How one man beat the KKK

A great story by Johnny Lee Clary about how Reverend Wade Watts, an NAACP leader, disarmed him by being cool, funny and brave.

A Mothers Journey

See this photo journal only if you feel like having a cry. Turn on the captions, although the pictures speak for themselves...

Rules for life!

I've been working on this today, taking stuff from various other lists to make my own, I need to jet right away, so I apologize for any spelling mistakes, or errors in grammer.

1. Life is not fair, get over it.
   
2. Life is too short to hang onto hate.
3. Forgive, but never forget.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
5. Don't worry about winning arguments, worry about finding solutions.
6. Don't carry a balance on your credit card.
7. Never let your gas tank run below 1/4.
8. Be good to your local businesses.
9. Cry with someone, not alone, and never let a loved one cry alone, share their tears.
10. Save money every month, no matter how little.
11. Don't save things for special occassions, live life NOW!
12. Be strange, life is more interesting once you don't give a shit what people think of you.
13. You are responsible for your own happiness.
14. Time heals.
15. Growing old is better than dying young.
16. All that truly matter in life, are the ones we love and those who love us, the rest is just stuff.
17. Accept the past and move on.
18. Count to 10, once the words are out there, they cannot be taken back.
19. Day dream.
20. Dress like today is important, because it is.
21. Laugh alot, especially at yourself.
22. Smile.
23. Give of yourself.
24. Think!
    
25. Be the first to say sorry.
26. Never stop talking, to all who you love.
27. Be a good and active friend.
28. Take pictures.
29. Travel.
30. Don't just stand there, don't let life pass you by.
31. Step outside your comfort zone.
32. If you lack self confidence, fake it, no one can tell the difference.
33. Use good manners.
34. Live up to your word.
35. Meditate.
36. Don't lie to yourself.
37. Reflect on your blessings.
38. Phone calls or visits > Emails/Text/Instant Messages
39. Do things with passion.
40. Read everyday.
41. Don't be an asshole.
42. Be original, don't follow the herd.
43. Learn to cook, much joy can be found in the kitchen, especially with other people.
44. Life is really about other people, never forget its people who matter, don't be materialistic.
45. Do as little harm as possible.

Danger of facebook

I can confirm this is real...LOL!

Issues with Buddhism

I have at times identified myself as a buddhist, as there are many very positive aspects of this religion. The religion itself is very thoughtful, quiet and compassionate, its leader is very likable and buddhism tends to focus on things most people would agree are laudible.

A central part of buddhism is meditation, which regardless of your religious ilk (or lack there of) is something that is always good for a person. Quiet contemplation is a great way to both deal with lifes stresses as well as come to terms with problems one faces.

The central theme of all flavours of buddhism is the notion of enlightenment. What is enlightenment? As with most religions, it means different things to different people, but it all boils down to a "true" understanding of oneself and of the world around us.

Where buddhism fails in a very real sense is that no one ever becomes enlightened! No one ever transcends into some sort of divine state of existance. It simply doesnt happen, because, well, this is it...life is life, there are no dragons, elves, ghosts nor enlightenment. I say embrace the positive aspects of buddhism, or any religion, but don't ever fall for the bullshit promises.

As the Buddha said so very long ago...

"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.

A great myth about fat

I haven't had much computer time lately, been exploring this strange outside world place! Most blog updates are going to have to happen when I take a break from work. I can't believe I wasted so much time behind the computer over the last 3 years, missed out on alot of living...but that is a story for another blog!

Exercise, losing weight, keeping it off, all things I know alot about...or I thought I did. I recently learned some new things which I would like to share.

The journal Obesity Research by a Columbia University reports that a pound of fat burns 2 calories a day, and a pound of muscle burns a whopping 6 calories a day! Yes, you read the right...6 calories a day for a pound of muscle. That means if you replace 10 pounds of fat with muscle you get to eat 40 calories more a day and not gain weight...40 calories...thats well...not much!

The common wisdom has always been muscle burns alot more than fat at rest, and it does, 3x as much...but both are so low, that just having muscle doesnt really change what you can eat.

Even exercise doesnt burn alot of calories, if you run for 30min, then drink 1 Gatorade you are at a complete wash calorie-wise. Of course exercise has other important benefits besides weight loss, so I am certainly not arguing that its a waste of time. Unless you are doing 90min of exercise every single day, you probably wont lose much weight from exercising is what the latest research shows. The best and most effective way to lose weight is all about the calorie input!

For maximum overall health, a combination of exercise and diet is still the best, but if its just about losing weight, well, you need to do alot more than just exercise. Seriously, 6 calories a day...I almost fell off my chair when I read that.

Greatest Standoff Ever!

Ok, maybe its a guy thing but I love it! It is an excellent illusion to trust and the lack of trust between people...everyone is scared to take the first leap.