Alright boys and girls, time for my triumphant return. Sound the horns, because not only am I back, I'm pissed. Why? Because not only do some people not need kids, but they need to keep their mouths shut about good discipline and order. Stand-by folks, the shit is hitting the fan.
So my lovely wife forwarded a news article on to me. (I'll attach a link at the bottom) Basically the community in a Utah town are raising Kane because a football coach made a decision to suspend his entire team for being jerks. According to the article all 80 players have been benched, are being tasked with community service, and are having to earn the right to play. This is because of his players cyber bullying, cutting classes, and being disrespectful to teachers.
That's right, the community is pissed that the coach is instilling discipline, and character into this team. To the coach I say, OUTSTANDING! To the parents of the players I say, "Shame on you." To the community that's crying I say, "You should be ashamed of yourselves." More and more parents are letting their kids have free reign. We have a generation of selfish, and ignorant cowards heading into the world with a sense of entitlement. No, I'm not talking about politicians.
#1 The parents obviously have failed to instill discipline into these kids, that's part of what sportsmanship is.
#2 Respect isn't just a standard on the field of battle, it's a standard in life. These kids obviously need to learn that.
#3 It's a team. Everyone works together. If one person fails to do what they're supposed to, the team fails to accomplish their mission.
It's called a TEAM, not a group of individuals, which so many people seem to have forgotten. This coach is teaching these kids what the adults have forgotten, teamwork, team ethics, character, discipline, and he's doing through action. Words are nothing without action. These kids have had enough words. They're old enough to know right from wrong. If they're not held accountable for their actions as this point in their life, then they're being setup for failure later on in life. And if they're set up for failure, whose to blame? The community will blame the parents, which is where they should be looking now instead of crucifying the coach. The community is to blame because they're not holding the bar and doing their part to ensure that kids are being taught right by being held accountable for their actions.
Here's the thing. I've seen way to many cases of parents being allowed to drop the ball. The news reminds us all the time. Kids are being conditioned to call the police, or claim they're being abused if a parent punishes them. What's worse is parents are giving up, and just letting their kids run wild because they're afraid of having to face the court for doing what they should as parents. But at the same time they don't want to see anyone else discipline their kids, and teach them what they as parents have failed to. Teachers and councilors bitch, moan, and complain that they have to teach kids so much these days. This is because nothing is being done! If parents would step up to the plate and do their damn job, life would be easier for everyone all around. Our kids would be better people, our educators would be able to educate instead of play referee, and our coaches could focus on sports!
You're upset because your kid wasn't involved and shouldn't have to pay? Shut the hell up, it's a team effort! They're not being kicked off the team, they're working to pick up the weaker players and actually build a team instead of a gang! Don't want them to be a TEAM player? Give them a gameboy instead.
This coach is going against the norm, by doing what everyone should. He's doing the right thing, for the right reasons, and looking out for the future of these kids. If you don't understand it, you need to step back and look at the big picture.
http://foxnewsinsider.com/2013/09/26/utah-high-school-football-coach-suspends-entire-team-cutting-classes-cyberbullying
Friday, September 27, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Marthon of Life: Dean Karnazes Inspiration
Today will be a little different than my norm. Not that I really have a norm. Instead, today we'll be taking a quick look at a book a brother Marine recommended. Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner by Dean Karnazes. Now before I get into it, I'll take a second to remind you, I'm not big on running. If you recall my previous blog on fun exercise, I made it pretty clear. But this book made me want to lace up and hit the pavement. To sum it up quickly, it's a great read.
Dean writes this, picking segments out of his life. Where he first found his love of the run, to where he is now. Throughout his story, you come across humor that makes you want to yell, "Run, Forest, Run." At the same time though, you get presented with something that most sport/athletic books leave out, injury. And I'm not talking the occasionally mentioned bumps, bruises, and barely mentioned breaks. I'm talking details that make you take notice, and say, "Holy COW!" At the same time, however, Dean doesn't go into painstakingly descriptive rants about it. It's simple, and straight forward with just enough detail.
From the get go, the book pulls you right in. It's not written like a biography, nor is it written like a sports journal. Which lets face it, too many sports books are. Instead, Dean writes like he's talking directly to you. And why not? He is in fact telling his story to the world. It reads like a casual conversation that you'd have with a close friend. This is seriously the fastest read I've had in years.
