Intelligent Confusion

New York Times article

2006-08-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

There was an article that was in the New York Times last week, about Dr. Greg Boyd and his church Woodland Hills. I think that it warrants some conversation, and would love some of your thoughts to the article and to my preliminary response. I am going to try and elaborate more on this idea later, as it is one that is near and dear to my heart. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/us/30pastor.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

I think that this is an important issue, and I am glad to see that it is getting attention. Many of the issues that Dr. Boyd and the article brought are imperative issues not only to American Christians but to Christians everywhere. I was a bit dissapointed however in the response from the "conservative camp." It is somewhat typical of the media and todays culture to associate the radical right with all conservatives. However there are many out there who feel that way. To assert that you have to be a Republican if you are a Christian is simply absurd, it is as ridiculous as saying Christians cannot be involved in politics. I hope that in the future there can be opinions included from more moderate thinking individuals. On that note, I think that Dr. Boyd brings up some important points about the Evangelical Right and their fixation with abortion and gay marriage. As a Christian those are both things that I oppose, but those are certainly not the only two issues or even the most important for that matter. On the other hand I think that to right off the political process completely as to say that because we are Christians we have God and therefore we are too good for the democratic process that governs our country is also disturbing.

My friend Dan had a great post about this article on his blog, and it really got me thinking about the issues that Dr. Boyd and the article brings up. Dan eloquently elaborates about St. Augustine’s idea of the Christian having dual citizenship, one in the earthly city and one in the heavenly city. While citizenship is far more important in the heavenly city, it doesn’t mean we can abandon our responsibility here on earth. Politics and government are part of the earthly city. I completely understand that my allegiance is to my God in heaven. Yet while I am here on earth, I have to respect the laws of the land in which I live. Part of that is involving one self in the political process. I believe that we cannot avoid or neglect the responsibility that we have in the earthly city.

I think that there is a fine line between faith and politics that should certainly not be crossed, yet should also not be avoided. I believe that Dr. Boyd is right in that the pulpit is no place for political rhetoric, and diatribes about current events. I think that the church has a responsibility to society far beyond gay marriage and abortion. America is not a Christian nation nor is America the “new Jerusalem,” ideas on that line of thought are dangerous. There is also the idea of too much nationalism becoming dangerous. I agree with Dr. Boyd’s take that we can’t allow politics and patriotism to become idolatry. We cannot allow ourselves to be so swept up in national pride that we forget about our heavenly calling. Yet I think that the church has a responsibility to society, and should be an example to the Christian faith. The church cannot severe ties with politics and society because doing so would destroy the ability to reach out and help those who need the church.

As I stated before, I don’t believe America to be a Christian nation, but I do see America as an opportunity for believers of the Christian faith. Dr. Boyd (and so many other pastors) are free to say what they want to say about their faith, they can stand at their pulpit’s every Sunday and preach the Gospel how they see fit. If someone is telling them what to say or how to say it, it isn’t coming from the military or the federal government. We are not in Nazi Germany or the Soviet USSR. There are no Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s having to found legitimate underground churches for fear of their life if they preach God’s word. There are still places today where people are being persecuted for their faith. America is not one of them. America has granted us the right to worship the way we want to worship. My allegiance and my faith are in my Lord in Heaven, not my country, but respect and responsibility are also to my country while I am here in this earthly city.

My apologies for this being a bit disorganized, I just started to write, and went through a few drafts before anything even remotely made sense. Please let me know what you think.Blessings,Peter

Back on track

2006-08-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

My appologies for the tardiness in my blog posts lately. I have not had one in weeks. Well that is soon to change. I have just returned from Minnesota's great North Shore of Lake Superior, and am feeling recharged and ready to dive into some topics of interest. I may also be moving blog locations in the next few months, but that is only if I am motivated to do so, and see any subsquent advantage to doing so. Such a move would be purely motivated by peer presure. Anyway look for posts in the upcoming days and weeks on: Greg Boyd's New York Times article, Middle East situation, Minnesota Twins, Shuttle Atlantis Mission, 2006 and 2008 election predictions, and other random occurancies. I am going to start working on a response to the Boyd article shortly for Intelligent Confusion and Breakfast Gravy. It should be up tomorrow or Wed.

Discovery safely home

2006-07-17T06:42:00.000-07:00

Space shuttle Discovery made a picture perfect landing at Kennedy Space Center on runway 15 at about 8:15 this morning. Discovery and crew completed a successful mission, which elapsed over 12 days, and 5.3 million miles. The whole process of reentry went about as smooth as possible. There was a last minute change of runway as mission control decided just before 8 am to change from runway 33 to runway 15. The weather was overcast and cloud cover was the reason for the runway change. Just a quick fact that absolutely blows my mind every time I hear it but once again as I was watching the whole thing this morning I heard it again. At about 25 minutes prior to landing Discovery was traveling at Mach 24.9 or about 17,000 miles per hour. 17,000 to 0 in 25 minutes that is a quick turn around. Intelligent Confusion would like to congratulate the crew of Discovery and NASA for a great and successful mission, and of course a safe return home.

The next shuttle launch is just around the corner as it is scheduled for sometime in August. The shuttle this time will be Atlantis, and the mission will be STS-115.

Tensions hot... Check

2006-07-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

Tensions are intensifying in the Middle East as Israel and the terror network Hezbollah continue to trade blows. After Israel warplanes and ships attacked targets in Beirut which included the airport, and major roadways which run from Beirut towards Damascus (Syrian capitol). Israel has also focused their targets on known Hezbollah territories. Yesterday Israeli warplanes made an attempt to kill Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah who has come out urging Arabs and Muslims worldwide to support his guerillas. Earlier on Sunday Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks on northern Israel most notably in the city of Haifa. Israeli forces responded by launching another series of attacks in Lebanon.

As the tensions grow there are suspicions and reports about the involvement of Iran and Syria, countries that are known to have lent support to Hezbollah in the past. It is quite certain that the arms in which Hezbollah is using against Israel were provided by or purchased from Iran or Syria. Many of the fears from the west stem from the involvement of Syria and Iran. Syria has come out and been very vocal about their desire to be involved in any talks in the region. This is a growing problem that could become serious immediately if cooler heads don’t prevail. Look for more updates on this in the coming days.

On a lighter note, I am just wondering what Kim Jong Il thinks about all of this. He must despise Israel and Hezbollah as they have taken the world spotlight (that was momentarily on him) off of him. He launched a few test missiles got the worlds attention, and had an immediate upper hand when it came to apparent respect and the fear of some. He accomplished what he wanted. But a week later, he is a distant memory. For someone who has to compete with Hezbollah for airtime that is tough to swallow.

Discovery update

2006-07-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

After a successful twelve days in space, shuttle Discovery is set to return to earth on Monday morning. NASA gave the shuttle the final thumbs up, as a final round of tests and checks were run testing everything from the external heat shield, to internal storage tanks. The crew will now prepare to start the process of re-entry. It is a process that is so fascinating to me that I had to share it (my thanks to NASA for the information that I am about to share with you all).

TIG-4 hours-Crew members begin preparations for landing. The orbiter's onboard computers are configured for entry, as is the hydraulic system that powers the orbiter's aerosurfaces -- its rudder speed brake and wing elevons.

TIG-3 hours-The payload bay doors are closed. Mission Control gives the commander the "go" for Ops 3, the portion of the orbiter's flight control software that manages entry and landing.

TIG-2 hours-Starting with the commander and pilot, the flight crew members don their orange launch and entry suits and strap into their seats.

TIG-1 hour-Mission Control gives the "go" for deorbit burn.

DEORBIT BURN-The orbiter and crew are officially on their way home.During reentry and landing, the orbiter is not powered by engines. Instead, it flies like a high-tech glider, relying first on its steering jets and then its aerosurfaces to control the airflow around it.
This is by far the most fascinating step, the shuttle is actually upside down and backwards as it heads back into the atmosphere. At this point the Shuttle is traveling at an extraordinary speed of over 16,000 mph.

Landing-30 minutes-Roughly half an hour after the deorbit burn, the orbiter will begin to encounter the effects of the atmosphere. Called entry interface, this point usually takes place at an altitude of about 80 miles, and more than 5,000 statute miles from the landing site.Early in reentry, the orbiter's orientation is controlled by the aft steering jets, part of the reaction control system. But during descent, the vehicle flies less like a spacecraft and more like an aircraft. Its aerosurfaces -- the wing flaps and rudder -- gradually become active as air pressure builds. As those surfaces become usable, the steering jets turn off automatically.To use up excess energy, the orbiter performs a series of four steep banks, rolling over as much as 80 degrees to one side or the other, to slow down. The series of banks gives the shuttle's track toward landing an appearance similar to an elongated letter "S."As the orbiter slices through the atmosphere faster than the speed of sound, the sonic boom -- really, two distinct claps less than a second apart -- can be heard across parts of Florida, depending on the flight path.

Landing-5 minutes-The orbiter's velocity eases below the speed of sound about 25 statute miles from the runway. As the orbiter nears the Shuttle Landing Facility, the commander takes manual control, piloting the vehicle to touchdown on one of two ends of the SLF.As it aligns with the runway, the orbiter begins a steep descent with the nose angled as much as 19 degrees down from horizontal. This glide slope is seven times steeper than the average commercial airliner landing. During the final approach, the vehicle drops toward the runway 20 times faster than a commercial airliner as its rate of descent and airspeed increase. At less than 2,000 feet above the ground, the commander raises the nose and slows the rate of descent in preparation for touchdown.

Landing-15 seconds-The main and nose landing gear are deployed and locked in place.

Touchdown! The orbiter's main landing gear touches down on the runway at 214 to 226 miles per hour, followed by the nose gear. The drag chute is deployed, and the orbiter coasts to a stop.

Discovery is set to land at Kennedy Space Center on runway 33 at 8:14 am Central time tomorrow morning. The weather at KSC has been suspect all day with rain and heavy cloud cover expected to last into tomorrow. There is an alternate landing time at KSC for 9:50 am CST. There is also the possibility of the shuttle landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California if needed (which is where Discovery landed last year on STS-114). The shuttle has enough resources and fuel to stay in space until Wednesday if needed.

A Dock to Remember

2006-07-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

I have to share this story with the masses. Last week as I’m sure you all know was the great summer holiday of the 4th of July aka American Independence Day. Well my family generally has a few traditions that we like to try and stay with through the years. One of them happens to be spending some time at my grandmas on Lake Minnetonka. Well to make a long story short (which most of the people reading this know how hard that is for me), we decided to take the pontoon out to watch the fireworks (yes, yes to answer all of your unspoken questions, this was the same pontoon that I was holding on to when the infamous phone incident occurred. For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about search down the page on Intelligent Confusion), and on the way back, the fun started pouring out the sides like a bilge pump.

