Goodbye '06

"Andrea: Unhappy is the land that breeds no heroes.
Galileo: No, Andrea: Unhappy is the land that needs a hero." Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) Galileo

The past year has been...eventful. There have been many tragedies and scandals, and I know that my blog can be depressing.

Tonight is a traditional evening of celebration. As you enter into merriment tonight, take the time to raise your glass to those who have fallen, and to those who fight our wars across the water.

As you make your resolutions tonight, as is tradition, ask yourself what you can do in the next year to make the world a better place.

Have fun, and be careful.

How to Destroy America

The following was sent to me via e-mail on 29November2006. I do not know who the author was, but I have placed a link at the end for more info.


TEXT:
We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration overpopulation conference in Washington , DC , filled to capacity by many of America's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia," explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal was destroying the entire state of California . He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.

Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning speech on how to destroy America . The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods for the destruction of the United States . He said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let's destroy America . It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.'"

"Here is how they do it," Lamm said: "First, to destroy America , turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country." History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The historical scholar, Seymour Lipset, put it this way : "The histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy." Canada , Belgium , Malaysia , and Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans.".

Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America , "Invent 'multiculturalism' and encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. I would make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no cultural differences. I would make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.

Third, "We could make the United States an 'Hispanic Quebec' without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: "The apparent success of our own multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated ethnocentricity and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only tolerance and pluralism to hold us together." Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans, emphasizing their similarities."

"Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to our population. I would have this second underclass have a
50% dropout rate from high school."

"My fifth point for destroying America would be t O get big foundations and business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of 'Victimology.' I would get all minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority population."

"My sixth plan for America 'S downfall would include dual citizenship, and promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity. I would stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most historical precedent. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common language and literature; and they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic games. A common enemy, Persia , threatened their liberty. Yet all these bonds were not strong enough to overcome two factors: local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell. "E. Pluribus Unum" -- From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put the emphasis on the 'pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,' we will balkanize America as surely as Kosovo."

"Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits; make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'xenophobe' halt discussion and debate. Having made America a bilingual/bicultural country, having established multi-culturism, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of 'Victimology,' I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigrat ion has been good for America , it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them."

In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said,. "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis's book "Mexifornia." His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America . If you feel America deserves to be destroyed, don't read that book."

There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference. Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today. Discussion is being suppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate ' diversity.' American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America - take note of California and other states - to date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength."

Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path, especially The American Dream.


Richard Lamm speech
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/lamm.asp

Out of Control

" I was young, I was foolish, I was angry, I was vain. I was charming, I was lucky, tell me how have I changed"-Mick Jagger Out of Control

The Muslim immigrant population of Europe is nuts. Google it. Check out the TROP link to your right. They are taking over, slowly but surely.

The illegal immigrant population in the US is acting in similar fashion. Check out Law Enforcement stats.

We are still fighting over slavery and the Indian Wars. Race is an issue. We have seperated ourselves from one another over really, really silly details that won't be remembered in a hundred years. We fight about decisions that have already been made. We argue over present issues for so long that decisions never get made at all. Our spectrum of entertainment gets more bizarre each month. We all ignore some laws (which are Constitutional), and allow others to be rigidly enforced (which are not). There is no sense of propriety in this country, while a false and overblown tact (PC) pervades our language in a manner that was considered rediculous fiction in the writings of one George Orwell.

I find myself so angry about all of this that I am unable to sort out all of the steps required to fix things. I have to drag discussion out of you, Faithful Reader, and you care enough to listen to me. I obsess over this damn blog while I am alone with my thoughts. I obsess over this damn country always. Maybe noone gives a rat's ass, and maybe there's no stopping the downward spiral. The Republicans weren't the answer, nor the Democrats before them. There are no American values anymore. There is no American work ethic. I can work circles around you, but I probably won't. American manufacturing is all about quantity, and so is retail. Customer service sucks in this country, and from my experience, its no better in India or Pakistan.

I'm babbling, or the keyboard equivalent. My point is rattling around in here somewhere...

Oh, yes! I remember now! You can e-mail your congressman just as quickly as you can post a comment on my blog. You can spend ten or fifteen minutes a day talking about the bullshit that is going on in this country (refer people here if nothing else). the citizens of America have to get wound up, angry, loud, and most of all INVOLVED. If you tell your congressman what you expect, and get your friends to do the same, at least that congressman will know why he/she is losing their job next election. Maybe we can't fix the problems quickly (if at all), but if we actually get loud, and let them know that we are pissed, they WILL start to kiss our collective ass. Watch how they brown nose the gay community in this country.

