Of Mindset and Application

I've been training in Tae kwon do for almost 2 years, and I'm working towards my black belt.  I started out just to get in better physical shape; my back hurt, I was pretty overweight, and I just wanted to start feeling better.

Little did I know that not only would I get back into shape, but I would also learn quite a bit more about the core of Tae kwon do.  My master has always put focus on the fact that TKD is not just kicking and punching, but a way of life.  I've worked hard to be as good as I can be when it comes to forms and technique, to the point that I look at myself 2 years ago and would never have imagined I'd be doing what I can do today.

But there's a massive amount of things you can learn just under the surface, aside from knowing how to simultaneously (and effortlessly) break an attacker's arm and jaw with your bare hands while smashing the back of his head against the floor.  Here's 3 things.

1. Your mindset determines your success.

Sure, most would look at that and say, "well of course we already know that," and I would have said the same thing.  But how many know that, and how many actually KNOW that?  This statement is almost throwaway, perceived to be mostly used by motivational speakers.  It shouldn't be.  This should be a mantra taught in every single school in the world.

The most basic mindset change is moving from "I can't" to "I can."  Changing your mindset from "I can't" to "I can" will change your whole life.  This is coming from a person who practiced the "I can't" mindset for years.  I was a squishy, miserable guy with quite a few security issues.  As a result, I was quick to anger, sarcastic, and foolish in my decision-making.  Changing that mindset turned all of that around.

2. Practice does NOT make perfect, but it does make you better.

The only difference between someone who's better at a task versus someone who isn't is the level of practice.  Again, this should be mantra, but it isn't.

We start to learn sparring when we've earned our green belt.  We pad up, put on headgear, and meet up on the mat.  My first sparring experience was terrible.  I got hit, and I got angry.  I couldn't land an attack to save my soul.  I was still out of shape.  I left after class feeling incredibly deflated.

The next classes weren't really any better.  I started to hate sparring.  But our master encouraged us to continue on, so I kept doing what I could, keeping the first point above in my mind.

I'll never forget the first time I landed a back kick to my opponent, two belt promotions later.  He was shorter than me, and a lot faster than I could ever imagine.  I saw him coming forward with a roundhouse to my back.  I instinctively swung away and brought my leg up to hit him right in the chest.  I felt the impact, and heard my opponent shout as he took the hit.  Our reactions were the same of almost disbelief...

Me: "I hit you!"
Him: "You hit me!"

We couldn't help but stop for a second, and he congratulated me by saying "that was awesome!"  It felt awesome.  And without many months of practice to get to that point, it would have never happened.

I'm only faster now.  We sparred again recently, and my opponent had to credit me on how quick I was.  He can still kick my ass, but every time we spar together I get quicker.

Nobody's perfect.  There is no such thing as an un-sinkable ship, an impermeable wall, or an unbeatable opponent.  Practice, and you will get better.  And it hinges on the first point, which is changing your mindset.

3. Focus determines time.

I'm sure you've seen The Matrix.  If you haven't, watch it.  It was the start of a trend in movies of a "time-slows-down-so-the-good-guy-can-take-a-bunch-of-bad-guys-out-in-a-split-second" kind of scene.

What's amazing about it?  It's real.  And it comes from knowing the first two points.

Humans are interesting creatures.  It's been suggested that we're one of few species that have the ability to observe the passage of time.  Animals like dogs apparently don't have that ability.

So, since we have the ability to observe the passage of time, it's second nature.  Some of us are better at it than others.  I'm very time-sensitive.  I'll set a timer for something I'm cooking, but I don't usually need it.  My mind keeps such accurate track of time that I simply know when the timer is supposed to go off, and I'll get up and move to cancel the timer right before it rings.

Even when we spar (which is only 1 or 2 minutes at a time), I know when the whistle will get blown without even thinking about it.  It's a useful trait, especially since I've got a pretty solid German heritage.  We hate being late.

