Biography

When it came to John Riggins everyone knew what to expect. He played by his own rules. He ran hard, and he ran his own way. He was just as likely to show up to team functions in army fatigues as he would in a tuxedo. However, when it was time to play football, he was a no nonsense running back whose strength and speed were only surpassed by his determination and toughness.

Riggins didn’t tire down as the game wore on. The more times that he got the ball, the stronger he seemed to become. The same applied to his NFL career. When other backs would lose a step as they aged, John Riggins picked up momentum with each passing NFL season. He was 35 years old when he recorded his sixth 1000 yard rushing season. While nobody knew what to expect from Riggins off the football field, teammates and fans could always count on exceptional play when it was time to play football.

While still playing at a high level, Riggins shocked the world when he retired from football after posting back to back 1000 yard seasons. One day he just walked out of the Redskins training camp in 1980 and announced his retirement.

Riggins played by his own rules. He was not happy with his contract and with football in general, so decided to leave on his own rules. After spending the offseason on his Kansas farm, he returned to Washington in 1981 and said “I’m bored, I’m broke, and I’m back” Riggins decided he was ready to play football once again.

After Riggins humbling declaration to return to football, he launched his second career as an NFL player. His one year layoff showed during his first season back, but by the end of 1982 he completely regained his form. Entering the playoffs he approached the Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and told him that if he could be given the ball 20 times a game or more, the Redskins would win.

Coach Gibbs took Riggins advice. The next three games, Riggins averaged 148 yards and 33 carries and led the Washington Redskins to Super Bowl XVII.

In the Super Bowl against the Miami Dolphins, the Redskins relied on Riggins heavily. His biggest play came in the 4th quarter. Losing 17-3 and facing fourth and one, Riggins took the handoff, darted to his left and raced 43 yards to the end zone. Behind John Riggins’ 166 yards on a record 38 carries the Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl 27-17.

The following season at the ripened age of 34, John Riggins had his best year as a pro. At the time he retired, he was ranked fourth on the all time rushing list. It was a career that nobody could have predicted. Nobody who didn’t understand the will and determination of John Riggins, that is.

The preparations were under way…

The repast was hot, delicious, and plentiful. They had all eaten to their hearts content. Their gullets were stuffed full of revelry, joy, and family. Many could not participate in such fine raiment, delicacy, or domicile – for they had none.

Many jumped up and ran for the door. Some took naps and rested from their great ordeal with the plate, spoon, and fork. They, some, prepared for the morrow’s day of work and service, while many gathered their currency, plastics, and smart phones in readiness of the day called black. Some gave thanks while others did not. Because the lived across the way.

The day celebrating the great birth was festive. Many were concerned with those who had not while many simply walked over and away – stepped over obliviously, ignored and cast away. Albeit, much of it due to invisibility and wanton chosen-selective ignorance. Unemployment rested upon pins and needles too. The session of debate, decision, and a rush for the door was their only hope. Hopes were shattered, spat on, and trashed with the traversing footfalls of the end of session escape into oblivion. Their far away domiciles were kept hidden from the masses and the media – the eye of truth, justice, and liberty for all, especially for those on this side, across the way.

Lights of brilliance and babbles squinted and stretched wide the eyes of the pious and the marveled. They ran across the way to see what sparkled next, what was less or more expensive, the best, the biggest, and brightest or the most. After the acquiring of trinkets and loot were brought back to residences of glitter and preference, brought in through doorways, windows, and chimneys, all of which is not required or afforded across the way. In a word, they ran away and denounced such things as ludicrous – the words scribed in a pretty Good Book:

“This,” saith the Lord, “learn not the way of the heathen; for the heathen are dismayed at them, for the customs of the people are vain; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. But, they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.”

~Jeremiah, Chp. 10~

Can you not see, o’ ye across the way?

The ball dropped and fell down the pole. They ran across the way to see… The newly entered year was seized with revel and joyous behavior. Will it be short lived? I think yes… The old and the weak stayed away from the celebration for fear of being trampled by the maddened crowd, in their attempt to get the best spot – across the way.

The people, who knew not what they do, boasted the image of Him with looks of falsehood. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire. Trojan lands were under siege.

“I know thy works, and tribulations, and poverty, but thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are the Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan” – although Enoch walked with God across the way.

Cain dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden; the earthen giants were children of angels and the human female. The daughters of manwere indeed fair.

Multitudes of the unemployed held hope by the throat in strained attempts to believe the elected would, sooner or later, do the right thing – for those across the way. They were running to get across the way – in pursuit, in a foolish attempt of evading the Most High, to escape from the avenging archangel in the night, or Satan himself – to catch the naked Black Man before he could reachthe safety of freedom across the way.

The ones on the other side of the aisle stretched with strained limbs, reached out with portentous contention, endeavoring to showthem the light of the righteous.

“Do not leave the session now – do not leave when we are needed the most – your homes are intact and well endowed. Is it not our duty, our responsibility to see to it that all are just as secure?Is it not our charge to provide so that they can make it over there, across the way? We beseech thee, to the last just and sober soul, come back inside and live up to the honor that has been bestowed upon thee; for the people, by the people, and for the people. Even if one creed does not support the other, the colloquial destiny is one.

