02 December 2008
We’ve made it through October with Halloween treats adding a little extra padding around our middle. November allowed us to stuff ourselves with “Thanksgiving” and enough leftovers found in most homes to feed a Third World village. December has arrived promoting Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa (I listed them in alphabetic order and if I have forgotten a particular group gift me with forgiveness, OK?). Many of us will attend our religious and secular social gatherings with gusto. By the time this month is over we will have eaten too much and/or partied too much, as well as, spent too much. Of course, we all intend to show some self disciple, don’t we?
Odd isn’t it that this most religious time of the year to promote thankfulness, cheer, renewed focus on important values and “good will to all men” we end up with clogged arteries, drained wallets, grated nerves and strained families. So, tell me, which group is promoting God the most during this time? I know, I know, you had good intentions.
Christians claim to celebrate the miraculous Virgin Birth of Jesus, the Son of God, born in a stable. Jews claim to celebrate the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days during the rededication of the Temple during the Maccabeen Period. African culture is celebrated in Kwanzaa as a way to reaffirm and restore their community roots. And I can’t help but wonder if the majority of people in each group sings at least one song about either Santa Claus or Rudolf, the Red Nosed Rain Deer. That would put us all into the same group now wouldn’t it? At least, we intend to be good regardless of our group.
Of course, you’ll agree with me, I am sure, that everyone has a right to celebrate anyway and anything they want, it’s the American Way. Still, I can’t help wondering if it makes sense any more.
This time of year is so commercialized it just seems ridiculous – does anyone really NEED half the stuff we go in debt for buying presents? There is nothing wrong with gift giving but something is wrong.
Let’s re-summarize the month of December again: Christmas is a time to celebrate. Hanukkah is a time to remember. Kwanzaa is a time to renew/refocus. Santa Claus and Rudolf are sung about. We all intend to be good.
Pretty simple but I don’t think it’s enough to bring about “good will to men.” We’re all too preoccupied with our own issues and we have a long way to go to get “peace on earth.” But we intend to try harder, right?
So what’s the solution? I don’t know. That’s right, I DO NOT KNOW. You and me have allowed things to get so far out of hand that we drive like the devil, spend like there’s no tomorrow, eat like it’s our last meal, and wear ourselves out celebrating, remembering and renewing/refocusing. All the while we are rude shoppers, isolated worshippers, cantankerous guests and impatient citizens. I shudder to think what would happen if everyone decided that they all wanted the same bargain at the same time. Someone could get killed! But it’s the thought that counts….kinda like it isn’t what’s done but what’s intended.
Until we get things sorted out, how about all of us dropping a few extra dollars in the Salvation Army Kettle when we see one. Don’t dart your eyes away when you walk into the store. Prepare to have a dollar in your hand as you enter or exit the store to put in the kettle because you know they are there to help someone else. What a novel idea – everybody giving to help complete strangers. Wow, if this caught on, it would be a modern day miracle!
Well, one of these days The Reaper is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. Between now and then I suggest you intend to celebrate, remember and renew/refocus with a little more emphasis on action because rumor has it that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 02 December 2008
http://www.the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.com/
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
“Oh, You’ve Got Way Too Much There to Enjoy”
November 16, 2008
“Dad, will you keep this for us,” my oldest daughter said as she packed her kids up for their flight back to Los Angeles. I eyed the two gallon sized freezer bags filled with a large assortment of Halloween treats as the glee of forgotten youth surfaced from somewhere in my age-d psyche. “Sure will, “I said as if I was actually going to mail these ill-gotten gains. Oh, never mind that this candy was now two weeks old and was actually second hand treats from my other grandchildren. It was the simple pleasure of gaining a trove of candy, er, I mean, helping my daughter in her time of need. Yeah, OK, you can see through my ruse. I know, I am selfish but you can keep your “taking candy from a baby” judgmental thinking to yourself. It’s getting something for nothing that we’re talking about here.Well, my daughter and her family made their plane arriving home safely. Thank you for your concerns. They did make it back in time to breathe the latest wildfire winds lapping at the outskirts of greater Los Angeles.
However, in reference to the candy, it laid on the kitchen counter for the better part of the next week. For some reason I didn’t pay much attention to it until the other day as a Twix bar called to me from beneath its hiding. I felt compelled to freed it from its freezer bag prison, pealed it from its scrunched wrapper and as I bit into this squashed chocolate and cookie bar I instantly was presented with that unmistakable taste of staleness. It just wasn’t as delectable as I had hoped or imagined but something inside me reminded me to not disappoint my dearly departed mother. You see, growing up my mother often admonished me that somewhere children in some forgotten continent would appreciate eating vegetables I didn’t like and I figured I shouldn’t waste this candy bar either.
Of course, when it comes to justifying ill behavior it doesn’t take any of us very long to master our own deception. Oh, we’ll rationalize and moralize: “Oh, they have way too much there to enjoy.” “Only this once” or “It ain’t so bad” or maybe “Oh, they’ll understand.” Rationalize, justify, minimize one’s mental negotiating but down deep inside where the psyche battles against a stung conscious a person knows. Call it what you want but give it enough time to chew on a person and eat at their gut and the God’s honest truth is known. We were built to know deep down inside that it is just plain wrong to take something that isn’t ours or eat too much candy and so it is with giving what isn’t earned. Any of the three will make eventually make a person and a society sick. Even the Good Book says if a “person doesn’t work they shouldn’t eat.” (Hold on here, we’re talking about people who can work not those who actually need us to provide for them. That is our moral obligation!)
Now, there is a moral to this story. A person can justify just about anything when it comes to getting what they want even though it isn’t what they need. You may think that I am stretching to gain an illustration for a lesson but I don’t think so. Plainly and simply put: it smacks of corruption to gleefully gain something at someone else’s expense and things gained freely are not quite as scrumptious as when they are earned, no matter how sweetly the deal sounds. Of course, if you take what someone else has worked to secure without working yourself then it is just plain wrong.
It has been a few days since I swallowed what was given to me and every time I think about it I still get a bad taste in my throat. No, I am not mailing the candy to my grandchildren in L.A.…their Grandmother announced that we didn’t need it and threw it all away. She said it would make me sick.
Well, one of these days The Reaper is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. Until then don’t make yourself sick ‘cause there’s a lot of sweet sounding junk being bagged up and handed out.
THE-GRIMM-REAPER-REPORT © 16 NOV 2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.com/
“Dad, will you keep this for us,” my oldest daughter said as she packed her kids up for their flight back to Los Angeles. I eyed the two gallon sized freezer bags filled with a large assortment of Halloween treats as the glee of forgotten youth surfaced from somewhere in my age-d psyche. “Sure will, “I said as if I was actually going to mail these ill-gotten gains. Oh, never mind that this candy was now two weeks old and was actually second hand treats from my other grandchildren. It was the simple pleasure of gaining a trove of candy, er, I mean, helping my daughter in her time of need. Yeah, OK, you can see through my ruse. I know, I am selfish but you can keep your “taking candy from a baby” judgmental thinking to yourself. It’s getting something for nothing that we’re talking about here.Well, my daughter and her family made their plane arriving home safely. Thank you for your concerns. They did make it back in time to breathe the latest wildfire winds lapping at the outskirts of greater Los Angeles.
However, in reference to the candy, it laid on the kitchen counter for the better part of the next week. For some reason I didn’t pay much attention to it until the other day as a Twix bar called to me from beneath its hiding. I felt compelled to freed it from its freezer bag prison, pealed it from its scrunched wrapper and as I bit into this squashed chocolate and cookie bar I instantly was presented with that unmistakable taste of staleness. It just wasn’t as delectable as I had hoped or imagined but something inside me reminded me to not disappoint my dearly departed mother. You see, growing up my mother often admonished me that somewhere children in some forgotten continent would appreciate eating vegetables I didn’t like and I figured I shouldn’t waste this candy bar either.
