Uncommon Common Sense

Wow. I hadn't realized how long it's been since I blogged, until I actually came out to post again. Obviously, TOO long. Yes, I can use the excuse that I've been busy...as has everyone. But the bottom line is, I've gotten too used to just pitching out a little tidbit here and there on my Facebook status. Then, every now and then, I'll put out as a "note" or "status update" something that really should be here, in my blog. Case in point: a couple days ago, my wife and I volunteered at the Iowa Straw Poll. We worked for Michelle Bachmann's campaign, and had a wonderful time. We met some awesome people. It was our first time at a Straw Poll, and...well, I heard one person describe it as part country fair and part political party. And it really seemed just like that. The vast, overwhelming majority of people were smiling, laughing, having a grand time. Polite, helpful, engaging....it was just the most awesome display of....well, of being ...

Ah, it's that time. Time for the big plans, the goal-setting, the New Year's Resolutions... or not. Personally, I don't believe in them. I think they're a complete and total waste of time. Why? Because a "resolution" is merely a statement of decision. It is merely me saying, "I think I'm too fat." or whatever. "I want to lose weight." Great. As a martial arts instructor, I get to see lots of "New Year's Resolutions". They sign up for class, they buy the uniform, and they're really hard-core about coming to class and working out, and all that. Retention rate after January 31st? About 10%. Because it's hard. It's not easy. It's not a magic bullet. You don't come to Taekwondo class, and simply by showing up, the pounds come off, your body becomes hardened, and you learn all the really cool things that people with years of experience and training have learned. As any black belt how they got there. They g...

Do you know what I mean if I say the phrase “moral and civic obligation?” It means that someone is bound by an obligation or duty to some ideal or societal group that transcends the individual. Those of you that are parents, you have a moral obligation to raise up your children “in the way they should go, so that when they grow old, they will not depart from it.” You have a civic obligation to raise your children with a firm knowledge and understanding of our country, it’s history, and each person’s role and duties within our society. But I want to challenge ALL of the adults in our family…not just the parents…with one of our “moral and civic obligations”. What is that particular obligation? The upcoming elections. I know…I can hear your collective groans. “I hate election.” “I hate politics.” “I hate political ads.” “They’re all crooks.” “The liberals are destroying our country.” “The conservatives are destroying our country.” Blah, blah, blah, blah…I’ve heard them all. Heck, at on...

I couldn't sleep last night, so was up, sitting in the dark in the living room, pondering the universe. I've been having some conversations over the past month or so with David Funk, who is a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District in Iowa. During one of those conversations, the concept of "flat tax" or "fair tax" came up. We didn't dwell on it much, as we were focused on something else at the time, but this is the concept that came to circle my brain in the wee hours of the morning. Being who I am, I almost always have to ask questions of what is considered the status quo. My usual questions are "why" and "what if". I look at our current tax structure, and I simply have to go to "why?" Why is it so darned convoluted? Why does it seem to penalize a person for working hard and being successful? Why does it seem to be a de-motivator to the person who is motivated, and at the same time, is a de-motivator to the person wh...

Today is December 23rd. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. The day after is Christmas. People are scrambling all over the place buying last-minute Christmas gifts. The Christmas light displays are beautiful, and people are traveling all over the place to spend Christmas with their families. Tonight, our church has a "Christmas Eve-eve" service. Tomorrow night, churches all over the world will be holding Christmas Eve services. What's my point? OK, here's my point: Christmas. Not "holiday", not "winter solstice" not "mass-marketing event", but CHRISTMAS. At this time of year, I CELEBRATE. I celebrate the greatest gift that has ever been given...the gift of God's Salvation, through the birth of His Son. Yes, I've heard them all..."but if you do the math, Jesus was most likely born in the summer, like June or so." Big freakin' deal. Martin Luther King, Jr., was not born on the 3rd Monday of January, yet we celebrate "his d...

Just wanted to do a little promo piece for a friend of mine, Miss Dana Hee. Master Hee is an international motivational speaker, and was 1988 Olympic gold medalist in Taekwondo. She is also an award-winning Hollywood stuntwoman. I could go on for several pages, but I just want to encourage everyone to experience Master Hee for themselves. She has begun to write her own blog, containing inspirational and motivational messages. I'd like to encourage you all to check it out: www.danahee.blogspot.com . Hoping I can post more tomorrow. Up to my eyeballs in alligators today. Today IS Thursday, isn't it? my two cents worth today. :) --Larry Voorhees

OK, so the son-in-law and I went out 2 days, saw lots of tracks, lots of fresh sign, and zero deer. *sigh* I have another go at it with Late Muzzleloader season in late December/early January in southern Iowa, so hopefully will nail something then. Still working on the books. We're up to Chapter 17 in Book 3. My hopes of having the draft done by Thanksgiving simply didn't materialize. With the schedule looking like it does, we'll be lucky to have the draft done by the end of the year. There's at least a dozen more chapters to go, and more likely, closer to 20, before the story in book 3 is completely told. We're also working on Book 4, but that one is going slower. We're taking a new twist in direction on Book 4, so getting both of us to re-gear our minds to wrap around the concepts is taking a bit longer than we originally thought. The rough outlines are done, now it's simply a matter of having enough time for the two of us to sit down and block out the r...