I Want My Child To Be A Thermostat

    “I want my child to be a thermostat, not a thermometer.” Desiring that his child develops into one who will effect needed change instead of only reflecting it, author James C. Hunter makes this statement in his book, The World’s Most Powerful Leadership Principle (2004). It is appropriate that we give credence to Hunter’s statement because it articulates what we should desire, with temperance, in all youth. By youth, I am referring to middle and high school students (however, elementary youth should be given an appropriate audience). Indeed, there are many young voices out there, now, crying “leadership”, “ownership”, and “sharing” in the decisions involved in many current issues.

     When we express our voices we are expressing ownership. When we express ownership, we are exercising leadership; simple math tells us this. Sadly, many adults do not take ownership (one of the steps to taking ownership for them, simply, would be to vote). If adults consider youth the inheritors of the future – we want them to express their voices as voters of the future - why not give them the opportunity to express their voices (and leadership) now?

     Today’s youth should, more and more, be given the opportunity to voice their opinions and exercise leadership. For example, in the 4-H Youth Program, this focus is evident in such state-level events as Junior Leadership Conference, Citizenship Conference and Washington Focus, 4-H Day at the Capitol, and the Conference on Cooperatives. The names and content of learning activities of a particular youth program may vary from state to state and from locality to locality. However, the point is this: all youth should not only take the role of participants, they should also be taught and encouraged to organize, plan, and help conduct events.

     In the county-level 4-H Program, youth learn how to express their voices through parliamentary procedure, collective decision-making, leadership, and teamwork. Youth professionals equip both adult volunteer leaders and club members with the skills to plan and present/conduct individual as well as club level activities.

     In planning and conducting activities, unexpected setbacks and disappointments may happen; however, they are reinforcements to learning and their occurrence not unusual. My take on leadership development is to equip and then facilitate. Offering help, for example, to a particular youth club that would like to plan a county (or parish) wide event, to include identifying a location, buying awards, and, most importantly, contacting all interested, county-level members of the particular youth program and inviting them to the event. In this scenario  members of the club that planned the event are allowed to exercise their sense of ownership and leadership skills – youth professionals and adult volunteers facilitate the whole process from beginning to end by sharing in the planning and providing professional knowledge, life experiences, and lessons learned.

      In reference to Hunter’s comment, above, I want all youth with whom I work to be thermostats and not thermometers.

    

A Letter to Mom

     This entry in The Good Life is devoted to my mom; a nice, 80-something year old lady of Italian ancestry who misses her husband. My dad passed away in 2001. When he died it seems a big part of my mom died with him - she has not been as happy or as positive. She dwells on the good-old-days of the past and the endless list of human evils of the present. I would like to mail her the following letter, but am afraid she will accept it defensively. If anyone who reads this entry can identify with me, in this relationship with my mom, I would more than appreciate some words of comfort and advice.

                                                                                                                   January 28, 2013

    Dearest Mom and Friend:

    You truly have been a mother and friend, and I trust you are doing well since we spoke last.

     I wanted to write, today, because of two concerns. First, although I consider us friends, I feel that we have not grown in this relationship for the past 15 or 20 years. I enjoy phoning and speaking with you twice a month and have enjoyed the occasional visits between me, the boys and Anita, and you – these all have been important, but I would like to improve our relationship in the near future. When Anita and I can sell our house, we will do so and move to Florida, closer to you.

     The second concern deals with your outlook on life since Dad past away. Right now, let’s say, you were offered a trip to heaven by a mysterious being. This being promises you that you would find Dad upon arrival and that you and Dad would live together in peace and happiness for all eternity. Would you take the offer? I know I would not. And I know you well enough that you would not. Let me explain why I feel this way.

     First, we don’t know this mysterious being that is offering the fantastic journey to heaven. And who does this being think he is? Does he truly know you would be reunited with Dad in the same way you were with him on earth – no one makes this promise – not even the holy Bible. God’s word, as revealed in the Bible, promises only eternal life, should one accept Jesus Christ as his/her savior. Consider that our eternal, heavenly bodies will be more concerned with being with God and getting to know Him – there will be an eternity for us to visit our loved ones, but (I feel) in a different way. To guess about how we will live in heaven would be wrong.

      Wrong or changed Christian beliefs have come down to us mortals, like a waterfall, throughout history. And they have been heaped upon us to bear throughout our earthly lives. In Christian belief and worship, God asks that we keep things light and simple, that we just have faith. Recall the apostle Paul who wrote in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” 

     Faith is real! It is literally underneath us, as we stand (the sub-stance) convicted (or convinced) of things described in God’s word; things we cannot now see or even dream of.  However, as Paul also writes in 1 Corinthians 13, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then (when we finally reach that eternal life) we shall see face to face (the truth).”

     The Second reason for believing you would not go on the trip offered by the mysterious being is selfishness; selfishness on my part. Why would you want to go on a mysterious trip when our (yours and mine) total time together has not been spent?  Why would you want to “leave me and others alone at the movie before it ends”?

