SunFyre...words from a seated position

How do we help the Iranians in their fight for democracy?

2009-06-22T09:37:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately, we don't. Here's why.

Iran has been ruled by religious zealots for a long time. Since the 70s it has seemed that the Iranian people have been comfortable, at least relatively so, under the leadership of the Ayatollah and a figurehead President.

Today not only are they uncomfortable with the President, but they actually are revolting in the face of divinity. It's the beginning of a new era in Iran. The Iranian supreme leader came out in support of the election results, and this was not enough to dissuade protesters. This is an extremely important point because the Ayatollah's words had gone relatively unquestioned in the past. Previously his words would have been considered other word of God, therefore unquestionable.

Recently there is been an official investigation launched into the election wrongdoing, unfortunately the presidency has no motivation to search for truth, regardless of the outcome. Admission of any wrongdoing, even if the victory would have come in a closer race, would mark the end of the presidency.

The Iranian authorities really have no choice but to attempt to squash the protesters, likely through militant means.

The protesters will face great adversity in the days ahead.

While the US can support democracy, we can't be seen as interfering in another Moslem society. We've toppled regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq, where there is little or no support, based on the expectation of delivering the world from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Had we not invaded Afghanistan and failed, and not invaded Iraq without just cause, we may have been able to aid the Iranian people in their quest for democracy. Unfortunately because of poor previous decisions we now can not afford to meddle in the affairs of another Islamic Society without turning the whole of Islam against us.

The vast majority of Islam are peaceful people. While many among them see religious extremists as uncomfortable leaders, the alternative is a democracy delivered to them by Western Christians. Imagine if you will, if militaries from an Islamic country invaded ours because they saw reports of protests against President Bush. There were many who doubted the election results between President Bush and Al Gore. The fact that President Bush's brother was governor in the state that ultimately decided the election certainly fueled conspiracy theories. While many people would have been happier had Al Gore been elected, very few people would have been happy at the prospect of an Islamic nation invading ours and toppling our presidency.

There was another bloody battle in the quest for democracy 230 some years ago. In that battle a underfunded and under armed militia defended itself against the largest empire on earth and literally stole its own independence. Democracy and freedom have an amazing way of finding themselves. Traitors to England are the men we now call patriots in the United States.

Iran is headed for what will likely be a bloody fight toward democracy. The Iranian people are outmanned and outgunned, and the regime currently in power has been known to be ruthless. This may be just the first battle of a long revolution. I have confidence that democracy is divine, however. Whether you believe in Jesus, Allah, or Buddha I believe that peace prevails, but the path to peace can be dangerous and bloody.

To the first patriots of a new Iran, I wish you well and safety. But if you cannot be safe, then I wish you freedom and liberty.

Mountain Dew/World of Warcraft promotion and prizes

2009-06-14T12:30:00.000-05:00

Two of my favorite things, World of Warcraft and Mountain Dew, have teamed up to do a promotion with a bunch of prizes. T-shirts, laptop computers, gaming mice and a bunch of other stuff are being given away.

It's pretty simple. Click below and sign up for an account. You earn 100 tokens.The tokens can be used to enter drawings for prizes. Then, you can or an additional tokens by recruiting friends and drinking Mountain Dew.

Anyhow, if you click the link below before you sign up, I'll earn 50 tokens. If I win a T-shirt, I'll post pictures of me wearing it! Dew it. You know you want to!

Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt on Amazon

2009-06-04T08:13:00.004-05:00

If you haven't seen this page circulating the internet, it's hilarious.

Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt

This is a great example of internet meme. Read the comments below the t-shirt, then check out the user photos uploaded. I swear, I totally want this t-shirt now. If I order one, I'll post a picture of me wearing it.

If you order one, send me an email at sunfyre@sunfyre.com, and I'll post your photo here too.

Max to the Vet

2009-06-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

Last night we had to take Max, our chocolate laborador retriever, to the vet. The poor guy has been getting a rash on his groin that clearly itches. The vet gave him some medicine, and the worst possible prognosis. He may be allergic to PEOPLE FOOD!

