Ferris Bueller Sequel

For those wishing to have seen a sequel to "Ferris Bueller's Day off" - let me fill you in:

Cameron, Ferris' best friend, gets beaten half to death by his dad for destroying a beloved, irreplaceable classic car. Ferris ducks out, denying any involvement in the offense. He was "sick at home" the entire time.

Cameron's dad is in prison, not only for his crimes of abuse, but insurance fraud due to suspicious circumstances surrounding destruction of a costly collector vehicle. He loses his home to foreclosure because of legal expenses, home repairs and lack of income (due to being incarcerated). Cameron is forced to move in with his mom in her small apartment. Cameron is not only dealing with injuries sustained by abuse, but a drawn-out legal battle against Abe Frohman (The Sausage King of Chicago) due to a foolish prank at a high class restaurant that cost him a lucrative deal with a client that he was supposed to meet that day. Ferris would have opened up about his involvement in the prank, but Cameron didn’t want to drag his friend into it. “No use two people taking the heat for it.”

Jeanie follows the influence of her newfound crush, starts doing drugs and drops out of school. Her boyfriend lands in prison and she visits him as often as she can. She turns to petty crime and drug dealing to survive because her parents have kicked her out.

The principal Edward R. Rooney is doing prison time for abuse against children, breaking and entering and a plethora of other crimes and civil infractions. His secretary (Grace) opens up and tells everything in exchange for clemency - to avoid jail time for being a willing accessory.

Grace, the secretary steps up to become the principal, harassing juvenile delinquents like Ferris, but learning from and not making past mistakes of her predecessor.

Ferris marries Sloane, right out of high school. He works as a con-man, swindling and making shady deals - making millions. It is rumored that he took the thousands of dollars collected on his behalf (for him to get a new kidney) and used it as “seed money” to start a Ponzi scheme, but nobody can prove any wrongdoing or that any money was ever collected and subsequently disbursed. He spends a lot of time traveling for work, with different women in every city. Each one of them believes she is his only... special one. He and Sloane move around a lot to escape disgruntled clients - and the law. Sloane believes it's because he is taking a promotion ever time. Ferris' parents are proud of their successful son, but wonder where they went wrong with their wayward daughter.

The girl on the bus with the gummy bears graduated valedictorian, got a full ride scholarship to an Ivy League university, and is working on a graduate degree in organic chemistry. Rumor has it, she had something to do with taking down an abusive and corrupt faculty member.

The two valets still work at the same place, taking good care of the cars they are entrusted with... occasionally taking joyrides in exquisite sports cars.

The economics teacher is still teaching and still as boring as ever.

Hyponatremia

Only in recent years has this condition been brought to the forefront of the public's attention (mostly due to people dying from challenges, where the "contestant" drinks excessive water). This is a dangerous condition that affects endurance athletes, which can be deadly, but it is preventable.

We're always hearing the advice "Drink more water!" or "Stay hydrated!" from those on the sidelines. While it's true that dehydration is also dangerous, it is possible to drink too much water, which dilutes your electrolyte level - hence the name: hyponatremia, which means lack of sodium. In my research, I've discovered that this is a concerning condition with endurance athletes, especially those who exert for more than 3 or 4 hours. This could also affect those who have physically demanding occupations or any activity where a person is sweating a lot.

How is it prevented? When I was in military training, when a person was showing signs of dehydration, one of the first things the instructors wanted us to do was to eat MREs. This seems kind of bizarre. Wouldn't they just sit us down and have us drink more water? There are valid reasons though. MREs are loaded with salt... and since it's food, nutrients. You are then naturally going to want to drink water as well. If you're dehydrated, don't just drink water, eat food as well! However, this poses a problem for endurance athletes. When you eat a meal in the middle of training or competing, most people are going to get sick. At the very least, you'll have debilitating cramps. The best alternative is to consume an electrolyte drink, like Gatorade. Now, some people might disagree or have alternatives (mainly because such sports drinks have sugar in them) but it's important is that you replenish your electrolytes at that point than to worry about a few carbs that you're going to burn off anyway.

