“I don't think it's fair!” he complained to me, “I shouldn't lose three things for that. My hunting license...”
“Life isn't fair!” I quickly interrupted, “I don't care what you think, when it comes to firearm safety, there are no second chances.”
My father was a public safety officer. Growing up, we went to the police firing range almost every month. Frequently two or three times a month. Firearm safety was not an option. It was grilled into us from the time we could walk and talk. If you were big enough to hold a gun, you were big enough to be taught how to use a gun. And no gun is a toy. That bears repeating; no gun, not even a cap gun, no gun is a toy. Every single one of them has the potential to do harm if not treated with respect and handled carefully.
Seven kids in the house, and always there were loaded guns. Whether or not Dad was home, there was always a loaded gun for Mom's protection. But because of Dad's continual training on the subject, and heavy use of a belt if we didn't obey, there was never a single incident of a firearm accident. It just wasn't allowed.
Today, we live in a different era. Today's media encourages kids to be disrespectful, to not obey, that parents don't know anything. How wrong they are...
Someone close to me once complained that “Society had abandoned them.” My response was quite simple; “Society hasn't abandoned you. You have abandoned society.” It is time for us to regain the mores, the customs, the respect, of prior generations.
You see, life really isn't fair. You either learn and grow, or you get hurt and possibly even die. When it comes to things like guns and lawn mowers and chainsaws and cars you either treat them properly or else you or someone else gets hurt. Sometimes fatally. There are no second chances.
Gravity doesn't care whether or not you believe in it. It just is. You use it or you find out the hard way. The same thing with electricity. Treat it properly, and it is a great tool. Treat it wrong, treat it with disrespect, and you had better be awful lucky.
We aren't here to have an easy ride. We are here to learn and to grow. We aren't here by accident. We are here by choice. And we need to do all we can to take advantage of our choices, to figure out what works and what doesn't. And to treat certain things with care and respect. Because, if we don't, someone could get hurt. Someone could die.
And that someone could be us.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Secret to a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life!
How would you like to know the secret to a longer, healthier, happier life? A secret that would enable you to live years longer than other people? A secret that could substantially reduce the amount you would pay on medical care? How much would such a secret be worth to you?
Would you be willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for such a secret? Or travel to a far-off land? Would you be willing to do literally anything, to be able to have such a secret?
What if I told you, that it was free? That you could have a longer, healthier, happier life? That you didn't need to pay tens of thousands of dollars? That you didn't need to travel all over the world searching for the answer? That you didn't have to do anything extraordinary, or incredibly difficult? That you could have a more fulfilling life, live years longer, pay substantially less, and have more fulfilling personal relationships?
What would that be worth to you?
You see the secret to health and happiness, to a longer and richer, more fulfilling life is simply to learn to practice forgiveness. To learn how to truly forgive and forget. That's right. Nothing difficult. Nothing extreme. Nothing expensive. But simply to change how you think, to change how you react. Unfortunately, for many people, that is the most difficult thing of all. But if you're willing to try, if you are willing to do whatever you can to to learn how to forgive, to change how you think, to change how you react, then you can live longer, pay less money, and be happier.
About 10 years ago, I took a seminar from a professor from Stanford University (Dr. Frederic Luskin). In it he explained that as a graduate student he had developed a study that "demonstrated that normal college students could become significantly less angry and hurt, feel more hopeful, spiritually content and self-efficacious about managing their emotions and also become more forgiving after a six-hour training session. Moreover, the psychosocial gains were stable over a 10-week follow-up period."
Subsequently, other studies had been developed that showed the relationship between forgiveness and health. He and others have studied the medical records of thousands of patients from various university hospitals throughout the world. And that in doing so, they have discovered a direct link between people's attitudes and their life. That's right. A direct link between how they think and react and how long they live and how happy they are. They discovered that those people who have a positive mental outlook, who practice a lifestyle of forgiveness, lived longer. And they spend less money on medical care during the last several years of their lives. On the other hand, those who hold grudges, who are angry and bitter towards others, live shorter lives and spend substantially more on healthcare.
Today Stanford University teaches people foregiveness. In just the last dozen years, the study of forgiveness has resulted in incredible increases in knowledge and understanding about the importance of practicing forgiveness in our lives. Not for the person who hurt us, but for ourselves. For both our health and our happieness.
So, here it is. The secret to a longer, healthier, and happier life. Simply learn to practice forgiveness in your life. Use it to increase your happiness. To live years longer. And to spend thousands less on medical care in the last years of your life.
"If you feel good but want to feel even better, try forgiving someone." Frederic Luskin PhD Stanford University
http://learningtoforgive.com/
Would you be willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for such a secret? Or travel to a far-off land? Would you be willing to do literally anything, to be able to have such a secret?
What if I told you, that it was free? That you could have a longer, healthier, happier life? That you didn't need to pay tens of thousands of dollars? That you didn't need to travel all over the world searching for the answer? That you didn't have to do anything extraordinary, or incredibly difficult? That you could have a more fulfilling life, live years longer, pay substantially less, and have more fulfilling personal relationships?
What would that be worth to you?
