The Internet Dark Ages

How do You Perpetuate Freedom?

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Not everyone knows that Everytown.org, OpenSecrets.org, BradyUnited.org, the mainstream media, MomsDemandAction.org, anyone who says, "I support in the second amendment but..." and the like are shills for totalitarians, even anti-American socialist groups. They are there and as American's, it is our responsibility to be informed about all sides of every issue.

We have too long lived by the procrastinator's guide to saving America. Waiting for someone else to do it.

Waiting’s not working. America was founded on the idea that the citizens would lead the nation. It turns out the American founders were right: people can only stay free if they own their role as the First Branch of Government. Behold here is The Procrastinator’s Guide to Saving America…(1) waiting.

The only way to solve our political turmoil is to vigilantly perpetuate freedom.

"At first, man was enslaved by the gods. But he broke their chains. Then he was enslaved by the kings. But he broke their chains. He was enslaved by his birth, by his kin, by his race. But he broke their chains. He declared to all his brothers that a man has rights which neither god nor king nor other men can take away from him, no matter what their number, for this is the right of man, and there is no right on earth above this right. And he stood on the threshold of the freedom for which the blood of the centuries behind him had been spilled.

But then he gave up all he had won, and fell lower than his savage beginning.

What brought it to pass? What disaster took their reason away from men? What whip lashed them to their knees in shame and submission? The worship of the word "We."

When men accepted that worship, the structure of centuries collapsed about them, the structure whose every beam had come from the thought of some one man, each in his day down the ages, from the depth of some one spirit, such spirit as existed but for its own sake. Those men who survived those eager to obey, eager to live for one another, since they had nothing else to vindicate them--those men could neither carry on, nor preserve what they had received. Thus did all thought, all science, all wisdom perish on earth. Thus did men--men with nothing to offer save their great number--lost the steel towers, the flying ships, the power wires, all the things they had not created and could never keep. Perhaps, later, some men had been born with the mind and the courage to recover these things which were lost; perhaps these men came before the Councils of Scholars. They were answered as I have been answered--and for the same reasons.

But I still wonder how it was possible, in those graceless years of transition, long ago, that men did not see whither they were going, and went on, in blindness and cowardice, to their fate. I wonder, for it is hard for me to conceive how men who knew the word "I" could give it up and not know what they lost. But such has been the story, for I have lived in the City of the damned, and I know what horror men permitted to be brought upon them.

Perhaps, in those days, there were a few among men, a few of clear sight and clean soul, who refused to surrender that word. What agony must have been theirs before that which they saw coming and could not stop! Perhaps they cried out in protest and in warning. But men paid no heed to their warning. And they, these few, fought a hopeless battle, and they perished with their banners smeared by their own blood. And they chose to perish, for they knew. To them, I send my salute across the centuries, and my pity.

Theirs is the banner in my hand. And I wish I had the power to tell them that the despair of their hearts was not to be final, and their night was not without hope. For the battle they lost can never be lost. For that which they died to save can never perish. Through all the darkness, through all the shame of which men are capable, the spirit of man will remain alive on this earth. It may sleep, but it will awaken. It may wear chains, but it will break through. And man will go on. Man, not men.

Here on this mountain, I and my sons and my chosen friends shall build our new land and our fort. And it will become as the heart of the earth, lost and hidden at first, but beating, beating louder each day. And word of it will reach every corner of the earth. And the roads of the world will become as veins which will carry the best of the world's blood to my threshold. And all my brothers, and the Councils of my brothers, will hear of it, but they will be impotent against me. And the day will come when I shall break all the chains of the earth, and raze the cities of the enslaved, and my home will become the capital of a world where each man will be free to exist for his own sake.

For the coming of that day shall I fight, I and my sons and my chosen friends. For the freedom of Man. For his rights. For his life. For his honor.

And here, over the portals of my fort, I shall cut in the stone the word which is to be my beacon and my banner. The word which will not die, should we all perish in battle. The word which can never die on this earth, for it is the heart of it and the meaning and the glory.

The sacred word:

EGO" (2)

The meaning of "Freedom," the last of the five founding ideals that America was founded on, has become abstract and nostalgic. No longer does it mean vigilance in protecting inalienable rights. No longer does it mean to sacrifice for the greater good or for our prosperity. No longer does it mean an obligation to those who are weak and helpless among us.

Rather it has become the absurd, "I can do whatever I want to do!" For those who believe this, their minds have become shackled to the weakest and dullest among them.(2)

But to the independent, after spending so many years reliant on themselves and then seeing so many dependent on others they determined that their minds must have been shackled to the system in which they lived. For hope was gone and no thought was given to their own strength to rise from the ashes in which they slumbered.

People can only stay free if they own their role as the First Branch of Government.(1)

Be your own master. Control your passions and perpetuate freedom and peace.

What books do you consider to promote freedom?

Here is my list:

Anthem by Ayn Rand
Book of Mormon
The Bridge at Andau by James Michener
Freedom Road by Howard Fast
Constitution/Bill of Rights
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The Road to Serfdom
The Children's Story by James Clavel
1984
Books by Ezra Taft Benson

(1) Oliver DeMille
(2) Anthem by Ayn Rand

Social Justice is Not Justice At All.

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Have you ever read the congressional record based on Cleon Skousen's book The Naked Communist?

The text found below is worth considering. Most will find it dated and irrelevant but it is not. When in the 1960s none of these were the case and now nearly all are its reality is compelling. History is to know what to avoid not a name and a date, something to be disregarded.

THE NAKED COMMUNIST: 45 COMMUNIST GOALS
On Jan. 10, 1963, Congressman Albert S. Herlong Jr. of Florida read a list of 45 Communist goals into the Congressional Record. The list was derived from researcher Cleon Skousen’s book “The Naked Communist.” These principles are well worth revisiting today in order to gain insights into the thinking and strategies of much of our so-called liberal elite:

1. U.S. should accept coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. should be willing to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. [Note: These encapsulate the Kennan Doctrine, which advocated for the "containment" of communism. Establishment figures supporting the amoral containment policy at least implicitly worked with the communists in scaring the wits out of the American people concerning atomic war. President Ronald Reagan undid the doctrine when he took an aggressive stand against the Evil Empire by backing freedom fighters from around the world that were struggling against the left-wing communist jackboot. As a result, the Soviet Union and its satellites imploded, a considerable and unexpected setback to the international communist edifice.]

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament by the U.S. would be a demonstration of "moral strength." [Note: The nuclear freeze advocates supported a freeze on American nuclear development only. Rarely were Soviet nukes or those of other nations mentioned in their self-righteous tirades. The same advocates now call for reducing American military might, claiming that there is something immoral about America preserving its military pre-eminence in the world.]

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. [Note: Today, there are calls to end the embargo on the slave island of Cuba, there were complaints about the embargo against Iraq, and the U.S., not Saddam Hussein, was blamed for the suffering of the Iraqi people. Would they have advocated for free trade with Hitler and his National Socialist regime?]

5. Extend long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. [Note: Such aid and trade over decades contributed greatly to the left-wing communist liquidation of over 100 million people worldwide, according to the well-documented "Black Book of Communism." This aid and trade marks a shameful chapter in American history. Without the aid and trade, the left-wing international communist behemoth would have imploded on its own rot a lot sooner and umpteen millions would have been saved from poverty, misery, starvation and death.]

