182. Sky is bright, beautiful now

Ozark Sky Way was his racing name, though he is known as "Sky" these days. From the dog tracks in Alabama, Sky is a beautiful, brindle-colored greyhound who came to Erie Shore Greyhound Adoption of Ohio last year looking for a home to live out his "retirement."

My wife has long admired these beautiful animals, and always wanted to care for them after they were unceremoniously discarded by their racing organizations. Like many people, she believed that they needed large amounts of space to run around in, but that is not actually the case. They are often described as "couch potatoes," despite the ability to run up to 45 miles per hour. It is recommended, however, that they live in a home that has a fenced-in yard due to their speed and attraction to small animals.

We started inquiring about the possible adoption of a greyhound last December; we have only had one dog since we lost Easton last February. The more we learned, the more remarkable we found this breed to be. Unfortunately though, the more we learned, the more we were disgusted with the way they are bred, raced and then tossed aside when they no longer have the ability to make money for their owners-either through racing or breeding.

We've only had Sky for a couple of weeks and it's been a transition. He frolics and "roos" when he gets excited-with his long legs and tail moving in every direction. Petey, our American Bulldog mix, is a bit intimidated by his size and speed. Sky is sweet, engaged and learning to assimilate into our home.

Like racehorses, greyhounds are meticulously bred and their linages carefully documented for generations by the National Greyhound Organization. We saw several hounds as they came to the adoption agency from a track in Florida, there was Cameron, Pearl, Sammy and Blazer-just to name a few. They come in near racing condition, very thin, with bulging hind quarters. A breed dedicated to the optimization of speed.

Also like racehorses, owners do not have an interest in "retired" animals. These animals are a business and an investment. According to Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies, a good place for first time owners like ourselves to begin learning about the breed, before the 1980s nearly all of the greyhounds were killed after their racing career. It states that, "it was estimated that 60,000 Greyhounds were being destroyed each year."

Things have improved since then and now up to 18,000 Greyhounds are made available each year for adoption-though this is still more than the number born every year. Through the hard work of as many as 200 adoption agencies these animals are made available throughout the country. As of 2010, eleven states have expressly banned dog racing, and there are fewer than ten states with operational dog tracks.

But there are still issues and states of denial within the racing community. The Greyhound Racing Association of America claims, "it's easy for extreme animal rights groups to misrepresent the facts. Often, people are led to believe these campaigns are about animal welfare, but in fact that's not the case. These groups oppose all animal use, whether it's for food, clothing, medical research, entertainment or any other purpose. The same people who oppose greyhound racing think it's wrong to eat a hamburger, wear a leather jacket or go to the zoo."

I do oppose using animals for any of those things-and I am certainly morally against exploiting animals for profit. But, changing the subject, and the using the label of "extreme," is an attempt to avoid the issue.

Just this week there were two reports concerning the welfare of greyhounds.

The first was out of Ireland, where a mass grave of former racing dogs was discovered. The Greyhound Rescue Association of Ireland (GRAI) believes, however, "this to be only the tip of the iceberg. Last year there were 3,271 registered greyhound litters in Ireland. A conservative average of seven pups per litter makes 22,904 dogs, however less than 16,000 greyhounds were registered that year to race at 12 months old. Taking into account the number of greyhounds that retire each year due to age or injury GRAI estimate between 8,000 to 10,000 greyhounds disappear every year."

More sad news was reported by the Houston Chronicle which stated that, "Scores of racing dogs have become ill and six have died as a yet-undiagnosed illness, possibly canine influenza, swept through kennels at La Marque's Gulf Greyhound Park." It seems that the illness is contagious and very dangerous-particularly for dogs who spend their youth confined in kennels. The dog owners noted that the situation was "financially devastating," but that their concern was for the dogs.

Considering that both stories were widely reported in the media, I am assuming that the welfare of these dogs is of interest to more than just those "extreme" animal rights groups. Last weekend we took Sky to a "Meet and Greet" at the Midway Mall, and the love of dogs seems to be a universal language. It was fun to meet such a diversity of dog lovers.

April just happens to be "adopt a hound month" and it is a chance to learn about these amazing, but unfortunately exploited, dogs. It is also an opportunity to consider an alternate form of entertainment. It eighteen races, Ozark Sky Way only won one race; now retired, Sky is on track to win our hearts.

181. Genes or what's in the jeans?

We often hear, when it comes to analyzing the risk for a chronic disease or medical condition, about the role that family genetics or family history plays in increasing risk. In fact, it is often described as one of the top risk factors for heart disease and some cancers.

However, is that really what is going on? Is it really genetics, or is it related to diet and lifestyle--or maybe the combination of the two?

According to Dr. Pam Popper, of the Wellness Forum in Columbus, Ohio, the role of genetics has been overstated, "In fact, research has shown that the role of genetics in health outcomes is actually quite small," she said.

Dr. Popper continues, "Diet and lifestyle are the biggest determinates of disease, not genes. This does not mean that genes are not important, and many people do carry genes that predispose them to develop certain diseases. But whether or not these genes are expressed is determined by the choices you make. You cannot choose your genes, but you can choose your diet and lifestyle habits, which then in turn, impacts genetic expression."

