Coming soon--my conversations with Rex

As many of you know, I have several passions. I love my family, practicing and teaching martial arts, I enjoy building sheds, and I even enjoy work. On top of all this and more, putting thought to paper and creating stories that readers relate to is something that brings me great joy.

I have written two full length action/adventure novels and continue getting so much positive feedback from readers. Please understand--the positives I receive have nothing to do with fueling my ego; on the contrary, when I can bring a few hours of escapist pleasure to a reader, I feel as though I have helped make the world a better place. That thought is what drives me to write and create.

Several have asked when my next Bill Evers novel will be available, and I do apologize to everyone for not having another one ready to hit shelves just yet. I continue to write, albeit at a slower pace than I previously knocked out the first two books. Rest assured, until my dying day, I will peck away at the keyboard in order to bring more stories to life.

Since an earlier blog entry last year, I have toyed with the idea of penning a short book about the conversations I have with our little Italian Greyhound, Rex. It has been with some trepidation that I moved from the genre that I so enjoy to one I am less sure about. This short work is one that I am tentatively titling Conversations with Rex: The World According to Our Dog.

The title may change, but the content will remain. As most animal owners do, I talk to ours regularly, and in my head I hear their responses. Rex has a way of conveying what he thinks through certain looks, body language, or animated jumps and rolls. He is quite the prima donna!

If you are a pet owner, or if you are just someone who enjoys off-branded humor, I think you will like this short work. I will keep everyone posted regarding updates to the work and potential release dates as we get closer to it. You can also follow me on my Facebook author's page for periodic updates and other nefarious topics.

Lastly, as we progress toward publication, I will post a few tidbits here and there specific to the work. I do look forward to this book's release. The compilation of my love for my dog and my twisted sense of humor will hopefully bring a smile to your face.

Stay tuned!

My Newest Tangent: Violent Media & Video Games

Since the recent mass shooting in Parkland, Florida here in the good ole United States of America, gun control, mental illness, background checks, et al. have re-emerged (as they are wont to do after such a tragic event) once again. Ideologues on both sides of the debate argue the same case over and over and the needle never seems to move on the topic. Depending on where you sit on the subject this may or may not be a bad thing.


First, we all acknowledge the loss of life as tragic, and more specifically the loss of innocent life from an act of violence as disgusting and unwarranted. For me, the taking of an innocent life is equally bad if it's committed with bear hands, a hammer, a car, a plane, a rock, a pencil, a knife, or any other object made into a weapon. Let us not forget that a singular murder is just as traumatic as any mass murder, although the latter always grabs headlines and is sensationalized beyond measure.


Moving onto the topic at hand, and that which I would like to focus upon specifically, is the discussion around violent video games, movies, and television and the possible correlation between violence/violent outbursts and the aforementioned.


The gaming industry has gone to great lengths to suppress or ignore potential correlations between violent games and desensitizing the human brain to violent behavior. As a friend "in the know" recently told me, the United States military understands the psychological implications of taking a human life. In many cases, select soldiers are desensitized via violent video games. Perhaps you have heard the term "simulator?" This is a dressed up pseudonym for violent gaming.


It is here that I must point out that millions of stable individuals play video games every day without exhibiting abnormal psychological behavior. Certainly, there is a small population of people that exhibit violent proclivities toward violence and actually act upon those impulses. I would like to state that I believe gaming and its impact on certain humans is a reaction to a much larger psychological disorder. Naturally, this is my opinion, and I have no solid scientific data to support my position other than seeing very low numbers of violent behavior exhibited by gamers (as reported by the media).


There are, however, some interesting research articles supporting, or at least pointing to a potential correlation between playing violent video games and an increase in violent thought and agitation. One such article was published in USA Today and can be found here (note: this link will open a new browser window).


For further research, check out Lt. Col Dave Grossman's site, Killology. He has authored and coauthored several interesting books on the psychological impact of killing another human being.