As we came back to the dock, I was on the front deck with a spotlight (as it was dark, because that is when you watch fireworks) to help guide my uncle (who was driving) back to the dock. With spotlight in one hand, and a rope in the other, I took a leap to the dock to turn the boat around and tie it up. Let me take this opportunity to take you back a few months (for those of you reading this that are board my apologies but stay with me), to a time when my dad and I started the process of building a new dock. My dad decided to build one section frame out of aluminum and put the normal wood boards across the top. We thought that this would make the section lighter (which we were wrong), sturdier (which we were wrong), and would last longer (which we will never know, ok can you see a plot here?). Ok back to the fourth of July, I jumped out onto the section (the one I just spoke of), and started to pull the boat around. Then one of the greatest moments of my life thus far happened as my dad took a running leap from the boat to the dock. It was an impressive leap of about 2 ½ feet, and a graceful landing if I do say so myself. Ok anyway as he hit the dock, the highly touted section that was going to be lighter, sturdier, stronger, and last longer, buckled like my knee circa 1996 Minnehaha JV football. The dock section dropped about eight inches, and I honestly thought that my dad and I were about to take a swim. The dock looked like a giant U. It was one of the funniest things that I have ever witnessed. I was laughing so hard that I laid down on the dock (a section over so I didn’t fall in), and laughed till I cried.

When we went to fix it last week, the frame of the section was the biggest mangled mess I had ever seen. Hence lies another Fourth of July. It ranks right up there with the time that I loaded a firework in a tube upside down and it blew up shattering the tube and making the loudest noise I had ever heard. Yet that is for a different time and place. For those of you who read the whole thing, I hope that I was able to express in words the story as funny as it actually was. For those of you who know my dad I think that you know why this is so amazing, for those of you who don't, that is a crying shame.

Discovery Update

2006-07-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

Space Shuttle Discovery astronauts Piers Sellers and Mike Fossum made their third and final space walk yesterday. The space walks were all successful, and during the time, the two were able to check the bottom of Discovery to check for damage, work on and test out the robotic arm on Discovery, and do quite of bit of scheduled work and expansion on the International Space Station. The Discovery and ISS crew have a limited amount of work left to do, as the transfers will stop on Friday, and Discovery will undock on Sat. With the results of one of the space walks, NASA officials were able to clear Discovery for a safe return. The issue that had people worried was a piece of gap filler that was sticking out of the shuttle’s heat shield. Similar to the problem that Discovery had after take off last year in shuttle mission STS-114, and the apparent cause of the Columbia tragedy four years ago. Last year mission specialist Soichi Noguchi removed the piece of filler on a special space walk. NASA has said that that will not be necessary this time. The mission of STS-121 has been an overall success so far.

Failure, not the end, but a new opportunity.

2006-07-07T05:46:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to continue my series on leadership with the profile of one of my all time favorite people, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln is not only my favorite American President, but he is also an incredibly fascinating person to study. I think that what he persevered through, and what he was able to accomplish while on this earth is astonishing. My third profile on leadership is good ol’ Honest Abe

Lincoln had humble beginnings as he was born to a poor family in rural Kentucky. Lincoln moved quite a bit when he was young from Indiana to Illinois. His mom died when he was 10, and he had to struggle for everything he got from day one. Lincoln essentially taught himself to read and write, and later with the help of his stepmother, he perfected much of what he had learned. Throughout his younger years Lincoln did many things to keep his mind sharp, and learn as much as he could. His vocational experience included: farming, storekeeper, Captain in the Black Hawk war (which is one of the things for which Lincoln received criticism because of brutality shown in the war towards Native Americans), he served in the Illinois legislator, and served on the circuit of courts for many years. He ran for the U.S. Senate, and than became President.
Through his experiences growing up, and into his adult life, Lincoln became very familiar with failure. He failed at business, he essentially failed at being a farmer, he failed at his first attempt and others at getting into politics, and he initially failed at keeping a fragile country together. However, Lincoln did not allow any of this to drag him down, he persisted and pushed on because he knew that his values were for a higher cause. Once Lincoln became President he faced strong opposition from all across the board of his desire to strengthen the Federal government, and of course later to grant emancipation to the nations slaves. While it is true that Lincoln did not see the African American as his equal, he thought that slavery was inhumane. “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master, this expresses my idea of democracy.”

Lincoln receives a lot of credit for his wartime leadership, and for good reason. In his first Inaugural address Lincoln warned the south that “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you.... You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it." Lincoln lived up to his word; he defended and protected his country. When he gave his famous speech on the battlefield at Gettysburg he commented that the dead had not died in vein, and that through their efforts, “government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” Lincoln understood failure as president as well. He had to appoint and demote numerous Generals to lead the Union forces, yet Lincoln never relented.

Through it all Lincoln was assassinated for his efforts. He was assassinated because he did what he believed to be right, not for himself, but for the country. Lincoln rarely received personal gain for his efforts. He lost two sons, and had to often deal with a fragile, emotionally ailing wife, yet Lincoln wanted to push forward to “strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nations wounds.” Lincoln unfortunately never got to see his nation healed of its wounds, but his legacy lived on regardless. Lincoln is important to all of us because he is the very definition of leadership. He persevered through so much turmoil and hardship, and became known as one of if not the greatest Presidents ever. War was inevitable and Lincoln knew it. Yet out of war Lincoln saw a new nation, a re-birth of the democratic process that America’s founding fathers saw and created. Slavery was nothing new; it was something that John Adams addressed many times at the founding of the nation. Slavery was the eight hundred pound elephant in the room that no one wanted to talk about; the issue that no president dared to approach, yet Lincoln knew that it was not only his duty, but also his destiny in a sense. Lincoln knew that this was his time, his place, and leadership was his sworn duty.

Discovery update

2006-07-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Discovery docked with the International Space station yesterday. Prior to docking, shuttle commander Steve Lindsey performed the much-anticipated back-flip maneuver so that the crew aboard the Space Station could take pictures of the shuttle to check for any external damage. Discovery is dropping off supplies, and doing some work on the expansion of the International Space Station. They will be doing two different space walks while up there, in an effort to also test the mechanical arm that extends from the shuttle as well. Discovery will also drop off German astronaut Thomas Reiter for his six-month stay aboard the space station. This is the first time that a crew of three is aboard the space station in three years, and the first time ever that the crew consists of a Russian, an American, and a European. The Discovery crew will spend a week on the space station.

Fourth of July launches

2006-07-05T08:31:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the people at NASA for a successful launch of Space Shuttle Discovery yesterday. It was the first Independence Day launch in NASA’s history. Everything from the initial observations of the launch seemed in great working order, and the crew will be able to see over the next few days if there has been any damage that needs repair before re-entry. I have to say that space travel is something that I know very little about, because my mind just does not think like that. Yet I am fascinated by it, and honestly can’t get enough of it. Just after take off yesterday, after the separation of the external boosters had been complete and the Shuttle had been airborne for about four or five minutes the shuttle was traveling at over 7,000 miles per hour or about four miles per second… Four miles per second!! That is so incredible to me. Look to Intelligent Confusion for updates on Discovery’s 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Apparently Kim Jong Il is more nuts than ever thought possible before. North Korea tested more long-range missiles yesterday, including the infamous Taepodong II missile. North Korea got Japan’s attention by launching a missile into the Sea of Japan during a busy rush hour in Tokyo. Japan responded with cutting off transport and trade routes to North Korea via air and sea. China even responded with a late statement condemning the acts, but calling for peaceful and diplomatic needs in responding to the tests. I have to say that North Korea is dumber than I ever thought possible. They now have ticked off another major power in Asia, and China is not far behind. Japan and the U.S. want the U.N. to issue immediate sanctions against North Korea. There have been attempts in the past to sanction North Korea, but China and Russia have blocked such attempts. The U.S. is hoping that such actions will not happen this time. The funny thing in all of this is North Korea’s technology seems to be a bit lacking as the test of their Taepodong II missile failed, it crashed into the sea long before the projected aquatic target. Many say that this proves that North Korean technology is far inferior to that of their enemy counterparts. The thought is that this was more of a show on North Korea’s part than any strategic testing on the part of the North Koreans. They want to show the world that they have these missiles, and they are not afraid to launch them. I am not as concerned about North Korea as others because I think that North Korea is blowing a lot of smoke. Yet it is also valid to say that Kim Jong Il is so completely nuts that he would do something entirely irrational. I think that the best way to go forward with this is to continue the six party talks, and try and see if the U.N. is capable of setting appropriate sanctions. Kim Jong Il has said that any such sanctions would be an act of war, but if China, Japan, Russia, and America are all on the same side (along with others), than I like our chances.

An Independence Day to remember.

2006-07-04T06:59:00.000-07:00

To commemorate our nations birthday, I want to go back to 1942 and the celebration that wasn’t during WWII. We all celebrate and commemorate what happened in 1776. The mark of American independence, and the beacon for liberty, freedom, and democracy around the world, which our founding fathers worked so tirelessly to create is well known, especially on this day. As a big fan of history, I am also a big fan of the founding fathers and their accomplishments, but I want to take a look at a 4th of July celebrated by another generation. A generation that the founding fathers would be very proud of, and a generation to which America owes a large amount of gratitude. That generation is forever known as America’s “Greatest Generation.”

On the fourth of July circa 1942, there were very few picnics; there were even fewer parties. America did not stop to celebrate its birthday that year. Instead, America continued to work. Military and government institutions continued to work as brave soldiers were off fighting and preparing for war. The U.S. Post Office stayed open, most businesses stayed open, and to set an example President Franklin Roosevelt kept the White House on a business as usual schedule. The Greatest Generation learned to appreciate and embrace sacrifice. They understood the toil and sacrifice that so many had endured leading up to and in the years following that first Independence Day in 1776. It’s because of the sacrifice that so many gave in 1942 that we can enjoy those celebrations of family, friends, food, and fireworks. Below I have included a short speech that President Roosevelt gave in 1942. I encourage everyone to take a look at it, and realize the sacrifice that so many gave.

As you are sitting enjoying the fireworks and having a good time with family and friends take a moment and think about that sacrifice that so many gave. For every colorful firework, and every loud “boomer,” there are hundreds of American soldiers buried around the world. Those brave soldiers fought so valiantly for the cause of enduring American independence and freedom. As we celebrate America’s independence, we also remember the sacrifice of so many which allows our traditions to continue.

“For 166 years this Fourth Day of July has been a symbol to the people of our country of the democratic freedom which our citizens claim as their precious birthright. On this grim anniversary its meaning has spread over the entire globe--focusing the attention of the world upon the modern freedoms for which all the United Nations are now engaged in deadly war.
On the desert sands of Africa, along the thousands of miles of battle lines in Russia, in New Zealand and Australia, and the islands of the Pacific, in war-torn China and all over the seven seas, free men are fighting desperately--and dying--to preserve the liberties and the decencies of modern civilization. And in the overrun and occupied nations of the world, this day is filled with added significance, coming at a time when freedom and religion have been attacked and trampled upon by tyrannies unequaled in human history.
Never since it first was created in Philadelphia, has this anniversary come in times so dangerous to everything for which it stands. We celebrate it this year, not in the fireworks of make-believe but in the death-dealing reality of tanks and planes and guns and ships. We celebrate it also by running without interruption the assembly lines, which turn out these weapons to be shipped to all the embattled points of the globe. Not to waste one hour, not to stop one shot, not to hold back one blow--that is the way to mark our great national holiday in this year of 1942.To the weary, hungry, unequipped Army of the American Revolution, the Fourth of July was a tonic of hope and inspiration. So is it now. The tough, grim men who fight for freedom in this dark hour take heart in its message--the assurance of the right to liberty under God--for all peoples and races and groups and nations, everywhere in the world.”

