{"id":419,"date":"2021-12-09T11:40:14","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T11:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/?page_id=419"},"modified":"2022-06-09T12:06:46","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T12:06:46","slug":"reflections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/reflections\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"419\" class=\"elementor elementor-419\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d128a79 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d128a79\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-34cad86\" data-id=\"34cad86\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ee5688 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5ee5688\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reflections<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d229c1c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d229c1c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5679b69 leftblocktest\" data-id=\"5679b69\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2471ea1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2471ea1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d725114\" data-id=\"d725114\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82764ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"82764ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Welcome to My\nWriter\u2019s Sketchpad\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7dcb8c5 leftboxfirst elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7dcb8c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Ruminations is where I share works in progress. Please follow the pointers below to learn more about me and the stories you\u2019ll find on these pages. Thank you for visiting. Please return and tell a friend.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-702fe51 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"702fe51\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-07d55a1\" data-id=\"07d55a1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfa17f9 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bfa17f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dpopup%3Aopen%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6IjQ2NCIsInRvZ2dsZSI6ZmFsc2V9\">Contact Me<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0587cf elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c0587cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/\">About<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6936662 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6936662\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1632417\" data-id=\"1632417\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5180305 leftboxfirst elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5180305\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Who is Tom Abate and what does he write about?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29e5c8d elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"29e5c8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"\/ruminations\/essays\/\">Essays<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d344615 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d344615\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-acd8dca\" data-id=\"acd8dca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94d1f3d leftboxfirst elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"94d1f3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEclectic notions arising from my experiences and observations.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159aa25 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"159aa25\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"\/ruminations\/journalism\/\">Journalism<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-fcf02ef elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fcf02ef\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3a9e99a\" data-id=\"3a9e99a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e932c05 leftboxfirst elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e932c05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Stories and commentary based on research, interviews, and observations. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a746d8e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a746d8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"\/ruminations\/whimsy\/\">Whimsy<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-26a4901 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"26a4901\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8a3fefb\" data-id=\"8a3fefb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f6e376 leftboxfirst elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1f6e376\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Satire, fiction, humor, and advice from the Dead Blogger\u2019s Society. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1147ab0 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1147ab0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"\/ruminations\/reflections\/\">Reflections<\/a><\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-05fa161 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"05fa161\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-d859d19\" data-id=\"d859d19\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dc6a28 leftboxfirst elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9dc6a28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Experiences and events that formed my character and inform my work and beliefs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f4acc3 rightnonfiction\" data-id=\"6f4acc3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff4bd0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"ff4bd0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/musings\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Musings<\/h4><\/a>  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Reflections<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 21, 2025\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"656\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/King-Trump.png\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/King-Trump.png 1020w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/King-Trump-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/King-Trump-768x494.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\"> <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/faith-persistence-and-the-parable-of-no-kings\/\">Faith, persistence, and the parable of No Kings<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">\"A  judge ...who neither feared God nor respected any human being.\"<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>Faith is fragile. It grows slowly but can fade quickly. And once it\u2019s gone, it\u2019s hard to get back. I think about faith as I try to rekindle mine by returning to church. On Sunday, my spiritual and secular concerns were in step when the Gospel spoke about persistence in the pursuit of justice\u2014the day after I joined seven million fellow Americans in the No Kings protest of Saturday, October 18th. It was our Irish priest who read the parable...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/faith-persistence-and-the-parable-of-no-kings\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/journalism\/articles\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Articles<\/h4><\/a>  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Reflections<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSeptember 24, 2025\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Berkeley-512px-Pro-Palestinian_Protest_in_front_of_Sproul_Hall_at_UC_Berkeley.