mitigatingchaos

[mitigatingchaos]

On Convictions

I took this photo (with the old Olympus) at Edisto Beach, SC in 2011. It has been used on websites and other places.  “Our culture has accepted two huge lies. . . The first is that if you disagree with someone. you must hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be…

[mitigatingchaos]

The Houseguests

This weekend, we will be welcoming our youngest daughter’s two dogs, Martha and Winnie.  Our son in law, Andrew, will be driving them in from Michigan. Winnie (R) has grown to be just a little bigger than Martha They will be living with us for the next year or so while Megan, Andrew, Maddox and Elsie move to Seattle, WA while Andrew conpletes his orthopedic fellowship. Back when Megan lived in…

[mitigatingchaos]

The Camelot Years

Tomorrow, May 8, 2025 marks the 52nd anniversary of the chartering of the PBA Local 235. Warren was a very different town back then. Signed by all the original officers, it is part of Warren’s history. As I recall . . . My dad’s best friend for over 40 years. Ken Reagan used to refer to them as “The Camelot Years of Warren.” Ken was one of the Assistant Fire Chiefs in Warren when my dad became…

[mitigatingchaos]

On Fools

Makes you wonder doesn’t it? “The less talent they have, the more pride, vanity and arrogance they have. All these fools, however, find other fools who applaud them.” -Erasmus, 1509

[mitigatingchaos]

A View From Canada

Unrelated to Margy, but there is a story about this hooligan in the near future Some cogent observations from Margy, our blogging buddy who lives between Alberta, Canada and Arizona, USA, depending on the time of year, you guess😊 She shares some interesting explanations of how things are working in Canada these days  that should bring a smile to your face.  Happy Monday! Follow The Money  I…

[mitigatingchaos]

[mitigatingchaos]

Four rats rowing a little boat in the margins of Pontifical of Guillaume Durand, 14th century France.

Source:

“Pontifical de Guillaume Durand” (Guillaume Durand), approx. 1390, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, Paris, ms. 143, fol. 77v

[mitigatingchaos]

Sunday Pipes #175

One of two lost episodes of the Midnight Pipes television series, which never aired, from June, 1998.   Interesting story in the notes of the video  while I don’t have the time today, I will look further into the series, of which I am not familiar.

[mitigatingchaos]

Can You Smell It?

It is that time of the year . . . in Rome I think having a Jasmine doorway would be a worthy, life goal. I can smell this picture and it makes me smile. Picture credit to Fr. John Zuhlsdorf. If you are interested in the opinion of an American priest, currently in Rome, when it comes to selecting a new Pope, he does share some interesting insights. Also, if you are into chess, you definitely want…

[mitigatingchaos]

A Remarkable List . . .

. . . from a remarkable intellect. “As time goes by and curmudgeon status has been acheived, I (we) have developed a preference for:” Preferences of a Curmudgeon, by Michael Wade A list that if followed, will  enhance your living experience, I promise.  

[mitigatingchaos]

On Being Committed

Each morning, I anticipate reading Chris Lynch’s Quotes of the Day and Flotsam and Jetsam blogs. They are religiously read during my first cup of coffee and provide myself and others fodder for their blogs. I thank Kurt for having both on his list of 25 Blogs Guaranteed to Make You Smarter. There were plans for a fairly cerebral post this morning, but when I saw the quote below I instituted a…

[mitigatingchaos]

Frequently Temporary, Indeed

“No’ is often a decision, frequently temporary, to maintain the status quo.” -Chris Voss, ht to Chis Lynch quotes of the day I mentioned a book by Chris two years ago . .  What are you reading?

[mitigatingchaos]

“Tom Homan didn’t debate — he delivered a televised autopsy on the Democratic machine.

This wasn’t a slip-up.

It was a blueprint.

Flood the border with 10.5 million.

Overwhelm the courts.

Delay justice for years.

By the time anyone gets a hearing, they’re voting, marching, and reshaping the electoral map.

This isn’t immigration reform — it’s voter fabrication.

The plan?

Collapse the system under the weight of manufactured chaos, then harvest the crisis for political gain.

Weaponize compassion.

Call it equity.

Hide the agenda under humanitarian slogans while rewriting the electorate without consent.

They weren’t building a nation — they were engineering a permanent majority.

But now the lights are on.

The veil is lifting.

And the reckoning is here.

The silent invasion just got loud — and America is finally listening.”

[mitigatingchaos]

Happy Monday

This girl is going places. She is a bucket full of sass who already has learned to effectively deal with what life throws at her. The first of the next generation. My heart is happy.

[mitigatingchaos]

Live Albums, Vol. 2

Many of these albums will have stories to go along with them. Please indulge me. It was 1972 and I was in 6th grade.  To say I wasn’t cool would be an understatement. I was always the last one to be picked for sports teams, including the girls.  I was however starting to take on an interest in music. The coolest kid in our class was Richard Hughes. It’s been over 50 years since we had any…

[mitigatingchaos]

Competing Personalities

Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is the nice one. Cash causes all the trouble. They fight. -Johnny Cash Would it be safe to say that we all have a little Johnny and a little Cash inside us?

[mitigatingchaos]

What Are You Listening To?

Like many, I have become a fan of podcasts. My taste in podcasts vary and I surely have my favorites, but one I felt compelled to mention is called Leave The Gun, Take the Cannoli and it is the story of how the book and movie, The Godfather, came to be. .  . and almost did not. If you are a fan of the movie, you will surely want to listen to this series as you will be shocked at some of the…