Even though it's about him and his exploits, he doesn't just ramble on about himself. He talks about his family, what they've been through, how they've grown, and how they've hit the high's and low's of life together, adapted and overcome. Love and loss, it's all right there. He talks about some of the people he's met, and who all he runs for as well. If anything you find love and tragedy throughout this book, but in good portions. Neither overshadows the other.
Ultimately this book is about the ultra marathon we call life. Running is just how Dean gets through it. It's inspiring, a breath of fresh air, and a lost toe nail all at once. While I'd love to give more detail, I'm afraid I'd get carried away and give out too much. So I'll simply say go read this book. It will make you feel good.
P.S. Thanks for the great recommendation Adam. Semper Fi brother.
Dean writes this, picking segments out of his life. Where he first found his love of the run, to where he is now. Throughout his story, you come across humor that makes you want to yell, "Run, Forest, Run." At the same time though, you get presented with something that most sport/athletic books leave out, injury. And I'm not talking the occasionally mentioned bumps, bruises, and barely mentioned breaks. I'm talking details that make you take notice, and say, "Holy COW!" At the same time, however, Dean doesn't go into painstakingly descriptive rants about it. It's simple, and straight forward with just enough detail.
From the get go, the book pulls you right in. It's not written like a biography, nor is it written like a sports journal. Which lets face it, too many sports books are. Instead, Dean writes like he's talking directly to you. And why not? He is in fact telling his story to the world. It reads like a casual conversation that you'd have with a close friend. This is seriously the fastest read I've had in years.
Even though it's about him and his exploits, he doesn't just ramble on about himself. He talks about his family, what they've been through, how they've grown, and how they've hit the high's and low's of life together, adapted and overcome. Love and loss, it's all right there. He talks about some of the people he's met, and who all he runs for as well. If anything you find love and tragedy throughout this book, but in good portions. Neither overshadows the other.
Ultimately this book is about the ultra marathon we call life. Running is just how Dean gets through it. It's inspiring, a breath of fresh air, and a lost toe nail all at once. While I'd love to give more detail, I'm afraid I'd get carried away and give out too much. So I'll simply say go read this book. It will make you feel good.
P.S. Thanks for the great recommendation Adam. Semper Fi brother.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Whose the Best? A Marks Answer
Time for a jaunt into lost youth, entertainment, and the world of professional wrestling. Kidding? Nope, I'm serious. While yes, it's scripted, it's still brings countless hours of joy to young kids, and the inner child of adult men across the country. Like most men of my generation, I started watching pro wrestling back in the 80's. The days of NWA, WWF (now called WWE), neon, flash, over the top characters, and REALLY BAD HAIR.And while this form of sports entertainment changes with every generation, there's a question on the lips of every mark out there. Who's your favorite wrestler?
For me, I've always been a black sheep with a lot of things. This area is really no different. Over the years, the average fan will utter the names of Flair, Hogan, the Rock, and occasionally Bret Hart, or Sting. While those men have made their mark and earned their way, the names I always wanted to watch were different. Piper, DDP, and Austin. Ok, not that different, but lets take a look at them.
The 80's were great. I started watching, and cheering like other boys. For me though, I could have given a rats booty about Hulk Hogan. While everyone else was Hulking up, I was excited to see Rowdy Roddy Piper. The man was a maniac. Hardcore, before hardcore was a thing. While most people were saying holy cow, I was saying PIPER, PIPER, PIPER! The 90's came around, and it got better. Hogan was starting to show his age, fans were starting to see him for who he always has been. A weak wrestler that could cut a great promo. So when Piper crossed over into WCW and was working a feud with him, it was a weird good time. I went from cheering for the bad guy, to cheering for the good guy because both men switched places.
But the 90's were a turbulent time for wrestling. The pomp and circumstance was no longer the status quo, as balls and attitude were the new demand. And while Piper will always be my first favorite, I was still cheering for the dark side. Enter Diamond Dallas Page. A bad guy with style. And he was just getting better and better. The best part, his finisher the Diamond Cutter can and would come out of nowhere. But there was something interesting that really pulled me in. In a short span of a few years of actually wrestling, everyone was cheering for the bad guy instead of the good guy. It wasn't because he was being bad, instead, it was because he was standing his ground and telling the good guys, and the bad guys where to stick it. He did what he wanted on his terms. It wasn't over the top, it wasn't flashy, it seemed somewhat real and could be related to by anyone. He was essentially opening up to take on the entire roster. It was incredible.