The vet told us to remove all table scraps and cat food from his diet for 2 months then gradually reintroduce things one at a time. This is going to be torture for Max who lets his dogfood bowl sit full all day long. He only eats dog food when he is faced with starvation. (Granted, starvation sets in several times daily for labs.)

Poor Max, my 79 pound puppy, will have to suffer with kibbles and bits.

Cheap Dental Care

2009-05-26T08:17:00.000-05:00

One day a man walked into a dentist's office and asks how much it will cost to extract a wisdom tooth.

"Eighty dollars," the dentist says.

"That's a ridiculous amount," the man says. "Isn't there a cheaper way?"

"Well," the dentist says, "if you don't use an anesthetic, I can knock it down to $60."

"That's still too expensive," the man says.

"Okay," says the dentist. "If I save on anesthesia and simply rip the teeth out with a pair of pliers, I could get away with charging $20."

"Nope," moans the man, "it's still too much."

"Hmm," says the dentist, scratching his head.

"If I let one of my students do it for the experience, I suppose I could charge you just $10."

"Marvelous," says the man, "book my wife for next Tuesday!"

Geek Squad Saves the Day

2009-05-25T08:05:00.000-05:00

My opinion of the Geek Squad has generally been low, unjustifiably. About two weeks ago I hired them to set up a network in my office. I currently have three employees, two of which work out of my home office. I want to get file sharing and printer sharing set up. Try and try again, I couldn't get everything working myself.

So last week they came out and set everything up in about an hour. And then I broke it.

Sunday afternoon they came and fixed it for free. We had a bizarre issue where one of my computers would not assign an appropriate IP address automatically. After doing all the standard fixes, one computer refused to participate in the network. Finally, Nevin, my geek, assigned a static IP address and explained everything to me. He spent several hours on a Sunday afternoon to make sure everything was working perfectly.

I'm far more confident in the two people that the Geek Squad sent. I'll probably use them again. For home based work or small office work they do a terrific job. Naturally the IT professionals bash them repeatedly, and I'm sure there are some IT flunkies working for the Geek Squad across the country, but I want to thank Nevin and Evan for making me much more productive. Plus, I think their Volkswagen Beetles are pretty cool.

Escaping the Swine Flu Epidemic

2009-04-29T10:33:00.001-05:00

Swine flu is on the rise, but soaring even faster is hype surrounding the swine flu. Confirmed cases worldwide are going up, but only in Mexico is there really a crisis at this moment.

In traditional SunFyre fashion, I will make light of any serious situation!

Here's a post I wrote about three and half years ago, 10 Things That Suck about the Flu.

Enjoy... and pass it on to a few friends!

NY Governor Paterson Unveils Same-Sex Marriage Bill

2009-04-16T10:54:00.001-05:00

Gov. David A. Paterson on Thursday announced he would introduce a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York State, drawing on the soaring oratory of the civil rights movement to call on the Legislature to join the four states that have already authorized such unions.

read more | digg story

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T10:13:00.002-05:00

Here are some pictures of my kids from Easter morning.

$1.5 Million to Fight Same Sex Marriage in New Jersey

2009-04-08T14:18:00.002-05:00

Millions of people oppose same-sex marriage. Some of them allow for "civil unions", which I believe implies that marriage isn't a civil union. Even if you're not a fan of same-sex marriage, most people don't see it as a threat to their personal freedoms. A few say it's detrimental to society, but there's no indication that that argument holds merit. Several European countries have allowed same-sex marriage for decades, and none of them fell into societal chaos.

California proved that people will will be politically correct when talking about same-sex marriage, but were often vote in the opposite fashion when given the opportunity.

Today was announced that a group called the National Organization for Marriage is going to spend $1.5 million on an ad campaign targeting New Jersey to prevent their law, which allows civil unions, to officially allow gay couples to marry. The group also announced they would be spending money in Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. (Although Iowa and Vermont have already passed laws allowing same-sex marriage.)

I think it's hideous that any group of people can force their morals upon a minority. In America it's Christians, but in other countries we see the same types of abuse and it horrifies us. Muslim nations suppress what we consider inalienable rights of women, however according to their laws women never had these rights.

