It is an age old story about patience being more important than unplanned action and overconfidence. But, does the tortoise have the right idea? Is it okay to hide in a shell whenever something new appears? I believe a lot of us subscribe to the turtle's way of thinking. If it is new, it is bad. If we ignore it, it will eventually go away because of our lack of interest. The safety of the shell which we all enjoy is comforting. We are able to just be, much like a rock or a tree. We watch the world and are unaffected by the changes which surround us.
Life does not work that way. Our ability to adapt and focus is one our greatest strengths. Our ability to embrace new ideas makes us special. It gives us hope and purpose. It makes the unknown attainable, and it allows what is new to be easily understood. Let the tortoise's in your life know that it is okay to come out of the shell. Let them know that everything beyond our next step is unknown and by facing it, our lives can move forward.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The Funniest Comedy Routine Ever
When I was in 8th grade, a buddy and I were in Drama Class together. One of the things we were not afraid to do was laugh at ourselves...or others. When we were gonna atten a competiton, there was only one bit that we could do. There was only one thing we wanted to try, simply because, we couldn't do a read through without cracking up. Thankfully, there is no video of our performance. So, I guess I'll just have to link up...Abbot and Costello's
Who's on First?
I hope that you enjoy this classic routine as much as I do. Whenever I need a laugh, or to take the edge off, I'll watch this.
Who's on First?
I hope that you enjoy this classic routine as much as I do. Whenever I need a laugh, or to take the edge off, I'll watch this.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Nathan the Activist
As stated previously, my son Nathan is 10 years old. He is a very intelligent young man who has developed theories on the beginnings of the universe, the speed of light and the big bang among others. He was very disappointed to discover that some of his concepts mirrored those of another person who thinks outside of the box...Steven Hawking.
So, my wife and my son who have in depth scientific discussions at the dinner table on a regular basis. He has talked about ways to help the environment, or even asked about why we don't' have cars that run on water. I find the dialogues that they have very interesting, even if they are sometimes out of my and Lauren's realm of knowledge. All that being said, I think it is great that we are able to support our son to be an independent thinker when it comes to things that he is passionate about. If someone has passion about an issue, they are more likely to follow up and try to make a difference. He is passionate about helping the world and making it better.
Yesterday, I got home from work and was told of something else that Nathan has developed a passion about. Nathan is in 5th grade and his class is the last one which eats lunch during the day. Recently, he has become concerned about issues at school lunchtime. He told me that there have been times where the entree choices have been limited for his class because of the cafeteria running out of the popular choices. His group is left with the least popular entree choices. This week, he was a bit upset about not getting Stromboli, and being stuck with Kung Pao chicken. His reasoning was that his class and grade level should have the same choices as everyone else. He also feels that kids who are on the school lunch program should not be penalized for having to eat late in the day. Nathan did say it only happens about twice a week, but that is still not fair in his opinion. Again, please remember he is 10.
After thinking about the issue, and discussing with a couple of adults, he decided that communicating with the cafeteria via a petition would be the best way to get his message out. Yesterday, he was involved in the composition of the document which he was able to get his entire class plus 4 teachers to sign. He tells me he is not done and hopes to get the majority of the 5th grade to support his view. Whether this does any good is immaterial in my opinion. The important part is that Nathan has become passionate about something.
He wants to do something about what he perceives as an issue which affects others. He wants to make people think about others. Even though it may be a small thing or even a nuisance in the minds of some, it is my belief that this is his first step in making a difference in the lives of the people that are around him. Isn't that what we should all do? Shouldn't we all want to at least notice the issues which affect not just ourselves, but those around us as well? He is speaking up, he is not accepting things for what they are.
Nathan, I am very proud of you for wanting to make a difference.
So, my wife and my son who have in depth scientific discussions at the dinner table on a regular basis. He has talked about ways to help the environment, or even asked about why we don't' have cars that run on water. I find the dialogues that they have very interesting, even if they are sometimes out of my and Lauren's realm of knowledge. All that being said, I think it is great that we are able to support our son to be an independent thinker when it comes to things that he is passionate about. If someone has passion about an issue, they are more likely to follow up and try to make a difference. He is passionate about helping the world and making it better.
Yesterday, I got home from work and was told of something else that Nathan has developed a passion about. Nathan is in 5th grade and his class is the last one which eats lunch during the day. Recently, he has become concerned about issues at school lunchtime. He told me that there have been times where the entree choices have been limited for his class because of the cafeteria running out of the popular choices. His group is left with the least popular entree choices. This week, he was a bit upset about not getting Stromboli, and being stuck with Kung Pao chicken. His reasoning was that his class and grade level should have the same choices as everyone else. He also feels that kids who are on the school lunch program should not be penalized for having to eat late in the day. Nathan did say it only happens about twice a week, but that is still not fair in his opinion. Again, please remember he is 10.
After thinking about the issue, and discussing with a couple of adults, he decided that communicating with the cafeteria via a petition would be the best way to get his message out. Yesterday, he was involved in the composition of the document which he was able to get his entire class plus 4 teachers to sign. He tells me he is not done and hopes to get the majority of the 5th grade to support his view. Whether this does any good is immaterial in my opinion. The important part is that Nathan has become passionate about something.
