Apparently, men’s discovery of the minefield that is marriage in America today has been mirrored from the distaff side, albeit not for the same reasons: American women have never been this resigned to staying single. They are responding to major demographic shifts, including huge and growing gender gaps in economic and educational attainment, …
Category: wishful thinking
Dec 12 2023
On Repentance
Relax! This won’t be one of “Fran’s Catholic rants.” Not entirely, anyway. Before I plunge ahead, let me say this plainly: I make no claim to expertise or authority in psychology. I’m a retired engineer. My degrees are in mathematics and physics. My achievements are in real-time software and – your opinion may …
Oct 16 2023
Against The Odds
I could have titled this one “Choosing Your Battles,” but the scope of the thing isn’t purely a matter of strategic or military considerations. It’s more about not being as stubborn as a mule while simultaneously being a horse’s ass…and before you ask, yes: I did search for equine metaphors and images before choosing …
Jul 15 2023
Random night time thoughts
I’ve test ridden the H-D Pan American, and it’s a tremendous motorcycle. I want one. But if I had my druthers, I think I would return to a bike that had one of these. Don’t ask me to explain. If you know, you know.
Jun 07 2023
Call The CSI Macro!
What’s that, Gentle Reader? You don’t remember that one? Oh, it’s simple. Just four little words: “People lie; evidence doesn’t.” I should add, for completeness, that “people” also: Are frequently mistaken; Can be deceived about what they saw or heard; Come with agendas and priorities of their own; Can be “bought.” The …
Jun 05 2023
When Smart People Say Foolish Things
Folly, the late Barbara Tuchman has told us, is “knowing better but doing worse.” The power of wishful thinking is so great that even demonstrably highly intelligent people can fall into this zone. I say this with a certain authority. Today, we have an example from a generally smart commentator: The GOP …
Sep 05 2022
Postmodern Energy Strategy Revealed
Macron: France, Germany to provide each other with gas, electricity, to weather crisis appears to be remarkably similar to
Nov 07 2021
Wishful Thinking In Its Rawest State
On May 1, 2015, I retired from employment as a software engineer, a trade I practiced for nearly five decades to great satisfaction and profit. I keep in touch with old colleagues, both for friendship’s sake and so I can have a sense for how developments affect the kind of work I once did. …
Fran’s Recent Novels
Margaret’s Recent Novels
