O.K. guys here is what I am going to do!.

If Eli Manning stopped the game in the fourth quarter and took a time out. Then called the entire New England Patriots team over to his huddle and said o.k. boys I am going to throw the ball 40 yards down the left sideline to Mario Maningham on this play because we need a big gain to win the super bowl (break!)

Insane right, would never happen.

Then why are we and our press discussing the actions or potential actions of Israel regarding Iran on every talk show and radio program in the world.

Why would we telegraph Israels actions or potential actions. These things even if we know they are going to happen are not for public knowledge.

Did we say the invasion of Normandy will be Tuesday at 3?

I don't get it sometimes freedom of the press is not licence for stupidity of the press.

We are allies and we should show discretion and intelligence when contemplating covert actions for us or our friends God knows we need them in the future.

Why telegraph our intentions.

It makes no sense.

BTC

Education is wasted on the young!

I wish I had gotten it when I was growing up .

I spent most of my youth avoiding school work and not getting it.

Dyslexic , emotionally extremely immature I was lost for many years in my inability to do well in school. I finally matured out of my funk in my junior year in Private school after squandering the high school experience.

I was socially popular yet not focused at all. The reason I write about this is to explain how important the opportunity is we have to educate ourselves.

There is no greater opportunity we have to insure both a life of interest and learning which is exciting and fascinating. The emotional quotient is as important as the I.Q.

An opportunity lost is lost forever?

Not sure of that ,but I do know what a important part of a fulfilled life it is.

We must do all we can to fulfill our journey and live a full life with whatever is our passion. Education is an important element, not the only but one none the less.

BTC

Decency , Kindness and Manners most of all!

Decency , Kindness and Manners most of all!

I have noticed lately in both New York and New jersey that people are extremely abrupt and discourteous.

No one says excuse me or pardon me or lets you go threw a door ahead of them or holds a door for you. It happens very infrequently.

Is this because we are all so busy and crazy and stressed .

Well that is not an excuse.

It is very blatant and upsetting. My New Years resolution was and is to slow down and return to a slower life ,and try to be courteous and kinder in my every day life.

Being retired it's probably a little easier ,yet i really need to work at it.

We are all so busy that we need to work at slowing things down.

I am repulsed by people who push past you or don't even notice others are there.

I remember manners being taught and I am sure they are not any more.

it's old fashioned and outdated.

Well I think we need a return to decency and I will continue to teach my children and grandchildren to be courteous and kind and most of all respectful of others.

It is that simple!

BTC

Arrogance and Humility both are taught? Personal responcibility is the key!

I see so much arrogance in our world in everyday life and in sports especially.

I believe arrogance is taught, or just tremendous insecurity.

You are the best, and you don't need to play by the rules ,and you are not responsible for your actions. Everyone gets a trophy and you don't need to perform or out perform anyone its O.K.

Our republic is based on achievement and the drive to better ones life and the opportunity to do so. Our goal is to give every citizen the ability to excel to there own level of achievement.

This doesn't always happen, but the opportunities are not perfectly even of course as the haves have some privileges and connections that the havenots don't.

This is politics and it happens . You can rise above it regardless of the circumstance if you want to.

No society is perfect, but the drafts of the "constitution" and the "bill of rights" do call for the opportunity to be present.

No guarantees but opportunity.

Arrogance is learned buy parents ,coaches and others in your life and so is humility.

I see so much arrogance and entitlement in our world.

When I was growing up you were taught to make your own way. If you had advantages it was a shame to squander them.

It was your choice.

You would work hard and create your own luck by using your God given talents and hard work .

It's the way nature intends it .

Survival of the fittest, it's the laws of nature and since we are nature and God is nature it is a tough world but based on survival. If you are clever you can survive and flourish.

No one owes you anything, and if you wait for someone to do something for you, you will be disappointed. Make your own way and if something goes well or someone favors you with kindness ,then be humbled by it ,and appreciative as no one owes it to you. Of course as a compassionate society we want to help those who are truly down on their luck or sick .

We need to balance it and make sure its not a pure entitlement .

This takes cost and overhead.

It's expensive to care for others, but it certainly is the right thing to do, yet we need to have strict guidelines and adhere to them. I will write about the health care issue in my next blog entry and I truly have a very simple answer ,but like the flat tax the cattle in Washington will never vote for it until "WE THE PEOPLE" stand up and insist on being counted.

BTC

Wonder or Wonder!

I have been looking at my new grandchild in Wonder.

There are two kinds of Wonder and actually maybe more.

The kind of Wonder where you just don't know how to explain the beauty and Wonder like effect something has on you and then the' I Wonder" what that means kind of Wonder. Both have there purpose and are important. Plain Wonder and if we don't Wonder we don't grow.

Either way it's a Wonderful time of year.

Not because of Hanuka or Christmas , but because there is a Wonder that overcomes people in spite of all the problems , strife, negative press, and issues the world over. Because regardless of all of these things there is a Wonder that takes place every year at the holiday season. We seem to feel that things will work out, and the amazingly positive human spirit will win out, regardless of our differences.

So if this season were to do nothing but to be a catalyst for renewed spirit, and somehow give us strength to face the year with renewed belief. Then that is fine and it is enough.

I suppose the gift giving and the pomp and decorations and celebration are all good ,but let us not forget that it's really about caring about each other and giving to each other and maybe about forgiving each other a little too.

Perhaps just perhaps the word Wonder is the answer to what it means.

I Wonder?

When men were Men!

Doug Gilmour was a Hockey player who was recently inducted in to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments during his career.

He was the epitome of the sport during the time my children grew up and played hockey.

There are many fine players and many great skaters ,but something about this guy was the sport of hockey.

I liken him to Scott Stevens but on the offensive side of the ice.

Tough,tenacious, talented.

Big moments were a big part of his game.

My sons college lacrosse coach would say "Big Man Plays"

Well Dougie had many .

Just when you needed him to come through he was there. Big smile a little bit of Hollywood, in a north of the border way.

The best part of his career was when he played in Toronto .

He won a cup early on in Calgary, but he really was the leader of the Maple Leafs for years with Wendle Clark.

Equally amazing on both sides of the ice he reminded me of the great Bryan Trottier of the Islanders yet more physical.

If you are a hockey fan take the time to watch some U Tube clips of Doug Gilmour in his prime .

That's the way the game was played and should be played.

Just had to say it!

Fiercely defending the rights of Americans to protest.

As we all know one of the greatest things about America is that you have freedom of speach and freedom of assembly.

These are key elements of our republic .

We are a republic not a democracy.

Just so you know.

A republic is a country with a specific form of government, in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are not granted primarily based upon family, military, or business connections.^[1][2] In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a country where the head of state is not a monarch.^[3][4] The word republic is derived from the Latin phrase res publica, which can be translated as "a public affair", and often used to describe a state using this form of government.

So we defend the rights of those who assemble and protest.

This is a good thing.

Sometimes the people protesting have opposite views from our own and sometimes we agree with them.

Either way they have the right.

Protesters are a good balance against the system so when things go wrong they can counter the idea and state their ideals.