7. Grant recognition of Red China and admission of Red China to the U.N. [Note: Not only did President Jimmy Carter fulfill this goal but he also betrayed America’s allies in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Iran, Afghanistan, Angola and elsewhere.]

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the Germany question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the U.S. has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. [Note: There are still American intellectuals, and elected members of Congress, who dream of an eventual one world government and who view the U.N., founded by communists such as Alger Hiss, the first secretary-general, as the instrument to bring this about. World government was also the dream of Adolf Hitler and J.V. Stalin. World government was the dream of Osama bin Laden and the 9/11 hijackers.]

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. [Note: While the idea of banning any political party runs contrary to notions of American freedom and liberty, notions that are the exact opposite of those held by the left-wing communists themselves, nevertheless these goals sought to undermine the constitutional obligation of Congress to investigate subversion. The weakening of our government’s ability to conduct such investigations led to the attack of 9/11.]

13. Do away with loyalty oaths. [Note: It is entirely proper and appropriate for our government to expect employees, paid by the American taxpayer, to take an oath of loyalty.]

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the U.S. [Note: In his book, "Reagan’s War," Peter Schweizer demonstrates the astonishing degree to which communists and communist sympathizers have penetrated the Democratic Party. In his book, Schweizer writes about the presidential election of 1979.]

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions, by claiming their activities violate civil rights. [Note: This strategy goes back to the founding of the American Civil Liberties Union by Fabian Socialists Roger Baldwin and John Dewey and Communists William Z. Foster and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn among others.]

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for Socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations that are under Communist attack. [Note: The success of these goals, from a communist perspective, is obvious. Is there any doubt this is so?]

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book review assignments, editorial writing, policy-making positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV & motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all form of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings," substituting shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms.

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. " Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio and TV. [Note: This is the Gramscian agenda of the "long march through the institutions" spelled out explicitly: gradual takeover of the "means of communication" and then using those vehicles to debauch the culture and weaken the will of the individual to resist.]

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural and healthy." [Note: Today those few who still have the courage to advocate public morality are denounced and viciously attacked. Most Americans are entirely unwitting regarding the motives behind this agenda.]

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity, which does not need a "religious crutch." [Note: This has been largely accomplished through the communist infiltration of the National Council of Churches, Conservative and Reform Judaism, and the Catholic seminaries.]

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the grounds that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state"

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American founding fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of "the big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. [Note: Obliterating the American past, with its antecedents in principles of freedom, liberty and private ownership is a major goal of the communists then and now.]

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture – education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand or treat. [Note: The Soviets used to send "social misfits" and those deemed politically incorrect to massive mental institutions called gulags. The Red Chinese call them lao gai. Hitler called them concentration camps.]

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose communist goals. [Note: Psychiatry remains a bulwark of the communist agenda of fostering self-criticism and docility.]

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. [Note: Done! The sovereign family is the single most powerful obstacle to authoritarian control.]

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. [Note: Outcome-based education, values clarification or whatever they’re calling it this year.]

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special interest groups should rise up and make a "united force" to solve economic, political or social problems. [Note: This describes the dialectical fostering of group consciousness and conflict, which furthers the interests of authoritarianism.]

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally Reservation so the U.S. cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.

__

Freedom or Free Stuff… Which Will You Choose?

Since the price of freedom is eternal vigilance... Have you ever asked...

What does this look like?

How do you keep it alive?

What makes us forget?

Why have so many given their lives for it?

Do You Do What Millionaires Do?

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:00:00 +0000

What Millionaires Do

1. Always try to learn new things

2. Always set and achieve their goals

3. Live on less than they make

4. Use their time wisely

5. Don’t have a car payment

6. Don’t carry a credit card balance

7. Save and pay cash for all expenses

8. Save more than 10% of their income

9. Invest consistently / buy assets

10. Don’t pay bills late

Here are ten of the activities that the average American millionaire practices regularly. How many of them do you follow? Which of these do you feel are easy and which are difficult.

For me, the most difficult part is remaining disciplined by postponing my short-term wants for long-term gains.

These millionaire traits can be seen in Chris Hogan's newest book, Everyday Millionaire. I highly recommend that you read it.

Millionaires are proactive! Are you?

Everyday Millionaires

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:00:00 +0000

It has been a pleasure to read Everyday Millionaires by Chris Hogan. I made this graphic and posted it in several places I frequent. I've got a variety of responses. It has been a good conversation starter.

Mostly, the responses are about how hard it is. "So!," is how I want to respond.

What are you willing to do to be more successful? For me, I'm willing to change my life!

Athenians And Visigoths What will you become?

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 15:00:00 +0000

“No education is complete, or particularly valuable unless the student uses

what he or she has learned to serve the family, community, society, God.”

—Oliver DeMille

I had way too little parental guidance when I was young. I'll admit it but it also has afforded me a perspective on life that is unique when I compare it to those I observe.

The winter when I was 11 my two younger brothers and I went to the sledding alley in our neighborhood where the boys would "rat race" down the frozen backstreet, everyman for himself, the last sled standing that got to the bottom of the street and was king of the hill until everyone could scramble up the hill and do it again.

On one occasion, I went to the hospital two times for x-rays and when I was dragged home by my two younger brothers the third time with additional injuries I knew I was beaten and didn't return. Though my parents didn't want us to return I dragged my brothers out and wasn't stopped.

When I was older (15-18) it wasn't unusual to spend 6-9 hours in the woods, on a river or at a nearby reservoir fishing, drinking and/or smoking something while on our adventures. We were free to govern ourselves. We weren't good at self-governance though. We would have benefited from a little more supervision I'll admit.

I've spent many of the years since tearing down the sloth and trying to rebuild some sense of wisdom in my life. There have been many instances when I was able to see the light and make positive changes in my life but it has been a slow painful journey.

Finding and reading Neil Postman's graduation speech was one of those rare opportunities to recognize and make needed changes in my life. I took Postman's challenge to use this speech to influence others for good. To this end, I've laid out this speech in a pocketbook with a study guide (only 48 pages) or a series of thought-provoking questions to reinforce the points Postman makes in his speech.

My hope is that you too will be able to use it as a catalyst in your life to make you, your family, and your community better for it.

The study guide is as follows:

1. Do you think it is important to know about your ancestors? Why or why not? p.9

2. What have you learned from history that has helped you understand you? p.24

3. What are the six activities esteemed by an Athenian? Of these six activities which are your strengths and which should you improve on? p.27

4. How have you sought knowledge?

5. There are only three ways to use money,
1. Spend some.
2. Save some.
3. Give some.
If you are not doing all three you are not managing your money wisely. How are you using your money wisely? How can you improve your financial habits? p.28

6. What is your favorite quote? p.29

7. What is your favorite poem? p.29

8. Who is your favorite writer? p.29

9. To a Visigoth swearing is a way of life. To an Athenian swearing is used because the user cannot think of a better word to use. What are your thoughts on swearing? p.30

10. What are your favorite family traditions? What traditions do you want to add to your life? p.31

11. What are your thoughts on traditions, manners, and history? Do you feel that each of these topics are important or not? Why? p.32

12. Are you engaged in local and nation civics? Do you take your responsibility of being a free citizen seriously by looking into both sides of an issue and researching the issues before you vote or share your opinions? In short, are you knowledgeable about a topic before you discuss it or are you talking to hear your opinion? Why or why not? p.33

13. What is the difference between convergent thinking and divergent thinking? p.38

14. To be an Athenian is to do things that a Visigoth is not willing to do. Knowing that what you don’t know is more important than what you do know. What price are you willing to pay to become a better you, an Athenian? p.38

15. What will you become? an Athenian or a Visigoth? How will you achieve this? p.43

Read Neil Postman's graduation speech online or download the .pdf I laid out here or get a copy for yourself here.

