Remember the old saying “Stick and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me?” I like its sense of grit. It leaves one insulated from insults, out of reach of any feckless rhetoric. Now, a more popular version today can be summarized in an Eric Idle quote, the fantastic comedian from Monty Python. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will make me go in a corner and cry by myself for hours.” You gotta love it.

What has happened to us as individuals and as a society? When did we become so thin-skinned, so weakened by the words of another? How have we decayed from our original and inalienable virility to this wussy modern day mindset of vulnerability in the face of vulgarity?

Listen, if you can be wounded by the words or non-violent expressions of another, what the hell has happened to you? Offensive remarks and actions are in the ears and eyes of the beholder, or something like that. If you can be punched by the puny words of your neighbor, it’s your fault. Crushed by the remarks of a critic, I blame you. Solace is yours, if you surrender to another’s slander, you got bigger issues. If you’re truly tormented and traumatized by the words and actions of another, why not just admit your personal masochism and move on?

“Oh, Brian, let’s not be insensitive. We don’t want to hurt any feelings.” If that’s your opinion, I’d tell you where to go, but let’s face it, you’re already there! Your neurotic frailty condemned you long ago.

True, for younger folks, comforting words work. Who would ever advocate derailing a growing mind through derision. At some stage though, don’t we grow up, don’t we begin to realize that outside slams only make us stronger? Is there not a tipping-point when “sensitivity” only serves to coddle a human mind? At some juncture, sensitivity only stunts and enslaves growth. We begin to take outside opinion, make it our reality and chain ourselves to exterior comment and critique. What greater form of prison could you ask for?

When will we finally cure ourselves of the adult onset of sensitivity?

You have a natural right, protected by the First Amendment, to say what you think, as ignorant, insensitive, asinine, classless and crass as it may be. I have the ability to ignore your opinions and actions or, I can vote to invite it in. Should I choose the latter, how can I blame you? I welcomed you in. It’s my fault if your words or actions hurt me, not yours!

If you decide to respond to this post with a lack of compassion and complete insensitivity for my point of view…GOD love ya!

Please feel free to slam me on Facebook

You are welcome to ridicule me on Twitter

As a supporter of the Court’s decision, a former police officer and a member of the NRA, I am very curious as to the next steps on both sides of the debate.

Now, all eyes will be on Mayor Daley in Chicago. How will the city respond? What additional hurdles will be put in place to gun ownership? Just how difficult can they make it for gun owners? One thing is for certain, the Mayor will not take this lying down.

I firmly believe that the “Life” in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness begins with your right to arm yourself so as to protect that very Life from those with a depraved indifference to it. For those that would rather rely on 911 and their local police agencies to protect them, they should feel free to do so. For those of us realizing that our local police departments, though honorable and well intentioned,  are already spread way too thin and that we have both the right and the solemn requirement to protect our loved ones, we should be allowed to feel free also.

Please feel free and totally encouraged to comment at Facebook or Twitter

The Ayatollah in his latest search for a Satan singles out the CIA. What took him so long? It’s already Wednesday.

With the Military forces in Iran are using batons, bullets, water canons, tear gas, tanks, armored police vehicles, motorcycles, helicopters and roof-top snipers, when they attack human-shields from behind shatter-proof riot shields, I have a couple of questions.  Just how much would it cost the CIA to fund the rocks and broken pieces of cement I’ve seen the protesters using? What’s a ton of busted up concrete going for these days? Mortar against mortars, what’s the bottom dollar line?

Actually, I have a follow-up question? Does the CIA take credit cards?

A “major role” is it?

As the Salem-type scapegoating continued, the “Supreme Leaner“, not to be dissuaded stated, “I had insisted and will insist on implementing the law on the election issue,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “Neither the establishment nor the nation will yield to pressure at any cost.” Apparently the blood of his own people figures into his cruel cost analysis.

Two related notes.

Mullahs against Mahmoud? Are Iranian Clerics joining in on anti-government protests? Whether out supporting  Mir Hossein Moussavi or an unbiased recount of the votes cast in the recent national Presidential election, or perhaps in response to the martyrdom of Neda, marching Mullahs in the media are signs worth noting. Of the death of Neda Agha-Soltan, President Obama said, “It’s heartbreaking” and “fundamentally unjust.” Perhaps our Commander in Chief and some Iranian Clerics are in agreement.

The wife of Iranian opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi speaks out. In a move reminiscent of the passion and courage of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Zahra Rahnavard demanded the immediate release of those imprisoned in light or recent protests. Her government appears unfazed by her plea.

Given the depraved indifference to human life shown by the Iranian leaders towards their own people, is it any wonder why Israel, England and the West refuse, “at any cost” to stand by and let them become a nuclear power?

Al Qaeda wants the Pakistani Nukes to destroy the Americans and will fight beyond the Swat Valley to get their way and the weapons of mass destruction they long for.

The Taliban “Fearocracy” wants us (especially woman) conforming to their strict, unimaginably cruel codes and will use nukes and bombs to do it. Just ask the Buddhas of Bamiyan how it went. Apparently “all’s fair for a Sadist with a Stick.”

Kim Jong-il  and Pyongyang want nukes and will visit unimaginable terror on us if we interfere with their proliferation or their plans to become a nuclear power.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei  has taken the title “Supreme Leader” to a new low by promising bloodshed and then delivering it to his own followers by unleashing the  murderous Basij on motor bikes.

That said, have you heard much from the Somali pirates of late? Shortly after U.S. Navy snipers donated three bullets, backed by gunpowder, into the three Somali Pirates to free Captain Richard Phillips, they gang back home vowed “revenge” on the U.S.

I haven’t seen a single Somali Pirate volunteer to stand up to our Special Forces yet, have you?

Before the email and comments start, I’m not a hawk.  I’m not suggesting we go to war, invade another country, assassinate a foreign leader, or threaten anybody; heaven forbid.  “That would be wrong” to quote former President Nixon. I’m just wondering if playing the dove is getting us in a bit of hot water of late.

My Sensei once said to me “Sometimes, compassion is only compassion, when it has strong teeth.”

This year our favorite finds come from companies big and small. Adventure Medical Kits, Camp, Fishpond, Icebreaker, Larabar, PrincetonTec, Tilley and Topo. Welcome to the 2008 Summer version of Gear-2-Get.

Lynda and I hung out around and inside the Mobile Base Camp, the Lance camper / Ford F350 Super Duty. We talked tech, some philosophy encouraged listeners to Go RVing and checked the local weather on my Garmin GPS.

The 2008 Wonder, Explore, Believe National Tour has been a real learning experience. As I grew from the interactions with the people I met and the adventures along the way, the “Mobile Base Camp” changed as well. I was very excited to show Keith McCord the current evolution of my Lance Camper with six 85 watt Kyocera PV’s (solar electric panels), an Air Breeze Wind Turbine along with the rain harvesting system provided by Katadyn, just to mention a few “add-ons”. If you haven’t seen the video yet, KSL.