I’m no Plato, but time makes philosophers out of all of us.  Here are some of my philosophies and small insights that I have learned or observed over the years.  I’ve singled a few out for the “Bros” and have labeled them Bro Code.  In a one sided politically correct male bashing world....the bros will always catch a break on Martin’s Postings.  Here they are - take them or leave them. (New philosophies all the time! Scroll down and check them out!)


My favorite quote

This famous quote by Albert Einstein is among my favorites.  "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there will ever be to understand."

In my opinion, the imagination will always be the greatest nation because it is truly limitless.


I recently came across a quote from Astronaut John Glenn.  "Let us hope that the wisdom of man matches...his amazing technology."  It has become another favorite.  I wonder if the technology hasn't now long passed our wisdom, given that the technology of John Glenn's time once filled an entire room can now fit in our pocket.  These electronic handcuffs have become our lifelines and seldom leave our sides.


Expectations
Low expectations can be one of the keys to happiness and success.  High expectations usually lead to big disappointments.  My wife takes offense to this philosophy because I told her that I applied it to our courtship and marriage.  I tell her to remind me of this philosophy whenever I get my high hopes way up for something.


 Be careful when helping
Avoid trying to help problematic people that refuse to help themselves. Many of these people are inherently problematic and never seem to learn, and fall on their own sword time after time.  Give these people a payday loan or a ride to work, but avoid at all costs giving them advice on their business, lives, marriage or relationships. And don’t let them move in with you.  If you do their problems will soon become your problems, and before you know it, you could be getting blamed for everything and find yourself falling in their bottomless abyss.   With some people you just have to stand back and let natural selection take its course.

Remember the Seinfeld episode where Jerry tries to help the Pakistani restaurant owner by giving him some friendly business advice? When the business venture fails he hates Jerry and blames him for everything. There's more truth to that than you think.


Running after people
Don't run after people. You can't make people love or like you and years later you'll probably realize that there was a good reason why they were out of your life.    


Planning your life
This philosophy really frustrates my wife.

Don't try to over plan your life.....this falls into the expectation category.  The notion of planning your life out by setting goals and targets is something that has been instilled into us from a young age, and usually becomes based on our own selfish desires....especially when we are younger.  

Take care of your money....prepare yourself, set a coarse, point yourself in a certain direction, and look for opportunities....they usually come out of nowhere when you least expect it....and are very seldom what you expected.

I challenge you to ask an older person about their life.  Ask them if they married the dream person that they were looking for. Ask them if they got that dream career that they planned on getting after college. Ask them if anything in their life turned out as planned.  You will find that most of the time their answer will be a big "no".


Get a lawyer
Hire a competent specialized lawyer before signing anything big or making any substantial business deal that will affect your future.

This might seem like a no brainer, but you'd be amazed how many people don't do this.


On beauty
Bro Code: Bros .... Beautiful women are nice to look at...but be careful when they are involved in something pertaining to you as there is usually some kind of deception going on.  This is probably the oldest trick in the world and one that men never seem to get wise to. Advertisers have used this trick in every way shape and form over the years, and in recent years some of the cable news networks are using it as well to lure in the male viewers.

The next time you are confronted with a beautiful woman, step back, take your eye off the ball for a minute and look at the whole picture.

Have you ever seen a rich guy with an ugly gal?   Believe me this is no coincidence. Most of these rich guys with beautiful trophy women fell for this age old trick.

I realize that not everyone can be painted with the same brush, but this holds true much more than it doesn't.


Women's defense mechanism
Bro code: Crying in many cases is a very effective built in defense mechanism that women can deploy in a second’s notice.  Many police forces actually train their officers not to fall for this trick of manipulation when issuing traffic tickets.  Just remember, unlike the police officer, as a husband or a boyfriend it is almost always in your best interest to play along by hugging her and pretend like you believe it.


On lazy women
Bro code:   Bros be careful not to marry a gal who is lazy and worthless.  There is a big double standard here that is overlooked by our society.  When a man is lazy and worthless, he is stigmatized, referred to as a "bum" and has to cheat his way through life.  On the other hand when a woman is lazy and worthless all she has to do is find some guy who is stupid enough to marry and support her....and she is most often accepted by society.  Have you ever heard of a woman being referred to as a "bum" or a dead beat "mom"?  Lazy women might be lazy, but they are not stupid and most often seek out men who are hardworking and ambitious in order to secure their own futures. There are some bad things that can be fixed in a person, but inherent laziness is not one of them.  Remember bros, you are not a welfare office nor or are you running a charity; so be careful not to fall into this trap as a lazy spouse will strain your marriage to no avail.  Bottom line is that in today's climate, women are not held to the same level of accountability as men are, so choose wisely,


Learn & understand history 
History is in the past and it might seem worthless, but it's full of lessons.  It helps us understand and appreciate the present and hopefully prevents us from making the same mistakes over again. In today's world the knowledge and understanding of economics and history are more important than ever.