While it's recommended by experts that in place of straight water, that an electrolyte drink be used, it doesn't hurt to drink moderate amounts of water during endurance events. I always run with a hydration pack, but I NEVER overdo it. Sips, rather than gulps. I also bring some salty snacks with me like a bag of trail mix and some beef jerky. In some of my longer runs (especially when it was unexpectedly hotter out), I have stopped at a convenience store and bought a jug of gatorade. During the warmer months, I always keep a jug in the fridge at home because I exert a lot. I'm not trying to sell anything, just that this is my personal preference. I mean, you could grab your baby's Pedialyte and get your electrolytes that way. The important thing is that you replenish not only your fluids, but your electrolytes and nutrients as well.

Is muscle more attractive than fat?

I know this is kind of a weird (and likely controversial) question. It's like asking, "are eyes more attractive than hair?" Eyes are definitely attractive and some people are naturally born with stunning eyes. I'm not one of them, but several of my family members are blessed in this way... and it is passed down from my wife who has very beautiful eyes. Hair, on the other hand, is also attractive... if managed properly and in the right places. Now, I'm not a big fan of my naturally curly hair, but whenever I've had female hairdressers cut my hair, there always seems to be admiration... sometimes even envy. That hair on my back, not so attractive though.

Back to the muscle vs. fat - It's a similar concept. If managed properly and in the right places, fat can be attractive. There is a happy median of just the right amount (and this is a personal preference for individuals). I admire muscle too, to a certain extent. When a guy takes off his shirt and is totally ripped, I do admire that and I appreciate all the work that has gone into making it that way. I notice "runner's legs" too. Runners notice others who run and appreciate all the work that it took to get that way. When overdone though, I don't see the attractiveness in bodybuilders. Honestly, very few people find that attractive. But fat is important too, in all the right places that define a masculine or feminine body. Even the face needs a little fat to enhance beauty.

Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking skills can't be taught (or more accurately, programmed). They have to be developed. You may spend many years learning at a university, but never develop critical thinking skills. More and more, what I see is that educational institutions are not interested in students developing those skills, because they're difficult to measure against a rubric. Rather, there is a set, approved curriculum that is followed and the students' responses are measured against, and receive grades accordingly. You may graduate with honors - magna cum laude, even valedictorian or salutatorian and STILL not have developed that skill set. You will do well, as far as grading goes, as long as you follow the script. This is NOT the same as critical thinking skills. In fact, exercising those critical thinking skills is often contradictory to the established curriculum and sometimes even considered controversial... radical.

How do we develop those critical thinking skills then?

First, it's important to learn. Learn everything you can and from many different sources. Listen to even the most absurd perspectives without predetermined biases. That doesn't mean that you have to kowtow to every hypothesis that is presented to you. The next part is most important.

Secondly, you test those theories. Whether you take it into the lab or you break it down mathematically or using known laws. Those theories have to adhere to laws. Testing (and subsequently proving or disproving) theories takes a lot of effort. This is usually considered doctorate-level analysis, but it doesn't necessarily require doctorate-level education, or for you to be genius, for that matter. For example, if I am exposed to information stating that a particular chemical element is highly flammable, you bet I'm going to to try to replicate those results to prove/disprove that. There is a lot of misinformation or unintentionally inaccurate information floating around on the Internet. It tends to gain credence the more it is shared (or in some circles, what is called "peer reviewed"). Thousands of people claim to be "experts" on a subject without applying critical thinking skills. They are merely applying programmed responses that were taught them, according to established curriculum - and until a breakthrough is made (by someone who actually goes through the painstaking trouble of research and experimentation with tangible substances... using actual scientific methods), then the responses are only measured against status quo.

