Articles written by James Boyd

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Educated, multi-skilled, interested in almost everything

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Greed: 1 of 27
The compulsion to acquire ever more wealth and more numerous possessions is something that just escapes me. I do not understand it. Why do people think they need, or even want, a house with 14 bedrooms? How many beds do you sleep in? Just one. Having a house with 14 bedrooms just means you have greatly increased the num... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Immigration Commentary: Solving the immigration problem in the US: 1 of 22
The current debate raging over illegal immigration and what (if anything) should be done about it has been dominated on one side or the other by issues such as national security, fences, racism, deportation, patriotism, and citizenship. None of these discussions have resulted in anything approaching a reasonable and effective... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Bush Administration Judging George Bush's performance as president: 5 of 87
George W. Bush achieved the same degree of success as President that he has attained in all of his previous endeavors; failure. The man has failed at everything he ever tried to do. He was admitted to Yale as a legacy entrant, not because he had the academic credentials required of regular applicants. He muddled his way throu... More..
Jobs & Careers > Nonprofit & Service Sector Jobs The pros and cons of working in a call center: 1 of 16
There are two basic types of call centers: outgoing and incoming. Outgoing centers are telemarketers, bill collectors, and those that contact existing customers for various purposes. Incoming call center employees take calls but as a general rule do not make them. These centers can be to handle inquiries about advertised prod... More..
Sciences > Disease & Illness The potential of stem cells: 1 of 10
The current discussion over the use of embryonic stem cells for research has two main components. The first component is comprised of the serious ethical and moral issues raised by the use of discarded embryos. The second component is the potential benefit of this research. Setting aside the ethical issues for discussion at a... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Heaven, Hell & Afterlife What happens when we die?: 20 of 193
What happens when you die is your heart stops beating and your brain activity ceases. You, as a person, cease to exist. The idea that there is somehow a personal existence after death is simply a fantasy. It arises from the powerful urge to survive combined with the concept that good old wonderful, indispensable me could not ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) The answer to America's economic crisis: 2 of 19
We have heard a lot of "expert" opinions about the underlying cause of our current economic crisis. Each analysis proposes a solution, with that solution directed at what the "expert" considers to be the biggest problem. Some blame banks and other financial institutions for being greedy and irresponsible. There is some truth ... More..
Sports & Recreation > Camping What to take on a camping trip: 3 of 25
What should you take on a camping trip? It depends on where you are going to camp, how long you plan to stay, how many people are in your party, and the specific wants and needs of each member of your group. For starters, the assumption here is that you are actually going to camp. Parking your RV at a KOA and spending ... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Thoughts on God Does God play dice with the World?: 2 of 16
Does God play dice with the World? This question refers to the famous discussions between Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr about quantum mechanics. Einstein could not accept the random aspect of action at the quantum level. He thought there must be an underlying cause for quantum actions, a cause that we did not comprehend. Boh... More..
Computers & Technology > TV Is satellite television really a better deal than cable television: 1 of 8
The battle between cable companies and satellite television companies is fierce. A big problem all of these companies have to face is that they all offer basically the same programming. A special-interest channel may be offered a deal that induces them to sign an exclusive agreement with one provider but those are rare. For t... More..