I'm so disgusted by the fact that people try to legislate morality. Imagine if we took homosexuality out of the equation. What if a group of people felt that African Americans shouldn't be allowed to establish permanent households? The white majority could easily erase the rights of African-Americans to marry. What if we pass a law that said anyone with an IQ of less than 90 was not allowed to get married, or procreate? The rights of the less intelligent would be stomped upon by the average intelligence majority.

Ironically, these examples, which seem extreme by today's society, could actually influence us in a positive way. Let's face it, if we were able to prevent every individual with a below-average IQ from having children, and encourage anyone with an extremely high IQ to procreate like mad, within two or three generations Americans would be substantially smarter. This would better our society, improve our education, and secure our nation as a leader going forward. It's still however wouldn't be a country I'd be proud to call my own. We have a rich heritage of the strength of many protecting the rights of the few.

I don't understand what it means to be a man who loves another man. It doesn't scare me, but honestly I can understand the discomfort. There are lots of things I'm uncomfortable with, but I'm not about to take the inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness from anyone.

I am a Christian. Jesus taught me to love one another unconditionally. He taught me that I should spend my time with "sinners" because the perfect among us are so few and needs so little.

I understand the literal translation of the Bible frowns upon sodomy. It frowns upon lots of things that are illegal and accepted by our society. If frowns upon drinking to excess, yet drunks don't make us terribly uncomfortable so we haven't outlawed it. Heck, we even allow alcoholics to marry.

I think it's sad that people cower behind a cross because they are afraid. Christ wouldn't have feared gay people. Christ wouldn't have eliminated their desire for love and respect.

If you are fearful of gay people, that's okay. If you hate gay people, that's okay too. The reason it's okay is because they don't want you on your their team anyhow. You can be fearful and dislike anyone you want, but many of us take personal offense when you trample the rights of others because of your fear or hate.

Finally, why I decided to go on this rant... my mother lives in New Jersey. She is a Christian, married to a pastor. I think if you ask my mother what she would do with $1.5 million to better the state of New Jersey she can find 100 things that Christians should spend their hard-earned money on that would influence the community in a positive way.

If you made a donation to the National Organization for Marriage, shame on you. If you did in the name of Christ, shame on you. You don't have to like gay people. I'm not asking you to or heartedly endorse same-sex marriage. I'm asking you to be smarter with your money. I'm asking you to be generous rather than hateful. And lastly, I'm asking you not to pass on your hatefulness through the media in front of my children. My sincerest hope is that your hatefulness dies when they plant you in the ground, and the world is a better place for it.

I'm a Christian man, married with two children. I'm a fiscal conservative and a Republican. I'm among the last people you would expect to be taking a stand on behalf of gay rights, and I wish I didn't have to do it. I wish common sense and human decency would prevail and that those among us who love differently than the norm would be able to live their lives with liberty and in the pursuit of happiness.

Three Simple Ways to be Happier by this Summer

2009-04-06T23:18:00.002-05:00

By Cliff Kuhn, M.D., The Laugh Doctor
"It all starts with a SMILE"

Three instant ways to become healthier and happier this summer:

1. Choose a method of physical renewal. Unless you’re already exercising regularly, I suggest walking for 30 minutes three or four times per week. You can always increase the intensity and duration of your physical renewal if you need. Of course, consult your physician if you have any special needs or concerns.

2. Choose a method of mental renewal. I suggest reading an exciting, motivating, and/or inspiring book for 20 or 30 minutes before bed each night. Or you might want to study a new subject or learn a new skill. I recommend starting with one of my favorite books, Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

3. Choose a method of spiritual renewal. I recommend that you acquire a tape or CD of a favorite comedian to listen to in your car. Choose someone classy, clean, and clever - who really makes you smile - like Bill Cosby, Jerry Seinfeld, or Bob Newhart.

All you need to do after choosing how you will sharpen your axe in these three areas is...do it. You won’t have a problem with that if you take care to make your methods fun, as I have suggested. Taking action will make you feel so darn good, you’ll give yourself a gentle kick for neglecting yourself so many years.

And make sure you don’t set your goals and expectations too high. You’ll notice that my recommendations don’t involve great lifestyle changes or massive amounts of time.

That’s because, when you are keeping sharp, you don’t need to make up for all the times you haven’t been doing it. You only need to do a little bit for today.