Dress appropriately
Make an effort and dress nicely when you go places.  Take a little pride in your appearance.  This does not take a lot of money, just a little effort. Americans are by far the worst dressed people in the world, and I am just disgusted and ashamed when I am in airports in foreign countries when I see how nicely the locals are dressed and how absolutely sloppy most Americans look. I recently was at a show at a nice classy theater and most everyone there looked like they just got out of bed and put on the first thing they found lying on the floor. The gal sitting in front of me struggled to pull up her pants to cover her butt crack every time she stood up; I almost threw up.

It hasn't always been like this in America. There was a time when people had some class and dressing nice was a norm.  Judging from old pictures and TV shows, our once nice dress code began devolving in late 60's and just continued to go downhill through the 70's. The 70's being the ultimate era of poor taste killed off nice dressing completely.


Watch the pride
Bro Code: Bros don't get proud and take your good fortune for granted because you can lose it anytime.  You can lose your money....you can lose your health....your marriage...you could have an accident.  If you have a good life...good marriage & family...health etc., you're a wealthy man.  You should be humble and cherish it.  And remember, you probably had help from someone, sometime along the way.


Be careful when investing
Any investment promising eight percent or ten percent or higher returns is high risk, and there's a good chance that you could lose your money.  I don't care what they're telling you.  There's a reason why they're not getting low interest money from the banks.


Don't be blinded by glorified people
Be skeptical of people who have been bragged up or glorified.  There isn't a better example than Jerry Sandusky and Joe Paterno of the Penn State scandal.  Alan Greenspan is yet another good example. (See fourth musing).  It’s easy to be blinded by their public persona, and too many people tend to be drawn to their celebrity like status.  The higher the pedestal people put them on, the more disappointed they will be when the pedestal falls and they find out they are just human and flawed like the rest of us.  The biggest red flag that someone has become too glorified is when someone is so popular and adored that they become untouchable (so to speak) and openly critiquing them is unheard of.


Why it is okay to question scientists and experts
Scientists are very convincing, always seem to be sure of themselves and in today's climate are becoming increasingly difficult to question.  Keep in mind that the scientific community considers witching for water or hypnosis to be superstitious bunk. Two simple things that are done all the time everywhere.  New Horizons space craft was launched to study Pluto, its moons, and the Kuiper Belt. Out of one side of scientists’ mouths they admitted to being wrong about just about just about everything that they previously held to be true. Out of the other side of their mouths, they made many positive assertions about the worlds that lie beyond. Don't get me wrong, science and scientists make the world go round as they are catalysts for knowledge and progress.  But like everyone else, they are only human, are wrong about some things, and need to be kept in check. 

No one has a monopoly on facts and truth, and in a free society everyone should be able to openly question and judge the science, knowledge, and truth that we are asked to accept without being belittled or made to feel dumb. 

Throughout history the great world changers were always independent thinkers that challenged the conclusions of the experts.


Don't buy into feminism
Bro Code:  Bros ....feminism nowadays has become all about providing women with special treatment, not equality like it was supposed to be. The next time you see feminists behind an issue or lobby for a new law, take a close look at it.  More times than not, equality has nothing to do with It.  Furthermore many feminists demonize men.

Have you ever seen feminists lobby to require women to register for selective service like men are required to do?   That sounds like equality to me.


Careful of Psychology
In my opinion, for what it's worth, psychology is nothing but legal quackery.  If any other health care worker is guilty of incompetence, negligence or misdiagnosis they are slapped with a malpractice suit.  Psychologists are always misdiagnosing people and/or screwing them up all the time without being held liable or accountable.   In recent years phycologists have come under fire for a loose, careless haphazard pill pushing culture.  The only reason why this was brought to light is because they killed some rich famous people.  I'm not saying that there aren't good psychologists out there, but be careful what you open your mind to and who you let influence you. That includes what you read on Martins postings....lol.  Remember....the mind is like a sore.....if you open it up too much, it can get infected.


Pick up after yourself
Don't be a pig and pick up and dispose of your own garbage.  That includes picking your garbage up at sporting events….movie theaters….hotel rooms…work break rooms….rental cars…etc.  There are garbage cans everywhere and leaving your garbage for other people to pick up is just plain laziness.   Why should other people have to pick up your mess?

