Entries by dickbernard

SAK and Jeff on the Past and Present.

SAK and Jeff are long-time friends of mine who have never met each other.  In fact, I have never personally met SAK, who lives in England.  Both recently filed opinions, and I asked and received permission to share their thoughts.  Their thoughts are well worth your time. from SAK, May 1, 2026: Congratulations on the […]

Law Day 2026

Today is Law Day in the United States. For a lot of years after I retired, I was active in an organization who was very active advocate for the rule of law.  Before that, though not a lawyer, most of my work time was spent dealing in one way or another with legal matters such […]

Reflecting at 250 Years

In about two months our country has its 250th birthday.  What is your role in the future or our nation and our world? I’ve been reflecting on how I, as an individual, fit into the 250 years of the United States of America.  I am, as we all are, individual members of this union.  Everyone […]

Chaos

POSTNOTE April 27: A week ago today I learned of the death of a colleague staff member at Education Minnesota, Angel Morales.  Here is the obit.  I really hardly knew Angel – he came on staff a year or two before I retired (2000) and his assignment was to the Rochester local, outside the Twin […]

Jim Christie: Thoughts on Iran

On April 8,  I sent the following to a group of people I thought might have a particular interest in the Iran situation: “I’m sending this to only a few of you. I’d appreciate your taking a look at, and perhaps commenting on, https://thoughtstowardsabetterworld.org/war-on-iran/, especially the postnotes for April 6 and 8 at the beginning and […]

Four Presidents

Kathy alerted me to a 18 minute piece on NBC April 21.  It features brief comments made very recently and personally by Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joseph Biden.  It is well worth your time.   Link is here.  “Cost of admission” is a 25 second ad. Here is a chronological […]

Cuba on my mind.

A year ago today we were about half way through the first 100 days of DJT’s second term.  Speaking only for myself, back then I was suspecting the worst, but in retrospect I was grossly underestimating the reality to come, and we’re only in the second year. Cuba is on the plate, and I think […]

Tax Day

Wednesday was tax day.  I had our appointment on April 8, and had left the prep materials with our advisor,  One problem: one 1099 had gone missing.  The good news was we would likely be getting a refund on both federal and state.  I had no idea why.  There were some peculiarities in some of […]

A Little Ride

We watched the conclusion of the Artemis II mission on April 10, 2026.  In all ways it was impressive – a perfect landing.  Only a few dilemmas.  Here was my view as the spacecraft neared touchdown.  I was most impressed with the diversity of the four person crew: a woman, an African-American, a Canadian, and […]

Observing the Catholic Church

Today, Sunday April 12, I went to church as usual.  Today’s Mass was in a new venue, still at Basilica of St. Mary  in Minneapolis, but today, and for the next 48 Sundays, the sanctuary is the church undercroft (basement) as the 100 year old sanctuary, and the church generally, is being renovated. I’m a […]