Category Archives: Latest News

The latest news and updates from Joe Wooldridge. Oftentimes pertaining to new businesses in Kansas City, concerts, art fairs and more.

NFL Week 6 Picks: Chiefs Over Raiders and Jags Put Up A Fight in Denver

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NFL Week 6 PredictionsWelcome to the Chief's Kingdom

I’ve always wanted to officially do this. So here goes:

Thursday Game:

New York Giants at Chicago Bears
Giants continue tailspin, Bears need a win to keep pace in Division.
Bears 28, Giants 14

Sunday Games:

Cincinatti Bengals at Buffalo Bills
Bengals continue to flex and Bills rookie QB gets tough lesson.
Bengals 31, Bills 17

Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens
Green Bay will come in more motivated. Not sure which Ravens team will show up. Anyone got a coin to flip?
Packers 35, Ravens 28

Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns
An ugly game for Detroit with Megatron highly questionable to suit up. Cleveland seems to be getting the job done lately even though they traded T-Rich and their QB shuffle rolls on. I’ll take the home team.
Browns 28, Lions 24

Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings
I expect an emotion Vikings team delivering an excellent effort. Especially from ‘All Day’.
Vikings 38, Panthers 21

St. Louis Rams at Houston Texans
Schaub gets well this week by thumping a snake-bit Rams team. Bradford continues to look confused.
Texans 42, Rams 20

Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs finally get offense rolling and unwrap Dwayne Bowe this week. A dominating performance and a statement game by the Chiefs. All this in the middle of the World’s biggest BBQ party and LOUDEST NFL stadium (Sorry Seattle).
Chiefs 44, Raiders 10

Pittsburg Steelers at New York Jets
The Ugly Bowl. I see Steelers rookie LaVeon Bell having a geat day against the J-E-T-S very tough defense.
Steelers 24, Jets 20

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lots of question marks here. I believe the ego of Chip Kelly wills this victory.
Eagles 31, Buccaneers 20

Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos
A 28-point spread? I’ll take the Jags and the points. I predict an actual game. Henne has a career day, ‘Sooner Magic’ makes an appearance in Denver and the Broncos look remarkably human. Denver still wins.
Broncos 38, Jaguars 28

Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks
Titans win by out-muscling the Seahawks. Seattle loses some mojo and a home game.
Titans 23, Seahawks 20

New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots
New Orleans is going to do to the Pats what the Pats used to do to everyone else. Wilfork is missed.
Saints 35, Patriots 14

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
Kaep has an injured foot. Cardinals smell blood.
Cardinals 27, 49ers 20

Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
Romo earns his money this week as the ‘Boys roll in Jerryville.
Cowboys 41, Redskins 20

Monday Night Game:

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
Andrew Luck is even better this year. T-Rich gets back on track. Bad news for the Chargers.
Colts 34, Chargers 27

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Taking the Leap of Faith, part 1

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Founding a business of any kind requires many things of the person ‘crazy’ enough to ‘go for it’. It takes a lot of guts to jump out there and say “Okay World, I’m starting a business named _(x)_, and we will be providing _(y)_ to the _(z)_ market”.

Taking a leap of faith.I’ve decided to start a series of blog posts devoted to exploring the many things that go into starting your own business. There’s a lot to it.

First, I admire anyone that has the guts to take the ‘Leap of Faith’ and start their own business – it is an exciting and scary proposition. In addition to starting my own business, I have had the pleasure of consulting scores of new entrepreneurs/business owners (and potential ones) in nearly every industry for over nine years.

There are many things that entrepreneurs have in common across all industries, the foremost being that for every business that you see – there is a person(s) with a dream behind it. Once you fully realize and appreciate what it takes to manifest a dream, you can’t help but appreciate the journey that someone has undertaken. I believe everyone should start their own business at some point in life – even a smaller business – just for the experience.

There is magic there when someone endeavors to make their dreams a reality.

I will explore some of the elements and milestones that come with starting and building a business. From Goethe quotes and interviews with local business owners – to ‘crazy energy’ and ‘war rooms’.

When I jumped in and started my company, I did not have all of the answers, I was not able to build a business plan for investors, it was impossible – as there were no other businesses with a business model to use for comparison.

What I did have was passion, drive and vision. I KNEW that the business was going to work. I was ABSOLUTELY sure. Once I took stock of my experiences, expertise and resources (I.e. the rest of my life), I knew I could make it happen – the idea was so compelling that there was no way that I could keep myself from ‘going for it’.