PS: What are some additional questions I should consider adding to the study guide?

Sheepdogs Wanted!

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Have you see the many posters for the passivists' Run. Hide. Fight. campaign? It is a case of denial. There is a crisis of active shooting. There are simple remedies if we are willing to look at the data and face the problem. There is only one way to stop a bully and that is to confront him, show your superiority and he will always back down. To run and to hide only encourages a bully.

Someone with the courage to stand up to a bully is what is needed at the time of crisis. But if we are not willing to face this fact we won't be able to address the circumstances that cause active shooters. If you are someone who is willing to protect those innocent who need protecting take action to become a sheepdog.

Sheepdog Training says it best,

"PLEASE UNDERSTAND: Our use of the word "Sheepdog" is simply the metaphor we use to describe someone who is concerned for the welfare and safety of others. We are NOT into titles and names - and seldom will you hear us refer to ourselves as sheepdogs. We are into the protection of innocent human life. Whatever that makes us, so be it.

Wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs?

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THERE ARE 3 KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD...

...wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs. Most people are sheep - and there's nothing wrong with that. They love peace and quiet, and they are not likely to rise to the occasion should violence strike.

Another kind of person is a wolf. Wolves can be vicious. They will attack a person just because they want their wallet, or choose to rape their daughter. They are evil.

Fortunately, there is a third kind of person in the world: Sheepdogs. Sheepdogs love peace, too. However, they are aware that there is evil in the world. They know the wolves prowl about. They do not crave violence and wish the world was free of its wars and riots. But they know that heaven with its glory has not yet arrived. And until it does, the sheepdog will take his/her stand against violent people (wolves)."

Have you read the works of Lt. Col. Dave Grossman? If not I highly recommend them. They give insight to a certain type of person. One willing to sacrifice him/herself for the greater good. In his essay, (download here >) On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs, taken from his book, On Combat, we learn more about this sacred person.

Are you willing to protect our way of life from the wolves? Do you want to bury your head in the sand and pretend nothing is happening? or Are you a sheepdog, willing to stand and do what needs to be done for the greater good, to stop the wolves and protect the sheep?

Not everyone is ready to be a sheepdog but we should all be aware of their importance in our society and thank them for their willingness to stand.

When the wolf growls the sheep go “baa, baa” and the sheepdog bites!

The 5 Things They Don't Tell You About Your FICO Credit Score

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

When I was "knee deep in debt" I had two opportunities that I desperately wanted to take advantage of but couldn't. The first was a 1960's Chevrolet Apache pick up. It was only $1,500. A quick search on AutoTrader.com shows a similar quality truck at $11,500. It was a great deal and I couldn't come up with a dime.

The second great deal can just before I paid off my debt. It was a 1970's Toyota Landcruiser FJ-40 for only $1,500. It too was worth at least four times the asking price, but since my goal was to get out of debt I still couldn't jump on this opportunity.

A third opportunity came recently, less than a year after I paid off all of my debt. By this time, I had saved my 3-6 months emergency fund, got my retirement fund fully funded at 15%, and a basic "slush-fund" for the deals that always seem to come along. I carefully weighed my desires against my needs, something that was completely foreign to me 3-years ago, and made the wisest decision I could. I passed. It felt great to know I could make wise financial choices.

Now compare these experience to what the banker judges of the desperate.
When lenders look at your credit score the following are the questions that they ask themselves? cha-ching is what they hear if you've been good at following their plans. "Their new lake-view cabin is going to be nice," they think, as they draw up the new loan.

Here are the five things they ask themselves when they read your credit score.

1. How well have they paid the interest on the money they’ve borrowed? cha-ching
2. How much debt are they in? cha-ching
3. How desperate are they to borrow more money? cha-ching
4. How long have they had to borrow more and more money? cha-ching
5. What are all the ways they've had to borrow money? cha-ching

More for them and less for us, this is not a winning scenario. Not being in charge of our own money leads us to a form of bondage. And no one wants that. For instance, if you have had to file for bankruptcy now have to wait seven years on the sideline while life passes you by you know the pain it brings. No reasonable person who has had to file for bankruptcy wants to do it ever again!

We have disconnected from common-sense. I believe this is because we have abdicated our education for that of societies. It is easier to follow than to lead. Take charge and do your own in-depth research. It is mandatory in making wise decisions. Especially since we now know 'google' manipulates every search we do.

When we don't take the responsibility to keep ourselves informed with information from both side of every issue we are easily lead astray by our confirmation bias which blinds us to the other side of the issue. By this I mean, if we think that there is only one answer to every question we are ignorant indeed and have been manipulated by our societies focuses on "getting the right answer." Not to thoroughly understand all sides of an issue so that you can make an intelligent decision is detrimental to your decision making.

Learn to breakthrough the one-sided messages you receive. Look into both side of every issue and ask yourself What's in it for them? What do they get from what they are asking you to do? Does this help me or them? Taking time to ask questions such as these will help you make better decisions and will help you keep more of your money.

Can You Learn, Unlearn, & Relearn Well?

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Is your mind the most powerful tool you have or is it a "keep" for suspicion, resentment, and fear; a receptacle for gossip, conniving and self-serving motives that has kept you from being a productive, contributing member of society?

I've said for several years now that the university has made itself obsolete. It has abandoned the pursuit of knowledge for job preparation skills. My first inclination was when I took classes to become a teacher and all of the first year classes where how to navigate the bureaucracy of the school system not how to be a better teacher.

Then when Utah State University put out a white paper that said that they were using "disruptive education" in its mix and went on to redefine it to fit what they were doing, which was not disruptive education. I knew then that they were digging a hole that would consume them.

With unrealistic skyrocketing prices for a degree and the recent announcements that tech companies have dropped a university degree as a requirement for hiring these beliefs are coming true faster than I thought.

The fact that times are changing faster than society can keep pace with bring several topics to mind. 1. Do you embrace changes? and 2. Are you willing and able to learn new things no matter your age?

Doubt and fear are as detrimental to one’s success as bars and locks are to the convict's escape. — DCF

Skills needed for success in the future
1. Listening
2. Situational awareness - being observant
3. Being open-minded
4. Having sound judgment
5. Being able to change in a changing society
6. Firm values in an increasingly values society
7. Having a service-oriented personality

Are you ever learning or busy goofing off? How you use your free time will determine how successful your future will be. So will your habits make or break you!

Profits That Lie Hidden In Your Paycheck!

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:00:00 +0000

A recent report revealed that 69% of Americans have less than $5,000 in savings. This is a bad plan or more to the point, this is a sign of NO PLAN! Life is constantly changing and with change, the chances are equal that half of the time the change will be unpleasant.

Why do we find it unacceptable to save a little for tough time when they always come?

How long are the majority, going to continue living this losing lifestyle strategy?