It is my belief that basic cleanliness is a certain measure of a society.


Money and women
Bro code:  Money always has been and always will be the most effective aphrodisiac for women.  Keep in mind though that it very often loses much of its effectiveness after the knot has been tied.


Money and material things
Money and material things fix a lot of cool things. It can fix your car.....your house.....things like that.  It can even make you happier in spite of what a lot of people say.  What it can't fix is a void in your life or problems and shortcomings that you have with yourself, friends, wife or kids.  Throwing money and material at those problems will only provide temporary fixes, but the problems will always come back.​​


​Romantic Comedies

In my opinion romantic comedies...otherwise known as "chick flicks" can be as damaging to women as porn is to men.  Like porn, chick flicks are based on fantasy and put unrealistic expectations in women's heads...making it difficult for single guys.

I'll admit there are some good chick flicks out there, but please take them with a big grain of salt ladies because they are just fantasy.

Bro code:  Keep in mind bros, if you run through an airport to head your lady off to tell her that you love her like they do in the chick flicks...you will probably get arrested.  It won't work in the real world. 


​Cool is Overrated

Starting from a young age there is a yearning instilled in us guys to be cool/hip.  It charges up our egos, gets us women, admiration, acceptance popularity etc.  Let the truth be known though.  Throughout history geeks, nerds and misfits have almost always turned out to be the great thinkers, trailblazers, visionaries, innovators, inventors and world changing Renaissance men.
In prehistoric times while the cool alpha male guys were dragging the women around by their hair, the nerds and geeks were probably bird watching and dreaming of flying.


Winning Streaks

A lot of good luck and success is not necessarily a good thing.   Exuberant amounts of success can become intoxicating, cloud judgement, and make a person over-confident and complacent. Throughout history this has been the downfall of many great men, armies, companies, etc.  When the good times are rolling, and you have the world by the horns......keep things in perspective and keep your head screwed on because it seldom lasts.  Before you know it, you’ll be referring to that time as the good old days.
Remember what happened to Napoleon at Waterloo.......or the Confederate Army at Gettysburg.


Believe in the Force

In other words, get off your butt and force yourself to get out and do things.  Life is short, and laziness has a way of taking up all your time. 


Why I Love Sports (It's not what you think...)

There's an unwritten rule within sports to never to make any mention of a person’s race. In other words the players....the coaches....the owners etc., are all on the same level and their race is never mentioned.  This is something that is taken very seriously within the sports arena.    For me to watch a sporting event is an escape from an overly sensitive politically correct world where we are constantly being bombarded with the media's racial agendas.  It's the thing I love most about sports.

If the world would be like a ball game, it would be a much nicer place.


Facebook's Tells It All
Facebook is the window to the soul.....it. probably provides the best form of psychoanalysis.  In other words if you want to see if someone is crazy or not just look at what they post on Facebook.   It's not enough that crazy people post crazy things but they will very often post crazy disturbing looking pictures of themselves as well.  

I saw a lady post a picture of her staph infection on Facebook once.  (Case in point).


Genius and Madness

Genius and madness might seem like two opposite things.....but it's amazing how often they coincide.


Leadership Sets the Tone

The leadership sets the tone for a company a nation.......sports team...church....workplace etc. When the head  is corrupt and rotten it will most likely trickle down and adversely affect the body beneath it in the same way. Keep this in mind when you elect....appoint...or hire your leaders.....or even when you lead your family.


Wheelers and Dealers
Big shot 'wheeler dealer' guys have a way of wheeling and dealing their way out of money and straight into the bankruptcy court.  Unfortunately they very often bring a lot of good people and businesses down with them.   Wheelers and dealers will most often blame the economy or anything besides themselves for their failed business exploits. 

I see this time and time again.


Hurting Yourself??
The old saying "the only one you will hurt is yourself" is not true at all.  When you do stupid things you hurt everyone around you. You hurt your spouse...your kids....your parents....friends etc.  Everyone in your life suffers for your irresponsible actions. 


The Most Important Attribute
For me loyalty is by far the most important attribute in a spouse.
Song writers, poets and movie makers have done a pretty good job of marketing love and romance....and basically making it into dreamy shallow cultural hokem.  All the mechanical "I love you's"   won't go the long haul if there is no loyalty.
My wife thinks that this philosophy sounds more like it should be applied to the relationship between a dog and its master rather than a couple. (In other words I probably need Improvement in the romance department.)


