Gratitude

     I subscribe to the Sam Harris Meditation App.  On it, in addition to his daily meditations, he has short lessons on Life.  One such lesson is called Gratitude.  It was short, less than four minutes, but it is very inspiring.  It wasn't as if I hadn't given the subject a lot of thought before, but it did spark my interest again; thus, today's blog.
      The thing I find fascinating about gratitude, it can take you from entirely one state of mind to another, not only without any physical changes but with the very changes that caused the despair. Take an automobile accident for example. You have the unfortunate luck to be involved in an automobile accident with your family. You just bought a brand new car and it is demolished. But you are quick to notice neither you nor any of your family was seriously injured. I had such an incident happen to me. You have some bruises. Sure, you will have to deal with the insurance companies and the general aftermath nuisances.  Still, you are immersed in gratitude that no one was injured. Without invoking this attitude, this emotion, it would be an event that would cause utter despair.  Instead,  just thinking about what could have happened has moved you into a better place. Thinking otherwise not only exasperates the moment but says volumes of your misplaced priorities and attitudes that follow you daily in smaller and inevitable events.
     Now one does not have to have a mishap or near mishap in order to appreciate the virtue of gratitude. There is rarely a life that one cannot invoke gratitude on a daily basis. As Sam Harris puts it: "I think of all the things that haven't happen to me." Or has he bluntly put it:" There must be a billion people on earth that would trade places with you at this very moment." And right alongside gratitude is how relative happiness is and the illusion of need.
     Think how we have boxed ourselves in a corner with material acquisition and creature comforts in order to proclaim being happy. Take away our cell phones, air condition in cars and homes, cable TV, and Internet, and the prospect of being happy or grateful are diminished greatly,  if not eliminated for most people.  If "things" make us happy, how could anyone have been happy before those "things" existed? Yet, we know billions of people were happy before the advent of the present technology.  Perhaps, in many ways, happier. I am discounting medical and pharmacological advances that have promoted the well-being of billions of people and have reduced suffering. I am speaking of the guy who can't survive another day with his "archaic" phone that was just the latest in technology a decade ago and a century ago would have been looked upon as an unimaginable instrument of the future.
     The wealthiest people on earth just a century ago did not have anywhere near the medicine, dental, eye, or mental health care afforded even the poorest in this country today.  They had no flat-screen TVs, smartphones, or even an automobile that could outperform even the modest of today's models. Still, they were happy.
       Gratitude sparks the divine in all of us. It is a tool that gives us the power to ease or eliminated unnecessary suffering by putting things in their proper perspective. Use it well. Use it often. And you will have more to be grateful for.
   



   
 

Reparations: The Road to Hell Paved with Good Intentions

     Anytime we talk about reparations for slavery in this country, we must be honest with ourselves.  Any trace of bias against blacks on the part of white people and non-black minorities are going to slant against it. Most blacks will be in favor of it. I actually found every cliche argument for or against it to be sound. My first instinctive thoughts were it was a bad idea. However, as a progressive thinker, I wanted to be persuaded otherwise. I gather as much information on the debate as I could, but when one of my polemical idols, the late great Christopher Hitchens, could not convince me with his acidic wit and illuminating analogies, I was left to side with Glenn C. Lory, a black professor at Boston University, against reparations.

      Monetary reparations for blacks because of slavery their ancestors suffered is a bad idea. It is an idea rooted in the noble intent to right a wrong, to do penitence, to make "good." Reparations for atrocities are not new. Lincoln had proposed giving each black 40 acres and a mule as well as free passage to their homeland. Andrew Johnson squashed the idea and soon after Jim Crows Laws went into effect in the South. It wasn't until another Johnson with help of Congress passed the ERA amendment in 1972, despite the fact it was introduced in every session of Congress since 1923.

