My Quill Time

       A Tale Of Two Napoleons The world as we know it today brings out the worst and the best in people in their daily lives who are surrounded by crises. Deep dark personalities come up to the surface in times of mental tensions and extreme distress. This is an observation of two such men on the world stage. The first one is Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.  DOB 25 January 1978), 5ft 6 inches {Aquarius} The second is Vladimir Putin of Russia DOB Oct 7th, 1952, 5ft 7inches {Libra} Zelensky a comedian, the actor has succeeded beyond his wildest imagination in gathering the sympathy of the world and also the humanitarian aid in the shape of economics and also in refurbishing his armed forces with the latest weaponry from the United States, United Kingdom, and EU partners. Millions and millions of dollars are being poured into Ukraine as a gift that he never has to pay back.  While on the other side Vladimir Putin has lost all goodwill of the world. No cha...

      "BOLO" "BE ON THE LOOKOUT " The spring equinox had just ebbed itself out of the yearly calendar and the summer Solistics had just come into its own. The trees were full of newborn leaves and fruits were begging to be picked and to be savored by humanity. The swans floated on the lakes that looked like glass, the sky was punctuated by the birds that brought sweet songs to our ears. All this was under the glorious heaven on a summer day, and there was peace even for just a moment, for the world to catch its breath and to enjoy what the good Lord has made for us.  Just when one would think all is well with the world a " BOLO"  notice was sent out from the handmaidens who lived across the river Thames the two sisters  MI-6 to MI-5   " Religious Upheaval ". The Pope had many grievances with the non-catholic world, that world was quickly going out of control, the treasury was being rapidly being depleted due to past missteps and violation of huma...

  A Policeman, a Nurse, a Baby, and a Nun. A policeman, a nurse, and a nun sat in a hospital canteen within the city limits of a very busy hospital. All of them knew each other and often let off steam and debriefed each other and discussed the day's highlights and gathered strength from each other compassion. The Policeman said, " Are you aware that when an alleged suspect is apprehended and their civil rights have been read and explained to them." which are  " You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something you may later rely in court anything you say may be given in evidence." The Nurse said, " Did you know that midwives, labor nurses all over this natural kingdom of ours ask newborns where you come from, and what do you want to be when you grow up", the baby ignored the nurse . The nurse then said  " Do you want to be like Robin Hood", baby said " No comment" , do you ...

   Rudeness The Primal Instinct . Rudeness is very much an instinct that walks with us constantly hand in hand with politeness and social mores. It is great to be rude which frees you of etiquette and respect for the people above your class and status in life. Many people on stage ply this facet of life in the performance of their entire career. Comedians recognize this undercurrent of emotion and use it with dry wit and sarcasm daily. Hobos and their companion rest and sleep on the other side of the railroad tracks, and warm themselves with bonfires and simmering ambers. Darkness is ideal for misbegotten, and misery and despair abound in every corner and every hobo camp. Rudeness reigns supreme and politeness left the camp on the first train out of this hobo camp. There used to be right and wrong and the night was night and the day was full of promise, but now it is hard to say as the world has become a dark place for the young, old, the homeless, and the misbegotten.  D...

  TOMBOUCTOU / TIMBUKTU Tombouctou / Timbuktu is one of the legendry cities that stands on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, a city of great importance in the country of Mali in Africa. the Trans-Siberian trade routes and the Tropic of cancer go across it. The very name of this city conjures up flights of fancy fabulous imagery and dreams, it is a cornucopia for all who love history, architectural wonders. It has everything an explorer would ever want, it is steeped in religion, tradition, and Tombouctou   has been landlocked between the great oceans of the  tribal rules.  world Atlantic Ocean the Mediterranean Sea   and the Red Sea. The great explorer and scholar Ibn Battuta wrote much about the city in his travel diaries. It was a regional trading center where journeys started and ended for the traders of its time. The Trans-Siberian trade route brought traders to this city where they conducted buying and selling of Gold, Salt, Slaves, Ivory, and goods o...

