Tag Archives: United States

Brainmuffin: The Renaissance (Polymath) Nerd

NERD
NERD (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Europe had several periods of Renaissance starting in the 12th century. It is the Italian Renaissance of the 15th century with which many are familiar. During the later period, a person who had expertise in several areas of study was called a Polymath. The common term that later came to use was Renaissance Man.

Computer Nerd

Over the years my areas of study and interest has been varied. In high school, as I was too shy to ask girls out, computers became my first interest. Though we didn’t own one, I knew several people who did and my school in Maryland (Smithsburg High School) had an Apple ][, while my high school in Germany (Patch American High School) had Atari 800s. Friends had these as well as Vic 20 and Texas Instruments TI-99/4a. Through all these varied machines, I learned aspects of BASIC. I also learned a bit of PILOT and LOGO. Thousands of lines of code were written on paper and never typed in. I made my own adventure games and even a few graphics ones. Mid-way through my senior year I finally got over my nerves and asked a girl out on a date. Thus a second subject of study entered my life.

My major in college was Computer Science. One does not get much more nerd than that, do they? College  focused and channeled my analyzing skills and matured my coding practice. My interest in Math also expanded and it nearly became a minor. Learning from where various formulas that I had learned over the years derived open a new world. Math explained so much about the underpinnings of the Universe. Women remained unsolved, even after I met my wife.

My Own Beer

In the early 90s I took a job at the University of Tennessee in the Library Systems department. Though I went there to offer my skills for their various development needs, my world would soon expand into the area of homebrew beer. The first few batches were nothing to write home about, but with more practice and research, I was soon being asked questions by those who got me started. When I moved to Marion, Ohio to work for Macola Software, there too I had homebrewers who had been at it for years asking me how I did things. True, I was still using extract, but the recipes were mine and showed my talents for cooking. Over the years my expertise would expand to amateur judging and all grain. I even had Charlie Papazian answer tweets and get me started as the Cincinnati Craft Beer Examiner. If you want to while away some time talking about beer, I’m all ears (and mouth).

Lift Them Weights

I was first introduced to lifting iron in 7th grade gym class. I wouldn’t get another fix for a couple more years when my dad brought a used weight set home. In 1983, the move to Germany meant they went to storage and I lifted very little. I would not start lifting seriously again until the summer of 1990.

The second foray into weight lifting slowly grew into an obsession. The first catalyst was purchasing a copy of Muscle and Fitness. Though I had little variety in equipment, the magazine had ideas I could adapt and meals gave me ideas on what to eat. Eventually, I was eating a great deal more and taking the occasional weight gainer. Weider’s magazine had information on many areas and I was an adept student.

My first gym membership came in 1994. Here I had access to lots of free weights and great machines. Over the next few years I would gain 20 pounds, mostly muscle. I hovered in the mid-190s in weight for years, but I never did get to body weight on bench press, squat and dead lift. Most of the routines I was doing were of the higher, lighter weight variety.

Time passed and we moved a few times more. Gym memberships came and went, though I did buy 200 pounds of dumbbells along the way. For much of that time, I thought there not much left to learn about weight lifting. About two years ago, I again starting reading Iron Man Magazine. The writers had changed since my last subscription and many of them were in their 40s and 50s. As joints were no longer up to heavy lifting, the routines reflected a switch to higher volume with less rest. Starting what I could at home, I rebuilt muscle and drop some weight. A membership at a new gym was soon added and my journey from 200 to 217 began.

Over the course of this year, my knowledge expanded into the area of StrongLift’s 5×5. After some prodding my a co-worker, I finally gave it a try. As I was used to lighter weights, I started low. Eventually though, I would hit body weight on dead lift, with squats closed behind. As for bench, my left shoulder needs more strengthening before that will happen. 135 pounds offers a very good workout at 5 reps and 3 sets.

Nutrition has also expanded in knowledge and I’ve dropped my body fat from 28% to 20%. The struggle becomes tougher here though and the goal is 15%. I’m collecting all the knowledge I can to get lower without sacrificing the muscle I’ve gained.

And women?

I have learned much there too and what I know I cannot share. Their quirks no longer frustrate and I’ve turned it into entertainment. Motivating people is still difficult.

