If you're over... 30? 32 maybe?
You had, were given or made mix tapes.
To the right of this post, you'll see a spotify playlist (if viewing on your phone, you'll need to scroll to the bottom and open the web version)
In the late 90's - 2002ish, I was delivering auto parts, driving from Mentor to Akron to Toledo daily/weekly, and everything in between. Loved it. Best job I've ever had. Just cruising in this van with nothing but a box of cassette tapes (after the Howard Stern show ended around 10:30am).
I "found," a tape, I think it was titled "The Plan."
On it, was pretty much everything on this list. If you're an indie fan, you'll enjoy most of this. If you like music, you'll enjoy most of this. I know a couple are cheesy, but... nostalgia got me on a couple of these.
Listening to it right now actually...
Highlights
Song 3, Modest Mouse, "Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset."
I could listen to this everyday... .I love the guitar... So simple, so direct, so sweet. Something about that sound that dissolves. Their new tunes are nice but their old stuff is just so honest and... better.
Song 7... Elliot Smith was a gem.
Song 12... Another wicked guitar piece that tells its own story.
If the blog site doesnt work correctly, heres a direct link to the playlist: HERE
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
My Day As President
I rub my eyes and roll over to hit the alarm. I'm the freaking President of the United States, no time for snooze alarms!
I'm up, take a walk around the grounds, have 4 eggs with toast with some Onnit Caveman Colombian Amber (see how fast I've been bought off!!), then chase that down w 4, thats right FOUR Alpha Brains (Clinically studied to help healthy individuals support memory, focus, and processing speed). For the love of God, where will the bribery end?!?!?
8 a.m. Meeting
I say "Guys, we need to end all this violence, world wide. Who do we have to talk to? How can we open up communications and find a middle ground here?"
My VP, Eddie Vedder obviously nods, agreeing and starts to write lyrics to a new song, as a skinny little man in a suit comes up and mumbles "ummm sir... you might want to slow your roll on this peace talk."
I lean back and whisper "wtf are you talking about? We can't keep this up. Kids are dying everyday, there are more PTSD related suicides than actual war casualties, we have..."
But he interrupts "Yes, sir, I know, we all know, but you have to understand..."
"Understand what? I understand that the only people that want to war are those who make money from war. No one even knows what we're fighting about anymore!"
"But again sir... The last president that talked about peace and ending war.... died."
"We all die."
"No sir, he was killed... In Dallas, back in 1963... we've been at war since"
"WHAT IN THE F ARE YOU TELLING ME?!"
"Yes sir, JFK was assassinated because he thought he could create world peace by aligning major, controlling countries... but um... (he gestures to the secret servicemen in the corner) youknowho, didnt want that. You see, more money is made during war than times of peace... and the USA is a business."
"So what can we do?"
"Nothing sir... the same nothing every other President has done since 1963."
The little hair I had, turned gray after that one.
I go back to my "thinking," room to settle down and meet with Deepak Chopra before my next meeting. He mumbles of bunch of quantum bullshit and I walk out with my head spinning.
10 a..m. Meeting
I start off, "Okey Dokie... f the war stuff for now. We'll deal with that after we make some gains elsewhere. If I'm going to be taken out, it cant be day 1. Let's talk economy and school.. what can we do to immediately surge state economies and pump millions of dollars into schools and road?"
My Secretary of Agriculture comes flying out of his chair! "Me, me, me!!" screams Joe Rogan. "Did you see marijuana sales in Colorado totaled $1,000,000,000 last year?"
(Did you count the zero's?)
Me: "Wha-wha-whaaaaat? $1,000,000,000?!?!? Are you f'n kidding me??"
Joe: "F no! $1,000,000,000 with 9 zeros! Totaled around $135,000,000 in sales taxes and allllll of that cashola can go straight to schools and any other GD thing you can think of."
Me: "Wait a second... so all we have to do is legalize a plant.. and let people sell it... and we're headed to towards better roads and better funded schools?"
Joe: "Theres more!"
Me: "Are you going to tell me??"
Joe: "Guess."
Me: "Joe... for F sake, spit it out."
