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.

Give Yourself Permission

In all the world around us, there are voices vying for our attention and compliance. Then there are the voices in our heads. Some of them are our own judgments against ourselves, but mostly they are residuals of those who have had influence over us in some way or other. Sometimes, you need to give yourself permission to take care of yourself physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally and live your life to the fullest. In saying this, I’m not advocating a hedonistic lifestyle or denying compassion to those around us – to the contrary. But this is for those of us who, for various reasons, are stifled by unnecessary inhibitions and need to self-talk ourselves… to give permission to break through those barriers.

- Give yourself permission to get enough sleep, even if it means you take a nap during the day. 

- Give yourself permission to spend time getting necessary exercise and to spend the money necessary to remain physically fit.

- Give yourself permission to let go - to let go of toxic personalities and relationships and to let go of judgments you harbor against yourself.

- Give yourself permission to grieve – for as long as it takes. 

- Give yourself permission to let go of grief, when you are ready to move on.

- Give yourself permission to forgive yourself for mistakes you’ve long ago rectified. - Give yourself permission to enjoy delicious foods and to to enjoy the good things in life, when those opportunities are available to you. 

- Give yourself permission to love and have compassion to those who may seem unlovable or are undeserving of compassion in the eyes of others. 

- Give yourself permission to pursue your dreams, passions, hobbies and educational endeavors. 

- Give yourself permission to compete, when competition is necessary to succeed (within ethical and legal boundaries, of course). 

- Give yourself permission to quit when you no longer wish to compete.

- Give yourself permission to take a side… or to NOT take a side… to remain completely uninvolved, if that is what you desire.

- Give yourself permission to be autonomous – to have your own voice, unique personality and your independence. 

- Give yourself permission to seek help when needed – whether you are asking for volunteer help or paid professional help.

- Give yourself permission to say “no” when you feel overwhelmed… or simply when you feel uncomfortable committing to something. 

- Give yourself permission to give a straight answer without needing an excuse or alibi.

- Give yourself permission to spend time alone - uninterrupted. 

- Give yourself permission to dance and to celebrate, to laugh and to just be silly.

- Give yourself permission to worship according to your conscience – or to abstain from worship altogether, if that’s your desire.

- Give yourself permission to govern your own thoughts, perspectives and emotions - to guard them and to keep them private.

- Give yourself permission to be absolved of guilt or shame that doesn’t belong to you. 

- Give yourself permission to walk away from any situation that makes you feel threatened or uncomfortable. 

- Give yourself permission to own the rewards or adverse consequences of your actions – whatever the case may be.

- Give yourself permission to have honor in who you are and in your heritage.

- Above all, recognize that you are an agent unto yourself. Give yourself permission to be that and to go forward, to strive to reach your potential.

Chronic Illness and Pain: What You Need to Know

On behalf of all those dealing with chronic illness and/or pain:

- We're sick every day - just that some days are better.
- Most of us don't go around moping and trying to get sympathy though. We just want to get things done and get through life like everybody else.
- Pain and some chronic illness is is physically exhausting. If we say we need a nap, we NEED a nap. It's a necessary part of our daily routine.
- We don't sleep well at night and sleep is often elusive. Noises, light, discomfort and temperature extremes contribute to sleeplessness.
- Chronic illness and pain lead to other conditions like depression, anxiety and physical ailments and secondary conditions.
- Even minor relief of baseline pain is equivalent to pleasure. After being in a painful position for hours and then lying down or resting can bring a few moments of joy. Let us enjoy those moments.
- Please be patient with those who are hobbling around or walking slowly. Just because we aren't using a cane, walker or wheelchair doesn't mean we're not struggling.
- It may seem ironic, but some of us struggling with chronic pain/illness try to stay physically active... even running, hiking, cycling or other activities that others who don't suffer from those conditions may not participate in. It doesn't mean that the pain isn't there. It just means that we have to work that much harder to stay physically fit.
- Some of us struggle with multiple conditions/disabilities. Once again - just because there isn't a wheelchair, cane, walker or some other physical manifestation of a disability, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist or that we're "faking it." Accusations or speculation that we're doing this purposely to get out of work or to commit disability fraud are hurtful and just add to the anxiety we're already experiencing.
- Just because we can something one day, does not mean we can do the same thing every day. We have good days and bad days. The good days are usually a dip in the baseline of the symptoms. We're not "getting better" just because we have one good day or several good days and we're not necessarily getting worse because we revert back to baseline. Similarly, just because we can do one thing well, doesn't mean we can do another thing.
- Sudden starts, stops, jolts, jerks, surprises/shock can cause intense pain and/or trigger an adverse emotional/mental episode.
- Besides physical pain and/or mental impediments, there are emotional factors going on as well. Many of us have to deal with guilt and shame or feelings of inadequacy and limited self-worth. It helps to know that even though we have severe limitations, we are valuable to someone or have worth somewhere. We have limitations, but we are not useless.
- One of the fears of those who are on disability is that we'll lose our disability "status" and be denied our income or worse, have legal trouble or be investigated because some do-gooder thinks we are committing fraud. Even though we may be eligible to be employed (perhaps part-time or temporarily, even full-time), taking a job could jeopardize a disability claim and cause immeasurable financial distress. It's usually not worth the risk. We may engage in hobbies that mimic employment or find alternative ways to generate income on the side, but otherwise we "aren't looking for work." It may make you angry that there are actual fraudulent cases that exist, but it's not your place to try to sort those out or launch a DIY amateur investigation. This is one of areas where "mind your own business" is the best policy.
- We ALL deserve to try to find fulfillment in life. Pursuing an education, hobbies, recreation, volunteerism, religious worship or other methods of finding fulfillment should not be discouraged. Keep in mind, also, that those of us who commit to such things may not always be able to fully participate.
- Disability is a spectrum. Some people have severe limitations, while others are capable of doing some activities or even be employable. It would be considered rude and an invasion of privacy to probe into whether a person can or cannot do something or to compare one person's disability to another's - even if you are comparing your own disability to another who is disabled. Nobody knows what anybody else is going through.
- For someone with such conditions to say: "I'm fine" we're probably lying. Most people ask how we're doing as a matter of greeting anyway, not to really know how we're doing. It's better not to burden others with our pain and ailments.
- Having physical pain or mental/neurological conditions is not necessarily contagious (unless the illness that's causing it is). It's okay to touch us, hug us or attempt to comfort us. Sometimes, our movements or the words/sounds that come out of our mouths seem bizarre, but we mean no harm. It's as awkward for us as it is for you, but you can try to show empathy and compassion, mostly by not overreacting.
- Many of us have families with our own children or grandchildren. Disability alone does not necessarily make us bad parents. Sometimes we need assistance with daily tasks or help with our children. Sometimes we need respite to heal or manage life's challenges because we are much more susceptible to being overwhelmed than those who are not afflicted.
- The methods we use to manage our pain and illness differ widely. What I've found to work for me may or may not work for someone else and vise-versa. If you've found something that works for you, good. Please don't try to pressure me to use your methods or shame me because I am doing something different or not doing something you think I should be doing.

There may be other things to consider because we are all different and we all cope with pain or illness differently. This is from MY perspective, which may differ from anyone else's. I welcome comments or suggestions from others who suffer from chronic illness and pain or loved ones of those who have chronic conditions or disabilities. Suffice it to say that compassion and understanding go a long way.

Division by Demographics

Let's look at demographics for a moment. We each belong to a particular demographic - well, numerous demographics actually. These demographics add to the uniqueness of the individual, but also helps us to identify with others like us in those ways. There is nothing we should be ashamed of about these unique traits, most especially if it is a feature we have no control over.

