Duval County Public Schools

My new inspiration has become the growing stupidity of the Duval County Public Schools, also known as DCPS. This school district is by far the most screwed up system that I ever come across. But is it this particular school system, or are they all alike? That is the true question. Call me old fashion, but school is for learning. Yes there is a social side to school, but that is not the only side of school and by far it isn't the main side of school. School is there for learning, and for the children that want to learn. If learning is not your main goal when you get up in the morning, by all means, stay home and stop disturbing the children who want to learn. Stop waisting every one's time. But DCPS sees fit to encourage the waisting of every one's time by having these low lifes come to school, do what ever they please, and do nothing to protect the true students in our schools... More to follow

Fitting

On Saturday, we paid tribute to an American Missing in Action. Scott Speicher was shot down on 17 January 1991, and his remains were never found. Originally, Mr. Speicher was list as Killed in Action, but after we over took Baghdad in Gulf War II, evidence was found that he might have been hel captive in a Baghdad prison. So, with the pressure of some groups, his status was changed from KIA to MIA. I believe that Mr. Speicher was KIA, and we just never found his remains. Of course, this is the weekend before we usher in a new President, a Democrat. This picture not only tell of a mother holder her daughter, but rather a country that is trying to hold on to something we are about to lose.

We are in it NOW!

Well the new year has begun. This is going to be a year of change there is no denying that. But will it be good change or bad? Politically speaking, we just jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, going from a liberal to a socialist. Yes, I said liberal. George Bush was no conservative no matter how you sliced it. And if Obama is the savior, I guess that would make Karl Marx God. Now that is a scary thought indeed.

I must say, the socialist have done a really fine job at lying, and getting away with it. Just this morning, I heard one of them say how this is the worst economy since the depression. I guess they don't remember the 70's under Jimmy Carter. We had double digit unemployment, inflation was rising so fast the average worker couldn't keep up. There were lines for Gasoline, and there was odd even days for getting gas.

Now of course we are in 2009, and the unemployment rate for November 2008 was 6.7%. A far cry from the 1970's of 11%. Or, better stated the employment rate is at 93.3%! Then of course there is the failed bail out of the nations banking system, which in it self is travesty. To compete, smaller banks made very questionable loans. Of course, since the loans were not made to businesses, there will be no investigation (Silverado Savings and Loan). Socialism preaches that everyone should have the same, and therefore banks should make questionable loans because everyone deserves a house of their own. No they don't!

Now the government has bailed out the banks to the tune of $700 billion! The Federal government wants the banks to start loaning out this money again. Why??? So we can give money to the same people who just defaulted on their loans? Einstein had a say "The definition of insanity, is doing the something over and over, and expecting a different result". We need to go back to the conservative way of thinking.

Putting a down payment on house shows one thing, you have the means to make the payments! Get a job, save the 20% needed to buy a home, and then buy it. If you can not put the 20% down, rent an apartment until you can. If you can not save the 20%, you don't need to be buying a house. Does this mean you might have to sacrifice, well sure. You can not have everything, you have to work for it.

Bush, Obama, and the rest of the liberals and socialist are lying to you. You can not have everything, you have to work for it.

End of 2008

As the new year rapidly approaches, I have reflected on what has happen over the course of the year. For the most part, it has been a very rewarding year on a personal level. My sons have gone into new endeavors. I have reach two personal goals. And my wife has reached an end of an era. And of course, there are the many old friend and frat brothers that I have found.

This year brought two very important personal goal. The first one was to teach history. Not all situations are perfect, and this one was certainly not, but I did reach that goal. History at the 6th grade level in Florida is world history. Although it is very important to understand world history in order to understand American History, hopefully this year, I will gain a position teaching American History at the high school level. Secondly, was coaching track, specifically high jump at Arlington MS. It was extremely rewarding when one of my kids, Tevin, won the conference meet. It put his faith in me, and he became the best. Tevin was an extremely talented high jumper, and my have done it without my help, but in the end he did.

This year my sons played football for the very first time, and James surprised me to no end. Not so much with his play, but rather his will not to give up, and therefore gain confidence in himself. I have often described my sons this way: James would look at a pole and say "if I hot my head into it, it is going to hurt" Adam on the other hand would say "how much" and just smile. so when they came to me and said they wanted to play, I actually found myself trying to talk James out of it. Adam go get them. At first, James was very timid as I figured he would be. But by the end of the season, he was taking down the big kids that have been playing for years. He made me proud that he would not quit.

My wife Amy has worked for mother Merrill since 1992. They have moved us around the country a couple if times, and she has done quite well with them. This past fall, with all the turmoil in the financial community, Merrill was bought by Bank of America, those ending mother Merrill's reign on her. I don't know how this will all end up, but we can be in one of five states by this time next year. So we will have to see.

Then there are all the great people that I meet this year, and all the ones that I have reconnected with. I started riding with a new group out of St. Augustine, that are just a great group of people. Through my Friend Amy, (not the wife) I have reconnected with some great people that were in my past. Although we can never change what has happen in the past, we can look back an reflect at a more carefree time in our lives. I can look back to see myself as a person I didn't like very much. That at time didn't treat people very well, and could be just nasty. To which I can be very happy that I have changed to become a much better person

In closing, I wish everyone a happy and blessed New Year.