Joe: "Hint... crime rate."
Me: "Shit.. it went up? People are getting high and walking around... laughing?"
Joe: "It went down! DUI's went down and the overall crime rate went down. Less domestic abuse calls and less violence."
Me: "Well HO-LY shit, we have a winner! Lets legalize across the nation!!" as Joe passes out a dozen joints around the room.
But here comes that skinny lil fella fro the earlier mtg...
Him: "Hang a sec fellas, not so easy."
Me: "Whys that? Its a freaking plant. One that was legal until politicians were bought off by the cotton industry."
Him: "Ya... true... but think about the repercussions."
Me: "Such as...?"
Him: "for starters... what about all the inmates locked up? Or the guys that already lost time on their lives being locked up over this?"
Me: "We cant let them free?
Him: "Well... we could but, when guys go to jail, they dont really come out the same. So they went in on a weed issue... but the punishment didnt quite fit the crime. And then there's the issue of privatized prisons, those prisons make money by HAVING prisoners... and then the issue of the security and police unions, they need people to arrest.... and then the pharmaceutical companies, weed will hurt their sales, OOPS I mean scripts,... and then the beer companies, all those sales in Colorado hurt beer sales... none of those guys want to see weed legal!"
Me: "So you're saying, if we legalize weed..."
Him: "See that guy in the corner? The one thats paid to protect you? Well some other guys that are paid to keep legal illegal, might pay that guy to not protect you one day."
"So what you're saying is..."
"There's nothing you can do... the same nothing thats been going on all along."
So I say fuck it all, call the North Korean diplomat (Dennis Rodman), Pearl Jam and we shoot hoops the rest of the day.
I'm up, take a walk around the grounds, have 4 eggs with toast with some Onnit Caveman Colombian Amber (see how fast I've been bought off!!), then chase that down w 4, thats right FOUR Alpha Brains (Clinically studied to help healthy individuals support memory, focus, and processing speed). For the love of God, where will the bribery end?!?!?
8 a.m. Meeting
I say "Guys, we need to end all this violence, world wide. Who do we have to talk to? How can we open up communications and find a middle ground here?"
My VP, Eddie Vedder obviously nods, agreeing and starts to write lyrics to a new song, as a skinny little man in a suit comes up and mumbles "ummm sir... you might want to slow your roll on this peace talk."
I lean back and whisper "wtf are you talking about? We can't keep this up. Kids are dying everyday, there are more PTSD related suicides than actual war casualties, we have..."
But he interrupts "Yes, sir, I know, we all know, but you have to understand..."
"Understand what? I understand that the only people that want to war are those who make money from war. No one even knows what we're fighting about anymore!"
"But again sir... The last president that talked about peace and ending war.... died."
"We all die."
"No sir, he was killed... In Dallas, back in 1963... we've been at war since"
"WHAT IN THE F ARE YOU TELLING ME?!"
"Yes sir, JFK was assassinated because he thought he could create world peace by aligning major, controlling countries... but um... (he gestures to the secret servicemen in the corner) youknowho, didnt want that. You see, more money is made during war than times of peace... and the USA is a business."
"So what can we do?"
"Nothing sir... the same nothing every other President has done since 1963."
The little hair I had, turned gray after that one.
I go back to my "thinking," room to settle down and meet with Deepak Chopra before my next meeting. He mumbles of bunch of quantum bullshit and I walk out with my head spinning.
10 a..m. Meeting
I start off, "Okey Dokie... f the war stuff for now. We'll deal with that after we make some gains elsewhere. If I'm going to be taken out, it cant be day 1. Let's talk economy and school.. what can we do to immediately surge state economies and pump millions of dollars into schools and road?"
My Secretary of Agriculture comes flying out of his chair! "Me, me, me!!" screams Joe Rogan. "Did you see marijuana sales in Colorado totaled $1,000,000,000 last year?"
(Did you count the zero's?)
Me: "Wha-wha-whaaaaat? $1,000,000,000?!?!? Are you f'n kidding me??"
