Do Animals and Children Have Inherent Intuition?

I want to address something that I have a concern about because I’ve seen some recent memes and headlines about how animals (particularly dogs) have some kind of intuition about “evil” people and I saw a headline the other day about how children have that same “instinct” that somehow adults are not capable of.

Let me just bluntly state that such theories are nonsense. I’m not sure where that myth originated from, but I can safely assert that whatever the indicators are, these are similar to the criteria that were used to convict innocent people in the 17^th century Salem witch trials. Let’s lay these myths to rest before innocent people are wrongly accused of being “evil” or perhaps worse, to lay our trust in a dog or a child who is friendly toward a person with malicious intent.

Let’s take a step back and rationally think about things for a few minutes – starting with the pets. Pets and livestock have their reasons for being afraid of a particular human. They are their reasons and have nothing to do with whether a person is good or evil or has good or evil intentions. Based upon my own experiences, there are dogs that really love me and there are some that want to tear me apart. They are not necessarily bad dogs, but they are simply doing what dogs do. Besides my own personal experiences with animals, I have researched and found information from reputable pet experts to back up my claims. We don’t always understand why dogs bark, growl or run away from certain people but are friendly toward others. It may be a scent or biases based upon the way a person looks. Dogs have prejudices the same as people. You may think your dog is special, but honestly it’s not. Dogs are creatures of instinct and (as all animals) they do possess unique personalities and that’s why one animal will behave differently than another, despite any training from humans. We had a dog once that would go into a barking frenzy whenever one of our friends came over. It may have been because he had a beard or because he looked like somebody that abused her, but the guy was definitely not a bad guy. The dog also hated gloves for some reason and would tear them up if we left them outside. Personality quirks. I’ve also seen dogs that were friendly… even loyal to known felons. It’s not intuition that drives their behavior. It is instinct, personality and conditioning.

The same principle applies to children. This is the main reason why as parents we don’t allow children to make all their own decisions. If we let them act on their “intuition” they could end up in serious, even deadly circumstances. I have raised and taught many children in my life and each one of them has their reasons for feeling uncomfortable around a person. Just as with pets, maybe it has something to do with how a person looks, smells or something in their voice. I can even remember being a child and there were adults who I was afraid of, but I couldn’t explain why. They weren’t bad people though. I also did not possess the wisdom (or “intuition”) to determine whether a person was bad, simply by a “gut feeling” or some kind of supernatural instinct that supposedly children have but adults don’t. In retrospect, there were actual bad people I knew and never even had a clue as a child. My parents would warn me to stay away from certain people because they were pedophiles or those who had committed violent crimes, though they didn’t explain the nature of their wrongdoing in my early years. Children (like adults) use logical reasoning to base their decisions. Their logic may be completely illogical to adults. They may determine that a man is really nice because he gives them candy (and I know of several instances such as this). I’m not saying that all adults that give out candy to children have malicious intent, but children can’t always determine the difference and this is why we warn children not to accept candy from adults unless they are in the presence of a parent or other trusted adult. Contrarily, there are many children who think an adult is “evil” because they are strict or because they don’t give them things they want or because they are not smiling. I’ve experienced many instances like this as well. Even infants are subject to such conditioning. I remember several teachers I thought were “evil” because of such reasoning.

I think it’s time to lay some of these myths to rest and start using adult reasoning as a judge of a person’s character and not rely on “supernatural” criteria from pets or children. As far as having a “vibe” or “intuition” or a “gut feeling” about a person’s character, use your own instincts. What are those vibes telling you? A child or pet is no more privy to possessing special powers of discernment that any adult can have. Something else to think about is the vibes that we give off to our children and pets, which are sensitive to nonverbal cues and unease. Oftentimes, we are the ones that create these vibes that, in turn, transfer to our pets or children.

I’m not going to reference any studies about this, but rest assured that the evidence overwhelmingly supports what I have written. Just do a simple Google search if you’re not convinced. Finally, stop relying on memes, unattributed quotes or theories that are not backed by credible evidence as a basis for your beliefs.

Anxiety Over Selling Online

There are some things that make me anxious about selling things on eBay:

1) Having to make custom packing materials. I have shipped some odd-sized and shaped items and some of them don't fit into standard boxes. Today I had to make a box for a fly fishing rod because no standard mailing tubes or boxes exist. Once, I was sending a vintage, cast-iron motor that was very heavy and I wanted it to arrive unscathed. I spent about an hour building a mounting plate and crate (slicing my hand open in the process) to send it in, but apparently that wasn't safe enough for USPS because some doofus probably dropped it and the buyer sent pictures of the broken item. My heart sank, knowing that this item was irreparably damaged, disappointing the buyer. He paid a lot of money for it, but was willing to accept a discount due to damages incurred in shipping. Do USPS employees care? Nope. So that leads to the second thing I get anxious about:

2) Damages or loss in shipment. I don't send international anymore because I've had such problems when sending internationally. Sometimes it just takes a long time to get there, but other times things just disappear or arrive broken. I had a buyer from Argentina complain that his item hadn't arrived... it was six months after I had sent it. Had it been within a few weeks, maybe we could have made an insurance claim, but after 90 days, the seller is under no obligation. So many hassles with international shipping make it not even worth offering to sell overseas. Most of my rudest, impatient and dishonest buyers were from foreign countries. On the other hand, some of the most pleasant transactions and highest bidders were from foreign countries, so it's a risk... a risk that I don't care to take anymore. Which leads me to another thing...