Independence... A certain cause for celebration

2006-07-02T10:56:00.001-07:00

It is only fitting that I start my two-part post on American Independence on July 2, as this was the day that was originally the day sought out for American independence. It was actually the 2nd of July that John Adams was referring to when he wrote to his wife Abigail and said that this day will “be the most memorable Epocha in the history of America… It ought to be Solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” Well Mr. Adams was not wrong about the celebration, only slightly off on the date.

Technically the United States of America declared its Independence on July 2nd 1776, but after congress adjourned on the July 2nd, they used the 3rd and the 4th to make a few minimal changes, making the official date the famous 4th of July. While it is the fourth that we celebrate, I would like to talk about the actual document that declared American Independence on the day of its unofficial completion.

The Declaration of Independence is famously known as Thomas Jefferson’s greatest literary achievement. Drafted in the month of June, Jefferson (who received significant help from John Adams and there have often been disputes about who actually wrote it) created the document that immediately became America’s most cherished symbol of liberty and freedom. The philosophy of the Declaration was not something new to civilized society. Something that John Locke and other philosophers had touched on many generations before. The ideals were nothing new, but the circumstances of these tiny unproven colonies splitting apart from mighty England would not only prove to be monumental, but would eventually change the course of history. The Declaration of Independence marked a new era in the world: the emergence of a new country, but also with the later creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence set the stage for democracy that the world had yet to see.

Here is an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence. The first three or four lines are of course ones that everyone knows, but I challenge you all to read on and see what else that Jefferson and Adams sought was vital to the success of a new nation:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

My first bike incident... What a joy

2006-06-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Ok the folks at Intelligent Confusion would like to apologize for the delinquency in the responses lately. Yours truly has been really busy. Who knew that not having a job, would actually make me more busy? Well just to let you know that the blogging will continue soon. Look for a two part series on American Independence starting tomorrow or Sunday. Also look for the continuation of my series on leadership next week. Ok, I had to share the following story as it is probably one of the most embarrassing, and yet hilarious moments of my life thus far:

I was riding my bike from my place in Shoreview to my parents house this morning and as I approached the intersection of Highway 96 and Lexington Ave I had what I will call an incident. It was about 8 a.m. so rush hour was prevalent, and needless to say there were a lot of cars on the road (as well as a few bikers and joggers). As I approached the intersection I reached out for the post to push the button for the walk sign. Well let's just say that I somehow missed the post, and I was rolling at the blazing speed of .4 mph towards Highway 96. I put my right foot down to brace myself as my blazing rate of speed was not enough to keep my bike balanced. Incidentally my foot got caught in my toe clip (awesome toe clip) and being that my weight was going toward the right, I toppled over like Humpty Dumpty.

Now I am normally a pretty confident guy who doesn't like to have anyone see my fail or screw up, but this was the epitome of (insert adjective here). I fell over, and got my right leg caught under my bike (still in my pedal mind you). I was struggling mightily and my ego was starting to become significantly bruised. There must have been forty or so cars that saw the fall, and a handful of bikers and walkers. Did anyone stop?? I think not (actually I am really glad that no one did). I finally got up, sat there and waited for the longest stop light in the world (or so it seemed). I drank some Gatorade and spit it out (to look cool), pretended like I knew what I was doing as I checked my clips and gears, and flashed a smile a time or two. I have to say that if I was in a car and saw myself do that I would have lost it laughing. I must have looked like the biggest moron. Who can't keep a bike stable these days? Anyway as I pulled off and passed the biker who was across the street I noticed that I had a significant amount of blood on my knee, so at least I have a battle scar. When all is said and done I checked the bike and I have a bent handle bar and gear post (awesome), a scared knee, and a severely bruised ego, but everything else is in order.

Leading by faith

2006-06-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

I want to continue my series on leadership, and move in another direction from the last post. My first profile was of George Washington, America's first General, Commander in chief, and President. There is no doubt that without Washington's heroics America would probably not exist in the form that it does today. Certainly Washington displayed leadership in the bravest, most courageous way possible. I want to highlight a different kind of leadership, and a different kind of person today. This person was a leader by faith, he did what he thought his faith would dictate. He risked everything for his faith, and did it simply because it was the right thing to do. His legacy lives on through theology, history, and politics. He was not only able to capture the hearts and admiration of Christians but also of people of other religions and generally society as a whole. My second profile in leadership is German professor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

I selected Bonhoeffer, because I think that he offers such a contrast and differing leadership style to the other people that I want to discuss. Bonhoeffer, a prodigy by all definitions of the word. He had his doctorate degree from the University of Berlin in his early twenties, and went on to study at Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he was able to cultivate much of his theological rhetoric. While Bonhoeffer served in many different church's and church organizations around the world, he is most often remembered for his work in the "Confessing Church" and his adamant opposition to German National Socialism (Nazism). The Confessing Church was essentially an underground church movement that preached in resistance to Hitler and the Nazi party. Throughout his time in Germany during WWII, Bonhoeffer is known for his attempts to try and help Jews escape to Switzerland and after he was jailed his apparent attempts to assassinate Hitler.

It is through Bonhoeffer's struggles and trials that we learn so much about his leadership. When he was jailed for his opposition to the Nazi party, Bonhoeffer continued to write, and some of his greatest works came from this period. Bonhoeffer, had not only a lot to say about theology and faith, but also about politics. On numerous occasions he wrote about what needed to happen in the reconstruction of Germany after WWII. Bonhoeffer knew the inevitability of his death, yet he still continued to have the faith that he had always had. The faith that guided his life. He continued to believe that this was the purpose for which he was here. Everyone may not agree with everything that Bonhoeffer did or said (I know there are some things that I question), but that should not take away from the brilliance and courage that Bonhoeffer showed in standing tall for his faith.

I felt compelled to include Bonhoeffer in this series because I think that he is a great leader. Not because he got up and gave speeches in front of thousands of people, or because he won heroic battles, but because what he did and what he accomplished lives on through his works and his legacy. Although what is so fascinating about Bonhoeffer is not only what he accomplished as a religious figure, but also what he accomplished as a social and political figure. Bonhoeffer wrote a lot about life before Hitler, and as I stated above, he had his opinions about German reconstruction. Bonhoeffer exemplifies leadership for me as a Christian because he was not afraid to look adversity and death in the face, he put his faith first. Bonhoeffer truly lived and died for his faith.

Sadly Bonhoeffer was taken much to soon from this world, as he was hanged on April 9th 1945 at Flossenburg Concentration camp. Bonhoeffer was among the last killed at Flossenburg, as the U.S. 2nd Calvary liberated the camp only a week and a half later. Bonhoeffer's leadership and legacy live on through his writings, and I can speak for myself and many others, that I am so glad that they do.

I would recommend that everyone take a look at some of Bonhoeffer's works. I think that no matter what your place or avenue in life is, you will find his work inspiring and profound.

"The ultimate question for a responsible man to ask is not how he is to extricate himself heroically from the affair, but how the coming generation shall continue to live."
Dietrich bonfire, After Ten Years (December 1942)

What an idiot... Gosh.

2006-06-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

So I am trying to figure out who is the bigger idiot, myself or Phil Mickelson. Yesterday Phil blew his chance to win the U.S. Open, and this time (as in the past), it wasn't the course that ate him up, it was himself. Having a one shot lead going into 18 all Phil had to do was par 18, something that he had done the first three rounds at the Open. So he takes driver off the tee (a hole after taking driver into a trash can lid in the gallery on 17), and pulls is so far left that it bounces off a corporate tent. Than he try's to do to much with his next shot and hits a tree square, his next shot goes into the sand trap, his next shot over the green, he misses the chip. He doubles the hole, letting his shot for an open slip away. After he said that he was "such an idiot."

Now to yours truly. I just got a new phone on Friday... A razor in fact. I am cool let me tell you. I have this cool black phone where the key pad lights up, I have a music ring tone (Beach Boys), and this phone has so many gadgets it makes me ill. So I'm at the lake on Sunday evening (yea ok you probably can see where this one is going already) and we are going to take a pontoon ride. I am holding the boat down so my dad can poor some gas in the tank and my grandma can get on. Some waves come along (it's not uncommon Lake Minnetonka is a busy place), and I am basically holding the boat and sitting back with all my weight in order to keep it steady. We get on the boat start going, and I reach to grab my phone and it's not there (now it's all becoming clear isn't it). After we get back my sister tried to call it, and checks in the house. I run to get my suit on and go in the water to realize that my phone was in about three feet of water under the dock. It does not turn on certainly, and needless to say I was about as upset as I have ever been. The phone had to fall out of my pocket at the perfect angle and go through the small crack in-between boards just right. If I did that 10 times I don't think it would happen that way again. It would have bounced on the dock (which I would have heard, or gotten caught... Awesome. So I slammed the phone on the dock got out of the water not listening to my family who was trying to help me, and I chucked the phone across the lawn (what am I 8 years old?). Needless to say the phone is toast. After it dried out later it turned back on, but the battery is shot, there is water and sand inside the screen, and you can hear sand inside the phone. I am going to try and go get a new phone, but have a feeling that I may have to pay a stiff price for it.

Look for my second installment on leadership tomorrow or Wed. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Breakfast Gravy

2006-06-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

Breakfast Gravy

Twins Mania?

2006-06-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

My favorite major league baseball team is finally playing well. All they need to do is play the AL East. They have dominated the AL East this year. They took two of three from the Yanks (earlier in the season) and orange birds, and they just swept the bo-sox. Great outing for the Twins who now go on the road to play the Pirates. The Twins have struggled on the road this year, but this time the Twins are going to throw Liriano, Bonser, and Santana. With Liriano and Santana you always have a shot at victory. This past series over the bo-sox included a great pitching match-up on Tues. and Jason Kubel hitting a walk-off grand slam in the 11th. Kubel has been on fire hitting a homerun in every game of the Boston series. The Twins have hit four grandslam's this year, all of them in the past two weeks. There is that power that I was speaking of.

The U.S. team needs to win tomorrow or else they are out of the World Cup. So much for this being the best U.S. men's team ever.

The U.S. Open golf tournament started yesterday. This is my favorite tournament in golf without question. There is only one player under par (Colin Montgomerie at -1) The rest of the field is even or over par. That is the beauty of the open. Being that the course will get harder as the week progresses, it is apparent that the winner of the Open will not be under par. I love a tournament where par is a good score, and birdies are rare, and when you get them it is a great score. You don't shoot at pins in the Open because the greens are so hard, and there is no bite. You put the ball in the middle of the green and go after par. Holes are long (514 yd par four... Let me say that again 514 yd par 4!?!?! Holy crap, there are many courses I have played where par 5's are shorter than that, it is the longest par 4 in open history), and the rough is deep. I have to admit that I am rooting for Tiger, being that the final round is on Fathers Day, and he lost his dad about a month and a half ago. Tiger struggled in round one, but it's Tiger and he's never out of it. I can't wait for Sunday!

