This article is written from the prospective of what I view as an average “guy” …especially if he grew up in the South.  I realize that it doesn’t fit all male thinkers…but I feel it does speak for a large majority. With that said…let’s talk about the mind-set of 2 three letter words in the English language that catches the 8 second attention span of the male brain…BBQ and SEX.

Imagine yourself driving down a freeway with your destination 3 hours away…and you see a sign that reads “BBQ…Next Exit”.  It doesn’t make any difference what the establishment looks like…if it is being served from the tailgate of a pick-up truck…it appeals to the male brain, and if your wife or female friend is not riding with you…you will probably stop and order…after all it is 3 hours before reaching your destination (male justification).  The wife on the other hand…is looking at the building establishment and wondering if the bathrooms are clean, do they provide several options on the menu, or if they even have a menu.? The male brain only saw and thought one thing… “BBQ” …no need to waste any more brain power beyond that point.

Okay…let’s look at the word SEX…and forget about driving down the freeway and your destination being 3 hours away.  On this subject you can create your own scenario…I think you get my point…if not…just focus on BBQ.

In conclusion…I am a firm believer in capitalism and creativity…therefore if you were going to create an establishment that would provide you with a return on investment based on capturing the 8 second attention of the male brain…it should be an establishment on the freeway with a large sign that reads… “BBQ & SEX…Next Exit”…one can only imagine.

Disclaimer: This was written as an attempt at creative humor…if it failed, so be it. The fact that you read this far means that the subject matter caught your attention…which proves my point.

Johnny J.

I am truly amazed in today’s world when an individual actually finds another human being who is truly compatible with his/her thinking, likes and dislikes and tuned into the same universe….the odds are not as good as you might think….I was lucky without a doubt.  The instant diversions of sexual attraction, outgoing personality, and small talk can sometimes prevent deep soul searching  compatibility from being discovered…but I believe in a passing moment I saw a unique testimonial a few years ago of a couple who had beat those odds…

My wife and I were taking a 3 day trip by train for the pleasure and experience of it.  Trains travel through areas that provide an opportunity for one to see things that you normally wouldn’t see speeding down a busy highway…this was one of those occasions.  We were sitting in the dinning car at a table draped with a white linen tablecloth and a center piece of fresh flowers (which was very elegant and relaxing) waiting for our evening meal to be served. As we looked out enjoying the views of the passing country side through the floor to ceiling window… I saw a modest white farm house with a large sweeping front porch.  There was a wide set of stairs leading up to the porch…and perfectly positioned on each side of the first steps were two “white porcelain toilets with black seats” and flowers protruding from them.  The black seats were in the up position.

I turned to my wife and said, “Can you imagine at some point this couple probably had a conversation that started like this…Honey (as they were drinking their morning coffee) I was thinking about putting two white porcelain toilets out front today and planting flowers in them…what do you think?  Her reply…I think that would be beautiful…do you need any help?”

That my friend…would be two people who have reached the depths of soul searching compatibility.  I would liked to have met those people…I am confident that they placed those toilets there to please themselves…not to impress me in that passing moment.

DISCLAIMER: The information presented is either my opinion or information obtained from sources believed to be reliable and factual; however, I make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy thereof. Any errors, including misuse or misspelling of words is either due to my fingers hitting the wrong keys, oversight, or my own ignorance.

Like many of you… I receive emails quite often that have been forwarded to friends that have elected to pass them on.  Some of the views I agree with…some are slanted to promote one party’s agenda….while others I have simply found to be untruths.

Regardless of what political party you may identify with (if any) or even if you have absolutely no interest in politics or politicians… I strongly suggest you view this short video in regard to the contents that will affect you and your family regardless of your views or political affiliation.

The primary reason that this activity exist (as referenced in the video) is because we allow it.  Now I understand that each one of us have our own responsibilities or interest that occupy our daily routines, and the older you become…those days appear to become shorter.  I’m not asking you to alter your day… but to reflect for a moment and ask yourself is there anything that I can do to help eliminate “the idiotic business as usual” nonsense in Washington? Voting…emailing your elected officials…passing on emails that reflect your views to friends or etc. These are the minimum things that you should exercise.  Its’ the etc…I am asking you to give thought to.

Growing up in a small community I received news that was spoon feed me via newspaper or a 30 minute television time slot each day.  If there was a political agenda attached to it…I wasn’t aware of it… smart enough to know it…or I just wasn’t paying attention because of a lack of interest.  The truth is…it was probably a combination of all of these.

Today there is no excuse…with the internet there is almost nothing that can’t be researched in a matter of minutes… that can and will have an affect on your way of life…“regardless if you choose not to get involved”…you will be. Knowledge, words and actions are the most powerful tools to help create change…but only if you share them.

The masses are controlled by a few through “sound bits, lies, self preservation and concealment of the truth”.  The truth is there…if you look for it.

Religion is a sensitive topic to write about…and I am sure that I will offend some/or most…but that is not my intent.  I asked myself prior to writing this piece “How many religions are there in the world?”…so I Googled the question and was surprised at the multitude of answers. The answers ranged from 11 to over 4,000…in terms of organized human religious beliefs.  Obliviously in the end it boils down to the acceptance of one’s own definition of religion and belief….which brings me to this point…

With so many contributing factors that create wars and unrest in the world that stem from a combination of politics, greed, power, and suppression why is it that the religious aspect always seems to be attached to the conflict regardless of the complexity of reasons.