Of course, when it comes to justifying ill behavior it doesn’t take any of us very long to master our own deception. Oh, we’ll rationalize and moralize: “Oh, they have way too much there to enjoy.” “Only this once” or “It ain’t so bad” or maybe “Oh, they’ll understand.” Rationalize, justify, minimize one’s mental negotiating but down deep inside where the psyche battles against a stung conscious a person knows. Call it what you want but give it enough time to chew on a person and eat at their gut and the God’s honest truth is known. We were built to know deep down inside that it is just plain wrong to take something that isn’t ours or eat too much candy and so it is with giving what isn’t earned. Any of the three will make eventually make a person and a society sick. Even the Good Book says if a “person doesn’t work they shouldn’t eat.” (Hold on here, we’re talking about people who can work not those who actually need us to provide for them. That is our moral obligation!)
Now, there is a moral to this story. A person can justify just about anything when it comes to getting what they want even though it isn’t what they need. You may think that I am stretching to gain an illustration for a lesson but I don’t think so. Plainly and simply put: it smacks of corruption to gleefully gain something at someone else’s expense and things gained freely are not quite as scrumptious as when they are earned, no matter how sweetly the deal sounds. Of course, if you take what someone else has worked to secure without working yourself then it is just plain wrong.
It has been a few days since I swallowed what was given to me and every time I think about it I still get a bad taste in my throat. No, I am not mailing the candy to my grandchildren in L.A.…their Grandmother announced that we didn’t need it and threw it all away. She said it would make me sick.
Well, one of these days The Reaper is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. Until then don’t make yourself sick ‘cause there’s a lot of sweet sounding junk being bagged up and handed out.
THE-GRIMM-REAPER-REPORT © 16 NOV 2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.com/
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
“Your Ticket to Survival”
November 11, 2008
Few of us who are reading this blog entry are probably living in the survival mode. Oh, we talk about our lack of finances but the truth of the matter is we probably have more than enough things to liquidate before we actually get into merely surviving. In fact, we are probably living in more comfort than any generation before us. Consider that the apartment or house we live in probably has an air conditioner and furnace. We have cable TV, cell phones and an internet link to the rest of the world. We probably have more than enough to eat in our refrigerator and if we didn’t feel like making something we’d order a pizza. Like I said there are few of us who are probably living in the survival mode.
However, there are many of us who have experienced a crisis in our life. Some of us have thought that they were going to die or possibly prayed that they would. There are those who are reading this article who will admit that they have had times that possessions, full cupboards or even having a large bank account wasn’t their number one thought. For all practical purposes they were living in a basic survival.
Unless you are from another planet you have experienced a time in life when finances were the furthest thing from your mind and the thought of gazing into one’s fridge or ordering a pizza is repugnant.
Welcome to the flu season.
As I write this article there are hordes of people across this nation learning to multitask in ways that has humbled even the mightiest. Put bluntly there is no dignified manner in which to experience attack on one’s digestive system. Once you are within its grasp social standing no longer matters, nor does prestige, pedigree, race, religion, gender, economic status or political party.
We can put humanity on the moon, we can develop instantaneous communication; we can build monuments to the sky all in the boast of our accomplishments. Yet, one small flu bug as uninvited as a common fly and all our social plans, all our world conquests and all our financial gains are of little comfort.
As the calendar tells us that winter is not far away and just as the leaves on the trees have changed color and fallen so too the flu bug will do to each of us.
Some day The Reaper will hand in his final report to Someone higher. Until then be forewarned – prepare thyself – get a flu shot before it’s too late...it's your ticket to survival.
* title taken from article by Tom Martin “Leadership isn’t a commodity It’s your ticket to Survival” on 10.23.08 for Advertising Age http://adage.com/smallagency/post?article_id=131967
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 11 Nov 2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
http://www.the-grimm-reaper-report.com/
Few of us who are reading this blog entry are probably living in the survival mode. Oh, we talk about our lack of finances but the truth of the matter is we probably have more than enough things to liquidate before we actually get into merely surviving. In fact, we are probably living in more comfort than any generation before us. Consider that the apartment or house we live in probably has an air conditioner and furnace. We have cable TV, cell phones and an internet link to the rest of the world. We probably have more than enough to eat in our refrigerator and if we didn’t feel like making something we’d order a pizza. Like I said there are few of us who are probably living in the survival mode.
However, there are many of us who have experienced a crisis in our life. Some of us have thought that they were going to die or possibly prayed that they would. There are those who are reading this article who will admit that they have had times that possessions, full cupboards or even having a large bank account wasn’t their number one thought. For all practical purposes they were living in a basic survival.
Unless you are from another planet you have experienced a time in life when finances were the furthest thing from your mind and the thought of gazing into one’s fridge or ordering a pizza is repugnant.
Welcome to the flu season.
As I write this article there are hordes of people across this nation learning to multitask in ways that has humbled even the mightiest. Put bluntly there is no dignified manner in which to experience attack on one’s digestive system. Once you are within its grasp social standing no longer matters, nor does prestige, pedigree, race, religion, gender, economic status or political party.
We can put humanity on the moon, we can develop instantaneous communication; we can build monuments to the sky all in the boast of our accomplishments. Yet, one small flu bug as uninvited as a common fly and all our social plans, all our world conquests and all our financial gains are of little comfort.
As the calendar tells us that winter is not far away and just as the leaves on the trees have changed color and fallen so too the flu bug will do to each of us.
Some day The Reaper will hand in his final report to Someone higher. Until then be forewarned – prepare thyself – get a flu shot before it’s too late...it's your ticket to survival.
* title taken from article by Tom Martin “Leadership isn’t a commodity It’s your ticket to Survival” on 10.23.08 for Advertising Age http://adage.com/smallagency/post?article_id=131967
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 11 Nov 2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
http://www.the-grimm-reaper-report.com/
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
“Somebody’s Gotta Do Something”
05 November 2008
You know what I am talking about: You’re standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, through the front window you see some clown cut a little old lady off from a parking spot close to the door. Maybe you are driving down the road and three lanes over you witness the male driver smacking a woman in the passenger seat. It could be that you see a middle aged man reading a newspaper while he’s driving his BMW down the freeway in rush hour traffic oblivious that he’s crowding the next lane where two Hell’s Angels are riding. Regardless of your opinion of justified mob violence there is something down deep inside you that cries, “Somebody’s gotta do something!”
Now, I must confess I am not always the most finessed public speaker when idiocy takes up dwelling in a person. I don’t have a lot of patience with myself so there isn’t a lot to draw from for others. In my youth I dreamed of being like John Chrysostom (“Saint John, The Golden Mouth” 347 – 407 AD) who could speak with such pathos that he swayed masses to Christianity. However, time has since passed my youth into a distant memory and while colleges have attempted to train me as a public orator, I have yet to be called “golden.” In fact, there have been times when I have sounded neither golden nor saintly. Maybe this is the reason I found writing “The Grimm Reaper Report” to be more compatible with my basic demeanor. Oh, trust me, I can get my point across and leave very little to the imagination. One of the reasons I probably developed this trait was because I have heard enough talk when action was needed and truth demands that, “Somebody’s gotta do something.”
Once I was speaking with a fellow professional who just happened to be in the process of writing a book about communication. Our particular discussion was over resolving a partnership conflict needing serious restructuring and honest readjustments for fairness to all personnel involved. As I addressed the situation as it stood at that moment he waxed eloquent. He delved into quoting himself as he espoused vocal tone techniques, citing proper stance, emotional sensitivity and “seeking to be understood not merely attempting to be heard.” I listened respectfully for a matter of minutes as he was a learned individual for whom I had respect. Yet, as I listened I became painfully aware that he was lost in his theoretical approach to the problem and not the practics to solving the problem. He finally paused or maybe I had merely tuned him out as a basic survival instinct. I looked him straight in the eye and said, “And sometimes someone just needs to get up off their butt and do something.” Of course, this was not the polished articulate dialogue that he expected or evidently wanted to hear because the whole partnership dissolved pretty much after that.
