Articles written by Carroll Straus

Where Knowledge Rules

What is Helium

About me - Carroll Straus

I am a curious and eclectic person: I like to know things and I have a lot of opinions.

I am a lawyer, writer seeker, Baha'i.

I have a friend who pilots actual airships, filled with, yes... Helium.

That's all for now.

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Relationships & Family > Married Life How modern marriage has changed from the past: 2 of 18
Marriage: Job or Joy? Marriage has changed-we all agree on that. Is there one single, simple reason why? Or how? Not really. It is true, being a wife and mother was an occupation as recently as the 1950's-but that was already changing as women entered the workforce in droves during World War II (due to the fact that all the ... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Spiritual Insights The secrets of attraction: 4 of 27
The Secret of the Secret Is "The Secret" true? Is it possible to "manifest" whatever you want? Yes. Sort of. Can we all manifest whatever we expect? Of course. We can and we do. If we were abused, we will either find those who will abuse or, or we become someone who abuses others. The concept of the "self fulfilling prophecy... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Self-Awareness & Realization Is knowledge truly power?: 17 of 100
Knowledge AS Power It is a "truism" that "knowledge is power." Many examples can be stated which are largely self evident, but if this is truly self evident, why is it even a question? Maybe because there are so many kinds and types of power. So perhaps the better question is- what kind of power are we naming when we speak t... More..
Politics, News & Issues > International Politics (Other) Should the US government restrict trade with China over safety issues with Chinese products?: 2 of 10
The Coming China Wars There is a book by Peter Navarro of the title "The Coming China Wars: Where They will be Fought." I heard Mr. Navarro speak about the manufacturing methods in China, and the effect of China's place in world economy on the American economy. He also says in the book (which I read) that there is an extreme... More..
Health & Fitness > Therapy & Counseling Should there be a link between spirituality and psychiatry?: 27 of 54
Spirituality and Healing? Yes or No? Should there be a link between spirituality and psychiatry? Well, "link" is a weak word, and "spirituality" can be defined many ways. Clearly many of those who write "no" defined "spirituality" as "religion." Alas, religion brings up issues of dogma, history, tradition and division. Spiri... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Police & Prisons Do prisons reform criminals?: 30 of 58
Prison: Reform or Deform? As far as I am aware, prisons in the state I live in long since have up any pretense of "reform." There are some systems using "restorative justice" for juveniles, in some states. None, as far as I know, are adopting it for adult populations. Anecdotal reports show much good from them, but they go a... More..
Entertainment > Characters & Performances Top 10 Johnny Depp characters: 11 of 20
Johnny Depp, Man of Mystery. Why are we so fascinated by this man? I am not Hollywood groupie-very few actors fascinate me. This one does, literally, fascinate (Etymology: Latin fascinatus, 1 obsolete : BEWITCH 2 a : to transfix and hold spellbound by an irresistible spellof : ALLURE , ) and I am not alone. I can't take my e... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Lust: 178 of 320
Indra's Invitation Come hither! Come dance with me (my soul whispers - would shout from the roof-tops, were this not unseemly and unwise.) Come- dance with me. Let us undulate together through the listless reaches of some finite eternity. Dost thou hear? Come! Life is but a dance of energy, seeming solid. The trick? To be fo... More..
Relationships & Family > Coping with Divorce Maintaining your sanity during and after a divorce: 9 of 15
Sanity after Divorce? Can anyone be sane after a divorce? Yes. Is there a good way and a better way? Yes. The "best" way is not to get into an ugly divorce, but to utilize a "sane" resolution process. (Collaborative Divorce, Mediation, even hiring a private judge.) But until we stop taking it as a given that bad behavior is ... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Looking in the mirror: 128 of 201
San Juan Creek in Summer A leaf falls, silently, through dappled sunlight onto adobe colored earth. I am like that leaf, I think, only the leaf is not stupid enough to have grandiose dreams of itself. It just falls, and returns to whence it came. Butterflies bustle about happily, flitting in the same sunlight, doing what but... More..