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This is the first time that I’ve reposted an old article. I just thought that this one needed to be brought back to the top for Memorial Day. We, as a nation, have turned Memorial Day into beginning of summer national cookout day. I will be attending a chicken BBQ and parade tomorrow, but before I do I will take time to thank God for the people who have given their lives to protect mine. We should all take time to remember those people before we start cramming our faces with the food that is so readily available in our country. Remember, I am an American; I know what it feels like to over-eat.

Originally posted October 23, 2007

I want to take a moment to just say thank you to all military personnel past and present. I think it’s awesome that we have the greatest fighting forces in the world right here in America. I can go to bed at night knowing that my family is safe from foreign threats. For the past few centuries brave men and women have given their lives to protect the freedoms I enjoy, and I don’t take those freedoms for granted. I can only imagine the pain and loss these men and women felt during their service to our country. I can only imagine the pain and loss that the families of the fallen men and women felt when they got the news that their loved ones would not be returning home. I truly thank you all for your service and sacrifice.

Tags: America, Holiday // Add Comment »

I am a man without a candidate. Mike Huckabee was my go to guy, but he was just too real for America. I mean, he actually had and expressed his views and beliefs. How dare a man be so bold in today’s anything-goes-give-tolerance-a-chance America. So I’m left with John McCain. That’s like going out for a steak and ending up with a pb&j. After the initial shock and disappointment wear off you realize that it’s better than going hungry. The only common ground I’ve found with McCain is that neither of us wants a democrat as our next president.  Please remember that I’m not voting for McCain; I’m only voting against Clinton/Obama.

Tags: America, Politics // Add Comment »

Last Thursday night my wife and I took our 6 year old son to his first Cub Scout meeting. A recruiter had been to his school trying to garner interest in a local pack. I was once a Cub Scout, so I knew there was great potential for my son in this program. This was an introductory meeting to inform the parents about the program as well as let the kids have some fun. He had a great time, so we joined. I filled out an application to become an adult leader as well.

Where were they?

A disappointing reality emerged as the room filled with adults eager to learn about the program and kids eager to be kids; there was only one other father in the room. The room was filled with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade boys and their mothers. Call me old school, but I fully expected to see a room full of fathers with their sons.

We Need Both Parents

I believe that there are gender specific roles that are extremely important for overall child development. I’m not saying that the mothers should have been at home doing laundry while the fathers were teaching their sons to kill an animal bare handed. I am saying that there should have been a room full of fathers at this meeting. I’m sure that some of them had reasons why they couldn’t attend while others just had excuses.

This meeting was just a small example of a problem that is showing up all across this country. There are numerous problems in today’s society that are merely symptoms of the decay of the normal, involved family. ( Yes, I realize that I just labeled anything other than a family with a mother AND father as abnormal. If the dress fits…) When I say father I’m not necessarily talking about biological father. I have seen firsthand that  just because you can make a baby does not mean that you are fit to raise one. Fathers in America had better step up to the plate and start acting like fathers. If you don’t fill that leadership role for your kids someone or something else will.

Tags: America, Kids, Life Lessons, Parenting, Personal Notes // Add Comment »

I realize that my readers have come to expect posts on politics, crime and punishment, patriotism, and such. While I am very passionate about these topics, I never intended this blog to be solely dedicated to them. I started this so that I could publish my thoughts on any and all topics. To my fellow Americans who enjoy the patriotic articles, do not fear. I still bleed red, white, and blue. I am going to diversify my topics, however. If you look at some of my earliest articles you will find education, kids, and nostalgia among other topics.

For a while I also included some affiliate programs on Brainwavers. I have removed those as well. I also got caught up in rankings, popularity, SEO, blah, blah, blah. While I know these are important for business, I was putting more effort into PR than into writing. While I may be venturing into some internet business someday, Brainwavers is not it. This is not a job, and I am going to stop treating it like one.

Tags: Business, Deep Thinking, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Personal Notes // Add Comment »

I found some cool military photos that you will probably never see on any news channel. Most of these pics, which are located at MilitaryTimes,  show our military in a positive light. The good guys don’t usually make the cut when it comes to the good ol’ American media and the doom and gloom spin that they put on every story. You can check out more at FacesOfValor and Honor The Fallen.

Tags: America, Inspiration, Politics // 1 Comment »

Do you remember the feeling you had just weeks before your high school graduation?

What about getting ready to head out on you own? Away from your parents. Do you remember?

Maybe you have recently changed jobs and there was that strange “I won’t be walking down this hall”, or “I won’t use this coffee pot again” kind of feeling.