     Timely reparations have been done in the past, but not without controversy. In 1988, Regan signed the Civil Liberties Act and gave $20,000 to surviving Japanese victims that were incarcerated in camps during World War II.  The keys words here are surviving and victims. The "Wiedergutmachung Agreement" between West Germany and Israel to compensate Jews for losses in 1952  did not go without protest. "Our honor shall not be sold for money; Our blood shall not be atoned by goods. We shall wipe out the disgrace!" was the cry of Jewish protesters.  Many black leaders and intellectuals like Glenn Lory feel that any monetary compensation, even with an apology, would be profane. These reparations were made when a more direct connection could be made between the perpetrators and their victims. I believe with the passing of Lincoln and the indifference of his successors, the time has passed for any direct compensation to the true victims of slavery.
      Even the articulate and polemic Christopher Hitchens could not muster up a convincing argument for reparations. In an Oxford-style debate in 2001 at Boston University he taught the audience how to pronounce Elgin and little more. Trying to draw comparisons between the theft of the Elgin Marbles from Greece in the 18 century and today's dilemma whether to give people of African descent monetary compensation for the sins committed to their very distant ancestors was feeble at best.  Repeatedly boosting: "Don't let the best be the enemy of good" (quoting Voltaire without credit). He outlines:

     Was there an original traceable offense?
     Was there a taking, a thief, a rape, dispossession, a confiscation?
     Can all of it be made "good"? If not all can some of it be make "good?.

     No one is arguing that there was an original traceable offense of horrific magnitude. But what, if any, can be made "good" by the exchange of currency from people who never owned a slave and whose ancestors may never have owned a slave, but may have fought and died to free them to a people who are not slaves dumbfounds even black scholars like, Glenn C. Lory. He sees inherent problems with reparations.  He fears both white and black might consider the debt paid in full, reducing the horrors to some kind of class action lawsuit. He fears it will diminish support for affirmative action programs and similar programs that aid black folks. He argues any significant amount of compensation could not be absorbed by the economy and any symbolic amount might do more harm than good.
      Much has been done to promote equality in this country. We as people cannot enforce attitudes. We can only encourage and enlighten them. We have programs like affirmative action and many other special corporate and educational incentives for the black community. I am happy to see that discrimination is not only against the law but not in vogue. People careers can vanish in a second by the use of "N" word. I applaud that interracial marriages are on the rise. Black athletes can kneel when the National Anthem is being played without losing their job or multi-million dollar contracts. Yes, we have to address and be ever vigilant of the lack of assimilation of blacks in America, but reparation is not the answer in whole or part. We are on the right track: "Don't let best be the enemy of good".




  













   


   
   

Dog Day Afternoon

     The other day as I got on a flight to Florida I noticed a large white poodle sitting with a passenger. It was a beautiful animal lying there as well behave as one would expect. I briskly walked by and took my seat. I assumed it was a "service dog of sorts" and gave it no further thought. When I exited the plane, there was this attractive woman with a Great Dane the size of a small pony ready to board another flight.  As one would expect, the dog gathered  (I would have thought the woman would have been enough) a lot of attention. Of course, no one was allowed to touch or pet the animal or even inquire the affliction this woman had that permitted the dog's presence. My first thought was: is there anything wrong with this woman that a Cocker Spaniel could not remedy? I shortly put the dog, the woman was a little harder, out of my mind.  Then I began noticing these service animals popping up everywhere. No guide dogs mind you. No old fashion Rin Tin Tin helping the true handicap. Just a menagerie of dog breeds and their owners.
     As fate would have it, shortly afterward I would have a close encounter of the third kind. I was playing poker in AC and a man sat next to me with a dog. Now I am not sure what smelled worst the dog or the guy? I inquire politely about the anomaly. The man told me it was a service dog, and he had anger issues. "Blinky" calm him down when he played and if it wasn't for him, he might be busting someone's head. I told him I would take my chances if he wanted to give his dog a little time off. Well, all hell broke loose. Apparently, "Blinkly" didn't have quite the calming effect as advertised. After the smoked cleared, no heads were busted; however, despite my protest for the guy to produce some documentation on him or Blinkly, it was I who had to find another table. Now, this brings this blog to the point where I should have started it.
     I love dogs. I owned many. My friend has a dog. When I go over his house, Charlie will jump on my lap and I find myself confessing my sins to him. It is very comforting, but I would not think of taking him to a cocktail party.
     The service dog industry has largely become a scam. It's fertile ground, as my friend Sal Diaz points out: "for every neurotic, obsessed dog owner to get Fido public access where oftentimes minors are not allowed."
     Of course, there are legitimate reasons to have a service dog and legitimate schools where they are trained. Also, I am discounting legitimate guide (service) dogs which we are familiar with that have a long history of helping the blind and others with visible and pronounced disabilities. But just do a google search and you will find dozens of companies guaranteeing certification for you and your dog. And if you don't have a dog, there are just as many pseudo schools "training" these dogs in some sort of "therapy." Amazon will sell you vest, leashes, collars, and dog tags indicating your dog is some kind of service, seizure alert, emotional support animal and even a very scary legal-looking card stating you are ready to sue anyone who denies Fidio access to your facility.
     And it does not stop at dogs. ESA of American will gladly certify your pet rat, your iguana, and your small pony as an ESA. ( emotional support animal) .
      There are specific laws concerning ESA owners policed by the FHA and ACAA but how well they are enforced is dubious. Once again my friend Sal Diaz pointed out: "These scam artists are riding the current wave of political correctness. Most people are afraid to call them out."
     Here is a list of just some reasons Emotional Support animals could be justified:

