tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57426352992386585252024-02-19T00:12:46.300-08:00Len's SpaceThe personal views of Leonard J. Pellman ... "PAY attention, 'cause you can't afford FREE speech!" (George Clinton)Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-19379854767353917982021-02-11T12:49:00.002-08:002021-02-11T12:54:31.986-08:00<p>It's been far too long since my last blog post back in November 2013. Frankly, as I had gathered no followers after six years of intermittent blogging and only a few dozen readers, I was feeling that blogging was a waste of my time and efforts.</p><p>So, what's changed in the last seven years to motivate me to take another try at blogging? A lot!<br /><br />I'm now settled in my new home in San Antonio. I've established a <i>dōjō </i>here, although it's been shuttered since April 2020 due to the Covid panic-demic. I've terminated my online teaching activities. Those changes have prompted me to direct more of my attention to writing. And blogging is, after all, writing.<br /><br />I've devoting my first new blog entry to one of my major accomplishments of 2020: the publication of the 25th Anniversary Memorial Edition of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flashing-Steel-25th-Anniversary-Memorial/dp/1623175038/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=MDDJ1V1BNHVM688JPNHH" target="_blank">Flashing Steel</a></i>. This edition, released to the public on 06 October 2020, represents the culmination of my twenty-three year relationship with my <i>sensei</i>, Shimabukuro Masayuki <i>Hanshi</i>, over thirty years of training in <i>iaijutsu </i>(a form of samurai swordsmanship). It presents his teachings—or at least my understanding of his teachings—as fully as I am capable of doing, together with a tribute to his life and memory.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0I0wCE0MAj8vHZCmAuED87unPV3Sm_f-xOt9aO00glyOCeA1-RdydtLEO4w2Tjp6cyJGV7vvOUVGQ4Rp6OnxDBGCBito-JqG92x5r7F-UYTFYS6MfuCVz53tavRmODnMyuCUaOuEe8E/s916/FS_25thAnniversary_Cover13Apr2020.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="737" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0I0wCE0MAj8vHZCmAuED87unPV3Sm_f-xOt9aO00glyOCeA1-RdydtLEO4w2Tjp6cyJGV7vvOUVGQ4Rp6OnxDBGCBito-JqG92x5r7F-UYTFYS6MfuCVz53tavRmODnMyuCUaOuEe8E/w161-h200/FS_25thAnniversary_Cover13Apr2020.JPG" width="161" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Flashing Steel</i> Cover</b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p>The first edition of <i>Flashing Steel</i> was published in 1995. It contained some 66,000 words and 438 photographs on 268 pages presenting the history, philosophy, and combat methods of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu <i>iaijutsu</i>. Together, Shimabukuro <i>Hanshi </i>and I updated and expanded that work to 78,000 words and 1,753 photographs with the 338-page Second Edition, published in 2008. The 25th Anniversary Memorial Edition is 570 pages containing 129,000 words and 2,407 photographs, including six entirely new chapters.</p><p>In terms of its physical and emotional toll, it was possibly the most difficult endeavor I've ever undertaken. The self-imposed pressure to create a lasting tribute to the memory and teachings of my <i>sensei </i>was enormous. I examined and re-examined nearly every word, yet never felt that my efforts were worthy.<br /><br />I'm a member of the San Antonio Writer's Guild and several other writers' groups, and have discussed this with many others, so I know it is the burden of nearly every writer to never be entirely satisfied with the quality of their work. There's always the feeling that something could be stated more clearly, more fully, or more eloquently. Always the feeling that something more should be added. And it's a struggle to eventually set those feelings aside and approve the final draft for publication, knowing that once it's in print it cannot be altered and your mistakes and shortcomings will forever be there for all the world to see.</p><p>But I felt even more greatly burdened by the fact that the finished work would not only reflect on <b>me</b>, but on my <i>sensei</i>, as well. The possibility of blemishing <b>his </b>public image, reputation, memory, and legacy was a nearly unbearable fear. And once I signed off on the final edits, only time would tell if my fears were justified or baseless.<br /><br />So far, to my great relief, the ratings and reviews have all been favourable.<br /><br />But in the back of my mind there's still a small voice whispering, "It's only been four months ..."</p><p><br /></p>Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-3387780099299404972013-11-13T10:23:00.003-08:002013-11-13T10:24:55.813-08:00My New Hometown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A lot has happened since I published my last blog in this "finding a new hometown" series. I just came up for air and discovered that my last post on the subject was way back in January! So here's a brief update on the past ten months of this adventure ...<br />
<br />
Having narrowed my search to a Top Ten list of cities, I was able to eliminate a couple more based on a combination of factors, such as proximity to my kids and grandkids, transportation costs, crime statistics, and climate, leaving me with a Top Eight list. As I alluded in my 09 January post on San Antonio, what made the most sense to me was to begin personally investigating those cities closest to my immediate family and work my way eastward if I found them unworkable. And so the moving process began. <br />
<br />
My relocation to San Antonio is a subject that would require several posts to cover fully, so I'll just summarise it for now. I began the process by going room to room through my house, sorting everything I owned into one of four categories: keep, sell, donate, or discard. Knowing that I am a "pack-rat" I was determined to move less than half the possessions I owned to San Antonio. Overall, I sold very little -- only a few high-value items to help finance my relocation costs. I donated the majority of my excess clothing (especially items like winter clothing I knew I would seldom need again, but would greatly benefit recipients in Indiana), thousands of books (keeping only those I either use for research, reread frequently, or are family heirlooms), and furniture items that are cheaper to replace than to move. A nearly equal amount (by weight; not value) of stuff I simply discarded. Most of the discards were furniture items that had been all but destroyed by the cats and dog I had been sharing my home with: two hide-a-bed sofas, a matching couch and love seat, a La-Z-Boy rocker/recliner that had seen far too many better days, and two bedrooms of garage sale rejects -- all bulky and practically worthless! That process occupied me through the end of March.<br />
<br />
By mid-April everything I didn't absolutely need was packed and ready to go. I had rented a mailbox in San Antonio and arranged forwarding of my mail. So I rented a moving truck and moved everything but my clothes and the essentials I would need to set up a temporary household to a storage unit in San Antonio. I chose Palo Alto Self Storage solely because it is a Budget Truck Rental affiliate, but I was absolutely thrilled with their friendly, personal, and highly accommodating service (so they deserve this accolade!). Then I returned to Indiana for my SUV, which I loaded to the gills with my clothing, personal effects, and living essentials, said my farewells, and drove back to Texas.<br />
<br />
The day I decided that San Antonio was the best starting point for the final phase of my research, there were over 100 homes in the MLS in my targeted price range. The day I arrived, that number was fewer than 20! One thing I had not counted on was the healthy Texas economy causing a shortage of affordable housing. Speculators were gobbling up the low-cost homes and "flipping" them. The first home on which I submitted an offer sold for 50% more than its listed price. There was a bidding war for any affordable house that wasn't ready to fall off its foundation! As a result it took me five frustrating months to find a home. Employment and business opportunities are plentiful in San Antonio, so it was quickly apparent that I could flourish here ... but not without a suitable place to live! Twice, while I was in the process of completing the offer forms for a house, my realtor received word that another offer had been accepted earlier that same day. I was on the verge of giving up on San Antonio and heading up to Dallas/Fort Worth when I took one last try at a house in central San Antonio ... and was high bidder!<br />
<br />
It's a charming little "American Craftsman" style home built in 1924. It's age shows in several places, and it needs a lot of cosmetic work, but it is structurally sound with recently updated electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. So I have now embarked on Phase II of my life in San Antonio ... what I will probably refer to as my "Bob Villa" phase as I embark on the restoration of "this old house". Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-19441631256735635652013-01-09T15:31:00.000-08:002013-11-13T09:03:41.110-08:00San Antonio, Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At long last we have arrived at #10 on my Top Ten list of cities to which I might relocate this year. Last (in alphabetical order), but certainly not least (as I'll explain a few paragraphs down), I give you ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>San Antonio, Texas</b></span><br />
<br />
San Antonio's history dates back to 1691, when Spanish explorers and missionaries first arrived there on June 13th, the feast day of San Antonio de Padua. Of course, the area had been settled centuries earlier by aborigines, but they had named it Yanaguana for its "refreshing waters", so prior to 1691 would be <b>pre-</b>San Antonio history. Early Spanish settlement of San Antonio began with the Martin de Alarcon
expedition and the establishment of the San Antonio de Valero Mission
