Life is a plethora of choices I love calling life a smorgasbord. You can go to this table and have a little bit of this, and go over there and have a little bit of that, then dive at the dessert bar.  Today I feel like talking about a big part of the human smorgasbord, and guiding young people. Todays is sex education day. No not sex, AHHHHHHH help help!  Being a health instructor I do see many things that bother me, and are half-truths presented at the entire picture. That is unethical at least, and a bold lie at worst.

Sex education would be very easy if we were amebas, you eat, you split into two, eat more, and split in two again. Even if we were dogs it would be easy, female dog reaches estrus, male dogs smell it, come hit that, then puppies are born.  Do we humans get it that easy, NNNNOOOOOOO! But we can keep perspective on it. I teach sex as I do life. It is another set of choice you will have to make, the more true information you have, the better your choices will be.  So I am going to “fail” abstinence only sex education.

Before any of you release the attack dogs on me, remember I said abstinence ONLY education. First lets examine where healthy sex education and abstinence only education agree. Sex education for young people does and should encourage abstinence. No pregnancy, no infections, no other issues. Now we will branch off where we disagree and where ab-only education fails.

The journal of adolescent health showed that 85% of young people break the until marriage oath. ( people under 20) Not having any other education than don’t do it until married guess what, they go straight to unprotected intercourse. Well we know what is going to happen with unprotected intercourse. So what happens next? Government and busybodies go up in arms over the teen pregnancy rates, and demand more abstinence education to stop the screwing.  The same journal article shows that billions are spent on ab-only education, thing is we the people are financing more and more failure.  Promoting something that is a proven failure confuses me. See no sex, heard no sex, speak no sex is not human nature, and to ask a young person, or any person to fight millions of years of hard wiring is ludicrous. 

The options? Abstinence does include (coughing) masturbation. (whew I said it and the sky did not fall). It is a very valid choice for young people, and is not evil, nor will you go blind. Your body is not filthy, your thoughts and urges are not dirty. They are part of being human. It is really no different that eating or breathing. So you are not going to hell or going to go blind. 90% of all people admit to having done this, 10 % lied about having done this.

Even with in the realm of young persons first romantic relationships it is a sound choice. All kid these days have cell phone, why not call each other while alone, and talk about XXX? Even if they go so far as to (bleep) in the same room, they can agree to a "one must be dressed" contract. They gain the human intimacy, they get the urge out of the way, no pregnancy, no infection, no harm. To counter the argument that this will lead to intercourse faster than abstinence. No, the young people are not thinking in all or nothing. It actually teachs young people negoation and relationships skills. (J Am Psychoanal Assoc. 2008 Mar;56(1):123-46.)

The next option is (if I can say it), “going down.” (wow  I have a filthy mouth today huh? smile) Again they can have a one-person dressed agreement and the others gets to be the “treat.” This does carry more risks, as we are now as high as lottery odds of infection or pregnancy, not zero. It can be mixed with option one to give more things to do other than have intercourse.

Of course next we hit the on the hot topic of news shows. Condoms. There is a mountain of research that demonstrates that this barrier is 98% effective when used properly. They always have been 98% always will be 98%. You get to be far more intimate with your partner, and the risks are now 2 in 100. Actually you still have a higher risk of a car wreck than infection or pregnancy.  Of course those are mathematical odds, children of broken condoms will attest to that.  The odds are not better than outer-course, they are better than unprotected sex, big difference.  But in the universal scheme of things it is far far safer than unprotected sex.

So with young people having options they know of they can make better choices. Virgin until married is a valid choice, being a responsible person with your body is also a choice, neither is completely wrong or completely right. As a health fitness profession I am ethically bound to provide accurate information to empower people.

We need to remind young people, actually all people. It is your life, it is your body, you are in command, you own your decisions. Not some government official, not some yap dog on TV, not some local official, not someone who wants to screw you, nobody is more qualified to say what happens to your body. Everyone has an agenda including you, but we know where the lines are and where when they are crossed.  Anyone who tells you that you are not qualified to make your own choices is not on your side. They are only interested in their own agenda. The first thing any manipulator will do is limit your choices. Life is not that small, don’t let the small brains convince you other wise. Informed consent is your right, and anyone with your best interest in mind will see you have it.

