100 and Done! (Countries that is...)

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We are back! This last trip brought the total countries visited to 100! It is a crazy milestone. It is difficult, time-consuming and can be (IS) expensive. After I got back from Antarctica in 2007, I started thinking about it. After 2010 I was thinking about it more (as I moved from NY to Georgia) and in 2014 it had become a real goal. Between Angie and I we have been to 109 Countries. We are tied at 100 countries each. We have 9 countries different in our lists. For example, I have been to San Marino. She has not. She has been to Israel. I have not, yet. There has been some fun competition in this area. That's why we had to establish rules. 1.) Must be listed (as a country) with the US State Department 2.) Being in an airport doesn't count. You have to get through immigration somehow and not in a DMZ or a no-mans-land 3.) A passport stamp is not required. I have been to Canada, Paraguay, and Uruguay without getting my passport stamped. There are friendly borders in many places...
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I was thinking about some of the best speeches the world has ever known (Disclaimer: English language, recorded, rich media, history). One that always comes back is the one of Martin Luther King Jr,. Of course, Winston Churchill and our great U.S. Presidents are right in there too. Fantastic!

Most people do not realize that he (King) was killed (look up assassinate in the dictionary) shortly after he gave this speech. Consider that fact as you listen to this audio (about 19 minutes, scroll ahead to the last 6 minutes or the last 3 minutes for most of us people on a busy schedule. Just make sure you understand the "if I had sneezed" reference). It is worthwhile. I apologize for the real audio format. Many people do not realize that RA is a demonic format.

Toastmasters Note: Listen for when King confuses 1200 Miles with 1200 feet. He moves through the speech fludidly and without reflection. Skill. He moves on with confidence and grace.

Written Transcript.

I have a dream speech (about 18 minutes, how many commercials is that on TV?)

Other than that, school is challenging, work is challenging, the farm is challenging. I picked up three more laying chickens from Cousin's Liz and Ken. Currently, the pecking order is being established between the Rhode Island Reds (incumbents) and the Barred Rock (challengers). No, I am not having cock fights. I now have 3 of each breed and they now share space. They are all very nice chickens. I have two eggs today from the challengers.

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