http://www.epharmony.com/blog Epharmonic correspondence with an altered planet... en-us Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:30:49 -0500 Main Page Blogware Nancy Pace http://www.epharmony.com/blog/_archives/2008/11/16/3981242.html http://www.epharmony.com/blog/_archives/2008/11/16/3981242.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:37:00 -0500 (Excerpt): I went to see Quantum of Solace because I liked Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale, and because I always take my husband to opening weekends of all good new action movies. I’d already heard reviewers complain that this new Craig/Bond was insufficiently Bondish—i.e., not enough jokes, too much heavy emotion, too many similarities to other, un-Bond-like traditionally-vengeful action heroes, not enough Bond-techy gimmicks and vehicles, too few glam locales. And what to make of the movie’s weird politics? And of Bond’s lack-of-sex with his sexy new love interest? I went to see for myself.... Main Page 2008 Entries politics compassion war peace terrorism justice catastrophe military fairness commentary opinion freedom punditry humor satire policy meaning government injustice bias belief current news analysis art spirituality culture insight acceptance economy resistance ethics education security philosophy nuclear kindness giving priorities sacrifice relationships loneliness violence movies reviews power chaos soldiers confusion answers differences fiction fear safety nonviolence choices perspective values victims diversity competition bullies international enlightenment enemies media creativity blowback appreciation forgiveness vengeance foreign policy guns oil morals fighting goals ideologies theories problems conflict heroes history humanitarian charisma attacks divisions idealism weapons division oneness solutions predictions hope quandaries choice journalism scarcities wisdom wholeness wholeheartedness welcome weariness weapons weaponry virtue violence viewpoints victims vice veracity vengeance values unselfishness unity uniqueness unfamiliar understanding uncertainties tyranny truth travel transformation transcendence tomorrow thugs thuggery threats threat terrorizing terrorism talents talent sympathy sustainability survival suffering stress strengths strategy strategies standards stability spirituality sincerity similarities shootings sexuality sex service selfless selfishness scarcity scarcities romance risk rights reviews retributive retribution retaliation respect resources resistance resiliance rescue relativism relationships regret redemption reconciliation realpolitik reality purpose punishment pundit prosperity propaganda profiteers profile problems pride power possibilities positivity poor politics policy philosophy perspective persona perseverence peace patriotism patience paths passion paradigms pain opinion nightmares news nationalism mysteries murder multicultural muddling movies mistakes misery meaning loyalty loyalties love losses loss loneliness limitations likeability lifestyle lessons left leadership leaders kindness justice judgment journalism international interests intentions integrity insanity injustice imperfection ideals humility humanrights humanity humanitarian humane horrors hope honesty heroes hero helplessness help heartaches healing happiness guns guilt grievances grief greed government gore goodwill global giving gentleness generosity forgiveness forgive foreign force flexibility fitness firearms film fighting feelings fear fallibility exotic excellence ethics essay espionage equitability equanimity enemies emotion economy divisiveness divisions diversity disrespect disobedience disease discrimiination discontent discipline disaster disarmament diplomats diplomacy differences destruction despots despotic desperation despair desire deprivation democracy decisions deception death cynicism current culture criticism criminals criminal crime courage corruption control contributions contribution contentment confusion conflict confidence condemnation complexity compassion communication commonalities commentary classy class civilization choices choice chaos change challenges cause caring bullies brothers brilliance bravery bombs blowback bloody bitterness bias belligerance belief bandwidth balance awareness avenge attitude attack artwork artist art approval appreciation apathy anxiety answers angst analysis American America ambition alternatives alone aggression agendas advocacy adversity adversaries adventuring admiration activists activism action acting acceptance abilities Nancy Pace http://www.epharmony.com/blog/_archives/2008/11/16/3981009.html http://www.epharmony.com/blog/_archives/2008/11/16/3981009.html Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:29:00 -0500 (Excerpt): During those pre-Civil War days, politicians gained national political stature through public speaking—that is: by composing speeches and then publishing them in the nation’s newspapers. These thoughtfully-wrought, persuasive intellectual arguments concerning the issues of the day included valuable original personal perspectives and prescriptions for appropriate responses to breaking conflicts and topics. Barack Obama himself has certainly fulfilled all such requirement for visionary intellectual leadership, having personally written two best-selling books during his relative youth, and having personally planned and executed an unparalleled national campaign that bent and shaped the ideas of the world through the sheer force of his intellect. (Excerpt): But Secretary of State? We definitely do not need a parochial street fighter in that role. What we need is a global visionary who will approach the world non-adversarially—not as a defensive women up against a world of men, not as an advocate of the interests of the United States against the interests of “the rest,” but as one with all others. (Excerpt): Actually, I had Al Gore in mind for Obama's Secretary of State, because of his green, global, cooperative vision and personality, and his demonstrated intellectual leadership through speaking, writing, and other political venues. But if Obama does offer State to Clinton, then I hope she will consider his offer with a real humility about her motives and abilities gained from her recent hubris. And if she accepts, I hope she now comes from that intellectual bandwidth which alone will determine whether both their decisions will look good to posterity. Unfortunately, Clinton’s previous particular strengths have not been in this department—with the exception of her global work for women and children. Main Page 2008 Entries politics compassion war peace terrorism justice catastrophe Democrats fairness commentary opinion freedom punditry