Cherries and fantasy enfold the living belief of life inside the liquid crystal display. Several survivors of the dinner hour sit seated eagerly awaiting their turn to contribute his or her day’s experience. Parental loving pride casts a mighty beacon throughout the land of freedom town. The totality of the union, (for the moment), superlatively overwhelms the surrounding host of despair. The lack of oneness is the ultimate sacrifice mankind has submitted – given in to Satan. His power resides in the destruction of mankind. Many are duped into the following and faith of individuality, contempt, separation, and isolation of the masses. For as long as we are not capable of understanding and communication, how can there be total cohesion, peace, and equality amongst us? In believing that one is mightier than the other, better than your God – the curse bestowed upon those who built the ‘Tower of Babel,’ falls and spreads throughout the lands of the world, across the way; allowing Satan’s victorious smile.

Gladiators of the grid iron, hoop, and diamonds of dirt, ring of passion and rope, or Olympian trials are bestowed with greatness from admiring eyes. Richness and wealth has befallen them. Who is now the master and who is to be the servant? Cold cereal, shaving razors, soda pop, and beer is presented with scantily clad light and white complected females, boasting their breasts and bottoms with pride, supported by rich green dollars of slobbering alcohol drenched, back slapping neophytes and Neanderthals. Waitressesare pinched, kissed, and slapped in the name of jest, subtlety, and lust. Giant screen television with lifelike dramatizations and alienations saturate the horde of rampaging elbow-benders galore. The reach across the way was caught by the studious husband of a flirtatious wife, even though he had completed his condemned covenant breaking rendezvous, returning from across the way.

Griping and groaning, because the snow won’t stop falling when they wanted it to. Did the snow fall purposely to mess up their day, to ruin their plans? What are the benefits of snow while you work the shovel and throw the stuff over there – across the way? Have you been sick? Had a cold? What do you think happens to the spittle found all over the sidewalks when the old dirty snow is melted, shoveled, scooped, and piled over there – across the way?

Cars, buses, trucks, trains and planes have succumbed to the wrath of the winter’s inclement onslaught. Its highways and byways smothered in white fluff and icy-cold. The trees, many of them elderly, reluctant to bearing the weight of stuff falling on them from the sky. They’ve decided and were forced to bend and break and utilize suburban houses and support poles as buffers on their way downward to restful sidewalks and grounds, there across the way.

The humans, many of highly secured and “well-to-do” means, were suddenly and abruptly denied their basic needs. Never mind the ones who’ve lived their lives continually, without the things they take for granted.

The cold winds howled and blew. It huffed and puffed and blew everything down. Water pipes froze and burst. Many wiped their dry mouths lusting with thirst, for want of a glass of water. After several days, the agony began to drive them mad – to the brink of murder. The lights were off. The TV didn’t work. The Kindle would not fire due to the dead and dying batteries. Nowhere was any convenient every day, ordinary power of any kind. Transportation was no longer an optional package of consideration for them over there, across the way.

The car started up fine, but it was of no use, no good. There were no longer available amenities for the cute little cul-de-sacs that were now pools of plight and despair, brewing a pending inevitable platform for starvation. Hot, live electric wires and power lines were untouchable, unapproachable. No more matches, paper, or firewood was available for lighting warmth in the fireplace. The gas grill was empty of propane. The charcoal grill killed a few families who didn’t wish to freeze to death in the safety of their broken, busted, and exposed homes.

One guy wondered, “What did the Indians do? Are we going to die like the pilgrim settlers, leaving the safety of the sea going vessels that carried them here to the Americas? I remember that wagon train in the western time mountains – they got stuck in hundreds of feet of snow and began to eat each other for survival. What did they use for a cook fire? Where are the Indians when you need them? They could help us survive! Please, won’t somebody tell us what to do?”

Some of the residents were fortunate enough to make the shelter circuit. Two weeks in, the repair crews were indefatigable in their dedication of restoring power to the various out of town communities.

The heavy-set Black Man, a power company supervisor, addressed the derelict destitute and depraved semi-homeless vagrants. He paid them a cordial visit, simply to reassure them, and report the power teams’ daily progress. He wanted to let them know how soon they could begin to return to their homes. But that was not to be. Savage and unjustly attacked was he. They hit him with verbal assaults from any and every direction. They wanted satisfaction now – right now.

“You are telling a damned lie! We are tired of waiting for you slow moving useless and worthless jabber jaws!”

He tried in vain to calm the people, none of which who looked like him. When he could not bring peace and control to the raucous group, he reached for his belongings that had been taken from him. They stole his lunch box, books and papers he’d brought to the meeting, and grabbed for his outer clothing. They were confiscated as well. He bolted from the room screaming into his cell phone and radio for help that would never come. Losing the radio as he made his life saving escape, the rampaging entities of the helpless suburbanites with the appearance of chalk-faced zombies, turned on and began attacking each other. They could not see eye-to-eye, they could not reason with any inkling of sanity. They came from over there, across the way.

The wind, rain, snow, and ice stopped falling – then after six hours had past, began again for twenty-four more hours. It all stopped and subsided, then left completely. It was clear that someone, something was watching them. It, Them, She, or He was watching to see how the tables had turned – how the tide has fared… The One who is The Most High, the One who sat and watched them of means – when it is all gone. He saw what they did, how they did… from over there – across the way.

