Michael Vandergriff’s Post

I've never posted on anything personal or political on LinkedIn. Isn't the forum for either. And this isn't either. It is about much-needed humor in increasingly humorless times. Admission: I'm a frat boy. Have some fratastic tendencies. Insert frat boy joke here. Guilty as charged. But THIS, my dear internet friends, is perhaps the most epically fratastic tour de force in history. By way of background, as university campuses around the country are devolving into utter chaos by (as some have characterized) performative self-absorbed narcissists, a group of frat boys from UNC-Chapel Hill took a stand yesterday against an attempted removal by the blue-haired 'protesters' of Old Glory. It made national news. In response, a GoFundMe page was set up by sources unknown to raise money for these gents to pay for (drum roll) the most epic kegger ever held. Whatever your politics and beliefs about current goings-on in the middle east, a sense of humor is in short supply. These brave frat boys have provided some much-needed perspective and, yes, humor in stark opposition to those Ivy League students demanding the very universities whose buildings they've stormed & overtaken... (drum roll) be obliged to provide catering to them because they've 'paid for a meal plan' as they've barricaded themselves inside said university buildings, broke in & padlocked the doors. Sacrificing for the cause, but only if it is catered & paid for by the very same vile universities they protest. Let them eat cake! Take 30 seconds to read the GoFundMe page-- not necessarily to contribute, or because you favor one side or the other, but for some glimmer of humor in what is an increasingly humorless time. Enjoy and have a laugh at my fratastic expense!

As the holiday season approaches, we invite you to be a beacon of hope for students across the United States on Giving Tuesday, November 28th! At First Priority, our mission is clear: to Take the Hope of Christ to Every Student. We believe in uniting the local church to equip students so that every teen on every middle and high school campus can hear the Gospel from a friend. Why First Priority? Hope is more than just a wish; it's a profound sense of fulfillment that only a relationship with Christ can provide. While worldly hopes may fade, the hope found in Jesus is eternal. Imagine a school where students unite in the eternal hope of their relationship with Christ. Could these Christians be instruments of God to bring eternal hope to those who have invested their lives in temporary pursuits? Get Involved on Giving Tuesday! Add Giving Tuesday to your calendar! Donate to First Priority on Giving Tuesday. Your kindness and generosity will help take the Hope of Christ to Every Student. Follow us on socials linked below for updates throughout the day. Spread the word! Share your passion for FPoA with friends, family, and coworkers. Invite them to join you in making a difference. The work First Priority does in the schools resulted in nearly 9000 students making a decision for Jesus last school year! Invest In Kingdom Work and let’s see what God does this school year! Click on the Link Below to Partner.

Gabriella Cray, Washington DC My mom’s family is from Ohio, so we have two other redheads that are there, maybe three. But I’m the only one in my immediate family. It came from my great-grandmothers on both sides. My great-grandmother on my mother’s side is from West Virginia, and my great-grandmother on my father’s side is from Annapolis [Maryland]. I was raised in P.G. [Prince George’s] County, Maryland, so just outside of the city and would guess my family has been in the south since before the civil war. For the longest time Prince George’s County was the richest Black county in the United States. A lot of people who’ve never been to PG County are like, whoa, all these Black people. It’s shocking to them. Especially for people who are used to being the majority, it can be intimidating. You’ve got athletes, doctors, lawyers, and politicians. I grew up around people who were on TV and on CNN. I think it’s a special place. It’s a tough place: most of the people you’ll meet are first-generation wealthy. Super hardworking, but also super down to earth. They didn’t come from money, but they had to really push through and make their way. Both of my parents’ parents were very poor. They both went to college there and then they ended up getting married and had me in P.G. County. You can get to D.C., Maryland, and Virginia within ten minutes.  So I have the benefit of having parents who are financially well-off, but also I got to see their process, so I knew that it took some work at the same time. Whereas my kids are probably gonna be rotten because they’re gonna miss all of the hard work and they’re just gonna see the results. I don’t think there is even a thread holding us in the United States together right now to be honest. I definitely feel we’re fragmented but there are so many areas where we could come together. People have to not be stubborn. I have friends that are, and I have family members on both sides of the fence. I think the first step is to understand that everyone doesn’t need to think like you, and to be okay with that. We could completely disagree: that doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. I think everybody in America loves their family for the most part. Most of the people I know think family is very important to them. Friendships are important too, and I feel like food brings people together: food, art, and creativity. I think people have to stop looking for opportunities to be so divisive. They often have personal issues that they need to resolve, so they come out and create division because they need an outlet. I think that’s really where the division stems from. Find out more: gingers.kierandodds.com #gingersofamerica