3) Getting burned by shipping charges. I usually do a good job researching what it will cost to ship an item, but even with all the time I spend, sometimes there are surprises when I go to the post office or UPS, because of hidden charges, unforeseen stipulations or drastic price increases since the time I shipped before. You have to keep up on those things. Many items are not even worth shipping. If you are trying to sell high-volume, low price, forget about it. You might as well just give your merchandise away... and you'd be better off in the long run. Shipping is unreasonably priced and has skyrocketed in recent years. Who wants to spend $7.15 postage on an item that is worth less than five bucks?

4) Letting go. There are some items that are difficult to sell because I just have a hard time letting go of valuable and useful items. Even though I usually sell online because I have surplus or I no longer need the item (or never needed it in the first place), there is that annoying inner voice that says: "But you might need this someday!" I have to take a step back, breathe in and let it out. I then respond to that voice: "If I saw that item at a garage sale or thrift shop, would I pay the same price for it that I am selling it for now?" If the answer is no, then I can let go much easier and never lose any sleep over it. Several years ago when I was preparing to go to school, I sold several items that I now regret selling, so I have to look into the future too, and that's probably where that anxiety comes from.

5) The format that eBay uses for selling constantly evolves... and I don't think I like the newer format. In their attempts to try to make it easier to sell things, they set up defaults (that probably very few people want to use) that you have to change so that you can sell the item the way you want to. Sometimes those defaults are persistent and it is frustrating and time-consuming to set up your auction the way you intended, rather than the way eBay thinks you want it. Long story short: eBay used to be easier... for me anyway.

6) Fees. Even though you sell something for a price that you want to get, doesn't mean that you get that much. There are eBay fees and PayPal fees that eat into your profits. As an easy rule of thumb, count on kissing about 20% of your profits goodbye. There are charts that you can refer to and it's a little complex (because some things have higher fees and there is a sliding scale for final value, etc.) but suffice it to say that you are safe to assume that the accrued fees are about 20%.

7) It's time consuming. In order to get the highest price for your item, you need to be competitive - which means that you have to take sharp pictures of every angle and include defects. You need to write accurate descriptions of your item and be competitive on your pricing. If someone else is selling an item for $5.00, you should sell your item for $4.89 because most buyers will go with the lowest cost, provided that you have positive feedback - and in order to keep that feedback rating high, you need to write accurate descriptions and give the buyers the benefit of the doubt whenever there is a dispute. I take pride in my 100% rating, so I have had to make accommodations at times to keep the buyers happy.

Another thing that takes a lot of time is research. I specialize in selling electronics, tech and sporting goods. Sometimes I get items that I don't know the value of or I don't know much about but I need to add a description. This can be exhausting at times.

Despite the anxiety, there are rewards in the long run. The easy transactions and the high-value items make up for those that are a pain. You can get a little extra money in your wallet to get the things you want, while getting rid of things you don't need.

Low Hanging Fruit

Something I've been thinking a lot about lately is the term: "picking the low hanging fruit." When we use that metaphor, we are referring to the easy targets, but not necessarily those that would be beneficial in the long run. Generally, when we refer to someone "picking the low hanging fruit" we are saying that they are only motivated by taking the path of least resistance. The end results are less than satisfying though because in order to break through the barriers of mediocrity and below, it is absolutely necessary to do things that are challenging... sometimes even terrifying.

In order to excel, we have to reach beyond what our current capabilities are and outside our comfort level and current level of expertise. In so doing, it is important to realize that occasional failure is inevitable, but these are only temporary setbacks. Successful people see failure merely as learning opportunities - and most successful people have failed more times than quitters have even tried. Thomas Edison saw each failure simply as a method that didn't work - or the process of elimination. This process of refinement is helpful in creating a better product. Any reputable manufacturer will prove their products by putting them through a series of rigorous tests and a final "burn-in" that will determine whether the product is ready to hit the market.

We all have a product to produce, even if that product is ourselves... our skills and knowledge... our personality... our demeanor... the things that make us who we are. Those who go through life only picking the low hanging fruit, will never experience excellence in any area because excellence is earned, not bestowed upon a person.

