Articles written by Robert Darmody

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About me - Robert Darmody

If a person reaches a time in life when they really know themselves, they automatically become the most authoritative writer on this subject. Even at my age, there is still too much work ahead on 'self education,' (I think that might qualify as a pun.) to

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Food & Drink > Fast Food Reasons why fast food restaurants are responsible for America's obesity epidemic: 4 of 23
First off, it isn't fast. And neither are the people who render it. So throw the name out. It's counterfeit and archaic. Jack in the Box the speaker clown started this whole thing. Now he wears business suits and heads a corporation; if the commercials are to be believed. The only thing corporations can do fast, is to... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War in Iraq Is the use of torture as an interrogation technique ever justified?: 3 of 17
The Geneva Convention and dangerously effete notions that warfare is something manageable to the point of becoming civilized have come into unquestioned acceptance in this 21st. Century. These immune deficient attitudes are limited primarily to the same decaying West that gave birth to such absurd notions in the last c... More..
Entertainment > TV Genres & Trends Which cartoon character takes more punishment: Elmer Fudd or Wile E. Coyote?: 1 of 5
To be given a name like Elmer in the first place is an open invitation to a lifetime of punishment. Toon after toon, shotgun in hand, our undaunted hero set out after the main ingredient for his wabbit stew. With an entire countryside full of rabbits to bag, the hapless Fudd could never manage to avoid getting bagged himself,... More..
Food & Drink > Dining & Restaurants (Other) Tips for improving restaurant service: 8 of 39
You want to improve service? The most reliable way is to improve the restaurant. Service standards in a neighborhood steakhouse differ from what is expected of a world class, five star dining room. Quality of service seldom reaches beyond the class of an establishment. In a similar way, if you want better care than your pers... More..
Society & Lifestyle > African-American Issues Should America pay restitution to the descendants of slaves?: 33 of 131
The claim for restitution is based on the notion that progeny of the people who instituted and maintained the barbaric practice of slavery, owe those whos ancestors suffered under it, pay yourselves then. Slavery was abolished over 150 years ago. If, after so many generations, people can prove that all or most of their ancest... More..
Relationships & Family > Gay & Lesbian Issues Should the right to create laws on gay marriage reside at the state level or the federal level?: 3 of 11
The state interference is the lesser of evils. It is, however, and always has been, a great evil. Social and religious institutions are by definition beyond the legitimate purview of the state. Though the status quo, makes my opinion moot, it doesn't change the fact that there is an inverse relationship between personal liber... More..
Food & Drink > Dining Etiquette How to gracefully pick up the dinner tab: 5 of 18
Assuring that you'll be able to gracefully pay a dinner tab is like successfully commiting suicide. You must first be sincere in the intention and then plan ahead. Those two elements are really all it takes. Since there are many different types of restaurants, the planning must vary to suit conditions and intentions. Some... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Doctrine & Issues Is it against Christian principles to judge others?: 10 of 35
It is impossible to obey the the teachings and examples of Jesus without using judgment. Try to figure out how you would determine what is good or evil without using your faculties of judgment. It would be like trying to look at words without reading them. So, common sense must be called upon to answer how it is that Jesus i... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Childhood Development How to boost your children's self-confidence: 2 of 7
Children instinctively trust parents for the protection and orientation that are vital to survival in a new world. Out of ignorance, many parents begin failing at the job and undermining that trust with seemingly benign practices; setting the course for later, more destructive ones. Learning by example also begins earlier tha... More..
Sciences > Psychology What your daydreams say about you: 14 of 47
It is a place of sanctuary and a cause for a lifetime of trouble. People who either can't or don't daydream are a sad lot. They're stuck wherever they are with no escape and they often react rather negatively when they see others 'go elsewhere for awhile, without leaving the room.' Many teachers were that way, now that I thin... More..