Food for thought

I am not a scientist or any other sort of erudite who expects to be taken with more than an ounce of seriousness. I do have a voice, and all voices are meant for saying things. I also have a mind and all minds are intended to devise upon things. So recently I have come to a certain conclusion and I'd like to share it here.
The conclusion came as a sudden culmination of a few years of readings. None of the readings were done together, nor ever intended to add up to anything, but as with the discovery of penicillin, this realization occured not because intended, but as a fortunate accident because all the cues were there.
The most recent reading was the biography of LDS prophet and former church president Gordon B. Hinckley. President Hinckley lived to be 97 years old! Not only was he 97 years old, but he was active and traveling the world right up to that point. I also read the biography of LDS prophet and former church president Spencer W. Kimball who lived similarly. Other readings are scattered but concerned people who were physically active well into their 80s and 90s and often even into their 100s. Where does so much life and energy come from? What makes the difference? Is it chance, or are there lessons we could learn to prolong our own lives? It is my opinion that there are lessons.
The most striking of these lessons that I've felt inclined to agree with has nothing to do with medicine. It has nothing to do with nutritional diet. There are a lot of theories about long life and this has nothing to do with most of them. That is not to say I don't think nutrition and other factors play a part, but it is to say that there is an aspect to long life that I think goes without notice too often.
Hard work. That is a key. All of these men and women who lived to such advanced ages were working hard from their youth and were still working hard when they passed away. Now I don't know exactly what the connection is, nor the tie in. I do know that when you are in the service of God, full and resolute, that he will refresh you and provide for you the power and ability to serve. Beyond that, I don't know much. The quality of hard work is there in every example I've known. There's something about accomplishing things with our lives. The sooner we let-up, the sooner our bodies seem to let-up. When we are constantly pushing our ability to accomplish to the limit, each and every day, we find that our bodies slow down much quicker.
It's as if our bodies know how much we intend to do. When we spend a lot of time each day lazily watching TV our bodies slow down that much quicker. When they don't feel needed, they don't feel the need to continue. That would explain why someone who is constantly working themselves--heart, might, mind, and strength--would live so much longer. Their bodies recognize a need to repair, refresh, energize, etc.
Again, it's just food for thought. I don't know that I'd ever take the time to prove it scientifically. My own derivings are proof enough for me.

Separate Church and State and Atheism

My thoughts are not for the convincing of others, but for the reaffirmation of that which we ought already know is true--and for those who don't know it, I've allowed access because I believe you'll listen. Now, that said, I wanted to speak quickly to an incident occuring in the Capitol Building in Washington State. For years they displayed a Mennorah (sp?). Then, after some fuss, they put up a Nativity. Now, after much more fuss, the atheists have a display. What is it? It's a sign that reads as follows:"At this season of the winter solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."The sign is not pretty, it's a white board that reads as posted. Now I have a lot of friends who are atheists. Do I have an issue with them? No. I disagree with them, but we are friends. Likewise I would not have a problem being friends with anyone of any faith, and I would hope never to cut down their beliefs. Joseph Smith said that if one were unresponsive to the gospel message he would not wrestle with them, but rather build them up in the good of their lives and then "truth will cut its own way." We build up--regardless. I am curious, then, as to why anyone felt it would be appropriate to post this sign. A mennorah does not cut down a Christian's belief, nor an atheists. A nativity does not cut against another either. This sign, however, is deliberately aimed at telling those who are of faith that they are unreasonable. That is, in effect, what 'may reason prevail' is alluding to. A nativity isn't crying out against an atheist saying your beliefs are false and lead to terrible things, but this sign is saying that religion does. Why Washington State felt that this sign was somehow fair and equal is beyond me. It is deliberately offensive (as opposed to the nativity which may inadvertently offend). And when did it become okay for the beliefs of an atheist to be 'state' related, but not the beliefs of a 'christian'? That's the argument being made by many. Take christianity and all religion out of the schools and replace it with atheism. Perhaps they don't see it, but atheism is just another religion. They have no tangible proof for their beliefs than do the christians. I can't show you that God exists, nor can you show me he doesn't. I hope this helps all who read it to have a clearer perspective on things. Again, I don't feel one religion should have more rights than another, but I do believe there must be equal respect for all, and atheists (like those who demanded this sign) do not give that respect and so I feel to take away from them their right for free speech. We didn't defend free speech so that we could criticize and berail one another, but rather that all respectful and peaceable ideas could be heard. May it ever be the case.

