How Did We Survive?

As I was on vacation this week, lying in the golden Florida sun, I was talking to my beautiful wife about the things are (or aren't) on television these days. We stayed home last night and rented a movie that was a complete and total bust. So we turned on the TV to see if we could find anything there to watch, and much to my chagrin there was nothing! Nada. Nil. Zilch.

We began talking about our favorite shows as kids growing up in the 70's and 80's. There was Little House on The Prairie, Sanford & Son, The Brady Bunch and the list goes on and on. Every afternoon immediately following school, Batman was my world. And as we spoke, I began to wonder aloud, "How in the world did we survive as children without XBox, PS3, and Netflix?"

    My wife and I grew up in world pre-cable and pre-satellite television. We had 3-5 channels depending on the weather. There was CBS, NBC, and ABC. That was it! If you couldn't find something to watch on one of those three channels, guess what? You went outside, where Mom wanted you to be anyway, and played until the street lights came on.

     Today, there are as many channels in as many different languages as you choose to pay for. The condo we're staying in this week has basic cable and has 60 damn channels! (and there's STILL nothing on!) How in the world did we make it through such a tumultuous childhood?

Answer: we had parents that made us play outside. Parents, run your freakin' kids off the Play Station and outta' the house and let them run around in the woods and bring home dead stuff to show you.

Motivational Poster of The Week

Grab A Tiger By The Tail

The pageantry, the beauty, and the sheer magic of Augusta National Golf Club made this year’s Masters most unforgettable; just as they do every year.
And then there’s Tiger…..

He showed up to the most pristine golf course known to mankind, and played very well for someone who hasn’t picked up a golf club in 144 days. We were all expecting a new, better Tiger, if that’s even possible from a golf prospective. We were all anticipating a new, better Tiger as a person. We wanted him to be more cordial to the gallery, to sign autographs, and to lay off the cursing when he hooks a tee shot into the trees. And we got exactly that…….

For the first day and a half.

When, without warning, the old Tiger reared his ugly head. The old Tiger that we know and love; the Tiger that makes up new and interesting compound curse words; words most of us have never heard spoken. Words that sometimes sound as if they are from an alien language. For all of you happily riding on the Tiger band wagon, listen up; Tiger Woods is not a good guy. He never has been, and he never will be. A great golfer? Absolutely. Multiple Green Jackets? Check.
Good, decent human being? Not even on his best of days.

Does anyone remember when Tiger’s scandal first broke? The world was shocked. I mean, really, really shocked that their “savior” Tiger Woods could do such a thing as cheat on his wife with the proverbial skanks that have continued to pop up all over the country? Look, Tiger did not get the Gatorade endorsement because he is a good guy. He doesn’t make millions upon millions of dollars every time that stupid Nike ad runs because he is generous with his time and money. He was awarded these things because he hits the golf ball a helluva long way. Nothing more.

The way Tiger carried himself in the first part of the Masters was quite comical to those of us who loathe him. Everything he did was forced. When he smiled at the gallery, when he tipped his cap in gratitude, and especially when he signed autographs for the “childrings”. All of these seemingly benign actions go against every single fiber of his being. He is not grateful for the people that pay hard-earned money to watch him hammer a golf ball. He feels that from his ivory tower, those who see him play should consider themselves blessed.
I appreciate what Tiger has done for the game of golf; much like Michael Jordan expanded the NBA by leaps and bounds. (No pun intended) But fans of Tiger should not confuse him with Gandhi, The Pope or Allah. He’s more closely related to Al Capone than Jesus.

So, by all means, watch his golf matches, buy his gear, sport his “TW” hats, but do not fool yourselves into thinking that El Tigre gives a giant rat crap about you (his fan) because he doesn’t. Tiger is in this thing for himself and no other reason. If you believe otherwise, you simply have not been paying attention.

The USS Richmond K. Turner (CG-20)

This was my ship before she was decommissioned back in 1993, just after I left the service. She was an amazing was ship and represented her country well.

Ninja Choke from Rubber Guard

Anatomy of a Hypocrite

Most of my readers know me personally. Most of you know that I’m a pretty no-nonsense kind of guy. I am opinionated, but I have never claimed to be something other than what I am; a flawed human being. One thing I am not is a hypocrite.
There are people in this world who sit in an ivory tower and cast judgment on others. Some do it in the name of religion; others do it in the name of self-preservation. I have made mistakes in my life; lord knows. I am not perfect, and have never claimed to be.
Webster’s dictionary defines a hypocrite as, “one given to hypocrisy.” Hypocrisy, then, is, “The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness” In essence, a hypocrite is one who judges another for an action and then commits that very same action themselves. The priest who preaches against adultery, only to be found guilty of the same; that’s a hypocrite. The boyfriend who accuses his significant other of cheating, and then does the same; that’s a hypocrite. There are few things in the world more despicable than a hypocrite. Osama Bin Laden, broccoli and The Duke Blue Devils come to mind……. (Sorry Brent)
The majority of hypocrites don’t fully believe what they espouse, and that’s what makes them stand out in a crowd.

I write this blog because I like receiving feedback from you guys. I hope the blog makes you think, first and foremost, but I also hope it makes you laugh a little bit, maybe even curse me vicariously through your computer. It’s all good!
I have my opinions, and you have yours. I am open-minded enough that I am not threatened by opinions that differ from mine. That’s what makes this country great. It’s not personal; it’s your opinion. Your feelings and beliefs do not now, nor will they ever define who I am. The same can be said of my beliefs and feelings.

If you read my blog and don’t like it; good. At least I’ve challenged the way you think. If it offends you, don’t read it. If you are reading it for the sole purpose of being offended, then by all means, keep reading and I promise to do my very best to offend you!
It never ceases to amaze me how many people in this world are hypocrites. There are a large number of them in churches all over this country. “Do as the Bible says, not as I do”, they say. Please. There are good Christian people in this world, I know several personally. But one thing that I cannot stand is someone who beats you over the head with religion, and then commits the same atrocities for which they criticized another.
But whatever you do, do not use this blog as retaliatory ammunition for some ego trip that you might currently be on. Find somewhere else to play and someone else to bother. Stay confined to your pitiful, narrow-minded world and leave the rest of the thinkers to their work of makers others “think”…..if you happen to disagree with my opinion; great, tell me that I’m wrong, but back it up with facts, and make me think. I have been known to be wrong from time to time.
I know that this blog is a bit incoherent, and scattered, but I just felt that I needed to get a few things off my chest, and I have now done so. Hopefully my next post will be a bit more organized.

Motivational Poster of The Week