The Internet Dark Ages

A Lesson From The Wise - Entry 4 - To Be Self-reliant

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:37:00 +0000

"The flabby generations, fed on the pap and treacle of 'Liberalism,' expect the easy answer and live in the syntax of the passive voice. They expect all to be done for them; they don't want to be free men, but freedmen. And that is why nothing is done for real to help our cities, and all that is falsely done undoes. But slums will be made homes, and work will be found for willing men, and a fairer world will be created, when men awake from the collective somnambulism and resolve to be — and become — self-reliant.

On the old frontier there were no subsidies, no governmental cushions, no social-air-conditioning. You faced the flood or the drought, the wolves amid the sheep or the cougars among the cattle, the wind and the snow and the sand, the failure of the crops or the fire in the night, as a man should. It was your responsibility. No one gave you a right to a living; you made a living or you accepted your dying. Your neighbors would help you, but they could not take your burdens wholly upon themselves. Your had to take, like Ulysses' men in Tennyson's poem, the thunder or the sunshine with a frolic welcome.

And, the self-reliant man of the old frontier did just that — he accepted the thunder or the sunshine with a frolic welcome — and he build from both the greatness which is America. He made his own house, he made his own living — and he made his own happiness. Instead of being 'bored' like the children of suburbia with affluence everywhere except in their own souls, he found always some new thing to do, to build, to invent, to create, to see and to know."

- e. merrill root, America's Steadfast Dream , p. 3

For more than 80 years now we have been taught by the hands of government philosophy first proposed by Woodrow Wilson when he said, "We want one class to have a liberal education. We want another class, a much larger class of necessity, to forgo the privilege of a liberal education and fit themselves to perform specific, difficult, manual tasks." Link for more >>

We, have become hollow generations of obedience to "societal opinions," passively following rather than leading. We don't know the weakness of specialization in education as compared to generalization.

To break the chains, create something of use, build a business that helps, do things that inspire greatness in others, learn the lessons from history. Find the original meaning of freedom so you can see the yoke you are slaves to.

Increase your self-reliance and the self-reliance of your children. Increase your knowledge. Learn the importance of a library in your home and in your mind. Become what you were born to become.

A Lesson From The Wise - Entry 3 - To Be Governed

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:01:00 +0000

"To be GOVERNED is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, regulated, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, checked, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right nor the wisdom nor the virtue to do so. To be GOVERNED is to be at every operation, at every transaction noted, registered, counted, taxed, stamped, measured, numbered, assessed, licensed, authorized, admonished, prevented, forbidden, reformed, corrected, punished. It is under pretext of public utility, and in the name of the general interest, to be placed under contribution, drilled fleeced, exploited, monopolized, extorted from, squeezed, hoaxed, robbed; then at the slightest resistance, the first word of complaint, to be repressed, fined, vilified, harassed, hunted down, abused, clubbed, disarmed, bound, choked, imprisoned, judged, condemned, shot, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed; and to crown all, mocked, ridiculed, derided, outraged, dishonored. That is government; that is its justice; that is its morality."

- P. J. Proudhon

As Tacitus stated in Annals III-27, "the more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws." On the Tytler Cycle we are between dependence and bondage. We also know that most all great societies have fallen from corruption from within1. Those fractions that survive the collapse prepared for the fall.

What reinforces this is, the knowledge of history is the only way to avoid such catastrophes. But we are ignorant of history. We think, the new way of teaching history (modern public schooling), memorizing a name and a date is boring, and it is: by design (read Piaget, Dewey, Erickson, Vygotsky). So we have been lulled into ignorance.

The only way to avoid being governed out of existence is by self-education. You must choose and read the greatest minds from our past and be armed with knowledge to stand up t such corruption.

1 - See the 5,000 year leap, Skousen, p. 4

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:02:00 +0000

wiziq profile

A Lesson From The Wise - Entry 2 - What Are You Becoming?

