You Don’t Need An Amazing Race To Enjoy Traveling

I am sure it is no surprise to read but I really enjoy watching various travel shows on television. Sometimes I even find myself watching movies not for what is happening right in front of me but because of what can be seen in the background. I guess it is rooted in the desire to simply see the world and all the different places and cultures that surround us all.

Of course, there are some shows which revolve around travel that I have mixed feelings about. I find myself watching Amazing Race pretty much every season that it happens to be on (I have no idea how many they are up to at this point) and I enjoy some of the places that they send people. However, the way that people react to the places they are sent (for free) and how they treat people in their home country is deplorable. Yes, there are some places that I wouldn’t consciously choose but it also isn’t my money that is being spent.

As I watch this show, I also feel bad for some of the people running around. It doesn’t seem as if there is really enough time to enjoy where they are and all that they are seeing. Traveling is not just about what you do while you are someplace it is about just enjoying the surroundings and, when applicable, the culture. This may be why I prefer shows like Rick Steves and similar series focusing on the places not challenges.

I also enjoy reading about these different places. Both destinations that I have experienced myself and places I have never been. While travel books offer an interesting, and polished, perspective (Bill Bryson is a great example if this) that isn’t my primary source of travel reading. With so much information out there through social media, that is where I like to read about various locations both locally and far away. Blogs offer a great recap and almost review of people’s travels and Facebook can be an interesting mix of real time accounts as well as open discussions about someone’s journey.

With all those resources at our disposal, it amazes me when someone doesn’t have any desire to travel and explore different places. Even just talking to someone you know who is calling from their vacation can invoke both the memories of trips you have taken but can also kindle the need to just go out and see something new. Or, as was the case tonight when my mom called me from Florida, it made me look forward to some of the small trips already written into my calendar. So, thanks for the blog post idea mom!

Two Sides Of The Sign

This week I finally got around to bringing some decorative items to the office. It’s always nice to personalize your space but not something that I have done for some time as nothing seemed to be permanent over the last couple of years. Up until now I have always used my laptop to add a little touch to my space in the form of the background that I selected.

So finally I brought in a few items. Nothing much, just a few things to put on my desk and a coffee mug which is essential now that we have a coffee maker in the kitchen (plus I am certain that no one is going to take my Remington mug). However, the one thing that I brought in to the office and put on my desk is more of a means of motivation rather than decoration.

President Truman was know to have a saying prominently displayed on his desk for all visitors to see. There was a simple slogan painted across the front saying “The buck stops here!” Yes, it has become clichéd since his time in office but it is still something that we should all remember, especially at work. You can give all the excuses you want but in reality the responsibility, the production, the decisions are up to you.

Even if you are not the boss, I’m certainly not, you still have to make the decisions on many things and you have to decide what you can’t make decisions on whether it is because of position, experience, or not having the authority. There is a decision to be made and you are the one that has to make it. Everything else you have to determine what to do, how to do it, or where to delegate it (if appropriate).

The sing serves as my motivation to do the best I can and push through any obstacle or, more importantly, and times of uncertainty or indecisiveness. But it is a sign that also reminds me of family and of a happy time just a few years ago when I purchased it at the Little White House in Key West, Florida. It was the first family vacation that my wife was included in and it was a time that we all enjoyed being down in the heat together for a sweltering week during the summer.

So, in the end, one simple sign can motivate in many ways. Not just to do the best you can at work but also to motivate to succeed at that job so that you can enjoy the times away from the office with family. There are always two sides to every sign.

Not Guilty

That brief quote, those two words have caused a lot of upheaval as of late. That simple phrase has served as a conclusion for many cases but this time around, even weeks later, there is no closure to be found. In fact, it has been the source of tremendous turmoil and disorder across the nation.

I don’t know if the public trial of Zimmerman is ever going to end and I don’t know if there will ever be a satisfactory conclusion that will ease the masses. Verdicts no longer have sway when it comes to the emotions of the public as the pain that they feel is deeper than that which can be found in any courtroom. Regardless of your opinion of the case and its conclusion, it is important to remember the life that was extinguished.

It all comes down to the simple fact that life is precious and the taking of a life is not something that should be taken lightly. However, justified or unjustified, the taking of a human life is something that happens every day in this world. What we each have to ask ourselves is where is that fine line between taking a life and preserving a life?

In this case, we have to ask ourselves what we would have done. Go through BOTH of the proposed timelines introduced during the trial from beginning to end and figure out what we would have done. Ignore the reports that have been made, the commentaries that have been offered, and look at the evidence that was introduced by the prosecution and the defense. Do you have any lingering questions or doubts?

This is what the jury was faced with during the trial. The system is not perfect but we cannot rely on rhetoric and theory. We have to look at the facts presented, the testimonies given, and the applicable laws in play. There is a lot of room for doubt to be introduced and where reasonable doubt exists a not guilty verdict must follow.

I recently came across an interesting survey which I hope you will take a look at. It is obvious from what perspective the author is coming from but it still is worth a look simply for the links that are provided throughout the document. Regardless of your opinion on the verdict, this is an interesting piece to consider. I don’t expect it will sway anyone from one side to the other, from not guilty to guilty, or vice versa. However, at least for me, it introduces doubt.

In conclusion, I will offer these opinions. IF the events unfolded the way Zimmerman said they did I would have done the same exact thing. IF the events unfolded the way the prosecution said they did I fully support the pursuit that is now taking place. IF I was on the jury I would have voted the same way they did.

In the end, it all comes down to the fact that I wasn’t there and all I have to form an opinion are the facts at hand. What I can say for certain is that we should pray for BOTH of the families and hope that peace reigns in their hearts. Additionally, I will say the same prayer for those who have been adversely impacted by those two words, “not guilty”.