Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Fragile - Original song Written & Performed by my Brother





My brother Jason wrote & performed this amazing song - I did the video (w/ Windows MovieMaker) if you like Alternative & Progressive rock I think you will really enjoy it.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Raise Your Performance, NOT Minimum Wage

Minimum Wage & My Personal Two Cents

This is one of those debates that always gets me ranting, and in my current mood, seeing posts aimed in that direction in my Facebook feed has set me off...

Look here people, minimum wage was never meant to be something for ANYONE to STRIVE for. Minimum wage was something you could get by on (Yes, barely, we all know this) until you PROVED your ABILITY & RELIABILITY. It was supposed to be a starting point on your way. It should still be just that. If you can't figure out how much change I should get from $20 when my total is $15.88 without being told by a machine, you certainly don't need to be making $15/hr - you might blow a sprocket if you ever had to count your money.

So here is an idea; when you start up this road, pull over for a second. Instead, consider pushing for stricter labor laws which will force employers to evaluate their employees regularly & reward deserving ones with a raise that will make a difference. Push for legislation that rewards companies for following pay-increase guidelines & penalizes those who will not.

Why? You say... OH BOY, you asked for it!!
Because our country was founded on the principle that if you got a job, & did it well, you would advance; when you advanced, you were rewarded with higher pay, and were then allowed to reap the benefits of your personal successes - benefits that you EARNED! But then someone decided that what America needed to do was dumb down, to do LESS but expect MORE.

They started teaching kids that it was okay to be average, don't show off and make someone else feel bad because you are willing to put in the work and achieve better results. Let's create standardized testing, and push our kids to fit in the middle, and give EVERYBODY a prize for EVERYTHING so no one feels left out.
Awards & trophies for Participation?? Are you kidding?? In my day, the prize for participation was that my Mom did not beat my butt for blowing off an assignment or project that I was supposed to do. You participate because you are told to do so, you win a prize because you did it better than most, better than average. THEN AND ONLY THEN you have a prize (or reward) that really means something.

We, as a country, used to be at the top of everything - automobile & electronic production, athletic competitions, school ratings, student performance, I could go on all night - then we got all PC and didn't want to offend anyone else or hurt their feelings - and now we sit so close to the bottom that if you are not frightened, you haven't been paying attention.

Step up and demand the prize for being the best, not just in work, but in life. Develop some initiative, build some pride, and earn what you get for doing so and then you have a reward that means something. We start with individuals, who then become groups, & eventually we are once again a nation of WINNERS, a nation who can be looked upon with admiration and respect - WE BECOME THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AGAIN - AS IT WAS INTENDED. A nation built on personal success & motivation. We develop the capability to be world leaders once again. Do you even remember what that felt like? Do you even care?

If not, then just give me my sandwich (that I ordered with extra pickle and no ketchup, but received with extra onion and mustard instead) collect your minimum-wage check (Prize for Participation) and be happy to be average. Everyone else is, right???

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Fun With Nines (It's a Math Thing)

OK I admit, I am a bit of a nerd. This is one of the nerdy things my mind discovered one night while it was just wandering around inside my head...


I thought it was pretty darn cool, maybe someone else will too??