Here’s a real Turn-Around candidate: How about that Rays baseball team. Worst of the worst for all of their ten-year history, they are fighting it out with the Phillies in the World Series. You gotta love that. Could it be that dropping the “devil” from their name made all the difference? President candidates, take notice. Drop the business, get your hands out of the money trough and do right by the people.

And I fight. It’s an old metaphor, but it’s all I have. I’m fighting to become a runner and a healthy person, and giving up either fight is not an option. I may be in the back of the line for the moment, but I am running two races. I am a dedicated runner now, and I plan on finishing both.

Linda Stowell was diagnosed with two forms of cancer and told that whe had better stay sedentary and lay low. But she’s a fighter, not a quitter, and she refused to wave goodbye to every prospect for a healthy life…

I was enveloped by my illness. It was controlling me. The fatigue was so intense, the sleep so deep that it was as if a chunk of my life was sucked away. I rose only to take a shower. One afternoon I tried to make tea and slept through the kettle’s whistle. I awoke to the kettle burned dry to the stove and belching smoke. I had few conversations; that took too much energy. A trip to the grocery store was overwhelming.

Read Linda’s story in the South Bend Tribune when you’re ready to get in the fight. May God continue to bless and keep Linda Stowell and may God bless you too.

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

Here’s how mine looked:

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The Paul Potts story is a turn-around primer. How did it happen? My guess is that preparation met possibility at Britain’s Got Talent and gave the magic a chance to happen. One thing that I am convinced of is that Paul Potts is not just one lucky guy–he is a person who worked hard to develop his talent and who kept at it until that hard work paid off. He didn’t win the lottery; he rightfully won a contest and the hearts of citizens around the world.

Bully for you, Paul and Julz. Enjoy!

Now…how about that movie?

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

‘Welcome to heaven,’ says St. Peter. ‘Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.’

‘No problem, just let me in,’ says the senator.

‘Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.’

‘Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,’ says the senator.

‘I’m sorry, but we have our rules.’

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he
realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises ..

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

‘Now it’s time to visit heaven.’

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and,
before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

‘Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.’

The senator reflects for a minute, then answers: ‘Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.’

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above…

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. ‘I don’t understand,’ stammers the senator. ‘Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?’

The devil looks at him, smiles and says…….

‘Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted.’

I was sure that Eli Mattson would take the vote, but my favorite of the contenders was Sarah Lenore–one excellent singer–who was passed over in the semifinals. Any way you cut it, there was plenty of talent onboard and every one of them has gained a bunch of good PR.

By the way: The real shocker for me was that Queen Emily was the first of the five finalists to be dismissed. The wonders never cease…

Under good guidance, Faryl has wisely held off on jumping at the first deal available and has negotiated for the best contract. Here’s a quote from her father, Tony Smith:

We’re dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s at the moment to make sure she’s protected in every way. She is our baby at the end of the day – she’s in great demand and we want to do it our way.

Faryl posesses an exceptional gift and RoadTurn wishes her all the best. For a look at the entire article from the Chronicle, just click here.

What’s going on? It seems that farmers are trying to make up the rising cost of fuel and materials by watering down their milk and lacing it with a chemical that “registers as protein in tests of milk” and allows the samples to pass inspection.

For me, the moral is this: Even though the actions of one person (me) may seem insignificant, when they are added to the actions of others (yours) they can have powerful results. It is team-play in reverse.

For an example of a RoadTurn in a good direction, consider the news from Afghanistan today. Both American and Taliban forces have agreed to observe World Peace Day and allow the vaccination of Afghan children against polio. Says the Associated Press:

“It’s crazy, but apparently the Taliban sent out an e-mail saying they were going to abide by it if we were, and we definitely are,” he said. “It’s a great day to show Afghans exactly what peace is like and how their everyday life would be if they just booted out the bad guys.”

The day was not completely violence-free. Taliban militants attacked a security company guarding a road construction crew in the southern province of Ghazni, killing two guards, said the governor’s spokesman, Ismail Jahangir.

Still, the push for peace was largely successful given that 2008 has been the most violent year in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that ousted the Taliban’s hard-line Islamist government.

America really does have talent. The final ten for the big show was announced tonight and they are all contenders. I was amazed to see, though, that my favorite acts–The Taubl Family and Sarah Lenore–were both passed over in the vote. Incredible. One thing is for sure: We haven’t seen the last of Sarah Lenore. If she’s not made for Nashville, then I’m not up the creek without a paddle. You can quote me on that.

In her honor, here’s a glimpse of the performance that the judges dismissed as not up to standards. I thought she was absolutely fantastic. Sarah, you’ve got a fan here. I wish you the very best.