Do You Know the Price Our Founders Paid?

Good morning my fellow Rotarians.  This morning I want to talk about Independence Day. As we all know, freedom is never free!  Consider what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence:

• Five were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.
• Twelve had their homes ransacked and destroyed by fire.
• Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; two others’ sons were captured.
• Nine fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.  What kind of men were they?

Well, twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants and business owners; nine were farmers and plantation owners. They signed the Declaration knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships destroyed by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of 8 other signers.  Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. They jailed his wife who died within months.

Many others suffered similar fates.  These are true stories about the men of the American Revolution.

They were well educated and they had their security, but they valued their liberty and freedom more.

They firmly pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of THE divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

They gave us a free and independent America. During the Revolutionary War we didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

Some take our liberties for granted, yet we owe a debt of gratitude to these patriots who came before us.

So, it’s not just another “holiday” at the beach.  Sure, we all should enjoy family, a picnic, a baseball game, fireworks and time off.  But at some point this next week, take time to reflect on the history, struggle, sacrifice and significance behind the celebration.  

I thank God for our “Independence Day” in America.  And the fact that freedom is never free!

This is our news for this Friday, June 29, 2012.   

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Wanna Make a Bet?

Good morning my fellow Rotarians. Here’s a lesson that most of us would not want to learn the hard way. Some bets just shouldn't be made.

Just ask a 21-year-old Oakland man who made a $100 bet with his friends that he could fit into a baby swing at a local park.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the unidentified man (who should be thanking police for not releasing his name) lubed himself up with liquid laundry detergent and jammed himself into the kiddie swing's leg holes about 9 p.m. Friday night.

But he got stuck, his legs swelled and he couldn't get out. To make matters worse, his so called “friends” abandoned him.

The newspaper reported that nine hours passed before a groundskeeper heard the man screaming for help at 6 a.m. the next morning. Oakland firefighters tried to free him, but had to cut the chains and took him to a hospital - still in the swing. They used a cast cutter to cut the swing off his body.

The Chronicle reported… "The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his body, but there's no word yet on the condition of his ego.”

My question is this… did he collect the 100 bucks? And that is the Bottom of our News on this Friday, June 22nd, 2012.

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Father Knows Best!

Good morning my fellow Rotarians.  Dad holds a special place in our hearts, and on Father’s Day, he deserves the best!  In a 2011 newspaper contest people were encouraged to send in their funny ‘Dad Stories’ so I thought I’d share a few of them with you…

Thanks for the Soda, Pop… Before I took the old family car to college, my father loaded the trunk with soft-drink bottles filled with oil, coolant and transmission fluid.  Sure enough, my car overheated. Scolding myself for not listening to my father’s instructions, I looked at the engine and saw how well he knew me. The oil cap was labeled Dr Pepper, the transmission stick, Coke, and the empty coolant container, Diet Pepsi. Thanks to his creativity, I finished my trip safely.

Say What, Dad?... Our Gen-X daughter, Christie, made my husband a Father’s Day card entitled “Things My Dad Would Never Say.” Such as:  “Can you turn up that music?”  “Go ahead and take my truck; here’s 50 bucks for gas.”  “I LOVE your tattoo. We should both get new ones.”  “Here, you take the remote.”

What a Card… Father’s Day was near when I brought my three-year-old son, Tyler, to the card store. Inside, I showed him the cards for dads and told him to pick one.  When I looked back, Tyler was picking up one card after another, opening them up and quickly shoving them back into slots.  “Tyler, what are you doing?” I asked. “Haven’t you found a nice card for Daddy yet?”  “No,” he replied. “I’m looking for one with money in it.”

Papa Bear… My husband’s cousin married a former Marine who now works for UPS. They bought their four-year-old son two stuffed bears — one in a UPS uniform and the other in Marine garb. When the boy seemed confused, his father brought out a picture of himself in full Marine dress. “See, Connor?” he explained, pointing to the photo and then to the bear. “That’s Daddy.”  Connor’s eyes went from one to the other, and then he asked in a puzzled voice, “You used to be a bear?”

Pop Vs. Pup… While flying from Denver to Kansas City, Kansas, my mother was sitting across the aisle from a woman and her eight-year-old son. Mom couldn’t help laughing as they neared their destination and she heard the mother say to the boy, “Now remember — run to Dad first, then the dog.”

No. 1 on Our List — Literally! My father never ate unless someone prepared a meal for him. When Mom was ill, however, he volunteered to go to the grocery store for her. She sent him off with a carefully numbered list of seven items.  Dad returned home, very proud of himself, and proceeded to unpack the grocery bags. He had one bag of sugar, two dozen eggs, three hams, four boxes of detergent, five boxes of crackers, six eggplants, and seven green peppers.

