Book Review: My Seven Years in Captivity by Bill Seaton

I have lived in many places over the years, and there is no question in my mind that San Diego is my favorite city. It offers perfect weather, friendly people, and more tourist attractions than you can shake a fist at. One of the biggest tourist attractions is the San Diego Zoo. In physical size it is not the largest Zoo in the world, but, it does hold the record for number of different animals. Better still it is a Zoo that prides itself on removing the bars. Watching animals in a cage turns my blood cold, I would not want to be behind bars, and neither do animals.

Author Bill Seaton worked as the PR guy for the zoo in the 1960′s, and My Seven Years In Captivity is a very personal look at the San Diego zoo. This is by no means a serious book, it is very much humor, yet there is an undertone that reveals the love that Bill has for this wonderful establishment and the love that those working at the zoo have for the animals.

For 10 years I was a season pass holder to the zoo. I have no idea how many hours we spent there, the kids knew their way around the zoo better than they knew the area that we lived in! The San Diego zoo, and the Animal Park some miles out of the city should be on everyone’s ‘must do’ list.

Bill Seaton takes us behind the scenes of the San Diego zoo during the 1960′s. This is a delightfully written book that permits the reader to become part of a wonderful organization. High on humor, we see that that old saying ‘life is a zoo’ is indeed true!

Few people understand just how difficult it is to run a zoo, animals it turns out are just as cantankerous as human beings. They have unique personalities, some are friendly, some are grumpy, and some are off the wall. Bill tells a wonderful story about a duck. This cranky bird got along fine with women but not men, if you were male you risked a serious pecking if you got near this duck.

Bill also manages to sneak in a recipe. I like this one so much, I have to share it with you:

Recipe For Elephant Stew

1 elephant (med size)
2 rabbits (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste
Brown gravy (lots)

Cut elephant into small, bite sized pieces. This will take about two months. Add brown gravy to cover. Cook over kerosene fire for about 4 weeks at 462 degrees.

This will serve 3,800 people. If more are expected, the two rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary as most people do not like to find hare in their stew.

Although the book contains much humor it also reflects the dedication of the people working at the zoo. For many this is not a job, this is a lifestyle. Work and home life blur together. These men and women make great sacrifices so that we, the members of the public can enjoy seeing the animals.

My Seven Years In Captivity should be on everyone’s ‘to read’ list, This is the ideal book for people that just want to read a few pages at a time. It is not one story, it is a series of stand alone vignettes of life.

You can pick up your copy from Amazon.

(Originally published at Blogger News Network and reprinted with permission from the author, Simon Barrett).

The Cap and Trade Bill is Bad For The Housing Market & Sellers Wallets

As part of The Cap and Trade Bill HR 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, adds another layer of conditions for selling personal real estate (your home) in the United States.  The American Clean Energy and Security Act, a whopping 1,200 pages defining a cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions, a federal renewable electricity mandate, and a suite of new mandatory energy efficiency standards, imposes 397 new federal regulations and 1060 mandates on an American public already overwhelmed by extensive federal regulations.  Written in there is a requirement for all home sales to be conditioned upon an energy audit and an energy rating assessment labeling program. How much additional selling costs will all sellers now be required to pay to comply with the proposed requirements?

Congressmen Ron Paul, on 6-29-09 said:

“The Cap and Trade Bill HR 2454 was voted on last Friday. Proponents claim this bill will help the environment, but what it really does is put another nail in the economy’s coffin. The idea is to establish a national level of carbon dioxide emissions, and sell pollution permits to industry as the Catholic Church used to sell indulgences to sinners. HR 2454 also gives federal bureaucrats new power to regulate a wide variety of household appliances, such as light bulbs and refrigerators, and further distorts the market by providing more of your tax money to auto companies.”

Just like the TARP bill, this is all happening too fast. Anyone who thinks that Washington can craft a respectable bill in this short period of time is dreaming. The specifics of the bill aren’t being publicly discussed. The Democrats are trying to push this through so fast no one will know what hit them. The media is complicit in this. This is not the time to increase energy costs, either.

Kansas City Power & Light said the bill will force them to buy so many carbon allowances for coal that electricity rates could rise 50 percent by 2012, and another 70 percent by 2020.

