Boy Scout HandBook

Why didn’t I read this book 15 years ago.  The other night I stumbled across my old Boy Scout Handbook which I last read in 1999.  The detail this book goes into is impressive; some tips it illustrates can be seen in wilderness shows like Man Vs Wild  and Survivor Man.  These kind of shows have experts teaching the public how to exist off the land and persevere in the wild.  Here I thought their skills could only be acquired over years of military training just to find out it’s in my Boy Scouts of America Handbook the whole time.  How many man out there were in the Boy Scouts and went throw the system, did the badges, worked the way up the ladder but didn’t really absorbing what was taught, or even read the book 100% throw.  I’m starting to wish I would have and am thinking it’s not to late.

Just looking over the knots chapter, I’ve used 80% of them in the last year alone.  Right now I’m CPR/AED and basic First-Aid  certified and the First Aid chapter in the handbook teaches a lot of this information plus more.  Looking over this book is almost a realization of what was missed and the ignorance we all once had.  I’m going to start reading this book in detail wile practicing the techniques taught in it.  Something that should have been done decade ago.

Book Review: “Think Big And Kick Ass in Business and Life”

Donald Trump wrote this book with Bill Zanker who started The Learning Annex, both big minded business owners with a fired up attitude about running corporations.  It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Donald Trump book because they are all similar and talk about the same basic principals.  However, each book has new points and different takes on his point of view.  This book, “Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life” features Bill Zanker and all his views and opinions about the subject Trump high lights.

Bill Zanker became big in business because of Trump which gives the book a interesting feel.  Each author takes turns talking about a subject and shares their experiences and teaching how that subject.  Some of these chapters Donald Trump has talked about in older book but to hear Zankers take on them throws a curve ball in the game.

The book was a good read and it is hard NOT get fired up when you read one of Trump’s books.  Because of that reason I spread out how often I read his books, saving them for a time when some extra firer is needed under my tail.  On a side not, anyone who puts this kind of title on a book deserves at least a look.

Abraham Lincoln

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”

-Abraham Lincoln-

Trying to Quit Smoking Cigarettes

We have talked about cigar being a “healthier” version of smoking, so looking at the information we might be able to conclude that cigars could be a good transition from cigarettes to quitting.  One reason smoking cigars has become so intriguing is due to the culture and process that surrounds them.  You could use the ritual of lighting and enjoying the cigar as a step down off cigarettes.  Now let me clarify something first, this is a hypothesis.  I have never smoked cigarettes and have never tried to quit them, just thought of this through the facts presented.

We will start with the fact that tobacco leaves have nicotine in them, where do you think then get it from.  Cigarette companies gather and compound the nicotine from the leaves and add it to their products, making them more addictive.  Concluding that cigarettes have more nicotine then cigars.  Cigars do have nicotine, just not a lot.  This leads me to my first point, by smoking less cigarettes and smoking more cigars, you will be weaning off the nicotine while still getting your fix.

My next thought is the process and procedure of smoking a cigar.  Your just done light it, puff a few times and pitch it.  It takes a few min to light it evenly without ruining the taste.  Follow that with smoking the stick over a period of one to three hours.  Keep in mind the fact that puffing a cigar needs to be spread out over time, smoking it too fast will make it burn too hot which will trash all the complicated flavors of the cigar.

This is just one hypothesis and I would like to hear other people’s thoughts about it, so what do you thing?  On paper it should work but will it be strong enough to fight that compounded nicotine addiction?  You tell me…

Theodore Roosevelt

“Freedom from effort in the present merely means that there has been effort stored up in the past.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

Book Review: “How To Develop Your Family Mission Statement”

Every where in society there are books about setting goals, this book is a twist on that.  Having a mission statement is like having a permanent goal, something to always reach towards.  The way Dr. Stephen R. Covey lays out the purpose and meaning behind having a family mission statement will drive you to form one of your own.  Covey has written a few books and this book is a good platform to dive off into his other life changing publications.

If you buy the book new, the purchase will include a computer CD with printout designed to help you every step of the way.  “How To Develop Your Family Mission Statement”  is a quick read that will help you define the purpose of your family.

Benjamin Franklin

“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do”

Benjamin Franklin

Winston Churchill

“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

-Winston Churchill