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:17:00 +0000

"The lion is the pragmatic beast, the symbol of material power, the lord of earth's gregarious ones. He dwells in London Town. He usurps the world's thrones in Moscow and Washington. The unicorn is the creature of the soul, the creature of imagination and legend, the symbol of the free spirit, the outsider who is genius. He dwells not in London, but in Camelot; he runs with ivory hoof and ivory horn under the unsubverted moon. On far hills aloof and alone, where breezes blow cool in the lilac night. He hates, and he is hated by, the commissars and the commissions, the bureaucracies, the foundations, the gelded centaurs of Academe, and albino gentle souls who elect to dwell meekly in Hell. We live today in the sorry world of the lion-grown shoddy, grown shabby, like an alley cat; but the world waits for the hour of the unicorn."
- E. Merrill Root, America's Steadfast Dream, p35

Are you the lion or the unicorn? Another of the keys of great teaching is: Simplicity, Not Complexity. It is amazing how simple it is to give yourself an excellent education. But the lion has convinced us that it is complex and only "the expert" is capable of teaching such things.

Remember the unicorn, become self-reliant. Free your soul from the chains of your oppressors. You were born for greater things. Stand up and do them.

A Lesson From The Wise - Entry 1 - What Are You Becoming?

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:43:00 +0000

"A man becomes what he sets as a symbol and a love at the center of his soul. Love the ugly, concentrate on the ugly, set the ugly at the center of your soul - and you become ugly. But behold and original, be discriminating and nobly selective, know that in life many may be called but few can be chosen, and you will not wallow in the ugliness that so easily besets us. Instead, by discrimination and choice, love the beautiful, concentrate on the beautiful, set the beautiful at the center of your soul - and you will become beautiful. Thus the Arthurian knights reserve the debacle of man and make it a renaissance of man."

- E. Merrell Root, America's Steadfast Dream, p 38-9

What are you becoming? A cure or a cancer? I don't see too much gray area anymore.

Have you ever hear the idea, "Classics not Textbooks"? Its a fascinating topic and something one should seriously consider in our present state of decline. We are definitely in a state of Annus mirabilis or as I say, the internet dark ages. Here's a good definition. I have found that by rubbing shoulders with the great minds of the past I have been growing more able. I hope you are up to the same.

Great Things Worth Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:40:00 +0000

I've decided to keep a list of things that must be read.

E. Merrill Root

Our Home - C.E. Sargent

Imprimis - From Hillsdale Collage

The History of Freedom in Antiquity - Lord Acton

A Renaissance of Kings - Andrew Groft

Lincoln - Douglas Debates of 1858

Walden

Of course there are many things that must be added to this list. But this is enough to start with. Send your comments on favorite things that you feel must be read.

The Cure For The Mid-life Crisis: Vocation vs. Occupation

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:09:00 +0000

Def. vocation — n
• a special urge, inclination or predisposition to a particular calling.

Translation: Doing that thing that you were born to do. That thing that you along can bring to the world.

Def. occupation — n• An activity that serves as one's regular source of livelihood

Translation: Your job.

________

We have been taught to believe that the definition of these two words are the same. We call them Synonyms. But if you go back to the etymology of these two words (vocation - occupation) you see something different.

What happens in our society is this, because we don't understand the meanings of these two words we say they are the same: we are confused. Interpreting them as being the same our goal has become: earn money and we'll be happy.

What happens is twenty or thirty years into a career we wake up knowing we are unhappy in what we are doing. But we feel stuck, trapped. And because we don't understand the meaning of these to little words we attempt another occupation repeating the cycle. This is often called the mid-life crisis.

With a better understanding of the meaning of words, you too can learn what you were born to accomplish, find out who you are, right your warped or broke core values. If you don't know where to begin let me lead you to a list of classics, which, over time, will help you see what is right and what is wrong in your life.

Then, when you know who you are, you can go out and build an occupation around your vocation and that is how you can love what you do. (See it explained by Dr. Shanon Brooks here. Watch the second video/part and start it at 6:45)

Assignment:

Learn the difference between education and schooling.Find your vocation. Change the world. We need people who can change the world for the better. It's not hard it only take hard work. Find your vocation and then build your occupation around it. We look forward to seeing you shine.

PS. Get to know the 1828 dictionary. Here you can learn some very interesting things about the common words we use. Definitions have changed over time, sometimes this is to out detriment. When we are better educated we can make better decisions: there is a difference between Education and Schooling too, but that is for another discussion.

NOTE: Content came from Dr. Shanon Brooks. See: Shanon Brooks' Blog for the good stuff.

Why Schools/Colleges Can't Prepare You For Your Future!

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 13:05:00 +0000

There are a number of words we call synonyms that aren't synonyms at all. And because of this we are confused and in tern pass on that confusion to our children.

