What a life... What's John doing?

French Onion Soup

2011-11-09T11:48:00.001-05:00

I was talking with a friend who told me about a great French Onion Soup recipe. Here it is:

2 bags of onions - 3 lbs each
1 stick of butter
1/4 cup of soy sauce
6 dashes of Worchestershire sauce
3 large cans of beef broth
Season to taste.

Slice onions to rings. In stock pot, cook onions and butter only until the onions soften. Add Worchestershire and soy sauces, stir to coat all onions. Add beef broth and season to taste. Simmer for at least 3 hours.

Add mozzarella cheese and bread and you are ready to enjoy.

Let Me Get This Straight

2011-09-06T00:14:00.000-04:00

Below is a post that I put onto my Facebook account. After the post you will see entries that all start with the + symbol. Each entry after the + symbol is someone commenting on that post or commenting on somebody's comment. I left out the names of those commenting and any company information stated; however, this got so interesting that I decided to put it here on my blog. You can "Friend" me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/johnmathews.me

Here's the post. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT: If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 yrs. hard labor. If you cross the Afghanistan border illegally, you get shot. Two Americans got eight years for crossing the Iranian border. If you cross the U. S. border illegally... you get a job, a drivers license, food stamps, a place to live, health care, housing, child benefits, education, and a tax free business for 7 years.

No wonder we are a country in debt. Those of us who are legal, pay for all this.

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There most likely were CIA spies. You really think cicilian Americans were leisure "Hiking" in Iraq during the war along the Iranian border and just happened to get lost and accidentally crossed? You really buy that? You are joking, right?
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I dont think that was really the point of his post...
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Really? End entitlements and open the borders. The more people that emigrate to the US the more markets will expand and help the economy.
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If that is your response, then you missed the point. The point is to close the border to everyone , but legal immigrants. I could give a flying rip who you are (not specifically you, Rob), whether CIA or leisure hikers, if you cross into Ir...an illegally, you're imprisoned. If you cross over the North Korean border, you get shot or imprisoned. If you cross over the border of Afghanistan, you get shot. If you illegally go into any other country... you're in trouble. Not in the US, though. In the US, illegals get benefits out the wazoo.
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john, i had no idea you you 100% american indian, thats crazy, you dont look am indian, what tribe?
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Republicans get caught up in the non issue of "legal" or not. Many things are illegal in the this country that should be legal. People traveling should be LEGAL. The issue with illegal immigration, and why politicians don't change ...it, are the entitlements. Entitlements given to illegal immigrants are a subsidy for corporations, as the true cost of labor is borne by us taxpayers. That is the real issue. We should be welcoming more immigrants to this country, as it will be good for the economy. Your anger should be directed at ending the entitlement state and corporate welfare they provide.
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wow this is too intense for me ... my only point is everyone came from illegal immagrants
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I totally can agree...I don't think imprisoning or killing illegals is the answer but a swift boot n the butt out the US is what should happen no matter what... That would b a great start.....since we r n debit
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First off, I do have American Indian in my heritage, though, very little. However, again, that is not the point. After this country was founded, with or without consent, it was founded and we have rules that need to be followed to keep the country sovereign.
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I dont think this is too intence for anyone who bleeds red, white ,and blue! Maybe just a lttle over your head. hmmm?
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The more "rules" we have the less sovereignty we have. The more "rules" we have, the less freedom we have. The more "rules" the bigger and more corrupt government becomes.
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Until it is legal, it is illegal. I do, however, agree that the entitlement issue is what keeps them coming. I do agree that government is too big. I do believe we have way too many regulations. I don't believe we open up our borders f...or anyone to come and go as they please. There needs to be limitations. Io what extent? Less limitations than the current laws imply, but a lot more limitations than is being allowed. We all know that what is being allowed is astronomically more than what the law implies.
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Absolutely!!!
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I have to get going right now, but will look forward to when I return to the computer and how this discussion continues to open up.
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I dislike entitlements and fully support their complete elimination. That will solve the economic free rider problems associated with illegal immigration. I work with illegals everyday and welcome them to become legal Americans throu...gh and effieceint and streamlined naturalization process. I respect their work ethic. Most immigrants, like my ancestors, come to the US for opportunity, not welfare. I think folks should be able to move here with a small fee for a background/health check and nothing more. The government should not be in the immigration quota business. Again, how is that freedom?
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So your saying then have no boarder patrol in our southern states just let anyone in this country and take all our jobs which i remind you there are not many of those do to politics dem.an rep. See Ihate to say this but there are not to man...y time i agree with my uncle john,but he is RIGHT.The less money the US has to put out to ILLEGAL immigration the lower our debt will be. If we would put a stop to our companies leaving this country an the greed that our gov.has we would not be in our current state.
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Ok ok mayb I'm just simple or simplifing this issue. But who has limited resouces n a defined area and then let's another enity come into that area unwelcomed and then give those resources away. All for an idea? Who does that.? I have 4 k...ids n limited resources for them. My neighbor (who I happen to like) is not gonna break into my house n eat my cereal. But most important if they did do that I'm sure some form of violence would occur...and no one on this post would disagree...imjustsayin
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I believe that we are free to live where ever we choose in this vast world that God gave us. I also believe that we are morally responsible to "add" to our surroundings/environment/economy and not "take away". Be a giver not a taker! Like Pastor Tim says: We are blessed so we can be a blessing. Interpret it however you wish!
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So you want the government involved with curb all immigration because you want the government to protect jobs? That sounds like socialism to me. I said nothing about not protecting our borders. However, if you eliminate immigration quatas, most folks will come in the front door and not the back.
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Very little of our national debt is caused by illegal immigrants' receiving entitlements, most is due interest on the the national debt and the endless police/warfare state.
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GOD BLESS THE USA - Rather be here than anywhere else !!!!
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The only reason politicians don't want to close the border is they are afraid they will lose the hispanic vote. Illegal is illegal, end of story.
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So when it's "illegal" to own guns, gold or large amounts of food, are you going to submit to the government? Bad law is bad law, end of story.
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So you are the <To protect privacy, I left out the job title and company that was stated here.> and condone breaking the law? Is that to say, the <Again, privacy here.> condones breaking the law? Remind me of this when we go to vote.
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I am not speaking for <Again, privacy here.>, this is my personal Facebook account. I am asking do you support laws even when they violate the Constitution? I think that is the definition of a sheep and a slave.
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Which law violates the Constitution? I'm not going to deal with hypotheticals, such as those you listed... "it's illegal to own guns, gold or large amounts of food" ...right now it is illegal for someone to just walk, swim or fly into this country, without going through the proper process. If you want that changed, then you have to work on getting that changed. Until then, illegal is illegal. Do you condone breaking the law?

