The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

While I'm happy to see pressure placed on states like South Carolina and Mississippi to remove the Confederate flag from the state Capitols (and slightly alter the Mississippi state flag), I hope this doesn't result in us bypassing the more important issues of gun violence and (human) racism. Granted, the Confederate flag has long stood as a symbol for hatred and intolerance, but with or without it, racism will still be present. With or without it, Dylann Roof would still have shot and killed nine African-Americans at the Emanuel Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina last week. I, for one, would be glad to see the Confederate flag removed from South Carolina's Capitol, but I think it's of greater importance for the country to start discussing race and guns more openly, come to a nationwide agreement that we continue to have problems in those two areas, and to try and come together to make the changes necessary to decrease their frequency in the years ...

The past, present, and future are all connected - at least the past and present, for the future is never a guarantee. Some people focus so much on past mistakes and incidents that they're unable to enjoy the present, which limits them in their future. Others are so wrapped up in the present, it becomes increasingly difficult to plan for the future. Lastly, others spend so much time preparing for their future, they're unable to enjoy the present, which makes it more difficult to enjoy certain aspects of their future. Trying to balance all three time periods can be extraordinarily difficult, but I think it's fairly critical to at least be cognizant of this juggling act and attempt to find balance for a happier life. When I was growing up, it was often times very difficult for me to focus on and enjoy the present. I was often times hobbled by some unfortunate childhood incidents, as well as some serious health problems. This led me to focus on the past, which depressed me in...

Like with Boston Bruins' goaltender Tim Thomas skipping the White House visit after his team won the Stanley Cup last year due to politics, center for the 2012-2013 Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens - Matt Birk - did likewise. I wrote a blog about Thomas' action and I will just copy and paste the tail end of that for this occasion: "I thought about Thomas' actions for a few minutes. I'm all for a person expressing his or her opinion, for making a political statement (so long as it's non-violent), but don't support his decision here. I may not agree with Thomas' politics, but that isn't the reason I feel this way. He can believe whatever he wants to believe. That's his right. The reason I feel this way is because I think it was a selfish gesture on Thomas' behalf to both his teammates and the organization. Instead of the media's focus being on the Bruins' celebrating their Stanley Cup Trophy at the White House, it wa...

So, I was writing on a pad of paper the other day and someone asked me, "Are you writing a new book?" I kind of sighed and responded with no. I suppose I appreciate the curiosity, yet it's also common courtesy to not interrupt someone while they're working. If I had been in the midst of writing a book, chances are I'd be in a certain mindset - in the writing zone so to speak - and an interruption like that would completely disrupt that. I'd then have to try and reattain that particular focus and mindset I had possessed prior to being interrupted. This isn't the first such occasion this has happened and it likely won't be the last. I can understand a person observing another working and wondering, "What is it they're doing exactly?" yet can't that question wait until the person appears to be on break? If a band is in the recording studio, playing a song, the last thing they want to have happen is to be interrupted by someone, askin...