AGREEING WITH GOD IN OUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS
Regardless of our political affiliations, nationalities, race, creed or color, one thing identifies us as humans beyond everything else. Regardless of public opinion or the results of recent elections, make certain that when your vote is counted, that you have voted on God’s side. If you aren’t sure how God would vote, then you need to familiarize yourself with the Bible as much as possible. Then ask yourself how God would feel about the issues and candidates being considered. Humanism can have a positive or negative connotation, depending on the circumstances involved. Choosing God’s way is always best for us, even when we cannot see the benefits. As the Divine Humanist, God created us in His Image, sustains us and will provide for our future joys more than any human method ever devised. Mankind’s best humanistic efforts always fall short of the Divine standard. Does this mean that we should abandon our efforts? Rather, we should adopt God’s standards of excellence, which alone will bring us into fellowship with Him. How is this possible? God’s Holy Spirit is given to us to bring about this transformation. Tell God today that you want to conform yourself to the image of His Son and ask Him to grant you fellowship into His kingdom. He will enable you to agree with Him in your thoughts and actions, and will one day usher you into His presence for evermore.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Friday, September 10, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
THE CLEANSING DIET
THE CLEANSING DIET
It has been nearly four months since I began a serious attempt to reduce my weight and improve my overall diet. Although I have been walking for 2-3 hours, five-days-a-week on a regular basis and have been on the low end of beef and general meat-consumption, I had trouble losing weight and I struggled with my overall wellness. I began at 220 lbs and lost weight rapidly, utilizing the Atkins reduced-carb approach. I successfully reduced to 186 lbs using a combination of Atkins and through gradually increasing my walking from 2 to 4 hours, 5 days-per-week, but was dissatisfied with the amount of meat, cheese, eggs and salt that is typically eaten on this diet. Seeking guidance, I have read more than 20 diet and health books since beginning this regimen, and most of them recommend a more-or-less vegetarian approach.
Natural Hygiene is explained in one of these books as another way to cleanse and reduce weight, so I began this cleansing diet after remaining on Atkins for 40 days. Basically, the Natural Hygiene diet is a method in which nothing but fruit is eaten upon arising and after that, eaten freely until lunchtime. Then after an hour or so, in the afternoon, you discontinue eating fruit and begin eating fresh salads, garnished with unprocessed, unroasted, unsalted, fresh seeds and nuts and olive oil, and you continue eating these small fresh salads freely until 8pm. Other vegetables are also permitted, but they should be eaten as fresh as possible, including fresh sprouts and other uncooked varieties, being careful to avoid adding salt and harmful commercial supplements. Because I began on the Atkins Diet, I had already eliminated bread from my diet, but I have now slowly begun to add in unprocessed whole wheat and sesame flatbread as well. I have found that I am not nearly as thirsty as I was on the Atkins diet, and that I have more energy.
Natural Hygiene is a vegetarian diet which had its origins in Europe several centuries ago and began to be spoken of and written about in this country beginning in about 1830. This diet plan has many adherents in this country, including physicians, health practitioners and educators. I am particularly interested in the cleansing aspect of this diet, as well as the improved energy which it provides. By eating fresh, living, vegetarian foods, which have about 70% water content, your body is able to cleanse itself beginning with the digestive tract and proceeding through your system at the cellular level and continuing to cleanse the liver, kidneys, intestines and colon. The more closely you adhere to this diet program and avoid meat, eggs, dairy and salt, the more quickly you will see beneficial results. After beginning this diet, I continued to lose about 3 lbs per week for 3 weeks to 177 lbs, and then I slowly regained to 186 lbs, where my weight has stabilized for the past 3 weeks. I plan to write more about this program later, when I have more information to share with you, but so far I am pleased with what the Natural Hygiene diet has done for me. If you are feeling run-down, have elimination problems, are seeking to lose weight, or are otherwise confronting other wellness issues, I recommend that you try the Natural Hygiene dietary approach.
Mark Overt Skilbred
It has been nearly four months since I began a serious attempt to reduce my weight and improve my overall diet. Although I have been walking for 2-3 hours, five-days-a-week on a regular basis and have been on the low end of beef and general meat-consumption, I had trouble losing weight and I struggled with my overall wellness. I began at 220 lbs and lost weight rapidly, utilizing the Atkins reduced-carb approach. I successfully reduced to 186 lbs using a combination of Atkins and through gradually increasing my walking from 2 to 4 hours, 5 days-per-week, but was dissatisfied with the amount of meat, cheese, eggs and salt that is typically eaten on this diet. Seeking guidance, I have read more than 20 diet and health books since beginning this regimen, and most of them recommend a more-or-less vegetarian approach.
Natural Hygiene is explained in one of these books as another way to cleanse and reduce weight, so I began this cleansing diet after remaining on Atkins for 40 days. Basically, the Natural Hygiene diet is a method in which nothing but fruit is eaten upon arising and after that, eaten freely until lunchtime. Then after an hour or so, in the afternoon, you discontinue eating fruit and begin eating fresh salads, garnished with unprocessed, unroasted, unsalted, fresh seeds and nuts and olive oil, and you continue eating these small fresh salads freely until 8pm. Other vegetables are also permitted, but they should be eaten as fresh as possible, including fresh sprouts and other uncooked varieties, being careful to avoid adding salt and harmful commercial supplements. Because I began on the Atkins Diet, I had already eliminated bread from my diet, but I have now slowly begun to add in unprocessed whole wheat and sesame flatbread as well. I have found that I am not nearly as thirsty as I was on the Atkins diet, and that I have more energy.
Natural Hygiene is a vegetarian diet which had its origins in Europe several centuries ago and began to be spoken of and written about in this country beginning in about 1830. This diet plan has many adherents in this country, including physicians, health practitioners and educators. I am particularly interested in the cleansing aspect of this diet, as well as the improved energy which it provides. By eating fresh, living, vegetarian foods, which have about 70% water content, your body is able to cleanse itself beginning with the digestive tract and proceeding through your system at the cellular level and continuing to cleanse the liver, kidneys, intestines and colon. The more closely you adhere to this diet program and avoid meat, eggs, dairy and salt, the more quickly you will see beneficial results. After beginning this diet, I continued to lose about 3 lbs per week for 3 weeks to 177 lbs, and then I slowly regained to 186 lbs, where my weight has stabilized for the past 3 weeks. I plan to write more about this program later, when I have more information to share with you, but so far I am pleased with what the Natural Hygiene diet has done for me. If you are feeling run-down, have elimination problems, are seeking to lose weight, or are otherwise confronting other wellness issues, I recommend that you try the Natural Hygiene dietary approach.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Sunday, July 11, 2010
SOLUTIONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
SOLUTIONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
A well-known politico commented recently that she did not know any economists who are against continuing extension of benefits to the unemployed. This is because there is historical evidence of the efficiency of this particular form of economic stimulation, which pumps money into the system quickly and avoids the greater harms caused by allowing the unemployed to slip closer to the edge of economic and health disasters such as bankruptcy, malnutrition and exposure. There has been some question about the logic of the Senate’s rejection of the most recent unemployment benefits extensions. Perhaps they are concerned that any efforts to relieve the suffering of the unemployed will be viewed by some as an unnecessary increase in the national debt. It is more likely that Republican senators are more concerned about reelection than about anything else. Still other economic voices argue that without this crucial economic stimulus, we will enter a secondary phase of recession which diminishes our recovery efforts and further prolongs the misery and frustration of those who are most in need.
In an effort to stimulate job creation, banks have been given access to $15 billion in funds to make cheaper loans to small businesses who will agree to the creation of more jobs in exchange for lower interest rate loans. This is a step in the right direction, but will take longer because of the reluctance of small businesses to incur debt in such an uncertain business climate. Another approach which could be tried is to reduce payrolls nationally by 10%, and use that same 10% savings to hire the unemployed, which now represent about 10% of the nation. Employees who complain about the reduction of their income to 90% could be encouraged to show the same compassion for their unemployed neighbors as they would like to be shown to them under the same circumstances. If this logic fails to convince them, perhaps offering them an opportunity to exchange places with their less-fortunate neighbors would be more appropriate.
Whatever solutions ultimately prevail, this continues to be a learning experience more keenly felt by those recipients who have had the least to gain and the most to lose, through no fault of their own, since the Great Depression. Rather than bemoaning our sad fate as a nation, why not find a practical way to move forward and turn our dilemma into a fair solution which works now and sets a good historical example for generations to come?
Mark Overt Skilbred
A well-known politico commented recently that she did not know any economists who are against continuing extension of benefits to the unemployed. This is because there is historical evidence of the efficiency of this particular form of economic stimulation, which pumps money into the system quickly and avoids the greater harms caused by allowing the unemployed to slip closer to the edge of economic and health disasters such as bankruptcy, malnutrition and exposure. There has been some question about the logic of the Senate’s rejection of the most recent unemployment benefits extensions. Perhaps they are concerned that any efforts to relieve the suffering of the unemployed will be viewed by some as an unnecessary increase in the national debt. It is more likely that Republican senators are more concerned about reelection than about anything else. Still other economic voices argue that without this crucial economic stimulus, we will enter a secondary phase of recession which diminishes our recovery efforts and further prolongs the misery and frustration of those who are most in need.
In an effort to stimulate job creation, banks have been given access to $15 billion in funds to make cheaper loans to small businesses who will agree to the creation of more jobs in exchange for lower interest rate loans. This is a step in the right direction, but will take longer because of the reluctance of small businesses to incur debt in such an uncertain business climate. Another approach which could be tried is to reduce payrolls nationally by 10%, and use that same 10% savings to hire the unemployed, which now represent about 10% of the nation. Employees who complain about the reduction of their income to 90% could be encouraged to show the same compassion for their unemployed neighbors as they would like to be shown to them under the same circumstances. If this logic fails to convince them, perhaps offering them an opportunity to exchange places with their less-fortunate neighbors would be more appropriate.
Whatever solutions ultimately prevail, this continues to be a learning experience more keenly felt by those recipients who have had the least to gain and the most to lose, through no fault of their own, since the Great Depression. Rather than bemoaning our sad fate as a nation, why not find a practical way to move forward and turn our dilemma into a fair solution which works now and sets a good historical example for generations to come?
Mark Overt Skilbred
Friday, June 18, 2010
NBA STANDINGS FOR JUNE 17, 2010
NBA STANDINGS FOR JUNE 17, 2010
Well done, Lakers! Well done, Phil! Congratulations to Lakers fans everywhere on your 16th NBA Championship! As you enjoy your celebration and a much-deserved rest, take time to count your blessings and give yourselves a chance to heal from all of your many injuries. We look forward to another championship in 2011, and the only way that can happen is by having plenty of recovery time. Thanks for a great season, and we’ll see you again in the fall!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Well done, Lakers! Well done, Phil! Congratulations to Lakers fans everywhere on your 16th NBA Championship! As you enjoy your celebration and a much-deserved rest, take time to count your blessings and give yourselves a chance to heal from all of your many injuries. We look forward to another championship in 2011, and the only way that can happen is by having plenty of recovery time. Thanks for a great season, and we’ll see you again in the fall!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
NBA STANDINGS FOR JUNE 8, 2010
NBA STANDINGS FOR JUNE 8, 2010
As we look forward to game 3 of the finals in Boston, it is safe to say that all of those doom-and-gloom predictions about the Lakers were undeserved. I’ve been a Lakers fan for 33 years and I haven’t seen the Lakers play better basketball than game 1 against the Celtics. All of you played like a team, with the hearts of true champions, and I am confident that you have what it takes to bring home Championship #16. So here is wishing you all a great and successful road trip in Boston, and we look forward to the Lakers closing out the Celtics here at home when you return!
Mark Overt Skilbred
As we look forward to game 3 of the finals in Boston, it is safe to say that all of those doom-and-gloom predictions about the Lakers were undeserved. I’ve been a Lakers fan for 33 years and I haven’t seen the Lakers play better basketball than game 1 against the Celtics. All of you played like a team, with the hearts of true champions, and I am confident that you have what it takes to bring home Championship #16. So here is wishing you all a great and successful road trip in Boston, and we look forward to the Lakers closing out the Celtics here at home when you return!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
NBA STANDINGS FOR MAY 10, 2010
NBA STANDINGS FOR MAY 10, 2010
WESTERN DIVISION
Round 2
Lakers swept the Jazz in 4 straight.
Suns swept the Spurs in 4 straight.
EASTERN DIVISION
Round 2
Magic swept the Hawks in 4 straight.
Celtics and Cavaliers all tied at 2-2.
As the divisional playoffs move toward their final round, things are all tied up between Boston and Cleveland as game 5 opens in Cleveland tomorrow night. Some are already saying that we may see a repeat of last season in several ways. In the meantime, the Lakers, Suns and Magic are enjoying a welcome break before round 3 begins. It is looking as though all that worrying about the Lakers was not really necessary after all, and that all will finally be well again in our Lakers universe. Here is wishing all of you players, coaches and fans the best of everything as we wrap up another season! Be safe in the games that still remain and have a great summer!
Mark Overt Skilbred
WESTERN DIVISION
Round 2
Lakers swept the Jazz in 4 straight.
Suns swept the Spurs in 4 straight.
EASTERN DIVISION
Round 2
Magic swept the Hawks in 4 straight.
Celtics and Cavaliers all tied at 2-2.
As the divisional playoffs move toward their final round, things are all tied up between Boston and Cleveland as game 5 opens in Cleveland tomorrow night. Some are already saying that we may see a repeat of last season in several ways. In the meantime, the Lakers, Suns and Magic are enjoying a welcome break before round 3 begins. It is looking as though all that worrying about the Lakers was not really necessary after all, and that all will finally be well again in our Lakers universe. Here is wishing all of you players, coaches and fans the best of everything as we wrap up another season! Be safe in the games that still remain and have a great summer!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Thursday, May 6, 2010
THIS POOR MAN CALLED
THIS POOR MAN CALLED
Have you noticed how the Psalms are great summary statements for the issues of the heart? They express our inmost thoughts, teach us thankfulness and praise and they contain some of the most wonderful promises anywhere in the Bible. Some of our best moments are spent absorbing God’s Word as expressed in the Psalms. Read some of them every day!
PSALM 34
I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry; the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him. NIV
Mark Overt Skilbred
Have you noticed how the Psalms are great summary statements for the issues of the heart? They express our inmost thoughts, teach us thankfulness and praise and they contain some of the most wonderful promises anywhere in the Bible. Some of our best moments are spent absorbing God’s Word as expressed in the Psalms. Read some of them every day!
PSALM 34
I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry; the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him. NIV
Mark Overt Skilbred
Friday, April 30, 2010
DIETING FOR HEALTH--Where Is All Of This Leading Me? Many Questions Remain...
