Ron Riekki - 2010

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That's right! I met Ron Riekki! Don't you wish you had?

I started off my weekend a little early, on Thursday, when I attended my usual Thursday night positivity group. Lately we've been spending a lot of time on entrepreneurship and things like the Four Hour Work Week, and along that vein, one of the guys gave a presentation on how to get your book published and sold. There are so many options nowadays that anyone who wants to get published can be, and I don't even mean the pay-to-publish places (many of which are scams).

Next came Friday. I was planning on going to a mixer with some new friends and just socialize, but then I got wind of a much more interesting event down closer to Orlando, so I checked that out, and met a few smart and interesting people. I learned a lot about the differences of how men and women think and approach dating. It was a heck of a drive, but I got to spend the time I was there in educational conversations.

Then Saturday I met an up-and-coming author named Ron Riekki (pronounced like "Ricky"). He wrote a book called "U. P." and it's about the people of the upper peninsula of Michigan, which is where he's from. He gave a talk to my new writer's group about how he's achieving success. He's got a bunch of irons in the fire, works his butt off, and somehow he got the attention of Sean Penn and Hilary Swank, who are turning his book into a movie. He was kind enough to tell us how he did it, and how we could do it too. Ron Riekki was very against the idea of "self-publishing", which I think he meant employing pay-to-publish houses, aka vanity-press. He says he was constantly asked by people whom he wanted to interview with if his book was self-published or not, and told just as often that very few media outlets will publicize self-published authors.

I can kind of see the point; anyone can get published if they pay, and no one wants dreck getting media attention. Since most people who pay to publish don't have much in the way of quality - else they'd be able to get published the traditional way - it's really a black mark against you because few people want to give you a chance. If 99% of self-published books are crap, chances are yours is too. (Not that traditionally published books are much better, but at least there someone else thought it was good enough to print.)

So you're wondering if I got a copy of Ron Riekki's book U.P. and read it... No and no. I picked it up, leafed through it a little, tried reading a couple excerpts, but I didn't like the way the words were on the page, I had a hard time reading more than a sentence or two, and I detested his cover (it ironically looked like it was self-published). It sounded a little bit interesting from the way he described it, like it was a good cultural reference for that area, but the tale is rather dark and dreary and I'm not into negativism any more. (Frex, I won't watch the new BSG any more because of how much negativity is in it. (Good thing I already saw the whole series while I enjoyed that kind of thing!)) Maybe U. P. is really great, but I just get the feeling that it's one of those things that proves that success is more about who you know and how well-known you are than it is about quality.

After listening to Ron's rambling story and absorbing the impressive lessons he had to teach - thank you, Ron Riekki - I then went downtown to the beach, where they had a free concert and fireworks! I went down there to meet some new friends, who didn't stay very long, but I wanted to see the fireworks. Someone else sat down with me and we chatted it up good until the fireworks finally went off. I was impressed: I was expecting just a basic show, but the town spent a pretty penny for that 15 minute fireworks display.

I also discovered an interesting new place there on the beach next to the Bandshell. It's technically a bar, but it feels a lot like a large living room, so it's nice and comfortable. I'll be going back.

And today I'm just relaxing, catching up on Burn Notice. Seems I missed the first 7 episodes of Season 1! Hey, nobody tell Bruce Campbell I missed episodes now that he's got a serious job!

Have a good Sunday, and buy something from one of these links!
















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Further articles you'll find interesting or helpful:
"The The Impotence of Proofreading," by TAYLOR MALI
CAPTAIN BOOTSIE BEAR'S LOST TEMPLE IN TIME
 Arizona you evil state you

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You know you feel good when...

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...when you walk 4.5 miles first thing in the morning and it INVIGORATES you!!!

All this week I've been reveling in how blessed I am, and today, one of my new friends came over and we walked 4.5 miles together! She left and I jumped in the pool for a while, and I feel so great, I wanna go out and do everything I've been putting off for lack of time! I've just got to get out and burn off all this excitement, put it to use, pump someone up!

For those of you into adventure hiking, and you're interested in knowing what the tracks are that you sometimes come across, I came across this handy little guide that may help you out. I'm amazed at how many NINJAS there are around here!