It is beyond time for our nation to take seriously its own mental health, although the term has become almost cringe worthy. I do not write this statement solely on the basis of our Second Amendment rights; on the contrary, we have all witnessed mental instability play itself out at a significant price. Taking guns away from free citizens does nothing to solve its mental health issues. As I recently told a friend of mine, that is like putting a band aid on a volcano. It serves no purpose other than making the band aid manufacturer rich every time a volcano erupts.


Our country is at a boiling point, and until we remove emotion from debate and move forward with a science based approach at tamping down or eliminating violent behavior, specifically the desire to kill innocents, we are destined to fail as a free nation.

Your opinions on this topic are welcome!


~h

It's Time for Men to be Men (Again)

Whether anyone wants to admit it, there has been a war on men and manliness since the "cultural revolution" of the 1960's. The feminist movement had, and still has, its male supporters who declare that a woman can do anything a man can do and possibly better. In so proclaiming a woman's demonstratively superior position in the evolutionary chain, men became wary of their own manliness and elected to "get in touch with their feelings" instead.


Before we delve into the dissolution of men and their manhood, it is important to look at causation. The elevation of women as the superior gender notwithstanding, leftists began questioning societal norms when it came to manliness and manhood. As the counter-culture pushed their feminist mantra, the breakdown of the American family took root and generations of young boys were left without fathers to teach them how to be men.


In most cultures, becoming a man is a rite of passage. There is an age or an act that denotes a boy's movement from adolescence to manhood. Unfortunately, America (and other "developed" nations) has lost sight of helping its young boys become men. We have given into the precept that boys can be girls and girls can be boys.


Newsflash: our biology is NOT interchangeable.


I was prompted to pen this entry after reading an op-ed in the Failing New York Times. You can read it for yourself here, but rest assured, the premise was a simple one: boy's feelings have been suppressed, hence boys going on shooting rampages.

To say I was disappointed in the article is a misnomer. There was no data to support the author's position on the topic, but there is plenty of evidence to support mine. The breakdown of the American family has created a vacuum that is sucking the life out of future men. When lines are blurred between men and women in the family unit, what do we expect to happen?


Our society has pushed the ridiculous notion that we "need" gender neutral restrooms and that it is okay for boys to wear dresses and makeup. This abnormal behavior flies in the face of millions of years worth of evolutionary factors. Besides that, what lady wants to envy her husband's dress? I digress...


Before someone jumps on the "Howard's a misogynist" bandwagon, let me assure you that I'm not. I have daughters and encourage them to be the best they can be in everything they do or desire to do. They are all very smart and compassionate young ladies, and they each have a working knowledge of biology. We don't all trade the same political capital, but that's okay. I am happy they are all individual thinkers and do not fall into the dangerous abyss of group think.


If we continue down the path of gender neutrality, we can all expect, and should expect, a violent outcome. To do so defies nature. We, men and women, are wired differently. The hunter/gatherer/protector and the nurturer are not the same. Men and women marry, live with one another, co-habitate, or whatever you like to call it, because we need each other in order to complete the circle of life.


Take heed, please! Do not squash a boy's desire to do what has been seen traditionally as "boy stuff." Those things enable the youngster to become a productive member of society, and equally I would argue, a better man.

In the End, We All Die-How We Live is What Matters

I do what I can to be a positive influence on those around me. I cut up, I joke, I laugh. When I need to be serious, I'm serious. When I need to get work done, I get my work done. When it's time for me to mentor a young kid, I do that too. When one of my daughter's needs a shoulder to cry on, I am there for them. When I need to give them some advice, I share it with them. If my wife talks to me, I do my best to focus and listen (she might argue with this one, but it's my post, so...).


We are all faced with dilemmas, problems, and personal issues. I do my best to internalize those things and deal with them so as not to be a burden to others. Don't get me wrong. If I need help with something, I ask for help. My pride isn't quite that overwhelming!


