Tea Party Madness

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Nashville, Sarah Palin, Tea Party

In Nashville, up until today, the first National Tea Party Convention is being held.

And to much bad press I must add.

The heat is coming because of the amount that was charged for tickets, the Sarah Palin speech, and just about everything else the Tea Party is doing.

But why?

Simple really. Because it is new, gaining popularity and might take some precious news time from other political forums.

Like the Tea Party or not, isn’t this what American Politics is all about? Standing up for what you believe and being heard.

After all, it is what the entire Democratic Campaign to elect President Obama was based on. Being heard. A voice, change, a new direction.

So why the uproar?

One of the biggest pieces covered in the news is about the cost? $550 to attend the convention is being thrown around as a ridiculous amount of money for this event…really? To attend the Democratic National Convention or Republican National Convention it runs about $3500 per ticket. If you can get one. Cost to throw one of the conventions is 10′s of millions of dollars.

The second item is that they are paying Sarah Palin 100k to speak. OK…sounds like a lot but do you know what the going rate is for Clinton, Gore, Bush, Rudy and others? A hole heck of a lot more than 100k. In some cases a speaker can get as much as 1 million or better for a speech. Stupid I know but Palin at 100k is not that far out of whack.

So, like the Tea Party or not, what they are doing is good for American Politics. It is a voice of a portion of our population. You might not agree with the voice but that is OK…they don’t agree with you either.

Thoughts?

icons or role models?

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Michael Jackson, Nashville, Steve McNair, Tennessee, Titans

I have really tried to avoid writing about this but after all of the press surrounding Michael Jackson and Steve McNair I have to talk…or write in this case.

I have been seen people crying at the site of Michael Jackson’s memorial service. Reports of 11 suicides. Heavy grieving and in some cases I would venture more so than the loss of some one actually close to them.

In Nashville, people with a constant stream of calls to sports talk radio about Steve. TV Shows about him and tons of published articles. People in tears about the loss of someone who meant a lot to the city of Nashville…even in his faults.

Outside of the suicides I understand this I guess. These are the people we connect with who possess talents we aspire to have. They are icons in our world of sports and music. They help create the news cycle. In some cases they give back and do well for those around them.

Here is what I do not understand however.

Caller after caller and interview after interview the words from fans that keep coming up is “role model”.

I have heard on numerous occasions “Steve was a role model to my kids” or “Michael was a role model in this world”

Really?

The definition of Role Model according to the American Heritage Dictionary states that it is “A person who serves as a model in a particular behavioral or social role for another person to emulate.”

Maybe in the literal sense Role Model is nothing more than someone to mimic and according to the definition people stating that these two individuals were Role Models is accurate.

But I think Role Model goes much deeper.

I think a Role Model is someone that you deeply understand. Someone who lives a life that is worth learning from. Someone who uses their mistakes to teach. Someone who is willing to share their success and applauds when other succeed. A person that you can go to for life answers. A father, sister, brother, friend or pastor. Aunts, uncles and grandparents. Spouse, cousin or church elder. I am sure the list can go further but you get my point.

I want to be the role model to my child. Not someone on TV or in sports who we do not have an idea of their personal life, attitude away from their profession or activity when not on camera or on the field.

I am not taking away any of the accomplishments and great careers Michael Jackson or Steve McNair may have had. I find it sad they are gone and it is way to early. My prayers are for their families. I hope we can celebrate what they accomplished in their craft while on this great earth.

My question:

Are Michael Jackson and Steve McNair role models or icons?

the art of the coffee shop deal

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Bongo Java, coffee, Nashville

I had some time to kill today so I stopped by one of my favorite coffee stomps…Bongo Java. Hands down the best Iced Mocha in Nashville!

As I sat for a brief moment to write I noticed that out of the 50-60 people in the coffee shop, about half of them were working business deals.

There is paperwork for housing deals, sales plans on the counter next to my computer and even I am working on some sales programs for upcoming travel. In about 3 minutes of watching I have counted 6 business cards being handed out. Just a booth over from the counter I am sitting at is an interview (this always gets me tickled…one guy in a suit freaking out while the other one grills his background).

Has the coffee shop become the new golf course?

I know I often use it to get away from my home office or as a stop in mid day to update accounts and so on.

I do think the one major difference in coffee shop deals vs. golf course deals is that there is a larger group of clients that can be worked with. Anyone who does not have an adversity to entering a coffee shop really.

Just as I am writing this I now see a church staff coming in for a meeting…how cool.

Enough of the writing…time for my question.

Have you ever done a coffee shop deal? Do you find it a productive place to work?

tents- the new homeless shelter in the US

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Nashville, Phoenix, Reno, Sacramento, Tent Cities

 

Homelessness…a sad but true reality all cities around the world.