DIETING FOR HEALTH—Where Is All Of This Leading Me? Many Questions Remain
Now that I have initiated lipolysis using the Atkins approach to reduce my carb intake below 20 carbs per day, in fact just slightly above 8 carbs per day as a 21-day average, I ask myself whether to continue on this low-carb flush-and-purge juice fast until I am at my target weight of 180, or should I continue well past that first goal to match my marriage weight of 160, or still further to 155, to match my high school athletic weight, or even further on a cleansing fast to surpass by one pound my previous adult low of 139? And what is accomplished by each of these objectives? At 180, I equal the weight I most recently reached in 1993, but only maintained briefly. Although the charts say that with my 6’3” height and medium frame, my ideal weight is 180, I tend to dispute that figure because I still had a slight potbelly at that weight that couldn’t be accounted for by lack-of-tone alone. At 160 I would at least equal my marriage weight at age 35 and be able to wear my wedding suit for the first time in 25 years. To attempt to complete my cleansing by finishing at 138 seems a bit ambitious for a 59-year-old, given that I completed that fruit fast when I was 33. There have been greater accomplishments than these, I am sure, but right now nothing comes to mind. I have begun to settle into a workout routine that incorporates walking and jogging into the same workout, with jogging gradually replacing walking by Christmas Eve, one-minute-at-a-time. If I am able to accomplish that, it will be my first time to consistently run since I was 31. Once the goal of jogging for 3 hours is accomplished, I will set my sights on improving my pace from a slow jog to a medium and then a fast jog. If all goes as planned, I hope to run for 3 hours per day, five days a week. Today I jogged for the second time in 28 years and was surprised how out-of-shape I felt to be running. Even after walking 2-3 hours 5 days per week for the past 27 months, I was still not prepared for the extra effort involved in jogging. I was feeling pretty down about it until I remembered that I was attempting the equivalent of jogging 2 city blocks while carrying a heavy suitcase. I am still over 200 lbs and attempting to regain my former training weight of 155 pounds. In high school I ran the 100 yard dash in 11.6, not fast enough for a medal. In the 220 yd dash, I ran a 25.1 in the relays and won a couple of medals. In the quarter-mile I did a little better, running the first lap of the mile in 56 seconds. I did still better in the half-mile, running a 2:06 when I was 25. I haven’t dared to dream of regaining those accomplishments, but it would be fun to try and see what I can do with a little determination, effort, and a closely and carefully-constructed incremental workout plan. My wife just bought me a membership at LA Fitness, which will encourage me to limber up, improve my overall posture and weight training, and offer me welcome relief from the hot sun of midsummer and some of the cooler and wetter days of winter. I cannot emphasize enough how important it will be to maintain a constant vigilance on my weight and fitness regimen, if I am to accomplish this ambitious plan by Christmas. I encourage myself by realizing how far I have come so far in toning and improving my overall conditioning. It does take a long time, just as it took a long time of inactivity and poorly-regulated diet to reach the bottom. Now, a slow, steady and sustained effort is needed to counteract the negative results of poor health choices. Once begun, however, every day becomes another day of improvement that brings me closer to vibrant health. Every improvement builds on the next one and is vital to the entire program. This mountain can definitely be moved, even if it has to be one spoonful at–a-time. The hardest thing of all is still the daily choice to keep moving forward or to allow myself to do nothing at all but maintain the status quo, which is the same thing as moving slowly backwards.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Now that I have initiated lipolysis using the Atkins approach to reduce my carb intake below 20 carbs per day, in fact just slightly above 8 carbs per day as a 21-day average, I ask myself whether to continue on this low-carb flush-and-purge juice fast until I am at my target weight of 180, or should I continue well past that first goal to match my marriage weight of 160, or still further to 155, to match my high school athletic weight, or even further on a cleansing fast to surpass by one pound my previous adult low of 139? And what is accomplished by each of these objectives? At 180, I equal the weight I most recently reached in 1993, but only maintained briefly. Although the charts say that with my 6’3” height and medium frame, my ideal weight is 180, I tend to dispute that figure because I still had a slight potbelly at that weight that couldn’t be accounted for by lack-of-tone alone. At 160 I would at least equal my marriage weight at age 35 and be able to wear my wedding suit for the first time in 25 years. To attempt to complete my cleansing by finishing at 138 seems a bit ambitious for a 59-year-old, given that I completed that fruit fast when I was 33. There have been greater accomplishments than these, I am sure, but right now nothing comes to mind. I have begun to settle into a workout routine that incorporates walking and jogging into the same workout, with jogging gradually replacing walking by Christmas Eve, one-minute-at-a-time. If I am able to accomplish that, it will be my first time to consistently run since I was 31. Once the goal of jogging for 3 hours is accomplished, I will set my sights on improving my pace from a slow jog to a medium and then a fast jog. If all goes as planned, I hope to run for 3 hours per day, five days a week. Today I jogged for the second time in 28 years and was surprised how out-of-shape I felt to be running. Even after walking 2-3 hours 5 days per week for the past 27 months, I was still not prepared for the extra effort involved in jogging. I was feeling pretty down about it until I remembered that I was attempting the equivalent of jogging 2 city blocks while carrying a heavy suitcase. I am still over 200 lbs and attempting to regain my former training weight of 155 pounds. In high school I ran the 100 yard dash in 11.6, not fast enough for a medal. In the 220 yd dash, I ran a 25.1 in the relays and won a couple of medals. In the quarter-mile I did a little better, running the first lap of the mile in 56 seconds. I did still better in the half-mile, running a 2:06 when I was 25. I haven’t dared to dream of regaining those accomplishments, but it would be fun to try and see what I can do with a little determination, effort, and a closely and carefully-constructed incremental workout plan. My wife just bought me a membership at LA Fitness, which will encourage me to limber up, improve my overall posture and weight training, and offer me welcome relief from the hot sun of midsummer and some of the cooler and wetter days of winter. I cannot emphasize enough how important it will be to maintain a constant vigilance on my weight and fitness regimen, if I am to accomplish this ambitious plan by Christmas. I encourage myself by realizing how far I have come so far in toning and improving my overall conditioning. It does take a long time, just as it took a long time of inactivity and poorly-regulated diet to reach the bottom. Now, a slow, steady and sustained effort is needed to counteract the negative results of poor health choices. Once begun, however, every day becomes another day of improvement that brings me closer to vibrant health. Every improvement builds on the next one and is vital to the entire program. This mountain can definitely be moved, even if it has to be one spoonful at–a-time. The hardest thing of all is still the daily choice to keep moving forward or to allow myself to do nothing at all but maintain the status quo, which is the same thing as moving slowly backwards.
Mark Overt Skilbred
WHEN POISON TASTES GOOD--The Shortcomings Of Food Businesses
WHEN POISON TASTES GOOD—The Shortcomings Of Food Businesses
The reasons that food businesses have kept themselves aloof from the verbal challenges that call for a change from a high carb-and-salt dietary nightmare to more healthy and wholesome natural juices, snacks and meals is that they are more concerned with flavor, packaging and marketing than about consumer health. As most of us have probably noticed, the food industry uses a lot of advertising and taste-testing to be sure to produce the most delicious and in-demand food. Food companies are more concerned about surviving the current recession than they are about offering us the most healthy snacks and foods that are available. Fish in its basic form has no carbs, but when breaded in a tasty batter can increase to over 20 carbs per fish fillet. Similarly, chicken in its basic form is carbless, but when glazed, breaded and cooked with high carb ingredients, can soar to as many as 60 carbs per portion. All of these unnecessary and harmful ingredients are contributing mightily to our national obesity epidemic. Food makers respond that they are only satisfying consumer demands for more delicious and satisfying meals, but the truth is that manufacturers have created demand through clever ads that appeal to taste buds instead of to our nutritional needs. This is not surprising when you consider that food companies’ primary motivation is their bottom-line profit margin. I am convinced that without firm limits set on carbs and salt, that companies will continue to create demand for even more unhealthy food than they currently create, hiding behind the excuse that they are only supplying the public’s demand for tasty food. If poison could be made delicious, would food manufacturers sell it to the public? I am afraid that all-too-often the answer is yes, so long as it increases corporate profits for the stockholders. Where this all leads ultimately is that manufacturers cannot be trusted to supply us with the basic foods that our bodies need to properly function. They have become so out-of-control regarding their manipulation of the facts regarding basic food, that their marketing techniques have created demand for food which is unfit for human consumption, despite its flavor, and is creating a huge national healthcare crisis due to their unwillingness to police their own nutritional policies. Rather than competing with other companies to produce the healthiest food possible, nearly 100% of their efforts are devoted to advertising, packaging, deceptive ads, flavorings, etc. Without government directives and supervision to reign-in these tactics, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other health emergencies will only continue to worsen. When companies fail to police themselves and when government fails to respond to the obvious need for supervision, the responsibility falls on healthcare providers and the public to sound the alarm. Some organized boycotting might be the best way to move forward, but unless we agree on our tactics, nothing will happen and we will continue our downward trend towards an even greater healthcare crisis. This is all-out war and the stakes have never been greater. To do nothing is not an option if we are to rescue ourselves from future misery. The effects of this national decline in nutrition will have far-reaching implications for future generations who are depending on us to restore sanity to the market place. We cannot allow Wall Street to dictate healthcare policies, nor can we depend on a lobbyist-controlled congress to look out for the health of the average citizen. What is needed is for major healthcare organizations, agencies and providers to educate the public about the dangers of high-carb, high-sodium diets. The next step is to boycott those food manufacturers who refuse to police themselves until they produce and market healthful products to the public.
Mark Overt Skilbred
The reasons that food businesses have kept themselves aloof from the verbal challenges that call for a change from a high carb-and-salt dietary nightmare to more healthy and wholesome natural juices, snacks and meals is that they are more concerned with flavor, packaging and marketing than about consumer health. As most of us have probably noticed, the food industry uses a lot of advertising and taste-testing to be sure to produce the most delicious and in-demand food. Food companies are more concerned about surviving the current recession than they are about offering us the most healthy snacks and foods that are available. Fish in its basic form has no carbs, but when breaded in a tasty batter can increase to over 20 carbs per fish fillet. Similarly, chicken in its basic form is carbless, but when glazed, breaded and cooked with high carb ingredients, can soar to as many as 60 carbs per portion. All of these unnecessary and harmful ingredients are contributing mightily to our national obesity epidemic. Food makers respond that they are only satisfying consumer demands for more delicious and satisfying meals, but the truth is that manufacturers have created demand through clever ads that appeal to taste buds instead of to our nutritional needs. This is not surprising when you consider that food companies’ primary motivation is their bottom-line profit margin. I am convinced that without firm limits set on carbs and salt, that companies will continue to create demand for even more unhealthy food than they currently create, hiding behind the excuse that they are only supplying the public’s demand for tasty food. If poison could be made delicious, would food manufacturers sell it to the public? I am afraid that all-too-often the answer is yes, so long as it increases corporate profits for the stockholders. Where this all leads ultimately is that manufacturers cannot be trusted to supply us with the basic foods that our bodies need to properly function. They have become so out-of-control regarding their manipulation of the facts regarding basic food, that their marketing techniques have created demand for food which is unfit for human consumption, despite its flavor, and is creating a huge national healthcare crisis due to their unwillingness to police their own nutritional policies. Rather than competing with other companies to produce the healthiest food possible, nearly 100% of their efforts are devoted to advertising, packaging, deceptive ads, flavorings, etc. Without government directives and supervision to reign-in these tactics, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other health emergencies will only continue to worsen. When companies fail to police themselves and when government fails to respond to the obvious need for supervision, the responsibility falls on healthcare providers and the public to sound the alarm. Some organized boycotting might be the best way to move forward, but unless we agree on our tactics, nothing will happen and we will continue our downward trend towards an even greater healthcare crisis. This is all-out war and the stakes have never been greater. To do nothing is not an option if we are to rescue ourselves from future misery. The effects of this national decline in nutrition will have far-reaching implications for future generations who are depending on us to restore sanity to the market place. We cannot allow Wall Street to dictate healthcare policies, nor can we depend on a lobbyist-controlled congress to look out for the health of the average citizen. What is needed is for major healthcare organizations, agencies and providers to educate the public about the dangers of high-carb, high-sodium diets. The next step is to boycott those food manufacturers who refuse to police themselves until they produce and market healthful products to the public.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS--DOWN THE MIDDLE CLOCKWISE (2 Hour Walk)
SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS—DOWN THE MIDDLE CLOCKWISE (2 Hour Walk)
Beginning from Mountain View Park in Upland, California, go E on Mildura Ave and TL on Mountain Ave. Go N on Mountain to the N side of San Antonio Park, where Mountain Ave bends to the R and Mtn Lane continues N. Follow Mountain Ave as it bends E and TL on Mesa Ter. TR and go E on 25th St, crossing Mountain Ave, Euclid Ave, and continuing to Vista Dr. You will continue straight E on 25th St, following the small path on the RS of the cul-de-sac straight ahead. Continue going E on 25th, crossing Cliff Rd and continue E on 25th to the end of the cul-de-sac. Pass through the entrance to Cucamonga Creek Trail and then TR and follow the trail down to the 24th St pass-through. TR and go W on 24th, crossing Campus and Euclid and TL on San Antonio Ave. Go S on San Antonio to 23rd St and TR. Go W on 23rd, cross Mountain and continue W on Mildura Ave to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning from Mountain View Park in Upland, California, go E on Mildura Ave and TL on Mountain Ave. Go N on Mountain to the N side of San Antonio Park, where Mountain Ave bends to the R and Mtn Lane continues N. Follow Mountain Ave as it bends E and TL on Mesa Ter. TR and go E on 25th St, crossing Mountain Ave, Euclid Ave, and continuing to Vista Dr. You will continue straight E on 25th St, following the small path on the RS of the cul-de-sac straight ahead. Continue going E on 25th, crossing Cliff Rd and continue E on 25th to the end of the cul-de-sac. Pass through the entrance to Cucamonga Creek Trail and then TR and follow the trail down to the 24th St pass-through. TR and go W on 24th, crossing Campus and Euclid and TL on San Antonio Ave. Go S on San Antonio to 23rd St and TR. Go W on 23rd, cross Mountain and continue W on Mildura Ave to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
NBA STANDINGS FOR APRIL 4, 2010
NBA STANDINGS FOR APRIL 4, 2010
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Lakers .714
2. Dallas .649
3. Denver .649
4. Phoenix .649
5. Utah .649
6. Oklahoma City .632
7. San Antonio .618
8. Portland .610
9. Memphis .513
10. Houston .500
11. New Orleans .449
12. Clippers .351
13. Sacramento .312
14. Golden State .303
15. Minnesota .195
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Cleveland .779
2. Orlando .701
3. Atlanta .645
4. Boston .632
5. Miami .558
6. Milwaukee .553
7. Charlotte .526
8. Toronto .500
9. Chicago .487
10. Indiana .377
11. New York .355
12. Philadelphia .342
13. Detroit .303
14. Washington .303
15. New Jersey .143
COMBINED STANDINGS
1. Cleveland .779
2. Lakers .714
3. Orlando .701
4. Dallas .649
5. Denver .649
6. Phoenix .649
7. Utah .649
8. Atlanta .645
9. Boston .632
10. Oklahoma City .632
11. San Antonio .618
12. Portland .610
13. Miami .558
14. Milwaukee .553
15. Charlotte .526
16. Memphis .513
17. Houston .500
18. Toronto .500
19. Chicago .487
20. New Orleans .449
21. Indiana .377
22. New York .355
23. Clippers .351
24. Philadelphia .342
25. Sacramento .312
26. Detroit .303
27. Golden State .303
28. Washington .303
29. Minnesota .195
30. New Jersey .143
As we move into April, the Western Conference has sorted themselves out with 8 teams already clinching playoff positions. The Eastern Conference is still up for grabs with only 4 teams clinching. Dallas, Denver, Phoenix and Utah are tied for second in the West and tied for 4th place in the overall NBA Standings, with Atlanta, Boston and Oklahoma City right at their heels, so it should be an interesting playoff. The Lakers are still on top of the West, and look to remain there, despite sporadic springtime play. Orlando is right at their heels, with Cleveland comfortably in the top spot in the overall standings. It’s anyone’s guess what will develop once the playoffs start, with so many able teams ready to make a run for the division championships. I always look first at overall bench strength to predict the winning team. Teams that have overlooked bench development in favor of win/loss standings during the season are now facing severe shortcomings with starter injuries and bench inexperience. With conventional wisdom still awarding the starting positions with
more than double the minutes given to the bench, the NBA as a whole still has not fully embraced the team concept of basketball, to their own detriment.
