Some of us are dark skinned, some are very pale, and I have known some who are dark skinned in summer and almost pale in winter. What is inside our skin is what is important. The rest is like the wrappings on gifts. We can disregard the wrappings. In fact, when it comes to people, we should.
Have you ever had the good fortune to go outside one morning and a frozen fog has coated every branch and twig and then the sun illuminates it all? This is a senryu poem about the thoughts which might occur on just such a morning.
The final 2020 Presidential Debate was intended to give a final push to the candidates. When the theme was changed from foreign policy to domestic issues, President Trump seemed disadvantaged. Here is why he won anyways.
Several of my recent Haiku and Senryu on topics I have encountered in recent days of what is never ordinary living.
Adding to his own knowledge of the first term of President Donald J. Trump, the author asked others for what they considered highlights of the Trump presidency. The combined efforts have made this listing of President Trump's achievements possible. The list will surprise most Americans.
"What man can visualize, man can achieve." We all believed it, but thought that only God could bring about world peace. Some say it happened almost by accident. Really?
A party platform for an election is the rudder that has to steer the course for a successful campaign. This is one for any party which can dedicate itself and its members to work for the common good of all the American people.
When a May 2020 cold front from the Gulf of Alaska arrived in our Garden of Eden with its 60 mph winds, an anticipated harvest was endangered.
It cannot be that President George Washington was our last wise leader. My grandfather also foresaw some of today's hazards back in 1935. Those two men are not alone in foreseeing those hazards. You won't hear much serious discussion about America's National Debt in Election 2020, but you should.
On a trip to the zoo, do lions thrill you too?
"Hope springs eternal" or so it is said. But imaginings don't get things done. It is election 2020, another turning of the wheel. Will we be challenged, or only, once again succumb to empty political promises that no harm will be done?
Yes, a garden of Eden takes time, but love and effort yield a true result, and here's the story of one such garden, and the combination of dirt, seeds, transplants, sunshine, rain, and sweat..
It's not every day of hunting that is done with blue skies, puffy clouds, and bright sunshine. This day was one of the other kind.
Why should we fear a God of kindness and love? There is much we can learn.
Have you ever done something wrong, even something sinful? Sadly none of us alive today are perfect. There is a way to repair by repenting sincerely.
Each man, woman, and child has a free choice to learn of Jesus of Nazareth and decide for themselves whether or not that Jesus was or was not the son of God given to atone for their sins, that they too might be baptized and return to their Heavenly Father.
This collection of eight scriptures, from the King James Version of the Bible, may have personal meaning to you, too, as they do to the author.
There are times that, like mirrors, allow us to see ourselves more clearly. The wrestle with coronavirus (COVID-19) was one such time.
Americans are not alone in their love of sports. What is it about sports? Here are some ruminations surveying parts of the answer.
Puppy love, love at first sight, good looks, what is real love, and what does it take to find and keep it?
If you suffer from migraines, suggest this possible effort to cope with them to your medical professional. Others, including the author, have found this combination of an herb and an over the counter pain reliever has worked for them.
The care and mutual love we share with pets suggests that we might all rest in peace by loving and caring for other people as lovingly and tenderly as we relate to our pets.
My client and friend died today after he and his wife had coped with his long decline. I was privileged to have known them both as a volunteer Senior Companion. This recounting reviews his final journey.
What do their traditional symbols of Christmas represent to Americans?
As the New Year of 2020 approaches, what Christmas presents might we most want to give ourselves as 2019 draws to a close, and 2020 arrives to meet our fondest hopes and dreams for America?
Could some American politicians have confused America's government with that of Communist China? Perhaps so. Here's what concerns this author
Striking up a converrsation with other shoppers is not hard to do. Doing so can even make someone's day. Give it a try.
If Putin and Russia wanted a Trump presidency (not just the defeat of Hillary or Bernie), could there be even more behind why they would want Trump?
Asking for voter input as a lead-in to asking for money is nothing new, but this latest one was irksome. Here's why.
From the Talmud: The test of a man's life is not his theology but his life. Call yourself what you will, your actions speak louder than your words Christians keep Christ's commandments.
Us older folks know a lot of useful shortcuts that save us time, but what are those saved moments actually saved for?
A sincere wish is the next closest thing to a prayer, and there is so much to wish for this Christmas of 2017.
Limericks are fun and not just when they are done. The writing of them is fun, too. Try these, and then try writing some of your own to share.
Don't label me with Trump's weaknesses because I voted for him. I voted for him in spite of his weaknesses because I saw the alternatives as less desirable and I hoped for real change in Washington.