Patience and Perseverance... The powerful combination of leadership.

2006-06-12T23:03:00.000-07:00

Patience and perseverance are a necessity for effective leadership, so thought one of America’s and the world’s greatest leaders, George Washington. Washington took the role as this country’s first Commander in Chief and the country’s first President. While he is remembered as a great American hero, it is important to understand that the American Revolution was never a breeze for Washington. It certainly isn’t just the glorified stories of Yorktown and crossing the Delaware River, which everyone knows and celebrates. Unquestionably those are big factors and great testaments to Washington, but the Revolution is far more complex than those heroic episodes. Surprisingly enough, Washington suffered many bad defeats at the hands of the British and German forces. There were periods of time where his defeats far outnumbered his victories. The struggling colonies thought on more than one occasion that maybe he wasn’t the right man for the job. Washington had men and boys who had never seen the light of a cannon let alone a battlefield. His army can certainly go down in history as one of the more pathetic. There was never any rhyme or reason, no uniforms, rarely were there ever-proper supplies. To make matters worse, he was going up against the most powerful military in the world, and England over time would prove to throw everything she could at Washington.

Yet Washington never gave up, he realized on numerous occasions that patience and perseverance were the only strategies worth living. He was also not foolish, when he and the remainder of his army were left in New York, Washington realized that it would be a slaughter if he tried to stay and defend New York, so he anchored one of the most daring escapes in modern history. Soldiers, horses, cannons, weapons, and supplies all across a river and out of Brooklyn before dawn. When the British got there the next day there was nothing but a few burning embers. Washington knew that at some point he was going to have to strike, because his army was being pushed back so rapidly and he realized he could not retreat forever. Washington also knew that this war (if fought the right way) would not be over quickly. He knew that if he exerted some patience, he might be able to regroup in time for one last offensive stand to save his country.

Throughout all of this planning, all of these failures, all of the hardships that his men were going through, Washington suffered right along with them. Numerous times during battle, he would be at the front of the lines barking out orders or rallying his troops for a final push. Washington on countless occasions was able to take his troops from utter destruction to confidence and victory. Washington was a leader in every sense of the word. Washington believed in his cause, he believed in his country, and even though no one else did, he believed in his men. He took what he had, and laid the structure for the most powerful country in the world. Washington understood leadership at its basic foundation: “A people unused to restraint must be lead, they will not be drove.”

The reason I am telling this story is because so many of us know George Washington for being the nations first President, and being the face on the dollar bill, and being the namesake of our nations capitol. But few truly know him as a leader. When he crossed the Delaware on Christmas Eve 1776 (which he crossed and re-crossed three times I believe), he knew that this might be the last shot, he knew that what he was putting his men through was pure hell, he knew that everything he had fought for was hanging in the balance. With the successful capture of Trenton, and than another battle won up the road, Washington was able to gain back the confidence from his people that he once lost. Again after the debacle at Valley Forge, Washington never lost sight of his goal. When his officers were planning a rebellion, Washington gave them an impassioned speech, which brought some to tears. When the colonies started to pull out supplies and support and Congress got restless, Washington time and time again went to bat for his men. He knew that they were his responsibility; their livelihood depended upon his success.

Washington’s success made him the most powerful man in America, but at the end of the war in a ceremony before congress, General Washington turned in his sword and resigned as Commander in Chief. An unprecedented move historically. Of all the great military leaders of history (which Washington certainly is one of them), Napoleon certainly wouldn’t have done that neither would Caesar. Washington realized that his duty was over. At one point during the war, Congress had granted him ultimate power. He essentially could have become a dictator if he had so chosen. Yet Washington realized that the cause of the country was his cause. Washington was driven to win, and to fight for the freedom of his new country. He was not driven by power. The responsibility that our country put on Washington was great, but the effort that Washington gave back was even greater. After serving eight years as President, Washington was called on by his country one last time. Than President John Adams re-commissioned Washington as General and Commander in Chief to forge a plan for French advancements in the southeast. There was much fear of an attack. Once again Washington came to the call of leadership. It was his call, one that he was always willing to answer.

I wanted to start my series with Washington because I think that he represents everything that leadership is. Time and time again during the war, Washington wrote to Congress and pleaded for ”perseverance and spirit,” “patience and perseverance,” and unremitting courage and perseverance.” All he was asking Congress for was what he had shown to his men, and his country. Washington never made unrealistic demands; he never did anything to better himself if it meant that his men or his country would suffer. He never asked anything of his men or his country that he would not do himself. Washington had the patience and perseverance to stick to a war that many had given up upon. When things looked there bleakest, when the road came to the end, Washington kept going. He continued to push forward toward the goal of his new country. He wasn’t perfect by any means, he made a lot of mistakes (mostly from inexperience), and he got lucky a time or two, but when the going got tough, Washington got going. David McCullough wrote that “without Washington’s leadership and unrelenting perseverance, the revolution almost certainly would have failed.” Patience and perseverance are essential to effective leadership, and George Washington had both. General Nathanael Greene wrote that Washington would “be the deliverer of his own country.” Thankfully for all of us, he was right.

Monday morning QB

2006-06-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

My favorite Major league team finally looked really good yesterday. Even if it were for only one game. They got some excellent pitching from rookie sensation Francisco Liriano, who is pitching out of his mind. He gave up 1 hit and no runs through 7 innings. Joe Mauer continued his hitting streak but had a "bad day" according to the recent standards that he has set for himself having only one hit. Justin Morneau got another clutch homerun right after manager Ron Gardenhire got thrown out for arguing a terrible call against Michael Cuddyer. Hopefully the Twins can turn it around and get a streak going here with the Red Sox coming to town on Tuesday.

The United States opens World Cup play today at 11. I have to say that I am very excited to be able to watch part of this game. It should be a good first test to see if this team is for real like they say, or it is just another disappointment like the majority of U.S. teams in international competition lately.

Shots were fired outside of the Minneapolis Convention Center last night as people were exiting Minneapolis Henry's graduation ceremony. The 8 police officers that were there said they heard up to 4 shots. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it certainly leads one to ponder. This is a high school graduation. You would think that 8 police would be enough, but come on. This was a venue for some of these kids to celebrate making it to a goal that was once not possible. I have a feeling that whomever fired the shots could benefit from the same ceremony if they put the effort in.

Violent crime is up nation wide from last year. Moreover the highest rate within the nation is in the Midwest... Awesome.

Kind of a slow start to the week here.

Just Sports

2006-06-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

Rafael Nadal won another French Open title again this morning, and extended his dominat winning streak on clay courts to 60. I don't know much about tennis (although I enjoy watching big matches, they are unbelievable athletes), but to win 6 in a row in this day in age is impressive, but 60? I don't know a whole lot about Nadal, but I thought I would give him some props that is impressive. The French Open has often been sighted as the toughest major to win because of the clay. Many tennis greats were never able to have much success on clay (take Pete Sampres for example, he is one of the greatest if not the greatest tennis player ever, and was terrible on clay). However Nadal can't seem to win anywhere else, he is fantastic on clay, but not elsewhere. The French Open would probably be the most sought after prize in tennis if it weren't for the grass courts on the other side of the English Channel. Actually the U.S. Open has now become a bigger tournament as well. Anyway, all that to say congrats to Mr. Nadal.

The World Cup has started and I have to say that I am excited. Current match in progress is Iran and Mexico. This is the only time you may ever here me say this but I am a huge fan of Mexico right now. I love how political international events like this get. So much pride and nationalism. Hopefully we can keep it under control and not let our emotions get the best of us. Yet I suspect to hear about a few riots in countries over the next few weeks. My heritage land Sweden had a sweet 0-0 tie against Trindad and Tobago yesterday. Awesome Sweden.

Twins lost last night 9-7. Carlos Silva looked terrible in five innings as I understand, so things look pretty bleak for my favorite MLB team, except for the hometown boy Joe Mauer. He is on FIRE. He is leading the Majors in batting average. Way to go Joe!

Heat and Mavs face off in game two tonight. If I'm not mistaken game one was in Dallas, as is game two. So my question is why is there like a five week gap in between games. game one was on Thurs. Is the NBA trying to extend the season to the start of football training camp? If this series goes 7 we are going to be only weeks away from the 4th of July. Sweet David Stern. Go Heat.

Edmington finally got a game last night, and take the series to 2-1 Carolina. I am pulling for Edmington because they have a former Wild Goalie (even though he is out for the rest of the series), and Carolina hockey??? Come on.

Finally and most importantly, the U.S. Open is on this weekend. Often slated as the best weekend of the year for me personally. I love the Open, it is the best tourney in Golf (although I will hear arguments about the Masters), and hopefully as usual par will be a great score. If you are looking for a favorite, I say it has to be Tiger. He will be playing with a lot of emotion being that he just lost his father a few months back, and the final is on father's day. Winged Foot will prove to be a challenge, I look for the winner to finish at -2. Can't wait to get out and play a little golf myself.

Leadership

2006-06-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

Today I am going to start a multi part series on leadership. It is something that has been on my mind and heart for sometime, and I think that now is an ample opportunity for me to dive into it. I am a proponent that effective leadership is the only way to properly run any society, company, family, church, etc. Without leadership there can be no success, there can be no vision, there can be no future, for many there can be no tomorrow. Throughout this series I am going to highlight many people from all walks of life. As you will probably notice, most of the people will be important historical figures (i.e. generals and military personnel, politicians, and other respectable leaders of our time and times past). Leadership to me is not cut and dry, it comes in packages large and small. Being an effective leader does not mean you have to run a fortune five hundred company, or command hundreds of troops into battle. Effective leadership can mean teaching someone how to read or giving someone direction when they are lost. As John Quincy Adams once said: If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Leaders are around making impacts everyday. If you’re a leader it doesn’t mean that you have to write best selling novels or sell out huge venues, inspiring millions of people. At the same time just because one is doing those things that alone does not make them a leader.
Leaders are the catalyst to this society at all levels. Leaders are the ones that lay the groundwork that set the stage, that show those who are doing the work how to do the work. It is often said that sales is the means that drives a successful business, but effective leadership is the means that drives sales. The job in which I just came from is a case in point example of the direction this society seems to be heading. The company has very low employee retention rates, and is constantly having to spend money and resources training in new people after 10-12 months when others just didn’t cut it. They continue to fire those who are doing the work, but very rarely look to those who are leading. Not everyone is going to fit a script for specific positions. Part of leadership is working with what you have and creating opportunity off of the strengths that someone might have. While one person may be great at sales, the other may be great at marketing, while the other may be great at public relations/policy. That sounds to me like you have a fairly dynamite sales team. However because they are not all capable of doing the one thing the company may not want, they are of no apparent help to the company. There is a definite opportunity for this institution in society, yet because they are fogged by a cloud of ineffective leadership they are continually missing it, not because they can’t see it, but because they don’t want any part of it.
I am not going to post on this everyday, as this is an ongoing product within my head, but I am going to try and post once or twice a week for the next few weeks on leadership. I am going to have a theme each time I post, a theme in which I think is vital for leaders in the future. Now with all this said, I am not an expert on leadership or anything of that realm. I am drawing off scholarly sources, and others who are. Much of this is also simply my opinion and my observations of what I see as a major obstacle in our society. All I hope to do is to one day create a discourse on the matter, because hopefully some headway can be made.