Til Next Time…

When I was around 20 years old, I used to get up in the morning before going to my college classes and run around my neighborhood. Back then we lived in an area that had lots of hills all over the place, so I was going up and down these hills as I ran. That was a great workout because I’d have intervals of hard work (up the hill) and intervals of fun, easier work (down the hill).

But as I ran more and more I began to develop shin splints, a condition that causes a very painful shin, especially while running. Shin splints from running can easily happen when you don’t stretch properly and do specific shin splint exercises.

I thought I was stretching right back then, but I have learned a few things since then. To avoid that awful pain again, I have learned what to do about shin splints. Here are a few stretches you can do to avoid shin splints:

Stand with most of your weight on your left leg and lift your right leg up off the floor in front of you. Keep your right leg straight as you make a big circle in the air with your right foot. Make sure you are concentrating on stretching the muscles in your calf as you make a big a circle as you can while only moving the ankle joint. Do five or six big circles and then switch sides and repeat.

Stand a few feet away from a wall and lean into the wall. Place your hands about shoulder height onto the wall and bend your right knee so that all your weight is on your left leg. Focus on stretching out the left calf as you push your left heel to the floor. Keep your left leg straight. Repeat on other side. Go back and forth between sides several times.

This same stretch is also very effective in the Downward Dog position. Lay on your stomach and put your hands up near your arm pits. Straighten your arms so that your body is in a position to do a push up (body straight, only toes and hands touching the floor). Stretch your buttocks up to the ceiling as far as you can as you straighten your arms so that your biceps are near your ears. Keep your legs straight and stretch your heels towards the floor. You can rock back and forth between legs to get an even deeper stretch in your calves.

As with all stretches, always do a little warm up before going into the stretch. That way you will avoid injury to your muscles and tendons.

Have you ever notice that there are moments when no matter what you do it will fail while at other times anything you do will succeed? Spiritual Life coaches and astrologers use this insight to help their client find the best moment to progress into their life goals. This article focuses on coaching your own mind into contentment. Coaching starts in a walk on the Beach Tried sometimes to walk bare foot on the brink of an ocean, your feet are just touching the water, preferably at sunset, look toward the horizon just where the ocean meets the sky?! For most of us, it is just a little bit harder to get upset, worried or angry at that situation. Have you wandered why? in spriitual life coaching this is an important element.

The magic of the middle points The answer is very simple. Peace is in the transitions point. This is why the most magical times are autumn and spring. When you are on the brink of the ocean, you are just on the contact point between the water element and the earth element. The horizon is relaxing because there is the meeting point between the air element (sky) and water element (sea). Sunset and sunrise are the transition point between the day and night. These opposite energies in Chinese Daoism are called, Yin & Yang. The Yin and Yang have specific polar attributes, like the sun and moon, masculine and feminine, active and passive. The points of transition are connecting points between the Yin & Yang. In Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, it was called, “Madiamika”, the middle point (or “shunyata” – “0”) The yogis have found this transition point to be the best time to connect to the present moment and to enter meditation.

A Tantric Secret in Genesis To emphasize my point, I will use a story we all know. “At the beginning, god created Heaven and earth, and chaos was upon the earth and darkness upon the abyss” In Kabala, the mystical tradition of jewdisem, chaos is not a bad thing. Actually heaven and earth were still united at the end of the first day. The first day was consider a day of grace (“Hesed”). Only at the second day, god had separated heaven and earth. This was an act of judgment (“din”). The second day was the only day god didn’t conclude by saying “it is Good”.(“Ki tov”) That day is the origin of the human problems. Most of the time, we feel only our selves. Actually what we feel is separation. The separate energy of Yin & Yang, masculinity or femininity, is always dominant. Sometimes, we are active and dominant; sometimes, we are respite and passive…etc When one energy is dominant, there is always a restlessness, yearning to be complete, missing of the other type. When we feel the lacking of something, it is harder to be present in the moment. It is much harder then to recognize our basic fundamental completeness. This wholeness exists just an inch below our ever restless thought processes.

The great question in Tantra is how to achieve the state where both opposites neutralize each other. How can we stay in a state which is neither Yin nor Yang, but encompass them both. The answer is actually very simple: Walk barefoot on the beach, preferably during sunset, holding hands with someone of the opposite sex. No one said everything has to be hard in life…

Magical transition points These magical transition points are happening everywhere. The most notable transition point happens in time, space, breath and sexuality. Have you ever notice that there are moments when no matter what you do it will fail while at other times anything you do will succeed? Spiritual Life coacher and astrologers use this insight to help their client find the best moment to progress into their life goals. This article focuses on coaching your own mind into contentment. Coaching starts in a walk on the Beach Tried sometimes to walk bare foot on the brink of an ocean, your feet are just touching the water, preferably at sunset, look toward the horizon just where the ocean meets the sky?! For most of us, it is just a little bit harder to get upset, worried or angry at that situation. Have you wandered why? The magic of the middle points The answer is very simple. Peace is in the transitions point. This is why the most magical times are autumn and spring. When you are on the brink of the ocean, you are just on the contact point between the water element and the earth element. The horizon is relaxing because there is the meeting point between the air element (sky) and water element (sea). Sunset and sunrise are the transition point between the day and night. These opposite energies in Chinese Daoism are called, Yin & Yang. The Yin and Yang have specific polar attributes, like the sun and moon, masculine and feminine, active and passive. The points of transition are connecting points between the Yin & Yang. In Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, it was called, “Madiamika”, the middle point (or “shunyata” – “0”) The yogis have found this transition point to be the best time to connect to the present moment and to enter meditation. A Tantric Secret in Genesis To emphasize my point, I will use a story we all know. “At the beginning, god created Heaven and earth, and chaos was upon the earth and darkness upon the abyss” In Kabala, the mystical tradition of jewdisem, chaos is not a bad thing. Actually heaven and earth were still united at the end of the first day. The first day was consider a day of grace (“Hesed”). Only at the second day, god had separated heaven and earth. This was an act of judgment (“din”). The second day was the only day god didn’t conclude by saying “it is Good”.(“Ki tov”) That day is the origin of the human problems. Most of the time, we feel only our selves. Actually what we feel is separation. The separate energy of Yin & Yang, masculinity or femininity, is always dominant. Sometimes, we are active and dominant; sometimes, we are respite and passive…etc When one energy is dominant, there is always a restlessness, yearning to be complete, missing of the other type. When we feel the lacking of something, it is harder to be present in the moment. It is much harder then to recognize our basic fundamental completeness. This wholeness exists just an inch below our ever restless thought processes.