Bacon is the Best Cure

Bacon is by far the best cure for vegetarianism.  Have you ever seen a healthy looking vegetarian?  (My wife says she has seen them, but I can't say I have.)  Most of them look like they can use a bacon cheeseburger.  And who can say no to anything with bacon on it?


On Greed

We are all greedy to some degree (myself included).  Keep in mind, though, that unchecked greed can cause reckless desperation and consume both good and bad people alike.  The desire for quick, easy wealth can severely blind people and cloud their better judgment. 

I heard it said once that "greedy people are the most dreamless...the least imaginative...and the most foolhardy."  That greed can completely consume you, and at the end of the day, you end up losing it all.


You Can't Make More Time

It has been said that Americans work more hours than any country in the industrialized world.  This is something that I was once proud of...now I think it's stupid.  This cowboy culture of working all the time results in us missing out on the finer things in life like spending time with our friends and family.  At the end of our lives we only have memories of the work we've done, the possessions we've acquired, and the money we've made.  Remember...you can always make more money, but you can't make more time.  Once it's gone, it's gone.


Money Can't Buy You Happiness, but...

My dad told me many times when I was growing up, "Martin take care of your money."  This bit of advice has served me well in life.  "Money not being able to buy happiness” is true, but good money management and preparing for a comfortable retirement can sure help.  Getting ahead and financial stability, especially later in life, can definitely bring a certain feeling of accomplishment,  satisfaction and contentment.  Being responsible with money and preparing for the future somewhat defines a person and is a certain sign of wisdom, character and integrity.


Jealousy – The Big Green Monster
Jealousy is a big green monster that lives and hides inside of some people. Watch out for people who are jealous of you.  As harmless as jealousy may seem, it can be evil in its nature and cause people to hate you.  Although jealous people may not go so far as harming you physically, they will very often seek or plot to disprove, discredit or undermine you. In my opinion, a jealous friend or family member can be far more dangerous than a jealous enemy.  A final thought - jealous people will always delight in your misfortune. 

The One Time to Not Be Risky
There is something to be said about taking financial risks in life.  Keep in mind that recovering from financial loss or bankruptcy becomes much more difficult the older you get.  In my opinion risking your house, life savings or retirement nest egg later in life is foolish and irresponsible. Over the years I have watched otherwise resourceful, frugal people save and scratch their entire lives just to lose it all in a bad investment when they are older and needed the money most.   They end up spending their remaining years broken from within and living below the poverty level.    Where's the logic here?


Tattoos - Til Death Do Us Part

I've seen a lot of ridiculous fads and trends come and go in my life, but I have to say, that besides drugs, the tattooing fad is by far the most pathetic.  When trends fade and your taste changes (everyone's taste changes), tattoos don't.  You just have a very permanent reminder of how stupid and shortsighted you once were.  Just imagine being forced to wear one fashion trend or one hairstyle your entire life.  The times and your taste constantly change.   Looking at old pictures of yourself can be funny and embarrassing.  Why would you want to put something permanent on yourself?  Will it still be cool in twenty years?  The hairstyle I had twenty years ago certainly isn’t, and I can’t imagine a tattoo would be either.

Furthermore, over time your body changes. Those new, neat crisp tattoos are bound to become ugly, fuzzy eyesores over time.  So, dye your hair or buy some weird new clothing trend with the confident knowledge that you won’t be stuck with it next year. 


Wizards of Oz

Very often famous wealthy, powerful, and accomplished people in all their infinite wealth, fame, majesty, and glory love to stand before the world and give these sorts of prophetic dire warnings and predictions of the future.  I always refer to such people as the “Wizards of Oz” (or the men behind the curtain). Unfortunately, much of our news media as well as many people eat up their big piles of dung.   Who in the heck do they think they are anyway?  What, because they have become famous and accomplished, they now possess infinite wisdom and/or some kind of crystal ball?    In my opinion these wealthy self-absorbed Wizards of Oz are abusing their power, influence, and status by festering a culture of fear and alarmism.


How the Internet Can Exploit Your Weaknesses

I say this metaphorically of course:  If I would be the devil on a destructive mission to disrupt and break down society, I would most definitely use the internet as my primary tool.  There is absolutely no easier, more subtle seductive way to exploit people’s weaknesses and gain access to their hearts and minds.  We all do exactly the same thing when we get on the internet; we look at things that interest, fascinate, and feed us.

We love to pick on the big bad internet evils like online porn, online gambling, illegal activity, etc., but the truth is that many other seemingly harmless things can be used to fill in the blank.

