Author Archives: James L'Etoile
An Unexpected Windfall
Since I’m the “Not Independently Wealthy” kind of guy, I’m always looking for get rich quick schemes sound investment strategies. Halloween, as it turns out is a vastly ignored windfall of untapped economic opportunity. You won’t find a free seminar, or an an e-mail from Ethiopian Prince on this little venture. It doesn’t require a chain […]
The Petting Zoo
The Petting Zoo is something that’s been around for almost one hundred years. (The first Children’s Zoo opened in London in 1938. Feel free to impress your friends and family with this fun fact). The city kids went to the Petting Zoo at the local carnival and got to see what a cow, or sheep looked […]
After The Dust Settles – Burning Man
Several thousand years from now, alien archeologists will examine the burnt strata of our planet and conclude we were a shallow species, bent on self destruction. They will judge us on our mummified remains, adorned with metal piercings, body art and bong resin. After careful analysis, the archeologists will sanitize and quarantine the planet to […]
5 Life Lessons From Walking the Dog
I had a bit of an epiphany during the morning dog walk. The act of walking is good for the dogs, good for me, but it represents much more. Like most things in life, if we rush through the walk to get it over with to cross off an item on the never-fricking-ending-to-do list, we’re missing […]
The Participation Trophy Generation
When did it become the standard to do just enough mediocre work to get through the day? A recent outing, away from the protective bubble I call home, reinforced a belief I’ve held for a while. An entire generation of helicopter parenting and participation trophies started a crack in the very fabric of our society. If […]
#Whose Lives Matter?
#Whose Lives Matter? That debate seems to drive blood pressure and rhetoric from every corner. And, frankly, I’m sick of it. #BlackLivesMatter, #WhiteLivesMatter, #BlueLivesMatter… This isn’t about that past, or transgressions. This is about now. None of us is a special little snowflake. We all matter, or nobody matters.
Prison and Politics – Part III
The success of any criminal justice initiative is judged on outcome. You and I think in terms of safer communities and prisons. That seems reasonable, doesn’t it? Policies, programs and sentencing strategies all woven together to reduce crime and allow for safe prison operations. The problem with this idea is that politicians aren’t normal folk, […]
Prison and Politics – Part II
All societies operate within the rules, boundaries and limitations of a political framework, a culture. The prison culture is no different. There are rules on the inside and the keepers as well as the kept know them. These rules dictate how the prison will run, or how it will fall apart. The typical State Trooper […]
Prison and Politics – Part I
Prison and politics makes for strange bedfellows. I know what you’re thinking, more politicians should be in prison. I will not disagree with that notion, especially as we head into the election season. Pick your poison here, lying, backstabbing, socialist, fascist, egomaniac, there are politicians of every stripe to choose from. While I have my […]
You Want Me To Pin What?
Old Guys and Social Media are like sauerkraut and vanilla wafers. An unholy pairing at best and the thought of the two, together, is enough to give you the willies. Let me back up a moment. People of a certain age (there now, that’s a bit softer than slapping the geezer label on my forehead) […]
James L'Etoile 