I come here to have fun. To me having fun is important. I enjoy connecting with others, and seeing the world through the eyes of other people. Lately it seems hostility is increasing. Totally floored by what some people are saying, my friends PM me about bizarre assertions. It would be funny if they were not do militant about it.

Much of this friction comes from what I have to call a misunderstanding of a document. This document is a very old and popular guide of how to do things, build societies, write laws, heck, it even has a bread recipe. Many claim it brings them peace, joy, a sense of purpose and belonging, way cool. Even though most talk and believe in the peace, love, and joy section, things do get dark, and it is strongly asserted by a few readers that those who do not follow this document are the moral equal of rapists, murderers, and child molesters. They make no bones that any questioning of this document and they will be glad to remove your head from the rest of your body. 

It starts with this happy couple running around a garden having a good time. Then they make the mistake of asking a question. Then the shit hits the fan and things go south from there. The rest of the document is filled with hate, war, disease, oppression, torture, suffering, more war, more disease, a bit more suffering, death, murder, and even cute little froggies become a means of suffering.  There is eventually a teacher who teaches love, peace, comfort, and joy to man. But he also gets brutally tortured and killed, and his students get fed to lions, so then people run out kill in his name. In Jr. College the psychology department offered IQ tests, I hit 132, I am no genius, but I am reasonably intelligent. I read this and wonder what kind of guide to life is this? Why am I not to question it?  

So an advocate of this document will ask what did I think. When I reply that is makes excellent Charlton Hesston movies will get a smile. Then when I am pinned down to my true feelings I reply that this is the most hate filled, sexist, bloody and generally twisted thing I ever read, nobody in good conscience can take this serious. The person acts as if I hit them with a baseball bat. They exclaim that is it not sexist, racist, or hate filled at all. So I show passage after passage clearly in black and white of hate, killing, torture, and that 51% of the population is too stupid and filthy to run their own lives, and should be treated only as baby machines and kitchen help.

 I am told I am reading it wrong and twisting the words, that is not what it means at all. I am somehow at fault and lacking for not understanding that war and torture is not want is meant, even if that is what is written??????????? 

A guidebook to build a model plane gives the instructions clearly, and if you do not follow them word for word your airplane looks stupid.  So if this life-guiding document does not mean what it says, why is it written with this stuff in it?  Why am I stupid, wrong, categorized a kooky liberal, and told I am personally responsible for all the suffering in the country because I think this an immoral guide and cannot bring morality? It says to kill and torture for minor things, but yet those who do not follow this document word for word are on the same moral plain as rapists, murders, and child molesters????? 

If you or I sat down and wrote a life-guiding book claiming it was non fiction and filled it with hate, sexism, drowning, torture, incest, killing, and war, they would figure we were on drugs, or completely wacko and need sent to a hospital for help. Yet this popular life-guiding document is freely handed out at hospitals and places where people ask for help & healing. Then you are helped and healed by reading this book, about death and suffering? 

How can I be less moral picking and choosing inspiring concepts while others do it as well?  Why can one group that ignores certain passages be upset at others who do the same? They are talking the talk of peace and joy, but walking the walk of hate and oppression. The document is working, but in a way many do not see or acknowledge.

 

 

 

 

Part one here:  http://direwolfghost.multiply.com/journal/item/32

My two favorite Democrats are happy that Hillary finally stepped aside and Obama is going to be the nominee.  Becky is really hoping Obama picks Richards as VP. Especially since news about that one guy writing pedophile books. On the other side she hopes McCain picks Romney, because, well we live in Idaho, McCain is guaranteed four electoral votes, Ron Paul and his 25% is the only one that can mess up McCain out here.

Our big state election will be between Larry LaRocco (D) and Lt Gov Jim Risch (R) for the “retiring” senator Craig. Making Michael Crapo (cray-poe) our Sr Senator. Unless Crapo steals money or has sex with someone other than his wife, that is one of the safest seats in the nation. Republicans want him in important committees as he will be there until he dies.