Now, in saying this, I would caution against being an overachiever. I have come to realize that always pushing for excellence can lead to discouragement, especially when the goals are too lofty. Just yesterday I was talking to someone who was experiencing discouragement because he felt he was never able to accomplish or finish anything. I had to point out the little successes that he was able to enjoy. At the time of talking to him, I was also coaching myself. In the past few months, it seems like I have been working and working, but with little or no visible successes. I came to realize that the little accomplishments are important too. In other words, we also need to enjoy the low hanging fruits along the way to tide us over until we experience the rush of the big accomplishments and these also help to moderate  post-euphoric letdown that almost always accompanies any great accomplishment. So, what I'm saying is don't just go for the high fruit either. Pick all of it! Enjoy all of the fruits available to you and never take anything for granted.

Valuing the Laws of the Land

In any civilized society, laws are necessary to maintain peace and domestic tranquility and to protect the rights of innocent citizens. When laws are annulled or not enforced in a community, this sends a message to career criminals and potential lawbreakers that this is a safe haven for criminals, and that they can commit their crimes with impunity. The unintended consequences is that such communities attract anarchists and career criminals, so it instigates an exodus, of sorts, from scofflaws and miscreants. Many citizens who love the law and value their peace and tranquility will naturally move to safer communities where laws are enforced, leaving a vacuum for more lawbreakers to move in and then what is left is a cesspool of crime and lawlessness that can no longer be controlled. Those innocent citizens who are held hostage by organized crime rings, murderous gangs and masses of lone wolf offenders who are most likely to vote for corrupt politicians that would be less likely to interfere with their nefarious activities.

I love the laws of the land because I understand that they are there for our protection... the protection of the innocent and those who believe in prosperity and individual accountability. Laws not only keep us safe, but help communities to thrive and prosper. If you take a look at communities that have lost the governance of laws, you will most often see poverty and suffering. Lawlessness is linked to poverty. Poverty is not the cause of crimes, but crimes are the cause of poverty and this endless cycle leads some researchers to erroneously believe that causes other than crime and lawlessness are the cause of poverty. A micro example of this is that of a young adult who, rather than pursuing an education and working hard for his money, turns to drugs and resorts to theft and violent crimes to pay for his habit. This makes him unemployable, so the only option he then sees is to continue with a life of crime. On a macro level, there are communities that contain many such individuals and are unsafe to live.

As much as I love the law and believe in prosecution for those most likely to reoffend, I also believe in clemency for those in unique circumstances or offenders who show signs of rehabilitation. In some cases, an past offender who beats the odds, is willing to work hard and become a productive, law-abiding citizen and deserves another chance. Those who have made errors in judgment or are unaware of the laws, leading to relatively minor offenses should also be given a chance to redeem themselves, being able to stay "out of the system" that is designed mainly to incarcerate the most hardened and incorrigible criminals and those who willingly break laws in which the rights of others are infringed or harm is likely to occur to persons, property or the community. The punishment should fit the crime and restitution should be made to the victims, not to corrupt bureaucracies and greedy lawyers.

I would like to see our society moving in the direction of peace, tranquility and prosperity. It's going to take a lot of work and it may take some sacrifices from individuals and from organizations that have self-serving agendas. This concerted effort is also going to require those who love and sustain the laws, even those they don't personally agree with. We may not love the laws or actions of organizations, but there are legal and civilized ways that a first-world country can move in a positive direction. Lawmakers and local officials are elected to represent the best interests of their communities. When they cater only to special interest projects and shrill fringe extremists, they are not looking out for the best interests of their constituents. Good citizens vote and make our voices heard through civil communications and we set an example of law, order and selfless acts. I intend to do my part to make the community I live in a better place and I invite all others to take part as well.

True Activism

My method of activism is to get out there and get my hands dirty. If there are problems that need to get solved, I get involved in the community and volunteer my time, services and money when I can do so. This is, by far, the most effective way to solve problems. If there is pollution, we organize groups of people and clean it up. If there are weeds overgrowing the trails, we pull them up. If there are invasive species, we exterminate them. If there is a disaster, we help in restoration efforts and donate to the victims. 

Sometimes, there are troubling issues that need to be addressed that are beyond the scope of what we can do with our hands... or to tackle alone. One of the biggest banes to our communities now, are so-called "protesters" who trample on the rights of others, destroying property, injuring innocent people, disrupting infrastructures and holding disinterested citizens hostage while they block traffic or keep them from passing. These childish intimidation tactics are not only illegal, but these methods are not constitutionally protected. 

