The Cure for Election Angst and Pandemic Panic

Friends,

Ignorance, and fear. These seemingly ordinary traits can lead otherwise well-intentioned folks down perilous paths. If left unchecked, they can bring civilization to its knees (then again, that may just be my own fear and ignorance speaking). Here’s what I mean:

Elections. The ability to select and replace the people who will represent us in government is a hallmark of democracy. Voters with neither the time nor inclination to thoroughly weigh platforms or think through the unintended consequences of well-meaning policy proposals are asked to choose our leaders. In this age of misinformation, folks fear the terrible things they are told, oversimplify a complex set of trade-offs and demonize the other side. Politicians pander to these biases and fears. Not a recipe for enlightened government if you ask me.
Pandemics. Wash your hands often, cover your cough and avoid crowds if you can. Or... compulsively watch the news, obsessively worry about each new tidbit that comes-out, cancel all travel and sell all your stocks. Which of these behaviors sounds rational and appropriate to you? Just sayin'.

If, like me, you find yourself rolling your eyes so far back into your head you worry they may get stuck there, remember you only control your own actions. We’ve all been guilty of fear and none of us can know everything. Self-awareness and a willingness to eradicate fear and ignorance from our own minds is a solid step in the right direction. Life is good and it goes on whether you choose to enjoy it or choose to let the monsters in the closet paralyze you. Life is beautiful, don't worry about things you can't control. Have a donut, enjoy the outdoors and take some pictures while you're at it.

Happy Friday!

Comments

Donut Doodle Dandy

Dear Members and Constituents, In trying to figure-out Wednesday’s cool-looking Google Doodle ( Jorge Luis Borges’ 112 th birthday ), I stumbled across a list of Google Doodles you’ll never see. This, and a Rockies game later that day, were sufficient inspiration to get my head spinning around what other doodles Google might never noodle? I’m sure you’ll probably have a few ideas of your own, but I was able to come-up with a couple. How about a former Colorado Rockies player whose unfortunate encounter with a moth put him in the news this week? The Matt Holliday doodle might look something like this… Another item which, surprisingly enough, has not been made into a doodle are donuts. Although I was slightly taken aback to find this delicious pastry has not been featured, after the initial disappointment, I decided to take matters into my own hands and take a stab at one (perhaps Google can use it next year for national donut day )… or to celebrate Greek police having “ blown a ho...

Gilding the Donut

Friends, Despite writing about donuts (sort of) for over 20 years, I don’t believe in sugar coating, after all, honesty is the best policy. Gilding, on the other hand I’m good with. Take the church of the Society of Jesus in Quito, (AKA La Compañía). Built in fits and starts between 1597 and 1765, the volcanic rock baroque facade conceals a spectacular interior. I had the chance to go inside this week and although I had heard about the gold leaf work inside, the descriptions had not done it justice. The details from floor to ceiling transport you to another world, perhaps that’s the point. If you’re ever there, be sure to visit. And while you’re there stop by one of the many panaderías … if you’re lucky they might even have a donut. Happy Friday!

The Wrong Word

Friends, Do you ever find yourself starting to say a word, realizing it’s the wrong choice and trying to change it while speaking — making it worse? For me, it’s happened more times than I care to admit. A recurring faux pas for me occurs at the part of the mass where the congregation says “when we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim your death, o Lord, until you come again”. For some reason my brain wants to say “profess” instead of “proclaim” — which would essentially mean the same thing. Unfortunately, in my clumsy attempts to fix my mistake mid-word, what comes out sounds like “profane” — totally the wrong vibe. Good thing the entire congregation is saying the same thing in unison. If someone heard me they might think the priest was consecrating a donut, instead of the host. Happy Friday!

Friday Donuts

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