-Romney Jan 13, 2009, 4:27pm EST

But denial can be so comical! : )

I recently received the following from a relative:
"The finest gift i can give or receive for Christmas is forgiveness. It's the gift that keeps giving. I pray that one day you can forgive me. In my journey I have found that life gets easier when I can be generous with forgiveness. Also everything gets easier when I remember " First take no offence " Also I like to remember that everyone is entitled to " a bad day ". I am too old to hold onto perceived bad behavior. Sometimes when I think someone is snubbing me it just may be he or she forgot to put in their contacts. It's OK. This life is not about me. It's all about JESUS. There is no other name under Heaven by which men are saved. When HE departed almost 2000 years ago He said " IT IS FINISHED " He left nothing for me to do or prove. HE also said "LOVE GOD " and LOVE EACH OTHER". It seems like such a small request when I think of all HE did for me. I do Love GOD. and I want desperately to love HIS creation.
David, I pray that you will learn that people can change. In the days of our youth most of us made poor decisions... So...when I look on all the poor decisions I have made I no longer want to make excuses....I confess the myriad of mistakes. And what's really terrific is all of my sins are moved over to JESUS and I am declared "NOT GUILT". You notice I'm not declared "INNOCENT"..because we all have sinned. Only JESUS is innocent. I also do not want to point my finger at others and blame them for my shortcomings. GOD is GOOD. And.... now here's the Good News.....GOD loves you more than you can possibly imagine. GOD created you perfect...There is nothing you can do to make GOD love you less....or more. He loves you passionately and generously and sometimes unexpectedly. As a matter of fact, you are GOD'S favorite child. and so am I and so is Johnson and George Bush and everyone in creation. How that can work I just don't know but I could not let this joyous season pass without telling you of my Passion. It's JESUS. I pray that the peace that surpasses human understanding will come to you. I pray that you will be known for your gentleness and kindness and I pray that JESUS will give you the courage to dare to do great things. It's Christmas and I send you my love. Love ..."
In response inquired about out the fact that she hadn't forgiven her mother. (She hasn't accumulated more than 100 words of communication to her mother over the past 24 years!) It's not just her mother who is on her blacklist, there are a few others.
I did subsequently add "I hope that you understand that in spite of my honesty with you, I very much want you to have true joy and happy holidays!" Usually after I'm honest with her I don't hear back for several months, typically a year. It's been about three weeks so far this time, but I do give her credit for seeming to aspire to have the capacity to forgive, because this is very important for all of us, even me.

I admire the Mahayana Buddhist process that some approach, of taking "The Bodhisattva Vow" like this one for example:
All beings, without number, I vow to liberate
Endless blind passions I vow to uproot
Dharma gates beyond measure I vow to penetrate
The way of the Buddha I vow to attain
Beings are numberless; I vow to awaken with them.
Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them.
Dharma gates are boundless; I vow to enter them.
Buddha's way is unsurpassable; I vow to become it. "
The actual practice of upholding these vows, in the Tibetan tradition, typically entails some difficult but praiseworthy behaviors which a Bodhisattva probably does naturally but ordinary people apparently do not. They aspire to the highest GOOD, and when they break their vows the best of them are honest with themselves, own their mistakes and make amends where appropriate, re-take their vows and continue.

It seems to be about "improvement". You have apparently come to a moment of truth and have enough integrity to have it last longer than a moment. I'm impressed enough to say that this is praiseworthy.

If you're ready to "embrace" a midlife crisis I suggest as a good starting point an article I find useful to this end:
Understanding the Female Brain: Why Men Just Don't Understand Women
By: Louann Brizendine, M.D. & Charles Hirshberg
www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=sex.relationships&category=decode.her&conitem=4ebaad055c2c1110VgnVCM20000012281eac____&page=1

All man-made religions are false and biased! (A myspace conversation) by Paul R

Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 5.5 | comments: 10

David Ball-Romney Jan 13, 2009, 2:59pm EST

Do you not believe that Jesus died to save people from adult responsibility?

Has it occurred to you that Jesus attempted to warn people about some of these very things? That religious functionaries could themselves work to stand between humanity and THE TRUTH?

You've definitely been thinking, oh "lost sheep," and I hope that you hold firmly to your integrity and stay the course, for if you do THE TRUTH will become apparent.

All Ice and Inline Hockey Skates ON SALE! 20% Off! (Or NOT!) by Mark Jepsen

Jan 9, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 19

David Ball-Romney Jan 13, 2009, 2:18pm EST

Sometimes I encounter people who use stupid lies and stupid arguments in their efforts to not do anything out of the ordinary on their jobs, even if their job descriptions indicate that they are to do these things. I more often encounter low-level civil servants perpetrating such ineptitude, but I know that behavior like this is rampant and that the alternative is sometimes people doing things for which they are not qualified.

We're still, in a sense, primitives.

At times I have seen abject idiocy and felt more sad for the perpetrator than angry, sad because I realize that what I perceive is less than the tip of the iceberg, that their lives are probably pretty difficult.

the contrarian - "This Looks an Awful Lot Like the Beginning of a Second Great Depression" by Dave McGill

Jan 7, 2009 | rating: 9.4 | comments: 128

David Ball-Romney Jan 13, 2009, 2:01pm EST

Some day we will have "Parallel Systems" instead of putting all of our eggs into one basket. Integration may lead to the strength of one thing in the short term, but when that one thing falls, so does the rest...
In the future, where possible, we will always have multiple sources for everything and everyone will have some means of producing their basic necessities themselves or at least close to themselves. High rise buildings will be filled with farms in metropolitan areas. Skyscrapers will have solar panels in their mostly transparent glass. Small business will flourish in economic systems that don't directly overlap; each may even have its own currency with no exchange rates. "Off the grid" communes will not be suppressed by the government. Foreign governments and foreign corporations won't buy up our businesses and have undue influence over our economic interests...
...that is, if we don't completely dump our economic future into the crapper first.

A Photo by Jeana Hamilton

Dec 25, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 4

David Ball-Romney Dec 25, 2008, 11:10pm EST

"Innocent" with a bud light in his hand?

A Photo by Jeana Hamilton

Dec 25, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 5

David Ball-Romney Dec 25, 2008, 11:10pm EST

There is a lot of honesty in their expressions!