What Other People Value

There are things which most everyone considers valueable; jewels, precious metals, real estate. Granted, they have different values to different people, but I think we can all agree on the intrinsic valuein dollars and cents of these items.

Then there are things which could be valueable...if you care enough to find out. For example, I have a few antiques which, I'd imagine, are worth a pretty penny. Still, some would just recognize these items as old junk, no matter how much I could pull in from an expert on that PBS antique road show thing.

Then there are items we value that, by all counts, are only valueable to the holder. I have a cheap Zebco fishing rod that's at least 20 years old. If I could even find a buyer, what would it bring? Five bucks? If I'm lucky. Still, the value for me isn't in the item, but the former owner: my grandpa.

I know the types of things I value are more important for their historical and family connection than what a buyer would pay. But what about people who value junk? I don't mean one man's trash is another's treasure-I mean stuff that, were the roles reversed, the seller would turn up his nose!

This past weekend, while walking down Sixth Street in Austin, a guy ran up to our party. He makes a little "Shh!" motion with his hand, takes some quick glances around, then pulls out a VHS copy of "Wayne's World" which he tries to sell for a quarter. Seriously...when was the last time someone wanted to watch Wayne's World? How about in 1993 when it came out! And VHS? Practically useless to everyone since VCRs aren't even being produced any more. And a quarter? If it's so secretive and pushing the realms of legality, wouldn't he charge more than a quarter?

The crazy thing is that if this guy were offered a VHS copy of a 15 year old movie, it's hard to believe anyonee(even someone as looney as him) would buy such a thing!

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder...and maybe valueables, too-I just know I won't be buying VHS tapes any time soon! And I doubt you will be, either!

What's Your Dog's Real Age?

A few days ago, some random guy on a plane asked me how old Carson is. Since C-Doggy Dogg just celebrated the big 7 a couple of weeks ago, it's easy to remember!

He scratched Carson behind the ears and said, "You're getting to be an old fella, aren't you? You're almost 50 in dog years!"

I cringed. First of all, the whole thing about seven dog years for every one year of humans is a thought that went out with the mullet. There's a scale which most vets go by that isn't nearly as easy as, saying stuff like, "Your dog is three! He can drink beer legally now!"(this was often heard when Carson was three... and trust me, he's never had so much as a lick of anything harder than water).

A few days ago, we found an interesting test which takes all of your dog's traits into account. Then, due to that, it spits out what your dog's REAL age is - not that silly notion of seven years for every one. And Carson? Turns out that due to his real age, eating habits, exercise and environment Carson is (drum roll, please)...29.2 years old! For God's sake... my dog is younger than me! Ahhhhh!

So, here's the link... have fun! And don't forget to give your pooch a scratch or two for Carson and me!

Dog health care information - DogAge
www.dogage.com

New MySpace Schtuff

Got some new schtuff up on MySpace yesterday. New artsy background compliments of the lovely and talented Marvelyne, new song up by Slaid Cleaves, and, of course, the new promo video!

From now on, I'll try to change up the song a little more often. I chose Slaid this time because he's totally on my mind after getting back from Austin. The song, "New Year's Day" is onne of my favs, too. In addition to just being a foot stompin' good time, I love the thoughts behind the song, especially this one:

"There's more than meets the eye,
You didn't leave us when you died,
Your spirit will live on in what we do and who we are..."

Can anyone ask for a better legacy to be left behind? Check it out at:

www.MySpace.com/MarcusEngel

It Takes A Big Man...

I have the "privledge" of being part of several different list serves. Some professional, some personal, all of them combining elements of both fun AND annoying(hence why "privledge" is in quotes).

Recently, a professional association to which I belong has had some incredible activity on the list serve. Now, the content isn't incredible, but up until a week ago? I don't think most folks even knew there WAS a list serve. Well, once a few messages were sent out...WHAM! Everyone who didn't know they were on the list starts sending messages(to the entire list, mind you) complaining of the flooding of the in box and the request to be removed(guess they weren't quite bright enough to understand their actions were doing precisely the thing they were unhappy with).

Thus, a quarrel erupted between two or three members. Of course, as idiots will, they subjected everyone else to their spat instead of "taking it outside." Some of the things being said were just plain childish. One even went so far as to say, "I'm going to go home tonight and say the things you just said to me. I want my children to see what it's going to be like if they grow up to be jerks, too!" Really, really pathetic.

And, as you'd expect, these comments added fuel to the fire and then it was REALLY on!

I got sick of the stupidity and just started hitting delete anytime the same subject showed up. There were the peacemakers, the sidetakers, the instigators, the spat upon-hey, hey! The whole crowd is here!

Finally, after way too much badmouthing and smack talkin', the dude who made the comment about the other's children stepped forward. He admitted he was wrong, gave some reasons why he said the things he did, revealed that he knows there are no excuses for his words and, yes, finally apologized.

I'm not real sure the number of folks on this list. My guess? Several hundred. Maybe up to 500. And the man came forward, hat in hand, and apologized-both to the original person offended AND the entire list. Folks, it takes a big man to do that...a VERY big man.