(now the Alamo) 01 May 1718. Four days later (Cinco de Mayo, coincidentally enough) the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar was established a little less than a mile away. The mission was established to minister to the indigenous people, and the presidio was built to prevent incursions into New Spain by the French from their colonies in neighboring New France. The first group of European colonists arrived in San Antonio from the Canary Islands in 1731, which marks the beginnings of a true city at the site, which grew to be the largest in New Spain and later the capital of the Spanish Province of Texas. At the conclusion of the Mexican War of Independence in 1821 Texas was incorporated into the state of Coahuila Y Tejas and San Antonio ceased to be its capital. The war had left Mexico bankrupt, so immigration was encouraged in order to bring much needed capital into the state. The majority of these immigrants came from the USA seeking inexpensive land and business opportunities. By 1830 immigrants had become the majority and Mexico began imposing oppressive taxes, tariffs, and restrictions on the immigrants. After five years of trying peacefully to redress their grievances, only to have newly elected president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna unilaterally abolish the Mexican constitution and most of its elected legislative bodies, Texans revolted in 1835 and won their independence on 02 March 1836. The Republic of Texas joined the United States in 1846 as the state of Texas.<br />
<br />
Its origins in New Spain, its subsequent annexation as part of Mexico, its ten years as an independent nation, and its participation in major events in US history give San Antonio a rich, unique, and diverse cultural heritage.<br />
<br />
San Antonio lies on the San Antonio River, which serves as the western boundary of the humid subtropical climate of the Gulf States and the semi-arid climate of West Texas. As a result, San Antonio has features of both climate zones, so it is hotter than most Sun Belt states, but less humid, and with warmer, milder winters. The city experiences light snowfall about once every four years and a tornado within 50 miles once every five years. The major weather problem is flooding, which is a frequent occurrence, often resulting in property damage and occasionally deaths.<br />
<br />
The city has a population of a little over 1.3 million, with about 2.2 million in the metropolitan area. As America's 7th largest city, it ranks between Phoenix (#6) and San Diego (#8) in size. It hosts a major airport, and has all the civic, cultural, and entertainment attractions expected of a major city, including museums, a zoo, Japanese Tea Gardens, Six Flags, Seaworld, and numerous historical landmarks. The state capital of Austin is only an 80-mile 1.5 hour drive, and Houston is a 200-mile 3-hour drive away, making additional events, attractions, and opportunities accessible. Corpus Christi and the Gulf Coast are also only a 2-hour drive away.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Advantages</b></u><br />
<br />
There is a moderate supply of low-cost housing in the greater San Antonio, Texas, although affordable homes are not as plentiful as in several of the other cities I'm considering. <b> San Antonio's overall cost of living, however, is second-lowest in the nation for cities over 500,000 population</b>.<br />
<br />
San Antonio is the nearest Top Ten city to Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle. Not surprisingly, its air fares are also the lowest to these destinations, so<b> traveling to visit my kids and grandkids will be easiest and least expensive from San Antonio</b>.<br />
<br />
San Antonio has several well established <i>dojo </i>already offering most of the martial arts I teach. It is a large and growing city, however, so there should be an opportunity to establish a <i>dojo </i>in the area. In addition, its proximity to Austin, Houston, and Corpus Christi could afford opportunities to provide seminars in those cities.<br />
<br />
The area also has several scenic and well maintained golf courses with green fees under $30.00 for 18 holes, so I would be able to enjoy a round of golf at least once a month.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Disadvantages</b></u><br />
<br />
There seems to be very little not to like about San Antonio ... except the <b>heat </b>and the <b>flooding</b>. However, San Antonio's overall climate is probably the most tolerable of all the cities I'm researching, and there are usually parts of town that are less susceptible to flooding than others.<br />
<br />
The only other potential concern might be crime. The published reports on crime in San Antonio are highly conflicting. Some rank it one of the most dangerous cities in America, while an equal number rank it among the safest. More research may be needed to find out which reports are true.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Speaking of which ... </b></u><br />
<br />
More research! That brings me back to the statement I made at the top about San Antonio being "certainly not least" among my Top Ten prospective new hometowns. Before picking one of these ten and permanently settling there, I still need to know more about each of them. There's only so much I can learn from the Internet. But whether or not I will <b>like </b>a city will require that I actually experience it for myself. I've narrowed the list down to ten. Now I need to go visit them. So the next step and the next question becomes: which city to start with?<br />
<br />
And <b>San Antonio</b> seems to be the logical answer! It has most of the advantages and the fewest disadvantages (on paper, at least) of any city I've researched. It is the closest to those I would visit often and has nearly all the factors I'm looking for ... its only major disadvantage (climate) being common to all the others, as well.<br />
<br />
What do <i><b>you </b></i>think? Does it sound like I should head to San Antonio for a visit? Or, after reading this blog series, do you have a better idea? Please let me know!<br />
<br />
<br />Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-20355076295088116382013-01-08T21:53:00.000-08:002013-01-08T21:55:18.818-08:00Memphis, Tennessee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're in the home stretch, so please bear with me. Here is what <b>should</b> have been my <b>only </b>blog entry for 08 January 2013: #9 alphabetically in the countdown of my Top Ten possible new hometown locations ...<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Memphis, Tennessee</b></span><br />
<br />
Memphis is the 20th largest city in the United States, with a population of about 675,000 surrounded by a metropolitan area of 1.3 million, making it the third largest of the cities I am considering. Founded in 1819 at the site of an earlier Spanish Fort, Memphis is situated on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. It is the northernmost of all the cities I am studying.<br />
<br />
Although Memphis weather is classified as being a humid subtropical climate like the more southerly cities I'm considering, its weather patterns are actually subject to greater extremes of both hot and cold, because of its unique position. In summer it can receive extremely hot and humid air from Texas or hot and extremely humid air from the Gulf Coast. Similarly, in winter Memphis can be struck with cold from the Upper Great Plains or warmth from the Gulf Coast. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are frequent during summer, but
usually brief, lasting no longer than an hour. Early autumn is
pleasantly drier and mild, but can be hot until late October. Late
autumn is rainy and cooler; precipitation peaks again in November and
December. Winters are mild to chilly, with average January high and low
temperatures of <span style="white-space: nowrap;">49.8 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(9.9 °C)</span> and <span style="white-space: nowrap;">32.6 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(0.3 °C)</span>.
Snow occurs sporadically in winter, with an average yearly snowfall of
3.9 inches (99 mm). Ice storms and freezing rain pose greater danger, as
they can often pull tree limbs down on power lines and make driving
hazardous. Severe thunderstorms can occur at any time of the year though
mainly during the spring months. Large hail, strong winds, flooding and
frequent lightning can accompany these storms. Some storms spawn
tornadoes.<br />
<br />
Memphis has a rich cultural heritage, since it was at various times inhabited by American aborigines, French and Spanish colonists, and attracted settlers from many other parts of the country. It is particularly renowned for its musical heritage, having been home to such greats as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Johnny Cash, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. Jones, and some guy named Presley. Memphis also features several well known museums and cultural events. More information about Memphis is provided in this article on Wikipedia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis,_Tennessee" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis,_Tennessee.</a><br />
<br />
<u><b>Advantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Memphis has the largest inventory of low cost houses of any city I'm researching. However, the majority of the lowest-priced homes have been ransacked for the copper in their plumbing and electrical systems, so the actual number of affordable and habitable homes may not be that much greater than most other locations. The cost of living in Memphis is also low, but not exceptionally so.<br />
<br />
Memphis has a well-served major airport with airfares and travel times comparable to those in Indianapolis.<br />
<br />
There appear to be quite a few <i>dojo </i>already serving the Memphis area, so it has the population to support a new <i>dojo</i>, but it might take time to become well established.<br />
<br />
There are several moderately priced golf courses in Memphis and its surrounding areas, but they are not as inexpensive as some of their more southern counterparts.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Disadvantages</b></u><br />
<br />
As hot as Texas. As humid as Florida or the Gulf States. And colder than anywhere else in the Sun Belt (which Memphis lies at the northern boundary of). So the weather extremes are one it the city's major disadvantages.<br />
<br />
The only other significant disadvantage appears to be its crime rate, which was below US averages prior to Hurricane Katrina, rose sharply from 2005 to 2009, and has been in decline ever since. Nevertheless, Memphis is often included as one of America's ten most dangerous cities.<br />
<br />
And that brings us to the eternal question: what do <b>you </b>think? Is moving there a good idea or a
bad idea for me? What are your impressions of Memphis? If you know me, would
you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Memphis than you
would in Marion ... or any of the other locations I'm considering?