          Anxiety Depression Bipolar disorder
          Mood Disorder
          Any Phobias
          Suicidal Tendency
          TS
          Intrusive Thoughts
          PTSD
          Separation Anxiety
          Eating Disorders
          Obsessive/ Compulsive  Disorder
          Neurocognitive
          Personality Disorder
          Sexual Gender Identity Crisis
          Sleep Disorders
          Impotence
          Anger
      I don't know anyone who doesn't suffer from at least one of these afflictions or even who compile the list? Like Charleston Heston scream in the first Planet of the Apes: "It's a madhouse!"
     And emotional support animals ARE NOT required to be trained to perform any specific task!
     Please keep in mind, I am not talking about ADA service animals that are individually trained to do work for people with disabilities and the legitimate restrictions under law as to what questions can be asked about such animals. Emotional support animals and their patients /owners do not qualify as service animals; thus, are not afforded the same rights.
     Then there is the issue of common sense and common courtesy even when all the requirements are met. You paid good money for a ticket at a concert and you have Cynophobia. The guy next to has Agoraphobia, but his ESA gives enough support to him to allow him or her to attend. Who should have the right away here?   What if I was allergic to dogs or I just don't like the odor of Blinky? Why did I have to move and not Blinky and Rambo? Then there are children at both ends of the spectrum. The ones that want to reach out and pet the animal but now are restricted, adding additional policing by the parents and those petrified by have been bitten. I think those issues need to be addressed. As for now, however, we have to deal with the widespread fraud of industry and vague regulations.
     If you suspect fraud, don't be afraid to call them out, especially if the animal is disruptive in any way.
    You can ask an owner to remove the dog on the basis of "direct threat " or "fundamental alteration".
    As far as Blinkly and Rambo, I am taking Charlie with me the next time. Both of us are up there in age, but we will get the job done.
     

       

