2 Madison Enterprise-Recorder www.greenepublishing.com Oicwmpoints & Opinions Friday, January 1,2010 N I In J uem '"Copyrighted Material tIC You Ns TrekinInto The Future A Syndicated Content Trekking Into The Future Available from Commercial News Providers" Start Your New Year Captain's Log. Stardate: January 1, 20-10 The future is now. It's a new year, a time for new beginnings. It is a time to let last year fall into the abyss of all the yesterdays of our lives. It is a time to start anew and try to live up to the commitments that we have made to ourselves. Have you made any commitments? Have you made any resolutions? I have and I hope to be able to meet my goals this year. Last year, I stumbled and fell and didn't com- plete the goals that I had set for myself. Some things were beyond my control; other things I can only blame myself for. I am keeping my goals to myself this year. I ask that you help pray for me to meet them, according to God's plan and will for my life. As I head into the future, at warp speed ahead, I pray God's blessings on your lives and that we all live long and prosper. In Jesus' name. Happy New Year On the first day of this year, my wish for all of you is a lovely day, a happy and all your loved ones near to enjoy it with you. I wish everyone a new year of dreams ful- filled, a year when contentment reigns and you can tell yourself "I'm happy just to be me" and really believe it. Here's to you, Happy New Year! Celery has negative calories. It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it to begin with. lor Piress Associio 2008 Award Winning Newspaper 'The fla 1ison Enterptise-Recoter %Y P.O. Box 772 Madison, FL 32341 1695 South SR 53 Madison, FL 32340 (850) 973-4141 Fax: (850) 973-4121 greenepub@greenepublishing.com www.greenepublishing.com Publisher Classified and Emerald Greene Legal Ads Laura Little Editor Deadline for classified Jacob Bembry is Monday at 3 p.m. Production Manager Deadlinefor Heather Bowen legal advertisements is Wednesday at 5 p.m. Staff Writers There will be a $3 charge Michael Curtis for affidavits. Graphic Designers Circulation Stephen Bochnia Department and Dee Hall Sheree Miller and Bobbi Light Advertising Sales Representatives Subscription Rates: Mary Ellen Greene, In-County $35 Dorothy McKinney, Out-of-County $45 Jeanette Dunn (State & local taxes included) -Since 1865- "Telling it like it is with honesty and integrity." Zhe mabison Enterprise-Recotr ct Madison Recorder established 1865 New Enterprise established 1901 Consolidated June 25, 1908 Published weekly by Greene Publishing Inc., 1695 S SR 53, Madison, FL 32340. Periodicals postage PAID at Madison Post Office 32340. Publication No. 177.400. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Madison Enterprise-Recorder, P.O. Drawer 772, Madison, FL 32341- 0772. This newspaper reserves the right to reject any adver- tisement, news matter or subscriptions that, in the opinion of the management, will not be for the best interest of the coun- ty and/or the owners of this newspaper, and to investigate any advertisement submitted. All photos given to Greene Publishing Inc. for publi- cation in this newspaper must be picked up no later than 6 months from the date they are dropped off. Greene Pub- lishing Inc. will not be responsible for photos beyond said deadline. Be Coachable And Inspect What You Expect By Michael Curtis- Greene Publishing, Inc. There are few moments more frustrating than at- tempting to change another person's mind, especially regarding topics that are often the most personal and are therefore the most passionate. The reality is and at times we're all guilty many people are simply not "coachable." When interviewing at Smith Barney, the company was running a commercial that said something like, "Only 1 out of 14 qualified applicants get hired as fi- nancial advisors for Smith Barney" The point is obvious. The company was pushing a marketing campaign emphasizing the rigid selection process of its financial advisors. It took me a year to get the position, which my hiring manager later explained was because I finally appeared to be, "coachable." Learning all the ins and outs of the brokerage and insurance business was a breeze. Learning to listen and understand where people and ideas were coming from well, that was another issue altogether. The meaning of "coachable" is simply the ability to be coached to learn and gain from experience and knowledge. Being in a coachable situation also implies the thing being learned is new and/or may be very dif- ferent than what one brings to the situation. That's the whole point you're learning- you're being coached. Not to sound ugly, smokers often quit smoking once they have been diagnosed with lung cancer, but for the most part, people simply don't change their minds or behavior voluntarily. Still worse, most don't even stop to think how they formed the opin- ion or habit in the first place. They don't stop and ask themselves, "Where did I learn that?" "Why do I do that?" You don't have to be an expert to realize most peo- ple simply mirror some "celebrity" in their lives. It could be mom or dad. It could be other family or friends, or the TV Internet, etc. And then later, when they hear an opinion that fits their current way of look- ing at things, they lay claim to it typically joining a mass of others in the process. It's fascinating how many people won't recognize this situation on a personal level, but will judge the "masses" as being brainwashed. This then erupts into billions of twisted emails and editorials, until everyone is clamoring for and against change at the same time. Mired helplessly in the midst of this parade are many ready and willing to make a difference not just talk a difference. These are the Republicans and Democrats who know Glenn Beck and John Stewart are entertainers and comedians, and not advisors. These are also the Democrats and Republicans who know Nancy Pelosi is a threat to the Christian fabric of America, but also realize Dick Cheney is a power broker who robbed America blind under the banner of