But DDP wasn't alone in this. Stone Cold Steve Austin entered his own here too. He had been fun to watch in the past, but this character was him. He turned on his handler, he gave the finger to everyone, and essentially was doing the same thing as DDP but in a different way. While DDP was the self made man doing what was best for him, Austin was essentially saying, "You're not the boss of me!" It was something that everyone from the adolescent to the working man could find. So seeing what the two of these men would do next was almost always a gamble. Unlike what Piper was doing, and the rest of the previous generation of wrestlers, it was no longer the predictable good versus evil. It was now a game of who could hit harder.
These days wrestling can still be fun. But it's not the same. It's a different generation, relating to a different audience. Sadly, some wrestlers haven't realized that 30 plus years is too much and haven't retired from full time involvement, while others occasionally show up as a blast from the past. But it's not a weekly venture for me any more. It's an on/off relationship that I come back to every couple months. The torch has been passed. And with all the change, not everything is different. Much like real sports, it's something that old fans and new fans alike can sit down and talk about.
For me, I've always been a black sheep with a lot of things. This area is really no different. Over the years, the average fan will utter the names of Flair, Hogan, the Rock, and occasionally Bret Hart, or Sting. While those men have made their mark and earned their way, the names I always wanted to watch were different. Piper, DDP, and Austin. Ok, not that different, but lets take a look at them.
The 80's were great. I started watching, and cheering like other boys. For me though, I could have given a rats booty about Hulk Hogan. While everyone else was Hulking up, I was excited to see Rowdy Roddy Piper. The man was a maniac. Hardcore, before hardcore was a thing. While most people were saying holy cow, I was saying PIPER, PIPER, PIPER! The 90's came around, and it got better. Hogan was starting to show his age, fans were starting to see him for who he always has been. A weak wrestler that could cut a great promo. So when Piper crossed over into WCW and was working a feud with him, it was a weird good time. I went from cheering for the bad guy, to cheering for the good guy because both men switched places.
But the 90's were a turbulent time for wrestling. The pomp and circumstance was no longer the status quo, as balls and attitude were the new demand. And while Piper will always be my first favorite, I was still cheering for the dark side. Enter Diamond Dallas Page. A bad guy with style. And he was just getting better and better. The best part, his finisher the Diamond Cutter can and would come out of nowhere. But there was something interesting that really pulled me in. In a short span of a few years of actually wrestling, everyone was cheering for the bad guy instead of the good guy. It wasn't because he was being bad, instead, it was because he was standing his ground and telling the good guys, and the bad guys where to stick it. He did what he wanted on his terms. It wasn't over the top, it wasn't flashy, it seemed somewhat real and could be related to by anyone. He was essentially opening up to take on the entire roster. It was incredible.
But DDP wasn't alone in this. Stone Cold Steve Austin entered his own here too. He had been fun to watch in the past, but this character was him. He turned on his handler, he gave the finger to everyone, and essentially was doing the same thing as DDP but in a different way. While DDP was the self made man doing what was best for him, Austin was essentially saying, "You're not the boss of me!" It was something that everyone from the adolescent to the working man could find. So seeing what the two of these men would do next was almost always a gamble. Unlike what Piper was doing, and the rest of the previous generation of wrestlers, it was no longer the predictable good versus evil. It was now a game of who could hit harder.
These days wrestling can still be fun. But it's not the same. It's a different generation, relating to a different audience. Sadly, some wrestlers haven't realized that 30 plus years is too much and haven't retired from full time involvement, while others occasionally show up as a blast from the past. But it's not a weekly venture for me any more. It's an on/off relationship that I come back to every couple months. The torch has been passed. And with all the change, not everything is different. Much like real sports, it's something that old fans and new fans alike can sit down and talk about.
Thank You
I just wanted to say thank you to all of my loyal readers. This month past month has seen my highest number of hits yet. Would love to see that trend continue.
Thank you all. Without all of you, this would just be an online diary.
