My latest Country Story Report
Had some business in Noxubee county and stopped at the Preston Country Store at the intersection of Hwy 21 and Hwy 397 and here's what I found besides the usual fried chicken which was so-so but fresh out of the cooker. They cook their stuff in small batches to keep it fresh. They had Chicken O Sticks if you liked your chicken with a permanent shelf life. And an interesting sign on the bathroom door.

Light Review:Planet Bike Super Flash and Blackburn 4.0

Having been hit, I am more than ever concerned about my visibility on the bike. Technology has improved so it was time for my bikes to have new lights. I have read some good things about the PB Super Flash so I ordered it online and it cost $15. I highly recomend this light. It has a 1/2 watt led along with 2 smaller leds for when it is in the strobe mode. It is visible from a mile away. The best thing about this light is the unique blinking pattern that is eye catching. The eye just gets pulled to it.

The competition to the Super Flash is the Blackburn 4.0 with an eye searing, full 1 watt. This is strongest light that you can buy. The blink pattern is a steady blink. The 4.0 does have side leds for 180 visibility.

The Blackburn 3.0 was pretty much the standard until these two lights came out. The Blackburn 4.0 is sold locally at the bike shops. The Blackburn is around $30. For me the Planet Bike won out because of the price but mainly because the seat post attaching collar is very minimal as my thunderous thighs do rub the seatpost.

Both lights are great and you should own either one as they are the top two rear lights you can buy.

SIX BARRIERS TO HAPPINESS

1.) Complexity. We often conflate quality of life with standard of life, but after a point, the connection between the two disappears. Buddhist monks shave their heads because it makes one aspect of their life simpler. Simplify life and we create more space in which to reflect on life.

2.) Pace. The same culture that entangles us in a web of complexity may also have us on the constant chase. That kind of tension takes a toll on our souls and our psyches. Whether you call it meditation, silence, or prayer, taking a pause just a few minutes a day can help us recharge and feel happier.

3.) Negativity. The prison of attachment, the prison of anger, the prison of depression, the prison of pride--if we blame someone else for our problems, we have imprisoned ourselves with toxic thought. Take charge of our thoughts and practice gratitude.

4.) Despair. Hope isn't hurtful; it can make one happy. Daydream; set goals and take steps toward them. Hopeful people perform better in sports and school, have a greater tolerance for pain and a lower risk for depression, anxiety, and heart disease. If hope falters, ask yourself, is it with the plan or the motivation?

5.) Suppressing Sadness. Happiness is not the absence of sadness. Some suffering makes you a whole person and allows you to acclimate and move forward in your life. By suppressing sadness, you suppress other, more positive emotions, as well, so people who try to suppress emotions actually become more anxious and depressed. Instead, find outlets, and you'll gain control over these emotions. Use others as a sounding board (not a toxic dumping ground), and you can help convert generalized anxiety and depression into targeted feelings you can address with specific solutions.

6.) Self-absorption. Social networks are important to happiness. The more self-absorbed you are, the more your world closes in, and the less realistic you become, all of which produces a vicious circle: You become oblivious to the needs of others, and the world shrinks still more, making you less able to see outside yourself. If you have such a huge ego, you’re setting yourself up as a huge target, which can easily get hit. So try to make other people happy; it's contagious.