The other election of interest is for congressional 1, we live in district 2 and I tell my wife that, but she loves to hate this guy.  District 1 runs from the Nevada line North through Owyhee County, all of Canyon County and western Ada county (Meridian), and the panhandle to the Canadian border. We are three to five miles east of the cut off in district two Congressman Simpson of Idaho Falls is our rep.

 

The individual pictured above makes my wife’s skin crawl.  He got elected (by only 1300 votes) in spite of fellow Republican house speaker calling him an idiot on the news. Congressman Bill Sali actually said on the state house floor that breast cancer is caused by abortions, to a breast cancer survivor. Becky is so pro choice don't even debate it around her, but pay for your own. On Sali’s wiki article some anonymous poster keeps referencing to some non-academic reviewed web site article claiming there is indeed a correlation between abortion and breast cancer. One day that is there, next day gone, then back again. It would be entertaining except for the fact Sali actually believes that breast cancer is really caused by abortions. That is just beyond ridiculous, there is no real evidence of that at all, and to insult women like that, to insult common sense, to insult the office.

My lovely wife in all her Democratic glory (me smiling affectionately, smiles) strongly supports Child Health Insurance Program “CHIP.” Wifey supports the free breakfast and lunch program for school kids, a federal program. Supplemental income for child/day care for low income, so they can work. She supports universal health care that is her really big issue for being pro Obama, his plan is similar to the Germans. (I made no jokes about concentration camp health care, see I am a good husband, smile) Of course Sali has not supported rural schools, and it is no mystery how he votes on the previously mentioned issues. She could deal with him if he was a regular Republican, (she thinks highly of Kempthorn) but her description of Sali starts with fat ass f-ing prick, and gets worse. Oh no wait that is stupid, fat ass f-ing prick. Sorry got it mixed up, grin.  (But we are in district two dear.)

I wonder if my son is Democrat because most teachers are?  Democrats run the teachers union (don’t argue with me my love you know this to be true). 

My spouse and I agree where it counts. She is the hardest working person I have ever met. She is also very unselfish, very loyal, and lives to spend time with family.  She is strongly pro science but accepts intelligence to the universe. Man is God’s image, man uses tools and science why wouldn’t God?  

 

She wonders why those south of the border can come here and take jobs and are rewarded for it, have babies and get citizenship and more F-ing welfare. That money is for her children and their future, go build you own future. (yeah tell those fools baby woo hoo!) Her grandmother had to learn English to pass citizenship tests (Norwegian). She wonders why can’t the people at the fast food place speak clear English, the fuzzy drive through speaker is bad enough without some thick accent or mental case unable to say burrito.

 

She is fighting the school on uniforms and forced bilingual education. Supports vouchers because it looks as if our daughter will be in private school because of those policies. 

 

I know Republican women say “Once you go GOP you will forever love me” but I am content with my blue chick in a red state. Conservative Democrat, grass roots work ethic, and family values feminist, I will take her any day of the week. (No I am not saying that because I am in the dog house, grin) (She might come out with "My life with a Libertarian, can't you people unite? or My Agnostic Dyslexic Husband Questions the Existance of Dog)

Just the Facts!

I used to think that when you wanted to watch drama you would rent or tune into the appropriate program. It seems stupid drama has taken over everything including news programs. Another popular topic this election year is that news media stinks with bias. 

 

Here is a silly yet somewhat accurate to the style news reports these days

 

Newsguy: Hello our breaking story at the top of the hour is that the president farted today while in a meeting with the vice president, secretary of defense, and the joint chiefs, lets go to our Washington correspondent.

 

Washingtonguy: Thank you, yes it is confirmed that while meeting with the vice president, the secretary of state, and the joint chiefs, the president ripped on through his trousers. It was reported to be five to seven seconds long, reverberated his chair, and smelled like sulfur and burnt tires. The secret service escorted the officials out of the Oval Office, and supervised while fans were placed in the office and windows opened. The meeting returned after an all clear was signaled and the Lysol dissipated.  Terrorists are not, I repeat terrorists are not suspected in altering the presidents diet.

 

Newguy: Thank you, now joining us to sort out what this all means is someone from each party, one of those, and one of these.