At the time this was posted, the comments were still active, so I am sure there are more comments to come. Again, "Friend" me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/johnmathews.me and you can see the continuation of this discussion.

What's the Big Deal with having your own Domain Name?

2011-02-18T02:37:00.000-05:00

I was on my Facebook account chatting with an individual I had just befriended. This particular individual is active in network marketing or what some people call MLM. For those who don't know, MLM is the acronym for Multi-Level Marketing. There are literally hundreds of MLM companies out there. That in itself is a totally different topic to be covered at another time. Back to my chatting.

We were chatting and getting to know each other. I let him know my background and what I currently do and he talked about his day job and the two companies he was affiliated with for MLM. To develop the friendship and get to know him better, I asked more about his companies. In the process, he gave me the links to the two replicated websites he uses to direct people to information about what he does. A link to a replicated site would look something like

www.CompanyName.com/YourName_or_ID_number

which can be pretty lengthy and hard to hand out, if you're talking to someone in person.

While chatting with him, I went over to Domain Sale! $7.49 .com at GoDaddy and searched his name to see if it was available as a dot com domain. Surprisingly enough, it was. I let him know this. I also told him he could just go straight to GoDaddy or he could come to my web blog and link through to it. Either way, he'd pay the same amount, but if he clicked through from my web blog, I'd make some affiliate commission.

Let's get to the question I posed in the title. What's the big deal with having your own domain name? You tell me... would you rather tell someone, "You can go to my website at www.YourName.com or www.YourName.info," or would rather tell them, "Go to my website at www.companyname.com/62945YourName.php and check it out."? I don't know about you, but I think it's a lot easier saying the first two. Some other options could be www.YourName.biz or www.YourName.me or if none of those are available you can try www.YourNameOnline.com as an alternative.