Some choose to be homeless but many others are forced there due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

In many areas across the United States, something once uncommon or unheard of at best, is popping up….Tent Cities.

We have all seen these on specials about Darfur, India and other 3rd world areas that have an excessive amount of homeless.

But now the world is seeing something they do not usually get to witness. Tent Cities in the United States. Places like Sacramento, Reno, Phoenix and even Nashville (ours has been around for years).

This is largely in part due to a lack of facilities and resources to aid the recent homeless and the increases numbers that have come into being over the past year. In many California cities for example, the shelters fill up rapidly leaving hundreds if not thousands out on the streets.

A few facts:

Roughly 10% of the US population is out of work right now…and thank God that seams to have started slowing and declining a slight bit. This does mean that 90% of us can still help.

The bulk of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. One of the leading factors to “middle” class America winding up in tent cities.

Most of the people in Tent Cities want to work but are having trouble finding it. The number is somewhere around 90% who want work.

All this known, what is one thing we could do that would make a difference in their lives? or Keep this from happening to more people?

I don’t think it has to be major…maybe as simple as a bag of food.

Let me know….

I’ll start. Start teaching financial literacy so the “middle” class can avoid these pitfalls. Pass out a copy of Total Money Makeover to someone you think could need the help right now. (my approach comes from prevention) For those already in need….serve at the rescue mission.

why your church?

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BCC, Bellevue Community Church, Bill Todd, David Perez, Nashville, The Church at HopePark

It is a curiosity of mine why people attend the churches they do…or not attend.

For me it is simple. I choose The Church at HopePark (Bellevue Community Church) in Nashville because it is geared towards my personality.

The music rocks, it is inviting and not stuffy, plus I can wear my baseball cap and drink my Starbucks all while enjoying a message from David Perez. Also, I have never seen one time where we acted exclusionary to anyone coming in from another faith. Our new small groups formation is going awesome (yep, pressure now being put on you Bill Todd:)). And finally, we truly find a way to get involved in the non-churched community and bring people together for fellowship like on 4th of July.

My curiosity is probably sitting in my reasons why I attend where I do but I always find it interesting when I see people pouring in other church buildings. Especially living in the most churched community in the United States. Why the Baptist church? Why that one? Why the church that is formal and you have to wear a shirt and tie? Why the one that does not allow music? and so on.

So here is where you come in.

Where do you attend? Give your church a shout out and provide a web link if you like.

Also, Why do you attend there?

If you don’t attend, why not? (You responses are safe here..no criticism, just curiosity)

www.hopepark.com if you want to see more about the amazing place I attend.

classless act

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Gibson Guitars, Kyle Busch, Nashville

First off, I am not a racing fan.

I personally do not get NASCAR and race car driving in the least.

What I can say however is that I respect the sport.  Just because it is not my cup of tea, doesn’t mean that the millions who follow it do not have a sport to be proud of and that it has a place within the sporting world.

That being said….

At Nashville Super Speedway, driver Kyle Busch crossed the sportsmanship line and landed himself clearly as a classless schmuck.  I do not know who the drivers are and really do not care, but I cannot imagine Kyle is a good representative of his sport.

Nashville, since it started the speedway, has had a trophy that is considered to be one of the coolest in racing.

It is a custom made Gibson Guitar.  A guitar worth thousands of dollars and hand made.   This years made by famed guitar maker Sam Bass.

In the Nashville community and music world, it is looked at as a symbol of the city and the culture it represents.

It is always presented to the winning driver by the designer and builder of the guitar.

Yesterday, following his victory in Nashville, Kyle Busch was presented with the guitar which he then proceeded to smash.  Possibly a lame attempt at being a rock star.

Smashed the Guitar Trophy that was hand made over several months and an iconic symbol of the Nashville Race.

An action of complete and utter dis-respect for the city and the race.  A total moment of selfishness, classlessness, and immaturity.

An overpaid idiot acting like a fool.  Plain and simple.

After all, if it wasn’t for these races, their fans, and these trophies, Kyle Busch wouldn’t have a job.

This all being said….acts like this say a lot to me about what kind of world we are becoming and the fact that some fans will probably cheer the move of smashing the guitar.

To me it shows what kind of world we are becoming……it is sad really.

We are becoming a world that does not value the competition of sport and its fans, we just look for a paycheck.

We are becoming a world in which dis-respect is the norm and not the exception.

We are becoming a world that is about me and not about you.

We are becoming a world that expects it for free and does not wish to work for it.

Your thoughts? I know, I probably pulled way more out of this stupid video clip than it represents, but it just got me thinking.

as I travel

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BC, Nashville, Oregon Coast, Portland, Seattle, Washington DC

Today begins a whirlwind of travel for me.

