Weather looking good for rink installation

To the right is a little piece we put together last year. Hopefully this winter stays right around 30 degrees from December thru March... then warm to 65 April 1st.

Here's the link directly if it doesn't work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOp_Hhbylzc

It's Hockey Time Once Again

Well, folks, sure the election is just a week away, but if you're living in Minnesota, this time of year means hitting the ice. Some call it the State of Hockey and if you looked at my calendar over the next 3 months, it's wall to wall hockey and I'm telling you, if I'm not playing or coaching, I'll most likely be watching. Not to mention this is the weekend I'm planning on installing the backyard rink.

I will be doing a picture progress report as I go through the process and that coming this weekend.

See the tricks of the trade... and who might stop by as I transform the backyard into Pine Needle Park. 

Work/Life balance

Actually written 10/7/08
Kent Hrbek Outdoors is on Fox, FSN, and World Fishin Netwrk (Fox Sports Net-Wisconsin) in Madison.
The show is probably aired a couple of times each week, and most likely it
floats somewhat depending on what live sporting events they are telecasting.
Check your local tv listing for exact times in your viewing area. (The show
currently on air centers around former Vikings football great Chuck Foreman.) I
wrote about half the show, organized the and directed the shoot in the school,
and courtyard, as well as arranged Hrbo and Gis stand-ups in the MN Vikings
ship. (Not to be confused with the Vikings love boat scandal)

This coming week, we head to San Francisco and spend time in a wildlife refuge
and go Halibut fishing in the San Francisco Bay. I did not attend the San
Fran trip, but wrote the show. There is a focus on one MN company, (who just also happens to be a sponsor) where I have to walk the fine line between promoting, and making the show entertaining and informative. Love to hear if you
think I pull it off. This show has been sent out today, and begins it's airing
locally Sunday night at 10:30pm... Again check your local listings.

Thirdly, the plan I outlined in an earlier blog still calls for a volunteer army. I am exploring
the idea that like Switzerland, all Americans must do something for their
country. Military, peace corps, disaster relief, apprenticeships, etc... is an
off shoot of a two month manditory course on Americana. (Learn how to pay taxes,
run a mile, vote, get off drugs, etc...) then off to service for your country in
a variety of different programs. Perhaps to entice more men and women to choose
military service, there are greater rewards at the end of two years, to
compensate their potential bravery in support of our country.

Many if not all of these programs could and should be able to pay for themselves
over time. Start up costs would be immense, but so is giving Wall Street $700
billion and we as a country have no idea where that money will end up. (Rest assured, the rich will get
richer and much needed resources will be squandered)

I would like to see Barack stop playing the safe card. Sure he won last night's
debate, but he is staying so far away from risk right now, he could potentially
hurt himself in the long run. Part of his appear in the primaries was his
inspirational speeches, and bold vision. I know he hasn't lost that, but he
could lose some of the band wagon jumpers, if he doesn't speak with a bit more
passion during the third and final debate.

Laws (Justice)
Infrustruture (Roads and bridges)
National health care database (beginning of Universal Health Care)
2-year Civil Service
Flat-rate tax code, with tax breaks for working families and small business
Strong Humanatarian Military, not solely focused on national interest, as oil
will no longer be a national interest, see next piece to the plan.
Leaders in all alternative energy initiatives. (Will be the funding engine to
stablize and grow the economy)
Enhanced focus and funding for public education
Liberty for all!

What's so wrong with selling that to the American people?

Politically Speaking

This race for the White House has taken a terrible turn, as the Carl Rove led GOP attack team has ventured into the traitorous criminal territory by inciting riotous behavior in campaign stops. McCain and Palin have nothing to offer the political discourse of this country so they have gone to the race card, the terrorist card, and lie card.

McSame is an ass. He's greed, and I seriously believe his greed stems from the fact that he thinks he's owed a life of luxury because he had to endure 5 years as a POW. 

Phycologists could very well suggest that he suffers still to this day a resentment towards his own country and does not care for the ramifications of satisfying a lingering and encrusted need for payback, nor care about the fallout of that type of entitlement.