Let’s get some positive economic growth first, not minus 6.6%, before we kick in some expensive program/tax.

Over 7,000 climate scientists have spoken out and signed a petition that states “climate change” is NOT caused by man, more than the number of scientists who wrote the UN charter on the topic.

This, along with the “stimulus” and “health care reform” is able to succeed to a degree because the American people are, for the most part, sheep who demand to be led, do not care to be involved in the process, do not care to know what is happening in their government, do not care to act on their own behalf and figure that Obama is more intelligent than they are. In fact he is leading them down the road to higher taxes, higher inflation and higher costs on all natural resources, all because of a false theory that curtailing carbon emissions can make a difference.

Kim Strassel, published in the (June 2009) Wall Street Journal:

“Among the many reasons President Barack Obama and the Democratic majority are so intent on quickly jamming a cap-and-trade system through Congress is because the global warming tide is again shifting. It turns out Al Gore and the United Nations (with an assist from the media), did a little too vociferous a job smearing anyone who disagreed with them as ‘deniers.’ The backlash has brought the scientific debate roaring back to life in Australia, Europe, Japan, and even if less reported, the U.S.”

“In April, the Polish Academy of Sciences published a document challenging man-made global warming. In the Czech Republic, where President Vaclav Klaus remains a leading skeptic, today only 11% of the population believes humans play a role. In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to tap Claude Allegre to lead the country’s new ministry of industry and innovation. Twenty years ago Mr. Allegre was among the first to trill about man-made global warming, but the geochemist has since recanted. New Zealand last year elected a new government, which immediately suspended the country’s weeks-old cap-and-trade program.

“The number of skeptics, far from shrinking, is swelling. Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe now counts more than 700 scientists who disagree with the U.N. — 13 times the number who authored the U.N.’s 2007 climate summary for policymakers. Joanne Simpson, the world’s first woman to receive a Ph.D. in meteorology, expressed relief upon her retirement last year that she was finally free to speak ‘frankly’ of her non-belief. Dr. Kiminori Itoh, a Japanese environmental physical chemist who contributed to a U.N. climate report, dubs man-made warming ‘the worst scientific scandal in history.’ Norway’s Ivar Giaever, Nobel Prize winner for physics, decries it as the ‘new religion.’ A group of 54 noted physicists, led by Princeton’s Will Happer, is demanding the American Physical Society revise its position that the science is settled. (Both Nature and Science magazines have refused to run the physicists’ open letter.)

“The collapse of the ‘consensus’ has been driven by reality.”

Scientists – the ones without a political agenda – have shown that solar activity correlates with temperature changes. In fact, it correlates stronger to changes than CO2 does, and changes in CO2 levels FOLLOW changes in temperature by about 800 years. The only reason that CO2 and temperature would be increasing at the same time NOW is that temperature increased about 800 years ago. By the way, temperatures have been decreasing for a couple of years now.

It appears that the government is more concerned about the appearance of making changes and are thus, creating these massive documents that no one can possibly read and digest.  Don’t be naive enough to think we are being saved from disaster; one is being created. France has a better idea called nuclear power.

Who/what is Zrii With Bill Farley?!

The Zrii Phenomenon!

The Story of Zrii begins with a visionary American businessman named Bill who met with the Chopra Center

for Wellbeing in September 2006 and learned about Amalaki. The convergence of these powerful forces,

in a phenomenon that is bringing light and prosperity to the world, has quickly captured the imagination of

people everywhere. It is a story that lifts spirits, unleashes a desire to succeed, and inspires humanity.

So, who are Bill and the Chopra Center?

Few people on the planet have found success that can approach the level of achievement earned by Bill Farley. Raised by working class, deeply devoted, and loving parents in Pawtucket, RI, Bill became acquainted with the virtues of hard work and discipline at a young age. His mother worked in a factory, and his father was a postal worker who moonlighted as a musician.

As a youngster, Bill worked a variety of jobs to assist the family. He also distinguished himself academically enough to earn admission to the prestigious Bowdoin College of Maine, and later, a law degree from Boston College. His first foray into the business world was selling encyclopedias door-to-door. After finding great success as a salesman, and later as a national trainer, Bill moved into the world of finance and investment banking with positions at NL Industries in New York City, and Lehman Brothers in Chicago.

