Gentlemen, The Call of Respect sounds. Will you heed?

A sad state of affairs has befallen us, comrades. Where, pray tell, has our allegiance to respect gone?

Respect. RESPECT. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

re·spect  [ri-spekt]  noun

3. esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for herjudgment.

4. deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment: respect for a suspect’sright to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.

Please for my edification, reread that entire definition.

Now, we shall begin.

Why would someone swear a vow before God and country to wear the cloth of their nation, yet consistently act like a nitwit when in the cloth and out?

Why would, as an E-4 and E-3, respectively – serving the United States Army would, when your door is knocked on at an odd hour of the evening and you are politely and firmly asked to turn down whatever racket is blasting through your speakers, assume that the person asking you is of equal or lesser rank to you? In the Marine Corps, as a rough and ready, Lance Corporal, if someone is banging on your hatch, you instantly get a butt-hole-pucker and immediately assume the person banging on your hatch is the base Sergeant Major and you’re relieved to see it’s ‘just’ a Corporal. When a Marine Corps Staff Sergeant knocks on the door of an a couple of non-NCO soldiers, he does not expect to be taken as lightly as he was.

Fast-forward to the next morning around 1030. I hear THUMMMMMMBBBBB THUMMMMMMBBBBB and I bolt out of bed on ’11′!

BANG, BANG, BANG!

“Hey guy, I was over here last night asking you to turn ratchet down the bass because I’m hearing and feeling it through the wall.”

Was the response, “No sweat SSgt. We’ll turn it down. Sorry about that.”

Nope. I got, “I don’t think it’s too loud and we hear your music all the time.”

Baffled, I respond with, “If I can hear it, it’s too loud. You also never hear my music. If you do, please feel free to come on over and I’ll turn it down for you, because I’m not a dumbass.”

“You don’t need to get all crazy…I don’t think it’s too loud.”

Enraged and unable to choke him, “Turn down the fucking music!” As I walked away before  I’d be writing this from the MP cans.

What the hell?!

The same thing happened with the Marine across the hall.

This is how it went down.

“SCRAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWW WHRAAAAAAATGH BLAAAAAAARGH”

I’m thinking WTF?! I bolt to my door; fling it open and discover it’s the motivated, fellow Belleau Woodsman across the hall.

BANG, BANG, BANG

Door opens. “Hey SSgt.”

“What’s up, buddy? Is there some reason you’re sharing your music with everyone?”

“Sorry, SSgt. I’ll turn it down.”

“Right on. I appreciate it.”

Not even the HINT of an issue since then.

I do not for the life of me understand why someone could consciously be so inconsiderate, especially in a joint barracks.

When did we get to the point where we stopped looking at our fellow-people as PEOPLE?

Why are we as a society so short on Respect? So, just because no one is going to stop you, you’re just going to do whatever you want and everyone can just deal with it?

Do what’s right, gentlemen. Do not cause your neighbor any discomfort or aggravation. Unto all people, extend kindness.

I don’t care if you like them or agree with their lifestyle – extend to them kindness.

You are encouraged to have your opinions. You’re permitted to change your opinion based on factual information, previously unknown to you. You will adhere to your principles. The pursuit of comfort is not your mission in life, as a gentleman. Your goal is to be a beacon of light in a world plunged into an inky, selfish darkness. You will never be perfect, but you will daily strive for it. You will master your profession at your level and constantly seek those  who know more than you and learn from them, constantly learning and seeking self-improvement. You will find: with discipline and perseverance – you will discover comfort in rightness. Comfort in being a gentleman, unwavering in conviction and respect.

Gentlemen, I am not saying you are perfect, as stated before. This is the turning point. The reinvention, the reapplication of your resolve to be what society needs – Gentlemen.

Go forth, Gentlemen and be the men this world needs.

What is Happiness?

….the concurrent quests for self-discovery and selflessness and where these quests converge. 