Life Changing

I have recently reconnected to an ex girl friend. In fact, she was not just any ex, but my first love. She had seen what I had done in the past 30 years and commented to that, and said that outside of one event, she had not had any "life altering events" a boring life. And that struck me as odd on many levels. Although we had lost touch for almost 30 years, I knew a little about her, and she had more life altering events then she was aware of. Which brings me to this, do we stop long enough in our busy lives to smell the roses?

Her and I had some life altering moment that I do not think she is aware of. When I look back, I can think of several moments in our brief time together, that had things went one way instead of the way they did, it would have altered our lives. We make choices everyday that alter out lives, we just have to take the time to notice. For these life altering events do not have to be major, but rather very uneventful.

But in order to see an altering event, often it takes time for use to realize it, and then to take the time to think about it. When I was in high school, I was going to enlist in the Marine Corp. My parents and my high school coaches talked me out of it, and encouraged me to go to college instead. At the end of my first year of college, I enlisted in the Army. In 1984, the Marine Corp barracks were bombed in Lebanon. Had I chose the Corp instead of college, I could have been in those barracks. The night I chose to go out to a bar with the guys from work, instead of going to my girlfriends (a different one) had a major altering event, that was the night I met my wife. Which in turn led to the most major events, the birth of my two sons.

But it is the little stuff. Like this morning, I was out of Copenhagen. Instead of going right out to my favorite C store, I elected to wait, and go on my way to church. When I got there, there was police tape up and the crime scene unit was there. The store had been robed. If I had left when I wanted to, I might have walked into a robbery. How about the day I left for school late, was in a rush on the scooter, and hit the back of a car. Had I left on time, I would not have had that accident. And the list goes on and on.

So, there are many events in our lives that alter the way that we live our lives. Some are major, and many are not. We just need to take the time to think about them. When I'm out for a run, or riding my bicycle, or the motorcycle, I take that time to think about my life. We all have these outlets, whether it is in church, on a golf course, hiking, fishing or out for a run. use that time to reflect on our lives.

Biker Christmas

Although I was raised in the Catholic Church, still participate, send my kids to Catholic School, and in no way am I looking to leave the church, I do from time to time like to get out and experience Christianity on other levels, which brings me to yesterday.

Yesterday, a bunch of bikers got together at a local biker bar, and held a Christmas pray services. I went to take pictures of the event. It was not the typical Catholic services with all of it's ritual, but rather Christianity in it's most basic form. Something that would have taken place in the beginning of Christianity, as it spread out of the middle east, and into Europe. A group of people with a common interest looking for the word of the Lord. And there, amongst the beer signs and bars, I did feel the hand of God.

I felt among other sinners not a righteousness of "I'm perfect" but rather, I have sinned, with all my brothers and sisters. We all sat there, and listen to the minister, for we knew that we had strayed, and therefore excepted it, and needed to be brought back into the fold. And there, without the pomp that goes along with the Catholic Church, I felt that hand. I only came away with a few pictures, because I was so moved by the experience, that I just didn't feel right taking pictures at the time. I didn't come away with the next Pulitzer, but what I came away with was so much more important.

On Wednesday, my son will be an alter server for the 7:30 pm Christmas Eve mass, and I will be there, not to say this is not right, but rather to offer up my new found love of the Lord. May you all have a Merry Christmas, and my the Lord bless you and your families.

Well this is it!

Welcome to my blog. I have taken my leave from my brother from another mother, Whiplash and have gone into the world of blogs.

I grew in Central New Jersey, and escaped to Colorado which I now consider my home. I moved to Florida in 2002 under protest, but I have tried to make the best of it. I was an avid skier, and seeing that there are no mountains and no snow, I'm kind of a duck out of water. So, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and that is what I have done.

I have met some great people, and Whiplash is at the top of the list. I also get to ride my scooter just about all year round. No it isn't skiing, but it is a damn close second. Riding a motorcycle is the second most fun you can have with your clothes on. I have also embraced the sport of triathlons to make up for the void that I have for skiing. It gives me a reason to train, and try to stay on some kind of shape.

I'm the proud father of two incredible boys. The two of them keep me going with everything that they are into. Football, baseball, soccer, and cub scouts, plus school there is very little time for me, but I wouldn't have it any other way. They are truly the loves of my life. I am a die in the wool conservative, and do not support the republican party on much, since they are way to liberal for my tastes. I have two degrees, one in Marketing and the other in History with a minor in Political Science, so if you wish to discuss any of those, you are more then welcome.

I have done research on several topics including, Nathan B. Forrest, James Madison, and the Cherokee Indian Removal. I am currently working on a concept of Religious Capitalism as it pertains to the Constitution and Separation of Church and State. Most of my Political Science work as been with the law, and the Constitution.

Lastly, I hope you all check out my photos and let me know what you think.