 

One of those: The president handled this appropriately and with honor. The president is only human and this will happen.  What we do need is a committee to establish a flatulence committee so we can have a national presidential gas plan. We would be able to run the country if that other party would shut their yaps.

 

News guy: Now we will hear from one of these

 

One of these:  This president is a disgrace, this is proof he talks out his butt.  What is next for this administration pooping in meetings? Will the president meet with the prime minister of Canada, drop his drawers and crap all over him? Where does it end. If that other party had not blocked our crap bill this would not happen. They need to shut their yaps!

 

Sheep person1: Can you believe those idiots attacking the president!

 

Sheep person2: What a useless president, talks out his butt sheeze!

 

Average person: Why did the president call for a meeting with the VP, and the joint chiefs? What did they talk about? What are they planning to do? Hello? Anyone?

 

When they surveyed college aged people about news and a majority got their daily news from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert the news organizations did not think of it as a wake up call, but when on the attack, calling Stewart and college kids idiots. Jon Stewart never claimed to be news, he is on Comedy Central, he is satire. All he does is play back what politicians say, and it is so ridiculous it is funny. It seems claiming to be satire gives him some honestly and credibility so people watch it, figuring it is no less accurate.

 

It must be that someone well dressed relaying facts is too boring to sell advertising. People think news should be like Indiana Jones, flashy, exciting, and to hell if it is real or not. When a topic is who has the sexiest news reporters, well you see the news in not the issue, entertainment is.

 

Others do not want to hear facts and draw their own conclusions. They want the facts to support their conclusions true or not. They want the truth packaged in a pretty little box, with a pretty ribbon, so they never have to open it and look inside. Their little bubbles all secure and happy, the happy bubble of denial, instead of knowing it might pop, and being able to adjust real life with real information.

 

People want drama, emotion, and to call others idiot. It is exactly like that moment of hate Orwell warned us about in 1984. Trained journalist with ethics review processes have been replaced with pundits.  Pundits then say the most outrageous stuff to “piss off” the other side, then the other side responds, on and on we go. There is a market for that, but it should not be considered mainstream news.  People do not trust the news, yet we need to make important decisions, black market news is getting popular, but as with any information buyer beware. Provided one does think and not just blindly accept any info to keep their happy little bubble intact.

 

Truth is not a purchase decision, you can’t say I paid for truth I get what I want, it had best say what I want or it is not the truth, I want it all, and I want it now! Truth is not a made to order commodity with pretty colors and fancy widgets. Truth requires a validity process to check integrity, check the facts to support the conclusion, and potential falsification must be admitted. Truth can be ugly and one must face that, but when the truth is pretty, you can know for sure it is real, thus the beauty is more than skin deep.

 

And that’s a fact jack!

 

 

It is funny how things work very similarly in micro scale and macro scale. I was thinking how this works with appeasement, negotiation, and bullies.  I am saying that appeasement is not negotiation.  It is a horrible strategy actually.

On a micro scale remember the bully to took lunch money? Nearly every school had one. Each day certain kids would just pony up, and go hungry or hide other money.  Then in history when the viking would invade, often kings would pay tribute to not be invaded. I am sure the viking laughed as they hauled off the money.  All the vikings had to do is return anytime and collect more easy money.  They had no reason to do otherwise.

Another appeasement I see alot of, and really annoys me is bratty kids.  Bratty kids are bratty because they learned to get what they want by being brats. The brat in a checkout line crying and screaming to get a candy bar, on and on, and finally the parent just gives them one to shut them up.  No requirement of asking properly, no negotiation of how to earn a candy bar, here you go let me reward your bad behavior. It might just start with a candy bar, but where does it end?  Criminal appeasement? Let's not go there, ski mask or suit, both types of criminals think they are entitled to appeasement.  Then laugh when the "criminal sentence" is a joke.

Romantic relationship bullies look for women (or persons) with low esteem that can be isolated. Nothing a little baby boy mind fears more than to think of relating to a woman as an equal. That is hell on earth to the relationship bully.  If the woman is confident, and has people she can depend on, a stalker will choose an easier target.  When a woman (and some men) think they cannot live with the other, their life becomes a huge appeasement fest. Academically called an enabler.

