What Successful People Do

Success comes in a variety of different ways.  Weight loss, a good position in a company, a successful charity, or  a good marriage are all examples of what we think of as success.  Other people often question how someone else becomes successful.  The real question should be, "What did they do to achieve that particular level of success?"  Through decades of research, we now know the habits of some of the most successful people in the world. The Harvard Business Review suggests the following:

1. Get Specific. When you set yourself a goal, try to be as specific as possible. "Lose 5 pounds" is a better goal than "lose some weight," because it gives you a clear idea of what success looks like. Knowing exactly what you want to achieve keeps you motivated until you get there. Also, think about the specific actions that need to be taken to reach your goal. Just promising you'll "eat less" or "sleep more" is too vague — be clear and precise. "I'll be in bed by 10pm on weeknights" leaves no room for doubt about what you need to do, and whether or not you've actually done it.

2. Seize the moment to act on your goals. Given how busy most of us are, and how many goals we are juggling at once, it's not surprising that we routinely miss opportunities to act on a goal because we simply fail to notice them. Did you really have no time to work out today? No chance at any point to return that phone call? Achieving your goal means grabbing hold of these opportunities before they slip through your fingers.
To seize the moment, decide when and where you will take each action you want to take, in advance.

Again, be as specific as possible (e.g., "If it's Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, I'll work out for 30 minutes before work.") Studies show that this kind of planning will help your brain to detect and seize the opportunity when it arises, increasing your chances of success by roughly 300%.

3. Know exactly how far you have left to go. Achieving any goal also requires honest and regular monitoring of your progress — if not by others, then by you yourself. If you don't know how well you are doing, you can't adjust your behavior or your strategies accordingly. Check your progress frequently — weekly, or even daily, depending on the goal.

4. Be a realistic optimist. When you are setting a goal, by all means engage in lots of positive thinking about how likely you are to achieve it. Believing in your ability to succeed is enormously helpful for creating and sustaining your motivation. But whatever you do, don't underestimate how difficult it will be to reach your goal. Most goals worth achieving require time, planning, effort, and persistence. Studies show that thinking things will come to you easily and effortlessly leaves you ill-prepared for the journey ahead, and significantly increases the odds of failure.

5. Focus on getting better, rather than being good. Believing you have the ability to reach your goals is important, but so is believing you can get the ability. Many of us believe that our intelligence, our personality, and our physical aptitudes are fixed — that no matter what we do, we won't improve. As a result, we focus on goals that are all about proving ourselves, rather than developing and acquiring new skills.
Fortunately, decades of research suggest that the belief in fixed ability is completely wrong — abilities of all kinds are profoundly malleable. Embracing the fact that you can change will allow you to make better choices, and reach your fullest potential. People whose goals are about getting better, rather than being good, take difficulty in stride, and appreciate the journey as much as the destination.

6. Have grit. Grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and to persist in the face of difficulty. Studies show that gritty people obtain more education in their lifetime, and earn higher college GPAs. Grit predicts which cadets will stick out their first grueling year at West Point. In fact, grit even predicts which round contestants will make it to at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The good news is, if you aren't particularly gritty now, there is something you can do about it. People who lack grit more often than not believe that they just don't have the innate abilities successful people have. If that describes your own thinking .... well, there's no way to put this nicely: you are wrong. As I mentioned earlier, effort, planning, persistence, and good strategies are what it really takes to succeed. Embracing this knowledge will not only help you see yourself and your goals more accurately, but also do wonders for your grit.

7. Build your willpower muscle. Your self-control "muscle" is just like the other muscles in your body — when it doesn't get much exercise, it becomes weaker over time. But when you give it regular workouts by putting it to good use, it will grow stronger and stronger, and better able to help you successfully reach your goals.
To build willpower, take on a challenge that requires you to do something you'd honestly rather not do. Give up high-fat snacks, do 100 sit-ups a day, stand up straight when you catch yourself slouching, try to learn a new skill. When you find yourself wanting to give in, give up, or just not bother — don't. Start with just one activity, and make a plan for how you will deal with troubles when they occur ("If I have a craving for a snack, I will eat one piece of fresh or three pieces of dried fruit.") It will be hard in the beginning, but it will get easier, and that's the whole point. As your strength grows, you can take on more challenges and step-up your self-control workout.

8. Don't tempt fate. No matter how strong your willpower muscle becomes, it's important to always respect the fact that it is limited, and if you overtax it you will temporarily run out of steam. Don't try to take on two challenging tasks at once, if you can help it (like quitting smoking and dieting at the same time). And don't put yourself in harm's way — many people are overly-confident in their ability to resist temptation, and as a result they put themselves in situations where temptations abound. Successful people know not to make reaching a goal harder than it already is.

9. Focus on what you will do, not what you wont do. Do you want to successfully lose weight, quit smoking, or put a lid on your bad temper? Then plan how you will replace bad habits with good ones, rather than focusing only on the bad habits themselves. Research on thought suppression (e.g., "Don't think about white bears!") has shown that trying to avoid a thought makes it even more active in your mind. The same holds true when it comes to behavior — by trying not to engage in a bad habit, our habits get strengthened rather than broken.
If you want change your ways, ask yourself, What will I do instead? For example, if you are trying to gain control of your temper and stop flying off the handle, you might make a plan like "If I am starting to feel angry, then I will take three deep breaths to calm down." By using deep breathing as a replacement for giving in to your anger, your bad habit will get worn away over time until it disappears completely.

Remember, you don't need to become a different person to become a more successful one. It's never what you are, but what you do.

Things I Miss

A few days ago, I blogged about things I like.  It got me thinking about things I miss.  I don't dwell on these things but most of these things were a "season" in my life that won't ever return.  I think that is why I am now trying to learn to live in the moment and enjoy the time and experiences to the fullest as they occur.

Some of the things that I miss are:

1. Blowing on Josh's food to cool it down for him and having him trust me that it is OK to eat.
2. Thowing Spencer in the air at the pool and hearing his laughter and begging me to do it again and again.
3. Going into the locker room after a hard fought battle on the football field and enjoying a victory with my hometown buddies.
4. The magic and wonder of holiday seasons as a child, especially Christmas.  I think this feeling must be a very small glimpse of heaven.
5. Taking daily/weekly walks in the woods.  I especially miss the Fall season with the leaves changing color and getting caught in the dark because the sun went down early.
6. Riding "dirt bikes" all summer long.
7. Going out West on vacations every year.
8. Grandma's meals
9. Not talking to or seeing family and friends as much as I used to
10. A sense of community, patriotism, and pride in America

Memorial Day

Today is a day that we barbecue, officially start summer, pools open, and a weekend that we go the the Indianapolis 500.  But, this morning, my family and I went to a Memorial Day ceremony.  It was important that we go.  It was important that we remember. Today is the day that we stop for a few minutes to honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and preserved the freedom of the greatest country in the history of mankind.  I am appreciative and thankful beyond words for the price that has been paid so that I can live the life I do.

So my thoughts are that there is no day really adequate or sufficient enough to set aside for remembering.  There is no day sufficient enough to bring back the boys that had their lives taken from them and the lives of their loved ones put on hold.  The promises of marriage ,the sons and daughters that never get to see their daddy again, the future plans of young lives will not be whole again because we remember.

My feelings are that we should remember everyday.  But especially today, it is our duty, and it is an honor to pay tribute to those who have given all. 

God Bless the American Soldier.



