Bits of Wisdom

Readers of this blog know that I hold Benjamin Franklin in high esteem as perhaps not only the greatest of Americans to date, but also the first and most wise. Thus, it is only right that I put a few bits of his wisdom here on The Bent Page. The following are a few of my favorites:

Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.

Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure.

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

 

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

If only these prescriptions were followed more closely. Surely our world would be a better place for all.

Published in: on November 28, 2008 at 8:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Alto Vista Chapel, Aruba

The Alto Vista Chapel in Aruba overlooks the Caribbean Sea on the east side of the island. This quaint place of worship is unique on the island. There are many larger churches scattered about, but this one stands off by itself. Here’s a short video to give you and idea of the place.

Still an active place of worship, the Alto Vista Chapel also hosts weddings and other religious ceremonies. It is a stop on many of the regular island tours as well as a popular destination for people to come and pay their respects. It had been a location in my novel, An Island Away, but was cut from the final draft. I’m working to include it in the sequel, Under A Blue Flag, but we’ll see.

Bon dia from Aruba!

Published in: on November 12, 2008 at 11:17 am  Leave a Comment  
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Something Else to Consider?

It occurs to me that no matter what anyone says, the government is a big part (if not the biggest part) of the problem with regards to the current economic situation. After all, the government decided to dabble in the mortgage market, came up with some rather insane idea, and implemented its strategy of the course of a couple of decades. Now, let’s not argue or even waste time considering the rights or wrongs of that. The point is, given that they put the taxpayer at risk playing this game, I wonder if the taxpayer shouldn’t step back and say, thanks but no thanks with regards to the government jumping in with both feet to try to “rescue” the situation. Really, they don’t know how deep the water is, or if there are sharks, or if it is water they’re jumping in to. (might be toxic waste they’re headed for)

Just something else to consider.

Published in: on October 9, 2008 at 6:25 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Practicing Your Craft

While walking through New York City, I came upon this man painting a street scene.

What impresses me most about people like this is that they are out there practicing their craft. It’s not easy to set your creative self to work every day. Things like self-doubt, criticism, and the necessity of paying the bills often get in the way. Nonetheless, you have to get out there and do what it is that makes you an artist. For me this means writing pieces that I know aren’t always my best or even good enough to be seen by the public. Still, practice does make perfect, or at least better.

So, I’m taking the fountain pen and paper out just now and getting to work.

Published in: on October 6, 2008 at 1:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
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