The only time I would think appeasement is prudent is say a mugger jumps out and points a weapon, and demands your wallet. Especially if I am with family, the money is not worth it. But once the mugger clears out, I am going to the police, I am writing to the paper, I am giving each and every detail I remember.  Might even consider returning to that spot if the criminal works that area, only this time the odds are even. Bullies hate an even match. Or if the vikings or barbarians are going to attack, pay tribute to buy time for form alliances and raise an army.

Appeasement only rewards bad behavior.  I am all for creating a culture of law and order. I appreciate that some folks are disadvantaged, were abused, and even worse. That is a separate issue. If Tommy is walking down the street and a bully knocks his ice cream cone to the ground. Don't demand Tommy "just understand" and do nothing, because the bully is "just that way." Nor should Tommy suddenly go knocking others kids ice cream cones to the ground.  Don't punish Tommy for trying to trip the bully as he runs away after spilling the ice cream. Reward the bully with consequences appropriate to his actions.  Work to pay back the ice cream, a visit to parents (provided they care), a talk with the sheriff, something to guide the bully to better choices. Anything but "put up with it."

Bullies come in all shapes and sizes. Bratty kids, immature romantic partners, terrorists, barbarians, corporate suits, elected suits, even other nations. Obviously these bullies will do some damage and cause inconvenience in the short term, but in the long run we are all safer because they will not be appeased, and will be denied their unlawful demands. 

 

Remember that classic Star Trek episode where the Enterprise is taken over by an android called #1, and taken to planet Mudd, where they encounter Harry Mudd yet again.  They find out that Mudd is not responsible for situation and he is as prisoner as much as Kirk and others are.  The con man got swindled.

They discover the androids are going to take over by "serving" others and giving everyone exactly what they want. Kirk and Spock are of course very concerned because the plan will work. Spock sees this as a very logical way to conquer people, they will be subdued before they realize what has happened.  People will be absolutely dependant on the androids for survival. People would no longer have food, freedom to travel, or even weapons. No way to assert their will.

Many people seem to think that government and leaders are responsible to hand out "stuff" for the good of all.  Many seem to want the androids in real life, then they can be fat and happy, and watch more tv. Of course we have no androids, but we have those who will pretend to serve and subdue until you no longer have the will or ability to assert your legal rights.

It often seems the trend today is to rename issues or legislation with deceitful opposite of what they really are.  Like calling opportunity a new government program that will favor the few, and handicap the rest.

When I go into a job interview the employer wants to see measurable, tangible qualifications and accomplishments. We all keep our resumes in the positive light, but fairy tale flights of fantasy will get you thrown out of an interview in disgrace. However we are allowing politicians to apply for jobs with LA LA Land resumes, and poorly hidden agendas. (If not flat out lies) Agendas that are not providing opportunity to "we the people."

Back to the Star Trek episode the Enterprise crew confused the androids with nonsense and e non sequiturs " I am a liar, everything I say is a lie!" Which is the truth, but can't be the truth because everything is a lie, but yet it is true that you lie.

With politicians it is the opposite. Politicians are throwing non sequiturs at us, and the only way to defeat them is logic. Action is the only real, measurable, and comparative truth we have. If you are measured by reality on your job, why not hold politicians to the same standard?

Government really only wants to serve to take away, more we require of government the less we can do for ourselves. Even if we only lose 1% of our freedoms per year based on the starting point, we are slaves within a century.

 

At first I was thinking 'Thanks a "heck" of a a lot CBS, as if enough people don't already have an excuse to not exercise, you come out with this!"

But it is true, many trainers are totally incompetent. One of my past supervisors was beyond incompetent, and took it to a new level.

Regulation is not the answer. Look at all the law suits filed against doctors. Clients need to follow the buyer beware rule. Know if their traienr has a degree and is certified by a real agency. No gym I know will hire someone from Expert Rating, sheez!

When I go back to school, and if I go for a masters in Health/Fitness I think a decent thesis project just popped into my head.

With endurance athletes whose events last more than a hour part of the strategy is not just keeping them hydrated, but keeping their electrolytes in balance. You can become toxic from water if your electrolytes get out of balance. So when sweating for prolonged time, you lose the sodium.