Things I Like

The older I get the more I enjoy the simple things.  It has been a very busy and tumultuous two week period.  Yesterday was the first chance that I got to slow down in quite some (since January).  Track season is over and the lazy, hazy Southern days of summer are here.  So, I began to think about things I like and things I look forward to enjoying this summer.  For example:

1. I like hearing the cicadas chirping day and night.  It reminds me of one of the summers that I lived with Grandma and Grandpa.
2. I like smelling freshly mowed grass.  It is simply a sign of summer.
3. I like laying in bed at night and talking to my wife while holding her hand.  I have a sense that, despite what happens, it will be OK because I have a partner that will stay by my side.
4. I like watching my boys excel and succeed.  There is just something about it I can't describe.
5. I like watching people (from a distance) engage in conversation.  I wonder what they are saying and I like that it when they seem to enjoy each other.
6. I like watching little kids dance.  It often times is spontaneous, and innocent, and from the heart.
7. I like music.  It inspires, and motivates, and can stir the soul.
8. I like taking a shower.  Especially after a hard day's work.  I feel rejuvenated and refreshed after a shower.
9. I like taking a ride in the car with my wife.  It becomes like our own little world and our little getaway.
10. I like reading and writing.  Through books I have earned an "informal' education and the written word is timeless.

Pent up Anger and Frustration

The very best word to describe last night was that it was bittersweet.  It was incredible and horrible.  The events of the night lifted my spirits to new highs and also plunged me into regret.  And yes, it was about the Tennessee State track meet but it was also about so much more.

Last night, I was so proud of Josh.  He gave up personal gain and recognition by not running individual events and helped his team by choosing to run relays instead.  And Josh was spectacular.  In the 4x800, Josh ran the first leg and destroyed the rest of the field.  He made the other athletes look like grade schoolers, not athletes that qualified to run state.  In the 4x400, Josh took the baton on the third leg in last place.  When he finished, he had put his team back in first.  It was brilliant and inspiring.  But more than his track accomplishments, Josh proved to all those that know him that he has a giving heart, is unselfish, and is willing to forego personal recognition to help others that don't have the God-given talent that Josh does.

That was the sweet part of the night.

The bitter part of the night was my doing.  For three years, I have kissed the rear end of a bully ex-marine that poses as a coach in an effort to try and get along.  But last night, after Josh ran so brilliantly, it was like a wave of emotion came over me that was uncontrollable.  And, in public, I called the "Cat in the Hat" out.  And I pressured the head coach for this other man's firing, and I made sure that this bully did not enjoy the night.

And yes, I am sorry that I embarrassed my family.  People don't like confrontation.  In my opinion, the bad guys always get away with a small slap on the wrist in private, while publicly humiliating others and leaving a debris field of shattered confidence, trust, and respect for authority in their wake.  And I am sick of it. 

So, I am not sorry that I called this man out.  I am not sorry that I didn't let him slip away into the crowd to enjoy his reward.  And I am not sorry that he felt too uncomfortable to come to the after-state party last night. 

He destroyed my eldest son's dreams in track, he has humiliated my youngest son for three years, he publicly betrayed Josh last week, and I will not give up the fight until James Johnson is not longer welcome at a track and field event.

Illegitimate Parents

I grew up in a "blended" family.  We were the "Brady Bunch", only with four boys and one girl.  And two of my siblings were adopted.  They were chosen.  And I view them no differenly than I view my biological brother.  In reality, I have more in common and am closer to my "half-brother" (although I don't consider him a half-brother) than any of my other siblings.

The reason I bring this up is that I have been wondering , as I listen to the radio headlines lately, what the children (possibly six now) think about their father being Arnold Schwarzenegger? And not nowing for 10-14 years. 

When my siblings realized that they were adopted, I think my brother and sister may have had thoughts about our mother not really being their "real" mother.  After all, my step mom was not my biological mom, and I had wondered early on how this whole blended family thing would work out. 

And today, I keep hearing talking heads on TV referring to the boy (and possibly others) as Schwarzenegger’s “illegitimate” son.  I think that is ridiculous. In my opinion, there is no such thing as an illegitimate child. There are only illegitimate parents.  The child had nothing to do with being illegitimate.

Arnold has been an illegitimate father up till now, but he can change that. He needs to sit down with his son, acknowledge him, apologize to him, admit that he failed him, promise to love him, and begin to protect him from ridicule.

That boy is going to need a lot of love and affirmation from his father. Why? Because the idiots in the media have gone after him, publishing horrible, humiliating stories, putting his picture on the Internet and subjecting him to ridicule at school.

Arnold has always played a hero in the movies. But now the whole world knows it was just an act. He now needs to be a real hero for a change.  It is time to stop being an illegitimate parent.  And it is way past time to start being a father.

The Model T Ford and Grandpa

My granddad was born in 1914 and, as many of you know, I am writing a book about his life.  It is hard for me to sometimes get in the correct frame of mind to understand his "world' growing up.  I was e-mailed some information about the year 1910, very close to the year my grandfather was born.  I think this will help you appreciate some of the difficulty I have in trying to write about him in his early years in regards to being able to relate.  And I also hope that it will give you an appreciation of some of the reasons I am writing a book about my granddad's life and the many changes and events he has experienced during his lifetime.  For example, the car shown below, a 1910 Model T Ford, is similar to the first car my granddad purchased with his brother Henry.



Listed below are some other interesting facts surrounding that period of time.

************ ********* ************
The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.

Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only.

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower !

The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.

The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian 

Between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME.

Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!

Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'

Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

The Five leading causes of death were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.

The population of Las Vegas , Nevada , was only 30!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores.

Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'

Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U. S. A. !

Oh What a Night!!

I have had a very interesting night. 

Tornadic activity, nickel-size hail, 70 mph wind gusts, and heavy rain have managed to knock out all of the electricity and several tree limbs are now on the ground around the camper.  So, I am sitting in complete darkness, with the exception of the glow from the computer screen.  No radio, no phone so that the battery doesn't run out, no lights outside whatsoever, no lights in the shower house.  The only thing happening in my world right now is the rain is pounding the side of my camper like a drummer beating a drum.

So, this makes me think about what I may be trying in the next few weeks.  I am up for a new challenge and I am trying to sell the camper and live in a tent.  A couple that I know is hauling the camper to their mother's house this weekend, and there is a possibility that she will purchase the camper.  If she does, I am determined to go even more minimalist than I have the last three years and live out of a tent.  I really don't anticipate too much of a problem in the spring, summer, and fall.  However, winter may be a completely different story altogether. 

And I know to the "normal" person this may sound totally crazy, but just like tonight, I like the quiet and the challenge of being without all of the modern-day conveniences.  For me, there is something soothing and relaxing and "normal" about going to bed when it gets dark outside and waking up when the sun comes up.  There is something normal about not having constant TV chatter on in the background, or the convenience of air conditioning. 

So, I will keep you posted on whether or not this happens.  By the way, anyone know of a really good four-seasons tent?

Matthew Jason and Shelby Dale

Yesterday, my youngest brother got married.  Yesterday, we added a beautiful, caring, thougtful woman to the Martin family.  And I couldn't be happier.  I am so glad you are a part of our family Shelby Dale Martin.

Weddings can be a strange thing.  Despite the commitments, and the pomp, and the ceremony, statistics show that many will fail.  I think it's because LOVE is not a thing that can be measured or weighed.  Love is not something that you can monitor to show how "in love" someone is.  Love is unique.  Love is hard to describe.  But, when expressed selflessly, purely, without reservations, without hesitation, love is more powerful than anything in the universe.