A short list of false synonyms are:
1. Virtues vs. Skills
2. Character vs. Tools
3. Quality of live vs. Standard of life
4. Education vs. Schooling

Immediately you can see the difference... can't you? The list on the right is preached by public schools and its advocates. We call it education! Huh? It isn't education at all it is preparing one for a job. Yet we leave the education of our children up to schools and the state instead of taking upon ourselves to educate our children.

No wonder things are falling apart around us. We have been relying on the state to educate when they aren't. We thought they were educating when actually they were schooling. Big difference.

Now that we know there are different meanings for these different words, what will you be doing about it? Will you start educating your children? Teaching them right from wrong, good from bad, that quality of life is different from standard of living.

That character is obtained only by living a life of virtue, by accomplishing and doing, by trial and error and in learning what is right and wrong and choosing the better.

Taught In Home		Taught In Schools
Virtues		Skills
Character		Tools
Quality of live		Standard of life
Education		Schooling

If you are not teaching, virtues, character, quality of life, and educating in your home where are your children learning these things? Not in schools!

Our schools/colleges only give us the basic, may I repeat, the basic skills to get a job, nothing else. We need strong families to strength society.

Josiah Bunting, in his book, An Education for Our Time, states, "The things our country requires are simply not the things our colleges are prepared to deliver."

Assignment:
1. Simplify your life.
2. Reevaluate your core values
3. Teach your children what character is by living it.
4. Educate your children.

Produce, Produce & Again Produce

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:50:00 +0000

It may not be apparent to all but the purest way to retain ones freedom is to be a producer and by that I mean an owner.

In 1900 95% of the American population were owners. Mostly small farmer but owners. Now 100+ years later 5% of the American population are owners.

With that shift have gone our freedoms, our society, the worlds greatest asset.

Most of my life I have been driven to do my own thing, but I always felt that I didn't know how to do the things I wanted to do. I was afraid of failure. Of what others would say or think.

I didn't have the confidence or strength of character or even belief in my own abilities to succeed. The I heard Jim Rohn say, "Do what you can do." That's not hard. I can do a little. I can do one thing at a time.

Then Jim said, "Decide what you want. Write it down. Check it off when you've done it. And keep your old lists." Again. I can do that. Its easy! I decided what I wanted, I wrote it down. The very next day between my mind and my writing I found three was to be a better producer.

You may not be producing much today. But by the end of the month you could be producing more than you did last month. One thing missing from our modern society is the power of our own self-worth. We can begin to gain it back by becoming a producer.

Assignment:
1. Decide what you want.
2. Write it down.
3. Check it off when you've done it.
4. Keep your lists through life to reference.

Fine something you can produce and make it available to the world. We need producer to be independent from bondage. We need the leaders that independence bring. We need statesmen/mentors to help other realize this too. Will you change your world? It easy. It only take some hard work.

The Bugle Blows Always For Battle

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 13:59:00 +0000

"The undisciplined are slaves to moods, appetites and passions."
- Stephen R. Covey

It is interesting to observe human nature. When we are without a compass - a guiding light - we waver on the seas of life. We are easily blown to and fro, we are ever distracted by suggestions seen and unseen.

Do you know the works of G. K. Chesterton (audio download here) or Hilaire Belloc? I hope you do, or, like me, are getting to know them.

They both were champions of freedom, liberty and truth and abhorred the isms of the times.

"Today men are too often inorganic, rootless, minus any sense of destiny or purpose. We forget that all living things have, and must have, that inner sense of meaning." - Belloc

You were born to find your meaning, the reason you were born, the job only you can accomplish.

Until you are willing to find (read) and study the greatness that is out there, you are ever destined to be ruled over and oppressed. Find the reason you were born and shout it from the rooftops.

Your choice is to be one of the following:
1. Greatness
2. Mediocrity or
3. A Deviant.

You weren't born for #2 and #3. Man often become what he is trying to be. What are you becoming? Are you floundering? Or are you willing to go on the greatest adventure of your life?

Honor Code of Monticello College
We have honor through living lives founded in:
Abundance Mentality, Chastity, Courage, Curiosity, Empathy, Faith, Frugality, Honesty, Humility, Integrity, Intellectual Independence, Legacy, Meekness, Obedience, Optimism, Respect for self and others, Self-Reliance, Selflessness
Service, Tenacity, Virtue, Wholesome Language.

By these qualities, we hereby pledge to live.

"The Bugle Blows Always For Battle,"* and so I say, "Ever be ready and vow, by quality I hereby pledge to live!" Are you willing to save your soul with goodness?