You see the secret to health and happiness, to a longer and richer, more fulfilling life is simply to learn to practice forgiveness. To learn how to truly forgive and forget. That's right. Nothing difficult. Nothing extreme. Nothing expensive. But simply to change how you think, to change how you react. Unfortunately, for many people, that is the most difficult thing of all. But if you're willing to try, if you are willing to do whatever you can to to learn how to forgive, to change how you think, to change how you react, then you can live longer, pay less money, and be happier.
About 10 years ago, I took a seminar from a professor from Stanford University (Dr. Frederic Luskin). In it he explained that as a graduate student he had developed a study that "demonstrated that normal college students could become significantly less angry and hurt, feel more hopeful, spiritually content and self-efficacious about managing their emotions and also become more forgiving after a six-hour training session. Moreover, the psychosocial gains were stable over a 10-week follow-up period."
Subsequently, other studies had been developed that showed the relationship between forgiveness and health. He and others have studied the medical records of thousands of patients from various university hospitals throughout the world. And that in doing so, they have discovered a direct link between people's attitudes and their life. That's right. A direct link between how they think and react and how long they live and how happy they are. They discovered that those people who have a positive mental outlook, who practice a lifestyle of forgiveness, lived longer. And they spend less money on medical care during the last several years of their lives. On the other hand, those who hold grudges, who are angry and bitter towards others, live shorter lives and spend substantially more on healthcare.
Today Stanford University teaches people foregiveness. In just the last dozen years, the study of forgiveness has resulted in incredible increases in knowledge and understanding about the importance of practicing forgiveness in our lives. Not for the person who hurt us, but for ourselves. For both our health and our happieness.
So, here it is. The secret to a longer, healthier, and happier life. Simply learn to practice forgiveness in your life. Use it to increase your happiness. To live years longer. And to spend thousands less on medical care in the last years of your life.
"If you feel good but want to feel even better, try forgiving someone." Frederic Luskin PhD Stanford University
http://learningtoforgive.com/
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Power of Focus and Persistence
It has often been said that you should focus on what you do right and not on what you have done wrong. Like most of us, I have a tendency to focus on the things that I've done wrong, rather than on what I have done right. I have often lacked the persistence that one needs to be truly successful. It is a struggle that we all face, to be focused and to be persistent.
Persistence is a unique quality. We all need it and yet as a rule very few have it. Many who are truly successful have it. And yet so many of us don't. Abraham Lincoln had it. He literally failed his way to the White House. Failure followed failure, until he became one of the most successful and renowned Presidents this nation has ever known. He did it through focus, determination, single-mindedness, and persistence. Walt Disney had it. He went bankrupt several times before he opened the Magic Kingdom. Col. Sanders had it. He tried over 1000 times to find someone who would finance his new restaurant idea prior to finally finding the funding that allowed him to open Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The history of the world is replete with similar examples. People who have overcome great obstacles to accomplish great things. But more importantly, just regular people like you and I who are able to live a better life, as a result of learning how to utilize these talents. A world where we are better able to accomplish what we want and feel better about ourselves.
Focus is the ability to set everything else aside, while concentrating on one thing that needs to be accomplished. Persistence is the ability to continue doing what you need to do, in spite of obstacles in the way. By being focused and persistent, we can accomplish much that we would otherwise be unable to accomplish. We could write a book or start a new business or help other people. We could get a better job. We could attend our children's sporting events. We could take our family on vacation. We could pay off all of our debts and obligations. In short, we could have a better life.
In order to be focused, we should practice concentrating on just one thing at a time. Forget multitasking and concentrate. Concentrate on that one thing, that one task. Work on it. Think about it. Study it. Accomplish it. This requires that we schedule a time where we can be uninterrupted with other tasks. Pick a task that you would truly like to see accomplished, something meaningful, something important. Then focus on working on that task until it is completed.
In order to be persistent, simply continue coming back to that task no matter what interruptions you have. Until the task is completed to your satisfaction. Don't give up. Just continue coming back until you have finished it.
Like a bloodhound, following a scent. Like a weed growing through a crack in the sidewalk. Like a toddler learning to walk or talk. Focus, determination, persistence.
By combining these skills, you open up a whole new world. A world where goals are no longer dreams but actual accomplishments. A world where your goals and aspirations are now reality. A world of your choosing.
Persistence is a unique quality. We all need it and yet as a rule very few have it. Many who are truly successful have it. And yet so many of us don't. Abraham Lincoln had it. He literally failed his way to the White House. Failure followed failure, until he became one of the most successful and renowned Presidents this nation has ever known. He did it through focus, determination, single-mindedness, and persistence. Walt Disney had it. He went bankrupt several times before he opened the Magic Kingdom. Col. Sanders had it. He tried over 1000 times to find someone who would finance his new restaurant idea prior to finally finding the funding that allowed him to open Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The history of the world is replete with similar examples. People who have overcome great obstacles to accomplish great things. But more importantly, just regular people like you and I who are able to live a better life, as a result of learning how to utilize these talents. A world where we are better able to accomplish what we want and feel better about ourselves.
Focus is the ability to set everything else aside, while concentrating on one thing that needs to be accomplished. Persistence is the ability to continue doing what you need to do, in spite of obstacles in the way. By being focused and persistent, we can accomplish much that we would otherwise be unable to accomplish. We could write a book or start a new business or help other people. We could get a better job. We could attend our children's sporting events. We could take our family on vacation. We could pay off all of our debts and obligations. In short, we could have a better life.