Some of my thoughts about the wedding yesterday:

• The day was as near perfect as anyone could want.  The day before the wedding there was an 80% chance of thunderstorms for the weeding day.  But yesterday was warm and sunny with a gentle breeze.  And that was important for an outside wedding.  I took time to take it all in while the music was playing in the background.  And honestly, it was like a scene out of a movie.  The sky was blue with big puffy pillow-like clouds, the gentle breeze was cooling, and the setting was warm and welcoming while classy and elegant.
• The ceremony itself was personal and very appropriate.  I thought the music, the message, and the symbolic things that were done, as well as the reception, all fit the newlyweds very well.
• The firefighters at the wedding were the best.  From the best man, to the ushers, to the crazy dancers at the reception, the wedding was made better by the presence of Matt's friends.  You guys have a supporter in me for sure.
• I had the opportunity to catch up with old friends and family.  It was so nice to find out what has been going on in the lives of loved ones.  But the real blessing was striking up conversations like we had just been talking last week.  I especially enjoyed spending time with Uncle Don.
• And last but not least, the final 2 hours of the night that lead up to the final 45 minutes was the most fun I have had in years.  I will never forget the dances with Brett, Zach, Sam, Shirl, the bride's mother, and yes, even the bride herself.  What great memories were created and what a great celebration took place in honor of the bride and groom. 

It is true that weddings can be strange and that there is statistically a 50/50 percent chance of a marriage ending in divorce.  But, I believe that Matt has done his homework and has married a wonderful woman that compliments him and balances him in a way that only Shelby can.  And I fully expect that Matt and Shelby will be able to make it through the tough times and truly enjoy the good times together celebrating 30, 40, 50, maybe even 60 years of marriage.

So here's to you Matt and Shelby.  God Bless.  I love you both!

A Lesson in Leadership

Today, I am going to my brother's wedding.  I will share my thoughts and pics with you tomorrow about it. 
However, today I want you to sit back and relax and watch Obama get a history and leadership lesson from Netanyahu.  By the way, Netanyahu is a conservative.  Can we possibly get him to accept the nomination to run against Obama here in the States?  By growing up in Philadelphia and attending Harvard, I am sure BB knows more about America than Obama.

The Cat in the Hat

Last night was one the best track nights of my life as a coach and a father.  And the worst.  I'll explain.

As a parent, it is so much more enjoyable and fulfilling for me to watch my children excel than it ever was for me to accomplish anything (albeit small accomplishments).  Last night my son advanced to the State Finals in Track and Field as a junior in three events.  His epic performance came in the 800M (half mile) when he ran a 1:57 and finished second to one the fastest 800m runners in the entire United States.  Joshy's performance was made all that much sweeter by the fact that he could barely make it out of bed that morning due to sickness.  He has a sinus infection and his head hurt so badly that it was painful to move his head.  I love the fact that he overcame so much adversity to do so well a matter of hours later.  What a great life lesson to learn!

And in the blink of an eye, this epic, incredible night was tainted by an incredibly selfish and stupid man.  James Johnson is the "sprint" coach at Independence High School.  Two races and 25 minutes later, Josh ran the third leg of the 4x4 relay.  He was exhausted from just running his 800m.  No one expected Josh to run a personal best (PR).  Everyone knew he was exhausted mentally and physically.  A half mile does not sound like much, but at a 1:57 it requires an athlete at the high school level to dig very deep.  To no one's surprise, Josh ran his slowest leg of this year.  However, he was comparable to the other three guys.  And (here's the kicker) THE 4X4 TEAM WON!  They are going to state as one of the favorites!

However, the overall time was not fast enough for James Johnson.  He then proceeded to yell at Josh immediately after the race (in front of the others), telling him that he "laid down", meaning he didn't try hard enough.  He argued with the Head Coach that the 800m should not tire Josh out that much.  Truly, this obese man has never run an 800m in competition in his life.  What is even more unbelievable is that James Johnson then told Josh's team mates that he was upset with Josh and that Josh should not run the 4X4 at State.  He talked about my son to the other athletes behind my son's back.  Josh could not even enjoy one night of an incredible, brilliant night on the track.

And now I have had enough.

James Johnson has a history of putting his foot in his mouth.  He has angered the mother of the best 400 runner in the state of Tennessee.  He has angered the mother of one of the best girl athletes on the team.  He has angered all of the coaches.  And he has angered other coaches in our conference.  He has levied personal attacks against one of his track "competitors".  And he is the laughing stock of 95% of the kids on the track team.  The other 5% like him because he blows smoke up their rear ends about how fast their splits are (although he takes split times wrong and just claims, "I do it my way") Ironically, these are the kids that he wants to coach in his coaching business in the summer

And I believe he is racist!  Here's why.

Josh ran 2 seconds slower than his usual time.  According to James Johnson's split timing methods, so did the lead runner (James has timed the lead runner at 49.44, last night his time was 51.6).  And the last leg ran 2 seconds slower than his best ( the last leg runner is capable of a 48.4 split, he ran a 50.4 split last night.  This particular runner also ran a 48.94 open time last night)  So why was Josh singled out? Why didn't the other runners get yelled at in public and talked poorly about behind their backs? My contention is that Josh is white, and he is running in a race that is predominantly black.  And the rest of our team is black.  And James Johnson is darker than coal.

So here is my solution.  I will let James Johnson walk away with any shred of dignity that he has left.  He can quit for "personal reasons".  And he should not be coaching at the State meet next week.  Nor should he be allowed to use the Independence Track and Field for his personal business any longer (he runs a track club in which he is paid by the parents).  Simply walk away James.  Your life will be much easier if you do.

I have spoken to Joshy and he will not run one more inch for this pathetic man!  He will not take any coaching direction from this person. He has betrayed the trust, respect, and confidence of my son and of numerous other athletes.  And I am determined that he will not represent the school that my son runs for.

And if he does not walk away, I will meet with the Athletic Director, I will meet with the Principal.  I will write Op-Ed pieces for the paper.  I will start a Facebook page about this man.  I will have others come forward and tell their stories about his false personal attacks on them.

James, you are the Cat in the Hat.  And I will do everything in my power to make sure that you don't coach at Independence High School ever again.

A Pro-Abortion Quandry

Below is an article that I am reprinting from "The American Thinker".  The situation presented with this article is an interesting one in that the liberal, statist, Left views Obama as their political saviour.  They also fill my Facebook page with hate and chastisement towards anyone that is Pro-Life, stating that we must be anti-woman thugs that want to keep all women barefoot and pregnant.  Just imagine if their political saviour would have ended up in a dumpster just like his half-brother/sister.
 
There's an old African proverb that says, "Who knows whose womb carries the chief?" This simple truth has taken on a powerful meaning recently for every American paying attention.
According to recently secured documents from the Immigration and Naturalization Services, evidence has emerged that President Obama's father, Barack Obama, Sr., apparently paid to send a young Kenyan girl he had impregnated in Massachusetts to London to have an abortion.
Doing the work that investigative journalists of the mainstream media used to do, author Jack Cashill reveals that the foreign press, unlike their American counterparts, are all over the story. Far from speculation, according to the INS documents, the high school aged girl was in Massachusetts on an exchange program when she evidently became pregnant by the 29 year old Obama. Asian News International notes that this incident occurred prior to 1973's Roe v. Wade decision, meaning, "abortions were illegal in the U.S."
One cannot help but wonder if such a revelation would not cause a man whose own wife describes the heinous butchery of partial-birth abortion as a "legitimate medical procedure" to consider: that could have easily been me.
Let me pause to acknowledge that I don't typically like using these kinds of tactics when discussing the issue of abortion. The truth is it doesn't matter whether the child being killed is the next Beethoven, Bach, Edison, or Einstein. What makes human life valuable and worthy of protection is that it is human life, bearing the inviolable image of the Creator. Life is valuable because of what it is, not what it does -- whether that's making beautiful music or being tone deaf, inventing a light bulb and unlocking spectacular scientific mysteries or needing help tying shoelaces...or yes, leading the most powerful nation in world history.
But this unfolding bombshell regarding Barack Obama's family is highly instructive given our President's lifelong commitment to defending abortion. The simplest scenario arising from the story is this: President Obama had a half-brother or half-sister who, rather than having the chance to thrive and succeed as he has, ended up in a dumpster in London. The more complex reality for the president to grapple with is that it is not that far of a stretch to assume, given the complexities of his relationship with mother Ann Dunham, that Barack Obama, Sr. might have preferred the same end for our current president.
Such a scenario, beyond offering a brand new perspective on Obama's memoir Dreams from my Father, would provide the most pro-abortion president our country has ever known with the same chilling realization that so many of us born after the disastrous Roe decision encounter: had it not been for the strength and resolve of loving, pro-life mothers, we could have been legally slaughtered.
It was former President Ronald Reagan who is credited with having stated the obvious but enlightening fact that those fighting for abortion rights are those who have already been born. This disquieting account about his father allows our current President the chance to put himself where his half-brother or half-sister once was...where he once was...and reconsider his tragic position on life in the womb.
As I read the heartbreaking details of this story about a soul deprived of its unalienable right to breathe free, I'm taken back to President Obama's response to Rick Warren at the Saddleback Church presidential forum in the lead-up to the 2008 election. Asked when a baby gets human rights, Obama cowardly surrendered righteousness for convenience and politics, infamously asserting that "answering that question with specificity is above my pay grade."
That embarrassing response shouldn't have been a surprise given that just a few months prior, Barack Obama addressed the issue of sex education on the campaign trail. Speaking specifically about his own daughters, the man who could have been aborted himself proclaimed, "I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."
 