Assignment: Rub shoulders with greatness. Find a lost great work and learn from it and share it with the world. May I suggest the works of G. K. Chesterton or Hilaire Belloc as a starting point.

* e. merrill root, America's Steadfast Dream, p173

When A Book Comes Alive

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 17:15:00 +0000

A few years ago I posted how to read a book. It is truly amazing how much more you get out of a book when you go through such a process.

Being able to relive the "ah-ha" moment. Being excited to share the inspiring thought. Internalizing the profound point. Learning the important lesson by heart. Even day-dreaming or pondering the "what ifs" of the idea.

Not every book deserves the treatment or honor to be read and re-read and re-read again but, to have a shelf full of such worthy books (here is my shelf) is just as valuable as having the convictions of your soul.

I recently listened to an audio book that was interesting, well written, engaging but left me wondering why I listened to it. It was popular. I had many recommendation to read it. But the feeling I had and still have is, "Why would I want to read such a book ever again, let alone read the rest of the series!"

Then miraculously I found a book worth reading, worth adding to my most worthwhile books list. I'm glad that I have such a list. To find such worthy books is worth more than the piles of gold in Smogs lair.

There are two types of people. "... those who make great demands of themselves... and those who demand nothing special of themselves..."1 Who are you? and What are you becoming?

Assignment:
Commit to reading, writing, speaking, listening to only that of quality. Create a creed a code to live by. Then live by it and share it with other so all may know "Who you are." and "What you stand for." Make the greatest books come alive in your life and you will have a life worth living.

1 - Ortega y Gasset's Revolt of the Masses

There Are No Miracles!

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:37:00 +0000

There are no accidents. There are no coincidences. There are no "lucky breaks." They are simply the "hand of God" in our lives.

Read George Washington, Benjamin Franklin almost any of the Founding Fathers and you will see the continuing "hand of God" in their lives and then you may begin to see His hand in yours.

Sensus Plenior is a Latin term meaning “fuller sense,” or “deeper meaning.” We would greatly benefit from knowing more about the origins of our language; the original meaning of the things we say have been lost to us. Knowing what they originally meant will help us to remember who we are and what we are here to do.

Assignment:
Pick a saying you've heard or a story that has been told and retold and research the original meaning of the term. You may be surprised by the original meaning. Then share it with us and other so they will know too.

Discriminate. Be Fastidious. Choose. Select.

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 12:50:00 +0000

The Discriminate T-shirt is available here

Do you give 100% in all you do? Or do you pick and choose when you will give your all to the task at hand?

I've been among the latter more than I'd like to admit. Thus leading me to evaluate why. I've learned a few interesting things I'd like to share.

1. WORK - The definition of work has devolved from a pursuit of ones art to the drudgery of necessity, to pay the bills. For all the good that has transpired since the industrial revolution began, we have lost the "love of work" that is vital to man's soul.

And especially for man, to be a man, he must love what he does.

To find joy in doing is to find meaning in ones life. Our actions or our lack of actions have eternal consequences. 1. If you do not do what only you were meant to accomplish, it goes unaccomplished. 2. If you are accustomed to not giving your all, no matter the task, what opportunities will you miss in life that you will regret? I propose many!

2. INTEGRITY - "The integrity of mans life comes when he develops such art to accomplish such work."1 Integrity in the context of work is not to find the reward of success but the joy of accomplishment. When one gives one's all and does her best and is only satisfied with a job well done. One has such integrity.

Let us not speak of our "high standard of living" but rather speak of a high standard of life.

"Discriminate, Discriminate And Again Discriminate. Be Fastidious. Choose. Select." - E. Merrill Root's book America's Steadfast Dream.

Assignment:
Evaluate when and why you give you all. Goal to give 100% in all you do. Learn the joy of a job well done.

NOTE: Spending time with your own thoughts (not the iPod) is essential to a higher standard of life.

The Discriminate T-shirt is available here

1 E. Merrill Root's book America's Steadfast Dream.

Creating An Internal Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 05:33:00 +0000

It has been a couple of years now that I gave up watching TV for reading books! It has been a wonderful thing in my life. I discuss the best I have read with my friends, family and even my employees.

It is very interesting to hear peoples excuses why they don't read more, and why those that do do. I've learned as much from their comments as I have from my readings.

I have been inspired to do greater things because of the things I read. I like to think of it as rubbing shoulders with great minds. You should try it sometime. It is a good thing.