One of the biggest complaints about the net is anonimity. People can say whatever they want, start whatever rumors they want and, thanks to screen names and passwords, you can slander someone up one side and down the other without ever fearing any type of repurcussion. Lovely, eh?

Also, chances are, if you are a frequent E mailer, you've had comments which have been taken in ways other than how they were intended. You're probably guilty of that crime yourself, too, right? I am. On both counts. Without intonation and context, the most benign comment can be taken as fightin' words. Next thing ya know, the snowball effect has started and the avalanche has started to fall! And people are making plans to meet by the local freeway later to pummil each other to a bloody pulp. Ridiculous-but part of our electronic world.

Even with all the craziness generated by the net, it was refreshing to see the main offender step forward and apologize. A virtual apology is as meaningful as a verbal apology...at least in the E world!

A Thousand Apologies...and A Lesson In Integrity

Some people have pet peeves like the toilet lid being up or down(future reference? Men don't know and we don't care), some people hate when the person who used the last of the ice doesn't refill the tray(though if you've bought a fridge in the last decade or so, they don't usually come w/o ice makers). For me? I hate anything that has to do with lying, deception or living out of integrity. At the top of that list is hurting other people-at all.

I believe people should do what they say and say what they do. And, for one of my most recent discoveries, I'm ashamed of a place where I've lived out of integrity. That is, my monthly newsletter.

See, I really dislike people spamming me. So, I don't want to subject others to something I dislike. This is why there's an easy way to unsubscribe from my monthly newsletter.

At the bottom of each, there is a paragraph which says how we respect your privacy and, if you unsubscribe, your name/information will not be traded, sold, given away. All the reader has to do is send a blank E mail by clicking on:

unsubscribe@MarcusEngel.com

No problem, right? Wrong! I just found out that if you send an E mail to unsubscribe@MarcusEngel.com...it goes no where! It doesn't fall into it's own account, it doesn't get forwarded to me-it just dies.

I have no idea how long this has gone on. Really, I don't. I hate that some out there may have been receiving unwanted newsletters, but more than anything, I hate that, unbeknownst to me, I have not been living by that motto, do what you say and say what you do.

So, if you're reading this, please know the issue has been fixed. Then again, if you've taken the time to go to Engel's Ensights, you probably don't want to unsubscribe, anyway!

To those I may have inadvertently offended, I apologize. The problem has been fixed and I can go back to living with integrity.
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Austin!

Is there any cooler place on earth than Austin, Texas? Not in my opinion!

Just got back from a weekend in Austin spent with my friends, Bryce and Nicole Taylor. Our whole point of going was just to simply soak up the Austin flavor, check out the city and see what Austin is all about... and we did just that! Awesome food, drink and friendship in what city makes me drool for some alt country and Tex Mex chow!

Plus, if there was ever a desire in Carson's heart to be human, it was this weekend! Nicole is a HUGE dog lover and, of course, Carson was in heaven! Any time his harness was on, he was all work... but as soon as that slipped off, he was in Nicole's lap!

Stubb's BBQ, an Austin classic, second only to Virgil's in NYC for the place that makes me want to gorge myself on meat!

Thanks to Bryce and Nicole for showing us the Austin ropes!

Looking forward to another trip back to the Lone Star State soon!

Eclipse!

And not of the Mitsubishi type!

Tonight at 10 p.m., eastern time, the moon will be totally eclipsed. This won't happen again for nearly three years, so before you bed down for the night, try to get out and see it!

Check It Out! Marcus On YOUTUBE!

I've just received the new promo video we've been working on... and we love it!
It's now on youtube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfdtevLy5xU

The next order of biz is to get the web site new and updated with this video... cross your fingers this'll be up and running in the next couple of weeks! For now, enjoy the sneak peak into the new promo video!

No Deal!

Caught an episode of "Deal Or No Deal" tonight, first time in forever.

Watching the female contestant who went to the final round, I am always rooting for the safe bet. Take the deal, take the several hundred thousand bucks that you did NOT start with and go on home-much, much richer..

As with all these reality big money shows, the contestant has the "privledge" of asking advice from his/her peeps in the audience. Is this a good thing? Maybe...if you surround yourself with intelligent people.

Dig this: Tonight's contestant wanted to win big money so she could purchase a large home. Now, her reasons for wanting a large home aren't the same as most folks. This contestant does lots of volunteer work in hospitals, childrens' homes, etc. Her desire for the McMansion was so she could adopt children and give them a great place to live. Respectable, huh?

So, it gets down to the very last move...her deal is to walk away with just short of half a million bucks. Or, she has a 50/50 shot at $1 mill. What would you do?

Anyone who would press on is either already wealthy, or a fool. Luckily, this contestant took the deal and walked away with a half a million dollars.

The thing is, when she turned around to consult her friends and family in the audience, there were at least a couple of very vocal people telling her, "No deal! You came here to win!"

If this woman had less fortitude, she could easily be just as broke as when she showed up. And what's the point of that?