Everyone comes up with ideas at different times in their life for new products, services, types of business, etc., but it is the ideas that are tremendously compelling that ‘snare’ you.

One thought I wrote in my journal:

“You can’t start out with all of the answers. You have to go out and earn them.”

 

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Infinite Light (New Poem from June 5, 2013)

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Infinite Light

what fools we are
Infinite Light is our power source - we need to spread light - it is our function.little lamps of divinity
shining, outshining and dimming
blinking on for the first time
blinking out for the last
worried about the style of our shade
our placement

our function is to shine elegantly, exquisitely
and amplify our brightness unto the world
little fools that blink and worry
be glad for charge and connection
to The Almighty power-soul-source
our charge is given
our brightness to the world is our purpose

Joe Wooldridge
June 5th, 2013 @ 3:28am.

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Defining the Future – Kansas City’s Opportunity

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Dear People and Companies of the World,

Young and old, big and small – the future is ready, are you? It spreads in the daring minds of pioneers. Architects of the future are now increasingly valued in the World – more than at any time in recent memory. Those minds are being encouraged and fed greater resources.

Resources to build, room to dream, frontiers to conquer, sails to set and horizons to eye.

It is happening.

Today, explorers and adventurers have the ‘royal ear’ and the New World is here once again. It is our same old World seen through transformative eyes . . .

New Kansas City, New Austin soon.

What will we call that place on the slopes? New Provo sounds nice!

Google is sending out the fearless, the bold, and are planting flags of the future in the Heart of America. A new product launching called Google Fiber – and running glass – fiber optic cable, to connect the World in ways in which we should have already been connected. As daring and bold as it is, what we are seeing is merely the groundwork for what is to come – people connecting, sharing, building new things – better things for a better tomorrow.

Ford, Chevy, Sony, Microsoft, Apple and Small Businesses – there are new ‘roads’ being built for your products and services. Get off your laurels – the time to act is now – and ever now.

Kansas City Areas Eligible for Google Fiber (as of 05/08/2013).

The only foes in this bright and exciting New World are those keepers of the old order – fat, complacent cats dining on old hoarded cheese. The Fiberbahn is being built, line-by-line, street-by-street, pole-by-pole, city-by-city, and mind-by-mind. When someone jumps in to build a better World, a better way – open your mind and wallet and get on board. Buy-in and build.

Enjoy being part of building and creating the new and improved – FOR REAL.

Don’t think 20% better, or twice as good . . . .

Think 100 Times – Faster, More Powerful. The old ISP and cable feudal lords know that the ‘gig is up’. Sad that someone entirely outside the industry had to come in and build a platform for the future – but there is much excitement, because a fiber-optic network is finally underway. The clamor for Google Fiber is resounding throughout our land – ask any city leader about the calls and emails that they get, saying “Can we get it? When can we get it??!”.

Indeed. Thank you, Google for having the vision and guts to begin building what will hopefully grow into a nationwide fiber-optic network. And thank you for choosing Kansas City as your first market.

The light is shining, the future is here – and it is double-parked . . . Let’s Go! Envision how our bright future will look and help build it.

There are no monsters in the uncharted waters. The Earth is not flat. The waters of the oceans don’t spill off the edge of the map into oblivion.

There are new vistas to behold, new ground to break – and it is all around you as far as you can see – wherever you are.

I see the pioneers of today building the World that they want to live in. Elon Musk is building a fleet for travel into space with plans for colonizing MARS. Ree Drummond, ‘The Pioneer Woman’ has built a fairy tale into a televised, and best-selling reality in Pawhuska, Oklahoma! I can’t wait to dine at her new restaurant that is in the works (from what a little bird told me).

I LOVE Ree, she calls me 'Josefus'!
Ree and ‘Josefus’

Google is laying a fiber optic network which will transform the way we live in ways that we are just now starting to imagine – and providing tools and opportunity – necessary means for us, our children and the leaders of tomorrow in America – to employ.

Build the future, think of ONE HUNDRED TIMES . . . Bigger, Better, Stronger, Faster.

Be part of a New Renaissance of all communications, commerce, products, services and their exponential impact of their application.

Leave complacency behind – on the couch, in the cubicle. Re-think goals, dare to dream ‘What if?’ and put on your running shoes and join in.

I’ll see you on the frontier.

