A Myopic Mindfulness

when your days are long, and your nights are bleak
and if your blue skies are gone, and if your body is weak

when you're spiraling down, you demand it to stop
and to reach the bottom, you must climb to the top

don't go at it alone, for alone you will be
there at the bottom, is where we will meet

when your dreams are lost, and your paths astray
you must turn around, or it's there you'll stay

if you stay with me, you will dream new dreams
once lost and hopeless, now washed and clean


know this...

above all the rain, above all the pain
and above all the gray, and above all the shame

despite what you see, there lie skies of blue
persevere to the end, and with me - will be you

Intrinsic Difficulty


        A Preface...


     In order to maintain a successful balance of career and happiness, one must first establish a core set of virtues and values in his or her own life.  To accomplish this, one has to dig deeper than the literature they read.  Exposure in the social realm is vital in creating the observation necessary to see the true street values.  These values or virtues can not be pulled from a Bible or other literature of esoteric nature alone to be understood - they must be introduced through experience before they can become relevant in one's life.  Something to remember is that it is impossible to choose a belief - beliefs can only be accepted or denied.

        A Values Statement...

     My life is a continuum of experiences, some successes and some failures.  My values system is what determines the choices I make.

     My spiritual beliefs are the most important aspect of my life.  Although not a value in and of itself, my spiritual beliefs construct the backbone of my values system.  My values system consists of the following components...

Integrity - Integrity is the quality or condition of being whole or undivided, and complete

Integrity encompasses all values as a complete whole.  This value is one that is affected by all others.  Consistency in our actions in both public and private life is what determines the type of people we will become.  For this reason alone, this is the most important value or virtue that anyone can have, and I place it at the top of my list.

Faith - Faith is the confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea or thing.

Logical thinking and material proof are excellent when they are evident, when they are not, however, one is oft left searching.  Faith is rather important to me, as I can come to it whenever I need to, and wherever I am.  I don't need to worry about trusting my my faith, it is always there, and always true.  Faith is what keeps me going when life events come knocking, and my life turns into a downward spiral.  When I am confused and lost at , Faith is the lighthouse in the distance - whose light never dims. Fog may come and dim or even block the light with its opaqueness, but that doesn't change the fact that the light is still shining bright.  We need Faith - without it, we would all just give up when faced with life's challenges.

Hope - Hope is to look forward with confidence and expectation

Perhaps the most misinterpreted value of all is Hope.  Milton said, "He wished, but not with hope."  Hope is to desire and expect a future good.  People often confuse wishing for something as the same thing as hoping for something.  This value has an important place in my life when it comes to an overall optimistic view on myself and the world as a whole.  I use Hope to keep myself focused and confident in the future.  Hope and Faith go hand in hand as far as my values system is concerned, entirely different - but equally important.

Dignity - Dignity is quality or state of being worthy of esteem or respect.

Self respect is essential in living and maintaining a happy and good life.  to be forthright, if you do not respect yourself, you will not respect others.  It is my opinion that only a humble person can be truly dignified.  A careful self examination of Dignity in one's life is essential.  I have to ask myself, is this Dignity or is this conceit?


Humility - Humility is the quality or condition of being humble.

A recent addition to my personal values system is humility.  Being humble is rather hard, and yet very, very important.  Pride and arrogance can become a consuming fire that virtually eats up our entire life, and the values we strive to live by.  Humility is one way of keeping pride under our control.  Believe it or not, humbleness can actually turn into pride if one starts to be careless.  I try to humble myself in certain areas of my life without actually doing them simply for the act of being humble.


        A work in progress...

    I would be lying if I said that I didn't have to work on any of my values.  I have to work on all of them, and always will.  Values and virtues are living entities that we display in our daily lives.  We must keep ourselves in check, if we don't - we are destined to fail.

The two most important values that need work in my life are humility and integrity   Pride has a way of sneaking up on me without me being aware.  Maybe it's in the things I buy, or perhaps simply the words that leave my my mouth.  I see all the possessions I have, and take them for granted.  If I can become more humble, I can put things in a better perspective and maybe someday give more than I receive.  If one value falters, so does Integrity.  Integrity is the value that one can never stop improving upon - it means so much, and is quite vast.  If I am struggling with any value or values, then I am struggling with Integrity.

