Chicago Tragedy

Regarding the incident in Chicago where an innocent 16-year-old was beaten to death: My prayers and thoughts are with his family.

I have taught my students to always be aware of their surroundings. Trouble will sometimes find you despite all of your efforts to avoid it. Better to not help it (Trouble) by frequenting areas with people who behave stupidly. Let me be clear: I am NOT blaming the victim in this case. Sometimes bad things happen through no fault of our own. Many of us have been careless at one time or other with respect to our situational awareness.

Mobs are by definition chaotic. Bar brawls = same thing. Even if you were not involved in what "started it" a bar fight spill-over effect can happen. Some idiot chooses to use the chaos of the situation to take a shot at someone, anyone, and for any reason or no reason. Do not attempt to apply logical to the illogical.

Mr. Myagi said, "Best defense--no be there."

Oh, and be prepared.

Dalton said, "Those looking for trouble are not much of a problem to someone ready for them."

Fitness!

I love to exercise. I admit it. Whether it is simply walking, biking, swimming or lifting weights. I love it all.

I am doing some work on stationary bike interval training these days. I read recently that a research study was done where participants did 20 minutes of intervals 3x per week for 13 weeks. They lost about 10% of their bodyfat. The control group did steady state cardio (read that "slow"). Control group lost less bodyfat. Let's see what happens for me!

I am also considering getting some kettlebells. A good friend of mine got some and is loving the workout. I have several pairs of dumbbells at home: enough to get me back in shape. Wait a minute, isn't ROUND a shape?!

Also, I am walking as much as possible through the day (teaching requires this, haha). And I am looking forward to cooler weather to get back into my running.

Tomorrow... Tune in to find out!

Read, or people will lie to you and you won't know the difference!

I had a graduate professor say that in class one day. Even though I have loved reading since I was a child, this statement has stuck with me. I tell it to MY students.

I read all kinds of things. It depends upon my mood, really. Here are some authors I like.

Ayn Rand (Objectivism) -- Thank you, Neal Boortz! Atlas Shrugged is what our country is going through right this minute!
Dean Koontz
John Ringo (Baen Books)
Travis S. Taylor (Baen Books)
Tom Kratman (Baen Books)
Malcolm Gladwell (nonfiction)
Ted Dekker
Frank Peretti
Harry Turtledove
Robert Buettner

I could talk for DAYS about all the authors I like and why. These are just a few who I return to again and again and look for anything they write...ANYTHING.

A little about me...I believe in individual responsibility and no excuses. I am a Conservative, but the Republicans are making my stomach hurt as much as the Democrats. Socialized medicine will hurt this country. Call your Congressmen and women and tell them so.

Tomorrow...Exercise and Fitness!

A Changed Life

There are pivotal moments in a person's life when things change. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes not. One of these moments happened to me in college.

I was talking to a buddy of mine about all the things I was Going To Do. He challenged me by saying, "You always say that, but you never DO ANYTHING that you say." I started to object. I probably did at the time. Don't remember now. But he was right.

That moment changed me. I started a goal list. Sort of like that movie, "The Bucket List." I have kept that list (in various forms) for all the years since. I began working through that list and Doing The Things.

What's on Your list?!

TOMORROW: Reading!