– Joe

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Alee (New Poem from May 1, 2013)

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Alee

At times in my mind
So perfectly locked away – so freeLove never dies, it sails at night
Free from sailing and crying
From flailing and worry
The slight tinnitus rings
Like a billion faint nano-locusts

Times of inner peace amid global turmoil
God is present, biding, tending
Lending a loving hand
Guiding this ship captain through
Rocks, reefs, mortal enemies, and Djinni
Nailing whitecaps at full sail

Alee I sit in my mind
Pondering the mundane, the obtuse
The infinite, and the unlikely
Nascently seeking uncharted waters
Beauteous mermaids and angels
To break the heart of darkness

Shattered so strongly sending fifty million
Diamond splinters raining upward and outward
To light the infinite sky
With reminders of Love’s courage
To show that someone cared so much
A universe, born of fury, chasing forever away

Joseph Wooldridge
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 @11:54am.

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An Alleluia Dressed In Black (New Poem from March 2, 2013)

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An Alleluia Dressed In Blackjulie ann palmer, kristen lamourie, joan severance, sabrina gibson

Hey dynamite, lightly-tousled Angel-sprite
Did you levitate the night?
Elegance saunters, subtle swagger
I want to know about this river
When it runs so fierce a current
And lays aside cool eddying pools.

Sent from mountains far away
After falling from the sky
Nourishing gift from Heaven
– prayed for, danced for
Dressed in thunder
Heralded by lightning skies.

Delicate pearls of life
Driven by myriad winds
– to awaken
– to remember
– to send doubt running . . .
A torrent.

An Alleluia dressed in black,
Washing away the drought of fears,
Pattering on the roof of the mind,
Melodies to the surrounded, easily
The most gorgeous thing I have ever seen.

Joseph Wooldridge
Saturday, March 2nd, 2013 @2:55am.

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Make Every Day Count in 2013

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2013 - Your Best Year EverI am going to endeavor to Make Every Day Count – day by day in 2013 – and track it. I want 2013 to be my best year so far in my life on a number of levels.

This is not my list of goals for 2013, this is my approach to attaining those goals (in addition to a written plan).

I figure if I can make a concerted effort to keep track of my daily efforts to make every day count – then I have a chance to really realize some dreams.

What would make the day count?

I guess that is a personal question (and dependent on one’s goals for the year). Here is my take:

1. Monday-Friday will be my primary work week.
2. Saturday will be for fun/rest,
3. Sunday will be for God/rest/fun.
4. I will keep a record of what I did each day to make the day count (some will be better than others).
5. If I am sick that day, I will consider resting, recovering and taking care of my health to be the optimum way to make the day count.
6. I may spend time working on Saturday/Sunday as needed for projects.
7. I may spend time M-F for R&R to counteract #6.
8. Fitness (stretching/weightlifting/running) will be a regular point to Make Every Day Count.
a. If I feel better every day then every day will be much more productive.
9. Spending time with family, loved ones and friends will be an important part of Making Every Day Count.
10. I will stretch my mind with reading, learning, music, art and travel.

It will be interesting to keep track of this Making Every Day Count program. In addition to growth, joy and abundance – I want to enjoy KNOWING that I am not spinning my wheels, having unproductive days or wasting time.

If I am not sure of the inherent value of my endeavors or activities – I will gauge how I think I would assess the goal/activity as my future/older/higher self. As in:

1. How would I view/value this in retrospect 20 years from now? 40 years from now?

Figure I’ll sleep better and develop a greater hunger to Make Every Day Count as I go along. Probably become a heck of a lot more productive, happy, healthy and fulfilled.

I suspect if a person does this every day – they will get better at it.

Join me if you want to.

Love, Happiness and Success!

Joe

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It’s Time for the “Te-Vick” Offense in Kansas City: The Chiefs Gameplan for 2013.

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2013 Kansas City Chiefs - The "Te-Vick" Offense
How to fix the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013? Here’s a plan.

Oh, if they made me the decision-maker for the Kansas City Chiefs, here is what I would do.

  • It would win.
  • It would be revolutionary.
  • It would be exciting.

Some would hate it. Most would LOVE it. ALL would watch it. I’d sure love to see it.

The Kansas City Chiefs in 2013:

  • GM: Marty Schottenheimer
  • Head Coach: Brian Billick
  • Offensive Coordinator: Josh McDaniels
  • Defensive Coordinator: Rex Ryan
  • Offensive Game Plan: The “Te-Vick”
  • Starting QB: Michael Vick
  • FB/QB: Tim Tebow
  • RB: Jamaal Charles

Draft Plan:

  • 1st Round: O-Lineman
  • 2nd Round: O-Lineman
  • 3rd Round: Wide Receiver
  • 4th Round: Big Running Back
  • 5th Round: O-Lineman
  • 6th Round: Tight End
  • 7th Round: Fullback

The “Te-Vick” Offense:

The “Te-Vick” Offense = a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. A run-based offense of ground and pound running game with the backfield featuring Vick, Tebow and either Charles or a Fullback.

