Dirt Cookies

Food prices in Haiti have shot up so high that some Haitians are resorting to eating dirt. True story.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. It epitomizes the term, "third world." The slums of border towns in Tiajuana and Juarez got nothing on Haiti. Not that it's a contest, but if you have to resort to mixing dirt with lard, then baking that concoction in the sun to use as food, there is hardly anything lower. Or, if there is lower, I can't think of it.

Just about the time I'm reading the article on how poor Haiti is(and getting poorer), I'm also listening to John Edwards give his, "I'm throwing in the towel" speech. Edwards fancies himself the spokesman for the working, blue collared Americans...as well as those who are just plain poor. We keep hearing "recession" and the crisis with the sub-prime ARMs is getting worse and the stock market is way down and home prices are down and, basically, the sky is falling.

Folks, how would it be to be in Haiti? There, the sky has already fallen. In America? We don't know poor.. Not like Haitians do.

To keep it all in perspective, I submit this: Chances are, if you're reading this, you're an American. That means you've got at least a basic level of education. You also are inside a building, using both electricity, modern technology and the various streams of communication to read my words. This, my friends, puts you(and me and every other American) far, far ahead of those in third world ountries eating dirt cookies.

Please, please keep in mind that no matter how sluggish the economy looks, you're already better off than those in Haiti.

Well, It's No Ink Stained Finger....

But I -AM- currently sporting a sticker on my chest that reads, "I Voted!" And, I did!

Today, the biggest news in the land is the Florida primary. I did my part and voted. If you've already voted in your state's primary or caucus, thank you! If your state has yet to hold their primary or caucus, please, PLEASE get out there and vote!

Additionally, today was the first time I've voted with an accessible voting machine. How does this work you ask?Simple!

I (or any other blind or visually impaired voter) stands at the voting machine, but dons a pair of headphones and works through the ballot by the aid of an audible voice. Three buttons, forward, backward and select make it possible for me, for the first time ever, to have voted in total privacy. I would vote no matter what, but to be able to do it in privacy makes me all the more excited to fulfill my civic duty. I hope you'll do your part, too.

Cleaning Up-A Metaphor For Life

The last week or so, my trusty notebook had been running real slowly. No longer the instantaneous gratification from button crunching, unless the notebook is up to par, it's really pretty useless to me.

So, last night I got bored about halfway through the President's State of the Union address. I pulled out the slow-running piece to see what the problem may have been. After searching through my E mail program, I found 10,000(yes, that's 10,000) old E mails built up in my sent and deleted folders. Freaking 10,000!

I punched in the command to delete all of them and, Whammo! It's like I have a brand new notebook again! Not only do I have a perfectly running machine, but I walk away NOT feeling like the computer imbecile I usually do!

And, isn't this kinda a metaphor for life? Get rid of the old, unused stuff that's slowing up everything you do! By nature, I'm a pack rat. Due to knowing how devastating this can be to my existence, I have to try really, really hard to only keep the stuff I need to keep.

But what do we really need? I need my working life, I need a moderate amount of creature comforts, I need food, I need shelter and I need certain amount of things that anchor me to who I am as a person(momentos, family heirlooms, etc.) Past that? Do I need 5000 shirts? Or a coffee mug from every place I've ever been? Or a backup of every toiletry under the sun? No, no and no.

Here in 2008, I plan to keep thinning out my life. Minimizing things I don't need, only keeping things around I truly use-not just everything I want. Quelling those desires for more is a sure fire way to limit the crapola that builds up in my world and detracts me from my missions in life.

Wireless Amber Alerts

Studies show the first three hours after a child is abducted are critical to the recovery of that child. Speed is essential in finding any missing person, but it's especially true when the person in question is a child forced to go with an adult.

www.WirelessAmberAlerts.org

utilizes the instantaneous and universality of cell phones with text message capability to send out the Amber Alerts. When a child is reported missing, after initial steps are taken where there is reasonable belief a child has, in fact, been kidnapped, this system sends text messages to all opt-in wireless subscribers in that area.

This is one of the true benefits of technology...and maybe it'll counteract the negative use of technology many child predators use to kidnap kids in the first place. Oh, and it's free...so you have no reason not to sign up.

Entitlement: Do You Take It To Heart?