Helping his investment clients succeed built a strong desire to make it himself as an entrepreneur. Bill bought his first company, Anaheim Citrus Products, in 1976 for a personal investment of $50,000. Later, he sold it for over $10 million. This was the first of many successes to come. After acquiring Fruit of the Loom in early 80’s, Bill served as majority shareholder, President and CEO for 15 years. At one point, Fruit of the Loom’s parent, Farley Enterprises (a family holding company) employed over 65,000 people worldwide with annual revenues near $5 billion. Bill has owned companies in diverse industries, from apparel, to mining, to railroads, to nutrition and direct sales. His love of competition has been felt in the world of sports as well, as he became part owner of the Chicago White Sox in 1976.

Bill has never shied away from risk when the right opportunity presented itself. “A willingness to take risk is probably a major reason for my success today. Many people could be as successful as I am, or more so, but for whatever reason they are unable to move beyond their fears.” In 1986, Bill received the Horatio Alger Award, and was inducted in the illustrious Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.

Bill says his Horatio Alger Award “shows that anyone can pull himself up by the bootstraps. Working hard and seizing opportunities that come your way are the keys to making positive things happen.” He is also a recipient of the White House Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence. As a natural byproduct of his business success over the years, Bill has developed an extensive international network. He is a trusted friend and advisor to CEOs, celebrities, athletes, politicians, and leaders around the world. Yet, Bill is often found mentoring people of little or no fame, who possess a strong desire to learn.

His philanthropy in the field of education has blessed the lives of thousands.

Today, Bill’s legacy is a beacon to anyone with a desire for success as an entrepreneur. As a self-made success with a desire to give back and help others looking to do the same, much of Bill’s time is now spent assisting others in pursuit of their own dreams. The Chopra Center…

Fulfilling a lifelong dream of creating a center which focuses on enhancing health and nourishing the human spirit, Deepak Chopra, M.D. and David Simon M.D. opened The Chopra Center for Wellbeing in 1996 in San Diego. Located in the midst of the world famous La Costa Resort & Spa, the Chopra Center is a nurturing and judgment-free environment where visitors from around the world can find balance and healing.

Founded in the traditions of ancient wisdom, modern science, and daily well being, the Chopra Center is internationally recognized as the premier authority on integrating western medicine with complementary healing arts of the East. Bringing together the talented professionals in the conventional, complementary, and alternative medicine fields, The Chopra Center has created an environment that embodies the essence of healing.

Under Dr. Simon’s direction, they provide medical consultations, therapeutic body treatments, workshops, meditation instruction, hospital program development, and corporate training courses. The emphasis at the Center is on providing guidance to help individuals promote their own longevity, human potential and success, while increasing personal balance, happiness, and fulfillment Wow! So, what are Bill and the Chopra Center doing?

Bill’s business acumen and interest has also led him to closely study the nutrition business in recent years.

He has observed a clear trend towards super foods and plants as a source of balanced nutrition, and an explosive trend towards beverages as a palatable and popular method of delivery.

Recently, Bill and the Chopra Center were discussing the great foods and herbs of the world. Bill asked if any super foods had yet to be truly discovered on a global scale. Was there a fruit with a compelling, unique nutritional story that could help millions of people improve their health? The Chopra Center began to describe the AMALAKI FRUIT to Bill.

Amalaki, known in India as amla, is the central fruit in ayurveda. It is widely regarded as one of the world’s most powerful rejuvenating foods, and has been revered above all other foods for over 5,000 years in traditional ayurvedic medicine.

Its nutritive qualities are well chronicled in many ancient medical journals and hundreds of modern studies alike. Its benefits are heralded in countless testimonials by those who eat the fruit in India today. The Chopra Center taught Bill that amalaki is a powerful superfood, loaded with pythonutrients

that are necessary to rejuvenate and restore vitality.

Bill Howe’s 1st Pitch At The Padre Game

On September 10, 2008 Rennai Heaters invited Bill Howe of Bill Howe Plumbing to throw out the first pitch at a San Diego Padre Game.