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-41380497129958401702013-01-08T10:25:00.000-08:002013-01-08T10:25:42.022-08:00Columbus, Georgia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay ... something went horribly wrong! The city that was fifth in alphabetical order was somehow omitted from my blog. I remember preparing the information about a week ago, but either it didn't upload properly or I somehow inadvertently deleted it. I don't think it was a Freudian slip, but I'll invite your thoughts on that after you've read about ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Columbus, Georgia</b></span><br />
<br />
Columbus was founded in 1828 and lies at the beginning of the navigable portion of the Chattahoochee River, about 100 miles southwest of Atlanta. The city's population is just over 300,000 within a metropolitan area of about 465,000. Like Augusta, Columbus is a fall line city, meaning that the Chattahoochee River begins a steep descent just below the city.<br />
<br />
In common with the other Sun Belt cities, Columbus has a humid subtropical climate, meaning hot, humid summers and mild winters with only occasional light snow flurries. Daytime summer temperatures often reaches a high in the mid 90s, and
low temperatures in the winter average in the upper 30s. Columbus is
often considered a dividing line or "natural snowline" of the
southeastern United States with areas north of the city receiving
snowfall annually, with areas to the south typically not receiving
snowfall every year or at all.<br />
<br />
The largest employer in the area is nearby Fort Benning. For its relatively small size, Columbus boasts a large number of public parks, museums, and cultural attractions. More about Columbus is available in the Wikipedia article at: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus,_Georgia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus,_Georgia</a>.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Advantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Columbus offers a low overall cost of living, as well as a relatively large number of affordable houses in fair to excellent condition.<br />
<br />
The city has its own regional airport, in addition to which it is within a 2-hour drive of Atlanta's international airport or the Birmingham, Alabama airport.<br />
<br />
With Fort Benning nearby, it appears to offer a solid market for a traditional Japanese <i>dojo</i>.<br />
<br />
Topping off its advantages are its several affordable golf courses.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Disadvantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Other than its hot, humid climate -- which is shared by nearly all the cities I'm considering -- the only notable disadvantage seems to be Columbus' relatively high crime rate, which is 75% above the US national average. Property crimes account for the majority of this, with burglaries, larceny and motor vehicle thefts nearly <b>double </b>the national average. Murders, muggings, and robberies are about 10% above the national average, while rapes and aggravated assaults are significantly below nationwide figures.<br />
<br />
So once again, I'd like to know <b>your </b>thoughts about Columbus ... Is moving there a good idea or a
bad idea for me? What are your impressions of Columbus? If you know me, would
you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Columbus than you
would in Marion ... or any of the other locations I'm considering?
<br />
<br />
<br />Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-11911039121130874372013-01-07T20:09:00.000-08:002013-01-07T20:09:59.034-08:00Jackson, MississippiSeventh alphabetically among my Top Ten possible new hometowns is:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jackson, Mississippi</b></span></div>
<br />
Jackson, Mississippi was founded in 1822 on the banks of the Pearl River. Originally a French settlement, it was later part of the lands granted to the Choctaw Nation before being ceded back to the United States. The city has a population just under 175,000 within a metropolitan area of about 540,000. The area is part of the Mississippi Delta and is the only state capital known to be built atop an extinct volcano, the peak of which is 2,900 feet beneath the city.<br />
<br />
Like most other cities in the Sun Belt, Jackson has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Rain occurs throughout the year, though the winter and spring are the
wettest seasons, and the late summer and early autumn is usually the
driest time of the year. Snow is rare, and accumulation very seldom
lasts more than a day. Jackson lies in a region prone to severe thunderstorms, damaging hail, and tornadoes. <br />
<br />
Jackson has a rich cultural heritage. It is renowned for its jazz, blues, and R&B music, but also has two ballet companies, opera, a symphonic orchestra, several museums, a zoo, and many other historical, civic, and cultural attractions. It offers a variety of French, Latin, and African-American cultural influences, as well as a major Celtic festival. More information about Jackson can be found in the Wikipedia article here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson,_Mississippi">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson,_Mississippi</a>.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Advantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Of all the cities I am considering Jackson has the lowest cost of living. In addition, it has the largest inventory of available low-cost housing, and those homes are generally in the best condition of all the affordable housing in the US. Jackson is ranked #3 in "most bang for your buck" by Forbes magazine, and is one of only three cities in my Top Ten to make this Forbes list (the other two being <a href="http://lensspace.blogspot.com/2013/01/dallas-texas.html" target="_blank">Dallas</a> and San Antonio).<br />
<br />
The Jackson market appears viable for a traditional Japanese <i>dojo</i>. Although there is a Shotokan <i>dojo </i>and a couple of Okinawan <i>dojo </i>in the Jackson area, the competition is chiefly <i>taekwondo, kung fu, </i>and cage fighting.<br />
<br />
Jackson is served by Medgar Evers Airport and several major domestic airlines. Fares and travel times to San Diego, Phoenix, and Seattle are slightly lower than from Indianapolis. And there are plenty of historic and cultural sights and activities for visitors to enjoy.<br />
<br />
Several low-cost golf courses make frequent golfing affordable in Jackson, as well.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Disadvantages</b></u><br />
<br />
The chief disadvantage is the climate! Not only hot and humid, but subject to weather damage from hail and tornadoes, including a Force 5 tornado that ravaged the city in 1966.<br />
<br />
The only other potential disadvantage is that Jackson experienced a significant increase in violent crime in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Press releases and crime statistics claim significant reductions in crime since 2010, but the stigma remains attached to the city.<br />
<br />
Once again, I'd like to know <b>your </b>thoughts about Jackson ... Is moving there a good idea or a
bad idea for me? What are your impressions of Jackson? If you know me, would
you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Jackson than you
would in Marion? Or compared to the other locations I'm considering?
Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-42413129464710545692013-01-06T15:54:00.000-08:002013-01-07T19:05:58.355-08:00Dothan, Alabama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My blog series reviewing my Top Ten potential new hometowns in alphabetical order continues today with #6 ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dothan, Alabama</b></span><br />
<br />
Dothan is a comparatively small town, with a population of only 65,000 and a surrounding metropolitan area of only 135,000. This makes it the second smallest city and metro area of those in contention to be my next hometown.<br />
<br />
Although settlers had arrived in the Dothan area by the 1830s to harvest timber, the city was not actually incorporated until 1885, making it the newest of all the cities I'm considering. It lies in the southeastern corner of the state of Alabama, just 18 miles north of the Florida border and 20 miles west of Georgia.<br />
<br />
Like nearly all other towns in the Sun Belt, Dothan has a humid subtropical climate. Although Wikipedia cites Dothan as being prone to tornadoes, the actual tornado risk in Dothan is below the Alabama state average and comparable to that of Marion, which has a handful of tornado warnings and sightings each year, but has suffered no significant tornado damage in the 12 years I've lived there. Summers in Dothan are hotter and more humid than in the Georgia and South Carolina cities I'm considering, but slightly milder than Texas. More information about a Dothan can be found in the Wikipedia article here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dothan,_Alabama">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dothan,_Alabama</a>.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Advantages</b></u><br />
<br />
The chief advantages of Dothan are its affordable housing, low cost of living, and proximity to Florida's Gulf Coast and airports. For a town its size, Dothan has a large inventory of affordable homes, most of which are in livable condition and do not require significant remodeling or repairs. As with other small towns, violent crime is also negligible in Dothan.<br />
<br />
Dothan is only about a 1.5-hour drive from Panama City, so if I or those visiting me want a day at the beach it's as close as if I lived in Alpine, California! Dothan is also roughly equidistant from the Pensacola or Tallahassee airports, each about a two-hour drive, which is about my current commute to the Indianapolis airport. Dothan also has a municipal airport with daily flights that serve as a feeder to Delta's hub in Atlanta, so it's probably quicker, easier, and less expensive overall to just take a flight from Dothan that connects through Atlanta.<br />
<br />
There are only a handful of golf courses in the Dothan area, but three of them are very reasonably priced and would allow for frequent play within my recreation budget. <br />
<br />
<u><b>Disadvantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Dothan is hot! I don't do well in hot, humid weather.<br />
<br />
Flying from Dothan to San Diego, Phoenix, or Seattle is both more time-consuming and expensive than from most other US locations I'm considering.<br />
<br />
There is already a JKI/KNBK-member dojo in Dothan. So I would either have to affiliate with them or compete against them in a very small market area.<br />
<br />
As always, I'd like to know your thoughts about Dothan ... Is moving there a good idea or a
bad idea for me? What are your impressions of Dothan? If you know me, would
you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Dothan than you
would in Marion? Or compared to the other locations I'm considering?