When a doctor counsels a hypertensive patient one of the first things to cut back on is sodium.  Switch to the dash diet, medication, ect ect.

They just released a study where conditioned people and untrained people both ate a cheese burger, fries and soda. Their blood lipids for the first hour was not pretty. But within 90 minutes the conditioned folks had normal blood profiles again, while it took over two hours for the untrained people to return to normal blood profiles. So a similar study already exists. SO on second thought I will probably stay with my original plan.

I am considering a study on sleep apnea. People with disturbed sleep patterns are typically overweight or obese.  I hypothesise that even six weeks of very moderate exercise will improve sleep patterns. That alone will add to life span and life quality.

My running is progressing nicely.  I reached my  goal of 10 miles yesterday.  Yaaay.  That goal along with my goal of 30 miles a week. Ultimatly my goal is 45 miles a week, and a 15 mile weekly long run.

I stated a bit slow with achilles tendinitis from my first three weeks.  Blowing the achilles can end any running hope i have, plus being miserable.  So over December and January I used the bike and ran minimally. I finally got my legs flexible and strong enough to handle the extra mileage.

From all the research I can find it seems with running there are a few magic numbers, or milestones. First is 15 miles a week. This will keep you in a health fitness standard, and add about two years to your life, manage weight. The next milestone is 30-35 miles. This level will reverse damage done to your arteries, and your blood lipid profile will be excellent. The final milestone is 45 miles. This qualifies you to physically run a marathon. Runners who ran under 40 miles per week have Troponin in their blood after a marathon, and sigh of oxygen deprived heart muscle. When doctors think you are having a heart attack they look for Troponin in your blood.  This can explain why some athletes suddenly keel over during a marathon.

Barring any long term illness or injury I should be marathon qualified by this time next year. It will be this fall before my long run hits 15 miles. It will probably be another year before I regain elite status and can consider Boston marathon, or Bah-stan, I probably should not go back east if I am going to make fun of accents.  No I am not going to run many marathons, I will mostly be in the 5K-10K range.  Boston is just a life dream for most runners.

This fall I will incorporate more plyometrics and resistance training. Running is all about power to weight ratio, ballistic training brings that.  I am a good 15 pounds lighter than I was in January.  I hope I can complete a marathon when I am 80 :).

HUMMMM.. With all the election stuff, seems all over blog land people are asking and thinking about character, morals, & ethics. News reports of "family values" politicians playing around with call girls, and stuff. CEOs looting company assets and retirement plans to line their own pockets.  Politicians making promises we know are bogus, but yet allow them to do their plan, and somehow forget to hold them to their half.

Like with Clinton (the mister) as soon as you think of him, you then go right to the Monica thing.  Though neither he or she ( the misses) will confirm it, some folks who are personally close to the Clintons imply they have an open marriage. That changes the rules alot. Except you should not play at work, geez. 

It seems with politicians, and those who are looking to romantically date or simply befriend someone it is like you are extending "character credit."   Then with a normal marriage the wave of euphoria wears off, and you realized you married a human, who can drive you up a wall.  Then politicians to dumb human things, other do down right dirty illegal things feeling they are above the law. Reality sets in over time no matter what.

Watching westerns character was a big part of the story.  Back then people fought and died over reputation, honor, and the like. Many samurai stories adapted well as westerns because of that theme.  A John Wayne character saying "me and him go back a long ways" said a lot more than just the words. 

Seems the only real truth is action. There is truth in dishonest action. What someone does day to day is the reality of who they are. People do first what is important to them, the rest is just details. Some guy who says his wife and kids are important, but is at the bar until 11 every night, makes you wonder. Where a guy who is at home with his family never has to say anything. 

In fitness you know how much time we spend talking about fitness? HAHAHA! If people could move their bodies as much as they move their mouths we would be the healthiest nation on the planet.  We could run the Kenyans into the ground, and out lift the Eastern Europeans.