In order to be focused, we should practice concentrating on just one thing at a time. Forget multitasking and concentrate. Concentrate on that one thing, that one task. Work on it. Think about it. Study it. Accomplish it. This requires that we schedule a time where we can be uninterrupted with other tasks. Pick a task that you would truly like to see accomplished, something meaningful, something important. Then focus on working on that task until it is completed.
In order to be persistent, simply continue coming back to that task no matter what interruptions you have. Until the task is completed to your satisfaction. Don't give up. Just continue coming back until you have finished it.
Like a bloodhound, following a scent. Like a weed growing through a crack in the sidewalk. Like a toddler learning to walk or talk. Focus, determination, persistence.
By combining these skills, you open up a whole new world. A world where goals are no longer dreams but actual accomplishments. A world where your goals and aspirations are now reality. A world of your choosing.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Overcoming Depression and Going From Dead Broke to Paying Off ALL Your Bills in Two Years or Less!
Overcoming Depression and Going From Dead Broke to Paying Off ALL Your Bills in Two Years or Less!
Join me on my personal journey to take back my life.
From Cleve Horrocks – Former Real Estate Sales Agent and Broker/Attraction Marketing Mentor
One year ago I started a unique journey as I made the decision to change my life. I wrote the following as an introduction to a book that I planned on writing to re-focus my thoughts away from the depression that had engulfed me. For the prior 8 months following the collapse of the real estate market I had been caught up in thoughts of failure and despair. Here goes;
As I write this I have less than $200 to my name and owe more than $330,000. I’m making less than $250 per week (half of which goes to my ex-wife), separated from my wife, and living in an apartment over the garage of a friend’s home. In short, I am broke. Dead Broke. Destitute even. I haven’t had a decent paycheck since October of 2008 (more than 8 months now). My business activities have crumbled. I am severely depressed (and have been for quite a while now) with thoughts of suicide. I’ve got a broken rib and some pulled muscles. I haven’t had any health insurance since 1997, about 12 years now, and I seriously need money to pay my bills, new tires on my car, several thousand dollars worth of dental work, and new eyeglasses to see with. Most of all, I need to pay off my back child/family support.
Is any of this going to stop me?
NO!
In the 1980’s, I was able to achieve a modest level of success with a young family and a net worth that exceeded $350,000. In the early 1990’s I lost it all. And then some. I ended up owing more than $140,000 then. The stress was so bad that I clogged the shower drain almost every morning with the hair falling out of my head. One night I went blind in my left eye. All due to stress. Thoughts of drugs, alcohol, and suicide filled my head. Yet, somehow, I made it through. I survived. And then in the mid 1990’s, I had an amazing religious experience and conversion. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s I rebuilt my life and learned much of great value.
In these pages are the things that helped me to overcome my circumstances and depression back then. And I believe that they will help me again as I put them back to work. I write them down now to refocus my mind and energy on these things that I know from my own past experiences work. To help bring myself back out of anger and depression and back to that success which I know is mine. If I will but apply myself in the proper channels.
I write this out of great need. Out of great need comes great desire. Out of great desire comes great action. Out of great action comes great results. And out of great results comes great satisfaction. Peace of mind. A sense of accomplishment.
I need help. Not a handout. Not a free ride. But a helping hand. A hand up. I am asking you to find it in your heart to buy this book and share it with others. By doing so, I pray that your life and the lives of others, your friends and family who you share this with, will be blessed and improved as we apply these principles together.
I never finished the book, but I did change my thinking. And that has made all the difference. Over the next several months I will be following a path that I believe will lead to success and the ability to pay off all of my debts. I hope that you will join me on the journey!
Thank you.
Cleve
ps: If you want to learn more about a system to help you attract more leads to your business, please go to: http://bit.ly/cLiW8K
Join me on my personal journey to take back my life.
From Cleve Horrocks – Former Real Estate Sales Agent and Broker/Attraction Marketing Mentor
One year ago I started a unique journey as I made the decision to change my life. I wrote the following as an introduction to a book that I planned on writing to re-focus my thoughts away from the depression that had engulfed me. For the prior 8 months following the collapse of the real estate market I had been caught up in thoughts of failure and despair. Here goes;
As I write this I have less than $200 to my name and owe more than $330,000. I’m making less than $250 per week (half of which goes to my ex-wife), separated from my wife, and living in an apartment over the garage of a friend’s home. In short, I am broke. Dead Broke. Destitute even. I haven’t had a decent paycheck since October of 2008 (more than 8 months now). My business activities have crumbled. I am severely depressed (and have been for quite a while now) with thoughts of suicide. I’ve got a broken rib and some pulled muscles. I haven’t had any health insurance since 1997, about 12 years now, and I seriously need money to pay my bills, new tires on my car, several thousand dollars worth of dental work, and new eyeglasses to see with. Most of all, I need to pay off my back child/family support.
Is any of this going to stop me?
NO!
In the 1980’s, I was able to achieve a modest level of success with a young family and a net worth that exceeded $350,000. In the early 1990’s I lost it all. And then some. I ended up owing more than $140,000 then. The stress was so bad that I clogged the shower drain almost every morning with the hair falling out of my head. One night I went blind in my left eye. All due to stress. Thoughts of drugs, alcohol, and suicide filled my head. Yet, somehow, I made it through. I survived. And then in the mid 1990’s, I had an amazing religious experience and conversion. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s I rebuilt my life and learned much of great value.