The great question in Tantra is how to achieve the state where both opposites neutralize each other. How can we stay in a state which is neither Yin nor Yang, but encompass them both. The answer is actually very simple: Walk barefoot on the beach, preferably during sunset, holding hands with someone of the opposite sex. No one said everything has to be hard in life…

Magical transition points These magical transition points are happening everywhere. The most notable transition point happens in time, space, breath and sexuality.

In space In space, these points are where different elements meet. In mountains, earth meets the sky; in the sea shore, water meets the earth; in volcanic mountains, gazers and hot springs, fire meets earth and sometimes water.

In time Transition points in time happen every sunrise and sunset (when day and night meet), in the seasonal equinox and solstice (when seasons meet). The entire field of Indian “murati” astrology and western “electional” astrology aims to find such a point. In breathing In breathing, this cycle happens as well. Inhalation is Yang while exhalation is Yin. Breathing through the left nostril generate Yin energy while breathing through the right nostril generate Yang energy. The gap between the exhalation and inhalation and the gap between the inhalation and exhalation are considered magical transition points. Special meditation in Tantra that focuses on these magical transition points..

Another magical balance point happens when the breathing through both nostrils is exactly equal. Check your breathing and you will found out that either the left nostril or the right is more open. This affects our energy balance. When the left is open, we are receptive and mental; when the right is active, we are active and physical. Every day there is short transition between the left breathing to the right and vice versa. In these moments we feel very balanced and present. There are special breathing techniques in yoga that aim to reach the perfect balance between the right and left nostril breathing. These techniques force the transition point on our body, and are considered as excellent preparation for meditation.

In sex The sexual union also offers a special balance point. This happens when the male masculine energy flows to the female, and the female feminine energy flows to the man. At a certain time they reach a perfect balance. This is a magical moment when opposites unite and we want to stay in it as much as possible. At the sexual transition point, we feel enormous bliss, peacefulness, and connection to the stillness within. It doesn’t always need to be full sexual contact; sometime holding the hand of your lover or gazing to his eyes can be enough.

The moment of orgasm The moment of orgasm is the most powerful middle point we can experience unless we get very skilled in meditation. At this moment the masculine and feminine energies are in complete alchemic union within our body. This creates a cold fusion energy explosion within our system that expresses itself as waves of pleasure. This experience can be so powerful that our limited ego boundaries can fall down temporarily, and we feel expansion. This is what the French call, “la petit murat,” the little death. Orgasm is for some, the only time thinking of God saying, “oh my God” Orgasm is the closest human experience to Samadhi, the mystical union that yoga aims for; a state of perfect bliss and unity. The famous Indian guru “bagawan sri ragnish” more known as Osho has called “samadi” a cosmic orgasm. It is like taking the orgasm and multiplying it a thousand times, one can understand what is “samadi”. Orgasm is in fact a gate way to “samadi”. Many of the tantric sexual practices are aiming to increase the time of orgasm, so it can be a meditation object. For most of us it is just too short to be used for meditation. In the West, this knowledge is often used just for having fun. The traditional tantric system was transmitting this knowledge only to advance disciples with pure spiritual purpose

Conclusion The best place to be is on the beach at sunset holding your lover hand, did I say anything new here?! The tantric tradition claims we can be in that inner state at any given moment. For this, our Masculine and feminine energies must be balanced. This is a delicate inner state that can be achieved by meditation and yoga. Spiritual life coaching uses the wisdom of those traditions to elevate your happiness level.

You don’t have to be on the beach to feel joy and peace. There is a great tantric text called “Vijnana Birava Tantra” – this text shows dozens of techniques to find the “madiayama”, transition points. This wonderful text shows that music, surprise, pain, fear and pleasure, all can be used for meditation. In the meanwhile we can stand on the shore and let our feet touch the water.

… He was running. He ran and ran until he thought his heart would explode along with his burning lungs. The air felt like it was on fire with every gasp for oxygen.

The dark dank and urine smelling streets offered no sanctuary. The footfalls of his pursuers were not far behind. They didn’t blow whistles but yelled back and forth to each other. Their clicking, clanking, jingling of metal, wood, and plastic made their distinctive noises as the chase unfolded. “Head him off down the back alley Roger! I’ll cut him at the other end!”

