It is Time to Learn a New Language

I don’t know about you, but I have always thought it would be cool to be bilingual. I had an English teacher in high school who knew 5 languages–fluently. On the other hand, I did not take a foreign language in college, and I do not really remember anything from classes I took in high school. I regret this. I wish I would have learned Spanish.

Learning Spanish is one of my goals (I also have German, Greek, Hebrew, and maybe Russian or French on my list, but I need to get past Spanish first).

There have been a couple of times The Wall Street Journal has reviewed software to assist you in learning a new language. Both times, they have decided the best software is called Rosetta Stone. I am not even sure I understand all of the things it does, but I do know that NASA and either the CIA or FBI have chosen to use the programs. I have also talked to several people who have heard about and tried Rosetta Stone and had great things to say. Rosetta Stone has several languages and great features, but it isn’t that cheap–although it is cheaper than what you would pay at a college. Rosetta Stone is on my Christmas list, but until then…

…there is another alternative. Mango languages is a free website that provides you the opportunity to learn Greek, Russian, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Pig Latin! I went through lesson 1 of Spanish tonight and I was really impressed. It took me probably twenty minutes total (whereas I hear part of the reason Rosetta Stone works so much better is because it takes longer). Plus, it saves my progress so that I can come back to it later.

Pete DuPont and the National Center for Policy Analysis

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned you can visit ontheissues.org to find out where candidates stand on certain issues. While this is helpful, it is limited by your opinions on the issues. One of the places I turn often to help me decide what I think is the National Center for Policy Analysis.

“The NACP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization, established in 1983. The NCPA’s goal is to develop and promote private alternatives to government regulation and control, solving problems by relying on the strength of the competitive, entrepreneurial private sector. Topics include reforms in health care, taxes, Social Security, welfare, criminal justice, education and environmental regulation.”

NACP came to my attention after reading Pete DuPont’s monthly column in the Wall Street Journal. Mr. DuPont currently serves as Chairman of NACP’s Board, but was a U.S. Congressman, Governor, and Presidential Candidate. I highly respect his opinion and the work of the NACP.

Washington’s General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution

Despite his significant contributions to the success of the American Revolution, Nathanael Greene is not commonly known. I remember becoming interested in General Greene while reading “His Excellency: George Washington” by Joseph J. Ellis. Ellis noted Washington wanted Greene to lead the army in the War for Independence in the event that Washington should fall. In my mind, this was a huge statement of confidence.

About the time I was reading “His Excellency,” “Washington’s General” by Terry Golway was published. I finally got a chance to read it, and the book lived up to my expectations.

The thing I appreciated most about the book was the new insight it provided me of the American Revolution. Greene spent much of his time in the war in the North and the South and as Quartermaster General. These three positions provided a different analysis of the war.

There is little doubt Greene would be considered one of the founding fathers and as commonly known as Hamilton, Jefferson, or Madison had his life not been cut short just after the war. If you are interested in the Revolutionary War, I would recommend this book to you.

Utter Chaos

I would like to apologize if you have been trying to access this website the last few days but have not had any luck. Technical difficulties have overwhelmed me, but the clouds are starting to part.

A new post is coming and hopefully we will not have any more delays. If this happens again in the future, know that I am committed to fixing the problem.

Book Review

I have finished reading five books in the last week and wanted to share my general thoughts with you.

1> “Mornings on Horseback” by David McCullough

Fantastic insight into the life and times of Theodore Roosevelt’s childhood. I have read “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt” and “Theodore Rex”–both by Edmund Morris–and instantly found an admiration for TR. This admiration, coupled with an appreciation for two of McCullough’s other books–”1776″ and “John Adams”–propelled me to read this book. While I suggest you read Edmund Morris’ books on TR first, if they interest you in any way, you should read “Mornings on Horseback.” It covers much of the same material, and can seem repetitive, but McCullough goes into greater detail in certain aspects, making it an enjoyable and informative read.

2> “Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide” by Hal Higdon

As of 2003, Hal Higdon had run 111 marathons. A well-known author and contributor to Runner’s World, he takes you through the ins and outs of running a marathon. I gained valuable experience from this sage.

3> “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway

Classic. The story of bull fighting, Spain, and lost people. Read it, and email my wife for a synopsis as to its meaning. Her insight really aids your understanding of what Hemingway was trying to say.

4> “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway

Another Classic. I should have read this in high school, but faked my way through it. Again, the only thing I know is that it shows a great story of perseverance and endurance. I am still trying to figure out the purpose of this allegory.

5> “For One More Day” by Mitch Albom

This book comes from the same author of “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” “For One More Day” seemed very similar to “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” in that the author is trying to encourage you to look at your life and live it with the understanding of your impact in the world on others and the importance of loving relationships in your life. I consider this a “cute” read. Engaging story but not my favorite read.

Next up, “The Money Men: Capitalism, Democracy, and the Hundred Years’ War Over the American Dollar” by H.W. Brands.

As Promised: The Way of the Wild Heart

Having read all of John Eldredge’s books, I looked forward to reading his newest book, “The Way of the Wild Heart: A Map for the Masculine Journey.”

I have talked with a few people that began to read it, but stopped reading a few chapters in because it seemed to only repeat the content of “Wild at Heart.” I have to agree that I felt this way initially, but as I continued and upon finishing the book, it stirred my heart in a totally different manner.

To me, “Wild at Heart” and “Captivating” were both revolutionary. They delivered a message I think we desparately need to hear: men and women are made in the image of God and each has an important role to play. In my opinion, the purpose of those books was to wake us up and encourage us to live the life God has called each of us to live.

“Waking the Dead” was crucial in its own right and carried the message a bit farther. I have described the message of “Waking the Dead” as saying, “Now that your heart is awakened, you need to live from it fully. This is how you do that.”