 

Happiness can be explored by the simultaneous embarkation of pure introspection and the quest to shed self-centeredness. There is a balance in the search for happiness; a line that so easily blurs. Happiness is borne of knowing one’s self, but also in service to others.  Two seemingly opposite goals, pursued concurrently.  It may seem  to the casual observer that pure introspection is in and of itself a self-centered act. But look at the goal – know thyself. Introspection is not time set aside for tickling your fancy and self-flattery. Pure introspection comes from setting oneself in front of a mirror and pulling every aspect into a beam of scathing scrutiny. To magnify the good and bad with equal intensity.

All too often successes and strong suits are the main focus of attention when indulging in periods of introspection. However, pure introspection allows the ability to see yourself naked from every angle – emotional, mental, physical. Completely naked. Every flaw illuminated.

Initially this will be unnerving and disconcerting. But with this honesty and purity comes clarity. Stark, unapologetic – clarity. To be seen as you are – is a blessing, few people experience. The quest for happiness and contentedness is a foul and mind-clouding elixir, hell bent on preventing us to see the ugliness of some of our basest desires, thoughts and attributes.

This inability or unwillingness to acknowledge our faults and flaws is the greatest hindrance to growth.

Boiled down to basest components, human beings are social creatures who want to fit somewhere. Be accepted, be understood, loved and cherished. It is commonly thought that only when our best foot is forward, will we be accepted. Only when we pontificate on how holy and fantastic we, will we be taken seriously and accepted into the fold.

This is not the case. Despite the face people put on before leaving home, everyone is aware they are flawed.  Look around you – the ones who put forth the heartiest laugh, flashiest smile, most self-involved stories – they are hiding something. Exaggerated attempts at appearing fine are dead giveaways that something is amiss. These folks have come to the impasse where they were confronted with a fault in their lives. Some sort of flaw was brought to their attention and instead of confronting it, exploring it and learning from it, they decided to mask over it, ignore it and move on.  Following the latter course will allow this flaw to gnaw at happiness.

It is best to confront faults when they rear up and learn from them . A good technique for this is to use faults and flaws as teaching points when you come in contact or people come to you with an issue, an issue you might be familiar with. Most people don’t want to acknowledge their flaws, let alone share them with someone else. This is where the concurrent paths of self-discovery and selflessness converge!

I wanted to get this up on the blog. Please share your thoughts. This is a topic that is very important to me and I’m currently taking a class that is using a couple of different resources to teach about interpersonal communication and happiness has been a recurring topic.   

  

Friendship.

Friendship. People need to figure out how this works. It’s not about YOU. It’s about others. If you take care of your friends, your real friends are going to take care of you. Friends are not accessories, friends are people living just like us and everyone needs someone at some point…it’s our job to be there for our friends.

Gym Rage Playlist #1

Here’s a fun info-graphic to accompany a
10 song list for getting your workout jamming.

1. Clique – Kanye West, Jay-Z, Big Sean
2. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
3. Full Metal Jacket – A Mob
4. Everyday I’m Hustlin’ – Rick Ross
5. Purple and Gold – Udon Cheek
6. Riot – 2 Chainz
7. Countdown – 2Chainz
8. Backseat Freestyle – Kendrick Lamar
9. Mercy – Kanye West
10. White Walls – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Push hard this week.

The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson

A snippet from E. Jean Carroll’s book about the crazed, gonzo genius.

Alison Brie – You’re Welcome

Click through the photo to go to a pretty impressive WordPress blog full of fun Fan Art.

10 Things I Know to be True

I found this on another blog: Urban Socialites and took if for my very own.

I came up with this list on the fly, based on things I’ve been chewing on going into the New Year. Please enjoy my list. If you don’t agree, that’s fine – we’re all on different journeys.

Maybe after reading my list you could reply with a list of your own? I like knowing what you are thinking…

 

1. There are things we cannot control.

2. Don’t make excuses – offer solutions.

3. Know when to put yourself first and realize those times aren’t as often as you think.

4. Pull-ups.

5.  Everybody has something to contribute; good and/or bad.

6. All relationships require maintenance.

7. Emotions are not weakness, uncontrolled emotions are weakness.

8. The time you have on this Earth is a gift from God, don’t hesitate to pass the gift on and give of that time.

9. Success comes by listening.

10. Love completely.

Today Marks the 500th Day of Amir Hekmati’s Iranian Imprisonment

In August of 2011, while visiting Iran for the first time, Iranian-American Amir Hekmati was detained by Iranian authorities. He continues to languish in Iranian prison on false charges. Free Amir Hekmati! Hekmati is a former Marine linguist and is being falsely accused of spying for the CIA.