Match your iPhone to a wristband that tracks your steps per day, your time spent walking, your hours of sleep, and your pulse, and you have a motivator staring you in the face.
Life isn't overwhelming unless you let it be. Simplify, simplify, simplify. Here is a simple plan for days filled with accomplishments, good health, and all the service to others your time allows.
Tit for Tat with a touch of dry English humor.
The author and many other writers on HubPages.com enjoy writing and reading limericks. Here is his wish that you do too!
I recall a November just a year ago. I didn't waste my vote, but I'm afraid Donald John Trump and the Congress may have. Hear me out.
Looking back on a life together and what avoids going, going, gone.
If your household income is limited (you didn't retire "well off") and you have a desire to give helpful service to others, a perfect combination is volunteering as a Senior Companion with a stipend.
Seek out the elders who are willing to share their knowledge. They have made mistakes they can teach you to avoid, and they have found keys to happiness that can open doors to greater joys in living.
Windy day or not, here is a fun suggestion on something to do with your child, children, grandchild, grandchildren...or just for the fun of it!
Lots of things happen while you snore, unknown to you until you wake up.
While we wish we knew, with faith we know He knows.
Allan Nevins wrote "The Place Of Franklin D. Roosevvelt In History" for the American Heritage magazine. Now America has another president from the State of New York. Their challenges are alike.
There are "Christians" and then there are Christians. Did baptism in some church make you a Christian, or is there more to it? Ask yourself these questions and come up with your own answer.
When did you last do something silly?
Life need not always be such serious business.
It is a new day. What will it bring? One thing is certain. It will be different than any other day in your life. What will you make of it? Grey Day? Great Day?
Two neighbors with a wall of stones between them that one has problems with.
"Time and tide wait for no man." "The only constant in life is change." HubPages has had a series of changes over the years, and I miss some from those "Good Old Days."
Sharing some photos, family and familiar.
Prayer, regardless of doctrine, is meant to express deep seated faith and concerns. Can we treat it fully unless we also listen?
Thoughts along life's trail.
Couples who have been living in successful marriages have expressed some common themes. What are they, and why do they result in such marriages?
Baseball teaches life's lessons, but learning them takes practice. Moments of decision take place at the plate, but effort determines the outcome. So also in politics, batter's box and ballot box.
The Chinese have a saying, "Where there is bad luck, good luck can't be far behind." Personally, I think it works the other way, too.
Doing "unto others" is something I believe in, and it even relates to gardening.
They say that attendance at religious services is declining. So why do I go to church services? Why indeed.
Three limericks and a peace offering.
I was surveyed before President Trump's speech to Congress. Here's what I wrote. Here's what he said that I commented on.
Who said you could work your butt off? And why would anyone try to?
When big money talks, simple minds listen. Our land shall be commended according to its wisdom. "There is no substitute for victory" and there is no lasting victory without unity.
A lack of political will over many years has set the stage for today's deportations and tomorrow's sacrifices due to America's $20 trillion national debt. Where are the realists?
It's a simple mortgage payoff strategy that works when you want to, and it doesn't obligate you any more than you have already obligated yourself. Why not give it a try?
Something editors and publishers do for you (at a price you may not want to pay) is the formatting and documenting of your book, the "stuff" that makes up the first few pages inside the front cover.
The protective fence for the United States of America depends upon what kind of a united fence our people can build.
Out with the old and in with the new. With policies bold, a brand new stew.
For those who voted for President Trump, the expectations are high. For those who voted "not Trump" or "Yes, somebody else" the expectations of the Trump Presidency are low or frightening.
In some areas of the United States there are limited facilities for senior living. Where there are such facilities, up front costs aren't the only factor in choosing the right one.
A little nonsense poem, or is it?
There is one thing that winter can commend itself for, and it is not the ice, slush, snow, and valley temperature inversions.
How critical are our nation's educational institutions and teachers to what lies ahead for you and for me? These three poems give us a glimmer of the answer.
Take it from a couple in their 80s with family members who are 105+, 102+, 92+, and 115. Learn how you, too, can live longer a life that is healthier and happier.
Can there be a Pot of Gold at the end of your Rainbow?
Abounding in abundant blessings no matter the obstacles we encounter in daily living.
Selfishness is decried by all religions, yet it persists. It is at the root of greed and covetousness. They are at the root of the world's problems. We can each do our part by examining ourselves.
Americans have been photographing and recording precious moments as long as cameras and recorders have been around. There comes a time to consider preserving the best of them.