Joe: "F no! $1,000,000,000 with 9 zeros! Totaled around $135,000,000 in sales taxes and allllll of that cashola can go straight to schools and any other GD thing you can think of."
Me: "Wait a second... so all we have to do is legalize a plant.. and let people sell it... and we're headed to towards better roads and better funded schools?"
Joe: "Theres more!"
Me: "Are you going to tell me??"
Joe: "Guess."
Me: "Joe... for F sake, spit it out."
Joe: "Hint... crime rate."
Me: "Shit.. it went up? People are getting high and walking around... laughing?"
Joe: "It went down! DUI's went down and the overall crime rate went down. Less domestic abuse calls and less violence."
Me: "Well HO-LY shit, we have a winner! Lets legalize across the nation!!" as Joe passes out a dozen joints around the room.
But here comes that skinny lil fella fro the earlier mtg...
Him: "Hang a sec fellas, not so easy."
Me: "Whys that? Its a freaking plant. One that was legal until politicians were bought off by the cotton industry."
Him: "Ya... true... but think about the repercussions."
Me: "Such as...?"
Him: "for starters... what about all the inmates locked up? Or the guys that already lost time on their lives being locked up over this?"
Me: "We cant let them free?
Him: "Well... we could but, when guys go to jail, they dont really come out the same. So they went in on a weed issue... but the punishment didnt quite fit the crime. And then there's the issue of privatized prisons, those prisons make money by HAVING prisoners... and then the issue of the security and police unions, they need people to arrest.... and then the pharmaceutical companies, weed will hurt their sales, OOPS I mean scripts,... and then the beer companies, all those sales in Colorado hurt beer sales... none of those guys want to see weed legal!"
Me: "So you're saying, if we legalize weed..."
Him: "See that guy in the corner? The one thats paid to protect you? Well some other guys that are paid to keep legal illegal, might pay that guy to not protect you one day."
"So what you're saying is..."
"There's nothing you can do... the same nothing thats been going on all along."
So I say fuck it all, call the North Korean diplomat (Dennis Rodman), Pearl Jam and we shoot hoops the rest of the day.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Top Movies and A Short Story About Some Religion In An Alley
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
--------------------
I was walking to Heinens today to grab a salad on my way out of town, headed to football. To shave a full 10-15 seconds off my walk (sarcasm) I cut through a parking garage and a back alley.
I get there, make my salad and head back. As I'm walking through, an older man is sitting on a step, nothing but an old bag of clothes next to him. He starts to talk, obviously I know whats coming...
Just $1.
I knew what I had on me, I gave him everything I had.
He looked at me like I was nuts.
"Thank you... may God bless you... thank you, thank you..."
I just said "you got it man, take care," and continued to my car.
But his thank you, went through me in slow motion... I heard it, we paused, we basically spoke over each other w the "thanks," and "you got it man," because I really had to get going.
Not because I was late or in a hurry. It's uncomfortable. It's uncomfortable for me to walk by people who beg for $1's as I have 1, 5, 10 or whatever. I can find a way to eat. I can find more money. I can find a way to make things happen.
His sincerity was what made me move along quickly. I've never been thanked so hard, so sincere. I've never anyone say "God bless you," like that where it got my attention. People say things but we all say all kinds of things.
This man gave me the only thing he could. His thanks and a blessing.
I'd pay every day for that.
4.
3.
2.
1.
--------------------
I was walking to Heinens today to grab a salad on my way out of town, headed to football. To shave a full 10-15 seconds off my walk (sarcasm) I cut through a parking garage and a back alley.
I get there, make my salad and head back. As I'm walking through, an older man is sitting on a step, nothing but an old bag of clothes next to him. He starts to talk, obviously I know whats coming...
Just $1.
I knew what I had on me, I gave him everything I had.
He looked at me like I was nuts.
"Thank you... may God bless you... thank you, thank you..."
I just said "you got it man, take care," and continued to my car.
But his thank you, went through me in slow motion... I heard it, we paused, we basically spoke over each other w the "thanks," and "you got it man," because I really had to get going.