He wants to do something about what he perceives as an issue which affects others. He wants to make people think about others. Even though it may be a small thing or even a nuisance in the minds of some, it is my belief that this is his first step in making a difference in the lives of the people that are around him. Isn't that what we should all do? Shouldn't we all want to at least notice the issues which affect not just ourselves, but those around us as well? He is speaking up, he is not accepting things for what they are.
Nathan, I am very proud of you for wanting to make a difference.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Honoring our Veteran's
From the first steps of freedom
to the giant leaps of this age.
Our heroes protect us
from tyranny and rage
The nameless masses
who defend our shores
they have rescued the suffering
they have fought in our wars
Be it Army or Navy
Marines or Air Force
From the Declaration of Freedom
through all July 4ths.
They are our Veterans
from which we draw strength
They've given beyond measure
No matter the journey's length.
So today and all days
No matter your view
Honor our veterans
For all that they do.
First Steps
Like leaves wafting aimlessly in the breeze
Leaving the security of the familiar trees.
Looking upon sights forever unseen
finally believing in a chance to dream
Not knowing the destiny we each must face
we decide our route and set our pace.
As we each progress through day after day,
the decisions we make will show our way.
How will our options affect our next stop?
Will this be the choice which ascends to the top?
Or should we be patient, take a step at a time...
As the top is in reach of our unending climb.
The path we each choose must be our very own
The first steps are the toughest into unknown.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The day after
Just in case anyone did not notice...
The day after Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, we're all still here. There has been no cataclysm affecting the country, barrage of finger pointing, or even strategies set forth by a political party to "go back to the good old days."
No, instead we heard a gracious message from an outgoing president and his Secretary of State(who knew?). We saw the beginning stages of a political cabinet which may or may not be made up of bipartisan members filled with ethnic diversity.
We saw McCain driving in an SUV, but did not hear from him. It was as if McCain was driving off into the sunset at the end of his quest. McCain was dealt a very rough hand and has my respect more than just about any Republican leader in the country. I wish Senator McCain luck and happiness. I wish him and his family well in their next chapter of life.
We saw Biden and President Elect Obama(love typing that by the way)thanking those who had helped to pave the road that we now travel, but we did not hear from them either. Instead, the media commented on their feelings of the future. The future of the country, the electoral map, and the job which is ahead. We heard from the world and it's people congratulating us on the choice made.
We saw Palin. Yeah, we heard from her. Though, I don't think anyone is listening anymore.
The day after Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, we're all still here. There has been no cataclysm affecting the country, barrage of finger pointing, or even strategies set forth by a political party to "go back to the good old days."
No, instead we heard a gracious message from an outgoing president and his Secretary of State(who knew?). We saw the beginning stages of a political cabinet which may or may not be made up of bipartisan members filled with ethnic diversity.
We saw McCain driving in an SUV, but did not hear from him. It was as if McCain was driving off into the sunset at the end of his quest. McCain was dealt a very rough hand and has my respect more than just about any Republican leader in the country. I wish Senator McCain luck and happiness. I wish him and his family well in their next chapter of life.
We saw Biden and President Elect Obama(love typing that by the way)thanking those who had helped to pave the road that we now travel, but we did not hear from them either. Instead, the media commented on their feelings of the future. The future of the country, the electoral map, and the job which is ahead. We heard from the world and it's people congratulating us on the choice made.
We saw Palin. Yeah, we heard from her. Though, I don't think anyone is listening anymore.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Today is the Day
Before I get to my thought for the day, a few words to consider from the past:
From Wikipedia--
Declaration of Independence:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish [sic] brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Those words were declared by our nation's forefathers 232 years ago. On that day, the bands of oppression of the British empire were thrown off and the American Revolution officially began. In the first section, you will notice in the Declaration, All Men are Created Equal. No matter the results of today's election to lead our country into a new age, I finally feel that the words of this Declaration long held dear to the American people can finally be considered as a truth. For a man born of a union of Kenya and Kansas has ascended to being only one step from being the leader of our great land. Barack Obama may be the candidate of choice for the United States today. He may not. Either way, Senator Obama has inspired. He has not only inspired the young or the old, white or black, or wealthy or destitute. Obama has inspired simply because he has run for the presidency.
Whether Obama or McCain...Hopefully, you made your choice today. It is our right and duty to participate and choose our leaders. It is what makes us a democracy. A democracy which our forefathers fought and died for over 200 years ago.
From Wikipedia--
Declaration of Independence:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish [sic] brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Those words were declared by our nation's forefathers 232 years ago. On that day, the bands of oppression of the British empire were thrown off and the American Revolution officially began. In the first section, you will notice in the Declaration, All Men are Created Equal. No matter the results of today's election to lead our country into a new age, I finally feel that the words of this Declaration long held dear to the American people can finally be considered as a truth. For a man born of a union of Kenya and Kansas has ascended to being only one step from being the leader of our great land. Barack Obama may be the candidate of choice for the United States today. He may not. Either way, Senator Obama has inspired. He has not only inspired the young or the old, white or black, or wealthy or destitute. Obama has inspired simply because he has run for the presidency.
Whether Obama or McCain...Hopefully, you made your choice today. It is our right and duty to participate and choose our leaders. It is what makes us a democracy. A democracy which our forefathers fought and died for over 200 years ago.
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