Anyone who has been paying attention can't help but notice that "news" entities and social media (including individuals who subscribe to social media) are ramping up their campaign to categorize us into our respective demographics - and cause divisions... to generate enmity between those who are different from one another. A quick glance at an online news page, a periodical such as a printed newspaper or magazine, television stations and even Facebook or Twitter can give you an indication of what's going on. A high percentage of headlines feel it necessary to include demographic qualifiers such as race, gender, age, religion, ethnic/national origin, political affiliation, disability or health status, sexual orientation, economic status, education level, and so forth.

Why is this so? There are several reasons I can immediately think of. One reason is that it's a hot button that gets ratings. It causes anger and stirs the pot, drawing viewers, and thus generates revenue. This is sickening to think about because media moguls are raking in billions of dollars by causing contention and divisiveness. They don't really care about the long-term results of their irresponsible (and often untruthful) reporting - but what's most important to them is the bottom dollar. Contention is one of the commodities that sells and it just keeps selling. It's a cash cow for those who are sleazy enough to partake.

Another reason is due to a secondary effect. We all have strong emotions about our own demographic(s) and we want to either be recognized for something unique or we just want to be left alone... protected from persecution and discrimination. When the pot stirrers (usually media or at least fueled by mass media) bring up unsavory headlines that paint a broad stroke about a particular demographic, individuals tend to get on the defensive. Many of us want to band together in our respective demographic groups or at least speak out as individuals against those who have abused the First Amendment, weaponizing their right to free speech and press and going so far as assembling to suppress others' rights - even under the name of religion (or pseudo religious beliefs - or lack thereof) as a means to contend with, and ultimately gain dominance over different demographics.

Yet another reason (and this is probably what scares most of us), is that such divisiveness is fueled by and funded by dark political, social or religious entities. Hiding in the shadows or appearing as valorous icons, they employ angry mobs and the press to do their dirty work - using smear campaigns of their adversaries, while making their cause appear to be compassionate, altruistic and for the general betterment of society. Nothing could be further from the truth though, because when we are engaged in divisiveness, there can be no unity. It is the mentality of an evil despot that: "there can be no civility until our campaign is victorious."

It's really difficult to remain unspotted from this sin because it is so pervasive. When you are navigating a stream of raw sewage, it's hard not to get splashed by it occasionally. Personally, I have tried to step away from the onslaught, and at least have diligently tried refrain from being an instigator or instrument in propagating divisiveness, but it's tough. I'm doing my best to love and reach out with genuine compassion to my brothers and sisters on this planet and I would like to extend that challenge to each and every one of my friends who has taken the time to read this. We are not perfect people and we falter every once in awhile, but if we are moving in the right direction and we pick ourselves up and rectify our faults when we fall, that is the best we can do. My challenge is to not engage in or even patronize media that includes divisive headlines or content. Just keep scrolling past or don't buy their periodicals or watch their shows. Hopefully, by our efforts to not participate, we can clean up our media and work towards becoming more united. That is my hope anyway.

Qualifiers

I think we need to be careful about the way we label ourselves and others – what qualifiers we give ourselves: whether we are heroes, victims, saints or villains and the way we boast and glorify our accomplishments, virtues and intellect. If extreme terms are used too liberally, they lose their effect. If everybody is a victim, nobody is a victim. If everybody is a hero, nobody can rightfully receive that honor. If everybody is a genius, nobody is. If everybody is exceptional, than nobody is and if everyone you are at odds with is a villain, than real villains cease to exist. 

Words are important and language is the instrument we use to communicate. The use of proper and accurate descriptors is an important skill that can be powerful, but if misused and abused too often has the effect of rendering even the most potent terms to be meaningless. As an example, we’ve heard the word “awesome” used so many times to describe so many ordinary things, that nothing we call “awesome” is extraordinary anymore. 

Shameful Treatment of the Elderly

I've seen a lot in the news and social media disparaging certain demographics - ironically, usually by those who claim to be more accepting of diversity and tolerance. The ones the bother me most are the mean and spiteful comments about those who are of the older generations. Yeah, let's throw our elderly under the bus because they are no longer useful to us.