It's a great reminder of being aware who you trust. If you don't trust yourself, then you'd better have good people on your side who have your best interest in mind. If not, well, Deal or no deal, you're still no better off than you were before.

You Can Learn A Lot From A Sherpa

Do you ever feel inferior to others? If someone has more money, more status, more education, more culture, better looks?

I think all of us feel a certain sense of inferiority from time to time. But should we? Maybe, maybe not.

Generally, that lack of self confidence is perceived much more by the person who thinks he/she is inferior, rather than by the person perceived to be superior. Like, if you feel like you're a worm, it's probably you feeling that way rather than someone treating you like a worm.

I'm listening to an interesting interview on NPR with the famous mountain climber, Sir Edmund Hilary. Sir Edmund, as you probably know, was the first person to ever reach the summit of Mount Everest. The climber was being interviewed in 1993 and discussed many of the aspects of climbing the world's highest peak. No book on Mt. Everest would be complete without mentioning the Sherpas.

The Sherpas are a klan of mountainous people who live at altitudes where the rest of us are gasping for air. They generally lead the adventures up Mt. Everest, helping whatever traveler du jour decides he/she wants to tackle the highest point on planet Earth.

While discussing the Sherpas, Sir Edmund describes them as a people without the least sense of inferiority.

Think of this...a small group of people, living life as would have been done three centuries ago in one of the most remote locations in the world. Now, imagine 21st century western climbers showing up with all their fancy gear, sub-zero mummy bags, aluminum climbing poles, freeze dried food, etc. Can you imagine what must go through a Sherpas head? According to Sir Edmund Hilary, one thing they do not feel is inferiority!

It's kinda hard for me to imagine these guys in their animal hides and fur gloves seeing brightly colored parkas and heavy duty boots. Moreover, it's gotta go through their head how advanced these westerners are! Yet, no inferiority. Go figure!

Think we should strive to be more like the Sherpas? Probably wouldn't be a bad idea, huh?

Frown Power!

I've been reading "Freakonomics" the past couple of days-fantastic, fantastic book! Highly reccomend it for those who like to get to the bottom of things. Ya know, the people who want to know the real reasons behind public policy-not the rhetoric thrown around by different organizations. Example? Here's one...

In the current political climate with the primaries being what they are, we're often led to believe things by the media. It's only been in the last several years that people don't trust the media. We've learned how journalists and TV execs have their own agenda to push upon viewers. So, we take everything with a grain of salt. Just learning the political affiliations of the producers and reporters means you'll be a little less likely to swallow their information hook, line and sinker, right? At least, that's what will happen if you're smart!

So, "Freakonomics"...there's a quote from the book I'll paraphrase here:

Morality is how individuals would like society to be seen. Economics is what society actually is.

Therefore, when you study the numbers that economists like the author do, you begin to see different trends. Correlation between numbers and policy isn't nearly the cause and effect scenario many would have you believe.

So, Frown Power...ever heard of this concept? It's one of the most simple, effective , easy to perform ways to bring about macro level change-EVER!

Stetson Kennedy was(well, IS since he may still be living)one of the biggest players in the civil rights movement. Long before Dr. King and Malcolm X and the 60s, Stetson Kennedy was infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan, exposing their quazi-secret rituals and, in general, erodingstructure from within.

Maybe even more importantly, he began the Frown Power movement. What was so special about this? It's pure simplicity! When you heard someone make a racist comment, you simply frowned.

First off, this costed nothing to create. Second, when people have to worry about being judged for their language, it would drive the racial haters deeper within their own realms. Third, how fast could this spread? Almost instantly!

I'd never heard of Frown Power before, but this has to go down in history as one of the most effective, easy and cheap ways to implement large scale changes in society.

Proud Padre!

Just a shout and a congrats to my stepson, Jordan, and his girlfriend(my hija), Tiffani. Both were accepted into University of Florida today.. Congrats, you two!

It Could Happen...

Four school shootings in the past week. Tragic and horrible and frightening. At times like this, those who send their kids off to school every day have to be asking, "Will I ever see my child again?"

What I hope these parents kep in mind is that approx. 50 million Americans are of school age and, generally, are in school. Yes, the 10 deaths this past week are the types of events that just turn your stomach. However, when you look at the big picture(i.e., the 50 million students), these 10 students are a tiny, tiny percentage. That certainly doesn't take away the pain these individuals rightfully have, but it is not cause for alarm-not in the grand scheme of things.

Considering I make my living in schools and often am in front of large concentrations of students, it'd be the perfect time for a homicidal student to pull out a gun and start shooting. Yet, when you put the numbers together, being in front of the students is not a dangerous place. In fact, the most dangerous thing I do is the same thing you do every day-get in a car.

Next week, I fly to Austin, Texas for a weekend with friends. Lots of people are terrified to fly. Really, though, driving from home to the airport, then the Austin airport to the hotel is the most dangerous thing. In a few weeks, I start my real busy season where I'll be coast to coast, bouncing up and down the eastern seaboard and across to Cali for the better part of a month. Am I afraid the plane will go down in flames? Nah. Am I afraid a student will pull out a .45 and start blasting? Nah. Am I afraid of riding in a car to/from these gigs? Nah...but if there was anything to fear, it'd be the car travel.

