A life in words

  • A Just Cause

    I’ve got to read more Dostoevsky! I think you all might enjoy a few of his quotes. I’ve highlighted a few words here and there to make it a better simulation of a motivational poster! “A just cause is not ruined by a few mistakes” “The soul is healed by being with children”€ “What is…

  • Automated Merger of GEDCOM Files

    Have you ever had the misfortune of having to merge two GEDCOM files while doing family history research? I hope not. It’€™s dehumanizing. Dehumanizing? Yes, because doing a job that should be done 99% by a machine is most definitely de-human-izing. Here’€™s a typical example: Billy Bob Jones and Suzy Lee Jones are a brother…

  • Counterpoint

    This is my response to the email I received from “La Russophobe,” whose blog I commented on recently. I have to say that this is the most I ever want to become involved with “blog politics.” I’m not particularly interested in explaining and defending my viewpoints at great depth; I really just express them for…

The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves… to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection [and] opens the door to foreign influence and corruption….George Washington, Farewell Address