By: Jeff Walden
The annual State of the Union address is scheduled for tonight. The White House has added an interesting forum to YouTube where users are able to post questions for President Obama to answer in a post State of the Union speech. Other YouTube users are able to vote on the questions and ideally promote the best questions to the top. Well that's the idea anyway.
Have you read through some of those questions? Notice how half of them aren't even questions? How about the other 45% of entries that consist of (generally) U.S. Citizens holding out their hand asking for help with something or another in their lives. Whether it happens to be a job, asking President Obama to help the people or Iraq rebuild or requesting that he stonewall the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, these people are insane. I've gathered some ... Read More »
By: Jeff Walden
When I climb mountains, it's nice to have a reward for reaching the summit. I can't think of a better way to reward myself for such a task as to pop open an ice cold beer. It goes great with the view. Fortunately, most mountains worth climbing have snow at the top, so it makes a convenient place to keep beer cold.
Around seven months ago, I headed to the Rocky Mountains to spend a few days climbing 14er's for my birthday. On that trip, I stashed a few beers into my pack that I didn't have the chance to consume. Wrapped in wool socks to avoid breakage, they were mailed along with my gear back to Milwaukee. Completely forgotten, my pack sat in Milwaukee until I drove it back down to Los Angeles where it was kept in my car. ... Read More »
By: Jeff Walden
Tonight I caught a short clip on CNN about how the government bureaucrats are trying to kill this poor woman's four month old baby. Intrigued, I listened in. Have yourself a quick viewing of the clip on the CNN website.
Did you watch the clip? I believe it's pretty obvious that the government is not trying to kill the baby. Though, I should be clear in stating that their actions may result in a higher risk of death for the baby, the goal isn't to kill the lil guy as the mother would like to suggest. Here's the situation in the nutshell:
Baby is four months old and has a relatively rare (less than 20 per year in the United States) heart condition
The mother does not have private insurance but rather utilizes government insurance
Many hospitals are capable of performing the required surgery, but ... Read More »
By: Jeff Walden
Ultra mobile: capable of living, socializing and working at nearly any short-term location without planning.
The lifestyle is not for everyone, or even most people. The people who truly subscribe to an ultra mobile lifestyle though, are never bored. Whether it's deciding where to eat, where to sleep, where to hold a meeting, where to travel to or where to do laundry, every decision is an adventure. For the most part, I have my regular routine. For me, it's stable and secure. For most, it lacks structure and comfort.
That being said, anyone can live the life of an ultra mobile vagabond. It's not physically or financially difficult. It does require a bit of creativity and patience, but both of those skills can be learned.
[caption id="attachment_1458" align="alignright" width="300" caption="One of my many road trips."][/caption]
This particular blog article has been in draft mode ... Read More »
By: Jeff Walden
Every single United States citizen has the inalienable right to freedom of assembly. That will never change. However, there are still rules with that freedom in order to make it possible. One of those rules is that when you begin to threaten the police with your now non-peaceful assembly, your precious freedom goes out the window.
UC Davis Pepper Spray - What Really Happened
It's amazing how the 15 minutes before the "Pepper Spray Incident" can really change the view of why it happened. I support peaceful protest, but occupying land that's not yours is not peaceful and these police clearly gave warning before they went about it clearing a path from their own entrapment.
As a disclaimer, I obviously was not there and did not personally witness the events as they unfolded. That being said, this video is by far the most ... Read More »
By: Jeff Walden
I don't know a single person who hasn't been had a relative or friend somehow involved in war. Regardless of where you or I stand on the nature of war, I would like to think that we can all agree on the fact that our soldiers are making a significant sacrifice every time they put themselves in harms way for our freedom.
In July of next year a few friends and I will be participating in a Tough Mudder event in southern California. To be upfront, I didn't decide to run in Tough Mudder to help support this particular charity. I just love a challenge. That being said, I can't think of a better charity to support with such an event.
Maybe you have some extra cash laying around that you need to dump into a charitable contribution before the end of the year, ... Read More »
By: Jeff Walden
Thanksgiving is basically about three things: 1. eating until you pass out, 2. remembering how much cooler it was to sit at the kid's table and 3. giving thanks to those people who have enriched your life. I'm definitely going to eat until I pass out and I don't care how much wine is served at the adult table, eating at the kid's table will always be a favorite past-time. Yes, I still stick the black olives on my fingers and pretend I'm a monster.
Aside from the obvious focus of food, I have many, many people in my life to be thankful for. There is no need to call you out by name as you already know who you are.
You're the one who makes sure that even as a homeless vagabond, I never end up sleeping on the street.
You're the ... Read More »
Palm Springs, CA