Unnoticed Perks of Working
We all have a laundry list of things we don't like about having to work. And that's what oh so many of us focus on most of the time. Unless we're looking at vacation time, health and dental benefits, we generally don't look at the other benefits. Here I'll list a few of the great benefits that we take for granted.
1) You're paid to drink coffee.
2) You're paid to go to the restroom.
3) Think about that down time you're screwing around on, yeah, you're getting paid.
3a) If you have a lot of down time, and you're in school, you very well could be getting paid to do your homework. SCORE!
4) While we all would prefer to be fishing, or enjoying a cold one, the fact is we'd all end up with a ton of time where we'd be bored to death. So we're all getting paid for that time, and given something to occupy us.
5) Being pissed that we have to work, helps us enjoy our off time even more.
6) We all make friends we wouldn't otherwise have, and you're paid to do so.
7) You're getting paid to learn new things that could lead to even more pay down the line. More pay means a better life for your family, and better toys to enjoy that down time with.
8) If you like what you do, it's not really work.
9) You have a great playground for playing pranks. If you're gassy and work in a big building, elevators can be a lot of fun.
It's not much, but it's a start.
1) You're paid to drink coffee.
2) You're paid to go to the restroom.
3) Think about that down time you're screwing around on, yeah, you're getting paid.
3a) If you have a lot of down time, and you're in school, you very well could be getting paid to do your homework. SCORE!
4) While we all would prefer to be fishing, or enjoying a cold one, the fact is we'd all end up with a ton of time where we'd be bored to death. So we're all getting paid for that time, and given something to occupy us.
5) Being pissed that we have to work, helps us enjoy our off time even more.
6) We all make friends we wouldn't otherwise have, and you're paid to do so.
7) You're getting paid to learn new things that could lead to even more pay down the line. More pay means a better life for your family, and better toys to enjoy that down time with.
8) If you like what you do, it's not really work.
9) You have a great playground for playing pranks. If you're gassy and work in a big building, elevators can be a lot of fun.
It's not much, but it's a start.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Burn Notice and B Movie Actors
Just another quick jaunt through my mind. So I've finally gotten into the show Burn Notice. It's taken me time though. I couldn't quite put my finger on it until recently.
Typically, I love a good B movie. They're campy, cheep, fun. And ultimately you see hungry up-and-comers that are really putting themselves on the line to make it or break it. Which leads to what caught my initial interest in the show, Bruce Campbell. I've been a huge fan of his for years. The initial ads for the show didn't win me over. Instead I was looking at it as a cheap, American knock-off of Mission Impossible. But with Bruce being cast, I felt it would only be right to give it a shot.
So I tried, failed. Tried again, and failed again. I just couldn't figure out what was throwing it. The dialogue was good, the filming was good, effects great, there's some good acting here. And it hit me, it's the acting of the main character. He's good with voices and accents, but ultimately he's just walking in, chin high, and delivering lines. I don't feel him. Not only that, but watching his movement kills me. He doesn't seem like a spy, or that he's even trying to play one. The most honest acting he does is when he's putting on a "please don't hit me" act for the bad guys. He just strikes me as a straight up sissy.
Now, I've watched all the way up through the end of season 4. It's steadily gotten better. The other actors are great, and the story has stayed true. I'm not seeing Michael Weston as much of an act now because Jeffrey Donovan has finally gotten comfortable (though not entirely connected) with the character. But it's evolving quicker and quicker, and I have hope to actually be pulled in completely fairly soon. I'm really liking it now.
This is really why I don't care much for many well established actors. For instance Tom Cruise. Back in his early days he had emotion, and something tangible. Today, it doesn't matter if he's a spy, or Jerry Maguire, he plays it all the same. It makes him just another over paid actor, but once in a while, he breaks away from his norm and shows us he still has a little gas in the trunk. Such as when he portrayed Les Grossman.Then you have the likes of Nic Cage, who also has fallen in the rut of different characters generally being the same. What makes him different is when he tries to do something different, he comes across as freakin NUTS!
But when you get a B movie actor, you know it's truly for the love of film. That's probably why the Bruce Campbell's, Roddy Piper's, and Adrian Paul's keep their magic. They've seen glory, utter crap, risen again just to find they're standing knee deep in the sewer, and they keep coming back for more.
Hail to the B actor actor baby. And here's to Burn Notice getting better.