<br />
<br />
<br />Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-8792504561762616452013-01-05T19:09:00.000-08:002013-01-05T19:09:46.848-08:00Dallas, Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are now at the halfway point in my overview of my Top Ten possible now hometowns. Despite going in alphabetical order, the first four potential locations were in South Carolina and Georgia. Now we finally get a glimpse of a different state ... the Lone Star State! So I now present ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dallas, Texas</b></span><br />
<br />
Dallas is by far the largest city to make my Top Ten list, with a population of about 1.2 million in Dallas proper and a total of nearly 6.5 million in the greater DFW metropolitan area. Dallas has a strong, growing economy and the state of Texas is one of only 3 or 4 US states that is experiencing economic growth under our federal government's relentless war against prosperity and freedom. <br />
<br />
Like most other cities I'm considering, Dallas has a humid subtropical climate that is periodically fanned by dry winds from the north and west in the summer, bringing temperatures well over <span style="white-space: nowrap;">100 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(38 °C)</span> at times and heat-humidity indexes soaring to as high as <span style="white-space: nowrap;">117 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(47 °C)</span>.
When only temperature itself is accounted for, the north central Texas
region where Dallas is located is one of the hottest in the United
States during the summer months, typically exceeded only by the Mojave Desert! Winters in Dallas are generally mild to warm, but strong cold fronts known as "Blue Northers" sometimes pass through the Dallas region, plummeting nightly lows below <span style="white-space: nowrap;">25 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(−4 °C)</span> for up to a few days at a time. In addition, Dallas is subject to freezing rain, severe thunderstorms, hailstorms, and lies in America's notorious "Tornado Alley".<br />
<br />
Due to its size, Dallas offers a wide variety of culture and entertainment options, with major sports franchises, museums, symphonies, Six Flags theme park, the Dallas Zoo, and of course Gilley's. DFW airport is one of the largest and busiest international airports in the world. More about Dallas can be found in the Wikipedia article here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas,_texas">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas,_texas</a>.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Advantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Dallas offers numerous advantages not found in most of my other Top Ten cities: lower airfares and shorter travel times, major attractions to enjoy if/when my children and grandchildren visit, and a much wider array of cultural, civic, and entertainment activities. The economic climate of Dallas is also a major advantage.<br />
<br />
Dallas has a large number of inexpensive homes in inventory, and it also offers a surprisingly low cost of living for a major US city. However, as I point out under "Disadvantages" below, most of the inexpensive homes are either located in high crime areas or well out in the suburbs.<br />
<br />
With its large population, Dallas offers a huge market for a traditional Japanese <i>dojo</i>. However, this market size is partially offset by the fact that there are many competing <i>dojo </i>and many of those <i>dojo </i>owners <b>violently </b>oppose new entrants in the market.<br />
<br />
There are numerous golf courses in the DFW area, but because of the comparative wealth of local residents, only a few of them are moderately priced.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Disadvantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Dallas is <b>HUGE</b>! And I generally dislike everything about big cities: traffic, noise, congestion, crime, driving distances to government offices and public facilities, and the layers of bureaucracy common to big city life.<br />
<br />
Dallas is the <b>hottest </b>city of any I'm considering. It's summertime temperatures -- even without factoring in the humidity -- are as high or higher than Tucson, Arizona! And you know how I hate the heat! So this is a major downside for me ... then add hail and tornadoes and you can see why the Dallas climate is not at all attractive to me<br />
<br />
Although the cost of housing in Dallas is within my price range, the <b>quality of housing</b> in my price range is among the lowest of the cities I'm considering. Many require extensive upgrading or repair, or are located in high crime neighbourhoods ... the notable exception being a couple of areas in which the majority of residents are low income blue-collar Hispanics. These areas have significantly lower crime and better quality of housing than I've found in the other parts of the DFW metropolitan area.<br />
<br />
As always, I'd like to know your thoughts about Dallas ... Is moving there a good idea or a
bad idea for me? What are your impressions of Dallas? If you know me, would
you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Dallas than you
would in Marion? Or compared to the other locations I'm considering?Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-71254329400225970292013-01-04T18:31:00.001-08:002013-01-04T18:32:49.543-08:00Columbia, South Carolina<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fourth in my alphabetical listing of potential new hometowns is ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Columbia, South Carolina</b></span><br />
<br />
Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and is located roughly in the geographic centre of the state. The city itself has a population of about 130,000, but it is surrounded by a metropolitan area of approximately 775,000, the largest in the state. Columbia was founded in 1786, so (like several other cities I'm considering) it has over 200 years of rich history and culture. The city is located at the "fall line" of the Congaree River. This fall line location is a feature shared by Augusta, Georgia. And, like most other cities in my Top Ten list, Columbia has a humid subtropical climate, with mild winters, warm springs and autumns, and very hot and humid
summers. The area averages 56 nights below freezing, but extended cold
is rare. The city's current promotional slogan describes Columbia as
"<b>Famously Hot</b>" -- and, frankly, that's <b>not </b>a slogan that endears me to it! You can learn more about Columbia from this Wikipedia article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,_South_Carolina">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,_South_Carolina</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Advantages</b><br />
<br />
The chief advantage of Columbia is its relatively large inventory of affordable houses and low cost of living. It's about a two-hour drive to either Myrtle Beach or Charleston if I want to go to the coast for the sea breeze, and there is affordable golf all around the area.<br />
<br />
Columbia also appears to have a viable market for a traditional Japanese <i>dojo</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Disadvantages</b><br />
<br />
Despite being the state capital, Columbia airport is only served by a handful of carriers, so while it is conveniently located, typical airfares to San Diego, Phoenix, and Seattle are at least 30% more expensive in Columbia than Indianapolis. Airfares from Columbia are slightly less expensive than from Augusta, Georgia, but the flight and layover times are longer, making it one of the more distant locations from the family members I visit most often.<br />
<br />
It is <b>hot </b>and <b>humid </b>... and by now you know how I feel about hot, humid summers!<br />
<br />
So, as with the other cities on my Top Ten list, what do you think? Is moving to Columbia a good idea or a bad idea? What are your
impressions of Columbia? If you know me, would you be more inclined or
less inclined to visit me in Columbia than you would in Marion? Or the
other locations I'm considering?<br />
<br />
<br />Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-18449089374275961512013-01-02T18:40:00.000-08:002013-01-02T18:40:58.834-08:00Charleston, South Carolina<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Continuing my alphabetical survey of potential new hometowns, we now arrive at ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Charleston, South Carolina</b></span><br />
<br />
Charleston was founded in 1663 and has a rich history that stretches from the Colonial and Revolutionary periods through the US Civil War to the present. The city has a population of about 120,000, but the population of the Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area is over 650,000.<br />
<br />
Like the other cities I am considering, Charles has a humid, subtropical climate, but being on the Atlantic coast its summer temperatures are about the lowest of my Top Ten. It is a picturesque city, with more historic and scenic attractions that most of the others I'm considering. You can find more details about Charleston in the Wikipedia article at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston,_South_Carolina">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston,_South_Carolina</a>.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Advantages</b></u><br />
<br />
In some ways the major advantage of Charleston is its slightly milder climate than most other cities in the Sun Belt -- particularly its cooler summers. It does have a major airport and reasonable air fares, but it is the farthest from San Diego, Phoenix, and Seattle of the feasible cities I am considering.<br />
<br />
The market in Charleston seems ripe for a traditional Japanese <i>dojo</i>.<br />
<br />
Coastal South Carolina is a golfer's paradise, also some of the nicest courses are either private or well out of my price range. There are ample opportunities for frequent and affordable golf outings!<br />
<br />
There is no shortage of affordable housing in the Charleston area. However, many of those affordable homes are in areas subject to frequent flooding or hurricane damage, so the overall cost of housing (including insurance, storm repairs, and upkeep) is not the lowest of the cities I'm considering.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Disadvantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Although Charleston has a convenient major airport, it is the farthest from my kids, grandkids, and other key family members of any of the U.S. locations I'm considering. This results in slightly higher travel costs, but significantly longer travel times.<br />
<br />
Charleston is frequently struck by major hurricanes and sustains heavy damage every five years or so. This would put my collection of first edition books and family heirlooms at significantly higher risk than most other locations I'm considering.<br />
<br />
Now, what are <b>your </b>thoughts about Charleston? Is moving there a good idea or a
bad idea? What are your impressions of Charleston? If you know me, would
you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Charleston than you
would in Marion? Or the other locations I'm considering?
Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-31412451241312922892013-01-01T21:11:00.001-08:002013-01-01T21:13:39.225-08:00Carrollton, Georgia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Continuing my series analysing the merits of possible new home towns, and reviewing them in alphabetical order, we cross the state of Georgia to its western side to find ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Carrollton, Georgia</b></span><br />
<br />
Carrollton can probably best be described as a college town. It is home to the University of West Georgia and has a population of only 25,000, of which about half are the students, faculty, and staff of the university! But it is not so much the city of Carrollton that I am considering as it is the surrounding county, which has a population of about 110,000. The climate in Carrollton is slightly milder than Augusta, due to its higher elevation at 1,160 feet. Carrollton has a humid subtropical climate, with short
winters and an very humid summer. High temperatures in July average <span style="white-space: nowrap;">88 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(31 °C)</span> but occasionally approach <span style="white-space: nowrap;">100 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(38 °C)</span>. Temperatures at or above <span style="white-space: nowrap;">90 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(32.2 °C)</span> occur more than 40 days per year. January averages <span style="white-space: nowrap;">51.5 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(10.4 °C)</span>, with temperatures in the suburbs slightly cooler. Overnight freezing can be expected 30 nights annually, but high temperatures below <span style="white-space: nowrap;">40 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(4 °C)</span> are very rare. Extremes range from <span style="white-space: nowrap;">−9 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(−23 °C)</span> in 1985 to <span style="white-space: nowrap;">103 °F</span> <span style="white-space: nowrap;">(39 °C)</span> in 1980. For more information about Carrollton, see the Wikipedia article at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrollton,_Georgia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrollton,_Georgia</a>.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Advantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Carrollton offers a number of homes in my price range, but many of those homes are in poor condition and would require significant repair or renovation. One of Carrollton's major advantages is its proximity to Atlantic, which is only 45 miles away -- about a one-hour drive. Atlanta has a metropolitan population of over 5 million, making it a source of business opportunities, including a <i>dojo</i>. Atlanta also has a major international airport, although it is an extremely busy airport and subject to substantial delays and congestion. On the other hand, the Atlantic airport is served by the MARTA rapid transit system, which offers a park-and-ride service directly to and from baggage claim.<br />
<br />
Summers in Carrollton are slightly milder than in Augusta, due to the higher altitude, yet Carrollton affords the same opportunity to grow hot weather fruits and vegetables, including: peaches (of course!), grapes, berries, melons, citrus, corn,
bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, okra, sweet potatoes, and squash.
Since Carrollton is a more rural area, most houses have at least 1/4 acre of property and many include an acre or more.<br />
<br />
Carroll County, with a population just over 100,000, is barely large enough to sustain a <i>dojo</i>. However, with its proximity to Atlanta's population base and transportation hub, it could serve as a location for regional or even national seminars, <i>gasshuku</i>, tournaments, etc. <br />
<br />
Three of the four nearest golf courses are private country clubs, so golf opportunities in Carroll County are limited. However, the country club in nearby Villa Rica has dues as low as $110.00 per month, so playing twice a week would cost under $15.00 per round.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Disadvantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Summers are hot and humid, and I have a low tolerance for heat and
humidity, so I will enjoy few outdoor activities during the summer in Carrollton. It is probably a little more comfortable than Augusta, but I will still have a difficult time motivating myself to do lawn care,
gardening, and other outside chores in oppressive heat and humidity,
which means in summertime my garden will suffer along with the curb
appeal of my house!<br />
<br />
So, what are <b>your </b>thoughts about Carrollton? Is moving there a good idea or a
bad idea? What are your impressions of Carrollton? If you know me, would
you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Carrollton than you
would in Marion? Or the other locations I'm considering?Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-69526456750059461622012-12-31T21:30:00.000-08:002012-12-31T21:30:53.740-08:00Augusta, Georgia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaQR2c4UzpmWkJoh-utFHqbwEOtFwe3dMk9lTNr-7tiMs7ufXpWcH9Y4VbWuz6b6d5a4aIElkpGVddZ31kG8zTbLjpUAeZ7DoO4sUFZ8k5aEEhNNdU6VpwDWuiu1D3E8yOLhrCPR1HUw/s1600/AugustaGA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaQR2c4UzpmWkJoh-utFHqbwEOtFwe3dMk9lTNr-7tiMs7ufXpWcH9Y4VbWuz6b6d5a4aIElkpGVddZ31kG8zTbLjpUAeZ7DoO4sUFZ8k5aEEhNNdU6VpwDWuiu1D3E8yOLhrCPR1HUw/s200/AugustaGA.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
As 2013 begins, I'll start my review of the Top Ten cities I'm considering for my new home. In order to avoid any appearance of favouritism, I'll review them in alphabetical order, beginning with ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Augusta, Georgia</b></span><br />
<br />
Augusta was founded in 1777 at the fall line of the Savannah River (the farthest navigable point upstream from the Atlantic Ocean). The city's population is roughly 195,000 but the metropolitan area includes several suburbs in both Georgia and South Carolina totaling about 550,000. Augusta has a humid subtropical climate, with short
winters and an extremely humid summer. The average high temperature for
the summer months is 90.6 °F (32.6 °C), but summer daytime temperatures can
soar to 100 or above. The average low temperature is 67.8 °F (19.9 °C).
The average high temperature for the winter months is 58.9 °F (14.9 °C), with an average winter low temperature of 34.4 °F (1.3 °C). Light snow flurries are common in December, January, and February, but the freezing rains that are more common also create more hazardous driving conditions. More about Augusta can be found on Wikipedia at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusta,_Georgia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusta,_Georgia</a>. <br />
<br />
<u><b>Advantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Augusta's primary advantage for me is <b>affordable housing</b>. It is second only to Jackson, Mississippi in the number of homes available in my price range. Although electricity rates per KWH are about 16% higher in Georgia and natural gas rates are almost 30% higher per therm, my usage of electricity would be slightly lower in Augusta and my natural gas less than half what I use in Marion. Cable Internet is $20.00 per month cheaper in Augusta than Marion, but water and sewer are $6.00 per month more, and rubbish collection is $16.00 per month more, so the other utilities roughly even out. <br />
<br />
There appears to be a viable market for a traditional Japanese <i>dojo </i>in Augusta. There is a well-established Motobu-Ha Shito-Ryu <i>dojo </i>in the area, but no mainstream Shito-Ryu nor any <i>iaijutsu</i>, <i>kenjutsu</i>, <i>jojutsu</i>, Ryukyu <i>kobujutsu</i>, or <i>aiki-jujutsu dojo</i> listed.<br />
<br />
The climate in Augusta is well suited to growing several hot weather fruits and vegetables, including: peaches (of course!), grapes, berries, melons, citrus, corn, bell peppers, cucumbers, onions, okra, sweet potatoes, and squash. Most houses have 1/4 to 1/3 acre of property, which is ample for home gardening.<br />
<br />
There are also several moderately-priced golf courses in the Augusta area, so I will be able to afford to play golf at least a couple of times per month there.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Disadvantages</b></u><br />
<br />
Summers are hot and humid. I have a low tolerance for heat and humidity, so I will enjoy few outdoor activities during the summer in Augusta. It may at first glance seem a minor inconvenience, but <b>I know myself too well</b> ... I will have a difficult time motivating myself to do lawn care, gardening, and other outside chores in oppressive heat and humidity, which means in summertime my garden will suffer along with the curb appeal of my house!<br />
<br />
Augusta does not have a large "international" airport, but a regional airport serviced primarily by commuter airlines. So I will either face higher airfares and additional connections or a 2.5-hour drive from Augusta to either the Atlanta airport or the Charlotte, SC airport. Either of these drives is nearly an hour longer than my current drive to the Indy airport. And from Augusta it will be a five-hour flight plus layovers to visit my family in Scottsdale, San Diego, or Seattle -- even longer than my current travel time from Marion!<br />
<br />
Many of the homes I can afford in Augusta are in neighbourhoods that many would consider "undesirable". While this is not an issue for <b>me</b>, it might discourage some friends and family from visiting me as often as they otherwise might.<br />
<br />
So, what are <b>your </b>thoughts? Is moving to Augusta a good idea or a bad idea? What are your impressions of Augusta? If you know me, would you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Augusta than you would in Marion? Or the other locations I'm considering?<br />
<br />
<br />Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-75637827376941172432012-12-30T18:48:00.000-08:002012-12-30T18:48:14.164-08:00Decisions, Decisions ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAMMb86myS3ytnR9Wp6pUuYBBd2H57voF2U-3gDua4ZvsCXYAcCDPBDQKvtFm8dLRk9y8M01UWSKO86My1bl9W9geGQsQxbbsZPHRGXZgjXT5e0cjWd7qB3kvwilLBuPTZ4tJXgXghEc/s1600/decision-tree.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAMMb86myS3ytnR9Wp6pUuYBBd2H57voF2U-3gDua4ZvsCXYAcCDPBDQKvtFm8dLRk9y8M01UWSKO86My1bl9W9geGQsQxbbsZPHRGXZgjXT5e0cjWd7qB3kvwilLBuPTZ4tJXgXghEc/s200/decision-tree.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