The way it works is pretty nice. You go to Domain Sale! $7.49 .com at GoDaddy and sign up and pay for a domain name that you choose, considering it is available. You then go into your account with GoDaddy for that domain name and set your domain to redirect to your company replicated website. You now can promote your company replicated web site by giving everyone you know a website domain that is much easier to remember.

Some final ideas for website domain names would be www.YourName.us or www.YourNameBiz.com or www.OnlineWithYourName.com or ... well, the options are endless. So, the next time you talk to someone you want to direct to that company replicated website, give them your domain name, not the replicated domain name.

Atlas Shrugged

2010-08-28T22:14:00.002-04:00

It came yesterday. I went to my post office box to pick up the mail and the package I had been waiting for was there. It was the book Atlas Shrugged, which I ordered from Amazon.com on Monday. I have seen this book recommended by many entrepreneurs and business people I know directly or indirectly.

At any given point in time, I'm in the process of reading two to four or five different books and magazines. When I refer to reading that many books at a time, I have different books and magazines placed at different locations throughout the house. I'll then read a little here and a little there, depending on what's going on in the day. Some days I might have touched only one of the books and other days three or four of the books. Needless to say, because I'm not focusing on one book, it takes me a little longer to read through them.

Well, I can not tell you much about the book Atlas Shrugged, other than the author is Ayn Rand, it is a work of fiction and it was first published in 1957. When I heard it is novel and a work of fiction, I hesitated a long time in my decision to read it. After hearing Cameron Herold mention the book in his talk "Let's Raise Kids To Be Entrepreneurs", the decision was made.

I am starting my journey to read this book. Please leave a comment and let me know if you've read Atlas Shrugged, or if you are looking to start reading it and what you think.

Raising Kids to be Entrepreneurs

2010-08-22T22:29:00.002-04:00

I found this video on TED and only got half way through before I paused it to make this post. This is so awesome that I will be watching it quit a few times in the next couple days. Kids have to be allowed to expand beyond traditional thinking. Watch and let me know what you think. Leave a comment below.

Cameron Herold: Let's Raise Kids to be Entrepreneurs

A 10 Mile Bike Ride

2010-08-15T16:17:00.001-04:00

This past Saturday was a beautiful day in North East Ohio. My two daughters (14 and 9 years old) and I loaded the bikes in our van and headed over to the Mill Creek MetroParks Bikeway. I parked in the Pilot Travel Center parking lot at I80 and Route 46. The North end of the Bikeway at the county line does not have any designated parking, so most people will park in the Pilot lot or the Ice House Inn parking lot. After unloading the bikes, we purchased some candy bars at the Pilot and then got riding.

From the Pilot Travel Center or the Ice House Inn you have to bike about 1/4 mile down Webb Rd. to get to the bike trail. Once at the bike trail, we turned right (North) and made our way to the northern terminus, which is about an 1/8 mile from Webb Rd. The trail starts at County Line Rd. but there is no parking at all in that area. After getting to the northern terminus, we found that Trumbull County has started the work on their section of the bike trail. These trails are part of the Rails to Trails effort in Ohio to connect Lake Erie with the Ohio River. There are completed sections in northern Trumbull County to Ashtabula and the Lisbon area, down in Columbiana County, as well as the section we bike which is in Mahoning County.

Turning around and heading South, the first excitement for the girls is the fact that we go under Interstate 80. This is just not going under a bridge, it is actually going through a tunnel created specifically for the bike trail. Interstate 80 in this area is built up far above the normal ground level.shortly after passing through the tunnel we came to Ohltown Rd. There is rarely any traffic to contend with for this crossing, so we looked both ways and continued riding.

The next road you come to is Silica Rd., which does have some traffic at any given point in time. Again, we were able to make this crossing without getting off our bikes since there were no cars or trucks coming. As we do our bicycling and we come to a high traffic area, for the sake of my 9 year old, Rachel, off the bikes we go and then walk them across the street. For most of the bikeway there are not that many crossing to be concerned with.

As previously mentioned, it was a beautiful day out. The temperature was in the mid to high 80's with only moderate humidity. To top that off, this bikeway has shade for most of the trail being created by trees towering above on both sides.