Iraq, hot buttons and leadership

2006-06-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi the top Al-Qaida leader in Iraq was killed in a strategic bombing raid last night. While Iraqi officials and U.S. officials are calling this a positive step forward in the war on terror, Al-Qaida is celebrating his death saying he was a great martyr for the cause. They will continue to come after the evil doers in the west, and they vow to continue this fight. I was pleased to see that we finally took this guy out, because I am under the impression that little by little we are taking apart their system and picking apart their spirits. Am I wrong to think that? Is every kill we make and every capture we produce getting us a step closer to ending this global war on terror, or is it just another bump along the way of the endless conflict that will consume western society for the rest of our lives. I am still confident that democratic ideas can make a positive impact on middle eastern society. With that said, I don't mean to say that these countries will become democracies, I think that will prove to be impossible (theocracies at best). But I think that the impact that freedom and free societies will have on these people can make a difference. I have no problem with the Islamic faith at the base, but radical Islam is the one doing all the talking. I think that if an end is ever to be in sight it must be a joint effort between the free democratic states of the west, and the Islamic states of the Middle East. These terror organizations are training these kids from day one. It is kind of like (although on a completely different scale) what Hitler was able to do with Nazi youth camps. Almost brainwashing children and youth to fit a purpose. The only problem was that Hitler was after nationalism and an ideology while these radical sects of Islam are based on religious principals. I believe that this capture is a good thing, I believe that we are slowly headed in the right direction, but I also believe that the direction that we have to go is to the root of Islam. We need to show these young kids that terror is not the root of Islam just like Nazism was not the root of Germany. For that we need the worldwide Muslim community to stand up.

The gay marriage debate is back at the forefront, as President Bush has made a push to get congress moving on passing an amendment, for a possible constitutional ban. I was not going to touch this one with a ten foot poll, but there have been some recent events that have changed my mind ever so slightly. Many are saying that it is not the government's job to regulate something like marriage, and that is one of those things that falls under the category of "choice." My question is isn't everything in life fall under the category of choice? This is dangerous territory which this country is embarking on. True that this technically falls into the category of choice, but with that logic so does murder. Even though it is wrong and illegal, does not make it anyless of a choice. It is human nature to have a choice such as murder or stealing. You make that choice. Gay marriage is another one such choice (granted not on the same scale, and I was not trying make a comparison just using two extreme examples to show the inherent right of choice). My point is that there are few people in this country that believe that murder is ok, because there is a higher moral standard that seems to prohibit it in most cultures (but we won't get into that at this time). However many believe that the ability for a homosexual couple to get married is not for the government to decide. Their argument often centers around examples from dystopic literature such as Orwell's 1984 or Zamyatin's We. That a government can have too much control and start taking away rights of its citizens. I can see that argument. I am a proponent for smaller government. I believe that often times less is more. On the other hand isn't it true that government is in place for a purpose? We elect these officials for a reason. Are we capable of ruling ourselves? No we're not. Anarchy is not an option. The other end of the spectrum is that what is next? If we keep making exceptions and allowing people to do what they want when they want, and allow the judicial system to keep making rulings the way they seem fit it can become volatile. It is a dangerous crossroads. Where do I stand? I can sympathize with moderate arguments from both sides. So as always somewhere in the middle.

Tomorrow, I start my series on leadership. It is something that has been on my mind lately, and I look forward to sharing some thoughts.

Politics? Ah come one.

2006-06-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

First lady Laura Bush visited the Twin Cities yesterday to champion for education and also to benefit U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kennedy. I have to say that I have been a big Bush supporter in the past, and I still like the man that is President Bush very much, but I don't like many of the things that he and his administration have been doing lately. However the one piece of the puzzle that I still respect thoroughly is the First Lady. I have always been impressed with Mrs. Bush, and seeing the video and reading the accounts from yesterday only expands that admiration. The Star and Sickle had nothing to say about the First Lady (which means she had a great visit in the Twin Cities), because they spent their time destroying her husband and picking apart Rep. Kennedy. Bush went to a school in St. Louis Park, and spoke at the Depot in downtown Minneapolis. Of course the Democrats used the visit as a political platform to rip apart Kennedy and let him know that he has to separate himself from the President if he wants any chance at all. Close line to the Democratic party: "Tell Ms. Klobuchar that she needs to at least do something in this race, make an appearance, have someone come here on your behalf, tell us something about what her plans are. This sitting around waiting for the Republicans to screw up strategy will not work." Now I am completely aware that had this been a Democratic figure in here the Republicans would have lashed out in the same way.

Here we go again... Northwest airlines are once again up against a threat of a strike. This time it is from their flight attendants. NWA flight attendants voted overwhelmingly yesterday to reject an offer that would have included a 21% pay cut. This is such a frustrating topic for yours truly. I am so sick and tired of hearing about it. It has gone away for a couple of months but without surprise its back. This is not as big of a deal as when the pilots where threatening back in late February and early March, but it is a big deal nonetheless. One of the hot issues is NWA insistence on outsourcing work for international flights to other parts of the world. I am a big supporter of NWA. I only fly NWA, my check and credit card get me NWA miles, and I have long been in their court, but they need to realize that many of the demands they are making are unreasonable. How about the Corporate and upper management take pay cuts. If you cut their salaries by 21% you would probably have enough to about get the airline out of Bankruptcy. On the other end of the spectrum, unions have gotten out of control. The reason that unions were started was for protection of the worker and the workers rights. Unions are there for a purpose, yet they are completely over stepping that purpose. If the flight attendants go on strike and eventually lose their jobs, what does the union care, they will move on to their other airlines. Union leadership needs to be local always. If jobs are lost, than unions should be lost with them. It's time that unions went back for fighting for the people and not the money, or it is time that unions went away.

Michelle Wie barely missed qualifying for the U.S. Open on Monday. I have to say that I wrote about this on Monday and had mixed reactions to what I wrote. Some thought that I was completely against Michelle Wie trying to make it to the U.S. Open, that is not the case at all. I agree with a good friend of mine that the fact she is trying to earn her way there and not get some ridiculous sponsors exemption is very respectable. Michelle is an incredible talent and I believe that she will play in a men's U.S. Open some day. I have no problem with that at all. The only issues I have are these: If she does make it will be a huge deal and a media circus. If she is in the hunt and competing for a victory lets watch her all the time, otherwise let's put the camera's on those playing the best golf, and those that have a chance to win. Many are upset about the cameras always being on Tiger. The problem with that logic is that Tiger is almost always in contention to win the golf tournament. If the same holds true for Wie great. If she makes it fair and square, lets treat her fair and square like any other participant. Not to mention she would say the same thing. Secondly I wanted her to make it and qualify at another event first. The U.S. Open is a heck of a stage to start at. The course she played was 7,000 yards and she does hit the ball over 300 yards off the tee, so she can hold her own with some of these players, but the Open is such a mental test. One that I don't think that a 16 year old (yet alone the only girl in the field or to have ever been in the field) could handle. Michelle Wie will make it to an Open some day, but if her ultimate goal is to compete at that level and not just make it, than she needs to start playing at that level on a regular basis.

D-Day

2006-06-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

Many seem to care that this day represents 06/06/06. Well not me. All I see are the first two sixes and what comes after that I don't care. Today is D-Day. One of the most important days/events of World War II. It was the day that American and allied forces boldly invaded the beaches of Normandy, France to pursue Nazi positions encamped on the coastline. The invasion was incredibly risky as Nazi forces often had better and elevated positions. There were going to be casualties. The soldiers knew it, but they went anyway. They fought because they knew that it was the right thing to do. They put the good of their country and the good of humanity as a whole in front of their own good. D-Day was one of those events that marked the beginning of the end for Nazi forces. While more fighting would go on, it was a show of force from the allied side, and one that was long overdue.

Below is the speech that General Eisenhower gave to troops before they launched the attack on D-Day:

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have
striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The
hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on
other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war
machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of
Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of
1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats,
in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their
strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home
Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions
of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.
The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to
Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great
and noble undertaking.

In the words of Eisenhower, "the eyes of the world" were upon these troops. The fate of the free world depended upon their success and bravery.

Political Maddness

2006-06-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

President Bush is urging members of congress to vote for an amendment to ban gay marriage. With many moderate Republicans and every Democrat (except Nebraska's Ben Nelson) in the Senate against such a measure, it makes the passage of the amendment unlikely. With President Bush pushing so hard for this amendment and also for the passage of the immigration bill, it really makes me think. I can't say that I know where the President is coming from at all. Just when I think that I have him figured out, or something begins to make sense that he has done, he comes out of left field with something completely different. I voted for President Bush, and I was a wholehearted supporter of his. I still like him, and I still have faith in him, but some of the decisions that he makes just make me scratch my head. Plain and simple. His administration has made some fairly foolish mistakes, yet I still truly believe he believes he is doing the right thing. I think he is a good person, but has taken some bad advice. Anyway look for more on the President as I step out of current events and launch my series on leadership later this week and early next week.

The Supreme Court is going to be embarking on what could be a "landmark affirmative action case" in the near future. Earlier this morning, justices decided that they will rule on the extent that schools can use race when deciding certain school assignments. The outcome of the case will be heavily scrutinized regardless, but it will be the first big test for Chief Justice John Roberts, and new Justice Samuel Alito. I have a strange feeling that either way Justices Roberts and Alito are going to be raked over the coals for this one. Probably at one point labeled racist. The media will jump at the chance to rip apart Alito and Roberts.

Michelle Wie is trying to become the first woman to qualify and play in the men's U.S. Open. Now I am all for fairness, and I think that women's rights are essential, and equality is great, but the jury is still out on how I feel about this one. This is not your everyday run of the mill PGA event she is trying to qualify for, this is the U.S. Open. Not to be sexist or anything, but to be fair, could Tiger Woods play and qualify for the women's open if he wanted? Not to mention I feel bad for Wie. She is going to get destroyed. Plain and simple. She is a great talent, and I think that she could hold her own at the John Deer classic, or the Memorial, but this is the U.S. Open. The course is Winged Foot. One of the most storied courses in the country. The yardage is over 7,200. There is a 640 yd par 5 and the last five holes are grueling par 4's. The par is only 70. Scores will probably be typical U.S. Open scores and not be low. U.S. Open's are the best for a reason. They are the longest, fastest, toughest, hardest courses. The winning score could be even or over par. There will be thousands watching at the course and millions watching around the world. I would love to see Michelle succeed at a men's tourney, but not the U.S. Open. There is no tougher more difficult tournament in golf. I wish Michelle the best of luck, but fear her weekend will end on Friday afternoon.