Good Better Best

Those who move about the world trying to be the best have made a terrible error and I herein hope to illustrate, clearly, their follies. It is then my hope that with a little clarification and a lot of encouragement we can all get on the only track of deep and lasting value--the track that leads one to be their best.When one puts all their hard work into being the best they've done two things and we'll discuss them in tandem. First, they've spent all that time and energy to, if they're lucky, become better at what they've chosen than anyone else. This is as fleeting as trying to hold water in your hands. Records are continually broken, or the world moves on and never remembers one's chosen vocation, trade, occupation, hobby, or sport. In short, the best will always be a fleeting achievement. Never something to have for more than a moment. Those who have spent their lives to achieve the best will find that they've achieved nothing of real note or lasting value. Second, they've spent all that time and energy to cheat themselves out of real accomplishment. The reason for this is that if one has given their all in an endeavor to be the best and they come up second, they will forever feel the failure. No matter how much growth one attains, if they do not become the best and that was their goal, they will again have spent their lives for nothing. I mean no real criticism, rather sadness for the many I see attempting this (though sadder still for those attemtping nothing).On top of all of this, the real nature of being the best means nothing more than assuring that those around you are worse off than yourself. That is essentially the point isn't it? And how many truly want to admit to that as their aspiration? If everyone ran 8 minute miles, then you would only need to run a 7:30 mile to be the best. Yet is that the best that man can produce? No. It seems a silly example, I'm sure, but it is resting, as we say, on the nail's head.Politically we see this in how often candidates will speak about their opponent. I don't care what any candidate thinks about their opponent. I'll listen to the opponent later, for the moment tell me about yourself. Do you see the illustration of the principal? So much of election time is spent by our candidates digging up dirt on each other and then presenting the dirt. If all that time spent mud slinging were spent on policies and self-improvement, how much better would our candidates be? How much better would America be if we all followed suit?Striving to be the best cheats us of our true potential. Because trying to be the best means we're already spending at least some time checking to make sure our opponents are still worse off than we are. That, as before, is time that could have been spent improving our own game, or intelligence, or such as it may be. The solution is simply to change the terminology. We must endeavor to be our best.An individual is the only true and honest judge of what best is. Only I know whether I'm giving it my all or not. Only I can limit myself. Likewise only I can be the impetus for doing better. When everyone in a society is interested in getting better together, that doesn't mean everyone has to be just as good as everyone else. It means, simply, that everyone is trying to be their very own best and at the same time encouraging everyone around them to improve. A society grows together in this fashion. The desire to be the best is an isolating one at best, because it means that you want your friends to be beneath you. How else could you be the best? The desire to be your best however, is an all encompassing one. It draws everyone to you, because we realize the healthiness of competition. Not for the sake of being better one from the other, but of seeing how we're doing, and learning from the other. I love to play against someone I will lose to, because it means that the more I play them, the more I'll learn about what I'm doing that could be improved. I don't want to be better than that person necessarily, but I want to know that I'm better after playing them than I was before.When a life is spent in the pursuit of being its best then there is perfect and lasting contentment at the end. Being our best is the only really achievable goal in any case, and it is the only one upon which a society can be founded. Healthy competition is good on the field, in school, or in the market place. But that is a complicated competition. The competition to be the best is a sadly simple one that involves cutting down those around you. A society founded by such people could never last, and we are watching what it is doing to America.In short and to summarize, we need more citizens who are willing to lose. More citizens confident in themselves, so that at election time we hear more good ideas and less criticism. So that in our sports we don't just watch for the best players each year, but we watch as the entire sport is improved. We need more citizens who understand that the only way for real growth is to work together, holding each other up. To be the best is for society to stand in one spot and, as in the game king-of-the-mountain, knock everyone else down as they try to get up to us . . . and it will always be a lonely spot at the top of that mountain.