“The Way of the Wild Heart” simply continues the themes of those books and encourages men to seek God as their Father and receive from Him all they need. The main premise of the book proposes that there are five stages each man goes through and to live in them fully, he needs to be initiated into them. The five stages are as follows: (1) Cowboy, (2) Warrior, (3) Lover, (4) King, and (5) Sage.

Not only does Eldredge describe each stage, but he provides an analysis of how to raise a son through each stage.

Overall, I felt Eldredge delivered another crucial message. Like any book other than the Bible, it has its faults, but I derived great benefit from reading it. God used this book to continue to stir my heart toward deeper intimacy with Him.

Map Your Run

I stumbled upon a great new website recently that I feel compelled to share. Mapmyrun.com helps you find the distance for any run, walk, or jog. Using a google map-like interface, you can zoom into your area, trace your route and it will measure the distance for you. You can also add points of interest like stretching or weight stations, rest stops, and water breaks. It also allows you to view other people’s runs in other cities if you are traveling and need to run a certain distance.

The utility of this website lies in the fact that you no longer need to get in your car and try to measure the route.

Prevention — That’s Where It’s At

Two things have occurred in my life this week that inspired me to encourage you two take some necessary actions.

1) You need a will–and a well-drafted one at that
I have been spending all week trying to figure out what a man’s intentions were concerning his dispositions after he passed away. You hear over and over again that you need a will, and while this is often an action we don’t like to pursue because of its inherent morbidity, it is wise advice.

Each of us needs a will, but just as important is having a properly-drafted will. I would encourage you to seek the help of a lawyer–note this is not a marketing ploy. There is a certain expertise that exists for a reason. There is a difference between devising or bequeathing a gift and requesting a gift be directed to a certain person.

I am sure that there are options online that are more or less boilerplate forms and while you are young, without a lot of assets, and no children, then those forms MIGHT suffice. But I promise you it isn’t worth it. Any money you think you are saving now will be lost on the back end by your heirs when they are trying to figure out what you really wanted to happen.

2) Back up your computer’s hard-drive
I apologize from moving from one depressing subject to another, but I accidentally dropped my laptop this week. My hard-drive is completely destroyed; I had to replace it. Thankfully, Walter Mossberg–the techincal guru of the WSJ–suggested a few various computer back-up systems a few months ago and I signed on with one.

Once my computer is back-up-and-running, I can log onto mozy.com and either download my files, or have them shipped to me as a DVD. The great thing about mozy is that I signed up in January, and every day since then at 8:15 in the morning, mozy would automatically back up the files on my computer I specified at sign-up. If more than seven days lapsed since my previous back-up, I would get a warning message, asking me to back them up. The important documents on my computer are safe. Whew!

Mozy only provides so much storage space for free–I had more than enough room to save several pictures and all of my documents. However, I did not choose to pay for the extra space, so any of my purchased music is gone. Fortunately though, I recently transferred several of my purchased songs to cd’s in the event I lost my hard drive. I would rather save the extra money and burn a cd.

So those are the lessons learned for the day. Get help in drafting a will–give me a year-and-a-half and I will help you with it (that time I was marketing)–and back up your hard-drive.

Happy Independence Day

July 4th, is one of my favorite holidays. I like it for more than just fireworks or the all day events with family and friends. I like what it represents–on a historic, personal, and spiritual level. For the last few years, I have read the Declaration of Independence as a way to understand the purpose and importance of the holiday. I have copied the entire transcript within this post and encourage you to take a few moments to read it. **No I did not draft a typo in making “united” lowercase. The original document lowercased “united.”

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Declaration of Independence
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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:or protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Column 1Georgia: Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall George Walton

Column 2North Carolina: William Hooper Joseph Hewes John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge Thomas Heyward, Jr. Thomas Lynch, Jr. Arthur Middleton

Column 3Massachusetts:John Hancock
Maryland:Samuel Chase William Paca Thomas Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:George Wythe Richard Henry Lee Thomas Jefferson Benjamin HarrisonThomas Nelson, Jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton

Column 4Pennsylvania: Robert Morris Benjamin Rush Benjamin Franklin John Morton George Clymer James Smith George Taylor James Wilson George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney George Read Thomas McKean

Column 5New York: William Floyd Philip Livingston Francis Lewis Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton John Witherspoon Francis Hopkinson John Hart Abraham Clark

Column 6New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett William Whipple
Massachusetts: Samuel Adams John Adams Robert Treat Paine Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman Samuel Huntington William Williams Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire: Matthew Thornton

Reasons the Milk of Price is Expected to Rise

I am making a new commitment to myself to begin posting on a more regular basis beginning today. I took some time to read the several copies of the WSJ that were forming a formidable pile on the floor. An interesting article entitled, “Milk-Price Rise Expected to Steepen in July,” grabbed my attention. I thoroughly enjoy milk and because my grandparents owned and operated a dairy for a while, I have a particular, nostalgic interest in the commodity.

Apparently the minimum milk price that processors must pay, is regulated by the Agriculture Department. The expectation is that the price of milk is going to increase 17% in July from June–84% from the price a year ago.

The reasons for the price increase are as follows:

• The European Union will no longer provide subsidies on milk exports
• A drought in Australia has decreased the supply to Asia
• Dairy farmers in the U.S. are increasing milk prices to offset higher prices in cattle feed due to higher prices in corn

The upside to this increase in price, is that a few days later, the WSJ reported corn prices might decrease over the next few weeks, so perhaps the price of milk could go down. I have no clue what we pay for milk right now, so I doubt it affects my spending/consumption too significantly. However, I am sure that some families with teenage boys might be affected by the price of milk.