Sunday, July 12, 2009

2009-07-12 Sunday - My Life List

Some of the things that I want to do:

Write a book
Perform a stand-up comedy routine at a comedy club
Write a play
Perform in a play
Publish a CD of music
Spend a year working with the Peace Corps
Build a house with Habitat for Humanity
Meet Jimmy Buffett
Travel throughout the South Pacific by sailboat
Complete a circumnavigation by sailboat
Round Cape Horn by sailboat
Hike across Patagonia (seeing the Atlantic and Pacifi coasts)
Teach English as a Foreign Language
Study traditional Chinese Medicine
Study Tai Chi
Study Aikido
Study Kenjitsu
Adopt children / serve as a Foster Parent

2009-07-12 Sunday - United Breaks Guitars

Saturday, July 04, 2009

2009-07-04 Saturday - 4th of July

Sitting in my study, the window open, listening to a CD of John Denver's music, children splashing and playing a few feet away in the pool outside my door.

4th of July. A cause for celebration. Celebration of Freedom...of Independence.

We have given up so much Freedom and Inepdendence...irrational fears leveraged by men of ill will. The rise of the Nanny State. Sad. Self-Reliance, no longer a First Principle. The self-made man a rarity. Everywhere, the law of the herd rules thought, action, conformance.

What we need is a truly global crisis to wake the world from its infantile obsessions with appearance, vanity, and consumerism. I would actually welcome an invasion by hostile ETs. Now THAT would get people focused!

Today a new generation of young men and women stand on the walls and defend our country. Ready to be sent into harms way at a moments notice.

I stood my turn at watch (1980-1984, United States Army) - and I am thankful, and mindful, for the sacrifice that the few make today, for the many.

The next time you are traveling through an airport - and see a solider, sailor, airman, or marine traveling in uniform - stop and buy the service member a drink (or dinner!) - and find out something about their story. Express your appreciation for their service. It will mean a lot to them - because that so rarely happens.

Our country is greatly weakened by the financial irresponsibility of our leaders (both business and government). Fortitude is needed by our government leaders - to stand steadfast - and SERVE the people that elected (HIRED) them. This will mean hard choices, politically unpopular decisions, willingness to sacrifice one's political career for the good of the people. [One wonders whether Sarah Palin's resignation as Alaska's Govenor is an action in response to the fear of being tainted by the budget deficit trajedy that is looming for Alaska in 2010]

2009-07-04 Saturday - Links

Memoirs of a Minyan

Five Reasons to Listen to George Soros

50 Ways to Get Your Site Noticed

We The People Stimulus Package

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