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Berkeley-512px-Pro-Palestinian_Protest_in_front_of_Sproul_Hall_at_UC_Berkeley.jpg 512w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Berkeley-512px-Pro-Palestinian_Protest_in_front_of_Sproul_Hall_at_UC_Berkeley-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\">Kefr4000, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/is-uc-berkeley-the-sellout-or-whistleblower-in-federal-antisemitism-probe\/\">Is UC Berkeley the sellout or whistleblower in federal antisemitism probe?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">60 universities are being probed. Berkeley turned over names. What about the other 59? <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>Doctors\u2019 first rule is do no harm. The comparable dictum for journalists should be don\u2019t take stories out of context. Consider how news media have covered UC Berkeley for giving federal investigators the names of more than 150 students and faculty. Berkeley has said it provided the names as part of a nationwide probe into whether some universities had let campus protests over Gaza and Palestine create a hostile environment for Jewish students and faculty. But Berkeley is only one...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/is-uc-berkeley-the-sellout-or-whistleblower-in-federal-antisemitism-probe\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/observations\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Observations<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Updated date:<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 5th, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Chris-Abate-young-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Chris-Abate-young-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Chris-Abate-young-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Chris-Abate-young-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Chris-Abate-young-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Chris-Abate-young-1536x2048.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\"> <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/when-mom-gave-me-a-gift-on-her-birthday\/\">When Mom gave me a gift on her birthday<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">A word to the wise: never forget the woman who gave you every opportunity in life.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>Feb. 3, 2024 -- My mother would have been 89 today had she lived. I was at her side five years ago when she breathed her last. Of all my memories of Mom, my fondest is the birthday visit I paid her 50 years ago that changed my life. I was 19 and had progressed mechanically through grammar and high school and had gotten through my first year at New York University before I lost momentum and dropped out. I...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/when-mom-gave-me-a-gift-on-her-birthday\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/observations\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Observations<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tApril 4, 2023\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1081\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-1.png\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-1.png 1081w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-1-768x767.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1081px) 100vw, 1081px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\"> <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/musings-from-a-day-at-the-dentists\/\">Musings from a day at the dentist\u2019s<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">Care for your teeth today, or you\u2019ll regret it for eternity.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>I\u2019ve had several teeth pulled in my 68 years and I\u2019m loath to lose another. My recent annual checkup gave me five hours in which to contemplate how modern dentistry can rescue us from bad habits by repairing our magnificent molars. My epiphany began when the dentist displayed my X-rays on a wall-mounted TV. Using a stylus on a touchscreen laptop, the dentist circled and then drew arrows toward two back teeth. The marks appeared on the TV to highlight...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/musings-from-a-day-at-the-dentists\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/anecdotes\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Anecdotes<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Updated date:<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\tJanuary 18th, 2023\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1081\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes.png\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"Reflections - anecdotes\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes.png 1081w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-768x767.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1081px) 100vw, 1081px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\"> <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/having-a-senior-moment\/\">Having a senior moment<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">A lesson to myself in rushing to judgment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>I was in a rush. With 20 minutes to get home before an appointment, I\u2019d stopped at the grocers to pick up milk for my coffee. In line ahead of me, an old lady was unloading a cart with a few food items, a disaster-proof supply of toilet paper, and many boxes of children\u2019s gifts. I considered going around her and leaving cash for the checkout person. I do that occasionally at coffee shops when the person ahead of me...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/having-a-senior-moment\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/anecdotes\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Anecdotes<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugust 30, 2022\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1081\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes.png\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"Reflections - anecdotes\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes.png 1081w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-768x767.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1081px) 100vw, 1081px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\"> <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wooden-teeth\/\">The time I bought half-interest in a newspaper from a man with wooden teeth<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">Chalk that up to the foolishness of youth. But even now, pushing 70, I\u2019m still trying to catch soap bubbles before they pop.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>In June of 1980 I graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where I\u2019d been editor of the campus newspaper. That experience convinced me that journalists were a sick breed, and that I ought to be one of them. The sensible career path would\u2019ve been to gather my clips and look for a job at a small-town daily, working long hours for low pay and learning bitterness. Instead, I decided to start an alternative newspaper. But where? I had put...