Some of these scofflaws or their supporters like to throw around terms like "compassion" or "empathy" without fully understanding what those terms mean or how these acts of insurrection adversely affect the lives of others. They don't know or care about the needs of those they are "inconveniencing" at the time. They don't know that perhaps somebody in one of those vehicles is suffering from a medical emergency and needs to get to a hospital. They don't realize that some of these people are on their way to work, and may lose their job if they are detained, and apparently they don't care. They don't have empathy for the children (or even adults) who need to use the restroom, but can't because there is no place to go or those who miss their flights or travel connections to funerals, weddings, childbirths, performances or myriad of other important life's events. They have no concept that maybe there is perhaps a medical professional on the way to save a person's life, but yeah... it's just an "inconvenience" to those who are not in full support of their petty protest. They don't care about the lost wages or the lost time that people could be spending with their loved ones. No, they have no empathy or compassion whatsoever for the lives of those they have adversely affected... or endangered. What is most important to them is the attention that they get that feeds their own narcissism. They jump on the bandwagon of whatever trendy cause célèbre that comes along, without regard for the rights or welfare of others - except for their perceived goodwill towards controversial issues. Some nut job has erroneously convinced them that unless they lockstep fall in line with whatever media-sensationalized, propaganda-induced faux cause comes into the public view... unless they cause a disturbance and disruption into their otherwise peaceful communities and public spaces, that they're going to end up on "the wrong side of history." This flawed logic is causing more harm to our communities and infrastructure than anything else has or could do at this time.

So, what I am proposing is that we protest the protesters. We disrupt their disruptions and we block their blockages. We inconvenience them in their inconveniencing and make it difficult to carry out their acts of insurrection. We resist their resistance and as a majority, we cease to be silent anymore and put up with their public tantrums. We, as law-abiding American citizens, have rights too. I have some ideas and as an innovator, I have some inventions and plans that will legally disrupt their illegal activities so that we can more rapidly get back to our peaceful lives and shut down their nonsense. Some of this may take some funding and group effort, but I believe that eventually we are going to be forced to take a stand and take back our communities from the anarchists that are destroying them. These lawbreakers need to be brought to justice and be held criminally liable as well as to compensate every last victims of their crimes - and anyone whose life is put in danger or who has been "inconvenienced" or has suffered hardships as a result of these miscreants should be compensated for their time and any damages or suffering that has occurred due to their thoughtless actions. We are a nation of laws and we, as citizens, need to uphold the laws in our communities. This... THIS is a form of activism that is important to ensure peace and tranquility and preserves the rights of the citizens in our communities, our states and this great nation.

What Makes Older Technology So Appealing?

As I mature, I develop a deeper appreciation for specific methods, procedures, devices and raw materials that have stood the test of time. Many of us in first-world countries tend to abandon “obsolete” technology when something new comes along – not appreciating the value or usefulness of those things until we have come to the point of no return, when we realize that the thing we enjoyed before were in many ways superior or had features that were discontinued in favor of convenience, economics, political/social trends or are a product of consumerism.

Unfortunately, I have also too readily jumped on the bandwagon of consumerism and, at times, have been enticed by the allure of newer things, but not taking into account the true costs of conversion. More bells and whistles does not necessarily always equate to a better product. Newer trends and every current cause célèbre that dominate the front pages of the news at any given time should be viewed with skepticism and trepidation, rather than leaping in blindly. There are many inventions, methods and materials that we still rely on that have been used for hundreds… even thousands of years. Though some of these things that are currently in use are controversial and perhaps even dangerous or potentially harmful to our environment, it is nonetheless unwise to turn our backs on these invaluable resources in favor of something simply because it is new or because the current asset has inherent flaws. Remember this: all technology, resources, methods and forms of energy have inherent drawbacks. There are multi-billion dollar campaigns in effect that coax, encourage or even force us to “upgrade” to that which is often inferior, costly or inefficient. Consumerism, corporatism and “Political Correctness” cost us – big time. Rather than keeping the good things and improving on their strengths, we have been subject to losses because we have little or no control over the new products and resources that we have available to us to use.

The only viable recourse is to cling to and preserve our legacy assets and to never let them die. For some things, we have experienced somewhat of a revival of that which was considered obsolete. There are many examples, but one clear example that most of us are aware of is the return of vinyl records. When digital audio hit the market in the form of CDs and subsequently digital downloads, there were still holdouts that kept their vinyl and refused to succumb to consumerism. In the past decade or so, there has been an increasing market for vinyl recordings. Manufacturers have even started producing new turntables and pressing new albums, however their prices are exponentially higher than other media. All the classic vinyl has all but disappeared from the shelves at thrift stores due to increased demand.

Though I am not vinyl connoisseur or audiophile who needs vinyl, I appreciate the reasoning behind the revival. Over the years, I have found several specific items that have disappeared from the store shelves and are only available (for a high price) online – if at all. One of these things is an Ecko Flint Arrowhead potato masher. Anything that even resembles this cooking utensil is cheap and breaks down under normal use. The vintage one is sturdy and lasts many years. I still have one that I picked up at a garage sale decades ago. The cheap ones I have bought in the meantime are long gone.

A couple years ago as I was preparing to go to school, I sold a bunch of my musical equipment. There were several items I really should have hung onto because now I have found that since I am repurchasing them at a much higher price. Apparently, I am not the only one who has recognized their worth. In many respects, this value is in the simplicity and durability – disappearing attributes in modern devices. Many people view these purchases as “going retro” and don’t really understand the purpose of why I have been doing this. In a consumerist world, these are difficult things to try to explain. In simpler terms, though, many people were upset because the iPhone 7 was missing a very important item – the headphone jack. Apple has disappointed many professional users as well by not including necessary features o their “professional” computer line.