A values system is a way of life, which is to be lived day to day.  There is no definite beginning or end.  What matters most is how we integrate our personal values system into the life we were given.

Death-based Faith Prayer Killer Trial
by Mark Neumann (aka Syntax2600)
Follow me on Twitter

With all the local, regional, and even some national news coverage the Neumann Trail has been receiving, this author believes you have come across your fair share of the same.

When Bruce Dickinson needs more cowbell, he comes out and says "I gotta have more cowbell!"  One could only assume that media producers are similar with what they require of their reports, "I gotta have me some catchy titles!"  Or some varietal thereof.

Here are some examples of the Good, Bad, and Ugly news articles pertaining to the Neumann Trial.

The Good...

Title:    State rests case in Neumann Trial
Source: Colby Robertson, Fox 55 WFXS
Link:    http://bit.ly/TileT

Note:    What more do you need?  Good work Colby, and WFXS - thank you for simply stated the facts and not applying that stain of spin.


Title:  Faith-healing mom defends actions
Source:    Wausau Daily Herald
Link:    http://bit.ly/FaithMom

Note:    Not perfect, but relevant enough and to the point.  


Title:  Father's interview to be played at trial
Source:    WAOW
Link:    http://bit.ly/prayerdad

Note:    Again, great work.  Keep it up.  Also, I should point out the WAOS's coverage on the news has been portrayed in a respectful, professional manner as well.  Good work Colby Robertson, Pamela Warnke, and also to Brian Niznansky for emotional support.


THE BAD...

Title:    Prayer father says he didn't consider medical help
Source:    Marshfield News Herald
Link:    http://bit.ly/2UWi2x

Note:    Why are we using "prayer" as a prefix to these news articles?  I understand where they writer came up with it, I am not THAT naive.  What I want to know is where will they draw the line?  If I were writing on a hot story such as the Neumann Trial, I would include the topic, NEUMANN TRIAL, in the title!  I wonder if Dale Neumann ate at Taco Bell.  Could we then include that relevant fact into the title as well?  

Don't mind if I do partake in such an endeavor:

    "Area Chalupa Eater's Prayers for Gidget = Fail"

    "Slipper Wearer Neumann to Testify at Noon"

    "Smokers - Barack Obama, Dale Neumann both Make News Today"


THE UGLY...

Title:    A prayer death trial update
Source:    News Radio 55 SAU
Link:    http://bit.ly/PrayerDeath

Note:    News Radio 55 uses ancient HTML 1.0 technology, and therefore a direct to the article cannot be provided.  As of July 29th, 2009 @ 7:48 PM CST, the latest article is titled: "A prayer death trial update".   Prayer Death Trial - that sounds like a band that I will never let my son listen to.

Don't you just find solace in associated the words "prayer" and "death" together?  Good times.


If news media really wanted to get our attention, they'd start using creative, unique titles like this most awesome example:

    http://bit.ly/BestNewsTitle


What are your thoughts on these article titles?  Are they over the top? Relevant? Do they even make sense?

I admit, I am not a journalist.  I have no background or experience in journalism.  I am a commoner with an opinion - if you don't agree with me, well - I will PRAY for you.  ;)


Thank you,

     - Mark


Oh, I am no relation to the newsworthy Neumann's.

A Painful Point in Our World's History

You're welcome.

July 27th, 2009

Dear Human Resources Department

Thank you for your letter of rejection July 28th.  After careful consideration I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me employment with WAOW. This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters.

With such a varied and promising field of candidates it is impossible for me to accept all refusals. Despite the WAOW's outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet with my needs at this time.  Therefore, I will initiate employment with WAOW immediately.  I look forward to seeing you on Monday, August 3rd.  Please have my desk and paper work ready, as I will be busy.

Best of luck in rejecting future candidates.

Sincerely,

Mark Neumann
The New WAOW Sales Guy


Fox - if you play your cards right, you just may receive one of these too!

(Seriously though - I hope this made you all smile!)

Histamine Dream

yet, another day
the grass is greener, they say
whisk me far away

At The End of the Day

longing....for nothing
I live dead - I die alive
transformed by the light

Cheap Allergy Relief

I swallow the pills
do they taste like new car scent?
yes, dammit, they do