Not because I was late or in a hurry. It's uncomfortable. It's uncomfortable for me to walk by people who beg for $1's as I have 1, 5, 10 or whatever. I can find a way to eat. I can find more money. I can find a way to make things happen.
His sincerity was what made me move along quickly. I've never been thanked so hard, so sincere. I've never anyone say "God bless you," like that where it got my attention. People say things but we all say all kinds of things.
This man gave me the only thing he could. His thanks and a blessing.
I'd pay every day for that.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Couple happy tips for things I've seen
Since its titled "observing bystander," here's a few observations on stress reduction and overall happiness that have worked for me a few others I know.
1) Exercise - Clearly, these blogs arent actually fitness based, but this is #1 on my list. I've always broken through mental blocks or emotional sludge when I'm consistent in exercise. Whether running or yoga or kettle bells, anything to get the heart rate up and breath a bit labored, this will do the trick. Weights can work as well, but I prefer a style that cranks up the entire body.
When you workout, the more intense the better (and "intense," is relative), your brain releases endorphins, which is a natural pain killer and creates a natural high. Obviously, this feels good and you want more.
How to get it?
Exercise more. Once in a routine and addicted to those natural body highs, you'll feel better, become more productive and think more clearly. What was once "too much to handle," will be handled.
30 minutes per day can do the trick IF you're using your time wisely.
2) Service - Do something for someone else. Bitter-sweet for me, but this one has landed me in some tough spots financially. I have a hard time not giving away what I do, or doing it at a great discount. A huge part of me feels "It's my service," and it bothers me I haven't found a way to do it for free yet (remember why I closed the yoga room?)
But their are other things we can be doing, coaching is big for me. I do feel it serves the purpose. I explained it yesterday to someone as "an extension of the class room." Those who know me well, have an idea what that can mean and the things that come up.
3) Be nice.
4) Save time for yourself - HUGE. If you dont have time for yourself and the things you actually enjoy to do (exercise, hobbies, quiet time, a movie, etc), you will definitely feel the stress of it and it will effect you greatly.
5) Have an experience.
1) Exercise - Clearly, these blogs arent actually fitness based, but this is #1 on my list. I've always broken through mental blocks or emotional sludge when I'm consistent in exercise. Whether running or yoga or kettle bells, anything to get the heart rate up and breath a bit labored, this will do the trick. Weights can work as well, but I prefer a style that cranks up the entire body.
When you workout, the more intense the better (and "intense," is relative), your brain releases endorphins, which is a natural pain killer and creates a natural high. Obviously, this feels good and you want more.
How to get it?
Exercise more. Once in a routine and addicted to those natural body highs, you'll feel better, become more productive and think more clearly. What was once "too much to handle," will be handled.
30 minutes per day can do the trick IF you're using your time wisely.
2) Service - Do something for someone else. Bitter-sweet for me, but this one has landed me in some tough spots financially. I have a hard time not giving away what I do, or doing it at a great discount. A huge part of me feels "It's my service," and it bothers me I haven't found a way to do it for free yet (remember why I closed the yoga room?)
But their are other things we can be doing, coaching is big for me. I do feel it serves the purpose. I explained it yesterday to someone as "an extension of the class room." Those who know me well, have an idea what that can mean and the things that come up.
3) Be nice.
- Smile at people.
- Hold doors.
- Park in the back: Don't drive around for 10 minutes trying to maneuver for a close parking spot.
- Be a good tipper.
- Be a great giver.
- Listen to people.
- Surprise someone.
- Let someone into traffic when they have their blinker on.
- Ask them how their day is going.
- Be polite.
- If you're having a shitty day, don't pass it to someone else.
4) Save time for yourself - HUGE. If you dont have time for yourself and the things you actually enjoy to do (exercise, hobbies, quiet time, a movie, etc), you will definitely feel the stress of it and it will effect you greatly.
5) Have an experience.
- vacation more
- float tank often
- do something you've never done
- Explore conversations
- Explore your own consciousness... theres more at play than what you see.
- meditate
- dive into a different culture
- sign up for a class
- work on yourself
- do what you can to alter your perspective.. .I've found many answers here.
