01/25/16 – Take It Easy

January 24, 2016January 28, 2016 Wm. Allen2 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Glenn Frey

Glenn Frey, a founding member and guitarist for Eagles, died last Monday. He was 67.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016,” the band said in a statement. “Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia. Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide.”

Frey wrote and provided vocals for many Eagles hits, including “Heartache Tonight,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Tequila Sunrise” and “Take It Easy.”

Source: Alex Stedman, News Editor, Variety.com

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Now is the Time

by Patrick Lindsay

This is another quick read, that I believe you will enjoy if you are interested in self-improvement.

This collection of short reflections will remind you to live your passion, take time out, and expand your horizons. Each page suggests a way to be mindful of the here and now, helping you to recall the value of taking action in the present-and following through. (Source: Amazon)

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

As important and as necessary as exercise is to a healthy body and mind, we have to keep in mind the harm caused by excess weight. Remember, what you eat typically trumps exercise. You are highly unlikely to be able to exercise off poor food choices.

Frequent eating in restuarants is often a cause of excessive weight, so it is important of you to study the menu carefully and make good food choices. However, many restaurants dare not tell you how many calories are in their dishes and some even tell you less about what they are serving.

SOCIAL TRAITS

In my book under Social Traits, in Chapter 30, I state that it is not possible to win an argument. Even in the unlikely event the other party to the argument admits you won, you have probably only won the other party’s animosity towards you.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Since the subject of the above Social Traits section is arguments, I thought I should provide a helpful quote for all you fellows out there.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Not in this Weather

Many people in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states are suffering from power outages and being stranded on the highways due to Winter Storm Jonas. Weather reporting has been intensive and hopefully most people heeded the warnings to stock up on supplies and to stay off the roads.

Of course, as this short and clever commercial shows, some people simply will not stay off the roads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krhB_An8fT4

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Questions About This Blog

The first question was have you ever passed this blog on to others. My thanks to the 58% of you who have passed this blog on to others and I wish the remaining 42% would let me know why they haven’t.

The second question was have you ever read a book, watched a movie or listened to music that was recommended. Five percent of you have never done any of the above. However, 48% of you have watched a recommended movie, 29% of you have read a recommended book and 19% of you have listed to recommended music.

Regardless of your answers, I appreciate everyone who answered last week’s poll.

THIS WEEK POLL – Spanish or Español

Canada has two official languages, English and French. The vast majority of countries to the south of the USA, speak Spanish with Brazil being the major exceptions, so I thought it would be interesting to see where the readers of this poll stand with regard to the Spanish language. Three polls follow and you can answer more than once to each of these three polls. Muchas gracias.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I received many nice comments about last week’s music – Pachelbel’s Canon. If you were one of those who liked it, than you really should think about obtaining this album. It is the Canon performed by various artists in their own style.

Take It Easy by The Eagles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhH3mRkKDX8

ART OF THE WEEK

I Keep Smelling Things To See If They Smell Like You

by Kurt Halsey Frederickson

I saw this painting years ago in the newspaper and went to the gallery where it was being displayed. I never dreamed that it would be available for sale, but it was and I bought it.

I’ve shown this painting to many people, but only one person ever made the rather remarkable comment about something being contrary to reason. I would enjoy hearing via a blog comment if you have any thoughts about what was that remarkable comment.

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Johann Pachelbel

BORN:

In Nuremberg, Germany, probably sometime in August 1653 (he was baptised on the 1st September).
DIED:
In Nuremberg, probably in early March 1706 (he was buried on the 9th March).

BURIED:
St Rochus Cemetery in Nuremberg.

TYPE OF MUSIC:
Classical music from the baroque period.

A FAMOUS PIECE:
Canon in D.
THE SORT OF MUSIC HE WROTE:
Keyboard music (especially organ).
Choral (sung) music for the church.
Chamber music (music for a small number of instruments).

SOME INTERESTING FACTS:
He was very popular when he was alive.
He is only really known for one piece of music today—the Canon in D. However this piece is verypopular. Even people who don’t know much classical music will often know this piece.
Most of his music was written for the church.
A lot of his music has been lost.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. This week I am thanking the following seven people for leaving a comment. They are Carolyn, Elena, Spiritual Journey, Judith, Ron, Carole, and Tania.