Running and running some more, he knew not where he was or where to run next. The darkened alley allowed for some cover and protection. A doorway guided an entrance to a rotted and broken stairway planks. They led upward. Up and farther up, he climbed. The chasing danger was far behind by now. They could not find him. He was standing atop the bombed-out building looking down upon them. Them who are adorned in blue and black attire with shiny and sparkling ornaments attached; some were silver and some were golden colored. The gold ones were attached to beltline of everyday clothing while the silver or tin was attached to the assigned blue colored pockets of the pursuer’s chests.

Gazing over the edge of the roof, he saw them angrily and frantically searching. They were searching but afraid to enter and climb the rotting moldy stairs of the dark and foreboding bombed-out building. His fear encouraged him to climb those stairs and step out onto the twelve story roof.

Over the edge, the ledge yielded a nest of yellowish-beige colored orbs. The rounded things were large in size yet smaller than a basketball. He handled the eggs with tender care, for they felt warm and inviting to touch. He felt the need to hold them close, to protect them. He didn’t know why.

Wrapping the three tenderly and carefully inside of his heavy winter coat, he started for the stairs downward; heading home. Something, someone placed an unwelcomed, unexpected hand upon his left shoulder. Startled, he attempted to sprint for the doorway leading to the down stairway. The hand morphed into a grip and then another.

The great and strong gripping kept him from leaving; from moving; from going home.

“Where are you going with them eggs boy?” said a strange and menacing voice. Without turning to see who was questioning him along with the powerful restraining, he replied, “I’m going home to take care of these babies!”

“Babies?” the voice queried. “Those are not babies! They is our breakfast!”

A power came over him. A power he did not recognize gave him the courage and the confidence to defy his would-be usurpers.

Before he had realized there were four assailants, the vision of them flying backward and being caught by the blacktop filled his every waking sight. They lay bleeding, bent, and broken. The fourth was flung from the roof and resting dead in the refuse dumpster down below. The ‘Green-Beret’ martial arts training seemed to work all on its own in fatal defense of him and his newly found babies.

The eagles grew over time. They had never flown nor had an inkling or desire to do so. The natural God given strength and beauty subliminally continually urged them to leave the sanctity of the backyard coup. They were beautiful and powerful young egrets. The sky beckoned – freedom beckoned; the wind called loudly.

The other fowl of chicken, parrot, finch, pigeon, and ‘Tweety,’ wondered who and what kind of bird the three were. They did not know what they were. All they knew was the love, caring, and respect shared and reciprocated herein. They were brothers and sisters. They took care of one another. They protected one another. The small ones could get in and out of small crevices in retrieval of food and unreachable desires for the larger ones who could not. The dog, wolf, fox, and any other threat, enemy, or predator dared not venture into their peaceful and loving domicile, least while their three larger than life brothers stood about. “They kept us all safe – everything and everyone remained apprehensive or aloof if only for their opulent stature.”

The three eagles did pretty much what the other did around the house. But something told them they were destined for something more.

A large shadow crossed their brow while out in the daytime. They looked up and saw a magnificent sight. “What a sight to behold?” shouted one of the three eagle brothers. “What is it?” asked the others. “It looks like us!”

“How can you tell?” asked one of the family members. “It’s so high up and far away, I can hardly see it!” exclaimed the chicken.

“We can see it plainly, as if it was standing right next to us!” said one of the sharp eyed eagle brothers. The man said, “He is of your kind, my children. He like you, is majestic… he is an Eagle!” he said with pride and a broad smile on his face. “You are destined to soar as he does. He, like you, is the ‘King of The Sky – The King of Birds! I’ve raised you here to protect you and keep you safe from harm – today is the day that you must ride the clouds and answer the call.”

The man began to undo the sky-screen keeping them enclosed in the yard area with the other fowl of the yard. The three brothers began to stretch and flap their eight-foot long wings. They began to emulate the king bird above.

“Oh This Feels Great – It Feels Magnificent – Oh What Power We Feel – It’s Simply Glorious! Brother, We knew We Were More Than Yard-birds! We Knew There Was Something More To Us Than Meets The Eye – We Knew That We Were Not Chicken, Parrot, Finch, Pigeon, or Tweety – We Knew We Were/Are Eagles; Kings Of The Sky!”

A loud explosion sounded as the fence next to the wall of the house shattered into toothpicks. The cages and coups all fell over, allowing the sick and wounded fowl to wince, cry, yelp, scream, and squawk in pain, agony, and panic. The wardens and troopers charged, crashed, and stomped all over and through – in the name of search, seizure, rescue, arrest, and destroy.

“We know you’ve got a pot-farm in here! You’re a dope dealing slime! We know you robbed the neighborhood Micky-D’s, gas station, donut shack, supermarket, and ‘Driving While Black!’ You’ve killed a man and assaulted his friends! You’re under arrest!”

They punched, kicked, and pushed the man who attempted to turn the other cheek. He could not.