Thats all I can think of for now.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Night Driving (1)
I have a playlist I enjoy when driving home at night after work or a practice.
So I hit shuffle and these were the first 5.
One of the top 5 nastiest guitarists ever. This thing is mesmerizing.
First song I could ever (sort of) play.
As I've gotten older, Dylan has really grown on me.
A musical genius.
I try to listen to him a few times per week to help keep balance.
A musical genius.
I try to listen to him a few times per week to help keep balance.
I could listen to this voice every day.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Just a day...
I spend a good amount of time downtown now, about 20 hours per week, 40+ starting next week. It's an atmosphere I always wanted. I enjoy the movement, I like the activity of the city, and the overall vibe.
Once every week or so, wherever I have coffee or lunch, I'll buy a $5 or maybe $10 gift card.
I'll keep it in my pocket for the next day because that's when I usually see someone sleeping on a bench or curb with no shoes.
Make eye contact and they'll ask for help. If you have "help," give it.
I've always been torn to share stories like this but I've done it my entire life. I used to come downtown and get cash just for this reason and keep bills in every pocket. I don't have much money so it was usually $2-$3 or so but over the course of an evening, it could be $10-$20.
I've always given away anything extra I've had. Time, money, energy... If I have it, I'll give it away.
I hope you do the same.
(Btw, gift cards over $$ because they cant buy cigarettes or beer with a gift card to a smoothy shop. Someone said "Arent you being a dick by not buying them what they want?" My answer was "tough shit. I'll help make you better, not worse.")
-----
My daughter calls me, leaves a VM, sounds pretty urgent.
Now, urgent to my 12 year old could easily mean she needs a ride to sleep over in 6 weeks, so I'm not panicked or worked up. Yet.
I call and she has a story for me.
"Dad, I need to talk to you about something. I have a friend, she's gay. Today at school, someone left a note and it said really bad things."
Like what? Can you say it?
"It said a lot of bad words like B and stuff, and said God hates you. What should we do? My friend is really shy and scared and doesn't want to tell the teacher. She's afraid she'll get in trouble or she'll get more notes."
Pause the story. I think I've always been pretty sensitive to bullying and such, plus having two girls and training those Eastside girls all those years, I can see the math in this really fast. A young girl afraid to do the right thing, in fear of retaliation... this can lead to major, major issues down the line.
I ask "What do you want to do? What do you think you should do?"
She says "I think we should stick up for her, tell the teacher and principal."
I agree and then tell her to call me if needed, "I will visit the school to talk to the principal."
(Bet your ass, I'll be calling this afternoon).
(This is the part where I start pounding away with my stumpy pointer fingers and lets go straight for the fastball)
"God hates you."
I don't know what makes this more sad.
A) The fact that there's a little piece of shit kid out there writing things like that.
B) This little hillbilly has no future because their parents are backwards ass rednecks and unless receives proper "reprogramming," soon, will probably spread their horrible genes at some point and create more backwards ass rednecks (because "rednecks," and their thoughts are a disease)
Or
C) My daughter, at 12, has to deal with worthless losers like this.
Do some religions exist that preach this?
yes.
If you belong to one and reading this, fuck you and delete my number. If you think there is a debate here... that would be so fun for me. I take back the "delete my number," part, please call to debate.
Ever see that dumbass deer sticking his skinny face in the river, thinking its all good and then the croc appears and takes it all away? That's exactly how this debate would go (hint: you're the deer).
Irony is, a couple years ago, I didn't really have much faith in the future or humans. Is that a weird way of wording it?
Try this, step back and watch a few humans like you're not one. Watch the news. Watch people interact in large crowds. Do they look advanced or civilized? You watched the debate, this is our best and brightest? Oh no? Then where are they hiding?
But I've seen some light recently. A nice batch of young guys coming along that may be able to keep this thing moving fwd... we'll see.
----
QB for the 49ers protests the National Anthem to shine brighter light on a major issue.
Some of you and some media respond with "Look at this guy! the system that created him, he's now blasting! If not for the system, he'd still be...." and on and on.
Or it was "Look at this millionaire protesting vets and disrespecting the country!"