Finally the Twins are really bad. They finally got a good start from Radke on Sat, and could muster only one run. If it wasn't for a late homerun and Satanna's brilliance on Friday, they would have been swept this weekend. Close line to the Twins: "GET SOMEONE WHO CAN HIT."

Not so traditional high school graduate

2006-06-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Trib has a story this morning about Lucille Keppen, a 92 year old inmate in a state prison who is going to receive her GED next month. Keppen is in prison for shooting and seriously injuring her neighbor in 2002. She shot him because he had stop spending time with her. Apparently Stephen (Baard) Flesche (her neighbor) a Vietnam veteran would spend a lot of time with Keppen, and he was helping her with religious issues that Keppen was going through. Apparently when he stopped coming around, she shot him, and watched him walk and struggle away until he fell to the ground. She thought that once she shot him he would immediately fall like in the movies: "He kept on walking and walking. I remember seeing movies where when someone gets shot they curl up and down they go. He didn't, he just kept walking and walking. Then all of sudden, he got weak and the Bible flew and down he went. I said to him, 'I just hope it hurts, because you hurt me so deeply.' " Now the Red Tribune has ran an article about this woman's accomplishment of finishing her GED... I have to say that I can't believe that I wasted my time reading this, but wow the Trib has really reached a new level. This is unbelievable. I am all for forgiveness and the celebration of education, but how about we run a story on someone a little more worthy of such notoriety. I know for a fact that my mom and sister have children in their programs that would be highly more deserving of acknowdlement when they graduate from high school or get their GED. I love the ocasional story about the 90 year old man or women getting their high school diploma. Often they are followed by a story of hard ship or war (as was the reason that Keppen never finished high school). This story would have been great if Keppen had not shot a man. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/466174.html

Valleyfair will re-open Wild Thing today. After being shut down a few weeks ago because of cars breaking away from the rest of the pack. Here is my question: Does anyone want to ride Wild Thing anymore? The state of Minnesota doesn't require routine inspections on Valleyfair rides, and that is something that doesn't sit well with yours truly. Have you been to Valleyfair lately? In the summer time when the weather is nice, and you want to spend a great day at Valleyfair riding a few rides and checking out the water park, you don't want to have to worry about your ride falling apart. The real issue I think is who is in charge of these rides. Valleyfair has a great summer internship program for students, but when my car is flying off the track at 70 mph, I don't want a freshman from the U of M taking the controls.

President Bush is pushing both the Senate and the House to come to some agreements on the immigration bill. The bill which passed through the Senate, has a long way still to go. I have to admit that I am getting rather tired of this subject, but I'm going to continue to look into it. I truly believe that any legitimate bill has to have proper sanctions written in for big businesses who violate laws and use illegal aliens for cheap labor.

All U.S. and allied troops serving in Iraq will undergo "Core Values" training in how to operate professionally and humanely. This is in response to the allegations of mis-conduct and murder of 24 Iraqi civilians last year. The conclusion is that some officers lied to cover up the abuse. This is still all speculation at this point, but this is not good for the U.S. military. The media is having a field day with this (is anyone surprised), and no matter what happens, the military is already vilified for it. If and when these allegations prove to be true and there is evidence to support who is responsible those people should be punished to the fullest extent of the law (with with the military at the helm you can be certain that they will be). That is where it should end, but the media will continue to drag their own military who is defending their freedom to even speak in the mud. What happened is terrible and needs to be addressed, but that is no reason to drag all those who are risking their lives through the mud.

As random as possible

2006-05-31T10:54:00.000-07:00

I was searching through the papers yesterday and this morning, and I found a few stories that I found interesting. Some on the serious side, some on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Re-election anyone? New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty both announced they would seek re-election in their respective offices this morning. With Sen. Clinton making no reference to the upcoming Presidential race, and Gov. Pawlenty saying that he would honor his term, and has no indications of leaving office early if re-elected. Now I like Pawlenty and can't stand Clinton but should we trust either one?

You say goodbye, I say hello. That is the response from NBC and CBS respectively as Katie Couric said goodbye to NBC's Today show after 15 years. Couric will become the new nightly news anchor for CBS evening news. A post long held by old white men (thanks to Kyle for that inspiration). There is a lot of hoopla over this, but in reality does anyone care? Well apparently millions do, as millions turned in to watch. CBS is hoping that Couric can pull CBS out of the basement of nightly news ratings where they have been since Dan Rather started using the news as his one man stand up comedy hour. This is a great move for the immediate ratings for CBS. Many will tune in to here Katie for the first few months, but than they will all realize what many already know: Is there a better looking man than Brian Williams? I mean come on, why would you not watch NBC nightly news. Brian Williams looks like the most stereotypical news man there is. He even sounds like a news man. In fact if you look up news man in the dictionary... Brian Williams' picture is there. Anyway best of luck to Katie and her new 500 trillion dollar contract.

Land of 10,000 lakes... and counting. There was an article in the Minneapolis Star yesterday about a new development in Lakeville. The contractor had run into a snag building the massive man made lake in the heart of the development. Here's my question, why in the heck do we need to build a lake in MN? I found it really funny reading the story and reading what the guy said about the difficulties they were having with creating this lake. You know, God never had a whole lot of difficulty, maybe we should leave the creation of beautiful Minnesota lakes to him.

The twins that were separated at the Mayo clinic in Rochester a few weeks ago went home the other day. I don't know a whole lot more about this story except to say that it was extremly touching, and in all the flux of constant negativity that the media throws at us, it is good to hear something positive for a change. I will update their condition when I know more.

Two members from the Soulforce Equality ride made headlines once again when they tried to enlist at a military recruiting station in Roseville yesterday. The Equality ride has gained headlines recently with their travels around the country to various conservative Christian colleges trying to protest those colleges stances on homosexuality. The pair was there as part of a bigger protest against the militaries "Don't ask, don't tell policy." The two were clearly there to make a political point, and where going to hold a rally outside the recruiting station and launch a sit in when their applications were rejected. The story yesterday was front page on the startribune.com. The funny thing is that their applications were not rejected they were set aside to be processed after the tresspassing charges were taken care of. Ironically the Star and Sickle did not publish this on the front page, because there is no way you could give a positive light to the military, or report on something that is remotely positive. It will be interesting to see if Jacob Reitan and Haven Herrin (the two from Soulforce) follow through on their promise to the military or if this is just another politically driven stunt. I am compltely for equalility and would love to chat with the members of Soulfroce and see what common ground we can reach together. But how can I look at it as anything other than a politically driven stunt if they don't follow through. They alert the media everytime they go places and to be honest I think it is only hurting their cause. Let's sit down at the table and have a discourse about the subject. We need to reach common ground. We need to be on the same page. We need to leave politics out of it. There will be more on this later.

Finally and most importantly there is a new exhibit at the Minnesota History Center that is gaining a lot of well deserved attention in the Twin Cities lately. The exhibit is all about the 70th anniversary of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. The Olympics that of course have become famous with the Nazi takeover of Germany, and many who were not able to participate because of it. There are some great exhibits dedicated to African American athletes as well as many Jewish athletes that were not able to participate. There is a great story about a young lady who was going to participate in track and field, but she was Jewish and because of that alone she could not. The International Olympic Committee, required that Germany give everyone a fair shot, so they staged "try-outs" for Jewish athletes that were rigged so not to let any in. It is supposed to be a great exhibit by a great organization (I am a card carrying member of the MN historical society), and I would highly encourage anyone who is in the Twin Cities area to check it out. I think it runs through early July.

Memorial Day Tribute

2006-05-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

Below is a copy of a poem that I can across, and I thought that it was fitting for Memorial Day.

Freedom Is Not Free By LCDR Kelly Strong, USCG - Copyright 1981

I watched the flag pass by one day,It fluttered in the breeze. A young Service man saluted it, and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform so young, so tall, so proud, with hair cut square and eyes alert he'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him had fallen through the years. How many died on foreign soil how many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down? How many died at sea how many foxholes were soldiers' graves? No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of Taps one night, when everything was still,I listened to the bugler play and felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times that Taps had meant "Amen,"When a flag had draped a coffin. Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children, of the mothers and the wives, of fathers, sons and husbands with interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard at the bottom of the sea of unmarked graves in Arlington. No, freedom isn't free.

There have been many different versions of the famous military burial song "Taps." The story of how the song was created is the interesting one. Long debated, it originated during the American Civil War, but that is where the clarity ends. Either way it is always a tearful sorrowful ending to any soldiers life. There have been many additions to the song over the years, and there are no many verses, I thought I would share a few on this Memorial day.

Day is done, gone the sun, from the lakes from the hills from the sky, all is well, safely rest, God is near.
Fading light, dims the sight, and a star gems the sky gleaming bright, from afar drawing near, falls the night.
Thanks and praise, for our days, neath the sun neath the stars neath the sky, as we go, this we know, God is near.

My grandpa's best friend, cousin, and best man was laid to rest in the waters of the Pacific Ocean at the expense of Japanese gun fire. Nim is among the thousands of other Americans who saw there final resting place overseas. Along with the countless others who are buried in honor right here in America these men and women never got to say good-bye to loved ones, they left this world long before their time, and to them we owe and incredible amount of gratitude. I didn't even know these brave soldiers yet they went off and died for me and generations of Americans. To all those families who have lost, may God bless you and comfort you. To all those brave who died in defense of freedom: May you rest in peace forever.

Memorial Day tribute part 2

2006-05-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

Even though this speech was not given on Memorial Day, it is one of the most famous memorial speeches in American history, and one of my all time favorite speeches, by one of the greatest presidents America has ever seen and one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen. Note at the end of the speech when President Lincoln states that this war (American Civil War) and especially this battle (Battle of Gettysburg) will hopefully provide a new birth of freedom, and "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." I get chills every time I hear that.

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. "

Abraham Lincoln "Gettysburg Address"
November 19th 1863

Below is part of a Memorial day tribute given by President Reagan at a Memorial day tribute at Arlington National Cemetery on May 31, 1982:

"The willingness of some to give their lives so that others might live never fails to evoke in us a sense of wonder and mystery. One gets that feeling here on this hallowed ground, and I have known that same poignant feeling as I looked out across the rows of white crosses and Stars of David in Europe, in the Philippines, and the military cemeteries here in our own land. Each one marks the resting place of an American hero and, in my lifetime, the heroes of World War I, the Doughboys, the GI's of World War II or Korea or Vietnam. They span several generations of young Americans, all different and yet all alike, like the markers above their resting places, all alike in a truly meaningful way.
Winston Churchill said of those he knew in World War II they seemed to be the only young men who could laugh and fight at the same time. A great general in that war called them our secret weapon, ``just the best darn kids in the world.'' Each died for a cause he considered more important than his own life. Well, they didn't volunteer to die; they volunteered to defend values for which men have always been willing to die if need be, the values which make up what we call civilization. And how they must have wished, in all the ugliness that war brings, that no other generation of young men to follow would have to undergo that same experience.
As we honor their memory today, let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this nation. And let us also pledge to do our utmost to carry out what must have been their wish: that no other generation of young men will every have to share their experiences and repeat their sacrifice.
Earlier today, with the music that we have heard and that of our National Anthem -- I can't claim to know the words of all the national anthems in the world, but I don't know of any other that ends with a question and a challenge as ours does: Does that flag still wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? That is what we must all ask."

