Some assorted commentary about the week and different things I experienced--some funny, some not, some inspiring. Enjoy.Photo Credit: Ron Jones

Today, some sarcastic wisdom from the brilliant author Hunter S. Thompson on how he viewed journalism from the inside.Source: "Generation of Swine: Gonzo Papers Vol. 2. Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80s"

In this episode, we cover some important historical warnings from Spanish author and intellectual leader Jose' Ortega y Gasset. The author goes back to the Roman empire and lays out the historical roadmap for how "The State" takes complete control of the masses and individualism and free speech to "suck the marrow from their bones" and how eventually the State eats itself and collapses. Do you want to follow this road map or take an alternative route? Think about it...then take appropriate actions.Source: "The Revolt of the Masses" by Jose' Ortega y Gasset (1930)*Photo Credit: Ron Jones, Copyright 2024

Free is NOT free! There is no free lunch because someone is paying for it. Beyond the money, what are the deeper psychological implications of free lunches at schools generation after generation? How does an endless free lunch mentally condition the population? What is the implied message? Think about it...*Photo Credit: US Library of Congress Farm Security Administration

"Laugh to win..." -David Lee RothI started watching Joe Rogan's recent podcast interview with former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth. It's a really fascinating interview. One of the statements DLR made was about laughter. He was talking about his life philosophy of "Laugh to win..." You have to learn to laugh at overwhelming odds when you want to quit or you think you just cannot continue. This really got me thinking...it reminds me of the "BTFI" concept I teach my athletes which means to go "beyond the "f" it." Learning to laugh at yourself or whatever crazy crap is going on might just keep your sanity for a while longer...and mine.Podcast Reference:  Joe Rogan & David Lee Roth Episode*Photo by Ron Jones

This episode underscores the importance of spending personal time face-to-face with "REAL" people--not an AI bot or social influencer "created" personality or social media "friends." Real people matter. In the same room or at least a video conference if you can travel. Get out! Mingle if you can.*Photo by Ron Jones

I was watching a new video over on the "3 of 7 Project" YouTube channel and noticed an interesting video on women ruling over men. While the video addressed an important topic, the most intriguing discovery was one of the follower's comments about working with young men regarding their weakness AND their complete lack of motivation to be strong in the first place...here are a few of my own thoughts on the matter as someone who has worked with thousands of young boys and girls in PE and fitness settings.Check out the above video for more info: "When Women Rule Over A Nation" (3 of 7 Project)

Every morning our school says the Pledge of Allegiance and salutes the flag of Oklahoma...do people even know or care what this means anymore?*References: Oklahoma Historical Society, KFOR, Symbol Genie, Indian Country Extensions, National Park Service, NativeTribe.info, Pipedia.org, Wikipedia  *Photo by Ron Jones

You have not lived as a strength coach or fitness trainer until you have taken a class of 3rd graders through the fundamentals of kettlebell training! This and some interesting observations about the "psychology of strength" for children.*Photo by Ron Jones

Quick book review from a chapter towards the end of a 1915 book by William Martin Conway. The title of Chapter XVIII is "The Crowd at War." The book is about the social psychology and history of crowds and mobs and how they are organized in terms of hierarchical structures.*Source: "The Crowd in Peace and War" by William Martin Conway*Photo by Ron Jones

In our final episode in the juvenile delinquency series, we come back to North Tulsa's Greenwood and Black Wall Street district to learn about their secret sauce for preventing delinquency and how to properly raise children.Learn more about math educator and curriculum writer Pocahontas Greadington*Reference: "THEY CAME SEARCHING: How Blacks Sought the Promised Land in Tulsa" by Eddie Faye Gates (1997)*Photo by Ron Jones

Today's episode expands on the last show's introduction to The Columbia Park Boys' Club of San Francisco which was THE most successful boys' club in the history of the United States. This episode highlights 12 key focus areas that built the ongoing success of the CPBC.Source: "The Major And His Boys: The Story of Major Sidney Peixotto and the Columbia Park Boys' Club" by CPBC member James M. Hamill (1972)Photo: Columbia Park Boys' Club World Tour Souvenir Program Booklet (1913)

I've put together a useful handout listing all of my podcast access links to make it easier to find my show. Thanks for listening, and I hope it helps you.The Long Road Podcast Access Links Handout *Photo by Ron Jones

Today's episode exposes THE most successful boys' club in the history of the United States that virtually no one knows about today...listen to the show, then you'll know and also know how to start teaching and training our young boys to become proper men.Source: "The Major And His Boys: The Story of Major Sidney Peixotto and the Columbia Park Boys' Club" by CPBC member James M. Hamill (1972)Photo: Columbia Park Boys' Club California Redwood Tour (1912)

In Part V, we get deeper into the psychological parallels between the psychology of street gangs and modern digital delinquents in today's "Gamer Gangs" and how both are quite similar. We will also explore the direct connections historically between our corrupt politicians and street gangs and how gangs can be the nucleus for the larger street mob events too.*Source: "the gang: a study of 1,313 gangs in Chicago" by Frederic M. Thrasher (1927 1st Ed.; 1963 Abridged Ed.)*Photo by Ron Jones

I spent the whole day and night watching the "Stupid Bowl" coverage because I was sick on the couch. I found some of it beyond repulsive and quite negative for our country...here are a few thoughts with some historical perspectives too.

More on the history of juvenile delinquency in America from the 1927 book by Frederic Thrasher...this time drawing some interesting parallels between the street gang psychology and the modern "Gamer Gangs" who have quite similar dysfunctions.*Source: "the gang: a study of 1,313 gangs in Chicago" by Frederic M. Thrasher (1927 1st Ed.; 1963 Abridged Ed.)*Photo: "RJ @ Santa Barbara County Bowl"

In our third segment studying the history of juvenile delinquency in America, we move from 1800s NYC into the early 1900s Chicago era where our focus is exclusively on boys and younger adult males and how "community disorganization" and mass migration patterns create social gaps for gangs to form.*Source: "the gang: a study of 1,313 gangs in Chicago" by Frederic M. Thrasher (1927 1st Ed.; 1963 Abridged Ed.)*Photo by Ron Jones

Today, a historical perspective on the US Government ordering Texas to basically "stand down" and remove their state of readiness thus allowing millions of unvetted people into our country. What does history say? How does the rising anarchy and chaos factor into historical cycles across the generations? Where is it headed with militarized law enforcement policies and actions? Brace for impact. Prepare.If interested, listen to my previous episode on Aristotle's Cycles of Civilization*References: "Building Morale" by Jay Bryan Nash (1942); "History Alive! The United States Through Industrialism" by Teachers' Curriculum Institute (2017)*Photo by Ron Jones

Following up my show the other day on the useless efforts to keep fighting smaller brush fires...let's circle back to some solutions to the bigger problems of the rampant corruption destroying our country coming out of DC.*Photo by Ron Jones