[January 10, 2021] Sociologists tell us that culture affects perception, and perceptions drive behavior. Some parts of our culture influence us in different ways, and some are more powerful than others. Growing up, like so many kids, I watched television and saw something exciting and educational. One show that I favored was The Rat Patrol (1966-1968). Starring Christopher… Read More »
[January 8, 2021] Of the many American battles to study, the Battle of New Orleans ranks right up there with the best. Lessons from the battle are many. The battle was one of the last and the most bloody of the War of 1812. This war was what many Americans saw as the “Second War of Independence.”1 By… Read More »
[December 30, 2020] In late 1981, I received a call from a good friend, Stanley, who lives in Pennsylvania. He said, “You gotta watch this lady talking on the television.” Later, I discovered it was a Catholic nun that went by ‘Mother Angelica.’ She was tough. If you didn’t measure up, she would call you out quick. By… Read More »
[December 22, 2020] Like many who grow up regularly competing in sports, we often experience the thrill of victory and “the agony of defeat.” Competition in the world of sports habitually means competing with our fellow teammates, not just the other team. Fortunately, we quickly learn about sportsmanship and are rarely threatened by the success of others. But,… Read More »
[December 19, 2020] One of my early attempts at earning money also involved, unintentionally, filling the role of team leader. Two of my friends and I decided to “make some quarters” by raking up our neighbors’ leaves. I look back to that time, see my ignorance, and chuckle. But there were lessons to learn, and I did indeed… Read More »
[December 17, 2020] Old war stories never seem to stop. Any time there is one Veteran in the room, you are likely to hear a war story about some event or person. A crusty Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) told a small group of civilians about the time he was a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, S.C.1 His… Read More »
[December 13, 2020] Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in actions. Sometimes, you learn this the hard way as an adult, better to learn it through play as a child. I’m reminded of the summer of 1963 when a group of us boys played King of the Hill on a gravel pile left on a… Read More »
[December 11, 2020] Yesterday, my wife Nancy was very upset, and it is not a good idea for her to be upset. She wanted to watch a video from Right Side Broadcasting, which was uploaded to YouTube. The video didn’t play because YouTube had banned it. We compared it to the Nazi book burning events in the 1930s.… Read More »
[December 9, 2020] It has been said that success is not measured by our accomplishments but by the size of the obstacles we overcome and the courage we show. William “Bill” H. Gates III is an American business magnate and philanthropist. He is best known as the co-founder of Microsoft Corportation.1 It’s hard to argue with the success… Read More »
[December 8, 2020] The life of a Soldier is one of both honor and hardship. Therefore, it is understandable that all relationships with their comrades must be via unconditional honesty. This is why, today, I write about a man called Diogenes of Sinope, for he spent his life looking for an honest man. Most have heard the story… Read More »