4Chan: Highlighting the World’s Lack of Good Parents, Yet Again…

Blogger’s Note: Found this little snippet this morning.I am loving how self-righteous society is about gun control, abortion, gay-rights, defense spending etc….yet children are being ignored while their parent crusade for these “hot-button” items, most of which have never directly affected any of them. For the love of God – Please make some time for your kids. Know who they know, know where they spend their time; both in reality and virtually.

 

Members of the infamous message board 4chan allegedly pulled a dangerous prank on Justin Bieber fans on Monday, when they created the trending Twitter hashtag “#cuttingforbieber,” reportedly in an  attempt to provoke fans to cut themselves in protest over Bieber’s alleged drug use.

In a bid to “get some little girls to cut themselves” the Internet pranksters set about by creating fake Twitter accounts claiming to belong to teenage girls. Under those accounts, they then tweeted out pictures of cut wrists and wrote messages encouraging the Canadian-born pop star to stop using drugs so that they could stop harming themselves, reported Complex.

User @BrittanyScrapma, whose account was created on Monday and had gained more than 300 followers by the afternoon,  posted a picture of what appeared to be a wrist with several bleeding lacerations. Below the wrist was a bloody razor blade, accompanied with this message for the singer: “#cutforbieber you stop using drugs and we’ll stop cutting. You make this world meaningless and we’ve lost hope pic.twitter.com/BrHhSIfJ.”

In a bid to “get some little girls to cut themselves” the Internet pranksters set about by creating fake Twitter accounts claiming to belong to teenage girls. Under those accounts, they then tweeted out pictures of cut wrists and wrote messages encouraging the Canadian-born pop star to stop using drugs so that they could stop harming themselves, reported Complex.

User @BrittanyScrapma, whose account was created on Monday and had gained more than 300 followers by the afternoon,  posted a picture of what appeared to be a wrist with several bleeding lacerations. Below the wrist was a bloody razor blade, accompanied with this message for the singer: “#cutforbieber you stop using drugs and we’ll stop cutting. You make this world meaningless and we’ve lost hope pic.twitter.com/BrHhSIfJ.”

 

Bieber has been the subject of ongoing scrutiny since pictures of him appearing to smoke marijuana at a party surfaced online last week. He has since tweeted, “Everyday growing and learning. Trying to be better.”

It was unclear who among those sharing the gruesome photos with the #cuttingforbieber tag were legitimate Twitter users, however the images sparked an immediate wave of outrage throughout the social media site. Many began users parodying the self-harm images, tweeting out photos of themselves with scissors, cutting pieces of paper or scraps of cloth, or with ketchup smeared on their wrists as in a photo by user @Pseud_O-Nym.

Those images seemed to fuel the indignation of many users, who felt that the trend was in bad taste and denigrating towards those genuinely suffering from self-abuse.

In a message that was retweeted over 179 times, Twitter user @KAIS3RR wrote, “#cuttingforbieber is one of the most disgusting and disrespectful things i’ve seen. Self harm is not a joke, it’s something very serious.”

This is posted from ibtimes.com

17 Ways to Jump-Start a New Year/New You Gym Adventure –

by Laura Schwecherl

We Can Work It Out — Your Action Plan

1. Dodge distractions. Smart phones can be a big time suck. Avoid texts, calls, and Twitter updates by putting your phone on airplane mode. (I’m doing a pushup. … Can I call you back?)

2. Avoid rush hour. Try going to the gym during off-peak hours to steer clear of crowds and avoid waiting for equipment. Extra points for going midday to stay productive all day long!

3. Know where to go. If you’re unfamiliar with the gym, scope out the scene before the workout. Figure out where all the equipment is so you’re not running in circles looking for the kettlebells.

4. Download an app. Not sure exactly what to do at the gym? Don’t waste time wondering and use a fitness app to have a plan in your palm! Try a strength training or running app to get started.

5. Turn on the tunes. Studies show listening to music while working out can help people workout harder, better, faster, and stronger^[1][2][3].