Mark Overt Skilbred
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Lakers .714
2. Dallas .649
3. Denver .649
4. Phoenix .649
5. Utah .649
6. Oklahoma City .632
7. San Antonio .618
8. Portland .610
9. Memphis .513
10. Houston .500
11. New Orleans .449
12. Clippers .351
13. Sacramento .312
14. Golden State .303
15. Minnesota .195
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Cleveland .779
2. Orlando .701
3. Atlanta .645
4. Boston .632
5. Miami .558
6. Milwaukee .553
7. Charlotte .526
8. Toronto .500
9. Chicago .487
10. Indiana .377
11. New York .355
12. Philadelphia .342
13. Detroit .303
14. Washington .303
15. New Jersey .143
COMBINED STANDINGS
1. Cleveland .779
2. Lakers .714
3. Orlando .701
4. Dallas .649
5. Denver .649
6. Phoenix .649
7. Utah .649
8. Atlanta .645
9. Boston .632
10. Oklahoma City .632
11. San Antonio .618
12. Portland .610
13. Miami .558
14. Milwaukee .553
15. Charlotte .526
16. Memphis .513
17. Houston .500
18. Toronto .500
19. Chicago .487
20. New Orleans .449
21. Indiana .377
22. New York .355
23. Clippers .351
24. Philadelphia .342
25. Sacramento .312
26. Detroit .303
27. Golden State .303
28. Washington .303
29. Minnesota .195
30. New Jersey .143
As we move into April, the Western Conference has sorted themselves out with 8 teams already clinching playoff positions. The Eastern Conference is still up for grabs with only 4 teams clinching. Dallas, Denver, Phoenix and Utah are tied for second in the West and tied for 4th place in the overall NBA Standings, with Atlanta, Boston and Oklahoma City right at their heels, so it should be an interesting playoff. The Lakers are still on top of the West, and look to remain there, despite sporadic springtime play. Orlando is right at their heels, with Cleveland comfortably in the top spot in the overall standings. It’s anyone’s guess what will develop once the playoffs start, with so many able teams ready to make a run for the division championships. I always look first at overall bench strength to predict the winning team. Teams that have overlooked bench development in favor of win/loss standings during the season are now facing severe shortcomings with starter injuries and bench inexperience. With conventional wisdom still awarding the starting positions with
more than double the minutes given to the bench, the NBA as a whole still has not fully embraced the team concept of basketball, to their own detriment.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Saturday, March 6, 2010
2010 WINTER OLYMPICS--WHO OWNS THE PODIUM?
2010 WINTER OLYMPICS—WHO OWNS THE PODIUM?
First of all, congratulations to Canada on hosting a wonderful Winter Olympics! I grew up just across the border and have been across Canada several times. You have the friendliest people, wonderfully-maintained cities and you have a lot to be proud of in your beautiful country. It is a pleasure to have you as neighbors! You also have set a new Winter Olympics record for gold medals--so you own the podium, after all!
Country G S B T Population (2000) % of Combined Pop.
1. USA 9 15 13 37 281,421,906 12.096%
2. Germany 10 13 7 30 82,351,000 3.528%
3. Canada 14 7 5 26 31,902,000 1.356%
4. Norway 9 8 6 23 4,525,000 .177%
5. Austria 4 6 6 16 8,170,000 .334%
6. Russia 3 5 7 15 144,979,000 6.223%
7. South Korea 6 6 2 14 47,963,000 2.048%
8. China 5 2 4 11 1,279,161,000 55.038%
9. Sweden 5 2 4 11 8,877,000 .365%
10. France 2 3 6 11 59,925,000 2.563%
11. Switzerland 6 0 3 9 7,302,000 .297%
12. Netherlands 4 1 3 8 16,068,000 .674%
13. Czech Republic 2 0 4 6 10,257,000 .424%
14. Poland 1 3 2 6 38,625,000 1.646%
15. Italy 1 1 3 5 57,927,000 2.477%
16. Japan 0 3 2 5 127,066,000 5.452%
17. Finland 0 1 4 5 5,184,000 .206%
18. Australia 2 1 0 3 19,547,000 .824%
19. Belarus 1 1 1 3 10,335,000 .427%
20. Slovakia 1 1 1 3 5,422,000 .216%
21. Croatia 0 2 1 3 4,391,000 .171%
22. Slovenia 0 2 1 3 1,933,000 .066%
23. Latvia 0 2 0 2 2,367,000 .084%
24. Great Britain 1 0 0 1 59,912,000 2.562%
25. Estonia 0 1 0 1 1,416,000 .043%
26. Kazakhstan 0 1 0 1 16,742,000 .703%
Combined Totals 86 87 85 258 2,323,444,241 100.000%
There have been 21 Winter Olympics since they first began in 1924. Germany has won the overall medal count 9 times, Norway has won the overall medal count 7 times, Russia has won 3 times, the USA has won twice, and Sweden and Switzerland tied with Norway in 1948.
WINTER OLYMPICS THROUGH THE YEARS
YEAR WINNER MEDALS GOLD MOST GOLDS EVENTS
1924 Norway 11 4 Norway—4 17
4 Finland—4
1928 Norway 15 6 Norway—6 14
1932 USA 12 6 USA—6 14
1936 Norway 15 7 Norway—7 17
1948 Norway 10 4 Norway—4 22
Sweden 10 4 Sweden—4
Switzerland 10 3
1952 Norway 16 7 Norway—7 22
1956 Russia 16 7 Russia—7 25
1960 Russia 21 7 Russia—7 28
1964 Russia 25 11 Russia—11 34
1968 Norway 14 6 Norway—6 35
1972 Germany 19 7 Russia—8 36
1976 Germany 29 9 Russia—13 37
1980 Germany 28 9 Russia—10 38
1984 Germany 28 11 Germany—11 39
1988 Germany 33 11 Germany—11 46
Russia—11
1992 Germany 26 10 Germany—10 57
1994 Norway 26 10 Russia—11 61
1998 Germany 29 12 Germany—12 69
2002 Germany 36 12 Norway—13 80
2006 Germany 29 11 Germany—11 84
2010 USA 37 9 Canada—14 86
Although there have only been 6 countries that have won the overall medal count in the 21 Winter Olympics, there have been 39 countries plus a unified team which have won a total of 2570 medals since the first Winter Olympics began in 1924. The 6 winning countries have won more than 56% of all Winter Olympic medals, the top 10 countries have won over 80% of the medals, the top 14 countries have won over 90% of the medals, the top 18 countries have won over 95% of the medals, and the top 20 countries have won over 97% of the medals.
WINTER OLYMPIC OVERALL MEDAL COUNT SINCE THE BEGINNING
COUNTRY MEDALS PERCENT COUNTRY MEDALS
1. Germany 358 .139299610 21. Australia 9
2. Norway 303 .117898832 22. Belarus 9
3. Russia 285 .110894941 23. Liechtenstein 9
4. USA 253 .098443579 24. Estonia 7
5. Austria 201 .078210116 25. Slovenia 7
6. Finland 156 .060700389 26. Bulgaria 6
7. Canada 145 .056420233 27. Hungary 6
8. Sweden 129 .050194552 28. Kazakhstan 6
9. Switzerland 127 .049416342 29. Belgium 5
10. Italy 106 .041245136 30. Ukraine 5
11. France 94 .036575875 31. Slovakia 4
12. Netherlands 86 .033463035 32. Yugoslavia 4
13. South Korea 45 .017509727 33. Latvia 3
14. China 44 .017120622 34. Luxembourg 2
15. Czech Republic 41 .015953307 35. North Korea 2
16. Japan 37 .014396887 36. Spain 2
17. Unified Team 24 .009338521 37. Denmark 1
18. Great Britain 22 .008560311 38. New Zealand 1
19. Poland 14 .005447470 39. Romania 1
20. Croatia 10 .003891050 40. Uzbekistan 1
WINTER OLYMPICS GOLD MEDAL TOTALS SINCE 1924
COUNTRY GOLD MEDALS
1. Germany 128
2. Russia 114
3. Norway 107
4. USA 87
5. Austria 55
6. Canada 52
7. Sweden 48
8. Switzerland 44
9. Finland 41
10. Italy 37
11. Netherlands 29
12. France 27
13. South Korea 23
14. Unified Team 10
15. China 9
16. Great Britain 9
17. Japan 9
18. Czech Republic 7
19. Australia 5
20. Croatia 4
21. Estonia 4
22. Liechtenstein 2
23. Poland 2
24. Belarus 1
25. Belgium 1
26. Bulgaria 1
27. Kazakhstan 1
28. Slovakia 1
29. Spain 1
30. Ukraine 1
31. Uzbekistan 1
Total 861
WINNERS OF THE GOLD MEDAL COUNT
1. Russia 8 times
2. Norway 7 times
3. Germany 5 times
4. Canada 1 time
5. Finland 1 time
6. Sweden 1 time
7. USA 1 time
In a top-to-bottom comparison of medal counts based on population vs. actual medals awarded, Norway has over 56 times the number of per-capita medals as China. Although the forerunner of the Winter Olympics was the Nordic Games, over 100 winters and 21 Winter Olympics have come and gone since that time, and yet Norway’s consistent and unique dedication to Olympic excellence is still unmatched by any other country. Although the USA won the overall medal count in 2010, they only received a 19% higher medal count than the expected total that their population would indicate, while Canada received 846% more actual medals than the number of medals which could be expected based on their population. Canada also earned the largest number of gold medals ever awarded in a single Winter Olympics—over 1366% more gold medals than the expected total that their population would indicate. This is a job well done!
PER-CAPITA SUCCESS IN THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS
COUNTRIES MEDALS % EXPECTED MEDALS ACTUAL MEDALS
1. Norway +4331 % .531 23
2. Austria +1577 % 1.002 16
3. Slovenia +1515 % .198 3
4. Switzerland +1010 % .891 9
5. Sweden +1005 % 1.095 11
6. Canada +846 % 3.074 26
7. Finland +809 % .618 5
8. Latvia +794 % .252 2
9. Estonia +775 % .129 1
10. Croatia +585 % .513 3
11. Czech Republic +472 % 1.272 6
12. Slovakia +463 % .648 3
13. Netherlands +461 % 1.737 8
14. Germany +333 % 9 30
15. South Korea +280 % 5 14
16. Belarus +272 % 1.104 3
17. France +157 % 7 11
18. Poland +150 % 4 6
19. Australia +141 % 2.124 3
20. USA +119 % 31 37
21. Russia -7 % 16 15
22. Italy -20 % 6 5
23. Kazakhstan -81 % 1.812 1
24. Japan -280 % 14 5
25. Great Britain -700 % 7 1
26. China -1291 % 142 11
This medal count serves to point out what a tremendous achievement it is for countries with relatively low populations to accomplish so much, relative to average expectations based on their size. Where there is a will to excel in competition with other nations, population does not seem to be the leading indicator, but rather their dedication and long-term commitment to the goal of athletic greatness.
Questions answered in this analysis:
Q: Who won the 2010 Winter Olympics based on overall medal count?
A: USA—37 medals
Q: Who won the 2010 Winter Olympics gold medal count?
A: Canada—14 gold medals
Q: Who has won the most Winter Olympics based on overall medal count?
A: Germany—9 times
Q: Who has won the most Winter Olympics based on gold medal count?
A: Russia—8 times
Q: Who has won the most Winter Olympic medals since the beginning?
A: Germany—358
Q: Who has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals since the beginning?
A: Germany—128
Q: Who has achieved the greatest per-capita success in the Winter Olympics?
A: Norway--+4331 %
Q: Who owns the podium based on these 7 answers?
A: Germany x 3
Canada x 1
Norway x 1
Russia x 1
USA x 1
Mark Overt Skilbred
First of all, congratulations to Canada on hosting a wonderful Winter Olympics! I grew up just across the border and have been across Canada several times. You have the friendliest people, wonderfully-maintained cities and you have a lot to be proud of in your beautiful country. It is a pleasure to have you as neighbors! You also have set a new Winter Olympics record for gold medals--so you own the podium, after all!
Country G S B T Population (2000) % of Combined Pop.
1. USA 9 15 13 37 281,421,906 12.096%
2. Germany 10 13 7 30 82,351,000 3.528%
3. Canada 14 7 5 26 31,902,000 1.356%
4. Norway 9 8 6 23 4,525,000 .177%
5. Austria 4 6 6 16 8,170,000 .334%
6. Russia 3 5 7 15 144,979,000 6.223%
7. South Korea 6 6 2 14 47,963,000 2.048%
8. China 5 2 4 11 1,279,161,000 55.038%
9. Sweden 5 2 4 11 8,877,000 .365%
10. France 2 3 6 11 59,925,000 2.563%
11. Switzerland 6 0 3 9 7,302,000 .297%
12. Netherlands 4 1 3 8 16,068,000 .674%
13. Czech Republic 2 0 4 6 10,257,000 .424%
14. Poland 1 3 2 6 38,625,000 1.646%
15. Italy 1 1 3 5 57,927,000 2.477%
16. Japan 0 3 2 5 127,066,000 5.452%
17. Finland 0 1 4 5 5,184,000 .206%
18. Australia 2 1 0 3 19,547,000 .824%
19. Belarus 1 1 1 3 10,335,000 .427%
20. Slovakia 1 1 1 3 5,422,000 .216%
21. Croatia 0 2 1 3 4,391,000 .171%
22. Slovenia 0 2 1 3 1,933,000 .066%
23. Latvia 0 2 0 2 2,367,000 .084%
24. Great Britain 1 0 0 1 59,912,000 2.562%
25. Estonia 0 1 0 1 1,416,000 .043%
26. Kazakhstan 0 1 0 1 16,742,000 .703%
Combined Totals 86 87 85 258 2,323,444,241 100.000%
There have been 21 Winter Olympics since they first began in 1924. Germany has won the overall medal count 9 times, Norway has won the overall medal count 7 times, Russia has won 3 times, the USA has won twice, and Sweden and Switzerland tied with Norway in 1948.
