DEI and Woke

Diversity, equity and inclusion sounds righteous and virtuous. Unfortunately, it's built on the premise that a group of individuals is not equipped to compete on a level playing field because they are cosmetically, culturally or socioeconomically different from you, and thus must need additional assistance. The problem is that premise is flawed and not based on content of character or innate ability and is therefore essentially subversively racist.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs are gift giving to someone deemed somehow less capable. Equal Opportunity is something offered without bias to anyone with the motivation to put the work in and better themselves.

Since woke is all about child grooming and indoctrination, this quote by the leader of the Catholic church Leo VII seems to be very awkward, especially with that sects leadership and their issues with child molestation in the very recent past. Definitely cringe-worthy.

Ban Professional Fishing

I'm hoping they outlaw professional tournament fishing on Lake Francis Case and all of the Missouri River impoundments. This is a shared resource with other taxpayer /citizens that critically depletes the resource for your average fisherman and tourist fisherman. Nobody cares about pro fishing except maybe these fisherman themselves. They should have to make big financial donations to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks for reparation of the resource.

"State of Fear"

Climate has been changing since the beginning of time, otherwise how would you explain the Ice Ages, etc.  Stop the fear mongering to support your political bias. 

I'm beyond sick of mainstream legacy media with their biased and political agenda focused so-called news. Their "demonizing" of Trump has created a "Trump Derangement Syndrome" that is nothing short of mass-induced brainwashing. 

They can't just disagree with him, they have to create a "State of Fear" induced mania. 

That is how both George Orwell in his book "1984" and Michael Crichton in "State of Fear" both predicted this fear-based dystopian segment of society. 

GARP Stocks

 Investors typically view growth and value as two totally distinct equity types.

But there's a style that seeks to identify both characteristics in a single stock. Growth at a reasonable price, or GARP, was popularized by Peter Lynch, the legendary former manager of Fidelity Magellan Fund (FMAGX). During his 13 years at the fund's helm, ending in 1990, the fund returned an annualized 29.2%, more than double the S&P 500's performance during that period.

The key to identifying GARP stocks is to screen for stocks with higher growth rates than the broader market and lower-than-average valuations.

In its GARP screen, Fidelity filters for criteria including:

• Quarterly and yearly earnings growth.
• Earnings growth forecasts.
• Price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio.
• Price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio.
• Security price.
• 90-day average trading volume.

Environmental Studies Major.

Well, at least it's not an "Environmental Studies" major, which is basically activism training and has very little to do with Biology. So that's something.

Save your money and get a REAL Biology degree, not a degree in activism!

Forgiveness.

Forgiveness Is a Gift You Give Yourself: One of the most powerful moments in the audiobook was Livingston’s perspective on forgiveness. He had seen patients carry grudges for years, holding onto anger like a shield. But all it did was make them bitter. Forgiveness, he explained, isn’t about letting the other person off the hook. It’s about freeing yourself from the weight of resentment. It’s not easy. But it’s necessary. Because in the end, anger chains you to the past. And life is too short to stay stuck there.

Madeline's Wedding Toast.

I just want to say thank you to everyone or making the trip out to this beautiful black hills. And cheers! 

I'm going to take a minute to tell you guys a little story. About 3 years ago we were gathering in Chamberlain for our annual week long 4th of July celebration. And while we were getting prepared Madeline called and said she wanted to bring Sean for the week. 

Well we had met Sean once before and they'd been dating a few months so we said yeah that's okay. 

So everybody showed up at Grandma's house and Madeline and Sean came pulling up and took Sean's hand and said hi. And two Sean's credit he was very respectful and polite so he had that going for him. 

Well we stayed the week and had our usual great time and when fishing and boating and got together for the big picnic on the 4th of July and it was a great week. 

On that last day when we were packing up and getting ready to return home, is upstairs in grandma's house and Sean came up and said Dave I'd like to have a word with you. I said sure Sean what is it, what's up? So Sean very seriously and earnestly looked me in the eye and said well I have had a great weekend and love this family and had so much fun and I'd like to ask you a question. 

So I said sure go ahead. Sean said well you know how I feel about Madeline and I think she's wonderful and I'd like to ask you permission to marry her. 

Now I didn't respond right away, mostly because I was in total shock. And after about a minute or two I looked at Sean and shaking my head (I think I made a really strange face, something like this) and said well Sean I think I need you need to talk to Mama Terri about this. Kind of reminded me of a saying my dad said my grandpa liked to say " they don't put old heads on young shoulders". 

So I got Terri alone and said wow you're not going to believe this but Sean just asked me permission to marry Madeline. Well then Terri made a face something like this.

We talked, and Terri said one word after making that face -- and that was "No! ".

 So, we had a talk with Sean and Madeline and said, you know you guys, you need to get to know each other a little better and you know you need to see each other in your not just during your happiest days but also on your hardest days and that'll really give you a measure of if you know this other person. 

So, well here we are 3 years later and hey it's crazy isn't it?  It's got me thinking you know, "How do you know that this one is the one?". How do you know, right? 

I had a cellular biology professor that showed us two slides under a microscope. One dead, one alive. He asked: What gives the one that's alive that spark of life. Is it just a chemical reaction? No, he said. Life is proof of a higher being with a plan. That spark of life in that cell he said, "That's God". 

I guess you know after all these years being married 37 I still can't answer that question. Is it physical, metaphysical, chemical or logical? is it emotional? I don't really know.  I do like to think, just like that living cell, God is the spark of life between two people.

And I do know this, somehow you just know!

So I'd like to propose a toast we're going to take a drink and take a few seconds to ponder those mysteries of life. 

And in honor of my grandma Mildetta O'Hara Shogren, I'd like to leave you with a small piece of advice and an old Irish toast:

May the wind always be at your back,

May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow

May the soft winds freshen your spirit

May the sunshine brighten your heart

May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you

And may God enfold you in the mantle of His love."

Cheers and welcome to the family Sean and congratulations to both of you!