Things like that. I've read countless posts/tweets and heard news bashing him for it.
Obviously, this is very short sighted, and white vision.
Obviously, this a race issue and when a guy like Kaepernick stands up... wait a sec... black athletes dont stand up anymore.
And why not?
Lets ask MJ. "Mj, why dont black athletes protest social/racial injustices anymore?"
MJ would say "Want to see my Nike check?"
Muhammad Ali is dead and that was one more monstrous nail in the coffin I've been ranting against for a couple years.
Guys with balls are dying and it's becoming a soft, bullshit society.
Keapernick isn't protesting against the National Anthem, he's protesting against police brutality and the number of shootings by police officers against black people. The kneeling on that song is a tool to spark conversation. That's it.
I see the kneeling and I see it as the light needed to get it going and more people should be having that conversation, not the "F Kaepernick," conversation.
Think. Be fair and logical. Have empathy and imagination. Im not not black, I'm white, so I cant relate, right? But I can certainly imagine what it would be like to be in a particular spot and treated a particular way because of how I look and its bullshit.
Would you want your daughters, wife, brother, parents treated harshly because of anything along the lines of prejudice or racism?
Then why would you allow it to someone else?
---
Once every week or so, wherever I have coffee or lunch, I'll buy a $5 or maybe $10 gift card.
I'll keep it in my pocket for the next day because that's when I usually see someone sleeping on a bench or curb with no shoes.
Make eye contact and they'll ask for help. If you have "help," give it.
I've always been torn to share stories like this but I've done it my entire life. I used to come downtown and get cash just for this reason and keep bills in every pocket. I don't have much money so it was usually $2-$3 or so but over the course of an evening, it could be $10-$20.
I've always given away anything extra I've had. Time, money, energy... If I have it, I'll give it away.
I hope you do the same.
(Btw, gift cards over $$ because they cant buy cigarettes or beer with a gift card to a smoothy shop. Someone said "Arent you being a dick by not buying them what they want?" My answer was "tough shit. I'll help make you better, not worse.")
-----
My daughter calls me, leaves a VM, sounds pretty urgent.
Now, urgent to my 12 year old could easily mean she needs a ride to sleep over in 6 weeks, so I'm not panicked or worked up. Yet.
I call and she has a story for me.
"Dad, I need to talk to you about something. I have a friend, she's gay. Today at school, someone left a note and it said really bad things."
Like what? Can you say it?
"It said a lot of bad words like B and stuff, and said God hates you. What should we do? My friend is really shy and scared and doesn't want to tell the teacher. She's afraid she'll get in trouble or she'll get more notes."
Pause the story. I think I've always been pretty sensitive to bullying and such, plus having two girls and training those Eastside girls all those years, I can see the math in this really fast. A young girl afraid to do the right thing, in fear of retaliation... this can lead to major, major issues down the line.
I ask "What do you want to do? What do you think you should do?"
She says "I think we should stick up for her, tell the teacher and principal."
I agree and then tell her to call me if needed, "I will visit the school to talk to the principal."
(Bet your ass, I'll be calling this afternoon).
(This is the part where I start pounding away with my stumpy pointer fingers and lets go straight for the fastball)
"God hates you."
I don't know what makes this more sad.
A) The fact that there's a little piece of shit kid out there writing things like that.
B) This little hillbilly has no future because their parents are backwards ass rednecks and unless receives proper "reprogramming," soon, will probably spread their horrible genes at some point and create more backwards ass rednecks (because "rednecks," and their thoughts are a disease)
Or
C) My daughter, at 12, has to deal with worthless losers like this.
Do some religions exist that preach this?
yes.
If you belong to one and reading this, fuck you and delete my number. If you think there is a debate here... that would be so fun for me. I take back the "delete my number," part, please call to debate.
Ever see that dumbass deer sticking his skinny face in the river, thinking its all good and then the croc appears and takes it all away? That's exactly how this debate would go (hint: you're the deer).
Irony is, a couple years ago, I didn't really have much faith in the future or humans. Is that a weird way of wording it?
