Anonymous Distributor

I’m sure that you followed the U.S. presidential election and inauguration as closely as I did. I liked a lot of what I heard, but certainly not everything. In my humble opinion, the Congress remains the real “wild card” no matter who is sitting in the oval office. That’s because the people who populate Congress are politicians, and that’s a group of people I’ve never been a big fan of. Our prayers should be directed toward the making of wise decisions in Washington that will actually turn this country around.

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I really like the following quote made by our new President:

“We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we’ve been told that we’re not ready, or that we shouldn’t try, or that we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes we can.”

These are words that stir a heart and stir a soul, and reassure us that “this too shall pass.”

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John Shiely, chairman and CEO of Briggs & Stratton Corporation, was recently re-elected to the board of directors of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. Scotts is an interesting company. It calls itself “the world’s large marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with products for professional horticulture as well.” Its market-leading brands include Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Ortho, and Smith and Hawken, as well as the consumer brand Roundup, which it markets exclusively in North America but is owned by Monsanto. Murray, when it was alive and well in Tennessee, manufactured lawn mowers for Home Depot using the Scotts brand. Because it is such a strong brand, it seems logical that perhaps we will once again see Scotts-branded lawn mowers in the marketplace. Time will tell.

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In June 2008, Agri-Fab filed an anti-dumping petition urging the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce to investigate unfairly traded tow-behind lawn-grooming equipment from China. In a preliminary ruling on Jan. 23, 2009, the Department of Commerce agreed with Agri-Fab and will now require importers of these Chinese products to pay the U.S. government anti-dumping duties, which will on average be 324 percent of the product costs charged by the Chinese suppliers. The products covered include lawn sweepers, lawn seed and grass spreaders, turf aerators and dethatchers. Agri-Fab President Michael Cohan said, “No American firm, especially in today’s economy, should be required to compete against Chinese producers who are selling products similar to ours at less than our costs of materials.” Congratulations to Agri-Fab for saving American jobs and an American industry!

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Every time I see the following types of quizzes make the rounds via e-mail, I’m reminded of what truly is important in life. Don’t answer the questions. Just read all of them, and you should get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman Trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name 10 people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How would you do on such a quiz?

The point is none of us remembers the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

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Here’s another quiz. See how you fare on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

Give yourself credit for remembering the people who really made a difference in your life. They didn’t have the most credentials, the most money or the most awards. They just cared about you.

Whose life have you made a difference in recently?

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Contact the Anonymous Distributor at anonymous.distributor@gmail.com or read his blog at www.anonymousdistributor.blogspot.com.