You Have to Check the Barrel Before Firing

Just a quick note to bring everyone to their senses. On Friday November 28.2008 a man was trampled to death inside a Wal-Mart shopping center in the early hours of the morning. He was pronounced dead at 6am. I found this out by means of a really tiny link on the left side of the msnbc.msn.com home page. The main articles involved media stars, sports stars, our new president, Iraq, and a shoot-out across the world in a Hotel in India. This man was a tiny link off to the side.At some point America is going to realize that it can no longer use global altruism as an excuse for ignoring our problems at home. We cannot pat ourselves on the back for being so generous in giving to those across the world when we do not know those who live next door to us. We cannot continue to concern ourselves with the problems of the rest of the world until we can teach Americans to care more about human life than they do about their 'things.' Friday last we learned that to 2000+ people sales on Xbox's, Legos, Jewelry, and TVs were all more important than another man's life. I hope their gifts work as good as they hope, and that they saved a heap of money, because they've sold their good names, virtue and souls to obtain them. Oh but I'm sorry, this is about India isn't it?

Robin Hood or John Hancock?

What follows is a proper proposal for the organization and execution of property taxes.When the Declaration of Independence was signed it was to refute a government that didn't belong to the people. It was to refute any right said government claimed for taking their property (specifically by means of taxation). It is puzzling then, today, that so many Americans are run out of their homes and off their lands by this government that was intended to secure those very rights. And more puzzling is that nothing is done about it--shy of complaints from many.May I say that complaints and blame placing have never solved a problem. Propositions, however, can pave a way to solutions; though they be not solutions in and of themselves.The main problem is not simply that people lose their homes, or land, or other property. Many in America deserve to lose what they have. Many in America live too far outside of their needs. Many in America have moved themselves financially outside the reach of any life preserver we may toss them and their property. It is not to these that I address my proposal (nor would it help them in any case). Rather my comments are for anyone willing to listen with active ears, and the same comments are in benefit of those who, like many of my in-laws here in upstate New York, are being forced from their land and property by the continuing rise in taxes. Mind you these are lands families have held for years, upon which they have labored year after year to make as valuable as they now are. Never have they grown remarkably more wealthy, nor has anyone ever given them any property handout. The value of their property is the value of the family's work ethic (Unfortunately you can't, apparently, spend work ethic to pay for your property taxes). As a result, many can no longer afford to live on their lands or in their homes. They are being told that their homes, land, and neighborhoods have become too elite for them and they'd be better off seeking lodging in a 'less ritzy' part of the land. Now does that sound like the America or the government that blood was spilt for?I have nothing against our government asking much of us. But our government cannot justifiably ask more from us than we can reasonably give. Somewhere along the lines that concept has been lost. I place no blame. Now that you have my mind, here is my proposal.Inflation, we're told, will never stop. It will become increasingly more costly to run schools and states and governments. This point I cede. What is paid today in taxes will not suffice ten years from now. So as cost goes up, so must taxes. Sadly our own payroll doesn't follow suit. The rising taxes can never, if we are to do justice, chase an honest and responsible family from their home.Today taxes are based on third party assessments which we won't even jokingly call unbiased. We know how the program works. Each year someone tells us our home is worth more than it was previously and as a result we need to pay more in taxes. Okay fine--to a point. That point is whatever can be deemed a reasonable percentage of a family's joint income for the year. We can figure this out based on taxes (for any who would refute that, take a seat, because for years the government has regulated what is considered a safe percentage of income to invest in a mortgage).As a model, we'll say 5% is the reasonable limit. Now that may or may not be true, but we'll use it.Up to 5% of one's income can be spent on property taxes and still allow enough for the family to meet it's needs. Now this does not mean that we will always be spending 5%. Let's say today we pay 3% of our total income. As inflation goes up, our property increases in value, and our taxes go up. So in five years we pay 4% and in eight years we pay 5%. We've now reached the limit. We have given all that we can reasonably give and still maintain our property. If our income increases, then that 5% as well will represent more money for our government and schools. So long as we continue in the same house on the same land, that limit would never be passed. Also, if by our own poor planning we live outside our means and can no longer afford even the 5%, then the loss of our property becomes our own doing, or by loss of a job becomes employment's doing. In short, we would never be forced to leave our land by our own government and community.Now, how do we account for all the monetary needs of the land and schools if no one pays above 5%? Answer: taxes continue to increase on property. As you live in your home and it's value increases (whether due to inflation or your own hard work and construction) your property tax assessment goes up. You, of course, cap at 5%. In reality, the tax assessment is 8 or even 10% of your earnings. You don't have to pay it however, so long as you continue in your same home on the same land. If you choose to move, however, you open yourself up for new taxes. When you find a new home if the assessment is lower, then again maybe you pay only 4% and cap at 5% later. If you choose to move into a nicer home, however, and the taxes are 8% of your income, then that is your choice. You cap there at 8%, it won't go any higher, but then if it becomes too much for you, again it is your doing and not that of our government or communities or schools. Finally, those who move in to your home that you just sold must pay the tax assessment on the home (what was 8 or 10% of your income and you only paid 5%). In this way taxes continue to go up, the market stays alive, but those who choose to keep to their land and work away at it every day of their lives, bettering it and making it more valuable, are never threatened with expulsion by taxes they cannot afford. Our America should never do that to a person. Not when land was and always will be one of our greatest assets and properties and freedoms.Now I don't know that this answers all the problems. I don't know a lot, in fact, and I understand that there may be holes in this proposal, but that is why it is merely a proposal. It is there to make people think, and to think differently. I welcome and invite any criticism, additions, or otherwise. I thank you for your activism.