When tragedy strikes, we tend to over react like the world is coming to an end. Fear not, do the math and know that life is not accomplished by irrational fear. Life is done by simply living life.

2.5 Men

Have you ever gotten a wedgie? And loved it? Or had someone stick your head in the toilet...andyou came up with a wet head and a smile?

I was watching Charlie Sheen on Two And A Half Men tonight when one of the characters made this very claim. See, he plays the little brother of the main character. He went into hilarious detail about how his big brother twice tried to trade him for an underwater flashlight. And how he remembers his brother shaving his head and then shoving the hair into his mouth. Torture? Not by a long shot.

While this is a comedy and the scene was intended as such, there was true pain behind the memories. Not for the pain or embarassment, but because he(the little bro) actually looked forward to the beatings and put-downs. It was, sadly, the only attention he got from his hero, his big brother.

A few weeks ago, I was a witness to this kind of scenario. Well, sort of. In question was a 45 year old man and his 70 year old father. Over the course of the dinner, I heard the son say, "Whatdaya thinkk, Dad? Should I get the 45" plasma TV?" Seriously, folks, I heard this question posed three times over the span of a single meal.

What's going on here?, I wondered. Then, after watcyhing a few more interactions, it was apparent(to my untrained ear, at least) the son was just longing for paternal approval. Again, this is a 45 year old man, not some 12 year old kid. Father and son, not big and little brother.

We are all looking for approval from our heros. Anyone we admire, sure, we want to know they recognize and appreciate our efforts, right? When I realized these facts a few years ago, I made a strong effort to see who(if any) people looked up to me. I found them...at camp. Usually high school students who needed some guidance. I had no desire at the time to be a father figure, but maybe a big brother? Yeah, I could handle that. And with that role comes the responsibility of being engaged in those lives in a positive manner. No wedgies, no swirlies, but maybe a good conversation here and there, and a good example for a kid to look up to. If I've done that for even one person, then I've lived a pretty fulfilled life.

Ever Want To Be An Ostrich?

You know, the most famous thing about ostriches has never been proven. That is, no one has ever documented an ostrich actually sticking his/her ostrich head in the sand. But, let's suppose ostriches really DO bury their head in the sand...ever feel like that?

Today, I do. Maybe not sticking my head in the sand(I might suffocate), but maybe just curl up and pull the covers over my head. Today, the bad news just keeps coming...

I flipped on the TV to get caught up on the day's happenings. First story? The shooting at the middle school in Oxnard, CA. Dear God...when are we going to be able to convince students to stop shooting one another?

Next story? Phoenix...where police found a partially mummified corpse in a bathtub of an apartment. Early reports suspect it's the body of a former occupant who has been missing for the past seven years. Weird. And gross.

Oh, it's gross you want? This is more disgusting and horrifying than dead bodies...let's see if you're sick to your stomach after hearing this!

Police in Tampa, FL were caught on tape shoving a man who is a quadraplegic out of his wheelchair. This was before he was booked on charges where the police claim he eluded them last fall. Am I the only one who sees the absurdity in this claim? And the dispicable behavior of those sworn to serve and protect?

No, I won't bury my head. No, I won't sleep the rest of the day away. No, I won't stop watching the news due to only hearing bad news. I will, however, continue to hope these incidents all happened the same day, but that they're not a trend.

The Birthday Dog!!

Today, Feb. 11 is Carson's birthday! He turns the big 7... and still acts like he's seven months old! His day was spent napping, playing in the backyard, getting lots of scratches behind the ears and gnawing some yummy birthday treats! And, if you haven't yet checked it out, Carson now has his very own MySpace profile!

Go sign up to be his friend at: www.MySpace.com/CarsonTheDog

Props For PayDay

One thing I pride myself on is making smart financial decisions. No, not always, but I do make it a point to read the fine print to figure out what I'm getting into.

About a year ago, I purchased my wife's engagement ring. Without me asking for it, the jewelery store offered me one year of freee financing. I could pay for the ring up front, all at once, or make monthly payments for the next 365 days. Me being me, I looked to see what would happen if I went over that 12 month mark. Folks, it wasn't pretty. To avoid getting bent over by the financer, over a month before the final payment was scheduled to be in, I paid off the full balance...and now I can sleep easier at night.

The company that held the financing is a household name in banking. I'll refrain from talking too much smack about them because, hey, they could hire me some day! Let's just say that if Marvelyne and I weren't incredibly diligent about getting the full financial picture, we'd owe this company thousands in interest alone! Their site was horrible, their policies which acted AGAINST paying off the balance were plentiful and customer service was nearly impossible to communicate with. Simply put, they don't want customers to pay off their debt. THIS is the kind of crap that's bamboozeled millions of American homes into foreclosure. To me, it's intellectually dishonest to make things so difficult for customers, but what do I know? I'm only a customer.

