Tyson Kirksey

Lately I’ve been encouraging my co-workers around the office that we need to “start learning the easy way”. Basically, that’s just a way of encouraging people to be proactive and consider all possibilities. Often I feel we don’t give enough credit to folks who learn the easy way, and we give too much credit to folks who manage the mess after we learn the hard way. Now unexpected things always happen, and we need folks who come through in those clutch situations. But many times it just takes a little forsight to see a looming fire – yet we’re too busy to look ahead that far. What’s that saying – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. How about a ton of cure?

Obviously these types of things doesn’t just happen at the office – I can look back on my life and see times where I learned the hard way and wish I could get a life-mulligan. Recently I had a situation with my Honda Accord where I learned the hard way in dealing with mechanics and repair shops. Several hundred bucks later, you can be sure I’ll do things differently next time.

There’s also been times in my life where I believe I have made good choices, learning the easy way. I remember a preacher talking about those who come to the end of their lives and lament their time spent piling up wealth and forsaking time with family. As he says, no one ever lays on their death bed and reflects by saying, “I wish I had spent more time at the office.” These are life lessons that I want to learn the easy way, for sure.

Here are some simple and practical lessons that I’d like to learn the easy way:

1.   He who guards his mouth protects his life; to open wide one’s lips brings downfall. — Proverbs 13:3
2. Every day is miserable for the depressed, but a lighthearted man has a continual feast. — Proverbs 15:15

What are some lessons that you’ve had to learn the hard way?  The easy way?

Tyson General, Theology

All I want is to be able to watch video highlights of last night’s game.  This should not be a difficult task – but apparently streaming video is too advanced for the geniuses at MLB Advanced Media.  I have FiOS, so I don’t think the problem is bandwidth on my side.  Good grief, it’s like watching evey 5th page of a flip-book.

Here’s the first clue: forget all those media players and put the video in Flash.

Tyson General

The 89.7 PowerFM Golfathon was originally scheduled for last October. Unfortunately, not enough golfers were man enough to put their game to the 50-hole test, so it got postponed. Well, on March 19th it’s back on! Yeah, so I need to get busy again with fundraising.

If you or someone you know would like to make a per-hole donation, I’d sure be grateful. You can pledge securely at this page, or email me for other arrangements. I’m looking to raise at least $1,000, and as you can see by my graphic to the right, I’ve got some work to do. Remember, I’ll be matching $0.25 for every dollar pledged, so don’t think you’re footing the bill for my day of golf.

Alrights…as Eddie from the station says, “God bless you, and more power to you!”

Tyson General

New York Mets reliever Guillermo Mota was suspended for 50 games this week for testing positive for banned substances under baseball’s substance abuse policy. This is not a surprise. No suspension would be a surprise at this point. What was a surprise was what came next: A sincere apology.

“I have no one to blame but myself. I take full responsibility for my actions and accept MLB’s suspension. I used extremely poor judgment and deserve to be held accountable.”

(rubbing eyes)….uh…what!? You take what? You deserve what? Are you kidding me!? Very impressive, Mr. Mota, very impressive.

To put this statement in perspective, let’s take a look at a few apologies from other famous people recently.

John Kerry this week:

“I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended.”

Hmm…sounds like I made the mistake. I’ll get to work on my interpretation skills, though, we could all use some practice.

OK, how about MLB star Rafael Palmeiro on his positive steroids test:

“I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period. Ultimately, although I never intentionally put a banned substance into my body, the independent arbitrator ruled that I had to be suspended under the terms of the program.”

Bravo…bravo…

The Pope, earlier this year:

“I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address which were considered offensive.”

Again…he’s sorry about your reaction…

Come on, now…we all make mistakes. A wise person once told me, “Son, we all make mistakes. It’s how you handle yourself after the mistake that will distinguish you.” Thanks for the reminder, Guillermo.

Tyson General

I’ve been contemplating switching themes for a while now, and I finally did it. I think this will give me more flexibility in my posts in case I want to add videos or photos in the future. Thanks for reading!

Tyson General

If you are reading this, and you are one of the NSA spooks that is monitoring my telephone line, can you please help me out by intercepting any telemarketers and letting them know that I’m not interested. Good grief…since moving into a house, I’ve never had so many worthless phone calls! I would just drop my land line completely…but I remembered you.

Tyson General, Politics

The news just broke that Porter Goss has resigned from the CIA, meaning the folks in Langley still aren’t close to becoming effective again. Where’s Jack and Sydney Bristow when you need them? One of the reasons we’re not succeding in the middle east is because we have no actionable intelligence over there. The 90′s came along and everyone thought that sattelites and computer wires were going to replace human beings on the ground and in the trenches providing intel. Clinton begain slashing the CIA’s budget and “showed almost no interest in intelligence matters,” says author James Risen. Clinton was scared of doing anything, from killing Bin Laden to supporting an Iraqi coup.

On a similar note, someone we haven’t heard from much since the start of the war has an interesting interview about Iraq, the middle east and America.

Tyson General