Carl Setzer

Earlier this week, I heard the classic Springsteen tune, "Glory Days". This song always makes me think. It just seems so very sad. People stuck in the past, viewing their youthful achievements as the hallmarks of their lives. I can't imagine a more miserable existence. This song has always driven me to keep growing, developing, to always make this year my best year ever. And look to an even better future. Never, ever, do I want to be sitting lamenting the "old days", when life was good. I choose to look forward, to keep doing new and challenging things. To grow! Choices are powerful. Come join me.  

For the past few years, taekwondo has been my main side activity. The only larger pieces of my life have been work and writing; perhaps it's tied with photography. So, I thought it good to share some of what I'm experiencing here. Most delightful has been weightloss. I've managed to drop around 20 pounds since I started. This is more than the martial art, as I've worked hard to increase my fitness level, but it has been the central activity. And I've developed better balance and strength. My whole family participates, so it's been particularly joyful. Plus all three of us have developed good friendships with our fellow students. So, I leave you with a few things I'm most proud of. Above, you see my red-belt test results. And, below, is a video of my board breaks for the same test.

I was annoyed when I saw this hit my Twitter feed. , The article references  Food Democracy Now 's response to an article written by the New York Time's Amy Harmon. That an organization that I support  pulled this crap really got to me. We're used to this stuff from the Right, whether Rush Limbaugh railing against a 7th grade Chelsea Clinton not being sexy enough, or the blather about Nancy Pelosi unprettyness, ad nasuem. Yet, Pamela reminds us that both sides of the aisle are happy to partake. Then I remember seeing some of the pornographic representations of Sarah Palin during the "Drill Baby Drill" kerfuffle. Sadly, politics seems to bring out the ugliest in us all. It disappoints me when the Left, in all our drive for equal access, the obliteration of privilege and the like undercut our own message with sexist drivel. For those of us who value reason and debate over petty slings, we need to respond accordingly. Food Democracy Now, I'm deeply d...

There's greater risk from action than from cynical critique. And greater reward. Go and DO great things. Don't simply sit and pick apart those actually doing the hard work of enacting change; driving to make the world better.