The Long Road

I was listening to yet the latest criticism of what someone did 30 years, and I realized that we are essentially giving people "NO room for change" or no benefit of the doubt that they can improve with this attitude. It's absurd to cancel someone, burn their business, or terrorize their family over some of these ridiculous mistakes they made as juveniles or younger adults. Consider the context of...

On May 20, 1944, Arthur H. Steinhaus published an article entitled, "What is Fitness Education?" where he advocated for a wholistic approach to education far beyond physical fitness. Like so many of the classical PE people, Steinhaus also highlighted "mental stability" with his description of "emotional control" found in previous cultures. True classical PE programs taught mental stability and emo...

While conducting some other historical research recently, I ran across an amazing government health document called, "National Negro Health News" published by the US Public Health Service in 1943-1944. I was rather shocked at the comprehensive quality of health programs for blacks during this era that included nutrition, fitness, community health, education, and so much more, but then I noticed ar...

I had a disturbing experience at the post office yesterday when I tried to interact with a two-year-old and say hello. We are masking indoors again in Los Angeles County, and it was so hard to communicate a caring gesture. I was very disturbed about the experience and it got me thinking about pending speech disorders that need our adult attention in the next few years to help these children learn...

"Each person is strong relying on his own, and betrayed when he seeks in himself the courage of others." In January of 1943, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company published an article in their Health Bulletin for Teachers entitled, "The Anatomy of Courage." I ran across this article while conducting some other historical research and wanted to share some very wise words of wisdom that are extrem...

This is not a "fun" show today. It's a serious show with heavy implications, so I encourage you to put on a different hat other than the "mindless amusement to escape boredom hat" like far too many today. Here's what history has to say about our youth, and adults, being addicted to digital "dust in the mouth" activities instead of reading, developing hobbies, and ACTIVE participation in culturally...

Yesterday on Channel 5 TV News here in Los Angeles there was a breaking fitness report on stretching! "Latest research" shows that static stretching might even be detrimental to your fitness! Dynamic stretching is likely a better way to prepare for your workouts! OMG! Shock of all shocks! Not really. I moved in this direction back in the late 1990s because of "emerging science." Even better, as a...

This is show #11 on "Lotus Light" by modern dance icon and author Ruth St. Denis. "Lotus Light" was a book of poetry and illustrations published in 1932 and beautifully illustrated by her friend Ruth Harwood. Ruth St. Denis was one of the biggest names in the world of modern dance during the early 1900s, and her work still influences dancers and movement artists even today. She's one of my favorit...

I have made some recent observations about "morning exercise" that I think is unique to that part of the day and worth sharing.

I took my daughter on the Metrolink yesterday to downtown Los Angeles. It was quite a cultural experience from visiting the amazing "The Last Bookstore" establishment to seeing the devastating amount of homeless living on the streets in filth and squalor. What to do? First observe then think. That's a good start, so here are some observations and thoughts today...

"The Evolution of Sports & the Cultural Implications of Physical Education" was a wonderful history of movement and PE book written in 1946 by Ramy B. Deschner and published by the Fred Medart Manufacturing Company in St. Louis, MO. Medart was the primary American company that made PE and sports equipment, but they did more than just make equipment--they also supported the elevation of culture thr...

This is show #10 on "Lotus Light" by modern dance icon and author Ruth St. Denis. "Lotus Light" was a book of poetry and illustrations published in 1932 and beautifully illustrated by her friend Ruth Harwood. Ruth St. Denis was one of the biggest names in the world of modern dance during the early 1900s, and her work still influences dancers and movement artists even today. She's one of my favorit...

I was running yesterday next to a guy about my age who was running about the same speed as me. As we ran down the hill to the river bike path, he chose to run on the pavement while I chose to run on the dirt path next to the pavement. It got me thinking about why I chose the dirt, and I thought this would be a nice share on the values of classical PE training and how I was mentored and coached by...

After my 17-year-old daughter drove us to the running shoe store on July 4th weekend in Los Angeles traffic, I was quite frazzled by the time we arrived. We were greeted by the most gentle "Toto" looking dog named Riley. We found out Riley had a special story about being there that day. I hope it makes you feel better because it did for us. :) *"Riley" photo by Ron Jones

One of my friends was overwhelmed that we were doomed. Another friend admits we are doomed and embraces what is left. What to DO?!!! I centered on Malcolm X today and his two key points during the Freedom Summer of 1964. They still ring true.

I stayed in town yesterday for July 4th because I was too tired to travel. This was the right thing today because I discovered all kinds of July 4th joy right in my own backyard from a local parade by classic car folks to BBQing with the neighbors to a garage band playing classic rock during the fireworks...it made me feel good about America. This is a show about an "uplift" from getting out and f...

On July 4, 2021, I thought it was appropriate to think back to my own family history and how my great uncle Stephen Heard fought in the Revolutionary War. He was personal friends with George Washington and a major fighting force recognized for valor in some of the most violent frontier fighting conditions. It's been a very long road to make America...let's look back at what it took to get here...a...

I'm sick of brand politics. What happened to a shoe company just making shoes? Or a car company just making a nice car? Today, the joy of purchasing a commodity has been replaced by second guessing whether or not the company aligns with your current poltical values, etc. It's fatiguing. I'd like to see a return to products as a priority--NOT politics because it's wearing us all out.

This is show #9 on "Lotus Light" by modern dance icon and author Ruth St. Denis. "Lotus Light" was a book of poetry and illustrations published in 1932 and beautifully illustrated by her friend Ruth Harwood. Ruth St. Denis was one of the biggest names in the world of modern dance during the early 1900s, and her work still influences dancers and movement artists even today. She's one of my favorite...

I had a major disappointment last Monday. Instead of laying around feeling bad for myself, I set out to do a lot of physical WORK around the house. I was using a lesson right out of the history books. I share a specific citation here from "Building Morale" written in 1942 by the legendary physical education professor Jay Bryan Nash on how to "use action to soothe war nerves." I think it's an impor...

"Totalitarian philosophy with its worship of state force grows rapidly in the culture of confusion and insecurity." -JB Nash, "Building Morale" (1942). In Nash's legendary book "Building Morale" published at the beginning of WWII, he lays out the eight stages that make up Aristotle's cycles of civilization. Stage 8 begins and ends the cycle--with the dictator or supreme authority. America is at st...

I recently discovered this extremely important education report published in 1958 entitled, "The Pursuit of Excellence: Education and the Future of America", America at Mid-Century Series, Panel Report V of the Special Studies Project by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Inc. The report was put together by major business and political leaders of this era and took the position of how to move American...

A little saying I have shared with my students and children specifically involving personal property is, "Just because you can does not mean you should." Just because you can take the money out of a wallet you found on the street does not mean you should do it. Just because someone forgot something at the post office or pool does not mean you should take it home. Think about it...choose the approp...

I went fishing last week with my father and brother. We revisited a high elevation lake in the Eastern Sierra where my grandfather used to fish in the 1940s. Here are some thoughts on the values of "just fishing."

I did something new yesterday--I rode the commuter train to Downtown Los Angeles. I saw a lot and learned a lot. It was quite an educational and cultural experience. Here are a few thoughts. Learn more about "The Last Bookstore" https://www.lastbookstorela.com