Leaving a comment is easy, just click on “Leave A Comment”, which is immediately below the title of this week’s post. And if instead of seeing “Leave A Comment”, you see “# Comments”, just click on that and scroll down to leave your comment. I’m delighted that six of you cared enough to leave a comment last week.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends, as well as liking my Facebook page.

MY BOOK

If you have any interest in changing your life for helping someone else change their life, please consider my book.

Again, for those of you into reading books on a Kindle, I reduced the price of the Kindle version of my book down to $4.95.

My book can be purchased on-line from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. It is also available in a ebook format. And if you have read my book, please leave an evaluation of it on Amazon. Thank you.

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

01/18/16 – Sometimes Not Winning is Better Than Winning

January 18, 2016January 18, 2016 Wm. Allen15 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Not Winning The P0werball Jackpot

All of us but three, didn’t win the big Powerball jackpot; but, maybe we are the real winners after viewing the picture below.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

The Ultimate Gift

by Jim Stovall

This is another easy to read, self-help book that I am recommending. On the cover it says, “What would you be willing to do in order to inherit one billion dollars?

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

I have consistently expressed my concern for your health and the importance of exercise. You have to make some time for exercise–no excuses. It doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise, since you can receive the majority of benefits from exercise by simply walking.

To get you started walking for exercise, you may want to consider using an exercise block like the one below.

SOCIAL TRAITS

In my book under Social Traits, in Chapter 28, I stress the importance of bringing more diversity into your life. The next time you do something with a group of friends, look around at the people surrounding you. Are they diverse in various ways. If not, you are missing out.

Click on the link below and ask yourself, would you want to miss out on this because you don’t have enough diversity in your life?

https://www.facebook.com/SilentDesi/videos/10203696555587230/?fref=nf

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

What do you value in your life and does the allocation of your time reflect those values?

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Exporting Raymond

I recently watched Exporting Raymond and found it a fun picture to watch. When I decided to watch the film, I had no idea I was going to learn so much about Russia. What could be better, some fun entertainment, plus learning something.

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Powerball

The vast majority of us will either buy one ticket (29%) or between two and five tickets (29%).

And 23% of us don’t plan to even buy at ticket; whereas, 18% of us will buy more than five tickets.

THIS WEEK POLL – Questions About This Blog

Every so often I like to get a reading on the impact if any, that this blog has on you. I hope you will participate in this week’s poll and I encourage you to comment on what this blog is doing right or what it could do better.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I want to introduce some variety into the weekly musical selections, so I thought maybe some classical music this week. When I mentioned classical music, perhaps, some of you had the following in mind?

I really hope you give this piece of classical music a brief try. I think it is nothing short of absolutely amazing.

Canon by Pachelbel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlprozGcs80

ART OF THE WEEK

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is located in West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., southwest of the National Mall. The official address of the monument, 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W., commemorates the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law.

Covering four acres and including a statue of King by sculptor Lei Yixin, the memorial opened to the public on August 22, 2011, after more than two decades of planning, fund-raising and construction.

Although this is not the first memorial to an African American in Washington, D.C., King is the first African American honored with a memorial on or near the National Mall and only the fourth non-President to be memorialized in such a way. The King Memorial is administered by the National Park Service (Source: Wikipedia).

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Who else would I select on today! Plus, we also have some words of wisdom. If we cannot do something great, at least we can do something in a great way.

Those words of wisdom, remind me of this Roman general; whom the Roman Senate feared was becoming too popular with the common people. So, the Senate took him from the battle field and placed him in charge of collecting Rome’s garbage. The general said, “If the work will not bring honor to me, I will bring honor to the work.” Needless to say, the general did such a good job cleaning up Rome’s garbage that he became even more popular with the common folk.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. This week I am thanking Carol, Rick, Elena, Spiritual Journey, Little Wolf, and Sue for leaving a comment.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends, as well as liking my Facebook page.

MY BOOK

If you have any interest in changing your life for helping someone else change their life, please consider my book.

Again, for those of you into reading books on a Kindle, I reduced the price of the Kindle version of my book down to $4.95.

