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UNIFORMED SERVICE: THE SOFT TIMES

August 22, 2025 by

The uniformed service is the backbone of every country that uses effective traffic control on their busy streets. It’s either the guy in a uniform pulling drivers over for traffic violations, for not following the rules of the road, or before traffic lights, a guy in a uniform directing traffic in the street like the […]

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HUMAN PROJECT OF YOU

August 16, 2025 by

A human project is easy to find. They’re all around because everyone is a project in some stage of completion. The secret? It’s never complete, but there are signs of progress.

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MY PEOPLE, YOUR PEOPLE, OUR PEOPLE

August 12, 2025 by

My people are good listeners, up to a point. Requesting something five time in a minute is close to that point. “Please do this. Have you done it. It’s all set up for you. Get started. You’d be done if you’s started sooner.” We also have patience. What about your people?

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COMMON GROUND? IT’S OVER THERE 👉

July 23, 2025 by

Common ground is where you stand with your people, whoever and wherever they may be. It’s a place to relax and drop your guard. Say the wrong thing? Impossible. Wear the wrong clothes? Just don’t leave a stain on the furniture. You’ll know the place when you get there; and you know you’re not there […]

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READING BOOKS CREATE NOVEL IDEAS

July 21, 2025 by

Reading books are a lifeline to another time. Not everyone gets it; not everyone thinks they need a lifeline. I don’t start reading a book with that in mind, but when I finish a good one it feels like the writer tossed me a line. That’s the good news. I’m of the mind that berating […]

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GOOD FORTUNE: ACCIDENTAL OR PLANNED

July 13, 2025 by

My happy good fortune could never be planned any more than a shark chooses their favorite remora. It’s all been a long string of happy coincidence. Just another fat baby boomer taking up space in comfort and luxury. That’s me. How about you, same thing? Probably not, but check with younger people to know for […]

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ONE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE LATER

July 9, 2025 by

How often does a declaration of independence come up? I declared my independence early. It was a quiet declaration that went something like: I do declare my living conditions to be unlivable. What did I do? Nothing.

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LIFE LONG LEARNING STARTS WITH A CALL

July 8, 2025 by

Life long learning doesn’t end with the last school day, the last class, the last good-bye. It doesn’t end with a diploma, a certificate, or a license. Those indicate the culmination of a training sequence, but the learning is just starting. Now you find out what you need to know, which is . . . […]

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AWARD WINNING BLOGGER? SURE THING

June 27, 2025 by

Award winning what? Since this is the only time I’ve seen my name in a headline, it covers everything. “Gillaspie Wins.” What more could anyone want? Instead of complaining for fifty-two years after the event reported, I fill in the missing parts. I like to think of it as an American Fable with universal appeal. […]

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BIRTHDAY WEEK WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE

June 25, 2025 by

Birthday Week is not a request, you just take it: You: This is my birthday week. Them: Really? Your mother had that long of  labor? You: More or less. Them: If that’s the case I’d have a birthday hour.

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