WINTER OLYMPICS THROUGH THE YEARS
YEAR WINNER MEDALS GOLD MOST GOLDS EVENTS
1924 Norway 11 4 Norway—4 17
4 Finland—4
1928 Norway 15 6 Norway—6 14
1932 USA 12 6 USA—6 14
1936 Norway 15 7 Norway—7 17
1948 Norway 10 4 Norway—4 22
Sweden 10 4 Sweden—4
Switzerland 10 3
1952 Norway 16 7 Norway—7 22
1956 Russia 16 7 Russia—7 25
1960 Russia 21 7 Russia—7 28
1964 Russia 25 11 Russia—11 34
1968 Norway 14 6 Norway—6 35
1972 Germany 19 7 Russia—8 36
1976 Germany 29 9 Russia—13 37
1980 Germany 28 9 Russia—10 38
1984 Germany 28 11 Germany—11 39
1988 Germany 33 11 Germany—11 46
Russia—11
1992 Germany 26 10 Germany—10 57
1994 Norway 26 10 Russia—11 61
1998 Germany 29 12 Germany—12 69
2002 Germany 36 12 Norway—13 80
2006 Germany 29 11 Germany—11 84
2010 USA 37 9 Canada—14 86
Although there have only been 6 countries that have won the overall medal count in the 21 Winter Olympics, there have been 39 countries plus a unified team which have won a total of 2570 medals since the first Winter Olympics began in 1924. The 6 winning countries have won more than 56% of all Winter Olympic medals, the top 10 countries have won over 80% of the medals, the top 14 countries have won over 90% of the medals, the top 18 countries have won over 95% of the medals, and the top 20 countries have won over 97% of the medals.
WINTER OLYMPIC OVERALL MEDAL COUNT SINCE THE BEGINNING
COUNTRY MEDALS PERCENT COUNTRY MEDALS
1. Germany 358 .139299610 21. Australia 9
2. Norway 303 .117898832 22. Belarus 9
3. Russia 285 .110894941 23. Liechtenstein 9
4. USA 253 .098443579 24. Estonia 7
5. Austria 201 .078210116 25. Slovenia 7
6. Finland 156 .060700389 26. Bulgaria 6
7. Canada 145 .056420233 27. Hungary 6
8. Sweden 129 .050194552 28. Kazakhstan 6
9. Switzerland 127 .049416342 29. Belgium 5
10. Italy 106 .041245136 30. Ukraine 5
11. France 94 .036575875 31. Slovakia 4
12. Netherlands 86 .033463035 32. Yugoslavia 4
13. South Korea 45 .017509727 33. Latvia 3
14. China 44 .017120622 34. Luxembourg 2
15. Czech Republic 41 .015953307 35. North Korea 2
16. Japan 37 .014396887 36. Spain 2
17. Unified Team 24 .009338521 37. Denmark 1
18. Great Britain 22 .008560311 38. New Zealand 1
19. Poland 14 .005447470 39. Romania 1
20. Croatia 10 .003891050 40. Uzbekistan 1
WINTER OLYMPICS GOLD MEDAL TOTALS SINCE 1924
COUNTRY GOLD MEDALS
1. Germany 128
2. Russia 114
3. Norway 107
4. USA 87
5. Austria 55
6. Canada 52
7. Sweden 48
8. Switzerland 44
9. Finland 41
10. Italy 37
11. Netherlands 29
12. France 27
13. South Korea 23
14. Unified Team 10
15. China 9
16. Great Britain 9
17. Japan 9
18. Czech Republic 7
19. Australia 5
20. Croatia 4
21. Estonia 4
22. Liechtenstein 2
23. Poland 2
24. Belarus 1
25. Belgium 1
26. Bulgaria 1
27. Kazakhstan 1
28. Slovakia 1
29. Spain 1
30. Ukraine 1
31. Uzbekistan 1
Total 861
WINNERS OF THE GOLD MEDAL COUNT
1. Russia 8 times
2. Norway 7 times
3. Germany 5 times
4. Canada 1 time
5. Finland 1 time
6. Sweden 1 time
7. USA 1 time
In a top-to-bottom comparison of medal counts based on population vs. actual medals awarded, Norway has over 56 times the number of per-capita medals as China. Although the forerunner of the Winter Olympics was the Nordic Games, over 100 winters and 21 Winter Olympics have come and gone since that time, and yet Norway’s consistent and unique dedication to Olympic excellence is still unmatched by any other country. Although the USA won the overall medal count in 2010, they only received a 19% higher medal count than the expected total that their population would indicate, while Canada received 846% more actual medals than the number of medals which could be expected based on their population. Canada also earned the largest number of gold medals ever awarded in a single Winter Olympics—over 1366% more gold medals than the expected total that their population would indicate. This is a job well done!
PER-CAPITA SUCCESS IN THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS
COUNTRIES MEDALS % EXPECTED MEDALS ACTUAL MEDALS
1. Norway +4331 % .531 23
2. Austria +1577 % 1.002 16
3. Slovenia +1515 % .198 3
4. Switzerland +1010 % .891 9
5. Sweden +1005 % 1.095 11
6. Canada +846 % 3.074 26
7. Finland +809 % .618 5
8. Latvia +794 % .252 2
9. Estonia +775 % .129 1
10. Croatia +585 % .513 3
11. Czech Republic +472 % 1.272 6
12. Slovakia +463 % .648 3
13. Netherlands +461 % 1.737 8
14. Germany +333 % 9 30
15. South Korea +280 % 5 14
16. Belarus +272 % 1.104 3
17. France +157 % 7 11
18. Poland +150 % 4 6
19. Australia +141 % 2.124 3
20. USA +119 % 31 37
21. Russia -7 % 16 15
22. Italy -20 % 6 5
23. Kazakhstan -81 % 1.812 1
24. Japan -280 % 14 5
25. Great Britain -700 % 7 1
26. China -1291 % 142 11
This medal count serves to point out what a tremendous achievement it is for countries with relatively low populations to accomplish so much, relative to average expectations based on their size. Where there is a will to excel in competition with other nations, population does not seem to be the leading indicator, but rather their dedication and long-term commitment to the goal of athletic greatness.
Questions answered in this analysis:
Q: Who won the 2010 Winter Olympics based on overall medal count?
A: USA—37 medals
Q: Who won the 2010 Winter Olympics gold medal count?
A: Canada—14 gold medals
Q: Who has won the most Winter Olympics based on overall medal count?
A: Germany—9 times
Q: Who has won the most Winter Olympics based on gold medal count?
A: Russia—8 times
Q: Who has won the most Winter Olympic medals since the beginning?
A: Germany—358
Q: Who has won the most Winter Olympic gold medals since the beginning?
A: Germany—128
Q: Who has achieved the greatest per-capita success in the Winter Olympics?
A: Norway--+4331 %
Q: Who owns the podium based on these 7 answers?
A: Germany x 3
Canada x 1
Norway x 1
Russia x 1
USA x 1
Mark Overt Skilbred
Friday, March 5, 2010
NBA STANDINGS--MARCH 2, 2010
1. Cleveland .770
2. Lakers .754
3. Orlando .672
4. Dallas .656
5. Denver .650
6. Atlanta .644
7. Boston .638
8. Utah .633
9. Phoenix .613
10. Oklahoma City .610
11. San Antonio .586
12. Portland .571
13. Toronto .525
14. Chicago .517
15. Houston .508
16. Milwaukee .508
17. New Orleans .508
18. Memphis .500
19. Miami .492
20. Charlotte .483
21. Clippers .417
22. Philadelphia .373
23. Washington .368
24. Detroit .350
25. New York .339
26. Indiana .333
27. Sacramento .333
28. Golden State .288
29. Minnesota .230
30. New Jersey .102
As March begins, the Cavaliers struggle to maintain their position atop the NBA. As Lebron James pointed out so clearly, basketball is a team effort, and it takes more than one great player to win a championship. The Lakers appear to have stabilized their offensive and defensive strategies well enough to maintain their position behind Cleveland. As both teams near the ¾ mark, the ability to maintain the discipline and concentration necessary to survive in the playoffs becomes more obvious to everyone. Championships are not maintained or won by wishful thinking, but by a determined team effort. Spring is almost here, so let’s try to get and stay healthy for the playoffs!
Mark Overt Skilbred
2. Lakers .754
3. Orlando .672
4. Dallas .656
5. Denver .650
6. Atlanta .644
7. Boston .638
8. Utah .633
9. Phoenix .613
10. Oklahoma City .610
11. San Antonio .586
12. Portland .571
13. Toronto .525
14. Chicago .517
15. Houston .508
16. Milwaukee .508
17. New Orleans .508
18. Memphis .500
19. Miami .492
20. Charlotte .483
21. Clippers .417
22. Philadelphia .373
23. Washington .368
24. Detroit .350
25. New York .339
26. Indiana .333
27. Sacramento .333
28. Golden State .288
29. Minnesota .230
30. New Jersey .102
As March begins, the Cavaliers struggle to maintain their position atop the NBA. As Lebron James pointed out so clearly, basketball is a team effort, and it takes more than one great player to win a championship. The Lakers appear to have stabilized their offensive and defensive strategies well enough to maintain their position behind Cleveland. As both teams near the ¾ mark, the ability to maintain the discipline and concentration necessary to survive in the playoffs becomes more obvious to everyone. Championships are not maintained or won by wishful thinking, but by a determined team effort. Spring is almost here, so let’s try to get and stay healthy for the playoffs!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
NORTH-CENTRAL EUCLID WALK (3 Hour Walk)
NORTH-CENTRAL EUCLID WALK (3 Hour Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park in Upland, California, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave. Cross Mountain and continue E on 23rd St to San Antonio Ave. TR and go S on San Antonio to McCarthy Park. TL and go E on 20th St to Euclid Ave. TR and go S on Euclid to Foothill Blvd (Route 66). Return N on Euclid to 24th St and TL. Go W on 24th to San Antonio and TR. Go N uphill on San Antonio until it splits, and take the LH fork on San Antonio Crest W to where it intersects with Mountain Ave. TL and follow Mountain W to San Antonio Park. Follow the perimeter sidewalk W at the N end of the park and then go S through the parking lot to 24th St. TR and go W on 24th to Deakin Ave. TL and go S on Deakin to Mountain View Park.
This is probably Upland’s favorite walk, with many hikers of all ages to be seen enjoying the weather and beautiful scenery every day and at any time of the year.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning at Mountain View Park in Upland, California, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave. Cross Mountain and continue E on 23rd St to San Antonio Ave. TR and go S on San Antonio to McCarthy Park. TL and go E on 20th St to Euclid Ave. TR and go S on Euclid to Foothill Blvd (Route 66). Return N on Euclid to 24th St and TL. Go W on 24th to San Antonio and TR. Go N uphill on San Antonio until it splits, and take the LH fork on San Antonio Crest W to where it intersects with Mountain Ave. TL and follow Mountain W to San Antonio Park. Follow the perimeter sidewalk W at the N end of the park and then go S through the parking lot to 24th St. TR and go W on 24th to Deakin Ave. TL and go S on Deakin to Mountain View Park.
This is probably Upland’s favorite walk, with many hikers of all ages to be seen enjoying the weather and beautiful scenery every day and at any time of the year.
Mark Overt Skilbred
LAKERS MIDSEASON DOLDRUMS
LAKERS MIDSEASON DOLDRUMS
Sometimes it is more than just the fans who are bewildered when a great team begins to struggle midway through the season. This is especially true when the team in question is long on talent and short on injuries, has a good mix of older and younger talent, and excellent playoff experience. When you add in the Lakers’ great record on the road, there just does not seem to be a good explanation for these midseason doldrums. Watching last night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, I couldn’t help feeling that the Lakers were allowing their opponents too much response-time, as if politely waiting for their answer to the latest maneuver. Normally when the Lakers are in attack mode, there isn’t much time for their opponents to respond effectively, and by the time they have it figured out, it is already too late for them. Maybe what is missing in our offensive game is the element of surprise. Does the NBA have us figured out to the extent that they are now anticipating our offense effectively and defending against our triangle system? Should we experiment with alternating systems of pick-and-roll, give-and-go, alley-oop and motion offense, making better use of our big men in the center post? It seems that our inside game has been rather inconsistent, as though we aren’t sure that our big guys can handle the assignment. I am of the opinion that we will never know for sure until we make the attempt. What better time than now to discover our strengths? I’m confident that Pau, Andrew, Lamar and Mbenga can handle whatever we throw at them. Sometimes in order to shake out of the doldrums, it becomes necessary to shake up the lineup a little with some different match-ups, as well as alternating style-of-play. But whatever we decide, let’s not wait much longer to make the needed changes. Let’s not wait until the playoffs to make good use of them.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Sometimes it is more than just the fans who are bewildered when a great team begins to struggle midway through the season. This is especially true when the team in question is long on talent and short on injuries, has a good mix of older and younger talent, and excellent playoff experience. When you add in the Lakers’ great record on the road, there just does not seem to be a good explanation for these midseason doldrums. Watching last night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, I couldn’t help feeling that the Lakers were allowing their opponents too much response-time, as if politely waiting for their answer to the latest maneuver. Normally when the Lakers are in attack mode, there isn’t much time for their opponents to respond effectively, and by the time they have it figured out, it is already too late for them. Maybe what is missing in our offensive game is the element of surprise. Does the NBA have us figured out to the extent that they are now anticipating our offense effectively and defending against our triangle system? Should we experiment with alternating systems of pick-and-roll, give-and-go, alley-oop and motion offense, making better use of our big men in the center post? It seems that our inside game has been rather inconsistent, as though we aren’t sure that our big guys can handle the assignment. I am of the opinion that we will never know for sure until we make the attempt. What better time than now to discover our strengths? I’m confident that Pau, Andrew, Lamar and Mbenga can handle whatever we throw at them. Sometimes in order to shake out of the doldrums, it becomes necessary to shake up the lineup a little with some different match-ups, as well as alternating style-of-play. But whatever we decide, let’s not wait much longer to make the needed changes. Let’s not wait until the playoffs to make good use of them.
Mark Overt Skilbred
A GROUNDHOG'S DAY LAKERS FORECAST
A GROUNDHOG’S DAY LAKERS FORECAST
Punxsutawny Phil saw his shadow, predicting another 6 weeks of winter. As Lakers fans have watched their 1st place lead dwindle and have watched Cleveland steadily move ahead in the standings and into 1st place, they feel a bit like Phil, when it is revealed that winter will continue for at least a little longer. So we have stored our celebration plans on the shelf for now, awaiting the spring thaw, anticipating that all will be well at last in our Lakers universe.