  THE ODD COUPLE: NOT FORGOTTEN. The marriage of very cold icy Coke and salty Peanuts. Some who have lived in the southern part of the USA have never heard of this and some have.  It's the best combination ever, it's a friend of the hungry, the meek, the poor, traveling preachers, the miners and hobos, and mechanics with dirty hands. Nothing beats this simple recipe, put the salty peanuts in a glass bottle of icy coke and drink it all up. Sustenance is on a cheap and affordable way for the common man on the go. City folks keep the tradition alive no matter where you are a free history lesson on YOUTUBE, works with all smartypants, nerdy, and techies. Sir, "Can I have another"? "Go Ahead, why not " God bless you May all be well with you DMD

  NUMBERED DAYS FOR ALL WHO WERE BORN. Dear brethren, it seems that we are in the minority as there are very few centenarians walking alongside us today . Long gone are the times and individuals who lived beyond the age of one hundred. This list grows shorter every year. Some of us in the minority look towards religion to soothe and satisfy our quest for wisdom, to give us peace of mind and guidance at this late stage of the game of life. But some of us are so steeped in the world wantonness that we pay no heed to what we are about to face. It has been said, that when our soul leaves our earthly body, sure the body turns to dust but what about the soul. When angels come to escort you to the judgment seat say no more, say no less just in case the angels do not like what you say, they might find you unworthy and bring you back to purgatory or worse. So thank God for every day and the blessing in it, praise the Lord, ask for the forgiveness of your sins, and pray for wisdom.  God...

  First Editions and Banned Books. Every decade every country in the world has homegrown authors whose first edition books went from the author's mind to the publisher to the society's banned unwanted books. Most books are banned due to the attitude of a country on morality, political and religious tolerance . The banned books can be found in other countries, book resellers, and libraries, but not where the author lives. Some of the books are so out of the mainstream media and out of the people's consciousness that they have gone out of print and ended up as rare books categories. The list of these banned books is available on the internet, sometimes the author has to defect or relocate to another country as his books and the author's views are too controversial. Soon he becomes the most favored author in his adopted country and his endeavors might even lead him to Nobel Peace Prize. It happened before and not for the last time, so the banned books become more and more ...

             THEATER OF WAR In the theater of war, the master puppeteers manipulate the puppets on the world stage. Social media wears a face mask and hides behind avatars nobody seems to know what or who they are. In the shadowy world where there is no black and white only grey has many shades. No wonder we can't find anybody on social media platforms we knew in the past and everyone wears a veil of deception and has unlisted phones. In the end, all there is truth and lies, and provocation. The puppeteers who embrace the lies and subterfuge  embrace all the underworld and all that goes with it. War is a very profitable business for those who are in the know but yet there are still a few honorable men and women who embrace the truth and let the light shine upon the dark foreboding ominous world where corrupt politicians, turncoats, and saboteurs of the world ply their trade. Only on earth and in Rome does everyone dreads the truth. But you ca...

  STATE OF AFFAIRS. The age of enlightenment has passed us all as like an abandoned town on the side of the interstate highway. The renaissance for the world was over a long time ago even before we knew that Venice can be flooded. Now, all we are left is the age of ignorance, all the powerhouses of the world lay silent and barely breathing. There is nothing left but the rust belt shifting loyalties between countries, and turncoats are everywhere. How can we get to the next level knowing our past and present from today onward what should we do?. They say many times discoveries are made accidentally by human error and wonder why we did not follow this path or another. History always teaches us that just because you have not discovered your query, does not mean it does not exist. For example, the hunter and the prey the hunter gets surprised by what he hunts instead he becomes the hunted.  So now what do we wait for mind renewal or a resurgence of faith and hold on to dearly to a...

JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE PAID VOLUNTEER. Crime, Law and the Jury System are part of everyday life as I had my first sinker and a cup of coffee fresh as usual, my thoughts were of my appointment with the Judge. A summons, an jury duty invitation came thru the mailbox, as you know nobody goes to court or to jail voluntarily so it was business as usual there was no incentive, no profit motive, but disruption in my daily life. The judge wants me to come over and help him and with eleven other citizens. I have a moral and religious dilemma due to my beliefs that I confess that I am not a quality jury material, and thus not judgemental.  Can I invoke the law of being a conscientious objector? that would require a face-to-face meeting with the judge. Why does a judge need my help, he has all the decisions of the supreme court at his fingertips that have been documented, libraries are full of lawbooks, why me? does the judge not trust himself or his extensive expensive education. Does the ju...

