NorthTX

I just read two articles about what patriotism is. One by John McCain the other by Barack Obama.

McCain believes it is "Putting The Country First". Obama believes it is "Faith In One Another As Americans".

What do you as a Fox4 Blogger think it is?

$223.00 for a pair of tennis shoes should be against the law.

Those folks who are waiting in line sure could use that tax refund coming June for those shoes.

Did anyone happen to notice if that blonde chick who was wanting to buy all the iPhones was in that line?

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she can get back her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when all of a sudden a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

Here's what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. How do I know? Ask any New Yorker, some words in New York come with a special face.

Now, here's what blew me away. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you.

When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did. I guarantee it. So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."

I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite Football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best. Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet.

You'll be happier. I guarantee it.

Courtesy of a friend via email. Makes sense to me.

I am not a fan of Jerry Jones. I don’t know the man; don’t want to know him from what I see on TV. So, the upside of the loss is I will not be seeing that commercial with him and Clarice Tinsley from years ago talking about a ‘Dynasty’. Nor, will they be showing the Papa John’s commercial about showing off in the end zone.

 When either of those two commercials air, I cannot find the remote fast enough to mute my TV. I don’t turn them off because I know poor Jerry needs the money, but I don’t have to listen to them.

Tim, you are so right. If I were paying for tickets and found out a clone was coming out while the singer was changing, I would be enraged. If you are paying to see a clone, why have the real McCoy even show up? Would they send out a clone to do the whole show if the singer were ill?

It was funny the guy (sorry I don't remember his name) mentioned Celine Dion. I went to her show in Vegas last summer. Counting taking a jacket off, she changed costumes 8 times. Our tickets were over $200. If I knew 5+ times she sent someone else out, I would want my money back.

I am not even sure why a singer has to change costumes anyway. I don't go to see the clothes, I go to hear them sing. But that's just me.

I don't watch college footbal. Even if the Cowboys are playing, I just want to know who is winning. But I have question about the pay for college football coachs.

It is being reported some guy from Hawaii may be coming to SMU to coach and could get $2M a year. Why are college coachs paid so much? It is just a game. What is he teaching these young men that will make them prosper in the future? A kid who is getting a law degree at least has a chance of earning a living as a lawyer, but there are so fewer kids who will become a pro football player and that career can only last so long.

Why so much money for a coach? I guess my question is: Why does coaching pay so much more than teaching?

Fox just interviewed two young women who knocked on the door of a home on fire. One young lady stated the homeowner answered the door and his hair was singed(sp?) and he asked if the fire department had been called. What am I missing here? If your hair has been burned and you are in the house aren’t you going to know the house is on fire and perhaps call the fire department? What?

Police are advising against putting boxes your expensive Christmas gifts came in out for everyone to see. Leaving those boxes out tell thieves what new treasures are in your house.

As reported by Fox, you could tear up the boxes and put them inside you trash cans/bags. Another suggestion is breakdown the boxes and take them to a dumpster you may see at a church for recycling. Many churches earn extra money from the papers/boxes placed in those dumpsters. The money raised at my church goes to the youth mission tour every summer.

You will also be helping the environment.

I just received an email from Bank of America saying my account is being blocked due to the number of failed attempts to access it. I know this is a hoax as I don't nor have I ever had an account at Bank of America. Does anyone know who or where I should report this?

Thanks

My sister introduced me to the game of Freecell when Windows came out. At first I hated it, but after playing for awhile, I grew to love it. Back in the 90's I decided I wanted to play all 32000 layouts of the game so I put together a speadsheet to track my progess. After a couple of years starting with the first game, I won them all except 11982 which I found out there is no solution too.

When XP came out, they increased the number of layouts to 1,000,000. I started with game 1 again and after 2 years, I played game 32000. In case you are wondering, I do this when I am watching TV at night. I cannot just sit still and watch TV, my hands have to be busy.

I know, I know, I need help.

In the report, police were looking into cars to see if valuables were left in sight inside the car. If they saw something in the car, they put a note on the windshield. Wouldn’t this be a flag for a crook to look in the car? I know the police are trying to cut down on crime and I agree the people shouldn’t leave things out in plain sight in their car, but there has to be a better way for the police to notify the car’s owner.