The eagles were quick to the defense. The Game Wardens and Troopers were severely startled by the ‘larger-than-life’ avenging fowl. The first eagle flapped his massive wings and created a wind funnel with the power of an “F-3” tornado. Blowing several of the marauders, flinging them backward and out onto the street. The second eagle grabbed two intruders, one in each claw; and with little to no effort, flapped its mighty wings and flew high above the surrounding buildings and houses. The captive prey screamed to the top of their lungs as if being flipped and frightened by the highest and most powerful monster rollercoaster on the planet. Soaring high and fast, the mighty bird took a nose dive and like a bombardier, dropped the two full grown men into the city’s rain water reservoir which was four and a half miles away, over on 33rd Street. The third eagle stood with his eight and a half foot wingspan outstretched. The augmented stance greatly intimidated the remaining marauders. They reached for Nets, Tasers, Guns, Batons, and other available weapons of assault.

The eagle flashed his large bright and keenly sharp eyes. The fear of God overcame them. Two of them, noticeably, soiled the fronts of their pants while frozen with fright. The others in their fear and hatred continued the attempted rampage.

The man leaped into action. Three marauders where drop-kicked backwards out into the street, while another with a gun in hand, was flipped over the right shoulder of the man and body-slammed on the cement ground. The sound of broken pottery and human bones filled the immediate air. The other happy and healthy yard-birds joined in on the mêlée in defense of their precious and beloved abode. They all managed to drive the intruders back and out into the street near their vehicles.

The news media discovered, reported, and filmed the warrantless assault on the man and his friends. All of the accusations were proven to be without merit and the charges were unfounded. The unreasonable attack and accusation was plotted and hatched by a corrupted evil member of the force who was reported for abusive tactics and harassment on multiple occasions for his indiscretions and blatant disregard for policing protocols in his personal vendetta and terroristic practices against those whom he regarded and believed to be undesirable and beneath him. His truncated reports have caused an undue rift between the responsible authoritative community and the community at large. The surreptitious deed was put to right with the resistance to injustice and bitter rancour.

The Eagles, who were raised with Chickens, soared on Mighty Wings of Truth and Justice with Glorious Pride alongside their fellow Sky-King – The Man was Free and Ran Away No More.

Til Next Time…

‘SANKOFA’

You can call her “Destiny’s Child” but the label would be inaccurate. Prep phenom Jordan Hasay understands that she will have to run her way to greatness, and would not have it any other way.

Hasay attends Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School (better known as Mission Prep in the running community) in San Luis Obispo, California.

She has been setting national records for running since she was 12, when she set the USA age-group 3000-Meter record (1.86 miles) by running 9:48.77. A year later she would break the 1500-Meter mark with a 4:28.61 clocking and the 3000 mark with a 9:35.12 effort.

At 14, she would break the 1500, 3000 and 3200-Meter records; at 15, the 1500, 1600, 3000 and 3200-Meters; and last year as a junior she ran a meet-record 9:52.13 to win her 3rd consecutive state title in the 3200-Meter, another national age-group record to go with her 3000-Meter record of 9:19.6. Her 3200-Meter state championship victory was the second fastest time ever by a high school girl.

Did I mention that she ran in the U. S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon as a 16-year-old junior? On the storied, remodeled Hayward Field track (the University of Oregon playground of Pre, the late, great Steve Prefontaine), Hasay set another national age-group and high school record by running 4:14.50 in a 1500-Meter semifinal heat.

Hasay’s exploits spilled over to cross-country as well. She capped the start of her senior year by winning her 4th straight California high school Division V title, tying Sara (nee Bei) Hall’s record of 4 straight titles.

She then went on the capture her 4th straight Foot Locker West Regional title, becoming the first athlete ever to do so. She won the prestigious, national Foot Locker Cross Country Championship for the second time, covering the 5000-Meter (3.1 mile) course in 17:22.

Last year Hasay was named the 2008 USA Track and Field’s Youth Athlete of the Year, and also Track & Field News named Hasay as its 2008 Girls High School Athlete of the Year.

Hasay isn’t the only prep phenom the United States has produced. Jim Ryan and Mary Decker Slaney were world beaters in the day. Alan Webb had his moment of greatness. There are many others.

Hasay’s waist-length blond hair make her easy to spot while running in a pack. The entire track community is anxiously awaiting her performance this spring, wondering just how much she can lower her times.

Jordan Hasay is pretty savvy about her future. “My aim isn’t to be remembered as the best high school runner ever,” said Hasay in a recent interview, “but as one of the better U. S. distance runners in the future.” And, my oh my, does that future shine bright.

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

Running, everyone does it. Whether you are trying to lose weight or get active, It’s the best exercise beginner and expert alike.

But there’s one problem. You’ve probably been running the wrong way the entire time. I don’t mean direction. I mean how your feet hit the ground every time you take a step to make yourself run faster. Called the “Heel Strike”.

The entire time? You might be thinking. ” This guy thinks he knows what he’s talking about”. Nope just want you to be saved. Saved from the consequences of shin splints.

Shin splints caused by the type of activity that you may be performing; running for instance. Tenderness and swelling of the lower legs.

Very common with runners. “Sounds painful,” you say. What if I tell you that you can prevent this just by running the right way.

Stop striking with your heels

This is the issue you are facing. You run like your walking. Try striking the middle of your feet or the ball of your foot. Did you jump before right? Or ran in place? That’s how you should be running.

Improvements almost instantly(… or at least lessen the impact of shin splints)

When you run the right way, as in running with the ball of the foot, you get the full range like jumping with every step you take. Almost gazelle-like. When you Heel strikes, your shins take that force; the whole impacted of the strike of the concrete or hard ground that your running on, then, in turn, give you shin splints.