But see, you are all chuckling, thinking how right I am, but you aren't actually going to do anything, ARE YOU?

On Strike for a minute

The King is Dead

I cannot help but feel a little saddened by the passing of one of the greatest rebels of our time. Saddam Hussein is dead.

He was a murderer and a volatile dictator. He was a war criminal and a despot. But, you have to admit, he went out like a man.
Saddam was the last man standing, more or less. He had guts (lacking in strategic skills, maybe, but balls that clanked when he walked, for sure) and determination. He was not afraid to point out the hand that our president had in his trial and eventual execution. He was a gritty old buzzard, to be sure.

I am afraid that we should have kept him alive. Exile or prison would have been more appropriate. He was, after all, the president of Iraq. It just seems very..."Haji" of us to let him be hanged. I'm not sure why, but Saddam's execution leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Maybe justice was served. Still, I worry that no good will come of it.

I Don't Get It

I do not understand why building a wall across our Southern Border wouldn't work. I keep hearing people on TV talk like it won't, and they seem to imply that we all understand why it won't work, but I just don't.

Can someone please explain it to me?

Islam in a Nutshell

I recently posted a comment on an Arab news column, and it turns out that Muslims get offended when I mock Muhammed.

So I invited the staff of the Arab News Network (or whatever they are) to "Come see my blog", a phrase all of my friends are probably getting tired of (suck it up, I ain't done yet).

Here I will give a brief, but Biblical, description of Islam.

First, one must understand that the entire Arab race exists as proof of Abraham's single largest misinterpretation of God's will. Genesis 16.

Second, one must understand that though the offspring of Ishmael were greatly multiplied, they will act like idiots for all eternity. Genesis 16:11 & 12.

Third, and most important, God made a covenant with Abraham, and passed that covenant to Isaac. Genesis 17:18-21

Understand me, I am no preacher, but that's really all I need to know about it. Muhammed (Mohammed, whatever) was a politician who saw a way to gain power over people. He had no covenant with God. That's it, that's all, there ain't no more to it.

Test Your First Amendment

When I was a small child, my grandmother would tell me the reasons that America went to war in WW2. She would tell me about the sacrifices made by those left at home, and she was very proud to have worked in a rail yard (whatever that is) while all her brothers and her future husband were off fighting the war. My grandfather would tell me stories about the war, like how they would be happy to get a hot meal once a week, and how they tired of picking meal worms and weavols from their biscuits, so they just ate them. My father told me stories from the Vietnam war, how "Charlie" would do horrible things to American soldiers, and how they would return the favor if given the opportunity.

Now my generation complains because we don't have up-armored humvees. We whine because our body armor doesn't fit right. We piss and moan because we only got two hot meals a day in Iraq. People raise hell about the supposed torture of terrorists at Gitmo while ignoring Al Jazeera's public airing of the beheading of civilians and "Sniper Videos" in which American Soldier's dead bodies are televised for all the world to see.

Every day some well-meaning civilian tells me that they appreciate what I do. "Support our Troops" bumper stickers are everywhere. I think of those who came before me and feel shame. I should never complain.

I spoke of this with my grandmother a few months before she died, and she encouraged me to make a difference. She also reminded me that her generation had worked very hard to pass a better life to my generation.

Will our posterity say the same of us?

What direction are we taking as a nation? What are our plans? Where do we wish to be in fifty years? We can't even agree that illegal immigrants don't belong here. We feel guilty about "profiling" Muslims, after they killed over 3,000 unarmed Americans. Or are we letting the fringe elements more voice than they should have?

I challenge you all to offend someone today. Not for the sake of offense, but for the sake of what is right. Point out the flaws in someone's logic today. Argue out loud about illegal immigration. Draw your peers into a political discussion. Defend your religion. Point out the obvious flaws in common political solutions. Stir it up.

Or can we still do that?

The Price

" Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly"-Mohandas Ghandi, 07 April 1946

So many people in this country are tired of the way things have been going, yet so few are speaking out. Here is an example; Over 75% of the population of the U.S. claims to be Christian, but there are more Muslim organizations in this nation who are actively participating in political activities.

Homosexuals are characters on 13 weekly television programs, debates are held weekly on whether or not to allow homosexuals in the military, congress and our courts are constantly debating the right of homosexuals to marry, while only about 7% of the U.S. claims to be homosexual.

