James Pyles's Blog, page 123
September 23, 2018
The Truthsayer
Jeremiah Pierce negotiated the curves on Highway One just past Stinson Beach toward San Francisco, and the first leg of his journey to end the ridiculous mess he’d been hired to clear up. He’d been called many things over the years including the human lie detector and the truthsayer, but his gift, based both on […]
Quoting: Fear of Disapproval
Realize that no matter what you do, you won’t obtain unanimous approval. Therefore never let the fear of disapproval of others prevent you from doing the right thing. Lack of approval will only distress you if you allow it to. Ultimately, any emotional power anyone has over you is the power you decide to give […]
September 22, 2018
The Sympathizer
“Ander Diaz is a Basque name.” “Yes, but fear not. I am a proud Basque but also a sympathizer. I have promised, on my life, to see you across safely.” Robert Norton’s keen blue eyes looked into the night. “Life. An interesting concept.” “We must wait for your escort. “Why risk yourself me?” “My grandmother was […]
Quoting: Guard Your Health
There is a Torah commandment to guard our health. High levels of stress cause many health problems. Your immune system works best when you are calm and serene. The efforts one makes to alleviate stress is the fulfillment of the Creator’s will. As our loving Father, He wants us to be well. Viewing decreasing stress […]
September 21, 2018
The Visitor’s Invitation
It happened just that fast. One moment, the three brothers, having just reloaded their Celestron NexStar telescope back in the camper, were about to put out their campfire and call it a night, and the next they were facing the phenomenon. “This couldn’t be because we’ve been observing the object.” Forty-five year old Jake was […]
Batman Nude (No, I’m Not Kidding)
Warning: Some Adult Content Okay, so DC has published its first issue of Batman Damned under its DC Black Label imprint, and boy is it adult. You actually get to see Bruce Wayne nude, not just from the back but the front. I’m posting an image below as proof, plus I archived two news sources […]
Quoting: Respond to Disrespect with Dignity
Anger frequently comes from feeling that someone did not treat you with the proper respect. People tend to feel angry with someone who fails to show them the honor they think they deserve. The solution is to contemplate how valueless honor really is. When you react to slights to your honor with a sense of […]
September 20, 2018
Of Kavanaugh, Ford, and Matters of Credibility
Disclaimer, Trigger Warning, or whatever you want to call it: Depending on your politics and probably several other factors, this essay might tend to raise your blood pressure, so if you have strong feelings about the Brett Kavanaugh SCOTUS confirmation hearings before Congress, you might want to pass it up for something else (Yes, I’m […]
The Algerian Exchange
Twenty-five year old Eileen Kateb could only hear the sound of her own breathing and her soft footfalls as she slowly made her way between the columns of the Cathedral de Sacre Coeur, which had recently been converted to a library. Her grandparents had quietly immigrated to England during the heyday of French rule over […]
Quoting: Show Them Their Potential
If someone sees himself as inferior, you can help change his attitude by seeing him now as the potentially great person he could possibly become. -For a series of probing questions on this topic, see Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book “Gateway to Self Knowledge,” p.218