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

01/11/16 – $1.3 Billion Powerball

January 11, 2016 Wm. Allen12 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

P0werball

This Wednesday’s Powerball drawing is now up to $1.3 billion, so I thought I would present something that shows you how to read your Powerball ticket.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Compelling People

by John Neffinger & Matthew Kohut

In your quest to become extraordinary, it will be beneficial if you understand personal magnetism. Compelling People provides a lot of information about what makes a person engaging and what makes a person forgettable. This is information you can use to assess yourself and eliminate any of your traits that may be turning people off as well as develop traits that my attract people to you.

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

I, like many of you, made a New Years resolution to lose weight this year. You just have to look around many places in the USA to see people are killing themselves with their food choices. Two of the worse food choices are white flour and sugar.

Many of us when setting a weight goal, turn to height weight charts, so I thought I would provide you some information on how to interpert these charts.

SOCIAL TRAITS

In my book under Social Traits, in Chapter 30, I stress that there is never anything to be gained from arguing with someone. Many arguments are simply over opinions and people have all sorts of opinions and they are entitled to those opinions, even if mistaken. Perhaps, the following will help you remember that.

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Chapter 18 of my book talks about detachment to both objects and relationships. The C. S. Lewis quote below illustrates the point I was making.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Some of my friends who knew me in my younger days used to say I sold out when I went to work for a large corporation. I replied, “Yes, but I got a good price.” I think you will get a kick out of this film about selling out or is it buying in?

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (commonly shortened to The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) is a 2011 documentary film about product placement, marketing and advertising directed by Morgan Spurlock. The premise behind the production is that the documentary itself would be entirely paid for by sponsors, thus being a form of metafilm. The film’s slogan is “He’s not selling out, he’s buying in”. (Source: Wikipedia)

LAST WEEK’S POLL – 2016

The vast majority of you (84%) believe 2016 will be a better year than 2015.

A much smaller number of you (11%) believe 2016 will be about the same as last year.

And an even smaller number of you (5%) believe 2016 will be worse than 2015.

THIS WEEK POLL – Powerball

I came up with 1.3 billion reasons to make Powerball the subject of this week’s poll.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Let’s Dancing by David Bowie

In recognition of the recent passing of David Bowie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4d7Wp9kKjA

PAINTING OF THE WEEK

I conducted a poll of last week’s painting and 72% of you initially saw a young woman, whereas, 28% of you initially saw an old woman. Hopefully, eventually you saw both women in that picture. I hope this little exercise helps you appreciate that two people can view the identical thing or situation and yet come away with completely opposite understandings of what they just viewed.

I’ve often heard it said, that we see things not as they are, but as we are.

The Red Model by Rene Magritte

The uncanny affinity between the feet and the shoes drives our curiosity and undermines our habitual conceptual polarity: feet/shoe, human/non-human, civilization/wilderness, inside/outside. If you want to know more, check out:

http://www.nem.tku.edu.tw/courses/modernity/2B/Magritte_01.htm

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Marcus Aurelius

Bust of Marcus Aurelius in the Musée Saint-Raymond, Toulouse

Marcus Aurelius (26 April 121 – 17 March 180 AD) was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He was the last of the Five Good Emperors, and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers.

Marcus Aurelius’ Stoic tome Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find and preserve equanimity in the midst of conflict by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

I am using the following joke as an introduction to a more serious discussion of stereotypes:

In heaven, the lovers are French, the cops are British, the food is Italian, the cars are German, and the whole thing is run by the swiss

In hell, the lovers are Swiss, the cops are German, the food is British, the cars are French, and the whole thing is run by the Italians.

The definition of a stereotype that I like best is that of a vastly oversimplified image or idea about something. One needs to exhibit a great amount of caution when it comes to any stereotyping as the following so elegantly demonstrates:

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. This week I am thanking Tania, Terri, Carole & John for leaving a comment. Leaving a comment is easy, just click on “Leave A Comment”, which is immediately below the title of this week’s post. And if instead of seeing “Leave A Comment”, you see “# Comments”, just click on that and scroll down to leave your comment. I really hope more of you start leaving comments as it could lead to some insightful discussions.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends, as well as liking my Facebook page.

MY BOOK

If you have any interest in changing your life for helping someone else change their life, please consider my book.

Again, for those of you into reading books on a Kindle, I reduced the price of the Kindle version of my book down to $4.95.