It makes sense that if family members share the same diet and lifestyle of their parents that they would also be susceptible to the chronic disease of their parents. In other words, if eating a high cholesterol and high fat diet were factors in my father developing heart disease; would it not also be a factor in me developing heart disease in the future since I grew up eating like my father?

The danger in identifying genetics as a risk factor is that some people throw their hands up in the air and dismiss accountability. It makes making bad decisions easier, as one could reason, "I am predisposed to this condition, and it really doesn't matter how I live or eat--it's not my fault." Or it could suspend the adoption of an uncomfortable healthy diet out of the fear that the changes will be all for naught due to the genetic predisposition.

Conversely, it may lead to overconfidence--for if unfavorable genes are of considerable risk, then favorable genes should offer a degree of heredity protection. But that has not proven to be the case.

For example, Asian women, living on the traditional Asian plant-based diet, have one of the lowest breast cancer rates in the world. The Asians had long lived a relatively closed society--and one might surmise that they are genetically predisposed against cancer.

However, when Asian women come to America and start eating the high-fat, highly-processed American diet, which often contains a large percentage of meat and dairy, they begin to develop breast cancer at rates similar to American women.

Information on the Susan G. Komen website confirms this trend, "Immigrants in the United States usually have breast cancer rates similar to those in their home country. Over generations however, the daughters and granddaughters of immigrants take on a risk similar to U.S. women." Specifically in regards to Asian breast cancer rates, "When Asian women migrate to the U.S., their risk of developing breast cancer increases up to six-fold. Asian immigrant women living in the U.S. for as little as a decade had an 80 percent higher risk of breast cancer than new immigrants."

This seems to offer further credence that it might be diet and lifestyle which is the predominant cause of chronic disease-and not just genetic predisposition. In regards, to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, perhaps we should be "eating for the cure," not racing for it. After all, the answer seems to be right there on their website, yet they do not seem to advocate a plant-based diet as a primary method of prevention? (Instead, they partner up to sell pink buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken.)

Genes are certainly important and cannot be discounted in many circumstances, but I agree with Dr. Popper who summarizes, "having a gene is not a life sentence. . . . If you go through life thinking that genes are responsible for your health, you are a helpless victim. But if you know diet and lifestyle determine your health outcomes, you get the control back!"

180. A moment can change your life

For me, one of the interesting things about the Super Bowl, beside the commercials, is the legacy left on the players and coaches. In a "win-at-all-cost" sports society, the label of "Super Bowl Champion" or "Super Bowl goat" lasts seemingly eternal. Unfortunately, often the margin between victory and defeat is ever so slight, because one play, sometimes even a few inches, can change the outcome of a game or a career.

There is a difference in a moment that changes the course of the game and one that changes the outcome of a game. The former often happens early in the game, and may affect strategy or momentum, but ultimately does not by itself decide the game. The latter has a direct result in the outcome of the game. In other words, had that one moment, that one play, or those few inches, gone the other way, the outcome would have been different.

Not surprisingly, this Super Bowl had its share of moments. There were many plays that changed or could have changed the course of the game. The Giants fumbled several times, and the one time the Patriots recovered it, they were penalized and the turnover was negated. There were also plays that changed the outcome of the game--the most obvious being the pass that Wes Welker dropped in the fourth quarter. Had he made that catch, it is likely that the Patriots would have won.

The fate of a team often lies on these moments, and some of sports' greatest achievements relied on some good fortunate. These "game changers" are often the result of a bad bounce, bad call, or bad play (like missing a kick or dropping a pass)--something the benefitting team did nothing or very little to cause. In another word, "luck."

Looking at this playoff season in particular, both the Patriots and Giants had some breaks along the way. It's easy to look back, such as if Tony Romo of the Cowboys connects with a wide open Miles Austin in their regular season game against the Giants, the Giants likely don't even make the playoffs--and none of this ever happens. Other moments include the two 49er fumbled punts against the Giants and the field goal miss by the Ravens in the AFC Championship game against the Patriots. Today Eli Manning is a hero and maybe even a Hall of Famer, but he could have easily been sitting at home watching the entire playoffs on his couch.

It's these moments that change the outcomes of games that can frustrate sports fans, and Cleveland fans are no stranger to "The Shot," "The Fumble" and "The Drive"--all of which changed the history of Cleveland sports.

Conversely, through Browns-colored glasses, it seems that the Steelers have had their favorable moments over the years--some of which changed the course of the game; others that changed the outcome of a game, or even a season. The dropped pass by Jackie Smith of the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII, the Immaculate Reception, the bad call against the Oilers the 1979 AFC Championship Game, more bad calls in the Super Bowl against Seattle and even Arizona, and of course, the pass Dennis Northcutt dropped that cost the Browns a playoff victory against the Steelers in 2002.

