CURRENT EVENTS
New Zen Kōan
A kōan is a story, dialogue, question, or statement, which is used in Zen practice to provoke the “great doubt” and test a student’s progress in Zen practice.
I am pleased to announce a new Zen Kōan has been developed that is challenging even the best of our Zen Masters. Here is your opportunity to test your skills against the best of the best.
PHYSICAL TRAITS
Honor Thy Temple
Planning on a morning run with your friend, well don’t let this happen to you.
CHARACTER TRAITS
The Foundation for Being Extraordinary
Take some action every day to make your dreams come true.
SOCIAL TRAITS
Getting Along with Others
It is such a hard habit to break, but well worth the effort.
LEARNING TRAITS
Growth Keeps You Extraordinary
MISCELLANEOUS
The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary
SELF-HELP BOOKS
Genghis Khan
and the Making of the Modern World
by Jack Weatherford
This book is not an easy read and you may wish to skip parts of it; but it is likely you will learn a number of things you didn’t know.
The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in twenty-five years than the Romans did in four hundred.
In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization. Vastly more progressive than his European or Asian counterparts, Genghis Khan abolished torture, granted universal religious freedom, and smashed feudal systems of aristocratic privilege.
MOVIES OF THE WEEK
The Royals
I found this to be a fun show to watch.
The Royals is about a fictional monarchy in modern-day London, focusing on a dysfunctional, somewhat estranged family in the wake of the loss of the heir to the throne.
Elizabeth Hurley stars as the devilishly delightful Queen Helena, William Moseley plays charming bad boy Prince Liam and Alexandra Park plays Liam’s twin, tabloid fixture Princess Eleanor. (Source: TV Guide)
MUSIC OF THE WEEK
This one is really worth listening to.
She Drives Me Crazy
Fine Young Cannibals
LAST WEEK’S POLL – Do you trust the mainstream news media to report honestly and fairly?
57% – No
26% – Yes
17% – Not sure
THIS WEEK’S POLL – 2017 Academy Awards (aka Oscars)
ART OF THE WEEK
Last week was Monday Mona Lisa. Well, this week I am bringing you Mona Lisa, as she is getting ready for a Saturday night date.
Date Night Mona Lisa
She looks considerably different than she did after work at Friday Happy Hour
EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE
Winston Churchill
I like this guy because when a woman told him if she was his wife, she would put poison in his drink.
He replied, “Madam, if I were your husband, I would gladly drink it.
Photographed Dec. 1941 by Yousuf Karsh
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965).
He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 for his overall, lifetime body of work. In 1963, he was the first of only eight people to be made an honorary citizen of the United States.
As a young army officer, he saw action in British India, the Anglo–Sudan War, and the Second Boer War.
Following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain on 10 May 1940, Churchill became Prime Minister. His speeches and radio broadcasts helped inspire British resistance, especially during the difficult days of 1940–41 when the British Commonwealth and Empire stood almost alone in its active opposition to Adolf Hitler. He led Britain as Prime Minister until victory over Nazi Germany had been secured.
Named the Greatest Briton of all time in a 2002 poll, Churchill is widely regarded as being among the most influential people in British history, consistently ranking well in opinion polls of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom. (Source: Wikipedia)
THIS WEEK’S JOKE
PLEASE CONSIDER
If you reached this point, you must have seen something you wish to comment on; please do so. To leave a comment, just click on “Comment”, scroll down to the “Leave a Comment” box. Type in your comment and then click on the “Post Comment” box.
My thanks to Amy, Christy, Georgia & Rose, for commenting on last week’s post. All you have to do is just click on “Comment”, scroll down to the “Leave a Comment” box. Type in your comment and then click the “Post Comment” box.
Also, please consider passing this blog on to others. My thanks to Annette, Antoinette, Cindi, Cynthia, Debra, Elizabeth, Katya, Sheryll, Shirley, Susan, Terry & Willie for sharing my post last week on Facebook.
BLOG & FACEBOOK
My thanks to Jennifer & Temple Fitness, who started following my blog (Currently 161 followers) and Elizabeth, Kristen & Jennifer (Currently 222 People), who liked my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page.
If you are enjoying this blog and find it useful, please click on follow and also please pass it on to your friends.
The basis of this blog sprung from my book, which is available on-line from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The Kindle version of my book is $4.95.
http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697
Harmony Books & Films, LLC 
Good job! Plus I learned a lot of things I didn’t know and was entertained.
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That was the goal 🙂
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Thanks for teaching me what a kōan is! Loved your example haha. Did you get a chance to watch the Oscars? I didn’t because I didn’t see most of the nominated films, and I preferred to catch up on some other TV shows. I did look up the winners this morning though!
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Chris, glad you liked the kōan current event-I knew I wanted to use it but it just didn’t fit that well into the joke category, so I came up the the kōan idea for a current event.
I also did not see most of the nominated films and so did as you did, and caught up on some shows I had DVR’d. I did see La La Land, which I liked; although, I would have wrote the ending just the opposite.
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I am going to use the image about the problems with communications in my course, if that’s okay? My teacher is always telling us we should listen to listen and not to solve someone’s problems or think about what question to ask next.
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Samantha, glad you were able to find something you could use. I’m still hoping you will find one of my music video selections of use 🙂
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Are you auditioning for my Earworm Of The Week? 😉 Just kidding! So much good music out there.
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Samantha, I audition for your “Earworm of The Week” each week 🙂
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Aw, Bill, that made me smile
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🙂
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Great job Bill. Liked the humor and historical facts.
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Finally figures out how to comments, Lol Enjoy reading your blog.
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Wow, thank you so much for commenting Darlene and so glad you enjoy the blog.
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I’m not sure it appeared on the post you are looking at, but I have added a box to click on at the top of the side bar which will take people directly to the comment box. It is a small improvement, but should make it a bit easier to comment.
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Worrisome that so many don’t trust mainstream media and will only listen to right-wing media. An easy way to manipulate people.
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As always Georgia, I appreciate hearing your perspective. Thank you so much for commenting. Bill
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I like that you have polls. They are a great way for your readers to interact with you and your blog! I only saw short videos of the Oscars on social media.
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Thank you very much Rose for commenting and also thank you for the feedback on the polls. I find it helpful to know what people like or don’t like about the blog.
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