When in the course of human events, we want to bring out the good in others, our community, our state, our nation and our world, yet we see things going badly and likely to get worse, with no champion in sight. There is only one thing to do for people of courage and conviction, who trust in God and hope for the future. That thing is to step up and become the champion yourself. With that said, I've decided to put my years of preparation into service. Rather than have another election with only one candidate on the ballot, I'm putting my hat in the ring for U.S. Congress for Texas District 26. Web site https://lnkd.in/gJHrRD8y has some of the story. Early voting starts February 20, 2024 Primary Election Day is March 5, 2024 Until then we will be working to get the word out to the voters of TX-26 that they now have a Better Choice. And they can use that Choice to: Choose stabililty over chaos Choose Known Facts over Ridiculous Alternative Facts Choose Economic Balance over Expanding Poverty Choose Health Care to be Accessible and Affordable Choose a businesslike government for the People Choose a strong National Defense Including improved international relationships Choose hope for a Better Future To Passdown a Strong Viable Living Earth to Future Generations Choose Faith and Hope over Fear and Hate. Now, You have a Champion. He needs your support. What can you do? 1. Help spread the word. 2. Contribute financially. Link to ActBlue sight which you know is safe. https://lnkd.in/gkA9XZYJ

My father took his first job in 1947, after graduating from MIT on the GI Bill. He worked for the first company to produce a ball point pen for under a dollar, and he quickly worked his way up to become foreman. He came to the two owners and showed them how the could improve efficiency in a way that would boost profits by 30 percent. They weren't interested. They were making more money than they had ever imagined, and they had no interest in putting in more effort to make more. A quarter of a century later, I could still hear the contempt in my father's voice when he recounted the story. "If you don't need more money," he said, "give it to charity. Why would anyone pass up an easy way to increase revenue when it's staring them right in the face?" It wasn't about the money. Dad's tastes remained simple his whole life. It was about discipline, about mindset, about the potential to bring good into the world that money represents. I thought of my father when I passed these Los Angeles gas stations last month. They're barely a quarter mile apart, yet the one priced 30 percent higher is apparently doing business just fine. Why would anyone pay an extra $25 a tank just to save a five minute drive? Yes, we sometimes pay for convenience. And, yes, time is money. Be we can also be careless, lazy, and unappreciative for what we have. Money, time, talent, relationships, opportunities... these are all gifts. If we squander them, we might discover that they have vanished while we weren't paying attention. If we appreciate them, we might be surprised how the multiply without limit. How have you shown appreciation for your gifts today? BTW, the tenth anniversary of Dad's passing is next week. More on that to come. #ethics #mindset #values #perspective #culture

Raise your hand if you would like to lower or even avoid paying state taxes, probate fees, or income taxes. There are several ways to do this, like charitable trusts! What may they do for you and why would you want them? Tune in to find out!

https://lnkd.in/e4yz4c7j So let us listen to today's version of Eric Trump's version of Fred Trump, unless you want to give a listen to Mary Trump first.

Raise your hand if you would like to lower or even avoid paying state taxes, probate fees, or income taxes. There are several ways to do this, like charitable trusts! What may they do for you and why would you want them? Tune in to find out!

Raise your hand if you would like to lower or even avoid paying state taxes, probate fees, or income taxes. There are several ways to do this, like charitable trusts! What may they do for you and why would you want them? Tune in to find out!