Like father, like son.

U.S. Auto Companies Behind the 8 Ball....Again.

I recently received an e-mail about a car that sounds too good to be true.  So I did a little research.  The information about the car seems to have surfaced in 2009, with a limited release of the car in 2010.  I have not seen any further information about this particular car being released in the United States, however, I did find some interesting information to pass along.   

The rumor was that in 2010, Volkswagen would be releasing a one-seater car with a fuel economy of 258 miles to the gallon costing just $600 each.  Since this is 2011, we know this one is not true. 

But the truth regarding this car is still interesting. Since 2002, VW has been working on a car called the L1. It seats 2 people and is made from carbon fiber so it’s super light at just 290 kg or 638 pounds. The body is flat and narrow, and even includes a little bit of storage space. The price tag will be around $25,000.

The prototype has a single-cylinder diesel engine (though that could change), anti lock brakes, driver's airbag and an electronic stability program. It holds 6.5 liters or 1.72 gallons of gasoline and does, in fact get 258 miles per gallon with a top speed of around 74 miles per hour.  The body of the car is made from carbon composites (much like that of a high-end bicycle) and has an incredible coefficient of drag (it's slippery).

So what does all of this mean?  It means that you could drive from Los Angeles to New York on less than 10 gallons of gas.  With gas at $4-$5/gallon, that means you could drive across the country for under $50.

VW is also working on another car that can achieve 100 miles per gallon and will reach top speeds of 140 miles per hour.  It also has a carbon fiber body that weighs only 1870 pounds and the turbo diesel engine will accelerate to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds.

I have just two thoughts. 

First, it seems like Ford, GM, and Chevy may be lagging behind again.  What's new?!

Second, I wonder how your luggage would get across the country if you traveled in an L1? 

The 100-watt incandescent bulb black market

I would like to make some money on the side.  The cars are getting very old, we are going to have to move in December of this year, and Josh will be going to college in the Fall of 2012.  And I think I have figured out how to make some good, quick money.  I am buying 100-watt incandescent bulbs and storing them for next year.  I will purchase them for close to $0.25 and sell them for $5.00 each.  If I can purchase 2500 bulbs for $625, I can sell them for $12,500, making a small profit of $11,875.  You think that sounds ridiculous right?  And you would never buy a light bulb for $5.00?  Consider this.

Switch Lighting just debuted its newest LED at the 2011 LIGHTFAIR International Trade Show in Philadelphia. The bulb will cost a little more than $20 when it goes on sale this fall, but because it uses 85% less power than the incandescent it's replacing, the company estimates it will pay for itself in about a year.  Dozens of other LED's, halogens, and compact flourescent lamps (CFLs) have launched in the last two years by companies that include Philips Lighting, General Electric, Osram Sylvania, Cree and Lighting Science Group. They aim to meet the requirements of a 2007 U.S law that demans light bulbs use at least 25% less energy for the same amount of light. That bipartisan law, signed by President George W. Bush, will also phase out Thomas Edison's 75-watt bulb in January 2013, and his 60-watt and 40-watt ones in January 2014. It exempts appliance, three-way, colored and 19 other less commonly used incandescents.

In other words, on New Year's Day 2012, it will be illegal to purchase incandescent bulbs or use them in your home.  And I am betting that the everyday "Joe and Jane" prefer the warm, soft yellow glow of an incandescent light bulb to the unnatural bright white light of flourescents.  How do I know this?  Because if consumers preferred flourescent to incandescent light bulbs, they would purchase them without any legal incentive. Yet they do not.   Therefore, I believe that the demand for cheap incandescents is not going to change because of legislation, so the only option left to environmentalists is to remove the incandescent light bulb from the market altogether and make it impossible for consumers to light their houses inexpensively.  CFLs may have a role in the marketplace, but we should let the consumer decide what that role should be.  And regular incandescents will go for $10- $25 on the black market; more than twice what I will sell mine for.

This is just one example of the ridiculous absurdity of federal regulations and demonstrates how bureaucrats pointlessly try to change human behavior. The regulatory burden grew tremendously under Bush and is only getting worse under Obama. 

It is a trend that restricts freedom and choice in the marketplace and costs taxpayers billions of dollars.

It is a trend that the government must reverse.

Thomas Edison must be turning in his grave!

Quiet Reflection and the Future

This may sound awkward.  Sort of strange.  But I love listening and focusing on things when it is totally quiet.  For example, I love walking to the shower house in the morning and listening to my footsteps on the gravel and hearing my shoes crunch the grass.  I love turning on the shower and listening to the hiss of the water coming out of the shower and the water as it taps against the concrete floor.  Being alone so often sharpens the senses and allows me to focus and appreciate the very small things.  I love the chirping of the frogs by the lake at night, and the owls, and the birds in the morning.  It calms and soothes me.  It makes me reflect often.

Today I had one of those experiences.  When I arrived at the camper, a "neighbor" was mowing his grass.  (He probably has the second cleanest camper in the campground, next to me.)  As I was cooking some turkey burgers on the grill, I stopped and watched J.R. slowly push the mower along perfect straight lines.  He was in no hurry.  Sort of like he was creating a masterpiece, in the grass, like da Vinci painting, or Mark Twain writing.  J.R. can't move fast.  He is elderly and his feet hurt.  He is very fit for his age.  He is slim and you can tell he used to be really toned and muscular.  As I watched J.R., I wondered about what he was like when he used to play football in his youth.  I wondered how he was before his wife lost touch with reality and then divorced him and took his life-savings.  I wondered how he dealt with some of the disappointments he has experienced with his children.  I wondered what he was like when he was wealthy.  I wondered if he is truly happy.

Watching J.R. made me think of my dad, and my granddad.  Watching J.R. from a distance, lost in the constant hum of the lawn mower, made me think of my life and how time is going so fast.  Soon, I will have grandkids and I wonder what they will think of me.  Will they see a person like old J.R. slowly pushing a lawn mower that has lost everything he has ever gained and not recovered half of what he used to have?  Will they not care because they know I love them?  Will I get to the point I am just happy to mow the lawn or will I always wish that I had made more of an impact on those around me?

I don't know.  I wish I knew what was next.  But for now, I will enjoy listening to my footsteps as I walk to the shower house and listen to the hiss of the shower in the cold mornings. And reflect.  And I will wonder about the future and what is next. 

Civil War Facts

 

In their new book, “The Seven-Day Scholar: The Civil War,” Dennis Gaffney and Peter Gaffney break down the Civil War seven days at a time. Each chapter consists of seven one-page narrative entries that cover crucial political decisions, unforgettable people, key battlefield moments, scholarly debates and more. Here, guest contributor Dennis Gaffney offers a sneak peek with a look at 5 things you probably didn’t know about America’s most devastating domestic conflict.

