When I started this site, I did it because I was running for public office. With that being finished, I am now writing for myself, either to blow off steam sometimes or to express my feelings about life.
There will come a time in everyone's life when you will lose a loved one, be it a child, parent, spouse or dear friend. It's inevitable.
Tonight I am writing about a life-long friend who has been given a terminal diagnosis. And the reason I am writing about him is twofold, one is to let him know how much he means to me and my life, how much he is loved by his family and friends, the other is to help others who are going through the same thing, mainly families facing  death of a loved one.
When we enter this life we are given no guarantees about how long we will be here. Some lives will be long, some only moments.
I know that I too am entering that portion of my life when I live from day to day with no guaranty about tomorrow. But I refuse to let it limit my activities and enjoyment while I'm here.
As to you, my friend, you were there when I was young and dumb and needed a shoulder to lean on. You pulled me through some hard times. We became brothers when you relied on me to help you through rough times. We didn't have that many, but when we did, we were there for each other.
We had many good times, too many to count and mostly at my expense, because you usually got the best of me with your jokes and pranks. We rode our Harley's together and went on camping, hunting and fishing trips.
We raised our children together and you accepted me into your family. And what a wonderful family. I have never met nor will I ever again meet another person who was as dedicated to his family as you are. I have never had another friend as true as you. Nor will I ever have another. I can honestly say to you, "I love you" as a friend and as a brother.
I will be there until the end, but I refuse to have regrets about what we did or didn't do. We lived life to the fullest, keeping others on their toes at all times, and I will continue to do that the rest of my life.
You will be well remembered, by many hundreds of people who's lives you have made better by being a part of them.
To others who are facing the same circumstances, keep one thing in mind. You never question friendship, you live it. Friends will come and go in your life, but true friends are there no matter what, good times and bad.
We all have an expiration date. Some know it, some don't.
Personally, I would rather know it, but that's just me.
The world will continue on as it always does, generation after generation. Celebrate the life you had with that person, laugh about the stupid things, tell stories about the things you did. Think of the ones who went before us, their lives memorialized in our stories, the love and laughter, in a moment of time.
Any thing you haven't said or done, now is the time. Don't wish later on that that you had.
My credo is to live your life to the fullest, because the only thing you're going leave is a memory. Make that memory the best memory that you possibly can!
To all who read this and whoever it affects, I send love and hope that you can carry on!
Dennis
dennismoconnor.com

I know when we talk about slavery, we Americans generally equate it with black people being shipped in boats to American shores to do the laborious jobs that whites didn't want to do on plantations and households.
But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Slavery has existed as long as humans have been alive, in one form or another, simply because humans allow it to exist, whether through fear, monetary insecurity, etc. Which brings me to today's form of slavery.
Pure capitalism has created a tier system, whereby the moneyed group controls the less privileged through monetary inequality. Today, we are economic slaves. I would estimate that probably 20% of our population is comfortable financially, leaving 80% to fend for themselves in any way they can. That usually means at least 2 jobs, 2 people, at low wages, neglecting your children, simply trying to exist. Trying not to die from the inability to find proper healthcare, trying not to die for lack of medications, trying not to die because you are living on the streets, trying not to die from lack of food.
Yet a good percentage of you continue to believe that Republicans have your best interests at heart and you continue to elect them. When will you put aside your ridiculous fears of losing your white supremacy and learn to love thy neighbor, regardless of what nationality or color of their skin or their facial features. They bleed red just like you, they have exactly the same fears you have.
As for 45 supporters, I will never understand you, I will never agree with you , because you are tied into the same slavery mechanism as everyone else. You worry that someone else may have more than you and how did they get it. It must have been given to them by the government, but not to me.
The wealthy don't care about you, recognize that. The country is now in the control of the billionaires and they will keep you as far down as they can, because if you wised up and used your power, you would be a danger to their status in life. You would realize you have the power, you just won't use it against them for fear of rocking your own boat.
That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!
May peace be with you and may you rise up against the tyranny that is taking over the world once again before we are all dead, like the Kurds.
dennismoconnor.com

I was having a conversation with a friend recently about the situation in our White House and the subject of narcissism came up. We all of course know that DJT is a narcissist of the extreme nature, pathological in fact.
How do you recognize narcissism? Having dealt with several narcissists in my life, I of course know the signs.
It is typical of a narcissist to be a liar, always projecting the blame for things they do onto others and never being wrong in anything they say or do. It's always someone else's fault.
Generally speaking, a narcissist will always take claim to others accomplishments and downplay others knowledge, to allow themselves to be at the top of the story.
A lot are thieves, self-gratification being a main goal, never accepting blame for what they do. Of course this is confusing to people close to them because they never know what is true and what is not.
It is a dangerous trait when it is allowed to rule YOUR thoughts and goals.
It can't be cured because it is part and parcel of the narcissists life, they must have their way!
Again, they will lie to you, steal from you, cheat you, and all the while suck you in to their personality without you realizing it, until you finally recognize that you can't help them.
They are generally master manipulators, constantly evolving their stories like a chameleon.
If you ever let someone like that into your life, be extremely cautious, because they will take anything they can get from you and cast you aside when they are done!
Believe me, take DJT as an example!
May peace be with you.
dennismoconnor.com