policy meaning government injustice bias belief current news analysis culture insight economy ethics education security philosophy kindness giving priorities relationships patriotism comparison past patriot nationalism ideals power chaos rights soldiers confusion answers defense differences fear safety choices peacemakers perspective democracy values victims diplomacy witness immigration racism diversity competition childhood international leadership golden rule politics enemies prejudice dialogue appreciation defensiveness foreign policy morals fighting goals ideologies theories Iraq Islam problems extremism conflict heroes history humanitarian Middle East Obama attacks Hillary liberal divisions idealism China Russia weapons judgment division candidates oneness speeches solutions predictions hope quandaries choice cabinet rivals work women wisdom wholeheartedness war visionary vision virtue violence values unity understanding uncertainties transformation transcendence tomorrow tolerance thugs thuggery threats terrorizing terrorism tension talents talent stress strengths strategy strategies standards stability solutions solidarity sincerity similarities service selfless selection security rulers rivalry risk resources representative religion relationships regimechange redemption reconciliation realpolitik reality purpose punditry pundit public progress problems pride Presidential President prediction power posterity possibilities positivity poor politics politician policy pioneers philosophy perspective persona perseverence perfection peacemaking peacemakers peacebuilding peace patriotism patriotic patriot patience paths passion party partisans parochialism paradigms overreaction outsiders opposition opportunity opportunities opportunists opinion openness oneness oil occupiers occupation nightmares news neurosis negativity nationalism nation mistakes mission meaning loyalty loyalties love losses limitations liberty liberals legislation left leadership leaders law kindness justice judgment Jews Japan Israel Islam Iraq Iran invasion invaders international interests intentions integrity injustice initiatives implications imperialism imperfection impatience immigration ideals idealism humility humanrights humanity humanitarian humane hubris hopes hope honesty history healing grievances grief government goodwill goldenrule goals global giving geopolitical generosity friendship friends freedom framework forgiveness forgive foreign force forbearance flexibility fitness fighting fear fallibility faith fairness facism extremism explanation experts expertise expectations excellence ethics essay equitability equanimity envy enemies empowerment empathy emotion eloquence electorate elections election ego education educated dreams divisiveness divisions disarmament diplomats diplomacy differences dialogue Democrats democracy defensiveness decisions death current culture criticism credentials courage control contributions contribution consensus conquest conquerors confusion conflict conclusions compromise complexity compassion communications communication commonalities commitment commentary class civilization citizens choices choice China children childhood chaos change challenges cause caring candidates candidate campaign cabinet bullies brothers brilliance bravery blame bitterness bickering bias belief barriers Barack bandwidth balance awareness attitude attack appreciation answers analysis anachronisms American America ambition alternatives aggression agendas advocacy adversaries admiration activists activism action achievement abilities Nancy Pace http://www.epharmony.com/blog/_archives/2008/11/8/3967981.html http://www.epharmony.com/blog/_archives/2008/11/8/3967981.html Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:45:00 -0500 (Excerpt): Barack’s victory was a victory of hope, love, and faith over cynicism, despair, and vengeance. Journalists telling his election story just exactly as it unfolded were right to tell the truth that for a brief shining moment, America once again welcomed the possibility of a promising new king ready and eager to reign wisely and well from a diverse, compassionate and representative roundtable. Main Page 2008 Entries politics compassion war peace terrorism justice catastrophe legislation military Democrats Bush fairness commentary opinion freedom punditry policy meaning government injustice bias current news economy ethics education security philosophy conservatism kindness giving priorities sacrifice relationships patriotism image work comparison protest patriot violence ideals power chaos rights soldiers confusion answers defense differences fear 9/11 WMDs safety nonviolence choices peacemakers perspective faith democracy values demagogues victims diplomacy diversity competition bullies international leadership enemies prejudice dialogue media blowback appreciation veterans vengeance defensiveness right battlefields foreign policy morals fighting goals ideologies blame theories Iraq problems xenophobia extremism conflict heroes history humanitarian Middle East Obama schools charisma attacks liberal divisions idealism weapons endorsements judgment division candidates oneness solutions hope quandaries choice journalism xenophobia wrong witness withdrawal wishes wisdom wholeheartedness welcome warriors warmongers war voting vote visionary vision virtue violence vigilance viewpoints victims versions veracity vengeance values unity uniqueness understanding truth triumph transformation transcendence tomorrow tolerance threats terror term tension talents talent support superiority suffering stress strengths strategy strategies story stewardship standards stability spirit sorrow solutions sincerity similarities service servant separation sensibility selfless selfishness selection security Rumsfeld rulers Rove rivalry risk rights retribution respect Republicans representative realpolitik reality race purpose punditry pundit public protest protection prosperity propaganda profiteers profile productivity problems proactive pride Presidential President prejudice power posts posterity possibilities positivity politics politician policy philosophy perspective persona persecution perfection peacemaking peacemakers peacebuilding peace patriotism patriotic patriot patience paths passion party partisans paradigms pain overreaction opposition opportunists opportunism opinion openness oneness occupiers occupation Obama nonviolence nightmares news negativity nation naivete naive multicultural movements mistakes mission misery minds mind military militaristic militarism militants militancy megalomaniacs media meaning manipulation machine loyalty loyalties love losses loss likeability liberty liberals lessons legitimacy legislation l