The following article:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/navarrette/20080127-9999-lz1e27navarre.html

is one I believe sums up much of the overall problems of our country today. The idea of entitlement is partially to blame for our current issues with home ownership, credit debt and always looking for someone to point the blame at.

Please don't take this as any sort of political endorsement for either candidate - that's not my goal here. But the idea of entitlement is so widely held that anyone who does not realize this is an issue is purposefully turning a blind eye to it.

In my keynote speeches, I share some of these same notions; only you can control your own destiny, if you choose to blame you are limiting your abilities, look for what you can personally do to change your lot in life, etc.

What can we do to try to end the widespread feeling of entitlement in Generation X and younger? First, we stop thinking we have a right to anything other than a free country in which to live. Past that? The choices we individually have are limitless, but with that first given (i.e., freedom) we have the ability to do anything!

Beautiful and Hilarious and Touching and Offensive

Comedy is so, so much better when it reflects aspects of real life.

Yet, it's not very often a comedian will share what may be painful life details. Sure, there's all kinds of self deprication that's funny, but when it's truly something sensitive? Not so much.

This is why I just heard what I think is one of the best comedy routines ever. And it involved? The death and funeral of the comedian's father.

He described the funeral as, "Beautiful and hilarious and touching and offensive and wrong-exactly what his father would have wanted. Everyone got up and told stories; not some B.S. stories about how wonderful Dad was, but real, true, honest stories that showed how special Dad was."

I'll spare you the details, but suffice to say, the stories repeated contained lots of drinking and urination!

THIS, faithful reader, is the kind of funeral I want when I croak. And don't worry-God willing, that shouldn't be for, oh, another half century. But when it happens? I want truth, I want fun, and I want people to walk out of the service laughing-exactly how I want people to leave my programs now.

Life is about living. Life is about laughter. A celebration of life shouldn't be depressing and morbid-it should be beautiful and touching and offensive.. At least, I hope mine will be.

Thems Some Big Waves!

A few weeks ago while on the Oregon coast, I wass, well, kinda scared. If you've never been on the coast, the sheer force of Mother Nature is only so apparent in a tornado, tsunami or hurricane. There, the waves were routinely 30, 40 and 50 feet high. Lincoln City, OR is one of the locations for big wave surfers to hit for international competitions. And, the whole time standing on those beaches, I just kept thinking, "Thems some big waves." Again, power so apparent it caused my grasp on the English language to loosen.

I just heard an interview with a big wave surfer who is quite familiar with those conditions. The five finalists in the World Series of big wave surfers are buddies. After all, it's a pretty small group of pros who can handle such a sport. At their most recent competition, there was a $30,000 purse at stake.

All finalists, five in all, were sitting and waiting for a temporary lull in the wave action to pick up. Didn't look like it was going to happen. So, the competitors decided to simply split the winnings equally and head out into the water for the sheer adoration of surfing.

Would you do this? Risk a a good portion of a year's salary in order to bond with other pros? I'm not sure it'd occurr to me to even make such an offer, but either way, wouldn't you feel a lot more comradery with others if this were one?

After surfing waves that were 80 and even 100 feet high, the brothers of the beach simply saw this as an opprotunity to do the right thing-level the playing field and seize the day for the love of Mother Nature. Props to all the guys who took part in the sharing of the wealth!

Rob From The Rich...

Some folks think I have a way exciting life. I get to travel to awesome places, interact with quality people and help inspire others to achieve their goals. And people who see this as my life are right! This IS one of the best things about what I do!

What most people don't see is the endless hours sitting at my desk, E marketing, bouncing designs back and forth with artists who are creating business cards, web sites, MySpace profiles, communication with past clients, etc. There is ton, A TON of very mundane, tedious boring stuff that has to happen before heading off to exciting places.

While I'm at said desk doing said mundane tasks, I almost always have my Sirius radio on in the background. This morning, there was a promo about the Robin Hood Foundation; an organization in NYC which assists those who've lost the battle of poverty. The Robin Hood Foundation assists people who are homeless, single teen mothers, etc. Actually, Robin Hood hands out donations itself to different orgs that support their mission.

What I was most impressed with is how Robin Hood Foundation actually runs as a business. The board of directors donate their time to the org, but donate their money to cover administrative costs. That way, all donations from generous donors go directly to the orgs providing services.