My point is simply that we need leaders who have some God given backbone to make a decision. Now I don’t mean someone who is merely egotistical demanding their way or the highway. The last thing this old world needs is another person filling a leadership role who is half nuts, half baked, half informed or half egotistical. We need someone who will articulate the problem, provide a solution and take charge to fix a problem. To quote a gospel song by Bill Gaither, “When the house is burning to the ground there’s just no time to stand around arranging all the pictures on the wall.” The fact is, “Somebody’s gotta do something.”
Well, the election is over, we voted and the next President of these United States of America has been elected. Some are crying, some are rejoicing and some will do what they have always done – they’ll complain, complain, complain.... These are the people who are more part of the problem than part of the solution. I say either we are part of the fix or part of that which needs fixed. If you need more money – get a job. If you have a job and you are not happy, then get retrained or increase your education so you can get a better paying job. If anything in life isn’t to your liking stop your belly aching and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Stop looking for someone else to bail you out, YOU DO SOMETHING.
When The Reaper hands in his final report to Someone higher it will be too late to do what you needed to do but you can bet your soul, Someone higher is gonna do something!
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 05OCT 2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
http://www.the-grimm-reaper-report.com/
Friday, October 31, 2008
"Trick or treat"
31 October 2008
Tonight the young at heart will embark on making their way to every home they can in the hopes that they will receive a scrumptious treat while enthusiastically proclaiming “Trick or treat!” Of course, those residences that are on watch will greet each guest with smiles, opened doors and willingly treats.
There is something about all this that reminds me of someone’s threatened economic “equality.”
No matter how you word it, taking from the rich and giving it to the poor sounds good in fairy tales, to communistic regimes and some to Democratic ideologies. However, to the rest of us it smacks of a Halloween threat. I don’t know about you but when some politician proposes that Washington or any other government agency plans on showing up at my work, residence and/or pocketbook I find it more of a trick than a treat.
Now, if you voted in favor of someone who proposes this type of “distributing” of YOUR wealth then YOU shouldn’t be surprised when YOU have to give more “treats” than YOU want. I admit that I don’t mind a few treat-seekers showing up on a pre-announced, no-harm visit. I don’t mind the tramping across the lawn really that much either (why they can’t use the sidewalk is another study in human behavior). What I do mind are those who arrive and demand more than I want to give. A little candy once a year isn’t going to break my budget but that is because I don’t plan on feeding, housing, insuring, educating, and raising everybody else’s family who shows up. Common sense tells us that unless I, (yes, I do mean “I”, me, myself, my work-and-earn-it-self) maintain a budget that I chose then it will not be long before my desire to maintain my welcome-ability decreases significantly. In fact, show up at my home demanding more than I want to give and I will stop wanting to give anything to anybody all together. Let me be perfectly honest, I will become defensive against handing out treats at all. Eventually, you’ll hear me yell, “Hey, get off my lawn!”
OK, I feel better now.
So tonight the “Trick or treat” will be heard across this land and most of us will smile. Yet, Tuesday night after everybody votes unless people use common sense we are all going to be paying a lot more than any home owner can afford.
Eventually, The Reaper is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. Until then I can’t help but wonder if God Almighty doesn’t just sadly shake his head as some people trick others into calling this a treat.
The Grimm Reaper Report © 31 Oct 2008
http://www.the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
http://www.the-grimm-reaper-report.com/
You are invited to leave an appropriate comment by clicking on the small envelope at the end of each article
Tonight the young at heart will embark on making their way to every home they can in the hopes that they will receive a scrumptious treat while enthusiastically proclaiming “Trick or treat!” Of course, those residences that are on watch will greet each guest with smiles, opened doors and willingly treats.
There is something about all this that reminds me of someone’s threatened economic “equality.”
No matter how you word it, taking from the rich and giving it to the poor sounds good in fairy tales, to communistic regimes and some to Democratic ideologies. However, to the rest of us it smacks of a Halloween threat. I don’t know about you but when some politician proposes that Washington or any other government agency plans on showing up at my work, residence and/or pocketbook I find it more of a trick than a treat.
Now, if you voted in favor of someone who proposes this type of “distributing” of YOUR wealth then YOU shouldn’t be surprised when YOU have to give more “treats” than YOU want. I admit that I don’t mind a few treat-seekers showing up on a pre-announced, no-harm visit. I don’t mind the tramping across the lawn really that much either (why they can’t use the sidewalk is another study in human behavior). What I do mind are those who arrive and demand more than I want to give. A little candy once a year isn’t going to break my budget but that is because I don’t plan on feeding, housing, insuring, educating, and raising everybody else’s family who shows up. Common sense tells us that unless I, (yes, I do mean “I”, me, myself, my work-and-earn-it-self) maintain a budget that I chose then it will not be long before my desire to maintain my welcome-ability decreases significantly. In fact, show up at my home demanding more than I want to give and I will stop wanting to give anything to anybody all together. Let me be perfectly honest, I will become defensive against handing out treats at all. Eventually, you’ll hear me yell, “Hey, get off my lawn!”
OK, I feel better now.
So tonight the “Trick or treat” will be heard across this land and most of us will smile. Yet, Tuesday night after everybody votes unless people use common sense we are all going to be paying a lot more than any home owner can afford.
Eventually, The Reaper is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. Until then I can’t help but wonder if God Almighty doesn’t just sadly shake his head as some people trick others into calling this a treat.
The Grimm Reaper Report © 31 Oct 2008
http://www.the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
http://www.the-grimm-reaper-report.com/
You are invited to leave an appropriate comment by clicking on the small envelope at the end of each article
Saturday, October 25, 2008
“Heroes and Role Models”
25 October 2008
If you are reading my blog with any regularity then you know that I pretty much reject entertaining the notion of returning to our younger days. My rationale is that not only is it actually impossible but in the final analysis we would know way too much to really have any fun. I had written negatively about returning to our youth in response to the often overly heard remark, “If I only knew then what I know now.” My honest assessment is that nothing takes the joy out of youth like knowing too much or being around someone who knows too much. Either way we are at the mercy of their input. So, let’s use the lessons gleaned through age and experience to keeping today’s world safe. Hopefully, if we do that then the next generation can enjoy living and become creative enough to clean up some of the messes we’ve left them. But let me get to the reason for this entry into my blog.
While we cannot return to our youth we can reminisce about the true innocence of our youth. We have to admit that we didn’t have the world picture that we have now. We didn’t worry about terrorism invading our borders or having a “For Sale” sign on our American soil. Life didn’t have all the complex problems that adulthood brings. As you think about our youth you should be able to recognize that we were growing up toward something and that there was a possibility that seemed to bloom within us. Even amid the most troubling times of our youth we possessed a sense that potential waited for us to make something of our lives. We believed that things would change. We would change. Situations would change. When we became 13…16…18. When we turned 21 or 30. Once we got out of the house. When we got our first job or graduated. We lived and worked for something. There were people who inspired us and there were ideals that called us to think beyond the immaturity of those around us. The future was bright and at the right time it was going to be ours. And if I remember correctly, we had heroes.
In that magical time and place called “our youth” there were those who we placed in the confining restraints called “role model.” Even if we didn’t know it, these became our heroes.
John Wayne comes to mind my mind first as he always played the rough-on-the-edges fair minded good guy. As kids we’d slow the rate of our speech as we’d say, “Well, Pilgrim…”
Jimmie Stewart also comes to mind with his clean cut image from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It was later in life that I learned that he retired from the Air Force Reserves as a one star General.
Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and other greats, whose athletic talent and self discipline, made baseball worth watching. We imitated them and spoke of them with youthful reverence.
But there were others who caught our attention. Their names didn’t always appear on the marquee nor were they recognize by the masses. They were a teacher or a neighbor who lived each day by who they were independently of what was going on in the world around them. They didn’t need recognition or the limelight. Their lives were modest but consistent. At the right time they encouraged us to catch the vision of possibilities and yearn for reaching our potential. We know now that it only takes each person doing what they know is ethical and fair to make an impact in someone younger.