It is satisfying as I look back on things, that through my readings I've given myself a greater education than most of the universities can give. Truly and amazing thing.

Assignment:

If you want to get a world class education, give yourself one. It's easy to do. Pick your topic of interest and start reading about it. Go where you are lead. All education is good. Nothing worth doing is easy, but, despite the hard work, you will have learned the most important thing you can learn. You can do anything you want, all you have to do is work hard and make it happen.

Sensus Plenior

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:43:00 +0000

To "find fuller meaning" or to "have fuller meaning". A lost term in our society but fully understood by our Founding Fathers.

How are we to preserve the freedoms we have if we are unable (by unable I mean uneducated, unmotivated, and pacified) to get engaged? How can we care about others when we are too busy having fun and playing?

Who among us are willing to pay the price that freedom requires?

Assignment:
1. Attend a local governmental meeting of your choice.
2. Learn the price our founding father paid for the freedoms we now enjoy.
3. Ask yourself, What was I born to do? It wasn't, I assure you, to hang out and have fun. Find your purpose and start living.

T-shirt available here.

TheImageFoundry.biz IFmarketing.com

Which Side Are You On?

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:06:00 +0000

Have you notices where the economy is growing? Have our current economic woes affected you? Have you been trying to figure out how best to survive it?

The success of our Founding Fathers has been tried by the majority of the world.... Steven Covey said that 90% of the worlds governments have tried to implement the successes of our constitution, but to no avail.

Political leaders in America are trying to "even the score," between the haves and the have nots. But what are they really accomplishing...?

Government jobs are the only real growth area in our society. What are the results of this?

1. aristocrats
2. their agents and employees, and
3. dependents.*

If our society is transformed to such class distinctions again, what freedoms will you be able to enjoy? Where will you end up? What education do you have that can get you to the influential class that is being created and nurtured currently? Is that really where you want to be?

Assignment Get educated(for anyone who wants to learn what a real education really is)! Not necessarily in the terms you've been conditioned to. Read the great authors (download .pdf) of the past. Learn from the moral and virtuous and even the unscrupulous.

Learn unchanging principals that have been forgotten en-mass in our society. Learn what make the pilgrims, the frontiersmen, the cowboys, the explorers, the pioneers the greatest strength and backbone of what our society was.

You'll be the better for it, and, it only takes time, a soft chair, and maybe a pen and paper too. Can you do that for yourself? I know you'll be glad you did.

* Taken from The Coming Aristocracy by Oliver DeMille

Parental Warning!

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:31:00 +0000

For many years I was afraid to have children.... I was all too aware of the truth in this quote. I knew too well my weaknesses and wasn't ready to change, I guess.

I found this book on google documents, written in 1890 during a similar situations to the times we live in now. It is called "Our Home or The Key to a Nobler Life" by C. E. Sargent.

I knew that such an undertaking had longer than my life consequences, in fact, infinite consequences. I was not afraid of the long term effects but more the short ones. I wasn't sure of myself, see, I was fighting against all that I was indoctrinated with in finding myself.

I needed time to find myself, who I really was and who I could become and enough confidence to make it happen. Which is easier said than done.

From the times of the Greeks to the time of Galileo and beyond, man had a single pursuit, to find one's meaning or purpose. Then spent their leisure time in pursuit of bettering themselves. But no more it seams en-mass...

Leisure time has a new meaning today; relax, veg-out, down time, we may call it, but in my opinion we are distracted from finding our meaning in life or from what life is.

One of my missions is to become the best parent I can to my brood. One way I do it is trying to learn from the great minds of the past. Join me.

Assignment:
Break away from your routine for a night. Pick up a good book and read for an hour or two. Then compare that to a night wasted in front of the TV, you'll be amazed at the difference between the two.

If you're anything like me, you will never want to go back to being a zombie again. It may take a while for you to learn it though. Be patient a good book is the key. But, you'll learn what living is in the end!

Strengthen Your Family - It matters!

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:06:00 +0000

“Our society is a result of families failure to teach, train, educate and civilize.”
—DCF

Civial Conversations - Can You Have One?

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:54:00 +0000

What is the most important word on this list? "Listen"

I've been thinking and discussing the breakdown of conversation in our society. All you have to do is look at politics and you know, we can't discuss things like human beings.