There almost always have to be middle men. The world doesn't work too well without them. But the Robin Hood Foundation funds the middle men so the gifts get to the orgs for which they're intended. You can learn more about the Robin Hood Foundation at:

www.Sirius.com/robinhood

Hurtin' Feet On Hardwood

Barefoot Coach Gets Huge Donation
APPosted: 2008-01-26 04:11:35
INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 25) -
A college basketball coach in Indianapolis who went barefoot during a game to raise awareness for needy children in Africa generated donations of more than 100,000 pairs of shoes for a North Carolina charitable organization.

Ron Hunter, a college basketball coach in Indianapolis, went barefoot during a game on Thursday night to raise awareness for needy children in Africa. The move inspired donations of 110,000 pairs of shoes for a charitable organization.

Ron Hunter, head coach at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, exceeded his goal of collecting 40,000 pairs in honor of the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
He coached Thursday night's game against Oakland University without shoes, and some in attendance also went barefoot.

"When we started this I thought 40,000 was going to be tough," he said. "When they told me before the game we already had 100,000, honestly, I almost brokedown in tears."

Nearly $20,000 and 110,000 pairs of shoes were donated to the Charlotte, N.C., charitable organization called Samaritan's Feet. They will be given to children in the U.S. and around the world, according to the organization's Web site.

Hunter, 43, who almost never sits when coaching games, didn't have his feet stepped on, but they were still sore.

"My feet hurt so bad," he said after the game. "But imagine a child or a human going their whole lives without shoes."

The coach appeared on several ESPN shows on Thursday, and secured donations of thousands of shoes from Converse, Wal-Mart, Nine West and the Department of Homeland Security.
The mission of the nonprofit, Christian-based Samaritan charity is to send 10 million shoes in 10 years to children living in poverty.

"Imagine if every coach would pick a game to coach barefoot and use their influence," said Emmanuel "Manny" Ohonme, a native of Nigeria who founded thecharity four years ago. "We'd exceed our goals pretty quickly."

Several of Hunter's players have said they will join him on a summer trip to Cameroon, home to Jaguars freshman guard Christian Siakam. In Siakam's family,shoes are a luxury.

What Goes Around...

A few days ago, I went to my ENT doc complaining of pain in my chest. No heart attack this, but just acid reflux. Which, if you've had it, you know hurts like all things sinful!

Worse than the pain of acid in the esophagus is the cost of the medicine that works best for me. Freaking $140 per month. Grrr.

So, I told the doc of my wish NOT to have to sell a kidney to pay for the drugs. He smiled and said, "I'll be right back."

When he re-emerged fromm the hallway, he carried a month(probably two months) worth of the medication. "The pharmaceutical rep was in yesterday and supplied us with lots of samples."

I thanked him repeatedly, truly grateful for his generosity.

"Don't worry about it. I figure what goes around, comes around. My physician always gives me free cholesterol medications, so I can pass that kindness along to you. It's just the right thing to do."

THIS is the kind of attitude I love in all people, but especially in my physicians. No one gets anywhere in life without help from others. We all have help at times. This doc knows it, I know it and he's further inspired me to pass along that kindness to others.

What can you do today to pass along similar generosity? Remember...what goes around, comes around!

Why Do They Need To Know That?

Bibliophile: One who loves books and literature.

That's me! Libraries, bookstores, anything and everything book related. Yet, due to the invention of the internet(thank you, Al Gore!), those ginormous walls of leather bound volumes are not obsolete. Nor is the daily newspaper. Nor are letters from my friends and clients thanks to E mail.

So, for me, the net is the best thing ever. It makes possible, well, pretty much everything!

So, why do I tell you this? Here's a little story...

Yesterday, I was chatting with a new friend, Pat. Pat is a senior citizen who doesn't act like one. She used to work in a nursing home facility and enthralled me with tales of the exciting lives those under her caretook part in.

She spoke of one particular old fellow who used to be a teacher. He passed away at 104, just a few years ago and with all his cognitive abilities. When she asked him to compare his life with the lives young people live now, he said he saw the necessity of computers, but thought there was a great loss. That is, no one knows how to look up things in the card catalog any more. No one knows how to research without google. No one knows the depth one had to dig to find their particular interest in those afore mentioned shelves of books.