In these pages are the things that helped me to overcome my circumstances and depression back then. And I believe that they will help me again as I put them back to work. I write them down now to refocus my mind and energy on these things that I know from my own past experiences work. To help bring myself back out of anger and depression and back to that success which I know is mine. If I will but apply myself in the proper channels.
I write this out of great need. Out of great need comes great desire. Out of great desire comes great action. Out of great action comes great results. And out of great results comes great satisfaction. Peace of mind. A sense of accomplishment.
I need help. Not a handout. Not a free ride. But a helping hand. A hand up. I am asking you to find it in your heart to buy this book and share it with others. By doing so, I pray that your life and the lives of others, your friends and family who you share this with, will be blessed and improved as we apply these principles together.
I never finished the book, but I did change my thinking. And that has made all the difference. Over the next several months I will be following a path that I believe will lead to success and the ability to pay off all of my debts. I hope that you will join me on the journey!
Thank you.
Cleve
ps: If you want to learn more about a system to help you attract more leads to your business, please go to: http://bit.ly/cLiW8K
Monday, March 22, 2010
Socialized Health Care
WARNING! THIS POST IS POLITICALLY CHARGED! DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED BY FRANK POLITICAL DISCUSSION!
You want it? You got it! Socialized health care has come to America. We have a small group in power who have decided that they know better than the people of these United States and have ransomed our children's and grand-children's and great-grand-children's future in the name of "change". Back in the 1960's we had such a sweeping change mandated upon us in the form of LBJ's "Great Society" wherein we mandated state sponsored welfare and health care for senior citizens. (Medicare. Medicaid was tacked on later with little warning.) The cost has ballooned all out of proportion to the benefits or what we were told it would be "at the absolute most". By several thousand per cent. And it alone is responsible for a large percentage of our national debt. Sadly, the war against poverty has been resoundingly lost, with more poor in America today than we had 45 years ago.
This mania, this insanity, sadly has taken over in the halls of Congress. The idea that we can steal from those who have to give to those who don't at the point of a gun (which sadly is what taxation is) makes for good sound bites, but lacks reasoned thinking. What happened to our freedoms? What happened to the principles of this great nation, founded on individual rights? The Home of the Brave, The Land of the Free? Sadly, it's gone! In a nanosecond the freedoms of our people have been stripped away. Over 16,000 new IRS agents are to be hired to enforce our buying of health insurance or the paying of a several thousand dollar fine on our taxes. Our individual tax returns are no longer private, but are to be shared with the Health and Human Services Secretary to be used "As determined by the Secretary." Most of the real, day to day operations under this bill haven't even been spelled out for the people to know about. Instead, over and over again, the bill simply states; "As determined by the Secretary."
I don't know about you, but this terrifies me! These are the kind of regulations and laws that gave rise to the Third Reich. I'm no coward, but I fear for the future of our country. This is the greatest nation in the history of the world. The only one ever that has had the power to simply obliterate our enemies, and yet has not used that power. We are the home of more technological innovation than anyone, ever. And that innovation has been used by us to give freedom to the entire world. Religious freedom. Personal freedom. Social freedom. Economic freedom. That is what makes us great. But this new bill, which gives the bureaucrats power over 1/6th of our entire economy in one fell swoop, takes our freedoms from us. Instead of hitting the throttle, to give us more freedom, it hits the brakes on our freedoms, and our economy. Hard.
So, how do we make lemonade out of this? Frankly, I don't know. The people in large, amazingly large, numbers spoke out against this. And yet, they forced it upon us anyway. President Obama crowed, "This is what Change looks like." He had already spent more money, our tax dollars, than any other president in history. And now, we, the people, are on the hook for even more than can currently be imagined. His programs have committed us to spend more than ALL the other presidents, combined. Let's empty the vaults, folks. Let's print more money. Let's give our resources, our knowledge, our technology, to everyone else. And us, you poor American's, you are just robots. You just do what we tell you. Because we know better than you do.
This is wrong. This is wrong!
I don't care what party, if any you believe in. But please, please get involved. Help us elect good people to office and run those who would control us out of any and all positions of power or responsibility. They have got to be replaced with good people, who seek to do what the people ask and require. Our future, the future of our children and grandchildren, depends on it. And I for one don't want to see our country destroyed from within.
Please don't respond with flames. I didn't write this to incite any arguments on this site, and I apologize if I have offended anyone with this post. Sincerely.
You want it? You got it! Socialized health care has come to America. We have a small group in power who have decided that they know better than the people of these United States and have ransomed our children's and grand-children's and great-grand-children's future in the name of "change". Back in the 1960's we had such a sweeping change mandated upon us in the form of LBJ's "Great Society" wherein we mandated state sponsored welfare and health care for senior citizens. (Medicare. Medicaid was tacked on later with little warning.) The cost has ballooned all out of proportion to the benefits or what we were told it would be "at the absolute most". By several thousand per cent. And it alone is responsible for a large percentage of our national debt. Sadly, the war against poverty has been resoundingly lost, with more poor in America today than we had 45 years ago.