Get out and do something today! Maybe you'll see me out there! I need to borrow some exclamation points, anyone got some?!

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More articles which may interest or help you:
To Your Health - Part 2
Space Links
Arizona You Evil State You

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The Great Organic Myths

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The great organic myths: Why organic foods are an indulgence the world can't afford

I wasn't especially convinced of the value of "organic" foods to begin with, but I was trying some out to see if they made me feel any different. Nonetheless, I'm a little unhappy about this article.

What's next? Will they declare that chocolate isn't good for you any more too? Is there anything left to enjoy eating?

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F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

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F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

A friend sent me this. I haven't paid a lot of attention to these guys in a while, so it's nice to see some progress has been made. In 2000 or 2001 they visited my ship, the Bataan, to check out its suitability as a platform for the aircraft and to conduct some tests. I don't know if they brought a test aircraft or not, as us regular people weren't privy to such information, but I remember it because I managed to get a lapel pin shaped like one of thse aircraft. Recently, I lost track of it, but I'm pretty sure I've still got it somewhere. It was quite neat to look at.

Bataan currently carries a handful of Harrier II aircraft, which are flown by Marine aviators. I was fortunate enough to be able to watch one of them land from the air operations center once, and it was quite a show. I won't describe it here because I can't do it justice with just text, so you'll have to hook up with me at some event I attend and ask me about it then. If you're lucky, I'll've found my JSF pin by then too!

Here's a couple links to get some F-35 information and stuff, and one about the Bataan Death March, which my ship is named for. I couldn't find a model of the ship to link up for you. IIRC there's an F-35 Lightning flight simulator out there for the computer, but apparantly Amazon doesn't have any for sale right now. Anything you buy through these links helps keep this site running, even if it's not what I linked. Thank you for your support!

Imagining the Tenth Dimension

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Imagining the Tenth Dimension - A Book by Rob Bryanton:

Ever wondered what the world REALLY looks like? What all this talk of multiple dimensions could mean? As long as you're not stuck believing the '50's way of thinking that an "alternate dimension" is a synonym for an "alternate world", you may find this very interesting. I found this a few years back, and I still watch it from time to time.

Those of you writing about sideways time-travel, this should provide some realistic technobabble for you.

Here's a link to get your own copy of their book, or a few alternate history books that looked interesting. Anything you buy through these links helps keep this site running. Thank you!

This Saturday Daytona Beach EXPLODES in BBQ sauce!!

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Ya gotta love it when you've got a lot of good stuff on your plate!


View Larger Map

Anyone within driving distance of Daytona Beach, there's a festival going on tomorrow at 6:00. They're closing off Beach Street for the Beach Street BBQ Festival. Several of my friends have already said they'll make it, and since it's right after my FWA Writer's group meeting at the City Island Library and our after-party at Stavro's (on Beach street, walking distance from the library), I figure it's a great time and place to meet a bunch of new friends and enjoy the company of current ones.


Anyone who wants to come, come on! Meet up, see what it's like to hang out with a bunch of local celebrities, get an autograph or three;these are all public events, and we're all open to making friends of our fans. No snotty, unapproachable Hollywood-types propounding their Cult of Fear allowed; we believe in getting ahead by helping others get ahead.

I'll be at the library from noon to 3, at Stavro's from 3 to 5, popping into the Arena Sports Grill around 6 to 7, and out and about on Beach Street from 5 'til whenever. (Times approximate.) I may also be at the Flea Market by the interstate before noon, but no promises. If you wanna go, gimme a call.


* Pay no attention to bubbles on the map, I just linked it to show you the whereabouts of where we'll be.

Last night I had a conversation with some really incredible people. I really opened up and got them to open up, and I was stunned at the resources that I had at my disposal without really being aware of it. I've been telling people for a while now how big of a shift my life has been going through - just a year ago I felt like I'd be lucky just to be able to hold onto a job I liked with an employer I didn't, and in the past 12 months I've now had about 30 different opportunities come up and it's been hard to try to choose in what order to focus on them - and it just keeps going up! I've mentioned a death-spiral elsewhere for some people who I was helping, how surrounding yourself with negativity only leads to negative expectations and negative outcomes and it leads to a death-spiral in which you eventually give up all hope and die. There's an opposite spiral, an upward spiral, that lifts you up and keeps you up, and I feel like, as a result of some of what I learned yesterday, I'm on that upward spiral for good.