Adjusting the way you run

Remember in the Matrix when Neo opens his eyes for the first time? Blurry and unfocused? That the best way to describe the feeling. The first time you run using the balls of your feet, it’s going to feel awkward. You might even want to go back to your old habits. Try your best to stay consistent. That Calf muscle pain comes up. That’s the first time in forever using them. That will subside when they get used to it when you run this way. Is your speed slower? Don’t worry just like your muscles aching, you should get used to this then running at the same speed you once ran in no time.

Hey, improving your run shouldn’t ne a chore. It will give you more wind like you don’t feel as tired running any more.

Adverbs have their purpose. They provide additional description about of a verb, adjective or other adverb.

Unfortunately writers tend to overuse them. This typically happens when a writer fails to select a word whose description stands on its own. To make the selected word provide the intended description, the writer grabs for an adverb. Whether done out of ignorance or laziness, the effect is the same–bloated writing.

Compare the following pairs of sentences, one using a verb and adverb, the other using a verb:

• She smiled broadly. — She grinned.
• He spoke loudly. — He shouted.
• The boy ran down the street quickly. — The boy dashed down the street.

Replacing a verb modified by an adverb (smiled broadly, spoke loudly, ran quickly) with a single verb (grinned, shouted, dashed) improves the quality of the sentences. They become vibrant. And the reader can envision the action in finer detail.

As with verbs, when you choose the appropriate adjective, you eliminate the need to use an adjective modified by an adverb. Consider the sentence: She did a very good job. Does very good mean great, commendable, outstanding, remarkable or something else? The writer has relinquished control by making the reader decide.

Are you overusing adverbs? This simple exercise will help you find out:

1. Scan through your piece of writing and circle every word ending in ly. This will identify most of the adverbs. Also circle adverbs that modify an adjective, such as very in the example above.
2. Read your writing out loud and when you come to an adverb, envision the image you intended.
3. Ask yourself, does this adverb-verb combination or adverb-adjective combination show what I, the writer, see in my mind’s eye?
4. If it does, great. If not, ask yourself, what one verb or adjective could I use instead? Make a list.
5. Read the sentence using each of the words in your list. With each word, ask, does it fully describe what I see in my mind’s eye?
6. When you find the right word, insert it, go to the next adverb and repeat the process.

When you read your edited draft, you will immediately notice the benefits of spending time and effort on this exercise. The removal of excess adverbs takes the bloat out of your writing. Plus, the words you carefully select to replace the adverbs create specific descriptions that improve your writing.

The bonus? Avoiding adverbs also enriches your reader’s experience, increasing their appreciation of your work and desire to read more.

No ten-year-old boy in the late 1950’s collected more comic books than Ronny Chimp. The truth is that when he bought a comic book using his allowance money Ronny had little interest in the comic book stories. He just wanted to find the advertisement section which displayed many ads selling gags, pranks and magic tricks. Ronny owned nearly all of them and played jokes on his friends at school. But in the latest issue Ronny’s interest peeked when he found a new ad for a small pet monkey:

“Darling Squirrel Monkey” that “makes an adorable pet and companion. Almost human with warm eyes, your family will love it. These young monkeys will grow to about 12 inches high. Eats same foods as you, even likes lollipops: simple to care for and train. Live delivery guaranteed. Only $18.95. Mail check or money order to: Animal Farm. Dept K26, Box 1042, Miami Beach 39, Florida.”

Ronny ran in to tell his mother and showed the ad to her.

“Oh, don’t fall for any more cheesy gags” his mother warned.

“But Mom, it’s can’t be a gag. This could be a pet!”

Ronny looked sad, then hung his head, and slowly walked back to his room and slammed his door. Several minutes later, she knocked gently and silently opened his door. Ronny was pouting on his bed. She sat next to him and said, “All right. We’ll ask your daddy when he gets in from work tonight.”

Ronny stood straight up and ran around his room. “Wait. Ronny! Don’t be so happy now. Your father could say ‘No’.”

When his dad arrived home several hours later, Ronny ran to him and showed him the ad. “Can I have a monkey, please?” His father examined the ad as Ronny anxiously waited for the verdict.

“What in the world would you do with a small monkey?… What about a dog or a cat?”

“I want a monkey! Please, Dad… Please??”

“I’ll have to think about this. If you still want this monkey in 10 days, I’ll consider buying it for you. But, please think carefully about it before then.”

“Yea!”

Certain that he would still want it in 10 days, Ronny ran around the house, then into his room where he finally wound down and fell asleep. The next day at school, he told his friends he was going to get a monkey. They all laughed at him because they had seen the same ad, but thought it was a scam. Others remembered all of the practical jokes Ronny bought from the comic book ads, and bet he would get the little monkey.

Anyway, Ronny counted down the days until his father agreed to fill out a check for $18.95.

“Are you sure this is what you want, son?”

“You betcha!”

“Well, let me have the ad and I’ll send a check for it in the mail. But I want you to promise to take care of it by yourself!”

“I will, Dad! I will.”

Ronny’s father mailed the order. A week went by, then two weeks. Ronny became concerned after six months had rolled by. Years came and went and still no monkey. Ronny simply forgot about what he could have owned. In the meantime, life moved on for Ronny. He went to high school, graduated from college, got married, and had children. “Ronny” became “Ronald.” His folks lived in a retirement home, while he and his family lived in the same house he grew up in.