My point is simple: as humans, we must engage and interact with one another on some level each and every day of our lives. That is, unless you live deep in the Maine or Montana wilderness without cellular, satellite, or internet connections of any kind. If we can all agree on this simple truism, isn't it in our best interest to be a positive influence on those around us?


Is it so difficult to simply speak to someone when we walk into the office? Perhaps a "good morning" will make a person feel good! What if you randomly brought someone a cup of coffee one day? Someone you don't really know, but occasionally see around the work-place?


There is so much negativity in our world today. We have at our fingertips unimaginable technology that was only dreamed about a decade or two ago. And here we are: at each other's collective throats on a regular basis. This confounds me! Technology was supposed to make our lives better and easier, but just the opposite seems to be happening.


Here is my challenge to us all: try being nice to someone you don't really know. I don't care what the compliment or comment is, just do something that is good. I'm tired of the bad; I think we all are. To be a little cliché, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Be good, y'all.

The Fragility of the Human Ego

In the past few weeks, I have once again realized the fragility of the human ego. We all have "it," the ego that is. It dominates how we think, act, talk, how we function in our lives, etc. The ego is a part of the human psyche that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. There is nothing wrong with an ego unless it is allowed to overtake our consciousness; then it becomes problematic.

I have been as guilty as the next man or woman when it comes to having an inflated ego. Sometimes we believe our own press. When things go well, we tend to believe we belong on a pedestal, even though, deep down, we are only stroking our insecurities.

Growing up poor, all we had to cling to was faith, family, and honor. Those were the three things a person did not mess with, and it is/was even more pronounced in the Southern states where pride in self and family meant everything. A sense of pride in those things was always enforced in our family, but allowing the ego to overtake all else was not.

The difference between "a sense of pride" and an "overarching ego" is the former drives you to be better, while the latter takes over your ability to reason. You control one, while the other controls you. I am guilty of allowing this to happen, and unfortunately, I've watched as several others are currently allowing their ego to control their thoughts and actions. As is par for the course, those under the control of their ego have no idea what is happening and how it impacts those around them.

All that said, this entry is not written to berate anyone; on the contrary, it is written as a means to warn the reader and to help us all keep our ego in check. Let us not make excuses for our actions by calling ourselves "cocky," "filled with honor," and other such axioms that deflect from our insecurities and poor decisions.

Let us help one another grow and be happy. If you have a skill that someone could learn from or enjoy, share it willingly and openly. If you provide a service for someone, do not try to break another person financially in making it available. The possibility of helping someone less fortunate should be payment enough for anyone with a heart and soul. Oh, and don't always expect some kind of repayment for services rendered--that's just your ego talking.

Attention Ladies: Gifts for Men

Men and women are pretty funny when it comes to purchasing items for the opposite gender. Men often hear, "Just buy me something from the heart--it's the thought that counts." I once bought my wife a sandwich maker. It was from the heart just like she directed. To say she wasn't amused would be an understatement.

Not surprisingly, women do a better job shopping for their male counterparts, but there are still some things the ladies need to understand when it comes to buying things for us men:

1. If you make a purchase that reads "2-in-1." You are on the right track with this one! If we can get two uses from a single tool, or soap/shampoo, or a beer in a Darth Vader bottle, you will have our hearts.

2. Color coding is necessary. Don't make the mistake of buying us a men's toiletry kit with soap, lotion, etc. if the tubes or containers are identical. This will do nothing but bring on confusion. Containers for these items should be different colors because you already know we do not read instructions. We should not have to reinforce this with you, ladies, but truth and honesty is always the best policy.

3. Buy us something you know we can repair. You know your man better than he knows himself, so purchase something within his ability to fix should it stop working. If your man is only capable of changing a battery, buy him a flashlight. When he "fixes" it, he'll feel like a DYI'er.

4. Don't buy us exercise equipment or clothing. We aren't blind and we look in the mirror. We know we are out of shape. Even if we say, "I am going to start working out," don't run out to buy us a set of dumbbells. We don't need our women agreeing that we need to lose weight. Just nod your head and agree; let us buy our own workout gear.