6. Set a goal. Figure out what you want to do at the gym before arriving. (Arms? Abs? Cardio?) Write down the number of sets or even a specific workout to avoid cutting corners.

7. Stay hydrated. Water doesn’t only hydrate — it can fight fatigue, too^[4]. Fill up the water bottle or frequent the fountains to stay energized all workout long.

8. Fuel up. Make sure you’re not running on empty on the gym room floor. Try a pre-workout snack like an apple and peanut butter or a protein smoothie to have enough fuel for a killer workout.

9. Time your rest. Stay aware of the clock ticking between intervals or sets. That one-minute “rest” could turn into three or four minutes if you’re not conscious of how much time is slipping away.

10. Do supersets. Want to really save time and challenge the body? Do two exercises in a row that focus on the same muscle group (read: superset). Decreasing rest will engage muscles and burn more calories.

11. Up the resistance. To avoid the weight room plateau, begin to increase your weight safely. Upping intensity will help build muscle so we can start getting stronger in no time^[5].

12. Take a class. Sign up for a yoga, spinning, or Japanese samurai sword fighting class. That way there’s a definite start and end time, help from an instructor, and accountability. (Thanks, classmates!) There’s no way not to slack off.

13. Tabata. Short on time? High intensity interval training like Tabata can burn fat in no time. (Well, four minutes…)

14. Choose compound lifts. Kill multiple birds with one stone and work the full body all at once. Compound lifts like deadlifts and squats will give muscles way more bang for their buck.

15. Run intervals. Instead of spending an hour on the treadmill, try running intervals instead. Short bursts of intense running boosts metabolism, builds lean muscle, and burns more fat in less time^[6][7].

16. Pick a partner. BYOF to the gym. Having a friend with you may increase accountability. (Don’t skip that last set of pushups!) Try these exercises and work out side by side.

17. Try a personal trainer. To prevent any sort of slacking (we’ve all been there) sign up for a session with a trainer. Science suggests  a personal trainer can motivate people to up the intensity at the gym.

Have a go-to move for getting the most of your workout? Share in the comments below or tweet the author @lschwech.

This post was presented by Warrior Dash, the World’s Largest Running Series, a 5k obstacle course race held on the world’s toughest terrain. Train, run, climb, crawl and celebrate with free beer and live music and entertainment! Sign up for a Warrior Dash near you today.

Works Cited

1. Effects of music during exercise in different training status. Baldari, C., Macone, D., Bonavolonta, V., et al. Department of Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico, Rome, Italy. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 2010 Sep;50(3):281-7. [↩]
2. Music and light during indoor cycling. Shaulov, N., Lufi, D. Department of Behavioral Sciences, Emek Yezreel College. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 2009 Apr;108(2):597-607. [↩]
3. The characteristics and effects of motivational music in exercise settings: the possible influence of gender, age, frequency of attendance, and time of attendance. Priest, D.L., Karageorghis, Cl., Sharp, N.C. Department of Sport Sciences, Brunel University, West London, UK. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 2004 Mar;44(1):77-86. [↩]
4. Fluids and hydration in prolonged endurance performance. Von Duvillard, S.P., Braun, W.A., Markofski, M., et al. Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Health, Kinesiology and Sports Studies, Texas A and M University–Commerce, Commerce, Texas. Nutrition, 2004 Jul-Aug;20(7-8):651-6 [↩]
5. Exercise intensity matters for both young and old muscles. Moore, D.R., Burd, N.A. Exercise Metabolism Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. Journal of Physiology, 2009 February 1; 587(Pt 3): 511–512. [↩]
6. Muscle metabolism and performance improvement after two training programmes of sprint running differing in rest interval duration. Saraslanidis, P., Petridou, A., Bogdanis, G.C., et al. Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Journal of Sports Sciences, 2011 Aug;29(11):1167-74. [↩]
7. Two weeks of high-intensity aerobic interval training increases the capacity for fat oxidation during exercise in women. Talanian, J.L., Galloway, S.D., Heigenhauser, G.J., et al. Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Journal of Applied Physiology, 2007 Apr;102(4):1439-47. Epub 2006 Dec 14. [↩]