A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that principle. - George W. Curtis

May 26, 2011

What does it mean to be an American?  Is it nothing more than an accident of birth?  What principles define American patriotism?
            
In political rhetoric ideas like low taxes, immigration laws, specific religious beliefs and economic growth start to sound like American principles, but the real principles are the ones embodied in the Declaration of Independence and our pledge:  Self-government, the self-evident equality of all people, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, with liberty and justice for all.   

 

Road to a Friend

May 19, 2011
This week's trip to Washington called this thought to mind:

There are a couple of distinct interpretations:  1) Distance is no barrier to friendship; a friend will always find a way to be there for you.  2)  The anticipation of being with a friend makes the trip to his house seem short.



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Trying to Lift yourself up by Putting someone Down only works on a See-Saw

May 11, 2011

 (tandem cable railway - Zagreb)

As soon as I figured out the wording for this thought, I had an afterthought: “What happens when the other person gets off?” – Crash landing.

We all seem to recognize that “put downs” and “zingers” are hurtful, but they remain all too common in our conversations and jokes.  There is no doubt that television and movies play a role in making cheap-shot humor seem acceptable.  But, then again, slavery used to seem acceptable in our country.  That ...


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Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. – Henry David Thoreau

May 6, 2011
Happily our local School Board elections were won by the candidates who have been putting more time and effort into helping students than to promoting themselves.
         (Beaver in Grand Tetons N>P>)

Chasing fame and success is like trying to reach the end of the rainbow.  It is a vague target that may appear in many different places.  The people who end up being successful are usually working toward a more specific goal, like being the best is their chosen field.

...


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Waste is worse than loss. – Thomas Edison

April 28, 2011
                    

When we waste something, we turn it into trash – creating additional clean-up costs in addition to losing the value of the item we have wasted.  Yet few people seem to worry as much about wasting what they have as they worry about losing things.


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You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. – Michael Jordan

April 22, 2011

Successful performances start in our minds.  We have to image ourselves doing something before our brain can issue the commands that get our bodies moving correctly.  Mental rehearsals are a major part of the preparation that top athletes and stage performers do to get ready for their events.



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Having the right to do something doesn't make it the right thing to do.

April 14, 2011
                

Sometimes I get so hung up on defending my rights that I insist on doing something just to prove that I can. Often that is not the best thing I could choose to do.

War ships are designed to protect our nation.  However, it is often better to solve problems by diplomacy instead of my using our battleships.


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I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend. - Abraham Lincoln

April 8, 2011
                

I would like to get rid of all of my enemies without making new ones.  Is there a better way than to try Lincoln’s advice?


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The secrets of making dreams come true ... are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy. – Walt Disney

March 31, 2011

No single strength will get a driver to victory lane.  It takes a winning combination.  Disney came up with his list while making movies, but it seems to apply to racing as well.

·         Curiosity:  Drivers are always experimenting with their cars, trying to figure out what works best in different conditions.

·         Confidence: Drivers need to be confident not only about their own ability, but also have confidence in their fellow drivers. (A major difference between racing and driv...


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Good Intentions don't justify harmful results

March 24, 2011
    

The campers who left the remains of their campfire smoldering certainly did not intend to destroy the forest they enjoyed.  Saying, “We meant to extinguish our fire completely” didn’t lessen the damage.

If we intend for good things to happen, we still must carefully observe the actual results of our actions.  If the results aren’t what we intend, it is up to us to change our behavior.


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