Payday Cash Loans is one of those American companies like collection agencies, the IRS and bounty hunters-necessary, but you grudgingly have to accept their existence in the economy.

Yes, Payday Cash Loans can give you, well, a cash loan. This is so so so necessary when someone is in the worst of financial situations. The thing is, most folks don't read the fine print...most people don't know just how bad the interest rate will be if they get a cash loan. And what then? They borrow $500 and, two weeks later, owe $700. I'm fudging these numbers, but you get the idea.

So, I was really impressed when, believe it or not, I just saw a TV commercial for Payday Cash Loans. In it, they recognize that sometimes there's an emergency where people need cash...fast! Yet, every other part of the commercial was warning viewers to know what they're getting into, that money isn't free and buyer beware.

For a company usually ranked with gamblers and discount liquor stores, I was really glad to see Payday Cash Loans taking responsibility when, obviously, many of their users do not. Props to you, Payday, for being up front with your customers...larger lending institutions could learn a thing or two from you.

Is It Live? Or Is It Lipitor?

Dr. Robert Jarvik, the inventor of the artificial heart, has recently gotten some flack for his celebrity endorsement for Pfizer's Lipitor cholesterol drug.

See, Dr. Jarvik is a physician, but not a cardiologist. He states he takes the cholesterol drug and, how with diet and exercise, his life is improved, yada yada yada. In one scene, Dr. Jarvik is seen rowing across a lake, thereby proving how healthy he is and, I'd imagine, Pfizer hopes viewers will link up his vitality with his use of Lipitor. Throw in his experience in creating one of the wonders of the world and, as you might expect, it's a pretty powerful commercial.

Critics say Dr. Jarvik's lack of being a cardiologist makes him unable to do expert testimony for the drug. Maybe, but he's certainly able to do a personal endorsement, right? Well, critics say, that's true...except the scene of him rowing across the lake? Yeah, body double. And the fact he's dedicated his life to helping coronary health? Well, no one seems to have a problem with that.

Does this make me want to try Lipitor? Nah, not really. But would it make someone with high cholesterol want to try Lipitor? Maybe. Just maybe.

This reminds me of a study done several years ago. It was totally un-scientific, but still proved an interesting point, I thought. In this study, people were asked which actor on the big screen they thought was the most trustworthy. Their answer? Tom Hanks.

Why do you think this is? Well, for most, they've never seen Hanks play a bad guy. Never once has Tom Hanks played a serial killer, an adulterous spouse, a coniving gangster in the underworld or a bad guy of any kind(at least, not that I can think of). So, if you see Mr. Saving Private Ryan and Forest Gump often enough in the heroic/good role, you begin to link him up with all things positive. An accurate assessment? Who knows?!

We don't hear stories of Tom Hanks pulling crazy drunken stunts, but maybe he's just discreet. We haven't heard any major scandals surrounding his life, but maybe he's just got a great PR person. Who really knows what Hanks is like in real life?

Ya know? It doesn't matter! For all practical purposes(that is, for advertising purposes), people view Hanks as trustworthy. And with Dr. Jarvik's testimonial, M.D. and inventions, people are likely to associate him with anything heart healthy, too.

Again, if we look a little deeper than just what's on the surface, we tend to find some unexpected surprises. It's up to you whether or not you take that information and apply it to your own thinking processes.

Say It Ain't So, Hannah Montana!

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m a grown man and I love Hannah Montana!

My 17 year old stepdaughter first introduced me to Hanna about a year ago. She’s a little out of the Hannah demographic, which just makes it even more fun to poke fun at the other for digging this show. And, as most parents would know, it’s a bonding thing.

Why is Hannah so popular? There’s a multitude of reasons that 14 year old girls could give you, but I’ll give you my 33 year old reasons…

First, it’s a creative story line. What teenager doesn’t dream of living a double life as a rock star? The writing strikes a good balance between little kid humor and adult witty-that’s a hard line to walk and, as you’d expect, the Disney writers do a fabulous job of it.

Hannah, unlike Brittany and Paris and the other female pop icons of late, has kept a clean nose. I cross my fingers we won’t see Dr. Phil sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong with Miley Cyrus any time soon. In fact, I think Hannah is just such good, clean fun that most thinking Americans are hoping the same thing; i.e. that Miley won’t follow the path of the trash.

Miley/Hannah seems to have a solid grounding due to her parents. Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather eat a Gold Bond popsicle than ever listen to “Achy Breaky Heart” again, but ya gotta admit, Billy Ray Cyrus seems like a stand up dude. Plus, with the little inside jokes about mullets and dance shows that make it into episodes of “Hannah”, you know he doesn’t take himself too seriously.

So, you can imagine my surprise at what I found yesterday. See, my stepdaughter and I have a fun little bonding thing about Hannah, and I don’t mean just watching the show.
When she’s out with her friends, if she comes across a Hannah Montana trinket, she buys it, brings it home and presents it like a hunter bringing food back to the den.

When Marvelyne and I were shopping yesterday, we spotted Cosmo Girl by the check out lane. Who’s on the cover? Miley Cyrus! Bingo! I’ll bring it home and get major points for this! That is, until my wife picked it up, opened it at random and found some pretty shocking stuff.