My question...why does that skill need to exist in the 21st century? Granted, I'd LOVE to be stuck in a library pulling volume after volume off the wall. But can I? Nope! Thanks to the net, though, that previously printed info is now available to me. And for everyone else, they can learn anything they'd probably ever want to know from the comfort of home.

I simply never, ever want to reach a point where I cannot see value in new things because they're different or easier than how I've done them. THAT is when we truly stop living.

Wyoming to New York: Where Are We Safest?

According to this recent study, Wyoming is the deadliest state in the country for DWI fatalities. New York is the least.

One thing I really enjoy about this study is that they include the methodology for their findings. They also pay homage to the fact just under half of New York's population resides in New York City... and that 75% of New Yorkers do not own a car. Pretty hard to get a DWI if you don't own a car - not impossible, but significantly more difficult.

I also ask the question of Wyoming... is there a cab service in the entire state? The least populated state in the union with just over half a million citizens. If there is a Yellow Cab, chances are, it's in a single city and virtually useless to anyone not in that city.

All in all, interesting stuff on this horrible crime. Article is at Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2007/12/21/drunk-driving-deaths-forbeslife_cx_ls_1220drunk.html

Facebook

Okay, I'm late coming to the game, but I finally got a facebook profile! Just head too:

www.Facebook.com

Then, if you already have a profile, I'd love to be your friend! If you don't, then feel free to sign up!

And don't forget you can still find more Marcus stuff at MySpace.com, too:

www.MySpace.com/marcusengel

Linkedin.com

Do you have a linkedin.com profile? If so, I'd love to be one of your connections!

I've just recently added my profile to the business/professional networking site. Thanks to those who've already looked me up. If you don't have a profile, just go to the site and sign up! It's easy! Looking forward to connecting with you on:

www.LinkedIn.com

Like Desparados Waiting For A Train...

I just got re-acquainted with one of my fav Guy Clark songs, "Desparados Waiting For A Train."

In this song, the singer reflects back to his childhood and the grandfatherly figure who helped shape his life. The old man wasn't a desparado, but was a 20th century cowboy living the cowboy life, just minus the cows. An old geezer who sang "Red River Valley" while playing dominos with other old goats at a local saloon. It's unspoken, but you can tell how much the singer loved being the old man's "sidekick" who went everywhere with the retiree.

In the last verse, the singer says, "One day I looked up and he's pushin' 80." The singer, now grown, goes to the nursing home where the old man now resides in his last days. Unable to do anything else, he dreamed up a kitchen like they used to sing in when the young man was a little kid; helping the old man reflect over his life and knowing he did something good. He helped shape a life.

As I get older, that obviously means the people around me are getting older. There are a few now who are, like the old man in "Desparados" facing some of their last days. Like the young man did for the old man, we all need to remember that, as someone is dying, we need to do everything possible to allow them to live their last days the way they want. It may be directly opposite of the way they've lived before, but honoring the life and times of the elderly is one thing we can do to help make that inevitable transition easier.

How To Beat A DWI In Canada

This week, a Canadian judge acquitted a man charged with driving while intoxicated. The man's defense? He's cheap!

An expert testified that a man of the convicted's size would need four drinks to reach the presumptive legal limit. The man admitted having two beers, but says he's simply too cheap to shell out the extra dough for the two additional drinks that would have put him over the limit. And, apparently, the judge bought it!

Folks, I don't know Canadian DWI laws, but this has to be one of the most creative defenses anyone has come up with lately!

Liar, Liar!

Did you know the average person lies, on average, over 88,000 times over their lifetime?

Most of these are tiny white lies; No, nothing is wrong...or, It's so good to see you! Things that make our world go round, so to speak.

Still, do you think of yourself as someone who lies over 1000 times per year? I don't...but then again, I could be fibbing!

Pegs... They're Not Just for Legs Anymore!

Last week, I received one of the most memorable tangible gifts ever.

A six inch long wooden peg.

Why is this important, you ask? Here’s the deal…

My roots in America started in Germany. When both sides of my family immigrated, they ended up within, oh, 40 miles of one another. Like the vast majority of Americans, everyone has remained within 50 or so miles of where they were born (true fact I learned from Trivial Pursuit).