Some would say that there are no heroes and role models for this current generation. I beg to differ with that notion. Heroes and role models are all around us today and these will be what a future generation remembers as the greatest.
Of course, today we are too well educated and culturally enlightened to think that one should live in direct responsibility to his/her neighbor. And besides, we are too individualistic to want to limit ourselves for the sake of others. We have become too broad minded to think about those antiquated concepts of right and wrong or the sense of absolutes of heaven or hell. The whole notion of hell is considered by some to be an outdated concept for scaring children and impressionable minds. Still, I can’t help but wonder what would happen to this current world if people started living like they still believed it both?
One of these days The Reaper is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. I hope we begin to live differently as a society and a culture because right now it appears things are going to hell in a hand basket!
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT ©25OCT08http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
If you are reading my blog with any regularity then you know that I pretty much reject entertaining the notion of returning to our younger days. My rationale is that not only is it actually impossible but in the final analysis we would know way too much to really have any fun. I had written negatively about returning to our youth in response to the often overly heard remark, “If I only knew then what I know now.” My honest assessment is that nothing takes the joy out of youth like knowing too much or being around someone who knows too much. Either way we are at the mercy of their input. So, let’s use the lessons gleaned through age and experience to keeping today’s world safe. Hopefully, if we do that then the next generation can enjoy living and become creative enough to clean up some of the messes we’ve left them. But let me get to the reason for this entry into my blog.
While we cannot return to our youth we can reminisce about the true innocence of our youth. We have to admit that we didn’t have the world picture that we have now. We didn’t worry about terrorism invading our borders or having a “For Sale” sign on our American soil. Life didn’t have all the complex problems that adulthood brings. As you think about our youth you should be able to recognize that we were growing up toward something and that there was a possibility that seemed to bloom within us. Even amid the most troubling times of our youth we possessed a sense that potential waited for us to make something of our lives. We believed that things would change. We would change. Situations would change. When we became 13…16…18. When we turned 21 or 30. Once we got out of the house. When we got our first job or graduated. We lived and worked for something. There were people who inspired us and there were ideals that called us to think beyond the immaturity of those around us. The future was bright and at the right time it was going to be ours. And if I remember correctly, we had heroes.
In that magical time and place called “our youth” there were those who we placed in the confining restraints called “role model.” Even if we didn’t know it, these became our heroes.
John Wayne comes to mind my mind first as he always played the rough-on-the-edges fair minded good guy. As kids we’d slow the rate of our speech as we’d say, “Well, Pilgrim…”
Jimmie Stewart also comes to mind with his clean cut image from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It was later in life that I learned that he retired from the Air Force Reserves as a one star General.
Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and other greats, whose athletic talent and self discipline, made baseball worth watching. We imitated them and spoke of them with youthful reverence.
But there were others who caught our attention. Their names didn’t always appear on the marquee nor were they recognize by the masses. They were a teacher or a neighbor who lived each day by who they were independently of what was going on in the world around them. They didn’t need recognition or the limelight. Their lives were modest but consistent. At the right time they encouraged us to catch the vision of possibilities and yearn for reaching our potential. We know now that it only takes each person doing what they know is ethical and fair to make an impact in someone younger.
Some would say that there are no heroes and role models for this current generation. I beg to differ with that notion. Heroes and role models are all around us today and these will be what a future generation remembers as the greatest.
Of course, today we are too well educated and culturally enlightened to think that one should live in direct responsibility to his/her neighbor. And besides, we are too individualistic to want to limit ourselves for the sake of others. We have become too broad minded to think about those antiquated concepts of right and wrong or the sense of absolutes of heaven or hell. The whole notion of hell is considered by some to be an outdated concept for scaring children and impressionable minds. Still, I can’t help but wonder what would happen to this current world if people started living like they still believed it both?
One of these days The Reaper is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. I hope we begin to live differently as a society and a culture because right now it appears things are going to hell in a hand basket!
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT ©25OCT08http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
(clicking on the envelope at the end of each article will allow you to leave a comment)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
USING WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW
21OCT 2008
Every once in a while someone will remark, “Oh, to be young again.” Of course, this sentence is usually followed with, “If I’d known then what I know now…” Don’t kid yourself, if you were back then with what you know now, they’d lock you up because you’d mess things up worse than you can imagine.
Well, let’s take a brief walk down memory lane.
Do you remember the awkwardness that seemed to envelope most of us in our Junior High years? Let me just remind you of entering puberty and living through the teenage years. There was the chaotic raging of hormones within us and our clashing interaction with the world around us. There was an awkwardness that seemed to curse our every move; our voice changed in mid-sentence, our parents didn’t understand us – we didn’t understand ourselves! One minute we’d be a loving half-way rational person and then the next minute we’d be screaming that no one understands us. We either had a growth spurt that made us seem to outgrow our clothes over night or we gained weight which added to our fragile self-esteem. Hopefully, now you are remembering what was like to be young.
Think back to those who endured the cruel taunting of others. If you were part of the “in” crowd you taunted others to make yourself feel good. If you were not part of the “in” crowd you formed social groups to talk about those who you felt were out to get you. If you didn’t have a few close friends then each day you went to school you were on your own. Teenagers can be some of the cruelest people and some people have never gotten over the ugliness they experienced. And you want to be young again?
Of course, there was beginning to look like we were older than we were and people began expecting more out of us. People would just expect us to know. We would go to school and we studied to pass tests that few adults around us could pass. We had mathematical questions that our parents didn’t have a clue even how to find the answer. We were expected to be calm, moral, health conscience, rational, thoughtful, punctual, ethical, obedient, law abiding, perfect drivers, babysitters, lawn caretakers, free house laborers, athletes, scholars, theologians, philosophers, all the while we were supposed to hold down a job and, oh, yes, lest we forget the parental send-off “Have fun.” And what was the family word used around your house that you were threatened for using …and you want to be young again?
Our friends expected us to join them in whatever dumb stunt they were attempting. Our families expected us to join them in all their activities.
And there were those immature show-downs between kids. After school fights, parking lot confrontations, verbal assaults and teacher consultations. There were also those who just had fun taunting you because that was the only power tool they had – the power of intimidation.
Of course, we are older now. We work until we retire. We pay bills. And we vote. Kind of sad if you ask me that listening to the politicians reminds me so much of listening to a bunch of immature kids. Guess some people never learn … and these are the best we have to offer to send to Washington?
One of these days “The Reaper” is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. Let’s hope that we used enough of what we already knew.
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 21OCT2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
Every once in a while someone will remark, “Oh, to be young again.” Of course, this sentence is usually followed with, “If I’d known then what I know now…” Don’t kid yourself, if you were back then with what you know now, they’d lock you up because you’d mess things up worse than you can imagine.
Well, let’s take a brief walk down memory lane.
Do you remember the awkwardness that seemed to envelope most of us in our Junior High years? Let me just remind you of entering puberty and living through the teenage years. There was the chaotic raging of hormones within us and our clashing interaction with the world around us. There was an awkwardness that seemed to curse our every move; our voice changed in mid-sentence, our parents didn’t understand us – we didn’t understand ourselves! One minute we’d be a loving half-way rational person and then the next minute we’d be screaming that no one understands us. We either had a growth spurt that made us seem to outgrow our clothes over night or we gained weight which added to our fragile self-esteem. Hopefully, now you are remembering what was like to be young.
Think back to those who endured the cruel taunting of others. If you were part of the “in” crowd you taunted others to make yourself feel good. If you were not part of the “in” crowd you formed social groups to talk about those who you felt were out to get you. If you didn’t have a few close friends then each day you went to school you were on your own. Teenagers can be some of the cruelest people and some people have never gotten over the ugliness they experienced. And you want to be young again?
