Blog Posts

Immigration

3/18/2025

As you well know, some Democrats (and some Republicans), care absolutely nothing about the truth when it negatively impacts their narrative. Democrats and the mainstream media often attack our country on immigration yet:

1) We take in four times the number of immigrants than Germany which is in second place and five times as much as Britain. We are the most generous country when it comes to allowing people from other countries in.

2) The U.S. is more multi-cultural than any country in the world.

3) The U.S. ranks extremely low when it comes to U.S. citizens seeking citizenship in other countries. Meaning people don't want to leave.

4) If we weren't a great country, then why do so many people want to live here?

It just blows my mind why so many citizens are angry with our country especially young people who are ignorant to our country's history. Just how bad is it to grow up in the U.S. compared to others? These young people aren't oppressed, they are privileged to be born here which is what we hear from pretty much all the immigrants seeking citizenship.

I want representatives who believe we are a great nation and "why," we are great, so we don't lose the foundation that has successfully sustained us all these years.

Video Games

3/18/2025

Hard to believe but the original coin-operated pinball machines first went on the market in the 1930's. In 1971, Students from Stanford University came up with a video game that I really liked called: "Galaxy." Another one of my favorites is "Space Invaders," in 1978. Atari came out in 1972, with what was at the time an exciting game to play, and it was called: "Pong." Pac-Man was introduced in 1980, still one of the greatest arcade games of all time. Ms. Pac-Mann followed two years later. When gaming companies like Atari came out, it was so exciting, yet we didn't have a clue how far it would advance. Total immersion in video games will continue and it will become even more difficult to get anyone to play Monopoly. :)

The Truth About Slavery

3/18/2025

Slavery existed as far back as historians could write. The Israelites were slaves several times. Slaves were typically used to power ships for over a thousand years. Slavery basically existed anywhere where territorial disputes occurred. Blacks were slaves in Africa well before there was a slave trade. When one tribe defeated another, usually the women and children were kept as slaves and the men were usually killed. Sad as it may sound, many blacks had their lives extended because they became a commodity that African tribes could sell.

Same thing in our country when we arrived. There were numerous Indian tribes, but they were fading in number because as the larger tribes began attacking the weaker ones, their land was taken, and the women and children were placed into slavery and the men killed. On a personal note, I dislike that we rooted American Indians out of their land, but whites weren't the only race oppressing other humans over the thousands of years we've been roaming the earth. But this truth doesn't stop people from demonizing our country. Think about it, every country in the G-8 was engaged in slavery at one point or another and it wasn't always African Americans who were made slaves.

Since blacks were willing to enslave other blacks in Africa, they have no moral authority to place the sole blame of slavery on white people. They were willing to enslave fellow blacks when they arrived in the U.S., as these wealthier black Americans weren't only part of the slave trade and making money, there were also around 10,000 slaves that were owned by African Americans. Once again, even though this is the case, white people are blamed for bringing this evil into the world.

This is what we're up against. We're called names. We're said to be morally bankrupt when all the evidence shows something entirely different. I've mentioned this before but there's absolutely no evidence that African Americans are more morally conscious than whites or any other race. There's no evidence that if the roles were reversed, that blacks would've refused to enslave whites. It makes no sense that they wouldn't. They were willing to enslave people from their own race, why in the world wouldn't they be willing to put white people in chains? There's not even evidence that blacks would've fought through the court system and on the battlefield, to free white slaves. Would they have done it? No one knows for sure but based on factual data, there's nothing to say that they would've been any better than white slave owners. Think about it, we are judged by African Americans over our morality when they don't have the moral authority to do so. Shoot, Democrats and the media both make it appear that whites should be ashamed.

Slavery did exist, but white people living today, and several generations before us, had nothing to do with slavery. A very small percentage of Americans had ancestors who were slave owners. Mostly rich people with large plantations owned slaves and there weren't that many of them. If someone had a relative living back then, more than likely he or she was either a farmer or a tradesman. So not only should whites not be demonized for slavery because our families had absolutely nothing to do with it, but even if they did, we are not responsible for choices made back in history. It would be ridiculous. Thus, why for so many reasons, there should never be reparations.

Please speak up. I've stopped being worried about how I'm perceived by people who quite frankly, I don't respect. In many cases it's not about creating change because quite frankly there's not much we can do beyond the many things our country has done for the African American community such as the trillions of dollars that have been spent helping them with clothing, food, shelter, etc. Instead of seeing where we could actually improve things it has gotten to the primary goal of revenge. It's about making white people suffer like they've "supposedly," suffered even though it's not true that they have.

