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	<title>The Jeep Guru &#187; Life Lessons</title>
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	<link>http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog</link>
	<description>Jeep Performance Improvement Ideas</description>
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		<title>Books about dogs</title>
		<link>http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2012/02/books-about-dogs/</link>
		<comments>http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2012/02/books-about-dogs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:34:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Dogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Lessons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Metaphysics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[books]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smash]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/?p=3148</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Books about dogs I read Cesar Millan’s Be the Pack Leader with great interest. My dog and I have a special bond and always want to learn more about dog psychology. This book helped me understand more about Smash’s need to have a strong leader. It also helped me understand Smash’s desire to be first [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Books about dogs</p>
<p>I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307381676/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mealswithames-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=0307381676">Cesar Millan’s Be the Pack Leader</a> with great interest.  My dog and I have a special bond and always want to learn more about dog psychology.  This book helped me understand more about Smash’s need to have a strong leader.   It also helped me understand Smash’s desire to be first on the trail when we are hiking and how he needs to have a purpose in life to feel fulfilled.</p>
<p>Before I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307381676/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mealswithames-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=0307381676">Cesar’s book</a>, I never realized the inbred need to have a purpose that dogs have.  I know I must have a definite purpose in order to feel good about my self, but I never thought about Smash needing one.  I thought he was content just to lie around and eat between walks to the creek.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=mealswithames-20&#038;o=1&#038;p=8&#038;l=as1&#038;asins=0307381676&#038;ref=tf_til&#038;fc1=000000&#038;IS2=1&#038;lt1=_blank&#038;m=amazon&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;bc1=000000&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>I began helping Smash to find his definite purpose. I noticed that he is very loving and affectionate with me, my friends and family. He strikes and aggressive pose toward strangers however.  I realized that he has a natural tendency toward being a guard dog.  I now tell him every night as I go to bed that he is to be on guard dog duty. He seems to really like having a job. I can also tell him as I leave the house to be a good guard dog and he instantly wags his tails and prances around proudly.   If I neglect to tell him to be on guard dog duties, he will whine and try to go jump in the truck with me.</p>
<p>I have also found that if he barks at night, he will only get louder if I try to ignore him. If I go outside and compliment him on his good guard dog barking, He will prance around proudly before settling down with very little more barking.</p>
<p>I think Smash is a pretty well-adjusted dog. He seems happy living he rural life where he is free to run and explore. But he really does seem to like having a job.  I would not have thought of that if I had not read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307381676/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mealswithames-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=0307381676">Cesar’s book</a>.</p>
<p>Recently I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1613822081/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mealswithames-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=1613822081">Jack London’s Call of the Wild</a>.  I was sure I had read it before but if I had I am sure I would have remembered that the story is written from the dog’s point of view.  The story is told by Buck the St Barnard German Shepard mix that is stolen from his comfy home and is sold to be a sled dog in Alaska.  Buck’s travels, trial and tribulations are the story up until the point where he heeds the call of the wild and joins and eventually becomes the leader of a wolf pack.</p>
<p>In reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1613822081/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mealswithames-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=1613822081">Call of the Wild</a>, I began to wonder if Cesar got some of his ideas about dog behavior from this classic novel.  In the story, Buck and the other sled dogs have a strong sense of duty. In some cases the dogs preferred to die in the sled traces rather than running free because they had such a strong sense of duty to their jobs. </p>
<p>The pecking order of dogs is explained from the dog’s point of view as well. Each dog had its place it the sled traces or in the wolf pack.  If a dog stepped out of line or exceeded his boundaries, he was punished by the other dogs. If he needs helped, he as aided by the other dogs; but only if he had earned the help.</p>
<p>Bucks struggles to earn his leadership position are clearly document in the book.  Buck earns the lead dog spot in a violent struggle and refuses to accept any other position once he earned it in the way of the dogs.   </p>
<p>Another book by London – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1613822065/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mealswithames-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=1613822065">White Fang</a> – documents more clearly the life of the wolf or the wild dog. While it never says so explicitly, the reader is lead to assume that the wolf in the story if a direct descendant of Buck.  The struggles of her cub to learn the hard facts of life are the subject of the book. However, again London gives details of the way that the order if kept in the wolf pack and how each member has to earn his own place in the pack.</p>
<p>Reading these books has helped me learn more about Smash and how to relate to him.  It has also helped me learn more about myself and how I can better elate to others around me.  Cesar used the term “calmly assertive” when describing how to relate to a dog. I think this is a good way to approach many situations in life.</p>
<p>The metaphysicians teach us to form an image of our desired outcome in our minds before taking action. Being calmly assertive requires this image. By knowing what outcome you want and being assertive enough to make it happen cause many more positive outcomes than simply waiting for something good to happen. This way of thinking allows a person to take control of many situations that otherwise appear to be out of control.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1613822065/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=mealswithames-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=1613822065">White Fang</a>, London talks about how the wolf cub lives in the moment. He eats when there is meat and he goes hungry and goes hunting when there is no food. He does not stop to complain or worry, he just goes hunting.  </p>