The other night I was at a social media club meeting and the topic of civility came up. I wanted to stop the discussion there and pursue the conversation but I knew the answer and didn't think they did.

We are trained to find the one right answer! But in life there is not always only one right answer.

Without the ability to look at all sides of a problem we will never be able to have such dialogue. To be able to have a clearer mind and an objective perspective we must gain a broader understanding of the thing that make up life.

For thousands of years, in the pursuit of excellence, mankind yearned for and worked hard to get a liberal arts education. Until we can restore such a noble perspective I fear civil dialogue will be hard to find.

Ideals are Selective

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:39:00 +0000

Ideals are selective. We must select lofty ideals to stand out in a crowd. To become a true individual you have to have inner-strength to stand strong through life. To live a noble life, a life of Christ, one must select ideals that not only influence our actions but also influence those around us.

If you've ever read Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre you've see a character who chose her ideals and stood by them, even when she didn't want to stand by them.

Can you stand strong in a society that's singularly focused on getting us to conform to their ideals? It requires a lot of us to withstand such pressure and be ourselves.

Truth, virtue, honesty, integrity, initiative, ingenuity, allegiance, commitment, passion, entrepreneurship and others are needed to make an impact!

In short, people with sensus plenior are needed to help our society. Be the individual you were meant to be.

"Our lives depend on the decisions we make, for decisions determine destiny."
- Thomas Mason

Assignment:
Shun the training you've been given to look at everything around you in a singular, literal light. Flock to people who don't fit the mold. Ask questions of them. Endless questions. Find out what makes them tick. Try to find out why they do what they do. Be curious and inquisitive.

We are in a fourth turning - a time of crisis. To find security in such a time a focus on home, community and entrepreneurship are needed. You can learn a lot from a maverick.

Producer Wanted

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:03:00 +0000

Wanted: People capable of producing products the people need. Requires hard work, thinking, studying, pondering, sweat and toil, even heartache at time. The ability to do things you've never done before and to be innovative to survive. Early hours. Late hours. Little time off.

Reward: Self-sufficiency - no reliance on others to support you and your family. Not a slave to corporate America or the state. Happiness. A simpler life.

Being embolden to other is slavery. Without a broad knowledge base (as apposed to a specialty or expertise) or what was once known as Liberal Arts training we have become slaves to our society - no more free to pursue our purpose.

What Can You Do?
Produce things that can make you independent from the forces that bind you. By that I mean, when you've learned to separate your value from your time, only then can you conceive to become independent.

Produce some of your own food. End your dependence (download mp3) on national and multi-nation businesses.

Produce a product that others want and need. Then look for different ways to get your product to those who need it.

We need independent thinker in our society to rescue it from those who are controlling it! Will you stand up?

Raise Up and Make a Change

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:28:00 +0000

TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

A PSALM OF LIFE Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

This excerpt for Longfellow's poem, A Psalm of Life, especially the last verse reminds of the loss in our modern society.

Enjoyment was not an American goal, but to self-educate and make oneself better so as to be able to help grow our nation and maintain it freedoms.

Until we remember what it is to be "an American" we will continue to loose our freedoms and our status as a "beacon on a hill" for the world.

Assignment:
Read the United State Constitution and the Deceleration of Independence to remember why this land was created. Then work to become "an American," not as the slaves of Rome - too distracted by entertainment to raise up and make a change.

Colloquium - The Missing Key to Our Education

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:04:00 +0000

"But the last pare drops."

Molly instantly exacted particulars.

"The soldier should not have told the general he was killed," stated the cow-puncher.

"What should he have told him, I'd like to know?" said Molly.

"Why, just nothing. If the soldier could ride out of the battle all shot up, and tell his general about their takin' the town — that was being gritty, yu' see. But that truck at the finish —please say it again?"

So Molly read: — " 'You're wounded!' 'Nay,' the soldier's pride Touched to the quick, he said, 'I'm killed, sire!' And, his chief beside, Smiling, the boy fell dead."

"'Nay, I'm killed, sire,'" drawled the Virginian, amiably; for (symptom of convalescence) his freakish irony was revived in him. "Now a man who was man enough to act like he did, yu' see, would fall dead without mentioning it."

None of Molly's sweet girl friends had ever thus challenged Mr. Browning. They had been wont to cluster over him with a joyous awe that deepened proportionally with their misunderstanding. Molly paused to consider this novelty of view about the soldier.

"He was a Frenchman, you know," she said, under inspiration.

