Interesting note from a theater program: Why do ships and aircraft use MAYDAY as a call for help?

Answer: It comes from the French word M‘AIDEZ – meaning “help me.”

• Useful FBI acronym: a fictitious name/memory device to measure individuals

  seeking positions of public trust. The name is CARLA F. BAD. It stands for –

  Character

  Associates

  Reputation

  Loyalty

  Ability

  Finances

  Bias

  Alcohol

  Drugs

                                                                        # # #

  Writing in the Washington Post, retired Col. Sheri Swokowski reveals a

  transgender officer. The colonel “had to suppress my authentic self” while serving

  in the Army, including the Infantry for almost 35 years. Swokowski deployed

  twice to the war zone and retired to an important manpower/personnel division in

  the Wisconsin Guard. The colonel speaks of other transgenders who serve the
  country, get the job done, and hopefully are judged “based on a person’s character

  and ability.”

                                                                        # # #

  Does being rich damage the soul? A professor and PhD candidate in religious

  studies at the University of Virginia think so. They report that formerly, having vast

  sums of money supposedly harmed one’s character, warped behavior, and

  corrupted the soul. From the Reformation until the 1970s, the extremely rich

  remained morally suspect. Then, executive salaries skyrocketed wildly– without

  much questioning of character.

  Behavioral studies supposedly reveal that the rich are “morally malformed,” –

  more likely to be shoplifters or sex offenders. They proportionally give less to

  charity and are more likely to experiment with adultery.

                                                                        # # #

  Professor of medicine Elaine Schatner salutes Sen. John McCain. However, she

  cautions that applying battle language to the experience of having cancer is

  erroneous. There is no empirical proof that cancer can be “beaten” by a strong

  will, she maintains.

                                                                        # # #

  Paul Butler is the author of CHOKEHOLD, an intriguing book voicing the fears of

  black man in America today. His title attempts to capture racial oppression, Jim

  Crow, and racial profiling. Mr. Butler suggests what to do if caught “driving while

  black.” Do not wear clothes that stand out, “let the cops win,” show deference, and

  never, never raise your voice…

                                                                        # # #

  A Washington Post thought piece analyzes the prudent litigation strategy of the gay

  movement:

  > Carefully identify “friendly” states where litigation might stand a solid

  chance

  > Bring lawsuits under the state constitution, never directly challenging the

  Federal government

  > Persuade individual “rogue plaintiffs” to avoid suing in states where they

  would almost surely lose

  Another review – focusing on the battle for gay marriage equality – cites other

  effective strategies:

  > Assess whether a given judge is “persuadable”

  > Build familiarity with the non-gay mainstream

  > Work out strategy and tactics via moot court testing

  > Choose the “right words” – marriage equality, not gay marriage