I have a lot of grave concerns about this ideology. The first thing that hits me is that this is a personal attack. I wouldn't consider myself elderly (yet), however I am officially a "senior" in many regards - I can now order from the back page on the Denny's menu.

While it is true that we degrade physically and mentally as we advance in our years, that doesn't mean that we have outlived our usefulness. To the contrary. I would like to challenge those of the younger generations to take some time and sit down with retirees and learn something about their lives. Learn something about how they made it through troubled times. Many of them are survivors of the Great Depression, World War II and through other struggles that you may never have even heard about. Things were a lot different back then and the challenges in life they had to navigate were of a completely different caliber.

I'm one of those who didn't grow up relying on technology, but later adapted and adopted. I am intimately familiar with both ways of life. I have become immersed in modern technology - even more advanced than what many of the younger generations enjoy and are capable of - but I also know how to survive without it. One of my concerns is that many children in the younger generations are too reliant upon technology (particularly artificial intelligence) and don't know how to manage life. They haven't learned (haven't needed to learn) life skills that are necessary for surviving... and thriving in this harsh and unforgiving world. It goes way beyond the ability to earn money.

When I was a young adult, I also thought that I was more clever than those who were older than me. Now I look back in embarrassment on how foolish I was to think that way. I think every generation goes through this. We learn a few modern concepts or how to work with technology that didn't exist when our forebears were our age, so we assume that the older generation is "behind the times" and their methods are "obsolete" or "irrelevant." Nothing could be further from the truth. What is most disturbing is that this falsehood is promulgated by what are considered to be "reputable" sources, whereas in the time when I was a young adult, if we dared to publicly talk that way about "old" people, we would be put in our place - appropriately.

There are stereotypes about every demographic. These are unfair and do not represent actual facts or apply to every person within the demographic being satirized. The interesting thing is that for most of these stereotypes, it is not ethical (according to societal standards) to uphold stereotypes - except for a few. At present time, the stereotype of what is supposed to represent what an "old" person is like is accepted in the culture of "Political Correctness" and very few dare to challenge that culture. Add one of a few other demographic qualifiers (for instance: white, male, Christian, or conservative) and the stereotype is intensified exponentially - so much so, that any one of us who belongs to this demographic is not only expected to be snubbed by the aforementioned PC culture, but we are also vilified. What a horrible way to treat a human being!

It is fair to say that there are a number of people in ANY categorized demographic that fit the full bill of their stereotype, in an almost comedic manner. In fact, there are many cartoons, comic strips and sketches that take full advantage of the natural comedy in such demographic stereotypes. Right or wrong, some of these are funny. The old man yelling "Get of my lawn!" is a familiar trope that most of us might laugh at. Other demographic stereotypes, we are told, are not funny and if we laugh, we are complicit in bigotry - thus, Political Correctness, by nature is hypocritical and belongs in its own demographic category... worthy of comedic scorn.

That being said, there are also MANY who belong to every categorized demographic who are uncharacteristic of their stereotype and it's unfair and unethical to prejudge them. I'm also talking about older generations, or maybe I should bring this back to the original crux of this post: disparaging of the elderly. While there are many older people who are crotchety and fail to adapt to technology and modern societal conventions, these are not everybody. Keep in mind, there are also some in younger generations who are angry or who don't fit into society or don't understand technology.

The thing that I'm getting at is that there are many kind, wise and knowledgeable people who are advanced in their years. Some have even kept up rather well with technology and current events. Many older folks are still sharp as a whip and by staying current in their learning, they have seen and experienced MUCH MORE than someone who has only been on this planet for a fraction of their age. This gives them a great advantage, because they understand how to avoid many pitfalls in life and they know how to navigate around life situations that happen over and over and over again. They observe the follies of youth and could help those faced with similar situations... if only they'd listen and if only they didn't think they already know it all. We can learn a lot from the elderly portion of our population. Sure, there are a lot of concepts that are now irrelevant because times have changed, but we can still adapt and apply the principles and tailor them to our own conditions. The elderly are an asset to us that we shouldn't overlook and we certainly shouldn't discard or discredit.

