Friday, October 30, 2009

Packing for a Trip




How much do you pack when taking a trip? I find I take way too much. I know that I could get by with a lot less, and I would feel less burdened. Less burdened in the fact of not taking so much time to pack, not so much time to unpack when I arrive at the destination, and of course repeating the scenario when I get home. And it would be nice not having to lug around these heavy suitcases.

Plus I have found that stuff I don't even wear gets thrown in the washer or now gets carted to the dry cleaners. It's just a waste of time, money and extra clutter.

If I just took a minimal amount of items, actually spent a few minutes at night washing what could be worn the next day, I could make my travels a lot less burdensome, with more time to enjoy what I went there for in the first place.

What I like in the link above, is that he uses a special soap for different purposes. To wash his body, wash his hair, his teeth, and his clothes. I would add that I could use it as a shaving cream also.

He Made One Mistake



Fellatio keeps male fruit bats keen.

I guess that's why I'm not sharpest tool in the shed.

Junk Food Diet



Sunset in Puerta Vallarta, MX

This link is to an article titled: Junk Food Diet Causes Rats' Brain Pleasure Centers To Become Progressively Less Responsive.

The gist of the article is that fast food affects the same pleasure centers in the brain as that of opium and heroin. When healthier food is provided, the rats choose to eat the unhealthier food, even if given a mild shock.

That is why superior nutrition and fasting should play an important role in one's life. Fasting takes away the craving for bad food, and superior nutrition feeds the body with the nutrients the body needs.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Another Reason for Own Blog



I remember when I wrote a letter to a local paper and it was published. Wow. What I wrote could be read by anyone reading that paper that day.

Now, I comment often on newspaper articles, and the whole world can see. Instantaneous feedback. In fact, often I get more out of the comments than the actual article. And some of the comments link me to other more interesting articles.

But when I comment on an article, some people may read it, and it might have an impact on the person reading, but actually not so much.

That is why I like my blog. Hey, unadulterated Michael. This is what I think and this is what I'd like to share. And it will always be here. Even hopefully for my children's children.

Cancer/Heart Disease



Here is an article from the New York Times about cancer. The article is counter intuitive to what we have learned. And that is: Once cancer happens, which is nothing more than unchecked cell growth, it keeps going until the cancer is removed or the death of its host. This article states that cancer can indeed and does can go into remission by itself.

Wow!

Think how that changes how we look at cancer. No longer a death sentence, if left untreated.

Let me also talk about heart disease. Once thought that if one had heart disease, it could only get worse. Certainly not better. Of course now we have Dr Ornish who has proved heart disease can be reversed.

Proven folks. Verifiable proven facts. Cancer can go in remission, heart disease can be reversed. The two greatest killers in America.

And how does it happen. By superior nutrition. Things found in fruits such as bioflavonoids, antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, minerals. Items that scientists are still discovering on a daily basis. Not by eating processed junk, drinking sodas and eating a putrid carcass.

Doctors I do respect. But I don't think pills are the magic potion. I would think even doctors would agree that pills can sometimes be palliative at best, and get the hell out of my office at worst.

If we ourselves can be created from the beginning of two cells, invisible to the naked eye, why can't we trust what God has provided on this earth to give us superior health?

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Funny Movie Scene



This scene is so funny in so many respects. The mom "Pick up your fuckin skateboard", to "fishing with dynamite", a bunch of very funny lines in a few minutes.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Us vs Them



It seems we're polarized. Us vs. Them. I certainly am a conservative. Do I think conservatives are always right? No. Would I look the other way if I saw something that wasn't right? I definitely hope not. Because US vs Them is different than Right vs Wrong. If something is wrong, stand up and say so. I don't lose my conscience because I'm aligned with a certain persuasion. I can't help it if I disagree with Obama on so many issues: Russia, Iran, Honduras, apologizing for the US, and so many other issues. I wish I loved my president and stood for what he believes. But this president I think wants to ruin this country.

State of the Media



Thank God for the blogosphere. Take a look at this. We live in sad times. Do you think this will be discussed on the Liberal networks: CBS, ABC, NBC and CNN? Or how about this?