I wonder how many stupid sob stories judges get from repeat offenders? How sorry, how stupid, how it will never happen again, three arrests ago.  Maybe I could get on the pop culture bandwagon with my life coaching, and market instant character repair. Here you are now a good person on a silver platter, yippy hurray!  "Here is Betty, she used to do drugs and beat her kids, but after 30 days on my program, she is a saint."  I think part of who we are is the restitution we pay others and to our selves. Like fitness, I have no magic bullets.

As I got older, maybe not wiser, but definitely older, I find it rewarding to walk the walk.  I am so far from a saint it is ridiculous but I do believe there are certain things we must challenge ourselves to do and to become to be human beings.  Pop culture talks of building self esteem, and helping others build theirs. That comes from real accomplishments. No you can not be the best and fastest all the time, but you can get yourself to the game. If you do what it takes day in and day out the odds say you have to come out a head.  If you do what you feel passionate about you really can't lose.

 

Ok, something I never thought I would dread, and don't dread in most ways, did manage to happen yesterday.

My son told me a dirty joke!

Never mind him! I am not old enough for for him to be telling dirty jokes! AAAAAHHH!

He is always telling me "hey dad want to hear a joke?" Typical school yard stuff, that has not changed for years he tell me the classic oldies. What is funny is him intrepreting the jokes for me, from his point of view.

But yesterday! When the joke started with "This space alien walked by two nuns" Any joke with nuns is doomed from the start.  He saw my expression change with two nuns, then warned me it might be a bit risque~, yes he uses words like risque~.

Before he tried to explain it to me, I manged to cut in and remind him that it is ok with me, but many others will not appreciate this humor, and to be very careful. I do not want a call from the school. 

I know boys become young men, but geez, there is never prep time for parents to adjust!

 

As most people that know me understand that I am not religious. However I also do not smoke, do dope, and rarely drink. I say if what you do do don't do does not bother anyone else what does it matter?

Speaking as a secularist, I was actually upset over the court case and challenging God in the pledge of allegiance.  And for an atheists to challenge it?? It would make more sense of a Buddhist or the like to be upset over "God" rather than an atheists. I do not feel it is shoving God down your throat because God is a personal choice and the relationship people have with God is an individual thing. One can simply replace God with a word they feel fits better. One nation under law or something like that. Those that want God can have, one that don't, don't have to either.

I often look at religion like this. I do celebrate Christmas. When I hang up a picture of Santa Claus do I literally think a fat man in a red suit will actually fly around delivering presents? Well no, but it represents giving, family, happiness, self reflection. Same qualities people seek in their religion and relationship with God.

The taking the Ten Commandments out of the courthouse.  To an atheists would it not be the same as a picture of the Tooth Fairy in the court house?  Besides only about 40% of the commandments apply to court. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery, & thou shalt not bear false witness. If people did not do those things the court would not be very busy anyway, not much need of a court house to begin with.

Here in Boise we have a big light up cross over looking the city.  Some atheist from Chicago filed a suit over it. That really ticked me off.  He did not even live here, and again as an atheist why would it matter.  We all share the city, and a vast majority what the cross there. They look up on a bad day and see the light both literally and figuratively.  I am happy they found their religion. People need peace, joy, and hope, and the others of the city are entitled to it. It is not a Nazi swastika or a bird flipping finger. It far from offends me, and actually the door to door missionaries have bothered me alot More than a light up cross.

Prayer in school and Intelligent Design are separate issues from the PoA.  Others saying God in PoA is not a prayer, but an affirmation of beliefs of principles of our nation. Those who want God in it, say it as such, those that don't, don't. Neither side needs to force or make a huge deal about something simple.  Freedom of religion is freedom from it, but liek free speech, you do nto have a right to be unoffended. The fools who go looking to be offended to be on the news and make dumb drama, a different story fro a different day.

I hope our country goes back to a live and let live philosophy.

 

I know sometimes I really go off on the school system. I do respect most teachers, I really do. It is the public politics that torque me off to no end. Some mouthpieces out there are more worried about their agenda being taught to kids over any useful life skills. To sound JFK like, it is not what our young people should be doing, it is what are we doing for our young people?