I have spent the majority of my life as a manager -- a profession whose primary responsibility is making decisions, often difficult ones. And I currently teach in graduate and undergraduate business programs. My expertise includes economics, finance, statistical analysis, quantitative analysis, and decision science, so it would be natural to think that deciding where to live next would be second nature to me.<br />
<br />
If only that was true!<br />
<br />
The decision about a new home and a new home town involves a combination of emotional and intellectual inputs. The location must not only be economically feasible and meet my decision criteria (the intellectual part), but it must also be a place I <b>like </b>and will<b> feel comfortable</b> living (the emotional part). As an economist, I know that both the intellectual and emotional factors can be quantified and rationally analysed. After all, liking a place and feeling comfortable living there are basically factors of what economists call "utility". Emotional satisfaction, even though it is chiefly subjective, is useful and can therefore be quantified in "utils" or units of utility.<br />
<br />
In practice, the process is just a more complex version of the process one goes through when decided what doughnut to buy. There are a wide variety of choices available: Hostess, Entenmann's, Van de Camp, Dunkin, Winchell's, Krispy Kreme, ... as well as local mom-and-pop doughnut shops or even making them at home from scratch. When we decide which doughnut to buy we consider a whole array of factors; not just the price. Included in our buying criteria are such things as the flavour, the proximity and convenience of the point of purchase, the environment in which we will purchase and consume the doughnut, or whether complementary products like coffee are available. Many people will also consider the quality, origins, or healthiness of the ingredients used, or whether they perceive the company producing or selling the doughnuts to be socially responsible. Despite the complexity, most of us can weigh all of these factors and decide what doughnut to buy fairly readily. That's because the <b>risk </b>is low!<br />
<br />
At most places you can still get a doughnut for under $5.00 so even if you make the worst possible choice, you have risked and lost only a couple of dollars and a few minutes (or hours if you tried making your own) of your life. But if you move to a new town and find it doesn't suit you, you are facing a huge expense and a significant upheaval in your life!<br />
<br />
As a result, I have already amassed spreadsheets of data on potential locations: housing costs and availability, climate data, cost of living data, crime statistics, business and employment data, social, political, and cultural information, photographs, maps, and much more. All that data can help with the intellectual issues involved in the decision, but they are of little value in determining if I will <b>like </b>any particular location.<br />
<br />
So, over the next couple of weeks I will be posting what I have learned about each location I am considering. I hope I will get feedback and comments regarding those locations and my impressions about them so I can begin assessing whether or not I will like them and feel comfortable living there.Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-65067870559928674002012-12-29T23:35:00.000-08:002012-12-29T23:39:59.407-08:00House Hunting 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQnVhx0X1CnTsON7nZqa7KddQeAFFo981ULZ3ny3qbgTA78_YNasUTCj3n0dPq-XzI-yIBpVux4dowm9cL7pagNhyUDh6tcHNiMni6mEDY5Mcg1i0H0rnOI0ke7pRTFAuku9w-PdmUz8/s1600/ForSaleSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQnVhx0X1CnTsON7nZqa7KddQeAFFo981ULZ3ny3qbgTA78_YNasUTCj3n0dPq-XzI-yIBpVux4dowm9cL7pagNhyUDh6tcHNiMni6mEDY5Mcg1i0H0rnOI0ke7pRTFAuku9w-PdmUz8/s200/ForSaleSign.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
In "<a href="http://lensspace.blogspot.com/2012/12/house-hunting-2012.html">House Hunting 2012</a>" I described the reasoning process that has led me to be looking for a new place to live -- not just a new home, but a new <b>home town</b>. This is the first phase of the decision-making process: deciding which city will become my new home.<br />
<br />
As I mentioned in the last installment, that decision is turning out to not be as easy as I had hoped. The factors in the decision are: temperate climate, low cost of living, proximity to a major airport, and conducive to opening a <i>dojo</i>. Months of research have led me to the conclusion that no cities in the United States meet all four of those criteria. Those that have temperate climates lack affordable housing. Those that are most conducive to opening a new <i>dojo </i>are either prohibitively expensive or in blast-furnace climates. The only places that meet all four of my criteria are in Central or South America! And I can't obtain a residency visa for any of those offshore locations until I'm drawing Social Security. So, until then my search is limited to places where the heat and humidity are almost unbearable to me ...<br />
<br />
There are 16 metropolitan areas that meet three of my four criteria. The top ten of these (in alphabetic order) are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Augusta, Georgia</li>
<li>Carrollton, Georgia</li>
<li>Charleston, South Carolina</li>
<li>Columbia, South Carolina </li>
<li>Columbus, Georgia</li>
<li>Dallas, Texas</li>
<li>Dothan, Alabama</li>
<li>Jackson, Mississippi</li>
<li>Memphis, Tennessee</li>
<li>San Antonio, Texas</li>
</ul>
<br />
Not one of these locations seems ideal to me. Each has major disadvantages, but each also has some attractions and advantages for me. So my focus in the early part of 2013 will be comparing all of these areas in an effort to cull them down to no more than five -- and preferably just three -- to visit in person before making my final decision. This is where I invite reader participation!<br />
<br />
If you are familiar with any of these areas, have suggestions or comments about them that you would like to share, please feel free to share your knowledge and impressions with me.<br />
<br />
<br />Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-91703723415078152942012-12-24T21:24:00.000-08:002012-12-30T10:31:39.150-08:00House Hunting 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was laid off at the end of June and after spending the past six months looking for a new job, it has become apparent that I have exhausted the possibilities in my current area (Grant County, Indiana). I have decided that if I must leave Grant County, I will leave Indiana altogether.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, I have thoroughly enjoyed living in Indiana these past 12+ years, and in some respects I don't feel I'm leaving of my own volition. All other things being equal, I would be content to live out the rest of my days in Indiana. But all other things are <i><b>NOT </b></i>equal.<br />
<br />
The cost of living, and the cost of acquiring certain things that I consider essential to a healthy and active lifestyle, is simply too high in Indiana. The cost of fresh fruits and vegetables, most of which are not produced in Indiana, is astonishingly high. The cost of heating my home in winter is growing unaffordable. Even though I love having four real seasons, I cannot afford living somewhere the furnace must be on five months out of the year! So my next stop will be somewhere with a more temperate climate, and hopefully somewhere that I can reduce my living costs and improve the quality of my diet by growing some of my own fruits and vegetables -- without drenching them in chemicals or altering their DNA!<br />
<br />
That one consideration alone narrowed my search to what is essentially America's "Sun Belt" states: California, Arizona, southern Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. However, I included parts of southern Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and North Carolina in my research, as well. Another consideration was frequent weather extremes, like hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, or flooding. This eliminated most of Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and the Gulf Coast. As soon as I factored in the cost of housing (including insurance, property taxes, and utilities costs) the scope of my search was narrowed to just EIGHT feasible states: Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina.<br />
<br />
Next I focused on cities and towns. My primary considerations were:<br />
<ul>
<li>Not more than two hours from a major airport to facilitate visits with my family</li>
<li>Population to sustain a <i>dojo </i>(at least 100,000 within 25 mile radius)</li>
<li>Cost and availability of housing and utilities</li>
<li>Local cost of living factors</li>
<li>Temperate climate</li>
</ul>
These factors narrowed my search to only about a dozen possible locations in Arizona, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. None of these locations are ideal. Each has one or more significant drawbacks. <i><b>ALL </b></i>of them have <b>much <span style="color: red;">hotter</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>summers than I would prefer to endure, but that seems to be the price of affordable living in the USA! If I want affordable living AND a temperate climate, then I'll have to move to Central America or Ecuador ... and that's not entirely out of the question!<br />
<br />
So, please stay tuned for the next part in this series, "<a href="http://lensspace.blogspot.com/2012/12/in-house-hunting-2012-i-described.html">House Hunting 2013</a>" in which I will start reviewing the pros and cons of each possible location and invite <b>your </b>suggestions on which to choose.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-33609592512285546042012-06-30T13:06:00.003-07:002012-06-30T13:06:49.599-07:00New Blog NameYou who are regular readers of this blog, ...<br />
<br />
Oh, wait! There <b>are </b>no <b>regular </b>readers of this blog! So in all likelihood no one has noticed that I just changed its name from LenSpace to <b style="color: red;">Len's Space</b>.<br />
<br />
When I started the blog back in 2007, LenSpace seemed like one of those cool names that concatenates two words by using a shared letter (which would be the letter<b> S</b> in this case, if you hadn't already figured it out). I felt very <i>avant garde</i> and creative doing it! It was a name that, by its very nature proclaimed what a clever and innovative fellow I am! But I was contacted in March by a company called Lenspace, Inc. and asked to change the name to avoid confusing search engines. No threats were made. In fact they were extremely polite and even admitted that they had no legal basis to force me to change. Nevertheless, I knuckled under like the wuss I am!<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Well, it really boils down to three things, none of which have anything to do with my wusshood. Or wussliness. Or whatever the correct term for it is. (1) It was easy to do, (2) I had only written a handful of posts in the five years I've had the blog, so it wasn't a major part of my life being affected, (3) according to the site statistics no one is reading my blog anyway, and (4) ... and this one is actually the most important of the four reasons ... it supports entrepreneurship and free enterprise!<br />