We all know Cosmo itself is intended for mature viewing audiences, like they say at the movies. But you’d figure Cosmo Girl would be a little more like Seventeen or YM, right? Negative!

When we flipped open the mag, the first article is an instructional on how Cosmo Girl readers can have fun. By themselves, if you catch my drift. An article perfect for Cosmo…but totally unexpected(and unappreciated) when Cosmo Girl is aimed at a younger demographic. Miley Cyrus, the single most known female face in America, dons the cover of a magazine aimed at teenage girls and then that mag is filled with sex articles? Am I the only one who sees a problem with this?

Do I blame Miley? Nah, I doubt Cosmo Girl asked her what other articles they could print. It just felt really deceptive to tout a magazine for underaged girls, then fill it with content most parents would find objectionable. I really, really hate to be duped at all, but pulling the wool over the eyes of parents to make a buck off a teen icon is a new low.

Norman Rockwell Doesn't Live Here Any More

I’ve been getting requests to blog about the shootings in Kirkwood, MO which occurred last night. Until I heard a news report in the 2 p.m. hour(CST), I didn’t feel qualified to write. Now, I do. So here goes…

A gunman, disgruntled with city officials, walked into a Kirkwood City Council meeting last night around 7 and opened fire. First, the gunman shot an innocent police officer outside City Hall while the cop was walking to a nearby restaurant for dinner. He stole the officer’s gun and used it to slay four more people. In the end, two cops, three city council members and the gunman all laid dead. The mayor of Kirkwood sustained a gunshot wound and is in serious condition. A few more minor injuries also occurred.

Friends, until I relocated to Orlando, I lived in Kirkwood for the past five years. I’ve been to hundreds of places around the country and, still, Kirkwood is one of the most perfect locales I’ve ever been. For a tragedy to occur in this sleepy suburb is unthinkable. Well, -was- unthinkable.

Cookie Thornton, the gunman, declared war on the city council, specifically the mayor. Mayor Mike Swoboda is a good friend, a hell of a nice guy and never the kind of person you’d expect to be involved in a shooting.

So, why was Cookie mad? He’d received over 100 tickets for illegally parking his construction equipment and for work without permits. So, he committed a crime, got charged for the crime and got mad about getting charged. Real mature. But immaturity gave way to homicide…and Cookie Thornton believed he was driven to this decision. Emotional intelligence was not his strong suit.

Here’s where the really, really horrible stuff comes in…

Fox News just did an interview with Gerald Thornton, Cookie’s brother. He said things I wouldn’t have believed if I hadn’t heard ‘em with my own ears…and I’m still not sure a person can be this off the mark.

Gerald Thornton took up his brother’s cause, calling his conflicts with the city a “war.” Yes folks, no responsibility for his own actions, he was in a war. When the Fox News anchor said, “Didn’t your brother kill five innocent people in cold blood?” Gerald Thornton casually replied, “That’s your opinion.” They went back and forth and never once did Gerald Thornton admit his brother did anything wrong. Can you believe this?

I DO believe this…mainly because I heard Gerald and Cookie’s elderly mother interviewed by St. Louis news. In that interview she said, “They just kept on giving him tickets…they just kept pushing him.” And if “they” did? Does that justify murder? If someone pushes me, do I have the right(maybe even the obligation?) to start blasting innocent people? In the minds of the Thorntons, apparently, it does.

Never once did the mother or brother of the killer say, “I’m sorry” or show any remorse for the five innocent victims. In fact, Gerald Thornton was almost arrogant to the Fox News anchor saying, “I’m sorry you’re disappointed in my brother.” Disappointed? Disappointment comes with not getting a promotion. Or a failing grade. Or not getting picked first on the kick ball team. Disappointment is not a feeling anyone associates with murder…at least, no one who thinks like a rational, logical human being.

Murder in cold blood is never, ever justified. No one rational thinks it is. This is why the Thorntons are simply not on the same planet as anyone else. One kook with a gun? Sure, we know there are all kinds of freaks in the world who think violence is justified. But when the rest of the family refuses to take ownership of their brother/son’s tragic decision? Well, is it any wonder this nutjob did what he did?

The old adage, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” certainly seems applicable. Doesn’t it? If a parent cannot have the humility to admit their child has wronged other people, it shows some type of lack of parenting skills. How can we expect Cookie or anyone like him to act in a rational way when, it seems, everything he’s ever known is to blame others, not accept responsibility and act however he sees fit?

Personal accountability is sorely lacking in this family. And it’s sad-it really is! After the interview with Gerald Thornton, my sadness at the loss of five lives is turned to disgust. Disgust for people like the Thorntons who feel they are above the law and take no personal accountability. For people who take the law into their own hands. And for people who feel unprovoked violence is an answer to anything. This was not war…it was, however, just as sad.

