Author: Edward Ortiz

Rockin’ Thursday LXIX

Yesterday, I wrote a post about friendship, so I figured that a song about what it means to be a friend would be a nice addition for today’s Rockin’ Thursday. I found several songs about friendship—With a Little Help from My Friends by The Beatles, Lean on Me by Bill Withers, and I’ll Be There for You by The Rembrandts … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LXIX →

It’s Not Complicated—Unless You Make It: My Thoughts on Male-Female Friendships

Can Men and Women Just Be Friends? What a great question, and perfect for a WordPress prompt. It’s the title of an article I haven’t read yet, but I’m going to answer it anyway. Later this week, I’ll read the article and see if my response aligns with its content. I took a quick peek, … Continue reading It’s Not Complicated—Unless You Make It: My Thoughts on Male-Female Friendships →

When Politicians Use Christianity as a Prop

There is a lot going on in the U.S., and now in the Middle East with the conflict there, which seems to be expanding, especially after today’s attacks. Carl Von Clausewitz, a Prussian general and military theorist, said that "war is a continuation of politics by other means.” That is exactly what is happening in … Continue reading When Politicians Use Christianity as a Prop →

Rockin’ Thursday LXVII

Today is Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday's name, first used in the 1890s, is a portmanteau of the words June and nineteenth, referring to June 19, 1865, the day Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LXVII →

What If the Unthinkable Happens at Home?

Managing crises can be a major leadership challenge if we don’t have some kind of plan in place. I spent a large portion of my career planning for contingencies and crises. We wrote plans and exercised them routinely. We planned for things like moving a headquarters to another location on a military installation due to … Continue reading What If the Unthinkable Happens at Home? →

Rockin’ Thursday LXVI – Father’s Day Edition

This Sunday is Father's Day, so today I’m featuring a father-son duo as we prepare to celebrate all those dads out there. I must admit that Father’s Day didn’t mean much to me growing up, since I didn’t have a father, but all that changed when I became one. Oh, what a blessing it is … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LXVI – Father’s Day Edition →

My Father

Today, I’m sharing another poem by my grandfather-in-law, Pedro Rodríguez Miranda. The poem, My Father, comes from the Love Poems in Old Age section of his book. As Father’s Day approaches, I thought it fitting to include this wonderful poem, it also feels like the right place to end this project I began over a year ago. At … Continue reading My Father →

Rockin’ Thursday LXV

Today is World Environment Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging action for the protection of the environment. World Environment Day was established in 1972 by the United Nations at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment (June 5–16, 1972), which emerged from discussions about the relationship between human activity and the environment. … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LXV →

Juice Shots vs. Real Fruit: Are We Losing Something?

I’m glad to be back, my friends. I had a great time in Texas at my niece and nephew’s high school graduation, and spending time with family. Family reunions are always a bit taxing for this introverted soul, but I’ll be fully recovered by the end of the week, or at least that’s the hope. … Continue reading Juice Shots vs. Real Fruit: Are We Losing Something? →

Rockin’ Thursday LXIV

Well, I’m about to get my motor running and head out on the highway—not looking for adventure, just heading to a high school graduation in Texas—but I’m preparing for whatever comes my way. Because even though I wasn’t born to be wild, I’m capable of having fun once in a while. I’m taking a week … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LXIV →