Try this, step back and watch a few humans like you're not one. Watch the news. Watch people interact in large crowds. Do they look advanced or civilized? You watched the debate, this is our best and brightest? Oh no? Then where are they hiding?
But I've seen some light recently. A nice batch of young guys coming along that may be able to keep this thing moving fwd... we'll see.
----
QB for the 49ers protests the National Anthem to shine brighter light on a major issue.
Some of you and some media respond with "Look at this guy! the system that created him, he's now blasting! If not for the system, he'd still be...." and on and on.
Or it was "Look at this millionaire protesting vets and disrespecting the country!"
Things like that. I've read countless posts/tweets and heard news bashing him for it.
Obviously, this is very short sighted, and white vision.
Obviously, this a race issue and when a guy like Kaepernick stands up... wait a sec... black athletes dont stand up anymore.
And why not?
Lets ask MJ. "Mj, why dont black athletes protest social/racial injustices anymore?"
MJ would say "Want to see my Nike check?"
Muhammad Ali is dead and that was one more monstrous nail in the coffin I've been ranting against for a couple years.
Guys with balls are dying and it's becoming a soft, bullshit society.
Keapernick isn't protesting against the National Anthem, he's protesting against police brutality and the number of shootings by police officers against black people. The kneeling on that song is a tool to spark conversation. That's it.
I see the kneeling and I see it as the light needed to get it going and more people should be having that conversation, not the "F Kaepernick," conversation.
Think. Be fair and logical. Have empathy and imagination. Im not not black, I'm white, so I cant relate, right? But I can certainly imagine what it would be like to be in a particular spot and treated a particular way because of how I look and its bullshit.
Would you want your daughters, wife, brother, parents treated harshly because of anything along the lines of prejudice or racism?
Then why would you allow it to someone else?
---
We're just advanced animals
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Work ethic is dead and accountability is on the endangered species list.
(Potty mouth here)
You probably know I coach high school football.
We dont need to talk much about the actual coaching or football, just that I coach a position on the field and work with about 12 guys for that spot, plus oversee the defense which is 1/3 of the team (offense, defense, special teams).
Bypassing all the football chatter, we'll skip right to other stuff, the good stuff, motivating and getting the most of the guys. By far, the fun part of it for me.
Fun because I'm surrounded by great coaches and really great young men, who all want a solid dose of greatness. Not a sip, not the appetizer, they're hungry for greatness. I get there, we get together and you can just feel it and its a drug.
But there have been moments, had one last week, where things were sticky. Gears werent firing, focus was spotty, energy was low.
I pulled them in as a unit and said "eye contact, right now, look at me. Erase everything that just happened. It starts now. Pick one thing to go out there and be great at. Just one, go get it."
And they flipped a switch and elevated their play.
Simple. Momentum had them in a direction, with a mental adjustment, it changed.
It's something I say to end nearly all meetings, "get 1% better today." That's the goal. After 30 days of 1% improvement... do the math.
But I'm pissed tonight.
I posted something a little aggressive on the business page but I really don't care.
1%
How many adults do you know who actually give a shit to be 1% better, ever?
What is the f'n problem where people think "I go to work," and just cash in the rest of the day, like "I did my job," was all they actually needed to do? It's such a gross, weird, bizarre mindset to me.
I have people who text me "Wheres boot?" or inquire about training... and they vanish...
They ask for free shit or discounts or "text me a workout," and they never actually appear.
For me, its like walking behind a cigarette smoker, i cant afford to breathe that air.
I am hard on myself, for everything. I may fail, I may suck at something, I might be wrong about things, but I will never, ever be lazy. Ever. I will never ever stop working to improve. Something, anything.
I know people who are sick and wont change their habits.
I know people who blab about their goals but dont do a damn thing to achieve them.
I offered jobs to two people... good jobs, good money... they have no resume and currently working for shit and I offered them an opportunity to build the resume, get the experience, work their way up... "Its not in my degree," and "It's not enough money," were the rejections I heard. I said fine. You basically wash f'n cars with your degree, good luck.
There is a very shitty, lazy ass generation coming along and very lazy culture brewing.