<br />
The guy running lenspace.com has had the courage and determination to start a little business on the Web and try to make a go of it. I teach business, management, and entrepreneurship for a living, and I do it because I believe in it; not just for the paycheck. So it was another chance for me to put my money where my mouth is and do just a little something that might help somebody get their business off the ground -- a little something that literally cost me nothing but a couple of minutes to make the changes to the blog settings. A guy has an idea for a business and all I had to do was get out of his way ... seems like the least I could do!<br />
<br />
And, if you know me, then you already know that I always do the least I can do!Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-50233335639854785292011-11-01T10:00:00.000-07:002011-11-01T19:05:29.753-07:00Halloween or Harvest Day?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdG8w30PflMWzeWZ816W7fxaf0fBRvutqMl1WMOtzeLgmZhIgA4-_AzIlA9QnugoE49JI7DgqI1A16gAycTilwuA4mreY3HAGdCrBw4xeT7B6J8Hb4XISB1fyZ5FTd4MNEydFGDZPDo0/s1600/halloween.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdG8w30PflMWzeWZ816W7fxaf0fBRvutqMl1WMOtzeLgmZhIgA4-_AzIlA9QnugoE49JI7DgqI1A16gAycTilwuA4mreY3HAGdCrBw4xeT7B6J8Hb4XISB1fyZ5FTd4MNEydFGDZPDo0/s320/halloween.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670121070379558626" border="0" /></a><br />I was passing out candy to trick-or-treaters last night and up to my usual "pranks" -- trying to identify the kids I know under their costumes, complimenting the wee ones on their costumes, withholding treats until they said the "magic words" ("Trick or treat!") instead of "ain't you handing out candy, mister?", and similar nonsense. I always finish by saying "Have a happy Halloween and be safe tonight." One teenager corrected me with a shout of "No, it's Harvest Day!" as he ran off.<br /><br />Oh, ... <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">really?</span><br /><br />Since I'm a Christian, I fully understand the reticence of many Christians to celebrate what they perceive to be a pagan holiday or pagan traditions. I understand and support that idea. Many churches now sponsor harvest festivals on October 31st, and many people throw harvest parties in their homes on that day or the nearest weekend. Wonderful! If you want to take a stand against the unwholesome practices some follow on Halloween, I'm all for it. Just be consistent!<br /><br />This teenager stood on my porch in jeans and a black hoodie wearing a ghost-face mask from the <span style="font-style: italic;">Scream </span>movies and cheerfully yelled "Trick or treat!" in order to induce me to give him a handful of candy. When did wearing the mask of a fictional mass-murderer and threatening people with tricks if they did not produce treats become a Christian "harvest festival" tradition? I must have nodded off for a moment when that one was announced in church! If you're taking a stand against Halloween, fine. Then don't go trick-or-treating, you hypocrite! Stand on my porch and tell me I shouldn't be handing out candy in support of a "pagan" tradition, if you have the courage, but don't take my candy, run away, and shout back over your shoulder that it's "Harvest Day", you sniveling coward!<br /><br />And, just what is "Harvest Day", anyway? I visited a number of websites describing October 31 "Harvest Day" or "Harvest Festival" and they all agreed on three core matters: (1) it is an alternative to pagan harvest festivals, (2) it celebrates the end of summer and the final harvest of the year, and (3) it is an opportunity for Christian evangelism. Wait a minute! That's exactly what <span style="font-weight: bold;">Halloween </span>is supposed to be!<br /><br />For longer than history has been able to record, people around the world have celebrated the end of summer and the collection of the final harvest, as well as the observance of the beginning of the "dead" period of the year when crops cannot be grown. In ancient Rome this was the festival of Pomona. In Celtic lands it was Samhain. In the Holy Land it was Sukkot. As Christianity spread across Europe people blended their new Christian beliefs into these formerly pagan festivals, so that by the end of the 7th century Hallowmas (aka All Saints Day) had become their Christian alternative. The November 1st feast day was established formally in the Catholic church by Pope Gregory III sometime between 731 and 741 AD. Social, cultural, and political shifts throughout the Middle Ages altered the ways in which Hallowmas was observed in different areas over the centuries, and the practice of playing various relatively harmless pranks on All Hallows Eve appears to have become widespread sometime in the 16th century. It is generally thought that this mischief symbolizes the sinful nature of man that dies at midnight on All Hallows Eve and is reborn as a forgiven Christian on All Saints Day.<br /><br />I wouldn't disagree that the modern practices of Halloween -- the costumes, parties, and trick-or-treating -- have commercialized the holiday and stripped it of much of its religious symbolism and meaning. But the same is true of Easter and Christmas! Should Christians cease celebrating these holidays, as well?<br /><br />Most major "Christian" holidays were, in effect, superimposed over pagan festivals. Our celebration of Christ's resurrection was superimposed onto Easter -- the pagan rites of spring. Our celebration of the birth of Christ (which more likely occurred in late summer) was superimposed over pagan winter festivals. And All Saints Day and All Hallows Eve were superimposed over pagan harvest festivals. So which is the best approach for Christians to take: to abandon those holidays completely to pagan and secular celebrations, or to celebrate them in a manner that is consistent with our faith -- as we have done for the past 2,000+ years -- as a means of sharing God's love with people in desperate need of it?<br /><br />I don't claim to know the "right" answer yet. But it seems to me that to celebrate October 31st as just a "harvest day" is no different from celebrating Samhain, which was also just a harvest festival. And if we want to give thanks to God for the harvest, we already have a day for that: it's called Thanksgiving Day. I also think that if we abandon Halloween entirely to its commercial, secular, and pagan revelries and refuse to celebrate its Christian origins and symbolism then along with it we are abandoning its celebrants entirely to commercialism, secularism, and paganism, as well.Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-89320417708032939962008-10-30T09:49:00.000-07:002008-10-30T10:07:50.144-07:00Voices from the PastLast year my daughter was given a “politically correct” school assignment to research her ancestry and determine who her immigrant ancestors were. The assignment was intended to show that <strong>all</strong> Americans were immigrants – some have simply immigrated more recently – and less legally – than others. The assignment backfired when she learned that only <strong>two</strong> of her ancestors were immigrants. The rest had been living on American soil before the U.S. was founded! Dozens of her ancestors were among those who created a new and radically different nation out of a hostile wilderness and established the principles by which it would quickly rise to become the greatest nation on earth.<br /><br />Since I was the one in possession of the family Bibles and other ancestral records, it fell to me to help her with the research for this project. What started out as a simple task of assembling a list of names and dates of birth and death quickly spiraled out of control. We soon realized there were numerous gaps in the records in my possession, and that the records for several branches of our family ended prior to identifying their immigrant ancestor. So we had to start digging deeper.<br /><br />We discovered that, prior to about 1850, there were few government agencies or offices keeping birth, marriage, and death records. Instead, the primary repositories for these records were local churches. Fortunately, as city governments began taking responsibility for maintaining these records in the mid- to late 19th century, churches provided copies of their records to the local town clerks. These clerks often compiled those records into local histories that were published in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And what most would find mundane reading became life-changing for me.<br /><br />It began when I read a few sentences in <em>The History of Pittsford Vermont</em> concerning Stephen Jenner, one of my ancestors who fought briefly in the Revolutionary War. Stephen and his wife, Mary, moved to Pittsford in 1772 following their marriage. On July 7, 1775 they had their first child, my great-great-great-great-grandfather, Timothy. On Timothy’s second birthday 1,000 soldiers from Gen. John Burgoyne’s army attacked the nearby town of Hubbardton, killing some 300 men, women, and children. Those not killed were forced to flea, some bringing the news of the attack to Pittsford, where the townspeople could hear the sounds of gunfire from the battle. Fearing a similar fate, the people of Pittsford buried their belongings, so the British could not make use of them. While others prepared to defend the town, because Mary was four months pregnant with their second son, Stephen helped her mount their only horse, placed the infant Timothy in her arms, then led them out of town under the cover of night.<br /><br />Tears welled up in my eyes the first time I read this account and imagined the scene of a 28 year-old father, having buried everything they could not carry, placing his pregnant young wife and 2-year-old son on a horse, then stealing through the darkness, leaving their home and nearly all possessions to an unknown fate while silently praying they did not run into any British scouts who might be patrolling the roads that night.<br /><br />For the first time in my life I truly began to understand the miracle of the American Revolution and the sacrifices my own ancestors had made to create this country. It was no longer just a list of names, places, and dates in a dusty history book. It had become <strong>personal</strong>, because it was the story of my own <strong>family</strong>.