Shame shame shame on the news media. I have lost all respect and do indeed look to the blogosphere and FOX News for information.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

2 Blog Posts


These are blogs that I subsribe.

This post I read today and it brought tears, the best I've read in a long time.

This is something I enjoy because it's counter intuitive. And when something is counter intuitive and true, it's always fun.

President Bush-Big Spender



Let's be honest and give credit where credit is due. The time Bush spent in office he never vetoed a republican spending bill. Our country faced some extraordinary tasks, but even so, spending was out of control.

Bush's spending and extraordinary budget deficits are not Obama's fault.

While I think George Bush was a great President, he let government spending run amok.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

On Being Mentored



I wish that I had a mentor. Someone that I could go to, and he would guide me in life's journey. I don't have one.

There are certainly many people that proffer information, and I listen. But I do not have a trusted friend, a mentor, an old wise man to tell me the ways of life.

But I do get my wisdom from many sources. I read and talk to people and from there I make decisions based on my own instinct.

Is this a scam?



I'm at the $.99 store, standing in line to pay.

This fellow in front starts to remove items, giving them to the checker. Then he runs his card to pay for the rest of the items. The cashier tells him his card has been rejected. His bill is around $12. I give him a few bucks to help him pay for his items so that he can buy all the items he chose. Again his card gets declined. Then he opens his wallet. At the same time he turns his back to me. I noticed he had a hell of lot more money than I had. He gives the cashier a $20 dollar bill, gets his change and leaves.

I'm wondering, do people do this on purpose, holding up the line, feigning they have no money so that a good Samaritan will offer help. I've noticed this a number of times and I wonder if it's a scam.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Show Your Patriotism



Be a True American Patriot

Pulling permit Long Beach



Pulling a permit in Long Beach, CA is very frustrating. Count on it taking a long time.

They had 2 people in the Building Dept. helping others. Rather, one was helping, the other sat on her ass for a full 45 minutes not helping anyone. The last person she helped, she must have liked. She accompanied him to the cashier (that's where I was sitting), and all they were doing was talking about her kids. After standing in the line with him, she went back to her desk and just sat there.

I got frustrated after an hour. They post your call number on the TV monitor, indicating how long you've been waiting and when you are next up. I was scheduled to be 4th up. The person who was next up had been waiting for 2 hours. And I've heard that you can wait all day just to get your permit.

What is frustrating to me, is that I am self employed. I have no retirement. I work my ass off to keep up with all these government regulations and still try and make a buck.

This lady sits on her ass, doesn't give a shit about helping anyone, I get charged a ridiculous $620 for permit and temp license, to pay for her lousy ass retirement.

Am I pissed? You're damn right I am.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today is 10/22. I have completed the installation of the ac/heat system and yesterday requested an inspection. I was told the inspector would be there between 10-12 today. I arrived at 9AM and waited till 12 to call to ask what happened. No one showed. No one called.

After 2:30PM the City of Long Beach would not answer their phone. The recording said, "Due to the high volume of calls, we cannot get to you right now". Or some such bullshit like that. I waited for 20 minutes and then I called my wife and she tried to call and also could not get though either.

Finally after waiting till 4:15 I left. So I waited all day in the garage, and the person never showed. Never received one phone call, or was I able to get in touch with the city. To say I'm pissed is an understatement. I don't know much about the city of Long Beach, but I have a feeling this is standard fare. I feel I should be compensated for a wasted day.

Finally the supervisor called, (my wife was able to get to him), and told me the inspector had showed. I said he didn't show, I was there all day. Turns out, he came by after I left. If I knew I only had to wait one more hour, I would have waited. But I can't tell you the frustration when they don't have the decency to call to let me know what's up, and then they don't answer the phones (and I know it's on purpose, they don't give a shit), so I certainly didn't think they'd show up 5 hours later.

So tomorrow they tell me between 12-2. OK.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10/23 The inspector came by as scheduled today and everything went OK. The inspection passed, and everything is done with. I may edit my post above, but for now I'm going to leave it. I was raw emotionally, and I just let it hang out in my writing. Give it a few days, and I may change the anger of my post. But everything I said is true.