They don't have a clue about using separate restrooms, water fountains, schools, etc. For sixty years, they've had the benefits that blacks and whites have fought and died for with legislation like The Civil Rights Act. They aren't being oppressed like their ancestors. They act like they have and that they're justified in shaming white people, but they aren't. There is no systemic racism, and they have absolutely no proof that there is, but it doesn't stop them from pushing a false narrative with the help of Democrats and the mainstream media that they are victims of white people. They want us to pay for our sins. What sins? I'm okay with being held accountable for my behaviors but I refuse to be held accountable for others.

The bottom line is that race relations will never improve to any reasonable level, if African Americans continue to blame others for their plight. It's just common sense and logic.

If we remain quiet about allowing people to block the streets, loot and set buildings on fire, assault other people, then when will it end? How bad can things get? Fight the good fight. Don't allow other people to use false narratives just because of the color of your skin. Demand that you be judged by the content of your character and not accept the Democratic Party's attempt at demonizing our beloved country.

Please keep in mind, that what I wrote above isn't a statement about all African Americans. Millions of blacks agree that no one can fix their core problems but themselves. They don't demonize white people. In other words, there are awesome African Americans who use common sense and logic versus following a philosophy that is predicated upon no accountability for someone's own actions. It's hard to improve when we point a finger at someone else and place all the blame there versus looking inside for answers.

Funny

3/18/2025

A Tragedy

3/15/2025

Many tragedies are forgotten. At midnight, March 12, 1928, one of the worst catastrophes in Californian history occurred: The St. Francis Dam broke.

The official body count was 450 dead, but the actual number was substantially higher since this area had many transient farm workers who were never counted.

The dam broke just under two years after its completion. More than 900 buildings and $13 million in property ($200 million in today's dollars), were destroyed in the resulting flood. But the greatest tragedy of this disaster was that no one needed to perish.

There was ample warning time before the dam broke as a worker saw some water leaking and informed the engineer who designed the dam and he came out to take a look and didn't see a problem. He of course was wrong and that fateful night a wall of water as high as 140 feet, flowed down the canyon finally making its way into the Pacific Ocean. It traveled 54 miles in 5.5 hours, destroying everything in its path. :(

Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)

3/14/2025

Many people wanted Bruce Lee to play the lead role in the television series: "Kung Fu" (1972), but at the end of the day, Warner Brothers and ABC, thought someone more American would be accepted better by the viewing audience. Bruce Lee was crushed that he didn't get the role and it led to him going back home to Hong Kong to make films.

He experienced success as soon as he went home with a movie he helped create called: "Fist of Fury," which there's a cool fight scene between he and Chuck Norris. Besides being an actor, Bruce also had skills in producing, directing, and script writing. In his next film (Game of Death), he taught Kareem Abdul-Jabbar how to fight. It was interesting watching one man who's twice as tall as the other, get into a fight. Spoiler alert: Bruce kills Kareem. :) Warner-Brothers came crawling back sending people to see Bruce in Hong Kong and convincing him to star in a movie that ended up being the greatest performing martial arts film of all time: "Enter the Dragon."

Lee came to America to start martial arts training studios (an unheard-of concept then), but because Hollywood snagged him up and so many male actors were getting one-on-one coaching from him, he never got to achieve this particular dream.

Even if he did get the role in Kung Fu, it would've been short-lived as he died in 1973, from what appeared to be a cerebral edema, possibly triggered by a heatstroke. He had just finished wrapping up "Enter the Dragon. " He was 32 years old at the time and had a wife and two children, a boy and a girl. His son, Brandon Lee, died while making a film and getting accidentally shot by the prop gun. He was 28 years old at the time.

Funny Story

3/13/2025

When I was a little kid, my teacher had a drawer in her desk that she kept locked up like Fort Knox. With how rowdy us kids were, you'd think she'd be hiding a pint of vodka in there but no, it was the scissors we used for arts and crafts. During that particular class period we'd all hear over and over again: "Be careful with those scissors!" "Don't walk around (or run) with the scissors." She was always so stressed out that we'd hurt ourselves with the scissors.

Why? The scissors could barely cut anything it certainly couldn't cut our skin. The tips were blunt, they couldn't stab anything. They were even too light to be used to cause blunt force trauma. But what I really find funny is that the whole time she was freaking out about the scissors, in the back of the room was a huge portable guillotine called a paper cutter. :)

A Critical Topic

3/12/2025

Being a Mann about town, I thought I'd give some advice to young people who are looking for a spouse even though you haven't asked. :) Although there are exceptions to the norm, here are some things to think about:

1) If something seems off with the person you begin dating, you're right. Walk away. The chances are you aren't missing out on Mr. or Mrs. right so don't worry about it. It's so much easier shutting things down early.