I found a simple exercise that is instructive. Take out the bills you have. How are the bills organized? Are the different denominations in order or mixed among the others. Are they crumpled or bent and jagged?

How you organize your dollar bills represent your respect for money. The way you respect or disrespect money reflects your understanding of money and how much you have or don't have.

Disrespect Repels Money And Respect Attracts Money
Respect for your money and respect for yourself are linked.* Following list shows nine ways we either respect or disrespect our money. Which category do you fall into?

Respecting Money is	Disrespecting Money is
Managing/budgeting your income	Not managing/budgeting your income
Pay yourself first - saving for retirement	Not saving for retirement
Paying in cash or with debit card	Using credit cards and keeping debt
Earning interest from assets	Pay interest on cars, cards or store credit
Giving to the needy	Not giving to the needy
Planning for spending	Not planning for spending
Being disciplined in moods, appetites, and passions	Not being disciplined in moods, appetites and passions
Using your money wisely. Save some, Spend some. Give some.	Being careless and spending on whatever you want and not saving some for emergencies or future needs
Being frugal. Saving for things you want	Being lavish. Buying on credit

Not knowing where your money is going is disrespecting your money. The payments for disrespecting your money are living paycheck-to-paycheck, having large amounts of debt, feelings of hopelessness, and stress instead of security, peace-of-mind, and happiness.

Remember this...
They, the banks, credit card companies, retailers, car companies, etc., want your money. You have got to want it more than they do, or they'll get it.* And the only way to keep it is to educate yourself. Take the time to read quality materials from reputable sources. Build a financial library and spend the time needed to understand your habits. Compare them to the habits you wish to emulate and the people who don't have successful habits.

Learn about and make a monthly zero-based budget and stick to it religiously. Track all of your expenses. Pay off all debt and commit to never borrowing money again. Rely on your savings for your needs. Adopt the mantra, "if I can't pay cash I can't afford it!"

I learned an interesting lesson in my twenties. It was if you can't live on the income you currently have you will never be able to live on any income even if it is ten times the amount you now make. Financial discipline is the only way to get ahead in financial matters.

I have to carefully watch my budget each month. Telling my money where it is allowed to be spent and where it is not allowed to be spent. Only when I do this am I able to save for my current needs and the future. I was careless for most of my adult life, the money just went and I never knew where it went. Now that I track my money I save for my wants and the future retirement I now can look forward to.

Do you have profits hidden in your paycheck? Most of us do. I found $1400 last month. That is a big deal for only paying attention.

PS: What is your retirement IQ?

* Suze Orman

Need a Break? Stop & Chat!

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Across the street from my home is the largest even in the county I live in. Approximately 35,000-40,000 people show up for the Swiss Days celebration.

Amount the bustle, I decided to create a small refuge. At the end of our driveway, I post the above sign, "Need a Break? Stop & Chat." We put out the picnic table, some chairs, a blanket, and the hammock.

Our deeply shaded front yard sits directly east of the mayhem of the food tents. People bustle past in all directions. A few are observant and notice the sign. They peer down the driveway and into the yard.

If I am free I hail them in. We have one to two dozen people in the yard at a time.

One woman who volunteered to work a food tent has two small children and is relieved to find a safe place close by to let them play. The spread out a blanket and play in the small stream, in the hammock, and on the swing.

A retired couple comes over and strikes up a conversation. He is wearing a German hat with pins in it and is very friendly. He mentions he got a degree in German and taught German but is a professional photographer. He was the official photographer of the recently past Prophet from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He says he will send a picture of him... and he does.

Another man comes over to thank us for providing a relaxing space. He notices the book I am reading, All the Light I Cannot See, and mentions that he spent an evening with its author, Anthony Doerr.

He relates that experience and tells of his hometown of Salmon Idaho.

All in all, it was everything I had envisioned, a fun day meeting interesting people. It reminds me of my favorite quote,

“By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration but our reconsideration—and our unwavering determination to withhold our opinion until we have engaged with them in every possible setting at every possible hour.” ― Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow

If you ever want to have a similar experience download the poster and post it at a park or at your place. Anywhere you are and where people can use a break.

When Seconds Count, The Police Are Only Minutes Away!

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 14:00:00 +0000

As the debate rages in continued hysteria, the facts have remained the same. According to American Police Beat, the average response time for an emergency call is 10 minutes. Yet the average assault lasts less than 180 seconds. The result is if you don't defend yourself you will be a victim.

Gun Reform Now, Everytown.org, Moms Demand Action and the many similar disinformation groups claim to want a safer society so they product ads, emotionally charged ad, that appeal to the desire to make positive changes.

But, in fact, what these groups only want is to eliminate the rights provided by the second amendment. They shout, "regulate them like you regulate vehicles." I shout, "regulate less."

Here are several of the spoof ads I've made. Evaluate the following ad campaigns and compare the claims.

Anti-Gun Everytown.org Ad

Pro-Gun Spoof Ad on Everytown.org

Anti-Gun Ad by Gun Reform Now

Pro-Gun Spoof Ad

Anti-Gun Ad - 31 Bullets

Pro-Gun Spoof Ad - 101 Bullets

Anti-Gun Ad

Pro-Gun Spoof Ad

Anti-Gun Ad by Gun Reform Now

Pro-Gun Spoof Ad

Is your mind the most powerful tool you have or is it a "keep" for suspicion, resentment, and fear; a receptacle for gossip, conniving and self-serving motives?

I'd hope we could look at each issue carefully and judge by the facts. When we live by politics we will fall.

Opportunities come to him who puts in the most effort.

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Opportunities come to him who puts in the most effort.

I had a great learning experience this week. I was asked to fix something that was done poorly by a co-worker who wasn't able to fix it at the time. As I reflected on the job, my mind wandered to this co-worker. I remembered several instances where he took the easy route instead of taking the time to do his job thoroughly. Then I remembered several instances where he mentioned his poor luck, his unfortunate circumstances and his inability to make positive things happen in his life.

At times, I thought he was moody, but now, after consideration, I believe it is his undisciplined life that brings him dissatisfaction. I recorded my thoughts and wrote, “If you want a half-assed life do things half-assed.” which reminded of a quote by Anthony O’Neil, “A man does what he has to do. A boy does what he wants to do.” Was one of his circumstances that he was working without a written plan and doesn’t know how to act like an adult? Possibly.

We have not been properly prepared for a productive life. By this I mean, we have not been taught the following skills, Mastery of the five communication skills (listening, reading, writing, body language and speaking), a desire to learn and grow our mind and abilities, a clear understanding of finances (of savings and financial discipline), the golden rule, how to evaluate your current situation and why it is so important to so, that hard work is essential, how to properly set goals, how to accomplish things, that it is essential to plan and plan well, what a good education is, the importance of self-discipline, and that character matters. These skills are vital for a good life.

Without knowing of and using these must-have skills many opportunities will not come, and if they do, he who is not properly prepared to recognize them and profit from them won’t. Not much comes to him who puts in half efforts!

From this experience, I have learned several things. One, it has always been difficult for me is to learn from others. It is a much easier way to learn life lessons. Another has been a new ability to more clearly assess my actions. Finally, this exercise has helped me see others as people with unique challenges. I now have more compassion for others.