     So, dearest Mom and Friend, please don’t trust the mysterious being; stop longing for restful sleep. Instead, continue to trust in the Lord with all your heart and in all ways, and He will direct the paths you take (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Love, always,

Kenneth

The Exaggeration of Mankind

The Exaggeration of Mankind

     The world, unfortunately, is full of exaggeration. I am not speaking of statements that are meant to create surprise or comments such as, “Man, this purse weighs a ton.” This statement may be teaching a lesson or making a point. I am speaking more of what I call deliberate exaggeration; things that people do or the way they act that, to me, are excessive and maybe even ridiculous. For example, facial makeup exaggerates features that someone may want but does not have. It exaggerates the faces that God gave us.  Another example was the recent race for the Presidency. Candidates exaggerated aspects of their opponent’s political or business record and even their personal lives. Of course, the exaggerations were meant to stimulate doubt about the ability to govern the nation.

    Exaggeration seems to be more prevalent among celebrity artists. I am not knocking the gift a celebrity may have and his or her desire to share that gift with others. And he or she should be compensated for their performances and works of art but, for Pete’s sake, let’s establish a reasonable pay scale. To be fair, however, the television, theatre, and movie industries do add to the insanity by making outrageous money deals. And, of course, the media does a great deal in exaggerating the public and private lives of celebrities to the point of ad nausea.

    Of course, exaggeration is not confined to that of humans. It is prevalent in the manipulation of both animals and plants. Have you ever noticed how livestock or companion animals are dolled up for exhibition shows to emphasize traits (longer body and deeper chest, etc.) that are not there or fully there? Do we really know how much money is spent on genetic, pharmaceutical, and pesticide research to make the largest, greatest producing, and most attractive plants and animals?

     Now, some may say Jesus Christ exaggerated when he said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven (Matthew 19:24).” For the purposes of this paper, Jesus did exaggerate; but consider he was teaching a simple lesson (and, besides, my feelings are that God can do anything). Why can’t today’s world be kept simple?

      I think Bill Cosby said it all. He told the story of how mankind created the washing machine to make clothes washing easier. He added that God created the rabbit to run fast as a means of escaping predators. The washing machine can wash permanent press clothes in 10 minutes. The rabbit can run 25 mph. One day, the washing machine, for some unknown reason, stopped working; the rabbit is still running.

Animal Raising Guidelines - Chickens (Broilers)

      As a professional 4-H Agent I learned that the university I worked for did not provide any short papers on how to raise animals. And so, I developed  guidelines that youth and their parents could use when thinking about the kind or kinds of animals they would like to raise as 4-H or FFA (Future Farmers of America) projects. I soon found the guidelines were useful to adults raising animals for a profit. In these times of unknown economic conditions, I feel these brief papers on how to raise animals will be beneficial to those interested in raising their own food. Future blogs will involve brief papers on how to raise animals in addition to those on leadership and character. Enjoy this first, short paper on raising chickens bred for meat or broilers.

                           4-H Broiler Project  Guidelines

1) Project Requirements. Raise 15, 20, or more day old chicks for a period of six to seven weeks. Select three, which weigh at least 9 pounds (combined weight); exhibit three broilers at Livestock Shows. Sell or use remaining broilers as layers or for meat.

2) Shelter. House chicks in a brooder or enclosed floor space (old stall), which allows ½ to 1 square foot per chick. Cover floor with at least 2 inches of litter. Add new litter on top of soiled litter as needed. Provide two, 250 heat lamps per 50 chicks that will keep temperature at 90-95 degrees F during first few days (gradually reduce to 65-70 degrees F). Broilers require 24 hours of light per day to encourage eating.

3) Feed. Begin with a 30% turkey starter for the first two weeks and switch to a 20-22% feed for the remaining four or five weeks. Ensure chicks are drinking before feed is given. A powdered electrolyte can be purchased at feed stores (gator aid serves as a good substitute). Feed should be available at all times, and chicks may have to be encouraged to eat (see growth rate chart on back). Top of feeders should be even with birds’ backs. Gradually blend in ground corn during last two weeks to give birds a good finish - creamy or yellowish color to the skin.

                                               

4) Water. Always have clean, fresh water available ( one, 1 gallon fountain per 50 chicks). If tap water is used, no special additives are required.

5) Sanitation. Keep brooder and/or floor space dry and clean. Dispose of/separate dead birds or sick birds immediately. Store feed in cool, clean, dry, and well-ventilated area free from pests.

6) Preparation for Show. As the birds grow, separate slow growing ones. Two weeks before show, select two birds for every one needed that have the following: (a) good health & vigor; (b) good conformation (rectangular body shape); (c) good distribution of flesh; (d) good finish; (e) mature feathering (absence of pen feathers); (f) freedom from defects (breast blisters, deformed wings, dented/crooked/ v-shaped breasts, wedge-shaped body); (g) minimum weight requirements. Mark selected birds for easy identification. As day of show approaches, re-examine birds (see a-g, above) and identify your best three. Separate “best three” and alternates in special pens two days before show. Before going to the show, use a soft bristled brush and bathe birds in a container of warm soapy water (do not submerge heads); rinse birds in warm clean water and blow dry. Before exhibiting at show, sponge bath dirty birds and blow dry.