I know you’re going to have much more energy for your plans and goals now. You won’t be diverting 50% or more of it toward cleaning up the wreckage of non-maintenance anymore. And more energy also means more fun and happiness – which is your greatest key for happiness.

http://www.natural-humor-medicine.com

A fascinating pie chart...

2009-03-27T15:07:00.001-05:00

... and one of the most accurate I've ever seen.

read more | digg story

Getting Marketing Value from Individual E-Mails

2009-03-26T14:12:00.002-05:00

I just added a new article to my marketing blog, www.jasonsmillion.com, called "Getting Marketing Value from Individual E-Mails." If you own a small business or are interested in making money online, it's a good read, but not rocket science.

10 things you shouldn't wear on Casual Friday

2009-03-20T08:50:00.001-05:00

10 things you shouldn't wear on Casual Friday

Spandex
Anything made out of "Pleather"
Flip-flops
A whale tail
Your Renaissance Faire costume
Glue-on Vulcan ears and your "communicator device"
Your T-shirt that says "What the Fuck are you looking at Dicknose"
A necktie... only
Your roller derby uniform
A Klan sheet

Happy Friday.

New District of Columbia Coin

2009-02-24T10:07:00.002-05:00

Washington D.C. is getting it's own quarter soon. It will be the first U.S. coin featuring an African American, Duke Ellington. The Jazz legend was a native of D.C.

In the CNN article, buried fairly deeply, was this:

"Also on the coin is the phrase 'justice for all.' The mint rejected the first inscription choice of D.C. voters, which was 'taxation without representation,' in protest of the District's lack of voting representation in Congress."

I think it's funny that one of the foundations of the American Revolution is taken so lightly today. Beyond the District of Columbia there are several other United States territories which are subject to income tax but don't have representation in Congress.

Impressions of President Obama's Inauguration

2009-01-21T09:52:00.002-05:00

Yesterday President Obama was sworn in as the 44th president. I thought I would share with you a few of my impressions of the past 24 hours.

They said that Lyndon Johnson's inauguration had more people gathered in the mall, however the circumstances were different. Johnson succeeded Kennedy and we were in the throes of Vietnam. It was a tumultuous period of patriotism and protest.

While fewer people were gathered in Washington, I suspect that the world was watching with anxious anticipation that reach far beyond the District of Columbia. Classrooms in Indonesia, gathering places in Kenya, and bars in China were glued to the television.

President Obama was sworn in slightly past noon Eastern time, which is the official change of power. I was somewhat disappointed that the networks after dedicating dozens of hours to coverage throughout the day didn't repeat the speech in its entirety during prime time. Inauguration Day is a working day for most of America, particularly the group of people who helped that President Obama elected. While many of us were able to take a break, many others missed the speech you would have found it personally valuable. The networks need to remember that they exist in the public service, and entertainment is secondary. Planning a 30 minute replay of the speech, once every four years, wouldn't be a hardship to any of their programming even if it doesn't get the ratings of American Idol.

I felt his speech itself was inspirational, eloquent, and important without being over the top. The expectations for his inaugural because of his reputation as a speaker were probably beyond reach. I thought President Obama did an excellent job of speaking from the heart and not attempting to live up to the expectation of a Kennedyesque speech. I don't know that this will go down in the annals of time as one of the great speeches, but it was a good speech, and important speech, and the message the American people regardless of race, religion, or political inclination needed to hear.

During the campaign I believe the media downplayed the importance of electing an African-American president. But that inauguration demonstrated clearly to us the importance that President Obama's election is to African Americans. I think Dr. King would have been proud.

The speech didn't make promises or pledges, which I admire because promises will be difficult to keep. It focused on accountability and responsibility, two things of which we haven't seen enough in politics, business, or even in our personal lives.

If you saw his swearing in live you know that there is a little bit of stumbling over words between President Obama and Chief Justice Roberts. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this didn't make the news broadcasts that I saw later in the evening. It was a news story, but for those who saw it I felt it showed a certain amount of humaneness in the President.