Buying your first home, or moving out of your first home into your second.

I’m not talking about any bad feelings. The feelings I’m talking about are ones of excitement; feelings that something that you have known is about to be replaced with something better. A new world is about to open up. A sense that there is something waiting that has barely been tapped.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about by now I don’t know any other way to describe it.

I had those feelings twice today. They weren’t accompanied by any visions or thoughts; just feelings. I know that all of you who have experienced this are sitting there nodding in agreement. All of you who think I’m losing it; I just ask that if you are ever fortunate enough to experience it you will recall reading an article by that crazy guy at Brainwavers and admit that he wasn’t so crazy after all.

Tags: Business, Deep Thinking, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Motivational, Personal Notes, Religion // 1 Comment »

I have decided to remove all affiliate programs from my blog. I have put much thought into this decision and feel that Brainwavers should be about conversation; not compensation. I came to a point where even I didn’t like seeing the ads on my site when I logged in. If I don’t like seeing my site how can I expect anyone else to like it.

I may someday get into monetizing again, but for now I’m going to sacrifice that $3 per month for a cleaner site.

Tags: Uncategorized // Add Comment »

We just celebrated my daughter’s eighth birthday, and I never had any idea that eight years could pass so rapidly. I was just driving home thinking about some of the events of 2000 and how they seem to have just happened. Here’s a few of the happenings of the year 2000.

We somehow miraculously avoid a global meltdown brought on by Y2K.

The St. Louis Rams defeat the Tennessee Titans 23-16 in Superbowl XXXIV in Atlanta. I actually had to watch this one in the hospital because of my daughter’s birth.

Alaskan Airline flight 261 crashes off of the coast of California killing 88 people.

An IED explodes on Wall Street injuring several but killing none.

Vladimir Putin is elected as Russia’s president.

George W. Bush and Al Gore emerge as their parties’ nominees for president.

Microsoft is found guilty of violating antitrust laws.

Federal agents seize Elian Gonzalez from his family’s home in Miami, Fl.

Windows ME is released.

2000 Summer Olympics are held in Sydney, Australia.

The first of the Subway Series, NY Yankees vs. NY Mets world series, is held. The Yankees won the series.

Iraq rejects UN weapons inspections.

George W. Bush is elected President of the United States despite a serious outbreak of hanging chads in Florida. (I hope they have developed a cream for that by now.)

Charles M. Shulz dies.

Recounts or no recounts? That was the question.

I know it’s only going to go faster from here. All I can do is enjoy it.

Tags: Deep Thinking, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Motivational, Nostalgia, Personal Notes // Add Comment »

I recently checked my blog on websitegrader and found that I didn’t have any type of redirect. I searched for how to set up a redirect, but most of the articles assumed that the reader already knew a lot about coding, which I don’t. I finally ran across an article and plugin from Justin Shattuck. I downloaded, installed, and activated the plugin in about 2 minutes. After activating the plugin I went back to websitegrader and rechecked my site. The redirect worked fine and my score had already improved. Thanks for the plugin Justin.

Tags: Business, Personal Notes, Plugins // 1 Comment »

Recently, I have been accused of being confused, close-minded, and hateful. What has my mind drowning in a pool of bleeding hearts is the fact that these accusations come because of an article I wrote about repeat sex offenders. I will never understand what goes on inside the mind of someone who can choose criminal’s rights over victim’s rights. Wow! Victims have rights too? I’m tired of hearing about criminal’s rights from the donthaveACLUe and other sleezy defense lawyers.

I Stand For What I Believe

In today’s world people are so accustomed to crawfishing (for anyone outside of the southeast US this means backing up) and trying to be politically correct that when someone stands firm on thier beliefs they are attacked as being hateful, bigots, or, oh my the worst of all, not tolerant! Well guess what, I’m not tolerant. I have zero tolerance for drug pushers. I have zero tolerance for murderers. I have zero tolerance for rapists. I have zero tolerance for child abusers. I also have zero tolerance for the people who enable these criminals by telling them that it’s not their fault. Their actions must have been caused by society, their parents, or something they experienced as a child that has been locked away for years. The doctors, lawyers, and psychiatrists who peddle this crap only do so because it means a large paycheck for them. I believe that every person is responsible for his own actions. Go ahead and label me as you will, but I still believe what I believe. In fact, if you will send me a hard copy of that label I can use it the next time the toilet paper roll is empty.

Tags: America, Crime, Politics, Religion, Uncategorized // 2 Comments »