Chicago for three days, back to Nashville for a day, then Portland, the Oregon Coast, Seattle, British Columbia Canada, back to Nashville.  Shortly there after Washington DC.

The upside to all of this is that I love to travel.

I love to people watch, eat, and soak up the cities and areas that I am in.

I can help but absorb the locals and their idiocies.

Body language, slang, accents etc.

For example: if you visit me in Nashville I will take you to eat at a Meat and Three and then head out for a little Honkey Tonkin.  Y’all in?

So my question to you is this…When you have traveled, what have you found to be some of the coolest things you have heard said, done, or food eaten?

your great city

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Cafe Loveless, Centenial Park, Katy K's, Nashville, Pancake Pantry, Printers Alley, Tennessee T-Cakes, Vanderbilt

Any of you who have read me for a while know I LOVE TO TRAVEL.

Not just out of the country, but also within the states.

One of my absolute favorite things to do is root myself into a city or town and explore.  Explore the restaurants, pubs, shops, businesses and people.  Maybe play a little golf on some local links.

The reason I love to do this is that you gain a wonderful understanding of the local culture and its people.  What they like, dislike, political views etc.

I also believe that no matter where you live, your town or city has something special to offer.  You might not realize it because you have lived there for a long time, but it does….maybe even just a rope swing over a river that has been there since the early 40′s and your mom and dad met there…who knows.

Here is what I want to do….share your town.

Where do you live?  If any of us were to visit, what is a must do when there?

I will start…Nashville, TN.

Must do’s: Grand Ole Opry for the history of it all (even if not a country music fan):  Pancake Pantry a must for breakfast: Katy K’s for shopping (all your boot scootin needs):  Printers Alley or Broadway for Honkey Tonks and live music:  Cafe Loveless for dinner (home of the biscuit lady):  The Parthenon @ Centennial Park, the full size replica of the original and a great park:  The Village at Vanderbilt…great walking area with some cool shops:  and don’t forget to pick up a box of Tennessee T-Cakes when in town!

how do you green?

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Al Gore, Global Warming, Green, Nashville, Recycle

I hope everyone had an amazing Easter break and is renewed….mentally, physically and spiritually.

Over the past few years I have been much more conscious of green.

You know…green.  The movement to use less energy, recycle more and use less.

Now, I have to admit, I am not “green” because of the Al Gore Global Warming thing or because I think our planet is going to explode in 5 years from all of us damaging it. In fact I think it is people like Gore who have pushed some away from the idea of green….why you ask….simple…ask any Nashvillian and they will tell you Gore is the biggest hypocrite of them all…but I digress.

I am greener because I think it is the right thing to do.  We are all responsible for how our planet looks, feels, and thrives so why not do things that are overall just better for it.

Here are just a few things I do..not much but something.

Recycle- everything I can.  Even my cups from the local coffee house.  Impact has been awesome.  My house of three usually only has 1 bag of garbage a week..sometimes 2.  Significantly less than the 3-4 most houses have going to the dump weekly.

Drive less- Unfortunately I have to drive a van (insert jokes…go ahead) for work.  What I have been able to do is to plan my travel smarter so that I consume less.

Open the windows in my house- A simple way to air out the house, turn off the air conditioning or heat, and let the house act more natural.  Don’t think it helps….My largest electric bill last year was $89 and gas bill right at $75.  And this on a fairly large house.

Buy green- green building materials, recycled things etc.  When I can and the cost prohibits.

Use canvas- it is the simple things like a canvas re-usable grocery bag that make a huge impact.  A $7 initial investment in some bags, and no more “paper or plastic” discussions at the store.

Turn off lights and water- thanks to my daughter and a lesson they learned at school, we are much more cautious about the lights and water….this could also be a contributor to lower bills but we have only been doing this the last couple of months.

There are other things we do but I want to hear from you….

Do you green?  What do you do?

The Time Has FINALLY Come

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Football, Hockey, Nashville, Nashville Predators, Soccer

Today, is the last day.

Tomorrow is the day.

The stars align, the sun shines bright (well usually it gets cloudier) and my life falls into place.

Children dance and sing.  My business bustles and every gas station in Nashville has fuel (fingers crossed).

Do you know what time it is….it is my favorite time….

HOCKEY SEASON!  Tomorrow at 6pm sharp the rookies kick off the pre-season for the Nashville Predators and my happy little bottom will be sitting in my seats with a smile on my face looking forward to 40 glorious nights of hockey.

The excitement overwhelms me like a child on Christmas morn. 

What gets you absolutely jazzed?  Football, Hockey, Soccer?  First Snow (if we have it)?  A big sale at work maybe?  Let me know….I want to know what people get really excited about.