patriotism. These ranks of people include thinkers and doers and more volunteers than thought possible, but they can't get to the micro- phone for all the loud mouths exclaiming, "Foul, Foul!" Rule Number One: Inspect what you expect. Before offering an opinion on who or what's to blame, learn the business or economy Walk a mile in another's shoes. To become a professional plumber, fire fighter, or educator requires hundreds - if not thousands of hours of intense study To be- come a successful entrepreneur or reach top man- agement often takes decades. When it comes to politics or the economy, however, or how to manage a community or nation, suddenly everybody's an ex- pert. Of course, the right to be heard is sacred; it's the foundation of America. Just don't abuse it with half-baked and copycat viewpoints. Rule Number Two: Become part of the solu- tion. This does not mean just signing a name to a cause or forwarding an email, or just going out and screaming with a poster. That wouldn't clear a drain and it certainly won't change a nation. It just shifts power between the latest bums who bought airtime. For example, if a community can't attract business because it doesn't have a sufficient workforce, or be- cause the dropout rate is high, then shouldn't every- body willing to talk about it share a few hours with the local professionals charged with changing those conditions, but who are swamped with massive de- mand. Just ask, "What can I do to help?" because no- body ever got very far by asking, "What can I say to help?" Rule Number Three: Challenge and expand learning. Everybody recognizes that doctors should- n't and couldn't operate half-trained or by using half-baked ideas passed along by others regardless of how well intentioned. No professional performs that way Effective and loving moms and dads don't operate that way Good coaches don't work that way Challenge your learning; and refrain from partisan- ship and bias family, political or otherwise when forming opinions. And lastly, ask yourself honestly if you're "coachable." Be informed and be coachable. God Bless Madison County and God Bless Amer- ica! Happy New Year! As you celebrate this weekend, food will no doubt be a part of the festivities. There will be snacks while watching parades and football games, some of you may host a family gathering and there's the traditional pot of black-eyed peas and all of the food that goes with it. As you prepare your New Year's meals, the US Department of Agricul- ture reminds us to keep foods fresh and safe to eat. If food containing harmful bacteria is consumed, it could cause foodborne illness. So, when serving food, follow this food safety checklist recommended by the USDA: Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and wa- ter for a full 20 seconds before and after handling raw food. Use plastic or other non-porous cutting boards. Cutting boards should be run through the dishwash- er or washed with soap and hot water after each use. Store raw meat, poultry, and seafood on a plate or tray, so raw juices don't drip onto other foods. Use one cutting board for raw meat products and another one for salads and other ready-to-eat foods, or wash cutting boards in between each use. Never place cooked food on a plate that previ- ously held raw meat, poultry or seafood unless the plate has been washed. Don't spread bacteria with dirty sponges, dish- cloths, or towels. Bacteria thrive in the moist areas of these items where bits of food may also exist. Use paper towels or freshly-cleaned sponges or cloths and soap and hot water to clean food preparation surfaces. When cooking meat, poultry and other dishes, use a food thermometer to make sure foods are cooked to a safe internal temperature. When reheating sauces, soups, and gravies, bring them to a boil. Heat other leftovers thorough- ly to 165 OF Make sure the refrigerator temperature is 40 F or below and 0 OF or below in the freezer. Occasion- ally verify these temperatures using an appliance thermometer. Refrigerate of freeze perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within 2 hours. Never defrost or marinate food at room tempera- ture; use the refrigerator. You can also thaw foods in airtight packaging in cold water (change the water every 30 minutes, so the food continues to thaw). Or, thaw in the microwave, if you'll be cooking the food immediately Divide large amounts of leftovers into shallow containers for quick cooling in the refrigerator. Don't over-fill the refrigerator. Cold air must cir- culate to keep food at a safe temperature. For more information on keeping your food safe, contact the Madison County Extension office. The University of Florida Extension/IFAS - Madison County is an Equal Employment Opportu- nity Affirmative Action Employer authorized to pro- vide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin. 12/23 Jason Miller VOP 12/25 Antonio Ro( - Driving while suspended Barney Griffin -DUI wit erty damage Henry Jet Fead, Jr. Do battery on a over 65 Scott Andre -VOP Charles Dunn Out of warrant 12/26 Patrick Brown Posses cocaine, possess drug parapherne Annie Lue Y Possession of co 12/27 Dixie Henry Jr. Aggravate tery Justin G Small Driving license sus (knowingly) 12/28 Marlon Robinson - session of VO: co possession of cocaine Arnold with intent to sell, pos- session of drug para- phernalia, escape driguez Elshunti DeAngelo license Mattair Criminal reg- istration Lamar Steven Michael h prop- Forton VOP (four counts of aggravated rmaine battery with a deadly )mestic weapon) victim Kim Lashun Haynes Out of county w Sapp warrant Randy James Si- Henry moneau Burglary of county structure and grand theft III Shilenna Marcia Wesley Davis VOP (DUI) sion of Charles Houston - sion of VOP (disorderly con- alia duct) youngg Jimmy Benique - caine Driving while license suspended Leslie, Chadrick Antonio ed bat- Jennings Failure to appear (criminal mis- regory chief) While 12/29 pended Reagan Alexander Knighten Battery (do- mestic) Vashon Darron Ted Coody P (pos- -Battery (domestic), vi- icaine), olation of injunction S Off With Safe Food