Long way nerd

The journey over over 30 years has taken this nerd a long way. Yeah, I’m still dorky and those who know me don’t hesitate to remind me. I can still talk your ear off, especially about computers, programming, beer, fitness, nutrition, cars, the weather, the law of cosines, the beauty in Calculus…..

 

The Path Of The Tyrant

The method of the Tyrant draws the creation of need, whether through neglect or direct contrivance, to the Public who believes the forbearance of the State till no other avenue has presence. Thereby leading the Public to acceptance, perhaps demanding, the Solution given by the State as the only viable Choice. The Truth being the State generated the circumstance and guided the Public to the path leading to the Tyrant’s placement in power. The culmination of such a path is total loss of Liberty and total growth of the State.

A Public such imprisoned by the Tyrant will have exchanged their Liberty for the illusion of Security. Their light will fade and become unknown. The memory of their Posterity will not contain the pains of Liberty, unless applied by an Awakening. A Public awakened requires temperance lest they should replace one Tyrant with another. Sovereign leadership will direct the Public to apply energy to removing the Tyrant and establishing Liberty.

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David Icke Is Full Of Crap

English: David Icke, English writer and public...
English: David Icke, English writer and public speaker (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

David Icke. To many, he is a blabbering fool who talks nonsense about Satanic cults, a Saturn-Moon Matrix, alien reptilians from other dimensions and how pedophiles run the world. To others, he is a modern day prophet, showing the way to a new reality and starting a revolution against the world’s oppressors. Are both correct?

David Icke is most definitely anti-establishment. That should not be confused as a Communist or even Socialist. He does not believe Government is the answer for anything and large Governments are the worst. His political leanings seem more Libertarian than any other label. He doesn’t seem to have much faith in the American Constitution either. He sees the found of America as a scam pulled by the Free Masons of the Colonies. Never mind there was a very large and powerful anti-Masonic movement at the time of the founding. The National Bank was defeated twice in the early years and it did not successfully return until 1913.

David Icke is most definitely anti-religion, especially what he calls Christianity. Other than a supposed amalgamation of Isis, Ra and El to make the English word Israel, he seems to give the Hebrews a pass. He also finds no love for Islam, though he does seem to like Hinduism. His definition of Christianity is synonymous with the Catholic Church and the Church of England, both of which he labels as Satanic Saturn worship. A reading of the New Testament easily shows that neither the Catholic Church nor the Church of England bears any resemblance to Christianity, so perhaps he has these cults labeled correctly, but lumping in Christianity is far from fair.

His amalgamation of ancient languages translated into English to prove his beliefs is beyond the pale. Israel more modern. In Hebrew, name is מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל which is rendered as Medīnat Yisrā’el, not such an amalgamation anymore, is it David Icke?

His ultimate goal is Love for All. This heavily echoes the very nature of Christ’s ministry. It also echoes Mahatma Gandhi principles. Some may argue that this is a Universal message, but given David Icke’s “all religions are bullocks” stance, it is more than ironic. I do agree with Icke’s message of Love. After all, it is the message of my Lord.

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I Remember A Time

Sheet Music
Sheet Music (Photo credit: jayneandd)

I remember a time when music played within my head. It was not the music of others, replayed for my enjoyment. I was my music. It danced. It charmed. It played throughout my being. It was my music.

More than once were the attempts to put it on paper for others to play. All attempts feel short of the heard music. The skills for transcription were too weak to prevail. More skills were acquired. More attempts were made. All failed too.

The failures lead to frustation. The music was sweet. The music was beautiful. It required sharing. It fought to get out. New mediums were pursued. The music changed. Results were far fleeting and mixed. Eventually the music died down as the music of others grew louder. The music that was a part of me became replaced. Childhood dreams replaced with the realities of life. The music grew quieter. The music did not die.

The music rose again when change was desired. The music again sought an avenue for sharing. It grew again to the front. Again it was not understood. Again it failed to gather desire, gather acceptance. The music is still a part of me. It still desires to be shared.

The music will build others. The music will inspire others. The music will lead others to their own paths. The music will produce music for others. The music will become.

Let the music out.