Have a look at this.

Islamofascism


Along with my previous post. It's not only that we're a debtor nation to countries like China and Japan, we don't have a clue about Islamofascism.

The Left pretty much thinks it's the Right fear mongering. It is definitely not taken seriously by the Left.

We in this country can't even agree to what the real issues are: for the Left, it's health care, global warming, reducing nuclear weapons and higher taxes.

For the Right, illegal immigration, lower taxes, anti abortion.

I think the two greatest issues: Islamofacism, and a balanced budget.

PS. Word of warning to women: Make sure you don't wear a bra under your burka.

Republican or Democrat



I'm changing my mind about politics. I lean toward conservatism, thus voting for the Republican party. I'm not going to vote that way anymore.

My main concern is the debt that the US has acquired. I suppose it's extremely naive to expect the US to balance its budget. The most powerful nation on this earth can't spend less than its revenues. This has weakened us.

I hold both parties responsible for this. And ultimately, we are all responsible, because we voted for them. So we have no one else to blame.

So I'm going to start looking at other parties. It's said it's a wasted vote if not cast for the 2 big parties, but I don't care. I'm truly going to vote for who I think mirrors my views. And a view of a balanced budget is considered radical. Even so, I'm voting according to my beliefs, not the lesser of the 2 evils.

Monday, October 12, 2009

New Year's Resolution



The new year is a time of new beginning. So what naturally comes to us, "how would I like to change my life, or improve my life", is also part of our national culture.

It has evolved into a game, and certainly a time for many companies to exploit.

But I take New Year's and my birthday seriously as a new beginning. And I think others do too. It's a time of reflection on our life. What have we accomplished this past year? What would we like to accomplish this next year?

New Year's has almost become a joke with serious thought. "Oh, I'll go ahead and make a resolution, then like all the other times, I'll go ahead and break it". It's as though we don't take ourselves seriously.

We don't give ourselves that respect. When we make a decision, we should honor and respect it. If we do fail, certainly that's OK, for we did make an effort. And through failing, we learn how to do better the next time. If we run out of "Next Time", that's when we truly fail.

Most resolutions for me have been about improving my physical self. Not drinking, not smoking, or losing weight. Now the nice thing about failing at resolutions is that I can make the same one the next year. But what would happen if I was successful in my resolution?

I know for me the mental expenditure on wanting to accomplish something, like trying to quit smoking, can be actually greater than doing the act itself. I'm sure that well over a thousand times I thought or vowed to quit smoking. Finally, I quit on my 38th birthday. I often have said that I really didn't quit cigarettes, they quit me. I just got tired of smoking, and got tired of wanting to quit. I got tired of the whole battle and all that wasted inner dialogue, so I just quit. Never thought about it after that, and I haven't had a cigarette since.

Honor your desire for change. But also realize that you can be successful. Sometimes the fear is that you will be successful, so you find ways to fail. Allow yourself to succeed. It's really OK.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Fighting with Demons


I actually thought the title to this post should be: "Once you got it, you got it".

It's just as easy developing good habits as bad habits. Exercising for just an hour a day, instead of watching TV.

Living below your means, instead of paying interest on stuff you've long since forgotten about.

Enjoying a green garden salad instead of hamburger and fries.

How about a green smoothie instead of a beer?

Little lifestyle changes can really make a hugh difference in your life. I believe the greatest test is one of courage.

Otherwise, going through life fighting your daily demons becomes no fun.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Drinking - Alcohol



Drinking is fun. If you're not a drinker, good for you. But a lot of people drink. I think it's done for reasons of having something to do. We don't have much going on in our lives, and drinking actually gives us purpose.

I recently completed a fast. One of the accomplishments of the fast, my desire for alcohol was removed. I haven't had a touch of alcohol since, and I wish never to drink alcohol for the rest of my life. I have always liked the buzz from drinking. The problem was, once I had that buzz, I kept chasing it. And if you drink, you know you're not going to find it.