I was taught that religion is a spiritual belief of faith…and that there is a better life after this world…if one believes. So why should there be so much conflict about religion in this world…that is a matter of another world?  There are elements of each “religion”…that end up producing a better afterlife…if you believe. I find it interesting that the people that “do not believe”…find religion annoying and want to alter the principals of the “believers”… and the “believers” want to impose their beliefs on the “non believers” or other religions that are different from theirs. . Confusing?…yes it is, but in the end it is not about religion on this earth…it’s the fear that each is going to dominate the other and impose their values, beliefs and life style on their way of life….its about political structure and the fear that the one with the most power will rule over the other.

My Son pointed out to me in a conversation that we were having…that the last 6 of the 10 commandants really have more relevance to respect, goodness and human rights than a reference to an afterlife affirmation.  Even though I am ignorant of the teachings of the different religions I do recognize the goodness of individuals that try to live by the principals of those six commandants.

If each individual…regardless of religion… adopted the “last six commandments as principals” to live by…this world would be a much better place.

Johnny J.

DISCLAIMER: The information presented is either my opinion or information obtained from sources believed to be reliable and factual; however, I make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy thereof. Any errors, including misuse or misspelling of words is either due to my fingers hitting the wrong keys, oversight, or my own ignorance.

Are you curious about the decisions that are being made by our politicians and the events that are happening in today’s world?  Are you concerned about what happens outside the 5 mile radius of the bubble you live in?  If not… then I would suggest that you continue to live your contained simplistic life and check to see who was recently drafted on your favorite “ball team” or who will be appearing on “Dancing with the Stars” this season…and read no further.

For those who are curious about the future of our Country…and the affect that it may have on your way of life… maybe it’s time to look at history.  History is one of the best tools to indicate or provide direction of our Country’s future.

I’m not asking you to listen to the politicians of today from either major party…who are continuously fighting for control of what they perceive to be their domain…where pandering, lying, and self-preservation has become (if not always) more importance than the future of our Country.

When I was a young man I received my national news via television or the local newspaper.  The news cast was 30 minutes anchored by either Huntley and Brinkley or Walter Cronkite.  I listen to what they reported…had no reason to doubt it…and then went about my simplistic life until they fed me what they thought I should know the next day.

It was a time when you were told by your parents if you work hard and apply yourself you could be successful in life (the meaning of the word successful is a topic for another day).  That advice has prevailed and produced different levels of comfort zones for many people through the years.  It was also a time when changes were put in place to correct the injustices and separation of American citizens that had prevailed for so long…a time to bring into play the equality that was provided in the words of our constitution…opportunity for all of its citizens. Opportunity is the keyword…do not get the words “opportunity” and “fairness” confused.  Life is not fair…get over it.

Let’s focus on the words “If you work hard and apply yourself you could achieve success in life”. There are no guarantees…because life isn’t always fair…but this has been the prevailing concept of my generation and the generation before me…this has been the history that has created the greatness of our County.

Look at the direction of the past and connect it to the direction of the future…is it continuing on the same path…can you “connect the dots”?  I don’t think so.

Below are sources that I would encourage you to view and digest in order to help provide you with your own answer to this question…can you connect the dots?

http://www.libertyunderfire.org/2010/06/the-founding-fathers-rejected-democracy/

http://takeourcountryback-snooper.blogspot.com/2008/12/democracy-v-republic-founding-fathers.html?m=1

A game of politicians and lawyers…it’s a disgrace!  “We the people” should fire them all…one by one.

We pay their salaries as politicians and many of them spend their time as attorneys doing what they do best…complicating matters and/or wasting the tax-payers money by billing each other firms for that irresponsible waste.

The charade in Congress today is a “visible display of treason”… consisting of lies, undermining, fabricating, whatever it takes to attempt to overthrow the administration in power.  If it weren’t so pathetic…it would be laughable. It’s all about power, control and self-serving preservation.

It is a swamp…that is slowly being drained…but continues to be “clogged” by new entries into the system…with the intelligence of a doorknob.   Let me remind you that intelligence has nothing to do with a degree from an ivy-league school…or one’s pedigree.  It’s the ability to “think”, apply common sense to issues and using your voice and actions to do what is best for this country…not for yourself or your party.

What about the pundits…left or right?  They express their opinions (or the ones that they are paid to express) as if they are the masters of all knowledge….also let’s not forget the personalities and celebrities that fit into this group.  The statement that best fits the importance of this group was when someone told Barbara Streisand… “Just shut up and sing”.

The continuing attempt to erase our history and being politically correct to a fault is destroying the very fiber of the foundation of our Country.    History is important… it provides a rear-view mirror of what we have done right and what we have done wrong.  It provides us an opportunity to accomplish more and reminds us not to repeat the injustices of the past.  Striving for a country that provides an opportunity for all…should be our object.  I didn’t use the word “equal” for a reason…that would imply that we are “all the same” and if someone doesn’t advance in life…it must be our Country’s fault?  Life is not fair for a multitude of reason, intelligence (not education) environment, desire, ambition, motivation, etc… so get over it and accept some responsibility for yourself.

In the words of Larry Winget (writer, business and personal development speaker )… “GROW A PAIR”!

Johnny J.