"A Frenchman," murmured the grave cow-puncher. "I never knowed a Frenchman, but I reckon they might perform that class of foolish?"

"But why was it foolish?" she cried. "His soldier's pride—don't you see?

"No." Molly now burst into a luxury of discussion. She leaned toward her cow-puncher with bright eyes searching his; with elbow on knee and hand propping chin, her lap became a slant, and from it Browning the poet slid and toppled, and lay unrescued. For the slow cow-puncher unfolded his notions of masculine courage and modesty (though he did not deal in such high-sounding names), and Molly forgot everything to listen to him, as he forgot himself and his inveterate shyness and grew talkative to her. "I would never have supposed that!" she would exclaim as she heard him; or, presently again, "I never had such an idea!" And her mind opened with delight to these new things which come from the man's mind so simple and direct.
—The Virginian, p551-2, by Owen Wister

For three hundred years this was the norm of our societies learning. Colloquium as it was called.
col·lo·qui·um (kə-lō'kwē-əm)

An informal meeting for the exchange of views.
An academic seminar on a broad field of study, usually led by a different lecturer at each meeting.

To be prepared for the 21st century this style of learning must return. I've really enjoyed, as of late, the opportunity to experience colloquium from the sidelines.

Assignment
Visit this link at George Whyth University and experience a colloquium for yourself. I'm betting you will enjoy it as much as I have.

Dream Job - Can You Get One?

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:46:00 +0000

Top 30 Skills needed to secure the job of your dreams!

To secure the job you want there are a number of minimum criteria that wise businesses look for. If you are not prepared you will not be hired. What are you doing to be prepared to get the job of your dreams?

Following are lists of needed skills to prepare for the 21st century.

Harvard School of Law’s Required Skills
1. The ability to define problems without a guide.
2. The ability to ask hard questions which challenge prevailing assumptions.
3. The ability to quickly assimilate needed data from masses of irrelevant information.
4. The ability to work in teams without guidance.
5. The ability to work absolutely alone.
6. The ability to persuade others that your course is the right one.
7. The ability to conceptualize and reorganization information into new patterns.
8. The ability to discuss ideas with an eye toward application.
9-10. The ability to think inductively, deductively and dialectically.

Princeton’s Required Skills
1. The ability to think, speak, and write clearly.
2. The ability to reason critically and systematically.
3. The ability to conceptualize and solve problems.
4. The ability to think independently.
5. The ability to take initiative and work independently.
6. The ability to work in cooperation with others and learn collaboratively.
7. The ability to judge what it means to understand something thoroughly.
8. The ability to distinguish the important from the trivial, the enduring from the ephemeral.
9. Familiar with different modes of thought (including quantitative, historical, scientific, and aesthetic).
10. Depth of knowledge in a particular field.
11. The ability to see connections among disciplines, ideas and cultures.
12. The ability to pursue life lone learning.

George Wythe’s Required Skills
1. The ability to understand human nature and lead accordingly.
2. The ability to identify needed personal traits and turn them into habits.
3. The ability to establish, maintain and improve lasting relationships.
4. The ability to keep one’s life in proper balance.
5. The ability to discern truth and error regardless of the source, or the delivery.
6. The ability to discern true from right.
7. The ability and discipline to do right.
8. The ability and discipline to constantly improve.

Taken from A Thomas Jefferson Education, George Wythe College Press, 2000, p124-130

These skills are not currently taught en mass in our public schools. Fortunately for us, there are people with these skills who forward such thinking. It is imperative that we seek out these skills and add them to our skill set.

Is Too Much Too Much?

noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Felsted) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:05:00 +0000

Is it true that when you lavish your children with things you steal their ability to imagine as they play thus hampering their abilities as an adult?

I am fearful that it is. I've pondered this scenario much lately. I was raised in a modest family. My brothers and sisters and I had little but the things we could find and our imaginations. With so little we ran the worlds we visited.

It has shaped me and what I do. As my children grow, I want the best for them. As the toys gather dust in their rooms I wonder... Is it too much. "Yes," I say to myself. But I don't always win this conversation.

As I look around, I see how we use our wealth. More of us need to use it to help other not shower ourselves with things. This is not why we are here on earth! We, each of us has a specific mission to help other. When we are selfish and self-absorbed we are distracted from our true purpose.

Assignment
1. Learn why you are here on earth. What were you born to accomplish?
2. Spend more time helping other.
3. Listen more than you speak.