Third, it's important to be flexible... and humble enough to accept that you need further learning. It's impossible to know everything about every subject. And just because you invested your time to learn something a certain way or you spent money to pay an educator to teach you something, does not necessarily mean that it's completely factual. Sometimes, the professor or mentor teaches you on a very basic level. This is done either because the teacher may not know the subject any deeper or because the teacher cannot teach it on a basic level without leaving out pertinent facts (intentionally to avoid overwhelming the student). There are often a lot of holes in the curricula that need to be filled in later. It's impossible to teach anyone anything who already "knows" it. We have to be able to admit that maybe something we learned somewhere, even from a highly-educated professor at an accredited learning institution might be inadequate or just plain wrong. And that's ok. You learn the facts and move forward. We have to accept also that there may be more than one correct answer - maybe even appearing diametrically opposed. This is especially true in the creative arts.

Finally, never underestimate the power of your own mind. One of the first things I was "taught" in a university class was that there are no new ideas... that every idea had to come from somewhere else and that everything you submit as fact has to be cited with a credible source. This is wrong. Every human being with facilities to think has the capacity to create and to develop new ideas. Deep from within the mind can come ideas that never existed before. The simple fact that inventors come up with new products every day and writers come up with original materials attests to that. Each and every human is innately unique and we all experience life from a different perspective. We all have something we can contribute to society. When we relinquish our critical thinking in favor of scripted programming, we sell ourselves short of our potential and become just another cog in a machine that never varies in its operation.

Critical thinking develops over many years of practice in using one's mind. It's deeper than simply rote learning of facts and figures, but becoming an instrument of coming up with new facts and figures... innovating, creating, inventing and pioneering the way for others to follow, but also passing those critical skills onto posterity by encouraging children to come up with solutions to problems themselves.

My Superstitions About Selling Online

I'm a lousy salesman. I've always known this. I've found some success in online platforms because in those cases, I can let the product sell itself and I don't have to try to persuade someone to buy something from me. That being said, I'm a bit superstitious because of past experiences. Here are my superstitions:

1. Never package an item for shipment before it's actually sold. When I do this, almost invariably, something goes wrong. These are things that have actually happened when I had already packaged up the item: Buyer never pays. Buyer orders multiple items and wants combined shipping. Buyer wants to pick up in person.

2. Never pay money for an item with the intent of reselling it. I've lost a lot of money doing this. IF the item ever sells, it's usually at a loss.

3. Never count on an item selling. I just set myself up for disappointment if I do. Ironically, things that you'd think would never sell or things I got for free are the things buyers are looking for.

4. If I don't know whether the item works or not, it probably doesn't and if I don't put a disclaimer or sell "AS-IS" the buyer will discover that it indeed doesn't work and they'll want a refund.

5. If I don't overcharge for shipping, I will lose money. Every time. Just because I think the item is great and someone will want it, my opinion of it doesn't mean jack and the item will be sold at minimum bid, which will never cover for underpriced shipping.

6. Murphy's Law. Anything that could possibly go wrong, will. This is why I am so thorough in covering all my bases. If I miss something, it will definitely come back to bite me later. Guaranteed. If there's that one thing that I'm worried might happen, it does.

7. Damaged in shipment. If there's any doubt as to whether I've packed the item properly or not, I can be guaranteed that those who are handling the item will intentionally put my suspicions to the test... and confirm my worst fears. This is why I have to pack things so well that even if it's on any trip with Tom Hanks, it will make it safely to its destination.

Raising Children - The Apprentice Schooling the Mentor

I think as parents, we often feel inadequate because we aren't able to teach our children everything they need to know or what they want to learn. I look at my kids and I'm amazed at their capabilities. We've tried to teach them a few things, but then they took those things they learned on a basic level and and went WAY beyond what we taught them (or what we could have ever taught them). And that's ok. I do have a few skills and talents that none of my kids have been able to meet or exceed (yet) but if they do, I'm not so competitive that I won't praise them profusely and continue to support their efforts though.

I think, more than anything, what's important is that we help to stimulate their interests and curiosity and then provide fertile ground for them to grow. Give them space to play and work, the tools and materials to work with and the freedom to explore... also the freedom to fail and learn from their failures. But that's not all, encouragement, coaching and honest, constructive criticism is also necessary for proper development and follow-through on goals and intentions.