EMPERORS AND ROYAL COURT JESTERS   In a not-so-distant past, Royal licenses were given to a very rare breed of court jesters in medieval courts of yesteryears. This royal decree bestowed upon these special individuals legally allowed them to criticize, joke, ask the touchy questions of the king and his court without any fear. Also, be a bearer of bad news that no one would want to tell the ruler, without the fear of losing his head.  To make the monarch laugh and admonish him without any chance of retribution or recrimination, the royal license gave the bearer a total carte blanche from prosecution. What a job? walking on the sharp edge of a knife without fear from the guillotine or having your head chopped off by the executioner in the public square at the Tower of London. Court jesters were a common sight in the royal courts of almost all medieval courts of Europe middle east China and Japan, they advised the king's pertinent information and strategic counsel.  Wit was ...

No Comment and the Innocence  Project. A conversation, between a Prof of Law and A student of Law.    A short story about, “ No Comment and the Innocence  Project ” was overheard at the Cafe Du Blog, between two law students discussing crime in Europe and America this cafe is similar to all the famous cafes o f 1920,1930, etc where all the literary, artistic minds gathered to find inspiration the likes of  Victor Hugo, George Plimpton, Henry Miller, Scott Fitzgerald, Voltaire the great satirical master, and many more around  cafes of Montparnasse, Jardin du Luxembourg, and Saint-Germain-des-Pres in Paris France. "No comment" is a gift and a curse for the innocent and also for the one who has been apprehended with a mountain of evidence against him or her. Use it carefully especially when your solicitor is not present. The police are under a lot of pressure to prove the charges against you or to let you free, within 24 hours. A suspect can be hel...

CONTAGIOUS COUP The world is in a political upheaval every continent has a rebel and a justified freedom fighter against the status quo no matter how corrupt, the fight between democracy, dictatorship, and autocracies of the world are ongoing in the streets near you.  Whatever happened to the Arab spring, ended very badly for many citizens with death and destruction and the many copycats had the same ending. All the coup actors suffered from the same malady called, "THE CONTAGIOUS COUP." everyone wants to be a village leader and not the village idiot. The older wise men and women stay silent, stay in the shadows, and suffer quietly for years, they know from the past that this contagious coup syndrome is here to stay. All the world hands over their bad actors to,  The   European Court of Human Rights  ( ECHR  or  ECtHR ), also known as the  Strasbourg Court, do what you want with them and pronounce any severe sentence on them justifiably but don't send...

  The Drums Of War. The drums of war are never silent they beat ever so quietly and then they reach a crescendo that is unbearable for both the civilian population and the front-line soldier, this is very true as you see on the television news at the border crossings that separate people from people, some say its cyclical some say it's unavoidable. Allegedly the great P.T. Barnum had said there is a sucker born every day. In the world today not only a sucker born but also the rebel in due time he will take his place among the trouble makers of this world. It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye. Any excuse is a prelude to war, it often starts with police action, then the border skirmishes then starts the land grab, then the distortion of the disputed border territories, and the grand finale, land mines in no man's land. It's the way of the world. Who fired the first shot across the bow of a ship or across the border? You and I were not there but the conflict is...

Mini Book Library  No time to go to the library, no library card, no problem. Take a book from the little library, no problem at all. Read to your heart's content, invite others to the library, take a book and contribute a book and spread the joys of reading.

  ENVIRONMENT  We all know by now what is happening to the environment. Trumpets sounded decades ago and we the people have ignored the warnings. The signs were subtle at first the forests the world over are being ravaged by humanity for its greed. Sand plumes are evident in the winds on different continents. Flowers are withering, snow in the summer, and freak storms are the norms.  Now we know there has been a disturbance in the weather of the world, crop failures are not a rarity but a regular feature and the palm tree are bare and frowning. The ignorance of mankind is like the desert swallowing the hope of mankind. Serenity sleeps with retribution for humanity as lakes dry up and become a sea of skeletons for creatures that swam there and fed humanity for its existence. Species are being lost and eradicated and World leaders do not heed the outcry of the environmentalist, scientists, and the common man. It's getting late, the riverbeds are dry of  humanity's...