Finally, if nothing else, this should emphasize that we should do everything in our power to reverse the course of divisiveness, especially when the divisions are based upon artificial qualifiers. If we are going to be divisive in any way, let's make a division between good and evil - not in the imagined, stereotypical, or lockstep narratives of a particular partisan political or social narrative, but only those people or ideals that are truly have been found guilty of evil acts or have a propensity to do so. And even then, a decent person need only look at evil and proclaim: "I will not partake" and that should be sufficient.

Our Future... Our Children's Future

If nothing else, the events our attention have been focused on in the past few weeks are hopefully a wakeup call. The decisions we've made, the character and reputation we build for ourselves and the friends we hang out with have a profound effect on our future, whether we want to acknowledge it at the time or not.

Having lived in a college town that has a reputation for being at the top of the list for drugs, alcohol and partying, I've seen a lot and I continue to be surrounded by college students who hope to have professional careers someday. Seeing how some students behave and the image they create about themselves, I have a hard time fathoming how some can even remotely expect to be successful doctors, lawyers, professors, politicians or in any other field where decency and proper decorum are necessary.

I understand that not everybody wants to follow the path that leads to a professional career or that of a high-profile public official. That's ok. We shouldn't all be expected to aspire to those positions. However... If a person, somewhere in the back of his/her mind even has the remote inkling of a notion to ever be in the public's eye, they must expect that every embarrassing misdeed they've ever done in their past (and even things they haven't done) are going to be thrust into the public arena for all the world to see. They're going to be hated by some, and they're going to be revered by others. They're going to receive nasty messages and maybe even death threats for what they stand for.

We should expect this treatment of any public official from now on. We can't recklessly set venomous precedence and somehow expect that the course will magically be reversed. There is no antidote. To expect that exculpation or redemption is possible after episodes of gratuitous reveling and living a carefree lifestyle is possible is delusional. The public does not forgive and the Internet does not forget. Accusers, even those you never recall ever knowing or even meeting before will come out of the woodwork to crucify you - all in the guise of "social justice."

Suffice it to say that to anyone who ever plans to have a successful career (other than in menial or manual labor) - that the eyes of the world are upon you and you WILL be harshly judged by your acts, demeanor and the image you portray, and even the foolish things you did in your youth WILL eventually come back to haunt you. It would behoove any child with ambitions for greatness that it isn't enough to just develop the necessary skills and get the exemplary grades and put the hours into extracurricular activities to pad a résumé. Nope, you're going to have to be squeaky clean and be able to demonstrate to the world that you're better than all the people who are casting judgment upon you. You're going to have to have to leave the impression that it is not even within your nature to commit a transgression of any nature or even slip up due to a lack of judgment. Ever.

For all those whose words have been harsh and whose speculation exceeds the parameters of fact, who are so determined to slaughter the character of public officials (and even those they claim to be friends with on social media) they don't like or agree with, I say: Go ahead cast the first stone.

Kangaroo Courts

It is disturbing what our society has come to. We live in a time where instead of resolving issues at the lowest possible level and in the appropriate time and place, it has become accepted (and even encouraged, by some circles) to hold off until the opportune moment and in the most ideal settings that would render the most damage possible. If you don’t like a person or if you disagree with their ideals or if you have a vendetta against their particular demographic, you can effectively nuke that person’s life, livelihood and reputation (without regard to the collateral damage and how your reprehensible acts set precedence), and you don’t even need more than a mere accusation or shard of verbal “evidence” (often which is taken out of context) - to try, convict and sentence your opponent in a kangaroo court or in the court of popular opinion. 

I believe in the constitution, and in due process and I believe that if criminal or civil charges are brought against a person, there should be a formal complaint filed and the accused has a right to a fair and speedy trial, with impartial judges and jury. Evidence should be brought forth and credible witnesses should be heard and all those who are subpoenaed are to appear in court to give their testimony and be subject to being thoroughly cross-examined (including the accuser). Due process not only has the power to convict those who are guilty, but it also has the put at liberty and exonerate those who are wrongly accused. 

