Charts like this one have become all too common in the news of late — making investors panic, pension-holders fret and politicians do very little to effect meaningful solutions to the varying crises reflected in these charts.

But the chart above is not an index of the Dow Jones or an index of consumer confidence or an index of Congress’ approval ratings. Rather, this particular chart has me encouraged. In fact, it’s got me jumping for joy! It’s the index of my weight loss since the beginning of the year. And what it shows is that, as of today, I’ve lost 34 pounds in 66 days! With less than a quarter of the year gone by, I’m already nearly a third of the way toward my goal of losing 106 pounds by year’s end!

I have to admit that I’m pretty proud of myself — not only because of how much weight I’ve lost, but also for sticking with it for this long and for my commitment to continue on to my goal. This is certainly change I can believe in!

After I last mentioned my weight loss journey, I received several questions about what I was doing, like what diet I was on. Well, the short answer is that I’m not on any particular fad diet. I’ve quite simply changed how I eat, what I eat and what activities I do.

One of the first things I did was stop drinking soft drinks and I’ve also avoided adult beverages for the time being. I essentially drink mostly water — at least 80 ounces each day, sometimes as much as 120 ounces. I usually drink at least one juice a day, typically a V-8 vegetable juice can or a fruit juice like pineapple, grapefruit, grape or cranberry.

I also began to diligently count calories with the very helpful aid of an iPhone App called “Lose It.” Counting the calories helps me make much better choices and choose healthier foods that don’t have a lot of empty, fatty or generally unhelpful calories. I haven’t given up good-tasting food though. With the help of several cookbooks and nutrition books, I’ve learned (and continue to learn) what foods are lowest fat, lowest calories and gives the most bang for the calorie when it comes to energy and feeling satisfied. I’ve also found some low-cal recipes that are actually really, really good — which helps alot.

The other major thing I’ve done is to start exercising again. My job has me sitting in front of the computer or sitting in meetings 8 to 10 hours each day. That doesn’t allow for much exercise or burning of calories (unless I look for specific opportunities to do so, like taking the stairs to the other floors whenever possible). So, the only way to get fit and burn calories is to do actual exercise.

Because of my initial weight, a regular gym workout wasn’t as appealing because of the pain and discomfort of my joints. So at the advice of professionals, I started out with water aerobics. I started the third week of January and have continued through this past week. As of this weekend, I’m now moving to gym exercise for cardio and strength training. As a family, we also enjoy recreational swimming and racquetball at the YMCA. In addition, we invested in a Wii Fit, which has proven to be a very fun way to get some exercise without it necessarily feeling like exercise except afterward when you feel absolutely worn out!

Because I’ve gotten so many questions wanting to know more, I decided a couple of weeks ago to start a new blog dedicated to this effort — a personal journal of my journey to lose weight, get fit and become a healthier me. I plan to document the journey with my thoughts, my observations, my frustrations and my encouragements as well as log what I’ve been eating and doing for exercise. And I launched that blog this morning. Introducing, Brad Neese — Getting Fit …

Check it out!

Since the latter part of last year, my blogging has been disproportionately focused on politics. The political commentary often evolved (or devolved, depending upon your perspective) into a response/counterresponse interaction with other bloggers and commenters — some of which escalated into ever-increasing caustic comments that became more personal and less substantive. I confess that I haven’t always lived up to my own standard of civility, respect and reason. And when I find myself wallowing hip-deep in the same mud as the other mudslingers, it’s time to reevaluate. And that’s what I did during my break.

When you step away from it, it’s amazing how juvenile it has become. The level of animus and disrespect among the dueling blogs is really amazing — and, quite frankly disheartening. It’s a microcosm of the larger “war” in this country between the firmly entrenched ideologues, who by their actions demonstrate that partisan loyalty comes first before the country’s bests interests. It’s not confined to the right wing and the GOP; the Democratic soldiers and left wing are just as unyielding. And as each side pulls the nation toward its position, the country is ever-so-certainly being torn asunder. And that, more than any other foreign threat, is the biggest danger we face as Americans.

