Columbus's Inspiration

I LOVE TO READ.

Look at the gem I found today while reading.

I have seen, and truly I have studied all books and cosmographies, histories, chronicles, and philosophies and other arts for which our Lord with provident hand unlocked my mind, sent me upon the seas and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my enterprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed, but who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me? [Jacob Wasserman, Columbus, Don Quixote of the Seas, p. 18]

I LOVE AMERICA.

May God grant that this beloved land and the cherished, heavenly-inspired political documents established by our Founding Forefathers be maintained and established forevermore.

ATF Agent & The Rancher

A friend sent me this joke.

An ATF officer stops at a ranch in Montana, and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, 'I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs.' The old rancher says, 'Okay, but do not go in that field over there.'

The ATF officer verbally explodes saying, 'Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me.' Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the farmer. 'See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish....on any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?'

The old rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the ATF officer running for his life chased close behind by the rancher's prize bull. With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get "horned" before he reaches safety. The officer is clearly terrified. The old rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs.....

'Your badge! Show him your badge!!! '

Attitude Determines Altitude

"You're going as high and as far in this life as you ATTITUDE will let you," I remember one inspirational speaking saying over a decade ago. I haven't forgotten it.

Interestingly, the phrase "attitude determines altitude" has new found meaning to me as of late, especially after watching a great documentary film. Last weekend I dropped by the local video store and checked out the new releases. I was absolutely surprised and delighted to see the documentary film Blindsight. I had planned on purchasing it recently anyway. So, of course, I rented the award-winning film. We watched it as a family.

The film is about a blind mountain climbing team hiking the highest mountains in the world…in Tibet. The team of experienced mountain guides in the film hail from among the best climbers in the world—Erik Weihenmayer, a blind man who reached the summit of Mount Everest in 2001, and Jeff Evans, who led him there.

I highly recommend Blindsight and Farther Than the Eye Can See, a film about the latter ascent, as well as Jeff Evans' book Mountain Vision: Lessons Beyond the Summit. You can purchase it on-line at http://www.mountain-vision.com/.

Symposium: Islamic Terror and Sexual Mutilation

"Mutilation expresses rage that can not be satiated by murder." That's a statement by Dr. Nancy Kobrin, a counterterrorism expert, on a poignant symposium recently posted on FrontPageMagazine.

My Hiatus & Wonder Woman

I haven't blogged for so long that I started out writing the word "September." Suffice it to say I can't stay away. I think about blogging all the time, like last week when I wanted to write about my infatuation with Wonder Woman. Linda Carter used to be my dream woman. But my wife is my Wonder Woman. She's simply amazing – my wife, that is. It's not her long, nice legs only. Nope, I really love how she cooks, cleans, and impresses me daily with keeping our five munchkins alive and well. For all I know she has some magic bracelets helping her out (note the kickback from the ballistic shields from the epic saga of the original Wonder Woman.)

Mostly I remember blogging because people comment on my old posts. I've gotten a lot of strangers comment. The PR manager from the Ontario Canada Police Department wrote and asked if she could have their Chief quote something I wrote. Today a motivational speaker from England wrote a kindly comment on my Rotten Attitude blog.

My rib has been hurting. It's the same rib my buddy Johnny broke years ago. He was killed in Iraq…and I blogged on it.

Blogging for the Washington Times was fun, but I couldn't keep up with the pace – the cost/benefit didn't pan out for me, so I kindly dismissed myself. Shoot, I can't even keep this blog up, but I've had a few friends call and ask me why I haven't written in a while.

Well, between watching Tevo-ed episodes of "24" instead of sleeping (what can I say, I'm a big fan), changing dirty diapers, picking up prescriptions for the Pink Eye that's hit all my girls, having battles with our lame VOIP (that Internet phone really stinks), and working, I have very little time. In fact, I've been doing so much lately, that I don't have time to write it all. Yes, I finally bought a planner!

…and, I finished my paper for the Just War Theory Project. I titled it "To Save Lives" – The Dichotomy of Killing in Order to Save.

PS I don't have time tonight to proof-read this blog, catch up with all my old friends on Facebook, or prepare a speech I'm giving next week.