Ehud (part 2), Senate decisions, and Memorial Day tribute 1st edition

2006-05-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

The Senate easily confirmed General Michael Hayden as the Director of the CIA this morning. Hayden will be the first active-duty, or retired military officer to run the CIA in 25 years. After hearing that Hayden would work independent of the Pentagon, it was the last straw that Senators needed to confirm him for the job. In a written statement of support over the confirmation, President Bush stated: "Winning the war on terror requires that America have the best intelligence possible, and his strong leadership will ensure that we do. Gen. Hayden is a patriot and a dedicated public servant whose broad experience, dedication and expertise make him the right person to lead the CIA at this critical time." At this point, I agree. I think that it was the right decision. There is no questions about Gen. Hayden's abilities. I think that he was the right choice at this time.

Speaking of the Senate, yesterday was a pretty big day with regards to immigration. In a highly debated, much anticipated bill, the senate passed the immigration reform bill yesterday. It is the biggest change in American immigration policy in some time, and some argue that it could change the face of America as we know it. The bill establishes more boarder security, a guest worker program, and the opportunity for millions of illegal immigrants to stay in the country and possibly become citizens. The surprising thing was how bipartisan the bill was. With a final tally of 62-36 which included 38 Democrats, 23 Republicans, and James Jeffords the lone Independent in the Senate. The real split came between members of the Republican party, where 23 voted yes and 32 voted no. Arizona Senator John McCain who along with Mass. Sen Ted Kennedy championed the bill, for which McCain has received a lot of criticism from the conservative base that may not want to have him as their candidate in the 2008 Presidential race. Some of the accomplishments of the bill are: 370 miles of triple fencing guarding America's boarders. Making English the national language (which many people find insulting), and a more complicated system to determine who can stay and who must be deported. This is one of the most (if not the most) complex immigration bills in U.S. history and opponents of the bill argue that the bill is flawed and will ultimately do more harm than good. Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, called the measure "a bad bill" that "puts more emphasis on amnesty than on border security." While the first step is passed the Bill now travels across the capitol to the House, where many say that it will not receive nearly the support it did in the Senate. If it does get through the House look for it to be changed in many ways. President Bush and the White House are campaigning for the bill to look similar to what it does now when it comes to his desk, but with members of the House in an election year, you can bet that nothing will come easy. Look for more on this in the upcoming weeks, as I am concerned about this, but have yet to formulate an intelligent position from which to approach it.

As part of my three part Memorial Day salute, I wanted to share an excerpt from the speech that Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave to joint members of Congress on Wednesday:
"This coming Monday, the 29th of May, you commemorate Memorial Day for America's fallen. The graves of brave American soldiers are scattered throughout the world: in Asia and in the Pacific, throughout Europe and Africa, in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. The pain of the families never heals, and the void they leave is never filled."
"It is impossible to think of a world in which America was not there, in the honorable service of humanity. On Monday, when the stars and stripes are lowered to half-mast, we the people of Israel, will bow our heads with you."

As we begin this wonderful Memorial weekend of fun, family and friends, and to many the beginning of summer, I hope that you will all take a moment at some point and remember why it is we are all able to enjoy what we enjoy as Americans. Remember those who have given what Abraham Lincoln called "the last full measure of devotion." Remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom. Those who gave their lives so I can sit here and freely share my thoughts on this blog. And if you get a chance thank someone in the military right now, or a veteran. Even though we are honoring those who have passed on, many of those brave men and women have risked their lives for the same purpose. To all those brave, buried around the world: Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Ehud (part 1), Brad, and dusting off the ol' ten speed

2006-05-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave an impassioned address to a Joint meeting of Congress yesterday. I caught some audio clips from the speech on the radio this morning, and read the majority of it when I got to work (you can find the speech in its entirety at http://www.israelemb.org/). Olmert outlined several points of importance to Israel and the peace process in the Middle East, including a continued hard stance towards the Hamas led P.A. government. Olmert believes that peace is a real possibility but there has to be a lot of work done, and there are things that Israel is just not willing to bend on. "With a genuine Palestinian partner for peace, I believe that we can reach an agreement on all the issues that divide us." Olmert stated that peace treaties had been reached in the past with Egypt and Jordan but not without "painful and difficult compromises," which required Israel to "take real risks." As much extension of the Olive branch as there was, Olmert made it clear that "peace without security, will bring neither peace nor security." The right direction may be were the process is headed, but it seems that there is a lot more work to do.
Olmert also spoke on religion, the Jewish state, Iran, and other things. The one thing that I really appreciated was his appreciation that he showed for America and the American people. (look for more analysis on this tomorrow). He started out his speech thanking congress, President Bush and the American people for the continued support. He went on to talk about the American sacrifices for the good of humanity. I will dive into this and his Memorial Day tribute as part of my weekend long three part Memorial Day salute starting tomorrow.

On a lighter note, the Twins stink.

Ok so that is how I wanted to end that last one but I will divulge a little bit. My favorite Major League team lost 11-0 yesterday. Direct line to the Twins: "I (as well as millions of others in Hennepin County) am paying for your new stadium way to make it look like a sound investment." There were rumblings on the talk radio stations this morning about brining up more new pitchers from the minors to give them their shot. Are you kidding me? It's freakin May, and already some are throwing in the towel. How pathetic is that? Another direct line to the Twins: "the young pitchers we have are doing fine (replace Radke if you must... Although I like Brad and he would be a really expensive minor league player), how about bringing up some of that minor league hitting... Oh wait all we have in the minors are stud starting pitching, great defensive utility players, and a lot of speed. Whatever happened to building championships around solid pitching and defense? Awesome Steroids.

Finally, I finally purchased my new bike yesterday. After over a year of looking and researching, and deliberating I bit the bullet and made the purchase (which wasn't easy as I am slightly tight with money). Look for me flying down area paths and streets with my red road bike and matching red helmet sometime real soon. I also had red and white shorts on this morning when I was out riding. I was showing my support for the new state fruit.

Tea Overboard

2006-05-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

So there is a lot of dissent about the recent stadium bills. A lot of it is valid, but there is one in particular that I wanted to share. Being that the source is my grandma. Now for those of you who don't know, I'm blessed to still have three grandparents alive, and am very close with all of them. Last night I was at my grandparent's house, and my grandma and I got started talking about the stadiums. The Twins stadium set her off, and she set out into the most brilliant critique of the situation I have heard yet. After some opening comments as they would be she got down to the nitty gritty of it, and stated her real point. "No taxation without representation," my grandma frustratingly said. Than when I thought that no comment could top that fantastic historical quote she aggressively stated, "I am ready to throw the tea in the water." I laughed so hard (as did she), it was one of the greatest things I have heard in a long time. Here is a shout out to my grandma at 86 years young. Her solution to the sales tax increase without a voter referendum is to "throw the tea in the water." History runs deep in my family. She would later clarify that she would throw the tea in Minnehaha creek.

I have heard from a great source that childhood favorite program Sesame Street made some changes. I guess this isn't new as I did some research and realized it happened last year, but it was new to me. Apparently Oscar the Grouch is no longer living in a trashcan, as that casts a negative light on bums and homeless people. Now if that is truly the reason to put Oscar the Grouch in some sort of community housing project (which is apparently what they did), it is quite pathetic in my opinion. Other sources say maybe it was because he was angry all the time. Well wouldn't you be pretty grumpy if you lived in a trashcan? I didn't think that it was up to us to shed a positive light on homelessness and bums. I feel there are very few parents who ever told their children to strive to be like Oscar the Grouch. He was a character on a children's T.V. show... Not a bum off the street. Another change is apparently the cookie monster becoming more health conscious and eating vegetables. The Vegetable monster? That sounds dumb. The hit song that the Cookie Monster is so famous for "C is for Cookie" and so on has been changed to "A cookie is a sometimes food." What? How ridiculous does that sound? Awesome political correctness, way to affect children. Special thanks to my source for the inspiration for this post, you're the best!

The picture on the front page of the Washington Post website is of Senate majority leader Bill Frist examining a silverback gorilla at the National Zoo. Now I know that Sen. Frist is a medical doctor (a heart surgeon more specifically) but... I really don't have a problem at all with this; I just thought it was funny to make the front page of the post.

Finally the NBA draft lottery is set and the Timberwolves have the sixth pick. I am going to put up a poll at some point to get some feedback on what bone headed moves the Wolves will do with that pick. I say we trade the pick to the Clippers for Sam Cassell.

Minnesota Legislative review, Reality TV and Madonna

2006-05-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota Legislative session ended this past weekend with one of the most talked about legislative sessions since... Well since last year when there was a special session, but before that it was a long time. Of course the biggest accomplishments (or debacles depending on whom you are speaking with) is that of the two stadium bills. But I thought that I would enlighten the public on a few other not as well publicized accomplishments in light of an article in the Minneapolis Star this morning.
* Speaking of stadiums there is a little provision written into the Gopher stadium bill that will divert a portion of the taconite tax, so that the city of Eveleth can keep the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame up and running. However part of the deal requires professional hockey organizations and other donors to chip in an equal amount.
*Property taxes for my parents and others in Minnesota (especially in Hennepin County) aren't going to decrease any time soon. Already high property taxes are projected to stay at the 11% increase. Law makers were unable to come to any sort of agreement on the issues. Awesome lawmakers, way to raise property taxes again.
*More police will be on the streets of Minneapolis in the near future, as the state is contributing 1.5 million to increase police patrols.
*Finally and most importantly, the state of Minnesota has a new state fruit... Yes it is the University of Minnesota's own Honeycrisp Apple. You may be saying to yourself that this is an insignificant story compared to other current events, but I will say this, the Honeycrisp apple is only available for a few months in the fall and they are damn tasty.

With all the hoopla over season finales of America's favorite Television shows I have to admit that the only one that I watched was NBC's The Office (great ending however). Every time I turn on the news, or open the paper, or surf the web all I see is previews or ads for American Idol finale, or Grey's Anatomy. I am here to say that I would like to introduce a brand new reality show idea that will change the face of television as we know it. Non-traditional admissions idol/survivor. The game is two fold. You have to compete in various activities to see if you have what it takes to be the next successful non-traditional admissions representative. After the successful candidates are selected (by a combination of America's votes and a Donald Trump style board room meeting), than the competition is on to see who can last the longest on this island of sales, numbers, and telemarketing. Now that is a show I would watch.