 

1. One-third of the soldiers who fought for the Union Army were immigrants, and nearly one in 10 was African American.
The Union Army was a multicultural force—even a multinational one. We often hear about Irish soldiers (7.5 percent of the army), but the Union’s ranks included even more Germans (10 percent), who marched off in regiments such as the Steuben Volunteers. Other immigrant soldiers were French, Italian, Polish, English and Scottish. In fact, one in four regiments contained a majority of foreigners. Blacks were permitted to join the Union Army in 1863, and some scholars believe this infusion of soldiers may have turned the tide of the war.

2. Black Union soldiers refused their salaries for 18 months to protest being paid lower wages than white soldiers.
When black soldiers began signing up with the Union Army in early 1863, they were paid $10 a month. White soldiers were paid at least $13, with officers earning more. Blacks were further insulted when only they were charged a $3 monthly fee for clothing, lowering their pay to $7. As a result, the highest-paid black soldier earned about half the lowest-paid white soldier’s salary. To protest these conditions, black regiments refused to accept their inferior wages. Finally, pressure from abolitionist congressmen coupled with the courage black soldiers had shown in combat persuaded Congress to rectify the pay structure. In September 1864, black soldiers finally received equal pay that was retroactive to their enlistment date. For many, this meant they finally had enough money to send some home to their families.

3. Harriet Tubman led a raid to free slaves during the Civil War.Harriet Tubman, the escaped slave who led others to freedom on the Underground Railroad before the war, arrived at the Union camp at Port Royal, South Carolina, in the spring of 1862 to support the Union cause. She began teaching freed slave women skills that could earn them wages with the Union Army. But soon she was gathering intelligence about the countryside from the freed slaves and taking river reconnaissance trips. On June 1, 1863, Tubman and Union Colonel James Montgomery steamed into the interior with 300 black Union soldiers. The troops swept through nearby plantations, burning homes and barns as Union gunboats sounded their whistles. Slave men, women and children came streaming from the countryside, reminding Tubman of “the children of Israel, coming out of Egypt.” More than 720 slaves were shuttled to freedom during the mission. In the first raid led by a woman during the Civil War, Tubman liberated 10 times the number of slaves she had freed in 10 years on the Underground Railroad.


4. Lincoln was shot at—and almost killed— nearly two years before he was assassinated.
Late one August evening in 1863, after an exhausting day at the White House, Lincoln rode alone by horse to the Soldiers’ Home, his family’s summer residence. A private at the gate heard a shot ring out and, moments later, the horse galloped into the compound, with a bareheaded Lincoln clinging to his steed. Lincoln explained that a gunshot had gone off at the foot of the hill, sending the horse galloping so fast it knocked his hat off. Two soldiers retrieved Lincoln’s hat, which had a bullet hole right through it. The president asked the guards to keep the incident under wraps: He didn’t want to worry his wife Mary.

5. Before William Tecumseh Sherman became a great Union general, he was demoted for apparent insanity.
In October 1861, William Tecumseh Sherman, commander of Union forces in Kentucky, told U.S. Secretary of War Simon Cameron he needed 60,000 men to defend his territory and 200,000 to go on the offensive. Cameron called Sherman’s request “insane” and removed the general from command. In a letter to his brother, a devastated Sherman wrote, “I do think I Should have committed suicide were it not for my children. I do not think that I can again be trusted with command.” But in February 1862, Sherman was reassigned to Paducah, Kentucky, under Ulysses S. Grant, who saw not insanity but competence in the disgraced general. Later in the war, when a civilian badmouthed Grant, Sherman defended his friend, saying, “General Grant is a great general. He stood by me when I was crazy, and I stood by him when he was drunk; and now, sir, we stand by each other always.”

TOT Phenomenon

I used to think that old people were just not as educated as they should be.  My reasoning was that they would have better recall and not forget words mid-sentence.  How could they forget the name of someone or the name of a product they are talking about?

Ah, but recently, I am beginning to think that those old people aren't so absent-minded after all.  And the reason is because I think it's happening to me.  I am starting to have conversations with my wife that go something like this:

Me: "Hey, he has a great kick at the end of his race".
Dena: Yeah, like that guy on TV."
Me: "What guy?"
Dena: The guy that runs the 800 from Oregon."
Me: Oh yeah, the small guy that allows comes from behind."
Dena: "Yeah, you know.  The guy from Oregon."
Me: "Yep.  He runs a lot like that guy."

Then, after going to eat after the meet and driving home an hour and a half later, we are pulling into the neighborhood and I say," Yeah, he runs like Nick Symmonds."  And Dena replies," Yep, that's the guy."

Apparently, this "condition" has a name.  Scientists and psychologists call this "tip-of-the-tongue" phenomenon.  People in this state often can remember the starting letter for the word and its number of syllables, and insist the word is 'on the tip of their tongue' (hence the T.O.T. label).  So, I am not sure that this helps me at all to know that this "condition" has a name and a label. But the comedy factor when having conversations with my wife is fun and will surely create some good........memories.

Why Do You Think the Way You Do?

I have had many discussions lately with some uber-liberal folks.  It's strange to talk to them because they seem to be really sincere.  And I listen to them and think to myself that their logic is so messed up that they have to try to be pulling my chain.  But, I don't think they are.  I really do think most of them are sincere (and I think some are simply puppets.)

But that leads me to my point.  Why do people think the way the do? Is it their upbringing?  Is it the need for validation with the groups that they hang out with? Or do they hang out with the groups that validate their thoughts and feelings and beliefs?

And I'm not just talking politics.  I think this applies to religion as well.  For example, one of my friends is Catholic. He is devoted and sincere.  But the story about he ended up being Catholic is interesting.  When my friends parents were married, on their honeymoon night, his mother was fully dressed and in bed.  His father asked what was going on.  His mother stated that he was going to swear to her that he would become Catholic and switch religions from his Baptist upbringing or the marriage would not be consummated.  So today my friend is Catholic.

I read a blog recently that summed it up this way.  "Not long ago, a psychology class played a trick on their professor. Every time he walked to the left side of the room, the class would tune out, look away or just look down at their notes. When he walked to the right side of the room the class would look at him, pay attention and nod their heads to affirm his ideas. By the end of the class, the professor was literally standing so far to the right of the class he was teaching from the doorway. No kidding."


So it makes me wonder how much of the things that we believe in are “us” or are really just a subconscious reaction to validation. Do we engage our theological or political positions because we’ve come upon them objectively, or did we find ourselves in a community that embraced those positions and rewarded us with affirmation when we came to the conclusions of the community?

So why do you believe what you believe and why do you think the way you do?  Is it because you are going along with your "community" or have you tested your thoughts and beliefs?  And do you really know why you believe what you believe?

Blogspot.com has been off-line

My apologies to the 40-50 friends that follow this blog daily.  Since Wednesday, blogspot.com has been offline to repair some problems that they were having.  This means that I was not able to write and store or publish since last Tuesday.  I have a few ideas that I have put on paper and will start to share tomorrow.

In the meantime, I have created a new fitness blog called Fitness in 40.  The fitness in 40 website is designed to give viewers tips in fitness, healthy eating and recipes, exercise, and latest trends in health and fitness.  You can visit the blog at fitnessin40.blogspot.com.

Let me know what you think about the new blog.

See you back with new posts soon.

Illegal Immigration is Completely Under Control, Just Ask Obama

I was very frustrated by the President of the United States yesterday.  He gave a speech in El Paso in which he made immigration a partisan issue.  It should not be a partisan, political issue.  It should be an American issue.  It should be a safety issue.  But it is not.  The President has lost some Hispanic voters recently.  So he decided to pander to the illegals.  And while doing so, he lied.