There you have it, our tribute to Fathers as the Bottom of our News on this Friday, June 15th, 2012.

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Dogs Better Than Women?

Good morning my fellow Rotarians.  Did you know that there are some very specific reasons why certain men simply cannot get along with a wife? 

So, instead they own dog.  And here are the top 10 reasons why some men have a dog and NOT a wife…

1.   Dogs like it if you leave a lot of things on the floor.

2.   The later you are, the more excited your dog is to see you.

3.   Dogs don't notice if you call them by another dog's name.

4.   A dog's parents never visit.

5.   Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across.

6.   You never have to wait for a dog; they're ready to go 24 hours a day.

7.   Dogs like to go hunting and fishing.

8.   A dog will not wake you up at night to ask, "If I died, would you get another dog?"

9.   Dogs like to ride in the back of a pickup truck.

10. If a dog leaves, she won't take half of your stuff.

There you have it, why some men like dogs over women.  I don't get it, but then again I just celebrated my 25th with my lovely bride, who is my best friend!  Life is good!  And this is the Bottom of our News on this Friday, June 8, 2012.

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Bonnie & Clyde Go ‘Down’ in History

Good morning and happy June 1^st!  As we wrap up the month of May it is interesting to note some memorable events that history that occurred during the last week of May.

On May 23^rd, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City opened.  After 14 years and 27 deaths, the bridge was finished and connected the cities of Brooklyn and New York for the first time ever in history.  It was the largest suspension bridge ever built and was considered the ‘eight wonder of the world.’

On May 24^th, 1964, Senator Barry Goldwater suggested that the United States use an atomic bomb to end the Vietnam War.  Needless to say that created a firestorm of criticism that labeled Goldwater an “extremist” and it followed him through the election which resulted in a landslide victory by Lyndon Johnson.

On May 25^th, 1977, the first George Lucas film opened in theaters across America.  Star Wars was an immediate blockbuster with ground breaking special effects and it launched a whole new pop culture phenomenon.  The movie earned 7 academy awards and grossed close to $1 billion in revenues and it launched a highly successful 35-year Star Wars industry.

On May 26^th, 1907, John Wayne was born in Winterset, IA.  His real name was Marion Michael Morrison and his parents moved to California when he was 6 years old.  He played football at USC and during college got a job working as a prop man on a studio set.  Roles as an ‘extra’ in western films led to lead roles in western and war films and over time he appeared in nearly 100 movies.  At the age of 72 he died of cancer, but John Wayne was considered one of the most popular actors of all time.

And finally, on May 23^rd, 1934, the notorious criminals Bonnie and Clyde were shot to death by Texas and Louisiana state police, taking on 168 bullets.  The infamous duo were responsible for killing 13 people, including 9 police officers, during their dozens of robberies of banks, gas stations and grocery stores.  Many people had a romantic view of the couple as “Robin Hood” –like folk heros; especially after the success of the 1967 film staring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty.

There you have it, big events in history for this past week and that is our Bottom of our News on this Friday, June 1^st, 2012.

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Memorial at Dachau Concentration Camp

My New Perspective on Memorial Day

This is Memorial Day weekend, the first official holiday of summer.  And as you may know this holiday started following the Civil War to honor fallen soldiers by decorating their graves.  It began at Arlington National Cemetery and inspired many local annual observances across America.  In 1971 Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May to honor those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice.  

During my trip to Europe I learned about Germany’s Memorial Day called Volkstrauertag, known as the German day of remembrance, held in mid November.  Their holiday started after WW I to honor their fallen soldiers and then was re-established in the early 50’s to honor the over 5 million German soldiers and citizens who died during WW II.  Since then, it has come to also include an annual tribute to the nearly 11 million people killed during the Holocaust.

11 million people, how does that happen?  Well, I learned more while visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich and the Nazi Documentation Center in Austria; both were very sobering experiences.  I’m a history guy and I thought I had a good grasp on the events leading up to WW II and what Hitler was all about.  Yet I can’t explain my feelings when walking through the shower rooms at Dachau, the barracks, the crematorium or being inside the barbed wire fences of the camp and looking at the many photos documenting the horrible activities that occurred during that time.

Then I found the plaque that read…  “In honor of the 42^nd Rainbow Division and other U.S. 7^th Army liberators of Dachau Concentration Camp on April 29, 1945.  And in everlasting memory of the victims of Nazi barbarism, this tablet is dedicated May 3, 1992.”

As we talked to local people and listened to various tour guides it became clear that many had a genuine appreciation of what the Americans and the other allies did for them; young and old alike, most expressed gratitude for the help received for their country and their people during and following the war.  One tour guide told us…  “Every time I see an American I thank them for liberating my country.”  And that happened over 65 years ago.