We must come to the understanding that just because someone is being accused and just because the accuser has an emotional appeal, does not by itself imply guilt on the party of the accused. We must also come to the understanding that accusers often have ulterior motives and may even be backed by a party with a particular agenda bearing a specific narrative. We can’t automatically assume that an accuser has nothing to gain - either personally or as a representative of a commercial entity, a religious affiliation, a political party or a social movement. Any investigation should take into account such motives and affiliations for relevance in a case. 

We must also come to the understanding that while it is easy now to destroy a person’s life and reputation using the tools of social media and the Internet in general, that decisions to do so aren’t always in our best interest. These decisions set precedence and patterns that are destructive and divisive to our society as a whole. They weaken confidence and undermine bold attempts that are necessary for risk-takers: innovators who shape our culture in a positive and constructive manner and who inspire greatness by their endeavors. We ALL have things in our past that are regretful and embarrassing and if brought to light by the tools of gossip and public shaming, could destroy our reputation, livelihood and will to move forward in life.

Let me share a relevant personal experience. As a youth, I grew up in meager circumstances. Our parents couldn’t afford many of the luxuries that many of my peers enjoyed. I was bright, but eccentric and for reasons I am just now starting to understand, I was an underachiever. As such, I was the subject of merciless bullying. Most of the time, I would just try to ignore the bullies or find activities that kept me away from them. Instead of going out to the playground or “hanging out” in the hallways at school, I would often spend my recess time in the library, reading encyclopedias and other reference or non-fiction books. Ironically, I had a thirst for knowledge, but a disdain for the public education process. It probably had a lot to do with having to be subject to the verbal, physical, emotional, and yes… even sexual abuse by early elementary teachers and classmates. This abuse followed me all throughout school. I was also a scrawny kid, which made me an easy target for bullies. Some of those who are in my present social circle - even on social media - are among those who were guilty of bullying. Ironically, some of the most vocal on Facebook about “social justice” are those who treated me with such disrespect when I was in my most vulnerable years. I won’t call them out… you know who you are. I am also a forgiving person and would never consider doxxing or publicly castigating those who took part in making my early years almost unbearable. I also believe that people change and as we become adults, our embarrassing years of youth can be a thing of the past. I also was guilty of things I wasn’t proud of. I wouldn’t consider myself a bad kid, but I did a lot of things out of curiosity and exploration, but also I often responded defensively - and many times was out of line.

One such instance came to mind due to recent controversies. I was in 7th or 8th grade (about 13 or 14) and the usual bullying was taking place. Some kid came and punched me in the arm. It was excruciatingly painful. I was distraught and took my big thick math book, chased the guy down and beat him over the head with it. A faculty member witnessed it and we were both pulled into the vice principal's office. When the vice principal asked what happened, I said that he had punched me in the arm and that's why I hit him with the book. Then the kid that I had accused of punching me responded, "It wasn't me, it was ________." At that moment, I realized that I had been mistaken. I had retaliated against the wrong person. I could have spared him from punishment by admitting that it was a case of mistaken identity, but I didn't. The guy that was sitting in the principal's office was mean to me on other occasions, so I didn't bother to recant my account at this time. It was the perfect opportunity for revenge. The vice principal was not impartial in this case because the kid was already labeled as a troublemaker. I was excused and the other kid was left in the office to receive his unjust punishment. I've thought about this many times since then and felt bad about it and didn't know how to rectify my error. I'm glad that it didn't lead to a person innocent of a crime going to prison or ruining his life and career. At the time, I was only concerned about my own reputation and avoiding punishment. I don't know what mechanism there was that made me accuse the wrong person. It may have been because I was so distraught that I lashed out at the nearest person that represented a bully to me. It may have been because that since it appeared that he laughed, he was the one who punched me. I do know that when people are under duress, they are more subject to errors in judgment and errors in memory. Eyewitness accounts by those who've experienced a traumatic event are subject to errors in their reporting. This is a known fact. To the best of my knowledge, both of the young men that were involved in the incident grew up and grew out of their bullying ways and the one who punched me in the arm has become a successful and reputable person in the community. While this is not always the case (many abusers continue this pattern throughout their lives), there are also those who rise above their childhood and become respectable, productive and positive influences in society - whether you agree with their particular set of values or not. We have to believe in the power of redemption and forgiveness and be willing to forgive those who have offended us or we become embittered, poisoning our own souls with resentment and vindictiveness. 