The farm on which I grew up is attached to the farm owned by my grandparents. So, this land has been in the Engel name for just shy of a century. When my grandmother passed away in 1996, she left a small farmstead; outbuildings, 100 acres of land, a barn and a farmhouse with a date etched in the kitchen window of 1859. Our best guess is the barn, too, is nearly 150 years old.

Well, what do you do with 150 year old buildings no one will ever again inhabit? Our answer came in the form of Dan and Bonnie Eudy.

Dan and Bonnie were searching for old lumber with which to build their dream home. But no novices, they wanted real, heavy, true oak lumber that just really isn’t produced these days; or at least not where normal folks can afford it. Dan and Bonnie were given permission to tear down the Engel barn and take the ancient lumber to build their “new” home… a task they’ve done with absolute zeal!

While in STL last week, I finally got to meet Dan and Bonnie. It was then I received the wooden peg which was one of many that held up the old red barn. I adore receiving family heirlooms and this? Well, this is probably the oldest family heirloom I own. It’s now sitting in the newest heirloom Marvelyne and I have – the china cabinet she received from me as our wedding gift.

It’s strange how a six inch wooden peg can make me feel so connected to family.
Those deep, long lasting roots are something which is sorely missing in Florida.

Thanks, Dan and Bonnie, for helping me stay a little more connected to my past…

Even When They Protest

Is there anywhere in the world better known for it's art than Italy? Hardly.

Yet, at one of Italy's most photographed spots in Rome, the Spanish stairs, a protester kept the Italian tradition of beauty alive.

Down, down, down the steps came 250,000 brightly colored little balls. According to the activist, each ball represented a lie told by a politician.

Is this art? Well, that depends on who you ask.According to one tourist who witnessed the protest, "Even when they protest, the Italians make something beautiful!"

Sure beats holding signs and chanting, doesn't it?

Survivor Willamette!

Ya know, I have the best life. I have an awesome family, a rewarding career, and the opprotunity to always get to meet amazing people. But this weekend really took the cake! I was hired by Kate Schnurr at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon to help facilitate the Survivor Willamette leadership retreat. First of all, the Westwind camp outside of Lincoln City, OR is just one of the most beautiful settings you could ever imagine (see pics). Ginormous waves across a turbulent ocean, complete with vegetation like no where else all make this such an incredible experience for any camp goer! However, toss in the awesome folks from Willamette to work with and, well, it's a formula for some really awesome times! Thanks to Kate, S. West, Lizzy, Cassandra, Ilene, Terri and everyone else who staffed, helped out and attended this awesome event!
Special thanks to Kate for taking such great care of all the details involved in such an adventure!

The Meanest Mom

I just returned from a collegiate leadership conference on the shores of the Pacific outside Portland, OR. At this conference we talked about personal ethics, character, integrity, all the stuff you usually associate with leadership.

This story shows a woman who made decisions and is now sticking with them. I give her ultimate props for her response and courage! Enjoy!


'Meanest Mom on Planet' Sells Teen Son's Car After Finding Booze Under Seat
DES MOINES, Iowa — Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the "meanest mom on the planet."
After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

The ad reads:

"OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer.

Call meanest mom on the planet."

Hambleton has heard from people besides interested buyers since recently placing the ad in The Des Moines Register.

The 48-year-old from Fort Dodge says she has fielded more than 70 telephone calls from emergency room technicians, nurses, school counselors and even a Georgia man who wanted to congratulate her.

"The ad cost a fortune, but you know what? I'm telling people what happened here," Hambleton says. "I'm not just gonna put the car for resale when there's nothing wrong with it, except the driver made a dumb decision.

"It's overwhelming the number of calls I've gotten from people saying 'Thank you, it's nice to see a responsible parent.' So far there are no calls from anyone saying, 'You're really strict. You're real overboard, lady."'

The only critic is her son, who Hambleton says is "very, very unhappy" with the ad and claims the alcohol was left by a passenger.

Hambleton believes her son but has decided mercy isn't the best policy in this case. She says she set two rules when she bought the car at Thanksgiving: No booze, and always keep it locked.
The car has been sold, but Hambleton says she will continue the ad for another week — just for the feedback.

foxnews.com

Vanishing Act?