In his speech, Obama tried to make the case that his administration is doing everything immigration reform opponents have said needed to be done before immigration reform could be tackled.
The president said “we have gone above and beyond what was requested by the very Republicans who said they supported broader reform as long as we got serious about enforcement.  But even though we’ve answered these concerns, I suspect there will be those who will try to move the goal posts one more time.  They’ll say we need to triple the border patrol.  Or quadruple the border patrol.  They’ll say we need a higher fence to support reform. Maybe they’ll say we need a moat.  Or alligators in the moat.  They’ll never be satisfied.  And I understand that.  That’s politics.” And a bunch of bull!

ABC's Senior White House correspondent Jack Tapper points out the following claims.

Let’s fact-check some of the president’s claims.

1)      “They wanted a fence,” the president said. “Well, that fence is now basically complete.”
The president is referring to the fact that 649 miles of fencing have been completed out of 652 miles of fencing mandated by Congress. (Out of 1,969 miles of border with Mexico.) That is factually correct, according to a February 2011 study of the border by the Government Accountability Office.
But that standard ignores calls some on the border have made for the fence to be made more impenetrable. Some have called for “double-fencing”; only approximately 30 miles of fence are so reinforced, in San Diego, California and Yuma, Arizona.

More to the point, the border remains quite porous.

The Border Patrol, per the GAO study, has achieved “varying levels of operational control for 873 of the nearly 2,000 southwest border miles at the end of fiscal year 2010…GAO’s preliminary analysis of the 873 border miles under operational control in 2010 showed that about 129 miles (15 percent) were classified as ‘controlled’ and the remaining 85 percent were classified as ‘managed.’

2)      “The Border Patrol has 20,000 agents – more than twice as many as there were in 2004, a build up that began under President Bush and that we have continued,” the president said.

It’s an unusual metric for the president to compare the number of Border Patrol agents now to the number there were four years before his presidency began, but what the president says is accurate.
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 increased the number of Border Patrol agents by 2,000 annually from FY2006, when there were a total of 12,349 Border Patrol agents, to FY2010, when there were 20,511.
A more apt comparison might be to look at how many Border Patrol agents there were when President Obama took office and compare that to now.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, as of October 2008, there were 17,499 Border Patrol agents in total – including those at the Canadian border.
As of April 9, 2011, there were 20,745 Border Patrol agents nationwide – an increase of approximately 3,246 since President Obama took office.  Not quite the numbers that he wants you to believe.

And what about those agents on the US-Mexican border? Surely that’s what many in the audience thought the president was talking about as he stood on the border and talked about border agents – not those in Buffalo, NY.  As of October 2008, there were 15,442 Border Patrol agents at the Southwest border. There are currently 17,659 Border Patrol Agents between the more than 160 ports of entry on the Southwest border.

That’s an increase of 2,217 Border Patrol agents on the Southwest border in two years.  WOW!

So I wonder how many DEA agents thought the President's comments were funny?  I wonder how many cattle ranchers on the border that fear for their lives daily were amused by the President's comments?  I wonder how many police officers laughed with the President?  I wonder how many hospital and school officials on the border thought illegal immigration comments by the President were appropriate? 

The President's comments were ridiculous.  And he has no limit to what he will say to get re-elected.  I think the President should take one of his many vacations to Nogales, New Mexico with his family just to prove how safe the border is now that he has "beefed" up the border.





Obama's Hypocrisy

Don't worry.  This particular blog could be extraordinarily long given the title, however, I will concentrate on two recent events in particular that really irritate me.  One is Obama visiting Ground Zero.  The other is the current gas price crisis.

"Unconscionable". "Politicizing". "A slap in the face". Those were the kinds of phrases the left used against President George W. Bush to suggest he was exploiting the memory of the terrorist attacks of  9/11. These same voices are now giddy with delight at the prospect of Obama's “mission accomplished” visit to Ground Zero on last Thursday. Such hypocrisy is par for the course.

Under other circumstances the planned wreath-laying would invite less controversy. Honoring those who fell on 9/11 days after bin Laden's demise is fitting. Given the care that Obama ordered be given bin Laden's remains, it would be unseemly if the killer received more respect than his victims. Yet liberal Democrats have poisoned the well over the past decade, lending Obama's actions the appearance of opportunistic political theater - particularly given the approach of the 2012 campaign season.

During the 2004 Republic National Convention in New York City, President Bush was careful not to visit the Ground Zero site lest he fuel the charges that he was taking political advantage. That did not stop leftist demonstrators from appearing there on a daily basis, often – and without apparent irony – decrying those who allegedly were exploiting 9/11 to further their own political agendas.

The double standard extends beyond the Ground Zero however. In 2006 House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, said that “the damage that [Osama bin Laden] has done is done. And even to capture him now I don’t think makes us any safer.” Now she proclaims that “the death of Osama bin Laden is historic” and “marks the most significant development in our fight against al-Qaida.” No politics there, clearly.

Back in March 2009,  leftist nut job Keith Olbermann denounced Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as the “executive assassination wing” of the Bush Administration. Now he can’t heap enough praise on the special operations team operating under JSOC command that took out bin Laden. Had this taken place in 2008 he would have called it a war crime, but under Obama it is an example of brilliant leadership.

Regarding gas prices, the hypocrisy is ridiculous.  When Obama took office, gas was $1.87 gallon.  The press and Obama decried how terrible it was to have gas prices at such high levels.  Now, well now Obama thinks that the gas prices are funny, even laughable. The leftist press says that high gas prices are beneficial.  Very hypocritical indeed!



A Lesson from my Childhood

Dont pick your boogers.  Look both ways before crossing the street.  Always say "please" and "thank you".  Blow your nose.  Brush your teeth.  And always, wash your hands after going to the bathroom.  Yep.  I was taught all of those things as a young child.  And these rules didn't seem that hard to learn really.  However, I am more and more amazed every day how many people I see leave the restroom without washing their hands.  These people somehow feel it is appropriate to then shake hands with other people, return to their restaurant table, or spread their "crud" all throughout the office. But the question is, 'Why don't people wash their hands?  Personally, I don't get it.

I think the biggest reason that people don't wash their hands is they simply are lazy. Studies show that when short on time, and there is no one around, it is amazingly easy to let laziness take over. Some people failing to wash their hands after taking a bathroom siesta simply don't feel like taking the time to get their hands wet and soapy. They may be in a hurry to continue on with the rest of their day. And if there is no one in the restroom to offer the Evil Eye, a quick dash out of the bathroom is an easy option. Quite simply, it is easier to not do something and say that you did---than to actually do it. 

The other reason that I think people don't wash their hands after wiping their rear end is that they have a lack of respect for others.  If they spread their germs, who cares?  After all, it's their germs.  They seemingly think they can't get sick from their own germs.  But these lazy, disrespectful people fail to think in-depth about hand washing.  What if the other guy didn't wash his hands either?  One man responding to an online survey admitted that he didn't wash his hands after urinating in public restrooms because "the only thing he touched was himself." He further went on to explain that had he actually touched the urinal itself, any other surfaces, or any bodily fluids especially, he would have promptly washed his hands.  What I don't understand is, why does this guy think I want to shake his hand after he touches himself?  Jerk!

So, with 80% of all infectious diseases being transferred by touch, I am thinking that the Chinese may be on to something.  I think a little bow with your own hands in the "prayer" position may not be such a bad idea after all.

Mom's Day

Contrary to popular belief, Mother's Day was not conceived and fine-tuned in the boardroom of Hallmark. The earliest tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated this festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday.