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wooden-teeth\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/anecdotes\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Anecdotes<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Updated date:<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\tAugust 25th, 2022\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1081\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes.png\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"Reflections - anecdotes\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes.png 1081w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-768x767.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1081px) 100vw, 1081px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\"> <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/a-patriotic-vietnamese-man-yearns-for-clean-air-and-democracy\/\">A patriotic Vietnamese man yearns for clean air and democracy<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">A chance encounter over the Fourth of July weekend should make us wonder why some Americans seem ready to discard freedoms that rest of world envies.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>It had been the stranger across the table who started a conversation that veered toward irony this Fourth of July weekend. \u201cSmoke not good,\u201d he had said, in accented English. \u201cToo much particulate matter.\u201d We were seated at an outdoor coffee shop and the breeze had carried the scent past him a moment before it reached me. \u201cBarbeque?\u201d he guessed. I sniffed and shook my head. \u201cPaper,\u201d I replied, then made the leap from his black hair and Asian features...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/a-patriotic-vietnamese-man-yearns-for-clean-air-and-democracy\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/anecdotes\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Anecdotes<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Updated date:<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\tDecember 22nd, 2022\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1081\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes.png\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"Reflections - anecdotes\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes.png 1081w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-anecdotes-768x767.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1081px) 100vw, 1081px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\"> <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/when-top-book-editors-said-fiction-wasnt-my-forte\/\">When top book editors said fiction wasn\u2019t my forte<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">I took this to heart and spent 30 years practicing nonfiction.\r\nHave I learned enough to make stuff up convincingly?<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>In 1990, I gave up trying to publish a novel based on my experiences as an enlisted man serving in the U.S. Navy around the time that the fall of Saigon ended the Vietnam War. I made the decision to become a journalist rather than a novelist after getting a thoughtful rejection letter from Robert Giroux, a now deceased founding partner of the literary house Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. In those days, when it was still possible to get an...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/when-top-book-editors-said-fiction-wasnt-my-forte\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/observations\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Observations<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Updated date:<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\tDecember 22nd, 2022\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations.png\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"icon - reflections observations\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations.png 1080w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\"> <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/has-it-really-been-50-years-since-high-school\/\">Has it really been 50 years since high school?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">A chatty and informal reminiscence shared at a 50th reunion.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>(Regis High School is a Jesuit-run institution for Catholic boys in the New York area who take an exam to win four-year scholarships. Other than removing some names I made no alterations. Tom) I\u2019ll arrive at the reunion on the red eye from San Francisco, after watching the youngest of my three children graduate high school. What a long, strange trip it\u2019s been! Let me recap the last 50 years. After Regis, I spent a year at NYU before dropping...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/has-it-really-been-50-years-since-high-school\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bluebgrightpost\">\t\t\t\n\n  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/category\/reflections\/observations\/\" target=\"_blank\"><h4>Observations<\/h4><\/a> \t\t\t<div class=\"creativewrt3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"dateandtags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Updated date:<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\tDecember 22nd, 2022\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-eassy-post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-eassy-photo\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations.png\" class=\"attachment- size- wp-post-image\" alt=\"icon - reflections observations\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations.png 1080w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-reflections-observations-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/> <p class=\"caption\"> <\/p>\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"headingcreative3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/if-you-figure-out-how-to-build-an-h-bomb-can-the-government-declare-it-a-secret\/\">If you figure out how to build an H-bomb,  can the government declare it a secret?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"expert-text\">U.S. law said the basic principle behind the bomb were \u201cborn secret\u201d and could not be disclosed under any circumstances. A student newspaper challenged that.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-contentpost3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-right-postc3\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t  <p>(This article first appeared in a special edition to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Daily Californian, campus newspaper of the University of California, Berkeley.) In June and September 1979, The Daily Californian published two stories that blew open a national debate over whether Americans could face criminal charges for publishing the basic principles behind the hydrogen bomb. In between the first and second scoops, the paper narrowly avoided bankruptcy. The Daily Cal had stumbled into a controversy that began...<\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/tomabate.com\/ruminations\/if-you-figure-out-how-to-build-an-h-bomb-can-the-government-declare-it-a-secret\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t        <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reflections Welcome to My Writer\u2019s Sketchpad Ruminations is where I share works in progress. Please follow the pointers below to learn more about me and the stories you\u2019ll find on these pages. Thank you for visiting. Please return and tell a friend. Contact Me About Who is Tom Abate and what does he write about? 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