Continuing on, from Silica Rd it is an undisturbed ride all the way to Mahoning Ave. This location is a designated Trailhead with a parking lot and a Porta-John. As far as I am concerned, Mahoning Ave. has the highest amount of traffic for any of the crossings. This must have been the thought when it was decided to create a bridge over the road. Both of my girls look at the Mahoning Ave. bridge as a challenge to race up and over.

The next crossing, S. Turner Rd., has just enough traffic that when Rachel is with us, we get off and walk across. Just on the other side of the crossing is the 3 mile marker, which also means you've got 3 miles to get back from this point. This was only the second time I had taken my younger daughter. The first time, it was here that we turned around and started back, which in effect gave us a 6 mile bike ride. As we passed by this marker, I let Rachel know that it was her decision as to when we turned back. She was also told that for every little bit we travel, you have that much more to get back. Onward we rode.

A short distance after crossing S. Turner Rd. is Fairview Rd. You can tell it's used, but I have never seen any cars or trucks on this road. We crossed without incidence. And continued on to New Rd. and beyond.

I will get into more details of the Mill Creek Metro Parks Bikeway in future posts. As for this day, we traveled just over 4 miles when Rachel said at 5 miles she would want to turn back. That is what we did and she can now say she kept up with her big sister, Sarah, and her dad, while taking a 10 mile bike ride.

Until next time, have a Super, Great, Fantastic, Phenomenal, Incredible, Tremendous day.

Amazon.com "The Best Books" of 2009 and of 2010... So far...

2010-08-13T21:51:00.001-04:00

Discover the editors picks and customer favorites for 2009

If you want to check into the Top Secret list of
"Best Books of 2010... So far..." click HERE.
(not really Top Secret, but it makes it sound good)

Citizen of Kenya or the USA?

2010-08-07T11:14:00.000-04:00

Okay, I did warn in the sub-title of this blog that politics would be included.

You decide... Kenya or the United States?

Barack Hussein Obama Birth Certificate

Frank Decenso's New Book (Compilation)

2010-07-11T20:01:00.001-04:00

Wow, I just found out that a friend of mine just published another book. Actually it's a compilation of many authors that cover the topic/title, which is Catching God's Heart: The Wisdom and Power of Intimacy.

If you purchase it, let me know what you think. I am ordering my copy today.

I look forward to seeing your comments.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico(February 2008)

2009-10-19T18:36:00.006-04:00

I am standing at the entrance to the RIU Palace, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Chris and I sitting by one of the many pools at the RIU Palace.

This was one of the views from our room on the second floor.

What's John Cooking?

2009-04-17T11:11:00.034-04:00

Chipped Meat over Mashed Potatoes
with Green Beans

Chop up a large onion and a handful of mushrooms. I used a small can of mushrooms this time, but I normally like to use whole mushrooms. Over medium heat, start to slowly saute the onions and mushrooms in olive oil.

Now we have to chip the meat. I am using venison loin meat for this meal, but have also used venison steak meat. This recipe will work just fine if you're using beef, veal, turkey or even ham. About 12 - 16 ounces of meat should be good. Using an electric knife for the chipping makes it much easier. I just love my electric knife. You can also chip the meat with a sharp butcher knife. In any case, thinly slice the meat into small chipped pieces.

Once your meat is chipped, add it into the skillet with the onions and mushrooms, which in my case had been cooking for about eight minutes or so. Turn the heat up to high and season to taste. I add in salt, pepper and garlic powder, unless I have garlic cloves. If using garlic cloves, add them in the beginning with the onions and mushrooms, then just don't add the garlic powder at all. Once the meat is cook, I add about four or five dashes of Worcestershire Sauce and stir it through. If I were using veal or turkey, I would not add the Worcestershire Sauce. Now add in 1 - 1 1/2 cups of water and stir, again. Evenly spread 1/4 cup of flour over top and mix it through. Continue cooking this, turning down a little to medium high heat, for about 10 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

During this time, you want to be boiling about 8-10 potatoes to prepare for mashing. With about a 1/2 cup of milk and a glob of butter, beat or mash the potatoes. Personally, I like mine mashed and a little lumpy. My wife, on the other hand, likes them whipped and smooth. For this meal I also had a bag of frozen green beans which I let cook over low heat the whole time.