On a Saturday, in 1982, Ronny was playing catch with Tyler, his 12-year-old son when a UPS truck stopped in front of his old house. The UPS driver walked over to Ronny and said, “I’ve got a delivery for Ronny Chimp.”

“That’s me, but nobody has called me ‘Ronny’ in many years. People call me ‘Ronald’.” The driver told him that he had a special delivery from NASA.

NASA? Why NASA?

The driver looked in the back of his seat and a small sound like “Eeeekk!..Eeeek!” came from the box.

He examined the box and saw rather large punched holes.

“It’s some kind of animal. Did you order an animal?”

“No… “

He heard the sounds coming from the box. As Ronald rushed over to open the box, he quickly tore it open. Underneath was a cage with a small squirrel monkey inside.

Ronald’s mouth opened wide and an astonished look came in his eyes – “a squirrel monkey???” His mind suddenly reeled back to his childhood when he saw the ad for a squirrel monkey.

“I sent off for this monkey in the 1950’s when I was 10 years old!!… What in the world?!” The animal started jumping up and down and chirped louder. Then, his family came out to see what the noise was about. Ronald looked at the cage and saw an envelope attached outside the cage. He tore it off and began reading a letter:

From the National Space Aerodynamic Administration

To Whom This May Concern,

If you have received this Squirrel Monkey who we at NASA affectionately call “Miss Baker”, it is because you may have purchased one of these kinds of monkeys in the past. We are sorry you did not receive your animal, but now, we are giving you Miss Baker was purchased along with 25 other squirrel monkeys at a pet shop in Miami, Florida, and brought to the Naval Aviation Medical School in Pensacola. She is getting old and needs a new home. She began working for us in 1959 and became our first monkey in space. We sent her into space for 16 minutes and successfully returned in perfect health. No physical or mental abnormalities were found with her. Not only is she a historical monkey, she has developed keen knowledge and abilities. I have included photos of her while she was with us at NASA.

J. L. Flights, NASA Director of Astrophysics

The animal’s body was mostly brown. On its pink face were two black eyes, small nose, and a dark mouth. She stood roughly one foot tall, weighing about one and a half pounds. Ronald gave “Miss Baker” a smile, but he and his whole family seemed a bit stunned. Ronald’s little daughter, Tina was afraid to take her out, but Miss Baker immediately jumped up out of the cage, onto Tina and hugged her. Then, she quickly leaped to the ground, chirping at the same time. It was clear Tina was the monkey’s favorite member of the family, possibly because she could relate to Tina because she was small. After just a few weeks, the family thought of Miss Baker as part of the family.

Ronald reflected on his childhood when he wanted a pet squirrel monkey and never received it. It seemed like a miracle somehow that the precious animal his father paid for so long ago finally made it to his house. Seeing the little monkey playing with his daughter, making her so happy made the long wait worth it.

Let’s start with the basic eight-foot sheet of drywall. Most drywall contractors apply drywall horizontally however I have seen some contractors working with metal stud framing install 10 foot sheets of drywall vertically.

The reasons for installing the 10 foot sheets of drywall up and down or vertically in this situation are quite simple. There is no structural strength required in these walls because they are simply partitions dividing rooms and usually the drywall only needs to be finished up to 9 feet. This is the only time I have seen drywall ran vertically.

In a wood framed house the drywall actually adds a little sheer value to the home itself.

The manufacturer suggests installing eight-foot sheets of drywall horizontally. The horizontal application of drywall means installing the 4 foot side of the drywall up and down and the eight-foot side of the drywall side to side.

What is the reason for installing the 4 x 8 sheets horizontally?

When it comes to finishing the drywall the 4 foot seams that run up and down or vertical will not be as noticeable as a seam running up and down the entire wall. If you haven’t read one of my last articles on eye level window setting then let me give you a brief eye level education.

A person 5’8″ in height will be more apt to notice things between 4’6″ off the ground and 6’6″ off the ground. If we ran the drywall vertical there is a good chance the eyes would be able to pick up any finishing flaws in the drywall. Running the drywall horizontally will just put us a little out of range from the lower eye level of 4 foot six with our finish.

Another reason for installing the drywall horizontally is there is a good chance your eyes would be able to pick up four foot lines in the wall going from floor to ceiling quite easily. On older homes you will see lines in the ceilings about every 24 inches. This is because the plaster or drywall ceilings is starting to sag in between the ceiling joist.

These lines are difficult to do anything about once the drywall is finished. The only alternative you would have is to remove the ceiling and re-drywall and finish it.

Drywall ran vertically will tend to crack easier than staggered drywall ran horizontally. The four foot section of drywall is stronger than the 8 foot section. If you stagger your drywall breaks every four feet this will increase the strength of your wall as well.

Try not to break the drywall at any door openings. The door openings seem to crack easily from the corners working their way towards the ceiling. Let the drywall run over the doorway and then cut the doorway out leaving the rough door opening during wallboard installation.

If you have ever seen a house that was drywalled by a professional crew the waste is unbelievable. The reason for this is simply that the drywall contractor does not want to come back and patch cracks in the walls three or four years after he is done. It can be quite labor intensive installing scrap pieces of drywall versus using larger sheets to cover the same area.

Don’t forget and always remember that. Horizontal installation of drywall is recommended by the manufacturer.