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885

01/04/16 – Seeing and Hearing

January 4, 2016January 4, 2016 Wm. Allen8 Comments

CURRENT EVENTS

Generosity

Last week, I witnessed a little girl giving her birthday money to an animal shelter. I devoted an entire chapter of my book to generosity and all I said didn’t come close to communicating the spirit of generosity, viewing this single act of kindness by a child conveyed.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

The Mental Game – The Inner Game of Bowling

by George Allen

I believe the typical reader will see this as a book about bowling, which no doubt is true. But I also believe the extraordinary reader will see this as a book about life. The very last sentence of the book supports my theory. It says, “And, if you are going to put your fate in someone’s hands, why not make them your own?”

PHYSICAL TRAITS – YOUR HEALTH

I am very concerned about those of you who are neglecting your health. Hey, if you don’t take care of your own health, you will not be able to do anything for anyone and may even become a burden to those who care about you. So I am permanently adding this section to my weekly posts. For you men out there, below is the results of a recent study that will help you have a longer life.

SOCIAL TRAITS

I think the more we are exposed to other cultures, the more we start to understand that we are more alike than we are different. For instance, please check out this brief advertisement from India.

https://www.facebook.com/SilentDesi/videos/10203696555587230/?fref=nf

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Chapter 40 of my book talks about seeing and hearing what is there, rather than what you want to be there. Perhaps, the quote below may help you see a bit more clearly.

And talk about seeing and hearing what you want to hear, I saw on Facebook way too many posts about Mark Zuckerberg giving away money for just posting something on Facebook. True, Mark Zuckerberg is giving away a lot of money, but for worthy causes and not just for someone who expects money for doing something so trivial as a Facebook post. So, this is for the naive:

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Sexy Window Cleaner

Ladies, I have a hunch I know what you are thinking, but things aren’t always as you wish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2RrnjSt5ck

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Your Dreams

Last year I conducted this same poll and 26 of you voted. Last years results were that 19 or 73% of you thought achieving your goals were within your own power and 7 or 27% of you thought achieving your goals were either unlikely or dependent upon forces outside of yourself.

I’m delighted to say that this year 38 of you voted. The results were that 35 or 92% of you thought achieving your goals were within your own power and 3 or 8% of you thought accomplishing your goals were either unlikely or depended upon forces outside of yourself.

THIS WEEK POLL – 2016

Chapter 10 of my book is devoted to “Optimism”. Unfortunately, I can appreciate that some of you may be facing circumstances where you have little to be optimistic about. But for most of us, I feel even if we are facing challenges, we can still be optimistic. So this week’s poll is on how optimistic you feel about 2016.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Keep on Dancing

If you want to hear some good music and see a fantastic video that goes with that music, just click on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeEs6e0FdwU&feature=youtu.be

PAINTING OF THE WEEK

I think it is a difficult concept to accept, but it is possible for honest and well intentioned people to be exposed to the same set of circumstances and come up with vastly different views.

Tell us what you first see via the poll

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud was one of the trailblazers of modern-day psychology. As the originator of Psychoanalysis, Freud distinguished himself as an intellectual giant. He pioneered new techniques for understanding human behavior, and his efforts resulted in the most comprehensive theory of personality and psychotherapy ever developed. (Source: Compiled by Himmat Rana, May 1997)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

Sigmund Freud was giving one of his famous Clark University lectures. Freud had been describing the latent sexual meaning and significance of dream symbols, when someone asked, “You seem to smoke a lot of cigars, what does *that* symbolize?”

Fraud then issued his famous but apparently unsubstantiated reply.

“Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

BLOG

I always appreciate those that leave comments on my weekly posts, since it encourages me to continue these posts. This week I am thanking Tania & Carol for leaving a comment. Leaving a comment is easy, just click on “Leave A Comment”, which is immediately below the title of this week’s post. And if instead of seeing “Leave A Comment”, you see “# Comments”, just click on that and scroll down to leave your comment.

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends, as well as liking my Facebook page.

MY BOOK

If you have any interest in changing your life for helping someone else change their life, please consider my book.

Again, for those of you into reading books on a Kindle, I reduced the price of the Kindle version of my book down to $4.95.

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Im-Tired-Being-Ordinary/Wm-Allen/9780990388692?id=6429711012885