<br /><br />For several months now, the leisure time I would normally spend reading a Tom Clancy novel has instead been devoted to reading about the lives of my own ancestors in <em>The History of Ancient Woodbury</em> and similar tomes. And it has been as fascinating as any adventure story. I’ve read of Civil War battles, the War of 1812, the French & Indian War, the Pequot War, and King Philip’s War, of men and women conquering the dangers of the wilderness to build their homes and lives, of the struggle for the abolition of slavery and the institution of women’s voting rights. I’ve read the actual charters of new townships, deeds for purchase of land from indigenous tribes, records of church and town meetings, and letters and diaries expressing the hopes, fears, and ideals of those who risked their lives and fortunes to create the United States of America.<br /><br />And it has left me with an overwhelming sense of shame!<br /><br />We are a lazy, depraved, and ungrateful generation who do not deserve the great gift that has been given to us. Perhaps because we did not put a single drop of our own sweat or blood into obtaining our freedoms, we treat them with disregard. We have abandoned most of the principles, morals, and personal disciplines that made the U.S. once the greatest nation on earth. We have distorted, confused, and abused those principles, morals, and disciplines for political or financial gain, or to assuage our guilt at violating them. And by doing so, we have desecrated the masterpiece my ancestors created.<br /><br />The voices of my ancestors now cry out from the past. They cry out from the pages of those local histories, letters, deeds, and wills. They demand to know how long I will sit back and allow my own countrymen to despoil what they worked so hard to create. They cry out to me to <strong>do</strong> something to reverse our country’s deterioration before it’s too late to salvage my heritage. And the pain and despair in their voices has made the political and social climate of this country intensely personal for me.<br /><br />I only hope their voices reached me in time … their voices have certainly determined how I will vote next week!Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-59020699759208308622007-03-14T19:04:00.000-07:002007-03-14T20:06:34.337-07:00The Carbon Credit ScamDid you miss your opportunity to help the Prince of Nigeria transfer his millions of dollars in frozen assets to safety? Well, don't worry, Al Gore has given you another chance to be duped! Thanks to the miracle of <strong>carbon credits,</strong> even nobodies like you and I can help the Prince of America save the planet from global warming.<br /><br />Here's how the scheme works: if you're an obscenely wealthy, planet-raping oppresser of the little people (like Prince of America, Al Gore), you can ride around in the luxury of private jets all day long -- belching out more pollutants in a single day than the average American produces in a lifetime -- and not only assuage your own guilty conscience, but also bamboozle the simple-minded into believing that you're actually "acting green" ... just by buying carbon credits! But wait, it gets even better. By paying a few extra dollars to erase your "carbon footprint" you can cast aspersions at anyone who isn't rich enough to do the same, thereby shaming them into using less fossil-fuels so there will be more for <strong>you</strong> and your fat-cat Hollywood friends!<br /><br />You see, a carbon credit is nothing more than paying a fee to someone who owns a tree in return for credit for the amount of carbon dioxide that tree removes from the atmosphere. Oh sure, that tree was there anyway, and it was going to process that carbon dioxide anyway, and they're not going to plant a single additional tree just because some rich polluter pays them an arbitrary fee for the credit. But actually cleaning the air isn't the point. The point is to feel good about yourself -- smug, self-righteous, and condescending toward anyone who doesn't buy carbon credits -- and to be environmentally holier-than-thou toward ordinary people.<br /><br />And it gets even better. Since they don't use the money from carbon credits to actually clean one cubic inch of air or to plant more trees, there is a limited supply of carbon credits available in the world. Once the elitists like Al Gore have bought them all up, they will be able to justify legislating away the rights of ordinary people to use fossil-fuels in the name of environmental preservation. Oh, happy day for the planet! Then only the wealthy elite -- who are, because of their wealth and privilege, obviously wiser and more deserving than all the rest of us, anyway -- will be able to play on their private jets and yachts and vast estates to their hearts' content without any fear that mere undeserving peasants like us might emit even a speck of greenhouse gas trying not to freeze to death in the winter. No, they will keep us firmly crushed under the iron heels of their jackboots where we belong!<br /><br />Heil, Gore, savior of the planet! Sieg, heil!<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ff0000;">NOTE: As always, the opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily represent the opinions of my sponsors.</span></strong>Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-72620985731307141832007-02-21T07:30:00.000-08:002007-02-21T08:02:09.865-08:00Our Next PresidentWow! The race is already on! Everywhere you turn, the buzz is all about one presidential candidate or another, isn't it? Of course, it's still very early, so none of them are really saying anything yet. They're just prattling on about how the country needs "a new direction" and they're the only one who can provide it. Yeah, right!<br /><br />But, if you're following the race as avidly as I am, here's the question I think you need to ask yourself about our next chief of state:<br /><br />Do you want a <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">leader</span></strong> or a <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">follower</span></strong>?<br /><br />When you hear a candidate say: "I'm listening to the people, and I'm going to give them what they want," that's a <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">follower</span></strong>. That's someone who just sticks a wet finger in the air, sees which way the wind is blowing, then heads off in that direction. That's no leader. That's no visionary. That's just a tumbleweed! That's just a jerk who wants an easy path to power. We've already got way too many of those running the country!<br /><br />A leader is going to say: "You may not like what I'm about to tell you, but please hear me out. I'm going to ask you to sacrifice, to do things that are difficult and unpopular, to do things that won't make your life easier in the short run, but it's ultimately going to take us to a better place. Here's the plan ..." Now <strong>that's</strong> a <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">leader</span></strong>! And if you have any sense, that's who you'll vote for.<br /><br />If we're lucky, a true leader will emerge among the candidates. It's not real likely, because it's difficult for a real leader to get elected when all the other candidates are giving false promises of easy solutions and more free goodies for everyone. There are no simple or easy solutions. And there's no such thing as a free lunch (or health care). In fact, the only way we're going to get a real leader is if we force one to emerge!<br /><br />We need to stop listening to and contributing to candidates who just make more empty promises and vague references to a "new direction" and a better world. We need to tell those people to shut up and go home! The best thing we could do is boycott their public appearances until they start saying something of substance. Empty auditoriums would send a powerful message to our candidates that it's time for them to show some real leadership.Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-25694550347364172552007-02-15T11:43:00.000-08:002007-02-15T12:01:51.329-08:00Black History Month -- a White Man's PerspectiveTake a good look at my photo. I'm a white man. Not just any white man; an <strong>old</strong> white man. So how do you think I feel about Black History Month?<br /><br />I love it! And why wouldn't I? It celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of people who have enriched my life! It doesn't detract one bit from the accomplishments of anyone else to focus on the achievements of African-Americans for a month. It merely serves to remind me what a wonderful and <strong>colorful</strong> world I live in!<br /><br />I don't listen to just one kind of music, and I sure don't like to stare at just one scene or color all the time. I like variety in my life. And Black History Month helps me appreciate that variety just a little more. Variety doesn't dilute anything for me; it <strong>enriches</strong> everything!<br /><br />To those who get upset about there being a Black History Month, but no White History Month, I would say this: why aren't you lobbying for one, then? That's how we got Black History Month. People who cared enough about it got off their behinds and <strong>did</strong> something about it.<br /><br />I want to hear different perspectives. I want to have my ideas and preconceptions challenged once in awhile. I'm not threatened by people who see things differently from me -- even those who vehemently disagree with me. I want to know the truth. And learning the truth usually requires examining every perspective, sorting through conflicting versions of the same events, and applying rational thought. If my knowledge, beliefs, and values can't withstand a different point of view once in awhile, then maybe they're not grounded in the truth. If they are, listening to another opinion can't do me any harm, can it?<br /><br />I'm a white man who's glad there's a Black History Month. I just wish there were eleven other varieties to go with it. That would make life the richer still.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">And please remember: "the opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my sponsors."</span>Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5742635299238658525.post-90617593819786942912007-01-16T20:37:00.000-08:002007-01-16T20:40:19.448-08:00Day OneHere is my first post in my personal blog. I'm really only doing this to get the space set up so I can come back and see if I actually like the layout. It's late at night, I'm tired, and I just want to get my blog set up. I'll come back and do some <strong>real</strong> intellectual damage later!Lenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07032828338163601344noreply@blogger.com0