In summary, the choice is yours. If you want a half-assed life do things half-assed if you want a better life do more things better. If you find you are not satisfied with your life ask, “Do I do things greatly or half-assed?” Your answer will show you the path to a happier life. It turns out that life is all or nothing, If you give half efforts you'll get nearly nothing in return.

It is a poor man that has allowed society to diffuse his beliefs,

his education, and his actions!

There are no miracles.

The Ability to See What Others Can't.

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Dyslexia is commonly considered a learning disability by the education system, mostly because alternatives aren't compatible with the bureaucracy. Malcolm Gladwell's, David and Goliath, shows the advantage dyslexics bring to the teams they are on. Being dyslexic provides perspective only available to the eternally observant, something most non-dyslexics lack.

As a dyslexic, one of my greatest strengths is the ability to see things that others cannot or to ask questions others don't. It has lead to an uncommonly acute ability to connect seemingly unrelated sources and put them together for greater insights and profits. It comes from years of observing people, what they do, and asking why they do it that way.

Seeing What Others Don't
1. My most successful observation came from wanting to make purchases online. They have a picture or two, four bullet points, and a buy now button. How is this enough information to make an educated buying decision?

First off, the internet is an information gathering tool. When people only put a limited amount of information they are not providing their viewers with enough information. Secondly, without enough information, they increase buying risk. This increases the chance that potential customers will continue to look for more information before they buy and this is bad business. Finally, it is easy to add enough information to satisfy the buyers need to know and close the sale.

If a potential customer spends thirty to forty minutes gaining confidence in you they don't easily leave your site just to shop. If you have posted enough photos to satisfy their understanding of the product and sufficient descriptions of the product and supplemented those with self-explanatory videos, return information and a fair price you will sell more than ever before.

Most people still don't get it! Go shopping online and compare what businesses offer as compared to this list. Using the following content strategies I have been able to increase sales by millions of dollars.

2. One of my most successful observations came in the year 2000. I was adding URLs to all of the promotional materials we made. Long website addresses in all lowercase are difficult to read. So I started making the first letter capital to increase readability. Though still not universal many now capitalize the first letter of long URLs which is good for the consumer.

3. A recent innovation came from meeting monotony. The meetings weren't very productive or engaging. Just a rundown of new procedures and addressing errors made that week. For a design team, what could be worse? So I brainstormed on how to make them more successful.

I came up with several suggestions. One - 10 different ways to change how we reviewed the weekly gang print sheet (see below). This innovation brought new enthusiasm to this portion of our meeting. Two - Move the meeting to the first of the week to make it proactive rather than reactive. Three - Professional development. Discuss and share goals and achievements.

Gang sheet review. Do one of these exercises each week.

Deep dive on one postcard from the gang. Review dashboard & performance
Levels of engagement review
7 factors review
Card performance vs client satisfaction worksheet
Offers review
Call to action review
Headline review
Features and benefits review
Copywriting review
Imagery review

Reviewed Print Gang

For all my strengths and weaknesses the ability to see what others can't is what I consider my superpower. Finding missed opportunities is one of my strengths.

Read Malcolm Gladwell's David and Goliath to see the advantage the disadvantaged truly are.

Especially in missed opportunities.

Let Freedom Reign - The Importance of Studying History

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:00:00 +0000

If you haven't had the opportunity to listen to Hillsdale College's free course on Western Heritage may I suggest you do. In it, important questions are raised and it is an opportunity to glimpse eternity, to see beyond time, by seeing how they lived their lives and how you can better your life through thiers.

For example, I often hear degrading remarks about the Founding Fathers. From what I gather most of it comes from hearsay. Never from original sources. Following is from the original draft of the Declaration of Independence. This should, once and for all, dispell the pro-slavery stance propagated for political gain today.

We have forgotten what it means to be free. I recently finally read Civil Disobedience and other political essays by Henry David Thoreau. I was embarrassed that I have never read it before. It is such an important document to read and discuss. I was left awestruck. It is a great course on freedom something everyone needs to consider. Without the freedom to chose better we will never rise to our potential.

Napoleon said, “To govern is to diffuse morality, education and well being.” (diffuse means to control)

Since our whole lives have been controlled by government and its tentacles we don't know what freedom really is. I have never felt freer than when I was in Aisa and had my passport stolen. The police didn't want to bother with issuing me a new one so for the next year I was accountable to nothing but myself.

But I learned that the only areas where you are truly free are in your actions. What you eat, your health, your choices, your thoughts and/or how you use your mind! Nearly all other aspects of our life have government regulations that have stained our longing for freedom. Only the disciplined are truly free.

What areas of your life do you control and control well? Your finances? Your relationships? Your free time? We all have a Ph.D. in D.U.M.B. Let us learn from the mistakes of the past and be better today than we were yesterday and every day hereafter.

Intelligence combined with arrogance equals ignorance.

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Why are we so blind to ourselves? We know our brain is a muscle. If we use it wisely, we will grow in knowledge and ability; if we don’t, we won’t. We'll become fodder in life's harshness with our bad choices.

Intelligence is a funny thing, combined with arrogance it is ignorance. Anger is a form of arrogance too. When we feel wronged, we demand justification. "How dare you pull in front of me," says the arrogant, aggressive driver. "I deserve that raise," says the angry, arrogant employee. Again, why are we so blind to ourselves?

Neither person is capable of seeing others as individuals with situations and experiences that lead to the decision that caused the interactions above mentioned. Collusion is when we betray ourselves, which happens when we blame others for our behavior or inaction.(1)

Thus our intelligence is diminished when we objectify others and dismiss compassion. We inflate our self-worth and lessen our ability to intercommunicate.

One reason we are blind to our situation is that we are unable to manage the status (wealth) we've obtained. We use it to increase our leisure and our comfort not for the betterment of people and nations.

The philosophy of "rising tides lift all ships" is foreign to our egotistical, self-centered life. It is understandable as we no longer teach the importance of character in our society. But, this double edge sword perpetuates the lie that makes us miserable. Happiness only comes when we give our time, our talents, our substances to help others. Only then are we able to fill the measure of our creation.

Ask yourself, why am I here? What was I born to do? What is my purpose?

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of 1. Pride 2. Wealth 3. Waisted their time with leisure.

Ezekiel 16:49 says it this way,

- NIV “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

How could we better use our time?

Oh, would some Power the gift gives us,

to see ourselves as others see us.

— Robert Burns

(1) The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Foundation

Books You Should Read Every Year.

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Here is a short list of books that have had a substantial influence on my life. What are the most influential experiences in your life?

1. The One Minute Manager by Kenneth H. Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
Because everyone needs to learn how to manage their life.

2. Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell
Because everyone needs to learn to be aware of their situation.

3. What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter
Because everyone needs to control what their inner self-says.

4. The Children’s Story by James Clavell
Because everyone needs to know how fragile education is.

5. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Because everyone needs to read great writing and know the strength of man.

6. 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me by Richard Paul Evans
Because everyone needs to manage their money better.

7. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley
Because everyone needs to understand how money works.

8. Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell
Because everyone needs to remember that government isn't good for the people.

9. 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
Because everyone needs to know how to manage their life better.

10. The Bridge at Andau by James Michener
Because everyone needs to know that communism and socialism are bad no matter how they are packaged! Freedom is the only answer.

11. As A Man Thinketh by James Allen

Because everyone needs to know that their thoughts determine their destiny. And that thoughts must be controlled.