NBA STANDINGS FOR FEBRUARY 2, 2010
1. Cleveland .780
2. Lakers .755
3. Denver .688
4. Orlando .673
5. Boston .652
6. Atlanta .638
7. Dallas .625
8. Utah .617
9. San Antonio .587
10. Phoenix .580
11. Portland .580
12. Oklahoma City .563
13. Houston .542
14. Memphis .542
15. New Orleans .542
16. Toronto .531
17. Charlotte .511
18. Chicago .500
19. Miami .500
20. Milwaukee .447
21. Clippers .438
22. New York .383
23. Indiana .347
24. Detroit .340
25. Philadelphia .340
26. Sacramento .340
27. Washington .340
28. Golden State .277
29. Minnesota .224
30. New Jersey .085
Mark Overt Skilbred
Punxsutawny Phil saw his shadow, predicting another 6 weeks of winter. As Lakers fans have watched their 1st place lead dwindle and have watched Cleveland steadily move ahead in the standings and into 1st place, they feel a bit like Phil, when it is revealed that winter will continue for at least a little longer. So we have stored our celebration plans on the shelf for now, awaiting the spring thaw, anticipating that all will be well at last in our Lakers universe.
NBA STANDINGS FOR FEBRUARY 2, 2010
1. Cleveland .780
2. Lakers .755
3. Denver .688
4. Orlando .673
5. Boston .652
6. Atlanta .638
7. Dallas .625
8. Utah .617
9. San Antonio .587
10. Phoenix .580
11. Portland .580
12. Oklahoma City .563
13. Houston .542
14. Memphis .542
15. New Orleans .542
16. Toronto .531
17. Charlotte .511
18. Chicago .500
19. Miami .500
20. Milwaukee .447
21. Clippers .438
22. New York .383
23. Indiana .347
24. Detroit .340
25. Philadelphia .340
26. Sacramento .340
27. Washington .340
28. Golden State .277
29. Minnesota .224
30. New Jersey .085
Mark Overt Skilbred
Friday, January 29, 2010
SPECIAL INTERESTS
SPECIAL INTERESTS
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.—Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.”
So begins “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America” on July 4, 1776. King George of Great Britain also had special interest in reducing and eliminating the power and influence of the thirteen colonies. The Supreme Court of the United States has once more granted power to the special interest groups of this nation, which has a direct bearing on the legislation which is passed by Congress, frequently to the detriment of the large majority of the people of the United States. Measures which are passed which grant additional financial power and influence to corporations, other entities and individuals, both foreign and domestic, are largely exclusionary for the public, advance the superiority of the rich and powerful, protect their interests and diminish the liberty, prosperity and happiness of the majority of Americans.
Such is the resolve for domination at any cost by these powerful corporate interests, who have most recently upset the world’s financial state to such a degree that the average global citizen has had his net worth reduced by more than half. We observe how our nation’s highest court seeks to improve the lives of her citizens by granting even more power to the already-powerful, trusting that these entities and individuals will maintain an active interest in the financial well-being and advancement of their fellow citizens. To their discredit, Republican voices in Congress are heard defending this judicial action and disparaging their Democratic counterparts for sounding the alarm.
Most recently, in his State of the Union address, President Obama denounced this judicial action to the chagrin of at least one of the Supreme Court justices and calling attention to a debate which has festered since governments began. Should the rich and powerful be granted special consideration? If so, how much should they be granted, and for how long? Should public policy protect the interests and grant special circumstances which advance the wealth and privilege of the powerful? Should the granting of these special interests and powers be allowed to have an increasingly-detrimental impact on the average citizen and have the effect of reducing their effectiveness, influence and authority? Does society benefit from diminishing the advantages and abilities of her citizens?
We have heard the past ten years described as “the lost decade.” The average citizen has watched his assets erode, his income decline or disappear entirely, and has had his ability to effectively change his circumstances be reduced to the point of extinction. What has risen with the decline of the middle class is a newer version of the culture of the super-rich, whose mentality and influence threatens to submerge the former middle class under a barrage of measures which further limit their abilities to break-free from the economic and social constraints which imprison them. We are not only mired in the quicksand of economic stagnation, but those out-of-control elites who created this nightmare have now been given the blessings of our judicial branch, along with the power to recruit new congressional adherents. What more remains to the average person than to petition Congress for a redress of these actions? If Congress supports the Supreme Court in their action, President Obama has no choice but to veto this pending legislation. If Congress insists on punching this carte blanche ticket for the rich and powerful, ordinary citizens must call for a constitutional convention to ensure that the power of the majority is never usurped by a wealthy and powerful, self-serving and selfish minority again.
Mark Overt Skilbred
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.—Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.”
So begins “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America” on July 4, 1776. King George of Great Britain also had special interest in reducing and eliminating the power and influence of the thirteen colonies. The Supreme Court of the United States has once more granted power to the special interest groups of this nation, which has a direct bearing on the legislation which is passed by Congress, frequently to the detriment of the large majority of the people of the United States. Measures which are passed which grant additional financial power and influence to corporations, other entities and individuals, both foreign and domestic, are largely exclusionary for the public, advance the superiority of the rich and powerful, protect their interests and diminish the liberty, prosperity and happiness of the majority of Americans.
Such is the resolve for domination at any cost by these powerful corporate interests, who have most recently upset the world’s financial state to such a degree that the average global citizen has had his net worth reduced by more than half. We observe how our nation’s highest court seeks to improve the lives of her citizens by granting even more power to the already-powerful, trusting that these entities and individuals will maintain an active interest in the financial well-being and advancement of their fellow citizens. To their discredit, Republican voices in Congress are heard defending this judicial action and disparaging their Democratic counterparts for sounding the alarm.
Most recently, in his State of the Union address, President Obama denounced this judicial action to the chagrin of at least one of the Supreme Court justices and calling attention to a debate which has festered since governments began. Should the rich and powerful be granted special consideration? If so, how much should they be granted, and for how long? Should public policy protect the interests and grant special circumstances which advance the wealth and privilege of the powerful? Should the granting of these special interests and powers be allowed to have an increasingly-detrimental impact on the average citizen and have the effect of reducing their effectiveness, influence and authority? Does society benefit from diminishing the advantages and abilities of her citizens?
We have heard the past ten years described as “the lost decade.” The average citizen has watched his assets erode, his income decline or disappear entirely, and has had his ability to effectively change his circumstances be reduced to the point of extinction. What has risen with the decline of the middle class is a newer version of the culture of the super-rich, whose mentality and influence threatens to submerge the former middle class under a barrage of measures which further limit their abilities to break-free from the economic and social constraints which imprison them. We are not only mired in the quicksand of economic stagnation, but those out-of-control elites who created this nightmare have now been given the blessings of our judicial branch, along with the power to recruit new congressional adherents. What more remains to the average person than to petition Congress for a redress of these actions? If Congress supports the Supreme Court in their action, President Obama has no choice but to veto this pending legislation. If Congress insists on punching this carte blanche ticket for the rich and powerful, ordinary citizens must call for a constitutional convention to ensure that the power of the majority is never usurped by a wealthy and powerful, self-serving and selfish minority again.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Monday, January 25, 2010
MOUNTAIN VIEW PARK NEIGHBORHOOD WALK (7 1/2 Hour Walk)
MOUNTAIN VIEW PARK NEIGHBORHOOD WALK (7 ½ Hour Walk)
Welcome to northwest Upland! This is the longest combination walk that I have completed, taking longer than a complete trip around Upland. That’s good news for those who are not faint-hearted and for those who prefer to stay closer to home. I find it easier to break this walk into three sections. Although this walk is longer than others you will encounter, I hope that you will enjoy it as thoroughly as I do and that you will recommend it to others. We are proud of this area that contributes so much to the health and vitality of its residents. Mountain View Park Neighborhood Walk is a combination walk comprised of the sixteen neighborhoods plus San Antonio Park, which are located in the farthest NW corner of Upland, CA, between 24th St on the N and the 210 freeway on the S, and between Mountain Ave on the E and San Antonio Creek on the W. Beginning from Mountain View Park East and proceeding in a counterclockwise direction through Mallorca, Orchard Park, San Antonio Park, Upland Summit, Mountain View Park West, Ashley Park, Lewis Homes North, Lewis Homes South, Acacia West, Evergreen Drive, Looking Glass and Acacia, and then curving NE on Mildura Ave and proceeding in a clockwise direction through Parc Chateau, Wentworth Way, South Mildura, Chelsea Park, and finishing at Mountain View Park East. All sixteen of these walks have been published, and can be done separately, or together as one unit, which is much shorter, by saving you sixteen separate return trips. This reduces your total walk-time by half. Here are the walk-times for the three sections, in the proper walk-sequence:
Section 1: Mildura, Orchard Park, San Antonio Park, Upland Summit, Mountain View West—2 ½ Hour Walk Time
Section 2: Ashley Park, Lewis Homes North, Lewis Homes South, Acacia West, Evergreen, Looking Glass—2 ¼ Hour Walk Time
Section 3: Acacia, Parc Chateau, Wentworth, South Mildura, Chelsea Park, Mountain View East—2 3/4 Hour Walk Time
For purposes of this particular combination walk, disregard the individual times-per-walk and assume that the combined total for the entire walk is more-or-less accurate. The following complete listing assumes that you are doing the walks in contiguous and consecutive order. Here’s to your health, and I’ll see you around the neighborhood!
MALLORCA NEIGHBORHOOD WALK (30 Minute Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park, cross Mildura Ave to Mallorca on Cadiz Ave and TR on Mallorca St. Go E on Mallorca to the cul-de-sac, return W on Mallorca, go past the park and tennis courts on the R and continue W to the cul-de-sac. Return E to Alicante Ave and TL. Follow Alicante N to Granada St and TR. Go E on Granada to the cul-de-sac and then return W, passing Alicante to Naples Ave. TR and go N on Naples past the park, basketball court, picnic area and pool, and don’t miss the beautiful view of the mountains straight ahead. Go to where the street turns L on St Tropez St. Go W on St. Tropez, TR on Barcelona Ave and go N to Malaga St. TR and go E on Malaga to the cul-de-sac, return W, passing Barcelona, to the W cul-de-sac of Malaga. Return to Barcelona and go S to St. Tropez, turn R and follow St. Tropez W to where Palermo Ave goes S on the W side of the pool. TL and go E on Granada to Alicante and TR. Go S on Alicante to Mallorca and TL. Go E on Mallorca to Cadiz and TR. Go S on Cadiz to Mildura and TL.
ORCHARD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD (30 Minute Walk)
Go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TL. Go N on Mountain to the first and only street before 24th St and TL at the entrance gate to Orchard Park. Pass through the gate and TR on Walnut Ave. Follow Walnut N to the cul-de-sac, return and TR on Chestnut St. TR on Hickory Ave and then TR on Citrus St to the cul-de-sac. Go S on the sidewalk past the pool and TL to Walnut Ave. TR and go S on Walnut to the exit gate. TL and exit to Mountain Ave.
SAN ANTONIO PARK (1 Hour Walk)
Go N on Mountain Ave, cross 24th St and go past San Antonio Park to the perimeter sidewalk on the N side of the park. TL and go W on the sidewalk to where it turns S and follow through the parking lot to 24th St. Then go W on 24th St, cross Deakin Ave, continuing W to the deadend at San Antonio Creek. Return E on 24th to Parkcrest St and TR.
UPLAND SUMMIT NEIGHBORHOOD (1 Hour Walk)
Go S on Parkcrest St. TL on Highpoint St by the pool, go E to the cul-de-sac and return W to Starlight Ave. TL on Starlight, TR on Panorama St to the cul-de-sac and then return E on Panorama and go S past the basketball court and pool to Lookout Ct. TR and go W on Lookout to the cul-de-sac and return E to Crestview. Continue S on Crestview to Forest St. TR on Forest and go W, exploring Woodcrest Way, Ridgemont Way, Fairfield Way, Skyline Way, the basketball courts and Moonridge Court as Forest becomes Meadow Glen Way and goes N. TR on Grandview St to the cul-de-sac and return W to Birkdale St. TR on Birkdale and go N to Highpoint St. TL on Highpoint to the cul-de-sac, return and go E on Highpoint until you see the pool on the RHS. TL and go N on Parkcrest St, TR and go E on 24th St to Deakin Ave. TR and go S on Deakin to Mildura Ave.
MOUNTAIN VIEW WEST (30 Minute Walk)
TR on Mildura Ave to Daylily St. TR and go W on Daylily, past the tennis courts and basketball court. Just before turning L, walk up the hill on the railroad tie steps to Marigold St and TL. Go W on Marigold and turn S on Poppy Ave, pass Ash Ave and TL on Tulip St. Follow Tulip S and TL on Carissa St. TL on Daisy St and follow around the park to Alyssum Ave. Go N on Alyssum, passing the pool, and TR on Wisteria Ave. TR on Daylily St and go E to Mildura Ave.
FIRST BREAK (2 ½ Hours to complete the first 4 neighborhoods+park)
ASHLEY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD (30 Minute Walk)
TR and go S on Mildura Ave on the W side of the street past Carissa St and TR on Amanda Pl, through the gate into Ashley Park. Follow Amanda W, Beverly Way N, Ashley Pl E and Sonya Ave S to the Amanda Pl exit. Exit Ashley Park and TR on Mildura Ave.
LEWIS HOMES NORTH (45 Minute Walk)
Go S on Mildura Ave to Somerset Way and TR. Go W on Somerset and TR on Oakhurst Ct to the cul-de-sac, return to Somerset and continue W to Wetherley Ct. TR on Wetherley to the cul-de-sac, return to Somerset and TR. Follow Somerset to the cul-de-sac and return to Hillcrest St. TR on Hillcrest and follow to the cul-de-sac. Return and TR on Morningside Ave. Continue and TR on Roxbury Ct and Mansfield Ct and follow these streets to their cul-de-sacs. Then return to Morningside and continue S to where the street bends L and becomes 21st St. Follow 21st E to Mildura, TR and follow Mildura S to Elmhurst Way.
LEWIS HOMES SOUTH (1 Hour Walk)
Go W on Elmhurst and TR on Redgrove. Follow Redgrove N, follow W on Oriole Place and then go S on Windemere to the cul-de-sac and return to 20th St. Go W on 20th to Birkdale Ave and TR. Go N on Birkdale to the cul-de-sac and return S on Birkdale to Benson Ave. TL and go NE on the N side of Benson to Muirfield Ave. TL and go N on Muirfield and TR into Windsong Court. Follow it around, return to Muirfield, TR and continue N to Wakefield Ct. Follow it around, return to Muirfield, TR and continue N to Elmhurst Way. Cross the street to Katrina Way. Follow Katrina around, return to Elmhurst and go E to Mildura Ave. TR on Mildura and go S to Benson Ave.