This mania, this insanity, sadly has taken over in the halls of Congress. The idea that we can steal from those who have to give to those who don't at the point of a gun (which sadly is what taxation is) makes for good sound bites, but lacks reasoned thinking. What happened to our freedoms? What happened to the principles of this great nation, founded on individual rights? The Home of the Brave, The Land of the Free? Sadly, it's gone! In a nanosecond the freedoms of our people have been stripped away. Over 16,000 new IRS agents are to be hired to enforce our buying of health insurance or the paying of a several thousand dollar fine on our taxes. Our individual tax returns are no longer private, but are to be shared with the Health and Human Services Secretary to be used "As determined by the Secretary." Most of the real, day to day operations under this bill haven't even been spelled out for the people to know about. Instead, over and over again, the bill simply states; "As determined by the Secretary."
I don't know about you, but this terrifies me! These are the kind of regulations and laws that gave rise to the Third Reich. I'm no coward, but I fear for the future of our country. This is the greatest nation in the history of the world. The only one ever that has had the power to simply obliterate our enemies, and yet has not used that power. We are the home of more technological innovation than anyone, ever. And that innovation has been used by us to give freedom to the entire world. Religious freedom. Personal freedom. Social freedom. Economic freedom. That is what makes us great. But this new bill, which gives the bureaucrats power over 1/6th of our entire economy in one fell swoop, takes our freedoms from us. Instead of hitting the throttle, to give us more freedom, it hits the brakes on our freedoms, and our economy. Hard.
So, how do we make lemonade out of this? Frankly, I don't know. The people in large, amazingly large, numbers spoke out against this. And yet, they forced it upon us anyway. President Obama crowed, "This is what Change looks like." He had already spent more money, our tax dollars, than any other president in history. And now, we, the people, are on the hook for even more than can currently be imagined. His programs have committed us to spend more than ALL the other presidents, combined. Let's empty the vaults, folks. Let's print more money. Let's give our resources, our knowledge, our technology, to everyone else. And us, you poor American's, you are just robots. You just do what we tell you. Because we know better than you do.
This is wrong. This is wrong!
I don't care what party, if any you believe in. But please, please get involved. Help us elect good people to office and run those who would control us out of any and all positions of power or responsibility. They have got to be replaced with good people, who seek to do what the people ask and require. Our future, the future of our children and grandchildren, depends on it. And I for one don't want to see our country destroyed from within.
Please don't respond with flames. I didn't write this to incite any arguments on this site, and I apologize if I have offended anyone with this post. Sincerely.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Slate/Tablet Computer Category Killer
Slate/Tablet Computer Category Killer
Cleve Horrocks January 2010
Years ago, prior to the first Palm computers hitting the market, I outlined what I thought would be the direction that new portable computing devices would take. Many of my ideas have been surpassed by our current technologies, but several of them have yet to be implemented into mainstream usage. Today the technology exists to fully explore their use and more.
In my original concept, I thought that the first several generations would need to be the size of something like a Fluke Digital Multi Meter, eventually shrinking to a pocket sized device over several generations. In fact, the market skipped the larger form factor entirely, jumping straight to the smaller sized units entirely, but with more limited functionality. Today, I realize the need for a larger size device as well as the smaller ones. Apple’s iPhone is an excellent device for the smaller, pocket sized devices. But there is a very real need for an all in one notebook sized device as well.
Several companies have already announced various new Slate or Tablet type devices this month, and the market is anxiously awaiting the introduction of the new offering from Apple. Those that have been introduced still seem to miss the point that we need less to carry, not more. Most laptop/notebook computers get left behind most of the time, while we take with us our cell phones and mp3 players. Adding a netbook or ebook reader, just gets too cumbersome. I don’t have any idea what form Apple’s offering will take, but here are my ideas about what such a device should be.
First off, I believe that rather than increasing the number of devices we carry around with us, any such new device needs to replace the need for any other device at all. Therefore, it should be a fully functional Cell Phone, Video Phone, MP3 Player, eBook Reader, Digital Voice Recorder, Camera, Camcorder, and Computer all rolled into one device. Just as for years we carried our Day Planners around with us, which literally contained our lives, so should this device function today. Completely incorporating all of the functions of the various devices we carry around now.
It should be a ruggedized device, waterproof and fully capable of being dropped multiple times onto a concrete floor. EMP hardening would be a plus for military/government sales. The size should be that of a standard business portfolio notepad, with an 8 ½” x 11” touchscreen fully incorporating handwriting character recognition and voice control such as Dragon Naturally Speaking as well. It should weigh less than 3 pounds, and ideally be less than 2 lbs. Ideally it will be about ½” thick when closed. Certainly less than 1” at a maximum. It should have a hard shell cover that fully swings around to the back of the unit so that it can be laid flat on a table or knee while in use. Perhaps it would incorporate an eReader screen on the outside of the shell, with a full color 1080p capable touchscreen inside. It should incorporate full video conferencing capability, microphone, speakers, webcam, BlueTooth, 801.11 b/g/n capability, 3G voice and data capable, wireless mouse and keyboard capability, etc.
With a target market of students and business professionals, it should be a fully capable all in one computer. Battery life of at least 7-9 hours. Preferably 2 weeks on standby. 3 GB or more of high speed flash memory, so that even when turned off or the batteries die it will retain everything you are working on. A minimum of a dual core, 2.8 Ghz microprocessor so that it can be used for video and high end gaming as well. 320 GB hard drive and full read/write CD/DVD/BlueRay Disc optical as well. Connectors should include USB 3.0/2.0, Firewire, HDMI, and SD/MS/CF card reader. They should be behind a waterproof cover. A solar charging panel could be incorporated into the back as well.