We are about to escalate the war in Iraq, while surveys and polls have shown that 71% of Americans oppose continuation of our efforts there.

Illegal immigration has cost billions in social services and lost jobs, while debates are being held discussing whether or not to find an approach to the problem or to continue to ignore it.

This country was founded on certain democratic principles, two of which are Majority Rule and Minority Right.

The general idea is that the majority runs things while the minority doesn't get stepped on or violated. This idea has mutated into a nationwide "apologist" approach to being a member of the majority. I will not apologize for being a member of working-class America. We should not allow our basic rights a s citizens of the greatest nation on Earth to be violated because some jack-ass from Berkely doesn't believe in God. We should feel OK about wishing those we meet at the mall a "Merry Christmas". I feel perfectly normal living in a community without any married gay couples. I feel it is my patriotic duty to treat illegal immigrants like they don't belong here. I feel it is my duty as a father to scare the hell out of the crack dealer at the gas station every chance I get. I will, as a soldier and defender of the Constitution, fight any and all Arab or Islamic influence on America.

These are the basic reasons why I started this little diatribe-based blog. There are many out there who agree with my words, but how many of you are afraid to take action or get involved? How long have we just "let things slide"? How long will we allow it to continue? We do not have to agree about everything, but we do have to commit to some sort of unity if we wish to continue living the American Dream.

Out of respect for all who have sacrificed in the name of these United States, we must raise a unified voice to get back what was our birthright.

Otherwise, every American soldier who ever fell died for nothing, and the Constitution is just a piece of paper in a museum.

Peace Talks Happen Here!

I want a Muslim to explain it all to me. If you are one or know one, I want some comments.

My impression of Islam is this:

Islam is meant to rule over all the world-Not until you get that whole"civilization thing" figured out

Muslims are superior to all others-You people are about a genome away from being baboons

Its OK to rape women who don't wear body sacks- Because self-control is SO much to ask of a man/baboon

Muhammed was the last, great, most holy prophet-Or he could have been a serious politician with an agenda(much like Joseph Smith)

Am I wrong? Have I missed out on the big picture? I've been reading some of the articles on TROP (www.thereligionofpeace.com that's the terror counter to your right) and I must say, only self-control and a civilized upbringing are keeping me from commiting a few "hate-crimes" myself. But then, that's really all it would take to end terrorism as we know it.

So we have to deal with the root of the problem. We need to take control of Iraq and reeducate these idiots until they are civilized, industrialized, educated, and peaceful capitalists. Basically, we change their way of life before the BS gets big enough to destroy ours.

All comments are welcome, but remember, I really would like to have a discussion with a real Muslim.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and to Hell with Iran!

Repeat for discussion

FREE MONEY-Originally posted on September 21, 2006

Well THAT got your attention, didn't it?

Let's talk about free money. The United States of America(land that I love) gives away $27Billion a year in foreign aid (UN Website). That doesn't include money that we loan out. This money is simply given away. Now, I understand that some of this money goes to feed hungry people and vaccinate children, and these are noble endeavors. My philosophy with regards to feeding people in foreign countries is much like my policy with street beggars. I'll buy them a burger anytime, but I'm not giving them money(the root of all crack purchases). I have yet to find any real source of accountability for foreign aid. Simply put, you give me money to feed my kids, all I have to say is "yes, I fed the kids with that", and then you give me more. What kind of program is this?

I have an idea. Let's spend all the money that we were going to give away in '07 on a wall between here and Mexico. What's that? You say a wall won't solve the problem with illegal immigration. Maybe not, but a wall with machine gun turrets and minefields would make a pretty little bump in the road, now wouldn't it?

I understand that we won't really do that, but it could be the back-up plan.

In reality we need to help our neighbors become more industrialized. So why not spend ALL of our foreign aid close to home. Let the UN feed Africa for a couple of years. Let's give $27Billion to Mexico, Honduras, and Ecuador on the condition that they spend all of the money on education and industrialization. I'm OK with a global economy, but for crying out loud, let's bring everyone else up to standard!

If our neighboring countries have a lifestyle comparable to ours, their citizens are less likely to want to come here and work for less. If we were to repeal NAFTA and CAFTA and put serious pressure on Central America to develop a working public education system, we would all benifit. Who knows, in ten years, we might all be driving Honduran cars that run on alternative fuels.