12. The Book of Mormon
Because everyone needs to know why they were born and what the purpose of their life is.

The wisdom we wish we had can only be had by doing today. Tomorrows never come if we procrastinate all our today's. Pick up a book and read from it every day!

I believe that the mind can be permanently profaned by the habit of attending to trivial things so that all our thoughts may be tinged with triviality.
— Henry David Thoreau

The Second Amendment. Some Context.

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Roger Williams University professor of law Carl T. Bogus wrote a fine op-ed for the NY Times on May 24, 2018

Titled Was Slavery a Factor in the Second Amendment. He ended with,

"Would we think differently about the amendment if we realized that its genesis was, at least in part, a concern with preserving a form of governmental tyranny?"

He reminds us of the factual context of the time. Something of a rarity in the 21st century.

Another fact is that there would be no militia without (1) the common citizen with (2) his own gun, which was the only requirement to be a militiaman at that time.

NOTE: What if I told you that there were 400-600 million privately owned firearms in the U.S. This is more than every military and every police unit in the world combined! Yet the U.S. isn't in the top 25 murder rate countries. Humm.

Anyone arguing differently is ignorant of the facts and should read the Federalists Papers, why the NRA was founded and the US Constitution, carefully, this time and without being told what it says or means.

Unless we reference the original sources we all to easily believe hearsay and half-truths.

Case in point, the majority of those who are against the NRA know nothing of its origins or its successes. The number one gun accident prevention program for children is the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program which has taught over 29 million children how to stay safe if they ever find a gun. Who else has had such an impact for gun safety?

Anyone against the 2nd amendment or the NRA has fallen victim to the ultimate ignorance or as The Washington Post penned,

“Only fools and bigots make sweeping, judgmental generalizations about large groups of people based on the distasteful actions of a very few.”

Owning a firearm and being willing to defend oneself, one's family and one's neighbors is to accept a noble calling worthy of admiration, respect, and awe. Not scorn, hatred, and contempt.

To the unknowing, their own lack of knowledge proves they are right. An intellectuals inability to disprove even the most nonsensical claim proves they are right.(1)

The quote from Dr. Dryer rings true on this topic.

Since the truth has been "drowned in a sea of irrelevance!" Clarence Thomas wisely steers us with this advice, "Perhaps there are better reasons to learn than mere necessity." Our society is not unless it's citizens are properly informed.

The statistics prove this to be true. When 84% of adults refuse to read both sides of an ideology we are condemned to suffer in ignorance and remain divided.

The current hysteria about the 1st and 2nd amendment and the insane acceptance that any of the political correctness movement is anything but filth and debauchery also proves that we have been indoctrinated out of rational thought.

Their confirmation bias blinds them from seeing the truth. It is a natural truth that if the prey is armed the predator slinks away.

Since Columbus sailed the ocean blue until 1968, 476 years, there was no gun control on this continent. But since 1968, a mere 51 years, we are to believe that gun control is a good thing? I think so I can say, "I think not!" The only truth in the term "gun control" is "Control." And since we know that cowards are attracted to force and power we know that their motives aren't for the betterment of the people. Those who promote "gun control" are therefore cowards forcing their weak will on others.

(1) Paraphrased from Haiku by Andrew Vachss

The Number One Mistake People Make with Their Money...Do You Make It Too?

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 14:00:00 +0000

The number one mistake people make with money is they don't manage it. Why? Because they don't know how to!

We know this to be true because, if they knew how to manage their money they would, and 78% of Americans wouldn't be living paycheck to paycheck. And more than 3% of American 65 year olds would be able to write a check for $600.

Ignorance is bliss in isolation. But when I woke to the horrible mess I had made of my life I was finally ready to think differently. Since I knew nothing about managing my money I mostly ignored it and resigned to hope and an end of living paycheck to paycheck... someday.

Chris Hogan said, "The numbers change when people change."

Things didn't start improving until I began to make substantial changes in my life. The impetus that focused me were, (1) things learned from reading meaningful books, My Bondage and My Freedom, Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Millionaire Next Door, 12 Rules for Life, and Lectures on Faith to name a few, (2) recognizing my bad habits, and (3) a saying by Freddy Fri, "There is no loosing, we’re winning or we’re learning."

How My Journey Began
One day while reading Frederick Douglas' My Bondage and My Freedom I asked, "What is it that keeps one in bondage today?" After careful consideration, I created a list of 20 items I felt kept a man bound.

After careful consideration and additional reading, I then made a list of the habits of the wealthy and the habits of the poor. Combined, these lists shocked me. I was living a life on the wrong side of optimal.

That was the day I was open to listening to those more successful than I and that was the day my life started to change for the better.

Tips for Managing Your Money Better
1. Set Goals
2. Make a Zero-Based Budget
3. Look at Your Spending Habits
4. Learning from Others

My experience is that if any of these above points aren't your current habits, most people, about 96%, won't take this hard-earned advice. But for you, few, who are willing to win with money here is what I learned.

Setting Goals
Vital to being successful with money is the ability to set specific goals and work to reach them. Procrastinate tomorrow. If you have no goals, you will obtain just that, nothing! Here's what I've learned.

1. It must be specific
2. You must make it measurable
3. You must have a date of completion
4. What has to be true to make it happen?
5. It has to be your goal (i.e.: not your spouse's goal)
6. It must be in writing
7. You must have a big reason why

Zero-Based Budget
A zero-based budget forces you to spend your money on paper before your bills arrive. List all of your bills and expenditures and commit to paying them and only them. If an expense comes up in the month, you either rearrange your budget or say, "No, it is not in this months budget," and postpone until your next monthly budget. Do this a couple of times, and you will see that you are in control of your finances and you'll like it!

Look at Your Spending Habits
With just a little self-control and a little planning, you can find areas where you can save a little, even a lot of money. I often shave off $30 - $50 a month from my food budget just by thinking through my meals the night before.

Another way I saved money was by keeping more of what I earned. I eliminated everything that had a payment and switched to paying with cash. I paid off my car, our phones, my student loan, everything! With no payments, my income, my only wealth building tool, was free to be used to build wealth.

Learning from Others
To be more financially savvy I asked questions of and listened to those who were being successful with money. I read books too. One big thing I learned was to buy assets first then prioritize my discretionary spending. And, when I just had to spend money, I would purchase a collectible or silver over an energy drink or a meal out.

Combined these simple steps now allow me to save over $1,000/m, contribute fully to my 401k, exercise more, understand my finances and communicate more clearly with my wife. All were impossible for most of the last 20 years.

By paying attention to my money, I have improved my life for the better. Thanks, Dave Ramsey!

Writing is the Path to Being a Better Thinker

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 28 May 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Have you ever listened to a lecture by Jordan Peterson? If you haven't I'd suggest you give him a listen. He's a clinical psychologist who has put in the time to learn and understand people and societies.

One of my favorite activities is to drive and listen to audio books and think about what I've learned. Then later, I write my thoughts and ideas which usually become an article on my findings.

"It isn’t enough to read… you also have to write” every day if you want to be a clear communicator. — Jordan B. Peterson

The following lecture is very revealing. It is a great example of a clear thinker.

The advent of only one public school option has been "an ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of a slave driver"(1); leaving us emotionally weak, incapable of intellectual thought and with the self-discipline of a toddler at best.