In short, it should function as a complete, all in one device that replaces the need to carry around a number of different devices. It should be elegant and sleek both physically, and in it’s operations. A cell phone, mp3 player, digital voice recorder, and eReader when closed up, and a fully capable color tablet computer when opened, capable of entertainment, gaming, video, and business use that can be voice, touchscreen, and keyboard controlled.
Such a device is very doable with today’s technology. I wouldn’t be surprised if it could be done in the $400 price range in fact. It might start out in the $1500 range, but sales would really take off as the price drops. Add a Scanner to it for another $100.
Cleve Horrocks January 2010
Years ago, prior to the first Palm computers hitting the market, I outlined what I thought would be the direction that new portable computing devices would take. Many of my ideas have been surpassed by our current technologies, but several of them have yet to be implemented into mainstream usage. Today the technology exists to fully explore their use and more.
In my original concept, I thought that the first several generations would need to be the size of something like a Fluke Digital Multi Meter, eventually shrinking to a pocket sized device over several generations. In fact, the market skipped the larger form factor entirely, jumping straight to the smaller sized units entirely, but with more limited functionality. Today, I realize the need for a larger size device as well as the smaller ones. Apple’s iPhone is an excellent device for the smaller, pocket sized devices. But there is a very real need for an all in one notebook sized device as well.
Several companies have already announced various new Slate or Tablet type devices this month, and the market is anxiously awaiting the introduction of the new offering from Apple. Those that have been introduced still seem to miss the point that we need less to carry, not more. Most laptop/notebook computers get left behind most of the time, while we take with us our cell phones and mp3 players. Adding a netbook or ebook reader, just gets too cumbersome. I don’t have any idea what form Apple’s offering will take, but here are my ideas about what such a device should be.
First off, I believe that rather than increasing the number of devices we carry around with us, any such new device needs to replace the need for any other device at all. Therefore, it should be a fully functional Cell Phone, Video Phone, MP3 Player, eBook Reader, Digital Voice Recorder, Camera, Camcorder, and Computer all rolled into one device. Just as for years we carried our Day Planners around with us, which literally contained our lives, so should this device function today. Completely incorporating all of the functions of the various devices we carry around now.
It should be a ruggedized device, waterproof and fully capable of being dropped multiple times onto a concrete floor. EMP hardening would be a plus for military/government sales. The size should be that of a standard business portfolio notepad, with an 8 ½” x 11” touchscreen fully incorporating handwriting character recognition and voice control such as Dragon Naturally Speaking as well. It should weigh less than 3 pounds, and ideally be less than 2 lbs. Ideally it will be about ½” thick when closed. Certainly less than 1” at a maximum. It should have a hard shell cover that fully swings around to the back of the unit so that it can be laid flat on a table or knee while in use. Perhaps it would incorporate an eReader screen on the outside of the shell, with a full color 1080p capable touchscreen inside. It should incorporate full video conferencing capability, microphone, speakers, webcam, BlueTooth, 801.11 b/g/n capability, 3G voice and data capable, wireless mouse and keyboard capability, etc.
With a target market of students and business professionals, it should be a fully capable all in one computer. Battery life of at least 7-9 hours. Preferably 2 weeks on standby. 3 GB or more of high speed flash memory, so that even when turned off or the batteries die it will retain everything you are working on. A minimum of a dual core, 2.8 Ghz microprocessor so that it can be used for video and high end gaming as well. 320 GB hard drive and full read/write CD/DVD/BlueRay Disc optical as well. Connectors should include USB 3.0/2.0, Firewire, HDMI, and SD/MS/CF card reader. They should be behind a waterproof cover. A solar charging panel could be incorporated into the back as well.
In short, it should function as a complete, all in one device that replaces the need to carry around a number of different devices. It should be elegant and sleek both physically, and in it’s operations. A cell phone, mp3 player, digital voice recorder, and eReader when closed up, and a fully capable color tablet computer when opened, capable of entertainment, gaming, video, and business use that can be voice, touchscreen, and keyboard controlled.
Such a device is very doable with today’s technology. I wouldn’t be surprised if it could be done in the $400 price range in fact. It might start out in the $1500 range, but sales would really take off as the price drops. Add a Scanner to it for another $100.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The Division of Change
The Division of Change
Cleve Horrocks Nov. 2009
There is more that unites us than divides us, and yet we are quite literally at war with one another. This should not be.
The Health Care Reform debate is just the latest of the discussions that seek to tear us apart, rather than bringing us together. In the views of our Founding Fathers, the purpose of debate over issues was to find a common ground that most could agree would be the best course of action moving forward. The attitude of cordial compromise was an important principle. No Longer.
Today we have devolved to a system of two large parties seeking to take control of every facet of our lives. The true purpose of Government is to remove obstacles from people’s lives that they could not overcome by themselves. To protect us from tyrants and men of violence. To build up infrastructure that allows us to express our lives and our freedoms in marvelous ways. To provide a system of regress for disagreements and criminal activities. Not to rule us and regulate us and tax us to the point where we no longer have the ability to choose for ourselves.