Since removing alcohol from my life, more time has become available in my life. And I realize, I don't do much with my life. And I see that with others too. Besides doing what we "have" to do, how much of life is spent re-creating?

I plan on changing that. From hiking, ping pong, basketball. I'm going to start doing things. The bottle is no longer my friend.

Friday, October 9, 2009

About Blogs



I would say that it is the smaller blog, the ones that get less traffic, are the better blogs. (It's not totally true, because most of the really small blogs are crap.)

They don't have anything to lose, so they might be more personal and honest.

The bigger ones have more to lose, so they play it safe.

So, the reality is, there are probably lots of blogs out there that are damn good, because they don't care what others think.

Play



When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child. When I became a man I put away childish things. 1 Cor 13:11

When I was a kid, and a young adult, my life was full of fun. Not anymore. I suppose I'm to put away childish things. When I was a kid I explored in the woods, played army, built treeforts, all kinds of stuff.

Now I don't play. When I go somewhere, it's not to do anything. It's to sit around and talk or drink. In fact that's why I think drinking plays such an important role in adult life. It gives us the feeling we're doing something. If it wasn't for drinking, life would really be boring.

Sportsbars aren't about playing sports. It's a place to go, drink, get drunk and high five your buddies because someone made a touchdown. That's about as far as the participation will go.

I grew up in Maryland and I had a pretty active life. I would say my relatives back there have a more active life than those in California. People around the US think CA is so cool. Surfer dudes, and all that crap. Fact is, most people in CA have never stuck foot in the ocean. People out here don't really do much, yet CA is the envy of the rest of the US.

Maybe I'm an adult, but I'm tired of not playing. I'm going to start to have more fun. Everyone now is at Anaheim watching the playoff baseball game, eating and having a few beers. I wonder how many of those people have ever even played a baseball game, or when the last time they played.

Fact is, most people, get up, drink their coffee, sit in traffic,go to work, sit in traffic some more, come home and watch TV. Then for entertainment, we go out to a restaurant. This is what it means to have fun.

Obama Peace Prize

This is the man who won the Peace Prize. Please watch, under a minute.

“How do you say ‘jumped the shark’ in Norwegian?”

“Today the Nobel Committee announced a posthumous Peace Prize for Neville Chamberlain.”

He really is God!

Here's what really is funny. The Left will actually argue that he deserved it. This is going to be fun to watch.

Now we need the Catholic Church to canonize him. The only question will be: What took them so long?

I said it was going to get funny. This is a post by Jay Tea, the blog Wizbang:

I guess talk IS cheap. All the guy has done is talk.

He's TALKED about reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons... mainly ours, of course. Iran's, North Korea's -- they don't really count. They're willing to talk all they like, as long as we don't expect them to keep any promises they make.

Oh, and he's worked towards reconciling America with the world. Which translates into he's gone on his grand "we're sorry, world" speaking tour.

The Nobel Peace Prize is usually awarded for one of two things: either a singular achievement, or a lengthy record of accomplishments. Obama has been president for barely nine months, and his list of successes is thinner than a supermodel after a three-week coke binge.

Even more remarkably, the deadline for nominations was February 1. That means he was nominated less than two weeks after assuming office.

Anyway, that was my first thought. Then I gave it some more consideration, and I was forced to admit that Obama's winning the Prize is actually a step up for them.

Obama, for all his non-accomplishments, actually raises the bar for Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Recent winners have included Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007), Muhamad ElBaradei and the IAEA (2005), Jimmy Carter (2002), Kofi Annan and the United Nations (2001), Yassir Arafat (2004), Mikhail Gorbachev (1990), and the UN Peacekeeping Forces (1988) (for, presumably, outstanding achievements in the field of child rape, a special award presented by Roman Polanski). Compared to their accomplishments, Obama's lack of actually doing things looks pretty damned good.

Essentially, Obama's award is for the outstanding achievement of "not only not being George W. Bush, but joining the rest of the world in blaming him for everything." And for the most part, I can live with that.