So, with that, I have a non-stop German clock running in my head.  I'll call it the Clockenspiel.

Then I started learning about focus.  With proper focus, you don't move faster.  Time moves slower.

My master and I sparred together recently.  I was determined to put as much focus as I could into the match-up.  This guy's a 5th degree black belt master, who trained Korean military.  He's a bad-ass.  There's no possible way I could ever win against this man without decades of training.

But he had to dodge a hook kick from me.

I didn't get a point.  He dodged it, of course.  But the look on his face after he dodged it was priceless.  He was impressed on how fast it was!  Thing is, I had no idea how fast; I actually thought he was moving slowly when I kicked.  He wasn't.  Time slowed in my mind to show me the perfect opportunity to strike, and I took it.

Boy, did that mess with my Clockenspiel.

It was because I was determined to focus on the bout, and identify points of weakness in my opponent.  Focus determines time, and now I'm determined to build on that focus until I can slow time on demand.  It's really amazing!

These three points are but a sample of what you can understand once you apply them.  They are life-changing if you choose to put effort into understanding them, and practicing them constantly.

Get on the mat.  Change your mindset, and learn what you're truly capable of.

Hillary For Drone Strikes Against Speech

Well, there's this.

People may not be too keen on Julian Assange and Wikileaks.  But a candidate for the office of Commander In Chief, with the potential to kill pretty much anyone on the face of the earth with a phone call, has allegedly said this?

If you buy her denial - rather, her "I don't recall" - you're part of the problem.

Atheists are Sociopaths

So, let's put the definition of "sociopath" here so that we all understand...


The McThornbody house is active on the neighborhood app called NextDoor.  It's a decent app to communicate with the neighbors on regarding local events, classifieds, and the like.

There's a section for "Crime and Safety" in the app.  One neighbor posted about the local park in town having an issue with troublesome teenagers after dark.  Another neighbor commented about a local church that started a program to help these teens, who might be having trouble at home.

You'd have thought she threw holy water at a cage of demons.  The pointing and shrieking from the atheist crowd was loud and distinct.  Comments like "oh, we HAD to bring religion into this" and other such comments came pouring in seconds after she posted.

This isn't the first time I've seen a pack of atheists act like assholes.  Won't be the last either.

See, atheists - by and large - are sociopaths.  They don't understand how to interact in a social environment.  And it's not really their fault; most of these people grew up in anti-social circumstances.  They most likely have ASD as well, and have a very hard time adjusting to societal norms.

They don't fear God in the traditional Christian sense.  They actually FEAR the possibility of an all-knowing being, and they react by lashing out in a way that they think will get normal people to stop engaging with them about the topic.

Sociopaths (and most atheists) are cowardly by nature, which is a simple explanation for their constant mockery of religion, especially Christianity.  They fear it.

Pray for these people.  Their climb is a difficult one.

Diversity Isn't Miracle-Gro - It's Spectracide

I've been a reader of Vox Day's blog for quite a while.  In fact, one of his posts actually prompted me to start writing.  We all have a voice.  Time to start using it.

If you've ever visited, you've no doubt noticed the high volume of posts noting "convergence" in several industries (Science Fiction, Tech, and more), which is the process of advocates for "social justice" (called social-justice warriors or SJW's) to infiltrate organizations, companies, churches, and the like, and start modifying policy to better fit the narrative being promoted by said advocates.

Most of this convergence occurs under the flag of "diversity," which always translates to "we need more women and minorities in the organization."  It's argued that diversity has loads of benefits to the company (without actually showing any - you know - actual tangible benefit after diversity has been tried).

It's peddled as a Miracle-Gro for organizations; that more diversity leads to huge benefits.

The problem is, most of the people hired or brought in provide no value to the organization, and are simply added to meet some arbitrary quota, implemented by those that are pushing the diversity cause forward.  And every time it's been tried, the organization ends up losing key visionaries that - in many cases - started the organization, and the group collapses upon itself soon after.  Only the massive corporations can survive the change, and often end up becoming husks of their former glories.

