Tuesday, February 26, 2008

George Washington's 23rd Rule of Civility

23rd: "WHEN you see a crime punished, you may be inwardly pleased, but always show pity to the suffering offender."

This is very similar to the last rule that I did huh? Isn't that funny?
Just keep your self-control. Don't lose it. Be kind to others as Christians should be.

Monday, February 25, 2008

George Washington's 22nd Rule of Civility

22nd: "SHOW not yourself glad at the misfortune of another, though he were your enemy."

When we mess-up or make a mistake, we are glad when someone is kind and does not say something rude like, "I told you so!" or "You'll never amount to anything!" We should treat others in the same way. If we are glad inside that someone was punished than we're not much better than that person if you think about it. If we gossip or spread rumors than we are being cowards who cannot face that person. We, instead, would rather make up things and gossip which is NOT what a Christian should do. As Christians, we should love our enemies as Christ loved us even though we did not deserve it.

Sometimes I am glad when one of my siblings gets punished but now I feel differently. I am sorry for them because I would want mercy rather than justice as would we all.

This is my Nikola Tesla Speech

You’d think you’d know his name each time you switched on a light or turned on your radio. Among others, he is one of the greatest inventors of his time. Yet who has ever heard of the name Nikola Tesla. Hello, my name is David Kruse and today I will be speaking about a lost man in history, Nikola Tesla. First we will see Tesla’s success and then something that we never got and why we never got it, and lastly we will see some similarities between Christ and Tesla.

1) Tesla’s Success –
Before electricity, America was filled with the dust and filthy soot of the coal mines. And then a man came. Nikola Tesla. Tesla knew, without a doubt, that he could change all of it with his future inventions. Presently he invented alternating current (or AC) in 1887, and went to tell the famous inventor, which you have probably all heard of, Thomas Edison. Edison knew that Tesla’s AC system was far superior to his direct current (or DC system) and would do anything to stop him. He began to incite fear by killing stray animals frequently, using Tesla’s AC system.

Despite all the disapproval & condemnation, Tesla would ultimately triumph over Edison by electrifying the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Late at night, Tesla lit up Edison’s incandescent light-bulb with his alternating current. Everyone there was startled; light suddenly appearing as if a great door had swung open in broad daylight. Morning coming at the middle of the night some thought. People who had never seen a light bulb were astonished at this miracle! Tesla felt that he was beginning to change the world!

Nikola Tesla then moved on toward bigger & more useful things such as utilizing the power of Niagara Falls. With his partner George Westinghouse, Tesla designed and then created the world’s first hydro-electric system at Niagara Falls in 1896. It was another smashing success! Million’s, from all over the country, flocked to see this new system and were amazed. Tesla knew that he was headed in the right direction.

2) What we did not get, and why –
Shortly after 1896, Tesla realized that he could create a station which would give free electricity, free energy, to every human being around the globe. Whenever someone needed power, they could just get it out of the atmosphere using Tesla’s stations which would be placed around the globe to receive and give out energy to each other. As he needed money for the operation to be possible, Tesla called upon one of the biggest bankers in the country. J.P. Morgan. Tesla told Morgan that if he had the money, he could make a station to send wireless communication across oceans. So Morgan, thinking of all the extra money and profit he would gain if the invention went through, he thought, gave Tesla the approval.

While the building began, another man, Marconi, the inventor of the radio, had also found a way to send wireless communication (or radio waves) across the ocean and was almost finished with his project. Tesla was racing against time. Then, suddenly, J.P. Morgan heard of how Tesla was also going to use his station as an outpost to send free electricity. He was enraged! He quickly withdrew all of the money that he had given to Tesla and the station remained unfinished, never to be completed. Marconi, shortly after, did succeed in sending his trans-Atlantic signal on Dec.12, 1901. Later that day, Tesla was on a walk with one of his engineer’s who said, as Margaret Cheney says in her book “Tesla, Man out of Time” – “Looks like Marconi got the jump on you.” Tesla replied, “Marconi is a good fellow. Let him continue. He is using 17 of my patents.”

Tesla was a man who did not care of reputation. He wanted to help humanity move forward. But he was just too good and for that he was forgotten. Not by accident mind you, but by greedy men who wanted wealth and money. You see, they could not get it with Tesla’s plans & so… they ruined him & after he died, all of his inventions, his paperwork, his journals, were taken & are perhaps still hidden today. We do not know what became of them. So, what did we not get? Free electricity. We did not get free electricity. Why? Because men want money. Tesla, did not.

3) How is Tesla like Christ? –
Nikola Tesla wanted to help humanity move faster into a new era. An era filled with electricity, free electricity, where we would not have to pay to get around. Tesla, rather, was pushed away by the world because greedy men do not like free things. They want power, possession, & position. So what did they do? They took over Tesla’s projects and absolutely ruined him. So much so, that today people cannot recollect, in the least, who he was, what he did, and why they do not know of him. This reminds me of Christ. He came to save sinners here on earth. But many did not like him. They did not want help. They wanted to remain in sin and so they crucified him.