2) The person you date will more than likely be putting their best foot forward, just like you, so the fact is, you don't completely know this person until you've spent quality time together. Saying you just met the person of your dreams, isn't a realistic statement.

3) Since both parties are somewhat hiding their faults, a good way to figure out who the person your dating is, is to checkout their friends. Are they kind and nice or superficial and selfish? Do they have somewhat stable lives or are they all over the place? The thing is that the person you date probably isn't the odd person out in the group he or she hangs out with. Not that this is always the case, but we all tend to attract that which we are.

4) Does the person seem to live within their means or are they hanging on by a thread because of bad financial decisions? If the person drives a BMW and has a waiter/waitressing job, it's probably good insight into the person's spending habits regarding wants and needs. Has the person been able to live successfully outside of their parent's home?

5) Is the person steadily employed? Does the person have an idea of a career path?

6) Do you have some important common interests that will get you out and doing things together?

7) Are you both similar in your religious beliefs?

8) Is the person good with animals, children, and your family and friends?

9) Is the person fine with you continuing spending time with friends. Not that they should be going out partying on the town all the time, but if the person you're dating tries to separate you from family and friends and make you feel guilty if you don't spend time with him or her, it's a dangerous sign. Controlling relationships never turn out well.

10) If many of your family and friends don't like the person and you think you're in love with him, listen to them and not your heart. In almost all cases, women wish they would've listened to the warnings from other people. When you're in love the blinders are on, it's human nature. You're in a fog and your decision-making ability is flawed. The bottom line is trust other people because they can save you a lot of heartache.

There are no guarantees in life. You won't find the perfect woman or man because if they were perfect, they wouldn't be with you. :) If you use some of the ideas above, you'll have a better chance of finding the right person for you.

Poor Choices

3/12/2025

I know I made some very poor choices when I was a teenager. I look back now and think it makes no sense. What was I thinking? And there's the rub. I can't logic make way into figuring the why behind some of the choices I made because for the life of me, I can't remember who I was back then.

A Good Man

3/12/2025

The author Greg McKeown (Essentialism) recalled a conversation he had with a woman named Cynthia and said it was a great life lesson.

Cynthia's father was an author and speaker and when she was 12, she accompanied him on a business trip to San Francisco. She was so excited. She dearly loved her father and couldn't wait to get one-on-one time with him. They made plans that she would meet him backstage after he finished speaking and then do it up on the town.

They would catch a trolley car to Chinatown, eat Chinese food (their favorite), shop for a souvenir, see the sights for a while and then “catch a flick” as her dad liked to say. Then they would grab a taxi back to the hotel, jump in the pool for a quick swim (her dad was famous for sneaking in when the pool was closed), order hot fudge sundaes from room service, and then watch the late, late show together. They discussed the details over and over before they left. The anticipation of what they were going to do was the best part for her.

This was all going according to plan until, as her father was leaving the convention center, he ran into an old college friend and business associate. It had been years since they had seen each other, and Cynthia watched as they embraced enthusiastically. He said that he and his wife Lois would love to take both of them to this great seafood restaurant on the Wharf. Of course thinking it would be rude to turn down his friend’s generous offer, Cynthia’s father replied, “Dinner sounds great!” Cynthia said her heart sank. She knew her dad was in a bad position but couldn't help but think about what she was going to miss out on especially after having been so excited about it.

But, after a brief pause while looking over at his daughter, he told his old friend that he couldn't do it that night because he and Cynthia had planned a father-daughter night out on the town together. With that he made arrangements for the next night and then put his arm around Cynthia, and they hit the town.
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No doubt you're thinking what a great father this man is and you're right. He's the famous author of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.," - Stephen R. Covey. Cynthia shared this story with Greg about two weeks before Stephen died. You can imagine what a profound impact he had on her not only throughout her life, but with just that one night in San Francisco. when he chose her.

Greg was already working on a book about what he calls: "Essentialism," but it was Cynthia's story that really lit a fire. He covers so many issues in the book but at its' core it reminds everyone that we make tradeoffs by the decisions we make every day. That we can't do it all but what is the best choice for the greatest return on investment and it's not always about a financial return as it's more often than not about personal and spiritual matters. Essentialism is knowing what matters most and not just making life decisions on the fly.

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Immigration

Video Games

The Truth About Slavery

Funny

A Tragedy

Bruce Lee (1940 - 1973)

Funny Story

A Critical Topic

Poor Choices

A Good Man

Author: John Mann

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