We have to take corporate interests out of the equation for the time being, and really strive to globalize the American Dream. Giving away money with no expected return is simply poor economic policy. With the global political climate what it is today, we need to develop some close ties with the people of Central America, not the corporate interests. If we can help our neighbors become more educated, more industrialized, and more independant, then we should. Its not just good foreign policy, its the right way to do business.

Chew on This...

The following is the transcript of a tape by a young man who has converted to Islam. That he is an American is unimportant. That he is slightly inarticulate is unimportant, also.
Two things about this speech disturb me.
1. The belief system described is not just ant-American. It is anti-everyone.
2. The content will be ignored. We will focus on the fact that Azzam was once an ordinary American.

These people will show no quarter, will honor no treaty, and accept no less than the utter annihilation of every way of life which is not their own. The "War on Terror" cannot be fought on the same terms as any war ever fought before. These people are not going to worry about the rules and laws of civilization as they fight this war. We will never deter this element with sanctions or political pressure. We must understand as a nation that in order to civilize the planet, in order to provide for posterity, in order to protect those famous inalienable rights, we MUST seek out and destroy all radical fundamentalist organizations that even imply that terrorist tactics are acceptable. But we won't.

We will instead focus on the "human interest" side of Azzam's story. We will talk to teachers and friends and uncles who knew him as an average guy. There will be more 9-11 scale attacks. There will be more conversions. More and more of the landscape of the planet will look like Beirut in 1988.

Read the following transcript. Understand that this young man speaks of his own free will. Understand that we face a very dangerous foe. They are dangerous because they BELIEVE. No one is more dedicated to his cause than the man who is willing to die for what he believes is right. Ask any WW2 vet.

TEXT TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO CLIP INTERVIEW WITH "AZZAM THE AMERICAN



Interviewer:

"You are an American who has joined a movement for waging war on America and killing large numbers of Americans. Don't you in any way feel you are betraying your people and country?"

Mujahid 'Azzam, the American:

"First of all, the allegiance and loyalty of a Muslim is to Allah, his Messenger, his religion and his fellow believers before anyone and anything else. So, if there is a conflict between his religion and his nation and family, then he must choose the religion every time. In fact, to side with the unbelievers against Islam and Muslims is one of the acts that nullifies one's Islamic faith and there's a verse in the Qur'an (recites a verse from the Qur'an in Arabic) you will not find any people who believe in Allah in the last day loving, loving those who resist Allah and his Messenger.

"Even if they were their fathers or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred or their clan. As such he has written faith in their hearts and strengthens them with spirit from himself. So, some of the early Muslims fought and killed their closest relatives during battle, prompting the revelation of this verse. And, even our Prophet Mohammed, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, er, fought, uh, and after a lot of defeat the Quraish tribe, to which he belonged. when it fought to impede Islam's propagation, sought to impede the message of Islam, rejected the message of Islam, and sought to impede its propagation. And some of the staunchest enemies of Islam were from among his closest cousins like Abu Jahl. Thus, Allah's religion takes precedence over all else: Wealth, status, family and nationality."

Interviewer:

"OK, how do you respond to the Muslim clerics and governments around the world who say that you are a small fringe group of extremists, unrepres"

Mujahid 'Azzam, the American:

"Well, they would say that, wouldn't they? These Crusader pawns are the ones who don't represent Islam and Muslims, despite their claims to the contrary. And they know very well that the Mujahidin stature has increased substantially among the Muslims after September 11, and the events that followed, which poses a direct threat to their continuing hold on power. This argument of theirs is especially well liked by their masters in the White House and 10 Downing Street, who apply it not just to us, but to all Muslims who reject Crusader domination. Uh, but the truth in evidence is on our side. Open the Qur'an, open the books of Sirah, the prophetic biography, and Ahadith, the prophetic teachings. Open the books of Fiqh, jurisprudence, both modern and ancient and you will find our position well supported. Jihad isn't something that al-Qa’ida made up. Ruling by Islam law wasn't started by the Taliban. Hamas didn't invent the concept of martyrdom. Uh, where we differ from these defeatists and hypocrites is that we don't believe that these divine orders and principles are open to negotiation and compromise.

"I'd like to tell these people, this is our religion. If you don't like it, that's your problem. But don't tell me that you're the true Muslim and I'm the extremist. You know, the same clerics and people who call us violent extremists and outcasts and endlessly repeat that Islam is a peaceful faith, permit or even encourage their followers to join the American and European militaries and intelligence agencies and the armies of the idle kings in the Muslim world and take part in the killing of thousands of Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. So in effect, they're saying that for the Muslim to kill unbelievers in defense of Islam and Muslims is unacceptable, and if he does so, he's an extremist. While for the same Muslim to kill fellow Muslims in the name of America and so-called freedom and the supposedly civilized world is just fine and dandy and he will be practicing moderation.