Teams will often say that the game should not come down to one play, but it often does. What often also happens is the overreaction of winner and loser. Some will humbly admit that the ball bounced their way, but few apologize for the spoils of victory. I always thought that if the game is close at the end, we risked a bad break determining the outcome.

And, every year, despite the fact that the losing team made it to the Super Bowl, and may have been champion except for a couple of key plays, we see the post-game overreaction. I suppose it is a result of the stage they are playing on that we often experience the exaggeration of the loss.

Sports are often a microcosm for life. We all have moments that change the course of our lives-the chance meeting of our spouse, the car accident that would not have happened if we did not have to go back in the house for our keys, or the winning lottery ticket we purchased with our last dollar. These are things we likely could not have controlled--but yet affected the course of our lives. Fortunately, in most cases, we have time to affect the outcome of our lives--and have that Super Bowl moment.

179. Self-promotion fuels campaigns

Generally speaking, I think every elective office should be contested at the end of each term. It is true that it is a burden for politicians to stop and campaign every two to four years-while they and their staff, and even their programs, live in uncertainty-but political office is a representative position. It is supposed to be about what the people you represent want. Elections are the exchange of competing ideas, electing the person who has the ability to present, and ultimately deliver, the community perspective that most represents his or her constituents.

In this respect, I am glad to see that there will be competition for the county commissioner positions next fall. I think I have met all of the candidates and both the incumbents, and think they are all good, quality candidates who genuinely want to see the best for the community. I am looking forward to a practical and specific exchange of ideas and am not writing here to endorse any of them.

And, as with any election, let us hope that it is this exchange of ideas to an informed public that decides the election-and not the typical clichés, philosophical generalities, marketing gimmicks or grandstanding.

The truth is that campaigners are salesman; they are selling both a vision and themselves. We need to remember that fundamental concept when they campaign for our vote.

John Maxwell, a well-known speaker and writer on leadership agrees, "All leaders are salespersons. Though they may not be peddling a product, leaders are selling a picture of what the future could be and should be. They seek to persuade others to buy-in to a particular vision."

The question is which vision we will support.

It seems that every candidate is running on "fiscal responsibility," so much so that it is a non-issue. After all, nobody ever runs on fiscal irresponsibility. Asking if a candidate, in the current economic climate, will work to conserve resources, is like asking a car salesman if the car comes with tires. It falls into the "duh," category.

Unfortunately, many campaigns today are managed with an aim in manipulating voters rather than presenting real ideas to voters on the community's most difficult issues. Campaigning often falls back on banalities, like "fiscal responsibility" which means nothing until we understand how that is going to be accomplished. Where everyone wants small government (myself included), nobody wants the consequences of small government when it affects their individual interest. For some this interest is social services, others safety or infrastructure. The truth is that it takes very little skill to balance a budget if there is no consideration for the consequences. Any child with an elementary grasp of mathematics can cut programs and budgets to make revenue equal expenses. Promoting fiscal responsibly simply by cutting expenses is taking the easy way out.

What we need today are skilled leaders who can deliver us out of the current economic climate of stagnate revenue growth. We need practicality, experience and specifics more than we need the marketing of ideology.

Ultimately though, part of the sales job for all candidates is marketing. This combination of self-promotion and media-seeking gimmicks probably has the most influence in determining who wins an election-but says the least about the ideas, integrity and character of a candidate. Self-defining adjectives (always three-apparently two does not say enough and four must be arrogant) is utterly worthless in assessing a candidate. So are fancy websites, crisply-printed campaign flyers, television advertisements, cute slogans and conversation props. I want someone who is real, not someone who is trying to sell me a car. I appreciate candidates who are good listeners, but I also want to hear their ideas-real ideas. Voters need to do their research and not be limited to party affiliation, family name or good looks.

Real leadership is the ability to make difficult things happen. We need people who will go out into the community and pick it up by the boot straps. We need leaders who will fight to bring businesses to the area; who will go out and get public and private grants when they are available. We need people who will get sales tax increases passed when they are necessary. We need people who will do the right thing, even if it might be unpopular at first.

Leaders have conviction and believe in what they are doing; they believe in their ideas, ethics and morals. They feel this conviction is best for the community and they seek the community's endorsement. There is always room for compromise, but I am cautious of those candidates who play both sides. It feels like I am being sold snake oil.

A leader, to me, is someone like Dan Martin, who fought to bring a recreation center to Amherst. He could have walked away when voters decided they were unwilling to pay for it. He could even have been condescending or spiteful. But Martin was neither. Not only did Martin not accept the answer that voters delivered; he used other community resources and compromise to find another way. He got it done when many would have just given up. He delivered his vision and conviction-and the community will benefit from it.

In this way, I want to know how candidates are going to make it happen. I want to know the skills and experience they have in reaching out into the community and improving it. Experience matters and ideas alone do not make a candidate qualified. Finally, what I want is elected officials who are committed to the area. I do not want candidates looking to make a career of politics, and using Lorain County as a stepping stone.

Let us choose the most promising leaders, based on experience, skill, education, vision and conviction, for all of our elected positions, and not just the best campaigner.