Typically, I love a good B movie. They're campy, cheep, fun. And ultimately you see hungry up-and-comers that are really putting themselves on the line to make it or break it. Which leads to what caught my initial interest in the show, Bruce Campbell. I've been a huge fan of his for years. The initial ads for the show didn't win me over. Instead I was looking at it as a cheap, American knock-off of Mission Impossible. But with Bruce being cast, I felt it would only be right to give it a shot.
So I tried, failed. Tried again, and failed again. I just couldn't figure out what was throwing it. The dialogue was good, the filming was good, effects great, there's some good acting here. And it hit me, it's the acting of the main character. He's good with voices and accents, but ultimately he's just walking in, chin high, and delivering lines. I don't feel him. Not only that, but watching his movement kills me. He doesn't seem like a spy, or that he's even trying to play one. The most honest acting he does is when he's putting on a "please don't hit me" act for the bad guys. He just strikes me as a straight up sissy.
Now, I've watched all the way up through the end of season 4. It's steadily gotten better. The other actors are great, and the story has stayed true. I'm not seeing Michael Weston as much of an act now because Jeffrey Donovan has finally gotten comfortable (though not entirely connected) with the character. But it's evolving quicker and quicker, and I have hope to actually be pulled in completely fairly soon. I'm really liking it now.
This is really why I don't care much for many well established actors. For instance Tom Cruise. Back in his early days he had emotion, and something tangible. Today, it doesn't matter if he's a spy, or Jerry Maguire, he plays it all the same. It makes him just another over paid actor, but once in a while, he breaks away from his norm and shows us he still has a little gas in the trunk. Such as when he portrayed Les Grossman.Then you have the likes of Nic Cage, who also has fallen in the rut of different characters generally being the same. What makes him different is when he tries to do something different, he comes across as freakin NUTS!
But when you get a B movie actor, you know it's truly for the love of film. That's probably why the Bruce Campbell's, Roddy Piper's, and Adrian Paul's keep their magic. They've seen glory, utter crap, risen again just to find they're standing knee deep in the sewer, and they keep coming back for more.
Hail to the B actor actor baby. And here's to Burn Notice getting better.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Life: Relationships at Work
We go through many transitions in life. One that most of us see is in how friendships change as we change jobs. I'm starting one of those transitions right now.
There are a couple of ways in which this happens. One, you become a supervisor, and as such relationship dynamics with other workers have to change in order for you to be effective at what you do. Two, you leave your work place and begin work some place new. I've had experience in both areas. At the moment, the later is the one I'm transitioning with.
I've been at my current position at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner for a number of years. I've seen people come and go, and have forged good relations with many of my co-workers. Those who have been here for a long period of time, and in some cases longer than me, aren't just co-workers, but are my work family. We've seen highs and lows together, joked around, and worked hard together. We have special dynamics in which we don't even have to talk sometimes. Instead we know simply by a nod, gesture, look, or where we're at in our work what each other needs next. Things are so smoothed out that we get things done quickly, and properly with little need to ask questions. Plus there's a certain comfort in coming in, and on a given day, seeing whose there and knowing what kind of day you'll have.
My time here is winding down though. This is my last week here, with Sunday being my last working day. While some of the relationships I've forged I know will continue into the future, others will undoubtedly come to an end. Not because we want it too, but rather because that's life. We'll think of each other from time to time, but that's where the buck with stop. So while I'll miss my family here at the OMI, I look forward to the new one I'll find waiting at my new position with T-Mobile Tech Support.
Leaving is bitter-sweet. But eventually we all part ways.
There are a couple of ways in which this happens. One, you become a supervisor, and as such relationship dynamics with other workers have to change in order for you to be effective at what you do. Two, you leave your work place and begin work some place new. I've had experience in both areas. At the moment, the later is the one I'm transitioning with.
 | |
| NM OMI, our new building we moved into October 2010 |
My time here is winding down though. This is my last week here, with Sunday being my last working day. While some of the relationships I've forged I know will continue into the future, others will undoubtedly come to an end. Not because we want it too, but rather because that's life. We'll think of each other from time to time, but that's where the buck with stop. So while I'll miss my family here at the OMI, I look forward to the new one I'll find waiting at my new position with T-Mobile Tech Support.
Leaving is bitter-sweet. But eventually we all part ways.
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