7) Records. Keep information on purchase, feed, deaths, weight, and selection. Records help you make decisions about your project.

Estimated Growth Rate and Feed Consumption of Broilers

Age in Weeks	Ave. Wt. in lb’s	Weekly lbs of Feed	Consumption to date in lbs	Feed per lb Of Gain
1	.27	.26	.26	.96
2	.69	.56	.82	1.19
3	1.27	.89	1.71	1.35
4	1.90	1.23	2.94	1.55
5	2.53	1.48	4.42	1.75
6	3.26	1.80	6.22	1.91
7	4.00	1.87	8.09	2.02
8	4.74	2.19	10.28	2.17

            Growth rate and feed consumption figures serve as guides only and should not be taken as absolutes. Feed consumption is influenced by factors such as management, disease level, environment, and energy level of the diet. Four or five week old birds could possibly grow to 3 lbs or more.

  

References. LSU and USDA publications/mimeos, Evergreen Feeds Research Pub., Small Poultry Flocks (LSU Pub.# 2250).

The Visitor Knows No Bounds

     Have you ever seriously considered the overused saying “Life is short, so enjoy every minute of it?” My wife and I have learned over the years, as many of our fellow mortals have learned, to abide by this quip. Indeed, we have found that life has become shorter since our boys (now young men) left the nest (another overused saying). A saying that I often think of, being caught in these mature years of life, but feel is inappropriate is “I hope life could be longer.” Hope, I feel, is only useful in a state of hopelessness; and I certainly don’t feel my life is hopeless. I do have God and my beautiful wife.

     Now that we spend almost all of our hours together (we are both retired), my wife of 31 years search for pastimes to keep us occupied, such as watching the news and our favorite TV programs (not at all unique, right?). Recently, I learned how another couple in a similar life situation spend their time together. The past time they have developed, some would think it strange, involves a relationship with an imaginary visitor from outer space, appropriately named the Visitor. In the relationship the husband plays the Visitor and his wife plays a caught-unawares yet inquisitive earthling. The earthling is surprised by the relationship, you see, because the Visitor has secretly invaded her husband’s body.  He revealed himself, one day, unexpectedly, and is distinguished (only by the earthling) by his unsociable behavior and by his (better than thou) style of speaking which, more than not, centers on the purpose of his visit.

    The Visitor has arrived to prepare for an (time to be determined) eventual, invasion of earth by his planet, appropriately named Visitene.  The dialogue that goes on between the Visitor and the earthling is not planned and only takes place when they are relaxing together and speaking of things that may be common to earthlings or, in general, commenting on the day’s mundane events. Some things, however, are not so common to the Visitor; others are ordinary knowledge to him– he spares no social skills in letting the earthling know this.

    The Visitor’s behavior is consistent and seems to (almost always) involve putting-down the earthling and her planet and haughtily commenting on both general and peculiar issues that arise during their discussions. He and his time on earth as well as his visit with the earthling know no bounds. 

A Visit to Family

     Part of living the good life involves giving attention to family. The three boys that my wife and I were given the opportunity to raise are the reminders that, no matter what goes on in our lives or what goes on in the world, family is intended to enrich the human condition and give a solace that can only be explained by a relationship with our creator.

    This Labor Day weekend, my wife and I traveled to Arizona to visit our oldest son and his wife of, almost, 11 months. We traveled Amtrak from New Orleans to south central Arizona (more about the Amtrak trip in another blog) and are now, at this writing, visiting them.

    Related, somewhat, to this blog about family is a story about three creatures we left behind at home in Louisiana: our "grand dogs." These are the three orphans that our sons left us at the time of their eventual (and eventful) departures from the "nest." More about these "puppies", also, in another blog - view a brief video of the puppies and one morning of their daily routine, also in another blog.

Until then, enjoy the good life.

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee

I appreciate your show on Fox, but you need to be more current when you prop up the Iowa straw poll as important as you think it is. My reasons are the following:

1) Today's America, including Iowa, is more fluid and dynamic than it was 40 years ago - you cannot honestly say that Iowa is a "filter" or representative of the country at large.

2) In reference to farmers, rural residents - today's farmers and food producers (I am talking about family and individually owned farms) represent less than 3% of the electorate. Big corporations and subsidies to farmers, such as honey producers, control food production in this country.

3) McCain won the Republican nomination despite not being in the Iowa Straw poll

Come on, Mike, we are of the same generation (I am 56 years of age); you and I ought to know better than making comments that are not totally true. And as a Christian, remember that Paul was not a full time preacher (he worked hard for his living and evangelised, despite this). And the most important is that Jesus was not a politician.

Mike, make your voice known without submitting to the mundane demands of being a politician - you do a great job on your show (except for some inaccurate comments) and you made the right decision not to run for the Presidency. Indeed, I have more respect for Billy Grahmn than I would and will have for any politician, self-proclaimed Christian or not.