Finally to Madonna. The pop lighting rod is at it again. On the opening night of her "Confessions" tour outside of Los Angeles, she apparently was attached to a mirrored cross with a crown of thorns on her head. Apparently Madonna was attempting to crucify herself to make some larger political point. However the only thing she did is further prove how classless she is as an individual and an entertainer. I didn't even want to write about this, because any attention brought to her is frankly preposterous. Many church groups are speaking out against the act, but I don't think that it will do any good. She loves the controversy. It get's her on T.V. and in the papers. It helps to sell her records. Christians need to take a stand and let her know what we think. If there is anyone that you know of that has ever supported or liked Madonna, tell them to stop for the time being. Look what happened to the Dixie Chicks in the conservative country market after they bashed president Bush while on a European tour. Stations pulled their songs, people stopped buying their records, tours were hurt, and the Dixie Chicks have faced an uphill battle to regain popularity. They were once one of the biggest bands/groups in the country, now they are a second rate country group trying to regain what they once had. I think that we should stop supporting Madonna anyway because frankly she's not that talented. But this act is the frosting on the cake. This is just a classless act by a pathetic individual.

Sports, Corruption, and Politics... Ah the American Dream

2006-05-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Louisiana congressman William Jefferson was filmed and caught on tape by an FBI informant taking over $100,000 in cash. Police and FBI raided his Washington D.C. office over the weekend, as well as his home outside of Washington. At his home they found $90,000 wrapped in tin foil and hidden in food containers in his freezer. He has also been very active in working with a telecommunications company to try and profit off of the expansion of internet and cable throughout Africa. Some of that money was made in under the table deals with iGate inc. The owner of that company has already pleaded guilty to bribing Rep. Jefferson. Also worthy of mention is the fact that Rep. Jefferson apparently had deals going on with Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Now I am not a genius by any means, and I am all for the American judicial practice of innocent until proven guilty, but I feel that the writing is on the wall on this one. Rep. Jefferson last week apparently denied any wrong doing (what a shock), and his attorney's have said that it is outrageous and part of a "public relations agenda and an attempt to embarrass Jefferson." I feel that Rep. Jefferson may be in a bit of hot water, because last time I checked the only thing I had in my freezer was hot pockets, (well out dated) frost laden ice cream, and various other dinner time selections. $90,000 in cash is somehow not something that we keep in the freezer. I suspect that for the majority of people in this world that is not a widely held practice. I can't wait to see how long this is tied up in court. How much subsequent tax payers money is wasted on this man, and how much new coverage it attracts. With all the recent problems with elected officials and money (lobbyists relations), I'm beginning to wonder how many elected officials we can actually trust. Is anyone in politics for the right reason? Better yet what is the right reason to be in politics?

There was an interesting article in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune yesterday (that is not something I say very often), about the Red Lake Indian reservation and the power they have to control the majority of the lake. There was a DNR (Department of Natural Resources) conservation officer (Greg Spaulding) that wrote in as a private citizen stating that due to treaties and laws the lake is actually owned by the state of Minnesota. Not the city or county, not the reservation, but the State of Minnesota. Now disputes over the rightful owners of lakes and surrounding Indian reservations is not something new to Minnesota law makers. There have been disputes in the past (including one a few years back on Lake Mille Lacs, which the state lost in court), but this is seemingly new evidence in an ongoing, long time fight. I have to admit that I honor and respect the treaties and contracts that Native American Tribes have with the United States and certain states. But this one puzzles me. The Chippewa tribal chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr. said that "the actions of officer Spaulding undermine much of what we have achieved." It seems as though nothing will come of this because even if Mr. Spaulding had a legitimate point, there is very little chance that any court would overturn and rule in favor of the state. It would be a public and political nightmare. The interesting point to me, is that the DNR regularly stocks Red Lake with Walleye, so our tax dollars are going to support Red Lake, yet no one can fish it (except for a tiny corner), unless you are part of the Chippewa tribe. I think that there needs to be some concessions here. This has to be a two way street. I'm not saying to take over the land and build resorts (although that is what would probably eventually happen), I'm saying as long as we are contributing to the health of the lake, let us partake in the recreation that the lake offers. Charge a fee if need be, but it is a shame to have that huge lake, and not let anyone use it.

http://www.startribune.com/767/story/443868.html

On a side note the Twins took two of three in Milwaukee this weekend. The starting pitchers were all young prospects that fair to be the future of the staff. I think that we are in good hands. Also another big thanks to the San Francisco Giants organization for giving us Bonser, Liriano, and Nathan for A.J. Pierzynski. That has got to be one of the biggest steals of all time.

2006-05-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

The long haul to get stadiums for three Minnesota sports teams is finally over... Almost. The hoopla will all begin again next year, as the Vikings will make yet again another push for their new stadium. The state house and senate passed both the on campus Gopher football stadium and the new Twins stadium yesterday and early this morning.
First the Gopher stadium. Personally I think that this is the only slam-dunk of the three. It passed by the largest margin, and I think that it positively affects the most amounts of people. The arguments against the stadium were in my opinion weak at best. The strongest one being that it will take away from the academic success of the school. Every other Big Ten school has an outdoor stadium (I believe they are all on campus too), and those schools are doing just fine academically. Personally I think that it will be nothing but a good thing for the University of Minnesota. The revenue alone that the U will generate from this will help the school. You put a better product on the field, you attract more fans, sell more tickets, concessions and merchandise, make more money off parking spots, and get more revenue generated from more nationally televised games. Money coming into the University is never a bad thing. Not to mention bringing Big Ten football back to campus, and outdoors. What a great experience for students, alumni, and the casual fan. Saturdays will once again be something special on the campus of the University of Minnesota!
To the Twins. This one is a bit more difficult for yours truly. I am a huge Twins fan and have been all my life, but it is easier for me to see the opposition's point on this stadium bill. Before I say anything let me say that I am pleased to have baseball back outdoors, and that I do support the stadium because in the long run I think that it will create more good than any subsequent harm. However I can see the point of letting the voters in Hennepin County put it to a vote. A referendum would not have been the worst idea in the world, but it probably would have marked the end of the stadium hopes. I think that any tax increase of this variety no matter how large should get some sort of citizen input (although our input was electing the officials that are making these decisions). The argument that this bill was voted on by members that won't be affected by the tax increase and therefore should have been left up to those, which it will affect, carries weight. As a citizen of Hennepin County I don't mind the extra sales tax. I am happy to pay it to bring Baseball back outdoors and to keep my favorite major league team here in Minnesota. But I see the dilemma. The answer is that the stadium will be built; the end result will be outdoor baseball that I can hopefully take my children to go see, and revenue that will only help Hennepin County down the line. I truly believe that the ends will justify the means in this case, but I can see why so many are so upset.

On a final note the one thing I love about these bills, is how much extra language that was written in to help out other bills in the future (i.e. light rail expansion, Vikings stadium). Something that no one really wants to talk about... I suspect it is because no really knows or understands that the language is even there.

2006-05-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

So the long awaited Da Vinci Code hits theaters today. I have to admit that I am torn about said event. I have not finished the book yet, and generally as a rule of thumb I like read the book that a movie is based on before I see the movie. So I am planning on finishing the book regardless, but the question of whether I am going to see the movie at all still exists. The Vatican has called for a boycott, and while I'm not Catholic, I would like to at least honor that request. Yet another part of me feels that a boycott may constitute censorship. The Da Vinci Code is nothing more than moderately written fiction. To be perfectly honest, as a person of the
Christian faith, works like the Da Vinci Code only strengthen my faith. In fact I don't see them as entirely bad. When truth is being attacked as much as Christianity is attacked, and for as long as it has been attacked you know that validity exists. Why would someone dedicate this much time to go after core beliefs of the Christian faith? Putting the Christian faith on center stage like this is an opportunity for believers not a threat. We need to use this to show that while Hollywood can give you a good story, Christ gives you truth. Now we can't do it in the way that some have chosen, but the day that people stop attacking Christianity is a day I fear far more than what we are presently faced with. Having the opportunity to talk about and defend my faith is never a bad thing.
I may check out the Da Vinci Code, but I will always sit back and wonder (maybe with a smile on my face), why so many want to disprove my faith so badly. Why so many make it their life work to tell me that what I know is truth is in fact fiction. If you believe that it is fiction fine, than you are entitled to that belief, but who are you trying to convince by constantly researching and constantly arguing. If Christ wasn't who he says he was, and you know that, than what is the point? Why do you need me to believe that so badly? Are you trying to convince me, or are you trying to convince yourself? I believe that these attacks on my faith are people so desperately searching for something that disproving Christianity is the only thing that makes any sense. Believing would be way to illogical. Forty years from now the Da Vinci Code will be another book and movie in the span of time, but Christianity will still be the giuding force in my life.

2006-05-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

Air Force General and President Bush's current nominee to head up the CIA Michael Hayden has been facing law makes on Capitol Hill the past few days. To no ones surprise, several congressional leaders have voiced concerns over Hayden's nomination. I'm not saying that I am 100% in support of the nomination, but I'm certainly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Granted the majority of the issues stem from plain political rhetoric but I can' t in my right mind question his ability or potential to do this job. Hayden is the former director of the National Security Agency and as mentioned above a well respected General in the United States Air Force.
One of the issues that Hayden has been heavily criticized on was his support for the eavesdropping program. Certainly that is a hot button issue at the moment, and one that he needs to address, but I hardly find it fair to rake him over the coals for it... Yet that is politics.
His critics have not been all from the democratic side of the aisle. Republicans have been voicing concerns as well. Some of that conern has come from his nomination of former CIA official Stephen Kappes as his Deputy. Kappes made headlines when he resigend in a protest over differences with than CIA head Porter Goss. Again Kappes has experience to back up the faith that Hayden has shown in him. I feel that giving both of them the benefit of the doubt is the only viable option.
The Washington Post had an article on this in today's paper talking about how many were concerned about Hayden being a military man, and that he wouldn't be able to stand up to the President. Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski worried that Hayden would sucumb to the "gaga factor" when dealing the the President and questioned would he be "a 'yes sir,' Mr. slam-dunk rather than speaking truth to power?" I can see those concerns, but I think that General Hayden has a mind of his own, and will do what is best for his job, not his political well being. Furthermore I think having a military man as head of the CIA will be a good change. This is only the second time since the Truman administration that a military leader has become head of the CIA, and I welcome the change. I hope that Hayden can restore some much needed confidence back into the Central Intelligence Agency.

2006-05-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

I have to say that for me to be "bloggin in cyber space" is quite the achievement. I have to admit that I try and stay up with pop culture as much as possible, but this has been the one thing that has always been just beyond my reach. This blog is going to be the avenue in which I share my thoughts on many things with all of you my friends and hopefully some strangers that come across. I am going to try and update as much as possible, but I can't make any promises. There is no rhyme or reason to my style of blogging, I am going to write and go after whatever may be on my heart or mind at the time. It certainly seems realistic that the majority of topics will center around politics and current events, but there will be a fair amount of sports, music, ideological ramblings, and of course history (my true love). For all that read this welcome, please feel free to comment about anything and everything. I appreciate your thoughts.