When people who are clueless to the demographics and dynamics of your particular school set policy the only logical conclusion is disaster. No child left behind looks great on paper, a looks to make school responsible. Until you realize that schools are not given the resources to make these things happen. Then there is the wonderful fact of non-English speaking students.  Educated children do not appear out of thin air anymore than money does.

What ever happened to teaching kids useful things? Like how to manage a bank account? How an auto loan and home mortgage works.  What types of loans there are and how the interest works, and how you can save or get shafted for thousands of dollars? Math, science, history, and how government works?  The fact the founding fathers were not perfect, but they did demonstrate that with out rights to life, liberty & property, one is not free.

Seems more attention and lip service is given to weather Jonnie comes from a daddy/daddy home or a mommy/mommy home rather than just living and learning. Jonnie should not be harassed about it, but beyond that, who cares? Have qualified people ready if Jonnie has questions, but beyond that, if Jonnie has no issues, let’s not make any for him. There are not many life skill considerations given to single parents, and that is far more common than homosexuality. Sex is a part of life yes, who you are screwing is as much of a choice as your career, religion, political beliefs, ie another set of choices one will have to make, and will be part of who you are.  However we do not need to wig out over it, nor shove the ideals of the few down kids throats.  

I wont even touch Creationism and Science. Luckily most people are rational and realize you cannot get into MIT with a creationism background, nor would someone going to theologian school spend a lot of time on physics (typically). So a majority of the people blend religion and science quite well. 

The right to believe in one or the other is personal choice, we should agree to disagree, and realize it is more important we all have the right to pursue those beliefs. The old quote “I disagree with what you say, but defend your right to say it.”  Teaching kids to celebrate civil rights will help do away with all this politically correctness, racism, and other nonsense. Live and let live. Also free speech does not mean you do have a right to never be offended.  Idiots get to speak out too, luckily the truth always comes to light.

You play exactly as you practice, so why not teach the kids what they need to reach their goals, and let them play at life until their “game time” comes?

 

 

ACSM Action Plans for fitness of people of all levels

I should have seen this coming, well actually I did. My son brought home a flyer asking about school uniforms.

They claim the positives are:
Better learning climate
Better discipline
Better student safety
Modesty standards
Clothing label disputes

Do you support school uniforms?

Check YES or No

 My Formal reply to the school: (Wow they actually had a comment section)

There is little evidence correlating, school uniforms and the asserted “positives” listed above.  The climate of learning comes from parents, teachers, and wise policy makers.  We would remove our children and relocate them to a non-uniform school.  This makes home schooling and tax vouchers necessary for our family.  It is unfortunate that uniforms are already decided on and this flyer is an attempted to mask the already made decision, and make it appear parents have a say in their children’s education.

What the (expletive!) Uniforms have nothing to do with quality of education, that would be something like, parents/educators doing their jobs. What the hell is this, Nazi Germany? 

It is not so much the uniforms per say, it is the fact this whole thing is a ruse, they are running the gambit found here. http://www.ed.gov/updates/uniforms.html

That stupid manual from the US department of ed tells you how to buffalo the parents into this bullshit idea. They site zero scientific research, it is out of thin air correlations, and made up crap. Stupid (expletive) side step the procedures by government or administrators really really tick me off! BAAAH BAAAH I am a sheep let me just do what you say, why should I think for myself, it might inconvenience those in authority. And the divine right of those in authority cannot be questioned, so let me kiss that mighty ass! What next fences and people with guns? Boy I feel so safe now, the sheep are safely in the pasture. Baaa F-ing Baaa!

What the (expletive!) does government know about educating kids? Government simply wants parents to take all the expense and responsibility for the children, but give all the power to government!  Nope does not work that way!  (Expletive!) Politicians try to blame failure on the people, but pat themselves on the back for success. A dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t situation that is the definition of dysfunctional!  

If I have to get two jobs so they can be schooled the way we find appropriate so be it! Those (expletive!) can go (expletive!)themselves  (expletive!) in the(expletive!) bathroom(expletive!) (expletive!) (expletive!) (expletive!). I did not have children so they can fulfill some state agenda. 
So in short I do not support school uniforms, and my children will not attend a school that requires them. 

Books, classes, and fitness information that is academic, not pop culture.