Of course, there was beginning to look like we were older than we were and people began expecting more out of us. People would just expect us to know. We would go to school and we studied to pass tests that few adults around us could pass. We had mathematical questions that our parents didn’t have a clue even how to find the answer. We were expected to be calm, moral, health conscience, rational, thoughtful, punctual, ethical, obedient, law abiding, perfect drivers, babysitters, lawn caretakers, free house laborers, athletes, scholars, theologians, philosophers, all the while we were supposed to hold down a job and, oh, yes, lest we forget the parental send-off “Have fun.” And what was the family word used around your house that you were threatened for using …and you want to be young again?
Our friends expected us to join them in whatever dumb stunt they were attempting. Our families expected us to join them in all their activities.
And there were those immature show-downs between kids. After school fights, parking lot confrontations, verbal assaults and teacher consultations. There were also those who just had fun taunting you because that was the only power tool they had – the power of intimidation.
Of course, we are older now. We work until we retire. We pay bills. And we vote. Kind of sad if you ask me that listening to the politicians reminds me so much of listening to a bunch of immature kids. Guess some people never learn … and these are the best we have to offer to send to Washington?
One of these days “The Reaper” is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. Let’s hope that we used enough of what we already knew.
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 21OCT2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Common Sense Test
17OCT2008
Not long ago while working with a fellow Soldier reviewing a troubling choice of actions that caused undue delays in completing a task, he verbalized his analysis, “That doesn’t pass the common sense test.” His quick analysis didn’t require forming a committee or a board of inquiry, he didn’t possess a Ph.D. in physics nor did he pull out a big reference manual. He looked at the choice that was made by another, saw the obvious results that were staring us in the face and pronounced the only logical conclusion. It simply and unarguably did not pass the “The Common Sense Test.”
Now, I do not know who coined the phrase, “The Common Sense Test” and as far as I know it has been around for a long time. I know that in the nearly 40 years that I have been living in and out of military uniform I haven’t seen a course of study that produces certified evaluators of common sense. I haven’t found any online schools that offer to confer on their students this advanced intellectual accomplishment. I cannot find any list of college courses promising the student this acquisition of heightened intellectual powers. Still, some place in time someone found the simplest way to word the obvious without being afraid to put it out in the open and we have it now the phrase “The Common Sense Test.”
If “The Common Sense Test” would be used more often in Washington we wouldn’t have most of the problems we have in this world today. If “The Common Sense Test” was used by everybody on a daily basis people wouldn’t feel like they are living merely from crisis to crisis. It is pretty obvious when it hasn’t been used: Going in debt for something a person can’t afford, text messaging while driving, arguing about their rights all the while they are ignoring someone else’s, and a host of other problems that fail “The Common Sense Test.”
Common Sense can never be underrated or over used. Instill this basic ingredient of success into teenagers and they become productive adults. Develop it in parents and the children of the household gain a foundation for the future even when they make common sense errors. Require it of politicians and you can feel it across the whole nation!
You’ll have to admit that in time when common sense is lacking people see it. Someone can try to explain it away and argue about all the pros and cons of a project or action made without common sense, but even a child can see that something is lacking, something is missing. Call it what you will but when poor judgment is used in completing a task the analysis is always the same, “That doesn’t pass the common sense test.”
One of these days “The Reaper” is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. The truth of the matter is that all the reasons and all the excuses for failing to apply “The Common Sense Test” will only add to the fire.
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 17OCT2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
Not long ago while working with a fellow Soldier reviewing a troubling choice of actions that caused undue delays in completing a task, he verbalized his analysis, “That doesn’t pass the common sense test.” His quick analysis didn’t require forming a committee or a board of inquiry, he didn’t possess a Ph.D. in physics nor did he pull out a big reference manual. He looked at the choice that was made by another, saw the obvious results that were staring us in the face and pronounced the only logical conclusion. It simply and unarguably did not pass the “The Common Sense Test.”
Now, I do not know who coined the phrase, “The Common Sense Test” and as far as I know it has been around for a long time. I know that in the nearly 40 years that I have been living in and out of military uniform I haven’t seen a course of study that produces certified evaluators of common sense. I haven’t found any online schools that offer to confer on their students this advanced intellectual accomplishment. I cannot find any list of college courses promising the student this acquisition of heightened intellectual powers. Still, some place in time someone found the simplest way to word the obvious without being afraid to put it out in the open and we have it now the phrase “The Common Sense Test.”
If “The Common Sense Test” would be used more often in Washington we wouldn’t have most of the problems we have in this world today. If “The Common Sense Test” was used by everybody on a daily basis people wouldn’t feel like they are living merely from crisis to crisis. It is pretty obvious when it hasn’t been used: Going in debt for something a person can’t afford, text messaging while driving, arguing about their rights all the while they are ignoring someone else’s, and a host of other problems that fail “The Common Sense Test.”
Common Sense can never be underrated or over used. Instill this basic ingredient of success into teenagers and they become productive adults. Develop it in parents and the children of the household gain a foundation for the future even when they make common sense errors. Require it of politicians and you can feel it across the whole nation!
You’ll have to admit that in time when common sense is lacking people see it. Someone can try to explain it away and argue about all the pros and cons of a project or action made without common sense, but even a child can see that something is lacking, something is missing. Call it what you will but when poor judgment is used in completing a task the analysis is always the same, “That doesn’t pass the common sense test.”
One of these days “The Reaper” is going to hand in his final report to Someone higher. The truth of the matter is that all the reasons and all the excuses for failing to apply “The Common Sense Test” will only add to the fire.
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 17OCT2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
"In the beginning..."
14OCT08
“In the beginning…”
America.
America has been known as a place of freedom, fulfillment, hope and pride. America has grown into a living entity embodying the elements that produced this Divine experiment called Democracy. America grew into a culture and society where ambition, creativity, enthusiasm, and national identity unified people from around the world under her name. America possessed an inner purpose that flowed like an unstoppable epidemic across this great land as the Divine touched the very hearts of those who made America to rise above the shame of slavery, civil war, isolationalism and prejudice. America grew into the envy of every nation on Earth. America because of her combined purpose subdued her frontiers, stabilized the world during two world wars and blocked the spread of godless regimes. America has stood as one united undefeatable force as the world fought Communism, Fascism and Imperialism. America schooled its children, provided living wages for its work force, created a standard of medical health care and life style that was emulated around the globe. The core of what and who makes up America has become synonymous with the very concept of freedom and that has bolstered its men and women into a military force second to no other nation on the globe. This vision of what makes America great led its earliest leaders to sacrifice their very lives and livelihood as they placed their signatures on the Constitution of the United States of America,
“ We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”
Personal opinion and political differences will always be a part of any two people. Yet, even during those times when we have nearly split ourselves apart, the core of what makes America great comes through. Abraham Lincoln spoke to that very core at Gettysburg,
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Once again America appears to be heading toward another challenge to its core beliefs and conviction. America has attempted to appease all and by this appears to be in danger of diluting itself into fragmented identities. As one cannot make cold wax flow and mold into one so can no nation expect the same of honoring all national cultures, ethnic identities, religious ideologies, moral persuasions or political agendas. America we must re-focus our attention back to our basic and core identity without diluting our national moral convictions of what is good for the whole of the people not merely the fragmented few. America, as we enter this 21st Century we must move forward without losing sight of our moral compass.
America, look at who we are in this 21st Century. We have allowed “In God we trust” to be stamped on our money but won’t allow him in our lives. We hold our athletes, politicians and preachers to moral standards but want entertainment filled with corruption, drugs, murder, nudity, vice, violence and vulgarity. America, we have invited the rest of the world to mock us as well as the very concept of the God who we claim designed us into being a nation. It is because of our moral laxity and decadent excesses that some fear our expanding influence into their culture.
America, we are still “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.” America, we still possess the most productive farmland and given the opportunity, our people have a work ethic that can outwork the people of any other nation. America, we still possess a strength that makes even those who hate us run and hide in caves to strike at innocent civilians as we stand together; we have proved that as recently as 9/11. But America, we’ve allowed our divisiveness, our excesses, our special interests, our addictions to comfort and ease to dim our vision of national unity and because of that we have allowed ourselves be side tract.