UBI Tied to Technology not Charity

     UBI or Universal Basic Income which is proposed by democratic candidate Andrew Yang is misunderstood by not only the general population but by some very educated people. Yang is an American Lawyer and entrepreneur. He is not a socialist. In case you don't know, entrepreneurs and especially lawyers generally don't fair well in a real socialist society.  He is a visionary who warns us of the grave consequences of ever emerging technology and automation.
     "My fellow citizen-humans, I have seen the horrors upon horrors birthed from the cold and antiseptic womb of automation. Our world has become a different place, a place of implacable mathematical deduction, an emotionless vacuum of pure logic. a crystalline Libertarian ideal realm where mankind has been reduced to the servants, living curious, and even pets of the robotoid over- race. I've seen welding arms burn men where they stand, manipulator armatures disassemble screaming children with analytical precision, relentless tracks grind fleeing women and their contraband infants into their own bloody footprints. And that automated nightmare grew from seeds sown in our own time. We must take action now before we are forced to take up arms to fight the unconquerable."
     These are not the words of a dreamer or a modern version of John Lennon's "Imagine". These are the words of a pragmatist. So how does this fear of automation and UBI tie in?  More and more jobs will be replaced by automation, displacing millions of workers.  Amazon is already talking about remotely driven trucks. This technology is at our fingertips and will revolutionize cargo transportation.  It is estimated there are 3.5 million truck drivers currently employed in the US. If only a fraction of them are displaced, it will have devastating effects on our economy.  Many other jobs in medicine, accounting, security, pharmaceutical, and engineering will be eliminated or reduced because of technology. If we don't set up a safety net now for the displacement of these workers, it will be disastrous in the future. We must adopt a more egalitarian outlook in this country if we are going to survive.
    UBI is basically a trickle-up economic idea. The more money people have the more they will spend. And all the concerns critics have that such a plan would lead to inflation or misuse of the money by the recipients, are exactly the same as if the recipients would have gotten the money by any other means.
     The great discrepancy of wealth in this country, much of it made through technology, has made it both possible and necessary to implement  UBI.

Fishing, Poker and the Art of Zen

                                                     

     If you want to improve your game of poker ( NL-Omaha, Stud, etc) I suggest you start taking some lessons from good fishermen and practice a little Zen philosophy and meditation. These two things will especially help if are a beginner; but, I believe, they can also enhance an advanced player.

     Think about fishing. Like in poker where there are many kinds of games, in fishing there are many types. You have Deep Sea Fishing, Lake or Pond, Fly (my favorite) Ice Fishing and many more. Each type of fishing requires a certain set of skills and specific techniques to succeed. Even more important, an adequate amount of planning and preparation must go into the sport to achieve optimal results. I know, you might say the comparative attributes of good fish and poker with a dash of Zen can apply to a slew of activities and sports, but I think good fishing, the art of Zen and good poker are a uniquely matched.

      Good fisherman will always know some characteristics of the fish they attempting to catch. They will generally be well rested and would never think about going without proper bait, hooks, and poles. They have to exhibit Zen-like patience for success.  Unlike novels like Moby Dick or Jaws, they never take things personally, another sound Zen recommendation.  Yes, many good fishermen imbibed, but rarely to the point on impairment, but more to the point of enlightenment.

     Now poker players- even good players- will often fall short these valuable attributes which are so essential for success. And if you closely at very successful players, you will always find them.

1. Know the characteristics of your opponents like the fisherman knows his fish. Whats' he inclined to do under what circumstances?
2. Don't go to the table tire or underfunded. Few fishermen run out of bait.
3. Cast and wait. Yanking at the pole, boisterous behavior often scares fish away. Patience prevails in fishing as it will in poker.
4. When the time is right, don't hesitate to act.
5. Never take things personally. It always clouds your judgment. And bad beat stories are like the "big one that got away" who really wants to hear it?
6. Imbibe to the point of enlightenment, not impairment.

    Well, good fishing, poker, and meditation.



  

     

   

Survial is a Great Incentive

                                                   

     Of all the ludicrous reasons why we should not give assistance to the poor, is the belief it will kill their incentive to improve themselves has to be on the top of the list. This archaic idea, though often well intended, has been lingering in the psyches of many people since Rosevelt proposed the"New Deal". What these Ayn Rand disciples failed to recognize is the poor have been with us for centuries before any social programs were enacted to mitigate the suffering and despair of those less fortunate than we are. What could have been more of an incentive for the poor to work than to feed their families?  Still, many kids went to bed hungry. What more incentive could a parent have had to "find a job" than knowing that they might have to give up their child? The greatest incentive of all-survival- has been with impecunious souls since the earliest civilizations. Yet, abject poverty persists.  I doubt that the reduction of food stamps will spark the maladroit to rise to the occasion or to enhance their patience to wait for the rising tide of a "trickle-down economy" to raise their boat.