We'd rather f around for hours on our phones and bitch about the money we don't have, the job that didn't just magically fly to us, the results we didn't achieve by sitting on the f'n couch.
You probably know I coach high school football.
We dont need to talk much about the actual coaching or football, just that I coach a position on the field and work with about 12 guys for that spot, plus oversee the defense which is 1/3 of the team (offense, defense, special teams).
Bypassing all the football chatter, we'll skip right to other stuff, the good stuff, motivating and getting the most of the guys. By far, the fun part of it for me.
Fun because I'm surrounded by great coaches and really great young men, who all want a solid dose of greatness. Not a sip, not the appetizer, they're hungry for greatness. I get there, we get together and you can just feel it and its a drug.
But there have been moments, had one last week, where things were sticky. Gears werent firing, focus was spotty, energy was low.
I pulled them in as a unit and said "eye contact, right now, look at me. Erase everything that just happened. It starts now. Pick one thing to go out there and be great at. Just one, go get it."
And they flipped a switch and elevated their play.
Simple. Momentum had them in a direction, with a mental adjustment, it changed.
It's something I say to end nearly all meetings, "get 1% better today." That's the goal. After 30 days of 1% improvement... do the math.
But I'm pissed tonight.
I posted something a little aggressive on the business page but I really don't care.
1%
How many adults do you know who actually give a shit to be 1% better, ever?
What is the f'n problem where people think "I go to work," and just cash in the rest of the day, like "I did my job," was all they actually needed to do? It's such a gross, weird, bizarre mindset to me.
I have people who text me "Wheres boot?" or inquire about training... and they vanish...
They ask for free shit or discounts or "text me a workout," and they never actually appear.
For me, its like walking behind a cigarette smoker, i cant afford to breathe that air.
I am hard on myself, for everything. I may fail, I may suck at something, I might be wrong about things, but I will never, ever be lazy. Ever. I will never ever stop working to improve. Something, anything.
I know people who are sick and wont change their habits.
I know people who blab about their goals but dont do a damn thing to achieve them.
I offered jobs to two people... good jobs, good money... they have no resume and currently working for shit and I offered them an opportunity to build the resume, get the experience, work their way up... "Its not in my degree," and "It's not enough money," were the rejections I heard. I said fine. You basically wash f'n cars with your degree, good luck.
There is a very shitty, lazy ass generation coming along and very lazy culture brewing.
We'd rather f around for hours on our phones and bitch about the money we don't have, the job that didn't just magically fly to us, the results we didn't achieve by sitting on the f'n couch.
I know people who are nearly broke, but won't get a second job.
I know people w disease, and they won't heal themselves.
I know people who complain and bitch about their own circumstances, their own lives, but won't do one single thing to actually progress or improve themselves.
How can this be??
I used to have so much empathy and sympathy, I now think too much. Sometimes the kiddie gloves have to come off, the sweet words have to fade and you have to be honest, brutally honest w yourself and your habits.
Work ethic is dead and accountability is on the endangered species list.
---
If you read this and thought "F you asshole!" notice, that's how you read it.
If you thought angry towards me, you read it with guilt. You read it to yourself, I didnt write it to you.
So maybe you need to do some thinking.
---
Think I'm full of shit? I fired two paying clients this week because I was sick of their dumb-ass excuses. I lost money because I couldn't take hearing their excuses anymore.
Which is crazier:
You wasting your money?
Or me telling you to keep it and go home?
---
You know how most blogs I'll write "Hey, im talking to myself here too!"
Not this one.
Work ethic is dead and accountability is on the endangered species list.
---
If you read this and thought "F you asshole!" notice, that's how you read it.
If you thought angry towards me, you read it with guilt. You read it to yourself, I didnt write it to you.
So maybe you need to do some thinking.
---
Think I'm full of shit? I fired two paying clients this week because I was sick of their dumb-ass excuses. I lost money because I couldn't take hearing their excuses anymore.
Which is crazier:
You wasting your money?
Or me telling you to keep it and go home?
---
You know how most blogs I'll write "Hey, im talking to myself here too!"
Not this one.
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