We've blindly accepted that this is the only option or answer for our life. It is in no way the only option for a quality education nor is it preparing us for our life.

We hold in our hand more options than we've ever had and that is good. In fact, I'd pose that the university is obsolete but is blind to the future.

To resign and accept our fate as a slave or to pursue an alternative should be a question we ask. One much-needed alternative that puts us clearly in the driver's seat is a leadership education.

Traditionally there have been 3 types of education
1. Conveyor belt - teaches what to think
2. Professional - teaches when to think
3. Leadership - teaches how to think

Conveyor Belt System Our public school system has evolved into a conveyor belt system where one size fits all. But there is a portion of the population that cannot fit into this system and there was no alternative to it in the past. Square pegs were forced into round holes and the fodder, the student and society paid the price for conformity.

A quick example is: The two lessons schools teach are
1. Failure is bad and
2. Less than your best work is acceptable.

These two lessons do not fit in with our working career where
1. failure is a stepping stone to future success and
2. only your best work is acceptable.

Rather there should be two grades.
1. Do it again, implying it needs revisions to improve and
2. It is acceptable, implying it is very well done.

This is a standard that leads to excellence and accomplishment, not despondency and giving up, which is common in the school system today.

Professional Training System Professional training had been a great option but more and more it too has become an indoctrinating chamber. Teaching only when to think leaves one shallow, not prone to retrospective evaluation or questioning prevailing assumptions. More is needed to make this student well rounded in knowledge and less focused on schooling.

Leadership Education A leadership education, on the other hand, has so much more to offer and is needed more today than at any time in the modern era. Learning how to think is vital to the preservation of the greatest system for good the world has ever seen. That is America if you were wondering.(1) Yet in most spheres, it is shown in a poor light. I suggest you read Capitalism and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand to get a clearer vision of how it has benefited the whole world.

The lessons learned from a leadership education are:

1. Initiative - The ability to solve problems and take action by thinking of solutions rather than being told what to do.
2. Ingenuity - The quality of being cleverly inventive &/or resourceful
3. Allegiance - loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior cause
4. Integrity - the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
5. Commitment - the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity or undertaking
6. Passion - an intense desire or enthusiasm for something
7. Impact - the effect or influence of one person, thing, or action, on another

If we all had such skill our ability to accomplish great things would be exponentially increased, even unstoppable.

Take back your education.
Follow your passions.
Read about your passions.
Talk about your passions.
Write about your passions.
Think about your passions.
Get better at your passions.
Pass on your passions.

In the end, you will have a leadership education, created by you for you.

Attending public school has kept us bound. It is time to take back your education. Educate yourself.

(1) Jordan Peterson lecture
(2) Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary

31 Bullets... It's Not Enough!

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 21 May 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Did you see the laughable ad campaign by the Chicago Sun-Times? It contends that 10 million bullets are sold in the US every year equaling 31 bullets for every man, woman, and child. And that it is a travesty.

I contend that is not nearly enough bullets. But to the point, if one objectively reads the content it is 100% bunco. The first example, see Guns in Classrooms below, is an emotional appeal to "keeps kids safe" yet they ignore the facts. For example, for 25 years Utah has had a law that allows any concealed carrying citizen, including teacher to carry concealed in schools, and they have. The result, there has never been a school shooting in Utah.

Also, 18 other states have allowed such offensive measure long before the Stoneman Douglas incident. If you look a little more closely into the fact you will see the concerted effort to keep the facts in the background and to focus on the emotional hot buttons that take away the citizens rights. That is the real goal. Do I need to remind you that feelings aren't facts.

So to spoof this deceptive campaign I created several ads as a rebuttal.

Everything I know about money I learned from advertising!

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Fri, 18 May 2018 14:00:00 +0000

"Everything I know about money I learned from advertising!
Car, bank, and credit card companies. Interest-free, air miles, and points deals.

I'm bad with money, aren't I?" This was the conclusion I came to when reviewing my financial understanding. I had never had a financial course prior to 2014 and the state of my finances proved it.

When we bought our first home our credit score was 820. It was easy to get a home! We were doing everything right, we thought. But it turned out that we were doing everything as we had been trained. Not those things that were best for our family and our unique situation.

I was completely ignorant of my financial plight. I couldn't budget to save my life. I couldn't come up with an extra $175 for a needed car repair. I couldn't even save $100 for something I wanted to purchase. I was a slave to my conditioning. And I wanted to change!

It was a long journey but now being able to look back at how far I've come it is a completely different world. Financial freedom is the most empowering position you will ever find yourself in.

So, if you know anyone who believes that credit or credit cards are the answer to building wealth kindly let them know that feelings aren’t facts, that debt is “an ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slave driver.”(1) and that they are most likely financially illiterate.

Following two articles were the synthesis for the above graphic, "everything I know," and one of the most important epiphanies of my life.

Article 1

Article 2

Here are two articles that may help them become more financially astute. article 1 | article 2

(1) Ambrose Bierce

The Difference Between Managers and Leaders

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 14 May 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Patrick jumped out of the car as it slowed down for me. The truant officer couldn't catch him as he was driving. Patrick joined me and we raced off between a neighbors house and we got away into the alley and far from his reach.

There was a time when I was in elementary school and the truant officer made frequent stops by my house looking for my younger brother and I, as our attitude was more Huck Finn than Aunt Polly. We didn't hate school as much as it didn't matter at all to us, so we'd headed off on adventures whenever we had the notion to have fun.

The truant officer had a job to do and he did his best to check off his task.

• Get these boys to school.

Nowhere in his plan was there an option to find out why we didn't want to go to school. Nowhere was there an option to understand us and figure out what we were facing. A little investigating would have revealed all that was going on and would have fixed the bullying that was happening.

• Why are we so short-sighted in that which we do?
• Why is it so hard for us to see all sides of a problem?

I am convinced that a large part of the problem is our inability to educate for insight. We mostly educate for obedience which is “an ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slave driver.”(1) Conformity is the design of the majority of our schools. Happily, there are outliers but they are still too few.

I listened to a particularly thought-provoking speech by Hugh Nibley in which he discusses leadership and management, he said, "leadership can no more be taught than creativity or how to be a genius." This is sad if it is true. We are however expert at reeducating to be managers... how sad.

See full image here

Leaders inspire action. Managers hoard information.

When I first read the differences between a manager and a leader on this graphic I was shocked. All the traits I despise in bureaucracy fall under the manager's list. "This could easily be an employers' litmus test to hiring forward-thinking employees!," I said to myself.

I was listening to the One Minute Manager and found its principals so insightful. I suggest that this book should be on everyone's "read every year" list. Here is a summary of how you can give yourself and others "the gift" of getting greater results in less time?

1) Set goals;
2) Praise and reprimand behaviors;
3) Encourage people;
4) Speak the truth;
5) Laugh, work, enjoy!

It seems so simple but it takes action to make it happen.

Of the many traits I respect in a leader having refined "listening" skills is paramount. Mortimer Adler astutely noted the following.

How can we improve our societal deficits if we are unable to even recognize them?

(1) — Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary

14 signs that you are financially literate

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 07 May 2018 14:05:00 +0000

Are you financially literate?

Or Discover the Millions that Lie Hidden in Your Salary!

“Let’s take off. My grandma lives in Sacramento. We can spend the night with her then go see San Francisco...” was my reply to Michael J. after four hours visiting my mission companion and his wife in Reno for Thanksgiving dinner.