In light of all of this, what can we do? As mentioned before, never let go of that which is important. If you value your vehicle that burns gasoline, keep it maintained and in use. If you value your headphone jack, refuse to purchase the iPhone 7 and keep using your older model. If you aren’t ready to give up on your older technology (even though what you have is not technically obsolete), refuse to buy anything new. Let your manufacturers know your displeasure. Blog and vlog your opinions. Even though it may take a few cycles for corporations to get the message, corporatism will adapt to the desires of consumers and perhaps we will see revivals and preservation of that which is important to us. We can also, as innovators, inventors and engineers, refuse to give up on that which has a proven history of success and we can continue a legacy of success, not to give in to flighty trends and consumerism - to improve on that which is already good. To add to the good and make it better. 

Here's to a successful and prosperous 2017!

Higher Education and Critical Thinking

I emphatically advocate education - in all its forms (whether formal or informal). During most of my adult life, I have been active in learning new ideas and skills. Actually, even during the K-12 years (when my formal schooling was marginal, at best), I was always working on some extracurricular projects that involved learning.

An important part of the learning process has to do with challenging old ideas or concepts by applying critical thinking skills. In other words, by exploring and discovering alternative, yet viable and practical methodology to reach your conclusions or procedures. In many instances, there is more than one way to do something... more than one right answer and sometimes it is more effective to "do it your own way" than to adhere to a method that is prescribed and approved by curriculum at hand.

To discourage a method that works, simply because it is unconventional is squelching critical thinking. To penalize students for their alternate views and arguments that may make other students (and professors) feel uncomfortable undermines the educational process and dumbs us down to a simple common denominator. That is not higher education, but rather it is indoctrination that limits progression and the very academic evolutionary process. Your progress is damned when you disincentivize the free exchange of concepts and ideas - no matter how unpopular those views may be. To regulate free speech and punish "offenders" because their views may be construed as "inflammatory" or "objectionable" in respect to the establishment is diametrically in opposition to the meaning of higher education. To tell students that they are wrong, even though they have found methods that work for them is a disservice not only to the students but also to that student's institute of learning and academia in general. If a student discovers an alternate method or a more effective way to do something, wouldn't it be in our best interest to study that student and his/her method(s) for possible inclusion, rather than shooting those ideas down?

Open-mindedness is not one-sided in that it doesn't only apply to learning from the elite and "enlightened" in our society. Everyone is a student. Everyone is also a potential teacher. I truly believe that every person has something valuable to contribute to our society. We ALL just need to be humble enough to listen and observe.

The Art Skill of Recording Sound Effects

It's probably no big secret by now that I am an avid sound effects enthusiast. Looking back, I've been doing this for probably well over 40 years. Part of it started with an interest in recording sound effects for pranks or background for dramatic productions (taped "radio" shows).

I've learned a lot about recording sound effects in the past few years. I bring a sound recorder just about everywhere I go and look for instances where I can record sounds to add to my ever-expansive sound library. I like to call it "sound mining." One thing that helps me identify what sounds to record are watching movies and video clips. Some of the best resources for this are animated films because they are entirely built from the ground up - or in other words, EVERYTHING has to be produced, every visual is created and every sound is drawn from a sound library. Even the most subtle sounds are needed and some of the sounds that are used are not exactly what is depicted on screen.

There is a "Hollywood standard" in the expectations of what onscreen sounds are supposed to be - and the genre of the film determines what these sounds are like. For instance, in a slapstick comedy, the sound of a person getting hit on the head will probably have a hollow "coconut" sound, while in a horror movie, it may be a smack accompanied by a cracking or crunching sound. In essence, ever time I watch a movie, I use this experience to not only enjoy the story, but to pick it apart and try to learn how the movie was put together technically. Sometimes I comment on this, which makes me a horrible movie-watching companion.

As for actually recording sounds... I will often go out of my way to capture an existing sound. Sometimes I need to bring items into the studio to record in order to isolate the sound. Most of us don't even realize just how many layers make up ambient sound and in many cases, recording something outside a studio setting is unsuitable for a sound library because there are vehicles, birds, machinery, birds, aircraft, people talking, wind... oh, and did I mention birds? A studio presents a different challenge though, because it needs to be virtually anechoic, otherwise it sounds like it has been recorded indoors and won't be convincing to sounds that are supposed to be outdoors. If you watch older movies and television shows, you can tell which ones were recorded on a soundstage for this very reason.

There is a lot to learn about recording sounds, but suffice it to say that it is an art form and skill in and of itself, and I constantly learn new things.

Hard, Dirty Work

I remember one of my first official jobs (besides the occasional odd job). I was a newspaper carrier for the Bellingham Herald on a rural route. I was about 11 or 12 when I started.