Robust economy-driving businesses, clubs, and societies are infiltrated and reduced to anemic shells, unable to see healthy growth ever again.  Aside from diversity being bold-faced racism (more women and minorities ultimately has to mean less white men), it kills every organization it's been tried on.

It's Spectracide for businesses, sold as Miracle-Gro.

Now, most people would look at the results and say, "Hey, that Miracle-Gro doesn't really work," and people would stop using it.  The more sinister problem than the poison itself, is that people who notice what's happening and speak out are often targeted for removal from the organization, branded as racists and misogynists, and their careers permanently tarnished, or worse.  Key players are ousted because they hold an opinion that doesn't conform.  See Brendan Eich for a prime example.  Even CEO's and founders can be expelled.  And look at Mozilla's business performance lately.

After reading about the concept, it's amazing how true the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon really is.  Once someone points out a detail, you start seeing it everywhere.

The flag of "diversity" is flying high in the industry I work in.  I notice it everywhere.  I see organizations affiliated with my company doing speeches and articles on how diversity is "our best defense."  I see our trade shows - once beacons of innovation and new ideas - now reduced to what can only be described as "mass scolding" from social justice warriors (SJW's) to the very people that created the industry.  Apparently we're very intolerant around here.

Yet, if you have the right skills and talents, you'd have no problem getting hired in our industry, or any other in the US.  We're begging for talent, and you can have an excellent career if you're willing to put in the effort, and it's always been that way.  We don't care what the hell you look like here.

But we're looking right down the nozzle of a spray bottle right now.  And it isn't Miracle-Gro.

Hoboken NJ Train Wreck

These are manned trains with multiple redundant failsafes.  Seems odd.  Praying for these people.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Major-Train-Accident-in-Hoboken-Injuries-Reported-395249051.html

The Worthless

I was listening to the radio while running a couple errands yesterday.  One of the local talk shows was on, and the host was busy bloviating on about how Trump totally blew the debates the night before.  The more popular online blogs that I lurk around on were doing much of the same.

All I heard was "if Trump knew what was best for him, he'd do X instead of what he did."

And the only thing I could really come back with is "Do go on, and tell the guy who created a campaign, blew away all other primary candidates, and is seeing a steady increase in the polls, how you - oh sage consultant - would be able to help him do better."

It occurred to me that these people that we have on our radio waves, and the blogs that we frequent, know absolutely nothing about how to win an election.  The proof is that Trump basically does the complete opposite of what they want, and he keeps gaining.

These are the same people who'll scream at their idiot boxes during a debate and bray on about how horrible Trump is at anything, and when Trump wins this election (which I believe will be a landslide), they'll be jumping up and down and saying, "we did it!"

Let's all try to remember who these people are down the road.  They're lazy and incompetent.  They'd never lift a finger to make anything or even help, but when you've finished creating it they'll happily tell you what they would have done to make it better.

I call these kind of people The Worthless, as that's how they behave.  They add no worth to anything.  They simply subtract.  Given that, The Worthless is too positive a name for them, but I'll stick with it.

Think about it.  If someone else put their time and effort into creating something, but you try to change it into something that's good for you, stop and ponder.  Maybe it's not meant for you.  Maybe it's meant for the person who created it.  Maybe you should make your own instead of writing a 1-star review, or calling a radio show to demean it.

If you - dear reader - find yourself behaving like The Worthless out there, do yourself a favor and stop.  Look into creating your own thing.  Start your own campaign.  Write your own blog.  Make something useful.  Help out!  Ask people what you can do to help them.  Be a part of creating something, instead of being like the alternative, always looking to knock down something you didn't build under the guise of "making it better."

Distancing yourself from these kind of people, and that kind of behavior, is amazingly refreshing.  You'll find that you're happier.  Your outlook on everything going on in this world will be brighter.

Try it out.  It really works.