LABOR DAY PRESENT

The best book I have read in a long time is 'Nice Dragons Finish Last', by Rachel Aaron. The first chapter is a little too generic. But when we meet the nice dragon, the book takes off.

Labor Day is the day that those who labor are supposed to rest. It became a holiday back when people actually believed that workers should be PAID for their work.

It is also a celebration of the fact that some dragons were taught that they could not kill workers and then just hire another worker. Of course, in many countries, this is still true.

Here in the US, we STILL have not learned that paying people a living wage would be great for the entire economy, making the 1% even richer.

If I was to get a present for Labor Day, I want accountants to reverse the rule that stock options need to be immediately expensed. Accountants were TOLD that such a rule would mean only the top executives would get stock options, which is EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

Stock options are an amazing way to pay workers, get workers involved in the success of the business and to keep the 1% from selfishly taking everything.

So have fun reading about the nice dragon.

THE GIFT OF SIGHT

My eye surgeon has given me the gift of sight. She took my cataracts out and replaced them with corrective lenses, which work better than my glasses ever did.

I have had bad vision my entire life. Now that my vision is almost normal, I feel like I know longer know me. Wierd, huh?

But I REFUSE to fuss about something so wonderful. I am going to look at things for as often and as long as I can.

Too often we are angry at people who give us help that changes our lives. I understand. Accepting help is the hardest thing that I had to learn to do. But sooner or later EVERYONE needs help.

I had always been the person who helped. I find helping people brings me more happiness than almost anything else. If you are feeling depressed, you should try to help someone else. You might be surprised at the result.

Meanwhile, my face looks back from the mirror reflecting that I am not wearing glasses.

MISSOURI - PLEASE ASK FOR HELP

Kent State taught my generation that protesting can be deadly. Untrained troops can make things MUCH WORSE.

However, it does help if the untrained troops are being led by trained, experienced commanders. May I recommend asking for the help of a California National Guard commander?

It would also be advisable to enlist the help of the Los Angles Police Department. LA has partially solved the same problems afflicting the Ferguson community.

The kind of anger that erupted into the streets takes YEARS to accumulate, and therefore takes YEARS to solve. However, inviting those who have been through these situations can make things significantly better almost immediately. It is important to invite those who have been successful in CALMING THE ANGER.

PLEASE INVITE THOSE WHO WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE REACTED INCORRECTLY. I do not have to explain this, as the situation speaks for itself.

FERGUSON AND SELMA

The US policy of turning minority men into felons is even worse than making blacks sit in the back of the bus.

The back of the bus policy was humiliating, a symbol of how blacks could not be hired into white collar (color) jobs. But the war on drugs has escalated into masked men armed with assault rifles breaking into houses in the middle of the night.

After arresting mostly blacks and browns for drug sale and.or possession, the war on drugs makes it impossible for the poor kid to get a job, an education, and/or a home. If it were my children, I would be totally p***ed.

THIS HAS TO STOP. We can NOT keep large portions of the population in prisons just because they use or sell an unapproved drug. If you are serious about stopping addiction, fund treatment centers.

FERGUSON: Please use non violence. I know we are all tired of children being killed, but violence will NOT solve the problem.

SAY IT'S NOT SO!

For the first time ever, I am ashamed of one of my alma maters. The University of Arizona has FIRED a researcher in order to prevent a study to find out if marijuana is effective in treating post traumatic stress in VETERANS.

PTSD does not just destroy the life of the veteran who cannot control his/her symptoms. Uncontrolled PTSD also destroys the veteran's family. Anecdotal evidence from the 70's is an indication that marijuana may be very helpful for PTSD. But anecdotal evidence is not scientific proof.

The fired researcher had gotten federal funding to study the effects of marijuana on PTSD. Her proposal must have been both brilliant and scientifically rigorous for the FEDS to give a WOMAN funding to research a medical use of marijuana.

Rumors are that prohibitionists in the Arizona State Legislature demanded that she be fired.

This is because if marijuana is scientifically proven to have medical value, marijuana can not stay a schedule 1 drug. Of course, the FDA has ignored all of the hitherto accumulated evidence of marijuana's medical value.

Again, propaganda wins over science. And at MY alma mater!