Historically it was considered a form of slavery anytime the taxes a government imposed exceeded a fifth of ones income. And if it got to fifty percent, then it was openly called slavery. Today, we are all together too close to that fifty percent mark. And the proposed health care bill will put us over the top. This cannot be.
Rather than ram-roding an unworkable monstrosity of “change” down our throats, why aren’t we debating real measures of change that would set the precedence of future cooperation? The expansion of personal Health Savings Accounts for example, rather than their elimination? True tort reform, that will enable the health care industry to save billions on lawsuits and malpractice insurance. Making permanent the Bush tax cuts, to improve our competitive advantages and increase the size of our middle class.
Right now the debate should be focused on how we can change things to improve and expand the American middle class. This is the single most important thing for us as a nation. To expand the opportunities for the average man or woman to improve their lot in life. Not to figure out how to reduce us to the same level as those in the rest of the world.
Vali Nasr, a Muslim author and Professor at Tufts University, says in his latest book “Forces of Fortune: The Rise of the New Muslim Middle Class and What It Will Mean for Our World” (Free Press), that in order to reduce terrorism, we should focus our efforts on expanding the middle class in the Muslim world. I believe that we should do the same here at home.
Let us work together to find peace and prosperity, rather than fighting amongst ourselves to the detriment of our society.
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Jihad
I originally wrote this on the evening of October 7, 2001 after the announcement by President Bush that we would attack the terrorist camps in
Cleve Horrocks, Northern Utah, September 11, 2009
permission granted to freely copy and forward this essay as long as it is distributed in full with no deletions or changes and the copyright line is attached to all copies.
I haven’t known what to say. I haven’t been able to write anything at all about my feelings or the horror I felt or the joy and peace I’ve come to feel as I saw our nation, as one, get to its knees and pray. Today as you may know, the General Conference broadcast was interrupted with President Bush’s announcement of the attack on Al Qaeda and those who harbor them. I went to bed early and slept for a couple of hours. And then I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. I felt the need to write…
The Jihad
Today the Sleeping Giant awoke, and struck back at those who disturbed its slumber. A Jihad was called. And a terrible destruction rained down from the skies upon the facilities of war in a far-off land.
We do that well. Ignoring that is. We fight over petty differences, over the most insignificant of slights. But unless it is rubbed in our faces, we ignore the most heinous of crimes if they fall outside of American soil. We let Gaddafi live. We let Hussein live. We took away their immediate power to wage war, and then just turned our backs and walked away.
And so, Al Qaeda and other similar criminal organizations have been tolerated. Allowed to flourish, to grow, to conspire. To give breath and life to their evil plans. While
That all changed on September 11, 2001. A lovely, peaceful Tuesday morning. Suddenly shattered with the most unbelievable criminal acts of modern history. Over 5600 innocent people were suddenly murdered in plain sight, with obvious intent. On American soil, with the eyes of the world watching. And the Giant stirred in its slumber. In shock, it woke up and slowly got to its feet.
Suddenly flags were raised where none had been before. Prayer was called for by American politicians and was once more publicly allowed in our schools. A nation of infidels suddenly turned to God in a unity that has never before been seen upon this land since perhaps the days of the American Revolution. Sign upon sign upon sign dotted the landscape crying; “God Bless
A nation mourned, not in silence, and not alone. But joined by the vast majority of the free world, we cried, we prayed, we lit candles and waved flags. And the song rang out in every city, in every school, in churches, and in corporate offices; “God Bless
Those who in times past decried public prayer or displays of patriotism quickly and quietly faded into the background. While the people of
And today, the meting out of that justice began. In a barrage of bombs and cruise missiles, justice rained down upon the facilities of war of Al Qaeda and those who harbor and support them. This is not a simple war. It is not a quick and final act. But rather it is the opening lines of a great Jihad called upon those who would use evil means against innocent peoples.
We call Jihad upon terrorists and those who protect and support them.
From this day forward, the American people will fight and sacrifice and even die if necessary to bring down the forces of evil. We will pray for the guidance of our God. We will pray for His divine influence upon the leaders of our Nation. We will pray for His Divine protection for our loved ones who fight these battles, here and abroad. We will pray for His Mercy and His Justice. And we will stand tall in Truth and Right.
He has promised that if we act in righteousness, that He will be upon our right, and upon our left. That He will go before us, and behind us to bear us up. That He will fight our battles for us. If, if, we will repent of our evils and turn to Him, the God of this land and nation.
We will not succumb to terror. We will continue to work, to live, to love, to learn, to grow, to marry, to have children, to die. We will stand tall at home, at school, at work, and at church. We will stand tall in our clubs, and in our streets. We will live! And we will fight evil wherever it is to be found. At home or abroad. In the desert or the mountains. In the jungles or the plains. In the cities or the wilderness. In public and in private.
The enemy is right. This is a Holy War. It is not as they claim a war between believer and infidel; a crusade by Christians against Muslims. Rather it is a war of good versus evil. A war of civility and right against terrorists and murderers. And it will be won. By free men and free women. Men and women who stand tall and refuse to be beaten. Ever.
United we pray; “May God continue to bless
God bless
Land that we love
Stand beside Her
And guide Her
Through the night
With the light
From above.
From the wreckage
Of the
To the hole
Within our hearts
God bless
Our home sweet home.
permission granted to freely copy and forward this essayl as long as it is distributed in full with no deletions or changes and the copyright line is attached to all copies.
