CURRENT EVENTS

Brussels

A picture is worth a thousand words, so below is my 1,000 words on the Brussels terrorist attack.

Image Credit: http://sophel.deviantart.com/

Found at: http://arwenaragornstar.com/

PHYSICAL TRAITS 

Honor Thy Temple

One way you can tell if you are eating healthy is to look at how colorful the items are on your plate.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

Let’s hear your comments, is George right?

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

Below is the key for people to think you are a great conversationalist.

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

Extraordinary people see and hear what is there, and not what they want to see and hear.  

MISCELLANEOUS 

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

Eastern philosophies encourage one to think about their death each day, so that they will make the most of each day.  The question each of us has to answer for ourselves is whether how we go about spending the precious gift of another day. 

The picture below may help some of you answer that question.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Be Your Own Life Coach

by Jeff Archer

There are a number of books about being your own life coach, including one with this very same title.  However, this is the one that I read and I thought it was rather good.  You may want to give it a try.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I applaud Matt Damon for trying to rescue the viewers of this film from total boredom; nevertheless, do yourself a favor and skip this film.

When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead [from boredom after watching this film] after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to [stop this film to survive] survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to [change the channel] bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for [doing something other than watch this film] a daring rescue mission. (Source:  Obviously, the words in red are mine).

Bridge of Spies

Now here is a film that is worth watching.  The film also provides some examples of both the noble and ignoble  human character. 

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers’ only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks), recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man’s freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court.

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Optimism

It is good to learn that 55% of us believe 2016 will be a better year than 2015.

Another 30% of us believe 2016 will be about the same as 2015 and sadly 15% of us believe 2016 will be worse than 2015.

THIS WEEK POLL – You

This week’s poll is about you, the readers of this blog–could I ever find a more interesting topic.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Tight Connection To My Heart

(Has Anyone Seen My Love)

by Bob Dylan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nheBN2UWAaM&list=PLknidvzcLCRG4gu8dfe91_flxj1C9h4OM

ART OF THE WEEK

Homesickness (1940)

by Belgium Painter René Magritte

René Magritte is my favorite painter/philosopher and in support of the people of  Brussels, Belgium; I thought I would select art from a Belgium artist, who is also my choice for the Extraordinary Person this week. 

In May 1940 his home was invaded by the Nazi during World War II and Magritte fled with his close friends Paul Eluard and Scutenaire. It would be easy to assume then that this painting was about the German occupation of Belgium and Magritte’s homesickness about having to flee the country he loved. Certainly this is an emotional component of the painting but there’s much more.

(Source: http://www.renemagritte.org/homesickness.jsp )

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

René Magritte

René Magritte (21 November 1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgian surrealist artist. He became well known for a number of witty and thought-provoking images. Often depicting ordinary objects in an unusual context, his work is known for challenging observers’ preconditioned perceptions of reality. His imagery has influenced pop, minimalist and conceptual art. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

A foreman tells Joe he needs to work in Area A today.

Joe says, “If you send me over to Area A, you are going to have to first write me a pass to see the Plant Nurse.

The foreman says, “Why?”

Joe says, “Because of my eyes.?

Foreman says, “What’s wrong with your eyes?”

Joe says, “I can’t see myself working in Area A.”

BLOG

Thanks to all of you who looked at my post last week for a record-setting 218 views.

I also want to thank Samantha, Carol, Ed & Kathy and Dave & Jan for commenting on last week’s post.  Comments are so encouraging.

Purpleanais & Aquileana,  thank you for following this blog and bringing the total number of blog followers to 51.  

My Harmony Books & Films Facebook page likes stay at 61.  

If you think this blog has any merit, please pass it on to your friends.  Hopefully, more of you will continue to share this blog with others. My thanks to Joanne, Cheryl y Theresa for sharing my post last week.

MY BOOK

If you know someone who is trying to change their life or that needs to change their life, please consider my book.

For those of you into reading books on a Kindle, the Kindle version of my book is $4.95.

My book is available on-line from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million.  

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