joesacher.com

A Zen Teacher saw five of his students return from the market, riding their bicycles. When they had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?"

The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!" The teacher praised the student, saying, "You are a smart boy. When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over, as I do."

The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path." The teacher commended the student, "Your eyes are open and you see the world."

The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant, nam myoho renge kyo." The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel."

The fourth student answered, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all beings." The teacher was pleased and said, "You are riding on the golden path of non-harming."

The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle." The teacher went and sat at the feet of the fifth student, and said, "I am your disciple."

On September 24th, 2004, I met Amy for the first time on our date at Acapulco Joe's in Downtown Indianapolis. Amy's car broke down just before we met, so she was driving her dad's old Ford Ranger. We have been seeing each other since. On Tuesday, we were going to reach an obscure and geeky anniversary. We will have known each other for exactly 30,000 hours. About two months ago, I targeted this date for something I had been planning for almost a year. She said, "Yes." I'm now engaged. Here is how it happened.

Read the rest of this entry »

I'm a geek, no doubt about it. Only a geek would notice that today is special. The date is 2^1/2^2/2^3 or 2/4/08. At 4:32 PM or 16:32, we have a time of 2^4:2^5. Sadly there are not 64 seconds.

So enjoy a fun power of two date/time sequence that will not happen again for a hundred years.

When you're confused, sit down and think it through.
Ignore people who put you down.
Never, ever, ever give up on yourself.
Andrea Gwyn, 12

If nothing is in the refrigerator, don't eat dog food.
Never cheat because it's not worth it.
Samantha Jean Fritz, 9
Read the rest of this entry »

Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most public schools anymore because the word "God" is mentioned... a kid in Arizona wrote the following NEW school prayer:
Read the rest of this entry »

In a survey of 4-8 year olds, kids share their views on love. But what do little kids know about love? Read on and be surprised that despite their young and innocent minds, kids already have a simple but deep grasp of that 4-letter word.
Read the rest of this entry »

"For my grandchildren, I'd like better. I'd really like for them to know about hand-me-down clothes, homemade ice-cream and meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

My cherished grandson, I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen. I hope you have a job by then.
Read the rest of this entry »

Charles Sykes is the author of Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good About Themselves But Can't Read, Write, or Add. He recently gave high school and college graduates a list of eleven things they did not learn in school. In his book, he talks about how feel good, politically-correct teaching has created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and set them up for failure in the real world. You may want to share this list with kids and parents you know...
Read the rest of this entry »