5. Air fresheners for our vehicles are off limits. We fart in our cars and trucks. It's like free air fresheners, so we aren't interested in a piece of cardboard hanging from our mirror that smells like some Springtime flower from a Colorado mountain.

"Americans are Dreaming Again"

President Donald J. Trump recently gave a speech in which he stated, "Americans are dreaming again." I sat on that statement for a while, giving it a tremendous amount of thought and concluded that he is one hundred percent accurate in his assessment of our current state of affairs, both foreign and domestic. His unprecedented assault on everything the previous President put in place has unleashed our economy in a way our newest generation has never witnessed. But before we spend time on accomplishments and what the new normal means to us, let us first examine what American freedom is:

• Private land and home ownership

As Americans, we take this for granted. The ability to own our own house AND the land beneath it is not common around the world. For those who are unfamiliar with this concept, allow me to explain.


In most countries, the government owns the land. Commoners have no idea what it means to purchase and privately own the land beneath them. In fact, in many counties where private home ownership is allowed, the government leases the property to the home owner for an allotted amount of time (in some cases up to ninety-nine years). The thought of passing home and property to future generations is most often unheard of because the government can take possession of the house or building at the end of the lease. In addition, should the government presume the property is needed for anything other than a personal dwelling, it can break the lease and assume control of the home, because, after all, the government owns everything on which the property resides.


In many cases around the globe, private home ownership is not allowed, and government controlled housing is the norm. What a beautiful way to collect monies from its people, no?

• A standing military created to protect and serve its citizenry

Another misunderstanding Americans have is regarding our standing military. The military was devised to protect us from enemies foreign and domestic, to stop those who would attack us first, and to defend our nation's boundaries. Isn't it ironic so many feel contempt for those who volunteer to keep us safe? "Volunteer," my friends. There is no conscription here as there is in so many countries around the world. Rather than turning your nose up to those who serve or have served, why not smile and say "thank you" instead?

• Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

What a novel concept this is! Without spending too much time on this famous line from our very own Declaration of Independence, let us spend a moment on the word "pursuit." We have a God-given right to pursue happiness in any way we deem necessary, so long as it does not move outside of our laws. What the word does not mean is that your are guaranteed happiness. Give this much thought and decide for yourself how this applies to you.


In a nutshell, I have attempted to define a few of those key concepts designed to give each American their own personal freedom. With that, I would like to focus on President Trump's statement as outlined in the title and the first paragraph of this entry.


An inconvenient truth, to borrow from a former Vice President, is to think for one second that anyone, or any group of people, know better than you when it comes to living your life and managing your own assets. Less government and government oversight is real freedom. Less regulation spurs economic growth and personal prosperity. Forget the ridiculous call to arms: "Most of the world's wealth is held by a thousand people around the planet." Okay, we get it--what isn't said is that you/we have the opportunity, if we do things correctly, work hard, make good decisions, take risks, and add a little luck, to become one of the wealthy. Now, perhaps this isn't your desire. No problem! If you aren't in this life to make money legally and to increase your personal wealth, I am absolutely fine with your decision. BUT, do not criticize others who enjoy this path. It is their/our right to do so; please stop whining about it.


Presidential candidate Donald Trump famously said in a debate (and I'm paraphrasing a bit), "Making America prosperous and safe is easy." What did he mean by that? Deregulation and unleashing American ingenuity coupled with a strong military was his formula for making it all happen.


I must admit when he first said it, I had my doubts. He proved me wrong and made me a believer. In thirteen months President Trump has pushed America back to the front and re-established us as the economic leader of the world. Our enemies are quiet and ISIS is all but destroyed.


If you don't like some of the personality quirks he has displayed, fine. Don't, however, dismiss what this man has accomplished in a single year! Much like those service men and women I wrote about earlier, you should simply say "thank you" then move along. Go be happy and enjoy this boon provided by an American electorate and a man who, thus far, has kept his campaign promises (and how strange is that?).