ACACIA WEST NEIGHBORHOOD (45 Minute Walk)
TR and go SW on Benson to Brookdale Dr. TR and go W on Brookdale to Sunny Creek Ct. TL on Sunnycreek and follow to the cul-de-sac and then return and follow Springland Lane E, past the park to Brookdale. TR and follow Brookdale E to Benson. TL and go NE on Benson, cross Mildura Ave. TR and use the crosswalk to cross Benson. TR and follow Benson SW to the 210 Freeway overpass.
EVERGREEN DRIVE NEIGHBORHOOD (1 1/2 Hour Walk)
AND
LOOKING GLASS NEIGHBORHOOD (65 Minute Walk)
Turn around and go back NE on Benson to the first opening in the soundwall and go E on Evergreen Drive all the way to the end. Return W on Evergreen and explore all the cul-de-sacs going W, beginning with Cheshire Way, Moonbeam Circle, White Rabbit Trail, then exploring the park, going past the gazebo, pool and tennis court, up the 22 steps of the embankment, then return S to Evergreen and continue W to Briar Path, Shady Brook Way, Looking Glass Way and Ridgemont Court. Then follow Muirfield Ave N to Benson and return S to Evergreen and TR. Follow Evergreen W to Mitzi Court, then continue W to Birkdale Ave. TR on Birkdale and go N to Benson. TR and go NE on Benson to Brookdale Dr.
SECOND BREAK (2 ¼ Hour Walk-Time)
ACACIA NEIGHBORHOOD (1 ¼ Hour Walk)
Follow Brookdale S past the pool to Willowbrook Lane and TR. Explore Clearwater Circle on the R on the way W to the cul-de-sac, then return E to Brookdale and follow it E. TL on Creekwood Lane, go N to Brookside St and follow Brookside E to the cul-de-sac and then return to the W cul-de-sac. Return S on Creekwood to Brookdale. Continue E on Brookdale, exploring Springcreek Circle on the R and then continue E and TR on Clearspring Dr. Go E on Clearspring, go N on Brookside Dr and TL into Creekside Court cul-de-sac. Return E to Brookside, TL and continue N, on the inside of the main gates, following the E perimeter sidewalk between the pool and basketball court to the north side of Acacia and then return S on Stonebrook Lane. TR on Running Creek Drive and go W to Creekwood Lane. TR and go N to Brookhaven Place. TR and follow E and then N on Bridgewood Way and continue W on Cloverbrook Lane to Brookhaven. TL on Brookhaven and then TR on Creekwood and follow S to Running Creek. TR on Running Creek and follow W past the basketball court and pool, TR on Brookdale Drive and TR on Benson. Cross Benson at the crosswalk and continue N on Mildura, passing Mountain View Park and continuing E to Mountain Ave.
PARC CHATEAU NEIGHBORHOOD (1 Hour Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain, passing 22nd St and TR through the main gate of Parc Chateau on Cannes Ave. TR on Lorraine Dr and go N and then W to Eiffel Circle and then Paris Circle, continue W to the Mildura gate and then return E past Paris Circle to the first sidewalk going S between the houses. Follow it S to the Y and take the RH fork to the gazebo. Take the LH fork S to Charmaine Dr and TR. Go W to Pinot Circle, follow it around and continue W on the S perimeter sidewalk as it traces the W boundary past the tennis courts and heads N. Go past the gate to where the sidewalk heads E to the gazebo and continue E to the Y. Continue E to the park and follow the sidewalk around to the S side of the pool. Continue S to Charmaine Dr and TR to Malati Circle. Follow it around and then return E on Charmaine past the park and bend N to the main entrance. Exit on Cannes and TL on Mountain. Go N on Mountain to Mildura Ave and TL. Go W on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
WENTWORTH WAY (45 Minute Walk)
Go W on Benson to Wentworth Way and TR. Go N on Wentworth and TR on Miller Ct. Follow Miller to the cul-de-sac and return to Wentworth. TR and continue N on Wentworth to Meadow Ct and TR. Go E on Meadow to the cul-de-sac, return to Wentworth and TL. Go S on Wentworth to Benson and TR. Follow Benson to Mildura Ave and TR.
SOUTH MILDURA NEIGHBORHOOOD (45 Minute Walk)
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Upland CA history, Mildura is Upland’s sister-city in South Australia, whose city-planning was also carried out by the Chaffees. It is fitting that the street named after Mildura is an unusually beautiful and well-thought-out centerpiece of several intertwined neighborhoods in this northwestern area of Upland. Go N on Mildura and TR on Havenhurst Way to the cul-de-sac and return to Mildura. TR and follow Mildura N to Northstar Lane. TR and go E on Northstar to the cul-de-sac and then return to Mildura.
CHELSEA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD (1 Hour Walk)
Go N on Mildura to Somerset Way/Sunrise and TR. Enter Chelsea Park using the W entrance and follow Sunrise Circle all the way around the perimeter, walking past all of the homes, and then walk through the beautiful park that bears its name in the center of all the houses. This neighborhood is truly one of the jewels of Upland, and should not be missed! Exit the park through the W exit to Mildura and TR. Go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
MOUNTAIN VIEW EAST (30 Minute Walk)
Beginning from Mountain View Park, go S on Jasmine Ave past the playground and tennis courts to Dogwood St and TL. Go E on Dogwood to the park and return to Zinnia. TL on Zinnia and W past the pool to the park. TL on Lobelia Ave, go past the park and TL on Fuchsia St. TL on Hibiscus St, go E to the last park and TL on Oleander Ave. Go N on Oleander to Dogwood and TR to Verbena Ave. TL and go N on Verbena to where Oak St goes L and W to Willow Ave. Go N on Willow to Mildura Ave. TL and go W and S on Mildura and TL on Fuchsia St. TL on Lobelia, cross Zinnia, go past the park and TR on Ajuga, continue S on the E side of the park to Zinnia, TL and go E to Jasmine, TL and go N to Mountain View Park.
THIRD BREAK (2 3/4 Hour Total Walk-Time)
Congratulations on your persistence! I hope that you have been rewarded for your efforts with an appreciation of northwest Upland’s beautiful and well-tended homes and landscapes. Return often, bring your friends, and tell others what our area has to offer those who enjoy our Upland walks.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Welcome to northwest Upland! This is the longest combination walk that I have completed, taking longer than a complete trip around Upland. That’s good news for those who are not faint-hearted and for those who prefer to stay closer to home. I find it easier to break this walk into three sections. Although this walk is longer than others you will encounter, I hope that you will enjoy it as thoroughly as I do and that you will recommend it to others. We are proud of this area that contributes so much to the health and vitality of its residents. Mountain View Park Neighborhood Walk is a combination walk comprised of the sixteen neighborhoods plus San Antonio Park, which are located in the farthest NW corner of Upland, CA, between 24th St on the N and the 210 freeway on the S, and between Mountain Ave on the E and San Antonio Creek on the W. Beginning from Mountain View Park East and proceeding in a counterclockwise direction through Mallorca, Orchard Park, San Antonio Park, Upland Summit, Mountain View Park West, Ashley Park, Lewis Homes North, Lewis Homes South, Acacia West, Evergreen Drive, Looking Glass and Acacia, and then curving NE on Mildura Ave and proceeding in a clockwise direction through Parc Chateau, Wentworth Way, South Mildura, Chelsea Park, and finishing at Mountain View Park East. All sixteen of these walks have been published, and can be done separately, or together as one unit, which is much shorter, by saving you sixteen separate return trips. This reduces your total walk-time by half. Here are the walk-times for the three sections, in the proper walk-sequence:
Section 1: Mildura, Orchard Park, San Antonio Park, Upland Summit, Mountain View West—2 ½ Hour Walk Time
Section 2: Ashley Park, Lewis Homes North, Lewis Homes South, Acacia West, Evergreen, Looking Glass—2 ¼ Hour Walk Time
Section 3: Acacia, Parc Chateau, Wentworth, South Mildura, Chelsea Park, Mountain View East—2 3/4 Hour Walk Time
For purposes of this particular combination walk, disregard the individual times-per-walk and assume that the combined total for the entire walk is more-or-less accurate. The following complete listing assumes that you are doing the walks in contiguous and consecutive order. Here’s to your health, and I’ll see you around the neighborhood!
MALLORCA NEIGHBORHOOD WALK (30 Minute Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park, cross Mildura Ave to Mallorca on Cadiz Ave and TR on Mallorca St. Go E on Mallorca to the cul-de-sac, return W on Mallorca, go past the park and tennis courts on the R and continue W to the cul-de-sac. Return E to Alicante Ave and TL. Follow Alicante N to Granada St and TR. Go E on Granada to the cul-de-sac and then return W, passing Alicante to Naples Ave. TR and go N on Naples past the park, basketball court, picnic area and pool, and don’t miss the beautiful view of the mountains straight ahead. Go to where the street turns L on St Tropez St. Go W on St. Tropez, TR on Barcelona Ave and go N to Malaga St. TR and go E on Malaga to the cul-de-sac, return W, passing Barcelona, to the W cul-de-sac of Malaga. Return to Barcelona and go S to St. Tropez, turn R and follow St. Tropez W to where Palermo Ave goes S on the W side of the pool. TL and go E on Granada to Alicante and TR. Go S on Alicante to Mallorca and TL. Go E on Mallorca to Cadiz and TR. Go S on Cadiz to Mildura and TL.
ORCHARD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD (30 Minute Walk)
Go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TL. Go N on Mountain to the first and only street before 24th St and TL at the entrance gate to Orchard Park. Pass through the gate and TR on Walnut Ave. Follow Walnut N to the cul-de-sac, return and TR on Chestnut St. TR on Hickory Ave and then TR on Citrus St to the cul-de-sac. Go S on the sidewalk past the pool and TL to Walnut Ave. TR and go S on Walnut to the exit gate. TL and exit to Mountain Ave.
SAN ANTONIO PARK (1 Hour Walk)
Go N on Mountain Ave, cross 24th St and go past San Antonio Park to the perimeter sidewalk on the N side of the park. TL and go W on the sidewalk to where it turns S and follow through the parking lot to 24th St. Then go W on 24th St, cross Deakin Ave, continuing W to the deadend at San Antonio Creek. Return E on 24th to Parkcrest St and TR.
UPLAND SUMMIT NEIGHBORHOOD (1 Hour Walk)
Go S on Parkcrest St. TL on Highpoint St by the pool, go E to the cul-de-sac and return W to Starlight Ave. TL on Starlight, TR on Panorama St to the cul-de-sac and then return E on Panorama and go S past the basketball court and pool to Lookout Ct. TR and go W on Lookout to the cul-de-sac and return E to Crestview. Continue S on Crestview to Forest St. TR on Forest and go W, exploring Woodcrest Way, Ridgemont Way, Fairfield Way, Skyline Way, the basketball courts and Moonridge Court as Forest becomes Meadow Glen Way and goes N. TR on Grandview St to the cul-de-sac and return W to Birkdale St. TR on Birkdale and go N to Highpoint St. TL on Highpoint to the cul-de-sac, return and go E on Highpoint until you see the pool on the RHS. TL and go N on Parkcrest St, TR and go E on 24th St to Deakin Ave. TR and go S on Deakin to Mildura Ave.
MOUNTAIN VIEW WEST (30 Minute Walk)
TR on Mildura Ave to Daylily St. TR and go W on Daylily, past the tennis courts and basketball court. Just before turning L, walk up the hill on the railroad tie steps to Marigold St and TL. Go W on Marigold and turn S on Poppy Ave, pass Ash Ave and TL on Tulip St. Follow Tulip S and TL on Carissa St. TL on Daisy St and follow around the park to Alyssum Ave. Go N on Alyssum, passing the pool, and TR on Wisteria Ave. TR on Daylily St and go E to Mildura Ave.
FIRST BREAK (2 ½ Hours to complete the first 4 neighborhoods+park)
ASHLEY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD (30 Minute Walk)
TR and go S on Mildura Ave on the W side of the street past Carissa St and TR on Amanda Pl, through the gate into Ashley Park. Follow Amanda W, Beverly Way N, Ashley Pl E and Sonya Ave S to the Amanda Pl exit. Exit Ashley Park and TR on Mildura Ave.
LEWIS HOMES NORTH (45 Minute Walk)
Go S on Mildura Ave to Somerset Way and TR. Go W on Somerset and TR on Oakhurst Ct to the cul-de-sac, return to Somerset and continue W to Wetherley Ct. TR on Wetherley to the cul-de-sac, return to Somerset and TR. Follow Somerset to the cul-de-sac and return to Hillcrest St. TR on Hillcrest and follow to the cul-de-sac. Return and TR on Morningside Ave. Continue and TR on Roxbury Ct and Mansfield Ct and follow these streets to their cul-de-sacs. Then return to Morningside and continue S to where the street bends L and becomes 21st St. Follow 21st E to Mildura, TR and follow Mildura S to Elmhurst Way.
LEWIS HOMES SOUTH (1 Hour Walk)
Go W on Elmhurst and TR on Redgrove. Follow Redgrove N, follow W on Oriole Place and then go S on Windemere to the cul-de-sac and return to 20th St. Go W on 20th to Birkdale Ave and TR. Go N on Birkdale to the cul-de-sac and return S on Birkdale to Benson Ave. TL and go NE on the N side of Benson to Muirfield Ave. TL and go N on Muirfield and TR into Windsong Court. Follow it around, return to Muirfield, TR and continue N to Wakefield Ct. Follow it around, return to Muirfield, TR and continue N to Elmhurst Way. Cross the street to Katrina Way. Follow Katrina around, return to Elmhurst and go E to Mildura Ave. TR on Mildura and go S to Benson Ave.
ACACIA WEST NEIGHBORHOOD (45 Minute Walk)
TR and go SW on Benson to Brookdale Dr. TR and go W on Brookdale to Sunny Creek Ct. TL on Sunnycreek and follow to the cul-de-sac and then return and follow Springland Lane E, past the park to Brookdale. TR and follow Brookdale E to Benson. TL and go NE on Benson, cross Mildura Ave. TR and use the crosswalk to cross Benson. TR and follow Benson SW to the 210 Freeway overpass.
EVERGREEN DRIVE NEIGHBORHOOD (1 1/2 Hour Walk)
AND
LOOKING GLASS NEIGHBORHOOD (65 Minute Walk)
Turn around and go back NE on Benson to the first opening in the soundwall and go E on Evergreen Drive all the way to the end. Return W on Evergreen and explore all the cul-de-sacs going W, beginning with Cheshire Way, Moonbeam Circle, White Rabbit Trail, then exploring the park, going past the gazebo, pool and tennis court, up the 22 steps of the embankment, then return S to Evergreen and continue W to Briar Path, Shady Brook Way, Looking Glass Way and Ridgemont Court. Then follow Muirfield Ave N to Benson and return S to Evergreen and TR. Follow Evergreen W to Mitzi Court, then continue W to Birkdale Ave. TR on Birkdale and go N to Benson. TR and go NE on Benson to Brookdale Dr.