As for Mrs. Obama and her fashion choices, I thought she looked classy. I wish the media would have left it at that. Unfortunately some of the media focused on her choice of dresses and designers as if this was going to impact the next four years in ways that the economy, war, terrorism, education and health care would all take a backseat. I recognize that the First Lady influences fashion, particularly since Jacqueline Kennedy, but come on people, put this story in the fashion magazines and trade journals and quit wasting time in our 22 minutes of national evening news.

A story that appeared this morning made me glad I live in America and not China. During the live broadcast of President Obama's speech, the official Chinese news agency censored the speech. I know that our government doesn't give us every detail, but at least they don't go out of their way to change the content of public information. There is a difference between discretionary release of information and outright censorship and rewriting of history.

I felt too much was made of Dick Cheney arriving in a wheelchair. I'd tell you my reasons, but even me touting my opinions is too much attention to the matter. Love him or hate him, Mr. Cheney is no longer our vice president, regardless of his ambulatory status.

I still heard more people talking today about Mrs. Biden on Oprah. People act like this is big news and Oprah brought it to the world. The fact is the Vice President Biden would have made an excellent Secretary of State or Vice President because of his background. President Obama would've been stupid not to discuss both positions with him, and of all things I've ever heard about President Obama, no one has ever accused him of stupidity. Of course Joe Biden was on the short list for Secretary of State, and like any other job opportunity, of course he discussed it with his wife. I like Oprah, but she isn't the hard-core journalist that people make her out to be sometimes.

I watched some of ABC's coverage, from about 11:30 a.m. By this time Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer were already struggling to think of something new and interesting to say. In 2013 I hope they line up a little more content, or cut back on coverage. I was pretty bored and I was even eating chicken wings at lunchtime.

In the next entry I put a transcript of the speech, which was surprisingly difficult to find today. I ran across it on a local NBC station's website out of Indianapolis. Thanks to them for posting it so quickly.

Let's hear your comments...

Transcript of President Obama's speech

2009-01-21T08:35:00.000-05:00

The following is a transcript of the speech delivered by President Barack Obama after being sworn in as 44th president of the United States:

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

- President Barack H. Obama

Dear Mr. Gore... where the hell is my global warming?

2009-01-15T13:54:00.003-05:00

For decades Al Gore has been talking about global warming.

Three years ago I bought a home in central Pennsylvania and wanted to make sure I was well-prepared for the coming climate crisis. I have a beautiful swimming pool, two decks, and large south facing windows. I was all ready for the new subtropical Pennsylvania that Mr. Gore promised!

Dear Mr. Gore... where the hell is my global warming?

I invested a tremendous amount of money in what I thought would be my winter home. I figured later I would get something in Northern Ontario so I can still see the seasons change.

At this moment it's 15° outside at two in the afternoon, and with the wind chill minus freaking 30! WTF!? (For those of you who don't know, that means "What the Fahrenheit".)

The kids had a two hour delay this morning because it's too cold. They're already calling for a delay tomorrow, because it's supposed to be COLDER.

Screw it... I'm buying a Hummer and driving to Florida!

You can save your comments about how a Hummer makes up for a small penis. It was huge, but I froze the freaking thing off!

Well, at least you can't accuse me of not "going green"!

Twenty-Five Cities with Low Unemployment Rates

2008-11-25T10:04:00.003-05:00

I was checking out Career Builder, and saw an article about the 25 best cities to find a job. Basically it was a list of cities with low unemployment rates, between 2.4% and 3.7%. Here is the top 25 list.

Sioux Falls, SD
Rapid City, SD
Idaho Falls, ID
Bismarck, ND
Houma, LA
Morgantown, WV
Logan, UT
Fargo, ND
Casper, WY
Billings, MT
Ames, IA
Lafayette, LA
Midland, TX
Iowa City, IA
Lincoln, NE
Portsmouth, NH
Great Falls, MT
Charlestown, WV
Des Moines, IA
Missoula, MT
Salt Lake City, UT
Provo, UT
Odessa, TX
Pocatello, ID
Sioux City, IA

Unfortunately, this list also has another name, "The 25 Places I Would Never Live". These are predominately rural communities with heavy agriculture and industrial backgrounds. Many on the list are cities where energy production are still key. Basically if you want to be a farmer, miner, or oiler you can find employment.