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Warrior and His Mother copyright 2000 by Cleve Horrocks
The Warrior and His Mother
copyright 12/28/2000 by Cleve Horrocks
All Rights Reserved
The Warrior's mother
Standing tall
No tears fall
Setting example
Of what is right
Of what to do
When he goes to fight.
The Warrior
Standing tall
No tears fall
Setting example
Of what is right
Of what to do
When he goes to fight.
The Warrior's mother
Standing tall
No tears fall
Waiting with her heart
Pounding in her chest
Beating in her ear
Knowing he'll do his best.
The Warrior
Standing tall
No tears fall
Waiting with his heart
Pounding in his chest
Beating in his ear
Hoping he'll do his best.
The Warrior's mother
Standing tall
No tears fall
Sent him to die
With her grief inside
Aching for him
Knowing of his pride.
The Warrior
Standing tall
No tears fall
Sent to die
With grief inside
Aching for her
Knowing of her pride.
copyright 12/28/2000 by Cleve Horrocks
All Rights Reserved
The Warrior's mother
Standing tall
No tears fall
Setting example
Of what is right
Of what to do
When he goes to fight.
The Warrior
Standing tall
No tears fall
Setting example
Of what is right
Of what to do
When he goes to fight.
The Warrior's mother
Standing tall
No tears fall
Waiting with her heart
Pounding in her chest
Beating in her ear
Knowing he'll do his best.
The Warrior
Standing tall
No tears fall
Waiting with his heart
Pounding in his chest
Beating in his ear
Hoping he'll do his best.
The Warrior's mother
Standing tall
No tears fall
Sent him to die
With her grief inside
Aching for him
Knowing of his pride.
The Warrior
Standing tall
No tears fall
Sent to die
With grief inside
Aching for her
Knowing of her pride.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Need help budgeting and getting out of debt?
My friend Bob Cosgrove has been helping people get out of debt 2-3 times faster than they would on their own for the last 7-9 years. His average client saves over $75,000! Check out his website at www.turningdebttowealth.com and tell him you heard about him from Cleve. Thanks so much.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Energy Policy July 2008
7/7/08
Cleve Horrocks
Thatcher, UT
Energy Policy Statement
We encourage meaningful conservation and preservation of our various energy sources.
- All Government facilities to obtain 7.5% of their energy needs from renewable resources within 5 years and 15% or more within 10 years.
- New building standards that utilize energy savings technologies in all new construction.
We encourage efforts and technologies to reduce energy resource demand.
- Improved lighting technologies such as LED’s and CFL’s that provide reduced energy consumption and resource utilization while improving lighting comfort and usability.
- Improved car, transmission, and engine designs that increase mileage.
- Increased CAFÉ standards for car’s, SUV’s, trucks, and van’s.
- Heightened consumer awareness of Energy Star standards for appliances, consumer products, and HVAC products.
We encourage the full utilization and development of current energy resources.
- Appropriate drilling in ANWAR.
- Appropriate drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
- Appropriate drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Additional development of Natural Gas reserves.
- Full utilization of clean Coal technologies.
- Additional Hydroelectric dams as appropriate.
We encourage the full utilization and development of alternative energy resources.
- Development of Human Powered Technologies (motion, static electricity, etc.) for consumer electronic products such as cell phones, iPods, etc.
- Solar Power.
- Wind Power.
- Fuel Cell Technology.
- Geothermal heat pumps.
- Improved Battery and other energy storage technologies.
- Solar powered/Plug in/Hydrogen ICE/hybrids.
We discourage the use of food crops and food production farmlands for the production of competing energy products.
- Use of algae, cellulose, and switch grasses for ethanol and bio diesel production rather than corn, other grains, or soybeans.
Cleve Horrocks
Thatcher, UT
Energy Policy Statement
We encourage meaningful conservation and preservation of our various energy sources.
- All Government facilities to obtain 7.5% of their energy needs from renewable resources within 5 years and 15% or more within 10 years.
- New building standards that utilize energy savings technologies in all new construction.
We encourage efforts and technologies to reduce energy resource demand.
- Improved lighting technologies such as LED’s and CFL’s that provide reduced energy consumption and resource utilization while improving lighting comfort and usability.
- Improved car, transmission, and engine designs that increase mileage.
- Increased CAFÉ standards for car’s, SUV’s, trucks, and van’s.
- Heightened consumer awareness of Energy Star standards for appliances, consumer products, and HVAC products.
We encourage the full utilization and development of current energy resources.
- Appropriate drilling in ANWAR.
- Appropriate drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
- Appropriate drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Additional development of Natural Gas reserves.
- Full utilization of clean Coal technologies.
- Additional Hydroelectric dams as appropriate.
We encourage the full utilization and development of alternative energy resources.
- Development of Human Powered Technologies (motion, static electricity, etc.) for consumer electronic products such as cell phones, iPods, etc.
- Solar Power.
- Wind Power.
- Fuel Cell Technology.
- Geothermal heat pumps.
- Improved Battery and other energy storage technologies.
- Solar powered/Plug in/Hydrogen ICE/hybrids.
We discourage the use of food crops and food production farmlands for the production of competing energy products.
- Use of algae, cellulose, and switch grasses for ethanol and bio diesel production rather than corn, other grains, or soybeans.
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