  1. Jumbo package on the field 70% of the time
  2. Multiple snap options at all times
  3. Tebow or Vick can go in motion
  4. Tebow doubles as a FB to run or block for Jamaal Charles
  5. Play-action and bootleg options for Vick
  6. Screens to Tebow/Charles
  7. Outlet passes to Tebow/Charles
  8. Bowe and New Receiver stretch field for long gains

A few thoughts on this game plan:

  1. No one is built to stop this type of attack anymore in today’s pass-happy NFL.
  2. No one will adjust their defensive personnel to stop just ONE TEAM on their schedule.
  3. Teams will HATE playing us because we’re physical.
  4. Defensive personnel are predominantly lighter, faster guys who are drafted for their speed and ability to cover receivers will get bulldozed and will start to wish they were somewhere else at about the 3:00 mark in the 3rd Quarter.
  5. Interest and Media Coverage would be INTENSE.
  6. If the first year is a sour one, then use our high draft pick in 2014 on Johnny ‘Football’ Manziel.

Clark Hunt, here is your winning plan. It wins. It is relevant. Fans will love it. Jerseys and merchandise will sell like hotcakes. Arrowhead will once again be the biggest and best BBQ party on the planet.

I can almost smell it!

Thanks for your time.

Joe Wooldridge
Future President of Football Operations
Kansas City Chiefs

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Fire Up A Torch. Light Up The Sky.

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Google Fiber - THANK YOUMy friends, there is a coming superstorm. Not a bad one, but a good one. An EXCELLENT one.

One that we will build (and in some cases are building, and have been working toward).

We have a World that is in flux in many ways – which is alarming, in that we have been sedentary for decades (centuries?). Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’ was dispelled by global growth – a lack of question marks on the map – and more importantly, a lack of querying in our minds. The old ‘it’s all been done’, ‘I can’t make a difference’, ‘what can I do?’ fears and excuses are sad comforts that are easily cultivated in our minds and later manifest in our Worlds.

Snap your fingers and dispel those lies. Do it now.

The World needs people that are, as the Chili’s say, are ‘Wide Awake Now‘.

Wake Up!

Start making a difference. You are a generator of storms. We are all builders, creators, explorers, pioneers, inventors and innovators. Marianne Williamson is right – Our greatest fear is not that we are powerless – but that we are powerful beyond all belief.

My experience is that activating that power in oneself happens when we begin allowing ourselves.

Allowing.

To dare, dream, plan, build, achieve, create.

No one can keep us down but us. Let’s allow ourselves to experience a full life and fix this World as much as possible.

Right now there is an election going on that people are all in a furor about. But this is not about politics. Every time someone starts getting ‘bent’ about politics, it just makes me think about how disarming the idea of choosing someone else to make decisions for us can be. If we all dared to make the World that we live in a better place – then evil men would be eternally discouraged and confounded.

I like the sound of that.

Every day that sun comes up, the turnstiles turn, people die, people are born, and the status quo rolls on in a slightly different iterations.

I’m all for kicking it into a better gear.

Conrad’s Heart of Darkness has returned like a wicked multi-headed Hydra.

It aint no big deal.

We’ve been slaying beasts and overcoming ‘insurmountable’ problems for as long as anyone has been paying attention. It is what we do.

What heads on the hydra?

  1. Global economic fears,
  2. Global environmental fears,
  3. Conspiracy fears,
  4. Health-related fears,
  5. Fears for our safety, livelihood and future.
  6. Et al and ad naseum.

I’m not buying it. Make a play for all of the brightest minds and light will shed (thank you again, Anthony Keidis).

The mythical beasts have returned in digital forms. The Medusa holds us paralyzed in her gaze through TV screens, live feeds of varying nonesuch-ery and sales pitches. The evil creeping up has been creeping up slow and digging its tendrils in for a long time. Certain unnamed industries have used a steady hive of smartly-dressed, sexy sirens in Washington lobbyists to turn the eyes, blind the minds and darken the hearts of our good men that we keep VOTING for. Those poor, over-paid, over-sexed and over-privileged lost sailors.

We must retake the World for tomorrow by waking up today.

