Purchasing Power: Your Vote Counts

I had the good fortune to watch the eye-opening documentary “Food, Inc” yesterday and I must say that I was astonished to hear in how few hands the food production system that feeds our country rests. I was equally taken aback by the cascade of effects that stem in large part from government subsidization of …

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Conservation of Momentum

Physics was one of my favorite classes in high school, for two reasons. The first reason is found in the zany stunts my physics teacher managed to execute somehow under the nose of the administration and generally accepted rules of normal behavior. Our egg drop competition, for example, culminated with the winner successfully landing an …

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The Long, Anxious Search

A friend introduced me to a short essay many years ago called "A Message to Garcia." Made into two motion pictures and translated into 37 languages, this inspirational essay points to the value of (as well as the scarcity of) those who take initiative in the living of life. Written by artist, writer and philosopher …

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Invincible Determination

"An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men." ~ Thomas Fuller How determined are you to leave a legacy of blessing, encouragement and inspiration? Does the adjective "invincible" best describe your determination or would it be better described as "better than average" or …

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Dress Smartly

"It is only the modern that ever becomes old-fashioned." ~ Oscar Wilde I had the rare and exciting opportunity to attend a "black tie" birthday party for a friend of mine last evening. Rarely do I give much thought to tuxedos, but wearing mine last evening caused me to look up the history of the …

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Pushing through to Victory

When you are approaching the border of your present capability, you have three options. You can: 1) go backwards, 2) stay where you are or 3) continue to move forward. The choice is yours to make and you must remember that your habits are formed according to the pattern of your choices. How you handle …

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Dominion versus Domination

Whether you believe that man was created to have dominion over the earth or that he evolved to dominate the food chain through a process of natural selection, it is in man's best interest to exercise control in a way that promotes balance, sustainability and prosperity. Being at the top of the food chain has …

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Out of the mouths of babes

My sons have taken an interest in war recently and I've found it quite interesting to answer their many questions within their present scope of consciousness. Four and five year olds can surprise you with their wisdom, though at the same time they know very little about the world and the many twists and turns …

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Preparation – The Key to Success

"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success." ~ Alexander Graham Bell There is no substitute for preparation. Some people pride themselves on their ability to "wing it," but when it comes down to it, those who prepare more often than not have the upper hand in relation to the inevitable elements of surprise …

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Lessons from the Zoo

My boys and I visited the Naples Zoo in Florida yesterday and our experience with the ladies at the ticket station provides a useful story for considering the value of good customer service. We stepped up the the ticket booth in the gift shop at 4:01pm (according to the clock on the wall) to a …

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