The benefit is that if you are like me, and can do your job from anywhere in the world these types of cities are great because you can get much nicer homes for the money. If you like the small town atmosphere, they have it.

These cities demonstrate why I believe the economy isn't as bad as they say.

If you can handle cities that seem like small towns, and enjoy hundreds of miles of open space these are places where current economic conditions aren't squeezing the life out of Main Street.

Companies who lie

2008-11-21T10:19:00.002-05:00

I don't believe...

Oil companies who tell us they like it when we use less energy.
Cigarette companies who tell us we should quit.
People who sell us a guaranteed wealth generating system. If their system worked they would keep it to themselves.
Pharmaceutical companies who say they are looking for a cure. The money is in treatment, not cure.
Any diet pill ad that uses the word "metabolism". They always say "combined with proper diet and exercise." If you had proper diet and exercise, you wouldn't need the pill.
Car companies that introduce 35 mile per gallon cars as fuel-efficient. We had more fuel-efficient cars in the 70s.
Any chemical that keeps fruit "looking fresh". I want my fruit to be fresh!

I do believe...

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
A penny saved is a penny earned.

An Open Letter to The Pennsylvania Republican Party

2008-10-24T07:53:00.003-05:00

Robert Gleason Jr.
Chairperson
Republican Party of Pennsylvania
717 N. 2nd St
Harrisburg, PA 17102
Dear Mr. Chairman,

Yesterday I received the enclosed flyer regarding Senator Barack Obama's relationship with William Ayres. I've also recently received robotic calls on the same topic.

I have been a supporter of Senator McCain for more than a decade, and I'm excited for the opportunity he is receiving on the national stage.

Unfortunately, I'm saddened that the Republican Party doesn't give Republican voters the credit we deserve.

I'm a fiscal Republican. I believe strongly in Republican economic and social policies in general.

The media has beaten the dead horse that is William Ayres extensively. We know that Senator Obama was only eight years old when Mr. Ayres was actively involved in domestic terrorism. Furthermore, the domestic terrorists during the Vietnam era are a different breed of terrorists than we associate with terror today. Finally, we know that Senator Obama has had minimal contact with Bill Ayres, and to imply that the senator is a terrorist or supports terrorist activities is ludicrous.

The Democrats generally believe that Republicans are stupid and close minded, and unfortunately, these lowbrow attacks confirm their beliefs.

While I've received negative attack campaign ads, I haven't seen a single piece explaining the issues that both gentlemen represent.

Floating false rumors and clinging to stories that promote ethnic and racial discrimination are not only offensive to Democrats, but to most Republicans as well. This isn't the party that I came to believe in as a young man.

Today's Republicans are not fundamentalist Christian, semi automatic gun toting, racially and ethnically bigoted war mongers. Please don't treat us as such. And finally, please don't think we're stupid.

I've waited for years to vote for Senator McCain because I believe in personal responsibility when it comes to the economy. I believe in patriotism over nationalism. I believe in cutting through the special interests to solve real problems. While I am a Christian, and believe in family values personally, I don't think the State should legislate our value system. Compared to other Republican candidates Senator McCain more closely reflects the personal and political values that I hold dear. During the primaries, much of the nation of Republicans agreed with me. Senator McCain prevailed over far more conservative individuals.

The Republican Party is not small groups of political insiders who believe they can influence the nation. The Republican Party is a huge group of individuals. Just as the next president will answer to the American people, the Republican Party should answer to the voters.

I've lost faith in the current party politics and this particular flyer was the breaking point.

I decided on Friday of last week I will be voting for Senator Barack Obama. My reason is not for a loss of faith in the abilities of Senator John McCain to lead this nation. My reason for my vote is that I believe the Republican Party is misinformed about what motivates and inspires the voters. Furthermore, it's clear that the party has influenced the decision making of Senator McCain.

Sunday morning, after hearing General Colin Powell speak, I decided to contact the Pennsylvania Republican party. I agree strongly with General Powell that the party has strayed to the Right further than the voters. General Powell spoke eloquently on his reasoning behind his vote, and I want to assure you that he is not alone as a disillusioned Republican.
The primary reason President Bush's administration has amazingly low support is that the administration doesn't seem to trust us. Had President Bush been more trusting of the American people, we may have not supported the war and a number of other decisions; however we would have had faith in his leadership. Today many Republicans are angry not because we've toppled a dictatorial regime in an important and volatile part of the world. We are angry because we were not trusted by our President.