I do have two concerns, though. The Prize comes with close to a million and a half dollars in cash, and that raises some interesting questions. Can a sitting president accept that much money? Will he pay his taxes on it, or will he let Treasury Secretary Geithner counsel him on how to avoid them? And will he pocket it, or divvy it up among many and several liberal causes? (I find myself wondering if ACORN will get any...

Vote for Obama (for real) to win the Heisman.

Michelle Obama was quoted as saying, “For the first time in my adult life I’m proud of Norway.”

This just in: Obama's dog just won the Pulizer Prize.

If anyone ever doubted that the left prefers the appearance to the performance, this should settle that question.

I'm An American



I love America. And I don't mean in a jingoistic sort of way.

Right now in golf the Americans are playing the International team. When the Americans make a putt, or the Americans win, you hear a chant of "USA, USA". I don't know why, but I don't like it. Maybe beause it sounds so shallow and rah rah ish.

Buy why am I really an American?

I will first make a confession. One that I'm not very proud of. In college I wrote a paper and I compared Reagan to Hitler. The same as many young people today (and oldsters too) compare Bush to Hitler.

As it is said: If you're not a liberal when you are young, you don't have a heart. If you're not a conservative when you're older, you don't have a brain.

I started to think more clearly as I got older. People like Dennis Prager had a great influence on my life.

Then 911 happened. And the demarcation was clearly drawn.

In comparing Western/American ideals to Islam made me realize how utterly beautiful is this document: The constitution of the United States. Separation of powers, freedom of speech, freedom to vote, equality, rights for the common man. This great document is not to be taken lightly. When I now read it, I cry. It's pure beauty. A goverment of the people, for the people and by the people.

We can look back and say: Look how whites enslaved blacks. How women weren't allowed to vote. Yes, America is not perfect, but America learns. Democracy grows.

To call America imperialist is so foolish. Look at America after WWII and the Marshall Plan. America has saved more Muslims than the muslim world. Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, a few places I can think of.

America is a great country. I don't apologize for it. When it comes to "Right" of "Left", often we just disagree. But I do believe there are those on the Left that want to tear America apart. For some reason they despise our freedoms, they hate us. And yes, some even want us dead.

The Left can roll over and preach to us all about multi culturalism. It is my prayer that more and more freedom people of the world wake up.

God Bless America, I love you.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Most Powerful Journalist



I am the world's most powerful journalist. The reality of it is, we all are. Imagine you're sightseeing Washington D.C. As you are walking on the sidewalk in front of the White House, a policeman calls you over. He says he's just been informed by the President that the President would like to speak to just an "Average Joe" and he's picked you.

You go to talk to the President and he tells you things that you can't believe you're hearing. Of course you have your camera turned on and you're recording what he is saying.

When you leave, you broadcast what the President said on your blog.

Just think, in a matter of hours the world will hear what the President said.

Because of the computer, internet, camera, and blogging, we are more powerful than any journalist just a few years back. No newspapers to quash the story, no editors waiting to water down what happened--just pure as it happened jounalism.

This is now the power that each one of us weilds. I never leave the house without my camera. Not only video, but sound can be recorded with a simple push of a button.

We live in unprecedented times. I believe the beauty of this is that truth will be more easily found. It then begs the question, do we have enough courage to accept the truth, even if it doesn't fit our preconcieved beliefs?

We are the most powerful journalists!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Nutritional Excellence



Dr Fuhrman, a doctor who I highly respect, often talks of the concept, Nutritional Excellence. IE, taking in only food that is good for the body.

He says the #1 food, the food that packs the most punch, is greens. Kale, spinach, broccoli.

All vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, grains and legumes. Fresh, whole, natural, and ideally organic.

This is what my man says, and dat's what I try to do. Dr Fuhrman is Da Man. Nutritional Excellence is the way to go.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Last Days




I'm going to make the call now.

People who read this post, will say, "that Michael is a nut".

And then a few months down the road, everyone will say: "Boy, you'd be an idiot if you didn't see it coming".

Kind of like the housing market. Everybody and their brother now says they could see that coming a mile away. If that's the case, I ask, "Did you short the RE market?".