A Few Political Ramblings

Since I'm a big politics junkie and keep up with current events, having this blog puts me in a bit of a pickle. See, I'd love to rant and rave about whatever I want politically, but instead, I really want this blog to reflect my attitude on the workings of the world; not politically, per sey, but the human elements that make the world go around. I also want to put thought-provoking ideas out therewhich(hopefully) will lead you to expand thinking to let in all sorts of new notions.

So, today's political ramblings? Well, I'm remembering my great uncle, Les. Gone for 20 years now, Les used to have this great bumper sticker on his truck: "If you don't vote, don't bitch.

Pardon my French there, I'm just relaying the message!

I've always lived by that rule(who knew bumper stickers could be educational?). Makes sense, though, doesn't it? If you have the power to change something, and you choose not to exercise that power, is there any right to complain?

Throwing out an example here...if someone eats McDonald's three meals per day, chocolately goodness every half hour, chips, dips, beer, Bon Bons, and everything else unhealthy AND never gets off the couch from in front of reality TV, yet chooses to complain and cry about his/her weight...do you have sympathy? Maybe...but probably not. The person has made the choice, yet doesn't like to live with the repurcussions.

Okay, back to politics...

There's a very famous conservative radio talkshow host who has been making waves in recent days. This host says that if John McCain gets the GOP nomination, the talkshow host is simply not going to vote. Said host simply disagrees with McCain's political views that much.

I'm immediately reminded of Uncle Les' bumper sticker...if said talkshow host doesn't vote, he/she has simply lost the right to talk about politics at all! Of course, that's my humble opinion. I suppose all Americans have the right not to vote, but if you choose to forego that right, then non-voting American should keep their non-voting trap shut! Simple as that!

Secondly, Hillary Clinton has gotten a lot of bad press in the last few days for the financial situation of her campaign. She has admitted writing a personal check to fund her campaign for $5 million.

It's her money. She can do what she wants with it. Is that considered an investment? Senator Clinton says it is.

Here's a question for you, faithful reader...do you know what the President's annual salary is? I had a ballpark idea, but popped it in a google search this morning and got the official word from a web site that ended with .gov. The President of the U.S. of A.'s annual salary is $400,000.

Senator Clinton is perfectly within her rights to use her own money however she chooses. But please, don't call it an investment! If Senator Clinton becomes President Clinton, her first term's total salary will total 1.6 million bucks. And if she's elected to a second term? At the current Presidential salary, her $5 million "investment" will still end up coming up over $1.5 million short.

Now, having said that, politicians aren't typically in politics due to the money. The power, maybe, but the most famous job on earth(except that of the Pope) only pays $400K. Power, not money. If the investment is for power, say it.

Simply put: Do what you say, say what you do.

Lifetime Media and Marcus!

Why no blog yesterday? I was in St. Louis all day doing filming and editing work on my new promo video! Lifetime Media, a video production company who has created promo videos for some of my speaking colleagues, got the nod for this job and (cross your fingers!) it should be ready for viewing soon - real soon!

Thanks to Abraham Grassle, Theresa, Eric and the rest of the Lifetime Media crew who has helped create this piece!

Some Interesting Stats

So, even though I dig football, I didn't watch much of the Superbowl yesterday. 97 million Americans did, however!

This was the most viewed Superbowl in history, and the #2 most viewed TV event...ever!

The #1 most watched TV event ever was the final episode of MASH back in the early 80s. And ya know? I didn't watch that, either. Turns out I was at a birthday party at Happy Joe's Pizza and Ice Cream that night. What was my excuse yesterday? Disinterest, mainly.

Anyway, the 97 million viewers of last night's Superbowl is a truckload of fans. But it pales when compared to the 106 million Americans who watcheed MASH some 25 years ago.

That's saying something, but it says a whole lot more when there are nearly 300 million Americans now as opposed to the 225 million back when MASH aired.

Roughly, one third of Americans watched the big game last night, but just under 50% were watching MASH. Those are crazy big numbers...and they just go to prove: Americans like to be entertained.

Stuart Snodgrass-One Bad Dude

Do you know the name Stuart Snodgrass? Probably not. Mainly because he's most likely a fictional character, and secondly because I wouldn't know the name, either, if it weren't for one of the most touching adverts; one I just heard for the Make A Wish Foundation.

In this commercial(which I really hope you'll get to hear yourself), Stuart Snodgrass is a normal school teacher...who becomes a bad guy. See, a little boy with a terminal disease has the wish to become a superhero.

I guess at this time I should inform you what the Make A Wish Foundation is all about. Just in case you've been living under a rock for the last few decades, the Make A Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening diseases. Families of these children are usually stretched thin due to medical bills, so Make A Wish steps in, asks the child what he/she would wish for, then grants that wish. Often, it's a trip to DisneyWorld(which I wouldn't mind myself!) or a trip to the beach, whatever the kid wants. In this case?...here goes...

The little boy who is sick wishes to be a super hero, complete with an awesome costume! He's at home when the mayor breaks into the cartoon he's watching, pleading for the super hero to help catch the purple bad guy at city hall. Remember Stuart Snodgrass? Yeah, he's costumed as the purple bad guy at city hall, volunteering his time and talents for Make A Wish.