This European experience gives me a whole new perspective on our Memorial Day.  It isn’t a holiday to just honor what our soldiers did, but also why they did it.  It is not just about our freedom in America, but about the freedom for millions around the world.   Even still today.  It made me realize one of the many things that make our country very special.

Now I have to tell you that our 10-day trip with the 50 guys of the UNI Men’s Glee Club was much more than a history lesson.  It was a truly fun ‘college experience’ and I’d welcome the chance to share my hundreds photos and many fun filled stories from our trip.  Suffice it to say, we had a blast! 

 

But for today, let’s remember to share a moment with our families this holiday weekend to pause and pray in honor of those who fought and died to preserve freedom here in America and around the world.  And that is our Bottom of our News on this Friday, May 25, 2012.

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Why This Wife Chooses to Shop Alone!

Good morning my fellow Rotarians and welcome to the bottom of the news.  Today I will provide you with proof of what can happen when a woman drags her highly disinterested husband along when shopping.  This letter was sent from the manager of a Hypermart in London to one of his local customers. 

Dear Mrs. Murray:

                      

While we thank you for your valued patronage and the use of our store loyalty card, I must tell you that I am seriously considering banning you and your family from shopping with us because of  your husband’s continued antics. 

Below is a list of just a few of the offenses over the past few months that have been verified by our in-store security cameras. 

·  July 15^th…  Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people’s shopping carts when they were not looking.

·  August 3^rd…  Moved all of the “Caution – Wet Floor” signs to the carpeted areas of our store.

·  August 20^th…  Set all of the alarm clocks in the House wares department to go off at five minute intervals.

·  September 10^th…  Looked right into one of our security cameras and used it as a mirror to aggressively pick his nose.

·  September 27^th…  Darted around the store suspiciously, loudly humming the Mission Impossible theme.

·  October 12^th…  Hid in a clothing rack in the women’s department and would yell at passer Byers, “pick me, pick me!”

·  November 24^th…  Went into a fitting room, shut the door and then yelled very loudly, “There is no toilet paper in here!”

Mrs. Murray, please understand that your husband is not welcome in our store because of the disruptions he has caused with our customers.  You are welcome to shop at our Hypermart alone.  Thank you.

Sincerely…  Frank Sinclair, Store Manager, Hypermart 

Well, I think the guy deserves a medal!  At least he had some fun.  And there you have it, the bottom of the news for this Friday, April 13, 2012.   Have a GREAT weekend!  

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Good morning my fellow Rotarians.  And this week I’m reporting a few news stories that border on the very strange.

NOT EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY

Green Tree, PA:  Gary Mathews, 44, is a "furry" dog.  This man likes dressing up in a dog costume. Mathews says he has a special affinity for the 1980 TV show "Here's Boomer", which is about a stray dog who is a hero.  This was the motivation behind Mathews petition he filed in Allegheny County Court requesting to have his name changed to "Boomer the Dog."  Judge Ronald Folino denied Mathews' name change, ruling it could "cause confusion in the community" and has the "likelihood of unintended consequences," such as being perceived as a “bizarre" person!   Plus, the judge added, Mathews simply "is not a dog."  Oh yes, there was another factor in the judge’s decision.  Among the exhibits in support of Mathews petition was a letter from a close friend who goes by the name Hobnose Bordercollie.

WHO NEEDS CAFFEINE WHEN YOU HAVE ADRENALINE?

Westminster, B.C., Canada: Two uniformed police officers were standing in line at a Starbucks to buy coffee. When they got to the front of the line and started to give their order to the clerk, a man cut in line ahead of them.  He showed a gun and was there to rob the store.  The "astonished" officers wrestled the robber to the floor and took him into custody.  The more surprising fact is that the cops had just had a nice chat with the robber 10 minutes earlier when they walked into the coffee shop.  Apparently, the robber never connected the dots!

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BIG TOE???

Grand Rapids, MI:  48 year old Jerry Douthett came home and passed out after a night of drinking on the town.  When he woke up , he started screaming, "My toe's gone! My toe's gone!" and sure enough, his wife confirmed that Jerry’s big toe was missing.  Their dog Kiko, a Jack Russell terrier, had chewed the big toe off of Jerry’s right foot. "He ate it," Jerry said, explaining he had injured his toe a few weeks back and it was so swollen he couldn't wear shoes. As it got worse over several weeks leading up to the chewing, he noticed that every time he was around their dog, he would sniff at his toe a lot. 

Jerry’s wife, a nurse, took him to the emergency room, and doctors pronounced him lucky; the dog's actions alerted them to discover that Jerry was an undiagnosed diabetic.  The infection in his toe could have gotten much worse if the dog hadn't done something. Doctors removed the rest of the toe and sent Jerry home with a new medical regimen. Step 1: Keep the dog well fed!

And there you have this week’s bottom of the news on this Friday, March 23^rd, 2012.

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