Nope, I haven't pulled a vanishing act! Just spent three days in The Lou seeing friends and relatives. Now, I'm in Oregon and headed to a retreat center to work with Willamett University students. I'll be back in a day or two...with pictures!(I hope)

I Vant Your Blood!

Did you know January is National Blood Donation Month?

Friends, I wouldn't be here, writing this blog and breathing air, if it weren't for generous individuals who made a blood sacrafice(but in the totally not Satanic way).

For info on how you can help save lives of peeps like me, call:

1-888-9-DONATE

We Are Not Alone!

I am like the proverbial kid in the also proverbial candy shop!

After waiting for years, I finally broke down yesterday and got Sirius satellite radio. Orlando is pretty sad in the talk radio department and you'd be surprised how many topics for this blog come from listening to the talking heads yap on and on.

So, while playing with it's 200 some odd stations today, I happened upon a BBC broadcast. Based on the accents of the two broadcasters, I believe one may have been Scottish and the other claimed the B from BBC.

These two journalists were reading blog posts and E mails from American voters,. Then, they took calls, the first of which was from an Iraqi physician practicing in Jordan. I only caught a few minutes, but it stands to reason even more international calls would come in. And the topic? The New Hampshire primary.

Yep, U.K. announcers discussing American primaries with Iraqis in other parts of the Middle East.

We all know the world is shrinking andthat the barriers between countries are minimized by the media, technology and the ease of travel. Yet, hearing this made me aware to a new level about just how important the American presidential race is to the rest of the world.

Not the American president, mind you, but the race. This isn't even where we Americans really have an idea who'll prevail...and yet? Brothers and sisters around the world are lining up to put in their two cents worth.

Just interesting food for thought here in the Engel/Adams household where, due to tons of new information, it feels like Christmas morning all over again!

Makin' Life Easier!

The following is a quick article which gives some tips I've found useful. Enjoy! And, if you're so inclined, you can send me a check with all the savings you'll have thanks to this article. Just be sure to spell my name with a C!


Two little-known Google freebees to make your life better
by Tom Barlow Jan 3rd 2008 @ 4:00PM

My latest evidence that life just keeps getting better and better is two little-known free services offered by Google, ones that have saved my bacon on more than one occasion.
The first is Google's text message query feature, which allows me to Google by sending a text message with my question via my cell phone, and receive a return text message from Google with the answer.
For example, if I want to find a pizza shop near my home, I type a text message "Pizza shop 43214" and send the message to 466453 (GOOGLE). A moment laterI receive a text message or two with the shops and addresses.
The other service I use frequently is Google's free 411 feature. It uses a computer voice interface which is at first off-putting, but works quite well. If I'm on the road and looking for the nearest Bob Evans Restaurant,for example, I can dial 800-GOOG-411 (466-4411). The computer asks me the where and what, and responds by offering to connect me for free, as well as givingme the address and offering to send it as a text message.
Have you noticed what your cell carrier is charging you for directory service these days? Give Google a try, and save yourself a little cash.

Why yoming Should Be Sorry

Iowa caucus!

New Hampshire Primary!

Exciting times, no?

Actually, these election times ARE exciting. I absolutely love keepingg up with the latest polls, scandals, flip-flops and all the other fun and games that make up election years!

But dear God! Do we really want to endure this kind of excitement for the next 11 months? Uh, election day is in early November. We're in the first week of January. This is too much of a good thing. WAY too much.

So, settle in, keep your finger on the remote and just deal with it because Wyoming has helped us extend the election cycle. By moving up the caucus in the least populus state, it makes so many other states also want to move up their primaries and caucuses. What's next? I mean, NH used to be the first, but Iowa snuck in with their caucus. Who'll move in front of Iowa? South Carolina in the 2012 election? Why don't we just move it back to before Christmas? Or better yet, start campaigning in July?

The campaign season is way, way too long. By each individual state trying to up its' importance, we do nothing but extend this excitement. Again, too much of a good thing.

My solution? Six months-max. If you can't make your case in less than six months why you should be prez, then you don't need to be prez. So says Engel. And I doubt I'm the only one.

Are You My Googleganger?

What?! You don't know what a googleganger is?Well, two hours ago, I didn't either.

A googleganger is a person who shares your name and comes up when you google yourself. I know of two other Marcus Engels out there, and props to them for being my googlegangers!