One of the great ironies that I’ve seen is that those same people or social entities that believe in programs geared toward rehabilitation for crimes and other offenses, are some of the same who would be willing to lock offenders up and throw away the key or at least to bring their life as they know and enjoy it to ruin - if the offender’s values or opinions don’t line up with their own views and agenda or if the offender is of a particular demographic (race, gender, religion, political affiliation, social status, vocation/income bracket, etc.). When claiming to be tolerant of diverse factors, we must also love and be inclusive toward those we disagree with and of ALL demographics, otherwise such claims are null and void. 

My plea is that we all do some introspection into who we are personally, and what we want to accomplish within our social interactions. If we want to become more loving, forgiving, accepting, inclusive and compassionate people, then go forward and live those principles. If you want to allow your anger, bitterness and vindictiveness to overtake you, that’s your decision too. Be honest with yourself and own it.

The Boon of Plastic

There's been a lot of talk about plastics lately. I've read people's comments and heard conversations about how "plastic is poison" and that we should ban plastics. Okay, what are the alternatives? It's pretty ignorant to think about reverting to a world without plastic at this point - especially when voiced by people who rely so heavily upon it. I find it humorous that the people are making these comments are using devices made almost entirely of plastic to voice their opinions.

Plastic is perhaps THE ONE thing that has enabled us to advance into the age of technology. Without plastic, the world would definitely be different - but not necessarily in a good way though. There are devices and processes that would not even be possible. Virtually every modern essential uses plastic in some way, shape or form - from communications to construction to transportation to medical to educational to food and agriculture - plastic is the one common denominator that makes it all possible and in the least expensive, most durable and most hygienic way possible.

With every advantage, there's also going to be drawbacks though. As with all our resources, we need to be good stewards or there will be adverse consequences. Although plastic is fairly inert, the mass quantity of plastic that enters into the waste stream seems to be unmanageable. Though in North America (and other industrialized areas of the world) we have infrastructures in place to manage recyclables, we still can do better. While the vast majority of the plastic that enters into oceans and other bodies of water are from third-world countries that don't have and infrastructure in place (or don't really care about the environment), there is still a notable amount from the U.S. that makes it into the oceans and litter our public lands. This is unacceptable. But calling on outright bans of certain plastic items... or worse, all plastics, not only demonstrates the ignorance of those calling on the bans but demanding such radical decrees is detrimental to the industrialized infrastructure that is in place. Since this notion is absolutely absurd anyway, such a ban isn't going to happen.

I have worked with materials (wood, metal, plastic, glass, ceramics, etc.) for most of my life and just in the past 50 years or so, I have observed the evolution and progress that has been made with technology and manufacturing. We can make things now that weren't even a possibility just a few decades before.

As stewards over these resources, we need to be responsible at the consumer level. We can't and shouldn't expect government regulations and decrees by political figures to solve problems that we personally are a part of causing. It's fair to say that most of the population does not know where plastic comes from, the differences between types of plastics or where it goes when it's disposed of. One of the things I want to do in my life is to not only be a part of educating others about the benefits of materials and how to be more resourceful, but also to be more of an active part in the chain of reuse/repurposing of such and proper disposal of that which is no longer usable. It's quite a learning curve. I've been doing this for most of my life, but I still have a lot to learn and as technology advances, we have to keep up with that as well.

Stay tuned for more specifics on what I'm doing and learning and what we're doing as a family.