I have watched otherwise smart, sensible people become brainwashed (so to speak) and consumed by twisted convoluted religious, political, and conspiracy theory websites etc. I’m not saying that the internet is all bad, but like everything else, it’s all in how you use it.


Lottery Curse Myth

Many people blame the evil lottery itself for crashing the lives of the people who win; actually suggesting that there’s some kind of curse attached to it.   This is nothing short of ridiculous as the same thing very often happens to people who suddenly come across large sums of money in other ways.  The truth is, if people who spend and live foolishly before winning the lottery, they will do the same thing after.  Winning will only make these matters worse.

Suddenly coming across a large sum of money in any capacity can be a very dangerous time for anyone and is a real test of a person's character.  It all comes down to the choices that people make and not some hokey curse.


Flaunting Success is for Fools

Throughout my life I’ve watched many show-off ‘talk-of-the-town’ people come and go.  Popular successful people who got caught up in a smug pride and paraded their accomplishments, success, possessions, status, etc. whether or not they actually achieved those things on their own or not.  In most cases this sort of shallow heyday existence was short lived at best, and, before long, their glory lost steam, and they were soon forgotten and have faded into history.  In many cases they ended up being broken down and reduced to very little. 

I have seen this pattern on a large and small scale over, and over, and over.   There is a lot to be said in living modestly and humbly.  In the long run it will serve you better.


Please Bathe - If Not for Yourself, Then for the Rest of Us

Over the years I’ve seen this sort of hippie non-bathing and non-hair washing fad come and go.   The school of thought behind this is that being covered with your natural body oil is in fact is a healthier life choice than washing it off all the time.   Incidentally the concept of bathing or showering every day for better health was never based on real medical science, but actually came as a result of aggressive marketing campaigns by soap manufactures in the 1950s. However, I’ve never heard of any sickness, health problems or shorter life expectancy being caused by daily showering and hair washing.  

Showering/ bathing/hair washing daily might not be natural, but neither is wiping your behind with toilet paper......It just makes you feel and smell better.  Hair, bodies, armpits and butts.....if you don’t clean them regularly, they feel gross and start to stink.

The Best Social Media

Theoretically social media such as Facebook was intended to unite and bring people and the world together.   Bringing strangers, old friends, classmates etc. together and keeping them in contact with one another should make the world a nicer place.  The only problem is it really hasn’t.  In fact, it has had exactly the opposite effect.  Social media can bring out the worst in people as it suddenly gives them a license to remove their filters, show their true colors, and  run their frustrated angry politically charged up mouths  thus dividing and turning people, strangers, old friends etc. against each other.  Furthermore, social media can become an addictive bad habit.   The old-fashioned verbal face-to-face human interaction is and always will be the best form of social media.


The Most Impactful Communication
While traveling the world in my younger days. I sometimes traveled with people whom I could only have very limited or no verbal conversation with.   I was often amazed how well I still came to like (or dislike) understand, trust (or mistrust) and sometimes form a bond with these people even though I really couldn’t converse much with them.   I quickly learned that nonverbal communication is the most sincere and impactful form of communication.   Watching people’s body language, how they treat and interact with others.....the little things that they do is often much more of  a testament to their character than the words that come out of their mouths.

Talk is cheap and can be very blinding.   Deceivers, con artists, cult leaders, scammers are most often gifted with a silver tongue and use it as a primary tool to manipulate and seduce people.  


Avenging the Past
In today’s world we often become so busy avenging the past that we lose touch of the present and, most of all, reality. Avenging the past can very easily become a very hateful, charged up, destructive cycle that negatively affects every side and, in the end, really does far more harm than good. The truth is that throughout human history every single group has suffered great injustices at the hands of other groups. Many of these injustices were done by completely different people generations before us.  Humans can be cruel, and we live in an unjust world. Get over it and move on.


Skepticism

Being skeptical, questioning convention and not being naive or gullible is a certain sign of character and wisdom. That being said, when people’s lives and entire thought processes become dominated and centered around an attitude of doubt, suspicion, and distrust, it becomes very unhealthy in my opinion.   Such people tend to imagine their own convoluted realities and can be very annoying to be around and difficult to have a constructive conversation or debate with.   This distrust and skepticism can start out seemingly small and harmless but over time can grow, fester, and evoke fear and beliefs in conspiracy theories, survivalism, doomsday scenarios, fear of pestilence, etc.  Like everything else, the internet and bestselling books, will feed and nourish these people.   Some people can be their own worst enemies.