Indigenous Ability

“ We were wild animals for seven million years. We learned a lot of lessons. We should be careful not to lose them .”-Lee Child Let’s keep that quote in mind as we compare a couple of definitions, the first— Domesticated or D omestication, (from the Latin domesticus: "of the home") is the cultivating or taming of a population of organisms in order to accentuate traits that are desirable to the cultivator or tamer. For today’s lesson it is important that we hew closely to the scientific definition of this word. Merely finding a baby squirrel and keeping it as a pet is not by strict definition “domesticating” that animal, you are merely acculturating it to abnormal surroundings and there is a high probability that this “taming” will not survive sexual maturity. This is a lesson hard learned by chimpanzee and big cat owners, often what begins as an exercise in cuteness ends in the animal being what it is-wild. By the way, never the animal’s fault, it is merely bein...

Sandy Saddler was, is, and will always be one of THE bona fide legends of the vicious game that is boxing. He has his detractors, people who can point to his occasional less than kosher tactics such as his penchant for heeling, holding, thumbing, collaring, and a bit of wrestling here and there. But even his detractors will admit the man didn’t need the outside-the-rules tactics. Saddler could move, the man could box, the man would bring that vicious jab back to perfect position more often than most champions afflicted with the “curse” that is speed. His series of matches with another all-time great, Willie Pep, are the stuff of history. There is a lot to learn from Mr. Saddler, but today let’s look at something mighty telling, let’s go to his record for evidence. Saddler fought 162 total bouts, won 144 of them, lost only 16 with 2 draws, but look at that knockout tally-103 knockouts. He is in the Top 10 All-Time KO list and earned the most KOs of any featherweight. Now, con...

Scott Carney, author of the provocatively titled What Doesn’t Kill Us: How Freezing Water,Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our LostEvolutionary Strength was kind enough to have a lengthy conversation regarding aspects of his book and his thoughts on similar subjects since publication. I read Scott’s book upon publication over a year ago and I’ll admit I was initially leery. Was this going to be yet another “ Train like this to be a bullet-proof superman!” tome with over-reaching claims? Refreshingly, no. Scott, himself is a skeptic as is borne one of his previous works The Enlightenment Trap [aka A Death on Diamond Mountain ] where he ably dissects a bit of tragic charlatanry. The skeptical credentials brought me to the book, and the personal immersion admirably kept me there. It is one thing to sit and snipe from the sidelines, but Scott placed himself in the situations he was examining, reporting on, where he could get his first-hand subject...

The evocative painting “Ambush” by the excellent artist Dan Nance conjures images of the French and Indian War[s], the Revolutionary War, Roger’s Rangers, Simon Girty, James Fenimore Cooper novels, and Mel Gibson at his vengeful best in The Patriot . The dramatic incident portrayed in the painting is romanticized but myriad such skirmishes did indeed occur, are well-documented and the ingenuity, and let’s face it, brutality are front and center of these accounts. Let’s use Nance’s painting as a jumping off point regarding an aspect of American Indian skulking warfare, and like tactics adopted by white settlers who adopted “savage” ways. First, the talented Mr. Nance portrays our ambushing warrior attacking from high and above with tomahawk in hand. This aspect of the painting hews close to many accounts of “from above” ambushes. What does not hold true is the direction of the attack. First, let’s absolve the artist-Mr. Nance is displaying creative license in his use ...

A Hero All right, Friends, for today’s sermon let’s have a look at a dire day in American history, shine a light on an American hero, briefly touch on school-shootings, and ask ourselves a few questions of perspective. Let’ start with Lieutenant William W. Outerbridge. Do you know the name? I’ll be surprised if you do, but it’s a damn shame more of us don’t know the man’s name or his deeds or what they can teach us about walking the readiness talk. December 7 th , 1941, a day that will live in infamy. The day the Japanese Navy launched the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 3:42 AM, the small minesweeper, the Condor , is patrolling just outside the submarine net off of Pearl Harbor. The Condor picks up an unusual wave that could possibly signal an unreported submarine in an undesignated area. The watch-officer awakes the Condor ’s skipper, Lt. Outerbridge. This was Outerbridge’ s first night , of his first patrol , of his first command . The Condor ...