  Lucy of Hadar Ethiopia In the very beginning, the world was wild, as anything imaginable the world was in its rawest form and very rough in its terrain. The forest stretched from shore to shore, punctuated with mountains and caressed by rivers from edge to edge of all the continents., the sun, moon, and stars in the constellations covered this canopy of green below.  Lucy the first female and her family walked upright in the shadow of the trees and searched for sustenance and shelter. It was a pristine world for the shadow walkers. and the forest trails were never-ending. Lucy was not alone there were other apes and creatures t hat were our close relatives looking  for dominance in the forest green, skirmishes broke out there was no compassion in the hearts of the great apes' grief and sadness that swept the earth and Lucy was no mo re. God Bless you May all be well with you  DMD

  Who are you?    Where are you? As I leave the confines of my small room off the main avenue to refresh my mind this evening. I walk into the street that is easy to walk on, here life was vibrant, noisy, and colorful. Shopkeepers welcome you as they have known you before. Before you know you have walked more than you wanted and now the walk back home. Then a fair maiden suddenly crossed my path, ever so fleetingly, who was she?  The ever-present undercurrent of the hunter and the prey rose up to the surface and the bloodhound in me started the chase. I followed this fragrance with all my five senses street after street something in me reminded me that this fragrance in the wind was familiar to me but escaped my memory. Often wondered if it would lead me to the summer of my youth or to the winter that would lead me to my demise. I thank my memory either way for jolting me to reality, reminding me of that fragrance that I was in hot pursuit of, it was truly a perfume ...

   INTROSPECTIVE  WRITTING So go ahead and venture on to the other side of your mind explore and write about your arduous journey. The regular 9-5 routine does not leave much for introspection.  The aches, pains, and cares of daily life are too many at times it is hard to find refuge from them all. Then one bad day you had enough of everything and you find yourself on a park bench or walking aimlessly on the beach or on a lonely road with no foot traffic. Even the four-legged creatures avoid you. You will find the strength to go forward after you have answered your own questions and answered them. Let it not be your last sojourn to the other side, because you have just scratched the surface and they say  the earth is 8000 miles deep, but the depth of a mind is unmeasurable. God bless you.  May all be well with you DMD

               In Memorandum Thich Nhat Hanh Legendary Monk dies at age 93. Author of over 100 books. Martin Luther King Jr nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Teacher of Mindful Meditation. Please watch Oprah Winfrey's interview, on YOUTUBE.

  Forgiveness. I have just one wish in life because my mind is jaded due to many wanderings in lover's lanes of foreign cities and byways. My mind and my body never resist but give in to the craving for a new liaison before every new moon . Just let me lie down on a bed of morning glory with a hint of lavender and roses so I may love you once more  again with sincerity and humility and with all the passion of my youth.  Just forgive me that I didn't come to you sooner, to your bosom of infinite love, and forgiveness. I thank you for the vessel of infinte love that you are . God blessd you May all be well with you DMD

The old neighborhood of my youth. Reminiscing about my old neighborhood and my youth. Karol Bagh New Delhi India. It was a great sanctuary for me and my friends who lived there and those who walked to it from surrounding areas. It was an oasis a crossroad for young families and for some a transit point for others to their next upgraded stations in life. It had everything one could need to live.  Everybody knew your business, your family, and your nickname. One always has to shoulder to cry on and also to carry your dead. To this day, I remember the playground of my youth and the ghetto of my declining years. As the pendulum of life moves, we all are looking for the grand renaissance. But I am an old Delhi man stuck in New Delhi where nothing is familiar. God bless you May all be well with you DMD. Like Comment Share

  Indifferent and extremely Judgemental. How did we get to this point of this social condition on both sides of the  aisle that permeates our world's society against each other? and all social rankings. The sufferings of others have no meaning for us unless it is our very own and then we beg, borrow or steal to elevate of condition.  It was a cold, rainy, and windy day in the richest county in Florida and there were panhandlers on the sidewalks on major intersections and downtown streets were full of daily litter, and the homeless took shelter in storefronts canopies, looking for shelter.  These are the place most hated and abhorred by the affluent of the city, its city officials, and the Police, who are the handmaidens who sign their paychecks. The influential and the well-to-do have the phone numbers of the local politician and police on speed dial. The cry of condo owners and fancy shopkeepers is not near my business and don't build a homeless shelter in my backy...