They would argue at everything and being a single college student I was done. So we set out first thing in the morning. We had the weekend in front of us. We stopped at Lake Tahoe then went to Sacramento to spend the night with my grandmother. After about a half day we were bored and set out again.

We walked around San Francisco and by nightfall we decided to head up the coastal highway. We slept by the side of the road and found ourselves in Portland on Sunday night and school started in the morning…

I am spontaneous. A free spirit that isn’t easily harnessed or completely immature. To become financially literate was a major hurdle in my life. As a dreamer; a creative who is always looking at what could be. Being fully disciplined, regimented and completely organized was foreign to my character.

But after living like everyone else I realized it was impossible to get ahead by doing what everyone else was doing. I finally got fed up and began the journey to change my ways and take charge of my life.

Spending less than I made seemed impossible until 1. I understood what a zero-based budget was and 2. I was able to stick to it. That was the day I took control, for the first time, of my finances. And that was the beginning of my new financial life.

The next realization was that maintaining a credit card in any form was a wealth building tool for my bank, not me. That was the day I happily cut up my cards.

After paying off all my debt and building a 3 - 6-month emergency reserve then is when the financial power came. With no drains on my salary, not a payment in the world and no worries if something happened to my salary I began to save and build wealth.

I adopted Dave Ramsey’s baby steps for several reasons. First, because my salary was my only wealth building tool and experience showed that since I didn’t know anything about personal finance why would I follow anyone’s plan that didn’t provide a way for me to use my only wealth building tool to become debt free.

Second, I realized that having a credit card and keeping a credit score (FICO score) hadn’t made me any money over the past 30 years. It turns out that it only makes the banker wealthy, it, in fact, was a smoke and mirrors trick. “Give us money, interest, and we’ll give you points” is very profitable for the banks because only 14% of the user's redeem1 said points.

Finally, I learned that I had the habits of the poor not the habits of the wealthy and that wasn’t working with the plan I had in my head. So I set out to define the habits of the wealthy and worked hard to make those the habits that governed my life. From there I created the 14 signs you are financially literate checklist listed below. Review the following list and compare it to your financial habits and evaluate your financial IQ.

You are financially literate if…
1. You spend less than you make 2. You know that maintaining a credit score makes your banker money not you 3. You know that if you cannot pay cash for it you cannot afford it 4. You pay yourself first. Before any money ever leaves your account you save for retirement (15%) 5. You don’t use credit cards or carry a balance 6. You have a 3-6 months emergency fund in the bank 7. You don’t have any debt 8. You put down 20% when buying a house 9. You have no more than a 15-year mortgage and pay extra on principal every month and your payment is no more than 25% of your monthly income 10. You make a monthly zero-based budget with your spouse 11. You have plans: a personal development plan, a family plan, a professional plan, an educational plan, a vacation plan, a giving plan, a savings plan, a retirement plan, an asset plan, etc. 12. Your vehicles (including boat, RV, motorcycle, quad) are not worth more than 50% of your annual salary 13. You are a good goal setter 14. You have multiple streams of income (assets)

Debt has been “an ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slave driver.”
— Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary

Start managing your money, not your credit! Action is everything. What are your plans?

Curious? Read the 12 signs that you are financially illiterate here.

sources: Jim Rohn, Dave Ramsey, Robert Kiyosaki, The Millionaire Next Door, 50 Prosperity Classics
1 AICPA report

12 signs that you are financially illiterate

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Mon, 07 May 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Are you financially illiterate? I was!
This is what I learned when I finally took control of my money and studied finances, 68% of Americans don’t contribute to their retirement (Roth 401K) and of those that do 80% don’t fund it fully. (I did that for 14 years). By my calculations that means 93.6% of us are financially illiterate! And if this is true for you, the odds are equally high that the following describes our collective bad habits pretty well or it did before we saw this list and decided to make a few changes in our life.

Our lives are a reflection of our habits more than our education.

— Robert Kiyosaki

You are most likely financially illiterate if...

You learned about money at public school &/or college
You learned how to manage your finances from a banker, a mortgage broker or an insurance agent
You learned finances from advertising (credit card companies, auto companies, a layaway program, airline miles incentives, credit card points giveaways or a quick check institution)
You believe “interest-free” offers you any financial benefit
You have overdrafted an account in the last 6 months
You are not a good goal setter
Your income is your only wealth building tool
You don’t make a monthly zero-based budget with your spouse
You pay minimum payments on any of the following: an auto loan, a student loan, a 30-year mortgage or a credit card
You don’t manage your time well
You live paycheck to paycheck
You don’t have a financial plan or your plan is “I get paid on Friday.”

People who cannot control their cash flow work for those who can.

— Robert Kiyosaki

The good news is that all of these traits have been learned and can be changed. I know because I have lived by each one of these in the past. If I can change all of these bad habits into good ones anyone can!

I remember being advised by my wife and others that my ways weren’t getting me anywhere yet I couldn’t accept other than my own opinion. How arrogant I was for someone who considered himself smart enough. Why is it that “intelligence combined with arrogance equals ignorance?”(1) And why have we become thus?

The only answer that I’ve been able to come up with is that we falsely believe that what little knowledge we’ve gained is enough to see us through. But what we’re reluctant to accept is that our accrued knowledge is but as a single star in the vastness of universes. It is nearly impossible to accurately assess or comprehend our nothingness so we blindly accept in our arrogance a futile, no, pathetic superiority that is laughable. All that to say I was a fool and now I finally know it.

Only through life’s rough treatment are we brought low enough to see our true situation, ignorance. Only then are we open to an alternative to what we can no longer bear, our ineffectual existence. Once in this state, we are ready to hear and can begin to see the signs that are to become financial literacy. That money is a seed and when planted it can grow into millions. Millions that you control.

If you are ready to make some serious changes and take control of your life read the 14 signs that you are financially literate.

(1) Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad Poor Dad, p118-9

The Eight Things Your Credit Score Doesn't Mean and Five Things It Does!

noreply@blogger.com (The Internet Dark Ages) — Tue, 01 May 2018 14:00:00 +0000

I have always been told that "you need to build your credit score," because that is the way we are able to get the things we want in our society. I believed the bank, the school, the car dealership, the store financing department, the gas card companies, and the airlines.

It turns out you need a credit score if you want to get things you can't afford. No more will I follow this subscription. I want to build wealth so I follow a different plan. I keep more of what I earn. I pay myself first. I save for the purchases I want to make and pay cash for them. I have never felt freer in my life.

Here are a few lessons I learned while making my banker wealthy and me more in debt.

Did you know that your credit score or FICO score doesn't mean...
1. You have money
2. You are good with money
3. You understand money
4. You have an income
5. You know how to manage your money
6. You are good at saving money
7. You are good at budgeting or that
8. You have any assets.

What does it mean then? It means...
1. You have borrowed money
2. You can borrow more money
3. You are good at paying interest
4. You don’t understand money because you have to borrow money and
5. You are bad with money because you continue to borrow money

If you want to learn a little more about money start here. Five articles that explain money and will help you build some better financial or money habits.

Asset IQ Article | FICO IQ Article | Financial IQ Article | Wealth IQ Article | Retirement IQ Article

Here is a link to a related topic, Being Undisciplined is Modern Slavery.