"The wicked encourage and give themselves the license to attempt and commit all manner of transgressions, seeing that the fruit which injustice yields is soon ripe, and offers itself easily to the gatherer’s hand. Punishment comes late, lagging long behind the pleasure of enjoyment."
Plutarch
“Happiness is love’s outcome, never its motive. Love is not concerned with a person’s accomplishments, it is a response to a person’s being. Where someone is loved they are an end in themselves, and certainly not a means toward something else.
It is therefore of love’s essence, wherever it is found, that the loved one seem precious, beautiful, and worthy of love."
Dietrich von Hildebrand, The Art of Living
"Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace."
Charles Sumner
"I know nothing that I may say can influence you. You have no souls to be influenced. You are spineless, flaccid things. You pompously call yourselves Republicans and Democrats. There is no Republican Party. There is no Democratic Party. There are no Republicans nor Democrats in this House. You are lick-spittles and panderers, the creatures of the plutocracy.”
Jack London, The Iron Heel
Stocks were down hard on the early trade, but managed to wallow their way back to almost unchanged during the day.
The Dollar dropped again.
Gold and managed to hold their own, and even gain a bit.
VIX ticked slightly higher.
The markets seem to be digesting their gorging on risk in July.
Non-farm payrolls on Friday.
We adopted a new dog this weekend, a little shih tzu that had been found as a stray on the streets in Newark and was rescued by a group of wonderful, caring people.
She had a number of serious health problems which have been largely overcome, and as she is young at three, she has a good chance at a long and happy life.
Tomorrow begins the next phase of her road to full recovery with a visit to our own vets.
We are surrounding her with patience, care, and love.
You can tell she is frightened but wants to be accepted. It takes time.
The young man is beaming again.
Daisy and I abide.
Have a pleasant evening.