SECOND BREAK (2 ¼ Hour Walk-Time)
ACACIA NEIGHBORHOOD (1 ¼ Hour Walk)
Follow Brookdale S past the pool to Willowbrook Lane and TR. Explore Clearwater Circle on the R on the way W to the cul-de-sac, then return E to Brookdale and follow it E. TL on Creekwood Lane, go N to Brookside St and follow Brookside E to the cul-de-sac and then return to the W cul-de-sac. Return S on Creekwood to Brookdale. Continue E on Brookdale, exploring Springcreek Circle on the R and then continue E and TR on Clearspring Dr. Go E on Clearspring, go N on Brookside Dr and TL into Creekside Court cul-de-sac. Return E to Brookside, TL and continue N, on the inside of the main gates, following the E perimeter sidewalk between the pool and basketball court to the north side of Acacia and then return S on Stonebrook Lane. TR on Running Creek Drive and go W to Creekwood Lane. TR and go N to Brookhaven Place. TR and follow E and then N on Bridgewood Way and continue W on Cloverbrook Lane to Brookhaven. TL on Brookhaven and then TR on Creekwood and follow S to Running Creek. TR on Running Creek and follow W past the basketball court and pool, TR on Brookdale Drive and TR on Benson. Cross Benson at the crosswalk and continue N on Mildura, passing Mountain View Park and continuing E to Mountain Ave.
PARC CHATEAU NEIGHBORHOOD (1 Hour Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain, passing 22nd St and TR through the main gate of Parc Chateau on Cannes Ave. TR on Lorraine Dr and go N and then W to Eiffel Circle and then Paris Circle, continue W to the Mildura gate and then return E past Paris Circle to the first sidewalk going S between the houses. Follow it S to the Y and take the RH fork to the gazebo. Take the LH fork S to Charmaine Dr and TR. Go W to Pinot Circle, follow it around and continue W on the S perimeter sidewalk as it traces the W boundary past the tennis courts and heads N. Go past the gate to where the sidewalk heads E to the gazebo and continue E to the Y. Continue E to the park and follow the sidewalk around to the S side of the pool. Continue S to Charmaine Dr and TR to Malati Circle. Follow it around and then return E on Charmaine past the park and bend N to the main entrance. Exit on Cannes and TL on Mountain. Go N on Mountain to Mildura Ave and TL. Go W on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
WENTWORTH WAY (45 Minute Walk)
Go W on Benson to Wentworth Way and TR. Go N on Wentworth and TR on Miller Ct. Follow Miller to the cul-de-sac and return to Wentworth. TR and continue N on Wentworth to Meadow Ct and TR. Go E on Meadow to the cul-de-sac, return to Wentworth and TL. Go S on Wentworth to Benson and TR. Follow Benson to Mildura Ave and TR.
SOUTH MILDURA NEIGHBORHOOOD (45 Minute Walk)
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Upland CA history, Mildura is Upland’s sister-city in South Australia, whose city-planning was also carried out by the Chaffees. It is fitting that the street named after Mildura is an unusually beautiful and well-thought-out centerpiece of several intertwined neighborhoods in this northwestern area of Upland. Go N on Mildura and TR on Havenhurst Way to the cul-de-sac and return to Mildura. TR and follow Mildura N to Northstar Lane. TR and go E on Northstar to the cul-de-sac and then return to Mildura.
CHELSEA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD (1 Hour Walk)
Go N on Mildura to Somerset Way/Sunrise and TR. Enter Chelsea Park using the W entrance and follow Sunrise Circle all the way around the perimeter, walking past all of the homes, and then walk through the beautiful park that bears its name in the center of all the houses. This neighborhood is truly one of the jewels of Upland, and should not be missed! Exit the park through the W exit to Mildura and TR. Go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
MOUNTAIN VIEW EAST (30 Minute Walk)
Beginning from Mountain View Park, go S on Jasmine Ave past the playground and tennis courts to Dogwood St and TL. Go E on Dogwood to the park and return to Zinnia. TL on Zinnia and W past the pool to the park. TL on Lobelia Ave, go past the park and TL on Fuchsia St. TL on Hibiscus St, go E to the last park and TL on Oleander Ave. Go N on Oleander to Dogwood and TR to Verbena Ave. TL and go N on Verbena to where Oak St goes L and W to Willow Ave. Go N on Willow to Mildura Ave. TL and go W and S on Mildura and TL on Fuchsia St. TL on Lobelia, cross Zinnia, go past the park and TR on Ajuga, continue S on the E side of the park to Zinnia, TL and go E to Jasmine, TL and go N to Mountain View Park.
THIRD BREAK (2 3/4 Hour Total Walk-Time)
Congratulations on your persistence! I hope that you have been rewarded for your efforts with an appreciation of northwest Upland’s beautiful and well-tended homes and landscapes. Return often, bring your friends, and tell others what our area has to offer those who enjoy our Upland walks.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Sunday, January 17, 2010
THE THEOLOGY OF DENIAL
THE THEOLOGY OF DENIAL
I happened to pick up a paperback “theology” book dealing with some of the Old Testament prophets the other day, and I was struck by the degree to which the author depended on his human understanding to gain perspective on the spiritual realities of Biblical prophesy. Certainly God expects us to use our minds to reason with each other regarding matters of faith, but to anchor our theologies on human understanding must necessarily result in abysmal failure. This is so because prophetic reality is spiritually revealed to us as a gift from God. Attempts to understand Scripture from the human perspective relegates the Bible to the realm of historical accounts viewed through the biased human lens of the reader. If one wishes to understand the Bible in the fullness which God intends, he must first abandon his feeble efforts of human analysis and cast himself wholly on God, Who provides the Godly perspective necessary for the basic understanding of the things of God.
I will refrain from divulging the name of the author of the paperback because it really doesn’t matter who he is, what theological school-of-thought he represents, his state of mind while “interpreting” or any other details pertaining to him personally. What does matter is the degree to which God has revealed Himself to the author through the Person of the Holy Spirit, and the degree to which the author faithfully transmits God’s Revealed Truth to his readers. It is quite easy to spot flaws in the author’s “faith and testimony,” because God’s Revelation will never be self-contradictory and insights will never detract from the Message of Scripture. To the degree that the author disagrees with Scripture, to that same degree will his interpretation contain certain and inherent flaws. An example of the arrogance of this particular author is his blatant doubt of the validity of the prophets’ experience with God and the Revealed Truth transmitted through them. His preponderated thought is that the prophets based their assumptions and messages on the culture and the politics of the time period in which they lived rather than on any particular relationship with the Living God.
By beginning the study of Scripture with preconceived ideas about the nature of God and His chosen prophets, we essentially burden our “analysis” with our own biases which result from our education, background and culture. We then make pitiful efforts toward understanding based not on a relationship with the actual Author of Scripture, but based upon our knowledge of history and our own human experience. The Bible addresses this problem specifically when it says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) The reward is faith, and accompanying that faith is the Revealed Truth of God’s Word. Essentially, those who make an attempt to interpret and analyze Scripture before they have received the gift of faith are doomed to an inaccurate and a failed analysis based upon their own flawed human understanding.
Mark Overt Skilbred
I happened to pick up a paperback “theology” book dealing with some of the Old Testament prophets the other day, and I was struck by the degree to which the author depended on his human understanding to gain perspective on the spiritual realities of Biblical prophesy. Certainly God expects us to use our minds to reason with each other regarding matters of faith, but to anchor our theologies on human understanding must necessarily result in abysmal failure. This is so because prophetic reality is spiritually revealed to us as a gift from God. Attempts to understand Scripture from the human perspective relegates the Bible to the realm of historical accounts viewed through the biased human lens of the reader. If one wishes to understand the Bible in the fullness which God intends, he must first abandon his feeble efforts of human analysis and cast himself wholly on God, Who provides the Godly perspective necessary for the basic understanding of the things of God.
I will refrain from divulging the name of the author of the paperback because it really doesn’t matter who he is, what theological school-of-thought he represents, his state of mind while “interpreting” or any other details pertaining to him personally. What does matter is the degree to which God has revealed Himself to the author through the Person of the Holy Spirit, and the degree to which the author faithfully transmits God’s Revealed Truth to his readers. It is quite easy to spot flaws in the author’s “faith and testimony,” because God’s Revelation will never be self-contradictory and insights will never detract from the Message of Scripture. To the degree that the author disagrees with Scripture, to that same degree will his interpretation contain certain and inherent flaws. An example of the arrogance of this particular author is his blatant doubt of the validity of the prophets’ experience with God and the Revealed Truth transmitted through them. His preponderated thought is that the prophets based their assumptions and messages on the culture and the politics of the time period in which they lived rather than on any particular relationship with the Living God.
By beginning the study of Scripture with preconceived ideas about the nature of God and His chosen prophets, we essentially burden our “analysis” with our own biases which result from our education, background and culture. We then make pitiful efforts toward understanding based not on a relationship with the actual Author of Scripture, but based upon our knowledge of history and our own human experience. The Bible addresses this problem specifically when it says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) The reward is faith, and accompanying that faith is the Revealed Truth of God’s Word. Essentially, those who make an attempt to interpret and analyze Scripture before they have received the gift of faith are doomed to an inaccurate and a failed analysis based upon their own flawed human understanding.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Friday, January 15, 2010
FOX RIDGE WAY NEIGHBORHOOD (1 3/4 Hour Walk)
FOX RIDGE WAY NEIGHBORHOOD (1 ¾ Hour Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park in Upland, go E on Mildura, crossing Mountain Ave and continue E on 23rd St, crossing San Antonio , Euclid and Campus. TL and go N on Campus and then TR on Ridge View Ct to cul-de-sac and return to Campus. Continue N on Campus to Valley View Ct. and TR, follow to cul-de-sac and then return to Campus. Go N on Campus to 24th St and TR. Go E on 24th to Fox Ridge Way and TR. Go S on Fox Ridge to the cul-de-sac and then return to 24th. Go E on 24th to the cul-de-sac and then return on 24th going W. Continue W on 24th, crossing Campus and Euclid, and then turn L on San Antonio. Go S on San Antonio to 23rd St and TR. Go W on 23rd, crossing Mountain to Mildura Ave and then go W on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning at Mountain View Park in Upland, go E on Mildura, crossing Mountain Ave and continue E on 23rd St, crossing San Antonio , Euclid and Campus. TL and go N on Campus and then TR on Ridge View Ct to cul-de-sac and return to Campus. Continue N on Campus to Valley View Ct. and TR, follow to cul-de-sac and then return to Campus. Go N on Campus to 24th St and TR. Go E on 24th to Fox Ridge Way and TR. Go S on Fox Ridge to the cul-de-sac and then return to 24th. Go E on 24th to the cul-de-sac and then return on 24th going W. Continue W on 24th, crossing Campus and Euclid, and then turn L on San Antonio. Go S on San Antonio to 23rd St and TR. Go W on 23rd, crossing Mountain to Mildura Ave and then go W on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
LOOKING GLASS NEIGHBORHOOD (65 Minute Walk)
LOOKING GLASS NEIGHBORHOOD (65 Minute Walk)
Beginning from Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain, crossing 21st St/Benson Ave and continue S on Mountain past the Acacia fountain to Evergreen Dr, which is the last street on the RHS before the 210 freeway. Enter through the pedestrian gate and go W on Evergreen and TR on all the cul-de-sacs going W , beginning with Cheshire Way, Moonbeam Circle, White Rabbit Trail, exploring the park, and then continuing W to Briar Path, Shady Brook Way, and ending with Looking Glass Way. Continue W on Evergreen, passing Ridgemont Court . TR and go N on Muirfield Ave to Benson Ave. TR and stay on the S side of Benson, walk NE to Mildura Ave, use the crosswalk, cross Benson and go N on Mildura. Follow Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning from Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain, crossing 21st St/Benson Ave and continue S on Mountain past the Acacia fountain to Evergreen Dr, which is the last street on the RHS before the 210 freeway. Enter through the pedestrian gate and go W on Evergreen and TR on all the cul-de-sacs going W , beginning with Cheshire Way, Moonbeam Circle, White Rabbit Trail, exploring the park, and then continuing W to Briar Path, Shady Brook Way, and ending with Looking Glass Way. Continue W on Evergreen, passing Ridgemont Court . TR and go N on Muirfield Ave to Benson Ave. TR and stay on the S side of Benson, walk NE to Mildura Ave, use the crosswalk, cross Benson and go N on Mildura. Follow Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
CHELSEA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD (1 Hour Walk)
CHELSEA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD (1 Hour Walk)
From Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain to 21st St/Benson Ave and TR. Go W on Benson to Mildura and TR. Go N on Mildura to Somerset Way/Sunrise and TR. Enter Chelsea Park using the W entrance and follow Sunrise Circle all the way around the perimeter, walking past all of the homes, and then walk through the beautiful park that bears its name in the center of all the houses. This neighborhood is truly one of the jewels of Upland, and should not be missed! Exit the park through the W exit to Mildura and TR. Go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
From Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain to 21st St/Benson Ave and TR. Go W on Benson to Mildura and TR. Go N on Mildura to Somerset Way/Sunrise and TR. Enter Chelsea Park using the W entrance and follow Sunrise Circle all the way around the perimeter, walking past all of the homes, and then walk through the beautiful park that bears its name in the center of all the houses. This neighborhood is truly one of the jewels of Upland, and should not be missed! Exit the park through the W exit to Mildura and TR. Go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Thursday, January 7, 2010
NORTH UPLAND EUCLID WALK (1 1/2 Hour Walk)
NORTH UPLAND EUCLID WALK (1 ½ Hour Walk)
Euclid is a wonderful neighborhood walk at anytime of the year, but it is especially beautiful at Christmastime, when the star is lighted on the hills north of Euclid. There are many houses in this area with exceptional Christmas decorations, and these can be seen from the sidewalks and from the hiking path that runs down the middle of Euclid Ave. Beginning at Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave, cross Mountain Ave and go E on 23rd St, cross San Antonio and continue E to Euclid Ave. TR on Euclid and go S to the 210 freeway and then return N on Euclid to 24th St. Turn L and go W on 24th and TL on San Antonio Ave. Go S on San Antonio and cross 23rd St. TR and cross San Antonio and continue W on 23rd St, crossing Mountain to Mildura Ave and continuing W to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Euclid is a wonderful neighborhood walk at anytime of the year, but it is especially beautiful at Christmastime, when the star is lighted on the hills north of Euclid. There are many houses in this area with exceptional Christmas decorations, and these can be seen from the sidewalks and from the hiking path that runs down the middle of Euclid Ave. Beginning at Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave, cross Mountain Ave and go E on 23rd St, cross San Antonio and continue E to Euclid Ave. TR on Euclid and go S to the 210 freeway and then return N on Euclid to 24th St. Turn L and go W on 24th and TL on San Antonio Ave. Go S on San Antonio and cross 23rd St. TR and cross San Antonio and continue W on 23rd St, crossing Mountain to Mildura Ave and continuing W to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