I'm not saying everything is perfect for me, or that I have no obstacles to overcome. What I'm saying is, things I thought I couldn't beat, I've learned this year that I could. Things I thought were going to be damn-hard to beat, I've learned they're actually pretty easy. It's all a matter of seeing what's happening in the light of day, with the right perspective.

When you first learned to drive a car, you were nervous, right? You had to do all those things, all at the right time, AND you had other people on the road with you too. It seemed like it was impossible at times, but because you really WANTED to know how to drive, because you were afraid to be seen as some kind of loser if you didn't learn, you devoted yourself to get the job done. You wanted the reward, you feared the consequences.

Nowadays, it's hard to get yourself motivated, right? You've started lots of things and never get them completed. You've wanted to do things and just never got around to them. Maybe someone kicked you a few times and ruined your chances.

Malarky.


What if I could tell you that you could have anything you wanted? And what if I told you that you could have all the time you needed to enjoy it? And what if I told you I'd give you that information for a price you could afford, no matter how little time or money you have? Would you be interested? Would you do something with it?

Since the time you excitedly learned to drive, learned to walk, learned to talk, you've learned how to cut your losses. You've learned how to evaluate things instantly and judge whether they're worth your time and effort. Except, you learned the wrong way. Your value-detector is broken. You've learned how to be comfortable with your station and don't want to risk anything to come out of it. When you were younger, you had nothing to lose except the respect of everyone around you if you failed. Now you have nothing to gain except the ridicule of your friends if you fail... or so you think.


If you were in a burning building, you'd be afraid to stay in it because you might get burned or suffocated. There is an imminent threat to your continued existence. You have to change something about yourself if you want to survive, right? You have to change your location. You also have to realize that you're in a dangerous situation, so that at some point you WILL put forth the effort to get out of the building.

What if you didn't believe the building was on fire? What if you mistakenly believed the fire department would get there before the fire killed you? Your refusal to change would mean you'd die. By staying the same person you are - disbelieving the fire - the consequences would be catastrophic.

That's the key to change when change seems hard. You have to find the reason why you MUST change. When you learned to drive, you HAD TO do it because otherwise you'd be a loser. Now that you're surrounded by losers and feel like you're a loser, it seems safer to believe that remaining calm and letting the firemen get there to rescue you will keep you from looking panicky. But the firemen can't reach you. You have to help them save you. You have to understand that you're in a burning building and the only way out is to take action. The firemen will see what you're doing and help you, but if you never do anything, they don't know you're there and can't help you.

And that's not even the coolest thing I learned yesterday.

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Maps are freakin' awesome

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Right here is your handy dandy list of places I've been. Call it an improvement over this map, plus I can update it fairly easily. Hopefully you can all see it without difficulty, and the link works the way it's supposed to. Let me know if you can't.

It's hardly all inclusive. Really what I should do is create a map showing the interstates and major highways I've been on, since I only drove through most of these places.

45 states, 11 countries, 3.5 continents. And probably 90% of the US interstate system. The only part of Mexico I've been in is Tijuana, but I've been within a stone's throw of many miles of the US-Mexico border. Not so with Canada - I've only been to Niagara Falls, didn't really go exploring, and other than that and when I was in Vermont earlier this year, I haven't been within miles of the border.

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Further information you may find interesting or helpful:
Maps Maps Everywhere!!
Free Wifi Hotspots Accessible to Truckers
Solar System - Sun

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Arizona you evil state you

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I got something in email a little bit ago, and I thought I'd share it with you, and then my redneck stance on the whole thing.