The super hero(also known as the little boy with a disease none of us want), is whisked away to city hall where he rushes around trying to thwart the purple bad guy's evil plan. Finally, his wish is complete when he casts his super hero net over the purple bad guy...and humanity is safe once again!

The Make A Wish Foundation does some incredible work...and they make some even more incredible commercials. Check them out at:

www.Wish.org

Quote Of The Day

I've just completed reading, "Bias" by Bernard Goldberg. Fantastic book with thought-provoking subjects which I thought had no effect on my life. I was wrong. Who knew the media actually had an effect on my thinking?

However, even with all the tidbits Goldberg learned from working for CBS for nearly three decades, the thing I took from this book I'll remember forever is this quote from American theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr. Here goes:

"Frantic orthodoxy is never rooted in faith, but in doubt"
-Reinhold Niebuhr.

After reading this, thinking about it and finally discussing it with my brilliant wife, I realized I could write an entire book on this single quote. I totally agree with Niebuhr, but he could have left out "orthodoxy" and I'd still agree with him. The whole idea of being frantic means there is something to fear-and, as any fool knows, when franticness sets in, reason and rationality go out the window.

For your thinking pleasure, I give you this quote...whatcha think?

What's Your Worst?

Tomorrow during the Superbowl, the legendary Tom Petty will be headlining the halftime show.

Folks, Petty has been making music as long as I've been alive. That's over three decades-and the stuff he's turning out these days is as good(maybe better) than his stuff back in the 70s and 80s.

Last night, in prep for the Superbowl, I ran across an NPR interview with Tom done by the Fresh Air hostess. He was, as he always is, the very definition of cool. Petty, not the hostess!

This interview brought to mind an interview Petty did some 15 or 20 years back. In it, he was asked a question I really, really dig:

What is the worst song you've ever recorded?

Here's Petty, a shoo in for the Rock Hall of Fame, a man who's cranked out hits for freaking ever, being asked what is the biggest piece of crap he ever laid down in a studio. His answer, "The Waiting" which, I'll agree, is a pretty lame song.

But think about that question: What is your worst?

This causes a rock star(who SHOULD have an inflated ego) to be really, really vulnerable. And Petty did it(must be the southerner in him...being humble and all).

I've always thought if I get to interview my heros some day(Stephen King, Springsteen, Dylan, Tom Robbins, etc.); people with prolific artistic careers, I'd want to ask that question that was asked of the head Heartbreaker. See, if you even GET asked that question, it means you've cranked out a TON of artistic stuff. And I want to be asked this question someday. Why? Because if I get asked this, it means I've put out a lot of books, CDs, etc...and those are my goals.

So, here's to someday creating something bad!

15,000 Dead Americans...This Is Funny?

It's flu central around here. Both teenagers are sick with the nastiness that seems to hit every year. Since I'm good for nothing when I'm sick, I'm doing everything to avoid it at all costs. Vitamins, green tea, rest, water-everything!

One of the things which has been scientifically proven to aid sickness is laughter. Yep, laughter. If you've read either of my books, you know what a big part laughter played in my recovery. Yet, that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Hospitals and physicians by the hundreds have studied the therapeutic effects of humor on patients of all kinds. Everyone from folks with the common cold to terminal cancer patients-everyone, no matter where they are in this thing we call life, benefits from humor.

To help boost my immune system and ward off the demon known as influenza, I've been listening to a lot of comedy on Sirius Radio. Specifically, stand up comedians. I freaking adore stand up comedy-and I love it when it means I don't have to go to a comedy club to get it.

So, last night, I was listening to a stand up comediaann who did a bit on drunk driving. Why does it seem like stand up comedians routinely joke about driving drunk? Could it be most people in their audiences are drinking while they listen? Maybe, but as alcohol is a legal drug, it seems fair game. Comedians are known for stepping over the line(that is, after all, what makes good comedy), so it seems every time I hit a comedy club or turn on one of these comedy stations, the comedian is joking about drunk driving.

Last night, the comedian was saying how he drives a mini-van. It's certain rejection when he thinks he's going to get lucky, but he's certain to make it home without getting stopped by the cops! He then goes on to describe how he, a single dude, has a soccer ball sticker and Jesus fish accompanying his, "My son is an honor roll student!" bumper sticker. These are never, EVER the types of vehicles cops expect to be driven by drunks.

Okay, so that's got a certain bit of humor to it. But when you take it a step further, is it really funny to joke about a crime that kills 15,000 Americans every year? I think not, but maybe due to the fact DWI is a victimless crime(until the crash, that is), comedians think it's fair game to joke. Who knows?

I am really, really not overly sensitive to any sort of comedy. I believe it was one of the most famous comedians of all time who said, "Good comedy always insults someone." That's most likely true. So, I don't typically go looking for reasons to be insulted.

I do wish, however, comedians would think a little when writing their comedy. After all, everyone(practically) knows at least one person who has died or been injured as a result of DWI. We also all know people who have died of cancer. Yet, most comedians have the decency not to joke about cancer...don't they?