Newspaper delivery was difficult, especially for a scrawny kid such as myself. The route was about 7 or 8 miles total (including picking up the papers at the drop-off point) and I had about 44-45 subscribers on my route. I delivered the papers after school and on Sunday mornings - 6 days a week. I had to deliver in all kinds of weather. It didn't matter if it was rainy or dark. I still had to deliver the papers riding my bicycle on these rural roads, sometimes even being chased and bitten by dogs. In the winter months, I often had to try to get up a steep hill that was covered with ice, which was no easy feat and sometimes slipped and fell.

My parents usually had to answer angry calls from crotchety subscribers because they didn't get their paper on time or their paper was wet because it was dumping down rain. Most of the time I was late was because the person who was supposed to drop off the papers was late and I had to wait around at the drop box (sometimes for what seemed like hours) for the delivery person to show up with the papers. When he did show up, it was obvious he was dealing with a hangover. My least favorite part of the job was trying to collect the money from subscribers. Some of them were rarely home or they never seemed to have the $4.00 for their papers. I had to knock on doors of some scary places... secluded houses on long driveways with attack dogs and grumpy subscribers. I seriously feared for my life every time I would go to collect the money every month... alone.

As difficult as this job was, I was thrilled to get my pay - which amounted to about a dollar per subscriber (that is if I could get them to pay for their newspapers). My job came to an abrupt end when my parents decided I couldn't do it anymore... not because it was difficult or dangerous for such a young child, but because I didn't keep up my grades in school. They felt the 2-3 hours I spent every night would have been better spent working on my homework. I was distressed that I had lost my only source of money, as I valued the freedom that having a little spending money gave me. My parents were not in a position where they could shower their children with money and gifts, and they never would have given us unearned money either.

I have had many jobs throughout my life, starting as a child, and most of them were hard work in nasty conditions with low pay. Some of them were downright dangerous or hazardous to my health.

If anyone ever wonders where I side in terms of entitlements, you may well know that I believe that I believe in work. Sometimes work may not even be directly related to a paycheck or the paycheck is retroactive to a hard life of work or compensation for having put one's self in a position to work but having a career cut short by a work-related condition or injury. Suffice it to say, that I believe that every person who is capable of work should do their best and do whatever the job entails. If you need to get up early or work all night, that's what you have to do. If your work is physically demanding, you work hard and be grateful for your employment. If your job requires you to put yourself in harm's way, understand the dangers and exercise safety. If you feel discomfort while working in your job, congratulations - join the ranks of the working class!

I've held some of the dirtiest jobs imaginable. I've shoveled crap out of chicken coops that were years overdue for cleaning. I've crawled into bilges on boats to get every drop of oil from underneath the engines... and had to apply vaporous paints and solvents in those confined spaces. I've gone to work, never knowing if that would be the night I would lose a limb... or my life. I've worked in live electrical panels and literally with fire and devices that had a tendency to explode in my face. I've had to confront my phobias of heights and hornets and do the job anyway. Many times I've had to delve into a project, not feeling confident in what I was doing, but learning as I worked. I've worked for low pay and sometimes no pay... and sweet moments where there was a substantial payoff. I've worked outside in below zero weather and in the triple digits... rain, snow, hail, storms... venomous spiders, wasps, dogs, snakes, deranged lunatics. I've crawled into septic tanks to unclog things that should never have been flushed. Folks, these are real jobs and somebody has to do them. I wouldn't consider myself a hero, by any stretch of the imagination but I do believe in work and I believe that no honorable job is beneath my dignity. I despise elitism and the sense of entitlement that has crept into our society in recent decades. I believe that every person who is capable, should contribute their fair share of work... I mean REAL work... to not only pay their way through life, but to make our society a better place. I don't believe that every job has to have direct compensation connected to it. We all benefit from the fruits of someone else's labors, so each of us should contribute in ways that are positive and constructive - even if it doesn't directly benefit us. It all starts by putting on the work shoes and making those steps in the direction of productivity.

The Power of the American People

Borders are defined as a result of economic and political disparity. Millions have immigrated legally in pursuit of the American Dream. Most of those who claim to want to flee because the election didn't turn out  the way they wanted have either already reaped the benefits of the American Dream or have never experienced the hardships that have compelled immigrants to flee their homeland in pursuit of a better life.

It's not the president that makes this country great, but the people... the ideal of  a government by the people and for the people. When we relinquish that power, opting instead to allow figureheads,
unnecessary litigation and bureaucracies to make those decisions for us, this government for and of the people ceases to exist and nothing short  of a bloody revolution could ever bring it back.

So those who threaten to leave, by all means, please make good on your  promise, as you are not the solution, but part of the problem. Keep in mind that for your vacancy, there are many more who would gladly leave everything behind, learn a new language and struggle with cultural differences filling the void where your ungrateful soul resided.