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The owner of the Phoenix Suns basketball team, Robert Sarver, opposes AZ's new immigration laws. Arizona's Governor, Jan Brewer, released the following statement in response to Sarver's criticism of the new law:

"What if the owners of the Suns discovered that hordes of people were sneaking into games without paying? What if they had a good idea who the gate-crashers are, but the ushers and security personnel were not allowed to ask these folks to produce their ticket stubs, thus non-paying attendees couldn't be ejected. Furthermore, what if Suns' ownership was expected to provide those who sneaked in with complimentary eats and drink? And what if, on those days when a gate-crasher became ill or injured, the Suns had to provide free medical care and shelter?" -Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer

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I don't know if the above actually happened, but if it did, I'm going to paraphrase Dan Aykroyd for a moment... "Jan, you ignorant slut."

The Suns, just like every other professional sports team, is a BUSINESS worth MILLIONS if not BILLIONS of dollars a year. They have to pay for stadiums and licenses and all kinds of government- and fan-mandated crap and they only charge a few hundred dollars for an admission ticket. ANYONE can come to a Suns game if they  pay such a meager fee. Even people who live in homeless shelters can afford that. The eminently reasonable price of a single item of Suns memorabilia barely covers the cost of the annual wages of the Chinese sweat shop that made it. The Suns employs LOTS of people and therefore should NOT be asked to pay taxes, nor should it make any sense for someone to attend or tape or talk about a game illegally.

You have to think GLOBALLY, Jan. We, the United States, have all this stuff that our forefathers just TOOK from weaker people who by definition didn't deserve to keep what they couldn't hold on to. Who are we to complain when the same logic is applied to us? Thanks to the proud work of our Congress and our recent presidencies - how on Earth each one can be even worse than the previous one, I don't know unless someone issued God a challenge - we are too weak to defend our lands and heritage and jobs any longer, and so we must go.

It's so much easier, Jan, to just roll over and allow the world to rape us. Any woman who's gone through that will agree, right? That's why enrollments in women's self-defense courses are so insignificant, isn't it? It's why we don't even bother to carry guns any more, right? It's easier to just roll over and wait until the crime is concluded and hope we survive mostly intact. It's not like the Police are REQUIRED to protect us, because we're not allowed to take the law into our own hands, right? Maybe our new owners will be kinder to us than we've been to ourselves. Maybe they'll round up all us whiteys and put us in concentration camps, and then we too will be able to enjoy the revelry that Mao's enemies enjoyed.

Look at your hypocrisy, Jan. Mexico would never treat an American this way. Mexico doesn't do ID checks. Mexico doesn't defend its borders. Mexico doesn't imprison people for sneaking into their country. (And not because no one would want to - there are plenty of people fleeing justice into Mexico every day - proving Mexico is so much more progressive than we are.) Mexico would never allow a prisoner to starve, or dehumanize one with hourly strip searches, or parade anyone around like a trophy. It's in their history, man. Mexico was built upon the Aztecs, and the Aztecs didn't do that to their slaves. They just killed them humanely en masse. Geez, you're such an idiot, Jan!

I for one look forward to our new Mexican and Cuban and Arabian masters who are working so hard to corrupt us from the inside. Yes, thank you, El Presidente, for showing us how the world is to be run. I look forward to surrendering my right to free speech that thousands of men fought and died for, and thereafter being unable to call you on your bullshit. It will be an honor to die on one of your sacrificial altars for the ascendancy of Quetzalcoatl.

The point, Jan, is that we Americans do not have the right or responsibility to defend ourselves in any way, shape, or form. Only other countries are allowed to do that because they're not as rich as we are and God doesn't have a plan for them. We must instead always trust that God will deliver us, and if it's His plan that we should be overrun and sacrifice 12 of our number daily to be murdered by illegal aliens, then that's just the way it's gotta be. Sitting on our hands and letting God take all responsibility has worked wonders for millions of welfare recipients and almost-famous actresses alike. Me, I'm counting on God sending the French to come save us from our weaker neighbors, like we saved them from those poor, scared, starving Germans who accidentally blundered across the Rhine one day. The French would never dishonor themselves by abandoning us.

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Expose Yourself #1 – Smilin’ Bill
Not Currently Accepting Applications for Stalker
Imagining the Tenth Dimension
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