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Congress Is Worthless

Debt Star Sign - Cincinnati Tea Party, March 1...
Debt Star Sign – Cincinnati Tea Party, March 15, 2009 (Photo credit: BrainMuffin)

Congress. Why bother? Too many people want free stuff, so Congress spends money from those who have yet to be born. After all, they have to get the votes. The clueless sheep keep voting and no one can do math. Why bother?

The Fiscal Cliff was created to scare everyone and it worked. Now Congress has pushed a bill through that totally screws the taxpayer. Who cares about the future? Obama wants to be dictator and he needs the country to collapse. What few Republicans will stand up are shouted down by the morons who cannot add and vote for free stuff. The useful idiots are everywhere. After call, Capitalism got us into this mess, right? NO! Dead wrong!

It is no wonder the Government is in control of education. When people are educated, they are harder to control. Jimmy Carter gave us the Department of Education and they in-turn gave us “New Math” which guaranteed Math illiteracy. Two generations of idiots later, Obama wins re-election and most of them voted to get free stuff. None of them can do the math to know we cannot pay for any of it. Mean spirited Republicans stealing all that money from the poor. Boo!

Idiots all. There isn’t a single Obama voter who isn’t a self-centered spoiled brat. It is all Bush’s fault. The unfunded wars. The tax cuts. Blah…Blah…do the Math. You are wrong.

So, why does Congress bother to meet? There hasn’t been a budget in four years, yet Obama has raised taxes on the working class, he has expanded the sexual assault provided by the TSA, has destroyed health insurance for all but the wealthiest and has expanded the war in Afghanistan. What does he do for an encore? Expand the war into Africa, of course. Is any of this funded? Does it matter? Uncle Ben will just print more money, robbing the working class more and pay it to their banker friends.

Enough. If you really care about any kind of real future for America, there is no way you can vote for a Democrat. No way. All but a few Republicans are in the same boat. Push them out to sea and let them go. It is time for real Change.

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It is time for 2013…More sharing…More Awakening…

Happy New Year 2013
Happy New Year 2013 (Photo credit: Mark Kens)

The year that was, 2012, has left me changed in more ways than I ever would have believed. I have shared of myself on this blog and on my YouTube channel in ways that I never imaged and the response has been incredible. From the questions and comments that people have been sending me, it looks like 2013 will deliver new avenues to explore and share.

I am looking forward to writing and creating videos sharing more of myself and my world. I do have requests to explore more of my INTJ-ness and what it was like growing up with that personality. Some of you want to know what it is like have Fi as a tertiary function and I look forward to sharing it with you.

Writing of the YouTube channel, I have found several videos that I shot near the end of 2011 that I neglected to publish. Many of them are about marketing: what it is, how to do it and why. These are quite informative and need to be shared. These videos were created in response to questions and answers are overdue.

Yes, 2013 does hold some scariness. The United States Congress seems hell bent on never producing no budget and Obama continues to show he has no leadership skills. Too many Americans are voting for free stuff, with no regard from where the money will come to give out so much crap. America is heading to the same place as Greece, if they do not wake up.

David Icke continues to make more sense with his presentations and connecting events. The overlords of the masses are very scared of him. More and more people are waking up, though far too many are asleep. The year 2013 is shaping to be a pivotal year. So much momentum was cared into 2012 it looked to be a breakout year. Alas, the Republican leadership scammed Romney upon the people and the overlords were able to get their fraud in-line for Obama’s re-election. None of the fraud will be investigated and no one will do jail time for breaking various election laws. Their fraud actions show how scared they are of the people. After all, the people cannot be trusted to elect the correct leaders.

So, here we come, 2013. Are you ready for us? This year, more people will wake up. More people will take control of their destiny and refuse to rely on the Government for their livelihood. More people will start a business and more people will find Freedom. And above all, more people learn the meaning of Liberty and how it was stolen from them. They will demand it back.

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The Importance Of Your Niche

Niche in the wall
Niche in the wall (Photo credit: RahelSharon)

Back in my Pro U days, Gregg Davison was very keen of stating we needed to find our niche. This was more than finding an opening in a market. Your niche is defined by who you are and how you will express your voice. You must fit well into your niche as you need to own it fully. Choose a niche that doesn’t fit you and your customers will notice.