America, someday each of us will leave this world and it is what we leave behind that will proclaim our legacy into the future. We will answer for what we have or haven’t done. I believe what “The Good Book” says about reaping what we sow and that is enough for us all to get back on course.
However, some may need just a little more encouragement to get back on course. Some do not want to listen to a preacher or a politician but they fear the concept of “The Reaper” coming, knowing that when he does, he will hand in his final report to Someone higher than himself. Until then, just consider this to be “THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT.”
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 14 OCT 2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
“In the beginning…”
America.
America has been known as a place of freedom, fulfillment, hope and pride. America has grown into a living entity embodying the elements that produced this Divine experiment called Democracy. America grew into a culture and society where ambition, creativity, enthusiasm, and national identity unified people from around the world under her name. America possessed an inner purpose that flowed like an unstoppable epidemic across this great land as the Divine touched the very hearts of those who made America to rise above the shame of slavery, civil war, isolationalism and prejudice. America grew into the envy of every nation on Earth. America because of her combined purpose subdued her frontiers, stabilized the world during two world wars and blocked the spread of godless regimes. America has stood as one united undefeatable force as the world fought Communism, Fascism and Imperialism. America schooled its children, provided living wages for its work force, created a standard of medical health care and life style that was emulated around the globe. The core of what and who makes up America has become synonymous with the very concept of freedom and that has bolstered its men and women into a military force second to no other nation on the globe. This vision of what makes America great led its earliest leaders to sacrifice their very lives and livelihood as they placed their signatures on the Constitution of the United States of America,
“ We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”
Personal opinion and political differences will always be a part of any two people. Yet, even during those times when we have nearly split ourselves apart, the core of what makes America great comes through. Abraham Lincoln spoke to that very core at Gettysburg,
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Once again America appears to be heading toward another challenge to its core beliefs and conviction. America has attempted to appease all and by this appears to be in danger of diluting itself into fragmented identities. As one cannot make cold wax flow and mold into one so can no nation expect the same of honoring all national cultures, ethnic identities, religious ideologies, moral persuasions or political agendas. America we must re-focus our attention back to our basic and core identity without diluting our national moral convictions of what is good for the whole of the people not merely the fragmented few. America, as we enter this 21st Century we must move forward without losing sight of our moral compass.
America, look at who we are in this 21st Century. We have allowed “In God we trust” to be stamped on our money but won’t allow him in our lives. We hold our athletes, politicians and preachers to moral standards but want entertainment filled with corruption, drugs, murder, nudity, vice, violence and vulgarity. America, we have invited the rest of the world to mock us as well as the very concept of the God who we claim designed us into being a nation. It is because of our moral laxity and decadent excesses that some fear our expanding influence into their culture.
America, we are still “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.” America, we still possess the most productive farmland and given the opportunity, our people have a work ethic that can outwork the people of any other nation. America, we still possess a strength that makes even those who hate us run and hide in caves to strike at innocent civilians as we stand together; we have proved that as recently as 9/11. But America, we’ve allowed our divisiveness, our excesses, our special interests, our addictions to comfort and ease to dim our vision of national unity and because of that we have allowed ourselves be side tract.
America, someday each of us will leave this world and it is what we leave behind that will proclaim our legacy into the future. We will answer for what we have or haven’t done. I believe what “The Good Book” says about reaping what we sow and that is enough for us all to get back on course.
However, some may need just a little more encouragement to get back on course. Some do not want to listen to a preacher or a politician but they fear the concept of “The Reaper” coming, knowing that when he does, he will hand in his final report to Someone higher than himself. Until then, just consider this to be “THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT.”
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 14 OCT 2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
Friday, October 10, 2008
GETTING THE JOB DONE
10 October 2008
Nothing says efficiency like getting the job done on time and within budget.
Some people have more excuses than they have sense. They can tell you their version of why something isn’t completed as promised but fail to take any personal responsibility for the failure. This is even when they were in charge of the project.
We have all heard of what has been called “mob mentality.” Get enough people together and individual convictions and restrains give way to the will of the crowd. My basic question to those who have been caught up in “mob mentality” is, what kept you from walking away and calling the authorities at the first sign of something that went against your convictions and personal values?
Let’s take this whole notion to the political mob in Washington. I can’t help but wonder what happens to politicians when they get away from their home districts. The politicians promise that they will be different. The politicians promise they will be sensitive to the needs of America. The politicians promise that they will be responsible. Yet, it isn’t long before they are passing legislation that undermines the convictions and values of their home districts. They return to us wanting to be re-elected spouting their desire to reform the political mess and they whine to us that it was the other political party that is at fault. Is our whole political system made up of nothing more than victims of “mob mentality?”
I shudder to think that our politicians’ personal convictions and values are no stronger than what is portrayed in the media. It appears that Washington merely houses those we elect who overspend our tax dollars while enslaving future generations with what the average American calls fiscal irresponsibility. It appears that to get other politicians to vote favorably on good ideas special favors are attached thereby loading even good ideas with enough “flies in the ointment” to make the average American reject the whole thing. (This isn’t “you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.” It is a practice that has rejected common sense and the common values that made this nation the envy of the world.) These same politicians vote themselves health insurance plans and retirement packages that the average hard working person cannot get all the while the average common citizen of these United States of America are left paying for the politicians’ “work.”
There are those who pace themselves in a project. They take the time to understand the problem, gather information, and formulate a plan then work to secure a long lasting solution. Once one problem has been addressed appropriately they are able to focus on the next project. The results are pretty much the same: appropriately addressed solution-focused problem solving techniques.
Then there are those who rush into a project. They seem to be constantly going from crisis to crisis, rarely actually fixing anything but merely stabilizing the moment to race after another crisis. Once one problem has been patched they jump to the next crisis. The results are again pretty much the same: inadequate solutions, unformulated ideas, short-term fixes that must be addressed over and over again.
Of course, there are things in life that must be addressed over and over again to keep them running smoothly. In regard to this last sentence common sense comes into play, but the main focus of today’s column is to address the quick-fix band aids that merely plug a leak while failing to address the cause of the leak! Attention paid to the first sign of a problem does not allow it to grow into a crisis. This is being solution-focused and common sense tells us that ignoring a problem only allows it to grow.
Well, you may agree or you may disagree, regardless let’s hope someone begins to stand their ground in the “mob” before The Reaper writes his final report.
Let me say it again, “Nothing says efficiency like getting the job done on time and within budget.”
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 10OCT2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
Nothing says efficiency like getting the job done on time and within budget.
Some people have more excuses than they have sense. They can tell you their version of why something isn’t completed as promised but fail to take any personal responsibility for the failure. This is even when they were in charge of the project.
We have all heard of what has been called “mob mentality.” Get enough people together and individual convictions and restrains give way to the will of the crowd. My basic question to those who have been caught up in “mob mentality” is, what kept you from walking away and calling the authorities at the first sign of something that went against your convictions and personal values?
Let’s take this whole notion to the political mob in Washington. I can’t help but wonder what happens to politicians when they get away from their home districts. The politicians promise that they will be different. The politicians promise they will be sensitive to the needs of America. The politicians promise that they will be responsible. Yet, it isn’t long before they are passing legislation that undermines the convictions and values of their home districts. They return to us wanting to be re-elected spouting their desire to reform the political mess and they whine to us that it was the other political party that is at fault. Is our whole political system made up of nothing more than victims of “mob mentality?”
I shudder to think that our politicians’ personal convictions and values are no stronger than what is portrayed in the media. It appears that Washington merely houses those we elect who overspend our tax dollars while enslaving future generations with what the average American calls fiscal irresponsibility. It appears that to get other politicians to vote favorably on good ideas special favors are attached thereby loading even good ideas with enough “flies in the ointment” to make the average American reject the whole thing. (This isn’t “you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.” It is a practice that has rejected common sense and the common values that made this nation the envy of the world.) These same politicians vote themselves health insurance plans and retirement packages that the average hard working person cannot get all the while the average common citizen of these United States of America are left paying for the politicians’ “work.”