In the United States, Mother's Day started nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it "Mother's Work Day."
Mother's Day today consists of young children making mom breakfast in bed or making homemade cards with crayon scribblings all over them saying, "I Love You".  Older "kids" will take mom out to eat or send a card and possibly flowers.  I often fall short of making as big of a deal of Mother's Day as I should.  This year, again, is no exception.  I will make a call and talk to my mother(s) and let them know I care about them.  That I am thinking about them.

Obviously, I have a birth mother and I also have a step-mother.  I refer to both of them as "Mom".  And on Mother's Day, I usually take a few minutes to be thankful for both.  I am thankful to my "natural" mother for letting me move in with my father when I asked her.  I know that it must have been a tough decision, but I know deep in her heart that she knew that it would be best for me.  And we are becoming closer and closer as time passes and efforts are made to connect with each other.

I am also very thankful for what most people would call my "step" mother.  I consider my "step" mother simply as my mother.  She took me in when she and my father blended  families and she raised my as her own.  I never felt for one second like I was second best to her.  Growing up, Shirl always made me feel as though I was loved just as much as any of my other siblings.  I also know that this must have been difficult and I will always be thankful and grateful for the childhood that she provided for me.

As I have gotten older and have older children of my own, I understand how much work and love that it takes to raise a family.  The example of your strength, devotion, and patience, and love will never be forgotten.  Neither will the memories that you created for me. 

"Thank you" is not adequate enough to describe my gratefulness, thankfulness, and my love for you.  Mere words always fall short when I try to say how much you mean to me.  But thank you for all your hard work, dedication, patience, time, care, and love that you poured in to me and all my siblings.

Happy Mother's Day! I love you Mom.

Going to Jail

Last night I went to jail for the first time.  Quite the experience!  Frankly, I was terrified.

The night began like any other night.  Joshy had just run a track meet.  He smashed a track record and went sub- 2 minutes in the 800 (half mile).  The night was light, celebratory.  Everyone was in a great mood with Josh'ys performance.  A half hour later, Dena and I were driving home .  The night night was cool and so I rolled the windows down to feel the fresh, crisp air.  It was unusually cool for a May night in the South.  I was having a nice conversation in the car with Dena while traveling down I-65, when all of the sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, a car had stopped in front of me and I smashed into the back of it, shoving the other car into the concrete divider in the highway.  Unfortunately, the "other" car was a police car.  Even more tragic was that the officer was killed.

Immediately, I was rushed to a jail, and then to prison.  No court hearing.  Nothing.  I was terrified.  What was happening.  Then,  a miracle happened.  While being transferred, I saw an escape.  I ran to a jail employee that just had gotten to work (the jail) and took his blue BMW.  A helicopter pursuit followed, and eventually, I dumped the car into the Chicago river.  Next, I used the last bit of money that I had to get a new suit and a hotel to get cleaned up.  With my cell phone being tracked, I made one last call to my family members who had gathered at Blanchard Road.  I told them to meet me at 5th and Vine and I would search them out to make sure they weren't followed.  I honestly didn't know whether to turn myself in and return to prison or to be on the run the rest of my life.  I was so conflicted.  I was scared.  My life would never be the same regardless of the which life I chose.  Could I trust my family now?  Could I trust anyone?.......

And then, the dog started licking my face and I woke up. 

I haven't had a dream that I remember for years and years.  Strange.  What makes the mind do what it does?  Why that dream?  Why did I dream at all? 

I dont know.  I am just glad it was a dream!

The Week in Review

Lots of stuff happened this week.  Most of it was noteworthy, interesting, or just plain fun but did not warrant the time and space of a blog.  Those things with a few of my thoughts are as follows.  For example:

1. I supported our President all week.  I was careful to give him accolades and not let politics get in the way.  Not anymore.  The honeymoon is over with me.  I was talking to a liberal friend this week and he directed me to a website detailing Obama's decision and the details of the Osama operation.  When I went to the site, I was re-directed to Obama's re-election campaign fund website.  I think it is repulsive to take advantage of the many military personnel that have given their lives to avenge 9/11 by re-directing a website to your campaign fund.  This man's narcissism is off the charts!
2. Yesterday, 50 years ago, from Cape Canaveral, Navy Commander Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. is launched into space aboard the Freedom 7 space capsule, becoming the first American astronaut to travel into space. The suborbital flight, which lasted 15 minutes and reached a height of 116 miles into the atmosphere, was a major triumph for NASA.
3. I got to spend time with my son, Spencer, this week.  He is struggling with what he wants his major to be and what he wants to do with his life.  I had a great conversation with him and reminded him that it will all be OK.  I was so thankful that he asked me to lunch (he probably was just hungry) and that we could have such a thoughtful discussion.  You'll be fine Spencer!
4. My other son, at age 17, is pursuing his first relationship.  It is fun to watch him find his way and practice putting other's needs before his. She is a quiet, beautiful, Southern Belle Christian girl.  Life will never be the same Josh.
5. I spent time in Louisville this week.  The Derby is so big that there is no school scheduled for Friday.  It truly is like a national holiday in Kentucky.
6. I am still losing, but the weight is coming off more slowly now.  Now the mental games and true discipline and dedication begins.  I am determined to win.
7. I have a Facebook friend that posts something about supporting abortion almost everyday.  Her posts challenge me to have my facts straight.  She always bashes right wing Republican Conservative Christians.  She can't believe that "loving" Christians would let a poor, woman bring an unwanted child into this world, thus, causing the woman more hardship.  Aside from killing another human being,
   Guttmacher  (aka Planned Parenthood) reports that 93 percent of all abortions occur for “social reasons” such as a mother’s decision that the child is unwanted or “inconvenient.”  Do you notice that lack of wealth or means to raise a baby is not mentioned here?
8. The last World War Veteran passed away this week.  He was 110 years old.  Claude ''Chuckles'' Choules was the last-known combat veteran of World War I living in Australia and the last surviving Anglo-Australian to have served in both world wars.
9. Logan's Uniform and Healthcare donated a huge amount of blankets and clothes for the tornado victims in Alabama this week.  Thank you.  God bless the people in Alabama.
10. We had 16 inches of rain in three days in Kentucky.  It was another wild week in the old camper.  There seems never to be a dull moment.

 

The Govt's. War on ......Raw Milk

No, I'm not kidding.  The government is pursuing the Amish for selling contraband. The government is at war on drugs, terrorism, and now milk.  So yesterday I found an article that interests me on more than a few levels.

My son, Joshy, is very dedicated to healthy eating.  It has helped him make dramatic improvements in his breathing, helped tremendously with his allergies, and strengthened his running.  He is responsible for getting me on the natural and raw eating plan.  So far, I have lost a fairly decent amount of weight from being on this plan.  Naturally,(no pun intended) he is interested in drinking raw milk.  Quite surprisingly, it is hard to get.

 In an article in the Washington Times, the feds performed a yearlong (yes, yearlong) sting operation on an Amish farmer in Pennsylvania because he is selling raw milk.  The federal government announced this week that it has gone to court to stop Rainbow Acres Farm from selling its contraband to willing customers in the Washington area.

The contraband in question: unpasteurized milk.

So the government performed a year-long sting, used aliases to trick the farmer, had 5:00 a.m. raids, and is now going to Federal Court to sue Dan Allgyer, the farmer.  All of this despite the fact that" the FDA’s actions stand in contrast to other areas where the Obama Adminstration has said it will take a hands-off approach to violations of the law, including the use of medical marijuana in states that have approved it, and illegal-immigrant students and youths, whom the administration said recently will not be targets of their enforcement efforts." Yep, according to our government, those evil, law-breaking Amish are doing so much more harm to our population and economy than, say, the illegals.  And I am sure that the government thinks that my money that they spent on this sting operation is well worth the cost.