"Look at this logic. These are evil, uneducated, ignorant, backwards people who should not be speaking on behalf of Muslims, much less talking about what is true Islam and what is not and accusing others. We are defending those who have no defender. We are holding fast to genuine Islam at a time when it's under siege from all sides. And we're standing up to confront an enemy that has intimidated governments and international organizations with fear. It's only natural that the governments and individuals who stand the most to lose from the defeat of the crusaders and Zionists will seek to hide our true nature and goals from the Muslim majority that is desperately looking for a way out of the nightmare that these traitors have imposed upon them for decades.

"We have strong support from within all sectors of Muslim society and from within all Islamic groups. This is what terrifies the enemies of truth and causes them to resort to this sort of accusation. It's wishful thinking on their part. It's like they're telling themselves, 'Maybe if we repeat the lie often enough, it will come true.'"

The American Idiot

I just watched the news. Then I watched Mind of Mencia. Which show do you think was more intellectually stimulating?

Of course it was Carlos.

Anyway, its all your fault. That's right, I'm talking to you (if you are a US citizen). Your apathy and political correctness has caused the country to end up on its head. You have allowed standards to be lowered in our education system so no one would be "left behind". Your sniveling and whining has created the idea of fairness to be overblown until people expect a hand up everytime they fall.

Life ain't fair. Get a helmet (or pacifier).

Bullying has been outlawed because it "may lead to school violence". It may also lead to determination, jusk ask Bill Gates if he ever got picked on in junior high. We are a nation of whiners, with unrealistic expectations, and over inflated egos. The Army is full of people who "just joined for college money". Congress is full of people who are in it to get laid, and rock and roll has become a political forum for any idiot with a wad of cash to spend on trips to Africa and public service messages. Cops are being arrested left and right, while murderers, child-molesters, and drug dealers are running rampant.

Its got to get better, and soon. If not, my grandchildren will grow up in an environment much like Sodom and Ghamorra (best case scenario) or Beirut. We have to collectively grow a pair (sorry mom) and take our country back from the whining, wheedling, left wing, right wing, fascist, anarchist, queer, klan, illegal immigrant, islamic, morons that are ruining it for those of us who still give a damn. All of the extreme politics, coupled with the politically correct atmosphere , have left a sour taste in my mouth.

I'm gonna go beat up an illegal immigrant muslim drug dealer.

Influence Your Own Bubble

Leadership (leed-er-ship); Having influence over others in order to accomplish the task at hand, while always improving the organization to which one belongs.(according to the US Army)

This should be written on a banner hanging from the ceilings of the House and the Senate.

Does your representative fit this definition of a leader? Is your congressman someone that you want your child to emulate? Does your leader get stuff done?

I doubt it.

We have the laziest governing body on the planet (also the highest paid). In ten years, I can only recall one law being passed and put into action that directly affected the common people. I'm speaking of the insurance for National Guardsmen proposed and put into action by Sen. Clinton and Sen. Lieberman. ( I hope I spelled that right)
I'm sure there were others, but it still happens rarely. My point is that our government only works hard at re-election and screwing over the other party. We don't want these people in our homes. We wouldn't hang out with these guys. Yet we continue to allow them to run the country. A few of them are OK, I'm sure, but I have seen no evidence that any of them make an honest living.

The world is a toilet. Men without conscience are in control. My only suggestion is that you find a local leader who fits the definition, and follow his or her lead. Think of ripples on a pond. If we work hard to turn our communities into better places, perhaps in a generation or two the country will get better all over. Its a lot to hope for, but it would be nice. Maybe we can all start by raising our kids right.

Recommended Viewing: Pay it Forward

I'm Back!!

Sorry for the break, folks. I've been at an Army school in Nebraska for the past two weeks. It was cold.

So I have been to a leadership course, basically learning to do the job I've been doing for the last several years. I did gain some perspective, though, so it wasn't a complete waste of time. I made a few friends, and heard a few new ideas.(new to me, anyway)

Tomorrow I will come up with something brilliant and funny, but tonight I'm hanging out with the family. We just got "The Shaggy Dog" from NetFlix.

Have a good one.