Can you name the turning points in your life? A teacher or two, graduation, marriage, parenthood, service might be some of them. Or was there a whopper of a significant moment. Think back now, see.
A little Trump/Pence braggadocio in limerick form.
These are the latest in a series of Limericks by Demas W. Jasper.
Succeeding with your 2017 Resolutions takes a few simple steps: Getting Started, Keeping It Simple, and Knowing Why you are going to succeed.
Practicing For The Real Game Of Life? If what I am about to write, and you are about to read, stirs the pot a little, I may have achieved my goal in writing about Christianity.
The USA has arrived at another crossroads where even backing up is another possible choice. What lies ahead for America? Here are some possibilities.
The USA wants good relationships with all nations, and especially with Russia and China. Recent events call for all Americans to be better informed about those two countries, and what is at stake.
If you subconsciously believe that a perfect society is an impossibility, at least one religious group believes that one such society endured for two centuries before its decline and destruction.
Counting candles on the cake? There are other things about aging that count even more in the long run!
By the ending days of winter all of nature yearns for spring.
As the year 2016 ends and the holidays are upon us, it is time to thank President Obama for his service and welcome President-Elect Trump as he prepares to take on the toughest job in the world.
Have you ever wanted to ask a Mormon "What do you M0rmons do?" If so, here is what one LDS bishop replies. It's not the full story, but it's why he says "It's a miracle anybody joins this church."
Gardening in Heaven is considered a contact sport by which newcomers can participate in, become acquainted with, and practice some of the heavenly experiences which are ahead of them in eternity.
What stands between us and the joy of the Wise Men who "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy"? (Matthew 2:10)
There are several advantages for a state and a work force that is multi-lingual. Utah sits atop the list of multi-lingual states, and some of its neighboring states aren't far below.
America's future is ripe with promise for all Americans and the world, if the theme of "Stronger Together" was true regardless of which political party won Election 2016
Acting in your own best interest sounds like a "no brainer," right? Self-preservation is the first law of nature, right? Then what's with you and exercise?
What allowed this writer to "see" in May 2016 (six months ago) that Donald J. Trump would win the 2016 election? What now?
November: the month when "The war to end all wars" ended; yet wars go on. November: the month when America's elections end, and governments go on.
We cannot really honor our veterans unless we understand and appreciate what they sacrificed for. Here is a best way to honor them.
Old habits are keeping us from realizing our potential for longer, happier lives. Being better informed means nothing, if we are too stubborn or too lazy to make some needed changes.
Real victories and promises that are kept have a huge impact on the morale of America's military. Perhaps morale is low because so few American leaders have any personal military experience.
For over a year the ads, the robocalls, the mailers and door hangers have flowed freely financed by donors and political parties. Early voting, mailed-in ballots, and the voting day tallies decide.
With another 10 days or so to mail in a ballot, or otherwise vote early, the number of early voters will set new all time records across the USA. But, what's the rush?
Some closing days' rhymes for Election 2016.
In theory 2016 votes for president could be so divided that neither major candidate wins the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the presidency outright. If that happens, Caongress decides.
Not only do we see war crimes perpetrated by Syria and Russia in their targeted bombings of hospitals and medical clinics in Eastern Aleppo, but those same crimes constitute crimes against humanity.
The way I figure, the world was here before I came, will be here after I leave, and I can cope in the interim. So why should a simple thing like one election rouse my juices?
Before you choose an effective diet let's review some basics that can get you off to a great start.
There can always be time for humor down to the last breath. Such as the wish of one man that his last words might be limited to "I hid over a million dollars under the ...."
The term "October Surprise" refers to anything shocking and startling about an opponent that can be used against them to sway voters in the final weeks before November's voting. It's October again!
When voters cast their votes in November 2016 one of the questions they will be answering is whether the USA looks inward to solve its own problems or looks out ward seeking to find today's destiny
Willy and his filly in limerick form.
No leading 2016 presidential candidate can coast to victory with less than two months left to cross the finish line. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump are both in danger of losing. It's Panic Time.
60+ days pf "Crunch Time" and then the counting of America's ballots that will decide who moves into the White House and who goes home. What does it look like now, and how will it turn out?
If an "informed citizenry" is the best protection we have, we are spending far too little on 'civil defense." Take the networks' "evening news" for example....
My mountain is my thermometer. It's right there, visible, and telling me the change of seasons as well or better than my thermometer can.
The political scuttlebutt raises questions about the ongoing Team Trump Campaign. Namely "will Trump drop out of the race?" What could make it happen, or make it unnecessary? A humble Trump might.