I pride myself on having a television that is far older and crappier than the one in the lavatory at the local sports bar. Yes, I admit I will follow a certain long-maligned local NFL franchise and my Alma Mater in certain sports. Not saying that we don’t need some re-creation and entertainment. But let’s wake up and not be blinded, used, misled.

Dearest Mankind, we can handle ANY problems that come our way. We have to believe, we have to try, and we have to wake up and pay attention. We are capable; we have been blessed with endless gifts. You can’t tell me that one person can’t make a difference. Sure, more helps. But we all have to start somewhere. If we start lighting torches and lanterns, we kill darkness around us and provide light for others so that they may light their torch as well.

It is not about a political party affiliation. It is about who we are, what we do, how we see ourselves and how we can choose to change the World by starting with ourselves, our outlook, our decisions on what we will think and what we will do with our time and abilities.

They say that is cheap, but I am lighting my torch. I want to spread light, to shed light, to help wake people up. I dream of seeing a World of empowered free-thinkers.

Let’s wake up and slay some dragons. Our ancestors climbed mountains, slayed beasts, overthrew tyrants, sailed seas, conquered the wild, trekked forests and deserts and tundras.

We can do the same. Let’s allow ourselves. Let’s have REAL ADVENTURE and build a better World.

Forget online fantasy role-playing games that eat up your time. Disengage from any scurrilous activities that are beyond engaging us – but engorging us . . . hello Mr. Eight Fantasy Football League Teams.

The World is for doers. For dreamers. For those that dare.

So wake up and un-plug. Dare. Dream. Do. Grow. Learn. Create. Build.

That person in the mirror is a dragon-slayer – and we’ve got plenty of dragons in our new Hearts of Darkness.

The World in flux? How about the WORLD ON FIRE WITH LIGHT!

You want opportunity, challenges, adventure, drama, romance? It is all there in front of us – ALL YOU WANT.

So, here I am spouting off, running around with my torch, looking for dragons to slay. I need some help. That darkness closes in a bit at times. It also brightens the heart when I see other points of light.

Grand terms, yes. Why not.

It is only our World, our minds, our lives and our futures.

Strike it up!

If I can help – let me know. There is a lot going on out there. If you have a retail business and could use some exposure, branding and extra traffic (Internet or ‘foot-traffic’) – I will help. If you made it through my ‘rah rah’ blog post, the least I could do is offer to help.

Just let me know you’d like to help spread some light, slay some dragons, have some adventure and build your business a little more.

What will I do to help? I will advertise your business at no cost. As long as you are willing to help me as well – help me spread some light – and make a decent offer (discount or promotion) for our Cardholders.

That’s it.

I’ve been inspired by many to try to spread light. I get inspired by people and company led by people that dare, dream, do, build, create and do things for the right reasons. I’m talking to you, Google.

Yes, a lot of people like to gripe about an industry leader. But this one actually builds things and GIVES THEM TO THE WORLD.

I like that.

  1. An excellent search engine that organizes the World’s information and puts all of it at your fingertips? (Google)
  2. An incredibly detailed, feature-rich global (and then some) mapping system?(Google Maps),
  3. An awesome email system? (Gmail),
  4. Et cetera.

They just keep going.

What I love is their latest gift to the World. Google Fiber.

This has been needed for so long. I’m doing EVERYTHING I can to help make this latest Google ‘gift to the World’ get built and spread as quickly, and effectively as possible.

  • Gigabit Internet Speeds Upstream and Downstream? OH YEAH!
  • Crystal-clear HD video-conferencing? OH YEAH!
  • Speeds that are 100 TIMES FASTER at a better rate than companies that just want to keep out any new competitors, continue to screw their customers and NOT work to build something better? OH YEAH! (Yes, Pete – I heard you).

Well, I’m drinking the Kool-Aid.

It can’t be any cooler that Google Fiber chose to start in Kansas City. They have decided to LIGHT UP A TORCH that can light up the sky and help make the World a better place.

It starts here. I’m helping them. I am helping spread the word.

Thank you, Google Fiber for coming to Kansas City and firing up that big, huge torch. I see the light. Better things are coming.

Booyah!

And I’m out.

Joe

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Erato’s Return (New Poem from October 12, 2011)

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desert-museA dream she flew
Westward with new heaven on the rise
Eyes providing sparkle for infinite grains
Gifting beauty to the desert lands
Goodbye to the living lies
This elegance tarries no longer
Freedom calls her back
It’s time to weave new dreams

Joseph Wooldridge
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 @3:44am.
for Joan Severance

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