Actually, I learned several other words this morning from an NPR newscase on the different words of 07. The king winner of all, though, was "sub-prime." This is based on the widespread knowledge of the word AND it's potential longevity.

In 1994, one of the winners was "infobon"(sp?"...which was a predecessor of this thing I'm using right now(and so are you), the internet. It was the infobon named after the German stretch of highway where cars can move at, oh, around 200 mph. Either way, would you use that term? Doubtful...but I'll bet you've used "sub-prime" in the last six months!

Either way, this was a fascinating report on just how unique this English language is.

I Love Cranium...So Does Someone Else!

My fav board game, Cranium, has just been bought by Hasbro Toys. No big deal, you say, right? After all, in the business world, there are constantly takeovers and mergers and the like.

Until you see the price tag: $77 million

$77 million? For a single board game? Granted, Cranium has a few other products under their belt, but Cranium is the cash cow...and we do mean cow! Wow, $77 big ones. Craziness!

If you're not familiar, Cranium incorporates the talents of all players. I know folks(you probably do, too) who hate Monopoly since there's so much math involved. Scrabble sucks for people who are bad spellers. I'm awful at charades(har har), which is why Cranium is so awesome! It incorporates so many different games and talents where everyone, no matter your preferred talent, can do great! It builds comradery and bonds among the team members as they determine who has strengths for the question at hand.

When we have parties here, the sure winner of the night is to pull out the ol' Cranium board. And now, with $77 million worth of Hasbro quality behind it, we're likely to see new and improved versions of the game!

I'm Average!

If you've met me, talked to me or ever read this blog, you know I'm a certified bibliophile(that's book lover, for those of you who aren't also bibliophiles).

I just received this interesting article about the reading habits of those who work through the Natl. Library Services. NLS is where I get all my books on tape and, dare I say, the organization that has educated, enlightened and entertained me for the last 15 or so years. I've always been a reader, but when I started writing, I learned to love literature in a whole new way. Turns out, I'm not the only blind person to do so! Here's the article, done with the expert editing of yours truly(for space and only sharing with my blog readers what may actually be most interesting):

Reading Habits of Blind and Physically Handicapped Defy National Trend

Book Consumption Rates Seven Times Higher for National Library Service Patrons Than Average Sighted Readers

WASHINGTON, July 5 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, when Americans catch up on their favorite reading, they will also be enjoying a beloved American pastime that research shows is waning. According to a study by the National Endowment for the Arts, Americans of every age are consistently reading less. The study revealed an overall decline of 10 percent in literary reading between 1982 and 2002, totaling an overall loss of 20 million readers. Conversely, participants in the Talking Book program, a free library service provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, read more than the general population by a significant amount. The average NLS patron, an individual with a visual or physical impairment, reads seven times more than most sighted readers, or approximately 35 books a year.

These numbers not only highlight the braille and audiobook appetites of NLS patrons, but also speak to the ease in obtaining ample reading material through the Talking Book program. "NLS patrons are extremely avid readers,” says Frank Kurt Cylke, NLS director. "NLS is dedicated to fulfilling their reading needs with the highest-quality collection so they can remain engaged in literature and connected to the world around them."

While NLS patrons have higher book consumption rates, their literary tastes do not differ from those of sighted readers, according to Jim Herndon, head of the NLS Collection Development Section. NLS librarians strive to build a well-rounded collection that meets readers' diverse informational and recreational needs. "Selecting titles for the collection is a rigorous process. NLS librarians consult book reviews and bestseller lists, monitor publishing trends, and assess patron requests before choosing titles," says Herndon. "Titles are selected based on such criteria as literary merit and popularity."

The Anatomy Of a Stupid Political Decision

With the Iowa Caucus approaching day after tomorrow, all eyes are on the Hawkeye state. A certain political candidate who shall remain nameless did something a little odd. He made a TV commercial, then held a press conference where he showed that commercial to members of the press. Thing is, he told the press the advert will not be aired. Does this make sense?

On the surface, no. However, if he ran an advert like any other candidate, unless the commercial was just somethingtotally outrageous, it'll get no additional press. So, if he makes a big deal out of NOT airing it, well, the press catches wind. Pretty sneaky thinkin' there, Sir/Madame Candidate!