A Special Language

I came across this little ditty in some random website.  I never thought about it but I guess this isn't second nature for most people.  Military language is sorta like military time.  Not something you think about after a while.  After 25 years its just second nature.  So here's my public service for the day.  It might just come in handy!

Motivation Monday

Talent!

Check out this 10 year old on the banjo.  His brothers aren't bad either.  I particularly like the coonskin cap on the rough hewn headboard.

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Friday Funnies

Seems logical to me...

A List To Ponder...

I'm not a big reader of science fiction so I don't know the author Larry Niven very well.  But I ran across his list called "How the Universe Works".  You can read them here.  It's pretty interesting. Takes some thought.  Most of them are pretty good, but I think I like this one best...

18. No technique works if it isn't used. If that sounds simplistic, look at some specifics: Telling friends about your diet won't make you thin. Buying a diet cookbook won't either. Even reading the recipes won't do it. Knowing about Alcoholics Anonymous, looking up the phone number, even jotting it on real paper, won't make you sober. Buying weights doesn't give you muscles. Signing a piece of paper won't make missiles disappear, even if you make lots of copies and tell every anchorperson on earth. Endlessly studying designs for spacecraft won't put anything into orbit. And so forth. But you surely know someone who tried it that way, and maybe you're one yourself

Or maybe this one...

 4. F × S = k. The product of Freedom and Security is a constant. To gain more freedom of thought and/or action, you must give up some security, and vice versa. These remarks apply to individuals, nations, and civilizations. Notice that the constant k is different for every civilization and different for every individual. 

Check it out.  It's pretty thought provoking.

Epic Staff Failure

Robio's response was pretty good.  At least I thought so.  Certainly was better than the fantasyland speech (I'm being nice) given just prior.  But in the near term (it won't matter in the long run) it was overshadowed by "Watergate 2013"

This was gross failure by his staff.  In what universe does the guy who is the rising star of his party who is giving a nationally televised speech not have a glass of water within easy reach?  I had a stint as a Flag Aide a few (many) years ago.  I shudder to think what would have happened if I had failed so dramatically.

I'd also like to rail on and on about the media making such a big deal about it.  But...sigh...i dont have the energy.  I will point out the most egregious episode.  CNN actually mused about it being a career-ender.  They wish!

Boys to Men

Ran across an interesting article on a website I browse pretty routinely.  The article's title is "Where Have All The Renaissance Men Gone".  You can read it here.    A very good quote that deserves some consideration is,

"...you have Big Bang Theory nerds who cannot name a single contemporary jazz artist; sports junkies who don’t know who John  Paul II was; Bible thumpers who don’t own a single Beatles record; politicians who have never read a novel. These days no one tries to take on anything different for the simple pleasure of trying to improve themselves. They don’t stretch themselves."

It seems like this phenomenon is becoming more pervasive.  When a boy grows to manhood, who are his role models?  His mentors?  Who does he look to for inspiration?  How does he get to the point of living the life of today's youth to marriage, family, career, responsibility.

I think this issue hits every economic bracket, every region, every race.  But I also think it is worst in the Black community.  There is a big problem in lack of black men as role models for boys.  I know, it's tough to stereotype.  But it's something society should be concerned about and figure out how to make better.  When he was first elected, I thought Obama would make a difference.  I thought this was an issue he could take on.  I thought he would see the need and devote a portion of his time and the power of his office to this issue.  But no.  I don't really think he would know what to do.

The culture has coarsened.  That is unarguable.  Danger, wrong pathways, temptation is everywhere.  The easy road is front and center in every boy's life.  In fact it's there every day.  Making choices is a
big part of this.  When he was growing up I used to tell my son that he would be faced with many, many choices in his journey to manhood.  One key is to not let those choices be deadly or have irreversible impacts on your life.

One segment of the population gives me hope.  The Military.  They're coming to the end of 12 years of war.  Countless of our youth have seen terrible things, done very difficult things, have taken responsibility beyond their years.  And in the process they've become men.  Once again it's tough to stereotype but when I see the young men of today's military I'm usually pretty impressed.  And have hope for the future.

Reading back over this post I realize it's a bit rambling.  That seems to be my modus operandi these days.  But I think this whole issue is a big problem.  No easy answers.  But I'm going to figure what I can do, where I can volunteer, how I can contribute...in some small way.  Think about it.

Ramblings

Lots of thoughts going through my head the last few days.  But no time to coalesce into a coherent post.  Too much going on elsewhere...  So here are a few thoughts about things that have caught my attention.  This is in the "For what it's worth" category.  Read or not...up to you.  Of course, that was the original premise...read or not...it's up to you.