Tesla came to change things but could not give his full potential because the world pushed him away. This is also similar to Christ. Christ came to change things. He came to break the Pharisee’s old traditions which they had put far above God. Christ came to bring new life into a dead world full of sin and corruption. Christ brought healing, grace, & salvation to sinners who deserve nothing but death. Christ was a Savior. We must try, every day, to be more like Christ & share all the gifts that God gave us as Tesla did & happily use them for his glory so as to advance his kingdom here on the earth!

Today, we have seen a couple of Tesla’s inventions that were quite successful; that are still useful today. Next we saw how Tesla was used by J.P. Morgan for his own purposes & how Tesla’s dream was destroyed and why. And finally, we learned how Tesla is somewhat similar to Christ and what he did for us.

In conclusion, the next time you turn on your cable television, your computer, your radio, or your light switch, just remember what it would have been like if Tesla’s plans were not ruined. How would the world be? What would our world be if electricity and energy were all, absolutely, free?

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Jonathan (The Strong One)

I was working on a speech when Jonathan (my little brother) came in and got a blanket to keep warm I guess. Anyway, I just thought he looked so cute carrying this big load with his little body wavering underneath. Be sure to comment. :)

How are you?

Yes, how are you? I want some honest answers here now. No fake stuff. Just explain how your family is doing and what's the newest, coolest, and neatest thing for YOU.

The Roseburg Tournament Results

I traveled up to Roseburg with Devin & Kolten.
Here is our team. From left to right it's Mitchel Button, Me,
Preston Snyder, Mark Button, Devin, & Kolten.

This is Kolten "at His Best."

Here is Devin playing chess and playing well.

I think we ended up placing third (which isn't too bad because we were up against 7 other teams). Overall it was very fun and I look forward to the next one. Hopefully you will be there too! Bye!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Chess Tournament!

Yes, there is a chess tournament that is going on today and tomorrow which is being held in Roseburg OR and I get to go! It'll be lots of fun! I get to go with my cousin Kolten Anderson and his Dad (my uncle) Kenny Anderson, along with my uncle Steve Goldman and my brother Devin. Oh, and some of the members in the chess club I attend, will also be coming. You see, it's a Team Competition. I just can't wait to get there and start playing some tough competitors ;)

Anyway, if you don't like chess than Join Up Soon! I'm just kiddin'. You don't Have to but if you decided to than grab a chess book or video (at your local library) and begin to see how the pieces move and start playing someone who has been playing longer than you have and ask them for some pointers. (That was a long sentence). So just be humble and ask. That's how I got started. I startd asking my uncle Steve (mentioned above) and gradually became better and better (although I am far from being "the Best"). But really, chess is a very fascinating game and it offers much. I have learned how to become smarter and more logical through it.

One more thing... Tournaments! Yes, tournaments. They are really fun too (especially for those who like to compete). For those of you who go to speech tournamets (including myself), this will be easy to adapt into because it's just like speech only you don't speak. You sit. You play. You win. Or lose. That reminds me... If I lose (which I usually do) than I know I am not "the Best" and there is more competition. It keeps me humble you could say. And if I win... Well... I win.
It's all for the Glory of God!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

George Washington's 21st Rule of Civility

21st: "REPROACH none for the infirmities of nature, nor delight to put them that have in mind thereof."

Saturday, February 16, 2008

George Washington's 20th Rule of Civility

20th: "THE gestures of the body must be suited to the discourse you are upon."

One Pen Stroke = Whole Picture. Amazing!

Look at this picture which was done with a single pen stroke.
Also, be sure to check out the copyright date.
Amazing!

Friday, February 15, 2008

George Washington's 19th Rule of Civility

19th: "LET your countenance be pleasant, but in serious matters somewhat grave."

Jonathan

Here is my little brother Jonathan.
He is hiding behind a blue cup.
Can you see him at all?

Thursday, February 14, 2008

George Washington's 18th Rule of Civility


18th: "READ no letters, books, or papers in company; but when there is a necessity for the doing of it, you must ask leave. Come not near the books or writings of another so as to read them or give your opinion of them unasked; also look not nigh when another is writing a letter."

More Pictures...

Devin was gettin' a little crazy.
Here is a rooster from our next-door
neighbor that just will NOT GO AWAY.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

George Washington's 17th Rule of Civility

17th: "Be no flatterer; neither play with any that delights not to be played with."

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

George Washington's 16th Rule of Civility

16th: "Do not puff up the cheeks; loll not out the tongue, rub the hands, or beard, thrust out the lips, or bite them, or keep the lips too open or close."

This rule is primarily dealing with manners. We should be aware of what we do. Others are watching us. We need to be an example to the culture we live in so that one day it will become a Christian Culture. 1 Cor. 10:31 - "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Monday, February 11, 2008

George Washington's 15th Rule of Civility

I'll just pick up where I left off...
This is the 15th rule that George Washington writes to all men and women. I believe that if we follow these rules we will become better in our manners and more considerate and respectful of others. What George Washington emphasizes more than anything is that we should have more respect for one another. Read and find out.

15th: "Keep your nails clean and short, also your hands and teeth clean, yet without showing any great concern for them."

Again, this is dealing with showing respect to others by keeping yourself clean.
This is also such a good rule for myself. I often forget to keep my teeth clean (or brush them) and trim my nails (this rule might not apply too much for ladies). Anyway, when I finally notice that my nails are short, I then cut them the wrong way! That is, I bite them. Oh! I have lots to learn!