So-called "free-range" style of learning is nothing new. I have to give credit to my parents who provided us with opportunities for learning. We had the space, the time and the tools to do a lot that many of my peers wouldn't have even imagined and I think a lot of parents nowadays would cringe to know about those "dangerous" activities that children are involved in. I got my first power tools before I was even out of elementary school - and I learned how to properly use them. I had hammers and saws when I was beginning elementary school. I love that my parents were ok with me learning how to work with my hands and to explore and satisfy my curiosity with taking things apart to see how they were put together. I feel sorry for those who never had the opportunity to learn how to do practical things with their hands or to explore the world around them... and then they become adults with limited skills and fears of the unknown.

I may not be rich - as far as having lots of money - but I feel rich to have the blessings of knowledge and skills and a constant yearning to learn more. I am rich because I have children who are passionate about learning, exploring and building their skills and I can relate to them on matters that go deeper than games they've played or what they've seen on TV or what's current in pop culture. I mean, those are fun and all, but now when my kids are inviting ME along with them on their adventures and THEY are the ones who've developed their skills to where they're outdoing me and teaching me some things (the case of apprentice schooling the mentor), this makes me proud and I feel like maybe I've done something right as a parent.

Addictive Poisons

When you're consuming poison, you are so accustomed to it, you don't realize it's poison and you don't recognize the adverse affects anymore. You may even find blame in something (or someone) else. Once you distance yourself from poison and give your body and/or mind to adjust to a new baseline, you will become more sensitive to what you had formerly been consuming and may even have the insight to discern how a toxic substance has been affecting you. At that point, it takes a strong will to avoid what you recognized as a poison.

Addiction, dependency, force of habit - these are all forces that work against anyone who is trying to detox. What makes it difficult to pull away from those habits is the pervasiveness and easy access to that which is poisoning you. Toxins come in many different forms. In tangible forms, they are foods, beverages, drugs and other ingestible substances (and you can define ingestion in a variety of ways). The intangible forms are media (what we view or listen to) and our own habits.

One of the most common poisons is refined sugar. It's almost impossible to avoid completely and in small portions, it is not a big deal. Many of us consume large quantities of sugar - more than what can be effectively processed by the human body, and there are numerous adverse effects on the body and mind. I've discovered that by drastically reducing intake of refined sugar, I have not only felt much better (on so many levels) but the cravings for it are reduced exponentially. I no longer have the desire to reach for a soda or have cravings for brownies, ice cream, candy and so forth. I'll occasionally enjoy a piece of dark chocolate, but I can stop at one. If I overindulge in sugar, I notice it immediately - and I have immediate regrets. That's how the detoxification process works.

I'd like to make a comparison to one intangible poison. It appears, by far, the most pervasive subject in the "news" and on social media is politics. It's poison. It poisons the mind and body and it has the effect of consuming a person's time and attention to the point where there is nothing more important... like an addictive drug. I can speak from experience. I've made great efforts to distance myself from politics. It's hard. It's always there, in our faces and in almost every situation, so it's difficult to avoid. There is a healthy level at which one can consume, but once again, many of us consume far too much of this poison, and it's destroying us. The polarizing extremes are unhealthy, and once you step back and distance yourself from the narrow-focused world of politics and refocus on life, you can see the bigger picture and realize how petty and how insignificant the things you once saw as important were. You may come to the realization how your opinions, your arguments and "standing up for your cause" is pointless because the thing that's most important to you this week will be overshadowed by what you are going to fight about this week - and so on, and so forth. It never ends, just like any other addiction that takes over your body, mind and soul.

I would like to give kudos to those who are consciously working on detoxifying their lives. You know who you are and it is evident who many of you are (and some do so without fanfare). It is not easy and I'm not there yet. One of the methods that I've found is to replace a harmful thing with something benign or at least not so harmful. Whatever method works for you, it's a step in the right direction. Let's all keep this up and let's support each other in our efforts. Now that... THAT is how we make the world a better place. Let's give it up for all the heroes who are making efforts to change their lives for the better and thereby making the world a better place collectively.