He is savvy, if not smarmy. He has nothing to offer, but feels entitled to the power of the office of President. His personal misguided and somewhat dysfunctional American Dream. But if it was a dream, he would be able to share it, not just with his friends and connections to connected people, but a vision to the masses. A shared hope and dream of a better place. A place where each generation looked out for the next, and instilled in them the sense that tomorrow would be a better place to live.

But then again if the senator from the great state of Arizona actually had that ability to seek justice and equality for all, and strive for all to succeed in their own American Dream, his name would not be McCain, but rather Obama

For in this time, this day and age, our country does not need an out of touch, buyable, misguided ex-soldier who still suffers from PTSD, no what this country needs is a revolution. But since this land is too fragile to endure a full scale revolt, a breath of fresh air and hope can go along way towards healing what ails this great land of ours.

The flaw in flag waving:
Since Ronald Reagan was in office, the religious right and for that matter the GOP has used flag and country and patriotism as symbols of what their party stands for. However, by eliminating the draft during the Nixon years, the personal connection with what war actually means to humanity has been lost in our great land. We as a country no longer appreciate what it means to send our men and women into battle, as the cost of doing so is so removed from so many people. I truly believe if there had been a draft or a national service obligation at the time the Bush administration was rattling sabers to go to war in Iraq, the country and for that matter congress may have lead more resistance. But because the volunteer army has turned into a tool for nation building and crack diplomacy, and in truth no longer directly impact every family across this land, America has lost it's connection with actual patriotism. The blending of ideas and opinions, based in fact, with the good of the ALL people at stake.

I would consider a radical change and a way to bolster the greater good in the long run. 

* Institute 2 years of mandatory service from every abled bodied man and woman between the ages of 19-20. Not only military service but a 2-month basic service training course on Americanism and fitness, and then service in either the military, national park service, Famine and natural disaster relief efforts, world wide humanitarian initiatives such as Peace Corps, or even manufacturing apprenticeships or drug treatment and care would be facilitated and in some way partially funded by the American Government. All basic necessities would be provided these individuals, and a minimum wage weekly stipend issued.

* Upon successful completion of service, each person would receive a check for $100,000 for service to their country. (Much would annually return to the economy perhaps with some going towards down-payments on homes and vehicles, some invested, some used to pay for college, some to gambling debt) Regardless, it would be the carrot on the stick for performing various necessary national tasks while enlisted in the aid of our country. Think of it as a "starter payment" to begin the American dream.

*  Funding for new infrastructure would come out of the militaries budget and facilities would be constructed in areas where they could also be used for evacuations and shelter in times of national disaster.

* Through this national service program, all citizens would be signed up for universal health care identification. To streamline the system, one computerized bar-code system, with fail safe privacy encryption would be deployed so that all insurance and health care facilities would utilize one system. Portable, affordable, and once again the best in the world.

* A renewed focus on curing disease and illness as opposed to simply treating them. 

* Tax code needs to be revised to reduce the number of loopholes afforded big business and wealthy individuals.

* Tax breaks would be saved for all new and existed companies that developed manufacturing and tangible goods here in the United States.

* Securities and exchange regulations would be reenacted such that similar "crisis" such as the Wall Street bailout would be avoided.

* Educational system to receive twice as much funding as currently supplied... calling for highly qualified instructors and greater resources.

* Exploration of seas, solar system, and alternative energy resources must be fostered and expanded.

* Social security would remain a safety net vehicle to aid all retired workers

* Renewed focus on eliminating the influence of religion in politics. Settlers came to this land to avoid religious persecution, thus the separation of church and state, however, right-wing fanatics have infused god into our national discourse and decision making. We must avoid ever again, leading what some would call a religious jihad against another people of the world as we have in Iraq.

* Remove special interest money from Washington. 

These are but a few radical ideas that could be brought into the national discussion and openly debated. Just got to writing down some, interested in your feedback.

Politically speaking,