I'm not sure there is enough time to resurrect the campaign of Senator McCain, perhaps the strongest Republican candidate for the voters have nominated in two decades. I hope you heed the warning, however. Four years from now President Obama will be even more formidable as a candidate for reelection, and four years after that Senator Biden will be equally formidable.

Send us men and women who trust us. Send us intelligence and integrity. Send us a group of leaders who will make Republicans proud.

And for the minority of Republicans who do still vote based on bigotry, immorality, and misinformation, please help us to educate them rather than playing to them.

We are the party of smaller government. We are the party of capitalism. We are the party of personal responsibility and social integrity. Let's return to our roots, and to our core values.

Sincerely,

Jason Tweed
Business owner, father, wheelchair using, Christian, and Pennsylvanian voter

The Ugly Child

2008-09-26T06:42:00.001-05:00

As you may know, my wife and I have twins, a boy and a girl. They turned six years old in May.

Frequently when we are out we split up and each of us takes one of the kids. We try to mix it up but frequently I and up with our son and she ends up with our daughter.

Some days however one or the other of us has reached our last nerve. We know we need to separate them, but neither of us wants to spend time with the kids. This sounds rude, but it's a truth of parenting.

On these days we talk about "the ugly one". If Kristie is frazzled I'll say "I'll take the ugly one today." When you have twins frequently one is uglier. This isn't a matter of aesthetics, it's personality. We don't always know which one will be acting up the most, so this is my way of volunteering to accompany the child who is most likely to drive Kristie over the edge.

In the beginning this was almost an inside joke, but years later we still do it and it's actually a very effective parenting technique. Separating the kids from each other is good, but separating them a parent who is on edge can be better. Sometimes simply the change of the family dynamic for a few hours does all the parents and children lots of good.

You may be wondering why I'm telling you this. My friend, Canadian Dawn, sent me a bunch of pictures labeled "parents of the year". I've seen several of them before but this one was priceless. Thanks Dawn.

Top 10 Energy Boosters -- Combat Sleep Deprivation

2008-09-23T06:47:00.000-05:00

"Am I" or "I Am"?

2008-09-19T15:18:00.000-05:00

Listen to these questions...

Am I giving?
Am I touching others in a positive way?
Am I appreciative?
Am I genuine?
Am I connecting with my family and friends?
Am I achieving my goals?
Am I attracting the right people?

Now read these statements aloud...

I am genuine. I am giving. I am appreciative.
I am connected to my friends and family.
I am touching others in a positive way.
I am attracting the right people.
I am achieving my goals.

The same words sound different as they roll off your tongue. The emotions they generate in your brain is different. The way you feel about yourself is dramatically different.

Everyone is looking for the next great diet, the next super food, or the next magic pill.

For me, I'm looking to change the words I use to change my life. It's working. I'm growing. I'm becoming financially independent. I'm earning respect and admiration by giving to others. Finally, I'm doing good in the world and the world is rewarding me.

I don't have the magic pill or super system, or even all the answers. But I am putting together the pieces. If this message makes sense to you, I encourage you to check out this link. I was skeptical, but 21 days ago I took a small leap forward.

Send Out Cards

My Opinion on Gay Marriage

2008-09-16T08:41:00.000-05:00

Gay marriage... while I'm not opposed to gay marriage, I'm definitely not going to make it mandatory!

Seriously, gay people have been getting married for hundreds of years, they just haven't had the civil rights.

Whether or not it's okay for people to be gay is a moral issue. It should be argued about in churches and across dinner tables, but not in the Supreme Court. If we, as Americans, are going to be a society that universally respects others, then we have to allow gay marriage. The only time that the state should impose its will on morality is when there are issues of public health and safety or significant issues of economic importance at risk.

What we know is that gay couples who have long term monogamous relationships are far less likely to acquire AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. Furthermore, most gay couples are dual income households. With the exception of extra penises and vaginas, gay couples are probably the model American household. Lastly, we can't legislate love, nor should we try.