Never take the privilege of being an American citizen for granted.

Preserving Your Treasures

Days like today, I find myself missing my children and grandchildren. At church, I was watching the children and the interactions they were having with their parents. They grow up so fast... as if it was a passing dream. It's been almost 30 years since I became a parent and the time has slipped swiftly by. Fortunately, I have many photos, videos, audio recordings and I have written about things we have done as a family or things that our children have done so I can have a tangible connection. We've also kept special things that our family members have made, as these are most precious.

One of the things I have done throughout the years (and I have made somewhat of a side business of it) is preserving, archiving and sharing these treasures. I would like to offer a bit of advice to those who are starting out in their families and maybe some help for those like me who like to savor those memories, yet have regrets about not preserving anything tangible. The first part is for those starting out in their families:

1) Take photos, lots of them. Take a camera everywhere. If you use your phone camera, learn how to transfer the photos on a more permanent device and do so frequently.

2) Take audio recordings of significant phone messages, family gatherings and so forth. Sometimes, a birthday or Mother's Day greeting can mean so much when played back years later. Record vocal performances as well... no matter how technically flawed you believe the performance is.

3) Don't forget to take video recordings of children playing, school events or major life events. At the time, you may think these moments are kind of silly, but years later they are priceless.

4) Save letters and emails from family members. You may want to scan them and save them digitally so you don't have boxes of papers taking up attic space or that get tossed when you are cleaning house.

5) Keep a daily journal or at least write about some of the more significant happenings in your life. Be factual and include details about the events as well as your feelings and directly quote what people said. Your memory isn't as reliable as you think it is, however the things you write now are indelible.

6) Have everything archived digitally and in formats that are "future proof." For instance, save documents in an easily recoverable text format and photos as JPEGs. Save videos to DVD and audio to WAV format and/or CDs and don't get rid of your DVD player or device with an optical drive just because you watch all your movies on cable or online now. I would recommend an older computer away for that specific purpose, even though you think it will become obsolete. Keep in mind that obsolescence is merely an industry fabrication - a ruse designed to keep you buying new products.

7) Keep copies of those archived files in a separate location, other than your home. My recommendation is to have several copies in different formats and different locations. Your primary location is at the home. Frequently back up your computer to an external hard drive. Additionally, back up your files to archive quality optical disks (DVD-ROM media) and seal them up and have them kept by a trusted friend or family member. Also, copy all your files over to an external hard drive and keep it in a safe that is in a separate location than your house... maybe in a briefcase that can be grabbed in case of evacuation. Finally, if you are in such a financial position, back up your files online, but don't under any circumstances upload materials that could be compromised for the purpose of identity theft or cause embarrassment for you if hacked.

And advice for those who regret not preserving these things:

1) Start now. Ask (beg pester or bargain if you have to) family members who have taken photos, videos or have other items of sentimental value that you can copy and carefully and respectfully copy them for yourself.

2) Write down memories that you have. Don't worry about trying to keep a chronological record because it will drive you crazy and you will get frustrated and give up. The beauty of word-processing is that you can go back later and edit and organize your journal as you remember details.

3) Talk to your family members and perhaps get audio recordings of their perspective of things that happened. Not only will you be able to have these documents or recordings of what happened from another perspective, but this is also good bonding time with your family members.

4) Don't be stingy with your memories. Share your stories, your pictures, videos, recordings, journals and so forth with your posterity. It may not mean much to them now, but you never know which of your children or grandchildren will crave for something tangible from you. Write heartfelt letters to your children... give them something to open up and cherish when you are gone.

5) Don't wait until you are dead to give your children and spouse meaningful things. It's good to draft up a will and keep it in a safe place, but as you advance in years don't be too attached to your possessions so that they have to wait until you are dead so they can have things. In my opinion, it is much more meaningful to give these gifts while you are alive and still have your sanity than for your family members to squabble over what they perceived were your intentions. I've seen a lot of unnecessary heartache and strained family relations over such arguments and misunderstandings. Finally, DO have a will and don't let anybody convince you to alter it out of their convenience. If you have strong feelings about what should be done with your possessions, have your will done up while you are in sound mind and preserve it in a safe place. Don't broadcast your intentions to your family members. Let them unseal it after you are gone.

My Guitar Playing Style

I started playing guitar about 35 years ago. When I started playing, I didn't pay attention to the details about where my fingers were supposed to go, so my fingering on some of the chords is wrong and I have been playing that way ever since. I developed habits that stuck. Now, this does not affect the way I play but if I try to teach somebody how to play guitar, I have to try to place my fingers in the correct position so those errors are not perpetuated through somebody else. This is why I am sometimes reluctant to teach guitar lessons.