There are those who pace themselves in a project. They take the time to understand the problem, gather information, and formulate a plan then work to secure a long lasting solution. Once one problem has been addressed appropriately they are able to focus on the next project. The results are pretty much the same: appropriately addressed solution-focused problem solving techniques.
Then there are those who rush into a project. They seem to be constantly going from crisis to crisis, rarely actually fixing anything but merely stabilizing the moment to race after another crisis. Once one problem has been patched they jump to the next crisis. The results are again pretty much the same: inadequate solutions, unformulated ideas, short-term fixes that must be addressed over and over again.
Of course, there are things in life that must be addressed over and over again to keep them running smoothly. In regard to this last sentence common sense comes into play, but the main focus of today’s column is to address the quick-fix band aids that merely plug a leak while failing to address the cause of the leak! Attention paid to the first sign of a problem does not allow it to grow into a crisis. This is being solution-focused and common sense tells us that ignoring a problem only allows it to grow.
Well, you may agree or you may disagree, regardless let’s hope someone begins to stand their ground in the “mob” before The Reaper writes his final report.
Let me say it again, “Nothing says efficiency like getting the job done on time and within budget.”
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT © 10OCT2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
RIGHT TO THE POINT
October 07, 2008
Let me get right to the point without some headline grabber to pull you into reading this column. Here it is: What is important to you? Now, don't answer too quickly. Take a few moments to ponder the question. Sit back in your chair and allow the impact of this question to settle upon you completely. If you had to answer this one question and your answer was to drive the rest of your life without being able to change it, "What is important to you?"
Too few people really take the time to answer the question honestly. There are flippant answers that appear to mock the seriousness of the question. Some people are so out of touch with their own needs that they quickly answer without honest self examination and thereby spend their life in unfulfilling activities, relationships and vocations. The result becomes a shell of a person who had been so full of dreams, energy and potential but now is bored, resentful and tired of life. These poor souls have filled their inner craving for significance with insignificant familiarities and after spending their day working a dead end job they are found slouched in front of a television being bombarded with watching make believe people living make believe lives. Is this the best we can do with ourselves? I ask again, "What is important to you?"
Now, don't get me wrong everybody needs some type of escape whether it is watching your favorite show on television or some hobby. But what has happened to America as a society and a culture when we have no better personal drive than to watch other people live? It says that we have given up hope, lost our personal ambition and our ability to live life to its fullest. Before Almighty God I have to believe we were created to possess the potential to be more than a couch potato!
Examine what's really important to you.
As you are honestly examining you with what is important go a little deeper and ask, “What are you willing to give up to gain what you really want?"
Every once in a while a person needs to step back and ask themselves these basic questions.
The reason I even bring this issue up is because too many people have failed to know the basics of their own inner workings: physically, emotionally, psychologically & spiritually (that's right SPIRITUALLY - hey, if the more traditional religions are wrong, then you didn't lose anything, but if they are correct it will be hell to pay!).
So, let's get back to the point of my writing. Be honest with yourself (not just because you are in a foul mood at this moment), "What is important to you?" Carry this question a little deeper and follow it up with asking yourself, "What am I willing to give up to gain what I really want?"
When you get your answer drop me a line. You may find that a renewed vigor returns to your daily living as you focus on what is really important to you or you may find that you have given up long before The Reaper sends in his final report.
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT ©08OCT08
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
Let me get right to the point without some headline grabber to pull you into reading this column. Here it is: What is important to you? Now, don't answer too quickly. Take a few moments to ponder the question. Sit back in your chair and allow the impact of this question to settle upon you completely. If you had to answer this one question and your answer was to drive the rest of your life without being able to change it, "What is important to you?"
Too few people really take the time to answer the question honestly. There are flippant answers that appear to mock the seriousness of the question. Some people are so out of touch with their own needs that they quickly answer without honest self examination and thereby spend their life in unfulfilling activities, relationships and vocations. The result becomes a shell of a person who had been so full of dreams, energy and potential but now is bored, resentful and tired of life. These poor souls have filled their inner craving for significance with insignificant familiarities and after spending their day working a dead end job they are found slouched in front of a television being bombarded with watching make believe people living make believe lives. Is this the best we can do with ourselves? I ask again, "What is important to you?"
Now, don't get me wrong everybody needs some type of escape whether it is watching your favorite show on television or some hobby. But what has happened to America as a society and a culture when we have no better personal drive than to watch other people live? It says that we have given up hope, lost our personal ambition and our ability to live life to its fullest. Before Almighty God I have to believe we were created to possess the potential to be more than a couch potato!
Examine what's really important to you.
As you are honestly examining you with what is important go a little deeper and ask, “What are you willing to give up to gain what you really want?"
Every once in a while a person needs to step back and ask themselves these basic questions.
The reason I even bring this issue up is because too many people have failed to know the basics of their own inner workings: physically, emotionally, psychologically & spiritually (that's right SPIRITUALLY - hey, if the more traditional religions are wrong, then you didn't lose anything, but if they are correct it will be hell to pay!).
So, let's get back to the point of my writing. Be honest with yourself (not just because you are in a foul mood at this moment), "What is important to you?" Carry this question a little deeper and follow it up with asking yourself, "What am I willing to give up to gain what I really want?"
When you get your answer drop me a line. You may find that a renewed vigor returns to your daily living as you focus on what is really important to you or you may find that you have given up long before The Reaper sends in his final report.
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT ©08OCT08
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
SHARING MY THOUGHTS
October 02, 2008
As time changes my youth into these so called "mature years" I am becoming a little more tenderhearted and a little more sentimental. Some things do not bother me as much as they used to and some other things bother me more. May I ask that you humor this Grandfather for a few minutes while I share my thoughts?
People and their dogs. Now I personally attest that pets can wrap themselves around your heart. Used to be that I couldn't understand how someone could get so emotional about an animal. But I have to admit that as time has passed I have shed a few tears over some cats and dogs that have touched my heart. What I am still working through is having to listen to someone else's dog barking endlessly when I just want some peace and quiet. Back in my younger years I had a sure fire way to quiet any dog, but like I said, now I am a little more tenderhearted. Not much, but a little more.
People and their kids. I have had a few and just like pets they can wrap themselves around your heart, wallet and lifestyle. Used to be that kids were taught that they were loved and were also taught some manners. What I am still working through are kids who tell their parents what to do. Back in my younger years my parents had a sure fire way to provide me with proper guidance: I was taught to love my parents and if I didn't feel "the love" I was more than able to feel the error of back-talking. I am not talking about beating or neglecting a child, shoot, you'd treat a dog with more respect than some people treat their kids. (I'm probably sounding a little more tenderhearted here than I mean to.)
People and their driving. Yep, I am a people and I drive too but just because I can drive like a maniac doesn't mean I should. Sometimes you'll see me about town in my 4x4 pickup or on my Harley. Going back to raising kids for a minute, I believe in sharing. I may be old fashioned but I believe we need to respect other drivers, stay reasonably within the speed limit and share the road. Yes, you can go faster if you want to, but where is your self respect? If you want my lane, share with me your thoughts by using your turn signal or at least LOOK before you change lanes. If you leave enough room for me to pray before I crash into you I'll try really hard not to use some language that I wouldn't use on a dog or that Mom would wash my mouth out for using.
People and dying. We are all going to pass into a memory someday so let's leave this world a better place. I don't know how or when life will end for any of us. Hopefully I will see my grandchildren's children. Regardless, I want to go like my dear old grandmother who just died quietly as she slept with her dog sitting beside her. Not like the screaming passengers in her car.
Thanks for your time.
