I'm a mess.

Just came from the Dr. with drug samples: cymbalta for depression & pain and lunesta to sleep. Have to be at work in a little while.

More later.

Happy birthday today to my son, Jack. He's 26.

How did I get old enough to have a 26 year old son?!?!?

Hey!

How do you like my new hard drive? It was really expensive.

I hope it doesn't make my butt look big.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go bloghopping and see what all my pals have been up to.

Economy shows resilience; jobless rate falls as dollar rises - Bad News for Democrat Party..
Interesting Headline? I think so! I obviously added the last piece to this AP Story. I never really believed all the hyped negativity out there, and this is now proof that it was hype. Am I saying everything is perfect... NO!
But if you read these stories, it would have you believe the stock market crashed, unemployment is at 25%, half of America is in a soupline and that the dollar is worthless. What's good for America is bad for the democratic party (Quoting El-Rushbo on that one).

Another link below.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080501/wall_street.html

Have a great weekend everyone, assuming you don't spend it in a soupline and have to make a choice between medicine and eating dogfood.

Hello friends.
Computer problems again GRRRRR!!!
More stories & stuff when I get back online.
Joe is keeping things lively for us in the meantime!

Individualism....To My Amiga Shirley...

We had a good little exchange discussing "Big Oil"... and in that string of posts you asked that I dig up my "Individualism" post... so I've done just that. I actually wrote the original hastily and somewhat in anger, so I took the liberty of editing / cleaning up my thoughts a tad. This post was aimed at none other than Stephanie. We had a pretty "hot" exchange on Casa Herrera. Casa Herrera , as a blog , has since Died (Sorry Adrian or Leah if you happen to read this) but that original string of posts is still there.
To read the entire context, go to http://casaherrera.blogspot.com. Select "June" under past episodes and select the post called "Livin the Dream" posted on Wednesday June 13, 2007. There were a total of 23 comments and of course I tried to back up my assertions with as much fact as possible. I just went back and read it, its really good. LaDawn even chimed in, this was before she actually liked me as much as she does today...

START

... My original post, when I stated “Individualism is what made this country great” was in reference to the fact that there are blatant attempts to level the playing field and basically ban people from being competitive. Now most people’s first reaction is, I agree. Everything should be fair. But that rule applies to everyone but “you”. Whoever “You” is.

Let’s take Max for example [Joe's God Son], Leah and Adrian are going to do everything they can to give Max every advantage in life they possibly can. Love, Shelter, Educate him. Get him into the best school they can possibly get him into. (and hopefully avoid boulder High School), get him into the best college he can . All along the way, there will be people that will try to marginalize him or will be simply going after the same things he is [Updated Example: Tell people who fail, they haven't failed, telling everyone on the losing team they won as well, the elimination of honor roll's, etc]

Fortunately for Max...the US’s Capitalistic economy and culture does not make jobs and life in general a zero sum game. In other words, if Max or Baby Joe lands a good job, it doesn’t mean someone else won’t. If Max gets a great raise, it doesn’t mean someone else gets nothing. Everyone has the power to create their own happiness and its NOT at the expense of someone else’s (generally). If you got nothing, you probably deserved it. If you don’t like it, find a country that will provide better opportunities.

My point on individualism in America, is this. It is average, ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The average, anonymous individuals among us (myself included) pursue the best lives for ourselves and our families as best we can. However we describe that “best life” and for whatever reason. We want to take care of our families and pursue excellence or Self Actualism (Mazlo reference). [I am not only referring to Financial Happiness, this is why I said "however we describe that best life].

Self interest, is far different than selfishness. Self interest, simply provides the foundations for America’s greatness [I know it has its drawbacks]. Self Interest and Individualism vs. Common good, I don’t see these as opposing values. I am contributing to the common good of Society, by being the best I can be or being better than what I imagined possible.

“Rugged individualism” is what made the US great, and Rugged individualism does not imply or does not mean selfishness, it doesn’t mean not caring or being concerned for others or the common good of the country.

The more people who are not conditioned NOT to seek the best in themselves, who are not challenged to meet or exceed expectations, the more people who won’t push themselves to do what they are capable of doing, then this country won’t continue to be what it has been.

Individualism won WWII, there was no plan in Normandy or Iwo Jima, other than get on the beach. We improvised. Individualism, in this country, seems to produce the right person at the right time who will make a tough decision for the common good and not “conform” to the consensus or pressures. (“Consensus, is the absence of leadership”… Leah hates that quote). Individualism will produce people that will face the “hard cold facts” (Got that one from Good to Great, Jim Collins – Excellent Book) and to the best for everyone. But it takes individualism [and someone trying to be the best they can be]to get there [in order to position themselves to make that decision for the common good]

As you can see Steph, we were on two different wave lengths. I was thinking about the common good and you were (at least from my perspective) referring to franchising and bashing capitalism. Is the Camp Bow Wow a franchise by the way? I guess Leah and Adrian are simply conforming.

END

Ben Stein

If you are only gong to see one movie this year, go and see Ben Stein’s “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.” Absolutely wonderful. Ben interviews several top scientists all over the world – the cream of the crop in evolutionary studies in biology, chemistry, geology and so on – and he asks all the questions that I have been wanting answers for since 1972. I’m sure you will find the answers as fascinating as I did.

Cell phones

There is young mother who regularly comes through my checkout line and I’ve never once seen her without her head cocked to one side, holding a cell phone between her ear and shoulder. She has a toddler at her side, usually tugging at her shirt tail saying, “Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?” steadily turning up the volume with each repetition. There is a baby in the cart’s baby seat, who needs help with her bottle, so Mommy is using one hand to hold it for her. She talks into the phone while she unloads her groceries with the other hand. She finishes one conversation and speed dials the next person while saying to the toddler, “Just a minute, Miranda.” She swipes her debit card and enters her PIN while leaving a message for someone who didn’t pick up. While I scan, bag and load her groceries back into her cart, she sends a text message. As soon as she’s done with that, she takes an incoming call. I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but I can’t help overhearing her say, “Can I call you right back? I’m getting another call.” She continues her cell phone conversations as she pushes her loaded grocery cart toward the door, with Miranda still imploring, “Mommy? Mommy?...” She’s never once looked up at me, or had any semblance of a conversation with me. I guess she’s in close communications with everyone she needs to be, except the people right in front of her. I try not to be offended by it, though I do feel a little sorry for Miranda. I sure can’t see how she and her family benefit from owning a cell phone.