My call is that the US and the world is going to go through a dramatic change. Gold is over $1000 US today. People who I respect say it will go much higher (Jim Sinclair, and Peter Schiff).

We (the US govt.) are printing too much money. It's got to become worth less. Let's just hope not worthless. And as a country we're way over our head in debt and obligations.

I think the shit is going to hit the fan and we're not going to have the standard of living we now have. How bad it gets I don't want to speculate. But I myself am scared. I'm older and have lived my life. If I don't make it through, I'm OK with that. It's the younger people who I feel for.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Secrets to Life



Are there secrets to life? If not secrets, I believe there are things that can make life much more happier and satisfying. One, that has not become my reality, I will say at the end of this post.

Eating according to one's conscience. It is a daily thankfulness that I realize my food choices do not cause harm or pain to animals.

Being healthy. I'm reading a book now called "Improv/Wisdom" by Patricia Madson. A very inspiring book. Two of her sayings that I like are: "Say yes", and the other, "Just show up". Being healthy starts within the mind. It will not happen by accident. Say yes, and just showing up, can easily begin the healthy path to the body image one desires.

Even as a child, I always loved the library. It wasn't until college I realized it's full potential. After that revelation, I remember sitting outside the library, just taking in what I realized. I put a dollar amount on what that may be worth, and I thought $20,000.

When Microsoft went GUI, grapical user interface, in 1995 and I first got on the internet, again it was one of those "Aha" moments. And the value I placed on that new discovery was $1 million. In other words, would I take the million or have what I know and can have via the internet the rest of my life?

Now there is something that I value at a billion dollars. And that is the practice of caloric restriction. I'm not totally dedicated to that discipline, but it's something I believe wholeheartedly. And since I beleive it, it's not going to go away. I have a lifetime to experience it. There is no rush.

It is through practicing CR that I experience a joy that can't be expressed in words. How can that be? Am I full of shit? Possibly. I'm just telling you what it is like for me. And this is a big dream of mine.

Caloric Restriction-Nobel



The Nobel Prize in Medicine, awarded to three scientists for their study in cell biology, specificly telemeres. Telemeres are at the end of chromosomes. When the cell replicates, the telemers shorten. This is one of the reasons why we grow old. Caloric restriction has shown that telemers last longer, therefore a longer life span.

That's how I understand it. It's interesting that science is understanding this at the cellular level.

The story of telemeres.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Toastmaster's Speech



Sometimes we can't help being depressed. I was feeling that way today.

I had to give a speech for Toastmasters and I didn't think it would be any good. And the last thing I want to do is waste others' time.

This is the 4th speech I gave since joining Toastmasters. And there is a saying: Stage time, stage time and stage time. In other words, get up and speak.

So while I didn't know if my speech would be any good, in fact I was fearing a meltdown, it turned out that my speech was well liked. The topic was "New England". My wife, dog and I just spent our vacation there and enjoyed its tremendous beauty.

What I was able to accomplish in this speech is making eye contact. I'm sure I could have done better, but I spent time looking at an audience member in the eye, and then going on to another person. I had been critiqued before that that was one of my shortcomings.

Also, I said a few "ahs" and I said the same word twice four times. I wasn't even aware that that was a fault, and now I can take notice of it when I speak.

I wish that I had learned how to speak in front of people earlier in my life, but I'm ok that I'm just learning now. Sometimes I think it takes growth of experience, just to be able to speak in front of others.

Toastmasters is a good way to learn to speak in front of others. The group is supportive. I feel bad sometimes because when this one person is speaking I can't help laughing. I wish I wouldn't laugh but sometimes I just can't help it. I'm the kind of guy that starts to laugh at funerals, that's why I always try to sit next to an exit.

I hope that I could learn to be a dynamic speaker. There are certainly topics that I'm passionate about, and I would love to share this stuff with other people. It's public speakers who I respect most, probably because I so lack the skills in my own life. But as I give more speeches, I'll learn. Today, I actually felt comfortable in front of everyone, and I was able to slow down. And I did a little thinking on my feet that was not in the speech.