To serve, put the mashed potatoes on your plate, in this case with the green beans. Now, scoop the chipped meat over top the mashed potatoes. You are good to go...

What's John Cooking?

2009-04-09T18:00:00.014-04:00

Shepherds Pie:

Brown about a pound and a half of ground meat with an onion and some mushrooms. I use ground venison, but you can use ground beef, veal or even turkey. Season with salt and pepper and about a half dozen dashes of Worcestershire Sauce. Add a bag of mixed vegetables and about 3/4 cup of water. During this time, you want to boil about 8-10 potatoes to prepare for mashing. With about a half cup of milk and a big glob of butter, beat the potatoes while adding in a tablespoon of Garlic Powder. The mashed potatoes need to be smooth. Personally when I am eating mashed potatoes, I like them lumpy. Put the meat and vegetable mixture in the bottom of a 9 x 12 baking dish. Coat the top with the mashed potatoes, being careful not to mix the meat and potatoes too much. Use a fork to rough the top of the potatoes and form peaks.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, until the peaks in the potatoes brown. The last 2-3 minutes, put it under the broiler if needed.

It's 2009. What are your goals?

2009-01-01T13:03:00.028-05:00

Where are those goals? It is 2009, right? What am I going to accomplish? Where am I headed? GET FOCUSED! Can you visually see your goals?

Write 'em down: Trust me... you need to write them down, ink to paper. What is it you want to accomplish? Make the list. Get specific about what those goals are. Financial Freedom, as an example, is too vague. What exactly does that look like for you? Time with the family, boating, traveling, living somewhere else? The goal of pin level in your company, in it's self, will do nothing for you. What does that pin translate into, though? Recognition, lifestyle or what? Define your goals. No need to read any further until you have done that one thing. Write down your goals and get it detailed. If you still haven't done it, do it right now.

Keep 'em in front of you: Ever heard of the rabbit chasing the carrot? That carrot was out in front of the rabbit, not the rabbit in front of the carrot. You should never get in front of your goals. Your goals should always be out there where you're reaching for them, striving toward them. Can you image the carrot behind the rabbit and chasing it? It doesn't make sense. If you think you're magically going to have some goals chasing you to success, you're badly mistaken. Get your goals in front of you. Start chasing the carrot, I mean your goals.

Look at 'em multiple times a day: "Out of Sight, Out of Mind." Ever hear that before? Well, it is absolutely true. You have the goals written down, now look at them. This is somewhat different from "Keep 'em in front of you", which is more of a FOCUS issue. By looking at them, you will know what you're reaching for or striving toward. You need to transfer them to 3 x 5 cards, put them on the frig, tape them to the bathrrom mirror, carry them with you all the time and go as far as getting pictures that might depict what your goals are. If you are serious about achieving success, then look at your goals multiple times a day.

Commit 'em to memory: I am sure you have heard the phrase, "What you think about, is what you will become." Think about stress, problems and what you think you can't accomplish and that is exactly what you will get. Think about success, your goals and what you want out of life. If your mentor (that's a totally different topic, but you do need the right mentor) would ask you what your goals are, would you have to look at your 3 x 5 card? Would the answer be vague? Or could you rattle off, in very specific terms, what your goals are? Memorize them.

Look at 'em again: Committing your goals to memory does not negate your looking at them multiple times a day. So, look at them again and again and again.

Get FOCUSED on 'em: Why are there blinders on a horse? Does the horse have a tendency to look around? You never see blinders on a rabbit, because the rabbit is FOCUSED on that carrot. If you have to have blinders to get FOCUSED, then put them on NOW. Regardless of how you do it, get FOCUSED on your goals.

Act on 'em: Now get going. Just Do It (as Nike commercials would say), and do it again and again and over and over again. Success is not the result of doing one thing here and one thing there. Success is the result of consistently acting on and doing what is required to accomplish the goals you have set forth.

IF TIME AND MONEY WERE NOT AN OBJECT,
WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENT IN YOUR LIFE?

Looking forward to a Super, Great, Fantastic, Phenominal, Incredible, Tremendous year, filled with the Enthusiasm, Excitement and Motivation needed to accomplish our goals.

"Goals are not only absolutely necessary to motivate us, they are essential to really keep us alive."
Robert H. Schuller

"You must have long term goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures."
Charles C. Noble