Sometimes what is left out of a speech is more significant than what is included. There is some magic to political speeches along the idea of "now you see it, now you don't" political promises.
With their acceptance of the Republican Party's nominations to run for the offices of president and vice president, Donald J. Trump and Governor Mike Pence are on the record as to their goals in 2017
Once again I am 2,300 miles away (sometimes it has been much more than that) from my only sibling, my sister Mary, on her birthday. In younger years I was there cheering her on. Now we are older.
Our seemingly inborn trait to favor "our tribe" above those we consider "others" will surely doom today's America to making the same mistakes others have made prior to their society's failures.
Random thoughts on a Sunday afternoon.
What brought on Brexit? Scratch the surface lightly and you will find ISIS.
Mrs. C., Mr. T., or Gov. J. (among a slew of what will be "also rans") are the choices Americans will probably face in November 2016. What is on the hoizon for when they enter 2017?
Poking some fun at Pops! And some insights of parenting.
What is the price of terrorism? What is the best way to pay that price? Recent events have clarified the price of terrorism. Now the question is: how will we choose to pay it? Are there options?
Americans still have five months or less to decide on who will lead them for four years starting in January 2017. Their major choices are an insider who knows little about business, and an outsider.
Jinx could have been a boy's name, but it wasn't. Jinx could have been beautiful, but she wasn't. Jinx could have been slim and trim, but she wasn't. Jinx could have been dull and boring, ...... .
That America has thousands of immigrants every year is a given. What defines a good immigrant as compared with a "not so good" immigrant? Here are some specific examples from the past.
Lots of topics are up for discussion during Campaign 2016. One that is uppermost for some who are eligible to vote is job growth. Try some numbers and see why.
A short story here on that often seen phrase of "Wash Me!" What steps might you consider, if that phrase were to keep getting written in the road dust on your own car or truck?
Campaign 2016 for the American presidency is testing the concept of government of, by, and for the American people. It is a pivotal moment in the history of the United States of America. Who wins?
All roses are beautiful, but the very first roses of the season are such a shocking reminder of why we plant them, that they take on a special aura all their own. Article with photos.
As a society the observance of Sundays (or Saturdays) as the traditional Sabbath has declined significantly in recent years, from a time when businesses across the country closed in its observance.
With less than 6 months until Election Day for the 2016 national election in the USA, it seems time for the real contest for POTUS to begin (the rest was only a prelude.) It is "growing time" now.
Soap buckets or other containers, plus some milk jugs, food coloring, and spray paint can add color to your garden areas. Here's how it can look for under $20.00.
While those April showers have brought May flowers, that's not all that May can bring....if you productively use its 31 days. Go for it!
American politicians campaign on demonizing and making caricatures of their opponents, while claiming to want a strong, peaceful, and law abiding nation. Can Peace ever be the outstanding issue?
Our eyes will take in the April blossoms which are so welcome after the long winter months, and make the vivid memories we tap when at last another cold winter rolls around. Photos help.
Two old friends meet by habit at the close of the day.
How thawed to God's love are you? What would it be like for you to suddenly awake to your eternal life? A sculptor tried to envision that for people'sl statues in Falls Church, Virginia.
The 30 days of April offer foolery, fun, and fascination, but only if you keep your eyes and ears open, and put some thought into how you use them.
This sounds like today's national election headlines, but guess when this was going on!
When is a pledge not a pledge? Are political pledges somehow exempt? The surviving Republican candidates have shot themselves in the foot again and the Democrats aren't far behind.
Will it take until party conventions before we will all be able to see just how the two parties manage voter desires and voter anger in what is supposed to be a democratic process?
March is the "in between time" of the year. Consider what it offers and make the most of its 31 days....or the days that are left in one of the longest months of the year.
What determines the age you may find yourself at, if you get to Heaven? Here's how to know for sure....or to work on it.
Look no further, if you are a writer. Here is what I have found that you still want.
The two of us see the three crows and speculate about them.
America's Latinos, citizens and legals, seem the forgotten voices crying for greater border security in 2016. You need to listen to their voices, if you are a politician and you want their votes!
With Iowa and New Hampshire settled, with Nevada, South Carolina, and Super Tuesday all in less than three weeks, what is front runner Trump's campaign trying to handle? Why is doing so important?
This American quiz (with three foreign abbreviations thrown in) will test how well you do at recognizing someone or something just by three letters
A pole bean, if viable, is a living and growing thing. A human, if viable, is a living and growing thing. As with people, we can learn a lot of lessons from each other. One such lesson is prime.