The thing about the nut job here in SoCal who killed a few innocent people and then led the police on a manhunt for several days was beyond strange.  This guy was obviously disturbed.  It appears they finally got him this afternoon.  But two things stood out for me.  Once again, the media has proven to be one of the worst parts of our society.  They are like drooling dogs.  I'm still a fundamental supporter of the first amendment but the media (in general) are an embarrassment.  Of course, I guess maybe they are just responding to demand.  So what does that say about us?  Second, what is up with the people who voiced support for this guy.  I mean, huh?

The Benghazi thing is still simmering.  Thought it was over.  But now we are hearing of the non-attention by Obama the night of the killings.  The worst thing is I'm not surprised.

We found out this week that the entire National Security team wanted to devise a plan to help the Syrian rebels.  They were overridden by Obama.  Nice.  60,000 dead in Syria.  The regime there are lackeys for the Iranians.  As long as Assad stands Iran has access to the Med and to thousands of rabid, radical Islamists.  But no...don't help the rebels.  Is it anything but politics?  I don't think so.

State of the Union speech was tonight.  Who cares?  Obama did the same old BS.  Platitudes.  Promises.  Us against them.  Balanced approach (redistribution).  Need to spend money (we don't have) on this, and that, and the other.  "We can come together" said over and over...but it's BS.  He clearly isn't interested in compromise.  Sequester would be irresponsible.  This after he and his cronies devised it.  I'm part of the "military-industrial complex" but as an American, as a taxpayer...I say bring it on.  You made your bed.  I gave this guy the benefit of the doubt for the longest time.  No more.  No more being Charlie to his Lucy.

Several weeks ago someone told me I should check out "Downton Abbey" on PBS.  Didn't know much about it so watched the first episode.  Now addicted.  I can't believe it.  It's a show about a bunch of shallow British aristocrats in the 1920's.  It should not be something I'm remotely interested in.  But...there's something about that show.  I probably shouldn't admit it.

I live in SoCal and the weather is never bad...but I'm ready for summer...

Motivation Monday

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Speaking Truth

Saw an interesting editorial in the WSJ this morning.  It was a short description of a speech by Dr. Benjamin Carson at the National Prayer Breakfast.  You can read it here.   Really liked some of the points he made.  So I got intrigued and searched out the speech on YouTube.  Wow.  This guy is the real deal!  As much as I liked the speech though, I also really liked to see Obama squirming, stretching, not applauding with everyone else, checking his Blackberry...anything but pay attention to what was a brilliant indictment on his policies and his terrible strategy of pitting Americans against each other.  When I see things like this, it gives me hope.  Maybe people will start towake up and see him for what he is.  It's almost like a dim light is shining and it's slowly getting brighter.  Or maybe I'm just hopelessly naive...

Creepy...Weird...Gross

A friend posted this video on Facebook.  Yuch!  Can't even imagine...

Friday Funnies

My Favorite

Monday after the Superbowl.  Lots of talk about the game...the personalities...the lights...the spectacle.  And oh yeah...the commercials.  Everyone has their favorite.  Every media outlet seems to have a definitive rating.  I don't care about any of that.  I only care about what I like.  And my favorite was this one...

Monday Motivation

This seems appropriate after a great three days off...

Super Bowl 2013

Good game.  It became close in the second half.  Entertaining at least.  The lights going out in the Superdome was rather strange.  I guess Baltimore was the team of destiny this year.  Thought Ray Lewis' emotion was over the top...he's been there before.   The Harbough thing was fun, but at the end of the day the game is played on the field.  San Francisco will be back though.  They were very close but victory was just out of reach...

N'awlins

New Orleans.  The Big Easy.  NOLA.   Laissez les bon temps rouler – “let the good times roll”.  Lots of attention this week.  Over the course of the last ten years I've visited several times on business.  It is a great three day town.  On the one hand it is filled with culture, texture, fun times, and unique atmosphere.  You would be hard pressed to find better music, finer food, or more places to have outlandish fun.  I mean...two words...Mardi Gras!!  And has been seen this week, they definitely know how to party!!!  On the other there is desperate poverty, crime, and a weird resignation by the populace to their plight.  Since Katrina there has been a consistent wailing about how bad the response was and how much they deserve more from the federal government.  That is sort of annoying.  But... I think the city is a true American treasure in that it is so unique.  I don't think there is another place quite like it in the country...maybe Miami...maybe San Francisco.  I'm glad to see N'awlins  getting some visibility, some publicity, some promotion.  I would recommend a visit to anyone.  Just don't venture off the beaten path and don't stay for more than three days...

Up...Pretty Cool

Got my wife this little gadget for Christmas.  Didn't know much about it but thought it would be a fun thing for her to play around with.  Well...she loves it.  It is pretty cool if you're a walker, which she is.  It gives all kinds of info on activity during the day.   It's made by a company called Jawbone if you're interested...  Probably not for everyone but it's pretty cool.

Another Beautiful...Car

If you've been reading for awhile, you probably have picked up that I appreciate a beautiful car.  Mercedes will showcase their CLA this Sunday during the Superbowl.  Here's a little teaser...