The Grimm Reaper Report (c) 02OCT2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
As time changes my youth into these so called "mature years" I am becoming a little more tenderhearted and a little more sentimental. Some things do not bother me as much as they used to and some other things bother me more. May I ask that you humor this Grandfather for a few minutes while I share my thoughts?
People and their dogs. Now I personally attest that pets can wrap themselves around your heart. Used to be that I couldn't understand how someone could get so emotional about an animal. But I have to admit that as time has passed I have shed a few tears over some cats and dogs that have touched my heart. What I am still working through is having to listen to someone else's dog barking endlessly when I just want some peace and quiet. Back in my younger years I had a sure fire way to quiet any dog, but like I said, now I am a little more tenderhearted. Not much, but a little more.
People and their kids. I have had a few and just like pets they can wrap themselves around your heart, wallet and lifestyle. Used to be that kids were taught that they were loved and were also taught some manners. What I am still working through are kids who tell their parents what to do. Back in my younger years my parents had a sure fire way to provide me with proper guidance: I was taught to love my parents and if I didn't feel "the love" I was more than able to feel the error of back-talking. I am not talking about beating or neglecting a child, shoot, you'd treat a dog with more respect than some people treat their kids. (I'm probably sounding a little more tenderhearted here than I mean to.)
People and their driving. Yep, I am a people and I drive too but just because I can drive like a maniac doesn't mean I should. Sometimes you'll see me about town in my 4x4 pickup or on my Harley. Going back to raising kids for a minute, I believe in sharing. I may be old fashioned but I believe we need to respect other drivers, stay reasonably within the speed limit and share the road. Yes, you can go faster if you want to, but where is your self respect? If you want my lane, share with me your thoughts by using your turn signal or at least LOOK before you change lanes. If you leave enough room for me to pray before I crash into you I'll try really hard not to use some language that I wouldn't use on a dog or that Mom would wash my mouth out for using.
People and dying. We are all going to pass into a memory someday so let's leave this world a better place. I don't know how or when life will end for any of us. Hopefully I will see my grandchildren's children. Regardless, I want to go like my dear old grandmother who just died quietly as she slept with her dog sitting beside her. Not like the screaming passengers in her car.
Thanks for your time.
The Grimm Reaper Report (c) 02OCT2008
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
Who's to Blame?
September 30, 2008
First off, let me tell you that if you are like me, you love America. I think you'll agree with me, things are in a pretty bad state of affairs here in America. Blessed as America has been, something has happened to our "Home of the Brave and Land of the Free." As a career Soldier I have done more with my life than talk or vote and it is because of this I am putting a few thoughts to print.
America, we have lost our moral bearings. The result is what you and I see today. It wasn't the war, it wasn't racial issues, it wasn't differences of political opinions. America, we let go of personal responsibility and accountabilty and since no one was responsible everyone is going to pay for it. (When no one cares if the screen door is left open then no one can complain about bugs and rodents in the house.) It reminds me of that saying, "When all is said and done, more is said than done."
The current liberal culture has brought us to this chaotic economic, moral and social state. Somewhere society as a whole has lost the most basic foundation that made it civil. Liberals have decried personal responsibility and introduced their own version of communistic equality - resulting in no personal sense of "work and earn it" but take it from those who did earn it and give it to those who haven't. This same liberalism has been allowed to run the media with a liberal agenda. This has resulted in calling those with a sense of personal accountability, moral compass or sense of answering to a Higher Power as merely possessing undeveloped ego strengths and infantile impulse control and Victorian, antiquated ideologies. The Liberals have either stated or at least inferred that preventing self expression damages individualistic self worth resulting in parents being afraid to punish their children when they misbehave (I use the word "punish" because the word "correct" isn't understood by toddlers and a swift swat to the hind end will not crush a child's ego when that same child equates misbehaving with punishment!). So trash talk is accepted, communities cannot set acceptable standards and our children are bombarded with that which destroys innocence and mars a sense of moral purity. This same liberalism has lowered our social morals to the point where back talking parents and teachers makes the home and classroom a place where the immature dictates. And nothing is more frightening than immature dictators. We have gone so far down the path away from common sense that acting on sexual urges of teenagers is seen as a healthy expression regardless of gender, timing, personal accountability or the basic understanding of reproduction (it amazes me that the argument between "pro-life" and "pro-choice" is over a pregnancy but no one seems to address what caused the pregnancy in the first place - simple economics illustrate the fact that what one deposits results in compound interest. If they don't want the "dividends" then don't make a deposit.)
There is more to expound upon but for now you get the picture. Don't blame Washington. Get off the Democrats and the Republicans - look in the mirror.
And so, America, here we are. America is sitting in global economic embarrassment, if not ruin. Our economics are shot, our morals are shot and our social standard is shot. Don't look to Washington to fix it. Don't expect our government to lead the way to moral redemption or divine intervention. Argue if you will about the separation of Church and State until you are blue in the face. Like it or not, America, we now have the separation of Church and State - what did you expect when God was not allowed to have access to our money, our morals and our societal foundation? Liberalism only works when no one really cares about the consequences.
I hope to God we care enough now.
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT (c) 30SEP08
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
First off, let me tell you that if you are like me, you love America. I think you'll agree with me, things are in a pretty bad state of affairs here in America. Blessed as America has been, something has happened to our "Home of the Brave and Land of the Free." As a career Soldier I have done more with my life than talk or vote and it is because of this I am putting a few thoughts to print.
America, we have lost our moral bearings. The result is what you and I see today. It wasn't the war, it wasn't racial issues, it wasn't differences of political opinions. America, we let go of personal responsibility and accountabilty and since no one was responsible everyone is going to pay for it. (When no one cares if the screen door is left open then no one can complain about bugs and rodents in the house.) It reminds me of that saying, "When all is said and done, more is said than done."
The current liberal culture has brought us to this chaotic economic, moral and social state. Somewhere society as a whole has lost the most basic foundation that made it civil. Liberals have decried personal responsibility and introduced their own version of communistic equality - resulting in no personal sense of "work and earn it" but take it from those who did earn it and give it to those who haven't. This same liberalism has been allowed to run the media with a liberal agenda. This has resulted in calling those with a sense of personal accountability, moral compass or sense of answering to a Higher Power as merely possessing undeveloped ego strengths and infantile impulse control and Victorian, antiquated ideologies. The Liberals have either stated or at least inferred that preventing self expression damages individualistic self worth resulting in parents being afraid to punish their children when they misbehave (I use the word "punish" because the word "correct" isn't understood by toddlers and a swift swat to the hind end will not crush a child's ego when that same child equates misbehaving with punishment!). So trash talk is accepted, communities cannot set acceptable standards and our children are bombarded with that which destroys innocence and mars a sense of moral purity. This same liberalism has lowered our social morals to the point where back talking parents and teachers makes the home and classroom a place where the immature dictates. And nothing is more frightening than immature dictators. We have gone so far down the path away from common sense that acting on sexual urges of teenagers is seen as a healthy expression regardless of gender, timing, personal accountability or the basic understanding of reproduction (it amazes me that the argument between "pro-life" and "pro-choice" is over a pregnancy but no one seems to address what caused the pregnancy in the first place - simple economics illustrate the fact that what one deposits results in compound interest. If they don't want the "dividends" then don't make a deposit.)
There is more to expound upon but for now you get the picture. Don't blame Washington. Get off the Democrats and the Republicans - look in the mirror.
And so, America, here we are. America is sitting in global economic embarrassment, if not ruin. Our economics are shot, our morals are shot and our social standard is shot. Don't look to Washington to fix it. Don't expect our government to lead the way to moral redemption or divine intervention. Argue if you will about the separation of Church and State until you are blue in the face. Like it or not, America, we now have the separation of Church and State - what did you expect when God was not allowed to have access to our money, our morals and our societal foundation? Liberalism only works when no one really cares about the consequences.
I hope to God we care enough now.
THE GRIMM REAPER REPORT (c) 30SEP08
http://the-grimm-reaper-report.blogspot.com/
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