We are facing the worst crises in nearly a century. Yet, partisans are more focused on winning the ideological fight than they are with saving our nation from economic devastation that few in this country are equipped to handle. The Republicans have disgusted me in ever-increasing ways with their grandstanding obstructionism; at the same time, Democrats have further convinced me why I will never join their ranks with their politically motivated power grabs and undemocratic governance of Congress. It’s all enough to make me want to throw up and simply give up.

It doesn’t seem to matter any more. Nothing that we say really makes a difference in Washington. Republican and Democratic politicians share at least one common purpose — to maintain and expand their grip on power and to pander to those who fill their campaign and personal coffers. Corruption is not the sickness of any one party. They are all mired in varying levels of corruption with very few exceptions. Money talks; constituent needs take a hike.

Meanwhile, the loyal minions of each wing war with each other in the blogosphere, discussion boards and chat rooms — unaware that Washington doesn’t care. Little that is said in the blogosphere changes anyone’s mind. Very few actually listen with an open mind. Fewer still take the time to truly educate themselves on the very issues they so passionately argue about. Misinformation, distortions and misrepresentations abound, which muddies everything to the point that it’s difficult to debate the merits of issues when the facts of those issues are so much in dispute. So often, it’s like arguing with a wall — pointless, fruitless and maddening.

To be honest, my break from the tit-for-tat spats in the blogosphere was refreshing. The absence did not make my heart grow fonder. Which is why I’m, once again, changing how I blog.

I’ll still opine about current affairs and politics, but certainly not nearly as often. In fact, my blogging over all will be much less prolific than previously. Instead, I’m going to go back to doing more non-political blogging. Yes, I’m indeed changing course once again. But as yesterday’s quotation by Heraclitus said, “Nothing endures but change.”

Stay tuned.

I had planned on resuming blogging on March 1 after my month-long hiatus in February, but the server and database issues have delayed that start somewhat. Even so, my schedule is still so busy that I’m not sure how much blogging I’ll be able to do this week.

So that’s the quick update.

First, you won’t be seeing as much of me because I’m on a weight loss plan to drop 100 pounds by the end of this year. I started the day after New Year’s Day. And the first month was a big success. I’ve lost more than 20 pounds! The best part is that it’s not from any radical or fad diet. It’s from a sensible, balanced and healthy change in eating habits that can be sustained long-term, reducing my daily calorie intake to a level appropriate for my current weight and age for healthy, managed weight loss. A couple of weeks ago, I started my exercise regimine, which again is nothing radical or extreme, but something that’s achievable, sustainable and enjoyable enough that I won’t give it up as easily as other exercise programs I’ve tried. For the first time in nearly 20 years, I’ve found a weight loss plan that I can stick to and found a willpower to keep going forward to my next goal and to my ultimate goal this year. With less than 10% of the year gone by, I’m already 20% toward my goal. (You can track my progress here.) By this time next year, I’m hoping that everyone will be seeing a lot less of me.

Second, my professional life continues to grow. My responsibilities at work continue to expand and the time commitment continues to increase. Consequently, I have less spare time to devote to other outside projects, including this blog. Success in one area often means that other things in our life may have to make sacrifices. Since my family comes first and they would be the last area to sacrifice, the only areas left are my hobbies, one of which would be this — blogging. I enjoy it (most days), but it can consume a lot of my time. And it’s the easiest for me to adjust (even if it is a bit of an addiction). So, those who follow me here on this blog will be seeing less of me — a lot less of me over the next few weeks.

I’ve decided to take the month of February off from blogging. It will help me take the time to reprioritize my life and also help me concentrate on one of my primary goals this year — to lose weight and get fit. It will also allow me to get back to one of my other goals this year, which is to become increasingly proficient in a second language. Both of those goals take a significant investment of time, leaving less time for other things outside of work and family.

After February, I’ll resume blogging in some form. I don’t know what that will look like as far as content and frequency. Hopefully I’ll come back more focused, rejuvenated and many more pounds lighter!

Proof that the American entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well — and very imaginative — and proof that the American consumer will buy just about anything!

If your aunt or brother did something illegal, should your reputation be besmirched if you had no involvement in their illicit activities? Does blood relation now automatically qualify you as a conspirator to any of your relatives’ bad choices?