Declaration of Independence

I take this opportunity to be one of the first and the few to declare that my happiness in life stands independent of the choices of a few.America has great hope in the new administration to come--and why not? Barrack Obama is a young and an ambitious man. He seems to know how to motivate the people (at least to put up signs and go out to vote). His very station as President-Elect has done wonders for America's image around the world. He seems to be putting together an able bodied cabinet and working overtime on solutions to America's current woes. Yet America, and perhaps Obama himself, are placing their hope in the wrong places.Like the scape-goats of ancient Israel, who once a year symbollically took all of the nation's sins upon them and were sent off into the wilderness to die (thus absolving Israel of all err0r and wrong doing), every year around November America elects its scape-goats. But ancient Israel misunderstood and so does America. They could not, and we cannot, hope to absolve ourselves of the need for virtue and charity in our lives by blaming all of our nations follies and troubles on these scape-goats, sending them out before the people to roast, and then passing them off into oblivion to waste away. That never solved Israel's problems and it hasn't/won't solve America's. The success of America is not in changing the government, but in changing its people. Yes, admittedly the government and its choices add numerous woes to our lives, but none that we haven't allowed. Are you following? We complain about lawyers, but there wouldn't be so many, who knew so many ways to cheat the law, if there weren't so many of us willing to sue one another. And why do we sue one another? To place blame (essentially . . . let's not get nit-picky). Putting the blame elsewhere is easy, but all that gets us is more lawyers--more people to blame. So why not admit that a good majority of our fortune and success--and that of America--lays within our own hands--the hands of its people.I declare, again, that I want to take responsibility for the success of my life, and to do so I must be willing to take responsibility for the failings of my life. I do this because I believe in liberty and independence. We are not simply the rubbish left over after the actions of our government. It is to us as Americans to be the cause and left to the government to be the effect--not vice versa. How do we go about this? I don't know. I don't have all the answers, but I can see a good place to start and that is in every American, individually. Stand up and declare your independence. Decide that the American dream is as alive as we want it to be. If we'll work together. If we'll care. If we'll work harder at building up and less at tearing down. Our government will never be any better than its people, and it will seldom be worse. I believe in the capacity of everyone for good. I believe in the capacity of everyone to exceed in any field, chosen or otherwise. I believe that a great good will come out of America--greater than ever before--and I believe it will come about because of her people (if they can make the necessary adjustments). I believe, and declare my independence to be able to do so.

Definition of Adventure

I have no definition of adventure. Webster does. Webster and I rarely see eye to eye, and this term is no exception. I don’t know what I’d qualify as adventure. I know it when I see it.
I will declare that far too many see adventure as only that which makes a great story. Examples may be backpacking across Asia, whitewater rafting, attending a glamorous awards show, etc. I would say that all it takes for a great story is a great story teller. Even the greatest of adventures could be dulled by a dull speaker.
So is adventure that which makes your adrenaline race? Makes your heart rise up into your throat? Certainly not. Such things are called thrills and living for thrills is like living on drugs . . . you’ll always need more and in much more potent quantities. Adventure is no such thing. At least I think not. I think a true adventurer makes adventure out of any situation—and that doesn’t mean the ability to turn any situation into a life-threatening one.
Adventure is the journey. I have recently set a goal for myself of bowling a 200 this year. Is that exciting? Probably not to everyone. I guess it’s not really exciting to me. The journey to that 200 just might be however, and when I tell it, those listening may be heard to exclaim, “Man, this guy has quite the adventurous life!”
Though they may not.