In the U.S., we are in an election year.  Donald Trump is the presumptive nominee for the Republican party.

The following is particularly appropriate given what's going on in the Republican primary:

"When it comes to controlling human beings, there is no better instrument than lies. Because you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts." Michael Ende Nov12, 1929

On the Democratic side, I think it's going to be a close race between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.

Can't believe it's been over 10 years since I posted here.  Lots have happened in the interim.

Medical issue came up four years after I last posted.  Subsequently fell into the black hole of Retirement.  What a trip -- still trying to get my head around it.  Humans need continuous purpose, even retired ones.  The human body, if you don't use it, you lose it.

On the blogging front, dabbled in other subjects:

2008   http://greenenergyvc.blogspot.com/

2015   http://earthisdisneyland.blogspot.com/

But I'm back!  (I think.)

"In youth the days are short and the years are long. In old age the years are short and day's long." Pope Paul VI

To understand Life, start at the Beginning

Now no one can accuse me of being religious. My wife and I attend church only infrequently -- these days even less. However I do believe in God, and I own only one book for religious reasons, and that is the Bible.

Do I subscribe to the Big Bang? Yes and no. Do I believe in creationism? Yes and no. So when and where was the beginning of Life on Earth? Here is my point of reference:

Genesis 2 - 10: And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 11: The name of the first is Pison; that it is which compasseth the whole land of Havilah... 13: And the name of the second river is Gihon; the same it is that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia... 14: And the name of the third river is Hiddekel; that it is which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15: And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it.

The revelation for me was: The Garden of Eden was on Earth! God put man on Earth to enjoy it! (It's Disney World on steroids!)

http://www.ldolphin.org/eden/

"When it comes to controlling human beings, there is no better instrument than lies. Because you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts." Michael Ende Nov12, 1929 - Aug29, 1995

Headline: Mideast Democracy Summit Ends in Rancor

"Now what seems inevitable once seemed impossible" US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaking about a democratic government in Iraq. "For democracy to achieve lasting and sustainable success, it must also be nurtured by a vibrant economy and an ever growing middle class," Rice said at the outset [of the U.S.-backed Mideast democracy and development summit in Bahrain which ended today], noting that some 50 million to 100 million young people will enter the job market across the Middle East and neighboring countries in North Africa over the next five to 10 years.

If it's inevitable, why can't we be there today? Why must Life wait for the passage of Time (and further deaths)? Is it because God gave men free will, the power to choose, and men must make the choice together, in order to build towards that future together. Is this also Life?

"Life holds one great but quite commonplace mystery. Though shared by each of us and known to all, seldom rates a second thought. That mystery, which most of us take for granted and never think twice about, is time." Michael Ende Nov12, 1929 - Aug29, 1995