The first step in "getting the message out" is turning the brain on. Then there are some choices to make for getting the thoughts edited, printed, and published. Try warming up first.
In the wake of the 2016 Iowa primary there are lessons the author hopes Donald J. Trump will examine and take seriously enough to humble himself and keep his campaign for the presidency truly viable.
On Monday, February 1, 2016 Iowans who choose to participate in their choice of Democrat and Republican candidates to run for the presidency will make their wishes known. We will all be listening.
The 2016 election process began months ago in 2015 as candidates and their supporters hit the money trail and began filling their war chests and planning their strategies. How good is the process?
February is the "turning the corner" month, a little winter is still hanging around; there are hints of spring approaching, and this year we just have to survive 28 days.
Reflections are like what you see in a mirror. They only show what you put in front of them. Even then, it is a distorted image, a right ear appears to be on the left of your head. So also the past.
Thanks to every Hubber who has added a comment to my Hubs, all the nearly 8,000 of them, or stopped by one or more of the 54,000 times. Now it's time for me to concentrate on freelancing sales.
The "war chests" are filling up. The crescendo itself is building. Are you ready? Here come the campaign ads for the 2016 primaries and we still have months and months to go! Cute? Serious? Blah?
Are we not all brothers and sisters? This is a true story of a younger and an older "sister" unrelated both with the same nickname Nang Khet (Miss India), one from France one from USA meeting in Laos
Silent and alert they came seeking sustenance in the dead of winter, fallen fall apples their frozen dinners.
This brand new year will pass by one day at a time, just as last year did. What can make this year different? You can. Set your priorities and make the very first one Health. Don't wait on that.
Rather than make ourselves promises about the year ahead, let's take a look at ourselves in the year that is passing.
The first of the seven longest months of the year, January is the month for setting a new pattern of living for the year ahead. These suggestions guarantee you that the new year will be better yet!
One lepper returned and fell before Jesus to thank him for becoming whole. This is the story of "The Other Nine."
So you thought you'd have snow, and winds that blow? But Christmas Day was sun, and backyard fun!
The 2016 Election outcome will have nothing in common with how the campaigns looked in December 2015.
What is it that drives real writers to write?
North America's low angle winter sunshine casts shadows of sojurners longing for spring.
It's time again for the list of favorite dog breeds Americans have preferred in 2015. so here's a sampling of the 2014 favorites, and a quiz you can enjoy!
December is here, at the end of the year. It's the procrastinators' month when, as with all procrastinators, it all gets done in the St. Nick of time!
A love poem to reminisce with.
Haiku on Voting, Sunshine, Exhaust,Johnny On The Spot, Hunger, Gravity, Hilarity, amd Solemnity, for you to take your pick, or the whole bouquet.
Follower, Following, Fan Mail: These are key parts of the HubPages experience. What does it mean to have 1,000+ "Followers"? What does it mean to be "Following: 1,000+, and why is "Fan Mail" key?
Did you realize that with one additional item you may already have, you have been throwing away a fun;, active game your children can play indoors on any day of the year? This article describes it.
Buried with paper, some important and lots that's not? Here's help for the heave ho.
'Tis the season to be jolly....not the holidays, silly. It's football season for high school championships, college schedules, and Sunday gatherings (after church.)
November is a transition month. The temperature in the northern hemisphere is neither hot enough, nor cold enough to keep rhino and other viruses in check. Take the steps that make November enjoyable.
Starting the day with a chuckle, may start a smile that can last.
If Mr. Donald J. Trump becomes President Donald J. Trump, how will he have made it happen? Here is why it could happen.
Left behind is the past week. Shining bright ahead is this new week. Mondays are sometimes "Ho hum, here we go again!" Let's look at the whole week with some realism.
Smiles, laughter, a good chuckle, a knowing wink: these are qualities I seek in my daily life. Having a category I can go to and find such contributions here on HubPages would make seeking easier.
Imagine a composer composing a little tune just for fun, now imagine a writer doing the same, jotting down something just for the enjoyment of writing....writing silly.
Political ditties are nothing new, and we all know campaigns for the presidency are expensive. Any American who meets the constitutional standards is allowed to run. For once one's own money at risk
Don't sour on the idea of growing your own lemons. After all, make a guess at how many seeds you have thrown away already. You could have a grove of lemon trees by now. Start today.
When a heart valve has been replaced the next battle is keeping the new valve healthy.
In the Rocky Mountains we have to long seasons, summer and winter, and we have two short seasons, spring and fall. Of the four seasons, fall is the special one. Spring leads to the heat of summer.