<p>I think we can learn a lot from dogs.  The two most import lessons I see from these books is to live in the moment and have a definite purpose in life. </p>
<p><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=mealswithames-20&#038;o=1&#038;p=8&#038;l=as1&#038;asins=1613822081&#038;ref=tf_til&#038;fc1=000000&#038;IS2=1&#038;lt1=_blank&#038;m=amazon&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;bc1=000000&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
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		<title>The Legend of Eagle Down</title>
		<link>http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2012/01/the-legend-of-eagle-down/</link>
		<comments>http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2012/01/the-legend-of-eagle-down/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:48:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Lessons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/?p=3109</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Legend of Eagle Down While traveling across Monteagle Mountain I noticed that the signs of an old Indian story that my Grandfather once told me are still there alongside the roadway. Some of them even looked new. My Grandfather told me of a beautiful Indian maiden of the Cherokee tribe who was betrothed to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Legend of Eagle Down</p>
<p>While traveling across Monteagle Mountain I noticed that the signs of an old Indian story that my Grandfather once told me are still there alongside the roadway.   Some of them even looked new.</p>
<p>My Grandfather told me of a beautiful Indian maiden of the Cherokee tribe who was betrothed to the son of the Great Chief who had built the stone forts on the west side of Monteagle Mountain.  Eagle Down was known for her sharp features and soft copper colored skin. She was delicate and empathetic as young maidens were trained to be. However she also possessed the passion and tenacity of her namesake. </p>
<p>The stone carver’s son was a handsome lad who was also very clever in the ways of carving and stacking stones.  His father proudly referred to him as a “chip of the old block.”  He greatly respected his father and the traditions of the Indian tribe.</p>
<p>Eagle Down loved him greatly even though she was more progressive in her views.  Her passion burned inside her and she did not understand why they needed to wait until the Summer Solstice to marry. She knew what she wanted and she wanted it right then.</p>
<p>On day in late spring her impatience and passion burned inside her. She began teasing her betrothed and questioning his virility. She went so far as to assert that his brother Pebbles might make a more suitable mate for her.</p>
<p>She walked off holding Pebbles arm but dashed off to her family’s hut when she was out of sight. The next morning she awoke and went looking for her betrothed. She was told he had gone hunting in the mountains. He planned to bring back a huge buck to prove his virility.</p>
<p>Eagle Down went out to the edge of the camp and waited.  She waited all day for her betrothed. She began to wish she had not been so cruel in teasing him. She had only hoped to get his attention not send him on a fool’s mission.</p>
<p>At supper time her parents came to get her. She refused to move. She waited all night for him to return.  When he did not return the next day, she decided to go looking for him. She had heard him talk about the large deer that grazed about the cliffs of Mount Eagle. She packed a bag and set out in search of him fearing that he may have been injured or was too embarrassed to come home with out a prize deer.</p>
<p>She searched and searched for him but could not find him.  Eventually, she returned home to see if she had somehow missed him on the trail. She was told that if he did not return that she would marry Pebbles on the solstice instead.  She slipped out in the night to continue her search.</p>
<p>After many days of searching, she was tired and hungry.  She came across a settlement of white people in the forest. They took her in and taught her English. They agreed to help her in her search. They helped her make signs and placed them along the main paths, trails and eventually roadways. </p>
<p>These signs are still visible in the mountains today. As you travel, you will often see the bright yellow signs that Eagle Down put up in her search for her beloved son of Chief Rock Carver: “Watch for Falling Rock.”</p>
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		<title>Free Energy Machines</title>
		<link>http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2011/11/free-energy-machines/</link>
		<comments>http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2011/11/free-energy-machines/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:45:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mike</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Lessons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[perpetual energy tesla]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/?p=2990</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Free Energy Machines All my life I have been fascinated by the concept of free or perpetual energy machines. I have studied the inventions Nicola Tesla. I have researched many proposed methods of producing energy form a vacuum. So far I have been disappointed by all of them. Today I clicked on an ad for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Free Energy Machines</p>
<p>All my life I have been fascinated by the concept of free or perpetual energy machines. I have studied the inventions <a href="http://mlstraw.teslascrt.hop.clickbank.net/ " target="_blank">Nicola Tesla</a>. I have researched many proposed methods of producing energy form a vacuum.  So far I have been disappointed by all of them.</p>
<p>Today I clicked on an ad for the HOJO motor. It is supposed to produce energy through eddy currents in an aluminum plate or something like that. It turns out they are selling plans that used to be available for free on the internet but where pulled when they were proven to be fakes.</p>
<p>I guess I still hold out hope for a perpetual energy machine because of a story my Grandfather Strawbridge told me.  He told me that during his apprenticeship at a machine shop as a boy he helped his mentor build a motor that ran off virtually nothing. It was small but very powerful. He said even as a strong young boy he could not stop the motor from turning.</p>
<p>My Grandfather’s story takes the usual conspiracy twist that all free energy marketers add. He said one day some people in suits came to visit the little shop. When they left his mentor looked very sad and ordered him to destroy the motor and other inventions in the shop. My grandfather used a sledge hammer to demolish every trace of the inventions. He said his mentor never explained why.</p>
<p>Having heard this story all my life, it is easy to believe that there is some conspiracy to suppress free energy technology.  However, I also believe in the power of free information exchange. Other than cave locations, I have not found much to be hidden on the internet.  It would seem to me that if free energy technology really was available, there would be some people somewhere using it.  And they would write about it on the internet.</p>
<p>I still hold out hope.  For now I will just have to be content with fanciful stories of how the <a href="http://mlstraw.teslascrt.hop.clickbank.net/ " target="_blank">inventions of Marconi and Tesla</a> have been lost or suppressed.  I know that we have minds today equal to theirs. If it was possible to do once, it will be invented again.</p>
<p>http://mlstraw.teslascrt.hop.clickbank.net/</p>
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