Gongol.com > Radio > Show Notes > June 1, 2014
"We need constantly to ensure that present-day forms of communication are in fact guiding us to generous encounter with others, to honest pursuit of the whole truth, to service, to closeness to the underprivileged, and to the promotion of the common good." - Pope Francis
It's time for the annual "spring-cleaning" garbage pickup day, when everybody in Des Moines leaves their unwanted stuff on the curb and lots of people in old vans and trucks drive around scavenging it. It's a pretty bizarre sight to see, but it's a great way to move things up the value chain. The stuff I leave on my curb has no net value to me -- it would cost more to fix or make useful than it costs to replace outright. But for people who either have the right skills, or who don't value their time at the same price I value my own, it's an opportunity to get lots of stuff for free that would otherwise be destined for the landfill. I can't complain about that.
The release of the last American held hostage in Afghanistan has brought about a lot of controversy about whether it's right to negotiate with terrorists. I think our best strategy is unpredictability. Official policy, of course, must be one of non-negotiation. But the reality is a little more nuanced than that.