The idea of a niche was also repeated in training by Michael Force and Andrew Cass. It was a shared and correct idea. It again came to the foreground in workshops lead by Justin Woolf and Aaron Rashkin. Find your niche. Find your niche. Find your niche. Ok, I get it.

Recently I decided to return to trading. I had success before and the market seemed to have at least some direction. It was time to do homework and paper trade to understand trends and cycles. I had mostly failure, but this was the beginning. Time to get some guidance.

The other day I called Michael Parness to seek his knowledge. Previously I had been a member of the Orange belt options service and I was one of the first to sign up for the website www.parnesseducation.com. We talked for about half an hour and near the end I heard a familiar phrase, “You need to find your niche.” Again?

One may wonder why one would need a niche for trading stocks. It is quite simple. Your niche is your methods: the way you trade, why you trade, how you do plays and when you get out. It is about what you do in your trades. It is about you.

Your niche. What is it? Learn to find it. It is your voice. It is who you are. It is the way to your future.

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No Duh Goes To Peter Morici

duh!
duh! (Photo credit: pumpkincat210)

And the “no duh!” award goes to…. Peter Morici

Peter Morici is a guest blogger for CNBC and is professor at the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Ok, that’s nice. During the recent presidential campaign, no rally cry with the Democrats and their sheeple voting block was “Sock the Rich!” It seems these brilliant thinkers believe taxing those who create jobs is a good thing and it will help balance the budget.

Not so fast there Skippy.

The good professor has figured out that soaking the rich will not solve the problem. No kidding? You mean the problem is not one of revenue? Oh my goodness. We are all so dumb.

Yep, the facts are in. Spending is the number 1 issue with the budget. There’s way too much. Welfare, military, foreign aide. You name it. All of it needs to be reduced. For too long the politicians have been buying votes off the back of the unborn. The good professor is right. Tax increases will not bring in enough money. The frugal US government will spend all that in 6 days.

Thanks professor.

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Real Friends Have Anal Sex

Freedom
Freedom (Photo credit: Moyan_Brenn_BE_BACK_on_10th_OCT)

Now that I have your attention.

As I am not busy enough, I blog in several spots. On my WordPress blog, I posted a story about a friend of mine and the tactics she was thinking of employing to get leads for her business. I helped her see what manner of leads she would most likely get and showed her a different path. Time will tell if she will stick to it.

Marketing is an art. Marketing is a science. Many people complain about too many advertisements here and there. Fact is, the ads are there because they are effective. Marketers don’t have endless barrels of money. They must get results or they will try something else. Often times, a well researched campaign will fall flat while something wild and spontaneous will have roaring success. Each effort is measured against the business it brings in. Much returned, campaign continues. Nothing returned, campaign is stopped.

Nearly two years ago I started down a new path with Carbon Copy Pro. Gregg Davison was my sponsor and a whole new world was opened to me. I have never been the same. I have stopped accepting mediocrity and strive to do better. When I find myself in ruts, I really get annoyed and look for ways out.

I also have little patience for those who choose, no want, to stay in their ruts. Those who are able bodied and have their hands out annoy me the most. America is not there to guarantee you a color television and a cell phone. It isn’t there to guarantee you a job. It is there to guarantee your Liberty. Take it and live free.

Yeah, so what? What about anal sex?

Though some may have been turned off by the terms so far, living in Liberty has much in common with anal sex. Very few practice it and the few who do feel liberated. They more one lives in Liberty, the more one wants. Same as anal sex. Many are scared by Liberty and feel it unnecessary in a country whose government is providing everything. After all, there are other less painful sexual practices, anal isn’t needed.

Yes, the analogy does start to break down. But living in Liberty is about breaking down constraints. Breaking down walls. Striving in your own business is about finding your way in Liberty. Perhaps my friend was right, it is also about enjoying anal sex.

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The Depression of Barack Obama

A depressed man sitting on a bench
A depressed man sitting on a bench (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Barack Obama’s poor performance at the debate in Denver has been attributed to many things. Some blamed John Kerry for not preparing Barack well enough. Some pointed to the lack of a teleprompter to help convey his message. Others blamed Jim Lehrer and the debate format, usually ignoring that Barack received 4 extra minutes overall. Al Gore claimed it was the altitude and lack of adjustment to the lower oxygen levels. All of these are wrong.

Obama is depressed.