I know that the argument against drinking raw milk is that it is unhealthy and will cause sickness.  So I did some research.  There are roughly 12 million raw milk drinkers in the U.S. on a daily basis.  Over the last 10 years, 2 (not a typo) people have died from sickness related to drinking raw milk.  In that same period, 70,000 people in the U.S. died from eating tainted meat.  Hundreds of thousands died from complications related to eating meat.  The reason that the FDA required milk to be pastuerized in the '30's was because farmers milked by hand into a bucket and the cows would poop all over the place, including splashing into the bucket.  You can ask my wife (who grew up on a dairy farm) it doesn't happen that way anymore.  Many would say that this "war" is being fought so vigorously by the government because it interferes with the middle man and the money that goes to the middle man.  I agree.  And the middle man is the FDA.

But really raw milk is just a piece in the "puzzle".  There is more to come.  With Michelle Obama lecturing all of us simple, regular "Joes" about our eating habits and "choking" food processing companies on a daily basis, it won't be long before the McDonalds cheeseburger joins the list of salt, meat, soda, sugar, morning cereal, and MILK on the list of foods that should be banned and are shunned by Michelle.

I still choose liberty.  I still think a person should be allowed to make a choice as to whether or not they want to drink raw milk.  So, today I am going to order some raw milk and drink it slowly and enjoy every last drop.  Are you reading this Moochelle Obama? (pun intended)

Elvis was Right!

Last night I wrote a few nasty blogs that are still in the "draft" file.  Most likely, I will never publish them.  Mostly because I realize that my rantings are too strong, too critical.  I also realize when I write some of these blogs what a hypocrite I am.  I know that I can verbally spar with the best of them, but afterwards, I often don't feel so proud of myself.  One would hope and think that I would eventually grow up and mellow out a little.

Still, I want to make a few points that have been on my mind the last few days, only in a tamer version. 

The last few days I have been confused and perplexed by some of the comments I see on twitter and facebook and other blogs.  One of the most common quotes used the past few days has been a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. and is being used in reference to Osama bin Laden's death.  Martin Luther King. Jr. is quoted: " I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." I know that Martin Luther King is talking about our reactions to the death of one that we dont like, maybe even despise.  However, I believe it applies elsewhere also.

I understand not celebrating the death of a man and I agree.  Having narrowly avoided a 9:00 a.m. meeting at the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, I do understand the emotion shown on the streets the last few days, however.  What strikes me as odd are the hateful comments that I have read at other times from these same very people that posted the Martin Luther King quote.  For example, I have read tweets, and blogs, and posts on Facebook that trash the youth of today for wearing tight jeans. How can one be sympathetic towards bin Laden but hateful towards the youth of America because they don't dress like you do?  Where is the love there? The attitude I have seen from several of these people is very condescending. With that attitude, I promise that you will not be effective with the youth of today. "Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." 

I also read a blog, written by a prominent Christian public figure, condemning the Southerners for being sinful and bringing about the tornadoes last week upon themselves.  Really?  Where is the love there?  I think these "leaders" should shut up, get off their butts, and go help these poor people in Alabama who have lost EVERYTHING.  Maybe, just maybe, then they would have earned the right to talk to these people about God's love.  "Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

If you read my blog, you know that I resigned my post within the last few weeks for mentoring the Shelbyville boys next year.  The boys I work with are the "bad" boys.  They don't have all the right answers about life or the bible.  They are rowdy.  They are hard to manage.  And in a church of 2500, not one man will step forward to make a difference in their lives.  These are the people that will "mourn the loss of thousands of lives" but can't be bothered to help spare the life of one young man.  Where is the love there? "Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

I had a discussion yesterday with a man that believes Planned Parenthood is necessary because it helps poor, desperate women that can't afford medical help.  Most people I hang with don't support Planned Parenthood because they perform abortions.  I hate abortion.  But I wonder how many people (me included) actually do anything but complain verbally and blast women for having abortions.  I can picture people picketing abortion clinics and shouting terrible things to women.  Where is the love there?  I wonder how many people have actually done anything to support their convictions?  I wonder how many people have adopted a child in support of a woman's decision to have a baby instead of an abortion? I wonder how many people have supported someone who wants to adopt a child?  "Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

Again, I admit I am a hypocrite.  I am convicted as I write some of these things.  But my point is this: we need to show love to people and put some action behind our words.  We need to shut our mouths and stop simply spewing hate and get dirty and show some love.  It is so easy to blog, and tweet, and post our thoughts and words these days.  With our busy schedules, it is so much harder to actually show love to people and put actions behind your convictions. I understand.  But the words of the great philosopher, Elvis, comes to mind. " A little less (hateful) talk and a lot more (loving) action....baby!"

Cutting through the "clutter" of Bin Laden's death

As I stated last night, justice has been done. Congratulations again to the men and women of our military and intelligence communities, past and present, who worked night and day with three Administrations to bring ultimate justice to the man who killed so many. The war on terror, though, is not over.

Bin Laden’s death is is significant is many ways:

• It will be seen as a major success for the United States, showing the world that America will remain committed to hunting down its enemies as long it takes.
• It proves that a small, covert strike force, in some instances, can be effective.  However, these special forces should not be viewed as an answer to our national security problems in relation to the budget.
• Last night'success proves that the strategic and lawful interrogation of detainees, including those at Guantanamo Bay, is valid, useful, and necessary. Keep the PATRIOT Act.
• Bin Laden’s death is a demoralizing blow against al-Qaeda, however, the United States must finish the job in Afghanistan and not relent in defeating the Taliban.
• The operation proves beyond doubt that Pakistan is truly at the epicenter of global terrorism. The fact that the world’s most-wanted terrorist was captured in a major Pakistani city should silence those Pakistanis who rejected the idea that bin Laden was hiding in their country as a Western conspiracy. It should also strengthen President Obama’s hand in pushing the Pakistanis to continue to take action against other terrorists on their soil.

Last night's news of Bin Laden's death was significant, but it was not the end-game.  The fight against terrorism is not over and may even amplify over the next few months.  America must remain vigilant and continue its global fight against terrorism.

God bless the American soldier.

We Did Not Forget

The United States military avenged the murders of nearly 3000 innocent Americans with the death of Osama Bin Laden.  Today, justice has been served.  Today is the day that many families of the victims of that tragic day have waited nearly ten years for.  The special ops units, counter-intelligence, the military, the Bush Administration, and yes, the Obama Administration should be thanked. 
I want to write some political thoughts tonight, but tonight should not be a night of politics.  Tonight is a night that the American people can truly say that we did not forget the victims of 9/11 and their families.

Time is Flyin'

Yesterday was Prom 2011 for my youngest son, Charles Joshua Dale Martin.  Prom has become almost "wedding-like" in it's preparation and with the event itself.  Josh's date got her hair done at a professional studio, the pictures were taken at two different locations, a V.I.P. room was rented out in the upper private room of a Nashville restaurant, limos were everywhere yesterday, the mothers of the Senior Class boys are invited to the Country Music Hall of Fame to dance the first dance with their sons, and all night activities, culminating in breakfast the next morning, make for a big event indeed.

But it was also a moment for Dena and me as parents.  With Spencer's prom, it seemed a normal part of routine for us.  Not that it was less important or had fewer activities.  I think Josh's prom made more of an impression on me because he is our youngest son and the horizon for us as "empty-nester" parents seems to grow closer and closer.  When Dena and I retired for the night, it was just us alone.  We went to dinner by ourselves, we came home and did a few chores, and we went to bed.  Just us.  And it seems a little strange but it also feels right.  For me, it seems to be a "moment of truth" type of feeling.  It feels like we are trying to put the finishing touches on two young lives that have shared eighteen years with us and soon it will be time for them to be on their own, to make a place in their world, and to hopefully make a positive difference.

Papa Dale sent a Facebook message that seemed to sum things up from this weekend pretty well.  He wrote," Blink, and there will be wedding pics, then grandkid pics. It's all happening so fast!"

Thanks for your words of wisdom, Dale.  I could not agree more.