One of my riding buddies shared this movie of a motorcycle ride on Chief Joseph Highway in Cody, WY… incredible!
Next Motorcycle Trip?
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Category Archives: Personal Musings
Why I call my grandson Charlie Brown
In case you were wondering…
Charlie John or Kellen Brown?
Economic or Moral Crisis?
“When government spends on the scale Washington’s got used to, that’s not a spending crisis, it’s a moral one. . . It’s not just about balancing the books, but about balancing the most basic impulses of society. These are structural, and ultimately, moral questions. Credit depends on trust, and trust pre-supposes responsibility. So, if you have a credit boom in an age that has all but abolished personal responsibility, it’s not hard to figure how it’s going to end.”
– Mark Steyn
My Grandson is Amazing!
Kellen’s first steps at 9 months!
Senator Mark Hatfield Dies at 89
My kids generation isn’t really going to know much about this man, but when I was their age, he was an important figure in our political system, in the evangelical Christian movement in the US, and in my life as a young man struggling with my position on war (Viet Nam).
A former senator and governor (Oregon), and Navy officer, Mark was among the first Americans to view the destruction at Hiroshima at the end of WW2. This experience shaped much of his later critical positions on the Viet Nam and Iraq wars and his leanings toward pacifism, while maintaining a conservative Republican Party political leadership position.
Mark was also a devout and outspoken evangelical Christian who defied many of the popular perceptions and categories associated with this conservative religious worldview.
I did not and still do not agree with him on many of his positions, but I do admire that he was a man of his convictions, who did not waiver from them because of changes in culture and politics or political pressure. We need more leaders like him.
The Ride Around Lake Michigan
On July 1, 2011, I met two friends (David Dillon and Joel Hamernick) at the McDonald’s restaurant on the Chicago Skyway. The sky was overcast and rain predicted, and dangerous heat warnings issued for later in the day. We set off and soon ran into some real rain which was rather heavy at times and lasted until we got well into Michigan. We got wet.
Here is a map of our route.
Map of Motorcycle Ride Around Lake Michigan
Things cleared up past Holland, and we eventually dried out. Our fist night/destination was Petosky, Michigan. The second day we rode over the Mackinaw Bidge into the UP, and ended up at Munising, MI. for the second night. The third day we rode through the UP into Northern Wisconsin, and ended up at Green Bay for the night. The final day was an easy ride back into Chicago.
We found some wonderful roads in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Here is a photo taken by Joel (while riding) of Me and David riding through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park… on the Best Road Ever!
Best Road Ever - Through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park
The Machine!
Randy's 2008 Triumph Bonneville "Black"
Weekend at Road America
My staff at Headstand Media gave me tickets to the AHRMA Vintage Motorcycle Races at Road America held this past weekend. I rode up to the event on Friday, June 10 with friends Dale Craft, Dale Stoffer and brother-in-law Stan Guillaume. Here are some photos and captions from the weekend.
Dale Craft, me, Stan Guillaume, Dale Stoffer
The Original Norton Hogslayer
A three cylinder Norton called a Triton
Dale Craft with his Triumph America
The Two Triumphs: Dale's Triumph America and Randy's Triumph Bonneville
Watching AHRMA racing at Turn 5 at Road America
An old Royal Enfield - Dwight?
LINKS:
Adobe’s Enterprise Web Content Management
Ever wonder what Adobe CQ5 is? Here’s a short one-minute video that explains it on WebSmart TV.
Mortensen and Madonna Fails
I just read a great blog post today by Chris Horst on Smorgasblurb, highlighting two recent celebrity charity “fails” – Greg Mortensen and Madonna – and what we should learn from them.
“If we’ve learned anything from politicians and pastors; it’s that we need to measure them by the lives they lead and by what they have done, not solely on what they say, by how famous they are, or by the nobility of their intentions.”
“Madonna and Mortensen endeavored to help the poor, but pious motivation is no excuse for bad charity.”
Chris Horst
Regional Representative
HOPE International
Headstand Media Bank of Hope Update
I first posted about the Headstand Media Bank of Hope on my company website. Since I have a son who is working for HOPE International (partnering with Esperanza) in the Dominican Republic, where the Bank of Hope is located, he was able to get some photos of the Dominican women (mostly) who are receiving micro-loans from this bank.
These photos were taken by a HOPE International worker named Liz, about a week ago as she visited the area that the Headstand Media Bank of Hope serves. Captured in these images is a biweekly meeting of our (Headstand Media’s) Bank of Hope named “El Futuro!” (The Future!).
"El Futuro" Group Associates
Our bank is partnering with 2 groups in the bank – Group #1 and Group #4. The whole bank is made up of 8 groups for a total of 40 associates. There are pictures of various members of the bank, and also specific photos of group #1 and #4. One woman from Group #1 couldn’t make it to the meeting, so she isn’t pictured.
"El Futuro" - Group 1
"El Futuro" - Group 4
The bank meets in a community center, which is currently undergoing a new green paint-job on the interior.
Reading the Verbal Pledge
Ana, the Esperanza loan officer, is the one wearing the black and white striped shirt.
Ana, the bank loan officer, receiving a loan payment
A woman from the bank named Rafaela, brought some ice cream to share with the rest of the bank associates. She has an ice cream business. Here is a photo of her with her business.
Rafaela's ice cream business
It is so great to see the faces of those we are helping to provide an opportunity for their businesses to grow. In time, this help positively affects their families and community, which leads to a more stable and flourishing local economy, which leads to less poverty and greater health all around.