It feels uncomfortable for me to try to change those habits and I'm not gonna do anything to modify my techniques because it will interrupt my playing and seriously jeopardize my mojo. At this point of the game, I don't even think about playing the chords. It's as natural as breathing. My mind doesn't even process things like what notes or chords I am playing and if I start to think about it or if I become conscious about what my fingers are doing, I mess up. Some people refer to this as "muscle memory." This can be a good thing and a bad thing all at the same time. The good thing is that the details don't get in the way of our craft. We can just do it without thinking about it. The bad thing is that we tend to become complacent or get into a rut if we continue to do the same thing and never learn anything new. I have to purposely try to go out and develop new techniques, write new music or experiment by either modifying the things I already know or trying something that is completely different. When you go outside your comfort zone artistically, there are two possible things that can happen: 1) It doesn't work... sound's horrible or just doesn't have do anything. 2) Sometimes (and this is more the exception than the rule) the sound is fresh, unique and inspiring. So, in essence, with trial and error, there aren't any mistakes, just successes in finding out what works and what doesn't work. You eliminate what doesn't work and preserve what does work.

One of the things that I discovered a long time ago (concerning musicianship - particularly guitar) is that it is unfair to compare one guitarist to another. Now, there are some phenomenal players that can seemingly do anything on the guitar (though I am not one of them). I do feel, however, that every guitar player eventually develops a unique style, or voice. There are some guitarists that are so distinctive, that they can't easily be replicated. I can almost instantly recognize when I hear guitar riffs from Carlos Santana, Mark Knopfler or Edward Van Halen. I can also recognize which one of my children is playing the guitar. As a matter of personal opinion, I believe that we should work on finding our voice and developing that, rather than trying to emulate other artists. This could probably be applied with any musical instrument or voice. It could probably also be applied to any artistic endeavor. Find your voice... develop your style. Be unique and be a pioneer in your craft - that is, after you have learned the basic rules.

We Are ALL Students

I consider every human being to be a student. We are ALL students, because we all learn things. There are several different approaches to learning or different types of students, in general.

1) The “education is an asset” student. This person sees education merely as an asset to advance in a career. The end goal is earning potential. The diploma is more important than the learning itself. This type of student is most likely to cheat on tests, embellish a résumé, plagiarize or pay for others to write school essays.

2) The “school is a chore - school is a bore” student. This category likely contains the highest amount of dropouts or those who never go on to pursue higher education. These are the students that sit in the back of the class and ruin the experience for other students… sleeping through lectures, making fun of other students and teachers, and not participating in and/or sabotaging group projects.

3) The overachiever. This can be a good thing, but overachieving can also get in the way of learning. When a student is too focused on the GPA or trying to comply with the established curricula, he or she may never develop critical thinking skills - in other words, being able to be resourceful and innovative. There is another type of overachiever who wants to get involved in everything. The downside of this is that this could lead to burnout and discouragement or in many cases the depth of learning is compromised because they are spreading themselves too thin. Such overachievers need to know their limits.

4) The closed-minded academic. This student is done learning and has put a cap on his/her education and can’t be taught anything new or any new material is only used to validate what has already been established in the mind of this student (whether that information is correct or not). This student may be a high school graduate or a Phd, but the level of education or “degree” is the pinnacle of that student’s learning and there can’t be any greater or further accomplishment.

5) The unconventional scholar or skeptic of formally accepted principles. This student is quick to follow rumors, conspiracy theories, Internet memes or urban legends, but is skeptical of established curricula or theories that have been backed with overwhelming scientific evidence, studies and statistical data. This student reads between the lines and tries to figure out what is said by what is NOT said.

6) The balanced, continually learning student. This student has a thirst for knowledge and considers education a lifelong pursuit, seeking knowledge from multiple sources and updating/upgrading that knowledge by studying current events and reports. This student prefers reliable, unbiased sources, yet also looks at the varying views and compares and contrasts them, ferreting out valuable data. This student is resourceful and applies critical thinking skills - never forming a solid opinion as a stimulus response, but rather, after deep research and cognition. This student excels in learning, not necessarily for the sake of a high GPA or honors (though he/she understands that hard work usually leads to those honors), but learns to acquire knowledge because doing so improves one’s life and builds healthy communities.

This is just a list, my list, but there may be other items to add to it and some may disagree with it. That’s ok. You might wonder where you fit on this list. Which category are you or which category am I? Can we change? Well, of course we can change and we don’t have to accept that we are in one particular category or other. Honestly, I used to belong to the “school is a chore - school is a bore” category while I was in K-12 school. It wasn’t until I was in my senior year of high school that I actually started enjoying school. Now, I’ve always enjoyed learning though, so most of my education has been more a product of non-traditional or informal training, rather than what I can learn in a classroom setting. That being said, as an adult I have enjoyed classroom learning. I enjoy the interaction with other students and the stimulating lectures and classroom discussions. I have also struggled with being an overachiever, usually being at the top of my class as far as grades are concerned. This has led to some severe anxiety as a student.

Some learning methods provide a more healthy approach to being a student than others. As we all strive as students, let us be more efficient in our learning so that we can get the most out of it.