The year 2008 held so much promise. The real powers behind the throne chose Barack Obama to run for president, meeting with both him and Hilary Clinton to discuss the matter. The media, eager to defeat the Social Democrats, created a persona for Barack that didn’t exist. Could America get past its slavery roots and vote for a black man? Had change finally come?

Barack was easily able to hid his Marxist and anti-Colonial thoughts from the easily swayed. Many such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity cried out that this man was not what he seemed. It didn’t matter. Barack was a blank slate and anyone could paint their own version of the man and they did. It didn’t matter that all one had to do was listen. It didn’t matter about his pastor Jeremiah Wright. It didn’t matter he couldn’t prove his citizenship. All that mattered was defeating the Social Democrats in the Republican party. After all, John McCain had his own problems. After all, John McCain was born in Panama. After all, voting against Barack was racist.

Obama was swept into power with unemployment on the rise and gas prices falling. He had both houses of Congress. He had the Supreme Court. He had total control. It was time to do what he came for. It was time to “fundamentally transform America” into the Marxist state of which he had dreamed for so long. He appointed Tsars to oversee aspects of the transfer. He didn’t consult with Congress. He didn’t get a budget passed. He just spent money.

Glenn Beck showed time after time what Barack was doing. He showed how Barack was building a second system and would work to collapse the current one into it. The dollar fell in value. Other world currencies started to have problems. Greece started to catch fire. There was talk of removing the dollar as the World Currency. It was all going to plan. Then it paused.

The 2010 elections saw the Marxists lose too much power in Congress. Barack started to use Executive Orders when he didn’t get his way. Harry Reid held up bills in the Senate that would help to improve the economy. Surely they could still make it collapse. After all, Europe was ok and China was growing. Gas prices were climbing and so was unemployment. After all, Obama was spending more than a trillion dollars in debt each  year. Surely it would collapse. Alas….

Europe started to really catch fire. Riots in Greece spilled over into Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and England. China’s growth, fake as it was, paused. Bernanke tried a QE 2 and eventually created QE infinity. Dollars are being printed at record pace. Japan and China keep outdoing each other in buying US bonds. The US government is in so much debt it can never repay. Surely it will all collapse! Surely Germany cannot save the world!

Obama’s approval ratings during all this fell to all time lows. The media tried desperately to recreate the myth. People had to know that disliking Obama was racist. He killed the Somali pirates. He killed Osama bin Laden. Obama is a hero, people!

By mid 2012, Obama realized his dream was not going to happen. More and more truth about him surfaced. The crowds of cheering fans are gone. Wisconsin went Republican for a governor, despite an out-of-state campaign to get him recalled. The Social Democrats were coming back to power. They don’t want a Marxist state, just a country they can control. Sarah Palin continued to grow in popularity. The Conservatives won a few here and there. Even the Libertarians feel good. All is not well is Barry’s world.

Obama has been showing signs of depression for several months now. His delivery is listless and he acts as though the doesn’t want to be President. He doesn’t. By now, the system was supposed to have collapsed. By now, he was supposed to have total authority. His minions try. The TSA becomes more brutal every day. The borders are wide open and the citizens are treated like cattle. Fast and Furious didn’t lead to mass call for oppressive gun control. The Social Democrats don’t have the backbone to jail Eric Holder. Obama’s dream is in limbo and the tide is starting to turn.

The citizens of America are starting to wake up. The rank and file Republicans are more jazzed for this election than in many years gone by. Mitt Romney, despite his “going through the motion” attitude is pulling way ahead and he is emerging as wanting to be President. The tide is turning.

Yet Barry still stands, though he wants to sit. There are talks of his inability to debate. The excuse machine is running full tilt. Hilary will not step in as she wants 2016. Joe Biden will not step in as he is without clue. Poor Barack. So tired. So wanting total control. So wanting to destroy America and make it pay for the sins it has inflicted on the World. Time is running out. Ben cannot spend fake money quickly enough. The Banks know the tide is turning. Wall Street money is leaving him.

If only. If only some Americans didn’t love Liberty. If only the understood the evil America is. Perhaps then, they would let Barry be in full control. He doesn’t want to be President. He wants to be Dictator. And it is the fault of Americans that he will not. Barack Obama is depressed.

 

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