The Long Road

I need to set the record straight on Veterans Day. There would be NO Veterans Day without physical fitness because there would be no military to serve! Most people do not get this important connection between physical "readiness" and military service.

"You don't want to work, you want to live like a kingBut the big, bad world doesn't owe you a thing"-The EaglesSpinning off a great song by The Eagles, GET OVER IT! We have work to do to save what is left of our country. Conservatives had to "get over it" when Obama was elected and also Biden...so now it's the Democrats' turn. Get over it. Put your boots on. Get back to work...oh! You don't want to work and get "free" money? GET OVER IT.*Reference: "Get Over It" by Don Henley and Glenn Frey (1994).

Some reflective thoughts on the eve of what is likely the most important American "election" of all time. Pay attention. Best to you mates.*Photo by Ron Jones

This is my third recent episode using a 1943 US Government reference, "National Socialism" which was the playbook for Nazi Germany. In today's episode, I go over the Nazi Pledge of Allegiance and the Nazi's "Duties of the Party Comrade." I highlight the dangers of being exclusively "group think" while also highlighting the shortcomings of being too focused on YOU the individual while ignoring any responsibilities to the larger group as in your country. What we need is both--rugged individuals who can and will come together for the betterment of the country at large. Here's another warning in my quoted reading about what happened when a proper balance was NOT maintained. Blind party loyalty in the US to Democrats or Republicans without regard to "your individual opinion" is fatally flawed in my opinion. Look back. Learn. Move forward.Source: "NATIONAL SOCIALISM: BASIC PRINCIPLES, THEIR APPLICATION BY THE NAZI PARTY'S FOREIGN ORGANIZATION, AND THE USE OF GERMANS ABROAD FOR NAZI AIMS" by Raymond E. Murphy, Francis B. Stevens, Howard Trivers, Joseph M. Roland, Prepared in the Special Unit of the Division of European Affairs, Department of State, United States Government (1943)*Photo by Ron Jones

I gave a pep talk to my PE kids this week on winning awards. I shared that when I was their age, I was quite "average" and don't remember winning anything of special significance. I was just part of the pack whether in the classroom or on the athletic field...then I decided I did not want to be average anymore, and everything changed. Here's a small part of my story and how the US Marine Corps' Devil Pups program helped me change my mindset--and life path. I went on to set a world record in ultracycling, become a two-time All-American in Du-Athlon, earn three college degrees with honors, etc., etc. What changed? My mind and spirit.

"National Socialism has no aggressive intentions against any European nation." -Adolf Hitler, Proclamation opening the party congress at Nuremberg on September 11, 1935.More from my WWII government resource which is essentially the playbook for how Hitler and his Third Reich took control. So much of this story revolves around carefully constructed propaganda--and some of it coming out of America with Edward Bernays. Today's episode examines how the masses were controlled by slogans, certain repeated messages, and BIG LIES.Source: "NATIONAL SOCIALISM: BASIC PRINCIPLES, THEIR APPLICATION BY THE NAZI PARTY'S FOREIGN ORGANIZATION, AND THE USE OF GERMANS ABROAD FOR NAZI AIMS" by Raymond E. Murphy, Francis B. Stevens, Howard Trivers, Joseph M. Roland, Prepared in the Special Unit of the Division of European Affairs, Department of State, United States Government (1943)*Photo by Ron Jones

Some observations and comments from last night's Tulsa Oktoberfest...social commentary and social psychology as America heads for a likely turbulent election process.*"Star Spangled Banner" courtesy of Stanley Jay Tucker.