LEWIS HOMES SOUTH (1 Hour Walk)
LEWIS HOMES SOUTH (1 Hour Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go S on the W side of Mildura Ave and TR on Elmhurst Way. Go W on Elmhurst and TR on Redgrove. Follow Redgrove N, follow W on Oriole Place and then go S on Windemere to the cul-de-sac and return to 20th St. Go W on 20th to Birkdale Ave and TR. Go N on Birkdale to the cul-de-sac and return S on Birkdale to Benson Ave. TL and go NE on the N side of Benson to Muirfield Ave. TL and go N on Muirfield and TR into Windsong Court. Follow it around, return to Muirfield, TR and continue N to Wakefield Ct. Follow it around, return to Muirfield, TR and continue N to Elmhurst Way. Cross the street to Katrina Way. Follow Katrina around, return to Elmhurst and go E to Mildura Ave. TL on Mildura and go N to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go S on the W side of Mildura Ave and TR on Elmhurst Way. Go W on Elmhurst and TR on Redgrove. Follow Redgrove N, follow W on Oriole Place and then go S on Windemere to the cul-de-sac and return to 20th St. Go W on 20th to Birkdale Ave and TR. Go N on Birkdale to the cul-de-sac and return S on Birkdale to Benson Ave. TL and go NE on the N side of Benson to Muirfield Ave. TL and go N on Muirfield and TR into Windsong Court. Follow it around, return to Muirfield, TR and continue N to Wakefield Ct. Follow it around, return to Muirfield, TR and continue N to Elmhurst Way. Cross the street to Katrina Way. Follow Katrina around, return to Elmhurst and go E to Mildura Ave. TL on Mildura and go N to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
SOUTH MILDURA NEIGHBORHOOOD (45 Minute Walk)
SOUTH MILDURA NEIGHBORHOOD (45 Minute Walk)
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Upland CA history, Mildura is Upland’s sister-city in South Australia, whose city-planning was also carried out by the Chaffees. It is fitting that the street named after Mildura is an unusually beautiful and well-thought-out centerpiece of several intertwined neighborhoods in this northwestern area of Upland. Beginning at Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain to 21st St/Benson Ave and TR. Go W and then SW on Benson to Mildura and TR. Go N on Mildura and TR on Havenhurst Way to the cul-de-sac and return to Mildura. TR and follow Mildura N to Northstar Lane. TR and go E on Northstar to the cul-de-sac and then return to Mildura. TR and go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Upland CA history, Mildura is Upland’s sister-city in South Australia, whose city-planning was also carried out by the Chaffees. It is fitting that the street named after Mildura is an unusually beautiful and well-thought-out centerpiece of several intertwined neighborhoods in this northwestern area of Upland. Beginning at Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain to 21st St/Benson Ave and TR. Go W and then SW on Benson to Mildura and TR. Go N on Mildura and TR on Havenhurst Way to the cul-de-sac and return to Mildura. TR and follow Mildura N to Northstar Lane. TR and go E on Northstar to the cul-de-sac and then return to Mildura. TR and go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
WENTWORTH WAY (45 Minute Walk)
WENTWORTH WAY (45 Minute Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park in NW Upland, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain to 21st St/Benson Ave and TR. Go W on Benson to Wentworth Way and TR. Go N on Wentworth and TR on Miller Ct. Follow Miller to the cul-de-sac and return to Wentworth. TR and continue N on Wentworth to Meadow Ct and TR. Go E on Meadow to the cul-de-sac and return to Wentworth and TL. Go S on Wentworth to Benson and TR. Follow Benson to Mildura Ave and TR. Go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning at Mountain View Park in NW Upland, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain to 21st St/Benson Ave and TR. Go W on Benson to Wentworth Way and TR. Go N on Wentworth and TR on Miller Ct. Follow Miller to the cul-de-sac and return to Wentworth. TR and continue N on Wentworth to Meadow Ct and TR. Go E on Meadow to the cul-de-sac and return to Wentworth and TL. Go S on Wentworth to Benson and TR. Follow Benson to Mildura Ave and TR. Go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
EVERGREEN DRIVE NEIGHBORHOOD (1 1/2 Hour Walk)
EVERGREEN DRIVE NEIGHBORHOOD (1 ½ Hour Walk)
Beginning from Mountain View Park in NW Upland, go S on Mildura Ave and cross over Benson Ave on the crosswalk. TR and follow Benson SW to the 210 overpass. Turn around and go back NE on Benson to the first opening in the soundwall and go E on Evergreen Drive all the way to the end. Return W on Evergreen and explore all the cul-de-sacs going W, beginning with Cheshire Way, Moonbeam Circle, White Rabbit Trail, then exploring the park and continuing W to Briar Path, Shady Brook Way, Looking Glass Way and Ridgemont Court. Then follow Muirfield Ave N to Benson and return S to Evergreen and TR. Follow Evergreen W to Mitzi Court, then continue W to Birkdale Ave. TR on Birkdale and go N to Benson. TR and go NE on Benson to the Mildura crosswalk. TL and go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning from Mountain View Park in NW Upland, go S on Mildura Ave and cross over Benson Ave on the crosswalk. TR and follow Benson SW to the 210 overpass. Turn around and go back NE on Benson to the first opening in the soundwall and go E on Evergreen Drive all the way to the end. Return W on Evergreen and explore all the cul-de-sacs going W, beginning with Cheshire Way, Moonbeam Circle, White Rabbit Trail, then exploring the park and continuing W to Briar Path, Shady Brook Way, Looking Glass Way and Ridgemont Court. Then follow Muirfield Ave N to Benson and return S to Evergreen and TR. Follow Evergreen W to Mitzi Court, then continue W to Birkdale Ave. TR on Birkdale and go N to Benson. TR and go NE on Benson to the Mildura crosswalk. TL and go N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Monday, January 4, 2010
LEWIS HOMES NORTH (45 Minute Walk)
LEWIS HOMES NORTH (45 Minute Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go S on the W side of Mildura Ave to Somerset Way and TR. Go W on Somerset and TR on Oakhurst Ct to the cul-de-sac, return to Somerset and continue W to Wetherley Ct. TR on Wetherley to the cul-de-sac, return to Somerset and TR. Follow Somerset to the cul-de-sac and return to Hillcrest St. TR on Hillcrest and follow to the cul-de-sac. Return and TR on Morningside Ave. Continue and TR on Roxbury Ct and Mansfield Ct and follow these streets to their cul-de-sacs. Then return to Morningside and ontinue S to where the street bends L and becomes 21st St. Follow 21st E to Mildura, TL and follow Mildura N to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go S on the W side of Mildura Ave to Somerset Way and TR. Go W on Somerset and TR on Oakhurst Ct to the cul-de-sac, return to Somerset and continue W to Wetherley Ct. TR on Wetherley to the cul-de-sac, return to Somerset and TR. Follow Somerset to the cul-de-sac and return to Hillcrest St. TR on Hillcrest and follow to the cul-de-sac. Return and TR on Morningside Ave. Continue and TR on Roxbury Ct and Mansfield Ct and follow these streets to their cul-de-sacs. Then return to Morningside and ontinue S to where the street bends L and becomes 21st St. Follow 21st E to Mildura, TL and follow Mildura N to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
ACACIA WEST NEIGHBORHOOD (45 Minute Walk)
ACACIA WEST NEIGHBORHOOD (45-Minute Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go S on Mildura Ave and cross over to the W side of the street. Continue S on Mildura to Benson Ave, TR and go SW to Brookdale Dr. TR and go W on Brookdale to Sunny Creek Ct. TL on Sunnycreek and follow to the cul-de-sac and then return and follow Springland Lane E, past the park to Brookdale. TR and follow Brookdale E to Benson. TL and go NE on Benson to Mildura Ave. TL on Mildura and go N to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go S on Mildura Ave and cross over to the W side of the street. Continue S on Mildura to Benson Ave, TR and go SW to Brookdale Dr. TR and go W on Brookdale to Sunny Creek Ct. TL on Sunnycreek and follow to the cul-de-sac and then return and follow Springland Lane E, past the park to Brookdale. TR and follow Brookdale E to Benson. TL and go NE on Benson to Mildura Ave. TL on Mildura and go N to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
ACACIA NEIGHBORHOOD (1 1/4 HOUR WALK)
ACACIA NEIGHBORHOOD (1 ¼ Hour Walk)
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain, crossing 21st St/Benson Ave and continue S to Running Creek Drive, the main entrance to Acacia. TR on Running Creek and go through the gate, crossing Stonebrook Lane and Creekwood Lane before turning L by the pool on Brookdale Dr. Follow Brookdale SE to Willowbrook Lane and TR. Explore Clearwater Circle on the R on the way W to the cul-de-sac, then return E to Brookdale. TL on Creekwood Lane and go N to Brookside St and follow E to the cul-de-sac and then return to the W cul-de-sac. Return S on Creekwood to Brookdale. Continue E on Brookdale, exploring Springcreek Circle on the R and then continue E and TR on Clearspring Dr. Go E on Clearspring, go N on Brookside Dr and TL into Creekside Court cul-de-sac. Return E to Brookside, TL and continue N, following the E perimeter sidewalk between the pool and basketball court to the north side of Acacia and then return S on Stonebrook Lane. TR on Running Creek Drive and go W to Creekwood Lane. TR and go N to Brookhaven Place. TR and follow E and then N on Bridgewood Way and continue W on Cloverbrook Lane to Brookhaven and then TR on Creekwood and follow S to Running Creek. TR on Running Creek and follow W past the basketball court and pool, TR on Brookdale Drive and TR on Benson. Cross Benson at the crosswalk and continue N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Beginning at Mountain View Park, go E on Mildura Ave to Mountain Ave and TR. Go S on Mountain, crossing 21st St/Benson Ave and continue S to Running Creek Drive, the main entrance to Acacia. TR on Running Creek and go through the gate, crossing Stonebrook Lane and Creekwood Lane before turning L by the pool on Brookdale Dr. Follow Brookdale SE to Willowbrook Lane and TR. Explore Clearwater Circle on the R on the way W to the cul-de-sac, then return E to Brookdale. TL on Creekwood Lane and go N to Brookside St and follow E to the cul-de-sac and then return to the W cul-de-sac. Return S on Creekwood to Brookdale. Continue E on Brookdale, exploring Springcreek Circle on the R and then continue E and TR on Clearspring Dr. Go E on Clearspring, go N on Brookside Dr and TL into Creekside Court cul-de-sac. Return E to Brookside, TL and continue N, following the E perimeter sidewalk between the pool and basketball court to the north side of Acacia and then return S on Stonebrook Lane. TR on Running Creek Drive and go W to Creekwood Lane. TR and go N to Brookhaven Place. TR and follow E and then N on Bridgewood Way and continue W on Cloverbrook Lane to Brookhaven and then TR on Creekwood and follow S to Running Creek. TR on Running Creek and follow W past the basketball court and pool, TR on Brookdale Drive and TR on Benson. Cross Benson at the crosswalk and continue N on Mildura to Mountain View Park.
Mark Overt Skilbred
NBA STANDINGS FOR JANUARY 2, 2010
NBA STANDINGS FOR JANUARY 2, 2010
1. Lakers .813
2. Cleveland .771
3. Boston .750
4. Orlando .727
5. Dallas .697
6. Atlanta .656
7. San Antonio .645
8. Denver .636
9. Portland .629
10. Phoenix .618
11. Houston .588
12. Oklahoma City .545
13. Utah .545
14. Miami .516
15. Memphis .500
16. New Orleans .484
17. Toronto .471
18. Chicago .452
19. Clippers .438
20. Sacramento .424
21. Charlotte .419
22. Milwaukee .419
23. New York .394
24. Detroit .344
25. Washington .323
26. Indiana .313
27. Golden State .281
28. Philadelphia .281
29. Minnesota .200
30. New Jersey .091
As 2010 begins, after more than two full months of play, the Los Angeles Lakers still remain on top of the NBA as they continue their march towards their 16th NBA title and coach Phil Jackson’s 11’th championship team. Cleveland has roared to life and is threatening to overtake last year’s champions, while Phoenix and Miami struggle to maintain their positions.
Mark Overt Skilbred
1. Lakers .813
2. Cleveland .771
3. Boston .750
4. Orlando .727
5. Dallas .697
6. Atlanta .656
7. San Antonio .645
8. Denver .636
9. Portland .629
10. Phoenix .618
11. Houston .588
12. Oklahoma City .545
13. Utah .545
14. Miami .516
15. Memphis .500
16. New Orleans .484
17. Toronto .471
18. Chicago .452
19. Clippers .438
20. Sacramento .424
21. Charlotte .419
22. Milwaukee .419
23. New York .394
24. Detroit .344
25. Washington .323
26. Indiana .313
27. Golden State .281
28. Philadelphia .281
29. Minnesota .200
30. New Jersey .091
As 2010 begins, after more than two full months of play, the Los Angeles Lakers still remain on top of the NBA as they continue their march towards their 16th NBA title and coach Phil Jackson’s 11’th championship team. Cleveland has roared to life and is threatening to overtake last year’s champions, while Phoenix and Miami struggle to maintain their positions.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Saturday, January 2, 2010
A PRAYER AS WE BEGIN NEW YEAR 2010
A PRAYER AS WE BEGIN NEW YEAR 2010
Dear Lord,
As we make our lists of new year’s resolutions, help us not to forget our dependence on You for everything that exists and the possibilities for good, which You alone have created: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the land we live in, the families that we have been given to understand, appreciate, love and serve, the world and all of its inhabitants, both great and small, the universe around us with all of its mysteries, wonders and possibilities. We know that You made us and all of these things for Your good pleasure and purposes, and that it has pleased You to share them with us, and for this we are truly grateful. We know that ultimately Your Will is accomplished and that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.” Help us to further Your Kingdom by assisting You in every way possible. And as we look forward to this new year, help us to pursue the good in everything we do, look for ways to help each other and the vast world around us, to be a light of hope for those who are suffering and a beacon of truth for those who have lost their way. Help us to focus on the eternal realities which last when everything else has faded away. Most of all, help us to trust You in all of the small and large ways in which You have provided for all of our needs. Help us to help You in Your Kingdom. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
Mark Overt Skilbred
Dear Lord,
As we make our lists of new year’s resolutions, help us not to forget our dependence on You for everything that exists and the possibilities for good, which You alone have created: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the land we live in, the families that we have been given to understand, appreciate, love and serve, the world and all of its inhabitants, both great and small, the universe around us with all of its mysteries, wonders and possibilities. We know that You made us and all of these things for Your good pleasure and purposes, and that it has pleased You to share them with us, and for this we are truly grateful. We know that ultimately Your Will is accomplished and that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.” Help us to further Your Kingdom by assisting You in every way possible. And as we look forward to this new year, help us to pursue the good in everything we do, look for ways to help each other and the vast world around us, to be a light of hope for those who are suffering and a beacon of truth for those who have lost their way. Help us to focus on the eternal realities which last when everything else has faded away. Most of all, help us to trust You in all of the small and large ways in which You have provided for all of our needs. Help us to help You in Your Kingdom. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
Mark Overt Skilbred
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