Reaching back into my rare WWII archives, today's episode cites "National Socialism" published in 1943. This US Government source exposes actual Nazi propaganda methodology and how the personal property rights of individuals were removed for the "good" of the state under the cloaks of "protection" of the people to "remove distress." Sound familiar?*I referenced one of my favorite used book stores Counter Point Records & Books in Los Angeles. If you enjoy vintage books, consider stopping here. Source: "NATIONAL SOCIALISM: BASIC PRINCIPLES, THEIR APPLICATION BY THE NAZI PARTY'S FOREIGN ORGANIZATION, AND THE USE OF GERMANS ABROAD FOR NAZI AIMS" by Raymond E. Murphy, Francis B. Stevens, Howard Trivers, Joseph M. Roland, Prepared in the Special Unit of the Division of European Affairs, Department of State, United States Government (1943)*Photo by Ron Jones

In a follow-up to my previous episode on the importance of teaching children to speak well, this episode goes deeply into the history of not only physical culture in schools--but also "vocal culture" in the American K-12 school system. Join me while we take a critical look at the current trends to "amplify" dysfunctional speech during school assemblies and drama productions then reference this to what was taught in 1800s "vocal education."Reference: "Manual of Physical and Vocal Training, for the Use of Schools and for Private Institutions" by Lewis B. Monroe, Superintendent of Physical and Vocal Culture in the Public Schools of Boston, Mass. (1869)*Photo: "Shure 55 AS Unidyne Dynamic Microphone" by Ron Jones

The Cambridge Dictionary defines enunciation as: "the act of pronouncing words or parts of words clearly." We have a speech crisis in America. A high percentage of current elementary children have a speech impediment. Cambridge defines impediment as: "something that makes progress, movement, or achieving something difficult or impossible."Far too many children cannot speak well enough to be understood...and it's at a crisis level NOW! Part of the root cause is spending too much time on technology instead of speaking with your own family or with other humans. The other part of the root cause, (in my opinion), stems from school closures during the pandemic. Extended school closures ruined the learning of many children and never did anything significant to "prevent" Covid. What we did "accomplish" was to create a generation of children who are mentally, physically, and spiritually damaged...and especially when it comes to speaking clearly enough to be understood. I expand on the above during this episode in hopes that it will create an awareness with adults who can take proper action to start talking with children--and in the same room together instead of being in the same room absorbed into their own tech devices.*Photo by Ron Jones

Today, we dive into the teaching points of learning just one proper repetition for the old-school "Bar Dip" strength exercise. There is a lot to it from the classical standpoint. Here's how I teach it in elementary school PE.

I started realizing in yesterday's show, while I was recording it, that I was learning more about the topic as I explained it to my listeners. Then, as I was typing up the show notes after recording, I discovered more key points that I had not understood going into the show! Here are some points I missed yesterday to help further explain and clarify the importance of syncing with others.Reference: "Beyond Culture" by Edward T. Hall (1976)*Photo by Ron Jones

This episode is a fascinating exploration and book review of "Beyond Culture" by American anthropologist Edward T. Hall. We explore Chapter 5 "Rhythm and Body Movement" and how people literally "sync" their movements together whether in close conversation or in large groups. The highlighted points here relate to the dangers of being out of sync together or "out of phase" and how this decreases progress. One of the positives coming out of the Hurricane Helene damage in states like North Carolina is people "group syncing" together and working together in time...there is a rhythm there, and when FEMA and certain government officials came into the mix--they literally ruined the group sync which made locals very MAD! Our own government is out of phase with its own people, so, if you want to rebuild America, and the world for that matter, get "in sync" and get "in phase" with others for the right reasons (First, do NO harm!).References: "Beyond Culture" by Edward T. Hall (1976); "Keeping Together in Time: Dance & Drill in Human History" by History Professor William H. McNeil (2009).*Photo by Ron Jones

Street-level reports and secondary hearsay now filtering out from the path of Hurricane Helene left me thinking something far deeper is going on here...what are "they" (MSM/Feds) trying to hide? The smell of death and body bags needed? Naked children looking for parents? Land grabs? NO food and water for DAYS? A complete incompetency of our government to render assistance to actual citizens of the US?

This year, I'm adding "survival" elements into my annual unit on situational awareness and self-defense. As I teach, these can be all quite closely related; Hurricane Helene is a prime example. Emergency supplies and preparations are part of my lesson. With my classical approach to PE, I already teach basic survival fitness skills like running, jumping, climbing, hanging, rolling, hopping, pushing, pulling, etc., so expanding this into using your body in a natural disaster situation is fairly easy for them to grasp. I hope you get something out of it and take action as needed. Take care.